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Caro Kann Advance Variation PDF
Caro Kann Advance Variation PDF
Advance Variation
and Gambit System
B T Batsford
151 Freston Road
London
WI0 6TH
ISBN-I0: 07134 90 I0 I
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
10 9 8 76 5432 1
This book can be ordered direct from the publisher at the website:
www.anovabooks.com or try your local bookshop
2
Contents
Page
Foreword 5
Chapter One
Gambit System: I e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 f3 7
I ndex to Chapter One 32
Chapter Two
Advance Variation: I e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5
Everything except 3 ... i.f5 33
Index to Chapter Two 66
Chapter Three
Advance Variation: I e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 i.f5
Everything except 4lL!c3 and 4lL!f3 67
Index to Chapter Three 1 13
Chapter Four
Advance Variation: 4 lL!c3 1 15
I ndex to Chapter Four 21 1
Chapter Five
Advance Variation: 4 lL!f3 214
I ndex to Chapter Five 266
5
6
Chapter One
Gambit System:
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 f3
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 t3 I
3 ... de 4 fe e5 5 ll'lt3 Black now has
a choice: S .. ed (A), 5 ...i..g4 (B) or
.
A
5 ed? (the weakest) 6 i.. c4! White
•..
7
Gambit System
8
Gambit System
9
Gambit System
10
Gambit System
II
Gambit System
3) 9 'iii' h 1 'ilc7 1 0 ..te3 c5! Thanks the game Movsesian - Stohl (Austria
to tactics, an immediate break in the 200 I ) Black entered into needless
centre is possible: I I d5 ..txd5 ! 1 2 ed complications: 20 1le8 2 1 l:.cdl
..•
e4 13 ..txe4 ltlxe4 with equal ..txh2, however, all the same, the
chances. game ended in a draw.
1 1 ltlbd2 cd 1 2 cd ed 13 l:.ct We add further that instead of
20 ltld4 no success is promised by
20 ltlxe5 ltlxe5 2 1 'ilg3 'ilf8
22 lLlh6+ �h8 23 ..td4 l:.ae8. Attack
and defence counterbalance one
another, for example: 24 l:.ce I gh 25
J:r.xf6 l:.xf6 26 ..txe5 'ilg7 27 l:.d I
'ifxg3 28 ..txf6+ 'it'g7 29 e5 Wg8 or
24 'it'b3 gh 25 ..txe5 lbe5 26 .lhf6
l:.xe4, in both cases with full equality.
Conclusion: in the variation 3 . . . de
13 'ilb8 Worth considering is the
..• 4 fe e5 White can hardly cause his
queen sacrifice 1 3 ... de!? 1 4 l:.xc7 opponent serious trouble, provided
..txc7. The variations convince us Black is not enticed by the pawn on
that Black has full counterplay in d4 (S . . ed?) and stands his ground
.
12
Gambit System
'ifxe5 - it seems that White gains queen after 6 ed lbxe5 7 de'? �f2+!;
time, combining the development of also weak is 6 .i.f4 de 7 fe tbe7.
his minor pieces with pressure on the 6...tbxe5 7 ed Probably the lesser
queen. However in the game evil is that pointed out by Seirawan:
S.lvanov - Galkin (St.Petersburg 7 �f4 tbg6 8 .i.g3 lDf6 with a slight
1 993) Black solved his problems with advantage for Black.
the queen simply... by sacrificing it: 7...'itb4+ 8 g3 'fie7 9 lbe4 lDf6
8 lbge2 tbf6 9 .i.f4 'ifa5 I 0 0-0 .i.e7 Black is right not to force events:
I I 'it'e I 0-0 1 2 tbd5 'ifc5+ 1 3 .i.e3 both 9... f5?! 1 0 lbxc5 �3+ I I ..ti>d2
cd ! ? 1 4 .i.xh7+ <it>xh7 1 5 .i.xc5 lbxc5 1 2 'iVe2, and 9 ... cd 1 0 .i.b5+
.i.xc5+ 1 6 'it>h I lbc6 with sufficient �ffi I I 'ifxd5 tbxf3+ would leave
compensation. White greater chances of a successful
defence.
tO lbbc3 The following variations
serve as proof that White's position is
already very difficult: I 0 d6'! tbxf3+
I I 'ifxf3 'iVxe4+, 1 0 de lbxf3 +
I I 'ifxf3 lbxe4, 1 0 lbxc5 tbxf3+
I I 'it>f2 'ifxc5+.
1 0... tbxd5 1 1 tbxd5 lbxf3+!
1 2 'fixf3 cd 1 3 .i.b5+ Wf8 14 .i.d3 de
1 5 'fixe4 .i.h3 1 6 'ifxe7+ ..ti>xe7
The shortcomings of the move 3 f3 17 'i!;ld2 l:thd8 18 l:te l+ Wf8 19 a3
are shown perfectly distinctly. White l:tac8
must immediately take measures to
defend his king against the threats
along the g l-a7 and e 1 -h4 diagonals.
A
5 ed?! Too complacent and
therefore incorrect: 5 ...'it'b6 6 lbh3
.i.xh3 7 gh .i.fl+ (also 7 ...'ifb4+
works) 8 <it>e2 �d4 We think no one
would want to defend such a position
for White. Black has conducted the attack in
13
Gambit System
model fashion and has an undoubted set about realising his material
advantage in the endgame. From here advantage (Smagin Berg,
on he played just as accurately and Copenhagen 1 992).
clearly and deserved his victory. 3) 5 'iYb6 6 l'Lle2 l'Lld7 7 f4 de
•.•
where the loss of castling is not felt as 1 1 l'Lld2 ..ie6 1 2 b4!? Inciting Black
much as one might suppose. But if to make a new sacrifice. On the other
this is not effective, then what is the hand, 1 2 g4 !?, met in the game
proper way for Black to increase his Dimov - Badev (Bulgaria 1 996), to
initiative? say the least, is dubious because of
I ) 5 ... l!Jd7?! 6 f4 de 7 ..ixe4 l!Jh6 1 2 ... 0-0-0!
8 'ife2 0-0 9 l!JtJ lle8 10 l!Jc3 'ifb6 1 2 l'Lla6 13 f5 ..ih4!? It is also
..•
14
Gambit System
15
Gambit System
A
4 �e3 �g7 S lLlc3 A rather watered
down possibility for White is S tDe2-
This position arose in the game
after the exchange of pawns in the
Murey - Kadimova (Cappelle le
centre the knight can go to f3 .
Grande 1 996). The further course of
Further, i n the game Conquest -
events testifies to the serious
Delemarre (Groningen 1 997) there
confusion of the player of the black
occurred S . . . de 6 fe lLlf6 7lLlbc3 lLlg4
pieces: 1 9 ...tDd7 20 �d6 'iVf6 2 1 'ifn
8 �g l eS 9 dS o-o 1 0 h3 lLlf6 I I 'iVd2
'iVgS+ 22 lld2 hS 23 g3 .J:lh6 24 'iVc3 bS 1 2 a3 .i.b7 1 3 0-0-0 cd 1 4 ed •as
lDgeS 2S ab llxa2 26 h4 and I S �bl b4 1 6 ab 1Wxb4 1 7 lLlc l
resignation is forced. tLlbd7 with an unclear game.
Meanwhile we should not assume s. 'ifb6!?
..
16
Gambit System
17
Gambit System
18
Gambit System
indicates 8 . . ..i.e7 as stronger) 9 0-0 2 1 'iVg6+ �d8, and possibly still put
lt:\bd7 1 0 lt:\c4 .i.c7 1 1 lt:\ce5 .i.b7 up a stubborn resistance.
1 2lt:\xf7! Wxf7 1 3lt:\g5+ We7
19
Gambit System
20
Gambit System
5 'ifxb2 ! ? It is possible to
•..
exchange of light-squared bishops) lies in the fact that firstly, it does not
9 0-0 .ia6 I 0 .i.e I 'ii'e7 II lbg3 'ifb7 allow .ih6 and secondly, no way
1 2 .ig5 lbbd7 1 3 'ife2 .ixd3 1 4 cd should the g-pawn be touched - the
h6 1 5 .ixf6 lbx f6 1 6 f4 0-0-0 position of the king should be
1 7 ltab l 'it'a6 1 8 e5 lDe8 1 9 f5 lld7 reinforced by means of f7-f6, llf8-f7.
21
Gambit System
22
Gambit System
23
Gambit System
4) 4 b6 An especially defensive
•.•
24
Gambit System
20 .i.c3 'iig6 2 1 l:td I l:ld8 22 'iVc6+ jump out with the queen to h4, to start
'iixe6 23 li)xe6 q;e7 The combinat- harassing the white king at once ...
ional play on which White has However Black can achieve a
embarked has led to his chances ... of comfortable game in a more reliable
a draw, alas, not being great way and without embarking on
(Gallagher - Conquest, England premature activity:
1987). S ...li)e7 6 a3 .i.aS 7 .i.gS 0-0 8 'iVd2
b) 5 .i.d2 This move is damaging in li)d7 9 li)c J de 10 b4 .i.c7 I I lbxe4
the sense that, if he so wishes, Black aS 1 2 l:tb I ab 1 3 ab f6 14 .i.e3 lbdS
can abruptly simplify and 'dry up' the I S .i.c4 lb7b6 1 6 .i.b3 li)xe3 1 7
position. 'iVxe3 lbdS 1 8 'iif2 .i.f4 (Morozevich
5....i.xc3 However if Black is in the - Kharitonov, Alushta 1 994) or
mood for a fight, as indeed also his S ...lbd7 6 a3 .i.aS 7 .i.e3 t£Je7
opponent, then the position has much 8 lbg3 0-0 9 f4 de I 0 lbxe4 lbdS
to offer: I I .i.d2 .i.b6 1 2 1ff3 �xd4 1 3 0-0-0
S ...lbe7 6 'iVe2 0-0 7 o-o-o bS 8 h4 fS 1 4 lbd6 'iVc7 I S lbxdS ed 1 6 lDbS
aS 9 lbh3 .i.a6 I 0 'iVf2 .i.d6 I I hS .i.xb2+ 1 7 q;xb2 cb 1 8 WxdS+ l:lf7
&iJd7 1 2 eS .i.c7 1 3 h6 g6 1 4 .i.gS b4 1 9 .i.xbS lbb6 Draw (Kekelidze -
I S lbe2 cS 1 6 'iVh4 l:le8 (David - Galkin, Batumi 2002).
Magem, France 1 999); 6 fe 'ifh4+ 7 lbgJ lbf6
5 . . . b6 6 lbge2 .i.a6 7 g3 lbe7
8 .i.g2 cS 9 a3 .i.xc3 I 0 �xc3 0-0
I I 0-0 de 1 2 lte l ef 1 3 �xf3 lbbc6
1 4 de be I S lbf4 'iVc7 1 6 .i.e4 eS
1 7 lbd3'!! ( 1 7 'ih1S lbg6 1 8 lbdS 'iVd6
1 9 lbe3) 1 7 . . .l:tad8 I 8 'ir'f3 'irb6
(Kamsky - Dreev, Borzhomi 1 988) -
in both cases with incomprehensible
compi ications.
6 ..ixcJ de 7 d5 The last chance to
thrust the opponent into a
complicated struggle lay in 7 'iVc2 ! '! 'To the naked eye' this looks as
7...lbf6 8 d e 'ihd l + 9 l:lxdl .i.xe6 though it should turn out even better
10 .i.xf6 gf I I fe lbd7 1 2 lbe2 lbe5 for Black than after S . . . lbe7 or
In such a position, completely S ... lbd7. But up to now practice has
devoid of prospects, one cannot not managed to confirm this.
seriously play for a win. 8 11Vt3 Weak is 8 'ii'd 3 eS!, as played
c) 5 lbe2 de. In conjunction with in the game Taylor - Benjamin
Black's next move - the most (Philadelphia 1 986).
principled. However this looks like a 8 .lbbd7 (8 ...0-0 9 .i.f4 lbbd7
..
25
Gambit System
26
Gambit System
27
Gambit System
28
Gambit System
2S �d2, and it's all over. But Wall 9 �e3 de 1 0 fe 0-0 I I 0-0-0 eS 1 2 dS
lost his head and played 23 1ff4? �b6 1 3 d6 �xe3+ 1 4 ..,xe3 lL'lf6
There and then the game turned 1 80 I S lL'lg3 'iVb6 1 6 'ife 1 �g4 1 7 lL'la4
degrees: 23 ... lL'lxeS 24 lL'lxbS 'ifaS ..,d8 1 8 �e2 �xe2 1 9 11fxe2 'ilfaS
2S lL'lh6+ gh 26 gh lL'lg6, and White 20 lL'lc3 bS In a struggle between two
resigned. strong computers ( ' Shredder' -
However, we do not think these 'Setchess', London 2000),just as in a
particular considerations have any distorting mirror they looked for
influence on our assessment of the every conceivable idea of the variant.
idea of moving away the bishop from People subject themselves to the
b4 to make way for the advance b7- same torture if they do not have an
bS-b4. For the present it is all very idea how to play the position shown
unclear. in the previous diagram.
One thing is in no doubt: the knight 6 0-0 7 a3 �aS 8 11fd3 lL'ld7
•••
29
Gambit System
30
Gambit System
(Istanbul 2003) he did not succeed in direction, which makes him (even if
proving this: just for a while) invulnerable against
15 h6 g6 16 g4 lbc8 17 1Ve3 lbb6 an opponent. B lack, for his part,
1 8 �g5 f6 19 �h4 ._d7 Almost hopes that by finding an accurate
20 moves have been played, but the order of moves and beating off the
position still shows no sign of first hostile storm, he will obtain not
clarification. The chances of both just an equal game but something
sides are almost unlimited; the more.
winner will be he who plays stronger. Success in the variation with 3 f3
by someone from the modem chess
I n the Gambit system everyone can elite will inevitably provoke a surge
be as busy as he likes. White, bearing of interest in this little studied
in mind the nebula of already well system. On the other hand, any
known paths and even more - others failure by leading players will once
that are unexplored, rightly reckons again doom the Gambit system to
that with analysis he will be lucky oblivion, where it has remained over
enough to find an idea - or a whole the past years.
31
Gambit System
1 e4 c6 2 d4 dS 3 t3 7 III. 3 ... g6 16
I. 3 ...de 4 fe e5 7 A. 4 .i.e3 16
5 tbf3 B. 4 c3 17
A.5 ...ed 6 �c4 7 IV. 3 ... e6 18
1 ) 6 ...�b4+ 7 A. 4 .i.e3 18
2) 6 ...�c5 7 1) 4 ...de 5 lbd2 18
3) 6 ...�e6 8 a) 5 ... ef 19
4) 6 ....1e7 8 b) 5 ...lbf6 20
B. 5 ....i.g4 9 2) 4 ...'ifb6 20
C. 5 ...�e6 10 B. 4 �d3 22
6 c3 lbf6 7 �d3 lbbd7 1 ) 4 ...c5 22
8 0-0 .1d6 2) 4 ...lbf6 22
1) 9 lbg5 II 3) 4 ...de 22
2) 9 'ii'e2 II C. 4 lbc3 23
3) 9 'ith I 12 1 ) 4 . . .'ifb6 23
II. 3 . . .e5 12 2) 4 ...c5 23
4 de �c5 3) 4 ...lbf6 23
A. 5 ed 13 4) 4 ... b6 24
B. 5 lbe2 13 S) 4 ...lbd7 24
c. 5 .i.d3 14 6) 4 ... �b4 24
1 ) 5 ...lbd7 14 a) 5 �e3 24
2) 5 ...de 14 b) 5 .id2 25
3) 5 ... 'ii'b6 14 c) 5 lbe2 25
D. 5 tbc3 15 d) 5�f4 26
5 . . .'ii'b6 6 lba4 'ii'a 5+ d 1 ) 5 ...lbf6 26
7 c3 �xg l d2) 5 ...lbe7 29
1 ) 8 b4 15 d2 1 ) 6 lbe2 29
2) 8 lbg l 15 d22) 6 'ii'd2 30
d23) 6 'ii'd3 30
32
Chapter Two
Advance Variation:
Everything except 3 .ii. f5 ...
rid himself of his 'bad' light-squared allowing the bishop to g4; Black
bishop, but with the danger that after waits, hoping that such a possibility
its departure from the board there will will still present itself. On the other
follow the unpleasant breakthrough hand, the impatient 4 . . . .if5 leads to a
e5-e6. However the knight, trans di fficult game:
ferring to c7. will take care of the e6 5 lDd2 1Wb6 6 lbgf3 c5 7 .ie2 cd
square. 8 lbxd4 .id7 9 0-0 e6 1 0 a4 lbe7
33
Advance Variation: Everything except 3.. . il..f5
34
Advance Variation: Everything except 3 . . . �.,f5
I
4 c3?!
Hardly a successful idea. The
Though Black is attacking the g4 arising pawn structure reminds us of
square four times, the break comes the French defence, but with one
precisely on this square. The h-file is important reservation: the absence of
opened and White's attack quickly a pawn on e6 allows Black to solve
assumes a decisive character. his main problem - the 'bad' light
1 3 c5 14 g4! hg 1 5 hg tbxg4 16 f3
•.. squared bishop. After 4 ...lbc6 Black
llJxe3 1 7 .i.xe3 .i.fS 1 8 'ifh2 gS should not have difficulties, as shown
1 9 .i.xfS 'fi'xfS 20 lbhS After a few by the variations given below.
35
Advance Variation: Everything except J. . . i../5
36
Advance Variation: Everything except 3. . . i..j5
II
4 ll'lf3 ll'lc6
Games from this branch quite
frequently cross over into the
variation 4 de, and in this case an
early development of the knight on f3
narrows down White's possibilities,
for example:
5 de e6 6 .i.e3 ll'lge7 7 �b5 ll'lf5
8 .i.d4 'ira5+ 9 lDc3 ll'lfxd4 I 0 ll'lxd4
'irc7 1 1 b4 .i.d7 1 2 .i.xc6 ffxe5+ 5 ...e6 B lack could immediately
1 3 ll'lce2 be 1 4 f4 'ife3 1 5 ffd2 provoke exchanges - 5 ... cd, and then:
'irxd2+ 1 6 �xd2 6 cd 'iVxd5 7 lDc3 'it'd8 8 ll'lb5 �g4
9 ll'lbxd4 .i.xf3 I 0 ll'lxf3 'ifxd I +
1 1 �xd 1 e6 1 2 .i.b5 .i.c5 1 3 �e2
ll'le7 1 4 .i.g5 0-0 1 5 l'lhd I . Though
White has the advantage of the two
bishops, it is hardly possible to
realise this in such a position (Ricardi
- Garbarino, Villa Martelli 200 1 );
6 ll'lxd4 e6 7 ll'lc3 �c5 8 ll'lxc6 be
9 .i.d3 de t o .i.xc4 .ixf2+?! (this
combination to win a pawn is
1 6 . . . g5 ! ? B lack mobilises h is excessively risky for Black) 1 1 �xf2
central pawns. For this purpose the 'it'h4+ 1 2 g3 'iVxc4 I HIVd6 f6 1 4 lld I
pawn is not to be pitied! �t7 1 5 lld4 'ifa6 1 6 'ii'c7+ ll'le7 1 7 ef
1 7 fg e5 1 8 ll'lf3 .i.g7 1 9 llae I 0-0 gf 1 8 ll'le4. White's compensation
20 ll'lg3 e4 2 1 ll'lh4, and here the clear greatly exceeds the slight material
2 l ...f5! established an advantage in loss (lordachescu - Arkell, Port Erin
the game Klinova - Kachiani (Pula 2003).
1 997). 6 cd ed 7 .ib5 .i.d7 8 0-0 cd
After 4 ll'lf3 ll'lc6 only two
9 ll'lxd4 .i.c5 1 0 ll'lb3 .i.b6 11 ll'lc3
moves have independent theoretical
White rejects the immediate win of a
significance: 5 c4 and 5 �b5.
pawn - and rightly so. After 1 1 'ifxd5
ll'lge7 1 2 ffe4 0-0 1 3 .i.g5 'ireS
A 1 4 ll'lc3 ll'lg6 1 5 l'lfe 1 ll'lcxe5
5 c4!? 1 6 �xd7 'ifxd7 1 7 llad I 'iVg4 B lack
A very early clash of pawns in the regains the material, achieving ful ly
centre is unusual and foreshadows an equal chances.
interesting struggle. However the ll .i.e6 12 a4 a5 13 ll'le2 ll'le7
•••
37
Advance Variation: Everything except 3 ... J...f5
38
Advance Variation: Everything except 3 . . . .tj5
d4. In the game Orso - Csonka but at least it creates problems for the
(Budapest 2000) White was careless opponent!
and Black had no difficulty in 9 'iWc7 10 .i.d4 lL!g6 l l lbbd2
...
39
Advance Variation: Everything except 3 . .. i..j5
40
Advance Variation: Everything except 3... i.j5
41
Advance Variation: Everything except 3.. . i.j5
prevent the break e5-e6 and himself 1 7 lbe2 llb5 - White somehow lacks
play 4 ... e6 (B), depriving his own a single tempo) l 5 ... a5 1 6 lLlc5 0-0.
'bad' bishop of prospects. Again Black does not experience the
I t goes without saying that in many slightest di fficulty in achieving
games Black crosses the idea lLlc6 equality (Kirov - Arkell, Leningrad
and e6, and then it all comes down to 1 989);
a simple transposition of moves.
A
4 lLlc6 This move is more popular
...
