CONTENTS

Title page
Foreword
System of signs
Introduction

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11

Variation Index
About the Author

2
 Author
Ranko Szuhanek

Editorial board
Goran Arsović, Vitomir Božić, Aleksandar Matanović, Branko Tadić, Igor Žveglić

Design
Miloš Majstorović

Translation
Igor Žveglić

Editing and Typesetting

Jelena Arsović

Proofreading
Vitomir Božić

Editorial Assistant
Daniela Aćimović

3
 Editor-in-chief
GM Branko Tadić

General Manager
Vitomir Božić

President
GM Aleksandar Matanović

© Copyright 2021 Šahovski informator

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No part of the Chess Informant system (classification of openings, endings and combinations, system
of signs, etc.) may be used in other publications without prior permission in writing from the
publisher.

ISBN 978-86-7297-121-7

Publisher

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www.sahovski.com

To my beloved Parents

4
FOREWORD
FROM THE AUTHOR

I remember that twenty years ago I came across and read a very interesting book entitled “Substance
and Shadow” written by the late Vedic scholar Suhotra Swami.
The book is the illustration of the Vedic approach to knowledge. The book is divided into chapters
describing the philosophical, psychological and practical way a sensible person should live his life.
The teachings of ancient India’s famous epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata were also included in
the book; almost any reader could understand the essence of this invaluable inheritance.
The game of chess also has the origin in the Vedic space and epoch. The Mahabharata asserts that the
game called “chaturanga” ( which in Sanskrit means “having four limbs”) , was a war-simulation
game that inspired the big Kshatriyas (the caste of the warriors) to choose the military strategy of that
ancient epoch.
I would be very happy if the book you are holding now would be the “substance and shadow” for
many active players and coaches; they may use it in the process of improving their own chess skills or
those of the students whom they are teaching this exceptional game!
I would like to explain the way in which one should try to approach this book for better understanding
of the aspects I previously talked about.
The sidelines or rare variations the book deals with, are being played at top level mostly by following
categories of players:
1. Within the first category we can identify even some top 10 players in the world, but also many
renowned super GMs. The reasons they sometimes employ these lines are purely psychological, as
they want to avoid the opponent’s home preparation, and grab the surprise – factor advantage from
the very beginning of the game.
2. The second category includes the young rising stars, who are very self confident and also eager to
experience new positions and get some extra adrenaline. They experience both psychological and
philosophical aspects of these rare lines, searching for lots of practical positions to be solved over the
board.
3. Finally, the third category is the one this book is mainly dedicated to. They are the Najdorf players,
to whom I present a wide range of practical ways of refuting those lines in order to have an easy game
as Black.
Do not forget that you are the “substance” of this book, while the first two categories presented above
are the “shadow”.
After reading the book, diligent readers may ask themselves why there are some games where
excellent Black players commit such a large number of errors, eventually spoiling the final outcome
of the battle. This is a very suitable question, therefore those games were included on purpose. These
players got themselves caught by the time pressure and eventually became a sitting duck for the
shadow’s throwers.

5
What should we do in order to avoid this negative outcome?
Here are some good recommendations that in my opinion will be of great help:
1. Do not panic!
2. Breathe normally and just come to your senses; do not look surprised, but take some time to secure
the best way of dealing with your own mental capacity needed for the rest of the game.
3. Do that even if it means throwing a couple of minutes through the window, and do not literally
think about pure chess topics. Remember, the amount of time is not wasted, but rather the best way to
avoid the shadow!
Finally, after recovering, try to stick to the Najdorf-like typical positions at all cost. No hybrid of the
Dragon or Scheveningen-like variation would pay off, but it will only get your opponent closer to his
goal.
4. Apply the Najdorf knowledge and plans you have used for ages, and let the true “substance” bring
you the desired success.
In addition, how can we notice the difference between the substance and the shadow?
Is there a borderline between the two concepts that are strongly related to each other?
As the Sun rises above us in the sky, each substance has its own shadow and this is the symbol of
knowledge from the ancient times.
If knowledge contains both the substance and the shadow, a top chess player must also have them, as
he should be always able to recognise the imaginary border between the two concepts and apply the
one which he thinks is appropriate for the given situation.
There are games in which both concepts should be used, as nowadays chess has become a very
complex matter. One cannot be a complete player without having all the segments of a grown-up
personality including different areas of preparation.
Lately there has been a race against time in which we can witness the chess prodigies achieving
amazing results at a very young age. Some say it is just the “computer era” combined with numerous
talents given by the traditional chess nations. As a matter of fact, the problem goes much deeper than
that and it is related to preparation including a wide range of objectives to be mastered by the
students. I think mostly of the Indian and the Chinese young players who seem to have understood the
substance and shadow theory and who have applied it with much success.
I wish you good luck and much success in applying these amazing concepts you have just learned
about!

IM Ranko Szuhanek

6
SYSTEM OF SIGNS

² white stands slightly better

³ black stands slightly better
± white has the upper hand
µ black has the upper hand
+– white has a decisive advantage
–+ black has a decisive аdvantage
= even
∞ unclear
© with compensation for the material
‰ development advantage
О greater board room
‚ with attack
ƒ with initiative
„ with counterplay
ʘ zugzwang
# mate
! a very good move
!! an excellent move
? a mistake
?? a blunder
!? a move deserving attention
?! a dubious move
∆ with the idea
™ only move
¹ better is
‡ centre
¸ king's side
« queen's side
× weak point
¬ endgame
® bishops of opposite color
¯ bishops of the same color
º double pawns
¼ passed pawn
> advantage in number of pawns

7
† time
86/203 Chess Informant
E 12 Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings
R 3/b Encyclopaedia of Chess Endings
N a novelty
(ch) championship
(izt) interzonal tournament
(ct) candidates' tournament
(m) match
(ol) olympiad
corr. correspondence game
RR editorial comment
R various moves
ª with
– see

8
INTRODUCTION

Chess has changed a lot lately. While the age of high performance has dropped considerably, we
witness a “total” approach to this fantastic game in terms of, literally, “everything is possible”.
The Najdorf variation is one of the main weapons Black applies in the Sicilian Defence. A quick
development of the main lines, has pushed many players to look for other possibilities to fight against
it. Lines which were not played ten years ago, became popular even among the elite players, who
hope to have a proper chess game on the board, thus avoiding computer-based home preparation.
The fact that the Najdorf variation is a true option when playing for a win is established by the fact
that many World Champions have employed it, and along them almost all top players like Ian
Nepomniachtchi, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Levon Aronian, Hikaru Nakamura, Anish Giri,
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Alireza Firouzja, Radosław Wojtaszek, Alexander Grishchuk, Boris
Gelfand, and many others. Many of them are also playing the same variation with both colours,
preferring the rare lines as a surprise weapon hoping to win the psychological battle from the very
beginning.
I remember to have played my first ever “Najdorf” as a child, back in 1981. Forty years have passed
since then, and it is still my number one weapon against the Sicilian Defence.
As the present work advocates Black’s side of dealing with the rare lines, I have tried to give some
directions where Black would find himself comfortable to equalise in most of the cases, and even get
an edge right from the very beginning.
It might sound a little too much, but in most cases the rare lines do not bring White the expected plus,
but they still can be used as a surprise weapon.
I believe the instructive games that lie in the following pages would just be of great help for those
who want to improve their knowledge, and become more familiar with the ideas of some particular
positions. As a hint, there is in many cases the exchange sacrifice on c3, which eventually brings
Black both positional and tactical superiority. This idea is often neglected even by top players, who
could have employed it for an easier game or a possible way to victory. Even though there is nothing
visible immediately, the whole White concept falls apart after the Rxc3 sacrifice. The e4 pawn may or
may not be captured, but the ruined pawn structure, (a weak king - if the long castle was played) and
the impossibility to fight for the d5 square give Black lots of prospects to play for a win. The d5 pawn
push is, however, a desired objective, but there are pros and cons of that concept also, which is
explained in great detail as well.
This book contains all the rare lines a rational player could employ when playing White. One can also
find in it the most important ideas which, in my opinion, can take Black towards a comfortable
opening outcome.
Consequently, these lines are not free of poison if Black does not know how to react. However, the
rare lines are becoming more and more popular even at top level, and the percent of the games played
is growing every year. This is a clear sign that White is always in searching for new ways to fight the
Najdorf variation, and the future may bring us more surprises. We can witness lines such as 6.a4 or
6.h3 spreading to a larger amount of games, so that they would hardly be considered rare anymore in

9
the next couple of years.
One way or another, I believe that strong players would also develop some of these lines in White’s
benefit, as the future will surely bring us chances for improvements and further development of these
lines.

10
CHAPTER 1
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a3

The idea behind this move is to wait and see what the Black's plan is. This attempt is best met with
6...e5, but not because it is in the spirit of the Najdorf, but also because in the lines starting with either
6...e6, or 6...g6, White may find the a3 move very useful for his own agenda. After 6...e5, it is Black's
mission to prove that a3 is just a waste of time, and that White cannot claim any advantage. There are
not that many grandmaster games in the database, so this variation is still to be explored. Yet for the
moment, in my opinion, the a3 line is just a surprise, and all that Black has to do is to play the
"correct Najdorf " even if he does not know any concrete theory. The World Champion Magnus
Carlsen tried it, and won the game against Radosław Wojtaszek (a renowned Najdorf specialist) even
though Wojtaszek played a solid line and got an equal position. Therefore we cannot blame the
opening play for Black's defeat. After 6...e5 White can try either 7.Nf3 which is quite passive and
does not bring any chance to fight for an advantage, or the more aggressive 7.Nf5 that can still be
refuted as you will see in the analysis.

6.a3... 7.Nf3

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a3

11
6...e5 7.Nf3

This is considered less active, and Black should have no problems in this line if he plays accurately.
On the other hand, 8.Nf5 is the aggressive approach that gives White a small edge. 7...h6
7...Be7 8.Bc4 Be6 9.Ba2 O-O 10.O-O b5 11.Re1 Re8 12.Bg5 Nbd7= Sergey Karyakin 2785 - Anish
Giri 2773, Wijk aan Zee 2017 – 131/(74); 7...Qc7 8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.Be2 Be7 10.Nd2 Nb6 (10...O-O
11.Nc4 b5 12.Ne3 Bb7=) 11.a4 Be6 12.a5 Nbd7 13.Nf1 O-O 14.Ne3 b5 15.axb6 Qxb6 16.Rb1 Rfb8
17.O-O Qc5 18.Na4 Qc6 19.c4 Bd8 20.Nd5 Kh8 (20...h6 21.Bxf6 Nxf6=) 21.Bd3 a5 22.b3

12
22...Ne8 (22...Nc5!?) 23.Be3 Nc7 24.f4 exf4 25.Nxf4 Ne5 26.Nxe6 Nxe6 27.Bc2 Bg5 28.Bf2 Nf4
29.Nc3 Rd8 30.Kh1 Qd7 31.Bg3 Nfg6 32.Nd5 Rdb8 33.Qh5² Božidar Đurašević - Svetozar
Gligorić, Beograd 1954
8.Bc4
8.h3 Be7 9.Bc4 Be6 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.O-O O-O 12.Qd3 (12.b4? This is a positional mistake.The c4 is
an important square for White, and should have not been given away so easily. 12...Nbd7 13.Qd3
(13.Bb2?! The bishop has no business on the long diagonal. 13...Rc8 14.Rc1 Nb6 15.Nd2 Nc4
16.Nxc4 Rxc4 17.f3 Qc7 (17...a5µ Christian Fleishhacker 1819 - Ante Brkic 2597, Österreich 2021)
18.Ne2 d5 19.Qd3 b5 20.Ng3 Rd8 21.exd5 Nxd5 22.Qb3 Bg5µ) 13...Rc8 14.Bd2 Nb6 15.Rad1 Nc4
16.Bc1 Qc7 17.Rfe1 b5³) 12...b5 13.Be3 Nbd7 14.Rad1 Qc7 15.Nh2 Rab8 16.Ng4 Nxg4 17.hxg4
Nb6 18.Bc1 Qc6 19.Rfe1 Rbd8= Despite the equality given by the engines, Black has a more flexible
position.
8...Be6 9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.O-O
10.Nh4 The Russian GM Semen Dvoirys brought this idea to life. It is more of a surprise than the line
that objectively gives White an edge. 10...Nc6 11.f4

13
11...Rg8! (11...exf4?! 12.Ng6 Rg8 13.Bxf4 Ne5 (13...e5? 14.Be3 Qd7 15.O-O Qe6 16.Nd5 O-O-O
17.Bb6± Semen Dvojrys 2543 - Anton Shomoev 2568, Khanty-Mansiysk 2012) 14.Nxe5 dxe5
15.Bxe5 Qxd1+ 16.Rxd1 Rc8 17.Bd4 Bc5 18.e5 Bxd4 19.Rxd4 Nd7 20.O-O Ke7 21.Rfd1 Rc7
22.Rg4 g5 23.Re1 h5 24.Rge4²) 12.fxe5 (12.Nf3 Qc7! (12...Qb6 13.Qd3 Ng4 14.Rf1 exf4 15.Bxf4
g5 16.Bd2 O-O-O 17.O-O-O Bg7 18.Qe2 Kb8 19.h3 Nge5 20.Be3 Qa5 21.Nxe5 Bxe5 (Semen
Dvojrys 2534 - Evgeny Zanan 2434, Israel (ch) 2016) 22.Bd2 Qb6 23.Be3=) 13.O-O O-O-O 14.Qe2
Be7 15.Kh1 Rgf8 16.Bd2 exf4 17.Bxf4 Nd7³) 12...Nxe5 13.O-O Be7 14.Nf3 Qb6+ 15.Kh1 Rf8∞

14
 Nigel Short

10...Nbd7

15
10...Nc6 11.Nh4 Kf7 12.Qd3 Rg8 13.Be3 Rc8 14.Rad1 Be7 and Black has a good position thanks to
his central pawn structure, and it is quite difficult for White to find a good plan.; 10...Qd7 11.Nh4
Qf7 12.f4 exf4 13.Bxf4 Nc6 (13...g5? 14.Bxd6 gxh4 15.e5 Bxd6 16.Qxd6 Qd7 17.Rxf6+-) 14.Nf3
Be7 15.e5 dxe5 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 O-O 18.Qe2²
11.Ne1!?
In his game versus Aronian, Nigel Short tried to find a good plan, as the ''normal'' development
offered him nothing. By putting the knight on d3 and pushing f4, White hopes to fight for the
initiative by demolishing the opponent's strong pawn centre.
11...Be7 12.Nd3 O-O=
Black equalised easily. His development is over and now he has many options. First is to push d5 and
be the first to take an action in the centre. Also, he can wait for the White's reaction, holding the
strong pawns in the centre, while he can put his pieces the way it is required in order to meet the
opponent's ideas of counterplay.
13.f4
13.Re1 Rc8 14.a4 Rc4 15.Qf3 Qe8 16.Qh3 Bd8 17.f3 d5 18.exd5 exd5 19.Bf4 Bc7 20.Re2 Bb6+!
21.Kh1 Bd4 22.Bd2 Qf7 23.Qf5 Re8 24.Rf1 Qe6 25.Qxe6+ Rxe6 26.a5 e4 27.fxe4 dxe4 28.Nf4
Re8µ Oddly enough, but Black is better thanks to his active pieces, as a result of its mobile central
pawns. Even if there is no material advantage we can spot the ''transformation of the advantage"
which is a topic widely examined by top coaches nowadays. Introduced by the legendary Mark
Dvoretzky, this concept has been used for decades in understanding of the chess technique.
13...Qc7!
Of course, Black puts his queen on the best square and waits for White's decision.

16
14.Kh1 Qc4 15.Qe1

15...Nc5
15...Bd8!³ This is the best option, in my opinion. Black has a small edge and it's best to keep the
tension on, rather than going for some exchanges that would only make White's task easier. 16.b3
Qc6 17.f5 Rc8 18.Bd2 exf5 19.Nb4 Qc5 20.Rxf5 (20.exf5 d5µ) 20...Ba5 21.Ncd5 Nxd5 22.Nxd5
Bxd2 23.Qxd2 Rxf5 24.Ne7+ Kh7 25.Nxf5 Qxc2 26.Qxc2 Rxc2 27.Nxd6 b6 28.h3 Rd2 29.Nf5
Nc5³

17
 Levon Aronian

16.Nxc5 Qxc5 17.Be3

17.Bd2 exf4 18.Rxf4 g5 (18...Nd7 is another good option since White hasn't finished the
development yet, and has no counterplay at all. 19.Rxf8+ Rxf8 20.Be3 Qc7 21.Bd4 Bf6 22.Qf2 Qc4
23.Bxf6 Rxf6 24.Qg1 Ne5µ) 19.Rf3 (19.Qg3 Qe5 20.Rf3 Qxg3 21.Rxg3 Kh7 22.Rf3 Rac8 23.Raf1
Kg6 24.Be3 Rc4µ) 19...Ng4 20.Be3 Nxe3 21.Rxe3

18
21...Bf6!µ Black is clearly better thanks to his active pieces, especially the bishop which is for White
just impossible to touch. 22.Rd1 Be5 23.Rdd3 (23.Qe2 Rf7 24.Rf3 Raf8 25.Rdd3 Rxf3 26.gxf3 g4
27.Kg2 Rf4µ) 23...Rac8 24.h3? This is already loosing. White is just waiting, but 24.g3 was a better
option in this inferior position. Now the dark squares are critical.

24...Qb6! Aronian knows how to create another weakness in the opponent's camp. It's a pleasure to
watch top players "at work" as they don't rush it, but rather applying the chess principles and making
the game look so easy, even if it's not! 25.b4 a5 26.Qd1 axb4 27.axb4 Rf6 (Why not 27...Qxb4
28.Ne2 Qb2 29.Rd2 Qb5 30.c3 Rf2-+) 28.Ne2

19
(28.b5 Kg7-+) 28...Rcf8 We see a total domination in the spirit of good old masters, who did not care
about the pawns, but instead they applied a powerful squeeze and suffocated the prey. 29.Rf3 Rxf3
30.gxf3 Qf2 31.f4 gxf4 32.Qg1+ Qxg1+ 33.Nxg1 Rc8 The final touch. Too many weaknesses that
White cannot deal with. 34.Nf3 Rxc2 35.b5 Rb2 36.Nxe5 dxe5 37.Rd8+ Kf7 38.Rd7+ Kf6 39.Rxb7
Rb4 40.b6 Rxe4 41.Rb8 Rb4 42.b7 Kg7 43.Re8 Rxb7 44.Rxe6 Rb1+ 45.Kg2 Re1-+ 46.Kf3 h5 47.h4
Re3+ 48.Kf2 e4 49.Kf1 f3 50.Re5 Kf6 51.Rxh5 Ra3 52.Rh8 Kg7 0 : 1 Nigel Short 2648 - Levon
Aronian 2767, Gibraltar 2019 – 139/81
17...Qc6 18.fxe5 Ng4 19.Bd4 Rxf1+ 20.Qxf1 Nxe5 21.Qe2
21.Bxe5?! dxe5µ An example of ''strong doubled pawns" as they control all the central squares thus
making the white knight a ''bad" one. It is curious that even after the rook exchange on either d- or f-
file, Black's advantage is still present. With the e6 pawn on f7, White would have enjoyed a slight
advantage, controlling the important d5 square.
21...Rc8 22.Rd1 Bf6³

20
21
6.a3... 7...Qc7

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a3 e5 7.Nf3 Qc7

22
 Yuriy Kuzubov

8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.Bd3 Be7

9...b5 10.O-O Bb7 11.Re1 Be7 12.a4 b4 13.Na2 a5 14.c3
bxc3 15.Nxc3 Black has to choose between a few
candidate moves, but the idea is more or less obvious - the
black king must castle as there are no direct threats that
White can execute on the queenside. Generally speaking
this is the moment when 9...b5 can be estimated as not the
best option for Black. It is advisable to finish development,
and only after that to look for some counterplay, since the
weakness on d5 is already here. Even though, the correct
line would give Black a safe game, but as a rule we should
never go into complications (or making a second weakness
in our position) as long as our king is unsafe, or
development has not yet been finished.

23
15...Bc6?! (15...O-O! Of course, there is nothing to be affraid of! 16.Rc1 (16.Nb5 Qb6 17.Be3
Qd8∞) 16...Nc5 17.Be3 Ng4 18.Bb5 Nxe3 19.Rxe3 Rac8 20.Nd5 Qd8 21.Rc4 g6 22.b4 Bxd5
23.Qxd5 axb4 24.Rxb4 Kg7 25.Re1 Rc7 and Black should be fine.) 16.Bb5!± After this move Black
is already worse. His king is still in the centre, the d5 weakness, and the open c-file is just enough for
White to show his upper hand. 16...O-O (16...h6? This is just loosing. Black keeps his king stuck in
the centre without feeling any danger. 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Rc1+- Rc8 19.Nd5 Qb7 20.Nxf6+ gxf6
21.Qxd6 Bxb5 22.axb5 Rd8 23.Red1 Qxe4 24.Rc8 Qb7 25.Rxd8+ 1 : 0 Amdouni Zoubeir 2104 -
Gustavo Enrique Juárez Flores 2190, Calvià (ol) 2004) 17.Nh4 g6 18.Qf3 Bxb5 19.axb5 Rfc8 20.g3
Qc4 21.Rac1 Qb4 22.Rc2 Rc5 23.Rec1 Qb3 24.Qe2!±
10.Nd2

24
10...h6!
Kuzubov understands the position very well. The bishop should choose where to go, but and this is all
in Black's favour.
11.Bh4

Now the
11...b5=
advance is played right on time. There is no danger in opening of the queenside since White has the
intention to fight for the d5 square by placing his knight on e3.

