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Chess Publishing ECO B00-B99 - 2ed Vol.2 PDF
Chess Publishing ECO B00-B99 - 2ed Vol.2 PDF
Chess Publishing ECO B00-B99 - 2ed Vol.2 PDF
Volume 2
Second Edition
CBV to PDF
by Scorpionchess
Thanks to
Dedicated to
Dearanna
She inspired the idea
Introduction to the second Edition
If the first edition had no introduction, the second need one !
The publication of the first edition of this series in 2013 represented an innovation in chess
books shared at forums : It is part of a new trend that migrates from simple sharing to the
creativity .
This publication mainly benefited of the work made in the background by many forums
members (Sharers, collectors, Cbv & pgn makers) and as I'm unable to name All, I just want
to thank All of Them .
Special thanks must go to the master sharer & Uploader Echai & his successor bandidobk :
without their invaluable work & perseverance to update the chess publishing thread, this
second edition would never have been released .
This second edition has an updated material & also some improvements, especially to
enhance readability ...and I will let you discover the rest .
All your suggestions are welcome and will be as far as possible taken into account in the next
editions.
S.C
06/10/2014
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
1 B00
1...b6 idea. 2 B00
N,N Aagaard,Jacob 2389
[Glenn Flear] De Weerd,Warner 2071
Essent Open Hoogeveen NED (1) 13.10.2000
1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d3 e6 4.c3 b4 [Jon Tisdall]
This natural-looking move may in fact be the
source of Black's problems. 1.e4 c6 2.b5 A contest of anti-theory
[ After 4...f6 5.ge2 c5 Black avoids begins. f6 3.d3 g6 A sensible decision -
ceding his dark-squared bishop: 6.0-0 cxd4 rather than get something akin to a Spanish
7.xd4 d6 8.f4 a6 gives a complex or some double e-pawn opening black elects
position where Black is playing a slightly for a Pirc/Modern where white has played d3
provocative Sicilian. ] and Bb5, which cannot be terrifying. 4.f3
5.ge2 This rarer move is apparently quite g7 5.c3 0-0 There is no hurry to play this -
dangerous. black could well play ...a6 at once and not
[ However I still like 5.f3 which isn't easy commit his king. 6.g5 a6 7.xc6 bxc6
for Black. Critical is then f6 6.g5 h6 8.d2 e8 9.h6 h8 10.0-0-0 d6 11.h4
7.xf6 xc3+ 8.bxc3 xf6 9.0-0 d6 g4 12.dg1 b8 13.g5 b4 14.a3 a5
10.d2 e5 11.f4! when White gets great 15.f3 eb8!? 16.d1 xd2+ 17.xd2 d7
attacking chances. ] 18.b3 c5 19.e3 c6 20.g4 e8 21.f4 d4
5...c5 Probably not best. 22.f3 f6 23.f5 d5 24.e5 xe3+ 25.xe3
[ White has comfortable development after d4 26.xd4 cxd4 27.exf6 exf6 28.xd4 c5
5...f6 6.0-0 ] 29.e2 e8 30.f4 e5 31.fxg6 fxg6
[ Possibly 5...d5!? is the move, but that's 32.g5 fxg5 33.xg5 xg5 34.hxg5 f8
another story! ] 35.d5 f2+ 36.e3 xc2 37.f6+
6.a3 xc3+ 1-0
[ W h i t e wa s c le a r l y b e t t e r a f t e r 6...cxd4
7.axb4 dxc3 8.b5!? d5 9.xc3 dxe4
10.xe4 in Vovk, Y-Brethes, F Calvi 2005 ] 3 B00
7.xc3 cxd4 8.b5 This isn't new (Mr. Acosta,Alejandro2 2346
Mon tign ac th ou gh t it wa s). d6 9.g4! Jaramillo,Gonzalo
This however is! Abel Open Cali COL (6) 20.12.2000
[ Black was doing well after the slower [Jon Tisdall]
9.xd4 d7 ( 9...a6! ) 10.e2 ( 10.b5! )
10...a6 11.0-0 c5 12.f4 f6 13.e5 dxe5 1.e4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.d4 g4 4.e3 f6
14.xe5 xd3 15.cxd3 0-0 Schubert, S- 5.c3 e6 6.e2 e7 7.d5 exd5 8.exd5
Fr o e h li c h D il l , A W o m e n 's B u n d e s li g a xf3 9.xf3 e5 10.e2 0-0 11.f4 g6
1995. ] [ 11...ed7 12.f3 e8 13.d2 c5
9...f6 14.0-0-0 a5 15.g4 a4 16.g5 fd7 17.h4
[ Or 9...f8 10.xd4 f6 11.h4 bd7 b6 18.d4 f8 19.he1 1/2-1/2 Rohl,J-
12.f3 with a comfortable edge to White. ] Rogers,I New York 1998. Black's position
10.xd6+ xd6 11.xg7 g8 12.xf6 looks precarious, and when the much higher
d7 13.h6 xg2 14.f4 f8 and White rated player agrees a quick draw, and he is
has a clea r advanta ge as poin ted o ut b y as enterprising a man as Ian Rogers, then
Roland Montignac. you can safely conclude that equality and
counterplay were in short supply. ]
12.d2 c5!
[ 12...e8 13.0-0-0 d7 14.h3 f8 15.d3
a6 16.g4 b5 17.a3 c5 18.dxc6 xc6
19.g5 d5 20.e4 xe4 21.xe4 xe3
22.xe3 d5 23.c3 c5 24.f3 c8
25.xd5 c7 26.d7 xf4+ 27.b1 f8
1
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
28.h4 b4 29.axb4 xb4 30.e4 a5 19.c1 is not so good: xc6 20.xc6
31.f5 b5 32.h5 b8 33.b3 f8 34.h6 d7 21.e7+ f8 22.c8+ xc8
g6 35.e5 e6 36.f6+ f8 37.xh7+ 23.xc8+ e8 and in the endgame
1-0 Bresciani,N-Oppici,G Bratto 1999. The Black's chances are by no means worse. );
game ref erences hint that white should B) 11...e7 12.g3 0-0 13.h4 and White
castle long in this line as he is much better is ready to launch a strong K-side attack. ]
equipped to attack with a space advantage 11.bxc3 xc3 12.e3!? c6
and the bishop pair. ] [ Unfortunately, Black cannot castle in view
13.g4 b5! Black takes his chance to get o f t h e t yp i c a l B i s h o p s a c r i f i c e : 12...0-0
active. 14.xb5 e4 15.d3 h4+ 16.f1 13.xh7+! xh7 14.g5+ g8 15.h3
e8 17.f3 e2+ 16.h1 and Black has to give up his
[ 17.f5!? ] Queen. ]
17...c4! 18.xc4 13.b2 e4 14.a3 d7
[ 18.d4 c5 and black's counterplay with [ 14...a6!? was worthy of consideration,
...Bf6 and pressure on the b- and e-files is aiming to close the dangerous a3-f8
very much alive. ] diagonal by playing either Nc6-e7 or b5-b4. ]
18...g5! 19.fxg5 xe3 15.fc1 e7?! This move doesn't follow on
[ 19...xe3 A bit early to give up, especially from the previous one. After this inaccuracy
c o n s i d e r i n g t h e s i ze o f t h e u p s e t , b u t White's initiative progresses without obstacles.
wh it e's p os it ion is a ru in , f or e xam p le : [ Although 15...0-0-0 looks very dangerous,
20.e2 c8 21.d4 xe2 22.xe2 it was Black's only chance. After 16.e1 f6
e8+ ] 17.f3 g5 18.b5 b8 19.d3
0-1 White's position is very strong, but there is
no direct win. ]
16.xe7 xe7
4 B00 [ The other recapture loses on the spot:
Adams,Michael 2640 16...xe7 17.b5 xb5 18.c7+ e8
Vanderwaeren,Serge 2275 19.a3 ]
(ol) Moscow 1994 17.b5+ f8 18.c2! c8 19.xc8+ xc8
[Alexander Volzhin] 20.c1 The difference in activity of the two
Rooks makes Black's position untenable.. b7
1.d4 e6 2.e4 b6 3.d3 b7 4.f3 c5 21.e1 f6 22.f3 g5 23.d3! f7
5.c3 cxd4?! [ 23...f7 24.h4 and White wins a piece. ]
[ The usual 5...f6 is better. ] 24.exf6 gxf6
6.cxd4 b4+ 7.c3 f6 8.e2 d5 9.e5 [ 24...xf6 is bad as it allows 25.c7 ]
e4 10.0-0! This pawn sacrifice gives White 25.f4 e5? Losing on the spot.
a lasting initiative. Such sacrifices are one of [ 25...d8 was slightly more stubborn, but
the mo st dif f icult p ro ble ms in ch ess. I t's Black's position is bad anyway: 26.h5!
absolutely impossible to calculate all the ( t h re a t e n i n g Q h 6 ) h6 27.f4! e5
variations to the very end, you need just to T h e o n l y wa y t o p r e ve n t R c 7 . 28.xf6+
feel it! xc3 xf6 29.xf6 e7 ( 29...exd4 30.c7+-
[ 10...xc3 was the alternative. 11.bxc3 winning ) 30.dxe5 winning. ]
A) 11...xc3? Grabbing the pawn here is 26.c7! The final blow. d6 27.xb7
e xt re m e ly d a n ge ro u s : 12.b5+ c6 1-0
( 12...f8 13.a3+ g8 14.ac1 a5
15.d6 a6 16.c7 with an overwhelming
a d v a n t a g e .) 13.xc6+ xc6 14.c2
xd4 15.xd4 xa1 16.c6+ f8
17.a3+ g8 18.xa1 c8 19.b5
White is clearly better as Black's pieces
a r e u n c o o r d i n a t e d . ( The spectacular
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
5 B00 wh e n t h e b i s h o p r e m a i n s o n t h e l o n g
Aleksandrov,Danila 2254 diagonal. ]
Turikov,Viktor 2311 12...h5! 13.e3 c7 14.fe5 g6
White Nights Open (7) 30.06.2000 [ Not 14...xe5 15.xh7+ xh7 16.xh5+
[Neil McDonald] g8 17.xe5 ]
15.xd7 xd7 16.ad1 c7 17.f3 f4
1.d4 b6 2.e4 b7 3.d3 e6 Black gains the two bishops with balanced
[ If Black is planning to challenge White in ch a n ce s. A ga me o f ca t a n d m o u se n o w
the centre with an early d7-d5 advance, then ensues lasting right up until the final move.
he does best to adopt a move order that After simplification White presses for the win
doesn't allow his opponent the chance to in the endgame, but he has misjudged the
play Ng5. Unless of course White is made strength of Black's counterplay. 18.d2 xd3
of plastic and chips and you want to block 19.xd3 fd8 20.e2 ab8 21.b3 f6
the position at all costs! Thus, in DEEP 22.c1 a5 23.f2 a8 24.g3 a7
JUNIOR-Akopian, Dortmund 2000, play 25.a3 c6 26.f2 ac8 27.e3 a6
went 3...f6 4.e2 e6 5.f3 d5 28.f4 e7 29.c4 b5 30.fd1 xc4
( 5...e7! ) 6.e5 fd7 7.g5! e7 31.xc4 xc4 32.bxc4 xd1+ 33.xd1
Too late! 8.g4 h5 ( Instead 8...g6 9.h4 b8 34.e3 b2 35.d2 b1+ 36.f2 f8
h5 10.h3 was good for White in Gleizerov- 37.e2 e8 38.d1 b7 39.d3 f5
Filipovic, Ljubljana 2000.) 9.g3 f8 40.c2 h5 41.f4 g5 42.e5 f7 43.h3
10.0-0 a6 Here a human player would be h4 44.h2 f6 45.d6 xd6 46.xd6
thinking about pawn breakthroughs, perhaps e5 47.c6 f4! 48.xe6 g3 49.g6
wi t h f 4 - f 4 , b u t m o r e l i k e l y w i t h c 2 - c 4 . g4! 50.fxg4 f4 51.f6 xg2 52.xf4 xh3
Instead the computer just messes around 53.f5 xg4 54.xc5 h3 55.c8 h7
and allows Black to block things up even 56.g8+ h4 57.g1 h2 58.h1 g3
further. 11.xa6 ( Already 11.c4 59.b3 g2 60.c1 h5 61.c5 xc5
was interesting, as if Black takes on c4 with 62.c4 h1 63.xh1 xh1 64.c3 g2
the pawn there is Qf3, attacking both a8 and 65.d4 c8 66.c5 f3 67.d5 e3 68.a4
f7. ) 11...xa6 12.c3?! c5 13.d1 c4 d3 69.c6 c3 70.c5 b3 71.b5 a8
14.e1 c8 15.h4 h7 16.f3 g8 72.c7 a3!
a n d t h e ga m e e ve n t u a lly f in ish e d a s a 0-1
lifeless draw. ]
4.f3 c5 5.c3 f6 6.e2 e7 7.0-0 d5
8.exd5 So far play has followed DD415, 6 B00
Grosar-Filipovic. In that game White chose to Apicella,Manuel 2510
block the centre with Porrasmaa,Timo 2216
[ 8.e5 The game move tries to keep things ECC Halkidiki GRE (5) 26.09.2002
more fluid. ] [Jon Tisdall]
8...xd5 A difficult choice.
[ 8...xd5!? may have been more accurate, 1.e4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.d4 f6 4.c3 g4
as the aggressive 9.c4 h5 10.d5 exd5 5.e3 e6 6.h3 h5 7.d5 exd5 8.exd5
11.e1 c6 doesn't work for White. ] xf3?! This game does little to dispel the
9.dxc5 bxc5 This keeps over the important d o u b t s a r o u n d t h i s m o v e - t h e m o r e
d4 square, but it leaves a hole on c4 and the complicated
c5 pawn becomes slightly vulnerable. [ 8...e5 9.g4 g6 remains the best bet. ]
[ D e s e r v i n g a t t e n t i o n w a s 9...xc5!? 9.xf3 e5 10.e2 e7 11.0-0-0 0-0
Assuming W hite cannot do anything fast 12.f4 ed7 13.g4 Typical procedure from
Black must then have fully equalised. ] W hite - straightforward pawn storming has
10.a3 0-0 11.f4 bd7 12.c4? enjoyed great success. c5 14.d4 e8
This is too routine. I like the idea of 15.g5 f8 16.f3 fe4
[ 12.h3! to answer h5 with 13.h2 [ 16...fd7 17.h4 ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
4
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
for the rest of the game. His plan is g4 ) 11...g4 was fine for black, though
straightforward, and he can implement it with he could also have taken the pawn on e4.
a h e lp i n g o f s lo w t o rt u re . First h 3 +g4 i s 1-0 Levi,E-Tu Hoang Thong/ASK It
played to create a potential passed pawn. Canberra AUS 1995 (57). ]
36.c3 d7 37.c2 b7 38.d3 f8 7...b6 8.e2 e7 9.bd2 d6 10.d3
39.h5 f6 40.c1 e8+ 41.h4 d7 A strong, simple, sensible yet far from
42.h3 f8 43.f1 f6 44.c2 b8 45.c3 obvious move. White just wants to play Nc4
b7 46.e2 b8 47.f3 c7 48.g4 fxg4 and annex the bishop pair. f6
49.hxg4 d6 50.a4 e8 51.g3 [ 10...f5!? looks like an interesting way to try
A new regrouping, where white will tie black to and take advantage of still having the knight
the h6 pawn before preparing the advance of on g8. ]
the g-pawn. f7 52.c3 d7 53.d3 f8 11.c4 d5
54.c1 Preventing any activity on the c-file - [ 11...e6!? was worth a look. While the
black cannot trade rooks as the white king reaction ...d5 reminds me of Milesian
would rush in on the h-file. f6 55.h1 e8 handling of this kind of position, here black
56.h2 d7 57.f3 e8 58.e3 d7 just cannot find sensible squares for the Nf6.
59.h1 e8 60.h7! Preparing escort In fact, I begin to understand lines where
service for the g-pawn. d7 61.g5 hxg5 this piece comes into play via h6... ]
62.fxg5 f7 63.g6 e7 64.g1 g7 65.f4 12.xb6 axb6 13.e5 g4 14.h3 h6
e8 66.g2 f7 67.g5 e8 68.h6 15.g4 f6 16.exf6 xe2+ 17.xe2 gxf6
1-0 18.f2 Black's kingside is seriously
s h a t t e r e d . 0-0 19.g1 h8 20.b4!
I like this move a lot - white relies on the
8 B00 positive energy of his position, and doesn't
Aronian,Levon 2584 mind making a real mess of his queenside in
Pedersen,Erik 2400 order to get his dark-squared bishop on the
It Morso DEN (3) 11.02.2002 long diagonal and the show on the proverbial
[Jon Tisdall] road on the other flank. f7 21.b5 a5
22.e3 d6 23.d4 g8 24.g5
1.e4 c6 2.d4 e5 3.dxe5 xe5 4.f4 c6 And now its time for the can opener on this
5.c4 b4+ side. f5 25.g6 h6 26.g7 e8 27.g6 b3
[ 5...f6!? is annotate d elsewhere on the 28.axb3 xa1 29.xh6 A terrific by white - it
site, and is probably the critical line - if it seems to me that you can only convert
works... 6.c3 b4 7.e5 d5 8.exf6 dxc4 advantages with this kind of awesome brute
9.e2+ f8 10.e3 xf6 11.0-0-0 e6 force when you are young...
12.e4 e7 13.f3 c3 14.b3 a5 15.b1 1-0
a4 16.b5 axb3 17.axb3 xb3 18.cxb3
xe4+ 19.d3 a5 20.c4 xc4 21.bxc4
e7 22.d4 xd4 23.xd4 ha8 9 B00
24.e3+ d7 25.he1 a1+ 26.c2 Ascic,Pero 2347
1a2+ 27.d3 d2+ 28.e4 f5+ 29.xf5 Rogulj,Branko 2411
xd4 30.c5 xc5 31.xc3 f8+ 32.g5 TCh-CRO Rabat CRO (1) 07.09.2003
e7+ 0-1 Orso,M-Bordas,G/Budapest HUN [Glenn Flear]
2000 ]
6.c3 a5 7.f3 You know a line is not 1.e4 c6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 ce7 4.e3 f5
terribly well explored when moves like this An idea of Miles that makes an interesting
appear to be novelties. change from the better-known plan with 4...
[ 7.e3 prevents black from taking up Ng6, followed by ...Nf6, and typically ...c6.
annoying possession of the a7-g1 diagonal, That's not bad either but a timely h2-h4-h5
but the Be3 is poorly placed. h4+ 8.g3 generally gives W hite space and pressure.
e7 9.f3 f6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1 ( 11.e5 5.f3 f6 6.d3 Miles has had two
5
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
6
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
illustration of black's possibilities in this type This position should be completely OK for
of st ruc tu re . 22.a6 c7 23.c3 b8 b l a c k , b u t B a r e e v i s e xt r e m e l y g o o d a t
24.d3 fc8 25.dc1 g7 26.g3 c6 exploiting the dynamics provided by doubled
27.d2 f6 28.exf6+ xf6 29.e3 e7 pawns and the bishop pair. e8 15.a5 e5
30.d3 f5 31.f4 f7 32.e5 xe5 16.e3 c7 17.f5 bxa5 18.d2 e4
33.dxe5 h4 19.d4 b6 20.g5 xc4
[ 33...xc3 34.xc3 xc3 35.bxc3 c6 ] [ 20...e5!? 21.c3 g6 22.f4 ]
34.h3 hxg3 35.hxg4 d4 36.f3 d7 21.xc4 xc4 22.eb1 It seems a bit unfair
[ 36...xc3!? ] tha t black sh ou ld h ave such a ha rd t im e
[ 36...h8!? were better ways of trying to showing any clear advantage at all with two
squeeze a bit more out of the position. ] extra pawns, but the famous bishop pair and
37.xc6 xc6 38.xc6 xc6 39.g2 white's active pieces create a very complex
cxe5 40.xg3 c4 41.xc4 dxc4 situation. d5 23.b5 ad8 24.c5 h6
42.g2 c5 43.e3 b5 44.f4 d3 [ 24...e3!? 25.f3 a4!? ]
45.d1 a5 46.f3 b4 47.axb4 axb4 25.h4 e3 26.f3 g5 27.g3 h5
48.e3 e5 49.fxe5 xe5 50.d4 c3 [ 27...e2!? 28.d3 d2 29.xe2
51.bxc3 bxc3 52.xc3 ( 29.f5!?; 29.xe2 xf3! ) 29...xf3
½-½ 30.gxf3 xd3 31.cxd3 b3 32.f5 xa1
33.d4 h5 34.xa5 xg3 35.hxg3
d8= ]
11 B00 28.c7 f4 29.xd8 xd8 30.c3
Bareev,Evgeny 2709 [ 30.c8!? ]
Bauer,Christian 2612 30...e6 31.xe6 A surprising decision -
It Enghien les Bains FRA (6) 17.04.2001 [ 31.xe6 fxe6 32.d3 looks better. ]
[Jon Tisdall] 31...fxe6 32.f1 b8 33.b5 d2+?
[ 33...c8 ]
1.d4 b6 2.e4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.f3 b4 34.e1 c8 35.bxa5 xc3 36.xa7+-
5.d3 f6 6.e2 d5 7.exd5 xd5 8.0-0 f8 37.7a3 xa3
xc3 9.bxc3 0-0 1-0
[ 9...bd7 10.e1 ( 10.a4 0-0 11.a5 h5
12.g5 xe2 13.xe2 h6 14.f3 e4
15.a2 c5 16.d2 g6 17.f3 ac8 12 B00
18.a3 fd8 19.axb6 axb6 20.b3 cxd4 Baumegger,Siegfried 2355
21.xd4 e5 22.d1 d5 23.b5 c4 Freitag,Manfred 2389
24.b4 d2 25.e1 b1 26.b2 bxc3 TCh-2002-3 Fuerstenfeld AUT (10) 15.03.2003
27.xc3 xc3 28.xc3 xc3 29.xb6 [Jon Tisdall]
xc2 30.xc2 xc2 31.b3 dd2 32.f3
g5 33.g3 g7 34.h3 h5 35.e4 d1+ 1.e4 e6 2.d4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.d3 c5
36.g2 cc1 37.a3 f5 38.xe6 g4 5.c3 f6 6.e2 e7 7.0-0 The most
39.a7+ f8 0-1 Vatnikov,J-Gurgenidze,B popular move at this point. W hite will react
Bad Liebenzell 1995.) 10...h5!? 11.a4 according to Black's reply. d5 Ah-ha! This
xf3 12.gxf3 0-0 13.h1 fe8 (1/2-1/2, move again! as we discussed in March's e-
23 ) S h erze r, A -O live ira , P Ph ilad e lp h ia mail bag, White hasn't been finding this idea
1993 ] easy to meet. In particular, Black feels fairly
10.f4 c8 happy with the French-style closed centre
[ The thematic 10...h5 is still very playable: seen in the game.
11.xc7 xf3 12.xf3 ( 12.gxf3 d5 ) [ The alternative 7...c6 is covered in the e-
12...xf3 13.gxf3 d5 ] book. ]
11.fe1 c5 8.e5 fd7 9.e3 c6 10.a3 c4 A couple of
[ 11...h5!? ] other moves have been played here,
12.dxc5 xc5 13.c4 bd7 14.a4 illustrating that there is no hard and fast rule
7
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
concerning the placement of Black's king! 12.d2 bd7 13.c4 b6 14.b3 fd7
[ 10...g5 11.bd2 h5 12.b3 g4 13.e1 15.a4 g5 16.b5 xe3 17.xe3 f8
c7 14.f4 0-0-0 15.c2 b8 16.fc1 18.a5 c5 19.a2 c8 20.b4 d7
dg8 17.a4 h4 18.b5 f6 Hiermann,D- 21.a4 b8 22.a6 bxa6 23.xa6 xa6
Aschenbrenner,R Austria tch. 2002 ] 24.xa6 e7 25.c4 f5 26.f3 e8
[ 10...a6 11.e1 0-0 12.g4 f5 13.exf6 27.a6 d7 28.e1 g6 29.exf5 f4
xf6 14.g5 f7 15.xe7 xe7 16.f3 30.de4 xf5 31.f1 h4 32.h2 xg2
f6 17.h3 e5 Trabert, B-Epishin,V 0-1 Mazi,L-Mestrovic,Z/Bled 1995. ]
Lausanne 2001 ] 8...e8 9.h3 h5 10.d5 b8 11.d2 g6
11.c2 a5 12.bd2 h6 With the centre 12.f3?! This allows black to gradually
firmly closed Black can calmly prepare long encroach on the kingside. Mestrovic is a
castling and action on the kingside. This is steady practitioner of this variation as black,
frustrating for White who cannot easily open and seems to thrive on players going astray
the queenside. 13.e1 c7 14.h4 0-0-0 against the somewhat shapeless black
15.h5 dg8 16.g3 b8 17.g2 f8 position. h5 13.h2 h4 14.g4?! f4
18.f3 c6 19.h2 e8 Why hurry? 15.c4 d7 16.e2 g5 17.xf4 exf4
20.g4 b7 21.h3 h7 22.f4 c8 18.b5 to prevent the N using the newly
23.g4 d7 24.f2 e8 25.ae1 c8 formed e5-outpost. a6 19.xd7 xd7 20.c4
26.e2 f8 27.h4 d8 28.h1 c6 h5 Black now has the power to slowly
29.f1 fg8 30.b1 f8 31.f1 g5 infiltrate on the dark-squares, and to open
After a period of heavy manoeuvring, Black lines against the white king. 21.c3 f6
grasps his chance to open lines. 32.hxg6 h5 22.c1 e7 23.g2 e5 24.e1 d4
33.f6 25.b3 f6 26.d2 e5 27.c2
[ If 33.f2 then xh4 34.xh4 xg6 [ 27.c5!? ]
is fine for Black ] 27...g5 28.c1 xc3! 29.xc3
33...xf6 34.exf6 xf6 35.f2 xg6 [ 29.xc3 hxg4 30.hxg4 xe4! 31.fxe4
36.xg6 fxg6 37.f3 h4 A pawn sacrifice to f3+ ]
lever open W hite's king. 38.xh4 xh4 29...hxg4 30.hxg4 xe4! a promising piece
39.xh4 g5 40.fxg5 xg5 41.e3 h8 sacrifice. 31.fxe4 xe4+ 32.f3 xg4+
W hite is powerless to halt ...e5 f or long. [ 32...f5!? looks better, creating a nastily
42.f3 h5 43.c1 e5! With his remaining advanced pawn roller. ]
pieces joining the fray White's insecure king 33.f2 h4+ 34.g1 xc2 35.xc2 e8
becomes the decisive factor. 44.e3 h3+ 36.d3 The worst is over now, white is
45.e1 g4 46.f5 h7 47.f3 e4+ relatively safe once the knight comes to the
48.d2 xf5 49.xf5 g6 50.e3 a6 defence. e4 37.h2 f6 38.b3 g5 39.f2
51.f2 a5 52.e7 b3+ 53.d1 h5+ e2 40.h3 d4 41.g2 g7 42.h5
54.c2 h7 Note the relative safety of the e5 43.g1 f8 44.g4 a1+ 45.g2
two kings in this game! e1 46.c8+ g7 47.h3 g6 48.g8+
0-1 g7 49.c8 a1 50.h8 g1+ 51.h2
g3 52.g8+ g7 53.c8 e3
½-½
13 B00
Belamaric,Goran 2208
Mestrovic,Zvonimir 2434 14 B00
chT Bled SLO (7) 20.10.2000 Beliavsky,Alexander G 2640
[Jon Tisdall] Miles,Anthony J 2579
1st ch-Europe (9) 12.07.2000
1.e4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.d4 f6 4.c3 g4 [Carsten Hansen]
5.e3 e5 6.e2 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.a3
[ 8.h3 h5 9.e1 e8 10.d5 b8 11.d3 1.d4 c6 2.e4 e5 3.d5 3 dxe5 Nxe5 4 Nf3
The beginning of a pointless pilgrimage. g6 is the main line, but Beliavsky, like Miles, isn't
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49.a3 h5 50.a4 xd4 51.xd4 h7 cxb4 32.g4 ( 32.xh7 h5 ) 32...a5
52.b4 a6+ 53.b3 e2 54.b7 d1+ 33.g3 g7 34.c4 b2 35.d3 f5
55.b2 e2+ 56.a3 e1 57.b8 36.d1 a1 37.g4 xa4 38.gxf5 a1
1-0 39.h5 c3 40.f6 xf6 41.xh7
xf4+ 42.f3 f5 43.xb7 e3+
44.g2 0-1 Frendzas, P-Ibragimov,I
17 B00 Peristeri 1993.;
Brancaleoni,Maurizio 2196 A2) 12...c5 13.f3 d7 14.0-0-0
Tomescu,Vlad 2417 ae8 15.d4 d8 16.he1 xe1
Open Cesenatico ITA (2) 10.09.2001 17.xe1 e8 18.g4 xe1+ 19.xe1
[Jon Tisdall] h6 20.h3 a6 21.e3 e7 22.xe7
xe7 23.b4 cd7 24.d2 h7
1.e4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.d4 f6 4.c3 g4 25.e4 f6 26.f2 g6 27.e2 b6
5.e2 e6 6.d5 exd5 7.exd5 xf3 8.xf3 28.d3 a4 29.c4 b2+ 30.b3
[ 8.gxf3!? Sharper, but not terrifying. e5 d1 31.e1 g7 32.c4 f6 33.f3
9.e3 e7 10.d2 0-0 11.0-0-0 c5 d7 34.c1 e3 35.f2 d4 36.e2
12.dg1 e8 13.f4 d7 14.e4 a6 15.f5 b6 37.e1 g5 38.c3 1/2-1/2 Dlugy,
df6 16.g5 d7 17.d3 b5 18.c4 M-Miles,A USA-ch 1989.;
a4 19.b1 b5 20.b3 xb3 21.axb3 B) 10...c5!? 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.f4 g6
c7 Black has seized the initiative with 13.0-0 0-0 14.e1 d5 15.f2 b8
active play on the queenside and the better 16.ab1 e8 17.b4 c7 18.d4 ab8
pawn structure. 22.c2 fb8 23.d2 f8 19.b5 cxb5 20.xb5 xb5 21.xb5 d8
24.a1 h6 25.h3 d7 26.f4 f6 22.e2 b4 23.b5 xc2 24.f5 e4
27.a2 b7 28.h5 d4 29.c3 xc3 25.e3 f8 26.a3 d2 27.h3 a6
30.xc3 e8 31.d3 e5 32.e1 eb8 28.g4 h6 29.d1 d2 30.xg7 xg7
33.e3 bxc4 34.bxc4 b3+ 35.c2 8b4 31.f6 xf6 32.xf6 axb5 33.f1 d4+
36.xe5 dxe5 37.d6 a8 38.f6 gxf6 0-1 Koelle,A-Storm,R Germany 1991 GER-
39.xf6 b6 40.xa6 xb2+ 41.c1 chT2. ]
xf2 42.xb6 xf6 43.d7 bxb6 44.d8+ 10...0-0 11.e1
g7 45.c7 bd6 46.e2 c6 47.xe5 [ 11.e3 fd7 12.d2 g6 13.b5 f6
ce6 48.g3+ g6 49.c3+ g8 50.f3 14.d4 e8 15.c3 e7 16.c4 xd4
a6 51.e3 a1+ 52.b2 a5 53.e8+ 17.xd4 f5 18.c3 c5 19.d3 xd3
g7 54.e5+ g8 55.c6 a6 56.d5 20.xd3 g5 1/2-1/2 Gruenfeld,Y-Miles,A
gb6+ 57.c1 f8 58.e4 a5 59.h4 Biel 1995. ]
e6 60.b8+ g7 61.g3+ f8 62.b8+ 11...a6 12.a4 e8 13.f1 h6 14.a5 f8
g7 63.f4 a1+ 64.b2 aa6 65.g4+ 15.e4 g6 16.a3 ed7 17.xf6+ xf6
f8 66.d5 eb6+ 67.c2 a2+ 68.d3 18.f3 h4 19.c4 h5 20.g3 g7 21.g5
g6 69.f4 g3+ 70.e4 e2+ 71.f5 d4 22.xe8+ xe8 23.a4 e1 24.e3
g6 72.xf7 gg2 73.d5 gf2 74.f3 b1 25.b4 e5 26.c2 b2 27.c3 f3+
e1 75.g6+ e7 76.f6+ 0-1
1-0 Timoshenko,G-Miles,A Moscow 1990. ]
8...e5 9.e2 e7 10.0-0
[ 10.e3 18 B00
A) 10...0-0 11.f4 ed7 12.d2 Brendel,Oliver 2394
A1) 12...e8 13.f3 b6 14.b3 d7 Hille,Ingo 2244
15.0-0 c5 16.h3 c8 17.d3 d8 Bundesliga 2000-1 (7) 28.01.2001
18.ae1 a5 19.d2 b6 20.e4 [Glenn Flear]
xd2 21.xf6+ gxf6 22.xd2 xe1
23.xe1 e8 24.xe8+ xe8 25.f2 1.e4 c6 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.e5 d7
c8 26.a4 e7 27.d3 f8 28.g4 [ 4...e4 is more in keeping with the spirit of
h6 29.e4 f8 30.b4? f5 31.xf5 the opening, and black has had very
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21 B00 22 B00
Cebalo,Miso 2473 Cebalo,Miso 2515
Buric,Danijel 2241 Mestrovic,Zvonimir 2402
8th Metalis Open (7) 25.02.2001 Croatian Cup (2) 08.05.2002
[Jon Tisdall] [Glenn Flear]
1.d4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.e4 g4 4.e3 e6!? 1.d4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.e4 f6 4.c3 g4
Strangely, this move is either very rare, or new. 5.e3 e5 6.b5 d7 7.d5 cb8 8.h3 h5
It d o es n 't lo ok it , b ut mo st ga m es e ith e r 9.g4 g6 10.h4 h5 Mestrovic rejects
continue ...e5, or feature ...e6 after ...Nf6. [ 10...h6 which he used with a bit more
Black's flexible order is unusual. 5.h3 h5 success, though arguably not because of
6.c3 the positions he got. 11.h5 h7 12.g5 a6
[ 6.d5!? ] ( 12...hxg5 13.xg5 a6 14.g4 g8
6...d5 7.exd5 exd5 8.b5 b4 9.g4 g6 15.e6 fxe6 16.dxe6 xe6 17.xe6+
10.e5 ge7 A handy difference - now white e7 18.g6+ f7 19.xf7+ xf7
must justify his pawn pushing, and black is 20.c4+ e8 21.d5 1/2-1/2 Jonkman,H-
nicely solid. 11.h4 h6 12.xg6 xg6 13.h5 Mestrovic,Z Wijk aan Zee 1999.) 13.f1 b5
h4!? Black could try 14.a3 0-1 Medvegy, N-Mestrovic,Z
[ 13...xc3+!? first. ] Budapest 1999. ]
14.d3 xc3+ Risky - black could try just 11.g5 e7 Mestrovic's improvement over
[ 14...f3+!? ] [ 11...a6 12.f1 b5 13.d2 e7 14.g1
15.xc3 f3+ 16.e2 f6 17.c5 c8 15.a4 b4 16.a2 b7 17.c3 a5
planning Rh3 followed by transferring this to 18.cxb4 axb4 19.b5 1-0 Piket,J-
the e-file. 0-0-0! 18.xc6 bxc6 19.h3 Mestrovic,Z Sremic Krsko 1998. ]
[ 19.xa7 he8 20.ad1 g5!? 12.d2! This looks like a strong new move.
( 20...e4 gives black similar counterplay to White takes a bead on the h5 pawn and the
the game but it must be better for white not Nd2 is very well placed to react to changes in
to have traded minor pieces - his king has the centre or on the queenside.
better cover.) 21.d2 d7! since there [ 12.g1!? c6 13.dxc6 ( 13.f1!? )
is a threat of Ra8 and Ne4. ] 13...bxc6 14.e2 c7 15.d2 c5!
19...g5 20.xg5 xg5 21.g3 he8+ 16.xc5 dxc5 17.c4 d7 18.d3 b6
22.f1 d6! 23.xa7 e4 24.a4 de6 0-1 Soylu,S-Mestrovic,Z/Nova Gorica SLO
25.a6+ d7 and rather alarmingly for white, 2001 (46). ]
who seems to have been playing sensibly and 12...c6 13.e2 b6 14.a4 cxd5
strongly, black's king is saf est, and grim W it h o u t t h is m o ve it is h a rd f o r b la c k t o
defence is now the order of the day. 26.d3 complete development on the queenside as
xg4 27.e1 xe1+?! the pressure on c6 and the possible battering
[ 27...xg3! 28.xg3 xe1+ 29.xe1 by the advance of the a4 pawn leave this
c1+ 30.e2 xc2+ and black should win flank under strong pressure. But black could
the queen ending. ] try to wait:
28.xe1 e4+ 29.f1 c1+ 30.g2 h4 [ 14...a5!? 15.f1 a6 16.g3 b4
31.h3 g5+ 32.f1 g4 33.e2 e4+ 17.c1 Taking on c6 will only give black a
34.f1 c1+ 35.g2 xb2 36.f3 e7 centre and an immediate threat with ...d5 as
37.e3 e6 38.a5 d8 39.g3 b5 compensation for the h-pawn. cxd5 18.exd5
40.a3 c5 41.dxc5 e1 42.d3 xd3 c8 is a critical and logical plan, where black
43.cxd3 a1 44.xg7 e7 45.d4 xa5 has mounted pressure on the queenside
46.h7 a4 47.xh6 xd4 48.c6 d7 as compensation for the doomed h-pawn. ]
49.f6 e7 15.exd5 a6 16.a5 d7 17.de4
½-½ Not just an obvious post, but a stop on the
way to eating h5. ac5
[ 17...dc5!? 18.xc5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
structure is shattered without recompense. interesting struggle where Black's king was
The Bd3 is nothing to write home about either. the most vulnerable. ]
16.0-0 c5 17.f3 e5 18.fb1 c3 7.h3 xf3 8.xf3 g6 So White has two
19.xe5 xe5 20.a4 g5 21.hxg5 fxg5 bishops and a lead in development, whereas
22.a3 g4 23.d2 h7! keeping b7 under Black has possibilities to hit back at White's
watch and preparing to monitor the key e5 centre with ...c6 as well as possible access to
square as well. 24.c3 xc3 25.xc3 e7 e5 and c5. Now Cicak decides that his
26.g3 f3 27.a5 f7 28.f1 b8 29.e1? position is sufficiently promising to warrant an
White should sit and wait, though black could ambitious choice. 9.0-0-0!? I prefer
advance his king to g5 and prepare ...h4. f5! [ 9.e2 g7 10.0-0 with a pleasant edge. ]
30.d2 xe4 31.xe4 xe4 32.e3 xe3 9...g7 10.g4 bd7 11.g3?!
33.xe3 f6 34.f4 g6 35.a6 b6 36.c3 [ 11.g2! is a better square to reinforce
f8+ Black's rook invades. control of e4 and d5. ]
0-1 11...c6 12.e2 a5 Sometimes this type of
pawn expansion on the kingside lacks bite
when Black hasn't committed his king. In any
24 B00 case White is committed now and he naturally
Cicak,Slavko 2500 c o n t i n u e s i n t h e s a m e v e i n . . . 13.f4?!
Gonzales,Jayson 2464 Boldly advancing and hoping to create threats
IX Malaga Open (6) 01.03.2006 before Black's counterplay gets dangerous.
[Glenn Flear] Safest however is
[ 13.a3 avoiding anything nasty. Note how
1.e4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.d4 f6 4.c3 g4 the alternative ]
5.e3 a6 There's no real consensus here but [ 13.b1 can be met by the sensational
this move is clearly intended to stop any xc3! 14.bxc3 xe4 with great play for the
annoying B-b5 ideas. Also fairly popular are queen! ]
[ 5...e5 ] 13...c8?
[ 5...e6 ] [ Fritz is quite fond of 13...xe4! 14.xe4
[ and 5...g6 ] xa2 as Black will obtain a third pawn for
6.d5 the piece and White's king will be insecure e.
[ White generally delays this advance until he g. 15.c3 ( 15.d4?? xd4 16.xd4
has advanced his development, for instance a1+ ) 15...a1+ 16.d2 xb2 ]
6.e2 e6 ( Maybe 6...e5 is better as Black 14.d4 cxd5 15.e5?!
obtains a stake in the centre.) 7.0-0 e7 [ With hindsight, it seems that this tempting
8.h3 h5 9.d5 exd5 10.exd5 b8 move isn't as good as 15.exd5! when White
11.d4 and White had a pleasant space s e e m s t o b e a s h a d e b e t t e r e . g . b5
advantage in Binham, T-Horn, P Bonnevoie ( 15...0-0 16.he1 ) 16.g5 ]
1998. The f 5-square is a problem as is 15...e4? This doesn't impress. Instead Black
Black's lack of play. The game didn't last had an interesting idea
very long and finished rather elegantly... g6 [ 15...dxe5! 16.fxe5 c7! using the pin
12.f4 e4 13.xe4 xe4 14.f3 f6 along the b8-h2 diagonal and another one
15.f5 0-0 16.d4 e8 17.e1 bd7 down the c-file to get reasonable chances e.
18.g3 g6 19.h6+ f8 20.f5 e5 g. 17.e3 e4 18.e6 e5 with double-
21.ae1 h5 22.xh5 h4 23.fxg6 xg3 edged play. ]
24.xf7+ and Black resigned due to mate 16.xe4 dxe4 17.e6 f6
with xf7 25.g7# ] [ After 17...xd4 18.exd7+ xd7 19.xd4
6...b8!? xa2 White has the simple 20.c3 as a1+
[ Alternatively Black has 6...e5 7.e2 xf3 21.c2 xh1 22.d1 costs Black his
8.gxf3 c6 9.f4 ed7 10.d4 c5 11.d2 queen. ]
b5 12.e5! Stripunsky, A-Bonin, J Nassau 18.exf7+ f8
2000 and the line rapid opening led to an [ Unfortunately for Black 18...xf7 is met by
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
19.b3+ e6 20.b6 and suddenly Black's c5 9.b4 b6 10.f4 0-0 11.c4 g6
queen is trapped. ] 12.g3 d6 13.exd6 e8+ 14.e2 f6
19.b3 c7 20.g5 d7 21.g4 15.0-0 cxd6 16.b5 d8 17.d2 g4
The turning of the screw. The problem isn't so 18.d4 ac8 19.ac1 e5 20.fe1 c7
much that Black is a pawn down, it's more that 21.f1 a6 22.e4 g6 23.ce1 f6
he can't do much while W hite threatens to 24.h1 dc8 25.4e3 d7 26.a4 h5
simplify and pick up the e4-pawn. xd4 27.f4 g4 28.e7 h4 29.xh4 h5
[ If 21...h6 then White can simply play 30.g3 xc3 31.xd7 xg3 32.h3 d5
22.xg7+ xg7 23.he1 hxg5 24.fxg5 33.f3 xf3 34.c4+ xc4 35.gxf3 xh3+
retaining a clear advantage. ] 36.g2 h2+ 37.g3 xd2 38.ee7 h6
22.xd4 c5 Giving the exchange for a 39.xg7+ f8 40.h7 cc2 41.h8+ g8
breath of fresh air, but it's not enough to save 42.g4 g2+ 43.f5 g7 44.xd6 c6
the game. 23.c3 xf7 24.xc8 xc8 0-1 Kudrin, S-Miles,A USA-ch 1989. ]
25.b1 d7 26.h4 d5 27.h5! Rooks need [ 5.bd2 xf3+ 6.xf3 e7 7.a3 a5
open lines. e6 28.hxg6+ hxg6 29.h7+ 8.b4 b6 9.b2 0-0 10.c4?! c6
[ Or 29.h3 ] 11.b3 h4! 12.g3 h6 13.d1 d6
29...g7 30.c4 A neat way of imposing his 14.d5? e6 15.h5 g6 16.e2 f5
will. 17.exf5 xf5 18.0-0 ae8 (0-1, 41)
[ 30.xg7+ xg7 31.c4+ d4! Garcia, G-Miles,A Matanzas 1995 White's
is less clear. ] pieces are posted terribly artificially and
30...g8 31.c7 f5 32.b4 his position is a disaster. ]
[ 32.c8! xc8 33.xg7+ is the crispest 5...xf3+ 6.xf3 xd2+ 7.xd2 f6!?
way to win but the text is good enough. ] 8.0-0-0 d6 9.c4
32...e6 33.xb7 e3 34.c6 g4 35.f6+ [ 9.e3!? retaining the queens looks worth a
e8 36.a8+ d7 37.xd5+ c7 test. Black is very solid in the game
38.c6+ b7 39.c3+ b6 40.b3+ c7 continuation, even if the position is rather
41.b7+ dour. ]
1-0 9...xf3 10.xf3 g4 11.e5 xf3 12.gxf3
dxe5 13.he1 e7
[ 13...f6 14.f4 ]
25 B00 14.xe5 d8 Black's position should be good
Comas Fabrego,Luis 2520 for a draw thanks to his better pawn structure,
Teran Alvarez,Ismael 2392 but he gets into some trouble by being a bit
III Open Dos Hermanas ESP (5) 09.04.2002 careless. 15.de1
[Jon Tisdall] [ 15.xd8+ xd8 16.b5 b6 17.g5 g6
18.xf7 f8 19.d5 h6 20.e5 c6=
1.d4 c6 2.e4 e5 3.dxe5 xe5 4.f3 - white's pieces are very poorly placed. ]
b4+ After Plaskett made life uncomfortable 15...d7 16.1e3 f8
for black in one of the main lines (see [ 16...c6!? ]
Plaskett,HJ-Sherwin,J/ 4NCL Birmingham [ 16...f6!? ]
2002) it is worth taking a look at this old Miles 17.b4 a6?!
favourite, and a very solid alternative for black. [ 17...d8 ]
5.d2 18.b5 axb5 19.xb5 b6
[ 5.c3 d6 ( 5...xf3+ 6.xf3 c5 7.d3 [ 19...c6 20.b6 d8 21.eb3 c8
d6 8.d2 e7 9.b4 b6 10.c4 0-0 22.xb7! ]
11.0-0 e6= (0-1, 32) Martin,B-Miles,A 20.h5 Double threat of Bb5 and Rxh7 - black
Auckland 1992. (32)) 6.bd2 xf3+ has managed to lose control. d8 21.a3
7.xf3 e7 This ultra-provocative approach [ 21.xh7 f5 22.d3 ]
i s w e l l s u i t e d a g a i n s t a n a g g r e s s i v e 21...d4 22.a8+ c8 23.a6 d7 24.c3?
opponent like Mr. Kudrin - this game is Overdoing the finesse. Simply
entertaining enough to be quoted in full: 8.e5 [ 24.xh7 p o s e d m o r e p r o b l e m s f4
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13.e1 c7 14.h4 0-0-0 15.h5 dg8 b7 56.fg2 d8 57.g3 d5 58.f2
Baumegger,S-Freitag,M Austrian tch. 2003 a6 59.h2 8h7 60.g1 h8 61.h2
Black was ready for anything. ] b7 62.g4 xg4+ 63.hxg4 xh2
12.bd2 a5 13.e1 h5 Bauer doesn't want 64.xh2 a6 65.g3 a4 66.f2 b7
White to overrun him with a general advance 67.g3 c6 68.g2 b7 69.f2 c6
on the kingside and competes for space and S o t h e re wa s n o b r e a k t h ro u g h a f t e r a l l .
influence even here. 14.f4 g6 15.ef3 However it shows that the under-rated
If Black now did nothing much, it wouldn't be Owen's defence can be played with
e a s y f o r W h i t e t o f in d a co n vi n ci n g wa y confidence in 2600+ encounters.
through. However staying totally passive is ½-½
generally unwise as this gives plenty of time
(and space!) for the opponent to come up with
an testing idea. So Black now decides to test 29 B00
the water on the queenside.. . b4! 16.g5 David,Alberto 2511
[ After 16.axb4 axb4 17.xa8 xa8 Rogers,Ian 2557
Black is better placed to exploit any action Olympiad Bled SLO (13) 08.11.2002
on th e f la nk. I nst ea d ope ning th e f -f ile [Glenn Flear]
gives Black something to think about (the
f7-square!) ] 1.e4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.d4 f6 4.c3 g4
16...xg5 17.fxg5 b3! With the queenside 5.e3
totally closed and Black has thus a safe haven [ Unimpressive was 5.h3?! xf3 6.gxf3 d5
for his king. If f7 is well-secured it's hard to 7.g5 e6 8.d2 ( 8.e5 h6 9.h4 g5 )
see how White will achieve anythingpositive. 8...e7 9.0-0-0 d7 10.h4 h6 11.xf6
18.d1 b6 19.f2 e7 20.g4 hxg4 xf6 12.exd5 exd5 13.h3 d8 14.hg1
21.xg4 a4 22.ab1 h7 23.f6 d7 e7! Best. ( 14...xd4? 15.e3+;
24.f2 ah8 25.f1 It's come down to the f- 14...xd4? 15.g4! ) 15.de1 c6 16.a4
file versus the h-file! Both sides have b6 and there was no way for White to hit at
possibilities to improve but with such a small Black's solid set-up, Vallejo Pons-Rogers,
a r e a o f t h e b o a rd a va i l a b l e f o r c o n t a c t , Bled ol 2002 ]
manoeuvring is required to create problems [ Also less accurate than the game was
for the opponent. a7 26.f3 b5 27.c1 5.b5 d7 6.e3 e6 7.h3 xf3 8.xf3
c7 28.g3 b8 29.a1 Dautov is wary of a6 9.a4 b5 here it's possible as the sac
a potential piece sacrifice to get the b-pawn o n b 5 i s u n s o u n d 10.b3 a5=
through. c6 30.h3 a8 31.h2 b8 Sedina-Lazic, Turin 2002 ]
32.e2 d7 33.b1 b6 34.d2 a4 5...e6 6.h3 h5 7.b5! This was played in a
35.c1 b6 36.g3 c8 37.e3 e7 later round than the above game and clearly
38.f3 c7 39.g2 f5! This move Alberto David had prepared a tricky line for
(blocking the f-file) suggests that Black is his opponent. a6
thinking of going for the whole point. 40.e2 [ 7...d7 8.d5 xf3 9.xf3 ce5 10.g3
bh8 41.f4 h4 42.h1 e8 43.f1 f5 c6 11.dxe6 fxe6 12.e2 b5 13.0-0 f6
A canny retreat showing Black's intention to 14.f4 c4 15.xc4 bxc4 16.e5
put his rook on h4. 44.g1 eg7 45.h2 was unpleasant to meet in Rogluj-Buric,
h4 46.g4 h5 47.d2 d8 Bizovac 2001 ]
With potential threats against the g5-pawn, 8.a4 xf3
hence W hite's next. 48.f6 b7 49.h2 [ 8...b5? is bad after 9.xb5 axb5 10.xb5
c6 50.f1 xf6 51.exf6 d6 Heading for d7 11.d5 ]
e4. W hite needs to keep his dark-squared [ 8...d7 is probably the best chance to
(and so-called bad bishop) in order to defend revive the line for Black. ]
g5. 52.g2 e4 53.xe4 dxe4 54.e3 9.xf3 d5 10.exd5 xd5 11.0-0 e7
White must blockade the e-pawn at all costs, 12.fe1 0-0 13.xd5 xd5
but this turns out to be possible. d5 55.e5 [ If 13...exd5 then 14.b3 ]
19
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
14.xd5 exd5 15.f4 f6 16.c3 ac8 c4 25.c2 a8 26.xa8+ xa8 27.f1
17.d1! So simple yet so strong. Black loses a7 28.e2 f6 29.exf6 gxf6 30.c3 a2
a pawn and ultimately the game. d8 18.g4 31.fe1 f8 32.d1 b1+ 33.e2 a2
e6 19.xe6 fxe6 20.xe6+ h8 21.xc8 34.d1 a7 35.h3 f7 36.d3 e7
xc8 22.e1 c6 23.e5 d8 24.e3 g8 37.c5 g8 38.h4 g6 39.h3 xd4
25.g3 g6 26.f4 f7 27.f5 e7 28.f3 40.xd4 b1+ 41.e2 b2+ 42.f3
gxf5 29.xf5+ g6 30.f3 g5 31.f1 b5 c3+ 43.e2 d2+ 44.f3 e5+
32.e2 e8 33.d3 c5 34.f4 c4+ 0-1 Lindsay,F-Nogueiras,J North Bay 1997/
35.d2 f8 36.e3 98. ]
[ 36.xg5 xf3 37.gxf3 xg5 38.e3 10.d5!? xd3
would also probably win ] [ 10...exd5 is obviously very scary, but not
36...h4 37.e2 f7 38.g3 f6 39.e3 reacting to d5 means suf f ering as well.
d8 40.f4 f6 41.e3 e7 42.e5 g5 11.exd5 ( 11.e5!? ) 11...xd5 12.e1
43.f3 f7 44.xf7 xf7 45.f4 e7 xd3 ( 12...0-0?? 13.e4 xd3
46.a3 g6 47.f3 f5 48.g4+ g6 14.xd5!; 12...f8!? ) 13.xd3 All of these
49.g3 a5 50.h4 h5 51.c7 The remaining lines are frightening for black, but a
moves of the actual game were clearly not materialist preparing with a computer might
those given by "This W eek in Chess". b4 pull them off. ]
Ignore the following nonsense and just look at 11.xd3 a6 12.c4 0-0 13.g5 exd5
the variations below! 14.exd5 d6
[ The following plausible variations show that [ 14...b5!? 15.a3 xa3 16.bxa3 b4
White is winning 51...a4 then 52.f4! xh4 17.xa6 xa6 18.xf6 gxf6 was worth
( 52...xa3? 53.bxa3 b4 54.gxh5+ xh5 trying as this position is quite defensible, if
55.cxb4 ) 53.gxh5+ xh5 and d5 falls after ugly. ]
54.f5 or ] 15.fe1 d8 16.ad1 b5 17.a3 bd7
[ 51...b4 52.xa5 bxa3 53.bxa3 xa3 18.xb5 xb5 19.xb5 b8 20.a4 a6
54.gxh5+ f5 55.h6 d6+ 56.f3 g6 21.xd6 xb2 22.e4 b4 23.xf6+
57.g4 xh6 58.f5 and White wins as xf6 24.d6 xa4 25.d7 c4
Black loses both remaining pawns. ] [ 25...e4 ]
52.xa5 bxa3 53.c7 b4 54.f4 e7 26.xf6 gxf6 27.d4 xd4 28.xd4 f5
55.g3 f8 56.e5 29.c6 c7 30.f1 a5 31.e7+ h8
1-0 32.c1 b6 33.c6 d8 34.c8 a4
35.c6 a3 36.a8 g7 37.xa3 f6
38.g3+ h6 39.e3 a8 40.e8 a1+
30 B00 41.e2 a2+ 42.f3 a3+ 43.e3 a8
De Toledo,James Mann 2384 44.g3
Limp,Eduardo Thelio 2462 1-0
1st Mario Covas (8) 05.02.2001
[Jon Tisdall]
31 B00
1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d2 e6 4.gf3 f6 Deep Junior
5.d3 c5 6.c3 e7 7.0-0 cxd4 8.cxd4 Akopian,Vladimir 2660
a6 9.e2 c8 A risky novelty. SuperGM Dortmund GER (6) 13.07.2000
[ 9...xd3 10.xd3 d5 11.e5 fd7 12.a3 [Carsten Hansen]
c6 ( 12...a5 13.b3 c8 14.b2 a6
15.e3 c6 16.e1 c8 17.d3 1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d3 f6 4.e2 e6
1/2-1/2 Johansen,D-Miles,A Melbourne We looked at 4...Nc6 in Nevednichy-Blatny.
1991. ) 13.b4 a6 14.b5 axb5 15.xb5 5.f3 d5 6.e5 fd7 This position is by
c7 16.b2 a5 17.b3 0-0 18.fc1 definition really a French Defense, but since
b7 19.c3 a7 20.b4 xb4 21.axb4 p e o p l e o n l y a r r i ve a t t h i s p o s i t i o n f r o m
xa1 22.xa1 b5 23.b1 b6 24.a3 Owen's Defense and never via a French move
20
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
21
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
2002 ] 33 B00
8.h3 The looks tame but Dervishi,Erald 2501
[ 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.e5 xf3 10.gxf3 Salmensuu,Olli 2436
( 10.exf6? xf6 ) 10...dxe5 11.xe5 d6 EuTCh Leon ESP (2) 07.11.2001
12.a5 0-0= doesn't impress. ] [Jon Tisdall]
8...d7 9.xc6 xc6 10.0-0-0 0-0
This reminds me of Qxd4 against the Philidor. 1.e4 c6 2.f3 f5 This continues to get a
Black generally has less counterplay in these steady workout, largely thanks to a fleet of
type of positions than in analogous opposite- determined Finns. Nevertheless, it seems to
side castling struggles in Sicilians (there is no fall short of equality in the sensible, safe lines,
semi-open c-file for Black to press against though as our selection this month shows, the
White's king). 11.g4 e8 12.g5 d7 13.h4 wilder lines can be great fun. 3.exf5 d5 4.d4
f8 14.h5 e7 By using the e-file, Mestrovic xf5 5.d3
tries to keep his pieces relevant and to hold [ 5.b5 d6 6.e5 f6 7.0-0 d7
back the white attack. However one's 8.xc6 ( 8.f4 looks more worrying but
im p re s s io n is t h a t W h i t e m u st b e b e t t e r there is Finnish experience in this variation
a r o u n d h e r e . 15.h4 e5 16.d2 b5 as well. dxe5 9.xe5 g6 10.xc7
17.dh1 ab8 Finally threatening to xc2 11.d2 c8 12.g3 e6 13.c1
destabilize W hite's hold on the centre. e4 14.xc6+ bxc6 15.a5 d6 16.d2
Capturing on a7 is foolhardy as Black can xg3 17.hxg3 0-0 18.e1 f5 19.xe4
counter with a quick ...b4 and ...Ra8 with an dxe4 20.c3 e8 21.f1 h6 22.e3
inevitable recapture on a2. 18.d5 xe3 23.fxe3 f7 24.ac1 c8 25.c5
[ 18.g6 h6 19.f4 is tempting but after d7 xf1+ 26.xf1 e7 27.e5 d6 28.xe4
Delchev presumably couldn't find anything c5 29.g4 g6 30.dxc5+ xc5 31.d4+
concrete. ] e5 32.d7 c2 33.xh7 xb2 34.xa7
18...xd5 19.exd5 c5! Striking back quickly e4 35.a3 e5 36.g1 g5 37.f1 g4
20.dxc6 e6 21.h6 xc6 22.c3 bc8 38.g1 c2 39.f1 b2 40.g1 e2
23.e4 e5 41.a4+ xe3 42.xg4 xa2 43.h2
[ A l s o c o n c e i v a b l e w a s 23...xa2 a8 44.h4 e4 45.g4 d2 46.h7 d8
for instance 24.hxg7 xg7 25.a3 xa3 47.e7 e3 48.g3 e2 49.f4 e1
26.bxa3 e6 with a playable game. ] 50.xe1 xe1 51.g5 f2 52.g6 xg2
24.b3 g6 25.xe6 xe6 26.g4 c4 53.f5 f3 54.g7 a8 55.g6 g4
27.hxg7 xg7 28.f6+ xf6 29.xc4 bxc4 56.h7 f5 57.g8 xg8 58.xg8
30.gxf6 a6 31.d4 The ending is not without 1/2-1/2 Tuovinen,J-Paakkonen,T Helsinki
interest but the chances are about equal. e4 1999. ) 8...bxc6 9.f3 xe5 10.xf5 f7
32.e3 e6 33.h5!? Trying for more than a 11.f4 d7 12.xd7+ xd7 13.d2 e6
repetition e5 34.h6 f5 35.d2 xf6 14.b3 d6 15.g3 a5 16.a4 hb8
36.c3 d5 37.d4 f5 38.b4 Having the 17.fe1 b4 18.e2 ab8 19.f3
more ac tive k ing co mpe nsa tes th e small with a clear, simple advantage for white. c4
material deficit. g7 39.h1 h5 40.a4 f8 20.e1 c5 21.dxc5 xc5+ 22.xc5+ xc5
41.b5 axb5 42.axb5 e6+ 43.c3 d4+ 23.b3 d4 24.d1 d5 25.e4 d3 26.xd3
[ Allowing the advanced passed pawn to live xd3 27.cxd3 xb3 28.d4+ c6
on with 43...f6 44.b6 d8 45.e1! 29.xa5 e5 30.h4 xd3 31.e4 d5
may prove too dangerous. ] 32.c3 d6 33.a5 c6 34.a6 g6 35.f4
44.xd4+ xd4 45.xd4 xb5 46.xc4 e7 36.f6+ e8 37.a4 a7 38.d4
f5 c5 39.f2 d7 40.f4 e7 41.g4 h6
½-½ 42.e3 g5 43.c4 d6 44.h5 e5 45.c2
c6 46.f2 b5 47.d2 d4 48.a2
d8 49.a7 a8 50.a6+ d5 51.xh6
xa7 52.xg5 a2+ 53.g3 a3 54.f6
e4 55.h6 xf3 56.f5+ e6 57.f4
22
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
xg5 58.xg5 h3 59.xc5 f7 60.c7+ 19.f3 g6 20.g3 xg5 21.xg5 f6
g8 61.g5 e3 62.e7 h1 63.xe3 f7 22.f4 bd7 23.g2 c5 24.f5 fe4
1-0 Shaw,J-Salmensuu,O EuroTeam Leon 25.xe4 dxe4 26.fxg6 hxg6 27.h4 a5
ESP 2001. ] 28.e3 d8 29.b4 axb4 30.cxb4 a6
5...g4 31.xe4
[ 5...e6!? is an interesting alternative that [ 31.a3+- ]
has had good results. 6.0-0 f6 7.e1 31...xb4 32.xg6 xa2 33.b3 d4
e7 8.xf5 exf5 9.g5 d7 10.e6 f7 34.a3 d2+ 35.f2 xf2+ 36.xf2 f8+
11.f3 ( 11.g5+ must be better, though 37.g2 f6 38.h5 b4 39.f3 d6
black unravels reasonably quickly here as 40.f8+ d7 41.f7+ d8 42.g7 d2+
well. g8 12.f4 e8 13.c3 h6 14.f3 43.h3 d1 44.g4 d5 45.h6 h1
e4 15.e5 xe5 16.dxe5 d8 17.xe4 46.g5
fxe4 18.f3 f5 19.g3 h7 20.h1 hf8 1-0
21.f1 g6 22.e2 exf3 23.xf3 xf3
24.gxf3 h8 25.d3 xd3 26.cxd3 g8
27.g2 f7 28.f4 e6 29.f3 f8 34 B00
30.g4 g6 31.f1 c5 32.b3 h5+ 33.h3 Dorfman,Josif D 2610
g5 34.g2 h4 35.e1 xf4 36.xf4 gxf4 Miles,Anthony J 2595
37.f3 xe5 38.c3+ f5 39.h3 b5 Tilburg 1992
40.b2 c4 41.dxc4 bxc4 42.bxc4 dxc4 [Alexander Volzhin]
43.c3 f6 44.xf6 xf6 45.xf4 c3
46.e3 f5 47.a4 c2 48.d2 f4 1.d4 e6 2.e4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.d3 c5
49.xc2 g3 0-1 Von Buelow,G-Sell,A 5.c3 f6 6.e2 This set-up is White's most
Germany 1993.) 11...he8 12.c3 d6 popular choice, and this position has been
13.g5+ g8 14.f1 e7 15.d3 h6 tested many times. e7 7.0-0 c6 8.a3
16.f3 g6 17.g3 e4 18.c4 f4 19.c5 The idea behind this move is to prevent 8...
fxg3 20.cxd6 gxf2+ 21.xf2 xf2 22.xf2 cxd4 9. cxd4 Nb4 a5 9.bd2
xd6 23.e3 f8 24.bd2 xh2+ [ The seemingly strong 9.e5 d5 10.c4
25.e1 g3+ 26.f2 ae8+ 27.d1 xf2 is just a blunder in view of b3! as in Zelcic
28.xg6 e2+ 29.c1 e6 30.xe6+ - Filipovic, Ljubljana 1999 where Black
xe6 31.e5 c5 32.df3 xf3 33.xf3 ob t a in e d a m a t eria l a d va n t a ge : 11.cxd5
e3+ 0-1 Vasiliev,M (2405)-Demuth,M xd5! 12.e4 The only chance to
(2030) W erfen 1994. A brutal upset, and c o m p l i c a t e . ( 12.a2 xc1 13.xc1
one of those games that makes riskin g xa2 ) 12...xa1 13.xd5 exd5 14.c3
weird defences so satisfying. ] b3 15.e3 cxd4 16.xd4 0-0?!
6.h3 xf3 Black begins to play superficially and allows
[ 6...h5!? ] W hite to get some counterchances and
7.xf3 f6 finally to escape. Black had many better
[ 7...xd4 8.h5+ g6 9.e5 ] p o s s i b i l i t i e s . ( I n m y o p i n i o n , 16...c5
8.c3 exchanging Black's only bad piece, was the
[ 8.b5!? keeping a grip on e5 is more correct decision: 17.xc5 xc5 18.xd5
thematic, and seems to me to be the only 0-0 and Black should win without difficulty.)
way to try and maintain an advantage. ] 17.xd5 xd4 18.xd4 Now White's
8...e5 Black should not have serious trouble Knights are very active. g6 19.g4 h8
now - in fact this position must be roughly 20.d1 c8 21.h4 xh4 22.f3 e7
equal. 9.dxe5 xe5 10.e2 e7 11.c2 23.f4 f5 24.exf6 xf6 25.e5 d6
0-0-0 12.0-0 e8 13.f4 c4= 14.xe7 26.d5! f5 27.xf5 gxf5 28.f7+ g7
xe7 15.b3 d6 29.xd8 xd8 30.e3 and White
[ 15...d6!? ] managed to draw. ]
16.g5 b6 17.d2 h5 18.ae1 f4?! 9...c4 10.c2 c7 11.e5 Probably not the
[ 18...f4!? ] best move. This position seems to be critical
23
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
24
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
25
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
20.g5 with both a material and positional 11.0-0-0 c7 12.hf1 b5 13.b3 a5
advantage for White. ] 14.xf6 gxf6 15.d4 a4 16.f3 axb3
[ Black had better options such as 15...c4!? 17.xc6 xc6 18.h3 xf5 19.exf5
and ] xf5 20.d5 fe8 21.f3 bxa2
[ 15...cxd4 16.cxd4 c8 as the text leads to 22.xf6+ f8 23.xc6 a1+ 24.d2
trouble. ] b4+ 25.c3 xb2 0-1 Boey,J-Keres,P/
16.b4! Seizing the initiative as we shall see... Varna 1962.) 7...f6 ( 7...c6 8.g5 h6
c4 17.e2 cxd4 9.h3 b5 10.b3 a5 11.a3 a7 12.e2
[ If 17...cxb4 18.axb4 b5 then I quite like 0-0 13.e3 b6 14.xc5 xc5 15.g3
19.xc4 dxc4 20.fd1 with d4-d5 in the a4 16.a2 b4 17.axb4 xb4 18.e3
air. ] e7 19.0-0 h8 20.g4 f5 21.gxf5 xf5
18.xd4 c8 Everything seems to be holding 22.d3 c5+ 23.h2 e3 24.f3 xf4
f i r m o n t h e q u e e n s i d e , b u t . . . 19.xd5! 25.xe3 xg5 26.g1 e5 27.h1 d5
...there are problems elsewhere. exd5 20.e6 28.gf1 g5 29.xa4 xe4 30.xe4
f6 dxe4 31.e3 f6 32.c5 h6 33.d1
[ 20...fxe6 21.xh8 etc. ] xh3+ 34.xh3 xh3 35.c4 e3
21.exf7+ f8 An unfortunate concession, but 36.h2 e2 37.e1 f1 38.d3 g2
the natural 39.a1 e3 40.b3 h5 41.e1 g4+
[ 21...xf7 22.fe1 he8 is refuted by the 42.g1 e3 43.a8+ h7 44.f8 g3+
calm 23.e6+ g7 24.xc4 xc4 25.e3 45.h1 g2+ 46.xg2 xg2 47.e8
and Black is helpless in the face of Rae1 f2 0-1 Winawer,S-Schlechter,C Monte
and or Rf3. ] C a r l o 1 9 0 1 .) 8.f5 e7 9.g5 c6
22.e6 Blatny is bus t ed! He is naturally an W e have already seen that Black is not
optimist and a fighter but all his tricky play afraid of trading his kingside pawn
c a n ' t c h a n g e t h e i n e v i t a b l e r e s u l t . h5 structure for some dark-squared
23.fe1 b7 24.xc4 dxc4 25.xh8 f4 domination. 10.xf6 gxf6 11.d2 b5
26.g7+ 12.b3 h5 13.0-0-0 b6 14.he1 a5
[ or 26.g4 ] 15.a4 b4 16.e2?? 0-1 Rosenberg,J-
26...xg7 27.e5+ f6 28.xf4 xc3 Marder,S Copenhagen DEN 2001.;
29.e8 xf7 30.xf7+ xf7 31.xc8 xa1 B) 5.e3 d5!? A rare and - Black gets
32.xc4 e5 33.b5 e6 34.f1 d5 very quick development but this needs
35.c8 d6 36.a4 c5 37.c7 c4 rather serious analysis as there are many,
38.xa7 b4 39.e2 h5 40.f4 d6 many ways that White could have tried to
41.f3 c5 42.g3 The moral of this tale is grab material quickly. 6.xd5 ( 6.exd5
that even with a closed centre leaving the king f6 7.b5+ d7 8.e2 b4+ 9.c3
in the centre too long can be dangerous. 0-0 10.d4 xc3+ 11.bxc3 e8
1-0 12.0-0-0 e4 13.d2 e7 14.d4
a3+ 15.b1 xd5 16.c4 xd4
17.xd4 xc3+ 18.a1 xd1 19.xf7+
37 B00 xf7 20.xd7+ e7 21.xd1 d8
Fedorchuk,Sergey A 2503 22.e2 f6+ 23.b1 d4 24.f3 b4+
Miles,Anthony J 2562 25.c1 xf4 26.e5+ g8 27.e3
2nd IECC Ohrid MKD (7) 07.06.2001 xg2 28.c5 f4+ 29.d1 b1+
[Jon Tisdall] 30.e2 e4+ 0-1 Reinhardt,E-Rossetto,
H Mar del Plata 1961.) 6...d6 7.d2
1.e4 c6 2.d4 e5 3.dxe5 xe5 ( 7.b5+!? is critical as White appears to
This system had a very nice record in this prevent castling - unless Black wants to
instalmentâ []s games. 4.c3 s t a r t s h e d d i n g p a wn s b e f o r e h e h a s
[ 4.f4 g6 developed.) 7...e7 8.c3 b4 9.0-0-0
A) 5.f3 c5 6.c4 d6 7.c3 ( 7.e2 f6 10.d3 ( 10.d3!? ) 10...e6 11.f5
f6 8.f5 e7 9.c3 0-0 10.g5 c6 e5 12.b5+ d7 13.xb7 0-0
26
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
14.ge2 a5 15.d5 xd5 16.exd5 fb8 32.e3 d1 33.e2 e6 34.f2 f1 35.a4
17.xc7 c8 18.b7 xf5 19.xe7 c5 36.a5 bxa5 37.g5
xc2+ 20.b1 d2+ 0-1 Zapolskis,A- [ 37.xc5 f3 38.f2 c5 and White is
S u l s k i s , S K a u n a s L T U 2 0 0 1 . A ve r y rat he r sh ort of m oves, wh ile Blac k ca n
seductive game, but I wouldn't venture this create trouble with ...c4, trying to pass his
as Black without some double checking. ] a-pawn. ]
4...c5 5.f4 c6 6.f3 37...h1 38.xc5 xh3 39.xg6 g3+
[ 6.c4 d6 7.f3 e6 8.xe6 fxe6 9.a4 40.h7 e3 The time control is over, and
b6 10.xb6 axb6 11.0-0 f6 12.g5 White's position is in ruins - the Black e-pawn
e7 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 xe5 15.e2 ha s m o re t h a n su rvive d a n d t h e re la t ive
a5 16.b4 xb4 17.xe6 e7 18.xg7+ strength of the kings is decisive. 41.g8 g5
xg7 19.d2 d5 20.c4 xd2 21.xe5+ 42.fxg5 xg5+ 43.h7 g7+ 44.h8 g3
d8 22.xf6+ xf6 23.xf6 e8 24.a4 45.h2 xe5 46.a3 g4 47.b2+ e4
ee2 25.f8+ e7 26.g8 d6 27.g7 48.c3 h4+ 49.xh4+ xh4 50.xa5 e2
c6 28.h1 a2 29.g1 h5 30.g6+ c5 51.g7 f3 52.f6 e3
31.g5+ xc4 32.xh5 b5 33.axb5 cxb5 0-1
34.g4 b4 35.g5 b3 36.g6 b2 37.g7 g2
38.h7 c5 39.xg2 b1+ 40.h1 d3
41.h8 b6 42.h6+ a5 43.g8 e4+ 38 B00
44.g2 xg2 45.xg2 b5 46.hg6 b4 Filipenko,Alexander V 2370
47.6g3 a4 48.h4 d5 49.e3 b3 Filipovic,Branko 2435
50.ee2 1/2-1/2 Akopian,V-Miles,A/Moscow 11th Open Ljubljana 2000
1990/TD (50) ] [Neil McDonald]
6...d6 7.a4 b6 8.d3 d5 9.xb6 axb6
10.e5 ge7 Black has a sound and active 1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d3 e6 4.f3 c5
position. W hite's main chore will be finding 5.c3 f6 6.e2 e7 7.0-0 c6 8.dxc5!
gainf ul employment f or his dark-squared This is a significant improvement on
bishop. 11.0-0 f5 12.h4 xd3 13.xd3 [ 8.a3 as played in Gomboc-Filipovic in the
d7 14.d2 g4 15.e1 0-0 16.h3 d7 same tournament. ]
17.d2 a4 This move is so much fun to play 8...bxc5 9.e5 d5 10.c4! b6 11.c3
on e as s u me s it is ve ry st ron g - t h e ro o k Now Black has no compensation for the weak
influences most of the board from this entry square on d6 and backward d pawn. His next
route. 18.c3 g6 19.xg6 fxg6! move makes things worse but I don't like his
Continuing to bank on increasing the activity position in any case. c7? 12.b5 b8
of his rooks, and creating a crowbar - Black 13.g5! The exchange of dark square bishops
wants to undermine W hite's kingside pawn leaves W hite with a huge positional
wedge, and this recapture gains the space he advantage. c8
needs on this flank to advance. Black can [ If 13...xg5 14.d6+ f8 15.xg5
keep White's centre under control with piece wins. ]
play, but one should not underestimate the 14.xe7 6xe7 15.ad1 White's immediate
element of risk when playing so dynamically. plan is simple- tie down the black pieces to
20.g3 e7 21.h2 h5 22.b3 e4 23.ae1 the defence of the d7 pawn. a6 16.c3 g6
c6 24.d2 f5 25.c3 The tension of the 17.e4 a7 18.d2 0-0 19.fd1 xe4
position will not be dissipated by the trade of 20.xe4 d8 21.b3 c7 22.h4! The next
queens - Black must still prove that his activity stage in W hite's strategy is to exploit the
is worth odd pawn structures. h4 26.gxh4 passive Black pieces by beginning a direct
xh4 27.xc6 bxc6 28.g3 f5+ 29.g4 attack on his king. h6 23.h5 f8 24.h4
f7 Clearing the way to the h-file for the Rf8. e8 25.f4 c6 26.e3 c7 27.e4 d8
30.xe4 dxe4 31.e1 d8 28.g4 e7 29.d6 c8 30.g2 a5 31.f4
[ 31...h8 must be roughly equal, but Miles a8 32.f6+! h8
decides to keep more life in the position. ] [ 32...gxf6 33.exf6 c8 34.xh6 mates. ]
27
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
33.xd7 xd7 34.xd7 c8 35.xe7 17.a4+ c6 18.f6 and White won
A very straightforward win for W hite which material in Anisimov, P-Vlasov, E Warsaw
made 7...Nc6 look bad. So it seems 7...d5 rapid 2010) 9.e3 c6 10.a3 c4 11.c2
should be preferred. b5 12.bd2 a5 13.e1 h5 14.f4 g6
1-0 15.ef3 b4 and White never looked like
breaking through in Dautov, R-Bauer, C
Gothenburg 2005. ]
39 B00 [ I'm not so keen on 6...cxd4 7.cxd4 b4+
Gagunashvili,Merab 2603 8.d2 c6 9.c3 d6 10.0-0 xc3
Savchenko,Boris 2630 11.xc3 0-0 12.ad1 e7 13.e5
TCh-TUR 2011 (12) 08.07.2011 Kulicov, O-Novotny, M Frydek Mistek 2011,
[Glenn Flear] when White had a pleasant edge. ]
7.d5! This looks to be spot on. Black cannot
1.d4 e6 2.f3 A non-committal move that capture on d5, so it's understandable why 6...
has become popular of late because, amongst Be7 7.0-0 Nc6 is more popular (when d4-d5
other reasons, it avoids 2.c4 Bb4+. b6 w o u l d l o s e a p a w n ) . e7 8.c4
[ After 2...f5 White has tried no less than 17 By consolidat ing his pawn wedge , W hit e
moves! One that takes Dutch players out of ensures a space advantage. d6 9.c3 g6
their normal scenario is 3.d5!? e.g. exd5 [ Black could opt for closing the centre with
4.xd5 d6 5.g3 f6 6.b3 a6 7.e3 9...e5 (with a type of Czech Benoni) but then
d5 (Vaisser likes playing the Stonewall) 10.c2! followed by Ba4+ would be better
8.g2 c6 9.c4 dxc4 ( maybe 9...c5 for White. The early ...b6 and ...Bb7 looking
10.c2 ce4 11.0-0 d6= ) 10.xc4 out of place here. ]
b4+ 11.bd2 d5 12.0-0 xc4 13.xc4 10.dxe6
c5 14.fd1 Vachier-Lagrave, M-Vaisser, M [ H e r e a g a i n 10.c2 comes into
French league 2011, and W hite later consideration, but Gagunashvili opts to force
converted his small pull. ] the pace, angling for something more than
3.e4 b7 4.d3 Play has led us into Owen's a positional pull. ]
Defence. c5 5.c3 f6 6.e2 c6?! 10...fxe6 11.g5 d7 12.e5! Breaking up
A rare try, and not one that I'd recommend. Black's structure and leaving the e6-pawn
[ The most commonly played move is 6...e7 ch ro n ica lly we a k. dxe5 13.xe5 g7
then 7.0-0 c6 (here d4-d5 is just bad) 14.xe6
8.a3 a5!? ( although 8...d5 [ Although Black's position looks dodgy, he
may transpose to the line below emanating d o e s h a ve a n u m b e r o f r e so u r c e s , f o r
from 6...d5, White has an extra option with e x a m p l e a f t e r 14.b5 xg2! 15.g1
t h i s m o v e o r d e r : 9.e5 d7 10.b4!? ( 15.d6+ f8 isn't that clear either)
but it's not clear if this offers W hite 15...0-0-0 16.e2 c6 17.xe6 b4
anything ) 9.g5 c4 10.c2 h6 11.xf6 with counter-chances. ]
xf6 12.bd2 c7 13.ab1 Black has no [ Otherwise 14.0-0 0-0-0 15.xe6 h6!
immediate problems, but has to be careful 16.xd7+ xd7 17.e6 xd3 18.xg7
a b o u t w h e n a n d w h e r e t o c a s t l e . e7 offers Black some play for his pawn. ]
14.e5 b5 15.b4 cxb3 16.xb3 xb3 14...f7
17.xb3 a6 18.h5 g6 19.f3 h7= [ Taking the piece is not really a good idea:
Czebe, A-Filipovic, B Basel 2009. 14...xd3?? 15.xg7+ f7 16.e6+
( Or perhaps 19...0-0 )] xg7 17.xe7+ g8 18.xb7 e8+
[ A solid line is introduced by 6...d5 e.g. 7.e5 19.e3 g4 20.d5+ and Black can
fd7 8.0-0 e7! ( Black needs to be wary resign. ]
of leaving his g5-square undefended, for 15.xg7 c6 16.e6+ Safest, as White
example 8...c6 9.a3 c4 10.c2 c7?! retains his extra pawn and avoids
11.g5! e7 12.h5 xg5 13.xg5 f8 middlegame complications. xe6+ 17.xe6
14.d2 e7 15.ae1 g6 16.f3 h5 he8 18.0-0 xe6 19.f4 The bishop pair,
28
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
plus an extra pawn n atu rally o f f e r W hit e 48.e4 f6+ 49.e5 g4+ 50.e4 f6+
something to look forward to, although Black's 51.d3 g4 52.c2 e5 53.a4!
activity complicates the task of exploiting his Pawns on both rims give the knight an
a d va n t a ge . e5 20.e2 e4 21.b5!? impossible task. c6 54.a5
I'm surprised that Gagunashvili opted for such [ After 54.a5 b8 ( 54...xa5 55.xa5
a complex move when a simple continuation xh6 56.b6 c4 57.b4 g5 58.c3 f5
presented itself. 59.d4 e6 60.c5 c3 61.xb5 c2
[ An alternative is 21.xe4 xe4 22.ad1 62.e3 ) 55.d3 a6 56.e4 h7
ae8 23.e3 when Black is running out of 57.d5 g6 58.c6 Black's position is
compensation. ] hopeless. ]
21...g5! 22.e3 g8 23.ad1 1-0
[ Deciding not to chase a second pawn. In
general with a material advantage it's best
to avoid unnecessary complications, but it 40 B00
seems that White can indeed snatch the a- Gallagher,Joseph G 2519
pawn: 23.xa7 d6 24.b3 g4 25.a4 f5 McShane,Luke J 2460
( 25...f3+ 26.xf3 gxf3 27.g3 ) 26.b5 Bundesliga 2000-1 (10) 10.03.2001
and Black's play isn't worth two pawns. ] [Jon Tisdall]
23...g4 24.h1 f6 25.c7 h5 26.f3!?
Hoping to open lines for his rooks and 1.d4 b6 2.e4 b7 3.d3 e6 4.f3 d6
bishops. gxf3 27.xf3 xf3 5.c4 d7 6.c3 e7 7.h4!? White takes
[ Plausible is 27...xf3 as 28.gxf3 f6 advantage of black's lack of fianchetto on this
29.d5 xc4 30.xf6 xf6 wouldn't be flank, and stakes out a bit of space. h6 8.h5
as easy a technical ride as White would like. c6 9.e2 e7 10.d5 ce5 11.d4
However the first player is still for This looks like a clear safe advantage for
preference. ] white. f8 12.a4+
28.d7+ g6 29.gxf3 xf3!? [ 12.0-0 followed by rumbling the f-pawn
[ Or perhaps 29...g5 as 30.d5 xd5 forward deserves a serious look. ]
31.cxd5 xf3 32.xf3 xf3 33.xa7 f5 12...d7 13.b3 c5 14.c2 d8
would still be complicated. ] Creating a home for the Ne5. Black is now
30.xf3 g5 31.d6+! A precise move that reasonably solid since it will take white some
enables White to ultimately emerge from the time to regroup his queen and Nc2. 15.e3
c o m p l i c a t i o n s w i t h a n e x t r a p a w n . h7 ed7 16.a4 exd5 17.cxd5 h7 18.0-0 0-0
32.d5 xd5 19.f4 e8 20.a3 f6 21.f3 xc3
[ 32...xf3?? 33.f6+ ] This weakens the e4 pawn to the extent that it
33.xd5 xf3 34.f5 e1 35.xh5+ g7 is now black who takes over the driving seat.
36.g5+ h8 37.xg8+ xg8 White has [ 21...d4!? ]
some major trumps in the endgame: Bishop 22.xc3 df6 23.d3 e7 24.ae1 xe4
versus knight, a passed pawn on the edge 25.xc5 xc5 26.xe7 xd3 27.xb7
an d B la c k h a s h is pa wn s st u ck o n d a rk- xb2 28.b5 xa4 29.a1
squares. Despite all these points, White still [ 29.xd6!? c5 30.c7 ]
has some work to do. 38.d2 d3 39.b3 29...c5 30.bxa7 xa7 31.xa7 d8
f7 40.g2 g6 41.f3 f5 42.h4 a6 32.c7 f6 33.c6 d3
43.h5 b5 [ 33...ce4 gave some chances for a
[ If Black temporizes with 43...e5+ 44.g3 microscopic edge. ]
d3 White prepares an invasion via e4 with 34.g3 a8 35.xd6 a1+ 36.h2 a2+
45.h6 g6 46.f3 ] 37.g1 e1 38.e4 xe4 39.xe4 f3+
44.cxb5 axb5 45.h6 e5+ 46.e3 g4+ 40.f1 f5 41.d6
47.d3 g6 ½-½
[ If 47...c4+ simplest is 48.d4 when White
retains a b-pawn. ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
17.h4 intending to transfer the Rook to the h7 ( 20...g5 is no better: 21.1xe4! gxf4
K-side via the a3-square with Qh5 and f4-f5 22.xf4+ xe6 23.g6+ e7 24.f6+
with a growing attack. ] d7 25.e5+! xe5 26.g7+
13.c3 a5 wit h a qu ick m a t e .) 21.1xe4! dxe4
[ 13...h6 14.f6! is similar to the game. ] 22.xe4 g7 ( 22...g8 23.xg6+ h8
14.h4! h6 This move seriously weakens the 24.d5! e8 25.e6 e7 26.g6+ ) 23.d5!
g6-square and gives White a target, and Black is hopelessly lost. ]
[ but 14...a6 15.c2 f8 16.h5 20.ae1 Now White is threatening Rxc6 with
was hardly better. ] N e 5 + t o f o l l o w . e4 Allowing a brilliant
15.f6! All White's pieces occupy active combination.
positions and are ready for the decisive attack. [ 20...g7 preparing to evacuate the King to
By sacrif icing a pawn (and a piece soon) the g8-square, was more stubborn, although
White opens files near Black's King. xf6 White has a huge advantage after 21.xc6
[ Nxf6 is the alternative to the text, but White xc6 22.e5+ g8 23.xc6 d7
attacks in a similar way to the game: T h e o n ly m o ve . 24.e7+ ( The tempting
15...xf6 16.exf6 xf6 17.xg6! fxg6 24.e6? fails to h5! ) 24...xe7 25.xg6+
18.xe6+ f7 19.d3! with decisive g7 26.xf6 ]
t h r e a t s , f o r e xa m p l e : e7 ( 19...g8 21.1xe4! dxe4 22.c4!! Black resigned as
20.h5+- winning e7 21.ae1 d6 her position is absolutely hopeless:
22.hxg6+ g7 23.h5+ h8 24.g7+ ) [ 22.c4
20.ae1 g8 ( 20...g8 21.e5+ xe5 A) 22...a6 23.xc6 exf3 ( 23...b7
22.1xe5 ) 21.e5+ xe5 22.1xe5 e8 24.e5+ f8 25.e8+! ) 24.f6+;
23.f3 f5 24.xf5+! gxf5 25.h5+ ] B) 22...g7 23.xc6+ e8 24.e5;
[ Probably, 15...0-0 was relatively best, C) 22...g7 23.xg6+ h8 24.xh6+
although Black's position is bad anyway: g7 25.g6+ h8 26.g5 f8 27.f7+
16.xg7 xg7 17.d2! e7 18.h5! g5 h7 28.e6 We can only admire the
19.xg5! hxg5 20.h3! with a decisive youthful energy of 67 year old Efim
attack, is just one variation that illustrates Geller. ]
W hite's resources: h8 21.xg5+ f8 1-0
22.h6 g8 23.h5 h8 24.e3 e8
25.g5 f5 26.xf5 exf5 27.h7
and Black is hopelessly lost. ] 42 B00
16.exf6 xf6 Gerber,Richard 2432
[ The attempt to protect the weak e6- and g6- Miles,Anthony J 2562
s q u a r e s w i t h 16...f8 fails as 17.b5! Open Crans Montana SUI (5) 21.04.2001
leads to a tragicomic position where Black [Jon Tisdall]
h a s t o p l a y d8 , as there is no other
d e f e n c e a g a i n s t N e 5 . 18.c4 1.e4 c6 2.d4 e5 3.dxe5 xe5 4.f3
with an overwhelming advantage. ] b4+ 5.c3 xf3+ 6.xf3 c5 7.c4 f6
[ 16...0-0 Here this move is even worse than Here we get a little course in how Miles, the
a move previously: 17.h5 g5 18.xg5! hero of most of the sections of Daring
xf6 ( 18...hxg5 19.g4+- winning ) Defences, makes a living in what might appear
19.d2! and Black has no compensation for to most to be tedious backwaters. Mainly, by
the weak position of her king, and accepting not having anything against putting in very
the Knight sacrifice loses on the spot: hxg5? long days at the office when the job requires it.
20.xd5! h7 21.f6+! ] 8.e3
17.xg6! fxg6 18.xe6+ f7 19.d3! g8 [ 8.g3 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10.b4 d6 11.f4
[ T h e i m m e d i a t e 19...e4 is the main h6 12.e5 f5 13.g4 e7 14.d3
alternative to the text, but it doesn't help ( 14.xf5 d5 ) 14...b6+ 15.h1 h6
Black: 20.e1! Preparing a new sacrifice 16.h5 f5 17.e2 h8 18.e3 g6
(Rxe4), which works whatever Black replies! 19.d2 b6 and black finally completed his
31
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
development, achieving a truly murky and 8...xf3 9.gxf3 e7 10.g1 g6 11.d4
daring position. 20.f3 b7 21.ad1 a5 f6 12.a3 a6 13.c2 d6 14.e3 0-0
22.a3 g4 23.g1 axb4 24.axb4 a3 15.0-0-0 e6 16.f5 d8 17.b3 e8
25.b2 aa8 26.b5 d6 27.h3 dxe5 18.g3 d7 19.f4 f8 20.f5 xb3
28.xe5 xe5 29.fxe5 ad8 30.f2 h5 21.axb3 g5+ 22.c2 e5 23.xe5 dxe5
31.xd8 xh3+ 32.h2 xd8 33.g3 24.d7 e7 25.d5 h4 26.b4 c6 27.d6
xg3 34.xg3 d2 35.f2 xf2 36.xf2 ee8 28.gd1 ed8 29.d7 ab8 30.f3
d5 37.d7 g6 38.g3 g7 39.e6 c5 e8 31.xd8+ xd8 32.xd8+ xd8
40.e5+ h6 41.c7 cxb4 42.cxb4 b5 33.f1 g5 34.d3 f4 35.h3 e7
43.xb5 xb4 44.d7 e7 45.h2 g5 36.e3 xe3 37.xe3 f6 38.fxg6 fxg6
46.e5 f4 47.g1 f5 48.d6 xe6 39.f2 g5 40.g3 b6 41.c4 c5 42.b5
49.xe6+ xe6 50.xf4 c5+ 51.h1 axb5 43.cxb5 c4 44.h4+ f6 45.f4 h6
f5 52.g3 d4 53.g2 e5 54.e3 g4 46.g4 exf4 47.xf4 g5+ 48.hxg5+ hxg5+
55.f2 c3 56.e3 g5 57.xg5 xg5 49.g4 e5 50.xg5 xe4 51.f6 d5
58.g4 f4 59.g5 g4 60.h1 h3 0-1
61.g1 d4+ 62.h1 g3 63.g6 hxg6
1/2-1/2 Salimaki,J-Jouhki,Y Helsinki 1998. ]
[ 8.f4 d6 9.d2 e7 10.b5+?! 43 B00
( 10.0-0-0 0-0 11.h4 c6 12.g3 e5 Gicev,Blagoja 2336
13.e2 g6 14.e3 xe3 15.xe3 f4 Blatny,Pavel 2547
16.f1 e8 17.xf4 xf4 18.f3 e6 2nd IECC Ohrid MKD (11) 12.06.2001
19.b3 a5 20.e3 a4 21.b2 axb3 [Jon Tisdall]
22.axb3 a5 23.g3 h3!? 24.d2 ea8
25.c2 a2+ 26.c1 g5 27.g2 g4 1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d2
28.c4 h5 29.f4 d7 30.e5 e6 31.exd6 [ 3.d3 e6 4.f4?! Not terribly logically
cxd6 32.xb7? b8 33.c6 xb3 34.d4 directed aggression which doesn't do much
c3+ 35.d1 a1+ 36.e2 xc4+ to stifle the Bb7. c5 5.c3 cxd4 6.cxd4
0-1 Solomon,S-Miles,A Melbourne 1991.) b4+ 7.c3 f5 and Black could be satisfied
10...c6 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 g6 13.g3 with his unorthodox opening in this recent
e7 14.b4 b6 15.h5 f5 and black has game. 8.e2 fxe4 9.xe4 xe4 10.xe4
a very comfortable game. 16.c4+ h8 c6 11.f3 f6 12.d3 0-0 13.0-0 e7
17.exf5 xf5 18.d1 d5 19.e2 ae8 14.a3 xc3 15.bxc3 c7 16.d2 ac8
20.h5 f6 21.b1 d8 22.d2 e5 17.g3 f5 18.a4 d6 19.a5 b5 20.a6
23.a3 c4 24.xc4 dxc4 25.b2 d3 fe4 21.ac1 c4 22.e3 d5 23.fe1
26.fe1 d5 27.f3 f5 28.a4 a6 29.a5 c6 24.e5 xa6 25.a1 xa1 26.xa1
a7 30.d2 h6 31.a2 xf3 32.gxf3 a8 27.c1 a5 28.d3 c4 29.xc4
xf3 33.d1 f6 34.c1 f5 35.ae2 bxc4 30.c2 b8 31.b2 f6 32.e1 d6
g4 36.d2 f3 37.d6 f5 38.e7 d5 33.c1 b3 34.d2 a4 35.h3 a3 36.g4
39.d2 f7 40.e8+ h7 41.dd8 f6 b2 37.d1 a2 0-1 Csapo, Z-Puschmann,
42.e5 g6 43.ee8 f8 44.e1 xf2+ L Budapest HUN 2001. ]
45.xf2 xe8 46.xe8 xe8 47.f5+ 3...e6 4.gf3 c5 5.c3 f6 6.d3 c6
g8 48.f2 e6 49.e5 f7+ 50.e3 7.a3 d5 8.e5 d7 9.0-0 a5
d5 51.d4 f1 52.c5 g1+ 53.d4 [ 9...e7 10.e1 g5!? This leads to a very
xd4+ 54.xd4 g5 55.c5 h5 56.d6 g4 standard type of King's Indian reversed type
57.g3 f7 58.b6 e6 59.e1 c5 of position, and the game well illustrates
60.xc5 e5 61.h4 e4 62.f6 f7 Black's ideas in this variation. 11.h3 h5
63.b6 e8 64.xb7 b5 65.b6 f3 12.g4 hxg4 13.hxg4 c7 14.f1 0-0-0
66.c5 g2 67.e5 h4 68.d4 f3 15.g3 dg8 16.b4 c4 17.f1 a6 18.a4
69.b8 g3 70.hxg3 hxg3 71.xg3 xg3 d8 19.b5 a5 20.g2 f6 21.a3 xa3
72.e3 g2 0-1 Perdomo,C-Miles,A Ubeda 22.xa3 h4 23.exf6 xg4 24.e5 xe5
1997. ] 25.dxe5 xg3 26.fxg3 c5+ 27.d4 xa3
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
54.b3 c7 55.xb4 b8 56.a4 a7 was very strong f or W hite in Gleizerov-
57.b5 b7 58.a4 a6 59.b4 b5 Filipovich from the same tournament. ]
60.c5 a5 61.d6 b4 62.f5 gxf5 5.c3 f6 6.e2 e7 7.0-0 d5!?
63.e7 b3 64.xf7 b2 65.g6 b1 After White's reply the black queen's bishop is
66.xe6 f4 0-1 Solomon,S-Miles,A/ shut in. On the other hand Black's position
Melbourne 1992. ] becomes secure against any sudden assault
7...c4 8.c2 b5 9.bd2 c6 10.f1 in the centre. A French type pawn centre is
[ 10.a4 led to adventure: a6 11.e5 d5 reached. 8.e5 fd7 9.bd2 c6 10.a3
12.e4 c7 13.axb5 axb5 14.xa8+ White intends to encroach on the queenside
xa8 15.fg5 h6 16.xf7!? That's what with 11 b4, which persuades Black to close
he's here for. xf7 17.h5+ f8 18.h4 the position further. c4 11.c2 b5 12.e1?
The threat of lifting a rook to h3 seems hard This is too routine. Following 10...c4 there is
t o m e e t . . . db4! Feels right, though no real pressure on W hite's centre, so it is
computers like Qa5 to play Nc7 and Nd8 to possible for him to build up an attack on the
protect black's king. Maybe they can get kingside. The obvious strategical plan is to
away with this, but a good counterattack is prepare the advance of the f pawn, and for
more likely to work. 19.cxb4 ( 19.b1 d3+ this task the rook is best placed on f1.
20.xd3 cxd3 21.h3 xd4 ) 19...xd4 Therefore
20.b1 xb4+ 21.f1 f5 22.g5 e7 [ 12.e1!? g6 13.f4 h5 14.df3
23.f7+ d8 followed by g3, Ng2, Ne3 and an eventual
A) 24.xe6! xg2+ ( 24...b7!? ) g4 seems to be the correct continuation.
25.xg2 b7+ 26.e4 xe4+ 27.xe4 Mean while Black could ad vance on his
dxe6; queenside, with an interesting battle in
B) 24.xf5? xe5! 25.g1 hxg5 prospect. ]
26.xg5+ c8 27.f4 A typo clearly, 12...a5 13.f1 b4 14.3d2 h5!
though white is clearly going down here. Black prepares to blockade the kingside. 15.f4
f8 0-1 Crouch,C-Burnett,R/ Coulsden White achieves the desired advance, but it
1999. ] has no punch as his pieces aren't on the best
10...a5 squares. g6 16.g4? This is horrible as
[ 10...c7!? looks more flexible. ] White's kingside pawns are crippled. He had
11.g3 c7 12.0-0 a6 13.d5 0-0 14.e1 to play more patiently for example with
exd5 15.e5 e4 16.xe4 dxe4 17.xe4 [ 16.g3 ]
b3 18.b1 xe4 19.xe4 c5 20.g4 16...hxg4 17.xg4 b3 18.b1?
Presumably e young, ambitious and powerful [ Not 18.xg6? g8 but rather than burying
Mr. Grischuk was not pleased with the holes the bishop on b1 he should have played it to
beckoning to black's knight. Black's kingside d1. ]
can be defended by ...Qc6-g6. 18...b6 19.f3 0-0-0 20.e3 dg8
½-½ 21.e2 d8 22.1d2 h5 23.g2 gh8
24.g5 This is a tactical blunder, but White
was already strategically lost. After all, how
47 B00 can he ever bring his rook on a1 into the
Grosar,Kiti 2210 game? xg5 25.fxg5 xe5!
Filipovic,Branko 2435 0-1
11th Open Ljubljana 2000
[Neil McDonald]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
36
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
39.c5+ b8 40.xd5 b6 41.c6 c8 f4 72.f6 e4 73.e7 d7 74.d2 b5
42.c1 1-0 Sermek,D-Minasian,A/Cannes 75.b4 d7 76.c3 b5 77.e6 c4+
1996. ] 78.f6 b5 79.g5 e8 80.d2 b5
[ 8.0-0 c6 9.e1 is a very logical plan that 81.f6 e8 82.h6 f5 83.g7 e6
led to complex play: e7 10.f1 c7 84.c3 h5 85.f8 d2
11.g3 0-0-0 12.g5 xg5 13.xg5 f6 ½-½
14.exf6 gxf6 15.e3 h5 16.xh5 dg8
17.c1 b8 18.b4 c4 19.e2 a8
20.f3 f8 21.f4 f7 22.g3 e7 49 B00
23.f4 f5 24.g4 xg3 25.hxg3 h6 Gulko,Boris F 2602
26.h3 b8 27.e2 c8 28.f3 g5 Lima,Darcy 2543
29.e3 g7 30.ce1 h8 31.xe6 xe6 I American Continental (7) 16.08.2001
32.xe6 gh5 33.e3 b7 34.e8 xh3 [Jon Tisdall]
35.gxh3 1-0 Tiviakov,S-Reinderman,D/
Singapore 1990. ] 1.d4 b6 2.e4 e6
8...c4 9.c2 b5 10.0-0 c6 11.b4 cxb3 [ 2...b7 3.c3 e6 4.f3 b4 5.d3 f6
[ 11...a5!? ] 6.e2 d5 7.e5 e4 8.d2
12.xb3 e7 13.e1!? A nice move that A) 8...xd2 9.xd2 ( 9.xd2 0-0
opens the way for the white queen and also 10.f4 e7 11.h4 f6 12.exf6 xf6
sends the N on a nice orbit - c5 and more 13.g4 c8 14.e5 f8 15.h3 c5
likely f4 are attractive squares. a5 14.xa5 16.h5 h6 17.g4 f6 18.h5 h6
xa5 15.d2 c7 16.d3 b6 17.f4 1/2-1/2 Dinescu,A-Tomescu,V/ROM 1993
c4 18.c1 Black's problem is that there is (18) ) 9...e7 10.g4 g6 11.e2 c5
no secure place for the king. g6 19.f3 a5 12.c3 a6 13.xa6 xa6 14.0-0 d7
20.h3 h6 21.f4 0-0-0 22.d3 df8 15.f3 0-0 16.e3 fc8 17.fd1 cxd4
23.a4 b4 24.cxb4 axb4 25.b1 b6 18.xd4 b8 19.f1 c6 20.f3 e8
[ 25...a5 26.xb4! xb4 27.b3 ] 21.d3 f8 22.h4 g7 23.1h2 f8
26.a5 24.g4 e7 25.d4 c6 26.e2 c5
[ 26.e3!? to gradually cut off b4 by using 27.g5 e7 28.f6+ h8 29.f3 h6
the c5 square was a serious option. ] 30.f4 c7 31.e3 e7 32.f3 c7
26...xa5 27.xb4 xb4 28.b3 c6 33.e3 e7 34.f3 1/2-1/2 Zetocha,C-
29.xb4 xb4 30.xb4 c7 31.f4 Tomescu,V/ROM 1993 (34);
[ 31.d3 b8 32.xb8 xb8 is reasonably B) 8...xc3 9.bxc3 e7 10.0-0 c5
solid. ] 11.dxc5 bxc5 ( 11...xc5!? ) 12.ab1
31...h5 32.fb1 a3 33.1b2 xc2 c7 13.c4 Now white straightens out his
This piece wasn't doing much - black should pawn structure while maintaining the more
just keep the Nc4 as white gets an initiative in act ive po sitio n . dxc4 14.xc4 d7
the sterile looking ending that arises. 15.a5 c8 ( 15...b6 16.b5+ c6 )
[ 33...c4!? ] 16.fd1 a6 ( 16...0-0? 17.xb7 xb7
34.xc2 b8 35.d2 xb4 36.xb4 a8 18.a6+- ) 17.d3 ( 17.b3!? ) 17...b8
37.h4 d7 38.h2 b5 39.d6 c6 ( 17...xf3!? ) 18.d2 Once the N gets to
40.b2 a4 41.c5 a5 42.f3 b5 43.a2 c4 black faces a grim defensive task trying
b7 44.g3 b1 45.f4 h1 46.g5 h2 to ever get active. 0-0 19.f4 g6 20.b3
47.d6 c6 48.c2+ b6 49.c7+ a7 a8 21.c4 d5 22.e4 xe4 23.xe4
50.a5 a6 51.d8 b5 52.h6 a6 b8 24.db1 xb3 25.xb3 b8
53.g7 b4 54.d2 c3 55.a5+ c4 26.d6 xd6 27.exd6 c4 28.e3 c5
56.xf7 xh4 57.xe6 xd4 58.xd4+ 29.e5 d7 30.xc5 xc5 31.c7 c8
xd4 59.f6 e3 60.xg6 f2 61.xh5 32.a3 f8 33.a5 b7 34.xa6 e8
xg2 62.f4 f3 63.f5 c8 64.e6 e4 35.a7 c5 36.a5 e4 37.e5 f6
65.g6 d4 66.f6 d3 67.d2 a6 68.c3 38.c5 e4 39.e5 f6 40.a5 d5
c8 69.g6 f4 70.d2+ e4 71.c3 41.a4 c3 42.f2 h5 43.f3 d7
37
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
44.c4 a8 45.a4 a7 46.a5 b7 47.a6 recommend the gambit course of the game.
a7 48.a4 xc7 49.dxc7 xc7 xd5 8.d2 ( 8.0-0 xc3 9.bxc3 bd7
50.e4 b6 51.e5 b5 52.a3 b4 10.a4 0-0 11.a5 h5 12.g5 xe2
53.a1 c5 54.g3 c4 55.a4+ b5 13.xe2 h6 14.f3 e4 15.a2 c5
56.a3 b4 57.a1 c4 58.h3 c5 16.d2 g6 17.f3 ac8 18.a3 fd8
59.g4 hxg4 60.hxg4 c4 61.g5 c5 19.axb6 axb6 20.b3 cxd4 21.xd4 e5
62.e4 c4 63.a2 b4 64.d4 d7+ 22.d1 d5 23.b5 c4 24.b4 d2
65.e5 a7 66.d6 b5 67.a1 b6 25.e1 b1 26.b2 bxc3 27.xc3
68.b1+ a5 69.c6 1-0 Rasik,V-Blatny, xc3 28.xc3 xc3 29.xb6 xc2
P/CZE 2001/The W eek in Chess 357/[J 30.xc2 xc2 31.b3 dd2 32.f3 g5
Tisdall] (69) ] 33.g3 g7 34.h3 h5 35.e4 d1+
3.f3 b7 4.d3 c5 5.c3 f6 6.e2 e7 36.g2 cc1 37.a3 f5 38.xe6 g4
7.0-0 c6 8.e5 d5 9.dxc5! This move 39.a7+ f8 0-1 Vatnikov,J-Gurgenidze,B
gives black some problems. bxc5 10.a3!? Bad Liebenzell 1995.) 8...xc3 9.xc3
c7 bd7 10.0-0 e4 11.xe4 xe4 12.xe4
[ 10...0-0 11.c4 f5 12.d1 g5 13.d6 xe4 13.e1 f6 14.f3 g6 15.b3 0-0-0
xd6 14.exd6 f4 15.xf4 gxf4 16.b5 16.f2 d7 17.b2 hd8 18.e2 b7
b6 17.a4 f7 18.c4 g7 19.xf4 19.f2 a5 20.a4 d5 21.g3 b4 22.c3
g4 20.h6 d4 21.xd4 cxd4 22.g5 c6 23.g4 f6 24.f4 h5 25.h3 hxg4
xg2+ 23.f1 a6+ 24.e1 g1+ 26.hxg4 f7 27.f3 h8 28.c4 b4
25.d2 dxc3+ 26.bxc3 xd6+ 27.c2 29.g3 c5 30.d1 g6 31.xe6 c2
xg5 28.xg5+ f8 29.g1 e4+ 30.b2 32.d2 xb3 33.dxc5 hd8 34.xb6+
b8+ 31.b3 e8 32.g8+ e7 33.g7+ c7 35.xd7+ xd7 36.d4 xa4 37.c3
f6 34.f7+ e5 35.f4+ 1-0 Jelen,I- c6 38.b5+ xb5 39.cxb5 d3+
Filipovic,B Bled 1999. ] 40.h4 e7 41.xf6 gxf6 42.xf6 d5
11.b5 b8 12.c4 db4 13.e4 a6 43.b6+ b7 44.f5 a4 45.f7 d7 46.g5
14.d6+ xd6 15.exd6 d8 16.d1 xe4 c8 47.f8+ b7 48.f7 c8 49.f6 c6
17.xe4 f6 18.d2 b7 19.b3 a5 20.a3 50.g7 d8 51.g8 b7 52.e8 c6
a6 21.f4 0-0 22.d3 a4 23.d2 d8 53.f5 a3 54.e3 a2 55.a3 d2 56.g5
24.b1 b7 25.b4 axb3 26.bxb3 xe4 f2+ 57.g4 xc5 58.b7
27.xe4 e5 28.e3 f5 29.xc5 xc5 1 / 2 -1 / 2 Mi kh a lc h is h i n , A -G u rg e n id z e , B
30.xc5 f7 Volgodonsk 1981. ]
1-0 7...e4 8.0-0
[ 8.d2 xd2 ( 8...xc3 9.bxc3 d7
10.0-0 f5 11.exf6 xf6 12.ae1 0-0-0
50 B00 13.xe4 dxe4 14.g5 e5 15.xe4 g6
Gunnarsson,Jon Viktor 2368 16.f3 he8 17.d5 xd5 18.c4 b7
Degraeve,Jean Marc 2540 19.c3 h6 20.d1 c6 21.fe1 a6
34th Olympiad (10) 07.11.2000 22.d2 g5 23.e4 e6 24.b3 xc4
[Neil McDonald] 25.xc6 xc6 26.xe5 xe5 27.xd8+
xd8 28.xe5 e6 29.xe6 xe6 30.f2
1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.f3 b4 d7 31.e3 c5 32.e4 d6 33.c1
5.d3 f6 6.e2 d5 About time for a quick g8 34.f5 h7+ 35.f6 xc2 36.g7
survey of this rather popular position in the 1. h5 37.f6 g4 38.f4 h4 39.g5 g3 40.h3
e4 b6 system. W e can see some serious e4 41.xh4 xg2 42.xg3 e4
names in this section, though we are still 43.g4 b5 44.g5 b4 45.f6 c4 46.h4
obviously in theoretical backwaters. 7.e5 a5 47.f5 a4 48.h5 b3 49.axb3 cxb3
[ 7.exd5 Has not posed black problems, but 50.e2 b2 0-1 Usachyi,M-Gurgenidze,B
it is not clear that the sharper path of the Biel 1994.) 9.xd2 c5 ( 9...xc3 10.bxc3
game is any better. In fact, looking at the c5 11.g4 0-0 12.h5 h6 13.h4 a6
games and stats, one can hardly 14.g4 xd3 15.cxd3 f6 16.f4 cxd4
38
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
17.cxd4 c6 18.f3 fxe5 19.xe5 xd4 c8 29.e3 g6 30.b1 f6 31.xe4 g2
20.g6 c2+ 21.e2 xa1 22.g5 f5 32.c5 d5 33.d3 d7 34.exf6 gxf6
23.c1 h7 24.e5 e8 25.g4 h5 35.f5 xh2 36.fxe6+ xe6 37.f4 g8
26.g6+ g8 27.g1 a4 28.xa1 xf4 38.e4 g4 39.e1 d6 40.ee3 f2
29.d4 c8 30.e3 c2+ 31.d3 c3+ 41.f3 d5+ 42.f5 xf3 0-1 Dahlhaus,F-
0-1 Seidel, A-Wornath,K Wiesbaden 1998.) Mueller,H Germany 1995. ]
10.g4 0-0 11.h3 h6 12.a3 xc3 [ 10...e4 11.e1 c5 12.c3 xc3 13.dxc5
13.bxc3 a6 14.xa6 xa6 15.0-0 cxd4 e4 14.xe4 dxe4 15.g3 f8 16.a3
16.cxd4 c8 17.d3 b8 18.fc1 c6 g8 17.c2 d7 18.fd1 c7 19.cxb6
19.b3 e7 20.a4 a5 21.d2 c6 22.c3 axb6 20.d2 c5 21.ad1 h6 22.d4
c7 23.c2 c8 24.ac1 h5 25.g3 f5 d3 23.d6 c4 24.b3 h7 25.f3
26.h3 e7 27.c4 dxc4 28.xc4 xc4 xa2 26.xa2 xb3 27.ad2 e3 28.xd3
29.xc4 d8 30.f3 b7 31.h2 g6 e2 29.e1 exd1 30.xd1 xd1+
32.g4 hxg4 33.hxg4 e7 34.g3 g7 31.xd1 c8 32.a1 d5 33.a7 g6
35.g5 d5 36.f3 e7 37.e4 g5 34.f2 c2+ 35.g3 b5 36.a1 b2
38.d6 f4 39.c8 h8 0-1 Shaw,T- 37.a3 b3 38.d6 b2 39.a3 b3
Fuller,M Sydney 1995. ] 40.d6 c4 41.f4 b2 42.g3 h5
8...xc3 43.h4 a2 44.a3 e2 45.d6 f6 46.c1
[ 8...xc3 9.bxc3 xc3 10.b1 c6 c4 47.exf6 gxf6 48.b1 a2 49.b4
11.e3 b4 12.c3 ( 12.f4 d7 13.g5 f5 50.c3 c2 51.d4 e5 52.b2 exd4
f8 14.d2 e7 15.a4 a5 16.b5 c6 53.xc2 d3 54.d2 e5 55.f2 d4
17.fc1 xb5 18.axb5 f5 19.g4 h6 56.g4 b4 57.gxh5 b3 58.h6 g8 59.e1
20.h5 e7 21.h3 g6 22.e1 e7 c3 60.h5 h7 61.f4 b2 62.d1 b1
23.f4 h5 24.g5 d8 25.g2 c6 26.bxc6 0-1 Simonet Pons,M-Gallego,R Escaldes
xc6 27.f5 e7 28.fxe6 fxe6 29.f4 f5 1999. ]
30.xh5 e7 31.g6 d7 32.c3 c7 11.g5 d7 12.f3 h6 13.h3 e7 14.f4
33.g4 c4 34.f4 c6 1/2-1/2 Gronn, A- h5 15.a3 a4 16.xe7 xe7 17.g4 hxg4
Ostenstad,B NOR 1992.) 12...e7 13.d2 18.fxg4 af8 19.h5 d7 20.f4 g6
a5 14.f4 c5 15.f5 c6 16.fxe6 fxe6 21.af1 gxh5 22.xf7+ xf7 23.xf7+ c8
17.h3 c8 18.g6+ d8 19.f7 cxd4 24.g5 c6 25.g6 e8 26.g7 g8 27.e7
20.xe6 c7 21.cxd4 xd4 22.f3 xe6 b4 28.g5 b7 29.f6 e4 30.xe6
23.xe6 d7 24.g5 c5+ 25.h1 xe6 e1+ 31.g2 f2+ 32.h1 f3+ 33.g1
26.xe6+ c8 27.f7 e8 28.xc5 bxc5 e3+ 34.g2 g5+ 35.f1 c1+ 36.g2
29.fxb7 xe5 30.d2 1-0 Boege,W- d2+ 37.g1 e3+ 38.g2 f2+ 39.h1
Gutmann,M Badenweiler 1994. ] f3+ 40.g1 c6 41.xg8 g4+ 42.f1
9.bxc3 xc3 10.e3 h3+ 43.g1 e3+ 44.g2 g5+ 45.f1
[ 10.d2 e4 11.f4 h6 12.g4 g5 f4+
13.h5 d7 14.a3 g8 15.xe4 dxe4 ½-½
16.d2 h7 17.c4 a6 18.fe1 g4
19.d5 f5 20.h4 exd5 21.e7+ c8
22.cxd5 xd5 23.ac1 b7 24.e3 ae8 51 B00
25.h4 xe5 26.ce1 f5 27.g3 xa2 Handke,Florian 2467
28.xe4 fxe4 0-1 Braennstroem,S-Wolf,S Poley,Vladimir 2402
Germany 1992. ] 34th Rilton Cup (4) 30.12.2004
10...c6 [Glenn Flear]
[ 10...h6!? 11.a4 c6 12.a3 e4
13.e1 g5 14.f4 f5 15.d2 a5 16.f3 1.d4 b5 2.e4 a6 3.f3 b7 4.d3 f6
e7 17.e1 h7 18.g4 h5 19.g5 f5 [ If White's primitive attack in this game is to
20.e2 h4 21.g2 e3 22.g6 xg2 be f e a re d t h e n Bla ck sh o u ld p la y 4...e6
23.gxh7 xe1 24.xe1 xh7 25.xe4 5.e2 f6 to get back to the standard
dxe4 26.g5 h6 27.f2 e7 28.c3 position. ]
39
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
5.e5 More aggressive than the usual 5 Qe2. 21.bxc5+ a7 22.d2 b8 23.a4 xc5
d5 6.g5! A strong move that is awkward 24.e3 e7 25.axb5 xh2 It's either this or
to meet. e6 r e s i g n i n g . 26.xh2 h8+ 27.g1 h4
[ After 6...b4 7.e4! ( 7.xh7? 28.f3 h2+ 29.f2 h4+ 30.e2
can be met by xh7! 8.xh7 e4! 9.xf8 1-0
xc2+ 10.f1 xf8 11.c3 g6 )
7...xe4 8.xe4 d5 9.0-0 I prefer
White. ] 52 B00
7.f3 e7 8.xh7 c6 9.c3 0-0-0 10.g5 Handoko,Edhi 2407
f6 11.exf6 xf6 Torre,Eugenio 2535
[ Alternatively 11...gxf6 12.xf6 xd4 2nd Dato' Arthur Tan Malaysian Open (3)
13.cxd4 b4+ 14.d2 xd4 15.e4 b4 [Glenn Flear]
16.0-0-0 didn't give Black enough for his
piece in Wallner,K-Humer,W corr 1989 ] 1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.f3 b4
12.xf6 xd4 13.xb7+?! Spectacular 5.d3 f6 6.e2 d5 7.exd5
stuff! White gets plenty of wood for the queen [ A reasonable try as 7.e5 e4 8.d2
by eliminating Black's active pieces. xd2 gives Black no particular problems. ]
[ M o v i n g t h e q u e e n w i t h 13.f4 7...xc3+
seems strong e.g. e5 ( 13...xg2 14.xd4 [ A number of strong players have opted for
c5 15.f4 xh1 16.e4 ) 14.d5 d6 recapturing with the queen. This is most
15.g4! e6 16.xd8 xd5 17.e2 commonly done immediately e.g. 7...xd5!?
xd8 18.0-0 ] 8.0-0 xc3 9.bxc3 0-0 10.f4 c8
13...xb7 14.e4 f7?! 11.fe1 c5 Bareev,E-Bauer,C Enghien-les-
[ I prefer 14...f3+ 15.gxf3 f7 Bains 2001 with a good position for Black. ]
which messes up W hite's kingside pawns [ Also possible is 7...xd5 although 8.d2
and threatens 16... Qxf3. ] xc3 9.bxc3 e7 10.0-0 d7 11.a4
15.cxd4 e8 16.c5+ b6!? gives White a small initiative. ]
[ After 16...xc5 17.dxc5 Black's major 8.bxc3 xd5 9.f4 bd7 Now it's 'Blunder
pieces can't generate enough immediate o f t h e w e e k ' t i m e . . . 10.xc7?? c6
t h r e a t s t o s t o p W h it e f r o m c o m p l e t in g The threats to the bishop and the queen's
development. The three pieces are rook (via c3) cost W hite a piece. An
probably favourite to outplay the queen long- astonishing oversight for a 2400-player.
term, but things remain fairly unclear. ] 0-1
17.b4 e5! Black must get his rooks into
action. 18.d5!? Rather daring to say the least!
I'm surprised that he didn't opt for 53 B00
[ 18.0-0 exd4 19.a4 when things are Hector,Jonny 2538
double-edged but Black's king is in some Gausel,Einar 2533
danger. Black's defence would then hinge ch-Nordic Aarhus DEN (3) 08.09.2003
on d6 ] [Neil McDonald]
18...xd5?!
[ 18...e4! comes into consideration, then (if 1.e4 c6 2.d4 e5 3.dxe5 xe5 4.f3
you d on't min d) I'd like to de scrib e th e Simple Chess. Johnny Hector has a great
position as 'unclear'! ] respect f or slightly of f beat openings and
19.e4! d4 20.0-0 xc5? d o e s n 't s e e k a n o u t - a n d - o u t r e f u t a t i o n .
[ 20...xa1! is really going into the lion's den Instead he relies on natural development to
but after 21.e3 a7! Black might be able yield a space edge. f6?!
to survive e.g. 22.b3+ ( or 22.xd7+! [ M i l e s u s e d t o l i k e t o f l i c k i n 4...b4+!
nobly continuing with the attack c5 23.bxc5 here, as to give White a choice. After
a5! 24.c6+ a6 ) 22...d4 23.xd4+ A) If 5.bd2 then White's development is
exd4 ] slightly gummed up. A recent game
40
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
41
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
42
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
43
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
easier to tolerate with more material on the [ 12.d5 leads W hite nowhere: after 0-0
board and greater chances to create 13.c4 d7 Black controls the important c5-
complications. 12.df3 xc1 13.xc1 g5 square and has excellent prospects. ]
14.h3 f6 15.g3 xh3 16.xh3 g4 17.h2 12...f7 Black has to waste a tempo because
[ 17.xg4!? hxg4 18.xh8 gxf3 19.xg8+ 13. exf5 was threatened, for example:
f7 20.g4! fxe2 21.f4 ] [ 12...0-0 13.exf5 xf3 14.fxg6 with a clear
17...gxf3 18.xf3 e7 19.e5 f8 extra pawn. ]
[ 19...xe5+ 20.xe5 ] 13.d5! This unexpected and well calculated
20.xf6 breakthrough in the centre of the board is the
[ 20.xh5+!? ] only way to fight for an opening advantage.
20...xf6 21.g5?! fxe4 14.xe4 exd5
[ 21.e2 ] [ Black has to accept the sacrifice, as quiet
21...d7!? continuations like 14...0-0 15.dxe6 xe6
[ 21...h6 ] 16.f5 intending f6 give White a strong attack
22.xh5 f5 23.e2 for nothing. ]
[ 23.g4 ] [ 14...xd5 was the alternative to the text,
23...g8 24.f4 e5 25.f1 exf4 26.gxf4 g6 but it's no better: 15.c4 c6 16.h3!
27.h7+ c6 28.h3 gf8 29.h6 8f6 ( threatening Ng5) xe4 ( forced) 17.xe4
30.d2 d4 31.c3 b5 32.b3 c6 33.cxd4 c6 18.d3! e7 19.ad1 with tremendous
cxd4 34.c1+ d6?? compensation for a pawn. ]
[ 34...b6 leaves white with progress 15.ae1! T h e p o i n t . d8 The only way to
problems - he has managed to pacify his avoid immediate loss. Such a move cannot be
extra pawn and repair black's structure on good, however it's best!
the queenside. ] [ The alternatives are hopeless: 15...dxe4
35.g5+- d5 36.e4 xf4 37.c5+ e6 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe4+ d7 18.xa8 ]
38.c6+ e5 39.h5+ 6f5 40.xf5+ xf5 [ 15...f8 16.g5! hxg5 17.fxg5 xf3
41.f6+ e5 42.xg6 18.xf3+ g8 19.e8# ]
1-0 [ 15...0-0 16.g5! hxg5 17.h3 g6
18.fxg5 g7 ( 18...c8 19.h6 f5
20.xf5 gxf5 21.e6 ) 19.xf8+ xf8
56 B00 ( 19...xf8 20.xg6+- winning ) 20.e6 f7
Ilincic,Zlatko 2545 21.f1 and White wins. ]
Filipovic,Branimir 2410 16.g3 Now it's clear that Black's idea has
Jugoslavija 1997 failed: for the cost of only one pawn White has
[Alexander Volzhin] a l a r g e a d va n t a g e i n d e ve l o p m e n t , a n d
Black's King feels very unsafe in the centre of
1.d4 b6 2.e4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.f3 b4 the board. c6
5.d3 f6 6.g5 h6 7.xf6 xf6 8.0-0 [ Black can't prevent Nf5 as 16...c8 fails to
xc3 9.bxc3 d6 10.d2! White should play 17.c4 ]
actively and try to exploit his development 17.f5 a6
advantage, otherwise he will have no [ 17...g6 18.h4 g8 19.e3 with a large
compensation for his weak Q-side pawns. advantage ]
[ Quiet continuations like 10.a4 lead White 18.g4 g8 19.e3! White simply doubles
nowhere: 0-0 11.a5 e5 12.e2 c6 Rooks on the e-file and prepares the decisive
13.a6 c8 14.d5 e7 15.d2 g6 penetration. f6
and Black was already slightly better in [ 19...c8 is no real improvement in view of
Liberzon - Larsen, Geneva, 1977. ] 20.h4+ d7 21.fe1 ]
10...g6?! A novelty of rather doubtful value. 20.fe1 c8 21.f3! Black has failed to
[ 10...e5 is the usual move here. ] coordinate his forces and now material loss is
11.f4 f5 This is the idea behind Black's unavoidable. f7
previous move. 12.f3! [ 21...xf5 22.xd5 f8 23.xc6+-
44
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
45
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
V Sochi 1986. A very entertaining game, 45.d3 b7 46.a2 c7 47.h2 a3
but practice seems to be correct that the 48.b3 c4 49.xh6 d5 50.b5 dxe4+
line is not objectively good for white. ] 51.xe4 exd4 52.cxd4 g7 53.d3 c7
12.g4 54.e6 c8 55.d5 d7 56.d4 c8
[ 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.b5+ ( 13.g4!? 0-0 ) 57.c6 d6 58.bxb6
13...c6 14.c4 0-0 15.f5 d7 16.h5 1-0
b5 17.b3 c5 18.dxc5 f6! 19.f3
( 19.xe5 c7 20.f5 c8 21.f4 h5 )
19...c8 20.xf6 xf6 21.xf6 gxf6 58 B00
22.d5 b8 23.f1 g7 24.b3 e6 Jamrich,Gyorgy 2225
25.c6 bd8 26.d1 f5 1/2-1/2 Maljutin,E- Bordas,Gyula 2186
Kramnik,V Sochi 1990. (55) ] FSIM November (2) 05.11.2000
12...g6? [Jon Tisdall]
[ 12...0-0 ]
13.f5 g5 14.f6 f8 A very ugly move, but 1.e4 c6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 ce7 4.g3
black is understandably concerned about the [ 4.f3 g6 5.e3 f6 6.bd2
state of his kingside after. W hite's lackadaisical development is far
[ 14...d7 15.h5 ] from most accurate. g4 7.g5 e7
15.a4 a5 16.b5+ c6 17.d3 d7 8.xe7 xe7 9.c4 d6 10.d2 0-0
18.ab1 d8 19.c4 c7 20.g3 Black has a very comfortable position -
Black's position is ugly, passive and ideas of breaking up the centre with ...c6 or
precarious. a6 21.e3 xd3?! . . . f 5 a n d kn i g h t s r e a d y t o wo r k o n t h e
[ 21...b7 is probably tougher, the bishop is kingside - white is not at all up to the task of
worth having to harass white's knight. ] trying to keep a lid on all of this. 11.h3 f6
22.cxd3 e8 23.c4 e6 24.d5 cxd5 12.d3 c6 Now that White has released
[ 24...e8 25.dxc6 xc6 26.b5+- pre ssu re on d 6 b la ck can p ry op en th e
black's queenside is going. ] centre while white stumbles back in panic.
25.e3 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.h2 d5 15.exd5 cxd5
[ 25.exd5 was simple and strong: 16.e3 b8 17.b3 d4 18.c4 e4 19.e2
A) 25...e8 26.f2 b8 27.xa5 c5 e3 20.xd4 exf2+ 21.xf2 e8 22.f3
( 27...bxa5 28.a7+ c8 29.xb8+ a6 23.d4 xc4 24.bxc4 b4+ 25.f1
xb8 30.b1+- ) 28.c6 a8 29.d4+-; c3 26.d1 e4 27.e1 g3+ 28.g1
B) 25...xf6 26.xf6 xf6 27.xb6 e3+ 0-1 Segura,J-Ong Chong Ghee
xd5 28.xd6+- ] Istanbul OL 2000. ]
25...b7 4...g6 5.g2 f6 6.c3 c5 7.a4
[ 25...dxe4 26.d5+ b7 27.xb6+ xb6 b4+ 8.c3 e7 9.b3 c6 10.d6 f8 11.a3
28.b1 c8 29.xb6+ a8 30.b5 b6 12.d2 c5 13.h4 h5 14.h3 b7
and white's attack should be decisive as the 15.g5 c8 16.b4 cxb4 17.xb4 a5
black rooks are unlikely to play a role in 18.a3 c6 19.b2 b5 20.0-0 b6
the rest of the game. ] 21.d1 g4 22.h1 f6 23.h3 b7 24.f3
26.xd5 c8 27.b5 c6 28.e3 a6 h6 25.e3 g8 26.ab1 h8 27.fd1
29.fb1 b8 30.h4 As black is thoroughly 8f7 28.e2 g5 29.hxg5 xg5 30.xg5
bound, white probes to win a pawn on the xg5 31.h2 g8 32.d5 f7 33.c1
o t h e r f l a n k . xf6 This prolongs the game xd5 34.xd5 xc3 35.bxb5 c6 36.d2
considerably. 31.xf6 xf6 32.f3 d7 c2 37.xa5 h4 38.g4 h8 39.d1 g8
33.xf7 gxh4 34.d5 xd5 35.xd5 c5 40.f1 h6 41.h1 xd2 42.xd2 c1
36.a1 43.e2 h3 44.h2 c3 45.ad5 h6
[ 36.xd6 xa4 37.c4 ] 46.d1 g7 47.5d3 c5 48.xh3 f7
36...d8 37.h2 b7 38.h3 c6 49.g3 g5 50.g2 e6 51.xc1 xc1
39.xh4 e6 40.b5 f4 41.d4 xg2+ 52.e3 c4 53.d2 f4 54.b3 c5
42.g3 e3 43.f3 c4 44.e2 c8 55.d1 e3 56.a4 e6 57.d3 g5
46
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
58.f2 f4 59.d2 h2 60.f1 h4 61.a5 [ 9.b3!? leads to great complications and
xg2 62.xg2 h1+ 63.g1 h3+ 64.f2 seems to me to favour white.
h2+ A) 9...e3 10.xe4 ( 10.e6!? )
0-1 10...xg2+ 11.f2 dxe4 12.e6 d6
13.e5!+-;
B) 9...a5 10.e6!? xe6 11.b5+
59 B00 B1) 11...c6 12.xe4 dxe4
Jansa,Vlastimil 2467 ( 12...xe4 13.xb7 ) 13.d5;
Hlavnicka,J 2305 B2) 11...c6 12.xa5 d3 13.g1 e3
Czech Extra League 2000-1 (2) 19.11.2000 14.f2;
[Jon Tisdall] C) 9...xf3 10.xf3;
D) 9...0-0-0 10.xe4 dxe4 11.d2
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 f5 4.c3 f6 5.f4 D1) 11...cxd4 12.cxd4 xd4
d7 6.f3 h6!? 13.c4! ( 13.d1? c6! );
[ 6...fxe5 This move seems to give white a D2) 11...e3 12.e6! ( 12.xe4?
freer hand, and seems inferior to me than a5! ) 12...e8
keeping the tension - I see no reason to D2a) 13.c4 xg2+ 14.f2 h4
liberate the Bc1 somewhat, nor lose control 15.d5 b8 ( 15...xd5 16.b6+
over g5. 7.fxe5 0-0-0 8.b4 e6 9.e2 e7 axb6 17.xd5 ) 16.e3;
10.0-0 h5 11.bd2 g5 12.b3 g4 D2b) 13.f2!? a5? 14.a3 c2
13.e1 e8 14.c5 g6 15.ed3 b6 15.xa5 e3+ 16.g1 exd2 17.xa7
16.f4 f7 17.a6+ b8 18.a4 xe5 c6 18.xd2 xa1 19.c4+- ]
19.dxe5 xc5+ 20.bxc5 e7 21.e3 h4 9...dxe4 10.d5 exf3 11.dxc6 xd1+
22.e2 h3 23.g3 g6 24.cxb6 axb6 12.xd1 fxg2 13.g1 bxc6 14.a4 0-0-0
25.f4 d3 26.b4 d4 27.f4 e4 [ 14...f7!? 15.xc6 d8 16.xg2 g6!?
28.f2 xa6 29.xa6 c6 30.a4 xe5 ( 16...e6 )]
31.a7+ c8 32.a8+ xa8 33.xa8+ 15.xc6 e6 16.xg2 c5 17.b4 b6
d7 34.xd8+ xd8 35.cxd4 f3+ 18.d2 e7! 19.g2 d5
36.f1 xh2+ 37.e2 f3 38.xh3 e7 [ 19...fxe5! ]
39.f4 xd4+ 40.xd4 xd4 41.c1 c5 20.f5! xc3 21.fxe6 fxe5 22.xd8+ xd8
42.b1 a4 43.xb6 xa2+ 44.f1 a1+ 23.g5 e8 24.d2!+- d4 25.c1 xa2
45.f2 a2+ 46.e2 f6 47.c6 a5 26.c2 e4 27.xa2 e3 28.c1 d8
48.f4 a2+ 49.e3 a3+ 50.d3 f5 29.h3 f8 30.g2 f3 31.g4 f4
51.xc5+ f6 52.c4 f5 53.f4+ g5 32.e2 e7 33.b5 c5 34.f3 g6 35.g5
54.e2 c3 55.e4 f5 56.e5+ f6 b6 36.e5 a4 37.d5 This game is also
57.e3 c2+ 58.f1 f5 59.e5+ f6 found in databases as Votava-Mikhaletz from
60.e4 c3 61.e2 f5 62.a4 b3 the same event...
63.e3 c3 64.a5+ f6 65.d4 b3 1-0
66.c4 b1 67.f2 c1+ 68.d3 g1
69.e4+ e7 70.g5 a1 71.g7+
1-0 Stucl,B-Vombek,D AUT 1993. ] 60 B00
[ 6...0-0-0 7.b5 e6 8.e3 ge7 9.bd2 Jobava,Ba 2705
e4 10.b3 f5 11.f2 a6 12.e2 h5 Oleksienko,M 2622
13.bd2 g5 14.fxg5 fxe5 15.dxe5 g7 Al-Ain Classic Open A 2013 (6.1) 24.12.2013
16.b3 xe5 17.c5 c6 18.a4 g4 [Glenn Flear]
19.b5 d6 20.d2 xf2 21.xf2 xf3
22.gxf3 e5+ 23.e2 e3 24.f4 xc3+ 1.d4 d5 2.c3 c6 3.e4 dxe4
0-1 Starcevic,A-Eklund,L Lidkoeping 1994. ] [ 3...f6 4.e5 d7 5.a4!? New and slightly
7.e2 e4 This manoeuvre leads to strange. ( after 5.xd5 Black has db8
fascinating early complications. 8.bd2 f5 6.c3 xd4 to regain the pawn. Then
9.xe4 7.e3!? is critical e.g. xe5 8.f3 d6
47
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
48
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
A) 7.a4 b5 8.b3 e6 ( 8...dxe5 9.d5 6...a6 After the game my opponent informed
a5 10.0-0 b7 is extremely unclear.) me this was the main move.
9.exd6 xd6 ( 9...xd6 looks rather more [ The Areshchenko game ran 6...g6 7.f4
logic al. P erh ap s B la ck wa s sca red o f g7
10.d5 but after a5 Black is still definitely A) 8.d2 f5 9.0-0-0 Immediately would
i n t h e g a m e 11.dxe6 xb3 12.exf7+ be a scarier way of playing, 10.g4 is a big
xf7 13.axb3 0-0 14.0-0 b7 threat. ( 9.g4 does not yet win the piece
gives Black extremely good typical due to dxe5 10.dxe5 xd2+ 11.xd2
Marshall compensation for the pawn, in when Black has the d4 square f or his
the shape of the two bishops and semi- knight );
open f file for the rook to attack down.) B) 8.b5 Again I'd be reluctant to play this
10.c3 f5 11.e4 d7 12.c3 move. W hite wants to decrease the
gave White a fairly comfortable advantage pressure on his centre but he then always
which the strong GM converted quickly in has to watch out f or t he c5 break . 0-0
Korneev-Guerreiro, Malaga 2009 1-0 (25); 9.xc6 bxc6 10.d2 f5
B) 7.xa6 is given as played by Ni Hua B1) 11.g4 is th e mo st f o rcin g dxe5
b u t s e e m s u n l ik e l y! I g u e s s t h is wa s 12.dxe5 xd2+ 13.xd2 b7!!
imp ut inc orrectly an d he also t ried 7 . ( 13...h6 14.0-0-0 would leave White
Bxc6; with an extremely comfortable
C) 7.xc6+ bxc6 advantage with the better pawn structure
C1) 8.0-0 f5 My guess is the Ni Hua- and the offside knight on h6) 14.gxf5 c5
Kristjansson game ran 9.c3 ( 9.e1 15.e2 a6+ 16.e3 ( 16.e1 b7=
was also played against Kristjansson by is Black's idea ) 16...h6+
Martin del Campo in the Beijing Rapid B1a) 17.e4 just favours Black b7+
tournament and after e6 10.g5 d7 18.d5 ( 18.d3 fd8+ ) 18...xd2
11.exd6 cxd6 12.d3 e7 13.c3 h6 19.xd2 xd5+ 20.xd5 ad8+
14.xe7 xe7 15.e4 0-0 16.c4 21.xc5 xd2 when I prefer Black
White was slightly for preference but the with the active rook on the 2nd rank.;
game ended in a draw.) 9...e6 10.g5 B1b) 17.g5 xg5+ 18.f4 h6
d7 11.h4 h6 12.xf5 hxg5 13.e3 19.e4 when White can claim a small
b8 14.c4 e7 15.e1 d5 16.d2 advantage;
c5 when the following moves are too B2) 11.0-0-0 b7 12.g4 c5 13.d5
garbled to decipher and although Ni Hua B2a) 13...dxe5 14.xe5 xe5
went on to win Black is doing very well at 15.xe5 d4 is the computer's top
this point, a sort of super-French.; suggestion but understandable not to
C2) 8.xh6 was a previous game of my tra d e o f f t h e d a rk squ a re d b is h o p
opponent's when after gxh6 a strange which is a good defender but Black
p o s i t i o n a r o se wh e r e B l a ck ' s p a wn seems to be doing ok as the direct
structure has been compromised hugely 16.h4? xd5 17.h5 xh1 18.xh1
but in return he has the bishop pair, fails to ( 18.hxg6 b7 seems to be
some open lines f or his rooks and a winning for Black too 19.g5 fxg6
potential break with c6-c5. Rybka slightly 20.xg6 e5!-+ ) 18...d6;
prefers White which is probably correct B2b) 13...d4 14.xd4 cxd4
but he has to be very care f ul or th e 15.xd4 c6?! ( 15...c5 had to be
bishops will come to live with decisive tried ) 16.b4! b6 17.xb6 axb6
effect. 1/2-1/2 Roy Chowdhury-Smirnov, 18.dxc6 xc6 19.he1 left White a
Parramatta 2009 (34) ] pawn up in Areshchenko-Kristjansson,
[ 6.xh6 It's tempting to worsen Black's Reykjavik 2009 although seems
structure but gives Black good counterplay premature to resign so I guess we're
gxh6 7.c3 g7 8.b5 when the lines will just missing the rest of the score. ]
be similar to 6.Bb5 ] [ 6...e6 7.d3 b4 8.xh6 gxh6 9.e4
49
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
g7 10.exd6 cxd6 11.b5+ e7 12.a3 18.g2 a4 19.xd5 b5 20.xg6
d5 13.d2 b6 was Haznedaroglu- 1-0 Caspi-Spence, Gibraltar 2008 ]
Kristjansson, Beijing 2008 0-1 (32) when 9...g6 I thought at the time that Black's best
14.c4! looks strong for White as c7 15.c5! was to try sacrificing a piece
dxc5 16.dxc5 xb5 17.d6+ e8 [ 9...dxe5!? 10.xh6! exd4 11.xf5 gxh6
18.xc7 gives White a decisive attack ] 12.e4 shouldn't be too difficult to convert
7.g5 though ]
[ 7.exd6!? is the computer's top suggestion 10.d5 d8
but a human doesn't want to give away his [ 10...xe5 11.f4 traps the knight in the
centre so easily although after cxd6 8.d5 centre of the board. ]
e5 9.xe5 dxe5 10.xh6 gxh6 11.f3 [ 10...b4 11.xg6 hxg6 12.a3+- ]
W hite's structural advantage is obvious. 11.f4 e6 again the only move to prevent
Nevertheless I prefer the game continuation dropping a piece 12.dxe6 fxe6
but it's probably only a matter of style. ] [ 12...xe6 13.xh6 gxh6 14.f5
7...f5 8.h4 d7?! We decided afterwards also picks up a piece but sets White more
that this was probably the losing move! practical problems than the game
[ 8...c8 is a definite concession but not so c o n t i n u a t i o n . e7 15.f3 0-0-0
easy to exploit 9.f4 Not forced of course This position should be an easy win for
A) 9...f5 10.xf5 xf5 11.g4 d7 W hite as long as he can get his king to
12.g2 Must favour White with his huge safety but Black has a surprising number of
centre but he has to play accurately or t ricks, f o r e xa m p le 16.fxe6 ( 16.d5!?
Black will dismantle it with a well timed g5 delaying the capture until the king is
o r h 5 b re a k . ( 12.d5 h6 13.h4 g5 castled looks like the strongest move here.)
shows it's not all one way traffic ); 16...fxe6 ( 16...xe6 17.d5+- ) 17.c4 d5
B) 9...dxe5 10.dxe5 ( 10.d5!? ) 10...e6 ( 17...b8 18.e2 ) 18.b3? ( 18.d3 d4
11.g4 xd1+ ( 11...f6? 12.xh6 gxh6 19.e2 b4+ 20.f2 should be good
13.f5 g8 14.e6 Black's pieces are a enough for W hite too) 18...c5! isn't at all
sorry sight) 12.xd1 g8 13.f5 d7 clear ]
14.g2 0-0-0 and Black has survived. 13.xg6 hxg6 14.d3 df7?!
White might regret his over-expansion. ] [ 14...f7 had to be tried although 15.e2
[ I r e m e m b e r h o p i n g f o r 8...d7? d5 Otherwise Qe4xg6 was coming 16.0-0-0
w h i c h a l l o w s t h e p r e t t y 9.e6! fxe6 gives White a huge position. Not only does
( 9...xe6 10.d5 also picks up a piece) h e h a ve t h e t wo b ish o p s a n d a le a d in
10.xh6 when Black cannot retake the piece d e ve lo p m e n t b u t h e e ve n h a s a b e t t e r
due to the mate on h5 gxh6? 11.h5# ] pawn structure. Black will have to watch out
[ 8...g6 takes a defender away from the for an f5 break or h4-h4 opening up the
vital e6 square. 9.e6! fxe6 10.xh6 gxh6 king. ]
11.xg6 hxg6 12.g4 g5 13.xe6 xd4 15.xg6 c6 16.f1 d5 17.f5 Immediately
14.g6+ d7 15.0-0-0 gives White great go in g f o r t h e kil l b4 18.d4 xc3+
play for the pawn ] 19.bxc3
9.g4 [ I had a pleasant choice between the game
[ 9.exd6 was played in a previous game or 19.xc3 xc3+ 20.bxc3 which should
which also resulted in a quick win for White. be a fairly easy ending for White ]
cxd6 ( 9...b4!? is an interesting try 10.c1 19...d7
exd6 ) 10.g4 ( 10.d5 b4 11.c1 [ 19...0-0 was necessary but 20.xh6 xh6
looks very strong for White as the knight is 21.0-0-0 followed by f6 and g5 and Black
trapped on b4 and so Black will have to play won't survive long. ]
with rook and pawn against two pieces, a 20.fxe6+ xe6 21.xf7+! xf7 22.f5
definite concession here.) 10...g6 11.d2 xg5 23.0-0-0 I don't have to take the queen
d5 12.0-0-0 g8 13.a4 a7 14.e1 e6 immediately:) e7 24.c5+ f7 25.xe6+
15.b6 d6 16.c8 b4 17.xa7 xa7 xe6 26.f1+ This line has been seen more
50
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
51
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
f7 33.d4 h7! with a balanced xe2 29.xe2 xg3 30.e8+ h7
position. ] 31.xf7 g2+ 32.e1 g3+ 0-1 Kercher,
10...db4 11.e4 f5 12.exf6 xf6 13.c3 P-Jaracz,P Bad Wiessee GER 2000. ]
e7 6...h5 7.d2
[ 13...0-0 is premature: 14.a3 a6 15.c2 [ 7.g4 g6 8.d3 d5 9.e5 e4 10.e2
intending b2-b4 with a clear edge. ] h5 11.g5 h4 12.f4 f5 13.g2 e7
14.a3 a6 15.b5 d5 14.gxh4 h7 15.g1 d7 16.c3 0-0-0
[ 15...0-0 16.f4 ] 17.c2 df8 18.0-0-0 a5 19.g4 c6
16.c2 20.dg1 c4 21.xc4 xc4 22.b3 d3
[ 16.xd5? doesn't work in view of exd5 23.e1 e2 24.4g2 c5 25.d1 c4
17.d6+ d7 18.xe7+ xe7 19.xb7 26.b3 e2 27.d1 a6 28.f3 xc3
c6 and White loses a piece. ] 29.bxc3 a3+ 30.d2 xa2+ 31.c2
16...d8! xc2 32.xc2 xc2+ 33.xc2 xh4
[ 16...0-0 17.cxd5 exd5 18.d3 34.h1 fh8 35.gh2 cxd4 36.cxd4 b5
with a clear advantage ] 37.d3 b7 38.e2 a5 39.f2 4h5
17.cxd5 40.f4 c8 41.d3 b4 42.e1 b6 43.h4
[ 17.e1 dxc4 18.g5 c5! ] a4 44.b2 b3 45.d2 b5 46.c3 b4
17...exd5 18.e1 xe2 19.xe2+ f8 47.xb4 xb4 48.d2 a3 49.bb1 b2
20.g5 It may seems that Black's position is 50.h3 c4 0-1 Mamombe,K-Medina
critical. However he has something in mind! Colindres,J Istanbul OL 2000. ]
c5!! 21.xh7+ xh7 22.xh7 7...e7 8.0-0-0 0-0 9.g4 g6 10.d3 d5
[ 22.xh7 a6 ( 22...a6 23.a4 xa4?! 11.e5 e4 12.xe4 xe4 13.e2 f5
24.c7!! is bad for Black.) 23.c7 f7! 14.exf6 xf3
Now Black is threatening g7-g6 or Rd7, [ 14...xf6 15.xe4 dxe4 16.e5 d6 ]
winning one of White's pieces. Here a draw 15.xf3 xf6 16.e2 a5!?
was agreed as both players were already in [ 16...e7 is safe and sound. ]
time-trouble. Generally, this line seems to 17.f4 e8 18.h4 c5 19.b5 b6
be rather unpleasant f or Black. In both [ 19...c4 20.c7 xd4 ]
Lautier - Miles and Kaidanov - Kengis White 20.c7 cxd4 21.xa8 xa8 22.d3 c4
held the initiative throughout the game and 23.b3 a6 24.a3 e5 25.g5 exf4 26.gxf6
Black had difficult problems to solve. So xf6 27.xb7 c8 28.g1 g6 29.h5 e5
undoubtedly we can expect new encounters 30.xh7+ f8 31.h6+ g8 32.h5 d3
in this line. ] 33.hxg6 d2+ 34.d1 h8 35.xh8+ xh8
½-½ 36.h1+ g8 37.g7 f7 38.xa7 xg7
39.xd2 f6 40.a4 d6 41.xf4+ e5
42.g4 e4+ 43.c1 xf2 44.h5+ d6
64 B00 45.d4 c5 46.b4 b5 47.c4
Karjakin,Sergey 2250 1-0
Heberla,Bartlomiej 2330
Artek ol U16 (4) 14.09.2000
[Jon Tisdall] 65 B00
Karpov,Anatoly 2725
1.e4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.d4 f6 4.c3 g4 Miles,Anthony J 2545
5.e3 e6 6.h3 Skara 1980
[ 6.e2 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d2 d5 9.exd5 [Alexander Volzhin]
exd5 10.e5 xe2 11.xe2 e8 12.xc6
bxc6 13.d3 b8 14.a4 d6 15.f3 h5 A sensational loss by the World Champion in
16.g3 e6 17.ae1 xg3 18.hxg3 xg3 such an "exotic" opening. 1.e4 a6 2.d4 b5
19.e2 g6 20.g2 h4 21.ff2 xf2+ 3.f3 b7 4.d3 f6 5.e2 This seems to
22.xf2 xg2+ 23.xg2 g5+ 24.f1 h5 be the most natural White set-up. e6 6.a4
25.b3 e8 26.c3 h4 27.e2 h3 28.g3 c5! 7.dxc5
52
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
53
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
67 B00 68 B00
Keskinen,Sauli 2292 Keskinen,Sauli 2292
Porrasmaa,Timo 2220 Salmensuu,Olli 2428
2nd HCC Helsinki FIN (8) 05.03.2002 2nd HCC Helsinki FIN (5) 01.03.2002
[Jon Tisdall] [Jon Tisdall]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.c3 f6 4.e5 d7 1.e4 c6 2.f3 f5 3.exf5 d5 4.h4
[ 4...e4!? ] This line doesn't get played very often, for
5.e6 fxe6 6.f3 reasons that will become obvious - almost no
[ 6.d3!? ] one can be expected to be prepared as white
6...g6!? A sensible novelty. in this variation. On the other hand, one might
[ 6...e5 is more common, despite its lack of argue that since it seems to win huge mounds
success. 7.xd5 exd4 8.c4 e6 9.g5 of material, it would get more off-the-cuff tests.
f6 10.e2 f7 11.f4 d6 12.0-0 d5 e5 Yee-hah! Please fasten your seat belts.
13.ae1 h6 14.xd5 hxg5 15.xg5+ g8 5.h5+ g6 6.fxg6 f6 7.g7+ xh5
16.g3 b5 17.f3 h6 18.f7 1-0 Golubev, 8.gxh8 xh4 9.xh7 d4 10.c3
M-Sergeev,V/Kiev 1995 (18). ] [ 10.g6+ d8 ( 10...e7 11.d3 f4
7.h4 g7 8.h5 e5!? 9.g5?! 12.xf4 xf4 13.c3 xc2+ 14.d1
[ 9.h6 f6 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.xd5 g4 b4 15.g3 d4 16.e3+- 1-0 Lalic, S-
and black's activity should give him Toll,A/open, St Heliers JER 1997 (71)) 11.d3
comfortable play. ] f4 12.f7 ( 12.g8 e8 13.xf4 xf4
9...xd4 10.hxg6 hxg6 11.xh8+ xh8 14.a3 e6 15.g3 xa3 16.xf4 exf4
12.xd5 f8 13.c4!? 17.bxa3 xc2+ 18.d2 xa1 19.e2 d4
[ 13.e3 ] 20.f3 d7 21.xa1 h8 22.e1 c5
13...f5 23.e4 f8 24.e5 d6 25.g5 b5
[ 13...b5!? 14.xc7+ xc7 15.f7+ d8 26.g6 e5 27.g7 f7 28.g8 c4
16.c3 ] 29.b8 a6 30.a8 c7 31.xa6 c3+
14.b4? 32.c2 xa2 33.h6 b3+ 34.c1 a7
[ 14.e3 ] 35.d1 xa3 36.h5+ d6 37.xb3
14...de6 15.d5 xb3 38.f5 b2 39.xf4 e5 40.f8 b4
[ 15.b5+? was probably the idea behind 41.b8 xf2 42.xb4 xg2 43.b5+ f4
white's odd 14th move, but it doesn't work: 44.h5 f2 0-1 Pavasovic,D-Gross,G/It
c6 16.xc6 xd1+ 17.xd1 a6 18.a4 open, III-IV 1995 (44)) 12...b4+ 13.c3 g4
c5-+ so now white is stuck with a terribly 14.g8+ d7 15.g7+ c6 16.g3 f3+
misplaced piece on b4. ] 17.d1 d4+ 18.d2 f3+ 19.d1
[ 15.f3 ] d4+ 1/2-1/2 Naiditsch,A-Doettling,F/
15...d6! 16.c3 c6 17.b3 a5 18.xe6 Dortmund GER 2000 (19). ]
xe6 19.c2 xd1+ 20.xd1 f4 21.e3 10...f5 11.xc7 g7
d3 22.e2 a4 23.c4 f4+ 24.f3 b5 [ 11...c8 12.b5+ xb5 13.xe5+ e7
25.xf5 gxf5 26.f1 14.xe7+ xe7 15.xb5 xc2 16.d4
[ 26.xf4 bxc4 ] b4+ 17.d2 e7 18.c1 f6 19.c3
26...e6 27.g4 f4 28.e4? The beginning d3 20.f3 d7 21.f2 d6 22.g3 b5
of a suicide run. f6 29.f5 f7 30.g2 23.he1 b4 24.a4 h8 25.g2 a5
g5 31.xc6 e6# 26.c5+ xc5 27.xc5 1-0 Sylbing,G-
0-1 Oudejans, M/Haarlem NED 2001 (27). ]
12.b5+ f8 13.c5+ g8 14.xd5+ h8
OK, now the main meal is over, and white is
the exchange and fully four pawns ahead.
Now the question is, can he just develop and
get his king to safety, or is he too gorged to
run? In this day and age we tend to believe
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
that we have the defensive technology to 17.h4 xf3 18.xf3 xf3 19.gxf3 xh4
avoid the kind of embarrassing defeats that 20.d2 f6 21.c4 h5 22.a4 a5 23.a3
our greedy chess forefathers suffered in the f4 24.e1 f8 25.e4 e7 26.f1 h5
golden age of sacrifices. But some people 27.b1 h4 28.b4 axb4 29.xb4 a8
clea rly re m em b er th e p o te n tia l p owe r o f 30.b5 f7 31.a5 bxa5 32.axa5 c8
ram pa nt d evelop me nt . 15.g3 gets a few 33.b7 e8 34.ba7 d7 35.a8 xa8
things out of his face and prevents ...Nf4, but 36.xa8 d8 37.g1 e2+ 38.g2 f4+
it does perforate the kingside. 39.h2 e7 40.c3 d7 41.e4 e7
[ 15.a4!? ] 42.g5 d7 43.e6 xe6 44.dxe6+ e7
15...e7 The threat of ...Nf4 looms again. 45.h3 c6 46.xh4 b6 47.g3 xe6
16.0-0 e4 17.d3 This gives me the creeps as 48.a6 c5 49.xc6 f5 50.c8 f6
it gives black a free hand on the kingside. 51.f8+ e7 52.h8 f6 53.h4 d4
[ 17.e2!? ] 54.f4 f5 55.fxe5 xe5+ 56.f3 g5
17...d8 18.c4 f3+ 19.h1 d4! 57.h8 f5 58.e3 f6 59.a8 e5
Bringing the last piece into the attack, and 60.f8+ f6 61.f4 g6 62.f3 e6
preparing the romantic finish. 20.b3 exd3 63.e4 e7 64.f5+ gxf5+ 65.xf5 f6
21.xd3 h4! 22.g2 g4 An interesting 66.h5 g7 67.g5 e5 68.g6+ f7
picture of initiative vs. material. 23.h1 d4! 69.h6 f6 70.d5 e7 71.h7+ f6
Black's attack is so dominant that even 72.h6+ f7 73.xd6 e8 74.e6 d7
[ 23...e1!? is an option. ] 75.xe7+ 1-0 Sarkar,J-Glinert,S New York
24.f3?! USA 2001. ]
[ 24.gxh4 to try and extend the game by 8.g3 c6
making black take the queen was probably [ 8...e7 9.0-0 ( 9.h4!? ) 9...0-0 10.c4 c8
the only move. xh4! continues to improve 11.c3 d6 12.e1?! d7 13.b4 a5
the position via attack, and the queen isn't 14.bxa5 xa5 15.a4 Black has again
going anywhere. ] achieved a kind of old-fashioned Spanish
24...xf3+ winning everything. 25.f2 xh1 with traces of a King's Indian. I am not sure
26.c4 xh2+ 27.f1 xg3+ An awesome how to assess this, but it looks playable and
display of the Daring spirit. obscure. White has lost a tempo with his c-
0-1 pawn, Black has fooled around with his light
square bishop. c5 16.b2 f5 ( 16...h3!?
17.g2 xd3 18.xd3 f5 ) 17.exf5 xf5
69 B00 18.a3 d7 19.b4 aa8 20.xf5 xf5
Koch,Jean Rene 2507 21.xc5 dxc5 22.g2 e4 23.xe4 xa4
Degraeve,Jean Marc 2589 24.xa4 xa4 25.e3 f7 26.f4 d7
vs Select GMs (3) 24.06.2001 27.a1 f6 28.a8+ f8 29.xf6+ gxf6
[Jon Tisdall] 30.g4 g7 31.xf8 xf8 32.h4 f7
33.f5 d7 34.e6 h5 35.h6 f8
The stem game is a rapid duel - this whole line 36.xd7+ xh6 37.xc7 e8 38.f4+
is in a grey zone - it bears resemblances to g7 39.g2 a4 40.c7+ h6 41.f4+
1...Nc6 lines, old Spanishes, Old Indians. In g7 42.e4 d1 43.e7+ g8 44.e8+
short, the kind of obscure, slightly g7 45.g6+ f8 46.xf6+ g8
disreputable openings we house here, which 47.e6+ f8 48.f6 d2+ 49.g1 d1+
aim to take the battle out of the books as 50.g2 c2+ 51.h3 g6 52.d6
quickly as possible. 1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 1-0 Kurniawan, B-Glinert,S New York USA
3.d3 f6 4.e2 c6 5.c3 e5 6.d5 e7 2001. ]
7.f3 g6 9.c4 b4+ 10.f1 0-0 It is probably more
[ 7...d6 8.g5 d7 9.a6 xa6 10.xa6 flexible to postpone castling a little bit.
h6 11.xe7 xe7 12.bd2 0-0 13.0-0 [ 10...cxd5!? ]
g5 14.b3 f5 15.exf5 xf5 and Black 11.h4 cxd5 12.cxd5 h6
has a reasonable position. 16.d3 f6 [ 12...c8!? ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
13.a3 d6 14.c3 e8 15.h5 f8 18.h6 e7 19.dxe5 Xie Jun-Spassky, B/
16.h4 Now White has annexed a bit too Tallinn 1998 White's a little better with the
much space. c5 17.f5 d6 18.b5 a5 pawn on h5 looking out of place. ]
[ 18...8d7 19.f3! ] 5.0-0 d7 6.f4 Kogan is in a belligerent
19.g2 h7 20.h4 c8 21.xe8 xe8 mood. Spassky reacts coolly.
22.f3 xf5 23.xf5+ h8 24.xh6 6h7 [ 6.c3 gf6 7.d2 c5 8.e1 e7 9.a3
25.e3 xe3 26.fxe3 a4 27.hh1 g8 c7 10.b4 0-0 11.b2 fd8 12.g3 f8
28.ac1 c8 29.hf1 c7 30.e2 c5 13.c1 ac8 14.e2 a5 15.h3 g6 16.e3
31.xc5 bxc5 32.g4 f6 33.c3 b8 g7 17.f3 b8 18.b1 a8 19.c1
34.f2 d7 35.c2 g5 36.f2 c8 a6 20.b5 b7 Shabanov, Y-
37.f5 b7 38.xa4 f7 39.c3 c4 Gaprindashvili, N/Satka 2004 ]
40.f2 e7 41.g3 c5 42.c2 b6 6...g6 7.f5?! He really wants to punish
43.h4 d3 44.e2 c5 45.xg5 fxg5+ Spassky for messing around , but it's here
46.xg5 d7 47.h4 f7 48.g5 g8 that the advantage of delaying ...Bg7 comes to
49.f2 f8 50.a4 d7 51.b5 f8 52.g6 the fore and 7 f5 is revealed as premature
d8+ 53.h3 d7+ 54.f5 d8 55.h6 aggression. gxf5! 8.exf5 e5! 9.g3 gf6
1-0 Black suddenly has an extra central pawn
which con ven ien tly co vers t he e f ile an d
threatens to move f orward at the earliest
70 B00 o p p o r t u n i t y . 10.c3 Kogan doesn't really
Kogan,Artur know what to do and lurches on with his '
Spassky,Boris V attack' exd4 11.ce4 e7 12.a4
Corsico 1997 Further indication that White is at a loss. The
[Andrew Martin] advance of the rook's pawn is easily parried.
a6! 13.e1 g8! 14.h5
We are about to see a masterpiece by Boris [ Black defends comfortably after 14.g5
Spassky. Black very instructively tinkers with for instance: e5 15.xf6 xf6
his opening move-order, trying to find the A) 16.xf6+ xf6 17.e4 0-0-0 18.e2
optimal way to reach a Hippo position. 1.e4 de8 19.xb7+ xb7 20.a5 b5;
b6 Yes, I know this isn't strictly part of my B) 16.h5 d7! 17.ad1 ( 17.h6 g5
brief but this is a very grey area and we soon 18.xg5 xg5 19.xg5 xg5 )
transpose to a Hippo. 2.d4 b7 3.d3 e6 17...c8 18.xf6 xf6;
4.e2 d6 Spassky is very fond of this move C) 16.h5 g5 17.h1 c5 ]
order. By encouraging White's Bishop to go to [ Maybe flicking in 14.a5 b5 was called for
d3 he figures that he cuts out some tricky lines. and then 15.e2 with a difficult game to
The overall idea is to go into a Hippopotamus assess. It must never be forgotten that Black
system but he plays ....d6, ... Nd7 before ...g7- is a pawn up! ]
g6. Note how effective this refinement is in 14...e5 15.h6 d7! Connecting the
this game. Black never need to play ....Bf8-g7 Rooks and Queen as well as getting the King
and uses the g-file later for attack! to saf ety. Such original play is typical o f
[ Developing the queenside first isn't the only S p a s s k y a t h i s b e s t . 16.hxf6+ xf6
way, as the following example shows, again 17.h5 g4 With the simple plan of ... Qe7
with Spassky at the helm. 4...g6 5.0-0 g7 and ...Rag8 and a massive attack to follow.
6.c3 d6 7.d2 d7 8.g3 Perhaps White 18.ad1 Kogan is running out of time and
s h o u l d h a v e p l a y e d f 2 - f 4 h e r e . h5!? moves. If he retreats his Bishop the Black
( 8...e7 9.f4 0-0 10.e2 a6 11.f3 c5! attack builds rapidly:
demonstrates how Black counterplay might [ 18.d2 e7 19.a5 ag8 20.g3 f3! ]
co m e a b o u t .) 9.h3 gf6 10.e1 0-0 18...h4 Now White is lost. 19.xf6+ xf6
11.f3 h7 Before Bg5 ties him down. 20.g5 xh5 21.xf6 g8 22.xe5
12.e3 e5 13.d2 e7 14.g5 xg5 xg2+ 23.f1 dxe5 24.xe5 hxh2
15.xg5 e8 16.c2 f6 17.ad1 h7 25.b5+ d6
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ 20.xf7+ g8 ( 20...xf7 21.xg5+ ) Partly due to the position being non-typical,
21.f8+ both relieve black of his queen. A and partly because the queenside structure
sadly typical game of this month's crop, allows white to play a4 quickly, when he is
where some interesting opening ideas fail to well placed to use the lines that open since
get a proper test due to some hair-raising there is no Nc3 being displaced by black's b-
blunders. ] pawn. c7 10.e2 c5 11.b3 b6
1-0 ( 11...e7 ) 12.a4 b4 13.d2 ( 13.g5!? )
13...bxc3 14.xc3 b4 15.ac1 xd3
16.xd3 e5 17.e2 h5 18.c3 g5
76 B00 19.d6 e3 20.d2 xd2 21.xd2 c6
Liasota,Evgueni 22.c4 e7 23.e5 f6 24.d6+ f8
Chetverik,Maxim 2315 25.b3 e8 26.fd1 f6 27.c5 xd6
Tenkes Kupa Harkany HUN (4) 19.11.2000 28.xd6 c8 29.cd1 f7 30.h5+
[Jon Tisdall] Jonathan,R-Dewachter,M Szeged 1994 (0-1,
60) ]
1.e4 a6 2.d4 b5 3.d3 b7 4.e2 f6 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 b4 10.bc3 xd3
5.f3 e6 6.0-0 c5 7.c3 c6 A line that has 11.xd3 b4 12.d1 e7 13.d5 b8
produced reasonable positions f or black: [ 13...exd5 14.e5 gives white good
8.e3 compensation. ]
[ 8.c2 c8 9.a3 b6 10.h1 cxd4 14.dxe6?
11.cxd4 a5 12.b3 b4 13.a4 e7 14.d3 [ 14.f4= White is about to go to pieces in
d6 15.b2 d7 16.d2 f6 17.f4 g6 spectacular fashion. ]
18.f2 h4 19.f3 0-0 20.h3 d8 14...fxe6 15.d4 d6 16.h3
21.f1 f5 22.b1 f6 23.g3 g7 24.f3 [ 16.g3 h5!? ]
e8 25.h4 h5 ( 25...h6 ) 26.g5 f6 16...0-0 17.g4?? h2+ 18.h1 xe4!
27.d5 exd5 28.e5 dxe5 29.fxe5 e4 0-1
30.f4 d2 31.d1 xb1 32.xb1 d4
33.xd4 xe5
A) 34.xe5! xe5 35.xg6 b2 77 B00
36.e7+ g7 37.e6+ f7 38.xh5+! Licina,Anita 2195
xe7 39.h4+! and the more knights Sucher,Johannes 2234
white loses the closer is victory: 10th Open Aschach AUT (6) 30.12.2001
A1) 39...f6 40.xf8 xh4 ( 40...xf8 [Jon Tisdall]
41.xb4+ ) 41.g6++-;
A2) 39...xe6 40.e3++- guards the 1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.a3 e7
last rank and wins the queen.; 5.f3 f6 6.e5 e4
A3) 39...f7 40.g5++-; [ 6...d5!? 7.xd5 exd5 8.b4?!
B) 34.fe6? xd4? ( 34...c2 35.g1 This only creates targets. d6 9.d3 d7
a8 ) 35.xd4 e7 36.g3 f6 10.0-0 f8 11.exd6 xd6 12.e5 e6
37.xb4 e5 38.xf8 xf8 39.e1 d5 13.c3 0-0 14.c2 g6 15.h6 g7 16.f4
40.f3 f6 41.e7 f7 42.xg6+ h7 f5 17.ae1 c5 18.e2 f6 19.bxc5 bxc5
43.g5 1-0 Szabo, Z-Chetverik,M/ 20.b1 ab8 21.e3 cxd4 22.cxd4 c6
Gyongyos 1998. ] 23.fe1 a4 24.f1 c2 25.xb8 xb8
[ 8.a3 cxd4 9.cxd4 b6 10.e3 e5 26.c3 e4 27.a5 b6 28.xb6 axb6
11.f2 exd4 12.bc3 d6 13.d5 xd5 29.c1 e6 30.c6 xe5 31.dxe5 f7
14.exd5 e7 15.xd4 c7 16.h3 xd5 32.a4 e7 33.b5 d4 34.c4 xc6
(1/2-1/2, 41) Praznik,N-Hechl,G Finkenstein 35.b3 a8 36.h3 xa4 37.d5 c8
1994. ] 38.g4 c2 39.f2 b5 40.e1 b4 41.d2
[ 8.h1 cxd4 9.xd4 This kind of position - b3 0-1 Holzmann, H-Portisch,F
Sicilian-ish but with a pawn on c3 instead of Balatonbereny 1996. ]
a N - often poses black some problems. 7.xe4 xe4 8.d2 b7 9.g4 0-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
has strong pressure on the f-file (f7 is the 46.e5! Liquidation to the Rook ending is the
main target), but Black's next two moves simplest way to draw here. f5 47.g4+
prove that this conclusion is far from accurate. xg4 48.xg4 Now the outcome of this
c5! 18.dxc5 f6! Black is seizing the exciting encounter is clear. Black's extra pawn
initiative by exploiting the unstable position of means nothing here. e5 49.f3 d4
White's pieces. 19.f3 50.b7 f5 51.g3 a5 52.d7+ c5 53.e7
[ 19.xe5 is the main alternative to the text. d4 54.d7+ e5 55.e7+ d4
c7 20.f5 g4! Black wins the exchange, It's premature to draw final conclusions about
but very precise play is required: 21.f3 the strength of Kramnik's 11... Qe7 because of
xe5 22.xe5 ae8! It's necessary to the lack of practical material. However I feel
drive away the strong Knight immediately, this move is definitely playable, and sooner or
otherwise W hite would obtain strong later it will become popular, especially if
counterplay: ( 22...xc5+ 23.h1 xc3 White manages to find something tangible in
24.f1 ) 23.d7 xe4 24.g4 e7 the sharp main line 11...exd4.
25.xf8 xc5+ 26.h1 xc3 with a clear ½-½
advantage for Black, for example: 27.f1
c6! 28.d1 xf8 29.d8+ e8 30.h5
g6 31.xe8+ xe8 32.c5+ g8 80 B00
33.xa7 e1+ 34.g1 e2 and White Mamedov,Nid 2602
can't mantain the material balance. ] Ipatov,Alexander 2590
19...c8! IsBank TCh-TUR 2013 (5.1) 03.07.2013
[ 19...xc5+ is not so good , as it allows [Glenn Flear]
W hite to escape: 20.h1 ad8 21.xf6
gxf6 22.g4+ h8 23.h3 h7 24.f5+ 1.e4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.f4 This anti-Owen's
g7 25.g4+ and Black cannot avoid Defence set-up is surprisingly popular and not
repetition. ] really covered in the books. e6 4.f3 d5!?
20.xf6 xf6 21.xf6 gxf6 In this endgame A strange-looking move, but Black has to do
Black is the exchange up and has excellent something about White's centre.
winning chances, although good technique is [ The Nimzo-style 4...b4 looks more logical:
required. 22.d5 b8 23.f1 g7 24.b3 5.d3 ( 5.e2 e7 6.d3 d5 (a pertinent
e6 25.c6 bd8 26.d1 f5! 27.d3 fxe4 moment as ...d4 is threatened) 7.d2 d4
28.g3+ f6 8.d1 xd2+ 9.xd2 0-0 10.e2 f5
[ In my opinion, 28...h7 was much more to 11.0-0 c5 12.e5 bc6 Gasik, P-Nguyen, P
the point, leaving White little to hope for, for Warsaw 2012, with easy equality) 5...d5
example: 29.xe4+ f5 30.d3 e4 31.xb5 6.d2 dxe4 ( 6...d4 is less clear in this case,
f4 ] due to 7.b5! xd2+ 8.xd2 c5 9.e5!
29.xe4 d5 30.c7 xe4 31.cxd8+ xd8 and d6 is weak) 7.dxe4 f6 8.b5+ bd7
32.h3 xc2 After this inaccuracy the win 9.e5 xc3 10.xc3 d5 Perez Pietro, C-
becomes problematic. Garcia Palermo, C Buenos Aires 2013, with
[ 32...g5 w a s b e t t e r : 33.g3+ f4 near equality. ]
and W hite can't mantain the material 5.b5+!? A strange move and a new one.
balance. The "active" 34.g7 fails to g6 [ Instead 5.exd5 exd5 6.d4 f6 7.b5+ c6
winning the exchange after a King march to 8.d3 e7 9.g4!? c5 10.e2 xg4
f6. ] (White has enough practical compensation
33.xh6+ g6 34.h3 d6 35.e3 b1 with Black's king so vulnerable) 11.g1 c4
36.e2 c6 37.b2 g6 38.a5 xc3 12.f5 h6 Jakubiec, A-Schandorff, L
39.xb5 c1+ 40.f2 c2+ 41.f3 xa2 Danish league 2012, with a complicated
Black has managed to win a pawn, but the struggle in prospect. ]
small number of pieces on the board promise [ Alternatively 5.e2 has been tried: dxe4
White good drawing chances. 42.c6 e4+ 6.xe4 e7 7.d3 h6 8.d2 c5 9.0-0-0
43.g3 a3+ 44.f4 e3 45.b2 d3 c6 10.g4 (again this ambitious thrust) c7
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
11.f5 (maybe a bit over-enthusiastic) exf5 knight on h7 is somewhat out of play! e5
12.gxf5 xf5 13.g1 Czakon, J-Jaracz, P 27.exf5!? Giving up the bishop, but forcing a
Chorzow 2013, and White didn't really have line which involves freeing the knight.
enough compensation this time. ] [ Otherwise 27.xb5 b8 28.d3
5...c6 6.e2 d4 Pushing back White's would be reasonable. ]
pieces. 7.b1 c5 8.d3 f6 It seems to me 27...xe2 28.f6+ e6 29.h3+ d6
that Black has achieved a fine opening. He 30.fxg7 xg2+? Caving-in.
has a lion's share of the centre, and is not [ Instead 30...xg7! is necessary: 31.xh6+
behind in development. However, I think this g6 32.f8+ e5 33.e7+ e6 34.g5+
type of position is easier for him if the dark- d6 and Black wriggles out. ]
squared bishops were already exchanged, see 31.xg2 xg2 32.g4! Threatening both of
4. . .B b 4 a bo ve . 9.0-0 e7 10.a4 c6 Black's pieces. f3 33.f6!
11.a3 c7 12.e1 Now the question is: [ Af ter the slack 33.g3?? Black has the
What will Black do with his king? Neither flank s t r o n g m o v e e7! and the knight doesn't
looks that safe, but Black needs to make a escape. Black even has the better chances
decision sometime. h6 here! ]
[ T h e c o u r a g e o u s 12...0-0! looks fine: 33...xg4 34.xg8 The bishop has to be
13.e5 a6 14.g3 e8 and I don't see given up for the g-pawn. f6 35.xf6 e6
anything concrete for White. ] 36.g8 xg8 37.xg8 c4 38.xh6 d5
13.e5!? a6 39.f2 b4 40.f5 c3 41.bxc3 It's all over.
[ I t ' s r i s k y t o c a p t u r e o n e 5 : 13...xe5 1-0
14.fxe5 d7 ( 14...xe5?? 15.f4 )
15.b5 b8 16.g3 with a strong initiative
for White. ] 81 B00
14.g3 g8 A committal move, but Ipatov Martinovic,Sa 2537
obviously didn't fancy castling short. Stevic,H 2620
[ After 14...0-0 15.d2 h7 16.ae1 ch-CRO 2014 Porec CRO (1.5) 03.02.2014
I can't see a clear plan for Black, but there [Glenn Flear]
a g a i n , W h i t e d o e s n ' t h a ve a n o b vi o u s
breakthrough. So maybe this was the way 1.d4 c6 2.e4 d5 3.e5 f5 4.f3 e6
forward. ] 5.e2 f6
15.ac4 b5 16.xc6 xc6 17.e5 b7 [ The following is quite innovative: 5...ge7
Now White trades on the a-file, so that Black 6.0-0 h6 7.e1 g5! I like this plan. With a
can't run away with ...0-0-0. 18.axb5 axb5 closed centre advancing the g-pawn like this
19.xa8+ xa8 20.f5!? can be annoying for W hite. 8.c3 g6
[ Opening shop on the other front is plausible, 9.a3!? A cont roversia l choice . xa3
for example 20.d2 b7 21.c3 as if lines 10.bxa3 a5 11.a4 e7 12.g3 g4
start to open, then Black's king and king's 13.d2 h5 14.f1 0-0-0
rook could well prove to be the wrong way Getz, A-Gelashvili, T Dallas 2013, with
round. ] dynamic play. ]
20...d6? [ T h e d i r e c t 5...b4 forces White's next
[ Less dangerous would be 20...exf5 21.xf5 move 6.a3 whereupon Black can attack
b7 ] the centre in thematic style: c5 7.c3 c6
21.f4 Now matters are tricky because of (this looks similar to certain lines of the
potentially dangerous discovered checks Advance Caro-Kann) 8.dxc5 xc5 9.b4
along the diagonal. exf5 22.g4! A strong b6 ( after 9...e7 10.0-0 c8 11.b5 a6
blow. xe4 12.bd4 xd4 13.xd4 g6 14.d2
[ Black's king is about to be cut down after h6 chances are balanced. Capturing on h6
22...xg4 23.xd6 d7 24.xc5 ] would allow Black to become 'ruler of the
23.dxe4 xf4 24.f6+ f8 25.h7+ e7 d a rk s qu a r e s ' .) 10.b5 Abravanel, C-
26.xf4 White has an extra piece, but the Forthoffer, P French league 2006, and now
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Black should probably accept the need to 12...xe2 13.xe2 xb2 14.ab1 bxc6
d e f e n d d 6 w i t h c7 with an acceptable 15.xb2= ]
position. ] 13.xf2 c5+ 14.e1 xe2 15.xe2 bxc6
[ The idea of 5...e7!? is also to get the g- Phew! After all that, we can calm down and
pawn advancing: 6.0-0 g5!? 7.e1 d7 notice that material is about equal. It's not
8.c3 0-0-0 9.b4 f6 10.a4 a6 clear who has the better minor piece, and
( w i t h d o u b l e - e d g e d p l a y ) 11.b5?! White's passed, but isolated, e-pawn could
Over-optimistic. a7 12.exf6 xf6 13.a3 turn out to be either a strength or a weakness.
McShane, L-Speelman, J Blitz 2000, and 16.d3 f8 17.hf1 d7 18.b3?!
now Houdini suggests f8! with an edge for The knight isn't great over here, but it isn't yet
Black, as White's attacking pretensions are a problem.
stymied. ] [ Better is 18.f3!?= with the idea of bringing
6.e3 over the other rook to help protect both the
[ Feller angles to hold onto his e5-pawn f-file and the e-pawn. ]
wedge by supporting it with his bishop: 6.f4 18...f2! To thwart ideas of R-e1, supporting
ge7 7.g3 fxe5 8.dxe5 g6 9.bd2 the e-pawn. 19.c4?!
c5 10.0-0 0-0 11.c3 b6 12.e1 ce7 [ 19.ad1 e6 20.d2 is a better way
13.b4 Stopping Black expanding on the when Black isn't able to achieve anything
queenside. c6 14.d4 d7 15.2b3 e4 concrete, as c5 can be met by 21.c4!= ]
16.f3 f5 17.f1 h5 18.d2 Feller, S- 19...ae8 20.d2 xe5 21.f3 dxc4+
Bricard, E Caen 2011, and W hite's grip [ Although 21...e3+?! looks like a blunder,
earns him a pull. ] (with 22.d2 in mind) Black rescues himself
6...fxe5 This is already a novelty! with exf3 23.gxf3 d4 with reasonable
[ Black tried 6...g4 without capturing on e5 compensation. However, the game
in the following: 7.bd2 ge7 8.exf6?! continuation is clearly a better try for an
Giving away the centre like this doesn't yield advantage. ]
a n y a d v a n t a g e . ( keeping the tension (and 22.xc4 c5+ 23.d3 d5+ 24.c2 c5
space edge) with 8.0-0 looks better) 8...gxf6 25.ae1 Black has an extra pawn, but
9.h4 xe2 10.xe2 h5! 11.b3 d6 naturally his queenside structure could be
12.c5 b6 13.d3 e5= Scheeff, V-Taeger, better! f4 26.b3 d6 27.d2 df5
W German league 1999. ] 28.xf4 xf4 29.f3 g5 30.h3 h5 31.e4
7.dxe5 g4 8.bd2 ge7 9.g5!? Martinovic builds a light-squared fortress
[ A better try for an opening pull is 9.h3 h5 which will be tough to overcome, as there is
10.0-0 when a later ...Nf5 could be met with n o e v i d e n t w e a k n e s s i n h i s c a m p . c5+
B-f 4, when g2-g4 is a threat. Of course 32.d3 d5+ 33.d4 The trade of rooks isn't
Black can capture on f3, but I prefer White if a problem unless White is forced to capture
he obtains the bishop pair. ] on d5 straightening out Black's structure. d6
9...f5!? A surprise. 34.e4 e6
[ Also possible is 9...xe2 10.xe2 d7= [ After 34...xd4+= White could recapture
when White has more space, but Black is either way. It's hard to imagine that he is
not particularly inconvenienced as his pieces worse. ]
will all find good squares (N on f5, B on e7, 35.a4 a5 36.d4+ d7 37.c4 e5+
f-file for the rooks). ] 38.f3 e3+ 39.f2 d3 40.f3
10.xe6 [ 40.xc6?! would unnecessarily give Black
[ B l a c k is b e t t e r a f t e r 10.xg4 xe3 some winning chances with d2+ 41.f3
11.fxe3?! xg5 ] xa2 ]
10...xe3 11.xd8 xd1 12.xc6 40...d6 41.e2
[ Or 12.xg4 xf2!? 13.xf2 ( 13.xc6? [ Again 41.xg5 is plausible, but again there
xg4 ) 13...xd8= ] is d2+ ]
12...xf2!? 41...d5 42.e4 c5 43.d3 f5 44.e2
[ Another way to a satisfactory game is with g3 45.d3 c8 Trying his luck on the
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[ 6...f6 7.g5 e7 ( 7...bd7 [ Now that Black has safely castled the move
avoids white's tricky concept.) 8.b5+ c6 16...xb4! is a more serious proposition e.g.
9.xf6 xf6 10.xd5 ] 17.c5 bxc5 18.dxc5 f4! as after ( not
7.g3 f8 8.b5 18...xc5? 19.dc1 d6 20.xf6 xf6
[ 8.f4!? ] 21.xb4 ) 19.xf6 gxf6 20.d7 xd7
8...a6! 9.xc7 a7 10.f4 c6 11.0-0-0 21.xd7 c4 Black seems to be OK. ]
[ 11.f3 f6 ] 17.a3 b8 18.e1 fe8 19.bd1 c6
11...g5 12.e5 xe5 13.xe5 f6 14.g3 Preparing ...b5 in order not to stay too
c8 Black crowns his original opening play passive. 20.c2 b5 The idea is to fix White's
by winning material. 15.xa6 xa6 16.xa6 pawns on dark squares (rendering W hite's
xa6 17.d3 a7 18.e2 h5 19.he1 e7 bishop impotent) and gaining control of d5.
20.b5 h6 21.b4 h4 22.b1 g7 23.f4 21.c5 c7 Preparing ...Rd5 which would give
g4 24.c1 xe1 25.xe1 e7 26.d2 him a satisfactory position. Instead after
f5 27.c3 d7 28.d3 d6 29.e5 f5+ [ 21...d5 22.e5 d7 Black will have
30.a2 e4 31.e3 xe5 32.dxe5 c6 problems to capture on e5 without exposing
33.d4 c5 34.e6+ f6 35.e7 xd4 his queen. ]
36.cxd4 c8 37.c1 e8 38.c6 xe7 22.d5! One way of avoiding the blockade!
39.xb6 d2 40.a4 e2 41.a5 c4 White's better harmonized pieces now come
42.b5 xa5 43.xa5 xg2 44.xd5 f6 to the fore despite the loss of a pawn. xd5
45.h5 xh2 46.d5 g3 47.d6 f7 48.h7+ [ 22...exd5 23.xf6 gxf6 24.xf5
e8 leaves Black under pressure with broken
0-1 kingside pawns and White's intended Nd4
will further strengthen the bind. ]
[ The immediate 22...cxd5 23.xf6 gxf6
87 B00 24.d4 c8 gets into hot water as 25.c6
Morozevich,Alexander 2717 threatens a decisive fork. ]
Chernyshov,Konstantin 2531 23.xd5 cxd5 24.xf6 gxf6 25.d4 c8
TCh Sochi RUS (7) 25.04.2005 26.c6 The extra pawn is a minor detail, Black's
[Glenn Flear] position is a shambles. Just look at the knight!
e5?
1.e4 e6 2.d4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.d3 f6 [ 26...c7 27.c5 f7 would be a better
5.e5 e4 6.0-0 f5 chance. ]
[ Another idea is to wait one tempo with 27.c7 f4
6...e7 before deciding between ...f5 or ...d5 [ Saving the piece with 27...d7 is hopeless
e.g. 7.c4 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.e1 d7 after 28.xf5 e6 29.d1 ]
10.c3 xc3 11.bxc3 f8 12.d2 e6 28.cxb8 xb8 29.c6 d8 30.e6 c8
13.f1 g6 14.f4 h5 15.f5! gxf5 16.g3 31.c7 d8 32.c1 f7 33.f3 d4 34.xa6
with an edge to White in Wells,P-Blatny,P d3 35.xb5 d2 36.c4+ g6 37.d1 d7
Puvermuehle 2000 ] 38.e4+ h6
7.xe4 xe4 8.c4 c6 9.g5 [ For the record, 38...f5 regains the piece but
[ 9.c3 is well met by xf3 when White after 39.xe5 xc7 40.xd2 the result
wo u ld h a ve t o m ake t he co nce ssio n o f remains the same. ]
capturing with the pawn. ] 39.f5 xc7 40.xf6+ h5 41.g4+
9...xb1 10.xb1 e7 11.f3 d5 12.exd6 Black is in a mating net.
xd6 13.b4 d8 1-0
[ It would be foolhardy to play 13...xb4?
14.a4+ f8 ( 14...c6 15.xb4 ) 15.c5
bxc5 16.dxc5 xc5 17.a3 b8 18.fc1
b5 19.xb5 xb5 20.xc7 and Black is
in serious trouble. ]
14.b2 f6 15.a4 0-0 16.fd1 a6!?
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[ 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.f4 g6 13.0-0 0-0 below may help. After reviewing the
14.e1 d5 Black has a sensible and fully possibilities following W hite's 4th move my
playable position - solid, central presence recommendation is that Black should
and the b- and e-files for active counterplay. immediately decide what to do with his king's
15.f2 b8 16.ab1 e8 17.b4 c7 bishop. Either continue with 4...g6 as Spassky
18.d4 ab8 19.b5 cxb5 20.xb5 xb5 did with a hippopotamus-style development in
21.xb5 d8 22.e2 b4 23.b5 xc2 mind or more directly with 4...Bb4 5 Ne2 Nc6
24.f5 e4 25.e3 f8 26.a3 d2 or even 5...Ne7. 1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d3
27.h3 a6 28.g4 h6 29.d1 d2 [ White can also consider the cautious 3.c3
30.xg7 xg7 31.f6 xf6 32.xf6 axb5 e6 4.a3 but an extra tempo for Black in a
33.f1 d4+ 0-1 Koelle,A-Storm,R/ French with .. .Nf6 and ...d5 or a Modern/
Germany 1991/GER-chT2 (33) ] Hippo with ...g6 can't be bad. ]
11...g6 12.d2 a6 13.a4 0-0 14.0-0 d7 3...e6 4.c3 g6
15.h3 ae8 16.g4 d8 17.f5 Something is [ I don't like 4...f6?! 5.ge2
wrong with a position when trouble is caused A) 5...c5 6.d5 a6 7.a4 exd5 8.exd5
xd5
b y t h e b lu n t e s t m e a n s a t a n o p p o n e n t ' s 9.xd5 xd5 10.f4 e6
disposal. e7 18.f2 e4 This loses ( 10...e7+ ) 11.e4 a7 12.0-0 e7
material. 13.a3 was indeed dangerous for Black,
[ 18...e5 19.a5!? ( 19.g5 fd7 Speelman,J-Basman,M British ch. 1984;
20.h4!? )] B) 5...d5 6.e5 fd7 7.f4 e7
19.xe4 xe4 20.fxg6 xe2 21.gxf7+ Peters,J-Sahovic,D Lone Pine 1977 as
xf7 22.ae1! A nasty tactic. xf2 8.g4 looks unpleasant. ]
[ 22...xd2 23.xe8+ f8 24.xf8+ xf8 [ I personally prefer 4...b4 which the reader
25.e3++- ] a s s o c i a t e s wit h S o lt i s b u t a f t e r 5.ge2
23.xe2 fxe2 24.f4 Threatening mate to play
and the d-pawn. If white had taken the d-pawn, A) 5...d5?! 6.0-0 is a safe edge for
I do not see what would have prevented him White;
from winning. f6 25.g5 B) Othe rwise Black could try 5...e7!?
[ 25.xd6 xc2 26.g5 d4+ ( 26...xg5 6.a3 xc3+ 7.xc3 d5 8.e5 a6!?
27.d7+- ) 27.h1 ce2 28.f4 ] in French-style as in Vigliraki,M-
25...2e4 26.f3 Khetsuriani,B Agios Kyrikos 2000;
[ 26.xd6 xg5 27.g2!? ] C) 5...c5?! 6.a3 xc3+ but ( 6...a5
26...d4+ 27.h1 4e7 Now black can looks less natural, Black can double the c-
make fortress faces. He survives, but narrow pawns and hope the bishops don't get too
escapes against lower rated opposition is not lively ) 7.xc3! favours White ( 7.bxc3 d6
the best PR for this subvariation. 28.c3 e5 doesn't look bad. );
29.h4 g6 30.h5 g7 31.hxg6 hxg6 D) 5...c6!? 6.e3 e5! I prefer this to
32.d3 e4 33.f3 4e7 34.d3 e4 ( 6...f6?! 7.a3 or; 6...ge7 ) 7.d5 ce7
35.f3 4e7 36.d3 with chances for counterplay based on
½-½ either . ..f5, or ...c6 or even just simply
piece-play e.g. 8.a3 ( 8.0-0 f5!? ) 8...c5
9.d2 g6 10.b4 e7 11.c1 h6
95 B00 intending ...Bg5 and then if 12.g3 simply
Owen's with Nge2 f6 followed by ...c6. This dynamic
N,N handling reminds me of 1 e4 Nc6 2 d4 e5
[Glenn Flear] 3 d5 Nce7 etc. ]
5.ge2
I n a n s we r t o Mich a e l A yt o n 's qu e ry wh o [ A couple of more recent encounters may
wanted to know how Black should develop give food for thought: 5.f3 g7 6.g5
against W hite's Bd3, Nc3 and Nge2 set-up e7 7.d2 h6 8.h4 d6 9.g4 d7
against the Owen's Defence, I hope the lines 10.0-0-0 a6 11.b1 b5 Toth,Ch-Lima,D
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file or the possibilities to play ...e5 earlier. 11...g6 12.c4 White adopts a non-
By suddenly centralizing, black in f act is confrontational war of nerves approach. Again,
p l a y i n g r a t h e r p a s s i ve l y . 21.a4 b8 this makes the game of interest for how the
A sign that things have gone wrong. 22.b5 c5 position is played, rather than any critical test
23.b3 e4 24.e3 Now f3 comes with of black's setup. g4 13.fd2 g5 14.a4 h5
considerable force. f8 25.f3 f4 26.fxe4 15.e3 To prevent ...h4-g3. 0-0-0 16.a5 f5
xg4+ 27.h1 h8 28.a2 dxe4 29.g2 17.axb6 axb6 18.d5 xb2 19.xb2
f4 30.dxc5 d5 31.d2 [ 19.dxe6 c3 20.exd7+ xd7 and white
1-0 will obviously be under attack if he takes the
f5 pawn. ]
19...exd5 20.xd5 c5
97 B00 [ 20...fxe4 21.c4 xd5 22.cxd5 xd5
Pein,Malcolm 2424 to grab a pawn deserved serious attention -
McShane,Luke J 2480 t h e l a c k o f a wh i t e s q u a r e d b i s h o p i n
Norkom European Masters (6) 26.11.2000 defence means risks of course, but black
[Jon Tisdall] looks quite solid here to me, and white's
pieces are not terribly well coordinated. The
1.d4 b6 2.e4 b7 3.d2 e6 4.gf3 d6 game does not seem particularly safer at
5.d3 g6 6.b3 all. ]
[ 6.0-0 g7 7.e1 e7 8.f1 h6 9.c3 21.c4 e5 22.a2 de8 23.a1 hg8
This quiet system with Re1 and c3 was 24.b4
Geller's standard treatment of Modern/Pirc [ 24.exf5!? xf5 25.a8+ xa8
positions, and he just outplays his opponent ( 25...d7!? 26.xe8 xe8 27.b4 )
without making any real theoretical 26.xa8+ d7 27.a7 e6 28.c5! ]
statement. d7 10.g3 It is probably worth 24...xe4 25.xe4 Natural once one notices
noting that Geller's unassuming setup does the possibilities based on ...Nf3+, but maybe
rule out the trendy plan of ...g5 by sending a that was worth allowing anyway:
N round to hop into h5 if needed. a6 11.f4 [ 25.xe4!? fxe4 26.xe4 xd5
e5 12.e3 0-0 13.d2 h7 14.ad1 e8 and black wins material by avoiding though
15.h4 g8 16.h5 gf6 17.hxg6+ fxg6 the position remains messier than expected
18.h2 f7 19.b3 ae8 20.d5 e7 after ( 26...f3+ 27.h1 xe4 28.f6
21.b4 f7 22.c1 a8 23.c4 a5 24.a3 b8 29.d7+ c8 30.f6= ) 27.f4!? gxf3
ff8 25.b1 axb4 26.axb4 a7 27.a1 28.cxd5 ]
fa8 28.b2 f8 29.e2 h5 30.c3 25...fxe4 26.xe4 d8 27.ef6
f4 31.f1 xa1 32.xa1 f6 33.g3 [ 27.a8+ xa8 28.xa8+ d7 29.ef6+
4h5 34.c5 bxc5 35.bxc5 xa1 36.xa1 e6 ]
dxc5 37.a7 c8 38.xc5 e8 39.a3 27...b8 28.b5 h4 Now it is distinctly white's
hf6 40.f3 d7 41.h3 c6 42.e7 king that is the less secure. 29.xe8 xe8
cxd5 43.xd5 c6 44.b2 a8 45.a2 30.a3 g5 31.e3 f8 32.e1
b7 46.b1 a8 47.g2 e6 48.a3 Bolstering the kingside - white's main problem
df6 49.h4 a6 50.e7 e6 51.a3 is his position is rather passive. The Nd5 is
a6 52.b2 d7 53.c2 a2 54.c8 pretty but it is really mostly serving a blocking
xd5 55.exd5 xb2 56.e4 f8 57.xe8 role, and it is far unsteadier than the Ne5.
a1+ 58.g2 a6 59.e7 f6 60.d6 W hite must also be on guard against the
g5 61.f7 f6 62.c7 e6 63.xg6+ softening thrusts g3 or h3.
h8 64.e7 g8 65.f5 d4 66.e8+ [ 32.b4 g3 ]
f8 67.d7 f6 68.g6 1-0 Geller, E- 32...f5
Vasiljevic,D/Pancevo 1987/TD (68) ] [ 32...xc4 33.e8+ xe8 34.xe8+ a7
6...g7 7.b2 e7 8.0-0 d7 9.e1 h6 35.xc7= ]
10.b1 g5 11.f1 33.e4 h3 Quite cool - there is a reflex
[ 11.f1!? ] tendency to assume that allowing Rf4 should
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
be avoid ed , b ut a trad e o f roo ks do esn't xd5 19.e2 xc3 20.xd5 b4 21.a3
bother black. 34.f4 c8 35.e4? h5 22.h4 cxd5 23.axb4 c7 24.g1 f8
[ 35.xf8 xf8 36.e4 hxg2 ] 25.xg4 f6 26.e3 b6 27.xg6 xh4
35...e6 36.e3 g8 28.h6+ f7 29.g7+ e8 30.g8+ d7
[ 36...hxg2 ] 31.f8 e5 32.g7+ c6 33.b5+ b7
[ 36...xd5 37.cxd5 xd5 is playable but 34.xc7+ xc7 35.f2 f4 36.xf4 exf4
black still prefers to keep his king snug 37.g7 f3 38.d2 d6 39.xf6 c5
rather than cash in. ] 40.e3 xb5 41.xf3 a5 42.e3 c4
37.f4 g6? Time pressure? 38.e7 b1 43.d8 b5 44.d4 c6
Time? 1-0
[ 38...b1 39.xg8 xg2 ( 39...hxg2
40.f8+ a7 41.a3+ ) 40.f8+ b7
41.e2 f3 42.d2 ( 42.xf3?? gxf3 99 B00
43.d2 g6+ ) 42...g2= ] Pierrot,Juan Facundo 2414
0-1 Garcia Palermo,Carlos H 2470
32nd Open Mar del Plata ARG (4) 10.04.2001
[Jon Tisdall]
98 B00
Philippe,Christophe 2306 1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d3 g6 4.f3 g7
Bordas,Gyula 2186 5.0-0 e6 6.c4 e7 7.c3 0-0
FSIMB December (5) 07.12.2000 McShane and Miles prefer to wait, filling out
[Jon Tisdall] the Hippo contours with d6,Nd7 and a6/h6.
There is no reason why black should not be
A game that only demonstrates that this line a b l e t o p l a y t h i s s ys t e m a b i t m o r e 8.e5
is rather unpleasant for black at the moment - Intending to press with Ne4, Bg5. xf3
Black does a bit better than an earlier game [ 8...f6!? ]
but is never close to holding his own. 1.e4 9.xf3 bc6 10.e2 d6 11.e4 d7
c6 2.f3 d6 3.d4 f6 4.c3 g4 5.d5 [ 11...d5 looks better at once since keeping
b8 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 g6 the dark-squared bishops gives black more
[ 7...a6?! 8.g5 bd7 9.0-0-0 g6 10.b1 chances to play against d4, which is
g7 11.d3 c5 12.he1 b5 13.e5 dxe5 consistent with a plan involving ...Bxf3. After
14.d6 e6 15.e4 a7 16.c6 h6 17.xf6 12.cxd5 exd5 13.c2 f6 14.exf6 xf6
xf6 18.e4 g7 19.xc5 0-0 20.xd7 15.c3 black should be closer to equality
xd7 21.xd7 xd7 22.a3 a8 23.a5 after d7!? ( or 15...a5!? The game
a7 24.e3 f6 25.b6 d8 26.c5 f6 continuation is not so bad for black either,
27.c3 g7 28.c8 d8 29.xd7 xd7 but it seems more limited. )]
30.c6 a5 31.c4 bxc4 32.xc4 e7 12.g5 d5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.c2 f6
33.dxe7 1-0 Philippe,C-Bordas,G Budapest 15.exf6 xf6 16.xf6 e6 17.c3 xf6
2000. ] 18.fe1 d6 19.ac1 af8 20.f3 d8
8.g5 g7 9.0-0-0 bd7 10.e2 c6 11.f4 21.b3 The long-term vulnerability of c7 and
c7 12.g4 h5 d5, plus white's ability to pile up on the c- or e-
[ 12...h6 13.h4 h7 14.e5 g5 ( 14...dxe5 files gives black rather passive prospects.
15.xe7! ) 15.dxc6 xc6 16.g2 c8 B id s f o r a c t ive p la y a re lik e ly t o l e a d t o
17.exd6 e6 18.f5 gxh4 19.fxe6 0-0 increased career options for white's bishop,
20.exd7 xd7 21.e7 ad8 22.xb7 so black is best advised to sit tight, but this is
xc3 23.xd7 xd7 24.c6 xb2+ rat her un ple asa nt as it is dif f icult to se e
25.xb2 b8+ 26.a1 dd8 27.he1 anything to look forward to. e6 22.g3
g5 28.d7 xh3 29.b1 1-0 Sutovski,E- g7 23.e5 8f7 24.ce1 f4 25.e2
Jaracz,P Koszalin 1999. ] xe2+
13.g2 c8 14.he1 hxg4 15.e5 dxe5 [ 25...e6!? ]
16.fxe5 xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.xe5 26.1xe2 c6 27.c2 d7 28.h4
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[ 5...ge7!? intending first to gain control of counterplay - but it is still very nebulous. 16.f3
d5, then castle queenside and press down e7
the e-file, is a rare bird, but has led to more [ 16...d7!? ]
interesting play than the catalog of disasters 17.f4 hb8 18.b3 a5 19.d2
after ...f5: 6.g5 ( 6.xe7 xe7 7.f3 [ 19.a4!? ]
g4 8.e2 xf3 9.xf3 0-0-0 10.0-0 h5 19...a4 20.d5+
11.xh5 xe5 12.g4+ b8 13.h3 xe4 [ 20.g4!? ]
14.e2 g6 15.f4 d3 16.cxd3 f5 20...xd5 21.exd5 g8 22.ae1+ f7
17.f3 d4 18.d1 xh3 19.g3 d6 23.g4 g5 24.e6 xd5 25.he1 axb3
20.g2 hh8 21.e3 h7 22.e1 c5 26.axb3 d3 27.cxd3 a2+ 28.c3 xh2
23.b4 f4 24.gxf4 g5 25.bxc5 xc5 29.e7+ g6 30.d7 f2?
26.b1 d7 27.fxg5 f5 28.a4 g4 [ 30...h3! 31.ee7 h5= ]
29.xd4 xd4 30.e4 xf2+ 31.xf2 31.ee7 g5 32.xh7 f4 33.hf7?!
f7+ 32.g1 c8 33.eb4 c5+ 34.d4 Presumably white eliminates black with a draw,
d6 35.xb7+ xb7 36.xb7+ c8 or time was pressing. The FIDE champion
37.c6+ xc6 38.xc6 g8 39.xa7 could capitalize on black's inaccuracy with:
xg5+ 40.f2 b8 41.a3 1-0 Mach,H- [ 33.h6! ]
Jaeckle, M GER 1998.) 6...e6 7.f4 d7 33...g5 34.h7 f4
8.b5 ( 8.f3!? ) 8...a6 9.a4 ( 9.xe7!? ) ½-½
9...b5 10.xe6 xe6 11.b3 xe5
12.g4 f5 13.h5+ g6 14.h4 g7
(0 - 1 , 3 2 ) K r e u zh o lz, M -J a e ckl e , M G E R 102 B00
1999. ] Prie,Eric 2429
6.exf6 Flear,Glenn C 2489
[ 6.h3!? is an odd but dangerous move Perpignan 12.04.2004
aiming at speedy development: [Glenn Flear]
A) 6...ge7? 7.h5+ g6 ( 7...g6
8.f6+ f7 9.c4++- ) 8.g5! e7 1.d4 b6 2.e4 b7 3.d3 f6 4.e2 c6
9.xe7 cxe7 10.exf5 xf5 11.xe7+- 5.c3 e5 6.g5!? White develops his 'bishops
(1 - 0 , 2 6 ) T o d o r o vic , G - B u d i m ir , D N i s before knights'. The idea of B-g5 is known in
1995.; 'Blatny's variation' albeit only at a later stage.
B) 6...fxe4 7.c4 xh3? ( 7...f5!? ) h6 7.h4 e7
8.h5+ g6 9.xh3 ce7? ( 9...c8 ) [ 7...g5 8.g3 exd4 hopes to win a pawn
10.g5 c6 11.e6!+- b5 12.c7+ xc7 but after 9.e5 Black will have a ragged
13.f7+ 1-0 Crawley,G-Kemp,P Swansea looking position. ]
1987. ] 8.d5 b8 9.g3 d6 10.c4 White confirms
6...xf6 7.g5 e6 8.xf6 gxf6 9.c4 his space advantage, but in return Black
b4+!? An interesting idea - black at least obtains an outpost on c5. 0-0 11.c3 bd7
gets a good bishop or unsettles the white king - 12.h4 Angling for further control, but in the
but it still seems insufficient long-term value meantime Black counters on the other wing
for a pawn. an d cen tre . c5 13.c2 a5 14.h5 c6
[ 9...f7 10.e2 c5 11.0-0 d6 15.dxc6
( 11...e5 12.b3 f5 13.g3! ) 12.g3 [ If 15.f3 cxd5 16.cxd5 then a6
0-0-0 13.a3 e5 14.a2 (1-0, 34) Bryson, would be annoying. ]
D-Mohr,G Moscow 1994. ] 15...xc6 16.0-0-0 c8 17.f3 b7
10.xb4 xc4 11.xc6 bxc6 12.h5+ 18.d5?!
[ 12.e2!? c5 13.0-0 ] [ Afterwards Prie claimed a small edge to
12...f7 13.c5 d6 14.xd6 cxd6 W h it e wit h 18.h4! fd8 19.xf6 xf6
15.e2 c5 Black has some compensation for 20.d5 which may be so but Black then
the pawn now - two open files for his rooks, doesn't have to exchange on d5. Best could
and active pieces and pawn levers to create be the solid alternative e7 and Black
82
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
doesn't have that much to worry about. 22.h1 hc8 23.g1 c6 24.h3 ac8
( on the other hand 20...b5 looks risky. )] 25.f4 xf4 26.xf4 b3 27.a1 a6
[ 18.de1!? holds the e-pawn and prepares 28.e3 g5 29.g3 f5 30.f4 g4 31.g1 h5
Nh4-f5 when Black would continue with ... 32.h4 d5 33.e1 b5 34.g3 b8
Rfc8, or ...Rab8 with ...b5 to come. ] 35.xd5 exd5 36.c3 bc8 37.ac1 c4
18...xd5 19.cxd5 d7 Now Black has the 38.f2 8c6 39.e3 e8 40.d2 d8
s a f e r k i n g a n d t h e m o r e d yn a m i c m i n o r 41.e1 c7 42.d2 b6 43.e1 xc3+
pieces. 20.h4? 44.xc3 xc3+ 45.xc3 b4 46.axb4 b5
[ 20.d2 coming to the defence of his king 47.d2 xb4 48.d3 a5 49.d2 c4
looks better. ] 50.c2 xc3 51.bxc3 a4 52.b2 a3+
20...b5 21.b1 b4 22.d3 xd3 23.xd3 53.xa3 xc3 54.a2 xd4 55.b2
fc8 24.f5 Finally getting to f5, but d3 0-1 Villegas,J-Bolivar,J Barranquilla
s i m p l i f i c a t i o n d o e s n ' t d e t e r B l a c k . xf5 1999. ]
25.exf5 c3! 13...b7
[ 25...c5 is also unpleasant but the text [ 13...c5 14.a4 c8 15.b4 b5 16.b3
wins a tempo. ] b6 17.b2 g4 18.d4 xd4 19.xd4
26.e4 ac8! 27.bxc3 c7 20.2f3 e5 21.ac1 xf3+
[ 27.c1 is met by g5 when White has 22.xf3 b6 23.b3 0-0 24.c5 ad8
no t h in g b e t t er t h a n a m ise ra b le qu e e n 25.d6 b7 26.f4 a8 27.c3 f6 28.d1
ending following 28.f4 xc1+ 29.xc1 a5 29.a3 c6 30.dc1 de8 31.h4 a7
xc1+ 30.xc1 exf4 31.xf4 xf4+ 32.xd7 xd7 33.c7 d4 34.xd7 d8
32.xf4 xd5 ] 35.cc7 xd7 36.xd7 axb4 37.axb4 f5
27...bxc3+ 28.c2 b2+ 29.d3 c2 38.g3 fxe4 39.e7 f6 40.b7 d8
30.c1 b5+! The clearest way to victory. 41.xb5 d4 42.b7 g6 43.d7 f7
31.d2 c4 32.d3 d4 33.xd4 exd4 44.f4+ e7 45.g5+ f6 46.xf6+
34.xc2 xd5 On paper material is equal, xf6 47.f1 e5 48.e2 d5 49.b5 h6
but the white king is open to the wind whilst 50.c7 d6 51.b6 xd7 52.xd7+ xd7
Black's still has intact defences. The result is 53.e3 c6 54.xe4 xb6 55.e5 c5
therefore hardly in doubt. 35.e1 g5+ 56.xe6 1-0 Torre,E-Cardoso,R/Bauang
36.d1 xf5 37.f4 g4+ 38.c1 xg3 1973 ]
39.e8+ h7 40.cc8 Setting a final booby- 14.d6 The main idea, and the reason Cardoso
t r a p b e f o r e t h r o wi n g i n t h e t o we l . xf4+ tried so hard to keep the Bf8 out fast. It seems
41.b2 xg2+ 42.a3 h3+ 43.a4 a bit surprising that this pawn is so hard to
xh5 play around. h6!?
0-1 [ 14...c8!? ]
15.e5 d5 16.e4 f5 17.g3
[ 17.c5 bxc5 ( 17...c6 18.d3 )
103 B00 18.xb7 c8 ]
Puljek Salai,Zorica 2271 17...g5?!
Solaja,Branka [ 17...g6 is much more solid. Now disaster
chT (Women) Pula (7) 17.09.2000 could (and should) strike on f5. ]
[Jon Tisdall] 18.d4 f7 19.d2 h5 20.c3 g7
21.ad1
1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d3 e6 4.f3 f6 [ 21.gxf5!? exf5 22.xf5 g6 23.xg7
5.bd2 c5 6.c3 c6 7.0-0 cxd4 8.cxd4 f8 ( 23...xg7 24.e6+ xc3 25.xc3+
b4 9.b1 a6 10.e1 d3 11.xd3 g6 26.exd7 ) 24.e6 xc3 25.bxc3
xd3 12.b3 a6 13.d5 A rare move but xg7 26.exd7 ]
perhaps the critical variation. 21...xc3 22.bxc3 d5 23.c4 b7
[ 13.e5 d5 14.e4 c7 15.d2 c4 24.b5?
16.d1 d3 17.a3 e7 18.g5 xd1 [ 24.gxf5 exf5 25.c5+ g6 26.c6
19.axd1 f6 20.d2 f7 21.c3 c4 and with everything attacking and even
83
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
another sacrifice on f5 looming, black will 8.0-0 b5 9.c2 g4!? Ambitious 10.exf6
be hard pressed to survive. ] gxf6 11.h3 h5 12.e1 0-0-0 Very dodgy
24...h4 25.f1 g4 26.h3 g5 27.d4 ag8 13.a4 b4 14.e2 xf3 15.xf3
[ 27...gxh3 To ensure the g-file opens was ( 15.xa6+! b8 16.gxf3 ) 15...b7
worth considering. 28.xh3 ag8 29.f3 16.d3 e5 17.f1 e4 18.e2 a8
h6 ( 29...a6!? )] 19.d2 a5 Dhar,S-Hutchinson,N/
28.hxg4 fxg4 29.e3 xe3 30.xe3 h6 Torquay ENG 2002 ]
[ 30...h3! 31.c7 ( 31.f4+ e8 32.xg4 5.d2
hxg2 33.h2 xh2!-+ ) 31...hxg2 32.f4+ [ 5.e2!? f6 6.f4 ge7 7.g3 g6 8.e2
g6 33.xg4+ f5-+ ] d7 9.0-0 0-0-0 10.b4 f5 11.xf5 xf5
31.a3 a6 32.c7 h3 33.g3 hxg2 12.a4 f7 13.a5 g6 14.a3 e4 15.f2
34.h2 g5? h5 16.a4 e7 17.b5 e8 18.b3 b6
[ 34...c1! 35.dxg4 xg4 36.xg4 h5-+ ] 19.c4 Van Haastert,E-Van Wissen,M/
35.dxg4 xh2 36.xh2 h8+ 37.h3 Hengelo NED 2002 ]
xh3+ 38.xh3 g6 39.f4 f5 40.xg5+ [ 5.d3 T h i s i s h a r d l y c r i t i c a l ge7
xf4 41.h4 f3 42.xe6 f2 43.f4 ( 5...xd3 6.xd3 f6 7.f4 d7 8.f3
1-0 0-0-0 9.0-0 ce7 10.b3 h5 11.a4 f5
12.a3 gh6 13.xf8 dxf8= Godard,M-
La zic, M/S t A f f rique 2 00 2 /I XM21 2 (3 1 ))
104 B00 6.e2 d7 7.0-0 xd3 8.xd3 f5 9.g4
Question Nimzovich h4 10.g3 0-0-0 11.g5 e7 12.xh4
N,N xh4 13.d2 f6 14.f4 fxe5 15.fxe5 xg3
[Glenn Flear] 16.xg3 h5! 17.g5 e7 Arutunian,D-
Gelashvili,T/Batumi GEO 2002 ]
Here's a summary of relevant games from [ 5.f3 f6 6.b5 ge7 7.exf6 gxf6 8.h4
2002 compared to ECO's main line. White has g6 9.0-0 d7 10.d2 a6 11.a4 e5
good chances to retain an advantage if 1. He 12.e1 g7 13.f4 b5 14.xg6 hxg6
aims to meet ...f6 with f4 maintaining the 15.c2 e4 16.a4 b4 17.a5 d6 18.b3
centre 2. He avoids a premature Bd3. 1.d4 f7 19.c5 h5 Djurhuus, R-Furhoff,J/
c6 2.e4 d5 3.e5 f5 Stockholm 2003/IXM213 (35) ]
[ 3...f6 4.d3 g6 5.f4 g7 6.b5! d7 5...f6 6.f4 fxe5 7.fxe5 h6 8.df3 f7
7.xc6 xc6 8.f3 h6 9.c3 f7 9.e2
10.exf6 exf6 11.e2+ d7 12.0-0-0 e8 [ 9.d3 g6 10.e2 d7 11.0-0 e7
13.d3 c8 14.h4 White retains an 12.b4 h5 13.a4 h4 14.g5 xd3 15.xd3
initiative due to superior development. d6 f5 16.xf7 xf7 17.g5 h5 18.f6 g5
15.xd6 xd6 16.h5 f5 17.hxg6 hxg6 19.g4 hxg3 20.xg3 h3 21.xf5!
18.h7 Milos,G-Loureiro,L/Sao Paulo BRA good compensation as Black's king is stuck
2002 with advantage ] in the centre, so the queen's rook never gets
4.c3 into play. exf5 22.xf5 g4 23.xg4 h6
[ 4.f3 e6 5.e2 f6 6.f4 ge7 7.g3 24.f1 g6 25.f5 g8 26.h1 h6
d7 8.c3 fxe5 9.dxe5 g4! freeing the f5- 27.h5 f7 28.f4 c6 29.e6
square for the knight 10.bd2 f5 11.a4 and White won in Golikov,A-Juegel,M/FIDE.
xf3 12.xf3 c5 13.b5 0-0 com 2002/IXM213 (50) ]
1/2-1/2 Makarov,M-Abrashkin,B/Samara 9...e7 10.g3 g4
RUS 2002 ] [ 10...g6!? ]
[ 4.b5 e6 5.f3 f6 6.0-0 ge7 7.e3 11.d3 g5 12.xg5 xd1 13.xe6 b8
a6 8.d3 d7 9.bd2 xd3 10.cxd3 14.xg7+ d8 15.xd1 Smagin-Sahovic,
g6 11.exf6 gxf6 12.b3 b6 13.c1 Biel 1990
d6 Erdos,B-Gross,G/Savaria HUN 2002 ]
4...e6
[ 4...d7 5.f3 f6 6.b5 a6 7.a4 e6
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d2 e6 4.gf3 c5 1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d3 e6 4.f3 c5
5.c3 f6 6.d3 c6 7.0-0 c7 8.e5 5.c3 f6 6.e2 e7 7.0-0 c6 8.e5 d5
[ 8.a3 d5 9.e5 d7 10.b4 e7 11.e1 9.dxc5 xc5 10.b4 e7 11.a3 f5 12.c4
0-0-0 12.f1 h6 13.e2 b8 14.b1 c4 c7 13.b2 0-0 14.bd2 g5!?
15.c2 g5 16.d2 df8 17.c1 f6 18.b5 An improved version of
cxe5 19.dxe5 fxe5 20.a4 g4 21.e1 h5 [ 14...e8 15.fd1 g5 16.b3 h8 17.b5
22.g5 xg5 23.xg5 e4 24.e7 c5 g4 18.e1 d8 19.c2 g5 20.a4 f7
25.xc7+ xc7 26.d1 a6 27.bxa6 c6 21.a5 bxa5 22.xa5 c8 23.d3 e7
28.e3 hg8 29.h3 xa6 30.g3 c5 24.f4 with a firm grip on the position (1-0,
31.hxg4 hxg4 32.e3 xa4 33.xa4 83) Gligoric,S-Filipovic,B Podgorica 1996. ]
xa4 34.xc4 dxc4 35.d4 c5 36.xc4 15.fd1 g4 16.e1 g5 17.b5
a8 37.e3 a1 38.exe4 b7 39.e3 [ 17.b3 is probably more accurate since
d8 40.h2 dd1 41.c2 a2 42.d4 black does not mind his knight being chased
xf2 43.xe6 dd2 44.xc5+ bxc5 around to the kingside. ]
45.xg4 b6 46.e5 c2 47.c4 f6 17...e7 18.b3 g6 This is obviously
48.e3 a5 1/2-1/2 Novak,I-Cvetkovic,S superior to the previous game where black
Strbske Pleso 1978. ] used much more time putting his pieces on
8...d5 9.e4? A naive approach by white - inferior squares. 19.g3 A big commitment,
in this type of position white almost always and one which gives black a clear plan of
keeps a close eye on the possibility of black action.
using the b4 square. [ 19.c2!? f4 20.f1 may not look like the
[ 9.dxc5!? ] most active procedure, but it keeps things
[ 9.a3!? ] out of harm's way while preparing to just
9...cxd4 10.cxd4 cb4 11.b1 double on the d-file, which must be white's
[ 11.e2 c2 ] primary plan. Still, d7 is easily defended and
11...c8 Now ...Nc2 and ...Ba6 if needed, will it remains white's job to find a long-term
oblige white to surrender the bishop pair. plan. ]
12.a3 c2 13.xc2 xc2 14.c3 xd1 19...h5 20.a4 h4 21.a5 b8 22.c2 f7
15.xd1 e7 16.e3 f4 17.h1 f6! 23.axb6 axb6 A very interesting position - a
Much stronger than trading in the Bb7 to black rook on h7 will defend his main
fracture white's kingside pawns. This game is weakness and prepare action on the h-file.
worth filing under how to execute a misguided W hite has some annoying obstacles to
opponent in this opening. 18.d2 overcome, since pushing c5 to break through
[ 18.f5 xg2 19.xg7+ f7 ] on the queenside will cede the d5 square for
18...fxe5 19.dxe5 xg2! 20.xg2 0-0 a happy black piece. 24.d6?! Looks a waste
21.fc1 xf3+ 22.g1 c5-+ 23.b4 xb4 of time. e8 25.d4 hxg3 26.fxg3 c7
24.axb4 xc1+ 25.xc1 f4 26.c4 xc4 27.dd1 h7 28.d4 f4! 29.gxf4 xf4
27.xc4 f7 28.h3 g6 29.h2 f5 30.d2 g3 Black could have played the
30.g3 d5 31.d6+ xe5 32.c8 b7 brutally straightforward
33.xa7 a6 [ 30...xh2 31.xh2 xh2+ 32.xh2 d6
0-1 when the black queen enters the game with
decisive effect. ]
31.df3 gxh2+ 32.h1 g7 White is
helpless against the methodical advance of
t h i s k n i g h t . 33.g2 h5 34.f2 g7
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
35.xf4 Getting rid of one bishop does not things as much as possible against lower-
o f f e r r e l i e f , a n d wh i t e c a n n o t a vo i d ye t rated 2.c3 types. And this game is a happy
another painful tactical blow. xf4 36.e3 tale for the favourite , who is rewarded for risk-
xe5! 37.a3 taking. 13.h6 f7 14.c1 h8 15.c3
[ 37.xe5 xf3+ 38.xh2 g2+ 39.h1 xc3 16.bxc3 g8 17.d5!? e5
xf2+ 40.g1 h3# ] 18.xe5?
37...xe3 38.xe3 h3 39.h4 g1 [ 18.e4! should give white an edge. ]
This must have been an extremely satisfying 18...fxe5 19.e4 c5 20.c2?
move to play - I know it would have been for [ 20.e3 was more prudent. ]
me. 40.f1 xf3 41.fxf3 g4 42.f6 f7 20...exd5 21.xd5 W a t ch f o r it . xf2!!-+
43.e5 d6 44.b2 bg8 A ferocious 22.e3
demonstration of the trumps of the black [ 22.xg8 xg8 ( 22...xc2+ )
position, and a game worth studying for 1...b6- A) 23.xf2 xg2+ 24.f1 ( 24.h1
ers. xf2! 25.h3 g3! ) 24...xf2+ 25.g1
0-1 d2+;
B) 23.g3 d2+-+ ]
[ 22.xf2 xf2+ 23.xf2 xd5 with a pawn
107 B00 less and continuing king troubles was the
Roschina,Tatiana 2293 proverbial lesser evil. ]
Filipovic,Branko 2444 22...xc2 23.xb7 xe3+ 24.xe3 g5!
3rd Hilton Open (4) 04.01.2001 25.e1 f8 26.h4 h6 27.d5 d6 28.c4
[Jon Tisdall] f4 29.a3 d4 30.h2 f4 31.h3 c1
0-1
1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d3 e6 4.f3 c5
5.c3 f6 6.e5 d5 7.0-0 e7 I am a little
reluctant to go into heavy examination of 108 B00
these type of positions as I think they are Roselli Mailhe,Bernardo 2428
probably well covered under the c3 Sicilian, Cristobal,Ruben 2342
which often transposes - lines with b6 are zt 2.5 Mar del Plata ARG (7) 25.08.2001
some of the more interesting attempts to liven [Jon Tisdall]
up the position for black, though not without
risk. 8.e1 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 f5 4.e2
[ 8.e2!? c6 9.dxc5!? bxc5 10.c4 b6 [ 4.c3 d7 5.d2 f6 6.f4 g5!? This move
11.c3 f5 12.exf6 gxf6 13.h4 0-0 seems to be a recurring theme across the
14.g4+ h8 15.g6+ hxg6 16.xg6 website, featuring in Budapests, Albins ...
1-0 Thorhallsson,T-Poettinger,H ( 6...e6 7.df3 h6 8.e2 e7 9.g3
Liechtenstein 1996. ] e4 10.e2 0-0 11.exf6 gxf6 12.0-0 h8
8...c6 13.xe4 dxe4 14.d2 f5 15.c4 g8
[ 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 0-0 10.c3 f5 11.exf6 16.e3 ad8 The opening here has been
xf6 12.g5 e8 13.e5 c6 14.c1 interesting and double-edged and black is
c8 15.b1 b4 16.e3 d6 17.g4 c6 eventually outplayed, rather than suffering
18.g3 e8 19.e2 d8 20.e1 h5 because of his choice of defence. 17.h1
21.h3 xg5 22.xh5 h6 23.h3 f4 f6 18.e1 e7 19.h3 g6 20.f2 g7
24.a3 c6 25.d3 xg4 26.h7+ f8 21.g1 dg8 22.d2 c6 23.af1 d8
27.g6 d7 28.d5 e7 29.f3+ f4 24.g4 h4 25.h2 c5 26.c4 e8
30.xf4+ xf4 31.xf4 e5 32.h8+ g8 27.dxc5 c7 28.b4 d8 29.e2 d7
33.h7 f7 34.h5 g4 0-1 Oral,T- 30.b5 xd2 31.xd2 f8 32.gxf5 xf5
Antoniewski,R Pardubice 1996. ] 33.xf5 exf5 34.d7 xd7 35.xd7 c7
9.bd2 cxd4 10.cxd4 0-0 11.e4 f5 36.g5 xf4 37.xf5 xf5 38.xf5 e3
12.exf6 gxf6 This type of position is rather 39.f3 e2 40.e3 h5 41.g4 g3+
typical of Sicilian players trying to sharpen 42.g2 1-0 Wedberg, T-Bodin,S Stockholm
86
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
1996.; 6...h6 7.e2 fxe5 8.fxe5 0-0-0 46.f3 c2 47.e7+ b6 48.g5 xa2
9.gf3 e6 10.0-0 e7 11.b4 df8 49.c1 d1 50.f1 xc1 51.xc1 c5
12.b3 f7 13.a4 g5 14.a3 g4 15.fd2 52.e1 d4 53.f3 c3 0-1 Stangl, A-
h5 16.b5 cd8 17.c5 e8 18.a5 g5 Holoubkova,M Germany 1994.) 6...h6
19.b6 cxb6 20.axb6 axb6 21.a4 c6 7.0-0 0-0 8.a3 a5 Very sensible, clearing
22.b3 g6 23.xe7 xe7 24.b4 d8 the way for pawn-based counterplay on the
25.b5 c8 26.xb6 f3+ 27.xf3 gxf3 queenside. Black has a pleasant position
28.xf3 xb6 29.d6+ c8 30.xb6 with easy play. 9.b4 c4 10.e2 b5
1-0 Shaked,T-Carlin,A Las Vegas 1994.) 11.d2 a5 A bit hyperactive - after
7.df3 gxf4 8.xf4 h6 9.d2 xf4 something a bit more patient like
10.xf4 fxe5 11.dxe5 e6 12.b5 ge7 ( 11...d7!? white must find a way to
13.e2 a6 14.xc6 xc6= Black has develop without allowing black to play . ..a5
absolutely no problems now. 15.fd4 0-0-0 with more force later.) 12.bxa5 xd3?!
16.0-0 e4 17.g3 g6 18.e3 dg8 ( 12...c6 ) 13.xd3 c6 14.b4! c5 15.dxc5
19.f6 d8 20.h6 c5 21.f3 g7 22.b4 c7 16.h1 ( 16.c6!? ) 16...xc5 17.c3
b6 23.a4 hg8 24.a5 b5 25.bxc5 c6 c6 18.d4 ( 18.fb1!?; 18.e2!?;
26.d4 xc5 27.h1 e7 28.e3 ge8 18.g5!? ) 18...xd4 19.xd4 fc8
29.ge2 c7 30.d2 e4 31.af1 g8 20.e2 xa5 21.xa5 xa5 22.b4
32.1f2 b7 33.h3 h5 34.h6 h4 a4 23.b3 f5 24.fb1 h5 25.c3 e4
35.xh4 e7 36.hf4 g5 37.g1 h7 26.a2 h4 27.xb5 xb5 28.xb5 xc3
38.df3 g3 39.e3 a8 40.d2 hg7 29.g1 ce3 30.f2 xe2+ 0-1 Wang Li-
41.e3 c7 42.e2 g7 43.g4 h8 Cai Lu Suzhou, Jiangsu CHN 2001. ]
44.xg8 xg8 45.g5 b1 46.f6 e8 4...e6 5.g3 g6 6.b5 Very rare if not
47.d4 b4 48.cxb4 a4 49.f8 new.
1 - 0 N e u b a u e r , M - W a c h , M M u re c k A U T [ 6.h4 f6 7.h5 f7 8.f4 d7 9.c3
2001. ] is a more popular setup, and this is one of
[ 4.f4 e6 5.f3 ( 5.c3 e4 6.f3 f5 the higher profile matches from this position.
7.exf6 gxf6 8.d3 d7 9.0-0 0-0-0 10.b4 g6 10.d3 ce7 11.d2 fxe5 12.fxe5
d6 11.a4 ge7 12.a5 g6 13.xe4 0-0-0 13.f3 f5 14.xf5 gxf5 15.g5
dxe4 14.fd2 f5 15.b5 ce7 16.b6 a6 e7 16.e3 e8 17.g5 h6 18.xf7
17.c4 d5 18.bxc7 xc7 19.b6+ xf7 19.d2 g7 20.0-0-0 f8 21.df1
xb6 20.axb6 xb6 21.b3 c6 22.a4 g5 22.g4 e7 23.gxf5 xf5 24.xg5
b8 23.a3 a7 24.e3 d7 25.b1 hxg5 25.xf5 exf5 26.g2 g4 27.xd5
a8 26.h1 e7 27.c4 d5 28.b2 g5+ 28.c2 f4 29.e6+ d8 30.hg1
c6 29.a4 g8 30.c4 d6 31.b5 g3 31.g6 xg6+ 32.hxg6 hg8 33.d3
e7 32.a2 g7 33.d5 xe3 34.dxc6 xg6 34.e4 g4 35.f3 a5 36.a4 e7
d2 35.cxb7+ b8 0-1 Zolnierowicz,K- 37.d5 h4 38.c4 b6 39.b3 d7 40.ff1
Gross,G Trier 1997.) 5...e7 6.d3 ( 6.e3 e7 41.f3 h2 42.g2 fh8 43.fg1
h5 7.d3 h6 8.0-0 xd3 9.xd3 f5 2h4 44.e1 f8 45.d2 f7 46.g2
10.f2 g5!? 11.fxg5 xg5 12.b5 b8 1 / 2 -1 / 2 He b d e n , M- Ro ge rs , I E d i n b u rg h
13.c4 a6 14.a4 dxc4 15.c3 b5 1985. ]
16.xa6 b6 17.a3 e7 18.b4 xb4 6...ge7 7.c3 d7 8.d2 a6 9.e2
19.b2 d5 20.e4 g8 21.c1 g4 White is content to have created something to
22.g3 xg3 23.hxg3 h4 24.gxh4 f4 get his teeth into on the queenside if black
25.h1 xh4 26.h2 d5 27.f3 xf2 decides to try and live there. f5 10.xf5
28.xf2 d3 29.e3 xf2+ 30.xf2 c6 xf5 11.0-0 e7 12.f4 h6 13.f3 0-0-0
31.f1 b7 32.d2 e4 33.h6 g6 Black chooses the sharpest option and both
34.h8+ g8 35.h3 g7 36.g1 h7 sides mount gradual attacks on their
37.h4 g5 38.g3 e3+ 39.g2 xd4 respective flanks. It seems that white must be
40.e1 a7 41.e2 d3 42.g4 c3 a bit better as it is easier for him to strip away
43.g8+ d7 44.f2 c7 45.f8 a4 enemy king cover, but the position is
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
extremely complex, and getting at black's king [ 10...e7 11.d4 c6 ( 11...c5!? ) 12.xg6
proves surprisingly difficult. 14.b4 dg8 hxg6 13.f3 c5 14.de2 bd7 15.f4
15.b5 b8 16.bxa6 xa6 17.a4 g5 Wallner,W-Mohr,G Lienz 1988. ]
18.a2 gxf4 19.b3 c5 20.c4? 11.d4
It is tempting to open every conceivable line in [ 11.xg6!? hxg6 12.d4 to prevent Black
the direction of the white king, but this looks a from fianchettoing his bishop deserved
bit optimistic. Recapturing on f4 was more attention, but Black can try for active play
solid. e4 against White's various light squared targets
[ 20...cxd4! looks better since 21.xd4 e4 with e5 ]
gains time for black and 21.cxd5 allows 21... 11...xd3 12.xd3 g6 This looks like a
d3. ] much more harmonious way of developing for
21.xf4 cxd4 22.cxd5 xd5 23.c2+ b8 Black. 13.0-0-0 g7 14.f4 c5 15.e2 0-0
24.b2 b4 25.b5 d8 26.cc1 b6 16.f3 e8 17.g5
Black should be at least equal here. 27.d2 [ 17.f5!? looks more promising in terms of
g6 creating activity against Black's king, but
[ 27...a2!? ] possession of e4 guarantees Black
28.b1 hg8 29.g3 h5 30.xb4 xb4 comfortable counterplay. ]
31.xb4 xf3 32.xf3 h4 33.f2 xg2+ 17...fe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.he1?!
34.f1 xh2 35.xf7 h1+ 36.e2 h2 [ 19.b4? e8 ]
37.a5 d8 38.c6 xf2+ 39.xf2 b6 [ 19.f2 ]
40.xb6+ 19...e7 20.f2?
1-0 [ 20.c3 xd4 21.cxd4 d7 22.d2 ]
20...xd4 21.xe4 xb2+ 22.xb2 xe4
23.xe4 xe4 24.d4 f5 25.h4?!
109 B00 [ 25.gxf6 f7 26.f5!? was a very tempting
Rosito,Jorge 2424 alternative, when W hite will at least have
Larsen,Bent 2486 some activity. Allowing Larsen to have a
Najdorf Mem Great Final (1.3) 02.10.2002 full technical grip is just booking a seat for
[Jon Tisdall] a nostalgic look at one of the game's great
endgame players. ]
1.e4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.d4 f6 4.c3 g4 25...c5 26.dxc6 bxc6 27.c1 c5 28.b2
5.e3 e6 6.h3 h5 7.d5 exd5 8.exd5 f7 29.d3 b8 30.a3 b7 Protecting
b8!? A very rare alternative. It seems to be everything. Stage two will be activating the
safer than the more popular options. 9.g4 king and centre pawns. 31.a6 e6 32.a3
[ 9.e2 e7 10.d4 xe2 11.xe2 0-0 d5 33.h5 c4 34.h3 d5 35.hxg6 hxg6
12.f5 e8 13.b5 c8 14.xe7+ xe7 36.h8
15.0-0 a6 16.b3 bd7 with a solid [ 36.e5 d4 and the bishop is missed in
position for Black, Golubovic,B-Muse,M defence. ]
Tucepi 1996. ] 36...d4 37.g8 b6 38.d8 a5 39.a8
9...g6 10.d3 b5 40.d8 d6 41.b8+ a4 42.c8
[ 10.e2!? is the acid test for Black's idea - b6 43.c7 b4 44.c8 a4 45.a3+ c4
how to meet the threat to the queenside 46.a8 c3 47.xc3 xc3 48.xa4 c4
pawns? e7 ( 10...a6!? is the logical and Zugzwang - White must relieve the pressure
probably necessary novelty - the discovered on c4 and so allow ...Rb2. 49.a8 b2
check is in fact the least of White's threats - 50.a6 xc2+ 51.d1 d2+ 52.e1 g2
when Black should be OK.) 11.b5+ bd7 53.xg6 d3 54.d6 c2 55.g6 c3 56.d5
12.xb7 b8 13.xa7 xb2 14.d4 0-0 d2+ 57.f1 xg6
15.0-0-0 and Black did not have 0-1
compensation in Palac,M-Muse,M Tucepi
1996. ]
10...bd7
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
89
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
90
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
91
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
92
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
the game towards a winning ending. Also 22.d3 fxe5 23.dxe5 d4 24.f2
possible was [ 24.xd4 xd4+ 25.f2 xf4 26.xd7
[ 40...b5 41.g6 e4 42.xe4 e5+ ] f5 27.d3 g5 ]
41.xf4 xf5 42.d5+ f7 43.xf7+ xf7 24...d5 25.d2 c8 26.de1 c3
44.c1 g4 45.g3 g6 46.f2 e6 27.e4 a6 28.xd4 xa3 29.c1 a1
47.e3 d5 White never did get his a-pawn 30.h2 xc1 31.xc1 a2 32.c4 xc4
back! 33.xc4 a6 34.g3 g5 35.g2 gxf4 36.gxf4
0-1 b8 37.g3 f7 38.f3 c6 39.e4
e8 40.c1 f7 An odd place to stop - for
example.
116 B00 [ 40...f7 41.e1 and the game continues.
Shabanov,Yuri 2463 The score is probably not the whole story
Minasian,Artashes 2576 a n d t h e r e i s s o m e t yp e o f e r r o r i n t h e
Aeroflot Open (1) 05.02.2002 record. ]
[Jon Tisdall] 0-1
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
d8 47.xb5+ xb5 48.h3 xb2 49.e7 technique but black makes a very big meal of
e8 50.d3+ b5 51.d7 1-0 Sanchez it indeed, and after prolonging white's agony
Almeyra,J-Stranjakovitch,J/Cannes 1990 to an amazing degree, he eventually lets him
(51) ] off the hook. 30.e2 g5 31.b4 f8 32.g3
8...h6 9.h4 e7 e7 33.h4 f5 34.exf6+ xf6 35.hxg5+
[ 9...c6!? is more entertaining - the threat hxg5 36.b5 e5 37.c3 d5 38.g4 d6
to gain the bishop pair with Nb4 is coupled 39.a4 d4 40.b6 c6 41.h5 d3 42.b2
with an idea of charging the g-pawn forward d2 43.g6 f4 44.f6 e5
to undermine d4. 10.a3 ( 10.e5 a5+ ) [ 44...xb6 45.xe6 c5 46.f5 d4
10...e7 ( 10...g5!? ) 11.bd2 g5! 12.g3 wins easily as white's king does not return in
g4 13.h4 ( 13.e5 xd4 ) 13...xd4 time. ]
14.d1 g8 15.e5 c6 16.c3 h5 45.f5 xb6 46.e4 c5 47.d3 d5
17.g3 xh4 18.gxh4 xh4 19.e2 f4 48.d1 e6 49.c3 f5 50.e2 g6
20.f1 h3 21.c2 xf1+ 22.xf1 d6 51.e4 f5 52.c5 e3 53.e4 f4
23.e3 e5 24.d1 e7 25.f1 f3 54.c3 c5 55.e4 b4 56.f2 a5
26.g2 xg2 27.xg2 g5 0-1 Lazaridis, 57.d3+ f5 58.f2 b6 59.e4 e3
S-Moulin,P/ Groningen 1982. A thought- 60.c3 f4 61.d1 g6 62.e2 h5
provoking little rout, and something to file 63.e4 h4 64.xd2 xd2 65.xd2 h3
away for future reference for ...a6 66.d3 h2 67.d2 h1 68.d1
devotees. ] ½-½
10.a4 c6!? I can't help feeling I have seen
this idea before, but I cannot produce any
evidence to back this up. For the sacrificed 118 B00
pawn black gets a very nice pair of bishops Shaw,John K 2433
and constant pressure against both white's Matin,Adam 2433
central pawns, and on the b-file. 4NCL 21.11.2004
[ 10...bxa4 11.xa4 allows white to claim a [Andrew Martin]
small plus - the rook supports the white
c e n t r e , a n d t h e a - p a wn i s a l o n g t e r m 1.e4 b6!? Why not? In actual fact the move-
target. ] order Black adopts is rather cunning. He's
11.axb5 b4 12.xf6 to relieve the pressure aiming for a Hippopotamus system but by
against e4. playing ...b6 and ...Bb7 first he is trying to
[ 12.c3 axb5! ] talk White out of aggressive systems involving
12...xf6 13.bxa6 xd3+ 14.xd3 b6 f2-f4 and/ or Be3, Qd2. 2.d4 b7 3.c3 e6
15.0-0 xa6 16.d2 0-0 17.c1 fb8 4.f3 d6 5.d3 d7 6.0-0 g6 7.a4!
A long tactical sequence exploiting various John Shaw is a methodical, logical, classical
p i n s a l o n g t h e a - f i l e i s o ve r . B l a c k h a s player and he usually goes for a nagging edge
excellent compensation as it is very difficult to with W hite rather than the quick attack. I
ward off the threats to white's pawns and keep underestimated 7 a4 and immediately made a
the bishops from raking in and causing bad move. g7?
damage. 18.c2 b7 19.xa8 xa8 20.e5 [ Of course 7...a6 is forced, I know that
[ 20.c3 a1+ 21.c1 xc1+ 22.xc1 now. ]
xd4 23.xd4 xd4 24.c2 and black is 8.a5 bxa5 Horrible. The more I looked at
better - strong bishop, nice compact and [ 8...e7 9.a6 c8 the less I liked it:
active position. But white's choice in the 10.g5 ( 10.f4 0-0 11.d2 e5 12.h6!
g a m e d o e s n ' t d o m u c h e xc e p t f u r t h e r exd4 13.xg7 xg7 14.xd4 e5 15.f4
expose his position. ] xd3 16.xd3 ) 10...h6 11.e3 0-0
20...e7 21.h3 e4 22.c1 a1 23.c3 12.d2 h7 13.fe1 The problem is that
xc1+ 24.xc1 xf3 25.gxf3 xd4 B la ck h a s n o go o d p a wn b re a ks in t h e
26.e1 c5 27.g2 b6 28.e3 xe3 centre, let alone the usual Modern idea of
29.fxe3 xe3 This should be a matter of attacking and dismantling the centre as and
94
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
when necessary. I looked but I did not see. ] [ 25.bxc4 xe3 transposes. ]
9.e3 gf6 10.d2! I'm not sure how big 25...xe3! 26.bxc4 d4 27.h1 xf4!
W hite's advantage is here. It's in between Shaw was visibly upset and who wouldn't be?
substantial and life-threatening I think, and so The point is that he can't play 28 Rg1 due to
I had to find some way to play on at the same 2 8 . . . B e 5 . T h e Q u e e n a n d Ra 2 a re ve r y
time keeping some chances. I soon remote indeed. 28.aa1 xa1 29.xa1
reconciled myself to the ultimate loss of the xc4 30.xa7 xc2-+ Some care is
a7 pawn after that it was easier.. 0-0 11.b3 required in the endgame but it must be an
c6 easy win. 31.f1 c4 32.a8+ g7
[ The alternatives leave Black with nothing to 33.a1+ d4 34.a7 f6 35.g1 e7
do. At least in the game White has choices 36.a1+ f6 37.h3 e2 38.h1 e5
to make, it's still murky and he could go 39.a7+ h6 40.f7 e1 41.xe1 xe1+
wrong. 11...b8 12.xa5 ] 42.h2 e5+ 43.g3 e2+ 44.g1 d1+
[ 11...b8 12.xa5 ] 45.f2 d4+ 46.f3 c4 47.g4
12.xa5 c7 13.f4! These positions are so [ For one horrible moment I thought I had
difficult to play because one is making original been mated e.g. 47.f8+ g5! I'd seen
jud gem ent s on virtu ally e very move. Fo r this move some time ago of course but
instance should White take on b7 or not and panic sets in when you are winning cleanly
then just play against the a pawn? For Shaw and the opponent gets even the slightest
maybe that was the best approach although chance. ( 47...h5?? is the blunder of the
13 f 4 cannot be wrong indeed it looks as year: 48.g4+ g5 49.h4+ xh4
though Black may be mated e.g. Qe1-h4 etc. 50.h6# )]
Where is his counterplay coming from? 47...d3+ 48.g2 g5 49.f8 e2+
[ 13.a2 fb8 14.f3 c8 15.fa1 ] 50.g3 e3+ 51.g2 c3 52.c8 h4
13...ab8 14.e2 a8 The first glimmer of 53.c7 xh3+ 54.f2 xg4 I will play 1...
light appears at the end of the tunnel. 15.b3 b6 again and this time with an early ...a6.
c5 16.dxc5 dxc5 17.a2 White is still What price 1 e4 b6 2 d4 Bb7 3 Nc3 ( 3 Bd3)
playing very well and very logically too. He a6!? . It's bound to gain time on the clock and
seems to have a total grip. I knew that playing the idea is the same e.g. ...d6,...Nd7 and only
passively would be useless and cast my eye then ...g6,...Bg7,... Ne7 etc.
over the position for an unusual idea. b4 0-1
18.d2 b8 The first stage is to get the big
p i e c e s o u t o f e xp o s e d p o s i t i o n s . 19.c4
d5! For better or worse. At least Black is 119 B00
going down in flames. This came as a surprise Shirov,Alexei 2718
to John Shaw. Chugging along without Martinsen,Stig K
c o m p l i c a t i o n s wa s n o l o n ge r a n o p t i o n . Simul Bergen NOR (1) 10.02.2001
20.exd5 exd5 21.xd5 [Jon Tisdall]
[ 21.e5 xe5 22.fxe5 d4 23.d2 dxc3
24.xc3 d5! is, I would say, unclear. Black It's not every day you get to see an offbeat
is fighting. ] defence against a very top player, and this
[ 21.fa1 dxc4 22.xc4 b6! ] kind of game is why - one should at least pick
21...xd5 22.b3 e8 Now I was very happy. as reputable a line as possible. The game is
The game seemed to have utterly changed. not terribly interesting, but has a kind of
S u d d e n ly W h i t e h a d t o m a ke a m a ss ive historic appeal. 1.e4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.d4
mental readjustment from attack to defence. f6 4.c3 g4 5.e3 e6 6.d5 exd5
Furthermore, in this inspired frame of mind, I 7.exd5 xf3
had spotted an excellent combination. 23.d2 [ 7...e5 8.e2 xf3+ 9.xf3 xf3
xc4 24.xc4 xc4!! Based on White's 10.xf3 e7 11.0-0-0 0-0 12.he1 e8
a wk wa r d p ie c e s. I t h i n k t h e id e a wo r ks : 13.d4 d7 14.e2 c5 15.dxc6 bxc6
25.xd7 16.de1 d5 17.g4 ab8 18.h4 h6 19.f5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
xf5 20.gxf5 b4 21.xe8+ xe8 22.g1 68.e7 c5 69.e8 xe8 70.xe8 c6
e7 23.xa7 a8 24.e3 xh4 25.xh6 71.d3 b4 72.d8 c4 73.f7 c5
xf2 26.g2 d4 27.e2 e5 28.a3 a4 74.e6 c3 75.b3 a5 76.a8 c7
29.c3 e4 30.d4 xd4 31.cxd4 f6 32.a4 77.a4 b5 78.c4 d8 79.d5 g5
f7 33.d2 d6 34.f2 xd4 35.b3 c5 80.e4 c2 81.xc2 b4 82.b2 c3
36.c3 d3 37.c2 c4 38.bxc4 dxc4 83.b1 e7 84.d5 a3 85.c6 c2
39.f4 d5 40.a5 xf5 41.b2 d6 86.b4 1/2-1/2 Jonkman,H-Mestrovic,Z Wijk
42.a6 b5+ 43.c2 b6 44.a7 a6 aan Zee 1999.) 13.f1 b5 14.a3 c5
45.b4 e6 46.c5 b5 0-1 Rotman,D- 15.g6 fxg6 16.hxg6 xg6 17.xc5 dxc5
David,A Geneve 1996. ] 18.xe5 g5 19.xg6 xg6 20.h3 e7
8.gxf3!?N e5 9.f4 ed7 10.f3 e7?! 21.f5 g5 22.h5+ xh5 23.xh5 d7
11.0-0-0 a6 12.e1 d8 13.g1 g8 24.g6+ d8 25.e5 g5 26.e4 f4
14.d3 e7 15.h3 c5 16.xh7 xh7 27.f5 xe5 28.0-0-0 f8 29.xc5 xf5
17.xh7 f8 18.f5 f6 19.h4 xh4 30.e6+ e7 31.xf5 f6 32.h3 b6
20.h6 f6 21.xg7 xg7 22.xg7+ xg7 33.f4 d6 34.f5 g8 35.c3 h5 36.c2
23.h8+ g8 24.h6+ g7 25.f6 c4 37.g1 e3+ 38.d3 xd5 39.g6+
1-0 e5 40.g2 e7 41.xg7 xg7 42.xg7
h4 43.h3 d5 44.e6 b6 45.g5
e7 46.e6 d6 47.b3 d7 48.c4 e5+
120 B00 49.c3 bxc4 50.bxc4 c5 51.f4 f3
Soylu,Suat 2376 52.d3 g5 53.g6 a5 54.a4 g1
Mestrovic,Zvonimir 2417 55.g2 h3 56.d5 h2 57.g2 h3
6th HIT Open (7) 31.01.2001 58.e2 f6 59.f3 g1+ 60.g3 e2+
[Jon Tisdall] 61.xh2 c3 62.g3 xa4 63.e4 c3
64.c2 a4 65.f3 a3 66.b3 a2 67.xa2
A heavyweight theoretical duel from a full-time, xa2 68.f8 b4 69.e4 c6 70.e6
die-hard Nc6-er. 1.e4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.d4 e5 71.f4 xc4 72.xc5 xc5 73.e4
f6 4.c3 g4 5.e3 e5 6.b5 d7 7.d5 e5 74.e3 d5 75.f4 d4 76.g3
cb8 8.h3 h5 9.g4 g6 10.h4 h5 e3 77.g2 d3 78.g3 f2 79.g2
Mestrovic follower should note that his e4 80.f1 d2 81.g2 e2 82.g1
choices here are based on long experience: f3 83.f1 h4 84.f6 f2 0-1 Medvegy,N-
[ 10...h6 11.h5 h7 12.g5 a6 ( 12...hxg5 Mestrovic,Z Budapest 1999. ]
13.xg5 a6 14.g4 g8 15.e6 fxe6 11.g5 e7 And here is the sensible new
16.dxe6 xe6 17.xe6+ e7 18.g6+ move. Black reserves the option of kicking the
f7 19.xf7+ xf7 20.c4+ e8 Bb5 with ...c6.
21.d5 d8 22.g5+ c8 23.0-0-0 c5 [ 11...a6 12.f1 b5 13.d2 e7 14.g1
24.f3 b5 25.f1 c6 26.h3+ b7 27.c3 c8 15.a4 b4 16.a2 b7 17.c3 a5
d8 28.c2 de6 29.xe6 xe6 18.cxb4 axb4 19.b5 0-0 20.xb4 c5
30.dg1 h7 31.d2 c6 32.e3 f4 21.f3 h7 22.b3 f5 23.e2 g8 24.0-0-0
33.f5 e8 34.xf4 exf4 35.h4 d5 f4 25.xc5 dxc5 26.c6 d6 27.c4
36.xf4 dxe4 37.fxe4 xh5 38.xg7+ d7 28.g2 f7 29.h3 e8 30.g2
xg7 39.d6+ b6 40.xe8 h2+ a8 31.a2 b8 32.6xe5 xe5
41.b1 h6 42.f1 e2 43.d6 a5 33.xe5 f5 34.exf5 xe5 35.f6 d7
44.f5 g5 45.g1 e3 46.g6 c5 36.xd7 a5 37.c2 b4 38.e6 c3
47.e6 c7 48.e5 e4 49.c2 d7 39.xf7+ 1-0 Piket,J-Mestrovic,Z Sremic
50.d3 e1 51.d4 d1+ 52.e4 e1+ Krsko 1998. ]
53.f5 f1+ 54.e4 e1+ 55.f5 f1+ 12.g1 c6 13.dxc6
56.g6 e1 57.f6 f1+ 58.g6 e1 [ 13.f1!? must be more testing - taking on
59.a3 b4 60.axb4 axb4 61.f7 e4 c6 seems illogical. cxd5 14.xd5 c6
62.b3 b6 63.cxb4 xb4 64.f6 e4 15.h3 ]
65.e6+ c7 66.f3 e3 67.d2 xd2 13...bxc6 14.e2 c7 15.d2 c5!
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
16.xc5 dxc5 17.c4 d7 18.d3 b6 esteemed a personage as David Bronstein
T h e d 4 s qu a r e give s b la c k co u n t e r p l a y. has toyed with the black side of this system,
19.g3 xc4 20.xc4 d8 21.d3 0-0 though I could not locate games of his that I
22.d1?! c4 23.xc4 d4 24.e3 a5+ am sure I saw with my own eyes...
25.c3 xe4 26.e2?! [ 4...d8 5.f3 f6 6.g5 e6 7.d3 e7
[ 26.d1 ] 8.e2 c6 9.d1 b4 10.0-0 xd3
26...b8 27.b3 a6+ 28.f3 c5 11.xd3 0-0 12.fd1 c6 13.e5 d5
29.ge1 e8 30.ad1 xe3 31.fxe3 g4 14.xe7 xe7 15.g3 xc3 16.bxc3 f6
32.h2 e4+ 33.f2 c5!? Preferring to 17.d3 d6 18.e3 b6 19.f3 a5 20.f2
attack to winning the queen, when white can a6 21.e1 fe8 22.b1 ab8 23.e4
hit f 7 a n d ge t s a b it o f p e a ce a n d qu ie t . c7 24.d2 d6 25.e4 c7 26.d2
34.d5 xd5 35.xd5 e6 36.e4 c4 d6 27.e4 1/2-1/2 Timoshchenko,G-
37.d2 f5 38.e3 fxe4-+ 39.e2 f4 Gorbatow,A Arco 1999. ]
40.d1 a6 41.e2 xa2 42.e1 ef8 5.ge2
43.d1 xh4 44.g2 g4 45.g3 xg3 [ 5.c4 f6 6.ge2 b5 7.b3 b7 8.f4
46.xg3 xb2 d7 9.0-0 e6 10.d3 c5 11.dxc5 xc5
0-1 12.g3 0-0 13.ad1 c6 14.e5 h8
15.f4 bd7 16.d3 xe5 17.xe5 e8
18.e2 e4 19.h3 d8 20.c3 xd1
121 B00 21.xd1 f6 22.d3 a7 23.b3 e5
Sprenger,Jan Michael 2326 24.b4 a5 25.d5 xf2 26.xf2 c8
Ristic,Alexandre 2155 27.h4 g5 28.h6 axb4 29.cxb4 e7
Open Metz FRA (3) 09.04.2001 30.a3 d8 31.c3 e6 32.f1 xf2
[Jon Tisdall] 33.xe6 xe6 34.xf2 g8 35.g1
b6+ 36.f1 d4 37.h3 f4+ 38.e1
1.e4 a6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 xd5 4.c3 f2+ 39.d1 f1+ 0-1 Wegener,D-Mozes,
[ 4.c4 d8 5.f3 f6 6.e2 e6 7.0-0 c5 E Budapest 1993. ]
8.e3 cxd4 9.xd4 e7 10.c3 0-0 5...b5!?
11.c2 bd7 12.fd1 c7 13.h3 b6 [ 5...g4 6.h3 f5 7.f4 d8 8.g3 g6
14.ac1 b7 15.a3 ac8 16.b4 b8 9.f3 c6 10.0-0-0 f6 11.d5
17.a2 a8 18.f1 e5 19.a4 d8 This does not look worth repeating for black.
20.f4 g6 21.g5 b8 22.xf6 gxf6 b8 12.d3 bd7 13.he1 xd3
23.c5 b5 24.c3 h8 25.ce2 d5 14.xd3 c5 15.d2 d7 16.d6 cxd6
26.d2 e5 27.c3 c7 28.g3 cd8 17.xd6 c8 18.xf6 gxf6 19.d5 e6
29.e1 f4 30.xf4 xf4 31.de2 g6 20.xe6 fxe6 21.h5+ d8 22.b6 c6
32.d1 f5 33.h5 c4 34.cc1 e5 23.xa8 xg2 24.c7 g1+ 25.d2
35.xd8 xd8 36.c3 xc3 37.xc4 d2 xf2+ 26.e2 e5 27.e6+ d7 28.e3
38.c2 bxc4 39.xc4 e5 40.c2 c6 g2 29.c5+ c7 30.f7 g8 31.e6+
41.f1 h6 42.f4 g7 43.g4 fxg4 d6 32.c5+ d7 33.xf8+ xf8
44.hxg4 g8 45.g2 f8 46.g3 d3+ 34.d5+ c7 35.e6 d8+ 36.e3 d7
47.h4 h6 48.f5 c3 49.e2 d4 50.f4 37.xe7 xe7 38.xe7 e8 39.xf6 e6
d1 51.e3 d2 52.e4 xf4 53.xf4 40.g7 e7 41.f6 e6 42.g7
h1+ 54.g3 e2+ 55.g2 xf4+ 1/2-1/2 Drasko,M-Gorbatow,A Arco 1999. ]
56.xh1 e5 57.g1 d5 0-1 Martin, A- [ 5...f6 6.f4 d8 7.g3 e6 8.g2 d6
Gorbatow,A Schwarzach 1999. ] 9.d2 bd7 10.0-0-0 b6 11.e4 xe4
4...d6 Most games reach this position via 12.xe4 d5 13.e5 f6 14.g2 xe5
the Scandinavian/Centre Counter move order 15.dxe5 xd2+ 16.xd2 g4 17.f4 b8
(1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 a6) so 18.f3 h5 19.h3 e3 20.d3 f5
one could argue that we are straying out of 21.hd1 e7 22.c3 c6 23.cd3 f6
our territory a bit. It is worth doing a quick 24.h4 a5 25.a4 a8 26.e4 h6 27.f3
mention nonetheless, and I know that as f7 28.e3 d7 29.d4 fxe5 30.fxe5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
af8 31.e2 g5 32.hxg5 fg8 33.f4 W ith a dynamic posting thanks to the
xg5 34.e2 h4 35.gxh4 xh4 36.f1 p re m a t u r e d 4 -d 5 . 10.c3 0-0 11.a4
h6 37.d3 b6 38.b3 c5 39.f4 c6 Pushing the bishop away but at the cost of a
40.d2 h2 41.e1 h6 42.f2 g1+ misplaced knight. d6 12.e3 At this point,
43.d2 gg2 44.xg2 xg2 45.d1 f5 White may well have had plans of a queenside
46.e1 f3+ 47.c1 d4 48.xf3 xf3 pawn expansion, but he isn't given time to
49.d1 e2 50.b2 d4 51.c1 d7 consolidate... cxd5 Ivanov has a combination
52.b1 c6 53.b2 b5 54.axb5+ xb5 in mind but I wonder if
55.c3 h2 56.b2 c4 57.bxc4+ xc4 [ 12...e7 is b e t t e r e . g . 13.ac1 cxd5
58.e1 e2 59.a1 c6 60.d3 b4 14.cxd5 xd5! 15.exd5 e4 with a good
61.xb4 xb4 62.h1 xe5 63.h4+ game. ]
c5 64.c3 d5 65.b3 e5 66.c3 d6 13.cxd5 xd5!? Aiming to simplify and
67.c4+ d5 68.a4 a6 69.c2 c5 damage White's centre. The piece is regained,
70.b3 a8 71.c4+ d5 72.a4 e4 but does this lose a pawn? 14.exd5 e4
73.c2 e5 74.d2 f4 75.e2 c8 15.c3?! Unambitious. The attempt at
76.xa5 xc3 77.a6 c2+ 78.d1 b2 refutation involves
79.a3 f2 80.e1 f3 81.a8 b3 [ 15.xe4 xe4 16.xb6! when Black has
82.h8 a3 83.e2 a2+ 84.e1 a3 some play for the pawn but nothing concrete
85.e2 1/2-1/2 Ghinda,M-Sygulski,A e.g. axb6 ( or 16...e7 17.fe1 fe8
Potsdam 1985. ] 18.e3 b4 19.ed1 ) 17.xe4 e8
6.f4 d7 7.a4 b4 8.e4 f6 9.2g3 18.d4 f4 19.c3 ]
xe4 10.xe4 d5 11.f3 c6 12.xc7 15...exf3 16.xf3 e5 17.e2 eg4!
xd4 13.b6 [ After 17...xd3 18.xd3 g4 19.h3
[ 13.c3 bxc3 14.bxc3 c6 ] xe3 20.xe3 I would also prefer Black
13...e5 14.c3 bxc3 15.bxc3 f5 16.d2 slightly, but the text leaves an extra pair of
e6 17.a5 f4 minor pieces on the board and thus enables
[ 17...c5 18.c4! ] Black to gain more pressure. ]
18.c4 c6 18.h3 xe3 19.xe3 e8 20.f3 e5
[ 18...d3+ 19.f1 d6 20.b3 ] 21.ac1 c8 Opposite bishops are often
19.0-0 c5+ 20.xc5 xc5+ 21.h1 e6 misunderstood. The standard obsession with
22.b3 e7 23.g3 drawish endgames masks the fact that with
[ 23.b6!? ] oth er p ie ces o n th e b oa rd t hey can b e a
23...ab8 24.a3 xa3 25.xa3 b2 powerful force for the player with the initiative.
26.xe6 xe6 27.c4 Here dark-square play is more relevant as
½-½ W hite's isolated d-pawn (stuck on a light
square) is more of a liability than an asset.
Indeed the simple plan of ...Rc5 and ...Qc7
122 B00 p u t s i t ' s l i f e i n i m m i n e n t d a n g e r . 22.a6
Stein,Alex 2362 Not an ideal square, but at least in this way
Ivanov,Alexander 2590 White holds onto the d-pawn. c5 23.fd1
7th Foxwoods Open (5) 25.03.2005 b5! Cutting the bishop off from the rest of
[Glenn Flear] W hite's forces. 24.d6 Enabling the queen to
come to the rescue.
1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d3 f6 4.e2 c6 [ 24.xb5?? xc3 ]
5.c3 e5 6.d5 An imprecision which already [ 24.xb5 is possible but Black then obtains
suggests that W hite was not prepared for a strong initiative with xc1 25.xc1 a5
Black's opening. 26.a3 d2! ]
[ After 6.f3 d6 W h a t e l s e ? 7.d5 24...a5 25.b7? Right square, wrong piece.
Black's dark-squared bishop cannot be Better is
developed outside of the pawn chain. ] [ 25.b7 e.g. b4 26.e4 xc1 27.xc1
6...e7 7.f3 g6 8.0-0 c6! 9.c4 c5 when although Black has good chances to
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
pick off a pawn in the complications, there 36.e3 a5 37.a3 g6 38.f2 h5 39.f4
would then be opposite bishops.. .. Naturally g4 40.h4 f5
one shouldn't get 'obsessed' with the idea, ½-½
but you never know, they could offer
drawing chances to White! ]
25...c6! 26.xb5 b6 27.c7 xb5! 124 B00
Two pieces for the rook is adequate for the Ter Sahakyan,S 2574
win. Petrosian,TL 2654
[ N o t h o w e v e r 27...xc3? 28.xd7! 74th ch-ARM 2014 (9.4) 21.01.2014
and W hite's d-pawn would be converted [Glenn Flear]
from a burden into a decisive passed
pawn. ] 1.e4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.c3 f6 4.d4 e5!?
28.xb5 xb5 29.xa7 xb2 30.a4 b4! A ve ry un u su al ch oice, a t t his p oin t, b u t
[ Instead 30...xd6 is also not bad, but the certainly a reasonable option. Black
t e x t l e a d s t o a d e c i s i ve w e a k e n i n g o f transposes to a sideline of the Scotch Four
White's kingside. ] Knights (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4
31.a5 f4 32.g3 f3 33.e3 a8! and now 4...d6!?). However the move order
A great square combining attack with the from the Nimzovich, as here, looks more
slowing down of the a-pawn. 34.a3 e4 logical!
35.a6 g5! Now it becomes clear why [ By opting for 4...g6 Black seeks a type of
provoking g2-g3 was so important. The light- Pirc Defence. The knight on c6 (so early) is
squares around white's king are indefensible. slightly unusual, but White's 'classical' set-
36.f4 d4+ 37.xd4 f3+ 38.f2 xd4 up isn't particularly aggressive. 5.e3 g7
The threat of ...Re2+ is too strong. 39.e1? 6.d2 g4 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 d5!? 9.exd5
Resigning before playing this move is less xd5 10.xd5 xd5 11.h3 f5 12.c4
humiliating. a5 Bjornsson, Si-Kristjansson, St Icelandic
0-1 league 2013, lef t W hite with only a tiny
space advantage. ]
[ The main line here is 4...g4 5.e3 e6
123 B00 6.h3 when White is able to keep a pull e.g.
Teixeira,Ricardo da Silva 2341 h5 7.d5 exd5 8.exd5 e5 9.g4 xf3+
Lima,Darcy 2525 10.xf3 g6 11.0-0-0 e7 12.d4
67th ch Teresina BRA (8) 14.12.2000 ( White has also scored well with the plan of
[Jon Tisdall] 12.g2 followed by f2-f4) 12...h6 13.h4
Kapnisis, S-Papadatos, I Paleochora 2013. ]
A solid and uninspired Hippopotamus - worth 5.h3 Avoiding ...Bg4 and thus maintaining a
c o m p a r i n g wi t h t h e e f f o rt s o f M i l e s a n d space edge. e7
McShane. A good illustration of how even the [ Here 5...exd4 makes sense (after White
oddest of openings can look distinctly h a s s p e n t a t e m p o o n t h e s lo w h 2 - h 3 )
respectable if enough care is exercised by 6.xd4 and then g6 gives a dynamic game
both sides. 1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.c3 e6 that could have transposed from a Scotch,
4.ge2 d6 5.g3 g6 6.g2 g7 7.e3 d7 a Philidor, or Three Knights opening! The
8.d2 h6 9.h4 h5 10.0-0-0 e7 11.f3 b8 following involves both sides playing
12.f4 a6 13.g4 f6 14.gxh5 xh5 principled moves: 7.g4! g7 8.de2 h5!
15.xh5 xh5 16.e2 h7 17.f4 d7 9.g5 h7 10.f4 f6 11.h4 fxg5 12.hxg5
18.h5 gxh5 19.xh5 h8 20.xg7 xh1 g4 Vajda, L-Lu Shanglei, Golden Sands
21.xh1 xg7 22.f1 h8 23.xh8 xh8 2012, with chances for both sides. ]
24.c4 h1 25.g2 xg2 26.xg2 d5 6.d5
27.cxd5 exd5 28.h3+ d8 29.e5 c8 [ 6.b5!? looks more like it originated from a
30.f1 f5 31.g5+ d7 32.h3 c6 Spanish, Old Steinitz Variation, e.g. 1.e4 e5
33.xf5 xf5 34.d2 b5 35.c3 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 etc). d7 7.d5 b8
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
8.xd7+ ( if W hite retreats with 8.d3 [ More natural is occupying the outpost with
B l a c k c a n h i t b a c k a n y w a y w i t h c6 ) 28...d4! ]
8...bxd7 9.e3 c6 10.d3 a5 11.0-0 29.e2 f7 30.a4 White has the 'threat' of
cxd5 12.exd5 0-0 13.d2 a6 14.a4 fc8= playing c2-c4 with a bind, so Black is 'honour
Sredojevic, I-Todorovic, GN Serbian league bound' to pre-empt this with his next move.
2011. ] d5! 31.c5 c8 32.e3 h6 33.c4!
6...b8 7.g3!? White breaks new ground Forcing Black's hand. d4!? A committal move,
already! b u t o n e t h a t sh o u ld b e go o d e n o u gh f o r
[ Other moves have been tried here, but it equality. 34.c1 a7 35.d3 c5 36.a4!?
certainly isn't clear where the light-squared A safe positional choice. White stabilizes the
bishop is best placed. Here is an example: queenside and now prepares to lay siege to c5,
7.e3 c5 8.dxc6!? (I might have been noting that e5 and a5 will also require
tempted to leave the structure intact and attention from his opponent. On the other
play a sort of Old Benoni with a space edge) hand, b3 and e4 will remain W hite's weak
bxc6 9.c4 0-0 10.0-0 a6 11.xa6 spots.
xa6 12.e2 c8 13.ad1 c7= [ 36.b4 axb4 37.axb4 cxb4 38.xb4
Nanu, C-Rasinaru, G Deva 1998. ] is more double-edged. ]
7...0-0 8.g2 c6 9.dxc6 bxc6 10.0-0 bd7 36...b6 37.c2 b7 38.e2 b8 39.a3
11.b3 A second fianchetto by White in an c6!? Sharpening the struggle.
erstwhile classical opening is a rare [ After 39...ec8 40.b1 I can't see how
o c c u rre n c e . c5 12.e1 e8= 13.b2 either player would be able to make
I'm not a great fan of placing a bishop on b2 progress. ]
against the d6-e5 wall, especially as f2-f4 40.b1 xa4 41.xc5 b7 42.d6!?
looks a long way off. Nevertheless, it [ Possibly 42.b4 xb3 43.xb3 axb4
essentially stops Black seeking any pawn 44.c5!? when I think that White's pieces are
breaks, so the players both go into slightly better than his opponent's, although
m a n o e u vrin g m o d e . b8 14.e2 f8 m y co m p u t e r o n ly c o n sid e rs t h is t o b e
15.ad1 c7 16.e3 a5 17.a3 b7 equal. ]
18.h2 bd8 19.g4 Not really worrying. 42...xb3 43.c1 c6? Sacrificing the
xg4 20.hxg4 c8 21.g5 g4 22.f3 exchange, but not in the best manner.
h3 23.g2 h5 24.c1 [ Promising is 43...bc8!? 44.a3 ( after
[ More enterprising than offering a repetition 44.c5 xc5 45.xc5 a4 White may miss
with 24.f3 but also suggesting that b2 his knight) 44...a4 45.c5 ( 45.xa4 xa4
wasn't such a great square after all. ] 46.xb7 xc4 leaves Black a clear pawn
24...e7 25.f4!? The tension mounts as ahead ) 45...xc5 46.xc5 c8 and Black
W h i t e go e s f o r ki n g sid e e xp a n si o n . e6 has excellent compensation for the
26.f2?! exch a n ge , e sp e cia lly a s t h e d -p a wn is
[ A f t e r t h e m o r e s o l i d 26.e2 xe2 mobile. ]
27.xe2 chances would have been 44.xb8 xb8 45.c5 a4 46.eb2 b5
balanced, but as W hite isn't then going 47.f1 The presence of the knight on d3
anywhere on the kingside this wouldn't have (rather than a bishop, see the previous note)
been a very coherent follow-up to his limits Black's options. So it seems that White
previous move. ] is the one seeking a way to make progress.
26...f6!? It's a wise idea to nibble away at c8 48.d1!? b8 49.c1! xd1?
White's pawns before he gets settled. Not good.
[ However it might have been better to have [ However 49...xc5 50.xb3 axb3
gone about this task in a diff erent way: 51.xb3 looks prospectless for Black. ]
26...exf4 27.gxf4 h6! as 28.gxh6 50.xb5 xb5 51.xb5 f8 52.b7
dro ps m ate rial t o h4 29.e2 c5+ The c-pawn is going to be more dangerous
30.e3 xe1 ] than the a-pawn, although having the only
27.gxf6 xf6 28.f5 g5?! rook helps! e8 53.d3 c2 54.c6 xd3
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
55.b8+ e7 56.c7 a6 57.c8 xc8 drops the e-pawn. e8 125.b5+ e7
58.xc8 Ter Sahakyan has noticed that the a- 126.c5 b6
pawn is going to drop. d6 59.f2 a3 [ After 126...d6 127.c6+ e7 128.a6
60.a8 c5 61.xa3 b4 62.a7 c5 Black is in Zugzwang. ]
63.e2 b6 64.a1 There is no immediate 127.xe5+ For the record, it was 66 moves
breakthrough, so W hite will have to think s i n c e W h i t e l a s t c a p t u r e d a p a w n ! d6
something up on the light squares. This will 128.e8 d3 129.e5+ d5 130.f6 gxf6
involve improving all his pieces one after 131.exf6 d2 A race, but one that Black will
another. f7 65.d3 d6 66.b1+ c5 not win. 132.a4 c5 133.d7!
67.f3 b5 68.h5 c3 69.b2 a4 [ Less clear is 133.f7 g6 134.b3+ d4
70.b1 d6 71.f3 c6 72.c1+ b5 135.d7 f8+ as White's king doesn't have
73.b1+ c6 74.b4 c5+ 75.c4 d7 an easy route to the kingside. ]
76.h5 b6+ 77.d3 c5 78.b1 a4 133...g6 The f8-square is covered, but
79.e8 Finally the bishop is ready to take on a Black's knight is not comfortable here.
more active role, thus limiting Black's knight 134.b3+ d4 135.e6 f4+ 136.f7
to a certain extent. c3 80.a1 b4 81.c6 Now Kf7-g7xh6 is a threat. g2 137.d1
c5 82.d5!? b4 e3 138.f3 d3
[ 82...xd5? makes life easy for White after [ 138...d1 goes down to 139.xd1 xd1
83.a5+ ] 140.d8+ ]
83.a8 d1 84.b8+ c5 85.c8+ b4 139.g6 d1 140.d8+ d4 141.xd1
86.c4+ b5 There is no apparent c4
Zugzwang and no pawn breaks available, so [ 141...xd1 142.f7 ]
White will need all three pieces to squeeze 142.e2+ Time to call it a day!
away at Black's king. This takes time, indeed, 1-0
lo t s o f t i m e ! 87.c2 g5 88.c7 f6
89.b7+ c5 90.b1 f2+ 91.e2 g4
92.b3 g5 93.c2 c4 94.b7 f6 125 B00
95.c7+ b5 96.d3+ b6 97.d7 e3 Therkildsen,Thomas 2108
98.d2 c6 99.a7 g4 100.c2 f2 Philippe,Christophe 2357
101.a1 g5 102.a6+ b7 103.e6 f6 IM Le Touquet FRA (7) 31.10.2001
104.e2 h1 [Jon Tisdall]
[ 104...xe4?? 105.f3 ]
105.g4 It was 44 moves since the last pawn 1.e4 c6 2.f3 f5 3.exf5 d5 4.h4
mo ve , s o it wa s a bo ut tim e! No w h e h a s The attempt at outright refutation option. This
another 50 moves to try and make further generally leads to massive chaos and black's
inroads. f2 106.f3 c7 107.a6 e7 outnumbered forces very active. Despite this,
[ More natural is 107...b7 ] I have a feeling a cool head should be able to
108.a7+ d6 109.b3 f6 110.c4 t a ke t h e m o n e y a n d ru n , b u t p ro vid e a n
The king is advancing up the board. This overview of games in the line to help arm
finally feels like progress. c6 111.a6+ potential players of either side of this line. e5
b7 112.a2 h3 113.g2 f4 114.f1 5.h5+ g6 6.fxg6 f6 7.g5
b6 115.a1 e7 116.a8 b7 117.a5 [ 7.g7+ xh5 8.gxh8 xh4
f6 118.b5 e7 119.a2 f6 120.a1 A) 9.c3 f5 10.g3 d4 11.e2 0-0-0
c7 121.c1+ d6 122.b6 d8+ 12.b5 e4 13.f3 xc2 14.g8 a6
123.b7 e7?! 15.d1 c5 16.f7 d7 17.xh5 axb5
[ Better is 123...f6! 124.c6+ 18.a3 d4 19.g5 e4 20.e3 g7
( 124.c8!? ) 124...e7 125.c4 d7 21.fxe4 e8 22.d3 dxe4 23.dxe4 h3
126.b5 e7 127.c7 and White probes 24.d2 xb2 25.c3 xe4 26.xb2
away, but hasn't found a chink in the xe3+ 27.e2 e7 28.d1 b4 29.axb4
armour...yet! ] xb4 30.a8+ d7 31.h8 f5 32.f1
124.c8 Black is now too tangled and soon g6 33.f3 e7 34.d3 f7 35.f5+
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
d6 36.xh7 d5 37.d3 e1+ 38.c2 59.e8+ d7 60.e3 g2+ 61.f7
e2+ 39.c1 e1+ 40.d1 e2 g1 62.d3+ c7 63.f8 f1 64.f7
41.d7+ 1-0 Lambert, A-Mueller,H GER g1 65.d5 c6 66.d4 c7 67.e7
1996.; e1+ 68.f6 f1+ 69.e6 c6
B) 9.b5 e4+ 10.f1 f4 ( 10...h3 70.c4+ b7 71.c5 1-0 Lalic,S-Toll,A
11.g1 0-0-0!? ) 11.f3 f5 12.d4 g6 St Heliers 1997.;
13.xh7 xc2 14.c3 f5 15.xd5 C2) 10...d8 11.g3 ( 11.d3 f4
d1+ 16.f2 xd4+ 17.e3 0-0-0 12.g8 e8 13.xf4 xf4 14.a3
18.d1 c5 19.xd8+ xd8 20.c4 e6 15.g3 xa3 16.xf4 exf4
d4 21.h5 e7 22.e1 d7 23.h7 17.bxa3 xc2+ 18.d2 xa1 19.e2
ec6 24.e4 b4+ 25.e2 d6 26.a3 d4 20.f3 d7 21.xa1 h8 22.e1
d4+ 27.f2 c5 28.b4 b6 29.b2 c5 23.e4 f8 24.e5 d6 25.g5
1-0 Samoilov,I-Ferencz,I Budapest 1998.; b5 26.g6 e5 27.g7 f7 28.g8
C) 9.xh7 d4 10.g6+ ( 10.c3!? c4 29.b8 a6 30.a8 c7 31.xa6
g4? 11.xd5 f5 12.xh5+ xh5 c3+ 32.c2 xa2 33.h6 b3+
13.f6+ e7 14.xh5 xc2+ 15.d1 34.c1 a7 35.d1 xa3 36.h5+
xa1 16.d3 a5 17.g5+ f7 18.e2 d6 37.xb3 xb3 38.f5 b2
e6 19.a3 b3 20.g3 c5 21.e3 39.xf4 e5 40.f8 b4 41.b8 xf2
d4 22.c2 a6 23.e4 c6+ 24.b1 42.xb4 xg2 43.b5+ f4 44.h5
d5 25.f3 xe4 26.xe4 b6 f2 0-1 Pavasovic,D-Gross,G Bled
27.d5+ e7 28.xb3 xb3 29.xd4 1995. ) 11...g4 12.xg4 xg4 13.d3
exd4 30.c2 b5 31.e1+ f7 32.e4 ( 13.g2 xc2+ 14.f1 xa1
d5 33.h4 c5 34.a4 f5 35.f3 f8 15.xd5 c6-+ 16.g2 f5 17.c3
36.b3 f7 37.c4 1-0 Salmensuu,O- d3+ 18.g1 c2 19.e4 e1
Porrasmaa,T Helsinki 1997.; 10.d3?! e4 20.xd3 xd3 21.g2 f6 22.f3 c5
11.g6+ d8 12.g8 e7 13.b3 e6 23.h4 e7 24.g4 g8 25.h5 xh5
14.a3+ d7 15.h7+ g7 16.c3 f5 26.xh5 f4+ 27.h2 xh5 28.gxh5
17.g3 g4 18.h3 f3 19.xh5 xh5 h8 29.d3 xh5+ 30.g2 d4
20.g4 xg4 0-1 Berg,E-Johansson,R 31.e2 e6 32.f4 h8 33.fxe5 xe5
Stockholm 1994. ) 34.f3 d5 35.f4+ xf4 36.xf4 a5
C1) 10...e7 11.d3 f4 12.xf4 37.e2 b5 38.a3 h3 39.e3 h2+
( 12.g3 f6 13.d1 f5 14.f3 40.f2 c5 41.e3 a4 42.f3 c4
h4 15.g3 f5 16.f3 h4 17.g3 43.dxc4+ xc4 0-1 Sorsa,N-Kiik,K Pori
1/2-1/2 McAleer,J-Toll,A Viborg 1996.) 1997. ) 13...e4 14.c3 f3+ 15.f1
12...xf4 13.c3 xc2+ 14.d1 b4 h3+ 16.e2 g2 17.d1 exd3+
15.g3 d4 16.e3 g4+ 17.e2 18.xd3 d7 19.c2 e8 20.d3
h6 18.xd4 xe2+ 19.xe2 exd4 e1+
20.xd4 f8 21.e2 g7 22.f3 d6 C2a) 21.d2 h6+ 22.f4
23.hd1 c5 24.a3 c6 25.ac1 xb2 C2a1) 22...xf4 23.xe1 xe1
26.b1 xa3 27.xb7 b4 28.h4 a5 ( 23...h3+ 24.c2 ) 24.gxf4!;
29.a1 e8+ 30.f1 c3 31.a2 d4 C2a2) 22...f3+ 23.c2 xh2;
32.b6+ c7 33.g6 xf3 34.gxf3 C2b) 21.b3 f3 22.d2 h6 23.d4
h8 35.e2 d7 36.ee6 xh4 xd2 24.xd2 d1+ 0-1 Jahr,U-
37.a6 h1+ 38.g2 h8 39.a7+ Poethig,H Germany 1982. ]
c8 40.f4 b8 41.f7 d8 42.f5 b4 [ 7.d1 c5 8.g7 g8 9.e2 xg7
43.b6+ a8 44.f6 c4 45.dxc4 d4 10.h5+ f8 11.d4 xd4 12.h6
46.a6+ b8 47.c5 xc5 48.xa5 1 / 2 - 1 / 2 R o d r i g u e z L o p e z, R - F e r e n c z , I
d5 49.f3 d3 50.xc5 xc5 51.e3 Budapest 1998. An odd result since xb2-+
f5 52.xd3 xf2 53.e4 c8 seems to win. ]
54.e5 d8 55.f8+ d7 56.a8 7...c5
e2+ 57.f5 f2+ 58.g6 e6 [ 7...e7? 8.b5 d6 9.b3 b4 10.xc6+
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it's not clear how he should protect the c4- 9.c4 0-0 10.c3 d6 11.ad1 d7
pawn. ) 24...f4 25.dxc5 xc4 26.cxb6 12.e2 e7 13.b4 f5 14.c2 f6
axb6 27.xb6 xa2 is equal, so a draw 15.b5 f4 16.d2 c6? ( 16...a6! )
wa s a g r e e d . A s h o r t b u t t h e o r e t i c a l l y 17.xd6! xd6 18.e5 e7 19.exd6 xd6
important game. ] 20.c5 e7 21.fe1 b5 22.e2 f7
½-½ 23.de1 f8 24.e4 g5 25.h4 h6
26.hxg5 hxg5 27.e5 e8 28.c3 c8
29.xc6 1-0 Karaklajic,N-Puschmann,L
128 B00 Budapest 2000. ]
Tukmakov,Vladimir B 2582 5...c8!? This looks like an improvement over
McShane,Luke J 2480 [ 5...e7 6.h4 d6 7.bd2 c6 8.c3 f6
22nd Open Arbo ITA (7) 27.10.2000 9.e2 d7 10.h6 f8 11.g5 e7
[Jon Tisdall] 12.c4! h6 13.f4 f6 14.h5 g5 15.g3
e7 16.e3 g7 After much toing and
1.d4 b6 2.e4 b7 3.d3 e6 4.f3 g6 froing Black has again achieved the h6+g5
[ 4...d6 5.0-0 d7 6.c4 g6 7.c3 g7 double f ianchetto f ormation. It is worth
8.e3 e7 looks inspired by the heroic noting that despite white's rather indirect
efforts of Miles against Baburin seen in the a p p ro a c h , h e s e e m s t o h a ve g a i n e d a
p r e v i o u s r e p o r t . 9.c1 Compare with definite advantage - in particular the Ne3 is
Baburin-Miles and Ehlvest-Baburin - here wonderfully posted, and it is really this piece
white has not had to play either a3 or h3, which black must neutralize - it renders
and black has also left out these little moves. virtually all central pawn breaks by black
Mc S h a n e , li k e M il e s, h a s t h e n o s e f o r impossible by having access to f5 and d5,
danger in these positions, and is quick to a n d d 6 via c4 . 17.0-0-0 0-0-0 18.d2
pre-empt expansion with d4-d5, avoiding f8?! A p l a n l e s s i n t e r l u d e . 19.dc4
the horrible squeeze that befell Baburin. c5! ( 19.a6!? ) 19...b8 20.c2 e7 21.f3
10.d2 0-0 11.fd1 b8 12.b1 d8 c8 22.h2 hd8 23.g4 a6 24.e2 b5?!
13.dxc5 dxc5 14.g5 f6 15.f4 e5 This seems -advised, but this is not a strain
16.xe5 xd2 17.xb8 xd1+ 18.xd1 of the English Defence for nothing. It seems
xb8 19.d7 f8 Black would have a that if you carry the proper passport all
pleasant position if he could evict the rook, manner o f really outra geous goings-o n
but this beast has arrived to stay, so it is merely lead to complete pandemonium,
wh i t e w h o e n j o y s t h e b e t t e r c h a n c e s . whereas if some f oreigner were to give
McShane can never quite get the piece out these things a try, total disaster would be
of his hair. 20.c2 a6 21.a4 f7 22.f1 likely to result. But black's problem is still
h6 23.d1 g5 24.h3 f8 25.d7 h6 finding something to do, and this is very
26.e2 a8 27.g3 g7 28.g4 b7 29.h4 d i f f i c u l t i n d e e d wi t h t h e wh i t e k n i g h t s
f8 30.e3 h5 31.hxg5 hxg4 32.gxf6 constantly in his face. 25.d5 ce5 26.a5
h6+ 33.d3 xf6 34.e5+ f7 35.h2 c5 27.a4?! ( 27.dxc6 xc6 28.a4!? or;
f4 36.xg4 f3 37.f6 xe5 38.fe4 27.xb7 xb7 28.b3 would scare the
xe4+ 39.xe4 xc3 40.bxc3 b5 41.cxb5 hell out of me if I were black, particularly
axb5 42.b3 f6 43.d6 c4 44.d1 d5 the former.) 27...c4 28.axb5 axb5 29.d2
45.d4 e7 46.e5 xc3 47.xe6+ f8 c5 30.e1 c7 31.a1 b6 32.g1
48.c2 xa2 49.f6+ e7 50.a6 b4 c7 33.b4 cxb3 34.xb3 d7 35.b1
51.a7+ f8 52.e4 d8 53.f6 d6+ e8 36.d4 a6 37.f1 a5 38.g2
54.e5 h6 55.b7 c3 56.c7 c2 cd3 39.dxe6 ( 39.xd3!? xc3 40.xb5+
57.xc2 c6 1/2-1/2 Bagaturov,G-McShane, xb5 41.d2 d3!? ) 39...xc3 40.exf7+
L Arco ITA 2000. ] xf7 41.d2 f4+ 42.g3 b4! 43.xa6
5.g5 xa6 44.ef5 ( 44.xb4 d3 45.b2
[ 5.0-0 g7 6.g5 f6 7.e3 h6 8.d2 xd4 46.xd4 e2+ 47.h3 with at least
f7 An interesting twist on the trendy Hippo. a draw for black.) 44...c4 45.d1 e5
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46.a1 a3 47.f2 a8 48.xa3 bxa3 thing and consolidates his chunky centre
49.b3 d5 50.exd5 b8 51.d1 b2 and gets his king to safety. ]
52.c6 xh5+ 53.g2 f4+ 54.g1 a2 20.d4 0-0 21.hxg5 hxg5 22.c4!? c5
55.xe5+ xe5 56.xh6+ e8 57.f5 23.bxc5 bxc5 24.b5!
a1 0-1 Gofshtein,L-McShane,L Arco ITA [ 24.e6
2000. Very impressive tenacity from A) 24...xf5!?
McShane, but a unjust end to some A1) 25.xf8 xg3 26.fxg3 xf8
sophisticated strategical handling f rom ( 26...d4!? 27.d5 xd5 ) 27.cxd5
Gofshtein. ] xd5 28.xd5 d8;
[ 5...f6!? ] A2) 25.xf5;
6.bd2 d6 7.0-0 g7 8.c3 d7 9.e1 B) 24...d4!?;
Another solid, Russian kind of deployment - C) 24...xe6 25.fxe6 xe6 26.cxd5
white is well placed to move in if black tries to fxd5 27.c4 ad8 28.xd5 xd5
take a stake in the centre, and in the 29.b1 ]
meantime, white plans to inch forward. This 24...d4 25.d6 d7 26.g4 xf5?!
position is a bit easier to play for black than I t a p p e a rs t h a t b la ck f in a ll y slip s in t h i s
the rather grim version McShane got against incredibly complex battle.
Gofshtein - for one thing he knows where [ 26...e3!? should keep black in with full
White's king lives very early, and the Bg5 is chances:
floating a bit. h6 10.h4 e7 11.d5 e5 A) 27.fxe3 xf5 28.xf6+ xf6
12.b4 g5 13.g3 f5 Black appears to have 29.g4!? ( 29.xf5 xf5 30.d3 d7 )
achieved very reasonable chances - the Bg5 29...e6 30.e4! e7 31.xf6+ xf6
has been walled in and the Bb7 is liberated - 32.exd4 e3!? ( 32...xd4 33.h5 );
but black's position is a bit loose and the e4 B) 27.xf7 xg4 28.xg4 xf7 ]
square will be useful for white. 14.exf5 xd5 27.xf6+ xf6 28.xe4 g6 29.g4 c6
[ 14...xd5 15.d4!? ] 30.xg5 g7 31.e4 f5 32.f4
15.c4 f6 16.e3 f7! [ 32.xf6+ ]
[ 16...b7 17.c4 is rather unpleasant as it 32...d3 33.ad1
is not easy to shake off the pressure on the [ 33.xf6+ ]
light squares without loosening his position 33...d4 34.xd3 ae8 Now black gets
further. xf5? 18.xf5 xf5 19.xe5+- ] some practical chances thanks to white's
17.h4!? e4 exposed queen and the sof t spot on f 2. I
[ 17...gxh4 seems to give white the better of assume time pressure was a major factor after
it after either recapture. ] all this. 35.h4 e6! 36.e2 h6
18.b5+ c6 19.f1 A very neat idea. d5! Black's counterplay has now reached serious
[ 19...exf3 looks a bit too risky: proportions.
