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Soltis Andrew - The Baltic Defense To The Queen's Gambit, 2.. Bf5 1993-OCR, ChessDigest, 103p PDF
Soltis Andrew - The Baltic Defense To The Queen's Gambit, 2.. Bf5 1993-OCR, ChessDigest, 103p PDF
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THE BALTI C DEFENSE TO T H E QUEEN'S GAMBIT 3
INTRODUCTION
Anyone who has faced the Queen's Gambit ( l .d4 d5 2.c4) has
regretted playing the move regarded as the best way of declining it.
The rea"ion is that after 2 ... e6, Black's bishop is hemmed in by his
own pawn and therefore completing development may take another
1 2 to 1 5 moves.
In the past, many of the great ma"iters have tried to solve the
problem posed by 2 ... e6: How to get that bishop on the board? Jose
Capablanca popularized a freeing maneuver involving a later ... dxc4
and ... Nd5 so that his queen, when it reaches e7, can promote the
... e6-e5 advance. Emanuel Lasker found another way of doing this,
involving an early ... Ne4. Siegbert Tarrasch discovered that by ... c7-c5
Black will tempt his opponent into playing cxd5 -- thereby isolating
Black's d-pawn but also allowing the c8-bishop to spring to life by
way of ... exd5 ! And another generation led by Alexander Alekhine
and Max Euwe tried to avoid 2 ... e6 altogether by playing the Slav
2 ... c6.
l .d4 d5
2.c4 BfS
3.Nt3 e6
4.Qb3
Since Black has solved the c8-bishop problem at move two, White
does not have the usual confidence in a Queen's Gambit Declined
that he will emerge from the opening with an advantage just by
playing simple moves. He needs targets to attack and the only
obvious one here is on b 7.
4... Nc6!
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 5
5.cxd5 exd5
6.Bg5
6... Be7
7.Qxb7? ! Nb4!
8.Na3 Rb8!
9.Qxa7 Ra8
10.Bxe7 Nd3 + !
l l.Kd2
II... Nxe7
12.Qxa8 Qxa8
13.exd3 Qa5 +
MOVE ORDER
There are, in fact, many, many little traps for White to fall into in
the Baltic Defe nse. But before we get into the more specific analysis,
a point should be made about move order: there are three ba�ic ways
of getting into the Baltic Defense:
Why would someone begin a game with White like that? There
are a variety of rea�ons, including fear of the Albin Counter Gambit
(which 2.Nf3 averts) and a desire to play the Colle (2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3),
which 2 ... Bf5 discou rages. In any event, you can save the analysis of
the first three chapters of this book for those occa�ions when your
opponent plays the conservative 2.Nf3.
Then 2 ... Bf5 surprises him further. You will find this move order
occurring in several fine games played over the years by Paul Keres,
Bent Larsen and others. Their opponents are often surprised into
passive opening play:
l .Nf3 d5
2.d4 Bf5
3.c4 e6
4.Nc3 c6
5.Bf4
5... Nffi
6.e3 Nbd7
7.Ne5?! Be7
8.Be2 Nxe5
9.Bxe5 0-0
1 0.0-0 Bd6
l l.Bxd6 Qxd6
12.c5!? Qe7
13.f4
13... Nd7
14.Bd3? b6!
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 9
15.cxb6
15 ... axb6
16.a3 b5!
17.Ne2 Nb6
18.Ng3 Nc4!
19.Bxc4
No better is 1 9.Bxf5 exf5 20.Nxf5 Qe4 and Black regains the pawn
favorably. With his b2-pawn under permanent attack White now
becomes desperate.
19... bxc4
20.e4!? dxe4
21 .Qc2 Qb7
22.Qxc4 Qxb2
23.a4 Rfd8
24.a5 h5
One pretty line runs 25.a6 Rxd4! 26.Qxc6 Rd2! and even winning
the rook with check will not save White.
25.Ne2 e3! 26.Ra2 Bd3! 27.Qa4 Qb5 28.Qxb5 cxb5 29.Rfa 1 Ra630.g3
Bc4 3l.Rb2 Rda8 32.Ra3 Rxa5 33.Rxe3 Ra1 + 34.Kf2 R8a2 35.Rxa2
Rxa2 36.Kf3 Kf8 37.Nc3 Rxh2 38.1'5 exf5 White Resigns
10 INTRODUCTION
Editor's Note: Tum to the Table of Contents on the last two pages.
Go over it again and again and again until you have mastered all
the variations. Then you are ready to learn the following analysis.
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 11
l.d4 d5
2.Nf3
As noted earlier, 2.c4 Bf5 3.Nf3 is another way ofreaching the main
lines below.
2... BfS
3.c4
after he has completed development with ... Nd7/ ... Ngf6/ ... e7-e6 and
... Bd6.
3 ... e6
This solidifies pan of Black's center and avoids the ope n center
problems that hat arise in Chapters Four and Five. In one of the 1 983
Women's Candidates matches, Nona Gaprinda�hvili suprised Irina
Levitina with 2 ... Bf5 --so much so that White meekly continued 4
e3?!. Then 4 ... e6 leads to a harmless Slav. But if Black imists -- as
12 CHAPTER ONE: WHITE PLAYS 2.Nf3 - BUT QUI ETLY
4.Nc3
Inoffensive is 4.Bg5 and 4 ... Be7 5.Bxe7 Qxe7. Black does not mind
leaving himself with a ''bad" bishop in such positioffi as long as the
bishop is outside his center pawn wall. After 6.Qb3 c6 7.e3 Nf6
8.Nbd2 0-0 9.Be2 the move 9 ... a';! ? reduces any queenside hopes of
White. In Ftacnik-Bronstein, Tallinn 1 98 1 the game liquidated after
10.a3 a4 1 1 .Qc3 Ne4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Nd2 c5 ! 14.f3 exf315.Nxf3 Nc6
into a quick draw.
We now have two paths, one positionally natural, (a) 4 ... c6 -- the
other, double-edged (b) 4 ... Nc6!?. Right now, the latter seems pref
erable.
(a) 4... c6
5.Qb3!
(a) After 5.Bf4 Black can simply reply 5 ... Bd6 6.Bxd6 Qxd6 with
quite a bit more freedom than the comparable Orthodox Defeffie
position with a bishop still on c8. After 7.c5 Qe7 8.e3 Nf6 9.Be2 Ne4
and ... Bg4, the position is even.
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 13
More combative is 5 ... Nf6 and now 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Be2 Be 7 8.0-0 Qb6
9.cxd5 ? ! Nxd5 ! is the way Keres used to equalize. Similarly, 6.Rc l
Nfd7 7.Qb3 Qb6 8.c5 Qxb3 9.axb3 White has his usual slight edge
but in a recent game lvo Nei with the Black pieces, got the edge with
9 ... h6 10.h3 Be7 l l .e3 0-0 1 2.Be2 Rac8 13.0-0 Bd8 14.b4 a6 15.Nd2
Re8 16.Nb3? e5 ! 17.Bh2 Bc7.
(b) 5.e3 Nf6 6.Be2 is similarly too conservative. Black can develop
aggressively with 6 ... Bd6 and eventually ... Ne4 as in Illustrative Game
2. Malaniuk once took time out for 6 ... h6 and then 7.Qb3 Qb6 8.c5
Qc7.
Black should be equal once he gets ... e6-e5 but somehow White
won after 9.Qa4 Nbd7 10.b4 Be7 11.Bb2 0-0 12.Qb3 e5 13.dxe5 Nxe5
14.Nxe5 Qxe5 15 .Nb5 Qe4 16.Nd4 Qxh1 17.Nxf5 (Zakharov
Malaniuk, Bryansk 1975).