25
12.Nf1 Nb6
12...Nc5 13.Bxf6 (13.Ne3 g5 14.Bg3 Be6 15.O-O Rb8 16.h3 O-O 17.Qd2 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Rfc8 19.d4
exd4 20.Qxd4 Qc5 21.Qd3²) 13...Bxf6 14.Nd5 Qd8 15.b4 Nxd3+ 16.Qxd3 O-O 17.Nfe3 Bg5 18.O-
O Bb7 19.c4 Bc6 20.Rfc1 Rc8 21.Rc3 Bxe3 22.Nxe3 bxc4 23.Rxc4 Qd7 24.Qd2 Bb5 25.Rxc8 Rxc8
26.Nf5 Rc4 27.Re1²
13.Ne3 Be6 14.Qf3

14.O-O O-O 15.Qf3 Rab8 16.Nf5 Bxf5 17.Qxf5 Nh7 18.Bg3 Nf6 19.f4 Nc4 20.Bxc4 Qxc4 21.Kh1
exf4 22.Rxf4 Qe6 23.Rf3 1/ 2 : 1/2 Luis José Grego - Rustam Usmanoff, corr. 2014
14...O-O
14...Qd7! Not only preventing the knight from jumping to f5, but also forcing White to find another
plan that is not very obvious in this position which is equal according to the engines. I would rather
play Black here, as it's difficult to find a proper role for the badly placed white queen and the two
bishops. 15.O-O (15.Ncd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 O-O 17.O-O Rfe8 18.Bxf6 (18.c3 e4! 19.Bxe4 Nxe4
20.Qxe4 Bg5 21.Qd4 Bxe3 22.fxe3 Nc4 23.Rae1 Nxb2µ) 18...Bxf6 19.Ng4 Bg5 20.Qe4 g6 21.h4 h5
22.hxg5 Qxg4 23.Qxg4 hxg4 24.Rfe1 Rac8 25.c3 (25.Be4 Kg7 26.Kh2 Na4 27.Rab1 f5 28.gxf6+
Kxf6 29.Kg3 Kg5 30.c3 Rh8 31.Re3 Nc5 32.f3 Rh4 33.Rg1 Rch8 34.Kf2 Nd7 35.Ree1 Nf6 36.Ke3
g3µ) 25...Kg7 26.g3 Nc4 27.Re2 Rc5 28.Be4 Nb6 29.Kg2 Rh8 30.Rh1 Rxh1 31.Kxh1 Nd7 32.Kg2
f6 33.gxf6+ Nxf6 34.f3

26
34...Kh6! The black monarch joins his forces for the final assault. White's passisve position will soon
collapse. 35.Re1 Kg5 36.Re2 gxf3+ 37.Kxf3 Rc4 38.Bd3 Rc8 39.Be4 Rh8 40.Kg2 Nxe4 41.Rxe4
Kf5 42.Kf3 Rh2 43.Rb4 Rd2µ) 15...O-O 16.Rfe1 Rab8 17.Nf5 Bxf5 18.exf5

18...Na4! 19.Nxa4 bxa4 20.Rab1 Rb6 21.c4 Rfb8 22.Qe2 Qc7 23.Bxf6 Bxf6 24.Be4 Rb3„
15.Nf5 Bxf5 16.Qxf5 g6 17.Qf3 Kg7
17...Nfd5!? This ''inhuman'' move gives Black the advantage.The worse thing for White is the lack of
both the plan and healthy ideas. Black needs to punish his rival very quickly. 18.Bxe7 Nxe7 19.O-O
h5 20.a4 b4 21.Nd1 Nc6∞

27
18.Bg3
18.Bxf6+ Bxf6 19.h4 Rac8 20.h5 Bg5 21.O-O Bd2 22.Na2 Qe7 23.Nb4 Qb7 24.c3 Bg5 25.Qe2 a5
26.Nd5 Nxd5 27.exd5 Rc5 28.hxg6 fxg6 29.Be4 Rc4 30.Bd3 Rc5=
18...Nh5
18...Nc4 19.Bxc4 Qxc4 20.Qe2 Rac8 21.f3 Nh5 22.Qxc4 Rxc4 23.O-O-O f5 24.exf5 gxf5 25.Nd5
Kf7 26.Bf2 Rcc8 27.g3 Nf6=
19.O-O

19.O-O-O Disbalancing the position would not bring White a good game. 19...Rab8 20.Qg4 Rfc8
21.h4 Nf6 22.Qe2 Nc4 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.exd5 b4 25.Bxc4 Qxc4 26.Qxc4 Rxc4 27.axb4 Rcxb4 28.b3
a5 29.f3 Rc8 30.Kb2

28
30...Rb5! (30...Bf6 31.Rd2 a4 32.Ka3 Rcb8 33.Rb1 h5) 31.h5 g5 32.Be1 (32.Bf2 a4 33.Rhe1 f5µ)
32...Bf6 33.Kb1 Rcc5µ
19...d5!?
It is Black who can afford a breakthrough in the centre thanks to his superior strategy.
19...Qc5 20.Rfd1 Bg5=
20.Nxd5
20.exd5 f5 21.Rad1 Nxg3 22.Qxg3 Bd6 23.Be2 e4 24.Qh3 Be5³; 20.Rfe1 Nxg3 21.Qxg3 Bd6!³

29
Keeping the tension is a good advise in this kind of position. The theoretical battle has been won by
Black, and the psychological test is yet to be passed by White. I guess that every top chess player
would not feel confortable in White's shoes here, so why not waiting a bit more and give him a
chance to go wrong. (21...dxe4?! 22.Bxe4 Rad8 23.Bd3 Bd6 24.Ne4 Rfe8 25.h4 h5 26.Rad1 Bf8
27.Be2 (27.Ng5 Na4 28.Rb1 Bd6 29.Ne4 Be7 30.Ng5 Bxg5 31.hxg5 Re6 32.Be4 Qe7ƒ) 27...Be7

(27...Rxd1 28.Bxd1 Nd5 29.Bxh5 Qxc2 30.b4 Nf4 31.Bg4 Be7 32.h5 Rd8∞) 28.Bxh5 (28.Ng5?!
This move is the result of the psychological pressure I was talking about. White is trying to squeeze
blood out of stone, bearing in mind that not even for a while he had any advantage. 28...Rxd1
29.Bxd1 Bxg5³ 30.Qxg5 (30.hxg5 Nd5 31.Bf3 Nf4 32.Be4

30
32...Qd8!! 33.Kf1 h4 34.Qg4 Qd4 35.b3 Rh8 36.Qd1 Qc5 37.Qd2 h3µ) 30...Qd8 (30...Nc4 31.Bxh5
Nxb2 32.Bf3 Qxc2 33.Rc1 Qf5 34.Qxf5 gxf5 35.Rc7 Rh8 36.Bb7 Rxh4 37.Bxa6 Rc4 38.Rd7 Rc5
39.Rb7 Nc4 40.Rxb5 Rxb5 41.Bxb5 Nxa3 42.Ba6 Kf6 and Black is playing for a win.) 31.b3
(31.Qg3?! Qd2 32.Qe3 Now this is more or less forced. 32...Qxe3 33.Rxe3 Nc4 (33...e4 Black is
simply better after this pawn push as White has no proper coordination, while his pawns could easily
be targeted by the black pieces. 34.f3 Rd8 35.Be2 Rd2 36.fxe4 Rxc2 37.b3 Ra2 38.b4 Kf6 39.g4 hxg4
40.Bxg4 Ke5µ) 34.Rb3 Rc8 This is a typical example when the rook and the bishop are weaker than
the rook and the knight, but it is not clear how to make progress. 35.f3 Kf6 36.Kf2

(Andrey Zhigalko 2515 - Yuriy Kuzubov 2530, Groningen 2004) 36...Rd8! 37.Ke1 Rd2 38.g3 Rg2
39.Be2 Rxg3 40.Bxc4 bxc4 41.Rc3 Rh3 42.Rxc4 Rxf3 43.Rc6+ Kf5 44.Rxa6 Rf4 45.Ra7 f6µ; 31.Be2

31
31...e4! 32.b3 Qc7 33.Qd2 Qe5³) 31...f5 32.Qe3 Re6 33.g3 Qe7³) 28...Rh8 29.Rxd8 Bxd8 30.Be2
Bxh4 31.Qc3 Qxc3 32.Nxc3 Bf6 33.Rd1 e4 34.Nxe4 Bxb2 35.Nc5 Ra8 36.Rd6 Nc4 37.Rxa6 Rxa6
38.Nxa6 Nxa3 39.Nc7 Nxc2 40.Nxb5=)
20...Nxd5 21.exd5 f5 22.c4 Nxg3 23.Qxg3 Bd6 24.Be2 e4 25.Qh3 Be5 26.Rfd1 bxc4 27.Rac1 Qd6
28.Rxc4 Rfc8 29.b3 Rab8 30.a4 h5©

32
6.a3... 7.Nf5

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a3

If the World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, plays this move it may come as a surprise. On the other
hand, that is also the respect the World Champion pays to Wojtaszek, considering that he was one of
Anand's assistants, and for sure a big Najdorf specialist!
6...e5
Of course! We expected nothing else.
6...g6 or 6...e6 would hardly be played by Wojtaszek.

33
 Magnus Carlsen

7.Nf5!?

34
7...d5 8.Bg5 d4 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Nd5

10...Qd8
10...Qc6 This is another try that has been played with good results by GM Alexey Sarana, and GM
Samvel Ter-Sahakyan. 11.c4 (11.Qg4?! g6 12.Qg3 Nd7 13.Nxd4 exd4 14.Nc7+ Kd8 15.Nxa8 b5
16.O-O-O Bc5

17.b4! This move requires a lot of understanding. Not only the position itself, but rather the dynamics
of the game itself! The knight on a8 is doomed, of course, but the enemy king is in the centre as well.
White should try to open the position and take advantage of the fact that Black will lose some time
picking up the cornered knight. (17.e5? A waste of time, by which White got worse. 17...Qxa8

35
18.Bd3 Qd5µ Viacheslav Tikhonov 2274 - Federico Pérez Ponsa 2554, chess.com (Internet-blitz)
2021) 17...Ba7

18.a4! White should have no worries about opening the wing where his own king has castled, because
Black cannot take any advantage of that. One has to understand that dynamic play is now required in
order to get some chances to stay in the game. 18...Qxa8 (18...bxa4?! 19.Qg5+ Ke8 20.Qd5 Qc3
21.Qc4 Qxc4 22.Bxc4 Ne5 23.Bd5 Kd7 24.c4 dxc3 25.f3 Ke7 26.Kc2±) 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bxb5 Re8
21.Rhe1 Re7

22.c4! The only correct approach! 22...Bb8 (22...dxc3? 23.Qxc3 Qb8 24.Qh8+ Kc7 25.Rd5+-)
23.Qb3 Be5 24.Kc2 Nf6 25.Ra1 Ra7 26.Rxa7 Qxa7∞) 11...g6 12.Nxd4 exd4 13.Qxd4 f6 14.b4

36
Might be the most accurate continuation. White has got a good compensation, but nothing else. Now
it is important to keep the knight on d5, and not allowing Black to open the position. Taking the f6-
pawn would only give way for the bishop, and that is obviously not in White's favour. (14.Be2 Kf7
15.O-O Nd7 16.f4 Bg7 17.Kh1 Re8 18.b4 Nf8 19.f5 Bxf5! (19...Nd7? 20.Rf2 Kg8 21.c5 Ne5
22.fxg6 hxg6 23.Raf1 f5µ Thomas Beerdsen 2490 - Samvel Ter-Sahakyan 2640, chess.com (Internet-
blitz) 2020) 20.exf5 Rxe2 21.b5 Qd6 22.bxa6 Rxa6 23.Rab1 Qd7 24.c5 gxf5 25.Qc4 Re4 26.Qb3
Ne6 27.Nb6 Qc6 28.Rxf5 Re2 29.Rd5 Kg8!-+; 14.Rd1 Be6

15.Nxf6+ (15.Qxf6 This move takes us to huge complications. 15...Bxd5 16.Qxh8 Bxe4 17.f3
(17.Qe5+ Be7 18.f3 Bf5 19.Bd3 Bxd3 20.Rxd3 Nd7 21.Qh8+ Nf8 22.O-O Qc5+ 23.Kh1 Qxc4
24.Rfd1 Kf7 25.b3 Qc6 26.Qd4 Re8 27.b4 Bf6³) 17...Bf5 18.Bd3 Bxd3 19.Rxd3 Nd7 20.Qxh7 Ne5
21.Rd1 Qb6 22.c5 Qxc5 23.Qxb7 Qe3+ 24.Kf1 Rd8 25.Rxd8+ Kxd8 26.Qa8+ Kc7 27.Qxf8 Qc1+
28.Kf2 Nd3+ 29.Ke2 Nf4+ 30.Kf2 Nd3+ 31.Ke2 Nf4+=) 15...Kf7 16.Nd5 Bg7 17.Qd2 Re8 White
has 3 pawns for the piece, but the g7-bishop is very strong, giving Black a small edge. 18.Be2 Kg8
19.O-O Nd7 20.b4 (20.Qg5?!

37
20...Kh8 Black is choosing a quiet line, and preferes to bring all the pieces in the centre. 21.b4 Rad8
22.Nf4 Bxc4 23.Rc1 b5-+ Thomas Beerdsen 2479, - Alexey Sarana 2646, lichess.org (Internet-m/1-
blitz) 2020) 20...Rad8 21.f4 Kh8 22.Qc1 Nb6 23.Kh1 Bf5 24.e5 Nxd5 25.Bf3 Be6 26.g3

26...Bf8!!µ 27.Rd4 a5 28.cxd5 Bxd5 29.Bxd5 Rxd5 30.Qxc6 bxc6µ; 14.Nxf6+ Kf7 15.Nd5 Bg7
16.Qd2 Re8 17.Be2 Kg8 18.Rd1 Nd7³) 14...Be6 15.Be2 Nd7 16.O-O Bg7 17.Rad1 Rd8∞ Bencze
Leszkó 2260 - Alexey Sarana 2654, chess.com (Internet- blitz) 2020

38
11.Qg4! Bxf5
11...g6? 12.Qg3! Nc6 13.Nxd4! exd4 14.Nc7++-
12.Qxf5 Bd6
I don't see anything wrong in the line Black has chosen.
13.h4
A difficult choice. White keeps his king in the centre, and starts an aggressive approach on the
kingside, leaving the option to castle short stil available, or to play his king to f1, g1, while the rook
will be activated via h3.
13.O-O-O Nc6 14.Kb1 O-O 15.h4 b5 16.g4 Ne7 17.Qf3 Rb8 18.h5 h6=
13...Nc6 14.Bc4 b5 15.Bb3

39
15...Ne7
Wojtaszek feels the psychological pressure and wants to get rid of White's knight. However, in this
position that is only a nice-looking piece, not harming him so much.
15...O-O! 16.h5 h6 17.Rh3 Kh8 18.O-O-O a5 19.Rg3 a4 20.Ba2 Ra7! 21.Qg4 Rg8 and White has
nothing.
16.Qg4
16.Nxe7 Qxe7 17.Bd5 Rd8 18.O-O-O O-O 19.Rd3 (19.h5 Qd7!=) 19...a5 20.Qg5 Kh8 21.Qxe7
Bxe7=
16...O-O 17.Rh3 Nxd5 18.Bxd5 Ra7 19.Rg3 Qf6 20.a4
White plays according to the principles of chess. He opens another battlefield, intending to create the
second weakness.
20.O-O-O Rc7 21.h5 Kh8 22.Kb1 Qh6 23.Rf3 f6 24.Qh3 Rb8 25.c3 Bc5 26.Rc1 Ba7 27.g3 a5
28.Rc2²
20...Bb4+
20...Rc7 21.Bb3 b4∞
21.Kf1 bxa4 22.Rxa4 a5=
Black did well, and White hasn't got any advantage at all.
23.Ra1
A natural move, geting the rook free.

40
23...Rc7 24.Bb3 Ra8 25.Kg1 Bf8
Black has done everything well indeed! Now he can use his queen for new tasks, and the postion is
completely equal.

Radosław Wojtaszek

26.Qh5 g6
26...Bd6 27.Qg4 (27.Rf3 Qg6 28.Qxg6 hxg6=) 27...Bf8=
27.Qg4

41
27...a4!
Active play is always to be considered, as it offers counterplay that even in the positions like these
should be the way of achieving a quick draw!
27...Ra6?! Wojtaszek waits for Carlsen to try something, while believing that his fortress cannot be
conquered. This proved to be an unfortunate idea, as the World Champion himself is playing White.
28.h5ƒ Qf4 (28...Kg7 29.Rf3 Qd8 30.Qg3 Bd6

31.c3! Opening the d-file brings White some advantage. He can use it or not, but please note the
difference: White has the d5-point for his pieces, while the c3-pawn guards the d4-square, and Black
can only wait and defend a worse position. 31...dxc3 32.bxc3 Raa7 33.Kh2 Ra6 34.Ra4 Raa7

42
35.Bd5±) 29.Qe2 Rf6 (29...Qf6?! 30.Qb5 Rc5 (30...Qc6? I guess that a terrible time trouble led to
this blunder.

31.Qxe5± Re7 32.Qf4 a4 33.Bd5 Qc7 The position is bad. However, Black could have given White
some hard time in converting the advantage. As a rule we should always try to find the most stubborn
defence, even if playing worse, or lost positions. Chess is a magical game. The one who wants to win
must prove his superiority to the very end! (33...Qxc2 34.Rf3 (34.hxg6 hxg6 35.Rf3 Qc7 36.Qg5±)
34...Qc7 35.Qd2 Qe5 36.Rc1 Rf6 (36...Qxh5 37.Qxd4 Qg4 38.Rfc3 Rd7 39.Rc8 Rad6 40.R1c4 Qg5
41.g3 Rd8 42.R4c7 R6d7 43.Qxa4 Qe7 44.Qc6+-; 36...gxh5 37.Rf5 Qg7 38.Rxh5 h6 39.Rc8+-)
37.Rxf6 Qxf6 38.Rc6 Qg7 39.hxg6 hxg6 40.g3 Rd7 41.Rc8± A typical domination!) 34.Qd2 Qb6
(Magnus Carlsen 2840 - Radosław Wojtaszek 2750, Wijk aan Zee 2017 – 131/74) 35.c4! dxc3
36.Rxc3 Qb8 37.Rc4+-) 31.hxg6 (31.Qd3²) 31...hxg6 32.Qe2 Ra7 33.Qg4 Bg7 34.Rf3 Qb6
35.Qg5²) 30.Rxa5 Kg7 31.Ra1 Bc5 32.Rf3 Qh4 33.Rxf6 Qxf6 34.hxg6

43
34...d3! It was not too late to save the game! The only way to secure a draw was to activating all the
pieces, even at the price of one "worthless" pawn. I remember the legendary Misha Tal analysing a
game at the Olympiad in Novi Sad (1990). I was a kid at the time, but very happy to have the
opportunity to witness such an event! Tal sacrificed a pawn in his style, and somebody asked him
why he did that. The answer was rather funny: "The pawn confused me" replayed the legendary
Misha. In the same manner, Wojtaszek should have given up his d4-pawn, which was only creating
mess! (34...fxg6 35.Rd1! Rc8 36.Rd3) 35.cxd3 fxg6 36.Bc4 Bd4 37.Ra8 Qf4 38.Kf1 Rc6 39.g3 Qc1+
40.Qe1 Qxe1+ (40...Qxb2? 41.Rg8+ Kh6 42.Kg2 Kg5

43.Ra8!! I am 100% sure that Carlsen wouldn't miss moves like this one. Now Black is simply lost
due to his weak king. White executes the final assault. 43...h5 44.Ra2 Qc3 45.Qh1 Kh6 46.Qh4

44
Rxc4™ 47.dxc4 Qxc4 48.Ra8 Qf7 49.f3 Qc4 50.Qh1! Qc2+ 51.Kh3 Qc6 52.Rb8 Qe6+ 53.Kh2
Qa2+ 54.Qg2 Qa1 55.Rh8+ Kg7 56.Rc8 Be3 57.Rc2 Qd1 58.Rb2 Bd4 59.Re2 Kh6 60.Rd2 Qe1
61.Rc2 h4 62.f4 Qe3 63.gxh4 Qxf4+ 64.Qg3 Qf6 65.Kg2 Bb6 66.Rc8 Bd8 67.Qe3+ g5 68.hxg5+
Qxg5+ 69.Qxg5+ Bxg5 70.Kf3+-) 41.Kxe1 Rf6 42.f4 exf4 43.gxf4 Rxf4 44.Rg8+ Kf6 45.b3 h5=
28.Rxa4 Rxa4 29.Bxa4 Bh6 30.Rf3 Qa6 31.Bb3 Bf4 32.Rd3
32.g3 h5 33.Qh3 Bc1 34.g4 Qc8 35.gxh5 Qxh3 36.Rxh3 gxh5=
32...Qa1+ 33.Rd1 Qxb2 34.g3 Bh6=

45
6.a3... 9...gf6

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a3 e5 7.Nf5 d5 8.Bg5 d4 9.Bxf6 gxf6

10.Nb1 Qb6
10...Bxf5!? A modern continuation which has been recently played. 11.exf5 Qd5 12.Qh5 Nd7
13.Nd2 Rc8! (13...O-O-O?! It is better to keep the king in the centre, to defend the f7 pawn. 14.Qf3!
Qxf3

15.gxf3! Another good positional decision. The tripled pawns can hardly be attacked by the enemy
but the f7 pawn will prove to be a chronic weakness. 15...Rg8 16.Ne4 Be7 17.Bc4 Rg7 18.Ke2 h5

46
(18...Nc5? 19.Rhg1 Rdg8 20.Rg3 Now material loss cannot be avoided. The opposite colour bishops
on the board are now a big disadvantage for Black. 20...Nxe4 21.fxe4± Julian Kramer 2419 - Ivan
Cheparinov 2679, tornelo.com (Internet-rapid) 2021) 19.Rhg1 Rdg8 (19...Rh7 20.Rg2 b5 21.Ba2 Nc5
22.Rag1±) 20.Rxg7 Rxg7 21.b4 h4 22.h3 Kc7 23.c3 dxc3 24.Nxc3 Nb6 25.Bb3 Rg5 26.Rc1 Kb8
27.Bxf7 Rxf5 28.Be6 Rg5 29.Ne4 Rg7

30.f4!±) 14.Bd3 (14.Kd1? Rg8! (14...e4!? 15.Qh4 e3 16.Qe4+ Qxe4 17.Nxe4 exf2 18.Bd3 Rg8
19.g3 Ke7 20.Nxf2 Bh6 21.Ke2 Kf8=; 14...b5 15.Qf3 (15.f3? Nc5 16.Bd3 Na4 17.Kc1 Nc5
18.Kd1 Be7 19.Ke2! (19.Ne4?? Nxd3 20.cxd3 Qb3+-+ Maksim Chigaev 2631 - Dennis Wagner
2581, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2021) 19...Nxd3 20.cxd3 Rc2 21.Rab1 Qb3 22.Rhc1 O-O 23.Qg4+
Kh8 24.Rxc2 Qxc2 25.g3 Rc8 26.Qh5 Kg7 27.Qg4+ Kf8 28.Qh5 Bd8! 29.Qh6+ Ke8 30.g4 Ba5
31.Rd1 Rc6!µ) 15...Qxf3+ 16.gxf3 Nb6 17.Ne4 Ke7

47
18.a4!„) 15.Qf3 Qxf3+ 16.gxf3 Rg5 17.Bd3 Nc5 18.Ke2 Nxd3 19.cxd3 Rxf5µ) 14...Qxg2 15.O-O-
O Nc5 16.Bc4 Rc7 17.Kb1 Qxf2 18.Rhg1 Qf4 19.Bd5 Qh6 (19...Rd7 20.Be6 Rc7 21.Bd5=) 20.Qe2
Rd7 21.Qg2 Qg5

22.Qh1!©

48
 Sergey Karjakin

11.Nd2

11...Qxb2

49
Taking the pawn is, in my opinion, too risky. White will develop his pieces rapidly and the black king
will be unsafe in the centre.
11...Be6 The ''human'' continuation. 12.Bd3 (12.Bc4 This move was played before and it looks more
logical. On d3 the bishop is too passive.) 12...Nd7 (12...Qxb2 Well, is the pawn still poisoned or not?
13.Rb1 Qxa3 14.Rxb7 Qa4 15.O-O Qc6 16.Rb1 h5 17.Qe2 Nd7 18.f4 h4 19.h3 and White will take
advantage of the weak black king stuck in the centre.) 13.O-O Qxb2 White cannot hold anymore and
grabs the pawn. (13...Rg8 14.Qh5 h6 15.b4 Qc7 16.Rfb1 Nb6 17.f4∞) 14.Rb1 Qxa3 15.Rxb7 is a
must if White intends to mantain the pressure. (15.Nc4?