A) 20.c4 xc4 21.xe7+ xe7 [ 36...fe8 37.de1 ]
22.xd6+ ( 22.xd6+ e8 23.xc4 37.f4 g6! With a vicious threat to double
xf5 ) 22...e8 23.xc4 d7 on the h-file, as well as ... Bxe4 followed by ...
and black defends.; Qxg3. 38.h4 g4??
B) 20.xd6 e4 ( 20...fg8 might be [ 38...xe4! 39.xe4 xe4 40.xe4 xh4!
possible - it also might be forced - but would have completed black's fight back. ]
just looks too passive. I can understand 39.f6+! xf6 40.xf6 h5 41.b8+ f7
someone not wishing to contemplate a 42.c7+
position where this has to be played.) 1-0
21.c4 xf5 22.gxf3 xc4 23.xc4
B1) 23...xc3 24.xe4 f6 ( 24...h7
25.d3!+- ) 25.xe7 xe7 26.xe7+!
xe7 27.d4!+-;
B2) 23...xd6 24.xd6+-
Nice variations - Black does the sensible
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weakness sooner or later, and black has no counterplay on the kingside. xg6 26.f3 h4
real targets. 27.f4 hxg3 28.fxg3 xf4 29.xf4 c6
[ 14...xd2+!? 15.xd2 d6 16.hc1 d7 30.a2 and now control of the a-file proves to
17.e5!? ] be the pivotal aspect of the position. f8
15.d1 0-0 16.ec3 h5 17.0-0 g4 [ 30...gh6 31.b4 h5 32.g4
18.h3 e5 19.e3 fc8 20.f4 c6 21.f2 threatening to break through on e6. ]
b4 22.d4 c7 23.d5 exd5 24.d4 b8 31.ea1 g8 32.a7 e8 33.h4+- g7
25.xd5 xd5 26.xd5 h4 27.c5 b5 34.xg7+ xg7 35.g4+ g6 36.xe6
28.e5 e7 29.f5 f6 30.e4 h8 31.d4 e8 37.d7+ g8 38.xc6 e3 39.a8+
c1+ 32.h2 c6 33.exf6 gxf6 34.xf6 g7 40.d7+ h6
1-0 1-0
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 f5 4.f3 d7 1.e4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.d4 f6 4.c3 g4
5.c3 5.e3 e5 6.b5 d7 7.d5 xf3
[ 5.e2 f6 6.0-0 e6 7.c3 ge7 8.b4 g6 A very unusual move, and a sign that
9.b5 a5 10.a4 b6 11.e3 a6 12.bd2 Mestrovic's various experiments in the Ncb8
h5 13.fe1 f7 14.f1 e7 15.3d2 h4 line have not satisfied him. 8.gxf3!?
16.g4 hxg3 17.fxg3 h3 18.ab1 fxe5 [ 8.xf3 e7 9.0-0-0 a6 10.xd7+
19.dxe5 f5 20.bc1 axb5 21.d1 xe5 ( 10.f1!? ) 10...xd7 11.b1 and Black
22.d4 ec4 23.h5+ g8 24.g4 xh5 has some difficulties completing
25.gxh5 c5 26.f2 b2 0-1 Shabalov,A- development, Hendriks,W-Mestrovic,Z Wijk
Ardaman,M/Philadelphia USA 1999 (26) ] aan Zee 1999. ]
5...f6!? 6.b5 a6 7.a4 8...e7 9.f4 exf4 10.xf4 a6 11.e2 g6
[ 7.e2 g5 8.0-0 0-0-0 9.b4 b8 12.e3 e7
10.bd2 h5 11.b3 b6 12.a4 h4 13.a5 [ 12...h4 cries out to be played, hindering
b5 14.c5 e8 15.d3 g6 16.xb5 g4 the advance of the f-pawn and trying to
17.e1 fxe5 18.e2 exd4 19.cxd4 e5 c o n t r o l f 4 . 13.d2 e7 14.0-0-0 f6
20.ed3 xc5 21.xe5 g7 22.bxc5 f6 gives Black interesting counterplay. ]
23.b3 e8 24.xg4 1-0 Wohl,A-Yadao, I/ 13.d2 c5!?
Surfers Paradise AUS 2000 ] [ 13...f6 14.0-0-0 e7 seems far more
7...e6 8.exf6!? gxf6 9.h4 g6 10.0-0 natural, and a solid version of the previous
d6 11.e1 ge7 12.d2 f7 note. ]
[ 12...0-0-0!? 13.b4 ] 14.dxc6 bxc6 Now Black has lines to use
13.a3 b5 14.b3 f5 15.xf5! xf5 against all potential homes for the White king,
16.f1 h5 17.a4 ag8 18.axb5 axb5 but with care White's bishop pair and slightly
19.e3 e7 20.xf5 xf5 21.c2 better pawn structure should be more
After some very patient and very instructive relevant. 15.c4?
manoeuvring, white has finally annexed the [ 15.0-0-0!? must be better. I find it very hard
bishop pair and increased the scope of his to understand White's manoeuvrings which
f o rc e s . H e h a s p a id f o r t h is b y a l lo wi n g begin now - they simply seem to wast e
counterplay on the g-file, rather than ever time. ]
taking on g6 which would have made black's 15...de5 16.e2 xc4
position more solid. h4 22.g3 g6 23.f3 [ 16...g5! gives Black very active play on
h4 24.d1 g6 25.xg6+ To dull black's the dark squares. ]
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I am convinced that, even for players who being 24.xc7 a6 25.c6 b8 26.d7 ]
begin with 1 e4, an early c2-c4 is the way to 23.e4 e8 24.c2
challenge the soundness of Black's set-up. If [ Playing for the attack is perhaps the most
Black doesn't do anything dramatic White will fun in such positions, but simplifying and
obtain a clear advantage (space, harmonious winning material was possible: 24.dxc7 a6
development and control) in a type of English 25.xf6 xe2 26.xe2 xf6 27.d6 d7
Defence. f5 9.c3 b4 Now the position 28.a3 ]
looks more like a real 'A40' (English Defence) 24...g6 25.g5+ g8 26.xf5!
than a 'B00' (!) but the knight should really be Tempting and, of course, impossible to meet
on f6 rather than f7. 10.exf5 gxf5 11.d5 satisfactorily. xf5 27.xf5 h6 28.a4
Aiming to pressurize Black's position whilst he f8 29.xh7+ g7 30.dxc7 e5 31.xb4
has a lead in development. f6 12.d4! a6 Bezold wanted to move his knight at least
[ Instead after 12.0-0-0 xc3 13.bxc3 e5 once before resigning! 32.c3 f6 33.d6
Black would be able to keep everything 1-0
together. ]
12...e5 13.xe5! Striking while the iron is hot!
[ T h e s l o w e r 13.e3 would again allow 136 B00
Black the breathing space necessary to Yudasin,Leonid 2568
obtain a decent position: d6 14.a3 xc3+ Blatny,Pavel 2452
15.xc3 c6 16.dxc6 xc6 17.0-0-0 0-0-0 92nd NY Masters (2) 02.03.2004
with only a small pull for White due to the [Glenn Flear]
potential of the bishop pair. ]
13...xe5 14.e2 d6 15.f4 h4+ 1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.d3
[ After 15...bd7 16.0-0 White will be able Not bothering with a2-a3, see Game 2. f6
to capture on e5 and then f5 with a clear 5.ge2 c5 6.0-0 c8! Blatny likes these
advantage. ] tricky moves that take his opponent out of the
16.g3 g4 17.fxe5 xd4 Taking the piece, comfort zone. 7.dxc5 bxc5 Still threatening ...
but probably without enthusiasm. c4 winning a piece. Note that Black now has a
[ After 17...xe2+ 18.xe2 c5 19.b5 central pawn majority which makes it harder
cxd4 20.a3 the complications favour White for White to find any pawn breaks in that zone.
e.g. dxe5 ( 20...c5 21.b4 ) 21.axb4 e4 8.g3 h5!? Very manly and obviously not
22.c7+ e7 23.xa8 exd3+ 24.xd3 flinching at the prospect of having his king
a6 25.c7! xc7 26.xa7 b8 27.xd4 stuck in the centre again!
etc. ] [ 8...c4 9.e2 d5 seems wrong as opening
18.exd6+ f7 19.0-0-0 Strong, but not the the central arena must favour W hite e.g.
most incisive. 10.exd5 xd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.f3 xf3
[ The direct 19.e7+! g8 20.xf5 xc3+ 13.xf3 d7 14.d1 when Black has
21.bxc3 xc3+ 22.f2 b2+ 23.f3 problems to complete development. ]
c3+ 24.g2 leaves Black in a hopeless 9.h4?! I'm not sure about this. Why not
state. ] [ 9.e5 h4 10.ge4 xe4 11.xe4 c6
19...f6 12.f4 with extra space and everything under
[ After 19...xc3 then 20.e7+ g8 control? ]
21.xf5 wins. ] 9...c6 10.e1 d6 11.f1 b8
20.hf1 g5+ 21.b1 c8 The fact that Out of harm's way but still pointing in the right
Black has an extra piece doesn't compensate d i r e c t i o n . 12.b3 e7 13.g5 g6
for his suffering. It must have been evident to B rin gin g t h e h 4 - p a wn in t o t h e e qu a t io n .
the players that Black's king will be dethroned 14.d2 h7! 15.a4 e5 Coming to the
long before he can get all his pieces out. central area to influence the dark squares
22.h4! f6 where W hite has some problems. 16.ad1
[ After 22...g6 23.e7+ g8 xg5 17.xg5 d6 18.b5+ I don't think that
White probably has several ways to win, one Blatny cared that his king had to move! f8
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
19.g3 h6 Another tricky move from the wily 33.axb5 cxb5 34.g4 b4 35.g5 b3 36.g6
Czech player. Yudasin doesn't sense the b2 37.g7 g2 38.h7 c5 39.xg2
danger... 20.h2? Normal enough but a fatal b1+ 40.h1 d3 41.h8 b6 42.h6+
mistake! instead a5 43.g8 e4+ 44.g2 xg2 45.xg2
[ 20.c3 covering d4 was required when the b5 46.hg6 b4 47.6g3 a4 48.h4 d5
continuation f4? 21.gxf4 f6 22.g2 49.e3 b3 50.ee2 1/2-1/2 Akopian,V-
g6 fails as White has 23.g3 ] Miles,A Moscow 1990. ]
20...f4!! Surrounding the White queen. 6...f6!? There is nothing wrong with ... d6 a
21.gxf4 f6 The cool intermezzo that makes la Miles. 7.e5 g4 8.c4
Blatny's combination so special. 22.g3 g6 [ 8.e4 b6 ]
23.xg6 fxg6 24.xd6 c7 White has 8...d6 9.e4
enough wood for the queen but his position is [ 9.g5!? is similar, but it seems more
a collection of tactical weaknesses! 25.e5 logical to bring more firepower to bear first. ]
[ 25.d7? is bad after a5 hitting b5 and 9...b6 10.fg5 h6
e1. ] [ 10...dxe5!? leads to interesting
25...e7 26.dd1 d8 27.c4 Trying to complications, and looks safer to me - after
bring his pieces onto effective squares but his all white's king is not exactly safe yet either,
kingside is so shaky. .. xh4 28.c3 a5 and the move accelerates black's
29.xd8+ xd8 30.d1 development. Though after a closer
[ If 30.e4 then xe4 31.xe4 d1+ examination of the game, maybe white is
32.g2 xc2 33.e2 f5 etc. ] simply 'bluffing'. 11.xf7+ e7 12.f3!?
30...xf2+! Piling further humiliation onto his ( 12.d5 b4 ) 12...d4 13.a3+ c5
opponent. 31.xf2 h4+ Now everything 14.b3 ]
goes with check. 32.e3 g3+ 33.d2 11.h5
xf4+ 34.d3 d4+ 35.e2 xe5+ [ 11.exd6 0-0 and white must solve the
36.d3 xh2 37.f1+ e7 38.e1 d6+ problem of his king. ]
39.e2 d4 40.b5 g4+ 41.d2 h4 11...0-0 12.xf7
42.xe6+ xe6 43.xe6 xe6 It's fitting [ 12.e6 fxe6 ( 12...d5 13.xf7 ) 13.xe6
that Black's h-pawn is the decisive factor as xe6 14.xe6+ h8 ]
8...h5 was a courageous move. A truly great 12...xf7 13.g5 d5 14.d3 f5 15.d2?
game from Black. [ 15.xf5 xf5 ]
0-1 15...xg5! 16.fxg5?! g4 17.h4 xe5
As they say, black has compensation for his
material advantage. A thought provoking
137 B00 game, as white's 'natural' threats were made
Zawadzki,Stanislaw 2335 to look terribly primitive.
Heberla,Bartlomiej 2364 0-1
ch-Pol u20 Brzeg Dolny POL (9) 15.02.2001
[Jon Tisdall]
138 B00
1.e4 c6 2.d4 e5 3.dxe5 xe5 4.c3 Zilberstein,Dmitry 2324
c5 5.f4 c6 6.f3 Blatny,Pavel 2433
[ 6.c4!? d6 7.f3 e6 8.xe6 fxe6 National Open (3) 09.03.2002
9.a4 b6 10.xb6 axb6 11.0-0 f6 [Jon Tisdall]
12.g5 e7 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 xe5
15.e2 a5 16.b4 xb4 17.xe6 e7 1.d4 b6 2.e4 b7 3.d3 f6 4.e2 c6
18.xg7+ xg7 19.d2 d5 20.c4 xd2 5.c3 e5 6.f3 exd4 7.e5 d5 8.cxd4
21.xe5+ d8 22.xf6+ xf6 23.xf6 [ 8.e4!? has the best track record. Here is
e8 24.a4 ee2 25.f8+ e7 26.g8 an example of an unrated player shoving
d6 27.g7 c6 28.h1 a2 29.g1 h5 GM Blatny around: a5 9.xd4 e7
30.g6+ c5 31.g5+ xc4 32.xh5 b5 10.b5 b8 11.0-0 a6 12.xb7 xb7
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advantage (White had the bishop pair in xf3 11.xf3 (the point White has clamped
an open position).; down on e5 now Black has to play for ...c5 if
A2) 11...a5!? 12.a4 e5 13.dxe5 possible) 5b6 12.b3 c5 13.g5!
xe5!? 14.xb7 d3 15.d1 e7 A) 13...c7! has the idea ...c4 and comes
16.f3 xc1 17.xc1 ad8 c l o s e t o e q u a l i s i n g , e . g . , 14.h4!?
(Dautov) and Black has some ( 14.d2 c4 15.c2 d5 16.h6 )
compensation for the pawn, although I 14...c4 15.g3 c6 16.c2 d5
would still take White after 18.a3 d2 17.d2 h6 intending ... b5-b4.;
19.c2 fd8 20.f1!; B) 13...f6?! 14.h6 g7 15.d2 cxd4
A3) 11...--; 16.xg7 xg7 17.xd4 c5 18.xe6!
B) 10.f4 e5!? 11.dxe5 xd1 12.xd1 fxe6 ( 18...xe6 19.xe6 ) 19.b4 c4
c4 13.bd2! ( After the alternative 20.e2 d5 21.ad1 ae8 22.bxc5 f6
13.fd2?! 4xe5 14.xg4 d3 15.e3 23.b3 1-0 Zapata, A (2530)-Sariego, W
xf4 (Cao Sang-Palkovi, Budapest 1995) (2435), Linares 1992. ]
it's W hite who is playing to equalise.) 9...xf3 10.xf3 c6 This standard structure
13...xb2 14.c2 fd8! 15.ab1 d3 is designed to restrict White's bishops. Here,
16.xd3 xd3 17.xb7 d8 18.xc7 as in most openings, it gives White a slight
e6 19.c4 xf4 20.xf4 e6 21.a4 e d g e t h a t i s d i f f i c u l t t o c o n v e r t . 11.a4
xc3 The advantage of the bishop pair Another safe move which looks for space on
over the knights just about compensates the queenside (perhaps contemplating a5 to
for the pawn deficit. With accurate play the stop ...Nb6 at some point), while preventing
game should be drawn. 22.d4 d5 a n y s u r p ri se e xp a n s io n b y B l a ck o n t h e
23.a5 d3?! ( 23...d8 24.xa7 xe5! queenside.
(Dautov) is simpler. Now Black has to work [ Bertona-Gomez Laosa, Aragon 2003 was
hard for half-a-point.) 24.2f3 c4 25.h3 also favourable for White following 11.d2
h6 26.a1 f4 27.a4 c3 28.b5 f6 12.d1 ( 12.g3!?; 12.xf6
xb5 29.xf4 ac8 30.a4 c1+ 31.xc1 with the better ending) 12...h6 13.e4 d8
xc1+ 32.h2 c6 33.g5 d5 34.d4 14.f3 d7 15.b3 h7 16.d6 c7
c5 35.e4 xe4 36.xe4 f8 37.f4 17.g3 7f6 18.c4!? h5 19.h2 b4
a5 38.d4 e7 39.g4 c3 40.d5 c4 20.d1 ad8 21.c5 d5 and Black is
41.xa5 xf4 42.g3 b4 43.a8 e6 holding his own. ]
44.a5?! xe5 45.a6 b3+ 46.f2 a3 11...a5 12.a3 d7 13.d2!?
1/2-1/2 Klovans-Dautov/USSR (Game 46) [ 13.c2 prepares for 5b6 14.b3 e5
1986/The Scandinavian/ [John Emms]; 15.e3 , to capture with a piece on d4, but
C) 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 a5 ( 11...e5 Black can play something slower like 13...
12.dxe5 xe5 13.d2! g7 14.e4 ) Qc7. ]
12.a4 ( 12.f4! a4 13.c2 with the idea 13...5b6 Black prepares to break in the
c4 14.e2 xb2 15.b5 e5 16.dxe5 centre.
a3 17.xb7 ) 12...e5 13.dxe5 xe5 [ 13...c7 14.c2 fe8 is a solid
14.xb7 d3 15.d1 - analysis by alternative. ]
Da u t o v a n d n o w B l a c k m ig h t t r y c5! 14.b3 e5 This break is always double-
16.xd8 axd8 17.xc7 xb3 edged: On the one hand, it opens the position
, when the game is about equal following for the bishops (the one on b3 gains in range)
18.d2! xa1 19.xb6 h6 20.f4! xf4 but if Black can isolate and blockade a pawn
21.f2 g5 ] on d4, that will in and of itself limit W hite's
8.c3 e6 bishops and other pieces. 15.c2 exd4
[ 8...c6 9.h3 xf3 10.xf3 e6 16.cxd4
transposes. ] [ 16.xd4 c5 17.c2 would be desirable,
9.h3 but c4 is strong. ]
[ 9.bd2 , probably better, has been played 16...f6 17.g5 bd5! 18.e5 b6
in several games, for example, d7 10.h3 A standard spot for the queen. Black should
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be okay here. 19.ae1 h6 20.h4 h7!? 83.e5 a6 84.d7+ f8 85.d6 xd6
[ 20...ad8 is natural and good. Black 86.xd6 f7 87.e5 e7 88.f6+ f7
probably can't undertake anything positive, 89.f5 f8
but he's in no danger. ] ½-½
21.5e2 g5
[ Or 21...hf6 ]
22.g3 140 B01
[ 22.xg5 hxg5 23.xd5 cxd5 24.e3 Ahn,Martin 2321
ad8 25.xd5 xd4 ] Sebastian
22...f4!? 23.e7 24th ECC Kallithea GRE (2) 18.10.2008
[ 23.xf4 xb3 ] [John Watson]
23...d5 24.xg5 hxg5 25.7e4 ad8
T h e g a m e i s s t i l l a b o u t e q u a l , a lt h o u g h 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.d4 g4 4.b5+
Black's pieces are better-placed and he has This is a very interesting approach, helping
what chances there are. 26.h1 f6 Black's development but hurting his piece
[ 26...f4! ] coordination. Last month, in Goh Wei Ming's
27.4e3 d5 28.f3 xd4!? Daring. excellent update, he looked at 4 Nf3,
[ 28...f6!? 29.xd5 cxd5 30.b3 c6 [ 4.e2 and ]
keeps in touch with f6. ] [ 4.f3 , the main line. There are 6 other
29.xg5?! games with 4 f3 in the Archives. ]
[ 29.xd4 xd4 30.xg5 g7 ( 30...xb2 [ I also showed a game with 4.d3 xd5
31.xf7! ) 31.xf7+ xf7 32.xd8 xf2 , when 5 h3! seems best but the move 4...
33.e8 f1+ 34.h2 f4+ draws. ] Qxd5 is probably all right for Black after 5
29...xb2 30.h4 d6! Covering both g6 and Nc3 Qd7 and ...Nc6. ]
f6. 31.h5 d8 32.g3 g7?! 4...bd7
[ 32...g7! keeps everything defended and [ 4...d7 leaves Black cramped after 5.e2
contemplates ...gxh5. Then Black is a solid xd5 6.c4 f6 7.c3 or 7 Nf3. ]
pawn up. ] 5.e2 xe2 6.xe2
33.g1 f6 [ 6.xe2 xd5 7.c4 5f6 8.bc3 e6
[ 33...f6! ] 9.0-0 e7 is another line it seems solid
34.xd5! xd5 35.b3 d4 36.xd4 enough f or Black, the more so because
xd4 37.xb7 xa4!? 38.hxg6 xg6 W hit e's knight is so passive on e2 an d
[ 38...f4! ] therefore ...e5 becomes feasible. ( 9...d6
39.e5+ g8 40.g3 e6 41.g5+ g6 is a more ambitious way to proceed )]
42.d2 a3 43.e4 c5 44.f4 g5 6...xd5 7.f3
45.a7 xf4 46.xf4 Of course this is draw, [ 7.c4 (before ...e6 and ...Bb4+ can interfere)
but with a 350-point rating difference, Adams 5f6 8.c3 ( 8.f3 e6 9.0-0 c6
pla ys on . He m a ke s re a l pro gre ss, e ve n transposes to the game.) 8...g6!? 9.f4
wining a pawn, but can't get through in the (9 Nf3 is simple and mildly better for White I
end. g7 47.xa5 d8 48.af5 d7 wouldn't like to play Black in such a position,
49.g2 gd6 50.c5 e6 51.g4 g6 but he has a fairly standard setup) h5!?
52.fc4 dd6 53.g3 f6 54.c3 e1 55.f3 10.g5 h6 11.h4 df6!? (artificial Black
ee6 56.f4 h6 57.f3 g7 58.f5 e1 hunts down the bishop at the cost of time
59.xc6 xc6 60.xc6 f1+ 61.g2 a1 a n d s p a c e ) 12.0-0-0 g5 13.g3 xg3
62.e6 b1 63.f2 a1 64.d6 b1 14.hxg3 g7 15.f3 0-0 16.e5
65.f3 f1+ 66.e4 g1 67.d7+ h6 with a substantial advantage, Rodriguez Vila,
68.f3 f1+ 69.g2 a1 70.g3 g1+ A (2467)-Cubas, J (2369)/ Serra Negra
71.f4 f1+ 72.e3 e1+ 73.f3 f1+ 2002. ]
74.e4 g1 75.d5 xg4 76.e6 a4 7...e6 8.0-0 This type of position is discussed
77.xf6 a6+ 78.e5 a5+ 79.d5 a7 in the forum. I find it in White's favour, which
80.e6 g7 81.d6 f7 82.d1 f6+ is not surprising in view of his greater central
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Soon we see how badly this move weakens 14.f3! would've left White with a pleasant
the kingside, especially by allowing White to bind on the centre. ]
use g4. 23.h3 d6 8.ge2 e6 9.b3 A new move from Anand
[ 23...f6 24.g4 e7 25.e2 ( 25.d5!? ) and it's nothing spectacular but it does seem
25...ad8 26.c3! and d5 follows. ] to secure a slight advantage.
24.xg6! This should win. [ 9.0-0 doesn't seem to yield much edge e7
[ 24.c3 a2 defends. ] A) after 10.e1 0-0 11.a4 Black could've
[ But 24.g4! with the idea f5 is quite equalised in Hamdouchi, H (2617)-Borgo,
awkward for Black, threatening Nxg6, but G ( 2 3 9 7 ) L u g a n o 2 0 1 2 w i t h a5!
also f5 with attack. ] ( inste ad af te r 11...a6?! 12.a5 c6
24...f5? 13.b3 b5 14.axb6 cxb6 15.d5!
[ Black has to accept by 24...fxg6 25.xe6 White has much the better game and went
( 25.c3 a2 ) 25...d8 26.f5! f6 on to win. );
, w h e n W h i t e n e e d s t o f i n d 27.d5! B) 10.h1 0-0 11.a4 a5 12.e4 c6
, for example, cxd5 28.fxg6 f8 29.xh4 ] ( 12...c6! 13.xf6+ xf6 14.c3 d7
25.xe7! fxe4 and Black is very close to equalising.)
[ 25...xe7 26.xf5 ] 13.c3 fd8 14.c2 was slightly better for
26.g4+ f7 27.g6+ xe7 28.g7+ W hite in Gharamian, T (2658)-Prie, E
e8 29.xh8+ f8 30.xh4 With 2 extra (2526) Charleroi 2011 ]
passed pawns and threats against Black's [ 9.e3 c6 ( possibly Black should accept
exposed king, White wins easily. d3 31.h7 a slightly worse position with 9...e7 10.0-0
f5 32.g8+ f8 33.xe6+ e7 34.g8+ 0-0 ) 10.a3 e7 11.0-0 ed5 12.f2
f8 35.g6+ d7 36.xe4 xb2 37.d5 0-0-0 led to interesting play in Edouard, R
xa4 38.g3 e8 39.dxc6+ bxc6 40.d1+ (2607) -Bauer, C (2679) Switzerland 2012
c7 41.f5+ b7 42.d7+ b6 43.c7+ but after 13.b4! h5 14.e4 xe4 15.fxe4
b7 44.d6+ f6 and here White should be somewhat
1-0 better after 16.h4! which holds up Black's
play on the kingside ]
9...c6 10.e3 a5 It's logical to go straight
144 B01 after the bishop pair but it's not the only option
Anand,V 2772 [ 10...0-0-0 is surely a critical way to play this
Van Wely,L 2679 position and in fact Black seems to have
75th Tata Steel GpA (7.6) 19.01.2013 re aso na b le ch an ces h e re , f or exa mp le
[Tom Rendle] 11.d2 e8 12.0-0 b8 ( 12...h5!? )
13.ad1 e7 and chances are very
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4 balanced. 14.d5?! is met by c5 ]
f6 5.d2 g4 6.f3 d7 Probably the most 11.0-0 xb3 12.axb3 e7 13.f4 0-0
sensible retreat. 14.e1 fd8 It's hard to believe that Black is
[ 6...h5 7.g4 g6 8.f4 gives White good more than minimally worse but Anand keeps
chances and was covered in two games by up the pressure with some accurate moves
Eric Prié in the archives, Golubev-Kislinsky 15.d3 This prevents Van Wely from playing
and Koepke-Kislinsky ] ...c5 and freeing his game. d6
[ 6...f5 has also been tried but White keeps [ 15...a5! is probably a slight improvement
s o m e a d v a n t a g e wi t h 7.c4 ( 7.g4!? ) and now after 16.f2 b4 White has to
7...b6 8.ge2 ] decide how to make progress. One option is
7.c4 b6 17.d5 d6 18.dxe6 xe6 19.xb4 xb4
[ 7...c6 was seen in Fedorov, A (2598)- but Black should be holding a draw fairly
Mamedyarov, S (2542) Batumi 2002 but it co m f o r t a b l y h e r e a l t h o u g h wi t h 20.e2
just seems to give W hite an easy game: and Ra4 White still has the easier position to
8.e2 e6 9.e4 d8 10.0-0-0 b5 11.d3 play. ]
a6 12.f4 b4 13.xb4 xb4 and now 16.f2 c6 17.e4! xe4 18.fxe4 f5?!
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
This is unnecessarily weakening and g7 10.h1 f5! 11.c4 ( After the game
ultimately it costs Loek the game. Kasparov recommended 11.e3! xd3
[ 18...b6 was better although White is 12.xd3 0-0 13.xd7 xd7 14.f5
somewhat better after 19.c4 d7 20.e5 although in my opinion, Black keeps a tiny
e8 21.g4 b7 however Black's still very advantage.) 11...e6 12.e2 ( threatening
solid so he definitely should have played this g2-g4 ) h5! 13.e3 d8 14.g1 0-0
way. ] 15.f3 d5! 16.xd5 Forced, as ( 16.e2
19.exf5 exf5 20.c4! e4?! After this Black is fails to xf4! ) 16...exd5 with a clear edge. ]
just losing a pawn. 6...f5 7.e5 e6 8.g4 g6 9.h4 bd7!
[ 20...h4 was a better try but after 21.g3 The best line
e4! 22.d5 ( would be a big mistake due to [ 9...b4 does not solve Black's problems as
22.gxh4? g6+ 23.g3 xd4 and Black the game Campora - Cu. Hansen, Palma de
regains the piece with a good positio n) Mallorca GMA 1989 proved: 10.d2 e4
22...xd3 23.xd3 f6 24.xf5 xb2 11.f3! xc3 12.bxc3 xc3 13.b1 b5
25.a2 f6 26.ae2 White is clearly 14.b3 d7 15.xc6 xd2+ 16.xd2
better ] c7 17.d5 with a clear advantage. ]
21.c5 g6 22.xe4 fxe4 23.b1! f6 10.xd7 xd7 11.h5 e4 12.h3
24.xe4 xe4 25.xe4 Anand is a pawn up [ 12.0-0 gives W hite nothing real: d5
and makes the rest of the game look very 13.xd5 cxd5 14.d3 d6 15.c3 g6
easy indeed c6 26.f1 d7 27.e2 a6 16.d2 d8 17.g2 gxh5 18.g5 e7
28.d3 ad8 29.ae1 f7 30.e3 h5 19.xh5 0-0-0= with equality, Westerinen -
31.f1 g6 32.b4! d6 33.h3 6d7 Prie, Andorra 1994 ]
Black is unable to do more than wait and now 12...g2 The idea of this move is that if White
Vishy clamps down on the kingside as well. plays Rg3, then Black will gain a tempo with a
34.g4! hxg4 35.hxg4 f8?? A blunder that later Bd6.
brings the game to a swift conclusion 36.g5 [ 12...d5 is the main Black reply and is
xd4 37.e6+ probably best as the move played here was
[ 37.e6+ f6+ 38.c2 f7 39.e4 disastrous for Black. White then usually tries
and the Bishop is still lost on f6! ] 13.d3 0-0-0 ( 13...d6 14.d2 c7
1-0 15.xd5 cxd5 16.e2 f4 17.0-0-0
gave White a small edge in the game Ochoa
de Echaguen - Denker, New York 1989)
145 B01 14.d2 b6 15.xd5 exd5 with good
Anand,Viswanathan 2765 counterplay in the game Rublevsky - Lastin,
Lautier,Joel 2660 Russia (ch) Elista 1995. ]
Biel 1997 13.e3!
[Alexander Volzhin] [ St ro n ge r t h a n 13.g3 d5 although
White's chances are still preferable. ]
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4 13...b6
f6 5.f3 c6 [ 13...b5 14.d3 b4 does not solve Black's
[ 5...g4 ] problems as he will soon be forced to part
[ 5...f5 are the alternatives. ] with a Bishop by taking on e4 after 15.e4 ]
6.c4 14.d3!
[ 6.e5 was tried in the World title match [ 14.b3?! c5! would give Black good
between Kasparov and Anand. White didn't counterplay ]
obtain any advantage from the opening, 14...d5 15.f3! The point. The bishop is
mo re o ve r t h e W o rld Ch a m p ion , wh o is trapped on g2 and White's task now is not to
famous for his great knowledge of opening give up too much material for it.
theory, found himself in an inferior position [ P r e vio u s l y 15.g3 had been played, the
after 15 moves! The game continued: e6! game Bauer - Prie, France (ch) 1996
7.d3 bd7 8.f4?! ( 8.xd7 ) 8...g6! 9.0-0 continued with xc3 16.bxc3 d5 17.d2
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
a4 18.e2 b5 19.h6 0-0-0 22.xd4 xd4 23.d3! The simplest. d8
with complicated and double-edged play. ] 24.xd8+ xd8 25.d3!
15...b4 [ 25.d3 h1 26.b2 e8 27.f6
[ After 15...xc3 16.bxc3 xc3+ 17.d2 It is remarkable that White still has not won
xd4 18.f2 xf3 19.xf3 White has a the trapped Bishop, but he doesn't need it!
big advantage, according to Anand. ] Black resigned. A very beautiful game by
[ 15...xe3!? was interesting: 16.xe3 a3 Vishy Anand. ]
17.c1 ( 17.bxa3 xf3 18.d2 xg4 1-0
19.h6 Black is slightly better) 17...b4
18.f2 xc3 19.bxc3 xc3 20.d2
xd4+ 21.xg2 and White's chances looks 146 B01
preferable. ] Ansell,S
16.f2! xc3 Martin,Andrew D
[ 16...xc3 was not better: 17.bxc3 xc3 4NCL West Bromwich 01.05.2005
18.b1 xd4 19.xg2 xe3 20.xe3 [Andrew Martin]
with a clear advantage. ]
17.bxc3 xc3 18.b1 xd4 No w, a ra re p e rso n a l d isa s t e r u s in g t h e
[ Both alternatives 18...xf3 19.xf3 xd4 Scandinavian. I've been meaning to
20.xb7 ] experiment with 3...Qd6 for some time what a
[ and 18...xe3 19.xe3 xf3 20.xf3 beginning! 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3
fail to make Black's life easier. ] d6!? I think the punctuation is correct. Some
19.xb7 d8 things I like about this move particularly the
[ 19...h3 was another try which would be dynamic aspect of the centralized Queen. But
met by 20.xf7! c5 21.f5!! xe3 t h e Q u e e n is e xp o se d a n d b lo cks in t h e
22.xe3 b2 23.xc5 0-0 24.g3! Bishop on f8 for the time being. Black's plan
with a decisive advantage, as was pointed of ...a6, ...b5, ...Bb7, ...e6, ...Nbd7, ...Be7
out by Joel Lautier. ] and eventually ... c7-c5 is easy to understand
[ 19...f4 20.g3 d6 does not help either though. 4.d4 f6 5.f3 a6 6.d3!
because of the beautiful 21.a3! xh5+ This prevents 6.. b5 for the time being: g4
( 21...xa3 22.e4! winning ) 22.xg2 [ 6...b5 7.a4 b4 8.e4 and Black is
g3+ 23.f1 winning ] already much worse. ]
20.h6!! The idea behind this spectacular move 7.h3 xf3? There is no excuse for this move.
is very beautiful and was not appreciated by Ceding the Bishops at this stage is weak. I
Lautier. gxh6? thought I might be able to make up for this
[ B l a c k c o u l d s t i l l f i g h t w i t h 20...xe3 concession by developing quickly but this is
21.xe3 e5 22.hxg7 g8 23.g1 simply the wrong view of the position.
( 23.h6 h2! ) 23...xf3 24.xf3 [ Instead 7...h5 is correct and then Black
with a big advantage, according to Anand. ] should be able to equalize comfortably: 8.g4
21.g6!! The point! It's not very often you see ( 8.e4 xe4 9.xe4 c6 10.c3 g6!;
such a beautiful combination on the board, 8.e3 c6 9.e2 b4 ) 8...g6 9.xg6
especially in a game between two top players. hxg6 10.g5 d5= Looking at it now I really
e7 cannot find any reason for playing 7...Bxf3.
[ Other moves were also losing: 21...xe3+ I must have been having a very bad day! ]
22.xe3 fxg6 ( 22...hxg6 23.d4 ) 23.c5 ] 8.xf3 c6 9.e3 0-0-0 10.0-0-0 b4
[ 21...f6 22.xf7+ xf7 23.xf7 xe3 This seemed absolutely necessary in view of
24.xd8+! xd8 25.xe3 h3 26.xa7 ] White's idea of Ne4, which is his main trump.
[ 21...xe3 22.xf7+ f8 23.xd4 xd4 For instance
24.xe3 ] [ 10...e6 11.e4! xe4 12.xe4
[ and the main idea is to checkmate the and already the White position is winning. ]
B l a c k K i n g a f t e r 21...xd1 22.xe6+ 11.a3 xd3+ 12.xd3 e6 13.e1!
with Bh6 and Bf7 to follow. ] A nice move. I'd analysed
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ 13.hd1 e7 14.d5 exd5 15.xd5 xd5 for 8.e2!? xg2 9.f3 h3 10.f4
16.xd5 g6 and saw that Black was e6+ 11.e5 which gave White some
surviving. The point of 13 Re1 is to play d4- compensation in Plaskett - Houska,J,
d5! again, but this time with added power. ] Islington 1998?) 8...g4 9.f3 e6 10.d2
13...e7 14.g5 d7 0-0-0 11.e5 c4 12.d3 e6 and Black
[ 14...b6 15.d5 seemed horrible. ] was fine in the game Ponomariov -
15.d5! e8 After much thought and mental Hauchard, Belfort 1998 ]
torture. Actually, I could have saved myself 7...f5? This leads to disaster.
the mental recrimination by simply admitting [ T h e c r i t i c a l l i n e i s 7...xd4 8.c4
that Black is lost and resigning. Yes, it's that ( White can force a draw with 8.g6 e6+
bad! 9.e5 (threatening both the knight on d4
[ 15...exd5 16.xf6! ( 16.xd5 xd5 and 10.Bc4) b6 10.c4 e6+ 11.e5
17.xe7 he8 18.e5 c6 might just be d6 12.g6 e6+ 13.e5 1/2-1/2 as in
s u r v i v a b l e) 16...xf6 17.xd5 Smith - Sermek, Auckland 2000. Can he do
is disgusting. ] better?; I t h i n k t h a t 8.g3!?
16.xe7 xe7 17.e3! I must say that looks interesting.) 8...e6 9.xe6 ( And not
Ansell finishes the game incisively . I was 9.g6 b6 10.xh8 xc4 when the
already getting short of time and could find no knight on h8 is trapped.) 9...xe6 10.f3
answer to the direct attack on the King. d6 xf4 11.xf4 e6 12.0-0 e7 13.e4
To try and cover the possible need to play ... d5 14.fe1 d8 15.c4 d4 16.f3 d7
Kd7 18.a7 he8 17.e5 d4 18.f3 d7 19.e5 d4
[ 18...e5 19.a4! ] 1/2-1/2 Mortensen - Bronstein,D, Hastings
19.dxe6 g5+ 20.b1 xe6 21.xe6 fxe6 Challengers 1996 ]
22.e4! G a m e o v e r . e5 23.c5 c6 8.c4 xe5 9.dxe5 c6
24.b3 e8 25.xb7 One mistake in the 3... [ After 9...xd1+ there is 10.xd1 d7
Qd6 and you get gunned down. That was the 11.d5 but the text leads to even greater
valuable lesson taught to me from this game. horrors. ]
1-0 10.e2 xg2 11.0-0-0 e4 12.d5 0-0-0
13.e3 xd1+ 14.xd1 g6 15.d3 b8
16.d8+ c8 17.e6 d6 18.d5
147 B01 A strong argument against moving your queen
Arakhamia Grant,Ketevan 2425 too much in the opening.
Mashinskaya,Iulia 2300 1-0
3rd EIWCh Varna BUL (4) 30.05.2002
[Nigel Davies]
148 B01
I must admit that I am suspicious about the Baron,Ta 2455
merits of 3...Qd6 and this game may point to Kurajica,Bojan 2529
its potential vulnerability. 7.Bf4 offers a pawn 4th Mediterranean Open (9.7) 20.11.2010
for fast development and whilst Black has [Gawain Jones]
d o n e O K s o f a r , t h e p o si t io n l o o k s ve r y
dangerous to me. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.f3 g4 4.e2
3.c3 d6 4.d4 f6 5.f3 a6 6.e5 c6 c6 5.d4 0-0-0 6.c4 f5 7.e3 xf3
[ 6...e6 7.f4 looks very unpleasant for 8.xf3 xd4 9.xd4 e6+ 10.e2 c5
Black. ] [ Last time I looked at this line I concentrated
7.f4!? White continues his development and on 10...e4 which didn't solve Black's
offers his d-pawn. At the moment it looks as if problems - see Bruzon Batista, L (2641)-
he has nothing more than a draw by repetition, Kurajica, B (2525) La Laguna 2010. I've
but in such a sharp position there may be ad d e d in a f e w mo re re ce n t e xa mp le s .
improvements for White. 11.0-0
[ 7.xc6 xc6 8.f4 ( Are there any takers A) 11...xd4 12.a4 The first practical
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encounter of the forum's suggestion. xe2 line.' I still don't see how White can hope for
13.xa7 an advantage here.
A1) I e x a m i n e d 13...g4?! with the A) 13.0-0!? xe2 14.a3 ( 14.a8+
threat of ...Rxg2 for a draw but 14.a8+ is probably a draw although allows Black
d7 15.h3! foils Black's plan and leaves to try playing on with the dangerous c7
White with a great position.; 15.a5+ b6 16.a7+ c6 17.b4 e6
A2) and 13...xb2 la s t t im e : 14.a3 but I feel this is rather foolhardy.) 14...e5
d3 15.b5 f6 16.ad1 c2 17.c1 15.b5 ( 15.c5 g4 16.f4 is another
d2 18.a8+ ( 18.c5!? ) 18...d7 suggestion of AlanG, but I would be rather
19.a4 c6 20.cd1 cxb5 21.xb5+ scared playing this as White as a knight on
c8 22.xd2 xd2 23.c5+- winning for e3 dominates the position rather.) 15...e6
White.; 16.c5 g4 17.g3 b8 18.a4 e5
A3) 13...d6 A new try but this doesn't 19.a7+ c7 20.b5+ d7 21.xd4+
s a v e B l a c k . 14.a8+ d7 15.c5!? e7 given by gewgaw, when Black's king
( 15.xf8 xb2 16.a3 looks like the has escaped the worst with good chances
easiest when Black won't survive long.) to convert the extra piece. In particular
15...d4 16.xf8 d1 17.d2 xd2 watch out for ...Rxd4!;
18.xg7 f6 19.xh8 xb2 20.c6+ B) 13.a3 is the safest although allows
bxc6 21.a4 b4 22.fe1 g4 23.f8 Black to equalise with a6=;
d5 24.a5 1-0 Lyell, M (2202) -Ivanov, C) 13.a8+ 'allows Black at least a draw
M (2438) Zdar nad Sazavou 2010 saw and he might even be able to play f or
the lower rated Englishman grateful to more with' c7 14.a5+ b6 15.e5+
ChessPublishing!; c8 ( This looks more reliable than
B) 11...xd4 12.a4 e6 13.c3 d6 AlanG's 15...d6 16.a5+ b8
B1) Bruzon chose 14.f3! which looks which isn't so clear.) 16.d2 This was
strong. My critical line from the previous actually tried in a correspondence game
annotation ran f4 15.fd1 xh2+ w h i c h w o r k e d o u t w e l l f o r B l a c k . d3
( Looking at the game now I wonder 17.f3 e6 18.0-0 d6 19.c3 b4
whether 15...a6!? might be an 20.b3 d7 21.e4 c5 22.xc5
in t e re s t i n g m o ve o rd e r ke e p in g t h e xc5 23.c3 d4 and I feel Black really
queen active although 16.b4 xc4 can't have any problems. Lopez, A (1670)-
17.e4 b5 18.c2 e5 19.ac1 De h a yb e , A (1 8 8 8 ) Ch e s sf r ie n d . c o m
looks extremely dangerous.) 16.f1 a6 2003. ]
17.c5 xc5 18.xb7+ xb7 19.xd8 [ A practical game saw 12...d3 13.c3 dxe2
h1+ 20.e2 xg2 21.e4 14.a8+ d7 ( 14...c7 simply loses to
and White has a decisive advantage.; 15.b5+ ) 15.xb7+ e8 16.d5 c8
B2) 14.b5 e5 15.xd6+ cxd6 when Top Notch gives 17.a4 with good
16.f3 b8 17.ad1 ( I looked at winning chances. The queenside pawns are
17.fe1 previously.) 17...f6 18.d3 extremely fast! ]
c5 19.fd1 d7 20.c3 hd8 21.b4 13.a3 This was gipc's line on the forum.
b6 22.dc1 e5 23.c5 dxc5 24.bxc5 [ 13.0-0!? looks critical to me. With another
c7 25.a3 a6 26.c6 d4 with very look at this variation I believe that W hite
strong compensation. Trygstad, K should try this but still White has a question
(2301)-Kasparov, S (2492) Leros 2010 ] mark on how to react to 12... Nf 6. xe2
11.a4 And I thought this the critical test. I've 14.a3
added in my annotations from last time. cxd4 A) L a s t t i m e I s a i d 14...e5 15.c5!
'This is now forced as' gives W hite good chances but perhaps
[ 11...xd4 12.xa7 e5 13.c3 B l a c k c a n h o l d . b8 16.a4 e5
is great for White. ] ( 16...h5!? looks like a promising idea
12.xa7 'when' e5 17.c4 h6 18.fc1 c6 19.b6+ c7
[ 12...f6 'has been discussed as the critical 20.a5 e6 looks very artificial but if White
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has no killer blow then Black will be able A2) 15...xa7 16.xa7+ b8 17.fxe5
to consolidate.) 17.b5 d7 18.ac1 xa7 18.h5 and White has something
d8 19.c6 bxc6 20.xc6 with pressure on f7.;
and the computer starts to like White...; B) 14...b4+?! Actually this is probably
B) 14...e6 15.a8+! d7 16.xb7+ the mistake. 15.f1
e8 17.b5 ( 17.c6+ is the perpetual B1) 15...d3 16.f3 d7 17.a8+ b8
draw f o r W h it e .) 17...e7 ( 17...d6 18.a4 c5 19.d1+- And again
18.c5 e5 19.ae1 also looks good for Black's king is unlikely to survive. ( 19.b4
White. ) 18.c5 e5 ( 18...d3 simply loses actually looks even easier. );
to 19.c6 as the line given by Top Notch B2) 15...c5 16.a5 ( 16.a8+ b8
illu stra tes : d2 20.c7 d1 21.axd1 17.a4 looks very strong too.) 16...d3
xd1 22.c6+ f8 23.a8+ d8 17.f3 e7 18.e1 f4
24.xd8+ xd8 25.cxd8# ) 19.c6 b8 B2a) 19.b4! is actually stronger (a
20.a4! xb7 ( 20...c5 21.fc1 better computer now :)). Black cannot
doesn't help.) 21.cxb7 f6 22.a5 d7 k e e p t h e b i s h o p . d4 ( 19...d6
23.fc1 d5 24.a6 g5 25.c4+- 20.b6+- ) 20.g3 b8 21.xd4 xd4
is an excellent line given by Top Notch 22.c5+ c6 23.xc6 both win a
when the passed pawns are far stronger piece.;
than the piece. ] B2b) 19.g3+- Continuing the line for a
[ 13.f1!? linksspringer is another few more moves b8 20.b4 c6
interesting possibility. It look rather artificial 21.xc6 bxc6 22.bxc5 cxb5 23.cxb5
but it does keep the bishop. e6 14.d2 d5 24.g2 and White is material up
c5 ] and with the safer king. ]
13...e6 We decided this wasn't so good and I 14...b8 15.a5 This controls the e5 square
think this is a case of our analysis outstripping but allows Black to gain time with Ne7-c6.
both players. [ 15.xb8+ xb8 16.c2 e5 obviously
[ 13...d3 was my mainline. favours Black with the central pawns. ]
A) 14.0-0-0!? "look an interesting attempt [ 15.a4 I initially thought was an
to me which I don't think has been improvement but Black has absolutely no
m e n t i o n e d b e f o r e " xe2 15.a8+ problems here. d3 16.f3 d2+ 17.f1
( 15.b1!? ) 15...c7 16.b5+ c6 xa3 18.xa3 f6 19.d1 with a very
17.a4 gives Black extreme practical complex position. It's one of those positions
problems. While the computer informs me in which both sides have ugly positions.
it's a draw, I'm not completely convinced.; Black's king is vulnerable and his d2 pawn
B) 14.a8+ c7 ( 14...b8?! is fairly likely to drop. On the other hand the
was tried in a Corr. game but 15.xb8+ pawn d oes a goo d job kee pin g W hit e's
xb8 16.0-0-0 e5 17.xd3 xd3 rooks out of the game. A possible
18.xd3 xa3 19.bxa3 f6 20.e1 continuation runs: d7 20.g3 hd8 21.a5
an d W h it e co n ve rt ed h is e xt ra p a wn . ( 21.g2 d4! 22.a5 c7 23.a8+
Kovac, S-Nielsen, J (2048) ICCF email d7 ) 21...c7 22.a8+ b8 23.a5
2005. ) 15.b5+ c6 16.a7+ c7 d4!? 24.b3 e5 and I'd select Black. ]
17.b5+ is simply a draw. ] 15...d3?! It's hard to refrain from this move to
14.a8+ try and stop White castling but the pawn now
[ 14.b5! was our choice when Black's becomes vulnerable.
position is tough. [ 15...e7 would exploit the precarious
A) 14...c5 immediately is better but nature of W hite's queen. 16.f3 ( 16.0-0
15.f4! c6 17.a4 d3 18.f3 xa3 19.xa3
A1) 15...c7 16.a4! xf4 17.f1 e5 20.h5 d6 21.c5 d4 and Black's
xh2 18.xf7 e7 ( 18...b8 queen and knight dominate the board. Black
19.b4! ) 19.0-0-0 and White's attack of course always has to be careful in this
must be simply too strong.; line as his king is still somewhat
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vulnerable.) 16...c6 17.xc6 bxc6 18.0-0 sudden swing in fortunes and is still trying to
d6 19.g3 b4 ( 19...xb2 looks very crash through on the queenside but ceding d5
risky. ) 20.a8+ c7 21.a7+ b7 is terrible.
22.a5+ b6 23.d2 e5 with a very [ Instead he could have still bailed out with
complex position. ] 23.xd2! xd2 24.b4+! f6 ( 24...e8
16.f3 25.xd2 actually favours White as xa7?
[ 16.d1 looks to pick up the pawn but Black loses to 26.d1; 24...d6 25.c6+!
can again exploit W hite's queen position is the cunning idea.) 25.xd2 xh2!
with e7 17.xd3 ( 17.f3 c6 18.xc6 and Black is still for preference but W hite
bxc6 19.0-0 is extremely complicated but stays in the game. ( 25...xa7 26.f4+
subjectively I'd prefer to be Black.) 17...xd3 e7 27.c7+ f6 28.f4+= is a draw. )]
18.xd3 c6 19.g5 b4+ 20.e2 d4+ 23...d5! The rook now dominates the board.
21.f1 d8 and Black has taken over the 24.b5
initiative. ] [ 24.xd2 giving up the knight was White's
16...d2+ 17.e2 e7 18.hd1 f5 best chance but with accurate defence Black
This allows White a clear advantage. is clearly bette r xd2 25.xd2 xa7
[ 18...c6 was the alternative but here too 26.d1 b8! 27.b4 c7 28.c6+ f6
W hite has an edge with 19.xc6 bxc6 29.xb7 d6 and Black has successfully
20.a6+ c7 ( 20...b7 21.xb7+ xb7 developed his kingside pieces. ]
22.b1 is a clear extra pawn.) 21.c2 24...xh2 25.d6 f6! Running the king to
and W hite aims to win the d2 pawn and safer pastures 26.e4+ g6 27.e2 h6
slowly consolidate. It's important that xb2? A human move creating shelter for the king
loses to 22.ab1 xc2 23.b7+ d6 which has just run from c8 to g6 with all the
24.xd2+ xd2+ 25.xd2 ] major pieces still on the board.
19.b5 d4+ Kurajica acknowledges the [ H o w e v e r t h e f e a r l e s s 27...f5!
opening hasn't gone well and offers was the quickest route to victory as 28.g1+
liquidation into a clearly worse middlegame. f7 29.g5+ g8 leaves the Black
[ 19...c5 was the alternative but 20.f1! monarch safe. ]
l e a v e s W h i t e c l e a r l y o n t o p a s xh2 28.xd2 xd2+ Exchanging off pieces
21.a8+ b8 22.xb7+ d7 23.xd2+ simplifies Black's task.
e7 24.xb8 xb8 25.e4 should be a [ 28...e5!? pinning and winning the knight
decisive advantage with the three passed was also possible, for instance 29.c3 h7
queenside pawns. ] 30.d1 xe4 31.d3 h1+ 32.c2 xa1
20.f1? Baron presumably overestimated his 33.xe4+ g8 34.xb7 xc5 35.d8+
position and thought he was mating swiftly but h7 36.xh8+ xh8 37.c8+ h7
this lets Black off the hook. 38.xc5 xa2 with a clear advantage in the
[ The straightforward 20.xd4 was much queen and pawn endgame but playing in
better when Black would have to grovel such a fashion is very foolhardy. ]
t e r r i b l y a f t e r xd4 21.xd2 xd2+ 29.xd2 f5! Black's king has found safety
22.xd2 ] and now White can't prevent Black's kingside
20...xf3 21.a7+?! And this is the wrong pieces finally coming into the game when
way. It looks logical to force the king forwards W hite's position will be hopeless. 30.d7
but it becomes surprisingly safe. White tries to complicate the issue.
[ Instead he should have settled for 21.gxf3 [ It's easy to see that 30.d6 e5+ 31.f1
when c5 22.b4 xf2 23.xf2 xh2+ xc5 offers White no respite. ]
24.f1 h1+ 25.f2 h2+= is drawn. ] 30...e5 31.g1+ h7 32.xb7 fxe4
21...d7 22.gxf3 e7! Suddenly the knight It's amusing that Black can have a completely
looks really offside on a7 and the d2 pawn wi n n i n g p o s it i o n wi t h o u t d e ve lo p in g h i s
prevents W hite from launching a decisive kingside pieces and the king march makes
attack. 23.c5?! And this is probably the q u i t e a n i m p r e s s i o n . 33.b4 b2+
decisive mistake. Baron cannot adjust to the Nothing wrong with this check but missing an
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trying to disturb the natural flow of Black's and it is for that reason that I have to give the
development form a very early stage. My n o d t o B l a ck h e r e . O ve r t h e b o a r d , t h i s
experience is that Black players know this line position is just a lot of grief for White. 13.f2
much less well than the variations stemming c5 As White has so obligingly put his King
from the other third moves. As a practical o n f 2 , B la ck' s B ish o p f in d s a n e x c e lle n t
choice for W hite, recommended, although square. 14.b1 a5 15.b3 f7 Here, rather
beware 3...Nbd7! than 0-0-0 which would allow Bh3+. 16.d3
1-0 ad8 17.d1 f5 Tactical threats abound.
W hite has not solved his problems, 18.b2
d7 Just threatening to pile up on the pinned
150 B01 Knight with ...Re8 and ...Rde7. 19.c2 xd1
Belaska,Premysl 2295 20.xd1 d8 21.e2 e8 22.b4 axb4
Sikora Lerch,Jan 2345 [ 22...xe3+ 23.xe3 xe3 24.bxa5
TCh Czech Republic 2002 exc4 25.xc4+ xc4 26.xb7 xa5
[Andrew Martin] 27.a7 c6 28.xc7+ e7 is, of course,
completely lost for White. ]
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.d4 xd5 4.c4 23.b3 a4 24.d3 c3 25.d2 e7
Clearly playable, but allows Black a free hit at 26.xc3 bxc3 A very simple win for Black,
the centre. b6 5.c3 e5! It turns out that underscoring the unpromising nature of 4 c4.4
White has rushed his central expansion and Nf3 is much, much better. White's problems in
fallen into not exactly an opening trap, but t h i s l i n e a r e t w o f o l d : 1 ) H e c a n n o t
certainly a line to avoid. 6.dxe5 consolidate his early central gains quickly
[ 6.d5 c6 7.e3 b4 8.b3 a6 9.0-0-0 enough. The White centre is shaky. 2) Having
e7 10.ge2 1/2-1/2 Krupkova, P-Sikora won the pawn, he find developing a clumsy
Lerch, J TCh-CZE 2003 says nothing, apart experience. In particular, he cannot anchor
that Black is very comfortable in the final a n y o f h i s m i n o r p i e c e s i n t h e c e n t r e .
position. ] Me an while, Bla ck uses th e d 4 squa re t o
6...xd1+ 7.xd1 c6 8.f4 f6! strong effect.
[ 8...e6 is different and I'm not sure I like it 0-1
as much as the game move. Yes, Black
forces b2-b3, but it's a move White wants to
ma ke a nd t he B isho p blocks t he e f ile . 151 B01
9.e3 c5 10.b3 0-0-0 11.f3 f6 12.f5 Benjamin,Joel 2552
xe3 13.xe3 xf5 14.exf6 gxf6 15.e2 Schroer,Jonathan 2359
b4 16.f2 he8 The position on which US Chess League 2011 (5) 26.09.2011
8...Be6 stands or falls. Black's active, White [Milos Pavlovic]
has two Bishops. Take your pick. 17.d4
d3+ 18.xd3 xd3 19.ad1 e4= 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 This is the first
Bluvshtein, M-Paschall, W New York 2003 ] time that a game in the Scandinavian
9.exf6 gxf6 10.f3 g4 11.e3 Defence featured in one of my updates. a5
The point being that 4.c4 c6 5.e2 f5 6.d3 At first sight this
[ 11.e2 b4+! is embarrassing for White is a modest approach but actually White has
who has to move the King. ] a dangerous attacking idea in mind. f6
11...xf3 12.gxf3 d4 Let's take stock. [ Relevant is: 6...e6 7.g4 g6 8.f4 e7
W hite has an extra doubled pawn. He also 9.f3 h5 10.e5 h4+ 11.f1
owns the Two Bishops. In return Black owns Safer and probably stronger was: ( 11.d1 )
the centre and has a particularly strong Knight 11...e7 12.f5 exf5 13.g5 b5 14.b3 b4
on d4. Black has easy development with Bb4+, 15.a4 f4 16.xf4 0-0 17.g2 d5
0-0-0 and Rhe8 being the easiest moves in 18.f3 d8 19.c5 f5 20.xd5 cxd5
the world to play. I know I am always very 21.xh5 c8 22.d4 xg5 23.xg5 f6
happy when I see a clear plan of campaign And now with 24. Bxf6 Rxf6 25. Raf1 White
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f5 or h5. However, as we shall see, the 23.a4 and White wins due to the double
queen check on a5 contains a lot of threat of 24.Rxa1 and 24.Na7+. )]
energy. ] 19.xf6
6...e5 7.c4 a5+ 8.d2 b4 9.d5 xf3 [ Not 19.dxc6 as after bxc4 the black knight
10.xf3 d4 has the b3 square. ]
[ For 10...xd2+ see the relevant note to the 19...gxf6 20.c5 a5 21.bxa5 b4 22.e4
game Morozevich- Rogers in the archives. ] xd5 23.a4 b3 24.e2 c2 25.xf6
11.c3 a6 12.e2!? Bologan withdraws ed8 26.xd5 xd5 27.h4 d4+
his bishop from a possible future attack by f7- 28.e1??
f5 and e5-e4. [ After an exciting fight Bologan makes a
[ The natural move is 12.b3 in order to horrible blunder. The game should be a
secure the c4 pawn. But then Ivanchuk draw af ter 28.d2! xc5 29.c1! d5!?
achieved active play in the following high ( Black would be worse af ter 29...xa5?!
profile game: a5 ( Grafl himself has tried 30.xc6 )]
12...g6!? here in Novkovic, J-Grafl, F/ 28...xc5 Now White is going to lose the vital
Austria AUT 2009.) 13.c1 f5 14.0-0 f6 b2 pawn as well. 29.h3 c1+ 30.d2 c2+
15.g3 b8 16.g2 he8 17.e1 h6 31.d3 xb2 32.f4 a2 33.xb3 xb3
18.e3 a6 19.h3 d7 20.e1 c5 34.fxe5 c5+ 35.c4 d7 36.g3 a4+
21.h1 g5 22.f4 exf4 23.xe8 xe8 37.b3 xh4 38.g7 xe5 39.a6 b8
24.xd4 xe1+ 25.xe1 xc3 26.e8+ 40.g3 g4 41.xh7 a7 42.h5 f6 43.f5
a7 27.f2 fxg3 28.xg3 d4 29.d6 xg3+ 44.b4 f3 45.h5 xa6
cxd6 30.xd6 c3 31.h2 a1 32.b8+ 0-1
b6 33.d8+ a7 34.b8+ b6
35.d8+ a7 and draw agreed Leko, P-
Ivanchuk, V/Mukachevo UKR 2009. ] 157 B01
12...f6 13.a3 he8 14.axb4! This is the Bologan,Viktor 2690
idea behind 12.Be2- Bologan sacrifices the Tiviakov,Sergei 2637
exchange in order to trap the black knight on TCh-CRO Gp1A (9) 12.09.2010
a1. [Gawain Jones]
[ I f i n s t e a d 14.0-0 t h e p a wn g r a b xc3
15.xc3 xe2+ 16.xe2 xd5 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 4.d4
looks better for Black, notwithstanding the f6 5.f3 c6 6.e5 This strikes me as the
fact that W hite has certain attacking most critical option against 5....c6 . bd7
chances. ] 7.c4 And it was only a matter of time before
14...xa1 15.xa1 c2+ 16.f1 xa1 we had a look at this move. Instead we have
17.d1 The black knight is now shut in, and seen
given time White will trap it with 18.Ba4 and [ 7.f4 ]
19.Ke2. Therefore Grafl has to break open [ and 7.f4 in the archives. ]
lines in the centre as a matter of urgency. c6 7...c7 8.f3 This is a very direct plan and
18.g5 b5 Black has to play accurately to prevent a
[ The critical line is 18...cxd5 19.xf6 ( Not quick loss. b6 9.f4 d7 Black hopes to
19.xd5? b5! or; 19.cxd5? xd5 20.xd8 exchange queens on g4.
xd8 21.xd5 xd5 22.e2 b5 [ 9...d8 is the other option of course.
and White can't win the imprisoned knight 10.e5 This seems to be the most sensible
and meanwhile b4 is a target: 23.e3 d4 o p t i o n h e r e . ( 10.h3 doesn't look so
24.h3 f5 and Black is winning.) 19...gxf6 effective here as Black can ignore the pawn
20.cxd5 b5 to stop 21.Ba4 21.e2 a6 and play e6; 10.0-0-0? allows g4 )
with a bizarre position- W hite is still the A) 10...g4 11.g3 h5 12.h3 ( 12.f3
exchange down and can't easily capture the was Grischuk's attempt but never really
knight, but Black can't rescue the knight troubled Tiviakov.) 12...h4 13.f4 e6
either. ( Thus if 21...a5? 22.xb5 xd5 14.e3 bd5 15.exd5 xd5 16.d2
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
xc3 17.bxc3!? ( 17.xc3 d5 18.d2 attack on the Black queen. d5 19.c4
e6 19.c4 e4 20.f3 f5 21.a3 h5 f7 leaves a complicated position but one
22.d1 d6 23.e3 f6 24.xd6 xd6= in which White doesn't have as much for
Hossain, E (2460)-Tiviakov, S (2669) Turin t h e p a w n a s h e d o e s i n t h e g a m e .)
2006. ) 17...a5 18.e2 d5 19.0-0 16...fxe5 17.xe5 g6 and White never
0-0-0 20.d3 f6 21.h2 f7 22.e3 e6 got enough for the piece.;
23.c4 f5 24.d5! saw Black encounter B) 11.xg4 xg4 was tried in a recent
some serious problems. exd5 25.xa7 game. ( 11...xg4 has also been played
d6 26.xd6 xd6 27.ab1 d7 by, amongst others, Tiviakov himself and
28.a8+ c7 29.xb7+ d6 30.a3+ Black doesn't seem to have any major
1-0 Womacka, M (2478)-Pizzuto, S (2168) problems. ) 12.g3 g6 13.0-0-0 h6+
Schwarzach 2010.; 14.b1 0-0 15.a5 d8 16.e2 f6
B) 10...e6 11.e3 fd7 12.g3 f6 17.he1 bd5 18.xd5 xd5 19.b3
13.0-0-0 a6 14.b1 bd5 15.cxd5 f8 20.f3 d8 21.c5 and White had a
xd5 16.e2 ( 16.xd5 xd5 17.e3 temporary initiative although he couldn't
looks slightly better for W hite thanks to convert it to anything more than that Lastin,
the bishop pair.) 16...e6 17.f3 b5! 18.h4 A (2643) -Lenderman, A (2601)/ICC
e7 19.h5 was rather unclear, Saric, I 2010. ]
(2580) -Drazic, S (2531) Pula 2010.; [ 10.0-0-0 has been the most common but
C) 10...bd5 was tried by Epishin against g4 as Tiviakov has played previously
Gashimov in Ourense 2009 but didn't work seems ok for Black. 11.xg4 xg4 12.f3
out too well: 11.xd5 xd5 12.e2 e6 e6 13.xb6 axb6 14.c7 b5 15.d5
13.c3 e4 14.xe4 xe4 15.d3 0-0-0 xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 c8 18.a5
16.e3 c5?! 17.c2?! ( 17.dxc5 xd3 cxd5 19.xb5+ c6 20.d1 e6
18.d4 winning the exchange is the and Black was holding Vokarev, S (2521) -
obvio us st ep .) 17...d7 18.g3 g6 Tiviakov, S (2697) Bhubaneswar 2009. ]
19.b3! h6 20.xe6 fxe6 21.c4 hf8 10...xc4
22.0-0 f4 23.fe1 xg3 24.hxg3 f6 [ 10...xd4 11.d1 c5 12.e3 f5
25.b4 and he successfully converted his 13.g3 looks very risky with the Black king
structural advantage.; stuck in the centre. ]
D) 10...-- When Black has tried a few 11.xc4 xd4 12.b3 e6 13.d1 b6
different moves: ] 14.0-0 so at the cost of a pawn White has a
10.h3!? Seeing as Black plans to use the g4 large lead in development. However Black's
square this move makes sense. Therefore it position looks solid and there's no way to
is perhaps surprising that the move hasn't break through. The real problem for Black is
been played before. Black is obliged to take his c8 bishop which will struggle to get out of
the pawn or else his last looks rather foolish. his own pawn chain. Meanwhile White can set
[ I looked at 10.xb6 in the notes to Bulski- Black some problems on the kingside and on
Stopa which ended in a quick W hite the open lines. e7 15.e4! xe4 16.xe4
victory. ] 0-0 17.e5 The White bishops clearly outrank
[ 10.e5 with a parallel to 9...Qd8 has been t h e i r c o u n t e r p a r t s a n d wi t h t h e k n i g h t s
playe d a f ew tim es a lth o ugh a ga in g4 exchanged Black's kingside suddenly looks
seems satisfactory for Black. much more vulnerable. Black has to watch out
A) Keeping the queens on with 11.e3 for a rook swing and subsequent sacrifice on
wa s a t t e m p t e d in S wie r cz, D (2 5 0 1 ) - g7 while c3 , Bc2 is also on the cards . c5
Tiviakov, S (2634) Wroclaw 2010 although I think the point of the move is to allow the
fd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.d2 h5!? queen to defend the e6 pawn laterally so that
14.e2!? xg2 15.0-0-0 f6 was quite ...f6 will be playable and thus he won't have to
p r o m i s i n g . 16.h4 ( White isn't actually weaken himself with ....g6.
losing the piece as 16.g3 h4 17.e3 [ 17...a5 is another option but 18.d3 d8
xe3 18.fxe3 threatens a discovered 19.g4 g6 20.xd8+ xd8 21.d1 b6
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less these days 6.g3 g4 7.h3 h5 8.g2 14.f5 c4 ( 14...d5 would be more
c6 9.d5!? ( 9.0-0 has been examined in prudent ) 15.g4!?
the archives a couple of times ) A1) Again the proof of the pudding is in
A) 9...e5 is the alternative place for the the taking! 15...xg4 But this looks very
knight 10.f4 ( 10.g4!? g6 11.xe5 dangerous. I examined a few lines which
xe5+ 12.e3 seems better for White, a re win n in g f o r W h it e : 16.g1 e6
the bishop on g6 is in danger of being ( 16...gf6 should be tested) 17.e4
trapped while Black's kingside is difficult exf5 18.xf5+ gxf5 19.g5+ h8
to develop.) 10...xf3+ 11.xf3 xf3 20.xg4 fxg4 21.f5 g7 Initially
12.xf3 b4?! ( 12...e5 13.dxe6 xe6+ Rybka said this position was a draw but I
14.f1 0-0-0 15.g2 d6= ) 13.0-0-0 didn't believe it and continued a few
0-0-0 14.he1 h6 15.e5 b6 16.f4 moves... 22.xg4+ h8 ( 22...f6
c5 17.d4 xd5? This loses but the 23.xd7 is very dangerous too but I
position is already very unpleasant guess is Black's best hope.) 23.f5
18.xf7 xc3 19.e6+ 1-0 Samhouri, A- g7 24.0-0-0! fd8 defends the knight
Abdulla, A Abu Dhabi 2006.; but n ot th e kin g ( 24...fe8 25.xd7
B) 9...b4 10.f4 c5 11.e3 a5 The exchange looks like a small price to
( 11...d6 is also possible, it's not clear pay for such a huge attack.) 25.xh7+
which square the queen stands better on.) f8 26.d3! e8 ( 26...xd3 27.cxd3!
12.0-0 bxd5 and despite his extra rook Black is lost:
B1) 13.xd5 xd5 14.d2 a4 c5 28.h8+ e7 29.e1+ d6
( 14...c5 15.b4! xb4 16.g4! g6 30.h6+ c7 31.d5+ c8 32.f4
17.xb4 xb4 18.e5 d8 19.c6+! e5 33.xe5 and Black isn't any
is a very pretty tactic bxc6 20.xd8+ significant material up anymore while the
xd8 21.xc6+ d7 22.xb4 attack is still raging.) 27.h8+ e7
leaves W hite with an extra exchange 28.e1+ d6 29.xe8 xe8 30.xe8
although Black has reasonable drawing xd3 31.cxd3 Is a forced line leaving
c h a n c e s wit h t h e b ish o p p a ir a n d a W hite a pawn up as xd3? 32.e4+!
pawn. ) 15.b3 d7 16.g4 g6 17.c4 c7 ( 32...d5 33.f6+! is another
f6 18.e5 c8 19.g5 d7 20.xd7 pretty tactic showing that Black still has
xd7!? ( 20...xd7 21.xb7 b8 to watch out for his king's safety. xf6
22.g2 would also leave White with the 34.e5+ c4 35.c5# ) 33.xd7+!
more pleasant chances.) 21.f3 c6 picks up the piece.;
22.ad1 and surely White's play is worth A2) 15...ae8 16.g5 d5 17.e4 c7
a pawn, look at the king on d7! Calistri, 18.b3 d5 19.c4 xe4 20.xe4
T-Chabanon, J Clichy 2006.; W h it e h a d m o r e s p a c e a n d B l a c k ' s
B2) 13.d2 0-0-0 14.e2 was Janev, attempt at counterplay b5 21.c5 e5
E-Panbukchian, V Plovdiv 2010 which 22.0-0 g8 23.ae1 had rather
White won quickly but I'm sceptical that backfired, The queen is stuck on a6,
he has enough compensation after b6 especially after White's subsequent b4.
15.c4 b4 16.g4 g6 ] Although Black managed to hold on to
6.b5 The reason 5...a6 and 5. ..c6 have the draw it's understandable he varied
been more common in the past but maybe the next time he played this variation.
Black shouldn't be so worried. Andriasian, Z-Bodiroga, P Rijeka 2010.;
[ 6.g3 g7 7.g2 a6!? ( 7...c6 B) 10...e6 11.h4! Aggressive play and
would be more normal and probably what surprisingly effective a5 12.h5 xh5
Motylev had in mind.) 8.f4 c6 9.d2 0-0 13.xg7 xg7 14.e5 f6 15.g4 fxe5
10.h6 was played twice by Bodiroga in the 16.gxh5 f4 17.hxg6 hxg6 18.0-0-0 d7
recent European Individual Championships. 19.e3 h8?! Black's position was
A) 10...f5 was played in the first game already teetering but here it collapses
11.xg7 xg7 12.h4 e6 13.f4 bd7 ( 19...af8 20.dxe5 g4 21.f3 e6
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
22.e2 xe5 23.xe5+ xe5 24.xf4 Bd2 is really useful is debatable), Black has
xf4 allows Black to get into an endgame played three he's fianchettoed his bishop and
but W hite should be able to co nvert .) played the queen to c7. Hence Black should
20.xh8 xh8 21.h3! Picking up a be very comfortable. 0-0 12.c4 b5!?
piece c5 22.dxe5 1-0 Azarov, S-Bodiroga, Black starts to press for more than the half
P Rijeka 2010. ] point
6...b6 7.f4 [ B l a c k ' s a l t e r n a t i v e p l a n w a s 12...d7
[ Another recent game ran 7.c4 c6 8.c3 13.xd7 ( 13.d3 e5! ) 13...xd7 14.0-0
g7 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 g4 11.a3 d8 g4 15.c3 b6 16.e2 xf3 17.xf3 e5
12.e3 e8 was Diamant, A-Kurajica, B La 18.dxe5 c4 and Black has definitely
Laguna 2010 when critical looks 13.c5 c7 equalised ]
14.h3 xf3 15.xf3 when xd4!? 16.xd4 13.b3 a5 14.a4 b4 I'm not totally happy
e5 17.xe5 xd1 18.xc7 xa1 19.xa1 about Motylev's plan. True he has gained
xc7 20.d1 would have left Black in an space on the queenside but he has ceded
extremely unpleasant ending but he should control of c4 and c5. Chances remain
be able to hold the draw. ] balanced. 15.0-0 b7 16.c1 d7
7...d5 8.d2 an unconvincing novelty [ I like 16...c5 trying to exploit White's
[ John Watson gives 8.e5 f6 9.g3 a6 previous 17.h6 cxd4 18.xg7 xg7
10.c4 axb5 11.cxd5 a6 12.b3 a5+ 19.d2 d7 ( 19...f6?! 20.xd4! ) 20.xd7
13.d2 d7= as a line from Karolyi's survey xd7 21.xd4+ f6 and Black can
in NIC 90 ] continue to have fun with play along the c
8...c6 9.a3 file. ]
[ 9.c4!? looks more critical when Black can 17.h6
c h o o s e e i t h e r cxb5 ( or the safer choice [ 17.xd7 xd7 18.h6= is safer ]
9...f6 10.c3 f5!? attacking b2 and 17...xe5 18.xd5?! This doesn't work but
giving Black reasonable chances.) 10.cxd5 [ 18.xe5 c5 19.xg7 xg7 favours Black
is very messy but I feel should favour White as d4 is loose and the bishop on b3 is also
as the doubled d pawns control more in danger of being trapped. 20.c3 ( 20.d2
relevant squares than the doubled b. The f6! 21.f3 c4! 22.a2 c3 23.bxc3 xc3
g a m e m i g h t c o n t i n u e g4 11.a4!? is very unpleasant for W hite) 20...bxc3
One of the most difficult aspects of chess, 21.bxc3 fc8 and Black's making progress,
converting one advantage (the doubled b c3 and d4 are going to be a constant
pawns) to another (a strong initiative). xf3 headache for White. ]
( 11...bxa4 12.xa4+ d7 13.c2 g7 [ 18.dxe5 c5 19.xg7 xg7 20.c3 c4
14.a5 d6 15.b3 is awkward for 21.d1 ab8 and Black's play on the
Black. ) 12.xf3 bxa4 13.xa4 xb2 queenside is starting to worry White. ]
14.d3 g7 15.e2 0-0 16.0-0 b3 18...xh6 19.xh6 g4 20.h4 cxd5
17.a5 b6 18.b1 xd4 19.b4 e5 21.xg4 c8?!
20.xe5 xe5 21.xb7 and Black still has [ T h e s i m p l e 21...xc2 22.d7 a6
difficulties with his undeveloped queenside. ] 23.fe1 xb2 is a safe extra pawn for
9...g7 Black ]
[ Of course not 9...xb2? 10.c4 b5 22.g5 f5 23.fc1 fc8 24.h6 f6
11.d6++- ] Black hasn't yet picked up the pawn but he's
10.c4 c7 11.ce5 White has used a lot still definitely got the advantage with pressure
of time to put his knight on e5 which can be o n t h e c f il e a n d M o t yl e v u se s h i s 2 7 0 0
pushed back easily with ...Nd7 and so Black technique to outplay his opponent rated 220
has e qu alis ed com f o rta bly. T he p osit io n points lower. 25.e3?!
reminds me of an Alekhine and if we compare [ 25.c3 was necessary to hold on to the
this position with 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4. pawn ]
Nf3 dxe5 5.Nxe5 c6 we see that while White 25...a6! no w c2 is do om e d 26.c3 c6
has made another two 'useful moves' (whether 27.h4 bxc3 28.b3 e6 29.f3 e4
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
30.h3 b6 31.e1 c2 32.ac1 f5 33.e3 bishops and a big lead in development. ]
c3 34.g5 xd4 35.xe7 f6 36.xf6 8.g2 c6 9.h4 b4 10.a3 Not the best
xf6 37.f3 g5 38.fxe4 fxe4 39.f3 exf3 m o v e h e r e b u t i t ' s g o o d e n o u g h f o r a
40.e5 d4 41.d5 f2+ 42.f1 e8 reasonable advantage.
A success for Black and I wonder if 5...g6 will [ 10.0-0! looks rather strange but Black is
see more high rated adherents? lacking a good move here - for example d5
0-1 ( 10...xc3 11.bxc3 a5 doesn't help -
W h i t e h a s t h e v e r y s t r o n g 12.b1
and Black's position is pretty much lost here
159 B01 as after 0-0 13.c4 h5 is again a very strong
Brkic,A 2584 threat. ) 11.xd5 exd5 ( or 11...cxd5 12.c4!
Bogdanovski,V 2444 0-0 13.h5 e4 14.f3 ) 12.h5 f6 13.c3!
Karpos Open 2013 (6.20) 13.03.2013 d6 14.hxg6 fxe5 15.dxe5 c7 16.c4!
[Tom Rendle] and White is obviously doing very well. ]
10...xc3+ 11.bxc3 d5?
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d8 4.d4 [ 11...a5 was completely necessary here
f6 5.f3 f5 This normally would b u t W h i t e i s s t i l l b e t t e r a f t e r 12.b1!
transpose but it does give White the option to ( 12.d2 is safer and keeps a small edge
play more aggressively, something that Brkic after a4 13.b1 ) 12...e4 13.xe4
immediately does. xc3+ 14.f1 xe4 15.xb7 but at least
[ Black normally chooses the more solid here Black has some counterplay. ]
5...c6 which can be found in several games 12.h5 f6 13.hxg6 fxe5 14.xh7 It's obvious
in the archives. ] the opening has been a disaster for Black g8
6.e5! [ 14...xh7? 15.gxh7 h4 16.d3
[ 6.c4 is obviously reasonable as well but is completely hopeless for Black ]
after e6 7.e2 e7 8.e3 bd7 9.0-0-0 15.dxe5
b6 10.b3 Black was absolutely fine in [ 15.c4! f4 16.xf4 exf4 17.e2
Laznicka, V (2480)-Popchev, M (2460) Brno is even stronger ]
2005 ( 10.d5!? looks more testing here, for 15...d7 16.f4?! After this Black escapes
example bxd5 11.h4! g6 12.xg6 s o m e w h a t a n d t h e g a m e i s a l l o w e d t o
hxg6 13.xd5 exd5 14.b5+ c6 15.xb7 continue
and White probably has the better chances [ 16.c4 would've kept a complete bind and
although it remains complicated after c8! )] after e7 17.b1! a5+ ( 17...xe5
6...e6?! 18.xd8+ xd8 19.xb7 d7 20.b8+
[ 6...c6 should probably be preferred here as d8 21.xd8+ xd8 22.b2 5xg6
it lessens the impact of both g4 and Qf3. Still, 23.xg7 is a simple win for White.) 18.f1
W hite should be a little better after 7.f4 0-0-0 19.d6 c5 20.g5 xc4+ 21.g1
( 7.g4 isn't dangerous here as after e6 White should be easily winning ]
8.g5 d5 9.e4 d7 Black has no 16...a5 17.h3 0-0-0 18.d2?!
problems and White will probably come to [ 18.xd5 was more accurate here - possibly
regret pushing the g-pawn so early.; 7.c4 Brkic was worried about c5 but after
is a better option for White is he still wants 19.d2 exd5 ( or 19...cxd5 20.c4! b6
to go in for g4 e6 8.g4 g6 9.h4 bd7 21.e2 ) 20.e2 he has a much better
10.xd7 xd7 11.h5 e4 12.xe4 xe4 version of the game ]
13.c3 0-0-0 was only a little better for White 18...a4 19.xd5 cxd5 20.e3 e4
i n S v i d l e r , P ( 2 7 1 3 ) - A d a m s , M ( 2 7 1 6 ) Even though White is two pawns up he has to
Frankfurt 1999) 7...bd7 8.d3 xd3 be careful here as his pawn structure is dodgy
9.xd3 e6 ] and Black's pieces are suddenly very well
7.g4! g6 coordinated. 21.d3 g2 Obviously Black
[ 7...e4 is just bad here after 8.xe4 xe4 isn't interested in an exchange of queens at
9.f3 d6 10.e3 and White has the two t h is st a ge . 22.h5 xg4 23.g5 h4+
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
24.d2 b6 wi l l b e p r e f e r r e d - a s I p l a ye d m y s e l f .
[ 24...b8! is more flexible and it's no longer However White is now forced to commit his
clear that White is better at all here. ] queen to b3 and so Black can generate
25.xb6 The can't be allowed to land on c4 c o u n t e r p l a y wi t h a q u i c k . . . b 7 - b 5 . 0-0
axb6 26.g3 h8 27.f1 xg3 28.xg3 10.0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 b5 This is Black's try
df8 29.g5 to exploit the queen already being on b3.
[ 29.c4!? dxc4 30.c3 h2 31.gf3 12.cxb6 ( 12.d3 e6 13.c2 d7 14.a4
wa s wo r t h c o n s i d e ri n g a l t h o u g h B la c k a6 15.g5 was seen in Sjugirov, S (2643)-
should be holding here with g2 ] Smagin, S (2551) Olginka 2011 when e8
29...h2+ 30.d3 d7 31.f5 exf5 keeping e7 defended would have left Black
32.gxf5 and here I assume Black lost on with a fully respectable position.) 12...axb6
time as it's rather a premature time to resign. 13.g5 ( I tried 13.e1 which I think I
[ After 32.gxf5 h3+ 33.d2 c8 prefer: a6 14.xa6 xa6 15.g5 a7
Black's rooks are both very active and it 16.a4 f6 17.h6 g7 18.xg7 xg7
won't be easy for White to win. All in all a 19.e5 and White has a pleasant edge
very strange game - Brkic was basically although failed to convert. Jones, G
winning from the opening before letting (2562)-Welling, G (2371) Gibraltar 2008.)
Black back into it. Black should definitely 13...e6 14.e4 Polgar, J (2686)-Tazbir, M
prefer the more solid lines with .. .c6! ] (2527) W arsaw 2010 when a6 15.xa6
1-0 xa6 16.g5 d5 17.f6+ xf6 18.xf6
b5 would have been completely fine for
Black. ]
160 B01 9...e6!? This speciality of Jacek Tomczak
Brkic,Ante 2592 has recently caught a flurry of interest.
Muzychuk,Anna 2528 [ 9...0-0 10.e1 continues to put Black
12th ch-EUR Aix les Bains FRA (9.67) 31.3.11 under pressure, see Vuckovic, B (2525)-
[Gawain Jones] Vukanovic, S (2358) Bar 2005 annotated by
Andrew Martin in the archives. ]
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.f3 xd5 4.d4 g6 10.g5 This move results in a long forcing
Muzychuk keeps faith with her speciality. 5.c4 variation.
b6 6.c3 [ 10.b3 is the alternative which has scored
[ 6.c5 has been looked at a couple of times much b etter f or W hite . xc3 ( 10...b5
in the archives, most recently in Friedel, J 11.cxb6 axb6 12.g5! Sacrificing the d4
(2551)-Pechenkin, V (2372) Edmonton 2009 pawn to wreck Black's structure and weaken
by Neil. The lines are pretty similar to the his king. xd4 13.xe6 fxe6 14.h6 d7
mainline seen in this game. ] 15.ad1 c5 16.c2 f6 17.b4 d7
[ Last time I examined this variation I had a 18.e4 c8 19.fe1 gave White great
look at 6.a4!? in Ni Hua (2657)-Muzychuk, play for the pawn. Van der Velde, W
A (2523) Wijk aan Zee 2010. ] (1 9 7 8 ) -A k o t c h i k , V ( 2 1 2 8 ) H o o g e v e e n
[ While the older 6.h3 was looked at in detail 2008. ) 11.bxc3 xc4 12.xc4 d7
by Alexander Volzhin over ten years ago but 13.b1 b6 14.cxb6 axb6 15.xc6
has since fallen out of fashion. ] A) 15...xa2 regains material equality but
6...g7 7.c5 d5 8.c4 c6 16.e5 is unpleasant to deal with. a7
[ 8...xc3 is Black's other option which was ( 16...xe5 17.dxe5 0-0 18.c4 a5
looked at by John W atson in Kovalev, A 19.e6 e5 20.exf7+ xf7 21.e6 )
(2533)-Pluemer, D (2172) Dresden 2009. 17.f4 and Black is in a lot of difficulty.;
Black continues to have grave problems in B) 15...0-0 16.c4 c8 17.b3 a6
this line. ] 18.b2 fc8 and Black has some
9.0-0 counterplay for the pawn with queenside
[ Should Black's line continue to be pressure but can it really be enough? I'm
f a s h io n a b le t h e n t h e m o ve o rd e r 9.b3 sceptical and certainly Najer successfully
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
converted here: 19.d2 c4 20.e1 e6 d7 21.e2 a5 22.be1 b4 and Black
21.h4!? c8 22.h5 a5 23.h6 f6 started to take over. It's interesting to see
24.d1 ca4 25.c2 c4 26.b3 a8 how easily he managed to reroute the
27.g5 xg5 28.xg5 c8 29.e4 a5 knight round to d5 followed by gaining
30.d1 c7 31.d2 h5 32.g3 d5 space on the queenside. Yilmaz, M (2477)-
33.b3 a8 34.e4 h5 35.g3 ha5 Onischuk, V (2505) Kharkov 2011.;
36.b2 d5 37.e3 a3 38.b3 xa2 B) 17.c3 b8 18.fe1 d7 19.e2
39.c4 f5 40.d5 1-0 Najer, E (2608)- Dubinski, M (2082) -Tomczak, J (2448)
Zurek, M (2421)/ Pardubice 20041 ext ] S z k l a r s k a P o r e b a 2 0 0 7 w h e n d5
10...xc3 11.xe6 xd1 12.xd8 xb2 ( 19...b5 20.b3 e6 21.be1 be8
13.xb2 xd8 14.xf7 So the forcing looks fine. ) 20.b2 fe8 21.be1 b6= ]
variation has resulted in an interesting 15...d7 16.fe1 c7 17.e2 hf8 18.b3
queenless middlegame position. W hite has d5 19.de1 ae8 So again Black has fully
the bishop pair and superior development but coordinated and with his strong knight on d5 I
if Black succeeds in developing peacefully doubt he can really be worse. The computer
then he will be doing well with a ready made gives White a slight edge, presumably due to
outpost for the knight on d5 and pressure on the bishop pair, W hite's spatial advantage
the backward d4 pawn. The position reminds and Black's isolated e pawn but I don't see
me of certain Alekhine positions, White has ho w h e 's t o m a ke p ro gre ss. Ce rt a in ly in
the initiative but should Black successfully practice Black hasn't had any signif icant
coordinate he has good long term chances. difficulties defending here. 20.g3 b6?!
a6 Developing the knight immediately looks This gives Ante the chance to claim an edge.
right. [ I w o n d e r i f 20...e6! might be a more
[ The specialist tried 14...f8 against Shirov accurate move order to prevent the
but after 15.c4 b5 16.e2 a6 17.a4! following variation. Black can reroute the
xc5 18.axb5 bishop round to c7 followed by ... b7-b5. ]
A) 18...cxb5 19.c3 b3 20.a3 b4 21.cxb6
( 20...xd4 21.d1 e5 22.xb5 ) [ 21.xd5! could have exploited Anna's
21.xb4 xd4 22.d1 e8 23.d3 move order. cxd5 22.c6+ d8 23.f4 h6
and W hite has the better chances with 24.g2 f6 25.e6 would have left Black
strong pressure against Black's position. under unpleasant pressure. ]
The open board favours W hite's bishop 21...axb6 22.g2 f6
pair and gives him the advantage despite [ I quite like the idea of 22...e6!? followed by
the pawn deficit.; ...Rf5, ...Bf8-d6 which looks very solid. ]
B) 18...b3?! 19.a3 xd4 20.d1 e5 23.h4 a8 24.h1 a5 25.f4 b5 26.he1
S h i r o v , A ( 2 7 2 0 ) - T o m c za k , J ( 2 4 2 0 ) a8 27.f3 b4 28.d1 b5 29.g4?!
Warsaw 2006 when 21.f3! f7 22.xc6 It was hard to suggest a good plan for White
b8 23.xd4 exd4 24.e1 would leave but this ambitious approach by Brkic shouldn't
White with a decisive advantage. ] have worked. I'm going to hazard a guess at
15.ad1 mutual time trouble as both sides start to err.
[ 15.ab1 has been seen in the earlier xh4
games to defend against the ...Nxc5 threat [ 29...e6!? was also fully playable. ]
but the rook doesn't do much on the b file 30.g5?! A logical continuation of the plan but
as Black is happy to play ...b7-b5 anyway. this makes matters worse.
f8 16.c4 c7 [ 30.h1 g5 31.f5 would at least keep
A) 17.fe1 b5 ( 17...f6 also worked out Black's bishop out of the position although
we ll f o r B la ck f o llo win g 18.e3 b5 h5!? 32.gxh5 f8 33.e5 e6 looks a little
19.cxb6 axb6 20.c3 b5 21.b3 d7= better for Black. ]
Saric, I (2500)-Tomczak, J (2449) Szeged 30...h6? But this plays into the Croatian's
200 8 but t he im med ia te .. .b5 is m ore hands.
forcing. ) 18.f1 d5 19.g3 f6 20.g2 [ Instead 30...xb3+! 31.axb3 f8
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
looks very good for Black. White cannot hold not convinced there is anything Black should
o n t o e i t h e r f 4 o r g 5 p a w n s a n d 32.h2 worry about after 10.Ng5.
xf4+ 33.e2 xg5 34.xh7 e4+ ½-½
35.f2 h4+ 36.g1 f6 is looking very
good for Black. ]
[ 30...f8? immediately f ails to 31.xd5 161 B01
xd5 32.g4 although still h5+ 33.gxh6 Bronstein,David I
f6 is hardly clear. ] Lutikov,Anatoly S
31.gxh6 f8 32.xd5 xd5 33.g1?! USSR (ch) 1960
[ 33.h1 re t a in e d t h e a dva n t a ge . f6 [Alexander Volzhin]
34.g2 h5 35.xh5 gxh5 36.f5 ]
33...h5?! 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.b5+ d7 4.e2!?
[ 33...g5 was better when it is White who This move has achieved a certain degree of
has to play energetically to keep the popularity in recent practice and it's
position level. 34.xg5! ( 34.h1 xf4+ considered to be the most dangerous f or
35.g3 f8 36.h7 h8 and with the d Black in the 3. Bb5+ line. We begin with this
pawn successfully blockaded the advanced brilliant game (one of the first where 4. Be2
h pawn is nothing to fear.) 34...xg5 35.d5! was played). xd5 5.d4 g6?! Black plays in
The same idea as the following note. It's a similar fashion to the main line with 3.d4,
interesting that the exchange and a pawn but this is a different position! The difference
down White is certainly not worse. will become clear after White's 8th move.
A) 35...xd5 [ 5...e6?! is also not good. Black voluntarily
A1) 36.h2 e5 37.h7 exf4 38.e4! restricts his light-squared Bishop. 6.f3
( 38.h8 d3+! 39.e2 xh8 40.xh8 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4 b6 9.c3 c5
g3 and only Black can win) 38...d1 10.dxc5 xc5 11.a3 e7 12.e3 f6
39.c3=; 13.c2 c6 14.fd1 c7 15.d4
A2) 36.g7 a8 37.h2 e6 with a clear edge in Zakharov - Remizov,
( 37...a3+ is the initial suggestion of the Moscow 1992. ]
com put er bu t 38.g4 h5 39.xh5 6.c4 b6
gxh5+ 40.g5! leaves Black in trouble [ 6...f6?! was played in Yakovich - Hania,
as the h pawn cannot be stopped.) 38.h7 Leeuwarden 1995. This move def initely
f5 39.h8 d3+ 40.e2 xh8 cannot be recommended as it blocks Black's
41.xh8 a3 should be a draw.; main idea - creating pressure on the d4-
B) 35...h5 36.dxc6+ xc6 37.e6+ square. 7.c3 g7 8.f3 0-0 9.0-0 c6
d7 38.xg6 e5 39.g4 h2 40.xe5 10.f4 g4 11.h3 xf3 12.xf3
g2+ 41.h5 h2+ 42.g5 g2+= ] White is clearly better due to his control of
34.xg6?! Missing a strong shot. the centre and his pair of strong Bishops.
[ Instead 34.d5! would have kept the h pawn bd7 13.e1 b6 14.d3 d7 15.ad1
and left Anna in trouble: cxd5 35.g7 f7 ad8 16.b4! Black has no counterplay and
36.xg6 f6 37.g3 ] White starts a pawn attack on the Q-side.
34...f6 35.g4 xh6 36.g7 e6 37.xe6 e8 17.e3 e5 This move leads by force
xe6 38.f5+ d5 39.c1 h8 40.g5 to a hopeless position, but it's not easy to
xg5 41.xg5 Move 40 has been reached find a real improvement. 18.c5! c8 19.d5!
and a totally level endgame has resulted. d6 cxd5 ( 19...f5 20.dxc6 xd3 21.xd3
42.g6+ d7 43.d5 cxd5 44.xb6 a8 xd3 22.cxb7 and the pawn queens.)
45.f4 xa2 46.e5 d2 47.b7+ e8 20.xd5 xd5 21.xd5 d7 22.f3!
48.b5 f7 49.xd5 xd5+ 50.xd5 f6 Now Black can't avoid material loss. xd1
51.e4 An interesting game, hardly devoid of 23.xd1 c7 24.xb7 e6 25.b5 e7
errors but Black's try of 9...Be6 is important 26.xa7 c7 27.b5 f5 and Black
as Black was really suffering in the mainline. I resigned. ]
think 10.Qb3 is a better try for an edge as I'm 7.c3 g7 8.c5! White exploits the
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
drawbacks of Black's set-up very convincingly. [ and 13.xd5 allows c6! and Black has
Because of the position of the Bishop on d7 sufficient counterplay. ]
the Knight can't go to d5 and has to retreat to 13...c6 14.d1 c7 15.b5 b7 16.d4
c8 where it has no prospects. c8 9.d5!? b8 17.gf3 e5?! This careless move allows
A very ambitious continuation. Now both a brilliant combination.
Black's Knights look miserable. 10. Qb3 is [ 17...e6! forcing simplification was correct,
also an unpleasant threat. Black's reply is and gives Black equal chances:
forced. c6 10.b3 b6 The only move again. A) 18.e4 xd4 19.xd4 ( 19.xb7?!
[ 10...cxd5 11.xb7 c6 12.b5! xb3 20.xd7 xc5 21.xc5 bxc5
is bad for Black. ] with a clear advantage for Black) 19...c6
11.f3 0-0 12.e3 cxd5 13.xd5?! 20.xc6 xc6 is also OK for Black.;
W hite has to choose between several B) 18.xc6 xc6 19.xc6 xc6 20.0-0
possibilities, and the one he picks is not the e7! and after transferring the Knight to
best. d5 Black has little to worry about. ]
[ 13.d1! is very strong, and although Black 18.xf7+!! B r o n s t e i n a t h i s b e s t ! xf7
has plenty of plausible continuations here I 19.xc6 xc6
can't see an acceptable defence: [ 19...xc6 was no better: 20.g5 e8
A) 13...c6 14.xd5 bxc5 15.f6+ exf6 21.d8! Now Black is completely tied up:
( 15...xf6 loses on the spot in view of f8 22.xf7 xf7 23.h6! and White wins:
16.xd8 xd8 17.xc6 xc6 18.b7! ) e4+ ( 23...d6 24.xb8 e8 25.h3
16.xd8 xd8 17.xc5 with a decisive e4+ 26.e3 xg2 27.f1 c4 28.xe8
advantage; xf1+ 29.d2; 23...xc5 24.c3 ) 24.d2
B) 13...xc3+ 14.xc3 e6 15.h6 f6 d4+ 25.d3 xb2+ 26.e3 d4+
16.xf8 xf8 17.e2 and Black has no 27.xd4 exd4+ 28.d2 ]
compensation for the exchange; 20.d8+ f8 21.xe5 bxc5 22.h6!?
C) 13...e6 14.xd5! exd5 15.xd5 [ Here White has a pleasant choice: besides
and Black can't avoid material loss: c6 t h e t e xt t h e r e a re a f e w o t h e r wi n n i n g
16.xd7 xd7 17.xd7; continuations: 22.xf7 xb3 23.h6+
D) 13...e8 14.xd5 a4 -this attempt g7 24.axb3 ]
fails to 15.c7! xb3 16.axb3! [ or 22.xc6 ]
and White wins material: d7 17.xd7 22...c4
xd7 18.xa8; [ 22...xb3 23.axb3 bb7 24.xf7 xf7
E) 13...c6 is just bad in view of 25.xc8 ]
14.xd5; 23.xb7 bxb7 24.xf7 xf7 25.xc8
F) 13...e6 Relatively the best. The xg2 26.g1 b7 27.xf8+ xf8 28.xf8
alternatives are clearly insuff icient: xf8 29.g5 An excellent game!
14.xd5 d7 ( 14...c6 is bad as it 1-0
loses a piece: 15.f6+ xf6 16.xd8
xb3 17.xf8+ xf8 18.xc6 b8
19.axb3 ) 15.c6! ( 15.a3 is not so good 162 B01
in view of bxc5 16.f6+ xf6 17.xa8 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro 2641
d6 and Black has good compensation as Kurajica,Bojan 2525
a ll h is m i n o r p ie ce s a r e ve ry a ct ive .) IV Open La Laguna ESP (7) 10.04.2010
15...e5 16.c7 xf3+ 17.xf3 d6 [Gawain Jones]
18.0-0 with a huge edge as the c7-pawn is
very strong ] 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.f3 g4 4.e2
[ White's other possibilities are not so good: c6 5.d4 0-0-0 6.c4 f5 7.e3 xf3
13.0-0-0 with the same ideas is strongly met [ Instead 7...f6 resulted in a quick White in
by e6 14.xd5 exd5 15.xd5 f6! in DeFirmian, Waitzkin in the archives. ]
(th at 's t he d if f e re nce! ) 16.xa8 a4! 8.xf3 xd4 9.xd4
which is very good for Black ] [ 9.g4 is White's other option but the recent
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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piece. ) 24.a5 a6? Leaving Black's king 20.e2 xg2 but this looks extremely
u n g u a rd e d . . 25.c6! And the attack breaks dangerous to me and indeed White must be
through hd8 26.f3 b8 27.xa6 c l o s e t o w i n n i n g w i t h 21.e4 b6
1 -0 V u c k o vi c, B - Mi la n o vic , D B e o g ra d ( 21...g4+ 22.e1 g1+ 23.d2+- )
2006. ] 22.c1 as Black does not have perpetual
14.f3! This novelty looks strong. Bruzon is g4+ 23.f1 h3+ 24.e1 h1+
not concerned about Black's plan of ...Qf4-h2 25.d2 h6+ 26.c2 and the checks have
as once the rook moves from f1 there's no run out when White has more material and
mate, and he makes sure his attack will come better placed pieces. ]
first. 17.xa7 c6 18.a4 c7 This doesn't save
[ The rather f orcing line 14.b5 e5 Black.
15.xd6+ cxd6 16.f3 b8 17.fe1 c5 [ 18...h1+ 19.e2 h2 20.c5 b8
18.b4 has been played twice against fellow 21.b6+ c7 22.a5 looks lost to me, the
ChessPublishing writer, Eric Prie. Apparently extra pawn is looking extremely irrelevant. ]
Emms and Houska claim a slight edge to [ 18...g6 looks like Black's best to me. A
black here. I haven't seen the analysis but c o u p l e s a m p l e l i n e s m i g h t r u n : 19.c5
certainly following ( 19.g3 xg3 20.fxg3 xg3 21.f2
A) Eric played 18...xc4? the first time he is rather unclear) 19...b8 20.b6+ c7
reached this position, allowing the 21.a5 ( Of course White always has his
knockout 19.xb7! e7 was Brunello, S- draw with 21.a8+ c8 22.b6+= )
Prie, E Arvier 2007 when White has great 21...e5! 22.c4+ c8 23.d6+ xd6!
compensation f or the pawn f ollowing: 24.cxd6 d8 seems ok for Black but I think
( 19...xb7 20.ec1 d5 21.c7+! White still has a small something following:
xc7 22.xa7+ wo u l d b e m a t i n g) 25.d7+ xd7 26.xd7 xd7 27.g3 ]
20.ac1 d4 21.a6; 19.c5 e5 20.a5+ c8 21.b6+ b8
B) 18...c7 A n i m p r o v e m e n t 19.ac1 [ 21...c7 was the only way to survive
e7 20.e3 d7 21.d1 c8 22.c5 although in my view W hite has the
hd8 23.d3 c7 24.a4 dxc5 25.xd8 advantage. Of course, on the practical level,
xd8 26.bxc5 c6 27.b1 d4 28.c2 this isn't a good choice for Black as White
h4 29.xc6 xc6 30.g3 h5 always has at least a draw. 22.g3 ( 22.c4+
and Black had consolidated his extra pawn. c8 23.d6+ b8 24.xf7 xd1+
D'Amore, C-Prie, E Arvier 2007. ] 25.xd1 f8 26.xe5 xe5 seems to hold
[ 14.fd1 has also been tried but it seems on for the second player.) 22...xg3 23.fxg3
too automatic e5 15.g3 b8! 16.b5 a6 xg3 24.c4+ c8 25.d6+ b8
17.xd6 cxd6 18.f3 f6 19.d3 d7 26.c3 and the knight on d6 dominates the
20.b3 c5 21.b4 d7 and again our position and thus the bishop looks more
French contributor had completed his relevant than the kingside pawns. ]
development successfully and could attempt 22.d7! Now Black's king's trapped. xd7
to convert his extra pawn. Michna, C-Prie, E 23.xd7+ c8 24.b6+ b8 25.d1!
San Sebastian 2009. ] And the other rook swings into the game
14...f4 15.fd1 xh2+ 16.f1 So Black when there's no way to avoid dropping a large
has gained another pawn and forced the king amount of material. A disaster for Black but
to f1 but Bruzon has accurately calculated the line certainly still has life, especially in
that his king won't encounter any problems on the 10...c5 line when I think 11.Qa4 is critical
e2. Black's king, on the other hand, has four but I can't find an advantage for White.
pieces directed towa rds it and he swif tly 1-0
regrets his retarded kingside development.
e7
[ 16...a6 was offered as a possible
improvement by MnB. His line runs 17.c5
xc5 18.xb7+! xb7 19.xd8 h1+
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
Here we see the solid 10...Bxc3, forcing White 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 4.d4
to accept doubled pawns on his queenside. f6 5.f3 c6 6.e5 bd7 This is a very
This weakness is not a serious problem if he topical position in the line 7.f4
plays accurately and mass exchanges lead to [ 7.f4 is White's most aggressive setup b6
a draw. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 8.g4 g6 ( 8...e6 was seen in Shirov-
4.d4 f6 5.f3 c6 6.c4 f5 7.d2 e6 Ivanchuk. Here Saric tries to do without this
8.e2 b4 9.0-0-0 bd7 10.a3 xc3 move but runs into difficulty.) 9.g2 g7
11.xc3 c7 12.e5 10.0-0 0-0 11.a4 a5 12.h1 fd5
[ 12.d2 b5 13.a2 e4 14.b1 0-0 13.e4 c7 14.c3 f6! 15.d3 f5! 16.gxf5
15.g5 d5 left Black with a very solid xf5 17.e2 was very messy and hardly a
game in Enders - Wahls, German Ch., Binz safe way to play for White although he went
1995 ] on to win Radulski, J-Saric, I Zagreb 2010 ]
12...b5! This may be Black's best, but it is not [ 7.c4 is yet to be seen in a featured game
his only move. on ChessPublishing but resulted for a quick
[ He can also play 12...xe5 13.dxe5 d5 W hite win here. c7 8.f3 b6 9.f4
14.d2 0-0-0 15.g4 g6 16.f4 h5 17.h3 d7 10.xb6 An interesting swap so as to
hxg4 18.hxg4 xh1 19.xh1 b6 lessen the power of ... Qg4 axb6 11.0-0-0
as in Morovic Fernandez - W ahls, g4 12.e3 f5 ( Maybe 12...e6
Cienfuegos 1996 ] should be attempted although I prefer White
[ A further possibility is 12...d5 13.d2 b5 after 13.d5! ) 13.d5!? xd5 14.xd5! cxd5
14.b3 h5 15.xd7 xd7 16.a5 g6 15.b5 e5 16.xe5 c5 ( The analyst that
17.he1 0-0 as in Morovic Fernandez - l i v e s i n m y c o m p u t e r s u g g e s t s 16...f6
Rodriguez, Cienfuegos 1996, though this 17.xf6+ f7 18.d4 xa2 19.b1 a4
looks rather passive for Black because of 20.d3 e6 when it looks like Black has
the blockade of his queenside pawns. ] s u r vi ve d b u t W h i t e h a s t h e s u r p r i s i n g
13.d3 21.c7!? xe3 22.fxe3 when despite
[ 13.b3 e4 intending ...Bd5 is super-solid being the exchange down W hite is doing
as usual. ] very well as the rook is trapped on a4 and
13...0-0 14.xf5 exf5 15.f3 d5 16.xf5 B la ck 's p a wn s a re d ro p p i n g l ike f lie s .)
xc3 17.xd7 With his queenside so weak 17.d4+ d8 18.d3 d7 19.g5+ e7
White has to exchange Black's knight. 20.xg7 xd4 21.xd4 f6 22.xb6+ d7
[ 17.bxc3 f6 would be very dangerous. ] 23.c7 was an impressive game by my
17...xd1 18.xf8 xf8 19.xd1 namesake 1-0 Jones, R-Zeidler, S Cardiff
Gallagher - Prie, French Team Ch., Clichy 2010. ]
1997 was agreed drawn at this point. xh2 7...d5 8.xd5 xd5 9.e2 xe5
20.e4 h6+ 21.f4 g6 22.e1 g3 10.xe5 xg2 11.f3 g6 12.e2
23.e3 f2 24.b3 h6 25.c3 f5 26.e6+ and here Stopa deviates from Caruana, F-
h7 27.g3 xd4 28.xc6 a5 29.c5 f6 Milanovic, D in the archives but it doesn't
30.b1 a4 31.b4 d8 32.d3 xd3 work out well. e6
33.cxd3 e6 34.c1 e1+ 35.c2 e2+ [ 12...h5 was played in that game. ]
36.c3 e1+ 13.d5 White needs to play aggressively or he'll
½-½ suffer with his pawn deficit. cxd5 14.0-0-0 f6
Critical, and obliging W hite to sacrifice the
piece. Alternatively:
[ 14...d7 15.xd5 h6+ 16.b1 c6
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
is possible but I don't see how Black is going 22.b4+- ) 22.xd5+ g6 23.f5+ h6
to develop his kingside and so must be 24.a5! e8 25.d2+ h5 26.xe8 xe8
practically lost. ] 27.e2+ and the piece drops. ]
15.xd5! xe5 16.c4! White's barbaric 21.xd5 g6 22.c4 An interesting choice.
play is effective. He's already threatening White pushes his passed pawn! Black needs
mate in one which obliges Black to sacrifice to develop his kingside quickly which isn't so
his queen. e6 Forced easy h5! This looks like the best way to do it
[ 16...h5 doesn't prevent the mate 17.f7+! with ...Rh7-e7 themes and also threatening ...
xf7 18.b5+ ] Be6.
17.he1 exd5 [ 22...e6 immediately doesn't work as
[ 17...g5+ 18.f4 followed by a subsequent 23.c6+ f7 24.xd8 xd8 25.xe6+
Bxe6 is curtains. ] g7 26.d1 w i n s t h e q u e e n b6?!
18.b5+ So far White has played perfectly but 27.d7+ h6 28.h3# ]
here he should have continued with 23.c5?! Again I wonder if White overlooked
[ 18.xe5+! when after the forced line fxe5 Black's reply.
19.xd5 e7 20.xe5 f8 21.e4 f7 [ 23.xe7+ xe7 24.b7 would keep Black
22.xh7 Black would be experiencing great struggling to hold. ]
problems. True he has rook and two bishops 23...e6! 24.c6+ f7 25.xd8 xd8
for the queen and two pawns but his king is 26.xe6+ g7 27.d1 a5 The difference
still stuck in the centre and he continues to now is that the king doesn't get mated on h6.
have difficulty in developing his queenside. ] So White's regained one piece but is now a
18...d7 piece f or two pawns down, while his own
[ 18...f7 is the suggestion of the fearless king's vulnerability gives Black some
computer 19.xe5 fxe5 20.xd5+ counterplay. 28.c6
( 20.xd5 is no longer as efficient as g6 [ 28.d7+ h6 29.c6 ( 29.xf6 xc5+
21.xe5 h6+ 22.b1 d8 and Black's 30.b1 g8 and White's attack gets no
pieces are starting to get out of their further. ) 29...c5+ 30.d2 f2+
s t a r t i n g b l o c k s .) 20...e6! 21.f3+ and Black has taken the initiative. ]
( 21.xb7+ e7 and once Black's pieces 28...c5+
are de ve lo p ed , he 'll b e ab le to u se h is [ 28...h6! running the king to safety would
material advantage.) 21...g8 22.xb7 promise Black good winning chances. ]
e8 23.xa7 is highly unclear but Black 29.b1 The game now proceeds logically and
can continue with either h5!? ( or 23...e7 a draw is the result. A fair result in the end
with a satisfactory position. )] perhaps, but Black's risky opening shouldn't
19.xb7 be repeated and he'll have to go back to
[ 19.xd5?! 0-0-0! 20.xe5 fxe5 21.xe5 alternative 12th moves. e7 30.d7 e8
h5! followed by ...Rh6-c6 and Black's taking 31.a3 f8 32.a2 a5 33.c7 h4 34.h3 a4
the upper hand. ] 35.a1 c1+ 36.a2 c5 37.a1 c1+
19...d8 20.f4 38.a2 c5 39.a1
[ 20.xe5+ would keep the advantage with ½-½
similar ideas to those which we have already
seen: fxe5 21.xd5 e7 22.xe5 f7
23.f4+ f6 24.c7 e8 25.xa7 165 B01
W hen W hite's picked up a lot of pawns Burovic,Ismet 2375
which should give him the advantage but Monange,Serge 2070
the position is still not so clear. It's op Torcy 1991
important that W hite succeeds in keeping [Alexander Volzhin]
Black's pieces offside as they'll control a lot
of squares if they work together. ] The following gambit was introduced in the
20...e7! Perhaps White overlooked this early nineties. This game shows that Black's
[ 20...xe1 loses 21.xe1+ f7 ( 21...e7 attacking potential should not be
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
underestimated. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.d4 [ Of course, 18...e3+ wins easily, but the
g4 A very interesting but dubious line. Black text leads to forced mate. ]
sacrifices a pawn hoping to get active piece 19.h3
play, but W hite's defensive resources are [ 19.xg6 h4# ]
huge and it's quite difficult to get full [ or 19.h4 e3+ 20.h2 g3+ 21.h3
compensation. On the other hand White has xd3 and White has no defence against
to tread very carefully, otherwise Black's Bd3-f5. ]
initiative may become extremely dangerous. 19...h4+ 20.h2 g3+ 21.g1 e3#
4.f3 f5 5.c4 Very natural but probably far 0-1
from best. It may seem that now Black is in
trouble as W hite has an extra pawn and a
ve ry s t ro n g p a wn c e n t re . B u t B l a c k h a s 166 B01
s o m e t h in g in m in d ! e6! 6.dxe6 c6! Camps,Ronald D 2098
The point. 7.e2 Tiviakov,Sergei 2645
[ White couldn't solve his problems with IV Open Alajuela CRC (1) 09.07.2008
7.e3 b e c a u s e o f b4+ 8.c3 e7! [John Watson]
For only a pawn Black has a huge
advantage in development and great activity 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 4.d4
for all his pieces. It's extremely difficult to f6 5.f3 c6
find a suf ficient def ence for W hite. 9.d5 [ The latest adventure with 5...a6 played last
0-0-0 10.a4 xd5!! A fantastic blow! week was Van Oosterom-E Berg, Maastricht
11.cxd5 h4+ 12.d1 ( 12.g3 loses the 2008: 6.g3 g4 ( an option is 6...f5 )
Queen: xc3+ 13.bxc3 xa4; 12.e2 7.g2!? ( 7.h3 h5 8.g2 c6 9.0-0
is hardly an improvement: d4+ 13.xd4 0-0-0 10.f4 b4 11.g4 g6 12.a3!
xd4 14.d1 e5+ with a decisive attack) xb2 13.e1 was the exciting game
12...xd5+! Another very nice blow! Caruana-Strikovic, Lorca 2005, featured in
13.xd5 e1# Wang Zili - Damaso,1996. ] this column with Fabiano's notes. Check out
[ Of course 7.exf7+ xf7 (now or later) the Archives.) 7...c6 8.e3 ( 8.h3 h5
should not be considered seriously as it 9.0-0 would transpose to the Caruana game
gives Black an important tempo for here 8...Bxf3 9 Qxf3 0-0-0 10 Be3 doesn't
developing his Rook (Rh8-e8). ] improve for Black) 8...0-0-0 9.h3 h5
7...b4! Aiming at the c2 and d3 squares. ( 9...e6!? 10.g5 xd4 11.xd4 xd4
8.g3 c2+ 9.f2 g6 10.e3 c5! 12.xd4 xd4 13.xe6 fxe6 14.0-0 g6
A brave and correct decision! Black plays for isn't entirely clear, especially since Black
a direct attack on White's king. can counter the attack on e6 by 15.fe1
[ The hasty 10...xa1 spoils the attack: d2 ) 10.e2 e6 11.0-0 ( 11.0-0-0
11.exf7+ xf7 12.d3 and after Nb1-c3 is equally interesting, but makes it harder to
W hite wins the Knight back and has two assault Black's king d5 m i g h t f o l l o w)
pawns for the exchange, with a playable 11...d5 12.xd5 exd5 13.c4!? dxc4
position. ] 14.xc4 b4! 15.fc1 ( 15.e2!?
11.a3 xe3 12.xe3 g4+! Excellent! followed by attack on the king.) 15...xc4
After this unexpected sacrifice Black's attack 16.xc4 f6 17.d5 f7 18.dxc6 xc4
becomes unstoppable. 13.fxg4 g5+ 14.f3 19.cxb7+ b8 20.d4 d5 21.c6+
[ 14.f2 didn't help W hite either: f4+ xc6 22.xc6 b4 23.a3 d2 24.c5
15.f3 xd4+ 16.e1 b4+ 17.e2 d3 25.f1?! ( 25.d1 hd8 26.f1 )
xb2+ and Black wins. ] 25...b3! 26.d1?! ( but 26.b1 c3!
14...fxe6! After this simple move the game is isn't thrilling) 26...xb2 27.e4 a5
over. Black opens the f-file for his Rook and 28.d7 g6 29.d4? d2 30.xf6 xd7
the White king is in dead trouble now. 15.d3 ( 30...e8 31.xd2 xd2 is the computer
0-0+ 16.f5 exf5 17.dxc5 fxg4+ 18.g3 solution. ) 31.xh8 d1+ 32.g2 d2
h5! 0-1. ]
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A1) 11.ad1 0-0 12.fe1 ( 12.e4 advance to negate White's space advantage.
xe4 13.xe4 g6 14.c4 keeping the However, he has to be sure that he is freeing
black knight out of d5, so Djukic his game rather than opening lines for his
prepares c6-c5 to attack d4 instead. e8 opponent's bishop pair. 13.d1 ad8 14.b3
15.f4 c7 16.f3 c5 Dastan, B (2371)- fe8 15.b2 a6 16.e2 e5 At last Black
Djukic, N (2545)/Skopje MKD 2013.) has completed his preparations and carried
12...e8 13.e4 xe4 14.xe4 f6 out the pawn advance. Objectively speaking it
15.d3 d5 16.d2 b5 stopping White is equal, but Carlsen is able to probe away
kicking back the horse with c2-c4. Ali with no worries. Perhaps it was better to try
Marandi, C (2383)-Djukic, N (2534)/ for the initiative with
Sarajevo BIH 2014; [ 16...h5!? 17.c4 ( After 17.h4?! e5 18.c4
A2) 11.fe1 0-0 12.e4 xe4 e4 19.c3 e3! Black has dynamic play in
13.xe4 g6 14.c4 e8 15.ad1 a5 view of the weakness on g3.) 17...h4 18.b4
16.a4 b6 17.b3 d5 once again ( If 18.g4?! f8 heading for g6 when White
the black knight lands on d5 with has to worry about the hole on f4.) 18...hxg3
balanced chances.; 19.fxg3 e5 only now. The position remains
A3) 11.e4 xe4 12.xe4 f6 equal, but Black has more potential
13.d3 d5 14.d2 f6 15.e4 counterplay as the white king's defences
( 15.xf6 gxf6 16.e4 f5 17.f3 0-0-0 are slightly eroded. ]
Klino va, M (2 302)-Djukic, N (2 551)/ 17.c4 exd4 Again this should be OK, but as
Cappelle-la-Grande FRA 2014.) 15...f4 the World Champion loves to play 'without an
16.c4 0-0 17.fe1 fd8 18.ad1 b5 opponent' Djukic might have done better to
19.f1 d5 20.d3 g6 21.g3 ac8 keep the tension with
Sp a s o v, V (25 7 3 )-Dju kic, N (2 5 5 1 )/ [ 17...e4 for example 18.e3 ( If 18.c3?!
Kragujevac SRB 2013.; e3! 19.f4 e4 gives Black counterplay as
B) 10.0-0-0 b4! 11.e4 xe4 12.xe4 20.xe3? fails to xg3 21.xg3 xe2 )
f6 13.c4 xe4 14.xe4 e7 18...c5 19.d5 b5 with a double edged
Palac, M (2578)-Djukic, N (2528)/Neum game. ]
BIH 2014. I hope these extracts give you 18.xd4 e5 19.c2 c5 20.f3 xb2
some idea of how to play against 8.Be3. 21.xb2 f8 The Magnus Magic starts to
Ca rls e n go e s h i s o wn wa y a n d t a ke s have its effect: a couple of imprecise moves
Djukic out of his tried and trusted opening by the opponent is all it takes for Carlsen's
lines. ] relentless technique to turn a 'dead equal'
8...e6 9.g3 Carlsen fianchettos on g2 and position into one where he is winning.
hopes to eventually soften up Black along the [ It was better to keep the knight active with
h1-a8 diagonal with an advance of his 21...e4 for example 22.e1 ( Or likewise
queenside pawns. In a later game from the 22.h4 df6 ) 22...df6 ]
Tromso 2014 Olympiad Karjakin preferred 22.h4 Unleashing the bishop and preparing
[ 9.e2 against Iotov- see the archives. ] a long journey with the knight to e3 where it
9...bd7 10.g2 d6 The most active eyes the hole in Black's centre on d5. g6
square for the bishop. In the only other game [ Black can bring his knight into contact with
with 9.g3 Black preferred the hole in White's own structure on d4, but
[ 10...e7 with a solid enough position after he is uncomfortable after 22...e6 23.f5
11.0-0 0-0 12.b3 c7 13.b2 ad8 b6 24.ab1 as the white horse looms over
in Bojkovic, N (2434)-Voicu Jagodzinsky, C his kingside. ]
(2 2 9 0 ) / P lo vd iv 2 0 0 8 . T h e d ra wb a ck o f 23.f5 e7 24.e3 b6 25.b4 Finally White
course is that on e7 the bishop doesn't plays the pawn advance he prepared with 12.
support the freeing e6-e5 break. ] a3. c6 26.xd8 xd8 27.b1 cxb4?
11.0-0 0-0 12.a3 Preparing b3-b4 in the A serious mistake that concedes a potential
distant future. c7 Djukic is building up his passed pawn on the c-file and dissolves the
game sensibly. He is angling for the e6-e5 base for his knight on d4. He had to stand his
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[ 11.b3!? looks awkward to deal with xd4 f5 17.xf5 gxf5 18.d5 f8 19.xe7 )
is critical and wild complications ensue! 16.xe6+ xe6 17.d5 ( 17.d2 f3 )
( 11...b5 12.a3 bxc4 13.xc4 d5 17...cxd5 18.cxd5 a6 19.d4 xd3
14.b7 c7 15.xc7 xc7 16.f3 20.xd3 a6 gives White a slight
gives W hite a pleasant advantage, Black advantage as Black's pawn advances has
will struggle to get his queenside pieces rather weakened himself. ]
out.; 11...c8 would keep the queenside 12.e3 h8 Nigel takes a time out to give his
solid but is extremely passive.; 11...b6 king a bit more safety
A concession weakening the queenside [ However 12...d7 with the following
12.e3 ) 12.xb7 e6! 13.xa8 ( 13.e3 sacrifice looks interesting 13.b3 h8
b6 14.xb6 xb6 15.f3 is probably ( 13...b6 14.c3 ) 14.xb7 e6
s l i g h t l y b e t t e r f o r W h i t e .) 13...b6 gives Black some compensation for the
Black threatens Nc7 trapping the queen so pawn 15.d5 dc5 16.b4 ( 16.xc6?!
W hite has to act fast 14.h6 ( 14.c3!? c8 17.b5 d4 18.xd4 xd4
migh t b e pla ya b le bu t d e f in it e ly n e e d s is good for Black.) 16...b8 17.a3 cxd5
analysing.) 14...xf2+ 15.h1 ( 15.f1 18.cxd5 d4 ]
g3-+ ) 15...c7 16.xf8 xa8 17.xe7 13.c3 d7 14.b3 e8 15.f4 This move is
( 17.h6 d4 ) 17...xb2 not necessary yet but it's understandable
A) 18.d8+ g7 19.f8+ f6 20.d6+ leaving Black with the chronic weakness on
g5 21.e7+ f4!? ( 21...h6 e7.
22.f8+= ) 22.f6+ [ 15.a3 f7 16.xe7 xe7 17.xe7
A1) 22...e4 23.xf2 xa1 24.f3+ fe8 18.a3 e6 19.d5 cxd5 ( 19...ef8
is winning for White as Black's king is in 20.dxc6 bxc6 21.ac1 xc3 22.f3! )
deep trouble e5 ( 24...f5 25.d5+ 20.ac1 ( 20.cxd5 ef8 when the pins are
e5 26.f6++-; 24...d3 25.d2+ extremely annoying.) 20...d4 is perhaps
e3 26.g5# ) 25.e2+ f4 26.e4+ slightly better for White but nothing special ]
f5 27.g4#; 15...f7 16.b2 ad8 17.f3 so White has
A2) 22...e5 23.xf2 f5 24.b4! a definite advantage here with the bishop pair
( 24.g4!? xa1 25.d3 e6 and potential use of e5 while the e7 pawn will
is extremely unclear) 24...xb4 25.f1! be a permanent weakness. Black on the other
is a truly bizarre line which looked pretty hand tries to get some counterplay going on
forced and which ends up in a roughly the kingside and the d4 pawn isn't always so
balanced position.; secure. f6 18.d2 g7 19.ad1 g5!
B) 18.c3 forces Black to be careful Nigel doesn't want to be squashed by Magnus
xc3 19.d8+ g7 20.f8+ f6 21.f1 and so goes for broke on the kingside 20.e2
e3 and the computer claims the position g8 21.f1 Just removing the king from the g
is a draw: 22.d1 a6 23.xa8 g5 file although
24.d6 d3 25.e7+ h6 26.f8+ [ 21.c3 looks like an interesting alternative
g5= Of course all of this is probably not with the idea of Ba5 to try and force Black
forced but definitely some fun to analyse! ] to compromise his position. ]
11...f5!? Nigel goes for some counterplay 21...h6 22.g3! Exploiting Black's previous to
[ 11...d7 12.c3 f6 13.h4 ] reroute the knight to a stronger square. g6
[ 11...e6 is the other critical move targeting [ 22...gxf4? 23.xf4 xg3?? ( 23...g5
the d4 pawn. 12.e3 ( 12.d5 is the other 24.xc7 xd2 25.xf5 g5 26.xe7+-
op t io n b u t I 'd pre f e r n o t t o rele ase t h e is hopeless for Black ) 24.xh6# ]
tension in the centre cxd5 13.cxd5 c5 23.d3?! This throws away some of White's
14.c2 bd7 looks acceptable for Black) well constructed advantage. Instead Carlsen
12...c8 13.c3 f5 14.d3 f4 ( 14...d7 should have played
would be somewhat similar to the game) [ 23.h5 immediately when White retains a
15.g4! ( 15.d2 xd4 ) 15...h5 clear advantage ]
( 15...fxe3?! 16.xe3 gives Black problems 23...gxf4! 24.h5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ 24.xf5 e5 25.dxe5! The queen queens on. The other option would be
sacrifice is the only way to continue for [ 31.xg7+ xg7 32.e5 when despite
W hite here ( 25.e4 xf3 26.gxf3 e6-+ ) b e in g a p a wn d o wn W h i t e h a s s li g h t l y
25...xd3 26.xd3 xf5 27.exf6 exf6 better prospects due to his activity and
Is messy. Black is material up with Black's terrible pawn structure. ]
queen+pawn for the rook and bishop but 31...d7 32.de1 f8 33.e5
Black's king is rather vulnerable while the [ 33.f4 would retain some chances for an
two bishops are extremely strong here. It's a d v a n t a g e a s b5 34.e6
about balanced ] wields unpleasant pressure ]
24...c5 33...b5! once Black gets his knight to d6 he
[ 24...e5 is the other option but allows the shouldn't really be worse. 34.c5 d6
strong sacrifice 25.dxe5! More active than 35.xa7 Carlsen decides to regain material
( 25.e2 ) 25...xd3 26.xd3 When I prefer equality or else he might well be worse. e4
White, he has total control over the position 36.d4 e6! This manages to trade the
and Black now has no counterplay. ( 26.exf6 position off into a level ending 37.d1 exd5
looks strong f or W hite if it were not f or [ 37...f2! 38.d2 e4 would be an
xf3+!-+ )] immediate draw ]
25.c2 38.xd5 xd5 39.xg7+
[ 25.dxc5!? xd3 26.xf6+ exf6 27.xd3 [ 39.xd5? c3-+ ]
leads to a curious position. W hite doesn't 39...xg7 40.xd5 f6 White has a nominal
have the bishop pair in this variation but advantage in the endgame but Black held
t h e b i s h o p a n d k n i g h t a r e ve r y s t r o n g comfortably. 41.xe4 fxe4 42.e2 e6
pieces combining attack and defence, while 43.d4 f2+ 44.e3 xg2 45.xe4+ d5
W hite rules the d file. Black has queen + 46.d4+ e5 47.e4+ An interesting game.
pawn for rook and bishop but one of the so White got a comfortable advantage out of the
called Irish pawns will drop on the f file. I'd opening but Black defended well and held the
actually prefer White here but I like playing draw. However he failed to solve the opening
material down but with the initiative. problems Black has been facing in the 2...Nf6
Chances look roughly balanced objectively. ] line.
25...e4 26.e2 ½-½
[ Understandably White didn't want to allow
26.xe4 xh5 27.xf5 ( 27.f3!? ) 27...f3
which is very messy ] 169 B01
26...g3+ 27.xg3 fxg3 Black's kingside Caruana,F 2801
play has netted him a pawn but now his attack Carlsen,M 2877
has stalled while his pawns are rather more 41st Olympiad Open 2014 (6.3) 08.08.2014
advanced than ideal. 28.d5! Time for White to [Neil McDonald]
seize the initiative cxd5 29.cxd5
[ 29.xe7! looks very strong for White g7 1.e4 d5! I believe this is the World
30.xg7 xg7 ( 30...xg7 31.cxd5 ) Champion's first Scandinavian Defence in a
31.c1 gives White a pleasant advantage. serious game. Was he influenced by the fact
The two bishops are very strong and Black's that he was playing for Norway in his
king is vulnerable. A sample line could run homeland? More likely he had studied the
dxc4 32.xd8+ xd8 33.xf5 c3 34.f4 variation prior to his game with Djukic a few
c2 35.e2!+- ] rounds earlier and realised it was a solid and
29...xb2 30.xb2+ reliable defence that avoided theory. It was
[ Again 30.xe7! is favourable for White f6 theref ore a good choice against Fabiano
( 30...g7 31.xc7 ) 31.xc7 g7?! Caruana, who is exceptionally well prepared in
32.d6! ] the open ing. 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d8
30...g7 31.c1 Carlsen tries to exploit The safest retreat, albeit a little passive. On
Black's weakened king and so keeps the the other hand, W hite has a lead in
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
development, but he no longer has a pawn on example if 17.g5 It may be wrong for White
e4 to spearhead his attack. 4.d4 f6 5.f3 to push his kingside pawns without more
g4 Carlsen continues to copy his game with prep arat ion . g8 18.h4 e7 19.g3
Djukic. You may like to look up this game in fg6 and Black's knight gains access to the
the archives for a discussion of the early f4 square. ]
moves. 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 c6 8.e2!? 17.g3 f8 18.f3 Already White could get
A rare move. Of course Caruana had no idea his kingside pawns rolling with
that Carlsen was going to play this variation [ 18.g5 g8 19.h4 ]
as Black, so he is unlikely to have spent days 18...g6 19.h4 f4 20.h5 xe3+ 21.fxe3
studying it. e6 In the only other game with 8. e7 22.e4? It looks like a fine idea to
Ne2 Black preferred to fianchetto on g7 and conquer space in the centre and get the knight
aim for a quick e7-e5: to d6, but this is the wrong plan. He should
[ 8...bd7 This may be less accurate than 8.. have played
e6, for reasons explained below. [ 22.h6! to undermine the black kingside
A) White has an aggressive plan available pawns and leave Black with problems along
with 9.d2 g6 ( Or 9...e6 10.g4 ) the f-file. For example
10.0-0-0 g7 11.g4 etc.; A) 22...g8!? 23.g5!? ( Also good for
B) 9.g3 g6 10.g2 g7 11.0-0 0-0 White is 23.hxg7 xg7 24.df1
12.d1 e5 13.b3 c7 14.dxe5 xe5 with pressure as taking on g4 would cost
15.f4 fd7 16.a4 c5 17.b4 Black the f7 pawn.) 23...e8 24.hxg7
So far this is Fedorchuk, S (2647)- xg7 25.e4 and the pawns on f7 and h7
Danielsen, H (2501)/Kolkata IND 2014. are more of a liability than the pawn on
White has the proverbial advantage of the g5.;
two bishops, but it isn't much. After b6!? B) 22...g6 23.df1 f8 Black's problems
18.xb6 axb6 19.b3 fe8 Black would along the f-file haven't gone away and the
be very solid. ] white pawn on h6 will be very strong in
9.g4! This pawn thrust was suggested above the endgame. Of course Black is far from
in the variation after 8...Nbd7. But because he lost in these variations, but it would have
has preferred 8...e6, Carlsen can avoid the taken all Carlsen's resourcefulness to
attack by offering the exchange of queens. On defend successfully against a player like
t h e o t h e r h a n d , W h i t e ' s ki n g s i d e s p a c e Caruana. ]
advantage is also of value in the endgame. 22...h6! This little move is a whole lesson in
d5! The black queen returns to d5. 10.g2 strategic play. W hite's last move gave the
bd7 11.g3 c4 World Champion a vital breathing space to
[ The bizarre computer variation 11...b4+?! consolidate his kingside by preventing h5-h6.
leaves White with an edge after 12.c3 d6 He also clears h7 for his knight and creates a
13.xd5 xg3 14.xc6! xf2+ 15.xf2 fine post for it on g5. 23.e5 h7 24.e4 f8
bxc6 16.e1 etc. due to his long range 25.d6+ c7 26.g2 g5 The situation on
bishop and better pawns. ] the kingside has turned around. The black
12.b3 xb3 Evidently Carlsen wasn't knight blocks White's pawns from expanding
bothered by the opening of the a-file as he with g4-g5, which means they become passive
planned to castle queenside. Nonetheless and potentially weak. The horse also helps
avoiding the strengthening of White's pawns guard the f7 pawn. Meanwhile, it may look
with pretty, but what exactly is the white knight
[ 12...b6 was very natural. ] d o i n g o n d 6 ? 27.hf1 f6! The pawn that
13.axb3 d6 14.c4 a6 15.e3 0-0-0 would have been a feeble fellow requiring
16.0-0-0 he8? Since the battle is going to be careful defence after 22.h6! is transformed
fought on the kingside, it seems strange to into an attacking weapon. 28.c2 fxe5
remove the rook from the h-file. Instead 29.dxe5 c8! In order to maintain the knight
[ 16...f8 followed by Ng6 would on d6 White must defend it again with 30.c5
immediately bring up reinforcements. For but now the black knight can return to e7
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
when the d5 square is opened up to it. e7 with previous columns and Michael Melts' new
31.b4? book. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6
Since Caruana is planning 32.Bxd5
this pawn move is understandable. However, 4.d4 f6 5.f3 c6 6.e5
he could have kept a defensible position with [ 6.g3 g4 7.g2 e6 8.h3 ( we saw 8.0-0
moves like e7 9.h3 in our game Socko, B (2631)-
[ 31.a1 d5 32.d2 which deal with the Tiviakov, S (2686)/Eppingen GER 2008,
threat of Ne3. Of course it isn't easy to almost transposing after xf3 10.xf3
play such extremely passive moves when , but White has castled and this gives Black
you've been pressing for the advantage. ] a tempo more to set up: 0-0 11.f4 d8
31...d5 32.xd5 12.d3 bd7 13.e2!? e8 14.fd1 f8
It is unpleasant to give
Black a passed pawn, but with the pawn on with rough equality) 8...xf3 9.xf3 e7
b4 hanging as well as the threat of 32...Ne3+ 10.e2 bd7 11.c3 c7 12.f4 d6
13.xd6 xd6 14.d2 0-0 ( 14...e5! )
t h e k n i g h t w a s i n t o l e r a b l e o n d 5 . cxd5
The strength of the knight on d6 is purely 15.0-0 ad8 16.ad1 e5 17.g2 fe8
visual. The Uzbekistani SuperGM Rustam and Black had equalised in Lanin, A
Kasimdzhanov was watching this game live (2457)-Tiviakov, S (2697)/Dagomys RUS
a n d r e m a rk e d t h a t t h e wh i t e kn igh t wa s
2009 ]
terrible on d6- it should be on d4, blocking the
6...bd7 7.f4
passed pawn and putting pressure on e6. [ Here 7.c4 c7 8.f3 b6 9.f4
33.b5 Perhaps the last realistic drawing
T h i s i s , a s Me l t s s a ys , a ve r y p o p u l a r
chance was position. Black sometimes plays 9...Qd8,
[ 33.b3 e.g. f3 34.a2 xe5 35.xf8 but there's also a lot of experience with d7
xf8 36.e1 when White will at least pick 10.0-0-0 , which looks to favour White, but
up the e6 pawn. ] the exchange g4 11.xg4 xg4 12.f3
33...axb5 34.xb5+ c6 35.d6 f3 e6 seems to achieve complete equality,
36.b4 a8 37.a1 xa1 38.xa1 xe5 Simacek, P (2493)-Sedlak, N (2592)/Budva
39.a7 White has lost a key pawn as after MNE 2009 (and earlier games). ]
[ 39.e1 f3 he would drop the rook upon 7...d5
40.xe6 d4+ ] [ 7...xe5 is legitimate, but I think not quite
39...b8 Now Carlsen's technique is more
equal:
than good enough. 40.a3 b6 41.a7 bxc5 A) 8.dxe5 b4 9.d2 ( 9.d2 d5
42.a6+ c7 43.bxc5 d7 44.a7+ c6 and 9...Ne4 are considered equal) 9...e4
45.g5 xc5 46.f7 d4 47.e5+ d5 10.e2 xd2 11.xd2 f5 is equal,
48.d7 d3+ 49.c1 xd7 50.xd7+ e4 according to Melts. Then 12.0-0-0 g6
White resigned as Black's passed pawns soon 13.a3 a5 14.f4 is worth a try.;
cost him a rook e.g. B) 8.xe5 d8 ( 8...b4 9.a3 b6
[ 50...e4 51.xg7 e3 52.d7 ( Or 10.e2 f5 is given by Melts, when 11.b4
52.e7 d2+ 53.c2 c8+ ) 52...e2 a5 12.0-0 d7 13.f4 keeps some kind
53.gxh6 c8+ 54.b2 d2 ] of edge ) 9.d2 ( 9.c4 f5 10.0-0 e6 )
0-1 9...f5 10.0-0-0 may well be better for
White, if only by a limited margin. ]
8.xd5
170 B01 [ Tiviakov doesn't lose many games with 3.. .
Caruana,Fabiano 2646 Qd6, and in this one he doesn't go down
Milanovic,Danilo 2552 easy: 8.g3
10th EICC Budva MNE (5) 10.03.2009 A) 8...xe5 9.xe5 xc3 ( 9...b4
[John Watson] 10.a3! wit h t h e id e a xb2? 11.a4 )
10.bxc3 a3 11.d2 transposes;
An interestin g back-and-f o rth game. I've B) 8...xc3 9.bxc3 xe5 10.xe5 a3
merged quite a few other games from this ( 10...g6!? ) 11.d2 b2 12.d1 xa2
month, most by Tiviakov, and compared them ( 12...e6 13.e2 - Melts ) 13.d3 f6
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f4+ 23.f3 e6 24.b8+ d7 long time (therefore later on I was in serious
25.xd8 xd8 is a decidedly odd line time trouble) trying to break Black's
leading to an equally odd position! White defenses and eventually I found it! 19.d5!
has good play after 26.e4; ( 19.a8+? b8 leads nowhere) 19...d6!
B) 15...d3 16.b2 xa3 17.e5; 20.b4! This somewhat illogical backwards
C) 15...e5! 16.xc2 xa3 ( 16...exf4 move was t he mo st d if f icult p art o f th e
17.b2 xa3 18.e5 is a formidable combination. Surprisingly W hite has no
attack ) 17.b1 xb1 18.xb1 exf4 o t h e r w a y t o m a k e p r o g r e s s . c4
19.xa3 xd4 20.xd4 xd4 ( 20...b3 21.b7+ b8 22.c6# )
gives Black an amazing four pawns for the 21.e2! The final point, after which Black
piece, but White is very well coordinated, can no longer defend. I should mention that
and has an initiative after 21.b1!? e4 the entire attack starting with Rxb7 doesn't
22.bc1 c6 23.c4 xc4 24.xc4 ] w o r k w i t h o u t t h i s r e s o u r c e . xe2
14.b1 xc2 15.e5 [Fabiano:] n White's The queen had no other square to cover the
compensation is clearly visible. But Black has critical points a6 and c6 22.b7+ b8
defensive resources. Now comes a large and 23.c6# ]
unpleasant choice for Strikovic, who must 17.xc6 c8 18.e5! xe5? My opponent
separate between two main moves: 15...Nd5 cracks under the sustained tension. A
or 15...Bd6 (other moves such as Bxa3 or possible alternative was 18. ..Bd3 with a
Rxd4 are not very serious). Both are almost probable draw. 19.dxe5 d5 20.xd5 exd5
impossible to fully calculate, so the choice is 21.e7+ Not blindly taking the material. After
partly intuitive." d6!? this strong move W hite gets a huge
[ [Fabiano analyses various options here, advantage. d7 22.xd5 Black is up a lot
including 15...Nd5!, which I've only take his of material but is so uncoordinated and has a
m a i n l i n e o f ] 15...d5! , a natural move terribly weak king that White is near winning!
brin gin g t h e knigh t t o t h e d e f e n s e a n d [jw: There's much more, but since this
opposing the bishop's demand of the long finishes the opening stage, I'm going to show
dia go n a l, wh ich le a d s t o a lo n g f o rce d t h e m o ve s o n l y: ] d3?! 23.b4 c4
variation after 16.c1 xf4 ( 16...b2? 24.d2 e8 25.c1 b3 26.xc7 h6
17.xd5 exd5 18.xc6 ) 17.xc2 xg2 27.c6+ f8 28.d5?? c4! 29.xf7+
18.xg2 xe5 , when the position has e8 30.c6! xd5 31.e7+ f8 32.f4+
undergone a remarkable transformation: g8 33.xg7+ xg7 34.f6+ h7
Bla c k h a s s a crif ice d h is qu e e n f o r t wo 35.f5+ g7 36.f6+ h7 37.f5+ g7
bishops and two pawns, but at the same 38.f6+
time has rebuffed W hite's attack and left ½-½
W hite with many weaknesses, whilst
receiving good control over both the light
and dark-squares. In fact I feel Black is only 172 B01
very slightly worse at the maximum. 19.a2 Casper,Thomas 2390
c4 20.e2 xd4 21.d1 xd1 22.xd1 Speelman,Jonathan S 2580
c5 looks like formidable compensation. ] Bundesliga 2002
16.xb7!! [jw: Here Fabiano analyses the [Andrew Martin]
move 16 Bxc6! at great length, with absurd
complications, ultimately good f or W hite] 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5
xb7! Tenacious defence! So what happens Having recently made a video recommending
after 16... Bxe5? In conclusion, it is a tough this system, I approve of Speelman's choice.
nut to crack but leads to a f orced win for If White chooses straightforward development
White. i.e. d4,Nf3 Bc4 Bd2 etc it's difficult to work up
[ 16...xe5? 17.xc6 xf4 18.a7 d7 any advantage at all. Furthermore, If White's
looks very dangerous for Black but it isn't play is too routine, Black can easily take over
easy to see a knockout for White. I spent a the game. In that video, I thought that Black
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should aim to put his Bishop on f5 and follow 7b6 14.e5 0-0 15.d2 h7 16.ad1
up with ...e6, ...Nf6, ...Bb4, ...Nbd7 etc . Very xc3 17.xc3 d7=;
solid stuff. Here we see an exception to that C) 11.d2 b6 12.ab1 a5 13.h1 0-0
rule when W hite goes off the beaten track 14.e4 xe4 15.dxe4 g6= ]
early. 4.g3 Glek favours this idea against 6...g6! 7.0-0 g7 I like this active method. g7
almost any Kings Pawn opening. The plan is is a much better square than e7 or d6. 8.b1
very interesting i.e. an eventual b4-b5, prising 0-0 9.b4 d8 10.a4 e8 11.b5 d6
open the long diagonal. That takes some Note how Speelman left his Queenside pieces
preparation but Black must be aware. f6 at home to be able to cope with this 'threat'
5.g2 c6! 12.d3 c5 And now counterplay is threatened
[ 5...g6! 6.f3 g7 7.0-0 0-0 8.e1 c6! with the help of ....c5-c4 13.e4 xe4
Braga's method is noteworthy-piece play 14.xe4 d7 15.d2 b8 16.c3 xc3
above all. But I like Speelman's move too 17.xc3 f6 18.g2 b6= 19.e4 xe4
and it is logical, shutting down the diagonal. 20.xe4 d4 21.e1 e6 22.a1 a5!
9.h3 e5 10.d3 e8 11.e3 b4 12.a3 Sp ee lm a n is in h is elem en t - a ma s te r o f
d6 13.b4 a5 14.c5 d8 15.b5 d7 simple positions and endgame structures.
16.e3 d4 17.xd4 exd4 18.d5 Casper tries to break Black's hold on the
( 18.xe8+ xe8 19.d5 d8 20.e2 game and should really draw but his position
c5 21.e7+ f8 22.xc8 xc8= ) worsens as time trouble approaches. 23.bxa6
18...f6 19.xe8+ xe8 20.e1 d7 xa6 24.a3 fd8 25.a1 xa1 26.exa1
21.b1 d6 22.a4 e6 23.f4 f6 c4! 27.dxc4 xc4 28.b1 g7 29.c3
24.xe6 fxe6 25.h4 h6 26.d2 f5 d5 30.xd5 xd5 31.cb3 c8 32.1b2
27.e1 f7 28.e2 e8 29.d2 b6 [ 32.xb6 xc2 33.6b2 must be a draw
30.c4 xc4 31.dxc4 f6 32.e4 e7 although Black could play on forever- not
33.d1 g8 34.d3 f7 35.a3 f8 easy at 30" per move. ]
36.d3 g8 37.a1 f7 38.e1 g7 32...d4 33.b4 xc2! 34.xb6 c1+
39.e2 h5 40.g2 d6 41.d1 c5 35.g2 xa4 36.b7 g5 37.7b4 c4
42.d3 d6 43.e1 e7 44.e4 f7 38.xa4 xa4 39.b5 f6 4 g3 has to be
45.e2 e7 46.g4 hxg4 47.xg4 h6 respected, but I think that Black can attain a
48.e4 f7 49.e2 g7 50.f1 f4 position of equality as long as he pays due
51.xe6 xh4 52.e4 h3+ 53.e1 g4 respect to the upcoming b4-b5. Here
54.h1+ h5 55.a8 g4 56.h8+ g5 Speelman did just that.
57.d8+ h6 58.h8+ g5 59.d8+ 0-1
h6 60.d5 d6 61.h1+ h5 62.e4
h7 63.g2 b4+ 0-1 Ehlvest,J-Braga,F/
Olympiad, Bled SLO 2002 (63) ] 173 B01
6.ge2 White keeps the diagonal open, Cheparinov,Ivan 2572
hoping for the b4 idea mentioned earlier. If he Lorenzini,Martin 2412
tries 6 Nf3 then I think Black should go for the XI Anibal Open (5) 01.03.2005
normal plan: [Andrew Martin]
[ 6.f3 f5 7.0-0 e6 8.d3 e7 9.h3 h6!
10.e2 bd7= A typical position where the 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4
battle lies in the difference between the two f6 5.f3 f5 6.c4 e6 7.d2 c6 8.e4
light-squared Bishops. It's up to Black to d8 Avoiding doubled pawns at the cost of a
prove that the pawn c6 is a more effective loss of time. 9.g3
blocker than the pawn d3. I think he can do [ 9.xf6+ xf6 10.c3 d6 holds no
this with active play: terrors. ]
A) 11.a3 0-0 12.e4 h7 13.b4 c7 9...g4 10.c3 bd7 11.h3 xf3 12.xf3
14.b2 ( 14.xf6+ xf6 15.b1 ae8= ) e7
14...a5; [ 12...d6 is a more active deployment and
B) 11.d2 d5 12.c4 d8 13.e1 sh o u ld b e p re f e rre d , a lt h o u gh t h e re i s
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20...f4 21.b5 d4 22.c2 d5 queen's bishop whilst continuing to have
[ Or 22...e5 23.c5 etc. ] the move c3-c4, with or without Rb1,
23.bxc6 xe3 24.cxb7+ b8 25.c5 d6 hanging over his head like a sword of
[ After 25...d6 there is 26.c6! ( xc6 Damocles. f5 12.c4 a4 ( 12...a6
27.d7# ) ] 13.xf5 gxf5 14.d5! xa1 15.xa1
26.fxe3 xh3 27.a6+ xa6 28.xc7+ a5 16.d4 Provides White with a
xc7 29.b8+ d7 winning attack.) 13.d5! The Qa4-Qd1
1-0 vis-Ã -vis gives W hite supplementary
t a c t i c a l m o t i v e s . d4 ( 13...a5
14.b1 xd3 15.cxd3 xd1 16.bxd1
175 B01 b6 17.xe7 ) 14.xd4 xd4 15.xe7
Chomet,Pascal 2317 xa1 16.xa1 xd3 17.h6 f6
Collas,Didier 2425 18.cxd3 f7 19.e1 And Black has to
Championnat de Accession (2.5) 08.2005 part with his queen to avoid mate.;
[Eric Prié] B3) 11.e4?! As in the Lacasa-Sanchez
g a m e o f t h i s s u m m e r . d8!?
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4 Possibly an improvement, with unclear
f6 5.f3 e4?! 6.d3! xc3 7.bxc3 play, as W hite should play here 12.h3
xc3+ This is suicidal. Although even without ( 12.c4 a4 13.d3 g4 14.c3 xd1
taking the pawn Black's survival only hangs by 15.axd1 c5!= Dranischnikow, E-Prie, E
a thread... Rheinland Pfalz ChT1 2005) 12...c5
[ 7...g6 8.0-0 g7 13.e2 e6 With unclear play. Partly
A) 9.e1!? 0-0! 10.xe7 c6 11.e3 f rom my notes in ChessBase MEG A
xc3 12.d2 b2 13.c3 Of course and 2006. ]
not 13.Bxg6? as in the Reprintsev game 8.d2 a3
commented by Andrew. h6 ( 13...g4 [ 8...b2 9.0-0 White's lead in development
14.h3 xf3 15.xf3; 13...e6 14.b1 is crushing. ]
xa2 15.xb7 ) 14.e1 xd2 15.xd2 9.0-0
xd2 16.xd2 e6 17.e4 a5 [ 9.e5!? d7? ( 9...d6 10.f3 f6;
18.c5 Thus, past the surprise effect, 9...e6 10.h5 e7 ) 10.xf7! Gamback, B-
Black does not manage to equalize in this Paasikangas Tella, J Aaland-Stockholm
line either.; 1997 W ith the idea xf7 11.f3+ e8
B) 9.d2!? My young opponent, who was 12.g6+ hxg6 13.xa3 ]
having quite a good run in the league, 9...d7 10.e1 What impresses me in this
although visibly surprised by the variation, game is the methodical quietness of the white
only spent half an hour to retrieve all the moves on one side when related to the feeling
best moves over the board! 0-0 10.e1 of helplessness of Black on the other side,
c6 totally unable to check the opposing natural
B1) 11.c4 is c r it i c a l a3 ( 11...a4 initiative after his 6th move 'over provocation'
12.c3 xd1 13.axd1 ) 12.c3 xd4 and forced to weaken his position one move
13.xd4 xd4 14.cxd4 xd3 15.xe7 after another. c6 11.f4 e6 12.d2 a4
f5! ( 15...xc4? 16.h6 d8 17.e1! 13.c4 f6 14.f3 d7
c6 18.d5! a4 19.e5; 15...xd4? [ 14...e7 15.d6 ]
16.h6 ) 16.h6 fd8 However, Black 15.ab1 b5
should be able to hold thanks to his [ 15...0-0-0 16.g3 d5 Only move to
activity and the presence of the opposite parry the threat of Qf4. 17.xf7+- ]
coloured bishops.; 16.e5 xd4 17.xd7 xd7 18.xb5
B2) 11.h3! On the other hand d5 19.a4
represents, I reckon, the refutation of [ 19.c4 cxb5 ( 19...e7 20.a6 ) 20.cxd5
Black's optimistic 5th move after which I b7 ( 20...d8 21.dxe6 fxe6 22.bd1 )
c a n n o t s e e h o w h e wi ll d e ve lo p h i s 21.h5 a3 22.xe6+ f8 23.c6
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13.b5+ c6 14.d4 and Black is in 13...xc2 14.g5! Threatening both Be6
trouble. ) 11.0-0-0 0-0-0 with a mating attack and Rac1 winning
A) The position after Black's 11th move material a3 ( 14...h6 doesn't help Black
was seen previously in Nunn - Conquest, either: 15.xe6! hxg5 16.xd7+ xd7
Hastings 1995/96. This game continued 17.e5+ will set in motion a decisive
12.h4 g6 13.b3! d6?! attack. ) 15.xe6 fxe6 16.xe6+ f8
( I w o u l d p r e f e r 13...b6 17.xd7 and Black should resign.;
with a comfortable position for Black.) B) 13...xc2 14.fc1 d3 15.xd3
14.g3 he8 15.he1 f5 16.g2 xd3 16.xb7 b8 17.c6 White holds
A1) With his previous move, Black a strong initiative even in the endgame.
probably intended to transfer his Knight b5 ( 17...d6 18.c3 - White threatens
to the central e4-square, but now he both Rd1 and picking off the g7-pawn with
d i s c o v e r s i t d o e s n ' t w o r k 16...f6 a serious advantage.) 18.xb5 xb5
17.g5! e7 ( Unfortunately, the natural 19.c8+ e7 and Black is completely tied
17...e7 loses on the spot to 18.xe6+! up. ]
fxe6 19.xe6+ b8 20.xf6 d6 13.c3 b4! The point. This unexpected
21.xe7 xe7 22.xe7 and White wins blow solves all Black's problems. 14.xb4
d8 o t h e r wi s e 2 3 . B e 5 23.xb7+ ) xb2 15.0-0 xb4 16.ab1 Now both sides
18.f4 and it's not clear how Black is can be satisfied. W hite regains his pawn
going to unpin.; wh i l e B l a c k s u c c e s s f u l l y c o m p l e t e s h i s
A2) 16...b8 17.f4 White now development. After the short storm a quiet
secures a clear advantage, and Black`s balanced position has arisen. a4 17.xb7
attempts to complicate are easily d8 18.e3 0-0 19.d4 b6 20.xf5
refuted: f6 18.xe6! f8 19.c4 Here a draw was agreed. A short but
A2a) 19...xe6 20.xe6 xf4+ interesting and important game.
( 20...f7 21.xd6+-; 20...f7 ½-½
21.xd6 xd6 22.b4+- ) 21.xf4
f7 22.d5 xe6 23.xe6 d6
24.xd8 xd8 25.d3 xd5 183 B01
26.xd5 cxd5 27.d4+-; De Firmian,Nick E
A2b) 19...h5 20.d3! and in a few Schroer,Jonathan
moves White won.; Open New York (USA) (9) 1984
B) 12.b3 b6 13.g3 g6 14.f4 d6 [Nigel Davies]
15.xd6 xd6 16.h4 a5 17.a4 d5
18.f3 e7 19.he1 hd8 20.c3 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.d4 xd5 4.f3 g4
a n d in t h is le ve l p o sit io n a d ra w wa s 5.e2 c6 6.0-0 e6 7.e1 Here too this is a
agreed. ] st ro n g m o ve , a im in g sim p ly t o su p p re s s
8...d8 9.xf6+ xf6 10.e2 Up to this Black's attempts to free himself, in the short
moment the players have been following the term at least. e7 8.c3 0-0 9.bd2 d7
game Shirov - Salov. Now Black deviates with [ Another example was Belov - Shorin,
a clear improvement. d7! Russian Ch., Serpukhov 1999, which went
[ 10...g4?! was played in the above- 9...f5 10.b5 b8 11.e4 a6 12.d3
me nt ion ed ga m e an d W hit e seize d t h e d7 13.e2 g6 14.c4 b4 15.b1 b6
initiative after 11.d5! ] 16.b3 a5 17.b2 c6 18.a3 with a clear
11.d5 cxd5 12.xd5 Black's position seems advantage. Black's problems, as always,
to be precarious, but the young French has stem from a lack of space. ]
something in mind! e7! 10.e4!?
[ It's extremely risky to grab pawns without [ 10.c4 is an alternative, restraining ... e7-
a n y d e v e l o p m e n t : 12...xb2?! 13.0-0 e5. De Firmian reckons that the surrender of
and White obtains a strong initiative: the two bishops involved with executing
A) The other capture loses by force this advance is too high a price to pay, but
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
this assessment of the position is slightly to go all in, but on this occasion discretion
controversial. ] might have been the better part of valour.
10...xf3 11.xf3 e5 The 'freeing' move Ziatdinov is also a highly dangerous
which gives rise to a double-edged struggle. tactician ) 10.xf3 xd4 11.xd4 xd4
White now 'wins' a second minor exchange 12.xa7 e5+ 13.e2 xc4 14.xb7+
(bishop for knight) at the cost of giving Black d7 15.d1+ d6 16.xd6+!! (Pow!!)
a be t te r p awn struct ure . 12.c5 xc5 xd6 17.b5+ c6 18.0-0! c5 19.d1+
13.dxc5 ad8 14.b3 a5 15.c2 fe8 d5 20.xd5! xb5 21.xc6+ xc6
16.g5 f6 17.ad1 f7 18.c1 e7 19.b4 22.d4+ c5 23.xb5 xb5 24.d7 c6
ac6 20.e3 f5 21.b5 e4 22.e2 25.xf7 d8 26.g4 d2 27.xg7 xb2
[ I'll cop out of assessing 22.bxc6 exf3 28.xh7 d6 29.g5 c5 30.g6 b8 31.h3
23.cxb7 g6 24.g3 c6 - though this e7 32.f3 c4 33.f1 c8 34.f7+
looks as if it would give Black excellent 1-0, Ziatdinov R - Shabalov A, Toront o
counterplay. ( and not 24...g4 25.xd8 1998 ]
xd8 26.b3+ h8 27.b8 )] [ 8.0-0 e5 9.d5 e4 10.fd2 e5 11.c3
22...e5 23.d4 7g6 24.f1 h6 25.h3 h5? ( 11...xe2 ) 12.xg4+ exg4 13.h3
f4 This is starting to look dangerous for xe3 14.xh5 xh5 15.fxe3 f6
White, with storm clouds definitely gathering 16.dxe4 xe4 17.xe4 f6 18.f2 e8
round his king. The threat of a Black knight 19.f3 and White won the endgame in
landing on d3 makes White give up one of his Dolmatov - Perez Candelario, Linares Open
bishops and go hunting for pawns. 26.xe5 2000. ]
xd1 27.xd1 xe5 28.a4 xc5 29.xa7 8...e5 9.d5 b4 10.c1 xa2 11.a1 b4
xc3 12.0-0 a6 13.h3
[ In the shoot-out that follows, de Firmian [ Waitzkin must have had an improvement
shows that he's the stronger player. Black ready because he repeated all of this in a
might have considered 29...b6 at this point, later game. But in Sax - Wiatzkin, Pula 1997,
wit ho ut worryin g ab ou t 30.b8+ h7 the Hungarian got his new move in first with
31.d8 which can be answered by e6 ] 13.a4! and went on to win a dashing
30.xb7 h7 31.c8 a3 32.d8 xa2 a t t a ck in g ga m e : d3 14.xd3 xd3
33.f8 d5 34.h8+ g6 35.xc7 a1 15.a1 e8 16.b4 xf3 17.xf3 xc4
36.xf4 xb5? 18.c1 xd5 19.a5 d3 20.b5 b4
[ Looks like time trouble. Black could play 21.bxa6 xa5 22.xa5 d6 23.g5 hf8
36...xf1+ when W hit e mu st go 37.h2 24.a7 d7 25.c5 a6 26.d2+ c8
( 37.xf1? d1# )] 27.d6 c6 28.xf8 xf8 29.d6 d8
37.d6+ g5 38.e7+ f4 39.c7+ 30.b8+ d7 31.xf7 e8 32.d1+ e6
1-0 33.d6 a4 34.f1 g8 35.c8 f4
36.d6+ f5 37.a8 g4 38.e7 g5
39.g3 1-0 ]
184 B01 13...xf3 14.xf3 d6
De Firmian,Nick E [ Waitzkin might have had the immediate
Waitzkin,Joshua 14...c5 in mind had Sax repeated de
New York (USA) (7) 1996 Firmian's play. Now things get out of hand. ]
[Nigel Davies] 15.a4 c5 16.xb4! cxb4 17.c5 b8 18.d6
a7 19.b3 e4 20.g5 b8 21.xf7
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.d4 c6 4.f3 xc5 22.g4 c8 23.c1 b6 24.xh8 xh8
g4 5.e2 0-0-0 6.c4 f5 7.e3 f6 25.a4 d7 26.xa6 xe3 27.c7 xf2+
8.bd2 A subtle move which lends added 28.xf2 e3+ 29.g2
protecting to the d4 square by supporting the 1-0
knight on f3. Yet W hite has also done well
with the more primitive alternatives:
[ a) 8.c3 e6 9.a4 xf3 (Shabalov likes
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.d4 xd5 4.e2 f5 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.f3 f6 4.d4 g4
5.f3 e6 6.0-0 e7 5.e2 e6 6.0-0 e7 7.h3 h5 8.c4 d8
[ The alternative is 6...d6 , though the 9.b3
bishop looks more exposed on this square [ This position is just nice for White -
and it blocks any pressure Black might hope because of his greater control of terrain.
for on the d-file. Nijboer - Hoodendoorn, 9.c3 0-0 10.f4 d6 11.e5 xe2
Dutch Ch., Rotterdam 2000 went on 7.c4 12.xe2 c6 13.ad1 e8 14.fe1
f6 8.c3 c6 9.b3 c7 10.c5 e7 wa s a lso ra t h e r m ise r a b le f o r B la c k i n
11.f4 c8 12.fe1 0-0 13.h4 g6 Krauss - Forster, US Open 1982. ]
14.xg6 hxg6 15.c4 with a tremendous 9...c8 10.c3 0-0 11.g4 With Black so
position and an immediate threat to 'sac' the p a s si ve ly p l a c e d , t h i s we a k e n i n g o f t h e
rook on e6. ] kingside is of little significance. White wants
7.e1 0-0 8.a3 Preparing to play c2-c4 to add the bishop pair to his collection of
without having to worry about Black's knight pluses. g6 12.e5 bd7 13.xg6 hxg6
coming in to b4. c6 14.f3 c6 15.f4 d8 16.fe1 f8
[ Black can 'develop' his pieces, but there's 17.ac1 a5 18.a3 e8 19.c5 Played as
not much to do about W hite's grip on the soon as the knight moves away f rom d5 .
centre. He needs to free himself with either Degraeve actually has a nice tactic in mind.
...c7-c5 or ...e7-e5, but 8...c5 would be met ef6 20.a4 d5? Strictly speaking this is
by 9.c4 b6 10.c3 cxd4 ( 10...c6 the losing move. But Black's position is pretty
11.d5 ) 11.xd4 with Bf3 coming and very m i s e r a b l e i n a n y c a s e . 21.xd5 cxd5
strong pressure against Black's queenside. ] 22.b6! c6
9.b5! A nasty move which prompts a full- [ White's last move was a killer - 22...xb6
scale retreat. b8 10.f1 c6 11.bd2 23.cxb6 d7 24.c7 loses the b-pawn and
f6 12.c3 Protecting the d-pawn leaves the game ]
Black with nothing. W ith the knight on c6 23.xa8 xa8 24.a4
Black's only useful pawn lever is ...e6-e5, but 1-0
in this position it is out of the question. h6
13.a4 c8 14.a5 b8 15.b3 b6 16.axb6
axb6 17.e5 fd7 18.df3 c5 187 B01
Fin a lly ge t t in g in t h e ke y le ve r, b u t n o w Del Rio Angelis,Salvador Gabriel 2472
White's superior development starts to tell. Minasian,Artashes 2567
19.xd7 xd7 20.d5 f6 21.f4 c4 Open Ubeda ESP (10) 30.01.2001
22.xc4 c5 23.d1 exd5 24.b5 e4 [Neil McDonald]
25.g3 a8 26.xa8 xa8 27.d4 a2
28.f3 g6 29.b4 xd4+ Much of the analysis to this opening is
[ 29...b7 would have put the knight on a indebted to a ChessBase article by Matthias
pretty miserable post, but now Black is Wahls which gives a very deep examination of
losing a pawn. ] this variation. I have only quoted some key
30.xd4 e6 31.xb6 d2 32.e3 a2 va ria t io n s . 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5
33.d7 f5 34.b5 d8 35.xe6 xe6 I haven't seen this line in ages. Naively, I
36.b6 b3 37.c7 e8 38.d3 d4 39.b1 thought this was one of the main lines but
xc3 40.xc3 dxc3 41.b7 c2 42.c1 white seems to avoid it like the plague in
1-0 practice. We get some indications why in this
game. xd5 4.f3 g4 5.e2 0-0-0 6.e3
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Black's queen should already have sensed promising continuation here although there
some danger, and so 7...c6 would have are alternatives
been a wise reaction. ] [ 7.c4 d8 8.e3 g6 9.h4!?
8.g4! g for "go for it!". g6 9.e5 c6?? looked dangerous but led to no problems for
Black finally puts something on c6, but it's the Black af ter h6 10.h5 h7 11.d5 cxd5
wrong piece at the wrong time! 10.b5 b6 12.exd5 c6 13.b5 xd5 14.xd5
Puzzle Diagram W 40D1 for Reader's xd5 15.xd5 0-0-0 and Black was if
Challenge W40P1: Can you now find a forced a n yt h in g slig h t ly b e t t e r i n S u t o vs k y, E
win f o r W hit e? L o ok o ut . .. t h e an swe r is (2669)-Rogers, I (2594) Nottingham 2005 ]
coming on the very next move of the game! [ 7.g4 is premature and Black quickly
11.c4! xb5 12.d6+ Black resigned equalised after e6 8.c4
wi t h o u t w a i t i n g t o s e e h i s q u e e n b e i n g A) 8...xg4 wins a pawn here although
captured by the f1-bishop on W hite's next White has dangerous compensation after
move. 9.xe6 xe5 10.b3 g6 11.f3
1-0 ( 11.d5!? ) 11...e6 12.d2 with a strong
initiative in return for the pawn. White is
going to castle long and then play h4-h5
190 B01 and Black will have to be very careful not
Dominguez Perez,L 2723 to get over-run.;
Nakamura,Hi 2775 B) 8...bd7 9.xe6 xe5 10.e2 g6
Makedonia Palace GP (6.3) 28.05.2013 11.b3 e6 and White's early aggression
[Tom Rendle] had come to nothing in Pikula, D (2476)-
Zhukova, N (2471) Belgrade 2000 ]
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4 c6 7...xd3 8.xd3 e6 9.0-0 bd7 10.g3!
5.f3 f5 6.e5!? A rare choice from This makes it just a little more difficult for
Dominguez and a new move for this site. f6 Nakamura to develop his kingside although
[ 6...d7 Black should still be just about OK here.
A) 7.c4 d8 8.d3 is a very logical [ 10.xd7 xd7 11.e4 e7 12.g3 g6
way of playing with some advantage to 13.d6+ xd6 14.xd6 d5 15.a3
White after ( 8.d5!? ) 8...xd3 9.xd3; was a little better for W hite in Sokolov, A
B) 7.f3 (2568)-Fischdick, G (2251) Crans Montana
B1) 7...g6 may be playable here 2001 ]
although it does allow White the option 10...c7 11.e1
of 8.xf7!? ( 8.c4 d8 9.e3 [ 11.f4?! is an obvious try but the tactics
is a safer route to a slight edge) 8...xf7 after h5! are in Black's favour 12.xf7
9.g4 although Black seems to be OK ( 12.h4 xf4 13.xf4 is equal ) 12...a5!
here after gf6 10.gxf5 xf5 11.c4+ 13.c7 ( 13.f3 xf7 and White is missing
e6 12.e2 e8 with a roughly level a kille r d isco ve re d ch e ck) 13...xg3
position.; 14.xa5 xf1 15.xh8 d2 and Black
B2) 7...e6 8.f4 ( 8.xd7 xd7 can hardly be worse with White's knight on
9.d2 f5 10.g3 f6 11.0-0-0 h8. ]
is a very logical setup for W hite with 11...b6 12.f3?!
some edge because of White's lead in [ 12.g5 was better, for example d6 ( or
development.) 8...gf6 9.h3?! d5?! 12...h6 13.h4! g5 14.f3 g7 15.g3 )
( 9...xe5 10.xe5 d7 11.f4 g6 13.h4 is very awkward for Black ]
equalises for Black) 10.c4! xc4 12...b4?
11.xc4 e6 12.0-0 e7 13.ad1 [ 12...d6 13.f4 ( 13.h6 0-0 14.g3
and White had a typical advantage with e8 is fine for Black) 13...0-0 and Black
the two bishops in Klimov, S (2518)- has equalised. ]
Romanov, E (2594) St Petersburg 2010 ] 13.h6! After both sides swap mistakes
7.d3 This seems to be White's most Dominguez takes a clear advantage with a
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awkward for Black ] I'm not sure a pawn sacrifice was necessary
9.e1 White is developing very naturally but I here but I suppose W hite didn't want to sit
don't really see where it is all going - this is passively and wait.
the kind of position Qd6 Scandinavian players [ 31.f3 f5 32.f2 and Black doesn't have
are after in this opening. serious chances here I believe. ]
[ 9.a4! has been White's most popular 31...bxc4 32.6d4 b5 33.h4 g8 34.h2
choice in this position but Black should be c3 35.c2 cxb2 36.xb2 c5 37.a4 c6
d o i n g f i n e a f t e r c6 10.b3 e8!? 38.b6 a5 39.hxg5 gxg5 40.a6 e5
( 10...b6?! runs into 11.a3 b4 12.a5! Black may be a pawn up here but W hite is
bxa5 13.a4 and Black is in some trouble) active and must still have excellent chances
11.a3 d8 12.e1 d6 13.d5 d7 t o h o l d w i t h a c c u r a t e p l a y 41.a7+?!
14.d3 e6 15.xc6 xc6 as in Vovk, A This only forces the king to a better square
(2549)-Tiviakov, S (2656) Altenkirche n [ 41.h4 f5 42.f4! exf4 43.xf4 e4
2012 ] 44.f2! and White should hold the draw ]
9...b5 10.b3 b7 11.g5 c5! After this 41...e6 42.d8 f5 43.h8 g6! 44.hh7
Black has comfortably equalised and can f4 45.ae7+ d6 46.f5+ d5 The King
think about playing for more escapes and Black picks up the a4 pawn
[ 11...bd7 is also very sensible and Black which gives him excellent chances to win.
c a n h a rd l y b e wo r s e h e re . D o m in gu e z 47.xh5 xa4 48.a7?! After this it's
Perez's opening play has certainly been less probably just lost. c4 49.h8 c2 50.h4
than inspiring. ] b6 51.f3 a4 52.g5 b4 53.ha8
12.dxc5 xc5 13.e2 e6 14.ad1 bd7 h6+ 54.h3 b3 55.f3 c2 56.g1 d6
15.f4 fe8 57.e8 dd2 58.g7 a3 59.xe5 a2
[ 15...f5!? was an interesting way of 60.e1 b2 61.h2 b1 62.e4+ c5
u n b a l a n c i n g t h e p l a y . A f t e r 16.e3 63.a7 a1 64.xa1 xa1 65.xf4 a4
( 16.e3 c5 is just better for Black) 66.e5+ d6 67.f5 White can put up some
16...xf3 17.xf3 h5! 18.xd7 xf4 defence here but the extra rook is always
19.xf4 xf4 White is under a little bit of going to win in the end. c2 68.f7 e5
pressure, although a draw remains the most 69.g3 d8 70.h3 g8+ 71.h2 h4
likely result. ] 72.c7 f5 73.c5+ e6 74.g4 gh8
16.d6 b6 17.e3?! Swapping the queens 75.xf5 xh3+ 76.g2 h2+ 77.g3
still leaves White under some pressure 8h3+ 78.f4 f2 79.e5+ f6 80.e3
[ 17.f4 offering to repeat was probably a a2 81.g5+ f7 82.g4 h1 83.b3 g1+
better idea. Black's advantage is very small the pawn on g5 now falls and with it the game.
after ac8 18.a3 ] A nice grind from Caruana.
17...xe3 18.xe3 b6 19.e5 ac8 0-1
20.ed3 c4?!
[ 20...e4! may have been stronger as after
21.xg7 xg7 22.xe4 xe4 23.d6 192 B01
xf3 24.gxf3 b8 it feels to me like White's Dominguez Perez,Leinier 2725
activity is going to be short-lived and the Ivanchuk,Vassily 2764
long term weaknesses on the kingside will Edición 2012 (7.1) 11.05.2012
make the endgame at least unpleasant to [Gawain Jones & Tom Rendle]
defend. ]
21.xc4 xc4 22.a3 h6 23.d2 cc8 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4
24.xf6 xf6 25.de4 xc3 26.xc3 f6 5.d2 c6 Black's most popular (and
With a pair of bishops swapped off Caruana perhaps most solid) way of meeting Bd2
no longer has and advantage so it's [ 5...g4 is also possible and now 6.f3
impressive that he manages to squeeze out a A) 6...f5 is Bauer's own
win from here. c6 27.1d2 g5 28.d6 f8 recommendation but it does look very
29.d1 e7 30.e3 h5 31.c4?! dangerous for Black after 7.g4!? g6 8.f4
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
although the advantage is rather minimal [ 7...0-0 8.0-0 a6 And now White usually
after b6 23.g2 xd4 24.ae1 goes 9. a4 preventing ...b5. For instance:
but I still think that the only (small) winning 9.a4 c6 ( Or: 9...f5 10.b3 c6 11.a3
chan ces lie with W h ite he re due to th e d8 12.e1 e8 13.d5 d6 14.xc6
outside passed pawns. The smart money bxc6 15.e5 e8 16.e2 a5 17.ad1
would still be on a draw though! ] h8 18.d5 White's position looks much
22...c6 23.d3?! better. e4 19.xe4 xe5 20.g3 f6
[ 23.xc6 isn't a move White really wants to 21.xf5 gxf5 22.f3 cxd5 23.xd5 c6
play but then again it should be easy 24.dxe5 fxe5 25.xe5 f7 26.b2 g8
enough to hold a draw after bxc6 24.b3 ] 27.e6 d7 28.g3+ f8 29.c3 e8
23...b6 30.xc6 d8 31.h2 d2 32.g3 f4
[ 23...xa2! puts White under more pressure 33.g8+ f8 34.xh7 xf2 35.h5+ f7
as t he c ou n t erp lay d oe sn 't see m to b e 36.g6 1-0 Kosintseva, T -Foisor, C Rijeka
e n o u g h , e . g . 24.f3 ( 24.xc6 bxc6 2010 ) 10.e3 f5 11.e2 b4 12.b3
25.a3 c4 ) 24...xd4 25.xf7 f5 bd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.g5 ae8
and Black is definitely better ] 15.fe1 h6 16.h4 f4 17.e3 g5
24.fd1 d7 25.b3 a6 26.a3 b5 18.g3 e6 19.h4 c6 20.hxg5 hxg5
27.xc6 Finally White tries to simplify bxc6 21.xf4 gxf4 22.xf4 Leko, P -Kramnik, V /
28.f1 f5! 29.b3? A strange move which cuts Moscow 2009, W hite has a pawn for no
the rook on a3 out of the game - the mistake compensation ]
is s wi f t l y p o u n c e d u p o n b y Ch u c ky wh o 8.0-0 c6N Again hesitating with the usual 8..
immediately goes for the kill in the centre 0-0
[ i n s t e a d a f t e r 29.c1 fd8 30.b3 [ Relevant is: 8...b5 9.b3 b7 10.e5!
Black has some work still to do to create 0-0 11.f4 Due to the unusual move order
real winning chances ] from Polgar White has managed to achieve
29...fd8 30.a4 c5! 31.dxc5?! his best setup here. d8 12.e1 bd7
[ 31.d1 was necessary but Black will be 13.e2 c5 14.dxc5 xc5 15.ad1 c8
going a pawn up after b6 which should be 16.xf7+ xf7 17.xf7 xf7 18.xe7+
enough to win here, especially as White's g8 19.c7 ( 19.e5! c6 20.d5!
king is the more open ] White is winning.) 19...f8 20.xf6 xc7
31...d2 Now it's all over 32.f3 xc5+ 21.d5 f7 22.e7+ xe7 23.xe7
33.h1 c2 34.c4 xa2 35.h4 g5 xe7 24.xe7 This endgame is hopeless
36.h5 g4 37.c6 xb3 38.g5 d1 for Black. b8 25.b4 f8 26.xh7 g8
A wonderfully controlled game by Vassily who 27.e7 f8 28.e5 a4 29.d6 f7
shows that it's also possible to win at the 30.ee6 c8 31.xg6 xc2 32.h6 g7
highest level with the Scandinavian - although 33.hg6+ f7 34.h4 c1+ 35.h2 c4
some mistakes from your opponent do help! 36.h6 g7 37.h5 e4 38.he6
0-1 White won in Dominguez Perez, L -Polgar, J/
Khanty Mansiysk 2011 ]
9.a3 0-0 10.e1 d8 11.e3 Black is
193 B01 missing pawns in the center so we can say
Dominguez Perez,Leinier 2719 that its not easy to equalize here despite the
Polgar,Judit 2699 fact that W hite doesn't threaten anything
FIDE World Cup 2011 (4.6) 08.09.2011 significant for the moment. e6 12.xe6
[Milos Pavlovic] xe6 13.e2 f5 14.ad1 d6
[ 14...d5 15.xd5 xd5 16.c4 f5
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 4.d4 17.d5 e5 18.d4 h5 19.xh5 gxh5
f6 5.f3 g6 6.h3 g7 7.c4 20.b3 White keeps the advantage. ]
White decides to develop in a simple logical [ 14...e6 15.c1 d5 16.e4 f4 17.xf4
wa y a n d a v o i d e a r l y s h a r p a t t e m p t s . a6 xf4 18.c3 b6 19.c2 Again White has
The usual move order is: easier play. ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
15.g4 e6 16.f1 dd8 17.f4 d7 18.d5 to d8,enquiring how White will break in. 7.e1
a7 19.e5 e8 20.a4 c8 21.b3 d6 [ 7.f4 e7 8.bd2 0-0 9.c4 d8
22.g2 White is controlling all the central 10.e3 g6 is a good indication of the sort
squares and the main problem of Black's o f p o s it i o n B l a ck i s h e a d in g i n t o , wi t h
po sition rem ains: no p awn brea ks in th e 11.e5 bd7 12.xg6 hxg6 giving White
center. d7 23.d3 xe5 24.xe5 xe5 a minimal edge. ]
25.xe5 f8 26.de3 d7 27.f3 7...b4!? A little zwischenzug, encouraging
Simply improving the position move by move the White c pawn forward. Of course, White
W hite actually gains an even bigger takes the opportunity. 8.c3 e7 9.e5 d8
advantage. b5 28.f4 g7 29.e2 f6 10.a3 bd7= Painless equalization. What
30.b4 a5 31.d4 h6 32.c3 b8 could be better after a hard day at work or in
33.g2 bxa4 34.xa4 dd8 35.xa5 h5 a tournament when one needs to economize
36.xc7 With two extra pawns the rest is just on e ne rgy. 11.b3 b6 12.ac4 xb3
t e c h n i qu e . hxg4 37.hxg4 f4 38.xe7 13.axb3 xe5 14.xe5 d5 15.b4 0-0
xg4+ 39.g3 f4 40.e4 xe4 41.xe4 16.f3 a6
f5 42.e5 xe5 43.xe5 f6 44.e7 [ 16...fd8 ]
xd5 45.xg6+ f8 46.c7 b6 47.gg7 [ 16...d6 were both decent alternatives. ]
f5 48.cf7+ e8 49.h7 g5+ 50.f1 17.d7 fe8 For all the world it looks as
h5 51.xf6 thought the game will be drawn. Sometimes I
1-0 don't understand what goes through a player's
head? 18.xd5? Pointless.
[ 18.c5= ]
194 B01 [ 18.d2= and a handshake was indicated. ]
Drljevic,Ljilja 2175 18...exd5 19.b6 c5! Even here White can
Milovanov,Olga 2038 just about play on with 20 Rxe8+ Rxe8 21 g4
TCh-SCG Women (10) 18.09.2004 but after 21..Re1+ 22 Kg2 Be4+ she is of
[Andrew Martin] course, much worse. Disgraced by her recent
play though, Drljevic decides to call it a day.
The players in the coming game aren't that Re-running the opening, we find that Black's
highly rated, bu t they d o provid e us wit h choice can be used against 3 Nf3 e.g. 3...Nf6
t y p i c a l ' c l u b p l a ye r s e n t e rt a i n m e n t ' F o r 4 d4 Bf5,with transposition. As such, it is a
whatever reason, White tries to avoid theory development worth noting.
by choosing 'natural methods' in the opening. 0-1
This can never work against the sophisticated
Modern Scandinavian and Black equalizes
easily, going on to score a quick win. 1.e4 d5 195 B01
2.exd5 xd5 3.d4?! I don't rate this move at Dutreeuw,Marc 2394
a l l . F o r s t a r t e r s , B l a c k h a s a ve r y g o o d Rocha,Sergio 2427
counter in 3...e5!, which takes the wind right Euro Team Ch 1999
out of W hite's sails. Here we see another [Alexander Volzhin]
approach. f6 4.f3 f5!? Unusual, but
viable. A very instructive game for understanding
[ I have played 4...g4 5.e2 e6 6.0-0 e7 Black's attacking resources in the Center
7.c4 d8 many times now. Black gets a Counter gambit. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.d4
stout defensive position which reacts well to g4 4.f3 f5 5.c4
being attacked. For instance, after 8.c3 [ A s I ' v e o p i n e d b e f o r e , 5.b5+
0-0 9.b3 c8 10.e3 bd7 11.fd1 a6! is more promising for White. ]
12.ac1 e8 13.h3 h5 Black is ready for 5...e6 6.dxe6 c6 7.e3 b4+ 8.c3 e7
... c7-c5. He may or may not play ...h7-h6 9.a4 xe6 10.f2 0-0-0 Black has already
first, another useful move. ] completed his development while White lags.
5.e2 c6 6.0-0 e6 After c2-c4,Black retreats 11.e1
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
g6 13.h4 h5 14.g5 fd5 and now in 20...h6 21.g5 h7 22.gxf6 xh1
Loeffler, S (2463)-Kreindl, H (2200) Vienna Black is still on the board but with the queen
2006 W hite could've obtained the better out of the game on h7 it's not surprising the
c h a n c e s wi t h 15.xb6! axb6 16.xd5 Edouard is able to find a crisp end to the
xd5 17.xd5 exd5 ( or 17...cxd5 game with 23.f5! h4 24.e5 exf6
18.b5+ d8 19.a3 ) 18.e1+ d8 19.a3 [ or 24...xd1+ 25.xd1 d7 26.c7+
and White's two bishops and control of the e8 27.c8# ]
open e-file give him a clear advantage. ] 25.e8+ c7 26.xd6 xd6 27.e7+ b8
10.f4 d8 11.0-0-0 b6 28.xd6+ a8 29.a6 A pleasing and exact
[ maybe Black should try 11...g6 12.e3 finish bxa6 30.c5 g8 31.xa7#
g7 when his position looks solid if not 1-0
particularly well developed. White can start
pre p a rin g a kin gside a ssau lt h ere wit h
13.b1 0-0 14.g4 ] 197 B01
12.xb6 Erturan,Yakup 2389
[ 12.a5!? d7 13.b1 was also quite a Exizoglou,Dimitrios 2224
reasonable option, and again White is ready Acropolis Open (3) 16.08.2007
to play g4 and increase the pressure on [John Watson]
Black's position. ]
12...xb6 W ith this game I look at various ideas
[ 12...axb6 would be Black's ideal recapture involved when W hite plays Bc4 and Nge2
i f i t w e r e n ' t f o r t h e s t r o n g r e p l y 13.d5! (instead of Nf3). These are not easy lines to
which basically wins on the spot, f or meet, and if they discourage Black from ...Bf5,
example xd5 ( 13...d7 is sadly the best that's quite an achievement for W hite. 1.e4
Black can manage but his position is d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4 f6
horrendous after 14.c4 c8 15.e5 ) 5.c4 c6
14.c4 d7 15.xd5 cxd5 16.xd5! xd5 [ The game Yudasin-Oll, Dos Hermanas
17.xd5 a4 18.d1 and despite being an 1992 illustrated 5...g4 : 6.f3! f5!?
exchange ahead Black can safely resign. ] 7.ge2
13.e5 0-0-0 14.a3 a5 15.h2 A) Yudasin analyses 7...bd7 8.d2!
Very simple play from Romain, keeping all of ( 8.g4 g6 9.h4 h6 10.f4 e5!
his options open and waiting to see what, if , as in Cornette, M-Prié, E/ Saint Vincent
anything, Black will do. Obviously there are 2004 - given in an earlier column) 8...c6
also ideas of Qg3 at some point so Danielsen 9.g4! g6 10.h4 h6 11.f4 h7
at least puts a stop to that g5+ 16.b1 g6 12.e2!;
17.g4! Suddenly the queen is rather short on B) 7...c6 8.g4! g6 9.f4 bd7 10.h4!
squares h5 18.g3 e5 11.h5! f5 ( 11...xc2!? 12.xc2
[ 18.a6! is very flashy but it leads to a exd4 13.e2+ is messy ) 12.gxf5 exf4
similar kind of thing to the game after d5 and now Yudasin gives 13.e2+! e7
( 18...bxa6?? 19.xc6# ) 19.g3 d6 ( 13...d8 14.d3! ) 14.xf4 xf5
20.f4 h6 21.g5 ] ( 14...0-0 15.d3 15 or h6 ) 15.d6
18...d6 19.d5! cutting off the queens escape and wins. ]
along the 5th rank xd5? 6.ge2 f5 This could also arise via 4...c6 5
[ 19...h4 was Black's best try here but it's still Bc4 Bf5 6 Ne2 Nf6.
very bad after 20.f3 xd5 ( or 20...xd5 [ 6...bd7 7.0-0 e5 is rather loose: 8.e1
21.xd5 xd5 22.c4 xd1+ 23.xd1 e7 9.g3 ( 9.d2 c7 10.g3 ) 9...0-0
and Black is defenceless against W hite's 10.d2 c7 11.f5 b4 12.b3
coming attack. ) 21.xd5 xd5 22.c4 ] with the idea exd4 13.b5! cxb5 14.xb4
20.f4?! c5 15.h6+! gxh6 16.xd4 xb3
[ 20.h4 wins on the spot as xg4 ( 20...h6 17.xf6 c6! 18.xc6 bxc6 19.axb3 d8
21.g5 ) 21.h3 picks up the queen ] 20.a5! d6 21.e8+ g7 22.c3+ f6
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( 19...xc2 20.xa7 b6 21.a8+ d7 doesn't work here because of simply
22.a4 must be good for W hite) 20.c3 30.dxe5 xd3 31.xd3 xd3 32.xd3
xc3 21.e4 with a very strong attack - the and f2 is defended ]
computer wants to try defending with the 26.a3 e7?? A blunder but it was close to
greedy xa3 but after 22.xb7+ d7 lost in any case
23.c6+ d6 it's hard to believe Black can [ 26...a7 27.c5 b6 28.a3 is a rather
re a l l y g e t a wa y wi t h t h i s , f o r i n s t a n c e ridiculous position , the Black Que en is
24.g2 planning Ra1! is strong ] trap pe d o n a7 an d it sh ou ld be a f a irly
16.a4 simple matter for White to open the game up
[ 16.xd4 xd4 17.d3 was perhaps a and win from here. ]
simpler way to keep the initiative ] [ 26...e5 leaves White with a choice of
16...b6 17.h1 xe2 18.xe2 d4?! strong lines 27.dxe5 ( 27.f3 e8 28.e1
Up until now Bauer has been doing an a7 29.dd1 and Black is almost in
excellent job of staying in the game despite a zugzwang! ) 27...xd3 28.xd3 xd3
very difficult position but this move really 29.xd3 xe5 ( 29...xf2 30.exf6 xg3+
doesn't help his cause 31.h2 e2 32.d1 and White is simply a
[ 18...g5! would've given Black real piece up ) 30.d8+ a7 31.d5
counterchances for example 19.c3 ( 19.b2 with a crushing position ]
g7; 19.d3 g4 ) 19...g4 20.d4 gxh3 27.c5! xc5 28.dxc5 xd3
( 20...h6!? ) 21.xh3 h6 22.b2 b8 [ 28...xc5 29.xd7 ]
with h4 coming the position is less clear than 29.xd3 xd3 30.cxb6 A fine game from
it could be alth ough W hite still has th e Fedorchuk, the plan of a3, b4 seems to be a
better chances after 23.f3 as Black is simple way of dealing with a Qa5 setup in this
always going to be vulnerable on b7 ] line.
[ 18...h4 fails to 19.g4! d4 20.e3 xc2 1-0
21.e4 b4 ( 21...d4 22.a5 wins )
22.xb4 xb4 23.xb4 and the two
Bishops should be enough for White to win 199 B01
here ] Fedorchuk,Sergey 2634
19.a1 a5 Cornette,M 2545
[ 19...a5 doesn't help either after 20.f3 28th Cappelle Open (4) 05.03.2012
d6 21.d3 xa4 22.d2 xb5 23.c4! [Tom Rendle]
a6 24.xa4 xa4 25.c5 and the knight
drops ] 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3
20.c3 d7 21.d4 The rook has been forced [ 3.f3 was tried against Cornette by
back and Black has just lost time that he another strong Grandmaster this month but
couldn't afford. Fedorchuk puts on a forceful a ga in h e d r e w ve ry co m f o rt a b ly. . . . g4
display from here to generate a quick win e7 4.e2 c6 5.c3 d7 6.d4 ( 6.h3
22.b2 b8 23.ad1 g6 Black is just sitting is perhaps a better try for W hite and then
and waiting and hoping W hite can't find a xf3 7.xf3 0-0-0 8.d3 has featured in
breakthrough. 24.d3 hd8 25.fd1 f6?! both Vachier Lagrave-Tiviakov and Van Den
Letting the Bishop come to a more active Doel-Tiviakov, which can be found in the
diagonal archives. ) 6...e6 7.0-0 f6 8.e5!?
[ 25...d6 26.a3 a7 ( 26...c4? 27.c5 ( White gets nothing at all after 8.e3 d6
wins ) 27.c5 a8 28.b6 is rather 9.h3 h5 10.e1 when Black can play the
unpleasant for Black ] simple 0-0 for equality or go for more by
[ 25...f8 simply waiting was probably castling Queenside.) 8...xe2 9.xe2
Black's only hope but it doesn't look good ( 9.xd7 xd1 10.xf6+ gxf6 11.xd1
after 26.c1 e7 27.h4 f8 28.g1! 0-0-0 12.e3 e7 causes Black no
a k ey mo ve t o d ef e nd f 2 e7 29.f3 problems at all. )
a n d B la c k is slo wly b e in g squ e e ze d e5 A) 9...xd4 also looks like a good option
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
for Black here, for example 10.d3 d6 (2650)-Bauer, C (2631)/ Rogaska Slatina
11.f4 ( 11.c4 doesn't get anywhere SLO 2011; 11.d4!? should perhaps be
c5 12.a4 d5 13.c3 c5 14.a4 investigated by White players 0-0-0 12.xf5
d5 15.c3= ) 11...b6 12.c4 c5 exf5 13.0-0 ) 11...0-0 12.dxe6 xe6
13.ad1 d8 and Black is still a pawn up 13.xe6 xe6 14.e1 f5 15.d4 d5
although W hite's lead in development 16.f3 xf3 17.xf3 fe8 18.ad1
gives him reasonable compensation; xe1+ 19.xe1 e8 20.f3 c5 21.f1
B) 9...xd4 10.xc6 bxc6 e7 was another draw in Magem Badals, J
B1) 11.e3 was perhaps a better way to (2545) -Cornette, M (2545)/ Catalunya ESP
play f or an edge, and now af te r d7 2012 ]
12.ad1 d6 13.d4! e7 ( 13...0-0?! 8...c6 9.e1
runs into difficulties after 14.xf6 gxf6 [ 9.a3 this doesn't feel as critical as it was on
15.e4 e7 16.g4+ h8 17.h4 the previous move xc3 10.xc3 b6
e5 18.c3! with f4 to come next move) 11.b4 ( 11.e1 has also been tried but after
14.e4 White has a strong initiative in 0-0 12.b4 e4 13.g5 f5 14.f3 e4
return for the pawn; W hite ended up regretting avoiding the
B2) 11.d1 b4 12.d2 ( 12.f3! r e p e t i t i o n o f m o v e s w i t h 15.d2?!
b7 13.g5 looks more testing as he didn't have enough compensation
although Black is solid enough af ter after xc2 16.e2 a6 17.c4 a7
e7 ) 12...d6 13.d5 xh2+! 14.f1 18.c1 g6 and Black went on to win in the
( not 14.xh2 h4+ 15.g1 xd5 ) game Naiditsch, A (2685)-Papaioannou, I
14...h4 15.xf6+ xf6 16.c3 f5 (2 6 2 8 )/ No vi S a d S RB 2 0 0 9) 11...0-0
17.d3 xd3+ 18.xd3 d6 19.xg7 ( 11...a6! 12.b2 0-0 is perhaps even more
g8 1/2-1/2 Bruzon Batista, L (2691)- accurate, not allowing White any chance for
Cornet te , M (2 54 5)/ Ca ta lun ya ES P an edge. ) 12.b5 e7 13.b4 fe8 14.e1
2012 ] was about equal in Rombaldoni, A (2471)-
3...a5 4.d4 f6 5.f3 f5 6.d2 e6 Dvirnyy, D (2492)/ Siena ITA 2010
7.c4 b4!? Cornette chooses an unusual ( 14.e5!? g6 15.a4! might give some
move in this position but the choice seems small edge to White )]
very sensible to me 9...0-0 10.a3 xc3 11.xc3 b6 12.a4 a5!
[ 7...c6 is much more popular and now Black is comfortably equal here, White's two
8.d5 ( 8.e2 has been examined a Bishops have no open lines to work with and
n u m b e r o f t i m e s in t h e a r ch ive s, m o s t there are no obvious weaknesses in the Black
recently by Gawain in the game Vaibhav, S camp. 13.d3 xd3
(2430)-Yu, R (2431)/Mashhad IRI 2011) [ 13...g4!? keeps more life in the position -
8...d8 9.xf6+ xf6 10.e2 was looked but then again I'm sure Cornette is happy to
at by Pavlovic in the game Howell- swap off and get closer to the draw! 14.d5!
Papaioannou ] xd5 ( 14...exd5 15.xf6 gxf6 16.d2
8.0-0 le a ve s B la c k' s K in g r a t h e r vu ln e ra b l e)
[ 8.a3 is perhaps more testing and it features 15.xh7+ h8 16.e4 ad8 17.c1 f6
in another couple of Cornette games from and Black is probably doing fine, but there's
the last month or so. xc3 9.xc3 b6 no reason to allow any of this of course. ]
10.d5! this must be critical ( 10.0-0 0-0 14.xd3 fd8 15.b3 b4 16.e2 c6!
11.e5 c6 12.xc6 xc6 13.d3 e4 Once Federchuk is forced to take on b4 only
14.xe4 xe4 was already a little better for Black can be better. 17.xb4 axb4 18.ad1
Black and Cornette shows that he can grind a6 19.d3 b5 20.axb5 xb5 If he wanted
out these positions against lower rated to Black could try and press for an edge with ...
opposition by going on to beat Urbina Perez, Nd5 - White has no pawn breaks and no plan.
J (2210) ) 10...bd7 11.0-0 ( 11.e2 Still an impressive set of games from Cornette
led to another quick draw after 0-0 12.dxe6 in the Scandinavian this month!
xe6 13.xe6 ae8 1/2-1/2 Istratescu, A [ 20...xb5 21.h3 d5 22.e4 a2
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and Black has little to worry about, on the g-file. e6 15.dg1 h8
Tiviakov-Galliamova, Elista 1998. ] [ Or 15...f8 16.xg7+ xg7 17.h6 g4
5...g7 18.xh7 and White wins. ]
[ the immediate 5...h6 is not good in view 16.xg7+ xg7 17.h6 g8
of 6.e5! f6 7.f4 , weakening Black's K- [ 17...e6 18.f4! ]
side. ] 18.g5 d8
6.d2! [ 18...f5 i s a l s o b a d : 19.xg8+ xg8
[ T e m p t i n g i s 6.b5 as was played in 20.f8 , Rg1 to follow. ]
Bronstein-Kholmov, Tbilisi 1959 is harmless: 19.hg1 f5? A blunder but Black's position
a6 7.f3 f6 8.c4 c6 9.c3 g4 is lost anyway. 20.xf5 Bobby Fischer at his
10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 d7 12.e3 e5 13.d5 best!
c5 14.e1 xe2 15.xe2 f5 and in this 1-0
complicated position Black's chances are by
no means bad. ]
6...f6 206 B01
[ It's not good for Black to take the d4-pawn: Fressinet,Laurent 2673
6...xd4 7.xd4 xd4 8.b5 b6 Bauer,Christian 2583
9.xc7+ xc7 10.xc7 and the endgame 83rd ch-FRA Pau FRA (2) 12.08.2008
clearly favors White ] [John Watson]
[ 6...xd4? 7.0-0-0 c6 8.b5 d7
9.d5! e5 10.f3 and Black can't avoid 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 4.d4 c6
gross material losses. ] A very unusual move order in conjunction with
7.0-0-0 c6 8.h6 0-0? This natural looking Black's next move. 5.f3 g4!?
move is indeed the decisive mistake! [ 5...f6 transposes to the main ...Qd6/...c6
[ 8...xh6 9.xh6 f5 intending to castle Q- line. ]
s id e s h o u ld b e p la ye d , a lt h o u gh in m y 6.e3
opinion White is clearly better here. ] [ After 6.h3 , perhaps Black was planning to
9.h4! Exploiting Black's mistake White starts a grab the pawn following xf3 ( 6...h5
K-side attack without delay. a5 10.h5! 7.g4!? g6 8.e5 would be interesting, e.g.
gxh5 The only move. , d7 9.c4!? c7 10.f3 ) 7.xf3
[ Black can't allow the opening of the h-file: xd4!? , following a game Andrew Martin
10...d8 11.hxg6 fxg6 12.xg7 xg7 cited: ( 7...f6 8.e3 e6 9.0-0-0
13.h6+ g8 14.f3 15 and Black can't has appeared in a couple of games - see
parry the threat of Ng5 ] Vorobiov-Hasangatin 2006 in the Archives.)
[ 10...xh5 is also insufficient: 11.e2 f6 8.e3 d8 9.d3!? ( probably 9.d1
12.xg7 xg7 13.h6+ g8 14.g4! is m o r e d a n g e r o u s f o r B la ck a f t e r a5
and White wins by force: d8 15.g5 h5 10.c4 f6 11.0-0 ) 9...d7 10.0-0-0
16.xh5 gxh5 17.xh5 f5 ( or 17...f5 gf6 11.g4!? ( 11.b1 e6 12.g3 )
18.g6! ) 18.g6! xg6 19.g5 winning the 11...e6 12.d4 a5 13.b1 c5! 14.xf6
Queen. ] xf6 15.g5 d7 16.xh7 e5
11.d3! bd7 Grabaczyk - Cicak, Oberliga Ost 2001. ]
[ It would be very good for Black to transfer 6...f6 7.h3 h5
his light-squared Bishop to the g6-square [ 7...xf3 8.xf3 e6 is a standard structure
but White's last move made this manoeuvre that arises f rom m any openings. W hit e
impossible: 11...f5? 12.g5 ] probably has the advantage because Black's
12.ge2 d8 13.g4! The decisive pieces aren't developed or coordinating
breakthrough. Now White's attack becomes ideally. ]
unstoppable. f8 8.g4 g6 9.e5 This is all normal-looking
[ Black can't accept the sacrifice in view of except for W hite's bishop on e3, which is a
13...xg4 14.dg1! with decisive threats. ] little passively-placed to have used up a
14.gxh5 Now Black is helpless against threats tempo on. Still, W hite will try to make
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
something of his space. bd7 10.xg6 [ Only White can win a position like 39.xf6
[ A very important idea in these positions is xf6 40.f4 d7 41.c4 ]
10.f4!? . Then e6 ( 10...d5? 11.c4! 39...d7 40.f4 g7 41.g4 f6 42.f4
and f5 follows) 11.g2 has ideas of Qe2 A bit odd, since W hite risks nothing by
and h4 o r 0-0-0 . Compa re this month's continuing.
Amin-Sengupta game. ( 11.h4 d5 )] ½-½
10...hxg6 11.f3 e6 12.0-0-0 c7
White has two bishops, but this pawn structure
is theoretically suited for restraining W hite 207 B01
pawn moves that might activate them. For all Fressinet,Laurent 2676
that, I think that White's space gives him the Feygin,Michail 2569
a d v a n t a g e . 13.b1 b4 14.e4 xe4 Bundesliga 2008-9 (7) 28.11.2008
15.xe4 f6 16.f3 d5 17.c1 b5! [John Watson]
W e ' ve s e e n t h is i d e a in t h e C a r o - K a n n :
prevention of c4 takes precedence. 18.h4! 3...Qd6 has taken over from 3...Qa5 in
[ 18.c4?! bxc4 19.xc4 b8 ] practice at the top levels of play. 1.e4 d5
18...0-0-0!? Daring, because it risks attack 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 4.d4 f6 5.f3
down the c-file. Other ideas would be c6 6.e3 This apparently passive move is
[ 18...e7 and ] actually rather hard to contend with. 6 Ne5
[ 18...d6 ] and 6 g3 are more common. g4 7.h3
19.h5 xf3?! In this position, because White has
[ More ambitious is 19.c4! bxc4 20.xc4 played Be3, it seems undesirable to bring
. Rd3-b3 and a transfer of the h1 rook to c1 White's queen to f3 while ceding the bishop
would be more pointed. ] pair, because 0-0-0 can come so quickly. It
19...gxh5 20.gxh5 e7!? 21.c4 f6! seems to me that
22.g2 bxc4 23.xc4 e7 Versus Bg5, but [ 7...h5 is better, with a typical continuation
also in order not to lose time on the along the lines of
queenside after, say, Rh3-b3. 24.h3 g5 A) in an earlier update I showed Fressinet-
25.f3!? Bauer, Pau 2008: 8.g4 g6 9.e5 bd7
[ 25.e4 g7 26.dd3 with the idea Rb3 is 10.xg6 ( I think that 10.f4 deserves
one setup. W hite's next few moves don't strong consideration, as explained there)
seem to do anything. ] 10...hxg6 11.f3 e6 12.0-0-0 c7
25...g7 26.f1?! b6 27.b3 b7! 28.a4 W hite has two bishops, but it's not as
g4?! much as he gets in our game, primarily
[ Black would be well on top after 28...xh5! due to the open h-file.;
with the idea 29.a5 g4! ] B) 8.e2 e6 9.d2 c7 (so as to
29.h6! xh6?! Perhaps not objectively best, answer Bf4 by ...Bd6) 10.0-0-0 bd7
but Black wants to fight for the initiative in ( 10...b4!? ) 11.b1 d6 12.he1 0-0-0
what is probably approaching time trouble. and White's edge is nominal. ]
30.xh6 xh6 31.g3 8.xf3 bd7
[ 31.xf7?? g6+ ] [ 8...e6 is a standard structure that arises
31...f4 32.e2 xd4 33.xd4 xd4 from many openings. W hite probably has
34.xg4 White stands better, but he has th e ad va nt a ge b e cau se B la ck's pie c e s
some weaknesses to give Black hope. f6 aren't developed or coordinating ideally.
35.a2 c5 36.f3 a5 37.d2 b4 9.0-0-0 has appeared in a couple of games -
38.f4?! see Vorobiov-Hasangatin 2006 in the
[ 38.xb4! axb4 39.xb4 gives White a Archives. ]
good attack: c7! 40.a5 d7 41.a6 g5 9.0-0-0 e6 10.b1
42.a7 d8 43.c2! a8 44.a4 [ 10.f4 b4 11.c7! cuts the queen off
and Black remains tied up. ] then c8 12.a3 e7 13.e5 d8
38...e7! 39.e4!? 14.g3! must be in White's favour. ]
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[ And a draw was agreed as taking the h- get even that! So why does Glek choose this
pawn is not enough to win the game: line? I think he is confident about his
47...e5 48.h6 f6 49.xh7 technique and of course it is not THAT easy
as the White king is locked up on the edge for White. The type of small edge that White
o f t h e b o a rd a n d t h e kn ig h t ca n e a sil y is getting could easily dissipate. 7.b4!?N
neutralise the passed pawns: f7 50.a4 [ 7.c4 has been most common: f6 8.0-0
b8 51.h4 a6 52.h6 f6= ] e6 9.d3 d5 ( 9...d6 10.e4 xe4
½-½ 11.dxe4 d7 12.e2 c7 13.e3 h2+
14.h1 f4 15.ad1 0-0-0= Karatorossian,
D-Sulskis, S/Linares 2000; 9...e7 10.e1
210 B01 bd7 11.g5 c8 12.a4 a5 13.ad1 0-0
Gabrielian,Artur 2520 14.d4 Jonasson, R-Kurucz, L/Balaton
Glek,Igor V 2560 1996 ) 10.e4 e7 11.e1 0-0 12.e3
Geller Mem Moscow RUS (7) 08.05.2006 d7 13.d4 5f6 14.c3 xe4 15.xe4
[Andrew Martin] c7 16.g4 f6 17.d4 ae8 18.ae1
h8 19.1e3 c5 20.g3 g6 21.f4 h5
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d8 4.f3 Vazquez Gonzalez, J-Borrajo, A/Orense
W ith this particular move-order, W hite is 1997 22.f3 ]
trying to blunt the variations with...Bc8-f5. If 7...a6 8.b1 f6 9.a4 Very interesting play!
Black plays that move, White responds with Quite often the pawn lever b4-b5 is
Bc4 and d2-d3! and the light-squared Bishop accompanied by a fianchetto of White's King
'bites on granite' I personally don't think this Bishop here White is using his Queen to add
matters a great deal Black is solid anyway, fuel to the fire. Gabriellan's plan is logical,
but here we see that Glek is intimidated and attacking c6 and b7. Yet White's insistence on
enters a somewhat simplistic sideline which a ' different' type of game gives Black extra
all the way along the line is a little better for winning chances too and enables Glek to
White. come to lif e from his currently rather dull
[ 4.d4 f6 5.f3 g4 This is how he likes position. e6 10.b5 c7
to play it . ( I prefer 5...c6! a more flexible [ 10...axb5 11.axb5 e7 is OK for Black
try. ) 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 c6 8.e3 e6 9.d3 according to Deep Fritz, but the machine
bd7 10.0-0 d6 11.ad1 0-0 12.e4 doesn't seem to understand that W hite is
xe4 13.xe4 g6 14.c4 e8 15.f3 h4 just massively better after 12.bxc6! ]
16.fe1 e5 17.g4 ( 17.c5 exd4 18.cxd6 11.d3! bd7 12.e4 In my view, White's
dxe3 19.xe3 b4 ) 17...xg4 18.hxg4 o p e n i n g p l a y i n t h i s g a m e i s e xt r e m e l y
exd4 19.xd4 e5 20.xe5 xe5 original. e5
1/2-1/2 Khruschiov, A-Glek, I/Moscow RUS [ 12...xe4 13.xe4 conforms to the main
2006/ ] theme. ]
4...g4 [ but Glek could have considered capturing
[ 4...f6 5.c4 c6 is the flexible choice o n b 5 f i r s t : 12...axb5 13.axb5 e5
again. ] 14.xf6+ gxf6 15.xf6 xd3+ 16.cxd3
5.h3 g8 17.0-0 cxb5 18.b2 ( 18.a1 a4! )
[ 5.c4 e6 6.0-0 f6 7.d4 c6 8.e3 e7 18...c6 19.g3 c5 20.e5 ]
9.h3 xf3 10.xf3 0-0 11.g3 d6 12.f4 13.xf6+ gxf6 14.xf6
d5 13.xd5 cxd5 14.d3 d7 15.f3 [ 14.g3 xd3+ 15.xd3 e5+ 16.e3
g6 16.f5 h4 17.f2 f4 18.xf4 xf4 d5! ]
19.fxe6 fxe6 Ladron de Guevara Bravo, P- 14...xd3+ 15.cxd3 g8 16.bxa6 xa6
Martinez Garret, J/Malaga 2005 20.ae1 ] 17.0-0 a5!
5...xf3 6.xf3 c6 This is clearly an option [ A small edge could be gained by 17...xa4
for Black, but not very exciting! After ceding 18.d4 g6 19.h4 h6 ]
the two Bishops, all that Black can hope for 18.h1 ag5 Changing gears! 19.g1 d6
now is long-term equality and a struggle to The worm has well and truly turned and with
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
the threat of ...Bh2, Black is on top! 20.f3 20.xh5 f5 21.dh1 f6 22.xh8 xh8
[ 20.g3 f5 is of course, lost for White. ] 23.xh8+ xh8 24.d2 d8 25.c3 g7
20...h2! 21.e1 26.f4 d5 27.c1 h8 28.g4 h3
[ I don't hold any great hope out for 29.gxf5 xf5+ 30.c2 1/2-1/2 Kravtsiv, M
Gabriellan after 21.xb7 but it would have (2527)-Tomczak, J (2447)/Lublin POL
been better than the game. xb7 22.xh2 2009. White could play on. ]
f5 23.e3 b3! ] [ b) 10.e2 xc2 is critical and apparently
21...xg2 22.xg2 xg2 23.xg2 d6 safe enough for Black if he knows what he's
24.e4 e7 25.f1 f5 26.c4 f7 27.a5 d o i n g , e . g . , 11.c1 g6 12.0-0 e7
c5 28.a3 The game comes to an abrupt 13.fe1 0-0 14.h4 e8 15.xg6 hxg6
end courtesy of the clock. We should discard 16.xe6 fxe6 ( 16...f8 17.d3 fxe6
the latter stages an d con centrate o n th e 18.xg6+ g7 19.h6 e7 20.xe6
opening though. Solid, but passive is my ends in a draw in the main line) 17.xe6+
overall impression of Black's system. g7 18.c3 d7! with equal chances,
0-1 Zhang-Nisipeanu, Cap d'Agde (rapid)
2000. ]
[ c) 10.c3 d7 ( versus 10...c7
211 B01 , we've looked at the interesting 11.h4
Gashimov,Vugar 2740 g6 12.f3 d7 13.h3! , threatening
Hamdouchi,Hicham 2590 Nxg6, when White might get a small edge if
Galicia Festival Blitz blitz (4) 26.09.2009 b o t h s id e s p la y a c cu ra t e ly.) 11.0-0
[John Watson] ( Emms suggests 11.h4 g6 12.e2
c7 13.0-0-0 ) 11...c7 12.h4 g6
Gashimov is a leading grandmaster, and even 13.e1 ( 13.f3!? ) 13...0-0-0 14.e2 d6
his Blitz games can be instructive. Here's a 15.g3 f5!? 16.g2 is the Archive game
short listing of recent ideas in a critical line. Zhigalko, S (2 592 )-T omczak, J (24 61),
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4 Warsaw POL 2008. ]
f6 5.f3 f5 6.c4 c6 7.d2 e6 8.d5 10...g8?!
Houska devotes 28 pages(!) of her new book [ 10...d7! is Houska's recommendation.
to this move, in a chapter 'The Main Line: S h e wa n t s t o ca st le f irst a n d t h e n 'ge t
Shirov's 8 Nd5'. d8 9.xf6+ gxf6 10.0-0 some action' along the g-file. I still prefer
Here are the main lines, with a couple of my White, however. ]
previously Archived games as examples, and 11.e1 g4
a few of Houska's notes: [ White also gets space and the bishops
[ a) 10.b3 d7 11.e2 c7 12.h4 g6 following 11...d7 12.h4 g6 13.xg6
, when the Archives give the f ollowing: hxg6 14.e2 ]
13.0-0-0 ( 13.f4 0-0-0 14.0-0-0 f5 15.g3 12.h1 d6
b8 16.c4 f6 17.xg6 hxg6 was about [ 12...xf3? 13.xf3 xd4 14.b3!
equal in Socko-D Schwarz, Warsaw 2008.) hits b7 and e6. ]
13...0-0-0 14.g3 13.b4!? Stopping ...c5 and preparing b5.
A) 14...d6 15.b1 ( 15.xg6 hxg6 [ 13.h3 h5 14.c3 is a solid alternative. ]
16.h4 b8 17.c3 c8 18.b1 c5 13...d7
19.dxc5 xc5 20.c2 looks to be slightly [ 13...xf3 14.xf3 xd4 15.e2 e5
in White's favour (h5 can follow), Grover- 16.d3 h5 17.b3! threatens Bxe6. ]
Almond, Hastings ENG 2008) 15...he8 14.b5 cxb5 15.xb5 0-0-0
16.xg6 hxg6 17.h4 f5 18.g5!? [ 15...d5 16.e2 xf3 17.xf3 xd4
( 18.h5 ) 18...e7 19.f4 d6 20.g5 18.b1! b8 19.e2 b5 20.h5!
e7 21.f4 d6 1/2-1/2 Bittencourt- threatens Qxe6+, and e5 21.xb5 c8
Vescovi, Porto Alegre BRA 2008.; 22.c3 doesn't help. ]
B) 14...b8 15.b1 a8 16.xg6 hxg6 16.b1 d5 17.f4 xf3 18.gxf3 b6
17.h4 h6 18.c3 g7 19.h5 gxh5 19.c3 d6 20.g3 h5 21.f4 d5+
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22.g1 xf4 23.c4 xd4 White's attack [ 9.c4 cxd5 10.dxe5 b4+ 11.d2 e6
isn't good enough, and Black should 12.0-0-0 probably the former is the most
consolidate, but tragedy strikes: 24.f3 xg3 promising. ]
25.hxg3 c5 9...d3+ 10.xd3 xf4 11.d5!? cxd5?
[ 25...f5 ] [ (a) Black could have gone for the pawn
26.a4 d7 grab 11...b4+ 12.c3 xb2 , but White
[ 26...h5 27.a5 h4! ] ha s co mp en sa tion , f o r exam ple , 13.d1
27.a6 b6?? 28.xb7# ( 13.b1?! xa2 14.dxc6?! bxc6 15.d1
1-0 a5 16.e2 c7 ) 13...d7 ( 13...b6
14.c4 c7 15.e4! e6 16.d6 b8
17.e2 and Black has no play.) 14.c4!
212 B01 xa2 15.e5 with a convincing attack.
Gashimov,Vugar 2664 Then perhaps best is c5 16.xd7 xd7
Tiviakov,Sergei 2643 17.b5+ c7 18.xc5+ d8 , but any
50th It Reggio Emilia ITA (7) 04.01.2008 d e v e l o p i n g m u c h s u c h a s 19.d3
[John Watson] yields the advantage. ]
[ (b) 11...d7 12.0-0-0 e6 deserves
Tiviakov suffered two recent losses with 1...d5. attention. ]
Maybe he should go back to the Accelerated 12.xd5 e6?
Dragon! 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 [ 12...a6 13.0-0-0 c7 is better, but slow, e.
4.d4 f6 5.f3 c6 The archives are flooded g., 14.e2 e6 15.d4! d7 16.h5! ]
with games with 5...a6. Only recently has the 13.b5+ e7 14.d2 Threatening Nd5+ and
...c6 formation taken hold. However, I prefer thus winning yet another tempo d6 15.e2
to establish it on move 4 (3...Qd6 4 Nf3 c6). And now Nf5+! f6 16.f3+
6.e5 bd7 This natural move seems a bit [ 16.d1 c5 17.g4+ e7 18.0-0
shaky after White's reply. keeps the king in the centre. ]
[ 6...f5 is the main alternative. ] 16...e7 17.e2 f6 18.f3+ e7 19.0-0
7.f4 c5 20.a4 g6 21.fe1 g7 22.ad1!
[ 7.c4 is also possible, for example, c7 [ Even 22.b4! g5 23.ad1 makes it
8.f3 b6 9.f4 d8 10.e5 impossible to get the h8 rook out and king
Smeets-Feygin, Netherlands NED 2007. ] to safety. ]
7...d5 22...xb2 23.c3!
[ 7...b4 8.a3! ] [ 23.d5+ f8 ]
[ 7...xe5 8.dxe5!? ( 8.xe5 b4 9.a3 23...f5 24.b1 It's over. a3 25.b5 c6
b6 10.c4 ) 8...b4 9.d2 is a problem: 26.g3 d7 27.xf5+! d8 28.b4! c7
e4 10.xe4 xe4+ 11.e2 , when of 29.h4+ c8 30.xd7+ xd7 31.e7+
course xg2 12.0-0-0 is extremely risky. ] 1-0
8.xd5 xe5
[ After 8...xd5 , Ni Hua chose 9 Nf3 with a
small advantage. The most entertaining idea 213 B01
is 9.c4!? ( 9.f3 xe5 10.xd5 cxd5 Geller,J 2544
11.dxe5 e6 12.e2 is formally better for Kovalenko,Igor 2572
W h it e ho wever, Bla ck sho uld n't be t o o 19th TCh-RUS 2012 (4) 12.04.2012
worried.; Finally, 9.c4!? e4+ 10.e3 [Gawain Jones & Tom Rendle]
is worth a look.) 9...e4+ 10.e2 xf4
11.xf7 ( 11.g3 f6 ) 11...g8 12.g3 f6 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6
13.0-0-0 b6 14.d6+ xd6 15.xg8 Kovalenko is something of an expert in this
and it's not obvious what's happening. ] line, having played it on numerous occasions
9.e3 recently. 4.d4 f6 5.f3 g4 6.h3 h5
[ Slower ideas were 9.dxe5 xd5 10.xd5 7.g4 g6 8.e5 bd7
cxd5 11.c4 and ] [ 8...c6 has also been played but 9.f4
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44.e6 e8 45.d3 g5 46.e4 g6 18.f3 exf3 19.xf3 d3 20.d1 c8= )
47.c4 h4 48.d5 g6 49.e6 g2 12.g5 e8 13.b5? ( 13.d1 e4
50.d5 f4+ 51.d6 f8 52.e3 g2 14.d4 with a slight edge) 13...e4 14.fd4
53.d5 f4 54.xf4 exf4 55.e6 g7 c5! with great complications in the game
56.f3 Kovalenko has played 5...Bg4 a lot but Womacka - Hennings, DDR 1986 ]
it seems White has a few different paths to an 11.g4! Very typically for this kind of position.
edge. Perhaps 9.Nb5 isn't much for White but W hite prevents Ne7-f5 and prepares a
9.Bf4 is interesting while Kovalenko failed to kingside attack. f5
find anything here against Geller's 9.Nxg6 [ 11...e4 is interesting but not good enough:
followed by a quick g5. 12.xe4 ( 12.g5 f5 13.0-0-0 gave White
1-0 a small edge in the game Hellers -
Kristiansen, Gausdal (zt) 1987) 12...f5
13.c5 fxg4 14.g5 f5 15.ce6 xe6
214 B01 16.xe6 f6 17.xf8 xe3 18.xh7!
Gipslis,Aivars xb2 19.xb2 xb2 20.fxe3 with a big
Maric,Rudolf advantage, Braga-Maric, Bad Woerishofen
Erevan 1971 1985 ]
[Alexander Volzhin] 12.0-0-0! fxg4
[ 12...d7 wa s n o t b e t t e r : 13.h6 a6
The most popular White set up against 4...g6 14.xg7 xg7 15.e3 with a clear
is to play h3, Be3, Qd2 and castle queenside. advantage for White. ]
In this classic game White showed the merits 13.g5 f5
of his position very convincingly. 1.e4 d5 [ The endgame after 13...h6 14.e6 xe6
2.exd5 f6 3.d4 xd5 4.f3 g6 5.c4 15.dxe6 xd2+ 16.xd2 was not much fun
b6 6.h3 g7 7.c3 0-0 8.e3 c6 for Black, for example: f5 17.c5 c8
9.d2 e5 18.hxg4 xe3 19.fxe3 e7 20.d7
[ 9...e8?! does not solve Black's problems winning ]
as the game Smirin - Rechlis, Tel Aviv 1992 14.hxg4 xe3 15.xe3 xg4 It seems like
proved: 10.0-0-0! e5 11.d5 a5 Black has achieved good counterplay, but
( 11...e7? is bad: 12.c5 e4 13.cxb6 exf3 White's next move shows what's really going
14.bxc7 winning ) 12.b3 e4 13.d4 on! 16.xh7!!
with the better prospects. ] [ Other moves leads to Black's advantage:
10.d5 e7 16.e6 e7 ( 16...xe6 17.dxe6 e7
[ The pawn sacrifice 10...d4? is dubious: 18.c5 )]
11.xd4 exd4 12.xd4 e8+ 13.e3 [ or 16.h3 xh3 ( 16...xc4 17.xg4
and it seems Black does not have enough xe3 18.e6+ f7 19.xf7+ f8
compensation, for example: h4 14.g3 20.e6+ ) 17.xh3 xc4 18.g3 f5
e7 15.e2 b4 16.b5!? xb2 19.xh7 d6 and it is Black who has the
17.xb2 xb2 18.d1 e5 19.c5 a6 initiative now. ]
( 19...a4 20.d6 winning ) 20.xc7! xc7 16...f4? Although White's position looked
21.d6! d5 22.xd5 a5+ 23.f1 d7 very promising, only after this mistake does
24.f3! c6 25.g2 xd5 26.xd5 ab8 his advantage become clear. Now White came
27.b1 ed8 ( 27...b5 28.c6 ) 28.xb7 up with a blow:
and W hite had achieved a decisive [ Black has two reasonable alternatives:
advantage in the game Yilmaz-Brady,Manila 16...f6 17.ce4 f4 18.e1 with a small
ol 1992. ] advantage ]
[ 10...a5 seems to be interesting: 11.b3 [ 16...xf2!? 17.d3 ( 17.xg7+?! xg7
f5!? ( Black almost equalised in Bjerring - 18.xe5+ h6 ) 17...f6 18.g1
I s k o v , K o b e n h a v n 1 9 8 8 a f t e r 11...e4 with the initiative on the kingside but in
12.d4 c6 13.dxc6 xc6 14.xc6 bxc6 both lines Black's position was playable. ]
15.xd8 xd8 16.c1 f5 17.e2 e6 17.xg7+! xg7 18.xe5+ f6
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ Other moves did not save Black either: Black does not have enough time to capture
18...f6 19.ce4 d7 20.d4 ] the d pawn successfully. c5 11.e3 d6
[ or 18...h6 19.e6!? ( of course 19.xf4 [ It looks like 11...a5! is even better. The d
is also not bad: xg5 20.xg5+ xg5 p a w n f a l l s : 12.h3 ( 12.e2 bxd5
21.e1 winning ) 19...f6 20.xf4+ xf4+ 13.xd5 xd5; 12.a3 bxd5 13.xd5
21.xf4 xd1 22.xd1 with a technical xd5 14.d4 e6 ) 12...bxd5! 13.xd5
win ] xd5! 14.d2 xf3 Given the simplicity of
19.xc7+ h6 these lines, it's surprising that 11...Qd6
[ 19...g8 20.ce4 winning ] has been preferred so many times. ]
20.ce4 xe4 21.xe4 f5 22.d4! 12.c1?!N I think Glek is genuinely surprised
White converts his advantage into a win very by Black's potential in this position and can
convincingly. This solid move protects the see no other way of proceeding. He feels he
Knight and prevents any counterplay. e8 has to get the Queen off the d-file and make
[ The tricky 22...xd5 doesn't work because room for his Rook. This is an unconvincing
of 23.h2+! with an immediate win. idea.
( of course not 23.cxd5?? c8 winning the [ Instead 12.h3 h5
Queen )] A) 13.e2
23.d3 The rest is simple. f3 24.h2+ A1) 13...g6! is at least equal for Black:
g7 25.c2 e2 26.c7+ d7 27.d1 14.f4 ( 14.fd1 xc2 15.ac1
e1 28.c3 f5 29.d2 e5 30.xe5+ xe3 ) 14...c5 15.e3 a5 16.e5
xe5 31.e2 h8 32.b3 h2 33.d1 g5 bxd5 17.xd5 xd5;
34.b2 f6 35.c3 Black resigned. A2) 13...e5!? 14.dxe6 xe6 15.g4
1-0 g6 16.d4 Fressinet, L-Wong Meng
Kong/Mallorca 2004;
B) 13.f4 c5 14.e3 d6 ( 14...a5
215 B01 15.g4 bxd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.d2
Glek,Igor V 2597 xd2 18.xd2 xd2 19.xd2 g6
Muhammad,Stephen A 2334 20.c3 e6 21.fe1 ) 15.e2 bxd5
HB Global CC (6) 21.05.2005 ( 15...g6 ) 16.xd5 xd5 17.ad1 f6
[Andrew Martin] ( 17...b4! is a much better move: 18.d4
e6 19.a3 a4! 20.c4 White certainly
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 4.d4 has attacking chances but no definite
f6 5.f3 a6 6.g3 g4!? advantage.) 18.d4 e6 19.xe6+ fxe6
[ A recent New In Chess Yearbook article 20.e5 Ibarra Jerez, J-Trent, L/Chalkidiki
concluded that Black's chances after 6...b5 2003 ]
7.g2 b7 8.0-0 e6 9.e5 were very poor. 12...bxd5 Why not? 13.xd5 xd5
I shall return to this in future months. But 14.d1 f6! Reminding White that the Knight
for the time being, fans of 3....Qd6 need not is still pinned clear evidence that white has to
f e a r b e c a u s e 6 . . . B g 4 i s a p l a y a b l e play h2-h3 somewhere. 15.g5
alternative, as you are about to see. ] [ 15.d4 f5! 16.h4 h5 17.e1 f6!
7.g2 c6 8.0-0 18.h3 d7! and White is without
[ 8.d5 is only tempting for a second. After compensation. ]
b4 9.f4 d8 White already runs out of 15...f5 16.h4 e6 17.d2
steam. ] [ If 17.d4 h6 18.d2 c6 19.e1 d7
[ 8.f4 b4 9.xc7 xb2 10.a4 a3 20.f4 e6 21.c4 b4! ]
is not a favourable transaction for W hite, 17...xd1 18.xd1 h6 19.e3 g5
whose pieces are misplaced and pawns are 20.d4??
weak. ] [ 20.c4 gxh4 21.xd5 was the best way
8...0-0-0 This is the point of the variation Black forward perhaps White can equalize there:
is arguing that White's d4 pawn is vulnerable. d6 22.f4 e5 23.xe5 xe5 24.e6+
9.d5 b4 10.f4 And White proposes that b8 25.xd8+ a7= ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
29...c7 30.gd5 xd5 31.xd5 e6 ( 11...0-0 was the safest move) 12.xc7+
32.a5 Flag down....... Black can bluster all d8 13.g5? ( 13.c5! a5 14.xa6 bxa6
he likes in this variation, but Emms' judgement 15.xa6 c7 16.xc7+ xc7 17.b4
is difficult to argue with. Perhaps 9...Nd7 is would have given Black real headaches.)
the way, with ... e7-e5 to follow. 13...xc7?! ( 13...xe2+! 14.xe2 h5
0-1 15.xf7+ e7 16.xh8 xf4+ 17.f3
f8-+ ) 14.xh5 xh5 15.xf7+ e7
16.xc7 xf7 With 2 pawns and a rook for
217 B01 the 2 pieces, W hite stands reasonably ok
Goh Wei Ming 2403 and has a slight advantage though he went
Laylo,Darwin 2504 on to lose the game against his
3rd PGMA Cup (6) 10.09.2008 experienced opponent. 17.c5 c8 18.d6
[Goh Wei Ming, Kevin] hf6 19.e2 a5 20.ab1 c7 21.xc7
xc7 22.b4 b8 23.b5 axb5 24.xb5
I received this game and all the notes from an c6 25.d1 d7 26.e3 d5+ 27.d3
International Master, who writes: "My name is e5 28.db1 f4+ 29.c3 exd4+ 30.d2
Wei Ming and one of the contributors in the 1. d8 31.a4 d5 32.1b3 c3 33.xc3
e4 e 5 co lu m n . I n a re ce n t t o u rn am e n t , I dxc3+ 34.xc3 e6 35.f4 d5 36.f5 c7
played an interesting game against GM Laylo 37.b4 c6+ 38.a3 d4 0-1 Ochoa,
Darwin in the afore mentioned opening and I Karl (2268)-Laylo, Darwin (2504)/Duty Free
thought you might want to consider it for your Fiesta Mall, 3rd PGMA Cup 2008 ]
next update." IM Goh Wei Ming Singapore [jw: [ 4.f3 is one of the most common
Wow! It's not often that I get a contribution of responses, especially against the
this quality out of the blue Thank you!! Here's unprepared! xd5 5.e2 c6
the game with Wei Ming's notes:] GM Laylo A) White can try to win the 2 bishops with
Darwin is the newest GM from the Phillipines 6.c3 f5 7.h3 but after xf3 8.xf3
where Chess is one of the most popular sports A1) 8...b4 is too greedy. 9.0-0 0-0-0
in the country. Laylo is a specialist in the ( 9...c6 10.e2! xc2 11.e5!
Portuguese Gambit in the Scandinavian and with dangerous compensation.) 10.e4!
plays it in almost every game with excellent with a clear advantage for White.;
results even against Grandmasters. So, is the A2) 8...0-0-0 9.xc6 e6+! 10.e4
Portuguese gambit playable or not? 1.e4 d5 xe4 11.0-0 f5 , there is nothing
2.exd5 f6 3.d4 g4!? 4.f3 Surely, this interesting left in the position.;
move, with the intention of clinging to the B) 6.e3
extra pawn is the critical response. However, B1) Again, there is an option to simplify
L a y l o h a s s h o we d t h a t B l a c k ge t s g o o d if Black wishes to play for a draw,
practical chances in the ensuing middlegame. namely 6...e5 7.dxe5 ( 7.c3 a5
[ 4.e2 Needless to say, this is too straight 8.dxe5 d8 promises Black rich play.)
forward and Black equalizes easily. xe2 7...xf3 8.xf3 xd1+ 9.xd1 d5!
5.xe2 xd5 6.f3 e6 7.c4 h5 10.d2 xe5 11.c3 0-0-0
In general, this is the ideal square for the and I doubt the 2 bishops mean anything
Black queen. It's influence on the d1-h5 much.;
diagonal and the kingside tends to be one of B2) 6...0-0-0 7.bd2 f5 8.0-0 ( 8.h3
the characteristics in this variation. xf3 9.xf3 e5 again gives Black easy
( 7...b4+ 8.c3 xc3+ 9.bxc3 e4 development and active play. 10.g4?
was a safe option for Black but Laylo had This is just pure madness and Laylo
no intentions of simplifying the position!) finishes his opponent (incidentally a
8.c3 bd7 9.b5?! ( 9.0-0 0-0-0 10.f4 decent 2324 player) cleanly. e6 11.c3
is safer. ) 9...c8 10.f4 b4+ 11.f1 a6? exd4 12.cxd4 b4+ 13.f1 d5
Laylo is well known in the region for his 0-1 Cordts, I (2324)-Laylo, D (2448)/Bad
tactical prowess but here, he missed a trick. W iessee 2006) 8...e5 9.c3 ( 9.xe5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
xe2 10.xe2 xe5 11.dxe5 xe5 after 5...d7 6.c4 f6 7.c3 e6 )
12.f3 a5= ) 9...e4 A combative move 6.e4 c8 7.c4!? ( Slow. An alternative
t o s t ri ve f o r a co m p l ica t e d p o si t io n is 7.b5+ c6 8.d3 ) 7...f5 8.f4 e6
though this move might return to haunt 9.c3 e7 10.f3 h6?! ( 10...0-0
him a few moves down the road. The 11.e2 c6 ) 11.g3 g5 . And here
simple ( 9...exd4 10.cxd4 d6 12.c5 d5 13.c4 would have kept a
was also possible but it is difficult to see solid advantage. 1-0 Dzhumaev-Laylo,
how Black can make further progress on Kuala Lumpur MAS 2008. ]
his Kingside attack. ) 4...f5
B2a) T h e c o u n t e r i n t u i t i v e 10.h4! [ jw: 4...c8!? has also been played. ]
a p p e a r s t o b e st r o n g a s we l l xe2 5.b5+ Again, the most critical response.
( 10...h5 11.xg4+ xg4 12.h3! [ 5.g4!? g6 6.c4
xh4 13.xg4+ xg4 14.hxg4 e8 A) In view of the difficulties that Black
15.ae1 and White wins the pawn on faced, a safer alternative could be 6...c6
e4. ) 11.xf5 xd1 12.axd1 e8 t h o u g h a f t e r 7.b3 c7 8.c3
13.g5 and as mentioned above, the W hite definitely has the better of it. jw:
e4 pawn seems to be more of a cxd5 9.b5+ bd7 ( 9...c6 10.g5
weakness then a strength.; fd7 11.xd5 ) 10.g5;
B2b) 10.g5 d6 11.f3? B) 6...e6 7.c3 ( I suspect Laylo was
( 11.dxe4! xh2+! 12.xh2 xe2 planning after 7.dxe6 to play b4+ 8.c3
13.xe2 xe4 14.xf7! xf7 0-0 sacrificing a second pawn but getting
15.g4+ b8 16.xe4 and White is more pieces out. jw: 9.h4 fxe6 10.h5 f7
a p awn up f or n ext t o no th in g an d 11.h6 g6 12.g5 e7 13.ge2 )
would have been clearly in the driving 7...exd5 8.g5 h5 9.xd5 d6
seat. ) 11...exf3 12.xf3 xf3 10.e2+ f8 11.h3 c6 12.e3 d7
13.xf3 xf3 14.xf3 d7 13.d2 ( 13.f2 appears to be a safer
with a m ore or less equal positio n option. ) 13...e8 14.f2 b6 15.hf4
though Black actually went on to win xf4 16.xf4 xf4 17.xf4 h6 18.gxh6
this position: 15.af1 e8 16.c4 h6 xh6 19.f6! White has played forcefully
17.h3 d5 18.c1 f6 19.xd6+ in the opening and wins an exchange
cxd6! It is instructive to see Black despite both sides playing the most logical
placing his pawns on the same color of and natural moves. Where has Black gone
the enemy's dark square bishop, wrong? xd4+ 20.xd4 xd4 21.xe8
effectively blunting it and reducing it's xe8 22.d1 c5 23.d3 f5 This must
scope of activity. 20.g4?! The highly be a winning position for White but Laylo
ra t e d G ra n d m a st e r f ro m Ro m a n i a somehow managed to win this position!
must have some idea which I fail to 24.de1+ f7 25.e5 h3 26.e2 f6
notice but this does seem to be a tad 27.d5 h5 28.g2 h4 29.d1 f7
u n c a l l e d f o r . T h e s i m p l e ( 20.f4 30.d7 xc4 31.e1 g6 32.xa7 g5
s e e m s t o b e g o o d , a n d e q u a l .) 33.b3 d5 34.e5?? The culprit. c6
20...de7 0-1 Nevednichy, V (2582)- 35.xd5 xa7 36.e2 c6 37.g3
L a yl o , D ( 2 4 0 6 ) / S a n M a r in o 2 0 0 6 d4 38.d1 e6 39.d6 f4 40.a3
(56) ] h3+ 41.f2 xh2+ 42.e3 b5 43.a4
[ John Watson: A recent game went 4.d3 bxa4 44.bxa4 a2 45.c6 d5+
xd5 0-1 Kutuzov, D (2315)-Laylo, D (2448)/
A) 5.b5+ c6! ( or 5...c6 6.xb7 Calvia 200607 ]
xd4 ) 6.xb7? b6 threatens ...Bc8, 5...bd7 6.c4 e6
and Black is winning after 7.f4 xd4; [ Sensing a trap, Laylo deviated with 6...a6
B) 5.h3! is correct, with perhaps a small wh i c h a p p e a r s t o b e a we a k e r o p t i o n .
advantage after e6 6.f3; 7.xd7+ xd7 8.e2 e6 9.dxe6 xe6
C) 5.a3 b6 ( Black stands well enough 10.b3 0-0-0 11.0-0 c5 12.h1 he8
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b4 19.g3 0-0 Summarizing so far we can xd6 41.xf8+ xf8 42.d8 h2+
say that Black is very comfortable. Perhaps At last clarifying the situation. 43.f3 e5+
even slightly more than that. He has active 44.e3 g3+
pieces, no weaknesses and a strong queen. 0-1
He must watch out for Nxe6 or some such
move but that's about all. 20.a2 c5
21.b3 a7! The exclam is for the idea alone- 219 B01
what an audacious exchange sacrifice! The Golubev,Mikhail 2525
brain just see Bd6 and switches off surely he Jirovsky,Milos 2455
cannot play . ..Ba7 etc. Stripunsky looks Bundesliga 2002
further. Chess is a practical game and he [Andrew Martin]
wants to find ways to eat at W hite's clock.
22.d6 Who could resist? 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6!?
[ Declining the offer was poor: 22.fe1 b6 An irregular move which has become popular
23.a5 c4 ] in recent years. Eric Schiller would have you
22...h4 23.xf8 xf8 24.d3 e5 believe that the variation is named after him
25.g3 h5 26.d4 g6 I'm really not sure but many strong players have dabbled here,
what to make of this sacrifice. My feeling is Bronstein and Dzindzichasvili among them.
that White MUST be able to defend, but his Previously W hite was thought to obtain an
Kingside is very bare and Black's bishops, easy advantage after d4, Nge2 and Bf4 but a
knights and queen are frighteningly close. recent book by Michael Melts (Russell
Over the board this must be seen as a Enterprises 2002) shows otherwise. 4.d4
speculative, but very noble try by Black. 27.h3 [ 4.f3 f6 5.g3 g4 6.g2 e6 7.0-0
[ 27.c4 b8 28.f4 c5 29.b3 xf4! e7 8.e1 c6 9.e3 0-0 10.d3 d5
30.xf4 h5 is a brief example of how 11.xd5 exd5 12.d4 xd4 13.xd4
things might go wrong quickly, if White is e6 14.f4 d7 15.fe1 c5 16.e3 fe8
not right on the button. ] 17.e5 f6 18.d6 xd6 19.xd6 xb2
27...b8 28.f4 e5! Obviously he has to be 20.ab1 c3 21.e2 b6 22.b3 f6 23.f4
ve ry q u i c k . 29.fxe5 xe5 30.e3 g4 g6 24.e5 xe5 25.xe5 ad8 26.b5 f6
31.e2 27.e3 d4 28.e4 xa2 29.xe8+ xe8
[ The computer shows White surviving after 30.b2 f7 31.c6 e1+ 32.f2 a1
31.hxg4 h2+ 32.f2 xg2 33.e1 g3+ 33.f3 a2 34.xa2 xa2 35.e4 f7
34.f2 e5 35.f5 I am convinced that no 36.d5+ xd5+ 37.xd5 a5 38.c4 e6
human would go into this line voluntarily 39.b5 f5 40.h3 h5 41.a4 h4 42.gxh4
unless all else failed. Goldin is obviously xf4 0-1 Tan Bin Keong-Wee Zhen Yang/
still hoping to tough this one out, though with 20th Cairnhill Open, Singapore SIN 2002
so many pieces around his King the (42) ]
practical difficulties at the board are [ 4.c4 f6 5.ge2 a6 6.d3 b5 7.b3
enormous. ] b7 8.f4 e5 9.g3 bd7 10.0-0 c5
31...h2+ 32.h1 xh3 33.d5 h4 11.f3 e7 12.a4 b6 13.f2 0-0 14.g3
[ 33...xd5! 34.xd5 h5! 35.f5 h4! g6 15.e2 b4 16.ce4 d5 17.d2 f4
A) 36.g3 xg3+ 37.g1 f2+ 38.xf2 18.d1 ad8 19.e1 g7 20.c4 c7
xf2 39.xf2 ( 39.f5 g5+ 40.xf2 21.a5 c6 22.b6 f5 23.c4 d6
xf5+ 41.e1 h3-+ ) 39...g4+-+; 24.xd7 xd7 25.xa6 a8 26.c4 xa5
B) 36.f3 f2+ 37.xf2 xf2 27.xa5 xa5 28.a1 c7 29.a2 c6
38.xh2 ] 30.b3 a8 31.e2 xe2+ 32.xe2
34.f5 h5 35.g3 a1+ 33.e1 a4 34.xa1 xb3 35.xb3
[ 35.xf7+ h8 36.xg6 hxg6 37.xg7 e4 36.dxe4 xh2+ 37.f1 fxe4 38.fxe4
xf1+ 38.xf1 h3!!-+ ] e5 39.d5 xb2 40.a6 d4 41.c6
35...xg3+ 36.g1 h2+ 37.g2 c8 f4 0-1 Arjol Etxeberria,D-Mellado Trivino,J/
38.xf7+ h8 39.xg6 hxg6 40.d6 Pamplona 2002/[amartin] (41) ]
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26.a3 c7 27.b1 d8 28.a2 c5 d7 in this situation, but Kislinsky's games
29.g2 b5 30.e4 a5 31.e2 b4 32.axb4 ma y m a ke m e ch an ge m y m in d . . . 8.c4
xb4 33.c5 d2 34.xb4 xe2 35.f3 f2 After this move, we rejoin my work on 5.Bc4
36.b3 a4 37.d3 xb2 38.h4 f5 39.d1 last year (instead of 5. Bd2) 5...Bg4! ( 8.g5
d4+ 40.a3 xc5+ 41.xa4 a2+ h5 9.ge2 e6 10.g2?! c6! 11.e4
42.b3 a3+ 43.c4 xd3 44.xd3 f2 b6 12.c3 0-0-0 Boudre, J-P-Prie, E
45.b3 xg3 46.f7 g5 47.fxg5 xh4 Narbonne-Plage 1hKO op 2005; 8.h3 )
48.g6 d6 49.e3 e5 50.e8 c5 51.f7 8...b6 9.e2 ( 9.ge2?! c6 10.b3
g5+ 52.d3 h4 53.e8 f4 54.b5 xf3 11.f1 xg4 12.f4 Sanchez, J
f2 55.e2 d4 56.f1 g5 57.e8 c4 (2450) - Prie, E (2475) Villeneuve-Tolosane
58.e2 f4 59.d7 f6 60.b5 c3 op 2006 ) 9...c6 10.d5 d4 11.d3
61.d3 g4 I think that 3...Qd6 isn't a bad 0-0-0 12.0-0-0 e5 ( 12...c5 13.ge2 e6
move at all and can certainly be employed as 14.xd4 cxd4 15.dxe6 xe6 16.e2 )
a surprise weapon. The Melts book is 13.ge2 xe2+ ( 13...h5 14.h3 c5
required reading. 15.xd4 xd4 16.g5 e8 17.b3 d6
0-1 18.e4 f5 19.c3 e3 ) 14.xe2 d6=
I don't think White is better here, but I do
not feel comfortable with this pawn structure,
220 B01 which is unusual for me, Mack, A (2262) -
Golubev,Mikhail 2499 Prié, E (2429) 4NCL2 Telford ENG 2004 ]
Kislinsky,Alexey 2384 7.g4 White takes up the gauntlet. Otherwise,
VIII Rector Cup (10) 04.04.2006 the exile of the bishop on h5 also throws up a
[Eric Prié] couple of questions.
[ 7.ge2 c6 8.f4 xd4 9.b5 b6
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4 10.e3 c5 11.xh5 xh5 12.xd4 0-0-0
f6 5.d2 g4! Of course there are other 13.c3 xb2 14.c1 cxd4 15.cxd4+ b8= ]
black options against 5.Bd2:5...Qb6 [ 7.h3!? c6 8.b5 ( 8.b5 0-0-0 )
immediately that Kasparov and Kramnik faced 8...b6 9.f4 d5 10.c4 xf4 11.xf4
over the board, 6.Nf3 and then 6...Bg4 or even 0-0-0 12.xh5 e6! ]
6...c6 but anything other than the suicidal [ 7.c4! b6 8.h3! c6 ( 8...xd4
capture on b2. Be that as it may, it seems 9.e2 ) 9.d5 With the initiative, winning a
clear that, if Black can never take any of the piece in return for two pawns and some
white pawns on b2, c2 or d4, then 5...c6 is activity, for instance after d4 10.a4 d6
preferable and after 6.Bc4 the retreat 6...Qc7 11.c3 e5+ 12.f1 xf3 13.gxf3 xd5
intending 7.Nf3 Bf5 or 7...Bg4 if Black feels 14.e2 f5 15.g2 0-0-0 ]
lucky and wishes to test the validity of the rule 7...g6 8.f4! e6 9.f5 exf5 10.g5 fd7
I have previously stated of never moving his 11.e2+ d8 12.g2 The improvement.
queen 3 times unless forced in the One can imagine that Golubev, like every
Scandinavian... 5...c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 remains the fierce Dragon player, is usually keen on such
main line in any case. Nevertheless, since I complicated games with the opposite colour
understand it would be an error of taste not to and had time to prepare something in this
advertize one's products in this peculiar 1...e4 closed tournament, 8 rounds after the
section, I can invite its subscribers to watch surprise caused by his young compatriot. c6
for the publication of the next 2 New In Chess 13.xc6 bxc6 14.0-0-0 This must have been
yearbooks (81 and 82) if they want to know his idea: get rid of the opposing queen's knight,
more about the W orld classical champions' which was ready to jump to b4, and which
m o v e 5 . B d 2 ! 6.f3 h5!? Protecting f7, caused all W hite's sorrows in the previous
although on principle I prefer game, prior to long castling. b8 15.e1 b4
[ 6...f5 to keep this bishop in play. Then, in 16.h3 c8!
case of the aggressive 7.g4 I would think [ 16...xc3 17.xc3 xa2 18.f4 b6
about ...Bg6. Instead I have regularly played 19.h4 c4 20.b3 ]
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59.g2! with xg3 ( 59...b6 60.e3+ fxg3 25.f4! ( 25.fxg3 ce8 26.h2 f7
d2 61.e6 d5 62.xg7 ) 60.e3+ 27.h3 f8 is very good for Black.)
d2 61.xg3 e4+ 62.g1 b1+ 25...ce8 26.e3 f7 27.h3 f8
63.h2 h5+ 64.h3 But with no time, it 28.hg1 c7 29.ef1 b5! 30.xg3
take s a ge niu s ( or a comp ute r) to f in d ( 30.cxb5 c4 with a crushing attack.)
quiet moves such as Kg2!!. ] 30...a5 and in this complicated position
58...f5 59.d7+ e4 60.e8+ f3 Bla ck's ch an ce s a re b y n o me ans b ad ,
61.c6+ g4 62.g2 f5 63.e4+ g5 Malev-Malinin,1990. ]
64.e8 xf2+! 65.xf2 b2+ 66.f3 12.d4 f5 (threatening 13...f5-f4) 13.g5!
c3+ 67.e3 xd4 68.e4 xe4+ [ 13.ce2 is not so convincing in view of
69.xe4 f5 70.g4+ 6 A royal struggle in the A) In Macieja-Terekhin, Sankt Peterburg
end. As for the opening I recommend having 1 9 9 7 B l a c k t r i e d 13...axc4 14.bxc4
another look at ... Bf5! which seems a xc4 , but with a few precise moves White
complete answer to 6 Ne5 r e f u t e d t h i s i d e a : 15.b4! xe3
½-½ ( 15...xd5 16.f4 ) 16.fxe3 xd5
17.c1! a5 18.f4! axb4 19.xd5 c6
( 19...xa2 20.c4 ) 20.b6! a3
222 B01 21.c4+ h8 22.b3 a6 23.xc8
Grischuk,Alexander 2581 xc8 24.h4! and in this position 3 pawns
Malakhov,Vladimir 2593 is not really enough for the piece.;
Lausanne 2000 B) 13...c5! 14.xa5 f4! ( Of course,
[Alexander Volzhin] 14...cxd4 15.xd4 is insufficient for
Black. ) 15.xc5 ( 15.xf4 is bad in view
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.f3 xd5 4.d4 g6 of cxd4 and White is helpless.) 15...fxe3
5.c4 b6 6.c3 g7 7.e3 0-0 8.h3 c6 16.fxe3 g5! Obviously Black has
9.d2 e5 10.d5 a5!? Nowadays this old tremendous compensation for sacrificed
move becomes more and more popular. The material.
reason is Black suffers serious problems in B1) 17.0-0-0 xe3+ 18.b1 g5
10. .. Ne7 a s we have alrea dy se en . 11.b3 ( 18...f5 is not bad either.) 19.g4 e5
The critical position of this line. Now Black , in te nd ing B d7 , Ra8 -c8 wit h a ve ry
has to choose between two lines: 11...f5 and strong attack.;
11...e4. e4 B2) 17.d2 f2 18.h4 and now the
[ 11...f5 is the alternative to the text. In natural g3 ( in st ea d o f 18...h6?!
numerous games played in this line up to 19.d6 f5 20.g4! c8 21.g5 h5
this moment White had failed to prove his 22.d7! and Black is in trouble, Firman-
advantage. Just a few examples: 12.c5 Ne st e r, L viv 1 9 9 8 .) 19.e1 g4
( 12.0-0-0 e4 13.e1 f6 14.b2 c6 secured Black a very strong attack, for
15.d6 e6 16.c2 axc4+! and Back example: 20.e6 c8 21.b4
wins, Markovic-Gostovic, Jugoslavija 1985.) ( 21.e7? c3+! 22.xc3 xd5+ )
12...e8 13.0-0-0 ( 13.e2 d7 14.a3 21...xe6 22.dxe6 e5 and White's
c5 15.g5 h6 16.h4 b6 17.b2 f8 position is barely defensible. ]
18.f4 exf4 19.xf4 b7 20.b5 e7 13...e8 14.0-0-0 c5 15.de2!
21.d2 a6 22.c3 d6 23.0-0-0 d7 [ The tempting 15.db5 is strongly met by
24.he1 e3 25.f3 b5! and Black is a6! 16.c7 e5 17.xa8 xa8 18.b1
clearly better, S.Nikolic-Stefansson, f4 with tremendous compensation for
Komotini 1993.) 13...d7 14.b4 c5 sacrificed exchange. ]
15.xa5 xa5 16.b5 d8 17.d6 f8 15...axc4!? The Knight on a5 has no better
18.g5 h6 19.h4 e4 20.xc8 xc8 role than to be sacrificed! 16.bxc4 xc4
21.c2 xg5!? 22.hxg5 ( 22.xg5 xg5 17.c2 The critical position for the whole line.
23.hxg5 e5 intending 24...Nf7 is very Black's position looks promising but White's
good for Black.) 22...f4 23.e1 e7 24.g3 d e f e n s i v e r e s o u r c e s s h o u l d n o t b e
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e7 18.f3 g8 19.g3 0-0-0 20.0-0-0 11.a4 g8?! Considering White's next is a
b8 21.d2 a8 22.hd1 c8 move he wants to play anyway I feel this is an
23.b1 cd8 24.a3 c8 25.a1 cd8 error.
26.c4 and White was starting to take [ Most of the other players have continued
ove r b ut st ill e4? was an ill-advised with the more logical 11...a6 12.e2
idea. Talla, V (2505)-Tripoteau, N (2425) A) 12...b4 13.xb4 ( 13.0-0-0
Chur 2010.; is surely more critical but perhaps White
A2) 12...a5 given an exclam by Bauer. w a s w o r r i e d a b o u t s o m e b5?
13.a4 f5 14.h3 g7 15.f3 0-0 plan? Nonetheless this would be highly
16.0-0 f6 17.g5 b6 18.ad1 e4 p r e m a t u r e a s 14.d5! is ve ry s t ro n g.)
19.h6 fd8 20.xg7 xg7 13...axb4 14.h4 g6 15.e3 g7
1/2-1/2 Venkatesh, M (2468)-Chatterjee, was an easy draw for Black in Balogh, C
D (2312) Chennai 2011 saw Black hold (2628)-Hamdouchi, H (2600) La Massana
comfortably.; 2010.;
B) 11.e2 The mainline and logical. B) 12...b6 13.h4! g6 14.e3?!
W hite prepares to castle long and has This move is rather odd ( Again 14.0-0-0
interesting d4-d5 ideas. c7 12.h4 g6 was critical. This is a much better version
B1) 13.f4 was seen in another high of the game f o r Black who ca n castle
rated blitz game but giving away the e4 safely but still I feel W hite may have a
s q u a r e i s a r i s k y d e c i s i o n . 0-0-0 nibble. ) 14...b4+ Now White is forced to
14.0-0-0 f5 15.h3 ( Watson gives 15.g3 c e d e c a s t l i n g r i g h t s . 15.f1 d8
b8 16.c4 f6 17.xg6 hxg6 ( 15...0-0-0 w a s s a f e a s 16.d5 c5
as about equal in Socko-D Schwarz, 17.dxe6 xe3 18.xe3 xe3 19.fxe3
Warsaw 2008. ) 15...f6 16.c3 h5 c5 gives Black great play for the pawn.)
B1a) 17.g4! was necessary but still 16.c3 e7 17.g3 c7 with a double-
fxg4 18.xe6+ fxe6 19.xe6+ d7 e d g e d b a t t l e in p ro sp e c t . F a r ge re , F
( 19...d7 20.hxg4 e8 21.f5 d6 (2520)-Bauer, C (2633) Nancy 2011. ]
i s i n t e r e s t i n g .) 20.xf6 g8 12.e2! Tactically defending the g2 pawn and
and Black hs good play for the pawn.; preparing to castle long. e7 13.0-0-0 a6
B1b) 17.f3? d6 18.g3 e4 [ 13...b5!? was an interesting alternative but
19.hg1 hg8 and Black had taken perhaps W hite can safely ignore it with
over the initiative. Svidler, P (2734)- 14.hg1 ]
Nielsen, P (2700) Copenhagen 2010.; [ 13...xg2? still drops material to 14.h4!
B2) 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.g3 b8 g4 15.e4 xd1 16.xg2 h5 17.g8+
Given Bauer's approval when his f8 18.xh7+- ]
mainline continues ( 14...d6 15.xg6 14.he1 b4 15.h3 A slightly odd move
hxg6 16.h4 gives W hite an edge.) [ 15.h4! looks more logical. The computer
15.g2 ( 15.xg6 hxg6 16.h4 offers the enterprising xc2 but I remain
is no longer so good for White as Black unconvinced that Black has anything like
can play h6! removing White's bishop enough for a piece following ( Both 15...g4
pair. It's important to remember to wait 16.f3 h5 17.g4 g6 18.f4; and 15...g6
for ...Bd6 before exchanging on g6.; 16.xg6 xg6 17.c3 d5 18.g4
15.b1!? was tried in Kravtsiv, M (2527)- clearly favour W hite) 16.xc2 xc2
Tomczak, J (2447) Lublin 2009 when 17.xc2 xd4 18.g3 xa4+ 19.b1 ]
Black doe s best to sit and wait wit h 15...d6 16.h4 g6 17.f4!? f5 18.f3
a8!? ) 15...e5!? ( He also devotes a lot d5?! Boe wants to utilise the outpost on e4
of analysis to 15...d6 ) 16.c3 exd4! as fast as possible but now he has difficulties
17.xd4 c5 18.he1 xd4 19.xd4 castling.
c5 when White must have a small [ Instead 18...0-0-0 and Black would be
edge due to his better structure but the close to equalising although W hite can
position is fully playable for Black. ] retain a small edge with 19.xb4 axb4
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[ A word or two about taking on c2 now, order to attack the black queen again from
because Black can play this way in many c4. This isn't just stubbornness, as on c4
lines. The usual response is 8...xc2 9.d5! the horse will be in touch with the
and in this particular case the pawn grab strategically important e5 point. c6 8.c4
looks too risky: cxd5 10.b5+! c6 11.c1 c7 9.g3 e6 10.f4 ( Or 10.e2 xc4
d4 12.e4! xa2 13.xc2 conceding the bishop pair allows Black to
Only comp uters take these p awns - f o r play e7-e6 and set up a solid light square
humans the defence is just too difficult. ] centre. 11.xc4 d7 12.g2 gf6 13.0-0
9.0-0-0 e7 10.h3 d5= Zill has a very 0-0 14.e1 e6 15.a4 a5 16.c3 b6
comfortable game with no problems about his 17.e2 a6 18.c2 fe8 19.h4 ad8
development and ample counterplay. Indeed, 20.g5 c8 and Black survived the slight
if anyone is better it is Black with his compact pressure to hold a draw against his very
pawn structure. 11.xd5 cxd5 12.f4 c6 strong opponent in Giri, A (2758)-
13.fxd5? Handke just doesn't enjoy playing Rakhmanov, A (2626)/ Linares ESP 2014.)
against 1 ...d5, that is clear. Salvation 10...c8 Black's queen has been pushed
possibly lies in the second of the two following around, but it's not clear White has achieved
variations: that much. The white queen's knight has
[ 13.xg6 hxg6 14.a3 e7 15.d3 c8 ] moved four times after all! 11.d2 d7
[ 13.a3 xd4 14.e5 xc3 15.xc3 a4 12.e2 h6 13.fe5
16.d2 f3 17.xg7 0-0-0 18.xg6 fxg6 A) Here 13...gf6 looks OK for Black due
19.d3 Tough to find. ] to a tactical point a couple of moves in the
13...xc2! 14.de1 0-0 future: 14.f3 g5 15.e3 c7 16.h4 g4
[ 14...xc3 wa s st r o n ge r st i l l : 15.xc3 17.f4
( 15.xc3 xd5 16.xc2 xa2 ) A1) After 17...gxf3 18.xf7 the white
15...xd4 16.e5 xe5 17.xe5 g6 knight isn't after the rook on h8- it wants
There's no way back for White here. ] the black queen which has no safe move
15.xb4 xb4 16.b5 a4 17.c3 a5 as if c8 ( Instead 18...e4!
18.b5 xa2 19.xc2 The Bishop led a c o m p l i c a t e s m a t t e r s b u t 19.e3
charmed life until now but Zill still has the is st ill go o d f o r W h it e .) 19.fd6+
game under control. a6 20.c3 and after chasing the black queen all
[ 20.d5! was the only chance: xd5 21.c3 o ve r t h e b o a rd t h e wh it e h o r s e m e n
d4+ 22.b1 xh1 23.xh1 xe2 finally capture her.;
24.xe2 fd8 25.e3 ac8 Black has a A2) 17...b6! 18.xb6 ( 18.xf7?
large advantage but White has some hope xc4 ) 18...xb6 19.g2 h5
.] ( 19...xb2? 20.0-0 with an attack-
20...xd4+ 21.d1 b3+ where can Black castle safely as h6 is
0-1 hanging and the b-file plus white bishop
on g2 look deadly after 0-0-0.) 20.0-0-0
0-0-0;
228 B01 B) 13...df6 14.h4 ( White should
Hansen,Eric 2593 p r o b a b l y s e t t l e f o r t h e s o l i d 14.d3!?
Spraggett,K 2564 d5 15.d2 ) 14...d5 15.h5 ( 15.0-0-0
TCh-ESP Div Honor 2014 (1.1) 04.09.2014 gf6 ) 15...g5 16.e3 gf6 17.f3 xe3
[Neil McDonald] 18.xe3 0-0 19.0-0-0 d8 20.b4 c7
21.c4 xc4 22.xc4 d5 23.xd5
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 4.d4 g6 xd5 24.f4 ad8 Black has gained
Avoiding 4...Nf6. Black plans to put pressure against d4 typical of that in the
immediate pressure on the d4 pawn with Bg7. Caro-Kann where he often doubles rooks
5.b5 along the d-file.
[ Another recent game went 5.f3 g7 B1) 25.he1!? c5?! ( Better to play
6.b5 b6 7.a3 The knight retreats in 25...e6!? keeping the tension.) 26.b4
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44.e3 f6 45.b5 e5 46.b4 f4 ) advantage could be retained with simple
42...d6 43.d4 c7 and the rook is horribly moves:
misplaced on f4 ] [ 12.xd6 xd6 13.0-0-0 bd7 14.e4
42.xg6 e5 43.e7! exd4 44.xf5+ e5 xe4 15.xe4 f6 16.g2 0-0 17.he1 ]
45.g3 White keeps an extra knight and [ 12.e5 xe5 13.dxe5 xd3 ( 13...d5
Black can no longer get his pawns rolling. The 14.0-0-0 d7 15.he1 ) 14.cxd3 fd7
rest of the game is simple d6 46.e2 b6 15.d4 ]
47.axb6 c6 48.xd4+ xb6 49.h2 12...c7
c7 50.f3 gxf3 51.xf3 c6 52.d4+ [ Commentating live at the time, I thought
d6 53.xh3 e5 54.e2 f5 55.g3 Black's id ea m ight h ave be e n 12...xf4+
g5 56.f3 f5 57.e3 13.gxf4 g6 This is very risky because of the
1-0 immediate 14.f5! and the Black King gets
st u ck in th e m id d le : ( 14.h4; 14.he1 )
14...gxf5 15.he1! Already Qxf5 is an
230 B01 u n p l e a s a n t t h r e a t . ( 15.hg1 bd7
Haslinger,Stewart 2423 16.g7 ) 15...0-0 ( 15...d6 16.d5! xd5
Parker,Jonathan 2509 17.xd5 cxd5 18.xd5+- ) 16.g1+ h8
93rd ch-GBR Swansea WLS (7) 13.08.2006 17.e3 bd7 Such a variation can't be
[Andrew Martin] seen through to the end one must trust
one's intuition. Parker makes the practical
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 choice, rejecting a line where his King would
A complete surprise for Haslinger. 4.d4 f6 be in peril, whether he could have defended
5.f3 a6 6.g3 g4 7.g2 c6 the position or not. ]
Another outing for Tiviakov's solid idea. White 13.xd6 xd6 14.e4 xe4 15.xe4 d7
may be able to gain a small advantage in T h e K n i g h t w i l l c o m e t o f 6 a n d t h e n
many different ways, but the Black position everything will be in order. Haslinger makes a
remains diff icult to crack. 7..c6 is a good bold move. 16.xh7!?
choice against opponents who are desperate [ 16.he1 f6 17.g2 leads to a position
to win. 7..Nc6 is more combative. 8.h3 where it's very tough for W hite to make
[ 8.0-0 e6 9.a4 ( 9.e1 e7 10.h3 xf3 progress. ]
11.xf3 0-0 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 16...g6 17.xg6 fxg6 18.xg6+ d8
Dworakowska, J-Ogloblin, N/Moscow 2004 19.he1 e8?!
(23) leads to a typical example of White's [ 19...c7! is an improvement, with the idea
minute advantage. Two Bishops and the 20.xe6 ( 20.h4 might be better: af8 21.f4
long-term prospect of b4-b5.; 9.f4 d8 hg8 22.d3 d5 23.b1 b5 ) 20...d5
10.d3 d6 11.e5 f5 12.e2 0-0 21.b1 hg8 22.f7 af8 Black marshals
13.h3 h6 14.ad1 e7 15.a3 bd7 h i s f o r c e s ve r y q u i c k l y a n d c a n n o t b e
16.fe1 fd8 17.h2 ac8 18.xd7= worse. ]
Cristian, S-Rentner, D/playchess.com 2004) 20.c4?
9...a5 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 e7?! [ 20.f4! probably justifies the piece sacrifice.
( 11...xd4 12.d1 b6 had to be played, I don't see how Black organises his pieces
asking W hite to prove it!) 12.f4 d8 now: c7 ( 20...d5 21.b1 c7 22.g4
13.ad1 0-0 14.e4 xe4 15.xe4 d7 h8 23.d3 ) 21.d3 h8 22.h4 ag8
16.c4 e8 17.c2 c8 18.h4 b6 23.e3 f6 24.de1 e8 25.e5
19.d3 f6 20.fd1 Shabalov, A- Haslinger is intent on opening up the Black
Gonzalez, R/Philadelphia 2004 ] King, but as the game goes, c2-c4 only
8...xf3 9.xf3 Not repeating Al-Modiahaki's exposes his own monarch! ]
9 Qxf3, which we saw in the previous update. 20...c7 21.h4 b5! 22.c5 d5 23.b3 f5!
e6 10.f4 d8 11.d3 d6 The time 24.h5
W hite gained with 10 Bf4 is regained! [ 24.xf5 exf5 25.d2 f6 sees the
12.0-0-0!? Very sharp! Once again a small Black Kn ight h ea ding f or t wo e xc elle n t
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
squares. ] l o o k i n g a t ( W h i t e a l s o h a s 16.f3
24...xg6 25.hxg6 f6 26.d3 , to prevent ...Bf4: c5 17.b1 b8 18.b3
[ 26.f4 was perhaps a superior try, but both f5 19.g4! ) 16...f4! 17.h5 xd2+ 18.xd2
p l a y e r s we r e i n t i m e - t r o u b l e a f t e r t h e c5 19.b1! Then e5?! 20.b3! xg4
earlier complications. As the game goes, 21.hxg6 is too ambitious. ]
Black keeps light-squared control to the end 14.b3 c7 15.g3
and this is enough to take the point. ] [ White keeps space and two bishops after
26...e7 27.f3 d5 28.h1 g8 15.xg6! hxg6 16.f3! with the idea h4
29.h6 d7 30.g4 e8 31.g5 eg7 and g4. This time his advantage would be a
32.h7 e7 33.f7 xh7 34.xh7 xg6-+ serious one. ]
35.f4 d5 36.a7 xf4 37.xa6 e2+ 15...0-0-0 16.xg6 hxg6 17.h4 f5!?
38.d2 xd4 39.e3 e5 40.a4 bxa4 [ Definitely better although still not equal was
41.bxa4 xg5 42.a5 g1 43.a7 e1+ 17...c5 18.b1 b8 19.dxc5!? xc5
44.d2 a1 45.e3 b3 46.a6 xc5 20.g4 ]
47.a8+ d7 48.a7 c7 49.e8 xa7 18.b1
50.xe5 d6 My verdict on 7...c6 is that [ Or 18.g5! d7 ( 18...e7? 19.xe6+!
Black should o nly play this move if he is fxe6 20.xe6+ d7 21.xe7 e8
happy with a draw. 22.xg6 dxe7 23.xf5+ ) 19.f6 g8
0-1 20.h5 ]
18...he8 19.h5 gxh5 20.xh5 h8
21.dh1 xh5 22.xh5 d5 23.h7 d7
231 B01 Black's pieces are very awkwardly placed, and
Haznedaroglu,Kivanc 2440 the f-pawn is a real problem. From here on out
Gogolis,Alexandros 2289 he can't hold.
Acropolis Open (3) 16.08.2007 [ 23...f6?? 24.xe6+ ]
[John Watson] 24.g5 g8 25.h5! e8 26.c4
[ 26.xf7? xg5 ]
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4 c6 26...c7 27.c5 e7 28.xe7 xe7 29.xf7
The ChessPublishing e-book gives this an '!' d8 30.h7 e8
for 'sidestepping a number of attacking ideas.' [ 30...h8 31.xc7+ ]
5.f3 31.a4 a5 32.g7 b8 33.d7 c8 34.f7
[ But the line given, 5.c4 f5 , has its own h8 35.xe6 h1+ 36.a2 f1 37.xf5
drawbacks, in that W hite can play 6.ge2 a7 38.d5 a6 39.d6 h8 40.c4 d4
a n d t r a n s p o s e t o s o m e o f t h e m o r e 41.xb7+ xb7 42.d7+ An instructive
attractive Ng3/f4/f5 lines. ] ga m e . B la ck wa sn 't t h a t b a d ly o f f in t h e
5...f6 6.c4 f5 7.d2 e6 8.d5 opening, but it was hard to shake W hite's
This is still a popular sequence after many modest pressure.
y e a r s , a n d s t i l l n o t f u l l y r e s o l v e d . O n e 1-0
attraction is that White can safely play for a
small advantage. d8 9.xf6+ gxf6 10.c3
d7 11.e2 d6 12.h4 g6 13.0-0-0 232 B01
In Hungaski-Di Diego, we see a plan with 0-0 Heinatz,Thomas 2332
that shouldn't have achieved much. b6 Keitlinghaus,Ludger 2503
[ In the notes to that game I suggested that Bundesliga 2003-4 (7) 13.02.2004
13...c7 14.xg6 hxg6 15 g3, and gave [Andrew Martin]
W h ite o nly t h e m in or ad va nt a ge o f t h e
bishop pair. Perhaps the plan with 15.h4 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4 c6
0-0-0 ( 15...f4 16.xf4 xf4+ 17.b1 5.f3 f5 6.c4 d7!? A very interesting
0-0-0 18.g3 c7 19.g4!?; 15...f5? 16.xe6 approach, delaying ...Nf6 in order to develop
fxe6 17.xe6+ d8 18.xg6 ) 16.g4 the other pieces first and thus taking away a
and h5, to create a passed pawn, is worth lot of W hite's attacking options. As long as
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
Black can't be downed by an early d4-d5 then What else does White have? His position is
I think this is a pretty good idea. 7.d2 e6 dubious and therefore he has to try some
8.e4N Other moves appear satisfactory for tactics. xe3 19.xa8 xc1 20.xc1 0-0
Black. White has a very hard time 21.c6
commencing the attack: [ 21.e4 xe4 22.xe4 xe4 23.xe4
[ 8.b3 c7 ( 8...gf6 9.e2 b6 xb2 24.c7 f6 25.c2 xc2 26.xc2
10.0-0-0 d6 11.he1 0-0 12.h3 fe8 b8 is simple enough well, White's a pawn
13.e3 c7 14.b1 b4 15.d2 c5 down. Other than that there is no other
16.dxc5 xc5 17.e3 e7 18.g4 g6 retreat. ]
19.g5 e4 20.xe4 xe4 21.d2 f5 21...c8-+ A crushing pin! 22.c4 xb2
22.c4 ed8= Handan, A-Nuesken, N/ [ 22...b8! ]
Oberhof 1998) 9.e2 e7 10.h3 gf6 23.a4
11.e5 xe5 12.dxe5 d7 13.f4 b4 [ 23.d1 b6 24.d6 f8! Deep Fritz!
14.0-0 xc3 15.bxc3 h6 16.c4 0-0 25.b5 xb5 26.xb5 c1+ 27.f1 e5-+ ]
17.d3 xd3 18.cxd3 b5 19.fe1 b6 23...b8 24.d4 d3! No way back from
20.g4 h7 21.e3 c5 22.e4+ h8 here. 25.c3 xc3 26.xc3 a6 27.c2
23.c4 b4 24.ad1 a4 25.h4 h7 e5 28.df5 f8 I think it was Wahls in his
26.e4+ h8 27.h4 h7 28.e4+ excellen t 'Mode rnes Ska ndinavisch' wh o
1/2-1/2 Stepovaia Dianchenko, T-Zhukova, suggested this move order for Black and you
N/Belgrade 2000 ] will see a similar strategy ef fected in the
[ 8.0-0 c7 9.e2 e7 10.e4 gf6 Pat ze r Va ria tion where Black d elays th e
11.xf6+ xf6 12.d3 xd3 13.xd3 0-0 development of his Kingside. I see no reason
14.g5 xg5 15.xg5 is level, Sutovsky, E- at all why this should not be a very successful
Doettling, F/Tel Aviv 2001. ] method. Highly recommended!
[ 8.e2 b4 ( 8...c7?! 9.d5! e5 0-1
10.0-0-0 e7 11.he1 f6 12.h4 g6
13.g4 Fuellgrabe, T-Rickert, D/ Ruhrgebiet
1999 ) 9.a3 e7 10.0-0 xc3 11.xc3 233 B01
c7 12.h4 b6 13.d5 f4! 14.xf5 Heinemann,Ernst 2211
xf5 15.d3 xd5 16.e5 g5 17.f4 Sieber,H 2067
g6 18.g4 de3 19.xf5 xf5 20.h1 16th VR Bank Open (5) 25.08.2007
h6 21.g1 0-0-0 22.b4 f6 Korneev, O- [John Watson]
Kogan , A/Port Erin 2003 And of course, if
White cannot attack Black directly then the 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.d4 xd5 4.c3
Black position is very solid indeed. ] a5 5.c4 c6 6.ge2 This poses a real
8...c7 9.g3 g6 10.h4 h6 11.h5 h7 ch a ll e n ge t o B la ck' s d e ve l o p m e n t . f5!?
12.e2 This is the consistent move, however risky.
[ 12.h4 gf6 13.f4 b6 is Caro-Kann Black can also accede to blocking off his
like, but only W hite has problems in this bishop by
position. ] [ 6...e6 7.0-0 bd7 , accepting a Slav/Caro-
[ Maybe either 12.0-0 ] Kann structure in which W hite's knight is
[ or 12.e3 are the moves to play, just not ideally place on e2. Of course, W hite
accepting that White has no advantage yet. ] still has the advantage by virtue of his space
12...xc2! In other main lines where this and free development. ]
capture is possible, White would usually have 7.g3 g6
the advance d4-d5 ready. No such advance is [ 7...e6 8.xf5 ( 8.d2 ) 8...xf5 9.0-0
possible here. The Knight on g3 seems a little bd7 is playable, although I'd rather be
o u t o f t h e ga m e so wh y n o t t a ke o n c2 ? White with the bishops. ]
13.c1 h7 14.0-0 gf6 15.d5 This has to 8.0-0
work or White is just a pawn down for nothing. [ 8.h4 h6
cxd5 16.xd5 b6 17.e3 c5! 18.xb7 A) 9.0-0 bd7 ( 9...e6 10.f4 d6 11.f5
225
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
exf5 12.d3 0-0 13.xf5 with an attack, 16.e4! e8? 17.a5 and White won easily:
and the immediate threat of 14 Nxh6+.) xe4 18.xb6+ axb6 19.f3 xd4 20.d1
10.f4 h7!? is harder to crack than it xd1+ 21.xd1 c7 22.f1 e5 23.g3
looks. Perhaps 11.e2 c7 12.ce4 b5 24.d3 xa2 25.b3 eg4 26.e2 a8
is as good as anything; 27.h3 e8 28.xe8 xe8 29.xf7+ b6
B) 9.h5 h7 10.e2 e6 30.hxg4 h6 31.g2 b4 32.g6 c5
B1) Insipid. The natural course was 33.c3 f6 34.xg7 d5 35.f3 xc3
11.d2 c7 12.0-0-0 e7 ( 12...bd7 36.f5 d5 37.h7 e3 38.c8 g5
13.xe6 fxe6 14.xe6+ d8 15.he1 39.xb7+ c5 40.e4 e7 41.e6 f6
with attack) 13.ge4 bd7 ( 13...0-0 42.d7 b4 43.b7 c5 44.f7 d6
14.g4! ) 14.f3 with the idea of Bf4, 45.a7 c3 46.a2 c5 47.c2 b4
although W hite should have only the 48.d3 f6 49.f2 g5 50.e2 d5
slightest of advantages.; 51.e4+ xb3 52.d4 b4 53.c4 a4
B2) 11.b3!? b4 12.d2 bd7 54.xc6 e3 55.c4 a3 56.a6+ b2
13.0-0 0-0 14.a3 xc3 This is now the 57.a2+ b1 58.a4 b3 59.xb3 b2
standard Scandinavian motif, introduced 60.e6 c1 61.a1+ b2 62.e1 xg4
(or at least brought to general attention) 63.xg4 d8 64.e6 c7 65.g4 d8
by Larsen. 15.xc3 g5 16.fe1 h4 66.h1 g5 67.h2+ a3 68.e4 b4
17.f3 g4!? ( 17...fd8 ) 18.f4 df6 69.f5 c3 70.g6 d4 71.xh6 c1
19.f3 xh5 1/2-1/2 Becerra Rivero, J -A 72.h5 f4 73.f5 c1 74.f7 e4 75.g5
Rodriguez, San Martin 1995. ] xg5 76.xg5 f4 77.a5 e4 78.c8
8...bd7 d4 79.e6 c4 80.d6 b4 81.c5
[ 8...e6 9.f4 and f5 with a nice initiative. ] a4 82.c1 b5 83.d5 b4 84.f5
[ 8...h5!? has been played more than once: b3 85.d4 b2 86.b1+ a3 87.c4
A) 9.e1 bd7 ( 9...h4 10.ge4 xe4 a2
11.xe4 e6 ) 10.ge4 e6 11.g5!?; 1-0
B) 9.e2 (safe bd7 10.f4 ( 10.ge4
t h is is r o u gh ly e q u a l, a lt h o u gh B la c k
always has to deal with his small space 234 B01
deficit in this line.) 10...h4 11.ge4 0-0-0 Hernandez Carmenates,Hold 2541
12.g5 e6 13.f5 h5! 14.e1 e5! Almeida Quintana,O 2506
15.xf7 exd4 16.e2 ( 16.ce4= ) ch-CUB Men Final 2013 (6.3) 12.02.2013
16...xe1 17.xe1 b4 ( better may be [Tom Rendle]
17...c5 18.f4 d3+ 19.h1 dxc2
20.xh5 xh5 21.ge6 de8 ) 18.c3 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4
dxc3 19.xc3 xf7 20.xf7 and White f6 5.c4
enjoyed some advantage in Van den Berg- [ 5.f3 is more common and now it seems
Saptarshi, Dieren 2006. ] that c6 is somewhat dubious, for example
9.f4 e6 10.f5 exf5 11.e2+ d8 12.d2 6.d2 g4 7.b5 ( 7.d5
b6 13.h1 is also dangerous) 7...b6 8.c4 xf3
[ 13.xf5! is a more convincing move in view 9.xf3 xd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.xb7
of xf5 14.xf5 xd4+ ( 14...d6 e4+ 12.xe4 xe4 13.e3 and White
could lead to something like 15.d1 c7 had a very comfortable endgame and went
16.g5 ae8 17.f1 e7 - else Bxf7 - on to win in Yu Yangyi (2585)-Wang Chen
18.a4! b4 19.b3 b5 20.c3 a5 (2399) Hefei 2010. In fact this position has
21.c4! he8 22.d2 ) 15.e3 g4 been reached a few times and it just seems
16.f1! ] this line is a good antidote to 5...Nc6 ]
13...d6 5...c6!? This move is pretty rare and has
[ 13...xd4 ] never been examined on ChessPub before -
14.xf5 xf5 15.xf5 f8? c6 and Bg4 have both been seen many times.
[ 15...xd4 16.d1 ] 6.d5 The critical response but it might not be
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
227
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
228
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
229
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
Oakham in 1995. White centralizes and it will 33.xf7+ e7 34.xg2 xg2 35.xf5
be some time before Black shifts the Queen xf7 In all honest y, I cannot recommend 3...
from this dominant position. Qe5-h2 lurks in g6. The defensive task just seems too
the wings. I thought I was lost now not a nice onerous. Hinks-Edwards found a very strong
feeling. Black has to take a risk. attacking idea and if White plays 15 Nd2!, I
[ 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.0-0-0 e6 16.e3 h8 think Black is going down.
17.b1 xf3 18.xf3 d7 ] 0-1
14...xh5 15.xh5!? Executed instantly
and with confidence, but I am far from
convinced that this is best. Instead 237 B01
[ 15.d2! I believe to be better, threatening Howell,David 2633
f 3 an d g4 . I do n't se e wh at B la ck d oe s Papaioannou,Ioannis 2600
against that: g8 ( 15...g4 16.f3 f5 18th European Teams (2.5) 04.11.2011
17.de4 c6 18.0-0-0 ) 16.f3 ] [Milos Pavlovic]
[ By contrast 15.0-0-0? xf3 16.gxf3 h8
allows Black the chance to recuperate. ] 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4
15...gxh5 16.e2 f6 5.f3 f5 6.c4 e6 7.d2 c6 8.d5
[ 16.0-0-0 with the idea of Nd5 might be d8 9.xf6+ xf6 10.e2 d7 11.0-0-0
better, although Black is surviving e.g. c6 The mainline of the Scandinavian, or should I
A) 17.g5 h6 18.h7 g8 19.xf6 say one of the mainlines. In the last couple of
exf6 20.xh5 f5 21.b1 g5!; years the Scandinavian has started to become
B) 17.h1 g8 18.xh5 f8 19.g5 a very popular defence with lots of tactical
( 19.h2 g4 ) 19...xg5 20.xg5 e8 ideas ready to be discovered, just as in this
21.xh7 xh7 22.xh7 d7; game. e7!?N Allowing Bg5, on the other
C) 17.e2 g8 18.f4 f8 ] hand, exchanging one more pair of pieces
16...g8 17.f4 f8 18.0-0-0 d7 might help Black to solve his opening
19.e1 e8 20.xh5 xh5 21.xh5 g4! problems.
After several accurate moves Black is right [ The usua l p la y f or Black was: 11...b6
back in the game. Hinks-Edwards sacrifice 12.b3 g4 13.d5 xf3 14.gxf3 cxd5
has been shown to be optimistic and if only 15.xd5 0-0-0 16.e4 d6 17.b1
Black can find time to take on g2 or to get his ( 17.a4 f4 18.xf4 xf4+ 19.b1 b8
Rooks going he will surely be winning. 20.a5 c8 21.a6 b6 Black holds
22.h6+ g7 23.e3 xg2! 24.xh7 g7 somehow. ) 17...e7 18.a4 a6 ( 18...b8
25.d3 h3! An excellent defensive move, 19.a5 d5 20.a6 b6 21.f4 g6 22.f3 )
tying the W hite Queen down and keeping 19.a5 d5 20.c4 ( 20.hg1 g6 21.f4 b8
communication open with d7. 26.c4 c6 27.c5 22.g3 ) 20...f4 ( 20...b4 21.f4 b8
W hite is very disappointed at his failure to 22.hg1 g6 23.g3 f5 24.g2 c7 )
mate and doesn't put up any further 21.e3 f5 22.c5 xc5 23.c1 b8
resistance. 24.xc5 xc5 25.xf4+ d6 26.xd6+
[ Maybe 27.f4 but Black is winning by xd6 27.c2 d2 28.hf1 1-0 Fedorchuk,
now. ] S-Reinderman, D /Warsaw 2005 ]
27...f5 28.e4 e6 29.e5 d8 30.h1 12.h3
[ 30.xf7 was the last chance to confuse [ 12.g5 g6 13.xe7 xe7 14.b1
matters but I think Black escapes : d5!! ( 14.h4 g4 15.d5 cxd5 16.xd5 ac8
The key defence! 31.xe6 ( 31.d6 xd6 17.xb7 c7 18.e4 f6 ) 14...hd8
32.cxd6 xd6-+; 31.h1 g4 32.xe6 ( 14...f8 15.hg1 g4 16.d2 f6
xf7 33.c8+ e7 34.xb7+ d7 17.b4+ e7 18.xb7 ) 15.h4 ( 15.h3
35.e1+ f6 36.xc6+ g7-+ ) 31...xf7 f8 16.g4 e4 17.d3 xf3 18.xf3
32.c4 h6+ 33.xh6+ xh6 34.xd5 f6 19.g3 b6 ) 15...f6 16.xf5+
cxd5 35.e5 f5-+ ] xf5 17.d3 f6 18.c3 f8 19.h4 h6
30...g2 31.h8+ e7 32.xd8 xd8 This is less clear. ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
12...h5 13.he1 White decides to centralise W hite at all .) 11...xc3 12.bxc3 d7
his pieces. 13.ab1 Vila Gazquez, J-Alsina Leal, D/
[ 13.g5 g6 14.xe7 xe7 15.b1 f8 B a r c e l o n a 2 0 0 2 w h e n I t h i n k t h a t b6!
16.hg1 h4 17.e5 xe5 18.dxe5 g8 is the best way:
A strange-looking position, but Black does A) 14.fe1 b7 15.e5 ( 15.g5 f6
have counterplay here. ] 16.f3 fd8= ) 15...xe5 16.xe5 fd8;
13...g6 14.f4 c8 15.d5 This looks B) 14.b5 d8 15.c6 b8 16.fe1
premature. b7 17.xb7 xb7 18.c4 f6=
[ 15.b1 b5 ( 15...h4 16.d3 xd3
All seems comfortable enough. ]
17.xd3 f5 18.h2 ) 16.d3 xd3 [ 8.a3 almost wastes a tempo but White's
17.xd3 h4 18.d5 cxd5 19.xd5 h5! development must be given full respect. b4
With a defendable position. For instance: 9.d3 0-0 10.0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 d7
20.xd7 xd7 21.e5+ xe5 22.xe5 a6 12.fb1 c5 13.e3 c7 14.g5 h6= ]
23.g4 hxg3 24.fxg3 e8 25.g4= ] 8...b4 9.a3
15...cxd5 16.xd5 b6 17.d4 xc4 [ E m m s s u g g e s t s 9.g2 after which I
18.xc4 xc4 19.xc4 0-0 White didn't recommend d7 10.0-0 0-0 11.fe1 d8
manage to get anything in the opening and 12.a3 and now Black may simply take on c3,
instead has a slightly inferior position. 20.d4 o r p l a y m o r e a m b i t i o u s l y w i t h e7
g5 21.c7 xf4+ 22.xf4 xg2!