42
Advance Variation: Everything except 3 ... Ji,(5
I I i.. f4 i..x f3 1 2 'it'xf3 (of course! ) 1 3 0-0 it.xf3 14 it.xf3 'fixeS 1 5 'ifdJ
1 2 ...lLlxe5 1 3 'ife2 lLl7g6 1 4 i..g3 h5 i.e7 16 e4 d4 1 7 lba4 lld8 18 lDb6
1 5 h3 a6 1 6 i..d 3 h4, and now, by 'iVc7 1 9 i.h5 0-0 20 lLlc4 ..b8
continuing 1 7 i..xe5 lLlxe5 1 8 lLla4, 2 1 i.e2 i.f6 22 :adl lDe5 (Asrian
White would have every right to Zelcic, Istanbul 2003).
count on an advantage.
I I gf 'ifc7 12 i.. xc6 lLlxc6 13 i..d4
a6 1 4 f4
43
Advance Varia/ion: Everylhing excepl 3.. . il,(5
44
Advance Variation: Everything except 3.. . JJ.,f5
45
Advance Variation: Everything except 3. . . �{5
46
Advance Variation: Everything except J . .. .i./5
47
Advance Variation: Everything except 3 . .. Ji..f5
no way does the thrust of the white l l . . ...aS (B lack's activity was
queen on the 61h move exhaust his incomprehensible in the game Palac -
potential. Sulava, Kastel Stary 1 997, and led
c) 6 �eJ (the most popular) him quickly to ruin: 1 l ... aS 1 2 b4 ab
6 llJge7 7 c3 At the highest level the
••• 1 3 cb b6 1 4 cb lla4 I S a3 'iVa8
move 7 llJf3 has occasionally been 1 6 0-0 Ji.. xb4 1 7 llJc3 llxa3 1 8 llJbS
tried, but without any success: Ji.. xbS 1 9 b7!) 1 2 b4 'iVa6
48
Advance Variation: Everything except 3. . . iJ..f5
and not on its realisation (Kapinsis - has gobbled up the pawn but the
Svetushkin, I kar 2003). position is not lost (Krakops -
8 .ixc6 �xc6 Of course i f it Khalifman, Ubeda 1 997).
possible to take on c6 with a knight - 9... g5!?
then it is necessary to take with a
knight. 8 ... .i.xc6?! leads to positions
similar to the previous annotation:
9 �f3 �f5 1 0 .i.d4 a5 I I 0-0 �xd4
1 2 'ifxd4. True, in the game Blehm -
Svetushkin (Erevan 2000) Black
managed to 'unravel' the position:
1 2 . . . a4 1 3 �bd2 lla5 1 4 b4 ab
1 5 �xb3 l:ta4 1 6 'ii'd2 'ifc7 1 7 �fd4
'ii'x e5 1 8 f4 'iH6 1 9 l::ae I 1Le7
20 'ii'e2 �d7 2 1 �f3 llha8 etc., but White, like the breath of life, needs
the move 8 ... 1Lxc6?! has still not a respite in order to commence an
gone beyond the l imits of an advance of his forces, and not just his
experiment. pawns, but Black of course does not
9 f4 White has done without this want to allow him such a respite!
double-edged advance. But safe does 10 fg. It is possible to decline the
not necessarily mean good: 9 lDf3 capture on g5 - 1 0 lDf3, but practice
'ifc7 I 0 .id4 lDxd4 I I cd b6! 1 2 cb has shown that then it will be even
easier for Black to organise an
'ii'xb6 1 3 'ii'b 3 ( 1 3 0-0 'ii'x b2
offensive on the enemy king: I O ...gf
1 4 �bd2 .ia3 1 5 lib 1 'ii'xa2 1 6 l:tb7
I I .ixf4 (White played whimisical ly,
i.e7 1 7 'ii'c I 1lc8, draw, Almasi -
but possibly not exactly badly, in the
Magem, Pamplona 1 997) 1 3 ...'ii'a6!?
game Peng Xiaomin - Arkell ,
1 4 lDc3 .ie7 After both sides have
London 1 997: I I .id4!? �xd4 1 2 cd
completed their development, the two
b6 1 3 cb 'ii'xb6 1 4 �bd2 'ii'x b2
bishops, together w ith control of 1 5 0-0, and here Black should
open files on the queen's flank, will continue 1 5 ...'ira3 with counterplay)
provide excellent support for Black in I I ... .ixc5 1 2 �bd2 'ii'h6 1 3 lDb3
any peace negotiations (Kaminski - .if2+ 1 4 �e2 �a5 1 5 �xa5 .ib5+
Timoshenko, Erevan 1 996). 1 6 �d2.
He can also completely abandon
the e5 pawn - if only to regain the
initiative: 9 �f.3 flc7 I 0 0-0! ?
( instead of 1 0 .td4) I O . . . �xe5
I I �xe5 'iVxe5 1 2 iid4 'iVf5 1 3 'iVe2
f6 1 4 lDa3 .ie7 1 5 f4 0-0 1 6 llae l
ltfe8 1 7 �h i ( 1 7 lDb5 ! ?) 1 7 ...a6
1 8 'iVd2 iid8 1 9 .ig I .ic7 20 �c2
ltad8 2 1 h3 'it>h8. As we see, Black
49
Advance Variation: Everything except 3 .. i.j5 .
The first outing for this position continue sword fencing after 1 3 0-0
came in the game Glek - Khe nkin 0-0-0!? But since the square f3 is
(Werfen 1 990), in which Black didn't inaccessible to the white king, the
think twice about taking the knight move 1 2 ... ..ig7 be come s quite
and was gradually outplayed: tolerable (White cannot establish his
1 6 ... Wi'xaS?! 1 7 a4 ..id7 1 8 l:r.fl .icS bishop on d4 in view of the reply
1 9 �gS l::t g8 20 'iff3 d4 2 1 �xf7! e6-eS) - 13 0-0 0-0 1 4 �d2 .ibS, and
de+ 22 be ..ic6 23 'ii'h 3 l:r.xg2+ then:
24 �c l Wd7 2S �gS l:r.e8 26 .id2
Wi'd8 27 �xe6 l:r.xe6 28 l:r.d I .idS
29 Wi'xg2! etc.
Grandmaster Igor Khenkin took
revenge 6 years later: 1 6 ...d4! 1 7 b4
de+ I 8 �c2 l::t d 8 I 9 'ike I ..ia4+
20 �b3 'ikxb4 2 1 1i'fl i.xb3+ 22 ab
Wi'e4+ 23 �xc3 l:r.c8+ 24 'iii' b2, and,
without waiting for mate, White
resigned (David - Khenkin, Geneva
I 996). I S l:tt2 eS 1 6 'ifg3 d4 1 7 cd ed
10 �xe5 1 1 �fJ �xfJ+. Black
.••
1 8 i. f4 'ifd5 with se rious
sowed the wind and therefore had to compensation for the pawn (Lutz -
be complete ly faultless in his choice Kache ishvili, Pula 1 997);
of the ne xt moves - not to reap the I S l:lfd l .ic6 1 6 'ikh3 e5 1 7 � f3
whirlwind. Thus the natural
1i'c8 1 8 'ikxc8 l:laxc8 1 9 i. f2 .Ucd8
l l ...i. g7?! 1 2 �xeS .ixeS is bad 20 .i.g3 l:lfe 8 2 1 l:le 1 d4! 22 .ixeS
because of 1 3 �d2 ! ? (White's attack i.xf3 23 .i.xg7 'iPxg7 24 gf de 25 be
was unsuccessful in the game Lautier l:r.xe I+ 26 l::t xe I lidS. Both sides are
- Magem, France 1 997: 1 3 'ikbs .ig7 playing for a win, but ne ither can
I 4 0-0 0-0 I S �d2 .ibS 1 6 l::t fe l eS
achieve it (Nisipeanu - Svetushkin,
17 � f3 lieS IS l:r.ad l Wi'aS 19 �h4 d4
Bucharest 1 998);
20 � f5 ! ? de 2 I l:xe3 l:lad8 22 .Uxd8 1 5 l:lfei !? eS 16 c4 c4 1 7 'it'f5 .ic6
1i'xd8 23 llh3 'it>ffi) 1 3 ...Wi'c7 1 4 � f3
1 8 l:lad I 1i'c8 1 9 'itt2 'ike6 20 �b3 de
i.g7 I 5 0-0 0-0-0 1 6 l:le I h6, and 2 1 �d4 ..ixd4 22 l:lxd4. Of course it
now the clear-cut 1 7 g6! f6 1 8 .if2 is more pleasant for White to play this
l:.he 8 I 9 b4 f5 20 -.o3 eS 21 .ih4 position, but Black has every chance
secured White a decisive advantage of a draw (Kotronias - Pert, Port Erin
in the encounter Komeev - Arkell 2003).
(Metz 1 998). 13 �d2 ..ixcS 14 .ixcS Wi'xcS
12 'ifxfJ 1i'c7 Black simply wants 1 5 0-0-0 0-0-0 16 h4 ..ia4 17 l:.de I
to establish material equilibrium - or d4 18 l:th3 l:td7 19 c4
50
Advance Variation: Everything except 3. . 1lj3.
51
Advance Variation: Eve1ything except 3... i.j5
52
Advance Variation: Everything except 3. �/5 . .
53
Advance Variation: Everything except 3... i.f5
54
Advance Variation: Everything except 3. . iLf5
.
55
Advance Variation: Eve1ything except 3... �f5
here 8 ... g5 is worth considering and You are already acquainted with the
leads to immense complications : analysis of such positions , not only
9 tt'lxg5!? fg 1 0 'it'h5+ Wd7 I I i.xg5. with the inclus ion of the moves
Playing against Shirov it is wiser to 4 . . .tt'lc6 5 �b5 . Now the situation is
avoid such situations . different but the basic motif is the
9 �xeS (9 tt'lxe5? Vi' f6) 9 tt'lf6
•••
same: by keeping the g7 pawn in his
10 'iVe2 ( 1 0 0-0) 10 0-0 11 0-0-0?!
•.. s ights, White makes it difficult for the
Also now it is worth restricting his opponent to develop his king's flank.
choice to the restrained I I 0-0 but In the 81h game of the return match
White did not seem to want to for the world championship,
reconcile himself to the fact that Botvinnik could not cope with the
playing for an an opening advantage problems facing him: 5 . . .tt'lc6 6 ll'lf3
will not exactly be a success . 'ikc7 7 �b5 i.d7 8 i.xc6 'iVxc6
ll a5! 12 tt'lb3? Next, a last show
•••
9 i.e3 tt'lh6 I 0 �xh6 gh I I lLlbd2
of activity. It was poss ible to 'ifxc5 1 2 c4 0-0-0 1 3 0-0 Wb8
commence a stubborn defence by 1 4 ltfd I 'ifb6 1 5 'it'h4 a5 1 6 llac l
llg8 1 7 tt'lb3 a4 1 8 c5. Positional
means of 1 2 a3.
advantage and playing for the
12 ..td6 13 Wb1 i£.xe5 14 tt'lxe5
initiative are both on White's s ide
•••
56
Advance Variation: Everything except J. . .i/5 .
.ixcS 9 lL!tJ
.ixc5 8 .i.d3 'ii'b6 - since the move
9 ltJ f3 is not possible, it is not clear,
from White's point of view, whether
the pawn is better placed on h4 or h5)
7 &Dh6 8 .i.xh6 l1xh6 9 lL!tJ Also
•••
57
Advance Variation: Evetything except 3.. Jif5.
58
Advance Varia/ion: Eve1ything excepl 3 . Jl.f5
. .
59
Advance Variation: Everything except 3 .. �/5
.
60
Advance Variation: Everything except 3 . i.,[5
. .
judgement, chose not 1 7 ... ab, but I f, in this variation, Black goes first
17 . . . il.xb6! which led to an advantage and foremost for reliable and solid
after 1 8 lDc3 il.. e6 19 ltJg5 lb fl + equality, he should literally copy the
20 lhfl l:te8 2 1 lDxe6 l:txe6 play of Khen kin in his game against
22 lDxd5 il.d4! Rabiega (Germany 2000): 9 ... ..tg7 ! ?
1 1 lDbd2 0-0 12 'ii b3 1t'b6 13 il.c4 I 0 'iVe2 'ilc7 I I il..b5 0-0 1 2 il. xd7
il.xe3 14 il.xe6+ 'i!?h8 1S 'ii'xb6 ab il.xd7 13 0-0 'ilxc5 1 4 ltJc3 il.c6
16 il.h3 l:le8 17 ltJc4 (or 17 .ixd7 1 5 ltJe4 'iib4 1 6 life I il. xe4, and at
il. xd7 1 8 ltJc4 il.. c 5) 1 7...ltJxeS once - a draw.
18 lDfxeS il.xh3 1 9 gh il. f4 But if here Black gets the idea of
(Charbonneau - Asrian , Bled 2002). adventure into his head - then, of
The board, as after a heavy battle, is course, he should try 9 ...ltJxc5. True,
virtually a wasteland. Soon came a even without this he has weakened
lull, a draw. the gaping square f6, but he has also
For the present, one thing is certain : removed the threat to the e5 pawn ...
the variation 7 c4 lDf5 is shaky Well what now? In return it is
ground for White - even though he interesting!
remains with an extra pawn he is 10 'iVe2 a6! ? Somehow B lack
more easily tied down than his uncomfortably rolled various ideas
opponen t. And for Black, the into one ball in the game Markovic -
reference point is clear - the enemy Svetushkin (Herceg Novi 200 I ):
king, whereas White's game is very I O ... .ig7?! I I 0-0 0-0 1 2 ltJc3 11e7
hazy. 13 ltJe4 b5. White has achieved an
a2) 7 i.xh6 gh 8 c4 overwhelming advantage- one could
61
Adva11ce Variation: Everything except 3 JJ.f5
...
say Black fel l under the influence of 2 1 ltJe5 .i.e8 22 It.d7! (though
a move: 1 4 .i.xb5 ltJxe4 1 5 Wxe4 22 . . .Wa5 would leave Black w ith
.i.b7 1 6 .i.c6 .i.xc6 1 7 'iVxc6 Wb4 some possibilities of defence). He
1 8 b3 l:tfc8 1 9 Wa6 l:tc3 20 l:r.ac I etc. played 18 l:tct ? and after 1 8 Wb8
, •..
But here the game Sutovsky - 19 ltJgJ ltJcS ( 1 9...�h 8!) 20 l:tfe l ?
Dautov (Essen 2000) proved to be a (20 Wc4 !?) 20...It.d8 (20 . . .'ith8 ! )
no less interesting example: 21 Wc4 once and for all Dautov
1 1 b4?! ( I I 0-0!? b5 1 2 l:ld l 1Wc7 missed the chance to quell the
1 3 .i.d3 ltJxd3 1 4 llxd3 .i.b7 1 5 ltJc3 activity of the white pieces by means
.i.g7 16 ltJe4 .i.xe4 17 1Wxe4 0-0 of 2 I ....i.d7. As a result the final
1 8 l:r.d6 w ith advantage - here and mistake was Black's...
later we refer to Dautov's notes) b) 6 cJ!? The strongest contin
l l ...ltJd7 1 2 aJ ( 1 2 0-0! ? i.xb4 uation. White, w ithout further ado,
1 3 � bd2) 1 2 ... a5 (Black under intends to consol idate his bishop on
estimates the danger that lies in wait the d4 square, and if it is exchanged
for his king; more circumspect was for the knight, to recapture w ith the
1 2 . . . ..tg7!? 1 3 0-0 b5 1 4 i.d3 .i.b7 c3 pawn. Black, reconciling himelf to
15 .i.e4 .i.xe4 1 6 1Wxe4 0-0 1 7 ltJc3 the fact that the c5 paw n has still not
l:tc8 w i th equality) 13 ltJcJ! ab been regained, must strive for the
( 1 3 ... i.g7! 14 0-0 ab 1 5 ab ltxa l follow ing counterplay: exchange the
1 6 l:txal 'iVe7) 1 4 �e4 l:txaJ 1 5 l:td l bishop on d4, undermine the c5 pawn
.i.e7 16 0-0 0-0 1 7 .i.bS Wc7 by means of b7-b6, then scatter the
pieces so that some of them attack the
d4 paw n and some the b2 pawn.
6...ltJf5 7 ..td4
62
Advance Variation: Everything except 3 iLf5
...
63
Advance Variation: Everything except 3... il,l5
1 7 •c2 .i.e6 1 8 'iVxc5 l:lc8! 1 9 lLX7+ There is every chance that Black's
'it'xc7 20 'iVxc7 l:lxc7 2 1 lbxe5 l:lc5. queen w i ll not be returning home.
The initiative, as before, is in Black's b2) I O g6 1 1 0-0 .i.g7 An
•••
64
Advance Variation: Everything except 3... iLj5
65
Advance Variation: Everything except 3. . iJ..f5
.
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 33 1) 5 c4 51
3 ... tl:la6 33 2) 5 tl:lc3 51
3) 5 tl:l f3 51
3 ... c5 35 5 ... iJ..x c5 6 iJ..d3 tl:lc6 7 0-0
I. 4 c3 35 a) 7 ...tl:lge7 52
II. 4 tl:l f3 37 b) 7 ... f6 54
4 ... tl:lc6 4) 5 iJ.. f4 55
A. 5 c4 37 5) 5 'ifg4 56
B. 5 iJ..bS 38 5 . . .h5
1) 5 ....ig4 38 a) 6 .ib5+ 57
2) s ... cd 40 b) 6 'ifg3 57
III. 4 de 41 c) 6 'iff4 58
A. 4 ...tl:lc6 42 6) 5 .ie3 58
1) 5 tl:l f3 42 5 ...tl:lh6
2) 5 .if4 43 a) 6 tl:l f3 59
3) 5 .ibS 45 6 ...tl:ld7
5 ... e6 at) 7 c4 60
a) 6 b4 45 a2) 7 .ixh6 gh 8 c4 61
b) 6 'iVg4 46 b) 6 c3 62
b l) 6 ...'ifa5+ 46 6 ... tl:l f5 7 .id4 .id7 8 tl:l f3
b2) 6 ...h5 46 tl:lc6 9 a3 aS I 0 .ie2
b3) 6 ... tl:le7 47 b l) IO ... lDfxd4 I I cd b6 64
b4) 6... .id7 47 b2) I O. . g6
. 64
c) 6 .ie3 48 b3) I O. . . f6 64
B. 4 ...e6 51 b4) I O . . . a4 65
66
Chapter Three
Advance Variation:
Everything except 4 ttJc3
and 4 ttJt3
(VIII). In Chapter Four are examined great but not too promising choice.
sharp variations associated w i th
4 lbc3. And, finally, in Chapter Five A
is given an analysis of 4 lbtJ . 6 f4?! is extremely dubious in view
of 6 'ifa5 + 7 c3 'iVa6! (on 7 .id2
...
67
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lbc3 and 4 lpf3
68
Advance Variation: Eve1ything except 4 ll.k3 and 4 /:Q/3
69
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lbc3 and 4 lbj3
1 3 lLlg3 'iVc7 14 f5 cd 1 5 fe fe
20 f6 .ixf6 (more tenacious but still
1 6 'iVxd4 'iVc5 ! Khalifman's reward
not saving him is 20... ..th6 2 1 'iVd7+
was a better endgame.
Wf8 22 'iVxb7 lle8 23 llfe l .i.e3+
One thing is unclear: if it is possible
24 �h I lbd4 25 &i:Jxd4 ed 26 c6, and
to reckon on an advantage, by
after the pawn gets to the 7•h rank, the
randomly losing two tempi ('iVd8-a5-
blow lbd4! will be decisive)
d8), then is it not better to start
21 llxf6 winning (Sax - Arlandi,
directly with 6 ...c5!?
Baden 1 999).
10 a4!? (with the idea of securing II
an outpost for h is knight on b5 should 4 lDe2
the occasion arise) 10 .'iVe6 I I ..teJ
••
70
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 liJc3 and 4 liJj3
today the move 4liJe2 is met now and 17 'it'd l �g8 18 :te l 'iPh7 19 g3
th en in the games of strong l'.thb8 20 1Wd3, and all the same Black
grandmasters. h as to weaken his king's flank:
4 ... e6 Now p lay divides up 20 ...h 5 (Rabiega - Bareev, Frankfurt
depending on how Wh ite intends to 2000).
pursue the enemy bishop: 5 lbf4 1 2 l'.t b 1 ( Morozevich - Leko,
(with the threat of 6 g4 .i.e4 7 f3 .i.g6 Frankfurt 1 999).
8 h4) or 5 liJg3 .i.g6 6 h4.
A
5 liJ f4 For a long time Black
automatically replied to this with
5 c5, and, overcoming some
...
71
Advance Variation: Eve1ything except 4 iDcJ and 4 lDj3
72
Advance Variation: Eve1ything except 4 lbc3 and 4 ib.P
Pachman suggested that White tum 1 3 .:c l 'iVa3 1 4 'ifg4 'iVa6 1 5 llb l b6
his attention to the puzzling move 1 6 llb3 l:tg8 1 7 lie l (Tseshkovsky -
1 3 lbh I ! ? with a sample variation Podgaets, Lvov 1 973). A fter th e
logical 1 7 . . .g6!? it is not quite clear
going 1 3 ... c5 1 4 de �xeS 1 5 d4 �b6
how White continues the attack.
1 6 g4 lbe7 1 7 lbhg3 0-0-0 1 8 f4 f6.