15...Qc5µ Two pawns is just too much. Since White has not penetrated into Black's camp, he cannot
claim any compensation. 16.Qe2 b5 17.Na5 Qc7 18.Ra1 (18.Nb3 Rc8 19.Rb2 h5 The most precise
move, taking away the h5 square. As a rule, in positions like this one, unless you have a forced win, it
is important to neutralise the opponent's counterplay first, and only after that you should move on and
try to convert your advantage. (19...Nb6 20.Qh5 Qc6 21.Qh4 Rg8 22.Qxh7 Rg6 23.g3 Na4 24.Rbb1
Qc3 25.Qh8 Kd7 26.Qh5 Kc7 27.f4 Kb6 28.fxe5 Nb2 29.Nc1 fxe5³) 20.Ra2 Nb8 21.Rfa1 Be7
22.Ng7+ Kf8 23.Nxe6+ fxe6 24.h4 Kf7µ) 18...Bb4 19.Nb3 Bc3-+ As the queenside is closed there
is no counterplay at all, and White is just loosing. 20.Ra2 Ra7 21.Qg4 Kd8 22.Qg7 Re8 23.Qxh7
Nc5 24.Ng7 (24.Rb1 Qc6 25.h4 Nxd3 26.cxd3 a5 27.Rc2 Bxf5 28.Qxf5 b4 29.Nxa5 Rxa5 30.Rxb4
Ra1+ 31.Kh2 Ke7 32.h5 Rh8 33.Rb3 Qc8 34.Qf3 Rh6 35.Rb6 Ra6-+) 24...Bxb3 (24...Nxd3
25.Nxe6+ fxe6 26.Qxc7+ Kxc7 27.cxd3 a5 28.f4 Kd6 29.fxe5+ fxe5 30.Rb1 a4-+) 25.cxb3 Nxd3
26.Nxe8 Kxe8 27.h4 Ke7 28.h5 Qc6 29.h6 Ra8 30.Qg7 Qxe4 31.h7 Nf4 32.Rxa6? (32.f3 Ne2+
33.Rxe2 Qxe2 34.h8=Q Rxh8 35.Qxh8 d3 36.Qc8 Bd4+ 37.Kh2

50
37...Be3! (37...Qxf1?? 38.Qb7+ Kf8 39.Qc8+ Kg7 40.Qg4+=) 38.Qb7+ Kf8 39.Qc8+ Kg7
40.Qg4+ Bg5 41.Ra1 d2-+) 32...Ne2+ 0 : 1 Diego Di Berardino 2471 - Sergey Karjakin 2752,
chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020) 15...Nc5 16.Rb1 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Qxd3 18.f4 a5 19.fxe5 fxe5 20.Rb6
Qc3 21.Qb1!

21...Bb4 (21...Qxd2 22.Rxe6+! fxe6 23.Qb5+ Kd8 24.Qb6+ Kd7 25.Qb7+ Kd8 26.Qxa8+ Kc7
27.Qa7+ Kc8 28.Rb1+-) 22.Ng7+ Kd8 23.Nxe6+ fxe6 24.Qa2 Re8 25.Rxe6±
12.Bc4 Ra7™
12...b5?! 13.Rb1! (13.Bxf7+ Kxf7 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Qg4+ Kf7 16.Qh5+ Kg8 1/2 : 1/2 Hipolito Asis
Gargatagli 2538 - Saha Neelash 2331, Montcada i Reixac 2018) 13...Qxa3 14.Bxf7+ Kxf7 (14...Kd8

51
15.c4 Bb4 16.O-O Ra7 17.Bd5±) 15.Qh5+ Ke6 (15...Kg8 16.Rb3+-) 16.Qe8+ Be7 17.Qxh8+-
13.Rb1 Qxa3 14.Bxf7+ Kd8 15.O-O b5 16.Bd5

16...h5! 17.Nb3 Rc7 18.Qe2 Rc3! 19.Rfd1 Bxf5 20.exf5 Qd6∞

The position is very complicated, and despite the extra pawn Black still needs to hold as his king is
exposed. The engines consider this position as equal, but I would rather be White here.

6.a3... 10.Na2

52
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 a6 6.a3 e5 7.Nf5 d5 8.Bg5 d4 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Na2

Goran Arsović

10...Qb6
Only the 10th move and we do not have many games in the
databases. A rare line, played mostly as a surprise.
10...Bxf5 is another option that has been played a couple of
times, Milan Popović 2320 - Goran Arsović 2392, Srbija
2020 – 146/76
11.Bd3 Be6

11...Qxb2

53
The pawn on b2 is here to be taken, but is it ok for Black to do it, or not? It's not easy to give advice
whatsoever. It all depends on the player's playing style. If you are a tactical player, than this type of
positions fits you really well. If, on the other hand, you are a positional player, such lines should be
avoided. As for White, there is a big question too, whether to go for the sacrifice of one or two pawns,
as there is nothing forced, just the initiative and uncastled king to play against. I hope the reader will
understand these points well and apply what fits him best. At the end of the day, this is the beauty of
chess: two players are having a duel, two different personalities, with their ideas, ideals, and
strategies. This is why we cannot be sure that the better player would always win. 12.O-O Qxa3
13.Qh5 Qc5

14.c3! It is important to open the position as much as possible, as the enemy king is stuck in the

54
centre, with practically no real option to castle. Despite the fact that White does not have a bishop
pair, the attacking side should always try to imbalance the position in such cases. 14...Bxf5 15.exf5
Nc6 16.Rab1 b5 17.Be4 Rd8 18.Nb4 Nxb4 19.cxb4 Qa7 20.Bc6+ Ke7 21.Ra1 Qb6 22.Rfc1 d3
23.Rc5 Rc8 24.Bd5 Kd8 25.Rxc8+ Kxc8 26.Rc1+ Kb8 27.Qxf7 Bxb4 28.Rc6 Qa5 29.g3 d2 30.Bf3
e4 31.Qxf6 Rd8 32.Bd1 Kb7 33.Re6 Qc7 34.Rxa6 Bc5 35.Re6 Rd6 36.Qe5 Rxe6 37.Qxe6 Qe7
38.Qxe7+ Bxe7=
12.O-O Nc6
12...Nd7 13.b4!² (13.c3?!

13...Qxb2 (13...Bxf5? This is a positional mistake. Black parts with his light-squared bishop, leaving
a lot of weaknesses in the position. 14.exf5 The centre hangs, and "poor" Black's king is in the centre,
giving White the upper hand. 14...Rd8 (14...Qxb2 The last chance to grab the pawn. 15.Bc4 Rc8
16.Bd5 Rc7 17.Rb1 Qxa3 18.cxd4 Rg8 19.Re1 Be7 20.Qh5 Rg7 21.Qh6 Bf8

55
22.Qd2!± Only this move gives White a clear advantage! 22...Be7 23.Rec1 Rxc1+ 24.Rxc1 Bd8
25.dxe5 Nxe5 26.Rc8 Qd3 27.Qxd3 Nxd3 28.Bxb7 Kd7 29.Rc3 Ne5 30.Bxa6±) 15.cxd4 (15.b4 Nb8
16.Re1 Nc6 17.Qh5 Bg7 18.Rad1 O-O 19.Re4 a5 20.Rh4 h6 21.Rg4 Kh8 22.c4 axb4 23.Nxb4 Nxb4
24.Rb1 Qc7 25.axb4±) 15...Qxd4 16.Nc3!

(16.Qe2?!

56
A bad decision. White wants to avoid the queen swap, but that should not bad at all. Without the
queens his advantage grows even bigger, as Black is forced to passivity. I don't think it came out of
poor understanding of the position, but White rather wanted to keep the queens on the board for the
"final assault". However, Black seizes the opportunity and comes back into the game. 16...Nc5!=
Equalising on the spot. 17.Bc4?? This is already too much! White blunders a piece, but... 17...b5
Black could have ended the game immediately. (17...Qe4?? 18.Rad1± and again White is better. I
guess both players were in time trouble, and just exchanged the blunders. (18.Qxe4 Nxe4 19.Rfe1
(19.Rfd1? Allowing Black to finally develop his pieces with tempo. 19...Bc5 20.Rxd8+ Kxd8 21.Bd5
(21.Bxf7

21...Bxf2+! (21...Nxf2 22.Kf1 (Jeffery Xiong 2709 - Alexey Sarana 2654, chess.com (Internet-m/

57
22-blitz) 2020) 22...Bd4=) 22.Kf1 Bd4 23.Rd1 Kc7 24.Bd5 (24.Nc3 Bxc3 25.bxc3 Rd8-+)
24...Nd6µ) 21...Nxf2 22.Kf1 Kd7 23.Rc1 Bd4 24.Bxb7 Rb8 25.Bc6+ Kd6 26.b4 Nd3 27.Rc4 Nb2
28.Rc1 Be3 29.Rc2 Rc8 30.Be4 Rxc2 31.Bxc2=) 19...Rd4 20.Bf1 Bh6 21.Red1 Bd2 22.g3 (22.Nc1?
Be3!-+) 22...Ke7 23.Nc1 Bxc1 24.Raxc1 Rhd8 25.Rxd4 Rxd4 26.Rc7+ Rd7 27.Rxd7+ Kxd7 28.Bg2
Nd6 29.Bd5=))) 16...Nc5 17.Bc2 Qc4 18.Qf3 Bh6 19.b3 Nxb3 20.Bxb3 Qxb3 21.Rfb1 Qc4
22.Rxb7 O-O 23.Rb4 Qd3 24.Qxd3 Rxd3 25.Ne4 Rfd8 26.Nxf6+ Kg7 27.Nh5+ Kg8 28.h3±)
14.Nb4 Qxc3 15.Rc1 Qxa3 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Nc5 18.Bc4 O-O-O 19.Qh5 Kb8 20.Qxf7 Bd6
21.Qxf6 Ne4 22.Qh6

22...Rd7! 23.Qe6 Rhd8 24.Nxd4 Nd2! 25.Nc6+ bxc6 26.Rfd1 Re7!-+) 13...O-O-O (13...h5 14.Qf3
O-O-O 15.c4 Kb8 16.c5 Qc6 17.Nc1 Bh6 18.Rb1 Bxf5 19.Qxf5 Qe6 20.Nb3 Qxf5 21.exf5 Rc8
22.Na5±) 14.Qh5 Kb8 15.c3 Ka7 16.cxd4 Bxf5 17.exf5 exd4

58
18.f4!ƒ After this crazy move both Black's minor pieces are restricted and not able to reach good
squares.
13.Nb4 Nxb4 14.axb4 Bxb4
14...Qxb4 15.c3 dxc3 16.bxc3 Qb6 17.Qa4+ Bd7 18.Qa2 Be6 19.Bc4 Qc6 20.Bd5 Bxd5 21.exd5
Qd7 22.Ng3²
15.Ng7+ Kf8 16.Nxe6+ Qxe6 17.f4 Bd6

18.f5!
Well, it seems that we have a problem here.

59
Why not taking on e5? 18.fxe5 Bxe5 19.Ra5 Rg8 20.Rf5 Rg6³ Black has a small edge, considering
his excellent bishop on e5 that has two roles: shutting down every White's initiative or attack, and
also keeping an eye on the opponent's kingside for a possible attack. Thus, when opening the position,
you should be aware of the opponent's posibilities as well, of his pieces that can also be active, and
how that affects your play.
18...Qc8 19.Qe2 h5 20.Bc4 Qc5 21.Kh1 h4 22.Bd5 Rc8 23.Bxb7 Qxc2 24.Qxa6 Rd8 25.Bd5 Rg8
26.Rg1 Qxb2 27.Rab1 Qc2 28.Rb7 Be7 29.Rxe7 Kxe7 30.Qb7+ Rd7 31.Qb4+ Kd8 32.Qb6+ Ke7=

In positions with the opposite-colour bishops, the attacking side should try to seize an important
diagonal in order to capitalise on superior energy of his pieces.

60
CHAPTER 2
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4

This line is a good attempt, and continuation that can be used by White to prevent b5, or to allow
himself to play a5. The opinion of some annotators is that this line is a quiet one, not a real problem
for Black, but "still waters run deep" says an old Latin proverb. After 6...e5 7.Nf3, I recommend the
7...Qc7 reply, as the most promising one, giving Black a solid play and good winning percentage. The
8.Bg5 continuation was mainly considered as 8.Be2, transposes into 6.Be2, which is one of the main
lines of the Najdorf Sicilian. Indeed, Black has a rich play, and the position offers a really wide range
of plans, that guarantee an enjoyable game.

6.a4... 7.Nde2

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4

61
6...e5 7.Nde2

Usually, this is not a move in this line. 7.Nf3 is preferred. However, after the thematic 7...Be7,
7...Be6, or even 7...Nbd7, the play can transpose to 6.g3, or 6.h3 variation.
7...d5!?

62
Right! This is also a sideline, but it is in the Najdorf spirit, so I warmly recommend it.
7...Be6 8.f4 Be7 9.f5 Bd7 10.Ng3 Bc6 11.Bc4 Nbd7∞; 7...Be7!

8.g3 Transposes to the Fianchetto variation. 8...Nc6 9.Bg2 Nb4 10.O-O Be6 11.b3 d5 12.exd5
Nfxd5= Ehsan Ghaem Maghami 2599 - Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 2716, Dresden (ol) 2008
8.Nxd5
8.exd5 Bb4

63
9.Bg5 (9.g3 Qxd5 10.Qxd5 Nxd5 11.Bg2 Nxc3 12.Nxc3 Nc6 13.Be3 O-O 14.O-O-O Bxc3 15.bxc3
Bg4 16.Rde1 Rac8 17.Bb6 Rfe8 18.a5 Be6 19.Re3 (19.f4 exf4 20.gxf4 Bf5=) 19...f5 20.Rhe1 Kf7
21.h4 g6=) 9...O-O 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.Ng3 Qg6 This is a better option. Black needs a fast
counterplay, by pushing the f- and e- pawns. Together with the bishop pair that should grant him
enough compensation. (11...Qd8 12.Bc4 f5 13.O-O Bd6 14.a5 Nd7 15.Qd2 Qh4 16.Be2 e4 17.Na4
(17.Ra4 Qe7 18.Rc4 Ne5 19.Rd4 Bd7 20.Rd1 Nf7 21.Bc4 Rac8 22.Bb3 g6 23.Ba4 Be8! 24.Nf1 Ng5
25.Bxe8 Rcxe8∞) 17...Rf6 18.Qc3 (18.Rfd1? This ''natural move" loses on the spot. White does not
sense any danger, while the e- and f- pawns prove to be deadly. 18...Rh6-+ 19.h3 Rg6 20.c4 (20.Ra3
Nf6! 21.Qd4 (21.Nb6 f4 22.Nxc8 (22.Nxa8 Bxh3 23.Qd4 fxg3-+) 22...Rxc8 23.Rc3 Re8 24.Kh1 f3
25.Bxf3 Rxg3 26.Be2 e3-+) 21...f4 22.Nxe4 Bxa3 23.bxa3 Bxh3 24.Bf1 Bxg2 25.Bxg2 Qg4 26.Ng3
fxg3 27.f3 Qh5 28.d6 Rf8-+) 20...f4 21.Nxe4 Ne5 22.Kf1 Bxh3 23.Ke1 Rxg2 24.Qd4 f3 25.Bf1 Rg4
0 : 1 Linda JapTioen San 2163 - Edwin Van Haastert 2414, Leiden 2006) 18...Rg6 19.Rfd1 Rh6

64
20.Qxg7+! Kxg7 21.Nxf5+ Kf7 22.Nxh4 Rxh4 23.g3 Rh6=) 12.Be2 f5 13.O-O Nd7 14.Kh1 Bd6
The d5 pawn must be blocked, not allowing White any counterplay. Now, his pieces are disorganised,
and it's difficult to find a good plan. (14...Nf6 15.d6 Rd8 16.Nd5 Bxd6 17.Nb6 f4! 18.Bd3 Qf7
19.Ne4 Nxe4 20.Bxe4 Bc7 21.Nxa8 Rxd1 22.Rfxd1 Be6 23.a5 Qe7 24.b4 Bb8 25.c3 Ba7 26.Nb6 g6
27.Nd5 Qf7 28.f3 Kg7 29.b5 Bc5 30.Nb4²) 15.a5 e4 16.Qd2 Nf6 17.f4 Bd7 18.Na4 Bxa4 19.Rxa4
h5 20.Bc4 Rfe8 21.Qe3 Rac8 22.Ne2 Ng4 23.Qb6 e3 24.Rf3 Qf6 25.h3 Nf2+ 26.Kg1

26...Kh7!! These kind of moves are devastating for the opponent, and there are at least two reasons:
1. While expecting "the action" to go on, you just slow it down, put your king into safety. But, this is
psychologically a moment for an error. 2. It could also create a damage in carrying up the plan,
especially during the time trouble, increasing our chances considerably. (26...Qe7 27.Bb3 Kh7

65
28.Rc4 Rxc4 29.Bxc4 Bc5 30.Qe6 Qf8 31.Qd7 Re7 32.Qa4 Qf6³) 27.Nd4 Ne4! 28.Be2 Rc5
29.Qxb7 Rb8 30.Qd7 Rxd5 31.Qe6 Qxe6 32.Nxe6 Re8 33.Rd4 Rxd4 34.Nxd4 Nd2 35.Rf1 Nxf1
36.Kxf1 g6 37.Bxa6 Ra8 38.Bd3 Rxa5³
8...Nxe4 9.Be3 Nc6 10.f3²
White goes for the most promising continuation keeping the queens on the board, and also chasing
away the black knight from the central square.
10.Nb6 This continuation is pretty equal. White shows no teeth. 10...Qxd1+ 11.Kxd1 Rb8 12.Nxc8
Rxc8 13.Ng3 Nf6 (13...Nc5 14.c3 Nb3 15.Ra2 g6 16.Ne4 Be7 17.Bc4 Nca5 18.Bxb3 Nxb3 19.Nd2
Nxd2 20.Kxd2 f5 21.Kc2 Kf7 22.Rd1 Rhd8 23.Raa1=) 14.Be2 Rd8+ 15.Kc1 h5 (15...Nd5 16.Bd2
Bc5 17.Ne4 Be7 18.g4 Nf4 19.Bxf4 exf4 20.c3 Ne5 21.f3 h5 22.g5 h4 23.b4

23...Kd7! 24.a5 Kc7=) 16.Re1 g6 17.Bf3 (17.Nf1 Nd5 18.c3 f5 19.Bc4 Nxe3 20.Nxe3 e4 21.Kc2
Ne5 22.Bd5 Nd3 23.Bxb7 Rb8 24.Bc6+ Ke7 25.Reb1 Bh6 26.b4 Rhc8 27.b5 Bxe3 28.fxe3 Kd6
29.c4 Ne5 30.Kc3 (30.Rd1+ Ke7) 30...Nxc6 31.bxc6 Kxc6 32.Rxb8 Rxb8 33.Rd1 Rb7 34.Rd8 Rb1
35.Rc8+ Kd6 36.Rd8+ Kc5 37.Rc8+ Kd6=) 17...Nd5 18.Bg5 Be7 19.Bxe7 Kxe7 (John van der Wiel
2505 - Li Shilong 2543, Wijk aan Zee 2006) 20.Ra3 Rd7 21.Ne4 Rhd8 22.Nc5 Rc7 23.Rb3 Ncb4
24.Nxb7 Rdd7 (24...Rxb7 25.Rxe5+ Kf8 26.Rxd5+-) 25.Bxd5 (25.Rxe5+ Kf6 26.Rxd5 Nxd5³)
25...Nxd5 26.Na5 Rc5 27.Nb7 Rcc7=
10...Nc5
10...Nf6 11.Nb6 Only now the exchange guarantees White a slight edge. 11...Qxd1+ 12.Rxd1 Rb8
13.Nxc8 Rxc8 14.c3 Be7 15.Ng3 g6 16.Be2 O-O (16...Na5

66
17.f4! White should open the position in order to get advantage thanks to his powerful bishop pair.
17...Nc4 18.Bxc4 Rxc4 19.fxe5 Ng4 20.Bd4 Bh4 21.Rd3 Rxa4 22.O-O O-O 23.h3 Nh6 24.b4 a5
25.bxa5 Rxa5 26.Ne4 Nf5 27.Rb1²) 17.Ne4 Nxe4 18.fxe4 Na5 19.Rd7 Bh4+ 20.Kd2 Rfd8
21.Rxd8+ Bxd8 22.Kc2 Nc4 23.Bc1 Be7 24.Rd1 Nd6 25.Rd5 f6 26.Kd3 Kf7 27.Bd1²
11.Nec3 Bf5
11...Be6 12.Bc4 Bd6 13.Ba2 A small edge is secured thanks to the strong knight on d5. Black is,
however, doing fine, as he has no weaknesses. Also, Black has a nice prospect to launch an attack on
the kingside. 13...O-O 14.O-O Rc8 15.a5 Ne7 16.Qd2 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 Na4 18.c3 Re8 19.Rfe1

19...e4! 20.fxe4 Qh4 21.g3 Qxe4 22.Bd4 Qf5 23.Ne3 Qb5 24.Bxg7 Bc5 25.Bd4 Qxb2 26.Qxb2

67
Nxb2 27.Nd5 Bxd4+ 28.cxd4 Kg7 29.Nb6 Rcd8 30.Bxe6 Rxe6 31.d5 Rxe1+ 32.Rxe1 Nd3 33.Rd1
Ne5 34.Kf2²
12.Bc4 Bd6 13.O-O O-O
As the opening is finished, White should try to find a plan that would bring him a better game. This is
rare line, as there are only few games in the database. So there should be no significant amount of
home preparation.
14.Rf2
This move keeps White on top! By transferring the rook to d2, and if possible followed by Qe2 and
Rad1, White is putting additional pressure along the d-file.
14.f4?

A wrong decision! A golden rule presented by many chess trainers goes as follows following: "If you
have a positional advantage never change the character of the position". By exchanging the pawn in
the centre, Black equalises easily, as he gets the important e5-square for his knight. 14...exf4 15.Bxf4
(15.Nxf4?! Ne5! In this situation Black feels the wind in his sails, and seizes the initiative. 16.Be2
Rc8 (16...Re8 17.Ncd5 Be4³ Mladen Palac 2561 - Ante Brkić 2526, Hrvatska 2006; 17.Nfd5 was the
right decision. The position is balanced.) 17.Qd2 Rc6 18.Rad1

68
18...Qc8! 19.Nfd5 Re8 20.Bb5 (20.b4 Ne4 21.Nxe4 Bxe4 22.c3 Ng4 23.Bxg4 Qxg4 24.Rf2 b5
25.axb5 axb5³) 20...axb5 21.axb5 Nc4 22.Qf2 Nxe3 23.Nxe3 Bxh2+ 24.Kxh2 Rh6+ 25.Kg1 Bg6=)
15...Bxf4 16.Rxf4 Bg6 17.Rf2 Ne6 18.Qg4 Rc8 19.Re1 Re8=
14...Qh4 15.Bf1 Rae8 16.g3 Qd8 17.Bg2 Nd4 18.f4 Nce6 19.fxe5 Bxe5 20.Ne4 Bg6 21.c3 Nf5
22.Bb6 Qb8 23.Qd2²

69
70
6.a4... 7.Nf3

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4 e5 7.Nf3

7...Qc7 8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.Nd2 Be7

I wanted to try a sideline as I knew that Andrey had a huge experience in this variation.
9...h6 is the most popular move.
10.Be2
10.Bc4 is the common approach. 10...O-O 11.Qe2 Nb6!? 12.a5 Nbd7 13.O-O h6 14.Be3 Nc5 15.b4
Ne6 16.Na4!? (16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Nf4 18.Bxf4 exf4 19.Bd3 Bf6 20.Qe4 g6 21.Rab1 Bf5
22.Qxf4 Bg5 23.Qc4 Rac8 24.Bxf5 Qxc4 25.Nxc4 Rxc4 26.Bd3 Rd4 27.Rfd1 Rc8 28.c4 h5 29.g3 h4
30.Kf1±) 16...Bd7 17.Nb6 Rae8

71
18.Qd3! White is in no need to exchange anything. He just needs to consolidate as Black is too
passive and has no good plan for counterplay. (18.Nxd7?! Qxd7 19.Qd3² (19.b5 This leeds to
equality. 19...d5 Black is playing this move right away, of course! 20.exd5 Nxd5= 21.Bxd5 (21.bxa6
Nef4 22.Bxf4 Nxf4 23.Qf3 bxa6 24.Rfd1 Qc8 25.Bb3 Kh8 26.h4 Bb4 27.Ne4 Qb7 28.g3 f5 29.Ng5

29...Nh3+! 30.Kg2 e4 31.Qh5 Nxg5 32.hxg5 e3+ 33.Bd5 Qc7 34.gxh6 g6 35.Qxg6 e2 36.Re1 f4
37.g4 Qe5 38.Bf3 Bxe1 39.Rxe1 Qc3 40.Qd3 Qxd3 41.cxd3 Kh7 42.Rxe2 Rxe2 43.Bxe2 Kxh6
44.Kf3 Kg5 45.d4 Rd8 46.Ke4 Re8+ 47.Kf3 Rd8=) 21...Qxd5 22.c4 Qd7 23.Rfd1 Qc8 (23...Nd4
24.Bxd4 exd4 25.Nb3 Bf6 26.Qd3 Rc8 27.bxa6 bxa6 28.Rac1=) 24.Bb6 (24.Ne4?!