Either way, he is alright. ]
23.xf5 exf5 24.xf5 g6 25.c5 xh3 9...b6 10.g2 b7 11.0-0 xc3 12.xc3
26.xa7 f5 27.xb7 a5 28.e3 d8 [ 12.bxc3 0-0= ]
29.a3 d2+ 30.b1 d1+ 31.a2 xc2 12...xc3 13.bxc3 c6 14.d2 a5 15.a4
The black king is safer and this helps Black to
0-0-0
conduct the initiative. 32.f3 c4+ 33.b3 [ 15...xg2 16.xg2 e7 wasn't bad either.
c7 34.c3 d7 35.c4 f5 36.f3 f6 W e have reaches another one of those
37.b3 g7 38.e4 h4 This is a lost p o s i t i o n s wh e r e W h i t e h a s s h o w n h i s
position for White, with a perfectly safe king opponent far too much respect and now
the black h-pawn starts rolling without any faces an uphill struggle to make a draw. If
n e g a t i v e c o n s e q u e n c e s . 39.g4 d4
Black could guarantee such a position from
40.h3 f4 41.e3 c6 42.c3 d5+ the opening he would play 5...Ne4 every
43.b1 g5 44.c1 d4 45.h2 e5 game. ]
46.h1 d4 47.b1 f5+ 48.a1 h3 16.b3 c4 17.a5 xg2 18.xg2 b5
49.g1 h4 50.h2 f4 51.xf4 xf4 19.fe1 g5 20.a6 c6 21.c5 c7 22.e4
0-1 h5 23.e2? A nothing move. Given Black's
plan of playing his King to b6 he has to try a
diversion such as
238 B01 [ 23.ae1 b6 24.f4 g4 25.h3 ]
Howell,David 2304 23...d5 24.d3 f5 25.h3 b6 26.e4
Sulskis,Sarunas 2582 d8 27.h4 d6 28.e5 gxh4 29.gxh4
Masters Catalan Bay ENG (10) 05.02.2004 g8+ 30.f1 g4! 31.xf5 xf5 32.e5
[Andrew Martin] xh4 33.e2 h3! 34.f3 h2+ 35.d3
d6 36.g1 xa6 37.xc6 c4 38.e4
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4 b6 39.d8 h4+ 40.d3 f4 41.g7
f6 5.f3 e4 6.d2 I guess people will do d6 42.e3 f6 43.h7 c7 44.xf7
this. White relies on his development to see xf7 45.xh5 a5 46.c5+ b6 47.e5 a4
him through. xd2 7.xd2 e6! Time for a 48.xe6 c6 49.h6 a3 50.h1 e7+
quiet life and perhaps to contemplate ...Bb4, 51.f2 a2 52.a1 a7 53.e3 d5
saddling White with the same doubled pawns. 54.d3 a8 55.c4+ xc4 56.c3 b6
8.g3 57.f4 a3 58.c2 a4 Instinct tells me that
[ 8.c4 b4 9.0-0 0-0 10.a3 xc3 5...Ne4 cannot really be a permanent idea but
11.xc3 ( 11.bxc3 b6! is really nothing for it is by no means easy to play against as
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[ 10.e5 is White's alternative when the and White is still clearly better: ( 18.xe6?
author of the New in Chess article declined h6 ) 18...h6 19.e2 ]
the pawn e6 ( 10...xd4 is critical but 18.f4 f8?! Attempting to keep material
W hite of course has good compensation equality but there's a flaw.
with his large lead in development.) 11.0-0-0 [ Perhaps 18...c7 was the best chance.
g6 12.h4!? g7 13.e2 fd5 14.d2 19.hf1 e7 temporarily keeps material
xc3 15.xc3 d5 16.a3 0-0 17.f4 f6 leve l bu t W hite now ha s 20.de1 0-0
18.f3 c4 19.c3 b5 with a complex 21.xe6 fxe6 22.xe6+ xe6 23.xe6
struggle. Petrosian, T (2634)-Kasparov, S which looks like an extra pawn to me. ]
(2493) Bhubaneswar 2011. ] [ 18...0-0-0 19.xe6+ fxe6 20.xe6+ b8
10...g4 11.g3 h5 12.h3 h4 13.e3! 21.xf6 hf8 22.xh4 xf4+ 23.b1
This looks like an improvement. xd4 24.xd4 xd4 25.e7 and White
[ I looked at 13.f4 in the notes to Bologan- has a clear extra pawn. ]
Tiviakov. ] 19.xe6 e8 Consistent but still not good!
13...e6 Unfortunately Black is still forced to 20.a4! Black's pin on the e file looked like he
stick his bishop here and therefore it's not so was winning back the piece but this throws a
easy for Black to develop his kingside. spanner in the works. b4 This simply leaves
[ 13...f5 14.d6+ exd6 15.xf6+ e7 Black a piece down.
16.xg7 g8 17.f6 gives Black very little [ 20...a5 was the best try but 21.a3+
for the pawn. ] g7 22.b3 xf4+ 23.b1 b5 24.c5+- ]
[ 13...xc4 14.xc4 f5 15.0-0-0 e6 [ 20...b5 21.a3++- ]
16.d5! is very dangerous. ] 21.b3! Sidestepping the pin and suddenly
14.xb6 xb6 Black's a piece down. He grovelled on for a
[ 14...axb6 is also possible but Black while but the result was never in doubt. xf4+
remains very passive after 15.d3 g6 22.b1 xb3 23.xb3 e2 24.hf1 g5
16.0-0 ( 16.xg6!? wins a pawn or two but 25.d5 xg2 26.d6
h6 17.e2 g8 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4 [ 26.c5 b6 27.d3+- bringing the knight
d7 20.xh4 g6 at least gives Black back into play looks the easiest. ]
some counterplay.) 16...h6 ( 16...g7 26...b6 27.d7 e7 28.xf7 g3 29.h1
17.xg6! now leaves Black with zero play.) c7 30.g6 g4 31.f5 gxh3 32.xh3 f8
17.f4 and Black still struggles to breathe. ] 33.c3 f5 34.he1+ d8 35.xf5 h3
15.0-0-0 g6?! This doesn't solve Black's 36.e4 13.Qe3! looks like a good
problems and so we have to look at Black's improvement and I don't see an easy
alternatives. equalising plan for Black.
[ 15...0-0-0 16.a3 1-0
A) 16...a5 is better but following 17.d3
g6 18.b1 h6 19.f4 White is still on
top. ( 19.e1!? ); 241 B01
B) 16...g6 17.a4! a5 18.c5 h6 Ibragimov,Ildar 2565
19.f4 d5 20.f3 f6 21.xe6 ( 21.b4!? Fierro Baquero,Martha Lorena 2310
traps the queen but xc5 22.dxc5 fxe5 North American Open (1) 2003
23.c4 xf4+ 24.b2 doesn't feel so [Andrew Martin]
c l e a r t o m e .) 21...fxe5 22.dxe5
is very good for White. ] NATURAL MOVES?! This game gives us a
[ 15...d7 16.f4 g6 ( 16...f5 17.d3 reminder that the Scandinavian cannot be
xd3 18.xd3 e6 19.b1 ) 17.e2 0-0-0 defeated purely by 'natural moves'. White has
18.he1 g7 19.f3 and Black still can't no advantage as of right - he must
coordinate perfectly. ] demonstrate a good plan. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5
16.xf6! exf6 17.c4 h6 xd5 3.c3 d8 The BANKER - still viable.
[ 17...c7!? would be an interesting move 4.d4 c6 5.g5
order when it's important to throw in 18.b1 [ 5.c4 is critical. ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
A) 14.b1 c6 ( 14...b6 15.c4! ) 15.f1 Black's position. d4 25.a4 c5 26.d2
is probably White's best try for an edge, he [ 26.c7! was more clinical, threatening to
k e e p s t h e b e t t e r c h a n c e s a f t e r b5 trap the queen with Rc4. Black can try f7
( 15...a5 16.xb7 xc3+ 17.d2 but after 27.d3 threatening mate on d8
xd2+ 18.xd2 and White's activity gives Black's position is completely hopeless. ]
him a pleasant advantage.) 16.a4! xa4 26...f7 27.e5 d8 28.e2 a7 29.xf5
17.g2 c8 18.0-0 and White has a A crushing victory f rom Iordachescu and
dangerous initiative combined with a clear although the game wasn't perfect from either
plan of f4-f5.; side it's another good example of what can
B) 14.e2 xe2+ 15.xe2 0-0-0 happen to Black in this line. I wouldn't
16.b1 c6 and although White is more recommend 5.. .Bg4 to anyone right now!!
active he has some weaknesses in his 1-0
structure whereas Black is very solid. ]
13.f3 d6?!
[ 13...xc3 was definitely Black's best option 243 B01
h e r e . A f t e r 14.bxc3 c6 15.0-0 d7 Jaulin,Philippe 2105
Black prepared to play ...e6 with a solid Prie,Eric 2425
positio n. I s till pref e r W hit e a f te r 16.a4! 2nd Open Nantes (1) 2003
but the advantage is only small. ] [Andrew Martin]
14.a4! Now Black is in serious difficulties a6
[ 14...a5 i s n o b e t t e r : 15.b5! xb5 A BRACE OF PRIE 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5
16.axb5 b8 ( 16...a7 17.0-0 is miserable 3.c3 a5 4.d4 f6 5.f3 c6 6.c4 f5
for Black, that rook on a7 is horribly placed!) 7.d2 e6 8.d5 d8 9.xf6+ xf6!?
17.xa5 xc2 18.a7 and White wins a I recommended 9...gxf6 in a recent video
pawn ] although that move is slightly under a cloud
15.0-0 due to
[ 15.a5 was even stronger straight away, e. [ 9...gxf6 10.c3! c7 ( 10...d7!? ) 11.h4
g. bc8 16.f4! xc2 17.0-0 d3 18.d1 g6 12.f3 d7 13.h3!
g6 19.ed5 d8 and Black is so poorly with uncomfortable pressure. So to 9...Qxf6,
developed and coordinated that it's pretty undoubtedly a tricky and provocative move,
much hopeless. ] well suited to playing for the win. ]
15...d7 16.a5 bc8 17.e1 10.e2! d7
[ 17.a4 bringing the knight to c5 is also [ 10...g4 11.d5 xf3 12.gxf3 cxd5
very good for White. ] 13.xd5 d7 14.0-0-0 a3 15.c3 0-0
17...e6 18.d5! Iordachescu thematically 16.e4 Shirov-Salov Madrid 1997 is a
opens up the centre with Black's pieces still possible way to go for Black although White
un co ordina te d an d Tiviakov is un ab le t o has the makings of a good Kingside attack. ]
defend. e7 [ Meanwhile taking on c2 is very risky :
[ 18...e7 was possibly more stubborn but 10...xc2 11.c1 f5 12.d5 I prefer
W hite's init iative still gives him a clea r W hite's initiative to the long haul needed
a d v a n t a g e a f t e r 19.b3 ( 19.a4!? to exploit the extra pawn. So to Prie's 10...
is also dangerous, either the rook is Nd7, just sensible development. As long as
swinging over to d4 or it supports Nc4.) Black isn't falling victim to either d4-d5! or
19...0-0-0 20.c4! ] Bg5 then he should have a playable
19.dxe6 fxe6 20.h4 f8 21.e2 c6 22.h3 position. ]
White targets the weak pawn on e6 and Black 11.0-0-0 b6 12.e5?! I don't think allowing
is in no position to defend. f5 23.xf5 exf5 Black to take on c4 is very testing and two of
[ 23...xf5 24.xf5 xf5 25.xh5+ Prie's recent opponents seem to agree.
is also easily winning for White ] [ 12.b3 g4 W e l l - t i m e d ! 13.d5
24.f4! A simple developing move that If this tactical stroke doesn't work, White will
u n d e rl i n e s e v e ryt h i n g t h a t ' s wr o n g wi t h simply be left with a bad pawn structure.
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
although Tiviakov did not opt for the coming 24.xd6 b8 ( 24...d8 25.e4 ) 25.e3!
9...Bd6 sticking to more solid 9...Be7. d6?!N and White wins. The text is OK, but Black
Active and slightly more risky than 9...Be7. gets the chance to grovel on. ]
[ The evidence about 9...e7 will show what 21...b8
we intuitively know already that White must [ 21...xb2 22.b1 b8 23.h4 c5
keep a small edge: 10.f4 ( RR 10.e3 0-0 24.xb2! is devastating: xb2 25.xf6+
11.g4 g6 12.e5 fd7 13.f4 xe5 g7 26.h5+ f8 27.f4-+ ]
14.dxe5 f6 15.exf6 xf6 16.c5 a6 22.a5 c7? Losing on the spot.
17.c4 c7 18.f5 f7 19.fxe6 xe6 [ 22...f5 is the reason that 21 Nd6 was better.
20.xe6+ xe6 21.b3 h8 22.e4 Maybe Black survives after 23.ed2 c5
d4 23.c4 e7 24.f4 e6 24.b4 ( 24.c3 d3 25.c2 f6 )
Paragua, M-Laketic, G/Milan 2001 Black has 24...d3 25.xf5+ exf5 26.xe7 xb4
negated any W hite pressure and stands 27.xf7+ g6 Of course this will not be
slightly better.) 10...0-0 11.a3 bd7 pleasant. ]
( 11...a5 12.e1 e8 13.e5 xe2 23.d4+- d5
14.xe2 a6 15.d2 d7 16.e4 c8 [ 23...e8 24.xc6 xc6 25.xd8+- ]
17.c2 Korneev, O-Tiviakov, S/Khanty 24.cxd5 cxd5 25.c3 d6 26.f3 g8
Mansiysk 2005) 12.e5 xe2 13.xe2 27.e4 f4 28.g3 c2 29.d4 xf3
e8 14.ad1 b6 15.fe1 a6 16.g4 [ 29...c7 ]
f8 17.g5 6d7 18.xd7 xd7 19.d5 30.gxf3 xg3 31.g4 xf2+ 32.h1 xe1
Korneev, O-Tiviakov, S/Khanty Mansiysk 33.xe1 xg4 34.hxg4 xb2 35.c3 xa2
2005 ] 36.xf6 g8 37.xh6 f2 38.f6 a5
10.g5 Trying to take advantage of the pin. 39.g1 c2 40.g5 c6 41.g6 4...c6 is
h6 clearly possible, although I feel Black should
[ 10...bd7 11.d5 cxd5 12.cxd5 exd5 continue in the same restrained manner a
( 12...e5?! 13.e4 e7 14.h4! ) little later by playing his King's Bishop to e7.
13.xd5 0-0 ] 1-0
11.xf6 gxf6? Poor, almost inexplicable,
making it appear as though she is making it up
on the spot. 245 B01
[ Black HAS to play 11...xf6 12.e4 f4 Kalegin,Evgenij 2485
13.xd6+ xd6 14.b3 b6 15.c5 c7 Galkin,Sergey
16.e3 ] Perm 1997
12.d5! e7 [Alexander Volzhin]
[ 12...e5? 13.h4! ]
13.e1 Increasing the pressure on e6. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.f3 xd5 4.c3
[ Or 13.d4!? xe2 14.xe2 e5 a5 5.d4 c6 6.b5
15.ad1 Finkel ] [ 6.d2!? which leads to quieter play is also
13...a6 14.h4 worth considering we'll take a closer look at
[ Finkel gives 14.d4!? xe2 15.xe2 e5 this move in the next game. ]
16.dxc6 and I think he is right. ] 6...d7 7.d5!? b4 8.xd7+ xd7 9.a3
14...xe2 15.xe2 e5 16.dxc6 bxc6 f6 10.axb4 The point of White's previous
17.f3 Black has no place for her King. c8 play. This exchange sacrifice is dangerous for
18.ad1 0-0 19.h5 Black as his Queen is forced to go to a very
[ 19.e3 h7 20.f3 is equally bad square, while his other pieces remain
uncomfortable: ] undeveloped. xa1 11.0-0 a6
19...h7 20.e4 fd8 [ After 11...d8 12.d4!? c6 ( 12...xd5?
[ 20...xb2? 21.f5 exf5 22.g5+ ] 13.db5 winning; 12...e6 13.db5 ) 13.dxc6
21.f3?! bxc6 14.e2! xd4 15.e3 Black is in
[ Preferable is 21.d6 xd6 ( 21...c7 trouble ]
22.df5+- ) 22.xd6 xd6 23.f5 f8 12.d4
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ Usually white tries to maintain the initiative problems halting White's queenside advance.
by 12.d4 d8 13.db5 d7 14.f4 The pawn on b6 plus the Bishop on c7 keep
and after t h e B la c k Ro o ks p a ssive . d7 21.c5!
A) 14...xd5 also comes into xb2!? Trying to do something active, rather
c o n s i d e r a t i o n : 15.xd5 ( 15.xd5!? t h a n j u s t w a i t f o r t h e e n d . 22.b1!
is int e re st in g: xd5 16.xc7+ d8 winning The text move is stronger.
17.xa6 f5 18.e3 bxa6 19.a1 f6 [ Of course not 22.xb2?! xc5 23.c1
20.f1 trying to breakthrough on the b3 24.c3 a4 and Black is okay ]
queenside.) 15...xb5 16.xc7+ xc7 [ 22.c6 was possible but after bxc6 23.dxc6
17.xc7 d7 18.b8 xd1 19.xd1 e6 xb6 24.xb6 c8 25.c7 xb6 26.xb6
Black was able to hold the balance in xc7 White should eventually win. ]
Siklosi - Laszlo, Hungary (tt) 1993.; 22...a3 23.c6 bxc6
B) 14...d8 15.e2 An unclear position [ 23...b8 does not help as after 24.cxb7
has arisen. White has sufficient the Knight is going to c6. ]
compensation for his material losses. ] 24.dxc6 xb6 25.xb6 c8 26.d4 d6
12...g6 27.c1 f4 28.c2 c7 There was nothing
[ 12...d8!? deserves attention. ] better. 29.xc7 xc7 30.f4! The ending
13.f4 b6 looks winning for W hite. His plan is simple:
[ Black has two good alternatives: 13...c8!? his King is going to the queenside to help the
14.b5 b6 15.c4 a6! is unclear ] c-pawn promote. f6 31.c5 Securing the
[ 13...g7!? 14.xc7 h5 15.c5 ( 15.b5 Knight on d4 against e7-e5. f7 32.f2 e6
d6 16.xd6 xd4 17.e1 0-0-0 33.e3 g5 34.g3 gxf4+ 35.gxf4 e5
18.xd4 exd6 with a small edge) 15...0-0 36.fxe5 fxe5 37.f3
in both cases with unclear play. ] [ 37.xe5 axc6 38.xc6 xc6
14.c4 a5? This is a big mistake. was also winning for White but the text move
[ 14...c6?! was dubious because of 15.e3 is stronger. ]
c7 ( 15...d8?! 16.dxc6 c8 17.e5 e6 37...e8 38.xe5 d8 39.d4 g7
18.d1 c7 19.f4 puts Black in trouble) 40.d5+ c7 41.c5 e7 42.c3 a4
16.b5 c8 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.xa7 b7 43.b5+ c8 44.c4 White's pieces look
19.xc6+!? ( 19.xc6 ) 19...xc6 20.xc6 v e r y s p e c t a c u l a r ! h6 45.b6+
and Black has real problems neutralising the Black resigned.
White pawns on the queenside. ] 1-0
[ Probably Black had underestimated his
defensive possibilities, but he was not doing
a s b a d l y a s h e b e li e ve d a f t e r t h e c o o l 246 B01
14...a6! Now taking on c7 is good for Black. Kaminski,Marcin 2535
15.e1 with excellent compensation for the Gipslis,Aivars 2450
exchange. ] Cappelle la Grande 1998
15.b5?! This looks good but White has a [Alexander Volzhin]
much better move.
[ After 15.b5! Black was hopelessly lost: 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.b5+ d7 4.e2
c8 ( 15...xd5 16.xd5 c6 17.e5 xd5 5.d4 f5 The most popular move.
winning ) 16.bxa5 xa5 17.b4 b6 6.f3 e6 7.a3 e7 8.c4 b6 9.c3 0-0
18.xc7+ d8 19.e5 winning a lot of 10.h3 c6 11.e3 f6 12.0-0 The "tabiya"
material. ] of this line. White has a certain advantage in
15...g7 16.a4! space while Black has counterchances due to
[ 16.xc7 was much weaker: c8 17.xb6 his pressure on the d4-pawn. By the way the
( 17.d6? xd6 ) 17...xc4 18.xa5 e4 position looks like one from the Alekhine Four
19.xe4 xe4 20.b3 was unclear. ] Pawns Attack, (without the f2 and f7 pawns
16...a7 17.xc7 0-0 18.b6 a6 19.xa6 it's just a position from Yudasin - Kengis!) and
xa6 20.c4 Black's life is difficult as he has the ideas of both sides are very similar. h6
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
Black prepares 13...Qe7 (he couldn't play it White's advantage is big already: 17.xd5
im m e d ia t e l y in vi e w o f 1 3 . g4 B g 6 1 4 . g 5 exd5 18.e1! b6 19.xa5 ( 19.d3 e4 )
winning a piece). But his move wastes an 19...bxa5 20.a4 Now White wins a pawn
important tempo and now Black has no time for nothing: e4 21.xa5 d7 22.c3
to create pressure on the d4-pawn. xf3 23.c6 d6 24.xf3 f4 25.xe8+
[ 12...d7! is much more to the point. After xe8 26.d1 and with accurate play White
this move White can't hold the centre, and should win the game. ]
has to sacrifice his d4-pawn and hope to 17.xc3 b6 18.cxb6 axb6
gain sufficient initiative as compensation. [ 18...b7 19.bxa7 xa7 20.a4
13.b4 ad8 14.b3 ( 14.a2!? xd4 is also hopeless for Black. ]
15.xd4 xd4 16.d2 xc3! 17.xd7 19.b4 d8 20.xf8 xf8 21.d3
xd7 18.b3 f6 19.d1 xd1+ 20.xd1 White is the exchange up for nothing. The rest
d8 21.c2 xc2 22.xc2 c6 and Black's is a matter of technique. xd3 22.xd3 c5
chances are by no means worse, as shown 23.bxc6 xc6 24.e4 e7 25.e5 a4
by the game Hait - Romcovici, Eforie Nord, 26.fd1 f5 27.b7 e7 28.d5 So after
1996. ) 14...xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.ad1 considering these games we can conclude
e5 17.b5 e7 18.fe1 f6 19.xc7 that the 4.Be2 line is rather promising for
e4 20.b5 White. In my opinion the line considered in
A) The natural 20...a6! is much stronger this game is the most solid for Black.
and Black has equal chances here: 1-0
21.c3 ( 21.bxd4 exd4 22.c5 d5
23.xd4 This attempt to win a pawn is
strongly met by xg2! 24.xg2 f4+ ) 247 B01
21...c6 22.c5 d5=; Karjakin,Sergey 2786
B) 20...c6?! A m i s t a k e . 21.c5 xb5 Iotov,V 2553
22.xb5 d5 23.c4! f4 24.xd4 41st Olympiad Open 2014 (5.2) 06.08.2014
xd4 25.xd4 exd4 26.f3 with a clear [Neil McDonald]
edge as in Hait - Rasskazov, Moscow
1997. ] 1.e4 d5 The Scandinavian Defence is a rare
13.b4! A multipurpose move. White starts a bird at elite level. 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d8
pawn attack on the Q-side. The other idea is Sergey Karjakin is one of the best prepared
to chase away Black's Knight in order to free players in the world, so it makes sense to play
the d4-pawn from attack. this 'anti-theory' system against him. 4.d4 f6
[ 13.c1 A somewhat sophisticated move. 5.f3 g4 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 c6 8.d3 e6
e7?! ( B l a c k s h o u l d p l a y 13...d7! 9.e2!? A couple of rounds before this game
intending Rd8 and again White has to think at the Tromso 2014 Olympiad, Carlsen had
about how to protect the d4-pawn.) 14.c5! essayed
d5 15.xd5 exd5 16.b3 e6 17.xb7 [ 9.g3 against Djukic. ]
ab8 18.xc7 xb2 19.d1 e4 20.a4? 9...bd7 10.0-0 d6
( 20.e1 was much better and Black has [ Another way to arrange the black pieces
little to show for the pawn.) 20...c8? was 10...e7 11.f4 f8 then 12...Ng6
M i s s i n g a d r a w : ( 20...xf3! 21.xc6 and 13...0-0. The point of going 11...Nf8 is
xe3! 22.fxe3 xg2+ 23.h1 f2+ tha t af te r 11 .. .0 -0 Black wo uld ha ve t o
24.g1 g2+ with a perpetual.) 21.d6 prepare the knight manoeuvre with Rfe8, so
a2?! 22.d2 xd4 23.xe6 fxe6 it might save a tempo to play it
24.xe4 xe3 25.fxe3 dxe4 26.b3 straightaway. ]
and Black resigned in Pokorna - Aleksieva, 11.g5 c7 12.e4 h2+?! Playing with
Batumi 1999. ] fire.
13...e7 14.b5 a5 15.c5 d5 16.d2! [ He should prefer 12...xe4 13.xe4 h6
xc3 This move loses material by force. Instead
[ 16...fe8!? was relatively best although A) 14.d2 0-0 ( White has some edge
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
after 14...f6 15.f3 d5 16.c4 f4 Iotov's only hope of counterplay is against the
17.d1 retaining the bishop pair and d4 pawn. As we shall see, he enjoys a
threatening 18.c5 winning a piece.) 15.d3 spectacular success af ter Karjakin loses
f6 16.f3 threatening 17.Bxh6. e7 control. b8 18.ad1 h5 Black makes an
Black has less space but he can put his aggressive looking pawn move, but what can
rooks on d8 and e8 when his position it attack? In contrast, White's b-pawn has a
would be very hard to crack. The ready target on c6. 19.b4 d7 20.b5?
exchange of two sets of minor pieces has Kramnik discussed this position during the
eased his game. Nonetheless White has live commentary at the Tromso 2014
kept his opening advantage which Olympiad. He was highly critical of his team
indicates that 9. Be2! was a good move.; mate's decision to allow Black to gain
B) 14.e3 f6 15.d3 d5 seems OK counterplay with his next move. He couldn't
for Black. ] understand why Karjakin didn't play
13.h1 f4? He had to bail out with [ 20.c5! to squash any c6-c5 move, and then
[ 13...xe4 14.xe4 h6 15.d2 f6 follow up with b4-b5. He felt W hite would
16.f3 d6 then 17...Qe7 and 18...0-0. He then at least have a strong attack, whether
is a tempo down on the line given in the or not it is winning. Here are some sample
notes to 12...Bh2+ above, but he still seems variations. My computer program thinks
OK. ] Black is doing OK, but it wouldn't be at all
14.xf6+? Symptomatic of the poor form of fun to defend like this: hd8 Black can also
some of the Russian players at the Tromso fight to scrape a draw in an endgame after
Olympiad. White misses the shot A) White could instead let Black give up
[ 14.a3! when Black is suddenly busted. his rooks for the queen: 21.b5 xd4
For example xg5?! ( Not only is the black 22.xd4 xd4 23.xd4 e5 24.b4
king displaced, the f 7 pawn drops after a5 25.fb1 b6 Somehow Black stays
14...d8 15.h5!; The best chance is to alive by blocking the b-file. 26.cxb6 c5
g i ve u p a p a wn f o r n o t h i n g wi t h 14...c5 27.bxa7+ xa7 28.b6 xa2 29.d1 d4
which is resignable against a 2786 player.) ( 29...cxb4 30.d8# ) 30.b5 a6
15.d6+ d8 ( Even worse is 15...f8 31.xc5 xc5 32.d8+ c8 33.xc8+
16.b5+ ) 16.xf7+ e8 17.xg5 xc8 34.b7+ ( Or likewise 34.xh5 xb6
and Black is ruined. ] 35.xf7 d7 ) 34...b8 and Black just
14...xf6 15.xf6! Good judgement. As we holds the draw thanks to the opposite
shall see, Black can do nothing down the g- coloured bishops.;
f i l e wh i l e t h e r e s p e c t i ve p o s i t i o n o f t h e B) 21.c4 a6 22.a4 e5 23.d5 cxd5
opposite coloured bishops favours W hite's 24.xd5 xd5 25.xd5 d7 26.f3 d3
attack. 27.xd3 xd3 28.xh5 d4 and Black's
[ Instead after 15.xf4 xf4 Black looks pressure on b4 probably gives him enough
very comfortable. ] to hold the game. ]
15...gxf6 16.c4 0-0-0 17.f3 For attacking 20...c5 21.d5 e5 22.de1 h4 23.a4
purposes, the black queen and bishop are the [ White is losing the thread of the game. He
wrong way around. If the queen were on f4, might have played 23.c2 to break the pin
and the bishop on c7, W hite would be on the d-file. ]
compelled to play g2-g3 to stop mate on h2. 23...a5! The queen manually blocks the
Then the g3 point would become an object of advance of W hite's a pawn and cement s
attack with the pawn ram h5-h4 or f5-f4, or Black's control of the dark squares. 24.a3
even a sacrifice with involving Bxg3 or Rxg3. d2 25.e3 After
With the actual situation in the game, Black [ 25.a5? f4 Black would have achieved
has no way to provoke g2-g3. The white pawn the rearrangement of bishop and queen we
therefore remains beyond the reach of Black's talked about earlier. With the lady leading
o wn k i n g s i d e p a wn s , a n d a n y i d e a o f a from the front they are suddenly a deadly
sa crif ic e on g2 is f a r f et ch e d. Th ere f o re duo, threatening mate on the move. ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
25...b4 26.a2 exd5 27.d3? Losing a xc3+ 11.d1 xc4 12.xf7+ d8
couple of pawns. It's equal after 13.g5+ c8 14.e8+ b7 ) 10...xa6
[ 27.xd5 xd5 28.cxd5 f4 29.xe5 11.f4 f6! ( 11...xc3+? 12.d2 xa1+
( but not 29.g3 hxg3 30.xg3 e4+! 31.f3 13.e2 xh1 14.xf7+ d8 15.d7# )
h4! when Black wins. ) 29...xe5 ] 12.f3 d5 I missed this move which
27...hd8 28.c1 Here permits Black to equalize on the spot. ]
[ 28.xd5 xd5! 29.xd5 xd5 30.cxd5 10.xc4 d5 11.e3 d7 12.0-0 g6
f4 is suddenly winning for Black as The move that stands at the heart of the
compared to the variation after 27.Rd3? Black idea: If he manages to castle without
above White no longer has a defence with getting mated, then he will enjoy a superior
Rxe5 giving up the exchange. For example pawn structure. 13.e2
31.g3 f3+ 32.g1 hxg3 33.d6 g2 [ 13.e1 g7 14.c4 0-0 15.a3
34.b1 xh3 and the mate threats are ( 15.e5 d6 ) 15...e8 Just in time. ]
decisive. ] 13...g7 14.f3
28...dxc4 29.xd7 xd7 30.c2 [ 14.e1 0-0 15.g4!? ]
[ Instead 30.xc4 loses to the spectacular 14...c6 15.d5 e5 16.e2 f5!
move d1+!! winning the queen as 31.xd1 White's fine strategy falls through with this
e1+ mates. ] forgotten move. 17.e1 0-0-0!
30...c3 31.d1 b2 32.e4 d2 33.xd2 [ 17...0-0!? 18.c4 f7! 19.xe7 xd5
cxd2 34.d1 d4 20.xc7? fc8 ]
[ White resigned as it's all over after 34...d4 18.a4?
35.f3 f2 and a check on e1. ] [ 18.b2 f4 19.d1 e6! ( 19...f3 20.a6+
0-1 b8 21.c4 g4 22.e3; 19...xd5?
20.c4 ) 20.dxe6 xe6 21.c4? he8 ]
18...f4! 19.a5?
248 B01 [ 19.c4 f3! 20.gxf3 ( 20.xe5 fxe2
Karpatchev,Aleksandr 2461 21.xd7 xd7 22.xe2 xc3 23.a3
Prie,Eric 2439 xd5 24.f3 f6 ) 20...xc4 21.xc4 xd5
4eme Open International de (5.2) 17.02.2005 22.a6+ b7 ]
[Eric Prié] [ 19.d1 w a s t h e m o s t s t u b b o r n f3
20.a6+ b8 21.f4 xd5 22.a5 c4
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4 23.xc4 ]
f6 5.f3 e4?! A breath of fresh air in the 19...b5! Without the check on a6, White's
Scandinavian, where, walking in Shirov's position is now collapsing for having only
footsteps, (See game 10) White often plays relied, in this 'morning game', on
the same line , whatever his level of play may [ 19...fxe3? 20.xe3
be, which may not be particularly dangerous A) 20...xd5 21.d4 ( 21.axb6 axb6 );
as we will see, but annoyingly enough to play B) 20...f7 21.axb6 cxb6 22.xb6!
for a win... At least was that my state of mind axb6 23.a8+ b7 24.a6+ c7
before tackling this game with the assurance 25.a7+ d6 26.xb6+ ]
that ignorance brings. 6.c4 Scottish Master 20.a6 fxe3 There is no compensation for the
Geoff Chandler's suggestion as I later learned. 'sacrificed' piece. 21.xe3
See the next game for the refutation of the [ 21.xe3 c4 22.xa7 xc3 ]
opening. xc3 7.d2 b6!? Instead of 21...b8 22.d1 c4 23.c5 a8 24.f4
[ 7...e6 which had previously been briefly e5 25.g5 b8 26.d6 c6 27.e7 he8
analysed by Andrew. ] 28.ab1 b6 29.a1 f8 30.h3 xe7
8.bxc3 a6 9.e5 31.dxe7 xe7 Partly from my notes in
[ 9.xa6 xa6 10.e5 d7 11.xd7 ChessBase MEGA 2006.
xd7 12.f4 c4 ] 0-1
9...xc4
[ 9...e6!? 10.xa6 ( 10.0-0 d6; 10.f4
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
a6 [ 31...e6!= Rogers ]
[ 7...c6 is definitely worth a thought too: 32.f5+ h7 33.xe3 gxf4 34.c4 d5
8.f4 d8 35.e1?!
A) 9.d2 e6 10.0-0-0 g6 11.e4 d5 [ 35.e5 ]
12.g5 e7 13.xe7 xe7 14.h4 h5 35...g7 36.e5 f6 37.f5+ e6
15.f4 xe4 16.fxe4 xf4 17.xf4 e5! With the idea of ...f7-f6, trapping the White
18.g3 ( 18.xe5 xe5 19.dxe5 d7; Rook. 38.e5+ f6 39.e4 g5! 40.e5
18.dxe5 d7 ) 18...d7 19.xg7 h4! 41.xc6 g3! The game has been
0-0-0; coloured by time shortage. Of course with any
B) 9.0-0 e6 10.e4 e7 11.c4 0-0 normal time control, Black's active King would
12.h1 a6= ( 12...bd7= )] guarantee him at least an equal game.
8.f4 d7 9.d5! Apparently Kasparov 42.d4 d8 43.c1?! with one minute left!
screwed this one in as if to demonstrate his [ 43.e1 e3 44.c3 bxc3 45.bxc3 xd4
total control of the game. Certainly things look ( 45...d5! 46.b2 f2 47.e2+ g3
difficult for Black. There is a distinct danger 48.b3 ) 46.cxd4 xf3 47.g5+- ]
that the Knight on b8 may never emerge! g6 [ 43.e5 e3 44.c3 bxc3 45.bxc3 xd4
10.d2 xd3 11.xd3 g6 12.0-0-0 g7 46.cxd4 xf3 47.g5 hxg5 48.h6+- ]
13.c4 c6! Black is clinging on as best he 43...e3?! forty seconds left, not enough
can. 14.d6 The only realistic way to play for time to find the deadly
the initiative. It's not clear whether White has [ 43...f6! when Black is better in all lines:
even a technical advantage after 44.e2+ ( 44.f5+ xf3 45.e5 xg4
[ 14.xb8 xb8 The only realistic way to 46.xa5 e3 47.b1 d1+ 48.a2
p l a y f o r t h e i n it ia t ive . 15.dxc6 xc6 e4; 44.c6 xe4 45.xd8 xf3
16.xc6+ bxc6 17.he1 d5!= ] 46.xf7 e2 47.e5 f3-+ ) 44...xf3
14...0-0 15.b1 45.xf4+ xe2 46.xf6 d1# ]
[ 15.dxe7 xe7 16.d6 e3+ 17.b1 44.c3 bxc3 45.bxc3 c8 46.d2 b8
e8 18.he1 bd7= ] 47.e2+ xf3 48.xf4+ Kasparov's play in
15...e8 16.g3 exd6 17.xd6?! the opening was powerful enough for me to
[ Ro ge rs give s 17.xd6 e7 18.hd1 move away from 7...a6 in favour of either 7...
as much stronger and it is certainly puzzling c6 , 7 .. . Nc6, o r 7. . . e 6 . A f t e r 9 d 5 , B la c k
that Kasparov rejected this natural should have been toiling.
continuation. White seems to mobilize his 1-0
whole army with no problems.
A) 18...b5 Probably this is the best
response. Intuitively, it feels dubious. 251 B01
19.d3 ( 19.b3 a5 20.ge4 xe4 Keserovic,Milan 2225
21.xe4 a4 22.a3 a6 23.g5 Lajthajm,Borko 2464
c7 ) 19...b4 20.ce4 d5 21.g5 ch-Serbia Vrnjacka Banja SCG (1) 30.01.2006
e5 22.b3 a5; [Andrew Martin]
B) 18...bd7 19.g5! ]
17...e6 18.xe6 xe6 19.ge4 bd7= SHORT AND NOT SO SWEET Here's what
By contrast, here White has nothing. Due to can happen when W hite does not pay the
the fact that this was a 25 minute game and Black system full respect. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5
that Kasparov was ahead on the clock, the xd5 3.c3 d6 There is nothing wrong
game continued.... . 20.g3 b5 21.a3 xe4 with this move. Attempts to bury 3...Qd6, such
22.xe4 b6 23.f2 d5 24.d4 a5 as the over-optimistic recent article in New In
25.g4! White finds a way to prevent the game C h e s s Y e a r b o o k h a ve n o t b e e n p r o v e d
from f izzling out. W ith time ticking down, conclusive. 4.d4 f6 5.c4
Rogers resolved to keep the position solid. h6 [ 5.f3 a6 6.g3 is satisfactorily answered
26.h4 xd4 27.xd4 g7 28.h5 b4 29.a4 with g4! ]
f6 30.d6 e3 31.f4 g5 5...a6 Now Black may answer 6 Nge2 with the
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
risky 6....Qc6!? or stick to the program with e7 14.c7+ f7 15.xa8 xa8 ]
6....b5 (which I prefer). 6.f3 b5 7.b3 b7 12.xe6 f7 13.dxc5? This is a real howler.
8.0-0 e6 9.e1 W hite should take on c5 with the Knight of
[ 9.g5 c5 10.dxc5 xd1 11.axd1 bd7 course:
12.c6 xc6 13.d4 b7 14.fe1 0-0-0 [ 13.xc5 c6 ( 13...a7 14.xb7 xb7
15.a4 b4 16.a2 c5 17.c3 xb3 15.e4 d5! 16.f3 d7 ) 14.d3 c8
18.xb3 xd1 19.xd1 d5 20.bc1 ( 14...d8 15.e2 c7 16.f4 d6
e4 21.e3 bxc3 22.xc3 xc3 23.bxc3 17.d5 ) 15.f4 d8 16.e5+ g8 ]
e7 Vass, V-Werner, D/Budapest 2005/ ] 13...c6 Disgusted, White throws in the towel.
9...c5! All part of the grand plan. In general He should have least have tried 14 Ng5+ Kg8
Black can delay this move preferring .. . Nbd7, 15 Nf3, but there can be no doubting that
...Be7 and ...0-0 beforehand, but I guess if he Black is better. An odd conclusion.
can play it immediately he should! 0-1
[ However 9...e7 10.g5! initiates a
dangerous attack, with a sacrifice on e6 not
far away. In my opinion Black is unwise to 252 B01
allow this sequence: Koepke,Christian 2274
A) 10...0-0? 11.xe6! fxe6 12.xe6+-; Kislinsky,Alexey 2384
B) 10...c5 11.xf7! xf7 12.xe6 xe6 VIII Rector Cup (2) 29.03.2006
13.xe6+ xe6 14.g5! ( 14.dxc5 f7 [Eric Prié]
15.g5 bd7 ) 14...f7 15.xf6 xf6
16.h5+ g6 17.xc5 d8 18.b6 d7 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4
19.d1 c6 This last variation is unclear, f6 5.d2
but Black is walking a fine line. It seems [ 5.c4 g4 Often transposes or at least
more sensible not to allow the leads to very similar positions to our subject.
complications.; A crucial difference may be that 6.f3 f5
C) 10...h6 11.xf7! ( 11.ge4 7.g4 g6 8.f4 ( 8.h4 h6 9.ge2 bd7
is good, but not as good: xe4 12.xe4 10.f4 e5! 11.xg6 fxg6 12.d2 0-0-0
c6 13.c4 0-0 14.d5 exd5 15.cxd5 13.d5 b6! A capital improvement on the
d7 16.f4 Djalal, B-Bordi, K/Cannes 13...Bb4 of Kavalek-Larsen Bewerjik 1967
2000 ) 11...xf7 12.xe6 xe6 which has rehabilitated this way of treating
13.xe6+ xe6 14.f4 c5 15.e2+ f7 . . . B g 4 f o r B l a c k , a s we s a w l a s t y e a r .
16.d5 e8 17.e6+ g6 18.b6 c8 14.e2 xc4 15.xc4 xd5
19.xb8 d7 20.d6 d8 21.xc5 c8 1/2-1/2 Cornette, M-Prie, E FRA-Cup 2004)
22.d4 c4 23.d2 b6 24.d3+ f5 8...e6 ( 8...e4 9.f3 b4 10.xf7+ xf7
25.f3+- Delivre, R-Le Ruyet, L/Clichy 11.g5+ g8 12.a3 )
2003; A) 9.d2 b4 10.e2 c6 11.f3
D) 10...d5 U n c o m f o r t a b l e . 11.xd5 0-0-0 12.d5 ( 12.0-0-0 xd4 13.xd4
xd5 12.e4 d8 13.g4! g6 14.g5 xd4 14.b3 d6 ) 12...exd5 13.xd5
h5 15.f3! xg5 16.xd5 xc1 17.xa8 xb2 14.c3 b4;
xb2 18.ad1+- Matikozian, A-Mitkov, N/ B) 9.h4 e4;
Santa Monica 2005 ] C) 9.e2 c6 10.f3 0-0-0;
10.xe6!? Tempting. However the D) 9.f5 exf5 10.e2+ Is less to be feared
alternatives do not achieve much: because of the possibility e7 Instead of
[ 10.dxc5 xd1 11.xd1 xc5= ] having to move the king as in this game.
[ 10.a4 c4 11.a2 b6= ] 11.d2 b6 12.g5 h5! This is the key
10...fxe6 11.g5 e7 move in these positions. 13.f3 e4
[ 11...xd4 also appears possible: 12.xe6 14.0-0-0 xd2 15.d5 d6 16.xd2
( 12.e2 e5 13.d1 g4 14.xe5+ e7 D1) 16...xf3!? 17.xf3 xg5 18.e1+
15.f3 c8 It would take a certain type of f8 19.e3 c6 ( 19...g6 20.xb7 );
player to go for this.....) 12...xd1 13.xd1 D2) 16...c6 17.e1 0-0 18.xe7+
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
xe7 19.f2 xf3 20.xf3 c6 21.h4 [ 11...e7 12.g2! a6 ( 12...c6 13.d5
Yet to pass the test of practice. ] That is one of the interesting features of 5.
5...g4! 6.f3 Bd2 compared to 5.Bc4. By developing
[ 6.e2 Cannot be critical. Still, Black has to himself on the long diagonal in a more active
watch out for the surprising recapture xe2 way, White's king bishop also controls the
7.cxe2 b6 8.f3 bd7 9.0-0 e6 d5 square, enabling this recurrent theme.;
10.c4! Karpov, An ] 12...c6 13.h4 ) 13.h4! ( 13.xa6 xa6
6...h5 7.g4 g6 8.f4! The critical line, and 14.xb7 b4 15.xa8 xc2+ ) 13...f4
this is where the two branches 5.Bd2 and 5. 14.0-0-0 xe2 15.gxe2 c6 16.h5 f5
Bc4 diverge because here the bishop is not 17.xf4 0-0-0 18.b5+- ]
exposed, the knight on c3 is not pinned and 12.0-0-0 f4! 13.g2 c6 14.xf4 b4!
White is ready to castle long after a queen 15.b5
move. [ 15.a3 xc2 16.b5 c8! 17.xb7 b4!
[ 8.h4 h6 9.c4 b6 ( 9...c6? 10.h3 e6 A) 18.axb4 xb4 19.e4 e8 20.e5
11.f4 h7 12.e2 b4 13.0-0-0 xe4 21.xe4 xb5 22.g2 ( 22.f3
With a winning attack. bd7 14.g5 d5 f6 ) 22...xe5 23.dxe5+ e7 24.f3
15.xd5 cxd5 16.g6+- Nijboer, F-Massink, f8-+;
H Vlissingen op 2005) 10.ge2 bd7 B) 18.c4 a2+ 19.xa2 xb5
11.f4 20.xc8 a4! 21.d2 ( 21.d2 c6+
A) 11...xd4 Is too risky. 12.xg6 fxg6 22.d1 xh1; 21.b3 xa3+ 22.d2
13.e2 e5 14.e3 g3+ 15.f2 e5 b4+ ) 21...b4+ 22.e3 xd1 ]
16.e6; 15...d6 16.xd6 cxd6 17.e1
B) 11...e5!? 12.dxe5 xe5 13.e2 [ 17.xd6 e8! Parrying the mating threat of
0-0-0 14.xe5 xd2 15.xd2 ( 15.xg6 Qe7 first.
f2# ) 15...d6; A) 18.d2 c8 19.c5 xc5 20.dxc5+
C) 11...0-0-0! 12.h5 ( 12.xg6 fxg6 d3+!! 21.cxd3 xc5+ 22.c2 ( 22.b1
13.e2 e5 14.dxe5 xe5 15.0-0-0 xd2 23.xd2 e1+ 24.d1 xd1# )
xc4 16.xc4 b4= ) 12...h7! 22...e1 23.f3 xc2+ 24.xc2 a4+
( 12...xd4!? 13.e2 e5! 14.xg6 25.b3 ( 25.c3 xd1; 25.d2 xd1+ )
xd2+ 15.xd2 xf3+ 16.e2 xd2+ 25...xa2+ 26.c3 xd1 27.xd1
17.xf3 fxg6 18.e6+ d8 19.ad1 xg2;
d6 20.b5 gxh5 21.gxh5 c6 22.xd6 B) 18.xb4 xb4 19.d2 c8 20.xb4
exd6 ) 13.e2 ( 13.xf7 e5 ( 20.c3 c4 21.f1 d5! 22.g2
W ith a strong counter attack suddenly) xa2 ) 20...xc2+ 21.b1 c4+ 22.a1
13...e6 14.0-0-0 c6 Black is OK. 15.g5 xb4 ]
hxg5 16.g6 g8 17.xf8 xf8 17...c7 18.c4+
18.xg5 xd4 ] [ 18.e7 b6 19.e3 xa2+ 20.b1
8...e6 9.f5 Consistent. he8 21.xd6+ xd6 22.xd6+ xd6
[ 9.g2 a6! 10.g5 ( 10.f5 exf5 11.gxf5 23.xe8 xe8 24.xa2 xc2 25.f3
h5! And not 11...Bxf5 12.Qf3.) 10...fd7 e4-+ ]
11.d5 d6 ( 11...c5! Intending 12.e3 18...b6!-+ Suddenly, the white queen finds
bd7 ) 12.e2 xe2+ 13.gxe2 exd5 herself on the most embarrassing place of the
14.xd5 c6 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16.c3 chessboard, powerless to prevent the
Lanka, Z (2575) - Bacrot, E (2500) Linz hoovering of a black rook along the second
1997 ] rank. 19.d2 ac8 20.xb4+ xb4
9...exf5 10.g5 fd7 Only move. 21.xb4 xc2+ 22.d1 xg2 23.h3
[ 10...g4 11.e2+ e7 12.g2 a6 xb2 24.c3 xa2 25.f4 c8 26.d5+
13.h3 ] b5
[ 10...h5 11.b5+! c6 ( 11...d7 0-1
12.d5 ) 12.e2 ]
11.e2+ d8!
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
247
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
for instance: bd7 9.d5 d8 10.xf6+ to play for a win, but of course White risks
( 10.e3 g6 11.e1 d6= ) 10...xf6= more this way. xf3 ( 19...fd8 ) 20.xf3
( 10...xf6!? 11.g5 g6 12.c3 g4 )] xc4 21.fe1 c3 22.d3 d5 ]
8...b4 Again quite regular. Black is happy to 19...xe4 20.f4 d6 21.xd6 xd6
surrender the dark-squared Bishop in order to 22.e4 xf3 23.xf3 b6 24.fd1 e5=
gain control of the central light squares and to Black must keep the Queens on for as long as
facilitate a queenside pawn advance. it takes to adjust Rook endings in his favour.
[ 8...bd7 9.h4 g6 10.xg6 hxg6 W ith the Rook on c1 ready to support the
11.e4 xe4 12.xe4 0-0-0 also seems advance of the c pawn it might look as though
good. ] White is better but practically, in view of the
9.b3 0-0 10.d2 bd7 weakness of W hite's a pawn, chances are
[ 10...c7 11.b5! ] equal. 25.h3 All roads seem to lead to
11.a3 xc3 12.xc3 c7= Lots of strong equality:
players would be looking at the two Bishops, [ 25.d7?? xc4 ]
expecting an advantage as of right. But it's [ 25.d3 c7 26.h3 h6 27.d6 xd6
really tough for White to get the dark-squared 28.xd6 fc8= ]
Bishop going and often, if Black plays ...Nf6- [ 25.g3 f6 26.c5 bxc5 27.bxc5 c6
d5, White will just have to surrender the other 28.h3 fc8 29.d7 a6= ]
Bishop, forfeiting any hope of attack. 13.d2 25...c7 26.c3 h6 27.dc1 fc8 28.d3
[ The following fragment is a good example g5 29.d6 c6 30.d7 6c7 31.d3
of what I meant: 13.fe1 fd8 14.ad1 a5 e5 32.c2 g5 33.c5 Without this
15.c1 b6 16.e5 xe5 17.xe5 d5! advance, White cannot win. bxc5 34.bxc5
18.xd5 cxd5= Kerbrat,J-Kovarcik,G/ c6 35.c4 e5 36.a4 g5 37.c3 d5
France 2003 Perhaps Black is even f or 38.b4 e5 39.a5 White has to attack or
choice. ] cre a t e a se co n d we a kn e s s - t h e c p a wn
13...c5! An unusual counter but in this cannot win alone. In this case there is no
instance, with the Bishop on b3, completely weakness to be found. a6 40.b4 d5
c o rre c t . B l a c k a ct iva t e s a t ju s t t h e righ t 41.c3 e5 42.e3 f5! Just reminding White
moment, before White is allowed to sit on his about her own majority. 43.4c3 g6 44.f3
trumps. 14.ac1 gc6 45.1c2 d8 46.h2 d4!
[ 14.c3? b6 ] Progress has been made, the c pawn might
14...ac8 15.c4 g4 be weak so off come the Queens. 47.xd4
[ 15...b6! was an active deployment: exd4
16.c2 ( 16.e3 e4! 17.dxc5 xc5 [ I would surely have preferred 47...xd4!
18.c2 xb2 19.c3 a2 20.xf6 xc2 48.c4 f7 49.xd4 exd4 50.d2 xc5
21.xg7 xg7 22.c3+ f6 23.xc2 b3 51.xd4 e6 With the White King so
24.xb3 xb3 ) 16...cxd4 17.xf5 exf5 remote, Black is slightly better. ]
18.b4 fe8 19.d3 e5 20.xe5 xe5 48.d3 d5 49.c4 cxc5 50.xc5 xc5
21.c5 d8 22.g5 d5 ] 51.xd4 a5 52.f4 f7 53.d7+ f6
16.dxc5 xc5 17.c2 c6 18.b4 54.a7 c4 55.a6+ f7 56.xa5 xf4
The only danger to Black comes from the 57.a8 f1 58.a5 Black's opening play is
queen side pawn ma jority b ut Zhuko va is very good. By delaying ...Nf6 a lot of
active enough to at least keep a balance. aggressive and dangerous W hite tries are
ce4 avoid ed . I b e lieve it was GM W a hls wh o
[ 18...xf3 19.xf3 ( 19.gxf3 cd7 suggested this approach. As...c7-c6 and ...
20.fd1 b6 ) 19...xf3 20.gxf3 fd8! Bc8-f5 have to be played anyway, why not
21.c3 d3 ] play them first? Recommended.
19.xe4 This is a lazy move. White tires of ½-½
even the thought of complications and heads
for quieter waters.
[ 19.f4 keeping some tension, was the way
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advice for White : play 3 d4 or 3 Nf3-they are 12...xd5 13.g1 0-0-0 [TK: Accompanied
both good moves...... by a draw offer, which I immediately refused.
0-1 At this point I was in the lead, a half point
ahead of my opponent, but although I had
used a lot of time in the opening I like having
257 B01 more space and the pair of bishops!] 14.g2
Kosten,Anthony C 2507 [ 14.c3 e6 15.g2 b5 16.b3
Govciyan,Pavel 2411 leaves White with his bishops, although this
83rd ch-FRA National B (4) 14.08.2008 time the second player has well-placed
[John Watson] pieces and a good bishop. ]
14...a5+!?
I think that this is the first time I've shown our [ 14...b5! is more solid. ]
webmaster and Fearless Leader lose a game! 15.c3 c6 16.f3!?
Probably Black can keep his opening [ [TK: 16.b3 e6 17.0-0-0 was my first
disadvantage to a minimum, based upon choice, f o llowed by c4 with a small bu t
some unusual tricks. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 obvious plus.] ]
3.c3 d6 4.d4 f6 5.f3 g4 6.h3 h5 16...f6 17.g5 d5 18.d2 [TK: Aiming for
7.g4 g6 8.e5 The most challenging move, more than the pawn grab.]
and I think best. [ Or 18.xf7!? xe3 ( [TK: After the game
[ 8.c4 is an aggressive option, to be my opponent revealed that he had intended
followed by Qe2 and Be3/ g5 with 0-0-0 in 18...e5? but this loses to 19.xd5 xd5
some lines. ] 20.e8+ c7 21.dxe5 xe5 22.f7+
8...bd7 9.f4!? After this natural move e7 23.f4+ with a solid pawn more.])
White's advantage isn't clear. 19.e6+ b8 20.fxe3 xg5 21.0-0-0 d6
[ 9.f3 is an obvious option, if nothing else 22.e4 yielding a limited advantage
to discourage castling: 0-0-0 10.xg6 hxg6 (opposite-coloured bishops help Black in this
11.g5 and White will soon capture on f7. ] case). ]
9...d5!? Black works with tactics. 18...e5!? 19.dxe5 b6
[ Another surprising possibility is 9...xe5 [ 19...c5 w o u l d h a v e t h e i d e a 20.b4
10.xe5 ( 10.dxe5 b4! hits f4 ) 10...b6 ( 20.f1 he8 ) 20...xb4! 21.cxb4 xb4
11.g2! c6 , which may not be so bad for 22.g4+ c7 23.xb4 xe5+ ]
Black, although W hite's control of space 20.f5+ b8 21.f4 a8 22.e4!?
m u s t c o u n t f o r s o m e t h i n g . ( 11...xb2? Perhaps dreaming of e6 and Qxc6. [TK: And
12.d2! threatens Rb1 with a large also a4 followed by b4.] f6! 23.gxf6
advantage. )] [ 23.e6 d6 ]
10.xg6 23...gxf6 24.e6 d6 Apparently Black stands
[ 10.f3 xf4 11.xf4 0-0-0 12.0-0-0 all right now. White's next is risky: 25.0-0-0?!
cedes the bishops for some attacking [TK: I still think this is best!]
chances. ] [ 25.xd6 xd6 26.e7!? e8 27.f3
10...xg6 11.xd5 h a s i d e a s o f R g 8 a n d B h 5 , b u t c8
[ Another sharp line is 11.f3 xf4 12.xf4 seems to hold. ]
e5! 13.dxe5 xc2 14.c4 0-0-0 15.0-0 25...f5! Driving the queen from defence from
, although Black has counterplay my engine b1 or c2.
suggests g5 , w i t h t h e i d e a 16.xg5 [ White was probably counting upon
( 16.xf7 xb2 17.e6 xc3 18.exd7+ 25...xf4+ 26.xf4 wit h t h e id e a xa2
b8 ) 16...xb2 17.ac1 h5! 27.e7 ]
with an unclear position. One feels that [ C o n t r a s t t h e g a m e w i t h 25...xa2??
White should maintain an edge after 11 Qf3, 26.xd6 c4 27.b1! ]
but again, not much. ] 26.f3 xa2! 27.xd6 [TK: I was very short
11...e4+ 12.e3 of time, and still wanted to win the game, but
[ Or 12.e3 xf4 ] this is just a blunder.]
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( 11...xc5? 12.xc7+ d8 13.xb4+ ) left vacant for the white queen! This is why
12.a3 ] Black has to play the preventive 5...c6. See
11.cxd5 xd5 12.c3 further.
[ 12.b3 was also not bad: e5+ 13.e3 [ 5...c6? is another blunder in this position.
( but not 13.e2? xe2+! 14.xe2 6.b5! Much stronger than the transposition
xb5+! 15.xb5 d4+ with a clear into the previous chapter after ( 6.f3 g4
advantage ) 13...a5+ 14.c3 ] 7.b5 b6 8.c4 E t ce t e ra .) 6...b4?
12...e5+ 13.e2 e6 ( 6...d8 In fact is the only move in this
[ After 13...xb2 White would maintain the position to protect c7, but who would not
initiative on the queenside by 14.b1 a3 snort in front of such a plight.) 7.d5! a6
15.0-0 with f4 and Bf3 to follow. ] 8.a4 b5 9.xb5! ( 9.xb5? axb5
14.f4 f5 15.0-0 White has almost 10.dxc6 c5 Mauko, L-Pokorna, R EU-
completed his development and his extra light- Youth Ch Szombathely 1993 )
squared bishop is quite enough to win this A) 9...e4+ 10.e2 axb5 ( 10...xg2
position without many problems. b4 11.xc7+ d8 12.xa8 xh1
[ 15...d6 16.g4 winning ] 13.0-0-0 ) 11.xe4 xe4 12.xb5;
16.a3 xc3 17.bxc3 d8 18.c2 e7 B) 9...xa4 10.xc7+ d8 11.xa8
19.e3 a5 20.c4 g6 21.e4 c6 xd5 ( 11...d4 12.b3 a3 13.e3 )
22.fd1 xd1+ 23.xd1 c7 24.g4 f6 12.e2 b7 13.c3 d4 14.xd5
25.f5 Black resigned. xd5 15.b6+- xg2 16.f4+ e8
1-0 17.d7# ]
6.f3! c8
[ 6...c6 7.b5 ( 7.b5? e4 ) 7...b6
264 B01 8.xf5 a6 9.d5 e6 10.dxe6 axb5
Kvisla,Johannes Luangtep 2123 11.xb5+- ]
Jakobsen,Terje Vidar [ 6...c6 7.b4 ]
Open A Prague (2) 14.01.2006 7.c4 c6 8.h3 bd7 9.0-0-0 e6 10.ge2
[Eric Prié] c7 11.f4 Normally, White has made
positional concessions, as in the first four
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4 games, or sacrificed a pawn, as in the next
f6 game, to obtain such a steam-roller against
[ 4...f5? 5.f3! c6 ( 5...c6 6.b5 d7 the Centre Counter... b6 12.b3 d7
7.d2 a6? 8.d5 ) 6.b4 xb4 7.b1 13.d3 d6 14.g4! After having completed
a5 ( 7...xd4 8.xf5 xc3+ 9.d2 e6 mobilization, it is now time for concrete action.
10.xf7+! xf7 11.xb7+ e7 12.xc3 ) f8
8.xb7 e4 9.g3 d7 10.d2 g6 [ 14...0-0 15.g5 fd5 16.e4 a5 17.a3
11.d5! c8 12.dxc6 e5+ 13.e2 a4 18.a2 e7 19.c4 Wins a piece but
1-0 Prie, E-Rodriguez, D La Reunion IBM W hite may also ignore it and play on the
open 1997 ] kingside with Rhg1 and the idea Nf6+ ]
5.d2 By comparison with the Caro-Kann, 15.g5 fd5 16.e4 0-0-0 17.xd6+ xd6
which brings about the same pawn structure 18.h5 Of course anything wins but this
after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3(d2) dxe4 4. Nxe4, o v e r c a u t i o u s e va c u a t i o n o f t h e f - f i l e i s
practice suggests that it is rather problematic nonetheless difficult to understand.
for White to hope for an advantage against [ 18.c4 f6 ( 18...xc4 19.xc4 f6 ) 19.cxd5
t h e C e n t r e C o u n t e r wi t h o u t s o l v i n g t h e fxg5 20.e3 exd5 21.b4 g6 22.xf8
problem of setting his beast on c3 free. Thus, xf8 Black again obtains a 'normal' position
this most direct attempt, keeping the king's but if you look at it more closely, something
knight back for the moment, is the move order is missing ...! ]
chosen by at least the last 3 (classical) World 18...e7? And Black resigns seeing that 19.
c h a m p i o n s t o r e a c h t h i s p o s i t i o n . f5? Bb4 eventually wins a rook after the capture
A mistake precisely because the f3 square is
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Ne4 is still very much in business. position will not take on any supporters, as it's
½-½ amazing what people are willing to defend
these days.
[ Black can hardly play 16...e5 as after
266 B01 17.h2 the pin on the e5 pawn is most
Landa,Konstantin 2641 annoying for him. ( 17.xe5? by contrast
Chatalbashev,Boris 2535 does not work out in White's favour: xe5
Bayern-chI Bank Hofmann 16th (9) 04.11.12 18.dxe5 d7! 19.e6 fxe6 20.xe6+ h8
[Danny Gormally] 21.e3? ae8 and the pin on the bishop is
nasty. )]
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 4.d4 17.fe1 e6 18.a4! White has won the
f6 5.f3 g6 6.b5! b6 7.c4 opening battle. Black is very passive and can
[ 7.a4!? is examined in Smirin, I (2638)- only look forward to a difficult defence. bxa4
Kurajica, B (2558)/Eilat 2012. ] 19.xa4 d5 20.ad1 fc8 21.e4
[ White could also throw in 7.f4 a6 8.a4 [ the simple continuation 21.xd5 exd5
first, somewhat misplacing the knight on 22.e3 e8 23.dd3 was certainly worthy
a6. ] of consideration. ]
7...c6 8.c3 g7 9.c5! I can see this 21...b4
method of play becoming quite popular, as [ 21...xb2? 22.d6 c7 23.xf7! xf4
there seems no obvious way f or Black to 24.xf4 loses quickly for Black. ]
equalise after this. Landa plays as 22.b3 xd4 23.d2 b8 24.d6
aggressively as possible. He wants to put the Black is now left with a difficult choice. f8?
bishop on c4. The c6 pawn proves too important to give up
[ Normal would be 9.e2 g4 ] so easily.
[ 9.h3 with the idea of preventing Black's [ it was time to give up the exchange:
normal idea of playing ...Bg4, has also been 24...f6! 25.xc8 xc8 and White will
played. ] have a tough job indeed breaking down the
9...c7 tough carapace of Black's position. ]
[ Landa has played this position himself from 25.xc6 e5 26.xe5 xe5 27.xa8 xa8
th e B la c k p oin t o f vie w, (p e rh a ps wh a t 28.h6 g7 29.xg7 xg7 30.a1 a7?
inspired him to try this opening in the first Walking into a tactical shot. 31.b4! a4
place) and preferred 9...d8 which led to a [ 31...xb4 32.c3+ f6 33.xb4
draw after 10.c4 0-0 11.0-0 g4 12.e3 ends matters immediately. ]
bd7 13.h3 xf3 14.xf3 e6 15.fd1 32.a3 With two strong connectors White is
d5 16.e4 1/2-1/2 Djukic, N (2509) - winning easily. e7 33.b5 f6 34.b6 c3
Landa, K (2635)/Rijeka 2010 (32) ] 35.e1 d4 36.b7 e5 37.c8 d2 38.a1
10.c4 0-0 11.0-0 b5 12.b3! a5 13.a3 1-0
g4?! Now I think this exchange just gives
White too easy a life. The problem is that with
this pawn on c5 cramping the queenside, 267 B01
White is threatening to create a complete bind Lanka,Zigurds 2510
on the Black position, therefore he needs to Hauchard,Arnaud 2420
try and breakout as quickly as possible. Torcy 1991
[ However, there is no easy way for Black to [Alexander Volzhin]
breakout and create any meaningful play, for
example 13...bd7 14.e1 e6 15.g5 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.d4 g4 4.f3 f5
with the idea of Qd2, followed perhaps by 5.b5+! In my opinion only by playing this
Bh6 or Bf4, where White has a bind. ] move can W hite hope for an opening
14.h3 xf3 15.xf3 bd7 16.f4 b7 a d v a n t a g e . bd7 6.c4 The position is
A pretty unpleasant position to have to play, somewhat similar to Movsesian - Damaso.
although I will hesitate to say that Black's But compared to that game White has gained
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
some tempi here, so it's not so easy for Black contains a threat. Now Black should parry
to prove he has something for a pawn. a6 Rc5. b5
[ B l a c k c a n t r y 6...e6 immediately. We'll [ Relatively best 22...d3 Doesn't help Black
consider that move in the next game. ] t o o m u c h i n v i e w o f 23.xb7! xf1
7.xd7+ 24.xd8 and Black's King is in trouble. ]
[ 7.a4?! is strongly met by the thematic b5! 23.c5! Now all White's pieces participate in
8.cxb5 b6 with ample compensation. ] t h e a t t a c k . a8 24.Qf4 was threatened.
7...xd7 8.e2 e6! 9.dxe6 xe6 10.b3! 24.a4! a6 25.b3! d3
[ 10.d5 is inferior as it seriously weakens the [ 25...d3 didn't help Black either in view of
d a r k s q u a r e s . A f t e r b6 White has 26.d4 ]
difficulties evacuating his King from the 26.g1 e2 27.b4 h5 28.b6! de8
centre. ] 29.c5 8e5 T h e l a s t t r i c k . 30.gd1
10...0-0-0 11.0-0 So White has managed to It's necessary to keep your concentration even
complete his development. Often he can only in completely won positions. Taking the queen
dream about castling! c5!? Now Black has led to sudden mate:
t o f i n d s o m e t h i n g , o t h e r wi s e W h i t e wi l l [ 30.xa6?? g3+ 31.hxg3 h5#
complete his development with a clear extra After the text Black has nothing to hope for,
pawn and an undisputed advantage. The so he resigned. A very good performance
prospects of a kingside attack are far from from Latvian GM Zigurds Lanka. ]
clear, so Black decides to win the pawn back. 1-0
12.h1!
[ The inaccurate 12.bc3?! allows e5!
with equality. ] 268 B01
12...xd4! 13.xd4 d7 Absolutely the only Lee,Graham D 2316
move, as Ledger,Stephen 2203
[ 13...e5? fails to 14.b2 c5 15.e2! ch Scarborough ENG (8) 10.08.2004
a n d W h i t e k e e p s a n e xt r a p i e c e : xe2 [Andrew Martin]
16.xe2 d3 17.bc3 xe2 18.xe2
d2 19.xf6 ] 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.f3 A dangerous
14.b2 c5 15.b4! Excellent! Now it's White move. f6 4.d4 g4 5.e2 c6!?
who is attacking! cxd4 16.b5! axb5 17.a3! I have played 5...e6 here several times and
bxc4 believe that move to be well playable. 5...Nc6
[ Of course not 17...b4? 18.b5 and Black is much sharper, immediately unbalancing the
has no defence against Qa4 with a decisive game. Black puts pressure on d4 and will get
attack. ] castled quickly. The downside is he'll have to
18.xc4 For only one pawn White has a very give up the two bishops. Which will be more
strong attack, as he has opened files on the important? I prefer White.
queenside and Black's King is not protected [ 5...e6 6.0-0 e7 7.c4 d8 8.c3 0-0
by his pa wn s. Th e pre sen ce o f o p p osit e 9.e3 bd7 10.b3 c8! has feature d in
coloured Bishops favours the attacker as two of my games against GM Rowson and
usual. All these factors make Black's defence IM Ferguson. Black plans ... a6 and . ..c5,
extremely difficult. b8 19.a3! working with a manageable disadvantage.
[ The position after Black's 18th move also Black scored 1.5 from 2 in those games. ]
oc c u rre d in t h e ga m e Ma rcin ke viciu s - 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 e6+ Awkward. 8.e3
Azevedo, 1997. W hite preferred 19.c1!? 0-0-0 9.0-0 d5 Speed is of the essence,
and obtained a huge advantage after e6 lest White just sit on his advantages. 10.e2
20.d2 b5 21.a4 a6 22.a3 c8 xe3N An unimpressive novelty, but then the
23.xd4 a8 24.b5 hd8 25.g5! ] whole variation seems unpromising.
19...d5 20.c1 he8 21.d2! e6 [ Instead 10...d7 was roughly treated in a
22.a5! White continues his attack with very recent Olympiad game: 11.xd5 xd5
simple and natural moves. Each move 12.c3
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272 B01
Lopez,Manuel 273 B01
Huerta,Ramon 2288 Luther,T 2535
XIV Torre Merida MEX (4) 17.12.2001 Hera,I 2573
[Jon Tisdall] TCh-AUT 2012-13 (5.1) 18.01.2013
[Tom Rendle]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 xd5 4.e3 e5
5.c3 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 4.d4
[ 5.c4!? ] f6 5.e3 c6
5...b4 6.a3 xc3+ 7.bxc3 d6!? [ 5...a6 is Black's other option, keeping the
[ 7...f6 8.c4 e4 9.dxe5 xe5 10.d4 c6 square free for the knight.
e6 11.xe4 xe4 12.d3 f6 13.f4 A) 6.d3 as in the game would be a more
fd7 14.f3 xf3+ 15.gxf3 0-0-0 16.g1 testing approach
c5 17.0-0-0 xd3+ 18.cxd3 hg8 A1) 6...g6 7.d2 g7 8.f3 0-0 9.f4
19.c2 c5 20.c3 b6 21.a4 d7 22.a5 d8 10.0-0 is more comfortable for
f5 23.axb6 axb6 24.d4 cxd4+ 25.xd4 White.;
xd4 26.xd4 d8+ 27.c3 d3+ A2) 6...c6 is possibly Black's best
28.b4 g6 29.e3 b7 30.c5 bxc5+ response and now 7.f3 ( 7.d2 b4!
31.xc5 e6 32.b1+ c7 33.f4+ d7 must be fine for Black )
34.b7+ c8 35.b8+ d7 36.b7+ c8 A2a) 7...g4 is a lso p laya b le 8.h3
1/2-1/2 Maria,L-Stefanova,A Moscow 1994. ] h5 9.g4 g6
8.f3 f6 9.b5?! A2a1) 10.xg6!? hxg6 11.e2
[ 9.dxe5 xe5 10.xd6 cxd6 ( 10...xf3+ is an interesting pawn sacrifice, for
11.gxf3 cxd6 12.0-0-0 ) 11.0-0-0 example xg4 12.0-0-0 ( 12.d5!? )
and white's active pieces compensate for 12...xe3 13.xe3 and Black is a
his fractured pawns. ] long way behind in development;
[ 9.e2 ] A2a2) 10.e2 and I slightly prefer
9...e4 10.e5 0-0 11.xc6 bxc6 12.0-0 W hite although both sides can be
a6 black has a very comfortable position - fairly happy.;
t h e wh it e p l a n o f u si n g so m u c h t im e t o A2b) 7...g6 8.d2 g7
fracture black's queenside has not been worth A2b1) 9.0-0-0 is probably too
the loss of light-squared control. 13.e1 d5 a m b i t io u s h e r e . B la c k h a s go o d
Mobilizes the kingside pawns and begins chances after b4 10.c4 bd5
pressure on white's wobbly centre. 14.c4? ( or 10...b5!? 11.f4 b6 12.b3
White may have thought that he could achieve b7 );
c5 and save the front c-pawn, but this proves A2b2) 9.0-0 0-0 10.h3 and White
to be problematic. ha s a slight a d va n t a ge a lth o u gh
[ 14.d2 f6 15.g4 ad8 ] Black is very solid as is typical for
14...xe3 15.fxe3 this line.;
[ 15.xe3 f6 16.c5 d5 17.c4 ( 17.g4 A3) 6...g4 gives White the better
h5 ) 17...e6 18.f3 xc4 ] c h a n c e s h e r e a f t e r 7.f3 ( 7.d2
15...c5 White's centre pawns now collapse. is also sensible) 7...d7 8.ge2 c6
16.c3 f6 17.g4 xc4 18.f2 f5-+ 9.d2;
A pawn up with the better position, the rest is B) 6.d2!?;
already technique. 19.a4 d5 20.a5 C) 6.g3 wasn't a particularly successful
cxd4 21.xd5+ xd5 22.cxd4 g5 23.ac1 approach by White in Zhang Zhong-Dreev,
c6 24.g4 h5 25.h3 ab8 26.b1 g7 a n n o t a t e d in t h e a rch ive s b y A n d re w
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
Martin ] c a r e f u l o v e r t h e n e x t f e w m o v e s . bd7
6.d3 14.f4
[ 6.d2 with the idea of castling queenside [ 14.g1 was worth considering - Black now
as soon as possible has also been tried, to solve the problem of how to develop the
including by Luther himself. f5 7.0-0-0 bishop on f8. ]
( 7.f3 was Luther's choice and it maybe 14...d6 15.e3+ f8
critical e6 8.h4 g6?! 9.xg6 hxg6 [ 15...d8 might've been a safer option
10.h4 and White had the two Bishops and although it's clear White is still doing well
some advantage in Luther, T (2541)- after 16.g3 xf4 17.xf4 g6 18.d2 ]
Boricsev, O (2396) Marrakesh 2010 bd7 16.g3 xf4 17.xf4 e8+?!
11.0-0-0 b4 12.b1 d5 13.e4 xe3 Things quickly turn more unpleasant after this
14.xe3 e7 15.f4 a5 16.d3 e5 move although the position was already tricky.
17.dxe5 xe5 18.f3 e6 19.he1 e5 [ 17...c8 to defend the queen from
20.g3 xh4 21.h3 0-0-0 22.c5 ) discovered checks was better although
7...e6 8.f3 bd7 9.ge2 b6 10.g3 White keeps the initiative with 18.d2 g6
g6 11.ge4 xe4 12.fxe4 and White 19.ae1 ]
was a little better in Alekseev, E (2688)- 18.d2 d8 19.ae1! Luther swaps off
Zolotukhin, V (2338) Olginka 2011 although Black's only active rook xe1 20.xe1 g6
B la c k s u c c e ss f u lly h e ld a d r a w in t h a t 21.xh5 xh5 22.d6+ g7 23.e7?
game. ] An unfortunate mistake just as W hite was
6...g4 7.d2 c7?! This doesn't work out building a winning attack
well and gives White exactly what he's after [ 23.fxg6! hxg6 24.e7 was the way to do it
with this Be3 setup. and now W hite has excellent winning
[ 7...e6 has been played before here and chances after hf6 ( of course 24...e8??
brought Black a quick win in the following c a n n o w b e m e t b y 25.xg6+ h8
game although there are plenty of points for 26.h7# ) 25.c4 f8 26.e6! g8
im p ro ve m e n t . . . 8.ge2 bd7 9.0-0-0 27.xd7 e8! a remarkable move to keep
( 9.f3! h5 10.f4 b4 11.0-0-0 Black in the game 28.xf7 xf7 29.xe8+
gives W hite some edge) 9...h5 10.f4?! xe8 30.c7+ e7 31.xe7+ xe7
This doesn't really fit with the position 0-0-0 and the extra pawn should be enough to
( 10...b5!? ) 11.f5 e5 12.dxe5 xe5 win although there's still quite a bit of work
13.de1 xe2 14.xe2 a5 15.h3 e5 to do. ]
W hite is already in some trouble 16.g4? 23...e8! 24.xe8
b4 17.a3 xa3 18.bxa3 xa3+ 19.b1 [ the point is that 24.xd7?? loses to g5+
f3 0-1 Eisen, L (2242)-Gonzalez, R (2419) 25.d1 g1+ 26.f1 xf1+ 27.d2
Las Vegas 2004 ] e1+ 28.d3 b5! and White will get mated
[ 7...bd7 is more combative as Black may or lose huge amounts of material ]
be able to play ...e5 in one more to gain 24...xe8 25.e4
counterplay in the centre, e.g. 8.ge2 e5 [ 25.c7 puts Black in an awkward pin but
but I still like White's position after 9.0-0-0 he can escape with e7 26.d1 g5!
0-0-0 10.h3 e6 11.b1 and White is and now he has a perpetual after 27.xd7
better placed for when the centre opens g1+ 28.d2 g5+ 29.d1 g1+
up. ] 30.e2 g2+ 31.e1 g3+ 32.f1
8.h3 h5 9.f4! f3+ ]
[ 9.f4 i s a l s o p r o m i s i n g a f t e r b6 25...df6 26.xf6 xf6 Black has escaped
10.ge2! as xb2? 11.b1 a3 12.xb7 and the position is just equal. 27.h4 c8
bd7 13.d5! is simply winning for White ] 28.e5 d8 29.c3 g8 30.fxg6
9...e6 Otherwise the bishop is simply getting A missed opportunity for W hite but 5.Be3
trapped 10.g4 g6 11.f5 exf5 12.gxf5 h5 looks to be an interesting (and non-
13.ge2 It's clear that the opening has gone theoretical) way to play against 3...Qd6
in White's favour and so Hera has to be very ½-½
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15.xe4 a5 16.e5 0-0 17.g5 b5 edge and in this type of situation it makes
18.d3 d5 19.f6+ xf6 20.gxf6 d7 sense to stick to basics. Black loses because
21.xd5 exd5 22.fxg7 Stoumbou,E- she never attends to her queen. b8 23.fe1
Papadopoulou,V/Athens GRE 2004 ] f5 24.c5 b5?
8.f4 This would be a very usual objection to [ 24...g6 offers protection, but it is only of
placing the Queen on d6. b4 9.b3 0-0-0 the most temporary kind: 25.c2! xc2
10.a3 b6 11.a4 Tempo after tempo, but 26.xc2 g7 27.c6!
are they moves that W hite wants to make? Cutting communication! xd4+ 28.xd4
Perhaps the main use of Na4 is to free up the f8 29.c5 ]
c pawn for action. 25.c6 Too obvious to applaud loudly. bxa4
[ Alternatives do not give Black any especial 26.c4 And resigns rather than face 26...Qc8
trouble: 11.xf7 e5! ( 11...xb2 12.b3 ) 27 Qa5! Nb6 28 d6! Bxd6 29 Ba6. There are
12.g3 exd4 13.xd4 b8 ] enough exclamation marks for me to have
[ 11.g3 g6 12.e2 e6 ( 12...xd4 asked Black to play that out. These Greek
13.xc7! ) 13.0-0-0 d6= ] women see everything. 5...Bg4 seems quite
11...a6 12.c1 OK.
[ We wouldn't get the same excitement after 1-0
12.g3 g6 13.e2 xe2+ 14.xe2 e6
although this was maybe the objectively
best course of action. Of course, in order to 276 B01
play this way, White must admit that he (or Martin,Andrew D
she) has no advantage. ] Lalic,Susan
12...h6?! It's around here that Papadopoulou Corres Ward Higgs Surrey 2005
begins to play erratically. Just [Andrew Martin]
[ 12...e6! was indicated to be followed by ...
B d 6 , a d t h e re is n o t h i n g wro n g . A l l t h e A recent correspondence team tournament
tempo-gaining moves turn out to be tempos game gave me the chance to play against the
W h it e d o e s n 't e sp e cia lly wa n t t o ga in ! sharp Portuguese Gambit. I must say I am
Quantity versus quality. ] su sp icio u s a bo u t B lack' s pa wn o f f e r, a n
13.c4?! A double blip. observation made more than once at
[ W hite misses 13.xc7! xc7 14.f4+ ChessPublishing.com. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6
c8 15.xf5 ] 3.d4 g4 I was pretty surprised that a very
13...g5 14.e3 d3 15.g3 e5 16.d5 e4 strong player like Susan would try this line in
W h it e n e e d s t o ge t ca st le d a n d q u ickly. correspondence . Let's face it, everyone uses
17.fxe4! playing engines these days to help them and
[ 17.c3 d6 18.xe4 xe4 19.fxe4 Fritz 9 or f riends will just take you to the
xe4 leads only to advantage for Black. ] cleaners if you make an unsound sacrifice.
17...xe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.0-0 With a sigh That's not to say I use Fritz 9 of course, just a
of relief no doubt. Now she can start to think slip of the keyboard. 4.f3 f5 5.b5+
about attack. f5 Nothing better. 20.c3 g8 Definitely the critical test. White tries to keep
[ S h e p r o b a b l y d i d n ' t p l a y 20...d6! his extra pawn. bd7 6.c4 e6
b e c a u s e o f 21.d4 he8 22.c5 [ 6...a6 is the other variation, with White
but I think Black is more than OK, with nice doing very well recently after the greedy
centralization and some aggressive 7.a4 b5 8.cxb5 With ample time to reflect
possibilities: e5! 23.ae1 ( 23.ad1 e2! on the position, I was not af raid of this
24.f2 h5 ) 23...xd4+ 24.xd4 e5 continuation. Over the board, it may well
25.c3 d3 26.xe5 xf1 27.xe8 xe8 be another matter. ]
28.d6 ] 7.dxe6 xe6 8.d5 f5 9.c3 b4
21.ad1 f4 22.d4 Whereas now it looks like [ 9...c5 10.e2+! e7 11.f4 ]
W hite who has the more meaningful 10.ge2 0-0 11.xd7! So that the Bishop
centralization. Both sides have pieces on the does not get stranded on b5.
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such an attack unless forced to. I believe the Kingside. I do not like this time-consuming
in White's compensation and my conclusion m a n o e u vr e . 13.e5 g6 14.xf6 gxf6
is that 7 Qd3 is probably the best move. ] 15.d5! e5
7...xg2 8.g1 h3 [ 15...h6+ leads to a position which seems
[ 8...xh2!? 9.f4 h5 10.xc7 disgusting for Black, but which might just be
( Perhaps its better to ignore pawns at this playable due to the strength of the dark-
stage and play for outright attack: 10.d2 squared Bishop : 16.b1 e5 17.a4 b5
g6 11.0-0-0 a5 12.b1 g7 13.d5 18.xb5 f8!? 19.bc3 d8 20.d6
xd2 14.xc7+ f8 15.xd2 a7 ( 20.c4!? ) 20...cxd6 21.xd6+ xd6
Even so, Black is surviving.) 10...g4 22.xd6 e6 ]
11.d2 bd7 12.0-0-0 c8 13.g3 a5 16.a4 b5 17.xb5 h6+ 18.b1 0-0
14.f4 e6 15.d5 e5 16.f3 xf3 17.e3 he could have transposed with ...Kf8. The
c5 18.xf3 xg1 19.xg1 exf4 20.xg7 problem with the text move isn't the
f8 21.g5 g8 22.f5 g4 23.xf4 vulnerability of the Black King as much as the
g1+ 24.d1 e1 25.c3 e4 26.h3 impending power of the W hite d pawn and
xf3 27.xf3 e1 28.hf2 h5 29.d2 the inability of the King on g8 to play a
e5 30.d3 e4+ 31.c1 g5 32.f4 defensive role. 19.bc3 h3 20.c4 g7
g3 33.f1 h4 0-1 was the complicated 21.xc7 g4 22.d6 f5 23.d7
continuation of Govbinder-Melts Internet McShane has played the position very well,
1998. If you don't mind defending for a while giving Lalic no time at all to a ctiva te th e
you can take the second pawn. The Lalic potential monster on g7. ad8 24.d3 h5
game plan seems to be to lead the game 25.e1 xh2 26.c5 e4
into as murky a position as possible. ] [ 26...f4 27.d6 h3 28.c6 with the idea
9.f4 d7 of Rh1 is very good for White. h5 ]
[ After 9...f5 10.xc7 g6 11.d5! c8 27.d5 f4 28.xf4 xf4 29.e2 b8
12.f4 bd7 13.d4 Black is tied up. ] 30.d4 h5 31.c3 xd4 32.xd4 f4
10.d3! As before, I like this idea. White 33.d1 h4 34.xg4 xg4 35.f3!
trusts in development and prepares to castle. with Rg1 to follow. Summarising: The
It's straightforward. A wedge can be Poisoned Pawn variation is not for the timid,
established after with either colour! Many White players won't
[ 10.d5!? The story is the same. Is Black even realise that they are giving away a pawn
able to extricate himself from his cramped after 6 Nge2 and 6. ..Qc6 could come as a
p o s i t i o n b e f o r e t h e r o o f c a v e s i n : g6 colossal shock! Knowledge of the
11.d2 g7 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.h6 e5 complications could be quite a good point
14.h4 e7 15.g5 xh6 16.xh6 ] scorer for potential Black players, but I would
10...c6 11.a3 e6N A sign that Lalic is prefer to keep this line as a surprise weapon
feeling uncomfortable with McShane's in my repertoire. W ith 6...b5 available, to
pressure. He shuts down the diagonal. venture 6... Qc6 on a regular basis to me just
Surprisingly this move is a novelty-previously seems too risky.
Black gave priority to ...b7-b5 and ...Na5, 1-0
again trying to blot out the strong Bishop on
b3. According to Michael Melts this latter
method is both interesting and satisfactory: 279 B01
[ 11...b5!? 12.0-0-0 b7 13.d5 ( 13.g3 Milos,Gilberto 2620
0-0-0 14.ge4 xe4 15.xe4 e5 ) Sapis,Witalis 2403
13...a5 14.a2 c5 15.b4 ( 15.dxc6 Cappelle la Grande 2000
xd3 16.xd3 xc6 ) 15...cxb4 16.axb4 [Alexander Volzhin]
c4 17.xc4 bxc4 18.xc4 c8 ]
[ 11...a5!? 12.a2 b5 13.0-0-0 b7 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 Considering this line a
14.b4 c4 15.xc4 bxc4 16.xc4 ] few months ago we came to the conclusion
12.0-0-0 e7?! So this was the idea-to pack Black suffered serious problems.
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f5 7.e3 xf3! 8.xf3 xd4 9.xd4 ( or rather ho hum for Morozevich. Black is a pawn
9.g4 c2+ ) 9...e6+ 10.e2 c5 ] d o w n w i t h o u t m u c h t o s h o w f o r i t . e5
6...f6 16.e2 xc4 A rather desperate piece sac in
[ After 6...e5 7.c4 , Black's queen is cut off an attempt to drum up counterplay.
from either f5 or h5. Rogers - Matamoros, Morozevich deals with it in very cool fashion.
Hamburg 1999 continued a5+ 8.d2 b4 17.xc4 xd5 18.ad1 hd8 19.e3
9.d5 xf3 10.xf3 xd2+ 11.xd2 d4 e5+ 20.c2 b5 21.xd5 xd5 22.g4+
12.0-0 b4 13.b3!? ( Rogers sacrifices a f5 23.f4 e6 24.b1 g5 25.xg5 e4+
pawn for a dangerous looking attack, though 26.a1
Black manages to hold the balance with 1-0
precise defence. White could also consider
13.e1 and meet xb2 with 14.b3 )
13...xc4 14.xd4 xd4 15.c2 f6 282 B01
16.fd1 f4 17.d6 d7 18.c5 b8 Movsesian,Sergei 2555
19.dxc7+ xc7 20.d6 hc8 21.e1 g4 Biolek,Richard 2410
22.xg4 xg4 23.xe5 f6 24.d6 d7 Olomouc 1997
25.g3 a6 26.h3 1/2-1/2 ] [Alexander Volzhin]
7.c4 h5 For 7...Qf5 see de Firmian -
Waitzkin. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.b5+ d7 4.e2
[ 7...a5+ 8.c3 e5 9.d5 b4 10.0-0 xd5 5.d4 b6 6.c4 e5!? A rare but very
he8 11.c2 xf3 12.xf3 d4 13.xd4 interesting gambit line. Black's ideas are
exd4 14.e4 e7 15.a3 xe4 16.b4 similar to those in the well-known line 3.d4
b6 17.xe4 gave Whtie a tremendous Nxd5 4.c4 Nb6 5. Nc3 e5 which we have
position in Kudla - Majer, Valtice (Czech Ch) considered already ( see Remizov - Bezgodov
1992, though he later managed to lose. ] ). 7.dxe5 c6 8.f3
8.bd2 e5 9.d5 d4 10.xd4 exd4 [ 8.f4?! seems to weaken White's position.
11.xg4+ Another drawback of this move is that White
[ Improving on 11.xd4 , after which Rogers lags behind in development. e6! 9.xd8+
might have intended to follow the game De xd8 10.b3 c5 11.b2 d4 12.d1 f5
La Villa - Arizmendi, Pamplona 1998. Black 13.c3 e3 with tremendous
scared his opponent half to death with b4 compensation. ]
( 11...e8 12.f3 f5 13.f1 h4+ 14.g3 8...b4+ 9.bd2 e7
h3 15.f2 d6 16.e3 e7 17.f1 [ 9...0-0 10.a3 xd2+ 11.xd2 g4 12.c5
left Black struggling to find adequate xf3 13.xf3 c4 14.c3 xd1+ 15.xd1
counterplay in Poluljahov - Volokitin, 4xe5 16.e2 with a huge edge as White's
Polanica Zdroj Open,1999; and 11...d6 bishops dominated Black's Knights in Rasik -
12.xg4+ xg4 13.h3 f5 14.0-0 Zurek, Czech, 1993. ]
left Black a pawn down in S Movsesian - 10.0-0 0-0-0 11.c2 g5!
Damaso, Cappelle la Grande 1998.) 12.f3 [ Black could win the sacrificed pawn back,
xf3 13.gxf3 ( 13.xf3 h4+ 14.f2 but this allows White to gain some tempi for
xc4 keeps W hite's king in the centre) launching a Q-side attack: 11...xe5 12.a3
13...xd5 14.cxd5 xd5 15.c2 xd4 d6 13.b4 ]
16.0-0-0 h6 17.a3 xd2+ 18.xd2 hd8 12.b3 g4? A mistake which loses by force.
19.hd1 f4 20.c3 8d6 21.c2 xd2+ [ 12...xe5 Here this move was already
22.xd2 xd2+ 23.xd2 xh2 o b li g a t o r y: 13.a3 xf3+ 14.xf3 c5
with a probable draw if both sides play well. 15.xc5 xc5 16.b4 xc4 17.xc4 xc4
There is also the danger that Rogers may 18.xg5 de8 and White's chances are
have found an improvement for Black. ] only slightly better. ]
11...xg4 12.xd4 b4 13.h3 xd2+ 13.g5! Definitely Black underestimated this
14.xd2 g5+ 15.c3 Having bee n move. f8
brought up on the King's Gambit, this is all [ The Queen sacrifice is also hopeless for
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
Black: 13...gxf3 14.xe7 fxe2 15.xd8 [ 5.a4!? deserves attention, but after b5!
exf1+ 16.xf1 xd8 17.c5 with a decisive 6.cxb5 xd5 7.c3 b7 in my opinion
advantage. ] Black has ample compensation. ]
14.fd4 xd4 15.xd4 e7 16.xe7 5...xd7!?
xe7 17.c5! a4 [ Black wouldn't obtain sufficient
[ 17...d5 18.c6 winning ] compensation after 5...xd7?! 6.d3 c6
18.c3 7.dxc6 xc6 8.f3 f5 9.0-0 d8
[ 18.b3! was not bad either: xd4 19.cxb6 10.e5! c8 11.d4 Now White has an
c6 20.bxa7 a3 21.c5!! and White extra pawn as well as a huge advantage in
wins. ] development . d7 12.a4 f6 13.xd7
18...d5 This move loses a piece. xd7 14.b3 e6 15.f4 and I would not
[ 18...d7 is more stubborn, although the like to play Black in this position, Calzetta,
position is very bad for Black: 19.a5 xc5 M-Medina, Espana, 1992. ]
( 19...xc5 20.xa7 h5 21.fc1 ) 20.xa4 6.d4 White has tried various different
b6 21.xg4+ b8 22.b3 xa4 continuations in this position, but none of
23.xc5 xc5 24.f4 and with accurate play them have brought him any advantage, for
White should win the endgame. ] example:
19.a5 xe5 20.xa4 f4 21.xg4+ b8 [ 6.f3 e6! 7.dxe6 xe6 8.a4+ c6 9.0-0
22.f3 e2+ 23.h1 g7 24.ae1 d3! ( blocking the d-pawn and preventing
Despite the speedy disaster in this game this W h i t e ' s n o r m a l d e v e l o p m e n t ) 10.b3
gambit line looks rather viable. The theory of 0-0-0! 11.xd3 xd3 12.b3 c5 13.b2
this line is based on just a few games, and e4 with fantastic compensation in Euler -
there is much scope for further investigation. Buenermann, 1993 ]
1-0 6...e6! This is much more to the point than the
p la n wi t h c 7 -c 6 f r o m Ca lze t t a - Me d in a .
7.dxe6 xe6 8.d5 g4 9.f3 f5 10.e3
283 B01 Otherwise after Bf8-c5 it would be difficult to
Movsesian,Sergei 2630 castle kingside. Queenside castling is also
Damaso,Rui 2465 very dangerous for W hite because Black's
Pula 1997 li g h t -s q u a r e d B i sh o p i s ve r y s t r o n g , f o r
[Alexander Volzhin] example:
[ 10.c3?! c5 11.ge2 ( 11.e2+?!
The following game is an excellent example l e a d s W h i t e n o w h e r e i n v i e w o f d7!
of dynamic positional chess. Early in the and although the threat of Re8 is obvious,
o p e n i n g B la c k sa c rif ic e s a p a wn f o r t h e it's not easy to parry.) 11...0-0 12.g5 h6
initiative and outplays his strong opponent 13.h4 e8 14.b3 b8 , intending to
very convincingly. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 meet 15.0-0-0 with b5! ]
3.b5+ bd7! This move leads to a very 10...b4+ 11.f2
sharp and interesting game. It allows White to [ 11.d2?! is weaker: e7 the pin on the e-
k e e p a n e xt r a p a wn b u t B l a ck h a s g o o d file is quite unpleasant ( 11...0-0 intending
prospects for gaining the initiative. Re8 is not bad either.) 12.e2 0-0 13.a3
[ 3...d7 winning the pawn back, is also ( w h a t e l s e ? ) c5 14.xc5 xc5
possible, but White is slightly better after Now Re8 is threatened, and the only move
4.c4 g4 5.f3 c8 6.c3 bd7 7.ge2 15.0-0-0 allows Black to win the pawn back:
b6 ( now White can't protect the d5-pawn ) xd5 16.b3 e3+ with a clear edge. ]
8.b3!? bxd5 ( After 8...xc4 9.bxc4 e6 11...0-0 12.a3 d6 13.e2 e8
10.dxe6 xe6 11.d3 Black hardly has full White's extra pawn is of no importance for an
compensation for the pawn.) 9.xd5 xd5 assessment of this position, because all the
10.b2 as the game Kalichkin - Pisakov, Black pieces are placed very actively and the
Russia, 1997 proved. ] White king can't feel completely safe. All this
4.c4 a6 5.xd7+ fully compensates Black f or the loss of a
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
pawn. 14.g3 g6 15.d4 This move is just game it appears very threatening.
a waste of time. [ 7.g4 has also been looked at a couple
[ Either 15.e1 protecting the Be3 and times in the archives. ]
preparing an escape for the king ] 7...cxd5 8.xd5 d8 9.e2 f6
[ or 15.c3 completing his development, [ Bauer observes that 9...e7? 10.e3
should be preferred. ] bc6 11.c3! c7 12.0-0-0 is very good
15...d7! Clearing a e for the queen and for White. ]
t r a n s f e rr i n g t h e kn i g h t t o a m o re a ct i ve 10.xf6+ xf6
position. 16.f1 White decides to give up his [ 10...gxf6?! didn't work well in
extra pawn to give time for his king to escape. Solodovnichenko, Y (2514)-Pantioukhine, S
e5 17.g1 It took White three moves to (2260) Rochefort 2005 looked at by Eric Prié
castle, definitely too many! h4!? in the archives. ]
[ Simply 17...xc4!? is not bad either. ] 11.0-0-0
18.c3 xc4 Now the material balance has [ White should avoid 11.c3? b4! 12.xb4
b e e n re s t o re d a n d B la ck's a d va n t a ge i s xb2 ]
beyond doubt. 19.ce4 f4! [ B a u e r ' s m a i n l i n e r u n s 11.f3 c6
[ Of course, gathering the harvest 12.0-0-0 a3 13.c3 c5 14.g5 g6
immediately is possible: 19...xe4 20.fxe4 15.d2 0-0 16.h4 h5 17.e2 g4
xg3 21.hxg3 xe4 but the text is even 18.f3 h6!= ]
better as White has no defence against f7- 11...c6
f5. ] [ This was the last opportunity to play
20.e1 f5 Now White is in real trouble. 11...a3 but 12.c3 c5? is no longer
21.d3 playab le du e t o ( 12...e7 13.g4 g6
[ 21.c3 didn't help W hite either: xe1+ 14.h4 h6 15.f4 Proved very unpleasant for
22.xe1 xg3 and Black wins a piece. Black. One game continued: c6 16.f5!
23.xg3 xd4+ ] exf5 17.g5 e5 18.gxh6 0-0-0 Lanka, Z
21...e5 22.xe5 fxe4! 23.c4 xe5 (2494)-Zvara, P (2409) Czechia 2008 when
The rest needs no comment. 24.d6+ h8 19.h5 h7 20.hxg7 xg7 21.h3 g4
25.d7 ed8 26.ad1 e7 Excellent game! 22.f4 would have left White with a fantastic
0-1 position. ) 13.b5+ c6 14.c4 e7
15.b4+- ]
12.c3! This looks like a nuance cutting out
284 B01 Bauer's ...Ba3 plans.
Muzychuk,Anna 2528 [ 12.g4 is looked at by Andy Martin in the
Repkova,Eva 2446 archives in the notes to Handke-Motwani
II Controceni Open (4) 05.03.2011 Port Erin 2003 but Bauer is unimpressed. ]
[Gawain Jones] [ T h e Fr e n c h G M o n l y co n sid e r s 12.f3
transposing back into his mainline with a3 ]
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4 c6 12...g5+ Perhaps this logical check is
Black delays ...Nf6 which we will see in the actually an error as if the g2 pawn is too hot
last games of the update. According to then Black is just giving White an extra tempo
Bauer's book this line is known as the to develop his knight.
"Konigspringerzuruckhaltungspolitik". It really [ 12...g6 13.f3 e7 14.h3 f6
rolls off the tongue doesn't it! 5.c4 f5 ( 14...0-0 15.g4 e4 16.he1 xf3
[ 5...f6 6.f3 ( 6.d2!? would transpose 17.xf3 b4 might be Black's best but I'd
to various games in the archives including still choose W hite after 18.xb4 xb4
Hamdouchi-Boe which I looked at last year.) 19.b3 ac8 20.c3 ) 15.g4 ( 15.xf6
6...f5 7.d2 would transpose to the xf6 16.b5 0-0 17.xc6 bxc6 18.e3
mainline seen later in this update. ] ab8 19.e5 gives White a slight
6.d2 e6 7.d5 Suggested by Eric Prié in positional edge.) 15...e4 16.xf6 xf3
notes to earlier games and after checking this 17.xf3 xf6 18.xf6 gxf6 19.b5 c8
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
20.d6 e7 21.hd1 b8 22.e2 [ 13...b4 would at least try to exchange
and only White can win the endgame but the some pieces but energetic play proves Black
draw was successfully held in Kaufeld, J still ha s h uge p ro ble ms. 14.f3 g4
(2265)-Boehnke, M (2206) Germany 2005. ] 15.xb4!? ( 15.h3 e4 16.xg7 g8
[ 12...h6+ has also been played a couple 17.g4 xe2 18.xe2 xc2+ 19.xc2
of t ime s b u t 13.b1 b4 14.g4! g6 xg7 20.b5 leaves Black in an
( 14...xc3 15.gxf5 ) 15.h4! xc3 16.bxc3 unpleasant ending.) 15...xb4 16.b5+
0-0 17.h5 forces Black to try f6 to keep the f8 17.a4! c8 18.d4 xg2 19.hd1
piece 18.xe6+ f7 19.f3 and Black a n d W h i t e 's in it ia t ive is d e cisive : xc2
doesn't have enough for the pawn. ] 20.d8+ e7 21.1d7+ f6 22.e5+
13.b1 c5 This is a logical developing g6 23.h4+ g5 24.xf5!
move but in conjunction with her next it leaves 1-0 Schlesinger, O (2207)-Duncker, J (2256)
an odd impression. Germany 2004. ]
[ Taking the pawn is very risky but needs to 14.f3 xg2 Grabbing the pawn is extremely
be examined: 13...xg2 14.f3 g4 foolhardy.
A) 15.b5 is also possible and also forces [ 14...g4 was played in the only other
Black to be accurate. This might even be game to reach this position and looks a
stronger. e4 ( 15...e7 16.hg1 e4 better choice. 15.he1 ( 15.h3 is a further
17.d2 d8 18.d4 g6 19.d3 d5 possibility when e4 16.g4 xe2 17.xe2
20.xc6 xc6 21.xg7 g8 22.c3 e4 18.xg7 g8 19.c3 xf2 20.hf1
and Black's king has no safe location.) c5 21.b5 is very good for W hite.)
16.d2 d5 17.e5 h5 15...0-0 16.h3 f4 17.d7 b4 18.g3
A1) 18.xc6 bxc6 19.xd5! b8 19.xb4 xb4 Feuerstack, A (2286)-
is very appealing but xd5 ( 19...exd5 Storm, R (2235) Germany 2004 and Black
20.xc6+ e7 21.he1+ d6 was closing in on equalising. ]
22.xa8+- ) 20.xd5 cxb5 21.xb5 h5 15.h4 e4
22.d1 h4 gives Black good drawing [ Grabbing yet another pawn simply opens
chances.; another file towards Black's king. 15...xf2
A2) 18.he1 With huge pressure on 16.xf5 ( 16.xf2 xf2 17.xf5 exf5
Black's position, i.e. e7 19.xd5! 18.hf1 h4 19.xf5 d8 20.xd8+
A v e r y s t r o n g q u e e n s a c ri f i c e . exd5 xd8 21.xg7 g8 22.d4 regains both
20.xc6 bxc6 21.xc6+ f8 22.xa8 pawns and would give W hite a great
xh2 23.xd5 c7 24.b5 endgame. ) 16...xf5 17.xg7 g8 18.hf1
and White's position looks fantastic to g6 19.f6 with very strong pressure for
me.; the pawn. ]
B) 15.d5!? when unfortunately for Black 16.xf5 xf5 17.hg1 I wonder if we were
i t a p p e a r s n e c e s s a r y t o p l a y e7 still following Muzychuk's preparation.
to prevent being mated in the centre but [ Restoring the material balance was also
now 16.hg1 h5 17.xc6+ bxc6 possible and favoured White: 17.xg7 g8
18.xg7 ( 18.g3!? ) 18...g6 19.e5 18.hg1 d8 19.d3 xf2 ( 19...h3
with ongoing pressure. ] 20.b5 xd1+ 21.xd1! leaves Black
[ 13...e7 14.f3 g6 15.b5 0-0? u n d e r u n p l e a s a n t p r e s s u r e a s xg7
This loses on the spot but the position was 22.e5! wins back the piece when I doubt
already very difficult. 16.xc6 bxc6 17.e5 Black's king will survive very long.) 20.d4!
xg2 ( 17...f6 18.g4 g6 19.h4 h6 i s a n e a t t r i c k g a i n i n g m a t e r i a l . xg1
20.h5 h7 21.g6 e5 22.xf8+- ) 21.xf2 xd1+ 22.xd1 xf2 23.e2 ]
18.hg1 e4 19.xc6 xc6 20.xg7+ 17...g8?! This move looks pretty terrible as
h8 Lutz, D (2139) -Hillmann, M (1763) Anna's energetic play shows.
W illingen 2003 when W hite overlooked [ 17...d8 is more logical when 18.xd8+
forced mate with 21.xh7+! xh7 22.h5+ ( 18.d3 now allows xf2 as there's no Bd4
g8 23.h8# ] trick. ) 18...xd8 19.xg7 e8 20.d3 f4
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
21.h5 although White still has a clear [ 9.b1 is a very meek move given that
advantage ] Black isn't threatening to take on b2 anyway.
18.d3 xf2 White pretends that his Rook move is doing
[ 18...h3 would prevent White's next but something by playing b2-b4 in short order
following 19.e4! Black is totally lost. ] but Black's game is very comfortable: bd7
19.h5! xg1 Repkova decides to give up 10.b4 c7 11.e1 d6 12.h3 h6 13.f1
material to reduce the pressure on her 0-0= 14.a4 e5 15.c5 e4 16.h4 h7
position but at the end of the following forced 17.g4 A very silly move. ad8 18.c1
variation Black can resign. xc5 19.bxc5 h2+ 20.h1 xd4
[ 19...0-0-0 would attempt to get the king to winning, Gazarek,D-Horvath,C/Pula 1998. ]
safety but 20.gf1! g6 ( 20...xd3 21.cxd3 9...e7 10.b3 As Black moves his queen
e3 22.xh7+- is no better.) 21.xh7 e3 three times, so White moves his bishops. 0-0
22.de1 g5 23.xf7 e7 24.xe6+- 11.g5N
would see White suddenly having an extra [ 11.h3 h6 ( 11...e8 12.e2 bd7
pawn whilst still keeping a strong attack. ] 13.ad1 ad8 14.g4 g6 15.e3 d5
20.xg1 xg1 21.xh7 h8 22.xg7 d4 16.xd5 cxd5 Benda,H-Riedner,M/Austria
[ 22...xh7 23.xh7 d8 would be a better 1999 ) 12.g4 h7 13.f4 bd7 14.e2
move order but still I feel the h pawn will fe8 15.a4 a5 16.d2 c7 17.g5
decide matters easily. ] hxg5 18.xg5 f5 19.f3 g6 20.c4 h5
23.xh8 xh8 24.g8 0-0-0 25.xf7 21.e4 df6 22.ac3 ad8 23.e3 g7
The complications have cleared and White is 24.ac1 h8 25.g5 d6
left with queen and pawn for rook and knight. Kiss,G-Kamaras,P/ Hungary 2002 The Black
Repkova fights on for almost 20 moves but Bishops are more influential and there are
the result is never in doubt. e5 26.a3 b8 prospects on the Kingside. ]
27.g6 a6 28.h4 a8 29.h5 e7 30.g5 [ 11.e3 c7 12.h4! I feel that this is
c6 31.h6 e4 32.d5 b8 33.xe4 e5 White's best chance in this line to nab the
34.c3 c4 35.a2 d6 36.d5 a7 two Bishops and try to make something of it.
37.e3+ b6 38.e7+ b7 39.b3 a8 It may be worth Black considering an early ...
40.a4 a7 41.c2 a8 42.h7 a7 43.a5 h7-h6 to stop this idea. g6 13.xg6 hxg6
bxa5 44.e3+ 12.Bc3! looks to put a big hole 14.f3 bd7 15.e2 d5 16.d2 b5
in Black's attempts to play the 17.c3 7b6 18.c2 a5 19.h4! xh4
Konigspringerzuruckhaltungspolitik and it'll be 20.h3 e7 21.g3 c4 22.c1 a4
interesting to see if any Black players can 23.xe6! fxe6 24.xg6 h4 25.xh4 f6
repair the damage. Calavalle,G-Lotti,F/Marche Estate 2003
1-0 26.h7++- ]
11...bd7= Once again we are treated to an
effortless Scandinavian development by Black
285 B01 and he is fully equal in this position. W hite
Myhrvold,Rune 2192 players can get very frustrated by the ease of
Pedersen,Lars Erik 2054 this process and go right over the top. 12.e5
Open ch Oslo NOR (6) 08.04.2004 [ White can try to fish in troubled waters with
[Andrew Martin] 12.h4 but the tactics are easy to rebuff:
g4 13.f3 h5 14.f5 b4 15.g3
KING HUNT 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 g6= ]
a5 4.d4 f6 5.f3 c6 6.d2 Could be 12...xe5?!
dangerous if White is allowed to play Bc4 and [ 12...ad8 was the simple way. Black
Nd5 or Ne4. Black moves to prevent this chooses wild tactics, possibly right for this
scheme. b6! One could argue that Black is particular opponent. ]
moving his Queen too much but the Bd2 isn't 13.dxe5 g4 14.xe7 xf2
exactly ideal. 7.c4 f5 Normal service is [ 14...xf2+ 15.h1 is nothing. ]
resumed. 8.0-0 e6 9.e1 15.d2! g4+ 16.f1 Yes, for the first time
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
he is starting to think about winning the game. he'll have a pleasant position. Here he didn't...
K h 1 o f c o u r s e l e a d s t o a d r a w . xh2+ [ 5...e6 is Black's more solid option. ]
17.e2 One of those positions where White is 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 d7 8.c3 e5 9.d5
balancing on the edge of the mountain. One Immediately grabbing space and trying to
would think that the Bishop on e7 would stand exploit Black's previous.
him in good stead ... but ... g4+ [ 9.0-0 was suggested by Andy Martin. His
[ I like 17...ad8! I think Black has at least a line continues
draw: A) 9...exd4 is rather dangerous 10.e1+
A) 18.xd8 xd8 19.e3 a6+ 20.f2 e7 11.b3 ( 11.cxd4 leaves White with
( 20.b5 xb5+ 21.c4 d3+ 22.f2 a tiny advantage after xd4 12.xb7
xc4 ) 20...g4+-+; b8 13.a6 0-0 14.c3 fd8 15.b1
B) 18.d6 g4+ 19.d3 f5+ b4 16.e3 c6 17.f1 f5 18.c2
20.e2= ( 20.c4 a6+ 21.d4 c5+ xe3 19.xe3 d5 20.e4 e6
22.e3 c4 23.a4 f6 )] 21.xd5 xd5 and Black was very close
18.d3 fd8+ 19.d6 c5? Goodness to equ ality. Fern andes, A-Dam aso, R
me, this fellow is willing to take a risk. Saner Portugal 1992.) 11...b8 ( 11...dxc3?!
players would have preferred is bad for Black thanks to 12.xb7 b8
[ 19...f5+ which again looks drawn: 20.e2 13.xc6 cxb2 14.xb2 xb2 15.a8+
( 20.c4 a6+ 21.d4 g4! cutting off d8 16.c6+ f8 17.xa7 as pointed
the retreat. ) 20...g4+= ] out by Mueller.) 12.xc6 xc6 13.g5
20.e4?? h6 14.h4 f8?! ( 14...d8 is Karsten
[ 20.f4 f6 21.d4! was a very strong Mue ller's sugge st io n bu t af te r 15.cxd4
defensive manoeuvre. One cannot blame xd4 16.xf6 gxf6 17.e3 e6 18.c1
White too severely though. ] White has a lot of compensation for the
20...xd6! 21.xd6 pawn. ) 15.cxd4 d8 16.d2 Liss, E-Afek,
[ 21.exd6 f6! takes away squares and Y Herzliya 1998 was rather unpleasant for
creates multiple threats. Black should win. Black but here he blundered with
But it's preferable to the game where White A1) 16...b6!? looks like Black's best
suffers an attack of panic. 22.d7 d8 ] t r y b u t h e r e e i t h e r 17.e3 ( or
21...f5+ It's mate in three more moves! A 17.ac1!? Mueller ) 17...b4 18.c4
short game which points out the importance xd4 19.ad1! xe3 ( 19...xd1
of holding the initiative in chess. 20.xd1 xd1+ 21.h2 and despite
0-1 the material deficit Black's in trouble
without a safe haven for his king and
p i e c e s w h i c h d o n o t c o o r d i n a t e .)
286 B01 20.xd8+ e7 21.xe3+ xd8
Nabaty,Tamir 2493 22.xf6+ gxf6 23.b3 c5 24.xb7
Chatalbashev,Boris 2593 and White has the better of the ending.;
Open Eforie Nord ROU (11) 27.06.2010 A2) 16...xd4? allowing 17.xe7!+-;
[Gawain Jones] B) 9...0-0-0
B1) 10.a4 exd4 11.xc6 xc6
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.f3 f6 12.xa7 c5 De la Torre, I-Krivoshey,
Recently more time has been devoted to the S Me t z 2 0 0 1 wa s ve r y p l e a s a n t f o r
immediate Black.;
[ 3...g4 ] B2) 10.b3 looks the critical test. e4
4.d4 g4 5.e2 c6 Black's sharpest 11.e2 d5 ( 11...d6!? 12.d2 h5;
response to 3.Nf3. Generally, Black gives up 11...h5!? )
important trumps, the centre and the bishop B2a) 12.d2!? is also interesting as
p a ir, b u t in re t u rn h e d ru m s u p a st ro n g f5? fails to ( 12...e8 13.c2 f5
initiative with his development advantage and 14.c4 d6 15.b4 g5 16.b5 d8
pressure on White's centre. If White survives 17.xd6+ xd6 18.c4 f4
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
19...xc3 20.bxc3 e4! 21.f4 f2+! bd7 12.h4 c5 13.dxc5 c7 and Black
22.h2 xf4 23.xf2 e5 wins, White's had at least enough play on the queenside
pieces are too uncoordinated for any hope. ] here although W hite could consider the
18...xe3+ 19.h1 xb2 20.d1 xe2 risky
21.xb2 h4! 22.g1 e4 Perfectly A1) instead after 14.e4 Black went on
precise play. Now White must deal with the to score a quick win: xe4 ( 14...h6!
threat of ...Ng3+ and ...Qe5. 23.xc7 15.xf6+ xf6 and I slightly prefer
[ 23.d3 is W hite's last hope but xd3 Black ) 15.xe4 ac8 16.c6 c5
24.xc7 f5! threatening ...f4 to claim the g3 17.xf6 xf6 18.xh7+? a nice idea
square is decisive. ] bu t it d o e sn 't qu ite wo rk h e re ! xh7
[ 23.d1 would fail to deal with the threat: 19.g5+ g8 20.h5 fd8 21.xf7
g3+ 24.h2 e5 when the computer xf7 22.xc5 c7 23.xd8+ xd8
informs me it's mate in 7! ] 24.c4! d2 0-1 Vujacic, B (2318)-Djukic,
23...f2 and Nabaty threw in the towel as he N (2509) Bar 2010;
has no defence to ...Ng3+ and ...Nf3 mate. A2) 14.b4!? here to try and hang on to
An extremely energetic display by the the pawn but it's hardly convincing;
Bulgarian Grandmaster who shows the B) 6...h6 7.xf6 exf6 8.h5! g6 9.e2+
hidden potential in Black's position. I believe e7 10.0-0-0 ( 10.e3! delaying Black
that with perfect play White has a couple of from castling also looks promising here)
different ways for an advantage but no human 10...0-0 11.h4 Sutovsky true to style
is perfect and White's positions are difficult to immediately goes for the attack ( 11.e3
keep together. again looks stronger, e.g. g7 12.f3
0-1 d7 13.b3! with a pleasant edge for
White ) 11...h5 12.f3 f5 13.h3 b5
14.b3 xh4! I think Black can safely take
287 B01 this pawn but of course it's a risk! 15.g4
Naiditsch,A 2706 fxg4 16.fxg4 hxg4 17.f4 g7?
Danielsen,Hen 2501 one mistake is all it takes in this kind of
N1 Reykjavik Open 2014 (6.4) 08.03.2014 position ( 17...f5! 18.h2 g5 19.fd5
[Tom Rendle] d7 and White has a dangerous attack...
but is it enough for two pawns?) 18.e5+
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d8 4.d4 f6 19.e4 g5 20.b1 f5 21.h5+!
f6 5.c4!? Slightly unusual from Naiditsch, ( 21.xa8?! xf4 i s j u s t u n c l e a r)
developing the bishop rather than playing the 21...gxh5 22.xf5 f6 23.e4 f3
usual 5.Nf3 - the idea is he wants to play 24.e5+ f6 25.xc7 e7?! ( 25...f4
Nge2 later and not allow a pin with ...Bg4. was the only chance but Black is still only
The other move we've seen here is 5.Bg5 and j u s t h a n g i n g o n a f t e r 26.b7 c6
Naiditsch has tried this before, see Naiditsch- 27.e7 g6 28.e2 ) 26.h2! h4
Djukic which I annotated in 2012. Still his 27.g2 d7 28.xg4 h6 29.d5 f5
setup isn't a success, at least as far as the 30.xh4+! xh4 31.xe7 h5 32.dg1
opening goes as Danielsen shows the right f6 33.d5 1-0 Sutovsky, E (2655)-Djukic,
way for Black to handle this setup. a6 6.a4 N (2528) Crete 2007 ]
[ 6.g5!? 6...c6 7.ge2 e5! This looks like the critical
A) 6...e6 perhaps Djukic was better off test of White's setup
sticking with what he'd previously played [ 7...f5 didn't work out so well for Black in
but I suspect he was worried about the following game but of course he
running into Sutovsky's preparation 7.f3 could've improved: 8.0-0 e6?! ( 8...b4!
b5 8.d3 e7 9.e2 ( 9.xf6!? xf6 9.b3 e6 prevents White's idea of d5 and
10.0-0 b7 11.e4! is perhaps slightly Black is close to equalising after 10.e1
b e t t e r f o r W h i t e) 9...b7 10.0-0-0 e7 11.g3 g6 12.ce4 bd5 13.c3
This feels rather risky to me 0-0 11.b1 0-0 ) 9.d5! exd5 10.xd5 e6 ( or
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
10...e7 11.g3 e6 12.xf6+ xf6 although it will be difficult for Black to win
13.xe6 fxe6 14.h5+ g6 15.g4 without a further mistake from White ]
a n d B l a c k i s i n s o m e t r o u b l e a l r e a d y) 24.e4 f5 25.e6 f8?! Black is playing too
11.ef4 xd5 12.xd5! xd5 13.xd5 passively and this allows White time to bring
d7? ( 13...e7! looks a bit grim but Black the bishop on b3 back into the game 26.c4!
is surviving here after 14.e1 c6 15.e3 Suddenly there are real threats of Bxa6 fxg4
xd1 16.xd1 d8 and Black is only a little 27.fxg4
w o r s e a f t e r 17.d2! ) 14.e1+ d8 [ 27.xa6! is already very close to winning
15.g5+ ( 15.f4! d6 16.xd6 xd6 bxa6 28.xa6 gxf3! the only move!
17.b6! a7 18.g4 wins immediately) ( 28...g5? 29.b5 c5 30.c6 and a5-a6
15...c8 16.f4 c5 17.xc7 b4 is very difficult to stop b4 31.a5! xa5
18.b6+ xb6 19.xb6 d5 20.d4 32.c5 b6 33.xf8+ b7 34.xh6
xb6 21.xb6 d8 22.a3 1-0 Ljubicic, F and White is winning) 29.b5+ ( 29.b5?
(2398)-Plenkovic, Z (2366) Zupanja 2007 ] now loses to c5 30.c6 f2! 31.xc5
8.d5 f1+ 32.a2 f2 33.d4 xd4 34.xd4
[ 8.dxe5 is very unambitious xd1+ 9.xd1 f5 ) 29...c8 30.c6! b8 31.xd7 f2
xe5 10.b3 d6 11.0-0 0-0 32.e8+ xe8 33.xe8+ b7 34.f7 c5
and if anything Black has a slight edge in a and Black is hanging on here - the f-pawn
fairly dull queenless middlegame ] is enough of a distraction to hold the draw
8...b4 9.g5?! f5 although it's still tricky! ]
[ 9...h6! immediately is also good ] 27...dd8 28.e4 g8 29.g5 Black starts to
10.b3 h6! 11.xf6 get the better of it around here
[ it seems a shame to give up the bishop pair [ 29.xa6 bxa6 30.xa6 f7 is just a
but after 11.h4 g5! 12.g3 d6 perpetual here 31.b5+ c8 32.a6+
the bishop on g3 is rather shut out of the b8 ( not 32...d7?? 33.c6+ c8
game and I like Black's position ] 34.xd6+ xd6 35.xd6 ) 33.b5+ ]
11...xf6 12.g3 0-0-0 29...hxg5 30.xg5?!
[ 12...g6! 13.0-0 0-0-0 and Black keeps [ 30.xa6 is again a draw ]
the bishop pair and a slightly better position ] 30...h8 31.g6 h4 32.e6 f2 33.d3
13.xf5 xf5 14.e2 e7 15.0-0-0 d7 h8 Suddenly Black is very active and should
16.b1 hd8 17.he1 f6 The position is still have the advantage but first he must defend
roughly equal but the presence of opposite accurately on the queenside 34.b3 h3
coloured bishops is interesting here. In an 35.d3 xh2 36.xg7 e3?
ending it would lean to wards ma king th e Under pressure (both position and possibly on
positions more drawish but here it helps the the clock as well) Danielsen makes a first
side with the initiative. 18.f3 b8 19.g4! mistake in a while and Naiditsch immediately
Naiditsch starts to take control of the light seizes upon it
squares h7 20.d2?! Perhaps missing [ 36...h4! was the key here allowing the
Black's next move rook to come to b4 for defense, for example
[ 20.a5! slowly increases the pressure. Black 37.xc7! h1+! 38.a2 b4 39.xa6+!
can keep the position level but only with ( 39.a3? h4 wins ) 39...bxa6 40.g8+
accurate play c6! 21.dxc6 xc6 22.xd7 a7 41.g7+ a8 42.g8+ a7 43.g7+
xd7 23.a4 d4! 24.g2 d8 b6!? 44.a3 a5 45.g6 h2 46.c3 e5
and chances are still about equal ] 47.cxb4 xd5+ 48.b3 a1+! 49.xa1
20...c6! 21.ed1 d4 22.xd4!? xb3 50.xd6+ c7 51.d4 xa4+
A n i n t e re s t i n g e xch a n ge sa cr i f i ce b u t i t 52.b1 axb4 and Black can press for a win
shouldn't be enough here exd4 23.xd4 but this looks like a fortress for White after
d6?! 53.c2 a5 54.b3 ]
[ 23...c5! 24.e4 h5 25.h3 hxg4 26.hxg4 37.xc7! xc7?!
h8 is much more active and White doesn't [ 37...e1+ 38.a2 b4 39.xb4 xb4
really have enough compensation here, 40.e6 2h5 and Black should hold the
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
Black has no real problems here at all. 20...a4! 21.xg4 e6! An important move
12.g4!? that holds Black's position together
[ 12.h4 h7 13.d3 xc3 ( 13...a5 [ 21...h8?? loses to 22.ef6! xf6
allows 14.e4!? with dangerous play) 23.xf6 gxf6 24.g3 ]
14.bxc3 a5 15.xh7+ xh7 16.b2 [ 21...d7?! 22.xh6+ h8 23.g3 g6
d7 and White has to be careful ] 24.h5 and Black is coming under a nasty
12...h7 a t t a c k a l t h o u g h i t ' s n o t c l e a r a f t e r g5
[ 12...xg4 is possible but White does get a 25.xg5 a3 ]
d a n ge r o u s a t t a c k a f t e r 13.hg1 h5 22.b1?! Too slow but perhaps there was
( 13...c8!? might be safer) 14.e4 h8 nothing really in the position for White
15.xg7! xg7 16.g1+ h8 17.h4 [ 22.e5 a3 23.bxa3 xa3 24.g3 g6
so perhaps Black was wise to decline the and White has no breakthrough ]
pawn ] [ 22.g3 looks dangerous but in reality there
13.d3 xd3 14.xd3 a5 15.e4!? Black can simply continue with a3! 23.bxa3
An interesting pawn sacrifice designed to xa3 and sadly White's best here is to swap
complicate a position that was heading for Queens into a miserable ending with
dull equality - but ultimately it backfires. 24.e5 ]
[ 15.a3 xc3 16.xc3 xc3 17.bxc3 d7 22...f5
is just equal ] [ 22...a3! is also very strong ]
15...xa2 16.c3 e7 17.g5? 23.ef6+?
Another interesting idea but this one doesn't [ 23.xh6+ was relatively best but after
really work against accurate defence xh6 24.c4+ h8 25.g5 h5 26.e6
[ 17.h4 would've been much more b5 27.d3 f6 and White doesn't have
challenging, for example d7 18.f5 fe8 anything special here - still at least here
19.h4 and White is building up a decent th e re a re ch a n ce s t o get b a ck in t o t h e
attack on the Kingside. Still, I prefer Black game. ]
after a5 ] 23...xf6 24.xh6+ h8 25.xf5 e8
17...fxg5! [ 25...a3! would have been more to the point,
[ 17...hxg5 18.de1 is less convincing for Black is simply winning now as he has the
Black ] more dangerous attack as well as an extra
18.h4 piece ]
[ 18.de1 now doesn't have any threat of 26.h5
Nxg5 ] [ 26.e1 is a better try but Black is winning
18...g4 19.e5 a5 Black chooses to go on e a si l y e n o u g h a f t e r g8 ( 26...xe1+
the attack which works out very well, although 27.xe1 xe1+ 28.a2 a6 is also good
it may not have been objectively the most enough ) 27.d6 xe1+ 28.xe1 d7
accurate move. 29.g6 h7 ]
[ 19...e6 would've been the safe option - 26...a3! 27.d5 Pure desperation xd5
W hite doesn't really have compensation [ 27...e2! kills the game off immediately ]
here and Black is just going to play Nd7 on 28.xd5 cxd5 29.h6 g5 30.f4 axb2
the next move. ] 31.xb2 This gets mated but it was safe to
20.dg1?! resign in any case. e2+ 32.b3 d7
[ 20.hg1! was perhaps a trickier way to play, 33.fxg5 c5+ 34.b4 d3+
e.g. h5 ( 20...a4? 21.xg4 and it's White's White resigned as it's mate next move.
attack that is the more dangerous because 0-1
now e6? 22.de1 wins ) 21.g3 a4
( 21...g6?? 22.xg6 ) 22.xh5 a3 23.d2!
suddenly isn't so clear as axb2 ( 23...f5!
24.b1 d6 still leaves Black with the
ad va nt a ge b u t t h e p o sit io n is st ill ve ry
unclear ) 24.b1 blocks off Black's attack ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
( There wasn't anything wrong with pleasant for Black.) 16.cxb5 axb5
10...xc7 as 11.d6+ e7 12.xc8+ 17.xb5 Rozentalis, E (2577)-Caspi, I
axc8 leaves Black with a completely safe (2408) Israel 2008 when a6 18.xa6
king and huge development advantage.) xa6 19.c3 c4+ 20.g1 d7
11.c3 d7 12.d4?! ( 12.d6 xb5 gives Black great play for the pawn.;
13.xc5 xc5 14.xb5 d5 15.f3 B1b) 9...0-0 would leave White with
xc7 16.e2 would have allowed White to p r o b l e m s d e v e l o p i n g a s 10.d3
retain rough equality.) 12...xc7 13.gf3 ( 10.a4 b4+ 11.d2 xd2+
e5 14.b3 e7 15.e2 fd5 16.0-0 f4 12.xd2 d6 ) 10...e8 followed by
17.e1?! ad8 18.c2 f6 19.f3 f5 ...e5-e4 is awkward.;
20.e4? h3+! 0-1 Armbrust, F (2321)- B2) 8.e2!? xd4 9.f3 c5
Tiviakov, S (2684) Neustadt an der 10.xe5 e7 looks acceptable.;
Weinstrasse 2009. ] B3) 8.dxe5 g4 9.h3 c5 10.c2
6...c6 Black's two moves to kick back the c6? This fails tactically ( 10...e6
knight have been tried an equal number of would leave Black with strong play for
times. The move chosen is solid but I can't the pawn. ) 11.d5 d4 when
help feeling that if Black is simply going to 12.a4+! works tactically: ( Instead of
develop his pieces normally then his queen 12.d1?! as played in Gavric, M (2398) -
might be bette r ba ck on d8 as it 's rathe r K u r a j i c a , B ( 2 5 3 9 ) N e u m 2 0 0 5 .)
offside here on b6. 12...c6 13.xc6+ bxc6 14.xc7+
[ 6...a6 is the sharper alternative when Black e7 15.g5+ f6 16.exf6+ gxf6
has to play dynamically. 7.c3 17.xa8 c2+ 18.d1 xa1 19.d2
A) T h e s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d 7...c6 and White has an extra pawn while his
isn't enough to equalise: 8.d5 g4 9.h3 knigh t ca n escape more ea sily tha n
d4 10.e2 xe2 11.xe2 left Black Black's. ]
w i t h p r o b l e m s i n c o m p l e t i n g h i s 7.c3
d e v e l o p m e n t . H e t r i e d f5 12.0-0 [ 7.c5 d8 8.c3 was tried in one game
( Forcing the pieces back with 12.f3!? f6 but Black can equalise with the customary
13.g4 d7 14.f4 0-0-0 15.e3 b4 break e5! ( I n s t e a d t h e s a f e 8...g6
16.0-0-0 looks very pleasant for White with was played in Blesic, V (2383)-Milanovic, D
his extra space and development (2499) Vrnjacka Banja 2010.) 9.dxe5
a d v a n t a g e .) 12...0-0-0 13.g5 g6 xd1+ 10.xd1 d5= and c5 drops when
14.d1 h6? ( 14...e5 15.h3 f6 Black is fine. ]
looks respectable for Black as 16.xe5?! 7...g6
e8 17.d4 h6 18.f3 xh3 19.h4 [ 7...g4!? should also be considered when
g4 is better for Black.) 15.f3 e5 16.h3 Black is close to equality.
h5 Safarli, E (2587)-Agaragimov, D (2313) A) 8.ge2 to keep the bishop pair is
St Petersburg 2009 when 17.h4 h7 s e n s i b l e b u t a6! sets White some
18.xf5 xf5 19.hxg4 hxg4 20.e3 concrete problems on the light squares.
h5 21.f1 h1+ 22.e2 xg2 White's best looks to be ( Instead 8...e6
23.e4 leaves Black insufficient play for 9.h3 xe2 10.xe2 c7 11.0-0 d6
the piece.; 12.e3 f4 13.xf4 xf4 14.d5
B) 7...e5! Opening up the position is the gave White an edge. Shimanov, A (2583) -
most energetic approach. Rozum, I (2468) St Petersburg 2011.) 9.h3
B1) 8.d5 was Rozentalis' choice and he f5 10.g4 g6 11.c5 a5 12.f4 e5
eventually triumphed but c5 9.c2 with a highly complex position.;
B1a) Instead 9...g4 10.h3 0-0 B) 8.e2 xe2 9.gxe2 e6 10.0-0 e7
11.d3 f5 12.a4 b4+ 13.f1?! 11.d5 exd5 12.cxd5 0-0 13.e3 c7
Ove r-o p tim ist ic d4 14.a3 e7 14.c1 d8 15.b3 a6 16.b5 d7
15.d2 b5!? ( 15...d7 16.c3 a5 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.fd1 and White still had
followed by ...Nb8-a6-c5 is very a slight edge but Black held the draw.
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ 19...exd5 20.cxd5 d6 21.cd1 Keeping full control of the position and
doesn't solve Black's problems. ] preventing Black from achieving any
20.cd1 White's pieces are perfectly counterplay before breaking open Black's
positioned while Black still has problems position. fe8?!
completing his development. The extra pawn [ 30...c4 was probably essential to prevent
is rather meaningless here. d8 White's next. ]
[ 20...exd5 21.cxd5 cxd5 22.xd5 xd5 31.c4! a6? And this just loses material.
gives W hite a choice between grabbing a [ 31...d7 would have kept the material
p a w n b a c k w i t h 23.xf7 temporarily but 32.g5! followed by Bg4 is
( A n d m y p r e f e r e n c e 23.c4! d8 too strong. ]
24.e5+ f6 25.g3 which gives White a lot 32.xe8! xe8 33.xe8 xe8 34.xc7
of pressure for the couple pawns.) 23...xf7 Two knights for rook and pawn but Black's
24.xd5 when Black can still not complete sad queenside is still undeveloped. Black tries
h i s d e v e l o p m e n t a s f5?! 25.c4 a crazy bid for counterplay but White converts
wins material, f6? 26.e7+ cannot be easily. b5 35.b6 b4 36.xa8 bxc3
considered. ] 37.xc5 e1 38.xc8 d2 39.d6 c2
21.e4 40.d7
[ 21.c2 was also possible as d5 is not yet 1-0
hanging. exd5 22.cxd5 ce8 23.e3
is still dangerous for Black. ]
21...exd5 22.cxd5 ce8 23.f3 d6 291 B01
Black has defended well and is preparing to Najer,Evgeniy 2665
finally develop his queenside, hence White's Kovalenko,Igor 2486
following choice: 24.g4!? Perhaps preparing Open A Moscow RUS (6) 04.02.2010
g4-g5 to gain further attacking chances on the [Gawain Jones]
kingside but more importantly preventing
Black using the f5 square. a5 25.e3 e8 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 4.d4
26.f4 d8?! After playing very well Black f6 5.f3 g4
makes a small error, after which Najer doesn't [ 5...c6 is still causing White problems to
look back. gain an advantage and was seen no less
[ 26...h6!? threatening ...g5 keeps White's than three times in the A group of Corus last
attack under control. The important tactic to month. 6.e5 ( 6.g3 was attempted by
be aware of is 27.h4?! allows xe5! ] Fabiano Caruana to break Tiviakov's
[ 26...b4!? 27.g3 g5! would also see opening: g4 7.g2 e6 8.0-0 e7 9.h3
Black starting to see the upper hand. ] xf3 10.xf3 0-0 11.e2 finally deviating
27.de1 Building up a slow burn attack on the from a previous Tiviakov game which had
kingside against which Black is pretty gone 11.Bf4 Socko-Tiviakov and agreed
powerless. drawn which is examined by John in the
[ A tactical possibility was available in the archives. bd7 12.g2 e5 13.c3 ad8
shape of 27.c6! which looked very strong 14.b3 c7 15.dxe5 xe5 16.e3
bxc6 ( 27...d7 28.g5 g8 29.xe8 when White had a small advantage with the
xe8 30.d6! bxc6 31.g4 d8 32.d7+- ) two bishops but Black is very solid.
28.dxc6 xe3 29.xe3 and Black fails to Caruana converted eventually in a long
keep his material, i.e. h5 ( 29...e6 30.e5 game with very good technique. I remember
c4 31.xd8 xe5 32.xa8 xf3+ being convinced the game was going to end
33.g2 d4 34.c7+- ) 30.g5 fe8 31.c7 in a draw, Caruana-Tiviakov, Corus 2010)
xc7 32.xa8 ] 6...bd7 7.c4 ( Instead on the White side,
27...h6 As there's no longer any tactic earlier in the tournament, Ivanchuk tried
preventing h4 I think this just further weakens 7.f4 but failed to get any real advantage
Black's kingside but it isn't easy to offer an after d5 8.xd5 xd5 9.f3 b6
alternative. 28.h4 e7 29.g2 c7 30.a4! 10.e2 f5 11.c3 e4 12.d2 c2
289
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
13.xc2 xc2 and the game was ultimately problems finding a safe square for his
agreed drawn, Ivanchuk-Tiviakov, Corus king. ) 13.f5 xe3 14.fxe6 xd1
2010 ) 7...c7 It's surprising to see Ivanchuk 15.exd7+ xd7 16.xd1 e6? ( 16...a6
attempt the Black side but he must have 17.c3 xd4+ 18.d3 White's piece is
been convinced of it's sound solid game more effective than the three pawns as his
when preparing for his game against pieces will coordinate faster.) 17.a3?
Tiviakov. 8.d5!? A new move. White ( 17.xa7+ b8 18.b5 c6 19.c3
immediately tries to force some concessions xd4+ 20.d3 gives Black nothing like
in Black's camp. g6 ( 8...b6 looks like an enough ) 17...xd4+ 18.e2 0-1 Rigo-
immediate equaliser 9.dxc6 bxc6 10.d4 Scharrer, Arco di Trento 2007 (52) ]
xc4 11.xc4 e5 12.d3 e7= 11...xe2+
Black's increased control over the kingside [ 11...c6 12.f4! d5 13.xc7!
and centre compensates for the damaged i s u n c o m f o r t a b l e f o r B l a c k a s xc7
queenside.) 9.d4 g7 10.f4 ( 10.d6 14.bd6+ d8 15.a5 xh1 16.axb7+
d8 doesn't get White anywhere.) 10...d8 xb7 17.xb7+ c8 18.a5
11.dxc6 bxc6 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.d2 b7 leaves Black's king seriously exposed. ]
14.h6 c7 15.xg7 xg7 16.e3 b6 12.xe2 d8
17.e5 ac8 18.e1 fe8 19.f3 xe5 [ 12...0-0-0 13.xa7+ b8 14.b5 xc2
20.xe5 bd5 although this even favoured 15.f4 d5 16.g3 also has Black under
Black. The Black pawn structure remind me pressure on the queenside ]
of certain lines of the Dragon but when 13.a5
Black has control over the d5 square he [ 13.e5 c6 ( 13...xe5 14.dxe5 )
has nothing to fear, White could never really 14.xg6 hxg6 15.c3 e6= and Black is
us e t h e c 5 s qu are . 1 / 2-1 / 2 Dom in gu e z rock solid and has nothing to fear. ]
Perez-Ivanchuk, Corus 2010 (56) ] 13...c6 14.c3 c8 15.f4 And so Black
6.h3 h5 7.g4 g6 8.e5 bd7 9.b5 has his typical super-solid pawn structure and
Deviating from 9.Bf4 seen in Kosten-Govciyan if he can just switch around places of the rook
in the archives. This move must be critical for on a8 and king then he would have the better
the future of this variation. b6 10.c4! c h a n c e s . H o we ve r t h i s i s i m p o s s i b l e t o
Of course b5 isn't really en-prise as W hite achieve and so W hite has chances to hold
has the discovered check on d6. e6+ onto the initiative. e6
[ 10...c6 is also possible although after [ The pawn is taboo 15...xc2 16.c1 e4
11.d5! Black is forced to go down the ( 16...g6 17.d5 c5 18.f3 Despite the
following variation xd5 12.xd5 xd5 queens being traded Black encounters big
13.xc7+ d8 14.xd5 e4 15.g1 problems, d6 is a big threat while White also
xd5 16.f4 White has some advantage has ideas of Nb5 and b4 while how exactly
as Black's exposed king on d8 gives him does Black develop any pieces?) 17.xe4
some problems along the d file. ] xe4 18.d5 c5 19.f3 d6 20.b4 b6
11.e2 21.bxc5 bxc5 ( 21...xc5 22.b3 )
[ 11.e3 was tried previously in this position 22.c6 ]
A) 11...b6 i s a l s o p l a y a b l e 12.g5 16.a3
( 12.c4= ) 12...a6 13.c3 e4 14.g2 [ 16.0-0-0 b4 17.c4 b6 18.d6+
xc3 15.bxc3 e6; xd6 19.xd6 bd5 20.xd5 xd5
B) 11...0-0-0 12.f4 ( 12.xa7+ is theoretically better for W hite with the
grabs a pawn but leaves W hite two bishops but Black shouldn't have too
dangerously behind in development b8 many problems, he has successfully
13.b5 h5 14.g5 e4 gives Black very swapped off enough pieces that he will be
good compensation, it's not clear where able to finally develop his rooks while he
W h i t e ' s k i n g w i l l e v e r f i n d s a f e t y .) still has his perfect structure. ]
12...d5?! ( 12...e4 13.g1 a6 14.c3 16...b6
is very messy but again W hite will find [ 16...xc2!? This pawn might be edible now
290
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
17.c1 g6 18.g5 ( White should probably White picks off the a pawn and now has three
play 18.f3 and play slowly when he has connected passed pawns. Black already could
some compensation for the pawn as it is resign, his own two connected passed pawns
still awkward for Black to develop his final wo n ' t h e l p m u c h . b8 37.c6+ b7
pieces. ) 18...e4 19.b5 ( 19.d5 exd5 38.d4+ a6 39.f1 h6 40.b4 g6
20.xd5 c5 ) 19...a6! 20.c7 a7 41.b5+ b6 42.c3 e5 43.b3 xb5
21.xa6 d6 22.xd6 xd6 23.xc6 Black tries to get rid of all White's pawns as
bxc6 24.xc6+ d8 25.xd6 e7 his best winning try. 44.cxb5 xb5+ 45.b2
26.xd7+ ( 26.c6 e4 ) 26...xd7 ] d6
[ 16...e4! looks like it equalises 17.d3 [ 45...g4 successfully gets rid of the h4
d6= ] pawn 46.xf6+ c7 47.c6+ d8 48.f3
17.0-0-0 e7 18.h4 h5 19.g5 e8 20.f3 xh4 49.e2 h2 50.c2 xa3 51.xa3
Black has to watch out for sacrifices on c6 is of course totally lost but at least might
which he falls for in the game. Black still has force White to show he can remember how
problems developing while W hite has to mate with bishop and knight vs king:) ]
coordinated his pieces well. d6 21.e2 46.d5 e4 47.c1 f5 48.c6+ a7 49.d4
d5 22.e5 c7 23.b3 h7 e3 50.b5+ b8 51.xd6 e2 52.c8+
[ 23...b6 24.c4 e7 25.a1!? with the idea a7 53.c4! A cute finish. b6+ 54.c2
to reroute the knight to c2 and then either to 1-0
e3 or b4 is slightly better for W hite but at
least Black can bring out that a8 rook. ]
24.c4! b6 292 B01
[ 24...e7 25.f4 is also extremely Najer,Evgeniy 2638
unpleasant for Black. ] Kruchev,Boris 2256
25.a5 xe5?! This just makes it worse ch-Rapid Olginka RUS rapid (4) 25.04.2011
[ 25...d7 26.xc7 xc7 might still be [Gawain Jones]
manageable for Black. ]
26.dxe5 d7 27.xc6! 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d8
[ 27.xd7! i s a l s o v e r y s t r o n g xd7 It's been a while since this queen retreat has
28.xb7 c7 29.a5 White gets two been examined on the site. Generally I've felt
pawns for the exchange while Black's pieces this is solid but non-critical and White should
are still imp ossible to co ordinat e while have various ways to gain an edge due to his
Black's king will also find itself in difficulty. development advantage. However White has
However the game continuation is simpler t o b e c a r e f u l a s if t h e a d va n t a ge o f t h e
and also winning. ] temporary initiative dries up then Black will
27...bxc6 28.xc6 xe5 stand well. 4.d4
[ 28...b8 29.xd7+- is of course totally [ W h i t e c a n a l s o d e l a y d 4 w i t h 4.f3
lost. ] wh ich is t ricky f o r Bla ck t o h an d le . f6
29.xa8 c7 30.g2 d3+ 31.d2 xf2 ( Glek has tried to exploit White's move
32.d4 xh1 33.xh1 so Black has o r d e r w i t h 4...g4 but this looks like it
survived without dropping any material but his should be a comfortable edge for W hite.
rook on h7 is looking decidedly silly while 5.h3 xf3 6.xf3 c6 7.b4!?
White's queenside pawns are extremely fast. is an int erestin g wa y to e xploit Blac k's
f6 missing c8 bishop. a6 8.b1 f6 9.a4 e6
[ 33...h8 34.c6 a6 35.e7+ d8 10.b5 1-0 Gabrielian, A (2520)-Glek, I
36.xg6 fxg6 37.e3+ e7 38.c6 d8 (2560) Moscow 2006. ) 5.c4
39.xd8 xd8 40.d4 e7 41.e5+- A) 5...f5 has been the most common but
W hite is totally dominating, Black has an Black now encounters difficulties following
awful pawn structure and his knight cannot 6.e5! e6 7.f3 when a game from this
move ] year saw Black surviving only a few more
34.c6 e8 35.gxf6 gxf6 36.xa7+ moves.
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
A1) 7...c8 looks best when Rybka axb5 and the position remained highly
suggests 8.h3!? Preparing taking on f7. complex but White ultimately
( 8.xf7? Immediately fails to g4! ) triumphed.;
8...d6 ( 8...xc2?! is far too risky. One C2) 7.d3 This is actually a rare retreat
sample line could continue: 9.d3 b4 but looks a more active square to me.
10.d2 0-0 11.c1 xc3 12.xc3 Black can try and claim that he's gained
a4 13.0-0 bd7 14.xd7 xd7 a tempo with ...a6-b5 but W hite can
15.g3 g6 16.fe1 with a huge counter that he is rather over-extended.
initiative.) 9.xf7 c6 10.xd6+ cxd6 Remember too that Black arguably lost
11.f4 d5 12.b3 0-0 13.0-0 two tempi with ... Qd8-d5-d8. e6 8.g5
and Black appears to have some ( 8.a4!? b4 9.e4 bd7 10.0-0 b7
compensation for the pawn but a pawn 11.e2 looks slightly more comfortable
is still a pawn!; for White to me but fully playable for the
A2) 7...c6? has actually been played second player.) 8...e7 9.e2 b7
m o s t c o m m o n l y b u t n o w 8.xf7+- 10.0-0 0-0 11.fd1 bd7 12.e5
is very strong.; xe5 13.dxe5 d5 14.xd5 xd5?!
A3) 7...d4?! 8.xb7! xe5+ 9.e2 ( 14...xg5= ) 15.e3 b8 16.b3
c6 ( 9...e4 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4 and White ultimately exploited his extra
xe4 12.f3 is the lesser evil.) 10.d4 couple hundred rating points. Timofeev,
a5 11.f4 b4 12.0-0 0-0 13.c7 A (26 7 7)-Dju kic, N (2 49 5 ) S ara je vo
and Black found his queen 2010. ]
embarrassingly short on squares. bd7 4...c6
14.xa5 xa5 15.xc6 fc8 16.a6 [ U s u a l l y B l a c k s t a r t s w i t h 4...f6
1-0 Tesik, C (2299)-To, N (2340) which seems more flexible to me but likely
Budapest 2011.; to t ra n sp ose t o simila r p o sitio n s . 5.c4
B) 5...e6 is probably safest but White can This looks the most accurate to me. ( 5.f3
usually claim an edge in these positions is more common but this gives Black further
due to the blocked in bishop on c8.; options. ) 5...e6 ( 5...a6 6.f3 transposes
C) 5...a6 Recently this seems to be to 4.Nf3; 5...c6 6.f3 would transpose to
Black's preferred method of exploiting the the game. ) 6.f3 And White should have a
early bishop sortie. 6.d4 b5 definite edge as the bishop is blocked in on
C1) 7.b3 c5 8.a4 ( 8.dxc5 xd1+ c8. One recent game continued: c6 7.0-0
9.xd1 e6 10.a4 1/2-1/2 Papp, G e7 8.f4 0-0 9.e1 a6 10.a3 d5
(2545)-Szabo, G (2568) Szombathely 11.xd5 exd5 12.d3 g4 13.c3 h5
2010 wasn't much of a game but I A n d B la c k h a d d e f e n d e d we ll t o r e a c h
suppose therefore a successful opening almost equality but never succeeded in
by Szabo. ) 8...c4 9.a2 b6 getting quite there and ultimately went down.
Reached an interesting position. The S ve t u s h k i n , D ( 2 5 6 0 ) - O r l o v, A ( 2 5 0 2 )
bishop on a2 is currently totally out of Rethymno 2010. ]
play but the question is whether White, 5.c4 f6 6.f3 f5 If Black has to play ...
by playing actively, can exploit Black's e6 then White can claim an edge due to the
over-extension before he gets round to blocked in bishop on c8 and so this is the
some development. In Getz, N (2333) - critical test. 7.e5 And White continues to go
Djukic, N (2494) Aix-les-Bains 2011 the down the critical line.
young Norwegian succeeded in [ Of course 7.0-0 can also be played but one
defeating the GM from Montenegro but it feels this shouldn't trouble Black unduly. ]
c e r t a in l y wa s n ' t so l e l y d o wn t o t h e 7...e6 8.g4 g6 9.h4 b5?! This hasn't been
opening choice. 10.e5 e6 11.0-0 b7 considered previously and probably for good
12.e3 bd7 13.d5 c5 14.xd7 reason. To me it feels that this is too
xd7 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.h5+ g6 weakening.
17.xc5 xc5 18.h6 0-0-0 19.axb5 [ 9...bd7 was twice the choice of England's
292
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
number one Mickey Adams, admittedly over correct play I think White has a clear edge.
10 years ago. Here Andrew Martin's 11.xd5 cxd5 ( 11...xd5 12.h5 xc2
suggestion of 10.f3! looks strong, e.g. xe5 13.xc2 f6 14.d3 xf3 15.g1
( 10...c7 was seen in Philippe, C (2360) - is clearly very good for White as observed
Mateuta, G (2435) St Lorrain 2003 but here by Volzhin.) 12.h5 ( This looks a lot more
11.e2! would leave Black with severe reliable than the 12.e2 of Kotronias, V
problems. ) 11.dxe5 d5?! ( 11...d7 (2570) -Candela Perez, J (2430) X Anibal
was necessary but White still has the upper Open, Linares 2003 analysed by Andrew
ha n d a f t e r 12.h5 xe5 13.b3 xd1+ Martin. ) 12...f6 13.hxg6 fxe5 14.gxh7
14.xd1 xh5 15.xh5 xf3 16.e3 B1) V o l z h i n o n l y l o o k s a t 14...c7
d8+ 17.e2 d4+ 18.f2 as with so giving the line 15.d2 c6! ( 15...exd4
many pieces left on the board a piece is 16.e2 xd2+ 17.xd2 c6 18.0-0-0
worth more than three pawns.) 12.xd5 e5 19.f4!+- ) 16.dxe5 g6 17.b5
exd5 13.h5 d4 14.hxg6 dxc3 15.xd8+ xe5+ 18.e2 xb2 19.xe6+ e7
xd8 16.xh7 ( 16.gxh7!? ) 16...cxb2 but here the computer observes White
17.xb2 g8 18.gxf7+ xf7 19.f4 can improve over 20.Nc7+ with 20.e2!
saw White with a clear extra pawn. Hanley, xc2 21.d6+ xd6 22.xd6 d8
C (2322) -Vujatovic, R (2249) Hastings 23.e5 f7 24.ac1 xa2 25.c7+-
2004. ] with a decisive advantage.;
[ 9...b4 has been the most common and B2) 14...e7 15.dxe5 c6
covered a few times on this site before but Prokopchuk, E (2520)-Lopez Martinez, J
th is wh o le line h a s ra t h e r f a lle n o u t o f (2468) Moscow 2005 when continuing in
fashion. I've had a look with newer the same spirit with 16.d2 followed by
computer analysis. 10.f3! This looks critical. Q e 2 a n d 0 - 0 - 0 g i ve s W h i t e a c l e a r
W h it e t h re a t e n s h 5 t r a p p in g t h e B la c k edge. ]
bishop. ( 10.h3!? is looked at by Volzhin in 10.b3 b4 11.f3! We've seen this idea
Ponomariov, R (2550)-Garcia Ilundain, D before. Black cannot retain his light squared
(2520) Pamplona 1996 ) bishop and doesn't even have ...Bxc2 ideas to
A) The computer advises Black to try his complicate the position. d5 12.xd5 cxd5
lu c k wi t h t h e p ie ce sa cr i f i c e 10...xc2 [ 12...xd5 13.h5 f6 14.hxg6 fxe5 15.d2
although this is condemned by Volzhin. A) 15...xd4 16.e2 ( 16.gxh7!? )
11.xc2 xd4 12.e2!? ( 12.f4 16...h6 17.0-0-0 leaves White with a
is recommended by Volzhin and should strong attack.;
g i v e W h i t e a s m a l l e d g e a f t e r bd7 B) 15...xc3 16.xc3 h6 17.dxe5
13.xd7 xg4! 14.b3 xd7 15.d2 and Black has no compensation for the
but Black still has three pawns for the pawn. ]
piece. ) 13.h5 f6 14.hxg6 fxe5 15.dxe5
A1) 12...b5?! was given as an [ 15.gxh7 looks even stronger when Black is
improvement but here W hite has the a pawn down and has nothing to show for it.
shot 13.xf7! xc3+ 14.f1 0-0 True the position is complex but I struggle to
15.xe6 xf7 ( 15...a5 16.e3! s e e p o s i t i v e s i n B l a c k ' s c a m p . c7!?
and the queen ha s actually becom e ( 15...c6 16.dxe5 xc3+ 17.bxc3 xe5
trapped. ) 16.bxc3 leaves White with a 18.e3 f6 19.f4 c4 20.d3 ) 16.d2
material advantage.; ( 16.f2!? ) 16...exd4 17.xb5 g3+
A2) 12...xc3+ 13.bxc3 xc3+ 14.f2 18.f1 xd2 19.xd2 xf3+ 20.g1
xa1 15.d1 c3 16.b2 b4 xg4+ 21.g2 xg2+ 22.xg2 a6
17.xf7! with a decisive attack. Perez, L 23.xd4 c5 24.c4 and Black has
(2459)-Lopez Martinez, J (2465) managed to survive to a materially level
Varadero 2000.; ending but is extremely passive and I have
B) 10...d5 This is Volzhin's suggestion a feeling that the h7 pawn should win the
in the archives and more common but with day. ]
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30.xd8 xd4 31.b3 Should probably be 33.c7 Black now has a bind in the middle
winning for White although Black has some of the board but at the cost of too much
chances to hold. ] material f8 ( 33...e8 34.d7 e1+
21.h4! The more I look at this game however, 35.h2+- ) 34.e7+- with the threat of Rc7 ]
the more difficult it appears for Black to come 30.d6! xd6
u p wi t h a n y a c t i v e p l a n . h6 22.g4! [ 30...3f4 31.f7+ g8 32.e4+- ]
Forcing Black to relinquish control over g5 31.xd6 xc1 32.xd5 e2+ 33.h2
and further weakening his kingside. h5 xd5 34.xd5 And so after a fairly forced
[ 22...h7 would be the other option when line, White's swapped off material and h5 is
23.d6 cd8 24.xb7 xb7 25.h5 g5 falling by force when the connected three
26.f3 leaves Black under unpleasant passed pawns on the kingside will decide.
pressure. ] Black has no passed pawn of her own and
23.e5 f6?! thus no counterplay. xd4 35.xh5+ g8
[ 23...h7 is probably necessary to stop the 36.d5+ h7 37.e4+ g8 38.h5 c6
dark square infiltration which occurs in the 39.f4 e6 40.d5 h7 41.g4 e2+
game. Black needs to play very accurately to 42.h3 e3+ 43.g2 e6 44.f5+ g8
hold and against such a good attacking 45.g5 f8 46.d5+ h8 47.f7 e6
player as Ni Hua she's in deep trouble. ] 48.h6
24.h6! fd8 1-0
[ 24...xh4 h a d t o b e t r i e d 25.xg6!
( 25.xf8 xf8 isn't at all clear, White no
longer has an attack.) 25...fxg6 ( 25...xg3 295 B01
26.xe7+ xe7 27.xf8 xf2+ 28.xf2 Ni Hua 2641
xf8 29.h1 is extremely unpleasant for Tiviakov,Sergei 2643
Black. Compared to the previous variation 50th It Reggio Emilia ITA (5) 02.01.2008
Black's kingside pawns are shattered and [John Watson]
B l a c k d o e s n ' t h a ve t h e b i sh o p p a ir a s
compensation.) 26.xg6+ h8 27.xf8 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 4.d4
xf8 28.xh5+ g7 ( 28...h7 29.xh7+ f6 5.f3 c6 6.e5 bd7 7.f4 d5
xh7 30.g3 g5 31.f4 f6 32.xe6 8.xd5 xd5 This month's other
and White has too many pawns.) 29.e5+ Scandinavian game went 8...Nxe5 at this point,
f6 30.g3 g5 31.f4 xf4!? ( 31...xe5 without success. The queen recapture is
32.xe5 f6 33.xe6 again gives White surely preferable. 9.f3! Whether this is the
rook and three pawns for the 2 pieces which very best move or not, it is clear and logical,
should be more than enough.) 32.gxf4 xf4 emphasising W hite's space advantage. For
33.xf6+ xf6 34.c3 with the reduced alternatives, see Gashimov-Tiviakov. f6
number of pawns and some kingside activity 10.e2 g4 11.0-0 e6 12.h3 xf3
Black has good chances to hold the draw. ] [ 12...h5 13.c4 a5 14.a3 prepares a
25.xg6! Crashing through fxg6 26.xg6+ q u e e n s i d e a t t a c k a n d p r e v e n t s 0-0-0?
h8 27.xe6! Ni Hua doesn't miss the due to 15.g4 g6 16.b4 a6 17.c5 b5
chance. xe6 28.g7+ xg7 29.xe6 18.a4 ( or 18.cxb6 xb6 19.e5 )]
So after a forced line we've reached a 13.xf3 d7 We've arrived at the standard ...
position where W hite has queen and three e6/ ...c6 restraint structure that comes up so
pawns for rook, bishop and knight which is often in the Scandinavian (and Slav, and
roughly balanced. However Black's king is still Caro-Kann). W hite h as a healt hy lead in
vulnerable and the h5 pawn looks like it will development, however, and that should make
drop while Nd6 is an awkward threat to meet a difference. It's not clear if he handles the
so White has a big advantage. d3 position so well over the next few moves.
[ 29...f4 is the computer's top choice trying 14.c4 Committal.
to solve Black's problems tactically but after [ Also possible is just 14.e1 d6 15.e5
30.f7 bd3 31.c3 xc4 32.xc4 d5 , when 0-0 16.xf6 gxf6 17.d2 g7
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13.d5 ( 13.h4 d7 14.d5 cxd5 15.xd5 threatens to take on e7 with the bishop and
d3 16.e3 c5 17.f4 b2 18.ac1; t h e n o n c 5 w i t h t h e s a m e p i e c e . c6
13.ad1 d7 14.d5 cxd5 15.xd5 0-0-0 ( 11...f6 12.xf6 exf6 13.d2 g4
16.d4 d3 ) 13...cxd5 14.xd5 c6 14.f4 xf3 15.xf3 d7 16.xb7;
15.b5 ( 15.xc6+ xc6 16.d4 d5 11...e6 12.e7 e8 13.xc5 xc3
17.b5 0-0-0! 18.f4 d3 ) 15...0-0 14.b1 ) 12.d5 This is the problem with
16.b3 d3 It is very hard to evaluate such having the c5-pawn interrupting the queen's
lines at the board, for even a Grandmaster. control of this square. c4 13.dxc6 ( 13.f1
But put it this way: for the future of 8...Qb6, d8 ) 13...cxd3 14.xe7 xc3 ( 14...e8
12...Ba3 has to work! ] 15.b4 )]
13.ac1N 11...e8 12.c4 c6 13.d5 d8
[ 13.d5 cxd5 14.xd5 d3 15.xd3 xd3 [ 13...b5 14.d3 d8 15.c4 b4 16.e5 ]
16.xb7 b8 17.c6 b5 18.xb5 xb5 14.b1 d7
19.ac1 c5 20.e3 e7 21.xc5+ xc5 [ 14...a6! 15.d6 e6 ]
22.d4 hc8 23.b1 b6 24.f4 a5 15.e5 a4 16.f3! f8
25.b2 c4 26.d2 d5 27.ed1 a4 [ 16...xc2 17.b5 ]
was unconvincing for White. Bloemhard, R- [ 16...c8 17.d6 e6 18.d7 ]
Remmel, T/ Dieren 2000 ] 17.d3 c8 18.c4 c7 19.g5 e6 20.d6
13...b2 14.h4! From here on in, Nisipeanu d7 21.e7 e8 22.e5 xe5 23.xe5
plays extremely well. By decoying the Bishop xe7
he softens e6. g6 15.xe6 0-0-0 [ 23...c6 24.f6 xd6 ( 24...xe5
[ Naturally 15...fxe6 loses: 16.xe6+ d8 25.xe5 f5 26.xb7 ) 25.h5 e5 ( 25...f8
17.a5+ b6 18.xg6 hxg6 19.xc6+- ] 26.g3 e5 27.h4 e6 28.xh7 xf6
16.xd7+ xd7 29.h8+ g7 30.h6# )]
[ 16...xd7 17.xg6 hxg6 18.b1 24.dxe7 xe7 25.b5 xb5 26.xb5 b6
is simple enough. ] 27.b1 c6 28.ee1 g7 29.bd1 c7
17.e8+ d8 18.xc6+! Black is dead meat. 30.d3 f6 31.g3 e7 32.h4 h5
bxc6 19.xc6+ b8 20.f4+ d6 33.ed1 f8 34.f4 g7 35.d6 g8
21.xd6+ xd6 22.xd6+ a8 23.xg6 36.e4 e8 37.a4 g7 38.f3 e7?
fxg6 24.xf6 c8 25.e6 b7 26.d5+ [ 38...c8 39.d7 ]
b8 27.g3 A challenging game for Centre- [ 38...h7 ]
Counter fans, but Black need not play 8...Qb6 39.xc6 e8 40.dd6 xc6 41.xc6
and even if he does, there might be 12...Ba3 W hat amazes me in this saga is that there
to fall back on. seem to be such a weariness with the burden
1-0 of computerized theory nowadays that even
titled players are ready to accept anything
and even give the highly suspect 5...Ne4 a try
297 B01 in a serious game, just to emancipate
Palliser,Richard 2413 themselves from its tyranny. Unfortunately,
Majer,Christopher 1991 'one swallow does not make a summer', when
Monarch Assurance Isle of Man (3) 25.09.06 no t e sta b lish ed on so lid last in g o p en in g
[Eric Prié] principles.
1-0
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4
f6 5.f3 e4?! 6.d3! xc3 7.bxc3 g6
8.0-0 g7 9.d2 0-0 10.e1 c5 Black is
desperately striving to improve on 10...Nc6 as
in the next game but it seems to just make
things worse. 11.h3!?
[ 11.xe7?! c6 12.e1 g4 ]
[ 11.g5! The inconvenience of ...c5. White
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development, with each of his pieces active popular nowadays and it's not easy for White
and ideally posted, in return for the to prove an advantage. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5
opponent's laughable joy at having "sprung a xd5 3.c3 d8 4.d4 f6 5.f3
surprise"! d7 [ In the classic game Fischer-Addison, Palma
[ 11...xa2 12.e5 Forces Black to part de Mallorca 1970 W hite pref erred 5.c4
with the sole defender of his castle unless and Black immediately committed serious
d7 13.c4+- ] mistake: f5? ( 5...c6 should be played,
[ 11...c6 and after 6.f3 f5 the game would
A) 12.c4!? h6 13.d5 ( 13.c1 g4 t r a n s p o s e t o t h e m a i n l in e .) 6.f3!
14.e2 ) 13...d8 14.b3; E x p l o i t i n g B l a c k ' s i n a c c u r a c y . c8
B) 12.c1!?; (wh a t e lse ? ) 7.g5! xc2 8.c1 g6
C) 12.a4! a6 13.e4 ( 13.c4!? h5 9.ge2 For the cost of only one pawn White
14.c3 e5 15.e4 f5 16.xb7 xe4 has an overwhelming development
17.xe4 exd4 18.xe8+ xe8 19.xc7 ) advantage and the active position of all his
13...d5 14.c4 d8 15.d5 b8 pieces that makes Black's defence
16.e2 Isn't Black's position comic?! ] extremely hard. bd7 10.0-0 e6 11.xf6
12.c4! Game over. h5 gxf6 ( 11...xf6 is hardly better in view
[ 12...a6 13.c3 xa2 14.a1 b2 12.d5! e5 13.b5! with a growing
15.a4 ] initiative.) 12.d5! e5 13.b5 e7 14.g3
[ 12...xa2 13.c1 a4 14.c5 c6 a6 15.d3! By exchanging light-squared
15.b5 f6 16.g5 f5 17.d3 d5 Bishops White obtains firm control over the
( 17...g4 18.e4 ) 18.c4 c6 19.e4 key f5-square. d8 16.h4 h5 17.f5 b6
a6 20.a1 e6 21.d5! Stronger than 18.ce4 xd5 19.fd1 c6 20.c3 b6
the 'got you!' 21.Bxb7 which would allow the 21.xd5 cxd5 22.xd5 xb2 23.b1
black queen to die with honour. f5 22.c6 xa2 24.xb7 and Black resigned. ]
bxc6 23.xc6 b8 24.xa7+- ] 5...c6
13.e4! g5 Unfortunately for Black, this is the [ Black has also tried 5...g4?! , but this
only move. move is weaker: 6.h3 h5 7.g4 g6
[ 13...f6 14.g4 h3 15.f1 ] 8.e5 e6 9.g2! c6 10.0-0 bd7 11.e2
14.xg5 f5 15.xe7 xe7 16.xe7 xe5 12.dxe5 d7 13.e4 h5 14.f4
W hite has good compensation for his two hxg4 15.hxg4 a5 16.ad1 0-0-0 17.a3
extra pawns, thus the prolongation of this e7 18.d6+ xd6 19.xd6 b6 20.c4
game, f rom the B lack point of view, only with a huge edge for White, Chandler-Santo
destined to lessen the ridiculousness of his Roman, Cannes 1992. ]
aborted ambush, does not entail any interest. 6.c4 f5 7.e5! This move is the only way
b6 17.h4 xd1+ 18.xd1 f4 19.f5 b7 to fight for any real opening advantage.
20.g5 f3 21.xg7 xg7 22.e1 f8 [ Quiet moves like 7.0-0 don't promise White
23.e7+ f7 24.h6+ f6 25.g5+ g7 anything: e6 8.f4 e7 9.d3 g4
26.xf7+ xf7 27.xh7 fxg2 28.f5 f6 10.e4 xe4 11.xe4 d7 12.h3 h5
29.d5 c6 30.d6 13.c3 f6 14.d3 0-0 with a balanced
1-0 position, Rivera Kuzawka-Garcia Ilundain,
Ponferrada 1997. ]
7...e6 8.g4 g6!
300 B01 [ 8...e4?! is weaker since after 9.xe4
Perez,Luis 2459 xe4 10.f3! White is clearly better. The
Martinez,Jose 2465 game Sermek-Gerencer, Pula 1999
Varadero 2000 c o n t i n u e d : d6 11.b3 d7 12.e3
[Alexander Volzhin] xe5 13.dxe5 a5+ 14.c3 xe5 15.0-0-0
For the cost of only one pawn W hite has
Black's plan of developing his light-squared h u g e d e v e l o p m e n t a d va n t a g e a n d h i s
Bishop to the f5-square. is much more initiative grows rapidly. e7 16.he1 g5
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17.xd5 cxd5 18.0-0-0 f6 is slightly h8 25.d8+ g7 26.g8+ h6 27.e4
better for Black.) 14...xe5 15.dxe5 d4+ 28.g2 b2+ 29.h3
xc4 16.xc4 a5+ 17.c3 0-0-0 with unavoidable mate. ]
18.f4 h5 19.d4 d5 20.f2 xe5 21...d4+ 22.g2 d2+ 23.h3 g7
wi t h a d e c is i ve a d va n t a g e f o r B l a c k , 24.e7 f4 25.g5+
Haznedaroglu-Lopez Martinez, Yerevan 1-0
2000. ]
11.xc2 xd4 12.e2?! This move leads to
wild complications. 301 B01
[ After the simple 12.f4! it's not easy to prove Perez Ferris,Miguel
B l a c k h a s e n o u g h f o r t h e p i e c e : xg4 Hernando Rodrigo,Jose Maria 2355
( 12...e4 13.h3 g1+ 14.f1 ) 13.xg4 VII Pablo Gorbea (1) 2003
xc4 14.d2 intending Q-side castling with [Andrew Martin]
a clear edge for White. ]
12...xc3+? 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4
[ Just a few days later after this game Black f6 5.f3 g4 An older move which hasn't
im p r o v e d wit h 12...b5! , Herrera-Del Rio, really been getting much attention recently but,
Santa Clara 2000. 13.b3 xc3+ 14.bxc3 as you'll see, the results are very good. 5...
xc3+ 15.f2 xa1 16.d1 c3 Bg4 is a very aggressive move but the Bishop
The difference is Black's Queen can now might get into trouble? 6.e3
retreat to the e7 via c5 squares. 17.xf7 [ 6.h3 is the critical line which I don't think
0-0 18.xe6 a6 19.b2 c5+ 20.d4 most average players know very well at all.
e7 The critical position for the whole line. h5 ( 6...xf3 7.xf3 c6 is an extremely
It's not easy to evaluate it even in home tough nut to crack, although a radically
analysis. 21.g5? A gross mistake. different game to the one that we will see.
( 21.xf6!? deserves serious attention: xf6 There are similarities with the French Fort
22.g5+ h8 23.c2 h6 24.g3! Knox. ) 7.g4 g6
- I can only say the position is a mess!) A) 8.b4!? In the style of the Mieses
21...g4+ 22.g2 xf7 23.fxg4 e8 Gambit. 8 b4 might not be sound but, hey,
24.e1 c7 25.xf7+ xf7 26.e5 d5 it's difficult to play against and a lot of fun!.
27.g3 b6 28.c2 c4 29.c3 xe5 xb4 9.d2 d6 10.b1
30.xe5 c7 31.f4 xe5 32.xe5 A1) 10...b6 i s m u c h b e t t e r : 11.e5
xe5+ 33.xe5 c5 and White resigned. ( 11.g2 c6 ) 11...xd4 12.xg6
Undoubtedly, this line is very interesting e4!;
and both sides are able to improve. A2) 10...c6? Poor. 11.xb7 bd7
Definitely we can expect new exciting games 12.g2 h5 13.g5 e4 14.0-0 e6
here. ] 15.xd7 xd7 16.e5 xd4 17.xg6
13.bxc3 xc3+ 14.f2 xa1 15.d1 c3 fxg6 18.xe4 0-0-0 19.e2 c7
16.b2 b4 17.xf7! Here this blow is 20.d1 d6 21.b5+ 1-0 Tronenkovs,
decisive. 0-0 V-Dimitrijevic, A/EYb18, Budva YUG
[ 17...e4+!? doesn't work either: 18.xe4 2003;
xb2+ 19.g3 and Black is helpless: 0-0 B) 8.e5 e6 9.g2 ( 9.h4 b4 10.h3
20.g5 g6 21.xe6+ h8 22.d8! xd8 is supposed to be good for White but just
23.e7 with unavoidable mate. ] look at what happens to him here! xc3+
18.xf6 gxf6 19.xe6 c3 11.bxc3 bd7 12.h5 xe5 13.dxe5
[ 19...g7 is no better in view of 20.h5! h6 xe5+ 14.e3 e4 15.d3 xc3+
21.f5 , mating. ] 16.d2 c6 17.g5 xd3 0-1 Moes, W-
20.d8! Exchanging the sole defender of Bjarnason, O/12th Monarch Assurance,
Black's King. d7 21.xa8 Port Erin IOM 2003) 9...c6 10.h4 ( 10.0-0
[ 21.xd7 w a s n o t b a d e i t h e r : ae8 bd7 11.h4 xe5 12.dxe5 xe5
22.g5+! xe6 23.xe6+ f7 24.xf7+ 13.e1 c7 14.h5 xc2 15.xc2 xg4
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
16.a4 f6 17.g5 should favour White, stronger than the Knight. It's easy for Black to
Del Rio Angelis, S-Hernando Rodrigo, J/ dissolve his weaknesses i.e. ...Bb6, ...c6-c5
VII Pablo Gorbea, Madrid ESP 2003 (57)) but virtually impossible for White to do likewise.
10...e4 11.xe4 xe4 12.f3 d6 Demoralised with the turn of events, W hite
13.e3 ( 13.d2 c7 14.0-0-0 d7 goes under. 15.ab1
15.he1 e7 16.h5 0-0 17.g5 xe5 [ If 15.d1 then b6 16.c3 c5! 17.dxc5
18.dxe5 f5 gives an edge to White, xc5 18.e1 e7 ]
Macak, S-Karnik, P/Tatry Open, Tatranske 15...xc3 16.bxc3 e7 17.b3 hd8
Zruby SVK 2003 (87).) 13...e7 14.a3 18.fb1 b6! The rook and pawn ending
0-0 15.f1 d8 16.g2 d7 17.ad1 might look tricky for Black to win, but he has
f6 18.d3 e8 19.g3 f7 20.he1 two major advantages: 1) His King is nearer to
c4 21.f4 db6 22.f2 d5 23.b1 the centre. 2) He has only three weak pawns,
b5 24.c3 d6 25.f3 ae8 26.d2 easily covered, to White's six! 19.f1 d5
g6 27.e4 f5 28.xd6 fxg4 20.e2 a6 21.a3 c5! 22.dxc5 xc5
Baeza Andres, R-Hernando Rodrigo, J/VII 23.d1 ac6 It's just too easy. 24.d3 d6+
Pablo Gorbea, Madrid ESP 2003, when Some lines are theoretically suspect, but can
29.e4 is forced. Without the main idea of give excellent results over the board. For me,
flinging his Kingside pawns forward to gain 5...Bg4 fits into that category. Below master
space and put pressure on the Bishop, level, I think it's a very good bet and even for
White achieves nothing. Matters are far the strongest players will yield very good
from clear however- Black has results if used correctly at the right time.
counterplay!! ] 0-1
[ 6.e2 You can count on this insipid type of
move if the opponent is unprepared. Black
equalizes effortlessly: e6 7.0-0 bd7 302 B01
8.e5 xe5 9.dxe5 d8 10.d2 xe5 Perez Mitjans,O 2487
11.xg4 xg4 12.xg4 xd2 13.ad1 Monell Camarasa,D 2266
xd1 14.xd1 c5 1/2-1/2 Sejkor a, V- 40th La Roda Open (9.8) 31.03.2013
Papan, C/ Tatry Open, Tatranske Zruby [Tom Rendle]
SVK 2003 Although Black is for choice. ]
6...c6 7.b5 e4! Good enough for 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d8 4.f3
equality. Black is f orcing exchanges and f6 5.d4 c6 This is more solid than the 5...
demonstrating that the Bishop on e3 is Bf5 played by Bogdanovski in the previous
i n e f f e c t u a l . 8.d2 Others lead to easy game but Black still has to be careful in this
equality for Black: position. 6.c4
[ 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.d2 ( 9.d3 xf3 [ 6.g5 is another option for White but it's
10.gxf3 xc3 11.d2 e6 12.xc3 b4 not as dangerous, at least not in the short-
13.g1 g6= ) 9...xd2 10.xd2 xf3 term. Andrew Martin examines it in
11.gxf3 b8 12.d1 d5= ] Stellwagen-Bartel. ]
[ 8.d3 xf3 9.gxf3 xc3 10.bxc3 a6 6...bd7 This is the first time this move has
11.xc6+ bxc6 12.g1 e6 13.c4 d5= ] been seen on ChessPublishing - the idea is
8...xd2 9.xd2 xf3 10.gxf3 e6 11.g5 obviously to avoid the complication that arise
Threatening Bxc6+ but the idea is comfortably after 6...Bf5 7.Ne5 with g4 to follow. I've also
parried. b4!= 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.xa5 added in some recent games and analysis to
[ 13.xg7 xc3+ 14.e2 ( 14.bxc3 complement what can be found in the
xc3+ ) 14...0-0-0 15.bxc3 xc3 ] archives.
13...xa5 14.0-0 b8 The opening phase [ 6...b5!? was played in Zorko-Vukovic and
has gone extremely well for Black. W hite there White played 7.Bb3 but I'm wondering
hasn't played with much of a plan and now if i t ' s b e t t e r t o c h a n g e p l a n s n o w wi t h
s t a n d s wo r s e . He h a s a ve ry p o o r p a wn 7.d3!? and claim Black's b5 move is a
structure and the Bishop is potentially much weakness. Play might continue g6 8.0-0
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g7 9.e4 ( or 9.e1!? ) 9...0-0 10.c3 12.0-0-0?! e6 13.h3 xf3 14.xf3 xc3
and W hite has a normal slight advantage 15.xc3 and Black had pretty much
even without Black's now rather odd looking equalised in Gonzalez Perez, A (2491)-
b5. This is certainly a very comfortable way Monell Camarasa, D (2259) Lleida 2012)
for White to deal with the interesting 6...b5 ] 12...xd5 13.h3 xf3 ( 13...h5?! 14.g4
[ 6...f5 has long been considered the g6 15.0-0-0 and White has a big
mainline and now critical is 7.e5 e6 8.g4 initiative. ) 14.xf3 ]
g6 9.h4! b4! 10.f3! ( 10.h5 e4 9.e5 e6 10.g4 g6 11.f4!
should be OK for Black ) [ 11.h4?! is less effective here as Black can
A) 10...d5 11.xd5 cxd5 12.h5! probably get away with xd4 and then meet
( 12.e2 was less clear in Kotronias- 12.h5 with e4 ]
Candela Perez.) 12...f6 13.hxg6 fxe5 11...e7 This blocks the e-file and stops f5 but
14.gxh7 c6 15.dxe5 now White's h-pawn joins in the fun!
A1) 15...d4!? is Andrew Martin's [ 11...xd4? 12.f3! d6 13.f5
suggestion from several years ago. With wins a piece. ]
the help of a faster computer I believe [ 11...b4 is Black's other option - at least
W hite is doing well after 16.a3 a5 he's now threatening Be5 but instead of h4
17.b4 dxc3 18.bxa5 xa5 19.d3! W hite now plays 12.f5 and Black is in big
( stronger than saving the pawn with trouble: xd4 is the best that Black can do
19.f4 d8 ) 19...xe5+ 20.f2 but after ( 12...exf5?? loses a queen to
and although the position remains 13.xc6+ ) 13.fxg6 ( 13.d2!? ) 13...xc3+
unclear White has managed to 14.bxc3 xc3+ 15.f1! Black is lost. For
coordinate and the pawn on h7 still gives example xa1?! ( 15...hxg6 16.b1
him a clear advantage.; is Black's best chance but it must still be
A2) 15...b6 16.f1 0-0-0 17.g2 good for W hite as the extra piece is
xe5 18.e2 g6 and here a draw definitely worth more than 3 pawns here.)
was agreed in Paramos Dominguez, R 16.gxf7+ d8 17.g2 and Black's queen is
(2434)-Garcia Ilundain, D (2467) Cala in trouble and White has a winning attack. ]
Galdana 2001 but I believe White should 12.h4! There's nothing Black can do here -
p l a y o n wi t h 19.d3! e5 20.b5 he's simply losing a piece. bd5 13.xd5?
xc3 21.xb6 axb6 22.bxc3 This appears to be the simplest option but
and White is basically a pawn up.; actually Black has a clever way to get
B) 10...xc2 11.xc2 xd4 12.e2! counterplay
has scored very well for White. Indeed it [ 13.f5! was the right way to do it - for
seems that after xc3+ 13.bxc3 xc3+ example exf5 14.h5 xc3 15.bxc3
14.f2 xa1 15.d1! Black is in serious and the bishop on g6 is lost. ]
trouble - see Perez-Martinez from the 13...xd5? Black misses his opportunity and
archives. ] now he's lost.
7.e2 b6 8.b3 f5?! Black's attempted [ 13...exd5! isn't so clear. What both players
improvement over his own previous game but p r o b a b l y m i s s e d w a s t h a t a f t e r 14.f5
W hite comes up with a f orcef ul idea that Black can keep fighting with e4! 15.fxg6
almost refutes it. xh4+ 16.d1 f2+ 17.d2 e4+!
[ 8...a5 had been tried by Monell Camarasa and the position is a mess, although
in an earlier game and I think it's the best apparently White is better after
move although with accurate play White is ( 17...xh1?? 18.xc6+ ) 18.e3!
still somewhat better: 9.a3 a4 10.a2 according to Houdini at least! ]
bd5 11.d2 g4 and now White could've 14.h5 f6 15.xc6
kept an edge with ( 11...xc3! 12.xc3 f5 [ 15.hxg6 is also very strong ]
looks like a better equalising attempt 15...bxc6 16.hxg6 b4+
although W hite can still try 13.e5 e6 [ 16...h6 17.xe6 is also terrible for Black ]
14.f3!? preparing g4.) 12.xd5! ( instead 17.c3 xc3?! A desperate attempt that
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[ After 9.e3?! g4! it is White who has to [ Although there was nothing wrong with
fight for equality! In Janetsch - Larsen, 1977, 26.fe1 the text move is good as the rook
he f ailed to achieve this: 10.d5 xf3 could be useful on the f-file as we'll see. ]
11.gxf3?! ( The natural 11.xf3 looks better 26...h6 27.f3 b6 28.fxe4 bxc5 29.bxc5
e5 12.c5 bc4 with mutual chances.) h5
11...a5! 12.c5 bc4 13.f4 e6! [ 29...g4 30.f3 winning ]
sacrificing a pawn in order to penetrate to 30.e5 e6 31.f2 a5 32.c6 c5 33.b7
the 7th rank 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.xd8 axd8 The quickest way to win as the pawn on e5
16.xc7 d2 with a clear advantage for cannot be taken. d5
Black. ] [ 33...xe5 34.xe5 xe5 35.f7+ xf7
9...e5 36.xf7 e1+ 37.f1 winning ]
[ 9...a5?! leads to a clear advantage for 34.e7 Black resigned.
W h i t e a f t e r 10.c5 xc3 11.cxb6 g7 1-0
12.f4! xb2 ( 12...axb6 13.b4 xa1
14.xa1 b3 15.b2 winning ) 13.bxc7 ]
10.xe5 306 B01
[ 10.c5!? is worth considering. The game Ponizil,Cyril 2198
Brodski - Maljutin, Moscow, 1991 continued: Bombek,Peter 2225
bd7 11.e3 xf3+ 12.xf3 e5 13.e2 17th Pobeskydi Hamont Cup (8) 16.04.2006
c6 14.f4! d7 15.f3 a5? A ridiculous [Andrew Martin]
move. ( 15...cxd5 should be preferred, after
16.xd5 c7 17.ac1 f6 18.d1 d8 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4
19.e2 White is slightly better, but Black f6 5.f3 e4 I have given up putting !?
easily held the position in Vlad - Prudnikova, next to 5..Ne4. You either like it or you don't!
Romania, 1992.) 16.dxc6 xc5 17.d5! The surprise value is waning so I will simply
and Black is in trouble. ] say that there is no known refutation. The
10...xe5 11.h6 g7?! A clear inaccuracy. only problem for Black is that the line is very
After the exchange of dark-squared Bishops easy to avoid, White can either delay d4 or
White obtains a huge space advantage. Nf3. 6.d2 xd2 7.xd2 e6 8.g3 b4
[ Black has a playable position after 11...e8 The idea is simple enough. Black will
12.d2 ( 12.c5 leads White nowhere after downgrade White's pawn structure and hope
xc3 ) 12...e6! and White couldn't obtain t o s lo wl y n e u t r a l ize sm a l l W h i t e l e a d i n
any advantage in Dmitriev - Volzhin, Russia, development.
1990: 13.ad1 exd5 14.cxd5 d7 15.fe1 [ 8...c6 has recently been tried, a passive-
c8 16.g5 f6 17.xf6 xf6 18.b5 looking move, but as usual with these type
xb5 19.xb5 d6 20.b4 xb5 of positions, very difficult to play against.
21.xb5 xe1+ 22.xe1 b6 23.g3 d6= ] Black plans a slow unfolding of the game for
12.xg7 xg7 13.d4+ f6 the two Bishops. In the following example
[ 13...g8 14.c5 d7 was also not much White can find no way through. 9.g2 e7
fun. ] 10.0-0 d7 11.a3 0-0 12.fe1 f6 13.b4
14.c5 e5 15.d2 d7 16.b4 f5 17.ad1 c7 14.e5 d8 15.f4 d6 16.h4 a5
a5 18.a3 axb4 19.axb4 Black's position is 17.ab1 axb4 18.axb4 d5 The dormant
very diff icult. His pieces are passive and Bishop on c8 doesn't seem to worry Black at
cannot be activated due to White's powerful all. 19.e4 e7 20.h5 g6 21.h6 f8
pawn mass, his king is also not safe. f4?! 22.h4 e7 23.xe7 xe7= 24.b5 cxb5
[ This pawn advance makes things worse. 25.xb5 c7 26.b3 xd4 27.c3 b4
19...f6 was more tenacious. ] 28.d1 xb3 29.cxb3 a6 ( 29...g7 )
20.d6! f6 21.b5! cxd6 22.b2! f5 30.a4! Hanging on. b8 31.b6 c5
23.xd6 e7 24.f3 e4 This is losing but 32.b4 b3 33.ec4 e5 34.xc8
B l a c k h a d n o c h o i c e . 25.xe4! xe4 1/2-1/2 Ponizil, C-Chytilek, R/Brno 2005
26.de1 The strategy of gaining the two Bishops
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continued: c6 7.d2 g4 8.g5! e5 attempt to fight for an opening advantage.
9.d5 b4 10.f3 f5 11.ge4 W hite intends transfer the rook to the e3-
with an obvious advantage for White. d7 square threatening h4-h5, and meanwhile the
12.0-0-0 c6 13.dxc6 xd2+ 14.xd2 xe4 Kn igh t o n c3 is "o verp ro t ecte d " whic h is
15.xe4 xc6 This move leads to new important in many lines (for example, ...Bxc2
weaknesses, but ( 15...xe4 is no better: will never work). bd7 11.e2 b6 12.h5
16.fxe4 xc6 17.c4 e7 18.f1 e4 13.f4
with a huge advantage in the endgame.) [ T h e t e m p t i n g 13.g5? is bad in view of
16.xf6+ gxf6 17.d3 0-0-0 18.hd1 c7 xd4! 14.gxf6 xe5 15.fxg7 g8 16.e3
19.c3 h5 20.f5 xd2 21.xd2 b8 ( Unfortunately, 16.h6 is impossible in view
22.h4 h6 23.xh6 xh6 24.a4 h8 of xc4 ) 16...xg7! and Black wins, as was
25.b4 b6 26.b5! Now the Knight is pointed out by Ponomariov: 17.xe4 xc3+
completely out of play. g8 27.c2 axb5 18.f1 h2! ]
28.axb5 e8 29.c4 , and Black resigned. ] 13...xd4 14.d1 d3! Both players play
6...bd7 7.0-0 b5 8.b3 b7 9.g5! very inventively. 15.hxd3 xf4 16.d4
Only 9 moves have been played, but Black's h2 17.xf7! The typical blow. 0-0 18.xe6
position is hopeless already! e6 The critic al position. Although W hite's
[ 9...d5 is just a blunder in view of 10.xf7! ach ieveme nts are o bviou s B lack h as his
xf7 11.xd5 xd5 12.h5+ and Black chances due to the unsafe position of White's
can resign. ] King in the centre. bd5 19.e5! g2
10.e1! Simple and good. Now the e6-square 20.xb4!
becomes the main target. e7 11.xe6! [ 20.d6+ le a d s W h i t e n o wh e re : h8
fxe6 12.xe6 b4 13.a3 a5 14.d2 21.1d3 xf2+! 22.xf2 xg4+ 23.g2
[ The straightforward 14.e2 was not bad xe5 with advantage for Black. ]
either after the obligatory g8 15.g5 20...xb4 21.d8! xc2+ 22.e2 g1?
df6 White has quite a pleasant choice A gross blunder.
between 16.e5 ( and 16.xf6 gxf6 [ T h e c o r re c t 22...axd8 leads to a draw:
17.d5 ) 16...f8 17.xg8 d6 18.e6 23.xd8+ h8 24.f7+ xf7 ( 24...g8?
xe5 19.xe5 with a quick win in both is bad in view of 25.h6! g1 26.hxg7
cases. ] e1+ 27.d3 b4+ 28.c4 and White
14...b4 The only move as 15 Nd5, trapping the wins. ) 25.b8+ ( 25.xf7? xf2+! 26.d3
queen, was threatened. 15.axb4 f5 16.e2 e1+ 27.c4 b5+ 28.b3 xb2+! )
g8 17.a5! f8 18.d5 d8 19.b5 d6 25...g8 26.xf7 xg4+ 27.f1 h3+
[ 19...axb5 20.xb5 ] with perpetual or an equal position after
20.bxa6 c6 21.b4! b8 28.e2 g4+ 29.d2 d7+ 30.xc2
[ B l a c k r e s i g n e d i n v i e w o f 21...b8 xf7 31.xa7 h6 ]
22.xc6+ xc6 23.e4 and White wins 23.d6! Obviously Black missed this move.
the piece back. A great performance from Now the game is over. e1+ 24.d3 e8
the 16-year-old! ] 25.xa8 b4+ 26.c4
1-0 [ In view of 26.c4 b5+ 27.b3 xa8
28.d8+ Black resigned. Now let's draw
some conclusions. This variation occurs
308 B01 ve r y s e l d o m i n m o d e r n p r a c t i c e b u t i t
Ponomariov,Ruslan 2550 certainly deserves more attention. It leads
Garcia Ilundain,David 2520 to very sharp, interesting play where both
Pamplona 1996 sides have chances. ]
[Alexander Volzhin] 1-0
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Black's two bishops give him enough 12.ad1 White has kept a typical edge for this
compensation for his bad pawn structure, line. All pieces are still on the board and he
although I think I'd be happy enough as has a pleasant space advantage - his main
Black here. ( or 11...b8!? ); problem is finding ways of increasing the
A3) 8...c6 9.c3 c7 10.c4 g7 pressure. e8 13.c1
11.e5 0-0 12.a4 cd5 13.a5 h6 [ 13.h3 feels more natural and now after
14.e2 h5 15.0-0 hf4 16.e1 b6 14.b3 a5 15.h6 Black's position is
even this position seems fine for Black to very difficult to play ]
me. Here Tiviakov took on e2 but 13...b6 14.b3 a5 15.a4
perhaps it was better to simply develop [ 15.h6 personally I'd want to exchange
with e6 and I can't believe Black is these bishops but it's partly a matter of taste
really worse here.; I guess. xh6 16.xh6 a4 17.h3 ]
B) 7.c4 g7 8.f4 a6 9.h3 15...f5 16.a2 White is looking to gain
I'm not sure if this is necessary, Black space in the centre with c4 but this strikes me
seems to be close to equalising here. as a little artificial
( 9.e2 offers more chance for an [ 16.d3!? xd3 ( 16...e6 may be best,
advantage ) 9...0-0 10.e2 c5! 11.0-0 keeping the tension) 17.xd3 gives White's
cxd4 12.fxd4 e4 13.f3 ac5 rooks a few more options ]
( Black is very comfortable after the 16...bd5 17.d2 c7 18.c4!? xd4
immediate 13...e5! 14.xe4 exf4 15.d2 This seems to lead to a draw
c5 16.d5 e6! followed by ...a6) [ 18...d7 is a possible way for Black to play
14.b4 e5 15.bxc5 xc5 16.g3 exd4 on but White is a little better after 19.h6 ]
17.c7 b8 18.d5 a8 19.c7 b8 19.f4 c5 20.xf7! Otherwise White is
20.d5 a8 ( 20...e6 was the more simply a pawn down xf7
ambitious way to proceed - Black has [ 20...g4!? would be a final attempt but it's
exc elle nt pla y f o r t h e e xch a nge af t e r hard to play this during the game. It seems
21.xb8 xb8 22.d2 d6 ) 21.c7 likely to lead to a draw anyway with one
1/2-1/2 Grandelius, N (2572)-Tiviakov, S m a i n l i n e b e i n g 21.xg4 ( 21.xc7?
(2655) Wijk aan Zee 2013 ] loses to xf2+ 22.h1 e3; 21.f1 e6
6...g7 is a little better for Black) 21...xg4 22.d2
[ 6...c6!? has been tried in one game but xf7 23.xc7 h6 24.e5 xd2 25.xd2
W hit e is do ing well a f te r 7.d5! ( 7.a3 a3 26.f4+ f5 27.xf5+ gxf5 28.xf5+
was less critical in Sonjaya, D (2313)-Bitoon, g7 29.g5+ f7 30.f5+= ]
R (2504) Jakarta 2011.) 7...b4 8.b5 21.e3 e5 22.f4 c5 23.e3
b6 9.c4 Black has nothing better than to take the
A) 9...a6 10.e3 c5 ( 10...a5? 11.c3 repetition here e5 24.f4 c5 A short but
and the knight is trapped on b4) 11.c3 interesting draw.
with a clear edge to White; ½-½
B) 9...c6 10.e3 a5 11.c3 ]
7.e5 0-0 8.0-0 e6 After this White seems
to get some edge 311 B01
[ 8...c6 puts more pressure on White's Psakhis,Lev 2599
centre but after 9.b5 d8 10.xc6 bxc6 Manor,Ilan 2504
11.a3 b8 12.c3 White keeps an edge ] Israel 2000
[ 8...c5! looks best to me and Black could be [Alexander Volzhin]
equalising here, for example 9.b5 b6
10.a4 cxd4 11.c4 d8! 12.xd4 ( or 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.f3 xd5 4.d4 g6
12.xd4 d5 ) 12...c6 and Black has no 5.c4 b6 6.h3 g7 7.c3 0-0 8.e3 c6
problems ( 12...xd4 13.xd4 a6 9.e2 e5 10.d5 e7 11.g4!? This line is
is also sensible )] considered in the games Varavin-Terekhin
9.f4 d8 10.e1 c6 11.d2 bd7 and Varavin-Vshivkov (see AV134). Now this
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
line becomes more and more popular and , and the Bishop is by no means trapped in
recent practice proves Black has difficult view of 18.d6! ) 17.xc8 fxe3 ( 17...xc8
problems to solve here. e8!? Alternatives: 18.e6 is even worse for Black.) 18.xe7
[ 11...a5 was played in the above mentioned xe7 19.xe3 Now White has a clear
games where Black failed to equalise ] extra pawn as well as a positional
[ T h e p a n i c k y 11...e4? is bad as well: a d va n t a ge . h6 20.h4 d7 21.b1
12.xe4 f5 ( 12...xb2 fails to 13.d4! ae8 22.h2 xg5 23.hxg5 c5
xa1 14.f6+ h8 15.xa1 and Black is 24.e4 and in a few moves Black
in real trouble.) 13.c3 fxg4 14.hxg4 xg4 resigned, Rodriguez,A - Gomez Baillo,
15.g5! The refutation is not difficult xe2 1996. ]
16.xe2 d7 17.xh7 fe8 18.0-0-0 12.b3! The best square for Queen in this
and White is winning, R.Anderson-Levina, line is b3 . d7 13.c5 b6 14.g5! f8
Los Angeles 2000 ] A sad necessity.
[ 11...f5!? Definitely this natural move is [ The natural looking 14...h6 is bad in view of
critical for the evaluation of the whole line. 15.xf7! and Black is in trouble: xf7
Here White has a wide choice. 16.d6+ f8 17.b5! c6 ( 17...xc5
A) 12.d2 e4! ( 12...fxg4? 13.g5 g3 18.xc5 bxc5 19.f3+ ) 18.d5! b7
14.0-0-0 h6 15.ge4 f5 16.fxg3 h7 19.c4 with unavoidable mate. ]
17.h4 xe3 18.xe3 f5 19.hf1 xe4 15.c6 c5 16.xc5 bxc5 17.ge4
20.xe4 e7 21.d3 g8 22.c3 b4 Now White wins the c5-pawn and it's not easy
23.e4 and White is winning, Ankerst- for Black to prove he has enough for it
Pfeiffer, Germany 1992.) 13.g5 h6 although the position is very sharp and very
14.gxe4!? fxe4 15.xe4 exd5! precise play is required. h8 18.0-0-0 f5
16.cxd5 xd5 17.c2 e6 18.0-0 c4 19.gxf5 gxf5 20.xc5 e4?! After this
19.d2 xd2 20.xd2 ad8 21.e4 inaccuracy W hite quickly obtains huge
h7 and Black is even slightly better, advantage.
Sulskis-Zolnierowicz, Pardubice 1994.; [ Black should try 20...d6 21.c4 e4
B) 12.gxf5? i s r i d i c u l o u s : xf5 with certain counterplay for the pawn. ]
and Black is already better: 13.c5 e8 21.e6! xe6 22.dxe6 e8 Black had a
14.e4 d4 15.d3 f5 16.fd2 d7 joyless choice.
17.a3 f6 18.g4 xe4 19.xe4 h6 [ 22...c8 is bad as well in view of 23.d7
Now White can castle neither side. 20.c5 xc6 24.xg7! xg7 25.g1+ h8
b6 21.xf5 gxf5 22.g1+ f7 23.d6 26.d5! and White wins: b7 27.e7 fe8
bxc5 24.dxc7 xc7 25.d1 e6 ( 27...f6 28.d7 ) 28.f7 ]
and White resigned, Ciuksyte-Medvegy, 23.d7 b8 24.c4 g6
Szeged 1994.; [ 24...b6 didn't help Black either: 25.c5!
C) 12.g5 h6 13.e6 xe6 14.dxe6 xc6 ( 25...h6+ 26.b1 xc6 27.d5
e8 15.b3 d8 16.0-0 c6 17.c5 xe6 28.c3+ e5 29.xb6 xc3
bd5 18.xd5 xd5 19.c4 xe6 20.f3 30.bxc3 axb6 31.xc7 ) 26.xg7! xg7
c6 21.ae1 d7 22.c2 h8 23.xd5 27.g1+ h8 28.d5! with decisive
cxd5 and in this complicated position threats. ]
Black has sufficient compensation for the 25.b1 f6 26.c1 fc8 27.c5 g6
exchange, Eolian-Mnatsakanian, Erevan 28.e7 The rest is easy. e5 29.a6 xd7
1977.; 30.cxd7 xa6 31.dxc8+ xc8 32.xf5
D) 12.b3! In my opinion, the best. The d3+ In this hopeless position Black
alternatives are weaker: h8 13.0-0-0 exceeded the time limit.
d7 14.g5 f6 15.b5! a6 16.a7! 1-0
After exchanging off Black's light-squared
Bishop White's Knight will occupy the key
e 6 - s q u a r e f o r e v e r . f4 ( 16...xa7
This idea doesn't work: 17.xa7 b6
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[ 14.b1 xb3! 15.cxb3 f4+ 16.a2 11.c3 xc6 12.xe4 xa4 13.c1
xe2 17.e3 ( 17.de1 d3-+ ) 17...e4 c6 14.c3 c5 and Black had
( 17...xg2 18.h4 ) 18.he1 xg2 e q u a li s e d i n G u n a r s so n - B r o n s t e i n ,
19.d2 ( 19.h4 xh2 ) 19...c2 20.a1 Reykjavik,1996. ]
d3-+ ] 6...b5!! The point! 7.xb5
14...xb3 White realizes his position has [ Probably 7.cxb5 is better, although after
suddenly become a ruin. d4! 8.a3 ( 8.b6+ d7 ) 8...e5!
[ 14...xb3 15.c3 xg2! ( 15...xa4 ) Black has an excellent position. ]
16.h4 g4 17.d2 ( 17.e4 xd1 7...c2+ Now White's king has to choose
18.xg2 c2# ) 17...xd1 18.xg2 f3 between two squares .Unfortunately for him
19.g1 xa4-+ ] both moves lose! 8.d2
0-1 [ 8.d1 d7 9.dxc6 ( After 9.a6 6b4
10.b7 c6! White's Queen was suddenly
trapped, Brashon - Gedult,1973.) 9...g4+
315 B01 It's interesting to note that from this moment
Rhode,AB on all Black's moves are checks! 10.xc2
Tsitevic d1+ 11.c3 xc1+ 12.b3 d1+
[Alexander Volzhin] 13.b4 a5+ 14.c5 e5+ 15.d5 d8+
16.xe5 d6+ and White resigned in
Before considering the main lines, let's have a Goldobov - Kanadin, Minsk, 1970, as the
lo o k a t t h e p ro vo ca tive 4 . . . Nb 4? ! wh ich "brave" King will soon be mated. ]
contains a very nice trick. Although this has 8...d7 9.dxc6 f5+ 10.d5 b4!!
been known since the last century, Black has Black's attack is even very strong without
won hundreds of games very easily with this Queens. 11.xd8+ xd8+ 12.c3 c2
line. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.d4 xd5 4.c4 13.f4 e5! Gaining an important tempo for
b4 5.a4+ Why not play to win the brave developing the dark-squared Bishop. 14.xe5
Knight?! b4+ 15.b3 b8 16.xc7 0-0!
[ 5.a3!? is worth considering 4c6 6.d5 Excellent! Now all Black's pieces participate in
e5 White is slightly better here, but th e a tt ack. 17.xb8 xb8 18.a3 xa3+
matters are not so clear. ] 19.c3
5...8c6 6.d5? [ W h i t e ' s K i n g h a s n o e s c a p e : 19.a2
[ Instead of the text 6.a3! should be played xb2# ]
a6 ( a sad necessity) 7.f3 ( 7.d5?! 19...b4+ 20.b3 d2+ 21.a4
here is also far from good in view of c5 [ 21.a2 also leads to a beautiful mate after
and now 8.b5?! is too optimistic in view of c1! and 22... Rb2 as 22.b3 allows another
e6! 9.dxc6 b6! and White's Queen is mate: b4# ]
trapped, for example: 10.e3 a6 11.b4 21...b4+ 22.a5 d4 Now Nxc6+ and Bc8
d3+; In my opinion, 7.e3! is best, after is unavoidable, so White resigned. Although I
d7 8.d1 e5 9.d5 e7 White is clearly can't recommend you try this line against
better, although the fight is still ahead.) Kasparov, why not to try it against somebody
7...e5! An excellent move! else?
A) 8.d5 c5 9.d1 d4 Look how 0-1
active Black's Knights are now! White can't
win a p a wn : 10.xd4 exd4 11.xd4?
( 11.b4 e7+ 12.e2 d3! is unclear.)
11...b3 12.e3+ e7 and Black wins
material;
B) 8.dxe5 c5 with obvious
compensation.;
C) 8.xe5 Probably White has nothing
better: xd4 9.xc6 e4+ 10.e3 d7
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11.b3 f5 12.xa6! xf4 ( 12...bxa6?? xd5 16.c4 e5 17.cxd5 exf4 18.e2+
13.xa6# ) 13.xa7 but the text move is d8 with decent play - Buecker;
even stronger. ] A2) 12.g2! xb2 ( 12...0-0-0!
11...g5 13.f3 ) 13.cd5 xd5 14.xd5;
[ 11...f6 12.e6 ] B) 10.d5!? e6? ( 10...e4! , when
[ 11...h6 12.b3 b4 13.d5 ] 11.xe4 xe4 12.f3 g6 13.e3 e6
[ 11...h5 12.xa6 ] 14.d2 might yield an edge) 11.f4 e5
12.g3 Black already has no defence against 12.xe5 b6 13.c4 c5 14.e2+
the numerous threats. h6 13.b3 b4 d8 15.0-0-0 and Black is getting killed,
[ 13...f5 14.xa6! ] Lagerman- Rodriguez Fonseca, Reykjavik
14.d5! ISL 2009. ]
[ 14.xa6 bxa6 15.xa6+ b7 16.xb7+ 9.d2
xb7 could prolong Black's suffering. ] [ One game this month followed a much-
14...e6? a n a lys e d va r ia t io n ch a m p io n e d b y I a n
[ 14...xc4 15.xe7# ] Rogers as Black: 9.g2 c6 10.h4 ( 10.0-0
[ 14...e8 was the only move to avoid has also been played) 10...bd7 ( 10...e4
checkmate after which W hite has a lot of 11.xe4 xe4 12.f3 d6 13.d2
winning possibilities: 15.xb4 ( 15.xa6!? with advantage, Macak, S-Karnik, P/Tatry
xd5 16.xd5 winning ) 15...xd1+ 16.c1 Open, Tatranske Zruby SVK 2003. )
xb4 ( 16...xb4 17.e2! ) 17.b3 A) 11.0-0!? xe5 ( 11...0-0-0 12.e2 )
winning another piece. ] 12.dxe5 xe5 13.e1 may well give
15.xc6+! Black resigned. W hite the advantage this simple ide a
1-0 should be looked into;
B) 11.xd7 xd7 (a long-debated
position) 12.d2
318 B01 B1) 12...h5 13.g5 g8 - Andrew Martin
Rivera,Daisy 2338 but it's hard to like Black's game after
Bauer,Christian 2590 14.e2 c7 ( 14...xc2 15.d5 )
Galicia Festival Blitz blitz (3) 26.09.2009 15.e4! xe4 16.xe4;
[John Watson] B2) 12...h6
B2a) 13.d5 exd5 14.xd5 e8+
Black is still playing one of the oldest lines in 15.e3 a4 16.b3 f4 17.f1
the Scandinavian, and GM Christian Bauer is ( 17.0-0 d6 18.e1 e4 ) 17...e4
leading the way. Remarkably, the variation 18.xe4 xe4 19.f3 Wynn Zaw Htun-
doesn't even appear in Jovanka Houska's R ogers, I, Bangkok 2004. In this
'Starting Out: the Scandinavian', probably colu mn, An drew Ma rtin su gge ste d
because the most recent battles concentrate e6! 'maintaining a strong initiative'.;
upon other lines. Nevertheless, there seems a B2b) 13.d5 a4 14.e3 d5
lot to look into here. The best source that I 15.h5 h7 16.f3 xd4 17.xf7+
know of is John Emms' second edition of 'The e7 18.xd5 cxd5 19.f3 e5+
Scandinavian'. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 20.e3 e4 21.h3 b4+ 22.f1
a5 4.d4 f6 5.f3 g4 6.h3 h5 7.g4 xc2 23.f3 e4 24.e2 a6 25.d1
g6 8.e5 e6 xg2+ 26.xg2 ac8 27.d3 hf8
[ Another recent game went 8...bd7 9.c4 28.h3 c5 29.e1 xe3 30.hxe3
a6 xb2 31.1e2 f6 32.b3 b5
A) 10.f4 is more usual and important, 33.xe6 xe6 34.xe6 xe6 35.a4
with the continuation e6+ 11.e3 b6! c4 36.e3+ e4 37.b6+ f7
can lead to 38.b7+ f6 39.f3 xa4 40.c6+
A1) 12.b5!? c8 13.g5 e4! 14.g1 e7 1/2-1/2 Safarli, E (2587)-Bauer, C
( best looks 14.f3 d5 15.xd5 xd5 (2590)/Lugo ESP 2009/The Week in
16.c4 e5 17.e3! ) 14...d5 15.xd5 Chess 777 ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ 9.h4 b4 ( 9...bd7 10.c4 a6 11.h5 [ 14.xa7+ b8 15.b5 xc2 16.c1
e4 12.h4! is thought to give some e4 17.g1 d5 ]
advantage ) 14...a6 15.c3 xd4 16.g2 c5! 17.e2
A) 10.h3 used to be the 'refutation' of c4 18.c3 xf2 with a won game: 19.hf1
Black's play in this line based upon a e3+ 20.b1 h5 21.f3 hxg4 22.hxg4
famous game by Karpov but theory has e4 23.xg7 g8 24.xe4 xe4 25.c3
changed over the years: xg4 26.c1 g2 27.d3 b6 28.a4 a5
A1) Alexander Volzhin annotated the 29.b3 d8 30.f6 d5 31.fe1 d4
following game in this column: ' 10...c6 32.xd4 xd4 33.g1 xg1 34.xg1 xd3
11.d2 b6 12.h5 e4 ( 12...xd4 35.cxd3 xd3 36.c2 f3
13.f3 ) 13.e3 xc3 ( 13...xd4? 0-1
was bad for Black because of 14.g5! )
14.xc3 d5 15.g5 e4 16.g4 d6
17.0-0-0 d7 18.e1! (c2-c4 is 319 B01
t h r e a t e n e d ) xe5 19.dxe5 f5 Rohde,Michael A
20.h3! White's idea is still c2-c4 and it Seirawan,Yasser
c a n n o t b e p a r r i e d ! 0-0-0 ( 20...c5 USA 1976
is not a defence due to 21.xd5 exd5 [Nigel Davies]
22.xf5 with a large advantage) 21.c4
c5 22.b4 That's why the Rook did not 5.Bc4 continues to flirt with transposition into
retreat to a3 - it would be hanging after the main lines, and this could easily come
Qb4. f3 23.xd8+ xd8 24.xf3 about if W hite played a later d2-d4. This
xe5 25.c3 The rest is not important. game sees White stubbornly refuse to do so,
d6 26.d3 d4 27.xf7 f5 and this highly imaginative game is rich in
28.xf5 f4+ 29.e3 Black resigned. combinative play. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5
1-0 Karpov, A-Rogers, I/Bath 1983; 3.c3 a5 4.f3 f6 5.c4 g4
A2) 10...xc3+ 11.bxc3 bd7 12.h5? [ Black can also wait with 5...c6 but then
( 12.xd7 xd7 13.g2 , and I like h5! 6.e2 creates some problems, for example
14.xb7 d8 ) 12...xe5 13.dxe5 f5 ( 6...e6 7.d4 b4 8.0-0 0-0 9.d2
xe5+ 14.e3 e4 15.d3 xc3+ left Black passively placed in Plaskett - Hunt,
16.d2 c6 17.g5 xd3 0-1 Moes- B r i t i s h C h . , H o v e 1 9 9 7; 6...g4?
Bjarnason, 12th Monarch Assurance, is bad because of 7.xf7+ xf7 8.e5+
Port Erin IOM 2003; etc. ) 7.e5 g6 8.d4 e6 9.d2 b4
B) 10.d2 bd7 11.xd7 xd7 12.g2 10.h4 bd7 11.h5 f5 12.f3 xe5
h5 13.g5 d5 , and Emms thinks White 13.dxe5 d7 14.0-0-0 and White was
gets something from 14.xd5 exd5 15.c3 much better in the game Crosa -
he8+ 16.e3 d6 17.b3! ] Spangenberg, Buenos Aires 2000 ]
9...b6 [ In Kharlov - Westerinen, Gausdal 1992
[ One of the shortest games I've ever seen Black's 5...f5 wa s m e t b y 6.b4!? b6
on ChessPublshing was 9...c6?? 10.b5 ( 6...xb4 7.e2 gives White very
b6 11.c4! xb5 12.d6+ 1-0 Diringer, dangerous attacking chances for the pawn)
B-Link, M/Wurttemberg 1990 1990. ] 7.0-0 e6 8.d3 e7 9.f4 0-0 10.b5
[ 9...bd7 10.c4 a6 11.f3 0-0-0 a6 11.a3 d5 12.e5 f6 13.e1
12.0-0-0 ] with much the better game for W hite
10.e2 because of his space. ]
[ 10.f3! c6 ( 10...c6 11.b5 0-0-0!? ) [ Another Kharlov game went 5...c6 6.h3
11.0-0-0 seems better, although Bauer was e5 7.b3 xf3+ 8.xf3 e5+ 9.e2
doubtless ready for this. ] e6 10.d4 e4 11.g3 d7 12.f3 g6
10...c6! 11.xc6 xc6 12.b5 xb5 13.f2 h5 14.h4 , once again with excellent
13.xb5 0-0-0 Black is more active and play for White in Kharlov - Reprintsev, St
stands better. 14.0-0-0?! Petersburg 1998 ]
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19.b3 xc3+ 20.a1 xd1 21.xd1 h5! 12.xc1 f6 13.g2 h5! and Black has
22.b1 White tries to create an attack down the easier position to play. ]
the b-file, but Black parries all the threats very 10.e3 g7 11.g3 xf3
easily. a5! 23.d5 [ 11...h5!? is slightly more aggressive but
[ 23.xe6 d o e s n ' t h e l p e i t h e r : xe5+ probably Kramnik wanted to grind out a win
24.b2 c7 25.xc7+ (forced) xc7 with a slower approach but after 12.g2 h4
and after the Bishop retreat and 26...hxg4 13.g4 f5! White definitely has to be the
Black wins one more pawn. ] more careful ]
23...c3+ 24.b2 e1+ 25.b1 xe5+ 12.xf3 f6 13.e1 f5! Kramnik is happy
26.b2 c7 27.xc6? Blundering a Bishop to swap the queens into an endgame where
but White is absolutely lost anyway. 27... exd5 only he can really press for the win. It's fair to
is too obvious, so White resigned immediately. say the opening has not been a success for
T h is ga m e i s a n e xc e l l e n t e xa m p le o f a Rowson, however he now digs in deep to
sudden attack. defend the endgame. 14.g2
0-1 [ 14.xf5+ gxf5 15.g2 e6 and Black's
doubled pawns are hardly a weakness here
and in fact they help by giving him more
322 B01 control of the centre. ]
Rowson,J 2569 14...xf3+ 15.xf3 d5 16.xd5 xd5
Kramnik,V 2793 17.b3 e6 18.a4 Sensibly Jonathan just
5th Classic GpB 2013 rapid (6.2) 13.12.2013 places all his pawns on light squares and
[Tom Rendle] waits to see what Black will do hd8 19.b1
W hit e is pu rely on the def ensive here a5
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.f3 g4 4.e2 20.he1 b6 21.e2 b7 22.be1 8d6
c6 5.h3 23.d1 c3 24.f4 c6 25.e4 e5!
[ Because of the line Kramnik chooses in this Finally Black has all of his pieces on the best
game I pref er 5.0-0 0-0-0 and only now squares so he now grabs more space in the
6.h3! which we saw in Vachier Lagrave- centre. It's not quite enough for real winning
Papaioannou which I annotated back in chances however. 26.e3 f5 27.c4 dd6
November. ] [ 27...xc4 doesn't help at all 28.bxc4 d8
5...xf3 6.xf3 e6+ 7.f1!? Very creative 29.b1 c6 30.b5! and White is easily
play from Rowson but I'm not sure this really holding the draw. ]
gives White any chances for an edge against 28.e2 h5
sensible play. [ 28...xc4 is perhaps worth a try as now
[ in my notes to Zhigalko-Sharif I only after 29.bxc4 c6 30.b1 Black can
c o n s i d e r e d 7.e2 xe2+ 8.xe2 prevent Rb5 with b4! although probably
when Black should equalise without too W h it e sh o u l d d ra w wit h 31.d2! c5
many problems, e.g. e5 9.0-0 0-0-0 10.d3 32.e3 ]
g6 ] 29.g4! When under pressure you should try to
7...0-0-0 8.d3 excha nge p awns and that's exactly wha t
[ 8.c3?! just leads to trouble after g6! 9.d4 Rowson is doing to get himself closer to the
e5 10.e3 f5 11.a4 e4 12.e2 f6 d ra w h e is a f t e r . hxg4 30.hxg4 xc4
13.c4 d5 and Black was already better 31.bxc4 c6 32.b1 b4 33.gxf5 gxf5
in Bozic, M (2427)-Cabarkapa, N (2361) 34.b3?!
Kragujevac 2013 ( 13...d7! is also strong )] [ 34.f4! e4 35.dxe4 fxe4 36.f5 gives White
8...g6! Kramnik chooses a very harmonious a little counterplay and now the draw should
setup - with his queen blocking the e-pawn it be easy enough, for example d7 37.h1
makes a lot of sense to fianchetto the bishop g7 38.h6+ d7 39.h4 g2+ 40.d1
and gain complete control of d4. 9.c3 d4 e7 41.xe4+ f6 42.c5! xf5 43.c4
[ 9...h6! may give Black the slimmest of and the position is just a draw ]
advantages, e.g. 10.e4 e5 11.g3 xc1 34...f4! 35.d2 f3+ 36.e1 c5 37.e3
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
b4+ Kramnik decides to force a draw but I'm 23.e4 c8 24.b3 e5 25.xf6+ gxf6
surprised he didn't go for one last trick 26.d5 e6 27.d3 f8 28.d8 bxc4
[ 37...e4! keeps White under pressure for a 29.bxc4 g7 30.xc8 xc8 31.d2 e6
little bit longer - even so White should draw 32.e3 e5 33.a3 e6 34.d3 e5
with accurate play 38.xc5 xc5 39.dxe4 35.a3 e6
e6 40.e3 xc4 41.d2! d6+ 42.c1 ½-½
f6 43.d2 and Black can't really make
progress here. ]
38.d2 c5 39.e3 b4+ 40.d2 c5 324 B01
Great defence from Rowson but not the most Rozentalis,Eduardas
inspiring opening considering he had White! Khalifman,Alexander
½-½ Germany 1993
[Nigel Davies]
323 B01 K h a l i f m a n wi s e l y r e f r a i n s f r o m c a s t l i n g
Rowson,Jonathan 2512 queenside but even here the pressure on the
Martin,Andrew D 2443 b-file proves to be unpleasant for Black. 1.e4
Redbus Knock-Out (1.2) 29.03.2002 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.g3 f6
[Nigel Davies] 5.g2 c6 Attempting to impede the activity of
W hite's bishop on g2. In this game W hite
What should Black do against the flexible 3. manages to remove this obstacle later on.
Nf3, which leaves open the option of a later 6.f3 g4 7.0-0
c2-c4? In this game Black plays the standard [ W hite can also play the immediate 7.h3
3 . . . Nf 6 a n d 4 . . . B g4 - a n d a s u su a l f in d s h5 8.0-0 e6 9.a3 ( 9.d3 bd7 10.e2
himself worse. Having lost the first game of e7 11.d2 c7 12.b4 0-0 13.b1 ad8
this two game mini-match, Martin needed to 14.f4 was also nice for White in Benjamin -
win this one at all costs. In this respect, I Shabalov, Key West 1994) 9...bd7 10.d3
can't help but think that another defence, such e7 ( 10...h6 11.b1 a6 12.b4 c7
as the Modern, would have been better. 1.e4 13.g4 g6 14.h4 h7 15.f4 Rozentalis,
d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.f3 f6 4.d4 g4 E-Paasikangas,J/Bad Wiessee GER 1999
5.e2 e6 (55) ) 11.d2 c7 12.b4 0-0 13.b5 c5
[ The sharpest move is 5...c6 after which 14.e1 ad8 15.g4 g6 16.h4 b6
6.c4 f5 leads to complications which 17.xg6 hxg6 18.f3 fd5 19.xd5
probably favour White. ] exd5 20.a4 with a strong initiative for White
[ Rowson has also played this position with in Smirin - Oll, New York 1994 ]
B l a c k , c h o o si n g 5...c6 against Lyell in a 7...e6 8.h3 xf3
4NCL game this year (2002). After 6.0-0 e6 [ 8...h5 would probably transpose into the
7.c4 d8 8.c3 e7 9.h3 h5 10.f4 note to 7.h3 above ]
0-0 11.b3 b6 12.xb6 axb6 13.g4 9.xf3 e7
g6 14.e5 his position did not seem [ Black can also play 9...bd7 as in Tiviakov
massively promising though he did - Hansen ]
eventually manage to eke out a win. ] 10.a3!? 0-0 11.b1 c7 12.b4 a6 13.d3
6.h3 h5 7.c4 d8 8.0-0 e7 9.b3 c8 bd7 14.f4 d6 15.d2 a5 16.e2
10.c3 0-0 11.e3 bd7 12.ad1 a6 White's pair of bishops and space advantage
13.c2 If Rowson needed more than a draw, g i v e s h i m t h e b e t t e r g a m e . H e r e h e i s
he might well have played more aggressively directing pressure towards b7 along the b-file
a t t h is s t a ge . E ve n so h e ke e p s a sligh t and with his bishop on g2. e7 17.f4 fe8
advantage right to the end of the game. c5 18.g4 f8 19.f3 g6 20.h1 axb4
14.d5 exd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.xd5 f6 21.axb4 g7 22.b5 ac8 23.bxc6 bxc6
17.d2 c7 18.g5 g6 19.d3 ad8 24.e2 d6 25.g3 d5 26.f2 d6
20.xg6 hxg6 21.fd1 xd2 22.xd2 b5 27.f5 exf5 28.gxf5 c5 29.f4! e5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ 29...d4 30.b7 would win the Bischoff - Hickl, Altensteig 1987; 6...c6
exchange. ] transposes into Rozentalis - Khalifman) 7.h3
30.g5 ed7 31.b7 d4 32.e4 xe4 h5 8.0-0 0-0-0 9.d3 g5 10.g4 g6
33.xe4 xf2 34.xf2 e5 35.d5 b8 11.d2 h5 gave Black a dangerous attack
36.a7 h8?! in Payen - Prie, Cannes 1992 ]
[ 36...gxf5 would have been a better chance, 6...c6!?
before this pawn lands on f6. ] [ 6...c6 is solid enough but slightly passive. ]
37.f6 f8 38.xf7 xf7 39.xf7 h6 7.h3 h5 8.d3 e5 9.0-0 0-0-0 The natural
40.d2 e6 41.c3 c4 42.dxc4 e3 follow-up to 6...Nc6, but Black's king will
43.d4 xh3+ 44.g2 h5 45.c7 g5+ come under fire on the queenside. W hite's
46.f1 g4 47.c3 b1+ 48.e2 g3 bish o p o n g2 will su pp o rt an ad van c e o f
49.f3 White's queenside pawns. 10.a3 d4 11.g4
[ W hite must be careful not to play 49.c5? g6 12.f4! exf4 13.xf4 xe2+ 14.xe2
because b2+ 50.f1 b1+ would force a c5+ 15.h1 d4 16.f3 c6 17.ae1
draw. ] he8 18.g3 Threatening 19.Qf4. Black
49...g2+ 50.d3 d1+ 51.e4 e1+ attempts to construct a ramshackle blockade
52.e3 f1 53.c5 in the centre. d7 19.b4 b6 20.e4 e5
1-0 21.d6+ xd6 22.xd6 d4 23.h2 e5
24.g3 f6 25.g5! f8 26.gxf6 gxf6 27.h4
d6 28.f4 f7? Losing a piece, but Black
325 B01 is in a bad way in any case. 29.h5! b8
Rozentalis,Eduardas [ 29...xh5 30.f5+ picks up the bishop. ]
Milos,Gilberto 30.hxg6 hxg6 31.xe5 h7 32.e2 xf4
Tilburg (4) 1992 33.xf4 dh8 34.h4+ c8 35.xh7 xh7
[Nigel Davies] 36.e6 f7 37.h3
1-0
The move 4.g3!? represents a much quieter
way of playing this opening for White, aiming
to complete his development and hopefully 326 B01
develop pressure on the h1-a8 diagonal. The Rusanov,Michail 2448
position of Black's queen on a5 encourages Alekseev,Evgeny 2300
an advance of W hite's b-pawn with gain of St Petersburg 1999
t e m p o , wh ic h ca n se t u p co m p lim e n t a r y [Alexander Volzhin]
pre s s u re o n t h e b -f ile . Ne e d le ss t o sa y,
queenside castling will be very risky for Black, 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.d4 xd5 4.f3 g6
as in this game. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 5.c4 b6 6.c3 g7 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 g4
3.c3 a5 4.g3!? An alternative mode of 9.h3 xf3 10.xf3 c6 11.c5 c4
development for W hite, with which aims to [ 11...d7 is the alternative to the text, but it
complete his development and hopes to keep looks rather passive: 12.e3 e5 13.xc6
a slight space advantage. f6 5.g2 g4 bxc6 14.d5! Now Black has difficult
[ 5...c6 , blocking the h1-a8 diagonal, problems to solve. b8 15.c1 f5 16.b3
f ea tu res in Rozent alis - Kha lif ma n an d h8 17.cd1 h4 18.f3 e4 19.f4 g5
Tiviakov - Hansen. The text is more 20.e2! with a huge positional advantage
aggressive, forcing White to block the attack for White, Lutz - Casagrande, Biel, 1996. ]
on his queen before deciding whether or not 12.xc6! An important novelty.
to move the c-pawn. ] [ Before this game the whole line was
6.ge2 considered as harmless as after the natural
[ W hite can also play 6.f3 after which 12.d5 d4! Black's Knights are very active
B l a c k ' s m o s t a g g r e s s i v e p l a n i s c6!? and his chances are by no means worse.
( 6...e6 7.h3 h5 8.0-0 e7 9.e1 c6 One example: 13.e2 a5 14.d3 c6!
10.d3 0-0 11.a3 ad8 was fine for Black in 15.b4?! White clearly overestimates his
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14.e2 e5+ ) 11...c6 Just transposes e8 21.g6+ d8 22.a5+ d7
into a well known line of the Scandinavian 23.f7+! xf7 ( 23...e7 24.xe6+ )
about which some food for thought can be 24.xf7+ e7 25.xe6+ d6 26.b4+ c5
found in Handke-Motwani previously 27.xc5+ c7 28.xe7+ A masterpiece of
commented in this section. This optimization of attacking forces. ]
transposition is also what Wahls gives and 17...xg7 18.g3+ h8 19.d3 End of the
the only reason I see for having centred fireworks. Fritz announces a quick forced mate
his analysis on 5...Nf6 instead of 5...Bf5 is after
that he wanted to lean on the actual order [ 19.d3 e4 20.xe4 f5 21.xf5 exf5
of moves of the presented games. ] 22.e8+ f8 23.f4 ( 23.f7 xg3
6.d2 b6?! As a quasi unbreakable rule in 24.hxg3 d7 )]
the Scandinavian, the black queen should not 1-0
move 3 times in the opening phase unless
being forced to. A rule that people who do not
practice the variation themselves in serious 329 B01
games over the board rather than games Sakaev,Konstantin 2660
without stake on the Internet, are usually not Kurajica,Bojan 2550
too well acquainted with. 7.f3 xb2? 4th IECC Istanbul (1) 2003
One too many. Moving the queen for more [Andrew Martin]
than half of the moves in the opening can
only lead to disaster in the Centre Counter. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 4.d4
8.b1 a3 9.e5 e6 I bet that whoever has f6 5.f3 a6 Kurajica seems fatally
faced this position with Black in a real game attracted to this move. He loses lots of games
on a proper board will never reproduce the b u t s t i l l c a r r i e s o n . T h e r e wi l l b e m a n y
experience. Such a thing as danger, with a explanations for this strange state of affairs
screaming flashing huge D in our case, can but I think we can simply put it down to good
only be sensed during the tension and old-fashioned stubbornness- not a quality
conc ent ration of a re al gam e. W hen yo u guaranteeing success in today's pragmatic
comfortably sit in front of your 'advanced' chess scene. 6.g3
screen, it is easier to give in to the siren's [ Movsesian chose simple development in
song... 10.0-0 e7 11.e1! The right plan, another game from the same event : 6.d3
mobilizing the last piece to exchange the g6 7.0-0 g7 8.g5 c6 ( Perhaps Black
main defender of the enemy kingside, instead could consider 8...g4!? ) 9.h3! 0-0 10.e3
of the previously played 11.Qe2 since the b4 11.e4 xe4 12.xe4 f5!?
wh it e qu ee n m a y join t h e a ssa ult o n t h e ( Even here 12...d5 was less manic.)
kings id e d irec t ly with ou t p assin g b y th is 13.d3 xd3 14.xd3 b5 15.a4 b8
station. 0-0 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 16.axb5 axb5 17.fe1 b7 Which is
This leads to an overwhelming attack. It might more important : The backward e pawn or
not be possible to demonstrate a forced win Black's powerf ul light-squared Bishop?
after the capture on b2, but the amount of Movsesian-Kurajica Sarajevo 2003 ]
suffering Black will have to endure after being 6...g6!? This is on e interpretation. Black can
forced to shut his queen's bishop in with ...e7- certainly consider the simple ....c7-c6 and later
e6 is clearly not worth a pawn. b5 13...Nd7 or . . .Bc8-f5 but that might not marry too well
13...Qd6 could be better defences but I do with ...a7-a6. 7.f4
not think this can change the outcome of the [ 7.g2 g7 8.0-0 0-0 9.f4 d8 10.d2
game. 14.b3 d6 15.h5! f6 c6 11.fe1 g4 12.e5 e6 13.ad1
[ 15...f5 16.h3 h6 17.xh6 ] bd7 14.c1 b6 15.h6 c8 16.xg7
16.g4! fxe5 17.xg7+! xg7 17.e4 h3 18.c5 g4??
[ 17.h3 Wins too: f6 ( 17...bxc4 1-0 Asrian, K-Kurajica,B/4th IECC, Istanbul
18.xh7+ f7 19.g6+ g8 20.xg7# ) TUR 2003 What prompted such a blunder.
18.xg7+ xg7 19.xh7+ f7 20.f3+ Rather than face the captures on g4 and
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with enhanced control of the white squares 8.0-0 g6!? Black wants to castle queenside
b u t t h e re m a y b e le s s co m p r o m i si n g in this line and for doing so generally has to
options in this line!; pro t e ct f 7 . T h e n h e will h a ve t h e c h o ic e
B) 9.e3?! c6 10.d2 b4 11.b3 between ...e5 or ...e6, the reason behind the
0-0-0 12.e4 bd5 13.f2 xe4 subtle bishop's move instead of the more
14.fxe4 f6 15.g3 h5 16.e5 g4 natural 8...e6. 9.f4
17.g1 c6 18.h3 xe5 19.dxe5 xd2 [ 9.b4!? Fritz9 xb4 Usually, Black does not
20.xb6 xg2 0-1 Paci, C (2238)-Prie, E have to fear this pawn move unprotected
(2464) Ch-Fra Acc Chartres 2005 ] when attacking the bishop after its capture.
7.ge2 10.d3 Followed by Rb1, Nb5 with some
[ 7.g4 d7!? Some time after this game, I initiative for W hite. Is it worth a pawn is
s t a r t e d t o i n v e s t i g a t e ( 7...g6 another question. ]
more seriously, and although the position 9...e6 10.g3 0-0-0 11.e3?
looks quite dangerous for Black, I have not [ 11.f5 exf5 12.d3 c5 13.xf5? c4!
seen how White could avoid transposition 14.xc4 xf5 ]
into the key next game. I guess therefore 11...b6! When White does not exactly know
that this retreat should be preferred at this what to with his pieces and castles kingside
state of knowledge. 8.h4 h6 ) 8.d2 b6 Black generally obtains excellent prospects
9.e2 c6 10.d5 d4 11.d3 0-0-0 b y ca st lin g o n t h e o t h e r si d e wit h d ire c t
12.0-0-0 e5 ( 12...c5 13.ge2 e6 pressure against the enemy d4 pawn.
14.xd4 cxd4 15.dxe6 xe6 16.e2 ) 12.e2?!
13.ge2 xe2+ ( 13...h5 14.h3 c5 [ 12.d3 xd3 13.xd3 g4 14.ce4
15.xd4 xd4 16.g5 e8 17.b3 d6 e7 Is fine for Black ( 14...xe3 15.xe3
18.e4 f5 19.c3 e3 ) 14.xe2 d6= c4 16.e2 xb2 17.g5 d7 18.f5 )
I don't think White is better here, but I do 15.f5 e5 ]
n o t f e e l c o m f o rt a b l e wit h t h i s u n u su a l 12...b4 13.b1?! Two inaccuracies in this
pawn structure for me. Mack, A (2262)-Prié, sharp variation and W hite goes down
E (2429) 4NCL2 Telford ENG 2004 ] ineluctably.
7...bd7! This variation enjoys a bad [ 13.b5 bd5 14.c1 c6 15.c3 e7
reputation for Black because he has often 16.c4 b4 17.d2 ( 17.c3 xd4
gone wrong here with 18.xd4 c5 ) 17...cxb5 18.a3 b6 19.c5
[ 7...c6? which is as usual refuted by xc5 20.dxc5 ( 20.c1 xd4 21.axb4
8.d2! 0-0-0 ( 8...b4 9.c1 0-0-0 10.a3 xd2+ 22.bxc5 d8 ) 20...xc5+ 21.h1
c6 11.a1! is the same) 9.a3! And not c6 ]
( 9.d5 a4 The "mouse hole trick" 13...bd5 14.d2?
again! ) [ 14.c1 b6 15.a3 ( 15.c3? xb1
A) 9...e6 10.d5!? ( 10.b4! 16.xb1 xc3 ) 15...d6 16.c4
W i n s i m m e d i a t e l y b6 11.a4 ) ( 16.c3 c5 ) 16...xf4!! 17.xf4 xb2
10...xd5 ( 10...a4 11.b3 a2-a3 makes 18.xd6 xd6 19.d2 xa1 20.c3
a diff erence!) 11.xa5 e3 12.d2 xa3 21.b5 b3 22.xd6+ cxd6-+ ]
xc4 13.c3 4xa5 14.b4 Wins too.; 14...xd2 15.xd2 xd2 16.xd2 e3-+
B) 9...xd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.b5 At least two pawns or the exchange, the game
xd2 ( 11...b6 12.xd4 xd4 is over. 17.c3 xf1 18.xf1 h5 19.f3 h4
13.xf7 ) 12.xd2 xd2+ 13.xd2 20.ge4 xe4 21.xe4
Because, compared to the previous game, [ 21.xe4 c5 ]
White did not weaken his position, with a 21...xe4 22.xe4 c5! Always have in mind
relatively safe king close to manual that in rather closed positions, an exchange
qu e e n s i d e c a st l i n g s a f e t y a n d , m o s t up do es n ot win b y itself . T o expres s it s
important, Black will not be able to prevent superiority over the light pieces, it needs files
the disappearance of his pair of bishops and ranks! 23.dxc5 d2 24.b1
after the exchange Bc4-d3. ] [ 24.f2 hd8 ]
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24...hd8 25.f3 h3 26.g3 8d3 27.g4 23...xd5 24.e5! Not only a good move, but
g2+ there is little else to try! xe5!? 25.dxe5!?
0-1 [ Or 25.xe5 , intending to expand on both
wings, now that Black is in no position to
play actively. ]
335 B01 25...e7 26.d1
Senff,Martin 2468 [ 26.e3!? d8 27.h3 ]
Man 2457 26...d8 27.d6! gxh5 28.d2!
Bundesliga 2006-7 (12) 17.03.2007 Well-calculated. The passed pawn and Black's
[John Watson] kingside weaknesses combine to give White
just enough to work with. xd6 29.exd6 d7
In his game we see the classic battle between 30.g5+ f8
White's bishop pair and Black's pawn structure, [ 30...h8?? 31.e7 ]
which is ubiquitous in contemporary play. The 31.e5 Threatening mate. g8 32.g5+
same issues arise n the Caro-Kann and Slav f8 33.e5 g8 34.c4! The point of Rd6
Defence, among others. The play itself is of and Qd2: Once c5 is in, Black will be simply
very high quality. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 too tied down.
3.c3 a5 4.d4 f6 5.f3 c6 6.c4 g4 [ 34.g3+ f8 35.c4 generally transposes,
[ 6...f5 is by far the most common choice. ] since c5? loses to 36.e5 ]
7.h3 xf3 This is also not the usual move, 34...f6
although it has been used now and then. [ 34...b6 35.b4 ]
Black's idea is to get rid of his bad bishop and 35.g3+ f8 36.c5 f7
establish the kind of position in which White [ After 36...f7 , Black might hold out hope
can't make progress without allowing Black's of simplification, but not blockade: 37.a3
knights to become effective. b6 38.b4 b5 39.f3 g6 40.h2!
[ 7...h5 ] Zugzwang to come. ]
8.xf3 e6 9.0-0 bd7 10.b3 37.a3 a6
An interesting choice. White is settling down [ 37...b6? 38.cxb6 axb6 39.d7+ ]
for the long haul, and will exchange off his 38.b3 d7?
remaining knight next. e7 [ Not offering maximum resistance. 38...e8!
[ 10...d6 11.e4 xe4 12.xe4 0-0? forces W hite to make progress, which he
allows the tactic 13.xe6! f6 14.f5 ] can try to do by zugzwang, e.g., 39.a4 d7
11.e4 0-0 12.c3 fe8 Black covers e6, and ( 39...f8 40.b6 e8 41.a7 d7
...e5 lingers in the background. 13.f4 xe4 42.b8+ f7 43.h8 g6 44.g8+ f5
14.xe4 f6 15.fe1 b6 45.f3 ) 40.c3 f7 ( 40...f7 41.f3 g6
[ More assertive would be 15...e5 16.f5! 42.h2 ) 41.b4 e5 ( 41...g6 42.b5 )
e7 17.ad1 ( 17.g5 ) 17...g6 18.g4 42.h3 d8 43.f5 h4 44.h2
ae8 , when 19.g3 should maintain some and again Black is running out of moves. ]
advantage. ] 39.d1 g7 40.xh5 b6 41.b4 bxc5
16.e2 g6 17.d6 42.bxc5 e5? 43.h3! xh3
[ 17.ae1! g7 18.f3 looks good, but [ 43...f5 44.d3 a5 45.a6 ]
White still needs a way to make progress, 44.gxh3 f7 45.f4 White's exchanges
perhaps h4-h5. ] pawns and his king comes to f3.
17...e7 1-0
[ 17...ad8 18.f4! b5 ]
18.xe7 xe7 19.ae1 d8 At some point
Black should bring his queen's rook into the
centre, if only for defence. 20.f4 b6
21.h4! d7 22.h5 d5 23.xd5
[ 23.g3 f6 is not so easy, although Fritz
approves of 24.h6 ]
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some fluidity in the position. xf3 12.gxf3 b6 36.g4 d5 37.c4 b6 38.d3
cxd5 13.xd5 d7 14.0-0-0 0-0-0 d2 39.f5 xf5 40.xf5 h2 41.g4!
Currently thought to be Black's best, but Instructive. I think many players might play
perhaps not the only move. Bg6 here, only to realise that they have no
[ 14...a3 15.c3 0-0 16.e4 c5! further ideas. Shirov plans Bg4-f3 and Rh1. f5
( 16...e7?! was Salov's mistake in the 42.f3 h3 43.h1 xf3 44.h6 e3 45.h7
o r i g i n a l g a m e i n t h i s l i n e .) 17.e3 e8 46.h8 xh8 47.xh8 d5 48.f8 f4
This is given by Shirov, but it is not forced, 49.f5 c3+ 50.b2 e2 51.f6 a5
and White may have better chances without 52.c2 f3 53.d2 g1 54.e3 e2
th e bis h o p e xcha n ge . ( 17.hg1!? h6; 55.d2 g1 56.d3 b6 57.c4 b7
17.h4!? e7 ) 17...xe3+ 18.xe3 58.b5 c7 59.f7+ d6 60.xb6 e5
given as slightly better for White by Shirov, 61.xa5 e4 62.b4 h3 63.b5 f2 64.b6
and probably is at the highest level, but f4 65.b7 f1 66.b8 d5 67.f5+
more generally I think this position should 1-0
be playable for Black. e5!? looks like a
good place to start. ]
15.e4 e5 338 B01
[ 15...a3 16.b5 ] Shirov,Alexei 2705
16.c3 c7 17.b1 f6 18.f4! This appears Mueller,Karsten 2489
to be a novelty and it is probably quite a good Nordhorn op act rapid 09.2005
one. d6 [Eric Prié]
[ 18...xf4 19.a5 Looks terminal- I don't
think Black even has a dodgy exchange 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.f3
sac. ] f6 5.d4 c6 6.c4 f5 Commenting s
19.f5 exf5 game which, considering the 'fighting
[ 19...e5 is worth considering. g7 remains a intensity' it exhibited, would certainly have
weakness, but the bishop on c3 is less been ignored by Andrew... is a special treat
powerful. However, Black was probably ok in for me! Indeed, reacting to Sergei Tiviakov's
the game. ] article (published in NIC Yearbook 74)
20.xf5 b8 21.h4! b6 22.h5 a4 provocatively entitled "A series of simple
23.d4 c5 24.c3 b6 moves suffices" and insinuating that 3...Qa5
[ 24...a3!? ] was doomed (!) on the grounds of the line
25.c2 xd4 26.cxd4 xd4 [ 6...g4 7.h3 h5 8.d2 e6 9.d5 d8
[ 26...d5!? 27.e4 xd4 28.xd4 xd4 10.xf6+ gxf6 ( 10...xf6
29.c1 c5 30.xh7 and white keeps is here impossible because of 11.g4 g6
some nagging pressure. ] 12.e2 xc2 13.c1 g6 14.f4
27.xd4 xd4 28.c1 a6 29.b3 b6 W ith a winn ing attack.) 11.g4 g6
[ 29...g6!? ] he asserted that: "White has the upper hand
30.c7+ a7 31.xg7 in the centre and on the kingside, castling on
[ 31.f3 was also worth considering, given the queenside. Lots of games have been
that Black could have forced a draw now ] played. It is still up to Black to prove that
31...e8 he can reach a satisfactory position
[ 31...a4! is a surprising shot, but it seems anywhere", I have myself published two
to draw immediately. 32.bxa4 ( 32.c2 articles on this annoying white idea: The first,
e8! winning. ) 32...b4+ 33.a1 ( 33.c2 confidential as it was not included in
is probably losing e.g. d8! 34.d7 e4+ MEGA2006, in ChessBase Magazine 106,
35.c3 f3+ 36.c2 xf2+ 37.b1 and the second in the latest NIC yearbook
b6+ 38.a1 d4+ 39.b1 xd7 ) 77 '(Centre) Counter-provocatively' entitled
33...d4+ with a perpetual ] "can a series of simple moves suffice?" o)
32.g4 xf2 33.xh7 Now the h-pawn is from where the following comments of this
very dangerous. e2 34.c2 d5 35.c4 game are mainly extracted. ]
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couple of months hopefully, to give you time such thing as 'the Scandinavian revival' just
to digest this material, for the second part of yet. One immense consolation, nevertheless,
my 'secrets'! As a matter of fact, I could is that the player who brought doubt, sorrow
have made at least 2 updates with great and misfortune to the Centre Counter kingdom
games only issued from this specific line did not find a way of breaking this last bastion
which stands at the front of all the 1.e4 d5 of resistance!
corpus, but I am curious to see how my ½-½
sown ideas will grow. ]
14.0-0-0 0-0-0! Its is likely that the Spanish no.
1 was not aware of the theoretical articles in 339 B01
ChessBase Magazine 106. And NIC 77 was Shirov,Alexei 2690
not yet out in September. As for his German Salov,Valery 2665
opponent, he happens to be a member of staff Madrid 1997
o f t h e f a m o u s H a m b u r g f i r m . . . 15.e4 [Alexander Volzhin]
"This position looks terrible for Black: He's
behind in development, his queen is out of 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4
play and two mighty white bishops are pointing f6 5.f3 c6 6.c4 f5 7.d2 e6 8.d5
at his castled king. Anyway, so far, Black has d8 9.xf6+ xf6
passed the test of [ After 9...gxf6!? the position is similar to a
[ 15.xb7+ See Ye-Malakhov in the Caro-Kann line: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4
archives. ] 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6 gxf6. In my opinion White
15...e5! Once again the only move and a has the better chances here. ]
small miracle about which I would not be so 10.e2!? True to his style, Shirov uses the
confident if it had not been acknowledged by first opportunity to complicate. White has tried
high level practice so far and by my friend different moves in this position, but has failed
super-GM Laurent Fressinet (whose game to achieve anything real from the opening.
against Hod gso n is Kh alif man 's u ltimat e [ 10.0-0 d7 ( 10...g4!? ) 11.c3 d6
ref erence) and who much to his surprise 12.g5 g6 13.d2 h6 14.f4 e7
"found nothing for W hite" in this position. 15.fe1 0-0 16.g3 with a small advantage,
16.e3 A novelty that will probably not remain Campora-Wolff, Buenos Aires 1997. ]
long in the annals... [ 10.c3 d7 11.b3 b6 ( 11...0-0-0
[ 16.b1 c7 17.c3 f6 18.d3 c5 12.0-0 Djurhuus - Westerinen, Gausdal
19.c4 d6! With h2 in the line of fire, is 1996 ) 12.0-0-0 d6 13.e2 ( 13.g5 g6
Black's central resource in this line, while 14.h4 xc4 ) 13...0-0 14.g5 g6 15.h4
An drew's in t erest in g sugge stion of 1 8 . g4 with unclear play, Donev - Bacrot, Biel
Rhg1!? has yet to be tested in practice. ] 1995. ]
16...c5! 17.c4 c7 18.e2 f6 19.g5 [ 10.e5 d7 11.xd7 xd7
h6 20.xf6 gxf6 21.h3 f5 Black is clearly ( 11...xd4!? ) 12.c3 g6 13.0-0 d6
better but the chessboard pyromaniac, even 14.e1 h5 15.f1 h4= and Black was
though in bad form at the moment, remains more o r less o kay in t he ga me Emm s -
an impressive opponent! If you look at the Haveland, Gausdal 1996. ]
statistics in MEGA 2006, which do not [ 10.c3!? deserves attention, White was
comprise some of my results (including a no- able to get an advantage in the game Koch -
sweat draw against hard fighting Baklan - Relange, France, (tt) 1993: g4 11.e2
rated 2601 - just two weeks ago!) you will be d8 12.h3 h5 13.d2 d7 14.0-0-0
awa re t ha t, ap art f rom t he ga me s wh ere f6 15.g4 g6 16.e5 ]
W hite obviously went crazy, Black has not 10...g4
been able to score any victory yet after 14... [ After 10...xc2 11.d5 White's initiative
0-0-0! It is a sad thing to say, but only White would be dangerous. ]
can press for an edge in this variation and for [ as it would be after 10...d7 11.d5 ]
that reason alone we are not about to see 11.d5 xf3
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chances with ...h6. Perhaps this will be does not last long. d7 20.0-0 b8
examined in the next Shirov-Tiviakov game? [ 20...dxc4 would take the d5 square for the
12.b1 h6 13.gxh6 xh6 14.0-0 g7 knight but fails tactically to 21.f6 b8
15.e2 e6 16.c4 d6 17.c3 22.b1 b5 23.xb5! cxb5 24.c6+- ]
and the computer rates the position as equal 21.a4 b7 22.ab1
but I feel practically W hite has the more [ 22.fb1 is the computer's suggestion, with
pleasant chances. ] the idea a8 23.xb7 ( 23.a5!?
12.c4 c7 13.c5 This is obviously a better also appears to win a piece.) 23...xb7
version of 9.g5 as now Black cannot play ... 24.b3!
Qd5, and thus W hite will not lose castling A) 24...xb3 25.axb3 d8 26.xa7
rights. Already I think Black is in some trouble e8 27.a8+ c8 ( 27...e7 28.d6+
as he has become so passive. d8 wins the rook.) 28.cxd5 cxd5 29.f1 c7
[ 13...e6 would prevent White's next and 30.a7 e8 31.c3+-;
should be preferred although if White reacts B) 24...c8 25.h3+- and Black's
dynamically Black will be in trouble: 14.0-0 position collapses. ]
g7 15.e1 f5 16.b1 h6 17.b3 hxg5 22...c8 23.xb7 xb7 24.f2
18.fxg5 h4 19.f1 e6 20.f4 Simple chess. Tiviakov cannot prevent White
and Black is obliged to sacrifice the taking the b file and infiltrating Black's position.
exchange when xf4 21.xf4 xe5 22.e4 d4 25.a5!?
xh2+ 23.xh2 leaves White clearly on [ The straightforward 25.xd4 also wins. ]
top. ] 25...d8 26.e4 Black resigned as he is
14.d5! Shirov doesn't miss this tactical basically in zugzwang. A demolition of the
opportunity, exploiting Black's lack of Russian-Dutch GM and I imagine Shirov's pet
development. cxd5 variation 7 f4 will garner more interest.
[ 14...xd5 is an alternative try but 15.c4 f6 [ 26.e4 c8 27.b2+- is one idea. ]
16.cxd5 fxe5 17.a4! also leaves Black in 1-0
trouble. g7 18.dxc6 b5 19.cxb6
( 19.xb5!? ) 19...axb6 ( 19...xb6 20.c7+
f7 21.xa8 e4 22.b3+ xb3 23.axb3 341 B01
xa1 24.e3+- ) 20.xa8 exf4 21.0-0! Shirov,Alexei 2726
xa1 22.xf4 0-0 23.c7 and White has a Tiviakov,Sergei 2686
clear edge. ] VII Stars Benidorm ESP rapid (8) 07.12.2008
15.c4 e6 [John Watson]
[ 15...h6 attempting to get kingside
counterplay also leaves Black much worse: Some Tiviakov games (see the notes) should
16.a4+ d7 17.xd7+ xd7 18.xd7 cla rif y t his p a rticula r m ain lin e. Sh iro v's
xd7 19.cxd5 leaves White with a huge approach is typically dynamic, but no great
positional advantage. ] threat to Black's system. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5
16.b2 g7 xd5 3.c3 d6 4.d4 f6 5.f3
[ 16...g8 17.g4 xc5 ( 17...e7 [ 5.c4 c6 6.ge2 f5 7.f4 b4 8.b3
18.f6+ would be very similar to the game.) e6 9.c7 e7 10.g3 gave White a
18.f6+ f8 19.xh7+ e8 20.f6+ f8 standard space edge characteristic of the
when of White is clearly better and perhaps surrendered centre in Stenersen-Tiviakov,
most accurate is 21.b3 h8 22.e4 Gjovik NOR 2008, although Black's
dxe4 23.xh8 with a great advantage. ] 500-point rating edge told in the end. ]
17.c6! bxc6 18.xg7 g8 19.e5 5...c6 6.e5 bd7 7.f4!?
White completely dominates the dark squares [ In previous updates, Tiviakov lost twice to
and has more than enough compensation for 7.f4 d5 8.xd5 xd5!? ( after 8...xe5
the pawn. c6 is vulnerable while Black is 9.e3 d3+ 10.xd3 xf4 11.d5!?
exceedingly passive and cannot coordinate of Gashimov-Tiviakov, Reggio Emilia ITA
his pieces and so it's not a surprise that Black 2008, I suggested 11...Bd7 or even the
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
pawn grab 11...Qb4+ 12 c3 Qxb2, rather e5 27.a3 c4 28.a7 d6 29.xc6
than cxd5? 12.xd5 e6? 13.b5+ e7 xf5 30.g4 d4 31.a4 h5 32.g5 e2
14.d2 with a strong attack.) 9.f3! 33.d7+ c8 34.xe7 g3+ 35.g2 c7
, so in Vila Gazquez-Tiviakov, Benidorm 36.xc7+ xc7 37.xg3 h4+ 38.h3 d6
ESP 2008, he played b6 ( rather than 39.b3 e7 40.b2
9...f6 10.e2 g4 11.0-0 e6 12.h3 xf3 1-0
13.xf3 and White stands better see, for
example, Ni Hua -Tiviakov, Reggio Emilia
ITA 2008 in the Archives) 10.e2 f5 342 B01
11.c3 (Black's point with ...Nb6 was to Short,Nigel D 2692
temporarily prevent c4) e6 12.0-0 e7 Liiva,R 2451
, although this was perhaps more to avoid 12th Puhajarve Rapid 2012 (6.1) 23.11.2012
the theory stemming from 9...Nf6 than to [Tom Rendle]
prove equality: 13.e1 0-0 14.e5 ac8
15.a4 (White appears slightly better in any 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.f3 This is an
case) d8 16.a5 d5 17.g3 g5!? option that is increasingly worth considering
18.b3 e7 , and here White should with the rise in players choosing lines like the
probably be content with a small advantage 3...Qd6 Scandinavian as a solid repertoire
following 19.d3 ] against 1.e4. One major advantage of this
7...b6 8.g4!? Typical Shirov, creating a move is that W hite aims to play c4 before
maximal imbalance. e6 9.g2 g6 10.0-0 developing a knight to c3. f6
g7 [ 3...g4 4.e2 c6 5.d4 f6 6.c4 d8
[ 10...0-0-0 puts serious pressure on the d- 7.c3 e6 is quite similar to the game and
pawn. White would undoubtedly offer it via was analysed in Kaidanov-Zatonskih by
something like 11.f3 , but Black can play Andrew Martin. ]
a6 ( 11...xd4+? 12.e3 d6 13.b5 ) 4.e2 g4 5.0-0 e6 This exact position
12.d1 h5! with good counterplay. ] hasn't really been examined on this site before
11.f5 gxf5 12.gxf5 c4 13.xc4!? so I'll add in a few possibilities for both sides.
This and W hite's next look inaccurate. An [ 5...c6 was also tried against Nigel in the
alternative is same event. 6.h3
[ 13.e1 d8 14.a4!? ] A) 6...xf3 7.xf3 d7 8.d3 should be a
13...xc4 14.d3?! g4! 15.f4 xb2! li t t l e b e t t e r f o r W h i t e d u e t o t h e t wo
16.g3 xd4+ 17.h1 f2+?! bishops ( 8.e1 0-0-0 9.c3
[ T h e c o u r a g e o u s w a y w a s 17...xc3! is more ambitious than settling for d3 );
18.xc3 g8 , when 19.xb2 d1+ B) 6...h5 7.d4 0-0-0 8.e3 e6 9.c4
20.f1 ( 20.f1 xf1+ 21.xf1 f2# ) f5 10.bd2 xf3 11.xf3 h6 12.b1
20...e3! threatens ...Qd5+. ] and W hite had a comf ortable ed ge in
18.xf2 xg3 19.hxg3 xc3?! Short, N (2692) -Vihmand, A Puhajarve
[ 19...xf2! 20.xb2 g8 wins a third pawn 2012 ]
in exchange f or the two-pieces-for-rook [ 5...c6 6.h3 h5 7.c4 d8 8.d4 e6
trade-of f . That more than makes up f or 9.b3 ( 9.c3 e7 10.f4 0-0 11.e1
bishop pair, although it won't be easy to gain is also very comfortable for White as he can
a serious advantage in the face of White's co n si d e r m e e t in g bd7 with 12.d5!?
bishops. ] which seems to lead to some advantage)
20.b1 c4 21.xb7 White is clearly better 9...b6 10.c3 was somewhat better for
now why did Black allow this to happen when W hite in Turov, M (2527)-Megaranto, S
he had so many options? Anyway. the (2499) Dieren 2005 ]
opening came out well for him, and 6.h3 I quite like this plan of a quick h3 to put
Scandinavian players needn't be afraid of the question to the bishop h5 7.d4 e7?!
Shirov's setup. a5 22.c7 d8 23.xa7 This gives White a very easy game
d7 24.a8+ d8 25.xd8+ xd8 26.f3 [ 7...c6 is more challenging and now 8.c4
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
( 8.e3 is a very flexible alternative) 8...d8 is hard to asses but after f6 Black is
( 8...d7 9.e3 0-0-0 10.bd2 h6 11.a3! starting to get coordinated and the extra
and White had the more dangerous attack Queen should give him the better chances ]
in Michielsen, J (2359)-Reed, D (2061) 27.h1 f6 28.e6+ h7 29.g1 f4
Jyvaskyla 2009) 9.e3 e7 10.c3 0-0 30.xc5 f3+ 31.h2 f4+ 32.g3
11.d2 ( 11.a3!? seems a bit more Pla yin g f o r th e win h5 33.e3 f6
ambitious to me) 11...g6 and White has a 34.gg1 f4
minimal edge in Kaufman, L (2364)- [ 34...g7! 35.d7 f5 36.xf5 gxf5
Zatonskih, A (2445) Philadelphia 2004 ] and now Black has enough counterplay - for
8.c4 d8 9.b3! Now Black has to waste example 37.d6 f4 38.b6 e3! 39.fxe3 f3
time covering b7 c8 a n d i t 's W h it e t h a t h a s t o b e t h e m o r e
[ 9...b6 is not a move Black wants to play as careful although it's possible the game is
it leaves too many weaknesses on the light- drawn after 40.g4 f2 41.f1 f8 42.c5
squares around it ] f3 43.d7 e2 44.g2 f3+ 45.h2
10.c3 0-0 11.e3 bd7 12.ad1 a6 e2 ]
A sign Black is still searching for a plan. 13.g4 35.g4 d3 36.d2 h8? Finally Black
g6 14.h4 Nigel grabs the two Bishops to cracks - it's inevitable someone is going to go
add to his space advantage and already White wrong in a rapid game like this. 37.f3! g7
is clearly better. c5 15.g5 It's pretty safe to 38.fxe4 It's not just that Black has lost a pawn
push the g-pawn here as any Black but the counterplay is gone as well. The last
counterplay is a very long way off here! e8 few moves are not especially accurate as
16.xg6 hxg6 17.d5 both players were no doubt low on time. f4
[ 17.dxc5!? xc5 18.a3 creates an 39.g3 b6 40.d6 d8 41.d7 c6 42.b4?!
awkwa rd p in o n th e knigh t an d af te r b6 [ 42.b3 ]
19.b4 d7 20.e4 White is doing well ] 42...f7?!
17...e5 [ 42...xc4 gives Black chances to hold ]
[ 17...d6 probably offered more play, after 43.c5 xe4 44.cxb6 d5? 45.f3
18.dxe6 fxe6 19.g4 f5 Black may have This setup is a useful one to learn as it takes
a wrecked pawn structure but the position is players out of their normal Qa5/Qd6/Qd8
still complicated. Still White is much better systems where often the knight on c3 looks
after 20.c2 c6 21.e4! ] out of place in front of the pawn on c2.
18.e4 d6 The only move as otherwise d6 1-0
was coming.
[ 18...c7? runs into 19.d6! xd6 20.xd6
xd6 21.d3 and Black drops a piece ] 343 B01
19.xd6 xd6 20.c2 e8 21.e4 Smeets,Jan 2558
[ 21.d3 would have kept more control over Feygin,Michail 2531
the kingside but Black can aim for NED-chT 0708 (5) 15.12.2007
counterplay with b5!? ] [Milos Pavlovic]
21...f5! 22.gxf6 gxf6 23.h6 f5 Suddenly
things aren't so clear and Short chooses an 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 4.d4
interesting Queen sacrifice. 24.xf8!? f6 5.f3 c6 6.e5 bd7 7.c4 c7
[ I suspect at a slower time-limit he might've 8.f3 b6 9.f4 d8
chosen 24.g2 w h e n a f t e r f6 25.f3 [ 9...d7 is considered in this month's game
White should have some edge with the two Kotronias-Tiviakov. ]
bishops and half-open g-file for play. ] 10.e5 As Gawain wrote: "This seems to be
24...fxe4 25.xd6 d8 26.g4?! the most sensible option here." e6
[ 26.b4 keeps the game very unclear ] [ 10...g4 is the main alternative, 11.g3
26...g5?! Liiva misses his best chance of the h5 12.h3 h4
game A) 13.e3!? is an interesting move, my
[ 26...b6! 27.xe5 xc4 28.g3 first analysis shows that is strong. e6
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
14.xb6! This is the idea of 13. Qe3 B2b) 17.bxc3 d5 ( 17...a5
A1) 14...axb6 15.d3 It is not clear to was played in Womacka, M-Pizzuto, S/
me what Black should do to untangle his Schwarzach 2010, which is examined
pieces. g6 ( 15...d5 16.xd5 xd5 by Gawain in his notes to Bologan-
17.0-0 b5 18.fe1 ) 16.d5!? ( 16.0-0 Tiviakov. )
h6 17.f4 f8 18.ad1 c8 B2b1) Very sharp might be:
19.e4 ) 16...h6 17.e2 ( 17.f4 18.e3!?N f5 19.e2 ( 19.b1
cxd5 18.b5+ f8 19.0-0-0 g7 xa2 20.xb7 h6 21.e2 e6
20.b1 c8 ) 17...cxd5 18.b5 0-0 22.0-0 f6 23.f3 g6 Computer
19.c7 d7 ( 19...h7 20.xa8 xa8 style chess, but interesting
21.d4 ) 20.xa8; nonetheless, the position is
A2) 14...xb6 15.0-0-0 unclear. ) 19...e4! ( 19...xg2
A2a) 15...d7 16.f4 g6 17.e2 20.f3 g6 21.0-0-0 e6 22.c4 f6
( 17.d3 g7 18.xg6 0-0-0 19.e4 23.hg1 f7 24.h2 0-0-0
f6 20.f3 h5 With some chances 25.d5 );
f o r B l a c k .) 17...f6 ( 17...g7 B2b2) 18.b1 0-0-0 19.e3 f5
18.g4! ) 18.he1 0-0-0 19.f3 g7 20.e2 f6 21.h2 e4!;
20.a4! a5 21.c5 xa2 B2b3) 18.f3 h5 19.f4 d8
22.xe6; 1/2-1/2 (19) Brkic, A (2577)-
A2b) 15...g6 16.xf6 exf6 17.c4 Gallagher, J (2497) Crete GRE 2007,
h6 18.f4 f8 ( 18...0-0-0 19.xe6+ Interesting play by Gallagher, in the
fxe6 20.xe6+ b8 21.hf1 xd4 final position after 20.Bd3 g6 21.0-0
22.xf6 xd1+ 23.xd1 f8 Bg7 it is unclear. 20.d3 g6 21.0-0
24.xh4 xf4+ 25.b1 g5 g7;
26.e1 ) 19.xe6 e8 B3) 16...a5 17.d3 b4 ( 17...f6
Black overlooks W hite's reply. 18.h2 f7 19.0-0 e6 20.e2 xc3
( 19...c7 20.hf1 fxe6 21.xe6 ) 21.bxc3 ) 18.0-0 xd3 19.xd3 f6
20.a4! b4 21.b3! White stays a 20.fe1! 0-0-0 21.c7 xc7 22.xe6
piece up, see Gawain's annotations to with a positional advantage, Kotronias, V
Huschenbeth, N-Dranov, A/Bonn GER (2570)-Marcelin, C (2493) Clichy FRA
2011 in the PGN Archive.; 2007. ]
B) 13.f4 The usual move. e6 14.e3 11.e3 bd7
This was considered best, and after... [ 11...g6 can be met by
bd5 15.exd5 xd5 16.d2 A) 12.h4;
This also looks like good pressure as B) 12.d1 g7 13.d5!? cxd5
Black is cramped here. ( 13...bxd5 ) 14.b5+ f8 15.0-0
B1) 16...f5 17.d3 xd3 18.xd3 with compensation, Geffroy, L (1867)-Pytel,
xc3 19.bxc3 d7 20.0-0 e6 21.ab1 K (2314)/Rennes 2011.;
Although the position is simplified it is C) 12.a4! a5 13.d5! bxd5 14.cxd5
not easy for Black with his king stuck in xd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.xd5 cxd5
the center, no possibilities to undermine 17.b5+ d8 18.0-0-0 g7 19.c4
the central structure and passive rooks- C1) 19...g8 20.b1 e6 21.he1 d7
more then enough to say that White has ( 21...c8 22.cxd5 xd5 23.xg7
the better prospects. b6 22.c4 f6 xg7 24.xd5!+- ) 22.xg7 xg7
23.f4 Kotronias, V-Ardelean, G/Kavala 23.cxd5 e5 24.d6;
GRE 2004.; C2) 19...c8 20.b1 e6 21.cxd5 exd5
B2) A very interesting line is: 16...xc3 22.he1 e7 23.c7+ f8 24.xa5
B2a) 17.xc3!?N d5 18.d3 f6 which should win, Zuniga, D-Libre, V/
19.f4 xg2 ( 19...g5 20.e3 xg2 Greenhills 1996. ]
21.0-0-0 d5 22.b4 0-0-0 23.c4 [ 11...bd5 is the most common, 12.cxd5
d6 24.a5 ) 20.0-0-0; ( 12.d3!? xc3 13.bxc3 a5 14.0-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
36.g5?! e8 37.h2 e5 38.f6 f7 effective long diagonal and supports Bf4 with
39.d7? xd7 40.xb6 xg2!? Not strictly tempo. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6
necessary, but it gives White a chance to go 4.d4 f6 5.f3
astray. 41.c5? [ A rather passive approach is 5.d3 a6
[ 41.xg2 d5+ is curtains for White, of 6.ge2 , although White will gain another
course. ] tempo with Bf4. Another game from this
[ The only way to save the game was by month, Howell-Bosboom, W ijk aan Ze e
41.xe5! xe5 42.xg2 e2+ 43.g1 2009, saw g4 7.f3 h5 8.f4 b6 9.g4
e8 when I feel the game should objectively g6 10.g5 h5 11.e3 e6 12.e4 c6
end in a draw- it is difficult for either side to 13.d2 ( 13.c3 e5! ) 13...b4 , winning
mount a winning attempt without exposing t h e b ish o p p a ir, sin c e 14.c4?! c6!
his own king to too much danger. ] favoured Black. ]
41...f7 42.xe5 xe5 43.d6 5...a6 6.g3 g4
[ 43.xg2 No w lo se s t rivia lly t o d5+ [ Let me quote some of my own notes to
44.g1 xc5 ] Spasov-Kurajica, La Laguna 2007: " 6...c6
43...e2 44.g1 e7? 7.f4 d8 ( Almost automatic, but Melts
[ 44...a8 45.xd4 c6 and Black should analyses 7...e6+ at some length, for
be winning easily. ] example, 8.e2 d5 9.xd5 xd5
45.xe7 xe7 46.xg2 e2+ 47.f3 xc2 10.xc7 h3 with compensation.) 8.g2
The ending is clearly better for Black, but e6 ( 8...f5 is also played.) 9.0-0 e7
W hite does retain some hopes of a draw. 10.e2 ( 10.e1 0-0 11.d3 might be a
48.e6 better setup.) 10...0-0 11.ad1 (White's
[ 48.b4! h2 49.f4 xh3+ 50.e2 a3 development should give him a big edge,
51.d6 would have been tricky, with this but...) d5! 12.c1 ( 12.xd5 exd5
annoying b-pawn, even if objectively 13.fe1 e8 14.e5 e6! ) 12...b5!?
speaking Black should be winning here. ] 13.e4 b7 14.c3 d7 15.fe1
48...c3+ 49.g2 c2+ 50.f3 d3! 51.f4 "White has harmoniously-placed pieces and
c3 52.b4 d2+ 53.e2 c4 54.b5 e4+ must be better, but how to make progress?".
55.xd2 xe6 56.c7 e4 57.c3 f4 Black eventually took over the initiative, but
58.b6 f3 59.g3 f7-+ 60.f2 g5 61.d3 the opening phase favoured his opponent. ]
e7 62.c4 e2 63.c3 h5 64.d4 g4 [ 6...b5 7.g2 ( 7.f4 b6 ) 7...b7 8.0-0
65.hxg4 hxg4 66.f2 g6 67.b7 e8 e6 looks a little slow after 9.e5 or 9 Re1. ]
68.g3 f2 69.xf2 b8 7.g2
0-1 [ Fabiano Caruana annotated a game for this
column that continued 7.h3 h5 8.g2
c6 9.0-0 0-0-0 10.f4 b4 11.g4 g6
345 B01 12.a3 xb2 ( Tiviakov chose 12...c4!?
So,Wesley 2627 against Svidler in Corus 2007) 13.e1! e6!
Bosboom,Manuel 2418 14.b1 xc2 15.e5 with compensation,
Corus C Wijk aan Zee NED (11) 30.01.2009 Caruana-Strikovic, Lorca 2005. ]
[John Watson] 7...e6 8.0-0 c6 If Black has to combine ...e6,
...c6, and ...a6, he probably stands badly.
It's interesting that the ...a6/...b5 lines are [ 8...c6 9.f4 should favour White,
taking a backseat to the ... c6 lines recently. especially in view of b4!? 10.a3! xb2
Ultimately, whether ...a6 works will 11.d2 ]
nevertheless determine whether the most 9.f4 d8 10.h3
aggressively-minded players will be attracted [ Or 10.e1 ]
to the 3...Qd6 lines and, for that matter, to 1... 10...xf3 11.xf3 e7
d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 as a whole. The g3 system in [ Black can muddy the waters with 11...xd4
this game may be the biggest threat to ...Qd6 12.ad1 b6 13.e4!? xe4 14.xe4
with ...a6. White quite simply takes over the d7 ( 14...xb2?? 15.b1 is killing )]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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12.d5! exd5 13.fe1+ e7 14.xd5 38.d3 c5 39.e2 d5 40.f3 d4
fxd5 15.xd5 xf4 ( 15...0-0 16.xb7 41.g4 hxg4+ 42.xg4 d5 43.h8 e3
xf4 17.gxf4 Simply transposes.) 16.xb7 44.h4 f5+ 45.g3 d4 46.e8+ d2
0-0 17.gxf4 g6 18.ad1 f5 19.e4 47.xb4 winning, Hracek, Z (2629) -
f6 20.f5 h4 21.e7 ] Tomczak, J (2541) Miedzybrodzie-Zywiec
9.d5 e5 POL 2011 ]
[ 9...b4 10.h3 h5 11.f4 c5 12.e3 15.ad1 xd1 16.xd1 d6 17.xf6 xf6
d6 13.e2 e5 ( 13...bxd5 14.xd5 18.xf6 gxf6 19.e4 e5 20.c3
xd5 15.ad1 e6 16.g4 xe3 17.g5 Aga in we have a similar en dga me to th e
b6 18.xd8+ xd8 19.gxh5 xf1 Hracek game above, and again Black was
20.d3+ e8 21.f5 d6 22.xb7 unable to solve the problems. f5 21.g5 f6
1-0 (22) Brkic, A (2530) -Niemi, M (2214) 22.e6 h4 23.g2 d6 24.d2 d7
Gaziantep TUR 2008 ) 14.dxe6 xe6 25.d4 hxg3 26.fxg3! f4 27.g4 e8 28.h3
A) 15.fd1!?N xd1+ 16.xd1 c6 e5 29.f3 This is practically over. d6
17.a3 d6 18.b4 It looks to me that 30.h4 f7 31.e2 d8 32.h5 h8 33.h3
W hite is much better here. e8 19.b5 f5 34.g5+ f8 35.gxf5 xh5+ 36.g4
axb5 20.xb5 xf3 21.xf3 xh3 h1 37.f6 f3 38.xf3 g1 39.e4 f7
22.f4! e6 ( 22...xf4 23.xc6+- ) 40.xd6+ cxd6 41.e7+ xf6 42.xb7
23.xd6 xd6 24.xd6 cxd6 25.xc6 a1 43.e4 e6 44.a3
bxc6 26.xc6+; 1-0
B) 15.g4 g6 16.d4 e8 17.fe1 h5
18.f3 c6
B1) And now with: 19.g5 fd5 20.h4+- 349 B01
Fressinet could get easy win. d6 21.a3 Solodovnichenko,Yuri 2514
xe3 ( 21...xc3 22.axb4 d5 Pantioukhine,Slava 2260
23.b5+- ) 22.xe3+-; 4eme Open International de (3.4) 2005
B2) 19.a3 hxg4 20.hxg4 bd5 [Eric Prié]
21.xd5 xd5 22.g5 e4! 23.h3+
c7 24.f4+ d6 25.gxf6 xf3 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4
26.xe8 xe8 27.xd6+ xd6 28.xf3 f6 5.c4
xf6 1/2-1/2 (71) Fressinet, L (2640)- [ 5.f3 g4 directly is dubious because of
W ong Meng Kong (2470) Calvia ESP 6.h3 h5 7.g4 g6 8.e5 Threatening
2004 The position is unclear. ] Nc4 e6 ( 8...c6 9.h4 bd7 10.c4 c7
[ 9...xd5 10.xd5 xd5 11.xd5 xd5 11.h5 e4 12.xe4 xe4 13.f3 d6
12.g5 ] 14.f4 b6 15.e3! ) 9.g2 ( 9.c4
10.f4 xf3+ 11.xf3 xf3 12.xf3 e5 a6 Intending ...Qc6 with complications.)
13.dxe6 xe6 14.g5 h5 9...c6 10.h4 e4 ( 10...bd7 11.xd7
[ 14...d6 15.ae1 e5 16.a4! he8 xd7 12.d2 With the combined ideas of
17.c5 d5 18.xd5 xd5 19.xf6 gxf6 h4-h5, g4-g5 and the classical d4-d5
20.d3 We have a typical endgame of corresponds to the game Wynn Zaw Htun-
knight vs bishop, but the problem for Black Rogers already commented in this section
is t h e s h at t e re d p awn st ru ctu re o n t h e and highly dangerous for Black....) 11.xe4
kingside. e6 21.e4 d6 22.fe1 d7 xe4 12.f3 d6 13.g5! d7 ( 13...f6
23.f1 h5 24.h4 b5 25.a4 c5 26.axb5 14.xf6; 13...h6 14.d2 White has won the
axb5 27.b3 xe1+ 28.xe1 e5 29.d2 g6 square for his e5-knight in case of ...f7-
b4 30.e3 d6 31.f3 e6 32.e2 c7 f6. )]
33.f4 The idea now is to bring the knight to 5...c6 As the rest of the game will testify, this
c4. It's not a winning endgame by default but system for White, postponing the development
it 's o bvio us t ha t B la ck h as t o de f e nd a of his Ng1 with the idea of threatening to win
d i f f i c u l t e n d ga m e . b6 34.b2 c4 the black queen as early as possible with
35.xc4 g1 36.b2 c5 37.d2 f5 Bc1-d2, Nc3-d5 and then long castles to open
351
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
the position with the d4-d5 breakthrough 18.hg1+ g6 ( 18...h8 19.f3 xc4
before Black has time to interpose ... Bf8-b4 20.xd6 ) 19.d3! e5 ( 19...g7
does not lack venom . That is why I have 20.xd6 xc4 21.xd7 xa2 22.f4
regularly played the more unusual. ad8 23.h5+ h6 24.d2+ xh5
[ 5...g4 h e r e , b e c a u s e 6.f3?! 25.h3# ) 20.xe5 xe5 21.xg6+! hxg6
i s n o w s u s p i c i o u s a l l o w i n g c6! 22.xg6+ h8 23.h6+ g8 24.g1+;
S e e t h e n e x t 2 ga m e s. A n d t h a t is t h e B) 15...xf4+ 16.xf4 xf4+ 17.b1
reason why 5.Nf3 (avoiding the disruption of e4 ( 17...c6 18.h4! e4 19.f1 e5
5.Bc4 Bg4) is the main move order of the 20.h5 xc2+ 21.a1 e4 22.d2 )
Scandinavian where 5... Bg4 then allows a 18.f2! c6 19.xf6 xc2+ 20.a1 e5
free expansion of the white kingside, 21.b3! e2 ( 21...g2 22.d5 xg4
beginning with 6.h3, against the Bg4, with 23.xc6 bxc6 24.xe5 ) 22.he1 xg4
his counterpart better placed on g2 than c4 23.xe5 ]
as shown above. ] 15.xc2 b5 16.c3 bxc4 17.xf6 g8
6.d2 f5 7.e2! e6 8.d5! The main 18.xd6! xd6 19.d1 c7 20.d8+ xd8
weapon for White against the Centre Counter 21.xd8 xd8 A queen move along the
then! His advance of development generated h1-a8 diagonal would have followed.
by Black's early queen sortie is naturally 1-0
expressed in a more vigorous way by breaking
open the lines. cxd5 9.xd5 d8 10.xf6+
gxf6 350 B01
[ 10...xf6 11.0-0-0 g6 12.f3 xc2? Solovjov,Sergey 2445
13.b5+ c6 14.c4 e4 15.e5 ] Alekseev,Evgeny 2300
11.0-0-0 c7 12.g4! The side idea of St . Petersburg 1999
keeping the knight on g1: g4 remains under [Alexander Volzhin]
control! g6
[ 12...xc2 13.xc2 b5 14.c3 bxc4 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.d4 xd5 4.f3 g6
15.xf6 is expensive. ] 5.e2 g7 6.c4 b6 7.0-0 0-0 8.c3 c6
13.h3! Immediately followed by its natural [ 8...g4 is the main alternative to the text,
complement. d6 14.f4! White has played and will be considered in Rusaanov-
his partition with the best possible rhythm and Alekseev. ]
it is already time to say goodbye. xc2 9.d5 e5 10.c5! This move is the most
[ 14...f5 15.c3 f8 ( 15...0-0 16.gxf5 serious attempt to fight for an opening
xf5 17.xe6! fxe6 18.hg1+ g6 advantage.
19.xe6+ f7 20.xd6; 15...g8 [ After 10.xe5 xe5 11.h6 e8!
16.xe6 ) 16.xd6!! xd6 17.d1 White has failed to prove his advantage in
A) 17...e7 18.b5+ c6 19.xc6+ numerous games. ]
bxc6 20.a6 c7 21.a5 c8 22.d8+ 10...bd7 11.e3 xf3+ The alternatives
xd8 23.xc6+! e7 ( 23...d7 are clearly insufficient:
24.xa8+ e7 25.b4+ ) 24.b4+ f6 [ 11...g4?! 12.d4 df6 13.h3 h6
25.c3+ e5 26.xe5#; 14.e5! with an obvious advantage for
B) 17...b6 18.f6 c6 ( 18...d7 W hite, Veselovsky - Sluka, 1999. Black's
19.b5 ) 19.xe6; attempt to improve position of ugly-looking
C) 17...c7 18.xe6! fxe6 19.xe6+ Knight f5 fails to 15.g4! , and White wins
e7 20.c8+ f7 21.g5+ g8 a piece ]
( 21...xg5 22.c4+ ) 22.c4+ f7 [ 11...b6?! This move was played in Prie -
( 22...f7 23.d4 ) 23.xf7 xf7 Lepelletier, 1997 and White easily got the
( 23...xf7 24.d8# ) 24.c8+ e8 upper hand: 12.c6 xf3+ 13.xf3 f6
( 24...e8 25.d8 ) 25.e1 ] 14.e1 e8 15.g5 f6 16.h6
[ 14...0-0 15.c3!! with a clear edge. ]
A) 15...d7 16.f5 exf5 17.gxf5 xf5 12.xf3 e5 13.e2 c6
352
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ 13...f5?! was played in some games, but it 33...xe8 34.xe8+ g7 35.d7 h5
looks quite dubious: 14.f4 f7 This move 36.xb7 In my opinion this line is promising
leads to a very passive position, but for White. Although Black managed to hold
( 14...g4 is even worse: 15.xg4 fxg4 the position W hite missed some promising
16.d4! f5 17.xg7 xg7 18.d4+ possibilities (especially 18. d6).
g8 19.fe1 with an overwhelming ½-½
positional advantage, Vogt - Preismann,
1993. ) 15.b3 a6 16.ad1 e8 17.fe1
and W hite is clearly better due to his 351 B01
space advantage, pressure down the e-file Sonter,Matthew 2206
and the poor position of all Black's pieces, Smerdon,David 2425
Isaksen - Nielsen, Esbjerg, 1994. ] Mount Buller AUS (7) 04.01.2005
14.f4 d7 15.f3 c7 16.c1 [Andrew Martin]
[ I n m y o p i n i o n , 16.d6!? is worthy of
c o n s i d e r a t i o n : a5 17.a3! 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.d4 g4!? 4.e2?!
( Other possibilities lead nowhere for White: [ 4.f3 f5 5.b5+ is a very stern test of
17.dxe7 e8; 17.d4 xd4+ 18.xd4 Black's open ing variation. The poin t o f
xc5 19.xc5 xc5 20.dxe7 e8 showing this game of course, is to
a n d in b o t h c a s e s B la ck h a s e xce l le n t demonstrate how effective 3...Bg4!? can be
prospects.) 17...e8 18.b4 d8 19.d4 against an unprepared opponent. ]
f8 20.e4 and White's pieces dominate 4...xe2 5.xe2 xd5 6.f3 e6 7.0-0
th e c e n te r. T h is lin e re qu ires pra ctica l Of course White's play is reasonable and he
tests. ] expecting to get an edge with the forthcoming
16...f6 17.e2 c2-c4. But this advance will bring as many
[ 17.dxc6 is another possibility, but it gave problems as it sets. Note the following points:
W hite no advantage in Evdokimov - 1) After c2-c4 White's d pawn becomes easier
Alekseev, Russia, 1998: bxc6 18.b5 d7 to attack. 2) The Black Queen is driven to a
19.xd7 xd7 20.d4 fc8 21.h3 e6! much more dangerous square on h5. c6
22.f2 d5 and due to the strong position 8.e3 0-0-0 9.c4
of the knight in the center Black's chances [ If White must play this line then I prefer
are by no means worse. ] 9.bd2! here. The idea is to meet a
17...d7 Black has successfully completed his subsequent ...Bd6 with Nc4. As far as I can
development and can be satisfied with the see this maintains equality: h5 ( 9...e7
result of the opening fight. 18.dxc6 xc6 10.fe1 f5 11.c4 d5 12.a3 he8
19.b4 ad8 20.fd1 e5 21.fxe5 xe5 13.ad1 f6= ) 10.fe1 d5 11.c4 e7
22.f2 xd1+ 23.xd1 f4 24.c4 e4! 12.ad1 xe3 13.xe3 d6 14.c4= ]
[ The endgame after 24...xc4 25.xc4 9...h5 10.c3 I understand that White is
xf3 26.gxf3 is not good for Black as soon trying to be ambitious but he has no real
White will get a dangerous passed pawn on justification for thinking that he is better. With
the queenside. ] ...Rg8 and ...g7-g5! Black has very good
25.e3 e5 chances. The Bishop on f8 can stay where it is
[ 25...h4 is a good alternative to the text. for the time being. g8! 11.fd1 g5 12.c5?
Here the game could continue: 26.f2 h6! I was very surprised to discover that this
27.xh6 xf2+ 28.h1 e8! 29.f1 d5 move had been played bef ore it's just so
30.b5 c6 31.c4 ,with a draw by horrible and anti-positional to cede the d5
repetition. ] square.
26.b5 d5 27.d3 c8 28.f2 xf2 [ 12.d5 appears to be the move that White
29.xf2 xf3 30.e1 b2 31.gxf3 f6 has been leading up to, but the
32.d7 d8 33.e8+ c o m p l i c a t i o n s f a v o u r B l a c k I t h i n k : g4
[ 33.xb7 d4 34.xd4 xd4+ 35.h1 13.d4 ( 13.dxc6 gxf3 14.xd8+ xd8
xc5 ] 15.d3+ d6 16.g3 g4 17.h4 bxc6;
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
13.g5 exd5! 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 White has more than one good way to obtain
d6 16.g3 e7! 17.a5 h6 18.xa7 a definite advantage. 3...Bg4 develops and at
hxg5 19.c5 h8! 20.h4 gxh3 21.a8+ the same time tries to force a concession.
d7 22.xd8+ xd8 23.xh5 xh5 The trouble is that White can quite often make
24.cxd6 cxd6 ) 13...d6! 14.g3 e5 use of the 'weakening' 4 f3 and so the whole
15.dxe6 c5 ] idea is devalued if this is indeed the case.
[ The meek 12.e5 was certainly called for, 4.f3 Curiously, Spangenberg plays a quiet
demonstrating a true grasp of the needs of move, rejecting two sharper alternatives which
the position and White can hope for equality, are simply good for White:
although xe2 13.xe2 xe5 14.dxe5 [ 4.b5+! d7 ( 4...c6 5.dxc6 xc6 6.f3
d7 doesn't look too great for him. ] f5 7.e2 ) 5.xd7+ xd7 6.c4 b5
12...d5! 13.xd5 xd5 14.b4 g7N 7.cxb5 xd5 8.e2 c6 9.bxc6 xc6
[ 14...g4! is also very strong: 15.e1 g7 10.f3 g6 11.0-0 g7 12.d1 0-0
16.c2 gd8 The dark side of c4-c5 is 13.c3 ab8 14.xd5 xd5 15.e3 fc8
revealed or even c2-c4 in the first place. The 16.b3 b4 17.ac1 e4 18.d2 d8
d pawn will be done to death. 17.c4 e5 19.f4 bc8 20.c7 1-0 Pelikian, J-Lucena,
18.b5 xd4 19.xd4 exd4 20.c6 b6 S/Pre-Amazon Open, Imperatriz BRA 2003
21.ab1 d3 22.e3 d4 23.b3 f8 (20) ]
24.bc1 8d6 25.c4 g3 26.hxg3 h6 [ 4.f3! f5 5.b5+ This is the line which
27.f3 d6 28.a4 h1+ 0-1 Keskinen,S- most worries me. bd7 6.c4 e6 7.dxe6
Salmensuu,O/Helsinki 1998 ] xe6 8.d5 f5 9.e2 c5 10.g3 g6
15.b5 Now a forced sequence follows. g4 11.e2+ e7 12.c3 1-0 Bitalzadeh,A-
16.bxc6 gxf3 17.b5 bxc6 18.xc6 g4! Naalden,M/ ch-NED Open, Dieren NED
19.f1? He did not want to suffer after 2003 (21) ]
[ 19.g3 h3 20.a6+ d7 21.b5+ e7 4...xd5 5.e2 c6 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3
22.f1 xf1+ 23.xf1 gd8 The d pawn d7 8.c3 0-0-0 Nimzowitsch taught that the
falls and W hite cannot play a Rook to b7 two Bishops become increasingly powerful
due to the back-rank mate. ] the longer the game goes on. Thus Black's
19...fxg2+ 20.g1 e5! 21.a8+ strategy in this particular situation must be to
[ W hite can prolo ng the game wit h 21.f4 open the centre as quickly as possible and try
xf4! 22.xf4 xf4 23.a8+ d7 24.c6+ to get some action together with his Knights
e7 25.xg8 e3+ 26.xg2 g5+ before White has a chance to settle down.
27.xg5+ xg5+ 28.f3 h5+ 29.g2 [ Thus 8...e5 would appear more logical than
d5+ 30.f2 xc6 31.ac1 d6 ] 8... 0-0-0, provoking an immediate crisis.
21...d7 22.xd5+ exd5 23.dxe5 e4 Th e f ollowing ga m e de m on stra te s h o w
24.e6+ Black can just take on e6 either way White can cope: 9.0-0! 0-0-0 10.g5! exd4
perhaps the pawn is best. No, Black is in 11.g4! xg4 12.xd8 xf2 13.xf2
good shape after 4 Be2, a wimpy move from xd8 14.cxd4 c5 15.h1 c8 16.c3
White. 4 f3 is necessary. xd4 17.d2 e8 18.e2 e4 19.c1
0-1 d6 20.xc6 xc6 21.xd4 e8 22.f3
g5 23.d5 Shabalov,A-Gershon, A/Paget
Parish 2001 Black toiled on for a further 45
352 B01 moves but his position is almost resignable
Spangenberg,Hugo 2495 right now. ]
Llanos,Guillermo 2395 9.b3 e5 10.dxe5N
II American Continental, A (5) 2003 [ The straightforward 10.0-0 also appears
[Andrew Martin] good: e4 11.e2 b8 12.d2 a5
13.c2 c6 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 d5
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.d4 g4?! 16.xd5 xd5 17.e1 d8 18.c4 f6
Th e J a d o u l va ria t io n , t ricky, b u t lo o kin g 19.f4 d6 20.xd6 cxd6 21.d5 he8
increasingly unsound as time goes by. I think 22.f1 c7 23.xe8 xe8 24.e1+-
354
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
355
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ 31.b1! h1! 32.f3 xf3+ 33.xf3 xf3 9.xf3 xd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.xb7
34.c2 a8 and White's king is still the e4+
more exposed one. ] [ 11...d8!? At least this is more exciting
31...a5! Threatening ...Qxe1+ as well as ... than a depressing ending after the exchange
Qxe5!. The game is suddenly over. 32.e3 o f q u e e n s . 12.e3 e5 13.d1!
f5 The analysis stops after 13.c5 instead in
[ 32...d5! 33.f3 f5 is even stronger. ] Khalifman's book "Opening according to
33.c3 d5 34.f3 d1+ 35.g2 f8 Anand" vol 3, with the evaluation of a "big
On this or the next move, ...Ba6 wins, but it advantage for White" based on some game
makes no difference. 36.a5 e2 37.g1 Kotsur (2500) - Lependin (2395) RUS-Cup
a6?! Krasnoiarsk 98 which was eventually won by
[ 37...xf3! 38.xf3 ( 38.xf3 d8 ) White. It may be right at the end of the day,
38...d4 wins. ] but 13.Rd1! is a much stronger continuation,
38.h4 d1+ 39.g2? exchanging a vital defensive piece in the
[ 39.h2 b7 40.a6 hangs on for a while. black camp while searching shelter on the
On move 39, it's understandable that both queenside for the white king. ]
sides miss the next shot. ] 12.xe4 xe4 13.a5?
39...b7?! [ 13.e3!
[ 39...e3+!! 40.fxe3 f1+ 41.h1 A) 13...e6 14.g3! 0-0-0 15.g2 c5
( 41.h2 e2+ ) 41...h3+ ] 16.e2 e7 17.b3 f5 18.ab1 g5?