I I ibd2 'it'cJ! ? 12 llb l 1Wxd3
By avoiding exchanges, the sides are
13 llxb7 'iVa6 1 4 l:tb3 ibd7 15 'it'g4
all ready in nervous anticipation for llb8 16 llxb8+ lDxb8 17 lbe2 lbe7
hand to hand fighting. 18 0-0 lDd7 1 9 lDg3 cS
9 ... lbd7 10 lbc3 c5 !? 1 1 de lbxe5
1 2 d4 lbc6 1 3 b4 ibf6 ( 1 3 ...lbxb4?! is
too hasty in view of 1 4 l:tb l 'iVa5
1 5 �d2 lbd3+ 1 6 �fl 'iVa6 1 7 lbb5
with a great advantage for Wh ite)
1 4 b5 lba5 1 5 0-0 �e7 1 6 1Wd3 0-0
l 7 lbd l a6 1 8 ba .:xa6 l 9 l:tb l 'ifd7
20 lbc3 lbc4. In the forthcoming
struggle Black's chances are perhaps
stil l a bit better (Matanov ic - Donner,
Black has come out of the first
Bled 1 96 1 ).
wave of complications with honour.
If he overcomes the second just as
confidently then he will be left with a
healthy extra pawn (Kotan - Stajcic,
Topolchanki 1 994).
2) 6 h5!? Objectively the strong
..•
73
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lbc3 and 4 lbj3
74
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lt!c3 and 4 tq{3
75
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 li:\c3 and 4 li:\j3
76
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 ll)c3 and 4 ll)j3
A
4 .'ii'b6 ?! Frankly speaking, the
••
77
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 it)c3 and 4 it)jJ
78
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 liJc3 and 4liJj3
the strongest.
79
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 liJc3 and 4 liJj3
80
Advance Variation: Evetything except 4 ll.JcJ and 4 ll.Jj3
7 ll.Jd2
81
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 ttlc3 and 4 ttlj3
1 2 b3!
82
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lbc3 and 4 lp{J
83
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lDc3 and 4 lDj3
84
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lLlc3 and 4 lLlj3
85
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 llk3 and 4 ljjf3
86
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 ltlc3 and 4 ltlj3
87
Advance Variation: Everything excepl 4 tbc3 and 4 tbjJ
88
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lbc3 and 4 li:Jj3
89
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lDc3 and 4 l£lj3
struggle. Black takes the dS square, example, 9 ... i..g6 l O �f4! 1i'd7 I I
while White, possessing a space .i.e3 lDedS 1 2 lDcxdS l£lxd5 13 �xdS
advantage, conducts operations in ed 1 4 f4 i.. f.5 1 5 'ifd2 i..e7 16 i..d l h5
the centre and on the king's flank. 1 7 b4, and White has the initiative on
Here are just a few characteristic both flanks (Morozevich - Korchnoi,
examples: London 1 994).
9 0-0 h6 1 0 'ife2 lDedS I I l£le4 10 l£lf4! It is precisely in this move
i..e7 1 2 i..d2 aS 1 3 a3 l£Jd7 1 4 :lad I that lies the point of Morozevich's
(Kotov - Flohr, Moscow 1 9SS). I n whole setup.
this position 1 4 . . ....b6 ! ? suggests IO h6 I I i..e3 i.. h7 12 11cl �edS
..•
itself and in reply to any retreat of the 1 3 lDcxdS lDxdS 14 �xdS ed.
bishop Black captures on b2. We do Liquidating the piece outpost on d5.
not see how White can prove the But since there are apparently no
correctness of the sacrifice. other pluses in Black's position,
9 l£lh4!? h6 ! ? (inferior is 9 ...i..g6 White's advantage becomes long
I 0 i..gS ...d7 I I 0-0 lDfS 1 2 lDxfS term.
i..x fS 1 3 g4 i..g6 1 4 f4 i..b4 I S f5 ef I S i..d 2!? i..e7 16 11c3! (threat
1 6 e6! fe 1 7 i.. xe6! with a great ening to transfer the rook to g3)
advantage for White, Dumont - 16 . ..i.f5 17 i..c2 hS 18 i..xfS •xrs
.
90
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lbc3 and 4 lbj3
91
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lL!c3 and 4 lL!j3
92
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 tbc3 and 4 tbjJ
93
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 llX3 and 4 /1)j3
1 7 be 'ifgl +. White resigned has beaten off all sudden attacks and
(Sandapan - Podgaets, Bali 2000). can now think about playing for a win
4) After 5 c4 once again S ...hS!? (Bronstein - Magem, Oviedo 1 992).
looks logical, with the idea of
returning with the bishop to the f5 8
square. 4 .tg6
.••
94
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lt)c3 and 4 lt)j3
95
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lbc3 and 4 lbj3
96
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 ll:lc3 and 4 ll:lf3
I I 0-0-0! ? (as pointed out by Nunn, A fter 5 g4! ? Black has three
also leading to its objective is retreats to choose from: 5 . . . .i.h7,
I I li:lf3 !? ll:lh6 12 0-0 .i.xc2 13 b4 5 ....i.e4 and 5 ... .i.d7 .
ti'a6 1 4 b5 cb 1 5 .i.xh6 l:lxh6 1 6 llfc I 1 ) Dubious is 5 .i.h7?!, on which
•.•
.i.a4 1 7 llab 1 ) l l ...li:lh6 1 2 f3 .i.e? fol lows the wel l known pawn
13 'iVa4 and Black has practically no sacri fice: 6 e6! 'iVd6 (or 6 ... fe 7 .i.d3
chances of salvation (Moroz - .i.xd3 8 1i'xd3 1i'd6 9 f4 llJd7 1 0 llJf3
Weinstein, Pardubice 200 I ). 0-0-0 1 1 llJe5 with a great advantage
for White, Gufeld - Spiridonov,
Helsinki 1 96 1 ) 7 ef+ �xf7 8 f4!
A
4... h6 'iVe6+!? (the replies .i.e4 and llJf6
will be examined under the following
move order: 5 ....i.e4 6 f3 �h7 7 e6
'iVd6 8 ef+ Wxt7 9 f4) 9 Wd2 llJf6
1 0 f5 'ii'd6 1 1 'iVf3 'ii'g3 12 .i.h3
'ii'xh4 13 �e2 llJbd7 14 �f4 llJe4
15 llJd2 llJxd2 16 �xd2 1i'f6 17 lbe2
The passive positions of the black
bishops give White good chances of
an attack (Romero - Magem,
Mondariz 1 995).
It is surprising that even upon this 2) 5 ....i.e4 With the idea of
rather passive move, on the board provoking t2-f3 and thereby taking
highly interesting complications away the f3 square from the knight.
develop. We see that in the variation 6 f3 .i.h7 7 e6! ? 'ii'd 6 8 ef+ �xf7
4 h4 there is in general nowhere to 9 f4! Strictly speaking, the only
escape from these! solution. In reply to any other move
5 g4!? At least logical. Less Black plays e7-e5, achieving more
promising is 5 ll:le2 e6 6 ll:lg3 ll:le7 than an equal game. For example,
7 ll:lc3 llJd7 8 .i.e3 .i.h7 9 .i.d3 (9 9 .i.d3?! e5 ! 1 0 .i.xh7 l:.xh7 1 1 de
h5 !?) 9 . . ..i.xd3 10 cd h5 ! Wxe5+ 1 2 llJe2 llJd7 1 3 llJc3 (bad is
The game Tal - Botvinnik 1 3 .i.f4 Wxb2 1 4 llJbc3 .i.b4 1 5 l:tb 1
(Moscow 1 96 1 ) reached this position. .i.xc3+ 1 6 'ifilfl 'iVxa2 with a decisive
White decided not to take the pawn, advantage, Lutz - Brunner, Garmisch
and this is why: I I llJxh5 llJf5 Partenkirchen 1 994) 1 3 . . .l:te8 14 Wd3
1 2 'iig4 ( 1 2 g3?! c5!) 1 2 ...c5 1 3 llJg3 (or 14 �f2 llJgf6 1 5 .i.f4 .i.c5+
llxh4 1 4 llxh4 'ilt'xh4 1 5 'iVxh4 llJxh4 1 6 �g2 1i'e6 1 7 .tg3 llJe5 1 8 llJf4
1 6 �fl cd 1 7 �xd4 a6 1 8 f4 l:tc8 'iVd7 1 9 g5 hg 20 hg lteh8! with a big
leads to a position with rather the advantage for Black, Ycmelin -
better chances for Black. Tal played Bachmann, Berlin 1 995) 14 . . .llJgf6
1 1 llJce2, but likewise achieved no 1 5 h5 d4 1 6 'iVc4+ :le6 1 7 llJe4 llJxe4
advantage. 1 8 fe �e8 1 9 0-0
97
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lbc3 and 4 &[jp
98
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lbc3 and 4 lbj3
99
Advance Variation: Everything except 4lbc3 and 4 �/3
1 00
Advance Variation: Everything except 4lbc3 and 4 tiJjJ
9 lLlge2 lLlb6 1 0 .id3 .ixd3 1 1 'ii"xd3 Also after 1 8 . . .'iVd7 White has a
lLld5. strong attack, for example: 1 9 'iff7+
101
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lDc3 and 4 lDj3
�d8 20 lDe4 ll� 2 1 'W'xh5 c5 22 d5! Black frees the e7 square for the
ed 23 lDf6 'ifa4 24 lDxd5 'W'c4+ knight. After 1 2 a3 .ia5 1 3 .ia2 lDd5
25 lDc3 'iff4+ 26 �b I 'iff5+ 27 'ifxf5 1 4 b4 lDxc3 1 5 •xc3 .ib6 Black has
llxf5 28 lDd5 with victory. simply the better game (Blatny -
19 lDe4 'iff8 (or 1 9...lDc7 20 llhg l ! Plachetka, Namestovo 1 987).
lDd5 2 1 'iff7 :� 22 lDc5+ Wc8 8....ie7!? We already know the
23 'ifxe6+ �c7 24 f4! l:lxf4 25 'ifh6 basic idea of the move: to prevent the
with a decisive advantage) 20 llti development of the bishop to g5.
'W'h6 (20 ...'W'd8 2 1 l:lg l ! �c8 There is also a thorny path to
22 lDd6+ .i.xd6 23 ed lDb4 24 'ifh2) equality after 8 ...lDb6. On 9 .i.b3
21 •xh6 l:lxh6 22 lDf6+ �d8 rejection of the idea 9 ... .i.e7 leads
23 lDg8 l:r.h8 24 lDxe7 We8 25 l:lg7 B lack into an inferior position:
�f8 26 llhgl l:td8 27 lDg8 l:lxd4 9 ...lDe7?! 1 0 .i.g5 'ifd7 I I 0!? (in
28 lDf6, and White's position is this way White prepares an outpost
probably winning. for the knight on e4) l l ...lDed5 1 2
Jt goes without saying that it is not lDe4 .i.g6 1 3 a3 (White methodically
possible to guarantee that all the l imits the mobility of the enemy
variations presented here are bishop) 1 3 . . . 'ifc7 1 4 l:lc l Wd7
faultless, and it i s all the more 1 5 lik5+ with an obvious advantage
difficult to calculate them in practical (Mainka - Psakhis, London 1 994).
play. But this in no way reduces the After 8 . . . lDb6 9 .i.d3 likewise
creative achievement of the Czech demands accurate play from Black:
grandmaster; on the contrary it pays
honour to his intuition.
b) 7 lDd7
.••
1 02
Advance Variation: Everything except 4lbc3 and 4lbj3
1 03
Advance Variation: Everything except 4lbc3 and 4 CiJj3
1 04
Advance Variation: Everything except 4lbc3 and 4 lbj3
1 05
Advance Variation: Everything except 4lbc3 and 4 CiJj3
106
Advance Variation: Everything except 4lLlc3 and 4liJ./3
8 'ifd2 lLld7 9 lLltJ White has tried manage to pick up the key to the
other continuations without great position).
success:
9 :c I f6 1 0 ef gf I I �e3 'ifa5
1 2 lLlh3 lLlb6 1 3 b3 de 1 4 be 0-0-0.
The game is equal ( Rachels -
Seirawan, Durango 1 992);
9 lLlge2 f6 1 0 ef gf I I �e3
(Sveshnikov - Pira, Cap d' Agde
2003), and here already the time has
come to decide - l l ... dc! ?, for
example: 1 2 d5 ( 1 2 lLlg3 'iVa6)
1 2 . . .116'a6 1 3 de lLle5 14 lLlf4 lld8 But none the less: how should
1 5 'ifc I lLl7g6 with a complicated and White play in reply to 6 ... �e7 ?
sharp game. Hardly deserving serious investig
ation is 7 tLlf3?! - White only helps
Black to employ his minor pieces in
the best way. For example, as
happened in the game Nunn - Miles
(Amsterdam 1 985): 7 ... .i.g4 8 .i.e3
tLlh6 9 cd cd 10 'lfb3 'iVd7. Black's
position ts already far more
promising.
However more solid ' normal'
moves by White (7 g3, 7 'lfb3, 7 cd),
9 f6!? Once again this idea
••• seem to have equal rights.
appears as the most aggressive but c I) 7 gJ!? White modestly defends
also as objectively strongest. h4... For the present Black decides on
10 ef gf II .i.eJ ltg8 12 g3 'it'as the development of his pieces - and it
1 3 cS b6 14 cb lLlxb6 1 5 lLle4 'ifxd2+ turns out that this is not so simple to
16 lLlexd2 aS 17 l:tc1 a4 18 �e2 'iti>d7 do.
19 0-0 �g4 20 ltfel lLlfS Black has 7 lLlh6 Exchanging on c4, when
••.
completely outplayed his opponent the Black king's knight is denied the
and has a great positional advantage square e7 (and, accordingly d5), is
(Gelashvili - Asrian, Batumi 2002). not quite appropriate. In the game
c) 6....i.e7 Topalov - Bareev (Cap d' Agde 2003)
In the previous variations this idea Black combined the move 7 ...dc with
has more than once rescued Black, another idea: 8 .i.xc4 lLld7 9 �e2
but here it is not possibly not worth c5! '! And all the same after I 0 tLlf3
looking for anything better than good lLlh6 I I d5! ed 1 2 .i.xh6 ltxh6
(the more so that with the natural 1 3 'ifxd5 'it'c7 1 4 lLlg5 .i.e6 1 5 lLlxe6
6 ...lLle7 White will not for the present fe 1 6 'ife4 lLlxe5 1 7 0-0-0 <li>f8
1 07
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lL!c3 and 4l'Qf3
108
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 ll'lc3 and 4 �{3
with the rook h6, then carry out ll'lh6 (the h4 pawn is not worth
artificial castling... It is clear that suffering so much torment for:
during this time White will seize the l l ... .i.xh4 12 li.)xh4 'iVxh4 1 3 ll'lb5)
initative on the queen's flank. 1 2 .i.xh6 l:txh6 1 3 g3 �ffi 1 4 llfc I g6
Let us look briefly at the first plan: 1 5 'fibs _.d7 1 6 li.)a4 Wg7 1 7 ll'lc5
8 .i.gS ll'lc6 Worth considering is 1Lxc5 1 8 l:txc5 l:lhh8 1 9 ltac I a6
8 ... a6!?, in order to take under control 20 'ii'b6 'ikc7 2 1 'iVb3 'iVd7 22 'it'e3
the b5 square. and White again has a firm advantage
9 'ifd2 Wt'b6 (9 ... f6!? Seirawan) (Becerra - Morovic, Havana 1 999).
1 09
Advance Variation: Everything except 4ltk3 and 4 liJj3
I to
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 tbc3 and 4 tbj3
111
Advance Variation: Everything except 4 lLlc3 and 4 lLljJ
'sidelines• might be transfonned into Three. are too interesting not to have
one of the basic variations - 4 lLlc3 or a future. Horizons in many of them
4 lL!f3. But neither should one are opened to their widest extent and
completely reject this supposthon. who knows what further surprises are
Variations. analysed in Chapter concealed in their 'sideline• moves!
112
Advance Variation: Everything except 4ltJc3 and 4ltJj3
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 .i.rs 67 c) 6 ...c5 86
I. 4 .i.d3 67 d) 6 ... f6 87
4 ... .i.xd3 5 'ilfxd3 e6 2) 6 'i!Vb3 87
A. 6 f4 67 V I. 4 c4 89
B. 6ltJf3 68 4 ... e6 5ltJc3
C. 6ltJc3 68 A. 5 ... dc 89
D. 6ltJe2 69 B. 5 ....i.b4 90
II. 4ltJe2 70 c. 5 ...ltJd7 91
4 ...e6 D. 5 ...ltJe7 92
A. 5ltJf4 71 VII. 4 g4 93
B. 5ltJg3 71 A. 4 ... .i.d7 93
5 ... .i.g6 6 h4 1) 5 .i.e3 93
I) 6 ... h6 72 2) 5 c3 93
2) 6 ... h5 73 3) 5 .i.g2 93
a) 7 .i.e2 74 4) 5 c4 94
b) 7 .i.d3 74 B. 4 ....i.g6 94
Ill. 4ltJd2 75 1) 5ltJe2 94
IV. 4 .i.e3 77 2) 5 h4 94
A. 4 ...11tb6 77 3) 5 e6 94
B. 4 ... e6 78 C. 4 ....i.e4 95
5ltJd2 VIII. 4 h4 96
1) 5 ...11tb6 78 A.4 ... h6 97
2) 5 ...ltJd7 79 5 g4
V. 4 c3 e6 5 .i.e3 80 1) 5 ....i.h7 97
A. 5 . . .11tb6 81 2) 5 ....i.e4 97
6 11tb3 lLld7 7ltJd2 3) 5 ... .i.d7 98
1) 7 ...lL!e7 81 6 h5
2) 7 ....i.g6 81 a) 6 ... e6 98
3) 7 ...:c8 81 b) 6 ...c5 99
4) 7 ...c5 82 B. 4 ... h5 1 00
5) 7 ... a5 82 5 c4
6) 7 ... f6 83 I) 5 ...dc 1 00
B. 5 ...ltJd7 84 6 .i.xc4 e6 7ltJc3
1) 6ltJd2 85 a) 7 ... .i.e7 101
a) 6 ...ltJe7 85 b) 7 ...ltJd7 1 02
b) 6 ...11tb6 86 2) 5 ...e6 1 03
1 13
Advance Variation: Everything except 4liJc3 and 4liJj3
6 liJc3 c) 6 .. .i.e7
. 1 07
a) 6 ...liJd7 1 04 cl) 7 g3 1 07
at) 7 .i.g5 1 05 c2) 7 -.,3 1 08
a2) 7 cd 1 05 cJ) 7 cd 1 09
a3) 7 liJge2 1 05 c. 4 .....,6 1 10
b) 6 ..liJe7
. 1 06 1) 5 g4 1 10
7 .i.g5 2) 5 liJc3 I ll
bl) 7 ... dc 1 06
b2) 7 ... ..,6 1 06
1 14
Chapter Four
Advance Variation:
4ltJc3
A
4 a6!?
•••
1 15
Advance Variation: 4 ll'lc3
ll'lec6 13 a3 e6 8 f4 h5 9 h3 c5 1 0 lt'!f3 cd
1 16
Advance Varia/ion: 4 lbc3
1 17
Advance Variation: 4lbc3
mistake - 1 3 lbc I ? (he should play 14 'ifhS+ �d8 15 �fl 'ife7+ 16 lbe2
1 3 o-0-0!?), after which the spring of
black pieces was released in literally
2-3 moves: 1 3 ... :tg8 14 �e2 e5!
1 5 lbb3 ed 1 6 .i.xd4 c5 1 7 �e3 (in
the event of 1 7 .i.g I unpleasant is
1 7 ... 'ifc7 1 8 .i.h2 f5!, denying the
white knight the e4 square and
threatening a further advance of the
d-pawn) 1 7 ... f5 ! (an idea on the same
theme) 1 8 o-o-o ._c7 1 9 gf 0-0-0
20 �f3 lbxf5 ! Black has completely The culminating moment was
outplayed his opponent and has a reached in the game Sutovsky - Stohl
great advantage. (Kaskady 2002). Black chose
118
Advance Variation: 4lDc3
119
Advance Variation: 4 lDc3
120
Advance Variation: 4 4Jc3
consolidating the centre: 9 4Je2 �e7 this path that Black achieves the
10 c3 White makes a stand for a best results. Once again the old
minimal advantage. However if he is manoeuvre 'ifd8-b6-a6! rescues him.
in a more ambitious mood then he 8 0-0 'ifa6 9 ,.. d l ltJe7 10 4Je2
should try the plan of grabbing space h4!?
on the queen's flank: 1 0 b3, I I c4 etc.
But in the meanwhile even after 1 0 c3
Black does not succeed in achieving
his desired equality:
1 O g6 11 �xh6 llxh6 124Je I �f8
•••
1 21
Advance Variation: 4 lDc3
1 22
Advance Variation: 4lbc3
variations:
9 'ii'x h5? �g4 1 0 'ii'g5 �e7 An overly forcing move. Since
I I 'ii'xg7 Q-0-0; 9 lbxf5 lbxf5 I 0 i.t2 e7-e6 has still not been played, it
lbc7; 9 h3 lbb4 I 0 llc I i.e7 I I ..i.t2 means that it is possible to retreat the
g5; 9 i.t2 i.e7 1 0 'ii'd2 i.h7. Is there bishop to d7, from where it will
a touch of divine inspiration in these conduct counterplay on the light
variations? squares (the main idea being h7-h5!).
Up to now White has not been able to
F prove in practical play that the value
4 'ifb6
..• of 5 g4 outweighs its shortcomings.
