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Richter Veresov Gufeld Stetsko 1999 V2 PDF
Richter Veresov Gufeld Stetsko 1999 V2 PDF
Richter Veresov Gufeld Stetsko 1999 V2 PDF
Richter-Veresov System
The Chameleon Chess Repertoire
1. d4 NIB 2. Ne3 d5 3. 115
by
grandmaster
Eduard Gufeld
&
master
Oleg Stetsko
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annotated databases.
ISBN: 0-938650-97-1
December 1 999
Requests for permissions and republication rights should be addressed in writing to:
Contents
Symbols .................... ........................................................................... 4
Preface ................................................................................................. 5
Introduction .............. .................. ..... .................... ............................... 6
1. d4 N£62. Nc3 d5 3. BgS
One: 3 ... c5 ................................................................................... 13
Two: 3... c54. e3 ......................................................................•..... 21
Three: 3 ..• B£5 . . . .. . . . . . .
. . ... .. .. . .. . . . ...................................................... 24
Four: 3 ... B£54. Bxf6 ...................................................................... 30
Five: 3... B£54. e3 ..........................................................................• 38
Six: 3... Nbd7 4. Nf3/4. e3 ..................................................... ........ . 41
Seven: 3... Nbd7 4. Nf3e6............................................................... 49
Eight: 3... Nbd7 4. Nf3g6 . ..... .. .
..... ................................................. 60
Nine: � ... Nbd7 4. Qd3 . ... ... . . . .. .. . ..... .. . .... . . .. . .. .... .
. . . . . ... . .... ...... ..... .. . 72
.
The Authors . .
. .... ..... . . . . . .. .
.. .. ........ ... . . . . .. .. . .... . ..
. . . . . .. . . ... . . . . 189
..... ... ... ..
Bibliography
Preface
y good friend Bob Long is a staunch advocate of the Richter�Veresov
M opening, which he employs for the psychological reason of steering (perhaps
herding is more appropriate) his opponents into unfamiliar territory on the
second move: 2. N c3 . This denies Black the chance to play the typical responses
to 1 . d4, that is, the Queen's Gambit, the King's Indian, or the Griinfeld. For
his psychological motives and his numerous games with the Richter�Veresov,
I must grant Mr. Long a Doctorate in Psychology.
Aside from the psychological advantages of playing this opening, UDr:' Long
demonstrates that the Richter allows White the option of central or kingside
play. The following game illustrates this feature quite nicely, and it shows how
the accumulation of small advantages results in a strong attack.
Long-Sholl, Moline, IL 1 992: 1 . d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3 . Bg5 Bf5 [3 . . . Nbd7 is more
popular these days] 4. f3 [Supporting central play with an eventual e4, or kingside
play with g4.] c6 5 . g4! ? [An interesting and aggressive plan.] Bg6 6. h4 h6 7.
Bf4 e6 8 . e3 Bd6 9. Nh3 Qc7 10. Bd3 e5 [If 10 ... Bxd3 1 1 . Qxd3 , White will
castle long and utilize his kingside advantage. Therefore, Black. tries for counterplay
in the center.] 1 1 . dxe5 Bxe5 12. Bxg6 fxg6 1 3 . Qd3 Bxc3 t [If 13 . . . Kf7, then
14. Bxd6 Qxd6 1 5 . Nf4.] 14. Qxc3 Qf7 1 5 . O�O�O [Or 1 5 . g5 hxg5 1 6 . Nxg5 Qe7 .]
Nbd7 1 6 . Qb4! ! ' A grandmaster move which prevents castling on both wings
and exploits Black's weakened dark squares, for if 1 6 . . . O�O�O, then 1 7 . Qa5
and White is winning. White now has a winning advantage [What more could
one want from an opening?] which he eventually converted on move 46.
GM Eduard Gufeld
1 999
The publisher's comments about the production of this work are available at
the back of the book.
Ihl Rlchter-VereSII Ch._eIIID Chlss Rlpertlire
Introduction
This opening branch of the Queen's Pawn opening: 1 . d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3 .
Bg5
is called the Richter�Veresov System. This opening was worked out by the German
and White Russian masters Kurt Richter (1900� 1 969) and Gavril Veresov (1 912�
1 979) , who actively practiced this opening from the late 30s and early 50s re�
spectively.
For the sake of obj ectivity it must be noted that it was the Russian player
Stepan Levitsky who first used this opening in the early 20s, trying to imple�
ment one of the main ideas of l. e2�e4 through the setup 3 . . . Bf5 4. f3 .
Through Veresov's efforts in the 50�60s, White's attention turned on the
realization of a breakthrough in the center after the preliminary exchange on
f6 . Nowadays Black prefers to defend the Knight on f6, avoiding the doubling
of pawns, on which the experts of this opening worked out interesting plans
for White based on the operations in the center only after finishing his de�
velopment.
An interest in the Richter�Veresov System is worthwhile . In closed open�
in gs, against a background of thoroughly wo rked out classic metho ds of ob�
Iltrlductill
taining the center by c2�c4, the system Richter and Veresov were great pub�
of play which is based on attacking the licists for their system of play, dem�
center by the e�pawn, comparatively onstrating it in brilliant, even elegant
speaking, is not researched enough and style. Here are some miniatures of their
allows wide scope for carrying out a creative work.
complicated struggle stuffed with fresh
ideas. Not in vain was it used by chess�
Game 1
players with a very sharp and original
Richter-Whitaker
style of play. In the 50�60s this open�
Wiesbaden 1 928
ing was seen in the games of Spassky
and Tal. In the 70�SOs it was actively
used by Alburt, Miles, and Hort. In 1 . d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 ds 3. BgS Bfs 4. f3
the 90s this system was regularly prac� cS .
ticed by Morozevich and Mestrovic. Until now this continuation had not
Another attractive factor of the Rich� been explored much. Usually 4 . . . c6
ter�Veresov System is its ability to trans� or 4 . . . Nbd7 was played.
pose to different openings depending S . e4
on the reply to 1 . d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 . On White can sacrifice the pawn. 5. dxc5
2 ... cS, by playing 3. d5 White can trans� d4 6. e4 des erves attention, when
pose to the Benoni Defense; 3. Nf3 cxd4 White's chances are better.
4. Nxd4 and the replies 4 . . . e6, 4 ... d6, S.••. dxe4
4 . . . g6, and even 4 . . . e5 leads to the Si� The alternative is 5 ... cxd4 6. Bxf6
dlian Defense; the continuation 3. Bg5 dxc3 7. Bxc3 dxe4 S. QxdS KxdS 9. O�O�O
gives the game an original character. Kc7t 10. Bc4 and, despite the exchange
On 2 . . . e6, 3 . e4 and 3 . Bg5 can lead of Queens, White has sufficient com�
to the French Defense. After 2 . . . d6, pensation for the pawn.
by playing 3. e4 White can allow a trans� 6. ds exf3
position to the Pirc Defense (3 . . . g6) 7 . Nxf3 Nbd7
or in reply to 3 ... Nbd7, to lead the game 8. Bbs h6
into Philidor's Defense (4. Nf3 e5 5 . 9 . Bh4 gS
Bc4) . All these possibilities are exam� Black should have gotten rid of the
ined in the second part of this book. bind: 9 . . . a6 10. Bxd7t Qxd7 1 1 . O�O
Kurt Richter and Gavril Veresov (with the threat Nf3�e5) Bg4 12. Qd2,
practically belonged to the same gen� though White's initiative compensates
eration, and their period turned out fully for the sacrificed pawn.
their highest achievements, including 1 0. Bg3 Bg7
the foundations of the N c3 + Bg5 sys� 1 1 . 0 .. 0 Bh7
tern. However, the Second world War Black moves his Bishop away from
split their output. In the creative sense its unprotected position, but better was
they had many things in common. Both 1 1 . . . Bg6, defending the f7 �pawn.
Tbe Ilchter-VerlSII ChlllelelD Chess Repertlire
1 2 . d6 !
Hammering in the IIpawn nail" near
the King, since 12 . . . exd6 fails due to
1 3 . Qxd6 and the threat 14. Rael .
12. ... eS
1 4 . e4 !
Richter used the Stonewall not as The opponent's Stonewall is shat�
an end in itself, but as a means to tered! Note that the d4�pawn, which
strengthen control over the e5 square, is practically untouchable, also stays
while at the same time it is difficult under attack.
for Black to prevent e3�e4, which opens 14. ... dxe4
the center. Th,is same method of play If 14 ... Qxd4, then 15. Bf2 Qf6 1 6 .
was exploited by Veresov. This method exd5 Nc S 17. dxc6 follows.
is still seen today. I S . Nxe4 ! fxe4
6. ... QaS 15 . . . Qxd4 is no good: 1 6 . Bf2 fxe4
More natural is 6 . . . e6. Black decides 17. Qh5 g6 1B. Bxd4 gxh5 19. BxhB and
to counter the Stonewall . Black drops a Rook.
7 . Bd3 Ne4 1 6 . Qxe4 Qd6
Black should have hurried to castle 1 7 . QfS !
after 7 . . . e6 and B Be7.
• • • The e6�pawn is doomed.
8. Bxe4 Bxe4 17. ... Qxd4t
9. Nf3 f6 Black can't stop himself from tak�
1 0. Bh4 e6 ing the d4�pawn and loses quickly.
11. 0 .. 0 Bxf3 Brinckmann, the author of the book
It's better to keep the Bishop with about Richter, offers an alternative: 17 . . .
1 1 . . . Bg6=. e5 1 B . dxe5 Qg6 19. Qh3 Bc5t (or 1 9 . . .
12. Qxf3 fs Be7 2 0. Bxe7 Kxe7 21. f5 with the threat
1 3 . Rael Qb4 ? ! f5�f6) 2 0. Khl Nb6 2 1 . Qc3 (if 2 1 . f5,
This attempt to tie the pawn to b2 then possible is 2 1 . . . Qh6 22 . f6 O�O)
is just ignored by White. 13 . . . Bb4 was Na4 22 . Qb3 ! b5 23. f5 Qf7 24. e6 Qc7
necessary. 25. f6 gxf6 26. Bxf6 RfB 27. e7 Rf7 2B.
BeS Qxe7 29. Rxf7 Qxf7 3 0. Bd6t and
White wins.
1 8 . Kh1 Be7
1 9 . Qxe6 0 0 .. 0
..
The Ilchter-Veres., ChlllellBn Chess Ilpertlire
2 0 . Bxe7 RheS 1 3. Nge2 threatens 14. Rdl which is
2 1 . Qh3 Qxb2 decisive.
2 2 . BxdS 1 .. 0 . 1 0 . g4 !
The pawn barricades blow up. 1£ 10.
Nh3, then possible is 1 0 ... RgB.
Game 3
1 0. .•. a6
Veresov-Smoljaninov
10 . . . Bxc5 ? fails on account of 1 1 .
USSR 1 963
gxf5 exf5 12. Nxe4! [Ed. : 12. Rd5 is good
too!] Qxb5 1 3. Nf6t Ke7 14. Nd5t KfB
1 . d4 Nf6 2. Ne3 ds 3 . BgS cS 4. Bxf6. 1 5 . Qh6± {Bellin} .
This exchange was introduced by 1 1 . Bxe6t bxe6
Veresov should Black keep his Knight 1 2 . gxfS exfS
Uunprotected:' White damages Black's 1 3 . Nge2 QxeS
pawn structure and pushes for e2�e4. After 13 ... Bxc5 14. Nd4 the pawns
on f5 and c6 are hanging, and there is
S. e4 dxe4 the threat of a fork on b3.
6 . dxeS 1 4 . Nd4 RbS
White agrees to exchange Queens Of course 14 ... Bg7 is no good in view
since it is difficult to prove the correct� of 1 5 . Nxe4, but 14 . . . Bd7 was prefer�
ness of the pawn sacrifice after 6. d5 able, outlining the King's escape to the
f5 7. Qh5 Bg7 B. Nge2 {or B. Bb5t KfB queenside. The threat of the Rook sac�
9. Nh3 Qd6 10. Be2 Qh6} Qb6 9. O�O� dfice on b2 is just ignored by White.
o Qh6t. I S . Rhe l ! Bd7
6. . . . QaS
6 . . . f5 7. Qh5, another main line,
also leads to a complex game.
7 . QhS
The plan to castle long after 7. Qd5
or 7. Qd4 is also tenable.
7. . . . e6
Lately there has been a tendency to
castle after 7 . . . Bg7 .
S . 0 .. 0 .. 0 fs
If B . • . Bxc5 ? ! , then 9. Bb5t. It turns out that on 15 ... Rxb2? there
9 . Bbs t follows 16. Nxe4! . Now the same stroke
The simple 9 . Nh3100ks like a strong is decisive.
alternative . If 9 . h6, then 10. Ng5 .
. . 1 6 . Nxe4 ! fxe4
9. ... Ne6 1 7 . Rxe4 Kds
On 9 . Bd? 10. Bxd?t Nxd? 1 l .
. .
IS. Qxf7 KcS
Rxd?! Kxd? 12. Qxf?t Be? and no w Saving hims elf from the Knight
Iltrldlltiln
threats Nd4�e6 or Nd4xc6 (after 1 8 . . . to play 1 3. Be7 Re8 14. Bd6 with the
Qe 7 ) , but n o t from the frontal attack threat of Nc3�bs.
by White's major pieces . 1 1 . Qd2 cxd4
1 9. Nbs Bh6t 1 2 . exd4 NxeS
20. Kbl RxbS 1 3 . dxeS Ng4
21. Rxd7 QhS Black is optimisitic, both 14. f4 Qb6t
22. Rc7t Kb8 15. Khl Nf2t 16. Kgl Ne4t and 14. Bf4
23. Rb7 t ! 1 .. 0. d4 1 5 . Ne4 QdS 1 6 . c4 dxc3 17. Nxc3
The final nuance in the decoy theme. Qd4 fully suits him, but he really un�
derestimated White's reply. Surprise!
14. Qf4 ! NxeS
Game 4
I S . RxeS f6
Veresov-Buniatian
USSR 1 965
1 . d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. BgS 12. e3 0,0 1 3. QxaB Bxe3 14. Nf3 Bdlt
3 c5
•••
1 5 . Kdl Qf4 16. Qd5 [Ed. Note: 1 6.
Qxa7! ?J Bc6 17. Qd3 Be4 l B. Qe2 RdB
19. Nel Nc6 20. a3 Bxel t 21. Kxel Nd4
22 . Rdl Nxc2t 2 3. Qxc2 Rxdl t 0,1 ,
Zakharov-Yudovich, USSR 1 962.
b) 6 ... Nc6 7. Nf3 Qd5 B. Nedl Qxc5
9. a3 Be6 10. g3 RdB 1 1 . Bgl Bh6 12.
0,0 0,0 + H. Kuyf-Van Mil, Netherlands
1 987.
c) 6 . . . Bf5 7. Ng3 [passive is 7. Ndl
e5 ! 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. a3 as 10. Nf3 a4 1 1 .
Nbdl Qa5 12. Nh4 Be6 13. e4 dxe3 14.
A principle continuation. White is fxe3 Qc5 =+= Van der Werf-Topakian, Am,
delayed from a pawn attack in the cen, hem 1 988J Bg6 8. h4 h5 9. c3 dxc3 10.
ter, and Black tries to seize the initia, bxc3 e5 + .
tive with this counterstroke. This con'
tinuation frequently leads to sharp play •4. e4 Nxe4 5 . Nxe4 dxe4 6 . dxc5
with a forced character. Nd7 7. Be3 e6 B. Qd2 Qc7 9. b4 Be7
White has choices: 10. Bb5 0,0 1 1 . Ne2 Nf6 12. Nc3 RdB
• 4. Bn6 or to continue development leads to complicated play where Black's
with chances are not worse, Wade-Pa1liser,
• 4. e3 (see Chapter Two, page 16) . England 1 998.
QbS 14. Qb3 Nd4 1 5 . QxbS axbS 16. NxcS 1/2-1/2 Schneider-Odendahl, Ger
N c3 BxcS 1 7 . a3 Ke7 and Black gets a many 1 993.
favorable endgame in Goldin-Khalif 9. Nge2 0.. 0
man, USSR 1 984.1 fS l0. Qe3 Be6 1 1 . a3 10. a3 £S
Bg7 12. Nge2 [12. Nf3 f4! 13. Qcll QxcS + 11. 0.. 0 Qc7!
Palatnik-Kupreichik, USSR 1 9741 NeS I3. This is more energetic than 11 . . . a6
Nd4 Ng4 14. Qe2 Bxd4 1 S . Rxd4 QxcS 1 2 . b4 Qc7 1 3. Nds QeS 14. Bc4 Be6=,
16. Qcll Rc8 17. f4 Nf6 18. Be2 0-0 with Hoi-Brinck-Claussen, Denmark 1 985.
an even game, Goldin-Aseev, Podolsk 1990. 12. b4
7. ... Bg7 Protecting the pawn should have
Black hurries to castle his King. been postponed. Better was 1 2 . NdS
After 7 . . . fS , possible is 8. 0-0-0 [8. QeS, and now 1 3. b4.
BbSt Nc6 9. a3 Bg7 10. Nge2 0-0 leads 12. ... Be6
to the b elow lines of Hoi-Brinck 13. Radl RadB
Claussen, 19851 e6 [AfterS .. Qxc5 !? there
. The active Bishop pair along with
follows 9 . Nxe4, and this is the idea the harmonious layout of the black
The lichter-Veres., Ch._elell Chess lepertaire
pieces was more than sufficient for the Kc7 and after NbB-a6 Black wins his
sacrificed pawn in Mestrovie-Gligorie, pawn back with good play.
Hastings 1 971 (GAME S) . 7. ... Bg7
Or 7 . . . e6 B . g4 Bxc5 9. gxf5 Qd4 10.
12. Na4 bxc5 1 3 . Nxc5 Bxc5 14. bxc5 Kg7 2S. Qgst Khs 26. Qf6t, with per-
1. d4 NIB 2. Me3 dli I. Hili IIi
petual check in Mestrovic-Banas, Kesz e2-g3 and Bfl -e2 . ] e6 8. 0-0-0 Nc6 9.
thely 1 981. Nge2 fs 10. Kb1 Bg7 11. h4 Qb6 12.
Qe3 Kf8 1 3. Rh3 Bf6 14. Qf4 Ne7 I S .
g3 Bd7=, West-Ahn, Elista. 01. 1 998.
11. 7. QhS Be6!?
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. BgS cS Black intends to castle long, simul
4. Bxf6gxi6 taneously defending the pawn on f7.
Game 5
Mestrovie-Gligorie
Hastings 1 971
A Who's who of
some who've played
the white side of the
Richter..Veresov
Alburt
Balashov
Bellin
Bronstein
Goldin
Gufeld
Hector
Hodgson
Hoi
Hort
Kapengut
Kortchnoi
Krogius
Kupreichik
Larsen, B
Maksimovic
Mestrovic
Mikenas
Miles
Morozevich
Nezhmetdinov
Plaskett
Richter
Rossetto
Shirazi
Smyslov
Spassky
Tal
Vaganian
Veresov
The lichter-Veres., Chl_ellll Chlss lepertaire
3 BfS
•••
The main continuations for Black
are (I. 4 . . . c6) and (11. 4 ... Nbd7) .