40.a6 xf3+ 41.xf3 e2 42.g1 xa6 ( 18...a6 19.b4 e4 20.hc1 ) 19.b4
Black could resign. 43.e5 e3 44.h3 a4 ( 19...e4 20.xe4 fxe4 21.xa7 )
d6 45.d3 xd3 46.xe6+ h7 20.b3 b6 21.c1 Volokitin, A-
47.xe3 Reprintsev, A Swidnica op 1999, and after
0-1 this severe defeat, the Ukrainian, who is
re a so n a b ly we l l kn o wn in t h e Ce n t r e
Co u n te r un iverse f o r h is o rigin a l a n d
354 B01 often tactical ideas, imagined 5...Ne4 to
Spassky,Boris V 2545 bring this update full circle, in a way.;
Prie,Eric 2440 B) 13...e5 14.g3! I have known this
Coupe de FRAnce Fin (1) 1992 refutation for long time... before it was
[Eric Prié] played by Macieja in 97 or reproduced in
Khalifman's book. Thus, Black cannot
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4 exchange the dark-squared bishops with
f6 5.f3 c6 6.d2 g4 The obvious 14...Bc5? because of 15.Bg2 winning the
reaction, instead of the more artificial 6...a6. exchange and at the very least ends up in
7.b5 b6 8.c4! As a bonus for this a miserable ending where the check 14...
section's subscribers, I will now follow with the Bb4+ 15.Ke2 hardly helps. 0-0-0 15.g2
necessary complement to explain the c5 16.d5! An illustration of the pros
theoretical state of this line nowadays. Indeed, and cons of having pushed the e-pawn 2
one can't imagine things could be as simple squares. f5 17.e2! ( 17.b4!?
as they appeared to be in the previous 2 Karavaev, V (2384) - Rodin, D (2260)
games! xf3 Voronezh op 1999; 17.0-0-0!? e4 18.f3 )
[ 8...xd4 9.bxd4 e5 10.h3 xf3 17...e7 18.ab1 ( 18.xc5? xc5
11.xf3 e4 12.a4+! c6 13.0-0-0 exf3 19.e6+ b8 20.xf5 hf8 ) 18...g5
14.e1+ e7 15.a3 0-0-0 16.xe7 xd2 19.b4 a4 20.hc1 b8 21.c6 b6
17.xd2 xf2+ 18.c1 fxg2 19.xg2 22.a4 f4 23.d2! White is clearly better
xg2 20.he1 d8 21.a5!+- Covering in every ending resulting from the strong
lots of important squares while threatening plan (inaugurated by 6.Bd2!) that was
mate. Matjushin, G (2349) -Kislinsky, A implemented in this game up till move 15,
(2412) UKR-ch U18 Kiev 2001 ] thanks to his powerful pair of bishops and
356
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
better structure. Unless there is a miracle Playable thanks to the loose pawn at c2 and
like the one we are about to witness in this the best move.
game, the best Black can hope for [ 9...d6 is possible. I wasn't sure where I
nowadays in the long traditional ...Nc6, ... wanted the f8 Bishop though. ]
Nf6 Scandinavian is to defend a difficult 10.xd7 xd7 11.d3
opposite bishop and rooks ending a pawn [ The critical variation arises after 11.h5
down. A rather dissuasive argument at the xc2 12.d3 b5 ( 12...a4!? ) 13.xe6 fxe6
very least. ( 23.c5 c8 )] 14.xe6+ e7! ( 14...d8 15.g5+ c7
13...0-0-0 14.g3 e6 15.f3 For some reason 16.f4+= ) 15.g5 d8 16.d2 xd3!
my great opponent, on leave from the Lyon A) 17.xe7 xe7 18.xe7+ xe7
chess club, was not in a fighting mood that 19.xd3 e5+ 20.c2 ( 20.d4
day... when, as for me, I had felt the wind of xg4= ) 20...hf8;
the cannonball whistle past my ears, and so B) 17.ae1? f6 If Black is surviving
soon dropped the line after this game. But this one the opening lives. At this moment
what sort of a Scandinavian update would it I don't see why he isn't surviving. ]
be without at least one game of mine o) 11...h5! 12.d2
½-½ [ 12.xe6 0-0-0 is far too dangerous for
White to contemplate. ]
12...e5 13.g5 Maybe Black is even slightly
355 B01 better just taking on e2. I was happy to split
Speelman,Jonathan S the point having done the job for the team. As
Martin,Andrew D far the opening goes you will not find the line
4NCL (2) Birmingham 19.09.2004 that Speelman played in W ahls' mammoth
[Andrew Martin] book on the Scandinavian and that is saying
something. What I did seems OK, but Black
Only a short draw, but a variation of great should investigate 4.. .Bg4 as well.
interest to Scandinavian fans. 1.e4 d5 ½-½
2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.f3 Speelman
didn't think too long before playing this move.
Training in on his thought patterns I sensed 356 B01
that something tricky was coming up. f6 Sprenger,Jan Michael 2490
[ 4...g4!? is certainly an interesting move Martyn,Rafe 2265
here. Black wants to play ...Nf6 and ...c6 but Open Vienna (9) 2003
his main priority seem to me to be to [Andrew Martin]
develop the Queen's Bishop without risk.
Could this be problem solved? If so then 4 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4
Bc4 could be White's best then I think 4...c6! f6 5.c4 Dangerous. White may follow with
5 Nf3 Bg4! is probably the way 5.h3 h5 Nge2 and keep his f pawn free- that is the
6.c4 e6 ] basic idea. It is particularly effective if Black
5.c4 c6 6.e2!? Dangerous. White sets up pla ys his B ish o p t o f 5. In principle I lik e
ideas of Ne5 and the usual Kingside pawn Black's reply. g4! 6.f3
storm. Speelman has dabbled in the [ After 6.d3 both sides have to change
Scandinavian himself and mentioned after the strategy. white has to cope with strange
game that he was under the impression that pie ce p la ce men ts a nd B lack mu st t ak e
6...Bf5 was a mistake. I was just playing at advantage quickly of the poor position of the
this point, could see what was coming up and Qd3. Castling on the queenside is indicated!
was trying to survive. f5 c6 7.b5 0-0-0! 8.xc6 bxc6 9.c4
[ I considered 6...h5 for a brief moment but e6 10.d3 c5 11.ge2 cxd4 12.xd4
this fails to a typical trick: 7.h3 g4 b6 13.e3 c5 14.0-0-0 cxd4 15.xd4
8.xf7+! ] g6 16.b5 h6+ 17.b1 b7
7.e5 e6 8.g4 g6 9.h4 bd7! 0-1 Szitas, G-Innocente,N/2nd Open,
357
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
Condom FRA 2003 (63) ] xb2 14.0-0 Martyn has ample material two
6...h5 pawns for the exchange, but will he ever get
[ 6...f5 7.ge2 bd7?! ( 7...c6 ) 8.g4 to use it? Black is behind in development and
g6 9.h4 h6 10.f4 h7 11.e2 b6 must catch up without delay. e6 15.e3 e5
12.fd5 xd5 13.xd5 c6 14.f4 0-0-0 16.f2 d7 17.fe1 c5?? Horrible. Is
15.xc7 e6 16.xd8 exd5 17.b5 b4+ Black's position so bad after
18.f2 g6 19.h5 d6 20.h4 f8 [ 17...d6 18.f4 f6 19.ab1 d8
21.e8+ c7 22.g3 e6 23.xd6+ I think not. W hile most strong players
1-0 Wilsbeck,J-Manley,C/25th Politiken Cup, would prefer to be White it's all to play for. ]
Copenhagen DEN 2003 ] 18.xc5 xc5 19.xc5 xc5 20.e5
7.ge2 c6 8.d2 0-0-0 9.b5 The sting in the tail. g6 21.xc5 b6
A move which completely throws Rafe Martyn 22.a6+ Verdict: Can Black place his faith in
although he must surely have been aware of Martyn's exchange sacrifice? I am doubtful
the dangers. In fact W hite has several a l t h o u g h I h o p e I ' ve sh o wn t h a t B la c k ' s
dangerous alternatives each of which has to position is by no means as bad as Martyn
be paid close attention: made it look.
[ 9.a3 xd4 10.b5 b6 11.bxd4 e5! 1-0
12.f5 e4 13.eg3 c5 14.b4 ( 14.xh5
e3 15.hxg7 exd2+ 16.f1 xb2 )
A) 14...f2+! I think this move is very 357 B01
strong: 15.f1 ( 15.e2 xg3 16.hxg3 Starostits,Ilmars 2471
exf3+ 17.gxf3 e4-+ ) 15...e3 16.xe3 Hamdouchi,Hicham 2601
xe3!! ( 16...xd1+ 17.xf2 xa1 XXXV Open Sevilla ESP (6) 13.01.2010
18.xa1 ) 17.e1; [Neil McDonald]
B) 14...g1? 15.e2 Palac,M-Tkachiev,
V/Pula 1999 ] 1.e4 d5
[ 9.d5 a4 10.xf6 gxf6 11.b3 a3 [ The position that arises in this line of the
12.c3 d6 13.g3 g6 14.e4 d7 Scandinavian Defence is very similar to the
15.0-0 f5 16.c5 d6 Typical Hodgson 5...gxf6 variation of the Caro-Kann: 1...c6
juggling 17.f4 xd4 18.cxd4 xd4+ 2.d4 d5 3.d2 dxe4 4.xe4 f6 5.xf6+
19.h1 xc5 20.e1 e6 21.c1 a3 gxf6 6.f3 f5 and if we add a rather lousy
22.c3 g8 23.xe6+ b8 Gdanski,J- move f or W hite and an unusual one f or
Hodgson,J/ Germany 2002 ] Black we get the position that arises in the
9...b6 10.a4 xd4!?N main game af ter 8...gxf 6: 7.d2 b6
[ Black can try to hold W hite up: 10...a5 The comparison would seem to suggest that
The analysis is complicated: 11.a3 ( 11.c3 Black is doing at least OK- in fact he is
e6 12.b3 e7 13.g5 g6 14.f4 b8 probably already better. ]
15.xg6 xg6; 11.c3 e5 12.b3 exd4 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4 f6 5.f3
13.cxd4 b4 ) 11...b4 ( 11...e5 12.b3 [ In my book 'Starting Out with 1. e4', I give
b8! Fritz7 ) 12.c3 ( 12.xb4 axb4 13.a5 the sequence 5.d2 c6 6.c4 f5 7.d5
a6 14.a4 g6 15.f4 e6 16.xg6 d8 8.xf6+ gxf6 9.f3 I prefer this way
hxg6 17.c3 ) 12...bd5 13.b3 e5 of handling it with White as Black's queen
14.d3 e6 15.dxe5 c5 16.bd4 xe5 has been driven right back to d8, whereas in
17.b5 b6 18.0-0 g6 19.c4 c5 the main game she can retreat to b6,
20.c2 c7 21.g3 xc2 22.xc2 e3 attacking the b2 pawn. ]
23.xe3 xe3+ 24.f2 d2 25.b3 5...c6 Black opens up a line of retreat for the
Werner,V-Didenko,L/ Germany 1999/ GER- queen and stabilises his control of the
chT and now 25...b6 would be equal. Black important d5 square. 6.d2 f5 7.e4 b6
must walk a very fine line in this variation- 8.xf6+ gxf6 9.b4 White tries to make a
his Queen is in constant danger. ] virtue out of the necessity of defending b2 by
11.bxd4 xd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.e2 clearing the way for the rook on a1 to enter
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the game via b3. But this time consuming 358 B01
plan doesn't work out well as W hite lags Steiner,B 2245
behind with the development of his kingside. Brustkern,Juergen 2225
g8!? Making it difficult for White to develop FSIM September (9) 2003
his kingside in view of the attack on g2. [Andrew Martin]
[ A sharp battle also occurs after 9...d7
10.a4 e5 11.a5 c7 12.e2 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 4.d4
( Ideally White would like to fianchetto on f6 5.f3 a6!? 5...c6 is safest but doesn't
the kingside but he doesn't have enough afford the same dynamic potential. 6.g3 b5
time e.g. 12.g3 0-0-0 13.a6 b6 14.g2 7.f4 b6 8.g2 b7 9.0-0 e6 10.a4
exd4 15.0-0 e5 leaving him in trouble.) The f irst critical moment f or Black. Quite
12...d6 Black's well centralised pieces and correctly W hite makes an effort to open up
initiative on the kingside give him at least the position-he has castled and Black has
equal chances in the melee that follows. not! Brustkern has two answers: b4!? Risky.
13.0-0 e4 14.h4 xh2+ 15.h1 e6 [ 10...d6 As the evidence stands, this
16.c4 h5 17.a3 f4 18.d5 g4 19.xf4 seems quite decent. Black isn't in too much
xf4 20.g3 d6 21.a6 b6 22.xg4 hxg4 difficulty on the a file and his b pawn can be
23.xg4 cxd5 24.cxd5 xd5 25.e3 f5 p u s h e d o r p r o t e c t e d e a s i l y : . 11.xd6?!
26.f4 -Hracek, Z-Mueller, K/ Werder ( 11.e5 bd7 12.axb5 axb5 13.xa8+
Bremen GER 2009. ] xa8 14.e2 b4 15.b5 is certainly more
[ Meanwhile White would have the initiative challenging but not lethal by any means.)
after 9...e5 10.c4! d7 11.0-0 11...cxd6 12.axb5 axb5 13.e2 xa1
as discussed previously by Eric Prie in the 14.xa1 c6 15.g5 xg2 16.xg2 0-0?!
archives. ] 17.xb5 c6 18.c3 h6 19.f3 d5
10.b1 d7 11.b3 e5 12.e3 c7 20.e5 b8 21.xc6 xc6 22.a5 b6
13.dxe5 e6 14.c4 0-0-0! White has wasted 23.b4 c6 24.d3 White has almost
too much time making moves on the consolidated his extra pawn, Berczes, C-
queenside and is unable to cope with the Brustkern, J/FSIM October, Budapest HUN
opening of lines in the centre. 15.c2 xe5 2003 (48). ]
16.xe5 xe5 17.f4? A blunder, but White 11.a5! a7 12.e2 d5 Ok, as long as
was already in difficulty due to his inability to Black can maintain the central blockade.
develop his kingside. xb4+! Overloading the 13.c4?! Hum. One can understand his anxiety
roo k on b 3 tha t mu st kee p e 3 de f e nd ed . to attack but I believe that
18.f2 a5 19.xb4 [ 13.g5! was much more effective. White
[ After 19.e2 c5 threatening 20...Rd2 vacates the f4 square for a knight and puts
Black is a pawn up with a strong attack. ] Black under immediate pressure. I do not
19...xb4 20.e2 a5 21.xh7 xa2 see how Black equalizes after this: bd7
22.c1 xg2+ 23.xg2 xe2+ 24.f2 14.f4
g4+ 25.h1 xc4! winning the d5 square A) 14...c6 15.c4! bxc3 ( 15...h6
for the bishop. 26.g3 d1+ 16.xf6 xf6 17.e5 xg2 18.a4+ c6
[ For if 26...d1+ 27.xd1 xd1+ 28.g2 19.xg2 ) 16.bxc3 e7 17.xf6 xf6
f1# ] 18.e5 xg2 19.a4+!;
0-1 B) 14...c4 15.e1 d8 16.c3 d6
17.b3 b5 18.c4 c6 19.d5 ]
13...bxc3 14.bxc3 d6 15.xd6 cxd6
16.f4 e4 Different to the earlier line. White
can't occupy e5 Black is ready to castle.
However, it quickly becomes clear that Steiner
is still keen to punish Black for his seemingly
dubious opening play. 17.e1 bd7 18.g4!?
[ At this point White would do much better
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might be a little slow and that if W hite can Hasangatin,R/TCh-CZE 2001 As we have
organise Ne5 and Bf4,the Black Queen can seen, improvements are available. ]
find herself in the wrong place. Presumably 6.ge2 e6!? Very solid indeed.
as soon as W hite plays Nf3,setting up this [ 6...g4 ]
plan, Black goes . ..Bg4! Sermek has shown 7.0-0 e7 8.e4 xe4 9.xe4 0-0 10.d3
a liking for 5...Bg4 here, intending ...Nc6 and g6 11.h6 e8 12.ad1 We know these
... 0-0-0.The positions reached are sharp and positions from the Caro-Kann. White has a
murky, with Black attacking d4 to nice edge but where does he go from here?
counterbalance his shaky King position. That Using all his experience, Lein deploys his
leaves 5...a6, which Hasangatin employed pieces prophylactically and waits..... d7
recently. If 6 Nge2 e6 7 Bf4 Qd8 is forced, 13.fe1 f6 14.f3 b6 15.c3 b7 16.g3
then I tend to prefer the other lines, although ad8 This is about the best that Black can do
the f ull story after 8 0-0 c5 has yet to be after 6...e6. White has more choice but that's
written. it. 17.h4 a8 Taking away any tactical shots
[ 5...g4 involving unprotected pieces. 18.h5 c5
A) 6.ge2 c6 7.f3 h5 8.f4 d7 19.xa8 The exchange of light-squared
9.d2 e6 10.a3 ( 10.0-0-0 b4 11.a3 Bishops neutralises any thought White may
1/2-1/2 Palac,M-Sermek,D/7th HIT Open, ha ve h ad o f a la te r sa crif ice on g6 . xa8
Nova Gorica SLO 2002) 10...a6 11.0-0-0 20.g5 cxd4 21.f3 He was depending on
0-0-0 12.c4 d5 13.g3 ce7 14.f4 this move but Lein's next, very accurate idea
g6 15.h4 f6 16.f2 xf4 17.xf4 puts paid to the White initiative.
d5 18.xd5 exd5 19.d3 d6= [ 21.hxg6 hxg6 22.xf6 ( 22.f3 d5! )
Ozgibcev,A-Zaitsev,V/TCh-RUS, Tomsk 22...xf6 23.e4 e7 24.xf6+ xf6
RUS 2001; 25.xd4 xd4 26.xd4 ed8 27.ed1
B) 6.f3 h5 7.ge2 a6 ( 7...c6! 8.f4 xd4 28.xd4 g7 29.d7 f6 ]
d7 I think I prefer this approach. 9.d2 [ 21.xf6 xf6 22.e4 e7 23.hxg6 hxg6
e6 10.0-0-0 b4 11.a3 a5 12.g4 g6 24.f3 g7 25.cxd4 ed8 ]
13.xg6 hxg6 14.b4 b6 15.d5 21...d5!= 22.xd5 xd5 23.xe7 xe7
White tries to assume the initiative but the 24.xd4 f6 25.h6?! That really is a bit
Black position is well-developed enough. ambitious. The veteran is happy with a draw
xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 exd5 b u t a yo u n g e r G r a n d m a s t e r m i g h t h a v e
18.xd5 d8 19.xd8+ xd8= punished Stripunsky for this move. f8! 26.f3
Jurkovic,H-Sermek,D/Croatian Cup, Pula g8 27.f2 f5
CRO 2002; 7...e6 8.f4 d7 9.g4 g6 [ 27...xh6 28.h1 g7 29.dh4 ]
10.h4 xd3 11.xd3 c6 12.0-0-0 28.h1 f7 The h pawn ties White down. If
0-0-0 13.b1 d5 A key idea in this line, anything, Black is better now. However, the
taking advantage of the position of White's overall verdict on Lein's play of solid but
Bishop. 14.g5 f6 15.c1 xc3+ passive must stand.
16.xc3 f7 17.h5 e5 18.dxe5 b4 ½-½
19.e3 fxe5 20.g3 xd1 21.xd1
f8= Hracek,Z-Kantorik,M/KB Czech Open,
Pardubice CZE 2002) 8.f4 d7 9.d5 364 B01
g6 10.d2 xd3 11.xd3 g6 12.0-0-0 Suetin,Alexey S
g7 13.c4 c6 14.d6 Kasparov,G- Steiner,Guenter
Rogers,I/EUR-ASIA Rapid Match, Batumi Open Velden op (8) 1996
GEO 2001 ] [Nigel Davies]
[ 5...a6 6.ge2 e6 7.e4 ( 7.f4 d8
8.0-0 c5 ) 7...xe4 8.xe4 d8 With 4...Nf6 Black invites a transposition back
( 8...d7! 9.f4 e5 10.dxe5 b4+! ) 9.d3 into the main lines with 5.d4, but Suetin lends
h6 10.f3 c6 11.0-0 d7 12.c4 f6 the game an original flavour by playing 5.h3
13.c2 d6 14.d1 1/2-1/2 Berezjuk,S- and then 6.Bd3!?. Not the kind of chess we
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safely resign b6 14.xe4 xb2 15.b1 [ 10.c4! would've given White the position
xc3+ 16.d2 a3 17.xf7! 1-0 Di Paolo, he had been after, e.g.
R (2 326 )-Va nob bergh, G (2 105 ) Clich y A) 10...xg4 11.d5! a4 12.b3 a3
2001 ] 13.b4 e3 and White can choose
8.g4 Sutovsky is known to choose the most between 14.xa3 ( or 14.b1!?
aggressive lines where possible but I don't with a mess after xc4 15.xa3 xa3
really like this move here as it can cause 16.b2 xd5 17.0-0 xe5 18.fxe5 e6
White to become overextended as we will see although it seems White should have the
in the game. better chances after 19.xf7 ) 14...xd1
[ 8.c4 is safer and now c7 9.f3 g4 15.xe7+ xe7 16.xe7 with a slight
10.f4!? ( 10.f4 xf4 11.xf4 b6 edge;
12.e3 e6 should be OK for Black) B) 10...xc4 11.xc4 c7 12.e5
10...xf3 11.xc7 d5 12.0-0-0 xe5 13.fxe5 d5 14.e2 with chances
and White had a very slight edge in Renet, for both sides, although I'd rather have
O (2500)-Giua, F (2145) 1998-9 French White here. ]
T e a m C h 1 9 9 9 ( 12.a5!? was worth 10...xe5 11.dxe5?? This just loses, albeit to
considering to provoke a weakness )] an unusual tactic
8...e6! [ 11.fxe5 xg4 12.h3 h6 13.xh6 gxh6
[ both 8...xe5 9.gxf5 ] 14.0-0-0 leaves White with at least some
[ and 8...g6 9.f4!? e6 10.h4 would've compensation for a pawn although Black
given Sutovsky exactly the kind of position must have some edge here. ]
he was after (and a slight edge) ] 11...xd2! This must have come as a nasty
9.f4 A pawn sac that Van Wely chooses to shock to the Israeli Grandmaster 12.exf6
decline [ 12.xd2 d5 13.e3 e4+! 14.c1
[ 9.xd7 would probably have been a wiser xc3 15.g1 a4 leaves Black a clear
choice and now piece up. ]
A) 9...xd7! seems more accurate e.g. 12...xc2 13.d3 xb2 14.c1 exf6
10.f3 ( 10.e2 0-0-0 11.0-0-0 b6 W hite may not have dropped a piece but
and Black is at least equal) 10...g6 11.f4 Black has three extra pawns and a crushing
0-0-0 12.g2 c7 with balanced positional advantage 15.0-0 h5! 16.g5 fxg5
chances; 17.d1 c5+ 18.h1 g4! A crushing victory
B) 9...xd7 10.g5 d5 11.e4 b6 for Van Wely and a game that Sutovsky will
12.c4 c7 13.c3 a6?! ( 13...e6 want to forget.
14.d2 is slightly better for White) 14.d2 [ 18...g4 19.e4 d5 ]
a7 and now in Velcheva, M (2273)- 0-1
Hopman, P (2193) W ijk aan Zee 2001
15.0-0-0! would've given White a clear
space advantage and an easy game. ] 366 B01
[ 9.c4 c7 10.e3 is unclear but it isn't Svidler,Peter 2640
really consistent with how White has played Dreev,Alexey 2650
so far ] Elista 1997
9...0-0-0 [Alexander Volzhin]
[ it's not clear exactly what Black was
worried about after 9...xe5 for example This game shows that to play the Centre
10.fxe5 xg4 11.g2 0-0-0 12.e4 b6 Counter against a top player is not always a
and it's hard to believe that W hite really very good idea. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.f3
has enough compensation for a pawn xd5 4.d4 g4 5.h3 h5 6.c4 b6
although the position remains complex. ] 7.c3
10.f3?! This must've been based on a [ 7.c5!? 6d7 8.b3 also looks
miscalculation, Sutovsky has clearly missed promising. ( or 8.c4 )]
Black's 11th move 7...e5
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[ 7...xf3 8.xf3 c6 9.e3 followed by prepared Black player with a strong nervous
0-0-0(or perhaps just Bg2 and 0-0) looks system might find a way to make this line
better for White. ] playable. That said, I think it is quite low-
8.g2 c6 risk for White, unless you really hate being
[ 8...c6 is another way to play, but one which a pawn down, in which you probably
never made much sense to me. ...a6 and ... sh o u l d n 't b e a c h e ssp la ye r in t h e f i rs t
c6 are useful moves, but you don't need place. ]
both of them! ] 17.c1
9.0-0 0-0-0 10.f4 b4 [ 17.xd3 xd3 18.fe1 also looks good,
[ 10...d7 is n o t s o g o o d . 11.g4 g6 simply planning b4 and a4. ]
12.e5! xe5 13.dxe5 xd1 14.axd1 17...c2 18.e3 e6 19.b4 e4 20.d2
xd1 15.xd1 d7 16.e6 ] xe3 21.fxe3 e5 22.g3 exd4 23.cxd4
11.g4! g6 12.a3 c4 d6 24.xd6 cxd6 Taking some pressure
[ If 12...xb2 t h e i d e a i s 13.e1! off the c-file, but Black still has some
intending Ne5, with a dangerous initiative. problems. 25.ac1 d7 26.c4 h6
Black may be able to play this way, but my 27.b6+ e8 28.gxh6 xh6 29.d5 f6
intuition, for what it is worth, is that White 30.a4 f7 31.b5
has more than a pawn's worth here, with a [ 31.c7+ e7 ( 31...d7 32.xa6! )
le a d in d e ve lo p m e n t a n d se ve ra l o p e n 32.xa6 looks playable, and may have been
lines pointing towards Black's king. ] a more incisive way to exploit the
13.g5 d5 advantage. ]
[ 13...e8 is playable, but hardly attractive, 31...axb5 32.axb5 a5 33.a1 c4
a n d W h i t e c a n r e p l y i n va r i o u s w a y s , 34.a7 h5 35.c7+ f8 36.xb7 xh3
including the mundane 14.e3 with the idea 37.f3 h5 38.c6 I suspect Svidler could
of Nd2 or d5. ] have been more accurate, but he has retained
14.xd5 xd5 so m e a d van t a ge , an d Bla ck n o w f ind s it
[ 14...xd5 15.e5 xd4 16.g4+! e6 difficult to deal with the b-pawn. b8 39.g3
17.xc6 looks winning. ] b6 40.e4 c8 41.a1 h4 42.a6 b6
15.c3!? An instructive decision, showing, yet 43.b4 b8 44.ga3 b6 45.a7 d5
again, that at the highest level, 'winning the 46.a6 d8 47.b7 c4 48.c5 dxe4
exchange' is not always thought to be 49.aa7 g4+ 50.h2 d6 51.xf7+!
worthwhile when it means 'losing control'. xf7 52.e6+ g8 53.xd8 g5
[ 15.e5 gives Black various options. xe5 [ 53...xd8 54.a8 ]
( 15...xe5 16.xe5 h6 and would be 54.d5+ h7 55.e6 f3+ 56.h3 f5
enough to put me off this line, even though 57.xg7+! xg7 58.xg7 xd4 59.b6 e3
it seems likely that White should have some 60.g2 c2 61.f1 b4 62.b7 a6
way to be better.) 16.xd5 xd5 17.dxe5 63.xf5 g6 64.e7+ f6 65.c6
e4 looks like it gives Black serious Svidler was probably relieved to see that he
counterplay. However, this is probably not wouldn't have to mate with bishop and knight.
sufficient after 18.d2 when xc2 19.xc2 Bc4 is the next move and the b-pawn will soon
xc2 20.fc1 g6 21.e6 looks good for be a queen.
White. ] 1-0
15...d8 16.b3 There is something simple
about Svidler's play. He relies on his extra
space and well-placed bishop on g2 for his
advantage, and knows that is Black takes any
pawns he will be able to whip up an attack.
d3
[ 16...xc3 17.c1 d3 18.e1 e4
19.e3 and it looks like White's initiative is
abou t t o grow, alt hou gh, aga in, a well-
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PATZER. Black delays the development of his Black has gotten rid of White's dark-squared
Knight on g8. It's the Bishop on c1,you see- bishop and retained his own, to cover his
that's the W hite piece that can hassle the weaknesses. Arguably, too, the bishop on f5
Black Queen i.e. Bg5-h4-g3 for instance, or, is better developed outside of the pawn chain
with Knight on f6, Ne5 and then Bf4. We keep (compare the previous note). But Black may
our Knight at home then and play other useful not get time to castle kingside. 7.d2
moves first e.g. ...Bf5, ...e6,,, Nd7. .Bd6- you [ Now if W hite gambits by 7.0-0 xc3
sort out the order. I'll just say that the timing 8.bxc3 xc3 , his bishop hangs.
of ...Nf6 is crucial. A few lines: 7.0-0 N e v e r t h e l e s s , 9.e5 e6 10.b1
[ 7.h4 g6 8.f4 e6 9.0-0 f6 ] gives some compensation. ]
[ 7.g5 e6 8.h4 g6 9.0-0 e7! 7...xd2 8.xd2 e6 9.0-0
I prefer Black now ] [ 9.d5! is critical, to tear apart the centre
[ 7.e3 e6 8.d2 f6 9.f4 d6 before Black consolidates. In Narayanan-
( 9...a5!? idea ...Bb4 ) 10.e5 bd7= ] Tiwari, New Delhi 2009, the second player
[ 7.e5 d7 8.f4 ( 8.f4 gf6 9.0-0 e6; managed to hold on after d7 ( 9...b4
8.xd7 xd7 9.0-0 f6 10.e3 e6= ) may improve) 10.dxe6 fxe6 ( 10...xe6
8...xe5 9.xe5 b6 10.b1 f6 11.f4 11.0-0-0 d6!? ) 11.0-0-0 0-0-0 12.g5!
d8 ] ( 12.d4 b6 ) 12...d6 13.xe6 ( here
7...e6 8.g5 d7 9.h4 d6= You couldn't 13.xe6! calls Black's play into doubt)
say that Black has been in any way troubled 13...b4 14.d4 xc2! 15.cb5
by the opening. Very odd! This weird idea ( 15.xc2 xc4 16.he1 might retain an
seems to produce a position similar to that of edge ) 15...a4 16.xb4 xb4 17.xa7+
the Caro-Kann. I rather like the White Bishop b8 18.b3 xa7 19.bxa4 , and here c5
sitting pretty on e2, doing precisely nothing. was approximately equal. There's a lot to
be looked at here I suspect that if there's a
serious problem with 6...Ne4, it's 9 d5. ]
374 B01 9...d7 10.a3 c6 Playable, if a bit slow.
Thipsay,Praveen Mahadeo 2453 [ 10...e7 11.b4 b6 looks risky, but the
Tiwari,Arjun 2256 queen is actually relatively safe on b6. 12.d5
1st Open Gurgon IND (4) 23.01.2009 0-0-0 13.ad1 f6 14.fe1 might follow,
[John Watson] with White probably having some edge. ]
11.fe1 W hite has 12 d5 in mind. 0-0-0?!
When Black plays 3...Qa5, he's often happy Allowing some bothersome threats.
with simplification, so the following idea of ... [ 11...c7 is better, intending ...0-0-0. ]
Ne4 bears notice. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 12.g5! e5?!
3.c3 a5 4.d4 f6 5.f3 f5 [ 12...g6 , when 13.b4 f5 ( 13...c7!?
[ 5...e4 is the normal version of the idea in 14.xe6! fxe6 15.xe6 d6 16.xd8
the game, for example, 6.d2 ( quite a few xd8 17.d5! ) 14.d3 f6 15.b5!? ]
ga m e s h a ve co n t in u e d 6.d3!? xc3 13.xe5!?
7.bxc3 , when instead of grabbing the pawn, [ 13.b3! is still more convincing after e7
Black can choose g6 8.0-0 g7 9.e1 ( 13...h6 14.xe5 xe5 15.xf7 ) 14.xe5
0-0!? 10.xe7 c6 11.e3 xc3 xe5 15.xf7 xd4 16.c1! f6
, but it's hard not to prefer White somewhat 17.xh8 d8 18.e3 ]
after 12.d2 b2 13.c3 ) 6...xd2 7.xd2 13...xe5 14.xf7 xd4 15.e2! c5
e6 with the idea ...Bb4. ] 16.xh8 xh8 17.xe6+ xe6 18.xe6+
6.c4 Now 6...e6 has been played in b8 19.e2 f8 Black has some
hundreds or thousands of master games. c o m p e n s a t i o n , b u t i t s h o u l d n ' t b e q u i t e
e4!? This is a rather counterintuitive line that enough, because White lacks weaknesses.
aims at gaining the bishop pair at the cost of 20.d1
considerable development. Still, a structure [ Or 20.f1 , transposing. ]
with ...e6 and ...c6 can hold up a lot better if 20...d8 21.c3!?
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[ 21.g3 intends Rc1 and b4. ] Sax - Gausel, Skelleftea 2001 continued
21...f8 22.f1 xa3! 23.d1 f6 24.bxa3 c7 8.b5 (White could also delay this
xc3 25.e7 c8 26.g3 xc2 27.d7 move) e6 9.0-0 a6 10.bxc6 xc6 11.h3
[ 27.d8!? b1+ 28.g2 b6 ] h5 12.e2 d6 13.d4 a5 14.f4
27...b1+ 1/2-1/2 ]
[ 27...b2! covers g7. Black seems to be 7...xf3
holding. ] [ 7...h5 8.b4 c7 9.0-0 e6 10.b1 a6
28.g2 b6 29.d6+ a8 30.xg7 a5?! was a game Shahade - Stefanova, Andorra
31.xh7 a7 32.h6 d8 33.e5 d2 2000 af ter which 11.d3 intending Ne2-f4
34.f6 Now it's 'a matter of technique'. The would have been quite promising for White. ]
rest of the moves were d8 35.c5+ a6 8.xf3 e6 9.0-0 bd7 10.a3
36.f5 d5 37.c4+ b6 38.f7 b5 [ The idea of a queenside expansion is more
39.h4 a4 40.xa4 d5+ 41.f3 c5 42.f4 p r o m i s i n g t h a n t h e ' c l a s s i c a l ' 10.d4
b3 43.h5 c6 44.g4 c4 45.g5 xf3 when Ward - Emms, 4NCL 1997 went d6
46.xf3 c3 47.xc6+ bxc6 48.g6 c2 11.e4 xe4 12.xe4 0-0 13.c4 ad8
49.g7 c1 50.g8 f4 51.g6 b5 52.h6 14.c2 fe8 15.d2 c7 with a solid
c5 53.h7 e5 54.g8 e4+ 55.h2 f4+ game for Black. ]
56.g1 c1+ 57.g2 10...e7 11.b3 0-0 12.b2 fd8 13.d4
1-0 ac8 14.d1 b5 15.e3 c7 16.e2
[ According to Tiviakov, the immediate 16.c4
would have given him an edge. ]
375 B01 16...b6 17.fd1 a5 18.c4
Tiviakov,Sergei ½-½
Hansen,Curt
Wijk aan Zee (5) 1994
[Nigel Davies] 376 B01
Topalov,Veselin
Hansen's play is much better, but even here Kamsky,Gata
W hite could have maintained an edge with Corus Chess 2006 2006
stronger play on move 16. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 [Andrew Martin]
xd5 3.c3 a5 4.g3 f6 5.g2 c6
6.f3 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 A rare outing for the
[ White can also play 6.ge2 in this position, Modern variation at this level. W as Kamsky
which has the advantage that it does not trying to surprise Topalov? 3.f3 xd5 4.d4
block his f-pawn. g6 ( 6...f5 7.b4!? c7 f5 Rare in comparison with 4...Bg4 or 4...g6
8.b1 bd7 9.0-0 e6 10.d3 e7 11.h3 Topalov sticks with a tried and trusted
h6 12.f4 e5 13.d2 d6 14.f4 exf4 formula: when surprised keep it simple and
15.xf4 h7 16.b5 and White had the aim for a small, enduring edge. 5.d3 xd3
initiative in Payen - Kholmov, St Petersburg 6.xd3 e6 7.0-0!
1998 ) 7.0-0 g7 8.b1 c7 was a game [ But not the reckless 7.b5+ c6 8.xb7
Paz Ladron - Bellon Lopez, Malaga 1998 db4 9.a3 b8 ]
and now 9.b4 looks logical (in the game 7...c6 8.c4 b6 9.c3 e7 10.f4
White played 9.d4) ] White has obtained a typical small edge with
6...g4 the simplest of moves. He has choice for this
[ Once again White can meet 6...f5 with Rooks, good development and ands plenty of
7.b4!? after which Shabalov - Minasian, New scope for the middlegame. Black is cramped.
York Open 1998 went c7 8.0-0 e6 9.b1 Perhaps this is why 4...Bf5 isn't seen more
wit h W h it e 's ch a n ce s b e in g s o m e wh a t often, although there is no need for Kamsky's
preferable in this rich position. ] ne xt m o ve . g5?! He feels that his position is
7.h3 so prospectless that he has to try and
[ White can also consider 7.b4 after which unbalance the game. But 10...g5?! is almost
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gone unnoticed... at least on this site! a3 21.c5 ) 15...a2 16.b2 d5 17.e4
I do not see how Black could develop his xe4 18.xe4 e6 19.f4 b6 20.xc7
queen's bishop whilst continuing to have the c8 21.d6 a5 22.b4 c4
move c3-c4, with or without Rb1, hanging over With compensation, but for Black! ]
his head like a sword of Damocles. 14...d7
[ 11...f5 12.c4 a4 ( 12...a6 13.xf5 [ 14...xa2 15.a1 d5 16.c4 e6
gxf5 14.d5! xa1 15.xa1 a5 16.d4 17.xe6 fxe6 18.c3 xd4 19.cxd4 xd4
Pro vid e s W h it e wit h a win n ing a t t a ck.) 20.e3 xa1 21.xa1 a5 22.a4
13.d5! The Qa4-Qd1 vis-Ã -vis gives White ( 22.c5!? a4 23.a3 a5 24.f1 ) 22...b6
s u p p l e m e n t a r y t a c t i c a l m o t i v e s . d4 23.c5 fb8 24.cxb6 cxb6 25.b5 ]
( 13...a5 14.b1 xd3 15.cxd3 xd1 15.f4
16.bxd1 b6 17.xe7 ) 14.xd4 xd4 [ 15.b1 b6 16.f4 fe8 17.xc7 ( 17.f3
15.xe7 xa1 16.xa1 xd3 17.h6 f6 a5 18.e5 e6 19.e4 xe5 20.xe5
18.cxd3 f7 19.e1 And Black has to part c6 ) 17...ac8 18.g3 ( 18.f4 e5 )
with his queen to avoid mate. ] 18...a5 19.e3 ( 19.e4 f5 20.g5
12.c1! xc3 21.f3 c6 ) 19...h6 ( 19...xc3
[ 12.d5!? a5 13.c1 c5 14.h6 20.xg6! xe3 21.xf7+ f8 22.fxe3;
xc3? 15.xf8 xe1 ( 15...xa1 16.xa1 19...h6 ) 20.f4 c4 21.xc4 xc4 ]
xf8 17.h8#; 15...xf8 16.h6+ g7 15...h6
17.xh7 xa1 18.e5! xe5 19.xe5 [ 15...fe8 16.xc7 ac8 17.g3 a5
e8 20.g8+ d7 21.xf7 ) 16.h6! ( 17...h6 18.f4 a5 19.e4 b6! ) 18.e4
xf2+ 17.h1 c3 18.f1 f5 19.g5+- ] f5 ( 18...f5 19.c5 )]
12...xc1 13.axc1 Black will lose a pawn, 16.f3 e6 17.b1 g5
either on b7, c7 or e7. Thus it has to be c7 [ 17...b6 18.e4 ]
f r o m h i s p o i n t o f v i e w . e6 14.g5! [ 17...a5 18.xc7 ( 18.h4!? ac8
It was also tempting to activate the queen's 19.b5 b6 20.xe6 fxe6 21.xg6 fe8
rook and provoke considerable disruption in 22.h5 ) 18...b6 19.bd1 ( 19.xe6 fxe6
the black camp. 20.e1 ac8 21.g3 f7 ) 19...ac8
[ 14.b1 20.e5 xc3? ( 20...xe5? 21.xe5
A) 14...d8 15.c4 c6 ( 15...c5 16.d5 xc3 22.xg6 ) 21.d5 xe5 22.xe5 c8
d7 17.xe7 ) 16.a4 ( 16.f4 e8 23.xe7 ]
17.c3 ) 16...e8 17.a5; 18.xc7 b6 19.a4
B) 14...b6 15.xe6! fxe6 16.e4 a5 [ 19.a6! xa2 20.a1 d5 21.b7 ae8
17.xa8 xa8 18.e1 e5 ( 18...f7 ( 21...ac8 22.xc8 xc8 23.g3 f5
19.g5+ ) 19.xe5 xe5 20.xe5 c4 24.e5 xe5 25.xe5 xc3 26.xa7 e6
21.e2; 27.b1+- ) 22.xc6 xc6 23.xa7 ]
C) 14...ab8 15.g5 xa2 ( 15...d7 19...ac8 20.g3 a5 21.e5
16.f4 ) 16.a1 d5 17.c4 e6 18.xe6 [ 21.h4 g4 22.e5 xc3 23.g6 e8
( 18.d5 xa1 19.xa1 d7 20.dxc6 24.d5 ]
xc6 21.f4 bd8 22.xc7 d7 21...fd8
23.f4 ) 18...fxe6 19.c3! xd4 [ 21...xe5 22.xe5 xc3 23.d5 ]
The best cha nce . ( 19...d8 20.xa7; 22.xg7?? Time trouble already? Anyway this
19...f6 20.g5 ff8 21.xe6; 19...e5 is an incomprehensible slip that spoils all
20.d5 b6 21.dxc6 bd8 22.e3 h6 White's efforts so far in this quality game.
23.d1 xe3 24.xe3 f6 25.c5 g7 [ 22.e3! And Black is not out of trouble yet.
26.f1 ) 20.cxd4 xd4 21.e3 xa1 xc3? 23.h7+ ]
22.xa1 a6 23.c5; 22...xg7 Now White loses the pawn back
D) 14...fb8! 15.a4 ( 15.f4 xa2 and will rapidly go down. 23.bd1 xc3
16.b2 d5 17.xc7 c8 18.xb7 24.e4 d7 25.a1 c6 26.d3
xd4; 15.g5 xa2 16.a1 d5 17.c4 Certainly not the most difficult to negotiate for
e6 18.xe6 fxe6 19.c3 e5 20.d5 d8 the opponent... xf3 27.gxf3 e6 28.e4
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c6 29.f4 xd4 30.fxg5 hxg5 31.a2 d5 B2) 8.c4 e6 9.e3 c6 10.c3 e7
32.g2 f5 33.e1 e5 34.d1 e6 35.e1 11.a3!? ( 11.0-0 0-0 12.e2 ) 11...e5?!
e4 36.f1 f4+ 37.h2 d2 38.g1 ( 11...0-0 ) 12.d5 d4 13.g4 xf3+
xh3+ 39.xh3 xh3 40.a5 c3 41.axb6 14.xf3 g6 Byrne-Rogoff, US Ch 1978
axb6 42.b1 dxc2 43.a7+ c7 and 15.d6! cxd6 16.cxd6 xd6 17.d1
0-1 gives White tremendous pressure. ]
7...e6
[ 7...e5?! 8.g4 exd4 9.xd4 g6 10.g2
379 B01 c6 11.0-0 has won some games for White,
Tzermiadianos,Andreas 2447 intending e7 12.f4 ]
Shen,Siyuan 2321 8.g4
FSGM August Budapest HUN (4) 04.08.2009 [ 8.e3 b4!? 9.b3 c6 10.e2 0-0
[John Watson] 11.a3 e7!? 12.g4 g6 13.d5 ( 13.0-0-0
a5! ) 13...a5! 14.b5 bxc4! 15.xc4 c6
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.d4 xd5 4.f3 g4 16.dxc6 a6 , and White should give the
5.h3 h5 piece back by 17 Qb4, rather than 17.b6?
[ 5...xf3 6.xf3 wins the bishop pair and/or 1/2-1/2 of Keitlinghaus (2525) -Holzhaeuer
secures a central advantage after (2355), Gladenbach 1997 because here
A) 6...b4? 7.xb7 xc2+ 8.d1 xd4 axb5 18.xd8 axd8 19.xb5 bxc6
( 8...xa1 9.b5+ d7 10.xd7+ xd7 20.e2 f6 uses the bishops to good
11.d5+ e8 12.c6+ d7 13.xa8+ ) effect. ]
9.xa8 b3+ 10.d2; 8...g6 9.e5
B) 6...c6!? 7.c3!? ( or 7.b5 e6 8.0-0 [ R y b k a l i k e s 9.b3 threatening c5 and
wit h a n e d g e) 7...d7 8.d3 e6+ Qxb7 then c8 ( 9...c5!? 10.e3 8d7
9.e2! 0-0-0 10.0-0 f6 11.d2 e5 11.0-0-0 ) 10.c5 6d7 11.h4 e7
12.dxe5 xe5 13.xf6 xf6 14.c4 12.xg6 hxg6 13.g2 c6 14.e3
with the bishop pair; is at any rate more comfortable for White. ]
C) 6...e6 7.c3 e7 (White can play Bd3 9...c6 Black has tried all kinds of things here,
or Bc4 versus most moves) 8.c4 ( 8.d3 but without much success:
0-0 9.0-0 d7 10.d1 ) 8...0-0 9.0-0 c6 [ 9...8d7 10.xg6 hxg6 11.e3 ( 11.e2
10.d2 d7 11.e1 ] b4!? 12.g2 c5 Conquest, S (2601)-
6.c4 I like this move order, which reverts to 4 Ekstroem, R (2495), Leon 2001 and here
c4 positions but without Be2 and retaining the 13.d5! was stron g) 11...f6 12.f3 c6
idea of an early g4. b6 13.0-0-0 b4 14.g5! fd7? ( 14...h5!? )
[ 6...xf3 7.xf3 b4 again appears to fall 15.e4 e7 16.h4 a5 17.h5 gxh5
a bit short after 8.c3! e5!? ( 8...8c6 18.xh5 xh5 19.xh5 c7? ( 19...f8
9.a3 e5 10.d2! exd4? 11.b3 20.h8 g6 21.d5! ) 20.g6 f5 21.g5 f8
with the idea a6 12.xb7 ) 9.d5 d7 22.f7 ( 22.h8! wins, in view of f6?
10.a3 a6 11.b4!? c5 12.dxc6 bxc6 23.xf8+ ) 22...bd7 ( 22...f6 ) 23.b1
13.c5 c7 14.c4 ] f6 24.d5! exd5 25.xf5 e5 26.cxd5
7.c3 cxd5? 27.b5+ c6 1-0 Conquest (2530) -
[ W h it e h a s a l so h a d s u c ce s s wi t h 7.c5 Branger, Paris 2001. ]
, e.g., [ 9...b4 10.g2 8d7 ( 10...c6 11.h4 f6
A) 7...d5 8.b3 b6 9.e5! c6 10.c3 12.xg6 hxg6 13.d3 ) 11.xg6 hxg6
( 10.g4 f6! ) 10...e6 11.a4; 12.b3 c5 13.0-0 xc3 14.xc3 f6
B) 7...6d7 15.e3 c8 16.b3 c7 17.ad1 0-0
B1) 8.b3 b6 ( 8...c6 9.g4 g6 18.fe1 e8 19.c1! and Black's position
10.c3 ) 9.d5!? xf3 10.xf3 c6 was horrendous in Voitsekhovsky-Ulko,
11.g5!? bxc5 12.dxc5 ( 12.c4 f6 ) Novgorod 1998. ]
12...a5+ 13.c3 e6 14.e2 xc5 [ 9...c6 10.g2 8d7 11.xg6 hxg6
15.0-0 0-0 16.g3 with attack; 12.e2 favours White, according to
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
rather comfortably. 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 e6+ equality. ) 11...xc3 12.bxc3 e7
A) 8.e2 xe2+ ( 8...d4!? 9.xe6 13.d1 c6 14.c4 0-0 15.a3 fe8
xf3+ 10.gxf3 fxe6 11.d3 and White's 16.xe7 xe7 17.d3=;
structure looks slightly less ugly than A2) 8.e3 b4 ( 8...0-0-0
Black's. W hite will be able to achieve would transpose to my own game.) 9.0-0
strong pressure down the e file.) 9.xe2 ge7 10.e4 g6 11.d3 f5 12.c3
0-0-0 10.xc6 bxc6 11.d3 and White has xe3 13.fxe3 e7 14.b4 0-0 15.b5
a slight but definite edge and Black has b8 16.a4 c6 17.e5 c7 18.xg6
a thankless task to hold the draw.; hxg6 19.b3 d7 20.f3 f6
B) 8.e2 Perhaps the wrong piece to and Black had gradually equalised and a
blo ck t he c he ck. d4 9.0-0 xe2+ draw was agreed in a few moves. Short,
10.xe2 0-0-0 11.d4 f6 12.f4 g5!? N (2695)-Hansen, C (2595) Yerevan
13.h2 ( 13.xg5 g8 14.xf6 xf6 1996.;
gives Black strong kingside pressure for B) 7...0-0-0
the pawn. ) 13...g8 ( 13...g4!? 14.h4 B1) 8.d5! looks strong here, exploiting
f5 also looks quite comfortable for Black Bla ck's m ove o rd er. xf3 ( 8...b4
but Abu Sufian wanted to go for mate.) 9.e5 xe2 10.xe2 e8 11.0-0
14.c4 h5 15.d5 f6 16.c3 looks more pleasant for White with Black
This looks to rather tie in with Black's plan so passive.) 9.xf3 e5 10.e4 f6
( 16.d3 is more sensible when I'd still 11.d4 xe4 12.xe4 and White has
prefer White slightly.) 16...f4 17.a4 a6 a very comfortable position.;
18.ad1 g4 19.xf4 xf4 20.c5 xa4 B2) 8.e3 e6 9.b5 f6 ( 9...a6
21.xa4 gxh3 22.g3 g5 23.c3 g7 could be a better move order, forcing the
and Black is doing extremely well so I'm bishop to retreat immediately. ) 10.e2
rather confused why he offered a draw! 1/ B2a) 10...a6 looks stronger as I don't
2-1/2 Torre, E (2484)-Abu Sufian, S s e e a k n o c k o u t b l o w . 11.xa6
(2340) Guangzhou 2010. ] ( 11.a4 is of course a way to play
6.h3 Vachier Lagrave employs a quiet method on. ) 11...xf3 12.gxf3 bxa6
seeking a small, risk free advantage. xf3 13.xa6+ b8 14.d5 exd5 15.0-0-0
Black accepts that he will be slightly worse d4 16.b5+ a8 17.a6+ b8
but hopes to equalise within the next few seems to be a draw although W hite
moves. doesn't have to take the perpetual
[ When looking through games in this immediately.;
variation I was surprised to discover one of B2b) 10...f7 11.0-0-0 ge7
my own! 6...h5 is the other try. 7.d4 ( 7.d3 and Black was somewhat passively
as in the game is of course possible here; pla ce d but f airly solid in Jon es , G
while 7.b4!? should also be considered. ) (2526)-Dubois, M (2073) Porto San
A) 7...e6 is more circumspect guarding Giorgio 2007. I believe White should
the d5 square. probably look into the alternatives to 7
A1) 8.e5!? is untried but looks like an d 4 f o r a n a d va n t a ge , p e rh a p s t h e
int eres ting ide a alt ho ugh Black ca n unplayed 7 b4!? ]
prob a bly e qua lise . xe2 ( 8...xe5 7.xf3 0-0-0
9.xh5 must favour White with his [ 7...e6+ now looks frankly bizarre but
bishop pair.) 9.xe2 xe5 ( 9...xd4 would actually transpose to the 5...Qf 5
10.d3 d6 11.f4 b4 12.a3 b6 note. ]
13.c4 c5 14.e4 d5 15.xc7 8.d3 d4 Immediately aiming to trade off
looks good for White.; 9...xd4 10.xc6 White's bishop pair.
bxc6 11.e3 b4 12.0-0! [ Tiviakov played 8...e5 in a previous game
with a decent initiative for the pawn.) annotated by John Watson in the archives
10.dxe5 b4 11.0-0 ( 11.d2 e7 and drew fairly quickly but the young
12.0-0-0 c6 and Black is close to Frenchman must have found an
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
improvement. 9.0-0 d4 10.e1 d6 19.e2 d8 20.b4 with strong queenside
Van den Doel, E (2581)-Tiviakov, S (2667) pressure in return for the pawn. ]
Dresden 2007. Maybe here Vachier Lagrave 16.g3 g6 17.d4 White has successfully
h a d p l a n n e d 11.a4!? followed by a forced Black's pieces to retreat and visually
subsequent Nb5. ] the position is starting to look promising. The
9.0-0 e6 So Tiviakov decides it's safer to computer still states Black is fine but it doesn't
leave the pawn on e6 where it keeps the light fully comprehend how quickly White's pawns
squares defended. 10.e3 e7 Sensibly can overpower Black's queenside. d6
defending. Black threatens to support the d4 [ 17...f6 is the computer's suggestion but it
square with ...Nef5 so W hite is obliged to isn 't im m ed ia t e ly ob vio u s t o m e h o w it
exchange his bishop. intends to fight for the initiative following
[ 10...xf3+ is not so strong as following 18.b4 ]
11.xf3 b8 12.a4 Black's pieces aren't 18.b4! Continuing to gain space, White
doing a good job defending his king. ] doesn't worry about a slight structural
11.xd4 xd4 12.e4 Strictly speaking weakening while the f3 bishop is still a strong
Black probably shouldn't have any problems attacking piece. xg3 19.fxg3 d6 20.b5
here but White's queenside expansion looks a5 Trying to slow up White's pawn storm
easier to achieve than Black's counterplay on and defending b7 but the knight is rather
the kingside. The opposite coloured bishops offside here and indeed in a few moves time it
will favour the side which can start attacking drops off.
f irst while W hite's bish op is alread y well [ 20...e7 should probably be preferred
located to cause Black some problems. c6 although White is obviously on top following
[ 12...f5 The knight could also come out to 21.c4 b8 ( 21...xg3? 22.a3
f5. 13.a4 I was talking to the author of the wins material) 22.h2 e5 23.c5 e6
Rybka software at the weekend and he 24.dxe5 xd1 25.xd1 xe5 26.c6
mentioned that it often shows an evaluation and Black still has some problems. ]
of 0.00 and not just when there's a 21.c4! e5
perpetual upcoming. This is a case in point [ 21...xg3? would be a blunder as 22.c3
but I feel the position is easier to play with b6 23.b7+ wins the queen. ]
the White pieces as if Black drops his guard [ 21...c5 22.bxc6 xc6 23.b1
then he will quickly run into trouble. If we and it doesn't look like Black should be able
continue along the top line we have: c6 to survive for long. ]
14.a5 xb2 15.a6 b6 16.c3 e7 17.d4 22.c5 e7 23.c3 e4 Tiviakov tries to
b8 18.e1 and Black's pawn grab is complicate matters.
starting to look somewhat foolish. ] [ 23...b6 24.cxb6 axb6 25.dxe5
[ Grabbing the pawn is very dangerous wins a clean pawn and continues with the
12...xb2?! 13.b1 e5 14.xb7!! attack. ]
regaining the pawn as xb7 15.d6+ a6 24.xe4
16.b7+ b6 17.c4+ wins the queen. ] [ 24.xa5 is another promising option. exf3
13.c1 This isn't so much to defend the pawn 25.e1! d7 26.xa7 xb5 ( 26...f2+?!
but to prepare advancing in the centre. e7 d o e s n ' t g e t B l a c k a n y w h e r e . 27.xf2
14.d1 f5 xd4+? 28.f1 c4+ 29.g1 xb5
[ M a y b e B l a c k s h o u l d t h r o w i n 14...e5 30.a8+ d7 31.ad1++- ) 27.a8+ d7
15.e2 a n d o n ly n o w f5 16.c3 b6!? 28.a3 he8 29.xf3 and White has an
in comparison with the following note the extra pawn although Black has some
knight cannot drop to back to d2 but again chances to hold. ]
17.g3 hf8 18.d4 g6 19.b4 24...fxe4?! after this Black has no
looks more pleasant for the first player. ] compensation for the pawn deficit.
15.c3 d7 [ He should have tried 24...xe4 25.xa5
[ 15...b6 ca n n ow be m e t b y 16.d2!? xd4 when the position is rather complex.
xd3 17.c4 xd1+ 18.xd1 a6 W h i t e s h o u l d p r o b a b l y c o n t i n u e 26.c6
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
( 26.xa7?? a4 unexpectedly traps the 45.e8+ a6 46.c8+ b5 47.c1! e3
queen. ) 26...b8 27.h2 and White still 48.b8+ b6 49.e8+ b4 50.e4+ a3
has some advantage thanks to his 51.a1+ a2 52.d3+ b3 53.a6+ b2
somewhat safer king but Black's position is 54.f6+ a3 55.e7+
hardly a disaster. ] [ 55.d6! is a neat win as cxd6 56.xd6+
25.xa5 b8 26.c3 b2 57.e5+ a3 58.c5+
[ 26.b6 cxb6 27.cxb6 a6 28.e5+ wins material. ]
a l s o l o o k s v e r y p r o m is i n g b u t V a ch i e r 55...a4 56.xa2+ The simple approach
Lagrave prefers to keep more material on going into a winning queen and pawn
the board. ] endgame.
26...d5 27.e1 hd8 28.ad1 d7 [ 56.e1!? was an alternative, more
This series to exchange pawns leaves Black complicated path. ]
with a horrible position. 56...xa2 57.xc7 xd5 58.xa7+ b5
[ 28...b6 29.cxb6 cxb6 30.a4 is a clear 59.xh7 e6 60.h4 c5 61.h6 e8
extra pawn for W hite while Black must sit 62.f4 d5 63.g4 e1 64.g5+ d4
passively but perhaps this was his best 65.f6+ d5 66.h5 gxh5 67.gxh5 e8
option. ] 68.f5+ d4 69.h6 b8+ 70.h3 b3+
29.c6 d6 30.xe4 xb5 31.cxb7 xb7 71.g3 b7 72.h7 h1+ 73.g4 d1+
32.d5! Not only does White have an extra 74.g5
pawn b ut he now ha s t he saf er kin g t oo . 1-0
Vachier Lagrave converts with admirable ease,
n o t a l l o w i n g T i vi a k o v a n y c h a n c e s . b5
33.h2 b6 34.a4 b3 35.c4 b2 382 B01
36.e7 f8 37.e4 b4 38.e5 b2 Vaibhav,S 2430
39.e8+ Yu,Ruiyuan 2431
[ 39.h4! is the computer's choice, giving the ch-Asian Individual (9.18) 10.05.2011
king a safe square on h3 but this would [Gawain Jones]
r e q u i r e f a r m o r e c a l c u l a t i o n a f t e r ff2
It's easy for a computer to state that 40.d6 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4
xg2+ 41.h3 is completely winning for f6 5.f3 c6 6.d2 f5 7.c4 e6 8.e2
White but this isn't the kind of thing you want Finally we have come o nto W hite's mos t
to analyse on move 39 with little time. ] common try. bd7?! Already I think this is an
39...xe8 40.xe8+ b7 41.a5 error.
[ 41.d6!? cxd6 42.h8 is another route to [ 8...b4 has been by far the most common
immediate victory as Black cannot defend and has been looked at a few times in the
his kingside pawns but the newly crowned archives. 9.0-0-0 ( 9.a3 is Bauer's
European Blitz Champion prefers to go for recommended move order to cut out Black's
mate. ] plans with ...Nd5.) 9...bd7 ( 9...d5!?
41...c5?! The final mistake. is also examined in Play the Scandinavian. )
[ Tiviakov had to try 41...d6 although A) 10.h4
42.a6+! xa6 43.d6! is winning once we A1) B a u e r p re f e r s 10...g4 with the
se e t h a t B lack ru n s o u t o f ch e cks: c4 tactical point of 11.f3 xc3! 12.bxc3
44.d7! xg2+ 45.xg2 c2+ 46.f3 ( 12.xc3 g5+ is the idea.) 12...h5
xd1+ 47.f4 d6+ 48.g5 xg3+ 13.g4 g6 and his line demonstrates
49.h6 xh3+ 50.g7 c3+ 51.xh7 that Black has good counterplay due to
h3+ 52.g8 b3+ 53.f7 d3 54.e7 White's weakened queenside.;
d5+ 55.g7 d4+ 56.h7 and Black A2) 10...g6 11.xg6 hxg6 12.a3?!
has run out of checks ] xc3 13.xc3 h5 ( 13...g5+
42.a6+! The king is forced out alone to fend was critical picking up a pawn. W hite
against the queen and rook. It doesn't have a has some play but I'm sceptical if it's
chance. xa6 43.c8+ b5 44.b8+ b6 really enough.) 14.f3 0-0-0 15.h4 d5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
16.d2 de8 17.g4 h7 18.b3 similar ideas are played in the Caro-
and Black's position had become Kann and here the knight on d5 keeps
extremely passive. Alekseenko, K (2317)- Black's position solid. Check out the
Smirnov, V (1957) Kirishi 2011.; archives for Andrew Martin's comments
B) 10.a3 in Pavlogianni, D (1964) -Makropoulou,
B1) Nigel Davies examines 10...b6 M (2246) Aghia Pelagia 2004. ]
B1a) 11.axb4 a1+ 12.b1 a4 [ Should Black want to get the position he
13.c3 e4 14.d3 a5 15.bxa5 reaches in the game without allowing White
( 15.b5!?; and 15.d5!? are also the strong deviation on move 9 then 8...c7
c o n s id e r e d b y B a u e r .) 15...xa5 looks the most accurate move order when
16.b3 exc3 17.bxc3 0-0 18.d2! 9.0-0-0 bd7 would transpose to the
Bauer's proposed improvement. d8 game. ]
19.xa4 xa4 20.e3!? and White's 9.0-0-0 Letting Black off the hook.
king has run to safety and thus he [ 9.d5! looks to refute this variation. cxd5
sta nd s be tt er with t he two kn ight s 10.xd5
versus rook.; A) 10...c5 is rare but was tried by two
B1b) 11.b3 in Chytilek, R (2390)- Grandmasters, including Larsen. However
Konopka, M (2468) Ostrava 2002 but Spassky's dynamic play illustrates White is
fails to look at the critical; still doing well. 11.b4! c8 12.xf6+
B2) 10...xa3?! of course needs gxf6 ( 12...xf6?! 13.b5+ is horrible)
examining but as Bauer observes 13.d4 g6 14.h4!? h5 15.f4! e7
11.d5! b4 12.xb4 a1+ 13.d2 16.h3!? ( 16.0-0-0 looks slightly suspect
xb2 14.b3 xd5 15.b1 xb1 after the b4 advance but White is vacating
16.xb1 xb4 17.h4 and White's the e1 square and following a5 17.he1
doing very well.; White would have a dangerous initiative.)
B3) 10...xc3 11.xc3 c7 12.e5 16...c7 17.0-0-0 b6 18.e1! 0-0-0
W hen Black has tried a few different 19.b5 b8 20.xd8+ xd8 21.f2
paths. b5!? ( 12...xe5 isn't enough to c6 22.xa7 and White had picked up a
equa lis e . Che ck o ut Jo h n W at son 's pawn whilst Black still hadn't found safety
annotations in Lemos, D (2439)-Flores, for his king. Spassky, B (2640) -Larsen, B
D (2541) San Luis 2007.; 12...e4 (2620) Montreal 1979.;
13.e1 d8 14.f3 xe5 15.dxe5 B) 10...d8 11.xf6+
xd1+ was seen last year in Andjelkovic, B1) 11...xf6 has actually been played
S (1827)-Vos, C (2083) Davos 2010 m o r e o f t e n b u t n o w 12.0-0-0!
when the more logical recapture leaves Black in severe difficulties. a3
16.xd1 c5 17.d4 would be very ( 12...a6 13.g5 g6 14.xd7+- )
pleasant for White.; 12...d5 is Bauer's 13.c3 and the computer suggests
mainline. ) 13.d3 xd3 ( 13...0-0 Black's best is giving up the piece with
14.xf5 exf5 15.f3 d5 16.xf5 0-0 although I can hardly believe that
xc3 17.xd7 xd1 18.xf8 xf8 following ( 13...e7 14.b5+-
19.xd1 xh2 20.e4 was all looked is hopeless.) 14.bxa3 ac8 15.b2
at in Brynell, S (2505)-Hodgson, J (2598) c5 16.e5 fd8 17.he1 Black has
Hamburg 2002 by Nigel Davies. The anything like enough play for a piece.;
endgame is drawish but Black hasn't B2) 11...gxf6 12.0-0-0 a6 13.d4!
q u i t e s o l v e d a l l h i s p r o b l e m s y e t .) g6 14.f4 c5 was seen in the recent
14.xd3 xe5 15.dxe5 d5 16.d2 game Petrushin, A (2465)-W inter, K
0-0-0!? Black was evidently worried (2077) Dresden 2010 when White's must
White would generate a quick attack with dynamic continuation would be 15.xe6!
a rook swing should he have castled fxe6 16.xe6 and White's attack looks
short but castling long makes an odd o ve r wh e l m i n g , e . g . e7 17.xd7+
im pres sio n af te r . .. b5 . No n et he le ss xd7 18.b4+ e8 ( 18...c6
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
is a lesser evil but still 19.xe7 xe7 18.d3+- Guttulsrud, O (2110) -Haubro, S
20.xe7 he8 21.xf6 leaves White a (2190) Oslo 2011 with nothing to show for
whole three pawns up.) 19.xe7+ xe7 the exchange. ]
20.he1+- and White regains the piece 15...exd5
with an extra couple of pawns while he [ 15...e8 is of course possible but 16.f3
still has a decisive attack. ] should be a good version of 15. Bf3.
9...c7 However this would probably be my
[ 9...b4 simply transposes to the mainline preference were I to have this with Black. ]
of 8...Bb4. ] [ 15...f6 is important to check but the tactics
10.h4 appear to work for W hite: 16.xe6 fxg5
[ 10.e5 is also played frequently but the 17.d3! Threatening Rc3 pinning the queen
text looks the most forcing. ] whilst also preparing doubling on the d file.
10...g6 11.xg6 hxg6 12.d5! Again this b8 18.hd1 xh2 19.xd7 c5 20.b1
push is critical as if Black were to complete f4 21.f3 and White has regained the piece
his development he could be happy with his with a far better structure. ]
opening. Therefore White strives to open up 16.xd8 xd8?! This looks like the wrong
the position. cxd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 way to capture to me.
0-0-0 The most common. Black tries to find [ is pretty similar but now at least the king is
relative safety for his king whilst the bishop on a b it s a f e r. T h e g a m e m i g h t co n t in u e :
d5 is suddenly hanging. 16...xd8 17.xd5 h5 Black is forced to
[ 14...e7 has also been seen from time to give away a second pawn to release the
time. 15.c4 S o l i d p l a y . ( 15.f3 0-0 pressure down the d file. 18.xh5 gxh5
as played in Dickmann, T (2086)-Hermsen, 19.xh5 f6 20.e2 and White should
F (1897) Goch 2010 looks very dangerous. have an edge with rook and two pawns for
If I were White here it wouldn't take me long t h e t wo p i e c e s b u t B l a c k i s st i ll i n t h e
to c h oo s e to pla y 16.h4! The doubled g game. ]
pawns have created a big hook with which 17.xd5 h5 As in the previous note, giving
White can open up the position.) 15...xc4 away another pawn looks to be the only way
16.xc4 c8 17.e2 0-0 18.e3 f6 to survive.
19.f3 and White's bishop pair and [ If Black tries sidestepping the pin with
queenside majority gave him good chances 17...f4+ 18.b1 c7? then White's
in the ensuing endgame. Ivanov, A (2430)- a t t a c k w o u l d b e d e c i s i v e ( 18...h5
Grigorian, A (2509) Belgorod 2008. ] should still be preferred.) 19.hd1 b6
15.g5!? The most dynamic. White offers ( 19...c5 20.e8+- and Black's king
Black two pieces for the rook but W hite will cannot survive.) 20.5d3! c5 ( 20...b4
regain at least one pawn while the weakness drops a piece to 21.d4+- ) 21.c3 a4
of Black's king makes it likely he'll have to 22.c4+- and the knight drops. ( Although
cede another. 22.f3!? might even be stronger. )]
[ If White doesn't feel comfortable giving the 18.xh5
bishops then he could also retreat with [ 18.e1 was played in the only previous
15.f3 when the bishop pair ought to grant game to have reached this position but
him a little something. A couple of recent following f4+ 19.d2 d5! Black had
g a m e s h a v e c o n f i r m e d t h i s vi e w . h4? parried the threats. 20.e8+ c7 21.ed1
was a bit of a lemon. ( 15...f6 is better but b4 22.c3 xd2 23.xd2 d6=
doesn't equalise. 16.c3 d6 17.g3 b8 Zubarev, A (2476) -Ustianovich, N (2258)
18.d3 d7 19.hd1 hd8 20.b1 Kharkov 2000. ]
c8?? hoping to start exchanging major 18...gxh5 19.xh5 g6
pieces but allowing 21.xf6! gxf6 22.c3 [ Perhaps 19...f4+ should have been
c5 23.xd7 xd7 24.b5 b6 25.b4 preferred to stop the plan White adopts in
1-0 Arat, U (2007)-Mukhtarov, K (1802) the game. ]
Batumi 2010.) 16.g5! b4 17.xd8 xd8 20.h4+ e7 21.h8+ f8 22.d1
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
White has rook and two pawns for the bishop time trouble but this check gets him nowhere.
and knight which is normally a slight material 37.a2 e6? 38.d7 The queens are
advantage, especially in an endgame, while co ming o f f wh en W hite win s t rivially. A n
Black still has some problems coordinating interesting game but I feel that against this
his pieces due to the vulnerability of his king. move order 9.d5! is very strong. Black should
c5 return to 8...Bb4 of the mainline in which it
[ Escaping the pin with 22...f4+ 23.b1 isn't easy for White to prove an advantage.
c7 merely lands in a worse one following 1-0
24.c3+ c5 25.a3!+- ]
23.f6+ e8 24.f3 c7 25.e3+
Another pawn falls. e7 26.xa7 b6 383 B01
27.b1 A time out but there was no particular Vaklinov,Atanas 2250
reason for the move. Prie,Eric 2429
[ Instead White could have pinned the knight Vergèze 20' op 02.05.2004
i m m e d i a t e l y w i t h 27.a5 followed by [Eric Prié]
something like f8 28.g3 c6 29.c3!?
xc3 30.bxc3 and despite the ugly structure 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 4.d4
the extra pawns should suffice. ] f6 5.c4
27...f8 28.a5 g7 29.b5 f6 30.c3 [ 5.f3 c6 I took up the Scandinavian in
c4 31.d7 1991. I mean THE Scandinavian, the real
[ 31.g3! controlling the f4 square would one and only with 3... Qa5 not the feeble
prevent any complications. ] 'substitutes' of 2...Nf6 nor 2...Qxd5 3.Nc3
31...f4 Now White has to start being careful Qd8 or 3...Qd6 I will talk about (if I am given
as Yu Ruiyuan's pieces are well coordinated the chance to comment Topalov-Kamsky
and his own king isn't totally safe. 32.d5 Corus 2005 1-0 (20) in the next update!)
e5 where White can either make immediate use
[ 32...e5 33.xb7 xh2 34.a4 g1+ of h is c-pa wn o r h in d e r t h e su cc e s s f u l
35.a2 xf2 36.a5 must be winning for development of Black's light-squared bishop
White as the a pawn is too difficult to stop. ] outside his pawn chain. Unfortunately, I had
33.g3 f5+ 34.d3 e6 35.xb7 to give up this aggressive system, with which
Now it's rook and four pawns! I and Etienne Bacrot, who was my pupil at
[ 35.d5!? b6 36.b5 is the computer's the time, had tremendous results, quite soon
odd path but humans would of course grab when the ultimate refutation 6.d2! g4
the pawn. ] ( 6...a6 7.c4 h5 8.e5 ) 7.b5 b6
35...f6 This threatens ...Qe1+ but can easily 8.c4 started to spread. xf3 9.xf3 xd4
be parried. 10.xd4 xd4 11.xb7 e4+ 12.xe4
[ Instead 35...xg3 wa s crit ica l. 36.fxg3 xe4 13.e3 e5 Or 13...e6 it does not
e1+ 37.c2 f2+ 38.b3 xb2+ matter. 14.g3! With the idea b4+ 15.e2
( 38...a5+ 39.b4 xb7 40.d4+ c5? 16.g2 leads to an unplayable
xd4+ 41.cxd4 is a complicated ending but position for Black, with no turning back, to
the three pawns will probably overpower the complete what Andrew said about that line ]
knight. ) 39.xc4 xb7 40.d4+ f6 41.a4 5...g4! 6.f3?! However, this experience
and White's retained a two pawn advantage pro ve d ve ry f o rma t ive f or t h e res t o f m y
in the queen and pawn endgame and should career with the ...c6, ...Bf5 Center Counter
convert in the end although he has to since I ha d be en a cqua in te d with lot s o f
beware some perpetual ideas. ] unusual and aggressive motives based on the
36.a3 original spirit of the line i.e. long castling and
[ Seeing as it's a passed pawn there's no qu ick d e ve lo p m e n t . c6! For instance, I
reason not to push the a pawn two squares knew that this dubious setup for White was
here. 36.a4! ] possibly th e o nly one whe re Blac k c ould
36...e1+?! Drifting. Perhaps Black was in develop like this, without having to fear the
389
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
diminishing space available for his queen too but Black seems to have sufficient pressure
much. This is the recurrent problem of the ... against the centre, e.g., 5.d4 0-0-0
Nf6, ...Nc6 combination, much more than the A) or 6.bd2 f6 7.c4 ( 7.h3? xf3
doubling of the c-pawns that you sometimes 8.xf3 wins the bishops at the cost of too
find as a reference in not up-to-date theory much development after e5! ) 7...a5
books! 7.d2? 8.d5 xf3 9.xf3 e5 10.0-0 e6
[ 7.h3 is the only move, see next game. ] with a comfortable game;
[ 7.b5 e4 And White has lost an B) 6.e3 e6 (I like this modest move)
important tempo. ] ( After 6...e5!? , Davies likes the
7...0-0-0 8.d5 a4 9.b3 straightforward 7.c3 b4 8.0-0 xc3
[ 9.b3 a3 10.c1 d6 11.f4 e6+ 9.bxc3 f6 10.c4 and d5; Following
12.e3 e4 13.g3 xd4-+ ] 6...f6 , Morozevich beat Rogers
9...a6 I call this manoeuvre "the mouse hole (Germany 1999), as given before in this
trick" and you cannot imagine how often I column: 7.c4 h5 8.bd2 e5 9.d5 d4
have used it with success in rapid or blitz 10.xd4 exd4 11.xg4+ xg4 12.xd4
games! 10.xf6 exf6! Black can afford to b4 13.h3 xd2+ 14.xd2 g5+
compromise his structure, he is just winning 15.c3 and Black didn't have enough (or
by force now. 11.e3 Everybody had played anything?) for his pawn.) 7.c3 a5
the natural ( 7...d7!? ) 8.0-0 f6 ]
[ 11.c3 against me and my little execution 5...d7 6.h3
was well into its stride: xd4! 12.cxd4 [ Likewise, 6.d4 doesn't gain much after e6
e8+ 13.e3 b4+ Winning the queen. ] ( 6...0-0-0 7.d5 b4 8.e5! xe2 9.xe2
11...c5? For some reason in rapid play, I e8!? with the idea ...e6 is almost equal.)
overlooked it also worked, a bit more 7.0-0?! ( 7.e5 xe2 8.xe2 is better, in
complicatedly though, the other way round! view of xd4 9.d3 d8 10.f4
[ 11...xd4! 12.xd4 b4+ 13.c3 he8+ and 0-0-0 ) 7...0-0-0 8.e3 xf3 9.xf3
14.d2 xd4+ 15.xd4 xd1-+ 16.axd1 xd4 ]
c5-+ ] 6...xf3 7.xf3 0-0-0 8.d3 e5
12.c3 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.e2! xe2+ Black establishes a grip on d4 this should
15.xe2 e8+ 16.f1 And despite Black's equalise. 9.0-0 d4 Black wants one of the
overwhelming advantage I even ended up not bishops back.
realizing the technical win! [ Other moves are 9...ge7 10.e1 b8 ]
½-½ [ 9...f6 ]
10.e1 d6 11.e3 f5!?
[ 11...f6 is more natural. The text slightly
384 B01 distorts Black's structure, although that's
Van den Doel,Erik 2581 nothing special. ]
Tiviakov,Sergei 2667 12.xd4 exd4 13.d5!? Fancy, but White
8th ch-Euro Dresden GER (5) 07.04.2007 has to waste some time to win a pawn. Some
[John Watson] advantage was to be had by
[ 13.e2 c5 14.d2! intending c3, to open
W hite's f le xible move 3 Nf 3 has e njoye d up queenside files, whereas Nf4 may also
some success, but Black finds a be bothersome. ]
straightforward solution. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 13...b8 14.f3! A clever sacrifice which,
xd5 3.f3 In general, White plays this with however, has its risks.
d4 and c4 in mind, rather than putting his [ van der Doel realises that 14.e6 c6
knigh t on c3. But the latt er mo ve c an b e 15.e2 e5 16.xf5 f6 with the idea ...
played if White thinks circumstances are right. g6 gives Black enough play. ]
g4 4.e2 c6! I like this move, which 14...c6!?
directly challenges the key square d4. 5.c3 [ Acceptance might be strongest: 14...dxc3!?
[ White can get his desired d4/c4 moves in, 15.xb7 threatens bxc3 and Rb1, when the
390
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
391
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
material equality (Queen vs. 2 Rooks and 13.d2 b8 14.ab1 d7 15.e2 f4
equal pawns) Black's position is totally lost 16.f3 e3 17.fc1 f5 18.e4 d4
because his forces are uncoordinated and his Galego, L-Ferreira, P/Porto 1998 ]
king is very weak. These factors allow White 4...e5
to win the game in just a few more moves. f8 [ 4...f6 5.d4 e6 is ludicrously slow. Is it
31.h5+ g8 32.xc5 f3+ 33.h1 f4 any wonder that in the following game Black
34.h7+! gets crushed: 6.d3 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.e1
[ Black resigned as he will lose everything: a6 9.c3 b5 10.g5 b7 11.bd2 h6
34.h7+ h8 35.g6+ g8 36.h7+ f8 12.e3 d6 13.a4 b4 14.c4 g4 15.e2
37.e6+ Now it's possible to draw some xe3 16.xe3 g5 17.e4 f5 18.xe6+
conclusions. As we can see, W hite has g7 19.c5 f6 20.a2 f4 21.d5 e7
m a n y p o s s i b i li t i e s t o f ig h t f o r o p e n i n g 22.d6 d5 23.c4 xd2 24.xd5 xd5
advantage against 2...Nf6 and in many lines 25.xd5 xe1 26.xe1 d7 27.xa8
black has to overcome serious difficulties. 1-0 Neu ba u er, M-Cha n se au d , M/ Colo n
Players who tend to play positionally can 2003 ]
choose the variation with kingside castling 5.b5 d6 6.e2N
(like in Soloviov - Alekseev or Rusanov - [ 6.c3 is an adequate remedy once again.
Alekseev), while the system with g2-g4 Perhaps White was confused by the choice
(see Gipslis - Maric or Varavin - Terekhin) of so many good moves. f6 7.0-0 0-0
is good for those who prefer attacking chess. 8.d4 exd4 ( 8...xd4! 9.xd4 exd4
Now it's Black's turn to find improvements. 10.e2 c7 11.h3 c5= ) 9.xc6 bxc6
Definitely there is much room for further 10.xd4 c7 11.h3 xh3 12.gxh3 ad8
debate. ] 13.e3 c8 14.f3 fe8 15.xc6
1-0 1-0 Hyll, J-Okos, A/Bratislava 1991 ]
6...ge7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d4 g4 I guess this
sort of position is the best that Black can
386 B01 hope for from his crazy gambit. He has the
Vela Ignacio,Jose Manuel 2033 usual open lines and tricky tactical chances
Razmyslov,Alexander 2337 for his pawn. In rapidplay Black's idea might
X Open Coria del Rio ESP (4) 14.02.2004 be viable but hardly against anyone with any
[Andrew Martin] class. However.... 9.d3? Drug test please.
An amazingly awful move. xd4 10.e4 f5
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 c6 Complete trash? We are 11.e3 xf3 12.gxf3 h8 13.c3 d5
about to witness a game where Black wins in A brevity of little overall value except to show
13 moves. And as White, you would really like t h e r e f u t a t i o n o f 2 . . . c 6 P l e a s e d o n o t
to know what to do against this outrageous complain that you have been shocked by 2...
pawn sacrifice. I hope I can oblige with some c6?! in a game of your own. You know what to
answers. 3.dxc6 A pawn that MUST be do now.
taken. xc6 4.f3 0-1
[ 4.c3! is a very good choice. If Black is
going to advance his e-pawn, W hite will
delay Nf3 so there's nothing to hit. As far as 387 B01
I can see W hite en ds up a pawn up f o r Velicka,Petr 2480
nothing in this line. e5 5.b5 c5 6.xc6+ Dausch,Rene 2373
bxc6 7.e2 e7 8.f3! Well-timed. 0-0 26th Open Böblingen GER (8) 30.12.2009
9.0-0 g4 [Gawain Jones]
A) The cold light of day reveals 10.xe5!
d6 ( 10...xf3 11.xc5+-; 10...d5 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.b5+ Here we have
11.xd5 cxd5 12.g3 f5 13.d3 ) a look at White trying to hold on to the pawn.
11.e4 f5 12.a4+-; Personally I'd probably go for Carlsen's 3.Nf3
B) 10.h3?! xf3 11.xf3 d5 12.d3 f5 which seems comfortable for W hite. bd7
392
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
393
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
while Black can hope for Benko Gambit style [ 8.bxa6?! Tries to do the latter but Black
compensation on the queenside and gets too much play xa4 9.xa4 xa6
a n n o y i n g p r e s s u r e wi t h a b i s h o p o n a 6 10.c2 e6+! An unusual rook lift. 11.f1
exerting pressure on d3 and f1. I also prefer a6+ 12.g1 and I can't believe anyone
Black's pawn structure and my gut feeling is can be happy with White's position. Sure, he
that he should have sufficient chances here. has an extra pawn but Black has complete
7.f3 control. ]
[ 7.c3 [ 8.c3 is the best way to keep hold of the
A) 7...c5 also looks promising 8.bxa6+ p a w n b u t a f t e r xa4 9.xa4 b7
xa4 9.xa4+ d7 10.c4 ( 10.a5!? ) I'd feel much happier being Black White's
10...e6 11.f3 b4 12.0-0 xa6 really going to have to suffer to complete
( 12...c8! is a pretty move, the bishop his development and keep that extra pawn,
belongs on the a6-f1 diagonal here when while Black's bishop pair and sound
control over the light squares, in particular structure mean that he has good long term
d3 will give Black the better chances.) as well as short term prospects. Giving back
13.d4 d6 14.a3 0-0 15.g5 a8 t h e p a w n w i t h 10.0-0!? axb5 11.f4
16.e5 1/2-1/2 Pesotsky, V-Barbashin, I/ looks the most prudent with roughly
Lipetsk 2008.; balanced chances. ]
B) 7...5b6 8.b3 ( 8.c2 might be a [ 8.0-0 xa4 9.xa4 b7 10.c3 axb5
better try so White can contest the a6-f1 11.f4 would in fact transpose to 8.Nc3. ]
diagonal with a future Bd3.) 8...e6 9.d4 8...axb5 9.d4 b7 In my opinion Black has
axb5 10.xb5 a6 11.c3 e7 equalised comfortably here, but White's next
( 11...d6 would be more active) 12.ge2 makes his position worse. 10.c3
0-0 13.0-0 f6 14.g5 h6 15.h4 c6 [ 10.0-0 b4 11.e1 e6 and I can't really
16.e1 fd5 17.xe7 xe7 18.xd5 see how White can possibly say he's better
cxd5 19.d2 c4 20.xc4 xc4 but at least he can try utilising e5 and c5 to
and Black had continued pressure for the keep himself in the game. ]
pawn in Zierk, S-Hong, E Reno 2008. ] 10...b4 11.e4 b3! 12.d3 xa2!?
[ 7.d4 resulted in a very quick defeat after b3 is an extra pawn but it's going to drop off.
5b6 8.bxa6?! This wins a pawn but [ 12...bxa2 gives Black a comfortable
Bla ck ' s p re s su re is f ar to o st ro n g xa4 a d v a n t a g e , f o r e x a m p l e 13.c3 g6
9.xa4 xa6 10.c2 b7 11.f3 e5! 14.xa2 xa2 15.xa2 g7 and d4 is a
12.e2 exd4 13.xd4 c5 14.e3 xd4 perpetual weakness. ]
15.xd4 e6+ 16.d1 e5 was a disaster 13.b1 a8 14.c3 a5
for White and he resigned here in [ 14...e6 is an interesting alternative as
Cernousek, L-Spacek, P Czech Republic 15.xa2 bxa2 is extremely risky for White.
2005. ] Though as a practical decision I don't rate
7...5b6 White now has a difficult decision. this for Black as if White doesn't take on a2
He can either keep his light squared bishop or its likely Black will have to retreat the rook
keep his extra pawn. anyway. 16.a1 b4+ 17.d2 ( 17.f1
[ 7...7b6 8.b3 With a knight on d7, rather c5! opens up the position for Black's horde
than d5, the bishop exerts pressure against o f p ie ce s .) 17...xf3 18.xf3 ( 18.gxf3
f7 but here Bb3 seems illogical ( Instead xd2+ 19.xd2 xf3 20.g1 d5
8.c3 xc3 9.dxc3 xd1+ 10.xd1 axb5 is another extremely messy position but one
11.0-0 is somewhat better for White as b5 where White has to be the more careful with
is vulnerable.) 8...axb5 9.d4 e6 10.0-0 his exposed king while the a2 pawn hasn't
e7 11.bd2 f6 12.e2 b4 13.d1 0-0 been recaptured yet...) 18...xd2+ 19.xd2
14.e4 b7 15.c5 d5 16.c2 a5 a7 I can't see how the a2 pawn is retrieved
17.d2 a8 18.xb4 was agreed drawn in and so White's in trouble. ]
Todorovic, J-Mamuzic, M Senta 2006. ] 15.xb3
8.c2 [ 15.d2 trying to exploit Black's premature
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
...Ra5 is strongest which keeps the position 28...g8 29.h1 bc4 30.b8+
roughly level. a6 16.e4 c6 17.e2 a2 [ 30.xd6+ xd6 31.b8+ g7 32.xc7+-
18.xb3 ( 18.c3 a5= ) 18...c4 ] was an easy win ]
15...xf3 16.gxf3 xf3 and so Black keeps 30...g7 31.xc7 f5 32.f3?! xg3+
his extra pawn. Compared to previous lines 33.xg3+ g5 White has played inaccurately
where Black sacrificed a pawn, White needs over the last few moves but such was his
t o u s e h i s i n i t i a t i ve i m m e d i a t e l y a s h i s dominance that he's still winning. 34.h3
structure is a mess. 17.e4 h5?! [ 34.c7! c5 35.a7 h8 36.g2 f5
[ 17...f6 would stop White developing his 37.e4 h5 38.b3! xg2 39.xg2
bishop to f 4 when I don't really believe and again we see how badly Black's
White's compensation, in general I like to pieces coordinate as here he drops a
have a good structure if I'm material down! ] piece. ]
18.f4! Now B la ck sta rts t o su f f er. e5 34...e3 35.e4 f8?
19.dxe5 g4 [ 35...f5! was necessary when Black's still in
[ 19...e7 trying to complete development t h e g a m e a s 36.g1? xg1+! 37.xg1
l o o k s s t r o n g e s t , f o r e x a m p l e 20.e6 a1+ turns the tables. ]
( 20.0-0!? ) 20...c5 21.exf7+ f8 22.c2 36.c8+ g7 37.c3+ h6 38.f6+ h5
xe4 23.xe4 d5 when all three results 39.f3+ h4 40.d4+ h3 The king has
are possible. ] run a long way but sadly it's not safe there on
20.g3 xe5 21.0-0! A dangerous looking h3. 41.xf7
move but W hite's bishop pair will look after [ 41.h6+ xh6 42.xe3 is forced mate but
his king while Black doesn't have enough time the game continuation is adequate. ]
to castle himself now. d6 22.f4 ec4 41...h5 42.g4+!? h4
[ 22...ed7 23.f3 f5 24.be1+ f8 [ Neither 42...xg4 43.c3+ ]
25.e4 is a strange looking position. Black's [ or 42...xg4 43.xe3+ h4 44.f6+
pieces d on't coo rdinate very we ll while ag5 45.f2+ survive for Black either. ]
White's are perfect. ] 43.e6+ g4 44.xg4 An interesting game
23.c6+ f8 but Black was very comfortable out of the
[ 23...d8 looks very ugly but at least there's opening and it seems like he still has enough
no immediate mate ] compensation if White tries to hang on to the
24.be1 Black's in trouble, there's no good pawn for dear life.
way to avoid the mate. g5 1-0
[ 24...c5+ 25.h1 e3 doesn't save
B l a c k e i t h e r 26.f3 g6 27.b5
and Black has to allow the trade of rook for 388 B01
two pieces which is obviously hopeless Volokitin,And 2688
because c6? 28.fxe3 xe3 29.b4++- ] Cioara,A 2462
25.e4 TCh-ROU 2013 (5.1) 04.09.2013
[ 25.b5! blocking in the rook on a5 and [Tom Rendle]
t h r e a t e n i n g Q c 3 i s d e c i s i v e , e . g . gxf4
26.c3 g8 27.e8# ] 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.f3 xd5 4.c3
25...gxf4 26.xd6 xd6 27.xf4 h5 a5 5.d4 c6 6.d2 g4?! A very risky
This is of course very good for White too as move against 6.Bd2 and it certainly doesn't
the bishop pair dominate the position while work out well for Black in this game.
Black's king is still much more vulnerable than [ Black should stick to 6...f5 which has
W hite's. Black's rooks are still extremely been seen many times on the site before,
loose too. 28.f2 most recently in Sutovsky-Van Wely. ]
[ 28.xf7+! is a pretty win xf7 ( 28...xf7 7.h3 h5
29.e8+ g7 30.c3++- ) 29.c3 [ 7...xf3 8.xf3 is rather uninspiring for
proves how Black's rooks are really on the Black as White is ready to castle queenside
worst possible squares. ] with an excellent position. For example: b6
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
9.0-0-0 e6 ( 9...xd4? loses to 10.b5! afford to make a mistake and sadly Cioara
b6 11.e3 c5 12.xc5 xc5 13.xb7 ) does just that and it's quickly punished.
10.g3 and Black already has problems [ 11...xd4 i s c r i t i c a l a n d n o w 12.f4!
developing his kingside. ] is a real problem for Black as f5 is a big
8.g4 g6 9.e5 e6 threat so he should try e4 13.h3 d5
[ 9...bd7 is probably Black's safest option but after 14.0-0-0 bd7 15.d3 c5
a t t h is p o in t b u t st il l W h i t e ca n c re a t e 16.xd7 xd7 17.xd5 cxd5 18.f5! c6
problems for the opponent with 10.f4 e6 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.g5 White is going to
11.h4! with the threat of f5 followed by h5 e a sily re ga i n t h e p a wn wit h a m a s s iv e
trapping the bishop and now possible line is position. ]
d5!? 12.h5! ( 12.f5?! is unclear here after [ 11...a6 fails to 12.h5! xc2 13.c1 b4
xe5 13.dxe5 exf5 14.h5 0-0-0! ) 14.a3 xd4 15.axb4 e4 16.h4!
12...xe5 13.dxe5 xc3 14.xc3 a4 with g5 coming W hite's extra piece gives
15.hxg6! e4+ 16.e2 xh1 17.gxf7+ him a winning position. ]
xf7 18.0-0-0 with a big attack and more 12.0-0-0 xc3 13.xc3 e4 This is Black's
than enough compensation for the n o r m a l p l a n t o a vo i d g e t t in g t h e b is h o p
sacrificed exchange. ] trapped by running it to d5. Sadly that turns
10.h4 b6 out not to be far enough!
[ 10...d6? loses to 11.h5 xe5 12.b5! [ 13...a6 is apparently Black's best try here
and after b6 13.dxe5 e4 14.e3 a5+ but it's pretty terrible after 14.h5 ( 14.xa6
15.c3 cxb5 16.hxg6 Black's position was xa6 15.xa6 bxa6 16.he1 is a safe
already hopeless in Antoli Royo, J (2399)- option for White and also strong.) 14...e4
Arance Gonzalez, L (2129) La Roda 15.f3 d5 16.e1! b5 ( 16...xa2 17.c4 )
Albacete 2010 ] 17.g5 fd7 18.a3 and Black can barely
11.e2! An improvement from Volokitin in a move ]
position that was already very precarious for 14.h3! d5 15.e1 Now c4 is coming to
Black players. I don't like 6... Bg4 at all after trap the bishop and there's not a lot Black can
this! do about it xa2
[ 11.h5 e4 12.xe4 xe4 13.f3 xb2 [ 15...c5 gives the bishop a retreat square
( 13...f5!? is a possible alternative although but it loses to 16.g5! ( 16.c4 c6 17.d5
14.0-0-0! xd4 15.c4 xf2 16.d3 is also good enough) 16...e4 17.f3 d6
looks very strong for W hite) 14.d1?! 18.c4 c6 19.dxc5 xc5 20.b4 b6
( 14.xf7+ d8 15.d1 is more accurate 21.c5 ]
an d is lik ely t o t ra n sp ose t o t he ga m e) 16.a3 Here we see the benefit of Rh3
14...xd2?! ( 14...d6! is much less clear inste ad o f f 3 . d5 17.a5 a6 18.c4
here, it's not obvious to me that W hite is The bishop has run as far as it can but it's
better at all here) 15.xf7+ d8 16.xd2 finally trapped. Black can already resign b6
b4+ 17.e3 f8 18.xg7 xc2 19.e2 19.b4 b7 20.cxd5 cxd5 21.d6 bd7
e7 20.d2 c3+ 21.d3 c2 22.b3 22.a6
c5?? A losing move in a tough position 1-0
( 22...b5 23.f1 is better for White but the
position is still tricky. Black has real
problems developing though so it's 389 B01
probably winning for White anyway.) 23.d1 Volzhin,Alexander 2556
cxd4+ 24.xd4+ e8 25.xb7 c1+ Gausel,Einar 2492
26.d3 c5 27.xh7 xf2 28.g6+ f8 Bergen 2000
29.d8+ 1-0 (29) Balogh, C (2448)- [Alexander Volzhin]
Dimitrijevic, A (2369) Novi Sad YUG 2003
( Bla c k is ma t e d a f t e r 29.d8+ xd8 An interesting and theoretically important
30.f7+ e8 31.g8+ f8 32.xf8# )] game which I played in the Center Counter
11...b4?! In this kind of position Black can't Gambit. My opponent grandmaster Gausel
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
26.b8+ c7 ( 26...e7 27.e1+ ) 18.xe3 xh3 19.g5 1-0 Lazic - Vukovic,
27.b1 c6 28.f8 and White wins. ] Serbia 2005 ]
26.e1! Bringing the Queen into the attack. 4...c6
c5 [ A recent example of the more common
[ 26...d2 is no better in view of 27.e3 ] 4...f6 : 5.c4 a6 6.ge2 c6 7.d3
27.b4 Now the game is over. b5 28.c4+ xg2 8.g1 h3 9.xh3 xh3 10.f4
d6 29.xb5 axb5 30.f4+ Black resigned. f5 11.fd5 d8 12.xf6 exf6 13.f4 g5
In spite of the convincing win I still suspect 14.g3 d7 15.0-0-0 g6 Rodriguez -
Black can improve somewhere. No doubt we Galego, Sao Paulo 2005 1/2-1/2 ]
can expect new battles here. 5.f3 g4!? Hasangatin's interesting idea
1-0 delays the entry of the Knight on g8 into the
game, presumably to talk W hite out of the
more critical lines involving g3. 6.h3
390 B01 [ 6.e3 f6 7.h3 h5 8.g4 g6 9.e5
Vorobiov,Evgeny E 2543 bd7 10.c4 c7 11.f3 e6 12.f4
Hasangatin,Ramil 2460 d8 13.0-0-0 d5 14.g3 f6 15.g2
22nd Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (5) xf3 16.xf3 Zinchenko - Hasangatin,
[Andrew Martin] Alushta Victory Cup 2005 1/2-1/2 ]
6...xf3 7.xf3 f6 Black decides not to
A game in the 3...Qd6 line of the Scandinavian. accept White's pawn sacrifice, but maybe he
Voroblov's kingside attack progresses much should.
more quickly than Hasangatin's queenside [ 7...xd4 8.e3 d8 9.d3 d7
attack and then Black falls into a nasty trap. 10.0-0-0 gf6 11.g4 e6 12.d4 a5
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d6 13.b1 c5 14.xf6 xf6 15.g5 d7
A relatively new way of playing the 16.xh7 e5 17.e2 b4 Grabaczyk -
Scandinavian Defence that has significantly Cicak, Oberliga Ost 2001 0-1 ]
increased in popularity this de cade. It is 8.e3 e6 9.0-0-0 e7N
regularly played by the likes of GMs Sermek, [ 9...bd7 10.f4 b4
Hasangatin and Kurajica as well as many A) 11.c7 b6 12.a3 e7 13.e5
other players of all levels and Black has had 0-0-0 14.b1 d7 15.g4 d8 16.g5
considerable success. 4.d4 By far the most e8 17.e4 h6 18.h4 hxg5 19.xg5
popular move, but others are also frequently e7 20.g3 f6 21.g4 d8
played: ( 21...d6= ) 22.h3 c7 ( 22...h6= )
[ 4.f3 f6 5.e2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.d4 0-0 23.he1 bd5 24.c4 f6 25.f3 e7
8.g5 c6 9.d2 f5 10.fe1 e8 26.e3 b8 27.f3 a8 28.f2 b6 29.f4
11.ad1 bd7 12.f4 b4 13.h4 g4 g6 30.g2 b7 31.f3 d6 32.f5 h5
Voigt - Kritz, Bundesliga 2005 0-1 ] 33.fxg6 fxg6 34.f7 1-0 Zdebskaja -
[ 4.c4 f6 5.d4 a6 6.e2 c6 7.e3 Gheorghe, Chisinau 2005 We have seen
f5 8.f3 0-0-0 9.0-0 e5 10.dxe5 xe5 that Black had chances to equalize along
11.xd6 xf3+ 12.xf3 xd6 Djurhuus - the way.;
Gausel, Norway 2005 1-0 ] B) 11.a3 a5 12.c4 e7 13.he1 0-0
[ 4.g3 is probably one of the toughest moves 14.b3 ac8 15.b1 b5 16.e4 xe4
for Black to meet. c6 ( 4...f6 5.g2 17.xe4 f6 18.e2 d5 19.c1 fd8
c6 6.f3 g4 7.h3 h5 8.d4 0-0-0 20.f4 f8 21.f3 c7 22.f5 exf5
9.0-0 e5 10.dxe5 xe5 11.xd6 xf3+ 23.xf5 d7 24.f3 Jansa - Cicak,
12.xf3 xd6 13.xh5 xh5 Passau 2000 ]
1/2-1/2 Marinkovic - Vojinovic, Serbia 2004) 10.b1 bd7 11.d3 0-0
5.g2 h5!? 6.f3 h4 7.xh4 g5 8.f3 [ 11...b4 might be a better way for Black to
g4 9.g1 f5 10.d3 0-0-0 11.e3 h6 play, holding off from castling until he has
12.d2 d4 13.0-0-0 e5 14.h3 gxh3 started to launch his own queenside attack
15.xh3 xh3 16.xh3 f3 17.xf3 xe3 against White's king. 12.he1 d5 13.d2
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
400
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
Shakibi,S/Simul, Aubervilliers FRA 2003 The 26.d2 e4 27.c3 xc3 28.bxc3 d7
PATZER variation taken to extremes! ] 29.h6 e6 30.h7 h8 31.f1 xh7
5.f3 c7 6.d4 f5 7.d5 I've had this 32.xf3 g6 33.e3 a5 34.d2 b5 35.a3
several times at ICC against decent opposition. c8 36.h4 h8 37.c1 xh4 38.g8 h2
White thinks the time is ripe to try and blast 39.b8 xc2+ 40.d1 b2 41.b6+ e7
Black out of the sky. However Buckley and I 42.e6 b1+ 43.d2 b2+ 44.e1 e4
have discussed this position and Black's reply 45.exf7 xf7 46.h3 g7 47.hh6 b4
is accurate, cold-blooded and good. 48.axb4 axb4 49.cxb4 1/2-1/2 Rendle,T-
[ 7.e5 is most critical. White aims for Bf4 Rogers,J/4NCL, Telford ENG 2003 (49) ]
which will highlight the exposed position of 7...f6! 8.dxc6
the Black Queen. He also threatens g2-g4 [ 8.0-0 xd5 9.xd5 cxd5 10.xd5 e6
and h2-h4 should Black venture Bg6. d7 leads to nothing for W hite. Fritz even
( 7...e6?! 8.g4 g6 9.h4 is White's basic suggests that Black might be able to take on
idea. b4 10.f4 d8 11.a3 xc3+ c2-a challenge I wouldn't relish but you know
12.bxc3 d5 13.f3 ) what computers are like.... ]
A) 8.xd7 xd7 9.0-0 0-0-0 ( 9...f6 8...xc6 9.b5 b8 What is wrong with
10.e3 e6= ) 10.e3 e6 11.d5 f6! Black's position? He has an extra central
12.xa7 xd5 13.xd5 exd5 14.b6 pawn and is ready to repel boarders with ...a7-
e8; a6. 10.bd4 d7 11.0-0 e5 12.xc6
B) 8.f4 xe5 9.xe5 b6 xc6 13.e1 d6 14.d3 0-0 I like Black.
B1) 10.d2 He has to exercise a modicum of care on the
B1a) 10...e6! 11.0-0-0 ( 11.0-0?! f6 Kingside but as long as that is forthcoming he
12.f4 0-0-0 ) 11...f6; has no problem with any piece and the pawn
B1b) 10...xb2 11.b1 xc2 o n e 5 co n t in u a lly t h re a t e n s t o a d va n c e .
12.xc2 xc2 13.xb7 e6 14.0-0 15.g5 c7 16.e4 xe4 17.xe4 ad8
e7 15.c1; 18.e2 xe4 19.xe4 f5 20.e2
B2) 10.a4 W ebb is doing the best that he can to
B2a) 10...a5+ is better here, forcing minimise his disadvantage but Black's next
the pace. W hite must then make a move underscores his initiative and thereby
choice a nd I give some o f my own the advantage. e4! 21.h3 de8 22.b3 f4
analysis : 23.c4+N That was the only move with ...f4-
B2a1) 11.c3 f6 ( 11...0-0-0 12.c5 f3 looming. xc4 24.bxc4 c5 25.a4 f5!
e6 13.b4 ) 12.g3 e5 ( 12...0-0-0 White's a bit tied up so Buckley anticipates
13.b4 d5 14.0-0 e5 ) 13.dxe5 Ba3 and prepares in the event of a Bishop
d8 14.b3 b5; exchange to bring his Rook into the action on
B2a2) 11.c3 f6 12.0-0 d7 c5 or a5. 26.a3 e3
13.g3 e6= Of course this is all [ There was something to be said for the
virgin ground.; calm 26...f7 27.ed1 xa3 28.xa3 c5
B2b) 10...d8?! I t h in k t h a t 11.c5 29.b3 b6 too. ]
b6 12.0-0 e6 13.b4 f6 14.b1 27.xc5 xc5 28.fxe3 xe3 29.xe3 fxe3
a6 15.a4 xc5 16.bxc5 a5 30.e1 xc4 31.xe3 xa4 32.e7 b4-+
17.xb7 xa4 18.d3 xd3 Of course this is ghastly for Webb. How does
19.xd3 0-0 20.fb1 he stop that passed pawn on a7? 33.c3
1-0 Skripchenko, A-Tolhuizen,L/Aosta [ 33.f2 a5 34.e3 a4 35.d2 b1
2003 (20) ] 36.c3 a3 37.e8+ f7 38.a8 b5-+ ]
[ 7.c4 e6 8.e2 f6 9.e5 b4 10.d2 33...b6 34.c4 a5 35.c5 b5 36.c7 a4
bd7 11.0-0-0 xc3 12.xc3 xe5 37.c8+ f7 38.c7+ e6 39.c6 d6
13.dxe5 d5 14.d2 0-0-0 15.g4 g6 40.xg7 xc6 Fascinating stuff!
16.f4 h5 17.h3 b6 18.b3 d4 19.f5 0-1
exf5 20.g5 c5 21.xd8 xd8 22.gxh5
h7 23.xd5 cxd5 24.hg1 f4 25.xg7 f3
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
396 B01
1.e4 c6 This move seems to have been
Winawer,Szymon almost obligatory in the recent Polish youth
Blackburne,Joseph Henry championships with boys and girls of all ages
Nuremberg (8) 1883 running it up the flagpole. Unfortunately these
[Nigel Davies] games did not produce any stirring theoretical
currents, but may indicate f uture trends.
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d8 4.d4 g6 Having gone through the entire section, I
5.e3 Rather inviting the following strong began to wonder if CPub ought not to set up
manoeuvre. an office in Poland - nearly every one of the
[ 5.f4! is White's best as in Fischer - extremely Daring defences got a workout in
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
the Polish youth events. 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 17.b4+ c7 I think it's important to take
xd5 4.f3 g4 5.e2 0-0-0 6.c3 e5 7.c4 away the g4 square from White, so that he
a5+ 8.d2 b4 9.d5 e4 10.g5 xe2 cannot check with the Queen. ]
11.xe2 d4 12.xe4?? 13.d5
[ 12.d1 h6 13.0-0 xd2 14.xd2 b6 [ 13.g5!? is a dangerous attacking move,
15.dxe4 Wahls ] which forces Black to find a good defence:
12...b3! 13.xf7 hxg5 14.hxg5 xh1+ 15.xh1 e8 16.d5
[ 13.axb3 xd2+ 14.d1 xa1 15.xf7 exd5 17.g4+ ( 17.xd5 a4 ) 17...d8
b4 16.xh8 h6-+ ] Perhaps Black stays on the board after all.
13...f6 14.f5+ b8 15.xd8 xd2+ 18.xd5 b5 19.c3 e5+ 20.e4 xe4
16.e2?? Whoa - 21.xe4 xe4+ 22.xe4 d6 23.xd6
[ 16.d1 xd8 17.axb3 xa1 18.xd2 xd6 24.c3 g6 ]
xb2+ exposes white to a terrific attack, 13...exd5 14.xd5 e8+ 15.e3 a4
but... ] A novelty according to Rogers. 16.b3
16...d4+ [ 16.0-0 d6 17.c4= Rogers. ]
0-1 16...f4 17.f1
[ 17.0-0 d6 18.e1 e4 ]
17...e4 18.xe4 xe4 19.f3 d4
398 B01 [ 19...e6! was superior, maintaining a
Wynn Zaw Htun strong initiative. ]
Rogers,Ian 20.c3 d3+! Securing a nominal advantage
Bangkok 2004 in the ending. Black gets the seventh rank.
[Andrew Martin] 21.xd3 xd3+ 22.cxd3 xe3 23.g2 f6
24.d4 e2+ 25.f1 d2 26.e3?!
I saw the following game in Informator 90. It is [ He should take on a7: 26.xa7 a3!
well worth studying here. Ian Rogers makes 27.e3 xd3 28.e2 d5 29.ad1 e8
yet another expedition into the Scandinavian 30.xd5+ cxd5 31.d3 b5= White had to
jungle. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 a5 play a few good moves but the smoke is
4.d4 f6 5.f3 g4 A variation he cannot clearing and he's not worse. ]
put down 6.h3 h5 26...c2 27.g1 c5 28.xc5 xc5 29.g2
[ I p r e d i c t t h a t 6...xf3 7.xf3 c6 e8 30.e1 ce5
will be the next Fort Knox Defence. ] [ Rogers gives 30...xe1+ 31.xe1 e6
7.g4 g6 8.e5 e6 9.g2 c6 10.h4 bd7 as technically correct. With the better King
11.xd7 xd7 12.d2 The first critical and holes on d4 and f4 to occupy, it's hard
position of the game. If White is going to win to see White holding this ending. ]
the opening battle he will have to make d4-d5 31.e4 c5 32.ge2?
work somewhere. Otherwise the pawn [ 32.h5! freezing the kingside pawns, was a
advances look ludicrous. better way to play the position. ]
[ This is the first moment where d4-d5 has to 32...xe4 33.dxe4 g5! Instead it is Black
be considered. In my view it gives Black the who ' freezes ' the pawn majority. Now he gets
attack, not White : 12.d5 exd5 13.h5 e8+ to advance on the queenside with an extra
14.f1 a6+ 15.g1 ( 15.e2 e4 16.f3 pawn. 34.hxg5 hxg5 35.f2 e6 36.d2
c5! 17.fxe4 xe4 18.d3 b6 ) a5 37.g3 c1 38.f2 b5 39.g3 b4
15...e4 16.f3 c5+! 17.h2 d6+ 40.f2 c5 41.e3 c4 Rogers appends a
18.h3 g6 Over the board to go into this rather harsh question mark to this move which
variation without thorough preparation would I will not repeat. These endgames are tough
be madness. ] even for the strongest grandmasters. He then
12...h6 Rogers gives this as the only move but gives the following conclusive analysis :
I believe that 12...h5 is also playable: ' [ 41...c3+
[ 12...h5 13.g5 ( +-, Rogers) g8 14.d5 A) 42.e2 a4 43.d3 ( 43.bxa4 a3 )
exd5 15.xd5 e8+ 16.e3 a4 43...c2+ 44.d2 xd2+ 45.xd2 a3
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46.d3 e5 47.c4 f4 48.xc5 xf3 1987 12.g5! h6 13.h4 and now tactical
49.xb4 xg4 50.xa3 f4 51.b4 complications led to a quick White victory
xe4-+; xf3 14.xf3 xd4?! 15.cxd4 xd4
B) 42.d3 xd3+ 43.xd3 e5 44.e3 16.xe7 xc4 17.ac1 xa2 18.xf8
c4 45.bxc4 a4 46.d3 a3 47.c2 d4 xf8 19.xb7 d4 20.f1 and Black has
48.b3 c5-+ I Rogers ] little hope.) 12.a3 e6 13.b1 White has a
42.bxc4 xc4 43.e2 c3 44.f2 a3 space advantage and pressure on the b-file
45.e2 a4 46.f2 c3 47.e2 while Black has no counterplay, Tiviakov -
[ 47.d4! c2+ 48.g3 b2 49.a3! bxa3 Khmelnicky, 1987. ]
50.xa4 a2 51.f4 I Rogers. ] 7.c4 g7 8.f3 0-0 9.0-0 b6 10.e1!
47...c6 48.e3 b3 49.axb3 axb3 50.f4 Continuing with active development White is
gxf4+ 51.xf4 b6 52.b2 b4 53.e3 going to play Bg5. b7
e5 54.d3 d4+ 55.c3 xe4 56.xb3 [ 10...bxc5 11.g5! with advantage ]
xg4 57.c3 g3+ 58.c4 e3! 11.g5! f6 12.e5 Now Black is in real
This one is losing. The Lucena position will trouble, and this is no big surprise since he
inexorably arrive. 59.b5+ e4 60.b8 f5 has wasted too much time on piece
61.e8+ f3 62.f8 f4 63.d4 e7 64.f6 manoeuvres. c6
g3 65.d3 f3 66.f8 f2 67.g8+ f3 [ 12...e6 was probably more stubborn. ]
68.f8+ g2 69.g8+ f1 70.d2 d7+ 13.xf7+!
71.e3 [ 13.b3 d5 14.g4 was also good
[ 71.c2 d5 is the aforementioned Lucena enough but the text move is stronger. ]
position. ] 13...xf7 14.b3 f8
71...e1 5...Bg4 is still on the board! [ 14...d5 was losing after 15.xf7 xf7
0-1 16.xd5 cxd5 17.xe7+ xe7 18.xe7
xe7 19.e1+ f7 ( 19...d8 20.e3 )
20.g3 winning ]
399 B01 15.xf7 xf7 16.xe7 xb3 17.axb3
Yakovich,Yuri 2525 fd7 The only move. 18.e4! The knight
Zagema,Wieb 2360 enters with decisive effect. h6
Leeuwarden 1993 [ Other moves were immediately losing
[Alexander Volzhin] 18...f8 19.f6+ ]
[ 18...xd4 19.d6 a6 20.h6 ]
5.Nc3 is a very interesting way to fight for an 19.f4 f8 20.f6+! T h e p o i n t . xf6
opening advantage. Importantly this move 21.xb7 bd7 22.cxb6 a5
order doesn't allow the system with Bg4. As [ 22...a6 wa s n ot be t te r: 23.a7 xb6
the following game shows, the fianchetto 24.xa8 xa8 25.xa6 ]
system also has its drawbacks. 1.e4 d5 23.d2!? e8
2.exd5 f6 3.d4 xd5 4.c4 b6 5.c3 [ After 23...a6 24.xa5 b4 25.a7 xa5
g6 6.c5! This is the idea behind an early Nc3. 26.1xa5 xa5 27.xa5 xb6 28.c5
6d7 one of the W hite pawns would eventually
[ Black has also tried 6...d5 but failed to promote. ]
equalise: 7.c4 xc3 Forced, other moves 24.xa5 d6 25.c1 c5 26.c3! e6
are bad: ( 7...e6 8.b3 xc3 9.xe6 27.f1 f8 28.e1! The rook exchange puts
and Black is in trouble; 7...c6 8.b3! e6 an end to Black's resistance. xe1+ 29.xe1
9.f3 g7 10.0-0 with a big advantage due e8 30.dxc5 xc5 31.xf6 xf6 32.g7
to the weakness of the d6-square.) 8.bxc3 g5 33.b7 d6 34.g6 f7 35.xh6 g4
( 8.f3!? is worth considering) 8...g7 36.h8 g8 37.e2 g7 38.h5
9.f3 0-0 10.0-0 c6 11.e1 The critical Black resigned.
position for the assessment of 6...Nd5. It's 1-0
not easy to find a suitable plan for Black. h6
( 11...g4 was tried in Tiviakov - Maljutin,
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up for both sides. 10.0-0-0 d5 11.e4 to justify his order of moves but the King is
b6 12.b1 h6! An important little defensive surely misplaced on the queenside: 11.0-0-0
prod which drives the Bishop back to c1 and d5! 12.xd5 xd5
prepares ...Be7. 13.c1 A) 13.c4 a5 14.a3 ( 14.b1? g6+
[ 13.h4 f4 14.d2 xg2 ] 15.a1 b4 ) 14...e7=;
13...e7 14.he1 0-0-0= 15.c4?! B) 13.b3 a5! 14.b1 b4 15.a4
Seeing that the Bishop on b7 has so much d5 16.d2 b4 17.c4 xd2 18.cxd5
more potential than the Bishop on b3 Zelcic c3 19.dxe6 he8 20.e5 d5
tries to change to the emphasis of the game 21.xg7 b4 22.a2 a5 0-1 Drabke, L-
towards a tactical melee. He finds Kurajica on Pirrot, D/Bundesliga GER 2005 W hat a
top form and equally combative. To be frank I depressing game for White! ]
find 15 c4 over-ambitious. Much more realistic 11...e7
was the quieter [ Fritz 9 is showing me the remarkable move
[ 15.c3 7f6 16.xf6 xf6 17.g3= 11...g5!? now, claiming advantage to Black!
admitting that Black has equality and L e t ' s s e e . . . 12.xg5 ( 12.a3 g8 )
simply limiting any damage. ] 12...xd4 13.e3 e7 14.f4 xf3+
15...bxc4 16.xc4 7f6 17.xd5 xd5 15.xf3 c5= Thus 11..g5 is certainly an
18.a1 b4 19.a3 c6 20.e3 b5! option, but not a guaranteed advantage. ]
21.c2 a5 Eyeing b3 and c4 as well as 12.a3 d5 Sermek is very well versed in this
unleashing the giant on b7. 22.f4 d7! line of the Scandinavian and one can trust his
Extremely well-calculated. This looks like a choices. 12...Nd5 pays W hite due respect
mistake. Zelcic is tempted. 23.e5 b3+ and states that Black is happy to equalize.
24.b1 xd4! 25.xd4 xd4 26.xf7 c4 13.e4
27.c3 f8 28.g6 xc3! The point. White [ 13.xd5 exd5 14.b4 f6 15.c3 he8
e n d s u p wi t h t o o m a n y p i e c e s h a n g i n g . is effective development by Black. ]
29.xe6+ b8 30.xe7 f5+! 31.a1 13...d7 14.b4 f5! 15.c5
xf7 32.b4 b3 33.xc7+ a8 34.c5 [ 15.ed2 f4 was obviously unappealing. ]
b5 35.d4 xc7 A game of great control 15...xc5 16.bxc5 f4 But it happens anyway!
from veteran Grandmaster Kurajica. 17.gxf4 hf8 18.ab1 xd4!? really going
0-1 for it!
[ 18...xf4 19.xf4 xf4 20.e3 xf3
( 20...df8 21.e5! ) 21.xf4 xg2
404 B01 22.xg2 d5+ 23.f3 xf3+ 24.xf3
Zelcic,Robert 2514 xd4+ 25.e4 xc2 ]
Sermek,Drazen 2555 19.xd4 xf4 20.e5?
Cup 14th Sibenik (5) 30.05.2005 [ 20.e3 xg2 ]
[Andrew Martin] [ 20.e4 is the only move and may just be
good enough to hang on: d5! 21.g5
D O O M A N D G L O O M I N T H E xe4 22.xe4 xd4 23.xb7+ d7
SCANDINAVIAN? 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 The kings are mutually exposed but
3.c3 d6 4.d4 f6 5.f3 a6 6.g3 g4! Black's position is the tighter. ]
We saw last month that 6...Bg4 could be an 20...xg2-+ 21.xh5 f4 Suddenly White is
effective antidote to the highly-rated 6 g3 lost. 22.e5 c6 23.b3 xd4 24.fb1
variation. Let us see some more compelling xh3+ 25.h2 xf3 26.xf3 xf3
evidence now. To recap: Black's plan is ...Nc6 27.xd4 f4 To be honest I don't understand
and ...0-0-0, hitting d4. Later if allowed, he all the fuss about 6 g3 The articles in New In
will either break with ...e7-e5 or attack White's Chess Yearbook are very selective and do not
King directly. 7.h3 h5 8.e2 c6 9.e3 cover everything. 6...Bg4 just seems like a
0-0-0 10.g2 e6 11.0-0 One could call this good choice!
main-line. 0-1
[ White may also castle long as an attempt
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B) 8...d4 9.d1 e5 10.0-0 0-0-0 11.d3 ( Black was fine after 9.bd2 g8
g6 ( 11...e7 12.e1 ec6 might give 10.d4 g5 11.g4 g6 in Palac, M (2553)-
B l a c k a b e t t e r c h a n c e o f e q u a l i s i n g) Prie, E (2489) Cannes 2009 although of
12.e1 g7 13.d2 was slightly better course the position is very complicated!)
for White in Nakamura, H (2708)-Tiviakov, 9...d7 10.a3;
S (2662) Wijk aan Zee 2010 ] B) 6...xf3 leads to a typical slight edge
5...0-0-0 f o r W h i t e a f t e r 7.xf3 d7 8.c3
[ 5...f6 transposes to my notes on the ( instead after the odd 8.g3?! e5 9.d3 f5
game Short-Liiva in the archives where I 10.c3 d4 11.g2 f6 Black had a
r e c o m m e n d e d 6.h3 h5 7.d4 0-0-0 fine game in Sitnikov, A (2506)-Kasparov,
( 7...e6 8.c4 d7 9.e3 is also a little S (2521) Donetsk 2011) 8...e5 9.d4
better for White ) 8.e3 ] xf3+ 10.xf3 f6 11.d2 ]
[ 5...e5 probably isn't a good idea here as 6...f6
after 6.c3 d7 White has ( or 6...d6 [ 6...e5?! allows White to win a pawn with
7.e1 0-0-0 8.xe5 ) 7.xe5! xe5 8.d4 7.xe5! xe2 8.xe2 and Black doesn't
winning a pawn as xe2 9.xe2 xd4 seem to get enough compensation here, for
10.d1 c4 11.xe5+ gives White a example e8 ( or 8...d4 9.d1 d6
winning initiative. ] 10.c3 e6 11.g4 g6 12.d3 ) 9.g4+
6.e1 Another very rare move from Zhigalko - b8 10.xc6+ xc6 11.xe8+ xe8
it's not quite a novelty but it hasn't been seen 12.d1 and White has a safe extra pawn. ]
at this level before. 7.h3 xf3?! This seems inaccurate to me.
[ 6.h3 is much more popular and now Black White gets time to prepare d4 and keeps the
has a choice of whether or not to capture on two bishop advantage.
f3. [ 7...h5 is more critical and now play might
A) 6...h5 I generally feel is more testing continue 8.d3 ( 8.c3?! can simply be met
but White is also a little better here after by e5 ) 8...e6 9.c3 f5 10.e3 b8
A1) 7.c3 d7 8.b4!? 11.d2 ( 11.g4?! xg4 is at least a draw
is very interesting here and it's featured for Black ) 11...xf3! 12.xf3 d4
in a couple of games: and Black is close to equalising. ]
A1a) perhaps it's best to decline the 8.xf3 d7 9.c3 g5 Black's play might look
s a c r i f ic e wi t h 8...f6 9.a3 xf3 dangerous on the kingside but in reality it's
10.xf3 d4 as in Aleksic, N (2371)- too slow as he struggles to get in ...h5
Savic, M (2519) Subotica 2008 when whereas White's attack is pretty automatic on
Black had a good game after 11.d3 g6 the queenside.
12.b1 g7 13.e1 he8 14.e3 e5 [ or 9...e5 10.a4! ( 10.xc6 xc6
15.g5 ( 15.b5 was better with 11.xe5 d6 is less clear) 10...e4 11.xe4
balanced chances.) 15...f5 16.e4 xe4 12.xe4 and Black has insufficient
h5 17.xf6 xf6 18.xf6 xf6 compensation for the pawn. ]
19.e4 a6; 10.d4 g8 11.d2 e6 12.b4 d6 13.c4
A1b) 8...xb4?! 9.e5 xe2 d5?!
10.xe2 e6 11.b1 c6 and now [ 13...e7 avoids the line in the next note
( 11...f6 is probably best but White is but W hite is still doing well after 14.d2
still clearly better after 12.xb4 xe5 and Na5 is something of a threat now. ]
13.f3 c6 14.d4! ) 12.b5! 14.d2?!
would've given White a winning attack [ 14.b5! was very strong here as White's
in Nevostrujev, V (2510)-Kabanov, N attack is f ast af ter ce7 ( 14...xc3??
( 2 4 8 9 ) T o m s k 2 0 0 3 a f t e r xe5 15.bxc6 simply wins) 15.d3 f5 16.xd6+
13.xb7+ d7 14.b5 e6 15.d5 xd6 17.g3 and c4 is coming with a
f6 ( 15...d6? 16.a3 ) 16.xc7 crushing attack ]
and Black loses material.; 14...ce7 15.a4 f5 16.g3! Zhigalko takes
A2) 7.d3 e6 8.e3 f6 9.c3 a move to show that Black has absolutely no
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positional c pawn, would leave Black the [ In a previous game, White first played his
preferred colour. ] king to safety 9.h1 c5 A decidedly odd
[ 7.b5 b6 ( 7...e5 looks fine as taking on looking move. Evidently Black was worried
c6 isn't a serious threat, especially as Black about getting his queen trapped but in that
has not even castled long yet.) 8.d3 e5 case the line with ...Nc6 probably wasn't for
9.a4 a6 10.e3 c5 11.a5 a7 12.xc6+ him. ( Better was 9...e5 10.b3 0-0-0
bxc6 was positionally better for White. w i t h a n u n c l e a r p o s i t i o n .) 10.a3!?
Muslimov, E-Moiseev, V Saratov 2007. ] would attempt to exploit the queen's position.
[ 7.a3 e6 ( 7...d4!? again is interesting.) W hite plans to follow up with b4 and an
8.d3 0-0-0 9.d2 h5 ( 9...xe2 attack against Black's king. As an added
w o u l d h a v e b e e n m o r e c i r c u m s p e c t .) trump W hite gets a square to retreat his
10.c1?? Typical blitz blunder ( 10.f3 d6 bishop to on a2. ( 10.g3 Manelidou, M-
11.f4 c5+ 12.h1 h5 13.b4 f5 Makka, E Athens 2008. )]
14.fe2! and Black's pieces are clumsily 9...g6 10.d2
placed. ) 10...xe2 11.xe2 xe2 12.f3 [ 10.f4 is an idea that has been seen in
c5+ 13.h1 h5 14.b3 e5 15.e1 previous variations but here it doesn't make
g3+ 0-1 Ozgur, E-Bereza, P ICC 2009. ] sense as Black simply castles long 0-0-0
[ 7.h3 looks sensible to me. Perhaps Black when White's attacking on the wrong side of
s h o u l d r e a c t xe2 ( 7...h5 8.d5!? the board. ]
prevents Black from launching an attack.; 10...b6+ Bauer simply gets the queen out of
7...h5 is of course also possible but then any potential discovered attack. 11.h1 0-0-0
the Black queen doesn't have access to It's important to realise that had W hite not
h5. ) 8.xe2 e6 9.d4 d6 10.c3 0-0 played Ng3 then this would be impossible as
and White has a small advantage with the 12.Na4 would then trap the Black queen.
bishop pair. ] Thankfully here we have the d4 square. 12.a3
7...e6 8.f3 loosening the g1-a7 diagonal but [ 12.a4 d4 13.e2 h4 and White only
forcing Black to relinquish his annoying pin a ch ie ve s in f o rcin g B la ck' s qu e e n t o a
and preventing an exchange on e2. stronger square. ]
[ 8.d2 has been White's alternative. e5 12...h5! Time to attack! A knight on g3 always
( 8...h5 9.f3! Now this move has added provokes an ...h7-h5-h4 thrust, even when
venom as the queen f urther congests Black has castled short and here with Black's
Black's pieces. d6 10.f4 c5+ 11.h1 king on the queenside the move is logical.
h5 12.b5 0-0-0 13.e1 g6 14.a4 13.e1
xf4 15.xf4 e5 16.e3 e7 17.xa7+ [ 13.ge2 e5 14.b3 h4
xa7 18.xa7 d5 19.f2 h5 20.a5 c6 is not appetising for W hite either. He is
21.xd5 cxd5 22.b6 1-0 De Visser, L- exceedingly passive and has no counterplay
Herda, C Bad Homburg 2009 was the model whilst Black's kingside attack is obvious. ]
game from the White viewpoint.; 8...0-0-0 13...h4 14.e3
appears possible as I don't see a way to trap [ 14.ge4 xe4 15.xe4 xe4 16.fxe4
the Black queen.) 9.e1 ( 9.f3!? ) 9...xe2 h3 17.g3 xb2 was the better evil but still.
10.xe2 d6 11.xe5 xe5 12.b3 c6 ( 17...e5!? )]
13.h3 ed7 14.a3 0-0 15.ae1 [ 14.a4 is probably the best d4 15.e2
and surprisingly W hite won quickly but I t o f o r c e t h e q u e e n t o r e t r e a t d7
don't really believe he can have any serious but Black is still obviously better. ]
edge here. Summerscale, A-Brady, S Dublin 14...hxg3!! Not too difficult once you've seen
1997. ] the concept but Bauer had to realise the
[ 8.h3 again should be considered although queen sacrifice was strong before playing ...
Black doesn't have any major problems after h4. 15.xb6 xh2+ 16.g1 axb6
either the retreat or the capture. ] Black isn't actually that behind in material with
8...f5 9.g3 Only this is a novelty but one two minor pieces and a pawn for the queen.
that won't be repeated in a hurry. The important aspect is that W hite cannot
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
defend against both the threats on the dark xf3+ 15.g1 xg4+ is the saving
squares (...Bc5+) and the penetration of the grace.;
rooks with ....Rd8-h8. 17.b4 B) 11.f4 d6 12.d2 ( 12.e2! b6
[ 17.b5 c5+ 18.f1 gives Black various 13.b3 fd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.d2
wins but the most accurate appears to be: xe5 16.xe5 xe5+ 17.dxe5 h5 )
d5 19.xd5 ( 19.c1 only survives a few 12...0-0 13.h5 xc2 14.xc2 xe5
moves longer, e.g. f2 20.g5 h1+ 15.dxe5 xe5 16.xe5 xe5+ 17.e2
21.e2 h5 22.d2 e5+ 23.f1 e3+ g3+ 18.f1 ad8 19.d1 xd1+
24.xe3 xe3 and White has no way of 20.xd1 d8 21.f2 b5 22.b3 d4
preventing ...Rd8-h8-h1 other than giving 23.g1 f4 24.g2 g6 25.hxg6 hxg6
h i s e x t r a q u e e n .) 19...xd5 20.d4 26.d1 a5 27.xd4 xd4 28.e4 xe4
Otherwise ...Rh1+ and ....Re5+ ( 20.c3 29.fxe4 a4 30.d1 c5 31.c2 c4
d4-+ ) 20...xd4 21.xd4 xd4 22.g1 32.e2 e3 33.f3 a3 34.bxa3 xa3
dh5-+ ] 35.e2 e3 36.a4 bxa4 37.xc4 a3
17...d6 So one threat prevented but Black 38.a2 g7 39.c4 h6 40.a2 g5
has the other path. 18.b5 41.b1 xg4 42.f1 h3+ 43.g1
[ 18.e2 looks like the toughest test but g3+ 44.f1 g5 45.a2 h3 46.c4
dh8 ( 18...e5 is another option 19.f1 g4 47.d2 f3+ 48.g1 g3+ 49.h1
h1+ 20.g1 d4 21.e2 c3! 1/2-1/2 Philippe,C-Mateuta,G/Masters,
followed by ...Nh5-f4 closes the cage on Saint Lo FRA 2003 From this game, we
White's king.) 19.f1 h1+ 20.g1 8h2 can deduce that 6...Bf5 is still very much
21.e2 ( 21.c3 xg2! 22.xg2 h2+ on the board. ]
23.f1 f2# ) 21...d4 and Black is going 7.b3 e6 8.0-0 bd7 9.g5 c7 10.e2
t o b e a h e a d in d e ve lo p m e n t wh i lst h i s d6 Given time, Black will set up a very
attack continues will full steam. ] reasonable position with ...0-0, ...Bb7, ...a6
18...f4 19.d4 d5 20.xd5 exd5 a n d . . . c 6 - c 5 ! 11.e4 More forcing moves
White is powerless and crippled. 21.e2 d7 don't appear to do the trick:
22.d6 xd6 A very pretty game by the [ 11.d5 xd5 12.xd5 cxd5 13.xb5
French GM. The lines with Nge2 are quite ( 13.xd5 c4 14.xc4 bxc4 15.e3
common but I don't think they should pose a a6 16.fd1 c7 17.d2 ) 13...b6
significant threat to the Scandinavian. 14.xd6+ xd6 15.fe1 0-0 16.ad1 a6
0-1 17.d2 fc8 ]
[ 11.a4 b4 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 h6
14.h4 0-0 15.c4 b7 16.d3 g6
409 B01 17.g3 xg3 18.fxg3 c5 ]
Zorko,Jure 2215 11...f4 12.xf6+ xf6 13.xf4 xf4
Vukovic,Zdravko 2435 14.e5 A noble attempt to obtain the better
24th Open Bled (4) 2003 ending but I believe a waiting move was better,
[Andrew Martin] tempting Black to castle and only then Qe5:
[ 14.fe1! 0-0 15.e5 xe5 16.xe5 b7
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 xd5 3.c3 d8 17.c3 c5 18.dxc5 ac8 19.ad1 xc5
The BANKER Variation. Here, Black finds a 20.d7 ]
novel way to interpret the play. 4.d4 f6 14...xe5 15.xe5 b7 16.a4 d7
5.f3 c6 6.c4 b5!? Very, very unusual, 17.xd7 xd7 18.a5 White has a slight pull
and on the evidence of this game, not so bad and he wants to insure himself against defeat.
[ 6...f5 is more traditional, allowing White to Nevertheless, against a lower-rated opponent,
play very sharply: 7.e5 e6 8.g4 g6 I am convinced that Zorko would have played
9.h4 bd7 10.f3 This is the critical move, either 18 c3 or 18 f4,keeping the tension. The
threatening to win the Bishop. c7!? game heads towards a drawn ending: a6
A) 11.xd7 g3+ 12.f1 xd7 13.h5 19.fe1 b4 20.f4 g6 21.e5 ab8 22.f2
( 13.d3 f6 ) 13...xc2 14.xc2 b5! Simplification reduces the number of
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Black is untroubled. I guess the problem I nowadays, however the Ukranian GM Vladimir
have with 9... Ke8 is that if Black really Baklan plays it with great success.
wanted to put his King on this square, why [ 4.dxc3 is the alternative and we'll consider
not play it immediately and not commit his it in Rozentalis-Volzhin. ]
Bishop? It's all about playing the opponent 4...d5 After this move a long fight with a
and giving him problems to solve. ] blocked centre and much manoeuvring will
10.f3 g4 11.e2 e5 normally arise.
[ The modest 11...e6 12.h3 h5 13.g4 g6 [ Another possibility is 4...d6 After the
should perhaps have been preferred. ] natural 5.f4 Black has a choice.
12.h3 f5 13.he1 f6 14.c4! e4 A) 5...f5 can hardly be good as the
15.h4 g5 16.f3 c5 Bishop is clearly misplaced here: 6.f3
[ 16...c6 17.f5 ] dxe5 7.fxe5 d5 8.e2 c6 9.0-0!
[ 16...xc2 17.xc2 gxh4 18.f4 ] xe5 10.xe5 xe5 11.d4 a5
17.f7+? White has been playing extremely 12.b1! and Black's position is barely
well so far but now he loses his bearings. defensible: e6 13.xb7 d6 14.b5+
Instead e7 15.e2 g6 16.g5+ f6 17.d5!
[ 17.xc5! keeps an edge: xc5 18.fxe4 with an unstoppable attack was Lisitsin-
gxh4 19.d5! b6 ( 19...d7 20.d2 e7 Tolush, Moscow 1948.;
21.e3 ) 20.b4 e6 21.b5+ ] B) 5...dxe5 6.fxe5 d5 7.d4 c5
17...xf7 18.xd7+ e6 In principle, every was played in Tal-Podgaets, USSR 1970
exchange should favour the guy with better where Black failed to equalise: 8.f3 c6
pawns. 19.xc5 xd7 20.xe4 gxh4 9.e2 g4 10.0-0! cxd4 11.cxd4 e6
21.xh4 h5! Cutting the White Rook out of ( 11...xf3 12.xf3 xd4+ 13.xd4
the g file. Now Black can target g2. 22.e4 xd4 14.xb7 b8 15.b1 is just bad
ag8 23.e2 g3 24.d2 hg8 f o r B l a c k .) 12.b1! d7 13.g5!
Conclusion 4 dxc3 isn't good for anything Tal at his best! Most players would play 13.
other than the occasional surprise. Either 7... c3 without much thought. xe2 14.xe2
Ke8 or 7...Be6 are comfortable enough. e7 ( 14...xd4 15.e4
0-1 is very dangerous for Black) 15.c3 xg5
16.xg5 h6 ( After 16...0-0 17.g4 h8
18.f3 W hite's attack is very strong.)
411 B02 17.c1
Baklan,Vladimir 2552 B1) Again Black can't castle in view of
Miroshnichenko,Evgenij 2500 17...0-0 18.xh6! with a crushing attack:
Alushta 1999 gxh6 19.g4+ h7 20.f6 g8
[Alexander Volzhin] ( 20...h8 21.bf1 af8 22.xh6+
xh6 23.f6+ h7 24.h5+ g7
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.c3 xc3 25.g5+ h7 26.h6# ) 21.f4 g7
This natural move is definitely the best. 22.xh6+ g8 23.h4 f8 24.h8+
[ After 3...e6 4.d4 d6 5.e4! White is g8 25.h7 e7 26.f1 with mate
better. The game Baklan-Marchev, Zagan soon.;
1995 continued: c6 6.f3 e7 7.c3 0-0 B2) 17...e7 18.f3 d5 19.c4 b6
8.d3 a6 9.e2 b5 10.h4! Starting a 20.c5 d5 21.c6! Tal executes the
direct attack on Black's King. b4 11.c4 b6 attack very energetically. bxc6 22.a3!
12.eg5 g6 13.h5! dxe5 14.xh7! Now the Black King has to stay in the
This well calculated blow destroys the Black centre of the board forever. The rest is
K i n g ' s s h e l t e r . xh7 15.hxg6+ g8 easy ( for Tal, of course!) f5 23.exf6
16.xe5 xe5 17.h5! xd3+ 18.f1 gxf6 24.b3 d8 25.fb1 h7 26.g3
g7 19.h6+ g8 20.g5 In view of b6 27.xb6 axb6 28.g8+ e8
unavoidable mate Black resigned. ] 29.xh7 and Black resigned;
4.bxc3 This old line is not so popular C) 5...c6 6.f3 dxe5 7.fxe5 d5 8.d4
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
g4 9.e2 e6 10.0-0 e7 Unlike in Tal- threatened and Black has no adequate
Podgaets Black hasn't played an early ... defence against this move! d3 The only
c7-c5, and due to this important saved move. 14.xd3 xd3 15.xd3 b6
tempo he has time to complete his 16.e3 xf3 17.gxf3 0-0 18.f4 xe3
development. Nevertheless W hite has 19.fxe3 and after a few more moves Black
good prospects for a Kingside attack. The resigned in Baklan-Schneider, Antwerp
game Bilek-Larsen, Sousse 1967 1999. ]
continued: 11.g5 xe2 12.xe2 0-0 9.e6! A very strong novelty.
13.h5 ( 13.g4! intending Rf3-g3 or [ After the usual 9.0-0 e6 Black has no
Ne4 is even stronger.) 13...xg5 14.xg5 problems. ]
e4 15.a3 fd8 16.f2 d7 17.af1 9...xe6 10.f4 c8 11.xb7 The Rook is
and White had strong pressure on the K- very active, and is a bone in Black's throat. c4
side ] The only move, otherwise 12.Bb5 is very
[ 4...c5 5.f4 d6 6.f3 g6 In my opinion, nasty. 12.g5! d7
this set-up is worthy of serious attention. [ 12...f5 is strongly met by 13.g4! xg4
Obviously Black can choose another move 14.xg4 and White has managed to hinder
order such as 4...d6 5.f4c5 7.d4 g7 8.e2 the comfortable development of Black's K-
0-0 9.0-0 dxe5 10.fxe5 c6 11.f4 g4 s i d e s i n c e h6? is bad in view of 15.e6!
12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 cxd4 14.xc6 bxc6 fxe6 16.g6# ]
15.cxd4 d5 16.c3 c5 17.b3 fd8 13.g4 e6 14.f3! White must play very
18.e3 cxd4 19.cxd4 f6 20.exf6 xf6 actively, otherwise Black will complete his
and Black was clearly better in Hennings- development. The text creates threats on the
Gipslis, Havana 1971. ] f 7 s q u a r e . f6 Now it may seem that White
5.d4 c5 6.f3 c6 7.e2 g4 has run out of ideas, but he finds an excellent
[ 7...e6 is also playable. After this move the resource. 15.xd7!! xd7 16.xf7!
position looks similar to a Winawer French. ] [ T h e t e m p t in g 16.xd5+ is not so good:
8.b1 b8?! The usual move in this position. e7 17.d6+?! ( 17.f3 with some
However after this game it is unlikely to be compensation deserves attention.) 17...e8
played any more. 18.xe6 fxe6 19.xe6 xd6 20.xd6
[ 8...d7 seems to be more solid. 9.c4!? b8! parrying the attack. ]
White tries to seize the initiative at any cost. 16...h5
A) 9...e6 In my opinion the best. 10.cxd5 [ 16...xf7 is hardly better: 17.xd5+ e8
exd5 11.0-0 cxd4 12.xd4 xe2 18.xe6 b7 19.xc8 xc8 20.0-0
13.xe2 c5 14.f4 d8 15.e6!? fxe6 and the position is similar to the game. ]
16.h5+ ( T h e t e m p t i n g 16.xe6? 17.h3 xf7 18.xd5+ e7 19.g5+ e8
as played in Shilin-Tobak, Polanica Zdroj 20.xe6 c7 21.xc8 xc8 22.0-0
1999 is weak in view of xe6 17.e1 Now it's clear that Black's position is hardly
xf2+! 18.xf2 0-0+ 19.g1 d7 defensible. W hite has three pawns for the
and Black is a clear pawn up.) 16...g6 sacrificed piece, (and will probably win the
17.xg6 f7 18.f4 xh5 19.xh5 b6 pawn on c4) as well as a strong attack on
with chances for both sides in a Black's King. e7 23.e1 d7 24.b5 a6
complicated endgame; 25.xc4 d8 26.d5! xg5
B) 9...dxc4 is risky: 10.d5 xf3 11.xf3 [ 26...a5 is hardly better in view of
( 11.gxf3 i s d u b i o u s i n v i e w o f d4 27.xa6 xg5 28.xa5+ c7 29.a6
12.xc4 f5! and Black is OK) 11...xe5 and with five (!) pawns for the piece and a
12.e2 b5 13.f4 and White has a strong strong attack White is easily winning. ]
initiative which is clearly worth the 27.dxc6 d2 28.c7+ c8
sacrificed material; [ 28...d7 also loses by force: 29.f7+ c6
C) 9...cxd4?! Definitely far from best. The 30.c8+! xc8 31.e6+ c5 32.a7+
alternatives are: 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xb7 c4 33.xa6+ xc3 34.xc8+ ]
e6 12.0-0 c5 13.b5! 14.c4 is 29.b1 d7 30.a4+ This move is good
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
12.xf3 e5 13.g3 xb2 14.b1 xa3 0-1 Sadiqi,A-Cubas,J/ Olympiad, Bled SLO
15.xb7 a6 16.xc6 xc6 17.xa7 2002 (25) ]
ab8 18.a2 b4 19.e2 h5 20.h4 fb8 5...c6
21.c4 b1 22.d4 xf1+ 23.xf1 f3 [ 5...g6 6.c4 d8 7.f3 g7 8.e3 0-0
24.e2 b1+ 0-1 Phanikanth,J-Skytte,R/ 9.c2 f5 10.d3 xd3 11.xd3 e5
Proclient Cup, Olomouc CZE 2002 (24)) 12.0-0-0 c6 13.d5 e7 14.g4 h6 15.h4
7...h5 8.0-0 e6 9.b3 d6 10.c4 e4 f5 16.gxf5 gxf5 17.dg1 f4 18.c5 h8
11.b2 xf3 12.xf3 f4 13.e1 h2+ 19.e4 b5 20.xe5 f5 21.xg7 xg7
14.f1 0-0 15.c2 e5 16.xc6 bxc6 22.g1+ f6 23.xe7+ xe7 24.g6#
17.c5 e7 18.xe5 h1+ 19.e2 xg2 1-0 Van der Veen,R-Velema,S/6th HZ Open,
20.g1 xg1 21.xg1 f6 22.xc7 fe8 Vlissingen NED 2002 (24) ]
23.d1 d8 24.c4+ h8 25.f7 g8 [ 5...f5 6.c4 e4+ 7.e3 e5 8.a3 c6
26.xd8 axd8 27.xa7 1-0 Lafortune,G- 9.e2 exd4 10.g3 e6 11.xf5 xf5
Tardits,A/II Open, St Chely d'Aubrac FRA 12.xd4 0-0-0 13.d3 d7 0-1 Gaillard, B-
2002 (27) ] Therkildsen,T/Open, Le Touquet FRA 2002
[ 5.f3 (13) ]
A) 5...e5+!? 6.e2 c6 7.b3 d4 6.f3
8.a4+ d7 9.b4 xc2+ 10.d1 [ 6.e3 f5 7.f3 b4 8.c1 xa2
xb4 11.f3 f6 12.c4 a4+ 13.e1 9.h4 xc2 10.xc2 xc2+ 11.xc2
c2+ 0-1 Rodriguez Pazos,J-Aguiar 0-0-0 12.f3 e6 13.e2 b4+ 14.d2
Macineiras,S/ XVIII Open, Ferrol ESP xd2+ 15.xd2 b1+ 16.d1 e4+
2002 (13); 17.e2 xe2+ 18.xe2 f6 19.0-0 e5
B) 5...xf3 6.xf3 f5! 7.b5+ ( 7.d3 20.dxe5 fxe5 21.xe5 d2 22.g4+ b8
c6=; 7.d4 d7!= ) 7...c6 8.a4 23.b3 e8 24.c4 d3 25.b1 xb3
d7=; 26.c1 c3 27.b1 xc4 28.f3 c6 29.h3
C) 5...c6 6.e2 f5 7.xd5 cxd5 e7 30.g4 c3 31.g2 c7 32.a1 b6
8.b5+ c6 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.d3 e5 33.b1+ c5 34.a1 b5 35.a6 d6
11.e2 c5 12.e3 b6 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 36.d1 b4 37.f3 b3 38.a3 b2 39.xc3
14.xb6 axb6 15.d4 e4 16.he1 he8 b1 40.xc6+ d7 41.a6 e8 42.d6
17.d2 g4 18.a1 xe2 19.xe2 d7 f8 43.d5 b8 44.c6 e5 45.f3 a5
20.e3 f5 21.h4 h6 22.h5 f8 23.f4 46.a6 f7 47.a8+ e7 48.a7+ f6
e6 24.e3 c5 25.d1 a8 26.b3 49.a6+ g5 50.b6 h4 51.b5
fb8 27.a3 c4 28.g3 f7 29.xf5 0-1 Neethling,C-Maeckelbergh,M/Olympiad
g8 30.e5 f8 31.d2 b5 32.xd5 w, Bled SLO 2002 (51) ]
ae8 33.c6 f5 34.d5 b8 35.d6 6...g4 7.e2 0-0-0 8.c3 e5 9.c4 b4+
c8+ 36.b7 d8 37.c7 ff8 38.d7 10.d2 a5 11.d5 e4 12.g5 xe2
f7 39.e3 1-0 Mrkonjic,N-Balazs,G/2nd 13.xe2 he8 14.xe4 f5 15.dxc6 d4
Summer Open, Savaria HUN 2002 (39) ] 16.cxb7+ xb7 17.xb4 xb4+ 18.f1
[ 5.c4 e5+ 6.e2 e6 7.f3 f6 8.0-0 d2
d6 9.d4 h5 10.g5 g6 11.h4 f6 0-1
12.d3 f7 13.c5 fxg5 14.cxd6 cxd6
15.xg5 f4 16.g3 xd4 17.g6+ d8
18.xd4 1-0 Olias Munoz, F-Sanz Chacon, 414 B02
C/Madrid 2002 (18) ] Hector,Jonny
[ 5.c3 e5 6.h3 c6 7.a4 f5 8.c4 Kengis,Edvins
d7 9.a4 0-0-0 10.b5 d3 11.e2 Haninge (Sweden) (9) 1992
c5 12.0-0 h5 13.xd3 xd3 14.d1 [Nigel Davies]
h6 15.a4 g6 16.h2 a5 17.e1 h4
18.h1 f5 19.g1 e4 20.f3 xg1 1.e4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.e5 d4 4.exf6 dxc3
21.xg1 exf3 22.xf3 xf3 23.e6+ 5.fxg7 cxd2+ 6.xd2 xg7 7.f3
xe6 24.gxf3 e1+ 25.f2 de8 [ Prior to Balashov's introduction of this move
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
(in the 1974 Alburt game given below), 43.e3 g2 44.c4 g3+ 45.d2 f3
White used to play 7.h5 ] 46.e2 c3 47.d3 c2+ 48.e3 g4
7...c6 Hector's opponents have tried a 49.b4
number of moves with truly miserable results: 1-0
[ a) 7...d6 8.0-0-0 c6 9.c3 h6+
10.b1 0-0 11.g3 f5 12.b5 ad8
13.e2 g6 14.xg6 hxg6 15.xg7 415 B02
xg7 16.xc6 bxc6 17.d4 gave White Hector,Jonny
an endgame edge in Hector - Grujic, Malm0 Mas,SJ
1998 ] Copenhagen (Denmark) 1990
[ b) 7...d4 8.c3 g4 9.xg7 xg7 [Nigel Davies]
10.0-0-0 Hector - Blees, Kecskemet 1987 ]
[ c) 7...xb2 is extremely risky - White's 1.e4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.e5 fd7 4.e6
pieces are being developed at lightning [ This pawn sac is White's sharpest option,
speed and the position is wide open. A and once again Hector has his own ideas.
game Balashov - Timoshenko from the 1989 The fact that in a later game (against
Moscow Ch., went on 8.d1 d6 ( 8...d4 H i l l a r p ) H e c t o r a v o i d e d t h i s w i t h 4.d4
9.e2 g4 10.b3 f6 11.f4 doesn't tell us much - he might simply have
gave White excellent attacking chances in wanted to avoid any 'home cooking' whilst
Balashov - Alburt, USSR Ch., Leningrad landing his opponent in unfamiliar territory.
1974. ) 9.c4 f6 10.e2 c6 11.c3 After e6 5.f4 c5 6.f3 we get a Steinitz
xc3+ 12.xc3 b4 13.b5 xc3+ variation of the French. ]
14.xc3 d7 15.d5 c8 16.0-0 4...fxe6 5.d4 g6 6.h4 g7
with Black's king still trapped in the centre. ] [ 6...f6 is no better as White plays 7.h5!
8.b5 d6 anyway: g8 ( 7...xh5 8.xh5 gxh5
[ Or 8...0-0 9.xc6 bxc6 10.c3 xc3+ 9.xh5+ d7 10.f3 g7 11.h6 f6
11.xc3 d5 12.d1 e4+ ( 12...xg2 12.xd5! exd5 13.xd5+ e8 14.h5+
13.d3+- ) 13.e2 a6 14.d2 ad8 d7 15.0-0-0 led to a quick win for White in
15.f3 e6 16.f2 Hector - Daillet, Bellon - Kovacevic, Karlovac 1979) 8.hxg6
Cannes 1989. One of the big problems with hxg6 9.f3 c5 10.e5 c6 11.b5 d7
this line for Black is that even if he avoids 12.xc6 xc6 13.e3 a5 14.f3 b4
getting mated in the middlegame, he often 15.0-0-0 c4 16.g4 g5 17.h5 Hector -
finds himself with a poor pawn structure for Schoen, Malmo 1988 ]
the endgame. ] 7.h5 f8 8.f4! Another of Hector's ideas,
9.c3 0-0 10.xc6 xc3+ 11.xc3 bxc6 clamping down on the e5 square. c5 9.b5
12.e2 a6 13.d1 e6 14.e3 xe3 a6 10.f3 d7 11.e5 a5+ 12.d2
15.fxe3 Ex-Soviet GM s don't usually expect xd2+ 13.xd2 c4 Burgess ('The Complete
to lo se s ligh tly wo rse e nd ga me s against Alekhine') gives no comment on this complex
W esterners. But this one's in for a big endgame. Personally speaking I would not
surprise. fd8 16.xd8+ xd8 17.f1 e5 want to play Black - the extra pawn is useless
18.f5 e8 19.g5+ f8 20.h5 g7 and he is under severe pressure. 14.a4 gxh5
21.h4 b8 22.b3 c8 23.a4 a6 24.c1 15.e2 g6 16.xh5 0-0 17.xg6 hxg6
f6 25.d3 b5 26.c4 b6 27.c5 18.g3
Hector's fancy rook moves have given him a [ And not 18.xg6 f6 19.xe7+ f7
big plus, with Black more or less completely etc. ]
tied down. The harvest of pawns is about to 18...e8 19.ae1 f7 20.e2 fc8 21.he1
begin. f7 28.a4 b7 29.xc6 a7 e8 22.c3 h6+ 23.f4 g7 24.h4 f6
30.c5 a5 31.d2 e7 32.c3 f5 33.g3 25.xf6
h5 34.e4 h3 35.d2 h4 36.gxh4 a8 [ Choosing to force matters but Black
37.d3 h8 38.xc7+ d6 39.a7 xh4 m a n a g e s t o h a n g o n . 25.g5
40.a6+ e7 41.f2 d7 42.xa5 xh2 was an interesting alternative, keeping the
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20.axb3 d4 21.h7+ After 21 ...Kf8 22 Bh6 7. Who would have thought that only 5 moves
is curtains. By no means a great game, but earlier White had no development advantage
very direct and easy to understand. at all! f6 14.f4! White is ready for a decisive
1-0 attack, so this move which opens central files
suggests itself. Now W hite's initiative
progresses without any obstacles. e6
419 B02 [ 14...exf4 15.h5+ f7 16.be1+ e7
Keres,Paul 17.xe7+ xe7 18.b4+ , winning the
Mikenas,Vladas Queen. ]
URS 1968 15.fxe5 d7 Black was relying on this move it
[Alexander Volzhin] seems that he will recapture on e5 and castle
queenside, completing development
1.e4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 xd5 4.ge2 successfully. However an unpleasant surprise
g4 awaits him. 16.exf6!! xg3 17.fxg7 c5+
[ 4...c6 This developing move is natural [ Unfortunately, Black can't recapture the
and good, moreover it contains very nice pawn: 17...xg7 i n v i e w o f 18.e1!!
trap. 5.g3? This seemingly natural move a n d W h i t e w i n s a p i e c e b a c k : xe1
lose by force! g4! 6.g2 d4! 7.xd5 19.bxe1 xc3 20.xe6+ d8 21.dxc3
( 7.h3 was the only move to avoid immediate with a decisive material advantage. ]
loss, although Black already has a huge 18.h1 g8 19.e1!
a d v a n t a g e i n t h e e n d g a m e a f t e r xc3 [ 19.e2 is inferior in view of the unexpected
8.dxc3 f3+ 9.xf3 xf3 10.xd8+ xd8 0-0-0! 20.xe6 d6! and Black has little to
11.g1 e5 ) 7...xd5! The point! worry about. ]
Incidentally this combination is typical and 19...d6 Here this idea doesn't work.
has occurred plenty of times in different 20.xe6+ d8 21.xg8+ c7 22.xb7+!
openings. One example: 1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 xb7 23.b1+ b6
3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 ed 5.Nd5 Bg7 6. Bg5 Nge7? [ 23...c7 is no real improvement: 24.a5+
7.N:d4! B:d4 8 Q:d4! 8.f3 xf3 9.f1 g2 b6 25.f7+ and the pawn queens. ]
a n d W h i t e r e s i g n e d , G i b b s - S c h m i d , 24.f7+ c7 25.g1! The last move of a
Lugano, 1968. ] brilliant combination, foreseen by Keres when
[ 4...g6 is not bad either: 5.xd5 xd5 he sacrif iced the piece on move 16! Now
6.c3 d8 7.b3 g7 8.b2 0-0 9.g3 Black has no threats while White's g7-pawn is
d7! 10.g2 c6 11.xc6 xc6 about to queen. d8
Bla ck alrea d y is b e tt e r. 12.h4?! d6 [ 25...h2+ 26.f2 g3+ 27.f1 ]
13.0-0?! This move doesn't fit with previous 26.c5 xd3 27.cxd3 h2+ 28.f2 g3+
one. d4 14.e4 c6! 15.e1 xc2 29.e2 Black resigned. An excellent game!
Black has a clear extra pawn and won in a 1-0
few moves, Horvath,C-Dede,1997. ]
5.h3 xc3 6.bxc3 f5
[ Later Mikenas tried to improve with 6...xe2 420 B02
The game Lisitsin-Mikenas, USSR, 1968 Markovic,Miroslav 2517
continued: 7.xe2 c6 8.d4 e6 9.b1 c7 Andonov,Bogomil 2364
10.e3 d7 11.c4 e7 12.d2 0-0 TSGM June Belgrade YUG (6) 20.06.2002
13.0-0 ad8 14.c3 e5 and Black has [Glenn Flear]
solved any major problems, although White
keeps small advantage. ] Note how this line occurs via the
7.b1 d5?! I don't like Black's last two Scandinavian (Centre Counter) move-order.
moves. Now White firmly seizes the initiative. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 f6 3.c3 The same
8.g3 c8 9.c4 a5 10.b2 c6 11.c3 position arises from 1 e4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 exd5
c7 12.d3! e5 13.0-0 It's interesting to Nxd5. xd5 4.c4 c6 Both 4...e6 and 4...
compare this position with that after the move Nb6 are better-known.
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
6.g2 c6 7.f3 g6N Inventive as ever, than the previous variation, where there were
Kupreic hik tries to com e u p with a n ove l two c pawns to defend. d7 19.c4 c6!
winning attempt. A Black Bishop on g7 will A correct move, breaking up the centre before
intimidate this particular W hite pawn the d pawn becomes dangerous. 20.dxc6
formation because if White ever gets around [ 20.e3 e8 21.d6 e6 22.c5 d5
to playing d2-d4, then Black prepares ... c7-c5, 23.xd5 cxd5 24.xd5 c6 25.d2
with pressure. is rather risky for W hite who for his extra
[ 7...d7 8.d4 f6 9.0-0 e6 10.f4 d6 pawn faces a game-long defence on the
is less energetic but perfectly viable. Black light squares. ]
is equal here too. 11.d2 ( He should settle 20...xc6 21.xd7 xd7 22.xc6 bxc6
for 11.e3 0-0 12.c4 with equal chances.) Both players seem happy with this equal
11...0-0 12.e5?? xf3 13.g5 xg2 ending. W hite gets his Rook active first but
14.xf6 xf6 15.xf6 gxf6 16.xg2 c6-+ cannot nurse his weak pawns at the same
0-1 Vilar Rodriguez, M-Alonso Macias,V/ time. 23.b7 b6! 24.c7
Santiago de Compostela 2002 This should [ If 24.c5 d5 25.d6 e8 26.d3 a5
n o t b e a s d i sa st ro u s a s W h it e m a d e i t 27.a7 c3! and Black is fine. ]
seem. ] 24...g5 Nudging the Bishop out of position.
[ 7...e6 is sometimes played: 8.0-0 25.e3 xc4 26.xa7 e5! 27.xc6 xa7
A) 8...e7 9.e1 g5 10.f1 d5 28.xc4 ...Rxa2 is next when there is nothing
11.e3 f6 12.c4 f5 13.d4 e4 left to play for. A short game but full of quality
14.e2 xc2 15.e5 xe5? ( 15...g4! ) ideas. The 2 Nc3 variation and subsequent
16.xe5 g6 17.d5 d7 18.xg5 f6 positions is important because it can arise
19.dxe6 fxe6 20.b5 f8 21.b2 g6 from a Scandinavian move order as well. I
22.xb7 c5 23.xc7 d3 24.xc2 feel that 4 g3 whilst unusual isn't very
1-0 Brendel, O-Grosshans,R/Frankfurt effective if Black gets on the case immediately,
1999; disrupting W hite's plans. 4...Nxc3 5 Bxc3
B) 8...d7 9.d3 e7 10.b1 0-0 Qd5! seems particularly good.
11.e1 f6 12.c4 e8 13.d2 xg2 ½-½
14.xg2 b6= Guyot,P-Hauchard, A/
France 1993 Summarising this information
I feel that Black is equalizing in virtually 424 B02
every conceivable logical line. I fail to Nuevo Perez,Antonio 2195
understand why White tries this variation Vera Gonzalez Quevedo,Reynaldo 2546
apart from as I say to dampen the ardour Open Malaga (2) 26.02.2000
of a violent attacker or to completely avoid [Gary Lane]
the main lines. ]
8.0-0 g7 9.e1 0-0 10.d4 d7 11.g5 1.e4 c5 2.c3 f6 3.e5 d5 4.d4 cxd4
e8 Back at the chicken shack Black is 5.f3 c6 6.cxd4 d6 7.c3 e6 8.xd5
lo ok ing f o r a p a wn brea k. He's got go o d exd5 9.d3!?
development and comfortable squares for his [ 9.e2 is the main alternative and has the
pieces. If he could only play .. e7-e5 now he merit of avoiding the pin with ...Bg4. ]
might stand better. White moves to stop him. 9...g4
12.c4 h6 13.f4 e6 14.d5 exd5 [ 9...dxe5 10.dxe5 b4+ 11.d2 xd2+
Opening up the Rook, only to be exchanged 12.xd2 0-0 13.0-0 g4 14.e2 xf3
unfortunately. He could have played ...Ba4 15.xf3 1/2-1/2 M.Mueller-G.Moehring,
immediately: Senden 1999. ]
[ 14...a4 15.b1 e5 16.e3 ( 16.d2 [ 9...e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.h3
b6 17.c3 e4 18.d4 c5 ) 16...b6 A) 11...e6 12.e1 h8 13.exd6 xd6
17.d2 f5 ] 14.g5 xg5 15.xg5 f5 16.d2 f4
15.cxd5 xe1+ 16.xe1 a4 17.b1 b6 ( 16...xd4 17.f4 d7 18.e3 a4
18.d3 This looks a shade better for White 19.e5 c6 20.xg7+ xg7 21.xe6
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be interesting to test this line in practice. )] 29.f3+ g5 30.h4+! h6 31.f7!
4...d5 5.c4 e6 6.d4 b6!? and Black is helpless: xb5 ( 31...e7
[ 6...d6 is possible as well, after 7.cxd6 cxd6 32.e6+ g6 33.f4+ ) 32.e6+ g6
the position is similar to an Alapin Sicilian. ] 33.f4+ g7 ( 33...h7 34.xg6+ g7
7.cxb6 axb6 8.e2 35.f7+ ) 34.f6+ mating Black's King. ]
[ White has also tried 8.f3 but this move 24.b4! White plays very inventively finding
didn't bring him any advantage in Machulski - new attacking resources. g6 25.c2 d3?
Gurgenidze, USSR, 1973: a6! 9.xa6 This allows White to win the piece back.
xa6 10.0-0 e7 11.c3 ab4 12.a3 [ 25...e6 is also bad in view of 26.b3 c8
0-0 13.e4 f5 14.c3 c6 15.d2 a6 27.c7 and White is winning ]
16.xd5 exd5 17.c1 c7 intending 18... [ In my opinion, Black should play 25...c8!
Ne6 and Black's chances are by no means 26.g3 e6 Now it's not easy for White to
worse. ] continue the attack although the position
8...d6 A novelty, according to my database, remains very sharp. ]
but in my opinion one of rather dubious merit. 26.bxc5 dxc2 27.d7+ g8 28.xb7 d8
[ I would prefer the old 8...a6 9.xd5!? [ 28...a5 deserved attention. Now White
( 9.xa6 xa6 is similar to Machulski- can't play the tempting 29.c6 in view of
Gurgenidze considered above.) 9...exd5 xb5 30.c7 xa1! and Black wins. ]
10.bc3 c6 11.0-0 e7 12.e1 0-0 29.ac1
13.g3 d6 and Black has a very solid [ 29.d6!? is worth considering: xd6 ( or
position. ] 29...bxc5 30.b3+ h7 31.e4 f5
9.0-0 b7 10.b3 dxe5 11.dxe5 d7 32.xc2 g7 33.ab1 and although the
12.g3! Now it's not easy for Black to game goes on White's advantage is beyond
complete the development of his K-side. any doubt.) 30.cxd6 xd6 31.ac1 h7
e7!? (intending 13...Nf5) 13.d4 c5 32.e4 and after winning the c2-pawn White
14.xe6!? A very interesting piece sacrifice. It has excellent winning chances due to his
leads to a sharp position which is difficult to extra pawn and the weak position of Black's
e v a l u a t e e v e n i n h o m e a n a l y s i s . fxe6 King ]
15.xe6 c6 16.e3 e7 17.h3 d4 [ By the way, the tempting 29.xb6? fails to
18.xd4 cxd4 19.a3! c5 20.g4 h5 xa1! 30.e6+ h7 31.xa1 d1+
21.f5 f7 22.b5 xe5 23.fe1 f6 32.e1 xe1+ 33.xe1 h6! and Black
[T h e t e m p t i n g 23...xa2!? wins. ]
was the alternative to the text, but here 29...xc5 30.xc2 h7! 31.e4 f7
W hite gets a very strong attack: 24.ac1! 32.e2 df8 Black has managed to complete
Intending a sacrif ice on the c5-square . his development and create pressure on the
( 24.ad1 i s b a d : a f t e r f6 25.b4 f2-square which secures him certain
doesn't work in view of g6! 26.xd4 gxf5 compensation for the pawn. 33.f1 g5
27.bxc5 d5! 28.cxb6 c5 and Black has 34.c4 h7 35.d4 g4! 36.e6??
a decisive advantage. ) A gross blunder in mutual time trouble.
A) 24...f6 25.xc5! xc5 26.e6+ f8 [ 36.f3! s h o u l d b e p l a y e d : f4
27.xa2 d3 28.g3! , threatening 29 Qb8 ( The tempting 36...xf3 37.xg4 xf2
and White has a decisive attack; doesn't work in view of 38.fxf2! and White
B) 24...d5 25.xc5! and White wins by wins on the spot: hxg4 39.xc5 xf2
force: xc5 26.e6+ f6 27.xa2 40.c7+ ) 37.e6! The only move. 8f6
xb5 28.e6+ g5 29.h4+ f4 30.g3+ 38.xg4 hxg4 39.e5 d6 and a draw is
f3 31.d5+ xd5 ( 31...xd5 the most likely outcome of this exciting
32.f5# ) 32.e2#; encounter: 40.fc1 e4 41.c4 f6 ]
C) 24...xg2!? Other moves are even 36...xf2! 37.xf8+ xf8+ 38.ff2 xc4
worse: 25.xg2 d5+ 26.g1 xb2 W hite resigned since he loses a piece. An
27.xc5! This blow here is as strong as it exciting game!
was in previous lines. xc5 28.e6+ f6 0-1
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control of e5 and d4, and is the favoured comfortable play effortlessly. xc3 5.bxc3
move of this variation's strongest modern c5 6.f3 g4 7.e2 c6 8.h3 xf3
day supporter, Jonny Hector. The crucial 9.xf3 e6 10.0-0 c8= Karavade,E-
position arises after g6 8.e3 g7 9.dxc5 Mohota,N/Asian Teams Jodhpur IND 2003 ]
a5 10.0-0 , Hector-Sergeev, Berliner 1995, 4...d4
and Hector-Madsen, Copenhagen 1995. ] [ 4...c5 is provocative and not very good:
7...g6 8.h4 g7 Palliser isn't bothered about 5.d4 e6 6.f4 ( 6.e3! is almost certainly
preventing ...h5, and probably rightly: best. White can be very direct as Black is
[ 8...f6 9.b5 g7 10.h5 ( 10.f4 0-0 taking his time in the opening : g6 7.f3
11.xc6 e4 occurred in Lyublinsky- g7 8.h4 h5 9.c3 b6 10.g5 ) 6...g6
Mikenas, Moscow 1949, when 12.e5 xe5 7.e3 g7 8.d2 b6 9.h3 e6 10.f3 c5
13.xe4 g7 was about equal.) 10...xh5 11.g4 c6 12.g2 d7 13.c3 c8 14.f2
11.e3 d7 12.xc6 bxc6 13.d4 e7 15.d1 a5 16.0-0 ]
(J Petronovic-Marinkovic, Niksic 1997) ] [ 4...f6 was played in two old games of
9.e3N Kengis which still stand as the benchmark:
[ 9.h5 has been White's invariable choice 5.d3 g5 6.xg5 ( 6.f4 g6! 7.h4 e6
previously, although after xc5 10.hxg6 8.h5 xf4 9.xf4 g5 10.g3 c6 11.d4
hxg6 11.xh8+ xh8 12.d3 d7 both h6 12.exf6 exf6 13.b5 0-0 14.c3 e7
13.b5 (Guilbert-Komarov, Clichy 2001), Terentiev-Kengis USSR 1983) 6...fxg5 7.h4
and now xc3+ 14.bxc3 h8 , and 13 Bf4 gxh4 8.f4 g6 9.xh4 g7 10.d4 c5
Qf8 14 Bg3 Qh6 (Leitao-Milos, Santos Mario 11.d3 a5+ 12.f1 cxd4 13.xh7 xh7
Covas 2001), are promising for Black. ] 14.xg6+ d8 15.xh7 xe5 16.f3 c6
9...a5 10.d2 xc5 11.h5 d7 12.b5? 17.xd5 e6 18.f8+ d7 19.xa8
Black is doing fine here, a pawn up and about b5+ 20.d3 xb2 21.b6+! Vorotnikov-
to evacuate his king to safety. Neither Kengis USSR 1983 Black doesn't have
[ 12.hxg6 hxg6 13.xh8+ xh8 nor ] enough for the exchange ]
[ 12.h6 f6 worries him unduly, but the text 5.f3!?N I have seen 5 c3 and 5 d3 but not
is a weak move which is a little fortunate not this. Schmaltz argues that the Knight on e4
to lose at once. ] isn't running away-why attack immediately?
12...e4! 13.xe4 xb5 14.c5 xb2 c6 6.c3 g4 7.exd4 A small trap. xe5
15.0-0 c3 16.e2 c4 [ W hich Black avoids: 7...xd4 8.a4+!
[ 16...c8 was perhaps even more efficient, d7 9.xd7+ xd7 10.xd4 ]
but Black wants to force the queens off. ] 8.e2! d5 9.b5 It is getting very murky.
17.xc4 dxc4 18.ad1 c8 19.g5 f6 By contrast
20.hxg6 hxg6 21.fe1 Taking on e6 was [ 9.b5+ d o e s n ' t le a d t o m u c h : xb5
better, although Black should still win. e5 10.xb5+ d7 11.e5 ef6 12.xg4
22.f4 exf4 23.xf4 g4-+ 24.d6 0-0 xg4 13.f3 ( 13.0-0 c6 14.e2 gf6 )
0-1 13...c6 14.e2 e5 ]
9...0-0-0 10.c4 e6 11.d4!?
Already enormous complications fill the board.
432 B02 B l a c k h a s t o m a k e a j u d g e m e n t : g6
Schmaltz,Roland 2525 And he ducks the main issue. Probably it was
Gikas,Basilius 2270 impossible to calculate everything and he
Bundesliga 2002 intuitively rejects lines where his Knight ends
[Andrew Martin] up on h1. They do look good for White:
[ 11...xf3 12.gxf3 d3+ ( 12...xf3+
1.e4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.e5 e4 A line which 13.xf3 g5+ 14.e3 f3+ 15.d1
doesn't crop up very often but which I think is xd4 16.xd4 b6 17.c2 xd4
very playable for Black. Not however the way 18.d2+- ) 13.xd3 g3+ 14.e3 xh1
Gikas plays it here! 4.ce2 15.g2 g6 16.f1 ]
[ 4.d4 Less critical. Black obtains [ 11...d3+ 12.xd3 g3+ 13.e3 xh1
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
14.xa7+ b8 15.xe6 xe6 16.b5 c6 dxe5 19.bxc6 xc6 20.b3 b6 21.xf7
17.f4+ ] f8 22.g6 f6 23.xe5 xg6 24.xg6
12.d5 But so does this! f5 13.bd4+- e5 e8 25.0-0 xd4 26.fe1 e5 27.g4
14.xe5 xe2 15.xg6 xf1 16.xh8 c7 28.c3 xc3 29.xc3 d5 30.c4
xc4 17.xf7 xd5 18.e6 f5 19.xf8 b6 31.c5 e4 32.f5 d7 33.xd7
A Knight hurricane has left Black's position xd7 34.d1+ c7 35.e5 e6 36.c4
devastated. xf2 20.g1 xf7 21.g4 d3+ d8 37.c1 d5 38.xd5 xd5 39.e3+
22.e2 I think the best chance for 3...Ne4 is c6 40.f1 e5 41.g4 a5 42.c2
to follow it up with 4..f6. Both 4...Nc5 and 4.. . d7 43.xh6 d5 44.g4 e6 45.b2
d4 seem dubious. xa2 46.b4 b5 47.e3 c6 48.g3 a5
1-0 49.b1 b4 50.h4 gxh4 51.gxh4 b5+
52.g2 d3 53.b3 a1 54.h5 e2
55.h6 f3+ 56.g3 f6 57.d5+ g6
433 B02 58.xb4 axb4 59.xb4 xh6 60.b5
Sevillano,Enrico 2485 g1+ 61.f4 g4+ 62.e3 g5 63.b6+
Bego,Nick g6 64.b5 f6 65.e5 g6 66.c5 f5
North American Open (1) 2002 67.c6+ g5 68.c8 g4 69.d8 h3
[Andrew Martin] 70.h8+ g2 71.g8+ f1 72.c8 d5
73.c1+ g2 74.c3 d1 75.c2 e1+
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.c4 b6 4.c5 76.f4 f1 77.e3 d1 78.b2 d3+
A question of taste this, I think. Perhaps there 79.f4 f1 80.a2 e1 81.g3 d2
are so many good lines against the Alekhine 82.a1+ e2 83.a4 b2 84.a3 c2
that the Chase Variation has been sent to the 85.e3+ d2 86.b3 c3 87.b2+ c1
back of the queue. Or and this is more likely, 88.a2 d1+ 89.f4 c2 90.a4 d2
in t h e ru s h t o f o llo w t h e gre a t a n d go o d 0-1 Lupi,P-Malbran,G/Buenos Aires 2002)
playing 4 Nf3 this aggressive little line has 7...cxd5 8.xd5 e6 9.xe6 xe6 10.cxd6
been forgotten. d5 5.c4 c6 6.c3 e6 g5 11.f3 xg2 12.g1 h3 13.g3
Played correctly this is a perfectly adequate f5 14.d4 d7 15.e3 e4 16.c1 g6
response. Black can attack the centre with ... 17.d2 h1+ 18.f1 d5 19.c7 g7
b7-b6 20.h4 f6 21.f4 0-0 22.b3 a5+ 23.d2
[ 6...xc3 7.dxc3 b6 ( 7...d5 8.cxd6 exd6 xd2+ 24.xd2 xb3 25.xb3 fxe5
9.exd6 xd6 10.f3 g4 11.e2+ e7 26.fxe5 xe5 27.xg7+ xg7 28.dxe5
12.e3 0-0 13.h3 h5 14.0-0-0 b5 ad8 29.e3 b6 30.d4 fe8 31.e2 h5
15.d3 d7 16.d2 c5 17.he1 xf3 32.d3 g5 33.e4 g4 34.d5
18.gxf3 e5 19.b1 c4 20.c2 f5 1-0 Mlensky,D-Svoboda,J/Znojmo 2002 ]
21.xc5 xc5 22.d7 fe8 23.ed1 g6 [ 6...a5 7.f3 ( 7.xd5 cxd5 8.d4 b6
24.a3 e5 25.a2+ h8 26.c7 b6 9.d2 bxc5 10.xd5 d8 11.dxc5 e6
27.dd7 xd7 28.xd7 e1+ 29.d1 12.f4 c6 13.f3 xc5 14.0-0 0-0
ae8 30.d2 xd1+ 31.xd1 xf2 15.c1 e7 16.a4 a5 17.e3 b8
0-1 Miele,R-Loviscek,M/Nova Gorica 2002) 18.d3 b4 19.xb4 xb4 20.c2 b7
8.g5 c7 9.cxb6 xe5+ 10.e3 axb6 21.d4 d5 22.b3 a8 23.f3 a4 24.fd1
11.f3 c7 12.g5 d5 13.xd5 e6 axb3 25.axb3 b8 26.f5 exf5 27.xd5
14.e4 g6 15.f3 g7 16.xb6 b7 xb3 28.c5 c8 29.d1 xc5 30.dxc5
17.c5 f5 18.d1 h6 19.xf5 d7 xc5+ 31.xc5 b1 32.c1 b6+ 33.f1
20.xg6+ d8 21.xe6+ c8 22.xg7 b5+ 34.g1 c5+ 35.xc5 xd1+
xa2 23.0-0 1-0 Watharow,S-Brockman,R/ 36.f2 g5 37.a5 d2+ 38.g3 g7
Melbourne 2002 ] 39.h4 h6 40.hxg5 hxg5 41.a3 d5 42.f4
[ 6...d6 7.xd5 ( 7.b3 d7 8.xd5 f6 43.a7 fxe5 44.fxe5 f7 45.f3 e6
xc5 9.c7+ d7 10.e3 xc7 11.d4 46.g4 f4 47.a6+ xe5 48.g6 d4
e6 12.e2 d7 13.f3 d5 14.d2 h6 49.f6 d6 0-1 Acosta,P-Bulcourf, C/Buenos
15.c1 g5 16.h3 g7 17.b4 b8 18.b5 Aires 2002) 7...xc5 8.b3 d6 9.ge2
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19.e4 c7 20.f3 b8 21.b3 f5 [ 5.dxc3 is considered the main line. ]
22.xf4 White's bit better structurally, 5...d5
although he will have to shift the Nf5 before [ 5...d6 6.b5+ d7
he can claim any real advantage. Quite rightly, A) 7.xd7+ xd7 is equal ( 7...xd7?!
Black continues his aggression. a5 23.ab1 allows the tricky 8.e6 when fxe6 9.g5
[ Overprotection with 23.ae1 was called for. e5 10.g4 is good news for White. );
W ith the Black King still in the centre B) 7.c4 e6 8.0-0 dxe5 9.xe5 c6
opening lines on the queenside with a4?! 10.h5 xe5 ( 10...g6 11.e2 g7
would be inappropriate: 24.bxa4! b2 12.f4 is roughly equal) 11.xe5 f6
25.b1 xa2 26.a1 b2 27.a5 d7 12.c7 b6 13.a4 d8 14.g3
28.a6 b6 29.a3 ] with equality, Kabisch,T-Kunin,V/
23...g8 24.e4 c8 25.h2 g6 26.g4 Schwabisch Gmund 2002. ]
He found away to distract Black's Knight. h6 6.d4
27.xh6 xh6 28.f4 h5 29.be1 f5! [ 6.exd6
30.f3 h7 31.a3 b8 32.b1 d7 33.f4 A) 6...xd6 7.d4 cxd4 8.cxd4 g4
g7 34.h1 g5 35.h2 f4! Very good! 9.b1 c7 ( 9...xf3? 10.xf3 c6
W hite has to survive a strong attack now. 11.c4 with excellent play) 10.h3 xf3
36.fe1 f8 37.b4 f3 11.xf3 c6 12.d5 ( 12.c3 is the calm
[ 37...cxb4 38.axb4 axb4 39.xb4 f3 a p p r o a c h o f f e r i n g W h i t e a n e d g e)
a ls o s e e m s p r e t t y st ro n g, b u t B la ck i s 12...d4 ( 12...e5+! is the right reply
probably to correct not to touch the when 13.e3 c3+ 14.d2 e5+
queenside whilst he is operating on the leads to a draw) 13.b5+ xb5 14.xb5
other flank: 40.g1 ( 40.c5 e3! 41.gxf3 xc2 15.0-0 one can already see the root
xf3 42.xe3 dxe3 43.g4 xg4 44.hxg4 of Black's problem because the queen is
d8 45.b2 A move which hints that a the only piece on active duty c7 16.d6
capture on b4 earlier might be wrong. h3+ xd6 17.xb7 c8 18.a3 f6 19.g4
46.g2 g3+ 47.h2 xg4 48.xe3 e6 and Black did not wait for the queen
g5 ) 40...c5 41.b2 gg8 42.gxf3 xf3 check forcing mate,1-0 Zaitsev,I-Maljutin,E/
43.g4 c6 44.g2 a8!! 45.h2 f4+ Moscow 1996.;
46.g1 a1+ ] B) 6...e6 7.d4 ( 7.b5+ d7 8.a4 xd6
38.e4 f4! 39.xf4 xg2 40.e4?? 9.0-0 0-0 10.d4 c7 11.a3 d8
[ 40.xf8 xh2+ 41.xh2 xe5+ 42.h1 12.e2 xb5 13.axb5 d7 14.fd1
e2 43.bxc5! was forced and may lead to a with equal chances, Brnas,A-Kovacevic,V/
draw: e7 44.f4 xf2 45.b7+ e8 Pula 1996.) 7...xd6 8.d3 c6 9.0-0
46.b8+ e7= ] c7 10.e2 h6 11.d2 d7 12.a4 c8
40...xh2+ An uneven game, but Black 13.d5 e7 14.c4 ( 14.dxe6 xe6
players might like to take a closer look at 2... 15.fb1 is about equal despite White's
Nf6 doubled c-pawns) 14...exd5 15.cxd5?
0-1 whoops, White is obviously not expecting
to have a piece trapped in the opening c4
0-1 Gromer,R-Bogdanovich,G/
435 B02 Untergrombach 1999. ]
Staeger,Pascal 2100 6...c6 7.f4 g4 The position resembles
Murey,Jacob 2490 an Advanced French which can arise after 1
Metz (5) 2003 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 c5 4 c3 Nc6 5 Nf3. The
[Gary Lane] crucial difference is that in the French the
light-squared bishop is locked out of the game
1.e4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.e5 d5 4.c3 xc3 due to the e6 pawn, but here it does a good
5.bxc3 The idea is to build up a central pawn job undermining the defence of the d4 pawn.
formation with d2-d4. Admittedly, this line is a 8.e2 e6 9.0-0 e7 The grandmaster is
bit unusual in tournament play. wise just to complete his development before
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
trying to bite chunks out of W hite's pawns. central pawns W hite obtains a space
10.d2 0-0 11.e3 c8 12.ab1 b6 advantage. The main expert in this line is the
Safety first . If given time Black will play a Russian GM Evgeny Sveshnikov who
timely ...f7-f6 to break the extended pawn invariably plays it against the Alekhine's. d5
chain. 13.e1 xe2!? 5.c3 c6
[ Perhaps Murey is playing quick as usual but [ 5...xc3 is not good, as it helps White's
I suspect he could have made more of an d e v e l o p m e n t : 6.dxc3! d6 ( 6...e6?!
impression with 13...cxd4 14.cxd4 b4! is even worse, after 7.g4! c6 8.f3 b6
when the initiative is with Black. For 9.g5 e7 10.c6! dxc6 11.d1 d7
instance: 15.d1 xe2 16.xe2 c3 12.a6 Black is in trouble, Utiatsky - Bagirov,
17.d3?! ( 17.f3 f6 is slightly better for 1971 ) 7.cxd6 exd6 8.c4 e7 9.f4 dxe5
Black ) 17...b4 with the advantage. ] 10.xe5 0-0 11.xd8 xd8 12.f3
14.xe2 d7 15.f4 cxd4 16.cxd4 b4 with an obvious advantage for White. ]
17.a3 a2 It seems a strange place to put 6.c4
the knight but it will soon return to the centre [ L a t e r S v e s h n i k o v s w i t c h e d t o 6.d4
via c3. I think Black's edge is based on his a n d wa s s u cce ssf u l in so m e ga m e s . A
superior queenside pawn structure. 18.b3 recent example: d6 7.cxd6 exd6 8.f3
c3 19.g4 e4 20.f3 f5! e7 9.c4 c7 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1 d5
A nice intervention before Staeger can make a 12.d3 e6 13.c2 g6 14.h6 e8
serious attempt at attacking the king. 21.exf6 15.g3 b6 16.h4 with a strong kingside
[ 21.h5 e8 22.xe8 fxe8 gives Black attack in Sveshnikov - Stavrinovs, Latvia,
a very promising ending ] 1994. ]
21...xf6 22.h3 a4 Now that Murey feels 6...d6 7.b3 White has to play this move, if
his kingside is adequately protected he is free he wants to fight for the advantage.
to wreck havoc with the queen on the other [ After 7.xd5 cxd5 8.xd5 e6! 9.f3
s i d e o f t h e b o a r d . 23.h5 No prizes for dxe5! 10.b4 e4! Black is already better. ]
guessing the threat! h6 24.d1 One could 7...d7
argue this is a bit like resignation because the [ 7...dxe5 seems to be somewhat dubious,
attack has obviously failed. A rearguard action although in Sveshnikov - Palatnik, USSR,
is the right policy and against a lesser player 1974 Black managed to maintain the
White might have even sneaked a draw out of balance after 8.xd5 cxd5 9.xd5 e6
the position. Jacob Murey is just too good! 10.xb7 xb7 11.xb7 d5! 12.c8+
c4 25.f3 b5 26.f1 a6 27.d3 ff8 e7 13.c7+ f6 14.d4 c6 15.f3
28.c1 c3 The threat is ...Ne2+ followed by xd4 16.g5+ g6 17.xe5+ xg5
...Nxc1. 29.f2 f6 30.e3 xd3 31.xd3 18.0-0 xc5 19.f4+ h6 20.xf7+ h5
d1 Abandon the board is my advice to 21.b7 e7 22.xh8 ( 22.b4!? xb4
White. 32.c5 xe3 33.xe6 23.g4+ is a very interesting attempt to
[ 33.xe3 xd4 wins. ] continue the attack ) 22...xh8 ]
33...g4 8.xd5 cxd5?!
0-1 [ In Sveshnikov - Neckar, Bern 1992 Black
t r i e d t h e v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g 8...xc5!?
T h e g a m e c o n t i n u e d : 9.c7+ xc7
436 B02 ( In my opinion, even 9...d7!? 10.e3
Sveshnikov,Evgeny xc7 is possible, and White has to prove he
Knezevic,M has enough for a pawn.) 10.xf7+ d8
Dubna 1979 11.e3 d5 12.d4 e6 13.f3 g6
[Alexander Volzhin] and now according to Sveshnikov, W hite
s h o u l d p l a y 14.h4! g7 15.h5 xh5
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.c4 b6 4.c5 16.xh5 gxh5 17.e6! with excellent
This is one of the sharpest attempts to prospects. ]
"refute" Alekhine's Defence. Advancing his 9.xd5 e6 10.xe6! This piece sacrifice is
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
the only way to fight for an opening advantage. pawn chain and intends Ba6 (not obligatory).
After the bishop's retreat Black has an 8.g4! White's play is consistent: pursuing
e x c e l l e n t g a m e . fxe6 11.xe6+ e7 the initiative at any cost. Now very interesting
12.xe7+ xe7 13.cxd6+ f7 14.d4 complications arise. bxc5 9.g5 e7
Let's consider this position. W hite has four 10.xe7 xe7 11.xg7 f8 12.f3 cxd4
pawns for the sacrificed bishop, but black 13.e2
dominates on the light squares. In my opinion [ By playing 13.g5? a3! 14.e4 b7
white is better, but he should play actively, 15.f6+ e7 White achieves nothing on
otherwise black will obtain a comfortable t h e k i n gs i d e , wh i l e h is q u e e n s i d e h a s
blockade. b6 15.f4 g6 16.f3 h6 already been destroyed. ]
[ 16...g7 17.g5+ with e6 to follow. Black 13...f5!
can't let white's pawns move! ] [ 13...f6 14.h6 ]
[ and after 16...h6 17.0-0 the bishop on f8 14.h6 g8 15.0-0 b7
definitely can't be happy! ] [ 15...dxc3 16.e3 ]
17.f5! 16.cxd4 d5 It's not easy to evaluate this
[ Black hoped for 17.0-0 f5 with a good position correctly. Black's King is slightly
position after Rfc8, Ke6 etc. So white breaks exposed, on the other hand White's king is
in the centre. ] hardly safe, as Black has pressure on the g-
17...xc1 18.e6+ xe6 19.fxe6+ xe6 file and the a8-h1 diagonal. So both players
20.xc1 After the complications white has a have chances in my opinion the position is
safe extra pawn and should win this prosaic balanced. 17.fd1 c6 18.e1 b8
endgame ac8 21.0-0 19.ab1 b6
[ 21.f2 may be more precise ] [ G r a b b i n g a p a w n i s s u i c i d e : 19...xb1
21...xc1 22.xc1 xd6 23.h4 e8 24.f2 20.xb1 xa2 21.b7 d8 22.b5 ]
d5 25.e1 f8 26.g3 f4 27.e5 e6 20.a4 d8 21.d2 a3 22.h6 e7
28.a5 a6 29.a3 d5 30.a5+ d6 23.b5?!
31.b4 c7 32.d5 f4 33.g5 h6 34.c5+ [ 23.d2 ]
d7 35.f3 d6 36.d2 xd5 37.c4+ 23...g7
e6 38.b5 axb5 39.xb5 b8 40.a4 c3 [ Maybe 23...b3 was even better: 24.d2
41.b6+ d5 42.e3+ e4 43.g4 h5 xa4 25.xb6 axb6 26.e3 b4
44.f6+ f5 45.d7 e4+ 46.f3 a8 and in my opinion, white's compensation for
47.b4 c3 48.c4 d8 49.c5 b6 the pawn is insufficient. ]
50.xc3 bxc5 51.xc5+ f6 52.c3 d4 24.h3 e7 25.db1 c6 26.xb6 axb6
53.a3 xh4 54.a5 d4 55.a6 d8 56.a7 27.a5 d5 28.f3 g5 29.g3 c3 30.a1
a8 57.f4 g5+ 58.e4 e8+ 59.f3 a8 e4 31.xh7 bxa5 32.b1?! Ever the
60.a5 g6 61.a3 f5 62.a6 e5 optimist, GM Sveshnikov overestimates his
63.a5+ f6 64.e4 e8+ 65.d4 a8 chances. He should take a draw by playing
66.c5 f5 67.b6+ f4 68.b7 xa7+ [ 32.xa5 g7 33.h8+ g8 34.h7
69.xa7 h4 70.b6 g4 71.a3 with unavoidable repetition of moves. ]
1-0 32...c8 33.e2 b7 34.h3? This time
trouble blunder loses at once, but Black is
already better anyway. c3 35.xb7 xe2+
437 B02 36.f1 xb7 37.g2+ c6 38.xe2 g4+
Sveshnikov,Evgeny 2575 39.f3 e4+ 40.d2 d5 41.h1 a2+
Solozhenkin,Evgeniy 2535 42.e3 b3+ 43.e2 b2+ 44.d3 a4
Russia 1998 45.d1 a3 46.c2 b5+ 47.c3 a8
[Alexander Volzhin] 48.a2 d5 49.b1+ c7 50.d2 a2
0-1
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.c4 b6 4.c5 d5
5.c3 e6 6.d4 xc3 7.bxc3 b6!
Black immediately undermines the W hite
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[ Of course, the bishop is taboo: 27.xd5 c2 9.c4 Setting up a favourable pawn structure in
28.xb7+ xb7 29.xc6+ b6! which Black is denied space in either the
and Black wins! ] centre or the queenside. b6 10.b3 f5
27...e6 28.g5 b4? It's a pity, this move 11.c3 d4 12.e2 d7?! The start of an
spoils a fantastic game! o d d -l o o k in g m a n o e u vr e b y B l a c k . I n m y
[ After the correct 28...a5! 29.e2 c4 opinion he should try to do something about
30.g4 b6 31.xb8+ xb8 black is better, his badly placed knight on b6. 13.h3 e8
although in my opinion a draw is the most 14.g4 g6 15.g3 h4 16.gxf5 xf5
likely outcome. ] 17.xf5 xf5 18.xh4 xh4 19.g4!
29.e2 b5 30.xe6+! Probably E. Kengis Effectively a winning move. White is better on
missed this blow. c8 31.xd5 xd5 both flanks and his bishops exert tremendous
32.f5 d7? pressure. e7 20.e4 f7 21.d2 af8
[ 32...b7 still led to a draw 33.e4 c6 22.a3 d7 23.g2 b8 24.b4! h8 25.f5
34.d4+ c5 and White can't take the c8 26.fxe6 xe6 27.xf7 xf7 28.f1
pawn: 35.xb5? c2 36.d2 b4 ] e7 29.e6
33.d4+ d6 34.xb5+ c5 35.a3 b4 1-0
36.b1! d6 37.g3 a6 38.f4 c7 39.f3
d4 40.c2+ xc2 41.xc2 The endgame
is easily won: White wins a bishop for the g-& 442 B03
h-pawns, and wins the game, as a8 is the Adams,Michael 2731
same colour as W hite's Bishop. So Black Santo Roman,Marc 2403
resigned. This is one the of most fantastic TCh-Nat1 Final (9) 09.05.2004
games I've ever seen. [Andrew Martin]
1-0
EFFORTLESS 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6
4.c4 b6 5.exd6 cxd6 It is hard criticize
441 B02 Black's choice at this early stage although
Zaichik,Gennadi recent results have been very bad with 5...
Dreev,Alexey cxd6. the precise problem is the Voronezh
Lvov 1987 variation, which Adams is about to use. The
[Nigel Davies] top players bore in on any weakness
remorselessly. That is why at the very top we
2...d5 may be the move which is most in the are reduced to a boring diet of Sveshnikov's,
spirit of the Alekhine, but it gives White a lot Najdorf's, the occasional Caro-Kann and 1...
of space on the kingside. As someone who e5. Anything else in this ChessBase era is
has played 1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.Nf3 e4 as Black, considered inferior. Sometimes I am gad that I
this is something I'd like to play for White. 1.e4 am not on that level-I can still enjoy chess!
f6 2.d3 d5 3.e5 6.c3 g6 7.e3 g7 8.c1 0-0! 9.b3
[ 3.d2 c5 4.gf3 c6 5.g3 e5 The essence of White's plan is contained in
does not give W hite much hope of an this simple move. The Knight on b6 is
a d va n t a ge . ( 5...g6 and; 5...e6 are both rendered ineffectual and the time Black uses
main lines of the King's Indian Attack )] to regroup it will be more usefully spent by
3...fd7 4.f4 e6 White. It's hard to believe that Black can be
[ 4...c5 5.f3 c6 6.g3 ( 6.c3 b6 7.h3 that much worse with W hite's kingside
f6 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 f5 10.c3 e6 development so retarded but no good way of
11.e2 fxe5 12.fxe5 Efimov - Bagirov, opening up the game has been found just yet
Sevastopol 1986) 6...b6 7.g2 g4 8.h3 at least, not at Adams' level. e5 10.dxe5
xf3 9.xf3 e6 10.c3 c7 11.0-0 0-0-0 dxe5 11.xd8 xd8 12.c5 6d7 13.f3
12.a3 was quite promising for White in c6 14.c4 All well-known. White has a
Strikovic - Laketic, Yugoslav Team ch 1997 ] use f ul que e n sid e p a wn m a jo rity a nd t h e
5.f3 c5 6.g3 c6 7.g2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 easier development. He is solidly better. h6
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the position seems about equal here after d7 32.f4 f6 33.a5! c5 34.c6+ f7
d7 10.a3 c6 11.c2 xf3! 12.gxf3 35.c2 White has done a lot of the hard work
a6 13.f4 and White's bad pawn structure here and is a safe pawn up but Black hangs
is counter-balanced by chances for play on in there and makes it very tough from here.
the kingside. If I had to choose I would a8 36.d8+ e7 37.c6+ f7 38.f2
rather be White here. ] 7a6 39.d8?!
9...xf3 [ 39.c3 c8 ( 39...f5 40.a4 ) 40.exf6!
[ 9...c4! seems more accurate here - Black was the way to play it - after xf6 41.e5+
has slightly the easier game after 10.xd3 g7 42.d6 the win should not be too
( or 10.d1 8d7 11.f4?! c5 difficult. ]
and Black is clearly better) 10...cxd3 11.f3 39...xd8 40.xd8+ e8 41.c6 g5?!
d7 ( or 11...c6 12.e3 d7 ) 12.0-0 [ 41...f5! and it's not so easy for White to
c6 13.d1 xf3 14.gxf3 c6 15.f4 0-0-0 breakthrough here as there's no way for his
and it's not easy for White to round up the king to enter the Black camp and h4 always
pawn on d3, meanwhile Black can consider going to be vulnerable. ]
a ...g5 break on the kingside. ] 42.hxg5 fxg5 43.fxg5 h4 44.xh4
10.xf3 d7 11.f4 a5 12.a3 c6 It should be winning again here but I guess
13.0-0-0 a6 A roughly level middlegame time-trouble caused problems at this point!
has been reached and we enter a period of d7 45.g6 A nice idea but it's unnecessarily
manoeuvring. 14.d2 a4 complicated
[ Giri rightly rejects the pawn grab [ 45.d4 xe5 46.c3 b8 47.f2 c6
14...xg2?! as after 15.ac4 xc4 48.g6 should be winning, although the pin
16.a4+! c6 17.xc6+ bxc6 18.xc4 on d4 makes it very tricky. ]
Black's queenside pawns are in such a 45...xc6 46.f6 h6 47.g7 xg7
mess that it's White that should be looking to 48.xg7 b4 49.g6 b6 50.a3 c6
win this endgame. ] 51.c3 a4+ 52.c2?
15.c2 d5 16.g3 h5 17.h4 g6?! [ 52.b3 should be winning after c5+
[ 17...b5! was a better option, both gaining 53.c2 a4 54.e8 ]
space on the queenside and preventing the 52...c5 Now Black has setup a blockade that
knight on a3 entering the game via c4. If ca n 't b e b ro ke n 53.d3 b2+ 54.e4
18.c4 then bxc4 19.axc4 db4 20.b1 xc4 55.f8+ b6 56.d6 xd6+
xg2 21.hg1 d5 ] 57.exd6 c5 58.d7 d6 59.e8 c7
18.e4 h6+ 19.b1 e7 20.c4 ac7 60.a4 An interesting game. Bc4 & Qh5
21.xc5 Amin has won a pawn but the definitely cause problems but Black managed
position remains murky and Giri does his best to equalised here before going wrong and
to increase the complications a3! 22.d6 having to pull off a good save for the draw.
axb2 23.xb2 b6 24.b3 ½-½
[ 24.f3 allows cd5 and with the knight
coming into e3 Black has excellent play
here. ] 445 B03
[ 24.e4 is one way to try and hang on to Andresen,Tarald
the e xt ra pa wn b ut Black ca n get goo d Gilmore,Alan
counterplay with a4+! 25.xa4 xa4 ] NAtlantic tt4 B08 corr9599 20.12.1995
24...xg2 25.hg1 d5 26.c4 c6 27.d4 [John Watson]
ad8 28.gd1 Black may have regained the
pawn but White has complete control over the 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
centre and b7 is weak. g7 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6
[ 28...b8 leaves Black very passive but 9.f3 e7 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 f6 12.exf6
th ere 's n o c lea r way th ro u gh f o r W hit e xf6 13.d2 e7 14.ad1 ad8 15.c1
here. ] e5 16.d5 d4 17.xd4
29.dxb7 xd4 30.xd4 xb7 31.xb7 [ The alternative to 17.xd4 , which we saw
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White fails to get an advantage in the game 15.e2 f5 16.f3 c8 17.a3 f6 18.f2
perhaps this is White's best. c6 11.d5 h4 19.g3 g5 20.c2 c7 21.b4
( 11.f3 d5 12.c5 c8 13.0-0 transposes and White's play on the queenside gave
back to the game ) him a definite edge in Baklan, V (2647) -
A) 11...b4 and now White can be Nakamura, H (2670) Marseille 2008 ]
slightly better in a couple of ways: 12.d2 11.c5 c8
( 12.a3! seems to lead to a very pleasant [ 11...6d7 hasn't been played here but it's
position for White after a6 13.f3 c5 not completely silly, although after 12.xd5
14.d4 d7 15.0-0 and White is ready to c6 13.c4 e4 14.0-0 xf3 White can
play b4 with control of the centre and the give the pawn back with a good position
q u e e n s i d e .) 12...e5 13.dxe6 xe6 after 15.xf3! e6 16.c3 xd4 17.xd4
14.f3 c6 15.d4 d5 16.c5 c8 xd4 18.fd1 xc3 ( 18...xc5? 19.xb7
17.0-0 and White was a little better in l o s e s a p i e c e) 19.xc3 c7 20.b4
Pit ch e r, J (2 2 0 5)-P ola cze k, R (23 7 7 ) and White can play for a win at no risk. ]
Hinkley Island 2012 although Black later 12.e2 c6 13.0-0 g4! This definitely
went on to win.; Black's best option and it's not at all clear how
B) 11...e5 is Black's best option White gets an advantage in this position.
although I still like White's position after [ 13...e6 14.h3! leaves the bishop on f5
12.f4 ( 12.g4!? c8 13.f4 ed7 14.f3 rather short on squares and White is at least
isn't completely ridiculous but then again a little better after h5 15.d2 ]
there's no real reason why White should 14.b4! Other moves get White nothing
weaken his kingside like this.) 12...ed7 [ 14.h3 xf3 15.xf3 e6 and Black will be
13.f3 c5 14.0-0 bd7 15.d4 f6?! fine after ...N8e7 and ...Nf5 ]
( 15...e4! 16.xe4 xe4 17.f3 xf3 [ 14.e5!? is tricky but ultimately Black
18.xf3 a6 and Black is only slightly equalises after xe2! 15.xc6 ( 15.xe2
worse. ) 16.xf5 gxf5 17.c2 d7 e6 ) 15...bxc6 16.xe2 e6 17.d3 e7 ]
18.f3 fc8 19.b4! a6 20.b3 14...a6 15.e5 After this I'm sure Black is fine
and White was clearly better in Gavrilov, A but other moves do not promise White much
(2496)-Chetverik, M (2272) St Petersburg either
2012 ] [ 15.b1 e6 16.a4 xf3 ( 16...8e7!
10...d5 also seems to be fine here, for example
[ 10...g4 is played more often here. Black 17.b5 axb5 18.axb5 a5 19.d2 xe2
may have 'wasted' a tempo but White does 20.xe2 f5 and I see no reason why
not normally allow his knight to get pinned Black should be worse here, especially with
in this line so I guess it's a fair swap! 11.e2 ...e5 coming in the near future.) 17.xf3
e6 12.d5?! This has been played a couple 8e7 18.b5
of times but it seems to be a mistake ( 12.h3 A) 18...axb5 19.axb5 a5 20.e2 f5
seems logical here, forcing Black to take on 21.d2 e5 22.a4?! and now in Hou
f 3 but af te r xf3 13.xf3 c6 14.0-0 Yifan (2578)-Le Kieu Thien Kim (2291)
W hite is now threatening to play d5 and Beijing 2008 Black missed a big chance to
after d5 15.cxd5 exd5 16.e1 White has play ( 22.g5 f6 23.e3 is about equal)
a very pleasant position. The plan is 22...c4! 23.xc4 dxc4 24.g5 c3!
something like Qd2, Ne2 and then Bf4 or 25.c1 ( or 25.xc3 f6 and White loses
Bh6 to swap of Black's bishop on g7. ) h is b ish o p) 25...xd4 26.xc3 xc5
A) 12...exd5! 13.cxd5 ( or 13.xd5 c6 and Black has a safe extra pawn;
14.0-0 xd5 15.cxd5 e7 ) 13...8d7 B) 18...a5 19.g5 h6 20.xe7 xe7
14.0-0 c8 and Black has equalised, for 21.d3 fd8 and Black had at least
example 15.d4 xf3! 16.xf3 h4 equalised in Narayanan, S (2229) -
17.xg7 xg7 and Black has absolutely Nakamura, H (2651) Catalan Bay 2007 ]
no problems here.; [ 15.a4 is my computer's suggestion, with
B) 12...e5?! 13.0-0 xf3 14.xf3 a6 the possible threat of b5 and indeed White
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
away the pawn and goes on to win easily: [ 18...xg5 19.xg5++- h8 20.f6+ g8
g5 13.f3 xe3 14.fxe3 e7 15.e4 21.gxf5 xf5 ( 21...c8 22.g3 ) 22.xd8
b5 16.xb5 e6 17.d5 g6 18.0-0 axd8 23.xf5+- ]
e7 19.c6 g4 20.c5 c8 21.e5 19.xf6 xf6 20.gxf5 xd4 21.fxe6 f3+
g5 22.xg4 xg4 23.f2 1-0 Pilgaard, 22.xf3 xf3 23.f1 h4 24.exf7+ h8
K-Szieberth, A/FSGM September, 25.fxe8+ xe8 26.g5 White changed
Budapest HUN 2003 ] gea r half way th ro ugh a nd Black was lef t
8.ge2 c6 9.b3! One of the main ideas is gasping for air. I reckon the system with Bd3,
to reinf orce c4. 'A knight on b6 is always Nge2 and b3 is well worth playing. There are
badly placed' said Tarrasch. He would have chances of a clear strategical edge early on
been pleased with 9 b3! g4 One struggles to and the ideas just seem so easy to implement
find a better placement. 10.e3 and understand. Chigladze didn't do much
[ 10.f3? is less exact. h4+ ] wrong but he was blown away! Perhaps the
10...e8 11.d2 f6 12.0-0 d5 Szmetan method is the way to go for Black
[ 12...xe2 13.xe2 a5 14.ad1 d5 15.c5 but right now, to me, White has just posted a
d7 16.a3! f8 17.b4 axb4 18.axb4 serious threat to the Alekhine.
e6! This is probably the way to go. White 1-0
has an optical edge but as long as Black
keeps gnawing away at the White pawns he
should keep the balance. 19.f5 ( As 19.b5 449 B03
cxd4 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 xd4 Atalik,Suat 2551
22.xh7+ xh7 23.xd4 c6 is roughly De Firmian,Nick E 2551
equal, White plays for more.; 19.b2 a4!? Imre Mem San Francisco USA (1) 04.09.2002
20.xh7+! h8! 21.b1 xb4 22.a3 ) [Glenn Flear]
19...g6 20.xe6 xe6 21.a1 e7
A) 22.f4 ea6 ( 22...xa1 23.xa1 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
a6 24.b1 f5 25.b5 a4 26.e2 ) 5.f4 Not so fashionable these days but still
23.xa6 xa6 24.b5; one of the sharpest tries. W hite builds his
B) 22.g3 ea6 23.xa6 xa6 24.g5 centre so Black must react quickly not to be
xg5 25.xg5 c6 26.f4? Losing the swept off the board. dxe5 6.fxe5 f5 7.c3
plot. ( 26.d2 a4 27.b1 f6 e6 8.f3 c6 9.e3 g4!?
28.e2= ) 26...a4 27.b1 xb4 [ Mo re n o rm a l i s 9...e7 10.d5 exd5
28.xb4 xb4 29.h4 h5 30.f1 c6 11.cxd5 b4 ]
31.d2 e7 32.f3 d3 33.d2 e4 10.e2 xf3 11.gxf3 h4+ 12.f2 f4
34.a2 g7 35.d2 f4 36.b4 f5 13.c5 d5
37.e5 e4 38.f3 e2 39.d2 xd2 [ 13...d7 is the preferred line in ECO B (4th
40.xd2 e2+ 0-1 Real de Azua, E- edition 2002) but De Firmian repeats this
S z m e t a n , J / L X XV I I ch - A R G , T r e s d e move despit e ECO considering it t o b e
Febrero ARG 2003 ] dubious. ]
[ 12...b4 13.b1 d5 14.c5 ] 14.xd5 exd5 15.d2 xd2+ 16.xd2 g6
13.c5 c8 14.h3 e6 15.f4! If Black were 17.f4
left alone, he could get on with ...g6, ...Bg7, ... [ 17.e3 (avoiding ...Bh6 for the moment) is
N8e7-f5 and some slow counterplay, but a recommended by ECO as in Myers-Hagerty,
rapid advance of the Kingside pawns exposes USA 1981 as a clear advantage to White.
just how passive Black's position is. 8e7 Presumably De Firmian has something up
16.g4 g6 his sleeve. Something such as 17...Ne7 18
[ 16...h4 17.f5 d7 18.f6 ] Bd3 h5 or even 17... f6 should yield food
17.f5 gxf5 18.g5! Excellent, stripping out for thought! ]
the d ef en ders . g6 There is really nothing 17...h6 18.e3 e7 19.d3 f5 20.xf5
else. Black is lost already: gxf5 21.hg1 d7 22.g3 ag8 23.b4
[ 18...h8 19.gxf5 c8 20.h1 ] So far as in Timman-De Firmian, Malmo 1981.
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ The rook exchange doesn't help White [ Here Alexander Volzhin looked at 9.b3
either as the bishop and knight endgame in Brener-Pushkin which leads to sharp and
after 24.xe5 xe5 25.g3 d4 unclear play after a5! ]
is very nasty for White. ] [ Note that is too late for White to change his
24...d5! 25.e4 mind and lash out with 9.d5? as g4
[ 25.c3 is bad as well: d2 26.e2 xe2 is now simply good for Black. ]
27.xe2 xb2+ ] 9...c5! Logical and necessary. Black has to
25...e5 26.f2 f8! Winning the c5-pawn. c o u n t e r a t t a c k i m m e d i a t e l y . 10.dxc5
27.c6 Desperation but White's position is very There begins a long forcing variation. Black
bad anyway: has to sacrifice a couple of pawns to break
[ 27.e3 xc5 28.xc5 xc5+ 29.b1 White's stranglehold on the centre.
c4 is hopeless as well. ] Meanwhile White has to take the material on
27...xc6 28.xf8 xf8 The rest is just a offer or else his e5 point will crumble,
matter of technique. 29.c4 d4 30.c3 gu a ra n t e e in g B la c k a g o o d ga m e . 6d7!
xh4 31.xb3 a5 32.d3 h2 33.g3 11.cxd6 exd6 12.xd6 xe5! The point of
g7 34.e4 g6 35.b4 c6 36.c5 d4 Black's play. He gets one of his pawns back
37.g4 e5! 38.e4 xg2 39.xe5 xg5 and shatters the white kingside structure.
40.xg5+ xg5 41.xb7 g4 13.xd8
White resigned as the h-pawn march decides. [ Naturally 13.fxe5? xd6 14.exd6 xc3+
0-1 would be embarrassing for White. ]
13...xf3+ 14.gxf3 xd8
[ Black doesn't want to give up his dark
452 B03 squared bishop with 14...xc3+? 15.d2
Bologan,V 2654 xd2+ 16.xd2 ]
Khairallah,F 2307 15.c1 c6 16.e2 The dust has settled.
41st Olympiad Open 2014 (5.29) 06.08.2014 W hite is a pawn up but his doubled pawns
[Neil McDonald] and Black's activity greatly complicate matters.
White has tried other moves here but they all
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 seem dubious. For example
5.f4 g6!? It seems like this alternative to the [ 16.f2?! e7! heading for f5 to nab
mainline is alive and kicking. The theory would W hite's important dark squared bishop.
be developing faster if White played the Four 17.e2 f5 18.hd1 xd1 19.xd1 xe3
Pawns Attack more often. 6.c3 g7 7.e3 20.xe3 e8 21.d3 Stopa, J (2460)-
e6!? Black tries to cajole his opponent into 8. Narciso Dublan, M (2532)/Montcada 2011
d5, but here Bologan resists. and now d8+! looks strong for Black e.g.
[ Black could also delay this move with 22.e2 h6 23.e3 e8 24.e4 g7
7...0-0 8.f3 ( but 8.c5!? might throw a planning 25...f5. ]
spanner in the works- check out Tom [ 16.e4?! b4 17.c5 Grabher, H (2228)-
Rendle's comments to Moser-Fier in the Ager, J (2223)/ Austria 2002 and now simply
archives. ) 8...e6 when 9.b3 xa2 gets Black's pawn back with the
would transpose to the present game. ] initiative after 18.xe6 fxe6 19.d1 b4
8.f3 20.e2 c2+ etc. ]
[ T o m a n a l y s e d t h e u l t r a - s h a r p 8.d5 [ 16.b5?! b4 17.c7 ( 17.a3 d3+
in Moser-Fier. His conclusion is that White 18.xd3 xd3 when b3 drops.) 17...xa2
h a s s o m e a d va n t a g e . H o we ve r , i n t h e ( 17...xa2 with better chances for Black. )]
messy counterattacking positions that arise 16...d4!
this isn't going to upset Alekhine fans too [ Instead Black could grab the pawn back at
much. ] the cost of his dark squared bishop with
8...0-0 9.b3 A slow move, but if left in peace 16...b4 17.f2 ( White is being crushed
W hite will continue with Rc1, Be2 and 0-0 after 17.a3? d3+ 18.xd3 xd3 19.d2
maintaining a huge space advantage. e8 etc. ) 17...xc3 18.xc3 xa2
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
However, I think White might have a very pawn is terminally weak, he has no passed
slight plus after 19.d3 xd3 20.xd3 b4 pawn, his rook lack activity and his bishop is a
21.b1 f5 22.d1 f7 23.d6 etc. There p o o r p i e c e . 22.fd1 c8 23.d3 e3
is no reason for Black to play like this when 24.b1 d4
the game continuation gives him at least [ Simply 24...xf4 was very good for Black. ]
equal chances. ] 25.e4 c6 26.f5 Bologan is fighting back.
17.b5 This turns out poorly but Black has He sells the f-pawn as dearly as possible by
the initiative in all lines, for example doubling Black's pawns and circumscribing
[ 17.f2 f5 18.hd1 xe3 19.xe3 the activity of his light squared bishop. gxf5
xd1 20.xd1 e8 21.f2 f5 27.d5 c7 28.b4
intending 22...Bd4+. ] [ It was better to activate the rook on b1 with
[ Or 17.e4 a5!? 28.b2! This would also guard the second
A) 18.c5 f5 19.xb7 d7 20.c5 rank. ]
e8! 21.e4 ( Awful for White is 21.xd7 28...d4 29.xe6 fxe6 30.c5 xf3
xe3 ) 21...xe4 22.fxe4 xe4 23.xd4 Black should be winning thanks to his passed
xd4 White is trying to survive, not exploit pawns, but it won't be easy. 31.d8+ f7
his extra pawn.; 32.bd1 e5 33.h8 g7 34.e8 f7
B) 18.f2 a4 19.b4 xe2 20.xe2 b5! 35.h8 f6 36.f8+ f7 37.a4 f4 38.a5
21.cxb5 xa2 and the passed a-pawn, e5 39.b5! Bologan makes use of all his
supported by the two bishops, is more resources in a desperate position. In the end
dangerous than White's b-pawn. ] he is just saved by his passed pawn. xc5
17...f5 18.xa7 40.b6 e7 41.c8 d6 42.b1 f3 43.a6
[ White does best to grovel with 18.f2 h6 bxa6 44.b7 f4 45.c6 b8 46.c8 d6
19.g3 ] 47.c6 b8 48.c8 d6 A real scare for
18...xa7 Bologan against a player rated almost 350
[ Black would have a decisive initiative after Elo points below him. If you give the game to
18...f6! e.g. 19.a4? ( But Black's onslaught a computer it will point out various missed
is also unstoppable after 19.d1 h4+ opportunities for Black in the endgame, but
20.f2 xa2 21.xd8+ xd8 or; 19.b6 Khairallah deserves credit for making it such
xa2! 20.xd8 xd8 with 21...Bh4+ a hard fight.
looming. ) 19...xa7 20.xa7 h4+ 21.f1 ½-½
e3+ 22.g1 d2 23.f1 f2# ]
19.xa7 f6 20.0-0
[ The best chance for White to survive was 453 B03
20.d1! but it's no surprise that Bologan Bologan,Viktor 2684
didn't see this quiet move when his king is Rozentalis,Eduardas 2628
being hunted. Black would have the TOP 16 GpB Mulhouse (6) 01.05.2010
pleasant choice between forcing a draw by [Gawain Jones]
re p e t i t i o n o r p u rs u i n g h is a t t a c k . h4+
( T h e w i n n i n g a t t e m p t i s 20...h4 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
when White's king has to walk a tight rope: 5.f4 The Four Pawns Attack. In my view, the
21.e2 g2 22.c2 xf4+ 23.e3 h3 most critical test of the Alekhine. Both sides
24.hd1 g5+ 25.e2 e8 26.f1 f4 m u s t h a ve a t h o ro u gh kn o wle d ge o f t h e
and the assault continues.) 21.e2 d4+ intricacies of the variation or they can quickly
22.e3 f5+ 23.e2 ( but not 23.e4?? run into trouble. dxe5
d4+ 24.e5 f6+ 25.xe6 d6# mate! )] [ 5...g6 In my opinion this allows White a
20...d4+ 21.h1 xa7 White's king has good game. A recent game did nothing to
escaped the centre and nominally a rook and alter my belief, 6.c3 g7 7.e3 0-0
two pawns is ample material for two minor 8.c5! 6d7 9.h4 Ultra-aggressive!
pieces. But Black's bishops are very strong ( I've also looked at 9.c2 followed by
whereas all is gloomy in White's camp: his f4 castling long which looks strong for White. )
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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White a small edge but it's not much and f8 33.e3 b2 34.xd7+ f7 35.h6+
the presence of bishop vs knight would was a po we rf u lly pla ye d gam e b y th e
allow the stronger player more chances to Indian. 1-0 Das, S-Shivananda, B Delhi
outplay his opponent.) 16...e3 17.h3 2010. ]
c5 18.b5 cxd4 19.c7+! e7 20.e1 10.e2 xf3 11.gxf3 h4+ 12.f2 f4
g6 21.gxe6 xe6 22.xe6 h6 13.c5 d5 14.xd5 exd5 15.d2 xd2+
23.xd4 d8 24.f3 d1 25.e2 e3+ 16.xd2 So again we see this ending which
26.f1 b6 27.d2 xd2 28.xd2 seems rather important to the viability of the
xb2 29.c8 c7 30.xb7 xe5 31.h3 main line of the Four Pawns Attack. Recently
d1 32.e4 e3+ 33.f2 d4 34.f3 Black has come under pressure here as White
h6 35.c3 xc3 36.xe3 1/2-1/2 Farran can make good use of his bishop pair whilst
Martos, F-Narciso Dublan, M Sabadell p re p a r in g a qu e e n si d e p a wn st o rm . e7
2010, didn't give the GM playing Black Ro ze nt alis' ne w try. I n th e th re e arch ive
many winning chances. ] games Black has always tried
9...g4 [ 16...g6 but after 17.e3! he seems to be in
[ 9...e7 10.d5 Is the aforementioned some trouble. A couple of Grandmaster
critical line which received a recent outing. g a m e s i n 2 0 0 8 c o n f i r m e d t h i s : d7
exd5 11.cxd5 b4 12.d4 d7 ( 17...h5 18.b5 e7 19.g5+ e6
A) 13.e6 fxe6 14.dxe6 c6 20.c3 h4 21.h3 e7 22.f4 f5 23.e2
A1) 15.g4 has been looked at a b6 24.b4 a5 25.a3 e7 26.g4 xg5
couple of times in the archives, when 27.fxg5 e7 28.f3 hd8 29.hb1 a7
h4+ 16.g3 xh1 results in crazy 30.d3 b8 31.b5 bxc5 32.dxc5 a4
co mp lica tion s - see K linger-Hernd l. 33.b4 a5 34.ab1 d8 35.d1 c6
( Meanwhile 16...f6? is an error which 36.b6 xc5 37.xa4 b8 38.a7+ e6
White should have taken advantage of in 39.a4 xe5 40.a5 d4 41.a6 and the two
P o m m e r e t - P h i l i p p e , a f t e r 17.0-0-0! connected passed pawns on the sixth were
see the archives for John's analysis. ); simply too strong for the king of bullet chess.
A2) 15.xc6 xd1+ 16.xd1 c2+ Pavasovic, D-Nakamura, H Austria 2008.)
17.d2 xe3 18.xe3 bxc6 19.d3 18.f4 e7 19.g4+ f5 20.xf5+ gxf5
and W hite's advantage is somewhere 21.ag1 h6 22.g3 ag8 23.e2 g6
between small and non-existent. Froewis, 24.h3 f8 25.h5 e6 26.b4 h6
G-Schroll, G Vienna 2010.; 27.xh6+ xh6 28.g1 f8 29.b5 e7
B) 13.f3 c5 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.e2 30.g3 b6 31.h3 f6 32.f2 b8 33.a4
following Dominguez's example as we a6 34.c6 axb5 35.axb5 h8 36.h4 f7
have seen before. 0-0 16.0-0 4d5 37.xf6 xf6 38.exf6 xf6 39.e3 a8
17.f2 xc3 Deviating from previous 40.e5 a2+ 41.d3 xh2 42.xd5 g2
ChessPublishing analysis but not changing 43.d7 1-0 Howell, D-Ramirez, A Gaziantep
t h e v e r d i c t . ( 17...c7 18.g3 xc3 2008 saw the Englishman grinding out the
19.bxc3 c8 20.d3 was seen in full point. ]
Dominguez-Almeida when W hite had a 17.b5+ I like this intermezzo check forcing
pleasant position.) 18.bxc3 c5 19.f5 Black t o play ...c6 a f te r wh ich b4-b5 will
xf5 20.xf5 d2 21.f3 ad8 22.c4 become more powerful. Bologan's play looks
a4 23.ad1 b2 24.xd8 xd8 l i k e a n i m p r o ve m e n t a n d t h e p o s i t i o n a l
25.d1 ( 25.d3! looks strong, the idea maestro Rozentalis, who relishes this type of
being tha t xe5 26.e1 f6 27.c2 position as White, is unable to hold it as Black.
c3 28.xe7 gaining the bishop pair for [ The previous time this position was reached,
rook and pawn, a definite advantage.) White tried 17.d3 g6 18.h4 d7 19.f6
25...b6 26.e6!? fxe6 27.e4 f6 g8 20.f4 f5 21.xf5+ gxf5 22.ag1
28.c2 g6 29.xe6+ g7 30.e3 d7? the same position as Howell-Ramirez except
A blunder but the position was already the bishop is placed on f6 rather than e3
extremely difficult. 31.g5! d4+ 32.h1 which strangely gives Black better chances
457
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
for the draw as he can exchange bishops e6 41.b4 is a textbook position which
whenever he wants. e7 23.xe7 xe7 looks difficult for Black but perhaps he can
24.g3 g6 25.e3 ag8 26.f3 hold the draw.;
and W hite eventually ground out the full B) 35...h7 36.g5 and White can start
p o i n t i n A b e r g e l , T - R i s , R H o o g e ve e n mopping up pawns. ]
2007. ] 30.c6! axb5 31.1h6+ xh6 32.xh6+
17...c6 18.d3 g6 19.b4 h6+ 20.c3 Thus White has sacrificed the exchange and a
d7 21.b5 Bologan's play is hardly subtle yet pa wn in a n e n d ga m e ye t h a s a p o we rf u l
he clearly has a very pleasant position. hc8 initiative. Bologan hasn't risked anything with
[ 21...b6 is a try to avoid being squashed. In his cavalier attitude to his pieces as Black's
general it's not good to open up the position pawn structure is so bad that the pawns are
when your opponent has the bishop pair but always likely to drop off. f6
of course all positions have to be calculated [ 32...e7 33.h4+ would force Black to
on their own merits. 22.ab1 and it appears give up his f pawn anyway as f8 34.b4
that Black must keep the tension as threatens 35.Bf6 and thus ( 34.f6 xc6+
( 22.bxc6+ xc6 23.b5 bxc5 24.dxc5 35.b4 xf6 36.exf6 g8 seems enough
c7= ) 22...bxc5 23.dxc5 cxb5 24.xb5+ for the draw.) 34...g7 is forced but once
c7 25.he1 leaves his king too loose. ] White plays 35.d6 the c pawn is simply too
22.h4! Opening up a second front and strong. ]
exploiting Black's previous. b6 23.h5 f8 33.xf6+ e7 34.b4 a1 35.h4
[ The fact that 23...h8 is the computer's top [ 35.xb5 b1+ 36.a6 d8 looks to hold
suggestion highlights his position's flaws. ] for Black. ]
24.hxg6 hxg6 25.h7 e6 26.a4 f5 35...b1+ 36.c3 c1+ 37.d2 c4
27.xf5+ 38.d6+ e8 39.xd5 4xc6
[ It wasn't necessary to break the tension yet [ 39...8xc6 40.d8+ f7 41.d5
and W hite could continue to pile on the and the central pawns would p rove to o
pressure with 27.f4 ] strong. ]
27...gxf5 28.ah1!? Bologan plays very 40.e3!?
d y n a m i c a l l y a n d p r e p a r e s a n e xc h a n g e [ 40.xb5 is safer ]
sacrifice. 40...c3+?! That rook should stay controlling
[ 28.d3 was entirely possible too taking a the 6th rank to slow White's pawns.
time out to improve the king's location. Black [ 40...b4 should have been played when it's
ca n gra b a pa wn wit h bxc5 ( 28...cxb5 not obvious that White's better, e.g. 41.b5
29.axb5 bxc5 30.a6+ is h o p e l e s s .) c3+ 42.f4 3c4 43.xf5 xd4 44.f6
29.dxc5 cxb5 30.axb5 xc5 31.h6+ d7 c6 45.f4 c5 46.xb6 d7
32.xc5 xc5 33.a5 but White is and the pawns are being slowed although
exceedingly active and likely to pick up both this is difficult to play as Black and I
d5 and a7 pawns. ] imagine Black was under a far bit of time
28...cxb5 29.axb5 a6 pressure, especially as it's move 40. ]
[ 29...bxc5 is critical when I presume 41.f4 d3? 42.e6 Rozentalis realises too
Bo loga n h ad pla nn e d 30.1h6+! xh6 late that the e pawn can go alone. There's no
31.xh6+ e7 32.dxc5 when, despite defence to 43.e7 and 44.Rd8. An impressive
being the exchange up, Black's position is en e rget ic disp la y f ro m B o lo ga n a nd t h is
very difficult as his pawns are so vulnerable endgame is looking difficult for Black.
whilst the c pawn is strong and W hite's 1-0
pieces coordinate well. h8 33.h4+ d7
34.d6+ c7 35.f6!?
A) 35...xh4 gives back the exchange
36.xf7+ d8 ( 36...b8 37.f8+ b7
38.c6+ i s h o p e l e s s .) 37.f8+ e7
38.xa8 c4+ 39.b3 xc5 40.xa7+
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 Alekhine's Defence remains as controversial
5.exd6 cxd6 6.c3 g6 7.e3 g7 8.c1 as ever. Numerous White systems, generally
0-0 9.b3 c6 10.d5 e5 11.e2 f5!? involving steady, unspectacular development
[ W e lo o k e d a t 11...ed7 12.f3 f6 put the opening under serious pressure. But if
13.h3 with the idea Qd2 in K Lie-Es Lie, White tries full-on aggression from the very
Hamar 2007. White seems clearly better. ] beginning, he should be ready for occasional
12.f3!? A calm move, and not bad. But it's disaster! 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4
worth going back to look at options that we've b6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 f5 7.c3 e6
covered before: 8.e3 b4 9.f3 c5!? The Four Pawns isn't
[ 12.f4 g4 13.xg4 fxg4 14.ge2 f5 really the way to go Black just has too many
( 14...e5! is wo r t h a t r y) 15.0-0 h5?! reasonable ways to play. 9...c5 is just one of
( 15...e6!? ) 16.d4 f6 17.xf6 exf6 them. Boroday seems surprised and comes
18.d4 was superb for White in Skorchenko, up with a most unsuccessful novelty.
D (2460)-Tkachenko, G (2318)/Lugansk 10.d2?!N Just makes the White queen a
UKR 2007. See the Archives. ] target on the d file. White should play 10 a3:
[ 12.h3 and ] [ 10.a3 cxd4 ( 10...xc3+?! 11.bxc3 c6
[ 12.d2 are also attractive, as I pointed out 12.e2 c7 13.0-0 d8 14.e1 0-0
in that update. But Black plays 9...Nc6 with 15.g3 a5 16.g5 c8 17.h4 g6
something in mind. Perhaps ...Nf7 followed 18.xg6 fxg6 19.g4 xf1+ 20.xf1 e8
by ...h6/...g5/...f4 is his idea. ] 21.d5 exd5 22.cxd5 h6 23.d6 c6
12...h6 13.d2 h7 24.e7 1-0 Bielczyk, J-Meiklejohn, I/
[ 13...g5? 14.xe5 xe5 15.f4! gxf4 Groningen 1971) 11.xd4! ( 11.axb4 dxe3
16.xf4 xf4 17.xf4 is obviously terrific 12.c5 6d7 13.d6 c6 14.b5 c8
for White. ] 15.0-0-0 e7 16.g5 a5 17.xe7+ xe7
14.h4 18.xf7 axb4 19.xd7+ xd7 20.xh8
[ 14.xe5! dxe5 15.0-0 with the idea f4 bxc3 21.f7 0-1 Amate Tortosa, B-Suba, M/
16.c5 keeps White in control of the centre Villa de Albox 2002) 11...xd4 12.xd4
as well as the e4 square. ] xc3+ 13.xc3 a4 14.c1 ( 14.b4
14...bd7 15.h5!? xb2 15.d4 c6 16.xc6 bxc6
[ 15.xe5 xe5 16.b5 d7 17.d4 Ostojic, P-Marovic, D/Umag 1972) 14...c6
is logical, but W hite will have to find an 15.e2 0-0-0 16.0-0 g4 17.fe1 d7
effective plan. ] 18.h3 h5 19.d4 xd4 20.xh5 b3
15...xf3+ 21.d1 ac5 22.xb3 xb3 23.cd1
[ 15...g5?! 16.d4 w i t h t h e i d e a f4? hd8 24.xd7 xd7= Lochte, T-Blees, A/
17.e6 a5 18.c2+ g8 19.d2 Budapest 1990 ]
has no good reply. ] [ 10.e2 c6 11.0-0 xc3 12.bxc3 0-0
16.xf3 g5 17.b5 e5 18.e2 f4 19.d4 13.e1 g6 14.d1 cxd4 15.cxd4 e7
a6 This time Black has more squares to work Counterplay is gained by controlling the
with. 20.xe5 xe5 21.d4 xd4 22.xd4 central light squares e4 and f5. 16.b4 e4
f5 23.0-0 I still like White here, with the idea 17.g5 f5 18.c3 xe3 19.xe3 g6
of exchanging bishops and bringing a rook to 20.e4 xe4 21.xe4 c8 22.c1 c7
e6. Still, Black has kingside space and 23.c3 1/2-1/2 Parma, B-Hecht, H/Berlin
W h i t e ' s p a wn o n h 5 i s s h a ky, so m a yb e West 1971 ]
there's some counterplay. 10...c6 11.dxc5? A disgusting move but by
½-½ now I guess Boroday realised it was too late
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
8...gxf4 After this we can't find enough [ 13...d7 would also fail to the game's
defensive resources for Black but his position 14.ge2 ]
is perhaps untenable already. 14.ge2 Threatening to bring the knight into
[ 8...d7 would give White a very pleasant t h e h o l e o n e 6 . h6 By this point Black
a r r a y o f c h o i c e s . P e r h a p s 9.c5 definitely has no defence:
is strongest. ] [ 14...h6 15.f4 xf6 16.e6+ xe6
[ 8...c8 was the best bet but 9.d5 a5 17.xe6 ]
( 9...gxf4 10.xb6 won't give Black enough [ 14...h7 15.f4 ]
for the piece.) 10.f5!? looks very promising [ and 14...e5 15.g1 h7 16.d3 xf7
for White with his huge space advantage. ] 17.g6 are all completely hopeless. ]
9.gxf5 fxe3 10.e6 c8?! After this Black is 15.g1 exf6
definitely lost. [ 15...f8 16.g6 picks up the bishop on h6
[ The computer tries to put up a defence with for starters. ]
10...g7 but we think White's attack is too 16.g8+ e7 17.xb8 axb8 18.c5
strong: 11.h5 A painful loss for Black. The Four Pawns
A) 11...f8 continues to be a critical test of the Alekhine
A1) or 12.h3 when both xd4 ( and Defence.
12...xd4 13.0-0-0 ) 13.g5 e5 1-0
14.g1 leave White with a decisive
attack.;
A2) 12.f3 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 457 B03
14.g1! and, with Rg8 coming next Bromberger,Stefan 2487
move, Black is defenceless.; Kremenietsky,Anm 2354
B) 11...0-0 12.f3 e8 13.g5 Gausdal Classics GMB (5) 12.04.2008
( 13.h4!? keeping up a strong attack is [John Watson]
also possible.) 13...h6 14.exf7+ xf7
15.xf7 xf7 16.xf7+ xf7 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
would at least allow Black to survive into 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6
a n e n d g a m e a l t h o u g h 17.c5 dxc5 9.f3 b4 Black is always trying something
18.dxc5 xc3+ 19.bxc3 a4 20.g1 slightly off the beaten track to answer the
is still more pleasant for White. ] Four Pawns Attack. This move is entirely
[ 10...h5 would prevent the queen coming to logical in terms of development and deserves
h5 but 11.f3 is obviously very good for more attention, as Nigel Davies suggests. It
White. ] doesn't seem to quite equalise (or shouldn't)
11.exf7+ d8 but there's a enough play to keep things
[ Taking the pawn would lose instantly: interesting.
11...xf7 12.h5+ g8 13.f3 [ See this month and the archives for the
and it's pretty obvious the Black monarch traditional 9...e7 ]
won't survive. ] 10.e2
12.h3! Defending the pawn and thereby [ White shouldn't move too slowly merely for
preventing the Black queen getting out and structural reasons, for example, 10.c1 0-0
keeping the king stuck in the centre. h5 ( 10...g4!? ) 11.a3 e7 12.d5? ( 12.e2 )
[ 12...d7 13.f6! exf6 14.d5 leaves Black 12...exd5 13.cxd5 xe5! 14.xe5 e8
totally tied up - look at all his major pieces! ] and Black gets back at least most of the
[ 12...xc4 would give White options to material, with attack, e.g., 15.e2 h4+
finish off the game. The easiest looks to be 16.g3 xe5 17.d4 xe2+ 18.xe2 g5
13.f6 xb2 14.e2 xd4 15.fxe7+ xe7 19.e3 g4! 20.xg4 xe3 21.d1 e7 ]
16.xb2 h4+ 17.d1 f5 18.b1 10...d7!? This doesn't seem to fit that well
when Black's minor pieces are all dropping. ] with ...Bb4.
13.f6 b8 A really ugly move to have to play [ a) 10...a5 is one of the ideas of ...Bb4,
[ but 13...e6 14.d5 hardly helps. ] e v e n i f t h e t i m i n g i s u n c l e a r : 11.c5!
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
( 11.d2 h4+ 12.f2 f4 13.a3 xc3 [ 15...g6 16.c6! d8 17.xg6 hxg6
14.bxc3 0-0 15.0-0 g5 isn't too bad, but 18.a4 d5 19.b4 , and Black can't
the knights on the queenside look funny castle either way: 0-0-0?? 20.f3 ]
and White's bishops are a long-term asset. ) 16.f4 d5 Again, covering the light squares
A) 11...d5 12.d2 with advantage, I is in the right principle, but the kingside is
think. Black had to resort to bringing the v u l n e r a b l e . 17.g4 f5! 18.exf6 gxf6
k n i g h t b a c k w i t h c6 in Rohde- 19.f4!?
Shamkovich, New York 1976, when 13.0-0 [ 19.h6! 0-0-0 20.g7 c6 21.f1 f5
( 13.a3 xc3 14.bxc3 also looks good)) 22.f4 d7 23.g3! with the idea Nf3-e5 ]
13...0-0 14.g5 gave White a good game, [ 19.f1 f5 20.f4 ]
because Black can't like d7 15.xd5 19...e7?
xd5 16.a3 xd4 17.axb4 xe2+ [ either 19...0-0 ]
18.xe2 d3 19.e3 xf1 20.xf1 [ or 19...f5 20.h5+ d8 is playable. ]
at a ll, s o h e pro ba bly h as to p lay t h e 20.xf6! Obvious, but pretty the finish is nice:
weakening 14...f6.; xf6 21.f1+
B) 11...bc4?! 12.a4+! c6! covers a5, [ 21.g5+! xg5 22.c1+ f6 23.f4+
but Black's tightrope trick comes a little also wins ]
s h o r t a f t e r 13.d2! xd2 14.xb4 21...g7 22.h6+! g8
xf3+ 15.xf3 ] [ 22...xh6 23.f6# ]
[ b) 10...0-0 is a pretty good try: 11.0-0 23.f6 e4 24.f1
( 11.d2 seems to take the sting out of a5 [ 24.f1 (threatening Qf8+) f5 25.g5+
due to 12.b3 otherwise, White can castle g6 26.xg6 is mate in 2. ]
and play a3. Black should probably just 1-0
proceed with his development and he may
stand a little worse, but it's no disaster)
11...a5 12.d2 ( 12.c5 xc3 13.bxc3 458 B03
bc4 is praised by Davies, and is definitely Bryson,Douglas M 2385
playable, although I'd still rather have the Luther,Thomas 2535
bishops af ter 14.g5 ) 12...g6 13.e1 Olympiad Bled (3) 2002
( 13.a3; 13.c1 ) 13...c5!? 14.a3 [Andrew Martin]
Goldenburg-Ghizdavu, Graz 1972 and now
( 14.dxc5 d7 15.f3 xc5 16.d1 ) 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
14...cxd4! was an obvious and strong move: 5.f4 It's refreshing to see a Four Pawns
15.axb4 dxe3 16.bxa5 exd2 17.g3 d7 ] Attack although most strong masters prefer 4
11.0-0 a5!? In a sense this is the 'point', Nf3 or the Exchange Variation. Particularly
since annoying is 5 exd6 cxd6 6 Nc3 g6 7 Be3 Bg7
[ 11...0-0-0 and ] 8 Rc1 0-0 9 b3-I cannot see any way for Black
[ 11...0-0 are versions of main lines in which to equalize here. Perhaps subscribers can
it's unclear why the bishop is out there on help? Douglas Bryson is a very strong master
b4. ] of course but he plays for enjoyment rather
12.c5 than the professional grind..... for our viewing
[ Or 12.d2 0-0 13.c1 ( 13.c1 ) p l e a s u r e m a yb e . . . . dxe5 6.fxe5 c5
13...c6 14.a3!? xc3 15.bxc3 Fun for all the family in this line. Some recent
, when Black may simply have to play slowly, developments in the 'main line':
although he would like to keep chipping [ 6...c6 7.e3 ( 7.f3 g4 8.e3 xf3
away by f6 16.exf6 xf6 9.gxf3 e6 10.c3 h4+ 11.f2 f4
, when unfortunately 17.b3! threatens Nc5, 12.c5 d5 13.xd5 exd5 14.e2 0-0-0
and a4 18.d5 is awkward, or ( 18.g5 )] 15.0-0 f6 16.exf6 gxf6 17.h1 g8
12...bc4 13.c1 xc3 14.bxc3 b6?! 18.g1 g5 19.xg5 fxg5 20.d3 g7
A good move positionally, but Black should 21.d1 g4 22.e3 f7 23.fxg4 e8
be securing his king first. 15.h4! e4 24.f1 e6 25.f3 xd4 26.xd4 xd4
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
27.xd4 xe2 28.xd5 d8 0-1 Varavin, 27.c2 f5 28.b2 c3 29.xb5 c2 30.c5
V-Smirnov,I/V Autumn, Alushta UKR 2002 c8 0-1 Eaker,A-Popitz,A/40th Ann Open,
(28) ) 7...f5 8.c3 ( 8.f3 e6 9.e2 d7 Curacao AHO 2002 (30) ]
10.c3 b4 11.0-0 xc3 12.bxc3 a5 10...c6 11.f3 g4 12.f4 g5 13.e4
13.d2 c8 14.e1 c5 15.g3 g6 gxf4 14.f6+ xf6 15.exf6 0-0-0 16.c1
16.h4 cxd4 17.cxd4 h5 18.ac1 c7 All as given in NCO and a clear advantage to
19.h1 c8 20.e4 d7 21.d6+ W h i t e a c c o r d in g t o t h e a u t h o r -G r a h a m
1-0 Gajadin,D-Mensing,F/Olympiad, Bled Burgess/ Fritz-difficult to tell between the two.
SLO 2002 (21)) 8...e6 9.f3 g4 10.d2 However for a human with the clock ticking
e7 ( 10...xf3 11.gxf3 b4 12.0-0-0 a4 this position will never be easy and so it
13.g1 g6 14.g5 xc3 15.bxc3 e7 proves. e8+ A very interesting idea. Black
16.h6 d7 17.h3 a5 18.e2 a4 defers the capture on d6 to a more propitious
19.f1 a3+ 20.b1 xc4 21.c2 moment. It should not succeed but Bryson is
xc2+ 22.xc2 b6 23.c4 e7 24.c3 known for his addiction to time trouble-I can
0-0-0 25.h3 b8 26.e3 c5 27.dxc5 imagine him using up oceans of time around
a4+ 28.c2 xc5 29.xd8+ xd8 here threading his way through the minefield.
30.xc5 xc5 31.f1 d4 32.e2 d7 [ 16...xd6 17.xc4 he8+ 18.f1 e3
33.c3 h4 34.b1 xe5 35.c5 c7 19.b5 xf3 20.gxf3 c7 ]
0-1 Saed,K-Bjerring,K/Olympiad, Bled SLO [ 16...xd6 17.xf4 e6+ 18.d1 d5
2002 (35) ) 11.e2 h4+ 12.f1 0-0 13.c5 19.g5 b4 ]
xf3 14.gxf3 d5 15.xd5 xd5 16.g1 17.f2
f5 17.d1 ad8 18.f4 h8 19.g2 g5 [ 17.e2 xf3 18.gxf3 d4 ]
20.c3 e4 21.b4 gxf4 22.g1 f3 [ 17.d1 e3 18.h3 xf3+ 19.gxf3 xd6
23.xf3 f4 24.e2 g8 25.xg8+ xg8 20.xc4 d8 ]
26.b5 xg1 27.bxc6 xh2+ 28.d3 17...xd6 18.xc4 c5+ 19.f1 e3
xd1+ 29.xd1 bxc6 30.b3 f4 31.c4 20.c3 xc4 21.xc4 d8 22.e1
e4 32.b4 e1 0-1 Fongarolli, D-Mollero, It really isn't easy. Black's idea is to take on
M/10th Ducale Open, Genova ITA 2002 f2 and play Rd2 and whether White takes on
(32) ] f7 or not his King feels the heat and he can't
7.d5 e6 8.c3 exd5 9.cxd5 c4 10.d6 activate the Rooks. I reckon Bryson saw the
[ 10.f3 b4 11.xc4 ( 11.g5 xc3+ drawing mechanism of the game and decided
12.bxc3 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.0-0-0 to bale out.
e7 15.xc4 bc6 16.hf1 e6 17.xe6 [ 22.xf7 d7 ( 22...f5 23.b3 d3+
fxe6 18.d4 xd4 19.xd4 c8 20.b2 24.e1 he8 25.f7! f8 26.d1+-;
d5 21.c4 b6 22.b3 f8 23.xf8+ 22...xf3! 23.gxf3 d2 24.g7 hd8
xf8 24.d2 e8 25.b4 c7 26.a5 This was almost certainly Luther's intention-
c6 27.b4 1/2-1/2 Pirrot,D-Tischbierek,R/ it's a mess.) 23.c4 xf3 24.gxf3 f8
74th ch-GER, Saarbruecken GER 2002 25.e6 d4 26.c1 ]
(27) ) 11...xc3+ 12.bxc3 xc4 13.a4+ 22...xf3 23.gxf3 d2 24.e2 d1+ 25.e1
d7 14.xc4 b6 15.b5+ d7 d2 26.e2 d1+ 27.e1 d2 28.e2
16.xd7+ xd7 17.d6 c8 18.e3 So much for NCO, Fritz and the like. A game
( 18.d2 a4 19.b1 b6 20.0-0 e6 with lots of ideas and a strong human
21.d4 d7 22.bc1 c5 23.f3 h6 element.
24.fe1 hc8 25.e3 b2 26.e1 a5 ½-½
27.c2 c4 28.ee2 cc5 29.f2 cb5
30.g3 b1+ 31.f2 f5 32.d4 xc2
33.e6+ fxe6 34.xe6 f5+ 35.e2 f7
0-1 Hallaeva,B-Kopinits,A/Olympiad w, Bled
SLO 2002 (35)) 18...xc3 19.xb6 axb6
20.0-0 0-0 21.ac1 c5 22.h3 h6 23.fe1
a8 24.xc5 bxc5 25.a1 b5 26.c1 c4
463
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
464
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
465
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
466
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
467
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
468
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
469
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
470
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
471
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
play right from move nine..... 17...exd4 18.xd4 g5 19.a1 c5 20.f2
1-0 c2 21.de1 xf2! 22.xf2 e3
As in the notes to the game I presented last
month. 23.ef1
468 B03 [ Mark Morss ides extensive analysis (mostly
Dushin,Aleksandr Viktorovi 2440 shown below) to establish that Black has
Siewert,Wolfgang 2457 enough play after this. He suggests that
EU-ch65 sf08 email 2003 23.b3 might improve a bit, but I've checked
[John Watson] and extended his own line, concluding that
Black can undoubtedly draw, e.g.,
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 A) 23...f8?! 24.f3 xf3 25.gxf3 g5+
5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6 26.f1 d3+ 27.ee2 ( 27.e2 d4! )
9.f3 e7 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 f6 12.exf6 27...xf2 28.xf2 just doesn't seem to cut
xf6 13.d2 e7 14.ad1 ad8 15.c1 it, e.g., f4 29.g1!;
[ This is the almost universally-played move. B) 23...xf2+ 24.xf2 e8 25.g1
15 b3 has been played a few times and e3+! 26.h1 d3 27.d6 e5
likely deserves another look. I see only a (thus far Morss) 28.c1 d7 29.d2
few rather irrelevant games with 15.h1!? e3 30.xe3 xe3 31.g1 ( 31.h4 h5!
in my d ata ba se s, bu t I think it stron gly 32.g1 xe2 33.xe2 e6 ) 31...e6
deserves attention. The move is handy in 32.f2 xe2 33.xe2 xd6= ]
almost every variation (16 Qc1 might follow 23...f8 24.e1 f5?!
next, for example), and White sidesteps 15 [ M o r s s ' i m p r o v e m e n t i s 24...xc4!
Qc1 e5!? and removes the king from , f o r e xa m p l e , 25.xc4 ( 25.d6 xd6
awkward checks, while preparing Bg1 in 26.d5 xf2+ 27.xf2 e8 28.xc5
some lines.. A few sample lines would be xf1+ 29.xf1 e5 and Black is O.K.)
A) 15...h6 16.c1 intending ( 16.e1!? 25...xf2+ 26.xf2 xf2 27.d6+ f7
is a good option) 16...g5!? ( 16...h8 28.xf7+ xf7 29.c1 d3 30.d1 c4
17.b3 ) 17.d5! and White takes space and 31.b3 d7 32.bxc4 xc4 I think I've done a
the initiative; thorough enough analysis to prove that this
B) 15...xd4? 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 and the preceding is equal. Again, however,
c5 18.xc5!; it's hard to see where Black can scrape up
C) 15...d7 16.c1 ( or 16.e1!? fd8 the slightest winning chances after 24...
17.b3 ) 16...fd8 17.d5 exd5 18.cxd5 Nxc4!, which might dissuade some players. ]
b4 19.d4! ( 19.xb6 axb6 20.d4 25.f3 d3 Black went on to win a back-and-
g6 21.c4 ) 19...xd4 20.xd4 4xd5? f o r t h g a m e , b u t a t t h i s p o i n t , 26.b3!
21.de1 e6 22.g4 d6 23.e4 ] would preserve White's extra pawn and give
15...e5 This is probably worth an '!'. My earlier him good winning chances,
presentation has been improved upon by Mark [ , instead of 26.d1?! xf2+ 27.xf2 e5
Morss, and I've looked at the position rather 28.xd3 xe1 29.xe1 g5
deeply (I think!), coming to the conclusion that with a promising game. I think that 15...e5
Black is indeed O.K. An advantage of the throws a wrench into White's plans and may
move is that it's relatively forcing. Here's a get him to look in another direction (see my
few lines: 16.d5 d4 17.xd4 16 Kh1!?, for example). ]
[ An important option is 17.xd4 exd4 0-1
18.xd4 . Then c8! threatens 19... c5 with
threats that will win back material, so White
should protect e2. For some analysis of this
variation, see Andresen-Gilmore. 19.d2
. Then I think that Black has adequate play
f o r h i s p a w n , b u t o n l y b a r e l y s o . c6
, but that is not written in stone. ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
473
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
played the immediate 6...c6 and stood The most direct move, threatening Nb5-c7.
well after 7.f3 ( 7.e2 b4 would deny [ Also f ro m th is m onth : 10.e3!? b4
W hite the possibility of retreating his 11.xb6 xb6 12.d2 ( 12.f3 0-0
bishop that he took advantage of in the 13.xc4 e8 ) 12...0-0 13.f3 ( 13.xc4 )
game. ) 7...e7 8.d5 b4 9.e2 a5 13...f5 14.xc4 d7 15.a3 c7?!
10.0-0 0-0 11.e3 f6 12.d4 e8 ( 15...xc3 16.xc3 fe8 ) 16.axb4
13.d2 d7 14.c3 c6 etc. ] ( 16.b5! ) 16...xc4 17.d4? xe5!
7.e2 0-0 8.bc3 c6 9.0-0 e818.xc4 xc4 19.0-0-0 a5 20.b5 a4
I advocated this sensible developing move in 21.d4 fc8 22.g4 d7 23.e1? ( 23.d2
d6! and Black stands better) 23...a3
t h e b o o k . B l a c k o c c u p ie s t h e e - f i le a n d
doesn't commit his minor pieces for the time (a n d win s) 24.bxa3 xa3 25.c2 d6
being. 26.e3 xb5 27.dd3 xg4 28.b2
[ 9...g4 10.f3 h5 11.f4 g6 12.xg6 axc3 29.xc3 xc3 30.xc3 d8
hxg6 13.d5 e5 14.b3 was slightly better 31.e5 f5 0-1 Blahynka-Markovic, Brno
for White in Djuric - Miles, Aegina 1993. ] CZE 2009. ]
[ For 9...f6 see Sermek - Zelcic. ] [ 10.f3 is the old main line, worked out in
10.b3 incredible detail in the books. Black
[ After 10.a3?! f6 11.e3 g6 12.c2 apparently stands well enough after b4
e7 13.g3 d5 14.c5 d7 15.b4 f8 , but you'll have to check the Archives! ]
Black had reorganised his pieces with an 10...e6 Considered best by Cox. The older
exc ellen t game in A tkinson - Fogora si, move is
G ro n in ge n 1 9 8 9 . E m m s' m o ve i s m o r e [ 10...c6 11.f3 ( 11.b5 h4+ 12.g3
natural, but nevertheless fails to set the e4+ 13.e2 xh1 14.g5 f6?! was
world on fire. ] shown in Bender-Rogulj in the Archives, as
10...f8 11.h3 b4 12.e3 c6 13.b1 d5 was the alternative e6 15.d7+ xd7
14.a3 a6 15.c5 d7 16.b4 c7 17.d3 16.0-0-0+ c8 but here 16...Nd5 should be
b6! Attacking c5 makes it difficult for White to tested, I think) 11...g4 12.f4 , and now
organise b4-b5. 18.b3 g5!? 13.e4 gxf4 14.f6+ xf6 15.exf6
[ 18.b5 bxc5 19.bxc6 b8 is nice for 0-0-0 16.c1 e8+ was Bryson, D -Luther,
Black. ] T Bled 2002 in the Archives. ]
18...e6 19.fd1 a6! 20.cxb6 xb6
11.f3 c6 12.e2
21.a4 xa4 22.xa4 d7 23.f4 g6! [ 12.b5 is critical: c8 13.g5 d7 14.a4
The equaliser. Black needs to preserve his ( 14.bd4 may be better) 14...h6 15.e3
bad, light-square bishop from exchange so as d5 Movsesian-Luther, Istanbul 2003 and
to cover the c6 pawn. 24.xe6 xe6 25.c2 neither Cox nor Martin (in the Archives)
d6 Neither side has an effective plan. comments upon the game's 16 Bf 2, but
½-½ White seems to have a nice advantage after
16 Qd2, or an even bigger one after
16.xa7! . Then db4 17.e2 g6 18.0-0
471 B03 g7 19.d2 leaves White a clear pawn
Esserman,Mark 2391 ahead. ]
Yermolinsky,Alex 2522 12...d7! Cox suggests this.
Copper State Int (4) 31.05.2009 [ 12...g6 was given by Martin, but Cox points
[John Watson] out that 13.g5 d7 14.f6 g8 15.g5
is basically winning. ]
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.c4 b6 4.d4 d6 13.a4 a6!?
5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c5 7.d5 e6 8.c3 exd5 [ 13...b6 covers key squares. ]
9.cxd5 c4 The archives have some material 14.f4! g6
on this line, but I haven't shown a game with it [ 14...h6 is safer, but also slow. ]
yet. I'm a little surprised that Yermo would risk 15.g5?
i t v e r s u s a l o w e r - r a t e d p l a y e r . 10.d6 [ 15.g5 b6 16.0-0-0 retains the pressure
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
Black can try h6 17.f6!? xf6 18.exf6 19.fd1 e4 20.e1 ) 19.e1 f6
0-0-0 19.xc4 b8! with some counterplay, ( 19...de5 20.f3 b4 21.fxe4 xa2
although Black lacks full compensation. The 22.c2 b4 23.d2 a6 24.e2 fxe4
idea is 20.xe6 ( 20.he1! f5!? 21.xf7 25.f4 , but there are countless options
b4 22.a3! d3+ 23.xd3 xd3 here; 19...h7 20.f3 ) 20.f3 h7 21.d1
24.e5 ) 20...e3+ 21.d2 xe6 ] with some advantage.;
15...b5 16.xe6 fxe6 17.c2 g7! C) 17.d6 f5 18.c4+ h7
[ 17...dxe5 18.d7+! is messy. ] C1) 19.h4!? f6 20.d1 f4 ( 20...e4
18.0-0 0-0 19.g4 h8 20.d2 cxe5 21.d4 e5 22.e2 ) 21.c1 e4
[ or 20...dxe5 21.xe6 d3 ] 22.g1;
[ After 20...cxe5 21.xe6 d3 C2) 19.f7 e8 20.h4 ( 20.d6
, Black seems to stand well. ] d8!= ) 20...f6
½-½ C2a) a draw results from 21.h5 xh5
22.3g5+ hxg5 23.xg5+ h6
( 23...h8 24.f7 ) 24.f7+ h7
472 B03 25.g5+=;
FORUM Voronezh Bb5/..Nc6 C2b) 21.d6 d8 22.d1 f4
N,N C2b1) 23.c1 can lead to the same
[John Watson] key line, but also to a nice pawn sac
f o r B l a c k : e4 24.d2 ( 24.g1
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 h5 25.e2 f3 26.gxf3 exf3
5.exd6 cxd6 6.c3 g6 7.e3 g7 8.c1 27.f4 transposes to my main line)
0-0 9.b3 e5 24...g4 25.f3 exf3 26.gxf3
[ In Horvath-Chetverik, I've examined 9...e6 a n d n o w C r a i g ' s m o v e h5!
and ] ( 26...c8 27.f2 ) 27.xb7 e8+
[ 9...6d7 ] 28.f2 e3 29.he1 ( 29.hf1
10.dxe5 dxe5 11.xd8 xd8 12.c5 6d7 d4 ) 29...ae8 with excellent
13.c4 c6 14.f3 a5 15.b5 c6 compensation, a line I worked out in
16.e4 Here's the move that was suggested detail to a number of dead equal
to revive White's fortunes. Previously, we'd positions;
looked at C2b2) 23.d2 e4 24.g1! h5
[ 16.d5 ] ( 24...g4 25.f3 exf3 26.gxf3 h5
[ and 16.d1 ] 27.xf4 b6! is interesting, although I
16...f5 think W hite has the chances after
[ Mark Morss originally intended 16...d4 28.cxb6 axb6 29.h2! ) 25.e2 f3
here, but in a correspondence game, 26.gxf3 exf3 27.f4 xf4 28.xf4
someone found 17.c4! xf3+ 18.gxf3 b4 ( 28...c3+ 29.f1 d4
against him, when White's bishops seem to 30.b4! ) 29.a3 c2+ 30.f1 xa3
more than make up for his pawn structure. 31.d3 e6 32.h5 and Black is
Mark thinks that White is indeed better, and under considerable pressure, e.g.,
after f8 19.d6 e6 20.e2 xb3 33.hxg6+ g8 34.c1 d7
and Rhd1, for example, Black seems to be 35.h3 a5 36.xh6 ]
running out of ideas. ] 17.c4+ f8 18.eg5 f6 19.f7 e8
[ But my original instinct was to call White's 20.d6 e7 21.0-0 e4
bluff by 16...h6 , which was suggested by Ig [ a) Craig Evans analyses 21...f4 22.d2
and analysed by TonyRo. I'll mix in my notes g4 23.c3 xf3 24.gxf3 d4 25.g2
as well: e8 26.fe1 xd6 27.cxd6 d7 28.xd4
A) 17.c4 a5 18.e2 ( 18.d5 f6 exd4 29.b5 xd6 30.c7 ]
19.xf6+ xf6 20.d1 g7 ) 18...f5 [ b ) T h e b e s t l i n e s e e m s t o b e 21...b8
19.d6 c6 20.c4+ h7 transposes; and here's some fairly random analysis it
B) 17.0-0 f5 18.d6 e4 ( 18...h7 seem s t hat W h ite ha s a n e dge : 22.cd1
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b5 31.b3 a1 32.e3 bxc4 33.bxc4 19.c7 xe3 20.fxe3 a7 21.b4 b7
xa2+ 34.d1 a1+ 35.e2 e6 36.d6 22.fd1!? Black is tied up, so
b8 37.f3 e5+ 38.e3 ed8 [ 22.d5 makes sense (threatening Ne7+),
0-1 with the idea xd5? 23.xc8+ d8 24.c4
dd7 25.g5 ]
22...xd1+ 23.xd1 g4
474 B03 [ 23...d6! 24.d5 e6 keeps White's
Gara,Anita 2312 advantage limited. ]
Grunberg,Sergiu Henric 2300 24.h3 xf3 25.xf3 c5!? 26.d8+ f8
TCh-HUN 2008-9 (9) 01.03.2009 27.c8 d7 28.d5 Apart from his better-
[John Watson] placed pieces, W hite's queenside majority
can advance with effect. g7 29.e2?!
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 [ 29.g4! d isco u ra ge s f5?! 30.gxf5 gxf5
5.exd6 cxd6 6.c3 g6 7.e3 g7 8.c1 31.e4 winning the light squares. ]
0-0 9.b3 e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.xd8 29...f5 30.c6 a5?
[ I'm surprised that 11.c5 is so rare probably [ Black should try to draw a bishops of
players who are attracted to slow moves o p p o s i t e c o l o u r s e n d i n g a f t e r 30...e4!
such as Be3 and Rc1 like to get the queens 31.xa6?! ( 31.a3! ) 31...xa6 32.xa6
off. ] f6! 33.xf6 xf6 ]
11...xd8 12.c5 6d7 13.c4 c6 14.f3 31.b5 b7 32.b6 c5 33.c4 g5 34.c7
a5 15.e2 e7 35.e8+ h8 36.c8 xb6 37.d6+
[ 15.b5 ] g7 38.g8+
15...b6 16.cxb6 1-0
[ We saw 16.b4 in Daultye-Nguyen Thu
Giang from last year's Olympiad it
shouldn't achieve anything. ] 475 B03
16...xb6 17.b5 Gruenfeld,Yehuda
[ From the Archives: 17.0-0 b7 18.fd1 Ljubojevic,Ljubomir
c6?! ( 18...xd1+ 19.xd1 c8 20.b5 (izt) Riga 1979
d5 is fine according to Cox. Then White [Alexander Volzhin]
seems to get just a little something out of
21.d2 c2 22.d3 xa2 23.b4 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
, but then comes e4! 24.xe4 c4 25.e1 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c5 7.d5 e6 8.c3 exd5
cb6 and there's no more doubt about 9.cxd5 c4 10.f3 Main line. g4 11.d4!
equality. ) 19.b5 xd1+ 20.xd1 b4 xf3 12.gxf3 b4 13.xc4
21.d6 ( He re Co x cla im s t h a t 21.a4 [ 13.g4 is too optimistic xd5 14.xg7
"would have left White decidedly better."; f8 with advantage to black ]
21.c5 was played in K Martin-Cox - see the 13...0-0 14.g1 A very natural and strong
Archives. ) 21...c6 Yandemirov-Konnov, move, but not the only one!
Kazan 2008, and now 22.a4! is a good idea. [ 14.h6!? is very interesting
4d5 23.c1! d7 24.xb6! xb6 25.a5 A) 14...gxh6 15.e6 f6 16.d6 xc4 17.e7
c8 26.c7 is no fun. ] H o w s t r o n g wh i t e ' s p a wn s a r e ! ! ! e8
17...d5?! 18.g1+ h8 19.g4 f7 ( 19...f7
[ I n a n e a r l i e r u p d a t e w e s a w 17...b7! 20.xc4! ) 20.g8+! winning;
18.0-0 ( 18.xa7 d5 ) 18...d5 B) 14...8d7! the only move, as capturing
with apparent equality. ] the bishop loses by force: 15.g1 g6
18.0-0!? 16.e6 e5! is very messy ]
[ 18.d2 b7 19.c4 of Cioara-Hudecek, 14...g6
Pardubice 1998 probably favours White. ] [ 14...c7? leads to a quick mate: 15.e6 f6
18...a6 16.h6 xc4 17.xg7+ h8 18.g8+!!
[ 18...a6! improves. ] 1-0, Luboevich - Honfi, 1970 ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
15.g5 This move and the following rook 35.f4+ e6 36.c4+ f6 37.f3 b5
sacrifice are the only way to f ight for the 0-1
advantage.
[ 15.h6 is a mistake: this bishop is much
better than the rook! c6 16.e4 xe5! 476 B03
and black is already better 17.xf8 xf8 Hamdouchi,Hicham 2589
18.b5 c5 19.0-0-0 xc3 20.bxc3 Garcia 2465
xc3+ 21.c2 a1+ 22.d2 xf3+ KUTXA Donostia ESP (2) 08.07.2009
23.e3 xd5+ with an unstoppable attack, [John Watson]
Gibbs - Stewart, 1972 ]
15...c7 16.b3 c5 17.f4 xg1 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
Taking the rook gives white a strong attack, 5.exd6 cxd6 6.c3 g6 7.e3 g7 8.c1
but the alternative is worse: 0-0 9.b3 e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.xd8 xd8
[ 17...e8 18.f6 8d7 19.e4 xe5 12.c5 The normal move.
20.xg6+!! Nice, isn't it? ] [ Black won a recent miniature following
18.d6 c5! The only defence, as 12.b5 c6! 13.xa7 d4! 14.xc8
[ 18...c8 allows white to castle ( I wanted to xc8 ( or 14...dxc8 ) 15.xd4 exd4 16.a4
write "to castle queenside", but just in time I d3 17.d1?! d6! 18.xd3 f5 19.e2
realised that with one rook sacrificed white d4+ 20.f1 xb3 21.d1 xa4 22.g3
has no choice! ) with a strong attack, for b5 0-1 Chauca, J -Lima, J, Rio de Janeiro
example: 19.0-0-0 c5 20.e6 fxe6 21.e5 BRA 2009. ( because White loses another
d5 22.d7!! and white wins, as was pointed p a w n d u e t o 22...b5 23.cxb5? ad4
out by Bronstein ] 24.e2 xd3! 25.xd3 c1+ )]
19.e4 d4 20.d1 xb2 21.e6?! 12...6d7 13.f3 c6 14.c4 a5 15.e2
In such crazy positions one mistake is enough b6 16.a4
to lose a game. In my opinion, this move is [ 16.cxb6 xb6 17.0-0 b7 with equality is
such a mistake! I think white missed black's Yandemirov Alek, V (2461) -Konnov, O
next move, but in his defence, it's not too (2325)/Kazan RUS 2008 in the Archives. ]
difficult to blunder in such positions! 16...xc5 17.xc5 bxc5 18.xc5
[ 21.f6+ should be played. I analysed this We've seen this before more than once. e4
position and couldn't understand who was [ 18...b7 19.c7 d6 is also okay, only a
better! One variation: h8 22.d2 a1+ bit better for White after 20.0-0 ]
23.e2 If you are tired already, you should 19.d2 b7 20.c6!?
u s e t h is o p p o rt u n i t y t o t a ke a d r a w b y [ Maybe a conservative move such as 20.c2
repetition ( 23.d1 b2 24.d2 ) 23...c6 would keep more chances on the board. ]
24.h4 h5 ( 24...xe5+ 25.f1 h5 20...d6 21.0-0 f5?!
26.xh5+- winning ) 25.xh5 d4+ [ 21...e6 22.a6 d5 23.d1 is perhaps
26.xd4 xd4 27.f6+ g8 28.f4 f2+ a tad better for W hite, so more accurate
29.xf2 xf2 30.xg6 fe8 31.xf2 seems ]
with an unclear position! ] [ 21...b7! 22.c7 e5! 23.fc1 ac8
21...8d7! 22.e7 the rook is attacked, but 24.xc8 xc8 25.xc8+ xc8 ]
black has such a big material advantage, that 22.xe4 b7
he can easily ignore this! xh2! 23.exf8+ [ 22...xe3 23.fxe3 presents Black with a
xf8 24.xh2 White has nothing better, he few potential problems on the f-file, as well
has to go into an ending two pawns down.. as leaving him a pawn behind. This happens
xh2 25.f6+ g7 26.xd7 xd7 27.e7 in the game. ]
Hoping for counterplay after 28.Ba4, but b8! 23.f6+ xf6
28.f2 e5 29.c1 c5! The final finesse [ White has similar chances after 23...h8
in this excellent game! 30.d1 f6 31.xf6+ 24.c7 xg2 ( 24...xe3?! 25.fxe3 xg2
xf6 32.c4 d8 33.g3 a6 34.f1 e5 26.f2! ) 25.xg2 xe3+ 26.fxe3 d2
27.f3 xf6 28.xf7 ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
f5 35.a4 c5 36.c4 xc1 37.xc1 xb6 was Kaidanov's choice and resulted in
38.a5 a6 39.a4 f6 40.a3 d6 41.f3 rough equality after 0-0 9.f3 g4
d8 42.c4 xc4 43.cxc4 xa5 44.xa5 10.d2 d7 11.0-0 f5 12.b3 c7
xa5 45.a4 c3 46.d3 d4 47.e4 13.a5 Kaidanov, G-Leininger, R Dallas
g7 48.a6 h5 49.xh6 g3+ 50.d3 1996. ) 8...0-0 9.ge2 f5 ( 9...6d7
f5 51.h7+ g6 52.c7 e3 was another very recent attempt 10.0-0 f5
0-1 11.c2 g6 12.h1 a6 13.a3 b6
14.b3 c7 15.f4 exf4 16.xf4 g5
17.d2 xf4 18.xf4 Biti, O-Runic, Z
478 B03 Zagreb 2010 and it was clear White had
Hofmann,Paul 2382 w o n t h e o p e n i n g b a t t l e .) 10.b3
Khenkin,Igor 2632 Is the tabiya of this variation and W hite
ZDMI Open Dresden GER (4) 13.07.2010 should do well to study this position should
[Gawain Jones] he want to play 6.d5!?
C1) 10...a6 was essayed by none
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 other than top English Grandmaster
5.exd6 cxd6 John did a lot of work on the Mickey Adams although 11.0-0 d7
mainlines with 6.Nc3 but my eye was drawn ( 11...c5 12.c2 a5 13.f4 e4 14.e3
b y t h e f o llo win g ga m e in wh ich a st ro n g bd7 15.d4 f6 16.h3 and I prefer
Grandmaster was defeated with the more W hite with his control over the dark
unusual 6.d5!? which has only been played sq u a r e s. S h a b a l o v, A - D o r r, C U S A
235 times in Mega2010 compared to 3196 1994. ) 12.f3 c8 13.e3 ( 13.a4!? )
w i t h 6 . N c 3 ! g6 And Khenkin replies with 13...c5 14.c2 a5 15.d2 f6
another sideline. This is actually the move Landenbergue, C-Adams, M Garmisch
which 6.d5 was intended to dissuade. John P a r t e n k i r c h e n 1 9 9 4 w h e n 16.c1
Cox even gives 6...g6 a question mark but as gives White a small advantage. All these
we shall see things aren't so clear. positions resemble a Kings Indian more
[ 6...e5 is the mainline. 7.c3 than any 1.e4 opening.;
A) 7...f5 8.f4!? The most aggressive C2) 10...a5 11.0-0 a6 12.f4 d7
attempt. ( Instead 8.f3 e7 9.e2 0-0 13.e3 dc5 14.c2 f6 was rather
10.0-0 a6 11.b3 d7 12.a3 g6 co m p le x in Fo ssa n , E -Agd e s t e in , S
13.c1 c7 was Waitzkin, J-Stripunsky, Drammen 1994 but perhaps he should
A N e w Y o r k 1 9 9 8 wh i c h w a s a g r e e d have now played 15.fxe5 forcing xe5
dra wn a f e w m o ve s la t e r b u t h e re h e 16.a3 with an intriguing battle between
missed a chance with 14.xe5! xe5 Black's kingside attacking chances and
15.f4 d7 16.f5 when White has a small White's better structure.;
edge. ) 8...8d7 9.f3 ( 9.e2 C3) 10...8d7 has been Zelcic's choice
m i g h t b e m o r e a c c u r a t e a s t h e n c8 but he hasn't scored well. 11.0-0
would allow 10.g4! ) 9...c8 10.b3 f6 C3a) 11...e4 was his first attempt but
11.e2 exf4 12.d4 h4+ 13.f1 g6 after 12.c2
14.d2 was complex and had similarities C3a1) 12...f6 was Krasenkow's
to a King's Gambit! Czebe, A-Pesotsky, V attempt at an improvement but
Plovdiv 2008.; following 13.f4 ( 13.b1!?
B) 7...a5 8.f3 ( 8.d3 e7 9.ge2 with the idea of Nb5-d4 seems to
so as to be able to meet ...f5 with f4 is f avour W hite .) 13...exf3 14.xf3
the normal treatment.) 8...a6 9.e2 e5 15.f1 g6 16.b1 e8 17.h3
e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.b3 f5 12.e3 d7 d7 18.d4 he failed to beat his
13.d3 xd3 14.xd3 f5 and Black had lower rated opponent. Huschenbeth,
started to take the initiative. Fuellgrabe, N-Krasenkow, M Germany 2007;
T-Bagirov, V Berlin 1995.; C3a2) 12...e5 13.d4 f6 14.f4
C) 7...e7 8.d3 ( 8.e2 is unusual yet exf3 15.gxf3!? g6 16.f4 d7
480
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
17.h1 looks like a good Kings better for W hite by Martin and Baburin,
I n d i a n f o r W h i t e b u t xd4?! who observe that Black has no good pawn
18.xd4 f6 19.a3 was decidedly breaks. Landa, K-De Jonghe, B Belgium
loose. Biti, O-Zelcic, R Rabac 2003.; 2005. ]
C3b) 11...h8 12.b1 f4 Of course 7.d4 g8 So Black can no longer castle but
Zelcic realised that he was ceding the he will now gain time against White's queen in
e4 square forever but hopes to get order to gain some time in development.
enough activity to compensate. [ 7...f6 has been more common here for
However, I'm far f rom convinced... some reason but looks very ugly to me.
13.f3 c5 14.c2 a5 when I think 8.c3 ( 8.h4!? Hoffmann, P-Zrilic, B Rijeka
W h i t e s h o u l d h a v e t r i e d 15.b5 2010 was Hoffman's choice in a previous
( 15.a3 was played in Tazbir, M-Zelcic, ga m e , a ls o f r o m t h i s ye a r .) 8...g7
R Warsaw 2005, when a4 16.b4 b3 9.ge2!? ( I can't see anything wrong with
would have given Black decent 9.f3 ) 9...e5 10.dxe6 c6 11.d1 xe6
counterchances.) 15...d7 16.ec3 12.f4 xc4?! 13.xc4 xc4 14.0-0
with a more comfortable position. ] and Black's light squares were too
[ 6...e6 has also been played quite often vulnerable. Olesen, M-Andersen, P
wh en S h irov trie d t he in te restin g 7.a4!? Copenhagen 1995. ]
( Instead 7.c3 has been played in almost 8.h4 h5
every game that reached this position.) [ 8...h6 is the alternative way of defending
7...exd5 8.cxd5 e7 9.a5 6d7 10.f3 the h pawn. These positions are quite fresh,
0-0 11.e2 b6 I think Black will have to our main game being the first one in which
look for improvements here as 12.0-0 bxa5 a titled player has tried 6...g6 as far as I can
13.d2 b6 Shirov, A-Degraeve, J see. 9.c3 f5 ( 9...a6!? ) 10.f3
G e r m a n y 2 0 0 9 14.xa5! would have left Fazekas, M-Sull, G Hungary 2001 when
S h i r o v wi t h a p r o m i s i n g e d g e a s xb2 instead of 8d7 which allowed ( 10...g7
15.b5 a2 16.d4 looks pretty terrible for should have been tried when Black has
Black. ] decent chances, for instance: 11.e3 a4!
[ 6...8d7 was looked at in the archives by 12.xa4 a5+ 13.c3 xc3+ 14.d2
Andrew Martin and has attracted the xd2+ 15.xd2 b6 and Black is certainly
intention of Nakamura. no worse. ) 11.d4 ]
A) Instead 7.e3 was tried in the game 9.d2 Finally the novelty although to be
between the two strong young Americans. honest I quite like Black's chances here.
g6 8.d2 f6 ( 8...e5 9.b3 g4 [ The only other game to have reached this
10.d4 h6 11.b2 0-0 ) 9.c3 position that I can find was between two low
A1) Nakamura is trying to delay 9...g7 rated players. That continued with 9.d3
t o l e s s e n t h e i m p a c t o f 10.h6?! Miturova, M-Janouchova, M Sec u Chrudimi
but this would be premature as xh6 2008 but that appears to be an immediate
11.xh6 c7 12.c1 ( 12.b3 bxd5! inaccuracy as Black will be able to gain time
would exploit the dark square holes in on the bishop following a6 ]
W h i t e ' s p o s i t i o n .) 12...c5 9...a6 10.e2
looks comf ortable f or Black as c4 is [ Hoffmann is hoping to react with Bc3 to any
vulnerable.; ...Bg7 but due to the next note perhaps he
A2) 9...d7 I don't particularly like this should have played 10.c3 although after
move. 10.d3 g7 11.d4 0-0 g7 Black's completely fine. ]
12.ge2 e5 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.0-0 e5 10...c5
15.e3 was complex but I think White [ 10...a4! looks problematic for White who
must have had an edge. Hess, R- must sacrifice his b2 pawn although after
Nakamura, H Connecticut 2007.; 11.f3 ( 11.b3 g7 is the problem.)
B) 7.b3 f6 8.b2 g6 9.d3 g7 11...xb2 12.0-0 f5 I don't really see
10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 is given as a little sufficient compensation. ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
11.c3 g7 12.b4 allow ( 37.f1 is a winning try but Black still
[ 12.b3 was more circumspect. ] s e e m s t o b e d o i n g f i n e f o l l o w i n g h3;
12...ca4 13.c1 xc3 14.xc3 xc3+ 37.e4!? ) 37...f5 38.b6 ( 38.e1 xb1
[ 14...h6! would have left Black in control: 39.c1 g6 40.h3 a2
15.d1 a5! 16.bxa5 a4 17.b4 g7 is very complicated but certainly fine for
18.d3 xa5! ] Black. ) 38...xb1 39.h3 a2+ 40.h2
15.xc3 a5 16.b5 e5 17.g3 a4 18.a3 e5+ 41.g1 a1+ with a draw. ]
h4 37.b6 I'm not sure what Khenkin overlooked
[ 18...c5 immediately is more accurate as as it's easy to see that the b pawn is simply
t h e n f o l l o w i n g 19.e3 ( 19.f3 e4 too fast. a6
must favour Black.) 19...g4 and Black is [ 37...c8 38.h7+ picks up the queen. ]
doing well. ] 38.xf5 b3 39.b1 xb6 40.e3 a5
19.e3 c5 20.f3 f6 21.d2 41.xg5+ f8 42.e3 b2 43.f1
[ 21.d4!? might well be more accurate as An interesting line. Khenkin had no problems
then b6 doesn't look so convincing. ] after the opening and it looks like 6...g6!? is a
21...b6 22.b3 xb3? A surprising error by good response to 6.d5 despite its bad
such a strong player and shows that Khenkin reputation.
was having a bad day. 1-0
[ 22...d7 would still have left Black with a
p e r f e c t l y p l a y a b l e p o s i t i o n a s 23.g4
can be dealt with by f4= ] 479 B03
23.axb3! Now White can open up the position Horvath,Gy 2432
a n d t h u s B la c k' s is o la t e d kin g su d d e n l y Chetverik,Maxim 2305
becomes an important factor in the position. Zalakaros 2005
b8 24.0-0 g5 25.fa1 f8 26.b4! [John Watson]
Opening up the position so that White's rooks
can infiltrate and highlighting the problem with Chetverik has no less than 7 games in
Black's 22nd. axb4 27.a8 xa8 28.xa8 Informant using two moves other than the
g7 29.xb6 So now both players have overwhelmingly played 9...e5. I've bundled
passed b pawns but White's is more effective. them together, using the Informant notes but
g6 adding a few of my own. This is a good way to
[ 29...f4 30.e3 ] look over the material, even if it's clearly the
[ and 29...e4 30.e3 get Black nowhere. ] lazy way out for me! 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5
[ 29...h3 might be the best source of 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.c3 g6
counterplay, although W hite stays on top 7.e3 g7 8.c1 0-0 9.b3 e6
after 30.e3 hxg2 31.b6 ] [ 9...6d7!?
30.e3 b7 31.xg8+ A) 10.h3 f6
[ 31.a7! b8 32.f1 followed by 33.Qb3 A1) 11.d3 d5 12.f3 ( 12.ge2 c6
and p icking up the b4 p awn looke d th e 13.0-0 Toenniges, T (2089)-Chetverik, M
simplest way to proceed. ] ( 2 3 1 4 ) / B a d W i l d b a d 2 0 0 7 b4!?
31...xg8 32.d3 f6 33.e1 14.b1 a5 - C h e t v e r i k) 12...c6
[ 33.g3! was the most accurate to give the 13.0-0 f5 ( 13...e6 14.g5!
White king some luft. ] , f o r e xa m p le , c8 15.cxd5 xd5
33...e4! Now Khenkin gets dangerous 16.xd5 xd5 17.e4 ) 14.xf5 gxf5
counterplay. 34.xe4 a1+ 35.b1 c8 15.e5 ( or 15.e1 ) 15...e6 16.f3
[ 35...b3 was the most accurate when, and W hite can be happy with his
although W hite is still better, I'm unsure pressure.;
whether he's winning any longer. ] A2) Perhaps the best order is 11.f3 d5
36.e1 f5?? Proof that it wasn't Khenkin's , and now I like 12.d3! , vs ... Ne4 and
day. ...Bf5 ( r a t h e r t h a n 12.c5 e4
[ Instead 36...g7 37.xb4 would now or, as in the Chetverik game,; or 12.e2
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
483
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
e7 9.f3 f6 10.b3 h6 , and here I 13.d4 a6 14.0-0 e5 This move creates
suggested 11.d3 xd3 ( 11...d7 12.0-0 weaknesses, but what should he do?
0-0 13.b1 xd3 14.xd3 is almost the 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.f3 with a big advantage
same ) 12.xd3 with a space advantage. ] for white in Chernyshov - Zoltek, Pardubice,
7...e7 8.d3 0-0 9.ge2!? 1992. ]
[ 9.f3 would avoid what happens next, but 12.f4 g4
it's not clear what the consequences are. ] [ 12...f7 has also failed to solve black's
9...b4 Now White's important light-squared
problems. 13.f3 ( intending Nd4 ) e5
bishop is exchanged, because it can't retreat 14.dxe6 xe6 Now the d6-pawn becomes a
to e2. 10.b3 xd3+ 11.xd3 c6 12.d5! target. 15.0-0 e8 16.d2 e7 17.ce1
Nevertheless, W hite claims some space in d5 Even this break doesn't help black too
return for the bishop pair. It's not so bad for much. 18.c5! Very typical: white controls the
Black, but he'll be the one who has to find d4 square and keeps the possibility of the
good squares for his pieces. e8 13.0-0 f8 m a j o r i t y a t t a c k o n t h e q u e e n s i d e . d7
[ 13...cxd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 c7 19.b5! Otherwise Black will transfer this
16.c3 e6 17.d2 c6 18.ad1
Knight to e4 via f6. a6 20.a4 ed8
is not yet equal. ] 21.xd7 xd7 22.d4
14.ad1 g4!? 15.d2 c8!? with an overwhelming positional advantage
[ 15...d7! has ideas of ...Ne5, and 16.f4 in V. Ivanov - Ukolov, Moscow, 1995. ]
a5 prepares ...Nc5. ] 13.d4
16.g3!? cxd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5 [ 13.xg4 is not bad either: fxg4 14.ge2
d7 19.e2?! e5 15.dxe6 xe6 16.d4! The exchange
[ 19.fd1! c6 20.d4 g6 21.f4
of dark-squared bishops clearly favours
with the idea Bd4 keeps a grip on things, white. c8 17.0-0 e7 18.xg7 xg7
although W hite's advantage is hardly 19.h1 f5 20.d4 with an obvious
decisive after, say, e6 ] advantage for white, Moldovan - Bogdan,
19...c6 20.g5 e6 21.f4 e5
Romania, 1995. ]
Black has plenty of activity now. 22.g3 f5 13...e5 14.dxe6 xe6 15.f3 In my opinion
23.h3 a6 24.d3 e6 25.f4 e5 26.d3 this posit ion is simply bad f or B lack . e8
e6 27.f4 16.xg7 xg7 17.0-0 f7 18.d4+ f6
½-½ 19.fd1 ad8 20.g5 h6 21.xf7 xf7
22.xf6+ The endgame should be easily won.
xf6 23.f3 d7 24.d2 a6 25.cd1 e3
481 B03 26.e2 c8 27.f2 de7 28.h3 d5
Howell,James C 2525 29.cxd5 d6 30.d3 xd3 31.xd3 fe4+
Panchenko,Alexandar G 2480 32.xe4 xe4+ 33.f3 c7 34.g4 f6
Wichern-op Hamburgo (9) 1995 35.gxf5 gxf5 36.g3 c5 37.c3 a5
[Alexander Volzhin] 38.e3 g6 39.h4 h5 40.e5 f7 41.e3
f6 42.d4 b6 43.e7 f8 44.c7 f6
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 45.c6 d7 46.xf6+ xf6 47.e5
5.exd6 cxd6 This move is much more So, as we can see 8.. .Nc6 ha rdly so lve s
popular than 5...ed, but it would be too easy Black's problems.
to draw any conclusions about the relative 1-0
strengths of the moves from that! 6.c3 g6
7.e3 g7 8.c1 A very clever decision: first
of all white develops his queenside
overprotecting the knight on c3. c6 9.d5
e5 10.e2 0-0 11.b3 8.Rc1 made this
move possible. Now 12.f4 is an unpleasant
threat. f5
[ 11...ed7 was played once. 12.f3 f6
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
A2) 9...d7 10.f7+ d8; out of useful moves and has to now solve the
B) 7...a5?! 8.g5 xb3 9.axb3 d5 problem of the bishop on f8. g6 13.bd2
10.0-0 g6 11.f3 f6 12.e1 e7 14.dxc5 xc5 15.b3 The opening has
here Black felt obliged to return the pawn definitely been a success from White's point
with c6 13.xe6 xe6 14.xe6 of view - Black still hasn't got castled and it's
and W hite had a good game in not easy to achieve here h5
T h o rh a lls s o n , T (2 4 5 5 )-Hja rt a rso n , J [ for example after 15...a5 16.d4 0-0?
(2628) Reykjavik 2005 ] runs into 17.xg6! fxg6 18.xg6+ h8
6.f3!? 19.xh6+ g8 20.g6+ h8 21.f4!
[ 6.c3 feels a little slow but it worked well in with a winning attack ]
Ya n k o vs k y , R ( 2 4 0 0 ) - T a yl o r, T (2 2 7 9 ) 16.d4 h4 17.e3 f8 This hardly solves
Beverly Hills 2011 after e6?! after blocking the problem 18.b2?!
in the c8 bishop Black is left in a bad French [ White should've taken the opportunity to
- the knight is hardly ideally placed on b6. gain more space with 18.a5 a8 19.h3
( 6...f5 is more logical and now 7.f3 e6 c7 20.b4 5a6 21.d3 and Black has a
8.0-0 c5 9.e3 c6!? gives roughly equal miserable position ]
chances ) 7.f3 e7 8.c2 d7 and here 18...a5 19.fe1 a8?!
9.a4! would've given White a very pleasant [ 19...h3! 20.g3 g8 would still have been
game ] better for White but at least here the pawn
[ 6.f3 has not really been tried but White on h 3 wo uld give B lack som e p rac t ic a l
should be a little better, for example c6 chances. After 21.2f3 h5 22.ad1 f8
( 6...f5 7.h4! d7 8.0-0 e6 9.g4 the position remains tense ]
and Black has problems developing on the 20.ad1 c7 21.e2 b8 22.c4!
kingside ) 7.0-0 g4 8.c3 e6 9.h3 h5 W hite starts to open the game up and of
10.a4 and White has slightly the better course his pieces are far the better
chances. ] coordinated here. h7 23.b5 c6
6...e6 7.g3 This sets Black some practical [ 23...h3 was still a better option ]
problems - how to develop the Bishop on f8? 24.f3 g8 25.h3 Finally White prevents the
c5 last of Black's counterplay and also prepares
[ 7...c6! is a sensible answer to this to bring the knight into the attack with Nh2-g4
problem. After 8.e2 e7 9.0-0 f5 g7?! There's no good reason to put the king
10.h3 Black can develop freely with e7 on the same diagonal as the bishop on b2
( 10...h4 also leads to a balanced game )] 26.h2
8.c3 [ 26.xc7 xc7 27.cxd5 xd5 28.xd5!
[ 8.dxc5 isn't dangerous as after 6d7 exd5 29.e6+ was already very strong but
9.f3 xc5 Black has no problems ] perhaps White didn't feel like take a risk in
8...a6!? such a strong position. After f6 30.e5!
[ 8...c6 is more logical - Black doesn't is crushing ]
need to worry about 26...d7 27.c3 b6 28.g4 xb5?