(c) 5.e3 Nf6 6.Bd3 and now 6 ... Bg6!? 7.0-0 Nbd7 8.Qe2 Bb4 9.Bd2
a5 and in Seirawan-Larsen, Las Palmas 1981 Black was soon equal
with 10.Bxg6 hxg6 11.cxd5 exd5 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 0-0 14.Neg5 Re8.
(d) 5.Bg5 and now 5 ... Nf6 6.e3 Qb6!? was tried in Anikaev
Malaniuk, Riga 1982 which was promising for White after 7.Qc l
Nbd7 8.c5 Nbd7 9.Bf4 Qc8 10.h3 h6 1 1 .b4!. But simpler is 6 ... Be7
followed by castling and ... Ne4.
(e) 5.g3 is a Catalan with little bite. After 5 ... Nf6 6.Bg2 Nbd7 7.0-0
the typical reply is 7 ... h6 to preserve the bishop but perhaps better is
just 7 ... dxc4! followed by 8 ... Bb4 to control e4.
5... Qb6
14 CHAPTER ONE: WHITE PLAYS 2.Nf3 -- BUT QUIETLY
The text is more natural since 6.Qxb6? only lets Black breath easier
(see Illustrative Game 3). Neither player wants to i nitate the queen
trade here because it will open a file for an enemy rook and allow
the enemy to use the forward b-pawn as a battering ram.
6.c5! Qc7
7.Bf4 !
White does not need 7.g3 to support 8.Bf4 because now 7.Bf4 Qxf4
8.Qxb7 wi ns the queenside.
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 15
7 .•. Qc8
The queen has lost time but Black has reduced pressure on the
center. Bear in mind that this position -- with colors reversed -- occurs
in the London System ( l .d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.NtJ Qb6
6.Qb3 and now 6 ... c4 7.Qc2 Bf5 8.Qcl has often been played).
It is Black, who has ... b7-b6 and ... e6-e5 in reserve, who seems to
have the best chance of opening the position favorably.
For example, 8.e3 Be7 9.Be2 Nd7 and if l l .Qa4 to hold up l l ...b6
Black can try Tukmakov's suggestion of l l ... b5 and 12 ... a5.
An old Bronstein game once went 8.a4?! (why?), Nf6 9.h3 b6! and
then 1 O.cxb6 axb6 l l .Qxb6 N a6 gave Black fine play. After 1 2.e4 dxe4
13.Ne5 Nb4 14.Nxc6 Nd7 15 .Qxb4! ? the middlegame clarified in
Black's favor.
8.Nh4!
8... Ne7
0-0! or 1 2 ... Nxd5 13.Bxb8 Qxb8 ( 13 ... Rxb8 1 4.Qa4 + ) 1 4.Bb5 + Kd8
15.Qf3 Qc7 1 6.b4 as Boleslavsky pointed out back in 1 95 1 .
But what about 8 ... Be4! ?. This is the recommended move (with
colors reversed ) in the London System. After 9.Nxe4 dxe4 White's
knight is offsides and threatened by 1 0... Be7 ( l l.Bg3? g5 !). This
bears testing.
9.Nxf5
The trick behind Black's last move was that 9.e3 can be met by
9 ... Ng6!, denying White the two-bishop advantage ( 10.Nxg6 Bxg6 or
1 0.Nxf5 Nxf4 since on 1 1 .Nxg7 + Bxg7 1 2.exf4 Black has 1 2 ... Bxd4 ).
9... Nxf5
IO.e3 Nd7
l l.Bd3
Black's game appears more solid than it really is. It is too early to
start thinking about the queenside because l l ...b6 is met by 1 2.Qa4!
bxc5 13.Ba6 Qd8 1 4.Bb7! with advantage.
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 17
l .d4 dS
2.Nf3 BfS
3.c4 e6
4.Nc3 Nc6
So far, there has been relatively little experience with this odd
looking setup, but a convincing White strategy has not materialized.
18 CHAPTER ONE: WHITE PLAYS 2.Nf3 -- BUT Q U I ETLY
5.Bf4
White would like to pin Black's knight with 5.Bg5 Nf6 with a later
exchange on f6. But Black will reply 5 ... Be7! 6.Bxe7 Ngxe7 7.e3 0-0
followed eventually by ... Ng6/... dxc4 and e6-e5.
A little too cute is 5.Bg5 Be7 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Bf4 and then 7 ... Nf6
8.Be5! ? i n order to play Bxf6. This was Shirazi-Soltis, Marshall C.C.
Championship 1992, which led to equality after 8 ...Bb4 9.Rcl 0-0
1 0.Bxf6! Qxf6 1 1 .e3 Rfe8 1 2.Bb5 Rad8 13.0-0 Bg4 and ... Ne7/... c7-c6.
5.. . Nffi
6.e3 Be7
7.Rcl 0-0
8.8e2
ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES
l.Nf3 d5
2.d4 BfS
3.c4 e6
4.e3 Nc6!?
5.cxd5 exd5
6.Bb5! Bd6
7.Nc3 Nge7
8.0-0 0-0
9.a3 a6
This relieves a bit of the queenside pressure, but it wao;; time for
Black to reorganize his pieces with 9 .. Nb8! and 1 O... c6.
.
IO.Be2 Qd7
l l .Nh4 Be6
12.f4!
20 CHAPTER ONE: WHITE PLAYS 2.Nf3 - BUT QUIETLY
12... ffi
13.Bd3 Nd8
14.1'5? Bf7
15.Bd2 b6
16.Qe2 c5!
1 7.Bxa6 Ndc6
18.Bd3! cxd4
1 9.Nb5 Be5
20.Nf3 dxe3
2 1.Bxe3 Rfe8
22.Nxe5 Nxe5
23.Nd4
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 21
23 ... Nxd3
24.Qxd3 Nc8?!
25.Racl Nd6
26.Bf4 Nc4?
27.Qg3 Kh8
28.b3 !
28... Ne5
29.a4 Re7
30.Rc3 RaeS
31.Qh4 Bg8
32.Rfcl Rf8
33.Qg3 RfeS
34.h3
34... Qb7
35.Nb5 Nf7
36.Rc7 Qa8
37.Nd4 Ne5
38.Bxe5! fxe5
39.ffi!
Mate on g7 looms.
22 CHAPTER ONE: WHITE PLAYS 2.Nf3 -- BUT Q U I ETLY
39 ...
gxffi
40.Nf5 Be6
4l.Nxe7 Black Resigns
l.d4 d5
2.Nf3 BfS
3.c4 e6
4.Nc3 c6
5.e3?! Nffi
6.Be2 Bd6
7.0-0 Nbd7
8.b3 0-0
9.Bb2 Ne4
This kind of position, arising out of the Slav (2 ... c6 ) Defense, offers
White little chance for a serious edge. In fact, Black, with ... Qf6-h6,
has the more aggressive thoughts.
10.Nxe4 dxe4!?
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO T H E QUEEN'S GAMBIT 23
l l .Ne5 Nffi
12.f4 exf3
13.Nxf3?
White's last two moves play into the enemy hands. Better was 12.
Qc2 or, ( after 12.f4) 13.gxf3.
13... Ng4
14.Qd2 Be4
15.h3 Bxf3
16.Rxf3 Nh2!
The rook, not the knight, is the endangered species on the kingside
now.