This was the main continuation for Sometimes (Ill. 4 ... Bg6) will be seen.
Black during the early years of this open� Bellin uses more than a page on 4 . . .
ing. Black moves forward with his devel� c S , where White's chances are better,
opment, impeding White's plans con� and White can sacrifice the pawn with
nected with the e�pawn push. 5 . e4 (except for 5 . dxc5 d4 6. e4) :
Here the main continuations for a) 5 . . . dxe4 6 . d5 exf3 7. Nxf3 Nbd7
White are: 4. f3, 4. Bxi6 (Chapter 4) , B. Bb5 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Bg7 1 1 . O�O
and 4. e3 (Chapter 5 ) . Bh7 12. d6 e5 1 3 . h4! with a danger�
ous initiative for White in Richter-Whit
I.
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. BgS Bfs 4 . f3
4. Bxi6
See other appropriate chapters for:
4. f3 (Chapter 3) , 4. e3 (Chapter 5 ) .
5 . e3
The main continuations for Black
are (lA. 5 e6) and (lB. 5 c6) .
• • • •••
I.
1. d4 Ni6 2 . Nc3 d5 3 . BgS Bis 4. Bxf6
1. d4 RIB 2. Re3 d5 3. Bg5 Bf5 4. Bxll
In Kacheishvili-Buehl, Kona 1998 there
occurred 7. g3 N c6 S. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Bg2
Qd7 10. e4dxe411. Nxe4, with approxi�
mately equal chances.
7. ... Bg6
8. h4
If S. Bd3 Nc6 9. O�O cxd4 10. exd4
Qb611. Nce2, then 11... O�O�O as Black
played in Braga-Am. Rodriguez, Bayamo
1 984.
In a turn of events Black carries out 8. . . . h6
a plan with the shot c7�c5. 9 . h5
6 . Nge2 The energy of the continuation 9.
In this kind of pawn structure it is e4 cxd4 [On 9... dxe4? is met by the
important to refrain from an exchange strong 10.d5!±.] 10. Bb5t Nc6 doesn't
of Bishops and continue with a clamp seem to be enough in order to get the
on the kingsi �e. If 6. Bd3 Bg6 Black advantage:
continues his plan with no problems: a) 11. exd5 a6! 12. dxc6 axb5 13. cxb7
a) 7. f4 Bxd3 S. cxd3 cS 9. dxc5 Bxc5 RbS and the advantage of the two Bish�
10. d4 Bb411. Nf3 Nc6 12. O�O O�O 13. ops guaranteed Black good play in
Nh4 f5 14. Qh5 KhS 15. Rf3 RgS 16. Kupreichik-Westerinen, Dortmund 1 975
Rh3 Rg7 17. Ne2 Be7 1S. Ng3 Bxh419. (GAME 9) .
Rxh4 Qf6+ Maryruhin-Cherepkov, Minsk b) 11. Qxd4 a6 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13.
1 981. O�O=.
b) 7. Qf3 cS S.Nge2 Nc6 9. O�O�O Bxd3 9. Bh7
10. Rxd3 f5 11. g4 fxg4 12. Qxg4 Qa5 1 0 . Bd3 cxd4
13. Kb1 O�O�O 14. Qh5?! [White should 1 1 . exd4 Bxd3
have exchanged first 14. dxc5 Bxc5 + . ] 1 2 . Qxd3 Nc6
c4, with Black's attack on the queen� 1 3 . O � O .. O
side in Hanreck-Hennigan, London 1 993. and White's chances are preferable.
6. . . . c5 (Kmic).
In Miles-Hort, Amsterdam 1982, Black
played 6... Bd6 and after 7. Nb5 Be7
S.Ng3 Bg6 9. c4 c610. Nc3 h5 11. Nge2 lB.
[White could fight for the advantage 1 . d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 Bf5
by playing 11. Bd3!?;!;.] Bd6 12. Qb3 4. Bxf6 gxf6 5. e3
Na6 13. cS Bxc5 14. Nf4 Be7 15. Bxa6
bxa616.Nxg6 fxg6 17. Qc2 arose a po� 5 ••• c6
sition with even chances.
7 . Ng3
The Richter-Veresov Chameleon Chess Repertlirl
Qxe4 O�O�O 12. O�O�O e6 13. fS Black
cannot achieve equality, and White's
chances are preferable in Bellin-K. Lie,
Gausdai 1 9 96.
7. Qxd3 e6
s. e4 Nd7
9. Nge2
An alternative is 9. Nf3 dxe4 10.
Nxe4 fS 11. Nedl Bg7 12. O�O O�O 13.
Rfel Qc7 14. Radl RadB lS. Qe3 Nb6=,
Black strengthens the center intend� Alburt-Dzindzicnasnvili, USSR 1 973.
ing to castle queenside. 9. Qc7
6. Bd3 1 0 . 0 .. 0 .. 0 0 .. 0 .. 0
An attack on the kingside is possible: 1 1 . Kb l Kbs
6. Nge2 Nd7 7. Ng3 Bg6 B. h4 hS 9. 1 2 . g4 Be7
Be2 Qb610. Rbl e611. NxhS BxhS I2. 1 3 . Qf3 RhgS
BxhS fS 13 . a3 Bd6 14. g3 Ke7 15. Bf3 with sharp play for both sides in Bel�
Qc7 16. Qd2 bS and the sacrificed pawn lin-Wemmers, Amsterdam 1 994.
is compensated by Black's activity on
the queenside in Watson-Poeksteiner,
corr. 1 987/91. 11.
6. . . . Bxd3 1 . d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. BgS BiS
In case of the retreat 6... Bg6 Black 4. Bxi6
is not afraid of 7. Nge2 Nd7 B.e4 dxe4
9.Bxe4 e610. Qd3 QaS ll. O�O�O O�O�O=, 4 exf6
•••
9. e4 dxe4 10. Ncxe4 [Or 10.Nge4 Be7 because of equal chances in Hoi
11. O-O?! Qxd4 12. Ne2 Qb6 13. Nf4 Hjartarson, Copenhagen 1985.
BcB I4. ReI KfB lS. Qd2 Nd7 16. NhS If the passive 7... Be7, then on B. Nf3
h6 17. Nf4 NeS occurred in A. Fernan 0-0 9.0-0 Nd7 l0.e4 Nb6 11.Rfel Bb4
dez-Spassov, Spain 1995 and White has 12. a3 Bd6 13. b3 White had a slight
no compensation for the sacrificed edge in 1. Ibragimov-Karayannis, Greece
pawn.] Be7 l1. Ne2 Qc7 12. Qd2 Nd7 1996.
13. 0-0 Nb614. Qf4 0-0-0 with an even 8 . Nge2 0-0
game in Peicheva-Ko m arov, Dortmu.nd In Bronstein-Vasju.kov, USSR 1959,
1992. Black continued B...Nd7 9. e4 Nb6 10.
exdS NxdS 11. 0-0 Nxc3 12. Nxc3 0-0
6 Bg6
•..
1 4. c3 £s
The chances were equal inJurgens
Trichkov, Dortmund 1 992.
1. d4 RfB 2. ReI d5 3. Bg5 Bf5 4. Bill
4 e6
•.•
0-0 9. 0-0 Nfd7 10. Bf4 NxeS l1. dxeS 8 . 0-0 Nbd7
cS 12. e4 d4 13. Ne2 Nc6 14. Bg3 Rc8 Also possible is 8 ... Ne8 9. Bxe7 Qxe7
1 5 . f4;!; . ] 8. f4 a6 9. Qf3 Bxd3 10. cxd3 10. Rcl Nd7 11. e4 Nb6 with an even
cS 11. 0-0 cxd4 12. exd4=, Sakharov game in Karaklajic-Minic, Belgrade 1962.
Shiyanovsky, USSR 1958.
6 . cxd3
If 6. Qxd3, there can occur 6. . . cS
which is premature in view of 7. Bxf6!
gxf6 8. dxcS Nd7 9. e4 dxe4 10. Qxe4
NxcS 11. Qf3 Bg7 12. Nge2 0-0 13. g4
with a better game for White in Bron
stein-Fischer, Mar del Plata 1960; deserv
ing of attention is 6. . . a6 7. Nf3 cS 8 .
0-0 cxd4 9 . Nxd4 Nc6 with satisfactory
play for Black. The pawn sacrifice with The above complicated position has
6. . . Be7 7. Qb,St Nbd7 8. Qxb7 Rb8 9. not been researched enough through
Qxa7 Rxb2 10. Nge2 0-0 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 serious practice, but it seems that Black's
12. Qa3± in Zakharov-Gaister, Moscow position is rather solid. Here are some
1961, was scarcely correct, but possible examples:
is 6. . . Nbd7 7. e4 dxe4 8 . Nxe4 Be7 9. a) 9. h3 cS 10. dxcS NxcS 11. Bxf6
Bxf6 Bxf610. Nf3 0-0 11. 0-0-0 Re8 12. Bxf6 12. d4 Nd7 and the game was even
g4 Nf8 13. h4 Be7 14. gS cS 15. Kbl cxd4 in Zakharov-I. Zaitsev, USSR 1963.
16. hs fs 17. gxf6 Bxf6 with compli b) 9. e4 c6 10. Qe2 Kh8 11. eS Ng8
cated play from Hoi-Sorensen, Denmark 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. a3 as 14. Racl fs 15.
Ch. 1991. h4 f4 with equal chances in Juglard
6.
. .• Be7 Sellos, France 1989.
A solid choice, however 6... cS looks c) 9. Qb3 Rb8 10. Racl h6 11. Bf4
more energetic. 7. dxcS BxcS 8. d4 Bb4 Bd6 12. Bxd6 cxd613. Qb4 Ne8 14. e4
9. Nf3 QaS 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. 0-0 Nc6 dxe4 1S. dxe4 Qb616. Qxb6 Nxb6 and
12. Qb3 0-0 13. Racl Rfc8 14. a3 Bf8 Black had a solid endgame in Gaiinsky
and Black maintained equality in Lica Leontiev, Moscow 1996.
yan-Primel, Paris 1995. Deserving of attention is 9. Bxf6
7 . Nf3 Bxi6 10. e4 with equal chances.
If 7. Qb3 b6 8. Nf3 cS, then Black
breaks through the center with 9. 0-0
0-0 10. Rad1 Nc611. NeS NxeS 12. dxeS 11.
Nd7 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. £4 £6 and Black 1 . d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 ds 3. BgS BfS 4. e3
gained the better position in Moonen
Euwe, Netherlands 1 96 1 . 4 ••• Nbd7
The Richter-Vereslv Chameleon Chess ReperlBire
IJubljana 1995.
6 . f4 !
A useful attacking move. If 6. Nf3,
then 6... e6 7. Nf3 e6 7. 0-0 Be7 the
line leads to variation I.
6. e6
7. fS BxfS
8. Bxfs exfS
9. Nxds h6
10. Bxf6 Nxf6
S . Bd3 11. Nxf6j Qxf6
In the event of the natural 5. Nf3 12. Qf3
it is easier for Black to set up counter
play.
a) 5... e6 6. Ne5 Be7 7 . g4 Bg6 B. h4
h6 9. Nxg6 fxg6 10. Bf4 Kf7 11. Bd3
g5 12. hxg5 hxg5 13. RxhB QxhB 14.
Bxc7 RcB 15. Nb5 Rxc7 ! 16. Nxc7 a6
17. Qf3 Bd6 l B. Nxe6 Kxe6 19. 0-0-0
Ke7 20. Rhl QgB 21. Qf5 Qe6 22. Qxg5
Qxg4 23. Qxg4 Nxg4 with an even end
game in Yandemirov-Kalegin, USSR 1988.
b) 5... c6 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3 e6 B. 12. ... Bd6 !
e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Be7 10. Nxf6t Bxf6 Black sacrifices the pawn, which is
11. h4 Qa5t 12. Bdl Qb6 13. 0-0-0 cS risky to take if White gets behind in
14. Be3 RcB with even chances in Leilic development [13. Qxb7 0-0 14. Qf3 cS].
Ahesson, Copenhagen 1996. If 12... 0-0-0 13. 0-0-0 Qe614. Kbl Bd6
S. ... Bg6 15. Nh3 then White stood better in
Or 5. .. Bxd3 6. cxd3 [6. Qxd3 e6 7. Zahharov-Krogius, USSR 1962.
e4 dxe4 B. Nxe4 Be7=. (Alburt) ] c6: 1 3 . Ne2 0 .. 0
a) 7. Nf3 e6 B. e4 Be7 9. e5 NgB I0. 1 4 . 0 .. 0 Qe7
h4! h6 11. Be3 Qb6 12. Na4 Qa5t 13. I S . Nc3
Bd2 Qa6 14. Qc2 h5 15. Nc5 Bxc5 16. White's chances were preferable in
dxc5 with a clear advantage for White Mestrovic-Kurajica, Jugoslavia Ch. 1968.
in Richter-Carls, Bad Aachen 1933.
b) 7. f4!? e6 B. Nf3 Be7 9. 0-0 h610.
Bh4 0-0 1 1. Qe2 Ne4 12. Bxe7Nxc3 13.
bxc3 Qxe7 14. Rabl bs 15. e4 a6 1 6 .
c4 and White used the congestion in
the center to his favor in Mestrovic-Kecic,
1. d4 NfB 2. Ne3 d5 3. Ig5 Nbd7
1. d4 N£6 2. Nc3 d5 3. BgS choose 5. Bd3 Bg7 6. f4! with the ini�
4. Nf3
The plan of kingside castling causes The Queen takes control of the
Black more problems. Here the most pawns on b2 and d4, and assists Black's
active continuations for Black are (IIA. counterplay due to c7-c5 or e7-e5.
5 Qb6) and (lIB. 5 ... Qa5) .
••• 6. Rhl g6
Also deserving notice is 5... g6 6. Bci3 7. Bd3 Bg7
Bg7 7. 0-0 0-0 B. ReI Re8 9. e4 dxe4 S. 0-0 0-0
10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Rxe4 Nf6 and here 9. Qe2
in the game Soy1u-Franzom, Manila (01) If the immediate 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4
1992, instead of the obvious 12. ReI, Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Nf612. Bd3 Bg413. ReI
White tried to grab the initiative with RfeB 14. c3 Qa5 Black equalized eas
12. Rh4?!, but after 12... Bg413. h3Bxf3 ily in Berg-Lane, Ostende 1987.
14. Qxf3 Qb6 15. b3 Rad8 he landed On 9. ReI, possible is 9 . . . Re8 10.
in hot water. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Rxe4 Nf6
After 5 . . h6 6. Bf4 we get Nezhmet
. 13. Rh4 Bg4 with equal chances in Hoi
dinov-Gurgenidze, 1958. c. Hansen, Archus 1986, but 9 ... e5 ! is
more active. For example, in Fauland
5 ... Qb6
Rxc8 19. Bg3 Rd6 20. Qc1 Rcd8 and
Black had obviously gained the initia
tive. 10. dxe5 was deserving attention,
and 10... Ng4 11. e6 leads to unclear
play.
9. ... ReS
Interesting was 9.. e5 10. Bxf6 [10.
.
Game 1 1
Platonov-Gufeld
USSR 1971
11.
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. BgS Nbd7
4. Nf3 e6
a) 7. Qe2 ? ! Be7 B. e5 Nd7 9 . O�O�O
5. e4 a6 10. h4 c5 1 1 . g4 b5 12. Bg2 ? ! [Black
outstrips White in the attack and so
White must be reconciled with 12. dxc5
b4 1 3 . Na4 Qa5 14. b3 Nxc5 1 5 . Nxc5
Bxc5 +.] b4 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. dxc5 Nxc5
1 5 . Nd4 Bb7 1 6 . f4 Ne6 1 7 . Nxe6 fxe6
and it becomes clear that the attempt
to prevent the initiative by sacking the
piece failed in Yermolinsky-Kaidanov,
New York 1 993.
b) 7. Bd3 ? ! Bb4 B. exd5 Nxd5 [B . ••
This energetic move is considered exd5 9. O�O O�O 10. Ne2 ReB 1 1 . Ng3
to be White's main weapon, but its prac� Bd6 1 2 . Re I Bg4 1 3 . RxeB QxeB + ,
tical results often do not justify these Rossetto-Gligoric, Havana 1 967] 9 . Qdl
hopes. The point is that in the posi� c6 10. Ne5 Qb6 ! [10 . . . Qa5 1 1 . Nc4=]
tion which arises the pawn structure 1 1 . Rcl Qxd4 12. Nxf7 Nxc3 1 3 . NxhB
is related to the French Defense, but Qe5t 14. Kfl Nxal 15. c3 Nxcl l6. Qxcl
its concrete peculiarities give Black wide Bc5 and White was a pawn down in
p rospects for counterplay. Ark ell-Thipsay, Calcutta 1 987.
5. ... h6 ! c) 7. e5 [clearly best] Nd7 [Thipsay
An important move, which narrows said that 7 . . . Ne4 gives equal chances.]
The Richter-Veresov ChalleleoD Chess Repertlire
B. Be2 Bb4 9. O�O Bxc3 ? ! 10. bxc3 Nb6 QxeS 14. Bc4=, Hoi-Larsen, Copenhagen
1 1 . Nel Bd7 12. Rbl RbB I 3 . Nd3 Na4 1 985.
14. Qd2 Qe7 1 5 . Nf4 O�O 1 6 . c4 and 7 . Bg3 Nxe4
White gained a solid initiative in Hec� It is too late for 7 . . . Bb4: B. exdS !
tor-Van Mechelen, Antwerp 1 994 (GAME NxdS 9. Qd3 cS l0. Nd2 Bxc3 1 1 . bxc3
12) : stronger was 9 . . . cS 10. a3 Bxc3 QaS I2. h4 g4 13. Bd6 b6 14. Nb3 Qxc3t
1 1 . bxc3 QaS 12. Qd2 Nb6 and after 1 5 . Qxc3 Nxc3 16. dxcS ;!; , [White has
BcB�d7 and RcB Black organizes un� the two Bishops.] A1burt L u tikov, USSR
-
After 9 . .. £5
After 1 1 . Be5
Ng4 14. f3 e3 1 S . £Xg4 Qxcll t 16. Qxcll Bf6, very strong is 13. QhS ! BgS (If I3 . . .
excll t 1 7 . Kxcll fxg4 18. RhfI Bd7 1 9 . e3 (?), then 14. Ne4 exflt 1 5 . Bxfl with
Rf6 Ke7 2 0 . RafI Raf8 2 1 . Ke3 bS ? ! [A a strong initiative . ) 14. Nxe4 Rg8 1 5 .
dubious weakening of the cS-square, Rg4 a6 ? 16. Rdl [Ed. : 1 6. f4 is very good
the immediate 2 1 . .. hs was better.] 22 . too.J eS 17. Bh4 Qe7 18. Bc4 with a clear
Be2 hS 23 . Rxf8 Rxf8 24. Rxf8 Kxf8 25. advantage to White in Veresov-Zhelian
Kd4 Ke7 26. KcS a6 27. c4 and, in spite dinov, USSR 1 969.J 13. Nxe4 Qe7 14. QhS
of White's pawn deficit, he had the bet Nf6 1 S . Nxf6t Bxf6 16. Rf4 eS 17. Rxf6
ter endgame in Van Mil-Geenen, Virton Qxf6 18. BxeS. The pair of strong Bish
1 988. ops, with the King stuck in the cen
1 0. h4 ter, was more than sufficient compen-
1. d4 NfB 2. Nel d5 I. Ig5 Nbdl 4. Nfl eB
sation in Tiscnbiereh-Uhlmann, Leipzig 1 6 . Qxe4 Bc6
1983. [If 18 ... Qe7, then 19. Be2 followed and the play was complicated in Otero
by 0-0-0 is unclear or a small advan- Camacno, Cuba (m/3) 1 998.
tage to White. ]
b) 1 1 . . . Bg7 12. Nxe4 [Take a look
at 12. hxg5 hxg5 13. Rxh8 Bxh8 14. Qh5
Game 1 2
with 0-0-0 to follow. ] Nf6 1 3 . Qxd8t
Hector-Van Mechelen
Kxd8 14. Be5 Nxe4 1 5 . Bxg7 Rh7 1 6 .