A) 9.e2 is probably best and now f6!? This brings an abrupt end to the game but
leads to interesting play af ter ( 9...c7 Black's position was already very unpleasant.
is safer ) 10.exf6 xf6 11.0-0 although I [ 28...g8 was more stubborn when one
probably prefer White here; possible continuation is 29.d6 f8 30.f3
B) 9.dxc5 as it can always be met with a8 31.f4 and Black is still completely tied
d7 ] up ]
9.f3 d7 10.c2 h6 29.axb5 b7 30.cxd5 xd5 31.xd5
[ 10...c7 11.0-0 g6 was probably a better and here Black resigned
option although W hite has a good game [ after 31.xd5 exd5 32.e6+ Black is losing
after 12.e1 g7 13.a3 0-0 14.g5 ] a lot of material - for example f6 33.e7
11.a4! Seizing space on the queenside and c7 34.xf6+ xf6 35.xf6 xf6 36.e8
preventing Bb5. c8 12.0-0 Black is running xe8 37.xe8 and the bishop can't be
486
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
taken due to mate on e5. ] isn't pleasant viewing for Black. W hite has
1-0 two bishops and substantially the more active
pieces Black's d8 knight being a particular
eyesore. I don't think Black can go on
484 B03 entering this endgame. 25.a4 f6 26.b4 a6
Illescas Cordoba,Miguel 2624 27.d7 g5 28.g3 h5 29.b5 axb5 30.axb5
Baburin,Alexander 2523 xa1 31.xa1 cxb5 32.xb5 g6 33.e1
15th ETC Gothenburg SWE (9) 07.08.2005 f7 34.d7 c6 A wee bit desperate, but
[John Cox] I 'm s u re p a ss ive d e f e n c e wo u ld n 't h a v e
helped either. Black isn't exactly threatening
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 to move any of his pieces. 35.e6+ g7
5.f4 The Four Pawns Attack has been the 36.b1+- xd4 37.xb7+ h6 38.xd5
weapon of choice for 2600 players against d8 39.c4 f5 40.e4 d4+ 41.b5
t h e A le k h in e j u s t re ce n t l y, a n d wi t h f a i r xe4 42.fxe4 xg3 43.hxg3 e5 44.e7
success, following the example of Kotronias A grim defeat for a great supporter of the
a n d p e r h a p s e s p e c i a l l y D o m i n g u e z i n Alekhine. All of a sudden the 4PA is looking
Dominguez-Almeida. dxe5 6.fxe5 c6 more menacing than it has done for many
7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6 9.f3 g4 years. Isn't Sveshnikov supposed to have said
O n e o f B la c k 's m o st re sp e ct e d syst e m s that one day the 4PA will refute Alekhine's
against the Four Pawns Attack. 10.e2 xf3 Defence? That day surely can't be upon us,
11.gxf3 h4+ 12.f2 f4 13.c5 d5 can it?!
[ 13...d7 14.b5 is an alternative, which is 1-0
usually regarded as a little better for White. ]
14.xd5 exd5 15.d2 xd2+ 16.xd2 g6
17.e3 Strictly a novelty, I think, although I 485 B03
know ECO mentions it with approval. White Ivanchuk,Vassily 2787
must be for preference in this endgame in my Carlsen,Magnus 2714
opinion. World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (13) 21.11.2007
[ 17.f4 h6 18.e3 e7 19.d3 f5 [John Watson]
20.xf5 gxf5 21.hg1 d7 22.g3 ag8
23.b4 xg3 was Atalik-de Firmian, 2002, in 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
which de Firmian managed to draw after 5.exd6 exd6 6.c3 e7
losing a similar endgame to Timman the [ Baburin has played 6...c6!? , to avoid
previous year. ] Bd3, when 7.f3 g4 8.e2 e7 9.d5
17...f6 xf3 10.xf3 e5 11.e2 seems only
[ 17...e7 would be thematic of course, somewhat in White's favour. The game is
coming to f5, although one can see that just beginning. ]
t h e o m i s s i o n o f f 4 w o u l d g i v e W h i t e 7.d3 White has done well with this move
additional possibilities in the ending after over the past few years. c6 8.ge2 f6
an exchange on f5, especially of playing This bypasses
against the f5 pawn. Still I can't say that [ 8...0-0 9.0-0 f6 ( 9...e8 10.b3 f8 )
I'm wild about the positions arising after 10.c5! ]
the text either. ] 9.e3 0-0 10.b3
18.exf6 f7 19.b5 d8 The players agree [ Or 10.0-0 b4 11.b3 xd3 12.xd3
t h a t t h e e n d in g a f t e r B xc6 b xc 6 is t o b e g4 13.g3! and f3 will drive Black back to
avoided for Black. One can see that c7 is p a s s i v i t y . ( 13.f3 h5 14.g3 g6
going to be a long term problem, but Black h a s b e e n p l a ye d e ve n t h e n , f 4 - f 5 i s a
already has only a choice of evils, I fear. problem )]
20.d7 xf6 21.f4 e7 22.h3 c6 10...e8 11.0-0 g4 12.d2!
23.he1+ f7 24.d3 g7 After this very [ Or 12.c2 g6 13.d2 The point is that
natural sequence we can take stock, and it White avoids playing f3, which would only
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
And this was my improvement. 16.0-0 and the d6 pawn is a major thorn in
[ 10.dxc5?! is looked at in the archives in Black's side.;
Djurhuus, R (2484)-Agdestein, S (2588) B) 12...e7 when a sample line could run:
Asker 2000 by Carsten Hansen in which 13.0-0 0-0 14.d1 b4 15.e3 d3
White had a disaster. However I don't think 16.ab1 e8 17.b3 dxe5 18.fxe5 xe5
this is down to his first nine moves. ] 19.xe5 f6 20.xc4 xc3 21.d6
[ 10.e3 was played against Baburin in an and White keeps an edge. ]
earlier game which is also interesting. b4?! [ 11...b4 12.e4 dxe5 13.0-0!
T h i s a p p e a r s t o b e a n e r r o r . ( 10...cxd4 and Black cannot take the d5 pawn due to
11.xd4 c8 looks more to the point the d file pin. ]
although 12.d1 xc4 13.exd6 xd6 12.0-0 0-0 13.e4 This was the end of my
14.f5! gives White strong play for the pawn.; analysis and I believed W hite should have
10...d5 is also interesting: 11.cxd5 c4 some advantage with his greater space but
12.d1 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.a4+ the position is fairly typical of an Alekhine.
d7 15.xc4 c8 16.b3 b4 c7
and Black's control of the light squares gives [ 13...f5 14.e2 c7 15.d1 and Black
him certain compensation f or the pawn would struggle to find counterplay. ]
although White should be better.) 11.e2 14.d1 e8? Baburin overlooks my next.
dxe5 ( 11...cxd4 might be the better move [ After the game Alex lamented that he
order. ) 12.fxe5 ( 12.xe5! cxd4 13.d1 s h o u l d h a v e p l a y e d 14...f6 However I
d3 14.xd3 xd3+ 15.xd3 c7 16.b5 believe White still has the advantage after
favours W hite.) 12...cxd4 13.xd4 c6 15.a4 ( 15.e6 f5 is the idea when Black will
14.f2?! ( 14.0-0-0! is m o re crit ica l.) have the f6 square for the bishop.; 15.b3
14...b4 15.0-0 xc3 16.bxc3 d7 is another idea.) 15...a5 16.e3 a6
with an unclear middlegame, Eames, R 17.f2 b4 18.b5 and I like White's
(2 3 1 1 ) - B a b u r i n , A ( 2 5 1 9 ) B i r m i n g h a m position. ]
2006. ] 15.f5! It looked like the pawn had to stay on f4
10...exd5 Alex played this after a long think to keep my centre but Black cannot take on e5
and was already getting a little low on time. due to d5-d6 therefore my pawns roll on and
[ Before the game I also looked at 10...b4 Black is probably already lost. h8
but 11.e2 dxe5 12.a3! is highly [ 15...f6 16.e6 is truly hideous as the bishop
unpleasant ] on e7 is terrible. ]
[ 10...dxe5 11.0-0!? ( 11.e4 exd5 16.f4
12.cxd5 c4 13.xe5+ e7 14.xg7 f6 [ The immediate 16.f6! is also very strong:
15.g4 is also good for White.) 11...exd5 gxf6 17.exf6 xf6 18.f5! d8 19.e4
( 11...exf4 12.e4 e7 13.dxe6 0-0 e8 20.fg5 xg5 21.xg5 f6 22.b3!
14.xf4 is great for White.) 12.cxd5 c4 with a crushing attack. ]
13.e4 and White regains the e5 pawn with 16...d8? And this natural move loses.
a definite edge. ] [ 16...d8! was necessary. I could still
11.cxd5 continue with 17.f6!? ( 17.a4 is still a clear
[ Carsten only looked at 11.xd5 when dxe5 edge. ) 17...gxf6 18.exf6 xf6 19.f5
12.xe5?! ( 12.0-0! may still favour White.) is very dangerous for Black. In particular the
12...xd5 13.cxd5 c7 is fine for Black. Of logical g8 can be met by 20.xd6! xd6
course computers have advanced hugely in 21.e4 ]
the past ten years and so mistakes are to 17.f6! Now this is completely winning. gxf6
be expected. ] 18.exd6 xd6 19.f5! I was pleased with
11...e7 finding this move. Now Black cannot defend
[ 11...c4 is an important alternative. 12.e2 the f6 pawn. xf4
A) 12...dxe5 13.xe5+ e7 ( 13...e7 [ 19...e7 20.e1 wins at least a piece. ]
14.xg7 f6 15.g4 appears to favour [ The fact that the computer feels that Black
White. ) 14.d6! xe5+ 15.fxe5 b4 is f o rce d t o p la y 19...cxd5 giving up a
489
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
piece highlights the huge problems he has. ] times recently. 10.c1 c5 11.a3 cxd4
20.xf6+ g8 21.xf4 Material is back to 12.xd4 c6 13.xf5 exf5 14.f3
level and Black's king is too vulnerable to ( 14.e2!? doesn't appear to have been
survive. d7 played but xd1+ 15.xd1 xe5 16.b5
[ It wa s im p o rt a n t t o se e t h a t 21...cxd5 e7 17.b3 gives White good compensation
22.xd5 xd5 23.g5+ h8 24.xd5 for the pawn he has the better structure,
wins a piece. ] bishop pair and Black struggles to develop.)
[ 21...d7 was necessary to survive more 14...g6 15.e2 h6?! Inventive but
than a couple moves but 22.e5 xd5 dubious. ( 15...g7 looks ok for Black.)
23.g5+ h8 24.f6+ g8 25.g4 h5 16.d1 e7 17.xh6 h4+ 18.f2 xh6
26.d3 will be mate shortly. ] 19.c5 d7 20.b5 e7 21.d6 dxe5
22.e5 e7 23.d6! and Alex resigned. 22.b4! and Black's position was very ugly.
[ 23.d6 xd6 24.xd6 xd6 25.g3+ h8 Bogut, Z (2451)-Sale, S (2400) Sibenik
26.xf7+ xf7 27.xd6 wins the queen. A 2010. ]
very pleasant first win for me against Alex 10.e2 xf3 11.gxf3 h4+ 12.f2 f4
and proof that the Four Pawns can also be 13.c5 d7 After this I was actually on my
dangerous for Black! I think the ball's in own but in fact I see it has been played more
Black's court at the moment to find a path often.
to equality. ] [ I investigated 13...d5 14.xd5 exd5
1-0 15.d2 xd2+ ( 15...f5 was tried against
me in round 8 of the Reykjavik Open (just as
this update was going to press). I trie d
487 B03 16.0-0-0 a5 Black has a cheap threat of ...
Jones,Gawain C 2593 Nb4xa2 but in the long run a5 has created a
Short,Nigel D 2658 weakness on b5 which could prove highly
Bunratty Masters (4) 26.02.2011 important. 17.d3 d7 18.a3 a4 19.f4
[Gawain Jones] g6 20.hg1 h5 21.f1! h6 22.h3
xf4+ 23.b1 e7 24.e6 0-0-0 25.exf7+
1.e4 f6 A slight surprise. Of course I b8 26.xg6 xh2 27.e6 and my f pawn
remembered annotating Nigel's game against proved decisive. Jones, G (2578)-
Peter Leko from last year but more recently S ve s h n i k o v, V ( 2 3 7 9 ) Re yk ja vi k O p e n
he's been doing very well with the Caro-Kann 2011. ) 16.xd2 in Bologan, V (2684)-
as we have seen. I couldn't decide what line Rozentalis, E (2628) Mulhouse 2010 and
t o p la y b u t n o t ice d t h a t A d a m Hu n t wa s came to the conclusion that Black has a very
playing the Four Pawns Attack against Alex tough task to hold the draw. ]
Baburin on board three. Considering it was 14.c1 I decided that this way of trading
the third round of the day and I suspected queens was logical and see that most players
Nigel was tired, the Four Pawns seemed a have agreed with me.
good choice. 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 [ I felt 14.d2 xd2+ 15.xd2 0-0-0
5.f4 dxe5 would be rather awkward here as Black has
[ Alex played 5...f5 against me in the last a lot of pressure against d4. ]
round which we'll examine next. ] [ In the archives I see 14.b5 given a note
6.fxe5 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6 9.f3 of approval but Nigel told me after the game
g4 This has been the choice of the higher that he had come to the conclusion that 14.
rated players recently. Qc1 was the most challenging. e7 15.0-0
[ W e l o o k e d a t 9...e7 10.d5 exd5 h4?! 16.xc6 bxc6 17.a4 0-0 18.ad1
in Velimirovic, D (2425)-Cmilyte, V (2514) ab8 19.xh4 xh4 20.f2 fd8 21.xc6
Marianske Lazne 2010 when I came to the Koch, J (2500)-Konopka, M (2425) Clichy
conclusion that 11.cxd5 is a better response 1993 being the relevant game when Black
than 11. Bxb6. ] had nothing to show for the pawn. Perhaps
[ 9...b4 has also been seen a couple of I'll t ry this next time ! Howe ver I'm sure
490
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
Nigel had an improvement prepared the only d5 ( 20...h6 21.f3 keeps everything
problem he told me was he couldn't under control.) 21.xd5 exd5 22.b3 e7
remember his analysis. ] 23.h4 and White has a very comfortable
14...xc1+ edge. It might be possible for Black to hold
[ 14...f5 15.b1 and Black cannot really but it's a thankless task. ]
avoid the queen trade. The rook is very 20...exd5 21.xd5 xd5?! Logical,
well placed on b1 to prepare b4-b5. ] especially in the third game of the day, but
15.xc1 0-0-0 16.a3 A slightly odd move but now Black struggles for the rest of the game.
I wanted to be able to play Be2-c4 without [ 21...g5! would have generated good
allowing Black to repeat with ...Na5. counter-chances. 22.f6 This seems best
Meanwhile I m ight a lso pre ss wit h b2-b 4 ( 22.e6!? fxe6 23.xe7+ xe7 24.xe6+
gaining even more space. b8 25.fxg5 xg5 26.0-0 f6 and Black
[ 16.f4 has been the most common and has equalised.; 22.fxg5 xe5 23.a2 h6
probably better but I didn't want to fix my 24.gxh6 xd5 25.xd5 xh6 26.g3
pawns yet. I believe White should have the de8 27.0-0 e3+ 28.h1 xc5 29.xf7
advantage here with more space and the xf7 30.xf7 e7 is likely to be a draw.)
bishop pair but he has to be careful as the 22...xd1+ 23.xd1 gxf4 24.xf7 xe5
d4 and f4 pawns are long term liabilities. g6 25.e6+ d8 26.c2 7g6 27.f5
is the move that concerned me when Black and I would have strong compensation for
will continue ...Bh6 followed by rerouting the pawn but Black also has his chances. ]
his knights as in the game with ...Ndb8, ... 22.xd5
Ne 7 a n d . . . Nb c6 wh e n b o t h p a wn s a re [ 22.xd5 is the alternative but I wanted to
somewhat vulnerable. ] delay the rook trade. ]
16...db8 I breathed a sign of relief here. 22...h6 23.h4 d7
[ 16...f6 17.f4 g6 18.b4! favours White. [ During the game I wondered whether
h6 19.b5 e7 ( 19...xd4 20.xd4 xf4 23...xf4 might be best although following
21.d1 xe5 gives Black three pawns for 24.xd8 xd8 25.e6!? fxe6 26.g2
t h e p i e c e b u t 22.c6 is very pleasant for White must have an edge. ]
White. ) 20.c6! bxc6 21.bxc6 b6 22.a6+ 24.f1
b8 23.exf6 ed5 24.e4 is very good [ I also considered 24.0-0 but I thought d8
for White. ] would be ok for Black. The main problem is
[ 16...g6 looks best. 17.e3 was my idea that now I cannot swap rooks easily as the
but as he was thinking it occurred to me that f1 rook is tied down to the f4 pawn. ]
( I should probably ignore Black with 17.c4 24...e8 25.f6 d8 26.b4 The opening
h6 18.d1 but e7 19.0-0 f5 20.fe1 has definitely been a success for White. Black
f4 certainly looks playable for Black.) is very passive and can only hope to grovel a
17...f6 is rather annoying as 18.f4 h6 draw. White's extra space helps but the main
is good for Black. You can see already how trump is the bishop pair. f8 So Nigel tries to
easy it is for White's position to go wrong. ] get rid of my bishop. 27.g2 e7 28.h3
17.d1 e7 18.f4 bc6 So Nigel has e6 29.xd7 Again I made this choice as it's
managed his typical knight manoeuvre for the the risk free continuation, keeping a definite
variation but White can stop Black taking any edge without any real chance of losing.
im p o rt a n t s q u a re s . 19.c4 g6 20.d5 [ The computer wants to play the illogical
I thought this was safest as, from a purely looking 29.f2 but trying to calculate ed8
s t r a t e g i c p o i n t o f vi e w, o p e n i n g u p t h e 30.xd7 xd7 31.d1+ e8 32.xd8+
position for the bishop pair and removing the xd8 33.xe6 fxe6 short on time and late
d5 outpost from Black, this change of at night isn't ideal. ( 33...xf6 34.exf6! fxe6
structure must favour W hite. However this 35.f3 e8 36.e4 f7 37.e5
allows Nigel a chance at equalising. and W hite wins as Black has less waiting
[ I s h o u l d h a v e w a i t e d w i t h 20.e2 moves. )]
which was the other move on my shortlist. 29...xd7 30.f5 gxf5 31.xf5 d8
491
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ Perhaps Nigel should have tried to generate B2) 40...c7 41.g5 d7 42.h4 e6
some counterplay on the queenside with 43.h5 e5 44.h6 xf6 45.xh7+- ]
31...b6 although it will still be similar to the 38.c3 g6 39.d4 bxc5
game. ] [ The computer prefers 39...e5 but I can't
32.d2 c6 33.h5 xf6 34.exf6 f8 see how it differs after 40.f5 ]
This was the position I was envisaging when I 40.bxc5 e5 41.f5
played my 27th move. Black is passively [ Of course I wanted to play 41.xd8 xd8
placed and the bishop is better than the knight. but after 42.d4 Otherwise Black can play
Also the c6 pawn is stuck on a light square ...Nd7 and his king reaches e6 before mine
while h7 is vulnerable so I decided a rook can get to e5. f3+ 43.e3 xh2 44.f4
trade would give me great chances. 35.h4 h5 45.g3 g4 46.xg4 hxg4 47.xg4
Preventing 35...Re4 and preparing Kd3, Re4. c7 and this seemed to be a draw to me.
b6 However the computer points out that this is
[ Nigel could have tried to activate his rook s t i l l a wi n : 48.f4 d7 49.f5 c7
with 35...e5 but I thought 36.g4 h5 50.e5 d7 51.a4 a5 52.f5 e8
( 36...g6 isn't playable as after 37.d4+ 53.g5 f8 54.h6 g8 55.h5! f8
White takes over the d7 square.) 37.g8 56.g5 and Black's in zugzwang as e8
e8 38.c8 should be good for White. The ( 56...g8 57.f5 h7 58.e5 g6
line might continue xh2+ 39.d3 h6 59.d6 ) 57.h6 d7 58.h7! e6
40.xb7 xf6 41.b5! cxb5 42.c6 f3+ 59.g7+- ]
43.d4 f4+ 44.d5 c4 45.d6 41...h5 42.h3 d7 43.xd7 xd7 44.c4!
when it looks like it should be lost for Black. ] [ The immediate 44.d3? is an error as now
36.d3 d5! 45.xd5 cxd5 46.d4 c6 47.h4 a6
[ 36.cxb6 axb6 37.g4 e6 38.a4 48.a4 a5 and this time White is in
is R y b k a ' s s u g g e s t i o n b u t I wa n t e d t o zugzwang. ]
c o n t in u e m y p l a n o f t ra d in g ro o ks a n d 44...d8 We already know that the king and
keeping his c6 pawn fixed. ] pawn ending is a win as long as Black cannot
36...c7 37.e4! The culmination of my plan. get his king to e6. Therefore I need to get my
d8+ king to e4 before trading rooks. 45.d3! c8
[ O f c o u r s e I h a d t o c a l c u l a t e 37...xe4 46.e4 b7 47.e5 c7 48.a4!
38.xe4 Keeping his rook tied down to the a7 pawn.
A) 38...bxc5 39.bxc5 g6 40.f5 h6 d7 49.h4 c7 50.f5 d7 51.g5 a5
41.g4 h4+ 42.e4 g6 43.h5 h8 52.e4 and White is winning as h5 drops. In
44.e5 a5 ( 44...d7 45.g4+ c7 fact I was very short on time by now and only
46.f5 a6 47.f4+- ) 45.xf7! xf7+ surviving on a 10 second a move increment
46.e6 g5+ 47.e7 and White has an and so stopped noting my moves but
easily winning king and pawn endgame.; eventually converted the whole point. It seems
B) 38...d7 Not forced but otherwise I to be that Black still has some problems in
don't see how Black gets his knight into this line and struggles to equalise.
the game. 39.xd7 xd7 40.f5 1-0
and Black ultimately can't defend against
Kg5, h4, h5 and Kh6xh7. The problem for
Black is I can triangulate with Ke5, f4, f5 i. 488 B03
e. Kam Lee Question
B1) 40...bxc5 41.bxc5 h6 42.h4 a6 Voronezh Alekhine Defence
( 42...h5 43.a4 a5 44.e5 c7 [John Watson]
45.f4! d7 46.f5 c7 47.g5+- )
43.a4 a5 44.e5 c7 45.f4 d7 Reader Kam Lee sent me a question about
46.f5 c7 47.g4 d7 48.h5 the line 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4
e6 49.xh6 xf6 50.h5 and White b6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.c3 g6 7.e3 g7
wins.; 8.c1 0-0 9.b3 f5 "I was wondering if you
492
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
have any literature about this variation? I [ b) Perhaps the best move is simply
have read [a book] which shows that 10 g3 is 10...c6 : 11.g2 ( 11.d5 e5 12.g2
a big headache, but it seems Black is able to bd7! 13.ge2 c5 14.0-0 d7
attain dynamic play with [the variation below]. looks playable for Black) 11...e5 12.dxe5
I have analysed this variation with Fritz 7 [...] dxe5 13.xd8 xd8 14.c5?! ( 14.ge2 )
Do you know of other people who have 14...d7 15.ge2 e4! 16.0-0 de5
researched this line? I have checked the 17.b5 b4 18.g5? d7 19.a3 bd3
forum and the continuation with 9... f5 is not 20.c2 f8 21.e3 a6 22.bc3 g4
comprehensively discussed." First, I should 23.a4 xe3 24.fxe3 Rahal, M-Torrecillas
confess that 9...f5 has been neglected in this Martinez, A, Spain 2004 and Black was
column, by both me and my predecessors. It b e t t e r a f t e r 2 4 . . . R c 7 a n y w a y , b u t d8
keeps popping up as an alternative to the 25.b6 b8 26.b4 a5 27.b1 axb4
main line 9...e5, but has run into some 28.axb4 e6 shows the bishop pair at
serious problems. Let's follow Kam Lee's work. ]
analysis, into which I'll mix some theory: 10.g3 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.xd8 xd8 13.c5 f4!?
[ a ) A n o t h e r i m p o r t a n t m o v e i s 10.h3 [ 13...6d7 14.c4+ h8 15.b5 c6
which hasn't been fully solved as far as I 16.d6 will win something. ]
can tell, for example, h6 ( 10...c6 11.d5 14.d2 6d7 15.c4+ f8
e5 12.e2 bd7 13.0-0 f6 14.f4 f7 [ 15...h8 16.b5!? ( 16.e4! looks very
15.f2 h5 16.h3 a6 17.a4 e5 18.dxe6 strong - a terrific outpost) 16...xc5 17.c7
xe6 19.f3 with a nice advantage, b6 18.xa8 b7 19.f3 xa8 (Black has
Fedorowicz-Shabalov, Tulsa 2008) 11.f4!? compensation) 20.b4 e4!? 21.fxe4 xe4
( 11.g3 c6 12.g2 e5 i s n ' t c l e a r) 22.h3 xh1 23.g5 Pavasovic-Bawart,
11...e6 12.d5 f7 13.e2 e8 14.0-0 Bled 1998 W hite stands better after c8
e6 15.dxe6 xe6 ( 15...xe6 16.d4 24.f7+ g8 25.d6+ ( 25.xe5+ f8 )
xd4+ 17.xd4 c6 18.f2 d7 19.f3 25...xc4 26.xc4 c6 27.gxf4 exf4
c5 20.cd1 should favour White) 16.d4 28.xf4 d5 29.b5! ]
xd4+ 17.xd4 c6 18.f2 with a limited 16.d5 Now Nc7 is impossible to prevent,
advantage, Malisauskas-Kupreichik, with the ideas of Nxa8 and the fork on e6. Mr
Moscow 1994. ] Lee suggests h6 , with indirect pressure on
[ b) Even 10.f3 f4 ( 10...e5?! 11.dxe5 d2. This might be particularly intimidating in
dxe5 12.xd8 xd8 13.c5 6d7 14.c4+ practice, but with the help of my computer,
f8 15.g5 f6 16.f7 e8 17.b5 ) I've come to doubt that this it's good enough
11.d2 , which appears fine for Black, has after 17.c7 f6
had some success for White, for example, [ I t w o u l d b e g r e a t i f 17...xc5
c6 12.d5 e5 13.xe5! xe5 14.e2 worked, because there are ideas of ..Rxd2
e6 15.dxe6 ( 15.f3!? ) 15...xe6 16.f3 and even ...fxg3 and ...g2! But it looks like
d5!? ( 16...d7 ) 17.cxd5 ( 17.c5 d4! ) W h i t e h a s t i m e t o p l a y 18.gxf4! b6
17...xd5 18.xd5 xd5 19.b4 xf3 ( 18...xd2 19.xd2 xf4+ 20.d1 xc1
20.xf3 V Ivanov-Chekhov, Moscow 1995, 21.xc1 b6 22.e2; 18...b5 19.xb5
and here Chekov suggests f7 21.0-0 f6 xd2 20.xc5! xa2 21.xa8 b7 22.f3 )
22.fd1 wi t h a li g h t e d g e , wh e n d8 19.e2 b7 20.g1 c6 21.xa8 xa8
( 22...d4 looks almost equal.) 23.xd8+ 22.d1 and Black lacks compensation. ]
xd8 should suffice to draw. ] 18.d1 e4 With some interesting-looking
10...e5 threats, but again, the calm response 19.gxf4
[ 10...h8 11.d5 e5 12.dxe6 xe6 is good: b5 (o r 1 9 . . . b 6 ) 20.cxb6 xd2
looks similar to the last note and ...Kh8 21.xd2 xd2 22.xd2 b7 23.f3
doesn't seem to help, e.g., 13.ge2 c6 , and White wins material, for example, axb6
14.g2 e7 15.d2 ad8 16.g5 f6 24.xa8 xa8 25.e2 xf4 26.h3 h6
17.xf6+ xf6 18.0-0 with a nice grip 27.d1 e7 , and if nothing else, 28.f2
Fressinet, L -Beudaert, X, Bordeaux 2005. ] c6 29.d5 b7 30.e4 dominates the
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
position. So 9...f5 still seems a bit dubious, move is good because all the alternatives
which is not to say that it can't be revived by are bad! 24.xb4 cxb2+ 25.b1
the right ideas. ( 25.xb2?? c8+ 26.b1 e4+ )
25...d5! 26.c4 f2! and I can't see any
way for W hite to make progress. 27.c8+
489 B03 f8 28.c4 f2 ]
Klinger,Josef 2495 24.e2!
Herndl,Harald 2325 [ After 24.e4?! interesting complications
ch Austria (4) 1985 could arise: xa2+ 25.c2 f2+ 26.b3
[Alexander Volzhin] xb2+ 27.a3 xb5 28.xe5 xe5
29.xa2 c4+ 30.b3 b5 with an unclear
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 position! ]
5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6 24...c7 25.e6+ h8 26.f1!! The point.
9.f3 e7 10.d5 exd5 11.cxd5 b4 Probably Black underestimated this move.
12.d4 d7 13.e6 The most dangerous Now the weakness of the back rank is
continuation. fxe6 14.dxe6 c6 15.g4 decisive. g8 It's difficult to find another
[ 15.h5+ g6 16.e2 ( 16.h6 h4+ square for the Rook:
17.g3 g5 ) 16...f6 17.c5 4d5 ] [ the exchange leads to a quick mate:
15...h4+ Black has to play this move which 26...xf1+ 27.xf1 h6 28.h3 hxg5
leads to wild complications- he has no choice! 29.e8+ h7 30.f5+ g6 31.xg6+ h8
[ 15...0-0 16.0-0-0 is simply bad for black. ] 32.h6+ g8 33.e6++- winning ]
16.g3 xh1 17.gxh4 [ and 26...c8 fails to 27.e8
[ White has tried 17.b5+ once, but Black with unavoidable mate. xa2+ 28.b1
found a sufficient defence: c6 18.0-0-0 0-0 xc3+ 29.bxc3+- mating ]
19.gxh4 h5! The only defence, as 27.f4! c8 28.xc8 xc8 29.c7!!
( 19...cxb5 lo s e s a t o n c e : 20.f5 f6 Another nice blow with the same idea: the
21.d4! ) 20.g3 cxb5 21.g5 ( Here w e a k n e s s o f t h e b a c k r a n k . xa2+!?
21.g1 is not good: f6 22.f5 xa2+! Other moves lose as well:
23.xa2 ac8+ 24.d1 f3+! ) 21...b8! [ 29...4d5 30.xd5 xd5 31.b1! xc7
22.e7 e8 23.xh1 xg3 24.hxg3 32.c1+- winning ]
and Black is slightly better, although White [ 29...a8 30.d7 g8 31.xa5+-
managed to hold the position in Velimirovic - winning ]
Kovacevic, 1984. ] [ 29...dxc3 30.xb6 xa2+ 31.c2 b4+
17...0-0 18.0-0-0 f6 19.b5 e5 32.b3 c2 33.xa5 c1 34.xc1 xc1
The alternatives are bad: 35.xb4+- winning ]
[ 19...f3 20.xf3 xf3 21.xf3 xf3 30.xa2 xc7+ 31.d2 g8 32.f4+-
22.xb6+- winning ] The endgame is easily won for W hite. c5
[ 19...c6 20.g5 e5 21.e7 fe8 33.e2 d5 34.b3! h6 35.g4 h7
22.f5+- winning ] 36.d3 b5 37.f5+ h8 38.e6 e5
20.g5! c5 21.e7 cxd4 22.exf8+ xf8 39.f8+ h7 40.f5+ g6 41.f7+ g8
23.xh1 During the previous ten moves both 42.xg6 d5 43.xb7 d7 44.e4 e5+
sides made the only moves. Now Black has 45.d2 d6 46.b5 g4 47.xa5 xh2
some cho ice, and he choo ses the wron g 48.d5+ g7 49.d3
move! a5? This move loses by force, 1-0
although White should play very accurately,
as there are some tricks. Let's consider other
possibilities:
[ 23...c5 is bad : 24.e6+ h8 25.e7
xa2+ 26.c2!! f2+ 27.b3! c7
28.d6! and White wins. ]
[ Black should play 23...dxc3! First of all this
494
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
495
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
neat knight pirouette 26.xc4 bxc5 27.b2 12.d2 c6? He's making it up as he goes
e4 28.a4 ] along....it seems. Theory independent of the
25.xb5 xc5 26.bxc4 xc4 27.g4 last note runs :
xb5 28.xc4 White evidently stands slightly [ 12...g6 13.e1! c5 14.a3 ( 14.f4!?
better here but Black's well centralised army cxd4 15.xd4 c8 16.a3 c6 17.axb4
should be able to cope. d4 29.cc1 f5 xd4 18.xa7 c2 19.c1 c7 20.c5
30.h3 d5 31.c7 a5 32.h2 e6 33.e7 xb4!! 21.cxb6 xb6+ 22.h1 xa7
f4 34.xf4 xf4 35.g5 xf2 36.7xe5 23.xb4 e3! ) 14...xc3 15.bxc3 c8
d6 37.g3 f6 38.xa5 xg3+ 39.xg3 16.c1 e7 17.h4 cxd4 ]
d3+ 40.h2 g7 41.e2 h5 42.a3 h6 13.de4 Of course White isn't interested in
43.a2 f4 44.a4 h4 45.a8 d1 repetition. d7 14.g3 g6 15.f4 ad8
In TWIC the game ends in a draw here: in fact 16.h4! Unsettling the Bishop on g6 seems to
it continued for over another hundred moves be the key to this line. xc3 17.bxc3 a5
and the best part of three hours. They breed 18.f1 c6 19.h5 c2 20.g4!
them tough in Mother Russia, though, and the departure of the Bishop has uncovered a
Ikonnikov managed to hang on despite v e r y s e n s i t i v e s p o t . axc4 21.xg7+
having mislaid a pawn during the time Oh ! Qf6+ and Bh6 is not to be denied.
scramble. White seems to have pretty good 1-0
winning chances to me after 46 g3, but it
wasn't to be.
½-½ 492 B03
Kondenko,Alexey 2242
Volkov,Andrei 2209
491 B03 Voronezh FIDE Open (5.3) 16.06.2011
Kobese,Watu 2400 [Milos Pavlovic]
Bouah,Lyndon 2175
ch-Kempton Park RSA (8) 2003 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
[Andrew Martin] 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6
9.f3 e7 10.e2 The Four Pawns Attack is
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 always a dangerous set up in Alekhine's, this
5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6 time White chooses a modest line but there is
9.f3 b4 I think I prefer this line without... still some play here. 0-0 11.0-0 f6 12.exf6
Nc6 thrown in (5...Bf5 etc) . xf6 13.d2 e7 14.ad1 ad8 15.c1
[ 9...b4 He changed his mind after the h8
coming debacle. 10.c1 c5 11.a3 cxd4 [ A recent idea to put pressure on d4 directly
12.xd4 c6 13.xc6 bxc6 14.f3 c7 is not that good: 15...g4 16.e4 c8
15.b5 cxb5 16.xb6 xe5+ 17.e3 17.xf6+ gxf6 18.h3 h5 19.fe1 b8
d6 18.d4 xe3+ 19.xe3 bxc4 20.f2 g7 21.h4 xe2 22.xe2 de8
20.xc4 0-0 21.0-0 e5 22.f2 fc8 23.d3 h8 24.de3 Piscopo, P-Sorbera,
23.b4 c7 24.d2 h6 25.g3 ac8 26.c5 G Forni di Sopra ITA 2011, although the
xc5 27.bxc5 xc5 28.f2 f6 29.h4 g5 game ended in a draw W hite is obviously
30.h5 g4 31.xe6 xc1 32.xf5 c3 much better at this stage. ]
33.d3 1/2-1/2 Bhawoodien,S-Bouah,L/ch- 16.h1 h6 17.h3 h7
RSA, Kempton Park RSA 2003 More [ Relevant: 17...g6 18.b3 a6 preventing
acceptable . ] c5 -B b 5 i d e a s 19.g1 d7 and now my
10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 a5 suggestion looks promising: originally in one
[ 11...xc3 is an older line. Perhaps there's game was played the more cautious:
no need yet to be so committal. 12.bxc3 A) 20.d3N xd3 ( 20...h5 21.e3!
a5 13.d2 d7 14.f4 g6 15.f1 c5 xd4 22.xd4 xd4 23.e2! xe2
16.b3 a4 17.xc5 c6 18.h4! 24.xe2 White is winning.) 21.xd3 c8
White's better here for sure. ] 22.dd1 with a small but in my opinion
496
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
lasting pressure as White's pawn structure xg2 63.c6 f6 64.c8 h3 65.h8 h2
is better than Black's.; 0-1
B) 20.fe1 f7 21.f1 e7 22.fe1
f7 23.f1 A draw was agreed in
Zilberstein, D -Baburin, A San Fransisco 493 B03
2007. ] Kornilovich,D 2166
18.g1 d7 19.fe1N An interesting idea. Deviatkin,Andrei 2512
[ Some earlier examples: 19.d2 fd8 XII TCh-1st League (6) 07.02.2005
20.fd1 e8 21.b3 e7 22.d3 xd3 [John Cox]
23.xd3 g6 24.f4 c5 25.e4 e5
A) 26.dxe5 g5 ( 26...xd3 27.xd3 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
xd3 28.exf6 gxf6 29.xc5 This position 5.f4 g5 Oh yes indeedy! Deviatkin is a new
is also promising for White.) 27.xd7 xf4 name to me, but he has been playing the
28.xd8+ h7 29.xc5 looks winning for Alekhine in delightfully offbeat fashion lately
White; (1 e4 Nf 6 2 e5 Nd5 3 d4 d6 4 Nf 3 Nb6 is
B) 26.xe5 xe5 27.xe5 c6 28.f4 another line he favours) and here becomes
cxd4 29.c5 f7 30.h4 df8 perhaps the highest-rated player ever t o
Simon, O -Velicka, P Cappelle la Grande venture this rather splendid move (unless
2002, here also White is better with the Pla n in c wa s o ve r 2 5 0 0 in 1 9 7 0 ? ). 6.exd6
simple 31.Bxd4. ] xd6 7.e2 The authorities are surprisingly
19...f7 20.c5 d5 21.b5 This is a key divided on the best way to ref ute Black's
id e a h e r e - b y p i n n in g t h e k n i g h t W h i t e cheeky 5...g5 but this certainly isn't it: the
prepares to control both the e-file and the e5- point of 6 exd6 was to play 7 c5 now when
square h5 22.d3? Going forward and Black plays 7...Qe6+ and now you can choose
then back is not to be recommended. - Hort thought 8 Qe2 was strong (probably
[ 22.h2! Is much more to the point, and in wrong - 8...Nd5 9 Qxe6 Bxe6 10 fxg5 Bg7 11
my opinion White can hope for something Nf 3 Nc6 1 2 Bb 5 Nd b4 is n ice f o r Blac k),
more then equality. e7 23.d2 a6 Davies gave 8 Kf2 (8...Nd5 9 Bc4 gxf4 10 Qf3
24.xc6 bxc6 25.e4 a complicated game c6 11 Bxf4 Qg6 unclear-Davies), I favoured 8
is ahead of us, but surely W hite has the Be2 (8...Nd5 9 fxg5 Bg7 10 Nf3 Nc6 11 Nc3
better chances here. ] 00 12 Qd2! is good for White according to me)
22...xd3 23.xd3 f5 24.dd1 g5 and unless my eyes deceive me Fritz likes 8
25.e4 g7 26.g3 g6 Black has easy Ne2 (No, I've no idea what he's thinking about
p l a y h e r e . 27.b1 xb1 28.xb1 f4 either). c5! 8.c3 xd4 9.xd4 cxd4
Black is already prepared to win a pawn that 10.b5 a6 11.fxg5
guarantees him a much better endgame, [ 11.xd4 g7 12.gf3 g4 13.e5 d7
which he was able to convert into a full point. is also fine for Black. ]
29.e4 xh3 30.e3 f4 31.b4 d5 11...e5 12.f3 g7 13.c5 d5 14.d6+
32.b5 d8 33.d2 h7 34.b3 c6 e7 15.xa6 bxa6 I believe I shall allow
[ 34...f6 35.e2 g4 ] myself an 'unclear' verdict. 16.0-0
35.e5 xe5 36.xe5 f6 37.c3 g4 [ White might have tried going straight for f5
38.e1 f6 39.e4 xe4 40.xe4 cxb5 with 16.h4 . Evidently if he can't make
41.xb5 ff7 42.h2 c6 43.b2 d8 something happen quickly he is rather likely
44.be2 d5 45.e1 fd7 46.c3 f5 to lose in the long run. ]
47.g3 g6 48.a5 b6 49.b4 bxc5 16...e6 17.d2 hd8 This is the trouble.
50.xc5 h5 51.b2 f6 52.b8 c6?! Black is just going to take on d6, and there's
53.e8 nothing much to be done about it. After that
[ 53.g8+ g7 54.e8 is not so clear. ] Black's small material investment doesn't
53...f5 54.f3 h4 55.e3 b7 56.c8? matter compared to his centre pawns, two
b1 57.xc6 e1+ 58.d3 xe4 59.e7 bishops and massive knight, while the e6
f7 60.xg5 g4 61.c5+ g6 62.e3 bishop keeps White's rooks out of the game,
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
since they can't get anywhere on the f-file and 494 B03
c6 is out of bounds on the c-file. 18.a5 xd6 Kortschnoj,Viktor 2575
19.cxd6+ xd6 20.d2 e3 21.fc1 d5 Miles,Anthony J 2595
22.c7 d3 I'm not sure about this. In Biel (12) 1992
conjunction with his next it's an [Alexander Volzhin]
understandable idea, but positionally it's
terrible. 22..Nxg2 or 22...e4 were alternatives. Some W hite players don't like the wild
23.ac1 c2 The plug, quite a trendy complications that are unavoidable in the
positional idea just now, but I'm not sure Fritz Four Pawns Attack. I can recommend them
isn't right that grabbing material with the following system. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5
[ 23...xg2 wasn't stronger. ] 3.c4 b6 4.d4 d6 5.exd6!? Currently this
24.1xc2 White's always going to be worse harmless looking move is very popular. Black
after this. has two possible recaptures. Let's deal with 5...
[ 24.c4+ e6 25.c3 (Fritz) puts up a ed first. exd6 6.c3 e7 7.f3!?
much better fight, hoping to trade the dark- /\\0-0-0 A very interesting idea.
squared bishops and perhaps bring the king [ Of course, White can castle kingside: 7.f3
to f2 and knight to e3 to exchange the c2 g4 8.e2 c6 9.d5 xf3 10.xf3 e5
knight and establish a blockade on the dark 11.e2 0-0 12.b3 f6 13.b2 g6 14.0-0
squares. ] d7 15.g3 Dvoiris-Kengis Barnaul 1988,
24...dxc2 25.xc2 h6!? In the long run you with a slight advantage. ]
wouldn't think W hite can hope to resist the 7...c6
connected pawns and the two bishops after [ I can recommend trying 7...c6!? intending
this, but he still has some surprising and d5, for example 8.e3 0-0 9.0-0-0 d5!
instructive resources.. 26.gxh6 xh6 27.f2 10.c5 6d7 with 11...b6 to follow with
f5 28.c4+? counterplay. ]
[ 28.c7+ e6 29.f3 was much better 8.e3 0-0 9.0-0-0 f5?! After this game 7.Qf3
and thematic: White has to aim to drive the became popular, and several games have
pawns on the light squares and blockade been played in this line since. In this position
them on the dark. Since e4? 30.d4+ f6 Black has tried various different moves:
31.c5 e3+ 32.e2 turns in White's favour [ 9...f6 10.h4 e6 11.b3 d5 12.c5 c8
Black is forced into something like 29...Rc8 13.h3 b6 14.g5! with a clear edge,
30 Rc3 Bxf3, when 31 gxf3 gives W hite Chernyshov - Kopylov, 1993. ]
decent chances to survive. ] [ 9...e6 10.c5! c4?! ( either 10...d7; or
28...e6 29.e3 e4 Now Black is back on 10...c8 should be preferred) 11.f4 f6
track. 30.c7 12.d5 4e5 13.e2 g6 14.e3 xc3
[ 30.c3!? ] 15.bxc3 f6 16.dxe6 xc3+ 17.c2
30...xe3+ 31.xe3 xg2-+ 32.g7 f4+ and White was winning in Leyva - Medina,
33.d3 c6 34.c7 d5 35.g5 e8 Cuba, 1994. ]
36.b3 b5+ 37.d2 e4 38.a4 d7 39.h4 10.g3 f4? Consistent but bad. 11.gxf4 f5
f5 40.g7 h3 41.e2 e6 42.f2 h6 12.c5! Probably Black missed this. Now
A throwback to the good old days when White W h i t e ' s a d v a n t a g e i s u n d i s p u t e d . d7
used to go for the Alekhine and chaotic games 13.h3! The exchange of light squared
like this were much commoner - nowadays it bishops clearly favours White. He intends d4-
can all be a bit too much like the Caro-Kann. I d5 and the transfer of the Knight to e6. h8
hope to see more of Mr Deviatkin. 14.d5 cb8
0-1 [ 14...b4? 15.xf5 xf5 16.e4+-
winning ]
[ 14...a5 15.xf5 xf5 16.e4 f8
17.b4+- winning ]
15.cxd6 cxd6 16.xf5 xf5 17.ge2
/\\Nd4-e6 f7
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[ 17...a5?! 18.e4 f7 19.e6 g8 [ 10.d5 exd5 11.cxd5 b4 12.d4 6xd5
20.d4 /\\Nf5+-winning ] 13.xd5 ( 13.xf5 xf5 14.xd5
18.hg1 0-0-0 ) 13...xd5 14.xf5 b4+
[ 18.d4 is not bad either. ] ( 14...0-0-0!? 15.d3 g6 ) 15.e2 0-0-0
18...a6 19.h5 16.d6+ xd6 17.xd5 f5 ]
[ 19.d4!? c8 20.e6 e8 21.b1 10...0-0-0
e5!? 22.h3 c4 23.d4 f6 24.xf6 [ 10...d8 11.0-0 g4 12.g5 ( 12.c5 d5
gxf6 25.h6+- winning ] 13.xd5 xd5 14.g5 xe2 15.xe2
19...e8 20.d4 c8 21.b1 ac5 d7 16.f2 d8= )
22.e6 f6 23.h3 fe4 A) Black must put his faith in the
[ 23...xe6? 24.dxe6 f8 25.g5 complications after 12...xc4!? 13.f2
/\\Rdg1+-winning ] ( 13.xf7 xe3 14.xd7 xd1 15.xd8+
24.d4 f6 25.xe4 xe4 26.e3! xd4 xd8 16.xg4 e3 ) 13...xd4!?
[ 26...c5 27.xf6 gxf6 28.f5+- ] 14.xg4 xe5 15.h3 e7 16.e3 h6
27.xd4 f6 28.xg7!+- winning 17.h5 g6 18.h4 c5 19.g3 xg5
[ 28.xg7? xg7 29.xf6 g6+ ] 20.xg5 ef3+ 21.gxf3 hxg5
28...e4+ A good memory and strong nerves are
[ 28...xg7 29.xf6 f8 30.d4+- required!;
winning ] B) 12...xe2? 13.xe2 xd4 14.xd4
29.xe4 xe4 30.e6 Straightforward xd4+ 15.h1 d7 16.ad1 xc4
technique. f5 17.f3 c6 18.ce4 d5 19.xf7 g8
[ 30...xf2 31.d4! ><Nf2 g8 ( 31...h3 20.fg5 h6 21.h7 b4 22.a3 a5
32.g3 f2 33.h3! /\\Rf 3+-winnin g) 23.xd5 exd5 24.hf6+ gxf6 25.xf6+
32.xg8+ xg8 33.c4+- winning ] d8 26.xg8 e6 27.f8+ e8
31.f3 f2 32.d2 h3 33.g4 h5 34.h4 28.xe8+ xe8 29.f6+ e7 30.xd7
g1 35.g5 e8 xd7 31.f6 d2 32.g4 d4 33.g2 d3
[ 35...g7 36.g2+- winning ] 34.f3 c1 35.xd3+ e6 36.b4 xe5
36.xh5+ g8 37.g2 e1+ 38.c2 e2+ 37.f3 c6 38.a4 b6 39.h4 b2 40.d7
39.xe2 xe2 40.e4! xf4 41.d2 d4 a5 41.bxa5 bxa5 42.a7 c3 43.h7
42.e3 f5 43.xd4 d2 44.e2 c1 45.a7
[ 43.xd4 xh5 44.f6++- winning ] 1-0 Hamalainen,S-Eriksson,J/TCh-FIN
1-0 2002 The last word has yet to be written
after 10..Rd8, but Black is only just
hanging on. ]
495 B03 11.0-0
Kotronias,Vasilios 2570 [ 11.d2 b4! ]
Short,Nigel D 2690 11...f6!? I think Nigel Short is trying to
Masters, Catalan Bay (5) 2003 surprise Kotronias with this rare continuation.
[Andrew Martin] Objectively, Black's concept is very dubious.
[ The more common 11...g4 also appears
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 bad: 12.c5! d5 13.xd5 xd5 14.b4!
5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6 e4 15.b3 xd4 16.xd4 xe2
9.f3 d7 A contributor to the forum asks 17.xe2 d3 18.a4 xe3+ 19.h1
about 9...Qd7. He doesn't like the forcing xe2 20.xa7 d2 21.a8+ d7
lines after 9...Be7 and prefers to enter a less 22.xb7 Minasian-Doncenk inasian-
played variation. 9...Qd7 attempts to step up Doncenk inasian-Doncenko USSR 1988
the pressure on d4 at the cost of an awkward Black is hemmed in and his King f ace s
Queen position. My feeling is that the line immediate peril. ]
works well if White tries to blast Black from 12.d5!? A sharp pawn sacrifice apparently
the board i.e. 10 d5?!, but after 10 Be2 Black originating from Mikenas, thus dating the
has serious problems to solve. 10.e2! variation!
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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62.f2 d3 63.c1 b5 64.e3 a6 xd8 14.c5 and Black has major
65.a1 c4 66.d4 b5 67.c5 e2 problems.;
68.d6 f5 69.e5 g4 70.f4 d3 71.e1 B2) Perhaps Black can exploit White's
g3 72.d4 c2 73.e6+ f7 74.h6 e4 slow 10 Be 2 b y 10...d5 11.c5 d7
75.xh4 xg2 76.h5 f6 77.e3 f1 12.xd5 db8! 13.c4 e6 14.c3!?
78.h4 h3 79.g5 g4 80.h5 xd4 15.ge2 f5 and White is only
1-0 very slightly better.;
B3) 10...d7!? 11.f3 f6 12.d5
b8 13.h3!? ( 13.0-0 and; 13.d4
500 B03 are more natural) 13...a5 14.0-0 d7
Leko,Peter 2749 15.d2 e8 To answer Bh6 by ...Bh8,
Ivanchuk,Vassily 2750 and perhaps to assist in ...e6 16.fd1
1st ACP World Rapid Cup rapid (4.4) 08.01.07 a6 17.d4 White has ways of
[John Watson] progressing on the queenside, and Black
can't undertake anything. The opening
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 has been a complete success for White.
5.exd6 cxd6 This is the riskier capture, which He converts after a tough defence from
has been more entertaining over the years h i s o p p o n e n t : c5 18.f3 c8
than 5...exd6. 6.c3 g6 7.e3 g7 8.c1 19.db5! h5 (there isn't much else to
This, the Voronezh System, is still giving do) 20.xc5 xc5 ( 20...dxc5 21.d6 )
Black f its. Recent solutions seem a little 21.a4 c8 22.b6 c5 23.xa8
unconvincing to me. Check out recent and xa8 24.e3 xe3 25.fxe3 f5 26.c5
archived ChessPub games, a few of which are dxc5 27.d6 exd6 28.xd6 e6
cited here. 0-0 9.b3 White has cleared the 29.xb7 a7 30.xc5 a4 31.a5
a1-h8 diagonal so as to be able to play d5, xa5 32.xa5 axb3 33.axb3 f8
and in the meantime, 9. . .d5? 10 c5 is bad 34.c4 c5 35.f2 f8 36.c6 h4
because the pawn on b3 prevents ...Nc4. 37.f3 g5 38.e2 g4 39.hxg4 xg4
W hite's is an absurdly time-consuming 40.d5 c8 41.f1 f6 42.d2 a6
manoeuvre that neglects kingside 43.f4 xc4 44.xc4 xe3+ 45.e2
development, but its prophylactic purpose is 1-0. ]
typically modern, and no clear solution has 10.e2 a6 11.f3 d7 12.0-0 c8
appeared. a5!? An awfully slow move. 13.d2 a4 If Black has to play this
Ivanchuk is clearly trying to avoid the better- (threatening nothing), things have gone badly.
known lines. But what does the move 14.fe1
accomplish? [ 14.h6 was another good move. ]
[ H Contreras-Bermudez, Bogota COL 2006 14...axb3 15.axb3 e8 16.h6 h8 17.h4!
was a typical strategic win for White: 9...c6 e5?! This creates serious weaknesses,
A) 10.d5 e5 11.e2! is normal, although to be fair there weren't any attractive
i n t e n d i n g f 4 ( U n n e c e s s a r y i s 11.h3 options, for example,
as reported by JR in this column : e8 [ a) 17...f5 18.d3 ( 18.h5!?; 18.g5 d7
12.e2 e6 13.dxe6 xe6 14.f3 d5! 19.h5 ) 18...d7 19.xf5 xf5 20.g5
and Black was doing well in Socko- , n o t m e re ly a t t a ckin g t h e e -p a wn , b u t
Rozentalis, Warsaw POL 2006 ); preparing moves such as Re4. ]
B) 10.e2!? was seen in H Contreras- [ b) Also sad-looking is 17...g4 , when one
Bermudez, Bogota COL 2006. The idea is idea among several is 18.f4 d7 19.c5!
to play 11 d5 Ne5 12 f4 and not allow ... with the idea dxc5 20.b5 ]
Ng4: 18.dxe5 dxe5
B1) 10...e5 11.f3! ( 11.dxe5 dxe5 [ 18...xe5 19.xe5 dxe5 20.e4 forces
12.c5 is a standard idea, although c5 21.xc5 xc5 22.e3 and Rcd1 is
White's bishop may not want to be on too strong. ]
e2 ) 11...f5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.xd8 19.g5
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502 B03 b u t W h i t e h a s s o m e a d va n t a g e h e r e
Leko,Peter 2739 14.h2!? ) 14.xd5! xb2? 15.xf6+
Short,Nigel D 2696 xf6 16.b3 and the knight is trapped. ]
Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (10) 27.01.2010 [ 9.f4 d7 10.e2 f6 11.0-0 0-0
[Gawain Jones] 12.d2 fe8 13.b3 h6 14.fe1 e7 15.a3
ae8 16.ad1 d5?! This just jumpstarts
1.e4 f6 Nigel plays another offbeat opening W h i t e ' s q u e e n s i d e p l a y . ( 16...h7
for us! 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 5.exd6 would leave Black very solidly placed but
exd6 it's hard to come up with an aggressive plan
[ More solid than 5...cxd6 ] for him. ) 17.c5! c8
6.c3 c6 7.h3 Deviating from the previous A) Missing the chance to play 18.xc7!
Hou Yifan-Short which John annotated last xc7 19.xd5 d7 20.xe7+
year. e7 8.f3 f5 This immediately hasn't ( 20.xf6+!? gxf6 21.d5 also looks a lot
been covered on ChessPublishing before. of fun for White.) 20...8xe7 21.d5 b8
9.d3 Leko's play is unusual in that he doesn't 22.c4;
develop his bishop to e3. This is a very quiet, B) 18.b4 e4? something had to be done
non critical move, happy to exchange light about Ne5 19.b5 d8 20.e5 xe5
squared bishops and just play the position 21.dxe5 e6 22.xe4 dxe4 23.g4
with slightly more space and try to outplay his was a quick defeat of the Kiwi IM who
opponent. Other moves which have been plays the Alekhine exclusively. 1-0
tried recently here: Steadman-Dive, Wanganui 2007 ]
[ 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 f6 11.e3 [ 9.d5 immediately is very committal e5
A) 11...e8 12.c1 h6 ( 9...b4 10.d4 g6 11.a3 a6 12.e2
A1) 13.c5!? dxc5 14.dxc5 0-0 13.0-0 f6 14.b4 c5!? Black will
A1a) 14...xd1 get typical compensation and try to prove
A1a1) 15.cxd1 so Black's can't that W hite has overreached.) 10.d4
play ...Bxb2 with tempo hitting the ( 10.xe5!? dxe5 11.d3 xd3 12.xd3
rook. xc3! 16.cxb6 f6 is a saf e attempt at a niggling edge f or
( 16...xb2!? ) 17.bxc7 e7=; White. ) 10...d7 Rather obliging. He was
A1a2) 15.fxd1 d7 16.d2 evidently scared that ( 10...g6 would allow
is a f ractio n b ett er f or W h ite bu t 11.f4 at some stage but it cannot be played
shouldn't trouble Black unduly.; i m m e d i a t e l y d u e t o h4+ 12.d2
A1b) 14...d7; exc4+-+ when it's check on c4 so no time
A2) 13.b3 a5 14.b5 g6 for the retaliation check on a4.) 11.b3 0-0
( 14...e7!= would attempt to exploit 12.e2 c5 13.dxc6 xc6 1-0 Hossain-
W hite's perilous state of his queen.) Krylov, Moscow 2008 (48) and here 14.0-0
15.c5 dxc5 16.dxc5 d5 17.xd5 would give W hite a small edge with
xd5 18.xb7 ( 18.c4 d7 19.fd1 potential pressure against d6. ]
although it's hardly anything.) 18...b4 [ 9.e3 would transpose to a couple games
19.xc7 xa2 20.g3 xb2 of the Irish Grandmaster, and Alekhine
had become double edged but after a expert Alexander Baburin examined in the
series of inaccuracies by both sides the archives. ]
game ended drawn in Sai-Shivananda, 9...d7 10.0-0 0-0 11.b3 f6 12.e2
Chennai 2010 (35); Leko's really trying to do without Be3! fe8
B) 11...h6 12.c1 d5 The typical 13.g3 g6
Alekhine break but it doesn't work so well [ 13...xd3 14.xd3 would threaten the
h e r e a s h a d W h i t e p l a y e d ( 12...e8 knight jump on h5 and so g6 would be
would transpose to 11...Re8) 13.c5 necessary. Therefore Short decides the
( Instead 13.b3 was played in Kotrotsos- doubled pawns are better defenders in front
K a l l i o , K a v a l a 2 0 0 5 1 / 2 - 1 / 2 ( 7 1 )) of his king. ]
13...c4? fails to ( 13...c8 is necessary 14.xg6 hxg6 15.g5 I suppose this proves
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
that Leko was right not to develop his bishop the knight while 32.f4 is a strong positional
earlier as it can go in one movement to g5 but threat. ]
White can hardly claim any advantage here. 31.e1 f5 32.f2 White's managed to hold
An opening success and it seems like the on to enough of the position for equality. g7
Alekhine is in as healthy a state as ever. xg5 33.g3 f4 34.c2 h4 35.h1 xh1
16.xg5 d5 Time for the thematic break. Of 36.xh1 f5 37.xf5 Now the position is
course this forces Black to lose time with the dead le vel an d t he rem ain ing mo ves are
knight but it isn't really doing anything on b6 superfluous. xf5 38.h6+ g6 39.xf5
a n y m o r e a s b 3 a n d c 4 t a k e a wa y a l l i t s xf5 40.g4+ e6 41.e3 g2+ 42.f2
potential squares. Once W hite plays c5 he f4 43.e3 g2+ 44.e2 f5 45.g3
loses flexibility with his pawn structure and f4+ 46.e3 fxg4 47.fxg4 d7 48.f1
has lost control of the b5 square and c7 49.d2 e6 50.f3 b6 51.cxb6+
weakened the d4 pawn. 17.c5 c8 18.f3 xb6 52.d3 a5 53.c3 b5 54.a3
8e7 the knight continues its path to a more a5 55.e5 b5 56.d7 f4 57.c5
active square. 19.e2 h3 58.d3 g1 59.d2 f3+ 60.e3
[ 19.e1 f5 would force the knight to h4 61.e5 g2+ 62.d2 f4 63.f3
retreat as 20.xf5 xf5 only favours Black. e6 64.c3 a5 65.e5 b6 66.d3
He will be able to take over control of the e c7 67.f3 b6 68.c2 b5 69.c3
file and start to pressure the d4 pawn. ] ½-½
19...f6!? Showing that Black is starting to think
of more than the half point. 20.c3 g5
This was the idea behind Black's previous. 503 B03
Short tries to exploit W hite's slightly Li,Chao 2622
weakened kingside with the h3 pawn, Leko Garma,Chito 2347
would prefer that pawn back on h2. g6-g5 1st WMSG Rapid Team rapid (6) 15.10.2008
also opened a path for the knight e7-g6-f4 [John Watson]
w h i c h m i g h t c o m e i n u s e f u l . 21.d3
Stopping t he knight . f7 22.fe1 a6 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
stopping either queen or knight using b5 while 5.exd6 cxd6 6.c3 g6 7.e3 g7 8.c1
Black tries attacking although 0-0 9.b3 e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.xd8 xd8
[ 22...g4 immediately is also possible. ] 12.c5 6d7 13.c4 c6 14.f3 h6
23.e3 g4! More dynamic than The old 'main line', instead of 14...Na5, which
[ 23...f5 24.xe8 ( 24.xg5+!? fxg5 we ' v e l o o k e d a t q u i t e a b i t . I t wo u l d b e
25.f3 is also interesting with the important interesting to see what Li Chao2 has in mind
point that cxd4? 26.xd4! and the knight there. At any rate, he prepared well for 14...
c a n n o t r e c a p t u r e .) 24...xe8 25.a3 h6.
which is almost level. ] [ A sample line that I found in the main line of
24.h2 gxh3 25.xh3 h8 26.xh8 xh8 14...a5 is 15.b5 ( 15.e2 -see the other
Black takes control of the h file and White has Li Chao2 game in this month's column)
to start being very careful. 27.d1 g5!? 15...c6! (as pointed out and analysed by
The second pawn goes to g5. 28.e2 g6 Mark Morss) is 16.d1 d4 17.xd4 exd4
[ 28...f5! looks strong here as White would 18.xd4 ( This exchange sac for a pawn is
have an extremely unpleasant task holding White's only realistic chance 18.xd4 xc5
on. Again the d4 weakness cripples White 19.xg7 xd1+ 20.xd1 xg7= )
and this is exactly what Black is aiming for 18...xd4 19.xd4 b6 20.c6 b8 21.e3
in this line. ] d6 , and now instead of 22 0-0, 22.c7
29.f3 ce7 A) 22...c6? let's White exploit Black's
[ 29...f5 would stop White's next and keep l o o s e p i e c e s , f o r e x a m p l e , 23.e4!?
Leko very passive. ] ( actually, 23.f4! e6+ 24.d2!
30.g4! c6 and Rd1 is probably clearest) 23...e6
[ 30...f5 31.f2 is a more active square for 24.g5 d6 25.f4 f6 26.e4! e6
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
and now Black has play for his pawn which 16...c8 17.b4
gives him equality, especially since White [ 17.d4 ]
cannot avoid either the rook coming in at d2 [ 17.d4 ]
or having his kingside pawns maimed by .... 17...b6 18.d4 e5 19.dxe6 fxe6 20.f3
Bxf3, for example; 18...f8 19.fd1 e6 b8 21.c5
20.c4 xc5 21.bxd4 g4 22.h3 xf3 [ 21.b5 axb5 22.dxb5 xb5 23.xb5 ]
23.xf3 e4 was another possibility which 21...bxc5 22.bxc5 e7 23.c6
also produces a very equal endgame: I've [ 23.e2 ]
continued this variation because the trick at 23...e8 24.c7!? Good enough, but
the end amuses me -) 19.bxd4 xc5 [ 24.d5! wins easily, e.g. ,
20.xc5 xd4 21.xd4 xd4 22.c7 A) but 24...xd5 25.xd5 xd4
Raetsky, A (2430)-Santo Roman, M (2394)/ ( 25...exd5 26.e6 ) 26.xe6+ f7
S a u t r o n F R A 2 0 0 4 a n d C o x g i v e s e6
27.xf7+ xf7 28.xd4 wins quickly;
23.f3 d2 with good counterplay. ] B) 24...exd5? 25.e6 xe6 26.c7 ]
17.fd1 f5!? Loosening. 24...xc7 25.d5 xd5 26.xd5?
[ But W hite keeps an edge af ter 17...f8 [ White's position is still dominant after
18.xd8 xd8 19.e4 c6 20.d6 ] 26.xc7! xc7 27.g5 f7 28.c1
18.g3!? w i t h i d e a s l i k e B d 8 a n d B g 4 . ( 28.d8
[ 18.b5 is good, with the idea f4 19.d2 is also good )]
e4 20.h4! ] 26...d7 27.c6?!
18...h7 19.d5 e4 20.d4 de5?! [ 27.b3! ]
[ 20...xd4! 21.xd4 e5 activates Black's 27...d8 28.g5 xd4 29.xe8 e5! 30.a4
pieces. ] f8
21.xc6 xc6 22.c7 xd1+ 23.xd1 [ 30...d5 ]
b8 24.c4 31.b3+ h8 32.xe7 xe7 33.c7 f6
[ 24.e8! e5 25.d6 ] White should still have a winning advantage,
24...b6? but this is a bit tricky. The details are not
[ 24...e5 ] important, but Black scrambles his way to a
25.cxb6 axb6 26.d6! b4 27.d8 c6 draw. 34.e2 c5 35.d3? e4 36.d1 f8
28.e8 e5 29.b5 d7 30.xb8 xb8 37.xc5 dxc5 38.e1 d4 39.xe4 xf2+
31.xb6 White's passed pawns are40.h1 f5 41.e5+ g7 42.e4 f5
monstrous. 43.xf5 xf5 44.a4 g3+ 45.g1 h5
1-0 46.h4 e2+ 47.h2 f4 48.xf4 xf4
49.c4 g5 50.xa6 gxh4 51.a4 g7 52.a5
e6 53.e2 d4 54.a6 c6 55.h3 f6
505 B03 56.xh4 e5 57.xh5 d4 58.g4 c4
Lie,Kjetil A 2536 59.g5 c3 60.d1 c5 61.f6 b6 62.g5
Lie,Espen 2404 b4 63.e6 d3 64.f5 b4 65.e6
ch-NOR Hamar NOR (4) 09.07.2007 d3 66.c2 f4+ 67.e5 h5 68.d3
[John Watson] g7 69.g6 h5 70.e4 a7 71.e3 b6
72.e2 g7 73.d3 h5 74.f3 a7
9...Nc6 against the Voronezh system has 75.g4 g7 76.g5 b6 77.f6 h5+
reappeared a few times recently (even in GM 78.e5 a7 79.d6 b6 80.d7 f4
play!). This game is an example of how that 81.g7 h5 82.g8 f4 83.e4 xa6
still seems to be a mistake. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 84.c6 a5 85.c5 a4 86.c4 e2
d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 5.exd6 cxd6 87.f6 a3 88.d5 b2 89.e3 c1
6.c3 g6 7.e3 g7 8.c1 0-0 9.b3 c6 90.d3 f4+ 91.xc3 e2+ 92.d3 f4+
10.d5 e5 11.e2 ed7 12.f3 f6 93.d4 e2+ 94.c4 f4 95.f1 d1
13.h3 d7 14.d2 e8 15.0-0 a6 16.fd1 96.d4 e1 97.e3 e2 98.f5 e6+
[ Or 16.fe1! Black's position is 99.e5 c5 100.b1 d3+ 101.d4 f2
prospectless. ] 102.h4 d2 103.g6 e2 104.h5+
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
d2 105.f3+ c2 106.g6+ d1 for example 24.e2 xe2 25.xe2 dxc3
107.f5 e2 108.e5 d2 109.g6 e2 26.bxc3 xa2+ 27.b2 f2 28.e1
110.h5+ d2 111.c4+ e1 112.e3 d5! and Black stays a pawn ahead;
d1+ 113.xd1 C) 16...0-0 17.0-0-0 ( 17.xc6!?
½-½ is a p o ssib le im p ro ve m e n t , e . g . c2+
18.e2 bxc6 19.xh4 xh4 20.gxh4
xa1 21.h3 c2 22.e7 fe8 23.c5
506 B03 and despite being an e xchange down
Luther,T 2556 White is clearly better. The knight on c2
Rozentalis,E 2622 is trapped and White's passed pawn on e7
TCh-AUT 1st Bundesliga 2013-14 (2.1) is very strong.) 17...xh1 18.gxh4 f6
[Tom Rendle] 19.b5 c6 20.g5 e5 21.e7 fe8
22.xh1 cxb5 23.f3 d3+ 24.c2
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 d6 25.d1 f2 26.xd6 xg4 27.d4
5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6 f6 28.h5 xe7 29.h6 d7 30.xf6
9.f3 e7 10.d5! This is considered the gxf6 31.g4+ f7 32.xb5 c8+
critical line of the four pawns attack. exd5 33.c3 g8 34.f4 d5 0-1 Grischuk, A
[ 10...b4 was tried by Rozentalis back in (2748)-Svidler, P (2726) Odessa UKR
2005 but 11.c1! ( instead 11.d4 g6 2009 ]
12.a3 a6 13.dxe6 0-0! gave Black 15...xd1+
dangerous play in Melnikova-Rozentalis [ 15...bxc6! is a little more risky but actually
annotated by John Cox in the archives.) seems to be a more accurate way of
11...exd5 12.a3 c5 ( 12...a6 13.cxd5 0-0 handling the position
14.b4 is obviously very comfortable for A) maybe W hite should settle for 16.a3
White ) 13.axb4 d4 14.xd4 cxd4 15.xd4 xd1+ ( 16...4d5?! 17.d3! is good for
b8 16.e2 gave White a clear advantage White ) 17.xd1 d8+ 18.c1 4d5
in Hector, J (2575)-Appel, R (2529) 19.xd5 xd5 20.c2 but Black is close
Dortmund 2011 ] to equalising here as well after g5!;
11.cxd5 b4 12.d4 d7 13.e6 fxe6 B) 16.f3 f8 17.e4 feels a bit more
14.dxe6 c6 15.xc6! This seems to be comfortable for W hite but perhaps this
White's best option to fight for an advantage position is OK for Black after the accurate
[ 15.g4 is very complicated but it seems d6! 18.e2 f6 19.d1 ( not 19.xh7
Black is doing OK here, at least f or the g6! and it's W hite who's in trouble)
moment h4+ 16.g3 19...6d5 ]
A) 16...f6? loses to 17.0-0-0 16.xd1 bxc6 We've reached the end of the
A1) or 17...xh1 18.f5 c8? opening phase and it seems to be that White
( 18...xd1+ 19.xd1 is completely lost has slightly the better chances. However, if
for Black ) 19.xg7+ with a mating Black manages to complete development and
attack; settle a knight on d5 he's going to be
A2) 17...6d5 18.xc6 bxc6 19.xd5 completely fine so White needs a good plan
xd5 20.c5 and White has an here.
overwhelming advantage; [ 16...c2+ 17.e2 xe3 18.xe3 bxc6
B) 16...xh1! seems to be most accurate 19.e2! is only a little better for White but he
17.0-0-0 0-0 18.gxh4 f6! 19.b5 e5 can certainly play for a win here with little
( 19...d5! 20.g5 e5 21.e7 f2 ) or no risk. ]
20.g5 c5 21.e7 cxd4 22.exf8+ xf8 [ 16...xc6 allows 17.xb6 axb6 18.d7
23.xh1 and now in Klinger-Herndl (from with a definite edge to White ]
the archives) Black could've obtained a 17.d2
g o o d g a m e w i t h ( 23.xd4 xa2+! [ 17.d2!? looks a bit strange but it may be
24.xa2 xb5 is at least OK for Black as the best try for an edge. A possible line is
25.xh1? loses to c6+ ) 23...a6! d8+ 18.c1 4d5 19.xd5 xd5
510
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511
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512
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abs olu tely f orced. L et's see if Bla ck ca n 28.h6 d4! 29.xf8 xe2+ 30.f1 xf8
defend more economically: 31.xe2 gxf5 With an invincible knight and
[ 14...b8 15.c6 d7 16.f3 d8! lots of central pawns, Black wins comfortably
17.b5 c7 ( 17...bxc6 18.bxc6 xc3+ now. 32.a8+ g7 33.d5 e4 34.b3
19.xc3 c7 20.d3 ) 18.e2 bxc6 a7 35.d4 a4 36.xb6 c2+ 37.f3
19.dxc6 White has obvious compensation. ] e5 38.e3 g5+ Not a great game at all but
[ 14...e5 15.c6 e8 16.b5 interesting for the opening notes if nothing
is no solution. It's remarkable: maybe Black else. A typical Open Tournament melee.
has to take on d4. ] 0-1
15.xd4 f6 16.f4 a5 White would quite like
a p a wn o n a 3 t o u n d e rp in h is s t ru c t u re .
17.b5 He aims to get his Knight on c6. 509 B03
Another way, and one which I think is quite Martin,K 1953
effective is Cox,John J 2385
[ 17.e2 b8 18.a2! Black appears to be 14th Monarch Assurance (3) 26.09.2005
i n s o m e t r o u b l e i n t h i s p o s i t i o n : c7 [John Cox]
( 18...a8 B a c k a g a i n ! 19.0-0! e8
20.e1 ) 19.0-0! That was the nice thing 1.e4 f6 This was another Tiger-Heffalump
about 17 Be2. W hite can play simply and contest from the Isle of Man, in which Black's
re t a in h is p lu se s. e8 20.e1 axb4 follies form a neat counterpoint to his follies in
21.xb4 bc5 22.ea1 Black has very the Tiviakov game. My first bad move was to
little to do here. ] spend the morning hindering Richard
17...b8 18.d2 axb4 19.xb4 dc5 Palliser's preparation in the Najdorf rather
20.e2 d7 21.0-0 a8 22.b1 a6?! than doing anything useful. 2.e5 d5 3.d4
Ambitious, but Rozentalis has shown d6 4.c4 b6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.c3 g6
throughout this game that he is prepared to 7.e3 g7 8.c1 0-0 9.b3 The Voronezh.
give the opponent as much rope as it takes to Not usually Katie Martin's choice - I suspect
hang himself. I would have whipped off the the hand of Oldham 3Cs supremo and British
Rook on a3 without delay: correspondence champion Phil Adams, who
[ 22...xa3 23.xa3 f5 24.b2 a8 w a s a l s o p l a y i n g i n t h e t o u r n a m e n t . e5
Black is quite OK now. ] 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.xd8 xd8 12.c5 6d7
23.d4 c7 24.c6? This is a clear mistake. 13.c4 c6 14.f3 a5 15.e2 b6
White would have maintained a big advantage 16.cxb6 Right down the main line. Regular
after forum visitors - or better still purchasers of the
[ 24.xa6! xa6 25.xb6 bc5 GW - will know that I don't rate this quite as
( 25...xb6 26.xb6 ac5 27.b3 ) devastating as its reputation. I did a database
26.xc7 xc7 27.b6 For me this is a for CBM 105 (I think) which dealt with this
simple enough variation, so it is a surprise line: I won't repeat what I said there but White
that White did not play this way. Maybe he now has three other tries:
was short of time. ] [ 16.b4 c6 17.b5 d4 18.c6 c5 19.0-0
24...xc6 25.dxc6? a6 20.fd1 e6 21.bxa6 xe2+ 22.xe2
[ 25.xa6 xa6 26.xb6! was much better, dc8 23.xc5 bxc5 24.xc5 xa6
wh e n W h it e h a s ve ry go o d ch a n c e s o f 25.xe5 xe5 26.xe5 cxc6 27.d4
s a v i n g t h e g a m e : xb6 ( 26...xd5 1/2-1/2 was Carlsson-Logdahl, Swedish
27.xc7 xc7 28.cxd5 c5 29.xc5 Champs 2001. ]
dxc5 30.c4 h8 31.b7 c8 32.f2 ) [ 16.0-0 bxc5 17.e4 c6 18.g5 f6
27.xb6 xd5 28.cxd5 ( 28.xa6? e4! ) 19.c4+ f8 20.d5 b7 21.d2 a5
28...ac5 29.f2 What do you deserve was Naiditsch -Grunberg, Antalya 2004, in
out of a game of chess if you fail to take wh i ch t h e Do r t m u n d h e r o wa s a l re a d y
repeated chances? ] struggling for a draw. ]
25...xa3 26.xa3 a5 27.f5 xc6 [ 16.a4 xc5 17.xc5 bxc5 18.xc5
513
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b7 19.c7 d7 ( 19...d6!? ) 20.xd7 better. Visually this is not an easy move to
xd7 21.0-0 a5 22.d1 e8 23.a4 d8 understand: the point is shown in a variation
24.b5 c6 25.f1 d4 26.xe8 xe8 like 4d5 22.xb6 xb6 ( 22...axb6
27.xd4 exd4 28.d2 was Dvoiris- 23.c4 ) 23.a5 d5 24.c4 : White just
Grunberg, Oberwart 2004, and precisely the wants to clear c4 for his bishop and get into
sort of thing Black needs to avoid. ] f7 in the way which is always in the air in
16...xb6 17.0-0 this variation. ]
[ The key game in this line with 16 cxb6 is 21...4d5
Varga-Llanos, Budapest 1998, which went [ There wasn't anything wrong with 21...xa2
17.b5 b7 18.0-0 d5 19.fd1 c6 : Black can rescue the knight easily enough,
20.xd5 xd5 21.c7 dd8 22.xa8 f or e xam ple 22.a1 d7 23.d6 c3
xa8 23.b5 d4 24.xd4 exd4 25.g5 24.xc3 e4 , but Simon Webb would advise
f6 26.d2 d5 27.c7 with another good Heffalumps against such adventures (this
example of what Black is trying to avoid (... may not look like much of an adventure to
Nd4 almost always promises more than it you, but when you calculate like me any
delivers in this line). However 19...Nxe3 20 tactical variation longer than three moves
fxe3 Rxd1 21 Rxd1 e4 22 Nfd4 Be5 (an tends to lead to an adventure). ]
improvement stemming from Finkel) gives 22.d6 c6 23.c1 f4 24.f1 xf3
Black a perfectly good game. ] Always a relief for the stronger player to
17...b7 18.fd1 c6 provoke a weakness like this, since he can
[ 18...xd1+ 19.xd1 c8 20.b5 d5 hope that if the compensating activity peters
21.xa7 ( 21.xa7 c2 22.d2 c1+ out he has something to play for in the end.
23.f1 f6 is much the same) 21...c2 25.gxf3 f8 26.xb6 axb6 27.c4 c5
22.d2 c1+ 23.d1 a1 gives Black at [ 27...xa2 28.xb6 e7 29.d7
least equality with the kind of play he often prevents Black from simply winning f2, so
seeks in this line by a sacrifice of the a- the choice between that and the text is a
pawn: the trouble in the present context is difficult one. ]
that 23 Rd1 is an immediate draw. ] 28.a4 d4 29.e3 a7 30.c6 g7
19.b5 Opening the above-mentioned 31.c4 d7 32.b4 h5 33.h4 Not clear this
database I see that I pointed out that White's was such a good idea: this pawn is all too
move order avoids the ..Nxe3 improvement on likely to drop off one day, and I suspect it was
Varga-Llanos and might be considered critical better to sit tight. a7 34.a5? A terrible
in the future. I was wrong of course, if 18... blunder just when Black's strategy of playing
Rxd1+ is indeed a good move. At the time of a series of improving moves and assuming a
the game however I was entirely oblivious of win would somehow present itself was
all this, and moreover had so far been beginning to hit the buffers: after 34 Bb5 or,
spending my time strolling around the room still more so, 34 Nc2 the outcome would have
between moves and waiting for my 400 point been very much in doubt, especially since
rating advantage to take effect instead of both players were in serious time trouble.
thinking, with the usual poor results. xd1+ bxa5 35.bxa5 xa5 36.c7 a7 37.xa7
This move was the product of 64 minutes' xa7 The two weaknesses at f2 and h4
agonised thought. 19...Nd5 is Varga-Llanos, should be enough for Black to win this ending
of course, not that I knew that at the time, but despite the wrong rook's-pawn/ bishop combo
I didn't fancy 19..Nd5 20 Rxd5 much. 20.xd1 and the opposite-coloured bishops, but as it
b4 21.c5 I like to boast that I have never happens White further spoils her position in
been worse out of the opening in the Alekhine, the scramble. 38.h2 c5 39.g3 a7
bu t o f c o urs e t his de p en d s u po n ca re f u l 40.d5 e6 41.f4 exf4+ 42.xf4 xf4
selection of what exactly is the 'opening'. On 43.xf4 xf2 44.g5 e3#
t h i s o c c a s i o n I s h a l l h a ve t o d e f i n e t h e 0-1
'opening' as ending after White's 21st, since
[ 21.a4 would have left White decidedly
514
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515
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14.xd4 cxd4 15.xd4 b8 16.xf5 21.e1 ae8 22.xf8+ xf8 23.b4!
xe5+ 17.e2 xf5 18.c5 d7 19.d5 cxb4 24.axb4 xe6 25.xe6 xe6
d8 20.c3 0-0 21.e3 e6 22.g4 f5 26.c5;
23.f3 f6 24.0-0 e4 25.xe4 B) 14...xf7 15.g4 c5 16.e6 g6
with advantage to White as in Velimirovic- with an extremely complicated position in
Marovic, Yugoslavia 1977. ] which Black has genuine chances for his
11...g6 12.a3 a6 pawn, for example. ( 16...h5 is worse:
[ 12...c5 13.xe6! fxe6 14.axb4 cxb4 17.xh5 xd4 18.d5 xd5 19.xd4
15.a4 0-0 ( 15...d7 is an insanely f4 20.e5 e7 21.0-0-0 ad8 22.g3
complicated alternative which generated, in xe6 23.h3 g5+ 24.xg5 xg5
Jon Speelman's phrase, 'pages of anarchy' 25.g2 )
all over the world after the game B1) 17.d1 i s a n a l t e r n a t i v e : e8
Ku p re ic hik -Gip slis, Mo sco w 19 7 2 . T h e 18.b4?! ( 18.e2 is more sensible, for
verdict is that White is probably better, but example xd4 19.xd4 c5 20.e5
if Black happens to have memorised the f5 21.d6 f6 22.f1 xe6 23.f8+
seven pages of analysis in Speelman's Best xf8 24.xe6+ f7 ) 18...xb4!
C h e s s G a m e s 1 9 7 0 - 8 0 ( i f yo u g e t t h e 19.axb4 xb4 20.c1 c5 21.db5 f5
c h a n c e b t w t h e n b u y t h is b o o k ) t h e n I 22.g3 xe6 23.c7 f6 24.g5
wouldn't give much for W hite's chances.) d4 25.e2 a4-+;
16.xb6 axb6 17.xa8 xa8 18.d6 B2) 17.0-0-0 e8 18.e1 d8
is the old main line which probably favours B2a) 19.d5 xd5 20.cxd5 xf1
White, although there have been dissenting ( 20...xd5 21.c4+- ) 21.hxf1 a4
v o i c e s i n t h e p a s t . T h e t e xt i s a l o n g - 22.e7 c4+ 23.d1 d3+=;
f o r go t t e n m o ve wh ic h wa s su p p o se d l y B2b) 19.b4 h5 20.d1 ( 20.h4
refuted by White's next. ] e7 21.g3 c5 ) 20...xd4 21.xd4
13.dxe6 0-0!? This is the idea. f4! ( 21...c5 22.e7 xd4
[ 13...fxe6 14.g4 and ] 23.exf8+ xf8 is probably good
[ 13...f6 14.c5 xc5 15.b5++- are given too )]
by various sources (for example Hort). ] 14...g5 15.d2
14.e2 These variations are scratching the [ 15.f2 c5 16.exf7+ xf7 17.f3 xc4
surface, but they are enough to make it clear was the alternative, and here I suspect that
that there is much to be discovered and that White retains at least some advantage. ]
Black has at the very least dangerous 15...xe3 16.xe3 c5 17.f3
compensation over the board. W hether it's [ 17.exf7+ xf7 18.f3 xc4 is similar
fully adequate we shall have to wait for further again I suspect that W hite would sooner
tests to see perhaps in a Dominguez- lose c4 than e5 and can claim a little
Rozentalis clash...... advantage here. ]
[ One cannot blame White for being terrified 17...fxe6 18.0-0 e7 19.ad1
when a much higher-rated player unleashed [ 19.b5 looks like the move. White ought to
a novel pawn sacrifice of this kind, but really threaten Nd6 before the a-rook has emerged
14.exf7+ has to be the critical move. I think from a8 (so that ...Nc8 disconnects the
Black's idea then is rooks), and she ought to do that from b5 not
A) 14...xf7 15.g4 c5 ( 15...c5 e4, because from b5 the knight both eyes
16.f3 f5 17.g3 d7 18.d1 e6 the a-pawn and sometimes prevents ..Nc7.
19.d5 is good for White) 16.0-0-0 e8 c7 ( 19...c8 20.ad1 c7 21.xc7
17.e6 e7 18.f3 ( 18.d5 xd5 xc7 22.g5+- ) 20.d6 d7 21.ad1 b6
19.cxd5 h5 20.h3 xd1 21.xa6 looks a fair bit better for W hite to me. In
bxa6 22.xd1 xd4 is not so clear) fact it's quite possible that White was right
18...xd4 19.xd4 c5 sees Black n o t t o g ra b t h e p a wn a n d h a s a c t u a ll y
managing to win his pawn back, but White played splendidly up to here. ]
gets a powerful initiative after 20.f2 f8 19...ad8 20.e4
516
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twice. Both times he chose the Exchange 13.f3 f5 queenside castles will follow,
Variation, and twice his opponents preferred and for the cost of only a pawn Black has
5... ed. Both games are of theoretical a growing initiative. ]
importance. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 11...xc3+ 12.bxc3 f6 For the cost of only
4.c4 b6 5.exd6 exd6 6.c3 c6!? a pawn Black has firmly seized the initiative.
A r e l a t i v e l y n e w i d e a . T h i s m o ve l o o k s White now has to solve some rather difficult
provocative, but it's by no means bad! The problems. 13.d2 c5 14.g5 The wise
idea behind the text is to prevent W hite's decision.
se tu p a s in th e p re vio us ga me (B d3 a n d [ 14.g3 f5 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 and Black has
Nge2). tremendous compensation for a pawn, and
[ A few rounds earlier Art Minasian had furthermore all his pieces are very active.
already played this position vs Nalbandian. Besides, White's King is seriously exposed. ]
His opponent went for 6...e7 but failed to 14...xg5 15.fxg5 f5 16.0-0-0 d3+
equalize completely. The game continued 17.xd3 xd3 18.c5! The only way to
7.d3 c6 8.ge2 g4 ( 8...b4 maintain the balance, otherwise W hite will
-this sortie leads Black nowhere as after lose both central pawns. xd5 Very solid.
9.b1 the c4-pawn cannot be taken: xc4? Now the draw is obvious.
10.a4+ ) 9.f3 h5 10.0-0 g6 11.xg6 [ 18...dxc5 is more ambitious, with a double-
hxg6 12.b3 and White is slightly better and edged position after 19.f4 c4 20.xc7
in due course quickly outplayed his xd5 21.e5 g8 although I prefer Black
opponent f6 13.e4 d5 This advance is here. ]
typical for such pawn structures but 19.cxd6 cxd6 20.h3 c8 21.f4 xf4
unfortunately it doesn't work here. 14.xf6+ 22.xf4 xc3+ 23.b2 c2+ 24.b3 f2
xf6 15.c5 c8 16.f4 d7 ( 16...d8 25.xd3 xf4
with the idea to castle kingside deserved [ The 4 Rooks ending is dead equal, so the
serious attention) 17.d2 h4 18.b4 a6 p la ye rs n o w a g re e d t o a d ra w. 25...xf4
19.a4 d8 20.b5 with a huge advantage. ] 26.xd6 0-0 Now it's possible to reach the
7.d5 e5 8.f4 ed7 following conclusion: it seems that in the
[ Of course, the pawn is taboo: 8...exc4?? Exchange Variation, (which is one of most
9.xc4 xc4 10.a4+ and White w ins a unpleasant lines for Black in the Alekhine`s),
piece. By the way, this idea often occurs in Black has found good ways after both 5... cd
different variations of Alekhine's. ] and 5...ed. Now it's White's turn to improve.
9.d4 Playing this move White hoped to put Undoubtedly White players will try to do so
the brakes on Black's normal development. and we will not wait have to wait long for
However an unpleasant surprise awaits him. new games in this line. ]
e7! Nevertheless! ½-½
[ Other continuations can hardly successfully
solve Black's problems: 9...f6 10.e3
e7 11.b5 d8 12.e4+ e7 13.xe7+ 515 B03
xe7 14.d4 f6 15.0-0-0 ] Moreno Carnero,Javier 2500
[ 9...f6 10.d3 e7 11.f3 0-0 12.0-0 Schulze,Ulrich 2333
and in both cases W hite has a small but Bundesliga 2004-5 (12) 12.03.2005
steady advantage. ] [John Cox]
10.xg7 White has no other way to justify the
Queen's sortie on the previous move, 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
otherwise after Black castles the Queen will 5.exd6 cxd6 6.c3 g6 7.e3 g7 8.c1
b e go o d t a r ge t f o r h i s m i n o r p i e c e s . f6 0-0 9.b3 e5 The main line of the Voronezh
11.g4 va r i a t io n . I ' ve r e c e n t l y f in i s h e d d o i n g a
[ 11.g3?? is just a blunder in view of h4 ] database for CBM on this position so I count
[ 11.h6 is also far from good as the Queen myself a bit of an expert just at the moment
is "off side" here: e7+ 12.d1 c5 the debate goes on but most people seem to
519
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520
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521
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522
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523
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13...d7 14.a4 h6 15.e3 d5 16.f2 a6 22.f3 c5 was the stem game Volzhin-L.
17.bd4 The critical position of the game. Sveshnikov, USSR 1979 23.b3 xb2
Black must act swiftly lest Rc1 and a capture 24.d2 a4 25.e3 b5 26.xa4 xa4+
on c4 just wins a pawn for nothing. xe5! 27.b3 xb3+ 28.axb3 4c5
18.xe5 xd6 19.ef3 f4 was recommended at the time in the game
Compensation is evident. W hite has real W hite blundered with 23 h4? Qxa2+ and
difficulties getting his King to safety. 20.e2 should have lost. ]
b4+! 21.f1 0-0 22.xe6?! Opening the f [ 19...c5 20.e2 e6 21.g3 c4
file only seems to add to White's difficulty. 22.f3 a5 was Ilincic-Marinkovic,
[ 22.c1 f6 23.c2 d6 24.d4 Vrnjacka Banja 1989, in which Black also
tries to buy time for Kf2 etc. I'm not sure had some compensation. We can imagine
why Movsesian rejected this obvious that Movsessian (who has been playing the
continuation. ] Fo u r P a wn s r e c e n t l y) h a d s o m e id e a s
22...fxe6 23.d4 xd4 24.xd4 e5! against both of these moves, perhaps with
The only move, but good enough. Black sets the same Qd1, Rh2-e2 plan he uses in the
in motion a vicious attack, despite being a game. ]
piece down. 25.xe5 e3+ 26.g1 c2 20.d1 c4 21.h2 a5 22.f3 c5
27.c1 c5+ 28.f1 e3+ 29.e1 xg2+ 23.he2 h6
30.d1 e3+ 31.d2 cd8+ 32.c3 [ 23...a3+ 24.a1 b5 25.a4
xf3! 33.b4 Desperate courage under fire. defends, so Black's immediate play has
d5+ 34.b2 b3+ 35.a1 a3+ 36.b2 come to an dead end, as the text move
b3+ 37.a1 a3+ 38.b2 b3+ Dynamic! suggests, but that doesn't mean the game's
½-½ over. The text is useful in that it prevents
Bg5, which might be a handy resource in
connection with some dash by the d-pawn. ]
519 B03 24.d4 A very sharp solution leading to
Movsesian,Sergei 2624 forcing play. I don't see that White had any
Varga,Zoltan 2533 convenient way of improving his position
Extraliga CZE 2004-5 (5) 15.01.2005 available, so perhaps this was necessary, and
[John Cox] anyway of course it's fine if this move wins
directly: the question is does it? d5 25.e4
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.c4 b6 4.d4 d6 [ This was the idea, of course, not something
5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c5 7.d5 g6 According to like 25.xd5 xd5 26.d3 xb2 27.xb2
Luther the last word was said on 7...e6 in his b6+ 28.b3 xd4+ 29.b1 xd6 ]
two games against Bryson and Movsessian - 25...xf4 26.b3 b4 A very critical choice:
annotated elsewhere on the site - and this the most obvious defence is
variation is no longer playable, although one [ 26...d5 when play is forced for a while:
must say that the same verdict has been 27.xa5 xd1+ 28.xd1 xa5 , and now I
pronounced on this variation before. The text think White can win, avoiding various false
is a tricky sideline, not widely known but quite t r a i l s , b y 29.c2 ( 29.ee1 c6= )
dangerous. 8.f4 g7 9.c3 0-0 10.d2 29...xe5 30.d7 d8 31.c8 e6 32.c5
In Starting Out: Alekhine's Defence I sang the ( 32.d5 c7 33.xc7 xc7 34.xa5
praises of 10 h3 here: a6= ) 32...f6 33.d6 xc5 34.xf6
[ 10.h3 e6 11.f3 exd5 12.cxd5 8d7 ( 34.xc5 e7 35.c8 c6 36.d5 )
13.b5! was Novak-Havas, Pula 2000. But 34...g7 35.xg6+ fxg6 36.xd8 c6
Movsessian heads straight for the main line, 37.b8 xd7 38.xb7 ce5 39.xa7
such as it is in this unexplored subvariation. ] and I should think White ought to be able to
10...e6 11.0-0-0 exd5 12.cxd5 g4 13.e1 win. ]
c4 14.h3 f5 15.g4 d3 16.xd3 cxd3 27.exc5 xe2 28.xe2 xe5 29.d5
17.xd3 a6 18.d6 c8 19.b1 b4N White has emerged from the complications
[ 19...c4 20.d5 a5 21.e7+ h8 with some advantage, but it's not clear to me
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
he's actually winning. b6 30.d3 14.h5 g5 15.f4 with the initiative,
[ 30.d7 bxc5 31.d8 xd8 32.xd8+ h7 A r izm e n d i -C a u l o , O Z. C O M B li t z 2 0 0 0)
isn't clear at all. ] 10...h5 ( 10...xe2 11.xe2 0-0 12.d2
30...xd3 31.xd3 d5 13.c5 c4 proved less clear in
[ 31.e4! f4 32.c6 d4 33.d7 e6 He n n i ga n -B u rg e ss , B i rm i n g h a m 2 0 0 2)
34.xd4 d8 looks more like it, but these 11.d2 Ardeleanu-Chetverik, Gyula 1997
things are easier with computers, of b4 12.f4 xd3+ 13.xd3 g6
course. ] 14.xg6 hxg6 15.0-0 0-0 16.b3
31...d8 32.d7 a4 33.d2 c6 34.c1 and White retains his space edge. ]
I don't think White really has any advantage 8.ge2 c6 9.0-0 f6 10.b3 Carefully
here, but you can imagine the players might played before committing the bishop to e3,
have been rather short of time.... a5 35.e2 thus avoiding the counterchances obtained in
f8 36.d1 e5 37.e3 b5?? the Hennigan-Burgess game. g4 11.e3
[ e8 12.d2 b4 13.b1 White retains his
I don't think White could have won after
37...g7 ] central predominance. Timman hunts f or
38.c3!+- c5 counterplay but W hite keeps control. xe2
[ 38...xc3 39.xc3 is the trouble of course 14.xe2 c5 15.a3 c6 16.a2! e7 17.h3
xd7 40.h8+ e7 41.e1+ d6g6 18.d5 e5 19.c1 g7 The position
42.b8+ c6 43.c1+ d5 44.d1+ e6 looks more like a King's Indian or Benoni.
45.e8+ wins the rook this was why the
White has the bishop pair and space but Black
queen had to stay covering c3. ] is well dug in and hopes for counterplay on
39.xh6+ g7 40.d2 c6 41.d3 f6 the dark squares. 20.a4 bd7 21.c3 f5
42.e4 xd7 43.xd7 xe4+ 44.d3 g2 22.g5 f6 23.xf6 xf6 24.e2 e7
45.d2 h1+ 46.d1 g2 47.b3 a4 25.f4! Space enhancement and denying Black
48.xb6 g7 49.a3 xh3 50.b4 g2 u se o f t h e e 5 -squ a re a re t h e m o t iva t in g
51.c1 e2 52.a2 g5 53.c5 g6 factors behind this key move. f7 26.xe7
54.a5 xb2 55.xb2 e6+ 56.a1 xe7 27.e1 White naturally takes the
A sad game for Varga but the jury is very opportunity to control the only open file. h4
28.e6 f8 29.e2 d7 30.h2 a6 31.g3
mu ch ou t o n t he line . I m u st sa y I d ou b t
whether it will ever be a good idea against a f6 32.g2 Patiently improving. d8 33.e3
2600 GM armed with computer preparation, d4 34.g4! The pressure on f5 brings the
but not many of us have that problem often, bishop more into the game and eventually
fortunately. f o rces Black t o ce de f u rt he r gro un d . f6
1-0 35.f3
[ 35.gxf5? h5! is annoying. After the text
Black has nothing better than exchanging
520 B03 pawns. ]
Naiditsch,Arkadij 2581 35...fxg4 36.hxg4 f8 37.e4 xe4
Timman,Jan H 2623 38.xe4 c3 39.c2 a1 40.e1 c3
Sparkassen Match (1) 13.07.2002 We sometimes overemphasise so-called "bad
[Glenn Flear] bishops" but here it's the superior minor piece
compared with Black's "bad knight". 41.g5!
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 b8 42.e2 f8 43.d3 Exchanging off
5.exd6 exd6 Considered the most solid, but Black's one good piece. xd3
potentially rather passive as we shall see. [ 43...b2 is met by 44.e7 ]
[ 5...cxd6!? is more double-edged. ] 44.xd3 d8 45.g3 a5 Blocking the
6.c3 e7 7.d3! One of White's better tries queenside and ready to challenge any rook
against 5... exd6. 0-0 invasion such as 46 Re7 by 46...Rf7. However
[ Otherwise 7...c6 8.ge2 g4 9.e3 W hite has another way of making further
f6 10.h3 ( simplest is perhaps 10.f3! h5 progress. 46.c2 f7 47.f5! A temporary
11.0-0 g6 12.f4 xd3 13.xd3 0-0 pawn sacrifice to get his king and bishop
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
working. gxf5 48.f4 f8 49.xf5 g7 ( 13.b3!? has several answers an odd-
50.h2 g8 l o o k i n g o n e i s a5 , thinking about ...
[ 50...f7 51.xh7 xg5?? 52.xf7+ ] Nb4 ) 13...xa5 . Then I don't know his
51.h6 f7 52.e6 f8 53.xf7! analysis, but play might go something like
Simplifying to leave White with the superior 14.c5! bc4 15.c1 ( 15.xc4 xc4
pieces in the rook ending. Zugzwang is close. 16.g5 xb2 17.b3 d3 is wild )
xf7+ 54.g4 e7 55.h4 d7 56.h5 15...xc3 ( 15...b5 16.a2 xc5
e7 57.e6+ d7 58.h6 17.dxc5 c6 18.e1 xc5+ 19.f2 )
[ 58.h6 b6 ( 58...f3 59.xh7 16.bxc3 b6 ( 16...b5 17.g5 c8
is hopeless as the g-pawn soon queens) 18.d2 c6 19.xc4 xc4 20.xc4 bxc4
59.f6 ( 59.e3 f5 struggles on) 59...e7 and it will be hard for White to overcome
60.f8 c7 61.h8 and wins. An excellent Black on the queenside) 17.a4! xa4
game. ] 18.xa4 b5 19.b4 a6 20.h4 g6
1-0 21.xg6 fxg6 22.f7 hg8 23.g4 de8
and Black is tied down, but the follow-up is
not evident.;
521 B03 B) the Forum has a nice game by 'brabo'
New Notes on 4 Ps Alekhine following 11...f6 12.d5! , which is almost
with 10...Qd7 11 0-0 0-0-0 certainly bad for Black, but also discussed
[John Watson] at great length.;
C) 11...g4 transposes to the main lines.
S e e t h e o t h e r g a m e ' Ne w A n a l ys is o n 4 Thus 9...Qd7 is sometimes preferred,
Pawns Attack with 10...Qd7 11 0-0 Rd8' for because the immediate 9...Bg4 allows
the complement to this game. As I say there, I another set of variations beginning with 10
received many notes about the 10....Qd7 Qd2, as well as avoiding an early c5. ]
variation f eatured in this game from Luis 10.e2 d7
Eduardo Neves Gouveia, to whom I will refer [ 10...xf3 11.gxf3 h4+ 12.f2 f4
as 'LENG'! I will include his analysis and that ha s b e en p la ye d a lo t a n d a n a lys e d a t
from the Forum, where he and Mark Morss length. I've looked at this with some very
have been contributing ideas to this line for a strong (titled) players and think that it's
long time, as I discovered wading through better for White (and potentially, torture for
many posts. In this game we see 10 Be2 Qd7 Black). ]
11 0-0 0-0-0. I'm putting their and my analysis 11.0-0
of 11...Rd8 in a separate game. Otherwise [ 11.c5 is also playable here Black avoids
this will get too crowded and unreadable. 1.e4 that with the 9...Qd7 and ... 0-0-0 move
f6 2.e5 d5 3.c4 b6 4.d4 d6 5.f4 order. Of course that opens up other issues.
dxe5 6.fxe5 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6 There can f ollow d5 12.xd5 xd5
9.f3 g4 13.0-0 0-0-0 transposing to 12 c5.
[ 9...d7 opens another can of worms, but ( 13...e4 14.b3! intends Ng5 )]
it's worth noting that 10.e2 0-0-0 ( or 11...0-0-0 The other analytical game this
10...d8 11.0-0 g4 ) 11.0-0 month features 11... 0-0-0.
A) Here 11...b8 has been played very [ My game Stopa-Ramirez from last month
dangerous, so is the Four Pawns in went 11...xf3!? . I'll just quote my own
general. The main line in the Forum is 12 notes: Unusual in fact, I'm not sure if this
a4 a5 13 d5!, apparently (and perhaps not order has been played (well, I guess
too surprisingly?) good for W hite. Still, everything's been played). Black wants to
th ere are un an swered que st io ns. Fo r clarify the pawn structure right away, and
example, LENG (=Luis) suggests 12.a4 avoid Ng5 ideas. This is rare in comparison
b4 13.a5 (White gives away a pawn with two traditional moves, which I have put
without immediate compensation but 12... into another game, for the sake of clarity and
Bb4 looks sound enough otherwise in o rde r t o h igh light the co ntribu tio ns I
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
consensus between specialist Mark Morss "might") make people to think twice about
and Luis is that Black stands okay... using 9 ... Qd7 10...000 and 11...Bg4.
maybe? ) 15...f5 16.g5 xd4 17.c4
c6 18.xf7 xc5 19.h2 b6 20.c3
, ultimately arriving at a limited advantage, 522 B03
although I'm not sure if that wasn't New analysis 4 Pawns Attack
countered with other analysis. This line is with 10...Qd7 11 0-0 Rd8
mostly forcing and therefore important. ] [John Watson]
12...xc4
[ 12...xe2 13.xe2 f6 ( 13...xd4 I received many notes about the 10....Qd7
14.xd4 xd4+ 15.h1 favours White, variation featured in last month's column from
with ideas of Nxf7, Rxf7, and in some cases Luis Eduardo Neves Gouveia, who is the 'Ig' in
Rad1 ) 14.exf6 gxf6 , and here White has a the ChessPublishing Forum on the Alekhine.
variety of moves: The indefatigable Luis I'll refer to him as 'LENG' below. He not only
Eduardo Neves Gouveia likes sent new analysis, but pointers to old analysis
A) 15.f3 and Rad1 is okay for Black, in the Forum, most of it by him and Mark
even if he's slightly cramped; Morss. I'll also expand upon my previous
B) 15.xe6 is apparently a bit better for analysis. For clarity's sake, because there is
White after xe6 16.d5 d7 ( 16...e5 so much material overall, I'm going to add
17.dxc6 d6!? 18.cxb7+ b8 19.g3 their analysis of 10...Qd7 11 0-0 Rd8 to my
he8 20.ad1!? looks good for White, notes from last time and move it into this
wi t h t h e id e a xe3+ 21.xe3 xe3 separate game, whereas the new analysis of
22.c5 ) 17.dxc6 xc6 18.b3; 11...0-0-0 will be in the 'New Notes on 4
C) 15.xf6 After 15 Rxf6, I'll simply give a Pawns Alekhine...' game. 1.e4 f6 2.e5
sample analysis: xd4 16.f2 e7 d5 3.c4 b6 4.d4 d6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5
17.f7 c6 18.c5 xc5 19.xc5 d2 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6 9.f3 g4
20.xe6 xb2 21.xc7+ b8 22.b1 10.e2 d7 11.0-0 d8 The idea of this
xc3 23.xc6 d7 24.c7! d3 move is to improve upon 11...0-0-0 in the 12
25.e1 wti d2?? ( 25...e8 26.xd7 Ng5 Nxc4 line because the king protects
xd7 27.e5+ c8 28.e4 d1+ central squares. 12.g5
29.f2 c2+ 30.f3 d1+ 31.g3 [ 12.c5 is also important, because in this
g8+ 32.h4 d7 33.g4 ) 26.e5 case it's not clear that Black wouldn't like to
and wins. ] be castled. I won't analyse it here, but I
13.xf7 e8 agree with theory and the Forum folk that
[ 13...xe3 14.xd7 xd1 ( 14...xd7!? Black stands all right. ]
15.c1 seems to come up a little short) 12...xc4
15.xd8+ xd8 16.xg4 xb2 17.xe6 [ 12...xe2 13.xe2 ( 13.xe2 xc4
xe6 18.xe6+ b8 19.b1 d3 20.d5 14.b3 xe3 15.xe3 xd4 16.xf7
with initiative ] c5 17.h1 f5 18.xc5 xf7
[ 13...e7 14.f2! xb2 15.c2 xd4 i s u n c l e a r) 13...xd4 14.xd4 xd4+
16.xb2 xe2+ 17.xe2 ] 15.h1 is supposed to favour White. ]
14.b5! Found by the computer. xe3 13.f2! (I think this was Estrin's discovery
[ 14...e7 may be met by 15 Bf2, with a [ 13.xf7 xe3 14.xd7 xd1 15.xd8+
limited advantage but the piece sacrifice xd8 16.xg4 e3! is unconvincing now,
15.xg4!? xe3 16.xe6 xd1 although White is not worse. ]
17.exc7+ b8 18.xe8 e3 19.xg7 13...xe2
xg4 20.e6 also looks interesting, since [ a) 13...e7 14.xf7 xb2 15.c2
Black has some loose pieces ] looks very promising for White. Here's some
15.xc7+ b8 16.b3 Conclusion by analysis:
'LENG': 'the move you have suggested, 14. A) 15...f5 16.xb2 xf7 17.ad1 ( or
Nb5! is really a good move and might (I said 17.g4 g6 18.d5!? exd5 19.ad1! )
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
17...hf8 18.g4 g6 19.d5!; cxb4 23.c7 In the end, White seems to
B) 15...xe2 16.xh8 xf1? 17.xh7!; retain the edge against 11...Rd8, but there
C) 15...xd4 16.xd4 xd4+ 17.h1 are still options to look into.
xe2 18.xe2! ( 18.xe2 xc3
19.xh8 d2! ) 18...d2
C1) 19.xc7 xe2?? ( 19...f8 ) 523 B03
20.d6+; Onischuk,V 2591
C2) 19.e4!+- ] Kovalenko,I 2643
[ b) There's also a strange move here that I'd Russian Cup Final 2013 (1.1) 12.12.2013
never seen. Even if it's not very good, which [Tom Rendle]
is extremely likely, it's worth seeing:
13...xd4?! 14.xg4 xe5 15.h3?! 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
( 15.h5! g6 16.g3! ) 15...e7 16.e3 h6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6
17.h5 g6 18.h4 c5 19.g3 xg5 9.f3 g4 10.e2 xf3 11.gxf3 h4+
20.xg5 ef3+ 21.gxf3 hxg5 22.ae1 f5 12.f2 f4 13.c5 d5 14.xd5 exd5
23.g2 d6 24.e2 xg3 25.hxg3 f7 15.d2 xd2+ 16.xd2 So far we're just
26.f2 f6 and Black was holding in following the mainline. g6
Hernod, B-Bergdahl, A, correspondence/ [ 16...e7 was preferred in Bologan-
Sweden 1974. ] Ro ze nt alis (an alyse d by G awain in t h e
14.xe2 e7 archives) when White had the better position
[ 14...b6!? may be best, although 15.e3! after 17.b5+! c6 18.d3 g6 19.b4 h6+
t h r e a t e n s f 7 : xd4 16.xd4 xd4+ 20.c3 d7 21.b5! ]
17.h1 d7 18.ad1 c4 19.f3 17.f4
with the initiative. ] [ 17.e3! was Gawain's preference in his
15.xf7 notes to the Rozentalis game and I think this
[ 15.h5 xg5! ] is more accurate as it prevents Black playing
15...xf7 16.e3+ the setup outlined in the De Firmian game
[ LENG: 'Perhaps 16.xc4 hf8 (see note to Black's 18th)
A) jw: I gave 17.d5 exd5 18.b3 g8 A) 17...e7 18.d3! ( 18.f4?! h6
19.ad1 xf2! 20.xf2 c5 21.xd5 would transpose to Atalik-De Firmian)
( 21.xd5 xf2+ 22.xf2 f5+ 23.g1 18...h5 19.g5 is very pleasant for White;
xd5 ) 21...xf2+ 22.xf2 h8 B) 17...h5!? 18.b5 e7 19.g5+ e6
, at least =; 20.c3 h4 and now in Pavasovic, D
B) 17.ad1 g8 18.d5 'might work'. jw: (2597)-Nakamura, H (2704) St Veit 2008 I
Yes, this is better, and maybe White can think White's most accurate continuation
get a little something, but very little, after was 21.hg1! e7 22.xc6 ( 22.g4!?
xe5 ( 18...exd5 19.xd5+ xd5 is also good if White prefers to keep more
20.xd5 holds forth good promise the e- pieces on the board) 22...bxc6 23.xe7
p a w n i s a n a s s e t .) 19.b3 h8 xe7 24.g5 with a very unpleasant rook
20.xb7!? ( 20.dxe6 c6 ) 20...g4 and pawn ending for Black to hold ]
21.dxe6 xe6 22.xd8 xd8 23.e4 17...h6 18.e3 f6!? A novelty
xe4 24.xe4 xf2 25.xf2 ] [ Perhaps Black should aim for the fortress
16...g8 17.xc4 Here Luis says: 'I think setup in Atalik-De Firmian (annotated by
Black equalizes quite easily after your last line, Flear in the archives) after 18...e7 19.d3
namely after xd4 'Here is one possible line: f5 20.xf5 gxf5 21.hg1 d7 22.g3
18.ad1 c5 19 Bxd4 cxd4 20 Ne2 Qd5.' But a ag8 23.b4 xg3 24.hxg3 f8 but this is
better 19th move for White is 19.b4! b5 hardly an inspiring way to play as Black. Still,
[ 19...b6 20.xd4 cxd4 21.b5 d5 I don't see an easy way to break into
22.xd4 because c5 is now covered xc4 Black's position so this remains a tough nut
23.xc4 ] to crack. ]
20.xb5 xb5 21.xd4 xc4 22.xc4 19.h4 0-0 20.h5 fxe5 21.fxe5 xe3+
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
22.xe3 g5 23.h6!? This effectively isolates easily winning for White, e.g. h5 53.xd4
Black's pawn on g5 but it does allow Black h4 54.g2 g6 55.e5 f7 56.a6 e7
some counterplay at least with his next move 57.d5 f7 58.b6! and White promotes a
[ 23.af1! h6 24.g4 is unpleasant for pawn by force ]
B la c k wh o h a s n o ch o ice b u t t o g rim l y 48.e4 g5 49.b5! cxb5 50.c6 xh6
d e f e n d a n d h o p e f o r a d r a w w i t h g7 51.c7 c4+ 52.d3 d6 53.xd4 g7
25.e6 e7 26.b4 a6 but his position is 54.c5! c8 55.b7 e7 and Black
still solid so maybe he has OK drawing resigned without waiting for Kxb5 with an easy
chances although W hite can push on the win. A f anta stic grind f rom Onischuk bu t
queenside here with 27.a4! ] Kovalenko was holding a draw earlier on.
23...f4! 24.ag1 e4+ 25.d2?! That being said White definitely got the better
[ 25.d3! is slightly more accurate as now of the opening and these positions after 16.
after xd4 ( or 25...xd4+ 26.c3 g4 Kxd2 just look much easier for White to play
27.h4! and White regains the pawn with whereas Black is really just hoping for a draw
the better chances) 26.xg5+ h8 27.g4 in most lines.
xe2 28.xd4 c6 29.f1 Black is in 1-0
trouble as White is threatening to double on
the 7th rank with Rf7 ]
25...xd4! 26.xg5+ h8 27.g4 524 B03
No w i t s e e m s t h a t B l a c k s h o u l d b e O K , Parma,Bruno
however with the pawn on h6 a constant threat Schiffer,K
it's still Black who has to be the more careful ch Berlin-West 1971
in t his en dgam e . g8 28.xg8+ xg8 [Nigel Davies]
29.c8 f3+ 30.d1 xe5 31.xb7 d4+
32.e2 f7 33.g1 g6 34.a3 f6 Natural development is often the best policy,
[ I really like 34...a5! here, when I think Black but here it doesn't work. White's nonchalant
should draw fairly easily, e.g. 35.b4!? axb4 development of his knights allows Black his
36.axb4 xb4 37.xd5+ f6 38.g8 h4 counterplay. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6
39.xh7 xh6= ] 4.c4 b6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 g6 7.c3 g7
35.b4 h4 36.f1+ e6 37.c8+ e7 8.f3 Opting for a policy of simple
38.b7 d4!? development, but Black is able to pursue
[ 38...e6 taking the draw by repetition was thematic counterplay in two different ways.
probably a more sensible approach, g4
although that's easy to say with hindsight! ] [ The immediate 8...c5 might be even better.
39.h1! g4 40.f3 f4 41.d5 g4 After 9.f4 ( 9.d5 is strongly met by g4
42.d2 e5 43.f1 g5 44.a4 h5?! , with my analysis running 10.f4 8d7
A first small error gives White a small chance 11.e2 b8 12.d6 0-0 13.dxe7 e8
to push with a good game f or Black) 9...cxd4
[ 44...g3! and Black should draw after 10.xd4 c6! ( stronger than 10...xd4
45.b5 d3+ 46.e2 e3+ 47.d2 d3+ 11.xd4 c6 12.xc6 bxc6 13.0-0-0
48.c2 c3+ 49.d2 d3+ ( 49...xc5 was slightly better for White in Zysk - Miltner,
50.g8 is risky for Black )] Bundesliga, Germany 1985) 11.xd8+
45.h1 xh1?! Possibly the losing move xd8 and Black's knight will be well placed
[ 45...f5 46.e4 f7 is good for White but on e6. ]
Black is hanging on here ] [ I f B l a c k p l a y s 8...c6 there is an
46.xh1 f6 47.a5 c6?! After this it's interesting reply in 9.h3 simply preventing ...
definitely losing but perhaps it was already Bg4 and leaving Black in a quandary as to
impossible to defend how he should create counterplay. ]
[ 47...g6 48.d5! xh6 49.b5 d7 9.c5
50.c6 b8 51.e4 g7 52.d3 [ 9.e2 is well met by c5 10.dxc5 xd1+
and with the knight trapped the ending is 11.xd1 6d7 12.e3 xf3 13.xf3 c6
530
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
etc. ] 16.0-0-0
9...d5 10.c4 e6 11.0-0 [ 16.a3 4d5 17.d3 xe3 18.xe3 0-0
[ If White tries to exploit the weakness of the 19.e4 g6 20.h4 e5 21.f3 f5 22.c4+
b 7 p a w n w i t h 11.b3 he would be g7 23.e2 xc4 24.xc4 b6 25.0-0-0
disappointed by xf3 12.xb7? ( 12.gxf3 ab8 26.d2 xa3-+ winning in Velimirovic
c6 gives Black powerful counterplay.) - Kovacevic, Yugoslavia, 1979. ]
12...xc3 13.xf3 d5 winning a piece ] 16...6d5 17.a3 xc3 18.xe6 ca2+!!N
11...xc3 12.bxc3 0-0 13.h3 xf3 14.xf3 [ 18...a5 19.xg7+ d8 20.xd7+ xd7
c6 15.g4 a5 16.g5 d7 17.e2 b6 21.g4+ c7 22.axb4 a2+ 23.b1
The usual route to counterplay in this structure. xb4 24.c4 Velimirovic - Kovacevic,
It soon becomes apparent that White's attack Yugoslavia, 1978. ]
isn't going anywhere and his structural 19.b1 xe6! 20.xd8+ xd8 21.axb4
we a k n e s s e s a re s t a rt in g t o h u rt . 18.cxb6 xb4 22.e2
axb6 19.f3 a7 20.f4 c8 21.ad1 [ 22.h5+ f7 23.g4 g6+ 24.a1
c4 22.h4 c6 23.f2 a3 24.c1 c5 c2+-+ winning ]
25.f6 xf6 [ 22.e4 d1+ 23.c1 a2+-+ winning ]
[ There is a strong argument f or 25...f8 [ 22.g4 d5 23.e2 e4+ 24.a1 d5
keeping his bishop on the board. ] 25.c5 xc5 26.xe4 c1+ 27.b1
26.exf6 d6 27.h6 f8 28.g5 cxd4 xb1+ 28.xb1-+ winning ]
29.cxd4 a5 30.d5 h6 31.f4 exd5 22...f8 23.h5+
32.xd5 [ 23.g3 f5+ 24.a1 d5 25.b8+ f7
[ 32.xd5 xd5 33.xc4 brings about a 26.xa7 c2+ 27.a2 xe3 28.xe3
drawish major piece endgame. ] a8+ 29.b3 b8+ 30.c3 f6+ 31.c4
½-½ e6-+ winning ]
23...g6 24.e5
[ 24.a5 f5! 25.xa7 e5 26.f1 d5
525 B03 27.f3 g4 28.d4 xf3 29.xe5 xe2
Pegoraro,Giorgio 2185 30.c5 d3+-+ winning ]
Henderson,John B 2170 24...f5+ 25.a1 d5 26.b8+ f7
(open) Ischia 1996 [ 26...f7 27.xa7 c2+ 28.a2 xe3
[Alexander Volzhin] 29.xe3 a5+ 30.b3 b8+-+ winning ]
0-1
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6
9.f3 e7 10.d5 exd5 11.cxd5 b4 526 B03
12.d4 d7 13.f3 Pelikian,Jefferson 2414
[ 13.b3 c5 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.0-0-0 c7 Milos,Gilberto 2594
16.c4 xc4 17.xc4 xe5 18.he1 0-0 Itau Cup 450th Ann (4) 19.01.2004
19.a3 d5 20.xc6 xc6 21.xd5 xa3 [Andrew Martin]
22.bxa3 fc8 23.c5 xd5 24.xe5 xc4
25.b2 f6 0-1Tsarev - Palatnik, Kiev, OOPS! 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f4!?
1989. ] A humorous deviation from the norm. White
13...c5 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.e6 must be fully aware that he can no longer
[ 15.a3 c5! 16.axb4 cxd4 17.xd4 0-0= ] transpose back into a regular Four Pawns
[ 15.0-0-0 0-0 16.f5 6d5 17.xe7+ Attack. I quite like
xe7 18.xd5 cxd5 19.a3 fc8+ 20.b1 [ 4.e2!? here, Romanishin's idea, retaining
c2 21.c1 ab8 Trkaljanov - Kovacevic, options with the f-pawn. ]
1979. ] 4...dxe5 5.fxe5 c5! Way to go! Black strikes
15...fxe6 hard at the over-extended White centre. 6.f3
[ 15...xe6 16.a3 4d5 17.xc6 c7 [ Clearly Pelikian knew about 6.c4 b4!
18.xe7 xe7 19.b5+ with advantage ] 7.a3 ( 7.d5 f5 ) 7...4c6 8.d5 ( 8.f3
531
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
xd4 ) 8...xe5 but it's hard to believe best. With so many good lines on offer against
that White can play for the advantage with the Alekhine, why play this rubbish?
the pokey 6 Nf3. ] 0-1
6...cxd4 7.xd4 c6 White's centre has
already been destroyed. 8.b5
[ I couldn't understand the following 527 B03
reference when I first saw it: 8.e4 g6 Pinchon,Henry
9.c4 b6 10.b3 f5 1/2-1/2 Georgiev, Timmermans,Daniel
K-Brochet, P/Paris 2003 What on earth is Val Thorens (4) 1989
Georgiev grovelling around to make a quick [Nigel Davies]
draw with a weaker player in a poor
opening variation? ] White habitually plays an early Nc3 in these ...
8...f5! Simple and good enough, since Milos g6 lines, but I have my doubts about whether
will emerge from the opening with an it has to be played early on. In this game we
excellent position and no weaknesses to see White focus on the development of his
speak of. kingside, but he should play Nc3 on his 11th
[ 8...a5+ is an over-elaboration: 9.c3 move, in my opinion. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5
xc3 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.d2 b5 3.c4 b6 4.d4 d6 5.f4 dxe5
12.xa5 xd4 13.xd4 e6 14.0-0-0 d7 [ In my book on the Alekhine I suggested that
Kupreichik, V-Kengis, E/Podolsk 1990 ] White may want to meet 5...g6 with 6.f3
9.c3 e6 10.a4?N An unsuccessful , but this could then transpose into the game
attempt to mix it up and very dangerous facing after g7 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 dxe5 9.fxe5 c5
a consummate tactician like Milos etc. ]
[ 10.g5 is relatively better, but White has 6.fxe5 g6 7.f3
no hope of advantage: e7 ( 10...a5 [ Another interesting way to fortify e5 is with
11.0-0-0 xb5 12.xb5 xd4 13.xd4 a queenside fianchetto. Binks - Cole, Bristol
h6 14.h4 a6 15.xd5 axb5 16.xb5 199 2 co nt in ue d 7.b3 g7 8.b2 c5
e4! 17.a3 g5 18.g3 c8 19.c3 c5 ) ( Black could also consider 8...0-0 9.f3 f6
11.xe7 dxe7 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.xd8 , undermining the pawn chain at its head.)
fxd8 14.h3 a6 15.xc6 xc6 16.a3 b5 9.d5 c7 10.f3 g4 11.e2 0-0 12.h3
17.xd8+ xd8 18.d1 xd1+ 19.xd1 ( 12.bd2 m a y we ll b e e ve n b e t t e r .)
h5 20.b1 e7 21.c3 g6 22.d2 12...xf3 13.gxf3 and now e6 may be the
f4 23.e1 g6 1/2-1/2 Ankerst, M- best ( In the game Black was horribly
Horvath, C/Budapest 1992 A rather sterile cramped after 13...f6 14.e6 etc. ) 14.d6
game. ] d8 intending 15...Nc6 and with ...Qh4 and
[ Perhaps best of all is 10.xd5 exd5 11.c3 ...f7-f6 in the air. ]
a6 12.f4 axb5 13.xf5 b4 but Black 7...g7 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0
has the initiative. ] [ White can also play 9.c3 after which c5
10...db4! White may already be in great 10.d5 g4 ( 10...e6 11.0-0 transposes into
peril. 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.e3 the note to W hite's 11th move) 11.f4
[ 12.0-0 c5+ 13.h1 xc2 14.b3 b6 8d7 12.g5 xe2 13.xe2 maintains
is pretty much a disaster zone. ] th e e 5 p a wn wit h a cle a r a d va n t a ge t o
12...xc2 13.b3 d3! The Black pieces White ]
flood in for the kill. 14.d4 e7 15.a3 9...c5 10.d5 The only consistent move.
[ 15.e2 0-0 16.f2 c5 17.e3 fd8 [ After 10.f4 Black can ease his position
18.a5 e4 19.g3 d5 20.hf1 d7 with cxd4 11.xd4 c6 etc. ]
21.g1 c4 is disgusting for White. ] 10...e6 11.g5? In my opinion this is a
15...xb3! But this is even worse! 16.xb3 serious error.
c2+ 17.f2 xd4 18.ad1 xf3+ [ The natural move is 11.c3 after which my
A drubbing. W hilst 4 f4 isn't as bad as was analysis runs exd5 12.cxd5 g4 ( after
made out here, W hite can only equalize at 12...e8 the move 13.g5 is much more
532
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
533
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
, when W hite's king has become too xb5 23.xb5 RR g7 24.a4 d6 25.c6
exposed and Black will at least get a solid ab8 26.a5 0-1 Piat,J-Beudaert,X/Creon
advantage. ] FRA 2004 ]
27.b5+? Last chance. White gets his 6...a5 7.d3 g6 8.f3 g7 9.e3 0-0
equality back at least after 10.c1!? Adds a peculiar twist to the game,
[ 27.h4 , threatening Qxh7, for example, but I don't think this is a happy square for the
e5 28.xh7 b6+ 29.a3 d6+ 30.b4 White Queen. She loses touch with b3 and
xb4+ 31.a4 c6+ 32.b5 ] the Bishop on d3 hangs in some lines.
27...c6 28.c4 b5 29.e2 a5 Maybe White [ 10.0-0 ]
ran out of time, but it's looking extremely good [ 10.b3 ]
for black, who must be winning now. So the [ 10.c3 ]
2400 wins after all, but what this means I 10...c6 11.h6 b4! The relevance of the
don't know! previous comment becomes apparent. 12.a3
0-1 xd3+ With a consequent weakening of c4.
13.xd3 f5 14.xg7 xg7 15.b3
[ 15.d1 xa4 ( 15...xb1 16.xb1
529 B03 xc4 )]
Prelevic,Mirko 2169 15...c8 16.a3 c7 Black has very simply
Dragasevic,Srdja 2308 attacked White at his weakest point, wasting
TCh-SCG 2nd Sutomore SCG (6) 13.09.2004 no time, and he has no defence 17.d5 xd5
[Andrew Martin] 18.d4 d7 19.g4? An incomprehensibly
terrible move.
Not many of the strongest Grandmasters play [ 19.db5 xb5 20.xb5 b4 21.0-0 e6
the Alekhine these days, which is a slight 22.c3+ g8 23.d1 is obviously still
surprise, as Black's chances aren't all that bad. much better for Black but White is playing. ]
Maybe they feel 1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5 3 d4 d6 4 19...e5 20.h3 f4! 21.g1 xh3 22.f5+
Nf3 dxe5 5 Nxe5 c6!? is a little passive, I xf5 23.gxf5 xg1 I don't think 6 a4 or 6 h3
don't know. Perhaps it's time for a revival are improvements on the traditional move
certainly the Alekhine could still be moulded orders at all. Playing these small pawn moves
into a winning weapon with thorough in advance of the Knight developments cannot
preparation. Really, all you need is something be very good. What an awful game. It's meant
against 4 Nf3 and the Exchange Variation and to demonstrate that although the Alekhine
then you are in business. Here we see Black may well be in the background, it's still very
completely demolishing a strange try by White much alive!
the Alekhine reacts well to unusual treatment. 0-1
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
5.exd6 cxd6 6.a4N I guess I've seen this
after 6 Nc3 but never before. Perhaps it will 530 B03
transpose to 6 Nc3 g6 7 a4, perhaps it should Prusikin,M 2555
do at least. Miralles,G 2472
[ 6.h3 is another odd move, quite normal in TCh-SUI 2013 (9.1) 13.10.2013
the context of the opening, but played at a [Tom Rendle]
peculiar moment. You will see that White did
not have much luck in the following game: 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.c4 b6 4.d4 d6
g6 7.f3 g7 8.g5 Hey ho, he insists on 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6
originality. e6!? 9.c3 ( 9.bd2; 9.b3 ) 9.f3 d7
9...d5 10.c5 6d7 11.b3 b6 12.b5 0-0 [ 9...g4 was seen in a couple of important
13.c6 f6 14.f4 e8 15.c1 a6 games in the archives: Jones-Short and
16.a4?? Awful. ( 16.a3; 16.a4 ) 16...b5 Bologan-Rozentalis but White was better in
17.0-0 xc6 18.xb5 axb5 19.xb5 both games after 10.e2 xf3 11.gxf3
xd4 20.xd4 xd4 21.fd1 b6 22.c7 h4+ 12.f2 f4 13.c5! and Black players
534
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
seem to have been avoiding playing this at B2b1) 20.f5! leads to a more
GM level in the last couple of years. ] definite advantage, for example xf5
[ 9...e7 10.d5 exd5 11.cxd5! was given 21.xf5 h6 22.d3 and Black is
as be st b y Gawain in h is no te s to b ot h forced into the weakening ( 22.ae1!
Bologan-Rozentalis and Velimirovic-Cmilyte is also simple and strong, keeping
and I've added in my thoughts as well as a everything under control) 22...g6
couple of recent games to his analysis: b4 23.h3 g7 24.c5 xe5 25.ae1
12.d4 and White is doing well;
A) 12...g6?! 13.b5+ f8 14.0-0 g8 B2b2) 20.xg5 xg5 21.b3
is clearly better for White after either 15.d6 xe5 22.c5 and White had
( or 15.f5 (G a wa in 's ch o ice ) xf5 excellent play for the pawn in Geske,
16.xf5 6xd5 17.d4 c6 18.c4 J (2383)-Schroll, G (2388) Jenbach
and despite having an extra pawn it's clear 2012 ]
that Black is in a lot of trouble) 15...cxd6 10.e2 0-0-0 11.0-0 e7?! This move is too
16.e6! f6 17.f3 d5 18.a3 c2 slow here. Although the alternatives don't
19.xc2 xc2 20.ac1 b3 21.d4 equalise for Black in my opinion they are
and Black is a pawn up but in a horrible definitely preferable to ...Be7
bind all over the board, in the long run [ 11...f6 12.d5 xe5 13.xe5 fxe5 14.a4
White should be winning here.; a5 15.b5! gave White an excellent
B) 12...d7 position in Kotronias-Short, examined by
B1) 13.e6 is interesting if somewhat Andrew Martin in the archives ]
less co nvin cin g fxe6 14.dxe6 c6 [ 11...b8 was played by Tony Miles and is
15.xc6 ( 15.g4 h4+! 16.g3 xh1 worth a look here although White should still
17.gxh4 0-0 18.0-0-0 f6 is obviously be better
ve ry c o mp lica t ed b ut W hit e d o esn 't A) 12.a3! may be more to the point, for
seem to be better here and there's no example f6 13.b4 fxe5 14.xe5 xe5
reason to go for this when 13.Qf3 leads 15.dxe5 xd1 ( 15...e7 16.b3
to a c omf ort able e dge) 15...xd1+ and W hite's attack on the queenside is
16.xd1 c2+ 17.d2 xe3 18.xe3 very promising) 16.axd1 e7 17.b5
bxc6 19.e2 0-0 and Black had fully and White has control of the queenside
equalised and went on to grind out the and Nd4 is awkward f or Black to deal
win in Videnova, I (2301)-Cmilyte, V with;
(2497) Gaziantep 2012; B) 12.d2 f6 13.exf6 gxf6 14.ad1
B2) 13.f3 c5 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.e2 g7 15.e1 g8 16.f2 h3
0-0 16.0-0 4d5 17.f2 h4 and Black had at least balanced chances
The first move that deviates from in Narciso Dub lan, M (246 8)-Mile s, A
previous ChessPublishing analysis but (2579) Cappelle La Grande 2000 ]
White is still doing well here [ 11...g4 12.c5 d5 13.xd5 xd5
B2a) 18.e4 xf2+ 19.xf2 e7 14.b4! and I like White's chances on the
20.g3 f5 21.exf6 xf6 22.g5?! queenside ]
( 22.d6! looks safe enough and 12.d5! This leads to a fairly forced variation
White's better pawn structure should and as far as I can see White is just clearly
b e e n o u gh f o r a sli gh t e d ge h e r e) better with accurate play exd5 13.xb6 axb6
22...h6 23.b3+ bd5 24.gf3 g4 14.cxd5 c5+ 15.h1 b4
25.ff1 ab8 26.a3 xa3 [ 15...e7 is not really any better after
( 26...e3+! 27.xe3 dxe3 16.d4! b8 17.cb5 with the nasty threat
was even stronger) 27.bxa3 b2 of Qa4 and Black can't do much here, e.g.
and Black was much better in Newrkla, xd5 ( 17...c6 fails to 18.d6! cxb5 19.xb5
K (2078)-Schroll, G (2400) Vienna c8 20.xf5 xf5 21.d7 c7 22.xf5
2009; and W hite is a pawn to the good with the
B2b) 18.g3! g5 19.e4 e7 better position) 18.xf5 xe5 19.a4 c8
535
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
20.ae1 and with a piece for two pawns and Pruisikin is not interested in the b6 pawn here
the better position White should be winning as he can pick up g6 and h5 if he wants c3
here ] 31.e2 g5 32.g6! g4 33.e4 c7 34.f5
16.e1?! This is enough for a slight edge but a8 35.e6 White's winning plan of Bf7,
there's actually a better move Bxe8 and Rf8 is completely unstoppable to
[ 16.d4! looks like a blunder because of Black decides it's time to resign.
xd4 ( 16...g6?! 17.xf5 gxf5 18.c4 1-0
is miserable for Black who has a shattered
pawn structure and no central control.)
17.xd4 c2 but White has the clever 531 B03
c o u n t e r t a c t i c 18.h4 xa1 19.xf5! Riedel,F
when the knight on a1 is terribly placed. Schnelzer,R
White is close to winning here, for example Hessenliga Germany 1994
b8 20.f4 hf8 21.b5 e7 22.c1 [Nigel Davies]
and White will soon have two pieces for the
rook. ] This game transposes into the 6...c5 7.d5 g6
16...g6 17.f3 h5 variation and features an interesting
[ 17...e7 is perhaps a slight improvement. alternative to the 12...Bg4 played in Volzhin -
The point is that after 18.a3 a6 19.b4?! Svechnikov. It certainly seems as if there is
allows ( instead 19.g4 xe5 20.d3 plenty of mileage in 5...dex5 and 6....g6, and
g7 21.xf5+ gxf5 22.xf5 and White is it has the benefit of avoiding the massive
at least slightly better as the pawn on d5 amount of 4 Pawns theory. 1.e4 f6 2.e5
gives W hite excellent central control and d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5
the knight on a6 is rather offside) 19...xe5 g6 7.c3 c5 Transposing into a line that is
with gain of time on the knight on c3 ] normally reached via a 6...c5 7.d5 e6 move
18.a3! a6 19.b4 f8 Black has been order. 8.d5 g7 9.f4 0-0 10.d2 e6
f o rce d b a ck bu t h is p ositio n is still solid 11.0-0-0 exd5 12.cxd5 e8!?
enough for the time being 20.e2 [ In the game Volzhin - Svechnikov Black's
[ 20.d4 also looks sensible to me simply 12...g4 w a s a n s w e r e d b y 13.e1
centralising and preparing Be4 ] followed by kicking the bishop on g4 with 14.
20...b8 21.f3 g7 22.b3 g4 h3. The text move sensibly intends to draw
23.ae1! The only move to keep control of e5 White's knight out to f3 before developing
xf3 the bishop. ]
[ Black would love to increase the pressure 13.f3 After Black's reply, the e-pawn is in
on the centre with 23...he8? but obviously trouble.
it drops an exchange to 24.b5 ] [ W h i t e c a n a l s o c o n s i d e r 13.e1
24.xf3 he8 25.e6! The only move to keep after which c4 looks interesting and double-
the pawn but it's a strong one fxe6 26.dxe6 edged. ]
d3? Up until now Miralles had been hanging 13...g4 14.b5 8d7 15.e6 Trying to mix it,
on but under a lot of pressure he makes a but there's no apparent compensation for the
decisive error in allowing the passed e-pawn pawn. fxe6 16.dxe6 xe6 17.g5 d4
to move forwards. 18.he1 c4 19.xe8+ xe8 20.e1 f8
[ 26...e7 leaves Black with little 21.e6 xe6 22.xe6 e8 23.xe8 xe8
counterplay but there are still reasonable 24.e2 g7 25.c3 a6 26.e2 h8
drawing chances after 27.d5 g5 28.e7 27.d3 f7 28.g3 e7 29.d1 e5
d7 although 29.e6! is definitely strong 30.e4 c8 31.c2 d6 32.d5 f5
h e r e a n d in t h e lo n g ru n W h it e s h o u l d 33.d1 d4 34.xe5 xe5 35.c4 g7
probably win here ] 36.g8+ h6 37.e4 g7 38.d5 b5
27.e7 c8 28.d5! White is happy to swap 39.d6 f6 40.f7+ g7
queens here and allow the e7 pawn to win the 0-1
game xd5 29.xd5 c6 30.f4!
536
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
537
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
40.exd6 f5 41.f2 xd6 42.e5 f8 19.d1 xc5 20.xc5 xc5 and White
43.c5 e8 44.xc4 xc4 45.h4 d7 has no compensation for the pawn, although
46.g3 b6 47.e4 d5 48.e1 d6 Black has to play very precisely in order to
49.d2 b4 50.e1 bxc3 51.h4 f5+ 52.f3 parry White's threats: 21.d5 e5! 22.f4
c5 53.f2 c4 54.e1 b4 ( The alternatives are no better: 22.b4 e6!
0-1 23.f6+ g7 24.f4 xe2+ 25.xe2 xf6
26.bxc5 g4+ 27.f2 xd1 28.xd1 c8
and the rook ending is very bad for White;
533 B03 22.c7 g4 23.xa8 xe2+ 24.f1 c2
Rowson,Jonathan 2490 25.f3 e6 and after capturing the b3-pawn,
Baburin,Alexander 2590 Black's united passed pawns are
Isle of Man 1999 unstoppable, and 26.b4 d7 with Rc8 to
[Alexander Volzhin] follow is even worse for White.) 22...xe2+
23.xe2 g4+ 24.e3 xd1 25.xd1
There is quite a bit of interest in the exchange xb3 26.b1 c5 and Black has a
variation nowadays. As we concluded earlier, decisive advantage. ]
it's quite unpleasant for Black as he has no 17...xd4 18.xd4 xa3 White's position
active counterplay and W hite has had very looks bad but he finds some resources to fight
good results. But recently Black has found on. 19.f4! f6! 20.b5! b2 21.d6
new resources both with 5...cd and 5...ed. In It may seem that W hite has obtained
this first line Irish GM Alex Baburin, one of excellent prospects. However, Black had
leading experts in the Alekhine's, introduces a foreseen 1 move further! e6! Parrying all
very important improvement, and obtains a White`s threats and beginning the
clear edge! Now it's W hite turn to find counterattack. 22.d1
something serious, o therwise t his line is [ Grabbing the exchange allows Black to
hardly playable! 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 obtain a strong initiative: 22.xe8 xe8
d6 4.c4 b6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.c3 g6 Now it's problematic for White to complete
7.e3 g7 8.c1 0-0 9.b3 e5 10.dxe5 his development and coordinate his pieces.
dxe5 11.c5 6d7 12.c4 Up to now this is 23.h4 What else? Of course this is not to
a l l we l l k n o wn t h e o ry ( f o r e xa m p l e s e e attack, but just to complete development.
Dzindzikhashvili - Alburt). a5! A novelty, A) 23...xc4+ -this alternative is not bad
according to my database. This move seems either, although inferior to the text the
quite risky and ambitious, but it provides a following moves are forced for both sides:
good chance for Black to fight for initiative. 24.xc4 e4 25.c2 d2+ 26.g1
13.ge2 c6 14.a3 e1+! 27.h2 e5+! ( Hasty 27...f1+
[ The attempt to exploit the position of leads only to a draw after 28.xf1 xc2
Black's Queen doesn`t pay off 14.d2 xc5 29.xc2 xf1 ) 28.h3 ( If 28.g3 then
15.b5 (threatening Bf7) e7 16.c7 b8 e2 is very unpleasant, threatening Nf3
17.d5 h4 and although White has the check. ) 28...e3+! 29.fxe3 e4 30.xe4
initiative it's hardly worth a pawn. ] xe4 and Black's chances are clearly
14...d4! Very aggressively played again. better, as White has many pawn
Black tries to seize the initiative at all costs. weaknesses, both his rooks are passive
[ Of course, the pawn is taboo: 14...xa3?? and his King is exposed.;
15.a1 b4 16.a4 winning the Queen. ] B) 23...h5! 24.h6 xc4+ 25.bxc4
15.xd4 exd4 16.xd4 e8+ 17.f1 e2 and White's position is miserable:
Having the King lodged on the f1-square, 26.g1 xf2 27.h2 f4 28.g5 h6!
W hite can hardly be satisf ied with the and Black wins. ]
outcome of the opening fight. So White should 22...ad8 23.h4 xc4+ There`s nothi ng
find an improvement somewhere between wro ng wit h t his m ove , b ut I wou ld pre f e r
moves 13 and 15 (if one really exists!) heading for the endgame
[ 17.e2 is weaker xd4 18.xd4 xa3 [ 23...e5!? 24.xe5 ( The alternatives fare
538
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
539
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
course 6...Be7 is the main move the early to reach this slightly different position. ]
knight development is usually reckoned a little 15.f4 White doesn't have a lot of choice but to
committal but Baburin is a great connoisseur allow his king to be forced to move
of this variation and has a new idea in mind. [ 15.cxd5 b4! 16.d2 gives Black a
7.h3 f5 An interesting move. It has been p l e a s a n t c h o i c e : d3+ ( 16...xd5
played before, but not by anyone within 300 17.xd5 xd2+ 18.xd2 xd5
ELO points of Baburin's strength. Curiously may be even stronger) 17.xd3 xd3
enough I was debating this idea in the 18.ce2 xd5 is pleasant for him ]
ChessPublishing forum with some other users 15...b4
only about three weeks before this game was [ 15...h4+ is the obvious alternative, for
played, and we didn't have anything like such example 16.f1 f6 17.c5 c8 18.g1
a concrete reason for the move as Baburin d7 , but I'm not very sure about this if
demonstrates. 8.e3 W h it e m a n a ges t o dise n t an gle him s e lf
[ 8.e2 b4 , of course, but this means that Black's pieces are not so beautifully co-
W hite cannot develop his pieces in quite ordinated either. ]
the sequence he would like: this is the point 16.c1
of Baburin's idea. ] [ 16.d2 c5 is quite effective, e. g. 17.fxe5
[ 8.f3? b4 9.e2+ e7 10.e4 d5 cxd4 18.xd4 dxc4 ]
11.cxd5 xd5-+ 12.a3 xe4 13.axb4 0-0 16...h4+ 17.f1 c5?! To be honest, I find
14.d2 fe8 15.a5 xf3 16.gxf3 xd4 this an extraordinary decision, since the line
17.e5 xb2 0-1 was Wippermann-Baburin, played in the game seems to lead to a
played two days later in the same winning position for White by force in a few
tournament: a curious way for a 2425 player moves, and meanwhile Fritz's obvious
to lose against a move he had presumably suggestion
prepared for, but at least demonstrates [ 17...f6 produces huge complications
Baburin's faith in his idea. ] A) 18.g4 : 18...
8...e7 9.f3 0-0 10.d5 A plan introduced A1) 18...c5 19.xd5 ( 19.g5 exc4!
by Ian Rogers - see Rogers-Loeffler, Dutch 20.bxc4 e7 ) 19...xd5 20.cxd5
Interclub 1995, and Rogers-Bagirov, cxd4 21.xd4 d6 22.g2 d7 23.f5
Bundesliga 1995. Neither game reached this fe8 24.b5 xf5 25.gxf5 xf5=;
exact position, but in both the same basic A2) 18...xc3 19.g5 e7 20.xc3 c5
pattern of play developed. 21.fxe5 cxd4 22.xd4 dxc4 23.bxc4
[ 10.e2 e8 11.0-0 f6 would lead to a is possible also;
fairly popular position, reached for example A3) 18...ed7 doesn't seem to be so
in Suetin-Vukic, Odessa 1975, but W hite good now better alternatives are 19.f5
has been swindled out of his options with ae8 20.f2 c5 21.f3! meeting xc3
his queen's bishop by the move order, and with 22.h4 seems to be good for
anyway this d5 plan is normally the idea of White.;
the early h3. ] B) 18.g1?! A bit lame the crucial move
10...e5 11.d4 g6 12.b3 c6 13.dxc6 is ed7 Of course these variations only
Normal in the Rogers plan W hite does not scratch the surface and I am sure they can
want to be left with a vulnerable pawn on d5 be improved upon, but it seems clear that
and either have to trade off the b6 knight for this was the way Black had to go. ]
his c3 one or give the b6 knight a role by 18.fxe5 cxd4 19.xd4 xd4 20.xd4
constantly attacking a weak d5 pawn after .... dxc4 21.bxc4 fd8 22.b5! A good move
cxd5. bxc6 14.e2 d5!? others are not so convincing and maybe it was
[ 14...e8 15.0-0 would transpose into this which Baburin underestimated a while
Rogers-Bagirov, but I imagine Baburin was back. d7 23.c5 White is clearly winning and
ready for the d5/Nd4 plan (this is normally the rest is not so interesting. d5 24.c6 e7
reckoned a drawback to the early ...Nc6) 25.c7 c8 26.g4 d3+ 27.f2 xb5
and with his move order may have intended 28.xc8 xc7 29.xa7 d5 30.d4 f6
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
31.e6 f4 32.b1 c6 33.hd1 A slightly 13.c1 b6 was hardly promising. ]
sad game, as Baburin introduced a new and 13...dxc4 14.a4 d3 15.fd1 e8 16.d5?
perhaps quite important wrinkle in this, which xc3 17.dxc6 b5 18.cxb6?
s e e m s t o b e h i s f a vo u ri t e b ra n ch o f t h e [ 18.xb5 b8 followed by capturing on b2
Alekhine, only to go astray in the is also bad, but now he doesn't have a good
complications. He was willing to repeat the line, square for his queen. ]
however, and this is a game whose opening 18...axb6 19.xd3
will repay careful study. The early move orders [ White may have missed the fact that
in this ..exd6 line are multifarious and tricky, 19.b5 is answered by a5 ]
and probably no-one knows them better than 19...xd3 20.d1 xb2 21.xd3 cxd3
Baburin. 22.d1 e6 23.d2 c1 24.xd3 xe3
1-0 25.fxe3 xc6 26.d7 c2 27.g5 h6
28.xf7 axa2
0-1
535 B03
Schubert,S 2256
Kopylov,Mihail 2520 536 B03
Oslo NOR (9) 30.03.2001 Sermek,Drazen
[Nigel Davies] Zelcic,Robert
Croatian Team Ch (1) 1994
In this game White prevents ...Bg4 with h2-h3, [Nigel Davies]
but uses precious time in the process. And
Black has a perfectly good square for his 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
bishop on f5. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 5.exd6 exd6 6.c3 e7 7.d3 0-0
4.c4 b6 5.exd6 exd6 6.c3 e7 7.h3 8.ge2 c6 9.0-0 f6 The most popular
f5 Possibly Black's most flexible move. move which applies pressure to the d4 pawn.
[ After 7...c6 8.f3 f5 White can play There are several alternatives:
9.d5 ( 9.e2 g6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e3 f6 [ For 9...e8 see Emms - Davies ]
12.c1 e8 13.d2 d5 14.b3 a6 10.e3 b4 11.b3
was equal in Hagesaether - Gausel, [ Emms' suggestion of 11.g3 is worth
Norwegian Open 2002.) 9...b8 10.e2 considering. ]
0-0 11.0-0 e8 12.d4 c8 13.d3 11...xd3 12.xd3 g4 13.f3 h5 14.g3
when W hite had the better game in g6 15.d2 h4 16.d5 Gaining the familiar
Kosintseva - Tomashevsky, Vladimir2002 ] space advantage, but Black's position is very
8.f3 0-0 9.e2 f6 Kopylov is an expert on solid. e8 17.ae1 d7 18.e2 xg3
the Alekhine, so his treatment is well worth 19.hxg3 a6 20.fe1 f8 21.d4 d7
studying. 22.e4 xe4 23.xe4 xe4 24.xe4 e8
[ Another reasonable plan is 9...c6 10.0-0 25.e3 xe4 26.xe4 f6 27.f2 f7
a5 after which Salimaki - Eriksson, Finland 28.g4 h6 29.e3 e7 30.xe7+ xe7
2002 went 11.b3 f6 12.e3 d5 13.c5 White has kept a small advantage right into a
6d7 14.a4 a6 15.d2 e8 16.fe1 minor piece endgame and Black still needs to
e4 with a promising position for Black play carefully to draw. 31.e4 a5 32.c5 g6
because of the latent weakness of White's d- 33.cxd6+ xd6 34.f2 e7 35.g3+ d7
pawn. ] 36.d4 c6 37.dxc6+ xc6 38.e1 b6
10.0-0 c6 11.e3 Leaving Black's knight on 39.d2 b5 40.f4 c6 41.a4 g6
b6 access to c4. 42.g3 f8 43.e4 e6 44.f5 d4+
[ W h i t e s h o u l d p l a y t h e s t a n d a r d 11.b3 45.g6 xb3 46.xg7 c5 47.xh6
after which d5 12.c5 c8 gives rise to a xa4 48.g6 c5 49.xf6 a4 50.e1
typical exchange middlegame. ] d3 51.c3 b5 52.g5 b4 53.g6 bxc3
11...d5 12.c5 c4 13.xc4 54.g7 c2 55.g8 c1 56.e8+ c7
[ After this things go from bad to worse, but
541
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
57.xa4 h6+ 58.f5 h5+ 59.f6 [ Morss gives 22.g2 f3 23.d6 c6 ]
½-½ 22...d6 This is a difficult choice, and perhaps
a go o d p la ce f o r B lack t o se e k e qu a lit y.
Another move that doesn't seem to fit the bill
537 B03 is
Shabalov,Alexander [ 22...e7 23.f3 ( or 23.g2 ) 23...e8
Analysis 24.e1 ]
[John Watson] 23.g2 e8 Superficially, here are a few
more possibilities.
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 [ 23...4xd5? 24.f3 ]
5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c5 7.d5 g6 8.f4 g7 [ 23...a4!? 24.xa4 xa4 25.e3!? ( or
9.c3 0-0 10.d2 e6 11.0-0-0 exd5 25.f4 )]
12.cxd5 e8!? 13.e1 a6 14.f3 b4 [ 23...g3 24.f4 f8 25.f1 ]
15.g5! f6 Here, instead of 16 Bh4, I 24.axb4 cxb4 25.a2 xd5 26.xd5+
suggested 16.exf6 xe1+ 17.xe1 xf6 xd5 27.c4 c8 28.e3 g7
18.xf6 xf6 19.a3 And now Mark Morss [ 28...b5 29.xd5 xc4+ 30.b1 ]
correctly points out that I didn't address the 29.xd5 xc4+ 30.b1 c6 31.d1 a5
move f5 , looking only at 19...a5 and 19... 32.c1 c5 33.e3 Well, long analysis,
Na6. My excuse? I was at a coffeehouse you maybe wrong analysis. Probably both sides
can't leave these engines alone for a minute! can improve that's the normal course of things.
Anyway, Morss claims equality after 20.h3 B u t m y o ve r a l l im p r e ss io n is t h a t W h it e
[ 20.e2 doesn't seem to achieve enough, stands somewhat better going all the way
although it would be worth playing on. One back to exf6.
main line is d8 21.g4 xg4! 22.axb4
cxb4 ( 22...xe2 23.bxc5 xd5 24.xe2 )
23.e4 e5 ( 23...f5 24.xg4 xe4 538 B03
transposes 25.e6+ g7 26.g2 e5 Shabalov Four Pawns
27.f3 d6 28.b1 xd5 29.g5 c6 Analysis,Continued
30.f1 f8 31.d1 f6 32.b3 ) 24.xg4 [John Watson]
xe4 25.e6+ g7 26.g2 ( White could
play on aiming for a small advantage without 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
much risk: 26.g2 xd5 27.e1 c4+ 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c5 7.d5 g6 8.f4 g7
28.c2 xc2+ 29.xc2 f6 30.g4 ) 9.c3 0-0 10.d2 e6 11.0-0-0 exd5
26...c4+! ( 26...e5? 27.f3 c7+ 12.cxd5 e8!? 13.e1 a6 14.f3 b4
28.b1 xd5 29.g5; 26...e3+? 27.b1 15.g5 In previous columns, I looked at some
b3 28.f3 d4 29.d6 xd6 30.xb3 ) analysis in the Forum by Mark Morss, who
27.c2 ( 27.b1 xd5 28.f3 b3! ) has demonstrated the 'Shabalov line' in the
27...f4+ 28.b1 xd5 29.d3 d6 Four Pawns has more life to it than I gave it
30.e1 e8 31.xd5 xe1+ 32.xe1 credit for. I believe that, based upon previous
xd5 and even if White should play on (with analysis in this column, the line15...f6 16 exf6
33 Nd3, for example), it's very unlikely that u l t i m a t e l y w o r k s o u t i n W h i t e ' s f a v o u r
the game will end in other than a draw, (although there are always surprises!). But in
because the endgames are all drawn. ] t h e Fo ru m , Ma rk ca m e u p wit h t h e t ru l y
20...c8 21.g4 d7 So far according to courageous idea c7!? (or!!??), which dares
Morss, and the computer agrees. But now my W h it e t o p la y 16.d6 (not surprisingly, there
com pu ter f ina lly sto ps prod ucing in st an t are options, but let's stick with this one). Most
opinions and starts waltzing around from point players wouldn't get near this position, but it's
to point. After some investigation with actual b a s e d u p o n a c o n s i s t e n t t h e m e o f t h i s
direction from a human, I think the best line is variation, that White's king is more exposed
22.e2! , when White always seems to keep than Black's (...Bf5/...c4/...Na4, and freeing
some advantage. the g7 bishop are themes, among others), so
542
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
543
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544
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
also looks fairly level although White does bedfellows. 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
have a space advantage on the queenside 5.exd6 exd6 6.c3 e7 7.e3 c6 8.e2
it's not clear this is of any real benefit. ]0-0
21.bxc6 [ Of course 8...f5 is natural enough, but
[ 21.dxc5 might keep the slimmest of
whereas Black will always have to castle
advantages after dxc5 22.bxc6 xc6 short, he might not need to place his Bishop
23.c4 c8 24.a2! on f5. 9.f3 0-0 10.0-0 f6 11.b3 a5
although Black
shouldn't have any serious problems here. ] 12.ac1 a4 13.d1 a3 14.b3 e8 15.d5
21...xc6 22.e4 a4 23.c1 b4 16.d2 a6 17.d4 ( 17.xb6!
cxd4
24.xd4 dc5 Suddenly White has to be
cxb6 18.fe1 d7 19.d4
very careful 25.xe6! The only move to keep is a n u n ste re o t yp e d wa y t o ha n d le t h e
the balance and it starts off a long sequence position and one which gives W hite the
of exchanges which takes us into an equal a d v a n t a g e .) 17...g6 18.db5 c5
endgame 19.xc5?! ( 19.fe1 ) 19...dxc5 20.d6
[ 25.f3?? allows xd4 26.xd4 b3 cxd6 21.f3 g5 22.xd6 xc1 23.xc1
winning a piece ] Oms Fuentes, L-Jimenez Albadalejo, M/
25...xe4 Barbera del Valles 2005 and now g5 ]
[ 25...xe6 drops a pawn to 26.b6 xd2 9.f3 g4 10.b3 f5!? Exactly the type of
27.xd2 ad8 28.xa5 although Black has move to confuse a weaker opponent, but
r e a s o n a b l e c o m p e n s a t i o n a f t e r b5
objectively, it is dubious.
29.fe1 d4 and a draw is still the most
[ Either 10...f6 ]
likely result ] [ or 10...e8 are superior. ]
26.xd8 11.0-0?!
[ 26.d3?! xf2! ] [ 11.d2! is easily the best move, after
26...xd2 27.xd2 fxd8 28.b6 b5 which White secures an undisputed edge:
29.fd1 ab8 30.xa5 b2 31.xd8+ f6 12.0-0 h6 13.d5 xf3 14.xf3 e5
xd8 32.b1 xa3 33.c4 d3 The dust 15.e2 bd7 16.ae1 ( 16.f4! is clearest:
has settled and the position is just a draw. g4 17.xg4 fxg4 18.ae1; 16.c2!?
White's back rank is too weak for any of the g4 17.xg4 fxg4 18.ae1 e5 19.e2
tactics to end in his favour. 34.e5 d5
h4 20.g3 ) 16...a5 17.b5 f7
35.g4 b2! 36.h3 d3 37.xb2 xa5 18.d3 c6 19.dxc6 bxc6 20.a3 a4
A relatively comfortable hold for Black in a 21.b4 g6 22.xh6 xh6 23.xh6 f7
solid line of the Alekhine. White is still yet to24.h7+ g7 25.xf5 gxf5 Oe, O-Carl
prove a real edge against exd6 and I sson, A/Randers 1973 The conclusion I
recommend trying other lines (the 4-pawns or draw from the examples above is that the
4.Nf3) Alekhine is slippery, difficult to get a grip on.
½-½ Against tacticians this type of 'confusing
play' works well, less so against strategical
players. ]
541 B03 11...f4 12.c1 f6 13.b2 h8 14.e4
Shukurova,Meihriban 2205 [ Again White misses his chance: 14.d5! ]
Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2699 14...d5! 15.xf6 xf6 16.c1 ad8 17.c5
President's Cup (1) 04.05.2006 c8 Black has a very reasonable position now.
[Andrew Martin] His Knight comes to f5 and pressure is
created against d4. 18.d2 8e7 19.b4
1.e4 f6 Note that Mamedyarov is very f5! 20.cd1
happy to use the Alekhine against lower-rated [ 20.xf4 fxd4-+ ]
opposition perhaps that will be the future for 20...de8 21.fe1
this combative, but when the dust settles, [ White would normally advance his
slightly worse for Black, opening. The queenside pawns as quickly as possible, but
Alekhine and the Scandinavian are here he is struck downafter 21.b5 h4!!
545
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
546
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ In Sermek - Zelcic, Pozega 2000 White met 66.c3 d8 67.b1 e6 68.b4 c8
8...0-0 9.0-0 f6 10.e3 g4 with 11.h3 69.d1 e5 70.e3 d2 71.d1 f4 72.f3
and obtained the better game af ter h5 e3 73.e4+ d5 74.xf4 xd1 75.e2
12.d2 g6 13.b3 xd3 14.xd3 d5 White in turn shows considerable ingenuity in
15.c5 c8 16.b4 xb4 17.b1 etc. ] eliminating his opponent's last pawn. But he
9.f3 h5 10.0-0 0-0 11.b3 f6 12.e3?! throws the game away in what looks like time-
[ I prefer 12.d5 e5 13.b2 but then xd3 trouble. c3+ 76.xd2 e4+ 77.e2 c2+
14.xd3 g6 15.d2 d7 looks quite 78.d1
adequate for Black. ] [ It looks like a draw after 78.d3 ]
12...e8 13.d2 d5 Creating a different kind 78...h2 79.c1 a2 80.h4 d4 81.h3
of structure. Black rules out the possibility of c3 82.h4+ d3 83.h3+ c4
W h it e ga inin g sp a ce wit h d 4 -d5 a n d will 84.h4+??
reroute his b6 knight to f5 via c8 and e7. 14.c5 [ 84.h8 draws, because he can check
c8 15.fe1 g6 16.xg6 hxg6 17.ad1 Black's king away from the b3 square. ]
b6 Another instructive move. When White 84...b3 85.b4+ xb4
captures on b6 he leaves his opponent with 0-1
the more solid pawn structure. 18.cxb6 axb6
19.f4 g5 20.e3 a5 21.c1 d6 22.f2
f5 23.a4 ce7 24.g4?! Driving the knight 544 B03
from f5 relieves the pressure on the d4 pawn, Sjugirov,Sanan 2405
but weakens White's kingside in the process. Baburin,Alexander 2545
d6 25.h4 g6 26.h5 f8 27.d3 c6 III EUICC Arvier ITA (7) 21.06.2007
28.g2 a7 29.d1 c7 30.e3 g6 [John Watson]
31.g3 ce7 32.f1 d7 33.c2?
Allowing his kingside pawns to be shattered 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
makes matters worse. 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6
[ W h i t e h a d t o p l a y 33.hxg6 , allowing 9.f3 e7 Check out the archives for
Black's f8 knight a nice square after xg6 ] alternatives on this and the last few moves. I
33...gxh5 34.gxh5 f5 35.f2 e6 can't see anything for Black that I have full
36.ec1 faith in. Fortunately, he has an incredible
[ White loses his queen after 36.xf5 f4+ ] number of options, and I'll bet at least one
36...c5 37.dxc5 bxc5 38.h1 ed4 key idea is yet to be discovered.
Attempting to exploit the weakness of White's [ William Martz used to play 9...d7 here,
king with a forcing sequence. But the 10.e2 d8 ( I think 10...g4 11.0-0 d8
endgame reached is far from clear. 39.xd4 works as well. In my days with the Alekhine,
xd4 40.xd4 xd4 41.g2 because of analysis with Martz, that was my
[ And not 41.xc5 h3+ etc. ] choice. I won some games but never could
41...h3+ 42.h2 xf3+ 43.xf3 xf3 make it work in th eory. Now that I loo k
44.f2 g4 45.xc5 Obtaining connected around, I recognise some of the notes in
passed pawns on the queenside. This is going the archives in the game Kotronias-Short!
to be close.... e5 46.c7 xh5+ 47.g2 Playable? W ell, maybe, maybe not but I
d4 48.b4 d3 49.b5 e6 50.g3 e4 51.b6 wouldn't bet that Black gains equality. )]
b4 52.b7 g7 53.c4 h3+ 54.g2 10.e2 Actually, this seems to be a very good
[ The point of Black's ingenious play is that move, perhaps better than its ancient
54.xg4 is met by h4+ 55.xf3 reputation. White avoids the line analysed by
, both winning the exchange and stopping John Cox in this column (see Dominguez-
White's passed pawn. hxc4 ] Almeida, Santa Clara 2005), which also looks
54...h4+ 55.g1 xb7 56.xg4+ g6 good for White but is highly unstable:
57.g2 h5 58.d2 d7 59.g3 hd5 [ 10.d5 (30 years ago we spent untold hours
60.f3 f6 61.e4+ e7 62.g5 e5+ and days on this move. Now the computer
63.f2 c4 64.xd5 xd5 65.d1 f5 would probably render a lot of that analysis
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
548
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
27...e4 28.exe3 exd4 29.xd4 xd4 32.fxe6+ g7 33.c5 c7 34.b4 a5 35.a3
30.e5 d7 31.e1 g6 32.h2 e7 axb4 36.axb4 h6 37.c3 h4 38.c6 h3
33.g4?! c2+ 34.e2? xe5! 35.xc2 39.xh3 xh3 40.gxh3 b6+ 41.h1
xe1 36.gxh5 f7 A complicated ending has xb4 42.b1 d4 43.cxb7 xd5+ 44.g2
arisen. Black went on to win. 37.g3 g1+ 1-0
38.f4 g5 39.d2 e7 40.d3 xh5
41.g4 g5+ 42.f4 g2 43.a3 a5
44.e5 h5 45.d4 h4 46.e3+ d6 546 B03
47.c5+ d7 48.e4 g5 49.e5 g3 Smeets,Jan 2659
50.f5 xh3 51.d4+ c8 52.xg5 xb3 Reinderman,Dimitri 2608
53.xh4 xa3 54.c4 b7 55.f4 a6 ch Eindhoven (3) 13.06.2010
56.e4 b5 57.c1 a4 58.d4 h3 [Gawain Jones]
59.b1+ b3 60.h1 b4+ 61.c3 c4+
62.b2 b4 63.h8 a3+ 64.a2 c2+ 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
65.b1 xc5 66.a2 c2+ 67.b1 b2+ 5.exd6 exd6
68.a1 d2 69.b8+ c4 70.a8 d3 [ 5...cxd6 is the more aggressive try and I'll
71.a2 c5 72.c8 b4 73.b8+ a4 have a look at that in the next game. ]
74.b7 d2+ 75.a1 c6 76.b6 c4 6.h3 It is somewhat unusual to play this so
77.xc6 b3 78.b6+ c2 79.h6 c3 early but the game soon transposes back into
80.a2 c1+ 81.xa3 c2 82.a2 d8 previously chartered waters.
83.b3 b1 [ A recent game illustrated Black's ideas if he
0-1 is allowed to play ...Bg4. 6.c3 e7 7.e2
( 7.h3 is also possible here and would be
pretty similar to the game, i.e. Fedorowicz,
545 B03 J-Porper, E Calgary 2010.) 7...0-0 8.f3
Skorchenko,Dmitry 2460 g4 Otherwise there is no real point to
Tkachenko,Georgiy 2318 W h i t e 's 6 . h 3 9.0-0 c6 Typical Alekhine
Summer GM Lugansk UKR (10) 07.07.2007 play. ( 9...c5!?; and 9...c6 have both been
[John Watson] looked at previously on the site.) 10.b3 e8
11.h3 h5 12.e3 d5 13.c5 6d7 14.b4
A smooth win in Voronezh style. Isn't 9...e5 I feel that W hite should be a little better
forced after all? 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 here with more space on the queenside but
d6 4.c4 b6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.c3 g6 it's amazing how fast Black can break out.
7.e3 g7 8.c1 0-0 9.b3 c6?! f6 15.b3 f8 16.fd1 e6 17.b5 d7
We've seen this move a few times recently, 18.ac1 c7 19.e1? xd4! A case in
but it still looks bad to me. 10.d5 e5 point! 20.xd4 ( 20.xd4 xe2 21.xe2
11.e2 f5?! 12.f4 xe2 would have dropped a pawn but was a
[ 12.h3 and ] le sse r evil.) 20...xd4 21.xh5 xe3!
[ 12.d2 are also very attractive. Black's 22.xd5 xe1+ 23.xe1 cxd5 and White
plan is mysterious, to say the least. ] had no real compensation for the piece.
12...g4 13.xg4 fxg4 14.ge2 f5 Nezar, M-Degraeve, J. Marseille 2010 ]
15.0-0 h5 6...c6 7.f3 e7 8.c3 f5 Transposing
[ 15...e6!? ] back to Leko-Short, a game which I
16.d4 f6 17.xf6 exf6 18.d4 investigated in my first update on here.
W ith total domination. W hite never lets up [ 8...0-0 was essayed by Thomas Luther but
from now on, even though both sides make t h i s a l l o w s : 9.d3 which seems to give
some technical errors. d7 19.d2 ae8 W h i t e a s m a l l e d g e . ( 9.a3 is likely to
20.ce1 a6 21.xf5 xf5 22.e2 c8 transpose to the game after f5 )
23.d4 d7 24.e6 f7 25.e3 fe7 A) 9...e8 10.0-0 b4 11.b1 c6
26.fe1 c5 27.c2 f7 28.f5 g5 29.h3! 12.e1 g6 13.a3 a6 14.a2 c7
gxh3 30.xh3 h8 31.he3 xe6 15.d5 c5 16.f4 f5 17.g4!? c8
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14.a4! a5 ( 14...e5 15.f4 doesn't help) to fall foul of an attack on the light squares.
15.f4! when Black won't be able to ( 20.f5 h4 seems ok for Black. )]
extricate his knight from c4.; 16.c1 g6 17.d2 So White has the two
C) 13...0-0 14.b3 c5 15.dxc6 xc6 bishops and Black is rather passively placed.
Dovzik, J-Bednar, M Slovakia 2005 when Smeets slowly expands on the queenside
White had a small edge. ] whilst Reinderman can do nothing but wait.
10.e2 e8 This position must be completely d7
fine for Black otherwise the Alekhine would be [ Black should probably try to stake some
in a very bad state! It's interesting to see how hold on the position immediately with 17...d5
Smeets takes over. A textbook example as to when, should White push immediately with
how to treat these positions on the White side. 18.c5 ( 18.b3!? just holding for a moment, is
[ A previous encounter with 9. a3 continued: better for W hite.) 18...d7 19.b4 a6
10...h6 11.0-0 f6 12.e3 ( I daresay 20.a4?! a5! 21.b5 b4 Black would be
Smeets would have played in the same solidly placed. ]
fashion as the game with 12.f4 ) 12...e8 18.b3 ae8 19.fd1 d8 Smeets has zero
13.c1 g6 14.b4 e7 15.f4 c6 16.b3 weaknesses in his camp and thus
d5 17.c5 d7 18.fd1 f8 with a typical Reinderman is forced to sit and await events.
Exchange Alekhine setup. Lysak, I-Kosikov, 20.b4 a6 21.f1 d7 22.b5! cb8
A Kiev 2002. ] [ 22...axb5 23.cxb5 cb8 24.a4
11.0-0 f6 12.f4 The first new move. is rather similar to the course of the game. ]
[ 12.b3 has been tried a couple of times, 23.a4 c6 24.f4 f8 Black is being forced
including a game by another of Topalov's backwards and only a masochist could enjoy
s e c o n d s , Ch e p a rin o v. g6 ( 12...d7 playing Black here! 25.g3 d7 26.b1
13.e3 d5 14.c5 c8 15.b4 a6 16.c1 axb5 Perhaps Black should have continued
h6 17.e1 8e7 18.f1 e4! and Black sitting, as hard as that actually is in practical
started to take over. Stark, S-Khenkin, I chess. 27.cxb5! A somewhat surprising
Dresden 2010.) 13.f4 a6 14.c1 d5 recapture but the reason becomes apparent if
15.c5 c8 16.b4 8e7 17.b5 axb5 you look at the final position! c5 28.a5! e6
18.xb5 c8 19.g4!? was rather unclear, 29.d5
Cheparinov, I- San Martin, R Linares 2005. ] [ Continuing with 29.a6 looked extremely
12...e4?! And, as Reinderman refuses the strong but there's nothing wrong with the
exchange sacrifice in a couple of moves, this game continuation either. ]
move must be deemed a mistake, simply 29...d4 30.xd4 xd4 31.e1 de7
ceding the bishop pair and light squares. 32.h4 f6 33.a6 b6?!
[ 12...d7 would be the normal treatment of [ 33...d7 34.e6 is exceedingly
the position. I doubt Smeets had anything unpleasant but would at least allow Black to
in particular prepared but was happy to play on a little longer. ]
have slightly more space on the queenside 34.a2! c4?! And this loses at once to a
and hoped to outplay his fellow Dutchman. ] pretty finish.
13.xe4 xe4 14.e3 e8 15.d3 e7 [ Although 34...a7 35.e6 isn't much
[ 15...xe3 should probably have been tried better ]
as the course of the game just leaves Black 35.xe7 xe7 36.xf6! Deflecting the bishop
worse. However this seems dangerous for from control of a7 and thus Black cannot
Black following: 16.fxe3 xe3+ 17.h1 prevent a second queen from appearing on
xd4 18.xd4 xd4 ( 18...xd4 the board. A well played game by Smeets and,
could be stronger but W hite retains the while not changing the theoretical verdict,
i n i t i a t i v e w i t h 19.e1 f2 20.e7! teaches wannabe Alekhine players that they
with a powerful rook on the seventh.) 19.f3 must understand the positions very well as
c6 20.ae1 Black has restored rough even a frequent practitioner of the Alekhine
material parity but White's rooks dominate rated over 2600 got into a lot of trouble.
the position and Black has to be careful not 1-0
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seems to be a novelty. 12.e2 e6 13.dxe6 12...f7 This just doesn't work out. Black
[ 13.f3 gives Black various options, of intends . ..e5, when his d-pawn will be well-
which xf3+ 14.xf3 e5 looks clearest, protected. The problem is space.
and comfortable. ] [ 12...g4 13.d4 xd4 14.xd4 d7
13...xe6 14.f3 d5! Socko must have 15.f3 b6!? may not be so bad then
thought this wasn't possible. 15.xd5 16.xb6 axb6 17.d4 c5 18.0-0
[ 15.xb6 xf3+ 16.xf3 axb6 ] keeps an edge. ]
[ 15.cxd5 xd5 16.xd5 is similar to the 13.f3 e5!? 14.dxe6 xe6 15.0-0 e8
game and seems to be equal. ] 16.d4
15...xd5 16.cxd5 a5+ 17.d2? [ 16.e1 with the idea d7?! 17.d4! ]
Far too ambitious. 16...d7 17.xg7
[ 17.d2 leads to an equal ending. ] [ Again 17.e1 is very strong. ]
17...xf3+ 18.gxf3 17...xg7 18.d4 f6 19.f3 b6
[ 18.xf3 gives Black pleasant options, but 20.h1!?
simplest is xd5+ 19.f1 a6+ 20.g1 [ White misses the trick 20.c5! dxc5 21.a4
ad8 with a commanding position. ] b4 22.xc5 c8 23.a3 b6 ( 23...xa3
18...xd5 Things have obviously gone wrong 24.d2 wins ) 24.e1 ]
f o r W h i t e . 19.e3 h5 20.d6 ad8 20...e7 21.xe6+ xe6 22.d5 xd5
21.c5 d5 22.d1 b6 23.b5 c3+ 23.xd5 e3 24.xf7? Throwing the
24.f1 f6 25.h4 a6 26.xa6 xf3 advantage away why exchange a terrific piece
27.e1 f5 28.xf3 xf3 29.h2 e5 for a horrible one? One good move is
30.g2 c3 31.e2 xe2+ 32.xe2 xe1 [ 24.xb7! xb7? ( 24...ae8 25.f3 )
33.xe1 f5 25.d4+ e5 26.fxe5 dxe5 27.c3 ]
0-1 24...xf7 25.d5+ f6
[ 25...f8 ]
26.fe1 ae8 27.xe3 xe3 28.g8 c7
550 B03 29.h8+ g7 30.d8+ e7 31.h8+
Stepanov,Nikolay 1774 ½-½
Tukhvatullin,Timur 2248
6th ch-PriFO Men (3) 25.01.2008
[John Watson] 551 B03
Stopa,Jacek 2461
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 Ramirez Alvarez,Alejandro 2533
5.exd6 cxd6 6.c3 g6 7.e3 g7 8.c1 UTD Invitational GM (5) 28.11.2008
0-0 9.b3 c6 If Black doesn't like 9...e5, he [John Watson]
often tries this move (9...f5 is also played, and
9...a5 is still another possibility). Although it 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.c4 b6 4.d4 d6
frequently succeeds, I think that accurate play 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6
should give White the better game. 10.d5 9.f3 g4
[ 10.e2 d5!? 11.c5 d7 12.xd5 db8 [ 9...d7 opens another can of worms, but
13.c4 b5! ( 13...e6 14.c3 xd4 it's worth noting that 10.e2 0-0-0 ( or
15.ge2 e5 is playable, but leaves Black to 10...d8 11.0-0 g4 ) 11.0-0 transposes to
deal with Ne4) 14.cxb6 axb6 and White will my long note to 11...Bxf3!? below. Thus 9...
have to cede a pawn in view of 15.a4 e6 Qd7 is sometimes preferred, because the
16.c3 xd4 ] immediate 9...Bg4 allows another set of
10...e5 11.e2 The normal move, preparing variations beginning with 10 Qd2, as well
f4 and preventing any piece from going to g4. as avoiding an early c5. ]
f5 12.f4!? 10.e2 d7 An ancient line, perhaps still
[ 12.h3 develops and covers key squares viable. My apologies for not explaining this
perhaps g4 13.xg4 fxg4 14.g5 l i n e we l l , b u t i t m i g h t t a k e d a y s . S o , i n
would follow. ] cowardly fashion, I'll refer you to the Forum,
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
where some amazingly detailed analysis has tells me that 14.b5! is a good move,
been done, in large part by Mark Morss and b a s e d u p o n xe3 ( 14...e7
an enthusiastic contributor 'Ig' from Lisbon, may be best met by 15 Bf2, but also the
whose real name I'd be happy to provide here p i e c e s a c r i f i c e 15.xg4!? xe3
if he sends it. He certainly deserves credit. 16.xe6 xd1 17.exc7+ b8
W hat I will do is try to give a some broad 18.xe8 e3 19.xg7 xg4 20.e6
overview and sketch an outline of moves, looks interesting, since Black has some
most of which are probably subject to loose pieces ) 15.xc7+ b8 16.b3 ]
improvement if you turn on your computers. [ b ) B i l l M a r t z s h o w e d m e 11...d8
I'll add just a few moves of my own. several decades back, and I played it in a
[ 10...xf3 11.gxf3 h4+ 12.f2 f4 few games. Back then there was no theory
ha s b e en p la ye d a lo t a n d a n a lys e d a t to speak of. The idea was to improve upon
length. I've looked at this with some very 11...0-0-0 in the 12 Ng5 Nxc4 line because
strong (titled) players and think that it's the king protects central squares. All this
better for White (and potentially, torture for eventually came under great scrutiny, and
Black). ] seems to have been given up, although I'm
11.0-0 n o t e xa ct l y su re wh y: 12.g5 ( 12.c5
[ 11.c5 is also playable here Black avoids is also important, because in this case it's
that with the 9...Qd7 and ...0-0-0 move order. not cle ar t ha t Black wo uldn 't like to b e
Of course that opens up other issues. ] castled. Everything in these lines comes
11...xf3!? Unusual in fact, I'm not sure if this down to specific, concrete lines) 12...xc4
order has been played (well, I guess ( 12...xe2 13.xe2 xd4 14.xd4
everything's been played). Black wants to xd4+ 15.h1 is supposed to favour
clarify the pawn structure right away, and White. ) 13.f2 (I think this was Estrin's
avoid Ng5 ideas. This is rare in comparison discovery ( 13.xf7 xe3 14.xd7 xd1
with two traditional moves: 15.xd8+ xd8 16.xg4 e3!
[ a) 11...0-0-0 is n o rm a l, wh e n 12.g5 is unconvincing now, although White is not
is a fun move, going way back to books by worse. ) 13...xe2 ( 13...e7 14.xf7
Alekhine authors Eales and W illiams, xb2 15.c2 is also promising, if unclear.
Bagirov, and Graham Burgess. There is a There's also a strange move here that I'd
tremendous amount of material on the forum never seen. Even if it's no no good, which
on this and on the main move 12 c5, which i s e xt r e m e l y l i k e l y , i t ' s w o r t h s e e i n g :;
is very likely best ( in particular, 12.c5 d5 13...xd4?! 14.xg4 xe5 15.h3?! e7
13.xd5 xd5 14.b4 e4 has been 16.e3 h6 17.h5 g6 18.h4 c5 19.g3
analysed at length, as well as sidelines. I xg5 20.xg5 ef3+ 21.gxf3 hxg5
confess not to have tracked these posts 22.ae1 f5 23.g2 d6 24.e2 xg3
down in a while, and it may take some time 25.hxg3 f7 26.f2 f6 and Black was
for you. But they are really great, and well holding in Hernod, B-Bergdahl, A,
worth it if you dare to enter such a wild correspondence/Sweden 1974.) 14.xe2
and arguably risky line ) e7 15.xf7 xf7 16.e3+ g8 17.xc4
A) 12...xe2 13.xe2 xd4 ( 13...f6 , and it's hard to imagine that W hite
14.exf6 gxf6 15.f3 and Rad1 is okay for doesn't stand better. ]
B l a c k , e ve n i f h e ' s s li g h t ly cr a m p e d) [ c) I believe that 11...f6 12.d5! is still
14.xd4 xd4+ 15.h1; considered good for White. ]
B) 12...xc4 13.xf7 12.xf3! It's hard to say what's best, but this is
B1) 13...xe3 14.xd7 xd1 safest.
( 14...xd7!? 15.c1 seems to come up [ 12.xf3!? xc4 13.f2 would be played
a little short) 15.xd8+ xd8 16.xg4 in the hope of ripping the position apart with
xb2 17.xe6 xe6 18.xe6+ b8 an early d5. Black has plenty of options, but
19.b1 d3 20.d5 with initiative; watch out for standard tricks such as 0-0-0?!
B2) 13...e8 , and here the computer ( 13...b6 14.d5 xd5 15.xd5 exd5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
16.g4 is unclear) 14.e2 b6 15.d5! [ 28...d3! 29.xd3 xd3 threatens ...
xd5?? 16.xd5 exd5?? 17.g4 ] Be3+, and 30.f2 c3 31.e1 d2! 32.g3
[ 12.gxf3?! has actually been the move is only moderately better for White. ]
played here, perhaps out of habit, but 0-0-0 29.h4 f6 30.h2 Now White is in charge
seems to justif y 11...Bxf 3, for example, again. g8 31.g4
13.c5 d5 14.f2 f6! with plenty of [ 31.c6! h a s t h e id e a b6 32.c5! d3
counterplay, especially since 15 f4 isn't 33.xc7+ xc7 34.e7+ xe7 35.xe7+ ]
available. ] 31...h5 32.xg8 xg8 33.e4
12...0-0-0 13.f4 [ 33.c6! ]
[ The other critical sequence is 13.c5 d5 33...f7 34.f3 g7 35.a4 d4 36.f4
14.f2 , and if f5 , 15.exf6 gxf6 , but f6 37.g3?!
instinctively, White looks better, and Black [ White's attack is too strong after 37.b5! ]
had better move quickly. ] [ or 37.e6! with the idea of Rb6. ]
13...f6 Black is concerned and sacrifices a 37...d7 38.xh5 h8 39.f3 xa4
pawn. Other moves are slow, e.g., 40.e2 Time control, or he would have played
[ 13...b4 14.f1 xc3 15.bxc3 hf8 What follows is not very accurate, but White's
16.b1 ] win is a fair result:
[ 13...g5 14.e4 g8 15.d5! with the idea [ 40.xc7+! xc7 41.f4+ ]
exd5? 16.cxd5 xd5 17.g4 ] 40...d7 41.e6 f7 42.e4 g6 43.e5
14.exf6 gxf6 15.c5 d5 16.xd5 xd5 g8 44.f3 d8 45.f4 e8 46.f5 e7
17.f3 d7 18.f2 47.f7 d8 48.f4 a8 49.f5 a7
[ 18.d5!? is attractive-looking, for example, 50.d4 b8 51.f4 a8 52.f2 b8
e5 ( 18...exd5?? 19.g4 ) 19.dxe6 53.f5 a8 54.d4 c6 55.f4 a7 56.f7
( 19.c6! xf3+ 20.gxf3 with the idea e2 57.f3 e6 58.f5 c4 59.h7
xd5!? 21.d4 c5 22.xd5 xe3+ 1-0
23.h1 exd5 24.d3 , presumably with
some advantage due to Black's weak pawns
and slightly loose king, but at least this is 552 B03
in t e res t in g) 19...xe6 20.c2 yields a Sutovsky,Emil 2585
small advantage, based upon Black's pawn Varga,Zoltan 2540
weaknesses. The tactics favour White by a European Club Cup 1999
hair after h6 21.xb7+! b8! ( 21...xb7 [Alexander Volzhin]
22.b4+ a8 23.xh6 ) 22.c6!? xc6!
23.xc6 xe3+ 24.f2 ] Black's dubious experiment in the opening is
18...h6 19.xf6 g7 20.xe6!? xd4 brilliantly ref uted by former Junior W orld
[ 20...xe6?? 21.g4 ] Champion Emil Sutovsky. 1.e4 f6 2.e5
21.e4 d5 3.d4
[ Or 21.e1 xf3+ 22.xf3 ] [ The 4 pawns attack was not very popular
21...xf3+ 22.xf3 hf8 23.e2 d5?! last month, and I managed to find only one
[ 23...fe8 24.b1 xe4 25.xe4 d3! game of some importance. 3.c4 b6 4.d4
26.xd3 xd3 with the idea ...Rd2 gives d6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 f5 7.c3 e6 8.e3
Black counterplay, likely enough to draw. ] c6 9.e2 ( As we considered earlier, the
24.e1! Black's pieces have good scope, but most aggressive line and the only way to
White remains a pawn ahead. b8 fight for opening advantage is 9.f3 e7
[ 24...xa2?? 25.g4+ ] 10.d5 with wild complications.) 9...e7
25.b4 a6 26.g3 10.f3 0-0 11.0-0 f6 12.b3?!
[ 26.h4! enforces a favourable A novelty (according to my database), but
simplification. ] of rather dubious merits. The idea is to play
26...c3 27.c1 d2 28.cc4?! 13 . c4 -c5 , b u t B la ck d o e sn 't allo w t h is .
[ 28.b1! xa2 29.d1 ] ( 12.exf6 xf6 is well known theory ( see
28...g5 Yudasin - Kengis), with balanced chances.)
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
12...a5! 13.a4 ( 13.c5 a4 also leads White this move. Actually, after the exchange of
nowhere. ) 13...b4! Now it's clear that light-squared Bishops Black has everything in
White's whole conception is wrong. Black order, and after the bishop`s retreat to b3
has many unpleasant threats (Nc2 or Bc2). W h it e ca n't castle. Ho we ve r W hite f in d s
14.e1? Looks ugly. Now all White's pieces h id d e n re so u rce s t o se ize t h e in it ia t ive .
are quite passive . ( 14.ac1 suggested 10.b3!! An introduction to the brilliant attack.
itself, with reasonable chances.) 14...fxe5 bxc5 11.g5! c4 The only move, its
15.dxe5 d7! After the retreat of White's drawback is that the a6-f1 diagonal is closed
Knight, the e5-pawn is very weak. 16.d1 now, and White can castle.
c8 17.f4 c5 18.a3 c6 Black already [ 11...e6? is just bad in view o f 12.f3
has a decisive positional advantage as all with decisive advantage: f5 ( 12...e7
White's pieces occupy miserable positions. 13.e4 ) 13.exf6 ]
The up and coming Brazilian youngster 12.f3! f6 13.exf6 exf6
converts his advantage into the win very [ 13...cxb3 14.f7# ]
convincingly. 19.b3 c7 20.b2 ad8 14.0-0! A very picturesque position. Now
21.xd8 xd8 22.d1 e4 23.f3 c5+ Black should decide which piece to grab.
24.e3 ( After 24.h1 xd1! 25.xd1 Unfortunately for him none of them can be
d3 with Nf2 to follow, Black wins all the taken! e7
house! ) 24...xe3+ 25.xe3 b6 26.d4 [ 14...cxb3 15.e1+ e7 16.xf6!
xd4 27.xf5 exf5 and White resigned, ( White can already win the piece back:
Gonzalez - Leitao, Sao Paulo 1999. ] 16.a3 d6 17.xf6 f8 18.xd6 xd6
3...g6?! Inviting a disaster. To play such 19.xd6 d7 20.xe7 , but the endgame
rubbish against a strong grandmaster is not is not so clear in view of e8 21.a3
exactly the best solution. Probably Black xe1+ 22.xe1 bxa2 23.xh7 d3
believed that the move order is not important and a2-pawn gives Black serious
here and hoped to play d7-d6 later. Of course, c o u n t e r c h a n c e s .) 16...f8 17.g7
W hite should play very energetically and and Black`s predicament is hopeless: d5
creatively to refute this provocative play. 4.c4 Ot he r m o ve s a re equ ally f u t ile : ( 17...b2
b6 5.c5! d5 6.c4 The transformation to 18.xh7! Qf8 mate is the threat and Black
the Chase Variation is quite the thing here, as can't parry it! d5 19.xf8+ d7 20.xd8+
g7-g6 in this line is just a waste of time and xd8 21.xb2 with huge material
weakens Black's position. As we saw earlier, advantage ( by the way only three moves
for example in the game Sveshnikov - before White was a piece down!); 17...d6
Solozhenkin, Black should undermine White's 18.e6 f7 19.g8+ and White wins: f8
pawn chain (...d7-d6 or ...b7-b6) prior to 20.xf8 ) 18.a3 c5 19.e6 c8 20.xf8
developing his kingside. c6 7.f3 b6 winning everything! ]
[ 7...g7 was the main alternative to the text, 15.c2 f5 The only move. The alternatives
but W hite obtains clear edge here by the lost quickly:
u n e x p e c t e d 8.xd5! Giving up the strong [ 15...fxg5 This move allows a brilliant finale:
Bishop White compels further weakening of 16.e1 f8 17.h3 f7 18.xg5
Black's position. cxd5 9.c3 e6 (forced) Now White's main threat is doubling Rooks
10.g5! Now Black is in real trouble. His (Re 3 , Ra e 1 t o f o llo w), so B la ck 's K in g
choice is quite unpleasant: f6 ( 10...a5 s h o u l d g o a w a y f r o m t h e e - f i l e . f8
is no better in view of 11.d2! Intending the 19.xe7! ( 19.xg6 is not bad either: xg5
Bishops` exchange (Bh6) after which White 20.xf7 wi t h a t re m e n d o u s a t t a c k :)
will totally dominate over the dark squares. 19...xe7 20.xg6 g8 21.f7+!!
h6 12.f6 xf6 13.exf6 d8 14.b5 c6 and Black has to give up the Queen to avoid
15.d6+ f8 16.e5 and Black's position being mated
is miserable.) 11.exf6 xf6 12.xf6 xf6 A) 21...g7 22.h6+ xf7 23.xh7+
13.b5 with an overwhelming advantage. ] e6 ( 23...f8 24.h6+ ) 24.g6+ d5
8.c3 xc3 9.bxc3 a6 Black hoped for 25.f5+ d6 26.f4+;
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Four Pawn's Attack style) 5...d6 6.exd6 at least equalised in Pavlov, M (2383)-
cxd6 7.e3 is similar to the mainlines and Zhigalko, S (2647) Alushta 2010 ]
a little better for W hite. Black has lost 5.a5 6d7 6.b4!? The game has certainly
the option of an early ...Bg4 though so I'd taken on an original look after only 6 moves
be very happy to be White here. ] but I'm not convinced this is the best move,
4...d5?! although there's nothing much wrong with it.
[ 4...a5 makes more sense to me here and [ 6.c4! looks critical here and Black already
now 5.f3 d5 ( 5...g6 is worth a look as has some real problems: c6 ( or 6...dxc4
well but perhaps Black players are afraid of 7.e6!? fxe6 8.xc4 f6 9.c3 g6 10.f3
6.h4! when it's already awkward to deal with g7 11.0-0 0-0 12.b3 and White regains
the positional threat of h5. h6 7.c3 g7 the pawn with a clearly better position)
8.f4 and White is somewhat better here. 7.c3 e6 8.c5! and Black will struggle to
Black can't castle in the near future because develop his queenside ]
of Qd2 and Black's kingside looks rather 6...e6 7.c3 f6?! The position looks like a very
precarious. ) strange French Defence but with White having
A) 6.exd6 cxd6 ( 6...exd6 might be safer a big space advantage on the queenside.
as W hite only has a minimal edge after Obviously Black cannot break with ...c5 so he
7.d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.h3 ) tries ...f6 instead but this quickly backfires.
A1) 7.b5+ is also better for White d7 [ 7...g6 8.d3 g7 9.f3 f6 is possibly an
8.c3 g6 9.h4!? h5 10.g5 g7 improvement but W hite keeps much the
11.e2 c6 12.0-0-0!? c7?! ( 12...f6 better chances after 10.exf6 xf6 11.0-0
13.f4 ) 13.d5 e5 14.xe5 xe5 0-0 12.e1 as he has control over e5. ]
15.f4! and White was winning in Orak, L 8.d3! g6
(2317)-Katavic, B (2221) Sibenik 2010; [ 8...e7 leads to the same sort of thing
A2) 7.d5 e5 8.dxe6 xe6 9.b5+ after 9.f4! f7 10.f3 e7 11.0-0 a6
( 9.d4! is more precise and White is 12.e3 and Black's position is pretty
comfortably better after d7 10.b5 d5 miserable if not quite yet lost ]
11.f4 xb5 12.xb5+ c6 13.0-0 ) 9.f4 fxe5?! Another inaccuracy and one Black
9...c6 10.g5!? a n d n o w i n c4?! can't really afford
( 10...f5 11.f3 g6 12.xc6+ bxc6 [ 9...g7 10.f3 0-0 11.0-0 c6
13.xc6+ d7 is only slightly better for is just about playable for Black although
White. ) 11.xc4 xc4 12.0-0 4e5 White is better on all parts of the board after
13.f4 g6?! 14.d5 suddenly Black is 12.e2 a6 13.e3 e7 14.bd2 ]
in trouble f6 15.e3 h6 16.e4 e6 10.fxe5 h6?! A tricky idea but one that
17.bc3 xd5 18.xd5 0-0-0 19.b6 quickly backfires as White choose simply to
d7 20.ad1 ge7 21.f3 ( 21.c4! ignore the bishop
keeps complete control) 21...f5 22.ec3 [ 10...g7 is perhaps a slight improvement
xd5 23.xd5 g6 24.g3 g8 25.b5 but Black is still in a great deal of trouble
g7 26.c3 g5 27.xf5 e7 28.f7 after 11.h4! ]
d5 and a rather odd draw was agreed 11.f3!
in He n d r i ks , W ( 2 4 1 1 ) - P e s o t s ky, V [ 11.xh6?! h4+ regains the piece ]
(2371) Budapest 2008 - White is close to 11...xc1 12.xc1 0-0 13.h4! Black has
winning after 29.xd7 xd7 30.d3! castled into a massive attack and with his
xb6 31.xd6+ c8 32.xb6 gxf4 queenside totally undeveloped there is already
33.f2; no way to defend. The rest of the game is
B) 6.d3 g4 7.h3 xf3 8.xf3 e6 simply a carve up from White's point of view.
9.g3 c5 10.b5+?! ( 10.dxc5! 6d7 f7 14.g5
11.c3 xc5 12.0-0 c6 13.b5 [ 14.h5! immediately is also very strong ]
a n d I p r e f e r W h i t e ' s c h a n c e s h e r e) 14...e7 15.h5 f8
10...c6 11.dxc5 d7 12.f4 d4 [ or 15...h6 16.hxg6! hxg5 17.xg5 f8
13.a3 f5 14.d3 xc5 and Black had 18.a2! and with the rook joining the fun
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
from f2 Black can safely resign ] 11...axb6 12.cxd5 b4 13.d4 g6
16.hxg6 xg6 17.xg6 hxg6 18.a2 This is now possible as the check can be
[ 18.f4 g7 19.h4 wins immediately ] blocked. Nevertheless other bishop retreats
18...g7 19.f4 Black has had enough and have also been tried.
throws in the towel. I don't think we'll see this [ 13...d7 14.a3 is now awkward to deal
line again in a hurry although things aren't so with as Black no longer has pressure on d5.
bad if Black chooses 4...a5. c5! This looks to be Black's best try.
1-0 ( 14...a6 15.e6 fxe6 16.dxe6 c6
17.xc6 xd1+ 18.xd1 bxc6 19.xa6
xa6 20.d7 Nagy, Z (2265)-Berta, T
557 B03 (2138) Hungary 2006 leaves Black in a
Velimirovic,Dragoljub 2425 somewhat unpleasant ending. )
Cmilyte,Viktorija 2514 A) 15.f3 a6 16.b4 xb4! ( 16...e7
Czech Coal Match (5) 24.11.2010 is far too passive.) 17.axb4 xb4 18.c1
[Gawain Jones] 0-0 19.e2 a3 20.d4 c5 21.c4
e8 gives Black reasonable compensation
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.c4 b6 4.d4 d6 for the piece as W hite's king is
5.f4 Again we see the critical Four Pawns somewhat vulnerable.;
Attack and who would expect anything else B) 15.b3 a6 ( 15...0-0!? 16.axb4
from the aggressive legend playing White? xa1 17.xa1 xb4 18.e2 h4+
dxe5 6.fxe5 c6 7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6 19.g3 xc3+ 20.bxc3 e4 gives Black
9.f3 e7 good compensation.) 16.xa6 xa6
[ I e x a m i n e d t h e m a i n l i n e 9...g4 17.xc5 bxc5 18.0-0 ( 18.e6! fxe6
in Bologan, V (2684)-Rozentalis, E (2628) 19.0-0 keeping Black's king in the centre
Mulhouse 2010 which wasn't a great looks a better try for an edge.) 18...0-0
success for Black. ] 19.f3 g6 20.ae1 e7 21.e3 c8
10.d5 and in that game I said this was the 22.h3 1/2-1/2 Tabor, J (2310)-Matlak, M
critical test. exd5 11.xb6?! This is the older (2440) Prievidza 1987. ]
move and rather rare which has not been [ 13...c8 should be met by 14.d6! cxd6
previously covered on ChessPub. White gets ( Black should seriously consider the piece
rid of the pressure on d5 but in return he may sacrifice 14...0-0!? ) 15.b5+ d7 16.e6
find himself vulnerable on the dark squares. xb5 17.exf7+ xf7 18.h5+ g8
[ 11.cxd5 is usual and was investigated last 19.xb5 and White's on top. ]
time. b4 12.d4 g6?! ( I looked at [ 13...e4!? is an interesting idea that has
12...d7 a few months ago in the notes to only been tried once but looks to equalise.
Bologan-Rozentalis which is more logical 14.xe4 xd5
preventing the forthcoming check.) 13.b5+ A) 15.b5+! is necessary but seems to
f8 14.f3 this is a novelty but rather lead to a f orced draw. c6 ( 15...f8?
unconvincing. ( Instead 14.0-0 has been 16.0-0 xe4 17.e6+ g8 18.d7+- )
played in all the previous games which 16.d6+ xd6 17.exd6 xd4 18.e2+
looks extremely strong. g8 is forced due f8 19.d1 ( 19.e7+ g8 20.d7
to the threat of Ne6+ but now 15.f5 f8 c2+ 21.e2 g4+ 22.f2 f5+= )
16.xb6 axb6 17.a3 a6 18.e6 c5+ 19...c5 20.e7+ g8 21.f1 f8
19.h1 h6 20.e2 was already winning in 22.xf7 xf7 23.e8+ f8 24.e6+=;
Csirik, A (2271)-Farago, S (2263) Budapest B) 15.c3? xd4! 16.xd4 c2+
2009. ) 14...g8 15.d6 cxd6 16.exd6 17.f2 xd4 18.d5 a5 19.xc7+
( 16.e6! l o o k s s t r o n g e r) 16...xd6 d7 20.d1 xc7 0-1 Stips, F (1650)-
17.xb7? Grgic, N (1661)-Stadler, B (2112) Andreoni, G (1983) Bratto 2005. ]
Sibenik 2010 when f6 18.ce2 e5 14.d6? Velimirovic true to his nature continues
19.f3 a6! 20.c6 d8 21.0-0 h5 to play the most aggressive moves but this
22.f2 c4 23.f4 xd4! wins material. ] should have fallen foul to a counter sacrifice.
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
led to equality in Chokiltea-Luboevic,1971 ] played 3.f4 at this point, but after c5!
[ 10.d6 has been played very rarely, but is a Black gets a favourable variation of the 2.
very interesting move. One example: c6 f4 Sicilian (2...Nf 6 3.e5?!). ( In my view it
11.f3 ( 11.f4!? ) 11...g4 12.f4 g5! would be very dangerous to accept the pawn
the introduction to a brilliant combination as after 3...xf4 4.d4 g6 5.h4
13.e4 W h a t e l s e ? ( 13.g3 g7 White threatens to win Black's knight with h4-
and white's centre is in danger) 13...gxf4!! h5.; 3...d6 4.d4 would transpose back into
14.f6+ xf6 15.exf6 0-0-0 with a big the game. )]
advantage for Black in Paunovic -Mrserovic, 3...d6 4.f4 f5 5.f3 e6 6.d3 xd3
1982 ] [ Black has also tried 6...g4 but this looks
[ 10.f3 is considered to be the main line. prom isin g f o r W h ite af te r 7.0-0 dxe5
We'll see this move in the next game. ] ( 7...e7 8.h3 h5 9.e4 c6 10.c4
10...c5 The first achievement for black: white b6?? 11.exd6 f6 12.c5 Maciejewski -
cannot castle kingside. 11.f3 0-0 12.e2 Malek, Rzeszow 1977) 8.fxe5 c5 9.h3 h5
f5! Now queenside castling is very 10.c4 b6 11.e4 c6 12.d5 xf3
dangerous for white, but he has no choice, as 13.xf3 xe5 14.g3 with a strong attack
keeping the king in the centre is even worse. for W hite in Reeh - Ruehrig, German Ch
13.g5 d7 14.d2 h6 15.f4 a6 1987 ]
16.0-0-0 ac8 17.h3 a4! Black completes [ 6...g6 7.0-0 e7 8.c4 b6 9.c3 0-0
his development and begins a direct attack. 10.h1 c5 11.d5 exd5 12.cxd5 xd3
18.d4 White misses a fantastic blow, but he 13.xd3 left White with a massive centre in
is in trouble anyway. xd4 19.xd4 6c5 Pyhala - Salokangas, Tampere 1990 ]
20.xc4 b5!! Unbelievable! When I see 7.xd3 e7 There is a strong argument for
such moves I'm proud of how wonderful chess trying for some immediate counterplay:
is! Mate on b2 is threatened, and taking the [ 7...c6 envisages counterplay on the d-file,
Queen leads to mate in one 21.d2 after 8.0-0 B l a c k p l a y s d7 with the
[ 21.xb5 b3# ] intention of castling long. Reeh - Hartmann,
[ 21.xb5 b3# ] Bundesliga 1984-85 continued 9.a3 e7
[ 21.b4 b3+ 22.xb3 xc3+-+ winning ] 10.c4 ( 10.d1 dxe5 11.fxe5 0-0-0 12.b4
21...xc3 a6 13.bd2 f4 14.f1 xd4
[ 21...xc3 22.xc3 ( 22.bxc3 b1# ) won a pawn in Zichichi - Saidy, Venic e
22...b3+ 23.xb3 xb3 ] 1969 ) 10...b6 11.exd6 cxd6 12.b4 f6
0-1 13.bd2 a6 14.e4 d5 15.xf6+ gxf6
16.c5 c4 with a complex struggle in
prospect. ]
559 B03 [ B l a c k ' s o t h e r a c t i v e m o v e i s 7...c5!?
Vitolinsh,Alvis but after 8.0-0 c6 he must face a very
Shmit,Anatoly dangerous possibility in 9.f5!? . In Georgiev
USSR URS 1976 Kr - Petkov, Bulgarian Ch., Bankja 1992
[Nigel Davies] White won the exchange after ( the relatively
tame 9.c3 dxe5 10.fxe5 e7 11.dxc5
If W hite wants a relatively unexplored xc5+ 12.h1 ce7 13.e2 also left
attacking line against the Alekhine, he could White with a nice space edge in Kupreichik -
do far worse than try the so-called Vitolinsh Kaunas, Prague 1990) 9...cxd4 10.fxe6
Variation. Recently it has been championed by fxe6 11.g5 d7 12.h3 0-0-0 13.f7
the Belorus GM, Viktor Kupreichik. In this e7 14.exd6 xd6 15.g5 etc. ]
game we see a solid approach by Black, [ Black can preclude this f4-f5 idea by first
though one which may leave W hite with an e xc h a n gi n g o n e 5 . B u t in K u p r e i c h i k -
advantage in space. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 P u ra n e n , J yva s kyl a 1 9 9 1 W h i t e h a d a
3.d4 t y p i c a l s p a c e a d v a n t a g e a f t e r 7...dxe5
[ The South African amateur Arnie Witkin has 8.fxe5 c5 9.0-0 e7 10.dxc5 c6 11.h1
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
and it's not at all easy to say what W hite 40...hf5 , but there is no threat then ...Ne3
ought to play, although he shouldn't be worse. is met by Bg6+ winning in view of ...Qxg6
f8 18.b5 xb5 19.cxb5 ae8 20.a4 f5 Rf8+. ]
[ An alternative method of obtaining 41.f1
counterplay against W hite's queensid e [ 41.xh4 xh4! 42.a1 g3+ 43.g1
initiative was 20...f7 21.c4 e4 22.c2 e1+ 44.xe1 xe1+ 45.h2 e3
g6 23.c3 ( 23.a5 xc4 24.xc4 is very uncomfortable also I don't see a
xe3 ) 23...bd7 , but Ivanchuk's is more forced win but it's hard to see W hite
reliable, gaining eternal control of e5. ] surviving, especially since after any queen
21.a5 exchange the Black king will cruise in via e5
[ After 21.g3 probably Black reverts to the and d4. ]
m e t h o d o u t l i n e d i n t h e l a s t n o t e f7 41...e3 42.xe3 fxe3 43.e2 f5 44.a2
( 21...f4?! 22.gxf4 f7 23.c4 e4 24.c2 f4+ 45.g1 d4 46.h2 e5+ 47.f4
is not so good) 22.c4 g6 can lead to the xf4+ 48.g1 g3 49.d3 e4 50.e2
splendid tactical line 23.a5 xc4 24.xc4 d4 51.b1 d2 A classy game by
xe3 25.xe3 xe3 26.fxe3 xg3+ Ivanchuk: it's not easy to make Volokitin look
27.f1 xh3+ 28.g1 xe3+ 29.g2 so powerless. It's clear though that Black has
e4+ 30.f3 xc4 31.xf5 when Black an important new weapon in his armoury in
has a material advantage, but I'm not at all t h i s va r i a t i o n , a n d i f c o u r s e i t ' s a l w a y s
sure how easy he's going to find it to encouraging to see a player of Ivanchuk's
convert. ] class willing to play the opening.
21...f4 22.d2 xe1 23.xe1 bd7 24.f3 0-1
White comes to regret this, and it does look a
bit of a nervous reaction. .... f 3 certainly
wasn't a threat just yet. f6 25.c1 b6 561 B03
26.axb6 axb6 27.f2 h6 28.d4 g5 Volokitin,Andrei 2652
29.c4 f6 30.a1 I'm not sure about this Nogueiras Santiago,Jesus 2546
position. The computer slightly likes W hite 36th Olympiad (11) 26.10.2004
Ivanchuk makes it look like a forced win for [Andrew Martin]
Black. Obviously we need a Fritz-Ivanchuk
m a t c h u p yo u 'd s a y t h e t r u t h i s p ro b a b l y 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
somewhere in between since actually it's not 5.exd6 exd6 There has been a lot of interest
too hard to isolate where Volokitin goes wrong in t h e A l e k h i n e r e c e n t l y. T h e V o r o n e z h
in what follows. h5 31.a7 e7 32.c2 variation has been responsible for the decline
g3 33.a1 g5 34.h2 f7 35.g1 in popularity of 5...cxd6 although whether that
d7 36.h2 e5 37.f2 g6 38.d3 can be fully justified is debatable. So we see
h4 39.a7 e7 White to play and draw - another example of 5...exd6 here, a solid
only one move will do, I think..... 40.a8? move without especial pretensions. Black sets
..... and this isn't it: up a position which is difficult to break down.
[ 40.d1 xg2 41.xg2 e4+ 42.f1 6.c3 e7 7.h3 0-0 8.d3
xf2 43.xf2 g3+ is no better ] [ White usually develops his King's Knight
[ b u t t h e w a y t o d e f e n d w a s 40.a1 first: 8.f3 e8 ( 8...c5!? is an interesting
, s o a s t o m e e t gf5 by ( 40...xg2 strike: 9.d5 f6 10.d3 e8+ 11.e3
41.xg2 e4+ achieves nothing with f2 still xc3+ 12.bxc3 f6 13.c2 h6 14.a4
defended ) 41.xh4 when xh4 ( 41...xh4 a6 15.b1 b8 16.a5 d7 17.0-0 e5!
42.e4 is no better since the knight is 18.xe5 xe5 19.d2 c7 20.f4 e7
trapped ) 42.xf5 g3+ 43.h1 e1+ 21.c2 f8 Pavasovic,D-Varga,Z/
is only a draw - this is the point of covering Zalaegerszeg HUN 2004 Black has a
the first rank ] marked structural advantage but remains
40...gf5! cramped. If he can solve his development
[ No doubt Volokitin was expecting only problems he will surely be better.; 8...f5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
9.e2 c6 10.d5 a5 11.b3 f6 12.b2 20.c5 ) 20.xh7+ xh7 21.g3 xh3+
c6 13.0-0 cxd5 14.cxd5 c8 15.c1 d7 22.g2 ]
16.d2 e5 17.d4 g6 Pavasovic, D- 19.f1 h4
Kantorik,M/Deizisau GER 2004 Once again [ 19...a5! opens up another front and as this
Black is cramped, the story of this line.) is a risk-free way of bringing the a8 Rook
9.e2 f6 10.0-0 f5 11.b3 c6 into the game I think it's the move I prefer.
( 11...a6!? 12.e3 c6 13.d2 h6 14.a4 After 20.e1 axb4 21.axb4 f6 22.c5
d7 15.a5 f8 16.a4 e6 17.b4 c8 f4 Black is alright. ]
18.c1 d5 19.b5 ac5 The manoeuvering 20.g3 f6 21.c5! It turns out that White does
o f t h e B l a c k K n i g h t s sh o u ld b e n o t e d . not have to worry too much about Black's
20.dxc5 d4 21.a6 bxa6 22.xd4 xd4 kin g sid e p re ssu r e . I n st e a d h e p la ys t h e
23.xa6 b3 24.b2 xc1 25.xc1 thematic queenside lever and Nogueira s
d4 Rainfray,A-Janev,E/BC Masters, Bois im m e dia t ely co m e s u n de r pre ssu re . g6
Colombes FRA 2003) 12.e3 d5 13.c5 22.g2 dxc5 23.bxc5 ad8 24.c2 h6
c8 14.a3 e4 15.b4 a6 16.b5 25.cb5 f6
( 16.d2 ) 16...axb5 17.xb5 a5 18.f4 [ 25...xb5 26.xb5 d7 27.d6 ]
e7 19.e5 c6 20.c3 g6 21.e1 e8 [ 25...c8 26.xa7 a8 27.ab5+- ]
22.d3 xe5 Kuba,G-Novkovic,M/TCh-AUT 26.xc7 xh3 27.xe8 Why not? xe8
2 0 0 3 A s l o n g a s B l a ck ca n re l ie v e h i s 28.e1 fg4 29.f4 xg2 30.xg2
p o s it i o n wi t h s u it a b l e e xc h a n ge s I a m The short-term threats against the White King
reasonably happy to recommend 5...exd6. ] could not compensate for White's queenside
8...e8 9.ge2 An unusual placement for the potential and Nogueiras went quickly down.
Kingside pieces, but quite effective. White is Black must solve this particular riddle.
trying to take the sting out of Black's Bishop Perhaps, as indicated, a well-timed .. .a7-a5
on c8. Let's say Black manages to exchange is the answer.
light-squared bishops. Then the f5 and b5 1-0
squares become weak. It's a counterplay
thing. g5 10.0-0 xc1 11.xc1 c6
12.a3 d7?! This seems to me to be the 562 B03
source of Black's problems. He has to aim for Volzhin,Alexander
exchanges and/or counterplay to ease his Svechnikov,Leonid
position. Thus Russia 1988
[ 12...g5 was indicated and now: 13.f4 [Alexander Volzhin]
( 13.e4 h6 14.c5 dxc5 15.dxc5 d7
16.b4 de5 ) 13...e7! ( 13...f6 14.c5! 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6
dxc5 15.dxc5 d7 16.d5 d8 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c5 7.d5 g6 8.f4 g7
17.c2 ) 14.d5 xd5 15.cxd5 d8 9.c3 0-0 10.d2 White prepares Q-side
16.c2 h6 17.h2 ] castling. The alternatives are:
13.b4 f6 14.c2 d7 Very modest. [ 10.d3 e6 11.d6 This tempting move is
15.fd1 e7 16.d5 g6 17.d4 not normally good for White as in all lines
W h it e h a s a s m all e dge bu t t he p o sit io n Black creates pressure against the e5-pawn:
should be manageable. h5 c6 12.f3 d7 13.e2 d4! 14.xd4
[ 17...f4 18.e1 ( 18.f1 a5 ) 18...a5 cxd4 15.b5 a5+ 16.d2 b6 17.b4
19.xe8+ xe8 20.f3 xd3 21.xd3 xe5 18.c5 xd3+ 19.xd3 c6 20.0-0
axb4 22.axb4 c8 23.e1 f5 e5 and Black was better in Ciuffoletti-Sedina,
doesn't seem too bad for Black although Saint Vincent 1998. ]
he's still a bit worse. After the W hite [ 10.e2 e6 11.f3 exd5 12.cxd5 g4!
Queen moves, the Bishop on f5 has limited Black creates pressure against the e5-pawn.
potential. ] 13.0-0 8d7 14.e1 xf3 15.xf3 xe5!
18.d2 e5 16.xe5 e8 17.f2 xe5 18.xc5 c8
[ 18...hf4 19.xg6 g5 ( 19...xg6 19.f2 xc3 20.bxc3 xc3 21.ad1 d6
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
and W hite has nothing for the pawn, Black's reply. Already after 20 moves both
Moraru-Grunberg, Bucharest 1999. ] players had consumed a lot of time.
10...e6 11.0-0-0 exd5 12.cxd5 g4! [ 23.b3 was obligatory: xb2 24.d2
[ 12...c4 is le s s p r e ci s e : 13.f3 g4 (the only move). a4 25.e3 b5 26.xa4
14.h6! After the exchange of dark-square xa4+ 27.b3 xb3+ 28.axb3 4c5
bishops Black ha s no counterplay. xf3 wi t h m u t u a l c h a n c e s i n a c o m p l i c a t e d
15.xg7 xd1 This move looses endgame. ]
immediately but after ( 15...xg7 16.gxf3 23...xa2+! Not difficult to spot but
Black's position is joyless anyway.) 16.f6! non et heless a tt ractive . 24.xa2 b4+
and Black soon resigned, Solomon- 25.b3! The only move as will become clear
Kanikevich, Sydney 1991. ] later. xd3 It may seem that gross material
[ 12...8d7 is no good either: 13.f3 e8 losses are unavoidable for White, but still I
14.e1 with a clear edge for White since h a ve m a n y i n t e r e s t i n g r e s o u r c e s . 26.h5!
Black didn't create pressure on W hite's The only chance to f ight. Now all W hite's
centre. ] pieces are hanging and in time trouble it's not
13.e1! Up to this I was following a book easy for Black to decide which one to take!
recommendation. I was quite satisfied with gxh5? Black miscalculates and misses the
the opening as according to the book "White win. In fairness it was not easy to find the
was clearly better". But my opponent had correct solution! Let's see the variations:
something in mind. [ 26...xe1 27.hxg6 fxg6 28.xg6+ g8
[ 13.f3 i s w e a k e r i n v i e w o f 8d7 29.e7+ h8 30.g6+ g8 31.e7+
intending 14...Re8 and it's not clear how and Black can't avoid triple repetition since
White can hold the e5-pawn. ] after f7 32.xe1 it is White who has
13...c4! This strong move which prepares a winning chances. ]
pawn sacrifice changes the evaluation of the [ Only 26...xf4! 27.hxg6 fxg6! was winning,
position. 14.h3 and W hite has nothing for the piece
[ Here 14.h6 is not good: xh6 15.xh6 ( B y t h e wa y , 27...xg6? is even losing!
xd5 16.h3 f5 17.d1 xc3! 28.xh7+! xh7 29.h1+ h6 30.g5+
( 17...d3!? is not bad either.) 18.xd8 g7 31.f5+ g8 32.xh6+ g7
xa2+ 19.d2 xd8+ with a huge edge for 33.f5+ g8 34.h7 d2+ 35.b4 c4+
Black. ] 36.a3 b1+ 37.a2 d8 38.g7+ f8
14...f5 15.g4 d3! 16.xd3 cxd3 39.xf7+ g8 40.h6+ h8 41.h7# )]
17.xd3 a6! Black is a pawn down but the 27.xh5 xf4
compensation is obvious: he leads in [ 27...xe1 was possible but it only leads to
development, his Knights are very active and a drawish ending after the forced 28.g5
W h it e 's K in g is u n saf e . No w 1 8 . . . Nb 4 is h6 29.d7! a5+ 30.a2 c6 31.xc6
t h r e a t e n e d . 18.d6 c8 19.b1 c4! bxc6 32.d8! xd8 33.xf7+ h7
Black already creates concrete threats. Now 34.xd8 d3 35.e6! xh5 36.gxh5 f6
White has to parry 20...Qb6. 37.c7 ]
[ 19...c5 as was played in Ilincic- 28.xh7+! Forced but strong! xh7 29.h1+
Marinkovic, Vrnjacka Banja 1989 is weaker: h6 30.g5+ g7 31.f5+ g6
20.e2 e6 21.g3 c4 22.f3 a5 By playing 26...gxh6 Black calculated this far
, although even here the position is not clear t h in kin g t h e f igh t wa s o ve r. Ho we ve r a n
at all. ] u n p le a s a n t su r p ri s e a wa i t s h i m . 32.h7!
20.d5 Forced but now White's King has no d2+ If White had played 25 Kb1 it would
defenders at all. a5! 21.e7+ h8 22.f3 n o w b e m a t e i n t w o ! 33.a4 xh7
c5 Black can't avoid perpetual.
[ 22...xb2!? is worthy of consideration: [ An attempt to play for a win is dangerous
23.xb2 b4 24.b3 c2+ 25.b1 xa2 for Black: 33...c4+ 34.b4 h5? 35.xh5
and the attack is very strong. ] xg4 36.xh6+ xf5 37.xf8 xe5
23.h4? To tell the truth I'd completely missed 38.d7+! f5 39.f6+ e4 40.c5+ e5
570
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
571
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
572
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
6...c5 7.d5 e6 8.c3 exd5 9.cxd5 c4 if you really have to play 15...e5! and secure
versus Yuri Shulman in San Francisco 2001. a draw in a line where it is hard for White to
The game ended peacefully after the known go wrong. I guess versus Svidler as Black,
pawn sacrifice 10.f3 b4 11.xc4 xc3+ it's hard to complain! ]
12.bxc3 xc4 13.a4+ d7 14.xc4 ½-½
b6 15.b5+ d7 16.xd7+ xd7 17.d6
c8 Cox calls equal (based upon this
game?). 18.d2 b5 19.d4 ( 19.f2 567 B03
is the computer suggestion - isn't W hite Zubarev,Al1 2517
just better?) 19...d3 1/2-1/2 . ut again, 20 Aloma Vidal,Roberto 2388
Kf2 or 20 h4! with the idea Rh3 keeps an Acropolis Open (5) 13.08.2008
advantage, if not quite as convincing a one. ] [John Watson]
7.e3 f5 8.c3 e6 9.f3 e7 10.e2
0-0 11.0-0 f6 12.exf6 xf6 13.d2 Again, the Voronezh. This game demonstrates
The latest game in this line: 1/2-1/2 Svidler- how important concrete preparation is even in
Baburin, Bunratty 2008! e7 14.ad1 such an apparently 'positional' line. 1.e4 f6
[ The fact that Baburin had trouble scaring 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 5.exd6 cxd6
up winning chances in the following game 6.c3 g6 7.e3 g7 8.c1 0-0 9.b3 e5
m ig h t r e f le c t a g e n e r a l p ro b l e m i n t h e 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.xd8 xd8 12.c5 6d7
Alekhine: 14.c5 d5 15.xd5 exd5 13.f3 c6 14.c4 The most popular of
16.b5 d8 17.f4 e6 18.e5 e4 White's setups. Black goes into the main line.
19.xf6 xf6 20.e5 f4 21.f2 g5 a5 15.e2
22.d7 f6 23.g3 af8 24.af1 g2 [ We've looked at the odd idea 15.b5 c6!
25.gxf4 xf4 26.e6+ h8 27.f7+ 8xf7 before Black seems to hold his own. ]
28.xf7 h3+ 29.h1 g2+ 30.g1 15...b6 16.cxb6 xb6 A key position. 17.0-0
h3+ 31.h1 g2+ 32.g1 1/2-1/2 Olape, [ 17.b5 b7 18.0-0 ( 18.xa7 d5
B (2216)-Baburin, A (2580)/Bled SLO 2002/ was analysed by Cox in his New in Chess
The Week in Chess 418 ] Article about the Voronezh it seems as
14...ad8 15.c1 though Black has enough compensation, e.g.
[ I gave some analysis to the rare move , he gives 19.b5 c6 20.a4 e4 21.d2
15.h1 in my note s to Dushin-Siewert, e5 22.g5 f6 23.e3 d3+ 24.xd3
Email 2003. It may be W hite's best shot exd3 'by which time even the computer is
for advantage. ] c o n c e d i n g e q u a l i t y. . . ' I t h i n k t h e b e s t
15...h6 comment on this pawn grab is the fact that
[ In the same game, I looked at the move no W h ite h as ye t tried it. ') 18...d5!
15...e5! in combination with the analysis ( 18...c6 19.c5 is promising for White.
provided by Mark Morss. Black seems to Then e4 20.g5 d2 21.fe1 threatens
fully equalise, although it should be noted e4, but xa2?! 22.d6 clearly favours
that he has to accede to extremely dull White ) 19.d2 ( 19.g5 f4! ) 19...f4!
equality to do so, including a drawn e qu a lise s. I t se e m s t h a t W h it e 's m o ve
endgame. ] order doesn't matter if Black is careful. ]
16.h1 I suggested and analysed 17...b7 18.fd1 c6? Alekhine's is still
[ 16.f2 (!), which I think should give White considered an opening in which both sides
an edge. ] can play by instinct, but here you have to
16...h8 17.h3 g6 18.b3 a6 19.g1 d7 know your stuff.
20.fe1 f7 21.f1 e7 22.fe1 f7 [ 18...xd1+! 19.xd1 c8 20.b5 d5
23.f1 still seems critical, as Cox gives in his notes
[ And here I think that 23.d3! gives White to Martin-Cox, Port Erin 2005 in the Archives,
the advantage. So one issue here is whether, and we analyse d again in Yan demirov-
as a higher-rated player, you can afford to Konnov, Kazan 2008. You might want to
play 15...h6, even if it seems unpleasant, or check out those games and look for
573
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
574
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575
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576
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Black is okay. 5.c4 b6 6.exd6 A safe try 13.fxe3 White threatens 14 c5. g5 14.d3
for a small advantage. g4 15.xg4 xg4 16.e4 d7 17.h3 g6
[ 6.e6 is the critical move. Then the main line 18.h2
goes fxe6 7.c3 g6 8.h4 g7 9.e3 [ 18.e3! ]
( 9.h5 e5 10.d5 d4 11.hxg6 g4 18...a6?!
or 11...Bf5 are apparently fine for Black, [ 18...b6! ]
according to practice) 9...e5 10.d5 d4 19.b4 b6 20.a3 d4 21.ad1 xd3
11.xd4 exd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 e5 22.xd3 b6 23.c1 fb8 24.g4
14.e3 ( or 14.dxe6 0-0 15.0-0-0 xe6 [ 24.d6 c6 25.a4!? with the idea c5. ]
16.e4 . The last word hasn't been spoken 24...f8 25.g3 e8 26.g5 c8 27.f1
about this line. )] a5? 28.b5?!
6...exd6 [ 28.b5! axb4 29.axb4 a4 30.d6
[ 6...cxd6 has been played as well. The wi t h a l a r g e a d va n t a g e W h i t e w i l l wi n
critical line is 7.d5 e5 8.xe5 dxe5 material or better. ]
, when White has tried various methods of 28...f6 29.gxf6 gxf6 30.d6 c6 31.c5?
attacking Black's pawn structure, for [ 31.f5 is still advantageous. ]
example, 9.h5!? ( 9.e3 ) 9...c7 31...xc5 32.d7+? Refusing to accept
10.a3 a6 11.d3 g6 12.h4 h6 13.g3 equality, Adams risks trouble. Better
g7 14.0-0 0-0 and Black has reasonable [ 32.df3 a7 33.xf6 g7+ 34.h4
prospects, Alavkin, A -Gorbushin, A, Perm d7= ]
1997. ] 32...xd7 33.d6 cxb5
7.e2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.d5 A direct move. [ Black should play on: 33...cxb5 34.d5!
[ 9.h3 has been common, for example, f6 ( 34.xb5 e7 ) 34...c4!? ( 34...a7
10.c3 f5 11.f4 e8 12.c1 h6 13.b3 35.e6+ f8 36.xf6? f7 37.d6 e7
a6 14.d2 d5 15.c5 c8 16.e3 8e7 38.xd7+ xd7 39.xd7 c3+ ) 35.f5
17.h2 e6 18.g4 g5 19.f3 g6 ac8 with advantage, in view of 36.xf6+
20.e2 g7 ( 20...a5 ) 21.g2 e7 22.f4 xf6 37.dxf6 d8 ]
gxf4 23.xf4 xf4 24.xf4 e8?! ½-½
( 24...d7! ) 25.f2 d8? 26.h4
1-0 Yudasin, L (2600) -Nikolaev, S (2375),
St Petersburg 1997. ] 571 B04
9...e5 10.xe5 dxe5 11.c3 c5 Adams,Michael 2699
[ 11...f5! is a natural move. The most Zhao Xue 2544
important other game I can find with 4...Nc6 Canadian Open (7) 17.07.2009
and 6 exd6 exd6 went 12.f4 ( 12.c2 ) [John Watson]
12...c5+ 13.h1 e4 14.b1 a5 15.b3
d7 16.c2 e7 17.d1 c6 18.dxc6 It's always important to see what a world-
xc6 19.e3 fd8 20.c3 d7!? class player does in a topical line. Adams
( 20...d7! ) 21.xc5 ( 21.b2 ) 21...xc5 leaves the main paths early and achieves
22.e3?! xe3 23.xe3 d2 24.fe1 g6 success. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6
25.a3 d7 26.b4 axb4 27.axb4 b6 4.f3 dxe5 5.xe5 c6 6.e2 f5 7.0-0
with only a small edge, Rublevsky, S [ For 7.g4 , see Anand-Carlsen, Moscow
(2 6 1 0 )- Mo ro ze vich , A (2 6 2 5 ), Mo sco w 2007 in the Archives. ]
1996. ( 27...f6! was better )] 7...d7 8.g4!? In Vigus' book, he calls this
[ and 11...c6 , breaking up the centre, can't 'rather feeble'. At the least, Adams wants to
be too bad. Then White gets some get away from the main lines, 8 Nf3 and 8 Ng4,
advantage from 12.a4! cxd5 13.cxd5 a5 both dealt with in the Archives. xg4 9.xg4
14.e3 ] e6
12.e3! xe3 [ a) 9...5f6 10.f3 ( 10.g3 looks better)
[ 12...e7 13.d3 d7 14.b5! 10...e6 11.c3 e7 12.b3!? ( may be best
is awkward for Black. ] so 1 0 Q g 3 i s p a r t i cu l a r ly wo r t h n o t i n g
577
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
12.g3 ) 12...xe5 13.dxe5 d7 14.e1 White has acquired serious kingside chances.
a5 15.g3 0-0-0 16.b2 hg8 f6 21.f4 a5 22.e4
with counterplay, although White still has [ Or 22.g3! ]
the better chances, Bellaiche, A (2424)- 22...d7?! 23.g3 f5 24.e5 h4 25.f6+
Gozzoli, Y (2431), Evry 2003. ] xf6 26.xf6 f7 27.e5 d7 28.f4 e5
[ b) 9...xe5 10.dxe5 e6 11.c4 ( 11.d2 A bit desperate. On the other hand, Black
h5 12.e4 e7 13.f3 0-0 is fairly safe isn't going to get much for his e-pawn
W h i t e h a s a l i t t l e s p a c e) 11...b6 following
( 11...b4 12.d1 c7 13.c3 [ 28...f6 29.h6 g6 30.e3 ]
, with the idea xe5 14.f4 h5! 15.f3 29.dxe5 c5 30.e3 e6 31.g3 c7
f5 16.b5! a6 17.d4 ) 12.d1 c7 32.ed3 h6 33.d6 h7 34.f3 e7
13.e2 ( 13.e4 ) 13...d7 14.f4 e7 35.g2 c7 36.b4 c8 37.a4 fe7
15.c3 g5!? ( 15...0-0 looks safe and 38.d3 f8 39.e3 g8 40.f4 a6 41.c5!
ab ou t e qu a l) 16.g3 h5 17.h3 0-0-0 xc5 42.bxc5 e8 43.e2 f7 44.g6
18.e4 b6 19.a3 h4 20.h2 c5?! B la ck ca n 't m o ve , a n d Rd d 6 a n d e 6 a r e
21.d6+ xd6 22.exd6 d7 23.b4 e5 coming.
24.c5 a6 25.g4 with an obvious 1-0
positional advantage, Askarov, B (2421)-
Dergilev, I (2267), Tomsk 2006. ]
10.d1 572 B04
[ The only other game I know of is David, A Adams,Michael 2694
(2580)-Bauer, C (2599), Clichy 2004, Zhukova,Natalia 2462
featured in Cox: 10.c4 b4 11.xd7 xd7 8th Gibtelecom Masters (7) 01.02.2010
12.e4 d8 ( I like 12...c5! 13.a3 f5! [Gawain Jones]
14.e2 c6 , which fights back in the
centre and targets d4) 13.a3 a6 14.e3 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g6
e7 ( 14...d6 ) 15.d2! 0-0 16.f3 f6 5.c4
17.fe1 fe8 18.d2 c7 19.a5!? [ 5.c4 b6 6.exd6 cxd6 would transpose
( 19.ad1 - White has space and some to the ...cxd6 Exchange variation ]
advantage ) 19...b6 20.c3 f8 21.ac1 [ 5.g5 is the older move but according to
c8 22.h4 h5 23.e2 d6 24.cc2 f8 John Cox it's rather ineffective after
and White isn't making any progress. ] A) The trick is that after 5...g7?!
10...5f6 A1) 6.xf7!? also looks possible xf7
[ 10...xe5 11.dxe5 c7 12.c4 b4 7.f3+ f6 ( 7...e6 8.g3 gives White
13.a3 c2 14.a2 d8 15.b4 h5 a pleasant attack ) 8.exf6 xf6 9.c3;
16.xd8+ xd8 17.e2 d4 18.d1 A2) 6.f3 is rather unpleasant;
with the idea Rd2 seems to favour White, if B) 5...c6 6.f3 ( 6.f4 g7 ) 6...f6 7.e6
not by a great deal. ] a5+ 8.d2 b6 ]
11.e2 e7 12.c4 0-0 13.c3 e8!? 5...b6
Black embarks upon a passive reorganisation. [ 5...c6 has also been examined in the
In these Caro-Kann/Slav-like positions, it's archives, most recently in the game
generally better to connect rooks and simplify, Zeberski-Rozentalis where Black achieved a
as in the David-Bauer game above. One way quick victory.
is A) 6.exd6 xd6 7.0-0 g7 8.e1
[ 13...c7 14.f4 xe5 15.xe5 b6 A new move for the site but logical 0-0
16.h3 fd8 ] 9.g5
14.d3 f8 15.f4 b6 16.ad1 ad8 A1) 9...e8 would leave the way open
17.b3!? for the c8 bishop;
[ 17.h3 g6 18.g3 ] A2) w h i l e t h e i m m e d i a t e 9...g4
17...a6?! 18.h4 6d7 19.h5 xe5 would probably be my choice
20.xe5 Black's queen is out of touch and A2a) 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 xd4
578
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
( 11...h6 12.d2 d7 is the safe opens up the c4 square, either to transfer
choice ) 12.c3 xc3 13.bxc3 f6 the knight from b1-d2-c4-e5 or else push
is rather messy; the knight back from d5 with a well timed
A2b) T h e l e s s f o r c i n g 10.bd2!? c4 push. a6 11.bd2 ( 11.c4!? f6
could also be considered of course.; 12.c3 ) 11...ad8 12.f1 ( 12.c4
A2c) 10.xd5 xd5 11.c3 c7 13.ce5 would be my choice when
( 11.xe7 e8 gives Black adequate I'd choose W hite but of course Black is
c o m p e n s a t io n f o r t h e p a wn , d 4 i s always solid.) 12...c5 13.g5 ( 13.g3
p r o b a b l y g o i n g t o d r o p s h o r t l y .) cxd4 14.xf5 gxf5 15.xd4 g6 )
11...xg5 ( 11...f5!? ) 12.xg5 13...h6 14.h4 g5 15.g3 and Black had
xd1 13.axd1 e6 looks equal.; successfully achieved some counterplay
A3) 9...e6 is the computer's although he has to make sure his king
suggestion but seems a little passive to doesn't come to regret his kingside
me 10.d2 d7 11.b3; e x p a n s i o n . W h e n i n s t e a d o f g6
A4) 9...e6 If Black has to play this then which featured in Bruzon Batista-
White has definitely gained as h3 is now Nogueiras Santiago, Ciego de Avila 2010
u n n e c e s s a r y . 10.b3 b5 A typical 1-0 ( I 'd p r e f e r 15...f4 with complex
response to stop c4 and cement the play. )]
knight on d5. 11.bd2 d7 12.c4!? 6.b3 g7 7.e2
( 12.e4 c7 13.d2 ) 12...bxc4 [ 7.g5 is a little more common. Some
13.xc4 c7 14.c1 a5 15.ce5 recent games ran e6
( 15.h4! looking at the vulnerable d6 A) 8.f4 dxe5 9.dxe5!? An interesting try
square, starts to change the evaluation and more positional than 9.fxe5 xd1+
from slight to clear edge White.) 15...a6 10.xd1 It's curious that the computer
was Rej-Wohl, Sydney 2010 when Black sligh t ly p re f e rs B la ck h e re , evid e n t ly
was struggling and although Alex won, because of the misplaced king, but
had Tomek found ( 15...xe5 16.xe5 Sutovsky (and I) prefer White. The bishop
b7 17.xd5 exd5 18.f4 on g7 is blocked out for the time being but
leaves Black with a chronic weakness on it can be rerouted through f8. However
c6. ) 16.xf7! once the bishop moves then f6 will prove
A4a) 16...xf7 17.xe6!! xe6 a l i a b i l i t y . T h e g a m e c o n t i n u e d d7
18.e2+ e5 ( 18...f7 19.xd5+; 11.c3 c6 12.ge4 8d7 13.e3 h6
18...d6 19.e7+ xe7 20.e6# ) 14.e2 g5 15.g3 d5 Simplifying the
19.xe5 xe5 20.xd5+ d7 position but worsening the Black pawn
( 20...xd5 21.c5++- ) 21.dxe5+-; structure and acknowledging he'll have to
A4b) 16...xf7 17.xe6 leaves Black suffer for the rest of the game. Perhaps
in dire straits, e.g. f8 18.e8 f5 ( 15...0-0-0 and waiting should be
( 18...d7 19.xf8+ xf8 20.xd5+ preferred.) 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 exd5
h8 21.e5 ) 19.e5 e6 20.xe6 18.d2 e7 19.f3 c5?! A pseudo-
xe6 21.xd5; act ive m o ve which o nly re sult s in h is
B) 6.0-0 g7 7.h3 ( 7.exd6 xd6 pawns being harder to defend. 20.c3 e6
8.bd2 is considered somewhat better for 21.ad1 and Black's position was
W hite according to John W atson in his unpleasant in Sutovsky-Reinderman, Wijk
annotations to Fedorchuk-Genocchio in a a n Z e e 2 0 1 0 ( 21.fxg5! picks up a
t h e a r c h i v e s .) 7...0-0 ( 7...dxe5 pawn );
was played by Rozentalis) 8.exd6 xd6 B) 8.f3 0-0 This is very rare as it castles
9.e1 f5 ( 9...d7 Svidler-Akopian straight into White's attack but
annotated by Glenn Flear when Black Reinderman is confident in Black's
developed the bishop to b7 never position. 9.h3 h6 10.f3 dxe5 11.dxe5
managed to f ully equalise.) 10.b3 c6 12.xh6 xe5 13.xg7 ( 13.g5
A normal move for this variation. W hite d3+ 14.cxd3 xb2 15.0-0 xa1
579
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
16.d2 'with a strong attack' is given by xf7 33.g5 e1 34.b4 f3 35.d4?
John Watson in the archives. It would be Black has let his huge advantage slip but
interesting to see how Reinderman this gives it all b ack an d more . ( Instead
planned on combating such an aggressive 35.c2 e2 36.c1 and White has
approach. ) 13...xf3+ 14.xf3 xg7 survived. ) 35...g6 0-1 ]
15.d2 f6 16.0-0-0 a5 and Black had 10...xb3
absolutely nothing to fear in Muzychuk, [ The other option is 10...d5 as the bishop
A-Reinderman, Wijk aan Zee 2010 ] isn't going anywhere so it's not essential to
7...0-0 8.h3 c6 9.0-0 a5 A new try for swap immediately. However I'm sceptical of
the site where both games f ocused on Black's chances. 11.e1 ( 11.f4 bc4
exchanging on e5 either immediately or with 12.xc4 xc4 13.b3 a5 14.d2 c6
9...a5 10.a4 thrown in. Colovic-Pesotsky and 15.h6 f5 16.xg7 xg7 17.h4 d7
Short-Timman are seen in the archives. I'll 18.ae1 gave White a pleasant advantage
give just the moves to the Short game without in Godena -Begovac, Switzerland 1996. He
annotations as it's definitely worth a look! can start attacking on the kingside while I'm
[ 9...a5 10.a4 dxe5 11.dxe5 d4 12.xd4 not sure how Black does anything but wait.)
xd4 13.e1 e6 14.d2 d5 15.f3 11...c6 12.f4 bc4 13.xc4 xc4 14.b3
c5 16.e4 b4 17.c4 b6 18.b3 a5 15.d2 b6 16.h6 f5 17.e2 c8
xc4 19.bxc4 e8 20.d1 c5 21.h4 18.ae1 d7 19.f4 c7 20.h4 fc8
b6 22.e3 c6 23.h6 h8 24.d8 b7 21.e6 fxe6 22.xg7 xg7 23.g5 h8
25.ad1 g7 26.8d7 f8 27.xg7 xg7 24.g4 h6 25.gxf5 hxg5 26.xg5 xh3
28.1d4 ae8 29.f6+ g8 30.h4 h5 27.xe6 1-0 Tiviakov-Aloma Vidal, Helsingor
31.h2 The start of a beautiful manoeuvre 2009 was a perfect attacking game by the
c8 32.g3 ce8 33.f4 c8 34.g5 Dutchman. ]
1-0 Short-Timman, Tilburg 1991. Black has 11.axb3 f5 I'd want to keep that pawn on d6
to watch out for the quick kingside attack so that Black can open up the centre with ...
which was employed in this game. ] dxe5 or with ...f6!? 12.e4
10.c3 [ 12.d1 was played in Svidler-De Firmian
[ 10.g5 d5 11.c3 f6!? true to his style, K a s p a r o v C h e s s 2 0 0 0 c6 13.g5
Nakamura goes for the most complicated Seeing as Black is planning on f6 anyway I
continuations. 12.f4 g5 13.g3 xb3 think this is too provocative. I'd prefer sitting
14.axb3 f5 15.h2 c6 16.d2 e8 the bishop on f4. d7 14.e4 f6! 15.f4?!
17.exf6 exf6 18.xe8 fxe8 19.f4 d3 fxe5 16.dxe5 when instead of
20.f2 h6 when Black had taken control in A) Finkel offers 16...xh3 17.g3 g4
Khachiyan-Nakamura, Las Vegas 2006 ] 18.exd6 exd6 19.xd6 xf3 ( 19...fe8!?
[ I suppose 10.e6 has to be investigated but GJ ) 20.gxf3 fe8;
B l a c k w a s c o m p l e t e l y o k a f t e r xb3 B) 16...g4 played in the game, ]
11.exf7+ xf7 12.axb3 h6 And I don't see 12...d7 So Black is passive but has a perfect
why W hite should be better here, there pawn structure and good potential to open up
doesn't seem to be a good way to exploit the centre if W hite gets carried away.
Black's king and Black has the two bishops Meanwhile e5 is a potential target. On the
and 'f' file. The old game De Firmian-Alburt, other hand White has more space and so can
Estes Park 1986 seemed to confirm that develop his forces more easily and so I'd say
opinion 13.c3 c6 14.e3 a6 15.fe1 chances are about balanced. White would like
f5?! 16.ad1?! ( 16.h4! ) 16...g5 to attack on the kingside but that isn't going to
17.d5?! And this just seems to give up a be so easy without a light squared bishop.
pawn xd5 18.xd5 cxd5 19.h4 g4 13.g3
20.h2 e6 21.g3 h5 22.c4 e4 23.d4 [ 13.g5 again allows f6! when the position
xd4 24.xd4 f6 25.e3 h7 26.f1 starts to open up for Black's bishop pair. ]
af8 27.d2 b5 28.a1 c8 29.cxd5 13...a6 14.e1 h6 Perhaps Zhukova was
exd5 30.xa6 c1 31.a7 g7 32.xf7 dreaming of playing ...g5 but I don't think this
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
is asking for trouble f4+ 43.xf4 gxf4 of 13.c3 and W hite wins: g4+ 14.f3
when only Black has winning chances. ] e3+ 15.e1 c2+ 16.f2 ) 13.xb8+
42.g3 d6 43.c4 b1 44.e4 d1! d7 A very unusual position with both kings
The mate threat forces White to take the draw. unsafe has arisen. I think White should take
45.xe6+ d8 46.f6+ c8 47.xa6+ a d r a w b y p e r p e t u a l : 14.b5+ c8
b8 48.b5+ a7 49.a4+ b8 50.b5+ 15.e8+ b7 16.b5+ c8 ]
a7 51.c5+ b8 52.b5+ Well defended 12...xa1 13.xb8+ d7 14.b5+
by Zhukova but Adams will rue not capitalising Again it's not clear if W hite has anything
on his big advantage. A success out of the better than perpetual.
opening f or Black though and as long as [ After 14.e2 h6 Black's chances are by
Black remembers that White's attack on the no means bad. ]
kingside is potentially strong and takes steps, 14...d8!?
he should be very happy. [ 14...c8 15.e8+ b7 16.e2
½-½ ( 16.c8+ ) 16...c6 17.f3 d6
and White's Queen is trapped! I can't see
the antidote against 18...Bg7. ]
573 B04 15.b8+ d7 16.b5+ It seems this line is a
Alekhine'S sufficient defence for Black although I
6.Qf3 suspect either side may improve here. All
[Alexander Volzhin] these lines need practical tests.
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throughout this game verged on the 16.g3 xd1 17.xd1 0-0-0 18.g5 c5
appalling: starting at the beginning, though, 19.xd8 xd8 20.xg7 was the chaotic
the idea of this old-style Miles variation (i.e. encounter Zapata-Grunberg, 2002, which
5... c6 and 6...g6 as opposed to the highly was shortly drawn. The game continuation
fashionable 6...Bf5) is to go ...Nd7, retreat swiftly makes apparent the merits of 10
the d5 knight to c7, and push c5.8...Bg4 Bd2! ]
does not fit into this plan at all this 10...b4+ A safer alternative was 10.. .Ne7,
manoeuvre is drawn from the Kengis system intending 11...Qd5 next. The text is tempting
(5...g6) but there White's bishop is on c4. but whether it is actually good is another
11...e6, 13...Nd5, and any one of several matter. 11.d1
moves on move 14 were also better, while ] [ 11.c3 leads to a comfortable advantage for
[ 6.d3 d7 7.xd7 xd7 8.0-0 e6 9.c4 Black af te r xc3 12.xf5 ( 12.a3 a5
f6 10.c3 e7 11.f4 0-0 12.e2 c5 13.xf5 exf5 14.0-0 d5 15.xf5 0-0
13.dxc5 xc5 14.ad1 b6 15.e5 c6 16.b4 c7 is similar.) 12...d5+ 13.e2
16.xf6 gxf6 17.xh7+ xh7 18.h5+ exf5 14.xf5 0-0 ]
was Adams-Maki Uuro, Izmir 2004. Normal [ 11.d2 xd2+ 12.xd2 b4 is also very
is 8...g6 rather than ....e6, as in nice for Black. ]
Stefansson-Gausel, Aarhus 2003. Having 11...e7 Again Black has alternatives, for
said that, it's not quite clear to me how example it's not clear at all that just 11....Qf6
England's finest intended to put Black to was bad. (12 Bxf5 exf5, or 12 c4 Nb6 13 g4
the sword if he played 11...Qb6 and grabbed Bxd3 14 Qxf6 gxf6 15 Nxd3 Be7 16 b3 Rd8).
the pawn on offer. There also might have But Baburin must already have had his next
been something to be said f or 10...Qc7 move in mind. 12.c3
rather than 10...Be7, securing the h2-b8 [ 12.g4 xd4 is bad, but now White is
diagonal (quite a common theme in this 5... hoping for 12...Bd6 13 g4 Bxe5 14 gxf 5
c6 system, by the way). ] when she stands well, for example, 14...Bf6
6...d7 7.df3 xe5 8.xe5 f5 9.f3 15 fxe6 fxe6 16 Re1. But Baburin has a
If White wants to achieve anything then she terrific shock in store. ]
really has to try to make something of her 12...0-0!? 13.g4 The critical moment in the
advanced knight in a hurry. Moves like 9 Bd3 game: with the text W hite admits that her
or 9 Bc4 leave Black able to develop opening has been a failure and settles for a
comfortably. An alternative is decidedly inferior position. After 13 Bxf5 Nxf5
[ 9.xf7 xf7 10.f3 Black then needs to 14 cxb4 Qxd4+ 15 Nd3 Rad8 White cannot
avoid e6 ( 10...g6 allows an immediate hold on to the knight, for example 16 Ke2 (16
draw with 11 Qg3+ and 12 Qf3, which might Kc2 Qc4+ is the same) Qc4 17 Kd2 Rd5 and
well be White's best idea, as the tempting double rooks. But the critical move had to be
11.g4 seems to fall short, for example xc2 [ 13.cxb4 , when to be honest I don't see
12.e2 a5+ 13.d2 a4 14.e6+ f6 that Black has enough compensation for his
15.g5 xd4 16.gxf6 e4+; 10...e6 piece, for example xd4 14.e3 xb4
is also a possibility although evidently White ( 14...d5 15.e2 xg2 16.d2 f6
has a considerable initiative, for example 17.f3 xf3+ 18.xf3 xd3+ 19.xd3
11.c4 g6 12.0-0 d6 13.xd5 cxd5 is hopeless) 15.d2 d4 16.xf5 xe5
14.f4+ c6 15.c4 ) 11.g4 b4 12.gxf5 17.d3 ad8 18.c2 Black has a lot of
xc2+ 13.d1 xd4 ( 13...Nxa1? 14 fxe6+ moves here and one can see that White will
just loses) 14.fxe6+ xe6 15.g4+ f5+ have to be careful for some time, but my
when Black's exposed king is the more computer seems to see off anything I try for
serious, for example 16.d2 g6 17.c4+ Black with some ease, f or example d6
d7 18.c3 c7+ 19.c2 g7 20.ad1 ] ( 18...d7 19.xh7+ xh7 20.xd7 d5
9...e6 10.d3 21.f3; 18...d5 19.f4; 18...d4 19.e2
[ 10.d2 b6 11.0-0-0 xd4 12.d3 a3 c5+ 20.b1 d6 21.c2 all look fairly
13.c4 xd3 14.xa3 f5 15.c4 g4 comfortable for White too) 19.e2 d5
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20.d2 It may very well be that I'm not doing 42.g2 f6 43.e3 f5 44.c5+ f7
Baburin's idea any kind of justice here, 45.d2 xf4 46.d7+ g6 47.xa5 h2+
though - certainly Arakhamia must have 48.d1 h5 49.c6 h4 50.d8 h3
thought accepting the sacrifice was pretty 51.xe6 e3+ 52.xe3 52 Kc1 Bh6 was no
grim before settling for what happens in the better, and nor was 52 Ke1 Bg3 mate. xe3
ga m e . I t wo u l d b e i n t e r e s t i n g t o k n o w 53.g7+ f5 54.g3 e4 55.d4 d2+
whether this was preparation - on either side 56.e1 f2+ 57.xd2 xg3 58.e2 f2
- or an over-the-board punt. ] 0-1
13...xd3 14.xd3 d6 15.c2 d5
16.h4 b5 Always thematic in these structures,
securing the d5 knight, but especially here 579 B04
with the W hite king exposed on c2. 17.d2 Bauer,Christian 2641
c7 18.g5 I'm not at all sure about this, Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2646
giving f5 away. It looks more natural to me to 49th TCh-Honor Final (1) 10.09.2005
try 18 Rad1 and Kb1, but there's no doubt [John Cox]
that Black is better. c5 19.dxc5 xc5
20.e4 d6 21.ac1 c4 A notably cal m 1.e4 f6 Good to see Mamedyarov hasn't
solution. Black was surely also better after a been put off by the unfortunate loss to
move like 21..Rac8, but Baburin calculates Sutovsky given in September, and indeed he's
that in the ending White's pawn advances will b e e n d o i n g ve r y we l l wi t h t h e A l e k h in e ,
simply be weaknesses, and he also has a beating Harikrishna and Potkin besides this
specific idea for driving White's pieces into game and a couple of other draws and wins
p a s s i v i t y . 22.xc4 bxc4 23.b4 e7 against lower-rated players. 2.e5 d5 3.d4
24.b1 The threat was .... a5, but possibly the d6 4.f3 dxe5 5.xe5 c6 6.e2 d7
strange-looking 24 Na6 was a better chance 6...Bf5 is the more common way nowadays:
f or def ence. c5 25.f4 While here Fritz is the text is the way Miles used to play the
decidedly more taken by 25 Be3, which does variation. 7.f3 g6 8.c4 c7 9.c3 g7
at least unload White's pathetic bishop and 10.0-0 0-0 11.g5 Miles had the position
give birth to an e-pawn which can control d5 af ter Bla ck's ten th quite a f ew t imes , f o r
and f5 (at least it does if Black plays 25... example
Bxe 3 2 6 f xe 3 m a ybe h e sh ou ld n 't ? ) fd8 [ 11.f4 c5 12.d5 e5 13.g5 f6 14.e3
26.h2 a5 27.c2 f5 28.h5 d3 29.e1 f7 15.a3 f8 16.b1 e8 17.b4 b6
ad8 30.c1 d1 31.hh1 1d5 32.h6 when Black managed to hang on in the
I must say I don't understand this move, and complications in Degraeve-Miles, Mondariz
since Black eventually wins the game by 2000, although things look a little ropey at
taking the pawn on h6 and queening his own h- this point. ]
pawn, it's fair to say that whatever 11...e6 12.e3 f6 13.h3 b6 Only here
Arakhamia's idea was the game didn't does the game deviate from Zarnicki-Miles,
demonstrate it. It's always easy to sit tight in Oviedo rapid 1993, which went on
someone else's passive position, but either [ 13...c7 14.d2 d8 15.fe1 h5
repeating with Rh2 or even possibly Ne3 was 16.f1 b6 17.ad1 b7 18.c1 ac8
su re ly pref e ra ble . gxh6 33.gxh6 f8 with approximate equality. ]
34.h2 d1 35.xd1 And here 35 Rhh1 was 14.b3 c7 15.fe1 b7 16.ad1 fd8
surely necessary: after the text White loses a 17.f1 a6 18.a4 ab8 19.a3 b5
pawn an d t he game is ef f ective ly over. I An extremely typical break in these positions,
imagine that time trouble was affecting the although played, like here, as a pawn sacrifice
p l a y h e r e a b o u t s . xd1 36.b3 d6 it is naturally rarer. 20.g5
Decisive White's rook is outnumbered. 37.f2 [ White cannot win the pawn directly on
cxb3 38.axb3 xh6 39.e3 h1 40.c2 accou n t o f 20.axb5 cxb5 21.cxb5 xf3
h5 A classy manoeuvre, controlling f5 to get 22.gxf3 axb5 ]
the knight back into play. 41.c4 c7 20...xg5 21.xg5 but now the attack on e7
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[ 7.0-0 has been the most common option Bg4. ) 14...exf6 15.h4 g4 16.1h2 d7
when Varga has tried various replies. c6 17.xg4 xg4 18.e7 ac8 19.f1 fe8
( 7...g4 8.bd2 a5 9.c3 a4 10.c2 e6 20.h2 xh4 21.g3 h5 22.d1 xh2+
11.e1 c5 12.d3 cxd4 13.cxd4 c6 23.xh2 1/2-1/2 Rozentalis, E-Krasenkow,
14.h3 f5 1/2-1/2 Istratescu, A-Varga, Z M Gausdal 2007 was an interesting final
Herculane 1996 must be deemed a success positio n but I have a f eeling th e quee n
for Black.; 7...a5 8.c3 g7 9.c2 0-0 should really be stronger than rook, knight
10.g5!? h6 11.f3 g4 12.h3 xf3 and pawn here. ]
13.xf3 e6 14.a3 c5 15.e3 cxd4 8...g7 9.0-0 0-0 10.e1 I like this flexible
16.cxd4 c6 17.ac1 e7 18.d3 a4 move and I think this position is probably
19.e2 b4 20.b1 fc8 21.b5 critical to the viability of this variation for
Acs, P-Varga, Z Budapest 1996 was Black. His position is fairly solid but it's hard
unpleasant for Black who eventually to engineer any pawn breaks. Generally, in
regretted the weakness he made on his this type of position, Black tries for ...c5 but
tenth move.) 8.c3 g7 9.e1 0-0 10.bd2 here that will create a big hole on b5 which in
h8 11.f1 f6 12.exf6 exf6 13.g3 d6 turn might result in a knight on the super
14.c2 f5 15.b3 f4 16.f1 g4 17.h3 outpost on d6. Alternatively Black can play for
h5 18.d3 ae8 19.b2 c8 ...f6 but then he has to watch out for White
1/2-1/2 Byrne, R-Ljubojevic, L Buenos Aires razzing the h pawn down the board as the g6
1978 was an old game that was respectable pawn will prove very vulnerable.
for Black although White still holds an edge [ 10.c3 has been played in the past which
in the final position after 20.b4!? ] also looks acceptable providing the knight
7...a5 This is the logical way to play the drops back to e2. A couple of games have
position but Black has also tried without the continued: a6
pawn thrust. A) 11.e3 h6 I don't like this move.
[ 7...g7 8.c3 f5 Again I'm not totally sure Understandably Black wasn't keen to allow
a b o u t t h is m o ve a n d p e r h a p s Jo va n k a Qd2 and Bh6 but this really weakens both
should have tried playing as Sulskis did in h a n d g p a w n s . 12.e2 looks strong,
the 7.c3 note? 9.f4 ( 9.bd2 would be my when I'm not really sure what Black is to
suggestion, not fearing d3 as White can d o , f o r e x a m p l e : ( Instead 12.h2
always play 10.c2 ) 9...c6 10.0-0 0-0 was played in Lengyel, B-To Nhat Minh
11.a4 a5 12.c2 e6 13.b3 xc2 Budapest 2006.) 12...c6 13.d2 h7
14.xc2 c5 15.dxc5 d7 16.e1 c6 14.xa5 and White has an extra pawn.;
17.b4 a5 18.d2 ( 18.b5 e7 19.c6 bxc6 B) 11.f4 h6 Again I confess I don't like
20.a3 is a safer way of playing, although I this move despite the expert in the
d o u b t B l a c k h a s a n y r e a l p r o b l e m s .) variation trying it. Perhaps the idea is
18...axb4 19.cxb4 f6! The position reminds 12.d2 ( 12.e1 Heinatz, T-Varga, Z
me of certain lines of the Caro Kann but Budapest 1996.) 12...g5 13.g3 b4
Black's initiative is easily worth the but now 14.d1! and White will expel the
sacrificed pawn and indeed White can't hold knight from b4 followed by playing for f2-f4
on to the pawn anyway. Houska, J - when Black's king looks too vulnerable. ]
Golubenko, V Crete 2007. ] 10...a6
8.a4 [ 10...c6 has been tried by Varga when he
[ 8.c3 also resulted in a small White edge. reach ed t his position . Th e mo st recen t
g7 9.0-0 0-0 10.c2 a6 11.e1 c6 game co ntinued : 11.c3 ( 11.c3 a6
12.bd2 c7 13.f1 ( 13.b3!? 12.e2 c7 13.c3 e6 14.c2 f5
looks like an interesting alternative.) 13...f6 15.exf6 exf6 Borgo, G-Varga, Z Budapest
14.exf6 ( White could also wait before taking 1999 also looked strong for W hite when I
with 14.a4 whe n if B lack plays e6 would try 16.h4! loosening up Black's king.)
White can start aggressive proceedings with 11...a6 12.bd2 c7 13.f1 e6
15.h4! seeing as Black no longer has ... 14.h4 c5 15.h5 and I'd always pick White
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
as I like his dynamic chances. Agopov, M- [ 21...f5 is the computer's suggestion to stop
Varga, Z Budapest 2009. ] the h2 knight jumping into the game but not
11.e3 a pleasant move to play as it cedes the e5
[ 11.d2! has been tried before here and outpost and means that Black will be forced
i n d e e d i f B l a c k i s f o r c e d t o p l a y b8 to grovel for the rest of the game. 22.g5
as both players have done then this must be f6 23.xe6 xe6 24.f3 e4 25.xe4
an improvement for White. ( Perhaps 11...c5 dxe4 26.e5 would be a typical line which
was Black's intention, sacrificing the a5 isn't disastrous for Black but still
pawn although I'm sceptical that he has unpleasant. ]
enough compensation following: 12.xa5 22.g4 d6 23.g3 g7
c4 13.a2 b8 14.xb6 xb6 15.b3 [ My computer is enthralled by 23...xg3?
cxb3 16.xb3; 11...b4 12.xb4 axb4 but after a couple of seconds it changes its
13.d2 would also drop a pawn.) 12.c3 mind once it sees 24.fxg3 xg3+ 25.g2
( 12.e3!? can't be completely stupid as xf3 26.h2+- and there's no way out for
W h it e h a s a n e xt ra t e m p o .; 12.c1 the Black queen from its raid. ]
a la Smyslov would also attract my 24.g2 Very calm. White could have played
attention.) 12...c6 Smagin, S-Marinkovic, I Nh6 on either of the previous moves but first
Cacak 1991 and around here White started he gets everything ready and frustrates Black
l o s i n g t h e p l o t . I ' d a d v o c a t e 13.e2 into yet more waiting moves. e7 25.h6+
with a pleasant advantage. ] [ 25.h4!? continuing the same plan while
11...f6 ...c5 looks rather hard to achieve so forcing Black to calculate the consequences
Nogueiras goes for the other break in the of 26.h5 also looks strong. ]
position. 12.bd2 25...g8?! This has a tactical problem.
[ There's no need to release the tension and [ The king had to retreat into the corner
allow Black a bit more freedom with 25...h8 but the position is exceedingly
12.exf6 ] unpleasant after 26.h4! ]
12...c6 13.c3 c7 14.c2 e6 26.g5! xg5?! And this was the worst way
[ 14...f5!? looks interesting although of to take the piece.
course after this move White will always be [ 26...fxg5 was the lesser evil but Black's
better as he has more space and can slowly position is still unpleasant after 27.h6+
try and push Black backwards on both sides Of course this was the point of 25.Bh6+ g7
of the board. ] 28.xf7 xf7 29.xe6 but Black is still
[ 14...e6 is the other option and we've holding on after af8 30.1e3 at least
see n th is ide a in t he no te s to p re viou s temporarily. ]
moves. However, perhaps Black was scared 27.xe7 xe7 28.xe7 Now the rook on the
of 15.h4! which, as you'll have gathered by seventh is simply too strong. f8 29.xg5!
this point, looks like a good antidote to ...f6 xe7? This loses
once Black can no longer play ...Bg4. ] [ 29...fxg5 would survive a few moves longer
15.b3 Corrales Jimenez is content to take but the position should still be lost following
squares away from Black and slowly suffocate 30.e1 ( Not 30.xg5? when d8
him. The mark of a good player is knowing isn't so clear. )]
when there's no need to rush the position. 30.e3+ f8 31.xh7+ g8 32.h6 d6
d7 16.exf6 exf6 17.f1 f7 18.d2 33.xg6 e6 A well played game by White
Black's position is n ot a disaster but th e and I think Black has some problems in this 6...
problem is he's a bit cramped and lacks any d5 line and thus there are justifiable reasons
active plan. Anyone who has played why it's played much less frequently than 6...
practically knows how hard it is to come up Bg7.
with good moves when you cannot find a 1-0
useful plan. e8 19.e2 e6 20.ae1 f8
21.1h2 White's pieces start to amass like
thunder clouds in front of the Black king. c7
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worse bishop and that I would now have a 23.c4 c7 24.e3 f5 25.f3 e5 26.xa7
nice solid position, but in fact a continuation Objectively these last few moves of White's
like 18.ad1 f7 19.xg7 xg7 20.e4 form a rather rash adventure, although I'm not
would have rudely shattered my illusions. entirely sure what he ought to have played
White's set-up with the queen/bishop line-up instead at move 24. It may be that Black's
on c1-h6 is a bit unusual and I didn't kingside majority already does give him the
appreciate at all the difference this makes. ] better chances. e4 27.e2 g5?
16...f6 17.h4? [ T h e s i m p l e 27...e6 is more or less
[ A bit unfair to give my opponent a question winning since ...f4 and ...g5 is threatened,
mark when he's played so much better than the f-pawn cannot move and 28.h3 f4
me up to now, but this is altogether wrong. 29.h2 is too humiliating for words apart
As Cuijpers (a most charming opponent by from anything else Black might well take
the way) pointed out after the game, 17.h6 the exchange now that the h2 bishop is
was much be tter. After the trade of bishops under lock and key. ]
rook on e4 is a real nuisance for Black with 28.xc7 xc7 29.b5 e7 30.ab1 f4
the constant threat of Rh4 and Qh6 to deal 31.f1
with as well as the possibility of doubling in [ The computer is confident about the
the e-file. ] outrageous-looking 31.c5 humans (weak
17...f7 18.e4 fe8 19.g3 c5 ones like me, anyway) are afraid of shutting
Initiating ations which White might perhaps the quee n out f rom the def ence , not t o
have positioned himself better to meet over mention allowing ...e3 (the idea of the text is
the last couple of moves (my opponent had to stop this move, of course) but actually
overlooked that the move was possible at all there isn't all that much defending to be
in this position) . 20.dxc5 b5 21.a3 done and White is playing a6 in a minute .
W hite has a few tactical ideas with a6 and The game certainly goes on though after e3
then c6, but as far as I can see they simply 32.f3 e5 33.a6 bxa6 34.xa6 d2
don't work and he has nothing better than or such, especially with both players short of
allowing Black to recapture his pawn with a time. ]
good game. xc5 22.b4 c8 31...g6 32.c5? A dreadful and panicky
[ I don't recall consciously contemplating move, something sensible like
22...xc3 23.xc3 xc3 24.xb7 e5 [ 32.bd1 was much better and quite
at all, although this is quite good for Black possibly objectively good for White. So far
in fact he may well hold a clear advantage. this hasn't been one of Frans Cuijpers'
My mindset was that Black ought to keep better games, but Black pays for all with his
the queens and attack with his kingside next few moves. I just utterly failed to adjust
majority, while White's queenside majority t o t h e f a c t I wa s su d d e n l y wi n n i n g ( o r
would be fearsome in an ending. I suspect winning again, rather). This is a common
J o n a t h a n Ro wso n wo u l d d e sc r ib e t h i s psychological problem which I've noticed
scornfully as fabulation, but certainly it was bo t h in my o p po n e nt s an d m yse lf (a n d
pretty poor. Another way of looking at the indeed in other players' games), but it's
mat ter would have bee n t ha t t he f e we r more easily stated than cured. ]
pieces you have left the more serious it is 32...xc5 33.bxc5 e3 Winning. 34 fxe3 is
if some of them (e.g. the a3 knight and the 'forced' but of course it loses. 34.b3 c2?!
g3 bishop) aren't doing anything: [ This doesn't spoil anything but 34...exf2+
alternatively of course I could have resorted 35.xf2 d2+ 36.e2 exe2+ 37.xe2
to calculating the odd variation, although for h5 wins a piece fairly trivially at once -
the reason I mentioned that wasn't really particularly inept since exploiting the pin on
an option. Having said that the position is e2 like this was my one and only idea, but
about equal after Black's move, and with for some reason the h5 square fell outside
both of us beginning to get short of time my view - possibly the board was getting a
pretty tense as well. ] little fuzzy at the edges by this time. ]
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g8 29.h6+ h8 30.f7+ g8 31.h6+ 34.h1 d5 35.hxg5 hxg5 36.hc1 b6
½-½ 37.d1 xa1 38.xa1 a8 39.xa8
1/2-1/2 Palac, M-Bauer,C/1/2 Coupe de
France, Senat FRA 2003 ]
584 B04 6...d7 7.f3 7f6 8.h3 On the ball
Del Rio Angelis,Salvador Gabriel 2490 pre ve n t in g . . . B g4 bu t Co n qu e st s e e s a n
Conquest,Stuart 2555 opportunity to take advantage of the Bd3. b4
4th IECC Istanbul (8) 2003 9.c4 f5! 10.e5
[Andrew Martin] [ If 10.b3 a5! 11.a3 bd5 12.c4 b6
13.0-0 a4 14.a2 e6= I guess he just
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5 didn't want to move that Bishop again! ]
5.xe5 c6 6.d3 Slightly unusual but can't 10...e6 11.a3 d6 12.0-0! h6 13.c3
be too bad. The Bishop does rather bd5 14.c2 c7 15.d3? A move lacking
encourage Nb4 though. As stated last month, in confidence. I'm at a loss why he didn't
I prefer 6 Be2. Equalization isn't easy for prefer
Black. [ 15.e1 0-0-0 ( 15...d8 16.e2 0-0
[ 6.e2! Sensible development, no targets 17.b3 c5; 15...0-0 16.e2 ad8= )
and c2-c4 waiting in the wings. I like White's 16.e2= Although White has nothing to
options in this position. g6 7.0-0 g7 shout about the position is interesting and
8.e1 d7 9.f3 With more space, White there's plenty of play. Del Rio Angelis seems
naturally avoids exchanges. 0-0 10.f1 to give up a pawn rathe r desperately it
7f6 11.bd2 g4 12.c4 b6 13.h3 seems to me. ]
xf3 14.xf3 White hasn't done very 15...xe5 16.dxe5 xd3 17.xd3 xe5
much but there's no doubt about it: Black is Why not ? 18.e1 c7 19.c4 e7 20.b3
slightly worse. Black can try to target d4 but 0-0 21.f3 With the idea of Bxh6 but this is
th e Kn igh t o n b 6 is p a ssive a n d act ive easily parried. d7 22.b2 g6 23.g3
counterplay appears in short supply. c7 [ After 23.c3 centralisation will do nicely for
15.g3 ad8 16.f4 d7 17.b3 fe8 Black: e5 24.ad1 ad8 25.g3 fe8 ]
18.ad1 c8 19.a3 d7 20.xa7 c8 23...ad8 24.c3 e5 25.h4 f6! A typically
21.a3 d6 22.b3 e6 23.c2 a8 powerful defensive move by Stuart Conquest,
24.a4 h5 25.c1 ed8 26.b3 c7 putting paid to any thoughts of mate on the
27.g2 f6 28.g4 g7 29.f4 a5 long diagonal. 26.e3 a6 27.a3 fe8
30.e5 ac8 31.c5 de8 32.c4 28.e4 df8 White is thrashing around
1-0 Groszpeter,A-Hugentobler, P/3rd Zurich cre a t i n g ra n d o m a t t a ck s b u t t h e re is n o
Lake Plaza Open, Pfaeffikon 2003 Black coherence. He's simply a pawn down! 29.c5
has it all to prove after 6 Be2. Adherents of e6 30.e3 gf8 31.g4 h8 32.h5
this system would call 5.. .c6 ' flexible '. g8 33.g4 f7 34.b6
Well then, 6 Be2 is equally flexible. ] [ 34.xh6 f5-+ ]
[ 6.d2 d7 7.df3 In principle, any 34...d2 35.e3 h5 36.e4 d7
exchanges ease the Black position. xe5 White has been left with nothing to attack any
8.xe5 f5 9.d3 xd3 10.xd3 e6 more. Black begins the cleaning up procedure.
11.0-0 d6 12.g4 f6 13.d2 d8 37.a5 dc5 38.f3 d3 39.g2 g6
14.ad1 g6 15.e2 0-0 16.fe1 f5= 40.b4 e4 41.b5 axb5 42.cxb5 d4!
Compare this with the Groszpeter game. Payback! 43.bxc6 xc6 44.b6 d2
Black isn't cramped and hasn't surrendered 45.h1 e4 46.h3 f3 47.ed1 ce5
the Two Bishops. He's fine. 17.g3 e7 48.f5 xf5 49.xf5 c4 50.c5 e5
18.c3 fe8 19.c1 d6 20.a3 b5 21.d2 51.e7+ f7 52.b4 xe7 53.xe7 xe7
f6 22.e4 xe4 23.xe4 f7 24.f1 g5 54.dc1 d2! A nice game by Black.
25.a4 a6 26.a1 a8 27.ee1 b6 Evidently Del Rio Angelis is a player who
28.axb5 axb5 29.b3 ed8 30.e2 e7 thrives on inspiration. He had one moment
31.h3 h6 32.ec1 e8 33.h4 d7 only when he could have played rationally and
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kept the position equal (15 Re1). Failing to 24.xg5 xd3 25.xc7 f5 26.e3
appreciate that cost him the point. As far as when, despite being the exchange down,
5...c6 goes I remain sceptical. I don't think White has a clear advantage thanks to
Black can equalize after6Be2! his activity and Black's weak king. Of
0-1 course Reinderman should have gone in
to this though. I notice that this is also
given by Tabanus on chessgames.com
585 B04 and was evidently Nisipeanu's deep
Dgebuadze,Alexandre 2537 preparation.;
Sadkowsky,Daniel 2255 B) 18...d7? This move is as good as
33rd Taminco Open (8) 20.07.2010 resigning. The piece had to be taken to
[Gawain Jones] see what the creative Romanian had in
store. 19.e3! xf7 20.h7+ g7
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g6 21.g5+ f6 22.e4+ f7 23.g5+
5.c4 b6 6.b3 g7 7.a4 We haven't f6 24.f3 d6 25.g5+ f7 26.h6
seen this move since 2000 on here, although f8 27.e5+ f6 28.xg6+ e7
Volzhin believed it to be the most dangerous 29.xg7 f5 30.h6 d5 31.g4
for Black to face and has Kasparov's seal of 1-0 Nisipeanu, L-Reinderman, D Rijeka
approval. 2010 was a crushing victory and proved
[ 7.g5 is the main move when e6 8.f3 Jo h n ' s in t u i t i o n c o r r e c t a n d p e r h a p s
0-0 "This is very rare as it castles straight refutes 8...0-0. ]
in t o W h i t e ' s a t t a c k b u t Re i n d e r m a n i s [ I looked at this position earlier this year
confident in Black's position" was my when Mickey opted for 7.e2 in Adams-
comment when I investigated this position Zhukova seen in the archives. ]
last time. Evidently he had enough faith to 7...dxe5 The most uncompromising reply. The
repeat against Nisipeanu but that proved to following few moves are all forcing:
be f oolhardy. 9.h3 h6 10.f3 dxe5 [ 7...a5 was covered in Kasparov-Palatnik
11.dxe5 c6 12.xh6 xe5 13.g5 a n d G r i s c h u k - P o n o m a r i o v wh i c h b o t h
d3+ 14.cxd3 xb2 15.d2 xa1 16.0-0 c o n t i n u e d : 8.g5 ( Ni Hua played the
I mentioned up to this point last time when I straightforward 8.0-0 here and af ter 0-0
wrote: 'with a strong attack' is given by John 9.h3 c6 10.e2 dxe5 11.dxe5 d4
W atson in the archives. It would be 12.xd4 xd4 13.e1 e6 14.xe6 fxe6
interesting to see how Reinderman planned 15.d2 f5 16.f3 c4 17.b3 xe2
on combating such an aggressive approach. 18.xe2 d8?! 19.d2 d5?! 20.c4! d3
" Perhaps he missed John's suggestion? 21.xa5 was a pawn to the good in Ni Hua-
d4 17.de4 e8 18.xf7!! Li Wenliang Hefei 2010. ) 8...e6 9.f4
A) 18...xf7 After thirty minutes my A) 9...h6 was tried in a recent game.
c o m p u t e r c o m e s u p w i t h 19.f3+ 10.f3 c6 11.0-0 e7 12.c3
( 19.g5 e7 20.h7+ g7 21.f6 f8 ( 12.c4!? is a more direct approach.)
22.g5+ xf6 23.h4 d5 24.h7+ 12...d7 13.e2 c6 14.e3 d7
f7 25.xf8 xf8 gives Black too much 15.d2 with a complex game in prospect.
material for the queen.; 19.g5+ g8 Reinwald, P-Plat, V Rijeka 2010.;
20.xe6 xe6 21.xe6+ xe6 B) 9...dxe5 10.fxe5 c5 when Volzhin
22.xe6+ h7 survives the attack. ) considers
A1) 19...g8 20.g4 ( 20.g3 f7 B1) t h a n K a s p a r o v ' s 11.0-0
21.f3+= is the computer's immediate which allowe d xd4+ although I think
s u g g e s t i o n .) 20...f7 21.e1 f6 W hite is doing well here after 12.xd4
22.f3 would transpose to 19... Bf6; cxd4 13.xf7! ( Volzhin only considered
A2) 19...f6 20.e1! d5 21.g5+ 13.xf7 when 0-0 is ok for Black.)
g8 22.e4 f4 ( 22...e7 23.xe6+ 13...xe5 14.f4 with a strong
is of course hopeless.) 23.xf4 xg5 initiative.;
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B2) 11.c3 to be a more accurate move was played in Almasi-De la Villa Garcia but
order cxd4 12.0-0 0-0 13.cxd4 c6 this seems an improvement.) 20...f5
14.f3 f6 15.c3! fxe5 16.g5 d7 21.c7 Blehm, P-Navarro Cia, M Aviles
17.dxe5 xe5 18.xe5 xf1+ 19.xf1 2000 and here instead of 21...Kf7, Black
d4+ 20.h1 xe5 21.d8! c o u l d h a v e t a k e n c o n t r o l w i t h ( 21.a6!?
with good compensation for the pawn. ] might be stronger in order to have a second
8.a5 6d7 9.xf7+! xf7 10.g5+ g8 way out for that knight but still I'd prefer
11.e6 e8 12.xc7 d8 13.xa8 Black with that powerful pawn on c2 and the
[ 13.e6 e8 14.c7 is of course a draw. ] bishop pair.) 21...e5! 22.d5 ( 22.b5
13...exd4 14.c3 We're still following Oral-De c6 23.a6 b4 is also good for Black.)
Firmian in the archives. 22...e6 23.xe7+ f7 24.xc2 xe7
[ 14.0-0 is the alternative and was Volzhin's when the two pieces outweigh the rook and
choice although it will probably only pawn. ]
transpose. This is investigated in Almasi-De 16.cxd4 xd4 17.e3 e5 18.d2
la Villa Garcia. ] [ 18.c3! looks strongest. The problem is
14...c6 that Black doesn't have time to win the
[ 14...c5 immediately was played in stranded knight on a8, e.g. c5 19.b5!
another fairly recent game. This doesn't f5 20.ac7 and White is material up,
se em as a c cu rat e a s th e ga me a s n o w although he must be accurate for a few
Black will be forced to capture on d4 with m o re m o ve s: d7 21.b4 c2 22.e1
the bishop. The game proceeded. 15.cxd4 cb3 23.xd4 exd4 24.a2 d3 25.e6+
xd4 16.0-0 c6 17.c3 e6 ( 17...h5!? xe6 26.xe6 and the d pawn is worth
lo o k s lik e a n im p ro vem e n t , e . g. 18.b5 something but not a whole exchange. ]
g4 19.c2 f5 20.c4+ e6 21.c2 18...f6?! Black switches between two
f5= being a possible repetition.) 18.b5 different plans.
b3 when instead of 19.Qg4 as played in [ He should have stuck to his plan with his
Cabrilo-Laketic, Kragujevac 2009, W hite 15th move and played 18...h7 Perhaps he
c o u l d h a v e i m p r o v e d w i t h : 19.d2 was worried about 19.e4 ( 19.c1!? b8
for example f7 20.xd4 xd4 21.a3 20.xd4 exd4 21.b4 is probably better for
e5 22.e3 with the advantage. ] W h ite bu t st ill ext rem e ly co m p lic at e d .)
15.0-0 h6 This deviates from 14...Nc5 in the 19...f8 20.c1 f5 21.g3 xa8
archives but is probably a case of forgotten 22.xd4 exd4 23.xf5 gxf5 24.f3
theory rather than a nuance. gives W hite a strong initiative as
[ These positions were fashionable 10 years compensation but the position is highly
ago but have been seen very rare recently. unclear. ]
White is the exchange up but will probably 19.c4?!
lo s s t h e k n ig h t o n a 8 wh i lst B la c k h a s [ 19.c1! is simplest when White will be able
d e c e n t c o n t r o l o ve r t h e p o s i t i o n . T h e to extricate his knight the following move.
question is whether, while Black takes time g4 can be simply dealt with by 20.f3 ]
to win the knight, W hite can drum up an 19...h5 20.a4?! I'm at a bit of a loss as to
initiative. It appears that most players have what this move achieves.
come to a consensus that Black is doing [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 20.e1 was stronger
well but perhaps Dgebuadze has found although the position is unclear after h7
something. The only other high rated 21.c1 f8 White's offside knight compared
encounter which wasn't covered already on to Black's strong knights (d4 and f4 soon)
chesspublishing continued: 15...c5 16.b4 promises Black decent compensation for the
( Playing like the game with 16.cxd4 xd4 exchange. ]
17.e3 is possible and my suggestion for 20...f4 21.e1 d3? A shame. Sadkowsky
White although he's a tempo down on the gets carried away against his Grandmaster
game. ) 16...dxc3 17.xd8+ xd8 18.bxc5 opposition.
c2 19.c3 xc3 20.a2 ( 20.a3 [ 21...d7 was better when White struggles
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to ke ep equa lity, f or exam ple 22.xe5!? but his positions weren't inspiring. ]
fe2+! 23.xe2 xe2+ 24.xe2 xa4 8.0-0
25.xg6 e8! 26.xh8 Both knights are [ Playing the immediate 8.c4 has been
trapped in the corners! xa8 27.xa7 covered in the archives but I doubt it
xh8 28.b4 and Black's bishop pair are changes much. ]
m o r e re l e v a n t o n t h e o p e n b o a r d t h a n 8...g7 9.c4 5f6 An unusual retreat and
White's three pawns. ] Nisipeanu was probably regretting it in a few
22.xe5! This is the move Black missed and moves time. A problem for Black in this line
suddenly his position collapses as neither seems to be his light squared bishop which
knight has any support. xe1 struggles to find any activity.
[ 22...xe5 is even worse as White plays [ 9...c7 is the usual retreat, when a couple
23.xd4! xd4 24.xd3 and the knight is of recent games have continued: 10.c3
free as there's no discovered check 0-0
anymore. f6 25.xg6+ g7 26.d4! A) 11.e3 e6 12.d2 c7 13.ad1
would be final. ] d8 14.d5!? xc3?! ( 14...b6
23.xd4 xa5 24.d5 a2 25.xg6 had to be played although White's still on
So a successful W hite win but a shame for top after 15.c1 cxd5 16.cxd5 f8
Black who had a promising position. It seems 17.d4 ) 15.xc3 f4? And this just
that if Black remembers his theory in this loses. 16.xf4 xf4 17.dxc6 bxc6
crazy line then he has nothing to worry about. 18.e5 c5 19.f3 b8 20.c6 e8
The line with 8.Ng5 looks like a much bigger 21.xb8 xb8 22.a5 1-0 Radulski, J-
theoretical problem. Kukov, V Kyustendil 2010.;
1-0 B) 11.e1 f6 12.h3 fe8 13.f1 d6
14.f4 f5 Konguvel, P-Khusnutdinov, R
Delhi 2010 when the simplest looks to be
586 B04 15.e5 when White has a small edge.;
Efimenko,Zahar 2640 C) 11.f4;
Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter 2661 D) and 11.g5 have been investigated in
11th EICC Men (6) 11.03.2010 the archives - see Degraeve-Miles and
[Gawain Jones] Bauer-Mamedyarov.;
E) 11.h3 A slightly mysterious move
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5 immediately but I don't think it changes
5.xe5 c6 This has replaced 5...g6 as the the assessment of slightly better for White.
mainline in the past few years. 6.e2 d7 a6 12.f4 ( 12.e3 is more sensible.)
[ 6...f5 is examined in the following game. ] 12...e6 13.e3 b5 14.c1 b7 15.a4
7.f3 b4 16.e4 and White was still a little
[ 7.0-0 has also been tried recently. xe5 better. Hou Yifan-Dimakiling, O Kuala
8.dxe5 f5 ( 8...e6 was Miroshnichenko's Lumpur 2010. ]
choice 9.d2 g6 10.f3 g7 11.c3 0-0 10.c3 0-0
12.g5 c7 13.e1 Potkin, V- [ Perhaps 10...c7 is better to avoid Bf4 but
Miroshnichenko, E bereg.ru 2003 when fd8 the positions are likely to be similar following
leaves Black the preferred side.) 9.d3 A) 11.e1 was tried in the only game I
xd3 10.xd3 c7 ( 10...e6 should have could find that reached this position. 0-0
been played, when I can't see anything 12.f1 e8 13.g5 f8 This position
wrong with Black's position.) 11.c4 b6 illustrates a problem I can see with 9...
12.e6! fxe6 13.d2 Jakimov, V-Bortnik, A N5f6, viz, I think c7 is a better square than
Alushta 2010 with a dangerous initiative for f8 for the Black knight as it prevents White
the pawn. ] from playing d5 whilst from both squares
7...g6 the knight can jump to e6. Black has also
[ In 2008 John annotated a couple of games been forced to play ...Re8 but after ... Ne6
o f M a g n u s C a r l s e n w i t h 7...7f6 the rook would prefer to be on d8. 14.h3
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he's played all his preparatory moves and so pressure against W hite's remaining centre
plays the thematic central breakthrough. pawn and avoids shutting in the other bishop
[ 19...e4 would also have been fine for with e7-e6 7.0-0
Black. ] [ After 7.d2 it's best not to try for too much
20.d5 xd3 21.xd3 c5 as after f4?! ( Respectable are 7...d7
[ I think Black should take control over the and; 7...g7 ) 8.c4 e6 9.xe6 xe6
centre immediately and therefore 21...e4 10.f3 f6 11.b3 White had a strong
was stronger, when 22.e2 c5 shouldn't initiative in A.Grischuk-H.Nakamura, Beijing
leave him with any problems. ] 2012. ]
22.a5 7...g7 8.e1 This seems a little slow. Two
[ White should have exploited Black's alternatives should have been considered:
previous with 22.e4! as xe4 23.xe4 [ Firstly 8.f3 0-0 9.c4 c7 10.c3 g4
wh e n t h e b is h o p p a i r a n d li gh t sq u a r e The bishop help to put pressure on the d4
control is at least something. ] pawn. 11.e3 d7 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3
22...e4 23.e2 c7?! But this is the first real f5!? A strange move at first glance. However
error. it gains space and controls the e4 square. It
[ I see nothing wrong with 23...cxb4 24.a4 introduces the idea of f5-f4 which is
f4 and Black has the better prospects. ] consistent with the plan of undermining the
24.a4 e7 25.b1 cxb4? This is a curious d4 pawn. 14.d5 White decides to advance
blunder, I wonder what Shchekachev missed. the pawn out of harm's way, but now the
T h a n k s t o h i s p re vio u s e rro r h e 's u n d e r b l a c k k n i g h t g a i n s t h e e 5 s q u a r e . e5
pressure now but he had to sit tight with 15.f4 xf3+ 16.xf3 e5! and Black had
[ 25...b8 when Fedorchuk would have been equalised in Aveskulov, V (2526)-Baklan, V
forced to play accurately to get anything. (2627)/Kharkov 2009. ]
Perhaps Black was worried about 26.xc5 [ Alternatively 8.c4 c7 9.e3 0-0 10.f4
xc5 27.bxc5 xc5 28.c3 when the d d7 11.c3 e6 12.g4 xe5 13.dxe5
p a wn i s p o t e n t i a l l y s t r o n g b u t B l a c k ' s
f6 A typical Alekhine strategy: Black lets
position is hardly lost. ] White build a centre and then dismantles it.
26.c5! xc5 27.xc5 xc5 28.bc1 14.exf6 xf6 15.e1 g7 16.d1 c7
The bishop drops and so Black threw in the 17.xc8 axc8 18.b3 cd8 with balanced
towel. It seems that 6...Bf5 is currently doing chances in Vovk, Y (2546) -Miroshnichenko,
better than 6...Nd7 and 8.Nd3 won't change E (2667)/Cappelle la Grande 2009 ]
the assessment. I wonder, however, if we'll 8...0-0 9.f3 A typical retreat for White in this
see more of 8.c4!? while 8.Nf3 still causes p a wn c e n t r e . H e h a s m o r e s p a c e s o h e
Black some difficulties in finding equality. prefers not to exchange pieces. He
1-0 anticipates Black's Nd7 challenge to his horse
by returning it to f3 straightaway.
[ N o n e t h e l e s s 9.c4 might have set Black
591 B04 more problems. ]
Francisco,R 2281 9...f5 10.c3 White consolidates his d4 pawn
Zherebukh,Y 2625 and plans the manoeuvre Na3 and Nc4 to het
US Chess Masters 2014 (1.4) 28.08.2014 his horse in touch with the e5 square. But as
[Neil McDonald] we shall see Black can easily equalise or
more. d7 11.a3 c5 Black nibbles away at
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5 the d4 pawn. Another approach was
5.xe5 c6 With his last two moves Black has [ 11...e5 which would free Black's game, but
eliminated the white e5 pawn and maybe reduce the tension too much for an
strengthened his control of the d5 square. ambitious player of Black. ]
White keeps a space advantage but the black 12.g5
position is a tough nut to crack. 6.e2 g6 [ There is a forcing line if White attacks d5
T h e k in gs i d e f ia n ch e t t o p r e p a re s t o p u t and b7 with 12.b3 namely e6 13.xb7
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[ 5.c4 b6 ( or 5...c6 ) 6.b3 Therefore White has to dissolve his strong
in the archives. ] c5 pawn. 17.cxb6 xb6 18.c5 h4
5...g7 6.0-0 0-0 7.exd6 cxd6 8.c4 b6 and Black had an active game in Bohm, H-
9.h3 A useful preventive move as after say Alburt, L, Wijk aan Zee 1980. ]
[ 9.c3 c6 10.e3 g4 The exchange 12.e3?!
on f 3 is unappealing for W hite. Already [ White might have tried to profit by cajoling
Black threatens 11...Bxf3 when if 12.Bxf3 B l a c k ' s b i s h o p t o f 6 w i t h 12.g5!?