17.Rf2 Qh4
18.Bd l f5
19.Rf4 Ng4!
Now 20.hxg4 fxg4 2 l .Rxf8 + ? (else 21 ... Bxf4 and 22 ... g3 ) Rxf8 and
,
mates.
20.Rf3 Nffi
21 .Bc2 Ne4
22.Qel? Qxel +
23.Rxel Nd2!
(see next diagram)
24.Rf4!? g5!
25.Rf3 Nxf3 +
26.gxf3 Rad8
24 CHAPTER ONE: WHITE PLAYS 2. N13 -- BUT QUI ETLY
After 23...Nd2!
27.Re2 h6
28. Rg2 Kf7
29.Re2 Ke7
30.Kg2 Kd7
3l .c5 Bc7
It's merely the absence of an open file that keeps the game going.
Once Black has prepared ...g5-g4, it's all over.
l .d4 dS
2.Nf3 Bf5
3.c4 e6
4.Nc3 c6
5.Qb3 Qb6
6.Qxb6? axb6
7.Bf4 Nffi
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 25
8.Nd2 Nbd7
9.Rcl Be7
10.13 0-0
l l .e4 dxe4
12.fxe4 Bg6
13.a3?
White realizes that the opening of the center will benefit Black and
that's why he avoids 1 3.e5 Nh5 1 4.Be3 c5 ! ( 15.g4 cxd4 1 6.gxh5 dxe3
or 1 5.dxc5 Bxc5) . But the center is going to open one way or another.
13... eS!
14.dxe5 Ng4
15.Be2 NgxeS
16.0-0 Rfe8
1 7.Rcd1 Bf6
1 8.Nb3 Rad8
19.Rd2 Nf8!
20.Rfd1 Rxd2
2 1.Rxd2? Ned7!
26 CHAPTER ONE: WHITE PLAYS 2.Nf3 -- BUT QUI ETLY
This wins a pawn (22 ... Bxc3) and with it the game. I n a bid for
compensation White drops the Exchange.
22.Na4 Rxe4
23.Bd6? Bg5!
24.Nc3 ReS
25.Bxf8 Bxd2
26.Nxd2 Kxf8
27.Kf2 Nc5
28.Kf3 Nd3
29.b4 Ne5 +
30.Kf2 Bd3
3l .Bxd3 Nxd3 +
32.Kf3 f5 33.Nb3 Nel + 34.Kf2 Nc2 35.Nbl Ra8 36.c5 Nxa3 37.N l d2
bxc5 38.Nxc5 Ke7! 39.Nxb7 Rb8 40.Na5 Kd6 41.Ndc4 + Nxc4
42.Nxc4 + Kd5 43.Ne3 + Ke4 44.Nc2 c5 White Resigns
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 27
l .d4 dS
2.Nf3 85
3.c4 e6
4 Nc3
. c6
S.Qb3 Qb6
6.c5 Qxb3
7.axb3 Nd7?
8.b4 a6
9.b5 cxbS
lO.NxbS ReS
l l .Nc3 Ngffi
12.Bf4
White has a simple win ni ng plan now of b2-b4-b5 and there is not
much Black can do about it.
12... Be7
13.e3 Ne4
14.N xe4 dxe4
IS.NeS
15 ... Nxc5!?
16.dxc5 Bxc5
17.g4 Bb4 +
18.Ke2 Ke7!?
1 9.gxf5 Rhd8
20.Bh3 Rd2 +
2l.Kf1 Rcc2
22.Kg2!
(5 ) G. Garcia-Larsen, Linares 1 98 1
l .Nf3 d5
2.d4 BfS
3.c4 e6
4.Nc3 c6
5.Qb3 Qb6
6.c5 Qc7
7.g3 Nd7
8.Bf4 Qc8
9.Nh4 Ngffi
lO.NxfS ext'S
l l.Qc2 g6
12.Rd l hS!?
Bent Larsen likes to advance his h-pawns but here it seems a bit
too exotic. Perhaps he didn't l ike the looks of 12 ... Be7 1 3.Bh6. Or
perhaps he was anticipating 13.Bh3 with 13 ... h4.
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO T H E QUEEN'S GAMBIT 29
13.13!? Be7
14.h4 0-0
1 5.Bh3 ReS
1 6.0-0 Bd8!
1 7.e4?
1 7... dxe4
1 8.fxe4 Nxe4
19.Nxe4 Rxe4
20.Bg2 ReS
2l.d5
30 CHAPTER ONE: WHITE PLAYS 2.N13 -- BUT Q U I ETLY
21... cxd5
22.8xd5?! Qxc5 +
23.Qxc5 Nxc5
24.b4 Ne6
25.8xb7 Bb6 +
26.Khl Nxf4!
27.Rxf4 Rab8 28.Bd5 Bc7 29.Rc4 Bxg3 30.Rgl Re3 White Resigns
l .Nf3 d5
2.d4 BfS
3.c4 e6
4.Nc3 c6
5.Qb3 Qb6
6.c5 Qc7
7.Bf4 Qc8
8.Nh4!
"Much stronger than the mistaken developing move 8.e3," the
Soviet G M commented. Surprisingly, the effect of 8.Nh4 was more
or less forgotten after this game.
8... Nf6
9.Nxf5 ext'S
IO.e3 Be7
l l.Bd3 N h5?
12.Be5 0-0
13.h3! g6
14.g4 Ng7
15.Bxg7!? Kxg7
16.gxf5 Bh4
32 CHAPTER ONE: WHITE PLAYS 2.N1 3 - BUT Q U I ETLY
17.Qd l ! b6
18.cxb6 axb6
19.Qg4 Qd8
20.Ne2 Qe7
21.Kfl
This meets the threat of 2 1 . ..Qxe3 and gives White time for the
assault on g6.
21... Nd7
22.Nf4 Kh8
23.Rgl Rg8
24.fxg6 fxg6
25.Bxg6 !
And si nce 25 ... Nf8 26.Qh5 is quite lost, the game drew to a close
with ...
25... hxg6
26.Nxg6 + Rxg6
27.Qxg6 Nf6
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO T H E QUEEN'S GAMBIT 33
28.Rcl ! Rf8
29.Rxc6 Nh7 30.Rg2 Bffi 31.Qg4 Qb7 32.Qe6 Qa6 + 33.Kgl Ng5
34.Rxg5! Bxg5 35.Qe5 + Bffi 36.Rxffi Rg8 + 37.Rg6 + Black Resigns
l.d4 d5
2.Nf3 BfS
3.c4 e6
4.Nc3 c6
5.Qb3 Qb6
6.c5 Qc7
7.Bf4 Qc8
8.e3 Nd7
9.Rcl? Ngffi
I O.h3 Be7
l l.Be2 0-0
12.0-0 b6!
34 CHAPTER ONE: WHITE PLAYS 2.Nf3- BUT QUI ETLY
13.cxb6?! axb6
14.Nh4?! Be4
1 5.13 Bg6
16.Nxg6 hxg6
1 7.e4 Qb7!
18.exd5?
Logic suggests that his bishops need an open position, but this isn't
the way to do it. Black is now able to seize the e-file.
1 8... exd5
1 9.a3 Rfe8
20.Bd3
20... c5
2l.dxc5 Bxc5 +
22.Kh1 Be3!
23.Bxe3 Rxe3
24.Qdl d4!?
25.Ne4? Nc5!