Antwerp 1994
B e 5 g4 1 7 . Rdl t Bd7 18. f3 f6 19. Bd3
fxe5 20. Bxe4 Rg7 2 1 . Rcll gxf3 22. Bxf3
c6 23 . Kf2 Kc7 24. ReI Rf8 2 5 . Rxe5 l. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 dS 3. BgS Nbd7 4. Nf3
with an obviously better endgame for e6 S. e4 h6! 6. Bxi6 Nxi6 7. eS Nd7.
White in Ignatiev-Rogovoi, St. Petersburg The pawn structure which has arisen
1 998. is typical of the French Defense. Be-
1 2 . BxeS sides the move in the game, 7 . . . Ne4
After 12. Nxe4 Bxg3 1 3 . fxg3 gxh4 is also a possibility.
14. Rxh4 Qe7 1 5 . Qcll [On 1 5 . Qd4, S . Be2 Bb4
possible is 1 5 ... e5 16. Qcll f5 . ] f5 ! 16. 9 . 0 .. 0 Bxc3 ? !
Ng5 [Sounder is 16. Nfl Nf6. (Volzhin) ] A premature exchange. 9 . . . c5 was
Nf6 17. 0-0-0 Bd7 18. Nf3 0-0-0 19. Rxh6 more in the spirit of the position, af
Ne4 20. Qe3 Rxh6 2 1 . Qxh6 Nxg3 and ter which Black would play, according
Black won the pawn in Galhin-Vohhin, to circumstances, Qd8-a5 or Qd8-c7.
Russia 1 997 (GAME IS) . 1 0. bxc3 Nb6
12. . . . NxeS 1 1 . Nel Bd7
1 3 . Qa4t 1 2 . Rb l Rbs
1£ 13. hxg5, likely is 13 ... e3 ! 14. Ne4 Just too passive. More action-packed
[ 14. fxe3 Qg5 + ] exf2t 1 5 . Kxf2 Qxdl was I2 ... Na4 13. Qcll [Or I3. Rxb7 Nxc3
1 6 . Rxdl Ke7 with a better endgame 14. Qcll Nxe2t 1 5 . Qxe2 cS with the
for Black in Veresov-Yuferov, USSR 1 974. idea of 16. dxc5 Qc8. ] b6 with c7-c5 to
13. ... B d7 follow.
1 4 . Qd4 1 3 . Nd3 Na4
Or 14. Qxe4 Nc6 1 5 . Nf3 gxh4 [ 1 5 . . . 1 4 . Qd2 Qe7
Qf6=] 16. Ne5 Nxe5 1 7 . Qxe5 Rg8 18. Again, 14 . . . cS was more energetic,
Rdl Qe7 19. Qxc7 Bc6 20. Qxe7t Kxe7 leaving a wider spectrum of choice for
1/2-1/2 0tero-Camacno, Cuba (m/1) 1 998. his Queen.
14. ... Ng6 I S . Nf4 0 .. 0
I S . hS 1 6 . c4 dxc4
On 1 5 . Qg7, good is 15 . . . Qe7 ! 16. 1 7 . Bxc4
h5 QfB 1 7 . Qd4 e5 ! = {Camacho} .
15. ... e5
The Richter-Veresov Chamelean Chess Repertoire
9. . . . Bg7
Losing is 9 . . . NxeS . Then 10. BxeS
f6. If 1 1 . QhS, then 1 1 . .. Ke7 12. Qg6 ! .
1 0. h4
Doubtful is 10. Qe2, because of 10 . . .
NxeS 1 1 . dxeS QdS .
1 0. NxeS
1 1 . BxeS BxeS
1 2 . dxeS Bd7
1 3 . Qg4
17. ... Nb6 ? ! If 1 3 . Qd4, Black transposes into a
Black does not sense any danger. favorable endgame: 13 ... Bc6! 14. QxdBt
Once again it is not too late for 17 . . . RxdB 1 5 . hxgS Rds and after winning
c S and if l B . c3 , then lB . . . RfcB. Now the pawn on eS his advantage is obvi�
White attacks the unprotected King. ous.
I S . Be2 RfdS 13. ••. Qe7
Now lB . . . cS ? fails, due to 1 9 . dxcS 1 4 . 0 .. 0 .. 0
QxcS 20. Rxb6 Qxb6 2 1 . Qxd7 . After 14. Qxe4 Bc6 ! 1 5 . Qd4 RdB I6.
1 9 . Rb3 BeS? Qc3 gxh4 Black achieves an advantage.
Tougher i s 1 9 . . . Bc6, planning the 14. 0 .. 0 .. 0
transfer of the Bishop to the e4�square. I S . Qxe4 Bc6
20. Nhs Qh4 1 6 . RxdSt RxdS
21. Rg3 Rxd4 1 7 . Qe3 gxh4
22. Rxg7t KfS Thanks to the fact that Black pos�
23. Qxh6 Ke7 sesses the d�file and causes pressure on
24. g3 Qe4 the long diagonal aB�hl , he stands
2S. QgSt better. So lB. Qxh6 ? is unfavorable to
1 .. 0 White due to l B . . . QcS 1 9 . Qf4 QdS,
but White could have shown more re�
sistance in supporting the eS�pawn by
Game 1 3
lB. f4 ! . However, having caved in to
Reynolds-Nunn
the temptation of taking the a7 �pawn,
London 1987
he gave all the key main lines up to
his opponent.
1 . d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 ds 3. BgS Nbd7 4. NB 1 8 . Qxa7 ? ! QgS t
e6 S. e4 h6 6. Bh4 gS 7. Bg3 Nxe4 S. 1 9 . Qe3 Rd4 !
Nxe4 dxe4 9. NeS.
This overly active move allows Black
to simplify the position and seize the
initiative. Stronger was 9. Ndl.
1. d4 NIB 2. Ne3 d5 3. Bg5 Nbdl 4. Nf3 el
3 0 . c4 cS
3 1 . a3 b6
32. b4 Kc7
0.. 1
Game 1 4
Ignatiev-Rogovoi
Russia 1 998
Stopping f2�f4, which was possible 1. d4 N£6 2. Nc3 ds 3. BgS Nbd7 4. Nf3
if 19 . . . Rd5 . Black threatens to attack e6 S. e4 h6 6. Bh4 gS 7. Bg3 Nxe4 S.
the e�pawn from the rear with 20 ... Re4. Nxe4 dxe4 9. Nd2 Bg7 10. c3.
20. QxgS hxgS The main line is 10. h4.
21. £3 RdS 1 0. • . . £S
22. £4 gx£4 11. h4 g4
23. Rxh4 £3 12. Bc4 N£6
24. Rhs 1 13. Qe2 0 .. 0
On this square the Rook doesn't re� 14. hs NdS
ally protect the pawn and instead be� IS. 0 .. 0 .. 0 c6
comes an obj ect of attack. He should 16. £3 bs
have been satisfied with 24. gxf3 Rxe5 17. Bb3 e3
2 5 . Bd3 Bxf3 26. Rf4 Bh5 . Another idea is 17 ... b4! ? lB. c4 Nb6
24. . . . RdS ! 19. fxg4 Qxd4 with sharp play.
2 S . Rh2 I S . Nbl £4
Now after 2 5 . gxf3 ? ? Bxf3 , due to 1 9 . Bh4
the mating threat, the Rook is lost, and
if 2 5 . g4, decisive is 25 . . . Rd4 26. Rg5
f2 .
2S. ••• RgS
2 6 . g3
A piece will be lost by 26. gxf3 Rg1
27. Rf2 Bb5 .
26. ... Rxg3
2 7 . Kd2 Rgl
Down the road a false trail would
have been 27 . . . Rg2t, because of 2B. 1 9 . ... Bf6
Bxg2 fxg2 29. RhBt Kd7 30. RgB. A double�edged game can come
2 8 . Ke l Bb5 about by 1 9 ... Qd6 20. fxg4 eS.
2 9 . Rf2 Be2 20. Qd3 !
The lichter-Veresol Cha.eleol Chess lepertaire
This explains the weakness of the Nxe4 dxe4 9. Nd2 Bg7 10. h4 Bxd4 11.
bl �h7 diagonal. After the exchange 20. c3 Be5 12. Nxe4.
Bxf6 Qxf6 21. fxg4 and 21. .. as and 22 ... Stronger was 12. BxeS NxeS 13. Qa4t
Ra7, Black would have protected his Bd7 14. Qd4 or 14. Qxe4 with equal
flanks and stood better. chances.
20. Bxh4 12. Bxg3
11. Qg6t Kh8 1 3 . fxg3 gxh4
22. Qxh6t Kg8 1 4 . Rxh4 Qe7
23. Qg6t Kh8 1 5 . Qd2
24. Bc2 On 15. Qd4, possible is 1 5 . . . eS 16.
White hopes for more than a draw Qdl fs .
and so misses the 26th move of his 15. ... f5 !
opponent. 1 6 . N g5
24. . . . Rf5 More reliable is 16. Nfl Nf6 17. Rxh6
2 5 . h6 � Rxh6 18. Qxh6 Bd7 1 9. Qh8t Qf8 20.
This is an overestimation of his pos� Qxf8t Kxf8 2 1 . O�O�O Ke7 =t . {Volzhin} .
sibilities. H e should have been satis� 16. Nf6
tied with 2 5 . BxfS exfS 26. Qh6t. 1 7. 0 .. 0 .. 0 Bd7
25. . •. Bf6 18. Nf3 0 .. 0 .. 0
2 6 . fxg4 f3 ! 19. Rxh6 Ne4
Now if27. fxgS, then winning is 27.. . 20. Qe3 Rxh6
Nf4. 21. Qxh6 Nxg3
27. Bxf5 exf5 22. Qe3 Kb8
28. gxf3 Nf4 23. B d3
29. Qf7 Be6 On 23 . . . Ne4, good is 24. Bxe4.
30. Qb7 fxg4 23 . . . . Ba4 !
31. fxg4 Bxg4 In addition to the pawn, Black
32. Rdfl Nd3 t (twins" the d�file because 24. Rdl Rh8
33. Kc2 Nf2 25. Nel Rg8 is unfavorable for White,
34. Rh2 Bf5 t and Black promotes the e�pawn.
35. Kcl Qe8 2 4 . ReI Qd6
0 .. 1 2 5 . Nd4
Game 1 5
Galkin-Volzhin
Russia 1997
4 ••• g6
5. .. . Bg7
6. Bd3
6. Be2 is too passive. For then there is
6 ... 0-0 and:
Black prepares to fianchetto his a) 7. 0-0 b6 [7 ... c6 B. Ne5 Nxe5 9. dxe5
Bishop fo r a flank assault on the Nd7 10. f4 f6 1 1 . exf6 exf6 12. Bh4 Qb6
d4-pawn. 13. Qd4 f5 14. Qxb6 axb6 15. g4 [If 15.
Even though the (I. 5. e3) is the main Ndl, then 15 ... Nf6+.] Nc5 + was played
continuation, White can also play (11. 5. in Svobodova-Movsesian, Brno 1 994J B.
Qd3) . And, sometimes (Ill. 5. Qd2) is Ne5 Bb7 9. Bf3 [9. f4 deserves attention,
also played. then 9 ... c5 10. a4 a6 1 1 . f5 NeB 12. Ng4
Ndf6 13. fxg6 fxg6 14. Nh6t KhB 15. as
QxbS 20. QxdS RadB with equal chances been seen. Unlike the main continu"
for both sides in Miles-Portisch, London ation of 9. e4 which can be met by 9 . . .
1982. cxd4 1 0 . Nxd4 h6, forcing 1 1 . Bxf6=,
Less active was 7... b6 B. e4 dxe4 9. [Since 11. Bh4? will lose a piece with
Nxe4 Bb7 10. Qe2 h6 1 1 . Bf4 Nxe4 12. 1 1 . . . dxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 NcS
Bxe4 Bxe4 13. Qxe4 Nf6 14. Qe2! e6 1S. 14. c3 Nxe4 I S . Rxe4 gS 1 6 . Bg3 fS in
Radl QcB 16. Rfel Qb7 17. h3 RadB lB. Barabas-Cs. Horvath, Budapest 1 994.1,
c4 and White had the better prospects in the natural reaction of 9. a4 is 9 . . . b6.
Miles-King, Amsterdam 1 982. Then 10. e4 dxe4 1 1 . Nxe4 cxd4 12.
Black tried 7 . . . c6 B. Qd2 [On B. ReI Nxd4 Bb7 1 3 . c3 , and Black can play
then the more active move is B Qb6 13 . . . Qc7 14. Nxf6 Nxf6 1 S . Qe2 NdS
• • •
9. Rbl eS.] ReB 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 1 6 . Rad1 Rfe8 17. Bc4 e6 maintaining
1 1 . Bxe4 Nf6 12. B d3 Bg4 1 3 . NeS Be6 even chances in Brynell-Kengis, Haninge
[13 ... Qxd4? 1 4. Nxf7 ± ] 14. c3 Rc8 1 S . 1 992. On 8 . . . h6 there occurred 9. Bf4
The Richter-Veresov Challeleon Chess Repertoire
b6 10. Ndl Bb7 1 1 . h3 Nhs= in Loomis 14. Rxe4 Nf6
Donlan, USA Corr. 1 999.1 15. ReI
9. e4 If 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nc6 Qc7 17. Rc4
If9. NeS, then with 9 ... Bb7 10. f4 RcB RadB! lB. Qf3 Rdl 19. b4 RfdB Black,
1 1 . Qf3 NeB 12. Radl a6 13. a3 f6 14. possessing the d�file, has sufficient
Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Bh4 Nd6 Black played counterplay. (Hazai)
correctly in Tihhonov-Neverov, Minsh 15. ... Qd5
1996. Not as good is 15 ... Qc7 16. Qf3 RacB
9. . .. dxe4 17. Bf4 QcS lB. ReS Qc7 19. Nbs Qc4 20.
la. Nxe4 cxd4 Nxa7 and White won a pawn in Ravi�
The continuation of 10 ... Bb7 1 1 . c3 sehhar-Spassov, New Delhi 1 984.
cxd4 leads to a rearranging of the move 16. Nf3!
order, but weakerwas 11. Nxf6? ! exf6 12. White's chances were preferable in
Bh4 Bxf3 1 3 . Qxf3 cxd4+ which oc� Plashett-Hazai, Mruibor 1 985 (GAME 16) .
curred in Miles-Speelman, London 1 982.
11. Nxd4
12. c3
Bb7
Nxe4 lB.
Black eases the position. In other 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. BgS Nbd7
lines White has more chances to retain 4. Nf3 g6 5. e3 Bg7 6. Bd3 0 ..0
the initiative: 7. 0.. 0 c5
a) 12 . . . RcB I3. Qe2 NeS I4. Bc2 Nc4
1 5 . Radl Qc7 1 6 . NbS ! QbB I 7 . Bxf6 ! 8. Ne5
Bxf6 lB. Nxf6t exf6 19. Bb3 RfeB [19 . . .
NeS 20. f4 Nc6 2 1 . Nd6 Rc7 2 2 . QeB±
Miles-Andersson, 1 982J 20. Qg4 Rxel t
2 1 . Rxel NeS 22. Qh4 ± in Veresov
Suetin, USSR 1 953.
b) 12 . . . Qc7 13. Qe2 RfeB 14. Radl
a6 1 S . Nxf6t Nxf6 1 6. Nf3 e6 1 7 . QeS
QxeS lB. NxeS bS 19. c4 RecB 20. Bxf6
Bxf6 21. Nd7 Bxb2 22. Nb6 b4 23 . NxaB
BxaB and White managed to win the
Exchange for the pawn, but the pres� White strives to close the diagonal to
ence of the Bishop pair kept his ini� the liKing's Indian" Bishop.
tiative to a minimum in Miles-H. Dlal 8. .. . cxd4
sson, Lucerne (01) 1 982. This is the most provoking plan to
c) 12 . . . NcS 1 3 . Bxf6 exf6 14. NxcS counterattack the center. If Black plays
bxcs 1 5 . Nb3 Qb6 1 6 . Qe2 fS =, Vere� B NxeS immediately, then 9. dxeS Ng4
•••
19. Rdl
The desired 19. c4 [Which was pos 3S. ••• Bd7?
sible on 18. Radl .] does not work now In time pressure Black misses his
because of 19 . . . Bxc4! 20. Bxc4 Qc5 2 l . chance to win the game: 35 . . . Bxg2t!
Bxf7t Rxf7 2 2 . Ne6 Rxd1 t 23 . Rxd1 36. Bxgl f3 37. Bxf3 [Or 37. Ne4 fxg2t
Qxe3 24. fxe3 Bxb2 . Now the initia 38. Kxg2 Bd4 39. Qc2 Bxc5.] Qh4 and
tive passes to Black. Black wins.
19. ... eS! 36. QB!
20. NB Bb3 Immediately stopping the threat of
21. ReI a6 f4-f3 , which would have occurred if
22. Bfl Qc7 White had played 36. Nxb7?
23. h3 Rxdl 36. ... Bxd6
24. Nxdl Bd5 37. Rxd6!
2S. c4 Bc6 The ex-world champion's intuition
26. cS fS is amazing, because if 37. cxd6 had been
27. Nc4 e4 played, then I would have replied with
28. b4 Kh7 37 . . . Qe1 L
29. Nd6 BeS 37. ... BxbS!
30. Rdl Qe7! 38. Qxf2 Bxfl ?
The Queen has been switched over Black is stunned by the magic of f4-
to attack. On the natural 30 . . . Rd8, f3, otherwise a clear mind would have
White would protect himself with 3 1 . produced 38 . . . Bc6 39. Bd3 Rf6, retain
Qb3 . ing the threat and the pawn.