72
This is a bad choice, allowing Black's central pawns to roll with tempo, and secure some advantage.
24...f5³ 25.Nd6 Bxd6 26.Rxd6 f4 27.Bb6 f3µ Slavoljub Marjanović 2466 - Davit Magalashvili 2472,
Kavala 2012) 24...Nf4 25.Qf3 f5 26.Rab1 Kh7 27.g3 Nh3+ 28.Kg2 e4 29.Qe2 Ng5∞)) 18...Bc6
19.Rfe1 Nd7 20.Nd5 Qb8 21.Nxe7+ Rxe7 22.g3 Nf6 23.Bxe6 fxe6 24.c4 Be8 25.f3 Bh5 26.Rab1±
We have talked about the good Black's structure and his powerful central pawn mass, but here the
situation turnes in White's favour due to his immediate initiative on the queenside that cannot be
stopped.; 10.Nc4 is another possibility.

73
 Ranko Szuhanek

10...b6 11.O-O Bb7 12.Re1

12.Bc4 White prefered this move in more than a dozen games.
12...h6²
12...d5?!

74
This was, however, not a good decision of mine. This is one of important questions in the Najdorf -
when, and how to push d5. At the time being I felt like I was going to suffer a bigger presure, had
Andrey played Bc4 next. 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Bxe7 Kxe7 16.Nf3± Bb7 (16...Qd6
17.Qd3! (17.Qd2

I was lucky enough that Andrey permited the exchange of queens, but even so, my position was
worse. 17...Bxf3 18.Qxd6+ Kxd6 19.Bxf3

75
19...Ra7!

It is important that the rook keeps an eye on the a6-pawn as well, as the queenside is the weaker wing
in my position. (19...Rad8?! 20.a5 (20.b4 f5 21.a5 e4 22.Be2 b5 23.Rad1+ Ke7 24.c4 bxc4 25.Bxc4
Ra8 26.Rd5±) 20...b5 With the rook on a7, I could have already used my other rook. 21.Rad1+ Ke6
(21...Kc7 was an option, but I turned it down disliking the manoeuvre Re3-c3-c6. The other
possibility was to give up the e5-pawn. 22.Re3 Nf6 23.Rxe5 Rxd1+ 24.Bxd1 Kd6 25.Re2 Kc5 26.c3
Rd8 27.Bb3 b4 28.Re5+ Kd6 29.Re1 Kc5 30.cxb4+ Kxb4 31.Bxf7 Rd2 32.b3 Kxa5 33.Bc4 Kb4
34.Bxa6 Kxb3 35.g3±) 22.Bd5+ (22.b4?! Nb8! Weird, but only this "passive" move gives me the
equality. (22...f6 23.c4 (23.Bd5+ Ke7 24.f4 Rb8 25.Bc6 Rhd8 26.Rd5 Nf8 27.Rxd8 Kxd8 28.fxe5
Kc7 29.Be4 fxe5 30.Rf1!± This is a school-like position that any prudent player must recognise.

76
White is better thanks to his powerful bishop that control both wings, a much more active rook, and
the pawn majority on the queenside.) 23...bxc4 24.Bd5+ Ke7 25.Bxc4 Ra8 It was never too late to
prepair the other rook to come to c8 or b8. (25...Nb8?! 26.b5 Rc8

27.Bf1!± White should avoid any exchanges, and only try to promote his a-pawn. (27.Rc1 Rc5! The
active approach is the only hope for saving the game. 28.bxa6 Rhc8 29.Bf1 Nxa6

30.Ra1 In the post mortem we agreed that this could have been the only way for White to play for a
win. (30.Rxc5? With very little time on the clock White gave me an easy way to save the game in
which I have suffered from the opening. 30...Nxc5= The material is reduced and White has no
possibilities to win the game. 31.a6 Ra8 32.Ra1 Ra7 33.g4 Kd6 34.h4 Kc7 35.g5 Kb6 36.Rb1+ Kc7

77
37.Ra1 Kb6 1/2 : 1/2 Andrey Zontakh 2455 - Ranko Szuhanek 2235, Beograd 1993. This game
ilustrates that the advantage earned in the very beginning of the game is not always enough for a win.
White has a positionally superior position, but didn't pay attention to all the details, and that made
allowed me to stay in the game and secure a draw.) 30...Ra8 31.Reb1 Rd5 32.g3 Ra7 33.Rb6 Rd6
34.Kg2±))) 23.Bb7 f5 24.f3 Rd6 25.Rxd6+ Kxd6 26.g4 Kc7 27.Bd5 fxg4 28.fxg4 Rf8 29.h3 Kd6
30.Be4 Rc8„ Black has enough counterplay, and there are already many weak pawns in White's
camp that the mighty rook can target.) 22...Ke7 23.f4 f6 24.b4±) 20.c3 Ke7 21.a5 Rb8! Bringing the
last piece into the action. 22.axb6 Rxb6 23.b4 f5 24.Bd5 Rc7 25.Ra3 Rb5 26.Ba2 Rb6 27.f3 Rd6
28.Kf2 Rcc6!²) 17...Bb7 18.Qe3 Qc5 19.Qg5+ Kf8 20.Rad1 Bc6

21.Bxa6!+- Too many threats, and Black cannot deal with all of them. The missplaced king is the
reason of the bad outcome. 21...f6 22.Qg4 h5 (22...Rxa6 23.Rxd7 Bxd7 24.Qxd7 Ra8 25.Nxe5 fxe5
26.Qf5+ Kg8 27.Qe6+ Kf8 28.Rxe5 Qxe5 29.Qxe5 h6 30.Qf4+ Ke8 31.Qc7 Rd8 32.g3+-) 23.Qe6
Re8 24.Qb3 g5 25.Re3+- And Black collapses.) 17.Qd2 (17.Qd3 f6 18.Nh4 g6 19.Rad1 Rad8
20.Qe3±) 17...Rhe8 18.Qb4+ Qc5 19.Qh4+ Nf6 20.Nxe5 Kf8 21.Nd3 This retreat gives White a big
edge, and leaves Black without any counterplay. (21.Qxf6 Rxe5 22.Qh4 h6 23.Bf1 Rg5 24.c3± White
is better, but Black can still create some pressure.) 21...Qc7 (21...Qxc2 22.Qb4+ Kg8 23.Rac1+-)
22.Qb4+ Kg8 23.a5 Nd5 24.Qd2 Rad8 25.axb6 Qxb6 26.Bf1!± If you have a choice between two
variations with approximately the same outcome, it is better to choose the one that leads you to clear
advantage, leaving your opponent with no counterplay at all. This is the case where most of the
players lose their composure make decisive mistakes. Take away your rival's counterplay and let meet
his demise!
13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.Bc4 O-O 15.Qe2²

78
6.a4... 9...h6

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4

In the post mortem de Firmian told me that he was prepairing this line on purpose, as he had only
seen one game of mine in this line.
6...e5 7.Nf3 Qc7 8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.Nd2 h6

10.Be3 Nc5 11.f3 Be6 12.Bc4

79
12.Nc4?! d5! After the war everyone is a general! Indeed, d5 push is one of the main ideas in the
Najdorf variation. (12...Rd8?! Returning the favour! Prepairing the d5 push but would White allow it?
13.Nd5 Of course! White can by no means grant the fresh air that would arise after pushing d5, when
Black frees himself of the pressure! 13...Nxd5 14.exd5 Bf5 15.a5 Closing the queenside is another
idea in this system, followed by b4 and c4, and the pressure is quite big. 15...Be7 16.Qd2 O-O 17.b4
Nd7 18.Bd3 Bxd3 19.cxd3! Now the intention is clear! White is trying to close the centre, and opens
the c-file, but even an attack on the kingside is not excluded. 19...Bh4+! Even though the exchange of
the bishops would be in Black's favour, a small weakness in White's camp should be a satisfactory
outcome for Black. (19...Rc8 20.Rc1 Nf6 21.O-O! Qd8 22.Nb6 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Qe8∞) 20.g3

(20.Bf2 Bxf2+ 21.Kxf2 b5 22.axb6 Nxb6 23.Ne3 Qb7 24.Ra5 f5 25.Rb1

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25...Na8!! This is a fabulous resource, that can hardly be noticed over the board. Once upon a time,
NimzowitSch said that one should never put his knight on the rim of the board, and I guess that
squares like a1, h1, a8, h8 are the worst spots available. But, this is yet another exception that proves
the rule. This knight will become a mighty stallion out of a fragile foal! From c7 it will keep on eye
on b5, defend the a6 pawn, and hitting the d5 pawn. A good piece is transformed into an excellent one
- yet another good principle we have to apply in order to improve our chess skill. 26.Kg1 Nc7 27.d4
e4 28.fxe4 (28.f4 Nb5 29.Rba1 Ra8 30.Rc1

30...g5! The position is unbalanced, and Black can hope for a positive outcome by opening another
battlefield. 31.g3 (31.Qf2 Nxd4 32.Ra2 Rac8 33.Rxc8 Rxc8 34.h3 Rc1+ 35.Kh2 Qg7-+) 31...gxf4
32.gxf4 Kh7µ) 28...fxe4 29.Rc1 Nb5 30.Rc6 Qf7 31.Ra1 (31.Rcxa6 Nxd4µ) 31...Ra8 32.Rf1 Qe7

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33.Rxf8+ Qxf8 34.Qf2 Qe7 35.Nf5 Qd7 36.Ng3 Re8 37.Qe3 Qf7 38.Rxa6 Qxd5 39.Ra5 Qc4
40.Nf5

40...Kh7!µ If possible, it is always good to put your king to safety before starting the attack. White is
worse as his pieces are not harmonically placed, and the strong e4-pawn is giving him a headache.)
20...Bg5! Black should be prepared to sacrifice a pawn just to exchange the strong bishop on e3.
21.Bxg5 hxg5 22.h4

Opening the h-file and hoping for a quick and deadly attack. (22.Qxg5 Nf6 23.Rc1 Nxd5 24.Nb6
Qe7 25.Qxe7 Nxe7 26.Rc7 Nc6 27.Ke2 Nxb4 28.Rxb7 Nc6 29.Nd5 Rb8! 30.Rb6 Nxa5 31.Rhb1
Rxb6 32.Rxb6 Ra8 33.Ke3 Kh7 34.h4 Ra7 35.Nb4 Nb3 36.Nc6 Rc7 37.Nxe5 dxe5 38.Rxb3 Ra7=)

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22...g4! The h-file should stay closed, but on the other hand Black diverts the f3 pawn, and hopes to
be able to open the centre, thus obtaining counterplay. 23.fxg4 Nf6 24.Ne3 Qd7 Simply the best! The
queen is heading for White's weak pawn on g4. 25.Qd1 (25.Nf5 Nxd5 26.Qg5 f6 27.Qg6 (27.Qd2
Ne7 (27...Qb5 28.O-O=) 28.Nxe7+ Qxe7 29.O-O Qe6 30.Qe2 d5³ Black's pawn structure is very
solid, and it gives him a slight advantage.) 27...Kh8 28.h5 Qf7 29.Rb1 Ne7 30.Nxe7 Qxe7 31.h6
Kg8 32.b5 e4 33.Kd2 d5 34.hxg7 Qxg7 35.Qf5 e3+! 36.Kxe3 Rde8+ 37.Kd2 Re5 38.Qf4 Rfe8
39.Rbe1 Qc7 40.b6 Qc5 41.Rh8+ Kf7 42.Rh7+ Kg8 43.Rh8+=; 25.g5 Nh5 26.g4 Nf4 27.O-O f6!
28.gxf6 Rxf6 29.Rf3 Rh6 (29...Rdf8 30.Raf1 Qe7 31.Nf5 Rxf5 32.gxf5 Qxh4 33.Rxf4 exf4 34.Qxf4
Qh5 35.Rf3 Rf6 36.Qe4 Rh6 37.Kf1 Qh1+ 38.Ke2 Qc1 39.Rh3!=) 30.Nf5 Rxh4 31.Nxh4 Qxg4+
32.Kh1 Qxh4+ 33.Qh2 Qf6 34.Rg1 Rc8 35.d4 Rc7 36.dxe5 dxe5 37.Rf2

37...Qf5!³) 25...Qb5 26.Qb3 e4ƒ Black countered all the threats, and now this is White's turn to be
careful. His exposed king and many weaknesses are all of a sudden a real burden to deal with. 27.O-O
(27.g5 Nh5 28.Qc4 Qe8!µ 29.Qxe4 (29.Rg1?

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29...f5! The final touch! 30.gxf6 Nxf6 31.dxe4 Nxe4 32.Qd4 Rf3 33.Rf1 Qe5! 34.Rd1 Qxd4 35.Rxd4
Rxe3+ 36.Kd1 Nc3+ 37.Kd2 Rxg3-+) 29...Nxg3 30.Qxe8 Rdxe8 31.Rh3 Rxe3+ 32.Kf2 Rxd3
33.Rxg3 Rxd5 34.Rg4 f6µ) 27...exd3 28.Rad1 Rfe8 29.Rxd3 Re4 30.Rf4 (30.g5?!† The knight is
anyway heading to e5, so chasing him away is just a waste of time. Instead, it would have been better
to try to exchange the powerful rook on e4. 30...Rxb4 31.Qd1 Nd7! (31...Ne4 32.Qf3 Nxg3
33.Qxf7+ Kh8 34.Nf5 Nxf5 35.Qxf5 Qd7 36.h5 Qxf5 37.Rxf5 g6 38.hxg6 Kg7 39.Rf6 Rg4+ 40.Kf2
Rxg5 41.Rf7+ Kxg6 42.Rxb7=) 32.Rd4

(32.g6 fxg6 33.Ra3 Ne5-+) 32...Qxa5 The easiest way! White is a pawn down with no compansation
at all! (32...Rxd4?† This is alredy too much for one game! A second returned favour cannot lead to a
win! Unfortunately, in mutual time Black misses two continuation that would have led to superior

84
position. 33.Qxd4 Ne5 Placing the knight on a good square was the first thought the crossed my
mind, but of course, there could be no word of advantage anymore. As a rule you should always try to
play safely during time trouble, putting all your pieces on defended squares. But, why not taking the
pawn for free? I cannot see any deadly threats whatsoever. (33...Qxa5 34.h5 Ne5 35.h6 Qc5 36.Qf4
Rd7 37.Kg2 Re7 38.Nf5 Qxd5+ 39.Kg1 Rc7 40.hxg7 (40.Nxg7? Rc2 41.Rf2 Rxf2 42.Qxf2 Nf3+
43.Kf1 Nxg5-+) 40...Qc5+ 41.Kh1 Qc4 42.Re1 Qc6+ 43.Kg1 a5 44.Nh6+ Kxg7 45.Qf6+ Kh7
46.Nf5 Qb6+ 47.Kh1 Qc6+ 48.Kg1=) 34.Qc3 g6= 35.Kg2 Qa4 36.Rf4 Qa2+ 37.Rf2 Qa4 38.Rf4
Qa2+ 39.Rf2 1/2 : 1/2 Nick de Firmian 2559 - Ranko Szuhanek 2452, Kavala 2006. A draw was
agreed, after an interesting game. White was trying to hide his intentions and prepared to launch an
attack on the opponent's monarch, which was refuted by Black. Then it was White's turn to defend a
slightly worse position, while Black wasn't able to transform a slight edge into a clear advantage. An
instructive game which illustrates the complexity of the 6.a4 line, and the multitude of plans that
White has at his disposal. On the other hand, Black has a solid position, but should always be
prepared for an adequate answer depending on White's plan and intentions.; 32...Ne5 33.Rxb4 Qxb4
34.h5 Qxa5 35.Nf5 Rd7µ All the threats are parried and now it's Black who plays for a win.) 33.Nf5

(33.Qe1 Ra4 34.Rxa4 Qxa4 35.Qf2 Ne5 36.h5 Qe4-+) 33...Ne5! 34.Rd2 Rd7 35.Qe2 Rb3 36.h5 g6!
37.hxg6 fxg6 38.Nh6+ Kg7 39.Qh2 Qc3!-+) 30...Rde8 31.Qc3 R4e5 32.Kg2 Nxd5 33.Rxd5 Rxd5
34.Nxd5 Qxd5+ 35.Qf3 Qa2+ 36.Kh3 Re2 37.Qh1 d5 38.h5 (38.g5 g6 39.Rf6 Qc2 40.Qxd5 Qc8+
41.g4 Qc3+ 42.Rf3 Qc7 43.Rg3 Qc1 44.Qf3 Re1 45.Kh2 Qd2+ 46.Rg2 Qxb4 47.Rf2 Qd6+ 48.Qf4
Qd5³) 38...Qc2 39.Rf5 d4 40.Rc5

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40...Qd3ƒ A beautiful position, and even though, the engines don't consider that Black is better, I still
think that his his prospects are quite good! What do you think?) 13.Nxd5 (13.exd5 Rd8 14.d6 Bxd6
15.Nxd6+ Rxd6 16.Qe2 O-O 17.Qf2 Rc8 18.a5 Rd7³) 13...Nxd5 14.exd5 Rd8³
12...Be7 13.a5 O-O 14.Qe2 Rad8 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.Bxd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Nd7 18.c4 f5 19.O-O Bg5
20.b4 Bxe3+ 21.Qxe3 Nf6=

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6.a4... 10.Bf6

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6

I think that GM Slavoljub Marjanović was the first GM I had ever beaten. Also, he is the Najdorf
aficionado too.
6.a4 e5 7.Nf3
White is ready for Bc4 and/or Bg5.
7...Qc7
7...h6 8.g3 A modern choice by Giri. 8...Be7 9.Bg2 Nc6 10.O-O O-O 11.Re1

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11...Nb4! (11...Rb8 (Anish Giri 2764 - Ian Nepomniachtchi 2789, chess24.com (Internet-rapid) 2021)
12.b3 Bg4! 13.h3 Bh5 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Nd4 16.c3 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Nxf3+ 18.Qxf3 Qd7 19.Kg2
f5=) 12.b3! Bg4 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Qc8 15.Bb2 Bd8! 16.Bg2 Ba5 17.Re2 (17.Re3 Bb6 18.Re2 Bd4
19.Qd2 Qe6=) 17...Rd8 18.Nb1! Qe6 (18...Nc6 19.Na3 Bb6 20.Nc4 Bc5) 19.Na3 Rac8 20.Nc4
Rxc4 21.bxc4 Qxc4 22.Rb1 Rd7 23.c3 Nc6© Ranko Szuhanek
8.Bg5
8.Be3 Be7 9.a5 O-O 10.Be2 Nbd7 11.O-O Nc5 12.Nd2 Be6„
8...Nbd7 9.Nd2 h6 10.Bxf6

10...Nxf6 11.Bc4 Be6 12.Qe2

12.Bb3 Rd8

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13.O-O (13.Nf1?

This is already too much. Sometimes we fall for our originality, and it can cost a lot. White ignores
the basic chess rules, and starts a manoeuvre without taking care of the thematic opponent's
conterplay with d5. 13...Bxb3 14.cxb3 d5 15.exd5 Bb4 16.Ne3 Bxc3+ 17.bxc3 Qxc3+ 18.Ke2 Qb2+
19.Qd2 Qxd2+ 20.Kxd2 Nxd5 21.Nxd5 Rxd5+ 22.Ke2 Ke7µ Jakov Geller 2505 - Boris Grachev
2510, Russia 2006; Ranko Szuhanek) A move that leads to real fun in the Najdorf! Of course, this is a
difficult moment to give a clear path for Black. Both 13...d5, and 13...Be7 are fine from the realistic
point of view. Every player should play what suites him best according to his temper and style.
(13...d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Bxd5 16.Qg4 Bxb3 17.Nxb3 g6 (17...Qxc2 18.Rfe1 Qxb3 19.Rxe5+
Be7 20.Qxg7 Rf8 21.Rae1 Rd7 22.h3 Qb6 23.Qg3 f5 24.Re6 Qd4 25.R6e5 Qb6=) 18.Rad1 Bd6

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19.Qe2 O-O 20.c3 Kg7 21.Rd2 Be7 22.Rfd1 Rxd2 23.Rxd2 Bg5 24.Rd1 Re8 25.g3 e4 26.h4 Bf6
27.Qe3=) 14.Qf3 O-O 15.h3 Bxb3 16.cxb3 d5 17.exd5 (17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Qd6 19.Rfd1 Qxd5
20.Qxd5 Rxd5 21.Nc4 Rfd8 22.Rxd5 Rxd5 23.Rc1 f6³) 17...Bb4 18.Nc4 Rfe8 19.Rfd1 e4 20.Qe2

20...Qb8! Black has more than compensation.