S i.d7 6 lba4 Also other moves
•.•
123
Advance Variation: 4 ltJc3
1 24
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
1 25
Advance Variation: 4 tbc3
1 5 ...lbxd4'!!, then after 1 6 'ife4 lbf5 the weakness of the d4 pawn brings
I 7 ltd I h6 1 8 lbf3 lLlb6 1 9 g4! lL!xc4 nothing good for Black if White plays
20 gf it obviously does not tum out correctly.
126
Advance Variation: 4 lDc3
1 27
Advance Variation: 4 ltlc3
1 28
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
1 29
Advance Variation: 4 ltX3
1 30
Advance Variation: 4 ltJc3
the bishop to g7, after which the not established the fact with that an
passed h-pawn is irresistible) early c6-c5 they undermine not only
17 ... �b8 1 8 �g7 llhg8 1 9 h6 'ifd2 the enemy centre but their own !
20 h7 Black resigned. Henceforth the pawn fortress c6-d5-
It would be more difficult for White e6 does not exist.
after the natural 14 ....1lxh5 15 'it'fl 9 f4! tbe7 Simply losing is 9 . cd?
. .
131
Advance Variation: 4 lDc3
IV �f8 14 'ii'xd4
6 .ie7
•.•
A
7 .ig2!? The recommendation of
Kotronias, 7 .ih3, looks dubious in
view of 7 ...cS !? (but not 7 ... hS 8 lL!f4
hg 9 .ixg4 .ih7 I 0 lL!xe6! fe In the game Nunn - Chandler
I I .ixe6 .ib4 1 2 'it'hS+ g6 1 3 'it'h3 ( Wiesbaden 1 98 1 ) Black happily
with an attack) 8 f4 lbc6 9 fS ef I 0 gf extricated himself from this scrape by
.ihS, and White's initiative will soon concluding the game as a draw. But a
be neutralised. The idea 7 .ih3 has desire to repeat his feat was
still not been tested in practice. something we did not see...
7...lL!d7 8 lLif4 ! ? According to
M iles, the best move. Weaker is c
7 .ie3 lL!d7 I n the game Fedorov
8 0-0?! hS 9 lDf4 hg I 0 lL!xg6 fg
O.lvanov (Retymnon 2003) Black
I I 'flxg4 lL!f8 1 2 lL!e2 (van der Wiel
preferred to draw fire upon himself -
- M iles, Ter Appel 1 987), and here
7 ... .igS !? 8 f4 .ih4+ 9 �d2 f6. How
1 2 ...gS! ? 1 3 f4 lL!h6 1 4 'fibS+ g6
often we see a stormy opening
I S ..-o g4 gives Black the better
change into a complete calm: I 0 ef
game.
.ixf6 I I .ih3 ( I I h4!? hS 1 2 f5 ef
8....igS 9 lL!ce2 .ixf4 A sensible
I 3 lL!f4) I J ...'ii'd7 1 2 'ii'f l hS 13 gh
decision. 9 . . . cS seems premature l:txhS 1 4 lL!g3 llh8 1 S lie 1 .irs
because of 1 0 c4 !, and it turns out that 1 6 .ixfS ef with a quick draw.
White is better prepared for the 8 'ii'd2 Too early is 8 f4 in view of
opening of the game. 8 ... hS!, and the break f4-fS is already
I 0 lL!xf4 lL!e7 II 0-0 0-0 12 lL!xg6 unattainable.
lL!xg6 13 f4 For White - two bishops Leading to a complicated struggle
plus a space advantage. For Black - with not bad chances for Black is
nothing (Acs - Sermek, Nova Gorica 8 .ig2 hS ! ? 9 h3 hg 10 hg llxh l +
200 1 ). I I .ixh l 'ifb6 1 2 llb l f6 1 3 e f gf
1 32
Advance Variation: 4 t"Dc3
133
Advance Variation: 4 llX3
1 34
Advance Variation: 4 �c3
Taking into account the above, in 8 �f4 �e7 9 �d3 The space
reply to 7 ...�xc3+!? more interesting advantage he seeks after 9 �xg6
is 8 be! ? Black should play 8...'ifa5, �xg6 1 0 h5 �e7 I I a3 �xc3+ 1 2 be
threatening the manoeuvre 'ifa5-a4, �d7 1 3 a4 •as 1 4 .i.d2 'ifc7 1 5 f4 is
and White has serious problems with at hand. However in the game
the defence of the c2 pawn. There are Kobalia - Labumskiy (Ekaterinberg
still no games on this theme; here is 2002) White did not manage to
convert it into something more
some preliminary analysis:
substantial. On the other hand, Black
9 'ifd2!? �d7 The threat of9 ...'ifa4
will already soon start to play for a
is devalued by I 0 lib I b5 I I l4b2
win: 1 5 ... c5 1 6 �e3 �6 1 7 ..id3 cd
tlJd7 1 2 c4!
1 8 cd �b4 1 9 ._.d2 �xd3+ 20 cd
10 �g3 h6 1 1 f4 tlJe7 12 �h3!? �b8 2 1 �e2 �c6 22 a5 a6 23 llhc I
White makes it clear that he too has a ._.e7 24 �t2 l4c8 25 l:r.c5 0-0 26 ._.e3
threat - the advance f4-f5. Absolutely f5.
harmless would be 1 2 �d3 �xd3 9 ..ixd3 10 'ifxd3 �d7 11 ..id2
..•
1 35
Advance Variation: 4 li)c3
6 f6
••• breakthrough work in the centre in
Black, in spite of the teachings of two directions at the same time! This
Nimzowitsch, undermines the centre interesting continuation was first met
not at the base of the white pawn in the game Nunn - Cocozza
chain (for which simply c6-c5 does (Saloniki 1 984). Though the game
the job), but at its last link. Of course, ended in a convincing victory for
such a strategy is a departure from the Nunn, in his annotations the winner
rules - but in return it secures a
himself gave due respect to his
retreat for the bishop on fl.
opponent's idea and pointed out
White has two main continuations:
where Black might have played more
7 h4 and 7 li:)f4.
strongly. Further analysis and
A practical application of the idea
7 h4!? 7 .. . c5!? confirmed Nunn's assess
ment: everywhere the position is
extremely unclear.
a) 8 ef li:)xf6!? It goes without
saying that Black has sown the wind
and now must be particularly
accurate so that he does not reap the
whirlwind. Thus, bad is 8 . . . gf?
because of 9 li:)f4 .in I 0 'it'e2 'it'd?
(or I O . 'it'e7 I I de li:)c6 1 2 li:)bS !,
. .
the weakness of the king's flank will 1 2 .ieJ i.d6 13 0-0-0 (iJe7 14 g5 f5
already not be so noticeable. (Nunn - Cocozza, Saloniki 1 984).
136
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
loss of the exchange - but no more 1 0 fe .ixe6 I 1 ll'lf4 Wfl 1 2 'ifO l:r.e8
than that. I 3 g5 with a very strong attack) 10 e6
c) 8 .ig2!? (the idea of grand .id6 11 h5 .ig3+ 1 2 �d2 lbb6 13 hg
master Kotronias) 8... ll'lc6 9 f4 .in!? ll'ih6 14 .D.xh6! gh 15 g7 .D.g8 1 6 gf
Other replies are inferior: 9 ... fe 10 de lbg7 17 .ih3 .if4+ 18 <it>d3 .ig5
l[Jge7 I I ll'lb5 !? or 9 ...lt'ige7 1 0 f5 ! ef 19 b3 A master of attack such as
I I ef gf 1 2 g5 (analysis by Gyula Sax exploited to the full the
Kotronias). chances with which he was
10 ef gf 1 1 .ie3 ll'lh6 12 .irJ .D.g8 presented. White soon won (Sax -
13 .D.gl cd 14 lbxd4 e5 15 ll'lxc6 be Feller, Senden 1 998).
1 37
Advance Variation: 4 tDc3
1 38
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
•..
1 39
Advance Varia/ion: 4ltk3
again becomes free. It turns out that 'ifxe5! ? This move is stronger than
White has spent three tempi, for 1 5 ....txe5, though even here Black
nothing, on a quick march of his edge holds the position: 1 6 0-0-0 ltJf6
pawns! Today the variation 7 h4 has (Sveshnikov - Sorokin, Moscow
lost its topicality. 1 992) 1 7 .ig5 .ixc3 !? 1 8 'ifxe7+
1 40
Advance Variation: 4 lbcJ
1 7 .i.c5?! lbe4 1 8 .i.d4 'ii'f4+ 1 9 'IPb I attention is the game Sax - Zelcic
.i.xd4 20 lbxe4 in view of 20...0-0-0! (Lj ubliana 200 I ): 9 .i.d2 ! ? lbd7
with advantage to Black (Relange - 1 0 h4! ? (not allowing the advance
Savchenko, Paris 1 998). g7-g5 and therefore 'sealing up' the
17 ...lbe4 ( 1 7 ... .i.h5 1 8 .i.d4)
bishop f8) 1 0...0-0-0 I I 0-0-0 h6
18 �d4 'ifxgS+ 19 �b l .i.xd4
1 2 lbd3 fe 1 3 lbxe5 lbxe5 14 'ii'xe5
20 lbxe4 de 21 l:lxd4 0-0 22 l:r.xe4
'iff6 1 5 'iie3 c5 1 6 g5! cd 1 7 'ii'g3.
rtih8 The preceding play cannot be
The undeveloped state of the minor
said to have been really very sharp
pieces is depressing for Black.
(rather, a certain amount of care was
required of the two opponents), and I ndeed, after a knight jump to b5,
the end position also promises White has every chance of
absolute calm. So it is all the more concluding the game in a rout.
surprising that both games that 9 ..xeS lbd7 10 'ii'e2 ...f6 Black
reached this position (Sveshnikov - intends to leave out playing his
Vizhmanavin, Helsinki 1 992, and bishop to d6. Another plan, orientated
Antal - Koneru, Budapest 200 I ) towards the break e6-e5, has come to
ended decisively! his rescue more than once in the
b) 8 'ii'e2!? preceding variations. For example:
I O. . .'ife7 II lbd3 (Bangiev's
recommendation is apparently a
misunderstanding: I I g5 !? e5 1 2 de
lbxe5 1 3 .i.e3, since after 1 3 ...d4!
Black wins) I I . . ..i.g6 12 h4! .i.xd3
1 3 'ifxd3 e5 1 4 .i.g5 ( 1 4 .i.e3 !?
Timman) 1 4 ...'ift7 1 5 0-0-0 .i.d6
(Timman - Anand, Amsterdam
1 992). In Timman's opinion, after
1 6 'ifg3! '! White maintains a minimal
positional advantage.
The best continuation. White does
not hurry with an exchange on f6, I I gS! ? (more interesting than
which yields to the opponent a I I .i.g2 .i.d6) l l 'ifxd4 12 lbxe6
••.
powerful pawn centre. The threat to .i.xe6 13 'ifxe6+ .i.e7 14 .i.e3 'ife5
the e6 pawn forces Black either to I S .i.h3 (it seems that it would be
exchange himself on e5 (but then a simpler for White to obtain an
weak pawn on e6 appears and to boot advantage by 1 5 1fxe5 lbxe5
the dark squares in the centre prove to 1 6 ..te2) 15......xe6 16 ..txe6
141
Advance Variation: 4 lik3
142
Advance Variation: 4 lbcJ
the offer of a pawn?} 14 lbd4 .i.d6 the only move. IO . .'ifxf8?! was
.
1 43
Advance Varialion: 4 lDc3
1 44
Advance Variation: 4 liJc3
break c3-c4, but in return allowing depends not on general reasoning, but
the bishop c 1 full scope on the h2-b8 on concrete, move by move, analysis.
diagonal) 19 .i.a3 a5 20 .i.d6 l:te8 The defect of 6 ... f6 is obvious, its
2 1 .i.g3! b4 22 'it>f2 ltJc5 23 'iVf4. merits - rather doubtful, and yet
Again White's advantage is beyond Black, even at grandmaster high
doubt. level, has succeeded in obtaining an
Yet all the same, in our view, there equal game, and at times - even more
is a way for Black to fully equalise than equal.
the game: 15 ....:e8!? 16 .i.eJ (weak In variations of this kind there is
is 1 6 'iVe3'?! in view of 1 6 ...ltJxg4!) only one serious flaw, but this flaw is
16...liJc5 17 0-0 ltJce4 18 'iVfS ltJxcJ particularly distressing for authors
He can also look for opportunities in (and for readers). A book with such
the rook endgame after 1 8 ...liJxf2 ! '? variations gets out of date before the
1 9 .i.xf2 'iVxe2 2 0 .i.h4 'ti'e3+ 2 1 author has finished the manuscript,
�h 1 'ife4+ 2 2 Wi'xe4 lbe4 2 3 .i.xf6+ and even more so before the reader
gf 24 l:txf6 �e7 with not bad chances has read it
of a draw. But there is nothing to be done
19 .i.dJ ltJce4!? 20 l:tfe1
about this.
VII
6...ltJe7!?
145
Advance Variation: 4 lDcJ
new ways of attack and defence have transposition of moves leads to the
been found. The debate has continued main line - 1 0 11xg4 lDh4 I I .i.d3.
with shells and armour to the present 10 ... liJh4!? The most reliable -
day; and up to now 6 ...lDe7!? has not Black transfers the knight to fS. More
been refuted. risky, but also possible is 1 0...1i'h4
The strongest continuations for I I 'iff3 liJd7 1 2 .i.d3 llJgxe5 !? - in
White appear to be 7 f4 and 7 liJf4. In the present position there is more
brief we look at the remaining basis for this combination: 1 3 de d4
possibilities. 1 4 liJb5 cb 1 5 .i.xb5 ( 1 5 Wxb7? llb8)
1 5 ...0-0-0 with a pleasant position for
A Black.
7 .i.eJ?! does not bring an 11 .i.dJ g6 12 0-0-0 .i.e7 13 <itb1
advantage in view of the standard liJd7 14 lDe2 b5!? More principled
pawn counterattack.: 7 h5! Black••.
than 1 4 ...liJb6, which was seen in
secures an important springboard for the game Nunn - Karpov (Monaco
transfer of his pieces - the f5 square. 1 994).
8 liJf4 hg 9 llJxg6 llJxg6 10 'ihg4 15 liJf4 liJb6 1 6 liJh3 aS 17 l:tdgl
On 1 0 .i.d3 the combination
This is how the game lruzubieta -
IO ...llJxe5? I I de d4 is mistaken
lzeta (E1goibar 1 995) continued.
Black should not complicate
unnecessarily, but simply occupy the
f5 square, in order to prepare the
ground for favourable exchanges:
1 7 . ..liJf5 ! ? 1 8 llJg5 l:lh4 1 9 'ifg2
llJxe3 20 fe .i.xg5 2 1 11xg5 11xg5
22 l:lxg5 1;e7 with the better
position .
146
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
1 47
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
1 5 'ifxd4 lbc6 with the better chances pedestal. The idea of 7 f4, of course,
for Black (Sherzer - Yennolinsky, is to advance this pawn one step
Philadelphia 1 998). further, sacrifice it and thereby
l l cd. Sti ll not out of the
... restrict the bishop g6. Besides this, by
boundaries of the opening, White removing the enemy pawn on e6
already comes up against serious (after the inevitable ...ef), White will
difficulties. For example, 1 2 .i.g5? weaken the key square d5 should
loses because of 1 2 . . .lbxe5 Black want to advance c6-c5.
(Holmsten - Galkin, Koszalin 1 999), Black has three replies: 7 ...lba6,
and there is also nothing good for 7 ...h5 and 7 ... c5.
White in 1 2 hg llxh l 1 3 'ift3 ( 1 3 gf+ I ) 7...lba6!? There is no time for
Wd7) 1 3 ... f5 ! 1 4 'iVxh l de 1 5 be 'ilc7 White to defend against the
(Sveshnikov - Dreev, Alushta 1 994). manoeuvre lba6-b4: after 8 a3?! h5
Relatively harmless is 12 'ilfxd4 9 f5 ef I 0 g5 Black succeeds in
lbc6 13 .i.bS lbe7 (in the opinion of transferring the knight along the route
Dreev, stronger is 1 3 ...'ii'c 7!? 1 4 f4 a6 a6-c7-e6. But, what is even more
1 5 .i.xc6+ 'ii'x c6) 14 .i.gS a6 important, with the move I O .. h4!
.
IS .i.xc6+ lbxc6 1 6 1Wh4 .i.e7 but Black opens the h5 square for his
even here, in view of the many pawn light-squared bishop.
islands, White's position is a little 8 lbg3! Only this concrete move
worse. (Casella - Bareev, New York sets Black a complicated task.
1 998). 8 lbb4 9 fS! ef 10 a3 f4! (best)
...
E
7 f4!?
148
Advance Variation: 4 tbc3
- not without help from the opponent. grandmaster Alexei Dreev. It has still
1 8 de d4!? No good is the attempt not passed sufficient practical trials to
to transfer the knight to e6 by means form an exhaustive opinion on it.
of 1 8 . . .tDh6. After 1 9 tDe3 ! tDf7 8 r5! .i.h7!? After 8 ... ef?! White's
20 tDfS! .txfS 2 1 gf 1WxfS 22 0-0-0 idea is fully justified: 9 gS tDa6
White develops a terrible attack. lO tDf4 tDc7 I I h4! ll is important not
19 .to Starting to prepare long to allow Black to play hS-h4. By
castling. The alternative is 1 9 0-0!? bricking up the enemy bishop, White
1 49
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
1 50
Advance Variation: 4lbc3
reply, Black will not succeed in 23 lbxc8 1lxc8 24 lld3 'ii'g l + 2S lid I
quenching the opponent's initiative: 'ife3+ 26 l:d2 f4 the game is deter
12 ...lba6 1 3 lbg6 llhS 14 lbxf8 mined in Black's favour, though, of
Wx f8 I S h4 'it'b6 1 6 lbe2 g6 1 7 0-0 course, the position is still dreadfully
CiJ.c7 1 8 a4 aS 1 9 lla3 'it>e8 20 c4; complicated...
1 2 ...11fb6 1 3 .i.xfS lbxfS ( l 3 ... ef Analysing this game, grandmaster
1 4 1Wd2) 1 4 lbxe6 �d7 I S 1Wxg4 Bologan suggested improving
'it>xe6 1 6 .i.f4 'ifxb2 ( 1 6 ... 1Wxd4 White's play by 14 .i.f4!? The
1 7 'ifg6+ 'iii>d7 1 8 'ifxfS+ �d8 variations proposed by him testify to
1 9 .i.gS+ Wc7 20 l:d I ) 1 7 1Wg6+ the fact that B lack has great
�d7 1 8 1WxfS+ �d8 1 9 Wd2 .i.b4 difficulties:
20 1Wd3 (analysis by Bologan). 14 ... .i.d6 I S lt:lxc6 be 1 6 'ii'd4 0-0
13 lba4 Also not bad looking is 1 7 0-0-0;
1 3 0-0 lba6 1 4 lbce2, and if 1 4 ...'W'aS+ 1 S c3 0-0-0 1 6 lbxc6
14 ... lbb4, then 1 S .i.xfS lbxfS lt:lxc6 1 7 11fb3 lle8+ 1 8 lt:le3 .i.d6
1 6 lbg6 llhS 1 7 lbxf8 'it>xf8 1 8 .i.d2 ( 1 8 ...'ifcS 1 9 0-0-0 llxe3 20 .i.xc6
cS 1 9 lDf4 J:lh6 20 lbxe6+! l:lxc3+ 2 1 'W'xc3) 1 9 .i.xc6 be
13 ...b6 14 .i.xrs lbxrs IS 'W'xg4 20 .i.xd6 l:xe3+ 2 1 Wf2 l:e4
lba6 16 0-0 lbc7 1 7 lbxe6! lbxe6 22 'ii'b8+ Wd7 23 11fb7+ Wxd6
18 'ii'xfS This is how the game 24 llad 1 + �eS 2S 1We7+ Wf4
Sutovsky - Erenburg (Israel 2002) 26 1Wd6+ 'W'es 27 'ifd2+ l:te3 28 l:lde 1
went. Sutovsky quickly achieved a winning.
decisive advantage, though it is more And yet, in our view, main events
than probable that Black's play could in this variation still remain with the
have been improved at an earlier cadre! We return to the position after
stage. 8 h4 hS 9 fS !?
3) 7 ... c5!? The most logical. In
reply White usually chooses between
8 h4 and 8 lbg3.
a) 8 h4 The only serious game on
this theme was played by Topalov
(White) and Bareev (Dortmund
2002). The further continuation was:
8 h5 9 fS!? ef 10 g5 lbec6 II .i.g2
..•
lSI
Advance Variation: 4 lLlcJ
1 52
Advance Variation: 4 lDc3
153
Advance Varia/ion: 4 �c3
1 54
Advance Variation: 4 lDc3
1 55
Advance Variation: 4 �3
repeatedly been the undoing of a well 1 S lLlf4 The second critical positon
placed game) 1 4 'ife2 lLlf6 (more of the variation l l ...�xO !?
tenacious is 1 4...lLle3).
1 56
Advance Variation: 4 tLlc3
llc4! (Black defends himself with After such variations, anyone might
'only' moves) 26 llac I 1t'a3 27 'ifg3 be persuaded to hurry to the queen 's
tLld7 28 g6! (freeing the g5 square for flank - a little further away from all
the bishop) 28 ... hg 29 llcel 'iVa6! these terrors.