31. Qb3 f4 39. Qxfl B?!
32. a4 e3! 40. gxf3 Rf7
33. bs exflj Of course, in difficult time pressure,
34. Khl it isn' t always easy to find a good time
On 34. Kxf2 then decisive would have control move such as 40 . . . h5 !
been 34 ... Qh4t 35. Kgl f3 36. bxc6 Qg3. 41. Qgl ! Rg7
34. ... axb5 42. Qd4!
1. d4 NIB 2. NI:3 d5 3. 115 Nbdl 4. Nfl lB
After centralizing the Queen the 45. Rd7 Rxd7
worst is over. 46. Qxd7t Kh6
42. Qe2 47. Qd4 Kh7
43. i4 Qilt 48. Qd7t
44. Kh2 h5 1/2 .. 1/2
I. 4 ••• e6
1 . d4 Nf6 2 . Nc3 d5 3 . BgS Nbd7
4. Qd3
4 ... c5 11.
4. f3
axb4 8. Qg3 ! e5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. e4 Qa5] . liminary 4 ... h6 (Chapter 12) has been
5. Nxf6 seen frequently.
6. dxc5 e6
7. e4 dxe4
Doubtful is 7 ... d4, because of 8. O�O�O 4 . .• c5
Bxc5 9. Na4 b6 10. e5 Nd7 1 1 . Qg3 Qc7
12. Nf3 O�O 1 3 . Bd3 h6 14. Be4 Rb8 1 5 .
Nxd4 Bxd4 1 6 . Rxd4 Qxe5 17. Qxe5
Nxe5 18. Rhdl , and absolute control
1. d4 NIB 2. Ne3 d5 3. Ig5 Nbdl 4. Idl/fI
A thematic reaction to weaken the This is how Black entices the Queen
gl -a7 diagonal after f2 -f3 has been to d4, and assisting is the thrust e7-e5 .
played. 6. Bxf6
5. e4 Black gets an easy game after 6. Qxd4
At this point there are two popular e5 7. Qa4 d4 B. N d5 [Weaker is B. Bxf6
methods for relieving the pawn pres- Qxf6 9. Nd5 QdB 10. f4 Bc5 1 1 . Nf3
sure: IIA. 5 ... cxd4 and lIB. 5 dxe4.
.•. 0-0 12. 0-0-0 a6 13. fxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxd4
It's not a good idea for White to try Bg4 + , Steinberg-Anka, BalatonberenM
to win a pawn with 5 . dxc5 Qa5 [Or 1 993.J Be7 9. Nxe7 Qxe7 10. Ne2 h6 1 1 .
5 . . . e6 6. b4 Be7 7. Rbl as B. a3 b6 9. B dl 0-0=, Bellon Lopez-Keene, Dortmund
c6 Ne5 10. b5 Bxa3 1 1 . e4 Bb4 12. Bdl 1 980 (GAME 21) .
dxe4 13. Na4, with an unclear game 6. ... Nxf6
for White (or perhaps ;t ) in Hachian It is risky to leave the Bishop on the
A. Donchenko, Moscow 1 995.J 6. Bxf6 long diagonal: 6 . . . dxc3 7. Bxc3 dxe4
Nxf6, and 7. Qd4 bumps into 7 . . . e5 ! B. fxe4 e6 9. Nf3 [9. Qf3 Qh4t 10. g3
B. Qxe5t Be6 9. e4 Bxc5! 10. 0-0-0 [Weak Qh6 1 1 . Nh3 [If 1 1 . Bdl, then 1 1 . . .
is 10. Bb5t?! KfB l l . 0-0-0 Be3t 12. Kbl Qf6=.] Be7 12. e 5 0-0 1 3 . Nf4 Nc5 14.
d4 with the advantage to Black in Wock Bgl Bd7 1 5 . h4 [If 1 5 . 0-0-0, then 15 . . .
enfuss-Timman, Bad Lauterberg 1 977.J Bc6 16. Qe2 Bxgl l7. Qxgl as with the
0-0-0, and having absolute possession idea of b7 -b5-b4, a5 -a4 and Black is
of all the dark squares is more than counterattacking.] Bc6 16. Qe2 f5 [16 . . .
enough compensation for the sacrificed Bxg2 1 7 . Qxg2 as ! with the idea of
pawn. b7-b5=.] 17. Bxc6 bxc6 1B. Bb4 g5 +, G.
Portisch-Tunik, Budapest 1 992 [1 9. Ng2
lIA. Nd3t 20. Qxd3 Bxb4t 21. c3 Rad8 and
White can't castle. (Bd. Note: WhM not 1 9.
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. BgS Nbd7 Bxc5 Bxc5 20. Nd3 and then 0-0-0 ?)J Qb6
4. f3 c5 5. e4 10. Qdl Bc5 1 1 . Bxg7 Be3 12. Qd3 Bflt
13. Ke2 RgB 14. Bd4 when Black had
5 ... cxd4 no compensation for the pawn in Fang-
The Richter-Vereslv Chlllelean Chess Reperlaire
D. Brown, Philadelphia 1 990.
If 6 ... exf6 or 6 . . . gxf6, White replies
7. Qxd4 and then castles queenside.
7. Qxd4 dxe4
8. BbSt
Should the Queens be exchanged by
8. Qxd8t Kxd8, Black attains equal�
ity easily: 9. O�o�ot Kc7 10. fxe4 [And
if 10. Bc4 e6 1 1 . Nxe4 Nxe4 12. fxe4,
Black gets a good endgame. ] Bg4 1 l .
Nf3 e S 12. Bc4 Bb4 1 3 . NbSt Kb6 14. If 13 . . . g6 [With the threat of 14 . . .
a3 a6 1 S . Nc7 Kxc7 16. axb4 Nxe4 1 7 . Bh6t.] then 14. Nf3, aIvi already two
'
Rhe1 Nd6 18. RxeS. The game i s even, pawns are 11 hanging."
Keller-Bunk, German!1 1 996. 14. Nc3
8. ... Bd7 After 14. Nc7t Kd7 1 S . Nf3 Bd6 16.
9. 0.. 0..0 BxbS Rd1 Ke7 1 7 . NdSt NxdS 18. RxdS f6,
It is risky to accept the pawn sacri� and Black felt comfortable in Vogler
fiee: 9 . . . exf3 ? ! 10. Nxf3 a6 1 l . Ba4 bS Friedricn, German!1 1 993.
12. Bb3 e6 13. NeS, and there is no guar� 14. bs
antee the black King will lead a com� 15. Rc6 b4
fortable life. For example: 13 . . . Qc7 14. 16. Na4 Nxe4
Ne4 Nxe4 1 5 . Qxe4 Rd8 16. Rhf1 fs 17. Nf3 Bd6
1 7 . Qe2 [17. RxfS ! exfS 18. Bf7t. 1 8 . . . 18. ReI £S
Ke7 fails to 1 9 . Qh4t gS 1 9 . QxgS#.] 19. NxeS 0..0
Bc8 [Preventing 18. Rxfs! exfS 19. Nc6t, The chances were equal in Vogler
but not for long.] 18. Rxd8t Kxd8 1 9 . Munch, German!1 1 9 96.
RxfS ! exfS 2 0 . Nf7t Qxf7 2 1 . Bxf7, and
it appears that Black did not have
enough for his Queen inJugl ard Mo u.1
lain, France 1 989.
- �
lIB.
10. NxbS Qxd4 1. d4 N£6 2. Nc3 d5 3. BgS Nbd7
11. Rxd4 eS 4. f3 cS S. e4
5 ... dxe4
12. Rc4
Or 12. Nc7t Ke7 13. NdSt NxdS 14.
Rxds exf3 1 S . RxeSt with an even end�
game. (Alburt)
12. ... Rd8
13. fxe4 a6
1. d4 NIB 2. Ne3 d5 3. 1.5 Nbdl 4. Qdl/f3
ter endgame for White in Muratov
Umansk!:1, Moscow 1 989.
7. Bxf6 exf6
8. QhS
The lunge B. dS allows Black to settle
comfortably on the eS�square: B Bd6 • . •
Game 2 1
13. ... Qb8!
Bellon Lopez-Keene
A keen understanding of the posi�
Dortmund 1980
tion, the key to which is in control�
ling the long diagonal a8� hI . Black in�
tends to move his Queen to b 7. 1. Nc3 d5 2. d4 N£6 3. BgS Nbd7 4. f3
14. Ndl Bd5! � c5 5. e4 cxd4 6. Qxd4.
In trying to be active Black weak� This helps Black to seize the center.
ens the d4�pawn. Usually this is avoided by the prelimi�
15. c4 Bb7 nary exchange 6. Bxf6 Nxf6 7. Qxd4.
16. N£1 RdS 6. ... e5
17. Ne3 Be4 7. Qa4
The Bishop does its job along the Now the exchange 7. Bxf6 exd4 8.
long diagonal, gaining extra pluses for Bxd8 dxc3 9. BaS cxb2 10. Rb 1 dxe4 leads
its position. White was getting ready to a better endgame for Black.
for the push d4�d5, which is impossible 7. ... d4
for the time being because the d5�pawn S. Nds
will be attacked by the black Queen The exchange of the Bishop, 8. Bxf6
1. d4 NIB 2. Nel d 5 3. 115 Nbdl 4. Od3/fI
Qxf6 9. NdS QdB I0. f4 BcS, weakens more logical.
th e defense of the pawns on the dark 17. ... Nd6!�
s quares. On lB. Bb4, Black sacrifices the Ex�
8. Be7 change. Then lB . . . NcB [lB . . . Nxc4 19.
9. Nxe7 Qxe7 Rcl ! ] 19. BxfB NxfB, and after N fB�g6,
10. Ne2 h6 Black counts on posting his Knight on
11. Bdl 0..0 either of the weak squares f4 or h4.
12. g4� ! 18. Rel �!
A risky weakening o f the position. The sacrifice should have been ac�
More cautious is 12. Ng3 NcS 13. Qa3 . cepted since now White has no kind
12. ... Nb6 of counterplay.
White's risky move could have been 18. b6
refuted by a Bishop sacrifice: 12 . . . NcS 19. h4 £6
13. Qa3 Bxg4! ? 14. £Xg4 Nfxe4. (Keene) 20. N£S Nxfs
13. Qb4 Qc7 21. gxfS Bf7
14. Ng3 Ne8 22. b3 BhS
If I4 ... Qxc2 1S. Rcl Qa4, and White 23. Kf2 as
has compensation because of his ini� 24. Be2 NeS
tiative. 16. Qxa4 Nxa4 1 ? b3 Nb6 and Black's pieces are ready for decisive
lB. Rc? is unclear. action.
I S . c4 2S. Regl Kh7
If lS. O�O�O, then 15 . . . as ! ? gives Black 26. Rg2 Qb7
a small advantage. 27. Rhgl Rg8
IS. Be6 28. ReI Rad8
16. QaS Nd7 29. Qel Bxi3 !
17. Qa3 After this sacrifice White's position
is in ruins.
30. Kxf3 Nxe4
31. Bxh6 gxh6
32. Rg6 Rxg6
33. fxg6t Kg7
34. Bdl NeSt
01
..
Game 2 2
Rajna-Vogt
Unjustified optimism. Black will be
Leipzig 1 976
better mobilized for the upcoming
battle and a transposition into the
endgame. 1 7 . Qxc7 Nxc7 l B . b4 was 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 ds 3. BgS Nbd7 4. f3
The Richter-Vereslv ChlllelelD Chlss Repert.ire
c5 5. e4 dxe4 6. fxe4 cxd4 . 18. �1 Bxg2�
More cunning is 6 ... Qa5, indirectly This could have led to a quick loss.
attacking the Bishop. It was necessary to I t even-out" the
7. Qxd4 Qa5� Bishop on f6 : lB . . . Be7 1 9. g3 Nxf6 20.
Nxf6t Bxf6 2 1 . Rxf6 Rxg7 22 . Rxh6,
and the extra pawn would guarantee
White an enduring advantage.
19. Rf4�
The intermediate Knight maneuver
1 9 . NbS ! , with the threat of mate on
c7, would have decided the game, since
after 1 ,,� .. RcB 20. Rf4 BcS 21. Rc4, Black
could not protect himself against the
Knight invasion to d6 .
Missing the threat. The natural 7 . . . 19. Bc5
e S B . Qa4 BcS guaranteed Black against 20. Kbl a6
any shocks. (Vogt) 21 . Rd3 Bc6
8. e5! e6 Black managed to not only win back
I t turns out that after taking the a pawn, but to consolidate his position
pawn: B . . . QxeSt? 9. QxeS NxeS 10. as well.
NbS, Black cannot prevent the Knight's 22. Ne4
invasion, and if B NxeS 9. Bbst [9.
• • • White might even have a slight ad
b4?, then 9 ... Nc6 ! ] Nc6 10. Bxf6 gxf6 vantage with 22. Rdl Be 7 23. Rgl eS
1 1 . 0-0-0 Bh6t 12. Kbl oo/�, then Black 24. Rffl bS ! ? 25. a3 as .
cannot get untangled without mate 22. Bxe4
rial losses. 23. Rxe4 Be7
9. Bb5 Bb4 24. Bd4�
Also favoring White is 9 . . . Nds l0. It was necessary to protect the Bishop
0-0-0. with 24. Rf4. Now Black cuts off the
10 exf6
. Qxb5 Knight.
11. £Kg7 Rg8 24. £6!
12. NB Qc5 25. Rg3 Kf7
13. Qxc5 Nxc5 26. Reg4 e5
14. 0-0-0 Bd7 27. Bc3 £5
15. B£6 28. Rg6 N£6
This hits the bulls eye in cooperation 29. Nxf6 Bxf6
with the promoting of the g-pawn. 30. Rxh6 Rae8
15 . . . . Bc6 Depriving White of his last illusion
16. Ng5 h6 connected with 30 . . . Rxg7? because of
17. Nh7 Nd7 31. Rxf6t! Kxf6 32. Bxe5 Kxe5 33. Rxg7.
1. d4 RfB 2. Re3 d5 I. 115 Rbdl 4. Id3/f3
31. a4 Rxg7 38. h4 Be7
32. Rxg7t KXg7 39. hs f3t
33. Rh3 £4 40. Kf2 BcS t
In spite of material equality, White 41 . Kg3 Bd6t
has nothing to stop the e- and f-passed 42. Kh4 BeS
pawns. 43. Rxb7 Bxc3
34. Kc1 Kg6 44. bxc3 e3
3S. Kd1 Kfs 4S. Kg3 e2
36. Ke2 BgS 46. Rf7t Ke6
37. Rh7 e4 0 .. 1
4 . .• c6
Game 2 3 ��.'�/-������
�A��� �
,�� �r'f4�'
�
i����'��' ��
Rossetto-Gufeld
Camaguey 1974
_� I��I
1 . d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 Nbd7 4. f3 �,� ���,/� �� �� ��
c6 5. e4 dxe4 6. fxe4 e5.
The main way of approaching this ��
�i� �,�
� �Z��" �,
����� �
��
position. Also possible is 6 . . . QaS 7 .
The Richter-Veresl' I:hameleon I:hess Reperl.ire
16. Qh3! 12. Bg5 0 .. 0
The h7 �pawn won't run away, and 13. Ne2 cS
in the meantime it is useful to keep 14. 0.. 0 Bb7
the black King in the center. IS. a3 cxd4
16. ... Ng4 16. Bxe7 QJc.e7
17. O..O..O! 17. Nxd4 NeS
With such a poorly placed King as IS. axb4 Nxb4
White's, he does not have to fear a fork. 19. Be2 RfdS
17. Nfl 20. c3 NdS
IS. Qxh7 QgSt 21. b4�!
19. Kbl Rg7 An unnecessary weakening. Stronger
20. QhS+ RgS was 2 1 . RaS , with a further doubling
21. Qh7 Rg7 of the Rooks for attacking the a7-pawn.
After 2 1 . . . Nxd1 22. Rxdl , the King 21. Ng6
should not be allowed to get to c7, but 22. g3
22 . . . Qg7 23 . Qhst Qg6 24. QcS is also
unpleasant enough. Therefore Black
is content with the repetition of moves.
22. Qhst RgS
1/2 .. 1/2
v
Game 2 4
Heyken-Kengis
Hamburg 1995
22. ... eS!
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. BgS Nbd7 4. f3 Black launches the decisive offen�
c6 s. Qd2 bS 6. e4. sive.
A pawn sacrifice for the sake of the 23. Nfs Qc7
initiative. On 6. e3 good is 6 . . . eS ! . 24. Bd3
6. b4 After 24. c4 Ndf4 2S. Qe3 Nxe2t 26.
7. Ndl dxe4 Qxe2 Bxe4 27. fxe4 Qb6t 28. Kgl Qxb4
S. Nfl e3 White loses a pawn.
Black returns the pawn, and has no 24. ... as
desire to pass the initiative to White 2S. buS BcS!
which would happen after 8 . . . exf3 9. A strong zwischenzug, which clears
Nxf3 e6 10. Bc4. the position of the Knight on fs .
9. Bxe3 e6 26. c4
10. Bd3 Be7 More stubborn would have been an
1 1 . Ne4 Nd5 attempt to transpose, though in a
1. d4 NfB 2. Nc3 d5 3. 115 Nbdl 4. fa 1:8
weaker, but defendable endgame: 26. 28. Qe3 exf4
Ne3 Nxe3 27. Qxe3 f5 [On 27 ... Rxa5 29. Qb6 Qe5
28. Rxa5 Qxa5 29. Bc4! and it's unclear.] Now the white King, as expected,
28. Qc5 Ra7 29. Qxc7 [Ed. Note: 29. Bc4t! gets attacked.
is an important zwischenzug! 29 . Kh8 30.
. . 30. Radl Rab8
Oxe7! Rxc7 31. Rfd1 ±.] Rxc7 30. Nfl Rxc3 31. Qa7 Rb2
3 1 . Be2, where the e-pawn is of more 32. Qc5 Bh3!
importance than in the continuation 33. Bbl Rdb8
of the game. 34. Rfel Rgl t
26 . ... Ndf4 35. Khl Qb2
27. gxf4 Bxi5 0 .. 1
rhe lichter-VereslI ChlllelelD Chess lepertlire
5 . . . c5
6. Qd2
Another way is 6. e4 dxe4 7. fxe4
Qa5 [7 . . . e5 B. Nf3 exd4 9. Qxd4 Qb6
10. Qd2 Bb4 1 1 . O�O�O O�O=] B. e5 Ne4
9. Qf3 Nxc3 10. Qxc3 Qxc3 t 1 1 . bxc3
1. d4 NfB 2. Ne3 d5 3. lg5 Nbd1 4. fa hB
e6 12. Nf3 Be7 13. Bxe7 Kxe7. The game S. Qxd4 Bc5
was even in Maksimovic-Radulov, Vrn� If 8 ... dxe4, then 9. O�O�O is good.
jacka Banja 1 983. 9. Qxd5 Bxgl
6. ... b5 More flexible is 9 . . . Qb6 ! 10. O�O�O
Also goo d is 6 ... e5 7 . dxe5 Nxe5 8. Bxgl l 1 . Bb5 Be3t 12. Kbl O�O.
e4? Nxe4! [With the Bishop posted on 1 0. Bc4 0 .. 0
g5 this move would have been impos� Suicidal is 10 . . . Qb6? 1 1 . Qxf7t Kd8
sible.] 9. fxe4 Qxh4t 10. g3 Qg5 1 1 . exd5 12. O�O�O.