90
 Sergey Karjakin

12...Rc8
12...Be7 is the alternative 13.O-O O-O 14.Rfd1 Rac8 15.Bb3 Qc6 16.Nf1

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16...Bd8!= A deep understanding of the ideas and the proper way to deal with this kind of position. A
"dry" move like Rfd8, is useless and just leaves White a small edge due to lack of counterplay. 17.a5
Qc5 18.Ne3! (18.Bxe6? A positional error that leaves Black with no weakness. Black simply gains
control over the game, and White's position will become difficult due to the lack of a good plan.
18...fxe6³ 19.Nd2 Bc7 20.Qc4 (20.Kh1 d5 Karjakin played in a very simple manner and achieved a
better game. 21.Nb3 Qc6 22.f3 Bd6 23.Rd2 Rfe8 24.Rc1 Bb4 25.Rd3 d4 26.Na2 Be7 27.c3 Qa4
28.Qc2 (28.cxd4

28...exd4! It's important to react calmly and to remember the priciple of keeping the tension on. This
kind of cold blooded move quite often has a devastating effect on the opponent. Psychologically, he
awaits for us to claim the advantage in a more direct way, but in many cases that would be a mistake

92
and surely not the path to victory. Instead, we should calmly keep the pot boiling, and just add more
chilli for an excellent dish! 29.Rxc8 Rxc8 30.Nac1 e5 31.Rd1

31...Bd8!µ Coming to the same square for the second time, with bad consequences for White.)
28...Nd7 29.Ra1 (Andrey Volokitin 2660 - Sergey Karjakin 2661, Russia 2006 – 96/179) 29...Red8
30.Nac1 Qb5 31.Ne2 Nb8 32.Nbc1 Nc6 33.Qb3 Qxb3 34.Nxb3 dxc3 35.Rxd8+ Rxd8 36.bxc3 Rd3
37.Kg1

37...Na7! 38.Kf2 Nb5 39.Nbc1 Rd7µ) 20...Qxc4 21.Nxc4 Rfd8 22.Ne3 Bb8³ A very elegant retreat,
giving the full power to the mighty rook on c8.) 18...Bxa5 19.Ncd5 Nxd5 20.Bxd5 Bd8 21.c3 Bg5
22.Nf5 g6 23.h4 Bf6 24.Ne3 Bxh4 25.Bxb7 Rb8 26.Bd5 a5=

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13.Bb3 Be7 14.O-O O-O 15.Rfc1

Defending c2 before invading d5.

15.a5 Qc5 (15...Rfd8 16.Qf3 Qc5 17.Rfe1 Qd4 18.Nf1 Bxb3 19.cxb3 d5 20.exd5 Bb4 21.Ra4 b5
(21...Bxc3? 22.Rxd4 Bxd4 23.Ne3 Bxe3 24.Qxe3± Alexander Khalifman 2490 - Semen Dvoirys
2470, USSR (ch) 1986) 22.axb6 Qxb6 23.Rxe5 Bxc3 24.bxc3 Qxb3 25.Rxa6 Rxc3 26.Re3 Nxd5
27.Rxc3 Nxc3= Ranko Szuhanek) 16.h3 d5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Bxd5 Bxd5 19.Qxe5 Be6 20.Qxc5
Rxc5 21.Rfd1 Rd8 22.Nb3 (22.Nde4 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Rxa5µ) 22...Rc4 23.Rxd8+ Bxd8 24.Rd1 Bf6
25.Rd6 Bxc3 (25...Kf8 26.Rb6 Bxc3 27.bxc3 Bc8! 28.Nd2 Rxc3 29.Ne4 Rxc2 30.Nd6 g6 31.h4 h5
32.f3 Kg7=) 26.bxc3 Rxc3 27.Nd4 Bc8 28.Rd8+ Kh7 29.Kf1 Rc5 30.f3 h5= Ranko Szuhanek;
15.Rfd1 Qc5 with the idea of 16.Nf1? Bg4 are known variations.
15...Rfd8
15...Nd7?! A particularly interesting move, being the product of half an hour's contemplation. I
would put an exclamation mark after this move, as it really deserves one from the psychological point
of view. Black is avoiding some variation that would lead to equality, and meanwhile he is provoking
the opponent, who jumps "to claim" his easy gotten advantage. But, in most cases it appears to be just
a Trojan horse! Ranko Szuhanek # Obviously the strongest move is 16.Rd1! (16.Nd5?! Falling into
the trap! 16...Bxd5 17.Bxd5 Bg5 Threatening Nf6. 18.c3 (18.Bb3? An invitation to repetition of
moves which is part of a negative approach to the game. 18...Nc5 19.Bd5 Ne6

94
(Of course not 19...Nd7) 20.Bxe6? This opens the f -file which quickly becomes lethal. (20.Qd1 Nf4
21.Bb3 Qd7!?​→) 20...fxe6 It is mostly recommanded that Black should obtain this pawn structure as
his central mass is a force, and also hinders almost all White's ideas of counterplay. Ranko Szuhanek
21.c3 Qb6-+ Slavoljub Marjanović 2473 - Suat Atalik 2549, Srbija 2014. Practically a double attack
on b2 and f2.) 18...Nf6 19.Qd3 Qb6 20.Rc2 Nxd5 21.Qxd5 Rc5 22.Qd3 Rd8= I am afraid that White
is not worse after all.) 16...Qc5 17.Nd5! Bd8 18.Nc4± and it should have refuted the idea.; 15...Qc5
16.Nf1 Qb4 17.Ne3 Bxb3 18.cxb3 (18.Nf5?! Bc4 19.Nxe7+ Kh8µ) 18...Qxb3 19.Rd1 (19.Ncd5?!
Nxd5 20.Nxd5 Bg5µ) 19...Qe6 20.Rd3©
16.Nf1 d5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Bxd5 Rxd5=

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- looks to me too totally equal.

6.a4... 10.Bh4

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4 e5 7.Nf3 Qc7 8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.Nd2 h6
10.Bh4

96
10...g5
10...Be7 11.Bc4 g5 12.Bg3 Nb6 13.Bb3 Be6 14.Qe2 Rc8 15.f3 (15.h4 g4 16.O-O Nc4 17.Nxc4
Bxc4 18.Bxc4 Qxc4 19.Qe3 Qd4!=) 15...Nc4 (15...Nh5! 16.O-O Nxg3 17.hxg3 h5 18.Rf2 h4 19.g4
h3 20.g3 Qc5=) 16.Nxc4 Bxc4 17.Bxc4 Qxc4 18.Qxc4 Rxc4 19.Kd2 h5 20.Rad1 Bd8 21.Bf2 Ke7
22.Kd3 Rc8 23.h3 Ke6 24.Be3 Rg8 25.g4 Ba5=

19.0-0-0!² White should have understood that this rook has no business on the a-, but rather on the d-
file, while the other rook should be ready in case the action takes place on the kingside. White's
position is superior, and there is almost no risk of losing the game.
11.Bg3 Nc5 12.h4 g4

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12...Bg7 is another possibility, when Black does not push the pawn, but rather goes for developing
the kingside. The young Sergey Karjakin somehow managed to win the game, but objectively White
has a small edge in this line, as the rook exchange is in his favour. 13.hxg5 hxg5 14.Rxh8+ Bxh8
15.Bc4 (15.f3 Be6 16.Bf2 Rd8 17.b4 Ncd7 18.Ra3 g4! (18...Nb6?! 19.a5 Nc4? 20.Bxc4 Bxc4
21.Bb6+- Dmitry Andreikin 2725 - Kirill Shevchenko 2599, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2021) 19.a5
gxf3 20.gxf3 Bg7 21.b5 Bf8! 22.bxa6 bxa6 23.Bxa6 d5 24.Nb5 Qc6 25.Rc3 Nc5 26.Qe2 d4

27.Nxd4! Qxa6 28.Qxa6 Nxa6 29.Nxe6 fxe6 30.Rc6 Rd6 31.Rc8+ Rd8 (31...Kf7? 32.Nc4+-)
32.Rc6 Rd6=) 15...Be6 16.Bxe6 Nxe6 (16...fxe6 17.Qe2 O-O-O 18.O-O-O Qc6 19.a5 Kb8 20.Qc4
Rc8 21.b4 Ncd7 22.Qxc6 Rxc6 23.Kb2 g4 24.Kb3! b5 25.axb6 Nxb6 26.Bh4 Kb7

98
27.f3!± White has to open the kingside in order to achieve a better game.) 17.Qe2 Rc8 18.O-O-O
Nd4 19.Qd3 Nd7 20.Nb3 Nc5 21.Nxc5 Qxc5 22.f3 b5 23.axb5 axb5 24.Bf2 b4 25.Bxd4 exd4
26.Qb5+ Rc6!= Gennadi P. Kuzmin 2527 - Sergey Karjakin 2460, Moscow 2002; 26.Nd5²

Rinat Jumabayev

13.Bc4
13.h5 Be6 14.Bh4 (14.a5 Bg7 15.Bh4 Nxh5 16.Nc4 1/2 : 1/2 Evgenij Ermenkov 2449 - Vladimir
Akopian 2660, Dubai 2000) 14...Ncd7 15.a5 Rc8 16.Ra4 Be7 17.Be2 Rg8 18.g3 Nc5 19.Ra1 Ncd7
1/2 : 1/ 2 Dmitry Andreikin 2741 - Rinat Jumabayev 2630, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/1) 2019
13...Be6 14.O-O Bxc4
14...h5 Makes some room for the bishop on h6. In similar positions one should always try to find a
good place for his pieces in order to gain some conterplay. 15.Re1 (15.f4 This move leeds to big
complications. 15...Bxc4

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16.fxe5 Bxf1 17.exf6 Bxg2 18.Nd5 Qc6 19.Kxg2 Rc8 (19...O-O-O? 20.b4! Ne6 21.b5 axb5 22.axb5
Qxb5 23.Nc4 Kd7 24.Qd3 Qc6

25.Ne7+- This move demonstrates that the poor placement of Black's royal couple is fatal for the
final outcome of the game. 25...Qc5 26.Ra5 b5 27.Rxb5 Qxb5 28.Ne5+ Qxe5 29.Bxe5 Bxe7
30.Qb5+ Kc7 31.fxe7 dxe5 32.exd8=Q+ Rxd8 33.Qxe5+ Kb6 34.Kg3 Rd2 35.Qf5 Rxc2 36.Qxf7+-)
20.b3 Rh6 21.c3²; 15.f3 Ncd7!=) 15...Ncd7 16.b3 Bh6 17.Bxe6 Getting the c4 square free for the
knight. (17.a5 Bxd2 18.Qxd2 Bxc4 19.bxc4 Qxc4 20.Re3 Qc7 21.Rd1 Rc8 22.Qxd6 Qxd6 23.Rxd6
Ke7 24.Red3 Nc5 25.Rd1 Nfxe4 26.Nxe4 Nxe4 27.Rd7+ Kf6 28.Bxe5+ Kxe5 29.Re7+ Kf5
30.Rd5+ Kg6 31.Rxe4 f6 32.Rb4 Rhd8 33.Rxd8 Rxd8 34.Rxb7 Rd5=) 17...fxe6 18.Nc4 Ke7 19.a5 b5
20.axb6 Nxb6 21.Nxb6 Qxb6 22.Na4 Qc6 23.Qd3 Rhc8 24.Rad1 Nd7 25.Nb2 Qc5 26.Nc4 Rc6=

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Black has a nice and very flexible position. His pieces are active and can easily maintain the equality.;
14...O-O-O!?

15.Bxe6+ (15.Qe2 Ncd7 16.a5 Kb8 17.Kh2 Rc8 18.b3 Qc5 19.Qd3 h5 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.Nc4 Qd4
22.Rad1 Qxd3 23.Rxd3 Be7 24.f4 gxf3 25.gxf3 Rhf8 26.Rfd1 Rxc4 27.bxc4 Rc8 28.Ra1 Rxc4
29.Kh3 Nc5 30.Re3 Nfd7 31.Ra2 Kc7©) 15...fxe6 16.Qe2 Kb8 17.Nc4 Ncd7 18.b3 Nb6 19.a5
Nxc4 20.bxc4 Rc8 21.Ra4 h5 22.Rb1 Nd7 23.Rab4 Nc5 24.Na4

24...Rh7! (24...Nxa4 25.Rxa4 Qc5 26.Kh1=) 25.Nxc5 Qxc5∞

15.Nxc4 Ncxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Qd3 f5 18.Rad1

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18.Ne3 Despite being a pawn down, White's position is preferable, thanks to the 'large open spaces"
in Black's camp. 18...Qd7 19.b4 O-O-O 20.Rae1

Now the pressure is just too big, and Black can only mantain his knight in the centre by pushing d5.
20...d5 (20...Qxa4 21.Nxf5 Nxg3 22.fxg3 Qxb4 23.Kh2! Qc5 24.c4 Kb8 25.Ne3 Rd7 26.Qg6 Bg7
27.Qxg4 Qc6 28.Qe6 Qc8 29.Qg4

29...e4! Only this way Black can hope to save the game! The active bishop on e5 is worth much more
than a pawn. 30.Nd5 Qc6 31.Rxe4 Be5 32.Qf5²) 21.Bxe5 Bxb4 22.Bxh8 Bxe1 23.Rxe1 Rxh8
24.Qxd5 (24.Nxg4 Qxa4 25.Qxd5 Qd7 26.Qb3) 24...Qxd5 25.Nxd5 Kd7 26.a5 Kd6 27.Rd1 Ke5
28.Ne3=

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18...O-O-O 19.Ne3 Qd7 20.Qc4+ Qc6 21.Qe6+ Qd7 22.Qxf5
White has a small edge and plays for a win.
22...Qxf5 23.Nxf5 h5 24.Rfe1

24...Nxg3
Why not? I guess Black was affraid to trade this way, thinking that his bishop is worse than the
knight. But, that was not the case.
24...Nc5 25.b3 (25.a5 Fixing the pawns is always a good idea.) 25...Rh7 26.Ne3 Rf7 27.Nd5 Bh6
(27...Kb8 28.a5 Ne6 29.c3 Ng7 30.c4 Nf5 31.Nb6 Re8 32.Rd5 Bg7 33.Re4²) 28.Nb6+ Kc7 29.a5
(29.Nc4 Bf4 30.Rd5 (30.Bxf4 Not a very wise decision! Why inviting the enemy rook to be active?
One should bear in mind that no "free activity" should be given to the opponent, especially not in time
trouble. 30...Rxf4 31.Ne3∞ (31.Rd5? (Wojciech Moranda 2601 - Alexey Sarana 2656,
ProChessLeague (Internet-rapid) 2020) 31...Nxa4µ)) 30...Bxg3 31.fxg3 Ne6=) 29...Ne6 30.c4 Kc6
31.Rd5²
25.Nxg3 Be7 26.Nf5 Rh7 27.c4 Kc7 28.Rd5 Rf8
28...Bf8 29.Red1 Rf7 30.Ne3 Re8 31.R5d2 Kb6 32.Nd5+ Kc6 33.a5 e4 34.b4 Bg7 35.g3 Rf3 36.Kg2
Be5 37.Rc1²
29.Nxe7 Rxe7 30.c5 dxc5 31.Rdxe5 Rxe5 32.Rxe5 Kb6 33.Rxh5 Ka5 34.Rxc5+ Kxa4 35.Rc3 a5=

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Thanks to his highly active king Black can hope to save the game.

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6.a4... 12.Qf3

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.Nge2 Nf6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 a6 6.a4 e5 7.Nf3 Qc7 8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.Nd2 h6
10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Nc5 12.Qf3

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A move a la Tal! Clearly, the great champion wanted to take his opponent out of the book. But, this is
not such a fortunate square for the queen, since she can be kicked away by the g4 push.
12...Be7 13.Bc4 Be6 14.a5

14...g4!
14...Rc8 is a nice try, and as we already know, the best way for Black is to keep his king in the centre.
15.Bxe6 Nxe6 Better is 16.Ra4 (16.Qd3

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16...Rg8! 17.f3 (17.h4 Nf4 18.Bxf4 gxf4 19.Kf1 Qd7ƒ and Black has the initiative.) 17...h5 18.h3
(18.Bf2?! Nf4 19.Qf1 d5 20.exd5 Bb4 21.Bb6 Qd6 22.Nde4 Nxe4 23.fxe4 Rxc3! (23...Bxc3+?!
24.bxc3 Rxc3 25.Qf2 Kd7 26.O-O Rgc8 27.Rac1 Qa3µ Black managed to win in Yaroslav
Zinchenko 2493 - Alexander Areshchenko 2625, Ukraine (ch-m/1) 2005) 24.bxc3 Bxc3+ 25.Kf2
Qb4! 26.Rd1

26...Qa4!! Winning positions require the most precise and shortest way! (26...Qxe4 27.Rd3 Bb4
28.Kg1 Rg6!-+) 27.d6 Qxc2+ 28.Kg1 Ne2+ 29.Kf2 Bd4+ 30.Ke1 Nf4 31.d7+ Ke7 32.Bxd4 exd4
33.Qf3 Nxg2+ 34.Kf1 Ne3+ 35.Ke1 g4 36.Qe2 Qxe4 37.Rf1

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37...f5-+ What an amazing picture - a total disaster for White, and I believe one cannot see it very
often.) 18...g4 19.hxg4 hxg4 20.Nf1 gxf3 21.gxf3 Nd4³) 16...O-O 17.O-O Nd4 18.Qd3 Ne6=

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 Mihail Tal

15.Qe2 h5 16.f3 Rc8 17.b3

17.Bxe6?! Sometimes too much originality is not good. 17...Nxe6 (17...fxe6?! 18.fxg4 hxg4 19.O-O
Ncd7 In many cases in similar positions, after capturing fe6, Black plays his knights to d7, coming
either from c5 or f6, and the rook goes to c8, while the king is kept in the centre. 20.Rf2 Qc5

109
21.Ra4! The rook comes into play over the 4th rank, heading for c4. 21...Rc6 22.Nb3 (22.Kh1 Nh5
23.Qxg4 Qe3 24.Nf1 Nxg3+ 25.Qxg3 Qc1 26.Rb4

26...Rf8!© This is hardly the position Tal would play with the white pieces. In actual fact, he would
always gladly sacrifice something for compensation, or even for no compensation at all, as we all
know!) 22...Qa7 23.Rc4 Rxc4 24.Qxc4 Qe3!

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25.Kf1™ (25.Qxe6?! Qe1+ 26.Rf1 Qe3+ 27.Bf2 Qh6 28.Bg3 Qe3+= Tal wouldn't agree to a draw
this way!) 25...Kf7 26.Qc7 Qa7 27.Na4 (27.Qxd7? Qxf2+-+) 27...Rd8 (27...Qe3?! 28.Qxb7 Rb8
29.Qc6 Rb4 (29...Qa7 30.Qc4 Qb7 31.Nc3 Rc8 32.Qe2 Rg8 33.Bh4±) 30.Nb6! I cannot believe that
Tal had no idea about the mighty black knight tandem - as we can also see from different games, and
the logical idea of getting rid of at least one, as it decreases the strenght of them acting in both
defence and attack. (30.Nc3?

30...Rxb3! 31.cxb3 Qc1+! 32.Ke2 Nc5 33.Rxf6+ Bxf6 34.Qxd6 Qxb2+ 35.Qd2 Qxb3 36.Be1 Qc4+
37.Kd1 Nxe4µ; 30.Re2?! This is a rather rare sight for Misha Tal. In most cases he would seize the
advantage on the spot and follow the path just as a shark can feel its prey from more than 10 miles
away. 30...Qa7 31.Bf2 Nb8!? (31...Qb7?! 32.Qxb7 Rxb7 33.Nb6² Bd8 34.Nxd7 Nxd7 35.Rd2!

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(35.Be1 d5 36.Re3 Bg5 37.Rd3 d4= Black got rid of the "weak" d6 pawn and is doing just fine. 38.h4
Bf4 39.Rd1 (39.Bd2?! Bxd2 40.Rxd2 Nf6 41.Rf2 (41.Ke2? An inexplicable mistake by the great
champion. 41...Nxe4 42.Rd1 Ng3+ 43.Kd3 e4+ Is this the move he overlooked? 44.Kc4 (Mihail Tal
- Levon Eolian, Yerevan 1982 – 33/ 366) 44...e5! The most effective way to an unbelievable win.
45.Rb1 Nf5 46.Kd5 d3 47.Kxe5 Nxh4 48.Rf1+ Kg6 49.Kxe4 dxc2 50.Nd4 Rc7 51.Rc1 Nxg2 52.b4

52...Ne1!-+) 41...Ke7 42.Ke1 Nxe4 43.Re2 Nd6 44.Rxe5 Kf6 45.Rg5 d3 46.Nc5 dxc2 47.Kd2 Rxb2
48.Rxg4 Nf5 49.Nxa6 Ra2 50.Nb4 Rxa5 51.Nxc2 Ra7 52.h5 Rh7 53.Rg6+ Kf7 54.Rg5 Kf6
55.Rg6+=) 39...Nf6 40.Nc5 Rxb2 41.Nxa6 Nxe4

42.Ra1! The only continuation that secures a draw. 42...Bd2 43.Nc7 Bxe1 44.Kxe1 Rxc2 45.a6 d3

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46.a7 Re2+ 47.Kf1 Ng3+ 48.Kg1 d2 49.a8=Q Re1+ 50.Kh2 Nf1+ 51.Kg1 Ng3+ 52.Kh2 (52.Kf2??
Nh1#) 52...Nf1+=) 35...Bc7 36.Rd3 Nf6 37.Re3 Bb8 38.Bh4 Ba7 39.Rc3 Nxe4 40.Rc6 Ke8 41.Rxa6
Kd7

A very difficult moment for White. We all know that in the endgame the pawns should be pushed, so
the most natural continuation would be 42.Be1. However, chess is a vast unknown territory, and even
the greatest players can go wrong in positions like this. On the other hand, the plan starting with
42.Ke2 looks promissing, but to be honest, no human can calculate both variations up to the end.
Now, the question arises - which continuation shall we choose? The answer is not at all easy, and it
should be the result of many qualities an experienced chess player is supposed to have such as: 1.
intuition 2. system of practical decision-making 3. self confidence 4. knowledge of particular
theoretical endgames and clasical positions 5. risk analysis and assessment whether or not it is worth
of taking it. 42.Ke2! The king goes to offer support to his pawns on the queenside. (42.Be1 Kc7
43.h4 gxh3 44.gxh3 Nc5 45.Nxc5 Bxc5 46.b4

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A nice try to win the game, but Black manages to keep the balance with a stubborn defence.
46...Bxb4 47.Rb6 Bc5 48.Rxb7+ Kxb7 49.Bc3 Ka6 50.h4 e4 51.h5 Be3 52.Ke2 Bh6 53.Bd2 Bg7
54.h6 Bxh6 55.Bxh6 Kxa5 56.Bf4 d5 57.Ke3 Kb4 58.Be5 Kc4 59.Bb2 Kc5 60.Kf4 Kc4 61.Ke5 e3
62.Bd4 e2 63.Bf2 Kc3 64.Kxe6 Kxc2 65.Kxd5=) 42...Rc7 43.Kd1 d5 44.c3 Rb7 45.Kc2±) 32.Qc3
Qb7 33.Nb6 Rxe4 34.Be3 Nc6 35.Nd2 Rb4 36.Rf2 Kg7 37.Bg5 Nd5 38.Nxd5 exd5 39.Bxe7
Nxe7=) 30...Rxe4

31.Kg1!!± I am 100% sure that Tal would have played this move as well! 31...Nxb6 32.axb6 Rb4
33.b7 Qa7 34.Na5 Rxb2 35.h3!± continuing in the same spirit.) 28.Bh4 Qb8 29.Qc4 Qc8 30.Qe2
Rg8=) 18.fxg4 Nxg4 19.Bf2 Nf4 20.Qf3 Qc6! (20...Nxf2 21.Qxf2 h4=) 21.g3 Ne6 22.Bb6 Bd8=

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17...h4 18.Bf2 h3 19.g3 gxf3 20.Qxf3 Bg4 21.Qe3 Rg8 22.O-O Be6∞

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CHAPTER 3
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Nb3

This move was recently reintroduced at the highest level by the Polish Grandmaster Mateusz Bartel,
and it is also played by other top players. It follows no particular idea, except to wait and see which
path will Black take. Then, White will accordingly choose what is best for him. After 6...e5, I choose
to deal with 7.Bg5, as variations such as: 7.Be2, 7.Be3, 7.a4, 7.f3, 7.g3, or 7.h3 transpose into main
variations are not the subject of this book. After 7.Bg5 Be7, White can play 8.h4 and after taking the
knight on f6 the play can take shape of the several positions starting with 6.h4.