30 hg (Sutovsky - Podgaets. 15 �d7!? 16 c3!? White, to clear
•.•
Koszalin 1 998). In this very sharp up matters, hopes 'to get at ' the
position Black should continue enemy monarch even on the queen's
30 . . .lLlf6! and he would possibly hold flank. Doubtful is the inclusion of the
the defence: 3 1 'it'e5+ �d8 32 .ig5 move 1 6 g5?! f5 and only now 1 7 c3
i.b4! 33 1t'xd5+ �c8 34 .ixf6 .ixe l de 1 8 be (Anand - Karpov, Monaco
35 'ifxf5+ (or 35 ltxe l 'ifxf6 200 I ), since the g5 pawn comes
36 'ii'xc4+ �b8 with equality)
under attack: 1 8 ......xg5 ! 1 9 ...xg5
35 ...�b8 36 .ie5+ <ita8 37 l:.xe I
tLlf3+ 20 �d I tLlxg5 2 1 ltg I
'ifxa2. White's king is exposed and
(2 1 tt:lxd5'! tt:le4) 2 1 ...lLle4 22 c4 d4
therefore he will hardly succeed in
23 .ib2 (the tactical operation
'undoing' the g6 pawn.
23 lLlxe6?! �xe6 24 lLlc7+ �f6
However all these variations
belong to last year's snows because 25 tt:lxa8 does not work in view of the
the Cuban master Leiva has found in simple 25 ....id6 26 c5 .ie5 with a
reply to 1 5 ...�f7 the strongest reply - great advantage) 23 ...e5 24 lLld5 ltd8
1 6 g5 !? After 1 6...'ifd7 1 7 .ih3 l:le8 25 .ig2 Wc8. Four connected pawns
1 8 g6+ there is little joy in 1 8 .. .'.t>g8 should be stronger than the piece. Or,
1 9 lLlxe6! llxe6 20 lLlc7 lLlg4+ at least, not weaker.
21 lLlxe6 llfxe6+ 22 �d I f5 23 lie I . 1 6 dc. In the only serious game on
••.
Indeed also 1 8 ...hg?! 1 9 hg+ �e7 this theme Black found another way -
( 1 9 ...�g8? 20 .ixe6+ lhe6 1 6...'ifb6? !, but after 1 7 cd lLlxd4
21 ltxh8+ with mate on h7) brings 1 8 tLlxd4 .ib4+ 1 9 �f2 .ic5 (or
nothing but grief - White forcefully, 1 9......xd4+ 20 .lte3 ...xb2+ 2 1 .ie2
indeed also beautifully, gains a great with an obvious advantage) 20 lLlfxe6
advantage: .ixd4+ 2 1 lLlxd4 'iVxd4+ 22 �g2 he
has for the piece not four but only
two pawns. Too few (Kotronias -
Adianto, Buenos Aires 1 997).
17 be (weaker is 1 7 lLlxc3 .id6; all
the signs are that the knight should be
placed on d4) 17......a5 B lack,
foreseeing the appearance of the
enemy knight in the centre, transfers
the queen to a4. Generally speaking,
the series of sacrifices and checks
20 .ixe6! Axh I + 2 1 �f2 'ifxe6 is over and each player will now get
22 lLlxe6 �xe6 23 lLlc7+ �d7 24 his position well organised without
lLlxe8 �xeS 25 'ifb3 ! particular trouble.
1 57
Advance Variation: 4lbc3
1 58
Advance Variation: 4 lDc3
1 59
Advance Variation: 4lbc3
the system with 7 ... c5. White ending of the game Kasparov -
1 60
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
Karpov, and then we return to this queen's flank, White will make
critical moment. virtually every endgame favourable
1 4 lbf8 1 5 lbb5 lbd7 1 6 h6!
•.• for himself) 1 6 ... i.e7 1 7 .i.xc6+ be
(Opening up the position of the 1 8 'ife4! !itf8 1 9 .Ud l ._c7 20 b4 with
enemy king) 16 lbxc5 17 i.£4 �fB
.•. advantage;
No help is 1 7 ... l:tc8 1 8 hg l:tg8 1 4...lbge5 is a little stronger, but,
19 0-0-0 lbb4 ( 1 9 ...llxg7 20 �xd5 !) alas, also insufficient: 1 5 f4 lbc4 (he
in view of 20 a3! , and i f 20...lbb3+ also does not want to suffer a White
2 1 �b 1 llxc2, then boldly 22 ,.e3 attack after 1 5 ... f6 1 6 h6! gh 1 7 fe fg
�f6 23 •xb3 ! llxb2+ 24 ._xb2 1 8 0-0-0) 1 6 0-0-0 "ika5 1 7 i.xd5 ed
i.xb2 25 lbc7+, and it turns out that 1 8 .i.xe7 'iVb4 1 9 i.f6+! (only so,
for the queen White has bitten ofT a upon 1 9 .i.d6+ �d8 20 i.c7+ Wd7
full complement of pieces (a 2 1 'Wg4+ �e8 22 l:tde I + 'it>f8 the
variation pointed out by Kasparov). king escapes the checks) 1 9...lb6e5
18 hg+ �xg7 19 0-0-0 �fB 20 lba4 gf 2 1 fe 0-0-0 (losing is
20 Wb I ! A fter this strong 2 1 . ..'Wxa4 because of 22 ef+ �d7
prophylactic move Black is 23 llxd5+ Wc8 24 l:r.hd I ) 22 b3 lbxe5
defenceless against the many threats 23 'it>b I with a solid advantage
of his opponent. There followed: (analysis by Kasparov).
20...a6 2 1 lbc7 .Uc8 22 i.xd5! ed In a very complicated situation the
23 llxd5 "ikxc7 24 i.xc7 lhc7 best chance for White was
25 11£5!, and after a few moves White 14 i.xg5!? White has the choice of
•..
161
Advance Variation: 4 ltX3
his queen to c7. Why does Black but again a fork in the road awaits us:
control the d4 square? This is why: I I �fl or I I ll'lce2. Readers! We
10 �d2 'iVc7, and if White takes wish you every success in coping
the bait - I I h5!? 'ifxe5+ 1 2 lbfe2, with the ins and outs of theory. This is
then a surprise awaits him: 1 2 ... lL'ld4! a very difficult but necessary burden.
In this lies the whole point - upon an x) II ll'lce2 lDa6! Apparently best.
immediate 9 ...'ilc7 Black lacks this Also possible is l l ...�xc5 1 2 h5 �e4
resource. 1 3 f3 lbd7!?
162
Advance Variation: 4lbc3
After 1 3 ... f5? 1 4 fe fe, White, in the to force a draw after 1 8 llfl 0-0-0
game Svidler - Dreev (Smolensk 1 9 if'c2 ll:)db4! 20 cb lLlxb4 2 1 'iVb3
2000), found a possibility of lZ)dJ+ 22 Wd 1 ll:)b4+.
favourably simplifying the position: Why is l l ...ll:)a6 stronger than
1 5 ll:)xe6! 'ii'x e6 1 6 lLlf4 'ife5 l l ....i.xc5 ? Because Black prepares
1 7 'ii'x d5 with a great advantage. 0-0-0!
1 4 fe de, and now there is a choice: 1 2 hS .i.e4 1 3 f3 0-0-0! 1 4 .i.d2
.i.xcS!? IS 'ii'c l In the game Gofstein
- Donchenko (Tel Aviv 200 I ) White
did not restrain the enemy bishop:
1 5 fe. It would be better not to do this.
There followed 1 5 ... de 1 6 'ii'c l , and
now...
19 ll:)e4) 1 9 ll:)e4. White, by some move. The bishop frees the c5 square
miracle, managed to escape and even for the queen. There followed:
claimed his right to the advantage. 20 %tc3 e3 2 1 'it'ft %td4!, and Black
Without any doubt, instead of won.
16 ...1ld8 far stronger is 16 ...ll:)d5 ! IS ...gS 16 ll:)bJ (Shirov - Bareev,
1 7 ll:)fe2 (Svidler pointed out that Montecatini Terme 2000). Bareev
1 7 llfl ? is not possible because of played 1 6 . . . ll:)d4?! , A lexei Shirov
17 ...ll:)xc3 ! 1 8 'ifb3 ll:)d4 1 9 ...xc3 recommends 1 6 ... h6! 1 7 fe de 1 8 .i.c3
.1b4) 1 7 ... f5 !, and the most White ll:)d4, while most interesting for us is
can achieve is to oblige his opponent 1 6 .i.d4!? .•.
1 63
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
20 �g3 1fxg4+ 2 1 �h2 ...xhS 13 hg cb. Shirov has his own version:
22 .txgS l:ldg8; because there follows 14 .ixb2 ...xf4
1 7 ltb l lbab4 1 8 fe lbxa2 1 9 'ifd l 1 5 lhh7.
de 20 lbxd4 lbxd4 2 1 o-o e3 22 ...e I It seems to us that more principled
is 14 llbl !? be.. 15 ...xcl If now
lL!xc2;
1 5 ... b6 1 6 l:lxh7 llxh7 1 7 gh g6 1 8 cb
1 7 .tc3 ! ? (the strongest move)
ab, then after 1 9 1We3 .tg7 20 ..xeS
I 7 ... .txc3+ 1 8 be h6 1 9 fe de 20 0-0
.txeS 2 1 llxb6 �d7 22 llb7+! There
fS .
cannot be two opinions: White has
As you will probably guess,
the advantage.
1 7 ...d I and 1 7 .i.c3 are two possible
More interesting is 1 5 .txc5!?
.••
1 64
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
1 65
Advance Variation: 4 li:lc3
1 66
Advance Variation: 4 lf)c3
167
Advance Variation: 4 lLlc3
Probably, they have found some hole As distinct from 6 ... f6, Black for
in them, but for some reason do not once attacks the opponent's centre
want to let out their findings to the 'according to the rule': at the base of
general public. Or simply laziness ... the pawn chain 'a Ia Nimzowitsch' . It
There are not very many of these is important that White cannot
variations but still far more than we consolidate the centre with the move
could present ourselves. c2-c3, since this square is occupied
The second 'democratic- by a knight.
variations' These are played by In reply White chooses between
everyone - grandmasters, masters, two moves: 7 h4 and 7 .i.e3. The first
and amateurs. Old and young. Such of these moves pursues the well
variations are in the overwhelming known aim - to harass the bishop g6.
majority. And this is right - chess Speculating on this threat, White will
should unite the people. forcibly distract the opponent from
1 68
Advance Variation: 4 lLlc3
1 69
Advance Variation: 4 lDc3
1 70
Advance Variation: 4lbc3
171
Advance Variation: 4 ltX3
1 72
Advance Variation: 4 �cJ
position is quite interesting, don't you ed, also 1 8 ......c8 does not lose: 1 9 ef
think? .i.xt7 20 �xa8 'ifxa8 2 1 li)xf5 'it'xa2 !
1 73
Advance Variation: 4 llJc3
(pointed out by Jakobsen, Kamsky 22 .i.g5 lDf6! (22 ... .txg5? loses to
analysed only 2 l ...lDe6? 22 lDxe7! 23 e7+! .i.xe7 24 l:ld8+) 23 .i.xh4
lDxe7 23 j_b8 !) 22 lbxh4 'iVa i + lDb3 ! ! A beautiful move, one might
23 �d2 lDb3+! say, "in pure-ich style"! But if we are
19 �bl lla4!? Doesn't Black have serious, the game is far from up.
at his disposal the winning 1 3 .i.f4 (have you forgetten how it all
combination: 1 9... %lxb2+!? 20 �xb2 started?): Black's light-squared
lDa4+!? The reply is sort of: he bishop, dormant for a long time,
does, but it is not quite winning: enters the game with decisive effect:
2 1 �a t (the only move) 2 1 ...lDc3 24 cb f4+ 25 l%d3 (after 25 'it>c I
22 'iVd3 (leading to a bad position is White delivers the natural mate:
22 lDxf5 'iVxd l +! 23 'iVxd l tDxd l 25 ...:a I+ 26 'ltd2 .i.b4) 25 ... :d4
24 lDxh4 �xc2 25 .i.d6 lbf6) (analysis by Purich);
22 ...:h3 23 ef �xf7 24 .i.g3 'iVxc7. 20 ef l:lxd4 2 1 llxd4 'iWxd4
After a few more mutual thrusts the 22 fg='iW+ 'it>xg8 23 'iWxe7 (creating
game somehow stabilised into close the threat 24 .i.e5, but Black is one
equality. step ahead) 23 ...lDd3 ! 24 .te l lDxc l
20 lDxfS This is how the 25 'irxh4 lDd3! Today this knight is
correspondence game (and no one, simply at its best. It will hardly refute
apart from a correspondence player, the whole variation but its place in
could physically play such a position) history is practically assured.
Carleton - Purich ( 1 994-95) contin b) 13 e6!? The strongest way. And
ued. Black wins by sacrificing the fact that it is the strongest lies in
virtually everything he has: its logic "Do what you must, and
20...'iWxd l +! 21 llxdl what will be will be!" It is still not
known where the dark-squared
bishop will prove useful - on f4, g5
or sitting at home. But here it is as if
White cannot do without the break
e5-e6.
1 74
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
1 75
Advance Variation: 4 lL'!c3
1 76
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
1 77
Advance Variation: 4 tbcJ
enters the game, and at the most 1 7 l:lxg8 - after which it is difficult to
decisive moment) JJ gh 34 'ifxh8+ give a single assessment on the
...
1 78
Advance Variation: 4 ltk3
The most effective. Less clear is IO .i.e4!? Also tried is I O... .i.h7
•••
1 79
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
lbc4 20 llg l White was able to I I lbxd5 'ifa5+ 12 ..i.d2 'iVd8 1 3 i.g2
generate some initiative for himself: cd 1 4 lbef4. A similar position was
20...g6 (20 ... e5? loses in view of reached in the above-mentioned
2 1 lbe6! fe 22 l:r.xg7+ �h8 23 'ii'xb7 game Vlasov - Ovechkin, but
•f6 24 l:r.xh7+ �g8 25 0-0-0) compared to that White here has an
2 1 0-0-0. extra tempo.
c3) 8...'ii'b 6!? The most concrete 1 1 'iVd2 0-0-0! A nuance: after
and therefore the most logical l l ...c4?! White is forced to castle
continuation. Black defends c5 and queenside, but can be cunning:
threatens a timely capture of the b2 1 2 i.g2 0-0-0 1 3 0-0 f6 1 4 lbf4 with
pawn. advantage (Salmensuu - Shevelev,
From now on White must show San Vincent 2000). It is to B lack's
resourcefulness, since 'simple ' play advantage to wait for his opponent to
with long castling, which justified castle queenside and only then
itself in the preceding variations, this determine his pawn chain from f7 to
time leads to a dead end. 9 'iVd2 lbc6 c4.
1 80
Advance Variation: 4 �c3
17 ll::ixa2 'lha2 18 '1Vc3 ll::ic6 board is the best decision. The black
181
Advance Variation: 4 lix3
the other hand, that nobody clearly problems are not over. Here are some
knows what is happening and they do sample variations:
not want to entrust the fate of the 13 .tg3 'ilb6 14 gh tDrs 15 0-0 On
game to blind chance. 1 5 hg unpleasant is 1 5 ... .tb4+,
How does this influence the forcing the white king to obstruct the
assessment of the system 7 . . . h6 diagonal d l -h5, intended for the
8 �e3 ? In fact, practically not at all. queen. Now however it seems that
The reserve airfield - 8 ...cd 9 tDxd4 Black, in one order or another, will
.ib4 - is so strong that Black boldly exchange on g3, fl , drive away the
plays 7 ... h6, knowing that in the knight with the move a7-a6, and the
event he can always deviate. worst will be over for him. But the
4) 7 h5!?
.•.
desired order of moves somehow
cannot be found...
I R2
Advance Variation: 4 lLlc3
1 83
Advance Variation: 4 li:)c3
1 84
Advance Variation: 4 lLlc3
1 85
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
have worked out with 7 ... h5 we dangerous position, Black can look
consider this the basic move. Black 'with indifference' at all the
defends the g6 pawn and hopes for a opponent's discovered checks:
timely transfer of the knight to f5. 1 8 lbc7+ �d7 1 9 lbxa8 lbd4
Upon the indifferent I I c3 cd 1 2 cd
20 'ifd l i.b4+! 2 1 �fl (bad is
Black's plan is fully justified: 1 2 ... hg!
2 1 i.d2 i.xd2+ 22 �xd2 'iif4+
1 3 lbf4 ...b6 14 lbxe6 lbxe5 !
23 �e I liJO+ 24 �fl liJd2+)
1 5 i.b5+ cJi>t7 1 6 lbg5+ �g8 1 7 de
2 l ... h2! 22 'i'a4+ b5 23 •xa7+ �e6 .
...xb5 1 8 ...xg4 lbf5 1 9 a3 lieS etc.
The checks have ended for White,
The sharper 1 1 lbf4?! was met in
while for Black everything is only
the game Timman - Karpov (Jakarta
just starting;
1 993). Some accurate replies - and
1 8 lbg5+ �d7 1 9 'ife6+ 'it>c7
again it is White who is fighting for
20 l:xh3 'ii'b4+ 2 1 �fl (2 1 i.d2?
equality:
l:.xh3 ! ) 2 1 ...i.e7! 22 'ifxd5 l:xh3
ll ...ed!? 12 i.h3 (not leading to an
23 lbxh3 lld8 Black's game is at least
advantage is 1 2 lbxe6 ...d7 1 3 lbxd4
no worse;
lbxd4 1 4 ._.xd4 lbc6 1 5 •f4 hg
1 8 llxh3 ! ? 'ii'b4+ 1 9 i.d2 .l:.xh3 !
1 6 i.e2 •f5) 1 2...lbxe5 13 'ii'e2
20 i.xb4 (there is a beautiful
refutation to 20 lbc5+ - 20... 'ife4!)
2 0...1l h I + 2 1 cJi>d2 i.xb4+ 22 �c2
l:txa I Black has two rooks and a
bishop for the queen - a highly
positive correlation.
And so, after I O... lbge7 is
everything in order for Black? Not
quite. By analogy with Bologan's
idea in the previous variation also
1 86
Advance Variation: 4 lDc3
1 87
Advance Variation: 4 ltJc3
Nielsen);
'iVaS 1 6 'it'a4!? The suggestion of
1 4 'it'a4 (only helping Black to
Belgian Willy Icklicki. From time to
organise counterplay) 1 4...b5 1 5 'it'f4
time other moves are also tried, as a
'it'c7 1 6 0-0 (or 1 6 0-0-0? b4 1 7 lL!xd5
rule resulting in failure:
ed 1 8 l:td2 lL!d8 1 9 ..txd8 l:txd8
20 l:te I ..tg6 winning, Ehlvcst - 1 6 'it>b l ? lL!b4 1 7 l:tc l ltc8 1 8 a3
Bareev, Moscow 200 I ) 1 6 . . . ..tg6 lL!xc2 1 9 llxc2 llxc3 20 be 'iVxc3
1 7 lL!g3 'it'xe5 1 8 'it'd2 ..tc5 1 9 Wg2 (David - Kallai, France 1 996);
'it'd4 20 'it'e2 'it'c4 with an 1 6 llhe l ?! lL!b4 1 7 a3 ltc8 1 8 ab
unquestionable advantage (Orso - 'it'a I + 1 9 <t>d2 'it'xb2 (Chapman -
Kallai, Hungary 2000). Rogers, Sun Coast 1 999).
The position after 1 2 ..th6 deserves 16 ...'it'xa4 17 lL!xa4 gh 1 8 lLlf6+
a separate diagram. r/;e7 19 lLlxh7 lL!xe5! Dubious is the
1 88
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
White discovered the given concrete logical developing move has only
draw. But we would not advise recently come to the fore. This is how
anyone to repeat the experiment it was played before:
beginning with 1 0 'irxd4?! l l . ..'ifc7 1 2 lbxc6! Wxc6 1 3 .id3
c 1 2) 10 ll'lb5! Quite another matter! with the advantage (Sax - Berg,
To fight with the knight on d4 is far Aarhus 1 993);
more enjoyable than with a queen l l . ..lbxe5 1 2 .ib5+ ( 1 2 .i.f4!?)
coming under all blows. 1 2 ...lbd7 1 3 .i.g5 (Shirov recom
I O lbc6 Grandmaster Gabor
•••
mends 13 We2 !?) 1 3 ...'ii'a 5+
Kallai, in a number of games with a 14 c3 a6 1 5 .ta4 b5 1 6 .i.c2 .i.xc2
group of Hungarian friends, 1 7 'ifxc2 lLlgf6 1 8 lLlf4 lLle4
established the idea IO .....te4!? The 1 9 lbfxe6 fe 20 f3 ll'ldc5 (20...ll'lxg5?
point of the move lies in the fact that loses in view of 2 1 'ifg6+ ll'lfl 22
if White plays I I f.3, then l l .....tg6 1i'xe6+ .i.e7 23 ll'lc6) 2 1 fe ll'lxe4,
1 2 .ig5 f6!?, and all the variations and here the opponents agreed a draw
jointly develop to Black's advantage: (Sax - Krizsan, Medulin 1 997). The
1 3 ef gf 1 4 ll'lxf6+ lbxf6 1 5 ..txf6 decision is premature: after 22 ll'lxe6
'irxf6 1 6 lbc7+ �dB 1 7 lbxa8 (or White maintains the advantage.