Bc5 12. Qxg5 hxg5 1 3 . O�O�O Bxg1 14. 11. Rxgl Qc7
Rxgl Rxh2, and Black won a pawn in 12. Bb3 Nb6
Schoellmann-Uhlmann, Dresden 1 994. 13. Qd2 RdS
Deserving of attention was 8. O�O�O or 14. Nb5 Qe7
8. Qd4, and playing e2�e4 after proper 15. Nd4 as
preparation. 1 6. 0 .. 0 .. 0 Bd7
7. e3 e6 If 16 ... a4?, then White prepared the
S. Bf2 a6 killer 17. Nc6 ! .
9. Nge2 17. a3 Qc5
Another idea is 9. a3, then e3�e4 de� IS. Rgel RacS
serves attention. 19. Kbl BeS
9. ... cS 20. Re3 Qe5 � �
10. g4 Bb7
11. Bg2 BcS
12. Ng3�! Qc7
13. ReI cxd4
14. exd4 Nb6
and Black achieved the better game in
Morozevich-Ehlvest, Podolsk 1 993 (GAME
27) .
Game 2 6
A blunder in time pressure, which
Maksimovic-Geller
permits White to develop a dangerous
Nis 1 977
initiative.
2 1 . Rd3 Nc4
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. BgS Nbd7 4. f3 22. Qe l b5
h6 5. Bh4 cS 6. e4. 2 3 . f4 !
Another way is 6. Qd2 . Making use of the implausibility of
6 . ... cxd4 23 . . . Qxf4?, because of 24. Ne6, [Ed.
7 . Bxf6 exf6 ? ! Note: Nf5 is also interesting.} and White
More natural is 7 . . . Nxf6. s tr engthens his influence in the cen�
The lichter-Verlslv Ch._ellol Chess Upllill
ter. s o m ewhat b e tter, since n o w the
23. Qc7 c2 -pawn is under threat.
24. Qg3 g6 12. ... Qc7
2 S . Qh4 a4 13. ReI
If 2S . . . Kg7, there would follow 26. It is difficult to castle without get
eS ! , since on 26 ... fxeS ? there would ting attacked: 1 3 . 0-0-0 cxd4 14. exd4
be 27. NfSt. Nb6.
26. Qxh6 � 13. cx:d4
It was necessary to eliminate Black's 14. exd4 Nb6
only active piece (which played the fatal IS. Ndl Nc4
role), and carry on the attack with 26. 16. Qd3
Bxc4 bxc4 27. Rh3 . Now White loses a pawn without
2 6 . ... Nxa3 t ! any real compensation. He should have
1 0
.. tried holding on to it with 1 6 . Qc3 b4
Maksimovic won as Geller lost on 17. Qb3.
time. However, White had 28. c3 ! 16. Qast
Rxd4! 29. Rh3 Rxdlt 30. Kb2 Rd2t 3 l . 17. c3 Qxa2
Kbl . IS. 0..0 QaS
19. b3 Nd6
20. Bel
Game 2 7
The Queen should not have been
Morozevich-Ehlvest
activated. 20. Ne3 with the further
Podolsk 1993
movement of the f-pawn deserved at
tention.
1. d4 N£6 2. Nc3 dS 3. BgS Nbd7 4. f3 20. Qb6
h6 S. Bh4 c6 6. Qd2 bs. 21. Nf2 as
Also good is 6 ... eS. 22. Bd2 Ba6
7. e3 e6 23. b4 Nc4
S. Bf2 a6 24. £4 Nxd2
9. Nge2 2S. Qxd2 axb4
On 9. e4, likely is 9 . . . dxe4 10. fxe4 26. cxb4 Rc4
eS 1 1 . dxeS N g4, with a good game for 27. Rxc4 bxc4
Black. 2S. bs Bb7
Also deserving of attention is 9. a3 Having an extra pawn and a better
with the idea of e3 -e4. position, Black avoids opening the
9. ... cS position, which is possible after 28 . . .
10. g4 Bb7 Bxbs [Ed. Note: It seems that 28 ... Qxb5
11. Bg2 ReS is also strong, and safe. E.g., 29. f5 Bb4.J
12. Ng3�! 29. Rb1 or 29. fS .
The immediate retreat 12. N d1 was 2 9 . g5 Nd7
1. d4 NfB 2. Ne3 d5 3. Ig5 Nbdl 4. f3 hB
30. ReI hxg5 36. Ng4 0 ..0
31. fxgS g6 37. �f4 d3
32. �f4 Bg7 3S. Nd4 Qb6
33. Ne2 �a5 39. Nf6 t Nxf6
34. RfI 40. gxf6 Bhs
41. KhI �xf6!
Having made the time control, Ehl�
vest finds the simplest way of exploiting
the pawn roller.
42. �xf6 Bxf6
43. �6 c3
44. RfI ReS
4S. Nb3 d2
46. Nd4 cl
47. Nxc2 Rxc2
34. ... eS! 4S. KgI ReI
The decisive breakthrough. Black 49. Bf3 d4
quickly organizes the mobile passed SO. Be2 Bds
pawns. SI. b6 Bc4
3S. �f3 exd4 01
..
The Richter-VeresDI Cha_eleln Chess Reperllire
4. ... exf6
If 4 . . . gxf6 White does not have to
play 5. e3, and after 5 ... Bf5, a position
arises which was examined in Chapter 3
(3 ... Bf5), but he can use the more ener
getic 5. e4! and and obtain the better
prospects.
5. e3
Here, on 5. e4, there is 5 . . . Bb4! 6.
exd5 Qxd5 7. Nf3 0-0, and White gains The attempt to play in the center,
nothing. (Bagirov) which took place in Larsen-Westerinen,
The main Black replies are: I. 5 Bd6
.•• Hastings 1 972: 9. a3 Qc7 10. e4 dxe4 1 1 .
and 11. 5 ... f5. Nxe4 Be7 1 2 . 0-0 b6 1 3 . Rad1 Bb7 1 4.
c4 RadB 15. b4 g6 16. cS f5, allowed Black
Game 28
lB. ... c4!
Scbmitt-Dautov
Black starts the attack on the weak-
Bad Woerishofen 1991
ened queenside.
19. BfI Rd6
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 g6 4. Bxf6 20. Kdl Ra6
exf6 5. e3 c6 6. Bd3 f5. 21. RaI Ra3
The most accurate move to parry the 22. Bgl Qa6
restricting g2-g4. 23. RhbI Qa5
7. Qf3 Nd7 24. Rb4 Rxc3!
B. Nge2 Nf6 As so often happens in positions with
9. h3 opposite-side castling, the Rook sacrifice
White prepares g2-g4, but the g4- lead to a quick result. White is defense
square is covered too well to carry out 9. less.
0-0. 25. Kxc3 Qa3j
9. Bb4! 26. Rb3 ab3
10. 0.. 0 ..0 Qe7 27. ab3 Re6
11. RdgI h5! 0 .. 1
12. g3
12. Nd1 with the further Ne2-f4 de
served attention.
1. d4 NfB 2� Nel d5 3. 815 cB 4. f3
9. fxe4
9. .. . e5 !
1. d4 NIB 2. NI:l d5 3. Bg5 cB 4. Qdl
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. BgS c6 h3 BfS 13. O�O�O O�O�O 14. Rh2 KbB 15.
Be3 ;t, Sahovic-Shembris, Vrnjacha Banja
4. Qd3 1 989.
b) 4 ... g6 5. f3 QaS [After 5 ... Bg7 6. e4
O�O 7. O�O�O bS B. eS b4 9. Nce2 NeB I0.
Bdl as 11. h4, and White won in his at�
tack on the King in Muratov-Airapetian,
Erevan 1 981; 5 ... BfS ! ? 6. e4? dxe4 7. fxe4
Nxe4! B. Nxe4 QdS 9. Nc3 Bxd3 10.
NxdS Bxfl 11. Nc7t KdB 12. NxaB
Bxg2 + . (Malaniuk) ] 6. Bdl! [6. h4? ! (6.
Qdloo) bs 7. e4 b4 B. Nce2 Ba6 9. Qe3
dxe4! 10. fxe4 Nbd7 1 1 . Nf3 Bg7 12. Bxf6
White prepares the advance e2�e4. exf6! 13. hS O�O 14. hxg6 hxg6 15. Ncl
The Queen's early appearance in the cen� Bxf1 16. Kxfl RfeB+, Morozevich-Ma1an�
ter gives Black tempi for development. iuh, Alushta 1 994 (GAME 30)] Qc7 7. e4
4. ... Nbd7 dxe4 B. fxe4 e5 with equal chances. (Ma�
The most natural form of develop� laniuk)
ment: after the exchange on e4 this 5. e4
Knight will be transferred with tempo If 5. O�O�O, possible is 5 ... h6 6. Bh4 b5
to f6. 7. f3 b4 B. Nbl Qb6 9. e4 e6 10. e5 NhS
Other plans have been used: 1 1 . Nh3 g5 ! 12. Bfl c5 ! + , in Rossetto
a) 4 ... Qa5 [The early appearance of Darga, Lugano (01) 1 968.
the Queen on as makes White's plan The continuation 5. Nf3 is examined
easier to realize, since the Queen can be in Chapter 3.
driven back.] 5. £3 Nbd7 6. Bd1 ! Qc7 7. 5. ... dxe4
e4 Nb6 B. e5 NgB 9. £4 g6 [9 . . . Nh6!? is 6. Nxe4 Nxe4
interesting.] 10. Q£3 h5 1 1 . g3 Nh6 12. The Bishop's distraction 6 . . . Qa5 t
Thl Richter-Veresav Chameleon Chess Repertoire
7. Bd2 Qb6 is also interesting. For ex 11. N£3 Bf5
ample: 8. 0-0-0 dxe4 9. Qxe4 Nf6 1 0. 12. Qd2 0..0 0
..
Game 3 1
Shipman-Dzindzichashvill
New York 1993
with the rather reliable 4 ... Nbd7, after gxf5 11. Ne5 Nbd7 led to an equal game
5. Nf3 we get the variation examined in in Veresov-Su.etin, USSR 1 957. The idea of
Chapter 4. 10. ReI with e2-e4 deserves attention.
S. Rhl g6 Bellin says Boleslavsky's 9 . . . cS is best.
Deserving of attention was 5 . . . Ne4. 10. Bf4 NhS
For example: 6 . Nxe4 dxe4 7 . Qd2 Or 10 ... Nf8 Il. ReI Bf5 12. Bxf5 gxf5
[Pushing aside the threat 7 . . . Qa5, 13. Qd3 e6 14. Ne5 ;!;, Veresov-Gromeh,
which is not solved by 7. b4 because Belorussia-Poland 1 958.
of 7 . . . eS.] BfS 8. Bc4 h6 9. Bf4 Nd7 11. Bh2
10. Ne2 e6 1 1 . 0-0 aS 12. c3 Be7 13. Qc2
1. d4 NfB 2 . NI:l d 5 I . 815 I: B 4 . el
2 9 . gxf5 Nxf5
3 0 . h4 Nxg3
30 . . . Nf3 ! 3 1 . Kxf3 QxcS .
31. hxg5 Nh5
32. Qh4 QeS
33. Be2 fxg5
34. Qxh5 Qxh5
35. Bxh5 Bxd4
36. Nb3 Be5
37. Ndl Kg7
11. ... e5 3S. c3 Kh6
Weaker is 11. .. fS 12. Na4 Qd8 13. c4 3 9. BeS g4
e6 14. cxdS exdS IS. b4, with a better 40. Nc5 B d6
game for White in Veresov-Uusi, USSR 41. Nb3 Kg5
1 960. 42. Bf7 h5
12. g4! exd4 43. Nd4 h4
After 12 ... e4? ! 13. gxhS Nf6 14. hxg6 44. Be6 h3 t
hxg6 1S. Kgl Qd8 16. NeS exd3 17. cxd3 45. Kfl Bxe6
Nh7 18. f4, Black is a pawn behind in 46. Nxe6t Kf6
Veresov-Peterson, USSR 1 958. 47. NdS g3
13. exd4 Nhi6 4S. Nxb7 Bc7
14. ReI 49. Nc5 Bb6
White's chances are preferable. In Ver' 50. b4 Kf5
esov-Kostro, Belorussia-Poland, 1 958 the 51. Ne3t Kf4
game continued: 52. Nc2 Kf3
14. . .. QdS 53. Nd4t Ke3
15. Qd2 NfS 54. Nxc 6 � Kd2
16. Rxe S NxeS S4 . . . BxcS! leads to mate.
1 7. Re I Ne6 55. Ne7 Kxc3
IS. Qe3 Nd6 56. Nxd5t Kc4
19. Be5 f6 57. Nxb6t axb6
20. Bg3 Nf7 5S. Ne4 g2 t
21. Nd2 Bd7 59. Kf2 Kxb4
22. Nb3 QfS 60. Ng5 Ka3
23 . f4 ReS 61. Nxh3 Kxa2
24. Qf2 Nd6 62 . Nf4 b5
25. f5 Ng5 63 . Nd5
26. Kg2 Rxe l 1/2 - 1/2
27. Qxe l gxf5
28. Nc5 Bc8
The Richter-Veresl' Cha_eleol Chess Repertoire
3 .. . g6
sible continuations it is to be noted that
after 3 ... e6, the best reply is 4. e4, which
transposes the game toward lines of the
French Defense. White should be ready
for such a turn of events, otherwise he
falls into a psychological trap as he dis
covers he's been captivated by the closed
opening turning into a semi-open one.
Not seen enough is 3 ... Ne4 [In the
style of the Trompowsky.] 4. Nxe4 dxe4
5. g3 [Also acceptable is 5. e3 cS (5 ... g6 6.
Bc4 Bg7 7. c3 c6 8. f3 ±; 5 ... BfS 6. Bc4;!;)
6. dxcS QaSt 7. Qd2 ;!; .] cS 6. dxcS QaSt This fianchetto demands accurate and
7. c3 QxcS 8. Be3 Qc7 9. Bgl fs 10. Nh3 active play by White, since if he should
eS? ! [More cautious is 10 ... e6 ;!;.] 1 1 . Qb3 proceed with a lackadaisical develop
Nc6 12. Rdl Be7 13. 0-0 Bd7 14. NgS Nd8 ment, Black can succeed with a queen
15. Bh3 BxgS 16. BxgS Nf7 17. Be3, with side attack.
the better game for White in Djurhuus The main continuations are lA. 4.
Loysel, Gausda1 1 991. Bxf6 and lB. 4. Qd2.
From the remaining continuations
only the seldom seen I. 3 . .. g6, 11. 3 . h6,
lA.
..
IBI.
l . d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3 . Bg5 g6 4. Qd2
4 ••• h6
13. ... cS
14. dxc5 QaS
15. Kbl Ne5
16. Qg2 Nxd3
17. Rxd3 Re6
Black's initiative looked more lasting A responsible move, Black is ready to
in Dittmar-Bastian, Germany 1 993 (GAME lose a tempo for the sake of exchanging
32) . off the Bishop.
5. Bxf6
IB2. Nxe4! ;t.] 17. Ne2 Qf6 18. Ncl Bg4 19.
hxg6 hxg6 20. Be2 Bxf3 21. Bxf3 . In the
1 . d4 N£6 2. Nc3 d5 3. BgS g6 middlegame, the prospects of two minor
4. Qd2 pieces were preferred over the Rook's in
4 ... Bg7
Mestrovic-Grosar, Portoroz 1 996.
6. Qxh6 Bf5
A pawn assault in the center is also
possible: 6 ... cS 7. e3 Nc6 8. o-o�o Qa5 9.
dxc5 Qxc5 10. Nge2 Be6 11. Nd4 0�0�0= ,
Prins- T. Petrosian, Leipzig (01) 1960.
Another plan, with piece develop�
ment, also deserves attention: 6 ... Qd6
7. NB Nc6 8. e3 Bf5 9. O�O�O O-O�O 10. h3 ? !
[Too passive, 10. Bb5 ! ? with unclear play
is better.] e5 ! 11. Bb5 exd4 12. Nxd4=,
Muratov-Reprintsev, Moscow 1991.
The natural reply. 7. O�O-O c6
5. Bh6 S. e3 Qa5
White can start with 5. O�O�O, and if 9. Bd3 Nbd7
5 ... O�O, he can switch to playing in the 10. Kbl 0-0-0
center with 6. f3 ! ? and then 7. e4, when 11. Nge2 RdgS
Black has no time to play c7 �c6 and b7 -b5. 12. f3 Bxd3
Cleverer is 5 . . . c6, after which 6. Bh6 13. cxd3 gS
leads to similar play: 14. Qh3 hs
a) 6 ... O�O 7. Bxg7 Kxg7 8. f3 b5 9. e4 The chances for both sides were about
b4 10. e5 bxc3 1 1 . exf6 exf6 12. Qxc3, with equal in Cecn-Pekarek, Cnema 1 997.
The Rilhler-VlresDv Ch.melell Chlss Reperl.ire
9. Nf3 Nb6 10. Bb3 Bd7 1 1 . Ne5 Qf6 12.
11. Qf3 0-0-0 13. Nhs Qe7 14. 0-0-0, and
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. BgS White's Knights control Black's weak
points in Cigan-Petschar, Austria 1989.1 e6
3 .. h6
.
6. Qh5 ! cS 7. 0-0-0 cxd4 B. exd4 Nc6 9. f4
Bb4 10. Nge2 f5 1 1 . h3 Bd7 12. g4 Ne7
13. Bg2, and White had the initiative in
Spasshy-Uusi, USSR 1 960.
5. e3
On 5. e4, then good is 5 ... Bb4 6. exd5
Qxd5 7. Nf3 0-0 B. Be2 Qa5 9. Qdl Nd7
and, the Knight threatens to transfer
himself to d5, and Black stood better in
Spasshy-Kortchnoi, Belgrade (m/1 6) 1 977
(GAME 33) .
Black is ready to lose a tempo in order Also seen is the fianchetto of the Bish
to force White make up his mind im op 5. g3 c6 6. Bg2. For example: 6 ... Qb6
mediately about the Bishop on g5 . 7. Rbl Bb4 B. Nf3 Qa5 [B Bxc3t, then
• • •
14. gS fxgs
IS. hxg5 Rxa2
7. Qf3 16. gxh6 Ralt
White could have created a pawn ma� 17. Kdl Rxdlt
jority on the queenside by 7. Nge2 O�O B. 18. Kxdl g6
e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4. In Steinitz' times things 19. Rgl Be6
like this were considered an achievement 20. Nf4 Bxf4
in view of the forthcoming endgame. 21. Qxf4
Nowadays this concept is viewed with White's position was preferable in
skeptidsm: it is too early for the end� Tal-Geller, Curafao (et) 1 962.
game, while Black's counterplay is very
real: 9 Bc7 10. c3 Nd7 1 l . Bel ReB 12.
lIB.