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 35
26.Nxffi + gxffi
27.Bb5 Rd8
28.Rel Qe7
29.b4 Ne6
30.Rxe3 dxe3
31.Qel Nf4
32.Rc2 Qe5
Here or on the next move Black could have played the paralyzing
32 ... e2.
33.a4 Kg7 34.g3 !? Nxh3 35.Kg2 Ng5 36.Re2 QfS 37.Rxe3 Qh3 +
38.Kgl Rh8 39.KJ2 Qh2 + 40.Kfl ReS! 4l.Bd3? Rei! White Resigns
l .Nf3 d5
2.d4 BfS
3.c4 e6
4.Nc3 Nc6
36 CHAPTER ONE: WHITE PLAYS 2.Nf3- BUT QU IETLY
5.Bf4 Nffi
6.e3 Be7
7.Rcl 0-0
8.Be2 a6
9.0-0 h6
1 0.a3
1 O.a3? Actually, they each have a purpose (to prevent Nh4xf5 or keep
an enemy piece off b4 or b5) . But they reflect a mutual reluctance to
change the pawn structure.
10... dxc4
l l.Bxc4 NhS
12.Bg3 Nxg3
13.hxg3 Qd7
14.Qe2 Rfd8
IS.Rfd l Qe8
16.d5!
16... exdS
17.Bxd5 Bd6
18.Bxc6 Qxc6
19.Nd5 QbS!
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO T H E QUEEN'S GAMBIT 37
20.Qxb5 axbS
21.Nd4 Bg4!
22.13 c6!
23.fxg4 cxdS
24.Nxb5 Bxg3
25.Nc3 Be5 26.Rxd5 RxdS 27.Nxd5 Bxb2 28.Rbl Bxa3 29.Rxb7 Ra4
30.Rb8 + Kh7 3 1 .Rb7 Draw
38 CHAPTER TWO: 2.Nf3 -- MAIN LINE
l .d4 d5
2.Nt3 BfS
3.c4
After l.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5 some grandmasters believe the best move
of al l is 3.NtJ! transposing exactly into this position, so this subvaria
tion has particular significance.
3 ... e6
Black can also handle the position the way Frank Marshall did in
the 1920s, keeping the center fluid with 3 ...Nf6 (and then 4.cxd5 Nxd5
5.Qb3 e6 or 4.Qb3 Nc6 5 .Qxb7?? Bd7! and 6 . Rb8/7 ... Nb4).
..
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO T H E QUEEN'S GAMBIT 39
But solidifyi ng the center with 3 ...e6 is the move that puts White
to the test.
4.Qb3!
Also, 4.e3 agai n leads to little for White. The first edition of ECO
gave only 4 ... Nf6 but 4 ...c6! , creati ng a Slav, looks natural-- and quite
equal.
4... Nc6
5.c5!
In contrast, 5.cxd5 ?! exd5 leaves Black fairly well off. In the 1948
World Championship Tournament, Mikhail Botvinnik won a key
game from rival Paul Keres with 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Bxe7 N gxe7 8.e3 Qd6
9.Nbd2 (not 9.Nc3 Nb4 10.Rc 1 Bd3 ! ) 0-0 10.Rc1 a5 ! but it wasn't the
fault of Black's opening play.
Black can also try to compl icate the game with 6 ... Qd7 7.Nc3 f6
8. Bf4 Nb4 or 8 ... Na5 or even 8 ... g5 followed by queenside castling.
5... Rb8
There followed 6.e3 Nf6 7.Bb5 Nd7!. This safeguards against Ne5
at the cost of a pawn: 8.Qa4 Be7 9.Bxc6 bxc6 1 0.Qxc6 0-0 1 1 .0-0 Rb8
12.Qa4 Bd3 13.Re 1 e5 and the game, against Boris Gulko, was
eventually drawn.
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 41
6.Nc3
The chief alternative here is 6.Bf4 which stops 6 ... e5. Then 6 ... Nge7
7.Nc3 a6 will transpose back into our main line.
Meanwhi le, 7.e3 a6 8.Qa4 Ng6 9.Bg3 Be7 leads to a new set of
problems for both sides. After 10.Nbd2? 0-0 ll.Rcl Bf6! Black gets
... e6-e5 in and that is usually enough to equalize. It seems that White
should keep Nc3 and Rdl in hand to deter the Black e-pawn. See
Illustrative Game 1 1.
6 ... a6
42 CHAPTER TWO: 2.Nf3 - MAIN LINE
Compare this with 6...Be7, which has two useful ideas behind it:
...Bf6 and ... Nge7 or the kingside expansion of ... g7-g5 after White
plays Bf4. However, this neglects the queenside problem and after
7.Bf4 g5 8.Bg3 g4 9.Ne5 Bf6 10.Qa4! Nge7 1l.Nxc6 Black's queen
side is a mess but he has tactical chances. See Illustrative Game 9.
On the other hand, Keres' 6 ... e5? (based on 7.Qxd5 Qxd5 8.Nxd5
exd4 9.Nxc7 + Kd7) was dealt a serious blow by Lajos Ponisch at
Wijk aan Zee 1971: 7.e4! exd4 8.exf5 dxc3 9.Bb5 Bxc5 10.0-0 Nf6
1l.Qxc3 with a big edge.
7.Bf4
7... Nge7
After 7...Nf6 8.e3 Be7 Black has a minor threat of 9...Nh5 -- minor,
but it should be respected because 10.Bg3 Nxg3 and 1l...Bf6 will
allow him to eventually push the e-pawn.
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 43
White can anticipate the challenge to his bishop with 9.h3. But then
9...0-0 and Black has 10...b6 coming up. For example, 10.Be2 b6
ll.Qa4 Qd7 12.Bxa6 Ra8 or 10.Qa4 b5!?.
8.e3 N g6
9.Bg3 Be7
Because Black has two pawn levers,White can not load up against
one of them. For example, IO.Rdl would discourage ...e6-e5. But it
makes 10...0-0 ll.Be2 b6 very appealing (12.cxb6 Rxb613.Qa4 Nb4).
10.Be2
1 0... 0-0
1 1 .0-0 Qd7
44 CHAPTER TWO: 2.Nf3 - MAIN LINE
9.Bh4 Be7 10.Be2 0-0 ll.Rcl in White's favor, but suggests 7 ...Qd5!?
as an improvement.
5... dxc4!?
6.Qxb7 Nge7
7.Qb5! Rb8
8.Qa4 Rxb2
9.Na3
9... Qd7
10.Nxc4 Rb8
l l .e3 Nb4
46 CHAPTER TWO: 2.N13 - MAIN LINE
12.Qxd7 + Kxd7
13.Bxb4 Rxb4
14.N ce5 + Ke8
ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES
l.d4 dS
2.Nt3 Bf5
3.c4 e6
4.Qb3 Nc6
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 47
5.c5 Rb8
6.Nc3 Be7
7.Bf4 g5!?
8.Bg3 g4
Not as risky as it seems, since White has little access to the kingside
now. Black is willing to accept the doubling of his c-pawns.
9.Ne5 Bffi
IO.Qa4 Nge7
l l .Nxc6 bxc6
12.b3 0-0
13.e3 Qd7
14.Be2 N g6
15.0-0 Bg5
Here's Black's problem: He has some active pieces but the king
side and center are closed in a manner that keeps his queen and rooks
from complementing them. He would like to shoot his h-pawn up
the board butWhite is making steady progress on the other wing ( 16.
Qa5 Rfc8 17.Ba6; 16...Bd8 17.Qxa7).
16.Qa5 e5!?
1 7.dxe5 Rfe8
1 8.Rad l !