1 7 Wxd4!? e5!) 1 7 ....Uxh4 with an l l ...ll'lxd4 1 2 1i'xd4 ll'le7 1 3 1i'a4+
attack: ll'lc6 1 4 .i.g5 1i'a5+ 1 5 'irxa5 ll'lxa5
Correct is I I llh3! lbc6 12 lbxd4 1 6 f4 l:lc8 (according to an
lbge7 1 3 ..tg5 Wa5+, and the analysis by Lukacs, 1 6 ... .i.xc2? is
branches: unsatisfactory because of 1 7 .i.b5+
1 4 .i.d2 Wb6 1 5 .ic3 lbxe5 1 6 'ird2 ll'lc6 1 8 ltc I .i.b4+ 1 9 �e2 .i.e4
a6 1 7 f3 ( 1 7 'irg5 !?) 1 7 . . ...th7 20 lthd I 0-0 2 1 .i.xc6) 17 .ib5+ ll'lc6
1 8 0-0-0 ltc8 (Csebe - Ruck, 1 8 0-0-0 with the advantage (Shirov
Budapest 2000); Yermolinsky, Wijk aan Zee 1 999).
1 4 c3 lbxd4 1 5 'irxd4 lbc6 1 6 We3 12 c3! ? One of the latest examples
l:lc8 1 7 ..te2 lbxe5 (Nguyen Anh on the given theme is the game
Dung - Kallai, Budapest 2000). Grischuk - Bareev (Wijk aan Zee
1 89
Advance Variation: 4 o!DcJ
1 90
Advance Variation: 4 lDc3
also has good things, which is why 1 8 'ifxd7+ �xd7 1 9 �d l lieS it will
other continuations are weaker, be White who would sooner obtain a
1 3 .if4 lt:Jg6 ( 1 3 ... a6 1 4 .ig2!? lt:Jxe5 draw. And, probably, he will achieve
1 5 .ig3) 1 4 .ig3 lt:Jgxe5 1 5 .ib5 it, for example: 20 llh2 .ie7 2 1 .ie3
( 1 5 'ifa4 0-0-0 1 6 lt:Jxc6 'ifxc6 f5 22 lt:Jxg7 fg 23 f5 etc.
1 7 'ifxa7 lt:JO+ 1 8 �d I d4 ! ) 14 lbc6 15 'ifa4 0-0-0 16 .ie3
•..
191
Advance Variation: 4 ltX3
I t seems that this move should give llxh5! 1 7 gh 11fe4+ 1 8 �d2 'iff4+
way to 9 ...cd, since the bishop f8 1 9 �e I 'ife4+ White counted his
can't be everywhere at once, blessings and concluded a peace.
defending at the same time two 1J a6!? 1 4 lL!aJ No good is
•.•
pawns that are under fire: c5 and g7. 1 4 lL!d6? lL!xe5 15 lLlxb7 because of
However in fact everything is not so 1 5 ...11fd5 1 6 lL!xc5 'ifxh l 1 7 .i.f4
gloomy and Black has every right to lL!f3+ 1 8 �e2 lld8! (preparing a
reckon on counterplay in all combination) 1 9 'ilfc l lL!g l + 20 �e l
variations. .i.xc2 ! 2 1 'ifxc2 (2 1 .i.xa6 d3)
10 de .i.xcS! All ingeniously 2 1 ...lL!f3+ 22 �e2 d3+ 23 lL!xd3
simple. This move, discovered by the lL!d4+ with a win.
Swedish master Emil Hermansson, 14 lL!xeS!? IS .i.g2 (leading to a
.•.
turns around the idea of the variation. complicated game is 1 5 l:r.h3!? llc8
Far worse is I O.. lL!xe5? 1 1 .i.b5+
. 1 6 11fc2 .i.b4+ 1 7 .i.d2 .i.xd2+
lL!c6 1 2 'ilfd4 f6 1 3 .i.e3 lL!e7 1 8 11fxd2 lL!xg4) 1S...d3 16 .i.f4
1 4 0-0-0 e5 1 5 11fa4 .i.g8 1 6 f4. By 'ifaS+ 17 'ilfd2 'ifxd2+ 1 8 �xd2
breaking in the centre, White will just lL!xg4 19 f3 lL!f2 and Black's chances
about get at the enemy king (Borge - are at least not worse.
Danielson, Copenhagen 1 994). But now, as promised, we return to
II lL!xg7+!? Applause for the position before 1 1 lL!xg7. What to
adherence to principles. Given the do?
defeat that awaits White in this
variation, and then going back and
analysing, is it not possible to think
up something 'less principled'.
11 �f8 12 lL!hS d4 1 3 lL!bS!? In
...
192
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
1 93
Advance Variation: 4 tlX3
a choice between 7 ... cd, 7 .. .'ifb6, Black has conducted the opening
7 .Ji)d7 or 7 . ..liJc6. stage in exemplary style and deserves
I ) 7 lbd7!? is the least principled.
.•• to have the better game. Later on he
Black defends the pawn on c5 - and won (Fedorov - Adianto, I stanbul
continuously. However one cannot 2000).
say that White has found the key to 2) 7...cd! ? 8 lbxd4 .i.b4!? These
this unpretentious move. two moves - cd!? and .i.b4!? - need
8 h4 cd 9 lbxd4 Untested in serious to be looked at together, as one whole
encounters is the recommendation of manoeuvre. You see, here it is more
van der Wiel: 9 .i.xd4 h6!? 10 lbf4 well-founded than with the inclusion
.i.h7 I I 'ii'e2 lbe7 1 2 0-0-0 lbc6 of the moves h4 h6.
''with an unclear game" On 8 ...lbc6 extremely unpleasant is
9 h5! Exploiting the fact that t�e
•..
9 f4! ? .i.b4 1 0 .i.g2!? (the black
white knight has relinquished control bishop is forbidden entry to e4)
of the f4 square, Black carries out a I O ... lbge7 I I 0-0 lbxd4 1 2 ..txd4
typical flank counterattack, which 1Wd7 1 3 lbe2 h5 1 4 c3 .i.a5 (Freitag
Shavelka, Giessen 1 993), and now, of
allows him to gain the important
course, 15 f5 ! ef 1 6 g5 !
strategical point f5.
Therefore Black also hurries with
10 f4 hg 1 1 'ifxg4 lbh6 1 2 'ifg1
8 ....i.b4, so that on any change in
.i.hS Preventing long castling. We
events the bishop g6 will have a loop
mention, in particular, that the
hole on e4.
exchange of light-squared bishops
9 'iVd2 Other moves are weaker:
favours Black.
9 .i.b5+ lbd7 I 0 0-0 a6 I I ..te2
13 .i.e2 .i.xe2 14 lbcxe2 1Wa5+!
lbe7 1 2 f4 .i.xc3 1 3 be .i.e4 1 4 f5
Played with the same aim - to
lbxe5 1 5 fe 0-0 with an acceptable
prevent White castling on the
game (Motylev Nisipeanu,
queenside. White can only do this by Bucharest 200 I );
weakening his queen's flank (a2-a3), 9 .i.g2?! h5 I 0 g5 lbe7 I I 0-0
after which Black transfers the knight ..txc3 1 2 be lbbc6 1 3 l:l.b l 'ii'd 7 1 4 f4
to b6 with counterplay. lbxd4 1 5 ..txd4 llc8 1 6 l:l.b3 b6
1 5 .i.d2 1Wa6 1 6 hS 0-0-0 17 a3 1 7 l:l.f2 lbf5 with some advantage
Citb8 ( freeing the c8 square for the (Vlasov Shirov, Reykjavik 2003).
_
1 94
Advance Variation: 4 lZ)cJ
outcome of the struggle is completely move (as distinct from 7 ... li:)d7 and
unclear. 7 ...cd). Defending at the same time as
19...li:)e5 More promising is attacking - in general, Black is ready
I9 ... f5!? 20 i.xg4 fg 21 lZ)c6 :res for a scuffle.
22 'iVg5 h6 23 'iVxh6 1i'xc3 24 li:)e7+ 8 f4!? (blow for blow) 8 li:)c6
..•
1 95
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
I 96
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
1 97
Advance Variation: 4 itlcJ
And Black tries to exploit this factor. knight and rook can Black achieve
l l . �f8 12 .i.xc5+ .J:lxc5 13 'irxa7 counterplay) 23 gf+ gf 24 'tWxh8 'ii'e4
..
in more detail 15 d4!? 16 .J:ld l great deal from the jump of the knight
•..
1 98
Advance Variation: 4 lbc3
move, deeply rooted in theory as the principled. True, there are not exactly
main line, ceases to be the strongest! any other merits to this move.
It is all very simple: leading 1 0 i.b5+ ctie7 1 1 lll xg6+ hg
practitioners had already found a 12 i.f4 f6 13 i.xe5 fe 14 'it'f3 (by
stronger continuation, but there were attacking the pawn, White gains an
still no books on this theme. important tempo for queenside
White has a choice: 9 lll f4 or castling) 14 .. .l:tc8 15 0-0-0 Obvious,
9 llld4. but it is worth paying attention to
d I ) 9 ltJf4!? 1 5 b4!? with the idea of transferring
1 99
Advance Variation: 4 tbc3
the knight to d6. Possible then are: the queen and rook are already in
15 ...dc 16 l:ld I 'Wc7 17 l:ld7+ 'iWxd7 place, and the knight is ready to
18 ..ixd7 �xd7 19 'ifxb7+ l:lc7 sacrifice itself. The position has
20 'fibS+ winning; become threatening.
15 ...llJf6 16 l:ld l aS 17 a3 ab 18 ab l l llJexg4 Insufficient for equality
•••
1 9 l:lhe 1 ¢117 20 l:lxeS .i.d6 2 1 lte2 different. Black, not relying on the
de 22 1:1.xd6 'ifxgS 23 1:1.d7+! winning strong point d5, wants to castle long
(Apicella - Flouzat, France 1998). himself and therefore first develops
Thus it is possible to draw the his pieces on the queen's flank.
conclusion that the move 9 ...d4 is 1 0 ..ibS In reply to 10 ..ig2 Black
dubious and leads to an obviously arranged his forces in a very
worse position for Black. interesting way in the game Sax -
d12) 9 a6?! Defending against the
••• Porper (Deitsisay 2002): 1O . ...te7!?
.
first part of the opponent's plan - the 11 •e2 ..if6!? 12 h4 'iWa5, and after
introduction of the bishop to b5, 13 0-0 d4 14 g5 de 15 gf lbxf6 16 be
Black has nothing else to counter it. 0-0 obtained the better chances.
Quite frankly it loses time. 1 0 lbe7 1 1 'ife2 'ifc7 1 2 h4
•.•
200
Advance Variation: 4 ltlc3
20 1
Advance Variation: 4 �c3
In the variation 9 �f4 Black teeters Black literally leaves himself wide
on a life threatening edge. In the open to f2-f4-f5 and .i.b5 +. But all
meantime Black is managing not to the same, with each move White
step over this edge, but the variation endeavours to start an attack and how
develops directly with tempo-gaining right is it to pursue it further?
threats and one fine day the x) 1 0 .i.bS+ �ed7 1 1 c6 (a
whole system with 8...�xe5 could recommendation of Timman) 1 1 bc ..•
202
Advance Variation: 4 lDc3
203
Advance Variation: 4 lLlc3
204
Advance Variation: 4 /.DcJ
should gradually realise his material xI) I 5 lDd6+ 'it>f8 In the game
advantage. Gofshtein - Kallai (France 200 I)
After I O ....ie7! ? White concent there followed 16 c4, but after
rates his efforts on two moves: 16...1.Llb6!? (pointed out by Lukacs)
II .ig2 and II h4. Recently there has the advantage passes to Black.
appeared a third idea - prophylaxis: Instead of 16 c4 more interesting is
II a3! ? (in good time forestalling the 16 lbxb7 'iibs 1 7 c6 lDb6 18 lDa5
advance a7-a5, White gives the lL!e4 19 c.ii>g l e5 20 fe 1Wxe5 2 1 I.Lle2
opponent the chance to express l:le8 with very complicated play.
himself) l l ...lDgf6 12 g5 I.Lle4 x2) 15 c6 lDb6! It is surprising that
the rook a8, which is within White's
13 I.Llxe4 .ixe4 14 f3 .ig6 15 c6 be
grasp, is not taken: 16 cb l::tb8 17lDc6
16 lDxc6 1Wc7 17 lDxe7 �xe7
'ifd7! (note that the knight on bS
18 l::tc1 1Wc3+ 19 ot>t2 aS (Motylev -
remains undefended, and this proves
Miton, Bermuda 2003). Whether this
useful in the very near future)
idea has a future - only the future will
18 lL!xb8 'iVxbS+ 19 �g I lDc4 or
tell. 17 f5 (instead of 17 I.Llc6) 17...ef
x) 1 1 .ig2 h5 (both sides logically 18 .if4 0-0 19 lDxa7 l:txb7 20 I.Llac6
pursue their plans) 1 2 f4! ? The most 'iVa8 with an unclear position.
active continuation. After 12 h3 hg Besides 16 cb, we should look at
13 1Wxg4 a draw was agreed in the 16 1We2! ? White defends the knight
encounter Fedorov - Ruck (Ohrid bS and threatens to capture the pawn
2001). on b7 with a fork on c6 to follow. At
t2 i.h4+ 13 ot>n hg 14 lDcb5
.•. an opportune moment there will also
lDgf6 arise the threat of f4-f5. And yet
Black has counterplay with gain of
tempo.
I 6...lDe4 I 7 cb l:tb8 1 8 lDc6 'iff6
I 9 lid 1 0-0 20 lDxb8 llxb8 Though
White wins the exchange, it is far too
early for him to settle down. His king
is weak, Black controls the strategical
points c4 and e4.
x3) 1 5 a4! ?
205
Advance Variation: 4lbc3
A difficult to find, but we hope, What o n earth i s this? With his last
after the previous variations, move ( IO ....ie7) Black seemed to
comprehensible move. Before have prevented the advance of the h
advancing the pawn to c6, it is pawn. And here it becomes clear that
necessary to defend the knight on b5 ! after 1 l ... .ixh4 White develops
1 5 0-0! ? Relatively best. He furious activity: 12 .ib5 a6
...
y) 1 1 h4! ?
1 6 llg1 ! lDf6?! Possibly the last
attempt to somehow change the
character of the game lies in 16 ... a5!?
A fter 17 b5 'ifc7!? 18 b6 'ifxc5
19 lbdb5 'irc4 he can survive, as the
combination 17 lbxe6!? fe 18 .id4
comes up against 18 ...lbd3+! 19 cd
lDf4!
In the further play we do not look at
Black's chances; White completes his
206
Advance Variation: 4 ll:lc3
the variation. And it was devised by like the fact that White can take on
Viswanathan Anand! First we discuss c6, then he can play first l3 ...llJe7! ?,
9 . d4 10 llJxg6 fg, and then:
. . and only then 14 . . .a6) 14 .i.a4
207
Advance Variation: 4 ltX-3
decisive.
I I 11fxg4 l£'Jh6 1 2 11fh5 Everything
is in order for Black after 12 11fe2
l:iJfS 13 0-0-0 'ilaS (weaker is
13...l£'Jxe3 14 11fxe3 Was because of
1S a3! 0-0-0 16 b4 Wa4 17 Wb3
'ilxb3 18 cb) 14 a3 a6 I S l£'Jd6+
�xd6 16 cd d4
1 2 �f5 1 3 l%g 1 g6 1 4 'ii'e2 �g7
..•
Hopeless now is II l£'Jd6+ �xd6 15 0-0-0 �f8 This will be the cosiest
12 ed in view of 12 ...�e4 13 'ilxg4 place for the king. Although even
l£'Jf6 14 'ilxg7 l:1g8 IS l£'Jxe6 l:1xg7 after 1S...O-O he is under no threat;
16l£'Jxd8 l%xd8 17 f3 �xf3 etc. thus, 16 l:iJhS does not work in view
On the other hand, II c4!? is quite of 16...�g4 17 l:txg4 '1Jxg4 18 'iVxg4
interesting. The usual argument, l:iJxeS. Relatively weaker, possibly, is
perhaps, is that Black cannot snap only IS ...11faS 16l£'Jd6+ �e7 17 iVbS.
into action: 16 c4 Absolutely not 16 '1Jd6
II...l£'JxeS 12 11fa4l£'Jf3+ 13 �e2;
because of 16...�xeS.
l l ...�e4 12 cd ed 13 l£'JxdS l:tc8
16 'ila5 17 cd. It is possible not to
14 'ifxg4 �xdS (or 14 ...�xh l
••.
208
Advance Variation: 4 tDc3
209
Advance Variation : 4 ltJc3
from the bishop g6 but unpleasantly And so it continues to this very day
close to the black king. All the time - but there is the strong feeling that
he had to search for a defence, but at the variation is on the point of
the very least defences were to be passing on (if it has not passed on
found. This was the second tum of already) to the next turn in its
the variation. development. If fresh, powerful ideas
Then White began to understand: if can be found as early as the 8th move
he wanted to deliver mate by means (we have in mind Anand's idea
�e3, 'ife2, 0-0-0 etc., the inclusion of 7. ..ltJc6 8 de h5! ? 9 ltJf4 �h7! ), then
the moves h2-h4 and h7-h6 (or h2-h4 this signifies that the variation has
and h7-h5) nearly always played into stored-up potential for the next
Black's hands! So was born the idea gallop. But what kind of gallop will
of an immediate 7 �e3. And this is this be - upwards? Or again - in a
the third tum of the variation. spiral?
21 0
Advance Variation: 4 tbc3
2 11
Advance Variation: 4 lLX3
212
Advance Variation: 4 llJc3
213
Chapter Five
Advance Variation:
4lbt3
214
Advance Variation: 4 lLlj3
control, which means that the black point of the plan is the important
bishop at present does not threaten strategical manoeuvre 'iVg8-h7. After
anything. seizing the h7-bl diagonal Black's
6 ..t-d3 This move has been advantage becomes unquestionable.
employed by the Lithuanian
grandmaster Sarunas Sulskis, true, 8
without particular success . In our S cS This is the most logical
•..
215
Advance Variation: 4ll:Jj3
placed but now the most important 14 l:tel 'iid7 1 S ll:Jn ll:Jb8 (the
thing is control over the c4 square. exchanges along the c-file have
1 0 ll:Jb6 1 1 .i.b2 .i.e7 1 2 D.c1 ltc8
•••
levelled down White's advantage in
13 0-0 0-0 space) 1 6 ll:JeJ l:lxc l 17 .i.xc 1 .ig6
216
Advance Variation: 4 t:oj3
A
5 c5 (not too clever but, of course,
.•• White has an extra pawn, but Black
possible) 6 c4 t:oc6!? In the game has not bad play in return. Is it
217
Advance Variation: 4 {jjf3
8
S {jjd? Black has rather the worse
•..
218
Advance Variation: 4ltlj3
continuation.
since with the move 7...c4! Black (weak is IO ..ltlh6 because of II ..te3
.
219
Advance Variation: 4 tiJjJ
this position the simplest way to in this way Black lets the white
equalise is 1 2 a6!? 13 ..txc6+ 'ifxc6 knight have the cJ square, he does not
..•
220
Advance Variation: 4lbj3
Black will have at his command the position of the knight on the edge of
d4 square) 12 a3 de 13 lbxc3 0-0 the board is not very good and time
14 'iVO lLlh4! ? (with the knight has to be spent on bringing it back:
manoeuvre Black provokes a IO ....txe2 II lbxe2 lbg6 12 lbf3
.
13 'iVxa4 0-0
22 1
Advance Variation: 4 ti:Jj3
I 0 t'iJc 3 .i.e7 II t'i:Ja4 t'i:Jb6 12 t'i:Jc5 !? There are many ideas, and practical
(Short - Ledger, Birmingham 2002). material - even more, but each time,
His opponent then made a serious after making the IO•h move for both
positional blunder by exchanging on sides, it has to be established that
c5, whereas leading to interesting Black is equal:
complications was 12 ...t'i:Jc4!? 1 0 .i.gS .i.e7 11 .i.xe7 li)8xe7
12 b4 0-0 13 li)bd2 l:lc8 14 l:lc l
13 t'i:Jxb7 •c7 14 t'i:Jc5, and only now
(Yermolinsky - Leko, Madrid 1998),
14 ....i.xc5 15 de t'i:Jxb2 16 1fb3 llb8
and here, in the opinion of Leko, the
17 .i.b5 0-0 18 1fxb2 a6 19 a4 ab
most accurate would be 14 ....i.e4!
20 ab .i.d3 21 b6 .i.xf l . What carries
with approximately equal chances;
more weight, the extra exchange or
10 lllbd2 .i.e7 11 b3 aS!? (freeing
the passed pawn - is unclear.
the a7 square for the knight c8 and,
I O .i.e7 1 1 lllbJ aS!? Black starts
until White has second thoughts,
.••
1994 ), reacted not too cleverly: defence was prepared for the match
1 2 llcl ? ! (stronger is 12lllc5!?), and Short - Karpov (Linares 1992).
after 1 2 1Vb6!? 1 3 lllcS 1fx b2
.•. 10 li)bd2 t;)fS After 10 ...'iVb6
14 llla4 1fa3 (analysis by Hubner) 11 b4!? it is better for Black to return
Black can't help fearing for his to the main variation ( l l ...lllf5), since
queen. the pawn grab l l ...t;)xd4? is
e3) 9 a3!? White's basic plan in this punished according to Short's
branch is seizure of space on the analysis: 12 li)xd4 1fxd4 13 t;)xe4
queen's flank by means of b2-b4. 1fxa l (or 13 ......xe4 14 l:le l 0-0-0
222
Advance Variation: 4lbj3
223
Advance Variation : 4li:Jj3
224
Advance Variation: 4 lDj3
225
Advance Variation: 4 �/3
1 2 'ifdl 'ifas 13 aJ a6 14 f4 bS
IS �tJ lld8 16 g4 with the advantage
(Short - Burmakin, Moscow 1995 ).
a2) 7 c4!