Nxc4. 11.b3 d5 Black is going to play Bxf3 for example f6 13.e3 e4 14.h2 d5
so it makes sense to set up a solid light 15.c5 c8 16.g4 xg4 17.hxg4
squared structure in the centre. 12.c5 c8 and White has the bishop pair and a solid
13.h3 xf3 14.xf3 e6 15.d2 8e7 centre. The position is far from clear after
and Black's knight comes to f5 to put say 8e7 but perhaps Black would have
pressure on d4. He has scored very well in done better with 11...d5. ]
this variation, see for example Ducros Salva, [ Meanwhile 12.d5? e4 is best avoided by
A (2203)-Pinheiro, J (2371)/Palma de White. ]
Mallorca 2002. ] 12...e4 13.e1 d5 14.c5 d7 15.a4
9...c6 10.c3 f5 The most active square [ Instead 15.b5 might have been more
for the bishop now it is denied g4. 11.b3 active as the knight aims at the d6 square. ]
[ Instead 11.f4 was played in Nataf, I 15...e6! Clearing the way for the advance of
(2560)-Konopka, M (2441)/ Pardubice CZE his f-pawn. 16.c2 f5 17.d2 f6 18.g5?
2002- see the archives. ] Surprisingly enough, this might be the
11...e5!? This advance looks attractive now decisive mistake as it lets Black's pawns
that White has weakened himself along the rampage forwards on the kingside.
diagonal with 11.b3. It is hard to criticise a [ Golubov should have recalled
move when it leads to a sparkling attack with Nimzowitsch's teachings about prophylaxis
sacrifices, but as we shall see W hite could and set up a more permanent barrier to
have thrown a spanner in the works on his Black's f-pawn than his bishop on f4, which
next move. So maybe objectively speaking can be brushed aside. This can be done
the alternative pawn thrust with 18.f4! Then Black decided to open
[ 11...d5!? was to be preferred. For example l i n e s w i t h exf3 19.xf3 in Mamedov, N
12.c5 ( White has tried standing his ground (2392) -Badjarani, I (2368)/Baku 2001. Now
with 12.e3!? dxc4 13.bxc4 but Black can f4 20.f2 g5 threatening the h3 pawn and
undermine and then liquidate the hanging clearing the way for 21...Nf6 looks active
p a wn s wi t h a5 14.c5 d5 15.xd5 for Black. ]
xd5 16.a4 b6! as in Andreev, E- 18...f7 19.f4 g5! Exactly. This energetic
Rozentalis, E, Cappelle La Grande 2013.) pawn thrust breaks the blockade on the f4
12...d7 13.b2 ( here 13.xd5? xc5! square. 20.d6
is already excellent for Black.) 13...e4 [ After 20.xg5 f4 Black pawns are ready to
putting the bishop on e4 is a thematic idea strike against the white king's defences with
i n t h i s t y p e o f p a w n c e n t r e . 14.a4 21...f3. ]
He has to guard the d4 pawn again because 20...f4! Anyway! Black is positionally justified
of the threat of 14...Bxf3 and 15...Nxd4. in sacrificing the exchange as he will have an
( 14.xe4 fails as in the previous note to a enormous advantage in firepower where it
knight capture on c5: dxe4 15.g5 xc5 ) ma t te rs, na m ely o n t h e kin gsid e . 21.xf8
14...xf3 15.xf3 e6 16.d2 xf8 White has a knight on a4 no where near
( Instead White has tried to stop Black's next the kingside. There are no open lines on the
move with 16.d3 but Black was at least queenside to use to distract Black from his
equal af ter b8!? 17.fd1 b5 18.cxb6 o n s l a u g h t o n t h e o t h e r w i n g . 22.f3?
axb6 19.e2 c8 in Rozentalis, E-Appel, R, W hite is understandably keen to block the
Bundesliga 2006.) 16...b5! a key idea. The advance 22...f3, but in doing so he shuts in
wh i t e k n i g h t c a n ' t r e t r e a t a s d 4 f a l l s . his bishop on e2- his only minor piece that
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
was helping to defend his king. And as we neutralizes Bf4, whereas Bg5 seldom
shall see, the pawn that Black acquires on e3 achieves anything. 12.b3 Okay, but White
helps him to set up a mating net by depriving sort of drifts around in this game.
the white queen and rook on f1 access to the [ Now 12.c5 c7 13.f4 is also possible.
second rank. A better defensive chance was Then f5 at any point will activate Black's
[ 22.g4 though Black keeps up his attack bishop on c7, however, . ]
after xg4 23.hxg4 f6 ] [ Just clamping down with 12.f4 is a decent
22...e3 23.c3 Now the white queen joins her alternative. ]
knights in exile on the queenside. Black is 12...c7 13.h3
able to make some heavy sacrifices to remove [ Better looks 13.g3 0-0 ( 13...h5!? 14.c5
the flimsy cover in front of the white king. h5 e7 15.c4 i n t e n d i n g B f 4) 14.f4
24.b4 xh3! 25.b5 . Well, that's at best a technical point. It's a
[ After 25.gxh3 xh3 the threat of 26... Blitz game, after all. ]
Qg3+ 27.Kh1 Rf6 and mate along the h-file 13...0-0 14.b2 ad8 15.d2 fe8
is decisive. ] [ 15...c5! 16.fd1 ce4 17.xe4 xe4
25...e7 26.c6 bxc6 27.bxc6 f5! 18.e1 e7!? has ideas of ...Qh4. Black
It turns out White's bid for counterplay on the has the initiative. ]
queenside has merely brought the black knight 16.fd1 f4!?
into the kingside attack. 28.b5 [ Again, 16...c5 17.e1 ce4 ]
[ Even after a move like 28.c4 Black can 17.e1 e5 18.d5 xe3!? Giving up the dark
play g3 with the decisive idea of moving squares is a bit odd, but not bad. The
the bishop back from h3 and mating on h1. ] consistent move is
28...xg2! 29.xg2 g4 30.cxd7 h3+ [ 18...e4 , to use the e5 square. ]
31.g1 g3 Mate will soon follow. A splendid 19.fxe3 c5 20.ac1 b6 21.f1
a t t a c k b y B o r t n i k. I l ike t h e wa y B la ck' s [ 21.dxc6 bxc6 ]
sacrifices increased in size from a pawn, to 21...h6 22.h2 cxd5 23.xd5 xd5
the exchange, to a bishop. 24.cxd5 e4 25.c4 d6 26.a3
0-1 [ Eyeing the blockader. 26.c3 is the other
way. All this has been well-played, and I'd
guess the chances are level. The opening
597 B04 was interesting, especially Black's calm
Grischuk,Alexander 2715 treatment, and bishop on d6 (not e7!). The
Carlsen,Magnus 2714 rest is a yawner. ]
World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (38) 22.11.2007 26...e4 27.b4 xc4 28.bxc4 g6
[John Watson] 29.g3 a6 30.a3 d7 31.g4 g6
32.xg6 xg6 33.c5 a8 34.d2 e4
Another Ng4-e3 game! Not the most exciting 35.dd1 f6 36.a4 f7 37.a5 c7 38.d6
affair, but I like Black's method of reducing d7 39.c5 h5 40.h4 g6 41.e1 d3
White's chances in the opening. 1.e4 f6 42.ed1 e4 43.e1 f5 44.g3 c7
2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5 5.xe5 c6 45.d6 d7 46.c5 g6 47.ed1 c7
6.e2 f5 7.0-0 d7 8.g4 e6 9.c4 5f6 48.d6 d7 49.c5 b6 A break! Nothing
10.e3 g6 11.c3 In the note to our other much h as hap pened f or 25 moves or so .
game, Hague tried Black justifies everything tactically. 50.axb6
[ 11.d5!? versus John Cox, which may be axb6 51.xb6 a2 52.g1 b7 53.c5
premature. ] xd5 54.a1 e2 55.ae1 xe1 56.xe1
[ 11.c5 followed by f4 was given by my f5 57.a1 e4 58.f2 d7 59.a4+ f5
computer - that's hard to believe. See the 60.a7
note there. ] ½-½
11...d6! As indicated in the other games, I
prefer this active outpost. It also makes sense
on general grounds, because it prevents or
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pawn chain. 11.c3 cxd4 12.0-0 0-0 13.cxd4 23.d4! e7 24.e5 ) 23.d4 e7
c6 14.f3 24.b5 h7 25.xg7 xg7 26.e5
[ 14.e3 d5! is awkward for White. Now with a substantial advantage. ]
the battle centers around the d4-pawn. ] 15...fxe5 16.g5! d7 17.dxe5 xe5?
14...f6 Black has to move quickly, and now he [ The improvement that I give in my book is
a t t a c k s t h e f ro n t o f t h e c h a i n , t h e m o s t 17...xd1! 18.axd1 xe5 19.xe5 xf1+
common technique in the French Defence. 20.xf1 xe5 21.e3 , which I think leaves
[ 14...b4 15.g5 ( 15.c3 White somewhat better, perhaps not fatally
is also promising, especially with both e4 so to Black. At any rate, reader Luis
and b5 available.) 15...d7 16.c3 h6 Eduardo Neves Gouveia, who has been an
17.f6 xf6 18.exf6 d8 19.d2 xf6 excellent contributor, suggests that Black
( 19...h7 20.e5 ) 20.xh6 g7 21.h4 has
favours White. ] A) Luis Eduardo Neves Gouveia: 21...d5
15.c3 22.xd5 exd5 23.xd5+ ( 23.xd5 )
[ A promising pawn sacrifice, although White 23...h8 "and Black is holding". But this
has a very interesting alternative pawn doesn't look so easy, for example, 24.d4
sacrifice that may even be better: 15.exf6!? ( 24.b3!? ) 24...xd4 25.xd4 b8
xf6 ( 15...xf6 16.e3 d5 17.h6 e8 26.c4 f5 27.g4 c2 28.b3 h6 29.d5
18.c3 ) 16.c3! ( 16.e3 d5; 16.g5 b6 30.f2;
f5 threatens ..Nxd4 or ...Bxd4+) 16...xd4 B) 21...a6 and Luis gives 22.xb6 xb6
17.e3 , and it's not clear that Black can 23.d8+ f7 24.b5 c6 25.a7 c1+
equalize: 26.e2 b1 27.c2 xb2 28.d3 xh2
A) 17...xf3+?? 18.xf3+- and Bxb6; 'and three pawns for the piece - here I am
B) 17...d8 18.xd4 e5 ( 18...xd4?? not sure Black is OK but ...' Then W hite
19.xf6 xd1+ 20.xd1 xf6 21.xb6 ) should pla y 29.xc8 ( or 29.xc8 h5
19.e1 xd4 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 30.b5 b4 31.c4 xc4 32.xc4 g5
xd4+ 22.h1 and Black is too 33.c5 g1+ 34.d6 f6 35.b3 e5
uncoordinated to claim compensation.; 36.c3 );
C) 17...xb3! (the only way to preserve C) 21...xc3 22.d8+ f7 23.bxc3
material) 18.xb3 d5 ( 18...d7 and I said that the bishops are worth more
19.g5 e5 20.xe6+ xe6 21.xe6 than a pawn but Black can certainly hope
xf1+ 22.xf1 xc3 23.c7! b8 f o r s u r v i v a l . I w o u l d n o w a d d d7
24.bxc3 b6 25.d1 favours White, ( 23...d5 24.d4 )
although Black is not necessarily lost, and C1) acut e trick f ollows 24.e1 b6
the opposite-coloured bishops could prove 25.h8 g7? ( 25...f8 26.xb6 b8
helpful later ) 19.c5 27.c5 d7 28.d4 xb3 29.xh7+
C1) 19...xc3 20.bxc3 can lead to any is messy ) 26.xe6! xh8 27.d4+
number of lines, but I think that W hite and mates;
maintains some edge, for example, e8 C2) 24.f2 b6?! 25.c4 ( 25.d1 )
( 20...xc3 21.xc3 xc3 22.a3; 25...c5 26.h8! and Black is in trouble,
20...d8 21.ad1 ) 21.b5! ( or for example, g7 ( 26...h5 27.d4 )
21.ad1 ) 21...d8 22.ad1; 27.d4+ h6 28.f8! b7 29.f7!
C2) 19...e8 20.ae1 ( 20.d4!? e7 e4+ 30.e3 d6 31.g7+ g5
21.xg7 xg7 22.ac1 ) 20...xc3 32.h4+ xh4 33.f6+ g5 34.xh7+
21.e5! g5 22.xc3 gives plenty of g4 35.xe6+ f5+ 36.xf5+ xf5
compensation then d7 23.f7! xe5 37.xb7 xf6 38.xb6+ ]
24.xe5 xe5 25.xe5 xf7 fails to 18.xe5 xf1+ 19.xf1 d4+
26.d4 f8 27.g7+ e8 28.c5; [ 19...xe5 20.d1 d4+ 21.h1 ]
C3) 19...d8 20.ad1 xc3 ( 20...f8 20.h1 xe5 21.d8! c5
21.d4 ) 21.bxc3 xd1 22.xd1 h6 [ 21...a6 22.d1 ]
( 22...xc3?? 23.d8+; 22...f8 22.e4 b4 This makes it easy.
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unfortunate mistake. The correct way for behaviour. e6 I seemed to recall opining that
Black to continue is 13...Bxd2 14 Nxd2 c5, this was the way to go. 9.c4 5f6
and W hite is at best slightly better. 14.c3 [ Now that my computer points it out I
a5 15.dxc5 b4 16.c4 5f6 17.a3 b8 remember 9...b4 10.e3 xb1 11.xb1
18.d4 xc5 19.c6 bc8 20.e3 xa2 being something that concerned Mark.
1-0 McDonald,N-Nataf,I/London 1994 Mark wasn't sure the computer thinks this is
Oops! ] what Black should do, but the whole thing
9.0-0 c5 10.c4 5f6 11.c3 Deviating from loo ks rid iculou s to me . I do n't se e wh y
t h e N C O l i n e . cxd4 12.xd4 c7
Black shouldn't just develop. ]
This move is playable, although somewhat 10.e3 g6 11.d5
passive. [ Some insanity like 11.f4 had concerned me
[ A more active attempt to equalise is
before, but it's very hard to believe this:
12...e5 13.b3 a5 14.b2 d8
Black could just play d6 when 12.g4
and Black should not be any worse. ] seems to fail to c7 13.f5 xh2+ 14.h1
13.e2 e8?! e4
Black is playing overly I was toying vaguely with such lines
cautiously right now. 13...Rd8 is the correct when Ben played something else. I don't
move. 14.d1 f8?! Black follows the flow think the text is much good either, although
from his previous move. Preventing a Nb5 it's not as bad as I thought at the time.
from White is more important, and therefore W hite probably ought to admit he has no
14. ..a6 wou ld h ave been correct . 15.b1 advantage and just develop quietly. ]
15 Ncb5!? b6?! 11...c7 Of course Black doesn't capture on
[ 15...a6 followed by ...e5 is better. ] d5. After dxe6 fxe6 his rapid development on
16.db5 b8 17.e3 e5? the d and f files will more than make up for
[ 17...bd7!? admits that going to b6 was
t h e we a k e -p a wn . 12.c3 d6 13.h3
wrong, but Black has to do something to One of the with White's set-up, apart from the
contain White's queenside majority. ] fact that the Ne3 blocks his queen's bishop
18.c5 bd7 19.c6 bxc6 20.xc6
and king's rook, is needing to lose a tempo on
and White wins at least an exchange. The rest this move.
is played out with only one goal in mind. e7 [ 13.h4 h2+ 14.h1 e5 15.h5 d8
21.xa8 xa8 22.d6 e4 23.xc8 xc8 16.g1 h2+ 17.h1 e5 is how the
24.bc1 e5 25.g2 f5 26.d5 b7 machine thinks the game ought to end,
27.xf6+ gxf6 28.d5 h5 29.h4 g6 although I doubt many human players would
30.c8 g7 31.dd8 d7 32.c5 e3 have this variation in mind. ]
33.xf8+ xf8 34.xf8 e4+ 35.f3 13...0-0 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.d3 fd8
xf3+ 36.xf3 xb2 37.fxe3 xa2 38.e4 A bad move. I had some idea that doubling my
a1 39.g8+ h7 40.h8+ g-pawns was desirable inasmuch as it creates
1-0 luft without costing a tempo, but I was wrong.
15...Bxd3 was right, getting positions like the
game but with the h-pawn on h7. 16.xg6
602 B04 hxg6 17.c2 h2+ 18.h1 e5 19.d2
Hague,Ben 2300 c5 20.ad1 d7 21.c1 During the game
Cox,John J 2384 I was labouring under the impression that
4NCL Kavala GRE 23.10.2005 B l a c k w a s m u c h b e t t e r h e r e , a n d
[John Cox] consequently getting frustrated and spending
a lot of time when I couldn't find a way to
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5 prove it. As usually happens this leads to over
5.xe5 c6 6.e2 f5 7.0-0 d7 8.g4 pressing although as luck would have it Black
The webmaster's splendid innovation from p l a ys t h e r i g h t m o ve s f o r q u i t e a wa y a
Kosten-Ferguson in the May update. As luck psychological misconception of this kind
would have it Mark Ferguson was sitting next generally has its expression in the form of
to me in this team match, so I was on my best bad moves sooner or later. ad8 22.xd7
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
xd7 23.d1 d8? Missing the moment. allows perpetual check starting with c6+
Correct was . I had been banking on this but White has
[ 23...xc3 , a thoroughly thematic move better. ]
which I don't believe I considered f or a 46...e8 47.c5 d7 48.c4 I think this is
second despite it being the entire purpose of a mistake. 48 Kc3 is better so that Black
m y . . B h 2 + - e 5 m a n o e u v r e . . 24.xd7 doesn't have a check. White is then ready for
( 24.xc3 fe4 25.c2 d3 26.f1 f4 a5, and I think he might very well be winning
27.g1 xc1 28.xc1 d2 ) 24...xd7 at all events I haven't discovered a convincing
25.xc3 fe4 26.c2 d3 ] defence. h7 49.a5 e6+ Now I think Black
24.xd7 xd7 25.ed1 d4 is OK. White cannot avoid perpetual without
[ I had been pinning my hopes on 25...d3 dropping a5. 50.d5 e2+ 51.c5 e3+
an d wh en I cou ld n 't m a ke it wo rk a f t e r 52.c6 c3+ 53.b7 xa5 54.xf5+ g6
26.xd3 xd3 27.d2 ( 27.e3 xc3 55.d7+ h6 56.c6 This is scary but Black
I began to lose my feeble grasp on the plot a has a resource. a3 57.d5 1/2-1/2
bit. )] [ 57.a6 c5 is simplest although I hadn't
26.e3 e5 27.b4 xe3 28.xe3 d3 seen this ( 57...e3 was my intention and is
29.b5 cxb5 30.cxb5 d4 31.g1? e4? a l s o a d e q u a t e s i n c e 58.xa7 e7+
[ Black misses his second one-move win of gives perpetual. )]
the game: 31...xf2 wins a pawn 32.xf2 ½-½
( 32.xf2 xc3 ) 32...xc3 ]
32.a4 b4 Black has no advantage any more
and it was definitely time to be thinking of 603 B04
making a draw, but adjusting in this way is Hoell,Jonas 2445
n e v e r e a s y . 33.ed1 g5 34.a2 g4? Kengis,Edvins 2575
Anything but this. Somehow the d5 square London 1991
had escaped my attention. 35.hxg4 xg4 [Alexander Volzhin]
36.d5 dxf2 37.xf2 xf2 38.xf2
xc3 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.f3 d6 4.d4 dxe5
[ A f t e r w a r d s I t h o u g h t t h a t 38...e3+ 5.xe5 g6 6.c4 Currently the most popular
wo u ld h a ve b e e n b e t t e r, h o p in g f o r 3 9 continuation. c6
K x e 3 ? ? Q x c 3 + , b u t i n f a c t a f t e r 39.f3 [ As 6...g7?? is just a blunder: 7.xf7
xc3 40.a8+ h7 41.xa7 there is no xf7 8.f3+ black should protect the Knight
longer perpetual check and W hite has at on d5. Besides the text, ]
least some winning chances, and in fact I [ 6...e6 is possible. This move was played
think is probably winning. I would like to till it became clear that by playing 7.c3!
think I saw this at the time and forgot about g7 8.e4 xe5 ( 8...0-0 9.g5 ) 9.dxe5
it, but I can't be sure. ] c6 10.b3! ( Black intended to meet
39.xe4 c5+ 40.e2 f5 41.c6 e5+ 10.c5 with e3! , maintaining the
42.d3 g3+ 43.c4 f4+ 44.b3 balance. ) 10...xe5 ( 10...0-0 11.h6 e8
Black is in grave danger of losing this queen 12.c5 w i t h t h e a d v a n t a g e xe5?
ending whether he is actually lost I haven't yet 13.xe6 fxe6 14.d4 ) 11.b2 f6 12.xe5
been able to determine for sure. g3+?! fxe5 13.c5 White wins his pawn back and
[ 44...h7 was better than this, I think. After h a s a n o v e r w h e l m i n g a d v a n t a g e f7
a5 W hite is a t his most vu lnerable to a 14.xb7 d7 15.0-0 c6 16.a5 c5
checking sequence, as he has to protect a5 17.xd5 xd5 18.b4 d6 19.c4+-
and b5 as well as escape the checks, so it winning in Vlasak - Petanek, corr, 1990. ]
made sense to hide the king away at this 7.0-0 g7 8.e1 0-0 9.b3
moment to prevent cross-checks. ] [ In my opinion, 9.c3 deserves attention, for
45.f3 e5 46.c3 example: e6 10.d2 d7 11.ef3 c7
[ 46.a8+ h7 47.xa7 d5+ 48.c3 12.f1! c5 13.b3 ]
xg2 I f igu re d is a d ra w sin ce 49.b6 9...e6 10.c3 d7 11.f3 c7 12.xe6
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notwithstanding all the propaganda. White has They don't go 7 Ng5 these days because of
two bishops and a potential queenside pawn Alburt's 7...e6. Let's see how Black should
majority. Black would normally combat these play:
trumps by activity, presumably looking to play [ 7...e6
...e7-e5 somewhere. It doesn't work out that A) 8.f3 More testing. e7! 9.e4 dxe5
way 5b6 13.c5! c8 10.g5 b4+ 11.c3 a5 12.f6+
[ 13...d5 14.xd5 cxd5 15.g5 e8 ( 12.f6 xf6 13.xf6 0-0 14.xe5
16.c3 is easy chess. Even if Black nullifies xe5 15.dxe5 d7= Alburt ) 12...f8
the pressure on e7 there's still the 13.d5 e4 14.g3 a6 15.dxe6 f5
queenside majority to worry about. ] 16.e7+ xe7 17.d5+ ( 17.g8+ e8
14.c3 e5 What else? 18.h6 xh6 19.xh6 e6 20.0-0 )
[ 14...e6 15.e4 ] 17...f8 18.e3 d7 and Black will
[ 14...c7 15.g5 e6 16.d2 are both slowly consolidate beginning with ...f7-f6.;
awful. ] B) 8.f4 Rigid. Black can break up the
15.e3 centre with the traditional thrust ...c7-c5.
[ 15.d5! looks very strong indeed xc5 dxe5 9.fxe5 c5! 10.0-0 0-0 11.c3 cxd4
( 15...cxd5 16.xd5+- ) 16.e3 a5 12.cxd4 c6 13.f3 f6! 14.exf6
17.dxc6 bxc6 18.xc6 ] ( 14.c3!? fxe5 15.g5 d7 16.dxe5
15...e7 16.d5! The classic break, with Black xe5 17.xe5 xf1+ 18.xf1 d4+
very passive. cxd5 17.xd5 f5 19.h1 xe5 20.e7 d7 21.e1 f5
[ 17...c6 18.b3! b8 19.ad1 22.e2 e8 ) 14...xf6 15.e3 d5
is a picture postcard for White. ] 16.f2 f4 ]
18.c1 h4 I have no useful idea to suggest 8.f4 f6 9.f3 0-0 10.c3 c6 11.bd2 g4
given that the d file is creaking: 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 I really feel that Black
[ 18...xe3 19.xe3 b8 20.a4 a6 should avoid this position. Counterplay is not
21.ed1 ] in evidence. He has tried to break up the
19.g3 d8 20.b3 c8 21.xb7 xe3 centre with ...f7-f6 but the White pawn chain
22.xc8 I very much doubt Hunt even broke is almost indestructible. Two Bishops lurk in
sweat in that game so it is clear that Black the wings waiting to be used and the Black
has some work to do here. Perhaps 6...Bf5 Kingside looks shaky. d7 14.0-0 f5
can be recommended as the best available Miserable. White has the later pawn lever g2-
try. g4! to aim for.
1-0 [ 14...a5 15.a4 fxe5 16.fxe5 d8 17.c2
e6 is a better way of organising the Black
pieces. Perhaps ...Rf 7 and ... Raf 8 will
606 B04 help matters. Obviously W hite still has a
Ishkhamov,Tigran 2260 very nice, easy-to-play position. ]
Chernin,Oliver 2205 15.e2 d8 16.e3 e6 17.ad1!
North American Open (3) 2002 Prophylaxis against a (much) later ...c7-c5
[Andrew Martin] ad8 18.h1 c6 19.h4 h6 20.g4! fxg4
21.f5!+- g5 22.xg4 About par for the
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g6 c o u r s e a f t e r 7 N g 5 d 5 ? ! B l a c k h a s t o
A variation eclipsed by concentrate on 7...e6 if he wishes to make
[ 4...dxe5 5.xe5 g6 ] this line work.
5.c4! b6 6.b3 g7 7.g5 That's how 1-0
they used to play it ! Instead,
[ 7.a4 ]
[ 7.e2 both pose Black serious theoretical
problems. ]
7...d5?! I don't like this move very much
because the Black position becomes cramped.
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pieces relatively cramped. This situation goes [ 35...g6! 36.f1 e7 hits c5, which can't
on for many more moves: 11.c4 b6 12.b3 be comfortably defended. ]
e7 13.b2 0-0 14.d2!? 36.df3 c3?
[ A more natural procedure would be 14.c3 [ 36...d7 ]
a5 15.a3 c7 ( 15...a4 16.c5 bd5 37.c4 d1+
17.xa4 ) 16.d3 fd8 17.ad1 [ 37...d5 38.xf7 xe5 39.g4
. But Karajakin wants to cover the key e5 puts pressure on Black, especially since
square. ] e1+ 40.h2! xc1? loses to 41.f8+!
14...a5 15.a3 c7 16.e2 fe8 17.g3 xf8 42.e6+ ]
ad8 18.g2 bd7 19.f3 b6 20.c2 38.h2 g6??
A l l o f t h e s e m o ve s a r e in t e l li ge n t o n e s , [ White stands well but isn't winning right
certainly no worse than one would get for a away after 38...d5 39.xf7 g6 40.e3
s i g h t e d g a m e ! I t ' s a m a zi n g h o w we a r e e1! 41.d4! 8xe5 42.f2 1e2 43.f8+
beginning to take this high standard of play h7 44.h4+ ]
for granted in Blindfold games. f8 21.e5!? 39.g5 c2+ 40.g2
[ 21.fe1 and 22 Rad1 is more patient. ] 1-0
21...g6 22.d3
[ 22.c5 c7 23.c4 d5 24.fe1
gives W hite space, and a normal 609 B04
advantage ] Karjakin,Sergey 2694
22...h5! Black's intention is to stop g4, but also Karttunen,Mika 2427
to prepare ...h4 and contest the f4 square. 23rd ECC Men (1) 03.10.2007
23.ad1 c7 24.f4! d6 25.e5 [John Watson]
[ or 25.d2 Black is still short of space ]
25...e7! Headed for f5. 26.c5 Alekhine's players are very drawn to these
[ in a normal game, you might consider solid positions without much space which
26.xf7!? xf7 27.c5 ] challenge White to make progress. But what a
26...xe5 27.fxe5 fd5 Black has a silly t h in g a ga in st a n a ggre ssive s p a c e -
beautiful outpost on d5 and White's bishop on grabber like Karjakin. W hite never lets go.
b2 is bad, but W hite is ahead in space and 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 c6
can improve his pieces pretty much at leisure. I've never liked this variation, which takes the
Krajakin still has the better of it. 28.e2?! dynamism out of 1...Nf6. 5.e2!?
[ 28.d3 f5 29.c1! gets White's last bad [ White doesn't take the opportunity for 5.c4
piece into play and trains it against the c7 6.exd6 exd6 7.d3 . He's happy to
kingside. ] transpose into normal lines. ]
28...f5 5...c7!?
[ In view of what follows, probably more [ 5...dxe5 6.xe5 g6 is a decent option,
accurate is 28...h4 29.g4 g6 ] and 5...Bg4 brings us back to normal Flohr
29.d3 h4! 30.gxh4 b6?! Va riat io n ch an n e ls, if yo u ca n t o le ra t e
[ Better but also difficult for Black is those. ]
30...xh4 31.e4 followed by moves such 6.0-0 dxe5 7.xe5 g6 8.c4!?
as Rg3 and Bc1 ] [ 8.c4 deserves a look in view of e6
31.e4!? 9.xe6 xe6 10.f3! f6 11.b3 ]
[ W h i t e f o r e g o e s 31.cxb6! with an easy 8...g7 9.f4 Space. 0-0 10.c3 d7
advantage, for example, xb6 32.e4 11.e3 xe5 12.fxe5 c5 Too late. 13.d5!
de7 33.f2 followed by h5 and working xe5 14.xc5 a6 15.d4 Ouch! Black will
on the g-file. ] be squeezed to death, if his kingside doesn't
31...bxc5 32.dxc5 e7 fall first. c7 16.xe5 xe5 17.d2 d7
[ 32...de7 ] 18.ae1 ae8
33.xf5! exf5 34.xf5 xh4 35.c1!? [ 18...d6 ]
Right idea, wrong timing. h7 19.h1 b6? 20.g4 c7 21.d6! exd6
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
33...b7 34.d5! cxd5 35.c6! xc6 36.xe7 importance. d7 15.f4 xe5 16.xe5
[ Or 36.xb4 b5 37.a4+- ] xe5 17.xe5 and White is clearly better. ]
36...xe7 37.xc6+ b8 38.xd5 e1+ 13.c3 cxd4 14.xd4 e6 15.e3 xd4
[ If 38...hg7 39.d6+ a7 40.xb4 ] 16.xd4! e6
39.g2 he7 40.g8+ b7 41.xg4 a5 [ The endgame after 16...xd4 17.xd4
It's remarkable how long the game continues d8 18.b5 e6 19.c7 e8 20.xe6
after this, but of course, Black has no chance. fxe6 21.xg7 xg7 is very bad for black. ]
42.h4 1e2 43.f3+ a7 44.h5 xa2 17.h4! White has found an excellent square
45.h6 a3 46.f6 b7 47.d4+ a6 for his queen, and it's not easy for black to do
48.h7 xh7 49.d3+ b6 50.xh7 xb3 the same. a5
51.g6+ b5 52.e8+ c4 53.c6+ d4 [ 17...c7 18.ad1 /\\ Nd5+/- ( 18.ac1 )]
54.b6+ c3 55.c5+ d2 56.xa5 b1 18.c5! xb3 19.axb3 c7 20.b4
57.g4 c2 58.c5+ d2 59.d4+ c2 N o w b l a c k ' s q u e e n s i d e i s i n d a n g e r . a6
60.c4+ d2 61.g5 b3 62.g6 b2 63.d4+ Adams wriggles frantically, sacrificing a pawn
c2 64.e4+ We can say that 6 Bc4 puts a for counterplay, but the W orld Champion
serious question to Black and that 9... Bb7 allows him no escape.
seems like the best chance in this difficult line. [ 20...fe8 21.b5 with a large advantage ]
1-0 21.f4 c6 22.xe7 d5 23.xd5 xd5
24.g4! It seemed Black had got good
counterchances, as White's queenside pawns
611 B04 had become vulnerable. But by this excellent
Kasparov,Garry 2795 move White takes control of d1for his Rook
Adams,Michael 2660 and re-coordinates his pieces. ae8
Linares 1997 [ 24...xb2 25.d1 c6 26.dd7 ]
[Alexander Volzhin] 25.d7 xd7 26.xd7 xb2 27.ad1 e4
28.d6 c8 29.xb7 The rest is easy. c3
1.e4 f6 I have always considered Michael 30.b1 c4
Adams to be a player with a somewhat Karpov [ 30...e2 31.b6+- winning ]
- l ik e s t r a t e g i c s t yl e . B u t s o m e t i m e s h e 31.c1! xb4 32.c6 d4 33.c7
chooses very sharp openings. Maybe he was A very impressive performance from the World
afraid of Kasparov's preparation against his Title holder.
usual 1... e5 and decided to surprise the 1-0
W orld Champion. It's not easy to do , as
Kasparov always seems to be well prepared!
2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5 5.xe5 g6 612 B04
6.c4 c6 7.0-0 g7 8.e1 0-0 9.b3 d7 Kasparov,Garry
Adams deviates from the previous game. Palatnik,Semon
U n f o r t u n a t e l y t h i s s t o p s u s s e e i n g t h e Duagavpils 1978
improvement Kasparov had prepared against [Alexander Volzhin]
9... Be6.The text is an attempt to relieve
black's slight cramp by exchanging pieces. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g6
10.f3! White, who has a space advantage, 5.c4 b6 6.b3 a5 7.a4 g7 8.g5 e6
should avoid any exchanges. 7f6 11.c4 9.f4
c7 12.h3! Otherwise black starts [ 9.f3 is another possibility in this position. ]
pressurising the d4-square (Bg4, Ne6). Now 9...dxe5 10.fxe5 c5 11.0-0 0-0 12.c3
the bishop on c8 lacks good squares. c5 c6?! Black doesn't want to give White's
[ Another possibility was 12...b5 fighting for knight the c3-square after the exchange on
t h e d 5 s q u a r e . 13.e5 b7 14.c5! d4.
A typical move: The bishop on b7 is very [ In recent games Black has solved his
bad now, and control of the d5-square and o p e n i n g p r o b l e m s b y p l a y i n g 12...cxd4!
t h e we a k n e s s o f t h e d 4 - p a wn i s o f n o 13.cxd4 c6 14.f3 f6! One example:
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
15.exf6 xf6 16.e3 d5 17.f2 f4 25.xg5 f7 And now the point of the
18.c3 ( 18.bd2 deserves attention.) combination. 26.xf5!! xf5
18...h3+ 19.gxh3 xf3 20.xf3 xf3 [ After 26...exf5 White's e-pawn has a
21.d5 d4 22.xd4 xd4+ 23.g2 xf1 fantastic career: 27.d5 e8 28.e6 f6
24.xf1 xc3 25.dxe6 ( 25.bxc3 a6! 29.h7+ f8 30.e7+ ]
an d b la ck ha s n ot h in g t o wo rry a b ou t .) 27.xf5 exf5 28.d5 e8 29.h7+ f8
25...b4 26.e7+ g7 27.f8 ( 27.e8 30.xf5+ g8
xh3+ ) 27...xh3+ and a draw was agreed [ 30...f7 31.e6+ g8 32.g6 ]
in Shlepnev - Pushkin, corr, 1990. ] 31.h7+ f8 32.a3! c8 33.f3+ f6
13.e4! White is not forced to protect the d4 34.h3! g6 35.xf6+ xf6 36.e6+ e8
pawn at all! d7 37.xf6+ Really a champion's game
[ 13...cxd4 14.g5 d7 ( 14...c7 (although Kasparov wasn't World Champion at
15.cxd4 ) 15.f6+ xf6 16.xf6 dxc3 that time)!
17.c1 ] 1-0
14.e3!
[ 14.g5? is p r e m a t u r e , a s a f t e r b6
black has good counterplay, and a direct 613 B04
attac k do esn't ach ieve its goal: 15.f6+ Kasparov,Garry 2838
h8 16.f4 cxd4 17.h4 xf6 18.exf6 Short,Nigel D 2682
dxc3+ 19.h1 cxb2 20.a2 c5 vs. ROW Moscow RUS (6) 10.09.2002
and W hite has little to show for the [Glenn Flear]
sacrificed pawns. ]
14...e7 15.g5! Just in time! What's the 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6
difference, you may ask. Now Black has no [ T h e e v e n e a r l i e r 3...c6!? is a bit
pressure on the d4-square,so White takes the provocative even for most Alekhine players!
f6 square under his control, and the pin on Despite Black's intentions to create new
the diagonal d8-h4 is also very unpleasant for problems and obtain an interesting game,
Black. So the weakening of Black's kingside after 4.c4 c7 5.c3 d6 6.exd6 exd6
(h6, g5) is forced. cxd4 7.e3 d5 8.f3 e7 9.b3 0-0 10.cxd5
[ As the immediate 15...h6 16.h4 g5 xd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 cxd5
fails to 17.xg5 hxg5 18.h5 13.d3 (in Sommerbauer-Zo.Varga, Poynter
with a winning attack, the text is forced. ] Memorial 2002) White had a nominal edge
16.cxd4 h6 17.h4 g5 18.f2 in a dull position. ]
[ Now 18.xg5 hxg5 19.h5 fails to xe5 ] 4.f3 dxe5 5.xe5 c6 This early ... c6
18...g6 19.bc3 e7 Now Black intends move however requires some thought. There
f7-f5. 20.c2! Preventing Black's idea. b6 are some similarities with the Caro-Kann and
[ 20...f5 21.exf6 xf6 22.xg5 ] the Scandinavian, but here an early c2-c4
21.e3! White keeps his rook on the f-file and advance gains a tempo and space. 6.e2
prepares a sacrifice on g5 a6 22.f2 h8 [ 6.c4 c7 7.c3 7 this transposes from 4...
23.xg5! Thank you, Garry! This unexpected c6 5 c4 Nc 6 Nc3 dxe5 7 Nxe5 d7 8.f3
sacrifice created a masterpiece for all of us! looks more convincing than Kasparov's
Of course he had some easier ways to win. attempt White retains his space advantage
[ Probably Karpov would prefer 23.h4 gxh4 and Black doesn't find it easy to generate
24.g4 f5 ( 24...g6 25.h5 ) 25.exf6 counterplay. g6 9.g5 ( alternatively 9.e2
xf6 26.xf6+ xf6 27.xf6 xf6 28.e4 g7 10.0-0 0-0 11.e3 ) 9...g7 10.d2
d8 29.h7+ f8 30.b5! also with a 0-0 11.h3 f6 12.h6 e5 13.xg7 xg7
decisive attack but without sacrifices. ] 14.0-0-0 exd4 15.xd4 c5 16.e2
23...hxg5 24.h5 f5 7e6 17.e3 c7 18.xe6+ xe6
[ After 24...f6 25.xg5 fc8 26.h7+ f8 19.g4 and White had persistent pressure
27.ce4 all White's pieces participate in the Istratescu-Grunberg, Kavala 2002 ]
attack. ] 6...f5 7.g4!? Kasparov hopes to use his
626
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
advanced knight for this active thrust, but had no.1 (time trouble no doubt).
he really calculated the consequences of [ 43.e1 was necessary to cover g3 ]
B l a c k ' s n i n t h ? e6 8.c4?! Natural but 43...d7 44.d5 e7?
already rather committal. [ C h a s i n g t h e h - p a w n w i t h 44...g3!
[ 8.h3 is more solid but not exactly typical of must have been tempting but Short was
GK's style! ] p r o b a b l y p r e s s e d f o r t i m e 45.xf6!
8...b6 9.b3 f6! White now must shed a ( 45.xf6+?? gxf6 46.g7 e7 ) 45...xh5!
p a wn . K a s p a r o v o b t a i n s s o m e p l a y b u t 46.c3 e7! 47.xe7 ( 47.e5 xg6 )
Black's position is too solid for him to find a 47...xe7 48.e5 f6 with a clear (outside
way through. 10.d3 passed to boot!) extra pawn and a probable
[ 10.f3? xg4 ] win. ]
10...xd4 11.b2 d8 12.c3 a6 45.xe7 xe7 46.e1 d7 47.a4 b6
13.d2 c7 14.0-0-0 0-0-0 With Black's 48.e3 c6 49.d3 a6 50.e3 b5
king out of the centre it's not easy for White to 51.d3 bxa4 52.bxa4 b6 53.c2 d6
build any attacking chances. 15.e3 f7 54.d3 c8 55.c3 e7 56.e3
16.f4! White must limit Black's opportunity for W e're not the only ones who mess up our
expansion and hamper his opponent's wish to white's and spend the whole game playing to
develop his kingside. b8 17.h4 e6 18.e4 salvage a draw It even happens to the big
d7 guys (occasionally)!
[ 18...d5! 19.f3 ( 19.cxd5 cxd5+ ½-½
20.b1 dxe4 21.xe4 g6 22.f5 exf5
23.gxf5 f7 also leaves White "short" of
c o m p e n s a t i o n) 19...db4 would easy 614 B04
B la c k ' s t a s k , h e wo u ld t h e n b e c le a rl y Kengis Variation
better. ] N,N
19.h5 h6 20.g5 Going forward in order to [Alexander Volzhin]
open up the long diagonal. Kasparov uses his
temporary lead in development to keep Black 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5
occupied. e7 5.xe5 g6 6.f3 This line indeed looks quite
[ 20...hxg5 21.fxg5 f5 22.ef2 gives White interesting and I don't know why it's played so
an extra tool a potential outside passed rarely. Let's analyse it. e6 7.c4 b4
pawn. ] The only move.
21.g6 e8 22.b1 b6 23.d4 c5 24.b2 [ 7...b6? is bad in view of 8.d5! ( 8.xb7
a8 25.g3 db8! Short lacks xd4 is not dangerous for Black as the
manoeuvring space, but is gradually getting Rook on a8 is protected now.) 8...f5
o rg a n i ze d . 26.he1 d7 27.f5!? exf5 9.xf7! ( The immediate 9.g4! is not bad
Releasing the pressure by simplifying, but the either: g7 10.xf7 xg4 11.xg4 xf7
extra pa wn is de va lue d af te r it b ecom e s 12.e6+ with a clear edge.) 9...xf7 10.g4
doubled. 28.xe7 hg8 29.f3 c6 and White wins the piece back and has an
30.xc6 xc6 31.e6! Kasparov decides undisputable advantage. ]
that his best chances lies in an ending. 8.xb7 xd4
[ The alternative 31.e2? ge8 32.f2 [ 8...c2+?! is worth considering as well
xe1 33.xe1 f3 is horrible. ] (although it looks too risky). It leads to a
31...xe6 32.xe6 c6 33.f2 c7 very sharp position after 9.d1 xa1
34.ee1 b8 35.c3 c8 36.c2 ge8 10.xa8 g7 11.d2 0-0 Just one line
37.xd8+ xd8 38.xe8+ xe8 (certainly not obligatory): 12.xa7 xe5
One factor in Black's inability to make 13.dxe5 c6 14.c5 d4 15.d3 g4+
significant progress is that his king cannot 16.f3 xf3 17.gxf3 xf3+ 18.xf3 xd3+
invade into the white camp. 39.d1 d7 19.d2 c2 and Black's attack is very
40.e3 e6 41.d3 d6 42.d5 e4 strong. ]
43.c7+? A surprising lapse from the World's 9.xa8 c2+ 10.e2 xe5+ 11.d1
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
d4+ 12.d2 The few previous moves were will make the black kingside shaky. And finally,
forced but now White has a choice: the advance e5-e6 has deprived Black of the
[ 12.xc2? i s t h e wo r s t : f5+ 13.b3 pawn move d6xe5 to gain space for his pieces
b6+ 14.c3 g7+ 15.d2 xb2 (his other pawn break, with c7-c5, has been
and Black is winning ] obstructed by his own Nc6 move. His pieces
[ 12.d2 xa1 ( 12...xb2? is bad in view are theref ore somewhat entombed in the
of 13.c3 and W hite wins: g4+ 14.f3 c e n t r e b e h i n d t h e i r p a w n f r o n t . 7.e3!?
e3+ 15.e1 c2+ 16.f2 ) 13.xb8+ White avoids developing his knight to c3. The
d7 A very unusual position with both kings line played in the game should be compared
unsafe has arisen. I think White should take with the sequence
a d r a w b y p e r p e t u a l : 14.b5+ c8 [ 7.c3 g6 8.h4 g7 9.e3 0-0 10.h5 e5
15.e8+ b7 16.b5+ c8 ] 11.d5 d4 12.xd4 exd4 13.xd4 xd4
12...xa1 13.xb8+ d7 14.b5+ 14.xd4 e5 15.dxe6 f6 and Black held a
Again it's not clear if W hite has anything draw in the game Kobalia-Narciso Dublan as
better than perpetual. given in the archives. Gawain Jones has put
[ After 14.e2 h6 Black's chances are by a lot of analysis into that game and it should
no means bad. ] be e xa m in e d in re la t io n t o t h e p re s e n t
14...d8!? game. ]
[ 14...c8 15.e8+ b7 16.e2 7...g6 Black has to develop his kingside, even
( 16.c8+ ) 16...c6 17.f3 d6 th o ugh t h e g6 p oin t b eco me s a ho o k f o r
and White's Queen is trapped! I can't see White's attack. 8.h4 g7 9.h5 e5 10.d5
the antidote against 18...Bg7. ] d4 A new attempt to solve Black's problems.
15.b8+ d7 16.b5+ It seems this line is a Perhaps it was inspired by 11....Nd4 in the
sufficient defence for Black although I Kobalia game given at move seven above. But
suspect either side may improve here. All there is an important difference in the
these lines need practical tests. positions, as we shall see.
[ Gawain discussed 10...e4 in the archive
game mentioned at move seven when he
615 B04 thinks 11.g5 is the best response for
Khalifman,A 2617 White. Gawain gives
Nosenko,A 2492 A) We should take a quick look at the very
18th Voronezh Master Open 2014 (7.3) risky lo okin g 11...xb2 12.d2 xa1
[Neil McDonald] 13.xa1 e5 so far this is Lau, R (2465)-
Fleck, J (2390)/Germany 1986 and now
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 c6 14.hxg6! looks very strong for White: f5
A bold move and quite in the spirit of the ( Or 14...xg6 15.g7! d7 16.xh7
Alekhine Def ence: a second black knight threatening mate on f6 looks winning for
entices the white pawns to advance to their White. ) 15.gxh7 bd7 16.dxe4
destruction. 5.c4 b6 6.e6!? Well, a white and W hite has a huge initiative as f6
pawn has certainly advanced to its destruction, can be met by 17.c5! dxc5 -or else the
but it's not clear that Black should rejoice. knight invades on e6- 18.xe5 etc.;
This is the sharpest response. Instead B) 11...e5 12.c3 f5 13.h6 f6
[ 6.exd6 is of course quite reasonable. ] 14.gxe4 0-0 15.xf6+ exf6 as played
6...fxe6 What has White gained for his pawn? in Sutovsky-Nguyen, Moscow 2007, and
Firstly, Black's light squared bishop is shut in, now he thinks 16.b3 is a simple way for
so there won't be a Bf5 or (the very annoying) White to keep an edge. ]
Bg4 move for at least a while. Secondly, the 11.xd4 exd4 12.xd4 e5 Because White
displacement of the f7 pawn to e6 means that h a s g a i n e d a m o v e f o r h i s i n i t i a t i v e b y
when Black decide to develop his other bishop o m i t t i n g N c 3 , B l a c k h a s n ' t y e t c a s t l e d .
wi t h g 7 - g 6 a n d B g 7 , t h e g - p a wn wi l l b e Therefore Black doesn't have time to play in
vulnerable to a quick h4-h5 pawn ram. This the style of the Kobalia game with a bishop
628
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
exchange on d4 followed by e7-e5. Thus he [ Black could have eased the pressure with
merely destroys his position if he plays 22...f6 challenging the strong white knight,
[ 12...xd4 13.xd4 0-0 ( or likewise and if 23.g3 h6 to stop his own knight
13...e5 14.dxe6 0-0 15.hxg6 ) 14.hxg6 being driven back by 24.g5. ]
Therefore Nosenko has to make do with 23.g5! Now 23... Nf 6 is p revented . f8
p la yin g e 7 -e 5 wit h o u t f irst e xch a n gin g 24.g4! and here the exchange of light
bishops on d4. ] squared bishops means that White's knight
13.e3! Khalifman avoids dissolving the w i l l n e v e r b e d i s t u r b e d b y . . . B f 5 . g6
centre as he sees he can maintain long term 25.xc8 xc8 26.hh1 f8 27.a5 a6 28.f3
pressure. After f7 29.b1 c5 Preventing the pawn break
[ 13.dxe6 e7 Black has good chances to 30.c5, which looked very threatening. But now
equalise despite his fractured kingside as Black has a weak pawn on d6 which is under
his pieces spring to life. For example 14.c3 the direct gaze of the white horse.
0-0 15.xg7 xg7 16.hxg6 hxg6 17.g4 [ Of course not 29...xf3 30.a7+ ]
f6! 18.0-0-0 xe6 etc. ] 30.df1 c7 31.b6! The exchange of
13...e7 14.c3 f5?! Here queens will facilitate an attack on the h7 and
[ 14...e4!? would activate the dark squared d6 pawns, as well as the 'tin opener' pawn
bishop. It looks the best try for counterplay, thrust b2-b4. e7 32.xc7+ xc7 33.h3
though White maintains an edge whichever cf8 34.fh1 f7 35.c2 Khalifman
side Black castles. For example 15.e2 f5 increases his advantage step by step. His
16.a4 ( Or 16.b3 0-0-0 17.a4 b8 king goes to e2 to defend f3 and so free his
18.a5 ) 16...a5 17.b3 0-0 18.hxg6 hxg6 rooks for the final onslaught. f8 36.d3
19.0-0-0 In either case White has the g8 37.e2 gg7 38.b4! White gets rid of
initiative but there is a big fight ahead. In t h e c 5 p a wn so t h a t h e c a n r a m B l a c k ' s
the game Nosenko loses rather tamely, defences with c4-c5 once he has tied down
without ever setting White any problems. ] t h e b l a c k p i e c e s o n t h e k i n g s i d e . cxb4
15.g4 Khalifman intends to squeeze the 39.b1 g6 40.xb4 f4+ 41.xf4 xf4
dynamism from Black's set up. First of all he 42.h1 c8 43.bb1 f8 44.h5 e7
secures the outpost square on e4 for his 45.h6 b8 46.bh1 ff7 47.1h5 c8
knight. d7 16.e4 f8 An awkward move, Dropping d6, but it was already hopeless as
but after after
[ 16...0-0-0 White has the pleasant choice [ 47...c7 White has the thematic
between winning the exchange with 17.g5 breakthrough with 48.c5 when if dxc5
or continuing his attack with ( 17.a4 )] 49.d6+ ]
17.e2 gxh5 18.xh5 0-0-0 19.a4! 48.xd6! xd6 49.xd6+ d7 50.xf7
White wants a stranglehold on both sides of xf7 51.c5 d8 and Black gave up as he
the board. b8 20.b3 c8 21.0-0-0 d7 has no answer to W hite's pawn centre. A
22.h4 positional masterpiece by Khalifman.
[ Instead 22.dh1 looks stronger as Black 1-0
has no good way to defend the h7 pawn. For
example h6 ( Black should prefer to fight on
a pawn down after 22...f6 23.xf6 xf6 616 B04
24.xh7 ) 23.g5! hxg5 24.xh8 xh8 Kobalia,Mihail 2637
25.xg5 and Black has no good way to Narciso Dublan,Marc 2530
b l o c k t h e a t t a c k o n h i s r o o k e . g . f6 11th EICC Men (3) 08.03.2010
( H e a l s o l o s e s m a t e r i a l a f t e r 25...f6 [Gawain Jones]
26.xf6 xf6 27.f3 or; 25...e8 26.h5 )
26.xh8 xh8 27.xf6 h1+ 28.d1 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 c6
and Black will be t wo pieces f or a roo k A rare line but nevertheless important. Black
down. ] offers to transpose back into an Exchange
22...g8 Variation but with the knights already
629
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
committed on f3 and c6. 5.c4 b6 6.e6!? accurate to keep rooks on the board.)
This must be critical for the theoretical 12...hxg6 13.xh8+ xh8 14.c3
standing of 4...Nc6. John usefully provided was running well for Black until he
some Kaissiber analysis augmented by his erred with f5? ( 14...c5! and Black
own comments last year. I'll try to augment would have been doing well.) 15.xf5
those notes with thoughts of my own and gxf5 16.h5+ f7 Lagopatis, N-
recent games. Sigouros, I Agios Kirykos 2010, when
[ 6.exd6 has been played slightly more often t h e s i m p l e 17.xf5 would have left
a s W h it e , i f h e i s n o t re a d y, h a s b e e n White with a clear advantage.;
unwilling to go into the chaos of the mainline B2b) 11.g5 e5 12.c3 f5
and simply transposes into the alternate 13.h6!? f6 14.gxe4 0-0 15.xf6+
line. ] exf6 and here rather than the erratic
6...fxe6 7.c3 Unfortunately I do not have 16.Rh4!?, 16.b3 would have left White
access to the Kaissiber magazine but from with the u pper hand . Su tovsk y, E -
John's notes I presume this was the mainline. Nguyen, N Moscow 2007. ]
[ 7.e3 however, has also been mentioned 7...g6
and apparently takes up 8 pages in issue [ Immediately sacrificing the pawn back with
19! A couple of recent games proceeded: 7...e5 doesn't allow Black equality. 8.d5
A) 7...e5 has been played as often in the d4 9.xd4 exd4 10.xd4 f5?! ( Surely
past although I think White can hope for a 10...e5 was necessary, although this is
pull. 8.d5 d4 9.xd4 exd4 10.xd4 probably a better version of the lines we
e5 11.d2 ( 11.dxe6 xe6 12.c3 f6 have already examined in 7.Be3 for White.)
13.xf6 gxf6 left White with a small 11.e2 d7 12.h5+ g6 13.xg6+ hxg6
positional edge. Groenegress, W - 14.0-0 0-0-0 15.e1 f5 16.e6 c5
Horstmann, M Germany 1985.) 11...f5 17.e4 xe4 18.xe4 d7 19.g5
12.c3 e7 13.b3 ( The immediate was a recent advert for 6.e6.1-0 De Firmian,
13.d3 looks a little better for White as N-Johnson, E Parsipanny 2009 ]
Black lacks play.) 13...d7 14.d3 xd3 [ 7...d5 looks extremely ugly, e5 is a big hole
15.xd3 g5 and Black was close to in Black's camp while the e6 pawn is now
equality. Lau, R-Schroll, G Vienna 1998; backward. 8.c5 d7 When
B) 7...g6 8.h4 Of course this is always A) Instead 9.d3 was attempted in a
the way of dealing with ...g6. recent game. e5 10.g5 ( 10.xd5 f6
B1) 8...e5 9.d5 b4 ( 9...e4!? 11.xf6+ exf6 12.dxe5 g4 13.0-0
s h o u ld b e e xa m in e d a lt h o u g h a f t e r xe5 14.e1 would favour W hite.)
10.g5 e5 11.e2 I have a feeling 10...f6 11.xh7 e4 12.xf6+ exf6
W hite should have a way to keep the Giraldo, L-Monsalve, L Medellin 2009.;
advantage.) 10.a3 a6 11.g5 g7 B) 9.b5 looks logical to me. g6 10.xc6
Dos Santos, R-Garbarino, R Buenos bxc6 11.0-0 g7 12.g5 f6 13.e1
Aires 2010 was a recent example of this and W hite has total control of the
line when 12.a4! looked particularly position. ]
strong, for example: h6 ( 12...f6 13.a5 8.h4 g7 9.e3 Keeping control of the d4
xg5 14.hxg5 d7 15.d3 f7 square.
16.c3 gives White great play for the [ White can alternatively continue his attack
pawn. ) 13.e6 xe6 14.dxe6 0-0 with 9.h5 although currently Black is
15.a5 c8 16.c3 and Black's kingside standing satisfactorily. e5 10.d5 d4
looks too exposed.; 11.hxg6 hxg6 12.xh8+ xh8 13.d3
B2) 8...g7 9.h5 e5 10.d5 e4 ( 13.xd4 was examined by John Watson
B2a) 11.d4 was tried the most who came to the conclusion that Black is
recent time this position was reached doing ok. ) 13...c6 14.e3!? A new try.
bu t I p re f e r S ut o vsky's m o ve . e5 ( 14.h4 d7!? 15.xg6 c7 unclear is
12.hxg6 ( 12.d2 looks more given in the archives.; While 14.xg6+ d7
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
is nothing for Black to fear according to rather important to the future of the line for
Watson. ) 14...d7!? 15.xd4 exd4 Black.
16.xd4 c7 17.e2 c5 18.xh8 xh8 [ He investigated 15.e3 when the critical
19.d2 h4 20.b3 d7 and Black's king line appears to be g5 16.h6 g4 17.e2
run had given him the better chances and he f5 18.h5 g6 19.g5 f4 20.xg6+
went on to defeat his high rated opponent. hxg6 21.g3 d4 22.b5 f6 23.xd4
Belov, V-Sek, K Ulan Ude 2009. ] exd4 24.e4 f8 25.0-0-0 g5+ 26.b1
9...0-0 f5 A mixture of analysis by John and Raj
[ 9...e5 m a y t r a n s p o s e . 10.d5 d4 Tischbierek in which Black seems to be
( 10...b4 11.a3 a6 Kochetkova, J- standing satisfactorily but there's a lot of
Slacky, S Banska Stiavnica 2010 and here I potential for improvements for both sides. ]
like the look of 12.g5! when White has 15...f6 16.0-0-0
more than enough compensation.; 10...a5 [ E x c h a n g i n g i m m e d i a t e l y w i t h 16.xf6
wa s s u gge s t e d b y W a t so n b u t h a s n o t has also been tried and looks a little
received any practical tries.) 11.xd4 exd4 u n p l e a s a n t f o r B l a c k . xf6 17.hxg6
12.xd4 xd4 ( 12...e5 13.dxe6 0-0 ( 17.b5 xe6 18.xc7 Motwani, P-
is Watson's suggestion although White looks B r y s o n , D S t A n d r e w s 1 9 8 5 w h e n c8
to have the better chances, for example: looks simplest 19.xe6 xe6+ 20.d2
14.h5 e7 15.xg7 xg7 16.hxg6 hxg6 xc4+ should be a draw.) 17...hxg6 18.e7
17.g4 e8 18.0-0-0 xe6 19.e4 ) ( 18.e4 f4 was already agreed drawn in
13.xd4 e5 Lau, R-Fleck, J Germany 1984.) 18...e6
A) White can also keep the position closed ( 18...e6+ 19.d2 xe7 20.d3 f5
with 14.e3 but Black survived following 21.h6 looks pleasant for White.) 19.c5!
0-0 15.h5 g5 16.h6 f4 ( 16...g4 dxc5 Petrik, T-Slacky, S Banska Stiavnica
would transpose to the critical line given 2010 when 20.b5! to force Black to give
below. ) 17.b3 ( 17.c5 is given in the up control of the d6 square. c6 21.0-0-0!
af o re m e nt io ne d an a lysis.) 17...f6 e8 22.e4 f7 ( 22...f4 23.d8+- )
18.e4 ( 18.e2! f5 19.g3 d4 23.d8 d7 24.d3 would have picked up
20.h5 would have picked up a pawn.) material. ]
18...g6 19.d3 f5 20.f3 g4 16...xe6 17.hxg6 hxg6 18.f3 The first new
1/2-1/2 Kovar, V-Leutwyler, M Pardubice move of the game.
2009.; [ 18.e4 is not so effective as the knight
B) 14.dxe6 0-0 and here White deviated belongs on b5. xd4 19.xd4 g7 20.d3
with h8 21.e1 ae8 didn't really get White
B1) 15.h5 f6 16.xf6 xf6 17.hxg6 a n yw h e r e . Z a w a d z k a , J - K a r h a n e k , P
hxg6 18.b5 ( 18.e7!? is looked at in Frydek Mistek 2004. ]
the note to 16.Qxf6.) 18...xe6 19.xc7 18...g7 19.b5 g8 20.b3 Seeing as this
af8 20.b3 Brenjo, S-Regez, M Ohrid allows Black equality
2009 is given by W atson when W hite [ White should have tried 20.xf6+ xf6
has a pleasant edge.; 21.e1 f7 22.h4 with a small edge
B2) 15.c5 A new try but this doesn't a lt h o u g h B la ck s h o u ld b e a b le t o h o l d
tro uble Bla ck. dxc5 16.xd8 xd8 without too many difficulties. ]
17.b5 d5 18.e7 Heinatz, T- 20...xd4 21.xd4 d5!?
Leutwyler, M Graechen 2009 when the [ 21...a6! is the simplest route to equality as
s i m p l e s t a p p e a r s t o b e xe7 22.xc7 ac8 23.xd6 f6 picks up the
when Black has nothing to worry about. ] knight, although matters aren't so clear as
10.h5 e5 11.d5 d4 12.xd4 exd4 White gets three pawns for the piece. ]
13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 e5 15.dxe6 22.cxd5 xd5 23.c4 c6 24.xd5 xd5
This is the first deviation from the analysis 25.c7 ac8 26.xd5 cxd5+ 27.d2
which John Watson put up on The endgame is better for White as he can
ChessPublishing last year. I think this is put pressure on d5 but was unable to convert
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the full point. I think White had better chances [ 11.xg4 f6 is feeble, of course. ]
for an advantage with 16.Qxf6 which looks 11...f6 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.a4 In principle
unpleasant to hold. c5 28.c1 this structure is acceptable for Black, but
[ 28.b4! b5 29.a4 b6 30.a5 d6 White's lead in development is a bit annoying.
31.dh4 was the best chance when White d7 14.a3 An excellent move, bringing the
definitely has the advantage. ] knight to the ideal c4 square: more
28...xc1 29.xc1 d8 30.d2 f6 stereotyped efforts lead nowhere, for example
31.d3 e5 32.g4 d6 33.g3 a6 [ 14.c3 e6 15.f4 e7 16.ac1 0-0= ]
34.a4 xa4 35.bxa4 b6 36.c3 g5 14...e6 15.c4
37.d3 d6 38.d4 e6 39.d3 e5 [ 15.e3 was another move against which it
40.e3 f5 41.d4 e6 42.f4 gxf4 is not simple to equalise: something like
43.gxf4 f5 44.xd5 xf4 45.c6 e5 xa3 16.xa3 d5 17.ac1 b8 18.c2
46.b7 d6 47.xa7 c7 48.a3 c8 b6 19.fc1 e7 20.a4 0-0 might be
49.a8 the best try, but Black remains under
½-½ pressure. ]
15...c5 The twin threats of Ne5 and Nb6 are
awkward for example
617 B04 [ 15...d8 16.e3 c5 17.a5 cxd4
Kosten,Anthony C 2528 18.e5 d5 19.a4+ d7 20.xd4 ]
Ferguson,Mark 2395 16.a6 cxd4?? A mystery: Mark surely can't
4NCL Nottingham ENG (9) 30.04.2005 have imagined this did anything other than
[John Cox] lose almost at once, so why he rejected
[ 16...c8 is beyond me. After that I don't
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5 see that W hite has anything immediately
5.xe5 c6 6.e2 f5 The modern way of decisive: 17.b5+ ( 17.d6+ xd6
handling the Miles variation, popularised by 18.xd6 cxd4 is fine for Black 19.d1 d7
German players and especially GM Thomas 20.b4 d8 is nothing for White.) 17...d7
Luther. 7.0-0 d7 8.g4N 7f6 repeats unless White wants to try 18.xd7+
[ Mark Ferguson told me after the game that xd7 19.e3 , which is slightly better for
he had considered the variation 8...e6 9.c4 him to be sure, but hardly fatal. ]
b4 10.e3 xb1 11.xb1 xa2 12.d2 17.b6 Maybe Black, most
b4 13.d5 and assessed it as 'scary' a fair uncharacteristically, had missed 17 ...Qc6 18
enough conclusion, for example after cxd5 Nxa8! Qxa6 19 Nc7+. axb6 18.xa8+ e7
14.cxd5 xd5 15.xd5 exd5 16.c3 19.b3 e8 20.a3+ f6 21.f3+ g6
prevents Black developing readily Fritz 22.g4+ f6 23.b2 A debacle, but to be
seems confident it can survive ( 16.f3 e7 fair it was Mark Ferguson's first time with the
17.xd5 0-0 18.xb7 b8= ) 16...g5 Alekhine (and last, he tells me), and as usual
17.f3 0-0-0 but I wouldn't be so sure. ] the problem in such circumstances is not
[ 8...e6 9.c4 5f6 10.e3 g6 knowing the existing theory but being able to
however, is the most natural way to play, re a ct a p p rop ria te ly whe n you r o pp o n e n t
and looks perfectly sound to me, for departs slightly from theory.
example 11.c3 ( 11.d5 c7 12.dxe6 1-0
fxe6 followed by a swift ...Bd6, ...00 and...
Rad8 gives Black very active play.) 11...d6
12.d5 c7 13.h4 h2+ 14.h1 e5
15.h5 0-0-0 is another try, with some
amusing complications (or an immediate
d r a w a f t e r 1 6 K g 1 B h 2 + ). I d o n 't t h i n k
Tony's no velt y is goin g to blo w Black's
opening away. ]
9.c4 xg4 10.xg4 xg4 11.cxd5
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defending his King. 19.h4 e8 [ 9...e6 was simpler, intending 10.h4 g6
[ He could flick 19...a3 in, but it will come to 11.xg6 hxg6 with a solid position for Black,
the same. Black's Rook gets trapped in mid- but nothing more. ]
board. 20.b4 d5 21.c4 d6 22.c5 d5 10.b3?!
23.e4 ] [ 10.d3 is a better way of preparing c2-c4.
20.e4! Lane is very direct, seeking to put After xd3 11.xd3 c7 12.c4
Black away before either of his knights get W hite highlights ...h7-h6 as a worthless
going. e7 21.e5 g7 Perhaps this is the move and executes the main positional idea
critical position. Wallace's move just loses. I of this variation. Possibly Ledger had his
give several defensive lines, but in all cases mind fixed on keeping the pieces on, but
White keeps the advantage: now Palliser starts to play very well and
[ 21...xg5 22.hxg5 f8 23.f4+- ] manages to exploit the position of the Bb3 to
[ 21...d5 Probably the best try. 22.ae1 ] gain equality. ]
[ 21...xe5 22.dxe5 xg5 23.hxg5 f8 10...e6 11.c4 b6 12.c3 e7 13.e2N
24.xa4 xh6 25.gxh6 d5 26.d1 ed8 [ Or 13.e1 0-0 14.a4 a5 15.f4 b4
27.ed4 ] 16.c5 ( 16.e2 ) 16...bd5 17.d2 c7
22.xe7 xh6 23.b4! d5 24.c4 xe5 18.xd5 xd5 19.xd5 xd2 20.xd2
25.dxe5+- a6 There's nothing left apart exd5 21.b4 e4 22.a3 axb4 23.xb4
from a few random attacking moves. Black is fe8 24.ae3 e6 25.d2 ae8 26.a5
finished. 26.d6 dc5 27.d4 f6 28.exf6 8e7 27.g3 f5= Slaby, J-Mirzoev, A/
e5 29.e1 exd4 30.xe8+ f7 31.e7+ Salou 2005 ]
xf6 32.g4 d3 33.g5+ White's attack hit 13...0-0 14.f4 a5! Exploiting clumsy position
very hard and all as a result of one inaccuracy of the Bb3. To prevent a5-a4 by a2-a4 means
: 11...Bd5. Instead 11...Nd7 would have led to to weaken the b4 square irreparably. White's
a typical Kengis position- White's a little better answer is simple and logical... 15.a3 e8
but Black has counterplay. [ 15...a4 16.a2 was definitely worth flicking
1-0 in. ]
16.fd1 a4 17.a2 bd7! Preparing ...Qa5.
18.b1 Admitting that the opponent has
620 B04 solved the problem of the light-squared bishop
Ledger,Andrew 2452 . xb1 19.axb1 a5 20.d3 White cannot
Palliser,Richard 2411 quite see how to proceed now that d4-d5 has
ch Scarborough ENG (10) 12.08.2004 been prevented.
[Andrew Martin] [ Perhaps 20.e5 was correct, after which
Notkin gives ed8 ( 20...a6?! 21.d3 )
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5 21.d3 xe5 22.dxe5 h7 ( 22...xd3
5.xe5 c6 6.c4 d7 I must admit that I 23.xd3 d8 24.c2 d7 25.xa4
am perplexed as to the popularity of the line xa4 26.xa4 ) 23.g3 h4 24.g4 g5
with 5...c6. Black toils to equalize. Here, with 25.xg5 xg5 26.e3 and White has
6...Nd7 Palliser hopes to get rid of W hite's attacking chances. ]
imposing Knight on e5. No such luck! 7.f3! 20...h5! Pinning the Nf3 21.e1 f8?!
Correct! With more space, White keeps the [ Simply 21...b5! would have been
pieces on. W e go into a Caro position with satisfactory, obtaining d5 as an outpost. ]
White at least a little better. 7f6 22.h2 a5?! Black drifts. 23.e5 ed8
[ If 7...g6 8.0-0 g7 9.e1 0-0 10.b3 24.f4 6d7 25.g4
an d B la c k h a s p ro b le m s wit h h is ligh t - [ 25.g4 f6 26.h4 8d7 27.xd7
squared bishop. ] xd7 28.xh6 seems very dangerous
[ Or 7...7b6 8.b3 g4 though the indeed. ]
evaluation doesn't change - Black is slightly [ Meanwhile 25.g3 is met by xe5
worse. 9.h3 h5 10.0-0 ] 26.xe5 g6 ]
8.h3 f5 9.0-0 h6 Possibly [ A f i n a l a l t e r n a t i v e 25.d5!?
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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do e s n 't s a ve B lack a s 12.xe8 xe8 13...b6 And again Sulskis follows the main
13.c3 will pick up the e5 knight for free line but it's time to look for deviations.
and leave White a pawn up. ] [ 13...b6 has also been tried, and on current
12.c3 a6 13.b4 The strong Russian GM evidence looks to be Black's best. White has
Boris Savchenko has tried this position twice a few different ways to continue but perhaps
recently as Black but neither opponent has A) 14.bxc5+;
gone for this critical thrust. B) and 14.b5 are also possible. A battle of
[ One tried 13.d3!? when Boris should our computers (Houdini as White vs Rybka
have reacted with with Black) continued a5
A) Instead the erratic GM went down after B1) Hiarcs Opening Book gives 15.0-0-0
13...g6 14.b4 g6 16.b2 h6 17.xe5+ xe5 18.d6
A1) In the New in Chess Yearbook 103 f8 when its line ends. We've continued
Peter Boel gives 14...cxb4 15.a4 b6 with 19.f4+ xf4 20.xe7+ xe7
( 15...fg4 16.c5+ c7 17.h3 ) 16.c5+ 21.dxe7 e8 22.g3 h6 23.g2 a7
bxc5 17.b2 d7 18.c4+ c7 24.he1+ f5 25.d8 ( or 25.h3+
19.xe5 b7 "with attack for the g5 26.xc8 xc8 which is apparently
pawn".; also a draw.) 25...axe7 26.xe8 xe8
A2) He also gives a crazy line after 27.h3+ g5 28.xe8 xe8 29.e4+
14...b6 15.bxc5+ bxc5 16.b1 h6! h5 30.xc8 and the endgame's just a
17.b7! '"Threatening 18.Qxf6! and 19. draw;
Ne4 mate". He concludes his line with B2) 15.d3 g6 16.e4+ xe4
d7 18.g3 f8 19.xh7! a5 17.xe4 h6 18.xe5+ xe5 19.d6
20.xh6 xc3+ 21.d2 a1+ 22.b1 e6 20.f3 xc4 21.c6 xd6
d4 23.0-0 f5 24.b6+ c7 25.a5! 22.d1 xd1+ 23.xd1 ad8 24.d7
"wit h grea t at ta ckin g ch an ce s st ill" . hf8 25.g3 d5 26.f4+ xf4 27.gxf4+
Very intriguing analysis and this looks xf4 28.c6 d4 29.a1 xh1
like another critical test of Black's 30.xh1 f6 and Black can hardly be
suspicious opening.; worse anyway.;
A3) 14...c7 15.bxc5+ The game C) 14.b1 is the most promising. cxb4
c o n t i n u e d : ( And here he recommends 15.xb4
15.0-0! " wi n n i n g b a c k t h e N e 5 " .) C1) Instead Black should probably try
15...xc5 16.a4+ d4 17.0-0-0 h6 15...e6 16.e2 b5 when his position
18.xh6 xd3+ 19.xd3+ xd3 feels suspect but there's nothing
20.d1+ e2 21.d6 d7 22.c3+ completely clear. After an in-depth look
xf2 23.e4+ xg2 24.d2+ f3 we prefer 17.dxe6 ( 17.xb5 axb5
25.f2+ xe4 26.xf6 e6 27.f4+ 18.xb5+ c5 19.e3+ b4 20.d2+
d3 28.f3+ d4 29.e3+ c5 and White's attack is only enough
1-0 Boruchovsky, A (2333)-Savchenko, for perpetual.; 17.b2!? d7 18.c5+
B (2580) Plovdiv 2012.; xc5 19.xd7 fxd7 20.dxe6 c4
B) 13...g5 14.g3 h6 as was seen in 21.exd7 xd7 is roughly level.) 17...e7
Nosov, A (2372)-Kutynec, V (2281 Alushta 18.e4+! ( 18.cxb5 xf7 19.exf7 e6
2008. ] 20.a4 a5 is roughly level.) 18...c6
[ His other opponent played the non-critical 19.cxb5+ axb5 20.xb5+ b6
13.0-0-0? when he didn't have enough after 21.xe7 xe7 22.b1 xe4 23.xe5
g6 White's problem is that Black threatens c5 24.e2+ a7 25.0-0 xe6
1 4 . . . B h 6 w i n n i n g t h e q u e e n . 14.xe5+ 26.fc1 and White has a dangerous
xe5 15.d6 h6+ 16.b1 e8 17.d5+ initiative despite queens being off the
xd5 18.xd5+ f6 19.d3 exd6 board. Black will probably have to give
20.xd6+ g7 21.d5 f8 22.xc5 e5 back material with a rook to b8 when
0-1 G oikh ma n, V (226 1)-S avch en ko , B White has good winning chances in the
(2630) St Petersburg 2011. ] ending.;
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
C2) 15...c5? This fails to a very pretty ca n n o t su rvive . xe4 22.xe4+ c5
finish. 16.b1! xf7 17.a4+ d4 23.d6! etc. ]
18.f3 and Black has no defence to Rd1 15.g3 f5? This loses instantly.
mate, e.g. f5 19.d1+ d3 20.xd3 [ 15...h5 looks like Black's last try but again
e5 21.f1+ d3+ 22.xd3 e4 A) 16.bxc5+ is also strong: xc5 17.g6
23.f1+ d2 24.xd2# ] d4 18.c2 h4 19.c5+ d7 20.d1
[ 13...cxb4 14.c5+! cannot be advised: f3+ 21.gxf3 xc5 22.e5 d8
xc5 15.a4+ d6 ( or 15...d4 and Black's survived to fight on for a few
16.e3+ e4 17.c5+ f5 18.g4+ more moves but of course White's doing
exg4 19.d3+ e5 20.f4+ d6 very well.;
21.xb7+ xb7 22.e6+ c7 23.b6+ B) But 16.g6?! doesn't look as clear
b8 24.xd8 ) 16.b2 b5 17.d3 xb4 17.xg5 fg4 18.g6+ d7
winning back the piece with the advantage. ] ( 18...c7!? ) 19.xe5 xe5 20.e6+
[ 13...c7 is Black's final try to hold onto the d8 21.xe5 g8 22.e3 g7 23.d2
c 5 s q u a r e b u t 14.a4 b6 ( 14...cxb4 h4 24.f3 e5 25.e4 xd2+ 26.xd2
15.c5+ d7 16.e6+ e8 17.xe5 f5 and Black's equalised.;
xe5+ 18.xe5 xd5 19.c4 C) 16.d3 is probably just winning: h4
is very pleasant even if Black has 17.xe5+ xe5 18.0-0 d6 ( 18...d8
succeeded in exchanging queens.) 15.0-0-0 19.fe1+ d6 20.bxc5+ xc5 21.a4+
fg4 16.e1 and the pressure on Black's d6 22.c5+ c7 23.d6+ b8 24.b6
position is unbearable. ] and White regains his material with a huge
14.c1! This looks like it refutes Black's setup attack. ) 19.bxc5+ xc5 20.a4 d4
[ 14.0-0-0 was looked at by Alexander 21.c5+ c7 22.d6+ b8 23.dxe7 xe7
Volzhin in the early days of ChessPublishing 24.xe7 e8 25.d6+ xd6 26.cxd6
in Mysliwiec, E-Krzyzanowski, A corr 1995 ] and W hite's got an extra pawn and
[ while he also looked at 14.bxc5+ ] ongoing initiative in the endgame. ]
14...g5 [ 15...c7 16.d1 b8 17.a4 b6 18.d3
[ Black can try grabbing the pawn with g4 19.0-0 e8 20.xe8 xe8 21.de1
14...xb4 b u t f o l l o w i n g 15.d3 fd7 22.xb6+- and White regains the
Black doesn't have a good defence to the invested material with interest. ]
s i m p l e p l a n o f c a s t l i n g a n d R f e 1 . g5 [ 15...xb4 16.d3 transposes to 14...
( 15...b2 16.0-0 d2 17.e4+ xe4 Qxb4 ]
18.xe4+- is also hopeless.) 16.g3 h5 16.d3 Sulskis throws in the towel. He can't
17.0-0 h4 18.xe5+ xe5 19.f4+ gxf4 take the bishop as 17.Qe6+ wins everything. If
20.ce1+ d6 Predke, A (2436)-Danilenko, he drops back the bishop then again W hite
D (2307) Batumi 2010 when 21.e4+ xe4 simply castles and plays his rook to the e file,
22.xf4+ d7 23.xe4 and White's attack winning easily. This line looks extremely risky
is far too strong. The threat is 24.Rxf8 and for Black. Play it at your peril!
25.Qxe7 ] 1-0
[ 14...g6 also looks too slow 15.e2 c7
Prie, E (2470)-Nataf, I (2410) Andorra 1997
when 16.d1! is winning: h6 ( 16...f5 623 B04
17.xe5+ xe5 18.d6!+- is a very common Miles,Anthony J
theme. ) 17.e4+ xe4 18.xe5+ xe5 Pons,S
19.d6+- ] Andorra 1996
[ Whilst it's hard to believe Black can get [Nigel Davies]
away with 14...c7 True White can no
longer castle long but something like 15.d3 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5
g4 16.xe5+ xe5 17.h3 d7 18.0-0 5.xe5 g6 6.d2 For reasons known best to
must be winning, i.e. cxb4 19.fe1+ d4 himself, Miles awarded this move two
20.e4 a5 21.cd1 and Black's king excla m a tio n m a rks in I nf o rm a t or 6 7 a n d
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
splattered more exclamation marks over the 36.b4 cxb4 37.c5 b3 38.c6+ d6 39.c7
rest of the game. I suspect he was being ironic, b2 40.c8 b1+ 41.a7 b5 42.xa6+
especially in view of the fact that he later xa6+ 43.xa6 c6 44.f3 g5 45.a7
chanced sides. c7 46.a6 c6 47.a7 c7
[ A s u p p o s e d ly qu i e t a lt e rn a t ive i s 6.g3 ½-½
after which Plaskett - Hillarp, St. Hellier
1999 continued d7!? ( the 'rote' move is
6...g7 ) 7.f3 ( 7.g2 xe5 8.dxe5 c6 624 B04
9.0-0 g7 10.e2 e6 11.b3 c8 Motwani,Paul
12.b2 h3 was equal in Wolff - de Firmian, Pedersen,D
New York 1996.) 7...g7 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 1980 Vordingborg 1980
c5 10.e1 cxd4 11.xd4 e5 12.a3 [Paul Motwani]
g4 13.f3 e6 14.c4 xf3 15.xf3 b4
16.xb7 bd3 with the remaining moves 2) W23: "c for charge!" P.Motwani-D.Pedersen,
being unfit for young eyes. Black won, but V o rd in gb o rg, De n m a rk 1 9 8 0 . A le k h in e 's
I'm not going to venture any kind of Defence, Code B04. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5
assessment. ] 3.d4 d6 4.f3 c6
6...g7 [ 4...g6 happened in game W19. ]
[ 6...d7 7.xd7 xd7!? 8.f3 g7 5.c4 This case of "c for charge!" drives back
9.e2 d6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1 c5 12.dxc5 Black's knight in the centre. b6 6.exd6
xc5 13.c4 b4 14.a3 c6 15.b4 [ Another idea is 6.e6!? intending xe6??
wa s a b i t b e t t e r f o r W h i t e i n R i c a r d i - ( or 6...fxe6 7.e3 with compensation for
Speelman, FIDE W orld Ch., Las Vegas White's sacrificed pawn, because Black has
1999 ] some development problems. ) 7.d5 ]
7.df3 6...cxd6 7.e2 g6?!
[ 7.c4 0-0 8.df3 c6 9.0-0 d7 [ 7...g4 looks better. ]
transposes into Nijboer - Vaganian ] 8.d5! e5 9.xe5 dxe5 10.c3 g7
7...0-0 8.c4 b6 9.e2 8d7 10.f4 xe5 11.0-0 0-0 12.e3 White enjoys superior
[ When Miles got Black in this position development and pawn structure, plus more
(Kofidis Kofidis - Miles, Agios Nikolaos 1997) s p a c e t o o . a6? Weakening the position of
h e p r e f e r r e d 10...c5 and got slightly the Black's knight. 13.b3 d7 14.c5 a5?
better of it after 11.d5 xe5 12.xe5 xe5 The losing move! 15.c6! bxc6 16.dxc6 c5
13.xe5 d6 14.f3 e6 etc. From this we [ If 16...f6 then 17.b6 costs Black his
can assume that 6 Nd2 doesn't refute the queen. ]
Alekhine after all. ] 17.d5 Black resigned, faced with the
11.xe5 d7 12.d2 xe5 13.xe5 xe5 imminent loss of his pinned knight.
14.dxe5 xd2+ 15.xd2 e6 16.c3 1-0
White's active king and control of terrain gives
him a clear edge. f6 17.f3 c6 18.he1
f7 19.a4 ad8 20.a5 a6 21.ad1 xd1 625 B04
22.xd1 d8 23.f3 f5 24.b4 d3 Motwani,Paul
25.c5 b3 26.e2 Tan,K
[ After this Black manages to draw. Eksakt Weekender, Holl 2000
According to Miles he should have f irst [Paul Motwani]
played 26.exf6 after which exf6 ( 26...xb2
27.xe7+ xf6 28.xh7 also wins for Deadly Dynamic Duo... W19: "Tales, Tilburg,
White ) 27.e2 followed by Rd2 and Bd1 will a n d T u rke y! " P . M o t wa n i -K . T a n , T ilb u r g
win. ] Eksakt Weekend Tournament, Holland 2000.
26...fxe5 27.d2 e6 28.e2 h5 29.h3 h4 Alekhin e's De f ence, Code B04. T urkey's
30.d1 d3 31.xd3 xd3 32.g4+ f5 coming early this year for all the players and
33.b6 xg4 34.hxg4 d7 35.xb7 c5! officials who are going to the W orld Chess
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further in part 'c' of the notes to Black's 22.d1 a1+ 23.e2 Black resigned in view
14th move below. ) 16.g6+ ] of 23...f5 24 Bf6+ Kf8 25 Qh8+ Kf7 and then,
14.h6 e6 One might have expected Black to for example, 26 Ng5+ Kg6 27 Qg7+ Kh5 28
move his attacked g7-bishop, so let's consider Qh7+ Kg4 29 Qh3+ Kf4 30 Qg3. I'll try my best
the options for shifting that piece:- to play like that for Scotland at the Olympiad
[ 14...xh6 15.h5 ( or first 15.e4 in T u rke y, b u t f or t h e m om e n t I 'd lik e t o
are "pretty horrendous for Black", to use a conclude my writings here by saying a big
typical Chris Morrison expression! )] " T HA NK YO U" t o a ll f rie n d s wh o h a v e i n
[ 14...h8 15.f3 g4 ( 15...g8 16.xf7 different ways encouraged me to continue
leaves Black facing terrible threats like 17 developing at chess. The "complete" list could
Qe4+, and; 15...f6 16.e4+ f5 17.xg5+ go on almost forever, but the following people
g6 18.h4 is a nightmare too)) 16.g5+ (in alphabetical order of their surnames) really
is crushing because of g6 ( or 16...g8 deserve a special mention for their much
17.e4 ) 17.xf7 xf7 18.e4+ appreciated input at various times within the
and then, for example, f6 ( or 18...f5 last 14 months or so: - David Anderton, FM
19.h7 (menacing 20 Rh6+) g7 20.h8 Cesar Becx, Neil Berry, IM Douglas Bryson,
xh8 21.xg4+ f6 22.h6# ) 19.g5+ Walter & Cecile Cardon, FM Lawrence Cooper,
xg5 20.xf7 f5 21.h5+ ] Jimi & Josiane de Melio, Suzanne de
[ W e c a n q u i c k l y d i s m i s s 14...h8 Vogelaer, Hugh & Moya Flockhart, Richard
on account of 15.h5 ] Furness, John & Nancy Glendinning,
[ 14...f6 15.e4+ g8 ( 15...h8 Jonathan & Keti Grant, John Henderson,
l o s e s i n s t a n t l y t o 16.c2 ) 16.c2 Marc Holsteyn, IM Stephen Mannion, GM
( b e t t e r t h a n 16.g6+ h8 ) 16...e8 Colin McNab, Hans & Heleen Moors, Chris
17.h7+ f8 18.e4 is, I believe, Morrison, Family Motwani, IM Jonathan Parker,
indef e nsible f or Black. Just look at th e IM Craig Pritchett, GM Jonathan Rowson, IM
congestion in his disorganised camp. A John Shaw, IM Johan van Mil,
computer would typically generate screeds " S ch a a kn ie u ws" t e a m , Hu g o " B o s s " va n
of variations, but the position practically Steenwinckel, WIM Erika Sziva, Walter Tonoli,
speaks for itself, and one could almost say FM Tim & Andree Upton, Jan & Hanny
that White is not even down on material if Verbrugge, Chris White, Norman & Ilse Young,
on e c o n s id e rs t h e e f f e ct ive n e ss o f h is Family Zeng.
a t t a c k i n g f o r ce s in co n t ra st t o B l a c k' s 1-0
dormant pieces. ]
15.hxg7+ xg7 16.e4 h8
[ If 16...f6 17.h5 h8 then 18.xh8+ 626 B04
xh8 19.xh8 xh8 20.xf6 is extremely Movsesian,Sergei 2747
simple and strong for White. ] Svidler,Peter 2726
17.xh8 3rd ACP World Rapid Cup rapid (2.4) 23.5.09
[ Why be overly flashy and less clear with [John Watson]
17.xg5 when instead the capture on h8 is
obviously good? ] 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5
17...xh8 18.xg5 h1+ 19.d2! 5.xe5 c6 Here we go again, the main line at
It would be a bit harsh not to forgive me for the elite levels of play. This month's batch
this final '!' after a move which involves a rook went well for Black, as shown in this game.
sacrifice! xa1 20.h5 White's deadly duo 6.c4 We've seen several games in the
of main threats is 21 Bf6+ Kf8 22 Qh8 or 21 Archives with 6 Be2.
Qh6+ Kg8 22 Nf6. xb2+ 21.c2 c4+ [ Yu Shaoteng-Hou Yifan, Subic Bay PHI
[ 21...d7 ( o r N d 5 ) l o s e t o 22.h6+ 2009 continued 6.d3 (this deserves more
( 22.h6+ d o e s t h e j o b t o o) 22...g8 a t t e n t i o n ) d7 7.f3!? 7f6 8.h3
23.f6+ ( or 23.f6 ) 23...xf6 24.xf6 , preventing ...Bg4, although allowing the
followed by unavoidable mate at g7 or h8. ] following manoeuvre: b4 9.c4 f5
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12...c6 13.dxc6+ bxc6 14.0-0 a5 15.c4 the Duke of Brunswick. Maybe there's
Probably better than 15 Rd1+ Kc7 16 Bf4+ something to be said for developing the other
Kb7, driving the Black king where it wants to pieces apart from your king and queen after
go. d8N all.
[ Black made a run for b7... 15...c7 16.b4 1-0
xb4 17.f4+ d8 ..but soon changed
course... 18.d2 bd7 19.b3 a6
20.xa6 xf4 21.b7 b8 22.xc6 e5 628 B04
23.e6 xc6 24.xc6 c7 25.fd1+ Mysliwiec,E
d7 in Hammar-D.Cramling, Swedish Krzyzanowski,Antoni
Champs, Lulea 1980, in which 26 Qa4 now corr 1995
would have been won back the piece with [Alexander Volzhin]
a devastating ongoing onslaught, since 26..
Ke8 27 Rd2 piles up on the unfortunate 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5
knight. ] 5.xe5 d7!? 6.xf7!? xf7 7.h5+ e6
16.d1+ d7 8.c4 5f6 9.d5+ d6 10.f7 e5 11.f4
[ 16...bd7 is another try, of course, if the c5 12.c3 a6 13.b4 b6! This move
game goes similarly with 17.e3 g4 seems to be the only chance for defence.
18.e6 xe3 19.fxe3 xc5 20.c3 Alternatives are insufficient .
B l a c k c o u l d t r y a n d d e f e n d w i t h b8 [ 13...b6 14.b1! The rook will be very
, b u t t h e n 21.d3 b7 22.ad1 e5 active on the b-file. g5 ( 14...cxb4 15.xb4
23.a4 g6 24.f4! xf4 25.exf4 e8 c5 Both queen and rook are hanging, but
26.b3 h6 27.g3 is still very strong - the 16.b1!! xf7 17.a4+ d4 18.f3
knight is pinned just as effectively by the and next move the king will be mated (19.
threat of Rd8 mate as it was to the king. ] Rd1) ) 15.g3 h6 16.bxc5+ bxc5 17.b7!
17.e3 g4 Black must be lost - mustn't he?! Excellent! Now all white's pieces participate
- if the best he can do is exchange his only in the attack. d7 18.d3! e8 19.f5!!
de ve lo p e d m in o r p ie ce f o r W h it e 's le a st xf7 20.e4+ xe4 21.xd7# ]
effective attacker, but [ 13...cxb4 loses quickly to 14.c5+ xc5
[ 17...c8 18.c3 c7 19.b4 g4 20.f4 15.a4+ d6 16.b2 b5 17.d3 ]
e5 21.g5 also sees White increasing the 14.0-0-0
pressure decisively. ] [ 14.bxc5+ was thought to be a winning
18.e6 xe3 19.fxe3 xc5 20.c3 e5? move, but recent games have changed the
A feeble move, both overlooking the threat evaluation of this position: xc5 15.d1
and also making no effort to get Black's other a3! ( GM Vladimir Bagirov a leading expert
four pieces out. Fritz is convinced it's winning in the Alekhine's, in his book considers only
as Black and rather sweetly tries to prove it 15...f5 which is insufficient: 16.d3 xd3
with 17.e6+ c7 18.xe5+ d8 19.xd3
[ 20...xe3+ 21.h1 a6 , although I have The text is a decisive improvement.) 16.d3
to admit that the best my limited attacking c1+!! 17.xc1 xf7 18.c5+ c7!
skills can manage then with White is 22.a4 ( 18...xc5? 19.a4+ d6 20.b6 b8
a7 23.ac1 g6 24.c5 h6 25.xd7 21.f4+ e5 22.c4+ c5 23.xe5 g8
xd7 26.e6+ c8 27.xc6+ b7 24.f7 a8 25.e3+ b4 26.b3+ a5
28.c7+ b8 29.xa7 xa7 30.xe7 c8 27.b6+ a4 28.c5+- mating ) 19.f4+
31.d6+ ( 31.xh7 f8 32.xf8 xf8 d8 20.a4 f5 21.d4 e8 22.c4
33.xg6 ) 31...a8 32.d5+ b8 d8 23.0-0 c2 24.b6 e5 25.d6 xd6 1
with a draw: no doubt readers can do better. Wydrowski-Krzyzanowski,A/corr/1993/ ]
Now it's over. ] 14...cxb4! A very important novelty.
21.xd7+ xd7 22.d1 c7 23.xd7+ [ After 14...xb4? 15.c2! white's attack is
b6 24.e4 f6 25.h5 g5 26.h3 f4 unstoppable: b5 16.xe5+ xe5 17.d6!
27.d5+ All horribly reminiscent of Morphy -v- f5+ 18.d3 xd3+ 19.xd3 xc4
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[ Instead 7.e3 g7 8.c1 0-0 9.b3 and White had a clear advantage. ]
is the line that has been causing Black 19.fd1 e6 20.dxe6 fxe6 21.b5 xc1
some problems these past few years but 22.xc1 d5 Unlike in the previous note Black
ECO suggests a way that seems to get can now safely make this advance as Rc7 is
Black a decent game e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 not available and Nc7 no longer forks e6 and
11.xd8 xd8 12.c5 6d7 13.c4 c6 the rook on a8. 23.c7 xc7 24.xc7 b2!
14.f3 a5! 15.e2 b6! the key move. Ko no p ka dit ch e s h is sickly e 6 p awn a n d
( 15...c6?! 16.b5! f8 17.d6 e6 p r e p a r e s t o g o a c t i ve . T h i s f i r s t e n t a i l s
18.c4 cd4 19.g5 gave White a safeguarding the bishop. 25.f1
promising initiative in Mitkov-C.Toth, V. [ 25.xe6 e8 26.c7 e7 27.b5 d4
Toth Memorial 2000) 16.cxb6 ( 16.b4 c6 and because of the unfortunate placing of
17.b5 d4 18.c6 c5 19.0-0 a6 the white bishops, Black is not worse. ]
with suf f icient coun terplay f o r Black P . 25...f6 26.f4 f7! Again the knight is invited
C a r l s s o n - L o g d a h l , S w e d i s h t c h 2 0 0 1) to capture on e6 as the bishops are loose
16...xb6 17.0-0 b7 18.fd1 c6= again. 27.xe6 e7 28.d4 xd4 29.xd4
Zukauskas-Bandza, Latvian ch 1997 ] xf4 30.f3 g6 31.a4 Black has played a
7...g7 8.f3 0-0 9.e2 c6 10.0-0 f5 sensible game and has emerged with an extra
11.f4 pawn. White has some counterplay but after
[ 11.g5 h6 12.e3 d5 13.b3 ( 13.c5 c4 31...a5 Black should retain the advantage.
is unfashionable as it's considered OK for W as K on op ka in awe of h is h ighe r ra te d
Black. ) 13...dxc4 14.bxc4 a5 15.c5 opponent or just short of time?
bc4 16.f4 b6 L. Cooper-Burgess, ½-½
Birmingham 2000 gave Black suf f icient
counterchances and the game was soon
drawn. ] 631 B04
11...h6 12.d5 Navara,David 2602
[ 12.e3 Isn't this just an ugly move-order by Miroshnichenko,Evgenij 2599
White!? Even so d5 then transposes to the 5th IECC Playoff 5th (4) 30.05.2004
above note. ] [Andrew Martin]
12...a5 13.d4 A pawn sacrifice for active
play against a ropey black structure. axc4 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5
14.b3 e5 15.xf5 gxf5 16.d2 5.xe5 d7 Still as provocative as ever.
The game has been following an old analysis 6.xf7!
of Vaganian who helpfully concluded [ 6.f3! e6 7.g3 e7 8.c4 Was played
"unclear". h7 17.ac1 g6 18.e3 c8! against me once by Vlastimil Jansa and
[ Presumably a prepared improvement. Nataf- seems like a risk-free way to a small edge.
Hudecek, Czech open (round 1) 2002 Of course, Black is still on the board. Instead,
continued 18...e5?! this leads to Black's 6 Nxf7 is as critical as can be and although
c e n t r a l p a wn s c o m i n g u n d e r p r e s s u r e White trips up in the coming game, Black
19.dxe6 fxe6 20.b5 d5?! ( 20...d5 still has some questions to answer. ]
c o u l d b e m e t b y 21.c7 but then d4 6...xf7 7.h5+ e6 8.g3! I prefer this to
is still messy e.g. 22.xa8 xa8 23.f4 the head-spinning complications after 8 c4
xf4 24.xf4 e5 with some practical even Mikhail Tal didn't go for it when
chances for the exchange. Perhaps White confronted by Larsen! So to 8 g3, just as
s h o u l d i n s t e a d t r y 2 1 R c 7 wi t h s t r o n g dangerous, keeping c2-c4 lurking in the wings,
threats along the seventh rank (Rxb7 and hoping to exploit the precariously placed
Bxh6 etc.).) 21.f3 d7 22.xd5 xb5 Knight in d5. In view of threats such as c2-c4
23.xe6 e5 24.d5 ae8 25.f7 e7 coupled with Bh3, Black's reply has been
26.xg6+ xg6 27.d3 material is equal thought to be forced. b5 Larsen's original
and White has clearly the better structure b6 intention, should 8 g3 have ever cropped up. I
28.c6 d8 29.d1 e6 30.c7 believe he would have breathed a sigh of
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d4 and Black was winning. ] [ I like 7.f3! stepping up the pressure, for
16...e5 17.xd4 exd4 18.0-0 ba6
instance : e6 8.0-0 d7 9.c3 xe5
Obviously the Knight on a8 is trapped, but 10.dxe5 c7 11.xe6 xe6 12.e3 g6
B l a ck n e e d s s o m e t e m p i t o t a k e i t . T h e
13.e4 c8 14.f4 g7 15.a4
question is can W hite utilise this time Balzar,A-Birk, S/Germany 2003 W hite's
efficiently? 19.d2 e6 20.e1 f7 21.e4 advantage is obvious, but to win such a
d3 22.b4 xe4 23.xe4 g7 24.a3 d2 position is not so easy. ]
25.e2 e8 26.xe8 xe8 27.a2 xa8 7...d7 8.df3 e6
28.xd2 The progress of the game is typical
[ 8...xe5! appears logical, relieving the
of this line. Black has managed to win the cramp by exchanging. Then 9.xe5 e6
Knight o n a 8, bu t h as ha d to give up his 10.0-0 d6 11.e1 0-0 12.c3 c7
c e n t ra l p a wn . No w t h e re is a p p ro xim a t e
13.e2 ad8 Stefansson, H-Luther,T/
m a t e ria l e qu a lit y o n t h e b o a rd . W h it e i s
Malmo 2002 is as close to equality as Black
slightly for preference here, since the Black is going to get. ]
forces are uncoordinated and his King is 9.c3 d6 10.e2 0-0?! It is very hard to
slightly exposed. c8 29.d8 e6 30.h3 give this move an outright question mark but it
[ 30.d4+ is worth considering: g8 31.h3 does allow White an opportunity that, say
and Black can't grab the pawn on b4: e1+ [ 10...xe5 11.xe5 b6 12.b3 h4
32.h2 xb4 in vi e w o f 33.c4+ g7 or ]
34.d4! and Black can't avoid loss of
[ 10...h6 11.d2 ( 11.0-0 0-0 ) 11...c7
material: c6 35.e4! xf2 36.xe8 ] did not. ]
30...e5! Now Black is out of danger. 31.d5 11.g4! On the case immediately. Black is
c3 32.e2 xb4 33.xe8? A time trouble passive in the centre with no real chance to
blunder. break out, so this f lank attack is entirely
[ 33.e7+ w a s g o o d e n o u g h : f7
justified. xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.dxe5 g6
( 33...h6?? 34.f8+ g7 35.f4+ g5 14.h4 h6 15.h5 h7 16.g1! I like the
36.xb4 ) 34.d8! and Black hardly has
directness of White's approach. Black is not
anything better than a draw by perpetual given even a single second's grace to
check: c1+ 35.h2 f4+ 36.g1
organise the defence. Potkin comes straight
c1+ ] through. b6 17.g5! xc4 18.xc4 d3
33...c1+! [ 18...d3 19.xd3 xd3 20.gxh6 g6
[ White resigned since he loses a piece:
21.g5 is awful for Black. ]
33...c1+ 34.h2 f4+ 35.g1 xd5 19.f4 hxg5 20.xg5 The presence of
36.d7+ f7 ] opposite-coloured Bishops only enhances
0-1 White's attack. d5
[ 20...f6 21.g3! c2 22.e3 f7 23.exf6
xf6 24.xf6 xf6 25.e2 h7 26.ag1
634 B04 f7 27.d4 is horrible again. Black is utterly
Potkin,Vladimir 2540 passive. ]
Kopylov,Mihail 2432 21.f3 fd8 22.e3 b5 23.b3
8th OIBM Bad Wiessee GER (7) 05.11.2004 [ I am not sure why White didn't choose
[Andrew Martin] 23.0-0-0! which seems like the most obvious
way. Black has very little defence on the
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5 K i n g s i d e : f8 ( 23...g6 24.h1 c4
5.xe5 c6 Definitely the ' in move'. although I 25.xc4 xc4 26.hxg6 d3 27.gxf7+
am sure that is prompted by dissatisfaction xf7 28.h6+- ) 24.dg1 f5 25.xg7
with Black's other options rather than on e7 26.g5++- Maybe Potkin doesn't know
objective merit. Black is solid, but passive in the castling rule?! ]
this line and White has a number of ways to 23...f5 24.f2 That was his idea. d3
be slightly better. If that's your thing, fine! 25.xg7+! f8
6.c4 f5 7.d2 [ 25...xg7 26.g1+ f8 ( 26...g6
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27.e5 h6 28.f2 a4 Black has material winning ) 14.0-0 c7 15.f4+ with a strong
and attack. 29.b2 f4 30.f1 d5 31.a3 attack: b7 16.b3! ]
c4 32.e4 b5 33.xc4 xc4 34.xc4 [ 10...b6 is also insufficient. The following
bxc4 35.g3 e2 36.xa7 xg3 37.f2 line shows how difficult it is to defend this
f1 38.c1 h2 39.d2 xf3+ 40.e3 position: 11.c3 e8 12.f4+ d7
e5 41.g3 g6 42.f3 f5 43.a4 b7 13.e6+ d8 14.e5 d7 15.0-0-0
44.a5 e5 The previous moves were forced. Black is a
0-1 piece up, but white has ample compensation.
First of all, c5 is threatened, winning the
knight back. e8 (protecting the c7 square)
638 B04 16.d3! The queen exchange after ( 16.c5
Rozentalis,Eduardas 2585 f5 17.cxb6 xe5 18.xe5 axb6
Sokolov,Andrei 2565 simplifies the defence) 16...d6 17.c5 f7
Bern op Berna (5) 1992 18.e3 g5 19.g3 g7 20.b5 f5
[Alexander Volzhin] 21.he1 f6 22.cxb6 axb6 23.d6! wins ]
11.f4 Now 12.c5 is threatened, so black's
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5 next move is forced. c5 12.c3
An old move, revived by Bent Larsen. 5.xe5 [ 12.dxc6? a5+ 13.c3 xc6-+
Now let's have a look at the provocative 5... is simply bad-black wins ]
Nd7.This is one of the most interesting lines [ 12.d2 in my opinion doesn't promise
in Alekhine's Defence. For many years this w h i t e t o o m u c h : g5! ( 12...e8??
move was considered to be bad, but this 13.e4+!+- winning ) 13.g3 g4 14.0-0-0
game ( at the very top level!) has proved that h6! ( theory considers 14...g8 15.e1
black's resources should not be g5 as the only defence, but my analysis
underestimated. d7!? 6.xf7!? As other proves that the text is even better) 15.e1
moves are rather harmless, this knight f8 16.xe5+ d7 17.e6+ e8
sacrifice is the only attempt to fight for the Is white's queen trapped? Not at all! 18.d6!
advantage. xf7 7.h5+ e6 The king exd6 19.xf6+ d7 20.xd8 xd8
has to go to the centre. and black has excellent compensation for a
[ 7...g8?? 8.xd5+ e6 9.xe6# ] pawn. ]
[ 7...g6 8.xd5++- winning ] 12...a6
8.c4 [ 12...d7? is a b l u n d e r 13.b5+ xb5
[ After some fiascos with 8.c4 white switched 14.e6+ winning ]
to 8.g3 but b5 9.a4 c6 10.axb5 g6 13.0-0-0
11.e2+ f7 12.bxc6 7b6 leads to an [ A f t e r t h i s g a m e t h e m o v e 13.b4
unclear position. Very few games have been became white's main weapon. W e'll
played in this line ,so here is a wide field consider it in the next game. ]
for future investigations. ] 13...g6! This is the point. 14...Bh6 is
8...5f6 9.d5+ d6 10.f7 threatened. 14.xe5+
[ The seemingly strong 10.f4+? fails to e5! [ 14.e1 h6!!-+ winning ]
11.c5+ ( 11.dxe6+ xe6 and after the 14...xe5 Black's king is brave isn't he? 15.d6
queen 's re trea t the king escapes to f 7) h6+ 16.c2 e8 17.d5+ What else?
11...e7 12.g5 e8-+ winning in xd5 18.xd5+ f6 19.d3
Andreev-Kharlamov, USSR 1981 ] [ A month later the game Rublevsky-
10...e5!? After considering different knight Hau ch ard was p layed . W hite p ref erre d
moves the conclusion is obvious: the knight 19.e4+ but also lost: g7 20.e5+ f7
should go to the centre! ( 20...g8?? 21.f6+!+- winning ) 21.d3
[ 10...b8 is bad: 11.c5+ d7 ( 21.dxe7 f5 22.d3 xe7 23.d6+
( 11...xc5 12.e3+ d6 13.a3! a6 xd6 24.xd6 ad8 25.c7+ d7 )
14.c4+ d7 15.d6! winning ) 12.b5+ c6 21...g7 22.f4+ g8 23.e1 f8
13.dxc6+ bxc6 ( 13...xc6? 14.0-0+- 24.g5 exd6 25.d5+ f7 26.xd6
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Archives) e6 11.c3 bd5 12.c2 e7 White's bishop on b3 poorly placed for the
( 12...d6!? ) 13.e3 and perhaps White moment (later it goes to a4). ]
had a little something. ] [ 14.g5!? ]
6...g6 14...c7
[ 6...d7 7.f3 7f6 8.h3 ( maybe in [ 14...e5!? 15.e4! targets d6, but that
some of these positions White needn't be doesn't necessarily mean much after c7
so worried about ...Bg4, because he hasn't . Then maybe 16.g5 , having in mind Bh4-
committed his queen's knight. That is, 8.0-0 g3. ]
g4 9.bd2! e6 10.h3 h5 11.e1 ) 15.e4 e6!? It's often a bad sign when Black
8...e6 ( 8...g6 is similar to the main game; has to sit around, normally indicated by this
8...f5 9.0-0 e6 is Shirov-Carlsen Moscow move it is nevertheless a possible prelude to ...
2007 from an earlier update) 9.b3 e7 c5.
10.0-0 0-0 11.c4 c7 12.c3 b5 13.g5 [ An option is 15...h6 16.c4 bxc3 17.bxc3
( 13.e2 b7 14.d1 bxc4 15.xc4 ab8 ]
cd5 16.e5 wit h a n e d g e) 13...b7 16.c4 bxc3 17.bxc3 c5 18.a3 cxd4
14.e5 bxc4 15.xc4 b5 16.xc6? 19.d6!?
( 16.e2! d5 17.xe7 xe7 18.c1 ) [ Better 19.cxd4! 7f6 20.c5 ]
16...xc6 17.xb5 xb5 18.xb5 a5 19...d8 20.cxd4 7f6 21.xf6+ xf6
( 18...b8! f a vo u r s B l a c k) 19.a4 a6 22.c5 b5
1/2-1/2 Westerinen-Clemens, Velden 2009. ] [ And now 22...d7 23.b4 c8
7.0-0 g7 8.e1 0-0 9.b3 d7 10.f3 was equal. ]
Exchanges are not necessarily bad, but White 23.e5 d7? 24.d6? Missing or
needs to avoid a pawn on e5, blocking the e- underestimating
file and presenting a target. e8 11.h3 [ 24.xf7! xf7 25.xe6! xe6 26.xe6+
[ 11.c4 and 12 Nc3 is another setup I feel xe6 27.b3+ c4! 28.e1+ e5
that White has a small pull regardless. Now 29.xc4+ d5 30.a6+ f7 31.dxe5 ]
Black tries to prevent that: ] 24...xe5
11...b5 12.a4 b4 13.a5 Trying to isolate [ 24...f6 ]
Black's b-pawn from its support by ...a5, and 25.dxe5 a6 26.g4 c8 27.ed1 c3
incidentally depriving a queen or knight access 28.b4 c8 29.a4 c4 30.b3 c3
to b6. Perhaps the direct central advance 31.b4 c4 32.b3 xa4!? Brave, but he
[ 13.c4 promises more: c7 ( 13...bxc3 sh o u ld p ro b a b ly r e p e a t . 33.xa4 c3
14.xc3 is a nice-looking isolated queen 34.b6 d8 35.aa1 c6 36.b4 a8
pawn position in which W hite has space 37.ac1 dc8 38.xc6 xc6 39.b6 c2
and activity, but also queenside weaknesses 40.e1 c4 41.b7 h5 42.e3 c6
to attack, but covering up those weaknesses 43.xc6 xc6 With equality. I'll leave it at
via xc3 15.bxc3 is depressing) 14.c5! that, since some terrible mistakes (presumably
(this cedes to Black a permanent outpost on in time trouble) marred the rest , and th e
d5, but establishes lasting pressure in the players deserve better.
centre, prevents Black's pawn breaks, and ½-½
wins an outpost on d6 if Black moves his e-
pawn) f8! ( 14...f6? 15.e5
wins a pawn) 15.f4 ( or 15.e3 e6 641 B04
16.bd2 ) 15...e6! 16.e5!? xb3 Shirov,Alexei 2739
( 16...d5 17.xd5 xd5 18.bd2 ) Carlsen,Magnus 2714
17.xb3 d5 18.bd2 followed by World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (16) 21.11.2007
doubling on the e-file. ] [John Watson]
13...a6 14.bd2
[ 14.c4 5f6! 15.f4 c5 is approximately Finally we get to the current 'main line' of 6
e q u a l t h e n 16.d5 gains space, but opens Bc4, although that can change at any minute.
the a1-h8 diagonal for Black and leaves I suspect that 6 Bd3 and 6 Be2 are equally
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good. This game doesn't say much for 6 Bc4, 16.d3 should favour W hite's bishops)
at any rate. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 12.xg6 hxg6 13.c4 5f6 14.f4 a5+
4.f3 dxe5 5.xe5 c6 6.c4 In his article, 15.c3 0-0-0 intending ... e5, Zhang Zhong-
Finkel calls this the 'Strong Players' move. Yi Jiangchuan, Vuxi 2005 ]
d7 8.h3
[ 6...f5 7.f3! is a problem, when Black [ 8.0-0 g4 9.h3 xf3 10.xf3 b6
has no easy way to level things in view of e6 hits c4 and d4, taking back one bishop. ]
8.xf7! ( 8.d3 is also possible) 8...xf7 8...f5 9.0-0 e6
9.g4 f6 10.gxf5 xf5 11.d2! [ 9...h6 is Palliser-Ledger on
with two bishops and more targets to aim at ChessPublishing, when Martin recommends
in an ending. ] simply 10.d3 xd3 11.xd3 c7 12.c4
7.f3 .Hard to argue with - W hite has his usual
[ 7.0-0 xe5 8.dxe5 e6!? ( 8...f5 ) advantages without his usual disadvantages!
9.b3 g6 10.e2 g7 11.d2!? f4 And ...h6 looks stupid. ]
12.e4 d4!= was recently played in 10.g5 This doesn't achieve much.
Popilski, G (2238)-Raznikov, D (2162)/ [ 10.b3 d6!? (yes!) 11.c4 e7 ( darn.
Kemer TUR 2007. ] 11...f4 is just as good) 12.c3 ( 12.h4 )
7...7f6 And together with 7... N7b6, he calls 12...h6 Kindermann-Loeffler, Bundesliga
this 'The critical Line'. 2006/7 and Finkel suggests 13.e2 ]
[ 7...e6 seems to be hanging in there, 10...e7 11.bd2 h6 12.xf6 xf6
however. Anand-Conquest, Calatrava 2007 White only has a space advantage in return
continued 8.0-0 e7 ( 8...b5 was seen in for the bishops, and it is shaky. I already
He rn a n d e z G u e rre ro , G - L u t h e r , T / Do s prefer Black. 13.c3 0-0 14.b3 c5 15.c2
Hermanas 2003 and Kasimzhanov-Brochet, xc2 16.xc2 c8 17.b3
French Teams 2004, both on [ 17.dxc5 establishes the normal Caro-Kann/
ChessPublishing ) French pawn structure 4:3 vs 3:2. I like
A) 9.b3 b5!? 10.e1 0-0 11.a4 7f6 Black. ]
12.e2!? ( 12.g5 is mo re p o in t e d) 17...c7 18.fe1 fd8 19.ad1 cxd4
12...b4 13.e5 b7 was Skripchenko, A 20.xd4 c5 21.2f3 d5 22.c4!?
(2456)-Conquest, S (2543)/Pulvermuehle Obviously weakening, although it's connected
GER 2004, which Martin assesses as with a simplification plan. d7 23.b5 b6!?
equal. Fair enough.; 24.e2? xd1+ 25.xd1 xf2+! 26.xf2
B) 9.e1 0-0 10.bd2 not bad, but e4 27.d4 xd4 28.fxd4 xf2
( 10.d3 is a nice alternative, with the idea 29.xf2 xc4 30.b3 c5 31.xa7?!
of c 4 t h e n b5 11.a4 b4 12.c4 bxc3 In light of the threat ...e5. Otherwise,
13.bxc3 gives White space and very active [ 31.a3 a5 32.dc2 e5! ( 32...b5
pieces. Maybe this explains why Black 33.f3 b4?! 34.c4 xa2 35.xb4
h a s n ' t b e e n p l a y i n g 7 . . . e 6 a s m u c h) isn't what Black was after. )]
10...b5! 11.f1 b7 ( 11...a5!? 12.e4 31...a5 32.c8 xa2+ 33.g3 b2
a6 was played in one game) 12.c3 c7 34.f4
13.a4 a6 14.e4 5f6 15.g5 fe8 [ 34.d6 d2 ( 34...e5? 35.c4 ) 35.6b5
and again, Black may have a very small e5 36.f5 d3+ 37.f2 xb3 ]
disadvantage, but it shouldn't be a 34...xg2 35.d6 d2 36.e3 h2
serious problem with good play. ] 37.xb7 xh3+ 38.e2 e5 39.f3 e4
[ 7...7b6 8.b3 ( see the Archive for 40.d2 f5 41.b4 f4! 42.d6 h2+ 43.e1
8.e2 in Quillan-Cox, 4NCL 2005-6. Andrew e3 44.f3 b2 45.b5 g5 46.e5 h5
Ma rt in a pp ro ve s of W h it e's trea tm en t .) 47.d3 b3 48.c5 b1+ 49.e2 h4
8...g4 9.h3 h5 10.g4!? (interesting but 50.e6 h3
not necessary) ( 10.0-0 ) 10...g6 11.e5 0-1
d7! ( 11...e6 12.h4 is a problem then
b4+ 13.c3 e7 14.h5 xb1 15.xb1 f6
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persuade his opponent to join in the fun. He 26...xa4 27.xe8 xe8 A case of the
engineers a messy position and then takes lower-rated player chickening out. ]
his chances. Here both players appear to be [ Thus the normal 11...d5 seems safest. ]
in time-trouble that is my only explanation for 12.xf3 f5!? Black seems to be relying on
the howlers that follow. 29.c4?? Exposing the this very sharp move to see him through. 12...
b4 square! f5 has good and bad things painted all over it.
[ 29.ed1 xf3 30.xf3 xf3 31.gxf3 Black threatens ..f5-f4 and if he is able to get
is roughly equal. ] ...e7-e5 at some point in the not too distant
29...c8?? f uture the advancing pawns might caus e
[ 29...xf3! is surely easy enough, time
White inconvenience. The defect is obvious:
trouble or not: 30.xf3 ( 30.gxf3 b8-+ ) B la ck we a ke n s t h e l igh t sq u a re s. I n o u r
30...xf3 31.gxf3 b4 32.ed1 xa5 ] featured game White is intimidated by the idea
30.b1 d6 31.ed1 c5?! of ...f4.
[ 31...xf3 appears good again: 32.xf3 [ 12...e5 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.c5! d7
xh2+ 33.f1 xf3 34.gxf3 f4 35.c5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.d6 is a good way to
This would be unclear if it were not for cxc5 tackle 12...e5. White's superior pawns give
36.xc5 xc5 37.xa6 xa5 38.d8+ him a distinct advantage. e4 17.ad1 e5
h7 I just don't like this position for White - 18.xd8 axd8 19.xe4 g4 20.f4 f5
in the long term Black will creep all over 21.d6 h6 22.c4 d4 23.d6 e8
him. ] 24.h3 xd1 25.xd1 e5 26.xe5 xe5
32.b2 c6 He has a love affair with this27.d7+- Pasko, A-Pervakov, S/
Bishop. 33.e1 d7 34.eb1 e8 35.c2 Dnipropetrovsk 2005 ]
f6 36.c7 d7 37.b6 a3 38.a2 d6 13.xc6?!N
The new time control really does have a lot to [ 13.d2! is critical, allowing Black to
answer for. Here we see two great players execute his ' threat'
just 'making moves'. 39.d1 c5 40.b1 A) All roads seem to lead to Rome for
c8 41.ab2 a3 42.a2 c5 White after 13...f4: 13...f4 14.xf4
Enough piddling around for one day and I A1) 14...xd4 15.ac1 ( 15.xc6 xc3
daresay a relief. You couldn't say that Black 16.xc3 bxc6 17.h6 f7 18.ad1 )
didn't have his chances! 15...e5 16.g5 d7 17.e4;
½-½ A2) 14...xd4 15.xb7 b8 16.e4;
B) 13...e5 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.d5+ h8
16.ad1
645 B04 B1) 16...e7 17.g5 f6 18.xf6+
Smolin,Dmitry 2191 xf6 19.xc6 ( 19.f4 e4 20.e3 ad8
Pervakov,Sergey 2149 21.c5 xd5 22.xd5 f7 23.c3
Tch-UKR Alushta UKR (2) 16.04.2006 f6= ) 19...bxc6 20.d6 g7 21.c5
[Andrew Martin] c8 22.c7+ e7 23.d7
Shlivinskas, M-Savko, A/Jurmala 1992;
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 B2) 16...e4 17.h6 xh6 1/2-1/2 Kafka,
5.exd6 cxd6 6.c3 g6 7.f3 g7 8.e3 G-Roberts, P/W est Bromwich 2004 A
0-0 9.e2 c6 10.0-0 g4 11.b3 xf3 slightly baffling decision as 18 Qxh6 is
[ 11...e8!? 12.c1 e5 13.dxe5 dxe5 clearly better for White! Thus I am not
14.c5 e4 is another approach, leading to convinced that Black is able to attain
simplification: 15.cxb6 exf3 16.xf3 xf3 equality in this line. ]
17.xf3 axb6 18.fd1 h4 19.a4 e5 13...bxc6 14.f4 e5! he has to play this move
20.f4 h5 21.g5 xg5 1/2-1/2 Kaps, D- before e7 gets nailed down. 15.dxe5 dxe5
Djuric, S/Rome 2005 W ith Odd, because 16.fxe5
22.xg5 c6 is better for White: 23.e3 [ 16.e1 f6 17.d1 was modest and
a5 24.d5 xb3 25.b1 c5 26.c7 equal. ]
( 26.xb6 xa4 27.xa8 xa8 ) 16...xe5 The good things about Black's
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
position come to the fore. He has a nice, [ Best was simply 15.xf6+! xf6 16.h6 ]
active Bishop, threats of ...Qh4 and if White 15...dxc5 16.d6?
trades queen a Black Rook arrives at d3. [ 16.e1! yields a serious attack after d6!
17.c2 h4 18.h3?! White does not seem 17.h6 xf3 18.xf3+ d7 19.g5! ce8
to be able to handle the pressure. 20.b4! , with an unclear position. ]
[ 18.g3 i s t e m p t i n g xg3 ( 18...f6! 16...e6?
kee ps Black 's ed ge .) 19.xb6 axb6 [ Here 16...h5! would have won some
20.hxg3 xg3+ 21.h1 h3+ 22.g1 material. ]
ae8 I would not like to defend the White 17.e5 xd6 18.xd6 e4 19.e5 0-0
position but maybe it's only equal. ] 20.c2 f5 21.h3 h5
18...g3 19.f3 h2+ 20.f2 f4-+ [ 21...xf3 22.xf3 6g5 23.xe4 xe4
21.xb6 axb6 22.d1 f6! It turns out that is only moderately in White's favour. ]
Bla ck doe sn't eve n n eed to e xtrica te his 22.g4 fxg4 23.hxg4 4g5 24.h2 h3+
Queen! 23.e2 ae8 24.g1 e6 25.c5 25.g2 g5 26.g3 hf4+ 27.xf4 xf4+
b5 26.fd3 h4+ 27.f1 fe8 28.h1 xe2 29.xe2 ae8 30.d1 d8
A game which perhaps gives a false 31.c1 h4 32.gxh5 f3 33.e1 h3
impression of Black's chances, but a warning 34.e6+ g7 35.e5+ h6 36.hxg6 e8
to White nevertheless. 37.d6 d8 38.gxh7+ xh7 39.c7+ h6
0-1 40.ae1 f6 41.e3 h4 42.g1
1-0
646 B04
Socko,Bartosz 2631 647 B04
Efimov,Igor 2442 Sutovsky,Emil 2635
24th ECC Kallithea GRE (1) 17.10.2008 Carlsen,Magnus 2385
[John Watson] ECC, Rethymnon (1) 2003
[Andrew Martin]
This game features an idea (...Nc7) which
quite a few players use when they despair of 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5
the main lines. Even in the Alekhine's, there's 5.xe5 c6!? Miles played this move, Davies
such a thing as too backwards a placement, I rates it quite highly, I'm not so sure. Let's not
think, and surely White should come out with get on to the hero worship bandwagon quite
the better of it. This game illustrates one way so quickly. Black's move is passive although it
it can happen, although White goes wrong and ha s so me 'waiting ' va lu e. B la ck le ts h is
the opponents exchange errors. 1.e4 f6 Queen out, prepares a possible retreat of the
2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 c6 5.c4 c7!? Knight to c7 and takes a small portion of the
Even though the knight here eyes e6, and centre. However, I repeat, the move is
may even come there at some point, Black's passive. 6.d3 d7 7.0-0 As usual, best
pieces never seem to coordinate after this results are ob tained by pla ying f or small
move. I'd say that applies to most Alekhine advantages, by not overreacting. There should
Defence variations. 6.c3 g6 be more than one way to keep at least an
[ W h i t e g e t s a n e a s y e d g e a f t e r 6...g4 edge:
7.exd6 exd6 8.d3 ( or 8.h3 xf3 9.xf3 )] [ 7.f3! b5 8.0-0 e6 9.e1 e7 10.c3
7.f4 0-0 11.c2 7f6 12.a3 c7 13.g5 a5
[ 7.exd6 exd6 8.g5 is another route. ] 14.bd2 a4 15.h4 h6 16.g3 b7
7...g4 8.exd6 exd6 9.e2 e7 17.ad1 Timoshenko, G-Szieberth, A/
[ 9...g7 10.g5! xe2 ( 10...c8 FSGM September, Budapest HUN 2003
11.ce4 ) 11.xe2+ forces f8 ] (57) ]
10.h6 d7 11.0-0 f8 12.f4 e7 13.d5 [ 7.xd7! xd7 8.0-0 g6 9.e1 g7 10.c3
[ or 13.h3 xf3 14.xf3 0-0 15.d5 ] 0-0 11.g5 e8 12.d2 c8 13.c4 f5
13...c5 14.e4 f6 15.xc5!? 14.e2 c7 15.f3 ad8 16.b3 e6
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55.xg6 c5 56.g7+ e6 57.g6+ e7 pawns. 22.a3 e7 Black's pieces cover
58.c3 c2 59.g7+ e6 60.g6+ e7 anything nasty against his king but now the c-
61.h6 xg2 62.d5 f7 63.h7+ g8 pawn simply falls. 23.e5 d5
64.h8+ f7 65.h7+ g8 66.xh4 g6 [ not 23...c8? 24.xg6! ]
67.e5 I suspect all this game teaches us is 24.xc6 g5 By losing the c-pawn Black can
that serious chess isn't meant to be played at least obtain some breathing room. 25.h4
with only a 30 second per move increment g4 26.d1 Forcing the exchange of
after move 40 or so, but Black perhaps queens. xd1
showed a good method in the opening. [ as 26...f5 27.d6 loses further material ]
1-0 27.exd1 xc6 28.xc6 e7 29.c4?!
[ Otherwise 29.c7! f5 30.e5
looks pretty good. ]
650 B04 29...f5 30.c7?
Svidler,Peter 2690 [ 30.e5 is less artificial ]
Akopian,Vladimir 2678 30...c8!
ECC Halkidiki GRE (6) 27.09.2002 [ 30...xh4? f a il s t o b o t h 31.d6 ( and
[Glenn Flear] 31.d5 )]
31.d5!? Liquidating the centre to eliminate his
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g6 main weakness. This temporarily gives back
5.c4 c6!? the pawn but unfortunately the black a-pawn is
[ 5...b6 is the most popular at this point. ] not so easy to pick off.
6.exd6 xd6 7.0-0 g7 8.h3 A promising [ 31.g3 fails to xd4 ]
continuation for W hite as Black's bishop is 31...exd5 32.xd5 xb2 33.a5 d4
denied it's most active square. 34.a2 fe8 35.g3 e2+?! Heading for
[ 8.e1 g4 is less worrying for Black. ] complications but White wriggles out. Instead
8...0-0 9.e1 d7 [ 35...e7! 36.d6 ( 36.xa7 b5 37.b7
[ 9...b5?! leads to the weakening of the c4- cxc7= ) 36...xc4 37.xc4 d7
square 10.b3 f5 11.a4 b4 12.bd2 a5 doesn't give White much. ]
13.e2 e8 14.c4 c7 15.ce5 d7 36.g2 c1 37.b1 b3 38.xa7 d2
16.xf7! xf7 17.g4 gave White a strong [ 38...xa3!? 39.xa3 d2 looks a better
advantage in S.Haslinger-Broomfield, Smith try. ]
& Williamson YM Millfield 2002 ] 39.c2 d4 40.b7 xb1 41.xb1 e5
10.b3 b5 11.bd2 b7 Now Black can 42.bc1 xc7 43.xc7 xc7 44.xc7 e2
meet a4 with ...a6, maintaining the pawn on 45.f3 a2 46.a7 h5 A common endgame
b5 and avoiding the weakening of c4. occurs which one intuitively feels (with the
However the bishop is rather passively placed. extra a-pawn) should be drawn. But Svidler
12.e4 c7 13.g5 e6 14.c4 bxc4 had other ideas... 47.a4 g7 48.a5 f6
15.xc4 5f6 49.a6 e5
[ 15...c5!? seems more critical but perhaps [ 49...e6 is more solid ]
Black didn't fancy his chances after the 50.e7+ f6 51.a7 e5?!
annoying 16.c1 ] [ 51...e6 52.e3 f6 53.a8 f5
16.xf6+ xf6 17.c1 h6 18.h4 ad8 looks a better try ]
19.b3 b6 20.c2 de8 52.e3 a3+ 53.d2 a2+ 54.c3 xf2
[ 20...c8? (to bolster the c-pawn) could 55.b7 a2 56.a7 f6? Black loses time as
even be met by 21.xf6 xf6 22.xe6! exposing the f-pawn so early offered White
for instance fxe6 23.xg6+ g7 24.xe6+ addition chances.
h8 25.g5! ] [ Even so, why not 56...e6 57.c4 f6
21.g3 b4 Both sides have three pawn 58.b5 f5 (?) ]
islands, but the difference is that W hite's 57.c4 a1 58.b5 b1+ 59.c6 c1+
pieces are bearing down open lines whereas 60.b6 b1+ 61.c7 a1 62.b8 f5
Black's are rather dormant behind his own
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
without allowing White's bishops to become dubious, but with the current move order, I
too dangerous. The position seems fairly well a m su rp r ise d L u k e d id n 't o p t f o r t o t a k e
balanced with White having a slightly greater advantage of white's early bishop move.
level of comfort. 16.xd3 e6 17.g3 b6 [ Not 4...d7?? when 5.xf7+ xf7
[ 17...b5 looks preferable, cementing the 6.g5+ wins in all variations. ]
position of the knight on d5 before preparing [ 4...e6!? would be my own preference,
...c6-c5. ] perhaps followed by a hippo, or just Ne7 and
18.h4 h5 Personally speaking I would avoid d5. That said, in the resulting positions I
this weakening and instead focus on playing . would much rather be White! 5.0-0! e7
..c6-c5. 6.e1 0-0! and now Fritz thinks White is
[ The immediate 18...c5 is bad because of already clearly better, but I don't think that
19.c4 e7 ( 19...f6 20.dxc5 xc5 means much- computers are not usually
21.xb7 ) 20.d5 , all if which points to 17... very useful on move 6! Personally I like the
b5 being an improvement. Even so we've flexibility in Blacks' position, especially the
got a tough game in prospect in which the fact that I can kick the bishop on c4 with d5
stronger player finally emerges triumphant. ] if I n e e d t o o p e n t h e p o s i t i o n . ( 6...d7
19.g2 fe8 20.e2 e7 21.g5 f5 o r s o m e o t h e r h e d g e h o g m o ve i s a l s o
22.ae1 a5 23.g4 hxg4 24.xg4 c7 worth considering. )]
25.g1 d7 26.c2 ea8 27.f1 c5 [ 4...g4? 5.xf7+ xf7 6.g5+ ]
28.dxc5 xc5 29.h5 gxh5 30.f3 f8 5.e2! The point. 5.Nc3 is not considered
31.d2 d5 32.e1 c8? Overlooking very dangerous, but now White will achieve a
W hite's 34th. 33.g2 f6 34.xa4! b5 stable space advantage with e5. 0-0
35.c2 c4 36.f3 g4 37.xg4 hxg4 [ 5...g4 6.e5 dxe5 7.dxe5 d5 8.0-0
38.xg4 c7 39.e4 c5 40.d2 h2 also looks more comfortable for White, but
41.f4 h8 42.d2 e7 43.xf5 xf5 at least Black won't have a problem with his
44.d6+ e8 45.g2 d5 46.xd5 exd5 light squared bishop. ]
47.xd5 h3+ 48.e1 e6+ 49.xe6+ 6.e5 dxe5
fxe6 50.e2 d7 51.f8 c6 52.d3 [ 6...g4 doesn't look promising. For
1-0 instance, 7.h3 h6 8.h4!? feels quite
dangerous. ]
7.dxe5 d5 8.h3 The position has
653 B04 transposed to an Alekhine! Anybody fond of
Tregubov,Pavel V 2556 m id d l e g a m e ki n g -m a rc h e s wi ll p ro b a b l y
McShane,Luke J 2609 recognise this position from the famous Short-
Bundesliga 2005-6 (9) 29.01.2006 Timman game involving Kh2-g3-h4-g5-h6 b6
[Jonathan Rowson] 9.b3 c6 10.0-0 d4 11.xd4 xd4
12.e1 a5 13.a4 d7?! I doubt that Luke
1.d4 was familiar with the theory, but this looks like
[ 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g6 a strange attempt to improve on the more
5.c4 b6 6.b3 g7 7.e2 0-0 8.h3 conventional moves.
dxe5 9.dxe5 c6 10.0-0 is the game [ 13...e6!? has been suggested here which
position. ] I remember thinking was ludicrous when I
1...g6 2.f3 g7 3.e4 d6 4.c4!? first read about this game (I was 14). Why
A noteworthy move-order, leading to lines that would black voluntarily allow his pawns to
are often highly distinct from those where be doubled and his bishop on g7
white has already committed the knight to c3. (potentially) to be locked in (no f6 break)?
Pirc/Modern players should be careful here or Now I realise that it is not so simple
they might find themselves, as Luke did here, because Black gets a lot of counterplay on
transposing into an Alekhine! Hardly a fate the f-file and against the e5 pawn. However,
worse than death, but not ideal either. f6?! I still pref er W hite af ter 14.xe6 fxe6
It is p rob ably t oo much t o call th is move 15.d2 ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ 13...d7 was once played by Timman but move changes the spirit of the game to a
seems to give white an edge after Nc3-b5. ] Ce n t re -Co u n t e r . 8.exd5 xd5 9.c3
[ 13...e6 14.d2 d5 15.f3 c5 16.e4 ( 9.d1 is the computer's suggestion
b4 17.c4 b6 18.b3 xc4 19.bxc4 although e6 10.c3 xc3 11.bxc3
e8 20.d1 c5 21.h4 b6 22.e3 c6 xc4 12.xc4 d6 looks around level.)
( 22...f8 ) 23.h6 h8 24.d8 b7 9...e8 10.d1 f5 11.a3 d7
25.ad1 g7 26.8d7! f8 27.xg7 xg7 Vachier Lagrave, M (2682)-Fressinet, L
28.1d4 ae8 29.f6+ g8 30.h4 h5 ( 2 6 9 3 ) N a n c y 2 0 1 2 w h e n ( 11...a6
31.h2 c8 ( 31...c8 32.g4! ) 32.g3 should be preferred, with a roughly level
ce8 33.f4 c8 34.g5! Was Short- position. ) 12.xd5! xd5 13.b5 ac8
Timman, Tilburg 1991. ] 14.c4 e4 15.e3 and Black has to
14.e6 fxe6 15.xe6+ h8 16.c3 e5 watch out to stop his queen getting
17.b5! h4 18.xc7! Calling Black's bluff- trapped. ]
there is not enough compensation for the 5.0-0 Maxime continues to develop.
pawns. a6 19.xc8 af6 20.g3 b4 [ 5.b3 is the other main move here, in
21.f4 xf4 22.gxf4 xc8 23.d5 c5 prep arat io n f or B la ck's .. .d 5 . On e high
24.ad1 e6 25.fxe5 exd5 26.b5 e7 powered game continued f6 6.e2 0-0
27.xd5 h5 28.e4 h7 29.d6 g5+ 7.0-0 a5 8.a4 b6 9.d1 a6 10.e1 c7
30.h1 11.e5 dxe5 12.dxe5 d5 13.e6 fxe6?!
1-0 14.g5 f6 15.xe6 1-0 Kramnik, V
(2770)-Svidler, P (2727) Dortmund 2004 -
hardly an endorsement of Black's opening! ]
654 B04 [ Meanwhile 5.c3 would transpose to Getz,
Vachier Lagrave,Maxime 2682 N (2270)-Istratescu, A (2624) Hastings
Bacrot,Etienne 2706 2009 examined by Neil. ]
GP FFE 2nd stage KO rapid (2.2) 29.04.2012 5...f6
[Gawain Jones & Tom Rendle] [ 5...d5 must be the critical test of White's
m o v e o r d e r b u t 6.b3! feels more
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.f3 d6 4.c4 comfortable for White.
Vachier Lagrave uses the line Howell A) 6...dxe4 7.g5 ( 7.e5!? might also
attempted against Aronian which Tom be possible.) 7...h6 8.c3 0-0 9.xe4
annotated recently. c6 c7 10.bd2 d7 11.f3 f5 12.e1
[ Later in the day Fressinet deviated with c5 13.dxc5 xc5 14.xc5 xc5 15.f4
4...f6 but didn't fare much better: 5.e2 and White was on top. Macieja, B (2538)-
0-0 6.h3 ( Tom looked at 6.e5 in Howell, D Czerwonski, A (2414) Plock 2000.;
(2633)-Aronian, L (2807) Berlin 2012.; While B) 6...g4 7.h3 xf3 8.xf3 e6
6.0-0 was looked at in Topalov, V (2777)- Black's position would be fine could he
Mamedyarov, S (2742) Villarrobledo 2008 by complete his development smoothly but
John Watson.) 6...c6 ( 6...c6 here would B1) or 9.c3 e7 10.g5 0-0
be similar to the game but at least W hite ( 10...d7?! 11.exd5 cxd5 12.xd5! )
has committed his queen to e2. Perhaps 11.fe1 with very awkward pressure
therefore White should try 7.b3 ) 7.0-0 down the e file.;
A) Last year another quickplay game of B2) 9.exd5 cxd5 10.c4! e7 11.cxd5
the Frenchman's continued 7...e5 8.dxe5 xd5 12.c3 0-0 13.xd5 exd5
xe5 9.xe5 dxe5 10.d1 e7 11.c3 14.e3 is better for White. ]
c6 12.a4 h5 13.b3 ( Perhaps 13.f3 6.e5 d5 Now the position starts to resemble
is a slight nuance.) 13...f4 14.f3 f6 a n A l e k h i n e a n d a c t u a l l y i s m o r e o f t e n
w h e n B l a c k s h o u l d h a v e e q u a l i s e d . reached by that opening.
Vachier Lagrave, M (2710)-Gashimov, V [ 6...dxe5 is of course the alternative: 7.dxe5
(2757) Beijing 2011.; d5 w h e n t h e u n u s u a l 8.c3!?
B) 7...d5!? This looks new. Fressinet's l o o k s t h r e a t e n i n g . e6 Mai Dongqi-
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
Azmaiparashvili, Z (2671) Jinan 2005 when Perhaps this move isn't an error but Black's
White should try ( 8...xc3 9.xd8+ xd8 position does become difficult to play.
10.bxc3 d7 11.xf7 xe5 12.g5 [ 13...e6 can be met with 14.g5 ]
leaves Black with a rather draughty king.) [ but 13...g4!? 14.xe7 c6 15.e3 f5!?
9.g5 with quite a dangerous initiative. ] gives Black some play for the pawn.
7.e1 Vachier Lagrave keeps the tension. However we're not totally convinced. ]
[ John had a look at 7.exd6 in Fedorchuk, S 14.xf5 gxf5?! Actually this is the error but
(2671)-Genocchio, D (2416) Conegliano it's the na tural f ollow up to his previous .
2008 which is likely to reach fairly similar Unfortunately for Bacrot he doesn't have
positions. ] enough time to cover his kingside.
[ While Neil investigated 7.h3 in Zeberski, J [ The computer thinks Black is basically fine
(2400) -Rozentalis, E (2611) Warsaw 2009. ] after 14...exf5 but to a human this looks
7...0-0 very pleasant for White with an extra pawn
[ Perhaps Black should try 7...dxe5 8.xe5 on c3 in the long term as the extra f pawn is
which transposes to quite a common rather irrelevant. White might continue with
Alekhine line - check out the archives for a 15.f4! as xb2 16.d6 c8 17.b4
few games including Kasparov-Adams. ] followed by 18.Re2 will force Black to give
8.exd6 xd6 9.bd2 f5 In all these up his queen for rook and bishop. ]
positions Black looks fairly solid but W hite 15.e5! d8
always seems to have a small advantage. [ Perhaps 15...f6 is better although 16.d3
[ It makes sense to develop the light squared followed by swinging the rook across to h3
bishop before developing the knight but looks very good for White. ]
9...d7 is seen from time to time. 10.b3 16.h5
e6 11.e4 c7 12.c4 5f6 13.c3 b6 [ Starting with 16.e3! is more accurate as
14.g5 b7 and Black had a solid setup but d7 ( 16...e8?! 17.g3 ) 17.g3!
W hite must still be a tiny bit better. doesn't give Black enough time to play ...f6
Steingrimsson, H (2550)-Konopka, M (2454) and ...Rf7 as f6 18.h6 wins. ]
Germany 2010. ] 16...c6? Now Bacrot is totally lost.
[ 9...g4 is the main move: 10.h3 xf3 [ 16...d7 is b e t t e r b u t 17.xd7 xd7
11.xf3 e6 12.b3 b5 13.g5 d7 18.e3 f6 19.h3 h8 20.g3+ g7
14.h4 fe8 15.g3 f8 16.a4 a6 17.c3 21.h6 f7 22.e1 leaves White obviously
Korneev, O (2588)-Spraggett, K (2573) on top. ]
Torres Vedras 2011 and, although Black's [ Black's last chance was 16...e8 but
got a strong knight on d5 W hite must be 17.d3 is obviously very good for White. ]
better. ] 17.xc6 bxc6 18.e3 Now Black cannot
10.e4 b4?! This looks new and wrong. cover his king. f6 19.g3 h8?
[ Black should give up the bishop pair with [ 19...f4 was necessary although 20.g4
10...xe4 11.xe4 The position is very fe8 21.xf4 f5 22.xf5 exf5 23.g5
similar to the previous notes and Black can't should simply be lost. ]
be t oo m uch worse a f te r e6 ( Instead 20.f4 A couple of easy wins for Vachier
11...d7 was played in a previous Lagrave. Impressive, even if the games were
encounter but 12.xd5 cxd5 13.f4 b4 only rapid. It seems it's not so easy to
14.e3 e6?! 15.b3 a4 16.xb7 equalise for Black.
was much better for W hite. Hoffmann, M 1-0
(2458)-Appel, R (2481) Essen 2000. )]
11.xd5!? Although this works out remarkably
well we don't think it's strongest.
[ Instead 11.b3 followed by c2-c4 looks
very pleasant for White. Black will probably
have to take on e4 anyway. ]
11...cxd5 12.c3 b6 13.g3 e6
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whichever way Black chooses to block the 30...e5 31.g7+ ) 31.f6 and White
a t t a ck o n h i s qu e e n we a ke n s h is ga m e . should draw. ]
However, the black queen can runaway to a 17...xb2 18.e8+ f8 19.e5
powerful square on b6. [ Here 19.g5 loses the horse to c1+ ]
[ So far Rozentalis has been willing to repeat 19...c1+? In some ways this inaccuracy
one of his earlier games which went reflects credit on Rozentalis, as it indicates
12.xd5!? this exchange still looks like the t h a t h e wa s n 't j u s t r e l yi n g o n p r e - g a m e
critical move exd5 13.dxc5 xc5 14.e3 computer analysis to bag the win.
and now b6!? is a likely improvement, with [ Instead the fearless 'computer' move
ideas of Ba6 and keeping the option of Ne6. 19...f5! would end the game very quickly,
If then 15.Bd4 f6 etc. Instead Rozentalis as after 20.xf7+ ( Or 20.xa8 xa1
got ground down after he tried sacrificing a and the knight on b1, which is attacked twice,
pawn to escape from the pressure: is lost. ) 20...h8 White has no good way to
( 14...e4 15.bd2 e8 16.d4 f6 continue his attack, while a1 and b1 are
17.b3 h8 18.ad1 e6 19.xb7 b8 hanging, as is the knight on e5 to a Qc1+
20.xa7 xb2 21.c4 b8 22.xb8 and Qf4+ sequence. ]
bxb8 23.xe4 dxe4 24.xe4 xc4 20.h2 f4+ 21.g1 xh3! 22.xa8
25.xe8+ xe8 26.a4 e2 27.e1 e4 [ White could spoil the pretty finish with
28.c3 g8 29.d2 e6 30.b3 c4 22.xf7+ xf7 23.xf7 xf7 24.gxh3
31.xe6 xe6 32.c5 d5 33.a5 f7 t h o u g h t h e st r o n g G ra n d m a st e r wo u l d
34.a6 e7 35.a4 d6 36.b6 c6 undoubtedly exploit his extra pawn once c5
37.a7 c7 38.d4 f5 39.a8+ drops after c8 etc. ]
1-0 Macieja, B-Rozentalis, E/Warsaw POL 22...g5 23.g3
2006. )] [ T h e o n l y w a y t o p l a y o n w a s 23.f1
12...b6! Perhaps Zeberski underestimated but Black has an irresistible attack after
this move as W hite gains a dangerous xg2+ 24.e2 xe5+ 25.d2 f4+
looking initiative on the kingside. However, 26.c2 e4+ 27.b3 xf2 ]
whether through intuition or through 23...c1+ 24.h2 f1! Despite White' s
preparation with a computer, Rozentalis is extra rook he is powerless to prevent mate on
able to refute this misconception. g2. A fine, if slightly flawed, game by
[ Instead Black would have a poor game after Rozentalis.
12...f6 13.xd5 exd5 14.f4 etc. ] 0-1
13.xd5 Plunging into the life or death
variation.
[ T h e c a r e f u l 13.d2 should have been 657 B04
preferred, though 7f6 is then comfortable Zhigalko,Andrey 2505
for Black. ] Rozentalis,Eduardas 2582
13...exd5 14.e7 e8 15.xc5 xe1+ 22nd Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (9)
16.xe1 xc5 17.dxc5? [John Cox]
[ White might have scraped a draw with
17.e8+ f8 18.g5! threatening mate in 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 dxe5
two e6 ( Not 18...f6? 19.xf8+ xf8 5.xe5 c6 6.d3 d7 7.xd7 xd7 8.0-0
20.xh7+ etc. ) 19.xa8 xb2 20.dxc5 g6 So far the same as Cuijpers-Cox, but now
xa1 ( Black could speculate with 20...c1+ Zhigalko plays a more direct move than has
21.h2 xg5 intending 22...Kg7 and 23... usually been preferred. 9.c4 In fact as far as I
Bxc5. ) 21.xb7 xc5 22.xe6 fxe6 know this move has never been played before.
23.c8+ f7 24.xc5 xb1+ 25.h2 To me (and presumably all the other humans
b6 26.c8 ( The pawn endgame after who've had White in this position) it looks a
26.xb6 axb6 is at least unpleasant for little strange to weaken d4, but the computer
White. ) 26...xf2 27.d7+ f6 28.xh7 goes straight for it. f6 10.h3 A common
xa2 29.h8+ f5 30.f8+ e4 ( Or theme in this sort of position, playing against
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
the d7 bishop, but White is spending a lot of on the open files on the queenside with a
time. It was more natural to play something move like
like [ 24.b1 , but I suspect he failed to take
[ 10.c3 g7 11.e1 0-0 12.g5 Black's next move properly into
, but I don't think Black's in too much danger consideration at all. ]
- m a y b e h e s h o u l d e v e n p l a y g4 24...xe5! Excellent. It's scary but White is
, just for fun. ] never able to create any threats against the
10...g7 11.d2 0-0 12.f3 c7 13.e1 king or the e-pawn which Black is forced to
f5!? A shocking move, and the reason I'm weaken with his next move.
showing this game. The idea is known in the [ 24...f8 25.f3 would be much less good,
Caro-Kann Exchange, but there Black has a and would allow W hite to show some
pawn on d5 instead of c6 (and White's c-pawn compensation for his pawn. ]
is on c3). There one can see Black has more 25.xe5+ f6 26.b1 e7 27.f4 g7
influence in the centre and wins firm control of 28.g3 A big concession now it's very hard to
e4. Also with the centre closed Black has arrange f3 to remove the e4 knight, and if
more chance to do something down the g-file. White can't do that then he's always going to
I've never seen the idea in this structure be worse, if not lost. b6 29.bd1 de8
before, but Rozentalis, with his characteristic [ T h e i m m e d i a t e a n d f e a r l e s s 29...e5
positional originality, makes it look pretty good is the machine's suggestion, and this does
in the game. I suspect, by the way, that it seem to be very strong, but it's easy to see
wouldn't work half so well if W hite had a why a human would prefer a spot of
knight on c3 rather than f3 - the black knight manoeuvring first. ]
wouldn't get e4, and Black would have to 30.f3 g6 31.c1 c8 32.d5 White isn't
watch out for a d5 break (in the game this doing himself much good like this, but sitting
never really becomes an issue until it's far too still wasn't going to help either. e5 33.d6
late). 14.xf5 gxf5 15.e3 ad8 16.c2 gd8 34.a3 xc4 35.c1 xc1 36.xc1
e6 17.ad1 e4 18.c1 h8 19.f4 e7 f4 37.d7 fxg3 38.fxg3 d2
20.e3 g8 Both players have played a [ 38...c5 would have retained a greater
natural series of moves, and Black has all his material lead, but the text is more forcing
pieces where he wants them. I doubt White and easier in time trouble. ]
has any advantage at all - he has to defend d4 39.c3 g7 40.xd2
all the time for one thing, while Black has no [ 40.c7 xg3+ 41.h1 f3 wins ]
similar weak pawn, and for another it's not 40...xg3+ 41.g2 xg2+ 42.xg2 xd7
easy to do anything about the e4 knight. 21.a3 This ending should be winning and the rest of
[ 21.d2?? loses at once to xd4 but ] t h e ga m e s e e s a st e a d y a n d i n e xo ra b l e
[ 21.g5 was a very plausible option. Black advance. 43.c3 g6 44.g3+ f5 45.h4
can play the tactical line xd4 22.xd4 d4 46.h3 e4 47.c1 d3 48.e3 h5
xg5 23.xg5 xg5 24.xd8+ xd8 49.g2 a5 50.f2 b5 51.g8 a4 52.b8
25.xa7 but I think this ending is about as d5 53.g3 a3 54.b6 e5 55.f2 f5
good as W hite can do. Probably Zhigalko 56.e1 f4 57.c1 e3 58.xa3 f3 59.b2+
wanted more, but it looks as though he f5 60.c1 f2+ 61.e2 d1 62.xb5+
overestimated the game continuation. ] g4 63.b4+ g3 64.f4 e1+ A quietly
21...c5! Excellent and well-timed if White were original game, which reminds me somehow of
allowed b4 he might stand a little better. 22.b4 the young Nigel Short, who had a similarly
Still playing ambitiously White was in no great realistic approach to danger as Rozentalis
danger after shows with ...Bxe5!
[ 22.dxc5 , for example xb2 23.b3 f6 0-1
24.d6 xd6 25.cxd6 xd6 26.xd6
xd6 27.xb7= ]
22...cxb4 23.axb4 xb4 24.e5?!
White could still play for some compensation
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
658 B05 can get the move ...e5 in, his pawn on e6 will
Abdulyazanov,Malik 2361 remain a problem. 14.e1 c6 Rather passive.
Tukhvatullin,Timur 2248 The idea is to protect d5 and thus prepare ...
6th ch-PriFO Men (8) 30.01.2008 e5, but White is too well developed.
[John Watson] [ 14...a5!? 15.b5! xc5 16.g4 g6 17.g5
e4 18.xe4 dxe4 19.gxf6 exf3 20.fxg7
In general I don't like the line Black plays in xg7 21.xf3 is materially equal, but
this game (10...d5), but it continues to be White's bishops are very strong. ]
contested. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 [ Perhaps 14...c6 is best, but not equal
4.f3 g4 5.e2 e6 6.0-0 e7 7.c4 b6 following 15.b1 ( or 15.b5 a5 16.a4 )
8.h3 It's a very complicated question whether 15...g6 16.d3 ]
this helps or hurts W hite's cause, but I 15.f4!? a5! 16.bxa5!?
suspect that doing without it is better. h5 [ 16.b5! is still a shot, based upon xc5
[ 8...xf3 9.xf3 is frowned upon because 17.e5! xe2 18.xe2 and White will
there's no comfortable way to defend b7: regain his material. ]
c6 ( 9...c6? 10.exd6 xd6 11.c5; 9...c8 16...xf3
10.exd6 cxd6 11.b3 c6 12.c3 [ 16...xa5!? ]
with space and free development )] 17.xf3 xc5 18.c1 e4 Almost an action
9.c3 White can play 9 exd6, but waiting of despair, giving away all the key squares.
doesn't hurt. 0-0 Black should play something more active, for
[ 9...dxe5? 10.xe5 xe2 11.xe2 xd4? example,
( 11...0-0 12.d1 c6 13.xc6 bxc6 [ 18...xa5 19.d6 bd7 20.xf8 xf8
14.f4 ) 12.d1 ( or 12.b5 d8 13.f3 ) wh e n W h it e st a ys a h e a d m a t e r ia ll y b y
12...c5 13.b4! xb4 14.b5 and both 21.xd5! exd5 22.dxc5 xa2 , but at least
Nxc7+ and Ba3 are threatened. ] there are opposite coloured bishops and a
10.e3 d5!? The radical approach. 11.c5 lot to play for. ]
6d7!? [ 18...bd7 19.d6 xa5 transposes ]
[ 11...xf3 is far more common, when both 19.xe4 dxe4 20.xe4 xa5 21.b3
recaptures are possible, but key is 12.gxf3 [ or 21.xe6 xd4 22.d6! d8? 23.b3! ]
c8 13.f4 21...xd4? But everything is falling apart
A) 13...g6? 14.f5! exf5 ( 14...gxf5 anyway:
15.b3 b6 16.h2 h8 17.g1 ) [ 21...d5 22.xb7 xd4 23.b4! ]
15.xd5! , etc.; 22.xe6+ h8 23.d6 a7 24.xf8 xf8
B) 13...h4 is also played. Theoretically it 25.f4
helps Black that the move h3 has been 1-0
played.;
C) 13...c6 14.f5 ( or 14.d3!?
with the idea xc5 15.dxc5 d4 16.e4! ) 659 B05
14...exf5 , and now 15.b3 might be Arakhamia Grant,Ketevan 2435
better than 15 Bf3 Bg5!, as in the Archives. Baburin,Alexander 2545
T h e i d e a i s s i m p l y b8 16.ad1 25th Liechtenstein Open (7) 17.05.2007
, which threatens d5. ] [John Watson]
12.b4
[ 12.b3 b6 13.ac1 is a natural Baburin seems to have faith in the Flohr move
sequence. ] 5...c6. That's a good enough reason to
12...f6!? investigate it. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6
[ 12...c6 gets the pieces out. Then 13.b5 4.f3 g4 5.e2 c6 Various reasons are
a5 14.a4 c6 ( 14...xf3 15.gxf3 c4!? given why this is weaker than 5...e6, but none
16.xc4 dxc4 17.xc4 doesn't give serious o f t h e m a r e t o t a l l y c o n v i n c i n g . 6.0-0
compensation. )] Other, currently less popular, moves are still
13.exf6 xf6 Black covers e5, but unless he critical:
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ a) 6.c4 b6 ( 6...c7 is also playable) 15.f4 b4 16.e3 xc3!? (risky) 17.bxc3
7.bd2 8d7 8.0-0 ( 8.exd6 exd6 9.0-0 a5 18.f2 e7 19.ab1 g6 20.g3 b6
e7 10.e1 0-0 has the idea ...d5, and is 21.g2 and White had all the chances in
certainly playable.) 8...dxe5 9.xe5 xe5 Boensch, U -Bagirov, V, Berlin East 1979. ]
10.dxe5 f5 11.b3 e6 12.d1 c7 13...f5 14.c3
13.g3 0-0-0 14.b3 h5 A Greet-A [ White can also continue naturally by
Baburin, Birmingham 2006 previously cited 14.xf5 exf5 15.e3 In an older contest,
in ChessPub. ] this resembled our game: c5 16.h1 b6
[ b) 6.g5 f5!? ( 6...xe2 7.xe2 dxe5 17.xc5 xc5 18.c3 0-0-0 19.ab1
8.dxe5 e6 is better than its reputation, and ( 19.c2 g6 20.a4= ) 19...e6! 20.c2
in fact the choice of several strong players, d4 21.a4 ( 21.d3! g6 22.b4!
but is more defensive.) 7.e6! fxe6 8.g4 is more enterprising) 21...e6 ( 21...c5!
( 8.d3; 8.g4 ) 8...g6 9.d3 xd3 stops b4 ) 22.c2 d4 23.a4 d7 24.b4
10.xd3 has been debated for a long time. I a6!? 25.xa6 bxa6 26.bc1 hd8
think a plausible unique idea would be a6 1/2-1/2 Rakic, T (2455) -Knezevic, M
( 10...f6 11.xe6 d7 12.e2 (2490)/Maribor 198001 ]
is normal ) 11.xh7 ( 11.xe6 d7 14...0-0-0 15.xf5 exf5 16.e3 c5
12.e2 ac7= ) 11...a5+!? 12.c3 17.a4 xe3+ 18.xe3 b6 19.xb6+
( 12.d2 f4 13.e4 d5 is unclear) xb6 20.xb6 axb6 21.ad1
12...0-0-0 13.g5 d7! with a messy The endgame is rather dull. I'd rather be White,
position. ] but it's hard to believe in more than a tiny
6...xf3 7.xf3 dxe5 8.dxe5 e6 9.e2!? edge, and nothing much happens for a while.
Cox strongly criticises this defence of the d- Then White gets careless and the tables turn.
pawn, but it's played by a lot of strong players. S t ill, it t a ke s a f in a l, h o rr ib le b lu n d e r t o
In fact, 9 Qe2 (or sometimes 10 Qe2, decide things: d7 22.xd7 xd7 23.d1+
transposing) is played f ar more than any e6 24.d6+ e7 25.d3 a8 26.b3
other line in MegaBase, and occurred in the d7 27.a3 c7 28.f2 d8 29.e3 d1
last 6 games that I've seen with this line in 30.d3 h1 31.h3 e1+ 32.f3 h4 33.b3
international play. In theory White has been a1 34.a4 a2 35.d1 b2 36.d3 c2
thought to have better chances of gaining the 37.e3 d7 38.g4? e6 39.d3 g6
advantage by bringing his rook to e1, perhaps 40.d6+ e7 41.gxf5 gxf5 42.h6 c3+
preceded by Nd2. See this month's game 43.g2 g3+ 44.h2 xb3 45.xh4 b4
Se n f f -K ra s e n ko v. d7 10.c4 'Another 46.h8 xc4 47.b8 e6 48.xb7 xf4
mistake', says Cox, and indeed, this move 49.xb6 d5 50.a5 a4 51.a6 c5 52.g3
could wait. But it's not so bad. e7 11.g4!? c4 53.f4 c3+ 54.e3 xe5 55.d3 a3
Cox has a low opinion of this idea, to say the 56.h4 f4 57.c6 f5 58.h5 f3 59.xc3??
least: 'the great Botvinnik came up with the [ 59.e3 ]
moderately ludricrous idea of Bf3-g4-h3 in a 59...f2
game against Flohr at Nottingham 1936 (I 0-1
assume - charitably - that it wasn't
preparation).' Well, Bg4-h3 and f4 is simply a
plan - not great, but not bad either. And for its 660 B05
purpose, playing Qe2 and leaving the rook on Arnold,L 2340
f1 is appropriate. Rozentalis,Eduardas 2595
[ 11.d1 c7 12.f4 g6 13.g3 GM Augsburg GER (6) 01.01.2005
t ra n s p o s e s t o t h e n o t e t o t h is m o n t h ' s [John Cox]
Ibarra Chami-Fernandez Garcia game. ]
11...h5 12.h3 c7 13.f4 It's a matter of 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g4
timing, and this move will probably be played 5.e2 e6 6.c4 b6 7.c3?! I can't think
soon anyway. Here's another example: White meant to play this. Maybe he wanted to
[ 13.e1 (unnecessary) 0-0-0 14.c3 g6 play Bologan's idea 7 h3 Bh5 8 exd6 cxd6 9
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17...xf4 18.xf4 8e7! Very strong. After 37.xd5+ cxd5+ 38.f3 d4-+ winning ]
this excellent move White has no advantage, 37...e7! 38.d4
despite his extra pawn and massive pawn [ 38.f4 g6-+ winning ]
centre. Black intends Rb8 and only then to 38...h3! 39.f3
recapture on d4. [ 39.f3 doesn't help W hite, after e5
[ White is better after 18...xd4 19.xb7 Black should win . ]
b8 20.g2! xb2 21.g4! with a strong 39...d5 40.e7 xe7 41.f5 f6! 42.f4
kingside attack. ] e6 43.g3 e4+ 44.xh3 xf2+
19.b3 45.h4 d5 46.g5
[ 19.d2 d7 ] [ 46.g5 d3 47.h6 c1 ]
19...b8 20.e4?! White overestimates his 0-1
chances in the endgame. He should take a
draw by
[ 20.e2 d7 21.g4 d5 22.f4 662 B05
( White can't protect his d4-pawn, as Baklan,Vladimir 2571
22.d2 fails to xe5 ) 22...fd8 23.f3 Kosikov,Alexey I 2460
d7 24.g4 d5= , and triple repetition is Kiev 2000
unavoidable. ] [Alexander Volzhin]
20...xd4! The forthcoming endgame is good
for Black. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g4
[ On the other hand, 20...xd4? 21.g4! 5.e2 c6 6.0-0 xf3 7.xf3 dxe5 8.dxe5
gives White a strong attack. ] e6 9.e1 d7 10.d2 e7 The games
21.xd4 xd4 22.fd1 fd8 23.d3? Gufeld-Goh and Cmilite-Zhukova show that
[ 23.d5 was better, although the position attempts to win the e5-pawn are too risky for
after e2+! 24.f1 xd5 25.xd5 xd5 Black. Therefore quiet moves such as the text
26.xd5 f4! 27.g2 f8 28.d1 e7 move or 10...Qc7 11. Nc4 N7b6 as played in
is quite unpleasant for White. ] Malakhov-Sedina seem to be the only
23...dc6 24.e6? White's position could playable possibilities for Black in this variation.
tolerate one mistake, but two in a row is too [ Black tried this move after 10...c7 11.c4
much! e7 in Krstic-Havas, Pula 1999, but this
[ After the correct 24.xc6 xd3 25.xd3 doesn't look good: 12.d6+ f8
xc6 Black still has to prove his advantage A) I would prefer 13.xd5 and Black has
is enough for a win. ] difficult problems to solve:
24...f5! 25.g2 xd3 26.xd3 d8 27.f4 A1) After 13...exd5?! White has a
g6! Now Black is planning Kg7-f6, and the e6- pleasant choice between 14.f5 and
pawn is in danger. 28.e1 g7 29.xc6 ( 14.xf7 xf7 15.e6+ with a huge
bxc6! edge in both cases. );
[ 29...xc6? allows White to escape: 30.e7! A2) 13...cxd5 14.f4 and White intends
e8 31.e6+ f7 32.xc7 xe7 to open files in the centre by playing c2-
33.xe7+ xe7 34.f4= ] c4 at the right moment, while Black has
30.g2 se ri o u s p r o b l e m s c o -o r d i n a t in g h i s
[ White can't prevent g5, as 30.h4 fails to forces. It's important that Black can't
d4-+ winning ] exploit the unstable position of White's
30...g5! 31.e2 f6 32.h4 gxh4! 33.f4 K n i g h t o n d 6 , f o r e x a m p l e : xe5
d4 34.f3 e4 35.xe4 fxe4+ 36.xe4 ( 14...f6? is bad in view of 15.b5 c4
The knight ending is won for Black, as he has 16.exf6 xf6 17.d4 and Black is in
a strong passed pawn on h4, and W hite's trouble. ) 15.xf7 xf7 16.xe5
pawn on e6 is about to fall. d5 with a huge edge for White.;
[ 36...g6! at once was even better. ] B) 13.c4?! A tactical oversight. xe5!
37.e2 Now Black has everything in order.
[ Of course, the pawn ending is lost: 14.cxd5 xd6 15.dxe6 xd1 16.xd1
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d3 17.e2 fxe6 18.xe6 f6 19.c2 the statistics are very poor for Black. In many
xc1 20.xc1 e8 21.xe8+ xe8 lines White enjoys a small but steady edge,
22.e1+ d7 23.b3 h6 and a draw was while Black is compelled to passive defence
agreed. ] wit h o ut se rio u s ch a n ces o f co u n t erp la y.
11.c4! Cle arly B lack u rge ntly n eed s n ew ide as ,
[ White has also tried 11.f1 but this didn't o t h e r wi s e i t ' s t i m e t o s wi t c h t o a n o t h e r
give him any advantage: c7 12.c4 5b6 variation.
13.e2 0-0 14.b3 fd8 15.b2 f8 16.g3 1-0
bd7 17.g2 c5 18.ad1 xd1 19.xd1
d8 and Black managed to equalise in Van
den Doel-Baklan, Zagan 1995. ] 663 B05
11...0-0 12.a4 a5 13.d2 c7 14.e2 Becerra Rivero,Julio 2609
Although White hasn't got much here, it's not Yermolinsky,Alex 2522
pleasant to play this position with Black, since Foxwoods Open (8) 12.04.2009
he lacks active counterplay. fd8 [John Watson]
[ After the game GM Baklan recommended
14...b4!? 15.c3 e7 reducing the Black employs a known but rare idea involving
pressure on the a5-pawn and intending Nc5- ...a6. White plays too cautiously to gain the
b3, but in my opinion, 16.e4! is strong advantage, which he probably could have
enough and Black can't create any serious gotten with queenside expansion. 1.e4 f6
c o u n t e r p l a y : b5 ( 16...c5 17.c2 ) 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g4 5.e2 e6
17.axb5 cxb5 18.e3! ] 6.c4 b6 7.c3 e7 8.h3
15.e4 b4 16.f4 c5 17.e2 d4 [ A similar setup followed in another
18.g3 ad8 Both sides moves are very Ye rm olin sky ga m e : 8.0-0 0-0 9.e3
logical. 19.d6! and: a)
[ 19.c3 xc4 20.xc4 c2 and Black is A) b) 9...c6 is a traditional main line.
OK, to say the least. ] This month's game 10.exd6 cxd6 11.d5
19...g5? A tactical oversight. xf3 12.xf3 e5 13.dxe6 xf3+
[ 19...d5 is wo rt h c o n sid e rin g : 20.b3 14.xf3 fxe6 15.g4 f6 16.ae1 c8
(forced) and only now g5! obtaining real 17.xb6 axb6 18.e4 f8 19.a3 a5
counterchances. The game could continue: 20.e2 af5 21.f3 f4 22.d1 xe4
21.xd5 xd5 22.g4 d2 23.ed1 c3 23.xe4 f5 24.h1 ( 24.b4!
24.xd5 exd5 25.f5 e6 26.f1 t h r e a t e n s t h e p a w n o n d 6 , a n d b5
i n t e n d i n g t o m a r c h h i s f - p a w n xe5!? 25.xd6 xd6 26.xd6 bxc4 27.xe6
( Black has to play actively as White's f7 28.e7+ f8 29.e3
tactical threats on the K-side should not be with a relatively safe pawn lead.) 24...d7
u n d e r e s t i m a t e d , f o r e x a m p l e 26...b5? 25.d3 b5! 26.b4 bxc4 27.xc4 d5
is bad in view of 27.h4! b8 28.xg7 28.d3 a4 29.g3 e5 and suddenly
xg7 29.f6 ) 27.h6+ f8 28.xf7 xf7 Black was more active in Kotsur-Neverov,
29.xe5 and White is only slightly better. ] Dubai 2009.;
20.h5! Surprisingly, after this simple move B) 9...a6!? 10.b3 d5 11.c5 6d7 12.h3
Black is hopelessly lost. He can't avoid large xf3 13.xf3 c6 14.a3 h8 15.g3?!
material losses. f5 Desperation, but Black's A strange idea. ( 15.d3 f6 16.exf6 xf6
position was already lost. 17.ad1 ) 15...f6! 16.exf6 xf6 17.c1
[ 20...g6 21.c3 d2 22.g4 and White (...Nxc5 was threatened and White can't
wins material. ] protect his centre, for example,
21.f7+ f8 22.c3 d2 23.h5 h6 ( 17.d3?? de5! 18.dxe5 xe5
24.cxb4 axb4 25.xe6 Black resigned. Now 19.e2 xf3+ 20.xf3 xc3; or 17.e2
we can draw certain conclusions. Obviously in xc5 ) 17...xd4! 18.g4?! c6
t h e M a i n li n e o f t h e A l e k h i n e 's B l a c k i s 19.xe6 d4 20.e4 dxe3 21.xd7
currently having serious problems - certainly xd7 22.xd7 e2 23.fe1 e5 24.g4
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
d3 25.xe2 xc1 26.xc1 b2 idea c6 16.d5! ) 15...d5 ( 15...xf3!?
27.d1 ad8 and Black went on to win in 16.xf3 d7 17.b3 e5 18.h5 g6
Zhao-Yermolinsky, Ledyard 2009. ] 19.e2 ) 16.fd1 (with the idea Nxd5) e5
8...h5 9.e3 0-0 10.0-0 a6!? The main ( 16...xe3 17.xe3 with ideas of Qxe6+,
point of this mysterious move is that in lines Nxd5, and/or Bg4) 17.xd5 ( 17.e4 bd7
with ...Bxf3 and Bxf3, Black can play ...Nxc4, 18.xd5 exd5 19.xd5+ h8 20.f4
since Bxb7 doesn't win a rook after ...Ra7. and Bxb7 is unclear) 17...exd5 18.xd5
This means that 11...Bxf3 is an immediate bc6! 19.b6 c7 20.f4 ae8 ( 20...g6
positional threat. Furthermore, in lines where 21.d7 ) 21.d5 d6 22.fxe5 xe5
Black plays ...d5 and W hite plays c5, the 23.xe7+ xe7 24.c4+ e6 and White
move ...a6 is useful in restraining b4-b5. has bishop-versus-knight, but this is
[ 10...d5 is the main line featured in John basically equal. ]
Cox' book. ] 14.e2 Not bad, but a little cautious.
11.exd6 cxd6 12.d5 [ 14.c5!? seems gives White some
[ 12.b3 always has to be calculated when a d v a n t a g e f o l l o w i n g dxc5 ( 14...c4
...a6 is played. Here White, who threatens 15.b3 xe3 16.fxe3 ) 15.c1 ( 15.d6!?
c5, may have some advantage: a) xd6! 16.xd6 xd6 17.e4 e7
A) b) In an earlier ChessPublishing game 18.xc5 c4! 19.xb7 xe3 20.fxe3
Hoepfl-Tischbierik, Osterburg 2006 we d7 21.a5 is at most nominally better for
saw 12...8d7 13.a4 W hite but now d6 is a threat) 15...c4
A1) 13...a5 14.ac1! combines the ( 15...d6 16.e4 c4 17.e2 ) 16.e4
ideas of Qb5 (with tempo versus h5) xe3 17.fxe3 with the idea f5 18.d6! ]
followed by c5, and c8! 15.b5 d5 14...8d7 15.c1 Slow.
16.c5 c4 17.xc4 dxc4 18.xc4 [ 15.a4 a5 16.b5 c8 17.b3 c5
xf3 19.gxf3 , when Black comes up a doesn't seem to scary, but White could try ]
little short in the natural line f6 20.f4 [ 15.b3!? f5 ( 15...c8 16.e4 f5
d5 21.g3 b4 22.d6 c7 17.c5! ) 16.c5 f4 17.cxd6 xd6 18.xb6
23.xb4!? ( 23.g2 ) 23...axb4 xb6 19.e4 with an irritating edge. ]
24.xb4; 15...c8 16.a4 xa4 17.xa4 c7!?
A2) 13...xf3 14.gxf3!? ( This occurred [ 17...f5! 18.f4? ( 18.b4 f4 19.d2 c5 )
in no less than 3 games! Is there 18...exf4 19.xf4 c5 20.a3 g5
s o m e t h i n g w r o n g w i t h 14.xf3 with good activity, open files, and White's
? A sample line would be c7 15.c5 interior weaknesses to jump on. ]
dxc5 16.a5 c8 17.xb7 xb7 18.a3! h6
18.xb7 a7 19.f3 cxd4 20.xd4 [ 18...f5 ]
c5 21.xc5 xc5 22.fd1 19.fd1
when you have to prefer White) 14...b8 [ 19.b4! intends c5: f5 ( 19...g5 20.c5 )
15.h1!? ( 15.fd1 is played twice in 20.f4 exf4 21.xf4 ]
the notes to that game) 15...g5 16.g1 19...c8 20.a4 c5
xe3 17.fxe3 h4 18.g2!? c8 [ 20...g5 21.xg5 hxg5 22.b4 e4! ]
and White had a small edge with 19 Kh2, 21.c2 g5 22.g4 xe3 23.fxe3 d7
but could also play 19 Ne4 or 19 Rag1.; This is about equal, and nothing changes that:
B) 12...c7 13.d5 8d7 14.dxe6! fxe6 24.b4 b6 25.e4 a8 26.f2 f6 27.f3
15.d4 xe2 16.xe6 xc4 17.xe2 c8 28.c3 a5 29.a3 axb4 30.axb4 a8
with a positional advantage. ] 31.b2 h7 32.g4 f6 33.f3 h7
12...xf3 13.xf3 e5!? I'm not convinced 34.g4 f6
that this equalises. The greedy ½-½
[ 13...xc4 14.dxe6 fxe6 might be okay:
15.e2 ( 15.b3 xf3! 16.gxf3 c7;
15.d4 xf3! 16.gxf3 d5 give Black
obvious compensation; 15.e1!? with the
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22.xe4 d7 23.f3 with a slight is simply bad: 16.gxf5 xf5 17.g4 ) 16.h4!
advantage, Travenec-Cibulka, Slovakia xe3 ( 16...xh4 is too dangerous 17.e4
1996. I find this idea very interesting! ] g6 18.f3 threatening Qh3) 17.xe3
11...d7 12.f4 c7 13.c3 intending Ne4, g5, Bg4 etc. with an
[ Or 13.d2 f5 14.f3 c5+ 15.h1= ] obvious advantage. ]
13...f5 14.g4 c5+ 15.g2 e3+ 15.g4! Playing this move white already should
16.xe3 xe3 17.f3 d2 18.d1 xc3 have calculated the consequences of his 17th
19.xc3 c5 20.c2 a5 move. e4 otherwise white will dominate on the
With no weaknesses and one open file, Black l i g h t s q u a r e s 16.g2 f6 17.b5!!
has equalised. Excellent! The rook sacrifice gives white a
½-½ strong attack.
[ Black's idea was to meet the natural looking
17.c1 with xc3+ 18.xc3 xd5! 19.c1
666 B05 xe3 20.xe3 a5+ winning a pawn for
Bologan,Viktor 2600 nothing. ]
Tischbierek,Raj 2500 17...xa1 18.xd6+ f8
Wien (open) 1996 [ 18...e7 doesn't help black too much:
[Alexander Volzhin] 19.xf5+ f8 20.0-0 Black is a rook up,
but his pieces are uncoordinated and his
Of course, some players don't like positions rook on h8 doesn't take part in the fight. So
with pawn chains, like we saw in the main line. we can talk about "material equality"! Now
Among the deviations from the main line the white intends to play f3, opening the f-file.
following idea of GM Victor Bologan is worth f6 21.g5! xg5 22.d4! Now it's
considering. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 impossible to protect the e6 square. c5
4.f3 g4 5.e2 e6 6.h3 h5 7.c4 b6 23.b4 bd7 wh a t e ls e ? 24.bxc5 xc5
8.exd6 cxd6 9.c3 e7 10.d5!N 25.f3! now white has a decisive advantage,
This natural move seems to be a novelty. Now for example: xe3+ 26.xe3 g8 27.fxe4
white obtains a space advantage and and black can't prevent e5, d6 etc. ]
prospects of a queenside attack. e5 11.e3 19.0-0 e5
xf3!? [ 19...f6 fails to 20.g5! xg5 21.h5 g6
[ 11...8d7 threatening 12... B:f3 12.g4 22.xg5 xg5 23.xg5 White has won a
( 12.d2 xe2 13.xe2 is not bad either pie ce back, and black's f orces are s till
f5!? 14.g4 f4 15.xb6 xb6 16.de4 uncoordinated. b8 24.f3 exf3 25.xf3
and white should be happy with his c8 ( 25...e5 26.f6 xf3+ 27.xf3
position. ) 12...g6 13.h4 h6 ( 13...h5 g8 28.e3 d7 29.d4+- winning )
14.g5 c8 15.b3 f5 16.d2 g6 26.b5 f7 27.f4 e8 28.xb8 xb8
17.de4 white is clearly better) 14.d3 29.c5 with advantage ]
xd3 15.xd3 f6 16.g1 with a big 20.xf5! Of course, white's knight is better
advantage for white. ] than black's passive rook! h5? This ridiculous
12.xf3 8d7 move is a waste of time, but black's position
[ From a positional point of view the is a lre a d y h o p e le ss. He h a s n o d e f e n c e
exchange of dark-squared bishops favours against f3 (or f4). The following variations are
black, unfortunately he has no time for it, as illustrative of black's difficulties:
w h i t e b r e a k s i n t h e c e n t r e : 12...g5? [ 20...g6 21.d4 xd4 22.xd4 f7
13.xg5 xg5 14.b5 d8 15.c5! dxc5 ( 22...g8 23.f4 g7 24.xe4 e7
16.d6 winning. ] 25.xg7+ xg7 26.f5+- winning ) 23.f4
[ Of course the pawn is taboo: 12...xc4?? e8 24.f5 g5 25.f6 f8 26.e3 h6 27.h4
13.a4+ ] h7 28.xe4+- winning ]
13.e2 c8 14.b3 f5 Otherwise white will [ 20...g8 21.f4 exf3 22.xf3 h6 23.d6
play g4, for example: f6 24.e7+ f8 25.xb7 b8 26.e4+-
[ 14...0-0 15.g4! g5 ( 15...f5? after g4 this winning ]
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1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g4 There's a lot of action in this brief encounter.
5.e2 e6 6.0-0 e7 7.c4 b6 8.c3 0-0 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g4
9.h3 h5 10.e3 d5 11.c5 xf3 12.gxf3 5.e2 c6 6.0-0 xf3 Black goes into the
Considered the critical test for Black. Instead main line. 6...Nd7 is featured in our other 4...
[ 12.xf3 c4 is less challenging for Bg4 game, Ol Ivanov-Derbenev, Lipetsk 2009.
Black. ] 7.xf3 dxe5 8.dxe5 e6 9.e2 d7
12...c8 13.f4 c6 14.b4 10.d2
[ A f t e r t h e m a i n a l t e r n a t i v e 14.f5 [ No one tried (noticed? Been able to
Black recently tried h4?! but following stomach?) my suggestion from an earlier
( 14...exf5 15.f3 is standard but Black has update, 10.d1 , after which I'll quote
yet to prove a totally convincing route to myself and add a few notes: " c7 11.c4
equality ) 15.d3 exf5 16.f3 6e7 e7 12.f4 g6 13.g3 This is supposed
17.h5 g6 18.xf5 c6 19.h1 ce7 to be a terrible square for White's bishop,
20.c2 f5 21.exf6 xf6 22.f4 although it serves its purpose of preserving
W hite retained the initiative in Von Bahr- the cramping e-pawn. And the rook is on d1,
Friberg, Skara 2002 ] usually a bad square. In fact, Cox says with
14...h4 15.b1 8e7 16.d3 g6 17.h2 emphasis that the rook does NOT belong on
[ 17.f3 f5 18.xf5 gxf5 19.h5 h8 d1, wanting to put it on e1 before doing
20.h2 g8!? 21.xf7 e8 22.xe8 anything else. I think that's true in most
axe8 is the earlier game Kindermann- cases, but in concrete terms the rook
Baburin, Germany 1997/8. Theory says prevents captures on e5 while discouraging
equal as the extra pawn is not relevant as ca st li n g qu e e n si d e . B l a c k m ig h t t r y t o
White's bishop is so bad. ] encourage an exchange on g6, for example,
17...f5 18.xf5 exf5!? In the game against e7 ( 13...dxe5? 14.h5! a5 15.d2
Kinderman Baburin recaptured with the other d7 16.e4 gives White more than enough
pawn. Here he shows an alternative defensive f o r a p a wn .; I did find this single example:
set-up. 19.g1 d7 20.f3 fd8 21.h5 13...0-0-0 14.c3 (I still like 14 Bh5) b4
e7 22.d1 a6 23.e2 h8 Black isn't 15.e4!? dxe5 16.c5! f5! 17.d6+
going anywhere, but W hite isn't really xd6 18.cxd6 xd6 19.xe5?! xe5
achieving a great deal either! ECO prefers 20.g3 g6 21.g2 e8 22.ab1 g4
White in these lines but I don't think Baburin 23.b4! e5 24.h3 f6 25.b5 Kuzmin, G
agrees! 24.c2 g8 25.a3 d8 26.g3 (2525)-Pribyl, J (2405), Ceske Budejovice
e6 27.a4 c6 28.b3 f8 29.b1 h6 1995 maybe W hite's a bit better, but it's
30.h4 g7 31.h3 h5 32.c1 e6 certainly not clear) 14.h5 0-0! ( 14...0-0-0
It looks to me that 14 f5 is the best hope for 15.d2 c5 16.f3; 14...h4 15.xh4
an opening advantage. xh4 16.c3!? xe5!? 17.e4 0-0
½-½ 18.d6 wit h u n cle a r co m p e n s a t io n)
15.d2?! ( 15.c3 ad8 16.f4
gives White an edge) 15...ad8 16.xg6
hxg6 17.e4 xe5 18.b4! with the idea of
c5, and xb4? 19.b2 xd1+ 20.xd1
d8 21.f1 . Perhaps the setup with Bg3,
Qe2, and Rd1 deserves more attention. ]
10...e7 11.b3? Perhaps simply missing the
reply. Better is
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with an edge although the open f-file and [ 34...e5 35.xe5 xe5 36.xd5 xd5
slightly unsaf e position of W hite's King 37.xc5 dxc5 38.b1 is hopeless for
g i v e s B l a c k c e r t a i n c o u n t e r c h a n c e s .) Black. ]
17...xe4 18.xe4 g6 19.d2 c5 35.fxg3 xf3 36.xc5
a n d n o w s i m p l e 20.c2 ( instead of [ I wo u ld p r e f e r 36.e1 a8 37.e3!
20.c2 ) 20...a5 ( 20...ac8 21.b4!? cd7 and Black is in trouble: xh5 38.xc5 dxc5
22.b3 ) 21.b1 secured White a clear 39.d5 winning the b7-pawn. ]
edge. ] 36...dxc5 37.f4 xh5 38.e1 xe1+
[ 14...f5 was tried also but after 15.d2 g6 39.xe1 g6 40.a4? The last move before
16.de4 threatening Ng3, White is clearly the time control throws away the win.
better. Leonardo-Rodrigues Maceira 1997 ] [ 40.c4! preventing the bishop transfer to
15.b3 c5 16.g1!? bd7 17.b4! e4!? the a6-square should be played and after
Both opponents play very inventively and now f5 41.d5 c8 (the only move) 42.a4
very sharp position has arisen. Black can hardly hold the endgame. ]
[ 17...e4 deserved attention. ] 40...d3! 41.a5 b5 42.c7 a6
18.d2 d3+ 19.f1 xb4 20.dxe4 0-0 Black has built a fortress and now White can't
21.d4! Now it's clear that White has make any progress. 43.g4 g6 44.g5 c4
outplayed his opponent. White's centralized 45.d2 b4+ 46.c2 g7 47.d8 h7
pieces are well coordinated and after 48.f6 g8
capturing the h5-pawn W hite has good ½-½
chances for a K-side attack. e8 22.a3 a6
23.xh5 xc4 24.e2 c8!? Black tries to
complicate. 675 B05
[ A f t e r t h e n a t u r a l 24...c8 25.h5 Hoepfl,Thomas 2313
Black's position is very difficult, for example: Tischbierek,Raj 2466
xe4 26.xe4 ac5 27.g3! ch-GER Osterburg GER (8) 10.02.2006
By transferring the Knight to the f5-square [Andrew Martin]
W h i t e o b t a i n s a c r u s h i n g a t t a c k : xg5
28.f5 e5 29.f4! xf4 30.xg7! h2 A sharp tactical Alekhine's Defence game
31.g2 f6+ 32.f3! and White wins: where both sides have chances but Hoepfl
xf3+ 33.xf3 xf3 34.xe8+ ] makes a serious error in allowing Tischbierek
25.h5! The correct approach. White doesn't a passed pawn which ultimately wins him the
accept the sacrifice and just executes his plan. game. 1.e4 f6 Alekhine's Defence 2.e5
[ 25.xc4 xc4+ 26.g2 dc5! d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g4 Although not as
allows unnecessary complications. ] popular as it was in the 1970s and 1980s, this
25...f5 26.g3! A very strong manoeuvre. line is still played frequently by many
f8 27.e3! b6 28.xb6 cxe4 grandmasters such as Baburin and Sergeev.
Otherwise White wins easily: 5.e2 e6
[ 28...axb6 29.xc4 xc4+ 30.e2 ] [ 5...c6 is also frequently played. 6.0-0
[ 28...xe4 29.xc4 xc4+ 30.e2 xe2+ ( 6.g5 xe2 7.xe2 dxe5 8.dxe5 e6
31.xe2 axb6 32.xe4 - both lines are 9.0-0 e7 10.h5 xg5 11.xg5 c7
hopeless for Black. ] 12.c4 b6 13.c3 xe5 14.g4 0-0
29.xe4 xe4 15.fe1 1/2-1/2 Almasi - Zlatic, Budapest
[ 29...axb6 30.d4 is also very bad for 2005; 6.c4 b6 7.exd6 exd6 8.b3 e7
Black. ] 9.c3 d5 10.c5 6d7 11.0-0 0-0 12.f4
30.xa7 f5 After the exchange sacrifice e8 13.e1 xe2 14.xe2 b6 15.cxb6
Black has managed to activate his pieces but 1/2-1/2 Hansen - Baburin, Calvia Olympiad
of course White's material advantage should 2004 ) 6...xf3 7.xf3 dxe5 8.dxe5 e6
be enough for the win. 31.d4! c5 32.g3 9.d2 d7 10.e1 b4 11.xd5 cxd5
xd5 33.g4 xg5 34.f3 xg3!? 12.g4 b6 13.xg7 0-0-0 14.c3 c5
Black tries his last chance. 15.g3 dg8 16.f4 g7 17.b4 e7
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18.f3 hg8 19.g3 b8 20.e3 c7 [ 25...f6 26.c5+ d5 27.xe3 e5-+ ]
21.ac1 b6 22.xb6 xb6 23.a3 h5 26.e3 e5 27.4g3
24.c4 h4 25.e3 hxg3 26.hxg3 xe3 [ 27.4g2 is better but probably would not
27.xe3 dxc4 28.xc4 d8 29.d3 b6 have changed the result. ]
30.g2 and eventually White went on to win 27...be8 28.d2 f6 29.f4 fxg5 30.fxe5
with the extra pawn. Carlsen - Dannevig, f2+ 31.h1 dxe5 32.e3 f8 33.d3
Norway 2005 1-0 ] f4 34.xe2 f5
6.c4 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 0-1
[ 9.e3 is another popular move. c6
10.exd6 cxd6 11.d5 exd5 12.xd5 xd5
13.xd5 e6 14.d2 d5 15.c5 c8 16.b4 676 B05
f6 17.ad1 e8 18.a3 a6 19.fe1 c7 Ibarra Chami,Luis Fernando 2325
20.d4 xd4 21.xd4 ce7 22.f1 f5 Fernandez Garcia,Jose Luis 2467
Sutovsky - Berkes, George Marx Memorial 42nd Capablanca Mem Abierto (1) 18.05.2007
2005 1/2-1/2 ] [John Watson]
9...h5 10.e3 a6 11.exd6 cxd6 12.b3
8d7 13.a4 As the game goes, there's not much
[ 13.ac1 c8 14.d2 xe2 15.xe2= ] difference with Illijin-Horn, but in this game I
13...xf3 14.gxf3 b8 15.h1N will also concentrate upon the idea of 10 Rd1
[ 15.fd1 f6 ( 15...c7 16.ac1 fc8 (in the notes). 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6
17.e4 c6 18.a5 d5 19.axb6 dxe4 4.f3 g4 5.e2 c6 6.0-0 xf3 7.xf3
20.f4 e5 21.dxe5 c5 22.e3 e6 dxe5 8.dxe5 e6 9.e2 d7 10.c4
23.g3 c5 24.xe4 xb6 25.f4 d4 [ A strange-looking reorganisation with White
26.g4 d8 27.h4 f6 28.exf6 gxf6 making all 'bad' moves is 10.d1!? c7
29.h2 d6 30.g1 11.c4 e7 12.f4 g6 13.g3
Lekic - Stefanopoulos, Ikaros 1999 1-0) This is supposed to be a terrible square for
16.d5 bd7 17.e4 e5 18.c3 c8 W hite's bishop, although it serves its
19.b4 xe4 20.fxe4 g5 21.a3 a5 purpose of preserving the cramping e-pawn.
22.d2 xe3 23.xe3 c5 24.f4 exf4 And the rook is on d1, usually a bad square.
25.xf4 b6 26.h1 ce8 27.g3 xb2 In fact, Cox says with emphasis that the
28.f3 e5 29.h4 g6 30.g4 xa4 rook does NOT belong on d1, wanting to put
31.dg1 c5 32.h6 a4 33.h4 g7 it on e1 before doing anything else. I think
34.f4 d3 0-1 Kotliar - Yermolinsky, St that's true in most cases, but in concrete
Martin 1993 ] terms the rook prevents captures on e5
15...g5 16.g1 xe3 17.fxe3 h4 while discouraging castling queenside. Black
18.g2?! might try to encourage an exchange on g6,
[ 18.g2 c8 19.f4 e7 ] for example, e7 ( 13...dxe5? 14.h5!
18...c8 a5 15.d2 d7 16.e4 gives White
[ 18...xh3+ is probably Black's best option. more than enough for a pawn.) 14.h5 0-0!
19.h2 f5 ] ( 14...0-0-0 15.d2 c5 16.f3; 14...h4
19.h2 e7 20.ag1 g6 21.d3 e5 15.xh4 xh4 16.c3!? xe5!? 17.e4
22.e4? This allows Black some serious 0-0 18.d6 with unclear compensation)
chances. 15.d2 ( 15.c3 ad8 ) 15...ad8
[ 22.e2 is a much stronger move. c6 16.xg6 hxg6 17.e4 xe5 18.b4!
23.d5 ] with the idea of c5, and xb4? 19.b2
22...exd4 23.g4? xd1+ 20.xd1 d8 21.f1 . Perhaps the
[ 23.exd4 White has to go into this line even setup with Bg3, Qe2, and Rd1 deserves
t h o u g h i t i s n o t v e r y g o o d f o r h i m . f5 more attention. ]
24.xd6 xd4 25.c5+ h8 26.e6 10...e7 11.d2 White's idea is to play Bc3
e5 ] a n d R e 1 , t h u s n o t a l l o w i n g . . . B b 4 . g6
23...h6 24.g5 dxe3 25.b1 e2 12.c3 c7 13.e1 0-0-0 We've arrived at
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the same position as Illijin-Horn, where Black and W hite's e-pawn will still fall in most
played 13...Nf4? 14.b4?! This just exposes lines. ]
White's position, but 14.d2?!
[ 14.a3 c5 15.ad1 xd1 16.xd1 [ 14.e4 g5 15.d2 ]
a4! is at least equal for Black. ] [ Or 14.e3! g5 15.d2 c5 16.e4 ]
14...e7 15.a4? Losing. As shown in Illijin- 14...g6 15.e2 0-0-0 16.b4 e7
Horn, this position is much more difficult for No w t h e t h re a t is a t r ip l e ca p t u re o n e 5
White than it at first appears. followed by ...Bf6. 17.g3?! White speculates
[ 15.a3 has the idea gxe5?! 16.xe5 better but not terribly attractive was
xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.xe5 f6 [ 17.b2 f6 ( 17...b6 18.b3 d7
19.ee1 d3 20.c2 xa1 21.xa1 hd8 19.b2 repeats ) 18.exf6 gxf6 with the idea
. But here 15...a5! improves. ] 19.xe6?! de5! 20.d2 d7 21.xe7
[ 15.b2 looks best, as analysed in Illijin- xe7 and White is short of compensation
Horn. f6 ( 15...b6 16.b3 d7 because his light-squared bishop will have to
17.b2= )] be exchanged. ]
15...dxe5! Whoops. 16.a3 xf3+ 17...dxe5
17.xf3 f4 18.e2 f6 and Black went on [ 17...gxe5! 18.g2 h5 is still better,
to win. because it leaves the queenside protected. ]
0-1 18.e4 f6
[ 18...b8 ]
19.a4 d7!?
677 B05 [ Black should be more aggressive, e.g.,
Illijin,Neboisa 2290 19...h5 20.a5 h4 21.b5 hxg3 22.hxg3
Horn,Pascal 2320 d6! ]
Biel-C (2) 1990 20.a5 xc3?! 21.xc3 f5 22.g2 he8?
[John Watson] 23.b5! Suddenly White threatens 24 a6 with a
killing position. There's no good defence. b8
Another test of 9 Qe2. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 [ 23...a6 24.bxa6 bxa6 25.c5 b8
3.d4 d6 4.f3 g4 5.e2 c6 6.0-0 xf3 26.ab1 , etc. ]
7.xf3 dxe5 8.dxe5 e6 9.e2 d7 10.c4 24.a6 bxa6 25.bxc6 xc6 26.xa6 d4
[ 10.e1 c7 11.c4 ( maybe 11.d2!? W h a t e lse ? 27.a2 e7 28.b5! xb5
would be more flexible) 11...e7 12.d2 29.c6 d4 30.a6+ d7 31.xc7+ xc7
g6 13.c3 transposes. ] 32.xa7+ c8 33.a6+ d7 34.a4+
10...e7 11.d2 c7 c8 35.b1 c7 36.b8+ An entertaining
[ Black can try to exploit White's move order game, but Black would have had no problems
by 11...g6 12.c3 g5!? ( 12...c7 with accurate opening play. Perhaps 10 Re1
13.e1 i s t h e g a m e) 13.e1 f4!? and 11 Bd2 is a better order.
( 13...0-0-0 is solid ) 14.c2 c5?! 1-0
( 14...g6 15.d2 e7 16.xg5 xg5
17.g3 and White has a slight theoretical
edge due to the bishops.) 15.b4! h3+ 678 B05
( 15...b6 16.d2 ) 16.f1 xf2 17.e2 Ivanov 2461
b6 18.c5 and Black will lack compensation Derbenev,Andrey 2408
for his piece. ] King's Gambit A (8) 30.06.2009
12.e1 g6 13.c3 Okay, now we're at the [John Watson]
basic position, which could have arisen by
various orders. f4? 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g4
[ I s e e n o t h i n g w r o n g w i t h 13...0-0-0! 5.e2 c6 6.0-0 d7!? I didn't know this
, for example, 14.a3 ( 14.b4 e7 15.b2 move, even though it's been played on a fairly
f6 17 -see Qb2; 14.d2? dxe5 ) 14...c5 high level. It's very logical to try to attack the
15.ad1 xd1 16.xd1 a4! 17.d4 c5! centre as quickly as possible. White's next is
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xf6 I quite like Black's position ] [ 41.b1 is the best chance but Black is still
12...a6 much better after d8! avoiding a check on
[ 12...xb4?! 13.b1 c6 14.xb7 h 7 . P ra ct ica l ly sp e a kin g t h is is a lm o s t
is definitely a favourable swap for White ] impossible to defend as White with no active
13.b1 f6! If Black sits and does nothing then plan. ]
he risks just getting squashed on the 41...axb5 42.axb5 cxb5 43.a3
queenside 14.exf6 xf6 15.e1?! [ 43.xb5?? loses to c1+ 44.f2 e4+
This looks rather odd to me. The idea is to 45.e2 c3+ picking up the queen ]
play f4 and get control of the e5 square but as 43...f7! Black avoid the check and suddenly
the bishops are now getting swapped off this there's no defence to the slow advance of the
leaves White's light squares rather weak. b-pawn. W hite's position falls apart here.
[ 15.h3! h5 16.e1 e8 17.d2 f7 44.f2 e4+ 45.g1 g4 46.hxg4 h3!
18.a3 and the position is finely balanced. If 47.b2 h2+ 48.h1 g3
Black could get ...e5 in he'd be better but the [ 48...b4! is a cleaner finish as the pawn
d5 pawn is too weak here but on the other cannot be take here because of ...Nf2 ]
hand what is W hite's plan to be better? 49.xh2
Perhaps b5 is playable but then Black gets [ 49.g5+! is the only move to survive even
the open a-file and can also try ...Na5-c4 in a few moves but of course Black is easily
some positions. ] w i n n i n g a f t e r xg5 50.xb5 xg4
15...xe2 16.xe2 e8! 17.d3 f7 18.f4 although it still takes some accurate moves
g6! The best square for the queen and now here: 51.xb7+ g6 52.c6 xd4
W h it e h as p la yed f 4 sh e ca n n o t u se t h e 53.xh2 xe5+ 54.g1 and surprisingly
square for either of her knights. 19.d2 e7 it 's n o t so e a sy t o st op t h e c-p a wn . O f
20.e5 This leads to a slightly worse course the computer finds a very clever win
endgame so perhaps White should have just here with d4+ 55.h2 f4+ 56.g1
waited. c1+ 57.h2 e4! 58.c7 f6! 59.c8
[ 20.f2 f5 21.a4 is fairly equal although I f4+ 60.g1 d4+ 61.h2 h4+
wonder if Black can try h5!? here ] 62.g1 e1+ 63.h2 g4+ 64.h3
20...xe5 21.fxe5 xf1+ 22.xf1 f8 f2+ 65.h2 h1+ 66.g3 e4+ 67.f4
23.xf8+ xf8 24.c3 c6 25.a4 h5! f1+ 68.g4 ( or 68.e3 f2+ 69.d3
Black is only a tiny bit better but he has lots of d2# ) 68...f5+ 69.h4 h5#
options and we get to see a masterclass from Still, this isn't a line a human would ever go
Ehlvest here as he squeezes out a win. 26.h3 for as Black so White should definitely have
f5 27.f2 h7 28.h2 g5 29.f4 h6 tried this final practical try. ]
30.e3?! 49...e1+
[ 30.g3 holds the position together and 0-1
W h i t e s h o u l d b e d e f e n d i n g a f t e r e4
31.xh6 xh6 32.xe4 dxe4 33.g2
as Black's king cannot get into White's half 683 B05
of the board the position is just a draw. ] Lahno,K 2542
30...e4! 31.xe4 xe3 32.f3 f5 Gaponenko,I 2404
33.e2 h4 Black fixes a favourable pawn 72nd ch-UKR w 2012 (3.3) 27.09.2012
st ruc t u re on t he kin gsid e - su d de n ly t h e [Tom Rendle]
ending is clearly better for him. 34.g4 f7
35.g1 e3 36.f3+ e7 37.f2 f5 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g4
38.f3 f4+ 39.g1 g5 Black is in no rush 5.e2 e6 This remains Black's most popular
at all setup in the 4.Nf3 Alekhine 6.0-0 e7 7.c4
[ 39...c1+! 40.h2 g5 is even more b6 8.c3
accurate as White cannot defend with Qb2 ] [ 8.h3 would transpose to another game in
40.b2 g3 41.b5? This drops a pawn but this update, Smeets-Tjiam. ]
White is already struggling 8...0-0 9.e3 d5 Not Black's most popular
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move and probably not best either. [ 12.f4 h4 13.d3 was analysed by
[ 9...c6 10.exd6 cxd6 11.d5 exd5 Alexander Volzhin in Kobalia, M-Nalbandian,
is a crucial position to the line and now T ( 13.h1 seems less to the point and in
12.xd5 ( 12.cxd5 xf3 13.xf3 e5 P a n a r i n , M ( 2 5 2 5 ) - L e o n t i e v, A ( 2 3 1 5 )
14.e2 ec4 15.d4 f6 16.b3! Voronezh 2011 Black was very solid after
gave W hite a small positional advantage e7 14.d3 g6 15.g1 h8 )]
in Kasparov, S (2504)-Neverov, V (2542) 12...c6
Lipetsk 2010) 12...xd5 13.xd5 ( 13.cxd5 [ 12...h4 was tried the only previous time
has hardly been played but seems enough the position was reached and now 13.f4
for an edge because of a nice trick after e7 14.d3 g6 15.f5! exf5 16.xf5
e5?! 14.xe5 xe2 15.xf7! xd1 c6 and here in Turkin, V (2285)-Vinokurov,
16.xd8 g4 17.e6 xe6 18.dxe6 f6 A (2394) Voronezh 2003 W hite could've
19.ac1 xe6 20.c7 and Black will have obtained a dangerous attack with 17.h5
an unpleasant ending to hold.) 13...e6 ( or 17.f4!? xb4 18.b1 c6 19.f3 )]
14.d2 ( 14.b5!? ) 14...d5 15.c5 c8 13.f4 White does not necessarily have to
16.b4 f6 17.ad1 e8 18.a3 a6 19.fe1 include this move, although it's a very
was slightly better for White in Sutovsky, E sensible one, gaining space on the Kingside
(2665)-Berkes, F (2617) Paks 2005 ] an d givin g t h e B isho p o n e 2 so m e e xt ra
[ 9...8d7 10.exd6 cxd6 11.b3 seems to options
me to be very comfortable for W hite, [ 13.b1!? simply planning a quick b5 was
although Black's results in this position are worth considering ]
OK. The game Cabezas Ayala, I (2355)- 13...f5?! This blocks up the Kingside but
Appel, R (2544) Vila Nova de Gaia 2010 leaves Black with little or no counterplay
continued with f6 12.h3 h5 13.e1 [ 13...d7 14.d3 d8! would be my
e8 14.d2 ( 14.a4! ) 14...bd7 15.ad1 preferred way of playing - Black can setup
( 15.d5!? ) 15...f8 16.b2 a6 17.d2 c8 a blockade on the Kingside with g6 and
18.ed1 h6 19.c1?! c7 20.dd1 b8 Ne7 although W hite will keep the slightly
and Black had obtained good chances, better chances. ]
although I've suggested a couple of 14.h1! b6 15.g1 This mini-operation to
improvements for W hite in the preceding put the rook on the half-open file makes sense,
moves. ] even if Lahno isn't planning an immediate
10.c5 Kingside assault g6 16.a4 a5
[ 10.cxd5!? deserves some attention in this [ is was no better to sit tight with 16...d7
position xd5 ( 10...exd5 11.e1! as White remains better after 17.b5! bxc5
gives W hite good chances for Kingside 18.bxc6 b8 19.dxc5 xc6 20.b5 d7
expansion ) 11.b3 and Black has to be 21.e2! ]
careful here. Perhaps the reason this isn't 17.b5! An excellent move that leaves White
played is c6!? and now grabbing the pawn clearly on top bxc5?!
i s r i s k y b e c a u s e o f 12.xb7 cb4 [ 17...a7! was a better option as now White
alt h ou gh a f t e r 13.xd5 xd5 14.a6 has more difficulty in breaking through on
it's not clear to me Black has enough the Queenside. One option therefore is to
compensation for a pawn here ] switch to a Kingside attack with 18.h5!?
10...xf3 ( 18.b3 is a sensible alternative) 18...f7
[ 10...c4 didn't solve Black's problems in 19.g2!? planning Qf3 and Rag1 with a
Hnydiuk, A (2431)-Tymrakiewicz, R (2294) dangerous attack ]
Krakow 2012 after 11.xc4 dxc4 12.a4 18.dxc5 d7
f5 13.exf6! xf6 14.xc4 and Black had [ 18...cxb5? 19.axb5 would simply leave
insufficient play for the pawn. ] W hite with connected passed pawns
11.gxf3 c8 12.b4!? Varying from the usual advancing down the board ]
12.f4 but this move also seems to keep Black 19.bxc6 xc5 20.b5 Black now has a truly
under pressure. miserable position with no counterplay and
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
Lahno calmly improves the position until it's chooses. It suits his solid yet off-beat style.
basically winning whilst Gaponenko can do 5.e2 e6 6.h3 A slightly unusual moment at
nothing but wait. f7 21.c1 a6 22.c7 wh ich t o pla y th is mo ve : n o rma lly W h it e
d7 23.b3 b4 24.gd1 g8 25.d2 would castle first. Possibly White wanted to
h8 26.c3 g8 27.d4 a7 28.xe6? adopt Bologan's plan (6 h3 Bh5 7 c4 Nb6 8
The right tactic but the wrong pawn exd6 cxd6 9 Nc3 Be7 10 d5) in which case he
[ 28.xf5! would've broken Black's needs both to get h3 and avoid 00, but
re s is t a n c e exf5 29.xa7 xa7 30.c8 Rozentalis has another idea. xf3 Attempting
xc8 31.xc8 xc8 32.xc8 with the to exploit the early h3. 7.xf3 c6
difference here being that g5?! here doesn't [ 7...dxe5 8.c4 is good for White, so Black
achieve anything as White can simply play has to make this move before he is
( 32...e6 33.g8! is also winning for 'threatening' .. . dxe5. ]
White ) 33.fxg5 xg5 34.d4 with an easily 8.0-0?! A slightly naive move. This exact
winning endgame ] position is surprisingly unexplored but
28...xe6 29.xa7 xa7 30.c8 xc8 [ 8.exd6 is 'correct' after which A Sokolov-S
31.xc8 xc8 32.xc8 g5! Suddenly Black Pedersen, Katowice 1993, continued xd6
has a few chances 33.fxg5 9.0-0 a6 10.d2 0-0-0 11.c3 c7
[ 33.h8 gxf4 34.xh7 xe5 35.g2 12.e2 g5 13.e4 h6 14.b4 g7 15.d2
wa s p r o b a b l y a m o r e a c c u r a t e wa y o f e5 16.b5 cxb5 17.xb5 b6 18.c4 f5
playing - the h-pawn should be enough to 19.g3 xd4 20.e3 c5 21.xf5 a6
give White the win. ] 22.a5 f6 23.xd4 exd4 24.ab1 xc4
33...xg5 34.d1 xe5 35.g2 e7 25.xb7+ xb7 26.xa6 1-0, but clearly
36.f3 d4 Black could do better with a sensible plan
[ 36...d6 37.b5 f6 would've put up involving castling kingside. ]
more stubborn resistance although W hite 8...dxe5! This is the point. Black now has a
has excellent winning chances after 38.h3 version of the Flohr-Agzamov system
f7 what else? 39.e1 ] effectively a tempo up. This position would
37.c4 d5 38.e1+ d6 39.d1? normally be reached by 4... Bg4 5 Be2 c6 6 00
A serious mistake, presumably under mutual Bxf3 7 Bxf3 dxe5 8 dxe5 e6, when W hite
time-pressure as now Black misses her big would understandably not usually play 9 h3.
chance e5? Since the Flohr-Agzamov line is perhaps a
[ 39...b6! leaves White fighting for equality. little better for W hite, the difference is not
Best is 40.e6 xc8 41.xc8 d5 enough to make Black actually better, but it
42.xf5 with a drawn ending. ] does eliminate all question of an opening
40.xd5 xd5 41.b8 b4?! 42.d8+ advantage for W hite. It is surprising that a
c4 43.8xd4+ b3 44.b1+ xa4? player of W hite's strength should know so
A final mistake which hastens the end little about the Alekhine as to be tricked in this
45.dxb4+! And the rook on a7 drops to a way. 9.dxe5 d7 10.e2 c7 11.e1
skewer down the a-file. If White had the move g3 in (both controlling
1-0 f4 and preparing Bg2 and perhaps f4) instead
of h3 then we would now have a position
which sometimes arose in an old-fashioned
684 B05 way of tackling the Flohr-Agzamov. Black's
Libiszewski,Fabien 2415 best move then is 11...Bc5 (see Ivanovic-
Rozentalis,Eduardas 2584 K o v a c e v i c , S u b o t i c a 1 9 8 4 , f o r a f i n e
21st Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (7) illustration of what Black is trying to do), and
[John Cox] that might well have been best here too. A
thematic alternative is 11. ..Ne7. Instea d
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g4 Rozentalis goes his own way. g6 This puts
Rozentalis has been playing the Alekhine a more pressure on e5 sooner, but the trouble
b it la t e ly, a n d t h is is t h e lin e h e u su a ll y with it is that it takes away Black's d5 knight's
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
usual square in this system. 12.c4 5b6 I know neither who nor when, but |I state this
13.c3 g7 14.f4 0-0 White is a little with certainty, for such is the way of chess
better here: Black's fianchettoed bishop is, as openings."
often in the Alekhine, not particularly effective ½-½
if White manages to hold on to e5. 15.b3 a5
16.e3 This allows Black a chance to free
himself. 685 B05
[ 16.ad1 , for example, would have Malakhov,Vladimir 2570
maintained White's edge. ] Sedina,Elena 2395
16...a4! Picking a moment when White cannot Porto San Giorgio 1999
reply b4. If the a-file is opened Black will be [Alexander Volzhin]
able to relieve his cramp by exchanges and/
or activate a rook along the file. 17.c5 d5 This game is further proof that the main line
18.xd5 cxd5 19.xa4 No doubt when of the Alekhine's is in crisis. 1.e4 f6 2.e5
playing 16 Qe3 W hite had relied upon this d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g4 5.e2 c6 6.0-0
move to prevent 16...a4, but it turns out that xf3 7.xf3 dxe5 8.dxe5 e6 9.d2 d7
he cannot maintain the c-pawn. a6 20.ac1 10.e1 c7 11.c4 7b6! The only move.
fa8 21.c3 White settles for immediate [ T h e e r r o n e o u s 11...b5? was played in
equa lit y: it s ee m s th at he h a s no wa y t o Golubev - Lehmkuhl, Hamburg 1999
arrange his pieces to defend the extra pawn 12.xd5 cxd5 13.d6+ xd6 14.xd5!
on c5, which can be attacked by all Black's Definitely Mr. Lehmkuhl is not a subscriber
army with the threat of ...b5 to boot. to this site, otherwise he should know the
[ 21.d4 c6 22.c2 b8 23.ee2 c8 game Guf eld-Goh, where this blow has
illustrates the problems. ] already been played! 0-0 15.xd6 xd6
[ 21.a3 f8 ( 21...c6 22.c3 xc5?! 16.exd6 fc8 17.c3 c6 18.f4 e8
23.xd5 exd5 24.e6 c6 25.exd7 xc1 19.g3 and White won easily. ]
26.xc1 xd7 27.c7 shows a trick 12.d4!?
similar to the game which White would like [ Theory considers 12.d6+ as the main
to use to defend his pawn, but Black does continuation here and I discussed this move
not have to allow this.) 22.h6 e7 23.g5 in the comments to Gufeld - Goh. However
f8 24.f6 c6 , for example, sees all now I have found an improvement for Black:
three results rapidly becoming possible. ] xd6 13.exd6 xd6 14.c4 xc4 15.d4
21...xc5= 22.xd5 xe3 cb6!? ( T h e t h e o r e t i c a l 15...b4
[ 22...xd5 23.ed1 ] is refuted by force: 16.e4! b5 17.xg7
23.xe3 xe5 24.xe5 xe5 25.c7 xa2 f8 18.xe6+! fxe6 19.b7! threatening
26.xb7 d3 27.d1 c5 Bh5 check and winning the Rook back, with
[ 27...xf2? 28.f1 ] decisive advantage.) 16.xg7 f8! 17.e5
28.c7 e4 29.g4 a1 30.xa1 xa1+ 0-0-0 - White definitely has compensation
31.h2 f8 An unexciting draw in a way but for a pawn, but it's not clear if it's enough.
the jockeying for position in the opening is The position requires practical tests. ]
interesting. Rozentalis specialises in finding 12...xc4 13.xc4 White is slightly better
unexplored byways like these with reasonable- due to the Bishop pair and space advantage.
looking non-committal moves, and perhaps On the other hand, Black's position is very
Burgess' defiant 1996 prediction is coming solid, with no weaknesses or bad pieces. But
tru e - " loo k in g in t h e cryst al b all I se e a in the further struggle he doesn't find a good
talented player looking at the position after 5... plan and begins to drift. 0-0-0
e6 and thinking 'this position can't be too bad [ The attempt to castle kingside doesn't work
for Black, there must be ways to make it work. 13...e7 in view of 14.g4! g6 ( if 14...0-0
' And he will work furiously at developing new 15.h6 winning the exchange) 15.h6
plans for Black, new move-order tricks to with obvious advantage for White. ]
avoid the bad lines and reach the good ones. 14.a3 a5?! Quite a dubious move.
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ Simply 14...e7 should be preferred. ] 6...e7 7.f3 g4 8.0-0 c6 9.b3 0-0
15.e4 e7 16.b1 b6 17.b4 b5 10.c3 f6 11.e3 d5 12.c5 c8
18.f4! hf8 19.g4! White outplays his This is all standard stuff, played hundreds of
opponent in a very instructive way. First of allt i m e s b e f o r e . 13.h3 White plays this more
he forces his opponent to weaken the frequently than other moves. Indeed, 13 h3
kingside. g6 20.h6 fe8 21.e4!
has been the choice of most grandmasters,
Keeping the c4-square under control and and it scores rather well.
co nt in uin g to rest rict B la ck's Qu ee n . f8 [ 13.b4 and ]
22.g5 h5 23.h4 d7 24.e2! a4 [ 13.d2 are the main alternatives. ]
[ 24...d5 25.c4 ] 13...f5 An interesting sideline, which hasn't
25.b3 Now Black's Queen is completely out
been played nearly as much as the main
of the game and has no moves at all (by the moves 13...Be6 and 13...Bxf3 (13...Bh5 is an
way, the Queen will stay here until the end of older move, now out of favour). W hite has
the game!). On the other hand it's funny that caused some problems versus those,
White can't attack and winit! e7 26.xe7
although not insurmountable ones. A few
exe7 27.h3! Very typical for Malakhov's
unannotated examples:
positional style: [ a) 13...xf3 14.xf3 8e7 15.g4 ( 15.b4
[ He doesn't pay attention to possibilities like f5 16.xd5!? xd4 17.b1 xe3
27.b5 a5 28.bxc6 bxc6 which weaken 18.xe3 xe3 Wang Hao (2610)-Berkes, F
B l a c k ' s K in g a n d g ive W h it e a t t a c ki n g
(2601)/Taiyuan CHN 2006, and here 19.fxe3
chances, but allow Black's Queen to enter gives some edge) 15...g6 16.d2 g7
the game. He just continues to strangle his 17.e2 d7 18.h6 xh6 19.xh6 f5
opponent! ] 20.e3? fxg4 21.hxg4 f7 22.g2??
27...e8 28.f4! af8
The final regrouping of 0-1 Baljon, C (2220)-Bohm, H (2410)/
White's forces. Now the f7-pawn becomes the Eerbeek 1978/MCD ]
main target. ed8 29.f3 c7 30.f4 f8 [ b) 13...e6
31.f6! Changing aim. Black has protected A) 14.g4 h6 ( 14...g6 15.e1 g7
the f7-square, but all his forces are 16.g2 b6 17.b5 6e7 18.b4 a5
uncoordinated so it's impossible to kee p 19.a3 a7 20.e2 axb4 21.axb4 ac6
material on level terms. a5 Desperation, but 22.b1 , about equal, De Firmian, N
B l a c k ' s p o s i t i o n i s l o s t a n yw a y . 32.xe6
(2 5 9 8 ) - L e zc a n o J a e n , P ( 2 3 9 9 ), L a s
It's time to harvest. axb4 33.f6 d5 34.e6 Palmas 1999) 15.b1 g5 16.d2 g7
xf6 35.xf6 Severe losses are unavoidable, 17.h2 8e7 18.f4 gxf4 19.xf4 g6
so Blac k resigned. A textb ook positiona l 1/ 2 -1 / 2 B a n a s, J (2 3 65 )-K n e ze vic , M
game! (2410)/Luhacovice 1973/MCD;
1-0 B) 14.e1!? b6 ( or 14...8e7 15.g4 g6
16.b4 a6 17.a3 d7= Arencibia
Rodriguez, W (2485)-Medina, M (2415),
686 B05 Matanzas 1995.) 15.a4 d7 16.c1
Mok Tze Meng 2308 e8 17.d2 xd4 18.xd4 xd4
Hernandez,G 2360 19.xd4 xe2 20.c3 e8 21.xd5
38th Olympiad (5) 17.11.2008 e7 22.d4 c6 23.c2 d5
[John Watson] 1/2-1/2 Marciano, D (2529)-Baburin, A
(2593), Germany 1999. It's fit to end with
This game illustrates an unusual move in one a Baburin game! ]
of the traditional main lines of the Exchange 14.c1 Although you might think that g4 fits in
Variation. It seems quite playable. 1.e4 f6 with White's plans anyway (he often tries to
2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 5.exd6 exd6 prevent ...Nf5), here Black's intention is ...Be4,
6.e2 when White's weakened kingside is an easy
[ 6.c3 e7 7.h3 is another popular target. Thus he tries slower methods.
approach. ] [ 14.d2 has been the other move here.
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106.d3 a7 107.f5 a4 108.b8 a7 this really gives W hite much. See
109.c8 e8 110.e4 dxe4+ 111.xe4 d7 Fedorowicz-Baburin in the archives.;
112.xd8+ xd8 113.xc6 a1 114.e4 C) 15.h2 8e7 16.b5 a5 17.d3
c1 115.b5 e7 116.d5 b1?? f5 18.c6 bxc6 19.xf5 exf5 20.a4
[ 116...d1= ] c4 21.bxc6 e8 and Black had
117.d3 d1 118.f5 c1?? equalised and even went on to have the
[ 118...d8= ] better of the draw against his much higher
119.c6 c3 120.d5 d8 121.d6 c1 rated opponent in Tiviakov, S (2654)-
122.c6 c3 123.h7 c1 124.g8 c3 Tischbierek, R (2422) Cape Town 2013 ]
125.xf7 c4 126.e6 c3 127.f5 c1 14...xc5?! A very tricky move but I think it's a
128.e6 c7 129.xf6 d6 slight mistake with best play
1-0 [ 14...f5 leads to more typical positions for
this line. White is a little better after 15.g1
h4 16.b4 a6 17.b3 but Black is very
687 B05 solid ]
Motylev,A 2676 15.dxc5 d4 16.e4?! This leads to a
Appel,R 2535 queenless middlegame in which White has a
Bundesliga 2013-14 (13) 04.04.2014 very slight advantage, thanks to his extra
[Tom Rendle] space, but Black should be OK after this.
[ 16.b3! seems to lead to a White
1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.f3 g4 a d v a n t a g e a f t e r dxe3 17.fxe3 h4
5.e2 e6 6.0-0 e7 7.c4 b6 8.h3 18.e4! ( 18.xb7?! 8e7 19.xc7 fc8
Normally this is played on the next move (after 20.d7 d8 21.c7 ac8 22.b7 b8
8.Nc3 0-0) but I can see no difference in this 23.a6 xb2 and Black has a very strong
move order initiative) 18...b8 19.g1 xe5 20.g5
[ 8.c3 0-0 9.b3 I covered last year in g6 21.d1 and White has more than
Kosintseva-Ehlvest where I thought Black e n o u g h f o r t h e p a wn - e s p e c i a l l y wi t h
could probably equalise with c6 10.e3 Black's queen out of the game on h4 ]
dxe5! 11.xe5 xe2 12.xe2 xe5 16...dxe3 17.fxe3 xd1 18.axd1 8e7
13.dxe5 xd1 14.axd1 fd8 ] 19.g2 fd8 20.f2 f8 21.c3 b4
8...h5 9.c3 0-0 10.e3 d5 11.c5 xf3 [ 21...a6! cuts out any nonsense with Nb5
12.gxf3 c8 13.f4 c6 All very mainline so and I don't really see what W hite is doing
far 14.h2 h e r e . P e r h a p s 22.d3 h6 23.e4
[ 14.f5!? is another critical move here but is a little somethin g f or W hit e? But th e
Black gets reasonable chances in this line. e n d i n g a f t e r xd1 24.xd1 d8
The mainline according to Hiarcs opening is surely very equal ]
book (and unsurprisingly my engine agrees 22.a3 bd5 23.b5! a6 24.d4
with it!) goes exf5 15.f3 g5 16.xd5 f4 With this knight on d4 Motylev ensures the
17.xf4 xf4 18.xf4 8e7! and d4 is rooks will stay on the board for the
dropping. Black is at most slightly worse but foreseeable future and he expertly increases
this position needs further tests! ] the pressure from here b6 25.c6 b5 26.g4
[ 14.b4 but Black seems to be holding his b6 27.b3 g6?! I'm not sure White was
own here h4 ( 14...a6 is also solid but threatening f5 and now Black's knight on b6
maybe now 15.f5! is more dangerous than gets sidelined
on the previous move ) [ 27...bd5 was better although White can
A) 15.b5 6e7! ( 15...a5 16.d3 c4 slowly improve with 28.d2 Black should be
looks risky for Black but may be playable) fine if he sits tight ]
16.d3 f5 and Black's position is a hard 28.e4! e8 29.e3 Now f5 is coming - not
nut to crack; necessarily soon but whenever Motylev wants
B) t h e s l o w e r 15.b1 was covered by it to happen! Appel can do nothing but wait
Glenn Flear back in 2002, but I don't think and try not to weaken his position ab8 30.h4
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
702
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
703
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
13.d3 g8 14.d2! Headed for f3 with a selected as the knight finds fresh life on
nice positional advantage. It turns into a big c5 while W hite's created a few holes in
squeeze, and Black never has a chance. his structure.;
ba6 15.c3 d7 16.f3 0-0-0 17.0-0 g7 B) 9.e3
18.e1 b8 19.b4 d7 20.a4 e7 21.b5 B1) C e n g i z a s k s a b o u t 9...e7
c5 22.a5 f7 23.b6 axb6 24.axb6 xb6 but White can deal with the threat and
25.b3 bd5 26.a7 b6 27.a4 b8 develop with 10.e2;
28.dxc5 b5 29.a5 f6 30.c6 xc3 B2) The simple 9...e7 is safest 10.c3
31.b7+ c8 32.a7 ( 10.e2 f6! is awkward to deal with.)
1-0 10...0-0 11.e2 f5!? 12.g3 g5
13.0-0-0 left Black with decent counter-
chances had W hite not accepted the
693 B05 draw. 1/2-1/2 Ginzburg, M (2455)-Garcia
Sahl,Bjarke 2391 Palermo, C (2484) Buenos Aires 2009.;
Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2646 B3) 9...g6 This looks logical but creates
EU-Cup 21st Saint Vincent (6) 23.09.2005 a focus point for White's attack and so is
[Gawain Jones] not best. 10.c3 g7 11.0-0-0! 0-0
12.h4! and White had a very powerful
Reader's Question. A reader wrote in: 'My kingside attack. Tabak, S (2100)-
name is Cengiz Hasman. I recently became a Vanderwaeren, S (2299) Antwerp
member of ChessPublishing.com. I wanted to 1999. ]
ask you what the best line for Black to 8.a4 Sahl chooses to grab space on the
continue in the Exchange Alekhine (5-ed ed) queenside but White has a huge selection of
is. I have bought Timothy Taylor's Alekhine moves. I've added a quick overview.
Alert! but he does not give any lines after 6- [ 8.e3 e7 9.c3 c6
Nf3 Bg4. As Black, I would like to know if you A) 10.b3 0-0 11.e2 xf3 ( Again a plan
can suggest a good line.' I've had a look and with 11...f5!? should be considered but
decided that following Mamedyarov must be 12.d2 keeps control.) 12.xf3 g5
sensible. 1.e4 f6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 13.xg5 xg5 14.0-0 fe8 and it looks
b6 5.f3 Perhaps this isn't a big enough to me that Black's position is completely
mistake to let Black actually take the respectable although the computer gives
advantage but at least it makes it easier for White a nibble.;
him to complete his development and B) 10.e2 xf3! is a problem for White
generate play against White's centre. even if it's not quite enough to promise
[ 5.exd6 exd6 6.f3 is the more common B l a c k a n e d g e a f t e r 11.xf3 xc4
move order but it comes to the same thing. 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.a4 b6 14.xc6+
( 6.c3 not allowing Black to pin the knight d7 15.f3 0-0 16.0-0 c6=;
is generally played. In the Alekhine the c8 C) 10.d5?! Dynamic play but not
bishop is of ten a problem piece and so something that should concern the Black
White wants to keep it from having a good player. 0-0 11.xe7+ xe7 White has
square for as long as possible. )] gained the bishop pair but he's a long way
5...g4 6.exd6 exd6 7.h3 h5 behind in development.
[ C e n g i z a s k s m y o p i n i o n o n 7...xf3 C1) 12.e2 xf3! is again the problem;
which also seems possible. 8.xf3 c6 C2) 12.d3 f5! ( 12...xd4 13.xh7+
A) 9.d5 i s c o m m i t t a l : e5 10.e3 xh7 14.xd4 isn't so clear.) 13.0-0 f4
( 10.b3 e7 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 f5! 14.c1 xd4 15.xh7+ xh7 16.xd4
13.c3 f4 sees Black with a fantastic xf3 17.gxf3 e2 and Black has a
knight on e5 and potential of a kingside fantastic position.;
attack. ) 10...e7 11.f4 Meszaros, T C3) 12.d2 f5! 13.0-0-0 xf3 14.gxf3
(2200)-Gombocz, Z (2110) Budapest 1996 f4 15.xf4 f7 16.g3 xc4 17.c2
when the retreat ed7! should have been b6 and White's structural weaknesses
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
look more relevant than the bishop pair. idea When 11.g4! is obligatory.
Sahl, S (2175)-Zhao Xue (2469) Khanty- ( 11.xb7? xf3 12.gxf3 xd4
Mansiysk 2010. ] is very good for Black.) 11...g6 12.c3
[ 8.d3 is the move which concerned him ( 12.xb7? is s t il l b a d e4! 13.bd2
b u t I f e e l c6 must be very reasonable. b8 14.a6 b4 15.xa7 a8
The pressure on d4 provokes W hite into traps the queen.) 12...b8 13.e3 0-0
9.g4 g6 10.c3 e7 but now the pawn when White's looking rather over-extended.
on g4 grants Black play for the rest of the He can win material with 14.d5 ce5
game. ] 15.xe5 xe5 16.f4 but h4+ 17.d1
[ 8.e2 is the most logical as the Bf3xb7 e8! leaves Black with fantastic
threat prevents Black's typical ...Bxf3 and ... compensation. ]
Nxc4. e7 9.0-0 0-0 10.c3 Rahman, S 10...xf3 11.xf3 e5
(2288)-Enkhtuul, A (2133) Narayanganj [ 11...b4 12.b3 a5 is a reasonable
2010 when rather than 10.. . Bg6 I'd prefer alternative. ]
c6 11.d5 ( 11.e3?! xf3!; 11.b3 12.b3 0-0
keeps the structure intact with a typical [ 12...bd7!? looks interesting as 13.xb7?
Alekhine position, i.e. f6 12.e3 e8 c5! 14.b5+ c6 15.dxc6 0-0
13.d2 h6 and Black will follow up with ... leaves the W hite queen trapped in by her
a5-a4. ) 11...xf3 12.xf3 e5 13.b3 own pawns. ]
xf3+ 14.xf3 d7 15.f4 f5!? 16.ad1 13.e2
f6 followed by ...Nc5, ...Qd7 and ...Rae8 [ 13.a5 bd7 14.e2 ( 14.xb7?
when I don't see any reason he should be is again a big error as c5 traps in the
worse. ] queen 15.b4? cd3+ ) 14...g5! 15.0-0
8...e7!? Tempting White to continue xc1 16.xc1 f5! would give Black good
queenside play. kingside chances. ]
[ 8...a5 makes sense preventing the White 13...a5! Fixing the outposts on c5 and b4.
pawn going any f urther when Black can White has the bishop pair but Black has the
make use of the b4 square. ] better long term chances with such
9.b3?! Too optimistic weaknesses in White's camp. The strong GM
[ 9.a5 was the logical continuation 6d7 playing Black must have been very content to
10.c3 0-0 11.e2 c5!? ( 11...e8 re a ch su ch a p o sit i o n in wh ic h h e c o u l d
would be normal.) 12.e3 c6 13.0-0 e8 outplay his lower rated opponent. 14.0-0 e8
14.dxc5 dxc5 15.a4 and White's extra 15.c3 ed7 16.c2 g5! This is always a
space would give him slightly better useful plan to remember. Either White has to
chances. ] give up his bishop pair advantage or else
9...c6 cr e a t e f u r t h e r h o l e s i n h i s c a m p . 17.f4?!
[ 9...xf3 10.xf3 c6 might be the better Probably the wrong choice as the bishop is
move order. It allows 11.e3 but b4 trapped in on c1.
12.a3 c6 and Black's queenside play [ 17.xg5 xg5 18.b5 d8 would keep
gives him good chances. ] rough equality as Black is tied down to the
10.d5 defence of c7. ]
[ 10.a5 17...f6 18.e4 d4+ 19.h1 f6
A) 10...xf3 n o w a l l o w s 11.axb6! 20.f3?! Sahl should have taken the
( Instead 11.xf3 d7 is no problem: opportunity to keep the knights on the board.
12.e3 f6 13.d1 0-0 14.e2 g5!= ) [ 20.g3 bd7 21.f3 g6 22.a3 e7
11...e4 12.bxc7 xc7 When White's is about equal. ]
structural edge promises him a small edge, 20...xe4 21.xe4 h6 22.d2?! This drops
i.e. 13.e3 xb1 14.xb1 f6 15.a4 a pawn.
0-0 16.d5 e5 17.e2 d7!? 18.0-0 [ However it wasn't easy to come up with a
c5 19.a3 a5 20.b4! axb4 21.xb4; go o d m o ve : 22.h7+ h8 23.f5 f6
B) 10...d7!? might have been Shak's 24.g4 e3 25.xe3 xe3 sees Black
707
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708
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709
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710
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711
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712
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A1) 5...dxe5 was tried in a recent game. but this was hardly an advert for the opening.
6.xe5 e6 7.f3!? The most Burmakin, V (2552)-Morozevich, A (2717)
aggressive although White should have Sochi 2005. ]
been better with a normal move like 7. 5.f3 Mickey plays it safe, a very sensible
0-0. f6 8.d3 xd4 9.b3 e5 10.c3 decision considering the match situation. To
g4 11.d5 d7 12.g4! g7 13.e4 sum up I'd say that taking the knight is rather
e7 14.g5 d7 15.xd7+!? foolish in practical games but 6.f4 looks like a
A very dramatic move which gives White good try for an edge. However Adams' move
fantastic compensation. ( However the is also good enough.
'boring' 15.gxf6 xf6 16.a4+ [ 5.xh5 must be critical but Deep Rybka 4
was just winning as c6 17.xc6+ bxc6 is fairly happy with Black's position. gxh5
18.xc6+ f7 19.xa8 picks up 6.xh5 dxe5
material. ) 15...xd7 16.gxf6 e8 A) 7.dxe5 d5! (Martens) 8.f3 ( 8.f3
17.fxg7?! But taking this knight appears c6 9.c3 Reinderman, D (2495)-
to be a mistake. ( 17.g5! regains the Bundgen, A Zwolle 1996 and here keeping
queen as there's no good response to the queens on with c5 gives Black good
18.f7 when White would still be on top.) practical chances.) 8...e4+ 9.e3 xc2
17...xg7 and the game eventually 10.c3 c6 11.g5 g6 12.xg6 hxg6
finished as a draw. Hillarp Persson, T 13.0-0-0 g7 14.f4 a6 15.h3 c7
(2538) -Andersen, J (2276) Copenhagen Westerinen, H (2430)-Heinola, K
2010.; Jyvaskyla 1992 and Black was only a little
A2) 5...c6 6.e2 g7 7.h3 f5 8.exf6 worse.;
xf6 9.c3 d5 10.b3 0-0 11.g5 B) 7.xe5 g8 and here I'll give some of
e6 The position reminds me most of a Bücker's analysis but without going into
French where White should have some too much detail. 8.e2! c6! 9.e4 f5
advantage thanks to use of the e5 10.h4 e6 11.bc3 b4 12.h5+
square but it's not the end of the world g6! 13.0-0 xc2 14.b1 f7 15.xf5
for Black.; xd4 16.xd4 xd4 17.e3 g4
B) 5.c3 dxe5! 6.e3! exd4 7.xd4 f6 18.xg4 xg4 19.b5 0-0-0! 20.xa7+
8.e2 h6 9.d1 d7 10.c5 (Wind) b8 21.fd1 d5 22.f3 b4 23.b3 c6
c6 11.g3 e5 12.h3! a5 13.d6 f8 24.a3 h4 25.b4 h6 26.f2 h5
14.d2 a6 15.xa6 bxa6 16.b3 is a long line given by Bücker in which
b6 17.g2 d7 18.xf8 xf8 Black eventually holds the draw although
Bücker, when W hite has the advantage White is still the one pressing. ]
thanks to his better structure and use of c5 [ 5.exd6 was tried by Ni Hua when he found
and d6 squares. He will win back either a6 himself with this position but this doesn't
or c6 and be very comfortably placed. ] seem critical. xd6 6.f3 f4 7.xf4
4...d6 This hasn't been covered on xf4 8.0-0 g7 Ni Hua (2533)-Heinola, K
ChessPublishing before but is in fact played (2181) Dos Hermanas 2004 was
more often and is the top choice of the respectable for Black who must have
computer. It appears that taking on h5 may equalised thanks to his bishop pair. ]
not be a serious threat. [ 5.f4 is given an exclamation mark by
[ 4...g7 was looked at in Lautier-Miles but Bücker. I'd pref er to be W hit e but here
this looks exceedingly passive. A more Carlsen would at least get his counterplay
recent GM encounter continued: 5.f3 d5 and unprepared this would be a foolish
6.c4 c6 7.c3 dxc4 8.xc4 e6 9.e3 option. c5 ( He considers 5...e6 6.f3
g7 10.d2 h6 11.d1 c7 12.h3 e6 g7 to be more reliable but this is hardly
13.xe6 xe6 14.0-0 c7 15.fe1 ba6 scary and White will have a fairly risk free
16.a3 d7 17.d5 cxd5 18.xd5 xd5 edge. ) 6.d5 e6 7.c3! and in all lines
19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5 e6 21.a5 W hite appears to be doing well. ( 7.xh5
and Black held the clearly worse endgame h4+ looks good for Black. )
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A) 7...h4+ 8.f1 g3+ 9.hxg3 xh1 17...xf3+ 18.xf3 although this leaves
10.e4 gives White fantastic Black passive and struggling to do anything
compensation.; wh ile W h ite can slowly bu ild u p on t h e
B) 7...dxe5 8.fxe5 kingside. It is too difficult for the e7 knight to
B1) 8...exd5 GJ doesn't seem to have find a good location as any ...g6-g5 will give
been mentioned but looks to me like White a huge outpost on f5. A sample line:
Black's best. White should still be better d7 19.g2 b5 20.d3 b4 21.e4 a5
after both 9.xd5 ( and 9.xd5 e6 22.g5 and Black's position is miserable. ]
10.c4 d7 11.f3 g7 12.0-0 0-0 18.g2! Taking the opportunity to keep the
13.g5 f6 although Black is closing in b i s h o p p a i r . g5 While watching the game I
on equality.) 9...b6 10.a4 ( 10.g4!? ) thought this move was the downfall for Black
10...c6 11.a5 c7 12.b5 b8 but in fact it is already very difficult. At least
13.a6 when Black's position looks pretty here he prevents Adams from keeping both
ugly.; bishops but the light squares around his king
B2) 8...g7 9.f3 exd5 10.xd5 0-0 a re n o w ve ry vu l n e ra b le . T h e re ' s a ls o a
11.e3; question as to what Black should do if he
C) 7...exd5 8.xd5 g7 9.g4 dxe5 doesn't try this move.
10.gxh5 e6 11.c4 h4+ 12.f1 0-0 [ 18...d7 19.e4 h6 20.b1!? e7
13.h6 is messy but again White should 21.c1!? f8 22.b2 followed by Rbe2 and
have a clear advantage. ] Bb2 and W hite stea dily improves while
5...c6 6.exd6 exd6 This seems to be the Black must wait. ]
novelty. 19.xe5 xe5 20.e4 g7 An unpleasant
[ 6...cxd6 7.d5 is rather annoying for Black move to play but Black had to cover the h5
as there's no good square for that knight pawn. 21.d2 h6 22.f4! Dynamic play!
and following b8 I can't really believe that Adams correctly assesses that he will be the
W hite can have any problems against an one to gain access to the g file. gxf4 23.gxf4
opening in which Black has played Ng8-f6- f6 24.h2 h5
h 5 a n d N b 8 - c 6 - b 8 . 8.e3 would leave [ 24...h4 25.g1 f5 is the computer's
White with a very pleasant edge. ] suggestion. 26.g3 xg3+ 27.xg3 h5+
[ 6...xd6 has also been played but this 28.h2 h7 although here too Black is
looks like some sort of fishy ...Qd6 worse and will have to suffer, in particular to
Scandinavian. 7.0-0 f4 Ionov, S (2530) - defend the f5 pawn after 29.f1! ]
Hernandez Padron, S (2290) Alcobendas 25.g1 Logical play. h7
1994 and here 8.c3! xe2+ 9.xe2 g7 [ 25...h8 is a safer square although
( 9...a6 10.d5! ) 10.b5 d8 11.f4 Carlsen was understandably nervous about
wins material. ] leaving h6 unguarded. ]
7.d5 e7 8.c4 g7 9.c3 0-0 10.0-0 g4 26.cf1 g8 27.e2 g7 That Black knight
11.e1 e8 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 f6 looks really stupid and is not on a good circuit.
14.f4 So a normal looking position has 28.d3 h8 29.f3 b5 30.d1!
arisen but this can hardly be what Carlsen Strong rerouting. Now Carlsen has to create
was aiming for. W hite has more space and more holes in order to prevent a mate on h7.
th e bis h op p a ir a nd B lack ha s very lit t le bxc4 31.bxc4 h4 32.c2 f5 33.g6!
counterplay. d7 Black's only plan is to use Immediately exploiting the hole created by
the e5 square. Were that d5 pawn back on d4 Black's last. h7 34.fg1! e7
White would have a clear edge but here it's [ 34...fxe4 35.xe4 is mate in four. ]
probably only a slight one. Unfortunately for 35.g3 xg3+ 36.xg3 f7? And this
Black it's one in which he has to sit and wait. loses instantly.
15.c1 Not allowing Carlsen any opportunities [ Black could have lasted a few more moves
to confuse the issue with ... Bxc3. e5 16.b3 with 36...h5 but 37.f3 xg6 38.xf5
a6 17.g3 f5 g7 39.d3! leaves White a pawn up with
[ I think the bishop had to be taken. an ongoing attack. ]
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715
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716
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717
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unstoppable b4+ 50.c1 d6 51.e2 what follows is very ugly if you're a
c4 52.c3 c5 53.xd4 exd4 54.d2 e5 Gurgenidze fan... 16.xh5 gxf4 17.gxf4
55.cxd4+ exd4 56.f3 b4 57.a7 ac8 g8 18.e3 g7 19.g1 e6 20.d3
58.b8 c2+ 59.d3 8c3+ 60.e4 e2+ Threatening 21.Qh7 - and meanwhile Black
61.d5 xf3 62.a8 d3 63.a1 e5+ can't castle because f7 hangs. a5+ 21.d2
64.d6 e2 65.d4+ xa2 22.c3 c4 23.xc4 dxc4 24.e4
1-0 h8 25.d6+ e7 26.e2 b6 27.b4
e8 28.xf7+
1-0
702 B06
Almasi,Zoltan
Norwood,David 703 B06
(Bundesliga) 1994 (1) 1994 Anand,Viswanathan 2725
[Nigel Davies] Shirov,Alexei 2690
Dos Hermanas 1996
1.e4 g6 2.d4 d6 3.c3 c6 4.f4 d5 5.e5 [Alexander Volzhin]
h5 6.f3 g4
[ In the game Bakre - McNab, York 2000 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 c6 4.c4 d6
Black tried 6...b6 but after 7.a4 a5+ 5.f3 e6 6.ge2 b5 7.b3 a5 8.a3 a6
8.c3 g4 9.c5 c7 ran straight into the 9.d5 cxd5 10.exd5 e5 11.e4
unpleasant 10.e6 . ] We have already seen this position in J.Polgar
7.e3 - Shirov but now Black tries something new...
[ W hite can also play the immediate 7.h3 h6!? An interesting attempt to improve. Black
but then xf3 8.xf3 e6 leaves Black's prepares ...f7-f5 (of course, Black couldn't
dark-squared bishop on the superior g8 play it immediately in view 12 Ng5). 12.g4!
square. Lanka - Chernin, Rome 1990 The only move, otherwise White's pieces will
continued 9.g3 ( 9.d3 b6 10.e2 h4 be thrown back after ...f7-f5. Just one example
11.0-0 d7 12.b3 a5 13.c4 e7 14.e3 to illustrate the strength of Black's position:
f5 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.c3 b8 [ 12.h4 f5 13.d2 e7 14.a4 b4 15.h5
was OK for Black in Thipsay - Hickl, Calcutta g5 16.c4 0-0 17.b3 d7 18.xa6
1994 ) 9...b6 10.a3 e7 ( and not xa6 19.0-0 c5 20.c4 a8 and Black
10...xd4?? 11.e3 ) 11.e2 c5! 12.dxc5 is winning, Sargissian - Galdunts, Erevan,
xc5 13.b3 d7 14.e3 a5+ 15.d2 1996. ]
c7 16.d4 c6 17.c3 c5 with a very 12...f6 13.2g3 xe4 14.xe4 0-0
comfortable game ] 15.h3 The critical position for the evaluation
7...b6 of the whole line. f5!? Shirov is true to his
[ Norwood had previously enjoyed some style and chooses the sharpest continuation.
success with 7...e6 8.h3 ( Almasi probably Now the position becomes a mess.
intended 8.e2 , with similar play to the [ The alternatives are: 15...d7? is very bad,
game. ) 8...xf3 9.xf3 b6 , which makes i t w a s p l a ye d i n Z u l f u g a r l i - B o l o g a n ,
it difficult for White to avoid putting his king Nikolaev, 1995 where the game lasted only
on the queenside. ] three more moves! 16.xh6 c5 17.g5!
[ Personally speaking I would prefer simply f6 18.g7! and in view of unavoidable
7...h6 8.e2 f5 9.f2 e6 intending 10... mate Black resigned. ]
Nd7 and 11...c5. ] [ But 15...h7 deserves serious attention. In
8.b1 h6 9.e2 f5 10.f2 h6 11.g3 a l l a va il a b le p u b l i ca t io n s t h i s m o ve i s
d7 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 g7 14.e2 labelled with a question mark in view of the
Th is regrou ping is very n ice. W h it e ge t s f o l l o w i n g l i n e : 16.xh6 xh6 17.g5
everything covered and will eventually expand "and White wins". However I disagree. Let's
with g3-g4. e6 15.d2 g5 A desperate bid a n a l y s e t h i s p o s i t i o n : h8! 18.gxh6
for counterplay before he gets squashed. But The only move. ( 18.g1? c8 19.h4
718
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719
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56.d2 c7 57.a4 g1 58.c6 so one would expect a plan such as Bd3,0-0,
[ 58.c6 g3 59.d1! xd1 60.xd1 ] Qe1-h4 to be critical but we will have to wait
1-0 and see. 10.e3 c6! 11.dxc5 dxc5
12.e2 xa5 13.e5 b6 14.e4 b7
15.d6 d5 There's no compensation for the
704 B06 p a w n h e r e . 16.g5 e7 17.ge4 f6
Armbrust,Florian The trad itio nal dism antling of t he c entre
Delchev,Aleksander 2560 begins. 18.xc5 xc5 19.xc5 bxc5
3rd Autumn Open (9) 2002 20.xa5 fxe5 21.fxe5 xe5 22.c4 g5
[Andrew Martin] 23.xf8+ xf8 24.f1 f4 Remarkably easy
for Black. I really do think that this new idea
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.f4 a6!? has a future . The plan of ...c7-c5 is clear and
I have always enjoyed playing 4...a6 because easy to understand-meanwhile the W hite
it's very provocative. Black is living on the position is rather rigid. Fascinating.
edge and it's a question of whether he can 0-1
t im e h i s s t ri k e a ga i n st t h e W h it e ce n t r e
successfully before he gets blown away. Here,
Delchev shows something new. The normal 705 B06
plan for Black would involve ...b5,...Bb7,... Arngrimsson,Dagur 2239
Nd7 and a quick... c7-c5! . Meanwhile White Carlsen,Magnus 2484
tries to blast through with e4-e5! Interestingly, 21st Open Reykjavik ISL (3) 09.03.2004
Black dispenses with .. .b7-b5 altogether [Gary Lane]
5.f3
[ 5.a4 d7 The same plan as Delchev! 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 xd5 4.d4 g6
6.f3 e6 7.e3 e7 Hedgehog-like. 5.f3 g7 6.c4 It seems logical to attack the
8.d2 0-0 9.g4?! c5! And here's the big queen but this continuation has rarely been
moment. 10.dxc5 xc5 11.e5 d5 played. The reason is that W hite tends to
12.xd5 exd5 13.xd5 xg4 14.e2 c8 prefer to develop his pieces with moves such
15.c3 dxe5 16.xd8 fxd8 17.xe5 xe2 as 6 Na3 or 6 Be3 before chasing the black
18.xe2 xe5 19.fxe5 e8 20.b4 d7 queen. e4+ The most direct move which
21.d4 xe5 22.xe5 xe5+ 23.d3 really tests W hite's early pawn push. It is
d8+ 24.c4 e3 25.ac1 f5 26.b5 worth remembering that Carlsen is a natural
axb5+ 27.xb5 c8 28.b6 exc3 player who a few months after this event
29.xc3 xc3 30.a5 b3+ 31.c5 b2 became the world's youngest grandmaster.
32.h3 f7 33.d1 e7 34.e1+ d7 [ 6...d8
35.d1+ c7 36.e1 c2+ 37.b5 b2+ A) 7.e3 f6 8.h3!? a cautious move to
38.c5 d7 39.d1+ e7 40.e1+ f6 co p e wi t h t h e p o t e n t i a l p i n o n g 4 0-0
41.d1 f4 42.d4 f5 43.c1 b5 ( 8...e4! should be considered to apply
44.a1 b3 45.h4 g4 46.h1 a3 pressure to the d4 pawn) 9.c3 cxd4
47.b1 xa5 48.xb7 h5 49.e4 xh4 10.xd4 a6 11.e2 fd7 ( perhaps
50.f7 g5 51.f6 h5 0-1 Orel,K-Bonnafous, 11...bd7 to speed up queenside
N/EuYCh G18, Peniscola ESP 2002 (51) ] development is better) 12.0-0 e5 13.b3
5...d7 6.c4 Already White seems to be at c6 14.d6 e8 15.ad1 with an edge
a lo s s . He s e e m s t o b e t ryin g t o p u n i s h thanks to the more active pieces, Klinger,
Delchev for omitting .....b7-b5. But 6 Bc4 feels J-Nemet,I/Zuerich 1991.;
wrong-probably 6 Bd3 is correct. e6 7.a4 B) 7.d5 h6 Black keeps the h8-a1
e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.a5?! c5! First a Modern, diagonal open for his bishop and will later
then a Hippopotamus, now a Sicilian. And bring his king's knight into the game via
with White committing himself all the time. It's the f5 square. 8.c3 0-0 9.e2 f5
a bit early to say how White should respond. 10.0-0 e5 11.dxe6 xe6 with equal play,
A quick attack should be the order of the day M i c h a l c z a k , T - N e v e d n i c h y, V / S e n d e n
720
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722
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xe6 22.fxe6 d8! 23.hg1 b6 24.f4 whittle away White's central pawns with 6...
e8 25.g3 c6 26.ge1 c7 27.g7 cxd4. ]
ce8 28.g6 hg8 29.h7 h8 30.g7 3...g7 4.f4 e6!? The argument is that if
hg8 31.h7 1/2-1/2 Koziak, V-Bezold, M/ Black can prevent f4-f5 White's dark-square
Neuhausen 2004 ] bishop will not be a great piece. Meanwhile
9...c8! An easy idea to remember. Black he intends to develop in true hippo style with
prepares ...c7-c5, with his Rook in the right ... Ne 7, . .. Nd 7, . .. b6 an d .. .B b7 a nd t he n
place. 10.g5 hxg5 11.xg5 c5 The second counterattack White's centre with ...c7-c5.
key move. It's a turbo-charged Hippo, [ I used to play 4...c6 until one rainy day
un re co gn is ab le f rom t he o rigin al b ea st . .
Velimirovic played 5.b5 against me and
12.dxc5 xc5 13.h3 b4! 14.d5 b3!! left me with little counterplay after ( 5.e3
Baki certainly didn't expect this one. All the f6 6.f3 0-0 7.d2 e6 followed by ...
good things about Black's position come into Ne7 will reach a similar set-up to 4...e6.)
play now. White may already be lost. 15.b1 5...a6 6.xc6+ bxc6 7.f3 f5 8.e5 h6
[ The variations are easy if White moves his 9.e2 e6 10.e3 0-0 11.0-0-0 d7 12.h3
queen. 15.e1 xd5 16.exd5 b8
bxa2 13.g4 etc (Velimirovic - Davies,
17.d2 b8-+ ] Vrnjacka Banja 1991). ]
[ 15.e3 bxa2 16.d2 xb2 17.xc8 5.f3 e7 6.e3 d7 7.d2 a6!? 8.d3
xc8!-+ ] [ Black's 7.. .a6!? was designed to make
15...xe4 Not that this isn't easy to
White's queenside less habitable by going
understand. All of White's kingside advances for ... b7-b5. Rajlich - Khechumyan,
are rendered irrelevant. 16.fxe4 bxc2+
Budapest 2001 went 8.0-0-0 b5 9.h4?!
17.a1 cxd1+ 18.xd1 c4 19.g2 f6 10.d3 b7! when suddenly Black
xd5 20.exd5 was threatening to win the e4 pawn with 11...
[ 20.xd5 c2! ] b4. ]
20...b6 21.e2 b4 22.c1 f6
8...b5 Whenever I play this move, I end up
Black might even castle in a minute. 23.h3 wondering if the b-pawn might not be better
Unless White plays this one. hxh4 24.e1 placed on b6 from where it supports ...c7-c5.
e4 25.c2 c5 White woke up and [ Gara - Khechumyan, Budapest 2001 varied
counted the pieces. A brilliant, short game by with 8...b6 9.0-0-0 f6 10.h3 b7 11.g4
Ionov. h6 12.hf1 d7 when White finally ran out
0-1 of patience with 13.g5 and did not stand
very well after hxg5 14.fxg5 h5 15.h2
c6 16.f2 0-0-0 etc ]
708 B06 9.0-0 f6 10.ae1 g4!? An unthematic
Baum,Bernd idea which I'm not sure I would repeat, Black
Davies,Nigel R gets the bishop pair but loses time.
Gausdal (1) 1993 [ In retrospect 10...0-0 looks more natural. ]
[Nigel Davies] 11.f5! xe3 12.xe3 0-0 13.g4 b4
14.d1 exf5 15.gxf5 d5 16.f4 f6
The Austrian Attack has always been one of An un f ortu nate nece ssity af te r which m y
Black's main worries. After an early career position starts to look very ugly. But it's still
with 4...Nc6 I switched to a Pirc transposition a tough fight in which my opponent comes
(4...Nf6) before discovering 4...e6!?. The idea second. 17.e3 c6 18.c3 bxc3 19.bxc3
is to make f2-f4 look like a mistake because it h8 20.h1 a7 21.g1 a5 22.exd5
blocks White's dark-square bishop. 1.e4 d6 xc3 23.b1 g5 24.g4 b7 25.d6 g8
2.d4 g6 3.c3 26.e4 d7 27.c1 b4 28.d5 xd6
[ W hite can also play the immediate 3.f4 29.dxc6 xb1! The kind of exchange sac
after which I've played g7 4.f3 c5 5.c3 that's ideal for your opponent's time-trouble.
( 5.d5 f6 6.c3 0-0 is an Austrian attack Direct threats are not necessary, you just need
with 5...c5.) 5...a5!? which threatens to t o s t o p h i m f r o m s o l v i n g h i s p r o b l e m s .
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
30.xb1 xc6 31.gf1 a8 32.g1 b8 This bold leap forward carries the enormous
33.c2 b4 34.c4 f4 35.a3 g4+ threat of 9 e6. f8
36.g2 xc4 Winning material and the [ If 8...e6 then Black must reckon on White
game. 37.xg4 xg4+ 38.f2 f4 39.e2 blasting open the position with lines like
e4+ 40.d3 a4 41.c3 e4+ 42.e3 9.d5!? exd5 10.e6 ]
e7 9.e2! This powerful move not only reinforces
0-1 the idea of playing e5-e6, but also
immediately threatens 10 Bxb5+! axb5 11
Qxb5+, winning Black's loose b7-bishop. b4
709 B06 10.ce4 f5? Black misses White's stunning
Beliavsky,Alexander G forthcoming tactical combination... 11.b5+!!
Hickl,Joerg c6
European Zonal, 2000 2000 [ 11...axb5 12.xb5+ echoes the line given
[Paul Motwani] in the previous notes at move nine. ]
12.c4! Black is in deadly double trouble at
W7: "Alexander The Great!" A.Beliavsky-J. c6 and f7. d7 13.f7! Menacing 14 Nxd6
Hickl, European Zonal Tournament, Pula 2000. or 14 Qxg7 in particular. cxb5 14.xg7 xe4
Modern Defence. 34 top players from Austria, 15.xe4 fxe4 16.f5!
Bosnia, Croatia, Germany, Israel, [ Black could fight on longer after 16.xh8
Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Slovenia, and h6 ]
Switzerland recently converged on the city of 16...gxf5 17.xh8 e6 18.d5 c7
Pula from April 11-22 to compete in a really [ 18...d4 19.e6+ uncovers a fatal attack
tough 11-round European Zonal Tournament, from White's queen towards d4. ]
wit h jus t a sin gle re st -da y. A lt h ou gh t h e 19.xh7 Black resigned, with his position in
ferocious field included 21 grandmasters and ruins and hopelessly behind on material.
ten IMs, a clear outright winner emerged: 1-0
Slovenia's 46-year-old super-GM Alexander
Beliavsky, with an impressive tally of five wins
and six draws. Beliavsky's sensational 8/11 710 B06
score put him a full point ahead of a runner- Berezovsky,Igor 2434
up Israeli trio, namely Lev Psakhis, Emil Almasi,Zoltan 2650
Sutovsky and Ilia Smirin. I particularly liked Bundesliga 2004-5 (3) 27.11.2004
Beliavsky's 19-move victory on April 19, which [Andrew Martin]
wa s c e r t a i n l y a " B l a c k W e d n e s d a y" f o r
Germany's GM Jorg Hickl playing Black, as 1.d4 IS BLACK REALLY EQUAL IN THE 150
he suffered the quickest loss of the entire ATTACK? If the evidence of this high-rated
tournament! 1.d4 d6 2.e4 g6 3.c3 g7 g a m e i s t o b e b e l i e ve d , B l a c k ' s t a s k o f
In general, the Modern Defence is not too defence in the 150 is eased. Almasi starts
popular amongst the world's very best players, regularly, with the Modern move-order and
probably because it allows White to establish the usual immediate queenside counterplay
a large spatial advantage. 4.f4 "f for forward!" but then flicks in ...e7-e6,which puts W hite
is a favourite attacking motto of mine. a6 almost at a loss for a move. . g6 2.e4 g7
[ W7.1: 4...c6 5.b5 also worked out well 3.c3 d6 4.e3 a6! 5.d2 b5 6.d3 b7
for White in the game P.Motwani-C.McNab 7.a4
at the 1999 Scottish Championship, and in [ 7.f3 d7 8.a4 b4 9.e2 a5
preparing for that encounter, I found the comes to the same. ]
analysis on page 136 of "Nunn's Chess 7...b4 8.ce2
Openings" to be very useful. ] [ 8.d1 isn't '150' style, more positional, but
5.f3 b5 6.d3 b7 7.e5 I like this central is a good move nevertheless. White's point
thrust, which leaves Black's king's knight and is to relocate the Knight with f3 and Nf2,
bish op with litt le scop e . d7 8.g5!? reinforcing e4 and g4 rather than the Ne2-g3
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
A) 12...h5 is asking for White to break A) 6.f3 g4 7.e3 xf3 ( 7...d5!
through with either e5-e6 or f4-f5xg6. 13.f5 looks like a cute nuance to me (GJ) as
( 13.e5 g4 14.e2 also looks then dxe4 could be a threat. ) 8.gxf3 d5!;
promising.) 13...h4 14.fxg6! hxg3 15.b3 B) 6.d5 b4! and Rybka agrees that
( 15.gxf7+!? ) 15...fxg6 16.g5 b6 there's no way to trap that knight so White
17.e6 wins back the piece and displaces is rather over-extended. 7.a5 e6! 8.dxe6
Black's king.; xe6 9.f3 f6 10.d3 g4;
B) 12...0-0 So we have the typical battle C) 6.e3 f6 7.f3 0-0 8.e2 b6!
between W hite's big centre and Black's ( 8...d5 GJ is the computer's choice but it
efforts to undermine it with a well timed c5. encourages W hite to start pushing his
13.b1 b6 14.c4 ( 14.0-0 is rather kingside and so I'm not convinced. 9.e5
safer when I'd prefer to have White's extra g4 10.g1 h6 11.h3 f6 12.d2
space. ) 14...a6 15.c1 c5 16.dxc5 wh e n I ca n se e a b ig kin gsid e a t t a c k
dxc5 17.h3 a4!? 18.c2 b8 19.e2 arriving shortly.) 9.0-0 e6 10.h1 b7!
c3!? Black delights in putting the knight and Black has a solid position with good
on squares on which it's poisoned. 20.f1 chances to strike out. e4 is a weakness
b7 21.d3 a4 ( Maybe he should go and White has to watch out for either c7-
the whole hog with 21...a2!? ) 22.0-0 c5 or even f 7-f5!? challenging his big
c6 23.e5 e8 24.b1 h5 25.e2 centre. ]
( 25.xb8! xb8 26.f3! with ideas of e5 6.e3
followed by e6 or f5 looks extremely strong [ 6.a5!? is interesting to stop Black
f o r W h i t e .) 25...h7 26.xb8 xb8 developing his bishop to b7 as now b6 would
27.b1 c7 28.d2 xe5 29.fxe5 c6 be a major structural concession. However
30.h6 continued to be messy in Palac, M- in the game, Rakhmanov played differently
Chatalbashev, B Zagreb CRO 2010 which anyway. ]
ended in a draw in a few more moves. ] 6...d7 7.e5 Overly committal in my opinion. I
4...a6 5.a4 given as dubious by Tiger here had this position on the White side a bit over
and indeed he's never happy with this as a year ago.
W hite. This is due to the fact that often it [ I played the logical 7.f3 e7 8.d3
simply loses a tempo as Black was intending putting further pressure on the important f5
to play b7-b6, or at least not play b5 square. 0-0 e xt r e m e l y r i s k y ! ( 8...b6
immediately as then a2-a4 challenging the would be my choice on the Black side.)
structure sometimes gives Black problems. 9.g4!? I had lost the last game horribly to
White has also ceded control of b4 and thus another ChessPublishing author and was
the 5...Nc6 recommendation. l o o k i n g f o r b l o o d i n t h i s g a m e ! d5?!
[ 5.f3 b5 is probably the critical line of the Th is is t he wro n g pla n h e re a s B la c k 's
whole Tiger's Modern and you should be p o s it i o n so o n r e se m b l e s a n e xt re m e l y
ready for this if you want to play the early passive French. ( 9...c5! is the necessary
a6 Modern. ] break when I was intending to continue with
5...e6 Interesting, Black goes for an 10.d2 cxd4 11.xd4 c5
immediate Hippopotamus setup. I've written wi t h a n u n c l e a r D r a g o n ( D r a g a d o r f ! ? )
earlier in this update that I get worried playing position, but Black's chances certainly don't
Hippos when White has played f2-f4. This is l o o k w o r s e .) 10.e5 c5 11.h4 cxd4
because I find e6 to be a weak square in 12.xd4 c6 13.h5 e8 ( 13...g5 14.h6
Black's position and thus f4-f5 always has to h8 15.xh7+! xh7 16.d3+ g8
be feared. Nevertheless, if Black is accurate 17.xe6! was a fun line I remember
and takes appropriate measures, there calculating.) 14.hxg6 fxg6 15.f3 b4
shouldn't be anything particularly wrong with 16.g5 ( 16.d2 was simpler with a great
this. position. In the game I allowed him
[ 5...c6! is Tiger's suggested refutation. His c o u n t e r p l a y .) 16...d4! A good practical
lines run decision 17.xh7? Flawed ( 17.xd4 xe5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
28...hf8 Simple chess putting yet more them "en prise") and yet they both lose! You
pressure on f3. W hite's in dire straights to are invited to find those moves, and answers
escape. appear after the game B17. 5.0-0 e6 6.g5?!
[ 28...xe5 29.f4 isn't clear ] The bishop puts itself too far too soon into the
29.e1 enemy camp, where it quickly becomes a
[ 29.g3 xe5! now that f4 is covered target for Black's pawns to attack. e7 7.d2
30.xe5 c7! 31.e1 d5! 32.gf3 h6 8.f4?
xf3+! and Black has easily enough [ 8.e3 avoids being hit by ...g5. ]
remaining pieces to mate White. ] 8...g5 9.e3 d5 10.exd5
29...g5 30.d1 f4 simple chess again. [ 10.d3? loses material by force to dxe4
Rakhmanov intends to simply double on the f 11.xe4 f5 12.d3 f4 ]
file when W hite is powerless to defend f3. 10...exd5 11.d3 bc6 12.c3 f5!
31.h4 Boskovic desperately tries to release This case of "f for forward" threatens to trap
the pressure on f3 but the alternatives don't White's e3-bishop with 13...f4. 13.c2 0-0
help. 14.e1 Hoping to play f4 next, but Black gets
[ 31.c1 might be best with the idea to there first. f4 15.c1 g4 16.a4 e8 17.g3?
sacrifice the exchange but again simply e4 f3 Virtually sealing the fate of White's king.
32.c2 df8 33.f2 h5! and White can't 18.e3 h5 19.b4 White's queenside
move and must await his fate. At least it gestures are coming much too late, because
won't take long... ] h e i s s i m p l y l o s t o n t h e o t h e r wi n g . f5
31...xg4+ 32.h2 f8! 33.hxg5 f4+ 20.d2 h3 21.b3 xd3 22.xd3 f5
34.h3 h6 Black's play has been White resigned, having no proper answer to
impressively methodical in carrying out this the crushing threat of 23...Rh5. Solution to
attack. The d8 rook isn't yet doing anything so B17P1 4... Bg4? or 4... Nd7? both lose to 5
he opens up the h file. White can do nothing Bxf7+ Kxf7 6 Ng5+. If you want to be ultra-
about it despite his extra two pieces. 35.h4 precise, then it's also true that the bizarre 4...
xh4+ 36.xh4 f1+ A pretty game Kd7?? drops a pawn to 5 Bxf7 too!
although objectively White was better had he 0-1
n o t a l l o we d t h e s a c r i f i c e s . 5 . . . e 6 l o o k s
reasonable though, I couldn't find any way to
get an ad vantage a s W hite a nd seems a 718 B06
playable alternative to Tiger's 5...Nc6(!) I don't Campora,Daniel Hugo
like 7.e5 so if we see more games in this line Rocha,Sergio
I predict they will follow my play with Nf3. Santo Antonio (3) 1999
0-1 [Nigel Davies]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
9.f4 c6 10.d6 exd6 11.xd6 g4 might as well play on. 31.f3 e6 32.d1 c4
12.xd8 axd8 13.h3 fe8+ 14.e3 e6 33.d8 xb5 34.axb5 b3 35.b8 b2
15.0-0-0 d5 16.xd5 bxd5 17.xd5 36.b6 f5 37.a8 xb6 38.xa5 b2 39.h3
xd5 18.g5 f6 19.xf6 xf6 20.f3 f4 40.a7 f6 41.c7 h6 42.a7 d2
etc. Black never really got going in this game 43.b7 g5 44.b6+ g7 45.h4 f6 46.h5
so he should force White to concede the two f5 47.g6+ f7 48.f1 d1+ 49.f2 h1
bishops. ] 50.xh6 g4 51.fxg4 fxg4 52.g6 f3
7.xf6 xf6 8.b3 0-0 I like Rocha's cool 53.gxf3
treatment in this game - he doesn't snatch at ½-½
forcing lines but relies on the natural strength
of his bishop pair to deliver compensation.
[ 8...c6 9.dxc6 xd4 10.xd4 xd4 719 B06
11.ge2 xc3+ 12.xc3 bxc6 13.0-0-0 Cheparinov,Ivan 2646
left Black worse and miserable in Aseev K - Sakaev,Konstantin 2633
Schulz, Erfurt 1991 ] 8th ch-Euro T/B (3.4) 15.04.2007
9.ge2 a5 [John Watson]
[ Black has not managed to develop
sufficient counterplay with 9...g4 10.f3 1.d4 g6 2.e4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3 a6!?
f5 Palliser - Houska M, Witley 1999 going Here we go again. 5.f3 Maybe Whit e should
on ( 10...h4+ 11.g3 f5 12.0-0 xg3 play this instead of f4, because it's unclear
13.hxg3 e8 14.g4 left Black with zero how Black can attack e4 and d4 with real
compensation in Keitlinghaus - Siebrecht, effect. d7
Dortmund 1998) 11.g3 d7 12.d2 c6 [ 5...f6 is a pretty normal Pirc and may well
13.dxc6 bxc6 14.0-0-0 fd8 15.f4 a5 be best. Presumably ]
16.xf5 gxf5 17.a4 with very little [ 5...b5 6.d2 b7 is an option I have to
compensation for Black. ] prefer White, however. ]
10.a4 c6 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.0-0 c7 6.d2 b5
Once again a cool wa y t o p lay it. Be f ore [ 6...e5 7.0-0-0 b5 8.dxe5 xe5 9.f4 g4
c o m m it t i n g h is b ish o p o n c8 , B la ck f irs t 10.d4 doesn't help matters. ]
applies more pressure to the d4 pawn. 7.h4!? Probing. T his is possible because
[ After 12...a6 13.e4 g7 14.c3 b8 White's centre is relatively immune to attack.
15.c5 c8 16.e1 Black had very little for [ Options include 7.ge2 ]
the pawn in Rasmussen - Bangsbro, Aarhus [ 7.h3 ]
1995 ] 7...h5
13.d2 [ 7...gf6 8.0-0-0 b4 9.ce2 a5 10.f4
[ This time roun d 13.e4 g7 14.c3 has the double idea h5 and e5. ]
is not such a convincing plan as W hite's 8.h3 c5 9.g5! Tricky, and it's a good
Ne4-c5 will not be threatening a bishop on square in any case. b4 10.e2 a5?
a6. Black gets good play with e5 15.dxe5 [ 10...h6 improves greatly, as we shall see,
xe5 16.g3 h3 17.e1 ad8 ] because it protects f7. ]
13...d8 14.e3 a6 Only now does the 11.d1
bishop come out. Black is no worse here and [ 11.dxc5! is good here but Black doesn't
W hite so on give s b ack t he pa wn . 15.fe1 catch it: ]
d5 16.f3 xc3 17.xc3 xd4 18.e4 11...c7? 12.dxc5 xc5?? Sakaev was
g7 19.xf6 exf6 20.ad1 xd1 21.xd1 having an off day and still suffers from chess
d8 22.f3 c5 23.d5 d7 24.c6 d2 b l i n d n e s s . 13.d5 whoops! White forks a8
25.c3 xc3 26.bxc3 d2 27.b5 c8 an d f 7 . Black cou ld resign , bu t prob ab ly
28.d3 c4 29.xc4 xc2 30.b5 xc3 doesn't want a 12-move loss on his record.
Black has a nominal extra pawn but will be h6 14.xa8 0-0 15.d5 a4 16.d4
unable to create a kingside pawn majority. Still, 16...e5 is met b7 17 Qb3.
he's got what chances that are going so he 1-0
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Of course White doesn't have to play 3.e5 and If Black adopts a Modern Defence move order
with 3.Nc3 he can hope to transpose into a he can meet 2.f4 with 2...d5. This is one of
Pirc Defence should Black play 3...d6. Not the joys of leaving your d-pawn at home. 1.f4
that there's much chance of W elling doing g6 2.e4 d5 3.e5
anything normal in the opening, with Black [ After 3.exd5 Black can offer a pawn
ge t t i n g h i s k n i gh t t o t h a t k e y h 5 s q u a r e sacrifice with f6 4.b5+ ( 4.c3 xd5
anyway. 1.e4 g6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 is f i n e f o r B l a c k) 4...d7 ( 4...bd7
This looks a bit wimpy, but even Khalifman may also be possible) 5.c4 g4 6.f3
has paid Black's opening this compliment. d5 xd5 7.c3 c6 8.h3 xf3 9.xf3 e6
[ Khalifman - Svidler, Moscow 1995 10.e4 d7 and Black had a solid game in
transposed into a Pirc after 3...g7 4.f4 d6 I Zaitsev - Komliakov, Orel 1994 ]
. W e llin g, a s u su al, give s t he gam e a n 3...c5
independent turn.... ] [ Black can also opt for a Gurgenidze type
4.e5 h5 5.e2 g7 6.h6 c5 7.f3 set -u p wit h 3...h5 , Hebden - Lobron, New
[ After 7.dxc5 there is d4 with similar play to York 1983 continuing 4.d4 h6 5.c3 c6
the game. ] 6.a3 b6 7.c2 g4 8.d2 e6 9.a4
7...c6 8.dxc5 d4 9.b5 e6 10.xf8 a5 10.e3 f5 11.f2 e7 with a super-
xf8 11.c3 dxc3 12.xd8+ exd8 solid position for Black. ]
13.xc3 g4 14.0-0-0 e6 15.h3 xf3 4.c3 Probably not the best, White should
16.xf3 xc5 17.xc6 bxc6 18.d4 g7 leave open the option of advancing his c-
19.hd1 hc8 20.c4 e6 At this point pawn.
White is slightly better, but he gets completely [ The usual move is 4.f3 c6 5.d4
outplayed in the endgame. 21.d7 f8 ( Black is doing well after both 5.b5 b6
22.a4 d8 23.c5 xd7 24.xd7+ e8 6.xc6+ xc6; and 5.c3 g4 6.e2 h6
25.c5 xc5 26.xc5 d7 27.c2 c7 7.d3 f5 Dimitrijevic - Root A, US Open Ch.,
28.b4 b6 29.b3 d8 The tables have 1994 ) 5...cxd4 6.xd4 e6 7.b5 d7
been turned, and suddenly it is Black who is 8.0-0 c5 9.c3 ge7 10.e3 b6
threatening to penetrate with his rook. 30.f4 11.a3 a6 12.xc6 xc6 13.b4 xd4
d1 31.c2 h5 32.h4 h1 33.g3 g1 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 xd4+ 16.cxd4
34.c3 g2 35.a3 a5 36.a4 g1 37.c4 a4 17.ac1 d7 left Black with the better
axb4 38.xb4 c5+ 39.c4 a1 40.d5? endgame in Myrstad - Ivanov M, Trondheim
White may have been in time trouble as he 1997 ]
manages to get his king into a net and has to 4...h6 5.f3 f5 6.b5+ d7 7.e2 e6
give up his rook to avoid mate. 8.0-0 xb5 9.xb5+ d7 10.xd7+ xd7
[ 40.b3 b1+ 41.a3 probably holds. ] Black is doing well, but even good positions
40...xa4 41.xc5 aren't immune to blunders. 11.b3 c6
[ After 41.d3 there is e6+ 42.d6 d4+ ] 12.b2 c8?? 13.xd5! And that's that,
[ and 41.e6 is answered by d4+ 42.e5 White wins a pawn. He can't take the knight
f6# ] because of e5-e6+. Black could have saved
41...e6+ 42.d6 d4+ 43.e7 xc5 himself much of the rest. g7 14.c3 fd4
44.xf7 d5 45.xg6 d3 15.xd4 xd4 16.e4 c7 17.c4 c6
0-1 18.xd4 cxd4 19.f3 d8 20.d3 f8
21.a4 b4 22.g4 h6 23.g2 b6 24.a5+
c6 25.a4 f8 26.f3 cd7 27.f6 c7
28.e4 cc8 29.b4 g5 30.f5 g7 31.h5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
f8 32.f6 b5 33.axb6 axb6 34.xd4 xe4 19.d3 f5 20.d2 e7 21.d1
xd4+ 35.xd4 b7 36.d3 b5 37.a5 e8 22.df1 c5-+ Ineke, J-Geragousian, B/
bxc4 38.dxc4 d8+ 39.c3 d1 40.c5 Nijmegen 2002 ]
e1 41.g3 c1+ 42.d4 d1+ 43.c4 8...0-0 9.g4 O r i g i n a l c e r t a i n l y . d5!
e1 44.d3 d1+ 45.c4 e1 46.b3 This would be a classic response to White's
b1+ 47.a4 e1 48.h5 c6 49.a6+ flank action. Black prepares immediate
d5 50.b3 e3+ 51.c2 e2+ 52.d3 central counterplay. 10.exd5 xd5 11.g5
xh2 53.a8 h3+ 54.e2 xc5 55.bxc5 b6 12.a3 exd4 13.cxd4 c5 14.c4
c3 56.a7 xc5 57.xf7 xe5 58.d7 Already White is toiling just to keep his head
c2+ 59.d2 c3 60.b2 c7 61.f2 e4 above water. Black has blown open the centre
62.g2 f7 63.f2 d5 64.f1 e5 65.e2 at the right moment and the move g2-g4 looks
e6 66.g7+ d6 67.e3 f8 68.e4 h5 way out of place. b4! 15.c1 He couldn't
69.gxh5 g4 70.d2+ c6 71.xe5 bring himself to castle queenside yet this may
1-0 be the right move.
[ 15.0-0-0 cxd4 16.e7 xa2+ ( 16...d3!?
17.xf8 xa2+ 18.xa2 dxe2 19.xe2
723 B06 xf8 20.b1 d7 ) 17.xa2 e8
Dauth,Benjamin 2281 18.g5 ]
Paulsen,Dirk 2376 15...cxd4
ch-city Berlin GER (3) 11.04.2004 [ Black is much better after 15...c6! ]
[Andrew Martin] 16.e7 e5
[ 16...c6 17.xf8 xf8 18.d1 de5
1.e4 g6 2.d4 c6 I've always found it a little gives a dangerous attack. But Paulsen does
odd that Black can seemingly freak out with not want to fall back, even for an instant. ]
impunity in the Modern Defence but when 17.xb4 e8 18.d1
White tries to do the same he generally gets [ 18.xb6 axb6 19.d6 xc4 20.xc4 d3
the worst of things. Got to do with pawns I 21.xb6 xg4!! 22.fxg4 xa2 23.c8
t h in k . T h e B la ck p a wn f o rm a t io n is ve r y xc8 24.xc8 a1+ 25.d2 xh1 ]
flexible meanwhile with e4 and d4 White has 18...xf3+
already committed himself! The current game [ The computer indicates 18...xc4 19.xc4
sees White heading off the beaten track into e6 and White is in deep trouble. ]
jungle territory. I don't think that what Dauth 19.f2 e5 20.h3 d3+ 21.xb6 axb6
does can be BAD, but he certainly ends up 22.xd3 xe7 A storm has swept the board
with a poor position from the opening. 3.c3 leaving White in very poor shape. The Bishop
g7 4.d3 d6 5.e2 Slightly unusual. One on g7 is unopposed and the white queenside
would expect W hite to be thinking of f2-f4 looks shaky. 23.c4 e6! Ensuring that the
now. f6 6.f3?! My punctuation. White's queenside will fall apart. 24.xb6 xa2
formation leads to neither attack nor defence 25.b5 xb2-+ Mopping-up time. 26.d8+
so I don't understand what he wants from the f8 27.d5 g7 28.a4 d3+ 29.g3
opening? A weird position? OK, but then you xd5 30.xd5 e3+ 31.h4 e7+ 32.g5
have to be going somewhere. bd7 7.e3 bxe2 33.b5 g2 34.xd3 xd3
e5 Straightforward. The lack of forcing play White needs to go in with a plan against the
gives Black plenty of choice. 8.d2N Pirc/Modern, whether it be the positional
[ 8.d2 d5! 9.h3 0-0 10.0-0 e8 11.g3 squeeze or outright attack. What happened
c7 12.e1 b6 13.f2 b7 14.ac1 here was very half-hearted just shunting out
ac8 Liljedahl, L-Szabo, L/Gothenburg 1971 the pieces with no real aims. A good game by
Pretty patterns. Level. ] Paulsen who took energetic action at exactly
[ 8.0-0 0-0 9.f4 Changing his mind? g4 the right moment.
10.f2 xf2 11.xf2 f6 12.h3 e8 0-1
13.d2 d7 14.c4 b6 15.f1 xc4
16.xc4 exd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.cxd4
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1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3 a6 Coming up a game where Black employs an
The Modern Defence. 5.d2 d7 6.0-0-0 unusual move-order in the opening to what
Dominguez is going for sharp play which is should have been good effect. 1.e4 d6 2.d4
quite usual for him. e6 d7!? We soon transpose to a Modern-like
[ 6...b5 7.h4! h5 8.h3 b7 9.g5 e6 position but there are many cases when Black
Is like the main game but instead of having would want to respond with a Philidor. 3.f4 g6
a bishop on b7 Kamsky has a knight on e7 4.f3 g7 5.c3 c6 6.d3 b6!
10.f4!? h6 ( 10...b4 11.e2 gf6 12.f5 [ 6...e5 could certainly be termed ' thematic',
gxf5 13.exf5 e5 14.xb4; 10...e7 11.f5 although White retains the better game after
gxf5 12.exf5 gf6 13.fxe6 fxe6 14.d3 A) 7.fxe5 dxe5 8.d5 h6!? 9.e3
0-0-0 15.he1 Reinderman, D-Kabanof, N ( I think I prefer 9.dxc6 bxc6 10.e3
Dieren 2009) 11.d3 c5 12.dxc5 a5 when Black has structural defects which
13.xb5! axb5 14.xd6 b4 15.xe6 fxe6 cannot be repaired. Doubtless the position
16.xe6+ f8 17.xd7 h7 18.f5 a6 is unclear, for instance after e7 11.0-0
19.d6 bxc3 20.f6 xa2 21.d8+ xd8 gf6 ) 9...gf6 10.dxc6 bxc6 11.d2
22.fxg7+ xg7 23.f1+ f7 24.xh6+ g8 g4 12.g1 0-0 13.h3 gf6 14.e3
25.xa2 d5 26.xd5 xd5 27.xf7 xc5 h7 15.g4 e8 16.h4 c7 17.e2
28.g7+ h8 29.xg6 h7 30.e6 e6 18.g3 dc5 19.c4 d4
1-0 Wirig, A -Moussard, J Caen FRA 2011 ] 20.g5+ hxg5 21.hxg5+ g8 22.xd4
7.h4! h5 8.h3 This is a key idea b5 9.g5 xd4 23.h2 d8 24.xf7+ xf7
e7 Kamsky is aware of the f4-f5 possibility 25.e2 d2+ 0-1 Poliviou, E-Koukoufikis,
and plays elastically. 10.b1 b7 11.f3 A/Korinthos 2004;
b6 12.b3 At this point its is not obvious B) 7.dxe5! dxe5 8.e2 e7 9.f5
what White intends to do d7 13.g3! b4 with the initiative c5 10.c4 gxf5
14.e2 a5 15.h3! A very strong idea, now 11.g5 e6 12.xf7 Lalic has assessed
d5 is hard to meet. b5 16.xe6 fxe6 T u r n e r we l l a b r il l i a n t p l a ye r wh o o n
17.xe6 d7 o cca sio n ca n b e a lm o s t u n f o r giva b l y
[ 17...f7 18.xc7 d7 19.xa8 xa8 careless. xf7 13.exf5 xf5 14.0-0 e8
20.d5 c7 21.d4 ] ( 14...g6 15.xf5 xf5 16.f3+ g6
18.xg7 h7 19.d5 xg7 20.d4 a6 17.d3+ ) 15.xf5+ g8 16.e3 h8
21.g2 f7 22.h3+ e8 23.e6 g8 17.h5 e4 18.f1 e7 19.xe4 d7
24.g4 a4 25.h2 White has a strong attack 20.xh7+ xh7 21.h5+ g8 22.g5
c o m b i n e d w i t h p o s i t i o n a l p l u s s e s . f6 xg5 23.xg5 f8 24.d1+- 1-0 Lalic, B-
26.gxh5 gxh5 27.xc7+ xc7 28.e6+ Turner, M/Kilkenny 1998 ]
e7 29.xf6 axb3 7.c4
[ 29...xd5! 30.g6+ d7 31.f5+ c7 [ 7.e2 has been played and found wanting:
is less clear. ] gf6! ( 7...c5 is also fine: 8.c3 e6 9.0-0
30.cxb3 xd5 31.g6+ e7 10.e1 d5 11.e5 c4 12.c2 d8
[ 31.exd5? xe3 ] 13.h4 f8 14.g4 h5 15.g3 hxg4
31...d7 32.f5+ c7 33.xd5 xd5 16.xg4 f5 17.f2 e7 18.d2 d7
34.xd5 f1+ 35.b2 g2+?? 19.h1 h7 20.h4 0-0-0 21.h5 dg8
[ 35...a6 offers to repeat. ] Seiler, A-Jopek, E/Germany 1996) 8.c3 0-0
36.xg2 An impressive game by Dominguez 9.c2 e5 10.0-0 exd4 11.cxd4 c5 12.h1
1-0 cxd4 13.exd4 c5 14.f5 xd3 15.xd3
e8 16.fxg6 hxg6 17.e1 g4 18.e2
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30.d1 f5 31.c2 e6 32.d3 a5 33.c6 xd8 26.c6 a6 27.ab1 f8 28.b5
c8 34.c1 f8 35.c7 e7 36.a6 e4 a3 29.c2 c5 30.bxc5 xc5 31.xc5
37.xc8 xc8 38.d1 d7 32.c1 f6 33.b5 a8 34.c4+ g7
1-0 35.d5 a7 36.e3 a6 37.c7 h8
38.h4 f8 39.c5 f5 40.e7 e8
41.f7 1-0 Stefanova,A-Matveeva,S/FIDE
730 B06 W o rld Cu p S F w, Hyd era ba d IND 20 0 2
Fercec,Nenad 2500 (41) ]
Kljako,Damir 2260 8...gf6 9.h3
4th ZNG111 IM (7) 2002 [ 9.h6 is more critical. ]
[Andrew Martin] 9...0-0 10.a4 b4 11.e2 a5 12.c3 bxc3
13.xc3 One would expect a pawn recapture
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3 but 13 Nxc3 is more subtle than it looks.
Undoubtedly the most popular idea these days Black's ideal pawn structure in the centre
at all levels. White's idea is very against this particular system is ...e7-e6,...d6-
straightforward- develop the pieces , strip out d5! and then if White blocks,...c6-c5!. if Black
the Bishop with Be3-h6 and then claim an can get those moves in he gets a very
advantage with the strong centre and chances pleasant game. Hence13 Nxc3 dissuading
of a kingside attack. Black has been suffering, this structure because of the possible hole at
a l t h o u g h we ' l l s e e t h a t 4 . . . a 6 i s a g o o d b5. Having stated that ,I don't believe Black is
response, ensuring satisfactory counterplay. worse here. He plays correctly to begin with.
c6 A move which has been cast to one side in a6 14.fc1 xd3 15.xd3 fb8 16.c2
favour of the sharper lines after 4...a6. b4 17.ac1 ab8 Which is weaker,b2 or
Nevertheless,4...c6 is playable in my opinion c6? 18.d2 b7 It looks like Kljako decided
although it allows White to dictate the early to play for a win around here -he could have
stages of the game. 5.d2 b5 6.d3 fallen for the trap e.g.
[ 6.f3 Works well here although 6 Bd3 is [ 18...xb2 19.b5 xc2 20.xc2 b7
more direct d7 7.a3 Setting a trap. b6?! 21.xc6 b6!= ]
( 7...a6 ) 8.d5! d7 9.dxc6 xc6 10.xb5 19.b3 e8 20.f4 e6 21.a2 b6 22.d5 c5
f6 11.d3 0-0 12.e2 fd7 13.bd4 [ 22...exd5 23.xb6 xb6+ 24.h1 c5
c7 14.h6 xh6 15.xh6 d5 16.h4!+- 25.f3 dxe4 26.xe4 xb3 27.b1 d4
dxe4 Giving up. The only chance was to put 28.c1 ]
the Knight on f8. 17.h5 exd3 18.hxg6 f6 23.c3 xc3 24.xc3 exd5 25.exd5 df6
19.f5 1-0 Pilgaard,K-Ahlander,B/1st It, 26.c4 a6? Baffling. This particular Benoni-
Klaksvik FAI 2002 (19) ] like position cannot favour White due to the
6...d7 7.f3 c7 In general Black should weakness of the pawn at d5. If Black takes on
wait as long as possible before playing ...Ngf6. b3 he cannot be worse e.g.
The question is : has he enough useful moves [ 26...xb3 27.xb3 xb3 28.xb3 xb3
to play in the meant ime? if Black f iddle s 29.d2 xd5 ]
around too much he can simply get crushed 27.d1 c7 28.c1 cxd5 29.b2 xf4
by White's massive central build-up 8.0-0 Looks as if time-trouble is coming into play.
[ 8.a4 b4 9.e2 a5 ( Possibly 9...b8 Black misses another clear route e.g.:
first. ) 10.c3 This would be a typical way by [ 29...xc3 30.xc3 d5 31.xa5 xa5
which White tries to open the position . b8 32.xf6 d4 ]
11.g3 h5!? 12.h3 gf6 13.0-0 e5 30.f1 6d5 31.f3 g5 32.g3 e6 33.f5
14.dxe5 dxe5 15.cxb4 xb4 16.c2 0-0 xb3 34.fxd5 xg3+ 35.h1 g4
17.fc1 d8 18.d2 b8 19.xc6 h4 [ 35...f4 36.xd6 ( 36.5d2 d5 )
( 19...xb2 20.c3 b4 21.c7 ) 36...xd6 37.xd6 xh3 38.d2 e8 ]
20.xh4 xb2 21.f3 b3 22.c2 b8 36.g5+ A game which went completely off
23.c7 Of course...h7-h5 has turned out to the rails at the end thanks to the time
be useless. a8 24.b5 e8 25.xd8 scramble-the last move is reminiscent of an
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A) 15.e3 f5 16.he1 a3 ( but not [ White would win if he could get his rook to
16...f6 17.b3 a3 18.c5! ) 17.h3 the g-file to attack the weak point on g6.
b4! 18.cxb4 ( White loses after 18.xe4 T h i s c o u l d b e d o n e w i t h 19.h4!
bxc3 ) 18...xb4+ 19.b3 xb3+ for example b4 20.g4 bxc3 21.xg6+
20.xb3 e8 with a balanced position. f8 22.xg7+ with a massacre. ]
Black's bishops and compact centre make 19...xg7 20.h6 xd4! Benidze now has
up for the material deficit.; saving counterplay due to his passed pawn
B) 15.b3?! A needless decentralisation and his queen's potential threats against the
of the knight. c7 16.e3 xg2 17.hg1 white king. 21.xg6+ g8 22.h7 xe5
b7 18.a7? ( White should try 18.c5+ 23.dh1? It seems like Filippov's attack is
c8 19.xb7 xb7 though Black is going to be crowned with glory after 24. Rh8
d o i n g we l l d u e t o W h i t e ' s s p l i n t e r e d mate, but a nasty surprise is in store. He must
pawns. ) 18...c8 19.g3 f6 20.xf6 play
xf6 21.d4 d7 22.b3 a8 23.e3 [ 23.c4+! leading to yet another crazy
c8 24.d4 d5 White's inaccurate play variation: Black really would be mated on h8
has let his opponent build up a vicious after
attack on his king. 25.f5 b4! 26.b3 A) 23...d5! 24.xd5 cxd5 25.xd5+
( After 26.cxb4 xd4 the c2 point is e6 26.xg7+! xg7 27.xf5 exd5
hanging. ) 26...xb3 27.cxb3 bxc3 28.xd5+ f8 29.d6+ ( Here 29.xa8?