48 CHAPTER TWO: 2.Nf3 - MAIN LINE
White has 19.e4 (or as it turns out Ne4) just in time. This is a
recurring danger to Black when he hurries ...e6-e5: His d5-pawn then
falls under immediate pressure.
18... Be6
19.Ne4! Qe7
20.Nxg5 Qxg5
2 1.Qxc7
l.Nt3 d5
2.d4 81'5
3.c4 e6
4.Qb3 Nc6
5.c5! Rb8
6.Nc3 Be7
7.h3
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 49
7... Nffi
8.Bf4 a6
9.e3 Ne4!
10.Be2
On 10.Nxe4 Bxe4 ll.Be2 0-0 and 12...Bf6, Black has an easy game.
1 0... gS!?
l l.Bh2 hS
12.Nxe4? Bxe4
13.0-0-0 b6!?
14.Nd2 Bg6
15.Bxa6 bxc5
1 6.Qa4 0-0!
17.dxc5 Qd7
18.Nb3
18 ... Rb4!
19.Qa3 Ra8
20.Rd2 Ra7
2l.Kdl Qe8
22.Nd4 Bxc5
23.Qa4??
l .Nf3 d5
2.d4 BfS
3.c4 e6
4.Qb3 Nc6
5.c5 Rb8
6.Bf4 Nge7
7.e3 a6
8.Qa4 N g6
9.Bg3 Be7
I O.Nbd2 0-0
l l .Rcl ?
White this time has geared up to stop ... b7-b6. He is taking many
precautions based on the assumption that Black can't open the center
-- or won't do anything with an open center when he does open it.
1 1... Bffi!
12.Be2 e5
13.Nb3 e4
Suddenly it's Black who has a space advantage and a clear plan of
. f7-f5-f4.
..
14.Nfd.2 Bd7!
15.Qa3 BgS
16.Na5 f5
17 .N xc6 Bxc6
18.0-0
18... f4!
19.exf4 Nxf4
20.Bxf4 Bxf4
21 .Rcd l Qg5
22.Qc3 Bd7
Target: g2.
l.Nf3 d5
2.d4 BfS
3.c4 e6
4.Qb3 Nc6
5.c5 Rb8
6.Nc3 Nffi
7.Bf4 a6
8.e3 Be7
9.Be2 Ne4
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO T H E QU EEN'S GAMBIT 53
I O.Nxe4 Bxe4
1 1.0-0 0-0
12.Qc3 Bf6
13.Rfdl Qe7
14.Ne5!
14... Bxe5
15.d.xe5 h6
1 6.b4 f6
17.exf6 Rxf6
18.Bg3 Rbt8
1 9.a4 Qf7
20.t3 Bf5
2 l.b5 axb5
22.axb5
Black's worst nightmare has come true: The queenside pawns can
advance further.
22... Nb8 23.c6! bxc6 24.bxc6 Rg6 25.e4 dxe4 26.Ra8 Black Resigns
54 CHAPTER THREE: WHITE PLAYS 2.c4 AND 3.Nc3
l .d4 d5
2.c4
In this, the most natural move order, Black is risking a bit more
than after 2.NtJ Bf5, since his center is not yet secure and can be
dissolved with 3.cxd5 (which we'll examine in Chapter Five).
2... BfS
3.Nc3
T H E BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 55
Now, it seems, Black does not have enough time to protect both
b7 and d5 before 4.Qb3 makes one of them indefensible.
3 ... e6!
4.Qb3
Naturally, 4.Nf3 would have been Chapter One all over again -
and some analysts, such as Nikolai Minev, have called that White's
best option.
4... Nc6!
But this is why it's not very good. On 5.Qxb7 Nxd4 Black has . ..Rb8
and a big knight check corning up.
5.cxd5 exd5
56 CHAPTER THREE: WHITE PLAYS 2.c4 AND 3.Nc3
White can temporarily sacrifice a piece with 7.Qe3 Qxd5 8.f3 but
after 8...Nxd4 9.fxe4 Nc2 + 10.Kt2 Qc5! he doesn't get the piece back.
(b) Again 6.Qxb7? Nxd4 runsWhite into trouble (7.e4 Rb8! and
wins).
(c) 6.e4 has been analyzed by the Russians with published analysis
that give: 6...dxe4 7.d5 Ne5 8.Qxb7 and 7.Qxb7 Nxd4 8.Bb5 + a-;
"unclear."
But in the first line 7.. Nb4 is better than 7...Ne5. And in the latter
line 8 ...Nxb5 9.Nxb5? Bb4 + or 9.Qxb5 + Qd7 is not at all unclear.
6.Nt3
6... Bb4
The main alternative here is 6 ... Nf6, which once again dares White
to play 7.Qxb7? (7... Nb4 ).
The problem with 6 ... Nf6 is the p inning effect of 7.Bg5 !. Vladimir
Malaniuk has had a good deal of experience as Black with 7 ..Na5
8.Qa4 + c6. One of his opponents played 9.Bxf6 gxf6 1 0.e3 but
S8 CHAPTER THREE: WHITE PLAYS 2.c4 AND 3.Nc3
7.Bf4
7... aS
ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES
Although not involving a trap, this game shows how quickly Black
can develop an overwhelming initiative with relatively simple moves
(14-22).
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO T H E QUEEN'S GAMBIT 59
l .d4 d5
2.c4 BfS
3.Nc3 e6
4.Qb3 Nc6
5.cxd5 exd5
6.Be3?
6... Nffi
7.g3 Na5!
S.Qdl c6
9.Bg2 Nc4
I O.Bcl Bb4
l l.e3 0-0
12.Nge2 Qd7?
13.0-0 Qe7
14.a3 Bd6
15.Qb3 a5
60 CHAPTER THREE: WHITE PLAYS 2.c4 AND 3.Nc3
16.a4 Rfe8
1 7.Khl h5!
18.Ngl ?
18... h4
1 9.gxh4? Ng4
20.Nf3 Bxh2!
21.e4 dxe4
22.Bg5 Qc7
23.Qxc4
23... exf3
White Resigns
l.d4 d5
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO T H E QUEEN'S GAMBIT 61
2.c4 BfS
3.Nc3 e6
4.cxd5 exdS
5.Qb3 Nc6
6.Nf3 Nffi
7.8g5
7... NaS
8.Qa4 + c6
9.e3 bS!?
It's not clear what Malaniuk has against 9 ..Be7, since 10.b4 Nc4
.
lO.BxbS! cxbS
62 CHAPTER THREE: WHITE PLAYS 2.c4 AND 3.Nc3
l l.QxbS + Bd7
12.Bxffi ! gxffi
13.Qxd5 Rb8
14.0-0 Be7
15.Qh5 0-0
1 6.Nd5 ReS
1 7.Rfcl !
1 7... Nc6
18.b3 ReS
19.Nh4 Nb4
20.Nxb4 Bxb4
21.Nf5 Bf8
22.Nh6 + Bxh6
23.Qxh6 Bf5
24.Rxc8 Qxc8
25.Qxffi Qc3
26.Qg5 + Draw
l .d4 d5
2.c4 Bf5
3.Nc3 e6
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 63
4.cxd5 exd5
5.Qb3 Nc6
6.Nf3 Bb4
7.a3 Bxc3 +
8.Qxc3 Nffi
9.Bg5!
9... 0-0
10.e3 h6
l l.Bxffi Qxffi
12.Be2 Rfc8
This looks like the WTong rook, since he needs one for the e-file
(and his 1 6th move admits as much ). Black will correct his pawn
structure with an eventual ... c7-c6, leaving White with one play: the
minority attack.