...
3 ... Nc6
vents a pawn assault agains the kingside
as well.
7. Qf3
Or 7. Nge2 g6 8. Qd2 Nd7 9. a3 Nf6
10. Nf4 Bd6 1 1 . h4 O�O 12. Be2 Re8 13. g3
Kg7 14. Nd3 Qe7 15. Rgl h5 16. Bfl as
17. Rbl a4 18. Rdl Qc7 19. Be2 Qe7, with
an active game for Black in Balashov-T.
Georgadze, USSR (ch) 1 979. Be1lin-Harito�
nov, 1980 had 7. h4! h5 8. Nce2 ! .
7. g6
8. Nge2 Nd7
9. Nf4 Nf6 This move was evoked in the 1920s
from the ideas of Nimzovich. From a
philosophical point of view it fully cor�
responds with 2. Nc3. Though it did not
get wide dissemination in serious prac�
tice, apparently because of the accepted
ideology of playing dosed openings [Le.,
the Knight should not obstruct the
c�pawn, which is an active resource in
fighting forthe center] , this Knight's de�
velopment, which attacks the d4 and c4
Even though a position has arisen squares, has every right to be used in
which is similar to 3 ... c6 4. Bxf6 exf6 5. practice. In this aspect it fuHy corre�
e3, White has an extra tempo, though it sponds with the Chigorin Variation of
is not easy to use it because Black has a the Queen's Gambit 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6,
solid fortress. For example: 10. h4 Bd6 or the Tarrasch Variation of the French
1 1 . O�O�O Bd7 12. Kbl Qa5 13. Nce2 O�O�O Defense 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6.
14. Ng3 Ne4, and Black's chances, hav� 4. f3
ing occupied the e4�square, were prefer� By playing passively White cannot
able in Hachian-A. Ibragimov, Russia 1996. count on anything special: 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3
1 0 . 0 .. 0 Bd6 [The alternative, S. Bd3, is followed by
Because Black controls e4 he has a 6. Nge2. (Tartakower) ] Be7:
good, perhaps even the better position. a) 6. Bd3 h6 7. Bh4 b6 8. O�O Bb7 9.
Bb5?! O�O 10. Bxc6 Bxc6 11. Ne5 Bb7 12.
�� ' �F;�� ��
S. Nge2
More accurate is B. g4, preventing B ...
fS. ���/.'W#���J�w#
� �� '�%'//����///.� �
8. ... Re8 �Jffi� �•.
�''' �
9. g4 Nd7 ��� � ��Jffi".��
..u..
���
�
'et
We Care
What You
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plished our aims, your de�
sires? Let us know.
The number of books on
QP systems is woefully
small. The number of good
ones is almost non�existent,
yet these games make up a
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you like to see more books
on the various QP systems
(Torre, Colle, Trompowsky,
Unusual, etc.) by GM au�
thors?
The lichter-VeresD' Ch._elell Chess Repertoire
d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5
Sicilian by 5. Ndb5 d6 6. e4. This Si
1. cilian can be prevented by Black with
the energetic 4 . . . d5 , but then 5. Bg5
gives White the preferred game:
a) 5 . . . e5 6 . Ndb5 ! [If the retreat 6.
Nb3, then 6 . . . d4 7. Nbl Be7 B. e3 dxe3
9. QxdBt BxdB 10. Bxe3 Ng4 1 1 . Bc5
N d7, and Black had equality in Koeni
ger-Held, Munich 1 993.1 d4 [And 6 ... a6?
fails to 7. Nxd5 ! axb5 B. Nxf6t 1 -0 in
Djurhuus-Liardet, Santiago 1 990.1 7. Nd5
Na6 B. e4! [B. Bxf6 gxf6 9. e4 Be6, with
The most common is 2 ... cS . IfWhite sharp play] Be6 9. Nxd4! exd4 10. Bb5t
plays 3 . d5 then we transpose to the Bd7 1 1 . Bxd7 Kxd7 [ 1 1 . .. Qxd7? 12.
Benoni, in which contemporary theory, Bxf6] 12. Qxd4 KcB 1 3 . 0-0-0, with a
in most variations, gives preference to strong attack in Basman-Martens, Har
White. Here Black faces even more dif rachov 1 967.
ficult problems than with 2. c4, because b) 5 . . . e6 6. e4 dxe4 [6 . . . Bb4 7 . e5±]
White has an opportunity to post his 7. Ndb5 Qa5 B. Bxf6 gxf6 9. Nd6t Bxd6
Knight on the c4-square by way of N gl 10. Qxd6 Qb6 1 1 . Nxe4 Qxd6 [ 1 1 . . .
f3-dl-c4, and to create strong piece pres Qxb2 ? loses to 1 2 . Rdl Bd7 1 3 . c3 , fol
sure in the center and on the queen lowed by Ne4xf6 .] 12. Nxd6t Ke7 1 3 .
side. 0-0-0, and Black's misshapen pawn
structure left White the better chances
In this monograph we will consider in the endgame in van Geet-Gereben,
another original system of play: Beverwijk 1 965.
1) White carried on his development
by 3 . Bg5 (Chapters 1 9 and 20) . In this
case our theme frequently intersects
with variations from the Trompowsky
Attack ( 1 . d4 Nf6 2. BgS cS 3 . Nc3 ) .
2 ) White takes and removes the pawn
pressure with 3. dxcS (Chapter 21), striv-
Thl Richter-Vereslv Chllllllll Chess RlplrtDire
Black's attempts to transpose into the In the event of 2 ... d6 (Chapter 24),
French Defense by 2 . . . e6 seems logical with 3. e4 White can offer Black the
enough. Even here mutual variants are transposition to the Pirc-Ufimtsev Defense
possible: with 3 ... g6, which is the theme of other
1) White carries on his development opening books. In this book we will ex�
using the 3 . Bg5 concept ( Chapter 22) , amine 3. Bg5, in which after 3 ... Nbd? 4.
allowing Black t o have a wider range e4 e5 5. Nf3 Be? 6. Bc4 follows the path
of options: the Burn� Rubinstein Varia� of PW.lidor's Defense.
tion [3 . . . d5 4. e4 dxe4] , the Classical
d4 d5 2. Nc3 £5
System [3 . . . Be? 4. e4 d5 5 . e5 Nfd?],
Anderssen's Variation [3 . . . Be? 4. Bxf6 1.
Bxf6 5. e4 d5 6. e5 Be?], and MacCutch�
eon's Variation [3 . . . Bb4 4. e4 d5] .
2 ) White shows his willingness to
play the French by 3. e4. The attempt
to evade it by 3 . . . Bb4 (Chapter 23) is
already connected with taking a risk
by Black.
1 1 . Nd6t Bxd6 12. Bxf6 Be7 13. Bxe7 NeS 10. Nf3 Nxd3 t 1 1 . cxd3 dS 12. Qf4
Qxe7+ . (Taimanov) ] Bxd6 11. exd6 Nd4 bS! 13. g4 b4 14. h4? ! bxc3 1S. Bxc3 Nh7
12. O�O�O [More reliable is 12. Bd3 Bb7 1 6 . gS hS, and Black countered the at�
13. Qf2 .] Nfs 13. Bxf6 Nxh4 14. BxdB tack in Walti-Klauser, Switzerland 1 987.}
KxdB, and Black obtained the better NeB [B ... h6 ? ! looks like a challenge.
endgame. 9. Nf3 hxgS lO. NxgS Qc7 1 1 . eS ! NxeS
7 ... Qb6 deserves attention: B. O�O�O 12. NdS ! exdS 13. fxeS QxeS 14. ReI ,
Qe3t 9. Kbl Nxe4 10. Nxe4 Qxe4 1 1 . and White launched a dangerous at�
Bd3 BxgS [Uncertain is 1 1 . . . Qxgl 12. tack in Krasenkov-Degraeve, Cappelle la
The Richler-VeresDv Cha_IlelD Chess Reperllire
Grande 1 990 (GAME 34) ; and as was 8. £4 d6
shown by Krasenkov, White could have B d5 deserves attention. For ex�
• • •
even played 9. Bxh6 ! ? gxh6 10. Qxh6 ample: 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 exd5
Ng4! 11. Qh5 Nf6 {Weaker is 1 1 . .. Nf2? ! 1 1 . Bxe7 Nxe7 12. a3 Bf5 1 3 . Nf3 Qc5
12. Rdl ! Nxh1 1 3 . Rd3 Bf6 1 4 . e 5 Bg7 14. Bd3 RcB=, Sahovic-Quinteros, Bled!
15. Ne4ro/± [Ed. Notes: This position and Portoroz 1 979.
Gufeld's intuition are amazing. I suspect, 9. Nf3 h6
from lengthy independent analysis, that 10. Bb5
lS. Ne4 ultimatelyfails. However, in con� Premature was 10. e5 ? ! dxe5 1 1 . fxe5
junction with lS. Nh3 it may succeed! E.g., Nxe5 12. Bb5t Bd7! 13. Nxe5 Bxb5 14.
lS ... Re8 16. NgS! Re7 (1 6 ... Qe7, after 1 7. Nxf7 Kxf7 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Qh5t KgB
Nce4 Rd8 18. Nh7 bombs also.) 1 7. Nce4! 1 7 . Qxb5 Bxc3 l B . Qxb7 Bxb2t ! 19.
NxeS 18.fxeS should winfor White.1.) 12. Qxb2 [ 1 9 . Kxb2 ? fails to 1 9 . . . Qe5t L ]
Qg5t KhB 13. Qh6t Nh7 14. Rd3 RgB Kh7 2 0 . Rhe l ? [B etter i s 2 0 . Rd3 . ]
1 5 . Rh3, and the attack continues.] 9. RhdB ! , and Black not only interrupts
Bd3 Bxg5 10. fxg5 Ne5 1 1 . Nf3 ;!; , as in White's initiative, but creates some dan�
West-Curtis, Sydney 1 992. gerous threats as well in I uldachev-Ser�
b) 7 ... a6 B. f4 b5 9. e5 b4 10. exf6 pe� Tashkent 1 993.
gxf6 1 1 . Ne4 fxg5 12. fxg5 Qa5 13. Kbl 10. Bd7
b3 14. axb3 [Stronger is 14. cxb3 Bb7 11. e5 dxe5
15. a3.] Nb4 15. Nf6t KdB I6. Qd4 Qalt 12. Bxe6! Bxe6
17. Kcl Qalt lB. Kdl Qa5 19. Ke2 Nxc2 13. Nxe5 Re8
20. Qe4 RbB 21. Nf3=t, Vaganian-Knaak, and Black maintained equality (Serper) .
Tallinn 1 979; better was 20 ... Qxg5 ! 2 1 .
Ng4! with sharp play. (Cvetkovic) [Ed.
Game 3 4
Note: After 21 ... QbSt there seems to be
Krasenkov-Degraeve
nothing wonderful about White's game.1
Cappelle la Grande 1 990
c) 7 ... d6 B. f4 Qc7 [For B Qa5 ! ? ,
• • •
12. Nd5!
A nice sacrifice, the sense of which
becomes clear a move later.
12. ... exd5
DI .ic�tlr-VI"'s., I:b•••1111 I:hlss Rlpert.irl
being smothered.
If B. Nf3 , then after B . . . Nbd7 9. a4,
simplest is 9 ... exf4! 10. as QdB l 1 . Bxf4
Be? 12. Nd2 O�O 13. Nc4 NeB + , as in
Sahovic-Rib1i, Vrbas 1 977.
8. ... dxe5 Black's position is restricted, but just
9. NB Bd6 unsound enough for White to easily
10. Bc4 find a key towards opening it up. For
After 10. Rbl QdB 1 1 . BgS Nbd?, example, Soos-Leko, Budapest 1 993, pro�
White fails to use the Queen's bind ef� ceeded 12 . Nh4 QdB 1 3 . Nfs Nb6 14.
fectively, because on 12. Nh4, possible is Be2 BxfS IS. RxfS NeB 16. Qf1 Nd?
12 ... h6. The game Landenbergue-XuJun, I? Rb l Be? l B . Bg4 Nd6, and Black
Cannes 1977, continued 12. Nd2 O�O 13. successfully regrouped his forces, main�
Nc4 Nb6 14. Nxd6 Qxd6 1S. Qf3 Bd? 16. taining the extra pawn because White
Bxf6 Qxf6 1? Qxf6 gxf6 1B. BbS RfdB I9. didn' t find the key. Deserving of at�
o�o, and White had compensation for tention is 12. a4! ?, which by the threat
the pawn. of pushing the pawn prevents the
10. . .. Nbd7 Knight's transfer to b6.
Black hurries to drive the Bishop
back from his active position. In other
continuations he faces problems: 11.
a) 10 ... QdB l 1 . O�O Bg4 12. Qel Nbd? 1. d4 N£6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Bg5 Qb6 4. d5
13. Nh4 ! , and Black had to retreat his Qxb2 5. Bdl Qb6 6. e4 d6 7. £4 e6.
Bishop from g4 in Prib!11-Hazru., Varna Black IIblows open" the center, tem�
1 978 (GAME 35) . porarily parrying e4�eS .
b) 10 . . . a6 1 1 . O�O Qc? 12. a4 Nbd? 8. Rhl
1 3 . Nh4 Nb6 14. Be2 Bd? I S . Bh6 BfB The capture B. dxe6 is examined in
1 6 . BgS Be? I ? d6 ! , with a serious po� comments to move ? .. eS.
sitional advantage for White in Laszlo� 8. ... Qd8
G. Horvath, Hungar!1 1 992/1 993. If B Qc?, possible is 9. dxe6 Bxe6
• . •
Game 3 5
J. Pribyl-Hazai
Varna 1 978
1 1 . Bc4!
White attacks the pawn on b7 and 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 c5 3. d5 Qb6 4. Nc3.
the threat of e4�e5 is resumed, which Another way of the Trompowsky At�
The lichter-Veres., ChallalelD Chess Ilparllire
tack transposing into one of the main
positions of the Richter�Veresov System,
in which White sacrifices a pawn.
4. Qxb2
S. Bdl Qb6
6. e4 d6
7. f4 eS
7 . . . e6 looks more reliable.
S. fxeS dxeS
9. Nf3 Bd6
10. Bc4 QdS 16. ... Be7
More accurate is 10 ... Nbd7, striv� If 16 . . . Qxf6 ?, then 17. Bgs wins. If
ing to draw the Bishop away from his 16 . . . gxf6, there follows 1 7 . Bh6t Ke7
active position. lB. Bg7 RgB 19. Rf1 .
11. O�O Bg4 17. �6! a6
12. Qel Nbd7 IS. Ril !
This move just creates problems. He White heightens the threats. If l B ...
should have made up his mind to ex� axbS, there follows: 1 9. Ng6t KeB 20.
change the Bishop. NxhB gxh6 21. Nxf7 .
13. Nh4! Nb6 IS. Bxh4
14. Bbst KfS 19. �4 axbs
Black has to reconcile himself that 20. QxeS!
he has lost the right to castle, because The same theme of restriction for
14 . . . Bd7 I S . Nfs Bxbs 16. Nxbs BfB the ill�fated Queen. 1£20 ... Qxh4?, then
1 7 . d6 is even worse. 2 1 . Bgs Qh5 22 . Qe7t KgB 23. QeB#.
IS. Qg3 BcS 20. ... Nc4
The attempt to cover the g7 �square 21. Qf4
by means of IS . . . Bhs 16. Nfs Bg6 fails More accurate was 2 1 . QhS f6 22 .
due to 17. Nxg7 ! Kxg7 lB. Rxf6 ! Qxf6 Bf4, since some complications arose.
19. Bgs, and the black Queen is lost. 21. ... Qe7
More certain is 1 6 . Rxf6 ! , then 16 . . .
Be7 1 7 . Rxb6 ! axb6 l B . Qxes Bg6 1 9.
Nxg6t.
16. Rxi6!
leoaoi-type Dlvialiaos 2
22. Bel g5 If26 . . . Bg4, then decisive is 27. Bg3 .
23. Qf3 Ra6 27. h4 Bg4
If 23 . . . gxh4, White could find the 28. Rxg5 £6
maneuver 24. Bxh4! Qd7 2 5 . Qf6 RgB 29. Rxg6t hxg6
26. Qh6t KeB 27. Qxh7 RfB 2B. e5 ! . 30. Bg3 Be2
(Pribyl) 31. Rhl Nc4
24. Rh5 Rg6 32. Nc7 Qxe4
25. Nxb5 Ne5 33. Ne6t
26. Qc3 Kg7 1 .. 0
An Opening Repertoire
in Just 24 Hours?
That genius chess writer, C.J.S. Purdy, promised
one in 10 hours. Well, there is a lot more infor�
mation out there these days so we extended it to
24 hours, or let's say 2 hours per day for 12 days.
Purdy certainly thought it was possible with
the program he set up: An AlI� Purpose System
for Black except for 1. e4, the Stonewall Attack,
and the Colle System. Against 1. e4 he recom�
mended the French, or the Old Dragon of the
Sicilian. He had special lines for treating the
Colle and Stonewall.
The APS features the
QG Declined Orthodox.
This book has been
compiled by Purdy editor
Ralph Tykodi (with open�
ing updates and commen�
tary) from Purdy's writ�
ings and will be offered as
Action Chess, March
2000 for $22.00.
Thl lichter-Vereslv Chlllellln Chess le_ert.ire
I.
It was co-author Gufeld who first rec 1. d4 Nf6 2 . Nc3 c5 3. dxc5
ommended this move. Judging by the
strategy of transferring the game to lines 3 . . . Qa5
of the Sicilian Defense, the straight
forward center promises White more
chances than in variations examined
previously ( Chapters 7 and B) . This
method of play is rather frequently used
in practice and demands special con
sideration.
Black's most common continuations
are I. 3 . . . Qa5 and 11. 3 . . . e6.
3 . . . g6 deserves attention: 4. e4 N c6
5 . Nf3 Bg7 6 . Bc4 0-0 7. 0-0 Qa5 B. Be3 The wing assault will be aimed at the
Ng4 [B Qb4 9. Bb3 Nxe4 10. Nxe4
• • • e5-pawn. White can continue with: lA.
Qxe4 1 1 . c3 t ] 9. Qd2 Nxe3 10. Qxe3 4. e4 and lB. 4. NB.
Bxc3 1 1 . Qxc3 Qxc3 12. bxc3 Na5 1 3 .
Bb3 b6 14. cxb6 axb6, and after BcB-b7,
Sicilian-type leliatians
lIA.
The most natural move, one which 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 cS 3. dxcs e6
develops the kingside. 4. e4 Nc6
4. e4
After 4. Bg5 Bxc5 5. e3, Black equal� 5. Nf3
izes by 5 ... d5 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Qcll a6 8.
Be2 Qc7 9. a3 b5=.
4. ... Nc6
If 4 .. Bxc5, Black should reckon with
.