226
Advance Variation: 4 lLlj3
227
Advance Variation: 4 lL)f3
228
Advance Variation: 4 liJj3
229
Advance Variation: 4 l:i:Jj3
b21) 9 ... �g4 Short has doubts 25 'ii'c 3+, and the non-conformist
about this move and possibly he is black pieces cannot achieve any
right. harmony at all.
1 0 .!Llfd4 Among other things, the 1 7 eS
••• (possibly the most
plan of exchanging light-squared tenacious) 1 8 f4 'ii'h4 1 9 g3 'ii'g4
bishops gives White the possibility of 20 lidS 'ife6 (after 20 ...�e7 White
castling queenside. sacrifices a rook in another fashion,
1 0 �xe2 1 1 'ihe2 lL!cxeS!?
•••
risking nothing in the process:
Significantly weaker is l l ...Cf:Jdxe5?! 21 llxe5! l:i:Jxe5 22 'ifxe5 'ii'd 7
12 f4! l:i:Jc4 13 l:i:Jxc6 be 14 �d4 with 23 'ifxg7 llf8 24 l:i:Jd4) 21 'ii'c4
the advantage (Short - Adianto, (including his knight in the attack)
2 1 . .1lc7 22 l:i:Jd4 ._a6 23 l:i:Jf5! llxcS
Jakarta 1996).
•
230
Advance Variation: 4 lbj3
23 1
Advance Varialion: 4 �{3
232
Advance Variation: 4 {Qf3
square. Less principled, but possibly any case defending the knight a4.
stronger, is IO ...ll:Jc6!?, simply Frankly speaking, 16 a3!? looks
increasing the pressure in the centre. better.
1 6 0-0 1 7 de tLlxcS 18 tLld4 tLlxa4
...
19 ba
233
Advance Variation: 4 &iJp
knight c3 the break d4-d5 will be far 18 &iJfJ f6 19 0-0 ( 19 &iJh4 does not
more dangerous for the opponent. achieve its objective because of
8... a6!? 9 �xc4 4Je7 10 dS!? &iJb6 1 9 ...l:la4! 20 b4 �g6) 19...fe 20 .U.fe1
I I d6! (beginning a forcing variation) e4 21 &iJd4 �xd4 22 •xd4 l:lg8. In
1 1 ... 4Jxc4 1 2 •a4+ bS 13 &iJxbS! ab this position again we should take
1 4 'ihbS+ .d7 I S •xc4 Black's side.
The vanat10n 6 ...lbd7 looks
stronger than 6...'iVb6, but all the
same the level of reliability of
Black's position is not high enough
that we can seriously recommend the
knight move. White's play in the
main branches of the variation is
simple and natural: undermining the
centre with c2-c4, and then (after an
exchange on c4) preparing for the
break d4-d5 . Black is l iterally
This posJtlon was reached in the shifting around in order to stand still.
game Spraggett - Magem (Manresa And he does not want to ' stand still',
1995). White has two pawns for the but play, and preferably - for a win!
piece, next there will be a third - on c) 6...CiJe7 Out of four possibi lities
cS. Besides this, Black's development (6...'iVb6, 6...4Jd7, 6...lbe7 and 6 ...cd)
is difficult because of the strong - the least studied.
passed pawn on d6. It seems that
these factors are sufficient to assess
the position in White's favour.
However Black's defensive potential
is high. Instead of 1S...lbc6, as played
by Magem, he should continue
I S ... lbdS!?, and on 1 6 iLxcS -
1 6 ... g5!, in this non-trivial way
solving the problem of the
development of the bishop f8. Then
possibly: 1 7 &iJxgS �g7, and now: Perhaps the main point of the move
18 f4?! is dubious in view of 18 ...f6 6 ...lbe7 - is prophylaxis. Black
19 lbf3 fe 20 fe (or 20 &iJxeS?! �xeS renders harmless White's direction of
21 fe .U.c8 22 •d4 JigS, and Black play - the advance c2-c4. Thus, in the
takes over the initiative) 20...l:lc8 game Shirov - Anand (Dortmund
21 'iid4 �h6! (creating the threat to 1996) there followed 7 c4 de 8 lbc3
transfer the bishop to e3) 22 'iih4 4Jbc6 9 de &iJdS I 0 &iJxdS 'iixdS
.i.e3 23 .i.xe3 4Jxe3 with the better I I 0-0 �d3 . In this position Black's
chances; chances are not at all worse.
234
Advance Variation: 4 li:)j3
Nothing is given for free, and Black incidentally frees the f5 square
Black, by taking under control the d5 for his knight) 9 .i.xd7+ 'ifxd7 I 0 c3
square, loses contact with the lbf5 I I .i.d4 lbh4! (wrecking the
adjacent square - c5. And it is to there opponent's pawn structure) 12 l:tg l
that White transfers his play. .i.e7. An extra pawn for White, but all
7 de!? li:)d7 Relatively best. The the play - for Black.
endgame is hopeless after 7 ...�c6?! 8 lbc3 (the knight endeavours to
8 c4! (Black again ceases to land on d6) 8 ...lbc6 9 lbb5 lbxc5
control d5, and White immediately 10 lbfd4 .i.g6 (on I O ...te4 11 0-0 a6
.
235
Advance Variation: 4 {jj_f3
236
Advance Variation: 4 lbj3
and... deviates: after 1 6 f5'! ef 1 7 gh All the time White's space advantage
�xh5 1 8 'ilh4 1We6 1 9 �xh5 g6 is increasing in dimensions (Hort -
Black regains the piece with a Chiburdanidze, Marbella 1 999).
winning position. d4) 8 �gS! ? is an interesting
1 6 hg ( 1 6...d4 ! ?) 1 7 �xg4 lL!xe5!
••• manoeuvre. By pinning the knight.
(a tactical trick, after which the White forces the enemy queen to
position is abruptly simpli fied) occupy a rather poor square.
18 'iVxd7+ lL!xd7 19 cd lL!f6 20 �e2 8 'it'a5+. Apparently weaker is
•.•
237
Advance Variation: 4 &i:Jj3
'ii'b6 1 2 �e3 'ii'd 8 1 3 f4 ! In the game 20 �xeS lUi 21 ef ltld7 But even
Kveinis - Epishin ( Parnu 1 996) here it is a long way to equality.
Black intensified his problems by Nowadays the trendy 8 �g5 is highly
playing 1 3 . . . &i:Jd7?, on which promising.
fol lowed 1 4 g4 ! f5 1 5 �d3 fg d5) There are far fewer prospects in
1 6 1i'xg4 Jif7 1 7 &i:Jxd5! with an 8 0-0?! After 8 ltlbc6 Black, as a
••.
238
Advance Variation: 4 �j3
drives away the rook from the d-file, Also insuffcient for equality is
and then transfers the bishop to the 8 ...dc 9 �a3 .i.d3 10 �xc4 .i.xc4
excellent d5 square) 1 4 lle l .i.e4 1 1 .i.xc4 'ifa5+ 1 2 'iVd2 'ifxd2+ (once
1 5 .i.fl (in the opinion of Leko, better again the pawn on e5 is inedible:
for Black was 1 5 .i.a6 !? .i.xg2 ! 1 2 ... 'ifxe5?! 1 3 �b5) 1 3 �xd2 a6
1 6 .i.xb7 .:.b8 1 7 �xg2 llxb7) 1 4 f4 �d7 1 5 �e2 �g6 1 6 �b3 .i.e7
15 . . ..i.d5 16 �d2 .i.e7 17 �c4 0-0-0 1 7 .:ac I (Golubovich - Malakhov,
1 8 a3 �b8 1 9 llad 1 .i.c5 Porto San Giorgio 1 997).
( lordachescu - Leko, Erevan 1 996); 9 'ifa4! Continuing to drive hard
1 1 'ifa4 .i.c2! 1 2 'ifxc2 �xd4 along the line begun with the move
1 3 'iVd 1 .i.c5 14 �c3 de 1 5 .i.xc4 8 c4. By pinning the knight, White
0-0 1 6 �e4 .i.e7 1 7 l:tc I 'ifb6 1 8 l:tc3 creates the most problems for the
(Smirin - Liang Chong, Beijing opponent. How Black can develop
1 996) 1 8 ...llfd8!? his pieces in a natural way is not
The move 8 0-0 absolutely fails to clear.
justify the hopes placed on it.
d6) 8 c4!? The strongest
continuation. At top level this was
first played by Gelfand in a game
against Karpov (Sanghi Nagar 1 995).
position for Black is 8 ....i.xb I 9 l:txb I endgame the way to equality is not
�bc6 1 0 0-0 de (risky is 1 0...�xe5 in easy, but there are even more gloomy
view of 1 1 'ifa4+ 'iVd7 12 �b5! �5c6 prospects for B lack with queens on
1 3 llbd 1 ; the pawn is not worth the the board. Thus, according to an
aggravation) 1 1 .i.xc4 a6 1 2 �xc6 analysis by Gelfand, leading to an
'ifxd I 1 3 llfxd I �xc6 1 4 f4 .i.e7 advantage for White is I O . �d5 . .
239
Advance Variation: 4 �{3
and here worth considering is the From what was given by Svidler
suggestion of Epishin 1 4 ...'iVe6! ; the strongest continuation is
1 2 lbxc6! ? (the clearest way to an considered 12 lbxc4 tt:lxc4 13 .i.xc4
advantage) 1 2 ...bc ( 1 2 ... .i.b4+ does a6 14 t3 with the idea of preventing
not rescue him because of 1 3 lbxb4! the transfer of the l ight-squared
'ifxa4 1 4 lbxd5 ed 1 5 lbd6+ <;i.lf8 bishop to the a8-h I diagonal. For this
16 lbxf5 'ifc2 1 7 lbd4 •xb2 1 8 0-0, reason 14 llc I is somewhat weaker
and the three minor pieces are because of 14 ....i.e4 ! 1 5 0-0, and now
noticeably stronger than the queen) there is a choice:
1 3 0-0 .i.e7 1 4 ltfd l 0-0 1 5 llac l . 1 5 ...lbd5 1 6 .i.d2 lbb6 1 7 .i.b3
1 1 'ifxaS lbxaS .i.e7 1 8 .i.a5 lbd7 1 9 llfe I .i.g6
20 .i.xe6 ! ? (an absolutely correct
piece sacrifice) 20... fe 2 1 lbxe6 Wfl
22 lbc7 tt:lc5 (Shirov - l llescas, Spain
1 998) 23 e6+ with advantage;
1 5 ... .i.d5 (obviously stronger than
1 5 ...lbd5) 1 6 .i.e2 .J:tc8 1 7 f4 llxc l
1 8 l:hc I �d7 1 9 a3 lbc6 with an
equal game (Svidler - Epishin,
St.Petersburg 1 997).
14 lbg6 1 5 lbxfS lbxeS! ? An
..•
240
Advance Variation: 4 tbj3
fact: after 9 ...a6 White for the present makes an effort, he will equalise the
has not found an order of moves that game.
leads to a clear advantage. y) 10 t!Dc3 (a case where the
The choice is not great: I 0 cd or strongest move can be found by the
1 0 lt:Jc3. process of elimination) I O dc •••
24 1
Advance Variation: 4 liJj3
242
Advance Variation: 4 l£Jj3
confident after 9 b3 0-0 I 0 ..ib2 li:lf5 which cramps his position. There are
I I h3 f6 12 g4 li:lh6 1 3 li:lh4 i..e8 1 4 mutual chances for the two sides.
li:lg2 fe 1 5 de 'iVb6 1 6 li:lhf3 i.. f7 3) 6... h6 (a standard move,
( Erenburg - Galkin, Istanbul 2003). preparing reliable cover for the light
9 cd 10 li:lb3 0-0 Preparing f7-f6,
•.•
squared bishop) 7 c3 White shifts the
but it is also possible to do without accent to his pawn attack: instead of
abrupt movement. I O. . li:lf5 I I i..d2
.
c2-c4 he starts to prepare f2-f4.
0-0 1 2 .J:lc l li:lb8 1 3 ..ia5 1i'e8 1 4 l:lc7 7 lt::le7 Also possible here is the
...
b6 1 5 ..id2 'ifd8 1 6 :lc3 aS 1 7 a4 li:la6 plan with long castling, starting with
(Baklan - Ryzantsev, Internet 2003). the move 7 .. .'ilc7. In the game Anand
11 i..d 2 f6 12 ef i..x f6 13 ..iaS 'ile7 - Timman (Paris 1 99 1 ) White tried to
14 'ifd2 llfc8 1 5 i..c3 lt::ln 1 6 ..id3 get active on the queen's flank - 8 a4,
.i.xd3 1 7 'iWxd3 li:lf8 1 8 l:lfe l but a fter 8 ...g5 9 li:la3 f6 I 0 i.. d3
(Volokitin - Pogorelov, Istanbul i.. xd3 I I 'ifxd3 0-0-o 1 2 ef li:lgxf6
2003 ). The very quiet variation 1 3 lle I l:l.e8 the game turned out in
7 �bd2, has nothing to otTer. Black's favour.
b) 7 b3 li:lh6!? 8 c4 lt::lrs 9 lt::lc3 After 7 ...lt::le7 White finds himself
..ib4 I 0 i.. b2 0-0 at a crossroads.
243
Advance Variation: 4 li'Jj3
244
Advance Variation: 4 lqf3
exchange of the knight for the dark I I il.bS+ lbc6 1 2 'it'a4 ._,c8 1 3 c4 a6
squared bishop, then, as a rule, his 1 4 ii.xc6+ 1i'xc6 1 5 'ifxc6+ be 1 6 cd
defence will not present particular cd 1 7 ii.b2 J::tb8 1 8 a3 , although this
problems. 14 fe 0-0 1 5 il.dJ �xdJ endgame is in White's favour
16 ._,xdJ J:tc8 17 lbgJ 'WaS 18 lbe2 (Mainka - Smagin, Copenhagen
lbb6 with equal chances (Hubner - 1 993).
lordachescu, Bavaria 1 997). l l lbc6
... (unsatisfactory is
b) 7 cJ!? White provokes his l l ...lbd7'!! 1 2 lba3 a6 l 3 c4) 1 2 'ifa4
opponent into an immediate c6-c5. 'ii'd 7 13 lbd2 with a pleasant game
It makes sense for the time being to for White.
wait - 7 ...�g4!? c) 7 lbbd2 For the time being
White does not reveal his plans,
7 c5 (principled but, most
•••
245
Advance Variation: 4 lDj3
246
Advance Variation: 4 �j3
247
Advance Variation: 4 ltJf3
248
Advance Variation: 4 lbj3
e3) 7 ... c5!? The most logical. It d5 is still not the whole game (Smirin
turns out that the knight fJ, blessed - Anand, Villarobledo 1 998).
with good intentions, has gone to the 8 .i.gS!? (White tries by tactical
edge and given up control of the d4 means to refute the opponent's
square and so Black tries to destroy idea... ) 8 .i.g6 9 lLla3 f6!? ( ...and he
•.•
White's pawn base in the centre. accepts the challenge! ) 10 lLlbS lLlc6
It should be mentioned it is not I t ef gf 1 2 .i.f4 rJ;;f7 13 c4 lbxd4
right for White to unload the centre: 14 .i.c7 White will continue to
After 8 de (Bologan - lordachescu, confuse the trail. Worth considering
Szeky 1 998) Black can take over the is the more natural 1 4 ltJxd4, so that
initiative by means of 8 ...ii.e4! 9 f4 after 1 4 . . . cd 1 5 cd e5 1 6 .i.g3 lLlb6,
lbc6 1 0 lLlf3 ii.xc5+ I I �h I 0-0 (a he can start making his way through
recommendation of lordachescu). to the black king: 1 7 f4! ef 1 8 .i.xf4
Possible is 8 c3, and then: 'ii'xd5 1 9 l:tc I .i.c5 20 .i.f3 d3+
21 <Jilh 1 'ii'd4 22 .i.xb7 ltad8 23 .i.g5
with the initiative.
14 'ii'c8 IS cd ed 16 .i.g3 lLlxe2+
.••
(restricting the knight b6) 1 5 ... 'ii'd7 20 'ii'e6+ rJ;;g7 21 'ii'xd6 l:.he8
1 6 'ii'b2 lLla7 1 7 .i.f4 0-0 1 8 h4 with 22 l:.e7+ �g8, and White's attack
an enduring initiative (Svidler - gradually comes to naught.
Lobron, Bad Homburg 1 998);
8 ....i.e4 9 lbd2 lbc6 I 0 lLlxe4 de
I I g3 .i.e7 1 2 lLlg2 cd 1 3 cd 0-0 c
14 Jk.e3 lLlb6 1 5 l:tc I lbd5 1 6 'ifc2 S ltJe7!? The most prom ising
••.
249
Advance Variation: 4 !£Jj3
reinforce it with a pawn on b4. Black Either the h file will be opened or
should give it the utmost attention; White must give up the f5 square. In
we have already repeatedly satisfied either case for a long lime attention
ourselves that the pawn fist a2-b4-c5- will be diverted from events on the
c3 is capable of causing a huge queen's flank to the close proximity
amount of trouble. of White's king ...
The conclusion is simple: in reply 11 hJ hg 12 hg t£Jec6 13 b4 d4! An
to 6 c3 do not play c6-c5 until the c5 original break in the centre. Black
square is under your control ! Take finally takes over the initiative.
away the knight from e7, free the 14 cd (or 14 b5 d3 1 5 be de
diagonal f8-a3 for the dark-squared 1 6 'iVxe2 t£Jxc6) 14 !£Jxd4 IS !£Jxd4
•••
bishop and then boldly advance the c 'iVxd4 16 .ibS+ t£Jc6 17 'iVf3 l:lc8
pawn. White's strategy has been a failure.
6 .ig6! 7 0-0 !£JfS! (only so! )
•.. He is doomed to a struggle for
8 !£Jbd2 c S (the bishop f8 controls the survival.
c5 square, which means that the time Those who are not suited to either
for c6-c5 has arrived) 9 g4?! 9 !£Jb3 !? 6 0-0 or 6 c3 can add to their armoury
looks more reliable, although clearly Svidler's play in a game against
it is difficult to fight for the advantage Belov (Moscow 2003): 6 !£Jbd2 c5?!
in such a way: 9 ... cd 1 0 cd t£Jc6 7 de! t£Jec6 8 !£Jb3 !? !£Jd7 9 0-0 .ixc5
I I .ig5 .ie7 1 2 .ixe7 !£Jfxe7 1 3 t£Jc5 I 0 t£Jxc5 t£Jxc5 I I !£Jd4 with a good
0-0, and Black has solved nearly all positional 'plus' But let's go back to
his problems. the main continuation.
9 !£Je7! Inferior is 9 ...!£Jh4, since
••• 6 0-0 The tabiya of the variation
after I 0 t£Jxh4 'iVxh4 White pushes 5 . ..lhe7.
250
Advance Variation: 4 t:Qp
25 1
Advance Variation: 4 lLlj3
lLlxe3 1 9 ...xe3 g4!, at least with the 1 0 •xd4 lLlc6 1 1 �bS �xc2
initiative (Art. Minasian - Asrian, 12 .ltxc6+ be 13 lLlcJ �e7 14 lLle2
Erevan 2000). ...aS! (Black thrusts the queen over to
8 .U.e l ! ? �h7 9 lLlfl c5 1 0 c4 de a6, and from there to d3 - to shake
I I lLle3 (it seems that White is on the hands) 1 5 b4 'ifa6 16 llel llb8 17 a4
point of breaking in the centre, but .i.g6 1 8 �eJ 0-0 19 'ifcJ 'ifdJ, and
Black manages to abruptly simplify problems are solved (Sutovsky -
Finkel, Israel 1 996).
the position) l l ...cd 1 2 lLlxd4 lLlxe5
c 1 2) 8 lLlaJ A move with two
1 3 lLlxc4 lLl7c6 1 4 lLlxe5 ...xd4 !
objectives a t the same time. The first
1 5 lLlxc6 ...xd l 1 6 .U.xd l be 1 7 .i. f3
- to drop the knight at b5. The second
llc8 1 8 �e3 c5 with an equal
- to help promote c2-c4. But as a
endgame (Svidler - Dreev, Elista
result he achieves nothing.
1 998).
8 lLlec6 9 .i.b2 a6 Suppressing
•••
252
Advance Variation: 4 l:i:Jj3
13 �e4
253
Advance Variation: 4 f1Jj3
254
Advance Variation: 4 lbp
255
Advance Variation: 4 0.}3
256
Advance Variation: 4 lbj3
257
Advance Variation: 4 li:lj3
258
Advance Variation: 4 lbj3
The idea 1 3 ....i.d3 !? still awaits Hawaii 1 998}, and 20 lld2 (lvanchuk
practical trials, while here the move - Karpov, Monaco 1 997) 20 ... gS !
13 ... lbd3!, thought up by M.Podgaets Black, by making a flight square and
in 1 997, passed its test in the game securing the position of his knight eS,
lvanchuk - Karpov (Monaco 1 998) has no problems.
and from this time became the main b) 7 c4 Without exception, in all
line. these variations of Chapter Five the
advance c2-c4 is a very principled
and main response to c6-cS. In reply
Black can choose between 7...dc and
7 ...lbbc6.
b I ) 7 de does not guarantee full
.••
equality.