13.0-0 Ne7
14.Rfcl c6
15.b4 N g6
16.Nel !
64 CHAPTER THREE: WHITE PLAYS 2.c4 AND 3.Nc3
Black's best chances naturally lie on the kingside and this preven
tive move anticipates ...Bg4 and ... Nh4 while aiming to bring the
knight to d3 and perhaps c5 or b4.
16... ReS
1 7.a4 Re6
18.b5 Rae8
19.Qa5 Qe7
20.Bd3 b6
21.Qc3
21... Bxd3
22.Nxd3 cxb5
23.axb5 Qd7
24.Qb3 Rffi
25.Rc2 Nh4
26.Ne5 QfS
27.Rxa7?
27... Nxg2!
28.Rac7?
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO T H E QUEEN'S GAMBIT 65
Not willing to see if there's more than a draw from 28.Kxg2 Rxe5 !,
White turns the tables 1 80 degrees.
28... Nh4
29.f4 Qe4!
30.Rc8 Rfe6
31.Rxe8 + Rxe8
32.Re2 Ra8
33.Qdl NfS
34.Qd3 Ra l +
35.102 Qhl !
36.Rc2 Qgl +
37.Ke2 Qg2 + mate
66 CHAPTER FOUR: THE GRAU GAMBIT
l .d4 d5
2.c4 BfS
3.Qb3
3... eS!
obvious after 9 ... QbB 10.Be2 Rb4 l l .Qc6 Rb6 1 2.Qc4 Rb4 13.Qa6!
Rb6 14.Qa4 Rb4 1 5.Qa5 c6 1 6.a3 Rb7 1 7.Ba6 and 1 8.()-0.
4.Qxb7
The real test of5 ... Bc5 is 6.Nxd4 Bxd4 7.Qa4 + after which 7 ... Nc6!
8.dxc6 b5 9.Qxb5 Ne7 is a dangerous attacking line.
Nxc6 13.Qd 1 Re8 + 14.Bd3 Qxd4 and Black soon had a won en
dgame.
4••. Nd7!
5.Nc3
On 5.cxd5 Black maintains his initiative with 5 ... Bxb 1 6.Rxb 1 and
then 6 ... Rb8 and ... Bb4 + .
7.Bf4
Probably better is 7.e4!? after which 7... Bxe4 allows 8.Nxc7 + and
9.Qxe4.
Best of all may be the simple 7 ...Bg6 which renews Black's ideas
of 8 ... Rb8 and 8 ... Ne7.
7... Bxf4
8.Nxf4 Ngffi
9.0-0-0
ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES
l .d4 d5
2.c4 Bf5
3.Qb3 e5
4.Qxb7 Nd7
5.dxe5? d4
6.Nt3 Rb8
7.Qd5 Bb4 +
8.Nbd2 c5!
9.e6
Otherwise 9 ... Ne7 traps the queen. The game now begins to look
like a rout.
9... fxe6
10.Qd6 Ngffi
l l.h3 Ne4!
12.Qa6 0-0
13.a3 Ba5!
14.b4
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO T H E QUEEN'S GAMBIT 71
14 ... cxb4
15.Nxe4 Bxe4
16.Qxe6 + Kh8
1 7.Qxe4 Nc5!
18.Qe5
18 ... Nb3
19.axb4!? Bxb4 +
20.Kd l Nxal
2I.e4?! dxe3 +
22.Ke2 Qc8
l .d4 d5
2.c4 BfS
3.Qb3 e5
4.Qxb7 Nd7
5.Nc3 exd4
6.Nxd5 Bd6
72 CHAPTER FOUR: THE GRAU GAMBIT
7.Bf4 Bxf4
8.Nxf4 c5
9.Nd5 Rb8!
IO.Nc7 + Kf8
l l.Qxa7
1 1... Ne7
12.Nb5 Nc6
13.Qa6 Rb6
14.Qa4 Nb4
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO T H E QUEEN'S GAMBIT 73
The threats of 15 ... Nc2 + and 15 ... Ra6 are immediately decisive.
I S.Rcl Ra6
16.Qdl Rxa2
17.Qd2 Qa5
1 8.e4 Rxb2!
l.d4 d5
2.c4 BfS
3.Qb3 e5
4.Qxb7 Nd7
5.Nc3 exd4
6.Nxd5 Bd6
7.Bf4 Bxf4
8.Nxf4 Ngffi
9.0-0-0 c5
Black can now castle and quickly develop an attack with . Qa5. His
. .
queen maneuver in the game only helps White find a tactical device.
1 0.13 Rb8
l l.Qa6 Qc7?!
12.g3 QeS
13.e4! dxe3
14.Qa3 0-0
15.Bd3 Rb4
16.Qc3!
16... Bxd3
17.Rxd3 Ne4!?
18.Qxe5 Nxe5
19.fxe4 Nxd3 +
20.Nxd3 Rxc4 +
21.Kdl Rd8
22.Ke2 Rc2 +
23.Kxe3 c4!
If all the queenside pawns are exchanged off, White has winning
chances. But the text gives Black, if anyone, the better chances.
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 75
24.Nf2 Rxb2
25.Nf3 Rxa2
26.Rcl Ra3 +
27.Ke2 c3
28.Rc2 ffi
29.Ndl ReS
30.Kd3 a5
31.Nxc3 a4
32.Rc I Rb3 33.N d4 Rb4 34.Ral Ra8 35.Nc2 Rb.3 36.N d4 Rb4 37.N c2
Rb.3 38.N d4 Draw
76 CHAPTER FIVE: WHITE DISSOLVES THE CENTER WITH 3.cxd5
l.d4 d5
2.c4 Bf5
3.cxd5 Bxb 1 !
The natural move here, or course, is (a) 4.Rxbl but this is rarely
played.We will also examine two other possibilities -- (b) 4.Qa4 +
and then 4 ... c6 5.dxc6 as well as (c) 4.Qa4 + c6 5.Rxbl.
(a) 4.Rxbl
T H E BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT n
The initiative that Black o btains with his next move turns out to be
lasting. He can then continue with ...Nc6 and ...0-0-0, which in many
calies will doom the d4-pawn.
4... Qxd5
... . . ••••
r.:&'§ • • • • � •
� .... � . .. . ...
•
• • •
. ..... . .
. fB'i
• � . � .
-
• • • •
<!!> ?� �;.- <!!> � <!!> �
�� f$� � u n. �
• � a���� �
5.a3
Better, after 5.Qa4 + Nc6 is 6.e3 and then 6 ... e5 7.b4 0-0 8.Nf3
exd4 9.Bb5 a� in Alexandrov-Svidler, Alma Ata 199 1 (9 ... Nge7 10.0-
0 Kb8 l l .Rd 1 a6 1 2.Be2 Qe6 13.b5 ! with a winning attack).
5... Nc6
6.Nf3
Here 6.e3 looks better because of the idea of 6 ... 0-0-0 7.Ne2 ! and
8.Nc3. If Black may has to defend with 7 ...Qh5 ! ? 8.Qc2 Qg6 a� in one
recent game (see Illustrative Game 1 9), then 6.e3 must be consid
ered an improvement.
One possibility for Black is 6 ... e5 ! ? but even in the line above he
can do better with 7 ... Nf6 (instead of 7 ... Qh5) 8.Nc3 Qg5 ! a� in
Crouch-Shirov.
6... 0-0-0
7.Qc2!