28.c2 a5 0-1 Osmanodja, F (2295) - fails to h6+ 30.b1 h3! 31.h1
Belezky, A (2454)/Dresden GER 2014. ] xh1 32.xh1 h3 But how could a
6.f4 b5 7.f3 gf6? Over the next two human player work all that out over the
moves Benidze seems to forget he is playing board? ) 29...g8 30.d5+ f8 31.d6+
a hypermodern opening and plays the and a draw by repetition.;
'classical' developing moves Nf6 and 0-0. In B) 23...xc4? 24.d8+ f8 25.xf8+
doing so he presents the white pieces with a xf8 26.h8# ]
ready made target. To be preferred were the 23...f1+! 24.xf1
moves discussed in Perunovic-Shanava in [ Alas for White he will be mated after
the archives, namely 24.xf1 e3+ 25.d1 ( or 25.b1 e1+ )
[ 7...b6 or ] 25...xf1+! 26.xf1 g4+ 27.xg4 d8+
[ 7...b4 ] etc. ]
8.d3 0-0?! 9.e5 e8 10.h4! With best 24...xf1+ 25.xf1 f4+ White resigned
play White's attack already looks decisive. h5 before suffering the indignity of being mated
Black would be ripped apart if he tried to trap by a knight with
White's bishop on g5, for example [ 25...f4+ 26.d1 xf1+ 27.d2 c4# ]
[ 10...h6 11.h5 hxg5 12.xg5 c7 0-1
13.hxg6 when the black king will soon perish
or ]
[ 10...f6 11.h5 fxg5 12.hxg6 h6 13.fxg5 733 B06
h5 14.e2! c7 15.h4 and the white Frois,Antonio
queen is ready to go to h5. ] Davies,Nigel R
11.g4! d'Or Cala d'Or 1986
[ A more positional approach with 11.e6 fxe6 [Nigel Davies]
12.xg6 ef6 13.0-0-0 was also very
strong for White. ] This games featured a similar concept to
11...dxe5 12.fxe5 hxg4 13.h5 gxf3 Godena - Davies but under slightly less manic
14.hxg6 conditions. W hite castled kingside and
[ Another way to win which gives Black fewer fianchettoed his king's bishop. 1.e4 g6 2.d4
defensive options is the immediate 14.h2! ] g7 3.c3 d6 4.g3 c6 5.e3
14...fxg6 15.0-0-0 b6 16.h2 f5 Chasing the knight on c6 is worse here than
17.h7+ f7 18.h6 f2 19.xg7? after 4.Nge2 Nc6.
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ 5.d5 e5 6.f4 d7 7.f3 c6 8.g2 generates a big attack ) 9.xd4
cxd5 9.exd5 xc3+ 10.bxc3 gf6 11.d4 A) 9...dxe5 10.c6 c7 11.a4!
b6 12.c4 c7 13.d2 f5 put White in ( 11.xe7!? xe7 12.xe7 b7!
serious trouble in Popchev - Davies, Albena 13.b4 ) 11...bxa4 12.xe7! xe7
1986 ] 13.xe7 b7 14.a3 with a clear
5...f6 6.h3 e5 7.dxe5 advantage;
[ After 7.ge2 Black can even play d5!? ] B) 9...xe5? 10.e4;
7...xe5 8.g2 0-0 9.ge2 b5!? C) 9...xe5 10.e4 a7 11.a4! b4
The patented pawn thrust by which Black 12.d5 b7 13.e1 , and again Black
takes the initiative. 10.0-0 has trouble getting his pieces out. ]
[ Capturing the pawn is very dangerous for 7...b4 8.e2 c5 9.c3 a5?! A very odd
W hite after, say 10.xb5 b8 11.xa7 m o ve , i n c o n s i s t e n t wi t h T i g e r ' s i d e a o f
b7 ] attacking the centre, Better was
[ 10.f4 is met by c4 11.d4 b7 [ 9...bxc3 10.bxc3 gf6 ]
with White's position looking shaky already. ] 10.0-0 b7 11.d2
10...b4 11.d5 xd5 12.exd5 c4 13.d4 [ 11.cxb4 is also good. ]
xb2 14.b1 a4 15.xb4 Maintaining 11...bxc3 12.xc3 d8 13.dxc5
m a t e r ia l p a r it y, b u t B l a c k is b e t t e r h e r e [ One good idea is 13.c4 e6 14.dxc5 xc3
because of his superior development. d7 15.xc3 dxc5 ( 15...xc5 16.d4 f6
16.ab1 e8 17.e3 a5 18.b3 b8 17.e5 ) 16.d6 ]
19.c4 b2 20.f4 b4 21.d4 f5 [ and 13.g5!? protects e4 while threatening
22.a3 e5 23.f3 xd4 24.xb2 e4 Nxf7. ]
25.e2 xg2 26.xg2 xd5 27.b7 d7 13...xc3 14.xc3 xc5 15.c4 f6
28.c4 c5 29.xc5 c6+ 30.h2 xb7 16.d4
31.e3 f3 32.g4 xg3+! 33.xg3 xe3 [ 16.e5 dxe5 17.xe5 0-0 18.b4
34.fxe3 xf1 35.g5 f2+ 36.h1 f1+ also yields some advantage. ]
37.h2 f2+ 38.h1 e1+ 39.h2 c3 16...0-0 17.e5 dxe5?
0-1 [ A crazy try, and a failure of calculation.
Perhaps Azmaiparahvili couldn't stomach
17...fd7 18.exd6 xf3 19.gxf3 exd6
734 B06 20.xd6 , but Black is in the game. ]
Frolyanov,Dmitry 2525 18.xc5 xf3 19.gxf3 c8 20.b4 d4
Azmaiparashvili,Zurab 2632 The point? 21.xe7 Finishing the game. g7
8th ch-Euro Dresden GER (11) 14.04.2007 [ 21...h5 looks more natural, aiming at f4,
[John Watson] but 22.a2 f4 23.e4 threatens Nd6. ]
22.a2 f4 23.d5 xd5 24.xd5 c2
1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.g5 a6 25.ae1 Qxe5+ follows.
Why not? 5.f3!? White generally plays a4 1-0
when his knights are on c3 and f3. On the
other hand, it's tempting to develop rapidly. b5
6.d3 d7!? The normal move against f4, 735 B06
but here it unnecessarily gets in the way (see Frolyanov,Dmitry 2567
the next note). Graf,Alexander 2621
[ 6...b7 would prepare .. .Nf6 and ...b4, 17th Open Kavala GRE (8) 06.08.2008
forcing W hite to do something about his [John Watson]
centre. ]
7.a4!? W h it e 's o p e n in g in vo lve s co m mo n s e n s e
[ 7.0-0! c5 8.e5!? looks ridiculous, yet Black moves aimed at development and the
has real problems: cxd4 ( 8...b7? 9.exd6; acquisition of territory. Ignoring the game
8...dxe5 9.dxe5 xe5 10.xe5 xe5 result, it works reasonably well. 1.e4 g6 2.d4
11.f3 a7 12.fe1 b7 13.e4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.g5 White chooses to
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
address the Modern Defence with piece play xe1 31.f4 e6+ 32.g2 xa2 33.f6
as opposed to pawn breaks. d7 xb2+ 34.g3 e2 35.d8+ f7
[ 4...f6 would be a well-known Pirc 36.xd6 e3+ 37.g2 xc3 38.xa6
Defence line. ] d2+ 39.g3 e3+ 40.g2 e4+ 41.g3
5.f3 a6 6.d3 c5 7.dxc5 xc5 8.0-0 b4 42.a7+ g8 43.b8+ g7 44.c7+
f6 h6 45.d6 e3+ 46.g4 g5+ 47.h3
[ 8...xd3?! 9.xd3 wins the two bishops, f5+ 48.g3 g5+ 49.h3 e3+ 50.g4
but W hite ends up too far ahead in e2+ 51.g3 e1+ 52.h3 f2 53.g4
d e v e l o p m e n t , e . g . , f6 10.ad1 b3 54.a3 g2+ 55.f4 b2 56.f8+ h5
with the idea e5. ] 0-1
9.e1 b5?! This takes too many liberties,
since Black needs to get his pieces out.
[ 9...0-0 was correct. ] 736 B06
10.d5! Gausel,Einar
[ Or 10.a4! b4 11.d5 ] Davies,Nigel R
10...xd5 11.exd5 a7 A well-timed Oslo 1988
defensive resource. Not only is e7 covered, [Nigel Davies]
but af ter ...Rc7, Black's pieces will have
flexibility as to how to develop. But White still A similar game to those against Godena and
has space and the better game. 12.c3 0-0 Frois, though in this one White played 4.Bc4.
[ 12...xd3 13.xd3 h6 ( 13...0-0 Whilst he can certainly do better than this I
14.d4 ) 14.e3 b7 15.d4 0-0 16.a4! don't believe this line is dangerous for Black.
bxa4 17.c6 c7 18.c1! e5 19.xa4 1.d4 d6 2.e4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.c4 c6!?
gives White play against the a-pawn. ] I first played this move as a teenager.
13.f1!? [ After 4...f6 the tricky 5.e2 was popular
[ 13.c2! keeps a straightforward advantage in the UK at that time and I did not want to
14 a4 might follow, or even direct attack: be involved in that particular debate. ]
c7 ( 13...h6! 14.e3 c7 15.d2 h7 5.e3 f6 6.h3
16.a4! ) 14.d2 b7 15.ad1 e8 [ 6.f3 is better. Byway - Nunn, England 1977
16.d4! ( 16.f4 a8! )] went 0-0 7.ge2 b6!? 8.b5?! b7
13...c7 14.d2 b7 15.h6 9.d2 a5 10.b4? a6 11.d3 c6 12.a3
[ 15.c4 bxc4 16.xc4 still looks a bit better e5 with the better game for Black due to the
for White. ] weakness of White's queenside. ]
15...e5! 16.dxe6?! It's under standable that 6...e5 7.dxe5 xe5 8.b3 0-0 9.d2?!
W hite doesn't want to leave Black with the [ In retrospect White should have continued
easy expansion by ... f5, but this gives him his development with 9.ge2 ]
some serious weaknesses. xh6 17.xh6 9...b5! 10.f3 b4 11.d5 xd5 12.xd5 c6
xf3 18.exf7+?! 13.b3 a5 14.a4 d5! 15.exd5
[ 18.gxf3 xe6 ( 18...fxe6 19.b4 a4 [ Had White seen what was coming, he might
20.xe6 xc3 21.h3! is unclear) 19.g2 have tried 15.e2 dxe4 16.f4 ]
c5! leaves White with the awful f-pawns. ] 15...c4! 16.xc4 xb2! 17.e2 h4+
18...cxf7 19.gxf3 xf3 20.g2 xf2 18.f2 xc4 19.b1
21.e3? [ White gets nothing for the exchange after
[ But 21.f1 xf1+ 22.xf1 xf1+ 23.xf1 19.0-0 xa1 20.xa1 xd5 ]
e7 leaves Black in command. ] 19...c3 20.xc3 bxc3 21.d3 e8+
21...f6 22.d1 a2 23.c1 a6 24.xc3 xd5+
[ 21...d7 with the idea ...Ne5 is very strong 25.d2 ad8
as well. The rest doesn't require any notes. ] [ 25...ad8 26.xd5 xd5+ 27.d4 xd4#
22.ae1 d3! 23.xd3 xg2+ 24.xg2 is a good way to illustrate the importance
f2+ 25.h3 f3+ 26.xf3 xf3+ 27.h4 of early castling. ]
f2+ 28.h3 f3+ 29.h4 f2+ 30.h3 0-1
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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e4! when if 36.e2 xc1 ) 35...e3+ Exchanging his bishop on e5 makes matters
36.h1 xa4! 37.xa4 d2 38.g3 f2 worse, but hardly pleasant for White was
0-1 as mate follows on g2. Mammadov, Z [ 19.xe5 xe5 20.e3 d3 ]
(2453) -Smirnov, P (2626)/ Nakhchivan AZE 19...xd5 20.xe5 dxe5 21.exd5 c5
2014 ] 22.ed1 e4 The combination of a weak pawn
[ Meanwhile 6.g5 e7 was examined in on d5, outpost for the black knight on d3 and
the archives. ] mobile black e-pawn is too much for White's
6...e7 7.c3 0-0 8.b3 d7 9.bd2 b5 position to cope with. 23.d4 xd4 24.cxd4
Black takes away the c4 square f rom the [ W h i t e d r o p s t h e e xc h a n g e o n 24.xd4
white knight and prepares to use his wedge of b3 ]
queenside pawns to fight for the initiative. 24...d3 25.e3 f6 26.b3 xd4 27.bxc4
[ There is also a case for 9...b6 here to avoid bxc4 28.a4 b2 29.d2
creating a target on b5. However a [ It's hopeless for White after 29.d2
subsequent c7-c5 would then be A) when the obvious way for Black to gain
problematical as White could attack d6 with material is 29...f4 30.xb2 ( Or 30.xd4
Nc4 and maybe Bf4. Or W hite could play xe2+ 31.f1 xd4 ) 30...xe2+
10.c4 to deter ...c7-c5, followed by 11.a4 31.xe2 though White can fight on for a
to cement the knight on c4. ] while. More precise is;
10.a4 b7! Carunana insists on not being B) 29...fb8 after which White has no
bullied into good move, for example 30.xc4 xd2
[ 10...b4 when 11.a5 leaves him with a fixed 31.xd2 b1+ 32.h2 h8+ and mates:
weak pawn on a6 and White's knight has the 33.g3 e5+ 34.g4 f4+ 35.h3
c4 square again. ( But not 11.cxb4?! b8 h1# ]
when Black regains the pawn in an 0-1
advantageous way. )]
11.e2 b8 Still standing his ground on b5.
Note that Black avoids 11...c6 as he wants to 738 B06
use his c-pawn actively. Besides, it would shut Ghannoum,Marc
in the bishop on b7. 12.axb5 axb5 13.h4? Hillarp Persson,Tiger
I've seen lots of games where players like Internacional de Sants 2004
Michael Adams chip away at the opponent [Hillarp Persson & Andy]
with moves like a2-a4 and h2-h4 after
stabilising the position in the centre. This game is from 'Tiger's Modern ' - one of
Unhappily for Georgiev, the centre isn't fixed the best opening books I have read for quite
here. Caruana is able to focus attention onto some time! 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6
the d4 square, after which 13.h4 is seen to be 4.f4 a6!? 5.f3 b5 6.d3 d7 7.e5 c5
a luxury White can't afford. 8.g5 cxd4
[ White could try for pressure on the [ To be fair Hillarp Persson points out that
q u e e n s i d e w i t h 13.c2 c5 14.b3!? 8...h6 is safer than the text and OK for
f o r e xa m p le c4 15.a5 a8 and now Black e.g. 9.e6 f6 10.dxc5 dxc5 11.e3
16.b3 or ( 16.g5 probe away at the black xe6 12.xe6 fxe6 13.xc5 d5
position. )] and Black has the initiative. ]
[ But W hite should avoid 13.xb5 xe4 9.e6 f5 10.d5
which is a good swap for Black. ] [ 10.exd7+ xd7 11.b1 ( 11.d5 h6;
13...c5 14.h5 c6 15.hxg6 hxg6 11.e2 e5 ) 11...e5 12.0-0 e7 ]
The pressure on d4 forces the dislocation of [ 10.xf5 df6! 11.e4 d5 12.f7 a5
White's centre. 16.d5 13.xd4 xe6 14.g5 h5 15.e3
[ Black has a fine queenside initiative after xc3+ 16.bxc3 gf6 17.xg6+ hxg6
16.dxc5 xc5 17.c2 b4 ] 18.xe6 c8 ]
16...exd5 17.xd5 c4! Creating a base on [ 10.f3 dxc3 11.b3 b6 12.c6+ f8
d3 for a black knight. 18.f1 ce5 19.f4 13.f7 d7! 14.xd8 xc6 15.xc6
747
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
11.0-0 is roughly equal but Black still 16...e6 17.xa7 Finally, Godena finds time
needs to get his pieces into the game) to grab an extra pawn but in return Black has
10...0-0 11.c3 c6 12.b5 d6 plenty of play. f4 18.f1 d5
13.0-0 f5 at last Black can stop [ 18...d7 19.d4 xa3 20.bxa3 h3+
worrying about the safety of his queen 21.h1 is better for White because Black's
and get his pieces into the game 14.d2 attack has run out of steam. ]
xe3!? a double-edged move because 19.e3 xa3 20.bxa3 h6
B l a c k d e p r ive s W h i t e o f h i s p a i r o f [ Or 20...e5 21.xf4 exf4 22.b3
bishops but at the same time favours White. ]
s t r e n g t h e n s t h e d 4 p a w n ( 14...c7 21.b4 f5 One has to admire Black's
15.f4 d8 16.e5 ) 15.fxe3 c7 relentless drive to attack but it should not
16.d3 g4 17.g5 e5 ( 17...f5! succeed against accurate defence. 22.xe7
l o o k s r i s k y b u t a f t e r 18.c4+ e6 g4 23.h4? It seems a ploy to stem the
Black is fine) 18.c4 e6?! ( 18...e6 attack by offering to exchange queens but
19.ce4 e7 20.xe6 xe6 21.xe6 here it allows Black into the game.
xe6 is equal ) 19.ce4 e7? [ The threat of backrank mate with 23.d4!
( 19...d8 is necessary to keep an eye is a worry for Black: g7 24.xb7 xd4
on the d-pawn advancing) 20.d5! xd5 25.cxd4 with a winning advantage. ]
( 20...fd8 21.xe6 fxe6 22.d6 h4 23...xe3 24.fxe3 h3+! 25.xh3?!
23.d3 is go o d n e ws f o r W h i t e .) I suspect White is still in shock having ruined
21.xd5 ad8 Under closer his winning position so responds poorly.
examination the pin just doesn't work [ 25.h1 xh4 26.xh4 h5 27.f3
22.xe6 fxe6 23.xf8+ xf8 f2+ 28.g1 g4 is still a bit better for
24.xe6+! g7 25.d5 d7 26.d1 W h i t e b u t a f e w m o ve s a g o B la c k wa s
c5 27.xc5 c8 28.e6+ busted. ]
1-0 Hamdouchi,H-Kudrin,S/ Tripoli 25...xh3 26.gxh3 xf3 27.g2 xe3
2004. ] 28.xe3 xe3+ 29.f1 Carlsen is a strong
7...a6 8.e3 A little sneaky move which is player and can easily draw this opposit e
fairly normal in this line so W hite can take coloured bishop ending despite the pawn
back on d4 with the bishop. d7 9.xd4 f6 minus. b6 30.e2 c5 31.a4 f8 32.d3
10.a4 0-0 11.e2 e7 33.c4 d6 34.d5 f6 35.g8 h6
[ 11.xa7 f5 12.e3 c5 13.e2 fd8 36.h4 g5 37.hxg5 hxg5 38.h7 g1 39.h3
14.0-0 g4 offers sufficient compensation e5 40.b4 c5+ 41.c4 g1 42.b4
for the pawn in view of the active play ] c5+ 43.c4 g1 44.d3 f5 45.b4
11...xb5 12.axb5 c5 c5+ 46.c4 g1 47.b4 c5+ 48.c4
[ I prefer 12...c7 when play might proceed: g1
13.xa7 fd8 14.b6 ( 14.b6?! xd1+ ½-½
15.xd1 ) 14...xd1+ 15.xd1 xd1+
16.xd1 cd5 when White might be a
pawn up but the bishop on a7 might not 740 B06
move for the rest of the game so Black is Godena,Michele
better. ] Davies,Nigel R
13.0-0 fd8 14.a3!? The rook covers the Budapest Budapeste (10) 1993
b 3 s q u a r e b u t t h e p o si t io n i s e q u a l . f5 [Nigel Davies]
15.b1
[ If White does not take heed of the pin on This was the game which brought me my
the d-file by playing 15.h3 then fe4 second GM norm, needing a win at all costs I
intending ...e7-e5 is roughly equal. ] sharpened the play with 10...b5!?. 1.e4 g6
15...h5 16.e1 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.ge2 c6
[ Perhaps 16.a2! would cause Black more [ I have also played 4...a6 5.a4 and only
problems by targeting the a7 pawn. ] then ( 5.g3 b5 6.g2 b7 7.0-0 d7
749
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
20.h8+ ) 19.h8+ d7 20.xa8 xa2 41...xf2+ 42.f3 h2 43.f7+ e6
21.a7+ e8 22.h6 a1+ 23.d2 44.b7 f5 45.f7+ e6 46.b7 g1
e4+ 24.e2 and White must resign.; Black finds a way to get his f-pawn rolling by
B) 16...f8 but then the rook remains shut preparing a check on f2. 47.b4 f2+ 48.e4
out of the game giving White the initiative f4+ 49.d3 e4+ 50.e2 f2+ 51.e1
after 17.xb4 b8 18.d2 b6 19.b3 a2 52.f1 h2 53.h7 e3 54.h3 f4
a5 20.de1 etc. ] 55.b5 f5 56.b6 g4 57.h8 e2+ 58.f2
16...b8 17.a3 b6 18.e3 xh1! g3+
Here Black can saf ely get rid of his roo k 0-1
rat he r tha n mo ve it t o a p assive squa re .
19.xh1 b5! The queen's potential access
to e2 and f1 might be useful in the future. 742 B06
20.g5! g7! Tigran Petrosian, like his World Gopal,G 2572
Championship namesake knows which pieces Smirin,Ilia 2657
to exchange, which to keep on the board. He IND-ISR Match 2012 (10.3) 04.04.2012
has to maintain a guard on the h8 square. [Gawain Jones & Tom Rendle]
21.e1 f6 22.d2
[ Bad for White is 22.xd6 xb2+ 23.d2 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3 a6
b4+ 24.xb4 xb4 as he is left with weak 5.d2
pawns. ] [ 5.h4 immediately is also possible but
22...e4! The exchange on e4 ensures that players generally wait for Black to play ...b5
Black's centre pawn mass will give him good before going for this - Black can now try f6
chances in an endgame. 23.xe4 dxe4 preventing h5 is a sensible option 6.e2 h5
uncovering an attack on g5. 24.e3 f5 and the Bishop is slightly awkwardly placed
Rather than enter an endgame where Black on e2 ]
has impressive pawns maybe he should keep 5...b5 6.0-0-0
the tension with 25.b3 [ Personally I would play 6.h4 immediately
[ 25.g3 to stop f5-f4 or lash out with ] and now h6 ( 6...h5 7.f3 d7 8.h3 b7
[ 25.g4 ] 9.g5 )]
25...d5 26.h1 f7 27.xb5 axb5 28.a3 6...d7 7.h4 h5 The problem here is White
g5 29.xg5? Now Black's centre pawns will has a very simple plan of Nh3-g5 now and the
advance like an avalanche. He had to hold knight is very difficult to shift. 8.h3 gf6
them back with [ 8...b7 9.g5 gf6?! 10.e5!
[ 29.g3 or ] is very strong for White because now
[ 29.c3 when his position remains A) 10...b4 was agreed a draw in
uncomfortable due to the potential Dominguez Perez, L (2719)-Bologan, V
dynamism of Black's pawns, but it should (2678) Khanty-Mansiysk 2011 but only
be defensible. ] because the result sent Dominguez
29...xd4 30.e3 f6 31.c3 c8 32.d2 through their knockout match. W hite is
e5 33.h7+ e6 34.b7 f4 35.a7 g8 basically winning after 11.e2! e4
36.b6+ f5 37.xb5 e3+ 12.e6! fxe6 ( 12...xd2 13.exf7+ f8
[ Good enough to win, but simpler was 14.f4 is mating ) 13.xb4;
37...xg2 38.xd5 g5 39.d1 e3 B) 10...dxe5 11.dxe5 xe5 ( 11...g4
40.fxe3 fxe3 41.xe3 -forced or the pawn 12.f4 is very unpleasant - Black's pieces
promotes- xe3 when the white king is tied a r e p r e t t y b a d l y c o o r d i n a t e d h e r e)
down to the first rank making the advance of 12.xd8+ xd8 13.xd8+ xd8 14.f4
the e5 pawn straightforward. ] fg4 15.d2 e8 16.fxe5 xe5
38.xe3 fxe3+ 39.xe3 xg2 40.xd5 and two pawns aren't enough for the piece
h4 41.d7 here. ]
[ The f2 pawn is indefensible as if 41.d2 [ 8...e6 is a sensible way of playing and now
g5+ ] 9.g5 e7 10.b1 b7 11.f3 b6
751
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
and Black had reasonable chances in and Black is under severe pressure ]
Dominguez Perez, L (2712)-Kamsky, G 12.e5! Obvious and strong b4
(2732) Beijing 2011 ] [ 12...h7 13.e6 wins at least an
[ 8...b6 also looks like a sensible move but exchange ]
so far it's not been played. I guess play 13.b1?! This keeps a clear edge but it's not
c o u l d c o n t i n u e 9.g5 f6 10.d3 best
when Black has to be on the lookout for e5- [ 13.e2 is more logical with a very strong
e 6 i d e a s s o g4 is a sensible move to attack after d5 14.e6 7b6 ( 14...7f6
consider ] 15.exf7+ h8 16.e3 ) 15.exf7+ h8
9.g5 16.g4! with what should be a winning attack
[ 9.e5! is usually the critical test of Black's (and extra pawn) ]
setup in the positions and now g4 10.e6 13...d5 14.e6 7b6 15.exf7+ h8 16.g4
fxe6 11.g5 This looks favourable for [ 16.e1! keeps more control - Black doesn't
White ( 11.d3!? ) 11...f8 12.f3! even have ..e5 with counterplay now ]
as usual W hite really needs to force the 16...e5 17.g3 exd4 18.d3?!
issue in these positions xe3 13.xe3 [ 18.d3! f6 19.d2 bringing the knight
and Black has real problems unravelling to the centre and threatening gxh5 ( not
here. ] 19.gxh5? f5! )]
[ 9.f3 seems a bit slow here for example in 18...e3 Now Black is doing OK again
Berg, E (2514)-Hillarp Persson, T (2474) although with limited time and a very complex
Umea 2003 b7 10.g5 0-0 11.f2 b4 position it's not surprising the rest of the game
12.e2 c5! 13.dxc5 a5 Black managed contains many more mistakes. 19.xg6 d3?!
to get a dangerous attack going bef ore Aggressive but inaccurate
White ] [ 19...hxg4! 20.fxg4 xg4 would've kept the
9...g4 10.f4 White really has to keep hold game about equal and very unclear ]
of this Bishop if he wants any advantage here 20.xd3 bc4 21.c3 hxg4 22.fxg4 xg4
[ 10.f3 xe3 11.xe3 e5! 12.dxe5 23.df1!
( 12.d5? h6 i s a w k w a r d) 12...xe5 [ 23.de1 should also win after bxc3 24.b3!
and Black has at least equalised ] c2 25.c3 and White is winning a piece ]
10...0-0?! After this Black quickly gets into hot 23...bxc3 24.xc3 d7
water [ 24...b8 25.h2 and White has everything
[ 10...c5 is more thematic and now 11.dxc5 covered ]
( 11.f3?! cxd4! 12.fxg4 dxc3 13.d5 25.f4 c6 26.e1 White has managed to
looks like a winning double-attack but in fact just about keep control and now Black tries
after 0-0 14.xa8 cxb2+ 15.b1 c7 one final trick.... xb2!? 27.xe3
16.d5 b6 followed by Bxg4/Na4 and [ 27.xb2?? ab8+ wins ]
Black has a serious attack going) 11...xc5 27...xc3 28.c2 h5 29.e6! Now White
12.f3 e5 with chances for both sides - just needs to check on h6 and it's all over g6
although I quite like Black's position with 30.f2?? A tragic blunder, Gopal finds one of
the strong Bishop on g7 ] the few rook moves that doesn't win and in
11.f3 gf6?! The game was played at a rapid fact allows a winning tactic for Smirin
time-limit so this accounts for a lot of the [ 30.c4! was the cleanest win - the Queen
mistakes - but still it's important to see how i s l o s t a s a f t e r xc4 31.h6+ h7
quickly a strong player gets into trouble in 32.xh7# perhaps White forgot about the
these lines as Black - I've never really seen Bishop on c2 covering h7? ]
the attraction of this way of playing for Black - 30...d3+! 31.d1
especially against a well-prepared player. [ 31.xd3 d4+ 32.c2 xe3+ picks up
[ 11...h6 was relatively best but White is the Queen with check ]
still much better after 12.h3 h7 13.g4 31...xf2+ 32.xf2
hxg4 14.g5+ ( 14.h5!? [ 32.xf2 xf7 and White has nothing ]
i s a l s o d a n g e r o u s) 14...g8 15.h5 32...xc2+ 33.c1 h7 34.d1 a4+
752
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
35.e2 c4+ 36.d1 xf7 37.h1 only removing the King from any danger on
I suspect White lost on time here although of the g file, but also preparing...Neg8, should
course it's time to resign in any case the need arise. I am very happy with th e
0-1 Black position here. He has enough space to
play with and there's also ...c6 and ... b5 if
White castles long. 12.0-0-0 b5! Or maybe
743 B06 even straightaway! W e now see the
Gordon,Stephen J usefulness of hitting e4. 13.cxb5
Martin,Andrew D [ 13.gxf5 gxf5 14.g1 f4 15.f2 bxc4
4NCL West Bromwich 09.04.2005 leaves White in a bit of a mess. ]
[Andrew Martin] 13...axb5 14.a3
[ I expected 14.b4 which I felt was more or
Another tale from the 4 NCL.... 1.d4 g6 2.e4 less necessary. However d7! 15.gxf5 gxf5
g7 3.e3 Quite an unusual move but there 16.g1 f4 17.f2 b8 quite clearly gives
is nothing wrong with it. W hite deliberately Black superior chances, thanks to his safer
delays Nc3 giving himself the option of c2-c4 King. In the game Gordon seems right off-
should a good opportunity arise. I had to slow colour and permits Black to muster a
down and try to find a good plan. d6 crushing attack. ]
[ The first ( and obvious) line to be 14...d7 15.g5 h5 16.g1 b4!
considered is 3...c5 4.c3 b6 5.d2 Opening up lines is par for the course.
I stared at this position f or a while and 17.axb4
d e c id e d t h a t t h is wa sn 't t h e righ t wa y. [ 17.b1 bxa3 18.xa3 b8 19.c3 f4
White's centre is securely protected. ] is t oo disgusting f o r word s bu t t he text
[ 3...d5! attracted more and I think this is move might even be worse! ]
wh at I 'll p la y ne xt time . Th e p oint is t o 17...b8 18.b5 fxe4! When one is ready to
expose the position of the Bishop on e3. commence a direct attack it is very important
Thus 4.e5 ( 4.exd5 xd5 5.c3 f6 to bring as many units into play as possible. I
seems quite OK too.) 4...h6! is logical, couldn't exactly see when and now, but I felt
with .. .c7-c5 to come. But I guess in the end that the options of ...Rxf1 and/or ...Nf4 could
I wa n t e d t o s t i c k wi t h t h e s p i r i t o f t h e be useful at a later stage ( if White survived
Modern and besides, I was happy to take on that long.) 19.fxe4 xb5 20.xb5 xb5
the Nc3, Be3, Qd2, Nf3 stuff. ] 21.c3 b4 No ...Rxf1 then, but the latter
4.f3 a6 Elastic. Black is waiting for Nc3. idea is put into immediate effect. 22.e2 f4
5.d2 c6! There is no need to be too 23.c2 c6!
passive. Black intends to play ... e7-e5 and [ 23...fb8 was the original intention, but with
why not! 6.e2 e5 7.d5 White's Queen and King on the same file
[ 7.bc3 f6 is just fine for Black, who will 23...c6 is much stronger. I think White's lost
answer 8.0-0-0 with the cold-blooded 0-0 ] now. ]
7...ce7 8.c4 So, the critical moment. We go 24.h4 cxd5 25.h5 xe2+ 26.xe2 fc8-+
into a King's Indian-type position where Black 27.d2 d4 28.h6 dxc3 29.hxg7+ xg7
has to be ve ry caref u l n ot to slip into a n 30.xc3 xc3+ 31.bxc3 xc3+ 32.c2
in f e rio r ve rs io n of t h e Classical syst e m . a1# White's opening idea of delaying Nc3
Importantly, he must not make any premature certainly has merit and Black must beware an
kingside commitments whilst the White King unfavourable transposition back into a poor
can still go long. f5! However, it's important to King's Indian. However, with flexible play as
put pressure on e4. This does not contradict displayed here, he should emerge from the
the last remark, because it's ...f5-f4 that really opening in good shape.
gums up the works. 9.bc3 f6 10.h3 0-0 0-1
11.g4 h8 'In this type of position one always
has to consider the fate on the Knight on e7.
Thus 11..Kh8! is a good, flexible move, not
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
18.xe3 xc5 It looks like Black is starting to [ I'd be tempted to go for 31.g2 forcing d2+
t a k e o ve r s o i t ' s t i m e f o r W h i t e t o f o rc e t o p r e v e n t 3 2 . Q g 6 + 32.xd2 xd2+
through his attack. 19.xc4 bxc4 20.f5! 33.xd2 xf3 34.e6+- Everything is
It comes later than expected but now White winning by this point though. ]
uses his development advantage to crash 31...c3 32.bxc3 dxc2 33.xc2 f5 34.a4+
through. Significant sacrificed material is An enjoyable game to annotate but not to play
required. xe3+ on the Black side. However his position was
[ 20...gxf5 21.xf5! White has to keep up playable had he not allowed the f5 break.
his aggression. exf5 22.e6 f6 23.exf7+ Nonetheless, I don't like 6...h6 and think the
f8 When the cool 24.d1! looks great for positions are easier for White to play as Black
W hite. He has dual threats of Re8+ and has to be constantly on the lookout for this
Qxd5 while e7 25.xe7 xe7 26.xd5! type of sacrificial attack.
b8 27.e1+ f8 28.e8+ g7 29.g8+ 1-0
mates ]
21.xe3 gxf5 22.xf5! More fuel on the fire.
White has to open Black's position at any cost 745 B06
o r h e will h a ve n o co m p e n s a t io n f o r t h e Greet,Andrew 2425
sacrificed pawn. exf5 23.e6 f6 Conquest,Stuart 2503
[ 23...fxe6 24.xe6 92nd ch Douglas IOM (8) 09.08.2005
A) 24...xe6 25.xe6+ and Black loses [Andrew Martin]
too much material to stave off mate. f8
26.xf5+ g7 27.e6 h6 28.e5+ 1.d4 g6 2.e4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3 a6!
h7 ( 28...f6 29.e7+ i s s i m i l a r) 5.f3 It seems to me that many, many players
29.e7+ xe7 30.xe7+ when the are churning out this stuff EXPECTING an
queen picks up all the loose pawns.; opening advantage. Tiger Hillerp Persson's
B) 24...f6! is a very brave way of playing excellent new book on the Modern should help
for Black but maybe White has no more to dispel those illusions as well as my own
than to win back the material. 25.c7+ upcoming book on the Hippo. Black is in good
f7 26.xa8 regaining material equality shape after 4 Be3 and 5 Nf3. d7 6.c4
when I favour W hite with Black's loose F r e d R e i n f e l d w o u l d h a v e a p p r o v e d . e6
king position. ] Of course! Black shuts down the Bishop. 7.a4
[ 23...f6 24.exf7+ d7 25.e6! b6 8.0-0 e7 I suppose th ere are various
puts Black in all kinds of problems. scenarios where Black might benefit from
( 25.e8+ d6 isn't so clear.) 25...b8 leaving his Bishop on c8. I'm thinking of a
( 25...xf7 26.b6! with no defence to 27. variation where White plays d4-d5, Black ...e6-
Nc5 mate or at least picking up the queen.) e5 in response and then the Bishop is in pole
26.c3 c6 ( 26...xf7 27.e5!+- ) 27.f8 position to support ...f7-f5! But such lines are
xf8 28.c5+ b7 29.xf8 and material's rare White doesn't hurry to close the centre
level but Black's king still hasn't f o un d [ 8...b7 is of course, natural and probably
safety. ( In fact 29.xf8 is also possible as makes little difference at this stage:
Black's pawns are all stuck on vulnerable A) 9.d2 h6! An absolutely key move,
squares. )] preventing both Bg5, disrupting, and Bh6
24.f7 a5 25.xh8 Danny has regained a t a n y s t a g e . 10.e1 df6
the sacrificed rook and still has a decisive D e n yi n g W h i t e f 2 - f 4 a n d e g g i n g h i m
i n i t i a t i v e f4 26.e2 f3 27.gxf3 forward in the centre. 11.f3 ( 11.d5 e5
Black temporarily closes up the d1-h5 12.h3 e7 13.d3 g5 ) 11...d5
diagonal to stop the queen infiltrating but now 12.exd5 exd5 13.b3 e7 14.e2 f5
Black is even material down. b7 15.f4 g5 16.e5 0-0 17.c3
[ 27...xa2 28.g2! a1+ 29.d2 a5+ Dirr, U-Thiede, L/ Germany 2004 and now
30.c3 would also be time to resign. ] e8 gives Black a perfectly playable
28.e7 d4 29.f7 d5 30.d8 d3 31.d2 position.;
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
B) 9.e1 gf6 10.f4 0-0 11.f1 e8 is not quite as accurate. With the exchange
12.g3 c5 13.xd6 cxd4 14.xd4 c5 of queens comes relief for White. ]
I daresay both players were happy with 28.e3 xe3 29.fxe3 Sacrificing the
this result it certainly looks that way! ] exchange to try and get a bit of counterplay.
9.d2 h6 10.h3 b7 11.fe1 f6 [ 29.xe3 c8! leaves the Queen with no
I was commentating live at the British squares. ]
Championships on the game and it became [ After 29.xe3 g4 30.h3
clear at this point that Greet didn't have the G r e e t p r o b a b l y f o u n d ( 30.f3 c8 )
faintest idea what to do. White has arranged 30...c8 unattractive. He's worse, he's
his pieces in the usual pretty picture but what defending and he's got no time . ]
next? Seeing this and other similar games it's 29...c8 30.f3 g4 31.f1 xd1
clear to me that W hite has real problems 32.xd1 a5
placing his Bishops correctly against the [ I daresay with more time Conquest would
Hippo this is the key opening problem to solve. have settled for 32...xe4 33.xa6 g5 ]
12.f4 g5 13.h2 33.f2 f8 34.e2 g7 35.f3 d7 36.b3
[ 13.g3 would have least have saved a little h3 The concentration of force against the
time, but you could not say that the position White King is considerable. In every respect
is at all clear: g6 14.d5 e5 15.a5 b5 36...h3 is the correct move. 37.g3 h4
16.d3 h5 ( 16...g4 17.hxg4 c8! ) 38.e2
17.h2 hf4 ] [ 38.h1 e7 39.xh3 g6 40.g2
13...g4 Why not? Black takes the initiative. gh7-+ ]
14.hxg4 xg4 15.g3 g6 16.h2 h5! 38...xf3+ 39.xf3 h6 40.c4 e7 41.f1
A strong move and distinctly annoying for g4-+ 42.xg4 xg4 43.e2 f6 44.h1
Greet who finds himself on the back foot with gg6 45.f1 g4+ 46.d3 xf1 47.xf1
the White pieces after only 16 moves! What f6 48.e2 f3 49.e1 f5
advice can one offer apart from try to sit tight! 0-1
17.ad1
[ 17.xg4 hxg4 18.ad1 h7! gives Black
all the chances. ] 746 B06
17...f8?! This one was a shock to the Hansen,Per 2108
audience a move which nobody could Hillarp Persson,Tiger 2535
understand and particularly when Black has a 6th Gibtelecom Masters (3) 24.01.2008
very promising alternative: [John Watson]
[ 17...h4! 18.xg4 ( 18.xd6 xf2!
19.xf2 cxd6 20.f1 c7 ) 18...hxg3 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.f4 a6 5.f3
19.fxg3 c5! White creaks on the dark b5 6.d3 d7 7.e5 c5 8.e4 b8 9.g5
squares. ] h6 10.xf7? This is self-destructive. A
18.e2 much more interesting move is
[ 18.xg4 hxg4 19.e2 h6 20.d3 g5 [ 10.e6 , wh e n a p o ssib le lin e is f6
de mo n st ra t es t h at B lack is st ill f u lly in ( 10...fxe6?? 11.xe6 a5 12.xg7+ f7
charge of the initiative. ] 13.h5! ) 11.c6+ f8 12.exf7 xf7
18...g5 19.f3 e7 20.h2 f6 21.f1 ( 12...cxd4 13.d5!? is fairly crazy) 13.dxc5
h4 Vast amounts of time were being eaten up ( 13.d5!? ) 13...h6 14.xf7 xf7 15.e2 ]
over these moves clear evidence that Hippo 10...xf7 11.e6 cxd4 12.exf7+
position are sometimes difficult to play. White [ 12.exd7+ xd7 13.e2 b6 14.g3 0-0
has problems: his King is in the firing line! 15.0-0 bc8 with an extra centre pawn and
22.h2 h6 23.f3 h7 24.h5 f6 superior position. The game is similar. ]
25.f3 g7 26.h3 Greet recognises that 12...xf7 13.d5 c5 14.f3 e6 15.b4
all he can do is not to weaken his position d7 16.0-0 f8 17.b1 g8 18.c3 e5
and wait for Black. ag8 27.d5 e5 19.c6 xc6 20.xc6 dxc3 21.bxc3 h8
[ 27...c8 28.dxe6 xe6 29.xe6 xe6 22.h1 c8 23.d5 a4 24.d2 exf4
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in f act his next move of f ers a p awn . b4 a5 22.b3 b5!
14.xb4 Which David decides to grab [ 22...xe5 also wins the pawn but again
[ perhaps a safer option would be to leave Black is loathe to swap off his dark-squared
the pawn along and attempt to keep a slight Bishop 23.xe5 xe5 24.c3 is perhaps
edge with 14.ad1 c8 ( 14...xa2?! a little better for White ]
is far too greedy because after 15.h6 c8 23.e3 bxc4 24.c3 h6 Cutting out any
16.xg7 xg7 17.c5 b4 18.d4 Ng5 ideas White might've had 25.d2 b8
W h i t e h a s a ve r y s t r o n g i n i t i a t i v e a n d 26.ad1 c8 27.e4 a7 28.a3 f8
Black's pieces are rather uncoordinated) Perhaps preparing Rb7 without allowing Rd8+
15.a3 d5 ( not 15...xc2?? 16.d3 [ 28...b7 29.d8+ h7 30.xc8 xc8
a n d t h e k n ig h t is t ra p p e d) 16.g5!? 31.d8!? c7 32.d2 just looks equal
and with c4 coming Black would have some (White would be better but I see no plan at
tricky problems to solve ] all to improve the position) ]
14...axb4 15.fd1 c8 16.b5 c6 29.d5
17.xb4 d5 I would guess this was the [ 29.e2!? looks like a reasonable
position Black envisaged when he decided to alternative and now after b3 30.h4
sacrifice the pawn with 13...Nb4. My feeling is White is actually threatening to do
that White should be better but it's no longer something! b7 31.c2 and if Black isn't
so easy to suggest a plan and David has happy to repeat with Qb3 then I think White
definitely lost some of his earlier control. Still, has some edge here as both Nf4 and f2-f4
a pawn is a pawn..... 18.ed2?! are possibilities ]
[ 18.e1! was perhaps the critical test of the 29...b3 30.c3 David is happy to offer a
sacrifice and now there are a few options repetition and ask Aronian to come up with a
f5 was probably Aronian's intention and plan f5 Aronian declines the repetition but
now ( 18...c5!? 19.xc5 xc5 20.xc5 objectively after this White is better 31.e3!
fc8 21.b4 e6 and Black is following up aa8?! 32.e1?!
with Bf8 - still I hardly believe White isn't a [ 32.g4! now was the time to go for it - White
little better here after 22.c4 xf3 23.gxf3; suddenly seems to have a dangerous attack
18...c7 19.c4 xe4 20.xe4 is clearly after
better for White) 19.xe7! ( 19.a4 is safer ) A) 32...d3 33.e6! ( 33.e1 g7 34.f4
19...xe4 ( 19...fe8 20.h4 xe5 g5! i s n ' t s o c l e a r) 33...f6 34.e1
21.xe5 xe5 22.f6+ g7 23.xd5 is very unpleasant for Black;
xd5 24.e2 and Black's central control is B) 32...e6 33.h4 with f4-f5 looking
not worth a pawn) 20.d4 perhaps this difficult to stop ]
move was missed xe5 ( 20...f4 21.g3 32...h5! Now it's too late 33.h2
and Black will have to take on e5 anyway) [ 33.f3 was better, hoping for Ng5 and
21.xe5 xe5 22.xe4 f6 23.c3 a4 perhaps a tiny edge ]
and I guess Black should hold a draw but 33...g7 34.f3 b7 35.f4 h6 36.g1 a6
only White can be pressing here ] White has drifted over the last few moves and
18...c7 19.c4 suddenly Black's pieces are looking well
[ maybe it was time to offer the return of the coordinated and there's nothing for White to
pawn with 19.a4 a n d n o w a f t e r xe5 do but sit and wait. 37.d5 e6 38.f2
( 19...fd8!? keeps compensation) 20.xe5 g7 39.c3 b6 Aronian is a master at
xe5 21.c4 e6 22.f3! c7 23.e1 slowly increasing the pressure - Howell is
I prefer W hite as Black is a bit tied down forced to simply shuffle around and see if
and Black is missing his fianchettoed Black can breakthrough his defences. 40.h2
Bishop ] b3 41.e2 b6 42.g1 a5 43.f3 d8
19...c5! 20.b5 e6 Now Aronian seems to 44.xd8 xd8 45.f2 h4! 46.h2 d7
have equalised although to David's credit he 47.h1 b8 48.e4? The decisive mistake
fights hard and only starts to get outplayed [ David should tried passive defence with
around the time-control on move 40. 21.e4 48.e3 d4 49.c2 d3 50.c1
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W hite a pleasant advantage in Xu Yuhua position has been reached. Black may have
(2484) -Li Chao2 (2619) Hefei 2010. ] two good Bishops and dynamic chances but
8.e5 h6 Svidler chooses a rare option here, White is still a pawn up and it's up to Black
possibly hoping for early complications to demonstrate adequate compensation in
[ 8...c5 9.e4 was covered in Smeets, J- this position - and that's easier said than
Siebrecht, S ] done! ]
[ 8...e6 has been covered in the notes 11...c7 Accurate play from Svidler
before and it does still seem that White is [ 11...0-0?! would be a mistake as now
better after 9.a4 b4 10.e4 so perhaps 8... 12.e6 is strong because of the nice line
Nh6 is the critical move in the line at this fxe6? 13.xh6! xf3 ( 13...xh6 14.c6!
time ] wins a piece) 14.xe6+ f7 15.xg7 xc5
9.e2 16.e3 xd3+ 17.cxd3 xg2 18.g1
[ 9.e4 hasn't scored well for White c8 White should be winning although there is
10.d3 0-0 11.0-0-0 c6 12.g5 b6 still some work to be done. ]
13.h4 d5 14.f3 b4 15.e2 a5 16.g3 12.e6!? an interesting try but it doesn't seem
a6 17.d2 c4 18.e1 f6 19.h3 a4 to lead to an advantage for White
20.b1 b3 21.cxb3 axb3 22.axb3 xe3 [ 12.e4 is worth a closer look although I
23.xe3 fxe5 24.fxe5 f5 25.xf5 xf5+ believe Black has good chances after xe4
26.c1 e6 27.g5 f7 28.h5 d3 13.xe4 xe5 14.0-0-0 0-0 and here if
29.e3 f5 30.hxg6 b1 31.d2 c2+ W hite is going to look for an advantage
32.e1 xg6 33.f2 a2 34.h5 xg2 either 15.b1 ( or 15.f4 should be
35.e2 xb2+ 0-1 Green, A (2203) - examined )]
Rowson, J (2591) Edinburgh SCO 2009 ] [ 12.0-0-0 is very likely to transpose to either
9...c5 the game or the above note after 0-0 ]
[ 9...b6 10.a4 b4 11.e4 was covered by 12...fxe6 13.0-0-0
Andrew Martin in Zufic, M-Nevednichy, V [ Given the way the game went perhaps
where Black didn't fully manage to solve White regretted not castling kingside 13.0-0
his opening problems ] g4 ( 13...0-0!? ) 14.e4 xe4 15.xe4
10.dxc5 dxe5N a critical new move which xb2 is very unclear ]
may go some way to rehabilitating the line for 13...f5 bringing the knight into the centre
Black [ 13...xc5 looks risky, for example 14.xc5
[ 10...xc5 11.xc5 dxc5 12.0-0-0 b6 xc5 15.e4 b6 ( 15...xe4 16.xe4
13.e4 xe4 14.xe4 0-0 15.d5 a7 0-0 17.xe6+ f7 18.h4 ) 16.d6+! ]
16.e3 fd8 17.g4 was good for White in [ 13...0-0 14.g5 causes problems for
Saric, I (2511) -Muse, M (2444) Sibenik Black ]
2008. ] 14.e4 very logical but things start to become
[ 10...0-0 was played in Suetin, A (2505) - quickly difficult for Adam
Sznapik, A (2325) Sochi 1974 but it doesn't [ 14.xf5!? exf5 15.d4 xd4 ( 15...f4+
seem to be as convincing as after 11.0-0-0 16.b1 xf3 17.f2! xd4 18.xd4 e5
Black doesn't have a better option than dxe5 19.xf3 looks promising for White) 16.xd4
here ( 11.e4!? also looks like a strong xc5 17.xf5 f4+ ( 17...gxf5 18.h5+
option for White )] f8 19.xf5+ g7 20.g5+ f8
11.fxe5 21.hf1+ wins ) 18.e3 and now Black
[ 11.0-0-0!? ] should swap Queens into a roughly level
[ 11.xe5! is Houdini's suggestion and endgame
indeed it will probably prove to be the acid A) 18...xf5? 19.hf1 c8 ( 19...h5
test of this line, for example xe5 ( 11...0-0 20.g4 ) 20.e5;
is likely to transpose) 12.fxe5 0-0 ( 12...f5 B) 18...xe3+ 19.xe3 0-0= ]
13.0-0 doesn't look convincing for Black [ 14.g5 is very dangerous and perhaps
either and I prefer W hite's chances after c r i t i c a l f o r e xa m p l e xc3 ( 14...xe3
c8!? 14.ae1! ) 13.0-0 when a critical 15.xe6 e5 16.xg7+ f7 17.xg6+
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database with still 73 games continuing g7? 14.fxe5 dxe5= Lalic, but 15.d4 0-0
And only 24 with 5.xf7+! I guess this is the 16.h3 h6 17.h4 Martin, looks
record for the shortest game in chess, with dangerous for Black to me.;
'sensible moves' from both protagonists. And A2) 12.g1 dxe5 13.h3 h6
although I remember I placed it in a rapid ( 13...gf6 14.xf6+ exf6 15.c6 f8= )
some years ago, I have forgotten where and 14.c6 f6 15.xd8+ xd8 16.xf6+
against whom, so I naturally picked up the exf6=;
most emblematic example, beginning with 1. A3) 12.d2 dxe5 13.c6 df6
d 4 a n d wi t h t h e s t r o n ge s t a ve r a g e E L O 14.xf6+ xf6=;
besides happily pushing Black to leave it at B) 11.e6 fxe6 12.eg5 f5! 13.e2
that! f8 with the idea of ...h6 and ...cxd4.;
[ 5.xf7+ xf7 6.g5+ e8 ( 6...f6 C) 11.exd6 f5! 12.f2 exd6 13.0-0
7.f3#+- ) 7.e6+- ] 0-0 14.dxc5 dxc5 15.xc5 xc5
1-0 16.xc5 xb2 17.b1 xd1 18.fxd1
fc8 19.d5 f6 Prospective Black
players should study this analysis carefully
753 B06 and decide whether this is the line for
Izoria,Zviad 2647 them. It may be the only way out. ]
Inarkiev,Ernesto 2602 10.dxc5!N A new move, after which it is
7th ch-Euro t/b (3.3) 16.04.2006 difficult to see a good continuation for Black.
[Andrew Martin] White logically opens the game, relying on his
better development to see him through. There
1.d4 g6 2.e4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3 d7 are plenty of alternatives:
5.f4 a6 6.f3 b5 7.d3 b7 8.e5 [ 10.d3 b4 11.xb7 xb7 12.e4 b8
A position which has been hotly debated since 13.xb7 xb7 14.e4 cxd4 15.xd4
the publication of ' Tiger's Modern, where the dxe5 16.fxe5 f8 17.c5 with a plus, Van
Danish GM more or less recommended Delft, M-Giddins, S/Amsterdam 2005. ]
Black's set up as the best way play against [ 10.e2 b4 11.xb7 xb7 12.d1 dxe5
the Austrian Attack. As usual in such sharp 13.dxe5 e6 14.f2 Krivec, J-Socko, M/
situations, Black's path to a good game has Athens 2004. ]
become narrower, as we will see in this game. [ 10.g5 b6 ( 10...b4 11.f3 b8
c5 12.xb7 xb7 13.e2 h6 14.xb7 xb7
[ 8...e6 was mentioned by Hiilerp Persson, 15.f3 cxd4 16.xd4 dxe5 17.fxe5 f6
but on the evidence of the following Hillerp Persson) 11.dxc5 dxc5 12.xc5
fragment, seems to lead to difficulties for xc5 13.xb7 d8 14.f3 b4 15.c6+
Black: 9.a4! b4 10.e4 b6 ( 10...xe4 xc6 16.xc6+ f8 17.a4 xa4
11.xe4 d5 12.d3 c5 13.dxc5 c7 18.xa4 h6 19.h4 xg5 20.hxg5 e6
14.e2! xc5 15.xc5 xc5 16.xa6 ) 21.d1 xd1+ 22.xd1 e7 23.e2 g7
11.d2 a5 12.b5+! By playing 24.b3 a8+- Pavasovic, D-Touzane, O/
straightforwardly, White has established a Leipzig 2002 ]
dominating position already. f8 13.e2 10...dxe5 11.xb7 xb7 12.d5!
e7 14.0-0 c6 15.xc6 xc6 16.c3 That's the main point! A favourable endgame
d7 17.fc1 bxc3 18.xc3 b4 19.b5 position emerges. xd5 13.xd5 0-0-0
4d5 20.c2 h6 21.ac1 g7 22.f5 [ 13...c8 14.b6 is very good for White. ]
exf5 23.xc7+- Morozevich, A- 14.0-0-0 e6 15.b6+ xb6 16.xd8+
Azmaiparashvili, Z/ Bugojno 1999 ] xd8 17.cxb6 exf4 18.xf4 c8 19.d1
9.e4 c8 f6 20.e5 g8 21.g5 Play has more or
[ 9...xe4 10.xe4 h6 is suggested in ' less been forced since 12 Qd5 and what a
Tiger's Modern, with the following analysis: cheerless position this is for Black. He's tied
A) 11.dxc5 g4! down on all fronts and if he comes too close
A1) 12.e2 dxe5 13.0-0-0 c7 to the advanced b pawn, the White Rook hits
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the se ve nth ra nk. g4 22.xg7 xg7 gives Black the initiative, albeit at the cost
23.e4 e3 24.d6+ b8 25.d3 d5 of a pawn. I'm sure that this is a question
Black defends stubbornly with the very best of courage and judgement and that lots of
moves. 26.a3 xb6 27.xa6 d7 strong players would have captured that
[ 27...c4 28.xb5 b7 29.a7+! b6 pawn. ) 10...b6 11.c1 ( 11.xb4 )
30.a4 d6 31.a8 xb5 32.b8+ a5 11...b8 12.h6 a4 13.b3 h8?!
33.axb5 may have been the best chance, 14.h4?! ( 14.xf8 xf8 15.h4 This is such
but most unpalatable. ] a weird game.) 14...c5 15.h5 cxd4 16.hxg6
28.xb5 g5 29.a7 e5 30.a4 What can fxg6 17.xf8 xf8 18.c4+ e6 19.e2
one say apart from ' the extra pawn must win'? b6 20.d3 e5 21.g3 e6 22.g5 e8
g6 31.a5 c6 32.a6 e7 33.b6++- 23.h4 xf3 24.g1 h5 25.gxh6 h7
a8 34.c7+ a7 35.b5+ a8 36.a6 26.f1 c4 27.e2 xe2 28.xe2 f6
d5 37.b7 g8 38.a7+ b8 39.b7+ 29.fd2 e3 30.f3 xb3 31.axb3 b7
a8 40.c4 c8 41.a7+ b8 42.a8+ 1/2-1/2 Alvarado, N-Nisipeanu, L/It Resort
xa8 43.b3 c6 It is safe to say that Black and Casino, Decameron DOM 2003 I gave
chances in this line rely on Hillerp Persson's up trying to forecast the moves long ago.
suggestion at move 9. The result is even stranger. Isn't White still
1-0 clearly better after 32 Ng5+? I think the
overall quality of the variation with 6 0-0-0
is upheld by 7 Kb1 rather than 7 h4. ]
754 B06 7...a5 8.b1 b6 9.d3 h5! Key. Black
Janev,Evgeni 2420 halts the ambitious intentions of the h pawn
Todorov,Todor 2470 and prepares the entry of the King's Knight
BC Masters Bois Colombes (5) 2003 into the game. Now I start to like Black's
[Andrew Martin] flexibility. 10.h3
[ 10.ce2 xd2 11.xd2 f6 12.f3 0-0= ]
The battle-hardened Modern player will love 10...f6 11.f3 A bit routine. Once again we
this game. W hite sets out to give Black a co m e d o wn t o 'b o t t le ' (E n glish sla n g f o r
good thrashing, but his aggression is coolly courage). Todorov talks his opponent out of
rebuffed and in the end the counterattack the central advance.
triumphs. 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 [ Thus 11.e5 is critical: fd5 ( 11...g4
4.e3 c6 5.d2 Seems that everyone plays probably what Black would have played.
this way these days. What is wrong with the 12.exd6 exd6 13.f4 0-0 14.xd6 d8
original recipe of delaying ...Nf6 for as long as 15.f4 b4 16.e2 e6 ) 12.xd5 xd2
possible? b5 6.0-0-0 I'm pretty that either 6 13.c7+ d8 14.xd2 xc7 15.g5 f8
Bd3 or 6 Nf3 are more dangerous for Black. 16.f4 d5 17.g3 ]
The text move reveals W hite's hand a little 11...xh3 12.xh3 fd7 13.f4 b4 14.e2
too quickly. d7 The Knight could well be on c5! This position would be a good example of
th e way t o c 4 ! 7.h4 As Black isn't remotely a n id e a l B l a ck p i e ce p l a ce m e n t . 15.dxc5
intending to castle I suppose 7 h4 can be seen xc5 16.d4 e5 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.xc5
as the beginning of 'space-gaining' operation. [ After 18.f2 h6 19.e1 c8 20.f3 0-0
I guess after 6 0-0-0 White hasn't really got Black has a very nice position indeed. ]
anything else to do that is the truth of the 18...xc5 19.c1 0-0 Finally. Now White
matter. has an uphill struggle to prove equality. Black
[ Possibly 7.b1! is superior. This small has the attacking plan of launching his a pawn
safety move will have to be played anyway- all the way to a3 whereas White will have to
White may as well see another move from defend for a while. Psychologically, Janev
Black before he further commits himself. b4 seems unable to cope with the thought of
( 7...b8!? intending ...Nb6-c4 is defence. 20.e2 d7 After ... Nd7-f6 Black
interesting.) 8.ce2 gf6 9.f3 0-0 10.g4 would have a clamp so.... 21.g4 But of course
( 10.xb4 b8 11.a3 b6 12.f4 c7 this is another concession. hxg4 22.xg4
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
f6 23.f3 h5! White can shift this Knight e6 a s a re su lt . Th is is th e clo sest ye t t o
but then ...Nf4 advances to an even more Thompson's original Hippopotamus concept.
powerful square. 24.e2 a5 Well-prepared. Of course Black is showing discretion
25.g3 f4 26.h2 a4 27.h5 a3 28.hxg6 because White's attacking possibilities have
[ T h e r e i s l i t t l e h o p e a f t e r 28.h6 been limited by his quieter approach. 7.g5?!
Black's attack is immediate: f6 29.h7+ Although a GM, Janosevic does not seem to
h8 30.e2 axb2 31.xf4 ( 31.hh1 understand what Black is trying to do. 7 Bg5
c6! 32.hf1 e6!-+ ) 31...exf4 32.xf4 presents Suttles with a valuable tempo!
e5 33.d2 xa2-+ ] [ 7.e1 c7 ( 7...f6 8.d5 f7 9.d4
28...fxg6 29.b3 highlights a possible drawback to Black's set-
[ 29.e2 fd8! 30.xd8+ xd8 31.b3+ up. One must watch the e6 square very
f8 32.h1 axb2 33.xb2 d2 ] caref ully indeed!) 8.a4 0-0 ( 8...e5
29...d5! All the tactics run in Black's favour seems very reasonable; as does 8...a5 ) 9.h3
here: 30.f5? Desperate. Maybe he was h8 10.c4 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.e3 f5
short of time. 13.g5
[ 30.g4 appears to give more play but A) 13...f7! l o o k s b e t t e r : 14.e7
Black's attack is winning: c3+ 31.a1 ( 14.exf5 gxf5 15.e7 e8 16.g5
xd1 32.c4+ f7 33.xg6 d4+ 34.c3 xg5 17.xg5 f6 ) 14...e8 15.g5
xc3+ 35.b1 f3!-+ ] ( 15.a3 b6 16.b3 e6 17.xe6
30...c3+ 31.c1 xa2+ 32.d2 ad8 xe6 18.e2 d8 ) 15...xg5 16.xg5
33.e1 I guess that 6 0-0-0 is playable but I c5;
feel that Black can be encouraged if he sees B) 13...f4 14.e7 e8 15.d6 xd6
this move on the board. Now he has 16.xd6 f6 17.ed1 g7 18.a5 f7
something to aim at! The 4 Be3 system is not 19.a3 g5 20.d2 f8 21.a6 b6
so one-paced and White players should prefer was perhaps a little better for W hite in
the more elastic 6 Bd3 or, best of all, 6 Nf3! Jimenez Zerquera, E-Suttles, D/ Palma de
0-1 Mallorca 1970/IZT ]
[ Meanwhile 7.d2?! He wants to play Qc1
evading ...Ng4. e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.h3
755 B06 Motwani, P-Bischoff, K/Groningen 1980 and
Janosevic,Dragoljub now the immediate e7 ( 9...f6!? 10.c1
Suttles,Duncan f7 ) 10.c1 g8 11.d1 gf6
Belgrade (2) 1969 is reasonable for Black, although he has not
[Andrew Martin] been able to carry out his main idea ]
7...f6 8.e3 0-0 9.d5 f5?! One can only say
Let's take a look now at an obscure scheme that such situations present the vast majority
devised by Canadian Grandmaster Duncan of Black players with an excellent opportunity
Suttles, which as far as I know is unrefuted to to win the game. W hite is having to make
this day. There is no shame in studying and critical decisions all the time and he may well
restudying old games. They shape the g o w r o n g ( a s J a n o s e v i c d o e s h e r e ) .
present. 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.f3 d6 Objectively, Black's whole idea looks dubious
4.c3 c6 5.e2 d7 6.0-0 h6!? to me, but it will always be a practical choice
This is the introductory move. Black intends ... and as such, deserves a goodlook
f7-f6 and ...Nh6-f7 and later he will expand in [ Instead 9...f7 10.d4 b8 11.d2 c5
the centre with either ...f6-f5! or ..e7-e5. Note 12.e6 xe6 13.dxe6 e5 14.f4
the timing of 6. .. Nh6. Suttles waited until is poor for Black. ]
White castled thus rendering h2-h4 unplayable. [ 9...c5! but 10.h3 f5 is the way to go if
But I'll try to show 6 a4 Nh6 is also possible, Black want to play ....f5. he cuts the Knight
allowing the dangerous 7 h4. f7 is a very good out of d4. ]
s qu a re f o r t h e K n igh t in su c h p o sit i o n s , 10.d4
cutting out Ng5 by White, indirectly defending [ 10.dxc6! bxc6 11.d4 e5 12.xc6
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xc6 13.d5+ f7 14.xc6 d7 15.d5 That's what it's ultimately all about.
c7 gives Black compensation how much is 0-1
difficult to say. ]
10...xd4! Suttles was never dogmatic. If a
move had to be played, so be it! The point of 756 B06
10...Bxd4 is to try to shut down White's-light Jansa,Vlastimil 2500
squared Bishop and create an outpost on e5 Joksic,Sinisa 2340
for a Knight. 11.xd4 ch-Euro Seniors (7) 16.09.2004
[ 11.xd4 c5 12.e3 f4 13.d2 e5 [Andrew Martin]
14.c1 g5 ]
11...f4 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.c4+?! This is how to deal with the Hippopotamus.
[ 13.c4+ 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3 d7
A) 13...g7 14.xc6 fxe3 15.xa8 b6 5.f3 a6 6.d2 The 150 Attack has filtered
( 15...exf2+ 16.h1 ) 16.d5 exf2+ t h r o u g h e v e n t o v e t e r a n J a n s a . h6!?
17.h1 xb2 18.b3; Certainly stops Be3-h6 for quite some time,
B) 13...f7 14.xc6 b8 15.c1 f3 although Bxh6 might be a possibility later.
may or may not be OK for Black the point W hite's approach shows great experience.
is that it is frightening for White to face at When confronted with slow, confusing moves
t h e b o a r d . ( 15...b6!? 16.b5 e5 such as 6...h7-h6 he does not overreact.
17.b3+ h8 ) 16.gxf3 de5 17.a4 Instead White builds his position and tries to
h3 18.d1 ] prevent his opponent from finding an active
13...f7 14.xf4 White has been suitably plan. 7.h3 Not at all in the same category as
confused. 6...h6. Later on W hite knows that to deny
[ but 14.c1 b6 15.b3 a6 16.e1 c5 Black g4 will be very useful indeed. e6 8.d3
is quite OK for Black. ] e7 9.0-0 g5?! Having come this far Black
14...e5 Obviously, Black now has serious feels he should be doing something and ...
counterplay. 15.xd6 exf4 16.ad1 g5 Ne7-g6 is the only idea he can see. Maybe
[ 16...f3 looks very dangerous. ] just ...b7-b6 was indicated, with the usual
17.xf7+ xf7 18.xc6 f3 19.g3 b6 rubbishy position which is difficult to assault.
20.d5 d7 21.d6 c4 When given the 10.ad1! I like this move very much
opportunity to do so, Black hits very hard in prophylactic development against a future
fact he keeps pounding away until Janosevic central pawn break. Added to which the Rook
falls over!. 22.b4 c8 23.b3 e5 24.e3 can be very useful in the centre, whether
h6 Something has got to give around the Black tries to go active or not. c6 11.h2!
W hite King. 25.d5 g4 26.xg4 xg4 Centralisation preceded the idea of f2-f4!
With the idea of ...Qh3. 27.h4 xc2 28.fd1 which ...g6-g5 only encouraged. I really don't
c8 29.e5 like Black's position at all. e5 12.dxe5
[ 29.d8+ f8! 30.xc8 xc8 31.c4+ Now the Rd1 is very useful. dxe5
h8 32.d4+ g7 33.xg7+ xg7 [ 12...xe5 13.e2 leaves the d6 pawn
34.c1 e6 35.c7+ f7 ] hanging. ]
29...e6 30.d8+ xd8 31.xd8+ g7 13.c4 c7 14.a4 g6 15.e2
32.c3 h5 33.f1 f5 A nice square, It could almost be a normal Modern position,
threatening simultaneously ...Qh3 and ...Qb1+. but not quite, thanks to that horrible pawn on
W h it e c a n n o t st o p b o t h . 34.d6 b1+ g5,weakening the light squares. W hite is
I cannot state that this particular idea is 100% much better. 0-0?
sound but it is certainly an interesting addition [ He just has to try and hang on, with
to Black's armoury in the classical Modern. A something like, say, 15...b5 16.b3 f6
murky position was all that a talented player 17.g3 d7 18.d6 xd6 19.xd6
like Suttles needed to try and win the game The queens have bee n exchange d an d
and crucially, to ENJOY the game of chess. there is the chance of salvation, although
White remains with a substantial edge. ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
16.g3 e8 17.g4 f6 18.xf6+ xf6 Black stands well enough. ]
19.a5! Fairly merciless. Black is being 7...c5 8.e1
squeezed on both sides. g4? You can sense [ Tiger analyses 8.dxc5!? dxc5 ( 8...xc5
he wants to end it all, one way or another. 9.d4 ) 9.a4 b4 10.e2 gf6 11.e5 d5
Elderly players cannot stand the tension for 12.e4 xe3 13.fxe3 b8 14.e6 fxe6
too long. 15.g5 e5 unclear. ]
[ 19...f4 would certainly have been tried by [ Hillarp-Persson gives 8.a4 '?!' b4 9.e2
a younger, more combative opponent, but it cxd4 10.exd4 b7 11.d2 gf6
is doubtful whether Black's problems are 12.xb4 b8 and 'Black will get the pawn
solved: 20.b6! e7 ( 20...b8 21.e3 back'. Then
g7 22.b3 e6 23.xe6 xe6 A) 13.g5!? h6! 14.de6 ( 14.gf3
24.d7 ) 21.c3 e6 22.d2 g4 23.hxg4 xe4 15.a3 xf3 16.xf3 d5 17.c3
xg4 24.c5! c7 25.d6 c8 26.b3 ] xe3 18.fxe3 b6= ) 14...fxe6 15.xe6
20.b6 e7 21.xh6 g7?? Collapse. c8 16.b3 h5=;
[ 21...f4 22.h5 xh5 23.xh5 gxh3 B) 13.c4! c8! ( 13...0-0 14.c6 xc6
24.c5! finishes the job rather nicely. ] 15.xc6 xb2 16.d4 b8 17.xa6 )
22.xg6 f8 23.h7 gxh3 24.h5 14.g5 ( 14.xc8+ xc8 15.d2 g4 )
I think this is just a superb performance by 14...xc4 15.xc4 e5 16.b3 xe4
White. It's not at all easy to find the way to 17.xe4 xe4 18.f3 b7= . These lines
crack Black's three rank position, but here are marginal, however, and Black may
Jansa encouraged Joksic to self-destruct by want to try a different move order. ]
simple centralisation and the active plan of f2- 8...b7 9.a4 b4 A lot of these Tiger's Modern
f4.Just the thought of f2-f4 seemed to be lines look the same but have slight differences.
enough. Here the a4/...b4 trade off is normal. 10.e2
1-0 cxd4
[ Or 10...gf6!? with the idea 11.g3 g4 ]
11.xd4
757 B06 [ 11.fxd4 gf6 12.f3 d5 13.d2 dxe4
Jovanovic,Zoran2 2557 14.fxe4 a5= ]
Skoberne,Jure 2436 11...gf6 12.g3 0-0 13.a5 e5!?
12th HIT Open A (9) 01.02.2007 [ A solid line is 13...c5 14.d2 b8 ]
[John Watson] 14.e3 d5 Having said 'A'... 15.g5
[ Possible is 15.d2!? b3!? 16.exd5 bxc2
1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.e3 a6 17.xc2 xd5 18.b3 c5! 19.xe5 e8
5.f3 b5 6.d3 d7 20.f4 xb3 21.xb3 b8
[ Tiger prefers the order 6...b7 ] with compensation in the form of the two
7.0-0 bishops and activity. ]
[ Because here he's a little worried about 15...c7 16.exd5 xd5 17.xf6?! xf6?!
7.d5 . There might follow b7 8.d4 e5!? [ B l a c k s t a n d s b e t t e r a f t e r 17...xf6!
A) 9.a4! c5 ( 9...b4? 10.a2! c5 18.xe5 h5! 19.xg6!? ( 19.xh5 xe5
11.dxc6 xc6 12.xc6 xc6 13.xb4 20.g3 xb2 ) 19...f4! ]
b7 14.c3 f6 15.f3; 9...c6 ) 10.dxc6 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4 e7 20.d2 ad8
xc6 21.e2
A1) 11.e2! xd4 ( 11...b4 12.d5 [ 21.h6 f6 ]
f6 13.xc6 xc6 14.b6 ) 12.xd4 21...c6 22.ed2 f6
f8! 13.axb5 axb5 14.xb5; [ 22...xc2!? ]
A2) 11.xc6 xc6 12.axb5 xc3+ 23.d4 exd4 24.xe7 xc2 25.f3
13.bxc3 axb5 14.0-0 xa1 15.xa1 [ 25.xb4 e5 26.ac1 f5 27.c7 f7
f6 16.f3 0-0; 28.xf7 xf7 at least equal. ]
B) 9.0-0 c5 10.dxc6 xc6 , an odd sort 25...d3 26.ac1 xb2 With an two extra
of Sicilia n ('Dragod orf ' like! ) in which pawns and an advanced passed one, the rest
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better chances here ] with c3 to bolster the White centre but it's just
19...exd5 20.e6 f7 21.xg7 too slow as it allows Black to finish
[ 21.xf8? not xa1 and the knight is
development and get an easy game.
trapped on f8 ] [ 9.0-0 h6! was played in an important
21...xg7 22.d2 f5 23.d3 fd8 24.g4 game last year by Tiger Hillarp Persson, the
A risky move which later causes problems for main advocate of this line for Black.
Kanep. A) 10.exd6 exd6 11.f5! must be critical -
[ 24.e5 was safer ] Black is OK after 0-0 ( not 11...xf5?
24...h6 12.xf5 gxf5 13.e1+ f8 14.f4
[ 24...c4!? 25.bxc4 a7+ 26.h1 xd2 and Black is in serious trouble) 12.fxg6
27.xd2 e3! was a promising alternative hxg6 13.g5 f6 but I'd still rather be
for Black. ] White after 14.d5!;
25.h3 f7 26.ad1 f6 27.c1 ac8 B) 10.h1 0-0 11.e3 b4 12.e2 c7
28.e3 c6 29.c1 f6 30.e313.g3 cxd4 ( 13...g4!? 14.g1 cxd4
Black repeats the po sition once b ut he's 15.exd6 xd6 16.xd4 c5
obviously not interested in a draw here as he is also about equal) 14.xd4?! ( 14.exd6
xd6 15.xd4 should've been preferred,
h a s m u c h t h e b e t t e r p o s i t i o n . h5!?
A risky decision that quickly pays off as White with a balanced middlegame.) 14...dxe5
is unable to find the best moves in this tricky 15.c6 f6 16.xb8 hg4!? 17.f3
position 31.d2? After this White's position xe3 18.xe3 g4 19.f3 exf4
quickly collapses 20.xf4 e5 21.f3 xb8 and Black
[ 31.gxh5 is a little ugly but it should be tried.had a pawn and excellent play in return for
At lea st no w Bla ck's kin g com es un de r the exchange and went on to win 22.ae1
attack as well: f5! ( 31...gxh5 32.h2 xb2 23.b1 e5 24.c3 a5 25.cxb4
h8 33.g1 and White might even be axb4 26.a3 xg3 27.hxg3 e5 28.fc1
b e t t e r h e r e) 32.hxg6 xg6+ 33.g5! h5+ 29.g1 a6 0-1 Arvola, B (2358)-
and things aren't so clear anymore ] Hillarp Persson, T (2517) Oslo NOR
31...hxg4 32.hxg4?! 2013 ]
[ 32.xe4 was more stubborn but after dxe4 9...h6
33.e2 xd1 34.xd1 gxh3 35.c4 c6 [ 9...c7 also looks fine for Black ]
Black should be able to win in the long run if
10.c3 cxd4 11.cxd4
he can bring the knight on f7 into the game. [ 11.exd4 is a little more testing but then
( 35...f5 36.h2! )] wh y p l a y 1 0 . c3 ? B l a ck is O K a f t e r b7
32...h4! Suddenly it's all over 33.e2 g3+ 12.xb7 xb7 13.exd6 b6! 14.0-0
34.h1 g7 35.g1 h3+ White faces ( 14.dxe7?! xe7+ 15.f2 g4+ 16.g3
mate or the loss of at least a queen. f6 and Black has more than enough for
0-1 just one pawn. ) 14...xd6 ]
11...e6 12.0-0 b6 13.h3 f5 14.h2 b7
15.xb7 xb7 Karjakin's opening has been
759 B06 surprisingly unambitious and as a result Black
Karjakin,Sergey 2772 has at least equalised and Kamsky starts to
Kamsky,G 2714 press for an advantage. 16.g3
21st TCh-RUS 2014 (6.1) 12.04.2014 [ 16.g4!? e7 17.d2 h5 is a pawn for
[Tom Rendle] W hite but maybe the position is OK after
18.gxh5 xh5 19.g3 h8 20.c1 ]
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.f4 a6 5.f3 16...xg3 17.xg3 The king is oddly placed
b5 6.d3 d7 7.e5 c5 on g3 but with the centre solid enough the
[ 7...b7 8.e2!? is unpleasant for Black - ki n g i s f a i r ly s a f e f o r n o w. S t i ll , B la c k ' s
see Svidler-Lobron from the archives ] chances are preferable here as he has no
8.e4 b8 9.e2?! An odd novelty from weaknesses b6 18.e2 0-0 19.g5 dxe5
Karjakin - the idea seems to be to follow up 20.dxe5 d5 21.d2 fc8 22.ac1 f8
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10.c5 c7? Here's the loss of time which such as 0-0,Rae1-e2, Rfe1 comes to mind
costs Black the game. It is very important that and if Black takes on e5 then the Rook on h6
he pla ys .. .e 7-e 6 a s soo n as possible t o will have to withdraw leaving g6 exposed. d7
stabilise the position. 18.d3
[ 10...f5 11.f2 e6! That's what I mean! [ 18.xg6? f6 ]
12.b3 ( 12.d3 d7 13.e2 c7 18...g7
14.0-0 c5 15.d2 e7 16.fc1 0-0 17.h3 [ 18...xe5 19.fxe5 0-0-0 20.0-0 ]
xf3 18.xf3 c4= 19.e1 h4 20.g4 19.0-0 xe5 20.fxe5 f8 21.a4!
g7 21.f3 h8 22.b3 b6 23.e1 Preparing a hot reception for the Black King
d8 24.d2 1/2-1/2 Jaracz,P-Urban,K/ should he venture to the queenside. And look
Plock 2000/CBM 78 (24); 12.xb7 b6 ) at that Rook on h6! c5 22.b3 In his revealing
12...b6 13.h3 xf3 14.xf3 h4 15.d3 notes, Karjakin mentions an unusual
d7 16.0-0 e7 17.ab1 f8 18.d2 combinational possibility :
g7 19.e2 a5 ( 19...c5 is somewhat [ 22.xh4!!
better. ) 20.b4 c7 21.f3 b5 22.a4 a6 A) 22...xh4 23.b5+ d7 ( 23...d8
23.axb5 axb5 24.a1 b7 25.fc1 xa1 24.xh4 ) 24.xg6+ f8 25.xe6+-;
26.xa1 a8 27.xa8 xa8 28.xf5 gxf5 B) 22...c4 23.g5 cxd3 24.xh6 xh6
29.e1 h8 30.xh4 xh4 31.xh4 h6 25.xf8+! xf8 26.xg6 f5 27.f1
32.g3+ f8 33.f3 b6 34.g5 h5 d7 28.xf5+ exf5 29.e6 e8
35.e1 a4 36.h2 e8 37.g3 e7 30.h7!!+-;
38.d2 e8 39.f3 g6+ 40.h2 h5 C) 22...xh4 23.f4! h8 24.f7+ d7
41.e1 h4 42.d3 e7 43.c1 f8 25.b5+ c8 26.g7+- That would have
44.b3 e8 45.a5 d7 46.e3 c7 been very nice but after 22 b3 ,White is
47.g3 xg3+ 48.xg3 xc3 49.h4 d7 still overwhelmingly better. ]
50.h5 e8 51.xc6 f8 52.f3 g7 22...cxd4 23.cxd4 c3 24.d1 xd4
53.g4 fxg4+ 54.xg4 f5+ 55.g5 e4+ [ 24...c8 25.a6 c7 26.c1 xc1
56.h4 d2 57.g3 h6 58.d8 xh5 27.xc1 xc1 28.xc1 d7 29.c8+ d8
59.xe6 b3 60.f3 a1 61.c7 c2 30.c6 shows the extent of Black's plight,
62.e6 xd4+ 63.g3 c6 64.xd5 g6 who hardly has a decent move. ]
65.h4 g7 66.h5 d4 67.e7 f7 25.c1! b2 26.e3 h8 27.f2 xb3
68.g5 e6+ 69.xf5 g7+ 70.e5 28.xd4+- xd1+ 29.xd1 c8 30.df1
e8 71.f5 g7 72.c7 1-0 Luther,T- g8 31.xf8+ The Gurganidze System where
Gurevich,M/Cappelle la Grande 1998 ] Black plays for a light-squared blockade, is
11.h3 f5 12.f2 xf3 13.xf3 b6 very playable against the Austrian, with or
14.d3!N without an early ...Bg7. But, as graphically
[ 14.b3 h4 15.d3 e6 16.0-0 b7 demonstrated here, accuracy is required!
17.e2 a5 18.d2 e7 19.f3 c8 1-0
20.fc1 a6 21.c4 c7 22.b3 f8
23.c2 g7 24.e1 d8 25.c1 a4
26.bxa4 xa4 27.b1 dxc4 28.xc4 d5 761 B06
29.b3 1/2-1/2 Bologan,V-Badea,B/Sovata Kasimdzhanov,Rustam 2679
1999 ] Alber,Horst 2357
14...h4 15.e6! The world's youngest 15th Ordix Open rapid (3) 02.08.2008
Grandmaster is very fearless and 15 e6 is [John Watson]
indeed an excellent move. With this inspired
pawn sacrifice White cuts the Black position 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.f4 a6
into two separate halves. Of course if Black Tiger Hillarp-Persson's system. The theory in
were allowed to play ... e7-e6 himself we his book is still well ahead of the practice.
would have reached a normal position. Now 5.f3 b5 6.d3 b7 Hillarp-Persson queries
Kotsur struggles. fxe6 16.g4 h6 17.e5 this move, preferring 6...Nd7 of the next game.
White has plenty of time to build up-a scheme 7.e2! f6 This is an innovation, and tries to
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
764 B06
763 B06 Kobalia,Mihail 2654
Klovans,Janis Welling,Gerard 2405
Gurevich Gibtelecom Masters (1.5) 24.01.2006
Cup Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine) 1970 [Andrew Martin]
[Nigel Davies]
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.f3 d6 4.c4 e6
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 f6 I made the point in my recent book on the
5.c4 bd7 6.b3 b6 7.f3 g4 8.g3 Hippopotamus system of defence, that Bc4
f5 9.f3 g4 10.g3 f5 11.f3 systems were among the easier for Black to
[ 11.f3 draws by repetition, which might be combat. The Bishop on c4 is vulnerable to a
enough to put some players of f . But by pawn attack from Black and White often has
avoiding the repetition White keeps the freer to lose time as a result. 5.b3 e7 6.0-0 b6
game. ] 7.bd2 0-0 8.e1 c5 Why not? Black is not
11...bxd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.0-0 0-0 afraid of d4-d5 while the Bishop is still on c8.
14.e1 [ 8...b7 9.f1 d7 10.g3 c5 11.c3
[ Another game from this position went c8 12.h3 h6 13.e3 c4 ( 13...d5 14.e5;
14.h4 h5?! 15.g5 f6 16.d2 e6 13...cxd4 14.cxd4 f6 15.c2
17.fe1 d7 18.h3 ae8 19.e2 f7 lo o k s a t o u c h b e t t e r f o r W h i t e i n b o t h
20.ae1 g5? 21.xg5 fxg5 22.xg5 g6 cases. ) 14.c2 f5 15.exf5 exf5 16.f4
23.xe6 c6 24.xf8 xf8 25.c3 h7 f6 17.c1 f8 18.h4 xf3 19.gxf3 d5
26.g3 h6 27.xd5 cxd5 28.e7 h4 20.d2
29.c7 f6 30.xg7+ 1-0, Khachian M - A) 20...f4! promotes a very difficult
Barbu I, Bucharest 1993. Obviously Black position but one where Black has every
can play better than this but in any case chance to win thanks to his better pawn
his position is not very attractive. W hite position: 21.e4 ( 21.e2 f7 22.e4
has more space and it's difficult for Black b5 ) 21...e6;
to free himself. ] B) 20...h5?! 21.g5! f7 22.e6 7f6
14...c6 15.g5 h6 16.d2 d6 17.e5 23.d2 White has organised his position
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promising is 12.e2 ) 12...xb7 13.d5! may give him the better position. ]
xd5 14.xd5 0-0-0 ( 14...c8 15.a4! b4 6...g5 7.xg5
16.0-0-0 h6 17.d2 and Black can't get [ 7.h4?! makes less sense here as after f7
developed ) 15.0-0-0 e6 ( 15...b7 the knight is well placed on f7 and White has
16.g5! e6 17.c3 h6 18.ce4 )] over-extended himself. ]
12.xe4 c7 Probably not best, but there's 7...fxg5 8.d2 e6 A very solid move from
nothing really satisfactory because of Black's Rapport and one which suggest Black is doing
weak queenside pawns and lack of OK in this line.
development. 13.d5 c8 14.0-0-0 h6 [ 8...c5!? 9.xg5 c6 10.d2 ( 10.0-0-0!
Th is lo s es , b ut Bla ck ca n h ard ly su rvive is more promising for W hite, for example
anyway. g7 11.b1 0-0 12.f4! with Nf3 to come
[ 14...c6 15.xc6+ xc6 16.d5 c4 a n d a p l e a s a n t a d v a n t a g e f o r W h i t e)
17.hd1 c8 18.c5 is not pretty. ] 10...cxd4 11.xd4 b6 and Black was fine
15.d6+! exd6 16.exd6 d7 Versus 17 in Berg, E (2456)-Paulsen, D (2431) Mainz
d7+, but: 17.e5 2001 ]
1-0 9.h3
[ 9.0-0-0 would seems to be a little more
flexible here, for example e7 10.f4 0-0
766 B06 ( 10...gxf4 11.xf4 c5 is probably a better
Kotronias,V 2581 way for Black to play with chances for both
Rapport,R 2693 sides after 12.f3 0-0 13.h4 c6 ) 11.g3
41st TCh-GRE (6.1) 06.07.2013 and White is preparing a dangerous kingside
[Tom Rendle] attack with h4. ]
9...e7 10.f4 g4?! A rather odd choice from
1.e4 g6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 Rapport and one that quickly gets him into
[ 3.e5! is the critical test of the North Sea trouble
defence and it certainly seems better than [ 10...gxf4 \/I much pref er 11.hxf4 c5
the variation Kotronias chose. See Adams- 12.0-0-0 c6 and Black has at least
Carlsen (amongst other games) from the equalised. He also has the luxury of
archives. ] choosing to castle kingside into huge
3...d5 4.e5 complications or going queenside f or a
[ 4.exd5 doesn't promise any advantage: slightly quieter, more positional game. ]
xd5 5.xd5 xd5 6.c4 d6 7.e3 g7 11.f2 h5 12.h3 g3
and Black had already equalised in Massoni, [ 12...gxh3 13.xh3 c5 14.0-0-0 c6
M (2385)-Rapport, R (2654) Calvi 2013 ] 15.g4! and White has a dangerous kingside
4...e4 5.ce2 An important test of this line. initiative ]
White is threatening 6.f3 trapping the knight 13.xg3 c5 14.dxc5 xc5 15.b5+ c6
so Black's next move is forced 16.b4?! After this it's obvious that White won't
[ 5.xe4 dxe4 6.e3 g7 7.c3 0-0 8.e2 be castling queenside!
c5! and Black's pressure on the centre is [ 16.d3 b6 17.0-0-0 was much stronger
enough to compensate his doubled pawns. ] when Black has to demonstrate where his
5...f6 compensation for the pawn is. ]
[ 5...h6? 6.h4 and f3 on the next move will 16...b6 17.0-0 d7?!
win a the knight. ] [ Black should've gone for 17...0-0 18.e2
6.f3 e7 with reasonable compensation for the
[ 6.h4!? is still dangerous but it seems that pawn, especially with ...Nf5 coming. ]
Black is OK after fxe5 7.f3 d6 8.dxe5 18.c4 h4 19.h2 0-0-0 20.c5 c7
f5 9.g4 g7 10.f4 c6 with a rather odd 21.d3?!
position. Chances seem about level [ 21.xc6! xc6 22.e2 and not only is
although if W hite can find time to castle White a pawn up but his attack with a4 and
queenside his kingside space advantage b5 is coming very quickly. ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
21...xe5! This tactic brings Rapport back 61...c3 62.a1 b2 63.d3 xa1
into the game 22.xe5?! and W hite resigned. A bizarre end to the
[ 22.xd7+ xd7 23.c6! bxc6 24.ac1 game and one I can only imagine that resulted
and White has a very dangerous attack - for from Kotronias (or more likely both players)
example b7?! ( 24...e7 25.xc6 b7 being very short on time.
is a better try but White is clearly better after 0-1
26.b5 ) 25.c2 b8 26.c5+ c8
27.xe6 and White is winning ]
22...xb5 23.xg6 f6 24.xh8 e5!? 767 B06
A brave attacking decision from Black but Kozlov,Viktor Mihail 2340
objectively this doesn't really work Inarkiev,Ernesto 2545
[ better was 24...xf1 25.xf1 xh8 26.e2 Autumn III Alushta (13) 2002
h4 and Black's bind on the kingside give [Andrew Martin]
him reasonable compensation for a pawn. ]
25.f7 xf7 26.fxe5 xf1 27.xf1 g7 1.e4 g6 Another debacle coming up in the
28.xh5 xe5+ 29.f4 f5 30.g3 h8 Hippopotamus system. White cannot seem to
31.g2 d4 32.f3 b8 33.d3 acknowledge to himself that the Black position
[ 33.d5! d7 34.xc7 xc7 35.d3 is resilient and almost futuristic in its
an d wit h t he b ish o p exch a nge d of f t h e approach. 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3 a6
ending is a technical win for White. ] A quick...a6 seems to be an essential
33...e6 34.g1 a6 35.g4 d8 36.f2 component of the Black idea. If White goes a2-
e4 37.a4 g5 38.f1 e3+ 39.h2 e8 a4,he loosens himself and he cannot castle
40.c6?! queenside anymore ( at least with a clear
[ 40.f7! xa4 41.f6 e8 42.g3 conscience!) 5.a4 b6! 6.d2 b7 7.f3 e6
and with the king on g3 surprisingly safe He re we a re a g a i n a n d W h it e s it s t h e r e
this should be winning for W hite, for t h i n k i n g . . . ' W e l l , n o w w h a t ' ? 8.h3
example b5 43.d6+ a8 44.b6 g5 There are others :
45.xb5 axb5 46.f3 and White's [ 8.h4 h6 9.g4 This would certainly be
connected passed pawns will decide the interesting. ]
game in his favour ] [ 8.ge2 d7 9.g3 e7 10.g2
40...xc6 41.f8+ xf8 42.xf8+ c7 Meet ing f ire with f ire in a sense. Here ,
43.e7+ b8 44.f8+ c7 45.c5 xc5 W hite seems well poised to meet any
46.bxc5 c6 47.g3 d5 48.f3 g5 Black counterplay. ]
49.e2?! 8...f6 Breaking the rules assuming Black is
[ 49.f2! e7 50.e4 should still be good supposed to play ...Ne7 but Inarkiev has a
enough to win ] small trap 9.f2
49...a5 50.f3 f6 51.f4 c4 52.e4 [ 9.h6 xe4! that's it by the way.....
e7? 10.fxe4 h4+-+ ]
[ 52...d8 seems to hold the draw ] 9...0-0 10.d1
53.e5+? [ 10.h6 bd7 11.xg7 xg7 12.e2 e5
[ 53.c6! bxc6 54.e5+ c5 55.f3 f6 13.0-0 e7 Would be fine positionally for
56.g5 and White is winning ] Black of course. ]
53...xc5 54.f3 b5 55.axb5 a4 56.xd4 10...e7 11.g5 bd7 12.g4 e8
a3 57.c2 a2 58.f5?? Somehow White 13.h6+ h8 14.g4?! Don't like it at all.
miscalculates and throws away the draw as Kozlov should make a mental readjustment
well and get his King out of the centre as quickly
[ 58.d3 xb5 59.c3 f6+ 60.b3 a1 as he can.
61.xa1 xa1= ] [ 14.e2 ]
58...xb5 59.g5 c4 60.g6 f8 61.e4 14...c5! 15.dxc5 d5! Excellent play by
[ or 61.f6 c3 62.f7 h6 63.a1 Inarkiev and all because of the silly g2-g4.
b2 ] 16.exd5 exd5+ 17.e2 bxc5 A remarkable
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ 9.e4 xe4 10.xe4 cxd4 11.exd6 gf6 c a s t l e w i t h 8.f1?! h6 9.b3 0-0
12.dxe7 ( 12.xd4 0-0 13.dxe7 xe7 10.xh6 xh6 11.e1 f4 12.cxd4 c6
14.xf6+ xf6 t r a n s p o s e s) 12...xe7 Black has to activate his pieces bef ore
13.xf6+ ( 13.xd4!? 0-0 14.xf6+ xf6 pursuing the white king 13.e3 d8 14.h4
15.f2 with some counterplay for Black) xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xe7 f8 17.e8
13...xf6 14.xd4 ( 14.e1 e4 15.g5 xc4 18.xc4 xc4+ 19.g1 b6
f5 16.d3 0-0 17.d2 ) 14...0-0 15.e1 with a winning advantage, Sveshnikov,E-Sax,
b7 16.c3 and it's not clear that Black has G/Bled 2000. ]
full compensation, but then again he might. ] 8...h6
[ 9.e3 ] [ 8...f6? allows 9.xf7+! with a clear
9...cxd4 10.e2 advantage ]
[ 10.e4 gf6 11.xf6+ xf6 12.dxe7 [ 8...dxe3 9.xf7+! f8 10.d8+ xf7
xe7 13.e1 e4 14.e2 f5 15.a4 0-0! 11.g5+ f6 12.xe4+ wins ]
is an unclear gambit. ] 9.cxd4
10...b6 11.dxe7 [ 9.b5 0-0 10.cxd4 ( 10.c7 dxe3
[ 11.a4! is more challenging. ] 11.d3 c6 12.xa8 exf2+ 13.f1 b6
11...xe7 Now all of Black's pieces control is much better for Black) 10...c6 11.h3
central squares. 12.f5?! White activates his f5 12.e2 xe3 13.fxe3 b4 ( Perhaps
pieces but is losing time. 0-0 13.f4?! c5! 13...h6!? ) 14.c3 c2 15.a3 xe2+
14.fxg6 fxg6 15.d2 xd3!? 16.xe2 c6 17.ac1 d7 18.b4 ac8
[ 15...f5 would demonstrate Black's 19.e4 f5 20.g3 d7 21.e4 f5
superiority. ] 22.g3 d7 1/2-1/2 Peredy,F-Flumbort,A/
16.xd3? Veszprem 2000. ]
[ 16.cxd3 d5 17.b3 ] 9...0-0 10.0-0 g4 White is concerned about
16...d5 17.e1 e3 18.xe3 dxe3 allowing ...Nf5 to put pressure on the d4 pawn
19.e2 and bishop on e3 so decides to exchange
[ 19.h1? xf3! 20.gxf3 f8 21.f1 g5! pieces 11.xh6?! I would be reluctant to give
and ... g4 follows. ] up the bishop because then Black will have
19...ae8 20.f1 f5 21.a3 a5 22.h1 good play but W hite has spotted a tactical
d5! 23.ae1 c8 24.h3 c4 25.b1 opportunity.
[ 25.b3 d5! 26.xe3 xe3 27.xe3 xc2 [ 11.b5 c6 12.e2 f5 Black has
with the bishop pair, passed pawn, and 7th easily equalised 13.g5 ad8 14.c3 e6
rank. ] 15.d5 c8 16.a4 xf3 17.xf3 cd4
25...b4 26.axb4 axb4 27.b3 b5 18.e4 h6 led to equal play in Chapman,M-
W hite is to tally t ie d up . 28.h2 xf1+ Depasquale,C/Mingara 2000. ]
29.xf1 e8 30.h2 d4 31.f1 xd3 [ 11.g5 xd1 12.xe4 g4 13.f3 c8
32.cxd3 b2 33.e1 14.g4 c6 15.ad1 b6 16.c2 b7
[ 33.xb2 xb2 with ...e2 and ...Bc3. ] with a level game, Anderton, M-Ramaswamy,
33...xb3 34.g4 e6 35.f1 b3 A/Edinburgh 2003. ]
0-1 11...xh6 12.e1 f5 13.xe7 Hupper has
won a pawn but it is a hollow victory because
now Black develops smoothly. c6 14.xb7
771 B06 [ Or 14.e1 xf3 15.gxf3 ad8 16.d5 e5
Kupper,Patrick 2285 17.e2 f4 gives Black a winning attack. ]
Pelletier,Yannick 2544 14...ad8 15.e2
Swiss Team Championships (4.2) 20.05.2001 [ 15.h3 xf3 16.xf3 xf3 17.gxf3 xd4
[Gary Lane] is double-edged ]
15...xf3 16.xf3 xd4 17.g4
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 xd5 4.d4 g6 [ 17.e2 f3+!? 18.xf3 xd1+ 19.xd1
5.f3 g7 6.a3 cxd4 7.c4 e4+ 8.e3 a6 is not clear because White has enough
[ It is not so good to give up the right to material for the queen. ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
4.e2 g7 5.f3 d5 6.h3 h5 This looks a seems to get back into the game. However,
bit odd to me, though that could also be said his king is in the centre and falls into lots of
of Black's entire opening. mating threats which he somehow manages to
[ 6...e6 transposes into Ferguson - escape. It ends with a two knights v rook and
Hodgson in which both sides lost a tempo. ] pawns endgame and W hite holds on to the
[ To my way of thinking the 'normal' move in draw. 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.f4
th is p o sit io n is 6...c6 which seems fairly A very unusual line to play against the Modern
indispensable in the long run anyway and that is not seen much in high-level chess but
leaves Black's options open. ] is occasionally brought out by grandmasters
7.0-0 c6 8.b3 a5 And this looks like a rook as a surprise weapon! d6
pawn move too far. Although the position is [ 3...c5!? 4.d5 d6 ]
fairly stable at present there is a limit to the 4.f3 d7 Not one of the most popular
extent to which Black can break the rules. moves here, but playable. 5.d3 c5
[ 8...f5 looks better, with a similar set-up to [ 5...h6 comes from the wilder shores of
Pacey - Day. ] t h e M o d e r n : 6.0-0 0-0 7.e1 c5
9.c4 a6 10.c3 c7 11.cxd5 xd5 Black is relying on this move for counterplay.
12.xd5 cxd5 13.g5 d7 14.d3 e6 8.dxc5 ( 8.f5 ) 8...xc5 9.c3 g4
15.f3 xg5 16.xg5 b6 The best 10.h1 f6 11.e3 xd3 12.cxd3 b6
chance in a difficult position. 13.h3 a6 14.d2 c8 15.fc1 d7
[ After 16...c6 there is 17.e6 ] 16.a4 fd8 17.b4 e8 18.b5 b7 19.h2
[ or if 16...e6 there follows 17.b5+ d7 c7= Somlai, L-Horvath, J/Hungary 1994 ]
18.e6 fxe6 19.d3 ] 6.c3 b6N 7.a3 cxd4 8.c4 c5 9.b4
17.xd5 c6 18.c5 xc5 19.dxc5 c7 10.cxd4 b5 11.b2?
Leaving White a pawn up for not very much. [ 11.a5 a6 ]
Miles puts up tough resistance but in the end 11...c3+
this proves futile. g7 20.fe1 d8 21.c4 [ 11...xd4 12.xd4 c3+ 13.d2
d5 22.b5+ c6 23.c4 d5 24.f1 xd4 and White doesn't really have
d7 25.ad1 e6 26.h4 c6 27.c4+ enough compensation for the pawn. ]
d5 28.xd5 xd5 29.xe7 xe7 12.d2 xd4 13.xb5 xd2+ 14.xd2
30.xd5 c8 31.c1 xe5 32.xb7 d8 g7 15.d3
33.f3 d2 34.c6 c7 35.d1 xd1+ [ 15.c6 b8 16.a3 b7 17.xb7
36.xd1 d6 37.e2 e7 38.c4 f5 xb7 ]
39.f1 d8 40.e2 e8 41.e6 e7 15...a5!?
42.g8 f8 43.d5 e7 44.d3 f4 [ 15...b7 is also good for Black and
45.c4 d6 46.e4 xh4 47.b5 d8 pe rh ap s le ss risky t ha n giving W hit e a
48.xg6 h4 49.e4 c7 50.a6 d8 passed b-pawn that may become handy
51.b7 c7 52.f3 d8 53.a3 later in the game. ]
1-0 16.b5 c5 17.b1?!
[ 17.e1 is White's best bet. b7 18.e5 ]
17...b7?! Missing a chance to get a clear
774 B06 advantage.
Lee Sang Hoon [ 17...e6! 18.c2 f6 19.e1 xa2-+ ]
Gilbert,Jessie 2098 18.e1 c8
1st International (5) 17.02.2006 [ 18...f6 19.e5 dxe5 20.xe5 fe4+ ]
[Andrew Martin] 19.c4
[ 19.e5 dxe5 20.fxe5 h6 ]
Played at the 1st Korean International Event, 19...xd3?
this is a wild game in the Modern Defence. [ 19...f6 20.b2 fxe4+ 21.xe4 xe4+
W h i t e g e t s h is p i e c e s i n a t a n gle a t t h e 22.d3 xb2 23.xb2 c5+ ]
beginning of the game but Black doesn't take 20.xd3 f6 21.xa5 xe4+ 22.xe4
advantage of this like she should and White xe4 23.xe4 c3 Things are getting
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
exciting now - White has a material advantage g7 7.d2 h6 8.e3 c6 9.0-0 d5
but it's quite difficult for him to get out of 10.exd5 cxd5 11.d3 By straightforward
being mated! 24.f5 gxf5+ 25.xf5 g8 means, White has established a edge, albeit
26.g4? in a very murky position. It becomes clear
[ 26.b2 c5+ 27.e4 f5+ 28.d3 e5 ] that Black doesn't really like his position. In
26...h6+ 27.g5 f6?? that case, why did he play the Hippo in the
[ 27...xg5! 28.xg5 ( 28.b6 f6+ 29.h3 first place?? f6 12.e5 d7 13.f3 c6
c5 30.g4 d7-+ ) 28...f6 29.h4 fxg5 14.b4 d7 15.xg6! b6?? ( 15...xg6
30.b6 gxh4+ 31.xh4 d7 32.b7 c7-+ ] 16.b5 c8 17.bxc6 xc6 18.e2 )
28.b6 xg5 29.b7 e3+ 30.h3 a7 16.xh8 xh8 17.b5 xb5 18.ab1 xd4
31.b8+ xb8 32.xb8+ f7 33.xg8 19.f2 a6 20.a4 xf2+ 21.xf2
xg8 34.b3 e5 35.g4 c2 36.a4 1-0 Ruiz Diez, J-Martin Juan, V/Aragon
c4+ 37.f5 f7 38.g3 xa4 39.bd2 d5 2003 ]
40.xe5+ fxe5 41.xe5 a8?! 5...g7 6.c3 e7 7.b3 This slow, nagging
[ 41...a3-+ stopping White from taking the approach is the preferred method of most
d-pawn and stopping the White knight from strong players when facing this confusing stuff.
getting into the game. ] White doesn't press too hard and relies on a
42.f3 d8?! good, solid centre and modest development.
[ 42...a5-+ ] His extra space and wider choice of plans will
43.g4 g6 eve nt u a lly ru n B lack ou t o f co u nt e rpla y.
[ 43...e8+ 44.xd5 e3 45.g1 f6 ] Rodriguez does not think so. He believes in
44.h4 d7 45.e6 d8 46.e5 d7 himself and his ability to keep the tension and
47.e6 d8 48.e5 h6 49.h5+ g7 50.g5 will try to outplay Leskovar.
f8 51.gxh6+ xh6 52.d4 d8 53.e6 [ 7.e3 0-0 8.d2 d5 9.d3 dxe4
d7 54.c5 d4 55.e4 10.xe4 f6 11.c2 b6 12.h6 b7
[ 55.xd7 d3 56.f6 d2 57.g4+ xh5 13.xg7 xg7 14.e5 d5 15.f3 ad8
58.e3= ] 16.f2 a6= Schaefer, G-Scheib, K/
55...d8 56.d3 xh5 57.e6 d6 Mehlingen 1999 ]
58.xd4 [ 7.e1 0-0 8.g5 h6 9.h4 b6 10.bd2
½-½ b7 11.e2 a6 12.h3 g5 13.g3 g6
14.e3 f6 15.ad1 h5 16.h2 hf4
17.xf4 xf4 18.f1 f5 19.g3 g6
775 B06 20.exf5 exf5 21.e6+ h7
Leskovar,Mario Leopoldo 2245 Duer, W-Kroell, J/Austria 2000 ]
Rodriguez Cespedes,Amador 2495 7...0-0 8.e1 b6 9.bd2 b7 10.f1 h6!?
1st Bautista Masters, Cipolleti (8) 2003 11.g3 c5 Finally Black plays an active move
[Andrew Martin] and now White has to show his hand. 12.h4
[ I qu ite like 12.e3 followed by Qd2 and
1.d4 d6 2.e4 d7!? It is perfectly possible only then h2-h4! a2-a4 must also come
to start a game this way although not many into consideration. ]
do. 3.f3 g6 The Hanham Variation of the 12...c7 13.h5 g5 I guess that was the point
P h i l i d o r i s a n o t h e r o p t i o n e . g . 3 . . . e 5 . of ...h7-h6 in the first place! 14.d3 ac8
R o d r i g u e z i n s i s t s o n o r i g i n a l i t y . 4.c4 15.c2 fd8 We have reached a genuinely
Black must not overlook the threat of Bxf7+ unclear position, quite conforming to the style
although some might. e6 So we will get a and the philosophy of the variation. There's
Hippopotamus after the initial banter. 5.0-0 no mate on h7 so by taking on d4 at the right
White has a very wide choice, both his pride moment, Black will always have counterplay.
a n d h i s p o s s i b l e d o w n f a l l . L o v e r s o f Leskovar decides to take action. 16.xg5?!
aggression might prefer 5 Bg5, as featured in [ 16.a4 g4! 17.h2 cxd4 18.xg4 dxc3
the following miniature. I know I do. 19.b4 e5 ]
[ 5.g5! Awkward for Black. e7 6.c3 [ 16.d1 a6 17.e3 b5 ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
16...hxg5 17.xg5 cxd4 I get the impression Benko. White shuts down Black's queenside
that Rodriguez knows his opponent very well ambitions before they take shape!
and has been tempting him all along . It's a [ Milov, another Grandmaster who favours
dangerous game to play but when it comes off originality, tried 7.h3 in a recent game. This
th e po in t is th ere f or t h e ta king. W hite 's is a useful move, preparing Be3: c5 8.d5
sacrifice is probably unsound. 18.e5 f8 ( 8.c3!? ) 8...b5 9.f4 Changing his mind?
[ 18...f8 ] c7 10.c3 b7 11.a4 a6 12.e3 e6
19.h6 c6 Milov, V-Sakaev, K/Panormo 2002 ]
[ 19...xh6 20.xh6 dxe5 21.h5 f5 7...c5 8.d5 c7 9.a3! The Knight aims for
22.g3+ fg6 ] c4, a dream square. b6 10.c3! a6 11.c4
20.f3 xh6 21.xh6? Too optimistic. White b8 12.e5! More thematic play. White forces
would have a better chance of getting through a critical advance. dxe5
something from the game after [ Black may lie back on the ropes, but there
[ 21.xe7 dxc3! 22.bxc3 d7 23.exd6 is no doubting White's superiority: 12...fe8
c5+ 24.f1 f4 ] 13.f4 b5 14.axb5 axb5 15.a5 d7
21...dxc3! 22.b4 d5 23.f1 d4+ 24.e3 16.e1 b4 17.e4 dxe5 18.e3 ]
[ 24.e3 xe5 ] 13.xe5 b7
24...h4-+ Black has won the battle for the [ 13...fxd5 14.c6 xc3 15.bxc3
initiative-his position was resilient enough to leads to brief complications which favour
wi t h s t a n d a n i m m e d i a t e a s sa u l t . 25.xf8 White: ( 15.e1 is n o t a s g o o d : d6
xf8 26.e4 d5 27.e2 a6 28.f2 16.xb8 3d5 ) 15...xd1 16.xd1 g4
xf2+ 29.xf2 dxe5 30.a3 f5 31.g5 e7 17.f3 xc3 18.a3 ]
32.e1 f6 33.h3 h8 34.f4 e4 35.g5 14.c6 xc6 15.dxc6 xd1 16.xd1 e6
e5 There's no clear way to the advantage 17.e2 Naturally preventing ... Ne6-d4! bd8
against this messy' three-rank' system and it's 18.e1 d5 19.c3 d6 20.f4!!
clear that White must be patient. Attempts to Just when you thought Black was getting back
demolish the Black position often meet the into the game, this excellent move strikes him
fate that Leskovar had to suffer. The Hippo down. The problem is clear to see the c6
remains a good way to play all-out for the win pawn is a winner. dxf4
against weaker opposition. It is very confusing. [ 20...exf4 comes to the same. ]
0-1 21.xf4 xf4 22.gxf4 e6
[ 22...f6 23.ad1 c8 24.xd6 exd6
was perhaps more tenacious 25.d1 e7
776 B06 26.f5! gxf5 27.f4 f8 28.f2 e8
Lima,Darcy 2535 29.e3 d8 30.d5! xc6 31.xf5 c7
Tristan,Leonardo 2225 32.xf7 h4 33.f8+ e7 34.b8 ]
American Continental (11) 16.08.2005 23.a5 b5 24.ad1 Forcing entry into Black's
[Andrew Martin] half of the board. The Bishop on g7 is
powerless. xd1
There is no obligation to use complicated or [ 24...fd8 25.xd6 xd6 26.c7 ]
a g g r e s s i v e m e t h o d s , a l t h o u g h t h a t i s a 25.xd1 h6 26.d7 xf4 27.c7
predominant feature of modern chess. Chill If you just want a game of chess against the
out with Darcy Lima who makes chess look an P i r c o r M o d e r n a n d n o t a t h e o r e t i c a l
easy game, with barely a tactic in sight. 1.e4 discussion, you could do a lot worse than try
d6 2.g3 Not so bad. f6 3.g2 g6 4.d4 the system that Lima does here.
g7 5.e2 0-0 6.0-0 This is a difficult 1-0
system for Black to handle because
counterplay comes slowly, if at all. Benko was
the one who used this system with success.
Note that W hite delays Nc3 that is an
interesting nuance. a6 7.a4 Still 'Ã la'
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
1.d4 If you are looking for an interesting 1.d4 g6 2.e4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3 a6
of f b ea t way t o co m ba t t ho se a ggressive 5.d2 b5 6.f3 b7 7.d3 d7 8.a4 b4
King's In d ia n /G rü n f e ld pla ye rs, t he n t h e 9.e2 c5 If Black prefers an early ...a7-a6 to
f ollowing game may provide some of th e ...c7-c6 he gets to push ... c7-c5 in one go.
answers that you've been looking for. f6 The timing of this advance must be carefully
2.f3 g6 3.c3 g7 4.c2 This is an considered, lest the Black King gets caught in
interesting way to try and take King's Indian the centre, as happens here. So 9...c5 is very
and Grünfeld players out of their books. White risky, a lth o u gh it is f ully in kee p in g wit h
can hope to force Black into unfamiliar Tiller's uncompromising style.
s u r r o u n d i n g s . d6 Black sticks to his King's [ I prefer 9...a5 10.g3 ( 10.c3 bxc3
Indian structure, but the resulting position is 11.bxc3 gf6 12.g3 0-0 13.h6 c5!
more like a Pirc defence. 5.e4 0-0 6.e2 e5 is better timing.) 10...e6 11.0-0 e7
7.dxe5 Not the most energetic of 12.h6 0-0 13.fe1 c5 I reckon this is the
continuations, but against a King's Indian right pawn formation for Black out of the
player spoiling for a fight, a wise opening. The pawn on e6 keeps a white
psychological choice. dxe5 8.0-0 e7 9.e1 knight out of f5 and Black can look to play ...
b6 10.bd2 b7 11.f1 bd7 12.a4 d6-d5!, stabilising the centre. 14.c3 bxc3
The first indication that White is playing for 15.bxc3 cxd4 ( 15...d5!? 16.ab1 c7
the full point. Such queenside expansion is 17.f4 c8 18.d6 e8 19.dxc5 dxe4
awkward for Black to meet. h6 20.xe4 f5 ) 16.cxd4 c6 17.xg7
[ 12...a5 is worth exploring, and may have xg7 18.f4 b4 19.b1 e7 20.e5
been better, despite the weakening of b5. ] xf3! 21.gxf3 d5 22.g4 ac8 23.g2
13.a5 a6 14.axb6 cxb6 15.c4 It's always c4 Henson,J-Harper,B/Richmond CAN
good to take aim at weaknesses, such as b6 2004 Black has excellent counterplay. ]
and d6. h5 16.g3 f5 17.h4 An excellent 10.c3 bxc3 11.bxc3 c7 12.0-0 gf6
riposte, which takes most of the sting out of 13.h6 We've seen time and time again that
Black's kingside counterplay. f6 18.exf5 this is the correct way to play for W hite. As
gxf5 19.e3 Again highlighting the soon as the Black knight leaves g8,it's right to
weaknesses left by Black's kingside pawn go Be3-h6. Summarising the merits of this
advances. e4 20.d1 f4 21.c4+ h8 idea: 1) W hite strips out the fianchettoed
22.g4 Black has lost control of the kingside Bishop 2) The Black Kingside is weakened. 3)
light squares and W hite wins material by W hite has distinct attacking opportunities
force. c6 23.xe4 xe4 24.d5 h7 based on moves such as Ng3,Qg5, Nh4-f5,f4-
25.xa8 xa8 26.xd7 Black could already f5 etc. xe4 Tiller has absolutely no doubts
resign with a clear conscience. fxg3 27.hxg3 about taking such pawns. He wants to see
f8 28.e3 c2 29.a4 e2 30.g6+ what will happen.
1-0 [ 13...0-0 14.xg7 xg7 15.g3 e6
16.ab1 ab8 17.fe1 a5
was considerably safer, both in a practical
and theoretical sense. ]
14.xe4 xh6 15.xh6 xe4 16.g5 d5
17.f4 c4 18.fe1 This is what happens.
His King gets stuck in the middle, unable to
escape. Over the board, White has all the fun.
e5 19.dxe5 xe5 20.xg6! fxg6 21.f4
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
0-0-0 What else. 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.h4 d5 Black's plan is to play an eventual ...c6-c5
24.c4 b7 this is a position where all roads and the position of the queen on b6 does
lead to Rome as far as White is concerned: not really help (it often gets hit by a later
[ 24...h6 25.cxd5 hxg5 26.xg5 xd5 Na4). ]
27.f6! ] 8.a4 One of several ways to deal with the
[ 24...a8 25.h3+ ( 25.e6 c6 ) threat to the b2 pawn.
25...d7 26.xe5 xh3 27.xc5+ b8 [ Other possibilities are: a) 8.b3 g4 9.a4
28.b1+! b7 29.xh3 ] a5+ 10.d2 c7 11.c3 e6 12.d3 f5
25.h3+ d7 26.ad1 e8 27.f7 13.0-0 c5 14.dxc5 xc5+ 15.xc5 xc5+
Nothing moves and the threat of Nd6 is killing. 16.f2 c6 17.h3 xf3 18.xf3 h4
Tiller is a really strong, unusual and creative 19.h2 0-0-0 which led to razor-sharp play
player. It's nothing new: such players have to in Bauer - Chernin, Hungarian Ch., 1992 ]
obey their nature and occasionally suffer a [ and b) 8.b1 g4 9.e2 f5 10.f2 e6
terrible reverse. Forgetting armchair 11.0-0 d7 12.b4 c7 13.a4 b6
psychology and returning to the opening, 9... 14.c5 xf3 15.xf3 c4 with a good
a5 is satisfactory for Black. game for Black in Buchal - Chernin, San
1-0 B e rn a d i n o 1 9 9 2 . T h e s e t wo va r ia t io n s
clearly illustrate the advantage of having
the bishop on f8 it makes the later ... c6-c5
779 B06 very much easier. ]
Luther,Thomas 8...a5+ 9.c3 g4
Gurevich,Mikhail [ Gurevich slightly varies his treatment from
Cappelle la Grande (France) (3) 1998 his game against Sepp from Brugge 1995.
[Nigel Davies] O n t h a t o c c a s i o n h e p l a y e d 9...c7
and obta ine d a good ga me a f te r 10.e2
1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.c3 c6 4.f4 d5 5.e5 g4 11.0-0 f5 12.f2 e6 13.b4 d7
h5 6.f3 h6 7.e3 b6 14.c5 b6 15.b1 xf3 16.xf3 c4
[ In Khachian - Minasian, Armenian Ch., 17.e2 b6 18.d3 a5 , initiating
Yerevan 1999 Black rejected this automatic counterplay on the queenside. Luther had
attack against the b2 pawn and instead no doubt studied this game and come up
c h o s e t o d e v e l o p h i s g a m e w i t h 7...b6 with an improvement Gurevich in turn shows
, introducing the possibility of developing his little curiosity about what it might be. ]
bis h op with . .. B a 6 a n d le n d in g gre a t e r 10.c5 f5
support to a later ...c6-c5. The game [ Or 10...c7 11.h3 f5 12.f2 xf3
continued 8.d3 f5 9.0-0 xd3 10.xd3 13.xf3 b6 14.b3 h4 15.d3 e6 16.0-0
e6 11.e2 e7 12.c4 f8 13.cxd5 cxd5 b7 17.e2 a5 18.d2 e7 19.f3 c8
14.ac1 d7 15.c2 a5 16.fc1 a6 20.fc1 ( After 20.e1 Black defends the h-
17.a3 f5 18.d2 g7 19.g3 xg3 pawn with d8 ) 20...a6 21.c4 c7
20.hxg3 a4 21.e3 b5 22.c6 b7 22.b3 f8 23.c2 g7 24.e1 d8
23.h4 hc8 24.xc8 xc8 25.xc8 25.c1 a4 26.bxa4 xa4 27.b1 dxc4
xc8 26.xb5 xh4 27.gxh4 c4! 28.xc4 d5 29.b3 1/2-1/2, Bologan V. -
28.a5 ( 28.xc4 dxc4 followed by ...Nc7- Badea B., Romania 1999 Ch Romania ]
d5 would bring about a complete blockade.) 11.f2 e6 12.b3 b6
28...c7 29.h2 d3 30.g1 c4 [ I suspect that either 12...c7 or even ]
31.c5 b5 32.f2 e2 33.g3 xb2 [ 12...d8 would be better. ]
34.e1 xd4 35.b4 f2 36.f8+ h7 13.h3 xf3 14.xf3 h4 15.d3 d7
37.xf7+ h8 38.f6+ h7 39.f7+ 16.0-0 e7 17.ab1 f8 18.d2 g7
with a draw by perpetual check. Minasian's 19.e2 a5 20.b4 c7
treatment is very interesting. ] [ And not 20...xa2 21.a1 b2 22.xf5
[ Black's other possibility is an immediate gxf5 23.d3 followed by 24.Rfb1. ]
7...g4 , which is actually a move I quite like. 21.f3 b5? 22.a4 Suddenly Black is in
786
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
terrible trouble W hite threatens to come in though this plan may be better left on the
down the a-file but when Black opposes rooks drawing board) 7.f3 f6 8.e2 0-0 9.h3
he can no longer defend h4. In view of this his c5 10.0-0 b8 11.e5 d7 12.exd6 exd6
last move looks like a serious mistake. a6 13.a2 b5 14.axb5 xb5 15.e4
23.axb5 axb5 24.a1 b7 25.fc1 xa1 and White was better in Antunes - Davies,
26.xa1 a8 27.xa8 xa8 28.xf5 gxf5 Portugal 1985 ]
29.e1 W inning a pawn for nothing. h8 [ Black can transpose into a Pirc with 5...f6
30.xh4 xh4 31.xh4 h6 32.g3+ f8 6.h3 0-0 etc. ]
33.f3 b6 34.g5 h5 35.e1 a4 6.d2 b7
36.h2 e8 37.g3 e7 38.d2 e8 [ In the game the bishop would have been
39.f3 g6+ 40.h2 h5 41.e1 h4 useful on its original diagonal, which
42.d3 e7 43.c1 f8 44.b3 e8 suggest s it m ight be be tte r to de lay it s
45.a5 d7 46.e3 c7 47.g3 xg3+ d e v e l o p m e n t w i t h 6...d7 and just set
48.xg3 xc3 49.h4 d7 50.h5 e8 about preparing ...c7-c5. ]
51.xc6 f8 52.f3 g7 53.g4 fxg4+ 7.h4 f6 8.f3 c5 9.d5 c7
54.xg4 f5+ 55.g5 e4+ 56.h4 d2 [ 9...h5 is well worth considering. I usually
57.g3 h6 58.d8 xh5 59.xe6 b3 like to encourage W hite to advance his
60.f3 a1 61.c7 c2 62.e6 xd4+ pawns, but in this case my position starts to
63.g3 c6 64.xd5 g6 65.h4 g7 look very dodgy. ]
66.h5 d4 67.e7 f7 68.g5 e6+ 10.g4 h5 11.g5 fd7 12.f4 0-0 13.ge2
69.xf5 g7+ 70.e5 e8 71.f5 g7 b5! It's now or never. Given time White would
72.c7 play Ne2-g3, Bf1-e2 and then sacrifice on h5.
1-0 14.axb5 b6 15.g3 e6 16.dxe6 fxe6
17.h3 e7 18.e2 d5 19.xh5?!
Tempting but unsound.
780 B06 [ White should have played simply 19.exd5
Manca,Federico 2393 exd5 20.0-0 after which d4 can be met by
Davies,Nigel R 2515 21.d2 xe2 22.cxe2 axb5 23.xa8
Open Saint Vincent ITA (2) 07.02.1999 xa8 24.f5! etc. ]
[Nigel Davies] 19...gxh5 20.xh5 8d7 21.e5 f5!
Giving up the exchange to slow the pace of
Against 4.Be3 I have played 4...a6 exclusively. W hite's attack. 22.xf5 exf5 23.g6 d4
The idea is that Black will expand on the 24.h7+ f8 25.g1 dxc3 26.g5 e4
queenside with ...b7-b5, ...Nb8-d7, and ...c5- 27.bxc3 c4 28.xa6 xa6 29.bxa6 xe3
c5 whilst leaving the king's knight at home to 30.h5 xe5
p re ve n t B e 3 - h 6 . Ma n y W h it e 's p re f e r t o 0-1
p r e ve n t t h is p la n wi t h 5 . a 4 , t h o u g h t h i s
reduces W hite's options in that queenside
castling is unlikely. 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 781 B06
d6 4.e3 a6 5.a4 Martin del Campo,Roberto 2420
[ For 5.d2 see Szalanczy - Davies ] Hoang Canh,Huan 2363
5...b6 1st WMSG Rapid Team rapid (8) 16.10.2008
[ I've also played 5...c6 but I'm not sure [John Watson]
that Black's position is very good after 6.d5
( 6.f3 g4 7.e2 e5 equalises 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.f4 a6 5.f3
c o m f o r t a b l y .; In Haba - Davies, Polanica b5 6.e3 b7 7.d3 d7 This is the main
Zdroj 1989 I obtained interesting counterplay l i n e a f t e r 4 f 4 . 8.a4 This move occurs in
after 6.h3 e5 7.f3 exd4 8.xd4 f6 various places in Tiger's book, but I think not
9.g3 0-0 10.g2 d7 11.de2 b5!? etc. ) in this precise position.
6...a7!? (Hoping to support a later ... b7-b5 [ There is a note on 8.e5 in the Archives
by using the square created by 4...a6!, game Kosten-Hague. ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
18.f1 with the better chances thanks to B) 9...d7 I think this blocks in Black's
the extra material, Godena, M-Carlsen,M/ pieces which can lead to a passive
Claude Pecaut Mem, Taormina 2003. ] p o sit io n . Fo r i n st a n ce : 10.0-0 c7
8...f6 11.a4 0-0 12.g5 White has smoothly
[ 8...c5 9.e3 the threat of Nb5 in various developed his pieces and is no probing
l i n e s g i v e s W h i t e a s l i g h t i n i t i a t i v e a6 for weaknesses. In contrast, Black is still
( 9...f6 10.b5 e6 11.xa7 waiting to deploy his pieces on the
re wa r d s W h it e wit h a p a wn) 10.e2 queenside f6 13.e1 d8 14.e2 e6
( 10.b5! xd1+ 11.xd1 axb5 12.xc5 15.ad1 gave White e much better
gives White the advantage) 10...f6 11.0-0 chances due to his active pieces, Malbran,
0-0 12.h3 b6 13.b3 xb3 14.axb3 c6 G-Alonso,S/Escobar 2004. ]
15.d4 c7 16.c4 b7 with roughly equal 9...0-0 10.xd5 xd5 It is too easy to say
chances, Braun,V-Werner,D/Werfen Essen that the ending is equal because White can
2002. ] still mix things by taking on a6. However, I
9.b3 think Black should be content with such a
[ 9.b5+ tame reaction by White. 11.c4 b6
A) 9...d7 Black is content to offer to [ 11...ac7 is equal. ]
exchange White's active piece 12.xa6 bxa6 13.0-0 d7 the doubled a-
A1) 10.xd7+ xd7 11.0-0 0-0 pawns might be a pain but at least Black has
12.e2 the queen comes to e2 in order semi-open lines for his rooks such as the b-file
to co-ordinate the rooks and support the 14.e1 e6 15.f4 fc8 16.ad1 a5 17.e2
p r o s p e c t o f N e 5 d5 ( 12...c5 a4 18.a3 White stops the advance of the b-
is worth considering) 13.c4 dc7 pawn but now the c4 square is inviting for the
( 13...f6!? ) 14.d1 f6 15.e3 e5 black knight now that b2-b3 is no longer a
16.b5 e7 17.xa7 White picks up a problem. a6 19.h4 a7 20.h5 c4 21.h6
pawn but Black is relying on rapid Th e pa wn o n h6 m igh t he lp f u t ure tric k s
kingside pawn expansion to grab the associated with backrank mate but on the
in it ia t ive e4 18.e1 ( 18.d4 fe8 other hand Black might view it as a potential
19.e1 e6 20.b5 xd4 21.xd4 target in the long run. f8 22.c1 b7
f5 gives Black sufficient compensation 23.e5 xe5 24.xe5 c5
f or t he p awn) 18...f5 19.b5 e6 [ I like 24...f6 to push back white's pieces:
20.ac1 b4 21.a3 c6 22.f4 g5 25.ee1 e5 26.f3 g5 27.d2 f7
23.g3 gxf4 24.gxf4 f6 25.d5 g6+ favours Black ]
26.g2 h4 gave Black compensation 25.xc5 xc5 26.g5 e8 27.d2 d7
for the pawn and he eventually won, 28.f3 xd2 29.xd2 White would argue he
Krupkova, P-Jirovsky,M/CZE 1999.; has a passed c-pawn and the better position
A2) 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 ad8 12.g5 but this is equalled by the influential pair of
g4 ( 12...h6!? offers equal chances) bishops c6 30.f1 f5 31.f3 b5+
13.xa6 ( 13.xe7 xf3 14.xf6 xg2 32.e1 d6 33.f6 f4 34.g5 d6
15.fe1 h3 16.f3 xf6 17.xf6 c7 35.f6 c6 both players are busy
is roughly equal) 13...bxa6 14.xe7 manoeuvring when one of them should be
e4 Black looks to be trouble but he is offering a draw 36.d4 xf3 37.gxf3 e5
banking on white's queen being 38.e3 f7 39.d2 e6 40.d3 f8
misplaced 15.e3 fe8 16.a3 d6 41.g5 d5 42.c4+ e6 43.e3 f4
17.xa6 the queen takes the doubled 44.b6 xh6 At last the h-pawn falls and
pawn but it was fairly useless anyway now is all downhill for White. 45.d8 f8
c4 18.b3 xe3 19.fxe3 xe3 46.e4 c5 47.a5 h5 48.c3 d6
20.ac1 xc3! 21.c6 c5+ 22.h1 0-1
xc1 23.xd8 xf1+ 24.xf1 xf3
25.gxf3 d5 0-1 Large,L-Berkvens,J/
Cappelle la Grande 2001.;
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
because Black's might be useful in attack: [ 8.c3 0-0 9.g3 c5 10.e3 g4
32...e8! ] Allen - McNab, London 1994, with
33.xd8 xb2+ 34.d1 xd8 35.d5 f6 excellent coun terplay f or Black in b ot h
36.e2 b6 37.f4 c3 38.e4 d4 cases. ]
[ 38...g1! was even more precise: 39.f5 8...f5 9.c3 0-0 10.b3 d7 11.g4 d6
gxf5 40.xf5 e3+ 41.f1 xh2 12.f2 c5! Counterplay! McDonald tries to
with an easy win. ] keep his grip on the position but his central
39.f5 gxf5 40.xf5 e3+ 41.f1 bulwarks are eventually swept asunder....
[ 41.d1 l e a d s t o m a t e a f t e r c3 13.e3 b6 14.d5 b7 15.xb7 xb7
Incidentally, the identical mating net 16.e2 cxd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xd4 e5
occurred in Medina - Botvinnik. An 19.fxe5 e8 20.0-0-0 g5+ 21.b1 xe5
amazing coincidence! ] 22.f3 bc5 23.b4? This is a pretty horrible
41...g1+ 42.e2 xh2+ 43.d1 g1+ thing to do to your queenside. McDonald must
44.e2 e3+ 45.f1 xg3 46.h7+ f8 have thought that his next move was strong.
0-1 a4 24.c6 b5! 25.xd7 xc3+ 26.c2
xd1 27.xd1 e3 Threatening all sorts of
nasties against White's loose pieces. 28.d2
784 B06 ac8+ 29.c6 e6
McDonald,Neil R 0-1
McNab,Colin Anderson
(Open) Hastings (England) 1993
[Nigel Davies] 785 B06
Meijers,Viesturs 2486
1.e4 g6 2.d4 d6 3.c3 c6 4.f4 d5 5.f3 Kengis,Edvins 2537
An interesting alternative to the habitual 5.e5. ch-LAT Riga LAT (6) 16.05.2005
White wants to use his pawn on f4 to give him [Andrew Martin]
a strong grip on e5, and hopes that the open
nature of the position will make Black's loss of 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3 a6!
time (...d7-d6-d5) more significant. I think I can put a firm exclamation mark by
[ A similar treatment was adopted in Plaskett - this move now. 4..a6 is the system which best
McNab, Southend 1999 when White played deals with the '150 attack'. Queenside
5.h3!? (this cuts out the possibility of a later counterplay is prepared without delay. I still
...Bg4 by Black) dxe4 6.xe4 g7 7.f3 have a soft spot for 4...c6 that is well playable
f6 8.xf6+ xf6 ( 8...exf6!? is interesting, too, but Black has to be very precise. 5.a4
aiming f or a later ... f 6-f 5 and stopping Already W hite has been talked out of his
White's knight from coming to e5.) 9.e3 automatic kingside attack. He will now have to
0-0 10.c3 d7 11.e2 b6?! ca st le sh o rt . f6 So Black isn't too worried
( Black should play for ...c6-c5, say with anymore about the prospect of Qd2, Bh6 etc.
11...b6 ) 12.c4 and enjoyed a nice space 6.e2
advantage. ] [ Of course 6.d2 is still a force to be
5...dxe4 6.xe4 g7 7.c4 reckoned with. The following snippet shows
[ 7.c3 f6 8.xf6+ xf6 9.c4 0-0 10.0-0 h o w B l a c k m i g h t t a c k l e t h i s i d e a : 0-0
g4 11.e3 e6 was comfortable for Black ( 6...g4 7.g5 h6 8.h4 leaves the
in Komljenovic - Badea, Nereto 1998. In Knight looking misplaced.) 7.f3 e5 8.dxe5
this example Black managed to develop his dxe5 9.xd8 xd8 10.c4 c6 11.0-0 h6
light-squared bishop on a good square. ] 12.h3 e8 13.fd1 d4 14.xd4 exd4
7...h6 8.h3 15.d5 e6 ( 15...c6 16.b6 b8
[ Other possibilities are 8.e5 d7 9.0-0 is p la ya b le .) 16.b3 ( 16.xd4 xd4
0-0 10.c3 f6 11.e1 xe4 12.xe4 17.xd4 c6 18.e7+ g7! leaves White
d6 13.f3 f5 14.e2 c5 Borriss - Hickl, looking at 19.xd8 xd8 20.xc6 bxc6
Germany (Bundesliga) 1993 ] 21.xa6 d2 as his best shot. No wonder
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
he didn't go in for this line!) 16...f8= [ 15.c4 xf3 16.gxf3 a1+ 17.c1 h6
Lautier, J-Tkachiev, V/ Bordeaux 2000 (20) ] 18.e2 h5 19.c3 f4 20.xf4 xf4
6...0-0 7.h3N 21.c2 xc1+ 22.xc1 xc1 23.xc1
[ 7.d2 g4 time-consuming. ( 7...c6! xh3 ]
8.f3 e5= ) 8.xg4 xg4 9.h3 d7 [ 15.f1 Perhaps this is best, blocking the
10.h6 xh6 11.xh6 c6 12.f3 f6 back-rank skewer. xf3 16.gxf3 a1+
13.d2 b5 14.axb5 axb5 15.0-0 b4 17.d2 xh3! 18.xh3 xf1 19.e2
16.d5 b8 17.b3 e6 18.e3 d5 a1= ]
19.exd5 exd5 20.xd5 xh3 21.e3 [ 15.d3 xf3 16.gxf3 a1+ 17.c1 h6
c8 Gaponenko, I-Socko, M/Plovdiv 2003 18.e2 h5 is similar to the first line. ]
wasn't really satisfactory for Black, but I 15...a1+ 16.c1 xf3 17.xf3 h6
have indicated the point at which he can 18.e2 a6! he obviously overlooked this
improve. ] move when taking on b5 for the second time.
[ 7.f3 is the straightforward way: b6 8.0-0 19.c4 xc4 20.c2 xe2 21.xe2 xe4
b7 9.d2 e8 10.f3 c6 11.e2 d7 Game over. 22.f4?
12.h3 e6 13.c3 ad8 14.b4 h6 15.c1 [ 22.c4 xf2 23.f1 xc1+ ]
e7 16.b3 h7 17.b5 At last White 22...g3 23.e1 xf4 After 8 dxe5 I am sure
breaks the deadlock. b8 18.g3 c5 that Meijers was expecting to shake hands at
19.e5 dxe5 20.xb7 exd4 21.bxa6 dxe3 an early stage. 12...b5 introduced
Black can be satisfied after 22.fxe3 d5 ] complications into a situation where it
7...e5 A move on the flank deserves a blow in appeared that there were no complications to
the centre! 8.dxe5 be found and W hite just cracked. As far as
[ 8.f3 exd4 9.xd4 e8 gives White the the opening goes, you can be sure that 4...a6!
thorny problem of how to defend e4.10 Bf3 is the way to go for Black.
isn't ideal but may well be better than 10 f3 0-1
which doesn't mix at all with h2-h3. Meijeres
does not wish to have to think about this
and takes on e5, which cannot really worry 786 B06
Black. ] Mekhitarian,Krikor Sevag 2550
8...dxe5 9.xd8 xd8 10.d1 xd1+ Ahmadinia,Ebrahim 2436
11.xd1 c6 11th WUCC Men (6) 08.09.2010
[ 11...e6 12.f3 c6 13.c1 d8 [Gawain Jones]
14.d1 looks very equal indeed and I guess
if Black is playing for a win he has to try to 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.f4 a6 5.f3
find another role for his Bishop on c8 b5 6.d3 d7 7.e5 c5 This is a critical line
something which will lead to a more o f t h e s o c a l l e d T i g e r ' s M o d e r n . 8.e4
unbalanced position and not just trading on The computer's top suggestion.
the d file. ] [ 8.exd6 is considered dubious by Tiger.
12.f3 b5!? Quite unexpected. 13.axb5 exd6 ( 8...cxd4!? 9.d5 a7
[ In view of what follows, maybe 13.d3 b4 is an interesting alternative.) 9.a4 b4
14.d5 would have shown more common- 10.e4 c7 11.f5!? d5 12.eg5 e7
sense. ] 13.e2 f6 14.dxc5 0-0 15.fxg6
13...axb5 14.xb5 d4! Gomez, J (2527)-Machin Rivera, M (2229)
[ Perhaps Meijers only thought about Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 when I like xg6!
14...a1+ 15.c1 h6 16.d2 d4 16.0-0 e8 17.f2 g4 18.g3 xc5+
wh e n W h it e is d e f e n d in g h im se l f a f t e r ( 18...xg3 19.hxg3 f8 might be
17.c4 or ( 17.d3 )] simplest. ) 19.h1 a7 and Black's activity
15.e2? White has been completely thrown must promise him the better chances. ]
by the last move. He wants to maintain the [ 8.g5 is given an exclamation mark by
integrity of his pawn structure but ends up in T i g e r a n d i s h i s p r i n c i p a l l i n e . h6
an awful tangle. ( 8...cxd4!? is also considered. )
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W hite has now taken full control of the 10.0-0-0?! A case of castling' into it'. White
po sition b u t on e mo re su rp rise is lef t u s should be very careful about committing his
before the end of this game. e7 35.xd6? king to the queenside too early. b5 11.h3
[ 35.xe7! xd5 36.xc7 a2 37.xc8 xf3 12.xf3 h4! This time the blockade
xf2 is hard to analyse in time trouble but works, slowing down W hite's kingside play
38.cc1 leaves White clearly better as the b whilst preparing to take pot-shots at White's
pawn takes some stopping. ] king. 13.e2 f5 14.f2 c5 15.dxc5 xc5
35...xc6 36.xc6 xc6 37.bxc6 xc6 16.xc5 xc5 17.d4 b6 18.b1 b4
38.d5 c7 39.fxe5 fxe5 40.b2?! 19.xf5 gxf5 20.f2 a4 21.xb6 xb6
And White starts to drop the other half point. Black is better in this endgame, and we get to
Instead see some very fancy technique by Chernin.
[ 40.h3 c4 41.b5 c1 42.xc1 xc1+ 22.d4 a5 23.c4 bxc3 24.b3 b8 25.c1
43.g1 e4 44.c5 g5 should be a c4 26.a1 d2 27.xc3 xf3 28.xf3
draw. ] g8 29.f2 d7 30.a4 b5 31.c2 g3
40...c2 41.d3?! The knight is more active 32.b4 xb4 33.xa5 b7 34.a8 e3
here but also more vulnerable. 35.a3 d4 36.a4 e4 The weak pawns start
[ 41.d1 is a very passive option but White to drop. 37.d2 xf4 38.dxd4+ xd4
should hold the draw. ] 39.xd4+ c6 40.a2 b5 41.c4+ d5
41...d2 42.b3? And the final error. 42.xh4 xe5 43.a4 b8 44.c4 d5
[ 42.f3 c3 43.xe5 xe5 44.xe5 45.c3 f4 46.d3+ c4 47.f3 e5 48.a5
xf3 45.gxf3 xf2 46.d5 looks like it g8 49.f2 a8 50.c2+ d4 51.d2+
should be a draw, although I could of course e4 52.e2+ f5 53.b3 xa5 54.c4
be mistaken. ] a4+ 55.c3 d4 56.a2 d8 57.a4 f6
42...c3! 43.xc3 dxc3 44.e3 c2 45.c1 58.b4 c8+ 59.d3 g8 60.b2 e4+
xf2 46.g1 d2 A topsy-turvy game with 61.d4 d8+ 62.c3 e3 63.b5+ g6
chances missed by both sides but Black can 64.b4 g5 65.e4 f5 66.e7 f6 67.h7
be happy with his opening choice. e2 68.h6+ f7 69.h7+ f8
0-1 0-1
1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.c3 c6 4.f4 d5 5.e5 1.d4 g6 2.e4 g7 3.c3 c6 4.c4 d6
h5 In a closed position Black can afford the 5.f3 e6 6.ge2 The key position of this line.
luxury of playing long-term structural moves. Now Black has a choice between 6... Nf6 and
He is trying to set-up a complete blockade of 6...b5. f6 7.g5 bd7 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3
the kingside by controlling the f5 square the a5
idea behind ...h7-h5 is to inhibit a later g2-g4 [ 9...e7 is the alternative to the text, but
by White. 6.e2 White's most popular Bla ck h as a lso f a iled to e qu alis e he re :
choices are 6.Be3 and 6.Nf3, as illustrated by 10.ad1 h6 11.h4 e5 12.e3 e8
the next three games. 13.f4! exd4 14.xd4 xe4 15.xe7
[ White has also played 6.d3 but then h6 xd4+ 16.xd4 xc3 17.xc3 xe7
7.e3 b6 8.a4 a5+ 9.c3 f5 10.c5 18.xd6 The exchanges haven't made
e6 11.b4 c7 12.xf5 xf5 13.f2 a5 Black's defence easier. This endgame has
also gave Black counterplay in Ahn - Hickl, occurred in two of GM Nunn's games: f8
Eupen 1994 ] An attempt at an improvement over However
6...h6 7.f3 g4 8.e3 e6 9.d2 d7 it doesn't help much: ( 18...g7 19.f5! gxf5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
20.xf5 f8 21.f3 e6 22.g3+ h8 41.g4 e3 42.f8 h6 43.f5 c1+
23.e4! with a huge edge, Nunn - Ehlvest, 44.h2 Mate is unavoidable, so Black
Skelleftea, 1989.) 19.d8! b6 20.a4! b7 resigned. A very good example of how to play
( 20...a5 21.fd1 b7 22.xa8 xa8 with three minor pieces against a queen.
23.d8 b7 24.b8 g7 25.e4! 1-0
is a ls o v e ry b a d f o r B la ck .) 21.d6!
threatening f4-f5, with a clear advantage,
Nunn - Fauland, Wien, 1991. ] 789 B06
[ I n m y o p i n i o n , 9...b5 is worthy of Motylev,Alexander 2630
consideration. ] Chernyshov,Konstantin 2540
10.h4 e5 11.ad1 exd4 12.xd4 e5 56th ch-RUS Krasnoyarsk (1) 2003
13.e2 b6!? Intending 14...Ba6, with ...c6-c5- [Andrew Martin]
c4 to f ollow. But W hite finds excellent
resources. 14.f4! a6 15.fxe5! The Queen 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 a6!? I must admit
sacrifice is forced but very strong. a liking for this cheeky move which commits
[ Otherwise White doesn't even have equality, Black to nothing and at the same time offers
for example: 15.d2? xf1 16.fxe5 dxe5 ] W hite to reveal his hand. It's particularly
15...xe2 Black has to accept the sacrifice. i n t e r e s t i n g wh e n W h i t e t r i e s t o p l a y a n
[ 15...dxe5 is bad in view of 16.xc6 xc3 Austrian Attack e.g. 4 f4 b5!. Black
17.e7+ h8 18.f2! xe4 19.bxc3 sometimes dispenses with ...d7-d6 altogether
xf2 20.xf2 with a decisive advantage. ] in favour of rapid Queenside play. The extra
16.exf6 xf1 tempo changes the game. As far as I know
[ 16...xd1 17.fxg7 xg7 18.f6+ the inventive Norwiegian Grandmaster Einar
is no better for Black. ] Gausel was the f irst t o try this idea . 4.h4
17.fxg7 xg7 18.xf1 Although Black has a White is provoked and plays a very menacing
material advantage he has difficult problems move indeed. Perhaps this is the only
to solve. White dominates the dark squares effective way to treat 3...a6 more or less with
ae8?! After this move the White initiative disdain! Meanwhile another recent game
progresses unimpeded. tends to suggest that if White DOESN'T act
[ 18...c5? 19.f6+ g8 20.a4 incisively, Black will obtain a reasonable
/\\ Nc6+- ] position:
[ 18...e5 should be played, after 19.f6+ [ 4.f3 d6 5.d3 d7 6.g5 h6 7.e3
xf6 20.xf6 xf6 21.xc6 a position with c6 8.d2 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.0-0-0 b5
very unusual balance of forces arises. In my 11.g4!? e7 12.h4 gf6 13.h2 b7
opinion White is better, but the fight is still 14.f3 0-0-0 15.f1 c5= This is not such
on. Black should try to play ... f7-f5 opening a bad position, but the psychological
files for his rooks. g7 ] pressure of playing White sometimes gets to
19.f6+ g8 20.xc6 c5+ 21.d4 e5 you. Loidl must have been feeling down
22.d1 Despite the approximate material about the result of the opening ( White has
equality Black's position is totally lost. White nothing) and continues to play insipidly.
can gradually strengthen his position while Result: Black gradually takes over. 16.g3
Black has no play in return. h6 23.h3 fe8 fd7 17.f2 e6 18.e2 dc5 19.h5
24.h1 h5 25.f1 c8 26.f3 f8 xd1+ 20.xd1 f8 21.f1 c7 22.ce2
27.d5 xd5 28.xd5 c7 29.f5 h7 e7 23.b1 d7 24.c3 g5 25.xg5
30.e3 d7 31.c3 h5 32.f6 The rest is xg5 26.ce2 b6 27.xb6 xb6
just agony. Sooner or later White will win the 28.g1 d7 29.g2 c5 30.1e2 ce6
f 7 - p a wn o b t a i n i n g a d e c i s i ve a t t a c k . b5 31.c1 c7 32.d2 b4 33.d1 a5
33.f1! Beginning the knight's transfer to the 34.e1 a6 35.f2 d8 36.xd8 xd8
g5 square via d2 and f3. c7 34.d2 b4 37.e3 e7 38.f1 f6 39.hxg6 fxg6
35.xb4 xc2 36.c3 g5 37.b3 d3 40.g2 b5 41.f1 c5 42.g2 ge6
38.f3 g8 39.xf7 g7 40.xh5 xe4 43.f1 g5 44.f2 b7 45.b3 bc5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
46.e3 f4 47.f2 xe2 48.xe2 a4 Having started sharply, Chernyslov should
49.f1 a3 50.c4 h5 51.gxh5 gxh5 have been more consistent. ]
52.f5 ce6 53.g3 c5 54.h2 d4 15.h2 d5 16.f2! Now I start to like
55.xd4 cxd4 56.f1 h4 57.c4 h5 White. Those Kingside pawns give White a
58.g2 f6 59.e6 f4 60.f2 h7 big advantage in space and a greater choice
61.h3 g5 62.g2 h3 63.f1 xf3 of middlegame plans. f5 17.xf5 xf5
64.xh3 d2 65.g2 b1 0-1 Loidl, F- 18.xf5 gxf5 19.e6! Very good indeed! This
Ganaus, H/Open, Vienna AUT 2003 ] sharp advance causes havoc! fxe6
4...d5!? Black's opening play is very novel-on [ 19...f6 20.d2! fxg5 21.fxg5 0-0-0
those grounds alone he deserves a better 22.f3 doesn't really help Black. He still
fate! Alas... I'm reminded of the strange line 1 can't get his pieces out! ]
e4 g6 2 d4 Bg7 3 Nc3 d5!? and if 4 Nxd5 then 20.f3 e5 21.xe5 e6 Chernyshov tries
4.. .c6 or 4...e6 or 4 cxd5 Nf6 5 Bc4 Nbd7.... his best, but a short phase of simple, effective
The Modern Defence remains one of the last developm en t now f ollows whe re Mo tyle v
areas where original play can still flourish. shows who is in charge-complete charge!
5.xd5 22.c4 e7 23.e3 g8 24.d1 g6
[ Presumably 5.exd5 would be met by f6 25.xg6 xg6 26.f3 d8 27.xd8+
6.c4 b5 7.b3 b7 when Black has xd8 28.d2+ c7 29.d4 A calm move,
made excellent use of his extravagant third p la n n in g im p ro ve m e n t wit h B e 5 +, wh ic h
move. ] emphasizes to Black how helpless he is. e7
5...c6 6.e3 xd4 7.xd4 xd4 8.h5 30.c5 a5 31.a3 c8 32.b4 a4 33.e5 d8
d7 9.f4 g7 34.e3 e7 35.d4 d8 36.d3
[ 9...gf6 10.hxg6 fxg6 11.e5 d5 White improves at leisure. If nothing happens
12.xd5 cxd5 13.f3 c5 14.d3 f8 he will wander across to c4 with the King, play
15.e2 f5 16.e3 looks better for White. b4-b5 and win the a pawn. c7 37.xc7
I just think that Chernyshov didn't want to xc7 38.d6 The King heads for the bright
surrender the h file so keeps the option open lights on d4 and e5.
of ... hxg6 should White capture. ] 1-0
10.e5 b6 11.g4! He is trying to cramp all
t h e l if e o u t o f B la ck' s ga m e . O n e wo u l d
assume that Black could break up the pawn 790 B06
chain i.e. 11...g5, but it turns out to be not so Nachev,S 2429
easy: h6 Khismatullin,Denis 2599
[ 11...g5 12.f5 ( 12.f3! looks good gxf4 Open Moscow RUS (5) 31.01.2007
13.f5 xf5 14.gxf5 h6 15.d3 d5 [John Watson]
16.g1 ) 12...xf5 13.gxf5 gxf4 14.xf4
d5 15.h6 f6! ] This game is a good demonstration of the
12.g5 f5 13.d3 power of Black's fianchettoed bishops. I've
[ I prefer 13.h6! which seems to fit in included just a fraction of the theory in the
perfectly with W hite's game plan. Black's notes. In fact, some of these lines have been
position is indeed congested: f8 14.d3 analysed rather deeply, which isn't quite the
xe3 15.xe3 d5 16.d2 One or other idea when one plays moves like ...g6 and ...
of the Black Bishops can be activated, but a6! Such is the computer-driven theoretical
not both! ] world. 1.d4 g6 2.e4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3
13...g3 14.h6 f8?! a6 5.f4 Hillarp-Persson calls this a 'very
[ How is the position after 14...xe5 15.fxe5 common move order'. By waiting a move for f4,
xh1 16.e2 d7 17.e4 xe5 18.xh1 White avoids the normal Pirc variation 4 f4
0-0 ? It's a mess, where one has to make a Nf6. b5 6.e2!? This move has been played
subjective decision. Many would have gone remarka bly of ten. O ne idea is to oppos e
f or this-Black solves his proble ms wit h bishops along the diagonal by Bf3, after which
development and has two, good extra pawns. e5 can gain in strength. The main alternative,
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
also played in a number of games, is 23.d5 xb2 24.ab1 e5 25.e3 c8!?
[ 6.f3 b7 (threatening ...b4) 7.d3 d7 [ 25...h8 with the idea ...Rg8 ]
8.e2 b4!? ( Tiger suggests this and 26.c1 a4 27.b2 a3 Black's centralized
appends considerable analysis. One of his minor pieces and the e- and g-files give him
games went 8...c5 9.dxc5 xc5 10.xc5! the advantage. The rest of the game is a little
xc3+! 11.bxc3 dxc5 12.e5 with some erratic, but Black's nice attack nets him the
advantage for White) 9.d1 gf6! 10.f2 point 28.a1 e7 29.c2 d7 30.d3
( 10.d2 c5 11.e5 d5 12.e6!? fxe6 xa1 31.xa1 fe8 32.df4 f6 33.ab1
13.g5 xd4!? 14.xh7 f8 15.xf8 e5 34.d3 g7 35.df4 f6! Clearing
xf8 16.xg6 c8 , and Tiger says that the e-file and contemplating ...Ng4. 36.f3
he's sa tis f ie d a s B lack. At any ra te it's h8!?
exciting! ) 10...c5 11.c3 bxc3 12.bxc3 0-0 [ 36...g4 with the idea 37.g3? d4+! ]
13.0-0 e8! (versus e5-e6) 14.ab1 c8 37.g3 f7
, again with a double-edged game, although [ 37...g4! But Black dominates anyway. ]
I really prefer White this time. ] 38.f1 e4 39.h3 g4 40.c1 e5
6...b4!? Ponomariov's move. Perhaps better is [ 40...g7 41.d2 b2! 42.c2? xe2
[ 6...d7 7.f3 e6!? ( 7...e5! is Tiger's 43.xe2 b1+ 44.c1 xe2 ]
p r e f e r e n c e) 8.h3 e7 9.0-0 b7 41.b3 g6 42.g3 g8 43.f2 e5
with a solid position, A Sokolov-Bricard, 44.g3 xc4 45.e1 xf4 46.xf4 d3
Val d'Isere 2002. ] 47.xd6
7.d5!? A novelty! [ Also losing is 47.d2 xe1 48.xe1
[ Tiger makes a case for 7.a4 ] f6 ]
[ 7.b1 b7 8.f3 f6 9.d3 bd7 47...xe1 48.h5 Looking toward Qe5+
10.d2 0-0= Galkin-Ponomariov, Laussane xg2+ 49.h1 g6 50.e5+ g8 51.f4
2001. ] g4 52.h5 xh5 53.xh5 g1+ 54.xg1
7...a5 8.f2! f3+
[ 8.f3?? e6 traps the knight! ] 0-1
8...b7 9.f3 e6
[ 9...xd5 10.exd5 gives White space and a
bind, although his pawns aren't terribly well 791 B06
coordinated with his bishops ] Naiditsch,A 2718
10.e3 d7 11.e2 f5! Light squares! This Rapport,R 2691
blockades White's pawns (stopping f5), and 76th Tata Steel Masters (11.1) 26.01.2014
contains a dynamic idea. 12.exf5 xf3 [Tom Rendle]
13.fxe6 b7 14.exd7+ xd7 White has an
extra pawn, but Black's compensation should 1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.f3 c6
be obvious. He has two bishops, light square 5.e3 c7 In some ways it's refreshing to
control and useful central files. 15.0-0 f6 see Rapport playing such an interesting mix
16.c4 0-0! 17.g3 of openings in Elite events but against the top
[ 17.d5 e4! 18.c2 e7! ] players in the world this is obviously a big risk.
17...ae8 18.f5?! Perhaps not objectively [ 5...f6 6.d2 0-0 looks risky but in
correct. Still, it is hard to counter Black's Jonkman-Iordachescu it worked out well.
growing initiative. e4 19.d3?! You can find the game with analysis in the
[ 19.xe4 xe4 20.d5 gxf5 hits b2 and archives but I wonder if White should settle
threatens to attack with ...f4. Black has for a slight edge here with 7.h3 bd7
clearly won the opening. ] 8.d3 e5 9.0-0 ]
19...gxf5 20.d5 f7 21.f4 c5 [ 5...d7 6.d2 b5 is a more standard way
White's position is on the verge of collapse. to play this line and I covered this in Negi-
22.ge2 a6!? A good move, although Gashimov ]
[ 22...xf2! 23.xf2 cxd4 prepares ...Be4 6.d2 d7 7.0-0-0 b5 8.e5!? d5?!
or ...Re4. ] I can only think that Rapport missed
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
16.xf5 gxf5 17.g3 xe3 18.xe3 it's only been played a couple times.
f4 19.h7+ h8 20.d3 dxe5 [ 9.g4 has been White's most common and
21.dxe5 f6 22.g8 f5 23.e6 e8 was covered in the archives by Andrew
24.xf5 1-0 Ganguly, S (2627) -Svidler, Martin in Baki, P (2092) -Ianov, V (2381)
P (2739) Ningbo 2011.) 10.d3 b6 Paks 2005 ]
11.f5 gxf5 12.exf5 c4 13.e1 xe3 [ While 9.h3 has also been played a lot but
14.xe3 h6 15.g5 b7 16.b1 doesn't make as much sense when Black
g8 17.ce4 xe4 18.xe4 d5 still has control of g5. However White's plan
19.f3 d6 20.de1 d7 21.e2 is to drop the knight back to f2 when the
g4 22.b3 xg5 23.hxg5 c6 24.g6 lines aren't so different to 9. g4. e6 10.f2
af8 25.gxf7 xf7 26.e6 c7 e7 11.g4 d5!? 12.d3 c5! 13.xc5
27.xc6 1-0 Adams, M (2750)-Hodgson, xc5 14.dxc5 a5 with a very complex
J (2595) Southend 2001. ] game. Gaponenko, I (2437) -Hillarp Persson,
6...b7 T (2548) Reykjavik 2006 ]
[ We examined 6...d7 recently in Gopal, G [ 9.d5 was met with the odd looking h5!?
(2572)-Smirin, I (2657) New Delhi 2012. ] which worked out pretty well for Black after
7.f3 d7 8.h4 h6 Normally people play with 10.h3 c5 11.dxc6 xc6 12.d5 gf6
...h5 but this is a critical alternative. Black 13.xf6+ xf6 14.g5 c8 with a roughly
doesn't cede the g5 square and thus it's not level middlegame. Koziak, V (2475)-Bezold,
such a simple position for White to play. M (2455) Neuhausen 2004. ]
[ 8...c5 is a rare choice as it does nothing to [ One sample line we played out was 9.b1
prevent White's threat of h5. 9.dxc5 xc5 gf6 10.h3 c8 11.f2 c5 12.e5 dxe5
This position has been reached a couple of 13.dxc5 c7 14.fe4 when perhaps White
t im e s b u t f o r s o m e r e a so n n o o n e h a s has fractionally better chances but Black
played the logical 10.h5 which feels like it can't be unhappy either. ]
must be good for White. ] 9...g5 10.ge2
[ 8...gf6 is a little more common here than [ 10.d5 was played earlier this year in the
against the immediate h4 for some reason. only other game to reach this position .
A) 9.h6 was seen in a high rated However this is rather committal and
encounter but didn't challenge Black xh6 following e5 11.g3 ( 11.f4 immediately is
10.xh6 e5 ( 10...b4 11.ce2 c5 more critical although it's hard to believe
als o loo k s p ossib le b u t 12.e5 dxe5 that Black has too many issues after gxf4
13.dxe5 d5 14.e6 is very messy.) 11.d5 12.xf4 c5 ) 11...f6 12.f4 eg4 13.d4
e7 12.g4 b6 13.a3 fd7 14.ge2 b4 14.a4 c5 15.dxc6 xc6 16.xb4
c5 15.b1 0-0-0 16.c1 b8 17.b3 xe4 and Black had taken control and went
xb3 18.cxb3 f5 19.e3 fxe4 20.fxe4 on to win quickly. Nestorovic, L (2374)-
hf8 Here a draw was agreed Maze, S Chatalbashev, B (2570) Plovdiv 2012. ]
(2518)-Svidler, P (2765) Paris 2006.; 10...b6 This logical move looks best.
B) 9.g4 c5 ( 9...h5 10.g5 h7 11.d5 c5 [ Instead 10...b4 feels premature: 11.a4
12.dxc6 xc6 13.d4 xd4 14.xd4 a5 ( 11...b8 12.b3 also gives White an
resembles some sort of Dragadorf and edge. ) 12.c4! c6 13.c2 and White has
(therefore?)looks rather suspicious. strong central control while it's tough for
Spoelman, W (2424)-Koneru, H (2612) Black to generate counterplay. ]
W i j k a a n Z e e 2 0 0 8 .) 10.h5 g8 11.g3 e6 Taking possession of f5. The
W e don't trust this but already W hite's position now resembles a Hippo structure.
position is easier to play. 11.hxg6 hxg6 [ Again 11...b4 is too early. 12.b1 a5
12.dxc5 xc5 Heinemann, T (2450)- 13.f5 f6 14.d5 ]
Watson, W (2535) Germany 1998 when, 12.a3 Nanu cuts out ...b4 once and for all but
rather than 13.e5 13.g5 fd7 14.ge2 we feel this is probably inaccurate.
feels more comfortable for White. ] [ With 12.d3 White has decent chances at
9.h5 This looks rather logical but surprisingly retaining the advantage. e7 13.hf1 d7
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
14.b1 keeping Black under control pawns immediately should also be examined.
followed by a plan involving Nce2 and d5. [ 15.exf5 exf5 16.fxg5 ( 16.d3 g4
Oddly this position is almost zugzwang! is another unclear position where White may
Black has all his pieces on perfect squares have a small edge but it's certainly not clear.
and it's not easy to find him a move. Lashing Again we wouldn't mind having the Black
out with f5 ( Perhaps 14...g8 pieces with such good control over d5.)
is best although White could now exploit the 16...f4! 17.gxh6 fxe3 18.xe3 f6 19.b1
weakening of the h6 pawn with 15.f4!? gxf4 and W hite has three pawns for the piece
16.xf4 ) 15.d5! fxe4 16.fxe4 looks very and a safer king but it's not enough for us to
suspect. ] say he's definitely better. ]
12...e7 13.f2 Nanu waits. [ 15.fxg5!? is very interesting but looks to be
[ Breaking with 13.f4 is possible but gxf4 asking too much of W hite's position. f4!
14.xf4 d7 followed by long castling looks This was Nevednichy's point. 16.xf4 hxg5
fairly comfortable for Black. ] ( 16...e5?! 17.dxe5 hxg5 18.exd6 cxd6
13...f5 Risky. Nevednichy fights for the 19.xd6 xd6 20.xd6 xf2 21.c5!
initiative but weakens his own position in the and the complications have worked out well
process. f o r W h i t e .) 17.h6 xf4 18.e3 f8
[ 13...d7 was the safe option when we like 19.h5 g6 20.xf4 gxf4 21.h3 f6
Blac k 's po s it ion . His p ie ces all o ccu p y and Black must be at least fine. ]
good squares and there's a lot of dynamic 15...g4 16.d5!? The most dynamic way of
potential with various pawn breaks. ] playing the position.
14.f4 Nanu accepts the challenge and [ It's possible for White to wait with
suddenly the position becomes very concrete. s o m e t h i n g l i k e 16.b1 but it's not clear
[ 14.exf5 exf5 15.f4 was the alternative but what his plan is. Black can even try d5!?
following g4 16.d3 d7 we again ( 16...d7 is also possible when it's not
wouldn't be unhappy to be Black with his clear how White makes progress without the
light square control. ] d4-d5 break.) 17.e5 c4 and neither of us
14...0-0 We feel this is asking too much of would feel happy as White. ]
Black's position but it's still not 100% clear 16...exd5 Again Nevednichy goes for the
and we can't really call it an error. riskier of the two options. Again this may not
[ However 14...gxf4 is probably better be an error but af ter t his we switc h f ro m
15.xf4 ( 15.xf4 fxe4= is around level.) preferring Black's practical chances to
15...fxe4 Probably Black's best ( Although preferring White's.
h e c a n a l s o c o n s i d e r 15...0-0; and [ 16...fxe4! would have been a safer option.
15...e5!? ) 16.g4 g8 17.gxe4 xd4 17.dxe6 ( 17.xb6 cxb6 18.dxe6 d5
( 17...d7 18.xg7 xg7 19.f6+ f7 gives Black better chances with his bishop
20.xd7 xd7 21.xh6 g4 p a i r a n d h u g e c e n t r e .) 17...bd5
is also co mplicate d bu t 22.e2 xg2 when an interesting line runs 18.h4 xe3
23.hf1+ f6 24.d5! seems to promise 19.xe3 d5 20.xd5 xh4 21.e7 f7
W hite the better chances.; 17...f5!? 22.xc7 xe7 23.xa8 xa8 24.e2
could be best with a messy position.) 18.f4 and Black can hardly be worse. ]
xe3+ 19.xe3 f5 20.f3 ( 20.xd6+ 17.xb6 cxb6 18.xf5
xd6 21.xe6+ f8 22.xh6+ g7 [ 18.exf5 feels suspicious. Black could just
23.h8+ g8 and White can either draw transpose to the game while d4 19.ce2
with 24.Qh6+ or else play on with 24.d4 xf5 20.xf5 xf5 transposes to 19...d4. ]
although it's not clear he's better here.) 18...xf5
20...g3 21.f6+ f8 22.xb7 xf6 [ 18...xf5!? looks interesting but we think
23.h3 g7 24.d3 and the position is it's rather over-optimistic if W hite plays
still very complicated. ] a c c u r a t e l y : 19.exf5 d4 20.e2! f8
15.d2 Another queen move from Nanu 21.e1! xf5 22.d1 g3 23.xg4 xh1
th re a t e n in g t o t a ke o n g5 b u t t a kin g t h e 24.d3 and White regains the piece with the
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advantage. ] 25.xb6
19.exf5 xf5 [ 25.he1! Just looks to be winning
[ Again Black had an interesting option in the immediately but the text isn't bad either. ]
shape of 19...d4!? 20.e2 xf5 21.g3 25...e6 26.b7
f8 22.d3 with a complicated position. It [ 26.xd6! looks simple and very strong f7
feels White should have some advantage 27.g6 and all Black's pawns are dropping. ]
thanks to Black's ragged structure and loose 26...e8 27.h7+ f8 28.g6 g8 29.d7
king but Black can generate quite quick [ 29.b7 could be more accurate ]
queenside counterplay, for example: d7 29...d8
The threat is ...b5-b4 and ...Qa4 The game [ 29...e6 was probably better but still
m i g h t c o n t i n u e ( T h e i m m e d i a t e 22...b4 30.c8+ g7 31.xa6 xg3 32.xb5
is also interesting but White probably has favours White with his queenside pawns but
s o m e a d v a n t a g e w i t h 23.f5! bxa3 Black can attempt something with ge3 ]
24.bxa3 d7 25.xg7 xg7 26.h4 ) 30.b7 xg3 31.xa6 e3
23.h4 b4 24.axb4 ( 24.f5!? ) 24...a5 [ A s a f i n a l a t t e m p t w e t r i e d 31...d4
25.b5 a4 26.f5 a3 27.bxa3 xa3 28.xg4 to complicate the issue but something like
h8 29.g6 and White's probably 32.a7 f6 33.he1 f3 34.xd4 f1
somewhat better but the position is 35.de4 is of course very good for White.
extremely complicated. ] We continued the line with xe1+ 36.xe1
20.d3 xc3? After a highly complex d5 to try and get some counter-chances
sequence where Black keeps going for the but 37.g1! f3 38.e3 g7 39.g1
riskier but playable option he finally goes too is simply winning. ]
far and plays a terrible move. 32.hf1+ g7 33.a7+ e7 34.d4+ e5
[ With 20...f8 Black is still well in the game, 35.f5 e3 36.xg4 If you compare this
e.g.: 21.de1 ( 21.b1 b4! 22.axb4 a5 position to that on move 24 we can see that
looks promising for Black.) 21...f6!? three Black pawns have dropped while he still
B l a c k p r e p a r e s . . . b 4 . ( The immediate has a terrible structure, note the bishop is still
21...b4 is also interesting: 22.axb4 a5 blocked in behind his d5 pawn. W hite still
23.b5 a4 24.e6 a3 25.bxa3 xa3 does not yet have a material advantage but
26.b1 a4 when Black has a strong the position isn't dif f icult to convert. h8
i n i t i a t i v e .) 22.hf1 b4 23.axb4 a5 37.ff1 g5 38.b4 e7 39.xb5 c7
and Black has strong counterplay. ] 40.a4 b8 41.f4 g7 42.f6 e7
21.xc3 xf4 22.g3 f3 23.d4 43.xg7+ xg7 44.d4 a8 45.a4 aa7
Black is currently two pawns up (with g3 en- 46.b3 e5 47.b2 e6 48.df4 g5
prise too) but his kingside is extremely loose 49.f8 d4 50.d8 d5 51.d1 g4 52.d6
and his structure is simply terrible. It's g8 53.a3 h4 54.g1
interesting to see how Nanu successfully picks 1-0
up all Black's queenside while retaining the
attack. g5+
[ 23...xg3 24.he1 is far too dangerous. ] 793 B06
24.b1 c8?! Black's final error. We're not Negi,Parimarjan 2631
sure what Nevednichy was thinking, surely it Gashimov,Vugar 2756
was more logical to bring the rook on a8 into Schachbundesliga 2011-12 (8) 04.02.2012
the game? [Tom Rendle]
[ 24...af8 is of course much better but
White should still be winning, for example 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 c6 4.f3 d6
25.he1 ( 25.xb6 e7 26.de1 [ 4...d5 is Black's other setup and is covered
is also strong.) 25...c8 26.g6 and White in the archives. ]
d o m i n a t e s b u t a t l e a s t f o l l o w i n g xg3 5.e3 d7 6.d2 b5 7.d3 b7
Black can try and get some counterplay with [ 7...gf6 8.h3 c7 was looked at by
the g pawn. ] Andrew Martin in the game Hossain, E-
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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794 B06 Having said that, White has to find the right
Nezhmetdinov,Rashid way to break in. How about preparing g2-g4!
Ujtelky,Maximilian 36.e1?! Time-trouble perhaps?
Chigorin mem (1) 1964 [ 36.d3 ]
[Andrew Martin] 36...xe5 37.dxe5 xc5 38.d3 a7
39.c2 c5 Black is right back in the game.
He re is an e xtra ord in ary ga me , in which 40.b4 c6 41.a3 c4 42.c5 xe5
Ujtelky goads one of the most feared 43.c1 h5 44.g3 ed7 45.xe6??
attacking players with the Hippopotamus. 1.e4 He just lost it psych ologically. Unable t o
g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.c4 e6 pierce the black pawn front, Nezhmetdinov
It helps to have a bishop on c4. 5.f3 e7 goes haywire with an unsound piece sacrifice.
6.h4 h6 Note the reaction. Black answers 7 And having provoked the mistake, Ujtelky's
h5 with g5. Whilst that might still be good for subsequent play is faultless. xe6 46.h6
White, most players would not want to commit df8 47.xf5 gxf5 48.e1 d7 49.xh5+
themselves this early. 7.f4 a6 8.e2 d7 e7 50.xf5 White has left himself with no
[ here, he could certainly try 8...b5 9.d3 plan B. d6 51.h5 a5 52.e5+ c6
bc6 with ideas of ...Nb4, . .. Nxd3 and ... 53.d1 c7 54.a1 b8 55.bxa5 b4!
Bb7. Maybe I'm the wrong type of guy to Su dd en ly it is W h it e who h a s so m e ve ry
play this slow stuff.... ] serious defending to do. 56.cxb4
9.a4 b6 10.d1 b7 Very pretty by White [ 56.h6 b3 57.h7 xh7 58.g6+ e6
a n d w h e r e t o g o f r o m h e r e ? 11.f1!? 59.xe6+ xe6 60.xe6+ d6 61.f7
He is b a f f l e d b y t h e la ck o f co n t a ct . f8 g5 62.g7 e4-+ ]
12.g1 c8 13.b3 d7 14.h3 d8 56...xb4 57.f3 ce6 58.a6 c5 59.e1
15.c4 c8 Black continues his d4 60.f6+ fe6 61.a5 b6 62.h6 d6
m a n o e u ve rin g, a l t h o u gh i n t h is c a se a 6 63.h7 c3 64.a1 c2 65.g6 h8 66.a7
needed to be defended. Ujtelky asks The contrast between the spread out White
Nezhmetdinov "what is your idea?" 16.b3 f6 position and Black's perfectly centralised
17.e1 f7 18.c1 c6 How should you formation is extraordinary. b2 67.h6
classify a position like this? Black is keeping e2+ 68.h2 c1 69.xc1 xc1 70.a5
White at bay. I personally find Black's play too c6 71.a6 e5+ 72.g3 b3 73.f4
passive in this game. 19.d2 d5 20.a5 [ 73.a8 xa8 74.xa8 xa8 75.h8
[ 20.exd5 cxd5 21.h5 g5 leaves nothing xh8 76.xh8 c6 77.f4 might have
clear at all. ] lasted longer, but the d pawn must win. ]
20...b5 21.f3 c7 22.d2 c8 23.a2 73...b2+ 74.h3 bc5 75.a8
h7 24.b4 he8 25.d3 f8 26.f4 W h ich Qu e e n sh a ll we t a ke f irst ? E it h e r
[ I think White missed a chance here: 26.e5 capture wins quickly.
f5 27.g3 d7 28.b4 The threat of a 0-1
kingside attack combined with White's ability
to stop ...c6-c5 makes the Black position
unattractive. For instance: f8 29.d2 g8 795 B06
30.d6 xd6 31.exd6 xd6 32.fe5+ ] Nunn,John DM 2605
26...xa5 27.e5 f5 28.d2 Shirov,Alexei 2690
[ 28.e3 g8 29.c5 d7 30.xd7 xd7 Germany 1996
31.c3 with the idea of Bc2 and g4, was to be [Alexander Volzhin]
considered. ]
28...b6 29.a1 h7? 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 c6 4.c4 d6
[ 29...d7 ] 5.f3 e6 6.ge2 b5 7.b3 a5 8.a3 a6
30.a5 a7 31.xd8 xd8 32.d2 b7 Shirov believes in this setup and still employs
33.a5 a8 34.c5 c8 35.c3 f8 it despite terrible losses against Judit Polgar
The manoeuvres continue. He seems not to and Anand. 9.0-0?!
care one whit that he is the exchange down. [ 9.d5 was played in the above mentioned
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26.h2 c6 27.fd1 a5 28.g4 hxg3+ usual ) 7.c3 0-0 8.bd2 a6 9.0-0 b5
29.fxg3 e7 30.g5 b6 31.d2 c8 10.b3 b7 11.fe1 a5 12.c2 c5
32.ad1 a4 33.g4 c4 34.gxf5 xf5 13.dxc5 dxc5 14.ad1 b6 15.e3 c8
35.xd5 xd4 36.xd4 xd4 37.g2 g8 16.b4 ( 16.h4! might have made Black
38.h4 xg2+! 39.xg2 c6+ 40.f1 f3+ su f f e r I d o n't like to ca stle t o o e arly in
0-1 these setups.) 16...cxb4 17.cxb4 c6
18.a3 a5 19.xb6 xb6 20.c7?!
Missing Black's reply axb4! 21.xb6 bxa3
798 B06 22.e5 a2 23.b3 fc8 24.d4 xd4
Panchanathan,Magesh Chandran 2543 25.xd4 xe5 and the a2 pawn is too
Illingworth,Max 2289 strong 0-1 Roos, D-Krasenkow, M Chalons
Sydney Int Open (9) 11.04.2010 en Champagne 2010. ]
[Gawain Jones] 4...a6
[ 4...d7 is another different move order.
In this final game of the update I'll add various 5.c4 e6 6.e3 a6 7.a4 b6 8.d2 h6
new Hippo games. It is a difficult opening to 9.0-0 b7 All computer programs prefer
classify as it can arise from so many different White here, but that can be safely ignored.
openings. 1.f3 Indeed the top suggestion of my computer
[ My own success on the black side started here is 10.Ne1?!! followed by 11.Nf3. White
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3 a6 is ahead in development and has more
5.c4!? ok I'll play a Hippo:) e6 6.a4 b6 space but that's the nature of the opening
7.d2 h6 8.f3 e7 9.ge2 d5 and now White struggles to come up with a
I quite like this move. The main problem with plan as Black doesn't have any obvious
my opponent's position is that her light weaknesses. Meanwhile Black has lots of
squared bishop doesn't have a good square improving moves and can plan to expand on
to go to. 10.b3 bc6 11.h4?! and I fail to either flank. ( 9...e7 might be my preferred
see the point of this (and the next). I move order just so that if White plays as in
imagined she would castle kingside herself the game then the bishop is better placed on
as now there's no where safe for her king. c8. ) 10.d5!? e5 11.e1 gf6 12.f3 h5
Meanwhile I couldn't castle kingside anyway The position now resembles a Kings Indian.
as h6 is en-prise so I'm going long. b7 13.d3 c5 14.e2 c8 15.c3 xd3
12.g4 d7 13.exd5 exd5 14.f4 a5 16.xd3 d7 17.a5 b5 18.b4 h4
15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16.ce2 c6 17.c3 h5 19.ac1 f6 20.g3 h3 21.h1 g5
18.e2 b7 19.d3 hxg4 20.fxg4 xb3+ gave Black decent chances on the kingside
21.cxb3 c6 22.f4 a5 23.b4 c4 while White's trying to crash through on the
24.f2 b8 25.he1 h6 26.f3 g5 other flank. Nyzhnyk, I-Ehlvest, J Reykjavik
27.hxg5 xg5 28.b1 c8 29.fxd5 2010. This is a sensible way of playing
xg4 30.xf7 h7 0-1 Dhar Barua, S- against a young well prepared opponent
Jones, G Canberra 2010 was exactly what who'll be on his own immediately rather
Black was hoping for from the hippo. ] than having the safety belt of 20 moves of
1...g6 2.d4 g7 3.e4 d6 4.c3 theory. ]
[ 4.c4 This move provokes e6 to block the 5.a4 A logical move but not when which
bishop's path to f7. 5.e2 ( 5.b3 e7 s h o u l d w o r r y B l a c k b6 This is a more
6.0-0 d7 7.e1 b6 8.bd2 b7 9.f1 accurate move order than
0-0 10.g3 c5 11.c3 cxd4 12.cxd4 c8 [ 5...d7 as after 6.c4 ( 6.a5!? c5 )
13.f4 e5 14.e3 exd4 15.xd4 e5 6...e6 7.a5! Black can no longer develop his
16.xe5 dxe5 17.c3 xd1 18.axd1 bishop on the long diagonal without
1/2-1/2 Speelman, J-Greet, A 4NCL 2010 experiencing some structural problems after
was another very comfortable game for White takes on b6. e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.e2
Black. ) 5...e7 6.f4 bc6!? A type of b5 10.axb6 cxb6 11.g3 b7 12.d3 b5
A c c e le ra t e d Hip p o ? ! ( 6...a6 would be 13.e3 e5 14.d2 exd4 15.xd4 e5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
16.xe5 dxe5 17.c5 e8 18.fd1 c8 All the moves thus far have been pretty much
19.b4 Satyapragyan, S-Gelashvili, T Dubai forced since W hite sacrificed his piece but
2010. ] now White misses a chance 24.h4
6.c4 e6 7.h4 h6 8.e2 The first move [ 24.c2+! e4 25.c1 f5 ( 25...g8
deviating from Tiger's bible on the opening. 26.f4 is no better.) 26.f4 c8 27.e2!
He only investigates wit h a hu ge t hrea t of 2 8. Bg4 wh ile e6
[ 8.f4 e7 9.d2 d7 10.0-0 28.xc7 c8 29.g4! and the knight's
etc. Leaving the king in the centre to attack trapped as h6 30.xh6 xh6 31.g5+!
on the kingside looks like a logical xg5 32.h6! leaves the king running round
alternative. ] like a headless chicken. ]
8...e7 Usual [ 24.d3+! e4 25.e3 also looks good. ]
[ 8...f6 is logical seeing as White has just 24...e4
left the pawn undefended. 9.g3 ( 9.e5 [ 24...f5 seems forced 25.d5!? ( 25.d3
g4 has echoes of the note in the previous e4 26.xe4 xe4 27.xe4 xe4
game where Black played an early Nc6-b4.) 28.xe4 ae8 and Black has survived to a
9...b7 10.e2 c6 ] roughly equal ending.; 25.e4 g8 26.xe5
9.e3 d7 10.g3 b7 11.d3 xe5 27.xe5 ae8 28.e6! xe6
A typical hippopotamus has arisen and it's 29.xe6 fxe6 30.d7+ g7 31.g4
time to try and come up with a plan for Black. is very messy but at least Black's survived
W hite has quite a good setup against any to live on in the ending.) 25...g8 26.g4
plans on the kingside so I would probably look and White's big attack is ongoing, one light
at playing on the queenside. There's no need might run xd5 27.xd5 e4 28.xe4 d7
to rush, Black can wait to see how W hite 29.d3! A highly surprising queen trade but
intends to improve his position. f6 n o w W h i t e w i n s b a c k a p i e c e . xd3
[ 11...c5 12.c3 c7 looks reasonable. ] 30.xd3 ae8+ 31.e3 e5 32.f4 xg2
[ 11...0-0? 12.d2 h7 13.h5 g5 14.xg5 33.xf5+ g8 34.f1 g5 35.g4
hxg5 15.h6 is not recommended however ] and White's bishop pair and two pawns look
12.c3 d7 13.e2 0-0?! This move is more relevant than the extra exchange. ]
extremely risky. 25.d5! The pawn on f6 is doing a good job of
[ I ' d p r e f e r 13...g4 14.d2 h5!? stopping the h8 bishop from contributing to
( Playing in Kings Indian style with 14...e5 the game and now White offers an exchange
i s a l s o p o s s i b l e a l t h o u g h a f t e r 15.d5 to nullify the other bishop. d8
Black should delay an immediate f5 as [ 25...xd5 26.xd5 followed by 27.Bxe4 is
16.exf5 gxf5 17.d4! is unpleasant.) hopeless. ]
15.g5 c5 ] [ 25...c6 26.d2 c5 27.xh6 ( Playing like
14.h5 White has a ready made attack g4 the game is also possible 27.d5!? d8
[ Ideally Black would like to block up the 28.xe4 xd5 29.xd5 d7 30.b3 )
kingside with 14...g5? but 15.xg5! hxg5 27...xh6 28.e3+ h7 29.g5 g8
16.h6 h8 17.h7+! and you won't live for ( 29...c8 30.d5 g8 31.f4+- ) 30.f5+
long. ] h6 31.f4+ h7 32.g4!+- ]
15.d2 e5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.c4 26.xe4 xd5 27.xd5 d7 28.e5
[ 17.hxg6 is also possible if you don't want to Not the most accurate way to finish off the
give Black the opportunity to block up the game
kingside, although as you'll see that also [ 28.b3! fe8 29.c2 g8 30.f1
gives White a great attack. ] is, with computer accuracy, the best way
17...g5 This doesn't work out but it's tough to to develop the attack as Black's knight on h6
o f f e r a n y b e t t e r s o l u t i o n s . 18.xg5! is dropping whilst he's helpless to stop the
Of course! A knight is a small price to pay to queen and two bishops and mountain of
open up Black's king. hxg5 19.xg5 h6 pawns delivering mate. ]
Otherwise 20.h6 was crushing. 20.d1 e8 [ 28.d4!? is a lso ra t h e r st ro n g. de8
21.f5! exf5 22.exf5 h7 23.f6 h8 29.e4+ xe4 30.xe4+ f5 31.xf5+
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
xf5 32.d7 Is clearly better for White. The 1-0 Turner,M-D'Costa,L/Scarborough 2001. ]
pawns muffle the extra piece in the corner 8.b5!? The latest try in this position looks
that's still just a bystander. ] logical to take back the pawn with the knight.
28...g4? This allows forced mate [ 8.b3 e6 9.xd4 f6 ( 9...e7!? )
[ 28...fe8 was forced when Black can 10.f4 0-0? Black is oblivious to the danger
continue to soldier on although 29.e4+ 11.xb8 xb8 12.c6 with a clear
g8 30.e7 xa4 31.f3! The king needs a advantage, Frangi, M-Dijon,J/ICCF Email
square a5 32.g6! and I would feel 2002. ]
extremely uneasy trying to defend the black [ 8.0-0 h6 9.a4+ d7 10.xd4 0-0
side. ] 11.g5 f6 12.ad1 c7 13.fe1
29.e4+ g8 30.g6+ An entertaining hack with a slight edge, Hasanova,E-Galliamova,
by White but Black didn't have any problems A/Varna 2002. ]
before his premature castling and I think the [ 8.cxd4 f6 9.a4+ c6 10.b5 0-0
hippo is still an underrated opening. 11.e3 a6 12.c3 b8 ( 12...b5?
1-0 is met by 13.xb5 ) 13.d1 b5 14.e2
b7 1/2-1/2 Kernazhitsky,L-Pisk,P/Tanta
2000. ]
799 B06 8...a6!?
Pavasovic,Dusko 2591 [ 8...f6 9.bxd4 0-0 10.0-0 c7 11.e2
Pikula,Dejan 2523 a6 ( 11...g4!? is worth thinking about)
Karadjordje Topola (4) 07.05.2004 12.b3 e6 13.e1 c6 14.xc6 xc6
[Gary Lane] 15.e5 when White has a space advantage,
P e l i k i a n , J - M a t s u u r a , E /
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 xd5 4.d4 g6 BrazilTeamChampionship 2001. ]
5.f3 g7 6.a3 cxd4 7.c4 d8 [ If Blacks wants to appear in lots of
P ik u la is r a t e d o ve r 2 5 0 0 so o n e h a s t o newspaper chess columns he should try
re s p e c t h i s c h o ice t o re t re a t t h e qu e e n . 8...dxc3 and then resign after 9.xf7+ ]
Others: 9.bxd4 f6 10.a4+ c6
[ 7...e4+ this is the main alternative 8.e3 [ If 10...b5 Black does not win with a fork but
h6 ( not 8...dxe3? due to 9.xf7+ f8 will crash upon 11.xb5+ axb5 12.xa8
10.d8+ xf7 11.g5+ winning ) 9.cxd4 winning ]
0-0 10.0-0 f5 ( 10...g4 11.g5 xd1 11.xc6 bxc6
12.xe4 g4 with equal chances, Anderton, [ 11...d7? fails after 12.fe5 winning. ]
M-Ramaswamy,A/Edinburgh 2003.) 11.e1 12.e5 The knight dominates by attacking c6
xe3 12.xe3 f4 13.e5 e6 14.g3 f6 and f7. Already White is on top. 0-0 13.xc6
15.d5 exd5 ( 15...d8 16.b3 gives White f5
a slight initiative.) 16.xd5 c6 17.ae1 [ 13...b8 14.0-0 b7 15.a4 d6
e6 18.b5 xe5 19.xe5 xc4 20.xc4 is probably Black's best chance but White
ac8 21.b3 led to a level position in Ravi,T- still has an edge. ]
Shashikant,K/Chennai 2004. ] 14.0-0 c8 15.f3
[ 7...a5!? 8.xd4 f6 9.0-0 0-0 10.e1 [ It is tempting to grab another pawn with
e5 11.b4 c7 12.db5 e7 13.e3 b6 15.xa6 but White rightly realises that his
14.d6! White's lead in development is lack of development is a potential problem
enough to persuade him to seek an c7 16.f4 ( 16.f4 h5!; 16.e1! )
exchange of queens xd6 15.xd6 c6 16...e4 is sufficient compensation for the
16.g5 a6 ( 16...d7 17.ad1 ab8? pawns. ]
18.xf6 xf6 19.e4 wins ) 17.ad1 b5 15...c7 16.e1 e4 17.xf7+! h8
18.xf6 xf6 19.d5 d7 20.xf7+! [ Or 17...xf7 18.xf7 xf7 19.xe4
White jumps at the chance to play a tactical and Black should resign. ]
trick g7 21.b3 a7 22.c2 c7 18.e6 xe5
23.e3 e7 24.e4 f5 25.c5 [ After 18...xe6 19.xe4 White is just two
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computer's top line. Now the positions become square free when c4 13.e2 looks better
very double-edged, as is typical of castling on for White. ]
opposite flanks. 12...c4 13.xc4 dxc4 14.d5
[ 9.e5 has been tried a couple of times here From a human perspective this move looks
too but f6 again looks a good antidote. ] pretty forced as otherwise Black continues
9...b8 with ...Qd5 with control of the light squares.
[ P r e v i o u s l y 9...f6 has also been tried: c3! 15.d4
10.f5 ( 10.h3 is Rybka's suggestion [ Taking the pawn looks pretty scary: 15.bxc3
although xf3 11.gxf3 b8 12.f5 fd7 a5 16.d3 a3+ 17.d2 cxd5
looks rather messy.) 10...b4 11.e2 gxf5 White could try running with the king with
12.exf5 d7 ( Perhaps it was better to 18.e3 but one would rather be playing
defend the b4 pawn with something like Black. ]
12...fd5 although 13.h3 xf3 14.gxf3 [ 15.d3 would prevent the game
looks risky with Black's king stuck in the continuation but perhaps Black's alternative
centre. ) 13.g3 ( It looked possible to grab i s b e t t e r a n y w a y . a5?! ( 15...cxb2+
the pawn with 13.xb4 ) 13...h6 14.xf6 16.b1 cxd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5
xf6 15.e4 d5 16.xf6+ xf6 h6 looks roughly level.) 16.dxc6! xa2
17.xb4 xf5 18.xf5 xf5 19.he1 17.bxc3 b3 18.c7 is winning for White. The
and only White had an initiative. Plaskett, difference between this and the game is that
J (2470)-Tkachiev, V (2455) London 1993. ] c2 is now protected. ]
10.e5 This is the most principled approach. 15...a5
Now ...f6 is too risky with a rook coming to e1 [ 15...cxd5 16.xd5 cxb2+ 17.b1
immediately. transposes to the previous note. ]
[ It was possible to prevent the knight 16.c4
jumping into c4 with 10.b3 but that leaves [ 16.b1 c5 17.c4 cxb2 transposes ]
Black enough time to complete his kingside 16...c5 17.b1
development with f6 ] [ 17.bxc3!? m i g h t b e p o s s i b l e b u t f6
10...d5 looks to be in Black's favour. ]
[ 10...c4 is another approach but then 17...cxb2 Black prevents White from
W hite could open up the centre: 11.xc4 manoeuvring his knight around to b3 via c1.
bxc4 12.exd6 xd6 13.e4 d5 14.he1 18.g3
f6 15.h4 f7 16.e2! With an advantage. [ At some point White should try breaking
White's point is that h6 can be met with t h r o u g h i n t h e c e n t r e w i t h 18.d6!?
17.e3 so that knight can't come to h6. ] Here the game might continue: e6 19.d5
11.hf1 h6 20.h4 exd6 21.exd6 f6 22.xf6
[ The only other time this position was xf6 23.ed4 with a crazy position! One
reached W hite tried the immediate 11.f5 p o ssib le lin e co n t in u e s: ( or 23.f5!? )
w o u l d l o o k s r a t h e r c r i t i c a l : gxf5 23...xd4 24.xd4 xd5 25.xd5 0-0
when instead of 12.df1 in Rojo Huerta, G 26.c6 a6 27.d1 b6 28.e7+ g7
(2355) -Iruzubieta Villaluenga, J (2410) 29.e5+ h7 30.xg6 fxg6 31.e7+
O r o p e s a d e l M a r 1 9 9 6 ( 12.b3! g8 32.e6+ g7 33.e5+ with a draw. ]
keeping control over the c4 square looks to 18...h6
favour W hite.) 12...c4 looks to be ok for [ 18...c8!? is another interesting alternative
Black. ] but W hite is better after 19.d6 ( Again
11...b4 19.f5!? looks dangerous.) 19...e6 20.d5
[ 11...c4 12.xc4 bxc4 13.a4 b5 21.xb5+ xb5 22.d2 ]
looks easier for White as his control of the 19.e4?! This looks to be an error.
dark squares on the queenside prevents [ Again 19.d6!? loo ks da ngero us : e6
Black's counterplay. ] 20.d5 exd6 21.d4! with a powerful
12.e2?! This lets White's advantage slip. initiative. ]
[ Instead 12.b1 was better, keeping the e2 [ While 19.f5! is perhaps strongest. A fairly
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
forcing line continues: b3 20.cxb3 b4 driven back into a passive position. The
21.d2! xc4 22.xa5 c1+ 23.xc1 game Geenen - Zilberman, Manila(ol), 1992
bxc1+ 24.xc1 xf5 25.xc5 with good co nt in ue d : b4 9.d1 a6 10.e3 d5
winning chances in the ending. ] 11.exd5 cxd5 12.c4 e7 13.cxd5 xd5
19...f5 20.d6 e3 21.xc5 xc5 14.c1 0-0 15.xd5 exd5 16.b3 e8
22.xc5 exd6 17.0-0 d7 18.e1 f6 19.b2 e4
[ 22...xd1 also looks likely to draw after 20.f4 a7 21.fd3 ae7 , and Black is
some crazy complications: 23.xd1 exd6 clearly better. ]
24.exd6 f6 25.e1+ f8 26.h3! c8 8...a6 9.d5! The correct approach: White
27.hxg4 xc5 28.d4 d5 29.e6+ f7 counters flank activity by action in the centre.
30.xg7 fxg5 31.e7+ f6 32.fxg5+ cxd5
xg5 33.e6+ xg4 34.d7 f5 35.d8 [ 9...b4?! is insuf f icient : 10.dxe6! fxe6
hxd8 36.xd8 xd8 37.xh7= ] 11.d1 d5 12.f4 e7 13.h3
23.fe1 dxc5 and Black's seemingly strong central pawns
[ Now it's too late to take the exchange: are in fact very good targets ]
23...xd1? 24.exd6+ f8 25.e7+ g8 [ 9...exd5!? deserves certain attention.
26.xd1 when the d6 pawn will net at least Black's ideas here are similar to those Nunn -
the exchange. ] Shirov: 10.exd5 c5 11.0-0 ( 11.a4
[ 23...xc2!? is interesting but not very is hardly good: b4 12.b5 xb5 13.axb5
sound: 24.exd6+ xe1 25.xe1+ f8 f6 14.c4 0-0 15.0-0 bd7 intending ...
26.e7+ g8 27.e5 and again the d Nb6, ...a4, with good prospects.) 11...f6
p a wn is m o re im p o rt a n t t h a n t h e e xt r a 12.g5 h6 13.h4 g5 14.g3 0-0 15.a4
exchange. ] b4 16.b5 e8 17.c3 f5 18.h4 f4
24.xe3 0-0 25.e7 fc8 26.h3 xf3 19.h2 Now White's Bishop is out of play.
An interesting game. White could have kept d7 20.hxg5 hxg5 21.h5 f6 22.h3
the advantage with 12.Nb1 when Black's e5 23.e6+ h8 24.xf6 xf6 25.fd1
opening would have failed to equalise. b8 and Black is clearly better. ]
½-½ 10.exd5 e5 Black has a nice pawn structure
in the center and if he manages to complete
his development he'll be better. So W hite
801 B06 should play very aggressively. 11.e4! c7?!
Polgar,Judit 2635 After this seemingly natural move Black's
Shirov,Alexei 2695 position is barely defensible.
Amsterdam 1995 [ O f c o u r s e , 11...f5? is bad in view of
[Alexander Volzhin] 12.g5 ]
12.c4! bxc4
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 c6 4.c4 d6 [ 12...e7 is insufficient in view of 13.c5! ]
5.f3 e6 6.ge2 b5 The main line. 7.b3 [ and 12...d7 13.2c3 bxc4 14.a4
[ 7.d3 i s w e a k e r a s i t a l l o w s e5! leads to the same position as in the game. ]
with good prospects for Black, for example: 13.a4+ d7
8.e3 f6 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.d1 bd7 [ 13...e7 14.2c3 ]
11.c1 0-0 12.b3 c7 13.h3 a6! 14.2c3 e7? Black wants to play ...Ngf6,
(intending ...c5-c4) 14.c5 xc5 15.xc5 completing development, but this move allows
d8 16.0-0 d7 17.e3 f8! Aiming for brilliant combination which leads to a forced
the d4 square. Black is already slightly win for White.
better. 18.e2 e6 19.c3 b7 20.c2 c5 [ Both 14...f5 15.g5 ]
21.g3 xd1 22.xd1 d8 23.xd8+ [ and 14...e7 15.f6+ xf6 16.xf6
xd8 24.f3 f6 25.e1 g5 1/2,Liss - are very bad for Black ]
Kanstler, Rishon le Zion, 1994 ] [ To avoid an immediate loss Black should try
7...a5 8.a3 either 14...h6 15.b5 xb5 16.xb5 f5
[ 8.a4?! is weaker because White's Knight is 17.d2 gf6 18.c6 ]
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40.c6 d1+ 41.g2 e4+ 42.h3 d5! take action against the centre by other means.
0-1 [ The other Tiger games I have with this
basic idea went 7.f3 b7 8.a4 b4 9.e2
c5 10.c3 gf6
803 B06 A) 11.h6!? was speculative but
Ramaswamy,Aarthie 2224 interesting after bxc3 12.bxc3 xh6
Georgiev,Kiril 2661 ( 12...xe4! 13.b2!? xh6 14.xb7
Gibtelecom Masters (3) 25.01.2007 ef6 ) 13.xh6 cxd4 14.cxd4 xe4
[John Watson] 15.xe4 xe4 16.0-0 e6! 17.g3 ef6
( 17...df6 ) 18.fe1 e7 19.ac1! f8
A Tiger System ...a6 potpourri. 1.e4 g6 2.d4 20.g5 h6 21.a5 e7 22.c6 0-0
g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3 a6 With the 4 Be3 23.xa6 xa6 24.xa6 b8 and White's
lines (and associated 150 Attacks) having a-pawn may give him a slight edge, P
become so popular, this is arguably the main Ca rlsson -Hillarp Pe rsso n, S to c kh o lm
line of Tiger's Modern Complex. Black's plan is 1999;
to continue with ...b5, ...Bb7, ...Nd7, and ...c5 B) 11.g3 h5 12.g5 d5?! 13.e5 e4
in some order, but of course his position is 14.f4 bxc3 15.bxc3 cxd4 16.cxd4
flexible enough to adapt to various plans of ( 16.e6 ) 16...a5+ 17.e2 f5 18.xe7!?
W hite's. Flexibility, however, doesn't not h4 19.xh4 f8 20.xf5 ( 20.c1! )
guarantee success. 5.d2 'By far the most 20...gxf5 21.hb1 c8 22.xe4? dxe4
common', but he say that the most aggressive 23.g5 d5 24.e6 c4+ 25.e1 xd4
move is 5 f4, whereas 5 Nf3 is important and 0-1 Von Bahr-Hillarp Persson, Sweden
dangerous. b5 2003. ]
[ The other Tiger-ish order is 5...d7 6.h4! 7...c5 8.c3 b7 9.g3 gf6 Pretty much
( 6.f3 b5 ) 6...h5 , when 'the most standard stuff. I think that it is about equal.
important' 5 Qd2 line goes 7.h3 b5 8.g5 10.h3 To what point? h5! 11.d5 c4!?
b7 9.0-0-0! , when gf6? 10.f3? [ 11...e5! is straightforward and good. ]
( The most instructive and typical move, so 12.c2 c5 Threatening ...h4. 13.f3 c7
it's good to see in spite of Hillarp Persson's 14.1e2 e5!? A daring and probably
inaccurate move order. In a later rapid game, foolhardy move.
Berg f oun d 10.e5! dxe5 11.dxe5 xe5 [ 14...h4 15.f1 a5 is another thought. ]
12.xd8+ xd8 13.xd8+ xd8 14.f4 ) 15.b4 White stands perfectly well after this,
10...0-0 11.f2 b4 12.e2 c5! 13.dxc5 but
a5 14.b1 dxc5 ( 14...xc5! is obvious, [ 15.dxe6! w i t h t h e i d e a fxe6 ( better
but good: 15.xc5 dxc5 with dangerous 15...xe6 16.d4 , when d5 17.xe6
attacking chances and the better endgame if fxe6 18.e5! is good. ) 16.f4! would call
n e e d b e , b a s e d u p o n t h e b i s h o p p a i r) Black's bluff, even after h4 17.e5! hxg3
15.g4!? ( 15.c1; 15.f4!? with ideas such 18.xg6+ and exf6. ]
as Bc4, Qg3, and some knight sacrifice or 15...cxb3 16.axb3 0-0 17.h6 cd7 18.0-0
other ) 15...e5 16.f4 fd8 ( 16...exg4 fe8 and now the rating-shock move...
17.fxg4 xg4 18.f3 xb2! 19.c4! 19.f4?? , and resigns. A sad finish. Instead,
is one possibility) 17.c1 c4 ( 17...hxg4! ) [ 19.f5 h8 20.h4 with the idea f4 was
18.gxh5 c3 19.hxg6 ( 19.b6! d2 a good plan, or ]
20.e3 ) 19...cxb2 20.gxf7+ xf7 [ 19.b4 , stop ...Nc5, although that wasn't an
E Berg-Hillarp Persson, Umea 2003, and immediate threat due to Bxg7 and Nf5+! . ]
here instead of 21 Re1, Berg blundered by 0-1
21.ge6?? b3 ( 21...xe4! ) 22.cxb3
bxc1+ 23.xc1 xe4 0-1. ]
6.d3 d7 7.ce2!? As far as I know this is
new, and it looks rather passive. White wants
to shore up his centre with c3, so Black has to
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
21.g5 a5 22.f6 c3 23.e3 10...b7 White is perfectly centralised but the
[ Also hopeless for W hite is 23.f1 f7 qu e s t i o n is h o w t o im p r o ve t h e p o s i t i o n
24.bd1 e6 intending 25... Rae8. ] further? If given time then Black will
23...xf6 24.xf6 f8 counterattack with ...b5 and perhaps ...c5 as
0-1 w e l l w i t h a g o o d g a m e . 11.d5!?
Sergei decides it's time for action in the centre
but Black seems to have a number of
805 B06 reasonable options here e5 I'm not sure I like
Rublevsky,S 2695 this as much as 11...b5 - Kamsky gets very
Kamsky,G 2725 close to equalising but in quite a blocked
29th ECC Open 2013 (5.1) 24.10.2013 position Rublevsky manages to out
[Tom Rendle] manoeuvre him and gain the upper hand.
[ 11...b5! is risky because it allows White to
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.g5 d7 open things up a little but Black should be
[ after 4...h6 Rublevsky would probably have OK after 12.dxe6 ( 12.a3 is probably an
still retreated the bishop back to e3 here improvement but W hite has to be careful
w h e n a f t e r 5.e3 f6 6.h3 ( 6.f3 moving a pawn so near his king as Black
is more usual) 6...bd7 7.g4!? White won can potentially use it as a lever to open up
a nice game in Vallejo Pons-Maiwald which t h e qu e e n si d e wi t h . . . b 4 la t e r o n . exd5
I annotated last year. ] 13.exd5 b6 14.d4 0-0 15.xg7 xg7
5.f3 h6 6.e3 Rublevsky's idea is that by and chances are finely balanced.) 12...fxe6
provoking ...h6 it's harder for Black to castle 13.b1 c6 ]
kingside as after Qd2 the pawn on h6 will be [ 11...c5 might also be playable here
vulnerable. Kamsky switches from a Modern although perhaps W hite can reach a
setup to a Hippopotamus by playing ...e6 and favourable middlegame with 12.xc5! bxc5
playing the knight on e7. e6 7.d2 a6 8.d3 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.e5! d5 15.a4 c4
b6 16.c5! and Black has to go on the
[ 8...e7 is very similar but now in Lastin, A defensive ]
(2632) -Milov, V (2574) Istanbul 2003 White 12.g4 c5 13.e2 d7 14.g1 g8?!
choose to castle kingside rather than into [ it's possible that 14...0-0-0! 15.b1 b8
an attack with ...b5 but after 9.0-0 b6 wa s m o re a ccu ra t e . No w if W h it e t rie s
10.e2 ( 10.d5!? is perhaps more testing 16.e1 Black is ready to respond with g5!
when Black should try c5 11.dxe6 fxe6 and ...Ng6-f4 ]
with only a slight edge for White) 10...b7 15.e1! An excellent multi-purpose move.
11.c4 f6 12.c2 c5 13.d5 exd5 14.exd5 White is bringing the knight to d3 to exchange
0-0 15.h3 b5! Black had reached a Black's strong knight on c5 whilst also getting
satisfactory middlegame position. ] ready to play f3 and solidifying his centre. f6
[ 8...b5 may seem more aggressive but it 16.f3 e7 17.b1 b5 18.d3 xd3
allows White the option of 9.a4 b4 10.e2 19.cxd3!? An interesting decision, choosing to
a5 11.c3 and I prefer White. ] aim for pressure down the c-file
9.0-0-0 e7 10.he1 [ 19.xd3 looks more natural though and I
[ 10.h4! would be my choice here, trying to believe W hite should be better here as
provoke a weakness on the kingside. Black Black has no obvious place for his king. ]
h a s a c o u p l e o f o p t i o n s h e r e : b5! 19...c6
se e m s b e s t an d n o w ( 10...h5 11.g5! [ 19...h5! seems a better try here, resolving
and the knight is basically on an outpost on the situation on the kingside so Black can
g5 as Black never really wants to play ...f6 finally castle. After 20.g5 d7 21.c1 0-0
because it's so weakening to e6 and g6.) White is only a little better although he can
11.f4 b7 12.b1 reaches a very tense increase the pressure on the c-f ile with
middlegame position. Perhaps Black is OK 22.c2 and Rgc1 ]
here after b4 13.e2 a5 ] 20.dxc6 xc6 21.d4 exd4 After this White
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
is definitely better with Black's isolated pawn xg4+ 55.g5 f6 Black is holding the
on d6 an obvious target for White's pressure. draw still ]
[ 21...0-0?! is a tricky pawn sacrifice but it 51.f5 e4 52.c4 d6
doesn't seem to work after 22.xh6 xh6 [ 52...f6? now loses to 53.xh6 xg4+
23.xh6 b4 24.g3! h7 ( 24...bxc3 54.xg5 ]
25.h3 ) 25.h3 f6 26.c4+ h8 27.d5 53.f6+ f8 54.d5! e8 55.g2?!
an d W h it e is a p awn u p with a win nin g [ 55.e6! c7 56.c4 e8 57.d3
position. ] p u t s B l a c k i n t o z u g z w a n g s o n o w c7
22.xd4 d8 23.b6 b7 24.d2 xb6 58.xh6 is winning ]
25.xb6 d7 26.gd1 e7 27.a5! 55...d6 56.xh6?! This comes very close
Very logical play from Rublevsky, bringing to winning but Kamsky manages to scramble a
every possible piece to attack the pawn on d6. draw
Kamsky is forced into passive defence but he [ 56.d5! e8 57.e6 transposes to 55.
just about manages to hold on a8 28.b4 Be6 ]
e8 29.d5+ xd5 30.xd5 a5 31.e1?! 56...a4 57.bxa4 b3 58.d5 b2 59.a2 e4
This allows Black to bring the bishop to e5 in 60.b1 c3 61.c2 xa4 62.xg5 c3
a couple of moves after which he should be 63.f5 b1 64.xb1 xb1 A very unusual
holding the draw. ending has been reached where White is very
[ 31.c5! keeps up the pressure. After b7 close to winning with the 3 pawns and the
32.e3 b4 33.f4 Black is horribly passive. ] knight on b1 is a long way away but
31...c7 32.5d2 amazingly enough it seems there is no way
[ 32.xb5 fails to xd5! 33.xd7 e3 for White to win here. 65.g5 d2 66.g6 f3
34.d3 g2 35.c3 f4 36.c6 c8 67.g4 g8 68.f4 d4 69.g5 e6+
37.e3 and Black can force a draw with g2 70.h6 g7! 71.g5 e6+ 72.h5 f4+
38.d3 f4 39.e3 g2 ] 73.h6 e6 74.h5 f4+ 75.g5 e6+
32...e5! 33.g3 xg3 34.hxg3 b4 76.f5 d4+ 77.e4 e6 78.e5 g5
White still has a slight edge now but with only 79.d6 f8 80.d5 f3 81.e6 h4
one weakness to defend Black should be 82.g7+ g8 83.e7 g6+ 84.e6 h4
holding a draw here - but wait, this game is 85.e7 g6+ 86.e8 e5 87.g5 g6
just getting started!! 35.c4 ad8 36.c2 88.d7 e5+ 89.e6 g6 90.f5 h4+
a8 37.e5!? White might as well try the 91.e5 g6+ 92.e6 f4+ 93.d6 h3
Bishop vs Knight ending. dxe5 38.xd7+ And finally White accepts there is no way to
xd7 39.xd7+ xd7 40.xf7 g5 win 94.g6 f4 95.e5 xg6+ 96.f5
This ending should be a draw but the bishop h4+ A fantastic fighting game from both
is slightly the better piece in these endings players.
with pawns on both sides because it covers ½-½
long distances so much faster than the knight.
41.d3 b6 42.e4 a4
[ 42...d6! seems the right way to defend, e. 806 B06
g. 43.b3 a4 44.f7 a3 45.bxa3 bxa3 Rublevsky,Sergei
46.f5 a4 47.g6 c3 48.xh6 e4! D'Amore,Carlo
49.fxe4 xe4 50.g6 e5 and White Olympiad, 2000 2000
cannot make progress here ] [Paul Motwani]
43.b3 c3+ 44.xe5 e7 45.c4 xa2
46.f5 c3 47.g6 b1 48.f4 d2 2) W 26:"Russian in a rush to win!" S.
49.d5! The bishop prevents the knight from Rublevsky-C.D'Amore, Istanbul Olympiad,
getting back to e4 d6 50.f7 e7?! Turkey 2000. Modern Defence, Code B06.
After this White seems to suddenly be winning 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.g5 a6
[ 50...gxf4 was needed to get rid of the pawn 5.f3 d7 6.a4 b6 7.c4 If White's other
on g5 51.gxf4 e7 was necessary and now bishop were still on c1 instead of g5, then a
after 52.f5 e4 53.c4 f6 54.xh6 big threat would be 8 Bxf7+ because of 8...
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
Kxf7 9 Ng5+ Ke8 10 Ne6 or 9...Kf6 10 Nd5. White will be rewarded with decent play after
However, even in the current game, things the exchanges on d4. The only thing is that
could happen to Black's f rail f -pawn... h6 Black ha s se en f urth er. 12.cxd4 xd4
8.h4 g5? Practically asking for trouble, and 13.xd4 xd4 14.h6 c5! The accurate
White is quick to dish it out! 9.xg5! hxg5 response to take away the pressure against
10.xf7+! xf7 f7.
[ 10...f8 11.xg5 ( or first 11.d5 [ 14...g7 is also possible and after 15.xg7
is also horrible for Black. )] xg7 16.ac1 White is struggling to justify
11.xg5+ f6 If the king retreats, then 12 his pawn sacrifice. ]
N e 6 w i n s B l a c k ' s q u e e n . 12.g4 15.b4 d8 16.ac1 b6 17.b5 e4
With a multitude of threats including 13 Qf5 or 18.h1
13 Nd5+. e5 13.d5+ g6 14.f4+ f6 [ 18.ce1? looks tempting but leads to a red
15.dxe5+ dxe5 16.h7+! IM Carlo D'Amore face after xf2+ 19.xf2 xb4 when the
resigned facing the unavoidable 17 Qg6. white queen has left the board. ]
1-0 18...b7 Black is clearly on top. His pair of
bishops are exerting considerable pressure on
the white position with the latest threat being
807 B06 checkmate in one. 19.f3 h4 20.cd1 a5
San Marco,Jean 2135 [ 20...xh6 21.xd4 releases the tension
Sokolov,Andrei 2540 but Black still has the much brighter
ch Paris (1) 1999 prospects. ]
[Gary Lane] 21.d2 e6 22.g3 h5!
0-1
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 xd5 4.d4 g6
5.f3 g7 6.e2
[ 6.e3 transposes to the normal lines but 808 B06
does have the benef it of a sneaky trick Sapozhnikov,R 2298
against those who are careless. For Nagle,S 2412
example: cxd4 7.cxd4 h6 ( 7...f6 2nd DC International 2014 (6) 28.06.2014
8.c3 a5 ) 8.c1! is the amazing move [Neil McDonald]
which wins a piece by targeting c8 and h6. I
have seen a few games where Black has 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3 a6
p r o m p t l y r e s i g n e d a f t e r j u s t 8 m o ve s . 5.f3 d7 6.g4?! A natural pawn thrust, but
Perhaps even more remarkable are the four here a poor decision. Black hasn't committed
games played at international level, where himself to Nf6, and so g4-g5 won't gain time
White oblivious to the opportunity played 8 by harassing the black knight. Therefore Black
Nc3. ] is able to use the pawn on g4 as a means to
6...h6 close lines on the kingside, which is
[ 6...f6 is the standard move but the undoubtedly in his favour. More flexible was
grandmaster chooses a different [ 6.d2 for example b5 7.h4 h5 8.h3
continuation. Black wishes to add pressure when the white knight got to the strong g5
on to th e d 4 p a wn b y m an o eu vrin g t h e squa re in Ch ep a rino v-S aka ev- s ee t h e
knight to f5 while keeping open the a1-h8 archives. ]
diagonal. ] 6...b5 7.h4?! He could still play
7.0-0 f5 8.a3 San Marco decides to fall [ 7.d2 ]
ba c k o n a f a m ilia r p lan o f h a rassing t h e 7...h5! Now White must either block the
queen with Bc4. That ploy is more effective kingside or let his pawn front be broken up.
when a move has not already been wasted on 8.g5 A space advantage isn't a good thing if it
playing Be2. 0-0 9.c4 c6 blocks a player's initiative on the side of the
[ 9...d8 10.dxc5 c6 11.e2 ] board where he wants to attack. As a
10.b3 d7 11.f4 cxd4 It seems that co n se qu e n ce o f h is p a wn m o ve s o n t h e
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
kingside, White no longer has the chance to White has no way to arrange an attack on
play Ng5, putting his knight on a dominant the black king when his own monarch has
square. Nor can he ever play Qd2 and Bh6 to no safe haven. ]
exchange off Black's dark squared bishop as 13...cxd4 14.dxe6 dxc3 15.exd7+ xd7
a prelude to an attack on his king. White has 16.b3 d8 17.h3 c7 Positionally
spent three moves putting his pawns on g5 speaking White is lost. The black pieces are
and h4, but he'd be better off if they were still excellently placed to exploit the open lines in
on g2 and h2. the centre and there is nowhere safe for the
[ White would have got more play after white king to hide. 18.0-0 0-0 19.e2 c6
8.gxh5 xh5 9.d2 when at least there are 20.ae1 White has managed to complete his
open lines and he has stopped Black development but his kingside is riddled with
castling kingside. Still, Black has an active holes as a consequence of his rash pawn
game after c5 ] advances in the opening. d4 The pressure
8...e6! The black knight will be comfortably on f3 means that Black wins the bishop pair
deployed to e7. Black's hypermodern set up and a pawn. 21.xd4 g3+ 22.g2 xd4+
with a delayed Nf6 has worked brilliantly. 23.h1 xh4 24.h2 fe8 25.g3 xg3+
9.h3 White is unable to find a decent plan. 26.xg3 e3 Nagle puts his bishop on d2 in
The pawn structure suggests he should try to order to win control of the e-f ile. He also
smash through Black's defences with an f4-f5 prepare a breakthrough involving Rxd3 and,
pawn advance. However, Black is ready to after the recapture c2xd3, the pawn advance
counterattack with c7-c5 once he completes c3-c2. He is helped in this plan by the passive
his development, so W hite has no time to position of White's bishop on h3. 27.f4 d2
arrange the advance, and if he does achieve it 28.xe8+ xe8 Now White has to reckon with
his position is likely to fall to pieces before he 29...Re3+ followed by 30... Rxd3 and after 31.
can get at the well defended black king. In the cxd3 c2. 29.e5 e4 30.d7 xc2
game White embarks on a disastrous knight Black can ignore the fork as the passed c-
manoeuvre. pawn will cost White a piece. 31.f6+ f8
[ I t wa s s t i ll b e s t t o d e ve lo p wi t h 9.d2 32.xe8 xe8 33.b4 f5 There's no way to
and 10.0-0-0. ] stop the c-pawn. A triumph of hypermodern
9...e7 10.f2 b7 11.d3? Evidently this chess.
move is meant to hinder c7-c5, but as it can't 0-1
be prevented in the long term White is wasting
his energy and misplacing the knight trying to
delay it. 809 B06
[ The right move was still 11.d2 ] Schlosser,Philipp 2579
11...d5! Black is able to demolish White's Seul,Georg 2450
centre with a couple of hammer blows. 12.f2 Bundesliga 2007-8 (4) 15.12.2007
[ After 12.e5 c5 White is unable to stabilise [John Watson]
the pawns on d4 and e5 as Nf5 is looming. ]
[ Upon 12.exd5 f5 looks more precise Tiger's Modern is fun, but you have to know
t h a n t h e o b vi o u s r e c a p t u r e o n d 5 , f o r some exact move orders. Even then, a move
example 13.f2 ( Black has a big initiative like 6 e5 can be an uncomfortable surprise.
after 13.e2 e7 14.dxe6 xe6 1.d4 d6 2.e4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.f4 a6 5.f3
as d4, e3 and f3 are all hanging.) 13...e7 d7
14.e2 xd4 etc. ] [ H i l l a r p - P e r s s o n ( T i g e r ) p r e f e r s 5...b5
12...c5! 13.exd5 , although generally players don't seem to
[ If 13.dxc5 xc3+ ( 13...a5!? ) 14.bxc3 notice the difference and the two moves
dxe4 15.fxe4 xe4 16.h3 0-0 transpose. ]
wh e n t h e d e st r u c t i o n o f W h i t e ' s p a wn 6.e5!
structure is of more significance than the [ Here Tiger likes 6.a4 wi t h t h e i d e a b6
exchange of Black's dark squared bishop. 7.c4! . 6 e5, as far as I know, is a new way
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
822
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
but everything clearly in order for Black at [ 5.a3!? cxd4 6.b5 a6 7.xd4 xd4
this juncture. ] 8.xd4 is a solid, sensible and dull antidote.
8.dxc5 xc5 9.e5 Shabalov understands Black has a plus score from this position,
that he is obligated to attack immediately. b7 but that has nothing to do with the
10.0-0-0 f6 And Burnett will play his full part. objective assessment of the position - Black
Black hits before White mobilises the Kingside. is generally the stronger and more
A sacrifice on b5 beckons-how else to justify ambitious player. My assessment is a tiny
White's position. 11.h4 dxe5 12.f2 c7 nibble for White. ]
13.fxe5 f5 14.g3 h6 15.xb5
5...g7 6.c4 Following a recommendation by
There it is! axb5 16.xb5+ f8 17.g5 Rozentalis. I am no longer convinced.
c8 [ T h e o l d l i n e i s 6.e3 cxd4 7.cxd4
[ It must have been very tempting to play wh e n B la ck m u st a vo id t h e o ld c la s s i c
17...b3+ h6?? 8.c1! ]
but I don't think it's working:
18.axb3 ( 18.b1 a5 ) 18...a1+
6...d8
19.d2 a5+ 20.e2 xb5+ 21.c4 xd1 [ The Archives show a game where a very
22.cxb5 xh1 23.b6 ] young Magnus Carlsen played 6...e4+ ]
18.b4 f7 19.xc5 xg5 20.xc7 xc7 [ The line's originator later faced 6...d6
21.d8+ f7 22.xh8 xh8 23.e6+ xe6 which offers White additional options. Still,
24.xc7 xc7 A forced sequence sees the Rozentalis' experience was no more
board wiped clean and an interesting pleasant than mine: 7.c3 cxd4 8.b5
asymmetrical endgame begins. If White could b6 9.f4 a6 10.e2 d7 11.0-0 d8
have his time again I am sure that he would 12.e1 ( 12.c1!? ) 12...d3! 13.xd3 xb5
prefer to have his pawn on b2. 25.c4+ e8 14.cxb5 c5 15.e3 f6 16.e5 0-0
Closer to the Queenside. 26.d1 xg2
17.b4 xd3 18.xd3 g4 19.d4 xd4
27.b5 a8 28.e6! Confining Black's King 20.xd4 xf2! 21.d2 e5 0-1 Rozentalis -
as well as pinning down the pawn on e7. Pruess, Cappelle la Grande 2007. ]
[ 28.a4 b6 29.b3 c3 30.d3 a5 7.d5 The logical follow-up.
31.c4 f1 32.d4 e5 33.d6 xc4 [ 7.e3 is possible, as long as White has an
A b rie f va ria t io n wh ich sho ws ju st h o w answer to c6!? T h e o n l y t r y i s 8.d5
difficult it is to get the pawns rolling. ] but I am not convinced. For example: xb2
28...c3! The blockading idea which keeps 9.bd2 xa1 10.xa1 d4 11.xd4
Black in the game. 29.d3 b4 30.d4 d6 cxd4 12.xd4 f6 When Black castles
31.a4 f4 32.a5 c7 33.c4 c5 34.d1 White's compensation for the exchange will
b4 35.b6 xa5 36.bxc7 xc7 37.d5 fade to an insufficient level. ]
A timely offer. After Bxd5 and ...e7-e6 only 7...e5! This strong novelty has not, as far as I
Black can be better. Fascinating chess, where can tell, been analysed in the Archives. It
Burnett gave as good as he got. makes White's 6.c4 plan rather unattractive.
½-½ 8.c3 e7 Black has ideas of ...Ne7-f5-d4 as
well as a kingside avalanche with ...f7-f5.
9.g5 White has many other moves to try, but
812 B06 the trend is downward. I will not return to this
Shaw,John K position (at least not with White!). f6 10.e3
Dreev,Alexey a6 11.e2
EU-chT (Men) 15th 02.08.2005 [ 11.d3 was later suggested, planning to
[John Shaw] take the knight on f5 before it gets to d4. 0-0
12.0-0 f5 Why not take the bishop pair?
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 xd5 4.d4 g6!? ( I was scared of 12...f5 but maybe after
5.f3 White has various other tries, most of 13.c2 h6 14.e1 White can step out of
which have been analysed in the Archives. the way of the pawn storm.) 13.xf5 xf5
[ 5.dxc5 ] I like the bishops, as it is tough to imagine
[ 5.e3 ] the passed d-pawn rushing to glory. ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
11...f5 12.0-0 0-0 13.a3 d4 14.b4 f5 [ 8...f6 9.g3 ( 9.e5! was critical and
I won't get too involved with the rest of the White has the better chances here I think,
game as it is irrelevant and (from W hite's for example fd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1 a5
point of view) very ugly. 15.xd4 cxd4 12.h4 e6! 13.h3 and White's central
16.b5 d7!? space should give him the advantage but at
[ The greedy move was 16...d3 planning least Black is holding on for now on the
17.xd3 e4 ] kingside. ) 9...c5 10.dxc5 dxc5 11.e5 d5
17.c1 Allowing a complete positional 12.e4 c7 13.e2 0-0 14.0-0 c6
collapse. 15.f2 d4?! ( 15...fc8! because if
[ Maybe 17.d6 ] 16.xc5?! then xe5 17.fxe5 xc5
[ or 17.d6 but real improvements are and Black is at least equal; not 15...ac8?!
needed much, much earlier. ] 16.xc5 xe5 17.xe5 xc5 18.xc5
17...xb5 18.cxb5 c7 19.c4 h8 xc5 19.d7 and Black drops the
20.e1 d6 21.a4 ae8 22.b3 xd5 exchange ) 16.xd4 cxd4 17.xd4
23.xd5 xd5 24.c5 d6 25.b3 e4 and Black didn't have enough for the pawn
26.g5 f6 27.h3 f4 28.g5 d3 29.d1 in Vovk, Y (2549)-Czebe, A (2480)
e3 30.xd3 exf2+ 31.xf2 d4+ 32.xd4 Szombathely 2008 ]
xd4+ 33.f1 xe1+ 34.xe1 xc5 9.c3
35.bxc5 f5 [ 9.dxc5!? dxc5 10.0-0 should be a little
0-1 better for W hite but Black can try the
interesting h6! here when it's not obvious
how W hite should continue. I'd be very
813 B06 t e m p t e d b y 11.f5!? gxf5 12.exf5
Shomoev,A 2560 with Nf5-h5 coming but Black has
Bocharov,D 2602 counterplay still after g4 ]
Vladimir Dvorkovich Mem 2014 (5.8) 22.01.14 9...bxc3?! A definite error, White can make
[Tom Rendle] much more use of the b-file than Black
[ instead 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 ( 10.exd4 f6
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.f4 a6 5.f3 11.e2 bxc3 12.bxc3 c7 is a little
b5 6.d3 b7 This is Black's critical setup awkward for White) 10...f6! is absolutely
against 4.f4 at the moment, it's not at all fine for Black, for example 11.e5 d5
obvious what White's best option is here, 7.e5 12.0-0 0-0 13.e1 c6 14.h4 e6
and 7.0-0 are both covered in the archives 15.h3 b6 and Black's pressure on the
and whilst I think the latter leads to a slight centre is enough to compensate for
edge, neither is completely convincing so here White's kingside initiative ]
we see Shoemoev take a slightly different 10.bxc3 cxd4 11.b1 c7 12.cxd4
approach. 7.a4 b4 8.e2 c5! [ 12.b3!? was also dangerous but Black
Putting immediate pressure on White's centre seems to be holding on after d7! 13.g5
[ 8...d7 9.c3 a5 ( 9...c5! again is a better h6 14.cxd4 ( 14.xb7?! xb7 15.xb7
wa y t o h a n d l e t h e p o s it i o n wit h o n l y a c5 16.xa6 xa6 17.b8+ d7
minimal W hite edge after 10.0-0 cxd4 18.xh8 xh8 19.cxd4 b3 and Black is
11.cxd4 ) 10.0-0 e6 11.f5! exf5 12.exf5 the one pressing ) 14...b8 ]
gf6 13.g5 ( 13.f4! is better, for 12...d7 13.0-0 Opening up the queenside
example 0-0 14.cxb4 axb4 15.b3 c5 ha s re a lly n o t h e lp e d B la ck a n d a lre a d y
16.fxg6 hxg6 17.xg6 cxd4 18.g5 e7 Bocharov is under a lot of pressure gf6
19.f5 and Black is really struggling here) [ 13...h6 14.d2 0-0 15.c1! xc1
13...0-0 14.fxg6 hxg6 15.e1 c5 16.h4 16.fxc1 a7 17.h3! leaves White in
and now in Spraggett, K (2601)-Siebrecht, S control of the queenside and Black's knight
(2453) Haarlem 2008 Black could've on h6 very offside ]
obtained good play with bxc3 17.bxc3 14.g3?!
c7 ] [ 14.g5! was much more incisive - the
824
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
threat of e5 is very difficult to deal with, for gets mated after 28.f5+ g5 29.h4+
example g4 30.e2# ]
A) 14...h6?! fails to 15.xf7! xf7 ( or 1-0
15...g8 16.e5! dxe5 17.fxe5 xe4
18.b3 and White again regains the piece
with a winning position) 16.b3+ d5 814 B06
17.exd5; Slobodjan,Roman 2525
B) 14...0-0 15.e5 dxe5 ( 15...c6 Azmaiparashvili,Zurab 2632
is perhaps a better try but White is clearly 8th ch-Euro Dresden GER (7) 09.04.2007
better after 16.xb7 xb7 17.exf6 xf6 [John Watson]
18.f5 as the two pieces are more than
enough for the rook and pawn and White 1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.e3 a6
still has an initiative) 16.fxe5 d5 17.b3 5.f4 As Tiger says, this is now a very common
c6 18.e4! e6 19.h3 I suspect this move order for White. But it's not directly in
final detail with 18.Be4 and 19.Qh3 was the Index of his book. b5 6.f3 b4
m i s s e d - B l a c k i s l o s t n o w a f t e r h6 [ 6...b7! is Ramesh-Hillarp-Persson,
20.xg6! fxg6 21.xe6+ h8 22.f7+ Amsterdam 2000: 7.d3 d7 8.e2!?
xf7 23.xf7 ] ( 8.0-0 ) 8...c5 ( Tiger likes 8...b4!? 9.d1
14...0-0 15.e2 e5 gf6 , to mix things up) 9.dxc5 xc5
[ 15...c6 16.d2 a7 17.h1 ( 9...dxc5 10.e5! ) 10.xc5! ( 10.0-0 c8! )
is also much better for White as Black can't 10...xc3+ ( 10...dxc5 11.e5 b6
really prevent 18.e5 ] 12.e4! ) 11.bxc3 dxc5 12.e5 h6 13.0-0
16.fxe5 dxe5 17.a3 fe8 b6 with unclear play, but satisfactory
[ 17...fb8 18.g5! leaves Black again chances for Black. ]
struggling on f7 ] 7.e2 b7 8.g3 h5 This looks fine at first,
18.fc1 Good enough but again White misses but Black is behind in space and development,
the strongest continuation and he misjudges White's attack.
[ 18.c4! and Black can't defend against the [ 8...f6 is more natural. ]
nice trick of 19.Bxf7+ for example exd4 ( or 9.f5! The rub. h4 10.fxg6! fxg6
18...f8 19.fc1 b8 20.xf8 xf8 [ 10...hxg3 11.gxf7+ xf7 12.g5+ e8
21.xe5 xe5 22.dxe5 e8 23.d5 13.e6 c8 14.xg7+ f7 15.f5!
and Black is completely lost) 19.xf7+ xf7 is practically winning on the spot, since xe4
20.a2+ ] 16.c4+! d5 17.g4! hits too many
18...b8 19.b2 a7 20.c4 f8? squares. ]
A final mistake that costs Bocharov the game 11.e2 e5 Best. A depressing line is
[ after 20...h6 Black is still fighting, [ 11...xe4 12.g5 f5 13.f4 with the
although White is probably still winning has idea Bd3. ]
to find some accurate moves 21.b3 xc1 12.dxe5 xe5!
22.xf7+ g7 23.xe8 xa3 24.xd7 [ 12...dxe5 13.xd8+ xd8 14.a3 a5
d6! 25.f5! a nice tough e8 26.dxe5 15.g5 gives White active pieces to aim
e7 27.h1 and White is winning although against Black's several weaknesses. ]
there is still some work to be done ] 13.d2!?
21.xf8 xf8 22.dxe5 xe5 [ 13.xe5 dxe5 14.xd8+ xd8 15.a3 a5
[ 22...xe5 is a marginal improvement but 16.g1! xe4 17.f3 xf3 18.gxf3 bxa3
it's obviously lost after 23.xe5 ( 23.d5! 19.0-0-0+! launches an effective attack for
is ever better ) 23...xe5 24.f2 ] only a pawn. ]
23.xe5 xe5 24.f2! I'm sure this was the 13...c6
move Black missed - suddenly he's losing a [ 13...xb2!? 14.b1 a3 15.f4 f6
piece by force ea8 25.b6 g7 26.f1 16.g5 h a s t h e i d e a xe4?? 17.xe4
xe4 27.xf7+ h6 28.f5+! xe4 18.d4 ]
[ Black resigned as he loses his queen or 14.ed4 xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4
825
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
f6? Black gives up a pawn and also looks to favour White.) 8...b7 9.g3
underestimates White's queenside pressure. c5 10.axb4 cxd4 11.xd4 bd7 12.e2
Instead, he should try h5 13.e5! h4 14.exf6 ( 14.e6!?
[ 16...f6 , and if 17.xb4 xe4 18.0-0-0 , is a p re t t y lit t le m o ve t h a t a ls o lo o k s
0-0 with the worse game, but at least even interesting.) 14...xf6 15.f1 There can't
material. ] be anything wrong with this move but now
17.xb4 0-0-0 18.0-0-0 Black at least gets an initiative for the
[ 18.a3 ] s a c r i f i c e d p i e c e . ( 15.gf5!? gxf5
18...f4+ 19.b1 f6 20.a3! h3? 16.xf5 would leave White a pawn up and
[ 20...xe4 21.xa6 xa6 22.xa6+ b7 with the attack himself.) 15...h3 16.g1
23.a3! is very strong, intending perhaps e5 17.gxh3 f8 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.b3
Rd3-b3. ] d5 20.g5 b6 21.f2 xf2+
21.xa6 hxg2 22.xb7+ xb7 23.hg1 22.xf2 xb4 23.c5 xd3+ 24.cxd3
h3?? White was much better but this loses c8 25.b4 xh3 26.g3 h5 27.a5
material. 24.b3+ Either Rd4-a4 wins, or 24... and W hite was a piece for pawn up but
Kc8 25 Qe6+ picks up the rook. somehow only drew. Andriasian, Z (2585)-
1-0 Bologan, V (2686) Belgorod 2010.;
C) 6...d7
C1) 7.a4 was given as White's safest try
815 B06 for an advantage by Tiger. b4 8.e2
Smeets,Jan 2669 C1a) 8...a5 was his own choice: 9.0-0
Siebrecht,Sebastian 2421 a6 10.xa6 ( 10.b5 e6 11.c4
TCh-NED Netherlands NED (6.2) 12.02.2011 e7 is given in the book but the
[Gawain Jones] young Indian's choice might be more
threatening.) 10...xa6 11.d3 a8
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.f4 a6 12.f5 ( Grabbing space with 12.c4!?
Another encounter featuring the Austrian looks interesting.) 12...c5 Narayanan,
A t t a c k a ga in s t T i ge r's M o d e rn . A h ig h l y S (2210)-Hillarp Persson, T (2535)
complex line and one in which it's important to R e y k j a v i k 2 0 0 8 w h e n 13.f4!
know your theory well on both sides of the looks dangerous to deal with.;
board. 5.f3 d7 C1b) 8...c5 Criticised by Tiger who
[ 5...b5 This is Tiger's preferred move order examines many other alternatives.
but is quite likely to come to the same thing. 9.c3 bxc3 10.bxc3 c7 11.0-0 b7
6.d3 12.h1 h6!? ( 12...c4 13.c2 gf6
A) He doesn't like 6...b7 because of 7. 14.e5 d5 gives Black good play on
a4 but instead a recent high rated the light squares.) 13.e1 This is not
e n c o u n t e r c o n t i n u e d 7.e5!? e6!? best. cxd4! 14.exd4 ( 14.cxd4 c5
( 7...d7 would transpose back into the is the point although W hite can get
mainline. ) 8.e4 xe4 ( The computer d e c e n t c o m p e n s a t i o n wi t h 15.dxc5
wants 8...d5 but this is starting to xa1 16.a3 f6 17.cxd6 exd6
resemble a bad French for Black.) 9.xe4 18.d2 ) 14...c5 15.c2 c8
e7 10.0-0 bc6 11.c3 0-0 12.e2 16.d2 g4 17.g5 h6 18.h3 e5!
d7 13.e3 d5 14.d2 f5 15.exf6 and Black had taken over the initiative.
xf6 16.xf6+ xf6 17.fe1 fe8 Medvegy, Z (2556)-Thiede, L (2450)
18.e4 Mchedlishvili, M (2630)- Trier 2010.;
Miroshnichenko, E (2684) Konya 2010 and C2) 7.e5 b7 ( I l o o k e d a t 7...c5
White was slightly for preference but Black in Mekhitarian, K (2550)-Ahmadinia, E
held on.; (2436) Zuerich 2010 which can be found
B) 6...b4 looks rather premature but was in the archives. )
the choice of the top Moldovan GM. 7.e2 C2a) 8.0-0 has been seen in a couple
f6 8.a3 ( 8.e5 d5 9.e4 c6 10.a3 of recent en cou nte rs. c5 ( 8...e6
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
9.e4 b6 10.e2 e7 11.c3 d7 White. Asis Gargatagli, H (2406)-Almeida
12.b3 b8 13.d2 xe4 14.xe4 Qu in ta na , O (25 41 ) Mo nt cad a i Re ixa c
0-0 15.ad1 fd8 16.b1 2010. ) 11.hg1!? ( 11.h4!? must again
Berescu, A (2476)-Manolache, M come into consideration.) 11...d5 12.xd5
(2544) Sarata Monteoru 2011 when c5 xd5 13.b1 0-0 14.c1 f5!? 15.h3 c6
gives Black good play.) 9.e4 xe4 16.d2 ab8 17.f1 dxe5 18.dxe5 fd8
10.xe4 cxd4 11.e6 Very tempting. 19.e3 e4 with a complex middlegame,
( 11.exd6 b6 when Tiger examines Haslinger, S (2529)-Muse, M (2448) Trier
b o t h 1 2 . f 5 a n d 1 2 . N e 5 b u t 12.a4 2010. ]
may be critical) 11...fxe6 12.eg5 [ 8...e6 is the other possibility when Ni Hua
f8 13.xd4 xd4+ chose 9.a4 b4 10.e4 xe4 I don't like
( T i g e r r e c o m m e n d s 13...c8 this move at all as now White has good long
wh i c h k e e p s t h e b ish o p b u t lo o k s term chances with the bishop pair.
rather passive and indeed is ( 10...e7 was McShane's choice and looks
n o n s e n s i c a l i f f o l l o w i n g 14.e1 preferable: 11.exd6 f5 12.dxc7 xc7
Black must take on d4. He could try e5 when practical examples indicate Black has
but 15.fxe5 xe5 16.df3 quite good compensation for the pawn. The
looks decidedly awkward.) 14.xd4 most recent example continued: 13.d2
f6 15.a4 h6 16.f3 b8 0-0 14.f2 d6 15.fg5 f6 16.xf6+
( 16...8d7 17.e1 f7 is perhaps a xf6 17.0-0 h6 18.f3 e4 19.xe4
better path attempting to complete xe4 20.e5 when the Aussie IM could
Black's development.) 17.axb5 axb5 h a ve t a k e n t h e c 2 p a w n a n d c e r t a i n l y
18.e3 h7 19.h1 d5 20.d2 wouldn't have been worse. Khenkin, I (2613)-
b6 21.e4 b7 22.d4 c7 W o h l , A ( 2 4 1 7 ) B a d W i e s s e e 2 0 0 9 .)
23.d3 with continued pressure for the 11.xe4 d5 12.d3 a5 13.0-0 e7 14.c3
pawn. D'Amore, C (2505) -Mack, W bxc3 15.bxc3 b8 16.e2 0-0 17.g4!?
(2282) Reykjavik 2011.; b6 18.ab1 and White's extra space gave
C2b) 8.e3 would transpose back to him a clear advantage. Ni Hua (2667)-Tan
the game. ] Zhongyi (2464) Hefei 2010 ]
6.e3 9.e4 xe4
[ The reason Tiger doesn't like this move [ 9...c8 is the alternative and was
order is that White can now play 6.a4 b6 Nakamura's option although White stands
( However 6...e6 looks playable to me.) well theoretically. 10.xb7 xb7 11.dxc5
7.c4 with a pleasant position. ] dxe5 12.d5 xd5 13.xd5 c8
6...b5 7.e5 b7 8.d3 c5 ( 13...0-0-0 was seen in Izoria, Z (2647) -
[ A n d r e w M a r t i n i n v e s t i g a t e s 8...h6 Inarkiev, E (2602) Kusadasi 2006 but here
in Zufic, M (2370)-Nevednichy, V (2552) 14.0-0-0 gave White a big advantage, check
Bosnjaci 2005. 9.e2 b6 ( 9...e6 10.a4 Andrew Martin's comments in the archives.)
b4 11.e4 f5 12.f2 h5 13.0-0 a5 14.b6 xb6 15.cxb6 f6 16.fxe5
14.h3 b6 15.eg5 and White was slightly ( 16.0-0-0 was White's choice in Delchev, A
for pref erence but Black's position was (2648)-Nakamura, H (2701) Mulhouse 2009
certainly playable until d5? when 16.xf5 annotated by John W atson but looks
simply won a piece as 17.Qb5+ is inaccurate.) 16...d5 17.d4 0-0 18.a4
threatened. Smerdon, D (2526)-Fernandez, xc2 19.0-0 This is given as a little better
D (2371) Khanty-Mansiysk 2010.) 10.0-0-0 for White by Tiger and indeed the b6 pawn
( 10.a4 is seen in Zufic, M (2370) - should give him better chances. However a
Nevednichy, V (2552) Bosnjaci 2005 looked recent encounter saw Black triumph: b8
at by Andrew Martin which worked out quite 20.axb5?! ( Supporting the b6 pawn with
well. ) 10...d7 ( 10...e6 11.h4 b4 12.e4 20.a5 must be good for White.) 20...axb5
f5 13.d2 xe4 14.xe4 d5 15.e1 21.a5 xb6 22.xb5?! This throws away
h5 16.xf5 gxf5 17.xb4 was good for the advantage. ( 22.xb6 xb6 23.a8+
827
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
f8 24.d1 xb2 25.dd8 wins a piece Aix-les-Bains 2011. It's always interesting
and gives great winning chances.) 22...d7 to see a player switch colours af ter a
23.xb8+ xb8 24.a1 c6 25.c3 h6 game and so this idea should be taken
26.a8+ g7 27.e6+ f6 28.c8 b4 seriously. ]
29.d8? e3+ 30.f1 f2+ 31.e1 c2+ 11...g4 12.g1
32.d1 c5 and Black finally had some [ 12.e2!? is a further option which has
winning chances and eventually exploited. been essayed in a couple of recent
Berzinsh, R (2427) -Townsend, M (2266) Correspondence games. dxe5 13.0-0-0
Daventry 2010. ] c7 14.fxe5 gxe5 15.f4 ( 15.d5 xf3
10.xe4 h6 Continuing to follow Tiger's 16.gxf3 0-0-0!? 17.f4 c6 18.f3 b8
analysis. 19.dd1 xd1+ 20.xd1 d8 21.xd8+
[ 10...c4?! takes pressure off White's centre xd8 was also satisfactory for the second
pre m a tu re ly. 11.fg5 d5 12.e6! fxe6 player. Hostinsky, J (2386)-Bjazevic, P
13.xe6 b6 14.xg7+ f7 15.c5 (2202) ICCF email 2007.) 15...c6 16.xe5
and W hite had a fantastic position ( The sacrificial 16.d6+ exd6 17.xd6
although somehow he failed to win. Zelcic, xc5 18.xd7 is completely fine for Black:
R (2554)-Muse, M (2446) Sibenik 2010. ] xd7 19.xe5+ xe5 20.xe5 hd8
[ 10...cxd4 also looks wrong: 11.xd4 dxe5 21.e4 c4 22.d1+ e8 23.d4+ e6
12.fxe5 f8 has been reached twice 24.h4 f5 25.xh7 e7 26.g7 d6
re ce n t ly b u t I st ill like Ni Hu a 's 13.fg5 27.b3 c8 28.d2 e4 29.f2 xd4
( 13.c5 as played most recently in To, N 0-1 Klapiszewski, T (2243)-Antonone, R
(2413)-Mitchell, M (2266) Budapest 2010 (2 2 5 3 ) I C CF e m a il 2 0 1 0 .) 16...xe5
also loo ks like a go od t ry.) 13...h6 17.xe5 xe5 18.b1 0-0 19.h4 h5
Ni Hua (2568)-Stryjecki, M (2441) Athens 1/2-1/2 Leone, F (2360) -Antonone, R
2001 and now 14.0-0 e6 15.xe6 fxe6 (2225) ICCF email 2009. ]
16.g5 d5 17.c4! bxc4 18.a4+ d7 12...dxe5 13.h3 h6
19.xd7+ xd7 20.ad1 leaves Black in [ 13...gf6 is Tiger's suggested
an unpleasant endgame. ] improvement. His line runs 14.xf6+ exf6
11.dxc5 And this is the critical continuation. A) 15.d5 was played in a practical
Anything which the theoretician Smeets plays encounter in which the first player was
twice should be taken very seriously. victorious. c8 16.0-0-0 b8 17.fxe5
[ However 11.e2 has also been tried a few fxe5 18.h2 xd5 19.xd5 f6 20.hd1
times recently, a novelty which Morozevich e7 21.g4 h6? ( 21...hd8 is fine for
came up with in 2003. Black. ) 22.h4! Oops. g6 has become a
A) 11...cxd4 i s c r i t i c a l . 12.xd4 f5 b i g w e a k n e s s . f7 23.d7+! xd7
13.0-0-0 xd4 ( 13...a5? 14.e6 fxe6 24.xd7+ e6 25.xg7 and White
15.xd6+! exd6 16.xe6+ d8 converted his advantage. Ong, K (2304)-
17.xg7 saw a strong GM getting into Tikkanen, H (2354) Gothenburg 2006.;
severe difficulties very early. Ibarra Chami, B) 15.d6!? also looks interesting.;
L (2436)-Almeida Quintana, O (2593) C) 15.c6 f8 ]
Mexico City 2010.) 14.xd4 0-0 15.hd1 14.c6 f6 15.xd8+ xd8? And this is the
wa s s e e n i n M o r o z e v i c h , A ( 2 7 0 2 ) - first new move but cannot be called a good
Chatalbashev, B (2534) Plovdiv 200 3 novelty.
when I think Black had a reasonable game [ Jan must believe in this variation for White
although I'd probably opt for White.; as he had played it earlier this year against
B) 11...0-0 12.dxc5 dxe5 13.fxe5 f5 F r a n c e ' s t o p r a t e d p l a ye r . T h a t g a m e
14.f4 ( T h e i m m e d i a t e 14.0-0-0 continued 15...xd8 16.c7 ( 16.xf6+ exf6
looks strong) 14...c7 15.0-0-0 f6 16.g4 17.a4 looks promising, keeping control of
fxe5 17.gxf5 exf4 18.fxg6 xc5 the d7 square and thus it will be harder for
19.gxh7+ and Black was in a lot of trouble. Black to get his final rook into the game.)
Chatalbashev, B (2602)-Buchal, S (2337) 16...c8 17.xf6+ exf6 18.b6 d7
828
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
A) 19.g4 was played in the first game to An accurate display by Jan Smeets but the
reach this endgame and might be better. final theoretical word has not been spoken in
c6 20.a5 he8 21.0-0-0 f8 22.d8 this line. We need to see more examples of
d6 23.d1 xc7 24.xc7 xc7 Tiger's suggestion of 13...Ngf6.
in Cuijpers, F (2485)-Chernin, A (2572) 1-0
Germany 2001. Here W hite could have
improved with 25.1d7+ c6 ( 25...b8
26.xe8 xe8 27.fxe5 fxe5 28.g5 816 B06
wins back the pawn and gives White great Spoelman,Wouter 2205
w i n n i n g c h a n c e s .) 26.d6+ b7 Hort,Vlastimil 2530
27.8d7+ c7 28.xc7+ xc7 Essent Open Hoogeveen (1) 2002
29.xa6; [Andrew Martin]
B) 19.0-0-0+ c6 20.a5 f5
Now Black's pieces manage to coordinate. 1.e4 g6 After 1 ...g6 is Black's defensive set-
21.d8?! ( Better looks to be 21.fxe5 fxe5 up can be interpreted in many different ways.
Krivec, J (2343)-Drummond, M (2236) For most players, that is the main attraction of
Q u e e n s t o w n 2 0 0 9 a n d n o w 22.he1 the Modern. Here we see veteran
sh o u ld be t h ro wn in t o p re ve nt B la ck Grandmaster Hort employing a 'rope a dope'
advancing his passed pawn with rough strategy facing a series of routine developing
equality. ) 21...h6! 22.hd1 xf4+ moves from his opponent. White is invited to
23.b1 e4 24.d4+ xd4 25.1xd4 assume the initiative and run aground against
xc7 26.xc7 xc7 27.8d7+ b6 the sturdy Black position. 2.d4 d6 3.e3
28.xe4 f5 29.ed4 he8 30.b4 e1+ g7 4.c3 a6 5.a4 b6 6.d2 b7 7.c4
31.b2 e2 and the Dutch GM was in d7 8.f3 e6 9.0-0
trouble. Smeets, J (2662)-Vachier Lagrave, [ 9.h4 gf6 10.d5 e5 ]
M (2715) Wijk aan Zee 2011. ] [ 9.d5 e5 10.g4!? ]
16.b6+! This is the problem. Black is unable 9...h6! An extremely annoying move to face
to get his king to c7 and thus cannot connect mainly because W hite feels he has to be
his rooks while the c6 pawn is a huge thorn in going somewhere with his position, but when
his side. c8 17.xf6 exf6 18.0-0-0! he starts to cast his eye around for a plan
Black is already lost as he cannot contest the struggles to find anything concrete.
d file. a5 Whichever central pawn he pushes liberates a
[ 18...b8 19.a5 b4 20.c7 a8 21.fxe5 Black Bishop. He would love to be able to
fxe5 22.d8+ b7 23.e1 leaves Black in move his Knight to e1 and plough through with
a complete bind and he must just wait whilst f4-f5 but that takes ages. Of course Black's â
all his pawns start dropping. f6 24.e4 Hippopotamusâ [] or â Frog â system attained
wins. ] full respectability in the Petrosian-Spassky
19.d5 a6 20.xb5 f5 21.d1 World Championship Match in 1966 . There it
One pawn has dropped and still Black cannot wa s d e m o n st ra t e d t h a t W h it e h a d t o b e
re l e a s e t h e s h a ck le s o n h i s p o si t i o n . e4 exceptionally patient and even cunning if he
22.g1 h6 23.e2 g3!? A nice try but wanted to get any advantage. Most opponents
unfortunately his position is already hopeless. aren't really up to it. 10.fe1 e7 11.ad1
24.d2 xe2 25.xe2 xf4 So material is f8! 12.d3 g8 I suppose if White does
back to parity but unfortunately that's the only nothing Black will eventually come to ...e6-e5
positive in Black's position. His rook on a6 is and ... f7-f5 after due preparation. Spoelman
completely cut out of the game while White's eyes the King heading for h7 and tries to get
rooks dominate. 26.d7 f8 27.a4 f5 his Kn igh t o ver to a id a K ingsid e a tta ck .
28.b7 h5 29.xa5 xa5 30.xa5 g5 13.e2 f6 14.g3 e8! 15.b4
31.b6 g4 32.hxg4 g8 33.a7 b8 Not sure W hite wanted to play this one but
34.c7+ xc7 35.xc7 xg4 36.f1 e3 Black was threatening ... Ng4 anyway.
37.a5 b4 38.b3 h4 39.xf7 f4+ 40.e1 Alternatives are not inspiring :
829
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ 15.b3 g4 16.h3 xe3 17.xe3 c5! material suffice it to say Black has rather
18.c3 h7 ] good results. ]
[ 15.c3 c5! ] 5...b5
15...a5 16.a3 d8 17.c4 Looks fine, but [ 5...d7 6.0-0 b5 but ( It's possible to
White weakens the square b4.Hort is on to c o n t i n u e w i t h 6...e6 but this must be a
this small detail in a flash. d7 18.h4 c6 somewhat worse version as White has not
19.b1 b4 20.b3 e5 Finally some sign of co m m i t t e d t o a 4 . 7.g5 I never see the
real activity f rom Black although with the point of this move as it simply allows Black
Bishop on b1 buried it feels to me as though t o g a i n t i m e wi t h h is Hi p p o se t u p . e7
W hite has already been totally outplayed. 8.d2 h6 9.e3 b6 10.ad1 b7 11.h3
21.dxe5 dxe5 22.c1 e7 23.d2 h7 was a typical Hippo position. Following f6
24.ed1 a6 25.e2 dc5 Attacking both 12.e5 fd5 13.f4 xf4 14.xf4 0-0
b3 and e4. 26.c3 xb3 27.xd8 xc1 15.e4 g5 16.f6+ xf6 17.xf6 g6
28.8d7 e6 29.xc1 c6 30.7d3 b4-+ Black had comfortably equalised. Ginsburg,
31.3d2 xc4 32.b2 e8 33.c1 e6 G (2537)-Muse, M (2448) Berlin 2010. )
34.a3 e7 35.d5 xd5 36.exd5 g4 A) Instead 7.e1 b7 8.f1 c5 9.g5
37.d6 cxd6 38.xd6 e4 39.h2 xh4 cxd4 10.xd4 gf6 looked like a fairly
40.xb6 d4 A remarkable little game which healthy Dragon position. Hellers, F (2598)-
should really have been concluded 15 moves Burwick, M (2229) Sweden 2011.;
ago. White's initial advantage in space and B) 7.a4 b4 8.d5 a5 9.c3
time seemed to evaporate and he was left B1) 9...e6?! would be similar to the
only with weaknesses. Spoelman was game but does allow W hite the
doubtless baffled - where on earth had he interesting possibility of 10.g5! f6
gone wrong........? ( 10...gf6 11.xf6+ xf6 12.h6
0-1 leaves Black in difficulties to complete
his development.) 11.f4 e7 12.h4
g5 13.xg5 fxg5 14.xg5 xg5
817 B06 15.xe6 h6 16.xc7+ d8 17.xa8
Stevic,Hrvoje 2611 b7 when rook and four pawns are
Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2729 about the same value as the three
12th ch-EUR Aix les Bains FRA (7) 28.03.2011 pieces but Black's loose king ensures
[Gawain Jones] White very good winning chances, i.e.
18.f3 xa8 19.d3 gf6 20.a6
I haven't looked at a pure Classical Variation e7 21.e5;
yet so decided to remedy that this month with B2) 9...c6 10.f4 bxc3 11.bxc3 e5
a look at some interesting recent games. (I 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.d3 c7 14.d2
e x a m i n e d 4 . . . a 6 l a s t ye a r b u t i t q u i c k l y gf6 15.a3 f8 16.c1 a6 17.c4
became a Hippo). 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 xa3 18.xa3 c5 19.f4! If Black had
d6 4.f3 a6 The young Russian chooses enough time to castle he would have
Tiger's Modern to create winning chances. I equalised. exf4 20.e5!? ( 20.xf4 0-0
like ...a6 from a strategic point of view but I 21.c3 is also very good for W hite)
get worried against f2-f4 setups as White can 20...xe5 21.c3 fd7 22.f3 f6
create a strong attack very quickly. However 23.xf4 b7 24.ae1 with strong play
against the Classical Variation this isn't an for the pawn but Black survived and
issue. 5.e2 The most critical. we n t o n t o win . B a ca lla o A l o n s o , Y
[ I looked at 5.a4 in Panchanathan, M (2543)- (2 46 7)-A lm eida Q uint an a, O (25 24 )
Illingworth, M (2289) Parramatta 2010 when Ciego de Avila 2010.;
Black normally plays a hippopotamus setup C) 7.d5! is suggested by Tiger trying to
with b6 ] exploit the hole on c6. ]
[ I can find six games in the archives with 6.a4 This is probably White's only dangerous
5.e3 so there's no need to expand on that try.
830
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ 6.0-0 has been the most common and is believe g5 10.g3 b7 11.d3 e6
Tiger's mainline. That continued b7 7.e1 12.e3 f6 can really be worse for Black
d7 8.f1 c5 when he considered 9.a4 who has great play.) 9...b7 10.d3 e6
to be best: b4 10.d5 gf6 11.g5 0-0 11.e3 f6 12.d2 a6 13.c4 bxc3
12.xf6+ xf6 13.d5 h6 with equality. ] 14.xc3 xe2 15.xe2 h5 16.g3 c5!
[ 6.a3 is hardly the most challenging an d Bla ck a lre a d y h a d a ne a r d e c is ive
response and allows Black easy advantage. Comp Gideon 2-Christiansen, L
development. One recent example (2560) The Hague 1994. ]
continued b7 7.0-0 d7 8.e1 c5 9.f1 8...e6 9.e3 e7 The first new move as far
cxd4 10.xd4 gf6 11.f3 0-0 12.e3 as I can see. I seem to recall that
c8 13.a4 b4 14.a2 Furman, L (2150) - Nepomniachtchi was moving quickly here (I
Hermansen, R (2219) Las Vegas 2010 when was playing a few boards away) indicating that
with d5! Black would have seized the h e wa s p r o b a b l y s t i l l i n h i s p r e p a r a t i o n
initiative. ] although he's famed for always moving fast
6...b4 7.d5 So far we have been following anyway.
another recent game of Stevic's but here [ 9...b7 was played in the only previous
Black varies. a5 e n c o u n t e r . 10.c2 f6 ( 10...e7
[ 7...b7 was played in the earlier game is likely to transpose to W hite's eleventh
from last December but exchanging b and a move alternative.) 11.e5 d5 ( 11...e4
pawns leaves Black with a vulnerable a6 12.d3 w o u l d f o r c e d5 which seems a
pawn. However following 8.xb4 xe4 co n ce ssio n .) 12.g4 h6 13.c4 e7
9.a5 f6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e3 c8 12.d2 14.0-0 d7 15.f4 f5 16.ad1 g5
b7 13.f3 e6 14.a3 e8 15.b3 bd7 17.c1 dxe5 18.d5!? e7 19.d3 d4
16.c6 Stevic, H (2621)-Bukal, V (2390) 20.xd4 exd4 21.dxe6 fxe6 22.g6+ d8
Z a d a r 2 0 1 0 h a d B l a c k g o n e f o r xc6 23.f4 with a strong initiative for the pawn.
17.xc6 b8 18.b4 bd7 Black would Fre ssine t, L (2 50 1)-Va isman , V (23 85 )
have been fine. ] Cannes 2000. ]
[ 7...f6 has been played once but 8.xf6+ 10.0-0 b7 11.e5!? Stevic tries to exploit his
forces Black to worsen his structure with space advantage immediately.
exf6 ( 8...xf6 9.h6 is again awkward.) [ 11.c2 is the alternative, playing in a
9.d2 a5 10.c3 bxc3 11.bxc3 0-0 12.0-0 quieter spirit when White could hope for a
f5 Wiemer, P (2089)-Pohl Kuemmel, J slight edge following d7 12.d2 b3!?
( 2 1 6 2 ) B a y e r n 2 0 0 4 w h e n 13.e5!? ( 12...bxc3 13.bxc3 0-0 is probably safer
would keep W hite's structural advantage but here White has a slight edge thanks to
although Black's position is still playable. ] more space.) 13.b1 0-0 14.a3 c6
8.c3 Undermining Black's queenside before 15.c4 b6 16.xb3 when Black has a
he can become fully coordinated looks very structural disadvantage and so should try to
logical. complicate the issue with f5!? ]
[ 8.0-0 b7 9.e1 d7 10.c4 gf6 11...dxe5
11.f4 0-0 12.c3 was seen in Dunne, A [ 11...bc6!? looks slightly odd but is worth
(2300)-Ashley, M (2500) Philadelphia 1998 investigating. ]
wh e n i t wa s p r o b a b l y t h e r i gh t t im e t o 12.dxe5
e xc h a n ge o n d 5 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 [ 12.xe5 can also be played although I feel
14.exd5 b6 15.b3 bxc3 16.bxc3 d7 d7 13.f4 0-0 should be fine for Black who
wh e n B l a c k 's p l a y d o wn t h e b f il e a n d can generate counterplay with ...c5. ]
a g a i n s t t h e d 5 p a wn c o m p e n s a t e s f o r 12...xd1 13.xd1 d5
White's pressure down the e file. ] [ 13...bxc3 is probably the critical test of
[ 8.g5 was the choice of an early computer White's 11.e5!? idea but White can drum up
program but doesn't make so much sense a strong initiative: 14.bxc3 d7 15.b5
a s f o l l o w i n g h6 9.f4 ( 9.h4 ( 15.d4 xe5 16.b5 c8 17.a3
would continue to prevent ...e6 but I can't also gives White decent compensation for
831
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
the pawn. ) 15...0-0-0 ( 15...c6 cedes the d6 looks very passive and I wonder whether
square and thus cannot be recommended [ 21.e3!? might have been a better try
16.f1 xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.c4 c7 although W hite's structure does look very
19.d6+ xd6 20.xd6 f5 21.d1 ugly after xe3 22.fxe3 c5 ]
and despite Black's extra pawn he will really 21...c5 22.db1 xb1+ 23.xb1 a8
have to suf f er as W hite's pieces act so 24.g3?
much better on this board.) 16.a3 d5 [ 24.a1 looks passive but it was essential to
17.xd5 exd5 ( 17...xd5?! 18.ab1! b6 defend the pawn. ]
19.g5 wins material.) 18.e6!? ( 18.e7 24...f8!?
de8 19.xd7+ xd7 20.f6 xf6 [ 24...xa4 25.xa5!? was perhaps the
21.exf6 is around level.) 18...fxe6 19.g5 idea axc3 ( 25...xa5?? 26.b8+ f8
de8 when White has sufficient play for the 27.h6 would be unfortunate.) 26.b2 c5
p a wn b u t n o m o r e , i . e . 20.f7 hg8 looks like a clear extra pawn but White has
21.ab1 f8 22.xd7+ xd7 23.e5+ decent drawing chances. ]
c8 24.xf8 gxf8 25.b5 f5 26.e1 c6 25.d4
27.xa5 c7 when White has regained his [ 25.a1 should still have been played but
pawn but Black has now coordinated his b3 26.e1 c5 is of course better for
pieces while the rook on a5 is definitely Black but still White should probably be able
misplaced. ] to hold on to the draw. ]
14.b5+ 25...xa4 26.a1 db6! In principle Black
[ The computer prefers gaining the outside should keep as many pawns on the board as
passed pawn with 14.xd5 xd5 15.cxb4 possible to maximise his winning chances.
axb4 16.a5 when it considers that the a 27.b3
pawn promises W hite a slight edge [ 27.d6 c5 28.xc6 regains the pawn
a l t h o u g h f o l l o w i n g a l i n e s u c h a s d7 but b3 29.a2 xd2 30.xd2 a4
17.f4 h6 18.a6 g5 19.g3 e7 20.h4 31.a2 a3 is probably winning for Black as
c5 Black has dynamic equality in my view. ] the a pawn is so strong. ]
14...c6 15.f1 27...xc4 28.xa4 xe5 29.g2 b8!
[ 15.xd5 exd5 16.f1 d7 doesn't look This is always a useful idea to remember.
at all threatening. ] Nepomniachtchi cleverly f orces Stevic to
15...d7 capture on a5 with the knight when he will
[ Again 15...bxc3 should be considered have problems getting out of the pin. 30.xa5
16.bxc3 ( Sacrificing the pawn looks best. [ 30.d4 was a better practical chance
Instead 16.xd5 cxd5 17.bxc3 d7 although b2 31.c1 b1 32.f4 d3
18.b5 a6 leaves Black with a structural is of course very good for Black. ]
edge which will endure into the ending.) 30...a8 31.c4 c5
16...xc3 17.d3 d5 18.b3 c8 [ It was also possible to play 31...c5! 32.c3
19.a3 and White has compensation for the g7 when White wouldn't be able to get out
pawn but probably nothing more. ] of the pin on the a file. ]
16.c4 0-0 17.d6?! This is a major error. 32.c3 d3 33.a1 xf2 34.xc6 xa1
Stevic must have missed that Black's next 35.xa1 g4 White has escaped the pin but
was possible. only into a lost endgame. Nepomniachtchi
[ 17.cxb4 axb4 18.a5 a6 is simply level. ] made Stevic look rather weak in this game, a
17...bxc3! 18.bxc3 strong indication that Tiger's Modern is a
[ 18.xb7 fb8 would regain the piece with good winning attempt at any level! 36.e5
very good chances as the e5, c3 and a4 xe5 37.xe5 f5 38.f3 f7 39.h4 e7
pawns are so vulnerable. ] 40.g4 d6 41.c3 h5 42.gxh5 gxh5
18...a6 19.xa6 xa6 20.c4 b8 43.e1 e5 44.e3 d7 45.c3 e6
21.d2 Black has definitely taken over the 46.e1 e7 47.f3 f6 48.e3 d6
advantage as White is forced on the back foot 49.d3 d8 50.b4+ e6 51.e1 b6
to defend his pawn weaknesses. However this
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52.e2 f4 2011.;
0-1 C) 5.d2 is a direct way of playing by
White but allows Black good counterplay.
b5 6.a4 ( 6.f4 was seen in the messy
818 B06 Shabalov, A (2590) -Burnett, R (2440)
Sukandar,Irine Kharisma 2325 CCA Vermont Open, Stratton Mountain
Jones,Gawain C 2653 USA 2003 looked at by Andrew Martin in
Queenstown Open (6) 20.01.2012 the archives.) 6...b4 7.ce2 d7!? 8.h4
[Gawain Jones] ( Grabbing the pawn looks dubious 8.xb4
c5 9.c3 gf6 10.f3 0-0 gives Black a
1.e4 g6 I have a few main defences to 1.e4: lead in development, while White's pieces
The Dragon - in its many different forms, a are pretty tangled up and so full
couple of Spanish's and occasional Caro compensation for the pawn.) 8...gf6
Kanns but Irene seemed well booked up on all 9.g3 c5 10.c3 h6 11.e3 bxc3
those lines. Having lost the previous game I 12.bxc3 g4 and the top French GM had
really wanted to bounce back and so the grabbed the bishop pair and was already
Modern seemed a decent choice definitely f or p ref erence. S poe lm an, W (2 42 4)-
risky but with good winning chances too. 2.d4 Bacrot, E (2700) Wijk aan Zee 2008. ]
g7 3.c3 d6 4.g5!? I'd never seen this [ 4...c6!? looks interesting here, attempting
mo ve be f o re a nd so I wa s o n m y own . I t to exploit White's early bishop move: 5.d5
looked strange to me as the bishop is firing ( 5.f3 g4 6.e3 is my computer's
into open space but I now sunk into thought suggestion but hard to believe that this
attempting to find a plan. h6 can remotely challenge Black.) 5...d4
[ 4...f6 would transpose to a more 6.b1!? c6 7.c3 b5 8.xb5 cxb5 9.b3
theoretical position and one where I thought a6 10.d2 f6 11.gf3 0-0 12.0-0 d7
the bishop achieved more. I've actually with a roughly level position, the bishop
played this way myself as White and think pair compensate for the slightly weakened
it 's quite a da ngero us lin e. T h is lin e is structure. Rohl Montes, J (2401)-Krasenkow,
covered in depth and featured this month M (2676) Mallorca 2004. ]
in Gashimov-Ivanchuk. ] [ 4...d7 prepares the ...c5 break. Following
[ 4...a6 has also featured quite heavily in the 5.f3 a6 we reach a position that could of
archives: course have been reached via a 4...a6 move
A) while 5.f3 is a slower, more classical order. 6.a4 resulted in a 16 move win for
setup. Generally I'm not afraid of these White in Rublevsky, S-D'Amore, C Istanbul
positions when White can't play f4 but he Olympiad, Turkey 2000 but of course Black's
may have a small edge. It certainly worked play can be improved. Check Paul
o u t ve ry we l l f o r h im in Fr o lya n o v, D Motwani's comments in the archives.
(2525)-Azmaiparashvili, Z (2632) Dresden ( while I can't believe 6.d3 can be a
2007, examined by John Watson.; serious test of Black's setup: Frolyanov, D
B) 5.f4 looks scary but White has to be (2567)-Graf, A (2621) Kavala 2008. Again
careful to prevent his centre collapsing. b5 you can check John Watson's comments. )]
6.f3 b7 7.d3 d7 [ 4...c5 immediately has similarities to the
B1) 8.e5! looks critical when perhaps game but with the subtle difference that the
Black should try fighting back at once bishop on g5 is hanging in some lines, i.e.
with f6 ( as 8...c5 9.e4 xe4 5.dxc5 a5 6.d2 ( During the game I was
10.xe4 seems to favour White. ); a bit worried about 6.d2!? when following
B2) 8.a4 b4 9.e2 c5 10.c3 gf6 xc5 Black's a tempo up on a rather
11.g3 a5 12.0-0 0-0 13.e2 bxc3 su s p e c t l in e in t h e H yp e r - A c c e l e ra t e d
14.bxc3 e6 with a typical complex fight Dragon (or the Sniper as one author has
in which Black triumphed in Salem, A co in e d it ). W it h t h e e xt r a t e m p o B la c k
(2511) -Mchedlishvili, M (2629) Dubai s h o u l d b e f i n e h o w e v e r .) 6...xc3!?
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regains the piece and leaves White with a 14.b1 looks better for White. ]
strong initiative.) 10.bxc3 xc3+ 11.f1 10.a4 I have to confess that I missed this
felt a little unpleasant to me, even if the move - a sign that my form wasn't there for
computer tells me Black's more or less ok much of Queenstown. Irene threatens a4-a5
with c8 It seems unlikely that Black will forcing the queen away and thus winning the
have many winning chances though. ] c5 pawn. 10.. .a5 is possible to defend but
8.ge2 Sensibly giving back the pawn. th en W h it e m ust b e b et te r t ha n ks t o h e r
[ 8.xc6+?! i s t o o g r e e d y bxc6 9.cxd6 eternal control of the b5 square. Luckily I
xc3+ 10.bxc3 xc3+ 11.f1 a6+ found the following strong idea. a6 11.a5?!
12.e2 d8 will likely regain the pawn with It's harsh to give this move as dubious but in
advantage. ] fact White seems to be in a lot of trouble once
8...dxc5 9.d5 This might be the start of she has won the queen.
W hite's problems. Irene is playing [ 11.xc6+ would be similar to 9. Bxc6
aggressively and hoping to completely refute although following bxc6 12.a5 is possible
my opening play, a strategy that almost paid a n d se e m s crit ica l. O n e lin e co u ld ru n
off but is of course risky. ( 12.d2 e6= should be fine for Black.)
[ 9.0-0 was safer when I thought White had 12...cxd5 13.axb6 dxe4 14.a5!? f6
a s ma ll ad van ta ge bu t B la ck's posit io n 15.xf6 xf6 16.xe4 xb2 17.xc5 b8
do e s n 't s ee m so b a d e it h e r. P e rh a p s I 18.a4 a3 19.c3 d7 20.d2 xa4
should have continued g5 10.g3 f6 21.xa4 c5 22.b1 xb6 23.xa6 d8+
11.f4 ( 11.c1!? is the computer's 24.e1 c5= and at the end of the
interesting offer.) 11...d7 followed by complications we're left in a level ending. ]
castling long with an extremely unclear 11...axb5! The whole point. In return for the
position. ] queen I'll pick up rook and bishop and an
[ 9.xc6+ bxc6 is of course also possible initiative.
and important to assess to work out who it [ There was no time for cold feet 11...c7
favours. Doubled isolated pawns are of 12.a4! and there's no way to defend c5.
course generally very weak and White can The pins keep Black completely bound up. ]
h o p e t o e x p l o it t h e m in t h e l o n g t e r m , 12.axb6 xa1+ 13.d1 g5! It's important to
perhaps by rerouting a knight round to c4. play as actively as possible. Should White get
However that it's at all easy to achieve and time to castle then she'll have a clear
Black has his trumps too. For starters the a d va n t a ge . 14.g3 f6 15.xc5 xe4
pawns aren't as weak as they look they 16.xb5?! During the game I was really
would be much more vulnerable if they were surprised by this move.
o n a n o p e n f i le . T h e y a ls o p r o t e ct t h e [ I felt 16.e3 was much safer but still I quite
important central squares of d4 and d5 - a liked my dynamic potential. I was planning
typical weak spot in the Dragon. The something like f5 17.0-0 b4!? to keep the
exchange has also given Black counterplay White knights from using c3 and therefore
down the b file and along the a8-f1 diagonal. she would still have problems coordinating
A typical fight between static and dynamic her pieces. ]
p la y , I p re f e r t h e d yn a m is m o f B la ck' s 16...0-0 Now it was Irene's turn for a long think.
position. ] She has a material advantage, queen and
9...b6 pawn for the rook and bishop, but ...Rd8 is a
[ I couldn't see a direct refutation of 9...d7 big threat. After the game I was very happy as
but I felt uneasy about it. I really didn't want my calculation around here was all sound.
to lose quickly and thought the game 17.c7!? Taking control of d8 but allowing a
continuation was safer. The pawn on c5 is different tactic.
d e f e n d e d i n d i r e c t l y a s 10.xc5 a6 [ 17.0-0 was of course the most logical and
wins back material. However it's not totally the move I needed something against when
clear even here as White has 11.b4 when I sacrificed my queen. Here I was planning
xb4 12.xb4 xb4 13.xd7+ xd7 d2! ( T h e i m m e d i a t e 17...d8
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31...f2! It seems strange to put the knight en- 19.d6 xc2 20.b7 c6 21.0-0 f5
prise but the tactics work for me. 32.xf2 22.exf6 f7 23.ac1 c4 24.b3 xc1
[ 32.b2 d1+ was the point and so Irene 25.xc1 d4 26.c8 1-0 Grischuk,A-
had no time to capture the rook. ] Bacrot, E/FIDE GP, Dubai UAE (3.2) 2002
32...e4+ 33.d2 (26) ]
[ 33.b2 b1+ 34.a3 xc3 is completely [ 7...e6 8.exd6 ( 8.0-0 e7 9.e1 b7
winning a nice point is that 35.e3 xb3+! 10.a4 b4 11.e4 d5 12.c5 xc5
36.xb3 c4+ again picks up the queen. ] 13.dxc5 a5 14.e3 0-0 15.d4 d7
33...xb3+ 34.e3 16.h4 f6 17.h3 f5 18.xf5 exf5
[ 34.xb3 a2+ 35.e3 xf2 36.xf2 19.d4 fxe5 20.fxe5 ae8 21.g3 e6
xc3 22.fe1 e7 23.c3 bxc3 24.bxc3 f4
leaves Black in a trivially winning
endgame with his extra two pawns. ] 25.g4 xe5 26.xe6+ xe6 27.xe5
34...xc1 35.xe4 xc3 On the surface it g4 28.e7 f7 29.e8+ f8 30.e7
looks like White has made progress. He has b8 31.f1 c6 32.g3 g5 33.g7+ f8
regained some material and is nominally only 34.xf4+ 1-0 Ponomariov,R-Bareev,E/FIDE
slightly down - rook, knight and two pawns for W Ch KO, Moscow RUS (5.4) 2001 (34))
the queen. However the big issue is that the 8...cxd6 9.d5 e5 10.a4 f5 11.g5 e4
king on e4 is actually in very real danger. 12.e6 xc3+ 13.bxc3 b6 14.e2 gf6
36.a2 15.axb5 b7 16.bxa6 xd5 17.d4 e7
[ In the post-mortem we had a quick look at 18.e3 b2 19.b5 hb8 20.d4 xb5
36.d5 b u t B l a c k h a s a t l e a s t c6
21.c4 b4+ 22.c3 xc4 23.xc4 xc4
followed by ...e7-e6+ and ...Rc6-c3 creating 24.a4 d5 25.a7 e8 26.f2 d3 27.c4
the same mating net. ] xc4 28.a3+ e6 29.hb1 d6
[ 36.e5 c5+ 37.d5 xe5 is no good 30.xb5 xb5 1-0 Kosteniuk,A-Meshkov,Y/
either as 38.xe5 d3+ wins the queen. ] Aeroflot Open, Moscow RUS 2002 (30) ]
36...e6! And Irene resigned as there's no way 8.e2 h6 9.a4! b4 10.e4 0-0 11.c3
to prevent either ...f7-f5mate or ...Nb3-c5mate.
The essence of the problem is the Black
A picturesque final position. Kingside. The Bishop on g7 is very cramped.
0-1 White has more space, better centralisation,
ample pawn breaks and the option of e5-e6
whenever he wants to take it. In short, a
819 B06 rotten position for Black. Lobron struggles
Svidler,Peter 2690 manfully to get his position together but he
Lobron,Eric 2500 fights against the tide. bxc3 12.bxc3 c5
Ordix Open Mainz (4) 2002 13.0-0 c7 14.e6! f6
[Andrew Martin] [ 14...fxe6 15.eg5 cxd4 ( 15...d5
16.xe6 xe6 17.xe6+ h8 is possibly
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.f4 a6 5.f3 best-still utterly uninspiring.; 15...xf3
b5 6.d3 d7 7.e5! b7 I believe it was 16.xf3 cxd4 17.xe6 xc3 18.b2 c6
Kotov who used to play like this with Black. I 19.xf8 xf8 20.xa6+-; 15...fb8
am sure that he would have enjoyed a special 16.xe6 c6 17.xg7 xg7 18.xe7+
pioneering feeling watching the opponent f7 19.f5+- ) 16.xe6 xc3 17.b2 a5
grapple with new problems. In the Chessbase 18.xg7! xg7 and take your pick... ]
era one has to be more careful. Earlier in the 15.eg5 cxd4 16.exf7+ xf7 17.e6
update we saw a new interpretation of this xc3 18.b2 a5 19.fxd4 Keeping the
system by Black. Lobron tries the older stuff pressure set to MAXIMUM. Naturally W hite
and gets wiped. could have taken the exchange :
[ 7...c5 8.e3 b7 9.e4 c8 10.xb7 [ 19.xf8 xf8 20.xd4 ]
xb7 11.dxc5 dxe5 12.d5 xd5 19...fe8 20.xg7 xg7 21.e6+ g8
13.xd5 c8 14.b6 xb6 15.cxb6 e4 22.f5+- There can be no coming back from
16.e5 xe5 17.fxe5 e6 18.c5 e7 here. g5 23.h4 h6 24.hxg5 hxg5 25.ae1
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20.he1 0-0 21.xe5 xe5 22.xa6 bxc3 should Black proceed with the scheduled
So W hite has won material (queen for rook queenside advance. This tends to lead to
and knight) but Black has managed to get his razor sharp games, with Black often fulfilling
king to safety and, with a strong knight on e5, his positional objectives but lagging behind in
can attempt some counterplay against development. Not a line for the feint-hearted!
W h i t e ' s s l i g h t l y l o o s e k i n g . 23.bxc3?! 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3 a6
But this throws away most of W hite's 5.d2 d7
advantage. [ After the immediate 5...b5 6.a4 b4 7.d1
[ Instead 23.b3! was much stronger. Not Black has to def end his b-pawn with a5
o n l y d o e s W h i t e n o w h a ve c o n n e c t e d . By first playing 5...Nd7, Black prepares to
passed pawns but his king is also much defend it with a later ...Rb8. ]
safer blocked by the enemy pawn. I imagine 6.f3 The trendy way to play it for White.
Swiercz was scared of the potential of the [ After the old plan of 6.f3 b5 7.a4 b4
Black pawns but in fact Bacrot wouldn't be 8.d1 Black gets a good game with ( 8.d5
able to hold onto his d pawn as d5 24.b5 c5 9.dxc5 dxc5 10.f4 a7 11.0-0-0 e6
pins the pawn to the knight. ] 12.e3 xb2+ 13.xb2 f6+ 14.b1
23...c8 24.xd6 xc3+ 25.b1 e3 xf4 won a pawn for insufficient
26.c7 g7 27.a4 a8 28.a5?! After this compensation in Roobol - Davies, Haarlem
the momentum switches to Black. 2001 ) 8...b8 9.h3 ( 9.a5 c5 10.e2
[ 28.d5 would have maintained some c7 11.f2 gf6 12.c3 bxc3 13.bxc3
chances but it's tricky to convert with such 0-0 was also excellent for Black in Yilmaz -
an open king ] Davies, Haifa 1989) 9...c5 10.a5 cxd4
28...b3+ 29.c2 b5 30.a1 a6 31.d1 11.xd4 gf6 12.e2 0-0 13.0-0 c7
d5+ Bacrot is happy to draw. as in Chandler - Davies, Hastings 1987-88 ]
[ I n f a c t , h a d h e s t a r t e d w i t h 31...c6 6...b5 7.a4 b4 8.e2
W h i t e wo u l d h a ve b e e n f o r c e d o n t h e [ 8.d5 can be met actively with gf6
defensive, e.g. 32.d8 f6! 33.d4 c6 ( 8...a5 is more cautious) 9.xb4 xe4
34.c4 bf5 when Black will pick up the a 10.a5 a7 11.b4 b7 12.b5 a8
pawn and can then try pressing risk-free as 1/2-1/2 Barczay,L - Davies, Budapest 1987.
35.c3 ( 35.a6? f1+ wins t he roo k) White's moves look forcing but they are not
35...d5+ 36.e2 e5+ 37.d1 d6+ making much of an impression. In the final
38.c1 d4 is too dangerous. ] position Black is better. ]
32.e1 c6 33.b7 e5+ 34.f2 8...b8 9.g3 c5 10.d3 cxd4 11.xd4
Here a draw was agreed as the a pawn is c7 Getting a kind of Sicilian in which White's
dropping when White won't be able to make pieces are not marvellously placed. Black can
any progress. White was almost winning from play more solid ly th an I do in this game .
the opening and we stand by Gawain's 12.0-0 h5!? 13.fc1 h4 14.ge2 gf6
previous statement that Black needs to come 15.c3 b3 16.f3 d5!? 17.exd5 xd5 18.e1
up with improvements to 8. ..c5 and perhaps e5 19.f2 0-0 Trapping the knight on d4.
even earlier. White gets a couple of pawns for it, but it was
½-½ never going to be enough until I blunder.
20.xb3 xb3 21.xg6 7f6 22.b1 b7
23.xh4 xb2 24.g5 h7 25.c1 e6
821 B06 26.d3 c8?? Letting White back into the
Szalanczy,Emil game. I had completely missed the reply.
Davies,Nigel R 27.xa6! xa6 28.xb2 e4 29.fxe4 xc3
Liechtenstein 1993 30.xc3 xc3 31.b5 a8 32.a5 xa1
[Nigel Davies] 33.xa1 xe4 34.f2 d5 35.f1 g5
36.e1 f3+! 37.gxf3 xf3 38.g3 h1+
5.Qd2 is the consistent approach with White 39.f2 c2+ 40.e3 e4#
hoping to exploit his lead in development 0-1
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play a swift f4-f5 then I think it's very risky. 7.d1 a5 8.c3 f6 9.f3 bxc3 10.bxc3
5.f4 b7 6.f3 e6 7.d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 0-0 11.d3 e5 deviating from Tiger's 11...
9.f5 and I would start to feel uneasy about c5 or 11...Nbd7. 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.c4
White's position although Black's still doing bd7 14.b2 e7 15.d3 d8 16.c2
ok and actually went on to win. Ivanov, A- b6 17.b5 h5 18.e2 e6 19.c5
Moskvin, V Internet 2006.) 5.f3 ( 5.c4 g5 20.g4 h4+ 21.f2 f6 22.gxh5
c6 6.ge2 f6 7.g5 h6 8.h4 0-0 xf3 23.g3 c4 gave Black good
9.0-0 xe4! 10.xe4 d5 11.xd5 xd5 co m pe n sat io n f or t he p ie ce in a h igh ly
and Black had taken the upper hand Congiu, un cle ar p o sit io n Ku rm a n n, O -B au e r, C
M-Bauer, C Vandoeuvre 2008.) 5...d7 Switzerland 2010. ]
6.e2 c5 ( Playing a Hippo setup with 6...b6 5.d2 b7 6.d3 f6 7.h6 Sacrificing
makes sense here as there's no f4 break.) the e4 pawn is the most ambitious setup.
7.d5 gf6 8.0-0 0-0 9.a5 e8 10.f4 b5 [ 7.f3 would make sense to me. After 0-0
11.axb6 xb6 12.a2 was a favourable 8.ge2 d6 The position feels a little like a
version of a Benoni or Benko for White as Samisch Kings Indian. ]
he's traded his a pawn rather than his c. [ Generally White would prefer not to have to
Black's position should be ok but after g4 play 7.a3 and after d6 this is definitely a
13.d2 ge5 14.e3 he found his knight n o n c r i t i c a l li n e f o r B l a c k. I n f a c t , t h e
was in danger of being trapped and thus position is the same as Dominguez Perez-
f6 was necessary when White had the Kramnik except with the bishop developed
easier game. Graf, C-Wohl, A Bad Wiessee on g7 rather than knight on d7 which
2009. ] doesn't change the evaluation. ]
[ 4.g4 is a strange looking move but was 7...xh6 8.xh6 b4 So Black picks up the
played in a high power game. That e4 pawn and W hite has to decide the best
continued: b5 5.f3 b7 6.d3 d6 7.e3 way to get compensation. 9.d5
d7 8.e5?! White's moves have been [ 9.ce2 xe4 10.xe4 xe4 11.f3
strange already but this coupled with 4.g4 is another way to play f or W hite with
really doesn't work c5 9.e6 reasonable compensation as it'll take a while
A) Here 9...cxd4! would have been very to develop Black's pieces and there's no
strong 10.exf7+ ( 10.exd7+ xd7 way completely secure for his king.
and Black regains the piece.) 10...xf7 ( White can retrieve his pawn with 11.g7
11.g5+ e8 12.e6 xh1! 13.xd8 f8 12.xh7 but the central pawn should
xd8 14.xd4 xd4 15.xg6+ hxg6 be worth more than the respective h pawn. )]
16.xd4 e5 17.0-0-0 f3 and Black 9...xd5 10.exd5 xd5 11.h3!
has consolidated his extra material.; A very strong move. g2 is poisoned. e6
B) 9...fxe6 10.g5 xd4 ( 10...xh1 [ 11...xg2? cannot be recommended
11.xe6 c8 12.xg7+ f7 12.g7! f8 13.g5 xh1 14.xh7 d5
and I'm sceptical that White has anything 15.xf8+ d7 16.xf7 and Black's
like enough compensation for the rook.) position has collapsed. ]
11.xe6 xc3+ 12.bxc3 c8 13.0-0 12.g7?! It was important to keep the queen
gf6 14.e2 d5 and apparently they on h6 to control g5.
agreed a draw although White looks totally [ 12.0-0 would keep White with good
lost to me. 1/2-1/2 Mamedyarov, S- compensation as it's still not so easy to see
Minasian, A/Istanbul 2003. ] how best to develop Black's forces. f6
4...b5 13.c3 bxc3 14.bxc3 d6 15.fe1 d7
[ 4...d6 transposes to a normal position would probably be my pick with an
which will be examined in the next couple of intriguing battle in prospect. Black remains
games. Bauer has played this in the past but a pawn up but still can't quite complete his
this time goes for a more tricky idea. That development so White has good chances to
game continued 5.d2 b5 Tiger prefers attack. ]
playing 5... Nd7 first in his book 6.a4 b4 [ 12.f4 immediately is also possible b7
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( 12...e7 13.xd5 exd5+ 14.f1 Still, we'll take what we can get. Topalov
lo o k s e x t r e m e ly d a n ge ro u s f o r B l a c k .) himself is one of the few top players to use
13.xg6!? f6! 14.f4 xf4 15.xf4 the Pirc/Modern - See this month's game. And
c6 16.c3 is roughly level. ] do you remember his classic game versus
12...f8 13.f4 g5! Now we see why the Kasparov in W ijk aan Zee 1999, one of the
queen should have stayed on h6. 14.xd5 most brilliant of all time? If not, you should
xd5 15.0-0 c6 16.xh7?! This changes look it up! 1.d4 g6 2.f3 g7 3.e4 d6
the position from a rough balance to a clear 4.c4 f6 This is a kind of hybrid Pirc/
edge for Black. Modern, although Black loses some
[ 16.c3 should have been preferred ] opportunities without White's knight on c3 (it's
16...xd4 17.xg6 This was presumably the easier for White to defend d4, for one thing).
reason White took on h7 but Black can safely [ 4...c6 is a typical Modern defence option. ]
ignore the bishop. xb2! [ and 4...c5 has done reasonably well over
[ O f c o u r s e n o t 17...fxg6? 18.ad1! the years, with the idea 5.dxc5 ( 5.c3 )
winning the queen as d7's on. ] 5...a5+ when 6.c3 xc5 . In an old game
18.h5 f6 so Black is still a pawn up. Minic-Timman, plat went 7.b3 e6 8.e3
White's lost his centre and given open lines c7 , and now 9.a3 gives White quite a
for Black to attack down on the kingside. It's de velo p me n t al lea d to com p e nsa t e f o r
clear that the last few moves have been a Black's central majority. ]
disaster for White. 19.e4 h8 20.e2 d5 5.e2 This system used to be relatively more
21.e3 d4 22.d3 c5 Black grabs space popular. In their old Modern Defence book,
in the centre. Look at the 'octopus' on d4! Keene and Botterill devoted 8 pages to the
Meanwhile Bauer decides his king is safe on setup. I'll fold in some of the older theory.
e8. 23.fd1 h4 24.a3 c4 25.f1 xc2 [ 5.c3 is a Pirc proper = 1..d6 2 d4 Nf6 3
another pawn drops. W hite gets a couple Nc3 g6 4 Nf3 Bg7 5 Bc4, etc. ]
checks but it's not threatening, the king can 5...0-0 Maybe Black should strike back more
r u n t o g 7 . 26.c5 d8 27.ac1 b3 quickly: a)
Three connected passed pawns is not a good [ 5...c6 is interesting, with the idea ...Bg4:
omen for White... 28.g3 d4 29.c6+ f8 6.e5!? ( 6.h3 d5!? 7.exd5 xd5 8.0-0
30.xa6 g7 31.b6 a8 32.xd4 xd4 is double-edged; 6.c3 g4 7.e3
33.b7 xa3 34.h3 a7 35.b5 b2 with the idea 0-0-0 may keep an edge, in
An interesting game and a success for Black part because xe4 8.xf7+ xf7 9.xe4
although White had good compensation for seems to favour White.) 6...dxe5 7.dxe5
the pawn before 12. Qg7?!. Nevertheless, I g4 and Black is close to equality, in view of
don't see a good way that White can exploit 8.b5 ( 8.f4 d4; 8.e6 xe6 9.xe6
Black's unusual move order and it makes fxe6 10.xe6 d4!? or 10...Qd7) 8...d7
sense to try this as a way to confuse lower 9.f4 0-0 and .. .Ngxe5 is a theme, e.g.,
rated opponents. after 10.0-0?! ( A fairly random game went
0-1 10.c3 a6 11.c4 b5 12.b3 b4 13.a4
a5 14.0-0-0 e8 15.h3 b5 16.d2
xf2 17.xf2 xa4 18.c5 with ongoing
825 B06 complications, Vasiukov, E (2575) -Ribli, Z
Topalov,Veselin 2777 (2505)/W ijk aan Zee 1973) 10...gxe5
Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2742 11.xe5 ( 11.xe5 d4 ) 11...xe5
XXIII Rapid Open rapid (5) 02.08.2008 12.xc6 xb2 13.xd7 xa1
[John Watson] with an edge. ]
[ b) 5...c6 is a safe move, played more than
Another Pirc/Modern Defence at the very top others. Af ter 6.b3 0-0 7.0-0 ( 7.g5
levels! W ell, it's really a Modern, and was tried by Matulovic versus Botvinnik!))