6.Nb3

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Nb3

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6...e5 7.Bg5
7.f4 Qc7 In the spirit of the Najdorf! (7...exf4?! A rare and not recommendable line. 8.Bxf4 Nc6
9.Qd2 Be7 10.O-O-O Ne5 11.Kb1 O-O 12.Nd4 Be6 13.h3 Qc7 14.g4 (14.Nf5 Rfd8 15.g4 Bf8
16.Be2±) 14...b5 15.g5 b4 (15...Nfd7? 16.Nf5 Nc5 (16...Bxf5? 17.Nd5+- Peter Svidler 2714 - Irina
Bulmaga 2440, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2021) 17.Bg2 Rfe8 18.Nxe7+ Qxe7 19.Qxd6 Qxd6
20.Rxd6 Nc4 21.Rc6 Nd7 22.b3±) 16.gxf6 bxc3 17.Qxc3 Qxc3 18.bxc3 Rfb8+ 19.Kc1 gxf6 20.Rg1+
Kh8 21.a4 d5 22.Bh6 Ba3+ 23.Kd2 Bf8 24.Bxf8 Rxf8 25.exd5 Bxd5 26.Bd3²) 8.a4 Be7 9.f5 O-O
10.g4 d5 11.exd5 (11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.exd5 Bh4+ 13.Kd2 Nd7µ) 11...Bb4 12.Bg2 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3
Qxc3+

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14.Qd2! (14.Bd2 Qc4 15.Na5 (15.g5?? Qh4+ (15...Nxd5? 16.Qe2 (16.f6? White is not feeling the
danger at all, thinking that 16...Qh4+ is a harmless line. This is, however, a mistake, quickly punished
by Black. 17.Kf1 Nf4 18.Bxf4 Qxf4+ 19.Qf3 Qxg5-+ David Paravyan 2653 - Alexey Sarana 2654,
chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020) 16...Qxe2+ 17.Kxe2 Rd8 18.Na5 Nc6 19.Nxc6 bxc6 20.Rhf1 f6³)
16.Ke2 Ne4-+) 15...Qd4 16.Nb3 Qc4=) 14...Qxd2+ 15.Bxd2 Nxg4 16.O-O Nd7 17.c4 Re8 18.a5©

Alexey Sarana

7...Be7
This is my warm recomandation!
7...Be6 is also possible, but statistically, Black achieved better results with the text move.
8.Bxf6
8.h4 - check the 6.h4 dedicated chapter for detailed analysis.
8...Bxf6 9.Qd3 O-O

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9...Be6

10.O-O-O Be7 11.Nd5 Bxd5 (11...Nc6 12.Nxe7 Qxe7 13.Qxd6 Qh4 14.g3 Qf6 15.Rd2± Black has
no compensation at all.) 12.Qxd5 Qc7 13.Kb1 (13.Na5 Nc6 14.Nc4 O-O (14...Rd8 15.Kb1 O-O
16.h4ƒ) 15.Kb1 - see the analysis of the 13.Kb1 continuation.) 13...O-O (13...Nd7

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14.Qc4! White should try to reach the endgame where his chances are slightly better. (14.Na5 Nf6
15.Qxb7 Qxb7 16.Nxb7 Nxe4 17.Rg1 Ra7 18.f3 Nc3+ 19.bxc3 Rxb7+ 20.Ka1 e4 (20...Rb6 21.Rb1
Rxb1+ 22.Kxb1 a5 23.Bb5+ Kd8 24.c4 Bg5 25.Rd1 Kc7) 21.Bxa6 (21.fxe4 Bf6 22.a4 Rb4! 23.Ka2
Rxa4+ 24.Kb3 Rxe4 25.Rxd6 Ke7 26.Bd3 Rb8+ 27.Ka3 Bxc3 28.Bxe4 Kxd6 29.Rd1+ Ke7 30.h3 a5
31.Bd5 Rb4 32.Bb3 Re4 33.Rd5 g6³) 21...Rb6 22.Bc4 Bf6 23.a4 Bxc3+ 24.Ka2 e3 25.Bb5+ Ke7
26.Rd3 Bd2 27.Kb3 Rd8 28.Rd5 Rc8 29.c4 Rc5 30.Kc2 Rxd5 31.cxd5 Kf6 32.f4 Rb7 33.g4 Rc7+
34.Kd3 Rc3+ 35.Ke2 Ra3 36.Rb1 h5=) 14...Rc8 15.Qxc7 Rxc7 16.c3 O-O 17.g3 Nf6 18.Bg2 g6
19.Rd2²) 14.Na5 Nc6 15.Nc4 - see 13.Kb1 continuation. 15...Rad8 16.Ne3 Bg5 17.Nf5 b5 18.h4
Ne7 19.Qb3 Bf6 (19...Nxf5 20.hxg5 Nd4 21.Rxd4! Every rational player would go for it. 21...exd4
22.Qh3 h6 23.Bd3

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23...f6! (23...Qd7 24.Qh5±) 24.gxh6 g6 25.Qg3 Kh7∞ Black has rejected the attack but neither side
can claim any advantage.) 20.Ne3

20...d5! The only practical chance! Black sacrifices the pawn trying to open his dark-square bishop
with a potential attack on the enemy's king. Of course, there is no possibility to calculate everything
up to the end, but the general idea is that in practical situations it is always better to create conterplay,
rather than wait passively for the opponent to realise his plan. (20...Qc5?! 21.g3 (21.g4 h6 (21...g6
This is not a happy continuation, as it sets Black to passivity or material loss. 22.g5 Bg7 23.h5 Rfe8
24.Bg2 Nc6 25.c3 b4 26.cxb4 Qxb4 27.Qxb4 Nxb4 28.Bf1 Nc6 29.Bxa6 Nd4 30.Rhg1+-) 22.Be2
(22.g5 hxg5 23.hxg5 Bxg5 24.Ng4 Ng6 25.Qh3 Rfe8 26.Qh5 Bf4 27.Rd5 Qa7 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.a3ƒ)
22...g5 Pretty much against the basic rules, but in this position the only acceptable move.

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23.h5! The best way to achieve a clear advantage is to force the opponent's bishop into passivity, and
saddle him with a horrible pawn structure. Black closed the kingside, and the attack is not possible at
the moment, but nevertheless, White is much better from the positional standpoint. (23.hxg5 Bxg5
24.a3 Kg7 25.Rh5² Rg8 White is only slightly better, since the black pieces have some activity.)
23...Qc6 24.Bf3 Bg7 25.Rd2 Rd7 26.Rhd1 Rfd8 27.Qa3 Bf8

28.Rd3!±) 21...Rb8 (21...Nc6 This would have been the lesser evil. 22.Rd5 Nd4 23.Qd3 Qb6 24.Bg2
Be7 25.Rd1 Rfe8 26.c3 Ne6 27.Qd2 a5 28.a3 Bf8 29.Rd3 Nc5 30.Nd5 Qc6 31.Re3±) 22.Ng4 Rfc8
23.Rd2 Nc6 (23...a5? Black pays no attention to opponent's intentions on the kingside, and his
position becomes compromised. 24.Qf3 Nc6 (24...Qb4 25.Rd3 Qc4 26.Nxf6+ gxf6 27.Rc3 Qe6
28.Rxc8+ Rxc8 (28...Nxc8 29.Bh3 Qe8 30.Qxf6+-)) 25.Nxf6+ gxf6 26.Qxf6 Nb4 (26...Nd4

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27.Bh3+-) 27.c3 Qc6 28.Qg5+ (28.Bg2? The bishop should control the f1-a6 diagonal, rather than
hide on g2. 28...Nxa2 29.Qxd6 Nxc3+ This is practically the best chance, but White can defend
himself with a few precise moves. 30.bxc3 Qxc3 31.Qd3 Qb4+ 32.Rb2 Qa4 33.Qe3 Rd8 34.Bf3+- It
is all over now. 34...h6 35.Qxh6 Rd3 36.Qg5+ Kf8 37.Qxe5 Rbd8 38.Qc5+ Kg8 39.Qg5+ Kf8
40.Rc1 Qd4 41.Be2 Qxe4 42.Bxd3 Rxd3 43.Qf4 Qg6 44.h5 Qh7 45.Ka2 Qxh5 46.Qb8+ Kg7
47.Qxb5 Rd5 48.Qc4 a4 49.Qc3+ Kh7 50.Rb8 1 : 0 Alexander Grischuk 2737 - Ian Nepomniachtchi
2767, Doha (rapid) 2016) 28...Kh8 29.f3! Nxa2 (29...Na6 30.Qf6+ Kg8 31.Rxd6+-) 30.Kxa2 b4
31.c4 Qa4+ 32.Kb1 b3 33.Rxd6 Qa2+ 34.Kc1 Qa1+ 35.Kd2 Qxb2+ 36.Ke1 Rg8 37.Qf6+ Rg7
38.h5 Qc1+ 39.Kf2 Qg5 40.Qxg5 Rxg5 41.c5 b2 42.Bd3+-) 24.Nxf6+ gxf6 25.Bh3 Na5 26.Qf3 Rc6
(26...Nc4 27.Re2 Rc6 28.Rd1 (28.Qxf6?

28...Nxb2! 29.Kxb2 Qd4+ 30.Kb1 Qb4+ 31.Kc1 Qd4 32.Qf3 Qa1+ 33.Kd2 Rxc2+! 34.Kxc2
Qxa2+ 35.Kd1 Qa1+ 36.Kd2 Qa2+ 37.Ke1 Qb1+ 38.Kd2 Qa2+=) 28...Kg7 29.Rd5 Qa7 30.Re1
Qc7 31.Rc1±) 27.Rhd1 Nc4 28.Re2±) 21.exd5 e4 22.g3 Nc8 The knight is the better blockader, but
also it protects the e4 pawn. 23.c3 Nd6 24.Ng4 Qe7 25.Bg2 (25.Nxf6+ Qxf6 26.Qc2 Rfe8©) 25...h5
26.Nxf6+ (26.Ne3 a5 27.Rhe1

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27...Qa7! Such moves are not easy to find. 28.Re2 g6 Again, we should remember the "do not rush"
principle. Black created some room for the bishop, and then, he can go further with his ideas. 29.Nc2
(29.g4!? A very sharp variation can arise after this move, and Black has only one chance - to pick up
the gauntlet! 29...hxg4 30.Bxe4

30...b4! The attack on the opposite-side castled kings is one of the motifs we all love to play in the
Najdorf varitiation! (30...Nxe4 This leeds to a total war-like scene! 31.Nxg4 Bg7 32.Rxe4 f5 33.d6+
Qf7

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34.Nh6+ The only way for White to stay in the game. For example: (34.Qxf7+ Rxf7 35.Re6 fxg4
36.Rxg6 b4 37.Rxg4 bxc3 38.bxc3 Rxf2 39.d7 Kf7 40.Rc4 Bf6 41.a4 Rf5!³ - and, it is Black who
plays for a win here.; 34.Re6 fxg4 35.Rxg6 Qxb3 36.axb3 Rf4 37.Rd5 Kf7 38.h5

38...Rb8! 39.d7 Rd8 Provocation is another principle we should always bear in mind. 40.c4 a4
41.Rxb5 axb3 42.c5 Rxd7 43.Rxb3 Bf6 44.c6 Rc7 45.Rb7 Rxb7 46.cxb7 Rb4 47.Rxg4 Rxb2+ 48.Kc1
Rxb7=) 34...Bxh6 35.Re6 Bg7 36.Qd5 Rfe8 37.Rxe8+ Rxe8 38.Qxb5 Qe6 39.Qxa5 Qe4+ 40.Ka1
Bf6 41.a3 Rd8=) 31.cxb4 Rb8 32.a3 axb4 33.axb4 Ra8 34.Nc2 Rfe8 35.Bd3 Bxh4 36.Rxe8+ Rxe8
37.Ne3 Bxf2 38.Nxg4 Bd4 39.Qa3 Qd7 40.Nh6+ Kg7 41.Bc2 Re3! When playing such kind of
positions it is important to have this attitude, as the counterattack should be one of our main weapons!
42.Qa6 Be5 43.Qc6

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43...Qa7! With reduced material on the board Black has managed obtain a slight edge, while the
control over the dark squares gives him a long term advantage. 44.Qc5 (44.Ng4? White cannot afford
such moves as he loses on the spot! 44...Bxb2! Curiously, White's king is under siege, and Black
would either finish the attack, or force White to accept a lost ending. 45.Qa4 (45.Kxb2 Qa3+ 46.Kb1
Qxb4+ 47.Kc1 Ra3 48.Bb1 Rc3+-+) 45...Qxa4 46.Bxa4 Re4 47.Kxb2 Rxb4+ 48.Bb3 Rxg4-+)
44...Qxc5 45.bxc5 Kxh6 46.cxd6 Bxd6µ) 29...Rfe8³) 26...Qxf6 27.Qc2 Rfe8 28.Rhe1

28...e3! Activity at all cost! Black gives away the second pawn, but still has enough counterplay to
retain chances for salvation. 29.Rxe3 Rxe3 30.fxe3 Nc4 31.Re1 Rd6 32.Ka1 Qe5 With good
compensation, for example: 33.Qe4 Qxg3 34.Qe8+ Kh7 35.Be4+ f5 36.Bxf5+ g6 37.Rf1 gxf5
38.Qxh5+ Kg8 39.Qxf5 Qg7 40.a4 A strange move in an imbalanced position, but White should also

126
take care of his king's safety. 40...Nxe3 41.Qf4 Nc4 42.Qe4 Rf6 43.Rxf6 Qxf6 44.axb5 axb5
45.Qe6+ Qxe6 46.dxe6 Kg7 47.b3 Nd6 48.Kb2 Kf6 49.Ka3 Kxe6 50.Kb4 Kf5=
10.O-O-O
10.Rd1 This is a rather original option, while 10.0-0-0 is a standard approach. 10...Be7 11.Nd5 Bg5
12.g3 Was this the idea of Rd1? White wants to save a tempo by playing anything else than Kb1 after
Bg5? 12...Be6 13.h4 Bh6 Black has equalised easily. 14.Bg2 Nd7 15.O-O (15.Nc3?! This is a loss of
time, and Black is going to seize the advantage. 15...Nb6³ 16.Na5 (16.Qxd6 Qxd6 17.Rxd6 Nc4µ)
16...Na4 17.Nxb7 (17.Nxa4 Qxa5+ 18.Nc3 Rac8µ The uncastled white king, as well his own bishop
pair give Black an edge. 19.Bh3? One of the unwritten law of chess : "When you are a bit worse,
there is always a move that loses on the spot!" 19...Qb4! (19...Bc4 Fortunately for White, Black fails
to find the easiest way to win. 20.Qf3 Rc6 21.a3

21...f5!! A blow that nobody would have thought about. (21...b5 22.Bf1 Be6 23.Be2 (23.Bd3? Rxc3
(23...b4 24.axb4 Qxb4 25.O-O Qxb2 26.Nd5 Bxd5 27.exd5 Rb6 28.Qh5 Rb4 29.Rb1 (29.Rfe1 Rd4
30.Kg2 a5 31.Qf5 (31.g4? Qb4!-+ 32.Rb1 (32.f3??

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White is much worse, but this is a blunder after which the position collapses. 32...Rxd3! 33.cxd3
(Vladimir Onischuk 2601 - Farrukh Amonatov 2620, Doha (rapid) 2016) 33...Bf4! This, rather non-
attacking, move seals White's fate, as he either loses material or gets checkmated. 34.g5 Qb2+
35.Kf1 Qh2 36.Qg4 (36.Re2 Qh1+ 37.Kf2 Qxd1) 36...Bg3-+) 32...Qc5 33.g5

33...g6! 34.Qe2 Bg7 35.Be4 a4 36.Qe3 Ra8-+) 31...g6 32.Qd7 Qb8µ) 29...Qc3 30.Rxb4 Qxb4
31.Bxa6 Bd2 32.Qe2 Bc3 33.Kg2 f5 34.f3 Bd4³) 24.bxc3 Qxc3+ 25.Kf1 Qxa3µ The engines
suggest that Black is slightly better, but I think this is an even worse situation for White.) 23...Rfc8
24.O-O Qd8³) 22.exf5 (22.Bxf5 g6-+) 22...e4! Another basic rule says that when having the bishop
pair we should open the position. This is especially recommended if the enemy king is still in the
centre. 23.Qg4 (23.Qxe4

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23...Qd8!! This beautiful move is not easy to spot. In actual fact, it should rather be a "fine tune"
every Najdorf player should have in his arsenal! As a trainig method I recommend chess studies,
since they develop the feeling for paradoxical moves and allow us to win instantly. 24.b3 What else
should White do, as his king is trapped in the centre? 24...Re8 25.bxc4

25...Rxc4! A rare and beautiful picture when the queen is attacked by the enemy rook and cannot
escape, but helplessly witnesses the attack by the second rook! 26.Bg2 Rxc3-+) 23...Qb6 24.Ne2
Qxb2 25.O-O d5 26.Rb1 Qxc2 27.Nd4 Qc3 28.Nxc6 bxc6 29.f6 Bxf1 30.Qe6+ Kh8 31.Qe7 Qxf6
32.Qxf6 gxf6 33.Kxf1 f5 34.Rb6 Rf6 35.Rxa6 Bf8µ Black is only one pawn up, but his position is
close to winning. The central pawn mass can hardly be stopped by White, and there is the advantage
of the "good" black bishop against the "bad" white bishop. In positions with the opposite-colour

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bishops, the side that is attacking or has a certain level of initiative can count on this advantage as if
playing a piece up.) 20.Qxd6 Qxb2 21.Nd5 Qxc2 22.Bg2 (22.Bxe6 Qxe4+ 23.Ne3 Bxe3 24.O-O
fxe6 25.Qxe6+ Kh8 26.fxe3 h6! 27.Rxf8+ Rxf8 28.Qb3 b5-+) 22...Bxd5 23.Qxd5 Be3! 24.O-O Rc5
25.Qd3 Bd4-+) 17...Nxb2 18.Nxd8 Nxd3+ 19.Rxd3 Raxd8 20.Nd5 Rb8 21.O-O Rb2³) 15...Rc8
16.c3 g6 17.Rfe1 Bg7 18.Ne3 Rc6∞

Alexander Grischuk

10...Be7 11.Nd5 Bg5+ 12.Kb1 Be6 13.g3 Nc6 14.h4 Bh6

The idea is that from h6 the bishop controls the d2 and e3 squares and can eliminate the knight,
preventing it from reaching the d5 square via f1-e3 route.
14...Be7 15.Bh3 Bxd5 16.Qxd5 Qc7 17.Nd2± Rfd8 18.Nf1 Nb4 (18...a5 Even if he stands worse,
Black should take this motif into consideration and search for some ideas that could offer him
counterplay:
1. Advancing the pawn to a3 if allowed, and weakening White's king.
2. Making room on a5 for his own rook.
3. In case of a3 played by White, Black has the d4 square for his knight, as c3 may look unhealthy.
19.Ne3 a4 20.a3 Nd4 21.c3 Nb3 22.Qd3 Nc5 23.Qe2 Qc6 24.Nd5 Re8 25.Bf5 Rad8 26.h5 h6 27.f4

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Rb8 28.fxe5 dxe5 29.Nxe7+ Rxe7 30.Rd5 b6 31.Qc4 Rf8 32.Rhd1±) 19.Qb3 d5 (19...Qc5 20.Ne3
Nc6 21.Rd3 Bf8 (21...Nd4 22.Qd5 (22.Qxb7

22...d5! A thematic and powerful blow that equalises! 23.Rc3 (23.exd5? Ra7-+) 23...Qxc3 24.bxc3
Rab8 25.Qxb8 Rxb8+ 26.Ka1 Bc5 27.Rb1 Rxb1+ 28.Kxb1 Ne2 29.Nd1 dxe4 30.Bf5 g6 31.Bxe4 a5
Black is a pawn down, but he is ready to sacrifice the a-pawn in order to get the chance to trade
knights and secure a draw. This is an important idea we should know - If you know for sure that the
position is drawn try not to get deflected by other ideas, but go towards the ending you recognised as
drawn, even if some material sacrifice is needed. 32.Kb2 a4 33.a3 Ng1 34.Bc6 Nh3 35.f3 Nf2
36.Nxf2 Bxf2 37.g4 Bxh4 38.Bxa4 Kf8 39.Bb5 Ke7 40.a4 h5 41.gxh5 gxh5 42.Kb3 Be1 43.Bf1
Kd6 44.Kc4 h4 45.Bg2 Kc7=) 22...b5 23.c3 Nc6 24.Rhd1 Qb6 25.h5 Bg5 26.Nf5 Ne7 27.Nxe7+
Bxe7 28.Rf3 Bf6 29.h6 b4 30.c4 Qc5 31.Qd3±) 22.h5 Qb5

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23.h6!±) 20.exd5 a5 21.Ne3 a4 22.Qc4 Qxc4 Black should have chosen this way and mantained
some chances of saving the game. (22...Qb6 23.a3 Na6 24.Ka2! Grischuk knows how to eliminate
every idea of counterplay his opponent would have tried to execute, and proceeds safely to the
victory. 24...Nc7 25.Rhe1 Nb5 26.Nf5 Bf6 27.Qb4+- Alexander Grischuk 2730 - Faruk Amonatov
2620, Doha (rapid) 2016) 23.Nxc4 Rxd5 24.Nb6 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Ra6 26.Nc8 Bf8 27.c3 Nc6
28.Rd7±
15.Bh3 Bxd5 16.Qxd5 Qb6

17.Rhf1
17.Qxd6 Qxf2 18.Nc5 Nd4 19.c3 Nf3 20.Nd7 Nd2+ 21.Rxd2 Qxd2 22.Qxd2 Bxd2 23.Rd1 Be3

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24.Rd3 Bg1 25.Nxf8 Kxf8 26.a4 b5 27.axb5 axb5 28.b4 g6 29.Kb2²
17...Rfd8 18.c3 Ne7 19.Qc4 a5 20.Na1 a4 21.a3 Ra5 22.Nc2 Rc5 23.Qxa4 Rxc3 24.Qb4 Qxb4
25.Nxb4 Rc5 26.Rd3²

133
134
CHAPTER 4
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd2

It is not easy to give a proper definition of this move. It can hardly be called a line, but it is even
harder to consider it as a developing move. In actual fact, on d2 the bishop just hinders development
of the other white pieces. At the end of the day the bishop should move to either e3 or g5, so White is
actually losing a tempo. There is still the idea of employing the bishop to b4, hitting the d6 pawn, or
to a5 against the black queen standing on d8 or c7. In order to meet this intention it is advisable that
Black should simply refrain from playing b5 for a while, if he feels that by coming to a5 the enemy
dark-quare bishop could harm him in a way. Although there are almost no top level games, Black
should just play the normal Najdorf-like moves, and get an equal position in the early stage of the
game.

6.Bd2... 7.Nf5

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd2

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I guess that this move came as a big surprise for Abdusattorov. This is the only high level game I
could find in the database.
6...e5 7.Nf5

Somehow this move is not a good choice after Bd2.