7... Nxd4
8.Nxd4 Qxd4
9.g3
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 79
(b) 4.Qa4 +
l.d4 d5
2.c4 BfS
3.cxd5 Bxbl
4.Qa4 +
Now 4 ... Nd7 5.Rb 1 Ngf6 has been suggested, by Nikolai Minev,
without further analysis. After 6.e3 Nxd5 7.Nf3 Black's pieces are not
a� lively as in section (c) below.
Black can also try this idea with queens off the board: 4 ... Qd7
5.Qxd7 + Nxd7 6.Rxb 1 Ngf6. Clearly, Black will regain the d5-pawn
and achieve material equality.
4... c6!
80 CHAPTER FIVE: WHITE DISSOLVES THE CENTER WITH 3.cxd5
5... Nxc6
6.Rxbl
Once Black regains his pawn the position may resemble a bad
version of the Albin Counter Gambit. For example, 7 ... exd4 8.Nf3
Qd5 9.g3 Bc5 1 0.Bg2 Nge7 1 1 .(}-0 and now 1 1 ...0-0? 1 2.Ng5! Qd7
13.Nxh7! worked perfectly in a Soviet game, Vaulin-Fadeev,
Yevpatoria 1 985.
Black does better with 7 ... Qxd4 8.Qxd4 and now 8 ... Nxd4 9.e3!
favors the bishops, according to Shirov (9 ... Nc6 1 0.Bb5 Rc8 l l .Nf3
Bd6 12.Bc3 f6 13.Nd2 or 10 ... Bd6 1 1 .Bxc6 + ! bxc6 12.Nf3 Ne7 13.e4 ).
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 81
But 8 .. exd4 !?, an idea of Malaniu k's seems OK. Black will play
.
6... Qxd4!
Black gets the same kind of endgame as in the last note but with
... e7-e6 instead of ... e7-e5, which concedes too much light-square
terrain.
That leaves only 7.Bd2 Nf6 and now not 8.e3 e5 9.Ne2 with
advantage to White but 8 ... Ne4!? 9.Nf3 Nxd2 1 0.Nxd2 e5 l l .Qb5
Qd7 12.d5 Bb4 1 3.Rd l 0-0-0! ?.
7.Qxd4
7... Nxd4
8.Nt3
After 8.e3 Black plays 8 ... Nc6 9.Bb5 Rc8 followed by ... Bd6 and
... Nge7. A quick draw was seen in Kishinev-Svidler, Copenhagen
1991 with 10.Bd2 a6 l l .Ba4 b5 12.Bd l e6 1 3.Rc l Bd6 and 14 ... Kd7.
82 CHAPTER FIVE: WHITE DISSOLVES THE CENTER WITH 3.cxd5
8... Nc2 + !
9.Kd l Nb4
(c) S.Rxbl
l.d4 d5
2.c4 BfS
3.cxd5 Bxbl
4.Qa4 + c6
S.Rxbl QxdS
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 83
6.Nf3
Both moves may involve the sacrifice of the a-pawn. For example,
6.e3 Nd7 7.Ne2 Nb6 and now 8.Qb3 Qxb3 is harmless while 8.Qc2
Qxa2 9.N c3 Qe6 1 O.b4 offered White good play in a 1 982 Soviet game
(Illustrative Game 20).
6... Nd7
(cl ) 7.a3
l.d4 dS
2.c4 Bf5
3.cxd5 Bxbl
4.Qa4 + c6
S.Rxbl cxdS
6.Nf3 Nd7
7.a3
A modest move that solves the ... Qxa2 problem once and for all.
7... Ngffi
8.e3
84 CHAPTER FIVE: WHITE DISSOLVES THE CENTER WITH 3.cxd5
After 8.Qc2 Black has enough time to play 8... e5! and then 9.e3 e4 !
(not 9 ... exd4 I O.Bc4 ). See Illustrative Game 22, won by Rausis.
8... e6
Another Rausis game went 8 ... Qe4 9.Ra 1 e5 and then 1 0.Bd2 N c5 !
with a strong attack ( l l .Qd 1 exd4 1 2.Nxd4 0-0-0 13.f3 Qe5).
9.8e2
For example, 9.Qc2 Bd6 I O.Bd3 Qh5 !? and now 1 1.0-0? allows
l l ...g5 ! . The threat of 12 ... g4 is powerful and in Sakayev- Akopian,
Sochi 1 986, White decided to look for compensation with 1 2.e4 g4
13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Bxe5 but never achieved any.
9... a5
10.0-0 Bd6
And with ... e6-e5 corning up, Black should have a comfortable
rniddlegame. See Illustrative Game 2 1 .
(c2) 7.e3
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 85
l .d4 d5
2.c4 BfS
3.cxd5 Bxbl
4.Qa4 + c6
5.Rxbl Qxd5
6.Nf3 Nd7
7.e3
We should take note of 7.b4 Ngf6 8.e3 which transposes into our
main line below.
7••• Ngffi
Not 7 ... e5? 8.Bc4 which favors White. But 7 ... Nb6 forces either a
more questionable pawn sac (8.Qc2 Qxa2) or 8.Qb3 Qxb3 9.axb3 e6
with unclear chances.
8.b4 e6
9.Qc2
1 1 .Bd3 Qg4 and White must sacrifice a pawn. After 1 2.0-0 axb4
13.Bd2 there were chances for both sides for Black seems to be doing
quite well.
(c3) 7.Bd2
l .d4 d5
2.c4 BfS
86 CHAPTER FIVE: WHITE DISSOLVES THE CENTER WITH 3.cxd5
3.cxd5 Bxbl
4.Qa4 + c6
5.Rxbl Qxd5
6.Nf3 Nd7
7.Bd2
This is the best White can do with this bishop because 7.Bf4? is a
blunder, hanging a piece to 7 ... Qf5 ! . Almost unexplored is 7.g3 after
which 7 ... Nb6 8.Qb3 Qxb3 9.axb3 e6 leads to an even game in
Christiansen-Senador, Manila 1992 ( 10.Bd2 Nf6 1 1 .Bg2 Be7 12.0-0
0- 0 13.Ra 1 Nfd5 14.Rfcl Bb4 ! ).
7... Ngffi
8.e3 e6
Not 8 ... e5? because of 9.Bc4 Qd6 1 0.Qb3 or 9 ... Qe4? 1 0.Bxf7 + .
In other words, Black has to be very careful about further loosening
of the light-colored squares.
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 87
9.Bc4
9... QfS
I O.Qdl
10... Bd5
1 1 .0-0 0-0
Time to take stock. White seems to have the superior center and
holds the two bishops. But his only clear plans are the advance of the
e-pawn -- a neat trick here -- or of the b-pawn. As long as Black
controls d5 and e4 he should be OK. And his future includes ... e6-
e5-e4.
1 2 ... Ne4 13.Bd3 Qd5 keeps control. See Illustrative Game 24.
l.d4 d5
2.c4 815
3.cxd5 Bxbl
4.Rxbl Qxd5
5.a3 Nc6
6.e3 0-0-0
7.Ne2! Qh5
8. Qc2 Qg6
9.Qxg6 hxg6
1 0.b4 Nffi
l l .b5?! NbS
12.Nc3 Nbd7
13.Bc4 e6
14.a4 Nb6
15.Be2 Nbd5
16.Nxd5 exdS
1 7.g3 Bd6
18.0-0 Ne4
19.Rb3 fS!
20.13 Nffi
2l.Bd3 Rh3
22.Rf2 Rdh8
23.Rg2 Kd7!