The Richter-Veresl' ChamelelD Chess Repemire
7. 0..0 a6
Also played was 7 . . . Be7 B. ReI d6
9. NbS QbB I0. c4 a6 1 1 . Nc3 Qc7 12.
b3 0-0 13. B b2 b 6 14. Qd2 Bb7 1 5 .
Radl � , R . Watson-Schmall, Bad Woer
ishofen 1 988.
s. Qe2
After B. h3 bs 9. Qe2 d6 10. Be3 Bb7
with an equal position.
s. ..
. Ng4!
White proceeds with his develop Not only for blocking the eS-square,
ment trying to get a position typical but with a threat of N c6-d4 too.
of a Sicilian Defense. 9. g3 b5
5. ... Bxc5 10. Bf4 d6
6. Bd3
In this kind of pawn layout, devel
oping the Bishop to c4 is not quite logi
cal: 6. Bc4 Ng4 7 . 0-0 Qc7 B. h3 , be
cause after B NgeS, White has to lose
•••
Game 3 6
Mestrovic-Medic
Pula 1996
tional resources.
French-type The continuation 3. e4, which means
that White agrees to play the French,
Deviations 1 is covered in Chapter 1 1 .
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. ... h6
A useful move which clarifies the
position of the B/g5 before Black plays
3 . . . d5 . Other continuations have also
been examined which follow the French
structures, but with the following varia�
tions:
a) 3 ... Be7 4. e4 [The Classical System.
If the exchange 4. Bxf6 Bxf6 after 5 .
e 4 d 5 6 . Nf3 , we get the Anderssen
Variation of the French. ] h6 [Black
Black's attempt to transpose to French refuses to play the French, which can
lines after 3. e4 d5 seems to be a logi� be done with 4 . . . Nxe4 5. Bxe7 Nxc3
cal reply to White's psychological di� 6. BxdS Nxdl 7. Bxc7 Nxb2 S. Bd6 Na4
gression of 2 . Nc3 . In the diagram 9. c4 Nc6 10. Nf3 , where White has
mutual deviations are, of course, pos� the advantage of the two Bishops, with
sible. However, it should be noted that the dark�squared one being the stron�
if White, who has the advantage of the gest of the two, and that is sufficient
first move, finds them acceptable, then compensation for the sacrificed pawn
for Black they are sometimes connected in Hodgson-Glickman, London 1 992.1 5.
with risk. Bh4 [Also possible is 5 . Bxf6 Bxf6 6 .
3 . B g5 e5 Be7 7 . Qg4 KfS S. Nf3 ;!; . ] Nxe4 6.
A thematic move of the Richter�Vere� Bxe7 Nxc3 7. BxdS Nxdl S. Bxc7 Nxb2
sov System. White does not shrink from 9 . Bd6 Nc6 1 0 . Nf3 b6 1 1 . a4 Na5 12.
playing the French yet, retaining that Nd2 Nb7 1 3 . Bb4 d5 14. Ra3 Nc4 1 5 .
possibility after 3 . . . d 5 4 . e4 [With the Nxc4 dxc4 1 6 . Bxc4 ;!; , Hort-Mista,
modest 4. e3 cS 5. Nf3 Be7 6. Be2 White Czechoslovakia (ch) 1 974.
can scarcely rely on anything substan� b) 3 . . . Bb4 [Black is ready to play
tial] . Here Black also gets some addi� the MacCutcheon Variation 4. e4.] 4.
french-type De'ialilns 1
Nf3 [White refuses to play the French. ]
d 5 5 . e 3 cS 6 . Be2 h 6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8.
O�O O�O 9. Ne5 Nd7=, Rehm-Krebs, Ger�
many 1 995.
There is an original method for re�
fusing the French:
c) 3 . . . d6 4. e4 Be7 [After 4 . . . Nbd7
5 . Nf3 h6 6 . Be3 e5 7. h3 Be7 8 . Bc4
O�O 9. a4 c6, we have a position like a
Philidor, where White did not exploit
his advantage of the first move by Be3, White keeps the bind, but this trans�
the game A. Sokolov-Nalbandian, Cap� position to the French Defense setup
pelle la Grande 1 995, continued with is connected with losing a pawn.
10. Bal exd4 1 1 . Bxd4 Qc7 12. O�O Ne5 4. ••• d5
13. Ncll Ng6 14. ReI Be6, with an equal Best, preventing 5 . e4 which can be
position; 6 . Bh4 � deserves a look. ] 5 . followed up with 5 . . . g5 6. Bg3 dxe4
f4 [By comparison, passive i s 5 . Nf3 winning a pawn. The game Gores-Todor�
O�O, for example: 6. Qd2 Nc6 7 . Bb5 cevic, Las Palmas 1 995 went : 7. f3 Bb4
Bd7 8 . O�O�O a6 9. Bxc6 Bxc6 10. Rhe1 8 . a3 Bxc3 t 9. bxc3 Nc6 10. Bb5 Bd7
h6 1 1 . Bxf6 Bxf6 12. d5 exd5 13. Nxd5 1 1 . Qe2 Nd5 12. Qxe4 Nxc3 1 3 . Qd3
Re8=, Piket-Oll, Wijk aan Zee 1 993.J h6 Nxb5 14. Qxb5 Nxd4, and Black kept
6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Qd2 O�O [After 7 . . . a6 his advantage.
8. O�O�O b5 9. Nf3 Bb7 1 0 . Bd3 b4 1 1 . 5 . Bxf6
Ne2 a5 1 2 . Kb1 Nd7 1 3 . e 5 Be7 14. f5 , This is the result of 3 . . . h6 . In or�
with a clear advantage to White in der to play e2 �e4 White has to resort
Tolnai-Fogarasi, Hungary (ch) 1 9 95.J 8. to this exchange, giving Black the ad�
O�O�O d5 9 . e5 Be7 10. Nf3 c5 1 1 . dxc5 vantage of the two Bishops .
Nc6 12. Bd3 �, and the position which When preparing e2�e4 by 5 . f3 ? ! ,
arose reminds us of themes in the White has to reckon with the thematic
French Defense . counterattack 5 . . . cS! 6 . e4 Nc6 and
After 3 . . . h6, White has a choice be� Black's position is already preferable.
tween I. 4. Bh4 and 11. 4. Bxf6. For example: 7. Bb5 Be7 8. exd5 exd5
9. dxc5 O�O 10. Qcll d4 1 1 . Bxf6 Bxf6
12. Ne4 Bf5 1 3 . Nxf6t Qxf6 14. O�O�O
I. Rfd80Cl, Richtrova-Michaliek, Czechoslo�
1. d4 Nf6 2. Ne3 e6 3. Bg5 h6 vakia 1 996. For example, 1 5 . Ne2 Rac8
16. Bxc6 Rxc6 1 7 . Nxd4 Rxc5 18. c3
4. Bh4 b50Cl.
5. Qxf6
6 . e4 Bb4
Thl lilhtlr-VlrlSII Cha.llell Chess lepertlire
7 . e5 14. Nf3
Leading to an equal endgame was If 14. Rb1 , then 1 4 . . . a4, and the
7. exd5 exd5 S. Qe2t Qe6 9. Qxe6t Bxe6 kingside castling will be hurt by the
10. Nge2 c6 1 1 . a3 Bd6 12. Nc1 Bf5=, h�pawn.
Vidovic-Jovanovic, Croatia 1 998. If 14 . . . Bd7 [in the text line] , then
7. ... Qd8 15. O�O�O RcS and the position was equal
Also possible is 7 ... Qe7 S. Qg4 Qg5, in Guigonis-Kouat1y, France (ch) 1 998
which is examined below. In Ziochev� [GAME 37] .
sky-Bischoff, Bad Woerishofen 1 9 93,
White played S. a3 Bxc3 t 9. bxc3 cS,
and there arose the Nimzovich Varia� 11.
tion of the French, in a position fa� I . d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3 . BgS h6
voring Black: White's dark�squared
Bishop is exchanged. The game con� 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5 . e4
tinued: 10. f4 Nc6 1 1 . Nf3 Bd7 12. Bd3
c4 1 3 . Bfl g5 14. Qd2 g4 1 5 . Ng1 O�O�O
1 6 . g3 h5 1 7 . h3 f6, with a slight ad�
vantage to Black.
8 . Qg4 Qg5
This move happened as a result of
3 . . . h6.
9 . Qf3 cS
1 0. h4 Qe7
1 1 . a3 Bxc3 t
1 1 ... Ba5 has been played. Then 12. This position is frequently seen in
O�O�O cxd4 13. Nb5 Nc6 14. Qg3 g6 1 5 . Trompowsky's Attack, from 1 . d4 Nf6 2 .
f4 a6 1 6. Nd6t Kd7 was unclear in Gui� Bg5 e 6 3 . e4 h 6 4 . Bxf6 Qxf6 5 . Nc3,
gonis-Marciano, France (ch) 1 998. but for a precise examination of this
1 2 . Qxc3 O�O subject let's look at the following plan:
The main continuations are IIA . 5 .. .
22 . ... Bxb3
It looks like Black could have played
22 . . . Qf4 ! , and after 23 . Rhg3 , then
23 . . . Rf7.
2 3 . Rxf6 Rxf6
2 4 . b4 e4
1 6 . Rd4 2 5 . bxc5 exd3
french-type Deviltilns 1
2 6 . Ne l Bf5
2 7 . cxd3
Also possible was 27. N xd3 , and if
27 . . . Bxd3 28. cxd3 d4, then 29. g4 fol
lowed by 29 . . . Rf3 will lose to 30. Qe2 .
2 7 . ... Nd4
2 S . Qb2 Ne6
2 9 . d4 � !
This allows Black to activate his
game. Stronger was 29. QeS, and if29 . . .
NxcS, then 3 0 . Qxdst Ne6 3 1 . Qxb7 Black saves the endgame since White
with the threat of Qa8 . cannot support the cS-pawn with the
29. ... Be4 Knight.
30. f3 Bg6 43 . Nxd5 Kg4
3 1 . Kd2 � 44. Nf6t Kg5
3 1 . g3 still retained the advantage. 45. Nd5 Kg4
31. •.. Rf4 46. Nf6t Kg5
32. Ke3 Rxh4 47. Ne4t Kg4
33. Qxb 7 Rxd4 48. Kd4 Bb7
34. QcSt Kf7 49. Ke3 Bc6
35. Qxe6t 50. Nf6t Kg5
3 S . c6 Rd1 is unclear. 51. Ng8 Bg2
35. ... Kxe6 52. Ne7 Kf6
3 6. Kxd4 h5 53. NcS Ke5
37. g3 BeS 54. Nb6 Bh3
3S. Ng2 g5 55. Kd3 Be6
39. f4 Bc6 56. Ke3 Bh3
40. fxg5 Kf5 57. Kd2 Kd4
41. Ne3 t Kxg5 5S. c6 Kc5
42 . Ke5 BaS 59. Nd7t Kxc6
60. Nf6 Bg4
1/2 - 1 /2
Thl Richter-VlrlSIV ChallelllD Chess Repertoire
I.
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3 . e4 Bb4
4. Bd3
White is ready to play the French De
fense after 3 . . . ds . If Black deviates
from the classical directions of play
he does so at his own risk.
3. ... Bb4
B y replying with a style similar to
the Winawer French, Black attacks
the pawn on e4. White can protect
the pawn I. 4. Bd3 or advance it 11.
4. e5. White protects the pawn.
Other continuations are not suf 4 . ... b6
ficient to fight for the advantage . In the event of the preliminary ex
a) 4. f3 d5 5 . B d2 [If 5 . BgS , then change 4 . . . Bxc3t 5 . bxc3 b6, strong
possible is 5 . . . c5 + or 5 . . . h6 + . ] Bxc3 is 6. eS Nd5 7. Qg4, and now 7 . . . g6
6 . Bxc3 dxe4 7. Bb5t Bd7 8. Bxd7 t fails to 8. Bg5 Ne7 9. Be4.
frencb-type levillians 2
On 4 . . . cS, possible is 5 . dxc5 Na6 Qxe4 he would retain some initiative.
6. e5 [In case of placid development For instance, if 17 . . . NfB 1B. Rad1 Ng6,
with 6 . Nge2 Nxc5 7. 0-0 Nxd3 B. cxd3 unpleasant is l B . Rd6 .
0-0, Black retains the better game on
9. e5 NeB 10. d4 b6 1 1 . a3 Be7 12. Be3
d6 1 3 . f4 Bb7=, G. Portisch-Brandics, 11.
Hungary 1 993.j Nd5 7. Qg4 KfB B. Bdl 1 . d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 Bb4
and White maintains the initiative .
S . BgS 4. e5
Equal play was found in 5 . Bdl Bb7
6. f3 0-0 7 . Nge2 d5 B. e5 Nfd7 9. Nb5
Bxd2t 10. Qxd2 a6 1 1 . Na3 Qh4t 1 2 .
g3 Qe7 1 3 . h 4 c5=, Huppert-Dalhoff,
Duisberg 1 992.
5. . .. h6
6 . Bxf6 Qxf6
7 . a3 Bxc3 t
S . bxc3 Bb7
9 . Ne2
9 . Nf3 deserves attention. The best reply. By driving the Knight
9. d6 away White strives to deprive Black
1 0. 0 .. 0 Nd7 of castling.
11. Ng3 0 .. 0 4. ... NdS
12. f4 cS S. Qg4
13. eS dxeS In the event of the lackadaisical
14. dxeS Qh4 5 . B d2 Nxc3 [No goo d is 5 . . . c6, be
cause of 6 . Ne4 Be7 7 . Qg4 ± . ] 6. bxc3
Be7 7. Qg4 KfB B. Bd3 cS 9. Ne2 d6
10. Ng3 dxe5 1 1 . dxe5 Qd5 12. f4 Nc6
Black had compensation for his lost
castHng rights by virtue of the activity
of his pieces in DaY-lung, Ontario 1 997.
S . ... KfS
If Black should weaken his king
side with 5 . . . g6, then 6 . a3 f5 7. Qg3
Bxc3 t B. bxc3 still makes it danger
In.Csizmadia-Nogradi, Hungary 1 994, ous for Black to castle because the
White played 15. Be4? and lost a pawn: counterplay on the queenside is il
1 5 . . . Bxe4 1 6 . Nxe4 Nxes. However, lusory: B cS 9. h4 Qas 1 0. Bd2 Nc6
. • .
after 1 5 . Qe2 RfdB 1 6 . Be4 Bxe4 1 7 . 1 1 . c4 Ndb4 12. RcI Nxd4 1 3 . axb4
Th. liGhter-Veresl' Challeleao Chess lepertaire
cxb4 1 4 . h5 and Black lost a piece d) B dxe5 ! ? 9. dxe5 Nxc3 10. bxc3
• • •
because of the attack in Aronian-Usatch Be7 1 1 . 0-0 Qd5 12. Rfe1 Bd7� . (Stet
ev, Omsh 1 9 96. sko )
Of course, no go od is 5 . . . Nxc3 6 .
Qxg7 Nxa2 t 7 . c 3 RfB B . Rxa2 B e 7 9 .
Game 3 8
Bh6 .
I . Ibragimov-R. Tomasic
6 . Bd2 Nc6
Croatia 1 994
6 ... d6 deserves attention: 7. Nf3
cS B. dxc5 Bxc3 9. bxc3 dxe5 10. Nxe5
Qf6 1 1 . f4 N d7 and White has a slight 1 . d4 Nf6 2 . Nc3 e6 3 . e4 Bb4 4. eS.
advantage . This looks stronger than 4. Bd3 .
7 . Nf3 d6 4 . ... NdS
8. B d3 S. Qg4
If 5. Bd2 , then 5 . . . Nxc3 6 . bxc3
Be7 7. Qg4 KfB B. Bd3 cS 9. Ne2 d6
makes it easier for Black to organize
counterplay.
S. ••• Kf8
6 . Bd2 Nc6
6 . . . d6 deserves attention because
of 7 . Nf3 cS .
7 . Nf3 d6
8 . B d3 B d7 � !
Black's position is uncomfortable, After this move the black Queen
and to find counterplay is not an easy is condemned to lead a passive life .
matter. Consider: B dxe5 ! ? is worth a look: 9 . dxe5
• • •
1 0 . Qh4 ± .
frenc.-Iype Devilli.os 2
16. hS Nge7
17. h6 Ng6
18. e4 Ne3
1 9. hxg7t Kxg7
20. Bf6t Kg8
21. Bxg6 fxg6
22. Rd3
White doesn't even consider it nec�
essary to win the Rook, his Bishop
is stronger!
White dominates the board. Black's 22 • ••• Nxa2
subsequent moves with his Knight are 23. Redl hS
just acknowledgements of his wrong 24. Qg5 Rh7
choice of opening strategy. 25. Nh4 Nb4
14. •.. Nee7 26. Rxd7 !
1 5 . h4 Nd5 1 .. 0
R-V Deviations
Masters K. Richter and G. Veresov, after
1 . d4 dS, often played 2. Nc3 and af�
ter 2 . Nf6 3. BgS ended up in the Clas�
. .
I.
1 . d4 d5 2 . Nc3
2 ••• BfS
R-V leviali.os
Played in accordance with the R-V a) 6 . Qxd3 Ngf6 7. Nf3 e6 [Or 7 . . .
system, with the idea that Black can g6 S . 0-0 Bg7 9 . Rfe1 h6 10. Bh4 0-0 1 1 .
not play 3 . . . Nf6. If that happens, then e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 ReS 1 3 . Qb3 Qb6, and
Black has transposed to Chapters 3-5. play was equal in Ku.ehn-Wiechen, Ger
3. ••. c6 many 1 997.j S . e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Be7 10.
The main continuation, but it is good Nxf6t Nxf6 1 1 . 0-0 0-0 12. NeS Qc7 13.
to know of other possibilities: Qe2 RadS 14. Rad1 NdS=, Rejcheva
a) 3 . . . h6 4. Bh4 c6 5. f3 [Or 5. Qcil Ionov, Dortmu.nd 1 992.
Nd7 6 . f3 Ngf6 7. 0-0-0 e6 S . ReI Bh7 b) 6 . cxd3 h6 7. Bh4 Ngf6 8. Nf3 e6
9. Bg3 ? ! b S ! 10. Nh3 QaS =t , Hachian 9. 0-0 Be7 10. a3 0-0 1 1 . b4 Ne8 12. Bg3
Landa, Moscow 1 996; stronger is 9. e4! ? Bd6 1 3 . e4 Bxg3 14. hxg3 Nef6 1 5 . Rb1
Nxe4 10. fxe4 Qxh4 1 1 . Nf3 QdS with ReS 1 6 . Nd2 Qb6 1 7 . eS Nh7 1S. Nb3 .
a complex game.] Qb6 6. e4 Bg6 7. Bd3 White stands slightly better in Sagal
e6 8. Nge2 Be7 9. Bf2 Nf6 1 0 . O-O? ! chik-Sveshnikov, Kemerovo 1 9 95.