White should try 7.Nb3 or 7.Nf3 and play an equal game due to the lost tempo with Bd2.
7...d5! 8.Qf3 d4 9.Nd5 Nxd5 10.exd5

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Black might have rejected this line, as he probably did not want to part with the bishop pair. Still,
after
10...Bxf5!
development is very fast and Black should have a small edge.
10...Qf6?! It is fully understandable that Black attacks the knight with tempo, but this is not a good
place for the queen. 11.Bd3 Nd7 12.O-O (12.O-O-O?! Nc5 13.Nxd4!? White may want to take
advantage of the black monarch's position being stuck in the centre. 13...exd4 14.Rhe1+ Kd7 15.Bf5+
Kc7 16.Re8

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16...g5!! This beautiful move solves all Black's problems. 17.h4 (17.Bxh7 Qxf3 18.gxf3

18...f6!! This incredible quiet move brings Black the advantage! 19.f4 g4 20.d6+ Kd7 21.Rde1 Kxd6
22.b4 Na4 23.R1e4 Nb6 24.Rxd4+ Kc7 25.Bd3 Bd7 26.Rxa8 Nxa8 27.f5 Bh6 28.Rc4+ Bc6 29.Rxg4
Bxd2+ 30.Kxd2 Rxh2 31.Rg7+ Kd6 32.c4 Ke5 33.c5 Rxf2+ 34.Ke3 Rf3+ 35.Kd2 b6 36.Bxa6 bxc5
37.bxc5 Rxf5-+) 17...Qxf5 18.Qxf5 Bxf5 19.Rxa8

19...gxh4! 20.Bf4+ Kd7 21.Rxd4 Bg7 22.Rxh8 Bxd4 23.Rb8 Be4 24.b4

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24...Bxg2! The bishop pair is very strong and the h-pawn is a deadly weapon, that White cannot
really deal with. 25.bxc5 Bxd5 26.c4 Be4 27.Rg8 Bxf2 28.c6+ Kxc6 29.Kd2 Bf5 30.Ke2 Bc5-+)
12...Nc5

13.Nxd4!? A very brave decision! White sacrificies the piece for attack! (13.Ng3 Qxf3 14.gxf3 Bd6
15.f4 Nxd3 16.cxd3 O-O 17.fxe5 Bxe5 18.Rfe1 Bd6 19.Ne4 Bb8 20.Rac1 a5 21.Rc4 Rd8 22.d6 Be6
23.Rxd4 b5 24.Nc5 Bxd6 25.Nxe6 fxe6 26.Kg2 Kf7 27.Rde4 Bc5=) 13...exd4 14.Rfe1+ Kd7
15.Qh5

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(15.Bf5+?! Kc7

16.Re8™ (16.Ba5+? This is a big mistake. One of the ideas of the Bd2 is bring the bishop to a5 while
the queen is on d8 or c7. Now, White believes that this check is a good attacking option, but it
actually loses the game. 16...b6-+ 17.d6+ Bxd6 18.Qxa8 Qxf5 It is all over, Black repelled the attack
and White is hopeless. 19.Qa7+ Bb7 20.Qxb6+ Kd7 0 : 1 Lucas van Foreest 2523 - Nodirbek
Abdusattorov 2635, Wijk aan Zee II 2020) 16...Qxf5 17.Qxf5 Bxf5 18.Rxa8 Bc8 19.Ba5+ b6
20.Bxb6+ Kb7 21.Rxc8 Kxc8 22.Rd1 d3 23.Bxc5 Bxc5 24.Rxd3 Kd7³ Black has a more pleasant
endgame, but he needs to show good technique to turn it into a win!) 15...g6! (Sometimes chess offers
us spectacular refutations for some common sense principles we would apply! This is a good example
of such a situation. In normal circumstances it is always advisable to try to get rid of the opponent's

140
attacking pieces. However, after capturing 15...Nxd3?! 16.cxd3 White has the e- and c- lines to seize
and give a very hard time to the black monarch. 16...Bd6 17.Rac1 g6 18.Qg4+ Qf5 19.Qxd4 Re8
20.Qc4 Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Qf6 22.Ba5 Qf4 23.Re4 Qxh2+ 24.Kf1 Qh1+ 25.Ke2 f5

26.Re6! The correct choice! White wants to eliminate the only defender. 26...Qh5+ 27.Ke1 Qh1+
28.Kd2 Qh6+ 29.Kd1 Qg7 30.d4+-) 16.Qg4+ Kc7 17.Qg3+ Bd6 18.Bg5 Qg7 19.Qh4 Kb8 20.Be7
(20.Bf6 Qf8 21.Rad1 Nxd3 22.Rxd3 Bf5 23.Qxd4 Bc5 24.Qf4+ Ka7 (24...Bd6?

25.Re8+!! It usually goes this way! Black is a piece up but his forces are badly placed and White
obtains a clear advantage to finish the game in an elegant way. 25...Ka7 (25...Qxe8 26.Qxd6+ Ka7
27.Bd4++-) 26.Bd4+ b6 27.Rxf8 Bxf4 28.Rxf7+ Kb8 29.Bxh8 Bxd3 30.cxd3 Bd6 31.Rd7+-) 25.b4

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Bb6 26.Rde3 Rc8 27.g4 Bxc2 28.Re7 g5! 29.Bxg5 Rg8 30.d6 f6 31.Bh6 Qd8 32.d7 Ra8 33.R1e6 f5
34.Bg7 Ba4 35.Qd6 Qc7 36.Qxc7 Bxc7 37.Bd4+ b6 38.Bxb6+ Kb8™ 39.Rxh7 Bxb6 40.Rxb6+ Kc7
41.d8=Q+ Kxd8 42.h3 fxg4 43.h4 Rc8 44.Rd6+ Ke8 45.Re6+ Kf8 46.Rf6+=) 20...Bxe7 21.Qxe7
Qf8 22.Qe5+ Ka7 23.Qxd4 b6 24.Bf1 Bb7 25.b4 Nd7 26.a4 Qd6 27.c4 Rhe8 28.Reb1 Qe5 29.Qd2
Rad8 30.Rc1 Nb8 31.Ra3²

Nodirbek Abdusattorov

11.Qxf5 Nd7 12.O-O-O

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12...g6!
12...Bd6 13.h4 Qf6 14.Bd3 Nc5 15.f4 (15.Qxf6 Nxd3+ 16.cxd3 gxf6³) 15...Nxd3+ 16.Qxd3 O-O
17.Kb1 exf4 18.Rhf1 Rad8 19.Ba5 Rd7 20.Bb6 Be5= and Black is fine.
13.Qf3 Bg7 14.d6 Qb6 15.h4 h5 16.Kb1 Qxd6 17.g4 hxg4 18.Qxg4 Nf6 19.Qe2 Qd5 20.Re1
20.Rg1 O-O-O! 21.Bg5 Kb8 22.Bg2 Qd6 23.Rge1 Rhe8 24.Qd3 Rd7³
20...O-O 21.Rg1 e4³

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6.Bd2... 7.Nb3

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd2

6...e5 7.Nb3

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7.Nf3 Be7 8.Bc4 (8.h3 O-O 9.Bd3 Qc7 10.O-O Be6 11.Ng5

11...Nbd7! Black should not be affraid of trading the bishop. The pawn coming to e6 will help him
push d5, and of course, cannot be consider to be a weakness. (11...Bc4 12.Bxc4 Qxc4 13.Re1 h6
14.Nf3 b5 15.a3 Nbd7 16.Qe2= Courtney Kaplan - Hoainhan Troung 2335, USA 2005) 12.Re1 Rac8
13.a4 h6 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.a5 d5 16.exd5 exd5 17.Bf5 Bc5„) 8...O-O (8...b5?! 9.Bd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5
Bb7 (10...O-O 11.O-O Bb7 (11...Bg4?

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12.a4! (12.h3 Be6 (12...Bh5 13.Ba5± Joanna Szymańska - Robert Demko 1604, Orlová 2015) 13.Bb4
Bxd5 14.Qxd5 Ra7 15.a4 bxa4 16.Rxa4 Qc7 17.Qd3 Rc8 18.c3 Nc6 19.Ba3±) 12...bxa4 13.Ba5 Qe8
14.Bc7 Nc6 15.Rxa4ƒ) 12.Bb4 Re8 13.Nxe7+ Rxe7 14.Qxd6 Rd7 15.Qxe5 Nc6 16.Qc3 Nxb4
17.Qxb4 Rc8 18.c3 Rc4 19.Qb3 Bxe4 20.Nd4 Bd5 21.Qd1 b4©) 11.Nxe7 Qxe7 12.Bb4 Bxe4
13.Bxd6 Qe6 14.O-O f6 15.Re1 Nc6 16.Bxe5 Bxf3 17.Bg3 Be4 18.Qh5+ g6 19.Qh4 O-O 20.Rxe4
Qd5 21.h3±) 9.Be3 Be6 10.Qd3 b5 11.Bb3 Nc6=
7...Be7 8.Be2
A modest approach.
8.Bg5 Be6 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Qd3 O-O 11.O-O-O

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11...Qb6! Black should take advantage of the extra tempo and fight for a slight advantage. (11...Be7
12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.Qxd5 Qc7 (13...Nc6 14.Kb1 Qb6 15.a3 Qxf2! (15...a5?! 16.f3 (16.a4 Qxf2
17.Bc4= César Camilo Pérez Olarte 2056 - André Mateus 2194, Cali 2007) 16...a4 17.Nd2 Ra5
18.Qd3 Rc5 19.Nc4 Qa7 20.Ne3² White has managed to bring another knight to d5, and also
repelled the opponent's initiative.) 16.Bc4 Qxg2 17.Rdg1 Qh3 18.Rg3 Qh4 19.Qd3

19...Nd8! The intention is to play the knight to e6 and then to bring it to f4, after which Black could
claim some advantage. 20.Rhg1 g6 21.Rh3 Qf6 22.Rf1 Qg5 23.Rhf3 Kg7 24.Na5 b5 25.Bd5 Rc8
26.Nb7 Ne6 27.Nxd6 Nf4 28.Rxf4 exf4 29.Nxc8 Rxc8 30.Qd2 Bd6 31.Bxf7 Be5 32.Bb3 Rf8 33.c3
h5³) 14.Kb1 Rc8 15.Qd3 a5 16.Nd2

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16...b5! 17.Be2 Na6 18.Bg4 Nc5 19.Qd5 Rd8 20.h4 b4ƒ) 12.f3 (12.Qxd6 Qxf2 13.Qd2 Qxd2+
14.Nxd2 Rd8 15.Bd3 Bg5 16.Kb1 Bxd2 17.Rxd2 Rd4 18.Rhd1 Nd7 19.Bf1 Rxd2 20.Rxd2 Nf6 21.h3
h5 22.Rd6 Rc8 23.Rb6 Rc7³) 12...Nc6! 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.Qxd5 Rac8 15.Kb1 Rfd8 16.a3 Ne7 17.Qa5
Qf2 18.Qd2 Qxd2 19.Rxd2 Bg5 20.Rd1 d5 21.exd5 Nxd5 22.Re1 Ne3 23.Bd3=
8...O-O 9.O-O b5
9...Be6 10.f4 b5 11.Be3 exf4 12.Rxf4 Nc6 13.a4 Ne5 14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8 Qxa8 16.Nxb5 Ng6
17.Rf1 Qxe4 18.Qd2 Ne5 19.Nc3 Qb7 20.Ra1 Ra8 21.Rxa8+ Qxa8 22.Nd4 Bd7=
10.Nd5
10.a3?! Too passive. White cannot hope to fight for a better game after moves like Bd2 and a3.
10...Bb7 11.f3 Nbd7 (11...d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Bd3 Nd7 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Ba5 Nb6 16.Kh1=)
12.Be3 Rc8 (12...Qc7 In this context the queen coming to c7 is much better than the rook to c8.There
is no sacrifice on c3 possibility at all, so Black should place his rook somewhere else, depending on
the needs, according to the situation on the board. 13.Qe1 d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Bxd5 16.Bd3
Rac8 17.Rd1 Be6 18.Kh1 Nb6³) 13.Qd2

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13...Nb6! The knight goes to c4 to disturb the missplaced queen on d2 and seize the advantage.
(13...Qc7?! 14.Rfd1 Nb6 This move is in the spirit of the position. (14...Rfd8 15.Bd3 (15.Rac1?! Nb6
16.Qe1

16...Nc4! Black can choose between two strong continuations. Of course, the d5 push is one of the
Najdorf's goals, but here the knight's jump to c4 is a better option. (16...d5 17.exd5 Nbxd5 18.Nxd5
Nxd5 19.Bd2 Re8 20.Bd3 Nf6³ Marwa Aouachria - Mawloud Omar 2030, Algeria 2013) 17.Bxc4
bxc4 18.Nd2 d5 19.exd5 Nxd5 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 21.Nb1 Qb7 22.Nc3 Be6 23.Rb1 Rxd1 24.Qxd1 Rb8
25.Qd2 Qc6µ) 15...d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.Qf2 (18.Bxh7+? Kxh7 19.Qxd5 Nf6
20.Qxf7 Bc5 21.Qxc7 Bxe3+ 22.Kf1 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Rxc7µ) 18...Bc4 19.Bf5 g6 20.Bxd7 Rxd7
21.Bb6 Qc6 22.Na5 Qe6 23.Rxd7 Qxd7 24.Nxc4 bxc4 25.Re1 Qb5³) 15.Bf2 d5 16.exd5 Nfxd5

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17.Bd3

17...Nf4! Sometimes it is better to take advantage of the chaotic placement of the opponent's pieces,
and to play for a larger advantge than just for a weak pawn structure. 18.Na5 Ba8 19.Qe3 Nxd3
20.cxd3 Nd5 21.Nxd5 Bxd5 22.b4 f5 23.Rac1 Qb8µ The bishop pair and a strong centre guarantee
Black some advantage.) 14.Rfe1 Nc4 15.Bxc4 bxc4 16.Nc1 d5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Na2
Be6 20.Rad1 Qc7µ
10...Nxd5
10...Nxe4? 11.Ba5 Qe8 12.Bf3 Bf5 13.Qe1+-
11.exd5 Nd7 12.a4 Bb7 13.Na5 Bxd5 14.axb5 axb5 15.Bxb5 Rc8 16.c4 Ba8 17.Nb3 Qc7 18.Re1
f5 19.Ba5 Qb7 20.f3 e4 21.Bc3 Rcd8 22.Nd4 Ne5∞

150
151
CHAPTER 5
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd3

This system was played by old masters like Frederick Yates, Ratmir Kholmov, Ljubomir Ljubojević,
Andrey Sokolov, John van der Wiel, and more recently by top grandmasters like Vishy Anand,
Ruslan Ponomariov, Judit Polgár, Hikaru Nakamura, Jorden van Foreest, Pentala Harikrishna,
Vladimir Akopian, Alexander Motylev, and many others. The idea behind this move is not a special
one, just a normal piece development. After the Najdorf move 6...e5, White transfers his knight
usually to g3 via e2, and after the short castle has two major plans:
1. The first plan is to gain space advantage by pushing the queenside pawns, thus creating the pawn
majority. This plan is the most popular as White has several ideas to try to obtain the advantage:
- The majority works well supported by the bishop pair.
- Provoking a second weakness in Black's position is another idea, as the principle of two weaknesses
is always applicable, and is a key weapon of the top players.
- The majority of endgames are favourable as the outside passed pawn that is created by pushing c5,
can give Black a real headache.
2. The second plan is to try to get the initiative or attack on the kingside, but this one is less common
in practice.
However, in both cases Black has a very rich play with ideas on both wings, and in most cases he
equalises without much trouble. For this reason the 6.Bd3 line is mostly employed by White as a
surprise weapon, rather than a theoretical, or sharp line.

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6.Bd3... 8...Be6

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd3

A rare system, which has recently gained some popularity.

6...e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.O-O Be6

9.Ng3 Nc6
A rare continuation.

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9...O-O and 9...Nbd7 are the most popular choices.
10.Nh5
10.Nf5?! A dubious attempt by White gave Black an edge and eventually a nice win. 10...Bxf5
11.exf5 d5³ The powerful centre gives Black a slight advantage. 12.Bg5 O-O 13.Be2

13...Ne8! Such moves are not very easy to find, but the young Indian player should have gone for the
bishop trade, and have the central pawn mass supported by the knights. (13...Nd4?! 14.Bf3 Nxf3+
15.Qxf3 d4 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Ne4 Rc8 18.c3 Qb6 19.Rad1 Rfd8 20.b3 dxc3 21.Nxc3 Qa5 22.Rxd8+
Rxd8 23.g3 Rc8 24.Ne4 Qxa2 25.Rd1 Qa5 26.Nxf6+ (26.Qg4? Kh8 27.h4 (27.Nd6 Rc7 28.Ne8 Rc8
29.Nd6=) 27...Qc7 28.Rd5 (28.Rd3 This is already too risky. 28...Rd8³ 29.Rc3 (29.Qd1 Rxd3
30.Qxd3 Qc1+ 31.Kg2 Qc6 32.f3 Be7 33.Ng5 Kg8 34.f6

154
34...e4! 35.Nxe4 Bxf6 36.Nxf6+ gxf6µ) 29...Qd7 30.Nc5 (30.Qf3? Be7 31.Kg2 f6µ Murali
Kartikeyan 2611 - Harshit Raja 2447, El Prat de Llobregat 2019) 30...Qd4 31.Ne4 Qb6 32.Qe2 Be7
33.Qc2© and White has some compensation) 28...Rd8 29.Qd1 Be7 30.Rxd8+ Bxd8 31.Nd6 Kg8
32.Nxb7 Be7 33.Qd5=) 26...gxf6 27.Qxb7 Rc2 28.b4 Qc7 29.Qxa6 Kg7 30.Qd3 Qc8 31.Rb1 Rc3
32.Qe4 Rc4 33.Qf3 (33.Qe2 Qxf5 34.Qxc4 Qxb1+ 35.Kg2 e4 36.b5 Qb2=) 33...Rd4 34.b5 Qc2
35.Rb3 e4 36.Qg4+ Kf8 37.Re3 Qb1+ 38.Kg2 Qxb5 39.Qh5 Kg7=) 14.Bc1 (14.f4 Bxg5 15.fxg5
Nd4 16.Qd2 Qb6 17.Kh1 Rd8µ; 14.Bxe7 Nxe7 15.g4 h6 16.h4 Rc8 17.Re1 Nf6 18.g5 hxg5 19.hxg5
Nh7 20.f6 gxf6 21.gxf6 Nxf6µ) 14...Nc7 15.a3 Re8³

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 Vladimir Potkin

10...Nxh5 11.Qxh5 g6
11...Nb4 Black had an easy game after this move. 12.Rd1 Qd7 (12...O-O 13.Qe2 Rc8 14.Be3 Bg5
15.a3 Bxe3 16.Qxe3 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Rc6 18.Rac1 Qc7=) 13.Qe2 Rc8 14.a3 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 O-O
16.Be3 Rc7 17.a4 Rfc8 18.a5 Rc4 19.f3 h6= Michael Adams 2694 - Anish Giri 2780, Batumi 2019 –
142/75
12.Qd1 Bg5
A motif that usually arises in this type of position. Black uses his queen or rooks to defend the d6
pawn after trading the dark-square bishop.
13.Kh1 O-O=

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Black had no problems equalising.
14.Bxg5
14.f4?! A positional mistake. Black will have the strong e5-square for the knight, and d6-pawn will
no longer be a weakness. 14...exf4 15.Bxf4 Bxf4 16.Rxf4 Qg5 17.Qf1 Ne5 (17...Rac8 18.Qf2 Qc5
19.a3 Kg7³) 18.Re1 Rac8 19.Qf2 b5 20.a3 Nc4 21.Bxc4 Rxc4 Black has a clear advantage already.
He will push the pawns on the queenside, and create a serious disbalance in White's camp. On the
other hand, no attack can be organised against the black monarch. 22.Rf1 a5 23.Rf6 Qe5

(23...b4? 24.axb4 axb4 25.Rxe6 bxc3 26.b3 Rb4 27.Re8 Rb7 28.Rxf8+ Kxf8 29.Qd4 Qe5=) 24.h3
(24.Nxb5?? White has only calculated half of the variation. The counter-strike will leave him nothing

157
else than to resign. 24...Qxb5 25.Rxe6 Rxc2! 26.Qf3

26...Qxf1+! The weakness of the first rank is extremely costly. 27.Qxf1 fxe6 28.Qd1 Rfc8 0 : 1
Konstantin Sek 2446 - Vladimir Potkin 2583, Moscow (rapid) 2019) 24...b4 25.axb4 axb4 26.Nd5
Bxd5 27.exd5 Qxd5 28.b3 Rc3 29.Kh2 Rc7µ
14...Qxg5 15.g3 Rae8 16.f4 exf4 17.gxf4 Qh4 18.Qe1 Qd8 19.Rd1 f5=

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6.Bd3... 8...0-0

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.O-O O-O

9.Kh1 Nbd7 10.Ng3

10.f4 b5 11.Ng3 g6?! Not a very good idea by Black, since he should not create weaknesses without

159
even being forced. (11...Nc5

12.a3 (12.Qe1? b4 13.Nd1 a5 White played too passively. More space and better prospects give
Black a small edge. 14.Ne3 exf4 15.Rxf4

15...d5! (15...Nfd7?! 16.Ngf5 Ne5 17.Nd5 (17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Nd5 Qb7! (18...Qd8 19.Qg3 Be6
20.Rf1 (20.Rh4? The rook goes the wrong way, as there is no chance for White to create an attack.
20...Bxd5 21.exd5 Ncxd3 22.cxd3 Ng6 23.Re4 Qf6 24.Be3 Qxb2 25.Bd4 Qd2-+ Claude Wagener
2249 - Vladislav Borovikov 2586, Neustadt an der Weinstrasse 2012) 20...Bxd5 21.exd5 Ncxd3
22.cxd3 Qc7³) 19.Rf1 f6 20.Be3 Be6 21.Bxc5 dxc5 22.Rd1 Rfe8³) 17...Bg5 18.Qg3 Bxf5 19.Rxf5
Bxc1 20.Rxc1 Ne6=) 16.exd5 Bd6 17.Rf1 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Ba6 19.Nc4 Nxd5 20.Qf2 Bc7 21.Nf5

160
Kh8³ Black has a slight edge thanks to the bishop pair and a superior pawn structure.) 12...Rb8 13.h3
Nxd3 14.cxd3 Be6 15.f5 Bd7 16.Nh5 Nxh5 17.Qxh5 Bc6 18.Qf3 Bf6 19.Bd2 Qd7=) 12.f5 Kg7
(12...b4?! 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5± Nf6 15.Bh6 Bb7 16.Ne4 Nxd5

17.Qf3! This move gives White a decesive advantage. Black cannot prevent the f6 push. (17.Bxf8?
(Judit Polgár 2677 - Ruslan Ponomariov 2743, Moscow (rapid) 2002)

17...Kxf8! A paradoxical resource! Black is back in the game. 18.Qg4 Nf4 19.Rxf4 exf4 20.fxg6
hxg6 21.Qxf4 Qd7 22.Rf1 Qe6=) 17...Qc7 18.f6 Rfe8 (18...Bd8 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 20.Qg3+-) 19.fxe7 f5
20.Qg3 fxe4 21.Bxe4 Nf4

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22.Rxf4! exf4 23.Qb3+ d5 24.Bxd5+ Kh8 25.Qxb4+-) 13.Qf3 Bb7 14.a3 Nc5 15.Bg5²
10...Nc5 11.f4 b5 12.a3 Nxd3 13.cxd3 Bg4 14.Qe1 Be6 15.Qe2
15.fxe5 dxe5 16.Nf5 Bxf5 17.Rxf5 Qxd3 18.Bg5 Qd6 19.Rd1 Qe6 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Nd5 Bd8
22.Qg3©
15...exf4
15...Rc8 16.h3 Qd7∞
16.Bxf4

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16...d5=
This move often brings Black an equal, or even a better game.
17.e5 Nd7 18.Rae1
18.d4 Nb6 19.b3 Qd7=
18...Rc8 19.Qf3 Bxa3 20.bxa3 Rxc3 21.Bd2 Rc8 22.Bb4
White has enough compensation for the pawn, but nothing more.
22...Re8 23.Nf5
23.Qf4?