259
Advance Variatio11: 4 !:fjp
260
Advance Variation: 4 �/3
26 1
Advance Variation: 4 lLlj3
262
Advance Variation: 4 lLlj3
(or 22 ... b6 23 .te3 'ike7 24 'ikbs lla7 did not develop the bishop with
25 .txb6 llb7 26 llac l ! 0-0 27 .td8! tempo.
winning) 23 'ikg4 llg8 (23 ... g6 1 0 . ..'ikd7 Worth considering is
24 .th6) 24 .te3 lLlf6 25 'ikf4 with a I O ... 'ii'c 7!? I I l:te I (in order to lead
colossal initiative. away the l ight-squared bishop;
Instead of 1 9...lL!xc4 stronger, of weaker is I I l:tc l h6 1 2 .th4 lLlf4)
course, is 19 . . . 0-0! , and on 20 cd - l l ...h6 1 2 .th4 cd 1 3 lL!xd4 lL!xd4
20 . . . 'ikh4 ! ? The d6 pawn is 1 4 'ikxd4 .tcS. After 1 5 lL!d6+ 'itiJf8!
unquestionably strong but the ( losing are both I S ... 'ikxd6??
remaining white pieces do not 1 6 'iVa4+, and 1 5 ... .txd6? 1 6 ed)
impress, while the main thing is that events happen all by themselves in a
the black king is in danger. This is long and virtually forced variation,
how the game might further unfold: resulting in perpetual check: 1 6 'ika4
2 1 .tb2 lL!g4 22 'ikg3 'ikxg3 23 hg .txd6 1 7 ed 'ikxd6 1 8 .tg3 'ikb6
llfc8 24 d7 lld8 25 lld3 liaS 26 'itiJfl 1 9 l:r.ac I 'itiJg8 20 .thS l:tf8 2 1 .i.e5
f6 27 f3 lLleS 28 .txeS llxeS 29 lib I '1th7 22 a3 a6 23 .td4 'ikd8 24 .i.c5
l:tcS 30 llxb4 llc7 with an equal rook 'ikg5 ! 25 .txf8 lLlf4! 26 .tf3 lLlh3+
endgame. 27 �fl .td3+ 28 .te2 .txe2+
14 'ifb3! lL!:x:b4 1 5 a3! Two 29 �xe2 lLlf4+ 30 �f3 'ikxg2+
accurate moves - and Black has 3 1 �xf4 'iVx f2+ 32 �e5 'ifxh2+
serious problems: 33 'iVf4 'Wxb2+ 34 'it'd4 'itb2+ etc.
1 5. lLlc2 1 6 l:ta2 de 1 7 l:r.xd8+
.. 1 1 l:tc l h6 12 .teJ
l:txd8 I 8 lL!d6+ .txd6 1 9 ed lL!es
20 .td2 lLlxf3+ 2 1 'ikxf3 e I 'iV+ 22
.txe l lLlxe l 23 'ii'xb7 o-o 24 'ikc7;
1 5 lL!a6 1 6 .te3 lL!xcS 1 7 .txcS
..•
I I lLld6+ .txd6 1 2 .txbS ! But after correctness of this sacri fice, but there
I O....te4!? White will regret that he are simply no other resources.
263
Advance Variation: 4 {jjf3
264
Advance Variation: 4 lDj3
be extremely difficult for While lo It goes without saying that with the
realise his material advantage. moves 4 lDf3, 5 �e2, 6 0-0, 7 c4 etc.
you will hardly succeed in playing a
The system 4 lDf3 is perhaps the miniature. But it is highly probable
only properly classical system in this that you will succeed in obtaining a
book. Classical system does not game laying claim to a serious
exactly suggest an immediate positional advantage. In this also lies
refutation of the opening variation the advantage of the Classical.
chosen by the opponent. No way.
Classical system suggests, firstly, a The Classical system might reach
healthy development of one's forces; the peak of popularity or fall
secondly, a healthy (mainly - central) completely from fashion. But the
plan of play after coming out of the Classical cannot die before chess
opening; and thirdly, absolute itself dies. In other words, it will
preparation to repulse the latest 'non never die.
classical' tip and run attacks by the
opponent.
265
Advance Variation: 4 /C,f3
266
Advance Variation: 4 liJj3
267
Illustrative Games
No. I
A.MOROZEVICH - E.BAREEV
Monaco 2004
l e4 c6 2 d4 dS 3 f3 de. It is worth
mentioning an idea, hitherto not seen
at the highest level: 3 ...'ifb6!? This
was played by world champion Maya
Chiburdanidze. Whether this kind of
move has value, apart from the factor
of surprise, only the future will tell.
But Maya Grigorievna obtained quite lt is obvious that White has not
an acceptable position: 4 ltJc3 de 5 fe obtained a serious advantage. None
e5 !? 6 liJf3 ed 7 'ifxd4 'ifxd4 8 liJxd4 the less it is still too early to agree a
.ic5 9 liJb3 .id6 I 0 .ig5 liJd7 draw.
I I 0-0-0 .ie5 1 2 liJd4 liJgf6 1 3 .ic4 3 1 c4 'ifd3 32 'iff2 be?! She should
0-0 and subsequently won (Yatskova choose between 32 . . . liJd7 and
- Chiburdanidze, Elista 2004). 32 . . .ltJe4 33 'ith4 liJd2 34 lle8+ �h7
4 fe eS S liJO .ie6 6 c3 liJf6 7 .id3 35 liJxd2 (35 ltJg5+? Wg6) 35 ...'ifxd2
liJbd7 8 0-0 .id6 9 Wh 1 0-0 This 36 'iVe4+ llg6. However even in this
natural move is in fact a theoretical case White can without risk continue
novelty. We looked at the sharp the struggle, for example, 3 7 h3
9 ...'ifc7 10 .ie3 c5!? (as in the game (37 lle6 'ifc l +) 37 ... 'ifd l + 38 �h2
Movsesian - Stohl) on page 1 2. 'ifd6+ 39 %1e5 Wh8 40 'ifd5 etc.
1 0 .igS 'flc7 1 1 liJbd2 llae8 33 ltJe5! 'ifd2 34 ltJxc4 'iVxf2+
12 'it'et h6 13 .ie3 ltJg4 14 .ig1 r5 35 'iti>xll To be really precise, such an
1 5 er .ix£5 16 .ix£5 :xrs 1 7 'iVe2 endgame is not equal - the pawn
ltJgf6 1 8 l1ae1 ed 19 'iVc4+ lld5 weaknesses on a6 and c5 pre
20 llxe8+ ltJxe8 2 1 liJxd4 liJdf6 determine an advantage tor White.
22 liJfS b5 23 'ife2 'ifd7 24 liJxd6 Moreover Black does not put up a
liJxd6 25 liJO liJde4 26 .id4 a6 tenacious defence.
27 �g 1 c5 28 .ixf6 liJxf6 29 .Ue1 35...1ld4?! 36 lte6 ltJe4+ 37 'it>e3
lld6 30 b3 'it'f5 ltJc3 38 llxa6 lld 1 39 lla5 lta 1 40 a4
268
lllustrative Games
No.2
R.FELGAER - A.DREEV
Tripoli 2004
I e4 c:6 2 d4 dS 3 f3 e6 Theory
promises Black a comfortable game
both on 3 ... g6, and 3 ... e5 !? However
in grandmaster practice why does the 20 ibhxf6+!? The right idea but
modest advance o f the e-pawn with the wrong exploitation. After
prevail? 20 lbexf6+! gf 2 1 'ii'f5 ! he is no
4 .i.e3 b6!? In gambit variations position to ward ofT the attack, as a
4. . . de 5 ll'ld2 ef 6 ll'lgxt3 ll'lf6 7 ll'lc4 consequence of which Black is
('a Ia Smyslov ' ! - see page 1 9) in a lamentable predicament. For
worthy of consideration is the game example, 2 1 ...i.c8 22 ibxf6+ c;t>n (or
Turov - Galkin (I nternet 2004): 22 .. .'J.e7 23 lbd5+) 23 lbd7+ <lJg7
7 ... ll'lbd7 8 .i.d3 .i.e7 9 'ild2 ll'ld5 24 'ii'xe5+ Wg8 25 ibxf8 be 26 l:.d8
I 0 �g5 0-0 I I 0-0-0 b5 1 2 lbce5 cb+ 27 �xb2 winning.
lbxe5 1 3 de a6 1 4 i.xe7 'ifxe7 In search of an improvement on his
1 5 lbg5 h6 1 6 lbe4 c5 1 7 ibd6 with play, Black probably has to return to
some compensation for the material. 1 9 ...i.a6?!
5 ibd2 It is possible that White 20...gf 2 l lbxf6+ <J;n 22 'ifrs 'i1Ve6!
connects the move 4 ... b6 only to the (now B lack is already winn ing)
idea of exchanging the light-squared 23 'ii'e4 i.e7 24 l:td7 be 25 l:lhdl eb+
bishops and prepares to avoid it: 26 <3;xb2 i.bS 27 l:he7+ 'ii'xe7
5 ....i.a6 6 c4. But Dreev's plan is on a 28 'ifdS+ 'ii>g 7 29 ll'!hS+ Cit>g6
broader scale... Stronger therefore is 30 lbg3 'iVa3+ 31 <3;bl 1fb4+
the usual 5 lbc3. 32 Cit>a l l:r.xa2+! White resigned in
S c:S!? 6 e3 'ifd7 7 ll'lh3 ed
.•• view of 33 �xa2 i.c4+ or 33 1fxa2
8 �xd4 lbe7 9 ibf4 lbbc:6 I 0 i.bS a6 'ii'c3+ 34 <3;b l i.d3+.
I I ed ab 12 de 'ifxe6 13 lbe4 lbrs
14 ibhS i.b7 Black's central strategy No.3
bears its fruit; his position is better. A.MOROZEVICH
Realising this, White rushes into a V.BOLOGAN
desperate counterattack which is Dagomis 2004
hardly crowned with success.
1 5 g4! ? lbxd4 1 6 'ihd4 f6 I e4 e6 2 d4 dS 3 f3 e6 4 lbe3 �b4
1 7 0-0-0 (already now it was possible 5 i.f4 lbe7 The other popular
to sacrifice a piece on f6) 17 ...e5 development, with the knight on f6,
269
Jllustrative Games
270
Illustrative Games
weaknesses on the queen 's flank; on 23 'iWxf7+ with mate. But there is no
the other hand, the knight, heading salvation in transposition to an
for d5, can cement the position. Here endgame, while allowing it only
is a typical example: l l . ..&i:Je7 slightly delays the moment of
1 2 We2 lbdS 1 3 lbxd5 ed 1 4 �a6 resignation. 22 lbd6+! 'it>d7 23 l1xh5
�d7 1 5 llac 1 llb8 1 6 b3 �a3 llaf8 24 bS �e8 2S llh4 �e7
1 7 llcd1 �e6, and his problems are 26 lbxc8 llxe8 27 �xa7 llhd8
behind him (Volokitin - Speelman, 28 .te4 lld l+ 29 'it>tl lled8 30 llxh7
Internet 2004). ll8d2+ 3 1 �g3 lla2 32 �eS :c 1
7 lbe3 �b4 By transposition of 33 b6+ 'it>b7 34 llxg7, and White
moves the opponents have reached a wins.
well-known position (see page 37),
but Black decides to deviate from the No.5
game we analysed, Iordachescu - S.MOVSESIAN -
Arkell. It will be recalled that there D.SVETUSHKIN
�c5 was played. Calvia 2004
8 lbxe6 be 9 �d3 d4 1 0 a3 �aS
11 b4 �e7 (a mistake, stronger is I e4 c6 2 d4 dS 3 eS eS 4 de. The
l l ... dc 1 2 ba ...xa5 with a success o f the earlier c2-c4 in
compl icated struggle) 1 2 lbe4 �xeS the game Rublevsky - Asrian
13 'iVhS 'iVc7 A beautiful win in reply predetermined interest in this move
to l 3 ...�c7 was pointed out by Sergei and in other variations. Thus, in ' new
Rublevsky: 1 4 �g5 lbe7 1 5 �f6! history' the variation 4 .!Llf.3 �g4
1 4 f4 �d6 (More problems with his 5 c4!?, was formulated and then:
king remain after 14 ...�xf4 15 0-0 S ... cd 6 'ii'a4+ �d7 7 'ii'b3 de
�xc 1 1 6 llaxc l ) 1 5 �b2 lbe7 16 0-0 8 �xc4 e6 9 .!Llxd4 .!Llc6 I 0 .!Llxc6
�xf4 1 7 �xd4 lbfS 1 8 �eS �a6 .txc6 I I 0-0 .!Lle7 (Nisipeanu -
Zelcic, Naum 2004);
s ... dc 6 �xc4 e6 7 'ii'b3 .txf3
8 1fxf3 .!Llc6 9 .tbS 'ii'h6 10 �xc6+
'iWxc6 I I 'iWxc6+ be (Baklan -
Speelman, Internet 2004);
5 ....!Llc6 6 de de 7 1fxd8+ llxd8
8 �xc4 �xf3 9 gf e6 1 0 �e3 .!Llge7
I I �b5 a6 1 2 �a4 tbdS (Parligras -
Svetushkin, Agios 2004).
4 tbe6 S �bS e6 6 �e3 tbge7
.••
27 1
Illustrative Games
272
Illustrative Games
273
Jllustrative Games
274
Illustrative Games
.irs 44 lt:lb6 Wb3 45 llb7 a4 46 'lte4 the game Sutovsky - Izoria (Agia
Agreed a draw. Pelagia 2004). In it Black defended in
275
lllustrative Games
276
lllustrative Games
277
lllustrative Games
deviations from past equalising Fedorov - Naer (page 1 44), does not
continuations such as 1 3 . . . liJbd7 convince us that White even has an
(page 1 44 ). The latest word is the equal game!
game Bromberger - Erenburg 1 8 liJe4! 19 g5 ( 1 9 �xc4 liJxc3+)
..•
278
Illustrative Games
his element - the blows come one the e4 square, nevertheless stil l
after the other!) 1 8...'iVa4 19 ltacl advances the f-pawn!
gf! Under such pressure, Black is Earlier theory was orientated
completeley disorientated and loses towards the game Shirov - Grischuk:
without a struggle. He should return 9 'ifd2 .!Dd7 1 0 a3 etc. (page 1 94).
the knight to g8. 9....ie4 10 .ib5+ .!Dd7 1 1 0-0
20 'ifxf6 �g8 21 .ixh6 lth7 i.xc3 1 2 be .!De7?! White's plan is
22 'ifg5+ �h8 23 cd ed 24 ltfel .te4 not in doubt. So, in the present
25 'iff4 'ifa3 26 e6! f5 Hopeless is position, it is worth considering
1 2 ... 'ifh4!?, and his knight can enter
26. . . fe 27 'iff6+ �g8 28 'ifxe6+ .:lf7
the game via h6. All the same, the
29 1lxe4! de 30 'ifg6+ �h8 3 1 'ifxf7,
complications after 1 3 f5 ! .!Dh6 1 4 fe
but 26...'iff3 would be a little more
fe 1 5 .!Dxe6 .!Dxg4 1 6 .if4 do not tum
tenacious.
out in Black's favour.
27 'ife5+ q;g8 28 ltc7! l:hc7 The correct order of moves is this:
29 'ii'xc7 Black resigned. the intermediate 1 2 . . .a6!?, and only
after 1 3 .id3 - 13 ... 'ifh4.
279
Illustrative Games
280
Jllustrative Games
material equality and starts to play for and one careless move 1 6 ...iL.e7? led
a win. It seems that the evaluation of to an immediate rout: 1 7 lL!xd5! ed
the move IO ... tLlxd5 has to be 1 8 .:.xd5 ! 'iVc8 1 9 i.xc6+! 'iVxc6
revised... 20 l:ld8+ lbd8 2 1 'iVxc6+ �ffi
20 0-0 �xe3+ 2 1 �h I .i.d4 22 D.e 1 22 .i.xe7+ lL!xe7 23 'iVxa6 (Roiz -
�xc3 23 be l:lxc3 The pawn islands, Erenburg, Ashdod 2004).
undefended king - all point to the fact
that a difficult time awaits Black. And
he will not succeed in realising his
only trump - the passed a-pawn,
supported by the bishop.
24 •as .:.d3 25 h3 h6 26 a4 •b3
27 'ifa8+ �h7 28 i.e4 (28 aS ...c3,
but now the game transfers to a
completely hopeless rook endgame)
28 ..,c3 29 i.xfS+ ef 30 .:.n •xeS
•••
move. But no one would have be suggested: I I lL!db5 lLlc8 (but not
guessed that the prospects would I 1 .. .lL!ec6? 1 2 lL!a4! .i.xb4+ 1 3 c3 ).
have been quite so good: in 2004 at 1 1 lL!db5 'iVa5 12 .i.d2 ._,d8
grandmaster level White won every 13 lLld6+ �d7 14 lL!xb7 1Wc7
game in which this thmst of the 15 lL!d6 lLlf5 More concrete is 1 5 ...
bishop was encountered! lL!ec6! ?, ' latching on' to the e5 pawn,
8 1Wa5+ 9 lL!c3 i.g6 The
.•• and if 1 6 lL!cb5 �6 1 7 ..ie3, then
alternative - 9 ...lL!bc6 1 0 .i.b5 1Wc7 1 7 .. .'iVaS+ with a repetition of moves.
I I 0-0 .i.g6 1 2 'ifg4 a6 ( 1 2 .. .'ifxe5'! 16 lL!cb5 1Wc5 17 lL!xf5 ..txrs
1 3 .i.xe7) 1 3 .i.a4 1Wd7 (dangerous is 18 c3! .i.e7 The position has
1 3 . . . b5 1 4 lL!cxb5 ! ab 1 5 .i.xb5) stabil ised. It is noticeable that Black
14 .:.ad I lLlf5 1 5 lL!xc6 be 1 6 'iVf3. does not succeed in evacuating his
28 1
Illustrative Games
king - 1 8 ...llJc6 1 9 �e3, but this White does not want to spoil the
means that he has to withstand a opponent's pawn structure (by taking
direct attack. The way that Volokitin on h6), and, for his part, Black offers
attacks deserves the highest praise. the very same invitation. An
19 �e3 'ifc6 20 0-0 �c5 2 1 �xc5 invitation that was accepted by
'ifxc5 22 c4! a6 23 cd! ab 24 llcl Alexei Dreev: 8 ...�xa3 9 ba 'iVa5
'ikb4 25 i.xb5+! We7 (it is mate also I 0 .i.xh6 gh I I 'ifc I lbb6 1 2 'iVb2
after the acceptance of the sacrifice: 0-0 1 3 'iVb4 'iVxb4 1 4 ab a5 1 5 a3
25 . . .'iVxb5 26 de+ r3i;e7 27 'ifd6+ �e8 lba4 1 6 llfc l lla7 1 7 h4 llfa8 - as we
28 llc8 mate or 26 .. .'�xe6 27 'iVd6 see, with a quite comfortable game
mate) 26 d6+ �d8 27 llc8+! And a (Naer - Dreev, Internet 2004).
few moves before mate (27 ...r3;xc8 9 lDc2 �e7 A second game
28 'iVc l + etc.) Black resigned. between the same opponents also
turned out in Black's favour: 9 ... c5
No. l 5 1 0 lbce I cd I I cd 'ifb6 1 2 g4 lbe7
A.VOLOKITIN 1 3 lbg2 h5 14 h3 hg 1 5 hg �e4
K.RASMUSSEN 1 6 lbg5 �xg2 1 7 'it>xg2 f6 1 8 ef gf
Germany 2004 1 9 lbtJ l:r.g8 20 lbh4 0-0-0 - his own
king is far better defended than the
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 .trs 4 lDf3 e6 opponent's (Naer - Dreev, Internet
5 �e2 lDd7 Recently this move has 2004).
quite surprisingly surpassed 5 ...lbe7 10 lbcel 0-0 I I g3 (preventing the
in popularity. In general the tendency exchange of knights on h4 which is
is the same: in directing his forces favourable for Black) ll ...cS 12 h3!?
towards an early advance c6-c5, A puzzling move; none the less the
Black first and foremost reorientates explanation for it is very prosaic:
the development of his pieces. White, 1 2 . . .�h5 1 3 g4. In this way the d4
for his part, does not intend to play pawn will be sufficiently covered
c2-c4 (or c3-c4) until the black pawn from the king's flank.
leaves c6. 1 2 ...cd. B lack made an experi
The situation is stalemate, but a mental piece sacrifice in the game
heated skirmish in the centre (the lnarkiev - Bachin (Dagomis 2004):
pawn pair c4 and d4 for White against 1 2 . . . f6!? 1 3 g4 fe 14 gf �xf5. Even if
c5 and d5 for Black) will replace the he does not obtain full compensation
multi-move manoeuvres of pieces, for it - 1 5 lbxe5 cd 1 6 cd lbxe5 1 7 de
' skirting around' the vulnerable �xh3 1 8 lbg2 �c5 1 9 'iVb3 �f5
points in the centre. 20 i.e3 etc - the threats to the white
6 0-0 �g6 7 c3 (in the theoretical king are still quite serious.
section all our attention was given to 13 cd llc8 14 lbd3 h6 I S lDf4 .i.h7
7 b3 or 7 lbbd2 followed by c2-c4) 16 �d3 'ifb6 A loss of time - and the
7 lbh6 8 lba3 lbf5 1t is amusing that
..• root cause of defeat. After 1 6 ...lbb8
282
Illustrative Games
283
Index to Games
(numbers refer to pages)
284