Mamedyarov may well have kept it in that 7...a5!? 8.c3 , White should have some
opening depending upon what Topalov did. advantage, but the whole game awaits. ]
846
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847
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848
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after 8...Be6 7.d5, while retreating to d7 [ White could try to keep a hold on the d5
deprives the black knights of a useful s q u a r e w i t h 15.axb6 xb6 16.a2
square. 9.f3 Back again, and White but after b7 17.dxc6 xc6 18.f3 d5
has achieved the useful move 8.h3 'for Black has broken out. ]
free'.; 15...bxc4!
C) 7.e2?! looks feeble, and Black was [ A Grandmaster won't allow White to control
doing fine after c5 Ramaswamy, A (2299)- the strategically vital d5 square after
Iordachescu, V (2633)/Port Erin 2004. ] 15...xc6 16.d5 xd5 17.xd5 ]
7.d3 0-0 8.0-0 bd7 9.a4 Here we see a 16.cxd7 b7!
good point of 6.Qc1 over 6.Rb1. Because the [ As we shall see Black prefers to give up a
rook is still on a1, White is able to gain space pawn rather than make the natural recapture
with a4-a5. c7 on d7 which hands over the d5 square after
[ Black could block White's queenside 16...xd7 17.xf6 xf6 18.d5 ]
advance with 9...a5 but instead he prefers 17.xf6 xf6 18.a4 xd7 19.xc4 fc8
to prepare to counterattack in the centre with 20.xc8+ xc8 Iordachescu has evaluated
e7-e5. ] the position correctly. White won't be able to
10.a5 keep his extra pawn due to the weakness of
[ Instead 10.h3 e5 11.dxe5 xe5 12.xe5 a5 and Black's pressure on the queenside.
dxe5 looks about equal, though Black has to 21.d3 c4 22.e3 d8 23.a1 g7
be a bit careful. For example 13.a5 d8!? There is no need to hurry. White has no good
( After the routine 13...e6 White has the way to hinder Black's plan of attacking a5
surprising sequence 14.c5 fd8 15.e3 which is seen over the next three moves. 24.f3
when the defence of a7 causes Black some c7 25.h1 d8 26.a7 Vachier Lagrave
problems. That would certainly have justified decides to force a draw by repetition. c8
the 6.Qc1 move.) 14.g5 e8 when the [ B l a c k a g r e e s t o t h e d r a w a s 26...c8
white bishop isn't that great on g5. ] 27.d5 gives White the initiative again
10...g4?! Black decides to drive the bishop because of his control of d5. For example
from e3 before advancing his e-pawn. xc2 28.3b4 xb2 29.e3 when the
Nonetheless I would prefer black rook is in trouble as xa5? loses to
[ 10...e5 as in the note above, when 11.dxe5 30.c6 ]
xe5 12.xe5 dxe5 looks about equal. ] 27.f2 d8 28.a7 c8 29.f2 d8
11.g5 e5 12.d5 This advance wouldn't have Perhaps this was not the most exciting game,
been attractive for White if Black had kept his but there were some interesting strategic
knight on f6 and played 10...e5 as after 11.d5 mo m e n t s. B la ck h a d t o p la y wit h f la ir t o
cxd5 12.exd5 he would be left with a fragile survive against his world class opponent.
pawn on d5. In contrast here 12...cxd5? 13. ½-½
Nxd5 would leave W hite with a knight on a
strong outpost square. gf6 13.c4 a6
14.e1?! 828 B06
[ Instead 14.d2 is well answered by c5 Vajda,Levente 2462
attacking e4 and with ideas of Bg4. Budnikov,Oleg 2331
However, ] World Junior Ch., (6) 23.09.1999
[ 14.d1 should be preferred for example [Nigel Davies]
cxd5 ( The white queen again emerges from
hid in g ont o a goo d ce ntre square af te r In this one W hite ra ther cooperat es wit h
14...c5 15.e3! ) 15.xd5 and his control Black's plan of blockade by blocking in his
of d5 gives White a small edge. ] queen's bishop with 5.f4. Black was doing OK
14...b5! Iordachescu stages a well calculated until he took the b-pawn, probably going a bit
break out bef ore W hite can increase th e too far in an already provocative opening. 1.e4
pressure with moves like 15.Nd3 and 16.Rd1 g6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.e5 h5 5.f4
etc. 15.dxc6 g7 6.f3 c6 7.e2 g4 8.e3 d7
849
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850
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851
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852
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29.xc4 xc4 30.b3 e5 13.0-0 cxd5? Poor. Black must play
0-1 disruptively with
[ 13...b5! 14.b3 b4 15.e2 cxd5 16.c5
d8 and if 17.xb4 a6! 18.b5
831 B06 Black has xc5 19.xc5 a6 20.fe1
Vlassov,Nikolai 2492 xe3 21.fxe3 e6 with excellent counterplay
Zemtsov,Igor 2296 based on the two bishops and the open
Moscow open Moscow, Russia (8) 02.03.2005 White King. ]
[Andrew Martin] 14.b5 c7 15.c5 d8 16.xd5 d7
17.g5 c7 18.b3 e6 19.xf5!
1.e4 g6 2.h4!? An acquired taste. Vlassov As Vlassov remarks, W hite's considerable
evidently likes this idea of disturbing Black on advantage in development enables him to
the kingside and thinks that he will force a make this sacrifice. In return he gets a long-
c o n c e s s i o n . h5 Black stops the advance of lasting initiative. gxf5
the h4-pawn, but W hite gets a pretty good [ 19...exf5?? loses immediately after 20.d5
square (g5) for his knight. To dislodge that b8 21.f4+- ]
knigh t Black would have to make f u rthe r 20.g3 h7?! Out of the frying pan into the
weaknesses. Naturally there are other fire! Black should avoid any movement of his
responses by Black. King unless absolutely necessary.
[ I like 2...d5 3.exd5 f6 with an excellent [ 20...f6 is less easy to break down:
Scandinavian and there's also ] 21.h6 e8 ( 21...xh6 22.xh6 g4
[ 2...f6 3.e5 d5 4.h5 g7 with a bizarre 23.g5+ h7 24.xh5+ h6 25.ce2
form of the Alekhine. ] d7 26.d1 a5 ) 22.ce2 h7 23.f4
3.f3 c6 4.c3 d5 5.g5!? Original chess d8 24.xh5 xh4 25.xg7 xg7
and a move which stops ...Bg4 - White should 26.d5 ]
keep this knight alive! h6 6.d4 g7 7.e3 21.xh5 h8 22.e1 b6 23.e2 a5
b6?!N Very risky - Black gives up the centre 24.c3 An almost leisurely conduct of the
for the b2-pawn. But this is an overreaction attack, but in view of Black's retarded
typical of the belligerent player who has been development White has no need to rush. d6
surprised. Black wants to land the first blow! I 25.eg3 b5 Diagram The position is ripe for
think I prefer either of two other options: tactics: 26.e7! c6
[ 7...dxe4 dissolving the centre and creating [ After 26...xe7 27.xf5 Black has no
an outpost on f5 for the Knight. 8.cxe4 defence against Qh6. ]
f5 9.c4 0-0 10.f3 xd4! 11.0-0-0 27.xf8 xf8 White has got the exchange
xe3+ 12.fxe3 b6 ] back and continues his attack a pawn up -
[ 7...0-0 straightforward and if 8.d2 then B l a c k i s f i n i s h e d . 28.f4 This knight is
g4! 9.0-0-0 a5 10.b1 xe3 heading towards e5.
No way Black is worse. ] [ Vlassov mentions 28.g5! xc3 29.c1
8.exd5 xb2 9.ge4 f5 10.b1 a3 xd4 30.xf5! exf5 31.xf7 g7
11.d2 32.c6+- ]
[ 11.dxc6 xe3 12.fxe3 xc6 13.c4 f5 28...d6 29.d3 a7 30.g5 b4 31.h5+
14.b3 a5 15.g5 is pretty unclear. ] g8 32.e5 A sacrifice on f5 is threatened,
11...0-0 12.c4 a5 forcing Black to make the undesirable capture
[ 12...b5! i s b e t t e r : 13.b3 b4 14.e2 on e5. xe5 33.dxe5 e7 34.h6 h7
( It is tempting to lock the black queen on a3, [ 34...bxc3 35.h5 f6 36.xf6++- ]
but after 14.a4 d8 15.d1 xe3 35.cxb4 xb4 36.e3 f8 37.f4 c7
16.fxe3 cxd5 Black is OK - too many white 38.h5 All too easy. h8 39.g3 b4
pieces are busy with the black queen and 40.h6 e1+ 41.h2 xe5 42.f4
yet none of them is capable of taking it.) Rather an original effort! The author's
14...d8 putting pressure on the centre - at te nt io n was d ra wn to t his gam e by t h e
Black has decent play. Vlassov. ]
853
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
excellent 'Chess Today' newspaper. xf6 White must be very careful indeed
1-0 here. ]
9.xe5 f6 10.f2! Absolutely necessary.
the King scurries to what he hopes will be
832 B06 safety. bd7 11.xd7 xd7
Vysochin,Spartak 2551 [ 11...xd7 12.e5 0-0 might be better,
Moliboga,Vladimir 2322 intending ...f7-f6. ]
4th I.Platonov Mem (4) 11.01.2006 12.e5! h5 13.e4 White suddenly has a
[Andrew Martin] degree of control he could have only dreamed
about five moves beforehand. Moliboga did
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.f4 c6 not play energetically enough. 0-0 14.d6!
Rare, but not as bad as its reputation I think. e8 15.g4+- f5 16.c5 fxg4 17.xd7
There are unanswered questions in the main xe5 18.e6+ h8
line after 5 Nf3. 5.h3 And so Vysochin hopes [ 18...xe6 19.xe6 gxh3 20.c4 h8
to have his cake and eat it! With 5 h3 white 21.xf8 xf8 22.xh3 ]
c u t s o u t . . . B g 4 a n d p r e p a r e s t h e u su a l 19.xe5 xe5 20.e6 g5 21.g2 f6
Austrian stranglehold commencing with 6 Nf3 . 22.fxe5 xe6 23.c4 Short and very sharp.
Black must react energetically or the Bishop The critical position arrives early and both
on c8 will be move bound. e5! 6.dxe5 sides are walking on a tightrope from move 6
[ After 6.f3?! exd4 Black is in time. White onward. I would prefer Black after both 8...
cannot capture on d4 thanks to ...Qh4+ ] Bg4 and 8... Qg3 but maybe that's just me.
6...h4+ 7.e2 dxe5 8.f3 e7 1-0
So he was improvising after all. One couldn't
have expected this position before the game.
I don't like White's game, I have to say but 8... 833 B06
Qe7 is not the right move. Instead, Black has Waddingham,Graham A
two other options: Davies,Nigel R
[ 8...g4 has been most common British Ch Southport ch70-BCF (10) 1983
A) 9.d6 d7 10.e3 ( 10.g3 xf3+ [Nigel Davies]
11.xf3 e7= ) 10...xf3+ 11.gxf3 gf6
12.d1 0-0-0 13.xa7 f8 ( 13...h5! ) In many ways the most difficult idea for Black
14.f2 xf4 ( 14...h5 ) 15.d2 h5 to meet is if White plays an early c2-c3, firmly
16.xf4 xf4+ Aveline, P-Wabant, P/ blocking my favourite diagonal. But here too
France 2004; Black is not without counterplay and in this
B) 9.hxg4 xh1 10.fxe5 d7 11.e6 g a m e W h i t e ' s i n d i v i d u a l p a t t e r n o f
( 11.d4 f8! 12.f2 e6 ) 11...fxe6 development left him with a very precarious
12.d6 0-0-0 13.e3 Lukov, V- position. 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6
Kaikamdzozov, J/ Pasardschik 1977, when [ A n o t h e r i d e a w o r t h n o t i n g i s 3...f6
again Black missed the best continuation: after which 4.d3 0-0 5.f4 can be met by
xc3 14.bxc3 gf6; d5 6.e5 e4 7.d2 f5 8.exf6?! exf6
C) 9.e1 xf3+ 10.gxf3 e7 11.fxe5 etc. ]
( 11.e3 d7 12.d1 exf4 13.xf4 e5 4.d3
14.f2 f6 15.g2 h5 [ After 4.g5 I like f6 5.d2 c6 when
Seps, M-Skripchenko, A/Plovdiv 2003 0-1 6.gf3 can be met by h6 7.h4 g5 8.g3
(32) ) 11...xe5 12.e3 d7 13.d2 h5 gaining the bishop pair in return for
Itkis, B-Nanu, C/ Bucharest 1998 and now White's space. Barbero - Davies, Budapest
f6! would have been accurate, with 1987 went 9.c4 e6 10.c2 e7 11.0-0-0
advantage to Black: 14.f2 0-0-0 ] xg3 12.hxg3 d7 13.he1 g4 14.h2
[ Whilst researching this game I have also h5 with chances for both sides. ]
d i s c o v e r e d 8...g3! which also appears [ 4.f4 f6 5.e5 dxe5 6.fxe5 d5 7.f3
dangerous: 9.fxe5 b6! 10.g5 f6 11.exf6 0-0 8.c4 b6 9.b3 c5 10.dxc5 xd1+
854
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
11.xd1 6d7 12.e6 xc5 13.exf7+ h8 reached by 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 which
14.c4 c6 15.e3 e6 was promising I ' v e s t u d i e d m y s e l f . 4.dxc5 xc3+
for Black in Fossan - Davies, Gausdal 1990 ] I t ' s h a r d l y d e s ir a b le t o g ive u p t h e d a r k
[ After 4.f3 f6 5.d3 0-0 6.0-0 squared bishop but it appears to be Black's
I think that an interesting and underrated best chance.
treatment is c5 after which 7.h3 ( 7.dxc5 [ Instead 4...a5 is more common but 5.d2
dxc5 8.e1 ) 7...cxd4 8.cxd4 c6 9.c3 xc5 6.d5! leaves Black having to play
e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.e3 e7 was about extremely accurately to survive. The only
equal in Lobron - Davies, Germany 1985. ] time I reached this position my opponent
4...c6 5.e2 This unusual development of didn't last long.
the knight is rather innocuous and after the A) 6...a6 is perhaps best.
exchange on e5 he may even be fighting for A1) 7.xa6 bxa6 8.b4 c6 ( 8...c4
equality. e5 6.dxe5 xe5 7.c2 f6 is better although 9.d3 xd3 10.cxd3
8.g5 h6 9.h4 g5 10.g3 h5 11.b3 b8 11.c3 xc3+ 12.bxc3
f6!? 12.a3 f4 13.xf4 gxf4 14.d4 leaves White for preference.) 9.f3 d6
g5 15.d2 g4!? Preventing White from 10.0-0 f6 11.c3 is Neil's suggestion
castling. in the archives and looks very good for
[ 15...xg2 16.0-0-0 gives him a dangerous White.;
initiative. ] A2) 7.f3 e6 8.c3 f8 9.xg7+
16.f3 h4+ 17.d1 d7 18.c2 0-0-0 xg7 10.c3 leaves White with a small
19.e2?! f5! 20.xf4 de8 21.ae1 h5 but pleasant edge.;
22.g3 d8 23.f2 b8 24.c4 fxe4 B) 6...b6 7.b4 c6 8.b5 b7 9.f3
25.fxe4 g4 26.g2 g5 27.d2 a5!? c6 10.c3 left White with a very
Intending to undermine the h8-a1 diagonal comfortable edge. W ells, P (2513)-
with ...a4 and ...a3. 28.h3 f6 29.f3 c5 Dougherty, M (2212) Hoogeveen 2005.;
30.d4 a4 31.e6 h6 32.xd7 xd7 C) 6...d6? 7.b4 d4 ( 7...c6 8.b5!
33.d3 c4 34.b3 a6 35.b1 hf8 is the point.) 8.xd4 xd4 9.c7+ d7
36.f5 d5 37.b4 g6 38.xd5 c5 10.xa8 That's a rook. If Black could win
39.de7 xe7! The start of a picturesque back the knight he would only be clearly
co m b in a t io n wh ich wins m ost of W hit e 's worse but there's no way to manage it.
pieces. 40.xe7 f2+ 41.xf2 xe4+ c6 11.0-0-0 f6 12.f3 xe4
42.d1 xh1+ 43.e2 e4+ 44.f1 13.xd4! xd4 14.xd4 and now it's two
h1+ 45.e2 e4+ pieces up! e5 15.b5+ e7 16.e1 f5
0-1 17.f3 c5 18.xc5 dxc5 19.b3
1-0 Jones, G (2518)-Vincenzi, M (2067)
Pula 2007. ]
834 B06 5.bxc3 a5
Williamson,Harvey 2469 [ 5...f6 HW: "The Computers want to play
Storey,Charles 2268 this move but Bh6 seems to be a strong
Sniper Challenge 29.03.2011 move." Last time this opening was featured
[Williamson, Harvey and Jones, Gawain] on the site Neil looked at another game of
the author's which continued
T h e r e h a s b e e n a h e a t e d d isc u ssi o n o n A) 6.e5 is Harvey's suggestion and also
Cha rle y Sto re y's n ew bo ok 'T he Sn ipe r'. s u g g e s t e d b y N e i l . e4 7.c4!
Harvey sent me the following correspondence with the threat of 8.Qd5. xc5 8.f3
challenge game with his notes, played in what A1) 8...c7 9.0-0 ( Harvey's idea of
I believe to be the critical test of the opening. 9.h6!? loo ks playa ble h ere t oo .)
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 c5 HW: "These 9...e6 10.e2 b6 11.d4 c6
1st 3 moves by Black are the moves that are 12.b5 b8 13.f4 "And White had the
the core of The Sniper Repertoire." I just want initiative in Sadvakasov, D-Dougherty,
to point out that the position can also be M Philadelphia 2006." - Neil;
855
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856
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his b6 line which is a common theme in the move and it may lead to a draw." He gives
book." However Black has some alternatives: the line 21.h1 e5 22.d4 xd4
[ 9...d8 10.e3 e6 11.d3 h5 12.h4 HW : "I ran several test games here. The
f4 13.f2 0-0 14.e2 xe2 15.xe2 engines all prefer Bxd4. I thought this was
Keller, M (2210)-Hrvacic, P (1949) LSS the most drawish. I asked a couple of 2700
email 2009 and Black had nothing to show GM's and they both said Rxd4 looks best
for his pawn deficit. ] and that White is better but it maybe a draw.
[ 9...0-0 10.e3 e5 11.d3 d5 12.cxd6 " Nevertheless, Black's opening can hardly
exd6 13.g5 h5 14.e2 e6 15.0-0 be called a success. ]
c4 16.c1 d5 17.f4 xf4 18.xf4 21.c5 h4 22.h1 g3+ 23.g1 h8
xf4 19.xf4 ac8 20.fe1 dxe4 21.xe4 24.f2 f4 25.a4! HW: "Here I thought I was
and Black was really struggling in the ending. winning for sure." h5!
Ma n ae n k ov, V-Mon d ry, M (2 13 1 ) I CCF [ 25...h3 looks dangerous on the surface but
email 2009. ] White is in full control. Another game played
[ 9...h5 10.b5 b8 11.e3 f4 12.f2 o n t h e f o r u m c o n t i n u e d 26.h2 d6
b6 13.e2 e6 14.cxb6 axb6 15.ab1 ( 26...h5 27.c3 g5 28.a5 is given by
0-0 16.c4 b7 Van Leent, D (1873)-De Harvey when th e pa sse d a pawn is th e
Jesus, G (1700) Chessf riend.com 2005 most important aspe ct of the position .)
again saw Black with virtually nothing for 27.c3 g5 28.b6 b8 29.e3 g3
his pawn deficit. ] 30.a7 d8 31.b6 b8 was Williamson,
10.cxb6 xb6 11.h6! HW: "White is H-TN which was aborted at this point but
behind in development but black will not castle. W hite appears to be easily winning with
" b8 32.a5 ]
[ 11...g8 is the computer's top choice but 26.c3 g5 27.a5?! HW "This looks good
after 12.g5 it it likely to transpose to the but we exchange down to an endgame that is
game. ] very difficult for W hite to win. I moved too
12.e2 g8 13.g5 Black has a slight lead quickly, something a good correspondence
in development but his king is forced to remain player should never do."
in the centre while Harvey shows he can [ Instead Harvey prefers 27.e3 to which he
co mp le t e his d evelo pm en t wit ho u t ma n y gives two exclamation marks. HW : "I am
issues. a6 14.d4! Sacrificing the extra c o n v i n c e d t h i s w i n s . B u t wi l l k e e p m y
pawn to bring all of White's pieces into the analysis private in case Charlie ever wants
game when Black's king stuck in the centre a rematch!" ]
gives him a big headache. xf1 15.xf1 27...xa5 28.xa5 xa5 29.b6 h5
xd4 16.cxd4 xd4 17.d1 e5 30.xd8 xd8 White has won the exchange
[ 17...b4+ 18.xb4 xb4 19.d2 d8 but lost his strong a pawn and so Black has
20.b1 xb1 21.xb1 c7 allows Black decent drawing chances. However I believe
into an endgame level on material but the White should probably be winning as he has
bishop is so much better than the knight so many pawns left. 31.a1 e6 32.a4 e7
that Black is close to lost. ] Harvey writes that Black resigns here although
[ Black can also keep level material with I'm not sure if he did or simply overstepped
17...b6 but 18.e5 e6 19.f2 xe5 the time limit. Nevertheless this game
20.xa7 d8 21.h4 f5 22.d4! successfully illustrates the critical line against
a n d I d o n ' t t h i n k B l a c k wi l l b e a b l e t o The Sniper and shows that against accurate
survive with his king in such a perilous play Black struggles to equalise. Of course
position. ] that doesn't mean that the opening can't be
18.xa7 d8 19.e3 xh2 20.f2 h5?! tried as a surprise weapon, and the book
HW "I was quite happy to see h5 here as in might be very interesting unfortunately I don't
my analysis I had this as winning." have a copy myself.
[ Harvey considers 20...g5!? to be Black's 1-0
best bet. HW: "I spent hours looking at this
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1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 f6 Moving the d-pawn forward two squares is
5.c4 clearly more challenging than Okrajek's d2-d3.
[ 5.b5+ bd7 6.f3 0-0 7.h3 b6 8.0-0 But even so it looks comfortable for Black.
bxd5 9.xd5 xd5 gets Black's pawn 1.f3 g6 2.e4 d5 3.exd5 xd5 4.d4 f6
back, though even here I prefer White after 5.c3
10.c3 d6 11.c4 b6 12.e1 Gofshtein - [ Keeping open the option of a later c2-c4
Vydeslaver, Beer-Sheva 1991 ] does not seem to be much of a threat either.
5...0-0?! After this Black struggles to regain 5.e2 g7 6.0-0 0-0 7.c4 d6 8.c3 c6
his pawn. intending ...Bg4 puts pressure on the d4
[ 5...bd7 is better, as in the next game. ] pawn. ]
6.ge2 bd7 7.b3 b6 8.f4 a5 9.a4 5...d6 6.e5 g7 7.e2 0-0 8.f4 d5
[ 9.a3 a4 10.a2 f5 11.0-0 d7 12.h3 9.xd5 xd5 10.0-0 c5 11.c4?!
is also possible after which Black weakened An unsound pa wn sacrif ice, but W hite is
himself with h5 13.e1 fe8 14.e3 h7 already experiencing some difficulties.
15.e2 h6 in order to try and get his pawn [ 11.dxc5 xc5 12.d3 a5 looks more
back in Renner - Kunze,Bundesliga 1991 ] comfortable for Black, due to the fact that he
9...f5 10.0-0 h6 has an extra central pawn. ]
[ Black also had a miserable time of it in 11...xd4 12.xd4 cxd4 13.fe1 xe5
Sorkin - Segal, Nethanya 1993: 10...d7 14.xe5 c6 15.ad1 f5 16.b3 fd8
11.h3 ad8 12.f3 h5 13.e3 c8 17.f3 ac8 18.d2 g5 Making room for his
14.ad1 d6 15.d3 xd3 16.xd3 f5 bishop on g6 in case of g2-g4. 19.a4 f6
17.f4 h4 18.e2 with Black still not 20.xc6 xc6 21.xd4 e5 22.e3 xd2
much closer to regaining the pawn. ] 23.xd2 xc2 24.c3 f7 25.d1 h5
11.e1 d7 12.h3 g5 The pawn minus and 26.d2 c1+ 27.f2 g4 28.g3 f1
White's threat of g2-g4 gets Black to weaken 29.fxg4 xg4 30.d8 f5 31.d2 e4
his kingside. After that Yudashin is able to 32.a3 e6 33.e2 c6 34.h4 f4+
de ve lo p a f ierce a tt ack. 13.h5 xh5 Sacrificing his extra pawn in order to drive
14.xh5 g6 15.d1 ad8 16.f4! W hite's king int o a net . 35.xh5 e8+
Prising open files after which Black's king is in 36.h6 h4+ 37.g7 g4+ 38.h6 g6+
trouble. gxf4 17.xf4 c6 18.dxc6 xd4+ 39.h7 f7 40.f2 c6 41.d2 e4
19.h1 xc6 With h6 hanging Black has to 42.d7+ e6 43.g7 xg2+ 44.g8 xh2
keep some threats going. But now he has 0-1
trouble with the e7 pawn. 20.g4 h5 21.g3
c4
[ 21...fe8 22.e6! fxe6 23.xg6+ 838 B06
would have been an attractive finale ] Zarnicki,Pablo 2535
22.xe7 c8 23.ae1 g7 24.1e6! c5 McShane,Luke J 2565
25.e4 f5 26.d6 xd6 27.xg6 e4 IV Final, ICC INT 2003
28.xg7+ h8 29.xe4 xe4 30.g5 [Andrew Martin]
1-0
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.f4 e6!?
Spassky liked all this stuff-he even used it in
one of his W orld Championship Matches
against Petrosian.....with decent results.
Black's play is impossible to classify. It seems
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
heavily reliant on W hite overestimating his 32.f4 a5 Whereas this ending gives no
chances or launching a premature attack. advantage in material and is a complete draw
Surely if White builds up slowly he must retain with even Black for choice! My guess is that
a slight edge? Or maybe 4 f4 is already too both players were glad to end this scrappy
c o m m i t t a l ? ? 5.f3 e7 6.d3 b6 game. Objectively, 4...e6 seems to me to be
Flexibility above all. Black should not castle dubious-White just gets too much of the game
too early. 7.0-0 wi t h ve r y l i t t l e p r e s s u r e b e i n g m o u n t e d
[ 7.e2! is more incisive from where I sit. against his big centre. I quite like 7 Qe2 but
W hite keeps the option open of castling Zarnicki's 7 0-0 and 8 f5! seems good too.
queenside and he prepares e4-e5. Fischer's ½-½
upcoming play is original but he gets a very
passive game: a5?! 8.e5 a6 9.b5 xb5
10.xb5+ c6 11.d3 d5 12.a4 d7 13.b3 839 B06
0-0 14.a3 e8 15.0-0 c7 16.g4 c5 Zhao Jun 2608
17.c3 f8 18.h1 ec8 19.f5! Liu Qingnan 2501
White's play has been a model. c4 20.bxc4 ch-CHN 2014 Xinghua CHN (7.5) 18.03.2014
dxc4 21.e4 d5 22.xd5 exd5 23.e6 [Tom Rendle]
f6 24.exf7+ xf7 25.e5 g7 26.g5
e4 27.fxg6 hxg6 28.g4 c7 29.e6+ 1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.c3 a6 4.f4 b5 5.d3
h7 30.f4 1-0 Glod,P-Fischer,J/6th St b7 6.f3 d7 7.0-0 g7 8.e5 c5
Quentin Open, Elancourt FRA 2003 [ 8...h6 I covered in some detail last year
Compelling evidence that Black cannot in Kanep-Iturrizaga. Black won that game
simply potter around. ] but both sides could've handled the opening
7...d7 8.f5 Zarnicki changes up a gear. It's a better, overall I suspect W hite is slightly
stron g m ove, pu tting t he qu est io n t o th e better in that line. ]
whole Black set-up. exf5 9.exf5 f6 10.g5 9.e4
0-0 11.e4! Putting on the pressure. Black's [ 9.exd6 cxd4 ( 9...exd6?! 10.e4 xe4
move is forced. xe4 12.xe4 d5 13.xe7 11.xe4 is an improved version of the game
xe7 14.xd5 b8 15.fxg6 hxg6 16.c3 as Black can not ignore the threat on d6 now.
If this is the best that Black can get then White is clearly better after df6 12.e2
forget the whole thing! a6 17.e1 d6 e7 13.dxc5 xe4 14.xe4 dxc5 15.e1
18.b3 c6 19.c4 b5 20.d3 c8 21.e5 a7 16.a4! ) 10.e4! ( 10.e2?!
e6 22.c2 c5! McShane fights on valiantly. was better for Black in Kulicov-Gelashvili in
He must try to create some dark-squared the archives and Black can maybe even
pressure. The Bishop on g7 is the only piece improve on that game with c5! 11.dxe7
t h a t W h i t e c a n n o t c o n t e s t . 23.dxc5 xe7 12.g3 0-0 and Black is already very
Zarnicki is very concerned about his structure, comfortable )
no doubt the legacy of incessant blitz chess A) 10...gf6! 11.dxe7 xe7 12.xf6+
at the Internet Chess Club. Keep the pawn xf6 13.e1 ( 13.e1!? e4 14.f5!?
structure tight and run the other guy's flag out is worth considering if White doesn't wish
as the saying goes. to go in for the risky pawn grab) 13...e4
[ 23.f2 was interesting: cxd4 24.cxd4 14.e2 f5 15.a4 0-0 is a very unclear
fd8 25.e2! a6 ( 25...xd4 26.xd4 gambit, as noted by John W atson in his
xd4 27.c6 ) 26.f3 bc8 27.a4 ] annotations to the Kulicov-Gelashvili game.
23...xc5+ 24.f2 fc8 25.xg6 b4 Critical is 16.axb5 axb5 17.xa8 xa8
White has to be a little careful now. 26.ab1 18.xb5 h8 when I feel that, from a
[ 26.xc5 xc5 27.f4 bxc3 28.bxc3 practical point of view at least, Black has
xc3 29.xe6 fxe6 30.ab1 gives an enough compensation for the pawn.;
extra pawn but this ending is difficult to win. ] B) 10...e6 11.a4 b6 12.axb5 axb5
26...bxc3 27.xc5 xc5 28.bxc3 xb1 13.xa8+ xa8 14.e2 h6 15.e5!
29.xb1 xc3 30.e4 f6 31.d3 xa2 and White had a slight advantage in Leon
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24.xd6 xc7 25.xc7 xc7 26.f1 b4 easily believe that Black can never survive
27.xa6 e2 28.f2 e1+ 29.f1 xf1+ such a position and there are many out there
30.xf1 bxc3 31.bxc3 xc3 32.a5 e4 who do! One of the main points in showing
33.a4?! I don't know if the ending was this game is to demonstrate Black's resources,
holdable bef ore, but af ter this it's almost even when the W hite attack is as far
certainly lost - the rook is just very misplaced advanced as this. e5 Taking on h5 is right
on a4, blocking his own pawn out. 10.dxe5
[ 33.g4! aiming to prevent ...f5 gives White [ 10.hxg6 fxg6 11.dxe5 is the first line
some chances to hold the ending ] w h i c h h a s t o b e c o n s i d e r e d : dxe5
33...f5 34.a7 c1+ 35.f2 c2+ 36.g3 ( 11...xe5 is almost certainly better:
g5 The pawns are clearly unstoppable now 12.c5!? e8 13.f4 g4 14.e2 xe2
37.h4 gxh4+ 38.h3 f8 39.a4 f2 15.gxe2 c4 ) 12.d6 b7 13.h3! ]
40.b7 e3 41.b3 e2! 10...dxe5 11.g4
[ 41...e2 42.e3 f1! and Black threatens [ Whereas 11.hxg6 may transpose to the
43...Rh1 as well as promoting the pawn ] previous variation, there is also ]
0-1 [ 11.d6! to consider: xh5 12.xc6 b8
13.xb5 It is very hard to see any
compensation whatsoever for Black. ]
840 B06 11...c7
Zhigalko,Sergei 2490 [ After 11...b4 12.a4 a5 13.b3
Berkes,Ferenc 2596 White is dominating. The possession of the
World Jr Ch - Boys U20 (8) 17.11.2005 h and d files and the a2-g8 diagonal gives
[Andrew Martin] him a huge advantage. ]
12.hxg6 fxg6
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3 c6 [ 12...hxg6? 13.h6 is game over. ]
The older move. W hat is wrong with it and 13.g5 h5 14.xb5! Initiating an excellent
why is 4...a6 preferred almost exclusively combination.
these days? Perhaps the answer lies after 5 [ 14.xb5 isn't a s good : cxb5 15.d5+
Qd2 b5 6 Nf3, although I remain to be h8 16.xa8 b6 17.xb6 xb6 18.d5
convinced that Black's chances are in any (or else Bb7) g3 19.g2 xh1 20.xh1
wa y in f e rio r t h e re . 5.d2 b5 6.0-0-0 a6 21.a3 b4 22.d6 bxa3 23.xa3
Fearless or stupid? In my view this gives b5 and Black has sufficient counterplay. ]
Black unnecessary chances. d7 7.h4 14...cxb5 15.d5+ h8 16.xa8 b7
[ Stein - Bronstein, Moscow 1961 USSR ch 17.xa7 a8 18.xd7!
continued 7.b1 b6 8.d3 a5 9.h4 h5 [ 18.xb5 is also possible, but after c6!
10.h3 b4 11.e2 xh3 ( 11...f6 12.f3 19.xd7 xd7 20.b6 comes xa2
0-0 13.h6 b3! 14.cxb3 a4 ) 12.xh3 e6 and not everyone would like to play the Fritz
13.f3 f6 14.g5 c7 with a complicated suggestion of 21.b4 now. ]
position. ] [ 18.d5 o n l y l e a d s t o e q u a l i t y : c6
7...gf6 Black's choice here is a question of 19.e7 c7 20.d5 ]
taste. Both players seem to having a small, 18...xd7 19.b6 g3 20.h2? He had to
u n wr it t e n c o n t e st a s t o wh o i s t h e m o s t make a choice for the Rook, but h2 seems like
f e a r l e s s . N a t u r a l l y B l a c k h a s p l e n t y o f the worse square possible.
alternatives which delay ...Ng8-f8, including [ Either 20.h4 c6 ( 20...f1 21.xg6
[ 7...a5 ] f8 22.f2! and the check on d2 is just a
[ 7...b6 ] fatal waste of time) 21.f2 f1 22.e1!
[ and of course 7...h5 I would choose any of f8 23.f2! b4 24.xf1 bxc3 25.xc3
these moves before ...Nf6 ] xa2 26.b1 a7 27.b3 ]
8.f3 0-0 A continuation of the same risky and [ or 20.h3 f1 21.f2 b4 22.b1 f7
uncompromising strategy. Black's options would have retained W hite's clear
were the same as before. 9.h5! White could advantage. ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
20...f1! Suddenly Black has useful [ 9.e6 is intimidating, but no more as long as
counterplay. 21.e2 xe3 22.xe3 b4 Black defends correctly. fxe6 10.g5 f8
23.d2 c6? 11.0-0
[ Fritz 9 suggests 23...c7! and if 24.b5 A) 11...f5! is a certain improvement.
( 24.b1 xa2; 24.d5 xa2! and maybe Black must get his Knight into the game
Black is suddenly better.) 24...a5 25.d6 and this is the right moment. For instance:
xa2 26.d1 leads to very unclear play. I'm 12.xf5 ( 12.f2 h6! 13.f3 xf3
baffled as to why Berkes didn't play this 14.xf3 xd4 15.c6+ f7; 12.e1
way. ] b4 13.a4 h6 14.h3 xe3 15.xe3
24.b1 d7! ) 12...exf5 13.d5 c5! 14.dxc6 xc6
[ 24.ce2! e6 25.b3 xb3 26.cxb3 15.d5 xb2 16.b1 a3 17.d4 e5;
is a simple variation which confirms the B) 11...d7 12.f2 f5 13.e4 d5
unevenness of this game. Perhaps the two 14.d3 d6 15.e2 b6 16.c3 d7
players were getting short of time it 17.e1 f6 18.c1 c8 19.b3 h6
certainly looks that way. ] 20.f3 g4 21.c5 xf2 22.xf2 0-0
24...f8 25.d5 c4! 26.d1 c5 23.e5 d6 Melnikova,Y-Zielinska,M/
The game turns. White is going backwards. D r e s d e n 2 0 0 4 a n d n o w 24.g1
27.d2 Timing is of critical importance in such a
[ 27.e2 xa2 28.d7 c6 29.c7 e6 sh a p p o s i t i o n . H e r e B l a c k j u s t g o t i t
30.e1 b6 leaves the White position wrong. ]
utterly stretched. ] 9...b6N A very logical novelty in that Black is
27...xa2 28.h3 d4 29.c3 bxc3 trying to control the squares c4,d5 and f5
[ 29...b3! is also very strong. ] which have been left in the wake of the pawn
30.bxc3 c4 31.d3 c5 32.e1 a6 on e5. I strongly prefer White's extra space
33.d2 b8 34.f4 b6 35.a3 c5 and feel that it should give him a comfortable
0-1 advantage.
[ 9...e6 has been tried, 'a la' Azmaiparashvili.
Black might be able to scrape his way to a
841 B06 playable game: 10.0-0-0 b6 11.hg1
Zufic,Miroslav 2370 f5 12.xf5 exf5 13.d5 c4 14.d4
Nevednichy,Vladislav 2552 dxe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.xe5 0-0
XI Open A Bosnjaci CRO (2) 04.01.2005 17.xg7 xg7 18.ge1 e8 19.xe8
[Andrew Martin] xe8 20.xe8 xe8 21.b4 d8 22.g3
d6?! ( 22...f6 23.d3 e7 24.d2
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e3 a6 c6!= ) 23.b2 h6 24.b3 Antal,G-Vajda,
5.f4 b5 6.f3 b7 7.d3 d7 Although L/Nagyka nizsa 2 003 It's OK f or Black I
I've played Black's position myself I don't suppose, just uninspiring. ]
really believe it. White has strong attacking 10.a4 White begins the business of opening
chances on the Kingside no matter how Black u p t h e p o s it io n f o r h is b e t t e r d e ve lo p e d
juggles with the moves. Black must be alert in pieces. b4 11.e4 0-0 12.0-0 a5 13.fg5
defence and have very steady nerves if he d7
wishes to play this line. 8.e5 h6 [ 13...f5 14.f2 d7 15.b5 c6 16.c4
[ 8...e6 9.a4 b4 10.e4 b6 ( 10...xe4 bxc3 17.xc3 xb5 18.axb5 e6
11.xe4 d5 12.d3 c5 13.dxc5 c7 another way.. I'm worried about the Bishop
14.e2 ) 11.d2 a5 12.b5+ f8 throttled on g7 but perhaps .... f7-f6 will
13.e2 e7 14.0-0 c6 15.xc6 xc6 liberate that piece . Nevertheless I am a bit
16.c3 d7 17.fc1 bxc3 18.xc3 b4 surprised that Nevednichy didn't take the
19.b5 Morozevich,A-Azmaiparashvili,Z/ chance to get his Knight off the edge. Black
Bugojno 1999 although Black managed an keeps the game very tense. ]
eventual draw. ] 14.b3 f6 15.f3 d5 16.d2 c6 17.g3
9.e2 [ 17.ae1! fxe5 18.fxe5 f5 19.c4 dxe5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
Pirc line ) 4.b3 e5 5.f4!? g4!? ( 5...exf4 28.c5 a6 29.cxd6 a4 30.c1 b6
6.f3 h6!? ) 6.f3 exf4 7.d4 h5 8.0-0 31.b1 a2 32.g2 g8? (but things
e7 ( 8...g5 ) 9.h3 were bad anyway) 33.h1 c4 34.c3
A) 9...xf3 10.xf3 g6 11.g4 ( or b3 35.b1 b2 36.d2 c4 37.c1
11.xf4 ) 11...g3 12.xf7+; 1-0 Short-Wahls, Bundesliga 1991. ]
B) 9...e6 10.d5!? ( 10.xe6! fxe6 [ b) 2...c5 opens plenty of options for White:
11.g5 xg5 12.xh5+ g6 13.g4 ) 3.f4 transposes to a Sicilian Grand Prix
10...cxd5 11.d4 f6 ( 11...g6 ) 12.xf4 Attack, but one in which Black has
0-0 13.exd5 ( 13.xd5 xd5 14.exd5 c o m m i t t e d t o . . . d 6 , wh e r e a s t h e m o s t
g6 15.f3 with two bishops and an frustrating and arguably best anti-Grand
advantage ) 13...d7 14.ce2 a6 Prix lines delay ... d6 in favour of a setup
15.c4 c5 16.c2 a5 17.g3! with ... g6/...Bg7...e6/...Nge7 and, at the
(as so often, the f5 square causes right time, ...d5. Instead, ( 3.f3 and 4 d4 is
problems for Black) b6 18.df5 ae8 an Open Sicilian, except in the case of e5
19.h2 ( 19.xe7+ xe7 20.d4! ) when 4.c4 e7 is a playable variant of
19...xf5?! 20.xf5 fe4 21.f3?! the Sicilian that goes 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3
( 21.xg7! xg7 22.d4+ f6 23.xe4 Nc3 e5 4 Bc4 Be7; 3.g3 is a Closed Sicilian
and White is winning) 21...f6 22.ae1 in which White has avoided 1 e4 c5 2 Nc3
e5 23.xe4! xe4 24.xd6 e6, which is still considered a respectable
and W hite destroys black's centre while defence )]
picking up a pawn. ] [ c) 2...g6 can go anywhere. An interesting
2...f6 The Pirc move, which very often game with notes by Romanishin went 3.f4
t ra n s p o s e s . T h e r e a re m a n y in t e r e st in g ( there are quite a lot of games with 3.h4!? )
alternatives: 3...g7 4.f3 c6?! 5.b5! f6 6.0-0
[ a) A game in which Nigel Short ( 6.e5?! dxe5 7.xe5 d7 8.xd7 xd7
experimented with 2 Nc3 went 2...e5 3.c4 9.0-0 0-0= ) 6...0-0 7.h1!? g4?!
( I'd also look at 3.d4 exd4 4.xd4 c6 ( 7...d7 ) 8.xc6 bxc6 9.d3 c5 10.e1
5.b5 with the idea d7 6.xc6 xc6 d7 , and Romanishin suggests 11.f5! e6
7.f3 , with the idea of developing simply, or ( 11...gxf5 12.h4 fxe4 13.dxe4 |^ ) 12.e5!
perhaps continuing with the aggressive Bg5 dxe5 13.fxg6 hxg6 ( 13...fxg6 ) 14.g5
and 0-0-0 ) 3...e6!? 4.b3 ( 4.xe6 fxe6 e8
5.f3 c5! prevents d4 again, 5 d4 cxd4 6 A) 15.xf6 xf6 16.e4 e7 ( or
Qxd4 Nc6 7 Qc4 is worthy of consideration) 16...g7 17.fg5 f6 18.h4+- )
4...c6 5.ge2 g6?! ( 5...f6 6.d4 xd4 17.xe5;
7.xd4 exd4 8.xd4 e7 9.f4!? 0-0 B) 15.h4!? Romanishin-Nijboe
10.0-0-0 is probably all right for black, but omanishin-Nijboer, Groningen 1993. ]
there's a little pressure on him) 6.d4! xb3 [ d) 2...c6 has been chosen by some strong
7.axb3 g7 8.d5 ( 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.d5 players, for example, 3.f4 d5
ce7!? ) 8...ce7 9.0-0 f6 ( 9...f5 A) 4.d3 dxe4 5.dxe4 xd1+ 6.xd1
10.d3! ) 10.d3 0-0 11.g3!? f6 7.f2 may even be slightly better for
(usually a dubious move when the squares White due his centre and excellent knight
f5 and h5 are covered here W hite is on f2. Since ...e5 tricks won't work while ...
anticipating a later ...f5) a6 ( for example, Ng4 ca n be m e t b y Nxg4 , W h it e ge t s
11...d7 12.b4 f5 13.exf5 gxf5 14.h5 ) smooth development: g6 ( 7...bd7 8.e5
12.b4 c6 13.g5! c8 ( 13...h6 14.xf6 d5 9.f3 ) 8.f3 g7 9.d3 ( 9.e3!?
xf6 15.fd1 cxd5 16.xd5 ) 14.dxc6 g4 10.xg4 xg4 11.0-0-0 ) 9...0-0
xc6 15.fd1 (W hite is in charge) h6 10.h3 fd7 11.c3 c5 12.c2
16.xf6 xf6 17.b5 axb5 18.xb5 c8 ( 12.e2!? b6 13.e3 ) 12...f5?!
19.b3 b6 20.c4 h4 21.a2 xg3 ( 12...b6 ) 13.e3 ba6 14.0-0-0 e6
22.hxg3 g7 23.g4! d8 24.a8 d7 15.exf5 gxf5 16.b1 d5 17.d4 e6
25.g3 e7 26.b4 c8 27.xc8 xc8 18.hg1 with much better placed pieces
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
an d t he th rea t o f g4 , W ah ls-Che rnin , isn't clear, but perhaps White gets a little
Tastrup 1992.; something because of his centre. ]
B) 4.f3 g4 ( 4...dxe4 5.xe4 d7 8.d3 c6 9.exd6 0-0
6.d4 gf6 7.f2!? ) 5.h3 ( 5.e2 ) [ 9...exd6 10.e2+ e7 11.xe7+ xe7
5...xf3 6.xf3 e6 7.d3 b4 8.a3 a5 12.d2!? and 0-0-0 looks interesting, but
9.d2 ( 9.g3 ) 9...e7 10.0-0-0 0-0 fine for Black. ]
11.g4 d7 with a strangely balanced 10.0-0 exd6 11.a4 g4
position, Reinderman-M Gurevich, Zwolle [ 11...a5! 12.a2 f5 13.e1 d7 ]
NED 1996. ] 12.a5 d7 13.a6 bxa6 14.d5
3.f4 Here just about everything has been [ 14.xa6 ]
played, e.g., 14...b6 15.h3 xf3
[ 3.d3 (75 games, but a horrendous record in [ 15...e6! ]
master play) ] 16.xf3 f6 17.g4 ae8 18.g5 d7
[ 3.h3 ] 19.d5 b8 20.c3 e7 21.xe7+ xe7
[ 3.b3 and the more natural-looking ] 22.xa6 b6 Short-A Sokolov, playchess.
[ 3.ge2 ] com INT 2004 and here 23.f5! gxf5 24.g2
[ and 3.g3 , for example, looks to favour White because of his bishops
A) 3...g6 4.g2 g7 can become a and pawn structure.
Closed Sicilian after 5.f4 ( 5.d4 0-0
6.ge2 is a Pirc ) 5...0-0 6.f3 c5 7.d3
c6 8.0-0; 843 B07
B) 3...c6 4.g2 bd7 5.f4 e5 6.d3 Adams,Michael 2694
exf4!? 7.xf4 e5!? 8.e2 e7 9.f3 Reizniece,Dana 2341
g4 Waitzkin-Ehlvest, New York 1994. ] 8th Gibtelecom Masters (1) 26.01.2010
3...g6 4.c4 This is kind of weird, almost a [Gawain Jones]
Pirc but not quite a normal one. More
conventional would be I was impressed with Mickey Adams' play here
[ 4.f3 g7 5.g3 0-0 6.g2 , and c5 in Gibraltar which he eventually went on to win
is the most natural move, transposing to a in the playoffs. Normally he's known to grind
Closed Sicilian. White has 'prevented' a Pirc, down his opponents but here he reminded
and gotten Black to play .. . Nf6 versus the everyone he can play aggressively too! 1.e4
Closed Sicilian, which is usually easier to d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 g6 4.h3 c6 5.g4!?
play for White than against the systems with We've had this position with bishops already
...e6 or ...e5 and ...Nge7. ] developed on e3 and g7 in the archives but
4...g7 5.e5!? fd7 without them developed probably favours
[ 5...dxe5 6.fxe5 g4 7.d4 ( 7.e6!? f5! ) White. This is because the bishop may not
7...c5!? ( 7...c6 8.f3 h6 9.d5! ) 8.e6 h a ve t o go t o e 3 wh ile B la ck will a lm o s t
f5 9.d5 is obscure. Then the play seems to certainly play Bg7. This line is very rare and
favour White, for example, 0-0 ( 9...xe6 has hardly ever been reached. There are
10.dxe6 xc3+ 11.bxc3 xd1+ 12.xd1 actually two plans here for White he can play
f2+ 13.e2 xh1 14.f3 is hopeless) aggressively with long castles and attacking
10.f3 , and already 11 d6 is threatened, so on the kingside or more sedately with Bg2,
a p l a u s i b l e a c t i v e l i n e w o u l d b e a5 Nge2-Ng3 and 0-0 when it's an accelerated
11.d2!? b4 12.e2 xb2! 13.b1 fianchetto position. h5 Black attacks back
xc2 14.d3 xc3! 15.xc3 xc3+ immediately but this move means that any
16.f1 , when it's still hard not to prefer future f4-f5 will be a lot stronger as g6 is now
White. ] vulnerable.
6.f3 [ 5...b5 6.g2
[ 6.d4!? b6 7.b3 ] A) 6...b4 7.ce2 g7 8.e3 ( I like
6...b6 7.b3 c5!? 8.a3 while Black cannot defend with a5
[ 7...0-0 8.d4 c6 9.0-0 g4 10.e3 and so has to make a concession.) 8...b7
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
9.d2 a5 10.g3 h5 11.g5 fd7 12.h4 but I think it's a lot easier to play for White,
c5 13.f4 c6 14.1e2 and in this it's always nicer to attack the king and play
unclear position they agreed to a draw in with more space.
Rodriguez-Leitao, Santos 2006; [ 9.d3 is the alternative square with ideas
B) 6...e5 7.e3 ( 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.xd8+ of pressurising g6. ]
xd8 9.f3 bd7 10.e3 looks like an 9...b4?! I don't like this move. It's hard to put
in t e re s t in g alt e rn a t ive wh e n f 7 m igh t pressure on e4 and this just forces White to
prove vulnerable.) 7...g7?! ( 7...bd7 put another piece on the kingside to increase
immediately was required) 8.dxe5 dxe5 the offensive. 10.e2 d5 The only way to
9.xd8+ xd8 10.0-0-0+ c7 11.f4 target the e4 pawn but this allows W hite a
e8 12.f3 1-0 Rogic, D-Skoberne, J/ strong attack. 11.f5! Black's in trouble
Zadar CRO 2005 (31) ] [ 11.e5 is a calmer way of playing which
[ 5...e5 has been played but fails tactically to would exploit d5 and gives W hite a
6.dxe5 ( Instead 6.ge2 was played in 1-0 promising advantage but f5 is the most
S o l l e v e l d - P e l , H o o g e v e e n 2 0 0 2 ( 6 2 )) dynamic. ]
6...dxe5 7.xd8+ xd8 8.f3 bd7 11...f8
9.g5 e8 10.c4 and Black cannot hold [ 11...dxe4 12.h4 b6 ( 12...f8
on to the pawn. h6 ( 10...b4 11.xf7+ would transpose to the note to the next
e7 12.c4 h6 13.f7 h7 14.xh6 move ) 13.xe4 xf5 14.xf5 gxf5
xe4 15.0-0 Also puts Black in trouble) 15.xf5 d5 16.f1 has similarities to the
11.xf7 h7 12.g5 ( 12.xh6 xh6 game, White can be very happy here. ]
13.g5 Is probably a simpler path to the [ 11...gxf5 is initially the computer's top
advantage ) 12...b5 Black has to try and suggestion but after 12.exf5 White holds an
conf use the issue 13.e6 b4 14.e2 extremely pleasant position. White's knights
xe4 15.xd7+ xd7 16.xe5 xg5 can be placed on h4 and g3 and White can
17.h4 f7 18.xd7 xd7 19.e3 castle kingside safely when the h5 pawn is
White's better as Black's pawns are loose doomed and an f6 or g6 break is going to
and his pieces don't connect well. ] wipe out the Black king. ]
[ 5...g7 6.g2 0-0 7.ge2 e5 8.e3 b5 12.h4 dxe4
9.a3 b7 10.0-0 bd7 11.d2 a6 [ 12...gxf5 13.xf5 xf5 14.exf5
12.g3 b6?! Missing a cute tactic 13.dxe5 How can Black ever hope for an
c4 14.exf6! xd2 15.fxg7 xf1 acceptable position? I don't see how he
( 15...xg7 16.xd2 is also good for d e ve l o p s a l l h i s p i e c e s t o r e a s o n a b l e
White. The three pieces are more effective squares. ]
than the queen generally and here d6 is a 13.0-0
big weakness.) 16.gxf8+ xf8 17.xf1 [ 13.fxg6 also gives White a clear advantage
Again I prefer the three pieces to the queen xg6 ( 13...f5 14.g3 e6 15.e3
1-0 Vitolinsh-Hoerstmann, Porz (50) ] doesn't really help, W hite's pieces have
6.g5 fd7 7.f4! Mickey goes for it! It actually been restrained temporarily but h5 is going
rem ind s me of a f ew of m y game s in th e to drop when Black's position is likely to
G r a n d P ri x A t t a c k . W h it e m a y n o t m a t e collapse. White can take time out to castle
immediately but it's useful taking the extra queenside first if he wants too.) 14.xg6
space in the centre and on the kingside while fxg6 15.xe4 0-0 16.d3 followed by
the h5 pawn looks a bit stupid for Black. g7 Bd2 and 0-0-0 ]
8.f3 b5 13...gxf5
[ 8...0-0 is a bit risky. White doesn't have to [ 13...a6 14.xe4 hardly helps Black
attack on the kingside straight away but can xe2 15.xe2 xd4+ 16.g2 has picked
first develop his pieces. 9.e3 followed by up a pawn but Black's king cannot survive
Qd2, Bd3, 0-0-0 and f5. ] bd7 17.xc6 c8 18.f6+- ]
9.g2 Adams eyes up the long diagonal. The 14.xf5 xf5 15.xf5 g6
computer reckons the position is about level [ 15...e6 16.f2 d5 17.e3 ]
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12.ce4 is awkward for Black although Bd5 demonstrating that 5.h3 is not to be
keeps the position messy ] underestimated. Black players should
10.e2 8d7?! this is just too slow and it examine options on moves 7 and 8 otherwise
gets ruthlessly punished this line may quickly fall out of fashion...
[ perhaps 10...c6!? should be tried, 1-0
although White retains good chances after
11.a3 b4 12.e4 d5 13.d2 bxa3
14.bxa3 ] 845 B07
11.0-0-0 Adamson,Robby
[ 11.0-0 of course this should also be good Ivanov,A
for White but Mickey can smell blood on the Reno 2007
Kingside ] [John Watson]
11...e6
[ 11...b4 12.e4 d5 13.h4 c5 14.dxc5 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 bd7 4.f4 e5
dxe5 15.h5 exf4 16.f2 looks very strong 5.f3 Martin calls this the 'Pirc/ Philidor hybrid',
for White ] also known as 'the LION' . Remarkably, I see
12.h4 b7 184 games with it in my TWIC database. The
[ 12...h5 13.g4! hxg4 14.g5 and White's whole system doesn't inspire confidence in me,
attack is crushing ] and yet no real solution has been found. exd4
[ 12...b4 13.e4 f5 14.exf6 xf6 [ 5...e7?! 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.fxe5 g4
15.xf6+ xf6 16.h5 is clearly better for 8.f4 ]
White ] [ 5...c6 has been suggested by Lion
13.h5 b4 14.e4 xe4 15.xe4 d5 advocates, but may not be that great: 6.dxe5
Zhukova tries to block up the position, but in ( 6.c4!? ) 6...dxe5 7.fxe5 g4 8.f4?
the absence of counterplay she can't expect ( 8.e6! fxe6 9.g5 ) 8...c5 with unclear
the Kingside to remain closed for long 16.d3 play. ]
c5 17.hxg6 hxg6 6.xd4! And 116 of those games reached this
[ 17...fxg6 18.dxc5 a4 19.g5 ] point.
18.g4 [ A recent game Alberola Mulet-Llorente Zaro,
[ 18.dxc5 is also winning but Adams is doing La Ro d a 2 0 0 8 re in f o rce d th e id e a t h a t
for the direct attack a4 19.c6 ] 6.xd4 is harmless after g6 7.e3 g7
18...e8 8.d3 0-0 9.g4? d5! 10.e5 ( 10.g5 xe4 )
[ 18...c4 traps a piece but to no avail after 10...c5! 11.exf6 xf6 12.e2 e8 13.f2
19.h2 e8 20.h7+ f8 21.f5! cxd3 cxd4 14.xd4 xg4 and Black soon won. ]
22.h6 xh6+ 23.xh6+ e7 24.g5+ 6...c6 For some time this has been considered
when White regains the piece and more ] the main line, but there are options.
19.h2 cxd4 20.xd4 c7 [ 6...c5!? was given some attention in the
[ 20...f8 covers h7 but simply f5 is Archives: 7.e5 ( 7.e3 g6 8.e5 e6
crushing ] 9.a4+ d7 10.b5 g4 11.xd7+ xd7
21.f5! the att ack crashes through exf5 12.xd7+ xd7 13.d2 f5! Ponomariov-
22.gxf5 xe5 23.xe5 xe5 Beliavsky, Bled SLO 1999) 7...e6 8.c4
[ 23...xe5 24.h8+! xh8 25.xh8# ] dxe5 9.fxe5 d7 10.e3 Cosma - Ianov,
24.fxg6 f6 25.df1! a typically accurate Bijeljina 2001 and Davies suggests b6
move from Adams, bringing another piece to 11.xb6 axb6 12.d1 d7 . ]
the attack d7 26.f5 f8 27.xe5 xe5 7.e3 It's a bad sign for Black that Christian
28.h3 a5 29.e1 d6 30.hf1! Bauer chose this line as White, since Bauer
setting up a pleasing finish plays the Lion. But there seem to be enough
[ 30.e6+ of course wins as well ] resources. d5
30...a4 31.e6+ xe6 32.h7+ f8 [ 7...e7 8.g4!? ( 8.0-0-0 ) 8...d5 ( 8...c5!?
33.xf6+ with mate to follow shortly. Overall 9.d2 xg4 10.0-0-0 0-0 11.g1 xe3
an impressive perf ormance f rom Adams, 12.xe3 b6 gives White a nice attack
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
with a better game overall, but Black is a enough for the exchange;
pawn up and White will have to take a little C2b) 12...0-0 13.g1 c7 14.g3
time to recover his pawn.) 9.g5 c5 bd5 15.xd5 cxd5 16.b5 b6
10.d3 dxe4 11.xe4 xe4 12.xe4+ 17.xc5 xc5 18.d4 c6 19.c3
e7 13.xe7+ xe7 14.d4 ( 14.d4!? and W hite has a nice positional
e8 15.f2 ) 14...xd4 15.xd4 c5 advantage, Sprenger-Galdunts,
16.0-0-0 d8 17.f5! h6 18.h4 and White Cappelle la Grande FRA 2002. ]
has a bind and some space, with a limited 11.xd5 cxd5 12.f5 f6 13.0-0-0 0-0
advantage, Shirov-Ftacnik, Senek SVK 14.g4!? A little ambitious.
1998. ] [ 14.g3 and Bg2 is a good alternative. ]
8.exd5 c5 9.d3 14...xe3+?!
[ A crazy line comes from 9.d2!? e7 [ Better is 14...e8 15.g5!? ( 15.xc5!?
10.d4 g4 ( 10...b6!? is safer and xc5 16.xd5 xf5 17.xf5 xf5
maybe better) 11.d1? ( 11.0-0-0! xe3! 18.gxf5 e4 19.d5 c8 ) 15...xe3!
12.e1 xd4 13.d1! xe1 14.xe1+ 16.gxf6 xd3 17.xd3 xf6 gives Black a
d8 15.e4 c5 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.xc6 pawn and bishop pair for the exchange, and
b8 18.d5 gf6 19.xf7 g6 with near- W hite's pawns are weak. That should be
equality ) 11...df6 12.h3? xe3 13.xe3 enough for equality, for example, 18.he1
e4 14.d3 h4+ and Black won shortly, d7 19.c3 g6 20.d4 d6 , winning
Cukuroglu-Gelashvili, Izmir TUR 2003. ] another pawn. ]
9...e7 10.d4 xd5 15.xe3 b6 16.e7+ h8 17.xc8
[ 10...b6! is a gambit that promises axc8 18.g5 c6 19.d3 c4
equality: 11.dxc6 [ 19...fe8 is slightly more flexible - the
A) 11...bd5? 12.cxb7 ( 12.xd5 xd5 knight might go to a4. ]
13.cxb7 xb7 14.e4+ e7 15.b5+ 20.d4 a4 21.a3 fe8
f8 16.xb7 xb7 17.0-0 and White [ 21...b5 doesn't do enough: 22.he1 b4
has two extra pawns) 12...xb7 13.b5+ 23.b3 xa3+ 24.b1 b6 25.h4 a5
xb5 14.xb5+ d7 15.xd5 xd5 26.e7 ]
16.f2 0-0-0 17.a6+ with a winning 22.he1 c6 23.h4 White's pawn storm
advantage, Bauer, C -Strikovic, Calvia begins. g8 24.h5 b6 25.xe8+ xe8
ESP 2005.; 26.xc4 dxc4 27.xb6!
B) 11...0-0 12.0-0-0 bxc6 13.g1 c7 [ 27.xc4 is also possible, but the queen
14.g3 d8?? ( 14...g4 15.e2 xe2 exchange is risk-free. ]
16.dxe2 ad8 17.d4 with some 27...axb6 28.d6 h6 29.gxh6 gxh6
advantage ) 15.db5! xd3 16.xc7 30.xh6 e4 31.xb6 xf4 32.xb7 h4
xd1+ 17.xd1 xg1 18.xa8 xa8 33.b5 No w W h i t e i s h o m e f r e e . g7
19.xg1 1-0 J Polgar-Khalifman, ? 1993; 34.d2 f6 35.a4 c3+ 36.xc3 xa4
C) 11...bxc6! 37.b4 a3+ 38.b2 h3 39.d5 e6
C1) 12.e2! looks best, unpinning the 40.d3 xh5 41.c4 h4 42.b3 f5 43.c5
e3 bishop, but Black is still okay: a6! h1 44.c6 f4 45.c3 h8 46.b5 f8 47.b6
13.d2 fd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.xc6 f3 48.b7 f2 49.c7 f1 50.c8+
( 15.f5! ) 15...xe3 16.xe3+ xe3 1-0
17.xa6 xc2+ 18.d2 xa1 19.xa1
0-0;
C2) 12.0-0-0
C2a) 12...a6! justifies Black's play:
13.d2 xf1 14.f5 ( 14.hxf1
c4! ) 14...c4 15.xe7 xe3
16.xe3 xe3 17.dxf1 xf1
18.xc6 xh2 19.xh2 0-0 20.h3
gives W hite something, but not
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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xh2 ) 17...a5 18.b1 b6 19.f5 g5! [ 28...e5 This move doesn't help Black
20.f2 ( 20.dxc5 a4! 21.cxd6 xb2 either in view of 29.e2! Now White wins
and it's difficult to parry ...Nc3.) 20...cxd4 by force: d7 30.xd4 cxd4 31.f6! e8
21.f6!? ( 21.xd4 xd4 22.xd4 f6 ) 32.g6! with quick mate: h3+ 33.g1 fxg6
21...xf6 22.xd4 xd4 23.xd4 c5 34.xg6+ xg6 35.xg6+ h8 36.h5+
with huge advantage to Black, although in g8 37.f7+ xf7 38.xf7+ h8 39.f8+
the time-trouble scramble White managed to h7 40.h6+ g8 41.f8# ]
salvage a draw. ] 29.xb2 xb2 30.f3! Excellent! White
7.d2 g7 8.h4 h5 9.g5 fd7 10.ge2 doesnâ []t need to waste a tempo capturing
b7 11.g3 0-0 12.f4 b4 13.d1 c5 that Knight. The text protects the h3-square
14.d5 The moves of both sides are very and keeps open the possibility of both pawn
natural and suggest themselves quite readily. advances (f5-f6 or g5-g6). Now the game is
b6 15.c4 bxc3 16.xc3 a6 17.xa6 over. xc3 31.f6! e8 32.g6! Now all the
xa6 18.e2 c8 19.f5 c7 white pieces (Queen and 2 Rooks) attack that
[ The natural looking 19...e5 is bad in view lonely Black's King while all Black's pieces
of 20.xh5! gxh5 21.xh5 and Black's are far away... xf6 33.gxf7+ Mate in 2 is
King is in trouble after unavoidable, so Black resigned. Wonderful
A) 21...xc3+ 22.bxc3 xd5 trying to game!
include the Queen in the defence 23.g6! [ 33.gxf7+ xf7 34.g6# ]
( 23.exd5 xf5 ) 23...f6 24.h6 1-0
and trouble follows with Rg1 and a quick
mate.;
B) The attempt to conjure up a 849 B07
counterattack also doesn't work: 21...b4 Anand,Viswanathan 2520
22.g6 fxg6 23.fxg6 c2+ 24.d2 c4+ Gurevich,Mikhail 2699
25.e2 and there are no more checks; 9th Corsica Masters (KO) rapid (3.1) 04.11.05
C) 21...d7 The alternatives don't help [Andrew Martin]
Black either: 22.g1 g7 23.f6 exf6
24.gxf6 xf6 25.xg7+ xg7 26.g5+ 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 It is rare indeed that
h7 27.xf6 g4 28.h6+ g8 someone is so bold to venture the Pirc
29.f2 ] against Anand. Perhaps Vishy was so
20.0-0 d7 It might look as if White is surprised that he decided to deviate from the
running out of ideas on how to continue the normal 3 Nf3. I don't know of any drawback to
attack. But Vishy finds an excellent blow! 3 f3 other then W hite must be prepared to
21.xh5! gxh5 22.xh5 b8 23.f2 e8 play different types of position. If pushes, I
24.af1 e5?! Until this moment both sides would vote to 3...d5 now, but there are plenty
have played very inventively and precisely. of other moves. 3.f3 g6 Gurevich insists on
But this plan of transferring Knight to ...c4 the fianchetto. Now he has to be prepared to
qu i c k l y l e a d s t o t h e c o l l a p s e o f B l a c k ' s play a King's Indian. 4.e3 c6 5.d2 bd7
position. [ 5...b5 6.c3 led to a very unusual position in
[ 24...a6! is much more to the point. the following game, not necessarily bad for
Black's Queen becomes very active and the Black at a ll: ( 6.a4! is more critical, taking
Knight is placed well on d7 for protecting the advantage of the Queen on d2: bxa4 7.c3
King. 25.g2 d3 ] b7 8.d3 bd7 9.ge2 g7 10.0-0 0-0
25.g2 c4 26.c1 d4+ 27.h1 11.xa4 e5 12.fa1 exd4 13.xd4 c5
Now it has become clear that Black's plan 14.db5 d5 15.exd5 b6 16.xa7 fxd5
was wrong. The "active" Knight doesn't really 17.xc5 e8 18.d6 h4 19.f2 xa7
attack anything while White is ready for the 20.xa7 d4 Pascot, J-Prioul, J/Bretagne
direct attack to roll over the Black King. g7 2004 This could well be a promising route
28.h6 xb2 Desperation, but I couldnâ []t for W hite.) 6...g7 7.a3 bd7 8.c2
find any real improvement: It's hard to believe in this time-consuming
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
manoeuvre. Of course, White is solid. c7 better capture: 14.xe4 ( 14.c2 h4+
9.e2 b6 10.b3 a6 11.h4 h5= 15.d1 f2+ 16.xf2 xf2 17.c1 e4 )
1/2-1/2 Ivanova, Y-Kariakina, M/Dagomys 14...xe4 15.d3 h4+ 16.d1 xg4
2004 ] 17.g1 h4 ]
6.c4 14.xc5 He takes his chance. h4+ 15.g3
[ 6.h3 g7 ( 6...e5 7.f2 is another dxc5
Knight wheel, this time on the other flank! [ After 15...h6 16.g2 dxc5 17.d1 f4
White gets nowhere again: g7 8.d5 cxd5 18.e2 White is holding on. ]
9.exd5 0-0 10.c4 h5 11.c3 f5 12.h3 16.g2
e7= ) 7.e2 e5 8.dxe5 xe5 9.f2 0-0 [ 16.b3 might be a useful zwischenzug:
10.a3 I just don't get these Knight moves h6 17.d3 ab8 18.d1 The Rook on
to the edge. White can afford one of Nh3-f2 b3 looks more impressive than the Black
or Na3-God knows where, but not both! d5 rook on b8. ]
11.0-0-0 e6 12.exd5 xd5 13.c5 d7 16...f5 The second wave of the Black attack
14.xf8 xf8 15.d3 c3 16.de1 commences. 17.exf5 e4?!
xa2+ 17.b1 c3+ 18.c1 b6 19.f4 [ Why not 17...gxf5 Black has threats:
d8 20.f3 a2+ 21.b1 xb2 22.xe6 A) 18.d1 e4 Now he gets the move for
xa3 0-1 De Ruiter, T-Piket, M/Netherlands free. 19.h3 g5 20.h5 xh5
1994 Very nice! ] ( 20...f4 21.e2 d6 22.h3 )
6...a6!? 7.a4 This is not quite a main line 21.xh5 e5;
King's Indian. In the Byrne system of the B) 18.b3 e3 19.f2 g4= 20.g2 ]
Samisch Variation, Black would normally 18.cxe4 ae8 19.fxg6
have played ...Bg7 at this point, not ...Nbd7. [ 19.e2 might have been clearer: xb2
There a2-a4 would be answered by ....a6-a5! 20.b3 d4 21.dxc6 bxc6 22.fxg6 hxg6
and ... Nb8-a6-b4! Gurevich can't do this now 23.xg4 xg4 24.d2 ]
and this is what prompts Anand to play a2-a4 19...f2 20.h3 xe4+? The last mistake.
himself. [ Black should prefer 20...xf1+ 21.xf1
[ 7.c3 c7 8.c1 g7 9.h3 0-0 xe4+ 22.d1 d4+ 23.c2 hxg6
10.f2 e5 11.d5 c5 12.g4 h5 13.h4 b6 although he is still worse. ]
14.e2 d7 15.b3 c8 16.g1 e8 21.xe4 A flawed game, but not without
17.d1 gave White his usual Benoni space opening interest and of course a game
advantage in Pfaffel, T-Szenetra, W / between two great players. Are we hunting for
Finkenstein 1998, although anyone who has crumbs when we consider blitz games in a
played these positions as Black will tell you theoretical column? The jury is still out on that
that the a dvantage is not at a ll easy t o one.
increase. ] 1-0
7...a5 8.c3 e5 9.d5 c5 10.a3 g7
[ The s tra nge 10...e7!? could well be an
option now, intending counterplay after .... 850 B07
Nf6-h5. I don't see any clear way for white to Aseev,Konstantin N 2545
g e t t h e e d g e : 11.h6 ( 11.ge2 0-0 Korotylev,Alexey 2415
12.g3 h5 ) 11...h5 12.g3 b6 ] Sankt Peterburg 1994
11.ge2 0-0 12.g4 xg4! This should be a [Alexander Volzhin]
brilliant idea, which Anand surely
underestimated. For the piece Black gets 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.f3 f6
several pawns, a displaced White King and a 5.d3 0-0 6.0-0 c6 7.bd2 e5 8.e1
connected, advancing pawn chain. 13.fxg4 This modification of Dolmatov's system is
[ 13.xc5 xf3-+ ] worthy of consideration. W hite intends to
13...xg4 strengthen the d4 square by playing Nb3, and
[ In a rapid game one makes rapid decisions. it's important he avoids playing 7 h3 (aimed
Yet 13...fxe4! may well have been the against ...Bg4) which amounts to rather a
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Aguado, J/Madrid 1951/EXT 2003 (33)) direct: if White can manage to save two
9.ce2!? (a clever idea: ...Qa5 is tempi by omitting Kb1 and g4, this is
prevented, while the other knight will likely to speed up his attack considerably,
develop on the kingside) bd7 10.h6 e. g.
h8 11.h4 e5 12.h5 d5!? ( the solid B3a) 9...b5 10.h5
12...e7 is n o t so b a d f o r B l a c k) B3a1) 10...a5 is preferable in
13.hxg6 fxg6 14.h3 b6 15.g5 principle, keeping ...b4 as a 'threat' in
c4 16.e1 e7 and Black had reserve, but in this case the queen's
managed to achieve a dynamic balance lack of control of the fifth rank
in Gipslis, A-Smyslov, V/Baku 1961/URS- causes a problem, e.g. 11.hxg6 fxg6
ch (51); 12.e5!? ( 12.g5 e5 enables Black
B2) 8.g4 b5 9.h6 h8 10.h4 a5 to stabilise his position slightly, but;
B2a) 11.h5 b4 12.b1 a6 12.d3 e6 13.h3
( 12...xa2?! 13.hxg6 fxg6 14.xb4 or the immediate 12 Nh3 is f airly
was played in J.Wieweg-P.Sundstrom, u n p l e a s a n t f o r B l a c k) 12...b4!
S t o c k h o l m 1 9 9 3 , w h e n a5 13.e4 ( 13.b1! d5 14.d3
keeps Black in the game but just dxe5 15.g5 threatens kingside
15.a3 gives White a structural mayhem ) 13...xa2? ( 13...xe4
advantage ) 13.e2 ( 13.hxg6 hxg6? 14.fxe4 e6 15.a3 dxe5 16.xb4
14.xa6 xa6 was Masermann, H- xb4 17.axb4 a5!? is u n c l e a r)
Schneider, H/corr 1963, when 15.h2 14.xb4 d5 15.c4! a6 16.c3
threatens Bf8! - a nasty trap which is a4 17.b3 b5 18.exd6
basically the foundation of all Black's won for White in Sirotkin, V-Dubovik,
problems in the ...Re8, ...Bh8 line: it Y/corr 1967/MegaCorr4/[SB 6/68
means that Black must recapture with 157] (39);
the f-pawn, thus weakening the a2-g8 B3a2) 10...b4 11.ce2 ( or 11.b1
d i a g o n a l , a n d t h i s i s n e ve r r e a l l y e6 12.hxg6 fxg6 13.g5 bd7
s a t i s f a c t o r y) 13...c5 ( 13...bd7 14.e2 xa2 15.f4 f7 16.e5
is preferable, maintaining the Qa5's dxe5 17.dxe5 b6 18.e6! e3+
important influence on the fifth rank) 19.d2 xe6 , M. Askerov-G.
14.hxg6 ( 14.g5! ) 14...fxg6 C h u b e n k o , B a k u 2 0 0 0 , 20.h4
( this time Black might actually get t h r e a t e n s N xg 6 w h y h a v e n ' t w e
away with 14...hxg6!? ) 15.a3? c6 heard more of Askerov, who was
favoured Black in Berkes, F (2230)- only twelve years old when he
Bali, J (2365)/Budapest 1998: W hite p l a y e d t h i s g a m e ? !) 11...a5
should be willing to sacrifice his a2- 12.hxg6 hxg6 13.b1 bd7
pawn.; 14.c1! (this snug defence rules out
B2b) 11.b1 e6?! ( 11...b4 all possible counterplay against a2)
12.ce2 c5 13.g5!? is a common a6 15.xa6 xa6 16.g4 b5
theme in this line, and slightly better 17.h2 e5?! 18.ge2 h7 19.e3
for White, though the position remains df8 20.d5 c5 21.g3 g7
v e r y c o m p l e x) 12.d5?! ( 12.g5! 22.dg1 e7 23.g5 d7 24.e2
again looks good, though Black has c8 25.h4 c4 26.gh1 a5
some curious resources, e.g. fd7!? 27.h2 a4 28.xh7 xh7
13.d5 f6 14.d2 f7 15.h5 g5!? ) 29.xh7+ f8 30.f5 gxf5 31.exf5
12...cxd5 13.xd5 xd2 14.xd2 f6 32.gxf6 xf6 33.g6 f7
xd5 15.exd5 a6 16.e2 bd7 34.g5 d8 35.xf6 xf6 36.xf6
17.f4 b6 18.h5 ab8 19.h3 xf6 37.h8+ e7 38.xa8 b3
1/2-1/2 Belakovskaia, A (2385)-Everet, 39.xa4 1-0 was a game between
A (2290)/Bratto 199800; two very strong Russian players, S.
B3) 8.h6! h8 9.h4! is the most Solovyov-A.Potapov, Smolensk 2005.
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12.dxc6 exd4 13.b3+ h8 14.cxb7 xb7 [ The correct 52...h4! led to an easy draw:
15.xb7 dxc3 16.xc3 xd3 17.ad1 53.c4 axb3 54.axb3 d6 55.b4 d5
f5 18.xc7 All these move s were forced. 56.c5+ d6 57.f5 e6 and White can't
White has won a pawn but it may seem that make any progress. ]
open f-file gives Black sufficient compensation. 53.xb3 h4 54.f3 e6 55.a4 f5 56.a5
However concrete variations prove that it's just g4?! An inaccuracy again.
a mirage. g4 [ 56...h6 is better, when after 57.a3 a6
[ The tempting 18...f4 doesn't help either in 58.a4 g4 it's a clear draw. ]
view of 19.e7! xh3+ 20.h2! 57.f2 h6 58.f5 f6 59.f1 h4 60.f3
and Black is in trouble: g4 ( The endgame g4 61.g3+ f4 62.g1 e3 63.e1+
after 20...f4+ 21.xf4 xf4 22.xg5 d2? Only this move is the decisive mistake.
is very bad for Black.) 21.xg7 h5 T h e f o l l o wi n g v a r i a t i o n s w e r e g i v e n b y
22.dd7! g5+ 23.g1 gxf3 24.ge7! 25 Beliavsky:
and Black has no defence against Qe5 ] [ 63...f4? 64.a1 a6 65.f6+- ]
19.hxg4 xg4 20.d7! Still all Beliavsky's [ 63...f2? 64.a1 xf5 65.a6 f8 66.a7
homework! Only this move justifies W hite's a8 67.a3! e2 68.xh3 d2 69.g4
combination begun on the 10th move, c2 70.f5 b2 71.a6 b3 72.e6
otherwise Black would play 20...Nf4 with a b4 73.d6! b5 74.a1 b6 75.b1+
c r u s h i n g a t t a c k . xd7 21.xd7 ab8 a6 76.c7 xa7+ 77.c6+- ]
22.a4 a5 23.g5! b5 [ 63...d3! The only move! 64.f1 e2
[ 23...xb2 24.xb2 xb2 25.xh7 fb8 65.f4 e3 66.a4 xf5 67.a6 f8 68.a7
26.g4! g7 27.f6! is hopeless for Black. ] a8 69.xh3 d3 70.g4 c3 71.f5
24.e6 e8 25.b3 e5 26.ac5? b3 72.a1 b4 73.e6 c5!! 74.d7
A clear inaccuracy. b6 75.b1+ c5 76.b7 h8!= ]
[ The natural 26.c7 won a second pawn: 64.e5 d3 65.a6 xa6 66.xh3
f6 27.xh7+ xh7 28.xb5 h2+ Now Black is helpless. d4 67.e6 a8
29.f1 and Black could easily resign. ] 68.g4 g8+ 69.f4 d5 70.a6
26...f6 27.dd1 c3 28.e3 b4 29.f3 [ 70.e1 cutting Black's King off on the e-file
xc5 30.xc5 xc5 31.xf6 g7 32.f3 is another winning method. ]
e7 33.d2 h5 34.fd3 h6 35.d4 e6 70...g1 71.f6 f1+ 72.g5 e5 73.g6
36.f3 g5 37.d6 g6 38.f2? After this g1+ 74.f7 b1 75.g7 g1+ 76.f8
inaccuracy the win becomes problematic. f5 77.f7 e1 78.g7 g1+ 79.h7
[ 38.h2! was correct, and if Black plays, as A very instructive Rook ending.
h e d i d i n t h e g a m e , h4 , White's King 1-0
penetrates to the g4-square: 39.h3 h5
40.xg6 xg6 41.g4 a4 42.d6+ g7
43.bxa4 and White wins. ] 854 B07
38...h4 39.6d5 gc6 40.xc5 xc5 Beliavsky,Alexander G 2615
41.e3 h5 42.d4 f5 43.c2 g4 Bezold,Michael 2485
44.e4 g5 45.c8 gxf3! Probably White Portoroz 1996
missed this blow. After this exchange the [Alexander Volzhin]
passed h-pawn secures Black good drawing
chances. 46.gxf3 This game shows how precise Black's play
[ White can't win the rook with 46.g8+ f6 should be in the opening. Any mistake even in
47.f8+ g6 48.xf5 i n v i e w o f fxg2 a side line can quickly lead to disaster. 1.d4
49.f8 g7 and the pawn queens. ] d6 2.e4 f6 3.c3 c6 4.f4 a5 5.e5 e4
46...b5 47.f4+ f6 48.c6+ e7 49.f3 6.f3 xc3 7.d2 d5?! This continuation
a4 50.c3 h3 51.g3 h5 52.h2 axb3?! is known to be dubious.
Now it's Black's turn to be falter. Although this [ 7...f5 is the main line. ]
move doesn't throw away draw, Black must 8.xc3 f5?! Again not the best move.
play very attentively now. [ 8...e4+?! is also not good as the Queen
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
is clearly misplaced here: 9.f2 dxe5 [ 5...b5?! 6.e5! dxe5 ( or 6...fd7 7.exd6
10.fxe5 e6 11.f3 and White has a huge exd6 8.d5 b4 9.dxc6 bxc3 10.cxd7+
development advantage, Afek-Deketelare, xd7 11.b3 with a clear edge in Sokolov-
Vlissingen 2000. ] Zakharevich, Elista 1995) 7.dxe5 xd1+
[ 8...dxe5 does not solve the problems: 8.xd1 fd7 9.f4 g7 10.f3 f6 11.e6
9.dxe5 f5 10.f3 e6 11.c4 e4+ f8 12.xb5! xe6 13.xa7 b7 14.c4
12.d1 with initiative ] c7 15.f2 d5 16.xc6 xc6 17.xd5
[ 8...c5!? deserves attention, according to xd5 18.xd5 xa2 19.b5 winning in
Alexander Beliavsky. ] Jansa-Schlosser, Muenster 1992 ]
9.f3 dxe5 [ 5...g7?! 6.f4! 0-0 7.f3 bd7 8.e5
[ 9...e4+ is in White's favour: 10.d1 g4 h5 9.e2 h8 10.g4 g7 11.g2 dxe5
11.d3 xf3+ 12.c1 d5 13.gxf3 xf3 12.fxe5 b6 13.h6 with a clear edge for
14.f1 h5 15.b3 b6 16.d5 White in Jansa-Hoi, Gausdal 1991. ]
and Black is in trouble. ] 6.f4 b5 7.f3
10.c4! A very strong and well calculated [ 7.e5?! is premature in view of the typical
move. White launches a very strong attack. b4! 8.exf6 bxc3 9.bxc3 xf6 ]
d8 [ b u t t h e n a t u r a l 7.d3 is worthy of
[ 10...e4+ 11.d1 g4 was bad due to consideration. ]
12.b3 e6 13.xb7 xf3+ 14.c1 xd4 7...b4 8.b1 b7 9.d2 c7 10.d3 g7
( 14...xg2 15.c8+ e7 16.b4+ f6 11.e2 c5 Black can be satisfied with the
17.d8+ f5 18.g5# ) 15.gxf3 xc4 result of the opening all his pieces are well
16.c8+ e7 17.fxe5 ( 17.d1 ) 17...f6 placed and ready to attack the W hite pawn
18.b7+ d7 19.xa8 and White is centre. 12.c3
winning. ] [ 12.0-0?! leads to a Sicilian-like position
11.b3 e6 12.xb7 e7? Black had which is very good for Black: cxd4 13.xd4
obviously hoped to trap W hite's Queen but 0-0 ]
actually it cannot be done. 12...bxc3 13.bxc3 0-0 14.0-0 e6 15.g4
[ 12...d7 was relatively better, althoughb6 16.ac1 fd7 17.f2
Black's position is no good anyway: 13.xe5 [ 17.f5!? is worthy of consideration. ]
xe5 14.dxe5 e4 15.0-0-0! b817...ae8 18.g3 f5! A very instructive
16.xa7 a8 17.e3 d5 18.b3 xb3 multipurpose move. Black prevents W hite
19.xb3+- ] from launching a Kingside attack with f4-f5,
13.xa8 b6 14.0-0-0 0-0 15.xe5! d6 gets control of the important d5-square and
16.he1! xe5 Here Black resigned. opens the a8-h1 diagonal. 19.gxf5 exf5
[ After 16...xe5 17.dxe5 d7 White has 20.exf5
18.e3! securing a huge material [ 20.e5 doesn't help much: dxe5 21.dxe5
advantage. ] xe5! 22.fxe5 f4 23.xf4 g5 24.f5
1-0 gxf4 ]
20...d5 21.c4
[ 21.fe1 xe3 22.xe3 xe3 23.xe3
855 B07 cxd4 24.e6+ h8 is also insufficient. ]
Berezjuk,Sergej 2354 21...7b6 22.dxc5? Losing by force.
Stohl,Igor 2600 [ However, it's not easy to find a real
Presov 1999 improvement for W hite, for example:
[Alexander Volzhin] 22.fe1 xc4 23.xc4 a6 24.d2 xe3
25.xe3 cxd4 and Black is winning. ]
1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 g6 4.e3 c6 22...xc4 23.xc4 a6 Now Black wins a
5.h3 This line is rather dangerous for Black piece and the game is over. 24.cxd6 xc4
and he has to play carefully to avoid problems. 25.xa7 xc3 26.h2 d5 27.fe1 xe1
bd7! In my opinion, the best. In other lines 28.xe1 b5 29.c5 d4 30.xd4 xd4
Black has serious problems: The rest of the game is a matter of technique.
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
31.e4 xf5 32.d2 xd2+ 33.xd2 11...g6 12.f3 Double-edged play by White.
xd6 34.e6 d8 35.b3 c4 36.e5 The knight on h4 is not at all sure of himself,
f5 37.c5 xb3 38.axb3 d2+ 39.g1 but on the other hand Black is tied to the
d3 40.b4 xh3 defence of h6. b5 13.b3 b7 14.d5 d8
0-1 15.g3 c6 16.xf6+ xf6 17.d2 e7
18.xd8+ xd8 19.d1 e7 20.b6 c8
21.c7 d7 22.g2 h7 23.e3 h5 24.h4
856 B07 f6 25.e6 c5 26.d2 f8 27.xc8 xc7
Buckley,David 2232 28.h3 e7 29.e2 a7 30.c3 a5
Shaw,John K 2447 So far, so equal, but you can already feel that
4NCL/Div1/GUI1-BRI1 (5.116) 13.01.2007 at least psychologically Black is gaining the
[Jonathan Rowson] u p p e r h a n d . 31.a4?! As often happens in
such positions, the f irst player to initiate
1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 e5 Does this line events spoils his position. Even if W hite is
really matter? I think so, simply because if fine after this, it is encouraging for the
White doesn't get any advantage from taking stronger player to see that the opponent is
now, Black has a move order to give him a restless. bxa4 32.a1 a3 33.bxa3 xe3
Hanham Philidor, which is at least very solid, 34.xe3 b7 Just an open file, but enough to
and possibly perfectly good. Moreover, most claim a small advantage, and note that this is
W hite players face this line so rarely that 30 moves after the queens were exchanged!
when they do, they are inclined to take on e5 35.a2 b1 36.d3 g1 37.g2 e6
on the grounds that they shouldn't be in any Now Black also has the more effective minor
danger and might conjure up an attack. It is piece. 38.b2 c5+ 39.c4 a4 40.b7+
precisely such players who should be careful, d6 41.h3 f5 When you are grinding out
because W hite's initiative often runs out of an endgame win, it is important to spot the
steam, and you are lef t playing an equal ma t e s in on e - yo u d on 't wa n t to le t yo u r
position against somebody very happy to have opponent off so easily.
the queens off. 4.dxe5 dxe5 5.xd8+ xd8 [ 41...xg3 42.d7# ]
6.c4 e8! As recommended in previous 42.g7 b6+ 43.b3 xg3 44.xf5 xf3
updates. It seems strange that Black can lose 45.xg6+ c5 46.a4 f2 47.e6 f4
so many tempi and the right to castle and still 48.h6 xh4 49.f7 c8 50.e6 xe4
be ok, but this might in fact be the case, and 51.xh5 d6 52.e7 e3 53.a7 b6
nobody has conclusively proven to the 54.e7 e4 55.e8 xc3 56.e6 b5+
contrary. 7.f3 Already questionable. 57.b2 d4 An impressive display by John
[ 7.f4 b4 looks comfortable for Black, but ] Shaw, showing why this seemingly submissive
[ 7.ge2 intending f3 and g4 should be li n e i s a ct u a l ly q u i t e a go o d wi n n i n g t r y
considered. ] against weaker players.
7...d6 8.g5 0-1
[ 8.e3 might be better here, because it can
be useful to have Ng5 later, perhaps
followed by f4. ] 857 B07
8...bd7 9.0-0-0 a6 10.h4 h6 11.e3 Byrne,Robert E
Given that John was no doubt playing for a Gipslis,Aivars
win, I wonder how we would have dealt with izt Sousse 1967
[ 11.xf6 xf6 12.f5 because now it is [Alexander Volzhin]
n o t e a s y t o k e e p t h e g a m e a l i v e f8!?
( 12...xf5 13.exf5 e7 is comfortable, but Now let's consider the Trompovski style Bg5
v e r y d r a w i s h a f t e r 14.d5+ xd5 sortie. This system is very popular now and is
15.xd5 ) 13.d5 xd5 14.xd5 f6 used by ma n y to p gran d ma st e rs: Dree v,
15.d2 and sooner or later Black will have to Almasi, Yakovich, Ulibin, Tiviakov etc. 1.e4
take the knight on f5. ] d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 g6 4.g5 c6 5.d2
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c5 9.d3 e7 10.d4 b6 11.dxc6 [ Also crushing is 20...c4 21.b3 xf3
bxc6 12.e2 0-0!? This position is analysed 22.xf3 xd1+ 23.xd1 e4 ]
in Neiksans-Vachier Lagrave in the archives 21.f2 cxd4 22.xb7 xb7 23.xd4 e4
by Gawain where he gives analysis to show 24.he1 c6 25.d3 c4 26.e7 e8
that 27.h4 b7
[ 12...a6 doesn't work for Black. ] 0-1
13.g1 c7! Black wants to pin the knight on
d4 with Rd8, but
[ 13...d8 14.xc6 is a disaster, so first of 861 B07
all he defends c6. The black queen also Collins,Sam 2426
attacks the f4 pawn. ] Gormally,Daniel 2520
[ G a w a i n e x a m i n e s 13...b4 14.xc6 BCF-chT 1112 (4NCL) (2.16) 13.11.2011
xc3+ 15.bxc3 c7 and concludes Black [Sam Collins]
has good compensation, but putting the
queen on c7 straightaway looks a better way 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d6 3.d4 f6 4.d3 g6
of playing it for Black. ] If Black wants to avoid the line in the game,
14.g3?! The drawback to defending f4 with the simplest in my view is 4...cxd4 5.cxd4 and
this move is that White becomes vulnerable then 5...g6. 5.dxc5
down the long diagonal a8-h1 once Black [ It is notable that, in his game with Weber,
p la ys B b 7 . I n s t e a d I t h in k W h it e sh o u l d R o z e n t a l i s a c t u a l l y s t a r t e d w i t h 5.e5
develop with , reaching the lines under consideration after
[ 14.0-0-0 for example I would prefer pinning 5...dxe5 6.dxe5. Praxis is limited with this 5.
d4 with e5 move. An interesting recent example
A) After 14...bd5 15.g3!? looks good for continued h5 6.f3 cxd4 7.cxd4 dxe5
White. ( whereas Black got counterplay 8.dxe5 c6 9.0-0 g7!? . Not spending
after 15.xd5 cxd5 in Z.Erdelyi-E. time on ... Ng7-e6, Black creates immediate
Mensch, Budapest 2001. ); play against the e5-pawn. 10.h3 0-0 11.g4
B) 14...d8!? 15.b1 b8 ( Not ( 11.e1 b4 12.e4 xd1 13.xd1 f5!
15...xd4? you should only play a move gives Black adequate counterplay) 11...b4
like this if it wins something. Here after 12.e2 xd1 13.xd1 c2
16.xd4 c5 White escapes with 17.e5 A) 14.gxh5 launches into complications
so Black has given up his dark squared which seem to fizzle out to equality, for
bishop for nothing.; 15...g6? 16.db5 ) instance xa1 15.h6 h8 16.g5 c2
16.f3 d7 and Black keeps up his 17.xe7 e8 18.d6 xh3 19.c1 f5
initiative with 17...Nfd5 or possibly even 20.d1 xe5 21.xe5 ( 21.xe5 b4 )
17...g6 intending Bf5. ] 21...ad8 22.xc2 xc2 23.xc2 xd6;
14...d8 15.0-0-0 b7 Now White has to B) 14.a3 xa1 15.d2 f6
worry about Bxd4 followed by c6-c5. 16.f5 ( 15...d8! ) 16.exf6 xf6 17.c3 xc3
b4! The bishop moves to safety, opens the 18.bxc3 e6 19.xa1 ac8
wa y f o r c 6 - c 5 a n d i n t e n d s t o s m a s h u p with a playable endgame for Black in V.
W hite's queenside by taking on c3. 17.f3 I a k ym o v ( 2 4 8 3 ) - V . S k l i a r o v ( 2 2 0 6 ) ,
xc3 18.bxc3 e7! Threatening not only Alushta 2011 (1/2-1/2 in 69). ]
19...Qa3+ in combination with Nc4, which 5...dxc5
would be lethal to the white king, but also the [ If Black goes in for this line I think 5...d5
tactic that occurs in the game. W hite can't is a much more promising continuation. This
deal with both. 19.a5 c5 20.a3 was used a couple of times by Kjetil Lie -
[ The double attack on d4 and h1 is decisive though he lost both games I think he had no
after 20.xb7 xb7 while ] c o m p l a i n t s f r o m t h e o p e n i n g . 6.d2
[ 20.f5 xd1+ 21.xd1 e1 hardly helps ( 6.exd5 xd5 7.f3 xc5 left Black with
White ] a playable position, akin to those arising
20...c7 from the 2...g6 variation, in S. Agdestein
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
(2571) - K.Lie (2472), Sandnes 2005 (1-0 in h8 ( 20...g5 21.xf7 wins ) 21.xb7 c7
40). ) 6...g7 7.gf3 0-0 8.0-0 bd7 22.xc5 xc5 23.xc5+ g8 24.d6
9.exd5 xc5 10.c4 a6 11.b3 a4 Black resigned in M. Pap (2507) - C.
12.d6 exd6 13.bd4 b5 14.b3 c5 Sandipan (2656), Paleochora 2011. ]
15.c2 b7 and Black's activity full 8...c6
compensated for his slightly inferior [ 8...g7 has been tried in a couple of
structure in J.Shaw (2433) - K.Lie (2474), games, but White has not responded with
Mallorca 2004 (1-0 in 51). ] the logical 9.c4 b6 ( 9...a5+ 10.d2
6.e5 d5 b4 11.c3 is good for White) 10.e2
[ 6...h5 is the most common move here, with a solid advantage. ]
but White has no problems consolidating his 9.c4 de7 10.xd8+ xd8 11.c3 d7
e5-pawn. 7.h3 c6 8.f3 c7 9.e2 Black is really on the ropes here. 12.b5??
g7 10.a3 e6 11.0-0 g7 12.e1 0-0 A t e r r i b l e m o ve , s q u a n d e r i n g m y wh o l e
13.b5 b8 14.a4 with a solid advantage advantage.
for White in E. Rozentalis (2575) - U.Weber [ The path had already been shown by a c3-
(2406), Bad Wiessee 2011 (1-0 in 60). ] Sicilian specialist 17 years ago: 12.g5 a6
[ 6...fd7 7.e6 is D.Pavasovic (2581) - A. 13.0-0-0 g7 14.d2 h6 15.e3 dc6
Fauland (2427), Austrian TCh 2003 (1-0 in 16.hd1 d8 17.a4 c8 18.xd8+ xd8
32). Af ter fxe6 8.f3 c6 9.e2 g7 19.b6 dc6 20.xc5 xe5 21.xe5
10.h4! Black had a rotten position. Readers xe5 22.xc8 xc8 23.xb7
can check Gary Lane's coverage of this 1-0 D.Sermek (2520) - S.Mali (2290), Bled
game in the Archives. ] 1994. ]
[ As pointed out by Gary Lane in his notes, 12...xb5 13.cxb5 a6! 14.bxa6 xa6
6...c4 drops a pawn for very little 15.d3 a8 16.g5 g7 17.e4
compensation after 7.a4+ ] [ 17.f4 0-0 18.e4 b6 doesn't look better
[ 6...g4 7.b5+ c6 ( 7...d7 8.e6! for White. ]
wins on the spot.) 8.xd8+ xd8 9.xc6 17...xe5 18.xc5 d4 19.b5+ f8
bxc6 10.f3 f6 11.exf6 exf6 12.h3 e5 20.b3 f6 21.c5 d4 Given his opening
13.xe5 fxe5 14.e3 c7 15.d2 e6 position, Danny is happy to repeat moves,
16.0-0-0 c4 17.he1 d5 18.f3 though it was quite possible to play on here.
and a draw was agreed in M.Ragger (2434) - 22.b3 f6 Move orders are highly important
N.Stanec, N (2566), Gmunden 2005, but in this variation. After 5.dxc5, recapturing
clearly the black pawn weaknesses are gives Black a prospectless position but 5...
worth prodding. The two bishops don't count d5!? is interesting. Rozentalis' recent outing
f or muc h in such a structu re, since th e o f 5 . e 5 is a n a t t e m p t t o a vo id t h i s . . . d 5
white knight can blockade on e4 if defence, but 5...Nh5!? is a decent line. Of
necessary. ] course, neither side needs to go in for this:
7.e4 e6 W hite can keep his pawn on d4, while the
[ 7...c7 8.xd8+ xd8 9.f3 d7 simplest for Black is to chop on d4 before
was A.Jerez Perez (2416) - P.Kogan (2221), playing ...g6.
Arinsal 2011 (1/2-1/2 in 33), and now best ½-½
would have been 10.a3 followed by Be3
and playing a rook to the d-file. ]
8.f3 862 B07
[ 8.c4 leads to similar play. The attempt to Conquest,Stuart 2545
complicate with h4 backfires: 9.e2 b4 Lahno,Kateryna 2485
10.f3 d8 11.c3 8c6 12.g5 a5 Premier Hastings (7) 2004
13.f6 g8 14.0-0 and White has a total [Andrew Martin]
b i n d . A f t e r d7 15.a3 a6 16.b5
( 16.fd1 is also strong) 16...e7 17.fd1 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 g6 4.g5 c6
xf6 18.exf6 h6 19.d6+ f8 20.e3 I never favoured this move against the Byrne
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Variation because it felt too much like sitting 20.b3 f5 21.0-0 fe8 22.ae1
on a knife edge. We must admire the bravery trying to clamp down on Black's
of the young woman. Stuart Conquest is no counterplay, might have been a sounder
slouch when it come to the attack! 5.d2 g7 choice. ) 15...xe7 16.h4 ae8 17.f2
6.f4 b5 7.d3 0-0!? And this is even more g5 18.g3 h5 19.h4 g4 20.fxg4 hxg4
bold, possibly an attempt even at this very 21.f5 e4 22.d3 h6 23.xe4 xe4
early stage to push Conquest towards his 24.f1 b6 25.g1 fe8 26.c1 c4
habitual time trouble. 27.f2 e3+ 28.xe3 xe3 0-1 Aleksic,
[ 7...b6 8.f3 g4 finds favour with me at N-Chatalbashev, B/Cutro 2000;
least, staying flexible with the King as much B) 12...a5 13.0-0-0 d7 14.f5 xf5
as anything and creating concrete 15.g3 e6 16.f4 dxe5 17.f5 d6
counterplay against d4. 9.e5! 18.fxg6 hxg6 19.dg1 exd4 20.f5 e5
A) 9...xf3 10.gxf3 ( 10.exf6 exf6 ) 21.xg7 e3 22.xe3 dxe3 23.d3
10...fd7 is much better.; xg7 24.xf7 h5 25.xg6+ 1-0 Dreev,
B) 9...d5? 10.xd5 cxd5 11.exd6 f6 A-Azmaiparashvili, Z/Moscow 1989. ]
12.h4 xf3 13.gxf3 e6 14.f5! 12...xd6 13.f5 d7 14.h4 7f6 15.h5
It's a pity W h it e f o llows t his mo ve u p xh5 16.0-0-0 e5!= Black has emerged from
incorrectly. gxf5 15.xf5 ( 15.g1! f7 the opening in good shape. White's attack is
16.c3 f8 17.e2 xd6 18.xb5 ) strong but by no means decisive and Black is
15...xd6 16.d3 ( 16.g1! ) 16...a6 a pawn up after all. Practical chances are
17.0-0-0 d7 18.hg1 f8 19.g3 b6 approximately equal. 17.dg1 h8 18.h6
20.de1 0-0-0 21.b1 b7 22.f4 e5 g8 19.b1 A small time-out.
23.dxe5 xe5 24.h4 d6 25.f5 c4 [ It was probably worrying Conquest slightly
26.h5 d7 27.e8 c7 28.xc4 bxc4 that he couldn't see a win after, say
29.d8 c5 30.xd5+ a7 31.g8? 19.xg7+ xg7 20.fxg6 fxg6 21.xh5
( 31.e6! ) 31...xg8 32.xg8 d4 33.b3 gxh5 22.xg7 xg7 23.g5+ h8
cxb3 34.xb3 c6 35.e6 d7 36.g3 24.dxe5 e7 25.xh5 f8 ]
b7 37.d6 a4 38.c1 xb3 39.axb3 19...df4 20.xf4 exf4
a1+ 40.d2 c3+ 41.d1 xf3+ [ 20...xh6 le a d s t o e qu a lit y: 21.xg6+
42.c1 e3+ 43.d1 e5 44.d3 xg6 22.xg6 xg6 23.fxg6 xd2
g1+ 45.e2 xg3 46.hxg3 g2+ 24.xh5 fxg6 25.xg6 g7!= So we must
47.d1 h5 48.c4 b6 49.b4 c6 assume that around here Lahno started
50.e1 b2 51.b5+ axb5 52.cxb5+ thinking of the win. ]
xb5 53.f3 c4 54.f1 h2 55.xf6 21.xg7+ xg7 22.fxg6 fxg6 23.c4 e7
xg3 56.f2 d4 57.d2+ c3 58.g2 24.e1 ae8 25.xe7 xe7 26.c1 a5
e3 59.g8 f4+ 60.g2 e4+ White is in the process of being outplayed!
61.h2 d2 62.g2+ e1 63.g8 d5 27.d5 d8 28.d4+ f6 29.xf4 xd5
64.g1 c5+ 65.h2 f1 66.g3 e5 [ Can't see anything at all for White after
67.h3 f2 68.g2+ f3 69.g1 h4 29...cxd5! ]
70.f1+ e2 71.g1 f2 72.g2+ f3 30.d4+ f6 31.c5 d6
73.g1 g3+ 0-1 Zimmerman, Y- [ 31...xf3 32.xa5 f8 33.xd5 xd5
Hoffmann, P/12th Donau Open, Aschach 34.c7 is difficult to win for Black in view of
GER 2003 A typical Open Swiss game the open King. However, after c5 35.h1
incorrect but interesting. ] h6 she could make a serious attempt. It
8.f3 g4 9.e5 b4 10.e2 xf3 11.gxf3 looks like mutual time-trouble to me which
d5 12.exd6N Conquest must innovate! a prompts a premature end to the game. ]
After 12 Bc4 there are two conflicting views: 32.xa5 c5 33.xd5
[ 12.c4 ½-½
A) 12...d7!? 13.xd5 cxd5 14.exd6 f6
15.dxe7 ( 15.h4 exd6 16.xb4 c7
17.b3 a5+ 18.c3 ab8 19.c2 b6
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[ 6.c4 e6 7.xe6 fxe6 8.f3 d6 A) James says that 6...d5!? is possible'.
9.e3 e7 poses Black no serious Then a critical follow-up that seems good
problems. ] for W hite would be 7.xf6 ( 7.e5 e4
6...e6 7.f4 exf4 8.f3 8.d3 xg5 9.fxg5 is unclear )
[ 8.e5 h6 9.h4 g5 is an important A1) 7...xf6 8.e5 ( even 8.d2!? dxe4
resource for Black. ] 9.xe4 g7!? 10.c4 0-0 11.0-0
8...h6 9.xf4 bd7 10.0-0-0 c6 , although rather anti-positional, may
Simply assessed as being "equal" on page favour W hite slightly because of his
137 of "Nunn's Chess Openings" (NCO), but development and idea of Ne5) 8...g7
there's clearly still a lot of fight left in this 9.e2 ( 9.d2 0-0 10.0-0-0 ) 9...0-0
battle. 11.d4 c5 12.e2 e8 13.f3 10.d2 g4 11.d1 e6 12.e3 xf3
c8?! 13.xf3 d7 14.0-0 with a space
[ I would prefer something more active like advantage, but Black stands solidly.;
13...g5 , for example. In the game itself, A2) 7...exf6 8.exd5! cxd5 9.e2+!
W hite is allowed to get things all his own f8!? ( 9...e6 10.f5! gxf5 11.h4 0-0
way rather too easily. ] 12.0-0-0 ) 10.b5!? c6! 11.0-0-0 e7
14.e5! xd4 12.g3 and Bg2 with pressure on d5
[ 14...g4?? loses on the spot to 15.xe6 ] Black's king and g7 bishop are hard to
15.xd4 h7 Seemingly very passive, but coordinate.;
the 'alternatives' were also unattractive. B) 6...b5 Back to the Main Game: 7.d3
[ For instance, 15...g4 16.e4 c7? b6 8.e5 d5 9.exd6 f6 10.e2 0-0
walks into 17.xg4 xg4 18.e6+ ] 11.xd5 cxd5 12.dxe7 e8 13.h4 c6
16.e4 c7 17.d6 e7 18.hd1 hf8 14.0-0 xe7
19.g3 a5 20.h4 b6? A plausible-looking B1) a strange choice White may have
move, but Black has missed the forthcoming underestimated Black's next. Better was
stunning tactic... 21.f5! d7 15.d2!
[ 21...xf5 22.e6+ c8 23.d8# ] B1a) 15...xd4 16.xd4 xd4+
22.xg7 xd4 23.xd4 d8 24.f4 17.f2 xb2?? ( 17...a4 18.b3
Black now resigned, being a pawn down in a a3 19.xg6! ) 18.a5! winning,
hopeless position, especially with his f-pawn because Black's queen is threatened
being so frail, and the h-pawn about to be hit with Rb1, but Qd8+ is also
by Rf6. devastating.;
1-0 B1b) 15...g4 16.c3 b4 17.ae1
ae8 18.xe7 xe7 19.h3
and a pawn is a pawn;
865 B07 B2) 15.d1?! b4! 16.e1 ( 16.c3
Dobrov,Vladimir 2510 xd3 17.xd3 f5 18.d2 e4
Nikolic,Predrag 2623 with compensation) 16...xe1+ 17.xe1
10th EICC Budva MNE (10) 16.03.2009 ( maybe 17.xe1 xd3 18.cxd3!? f5
[John Watson] 19.b3 d8 20.b4 , but this isn't
forced ) 17...xd3 18.e8+ f8
This game contains no less than three high- 19.cxd3 b7 20.e3 c8 21.h3 d7
level wins for Black out of the 4 Bg5 system! 22.c1 e8 23.d2 b4 With White's
But the good news ends there... I've given weak pawns and Black's bishops, the
serious notes to all three because somehow second player has at least equalised.
Black needs to improve in these lines or return Black eventually won. ]
to the... h6/...g5 plan. 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 5...c6 6.f4 b5 7.d3 0-0
3.c3 g6 4.g5 g7 5.d2 [ Black got a poor opening but chalked up
[ In Dreev (2688)-T Petrosian (2623), Budva another victory after 7...b6 (Vigus gives
MNE 2009, White played 5.f4 c6 6.f3 this '?!', correctly) 8.e5!
bypassing Qd2 for the nonce. A) 8...d5 or
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
A1) or 9.xd5 cxd5 10.c3 ( 10.f3! ) [ 14.exf6 exf6 15.e5! xe5 16.dxe5
10...dxe5?! 11.fxe5 c6 12.e2 e8 17.c3 leaves Black's pieces
with advantage, as in a game quoted in awkwardly-placed and was easier. ]
Vigus; 14...fxe5 15.g4 xf4 16.xf4 exf4
A2) 9.exd6 xc3 10.bxc3 f6 11.h4 17.ae1
exd6 12.f3 0-0 13.0-0 and White is [ 17.xf4 f6 18.h6+ h8 19.e3
clearly for choice; has the idea of Rae1 with pressure. ]
B) 8...b4 9.exf6 bxc3 10.e3! f8 17...f6 18.h6+ h8 19.xf4 e6
11.fxe7? ( 11.bxc3! leaves Black a pawn 20.g5 a6 21.g3 d7?!
down, and worse if he gets greedy by b2 [ 21...b6 22.e5 ]
12.d1 xa2 13.fxe7 g7 14.c4! ) 22.h4?!
11...g7 12.bxc3 b2 Now Black has [ 22.xf8+! xf8 ( 22...xf8 23.e5 )
roughly equalized. 13.d1 xc3+ 14.f1 23.f1 e8 24.h4 f6 , and among other
xd4 ( 14...xd4 15.f3 ) 15.xd4 moves, 25.g4! restricts Black's knights and
( 15.g3! looks better, e.g., h6 16.e2 leaves them no good squares. ]
c5 17.h4 ) 15...xd4 16.f3 22...xf1+ 23.xf1 e8
( 16.e2; 16.e2 ) 16...c3! 17.f5?! d7 [ 23...b6! 24.e5 xe5 25.xe5 b8
18.h4 c5 19.e2? (White is falling still favours White, but there's no obvious
apart) ( 19.f4 ) 19...e4 20.fxg6 hxg6 way in. ]
( 20...g3+! 21.g1 h6 22.gxf7+ xf7 24.f3
23.c4+ d5 ) 21.f4 xe7 ( 21...d5! ) [ Or 24.e1! with the idea c8 25.h5! ]
22.d4 d7 23.f3 d5 24.xe4 dxe4 24...c8 25.b4?
25.e5 a5? ( 25...hd8 would have [ 25.e5! xe5 26.xe5 with the idea h5. ]
kept a large edge. As it goes, Black 25...a8 26.a3
f in ally b rings ho me t he p oint wit h his [ 26.c7 ]
bishop pair:) 26.xh8 xh8 27.f2 f5 26...a5 27.h2 axb4 28.axb4 a1
28.e3 b6 29.g4 f6 30.gxf5 gxf5 This piece provides some counterplay.
31.c3 e5 32.df1 h5 33.f2 d8 29.e3!?
34.d1 xh4 35.xf5+ xf5 36.xc6+ [ 29.e5 ]
f6 37.xd8 h3+ 38.f2 e3+ 39.g2 29...f8 30.f3 e8 31.f4 d1
e4+! 40.xh3 e2 41.d6+ g5 [ 31...e1! ]
0-1 Godena, M (2537)-T Petrosian, T 32.g4
(2623)/ Budva MNE 2009. ] [ 32.e5! e1 33.f4! ]
8.f3 d5 9.e5 h5 10.e2 32...f8 33.g2 f6
[ An alternative order for W hite is 10.h4 [ 33...e8 ]
h6 11.e2 f6 12.0-0 ] 34.e3! xg5 35.xg5 e8 36.e3 g7
10...f6 37.xe7 White is winning now, but tragedy
[ 10...g4 11.0-0 d7 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 strikes: a1 38.g5 a8 39.f6 e8 40.h5?
f6 14.h4 doesn't change things. ] The 40th move!
11.h4 h6 12.0-0 g7 [ 40.h2 wins. ]
[ 12...g4 13.h3 xf3 14.xf3 fxe5 40...xf6 41.gxf6 xh5 42.f7? f8 43.e2
15.dxe5 d7 16.e3! with the centre still [ White evidently missed 43.xe6? f4+ ]
intact. ] 43...f4+ 44.f3?
13.h3!? Rather unnecessary, since ... Bg4 [ 44.g3 xe2+ 45.xe2 xf7 46.e7
wasn't a threat. g7 47.g4 leaves a few chances because
[ 13.a4! is thematic, for example, bxa4 the knight on e5 will be so much better than
( 13...b6 14.b4! ) 14.xa4 d7 15.c3 the bishop. ]
b6 16.aa1 with a grip. ] [ It seems early to resign, but if Black plays
13...d7 14.h2!? White threatens Ng4, and 44.f3 g5! followed by ...Kg7 or ...Bxf7, it
maintains control of his centre. Nevertheless, won't be difficult to convert. ]
this complicates matters. 0-1
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14.0-0 e5 15.d5 c4 16.c2 c5 17.fb1 diagonal while White's f2-f4 only weakens his
c8 Black's position started looking like own king rather than having any aggressive
either a good Spanish or Kings Indian. It's potential. 18.e3 ae8 19.ad1 d5
educational to see how Grischuk won this [ 19...xe5 20.fxe5 xe5 looks like a clean
very quickly. 18.f2 d7 19.c1 b5 extra pawn to me as W hite doesn't even
20.d1 h5 21.b2 f5 22.a4 xa4 have the pressure on f7 that he achieves in
23.xa4 fxe4 24.c6 ad8 25.xc5 dxc5 the game. ]
26.fxe4 xc6 Oops! 0-1 Sprenger, J- 20.f2 xe5 21.fxe5 xe5 22.c4 e7
Grischuk, A Mainz 2007. ] 23.de1 d6 24.xe7 xe7 25.f6
7...bd7 8.f3 e5 Slightly unusual. Normally Dominguez seeks solace in the endgame a
Black plays the c5 break in these a6 Moderns. pa wn d o wn , h o p in g t h a t h is m o re a c t ive
[ 8...g7 would be my choice, hoping to pieces will allow him to hold the draw. xf6
tra n s p os e t o a ve ry go o d Dra go n st yle 26.xf6 a5 27.b6 e4 28.b5 d8
position once I break with c7-c5. 9.0-0 c5 29.d3 xd3 30.cxd3 xd3 31.xc5 d1+
immediately looks possible but Black has to 32.f2 d2+ 33.f3 xb2 34.xa5
correctly analyse ( 9...0-0 is safer ) 10.e5 Th is p o sit io n is n o w a b o o k d ra w a s t h e
dxe5 11.dxe5 g4 12.e6 fxe6 13.g5 queenside pawns are going to be exchanged
b6 which is messy but looks fine for leaving rook and 3 vs rook and 2. Kramnik
Black. ] t rie s b u t ca n 't q u it e ge t t h e f u ll p o i n t . A
9.0-0 It doesn't work well to allow Black to success for Black and yet more proof that any
capture on d4 so I think White should fix the mechanical plan for W hite involving simply
centre developing his knights and castling gives
[ 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.0-0-0 would be somewhat Black a very easy game. a2 35.a8+ g7
risky but the only way to play for an 36.a5 g5 37.b8 a4 38.g4 h5 39.h3 h4
a d v a n t a g e . ( 10.0-0 is a safe option but I 40.g2 f6 41.b5 a2+ 42.g1 b3
see no real reason why Black shouldn't 43.xb3 xa5 44.f3+ e6 45.g2 a2+
have comfortable equality. )] 46.g1 f6 47.f5 e2 48.f3 e4 49.g2
9...exd4! 10.xd4 f4 50.e3+ d5 51.a3 b4 52.f3 b2+
[ Perhaps 10.xd4 is more accurate but the 53.g1 b6 54.g2 e4 55.f2 c6
Cu b a n wo u ld h a ve h a d t o se e t h a t g7 56.h2 e3 57.g2 e6 58.f3+ d2
11.f3 i s p l a y a b l e a s a l t h o u g h c5 59.f5 e2+ 60.g1 e3 61.g2 e6
win s a p i e c e , W h it e ca n sa c ri f i ce wit h 62.d5+ e1 63.f5 e2+ 64.g1 e3
12.dxb5! axb5 13.xb5 0-0 14.xd6 65.g2 e6 66.f1+ d2 67.f5 d3
when White has three pawns for the piece 68.d5+ e4 69.f5 d6 70.f2 e3
and a temporary initiative which should be 71.f3+ d4 72.f5 e4 73.f2 e5
enough for rough equality. ] 74.f5+ e6 75.f3 d2+ 76.g1 d5
10...g7 11.a4 Forcing Black's hand but 77.g2 f5 78.gxf5+ xf5 79.xf5 xf5
Kramnik takes the advantage after a forced 80.f3 e5 81.e3 f6 82.f2 e6
series of moves. It's not easy to come up with 83.e2 f7 84.f3 f6 85.f2 g6
an alternative plan for White while Black can 86.g2 g7 87.g1 f6 88.f2
start atta cking e4 with . ..Re8 , c5-c4 an d ½-½
perhaps win the dark squares with an eventual
Nf6-g4xe3. b4 12.d5 c5! 13.xf6 xf6
14.xf6+ xf6 15.e5!? 868 B07
[ 15.b3 0-0 16.ad1 is a (boring!) Dreev,Alexey 2520
alternative but Black's bishop pair give him Azmaiparashvili,Zurab 2560
any advantage going. ] Moskva Guam 1989
15...dxe5 16.xe5 0-0 17.f4 d6 [Alexander Volzhin]
So the opening stage has concluded and
Black has the upper hand with the bishop pair Before this game theory considered the 4.Bg5
and in particular play down the h8-a1 line as rather harmless, due to 8...Bg4. The
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game! xb1+ 34.xb1 b8+ 35.a1 pressure on the h-file. There are possibilities
( 35.c2 b2+ ) 35...xf4 36.xf4 c2 of in vasio n wit h Qe 3-a 7 too which Blac k
37.c1 b1+ and the pawn ending is easily moves to stop. I should reiterate that statically
won for Black ] Black is fine-if the pawn structure remains
[ 33.c2 clearly is not an improvement: unchanged he has a better ending. W hite
xb1+ 34.xb1 xd4 35.b7+ xg6 m u s t m a k e t h e c h a n g e . b8 20.f1
36.b1 e2 and White is in trouble ] Just marking time. I'm not sure Dvoirys sees a
[ Besides the text, 33.a4 was good enough way forward. c5 21.d2 Of course not the
to draw: xb1+ 34.xb1 b8+ 35.a1 ending. c8 22.d3 b6 23.e2 e6!=
b2 36.h3 c2 37.d7+ xg6 38.e8+ Tkachiev has done enough to finally claim
g7 with a perpetual. ] equality, despite his unusual coming and
33...xb8 34.c2 xd4 35.f4 b2 g o i n g wi t h . . . N f 6 - g 8 - f 6 . 24.c1 e7
36.a4 c2 37.d7+ xg6 38.g4+ f7 Both players seem afraid to make any
39.d7+ g6 40.g4+ f7 41.d7+ positive moves. Perhaps both expected an
A very nice game despite the mutual imminent draw. I prefer
mistakes. [ 24...h6! and Black has good play in all
½-½ v a r i a t i o n s : 25.gxh6 ( 25.b3 xb3
26.cxb3 hxg5 27.hxg5 xh1 28.xh1
d4= ) 25...f6! 26.b3 ( 26.h5 g5 27.b3
871 B07 xb3 28.cxb3 d4 29.a5 b7=; 26.a5
Dvoirys,Semen I 2594 b7 27.e2 xd1 28.xd1 xh6 )
Tkachiev,Vladislav 2642 26...xb3 27.cxb3 f8 28.h5 xh6
Aeroflot Open (8) 24.02.2004 29.c3 b7 30.c1 d6 ]
[Andrew Martin] 25.e3 c5
[ 25...b7 ]
1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 g6 4.f3 c6 5.e3 26.c3 c7 27.c2 c8 With 27....Nc4
bd7 6.d2 b5 7.ge2 b7 Black plays available, retaining Rooks is an ambitious
traditionally, delaying ...Bf8-g7 as long as move. 28.f2 a5 29.f4 b4
possible. Dvoiris tries to show that this does [ 29...exf4 30.d3 he8 31.xf4 ]
not matter. 8.h6!?N 30.f5 Suddenly White is much better. Black's
[ 8.g4 is played more frequently. White initiative on the queenside has no real punch
usually waits for ...Bg7 before playing Bh6 whereas the Kingside chances lie exclusively
because it is a simple gain of a tempo. ] with W hite. In general, if the central pawn
8...xh6 9.xh6 e5 Tkachiev adjusts the structure vis-Ã -vis the Bishops is in your
central pawn formation to suit. By any normal favour, it's a good idea to trade down to an
positional yardstick he should be at least ending. d7 31.h3! h6 32.hd3 hxg5
e q u a l n o w . 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.c1 c5 33.hxg5 c6 34.f3 bxc3 35.xc3 c4
12.d3 xd3+ 13.xd3= The only reason 36.fxg6 fxg6 37.f3 b7 38.f7
White could have any advantage at all here The natural flow of the position leads to this
might lie in the exposed Black pawn structure. penetrative move. c7 39.f6! hc8
One could argue that the pawns on b5 and e5 40.xc7 xc7 41.xg6 a4
are targets. Maybe Black also has a small [ He could try to change things with 41...c3
problem with his King, although a quick 0-0-0 42.b3 a4 but after 43.d3 axb3 44.xb3
is possible. I personally feel that Black is fine b5 45.h3 there is no way for Black to get
and I would have expected either 13...Qe7! or his major pieces in. ]
13...Nh5, intending ...Qf6. g8? Sorry, but 42.e2 c3
this cannot be right. 14.e3 e7 15.0-0-0 [ 42...e8 43.h6 followed by the
a6 16.h4 f6 Is he going to castle short? promotion of the pawn was not attractive
17.g4 I think not. d7 18.b1 0-0-0 19.g5 to Tkachiev. ]
Standard play so far. W hite is nicely 43.b3 e8 44.d6 h5 45.xc7+ xc7
c e n t r a l is e d a n d i s p r e p a r i n g h 4 - h 5 wi t h 46.d3! No need for any heroics. As long as
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
White can solidify the pawn on g5 will do the the right to castle with no obvious
rest. d7 47.h1 xe2 48.xe2 g8 compensation) 9.dxe5 g4 10.e6! fxe6
49.g1 f6 50.g6 xe4 51.g7 d6 11.g5 with an easier position for White to
52.c4 xc4 53.bxc4 Not that impressive play although Black may still be OK after
by Black and ...Ng8 was particularly poor. A xe3 12.xe6 e5 13.xe3 xe3+
game of pawn structure in many ways. White 14.fxe3 xc3 15.bxc3 f7 ]
understood more and that's why he won. 8.e5!
1-0 [ 8.d3?! is too slow here, for example g7
9.h6 0-0 10.xg7 xg7 11.h4 b4!
12.e2 c5 and Black's play in the centre
872 B07 and on the queenside is much further along
Efimenko,Z 2657 than White's kingside attack. ]
Skoberne,J 2573 8...b4! The only move to avoid a serious
19th European Teams (9.7) 17.11.2013 disadvantage 9.e2
[Tom Rendle] [ 9.b5!? is very interesting here and it may
be the best try for an edge cxb5 10.exf6
1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 g6 4.e3 c6 xf6 11.xb5+ d7 12.xb4
5.d2 White has a lot of options here but it's ( 12.xd7+?! xd7 13.xb4 g7 14.a5
good to see an old-fashioned 150 Attack 0-0 gives Black a very dangerous looking
approach against this setup. initiative with two half-open files to use on
[ 5.h3!? with the idea of a quick g4 worked the queenside) 12...b8 13.xd7+ xd7
we l l i n S v i d le r - I va n c h u k a n n o t a t e d b y 14.c3! and Black should probably swap
Jonathan Rowson in the archives. ] queens here and after xc3 15.bxc3 b6
5...c7 Skoberne chooses an unusual reply I suppose with W hite's queenside pawns
th a t h a s n 't be e n a n a lyse d o n Ch e ssP u b being so vulnerable his advantage is
before. It's very flexible, basically waiting to minimal at best ]
see what setup White is going to adopt here. 9...d5 10.f4 e6
Obviously ...b5 will make a lot of sense if/ [ 10...xe3! seems to equalise here, for
when W hite castles Queenside but it also example 11.xe3 dxe5 12.dxe5 e6
keeps the option of a quick ...Nbd7 & ...e5 as 13.c4 ( 13.e2 g7 and White drops the
well as ...Ng4 in some positions. Efimenko pa wn o n e 5) 13...b6 and with the Black
chooses a very straightforward response. knight heading for d5 he is at least equal. ]
6.0-0-0 Already threatening a quick e5 11.xd5 cxd5 12.h6! Now White has a
[ 6.f4 looks tempting but after g4! 7.f3 definite advantage as after the bishops are
xe3 8.xe3 g7 White has no obvious exchanged Black has real problems on the
follow up and in the long run Black's two dark squares. dxe5 13.xf8
bishops are going to be very useful. ] [ 13.dxe5! is more accurate with a slight
[ of course White can play it safe here with e d ge a f t e r c5 14.f4 xh6 15.xh6
6.h3 g7 7.f3 bd7 8.a4 0-0 9.e2 d7 16.g7 0-0-0 17.d3 ]
but after e5! Black has pretty much 13...xf8?!
equalised. ] [ 13...xf8! looks strange as it drops a pawn
[ 6.f3 bd7 7.d3 would transpose to with check but actually Black is completely
K a s p a r o v - A z m a i p a r a s h vi l i c o ve r e d b y fine after 14.xb4+ g7 15.dxe5 xe5
Andrew Martin back in 2003. ] 16.xe5 xe5 ]
6...bd7 7.f3 b5 14.dxe5 xe5?! This leads to a very
[ 7...g7 allows 8.e5!? ( 8.h6 unpleasant endgame for Black
is also logical with a slight edge after 0-0 [ 14...a5 was better but I still like White after
9.xg7 xg7 10.h4 h5 11.g5 15.b5! a6 16.xd7+ xd7 17.he1
with the plan of f3 and a later g4) 8...dxe5 ab8 18.b1 although Black can try for
( or 8...g4 9.exd6 exd6 10.h3! xe3 counterplay with a4!? ]
11.xe3+ f8 12.d3 and Black has lost 15.xe5 xe5 16.b5+ d7 17.he1!
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
d6 18.xd5 xd5 19.xd5 0-0-0 xf7 and Black is surviving, according to
[ 19...xb5?! drops a pawn to 20.xb5 a5 Jerry Van Rekom and Leo Janssen in their
21.ee5 ( 21.b7! taking control of the 7th innovative book, 'The Lion, a Black Weapon'.
is probably even stronger )] Unfortunately, Abdulaziz is a lion with no
20.c5+ b8?! teeth. ]
[ 20...b7 also loses a pawn but Black has 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.fxe5 g4 8.f4! Substitute
reasonable drawing chances after 21.xd7 ...c6 for ...Be7 and this move isn't playable
xd7 22.b5+ c6 23.xb4 fd8 due to ... Qd8-b6! c6 9.h3 Too late now. g5
as both his rooks and king are very active. ] [ 9...b6 10.hxg4 xb2 11.d2+- ]
21.e4 xb5 22.xb5+ a8 23.bxb4 [ 9...h6 10.d2! a5 11.0-0-0 b4
Now Black's king is stuck on a8 the ending 12.c4 xc3 13.xc3 xc3 14.bxc3 c5
should be lost. Efimenko quickly wraps up the 15.hf1 leads to a curious position where
game. d7 24.bd4 fd8 25.xd7 xd7 W hite has two sets of doubled isolated
26.e3 b7 27.d3! A slightly premature pawns and yet he has a clear advantage
resignation from Skokerbe here perhaps but thanks to his powerful dark-squared
there is no real defence to the simple plan of bishop. ]
b3, c4, Kc2-c3 and the gradual advance of 10.hxg4 Ermenkov has decided that he can
White's kingside pawns. beat this guy without thinking and do you
1-0 know what I think he's right! Against a
stronger opponent it would be necessary to
find
873 B07 [ 10.e6! fxe6 11.xg5 xg5 12.xg4 xf4
Ermenkov,Evgenij 2454 13.xf4 f8 14.h6 f6 15.h5+ g6
Abdulaziz,Mahmoud 2101 16.xg6+ hxg6 17.d1 ]
zt 3.1 Beirut LIB (8) 20.12.2004 10...gxf4 11.d2 b6 12.c4
[Andrew Martin] [ 12.0-0-0 e3 13.g5! f8 14.e2 g4
15.h4 xd2+ 16.xd2 xf3 17.gxf3
LI ON T AME R 1.e4 d6 2.c3 f6 3.f4 xg5 18.h5 h6 19.d4 g6 20.dh2
I've often felt that this is an awkward move- 0-0-0 ]
order for Pirc players to meet. One point might 12...c5 What a wimp. Of course Black must
be that after 3... g6 4 Nf3 Bg7 5 g3!, W hite take on b2 and after
can force play back into a Closed Sicilian [ 12...xb2 13.b1 a3 14.e6 fxe6
which Black might well not be prepared for. 15.xe6 d6 16.xd6 xd6 the position
Attempts by Black to avoid ...c7-c5 can be is not that clear. ]
rejected, since with simple moves e.g. Bg2, d3, 13.b3 xe5 14.xf4 c4
0-0, h3, Be3, Qd2 and an eventual f5, White [ 14...f6 15.0-0-0 xg4 16.c7!
obtains a strong attack. e5 4.f3 bd7 5.d4 is an incisive strike, meanwhile ]
But here we are back in that 'Pirc/Philidor [ 14...xf3+ 15.gxf3 is a pawn up, no comp
hybrid ( or the LION' as it's known in Holland) position for White. ]
and there's no pussyfooting around by White 15.xc4 xc4 16.0-0-0 e6 17.g5!
this time. Ermenkov goes straight for the most If Black does nothing White's plan of Kb1,e5
attacking line. e7?! I don't like this at all. If a n d Ne 4 -f 6 o r d 6 + wi ll b e cru sh i n g. . f8
Black's going to ignore the threat to e5 he'd 18.d4 e7 19.f5 e6 20.he1
much better play 5...c6!. Possibly most Perhaps he could do nothing after all. White
reliable is the capture on d4: just funnels his pieces into ideal positions.
[ 5...exd4 6.xd4 ( 6.xd4 c6 idea ...d6- g8 21.d5! Yes p lease . cxd5 22.exd5
d5,. ..Bc5.) 6...c5 7.d3 g4 8.f3 xe1 23.xe1+ d8 The Lion is an opening
g6 ] which can be unexpectedly different and this
[ 5...c6!? 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.fxe5 g4 8.e6 after only a few moves. Nevertheless, results
fxe6 9.g5 de5 10.xd8+ xd8 11.h3 overwhelmingly favour White, and the trend
h6 12.f4 hf7 13.0-0-0+ e8 14.xf7
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
19.d6 d7 20.b4 f8 21.fd1 b8 position of Black's King. The difference in
22.c5 a8 23.f3 xb2 24.xe5 the relative activity of all the pieces makes
A short, sharp, relevant and interesting game. Black's position indefensible. f6 17.d5
1-0 b4 18.e1! b6 ( 18...e5 is no better:
19.c1! d7 20.c7 ) 19.c1! d7 20.c7
h8 21.xb7 d8 22.a5 c4 23.d5
875 B07 xb2 24.c6! xc6 ( 24...f5 25.ee7 g5
Fedorov,Alexei 2659 26.f7 ) 25.xc6 f8 26.d7 h4 27.e6
Bologan,Viktor 2620 and Black resigned. ]
Belfort 1999 9.c3 e5 10.d5 Now the position is typical of
[Alexander Volzhin] a King's Indian.
[ 10.dxe5!? is also worthy of consideration.
1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.f3 f6 After dxe5 11.e3 There is some reason
5.d3 0-0 6.0-0 c5!? This move has had a for White to hope for an opening advantage:
certain rise in popularity over the last year he has an extra tempo in the symmetrical
and was played even at top level. Similar position and his bishops are more active
positions may also a rise f rom the Alapin than their Black counterparts (the Bishop on
Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.c3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bd3 g6 etc. g7 is clearly misplaced). e6 ( 11...h5?
) a n d t h e T o rre A t t a ck . 7.h3 The most 12.c4 d4 13.d5 e6 14.b3!
common reply. and W hite has huge edge: d4 Bad, but
[ 7.dxc5 dxc5 aiming for a minimal wha t's b ett er? 15.xd4 exd4 16.ad1
advantage deserves certain attention. The h8 17.xd4 h4 18.f3 xe4 19.fe1
similar idea is normal in Torre Attack after 1 f5 20.g4 and White wins, Nun - Trapl,
d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 g6 3 Bg5 Bg7 4 Nbd2 0-0 5 c3 Namestovo 1987.) 12.b5 a5 13.xc6
d6 6 e4 c5 7 dxc5! dxc5, but there W hite bxc6 14.c2 h6 15.a4 d7 and White
can put the bishop in an active position 8 is clearly better due to his superior pawn
Bc4! Nc6 9 Qe2 with chances of a serious structure, Smirin - Kempinski, Groningen
opening advantage (see for example the 1996, for example: 16.d2 fc8 17.b3 c5
game Speelman-Howell, Calcutta, 1996). 18.b2! b6 19.dc4 xc4 20.xc4
Although this idea here looks rather a6 21.ac1 ]
harmless, Black has to play very attentively: 10...e7 The plans for both sides are obvious:
8.h3 c6 9.e2 c7 10.e5 d5 11.e1 W hite will attack on the Q-side, trying to
e6 12.a4 ae8?! 13.a3 h8?! exploit the open c-file while Black will try to
Black's play is pretentious and bad. 14.c4 create counterplay on the opposite side of the
b6 15.f4 d5 16.cd2 xf3 17.xf3 board. 11.e3 h5 12.c1 f4 13.b5
with a clear edge for W hite, Danielsen - The moves of both players here are very
Kristiansen, Denmark, 1992. ] natural. a6 14.c7 b8 15.a4
7...cxd4 8.cxd4 c6 [ The tempting 15.a7?! is strongly met by
[ 8...bd7?! is less logical as the Knight t h e u n e x p e c t e d xh3! 16.gxh3 c8
doesn't create pressure against W hite's 17.b6 d7 and Black has a strong
centre. 9.c3 e5 10.e3 and it's difficult to attack. ]
find a suitable plan for Black. The game 15...b5!? 16.axb5 axb5 17.b4
Leko-Strikovic, Cacak 1996 continued: a6 [ I would prefer 17.xf4!? exf4 18.d2
11.a4! exd4 ( After 11...e8 12.d5 an d Black st ill ha s ce rt ain prob le ms t o
is very unpleasant.) 12.xd4 e8 13.c4! solve. ]
and Black has difficult problems to solve: 17...d7 18.xf4 exf4 19.e2 b6
xe4 ( Other moves are clearly insufficient: [ 19...b7 was safe and good. I can't see
13...c5? 14.e5!; or 13...b6?! 14.xf7+! anything better for White than a draw after
xf7 15.b3+ winning a pawn for nothing.) 20.xb5 xb5 21.xb5 b8 ]
14.xg7 xg7 15.xe4 xe4 16.xf7! 20.e5 dxe5 21.xe5 d6? A gross mistake.
White wins the pawn back and destroys the [ Black had an excellent resource: 21...xd5!
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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901
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
f6 20.f5 c6 21.fxg6 xg6 22.xg6 14...a6 15.a4! c5 16.b4 xd3 17.xd3
hxg6 23.f4 e8 ( 23...e5 24.cd5 h4 18.f4!
c4 25.d3 ) 24.cd5 ab8 25.xf6+ [ 18.xd4? xh3! 19.gxh3 xh3+ 20.g1
exf6 26.xd6+- e5 27.d5 d8 g3+ 21.h1 xd4-+ 22.xd4 e5
28.e7+ f8 29.xg6+ g8 30.e7+ and the threat of Rh5+ wins. ]
f8 31.xe5 1-0 H.Sax-D.Baric, Bled [ 18.b2?! f5 gives Black excellent counter
1995. ] chances. ]
[ 9...d7 10.e3 b4 11.c4 b6 18...f5 19.ac1 g5?! This doesn't quite work
12.b3 e6 13.d2 d7 14.g5 f6 which suggests Black should try to hang on
15.xf6 xf6 16.f4 d5 17.a3 c6 with something like 19... Bd7 but it is already
A) 18.exd5! looks like a possible a difficult task. 20.xd6 fxe4 21.fxe4 d7
improvement: a5 ( 18...exd5 19.xd5 [ 21...xe4?! 22.xe4 xe4 23.g3 e8
and Black has no convincing 24.c7 d3 25.h5 b2 26.e7 d2
compensation for the pawn) 19.e4 f5 27.d6+- ]
20.2g3 wins; [ 21...xe4?! 22.g3! e3 23.xe3 dxe3
B) 18.e5 h4 19.h2 a6 20.a2 ac8 24.xh4 gxh4 25.f3+- ]
21.g1 a7 22.f3 h6 23.fc1 c6 22.c7 ad8 23.g3 This is logical but the
24.d1 fc8 25.f2 f8 26.g4 xc1 game can be more quickly wrapped up:
27.xc1 xc1 28.xc1 c8 29.e1 h5 [ 23.f3! allows White to win in style. f8
30.f6+ g7 31.g3 h8 32.b1 c6 ( 23...h8 24.f7 xe4 25.g3 g6
33.b3 h6 34.h4 h8 35.f2 e7 26.xd7+- ) 24.xd7! xf3 25.xd8++- f7
36.c2 c6 37.c5 d8 38.c1 d7 26.xf3+ g6 27.g3 xe4 28.d6+ h5
39.e1 g8 40.xg8 xg8 41.c3 29.e1 and the threat of g4+ and Ng3+ is
g7 42.e1 b6 43.c2 h8 44.a4 definitely the end for Black. ]
a5 45.d3 g7 46.g4 hxg4 47.hxg4 23...g4 24.f5! gxh3 25.e5 hxg2+ 26.xg2
b8 48.g2 d7 49.c5 c8 50.f5 g4 27.e6 Crushing. xe6 28.dxe6 xe6
exf5 51.gxf5 gxf5 52.e6 f6 53.g3 29.f4! h6
c6 54.h4+ g7 55.xf5 xe6 [ 29...xf5 30.xf5 xf5 31.xf5 f8
56.h7+ f6 57.xe6 b4 58.xf7+ 32.xb7+- ]
g5 59.g7+ 1-0 E.Grosse Kloenne-M. 30.d2 e8 31.h5 a2 32.xh6 e3
Schmidt,Muenster 1994. ] 33.xe3
10.d5 d4!? A calculated gamble in the 1-0
knowledge that if White exchanges on d4 it is
not so easy to round up the pawn without
compromising the position. 878 B07
[ If 10...e7 then W hite can try 11.e3 Finkel,Alexander 2415
with a similar position to a King's Indian in Oratovsky,Michael 2485
that he can soften up the Black queenside Israel 1994
with Rc1 and playing Nb5. It is worth noting [Alexander Volzhin]
that if Black ever gets around to organising
f7-f5 then White puts up the barriers with f3 I've received quite a few e-mails asking about
and will then if necessary take on e4 with the Czech Pirc and I have dedicated this
the pawn. ] up d a t e e xclusive ly t o t his line . T h is lin e
11.xd4 exd4 12.e2 e8 13.f3 d7 reached the peak of its popularity in the early
14.h1!? There is no rush to try and capture nineties, initially due to the efforts of players
the d-pawn so W hite avoids the pins from what was formerly Czechoslovakia: J.
associated with a future Qb6 by stepping into Pribyl, M.Pribyl, K.Mokry and others. Black
the corner of the board. achieved very good results and at that time it
[ 14.b3 c5 15.b2 b6 16.f2 a4 became a significant part of Vladimir
17.a3 c3 18.d2 and White is no Kramnik's opening repertoire. Later its
nearer to claiming the d-pawn ] popularity decreased when W hite found a
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
rather unpleasant way to set problems for 10.xh6 Forced. xc3+ 11.e2 xa1
Black, but definitely the last word has not yet 12.f3 Threatening 13.Qg7 Rf8 14.Qxf8+
been said . 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 c6 Kxf8 15.Bh6+ xa2 13.g7 f8 14.h6
4.f4! The most dangerous line for Black. Now d7 The critical position. It has been tested in
it's not good for Black to play 4... g6 in the two games. 15.g5! An important novelty.
spirit of the Classical Pirc, because the move [ 15.e1 as played in Suetin-Hodgson,
...c7-c6 is senseless here: as we already know, London 1991 is less precise: b6 16.f2
in the Austrian Attack Black should counter in b7 17.e6 fxe6 18.xh7 xf3+!
the centre with c7-c5. ( 18...0-0-0?! 19.xf8 xf8 20.xe7
[ 4.f3 is the main alternative to the text and is clearly better for White.) 19.gxf3 0-0-0
a f t e r t h e u s u a l g4 the same position 20.xe7 d5 and in this complicated
occurs as after the moves 1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 Bg4 position Black's chances are at least not
3.e4 Nf6 4.Nc3. We'll consider this line next worse: 21.xe6 xd4+ 22.e3 h8
month. ] 23.f4 ( 23.h4 f8 24.xg6 c5
4...a5 The key position of the Czech System. is OK for Black) 23...d4+ 24.e3 h8
Now 5...Nxe4 is threatened, therefore White 25.f4 d4+ and a draw was agreed. ]
has a choice between three main lines: 5.e5, 5. [ 15.xh7 is weak: by winning the exchange
Bd2 and 5. Bd3. We'll consider all of them in back White loses the initiative: b6 16.xf8
turn. 5.e5 xf8 17.h6 a6 and White has nothing
[ 5.d2?! has also been tried, but this move for the pawn. ]
looks wrong. In Kramnik-Taborov, Belgorod 15...b6 16.e6! This is the idea behind White's
1989 Black had no problems in the opening: previous move. The alternatives are clearly
e5 6.f3 bd7 7.d3 exd4 8.xd4 g6 worse:
9.b3 c7 10.0-0 g7 and in this [ 16.xh7?! a6! 17.xa6 xa6+ 18.f2
complicated position (which is similar to a c4! 19.d1 xc2+ 20.d2 f5+
Classical Pirc) Black's chances are by no intending 0-0-0 ]
means worse. ] [ White also has another interesting
5...e4 6.d3!? p o s s i b i l i t y : 16.a1!? xa1 17.e6
[ 6.f3 is a more common option. ] but this fails to a2! ( But not 17...fxe6?
6...xc3 7.d2 g6 This move doesn't look in view of 18.xg6+ hxg6 19.xg6+ d8
good since the Bishop on g7 will be restricted 20.xe6# ) 18.exd7+ xd7 19.xf8 a6!
b y W h i t e ' s p a wn c h a i n , b u t B l a ck p l a n s 20.xa8 xc2+ 21.f3 xd3+ 22.f2
something unusual. xd4+ and White is in trouble. ]
[ Many commentators recommended the 16...a6! The only way.
Queen sacrifice: 7...xa2!? 8.xa2 xa2 [ Unfortunately after 16...fxe6 17.xh7!
9.f3 and this position was evaluated as Black's position is just hopeless, for
unclear, but I believe that White is clearly example: f6 ( 17...a6 18.xg6+! d8
be t t e r h e re a s it 's dif f icu lt f o r B la ck t o 19.xe6+ c8 20.xf8 xc2+ 21.e3
complete his development. ] xd3 22.xd3 xg2 23.f5 winning )
[ 7...c5! is more solid in my opinion: 8.bxc3 18.g8+ f8 19.h7! ( 19.xf8? a6
d5 9.f3 g4 with mutual chances in a winning ) 19...a6 20.xf6+ exf6 21.xf8+
complicated position occurred in Timman- d7 22.f7+ c8 23.xa6+ winning ]
Hodgson, Biel 1995. ] 17.exd7+ xd7 18.xa6 xa6+ 19.f2
8.bxc3! c4! 20.e1! A complicated position has
[ If 8.xc3?! xc3+ 9.bxc3 with equal arisen: Black has a slight material advantage
chances in a complicated endgame. ] but White has the initiative. fe8?!
8...dxe5 9.fxe5 [ 20...g8! 21.e5 ( Not 21.xf7 xf7+
[ If 9.dxe5 a6 intending ...Nc5 with very 22.xf7 gf8 23.xf8 xf8 winning )
comfortable play for Black. ] 21...ge8 with the idea of ...f7-f6 looks more
9...h6 This is the idea behind Black's p r e c i s e . W h i t e c o u l d c o n t i n u e 22.e4
previous move. Now wild complications occur. with unclear play. ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
d6 18.h6 d8 19.g7 f8 20.xd6+ [ 10...h6 11.e3 c8 12.f4 ec6
1/2-1/2 Magem Badals, J (2535) -Chernin, A looks very passive but Black is solid and
(2645) New York 1998 was annotated by W hite does have to prove something as
Alexander Volzhin - check the archives. ] otherwise Black will be able to convert his
8...d7 extra pawn. ]
[ Perhaps 8...d7 is the better way to block 11.e3 c8 12.f4 bc6 13.e4 e6?!
the c heck. Pla ying as in the game wit h Karim was evidently worried about a knight
9.h3 gxe5 10.e2 ( 10.d5 jumping into e6 but this is too slow and White
m a y b e b e s t b u t i t c a n b e m e t b y c6! now takes over the advantage.
11.xe7 f6 12.xc8 fxg5 13.d6 h6 [ 13...b6 looks risky creating big holes on the
14.b1 g4 and Black starts to take over the light squares but 14.a6+ b8 looks fully
initiative although 15.f4! keeps the position playable for Black who can slowly continue
in dynamic equality territory.) 10...h6 with ...Rd 8, ...Bh6 f ollowed by pushin g
11.e3 c6 12.he1 e6 would allow Black W h it e 's p ie ce s b a ckwa rds a n d I'm s t ill
t o s lo wly u n t a n gle a n d st a rt t o t ry a n d sceptical White has complete compensation
utilise his extra pawn. ] for the pawn. ]
9.h3 This appears to be the novelty. 14.c5 e8 15.d2 f8 16.hd1
[ 9.e4 was played in a previous game and Simple chess. The Anglo-Swiss GM puts his
looks more logical. h6 10.h4 g5 11.e6 pieces on the best squares and doesn't allow
fxe6?! ( 11...gxh4! 12.exd7 xd7 Karim enough time to complete his
was a better approach as 13.c5 e8 d e v e l o p m e n t . xc5 17.xc5 d8?
14.xd7 xf2 is probably good for Black.) And this is the losing move. Karim overlooks
12.g3 b6 13.c4 c8 14.f3 c5 a pretty tactic.
Kadlec, B (1905) -Sorsak, J (2060) Slovakia [ The position was already awkward but
1998 when W hite could have claimed a p e r h a p s wit h 17...a6 Black can hold. The
c l e a r a d v a n t a g e wi t h 15.xd7! xd7 problem is Black's still extremely passive
( 15...xd7 16.d1+ e8 17.xe6 and White can choose whether to play very
wins material as both the g4 knight and Bd5 s l o w l y w i t h 18.b3 when it's not clear how
are threatened.) 16.d1! ge5 17.xe6 B l a c k m a k e s p r o g r e s s a s ( 18.xg6!?
a n d W h i t e w i l l e n d u p wi t h a d e c i s i v e is a cousin of the game continuation. hxg6
material advantage. ] 19.f4 b6 20.g1 g5 21.fxe5 xe5 22.d4
9...xe5 It's natural to bring the knight back and White will be able to regain the pawn
into the f old but now W hite has a decent with the better ending.) 18...b6 19.a3
initiative compensating for the pawn. keeps him under the cosh. ]
[ 9...xe5 might be better. Joe might have 18.h5! Getting the knight out of the way.
tried to continue as in the game with 10.e2 gxh5 19.f4
but h6! 11.f3 ( 11.xg4 hxg5 12.xd7 [ 19.xh5!? is an interesting nuance but the
xd7 13.e4 f6 14.c5 e8! 15.xd7 text is good enough. ]
d6 regains the knight with a clear 19...g6 20.xd7 xf4 21.f3 White has
advantage. This is the point of forcing ...c6 regained his piece and, although two pawns
so the bishop won't be defended.) 11...c6 down, is clearly on top. Black can still not get
12.xg4 hxg5 13.xd7 xd7 14.e4 g4 that a8 rook out of the game while W hite's
15.hg5 f4+ 16.b1 xg5 17.xg5 rooks and bishops completely dominate. He
h5! 18.xf7+ c7 19.he1 e5 can ch oose when he want s t o rega in his
and due to the knight being trapped on f7 pawns as Black's kingside is dropping. e5
W hite would have to try 20.xd7+ xd7 [ 21...h8 is the computer's ultra-passive
21.xe5+ d6 22.xg4 with a complex a p p r o a c h b u t n o w 22.e7 ( 22.f2!?
e n d g a m e b u t a s W h it e d o e s n ' t h a ve a is also interesting with ideas of Bh4xf6 or
passed pawn Black's rooks shouldn't be even Bg3 looking at Black's king.) 22...d5
worse. ] 23.xd8+ xd8 24.xd8 xd8 25.c4
10.e2 f6 and White wins the piece with a technically
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13.exf5 gxf5 14.dxe5! xe5 15.f4 xf4 [ 5...c5 would transpose into a Sicilian
16.xf4 g6 17.e2 d5 Defence. ]
[ 17...xf4 18.xf4 d5!? 19.0-0-0
6.xf7+ The only dangerous move,
( 19.e6?! d6 20.xf8 e5+ ) 19...a3+ temporarily displacing Black's king at the cost
20.b1 looks safe for White and therefore
of the two bishops.
promising. ] [ 6.xe4 d5 7.d3 dxe4 8.xe4 c5 9.0-0
18.g3 d6 19.f4 Ugly, but after h5, the 0-0 10.c3 c6 11.h1 c7 was very
bishop can re-route via f2. e8 20.0-0 comfortable for Black in Eisinger - Mohrlok,
[ jw: There seems no reason to be shy: 20.h5 Bad Aibling 1965 ]
e7 ( 20...f8 21.0-0-0 e6 22.h3 ) 6...xf7 7.xe4 f8
21.d4 ] [ Black can also put the rook on e8, though
20...b4?! As Felix Eickenbusch indicates this leads to much the same sort of game.
above, this doesn't work out very well. Herzog - Sorsensen, Danish Ch., Hinnerup
[ Let me try to improve. An interesting1979 continued 7...e8 8.c3 g8 9.0-0
sample line might be 20...e7 21.ae1c6 10.d4 e6 11.eg5 f6 12.e3 h6
( 21.fe1 e3+ 22.xe3 xe3 23.h5 f8 13.e4 f7 with a solid game for Black. ]
24.f2 e7 25.d4 xe1+ 26.xe1; 8.0-0 g8 9.d4 Bringing about a position in
21.d4 may be best: f7 22.d3 e7 which White has more space and a superior
23.h3 c8 24.ad1 ) 21...e3+ 22.xe3 pawn structure. Black's bishops are not very
xe3 23.f2 e7 24.d4 xe1 25.xe1 useful at present. c6?!
b4 26.e3 xf4 27.xf5 f8= ] [ In Rivera - Black, Moscow (ol) 1994 Black
21.d4! d7 22.h5 e7 23.f3 c5 played a better move with 9...e6 but White
To prevent Nd4, but now Black has to cede still had the more comfortable game after
his best bishop: 24.e5 xe5 25.fxe5 e6 10.c3 d7 11.e1 f6 12.eg5 e8
26.g6!? 13.b3 e7 14.d2 etc. ]
I would say '!' for bravery, but it is
unnecessary when W hite has such a fine [ 9...d5 10.c5 b6 11.d3 gave White a
position. hxg6 27.h4! xe5? Too greedy, n ice o u t p o st o n e 5 in Ro m e ro - Ro ja s ,
and a real misjudgement. Spanish Ch., Torrevieja 1997 ]
[ 27...f7 was a tough defensive move, 10.c3 c7 11.e1 e6 12.eg5 e7
intending 28.f6 gxh5 ] 13.g3 d7 14.d2 f6 15.ae1 h5
28.ae1 g7 29.g5 Ouch. f8 30.e6! 16.h4 White has a very nice attacking game
Total domination. White wins. ad8 and comes within a whisker of victory. f6
31.h6
d4+ 32.h1 d7 33.f6+ g8 34.xg6+ 17.g4 xg5 18.xg5 f6 19.f5 gxf5
h8 35.f6+ xf6 36.xf6+ h7 37.g7+ 20.gxf5 e5 21.h1 Not as decisive as it
[ 37.g7+ xh6 38.f3 mates in a few. ] looks as Black has tricks based on getting her
1-0 queen to d5.
[ 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.g3 h8 23.xe5
looks strong. ]
886 B07 21...h8 22.e4 f7 23.xf6 xf6
Grigoryan,Meri 24.xf6+ xf6 25.dxe5 dxe5 26.xe5 d7
Ornstein,Petra 27.g5
European Womens' Ch., (6) 27.04.2001 [ Missing a strong idea in 27.c4 followed by
[Nigel Davies] 28.Bc3. ]
27...f7 28.f6?! This pawn gets in the way of
Grand Prix Attack meets the Pirc. White plays White's bishop.
the same moves as he might in the 2.Nc3 and [ 28.e3 is much better, intending 29.Bd4. ]
3.f4 line of the Sicilian, and asks Black if he 28...g8 29.h6 g4 30.g7+ g8
can do better than transpose. The first big 31.fe1 h6 32.h5 c5! Spotting the idea
question is about 5...Nxe4, as in this game. that White had missed. 33.h4 c6+ 34.h2
1.e4 d6 2.c3 f6 3.f4 g6 4.f3 g7 g2+ 35.h3 d7 36.xh6 d3+ 37.e3
5.c4 xe4 dd2 38.g3+ xg3+ 39.xg3 xb2
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40.xc5 xa2 41.e5 g2+ 42.f4 f2+ 18.h3 f3 19.xf3 gxf3 20.g4 d7
43.g5 g2+ 44.f4 21.c2 g7 22.hf1 f8 23.e4 f6
½-½ 24.d6 cxd6 25.d5 e6 26.xf3 c8
27.xe7+ xe7 28.d5+ e6 29.xd6
e8 30.f8+ 1-0 Dreev, A-Illescas Cordoba,
887 B07 M/Montpellier 2002 I like this impressive
Hillarp Persson,Tiger 2510 game greatly. ]
Azmaiparashvili,Zurab 2690 6...g5 7.f2 Taking on g5 or allowing an
Hotel Bali Stars, Benidorm (8) 2003 e xc h a n g e o f B is h o p s co m e s t o n o t h i n g .
[Andrew Martin] White's pawns give him a space advantage so
he must keep the pieces on. g6 8.h4 h6
1.d4 d6 2.e4 f6 3.f3 A noble attempt to 9.c4 It's a similar method to the one Dreev
force the game off the beaten track. Many used. Black's pieces on the Kingside could
Black players would allow the game to drift turn out to be targets for the advancing White
into a Samisch King's Indian but pawns.
Azmaiparashvili has his own brand of chess. [ 9.g4 f4 10.g5 g7 11.bc3 h6
e5!? 12.xf4 exf4 13.d4 e5 14.xe5 dxe5
[ 3...g6 is the fianchetto treatment-quite 15.gxh6 xh6 16.d2 xh4 17.0-0-0 d7
playable as Black is willing to go into the 18.c4 a6 19.f2 xh1 20.xh1 f6
aforementioned King's Indian. 4.e3 g7 21.xa6 bxa6 22.d6 c6 23.a4
5.d2 bd7 6.d3 ( 6.c4 ) 6...c6 7.a4 e5 Grivas, E-Lagopatis, N/Serres 1990 ]
8.c3 White insists on originality. 0-0 9.e2 9...f5 10.bc3 0-0 11.exf5 gxf5 12.g1
e8 10.0-0 d5!= Rouzaud, P-Delgado Pico, h8 Obvious, but a move laced with cunning
L/Open Bali A, Benidorm ESP 2003 ] 13.g4?? And Hillarp Persson falls straight into
4.d5 e7 5.e3 the trap. White should delay this advance until
[ 5.d3 c6 6.c4 fd7 7.e2 g5 8.0-0 he removes his King from the centre. Any of
xc1 9.xc1 a5 10.bc3 the following moves are quite reasonable:
1/2-1/2 Giorgadze, G-Malaniuk, V/Forli 1992 [ 13.c2 d7 14.g3 df6 15.c5 ]
Shows how Black easily ditches his bad [ 13.a3!? ]
Bishop. ] [ 13.g3 ]
5...h5 Black prepares ..Bg5, activating his 13...fxg4 14.fxg4 xf2! 15.g5
dark-squared Bishop. f 7-f 5 will be the [ 15.xf2 is quite hopeless. xh4+ 16.g3
liberating pawn break. ( 16.g2 e3! 17.e1 xg4+ 18.h2
[ 5...0-0 6.d3 c6 7.c4 An Old Indian now? xg1+ 19.xg1 f4+ 20.g2 a6-+ )
Adams lashes out, quite against the spirit of 16...xg3 17.xg3 f4 ]
that slow def ence . b5!? 8.c3 bxc4 [ 15.gxh5 xh4 16.g3 h2! 17.ge4
9.xc4 b7 10.b3 c7 11.ge2 bd7 xb2-+ ]
12.c1 fb8!? 13.dxc6 xc6 14.xf7+ 15...h2 16.gxh6 xh4+ 17.d2 f5
f8 15.c4 xb2 16.d5 c5 17.0-0 But this is also a disaster zone. W hite has
ab8 18.a3 xd5 19.xd5 xd5 been obliterated on the strength of one small
20.exd5 Gelfand, B-Adams, M/Tilburg move. 18.c1 a6 There is no sanctuary for
1996 ] the White King so Black has all the time in the
6.e2 world to mobilize his pieces. White's virtually
[ 6.c4 a5 7.c3 a6 8.g3! is a typical a piece down thanks to the dormant Rook on
Dreev method, cutting out counterplay long a1. 19.b3 b4 Honing in on d3 but this is
before it arrives. White keeps an active plan li g h t wo rk f o r a n y d e c e n t p l a ye r . 20.b2
too with the later advance of his Kingside d3+ 21.a3 f2 Idea ...Qc5+ with mate to
pawns. g6 ( 8...g5 9.f2 g6 10.h4 h6 follow. 22.a4 a6 23.g5 b5 Enough is
11.h3 ) 9.d2 f5 10.exf5 gxf5 11.f4 0-0 enough. Going back to the opening I am not
12.h3 e8 13.e2 g6 14.0-0-0! f6 totally convinced that Black is f ully OK if
15.f2 g4 16.xg4 fxg4 17.fxe5 dxe5 W hite follows the Dreev recipe. The space
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42...f3 43.h4 h3+ 44.g1 a1+ 45.f2 Hedgehog position indeed! 20.e5 dxe5
a2+ 46.g1 A draw was probably the fair 21.xe5 fd8 22.xd7 xd7 23.f4 d4
result and it ended an impressive Gibraltar 24.e3 cd8 25.e2 4d6 26.xb6 xb6
performance from Hou Yifan (she tied for first 27.bd1 bd6 Black's edge is enduring
in the tournament with Short). thanks to his better placed pieces and the
½-½ pawn on b4,restraining W hite's queenside.
Feeling the game slipping away and getting
short of time, my impression is that Hunt
889 B07 becomes demoralised. 28.c1 a5 29.e2
Hunt,Adam xd1 30.xd1 c8 31.d3 a4 32.e2
Rahman,Ziaur d5 33.b3?
British Championship (5) 2003 [ 33.a3 bxa3 34.bxa3 c3 35.xc3 xc3
[Andrew Martin] 36.a1 f6 was better with White retaining
chances of a draw. ]
1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 g6 4.e3 c6 33...a3! 34.f3 g5 35.f2 f5 36.e1 f6
5.f3 b6!?N Provocative! 37.d4 f4 From now on, Black improves
[ 5...g4 6.d2 bd7 7.h3 xf3 8.gxf3 his position at will and Hunt is unable to hold
b5 9.0-0-0 a5 10.b1 b4 11.e2 g7 the game. 38.c4 e5 39.e2 d8 40.xf4
12.h6 xh6 13.xh6 b6 14.g7 g8 gxf4 41.g3 d2+ 42.e2 fxg3+ 43.xg3
15.h6 g5 16.e5 g6 17.xg6 hxg6 xe2 44.xe2 f4+ 45.f2 g5 46.d3
18.exf6 exf6 19.c1 0-0-0 20.b3 f5 c8 47.e1? White's Bishop stayed bad until
21.d2 f4 22.a6+ d7 23.he1 e8 the end! 5...Qb6 is a very provocative and
24.e2 f5 25.c3 h4 26.d3 xe1 interesting idea, although it is noteworthy that
27.xe1 bxc3 28.bxc3 xf2 0-1 Lukin,A- Rahman declined to repeat the move later on
Skytte,R/ Aarhus 1997/ ] in the British Championship against Motwani.
[ 5...bd7 6.a4 g7 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 b6 0-1
9.e1 b7 10.h3 c7 11.a5 ad8
12.axb6 axb6 13.f1 b5 14.b4 a8
15.d2 fd8 16.h6 xh6 17.xh6 e5 890 B07
18.ad1 a3 19.e3 da8 20.h4 Ibragimov,Ildar 2590
Short,N-Beliavsky,A/Las Vegas 1999 ] Chekhov,Valery A 2520
6.b1?! Moscow 1998
[ 6.d2 xb2 ( 6...g4 7.a4 c7 [Alexander Volzhin]
8.g5 ) 7.b1 a3 8.d3 ( 8.e5
must be the critical test. )] This game shows very clearly the dangers
[ 6.a3 must also be considered. ] Black may be faced with. He plays his queen
6...g7 7.h3 0-0 8.d2 c7 Whilst Black's out early and so must be very careful not to
set-up seems perfectly normal, the Rook on find himself too far behind in development.
b1 sticks out like a sore thumb. This becomes 1.d4 d6 2.e4 f6 3.c3 c6 4.f4 a5
especially apparent should White play a2-a4, 5.d3 e5 6.f3 g4 7.e3! The best move
which is quite normal in this type of position. in the position. Black has difficult problems to
9.h6 bd7 10.d3 b5 11.0-0 b7 solve here, and in my opinion, that's why this
12.xg7 xg7 13.fe1 b4 14.e2 c5! line is not played so often nowadays. exd4
Hunt has enacted the usual Bishop exchange [ In Shirov-Rivas, Manila 1992 Black
on g7 but in doing so has lost valuable time. preferred 7...exf4 but failed to equalise:
With his last move, Rahman constructs a very 8.xf4 b6 ( 8...xf3? is bad in view of
favourable pawn structure and leaves the 9.xf3 b4 10.0-0-0! xd4 11.b5!
White Bishop bad. Black's opening idea has and White wins; and immediate 8...b4?!
been completely successful. 15.g3 cxd4 is also hardly good in view of the simple
16.xd4 b6 17.g5 e6 18.f3 h6 9.a3! ) 9.e2! xf3 10.gxf3 xb2 11.b1
19.d2 ac8 A very favourable Sicilian/ xa2 12.xb7 a5+ 13.d2 d8
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14.a1! a5 15.d5! with a growing attack. ] 22.e6!+- a5 23.ec1! d5 24.xd5
8.xd4 b4 9.e2! xd5 25.xf5 g6 26.h3 b8 27.c5
[ 9.xf6 gxf6 10.0-0 ( 10.d2?! xf3 de7 28.d7! d8 29.xb7+ a8
11.gxf3 d7 12.0-0-0 0-0-0 and Black's 30.xc6 and Black resigned. ]
chances should be preferred: White can't 13.e5 xe2 14.xe2 c5
attack Black's weak pawns while the pawn [ 14...f5 is bad: 15.h5+ g6 16.xg6 f7
on f4 is a real target, Kaminski-Ciemniak, 17.xh8 ( 17.h3!? ) 17...hxg6 18.e2
Lubniewice 1993.) 10...xb2 11.e1 b6+ c5+ 19.h1 d7 20.fd1 0-0-0 21.d4
12.h1 xf3 13.xf3 d7 In Ulibin- xd4 22.xd4 and White is a clear
Kramnik, Sochi 1990 White failed to prove exchange up for nothing, Kindermann, -
he had enough for the pawn: 14.b1 c7 Dorfman, Debrecen 1990. ]
15.h4 h5 16.c4 h6 17.g3 c5 15.f2 d7
18.e2 0-0-0 19.xh5 f5! 20.exf5 e7 [ There were no better alternatives: 15...f6
and Black seized the initiative. ] 16.h5+ g6 17.xg6 f7 18.f5 g8
[ The tempting 9.a3 is also harmless in view 19.f4 ]
of xd4! 10.xd4 xd1 11.xd1 bd7 [ 15...c6 16.xc6 bxc6 17.f5
with equal endgame. Voitsekhovsky- in both cases White had a big advantage. ]
Rublevsky, Russia 1991. 12.f2 0-0-0 16.xd7 xd7 The only move.
13.he1 b6 14.f3 g6 15.a4 a5 [ 16...xd7 loses by force: 17.xe4+ e7
16.b3 d5 17.exd5 fxd5 18.xd5 xd5 18.a4+ d7 19.fe1+ e7 20.xd7+
19.e8+ c7 20.a1 g7 21.e7+ d7 xd7 21.ad1+ e8 22.xc5 winning the
22.xd7+ xd7 and here a draw was Bishop. ]
agreed. ] 17.b4! An excellent idea. Black intends to
9...xe4 Black has to accept this sacrifice, evacuate his King to Q-side and therefore
otherwise it's difficult to justify his previous White opens files there without any delay. f5
play. 10.0-0! At the cost of only one pawn 18.ad1+ c7 19.d5! e6 20.fd1 c8
W hite has overwhelming development 21.e5 f7 22.bxc5 b8 23.b5+-
ad va nt a ge in a n o p e n p o sit io n. P ract ice All White's pieces are in action while Black
proves Black's defence is very hard. d5 has half an army undeveloped. It is not a big
[ 10...xc3 is ba d sin ce af t e r 11.bxc3!? surprise that Black is almost helpless here. a6
( 11.xc3 is not bad either: b6+ 12.d4 [ 23...c7 24.d7 c6 25.xc6
d7 13.e1 e7 14.g4! with a growing followed by Rf5 was absolutely hopeless for
attack. ) 11...a5 12.g5! Black's position Black. ]
is barely defensible. ] 24.d7!
11.xe4 dxe4 12.c3 e7 [ 24.b6 c7 25.xc7+ followed by Rf5
[ 12...xb2 was played in Glek-Pribyl, was also good enough. ]
Germany 1991 (by the way, the move 9.Be2 24...axb5
was introduced in this game). White quickly [ 24...c7? 25.d8+ c8 26.xc8+ xc8
obtained decisive advantage: 27.e8+ c7 28.b6+ d7 29.b8+- ]
A) 13.b1! xa2 14.xb7! 25.xf7 g6 26.d4 h5 27.d5 g8 28.c6!
i s g o o d a l t e r n a t i ve : exf3 ( 14...e7 A very precise way to open the 7th rank.
15.d2 ) 15.xf3 xf3 16.e1+ d8 [ A f t e r t h e c a r e l e s s 28.dd7? xc5
17.b6+ c8 18.c7#!; 29.xb7+ a8 White's win was too difficult,
B) 13.e1! f5 ( 13...exf3 14.xf3+ e6 if possible at all. ]
15.f5+- ->; 13...a3 14.g5 xe2 28...bxc6
15.xe2+- -> ) 14.a4! /\\ 15.Ne5 Be2 16. [ 28...xc6 was impossible due to 29.d8+
Re2+- d7 15.g5 ( 15.h4! c5 c8 30.e5+ ]
16.xg4 xc3 17.xf5+- ) 15...c5 29.dd7 e8 30.e5+ In view of the quick
16.xg4 xc3 17.xc5 xc5+ 18.h1 mate Black resigned.
f6 ( 18...fxg4 19.xe4++- ) 19.b3 1-0
0-0-0 20.ab1 d7 21.h3! e8
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Zablotsky, S (2410) Tomsk 2003.) 12.e3 19.d1 followed by advancing the queenside
b5 13.f3 c5 Timofeev, A (2658)-Hansen, pawns must be winning in the long term. ]
L ( 2 5 6 5 ) S k a n d e r b o r g 2 0 0 5 14.c4 19.b5+ b8 20.d1 c6 21.c4! xb5
again promises White a small nibble. ] Shanava hopes to salvage half a point in the
9...f8? Jobava's opening experiment works knight versus bishop position.
as Shanava blunders straight away. [ Likewise 21...c8 22.c3 c7 23.f3
[ In a previous game Black found the correct looks very grim. ]
way of playing with 9...a6 when we presume 22.cxb5 d8
J o b a v a p l a n n e d 10.xf6 ( Instead [ 22...c8+ 23.b1 c7 24.c1
10.xd7+ xd7 was totally fine for Black. isn't so different. ]
Burreh, H (1985)-Schulz, W (2158) Bad 23.c2 c7 24.a4 f8?! As the following
S o o d e n 2 0 0 4 .) 10...axb5 ( 10...gxf6 endgame is completely lost Shanava should
11.xd7+ xd7 12.d5 picks up a pawn.) have tried keeping the rooks on for a while.
11.xg7 g8 12.h6 Here Black has a 25.xd8 xd8 26.d3 e7 27.c4 d6
wide variety of moves that look adequate, 28.f4! g6 29.f5 h4 30.g4 f3 31.h3
o n e s u c h l i n e b e i n g b4 ( 12...f6; g6?! And this hastens the end.
12...xg2; and 12...a5 all look playable [ We tried defending Black's position with
too. ) 13.b5 xa2 14.b1 a6 15.h4 31...e1 but here too White wins with
c5 16.f3 d7 and Black certainly seems something like 32.d2 f3 33.b4+ d7
to be fine. ] 34.d5 g5 35.fxg6 hxg6 36.d6 g5
[ While 9...g4 was played in the other 37.b8 c8 38.xa7 b7 39.xb6 xb6
game to reach this position but 10.h4 a6 40.e6 when there are too many pawns for
Schmitt, T-Hauke, C (2235) Zell 1993 the knight. ]
11.xd7+ xd7 12.d5 f6 13.d2 32.a5 bxa5 33.c5+ d7 34.d5 g5
again feels more pleasant for White. ] 35.xa7 xh3 36.b6 f4+ 37.c5 d3+
10.xd7! xd7 38.c4 xb2+ 39.b5 A well played game
[ Presumably Shanava missed that 10...xd7 from Jobava but objectively 9.Nb5 looks a
allows 11.xe5! xe5 12.xf6 f4+ better try for an opening advantage.
13.b1 g4 14.f3 and Black is a clear 1-0
pawn down. ]
11.b5 Shanava has saved his e pawn but
loses a queenside one. f6 12.e3 e7 894 B07
[ Rybka prefers giving the c pawn with Jones,Gawain C B 2643
12...b6 but again White has a clear extra Reid,John 2151
pawn after 13.xd6 cxd6 14.xd6 e7 100th ch-GBR 2013 (1.1) 29.07.2013
15.hd1 ] [Smerdon, David]
13.xd6! cxd6 14.c7 A nice tactic bagging
the extra pawn. b6 15.xa8 d8 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d6 This move can be a bit
[ The computer toys with 15...b7!? 16.c7 annoying for a 2.c3 player as the structures
xe4 but following 17.b5 c8 18.c3 and idea s are ve ry dif f e rent to the usua l
we can't believe that Black has anything isolated queen's pawn positions of the
like enough play f or his piece f or pawn opening. Still, it's certainly inferior to 2...Nf6
deficit. ] and 2...d5, and I'm sure far more players
16.d2 b7 17.c4 xa8 18.xd6 would play 2.c3 if they could be guaranteed to
The o pen in g h as be en a big success f o r face 2...d6! 3.d4 f6 4.d3 g6 5.dxc5!?
Jobava who's gone straight into an endgame a A common idea in many of the 2... d6
pawn up. Obviously Black must have some variations, but I've never been a big fan. In
hopes of drawing but White executes the rest my opinion, White usually gets very pleasant
of the game flawlessly. c7 positions with natural moves in this opening,
[ Perhaps Black's king should stay in touch though objectively Black is okay.
with his kingside pawns although 18...e7 [ 5.f3 g7 6.0-0 0-0 7.h3 has all been
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
[ Black is not ready for active counterplay as has achieved a decisive advantage, although
the White pieces are better coordinated, for none of his pieces have crossed the middle of
example: 10...b6 11.b1 exd4 12.xd4 the board! c7
c5 13.b4! cxe4 14.xe4! xe4 [ Of course, the pawn is taboo: 26...xb2?
15.xe4 xd4 16.f6+ and white wins. ] 27.eb1 trapping the Queen. ]
11.e3 c7 27.xa5 Straightforward technique. dd7
[ 11...exd4 is premature because of: 28.b4 e6 29.e3 c5 30.f5 d8 31.b5
12.xd4 intending Qd2 and Rad1 with h8 32.f2 c7 33.a4 b8 34.c4 a7
pressure on the d-file, and c5 fails to 35.xa7 xa7 36.e5 dxe5 37.xe5 a2
13.e5! h7 14.exd6 xd6 15.b4! a6 38.xc5 Black has nothing to hope for, so he
16.b5 cxb5 17.xb5 with a big advantage, resigned. A real masterpiece of positional
as it's difficult for Black to complete the chess.
development of his queenside. ] 1-0
[ Probably best is wait and see tactics:
11...h7 (this move necessary anyway) .
Now it's not easy for W hite to prove his 896 B07
advantage. For example, after the natural Kasparov,Garry 2830
12.d2 exd4 is possible, and Black is OK: Azmaiparashvili,Zurab 2700
13.xd4 ( 13.xd4 c5 and now 14.e5 is Blitz Match, Crete blitz (1) 2003
i m p o s s i b l e) 13...c5 14.f3 d5! [Andrew Martin]
and the complications after 15.xc6 cxe4
16.xd8 ( 16.fxe4 bxc6 ) 16...xd2 Only a 5 mins/5secs game, but Kasparov is
17.xf7 xe3 18.xe3 d4 are dangerous Kasparov! 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 g6
for White. ] 4.e3 c6 5.d2 It's official- Kasparov plays
12.d2 h7 13.ad1 d7 Both sides have and likes the 150 Attack!
completed their development. White's position [ 5.f3 was an attempt to do without Qd2
is slightly better due to his space advantage, from the same match. a5 I don't think
but the Black position is very solid, as he has White could have done without Qd2 for long
no weaknesses. Karpov's play is very if Black hadn't played ... Qd8-a5 . Kasparov
instructive. He begins kingside action. First of sees a chance to exploit the exposed Black
all he strengthens the e4 square with g4 and Queen. 6.d3 e5 7.0-0 g7 8.dxe5 dxe5
Ng3, preventing any counterplay in the centre. 9.d2! c7 10.a4 0-0 11.c4 ( Just
14.g4! ad8 15.g3 c8 16.f4 b5 17.a3 11.h3! would have preserved a stable
b4?! This nervous move leads only to the advantage. Here we see the small
creation of weaknesses. 18.axb4 xb4 inaccuracies typical of rapid, even blitz
19.ce2! Black intended a5, Ba6 etc with chess ) 11...e6 12.e2 bd7 13.f3 fd8
some chances. Karpov prevents any 14.f2 b6 15.fd1 f8 16.f1 c5!=
counterplay. exd4 Black took his chance well and has clawed
[ After 19...a5 20.c3 White has an his way back to equality. 17.xc5 xc5
overwhelming advantage in the centre. ] 18.g3 xc4 19.xc4 a5 Kasparov, G-
20.xd4 a5 21.c3 a6 Now Black intends Azmaiparashvili, Z/Blitz Match, Crete GRE
Nc5 with pressure on the e4 square. 22.c2! 2003. ]
An excellent move. White once more protects 5...bd7 6.f3 c7
the e4-square and prevents Nc5. d7 [ 6...g7 is thought inaccurate because
[ 22...c5 23.b4 ] White can now play Bh6. I'm not convinced
23.f3! White intends the doubling of the that Black's position is so bad: 7.h6 0-0
major pieces on the d-file. e7 8.xg7 xg7 9.d3 e5 10.0-0 b6
[ Now 23...c5 is also bad due to: 24.e5 ] 11.a4 c7 12.fe1 b6 13.xb6 axb6
24.f2 e8 25.d3! b7 14.c3 e8 15.h3 e7 16.a4 h5
[ 25...b8 26.e5 ] unclear, Lutz, C-Kasimdzhanov, R/Batumi
26.a1! Winning a pawn for nothing. White 2001. ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
7.d3 e5 8.0-0 g4!?N White's hopes of a when short of time, this is a most
swift attack are dashed instead he has to uncomfortable prospect. ]
switch thinking mode to a more positional 19.e1 d8 20.d5!? The inevitable
game where cramping Black's Queenside or complications commence and Azmai just isn't
piling up on the d file will have to do. Yes, I up to holding on against Kasparov- he seems
know this nabs the Bishop on e3 but it slows p s y c h e d o u t . O b j e c t i v e l y, I b e l i e v e t h e
down Black's development. position to be OK for Black, but his King will
[ I prefer 8...g7 , a less time- consuming have to run the gauntlet-. d6
and very thematic move. In my view, White [ 20...b5 21.b4 d6 22.c7+ d7
struggles to prove any advantage: 9.dxe5 23.a6 c8 24.fxg6 hxg6 25.xf7 e6 ]
xe5 10.xe5 dxe5 21.b4 0-0?? Who would think that
A) 11.h6 0-0 12.xg7 xg7=; castling could be such a ghastly blunder!
B) 11.ad1 0-0 12.e2 b5! I think it's [ 21...b5! transposing. ]
important to prevent Bc4. 13.d2 ( 13.c5 22.e3! c5 23.xb7
d8 14.h3 e6= ) 13...e6 14.fd1 fd8 [ 23.xg4 was simpler: cxb4 ( 23...xe4
15.h3 h5; 24.xe4 cxb4 25.fxg6 d1+ 26.h2 hxg6
C) 11.a4 e6 12.a5 0-0 13.a4 d7 27.xc4+- ) 24.xe5 b5 25.fxg6 fxg6
14.b4 b5 15.c5 xc5 16.xc5 fd8 26.xf8+ xf8 27.f2+- ]
17.a3 d7 18.e3 f8 19.c3 c8 23...g3 24.e7 dd8 25.g5 h5 26.fxg6
20.c5 h6 21.aa1 cd8 22.fd1 fxg6 27.xg6+ h8 28.f5 e5 29.h6+
c4= Waitzkin, J-McNab, C/London 1998 ] g8 30.ef1 xf5 31.exf5 d7 32.f6
9.c4! g7!? Error-ridden, yes! Interesting, also yes! The
[ 9...xe3 10.fxe3 looks like some sort of way Azmai played provides another decent
Trompowski where White will enjoy pressure system for Black against this Be3, Nf3, Qd2
against f7. Unclear But surely the whole stuff.
point of ... Ng4 is negated if Azmai doesn't 1-0
take the Bishop. ]
10.dxe5 dxe5 11.xe5 xe5
[ 11...dxe5 12.c5! ] 897 B07
12.f4 d5 That was the point of his play. But I Kazhgaleyev,Murtas 2596
still feel very uncomfortable, maybe irrationally, Gallegos,Carlos 2452
with the black King hanging around in the ACP Blitz Prelim2 blitz (8) 13.04.2004
centre, 13.xe5 xe5 14.f4 h5 15.h3 [Andrew Martin]
dxc4 16.hxg4 White could have centralised
his Q u e e n b u t t h a t wo u ld a llo w B la ck t o 1.d4 d6 2.e4 f6 3.c3 c6 4.a4!
solidify on e6. The text allows more attack Some of you have written in asking for more
and the possibility of f4-f5. games with the Czech System. To be quite
[ 16.d4 e5! ( 16...f8 17.hxg4 xg4 honest recent results have been very bad for
18.xc4 0-0-0 19.e5 ) 17.fxe5 e6 Black so I have deliberately maintained a
18.f2 0-0 19.d1 fe8= ] distance. There are several awkward systems
16...c5+ that Black has to counter. 4 f4 is the obvious
[ 16...xg4 17.d4 f8 18.f5 ] one and here 4 a4! is another. Black's idea is
17.f2 xg4 18.f5 e5 Black hastens to reactive. He is waiting to see if W hite will
lock up the centre. He has two other decent commit to a particular plan and then he hits
defensive possibilities: back appropriately. 4 a4! meets fire with fire.
[ 18...g8 19.g5 h5 20.af1 d8 White makes a very useful move, commits no
21.h1 ] piece to a bad square and asks Black to show
[ 18...h5 19.fxg6 fxg6 20.af1 f8 21.g5 HIS plan. In our featured game, Gallegos goes
xg5 22.xf8+ e7 23.xa8 back into a Philidor-like position and he is
Azmai faces a protracted defence before he always slightly worse. e5
will be able to realise his extra pawn and [ 4...a5 5.f3 g4 6.e2 e6 7.0-0 d5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
is a different interpretation. I feel that Black [ 14...b6 15.g5 exd4 16.xd4 fd7
is mixing and matching. It will be important 17.h5 Black has nothing to set against
to play ...c6-c5 quite soon and then the White's tremendous initiative. ]
move 4...a5 doesn't fit in at all. 8.e5 fd7 15.xd4 b6?
9.h3 h5 10.e3 a6 11.d2 b6 12.g4 [ If 15...e6 16.g5 e8 17.f5 e7 18.f6
g6 13.h4 b4 He's putting off ...c6-c5 Black is being shunted off the board. ]
for as long as possible but this isn't very [ 15...c5 16.xf6 gxf6 17.h5 e7
convincing. 14.xg6 hxg6 15.g2 e7 18.d4 d7 19.ae1 ]
16.f4 0-0-0 17.f3 c5 ( 17...h7 16.g5+- xe4 17.cxe4 d5 18.f2 xf4
is an option: 18.d1 dh8 19.h1 f6 19.g4 d2 20.ad1 We may forgive White,
20.c3 a6 21.c2 Long-term, White has it's a quickplay game.
all the chances.) 18.b5 a6 19.dxc5 [ 20.d3! c5 21.xc5 bxc5 22.ad1
dxc5 20.c3 Reminiscent of Short's line xc2 23.f4 f8 24.c1 xb3 25.xc5
against the Caro-Kann ( 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 xc5 26.xc5 d7 27.e2 ]
e5 Bf5 4 Nf3). Quite often there White gets 20...xc2 21.f4 Correctly playing for attack,
the two Bishops and a position where all given the time limit. c5 22.g4 xg4
Black can do is sit and wait. Few are up to 23.xf7+ h8 24.hxg4 e6 25.e3 xb3
the onerous task. b8 21.d4 c6 22.b4 26.f5 e7
axb4 23.cxb4 b6 24.bxc5 xc5 25.d2 [ 26...xa4 27.g6 hxg6 28.xg6
winning, Svendsen,B-Stava,J/Oslo NOR leaves the Black King wide open. ]
2004, Black lacked counterplay throughout. ] 27.xe7 xe3+ 28.h1 xe7 29.xe7
5.ge2 e7 6.g3 0-0 7.g2 e8 8.h3 The middle game was rather poor but I do feel
c7 9.e3 bd7 10.0-0 Black will search that White's opening play is worthy of close
for an object of attack and there is little to be scrutiny. The moves a2-a4 and b2-b3! drain
found. He cannot expand with ...b7-b5 that the dynamism from Black's position and then
has been stopped. He may attack e4 several the Kingside pawn advance follows on
times but White will always be able to defend naturally. An easy plan to remember and very
that square comfortably. Meanwhile the threat effective too! The Czech System is currently
o f a k in gs id e p a wn a d va n ce h a n gs o ve r under pressure.
Black's head. Black has no active plan. b6 1-0
11.b3 a5 12.g4! Making room for the Knight
t o c o m e t o g 3 . f8 13.g3 bd7
The trouble with these fast games is that one 898 B07
n e v e r h a s t i m e t o d e ve l o p i d e a s . B l a c k Khenkin,Igor 2550
needed some space to think his way through McNab,Colin Anderson 2490
the difficulties but here he has been pressured Koszalin 1997
to m ake 'a m ove'. 13 ...Nbd7 is p lanless. [Alexander Volzhin]
There were two other possibilities, but I still
prefer White in each: We considered the Fianchetto system against
[ 13...e6 14.g5 ( 14.d5! cxd5 15.exd5! the Pirc in the Karpov-Timman game. Now
c8 16.b5 d8 17.g5 fd7 18.e4 ) let's have a closer look at the line. 1.d4 d6
14...exd4 15.xd4 fd7 16.ad1 d5 2.e4 f6 3.c3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 0-0
17.exd5 c5 18.f4 d6 19.h4 cxd5 6.ge2 e5 7.h3 This is the most precise
20.xd5 xd5 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5 move order.
e5 23.h5 ] [ After 7.0-0 c6 White can't play 8.e3
[ 13...d5 Ma yb e t h e be st sho t . 14.dxe5 because of g4 ]
xe4 15.cxe4 dxe4 16.xe4 d5 7...c6!?
17.d4 f4 18.f3 xg2 19.xg2 [ The old move 7...c6 gives White the slightly
Black has some play here. ] bet ter ch ances. Fo r e xam ple th e gam e
14.f4 exd4 Aseev-Zakharevich, Elista 1994 continued:
[ 14...h6 15.f3 b6 16.g5 ] 8.a4 exd4 9.xd4 e8 10.0-0 a6 11.a5
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
A) The breakthrough in the centre looks [ 22...xa1 doesn't help either: 23.xa1 h5
premature: 11...c5 12.e1 d5 13.exd5 24.f6+ f8 25.xh5! gxh5 26.h8+
xe1+ 14.xe1 xd5 15.xd5 xd4 e7 27.e3+ d7 28.h3+! c6
( 15...cxd5 16.e3 is also better for 29.c3+ with a quick mate. ]
White. ) 16.e7+ g7 17.a6! and White 23.h6! xa1
destroys Black's Queenside.; [ 23...c6 24.xh7+ f8 25.f3! g7
B) 11...b4 12.f4 a6 13.g4 h6 14.de2 26.xg6! d7 27.h3!! winning ]
c5 15.e3 c7 16.d2 d7 ( 16...c6 [ 23...g7 24.xh7+ f8 25.e1 c6
17.b3 xa5? 18.g5 hxg5 19.fxg5 h7 26.e7 e5 27.xe5 dxe5 28.xg6+!
20.d5 winning ) 17.f2 c6 18.g3 fxg6 29.f3+ f6 30.xg6 winning ]
ad8 19.fe1 First White strengthens the 24.c3!! Excellent! After the Rook sacrifice
e 4 - s q u a r e a s i n K a r p o v- T i m m a n d7 White plays a quiet move!
and now the simple 20.a4 ( instead of [ 24.xh7+ is premature as Black has f8
t h e d u b i o u s 20.g5?! ) 20...de7 21.c3 25.c3 xd5! 26.xd5 g5+!
xa4 22.xa4 c6 23.b4 secured White with a perpetual. ]
a huge edge. ] 24...xd5
8.e3 d7 9.0-0 exd4 10.xd4 e8 [ 24...xc3 leads to a beautiful mate:
The critical position of this line. 11.e1 25.xc3! h5 26.xh5 gxh5 27.d5 f6
[ 11.de2 is less accurate as it allows b5! 28.xf6+ f7 29.d5+ e7 30.g7#! ]
and in a complicated position Black has 25.xd5 f6 26.xh7+ f8 27.h8+!
go o d c h a n c e s: 12.a3 ( 12.xb5 xe4 Black resigned as he loses a Rook. An
13.bc3 xc3 14.xc3 b8 15.b1 c8 excellent game!
16.h2 a5 17.d5 b4 18.c3 xd5 1-0
19.xd5 b5 20.d2 xh3! and Black
won a pawn for nothing in Molvig-Sorensen,
Copenhagen 1995.) 12...b8 13.c1 c8 899 B07
14.h2 a5 with excellent prospects for Kobalia,Mihail 2537
Black: 15.g5 b4 16.axb4 axb4 17.xf6 Burmakin,Vladimir 2534
xf6 18.d5 g7 19.g4 b5 20.g3 c5 Novgorod 1999
21.b1 d8 22.d1 e5 23.xb4 h4 [Alexander Volzhin]
Prandstetter-Fritz, Berlin 1991. ]
11...c8 12.h2 e5!? A very ambitious This game proved once again that the line
plan which is also typical in similar positions with 4.Bg5 is one of the most dangerous set-
in the King's Indian. 13.g4! White prevents ups against the Pirc Defence. 1.e4 d6 2.d4
th e Ro ok 's t ra nsf e r to h 5 wh ere it wou ld f6 3.c3 g6 4.g5 g7 5.f4 c6 6.d2
create serious threats for White's King, and is b5
also ready to play f2-f4 next move. xg4!? [ A n o t h e r p o s si b i li t y i s 6...0-0 7.d3
A very interesting try, unfortunately it meets and now b6 is one of Black's best
wit h a nic e re f u t a t io n . 14.hxg4 xg4+ possibilities. The game Yakovich - Wang Pin,
15.g1 xe3 16.xe3 xd4 17.xd4 b5 Beijing 1997 continued with 8.ge2 ( after
18.d2 xb2 The previous moves for both 8.e5 d5 9.xd5 cxd5 10.c3 d7
sides were forced. Black has collected three 11.e2 e8 12.a4 f6 13.exf6 exf6
pawns for his piece, but by very energetic 14.h4 f5 Black had obtained a good
play W hite now proves his advantage. position in the game Romanishin - G.Kuzmin,
19.c1! b6 20.d5 d8 21.e5!! Tallinn 1979 since his Knight has the
The introduction to a brilliant combination. possibility of going to e4.) 8...e5 9.0-0-0
[ 21.xb6 axb6 is OK for Black as he will exd4 10.a4 c7 11.xd4 bd7 12.c3
win the exchange back on the next move b5 13.he1 b4 14.b1 a5 15.f3 c5
(22... Bxa1 or 22... Bh6) ] with good prospects for Black on the
21...xe5 22.h3! Now 23.Qh6 is threatened queenside. ]
as well as 23. Nxb6. b5 7.d3 b6?! Black's position can tolerate
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
10...a6 11.d1 h6 12.b3 c6 13.b2 that's not the full story. It all depends on style.
[ 13.c3 keeping Black at bay, looks better. ] If you are a tough defender, who is willing to
13...b4! Hassling White before he can settle wait for an opportunity or a player who wishes
down and build up pressure on e5. 14.d2 take the prospect of direct attack away from
hd8 15.c1 c6 16.a4 In general, I don't the opponent, then the solid Black position
think this move should be played until Black might well be for you. Or.....you are happy with
has played a5 himself because otherwise it a draw. Now this thing about drawing....At a
weakens b3(c3 will have to played) without lower level one might fling up one's hands in
gaining anything in return. horror at the thought of just playing for a draw,
[ 16.c3 a3 17.c2 xb2 18.xb2 d3 but I assure you that to have the Black pieces
looks awkward, until you see 19.c5+ f7 against a strong, experienced adversary is no
20.ad1 ad8 21.xd3 xd3 22.c2 easy task. So it's not all black and white and
when white keeps control, and a pair of who knows, the guy might overstretch. Black
rooks on(useful for creating play on the has won many games with this line when
queenside). ] White did just that! 6.c4! He should do this
16...d7 17.c3 b5 18.b4 o f c o u rs e . b4!? A new one on me. My first
[ 18.c2 b4 seems to give sufficient impression that it is more combative than the
counterplay. ] normal idea of just shoring up the centre. The
18...a5 19.axb5 axb4 20.c2?! Understand following fragment is pretty representative of
ably not ceding the a-file, but in fact W hite that approach:
should give the a-file in order to pin the knight [ 6...e8 7.f3 d6 8.g5 e6 9.d2
when it goes to a5. bd7 10.0-0-0 h6 11.h4 e7 12.xe6
[ 20.xa8 xa8 21.c2 a5 22.a1 fxe6 The famous doubled central pawns, so
looks like a serious advantage. ] common to this variation. W ell, they
20...a5 21.cxb4 xb4 22.d3 d6 certainly co ver a lot of squares. 13.c4
23.d2 c4 24.b4 Black has lots of moves b6 14.xb6 axb6 15.f3 b5 16.xb5
now. a3+ 25.b2 xa2 17.b1 a5 18.c4 ha8 19.c2
[ 25.xa3 xa3 26.c6+ e8 27.xd8 a4 20.b3 8a6 21.d3 Rublevsky I
a2+ 28.d3 c5+ 29.e3 xd8 30.b1 agitated over whether this was slightly or
allows the game to continue, but it is hard clearly better for White but that is not really
t o b e l i e v e W h i t e i s r e a l l y b e t t e r wh e n the main issue. Black has very little
Black's rook is so active. ] counterplay. ]
25...c4+ 26.c2 a3+ [ 6...e6 7.xe6 fxe6 leads to roughly the
½-½ same sort of game. ]
7.d2 e7 I guess Black is hoping that
playing his King to e7 in one move is a gain.
902 B07 8.0-0-0
Kotronias,Vasilios 2599 [ 8.f3 d6 9.h3 is relatively simple.
Skembris,Spyridon 2446 Whether White can expect anything this way
ch-GRE Athens GRE (9) 12.12.2004 is o pe n to d ou bt : e6 10.b3 bd7
[Andrew Martin] 11.0-0-0 c6 12.h4! Interestingly, White
does not take on e6 this time.
1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 e5 4.dxe5 dxe5 A) 12...b4 13.f5+ xf5 ( 13...f8
5.xd8+ xd8 One might wonder at first 14.xe6 fxe6 15.e3 e7 16.f3 hd8
glance why Black should ever wish to go into 17.a3 ) 14.exf5 c5 15.he1 xb3+
this ending. His King is stuck in the centre 16.axb3 leaves the Black King looking
and W hite maintains the advantage of the pretty exposed.;
first move. He also seems to have a free B) 12...g6 13.g3 xb3 14.axb3 c5
tempo with 6 Bc4 that will put Black even more 15.g5 c7 ( 15...ad8 ) 16.f4 h6
at a disadvantage. There's no doubt about it, 17.xf6+ xf6 18.hf1 exf4 19.gxf4
Black's position appears prospectless. But ad8 20.de1 g7 ( 20...d4;
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
20...he8 ) 21.e5 he8 22.b4 e6 28.f8+ xg7 29.e6++- ) 21.e4! c7
Cools,G-Thiry,J/ TCh-BEL 2003 ] ( 21...f5 22.f6+ d6 23.g4 g6
8...bd7N 9.f3 c6 10.d5+! The fate of 24.g8 xg8 25.xg8 xa4 26.e6+
this move will decide the overall assessment c7 27.xh7+- ) 22.f6 h5 23.g8 xg8
of 6...Bb4. A couple of pairs of pieces are 24.xg8 f8 25.e7+ d7 26.f7 xf7
going to be exchanged, which you would 27.xf7 h4 28.b3 ]
have thought might favour Black, but at the 20...c6 21.fxg7! g4 22.h3 d5?
end of it all the Black central position loses its [ Just bringing the bishop back into play was
' t igh t ' lo o k an d h is K ing is o p e n . xd5 called for: 22...f5 23.f3 ( 23.g4 g6 )
11.exd5 xd2+ 12.xd2 cxd5 13.xd5 23...d6 24.xb7 d7 25.d4 e4
b6 14.b3 f6 15.he1 d8 So is this 26.b5 f6= It is clear that Skembris has
position equal or not? One thing is for sure been really unsettled by White's
White MUST attack because Black's King will unbalancing tactics. ]
be very well placed if too many pieces come 23.e5! Cutting ...Bf5 out, an important gain
off. 16.a4 a5 for White. f6
[ Frankly, I see nothing wrong for Black at all [ 23...d7 24.c4!! g8 25.hxg4 gxg7
after 16...f5! just getting the pieces out. 26.b5+ c7 27.xd7 xd7 28.g5+- ]
White can play f4 if he wants to: 24.hxg4 e8 25.f3+- Let's take stock:
A) 17.f3 ac8 18.f4 g4 19.f3 xd1+ W hite has a magnificent Bishop and three
20.xd1 xf3+ 21.gxf3 d6 22.fxe5+ extra pawns for an exchange. The g pawn will
fxe5 23.e2 c4 24.d1+ e7 25.d5 surely cost Black extra material. It's all over.
f6 26.a5=; h6 26.f5 g8 27.d4+ b6 28.xg8
B) 17.f4 g4 18.f3 xd1+ 19.xd1 xg8 29.f7 ac8 30.f5 c7 31.f6+
xf3+ 20.gxf3 d8+ 21.c1 d7 c5 32.xh6 b4 33.b6+ xa4
22.fxe5 fxe5 23.d5 ( 23.f4 f6 ) When you are totally lost, you can play in such
23...b6=; a fashion. 34.b1 e8 35.c3 d7 36.d6
C) 17.a5 d5 18.f1 e6 19.xd5 dd8 37.b3+ a3 38.c4# Summarizing, I
xd5 20.xd5 xd5 21.e3 e6 think the endgame isn't too bad for Black
22.d1 d8= ] overall, and that 6...Bb4 shows a new way to
17.f4 g4 18.fxe5!? The best practical try to play it. One must be quite content with a draw
win as demonstrated by the game. Kotronias though.
frightens Skembris with this move. 1-0
[ 18.f3 leads nowhere, as the last note
implies. Well, it leads to a draw. ]
18...xd1 19.exf6+ d7? Horrible. What on 903 B07
earth was going through his head? Aggressive Landa,Konstantin 2542
play with the King was called for and Black Korotylev,Alexey 2440
holds his own: Moscow 1999
[ 19...xf6 20.e6+ g5! 21.xb6 [Alexander Volzhin]
( 21.xd1 I'm guessing that this is why
Skembris didn't play ...Kxf6. d7 22.e4+ 1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.f4
h4 23.e2 f8 24.e5 e8! A very ambitious attempt to combine the
j u s t i n t i m e .) 21...g4 22.xb7 d7 advantages of Dolmatov's setup the protected
23.e4+ f4 ] d4 square) and Austrian attack (a strong
20.e7+?! Mistake for mistake although at the pawn centre). f6
board this move must have looked pretty [ An attempt at immediate breakthrough in
good. the centre with 4...e5?! is premature: 5.dxe5
[ Deep Fritz shows 20.fxg7! to be better: g4 h4+ 6.g3 e7 7.exd6 xe4+ 8.e2
( 20...xc2 21.xc2 ac8+ 22.b1 g8 xe2+ 9.xe2 cxd6 10.a3! e6 11.b5
23.e6+ d6 24.xc8 xc8 25.e4+ d7 12.f5! gxf5 13.f4 f6 14.xd6
e5 26.g5+ f6 27.xh7+ g6 d5 15.0-0-0 e7 16.g2 xf4 17.xf4
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[ No-one famous seems to have tried the [ 5...xf3 is hardly to be recommended here,
immediate 7...e7!? so I will suggest it. for example after 6.xf3 e5 7.e3 a5
Some analysis: 8.0-0-0 ( 8.a4 g7 9.d3 8.0-0-0 e7 9.g4 White was already clearly
0-0 10.0-0 exd4 11.xd4 e5 12.e2 better in Aabling Thomsen, J (2314)-
e6=; 8.d3 g7 9.h6 xh6 10.xh6 Krasenkow, M (2628) Copenhagen 2010
exd4 11.xd4 c5 12.0-0-0 e6 13.e3 and in fact he went on to beat his much
0-0-0 ) 8...g7 ( 8...b5!? 9.dxe5 dxe5 ) higher rated opponent. ]
9.dxe5 dxe5 10.g4 0-0 Not sure about all 6.d3
this but it's worth a look. ] [ 6.g4 g6 7.e2! looks like a very
8.h6 0-0 9.xg7 xg7 10.0-0-0 e8 tempting option here for White a5 ( 7...e6
[ As Black's Queen is so ineffectual in the 8.g5 fd7 9.h4 was better for White in
game he could consider .. Qe7 now: Lahno, K (2557)-Reinderman, D (2581) Wijk
10...e7 11.g4 b5 12.g5 h5 13.dxe5 aan Zee 2012 so Black sacrificed a pawn
dxe5 14.e2 f6 ] with d5!? 10.exd5 cxd5 11.xg6 hxg6
11.g4 b5 12.g5 h5 13.e2! This is why 12.xd5 c6 but he didn't have quite
the 150 attack has such broad appeal. White enough compensation after 13.c3 a5
intends to root the defender out and go to 14.b5! xb5 15.c7+ d8 16.xb5 a6
work with the h pawn. Black's counterplay on 17.a3 xa3 18.bxa3 although the game
the queenside is a long way off. b6 14.g3 eve n t u a lly e n d e d in a d ra w.; 7...d5
xg3 doesn't solve Black's problems after 8.e5
[ 14...f4 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.xe5 e4 9.e6! fxe6 10.e5 a5 11.xg6
is a disaster for Black. ] hxg6 12.e3 and White has an excellent
15.fxg3 exd4 16.xd4 c5? position. ) 8.d2 a6 ( 8...b6
[ 16...e5 17.e2 e6 had to be played ca n b e se e n in Nyba ck-P ura n e n in t h e
and White's attack isn't so dangerous. The archives but in summary White is just doing
threat to e4 is illusory. ] well in these positions!) 9.e3 b6 10.g5
17.g2 xe4 18.f4! Now its tough for h5 and now in Alonso Rosell, A (2529) -
Black. f6 and f7 creak and Black can't defend Romero Holmes, A (2508) San Agustin 2012
both. d5 19.hf1 b7 20.xc6! White would've been clearly better with the
Very strong indeed. If the attack falters, White simple 11.0-0-0 ( instead after 11.a4 c7
wins all the endgames. e6 21.d4 ad8?? 12.c4?! e5! the position wasn't so clear )]
He gave up. 6...e6 7.g4 g6 8.g5
[ 21...g8 22.fe1 is enduringly passive, [ 8.e2 doesn't lead to much here as after
but it might be possible to defend. ] e7 9.d2 d5! Black has no problems ]
22.xe6+ After either capture on e6, White 8...fd7
takes on e4, winning. A sudden finish. [ 8...h5?! runs into 9.e2! and the knight
1-0 is in trouble on h5 ]
9.h4 d5 10.xg6 hxg6 11.g4?!
[ 11.f4 was a better option - planning to
905 B07 meet b6 with 12.exd5! xd4
Leko,Peter 2732 ( 12...cxd5?! 13.b5; 12...xb2?! 13.d2
Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2764 exd5 14.b1 a3 15.xb7 ) 13.e3 e5
FIDE GP Tashkent (2.4) 23.11.2012 14.dxe6 xe6 15.e2 followed by 0-0-0
[Tom Rendle] and White has an excellent game. ]
11...b6 Now Black is absolutely fine. 12.e2
1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 c6 4.f3 g4 a6 13.c3 dxe4 14.xe4 c7 15.f3
5.h3 b5! Mamedyarov brings his knight back to
[ T h e q u i e t e r 5.e2 was played against the centre where it will do an excellent job on
Mamedyarov earlier this year by Hou Yifan d6. 16.a4 d6 17.a5 b5 18.d3 d5
in a game I annotated in the archives. ] 19.xd5 cxd5 White may have the two
5...h5 bishops here but the pawn on g5 has lef t
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10.h5 ) 8...a5 9.b1 e6 10.g4 exd4 23.hxg6 xh1 24.gxf7+ xf7 25.g8+
11.xd4 b5 12.a3 ] e7 26.e8# ]
[ 7...b5 8.ge2 ( 8.h5!? xh5 9.ge2 b4 16...xg7 17.g5 d8?
10.d1 and g4 also looks very strong; 8.g4 [ 17...f6 ]
h5!? ) 8...e5 ( 8...b4 9.d1 a5 10.h5 18.xd5?
bd7 11.hxg6 fxg6 12.f4 b6 13.a3 ) [ 18.g3 leaves Black no kingside defence.
9.h5 ] Perhaps White feared c3+ but 19.a1
8.0-0-0 b5! Certainly natural. xf1 ( 19...xa2 20.f5+ g8 21.xd8+
[ 8...a5 can be considered, to enforce ...e5, xd8 22.xe7+ h7 23.d3! ) 20.f5+
but 9.b1 ('threat' Nd5) e8 10.h6 g8 21.xe7+ h7 22.dxf1 ( or 22.f5
looks dangerous, e.g., e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 xa2+ 23.xa2 xd1+ 24.c1 gxf5
12.g4 . But often these primitive attacks can 25.bxc3 )]
be neutralized with the right move order. ] 18...xd5 19.f4 xa2+! These positions
9.h6 are obviously torture to play. Here
[ The positional method would be 9.d3 b4 [ 19...c4? 20.xh5+ f8 21.e6!
10.ce2 , wh e n d ire ct a t t a ck b y a5 is strangely killing gxh5 22.f5 f6 23.xh5
wouldn't do much after, for example, 11.b1 g7 24.xc4! c6 25.b3 c7 26.f7+
e6 12.a3 a6 13.f4 d7 14.c4 ] h8 27.d3 ]
9...b4 10.ce2 a5 11.b1 e6!? 20.xa2 d1+ 21.c1 b3! Suddenly it's
This allows White to close things up a bit on Black who is attacking. 22.xh5+ h7
the queenside, although it can hardly be too 23.cxb3 c6 24.b4?
bad. [ 24.b5! xh1 25.xc6 d8 looks very
[ The other appealing move in this type of s t r o n g f o r B l a c k , y e t 26.g3 holds:
position is 11...c5! when White should react ( o r p e r h a p s 26.f4!? g8 27.e6 )
quickly, perhaps by 12.g4!? ] 26...e1 27.h5 dd1 28.hxg6+ fxg6
12.c1 c5 29.xe7+ h8= ]
[ 12...bd7 ] 24...xb4?? A tragic mistake, but forgivable,
13.ge2 since it misses only one very subtle move.
[ Perhaps 13.d5 d7 14.g4 , when the Obviously
queen is cut off from the kingside. ] [ 24...xb4 threatens mate and forces
13...c4!? 25.c4 xh1 , so Black must have feared
[ 13...c4 is met by 14.c3 bxc3 15.xc3 26.xf7 , but ( 26.xe7?? a1+; 26.g3
c8 (versus d5), and White can play a4 ) 26...xc1+ 27.xc1 gxh5
positionally by 16.d5 ( or go for broke by wins, because 28.g5 a6! covers h6 and
16.g4 )] d3. Instead, ( 28...b6? loses to 29.e6 )]
14.e5!? 25.f4 This gives White the advantage with
[ 14.xg7 xg7 15.g5! It's funny: the h is p ie ce s ve rsu s t h e ro o k, p e rh a p s n o t
computer is rarely so untrustworthy as in enough to win. Eventually he does. xf4?!
these lines. But here it finds an odd move [ 25...f8 ]
(sometimes played in the Dragon, but not in 26.xf4 xe5 27.h5 g7 28.hxg6 xg6
this kind of position) that continues the 29.fd3 c4 30.f2 d4 31.e2 d2
attack while cutting off all counterplay. ] 32.e4 d1+ 33.c2 ad8 34.2c3 e1
14...dxe5 15.dxe5 d5? 16.xg7 35.g3 f4 36.h4 d3 37.xd3 cxd3+
[ 16.g5! Again! I'm not so sure that I'd even 38.d2 g1 39.f5+ f6 40.e3 e6
be inclined to play this move, and yet it 41.cd1 d7 42.b4 h1 43.f2 h8
practically wins outright. Nf4 and e6 are 44.e4+ e7 45.c5 c7 46.xd3 d8
immediate problems. e6 17.f4 xf1 47.e2 dd7 48.a4 b7 49.c4 d4
18.xg7 xg7 19.xh5+ h7 20.xd5! 50.e3 d5 51.b4 c7 52.c5 d1
and Nf6+ with h5 will be too strong, e.g., 53.d2 g1 54.g4 e1+ 55.f4 f6
exd5 ( 20...c4 21.f6+ g7 22.h5 h8 56.de4+ g6 57.g5 d1 58.a3 d4
23.e8+! ) 21.f6+ g7 22.h5 h8 59.d3 g7 60.e3 d5 61.dc5 g6
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62.a1 g7 63.f4 d8 64.f6 g6 20...f7 21.g5+? I'm sure this is the move
65.a6 f5 66.a5 g6 67.g4 d1 W hite was counting on when he played 20
68.e5+ g7 69.g6 e1+ 70.d2 xe5 Re1?!. However, there is a big hole in his
71.fxe5 xg6 72.a1 f6 73.e3 f5 calculations. fxg5 22.fxg5 d7 Ooooops!
74.exf6 xf6 75.a6 e5 76.d3 d5 Th is is t h e mo ve W h it e m isse d wh e n h e
77.xe6 h7 78.f4+ e5 79.e3 g7 played 20 Re1. It's beautifully simple, but
80.a5+ d6 81.d3 c6 82.d4 b6 easy to miss. 23.f1+
83.e5 h7 84.c4+ b7 85.g5 a6 [ 23.a4 xd3 24.f1+ g8 reaches the
86.d5 g7 87.e5 b6 88.c4 c7+ same position as the game. ]
89.c5 h7 90.c6+ b7 91.e6 g7 23...g8 24.a4 xd3 25.gxh6 f4
92.b5 h7 93.a5 g7 94.b5 g1 26.e1 f7 27.f1 g8 28.e1 f5
95.e7+ a8 96.c6 a1+ 97.b4 a2 29.xe7 d5 30.e4 f7 31.xd6 h3+
98.c5 32.gxh3 xd6 Black has a small, but clear
1-0 advantage in the endgame, which he converts
after some time. 33.h4 f5 34.f4 f6
35.c3 g5 36.hxg5+ xg5 37.f3 g6
909 B07 38.a1 xh6 39.e1 b5 40.h3+ g7
Macieja,Bartlomiej 2538 41.e2 f7 42.g2+ h8 43.b2 f6
Azmaiparashvili,Zurab 2675 44.g3 d5 45.e3 g7 46.h3 h5
1st ch-Europe (5) 07.07.2000 47.h2 f6 48.g1 g6 49.f2 xb3
[Carsten Hansen] 50.xf6+ xf6 51.f2 d5 52.e5 f4
53.g3 e6 54.h5 g6 55.e5 c4
1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 g6 4.g5 c6 56.e3 c7 57.g4 e6+ 58.g3 f5
5.d2 b5 6.d3 bd7 7.f4 g7 59.e5+ f6 60.e3 d5 61.f3+ g5
With 7. ..Qa5 play will transpose to Beim-van 62.h2 h5 63.g3+ f4 64.g6 f5
der W iel that we have already examined. 65.h6 f6 66.h8 g8 67.g3 g5
8.f3 68.f3 g6 69.f4 g7 70.xg8+ xg8
[ 8.e5 b4 9.exf6 bxc3 10.xc3 exf6 0-1
11.h4 b6 is fairly balanced. ]
8...b6!? A new move, several other things
have been tried out, but apparently 910 B07
Azmaiparashvili didn't find these sufficient. Magem Badals,Jordi 2535
9.e5 b4 10.a4 a5 11.b3 d5 12.0-0 Chernin,Alexander 2645
0-0 New York 1998
[ 12...f6 13.h4 0-0 14.a3 fxe5 15.fxe5 [Alexander Volzhin]
leaves White clearly better. He has better
development and piece coordination. ] 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 g6 4.g5 g7
13.a3 f6 14.h4 h6 15.axb4 xb4 5.e5!? dxe5
Black decides, more or less forced, to [ 5...fd7 is the main alternative to the text.
sacrifice the exchange. Although this should Theory considers it dubious, but it's
be good for White, the positions that arise are premature to draw definite conclusions as
r e m a r k a b l y d i f f i c u l t t o p l a y wi t h W h i t e . only a few games have been played. One
16.xb4 xb4 17.e6 b8 18.b6 axb6 example: 6.exd6 ( 6.f4 is also worthy of
19.xa8 xe6 White is an exchange up, but consideration.) 6...cxd6 7.d2 0-0 8.0-0-0
the black position is quite solid, and the white c6 9.h4! Sacrificing a pawn White wins
p i e c e s l a c k c o o r d i n a t i o n . 20.e1?! some important tempi for a kingside attack.
This move looks logical, but in fact it's only xd4?! ( 9...xd4 is better, although White
making things worse. has strong attack for the pawn after 10.h5
[ Correct is 20.e1!? , intending Bc4, after e6 11.h6 ) 10.h5 a5 11.hxg6 hxg6
which the white pieces are beginning to find 12.xe7! g7 The sole defence against
each other again. ] Q h 6 w i t h a q u i c k m a t e . ( 12...xc3
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Chalkidiki 1993 W hite failed to prove his e5 was very good for Black, Suetin - J.
initiative was worth a pawn: exd4 8.d5 Pribyl, Debrecen 1987;
d8 9.xf6+ xf6 10.0-0 d7 11.e1 B) 8...bd7 9.e1 xf3 10.xf3 0-0-0!?
(intending 12.e4-e5) xf3 12.xf3 0-0-0 11.f5 c5 with sufficient counterplay ]
13.b4! /\\ b5 d5! 14.e5! ( 14.exd5 cxd5 ) [ 8.f5 bd7 9.h3 xf3 10.xf3 c5
14...e6 15.f2 c5 16.bxc5 xc5 looks also good for Black. ]
17.b1? ( 17.e1 f5 18.b1 ) 17...f6! 8...xf3 9.xf3 exf4 10.0-0 bd7
After this strong move Black's advantage is The weakness of the dark squares in white's
beyond any doubt. 18.g3?! ( 18.f5 xe5 position and the bad placement of the knight
19.f4 e7; 18.exf6 xf6 /\\ Ne4 ) 18...fxe5 on c3 and bishop on d3 makes black's
19.fxe5 g6 20.g5 df8 21.f4 f7! position even better. 11.xf4
22.h3 hf8 23.h2? ( 23.e1 /\\ 24.Bh6 [ In the case of 11.xf4 e5 12.e2 c5+
R f 3 2 5 . g f 3) 23...b6! /\\ Bc7 24.h6?! 13.h1 d4 Black placed his pieces very
c7!-+ and in a few moves White resigned. ] comfortably on central dark squares. ]
7...dxe5 8.h3?! An inaccuracy which gives 11...e5!? A solid move.
Black slightly the better chances. [ 11...0-0-0!? was interesting. ]
[ 8.fxe5 fd7 9.f4 is critical for the 12.e2 d6 13.f3?! It was better to
evaluation of this line: b4! The only move. exchange queens heading for a worse but
( The alternatives are clearly insufficient: tenable ending. h2+ 14.f2 c5+
9...a3? 10.d2 xb2 11.b5 d8 [ 14...e5 15.f5 c5+ 16.e1
12.d6+ f8 13.b1; 9...xf3 10.xf3 was what White was hoping for. ]
xe5 11.xe5 xe5 12.c4 e7 15.e3 xe3+ 16.xe3 e5 17.g1 c5
13.0-0-0 d7 14.xf7+ xf7 15.xf7+ 18.d4?! A bad move. The pin of the Knight
xf7 16.xd7+ ) 10.0-0 is very unpleasant for white.
A) in the case of 10...0-0 White had the [ A f t e r t h e c o r r e c t 18.xc5 xc5
i n t e r e s t i n g 11.d5!? which could have White's position was not much fun but still
posed problems for Black: defensible. ]
A1) the game Huzman - Taborov, USSR 18...e5 19.b4 b6 20.f5? A blunder.
1989 continued with 11...cxd5 12.exd5 White missed the following reply but Black's
e7 13.h3 h5 14.h1 g6 15.xg6 advantage is beyond doubt anyway. eg4!
hxg6 16.c4 b6 ( 16...b5 17.d6 d8 N o w t h e g a m e i s o ve r . 21.hxg4 xg4
18.c5; 16...a6 17.a3 ) 17.b3 22.e1 xd4+ 23.h1 g6 24.f4 e5-+
( 17.e2? a6! /\\ Nd5 ) 17...8d7 Rest of the game is just a matter of technique.
18.e2 ae8 19.f2 d8 20.ae1 Black has a healthy extra pawn as well as a
c5 ( 20...c5 21.d2+- ) 21.g3 huge positional advantage: his excellent knight
with a big advantage; on e5 dominates White's bad Bishop. 25.d1
A2) 11...c5+ 12.h1 d4 ( 12...cxd5 0-0-0 26.b5 White tries to find some practical
seems to be better) 13.e6! fxe6 14.c7 ch a n ce s b u t B la ck e a sil y p a rri e s a ll t h e
a4 15.e7+ h8 16.g5!+- threats. cxb5 27.a5 a6 28.a4 xa4
A v e r y n i c e b l o w ! h5 ( 16...xd1 29.c3+ c6 30.f6 b8 31.xc6 bxc6
17.xf8+ xf8 18.f7# ) 17.xf8+ 32.xc6 a5 33.b1 a7 34.c5+ b6
xf8 18.f1 bd7 19.f7 f6 20.e5 35.e7+ b8 36.a3 d7 37.c4 hd8
and Black resigned, de Firmian-Miles, 38.e2 d2 39.f3 g5 40.cxb5 8d6
USA 1988.; 41.g4 f2 42.bxa6+ a7 43.h3
B) 10...xc3!? 11.bxc3 0-0 12.h3 xf3 [ 43.h3 h6! ]
13.xf3 xe5 14.g3 bd7 and Black 43...d1+ 44.xd1 xd1+ 45.h2 f4+
had obtained comfortable play, Dizdarevic- 46.g3 f2+ 47.g2 d2! Looks suspicious,
Weil, Wiesbaden 1993. ] but Black's calculation is precise: White has
[ Another possibility is 8.0-0 no perpetual. 48.e7+ xa6 49.a3+ b5
A) 8...exf4 9.xf4 bd7 10.h3 ( 10.e1 50.b3+ c6 51.c4+ d6 52.b4+ e6
is worth considering.) 10...xf3 11.xf3 53.c4+ f6 54.c3+ g6 55.c6+ g7
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Khismatullin follows Salgado Lopez's play 23.fxg3 b8= with an objectively equal
from the Olympiad which worked so well. position but I like Black with his huge e5
10.e3 b7 11.b4!? A new try. Generally knight that cannot be shifted. ]
W hite plays on the kingside in these [ I t ' s a l s o p o s s i b l e t o t h r o w i n 14...h4!?
structures but Malakhov decides to take Black first so that the pawn won't be hanging later
on the queenside. in the variation. 15.g4 b4 16.d5 xd5
[ I lo o ke d a t 11.c1 in Svidler, P (2731) - 17.exd5 a4 This looks the most
Salgado Lopez, I (2595) Khanty-Mansiysk straightforward. ( 17...a6 18.xb4 c7
2010. ] 19.e1 fc8 20.b2 and White has
11...0-0 12.b5 Consistent with the previous chances to take the upper hand.; 17...e4!?
move but I don't believe this should scare 18.xb4 xd5 19.c3 b7 20.d5 c7
Black. 21.xe4 fc8 22.c4 a6 23.d2 e5
[ It's possible to wait with 12.b1 c7 24.b1 and White has developed a
13.b3 when both sides are somewhat at definite edge.) 18.dxe5 xe5 19.c3 a2
an en-passe. Black would be a little foolish 20.cxb4 e8 and in my mind Black has at
to play a5 ( 13...fe8 should probably be least equality. ]
p r e f e r r e d .) 14.b5 as the b5 outpost 15.d5 A very sensible move but probably not
promises White decent play. fc8 15.ac1 very good. This is because Black can happily
cxb5 16.xb5 ( 16.axb5?! exd4 17.xd4 sit his bishop on a6 to keep his extra pawn
c5 and Black has many useful squares to and then utilise the c5 outpost for his knight.
p l a y w i t h .) 16...c4 17.ec3 xb3 Then he can use the open a file and semi
18.cxb3 exd4 19.xd4 c5 20.b1 open c file with a decent position. White will
and White stays on top as fxe4 21.xe4 struggle to come up with a challenging plan.
xe4 22.xe4 xe4 23.be1 d5 24.f3 [ 15.d2 is the computer's suggestion but
xg3 25.xe7 xf1 26.xf1 leaves Black following a6 16.d5 Black can ignore the
in an unpleasant ending. ] threat to the rook. xd5 17.exd5 ( 17.xa5
12...cxb5 13.axb5 axb5 Black's structure bxa5 18.exd5 h4 gives Black good play on
looks ugly but it's not easy to regain the b5 b o t h s i d e s o f t h e b o a r d .) 17...h4!
pawn while Black has decent pressure on and, if W hite can't take the rook then it's
White's centre. 14.b1 not clear what 15 Bd2 achieved. ]
[ 14.d5 blocking in the bishop looks tempting 15...c5 In the game Khismatullin declines to
but b4 15.a2 c5 16.f3 a3 hold on to his e xtra p awn an d still h as a
forces White backwards. ] pleasant position.
14...a5 Sensibly holding onto the pawn but I [ However 15...a6 looks promising after
think Khismatullin could have seized the something like 16.d2 c7 17.b4 ( 17.f4
initiative. h4! doesn't get anywhere as 18.g4 exf4
[ 14...b4! This forces White to play 19.xf4 gives Black another strong outpost
a c c u r a t e l y t o k e e p e q u a l i t y . 15.d5 for his knight.) 17...c8 18.fb1 c5
( 15.xb4?! d5! puts a lot of pressure on and it's not clear how either side advances. ]
White's centre.) 15...xd5 16.exd5 g5 16.c1
( 16...e4!? 17.xb4 xd5 18.f4 b7 [ It was possible to play 16.xc5 bxc5
19.d5 picking up the e4 pawn looks more 17.xb5 d7 18.c4= but this would
pleasant for W hite as the h5 pawn looks acknowledge that White's opening has failed
really out of place.) 17.d2!? ( 17.xb4 as he obviously has no advantage here. ]
xe3 18.fxe3 g5 gives Black strong 16...a3!? Black takes the opportunity to
kingside pressure.; 17.d2 xe3 18.xe3 activate his rook and creates threats along
a4 also favours Black as White is no the third rank. 17.xc5
closer to regaining the pawn.) 17...xd2 [ 17.1e2 would give Black the choice of
( 17...e4!? is also possible, liberating the repeating position with a5 or playing more
bishop. ) 18.xd2 h4 19.dxe5 xe5 actively with ( 17...a6 when White should
20.xb4 a6 21.fe1 xe2 22.xe2 hxg3 probably stick rather than regaining material
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equality with 18.xc5 bxc5 19.xb5 xb5 Black had a couple of different ways to go
20.xb5 a8 as Black's queenside play about it.
promises him the better chances. )] [ 30...c8! 31.e3 d7 would give White a
[ 17.xb5 would allow the strong exchange headache how to defend the h3 pawn as
sacrifice xe3! 18.fxe3 fxe4 with strong 32.b1 xg2+! 33.xg2 xh3 34.d3
compensation after 19.e2 g5 20.xe4 g4 gives Black a huge attack. ]
xe4 21.d3 c5 22.d2 h4 as White's [ 30...f5!? is also interesting. 31.exf5 gxf5
kingside is feeling really ropey. ] 32.xf5 xf5 33.xf5 d7! 34.d3 g6
17...xc3!? Black feels he's taken the upper 35.e4 xe4 36.xe4 xh3 and again
hand and so keeps the position double edged. Black has a very good position. ]
[ 17...bxc5 18.xb5 a8 19.xd6 xd5!= 31.e3 b2?! Black keeps up his queenside
is simply level. ] play but again the kingside is vital.
18.b4 c4 19.e2 h4 20.c3 Both sides [ Black should have reactivated his bishop
start a long manoeuvring battle and don't with 31...d7 keeping an eye on g4. ]
really get anywhere but it's clear that 32.g4 a2 33.3f2! This blocks Black's
Malakhov's new idea hasn't really paid off. play and suddenly he has to be careful to
c8 keep equality. xf2
[ 20...d7!? 21.b3 b8 would keep hold [ 33...f5!? looks insane but looks to end in a
of the b5 pawn but again it's not clear how draw a f t e r 34.xb2 xb2 35.exf5 xf5
he is to proceed. However it's obviously 36.xf5 gxf5 37.xf5 xg3 38.e6 g5
Black who's trying to do something. ] 39.xe8 e2+ 40.f1 g3+ 41.g1= ]
21.d3 hxg3 Black decides to take the pawn 34.xf2 a7 35.e3 h8 36.f1!
as Malakhov was starting to threaten the f2-f4 Rerouting the bishop to d3 to stop Black's ...
break. 22.fxg3 a8 23.f2 c8 f5 break and suddenly Black has become very
[ 23...d7 24.g4 c5 25.h4 c8 passive. f6 37.g2 d7 38.d3 a1
26.e3 would allow White to start making 39.f3 f8 40.e2 c1 41.h4
p ro gre s s o n t h e k in g sid e a lt h o u gh t h e [ 41.xb5!? xb5 42.xb5 f5 takes an eye
computer actually prefers Black here and I off the kingside and allows Black to get
don't believe he should have any problems. ] s o m e a c t i vi t y a l t h o u g h t h e p o s i t i o n i s
24.d1 probably still level. 43.exf5 gxf5 44.d7
[ 24.a1 I think White should challenge on f7 45.xd6 xd6 46.xd6 fxg4 47.xf7+
t h e a f i l e . a4 ( 24...d7 would allow xf7 48.e6+ g7 49.xg4+ h6
25.xa8 xa8 26.d3 e8 27.g4 d8 50.e6+ and the game will end in perpetual
28.g5 h7 29.h4 and White has made with both kings so vulnerable. ]
definite progress.) 25.xb5 d7 26.e2 41...a1 Khismatullin fears his queen getting
a8 and White has regained the pawn but trapped but he needn't have worried.
Black's control of the a file keeps the [ 41...a8 trying to get some counter-
position level. ] c h a n c e s l o o k s a c c u r a t e a s 42.f1
24...d7 can be met with xg4! ]
[ Again Black could, and probably should, 42.e3 h8 43.c2 This is the start of the
have taken the chance to reroute his knight wron g plan a s Ma lakhov f orgets that th e
around to the c5 square. 24...d7 25.e3 k i n g s i d e i s t h e m a i n b a t t l e g r o u n d . a6
c5 26.f5 d7 27.f2 g6 28.xe7+ 44.a3 c8 45.xb5?!
xe7 29.bf1 g7 30.e3 f5 and Black [ 45.e3 g5! 46.hxg5 fxg5 47.xd6 f4+
has the better position. ] 48.gxf4 h3+ 49.h1 exf4 gives Black a
25.e3 g6 26.f2 e8 This looks rather strong KID style attack. ]
artificial and it's clear Black wasn't sure how 45...h3+?
t o c o n t i n u e . 27.bf1 g7 28.c2?! [ M i s s i n g t h e c h a n c e t o p l a y 45...g5!
Allowing Black the second rank is foolhardy. when White's king needs that knight back to
a2! 29.d3 h5 30.f3 a8?! keep it safe. 46.xd6 xd6 47.xd6 gxh4
The key play will occur on the kingside and 48.gxh4 xc3 and Black is obviously doing
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W hite never gives his opponent a chance: 6...b5 7.g4 b6 8.g5 h5!? You would
e8 23.h3 d5 24.c2 g8 25.e2 h6 think that 8...Nfd7 was better, having played ...
26.b3 g5 27.d2 g6 28.bxc4 xc4 Nb6. 9.d3 The immediate attempt to take
29.xc4 dxc4 30.f5+ b8 31.g3 b6 advantage of the offside Knight fails :
32.e4 a7 33.c5 g8 34.e4 db8 [ 9.f4 g7 10.e2 h6! 11.xh5 c4!
35.d7 b5 36.xb6 xb6 37.d5 A very important tactic which justifies ...Nh5.
The Pirc is ever-resilient, but this sort of thing 12.c1 xe3 13.xe3 gxh5 14.f3
makes a case for 4...c6. g4= ]
1-0 9...e6 10.ce2 e5
[ I once saw Beliavsky go 10...d5 in a similar
position. If W hite blocks with e5 he takes
916 B07 elasticity out of his pawn chain and Black
Molander,Riku 2290 can build a queenside attack gaining from
Lugovoi,Aleksei 2540 the Bishop still on f8. For instance: 11.0-0-0
Troll Masters (8) 2003 c4 12.xc4 bxc4 and Black has
[Andrew Martin] immediate pressure. ]
11.0-0-0 e7 12.f4?! I personally feel this
1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 g6 4.e3 c6 move helps Black. He gets rid of his offside
[ 4...g7 5.f3 0-0 6.d2 a6 7.h6 g4 K n i g h t a n d t h e a b o u t - t o - b e B g 7 h a s a
8.e2 xf3 9.xf3 c6 10.e3 e5 splendid diagonal. W hite should play more
11.dxe5 dxe5 12.0-0-0 xd2+ 13.xd2 naturally with
fd8 14.hd1 xd2 15.xd2 d8 [ 12.g3 OK, I know this exchanges the
16.xd8+ xd8 A prospectless position for Knight too.... xg3 13.hxg3 g7 14.e2
Black, but Van der W iel ekes out a draw. White definitely has more of the play here. ]
17.d5 Jonkman,H-Van der Wiel, J/GMB, 12...exf4 13.xf4 xf4 14.xf4 g7
Wijk aan Zee NED 2003. ] 15.f3 g4 No way is Black worse now.
5.d2 16.e5
[ 5.f3 bd7 6.g4 is a dangerous move [ 16.g2 xf3 17.xf3 xd4 ]
order. White threatens, with g4-g5, to mess 16...0-0! 17.g2 Taking on d6 was poor:
up the Black Knights. h6 7.d2 b5 8.ge2 [ 17.exd6 e6! 18.g2 xf3 19.xf3
b6 9.b3 c7 10.g2 g7 11.h3 xa2 20.c3 c4 21.xc4 bxc4 ]
Laznicka,V-Guidarelli,L/Friendship A, [ With 17.df1 xf3 18.xf3 ( 18.exd6
Roznov CZE 2002. ] e6 ) 18...dxe5 19.e1 e6 20.b1
5...bd7 ( 20.xe5 xe5 21.xe5 xa2 )
[ 5...b5 6.d3 bd7 7.f3 20...g4!-+ not much better. ]
A) 7...e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.h3 b7 17...xf3 18.xf3 dxe5 19.xe5 xe5
( 9...e7 10.a4 b4 11.e2 20.dxe5 xg5+ 21.b1 xe5 22.h4
Baron Rodriguez,J-Bustamante Montoni,R/ The tactics have misfired. White has to rely on
Open, Pamplona ESP 2002) 10.0-0 g7 a caveman attack. He fails. c4 23.c3 e3!
11.a4 a6 12.e2 Ramesh, R-Valdes,L/ 24.xc6 ac8 Regaining the initiative.
Budapest 2002.; 25.a6 f3 26.c2 b4 27.h5 bxc3
B) 7...g7 8.h6 xh6 9.xh6 e5 28.hxg6 hxg6 29.b3 d2+ 30.c1 f4
10.dxe5 dxe5 11.0-0 Smerdon,D- 31.xg6 e4+ I prefer the Modern move
Timofeev,A/41st WJun, Goa IND 2002. ] order with ...g6 before...Nf6 because I feel
6.f3 that Black has better chances to tackle the
[ 6.f3 c7 7.a4 g7 8.c4 Rather than Be3 and Bg5 systems. Games like this one
8 Bd3 and a'150' attack formation W hite show the other side of the coin the Pirc move-
decides on a more aggressive but exposed order appears perfectly playable too.
square for this Bishop, Langer, M-Burnett,R/ 0-1
Rotary Open, Lindsborg Kansas USA
2002. ]
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several good points. A simple one is that has the idea 0-0-0 21.xf5 xg7 22.c3 )
Black can't play mindlessly with 9... Qa5 20...0-0-0 ( 20...xa2 21.b3! xg7 22.a4
followed by...b5, ...Be6 and the like. b6 xa4 23.bxa4 cxd5 24.d4 d7
A good, active move, pinning White's d-pawn 25.b5 ) 21.c3 xa2 22.b3 . Obviously,
and refusing to commit the queenside yet. White is less in control than he'd like to be
[ 9...d7 is a natural alternative. ] in that case. ]
[ So is 9...e6 , although 10.h4 g4 11.f4 20.c3 a5
is positionally attractive for White. ] [ 20...a1+ 21.b1 f5 22.h5
10.e5! with the idea g6?! 23.dxc6! bxc6 24.h3!
[ The natural-looking 10.c3?! can be met by a4 25.d4 intending Ra3. ]
10...Qa5, or even f5 11.f3 fxe4 12.fxe4 21.f3 f5 22.h4
e6 ] [ 22.h5!? g4 23.h4 xf3 24.gxf3 ]
10...dxe5 22...d8 23.a4 b6 24.e5
[ White's point becomes clear after 10...xg3 [ Or 24.d4 c5 25.e3 White is simply
11.xg3 dxe5 12.h5 ] winning in that case. As the game goes,
[ 10...c5 m i g h t b e b e s t , s i n c e 11.exd6 White's pieces are much better-coordinated
( 11.dxc5 dxc5 12.c3!? ) 11...exd6 and he slowly converts his advantage: ]
holds together pretty well. ] 24...f6 25.g3 g4 26.d4 d7 27.e2
11.xe5 f6 12.h4! bd7?! xg3 28.fxg3 c5 29.e6 xe6 30.dxe6
[ 12...e4 has the tactical point 13.e3 xd2 31.xd2 xe6 32.xa7 d6+
xf2!? 14.xf2 xe5 , b ut t he n 15.f3 33.c1 xg3 34.f3 e1+ 35.d1 g3
f6 16.hxg5 hxg5 17.xh8+ xh8 36.f3 e1+ 37.d1 b6 38.b7 a5
18.xg5 f6 19.h7 is strong, with ideas 39.b1 c4 40.c3 f8 41.b8+ g7
of Nxf6+ and Qg3. ] 42.c8 b4 43.g4 h6 44.c6 g5
[ Maybe 12...g4 is best. ] 45.e2 h4 46.xc4 a5 47.e4 c5
13.hxg5 e4 Black's point, but there's a 48.e6 h3 49.a2 b4 50.e3+ h2
special problem. 14.xg7! 51.e4 d6 52.c4 g3 53.b3 d7
[ 14.f4 xe5 15.xe4 is also possible, for 54.e6 c6 55.d5 c7 56.c4 d7
example, c4 16.b3 d6 17.f4 hxg5 57.e2 f2 58.d1+ g3 59.e3 f2
18.xh8+ xh8 19.xg5 f6 20.g8+ 60.c4 e5 61.a2 a4+ 62.b1 a5
d7 with the idea ...Kc7. This is complex, 63.d5 b5 64.d3 d8 65.c3 f3
but one feels that Black's bishops don't 66.xb5 b6 67.b3 c5 68.b2 b6
compensate him for a pawn. ] 69.c3 c5 70.e2+ g2 71.b4 c6
14...xd2 15.xd2 g8 16.gxh6 f8 17.h7 72.d3 g3 73.b5 b7 74.b4 e7
xh7 18.xh7 White is left with three pieces 75.d5
and a pawn for his queen, and the pieces turn 1-0
out to be secure. a5
[ 18...f5 19.h1 f6 ( 19...xg7?
20.h8+ ) 20.f3 0-0-0 21.h6 h8 920 B07
22.g3 safely keeps the material. ] Muzychuk,Anna 2533
19.d5!? Tricky, but unnecessary. White can Zhorzholiani,Meri 2135
play Maia Chiburdanidze Cup (1) 05.06.2009
[ 19.c3 , guarding the a-pawn, and if Black [John Watson]
tries to win a pawn back by f5 20.d3
g5 , he does so at the cost of his position Once again this month the 4 Bg5 Pirc showed
following 21.f4! xf4 22.e5 e3 23.f3 up in many games. After killer results in the
, e.g., f6 24.d1 and Black's queen is last few months (see the updates), Black held
trapped. ] his own overall this time. He did lose the
19...xa2 game before you, however. 1.e4 d6 2.d4
[ 19...f5! seems a better try. White keeps a f6 3.c3 g6 4.g5 The most dreaded
reduced advantage with 20.h4! ( 20.h5 move of 2009! c6 Other recent games:
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The prin cipal line run s 20.cxd4 cb8! 33.c2 f4 34.b3 f1 35.xf1 xf1+
21.c1 e4 22.c2 b1+ 23.c1 1b2 36.b2 and White's queenside pawns
with a draw as offered by ChessBase. ] should bring in the point but there's still
20.c1! A very strong retreat. White defends some hard work to do. ]
the b2 pawn and will pick up the piece next 30.b1 xe1 31.xe1 c3 32.xc3 e4
move. I wonder if Kramnik overlooked this 33.f1 xd5 34.a3
after all retreats are the easiest to miss in 1-0
ches s a s we n aturally look at the piece s
moving forward. e4 Kramnik is forced to go
into randomiser mode but Naiditsch defends 922 B07
well. 21.cxd4 exf3 22.gxf3 e8 Nakamura,Hikaru 2571
[ 22...b4 23.e2 and White's king will be Hickl,Joerg 2554
able to run either kingside or queenside Mallorca Trophy final blitz (1.2) 08.02.2004
depending which way Black takes on d4. [John Watson]
xd4+ ( 23...xd4+ 24.c2 c4+ 25.b1
and W hite has consolidated.; 23...cxd4 1.d4 d6 2.e4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.h3 f6
wo u l d k e e p t h e k i n g i n t h e c e n t r e b u t 5.g4 c5 It's hard to believe that this typical
24.e4 is very good for White.) 24.e1 Pirc/Sicilian solution isn't good. 6.dxc5 a5
bb8 25.f1 e8 26.d2 c4+ 27.f2 7.g2 xc5 8.ge2 0-0 9.0-0 c6 10.e3
e5 28.g3 and White's king looks loose a5 11.f4! But now we've something that
but I don't see anywhere to exploit it for might have arisen from 1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3
Black and thus White has good chances to g4!?, also saving the tempo g4-g5. Of course,
exploit his extra piece. ] Black needn't cooperate in that case. e6
23.a3 12.d5 xd5? Now Black loses space and
[ 23.c2! Running to b1 looked the easiest. the bishop pair. Threatening ...Bxd5 by means
b4 24.c3 xd4 25.b1 would give of
White enough time to get secure. ] [ 12...fc8 was more apropos, for example,
23...b4 24.f1 xd4+ 25.c2 c4?! 13.c4 d7 14.f5 xd5 15.cxd5 ( 15.exd5
Following this White successfully consolidates ce5 16.b3 )]
his extra piece. 13.exd5 b4 14.c4 d7 15.a3 a6
[ 25...eb8 was the suggestion of 16.d4 Two bishops and space: "and wins...
ChessVibes, threatening to sacrifice on b2 ?". Of course the game isn't perfect, but that's
although 26.a2 xa4 27.xa4 xa4+ it for the opening. c7 17.c1 fe8 18.b4
28.b1 c4 29.d1 a7 30.c2 d8 19.h1 c7 20.e1 b6 21.g1
and W hite still has to play accurately but b8 22.d3 d7 23.e2 h6 24.f1 bc8
objectively he's winning. ] 25.g5 g7 26.h4 a4 27.h3 cd8
26.d1 f2+ 27.d2 e2 28.a2 xf3 28.fe1 a5 29.b5 xb5 30.cxb5 d7
29.e1 31.xe7 xe7 32.xe7 axb4 33.axb4 f8
[ 29.c1! c3 30.xc3 b3 31.b1! e4+ 34.f5 e5 35.fxg6 xg6 36.xb7 xb4
32.a1 would be the smoothest path. ] 37.f3 f8 38.h5 h4 39.g4 e1
29...b3+?! Kramnik's final mistake. 40.c7 g3 41.c2 e5 42.b6 b1
[ 29...f5+ 30.c1 c3! would have at least 43.c8 xc8 44.xc8+ g7 45.g4
complicated the issue a little. 1-0
A) 31.xe2? cxd2+ 32.xd2 c4+
would suddenly turn the tables.;
B) 31.xc3? f4+ 32.b1 e4+
33.c1 ( 33.a1? would give away the
whole point. d4! 34.c1 xe1 35.xe1
g4 ) 33...f4+ is drawn.;
C) 31.bxc3?? b1#;
D) 31.xe2! cxd2+ 32.xd2 c4+
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continued 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.fxe5 g4 8.e6! shown Black can get enough counterplay.
fxe6 9.g5 de5 10.xd8+ xd8 11.h3 g4 9.g1 b6 10.xb6 axb6 11.h3
h6 12.f4 hf7 13.xf7+ xf7 14.d1+ h6 12.e2!? ( 12.g4 was Pete's choice
d7 15.c4 e8 16.0-0 c5+ 17.h1 b5 a n d i n ve s t ig a t e d in W e l l s, P ( 2 4 7 6 ) -
18.b3 f8 19.e5 e7 20.e4 Oratovsky, M (2481) Budapest 1999 by
and Black was rather passively placed. Nigel in the archives.) 12...b4+ ( 12...f6!
HIARCS-KALLISTO Leiden 2010. ] looks sensible when 13.exf6 gxf6 14.g4
[ Similarly 5...e7 looks to favour White. is unclear but Black can't be too
6.dxe5 dxe5 7.fxe5 g4 8.f4 c6 unhappy. ) 13.c3 e7 14.ed4 c5
( 8...c5 9.c4 0-0 10.e2 e8 11.0-0-0 15.g4 g8 16.h2 f6 and Black had
gxe5 12.b3 and Black still hadn't reasonable counter-chances. White erred
managed to develop all his forces. Conquest, here with 17.0-0-0?! and after xa2
S (2460)-Hodgson, J (2545) London 1991.) 18.b1 Cosma, E (2332)-Gara, A (2370)
9.h3 and White was clearly better - see Bucharest 2010 Black should have played
Ermenkov, E (2454)-Abdulaziz, M (2101) a4 to prevent 19.c4;
Beirut 2004 annotated by Andrew Martin. ] B) 8.0-0-0!? looks logical to me, keeping
6.xd4 flexible in the centre. c5 9.d3 e7
[ 6.xd4 was also played against the young 10.e5 g4 11.xc5 xc5 12.d4 h5
Frenchman in W arsaw. g6 7.e3 g7 13.h3 h6 14.f2 f5 15.g3 d7
8.d3 0-0 9.h3 c5 10.f3 e8 11.0-0-0 16.g1 0-0-0 17.g4 hxg4 18.hxg4 h6
d7 12.g4 xd3+ 13.cxd3 c5! 14.de2 19.f5 and White's extra space gave him a
Andriasian, Z (2585)-Vachier Lagrave, M decent edge. Debray, C (2362) -
(2703) Warsaw 2010 and here I like the look Vingerhoets, L (2057) Avoine 2010.;
of d5! 15.g5 d4 16.gxf6 xf6 and Black C) 8.exd5 This has been White's most
would have taken the upper hand. ] common, grabbing the pawn. c5 9.d3
6...c6 e7 10.d4 b6! This was John
[ 6...e7? allows 7.e5! when Black's W atson's recommendation. Black gets
position is already rather awkward. dxe5 good play for the pawn. ( The forced line
8.fxe5 c5 Makoli, P-Michalik, P (2455) 10...g4 11.f5! de5! 12.xe7 xd3+
P l o v d i v 2 0 1 0 9.a4! g8 10.e4 13.xd3 xe3 14.xc8 xc8
gives White a beautiful position. ] Moussard, J (2276)-Manouck, T (2330)
[ 6...c5 was looked at in Ponomariov, R Paris 2010 must be a little better for White
(2616) -Beliavsky, A (2618) Bled 1999 by as I d on 't belie ve Bla ck ca n h ave f ull
Nigel Davies. ] compensation for the pawn.; 10...xd5
7.c4 The most natural move putting pressure 11.xd5 cxd5 12.f5 definitely gave
on f7 but allowing Black the following White something Adamson, R-Ivanov, A
interesting pawn sacrifice. Stohl actually gave Reno 2007 check John's analysis in the
this a question mark. I think he was being a archives. ) 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.e2
bit dramatic but Black certainly takes over the C1) 12...a6! is given by John but
initiative. W h i t e i s b e t t e r wi t h a c c u r a t e p l a y .
[ 7.d2 allows b6 which is a fairly solid 13.d2 fd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.xc6
response. A recent game continued 8.0-0-0 ( 15.f5 "!" John xe3 16.xe7 xd2+
e7 9.h3 0-0 10.g4 e8 11.g2 f8 17.xd2 xe7 18.xa6 hd8
12.he1 xd4 13.xd4 and a draw was 19.ae1+ f8 20.c1 xf4 21.e4
agreed 1/2-1/2 Eppinger, G (2212)-Klundt, K leaves Black attempting to hold a
(2355) Nuremberg 2010 although I f eel rather unpleasant ending.) 15...xe3
W hite should have a little something still 16.xe3+ xe3 17.xa6 xc2+
as Black is rather passive. ] and here John overlooks 18.e2 xa1
[ 7.e3 has been the main try which has had 19.b7! 0-0 20.xa8 xa8 21.xa1
some recent tests. d5 when Black will still have to work for the
A) 8.e5 looks consistent but practice has half point.;
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C2) 12...0-0 13.g1 b4 14.xc6 18.a3 c4 leaves Black with a decisive
xc3+ 15.bxc3 c7 gave Black good attack. ) 16...xc4 17.xc4 a6
compensation but here White committed wins the stranded e2 knight. ]
suicide wit h 16.0-0-0? xc6 17.f3 13...e7
a4 18.xa8 c4! with a decisive [ 13...f2! is critical and was played in the
attack Dukaczewski, P (2319) -Aharon, o n l y o t h e r g a m e I c a n f i n d . 14.xf7+!?
O (2199) Olomouc 2010. ] tempting ( but perhaps White should try the
[ 7.e5 dxe5 8.fxe5 c5 is generally simple 14.c3 when Black needs to find
considered to be fine for Black. ] h6! 15.g3 xh1 16.h5 f6 17.xf7+
7...d5 8.exd5 c5 9.d3 0-0 Natural but xf7 18.xf6 gxf6 19.xc5 g4 20.xh1
this allows White time to get his king to safety. xf3 21.gxf3 d5 and Black's on top.)
[ 9...e7+! looks best to me forcing a 14...h8 15.c4 e4 16.ed4 xd4
concession out of White. 10.f1 ( 10.e2 17.xd4 b6 18.c5 ( 18.xc6 c7
b6 11.xe7+ xe7 and Black regains 19.c5 xf7 20.xf2 xa2 ) 18...xd4
the pawn with a pleasant position.) 10...0-0 19.he1 e4 and Black had consolidated
and, due to White's lack of king safety and his material advantage. Zuse, K (2255)-Brix,
slight problem with development he already G (1990) Hockenheim 1994. ]
struggles to equalise. 11.d2 b6 12.e1 14.hf1 xd2? Vachier Lagrave had used up
c7 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.e4 xe4 15.xe4 all his energy in the Blitz tournament the day
xc4 16.xc4 b6 17.b3 a6+ 18.c4 before and here he misses White's powerful
e6 forced White to sacrifice the exchange counter.
with 19.xe6 but Black was clearly better [ 14...b6 was best when Black has good
a n d wo n qu ic kly in Ra h m a n , Z (2 3 2 0 ) - compensation for the pawn. The game might
Murshed, N (2520) Dhaka 1995. ] continue 15.ed4 ( 15.g3 xc4
10.dxc6 bxc6 11.d2 e8+ 12.e2 16.xc4 xd2 17.xd2 e6
After this it looks like Black should take the and the bishop pair and queenside pressure
advantage. looks quite pleasant for Black.) 15...xd4
[ Therefore White should sidestep with his 16.xd4 c5 17.d3 f5 18.e2 b7
king. 12.f1! c7 ( 12...h6! preventing when White has to walk a tightrope to keep
Ng5 should be played with decent equality. 19.a6 d5 20.c4 d7 21.b5
c o m p e n s a t i o n .) 13.e1 ( 13.g5! ) g3 22.hxg3 xe2 23.xd7 xd7 24.b3
13...xe1+ 14.xe1 b6 15.e5 xc4 xg2 25.e5 and White survived Black's
16.xc4 Shetty, R (2356)-Belkhodja, S pressure and has perhaps a nibble here. ]
(2506) Dubai 2002 and here e7 17.d1 15.g5! Neiksans is up to the task.
e6 would have resulted in an interesting Impressive calculation here, especially seeing
unbalanced position. Personally I'd pick as it was a Rapid game. Black cannot
Black as White will have to be very accurate su cc e ssf u lly d e f e n d b o t h f 7 a n d h 7 . f6
to have any hopes of converting his extra Black's best try.
pawn. ] [ 15...e4 16.xf7+ h8 17.xe8 xg5
12...e4! Now White has problems. 13.0-0-0 18.xd7 is hopeless. ]
[ 13.f1 Defends the f2 square but now 16.xf7+?! This is very logical but actually
W hite has problems with his king safety. offers Black a way out into a playable position.
xd2! 14.xd2 b6 15.c3 a6 16.xa6 [ 16.xd2 was far better when Black has to
xa6 17.c2 e7! Meszaros, A (2395) - take a time out to defend f7 and after f8
Sutorikhin, V (2335) Hungary 1994 and White can play 17.d4 with an extra pawn
White had no defence to the pressure down and pressure, a great position. ]
the e file. ] 16...h8?! The Frenchman was obviously not
[ 13.g5 has been tried a couple of times all there for this game and after this he isn't
but xg5 14.fxg5 b6 is unpleasant to given another chance.
d e a l w i t h a s 15.0-0-0 e5 16.b3 [ G i v i n g u p h i s q u e e n w i t h 16...xf7!
( 16.e4 is better but a6 17.xa6 xa6 was essential when the position is far from
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
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960
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929 B07
928 B07 Nyback,Tomi
Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter 2693 Puranen,Jukka
Svidler,Peter 2736 Finnish Team Championship 2001 2001
Aerosvit Foros UKR (7) 25.06.2007 [Paul Motwani]
[John Watson]
W44: "Fine finish in Finland!" 1.f3 d6 2.d4
1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 g6 4.h3 g7 g4 The Wade Defence is named after
It's interesting that at the top levels players England's IM Robert Graham W ade, and
don't seem as worried that ...Bg7 allows Bh6 although the current game is not one of the
with an 'extra' tempo, as opposed to leaving better adverts for the system championed by
the bishop on f8 for a while with, say, 4...c6. B o b W a d e , d o n ' t b e s u r p r i s e d i f t h e
This leaves open the argument of whether 2... irrepressible man himself notches up some
Nf6 is too committal! Awfully unlikely, but the cracking counter-attacking victories for us
le a v in g it o n g8 f o r a wh ile give s u s t h e before 10 April 2002...when he'll be 81! 3.e4
Modern Defence, which has its own set of If we imagine replacing White's earlier d2-d4
advantages and disadvantages 5.e3 c6 with c2-c4, then a noteworthy possibility now
[ 5...bd7 with an early ...e5 is a very would be 3 Qb3!? intending 3...Qc8 4 h3,
different plan that yields a familiar setup after which 4...Bh5?? falls into the deadly trap
after 6.g4 e5 7.g2 c6 8.a4 0-0 9.ge2 5 Qb5+ followed by 6 Qxh5. f6 4.c3 c6
. We looked at this without the moves . ..0-0 [ 4...c6 5.e3 e6 6.h3 h5 7.d5 e5?
and Bg2 ha vin g b een playe d. I like th e ( 7...exd5 is relatively best) 8.g4! g6
tradeoff a bit for White, who has made ...d5 ( he's also in double trouble after 8...xf3+
less likely. ] 9.xf3 g6 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.e5!
[ 5...0-0 transposes directly into analysis with the shattering Qxb7 coming) 9.d2!
from the Vigus inquiry in May. He thinks that leaves Black facing the terrible threat of f4
6.g4 d5 7.e5 e4 is satisfactory for Black then f5. ]
in that case, and that 5...c6 makes Black 5.h3 h5 6.g4! Black's light-squared bishop
more vulnerable to the g4 attack. ] is sent reeling f urt her backward s by this
6.a4 0-0 7.g4 This is another version of what particularly energetic case of g for "go for it"!
Vigus calls the 'Archbishop Attack', named g6 7.e2 a5
and analysed by Vigus and Simon Bibby. a5 [ W44.1: 7...e6 transposes to the game I.
The attack on e4 facilitates Black's next: Farago-V.Nevednichy, Bled 1992, where
8.g2 d5! 9.e5 the continuation 8.h4! h6 9.h5 h7 10.g5
[ White should consider 9.f3!? ] hxg5 11.xg5 was not pleasant for Black. ]
9...e4 10.ge2 f6 8.d2 White quickly stops his opponent's
[ 10...xc3! 11.xc3 f6 is more effective. ] fleeting threat of capturing the e4-pawn, and
11.exf6 now the bishop at d2 gives Black's queen
[ 11.xe4 dxe4 12.exf6 exf6 13.d2 cause for concern. b6 9.0-0-0 e6 10.h4!
threatens Nxe4, which is not so easy to Echoing an idea from the earlier notes at
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
move seven. h5 11.g5 g8 17.c1 fc8 18.d2 xb2 19.ge2 e5
[ 11...fd7 would have kept the knight a bit Maybe so, but this will be a rough ride.)
more in play. ] 17...e5 18.ge2 c4 19.b3 a3+
12.d5! White aims to prise open the position 20.b2 xb5 Mola,P-Sarno,S/63rd ch-ITA,
in order to get at Black's king and exploit the Arvier ITA 2003 ]
seriously under-developed situation of that 7...b5 8.f3 bd7 9.e5?! there were plenty of
monarch's almost dormant pieces. e5 13.e3 alternatives, all of which were better than the
c7 move chosen.
[ 13...c5 14.d2 is also horrible for Black, [ 9.g4 ]
who then faces threats such as Nc4 and/or [ 9.h6 ]
f2-f4. ] [ 9.h4 ]
14.d2! e7? This critically weakens the d6- [ 9.h3 ]
pawn, and W hite now acts very speedily to 9...b4! The thematic response, either securing
produce a fine finish to this game in Finland! Black the d5 square or forcing open the b file.
15.dxc6 bxc6 16.c4 c8 17.h3 a6 10.exf6 bxc3 11.xc3 xf6 12.xc6
[ 17...d7 also loses instantly, to 18.xd7+ Almost suicidal, as Black quickly develops a
xd7 19.xe5 ] massive attack along the open files. Parligras
18.xe5 dxe5 19.d7+ Black resigned, in obviously did not like his position, resolved to
view of 19...Qxd7 20 Rxd7 Kxd7 21 Qxa6. take everything on offer and try to tough it out.
1-0 [ What were his options? Few and far
between. Perhaps 12.d3 is possible, but
Black has the better game already. ]
930 B07 12...e6 13.c1 b8 14.h3 xa2+!!
Parligras,Mircea An idea which is spectacularly successful.
Jobava,Baadur [ Of course 14...a5 would also have given
Antalya 2004 Black a big attack at zero risk. ]
[Andrew Martin] 15.xa2 a5+ 16.b1 d5 With ...Rfc8
coming, every Black piece joins in the attack.
There now follows a breathtaking attacking White will not survive with his Kingside pieces
game by Black, demonstrating the potential of mere onlookers. 17.d3 fc8 18.d2 xb2+
the Pirc. 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 g6 Certainly the most dynamic follow-up.
4.e3 g7 5.d2 0-0 6.0-0-0 I believe that [ 18...b4 enables White to grovel: 19.a3
6 0-0-0 is already too committal. White has d8 20.a4 xc2 21.a2 xd4 22.a6 ]
plenty of good moves available e.g. Bd3,Nf3, 19.xb2 b8+ 20.b3 xd4+ 21.c3 b4!!
even h2-h3,before castling. Why not wait to Intended all along and a wonderful, study-like
see how the game develops? c6 7.b1 conception. Black rips the White King apart.
If White sets up his Be3/g5, Qd2 battery it's 22.a6
almost always best to play Bh6 as soon as [ 22.cxd4 a2+ 23.c1 xc6! ( 23...xb3
one can. Otherwise what is the point? Black isn't totally clear: 24.xb4 xb4 25.d2
has already made his own intentions clear with xd4+ 26.e1 b2 27.e2 b1+ 28.f2
..c7-c6 he wants to launch his b pawn forward, xh1 ) 24.xb8+ xb8 25.c3 c6
so to hesitate with 7 Kb1 seems wrong. 26.f4 a5 White can't move very much-the
[ M i n d y o u , i f 7.h6 Black gets good a pawn just walks. ]
counterplay anyway: b5 8.f3 ( 8.xg7 22...xa6 23.xa6 xb3+ 24.xb3 xa6
xg7 9.e5 dxe5 10.dxe5 xd2+ 11.xd2 25.cxd4 e2! 26.e1 xg2 27.f2 xf3+
g4 12.f4 f6= ) 8...a5 9.b1 xh6 28.c4 a5-+ 29.g1 a4 30.d3 a3 31.d2
10.xh6 e6 11.a3 bd7!? Very sharp, e5 32.dxe5 c6+ We see many such similar
considering he could just have played 11... games in the Sicilian Dragon and King's Indian.
b4 12.d5 cxd5 13.exd5 f5 14.g4 b4 Defeat is the price of hesitation by White, and
15.axb4 xb4 16.gxf5 ab8 17.b5 th a t is wh y t he se B lack op e nin gs a re s o
( Fritz argues that White survives after popular. Attacks such as this one come along
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
less often for Pirc/Modern fans, so when the [ 11...xf3+ 12.xf3 c4 13.e4 ]
o p p o r t u n i t y a r i s e s i t H A S t o b e t a k e n . 12.a3 xf3+ 13.gxf3
Congratulations to Jobova on a wonderful [ 13.xf3 f8 14.e2 e5 ]
performance. 13...d7
0-1 [ 13...e5 14.e3 ]
14.e3 b6?! A timid response when action is
required. It also means that castling
931 B07 queenside is much more awkward because of
Pavasovic,Dusko 2581 the weakness on the light squares.
Fauland,Alexander 2427 [ 14...0-0-0!? is the answer to connect the
Austrian Team Championship (8) 11.10.2003 rooks and protect the king. 15.b5 e5
[Gary Lane] 16.xc6 bxc6 17.a3 ( 17.xa7+? b7
traps the unfortunate knight) 17...d5
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d6 3.d4 f6 4.d3 g6 and Black can fight on because it is not
5.dxc5!? This looks like a good idea but it is obvious how White should proceed when his
rarely played. own king is badly placed. ]
[ 5.f3 is considered the main line. ] 15.h5 gxh5 16.f4 c8
5...dxc5 6.e5 fd7?! A natural move to [ The big difference now is that 16...0-0-0?
attack the advanced e-pawn but it is walks into 17.a6+ b8 18.b5 ]
inaccurate. 17.b5 b8 18.0-0-0 Now that White has
[ 6...c4 7.a4+ d7 8.xc4 White is a go t a ll h is p ie c e s in t o t h e a ct i o n h e c a n
pawn up for nothing but complacency will smoothly step up a gear to accelerate the
cost his dear g4 9.f4 c6 10.e4?? attack. d4 19.cxd4 The easiest way to fend
a nightmare move f5 0-1 Huber, A-Gheng, off the attempt at counterplay. Others:
J/Wuerttemberg 2000. ] [ 19.xd4!? cxd4 20.xh5+ f8+- ]
[ 6...d5 is the usual reply when play can [ 19.xd4? cxd4 20.b1 xf4 21.xa7
continue 7.e4 c7 8.xd8+ xd8 c5 22.cxd4 c7 is still in favour of White
9.e3 ( 9.a3 d7 10.f3 g7 11.e3 but Black has active play. ]
e6 12.0-0-0 gave White an edge in 19...cxd4+ 20.b1 dxe3 21.xh5+ f8
Firman,N-Kuzubov,Y/Alushta 2002.) 9...d7 22.xd7 xf4 23.f3 The grandmaster is
10.f3 f5 11.exf6 exf6 12.a3 f5 13.c2 happy to enter a superior ending.
b5 14.0-0-0 White has a lead in [ 23.f3!? is the top move which maintains the
development which offers him more a t t a c k i n g o p t i o n s . F o r e x a m p l e : e2
attacking options a6 15.he1 the big threat 24.e1+- h6 25.xh6 xh6 26.c3
is Bg5+ e6 16.b3 c4 17.g5! e7 when the extra piece ensures victory. ]
18.xe6 cxb3 19.d4 1-0 Salai, L-Demeter, 23...xf3 24.xf3 exf2 25.f1 h6 26.c7
P/Nove Zamky 1999. ] e3 27.b7 b8
7.e6! A nice positional idea which helps to [ 27...xc7!? 28.xc7 f7 ]
create tactics later in the game because the 28.d3 xb7 29.xe6+ f7
black king will be vulnerable. This is because [ Or 29...e8 30.xe3 d7 31.xf2+- ]
the doubled e-pawns are a hindrance to Black 30.xe3 d7 31.xf2+ e8 32.c3
developing fxe6 8.f3 c6 9.e2 g7 [ 32.c3 d6 33.c8+ d7 34.xh8 xe6
10.h4 This is the standard way of exploiting 35.xh7+- ]
such positions. The fianchetto on the kingside 1-0
is hardly rock solid without the defence of the
f-pawn and it is up to White to try and create
further havoc.
[ It will all en ds in te ars af te r 10.xe6??
when de5 11.b3 xd3+ 12.e2 g4
the position is massively in Black's favour. ]
10...de5 11.e4 d6
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12.e4 ) 9.xe4 cxd4 10.xd4 f5 could have been parried by b6 18.f5 d7
( 10...c6 11.e4 b4 12.d3 e6 19.e7 c5 and so on. ]
13.a3 ) 11.f2 c6 12.f3 b4 13.d4 16...dxc3
xc2! 14.0-0 d3 15.d1 c4 16.e3 [ 16...c6 17.cxd4 0-0 was also worth
with the better prospects ] considering. ]
[ In the case of 8.dxc5 xc3 9.d2 d4 17.xc3 0-0
10.e2 c6 11.bxc3 dxc3 12.xc3 [ It was impossible to neutralise the Bishop
xc5 White is probably also slightly by 17...d4 b e c a u s e o f 18.ad1 c6
better. ] 19.e4 d7 20.xc6 xc6 21.xd4
8...xc3 9.xc3 e6 10.d2 with the initiative. ]
[ The alternative 10.dxc5 18.d4! The only way to keep the Bishop
A) 10...d4? fails to 11.b5+! e7 active.
( 11...d7 12.xb7+-; 11...d8 12.d3 [ 18.e5 e7 19.ac1 c6 was too good
xc5 13.e3+-; 11...d7 12.xd7+ for Black. ]
xd7 13.xb7 c8 14.b4 d8 15.e2 18...d8!?
c6 16.a6 xg2 17.g1 h4+ [ If 18...c6 then the Bishop would be firmly
18.d2+- ) 12.d3 d7 ( 12...dxc3?? p l a c e d o n f 6 : 19.f6 with permanent
13.d6# ) 13.xd7 dxc3 14.b4! xb4 mating threats. ]
15.b5+- and White is winning as xc5 19.ac1! c6 20.xc6!! Excellent! itch
does not save him due to 16.a3!! xa3 would have been happy: White has sacrificed
17.d1 f5 18.d8+ f7 19.e8+ g8 2 pawns and the exchange for a blockade!
20.xe6# checkmate; bxc6 21.h4! In spite of Black's big material
B) 10...xc5 11.d2 was worthy of advantage the position is unclear as he is
consideration and it may promise a slight forced to continue a rather unpleasant
edge for White. ] defence. e7 22.c1! d7 23.h5
10...cxd4 Ambitious play. [ Of course White didn't sacrifice the
[ 10...c4!? looked quite good. After exchange to get it back by 23.c5? ]
A) 11.e2? w a s b a d d u e t o c6 23...e8 24.f5! Very energetic play! exf5
12.d1 ( 12.e3? a3!!-+; 12.f2? 25.xf5 b4? This inaccurate move leads to
b6 ) 12...b4! 13.xb4 ( 13.c3? the real trouble.
xd4! 14.g4 c2+ 15.f1 f8!? [ 25...f6!? was critical for the assessment of
16.c1 d4!-+ ) 13...xb4! 14.d2 White's idea. ]
c6+ 15.e3 xd4! 16.xd4 d2+ 26.e5 f6 27.e6+ g7
17.d3 ( 17.c5 b6+ 18.c6 a6 [ Of course not 27...h8?? 28.xf6+! xf6
19.c3 c8+ 20.d6 b7 21.xd2 29.xf6# ]
c6# ) 17...cxd3; 28.c7+
B) 11.d1 a4 12.c3 Black could [ 28.f4? allows Black to consolidate his
choose between a repetition of moves by army: e7 29.h6+ h8 30.e1 d7
( 12.b3? cxb3 13.cxb3 xd4 ) 31.c7 ae8-+ ]
12...a5 ( or 12...c6!? 13.e2 b5 28...f7?? A blunder which could have led to
with complicated play )] catastrophe.
11.b5 b6 12.g3! g6 The only move to [ Black's task was not so easy: 28...h6??
prevent 13. Nd6 Bd6 14. Qg7 29.e3+! g5 30.c5+- ]
[ 12...a6?! was suspicious: 13.d6+ xd6 [ 28...h8?? 29.c5 xb2 30.f1 g8
14.xg7! f8 ( 14...xe5 15.fxe5 f8 31.xg8 xg8 32.e7 f7 33.xf6 c1+
16.0-0-0 d7 17.h6+- ) 15.exd6 xb2 34.f1+- ]
16.0-0 with the initiative. ] [ 28...f7 was the only defence. White
13.0-0 a6 14.d6+ xd6 15.exd6 xd6 could have maintained the initiative by
16.c3! A) 29.xf6+ led to a repetition of moves
[ The attempt to exploit the weaknesses of after xf6 30.xf7 d4+ ( 30...xf7
d a r k s q u a r e s b y 16.h4 0-0 17.f6 31.xc6+ g7 32.xa8 d4+ ) 31.h1
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h4+ 32.g1 d4+=; f5! A nice blockading move after which Black
B) 29.f4 e7 30.xf7 xf7 31.hxg6 has no further difficulties.
hxg6 32.f1 g8 33.xf6 d7 34.g5! [ After 13...c6 White would gain space on
f8 35.f4! and Black is still suffering. ] the kingside with 14.h3 h6 15.g4 etc. ]
29.h6+?? A terrible mistake. Until this moment 14.h3 h6 15.0-0-0 c6 16.e2 f7
White had played brilliantly and could have 17.e3 c7 18.ed4 e8 19.xe6+ xe6
been rewarded with the full point but now he 20.d4 g8 21.he1 dxe5 22.xe5 xe5
gains nothing. 23.xe5 xe5 24.xe5+ c8 25.c4 c5
[ White could have exploited the fact Black 26.c2 d8 27.d3
intersected the bishop rather than the rook ½-½
by a retreat of the queen: 29.f4!! and now
e7 i s n o d e f e n c e d u e t o ( 29...xe6
30.xf6+ xf6 31.xb4+- ) 30.xf6+! xf6 935 B07
31.h6+ g8 32.xf6+- ] Ponomariov,Ruslan 2723
29...g8 30.xf6 ae8-+ Now all Black's Felgaer,Ruben 2607
pieces are in play and his material advantage Young Masters (8) 10.02.2006
begins to tell. 31.h3 d2 32.xc6 e3+ [Andrew Martin]
33.h1 xh6 34.f1 e6! 35.f3 xh3
36.gxh3 d2 37.f1 d3 38.g2 e2+ This is a very interesting game played
39.f2 xf2+ 40.xf2 f5+ White resigned. between two young talents. It starts off as a
A very interesting and exciting game. Pirc Defence, but turns into a Benko-Style
0-1 game where Felgaer sacrifices a pawn for play
on the queenside. 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.f3
F a vo u r e d b y m a n y v e r y s t r o n g p l a y e r s ,
934 B07 amongst them Kasparov and Dreev. It is often
Ponomariov,Ruslan 2616 used as a way to return to a Saemisch
Beliavsky,Alexander G 2618 Variation of a King's Indian, preparing to meet
ch-(team) Bled SLO (1) 08.11.1999 g6 with c4. c5 4.d5
[Nigel Davies] [ 4.c3 is also popular. c6 5.e3 e5
6.dxe5 xe5 7.f4 g6 8.b5+ d7
Whilst 6...c6 has been the standard choice for 9.xd7+ xd7 10.g5 e7 11.e2 d5
Black, he could have a good alternative in 6... 12.xf6 xf6 13.xd5 xd5 14.exd5 d8
Nc5. This was Belyavksy's outing with this 15.d2 xd5 16.0-0-0 g5 17.g3 xd2+
defence, and he holds a draw against the 18.xd2 xd2 19.xd2 d7 20.f4 e7
brilliant Ponomariov. 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 21.e3 f5+ 22.f3 e8 23.d1+
3.c3 bd7 4.f4 e5 5.f3 exd4 6.xd4 1/2-1/2 Deviatkin - Solovjov, St Petersburg
c5!? 2005 ]
[ B y n o m e a n s a s p o p u l a r a s 6...c6 [ 4.dxc5 a5+ ]
, but Belyavksy's patronage is an interesting 4...e6 5.c4 b5!? 6.cxb5 exd5 7.exd5 e7
sign. ] 8.c4 bd7 9.e2 b6N A novelty, but a
7.e3 move which I would dub 'the most obvious in
[ The critical line may be 7.e5 after which the position' As long as White cannot play a4-
e6 8.c4 dxe5 9.fxe5 d7 10.e3 a5 quickly Black's Knight is on the right square,
was Cosma - Ianov, Bijeljina 2001 and now pressurising d5.
b6 ( in the game White had pressure after [ 9...e5 10.b3 a6 11.bc3 fd7 12.f4
10...c5 11.xc5 dxc5 12.d1 d7 h4+ 13.g3 f3+ 14.f2 d4 15.xd4
13.b4 e7 14.xe7+ xe7 15.d5+ cxd4 16.e1+ f8 17.e4 e7 18.xd4
etc ) 11.xb6 axb6 12.d1 d7 f5 19.b2 f6 20.xf6 xf6 21.d2
looks OK for Black. ] xb2 22.xb2 axb5 23.d3 b6+ 24.f1
7...g6 8.e5 e6 9.a4+ d7 10.b5 g4 d7 25.e7 xe7 26.xg7+ 1-0 Htun
11.xd7+ xd7 12.xd7+ xd7 13.d2 Htun Than-Moun Moun Latt/Yangon 1999 ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
f5 21.d3 b6 22.a3 b8 square anywhere on the board! Her other
With my opponent in desperate time-trouble I pieces are boxing her in, and she's too near
was trying to be ultra-sensible and make him the front line for comfort. There are also ideas
think. I didn't want to allow forcing sequences of a Ng4 and Nf2 fork. After Black has
which would buy him valuable clock time. ca p t u re d 1 0 . e xd 5 , I 'm le f t wit h a s im ila r
23.b3 d5 24.e3 hg8 25.c5 xc5 feeling about the pawn on f4 as in the King's
26.dxc5 f4 27.xh7 The final mistake. Gambit Falkbeer Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.
[ 27.e4 xd3 28.cxb6 axb6 29.xf4 e5 exd5 e4- why on Earth is the white pawn on
is good for Black but White could certainly f4? In contrast, after the alternative line with 7.
play on. ] Be3 and 8.e5 the pawn on f4 is strategically
27...fxe3 28.xg8 e2 justified.
0-1 [ I n s t e a d a f t e r 10...cxd5 11.xd5
Black is struggling to show any
compensation for the pawn. ]
937 B07 11.g3
Roberson,P 2374 [ A t r i c k y a l t e r n a t i v e i s 11.g5!?
Laznicka,V 2686 Instead Black looks worse after
4NCL 2013-14 (9.132) 03.05.2014 A) 11...d6 attacking f4 and clearing the
[Neil McDonald] wa y f o r Nc5 . 12.e3 ( Black has typical
compensation for the pawn after due to
1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 bd7 his activity after 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.f3
[ Black often plays the move order 3...e5 b8 ) 12...xf4 13.d6 xe3+ 14.xe3
to avoid White's next move, so it is clearly a5 15.c4 b6 16.xf7+ xf7
a critical test of his set up. ] 17.xf7 xf7 18.he1 d7 19.g3 e8
4.f4 e5 5.f3 exd4 6.xd4 c6 7.d2 20.xe8 xe8 21.e1 g8 Black has
There are various other moves here for White survived the first wave of White's attack
w h i c h a r e a n a l y s e d i n t h e a r c h i v e s . d5 and seems OK here. If 22.e7?! f5
If Black plays slowly the threat of e4-e5 hangs is a dead end for White.;
over his head. Therefore he offers a pawn to B) 11...d8 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.c4 ]
activate his bishop on c5. 11...d8 12.g2 b6 13.he1 f8
[ In Neiksans-Vachier Lagrave in the archives An ambitious move. As we shall see Black
Gawain Jones mentions 7...b6 as being a intends to bring his rook via d5 into an attack
solid response, but he thinks that W hite on the white king and so wants his bishop out
might have something to build on in the of the way. Solid play looks more or less
endgame that is likely to arise after 8.0-0-0 equal for example
etc. Very slight inferiority with few winning [ 13...bxd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.e2 e6
chances isn't a problem for some players, 16.e5 dd8 17.b1 ]
but here Laznicka is playing to win. ] 14.e3 bxd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.d4 f5
8.0-0-0 17.c4 b5 18.e5?!
[ The immediate capture on d5 should lead [ You would have to be a cool customer as
to t h e s a m e p o sit io n in t h e ga m e a f t e r W hite to play the variation 18.xf6 c5
8.exd5 c5 9.d3 0-0 10.0-0-0 ] 19.e2 xc2+ ( Good for White is 19...gxf6
8...c5 9.d3 0-0 10.exd5 c7!? 20.d4 ) 20.xc2 xc2 21.e5 a5
An interesting idea. Black plans to regain the 22.xc2 xa2 23.c3 though it looks at
pawn with Rd8 and Nb6, unless White plays least OK for him. ]
d5xc6, when after b7xc6 the black pieces will 18...a5 19.d4?
have a lot of open lines. The white queen is [ It's too late f or 19.xf6 as Black has a
awkwardly placed on d3, shutting in the bishop winning attack after c5 20.e2 ( Or
on f1 and a target of attack by Rd8 or, in 20.b3 xc2 ) 20...xa2 21.d4 a1+
some cases with Ba6, after say a7-a5. In fact 22.d2 xb2 etc. ]
s h e d o e s n ' t s e e m t o h a ve a t o t a lly s a f e [ It was best for White to bail out with 19.c3
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
c5 20.xa5 xc4 21.d4 with equal 12.f4 d7 13.a4 a6 14.d4 xd4
chances. ] 15.xd4 c6 16.a5 d7 17.xg7 xg7
19...b4 20.c3 g4 21.d3 18.d4+ g8 19.f2 b6 20.axb6 xb6
[ Or 21.xf6 xa2 ( Also good for Black is 21.xb6 xb6 22.b3 c8 and Black's
t h e s i m p l e 21...gxf6 when both a2 and d1chances were better in Djurhuus-Volzhin,
a r e h a n g i n g .) 22.d3 ( White gets
Bergen 2000. ]
obliterated after 22.e5 xd1 23.xd1 7...c5 8.h3
xb2! 24.xb2 a3; while also insufficient [ White has also tried 8.d5 which leads to a
is 22.xg7 c4 ) 22...gxf6 and Black has a Benoni-like position, but here it doesn't look
huge attack. ] good for White as his Knight is misplaced on
21...xa2 22.h3 d7 e2. White's main plan is to break through in
[ B l a c k m i s s e d t h e n i c e m o v e 22...b6!
the centre of the board by playing e4-e5 and
when there is no good answer to 23...Bb4 the Knight is much better placed on f3 for
next move. For example 23.hxg4 b4
this purpose. Just one example: e8 9.a4
24.b3 a1# ] a6 10.e3 b8 11.d2 e5 12.b3 b5
23.b3 d5? 13.ae1 d7 14.axb5 axb5 15.h1 b4
[ Instead 23...f5 keeps up Black's strong 16.d1 g4 17.f4 e5 18.dxe6 fxe6
attack. ] 19.f3 e5 20.h6 b5 21.xg7 xg7
24.xd5 cxd5 25.xd5 e6 26.a5 a4 22.e3 c6 23.f2 a8 24.c4 bxc3
27.xa4? 25.xc3 a6 26.f4 b4 27.d1 d3
This game shows that if there are
any complications you should never give up 28.f1 xf1 29.fxf1 a6 intending Qa8
hope, no matter how bad the position and and I definitely prefer Black here,
strong the opponent. Timoshenko-Minasjan, USSR 1991. ]
[ White could have saved himself with the
8...b8! Black should postpone the pawn
resource 27.xg7! xa5 ( Black finds he is exchange and play ...Rb8 and ...b6 first. Only
t h e o n e b e i n g m a t e d a f t e r 27...xg7
then will Black take on d4 and complete his
28.g5! ) 28.xf8 xf8 29.xa5 xb3 development by playing Bc8-b7.
30.g5+ h8 31.f6+ g8 with perpetual [ 8...cxd4 9.xd4 is much weaker as normal
check. ] development of Black's Queenside is difficult
27...xa4 28.e2 c8 The game is over as if now: c5 ( or 9...a6 10.e1 b6 11.a4
the white queen moves to safety then b3 e5 12.de2 e6 13.b3 c7 14.e3
drops. 29.c7 d7 30.f5 xb3 ac8 15.d2 fd8 16.a5 bd7 17.ec1
0-1 b8 18.d5 xd5 19.exd5 e8 20.g4
c7 21.a4 c5 22.c4 e7 23.b4
cd7 24.xc8 xc8 25.c4 e4 26.c5!
938 B07 wit h a h uge ed ge in Do rf ma n -Ap ic ella ,
Rodriguez Talavera,Juan Carlos 2425 Cann es 1 989 .) 10.e1 a6 11.a4 e5
Gulko,Boris F 2615 12.b3 xb3 13.cxb3 e6 14.e3 d7
San Roque 1996 15.h2 ad8 16.e2 e8 17.d5 f5
[Alexander Volzhin] 18.g5 f6 19.c1 f7 20.xf6 xf6
21.c7 d7 22.exf5 gxf5 23.xf6+ xf6
After considering the lines where Black plays 24.xd7 xd7 25.d2 and Black was in
King's Indian type moves such as e5, we can trouble in Khenkin-Timman, Tilburg 1994. ]
conclude that W hite has a small but steady 9.a4
advantage there. In my opinion the line we [ 9.dxc5 xc5 10.e3 b6 is fine for Black.
consider here is much more promising for The game Luecke-Khalif man, Germany
Black. 1.e4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 d6 1998 continued: 11.g4 b7 12.g3 fd7
4.ge2 f6 5.g3 0-0 6.g2 bd7 7.0-0 13.d2 e5 14.b3 c8 15.b5 a6
[ 7.h3 c5 8.e3 cxd4 9.xd4 e5!? 16.d4 c6 17.c3 c7 18.h6 xh6
10.0-0 c6 11.e3 This position may 19.xh6 e5 20.de2 e6 21.fd1 b5
occur in the Sicilian Dragon as well. b8 and Black got the upper hand. ]
970
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014
9...a6 So which move (9...a6 or 9...b6) to 27...e5+ 28.h1 fxg5! White has no
prefer is entirely up to you - both are perfectly threats, so he resigned.
playable. 0-1
[ 9...b6!? is a good alternative to the text:
10.g5 a6 11.d2 e8 12.fe1 cxd4
13.xd4 b7 14.d5 e6 15.xf6+ xf6 939 B07
with very pleasant play for Black. The game Romero,A
Aseev-Khalifman, Vilnius 1997 continued: Insua Mellado,Jose Luis
16.a3 d7 17.h6 h8 18.b4 e5 (open) Alicante (Spain) (5) 1997
19.b3 a5 20.c4 xe4! 21.xe4 d5 [Nigel Davies]
22.xd5 xd5 23.h2 bc8 24.e2 g7
25.xg7 xg7 Black dominates the centre This time round Black temporarily keeps his
of the board while White's pieces occupy options open by castling short. 1.e4 d6
miserable positions. 26.aa1 b4 27.c3 2.c3 f6 3.f4 g6 4.f3 g7 5.c4 0-0
d3 28.ed1 cd8 29.c1 e4 30.e3 6.b3
f5 31.d2 e5 32.xd8 xd8 33.b3 [ This time 6.0-0 is bad because of xe4
f3+ 34.g2 d3 and White resigned. ] 7.xf7+ ( White has to play 7.xe4 d5
10.dxc5 8.d3 dxe4 9.xe4 ) 7...xf7 8.xe4 xf4
[ 10.a5!? is worthy of consideration. ] etc. ]
10...xc5 11.e3 b6 12.g4 More or less 6...c6
forced if White wants to avoid playing the ugly [ 6...c6 7.d4 d5?! 8.e5 e8 9.0-0 g4
f3. 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 f5? 12.xd5!
[ 12.d4 b7 13.f3 allows e5! 14.b3 was winning for White in Kosten - Schlosser,
xb3 15.cxb3 d5 with advantage to European Team Ch., Haifa 1989 ]
Black. ] [ 6...c5 would transpose into a Sicilian
12...b7 13.g3 c8 14.d2?! Defence. ]
This passive move allows Black to seize the 7.d3 g4 8.e3 d7 9.d2 xf3 10.gxf3
initiative. d4 11.0-0-0 xb3+ 12.cxb3 Breaking t he
[ 14.g5 should be preferred: fd7 15.f4 b5 rules by capturing away from the centre. But
16.axb5 axb5 17.d4 with very this way makes it more difficult for Black to
complicated play. ] ob t a in co u nt e rp la y o n t h e qu e e ns id e . e6
14...b5! 15.axb5 axb5 16.h6 13.h4 Sounding the charge. f5 14.h5 e8
[ Now 16.g5?! doesn't work: b4 17.gxf6 15.e2 f8 16.hxg6 hxg6 17.d4 xd4
bxc3 and Black is better ] [ Avoiding the exchange of dark-square
[ and 16.xb5 cxe4 is also good for b i s h o p s w i t h 17...e5 is strongly met by
Black. ] 18.c3 intending 19.exf5. But now Black's
16...xh6 17.xh6 b4 18.d5 xd5 king becomes that little bit weaker. ]
19.exd5 b3! 20.c3 18.xd4 f6 19.e2 a5 20.b1 a4 21.b4
[ 20.cxb3 xb3 is also bad for White as his a3 22.b3 e7 23.d4 g7 24.c3 b6 25.d5
b2-pawn is very weak. ] e5 26.fxe5 xe5
20...a8 21.xa8 xa8 22.g5?! After White [ 26...dxe5 looks slightly more tenacious.
cuts off his Queen Black wins easily, as the Black probably overlooked the following
tactics don't work for White. e8! As we'll see sequence. ]
later it's important to protect the g7-square. 27.f4 f6 28.e5 dxe5 29.d6 c6
23.f4 a2 24.f5 xb2 25.f6 [ Or 29...xd6 30.g2 etc. ]
[ 25.fxg6 hxg6 26.h5 xc3 is hopeless 30.b5 c5 31.d5+
for White ] 1-0
25...xc3! Now the game is over. 26.h2
[ 26.fxe7 e3+ winning ]
26...exf6 27.h5
[ 27.gxf6 xf6 winning ]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014