[Better is 10. eS Nfd7 1 1 . a3 with the 5 . Rb l e6
idea b2-b4, Nc3-a4� .] dxe4 1 1 . fxe4 Ng4 6 . Bd3 Bxd3
12. Nf4 Nxf2 1 3 . Rxf2 Qxd4 =t , Hoi-C. 7. cxd3 c5
Hansen, Vejstrup 1 989. 5 . . . QaS ! ? deserves Weaker i s 7 . . . Be7 ? ! 8. Nf3 BxgS 9 .
attention: 6 . Qcil e6=. NxgS h6 10. QhS g6 1 1 . Qh3 QdS 12.
b) 3 . . . f6 ! ? 4. Bh4 Nc6 5. e3 Qd7 6. f4 Qf6 13. Nf3 QfS 14. g4 Qxd3 1 S . NeS
Bd3 0-0-0 7 . Nge2 Nh6 8. f3 eS, and Qa6 16. b4, with a dangerous initiative
the position was unclear in Aronian for White in Veresov-Shashin, Moscow
Yegiazarian, Erevan 1 996. 1 965.
c) 3 . . . Nf6 and the transposition into 8. Nf3 Nc6
the R-V, as mentioned earlier, is com 9 . Qa4
plete ( 1 . d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 dS 3. BgS BfS ) . Or 9. dxcS BxcS 10. 0-0 Be7=.
4. e3 9. Qb4
The other possibilities for White are: 1 0. dxc5 Bxc5
a) 4. Nf3 h6 5 . Bh4 Qb6 6. Rb1 Nd7 11. Qxb4 Bxb4
7. e3 Ngf6 S. Bd3 e6 9. 0-0 Bd6 10. b4 12. Ke2 f6
0-0 1 1 . Na4 Qc7 12. NcS Ne4 with equal 13. Bf4 Nge7
chances in Mestrovic-Tratar, Bled 1 996. with equal chances in Hoi-Bareev, Naest
b) 4. Qcil Nd7 5. f3 Ngf6 6. 0-0-0 QaS ved 1 988.
7. e4 Bg6 8. eS NgS 9. Nh3 h6 1 0. Bh4
e6 1 1 . Kb1 Bb4 12. Bel cS, and the po
sition was unclear in Reprintsev-Grigor lB.
iants, Moscow 1 999. 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Bf5
4. ... Qb6
The other possibilities for Black are 3 . £3
4 . . . Nd7 5 . Bd3 Bxd3 :
The liehtlr-Veresa, Chlllllloo Chess leplrtoire
1 998. 4. dxc5 ! ? deserves attention: 4 . . .
d4 5 . e 4 dxc3 6. QxdBt KxdB 7. exf5
with the better chances for White, sup�
ported by the advantage of having both
Bishops.
4. e4 Bg6
4 ... dxe4! ? deserves attention: 5. fxe4
Bg6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. Bd3 cS B. d5 exd5 9.
Bb5t KfB 10. exd5 Nf6 11. O�O a6 12.
Bd3 Nbd7 13. Bg5 b5 14. Bxg6 hxg6 1 5 .
This move has been popular of late. Ne4 c4 with a complex game in Bozanic
White has the idea of using a tempo Mrhonjic, Slovenia 1 995.
to take the center with e2 �e4. 5 . Bd3
3 . ... e6 Also possible is 5. Nge2. For example:
The main continuation. I f instead 5 . . . Nf6 ? ! 6. e5 Nfd7 7. h4 h6 B. Nf4
Black opts for 3 . . . Nf6, then by avoid� Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Be7 1I. Nxe6!
ing 4. Bg5 as studied in Chapters 3�5, fxe6 12. Qg6t KfB 13. Qxe6 c6 14. Ne2
White can play the more aggressive 4. QeB 1 5 . Nf4, and White created dan�
e4. Thus, 4. e4 dxe4 5. g4 Bg6 6. h4 exf3 ? ! gerous threats in Hachian-Dolinshy, Mos�
[carefully, 6 . . . h6 ! ? ] 7. Qxf3 c 6 B. h 5 cow 1 996. 5 . . . Bb4! ? should be investi�
Bxc2 9. Rh2 Qxd4 1 0 . Rxc2 Qxg1 1 1 . gated: 6. a3 Bxc3t 7. Nxc3 Nf6 � .
Rg2 Qc5 1 2 . Be3 Qa5 1 3 . O�O�Oro in 5 . ... B b4
Claesen-Hjelmaas, Arnhem 1 990. Weaker is 5 . . . Nf6 6 . Nge2 Be7 7 .
The other possibilities for Black are: B e 3 Nc6 B. e5 Nd7 9 . Bf2 Bxd3 10.
a) 3 . . . e5 ? ! 4. dxe5 d4 5 . e4 Bg6 6. cxd3 N cbB 1 1 . Qb3 b6 12. f4, and White
Nce2 Nc6 7. Nh3 Bc5 B. Ng3 h5 9. f4 was better in Varga-Lengyel, Bu.dapest
h4 10. Nf5, and White was better in 1 994.
Demir-Tell, Germany 1 993. 6. Nge2 dxe4
b) 3 . . . Bg6 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 c6 6. e4 7. fxe4 Qh4t
Qa5 7. e5? ! [Better is 7. Bd3�, or 7. Qd2 � 8. g3 Qh5
with the idea O�O�O.] e6 B. a3 cS 9. Bb5t 9. Bf4 Nf6
Nc6 10. dxc5 Bxc5 1 1 . Nge2 Qc7 12. f4 1 0. a3 Ba5
Nge7 13. Na4 Nf5 14. Nxc5? [14. Bf2 11. b4 Bb6
doesn't help because of 14 . . . Ne3 1 5 .
Bxe3 Bxe3 =t= . ] Ne3 ! 1 5 . Qd2 Nxglt 1 6 .
Kf2 Nxh4, and Black was winning in
Aronian-Dragomeretshy, Moscow 1 995.
c) 3 . . . cS 4. e4 dxe4 5 . fxe4 cxd4 6.
exfS dxc3 7. Qxd8t Kxd8 8. bxc3 g6 with
equal chances in Leriche-Courval, Qu.ebec
R-V leviltillS
the usual move is IIA. 3 ... g6, and some�
times lIB. 3 c6.
•..
2 . . . £5
Rotterdam 1 9 98J Ngf6 9 . h5 Ne4 10. 1 1 . RxhBt BxhB 12. Bf4 Ne4 13. Ng5
hxg6 hxg6 1 1 . RxhBt BxhB 12. Bxe4? ! Nxg5 14. Bxg5 Bf6 1/2� 1/2 in Atalik
[ 1 2 . Bf4 ! and White i s slightly bet� Pedersen, Cappelle La Grande 1 996.
ter. ] fxe4 [Or 1 2 . . . dxe4 1 3 . Nh4 NfB 8. ... h6
14. Nxg6 ! Nxg6 1 5 . Qh5 Kf7 16. Qh7t 9 . g4 !
Bg7 1 7 . Bh6 and White has a decisive Insufficient is 9 . h 5 g5 10. Bxg5 ! ?
advantage . (Beliavsky) ] 1 3 . Nh4 Kf7 hxg5 1 1 . Nxg5 Bf7 1 2 . Bxf5 e5 ! 1 3 .
1 4. Qg4 ! NfB 1 5 . Qg3 Be6 1 6 . Bh6 ? Nxf7 Kxf7 14. Qf3 Ngf6 ! [ 1 4 . . . Ke7 ? !
[The best move is 16. £3.] Bf6=t, Z. Polgar 1 5 . O�O�O ±, Vera-Paneque, Santa Clara
Beliavsky, Munich 1 991 . 1 995J 1 5 . g4 [Weaker is 1 5 . Bxd7 e4 !
7 . Nf3 Nd7 1 6 . Qg3 Qxd7 =t . ] e4 1 6 . Nxe4 dxe4 1 7 .
Bxe4, or 1 5 . . . exd4 1 6 . exd4 Bh6 with
a complex game. (Vera)
9. ... fxg4
1 0. Bxg6t Kf8
1 1 . Nh2
White has the edge. Not good enough
is 1 1 . N e 5 Nxe 5 1 2 . dxe5 h5 1 3 . f3
Nh6ro .
8. Bf4 lIAI .
B. h5 has also been seen: 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 fS 3. BgS g6 4. e3
a) B Ngf6 9. hxg6 hxg6 10. RxhBt
• • •
(90) Reprintsev,A-Kachar, V
Geller Mem 1 999 [Avrukh , B]
1 . d4 Nf6 2 . N c3 d5 3 . Bg5 g6 4 . Qd2 Bg7
5 . Bh6 0 - 0 6 . 0-0-0 c6 7 . f3 b 5 B. h4 N h 5 !
[ B . . . b4 9 . N b 1 Q a 5 1 0 . h 5 ! B x h 6 1 1 . Qxh6
Qxa2 1 2 . e4 b3 1 3 . c3 dxe4 1 4 . fxe4 Nxh5
1 5 . Be2+-] 9 . g4 N g3 1 0 . R h 3 Nxf1 1 1 . Rxf1
f5? [ 1 1 . . . f6 ! 1 2 . Bxg7 Kxg7 1 3 . h 5 g5 1 4 .
e3 e5 1 5 . N ge2 Be6 1 6 . Ng3 N d700] 1 2 . Bxg7
Kxg7 1 3 . h5! ± fxg4 [ 1 3 . . . f4 1 4. hxg6! hxg6
1 5 . e3 Qd6 1 6 . N g e2+-] 1 4 . R h 1 Qd6 [ 1 4 . . .
g 5 1 5 . Qxg5t KhB 1 6 . h 6 Rf7 1 7. Qe5t KgB
( 1 7 . . . Rf6 1 B . fxg4+-) 1 B. R h 5 ! +-] 1 5 . hxg6
Qxg6 1 6 . N h3 ! gxh3 [ 1 6 . . . b4 1 7 . Na4 g 3
1 B . Rfg 1 K h B 1 9 . N g 5 h 6 2 0 . R x h 6 t ! Qxh6
2 1 . Nf7t+-] 1 7 . Rfg 1 +- Be6 1 B . Nd1 Nd7
1 9 . Nf2 Rf6 2 0 . Qc3 [ 2 0 . Nxh3? Bxh3 2 1 .
Rxg6t Rxg6 2 2 . Qb4 c5 2 3 . dxc5 Bf5 24. e4
with the i n itiative] Qg2 ! ? 2 1 . Rxg2t hxg2 2 2 .
R g 1 Rg6 2 3 . Qxc6 RgB 2 4 . e4 Kf7 2 5 . Qxb5
Rg5 26. f4 1 -0
(91 ) White,M-Bjornsson,S
Wakefield 1 999
1 . d4 Nf6 2 . N c3 d5 3 . Bg5 Nbd7 4. Nf3 h6 5.
Bh4 e6 6. e4 g5 7. Bg3 Nxe4 B . Nxe4 dxe4 9.
Ne5 Bg7 1 0 . h4 Qe7 1 1 . c3 Nxe5 1 2 . dxe5 Bd7
1 3. Qd4 Bc6 1 4. 0-0-0 0-0 1 5 . Qe3 RfdB 1 6.
Be2 Rxd 1 t 1 7. Bxd 1 a5 1 B. hxg5 hxg5 1 9 . Bc2
a4 20. a3 RdB 2 1 . Bxe4 Bxe4 22. Qxe4 Qc5
23. Qxb7 Bxe5 24. Bxe5 Qxe5 25. Qf3 KfB 26 .
Rd1 Qf4t 27. Qxf4 Rxd 1 t 2B. Kxd 1 gxf4 29.
Kc2 Ke7 30. b3 Kd6 3 1 . b4 e5 32 . Kd3 f5 33.
c4 e4t 34. Kd4 c6 35 . g4 fxg3 36. fxg3 c5t 37.
Kc3 cxb4t 3B. Kxb4 Kc6 39. Kc3 Kc5 40. Kd2
Kxc4 0-1
The Rlchter-Veres., Cha••IIID Chess Repertoire
Openings' Index
• These statistics are based on 1 , 134,689 games in CnessBase Mega99 + CnessBase Magazines
through Extra 70. CnessBase does not contain all the games that are in this book,
and so it should be made clear that these stats are based solely on the above cri�
teria and not any sense of completeness. E . g . , in the line 1 . d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3 .
Bg5 Nbd7 4. Nf3 c 6 5 . Qd3 h 6 there are several examples i n the book which are
not in CnessBase.
• Occasionally CnessBase and some games in this book may have a different move
order and the timain lines" may no t converge for a number of moves. Each time a
move is added to a main line, the chances of transposition to the same position
increase, hence, the tireactions" may total more than the originating tiaction."
• Also, bear in mind that a small game sampling, considered less than 30 games, is
not a very clear indicator of reliability. Also, be aware that ONE move may have
put a line out of business, and it might be unlikely to see new explorations in
that area except by those who do not know of its refutation.
• The numbers in parentheses indicate percentages of White wins, draws, and Black
wins, respectively (from left to right) . The game citations indicate the first tiknown"
use of this variation in the CnessBase database given above (or occasionally in
books which contains games not in CnessBase) : the players (White first) , the year
played, and the result.
• The ranking of the variations given (see for example Chapter One) are simply in
order of the number of times that line was used in the CnessBase database, not
necessarily an indicator of its worthiness.
• Chapters 1 9�2 5 aren' t complete in their response because the authors are articu�
lating some of their specific preferences for dealing with these lines.
• Another thing to be kept in mind is that duplicate citations indicate a transposi�
tion, and no information is given to show the exact move order of the original
game.
* The variation cited is not included in this work.
Blck DI the BDII
Chapter One (pages 13-20)
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3 . Bg5 c5 (25=35-40---+ 1 59)
4. Bxf6 (24=34-42---+ 89) A. Magergut-M. Kamishov (1947) 0
4. Nf3 (23=39-38---+13) A. Ilyin-Zhenevsky-v. Ragozin (1929) 0
4. e4 (33=34-33---+12) K. Richter-K. Opocensky 1/2
4. dxc5? ! (50=25-25---+4) A. Poliak-A. Lllienthal (1945) 0
4. f3 (25=25-50---+4) Semkovic-P. Szilagy (1976) 0
4. e3 (see Chapter 2)
Diskette
A 3.50 inch PC ..diskette is available from
Thinkers' Press (for $ 1 5 + $2 for S&H) which
contains the games, analysis, and evaluations in
this book, and so much more. To properly
investigate the validity of evaluations and new
ideas, Junior5 was used extensively, sometimes
for days on one line. When combined with
It educated analyses {guesses in the (right' direc
Does this say something good about Thinkers' Press or something bad about many
other chess publishers? Probably both.
This book was a difficult project because of translations, additions, misunder�
standings, and the fact that besides a few limited sections in some openings' books,
there wasn't much around on the Richter�Veresov. We couldn't even locate a copy�
right free photo of Kurt Richter, and you wouldn't believe the number of respected
sources we tried! Someone will turn up photos after this book is published, it al�
ways works that way.
We take our work seriously at Thinkers' Press. I have beaten this book to death
analytically and proofing�wise. Of course there is still that fear of missing some�
thing, a wrong name or attribution, whatever. But, it has to go to the printer. I
want to thank Mark Donlan for his work in ferreting out errors in the first couple
of drafts sent to him. He also made some suggestions we have incorporated.
Though I am sure there were times that the jovial Grandmaster from LA wanted
to wring my neck, I think he will enjoy this collaborative product. We met, by acd�
dent, at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California in 1998 while I there on a buy�
ing mission for Chess co. Within a few weeks, a proposal was produced.
I had been unable to get several top writers to work on this subject for us. Too
bad for them. I discovered many neat things about this opening I have played for
25 years. Here is a quick synopsis:
a) The Richter�Veresov can be just as combinative and complex as any other
opening;
b) It is rich in transpositions to a number of favorable �Pawn openings;
c) This opening is still being played with regularity, and has even been played
many times by Super GM Morozevich, one of the top players in the world!
d) After seeing GM Tony Miles' treatment, I have come to the conclusion that
the only thing wrong with this opening is that most of the other players who have
White don't play it very well, or have a very limited creative imagination.
e) I do not buy the spewings by GMs that 2. Nc3 in place of 2. c4 is a question�
able move. Should Kasparov or Anand ever take up the Richter�Veresov, if only for
a couple games, writers from all over the world will be tripping over their feet try�
ing to explain the "genius" of 2. Nc3 . Look at the Players' Index.
The point is, ifyou feel comfortable with something, and you get decent games,
play it. Many of my opponents become flustered after seeing 2. N c3 and almost
without thinking they play 2 . . . e6 or 2 . . . g6. After 3. e4 they are often very, very
Thl Rlchter-Veresov ChalleleoD Chlss leperllire
unhappy to be playing a system they do not know. As a result, I have played about
25 A1ekhine�Chatard Attacks in the French. If I played a straight 1. e4, I would see
50% Sicilians, and maybe 25% Frenches (and few would let me walk into the 6. h4
line) . But, by playing L d4, I get about 50% Frenches and a lot more ACAs.
Everyone involved in this project should thank Jimmy Adams and Robert Bel�
lin for their early work on this opening. Lev Alburt played the R�V in many of his
earlier games.
Systems involving f3 often produced losses for White. When someone would
produce a book, tract, or piece on what I called the Gligorich line: 3 . . . Nbd7, I en�
joyed the uthought" of the possibilities of 4. Nf3 e6 5. e4 h6 6. Bh4 g5 7. Bg3 Nxe4 8.
Nxe4 dxe4 9. H?, but never the results! So it looks like, for me, the move must be 5.
e3. You would think with all the problems on Black's kingside that White would
win hand over fist, but reality shows he doesn't do that well.
The weird thing is, Master Veresov just kept coming up with solutions, and
often they were good ones. Master Richter was unflappable when he played the
Classical French. He would win as White with one of his unstoppable sacrificial
attacks, only to meet a Unew" move in his next encounter, and from there also pro�
duce something new and winning. To Richter and Veresov, this opening was meat
and potatoes.
Years ago I hated the thought, as well as the reality, of transpositions. Today, I
see them as just another tool in our bag of tricks to befuddle our opponent. I am
not possessed with an amazing memory like some players but, by understanding a
few things about this opening, I manage to make a decent ubook move" now and
then.
When Black would start playing . . . Bb4 against me without even a d5 to his
credit, it was hard work dealing with a Umodified MacCutcheon French:' My re�
sults were decent, but Gufeld's mastery, intuition, and experience has shown me
some much better methods in Chapters 19�25. If you wonder what to do against
3 . . . N c6, that move so often employed by chess computers, consult Chapter 17.
I thank GM Gufeld for his ufaith" in my psychology (see page 5 ) .
Scattered hither and yon I have placed a few advertisements for Thinkers' Press
products to fill some space. I know this bothers a small few, but we have bills to pay
like anyone else, and must produce our own PR. If we had to rely on the goodwill
of reviewers and chainstore booksellers, I would have been out of this trade a long
time ago.
I thank you reader, for purchasing this product. I hope it meets with your satis�
faction, and that you win many games.
Bob Long
Publisher
October 1999