Preparing to protect the f5 pawn with his king so he can push the
g-pawn.
24.a5 Ke6
25.a6 b6
26.Ba3! gS
27.Bxd6 cxd6!
l .d4 d5
2.c4 BfS
3.cxd5 Bxb1
4.Qa4 + c6
5.Rxb1 Qxd5
6.e3 Nd7
7.Ne2 Nb6
8.Qc2! Qxa2
9.Nc3 Qe6
10.b4
Now, for example, 10 ... a6 (to stop 1 1 .b5 ) 1 1 .Ne4 and 1 2.Nc5 or just
l l .Be2 followed by 1 2.0-0, 13.Rd 1 and 14.Bf3 offer obvious compen-
sation.
10... Nffi
l l .b5 Qd7
12.bxc6 bxc6
13.Na4 Nxa4
14.Qxa4 Ne4!
15.Rb6! ReS
16.Ra6 e6
17.Bc4 Rc7
18.0-0
18... Be7
19.Qc2 Nf6
20.Bb2 0-0
21.e4 Rb8
22.Bc3 Bb4!
23.Bal Rb6
24.Rdl Rxa6
25.Bxa6 Bf8
26.Bc3 Qe8
27.Ba5 Rd7
28.e5 Nd5
29.Qxc6
White regains the pawn but after Black's next move he finds it hard
to defend d his d-pawn and make progress at the same time.
29... Rd8
30.Qxe8 Rxe8
31 .Rbl Bb4!
32.Bb5
32... Rb8
92 CHAPTER FIVE: WHITE DISSOLVES THE CENTER WITH 3.cxd5
33.Bc6 Bd6!
34.Rxb8 + Bxb8
35.Kfl Bc7!
36.Bxc7 Nxc7 37.Ke2 Kf8 38.Kd3 Ke7 39.Kc4 g5 40.g3 h6 41 .f4 gxf4
Draw
l .d4 d5
2.c4 81'5
3.cxd5 Bxbl
4.Qa4 + c6
5.Rxb1 Qxd5
6.Nf3 Nd7
7.a3 Ngffi
8.e3 e6
9.Be2 a5
10.0-0 Bd6
1 l.N d2
1 1... Bc7
12.Bf3 Qd6
13.g3 0-0
14.Qc2 Rfe8
1 5.Nc4 Qe7
1 6.e4 b5!?
T H E BALTIC DEFENSE TO T H E QUEEN'S GAMBIT 93
17.Ne3 Bb6
18.e5 Nd5
19.Qxc6 Bxd4
20.Nxd5 exd5
2l.Qxb5 Nxe5
22.Bxd5 Rab8
23.Qxa5 Qd7
24.8g2 Nd3
25.Be3! Bxe3
26.fxe3 Rxe3
27.Rbdl Re2
28.Bd5! Qh3!
29.Rxf7! Qxh2 +
30.Kfl Kh8
94 CHAPTER FIVE: WHITE DISSOLVES THE CENTER WITH 3.cxd5
31.Rxd3! Rbe8
32.Rd l Qh3 +
33.Kgl Qxg3 +
34.Kfl Qh3 +
35.Kgl Qg4 +
36.Kfl R2e3!
Black had to find a dark square to attack and it is g1 (via 37 ... Rg2
and 33 Rg 1 + )
. . . .
l .d4 d5
2.c4 Bf5
3.cxd5 Bxbl
4.Qa4 + c6
5.Rxbl Qxd5
6.Nf3 Nd7
7.a3 Ngffi
8.Qc2 e5
White's loss of time has cost him the chance to play 9 Bc4. Now
9.dxe5 Nxe5 1 0.Nxe5 Qxe5 l l .Bd2 can be safely met by l l . . Qe4 or.
1 1 ... Ne4.
9.e3 e4
10.Nd2 Be7
l l .g3 0-0!
12.Bc4 Qf5
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 95
13.13 Qh5
14.fxe4 Ng4
15.Nb3 Nxe3!
16.Bxe3 Qf3
1 7.Kd2 Nffi
18.Rbel b5!
19.Be2 Nxe4 +
20.Kd3 QfS
21.Rhfl Qg6
22.Rf4 Rae8
23.Rxe4 Bb4!
The next two games should be compared with one another because
of their similar development and because of the outcome of the
Ne5 ! ? sacrifices.
96 CHAPTER FIVE: WHITE DISSOLVES THE CENTER WITH J.cxdS
l .d4 d5
2.c4 Bf5
3.cxd5 Bxbl
4.Qa4 + c6
5.Rxbl Qxd5
6.Nf3 Nd7
7.e3 e6
8.Bd2 Ngffi
9.Qc2 Ne4
I O.Bc4 Qf5
l l.Bd3 Ndf6
12.0-0 Bd6
13.Ne5! Bxe5
14.dxe5 Qxe5
15.f4 Qd6
16.Bel
16... Nc5
17.Rdl Nxd3
18.Rxd3 Qe7
If the queen goes to c7 then White would put the bishop on c3. But
now:
19.Bh4! Rd8
20.Rb3 Rd7
21.e4 Qd6
22.e5 Qd4 +
23.Khl ?
An error which should allow Black to seize the edge with 23 ... Ne4!.
Correct was 23.Bf2 Qe4 24.Qc l !, retaining compensation.
23... Nd5?
24.Rxb7! Nb4
25.Rb8 + Rd8
26.Qc3! Black Resigns
l .d4 d5
2.c4 BfS
3.cxd5 Bxbl
4.Qa4 + c6
5.Rxbl Qxd5
98 CHAPTER FIVE: WH ITE DISSOLVES THE CENTER WITH 3.cxd5
6.Nf3 Nd7
7.Bd2 Ngffi
8.e3 e6
9.Bc4 QfS
10.Qd1 Bd6
1 1 .0-0 0-0
12.Re1 Ne4
13.Bd3 Qd5
14.Bcl ?!
White's faith in the two bishops is justified if Black opens the game
prematu rely ( 14 ...Ngf6 1 5 .Qc2 c5 ? 1 6.dxc5 Bxc5 1 7.Bc4 and 1 8.b4).
14... Ndffi
15.Qc2 Rfc8!
1 6.Ne5!?
16... Bxe5
1 7.dxe5 Rd8
1 8.exffi Qxd3
1 9.Qxd3 Rxd3
20.fxg7 Rad8
THE BALTIC DEFENSE TO THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 99
2l.Kfl fS!
Black must make the remaining bishop inferior to the knight. His
initiative is bound to run out of energy (2 1 ...Nd2ch 22.Bxd2 Rxd2
23.Re2) so Black must find a different way to win.
22.Ke2 Kxg7
23.13 Nffi
24.b3 Kf7
25.Rb2 e5
26.Rd2 Rxd2 +
27.Bxd2 Ke6
28.Rcl Rg8
29.g3?
29... hS
30.Rc4 e4!
31 .Bel Rd8
32.fxe4 Nxe4
33.h3 c5
34.Ra4?! a6
35.g4 hxg4
36.hxg4 Rh8
37.gxf5 + Kxf5
38.Rc4 bS
39.Rc2 Rhl
40.Ba5 Rh2 +
4 1 .Kd3 Nt2 +
1 00 CHAPTER FIVE: WHITE DISSOLVES THE CENTER WITH 3.cxd5
42.Ke2
42... Ng4 +
43.Kd3 Ne5 +
44.Kc3 b4 +
White Resigns
TABLE OF CONTENTS