23...Nf8! 24.Bxf8 White cannot allow the black knight to reach g6. 24...Rxf8 25.Nh5 Kh8 26.Re3
(26.a4 Rb8 27.axb5 Rxb5 28.Rc1 a5µ) 26...Rg8 Most importantly, Black has no weaknesses and the
rival cannot "touch" anything. 27.Rg3 Qe7 28.h3 a5 (28...Rc3 29.Ra1 Rb3 (29...Rxa3? 30.Rxa3 Qxa3
31.Rxg7 Rxg7 32.Nxg7 Qa1+ 33.Kh2 Kxg7 34.Qf6+ Kf8 35.Qd8+ Kg7 36.Qf6+=) 30.d4 Rxg3
31.Qxg3 h6µ) 29.Rg5 Qxa3µ (29...b4?! 30.axb4 axb4 31.Qh4 b3= (31...h6 32.Nf6 b3 33.Rxg7 Kxg7
34.Rf3 Bf5 35.Rxf5 Qe6 36.Rf3 Qxe5 37.Rg3+ Qxg3 38.Qxg3+ Kxf6 39.Qf2+ Ke6 40.Qb6+=)
32.Nf6 h6 33.Rxg7 Kxg7 34.Rf3 Bf5 35.Rxf5 Qe6 36.Rf3 Qxe5 37.Rg3+ Qxg3 38.Nh5+ Kh7

163
39.Nf6+ Secures a draw by perpetual check. (39.Nxg3?? A terrible blunder! 39...b2 0 : 1 Alexander
Motylev 2570 - Evgeniy Najer 2616, Linares 2001) 39...Kg6 40.Qxg3+ Kxf6 41.Qd6+ Kg7
42.Qxd5 Rb8 43.Qe5+ Kh7 44.Qf5+ Rg6 45.Qxf7+ Rg7 46.Qf5+ Kh8 47.Qe5 Rb7 48.Qe8+ Kh7
49.Qe4+=)

164
 Evgeniy Najer

23...a5 24.Bd6 Bxf5 25.Qxf5 f6 26.d4 Nb6 27.Rb1 Qd7 28.Qxd7 Nxd7 29.exf6 Nxf6 30.Rxb5 a4
31.Rb7 Re2 32.h3 Rcc2 33.Rg1 h6 34.Ra7 Rc4 35.Be5 Rf2 36.Re1 Rcc2 37.Rg1 Rc4=

165
6.Bd3... 9.Ng3

1.Nf3 c5 2.e4 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Ng3

166
The modern continuation, instead of 9.f4.
9...Be6
9...g6 10.Bh6 (10.Bc4 Be6 11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.Bxd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Qc7 14.Ne2 (14.c3 Nd7 15.Rd1
Qc6 (15...Rac8 16.Nf1 Qc6 17.f3 Qxd5 18.Rxd5 f5„ Bogdan-Daniel Deac 2625 - Krikor
Mekhitarian 2554, chess.com (Internet-rapid) 2021) 16.Be3 Qxd5 17.Rxd5 h5 18.h4 Rfc8 19.Rad1
Rc6³) 14...Nd7 15.Nc3 Rfe8 16.Rd1 Rac8 17.a4 Qc6 18.Qd3 Nc5 19.Qe2 Ne6 20.Be3 f5 21.exf5
gxf5 22.f3 Bf6 23.Nd5²) 10...Re8 11.h3 (11.Be2 Be6 12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Bf8 14.Bg5 Nbd7 15.c4
h6 16.Be3 h5 17.Re1 a5∞ Klementy Sychev 2572 - Kirill Kozionov 2470, Moscow (rapid) 2021)
11...Nc6 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Nb8 14.Qf3 Nd7

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15.c3 (15.Nf5?! This is very ambitious, but brings White nothing. 15...Bf8 16.Bxf8 Nxf8 17.Ne3 f5
The unfortunate white pieces will be targets for the Black pawns.

18.Be2 (18.Qe2?? This is a terrible way to get into a loosing position in the early phase of the game.
18...e4 19.Bc4 f4 20.Ng4 (Rameshbabu Praggnanadhaa 2534 - Wei Yi 2736, chess.com (Internet-
m/2-blitz) 2019)

20...f3! 21.gxf3 h5 22.Ne3 Bxh3 23.f4 Rc8 24.Rfe1 Qf6 25.f3 Qxf4 26.Qh2 Qxf3 27.Qf2 Qxf2+
28.Kxf2 Nd7-+) 18...e4 19.Qg3 Qf6 20.Nc4 f4 21.Qc3 Qe7³) 15...Nc5 16.Bc2 a5 17.Ne4 Nxe4
18.Qxe4 Bd7 19.Rfe1 f5 20.Qe2 Bg5 21.Bxg5 Qxg5 22.a4 Rac8„; 9...b5 is another possiblity that
can give Black a comfortable game. 10.Bg5 Be6 (10...b4 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Nd5 a5 13.Bc4 Nd7

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14.a3² Neuris Delgado Ramírez 2624 - Nicolau Leitão 2107, Bélem 2017) 11.a4 b4 12.Nd5 Bxd5
13.exd5 g6 14.a5 Nbd7 15.Bc4 Nc5 16.Bd2 Rb8 17.b3!? (17.Qe1 h5 18.Bxb4 h4 19.Ne2 h3©)
17...Qc7 18.Qe1 Qb7 19.f4 Opening the e-file does not favour White. 19...exf4 20.Bxf4 Rfe8 21.Qf2
Nfe4 22.Qf3 (Pentala Harikrishna 2732 - Jeffery Xiong 2709, Saint Louis (blitz) 2020) 22...Bf6= was
the better option. It's usually better to let the pieces be active, rather then pushing pawns in front of
our own king.; 9...Bg4 10.Be2 Be6 It is not clear what is better for Black. With the light-square
bishop on d3 White has some ideas on the kingside, but on e2 it is not bad either. Grandmaster Sarana
was thinking that after playing g6 the g3-knight would have a hard time because it lacks space.
11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.exd5 Nbd7 13.Nf5 (13.Be3 Rc8 14.c4 g6 15.Rc1 Ne8=

16.f4?! f5 17.Kh1 exf4 18.Bxf4 Bg5 19.Qd2 Bxf4 20.Qxf4 Qe7³ Khazar Babazada 2409 - Alexey
Sarana 2649, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2021) 13...Ne8 14.f4 g6 15.Nxe7+ Qxe7 16.f5 gxf5 17.Bh6
(17.Rxf5 Ng7 18.Rf1 f5„) 17...f4! 18.Bxf8 Nxf8 19.c4 Ng6 20.Qb3 Nf6©; 9...Nc6 10.Bc4 Be6
11.Bb3 Rc8 12.f4 (Jonathan Rowson 2490 - Jurij Tihonov 2415, Żagań 1997) 12...Nd4! 13.f5 Bc4
14.Rf2

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14...Nb5! A very nice way to fight for the d5 square! 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Nd4 17.c3 Nxb3
18.axb3 h6 19.Be3 Re8 20.h3 Qd7=

Alireza Firouzja

170
10.Nd5 Bxd5 11.exd5 g6
11...Nbd7 12.Nf5 Re8 13.Nxe7+ Qxe7 14.c4 (Bogdan-Daniel Deac 2625 - Alireza Firouzja 2759,
lichess.org (Internet-blitz) 2021) 14...Nc5 15.b3 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 Rac8 17.a4 Nd7 18.Ba3 h6=
12.c4
12.Bh6 This is another option. 12...Re8 13.c4 Nbd7 - see the next chapter for more details on this
continuation.
12...Nbd7 13.Be3 Ne8
Black wants to trade the bishop, but the f5 advance is also an idea.
14.f3
14.Qd2 f5 15.f4 exf4 16.Bxf4 Bf6 17.Kh1 Be5 18.Bg5 Nef6 and Black should be ok.
14...Bg5 15.Bf2 f5=

16.Ne2
16.b4 Rc8 17.Qb3 Qc7 18.Rfd1 Nef6 19.c5 dxc5 20.d6+ c4 21.dxc7 cxb3 22.axb3 Rxc7 23.b5 axb5
24.Bxb5 Kg7=
16...Nef6 17.b4 Only this way White can count on some conterplay on the queenside, that is the main
idea of this system.
17.Nc3?! White has lost too many moves for his knight's relocation. We all agree that on g3 it is not
well placed, but the text move is not a good option either.

171
17...e4! (17...Qc7 18.Kh1 (18.Re1 Rae8 19.Rb1

19...e4! 20.fxe4 fxe4 21.Nxe4 Nxe4 22.Rxe4 Rxe4 23.Bxe4 Qxc4 24.Qd3 Qxd3 25.Bxd3 Bf6
26.Rc1 Nc5 27.Bxc5 dxc5 28.Kh1 Bd4³) 18...Rae8 19.Qc2 Nc5

172
20.Rae1 (20.Be2? This is too passive and White will face the consequences. After 20...e4ƒ Black has
the initiative which is too strong and eventualy can be transformed into a victory. 21.Bd4 exf3
22.Bxf3 Ncd7 (22...Be3?! It is understandable that Black wants to trade the bishop, and by that gain a
full control over the central dark squares. But, this is just not the perfect timing for such action.
23.Bxf6 (23.Ne2?! a5 (23...Qb6! 24.Rad1 Bxd4 25.Nxd4 Re5³ This is a kind of a standard position
Black aims for. The control over dark squares and the e-file, as well as the active position of all his
pieces secure him a positional advantage, that should be converted later on. On the other hand, White
did not manage to advance the queenside pawns, and claim the usual counterplay.) 24.a3

24...a4! A brave decission by Black that deserves an exclamation mark! (After 24...Bxd4 the position
will be pretty much equal, so he tried to complicate the play and give his opponent the option to go

173
wrong! 25.Nxd4 a4 26.Ne6 Nxe6 27.dxe6 Rxe6 28.Qxa4 Rfe8 29.Rad1 Kg7=) 25.Bxc5 White
accepts the pawn sacrifice, but surrenders the dark squares for good. 25...Qxc5 26.Qxa4 g5∞
(26...Ne4 This is the best way to activate all the pieces. 27.Bxe4 Rxe4 28.b3 Qc7 29.Rad1 Qg7© ;
26...g5∞ Raunak Sadhwani 2482 - S. P. Sethuraman 2613, Xingtai 2019)) 23...Rxf6 24.Rae1 Rff8
25.b4 Nd7

26.c5! As Black controls the dark squares, so intends White to gain control over the light ones. At a
price of a pawn, he will open the position in the centre and give his pieces a better activity. 26...dxc5
27.d6! Qxd6 28.Rd1 Qc7 29.Nd5 Qc8 30.Rfe1 Bg5 31.h4 Bf6 32.Qc4 Kg7 33.Nxf6 Nxf6 34.bxc5©
and White has good compensation for the pawn.) 23.b3 Ne5 24.Rae1 Re7 25.Bd1 Rfe8 26.g3 Bh6
27.h3 Bg7 28.Qd2 Nfd7 29.Ne2 Nc5 30.Bc2 Qd7³) 20...Nxd3 21.Qxd3 Rf7 22.Re2 Nd7∞) 18.fxe4
Ng4 Black goes for the dark-square bishop, and that should bring him a better game. 19.exf5!? A
risky continuation, but Black has no forced lines. 19...Nxf2

174
20.Kxf2!? Qb6+ 21.Kg3 Qd4 (21...Qe3+ 22.Rf3 Qd4 23.Ne4 Bf6 24.Bc2 Be5+ 25.Kh3 Qxc4 26.b3
Qc7 27.Rc1 Rxf5 28.Rxf5 gxf5 29.Nd2 Bb2 30.Rb1 Rf8 31.Nf3 Qc3 32.Qd2 Qxd2 33.Nxd2 Be5=)
22.Ne4 Be7 23.Bc2 Qg7 24.Kf2 Rxf5+ 25.Kg1 Rxf1+ 26.Kxf1 b5©
17...Rc8 18.Qb3 a5 19.a3 e4 20.Nd4 a4 21.Qxa4 exd3 22.Ne6 Qe7 23.Nxg5 Rxc4 24.Ne6 Rfc8
25.Qb5 Ne5 26.Bd4 Qf7 27.Rad1 Rxd4 28.Nxd4 Nxd5 29.Rxd3 Nc3 30.Rxc3 Rxc3 31.a4 Rd3
32.f4 Rxd4 33.fxe5 Qe7 34.exd6 Qe4 35.Qb6 Rd2 36.Qd8+ Kg7 37.Qe7+ Qxe7 38.dxe7 Re2=

175
6.Bd3... 13.Bh6

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Ng3 Be6
10.Nd5 Bxd5
10...Nbd7 11.c4 a5 12.h3 Nc5 13.Bc2 Nxd5 14.exd5 Bc8 15.f4 Bh4 16.Ne2 f5 17.Be3 b6∞ Chopra
Aryan 2547 - Harshit Raja 2432, Budapest 2019
11.exd5 g6 12.c4 Nbd7
RR12...Ne8?! After Vachier-Lagrave failed to find the right plan, so Nakamura grabbed the initiative
and eventually won quite convincingly. 13.Bh6 Ng7 14.b4 Nd7 15.Rc1 a5 16.a3 axb4 17.axb4 Ra3

18.Ne4! f5 19.Nc3 e4 20.Be2 Bg5 21.Bxg5 Qxg5 22.c5± Hikaru Nakamura 2785 - Maxime Vachier-
Lagrave 2796, Stavanger 2017, Ranko Szuhanek

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13.Bh6

13...Re8 14.Rc1
14.b4 Bf8 (14...a5!? 15.a3 axb4 16.axb4 Rxa1 17.Qxa1 b5 18.cxb5 Nxd5 19.Be4 Nxb4 20.Bd2 d5
21.Bxb4 Bxb4 22.Bxd5 Qe7 23.Ne4 Nb6 24.Bc6 Rd8=) 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bd2 e4 17.Be2 Bg7 18.a3 a5
19.Rc1 axb4 20.axb4 h5 21.Bg5 (21.Qb3 b6 (21...h4 22.Nh1 Re5 23.Rfd1 Qf8 24.Bc3 Ree8 25.Bd4
Bh6 26.Ra1 Rxa1 27.Rxa1 Qe7 28.Ra3 Ne5 29.Qc3 Qc7=) 22.Rfd1

22...Ng4! This aggressive approach would have led to an edge for Black. White has no clear plan,
and his minor pieces are not well placed. (22...Ra7?! Wojtaszek played a passive move with no aim,
as he had no time to get any advantage of the control over the a-file. 23.Bf4 Qe7 24.Re1 (Evgeniy

177
Najer 2683 - Radosław Wojtaszek 2738, Batumi 2018) 24...h4 25.Nf1 Rea8 26.Bf3 Ra3 27.Qd1 h3
28.g3 Ne5 29.Bxe4 Nxe4 30.Rxe4 Qd7 31.Bxe5 Bxe5©) 23.Nf1 Qh4 24.Qg3 Qxg3 25.hxg3 Ra2
26.Bxg4 hxg4 27.Bf4 Be5 28.Ne3 f5 29.Rc2 Rea8µ) 21...Qb6 22.Qb3

22...h4! A strategic sacrifice ment to disrupt the cooperation between the pieces. At a price of a pawn,
Black forces two White's pieces to become inactive and stay out of the battle for a while. 23.Bxh4
Nh7 24.Nh1 Nc5 25.Qb1 Na4 26.Qb3 Qd4 27.Ng3 Nc3 28.c5 dxc5 29.bxc5 Qxc5 30.d6 Nxe2+
31.Nxe2 Qxd6 32.Qxb7 Rab8 33.Qa7 Qd3³

178
 Viswanathan Anand

14...Bf8
14...a5 15.b3 Nc5 16.Bc2 Nfd7 17.f4 (17.a3 Kh8 (17...Bf8 18.Bd2 e4 19.Bc3 f5 20.b4 Na6 21.c5
Bh6 22.Ra1 Ne5 23.Ba4 Re7 24.c6 Rb8 25.Rb1 b5 26.Bb3 a4 27.Ba2 Nc7∞) 18.b4 Na6 19.Qd2
axb4 20.axb4 f5 21.Rfe1 Nc7 22.Ra1 b5 23.cxb5 Bf8 24.Bg5 Be7 25.h4 Bxg5 26.hxg5 Qb8 27.Rxa8
Qxa8 28.Qc3 Nxb5 29.Qc6 Qxc6 30.dxc6 Nb6 31.Rc1 Nc7=) 17...exf4 18.Bxf4 Bg5 19.Qf3 Bxf4
20.Qxf4 Ne5∞ Wang Yu A 2337 - Zhao Shengxin 2186, China 2018; Here is a recent game as an
example: 14...Nc5 15.Bb1 a5 16.b3 Rb8 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4 b5 19.Qf3 bxc4 20.Rxc4 Rb4 21.Bd2
Rxc4 22.bxc4 Ncd7 23.Bc3 Qb6+ 24.Kh1 Rf8 25.Qf4 Bd8 26.h3 1/2 : 1/2 Ian Nepomniachtchi 2773
-Radosław Wojtaszek 2724, Moscow (m/2) 2019
15.Bg5 h6 16.Bd2 a5 17.b3 Bg7
17...h5 18.Re1 Bg7² Black's position looks fine, alas his kingside is weakened by ...h5. 19.h3 Qe7
20.Be3 Qf8 21.Qd2 Nc5!? (21...h4?! Driving White's knight where it wants to go anyway - to b5!
22.Ne2 Nh5 23.Nc3 f5 24.Bg5 Nf4 (24...Nc5 25.Bf1) 25.Bxf4 exf4 26.Nb5!? (26.Re6?!

179
Black had a better option here: 26...Rxe6 (26...Ne5? 27.Be2± Rxe6 28.dxe6 Now this pawn can't be
attacked and decides the game, together with numerous weaknesses in Black's camp. 28...Re8 29.Qd5
Qe7 30.Nb5! Qxe6 31.Qxb7 Re7 32.Qb8+ Kh7 33.Qxd6 Of course. White wants to win the game in
the endgame! 33...Qxd6 34.Nxd6 Bf8 35.Nb5

35...Rd7! was the most stubborn defence. White is clearly better but should still show good technique.
(35...Nc6? 36.Kf1+- Now it is all over, as the passed pawns are unstoppable. 36...Re5 37.a3 Bc5
38.Bf3 Nd4 39.Nxd4 Bxd4 40.Rb1 Re6 41.b4 Rb6 42.Rd1 Bb2 43.c5 1 : 0 Viswanathan Anand 2774
- Vincent Keymer 2516, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden 2019 – 140/86) 36.c5 (36.Rc2 Bc5 37.a3 Rd8
38.Ra2 Nc6 39.Kf1 g5 40.Bf3 Ne5 41.Bd5 f3 42.gxf3 Nd3 43.Be6 Kg6 44.Rd2±) 36...Rd2 37.Bf1
Nc6 38.Nc7 Bg7 39.Ne6 Bb2 In the opposite-colour bishop endings an active bishop can bring a lot,

180
or can even save the game. (39...Rxa2 40.Bb5 Nd4 41.Nxd4 Bxd4 42.c6 Rxf2 43.Kh1 Bb6 44.c7
Bxc7 45.Rxc7+ Kh6 46.Rc3 Kg5 47.Kg1±) 40.Re1! Nd4 41.Nxf4 Ba3 42.Re7+ Kh6 43.Nd3 Rxa2
44.Rd7 Ne6 45.c6 Rc2 46.Rd5 Rxc6 47.Rxa5 Bd6 48.b4± Ranko Szuhanek) 27.dxe6 Nc5 28.Nd5
Nxe6 29.Re1 Be5 30.Nb6 Re8 31.Qxa5 Qg7 32.Nd5 Kh7

33.Kf1!² Ranko Szuhanek) 26...Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Be5 28.a3ƒ) 22.Bb1²

18.Re1 Rc8 19.a3 Nc5 20.Bc2

20...b5!?
Black cannot just wait for the pawn majority to roll and make room for the bishop pair to help the

181
pawns. Instead, he and should change the type of the position. This is a general principle we got to
use every time we feel that by 'normal' play we will end up like a prey.
20...Ncd7 21.Bb1 h5 22.h3 Qb6 23.b4 axb4 24.axb4 h4 25.Nf1 Kh7 26.Ne3ƒ
21.cxb5 Nxd5 22.a4 Nf4 23.Ne4 Nfe6 24.Nxc5 dxc5 25.Be4 Nd4 26.Re3 Bf6 27.Rec3

27...Bg5! 28.Bxg5 Qxg5 29.b6

29.Rxc5? Qxc1!-+
29...Rcd8 30.Kh1 f5 31.Bb1 Qf6=

182
183
CHAPTER 6
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qd3

This move is quite new. White intends to develop his queenside pieces and castle long, but also
awaits to see what shape is Black giving to his position. For the exposed queen on d3 White may lose
another tempo to relocate, as it also restricts development of the f1-bishop. Therefore, I don't think
this line objectively brings an edge for White, and it can work well only as a surprise. The games that
follow show that Black equalises quite easily, and can even achieve more than that from the very
early stage of the game.

6.Qd3

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qd3

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6...e5 7.Nf5
7.Nb3 A completely new idea played for the first time in 2019, according to the database. There are
no grandmaster games at all in this line. Although, White won all the games so far, the line itself is
not a problematic for Black. 7...Be6 (7...Nc6 is not a good choice, since Black should stick to the
usual Najdorf plan of development. 8.Bg5 Be7 9.O-O-O Be6 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Nd5± Adham Fawzy
2467 - Viktor Maksimenko 2239, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2021) 8.Be2 Nbd7 (8...Be7 9.Qg3!? Nc6
10.Be3 O-O 11.h4 b5 12.Bh6 Ne8 13.Rd1 Kh8 14.Bg5 f6 15.Be3 Nb4 16.Rd2 f5 17.Nc5 (17.Bc5??
f4 18.Qf3 Nxc2+-+ Bencze Leszko 2321 - Benedek Koszta 2197, tornelo.com (Internet-rapid) 2021)
17...Bc8 18.exf5 Bxf5 19.Bf3 Rc8 20.Be4 Bxe4 21.N5xe4 Nxc2+ 22.Rxc2 b4∞) 9.Bg5 Rc8 10.O-O-
O Be7 11.h4

185
11...Rxc3!! This move is now possible even if the c3-knight is protected by another piece as well.
(11...Qc7 12.Kb1 b5 13.g4 (13.f3?! O-O 14.g4 Rfd8 (14...Bc4 15.Qd2 b4= Andrija Obad 2279 -
Vladimir Matveev 2368, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020) 15.a3 Nb6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.g5 Be7 18.f4
Bc4 19.Qe3 exf4 20.Qf3 d5!µ) 13...Bc4 14.Qd2 b4 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Ne4 17.Qe3 Nxg5
18.hxg5 Qxc2+ 19.Ka1 Nc5 20.Nxc5 Qxc5 21.Qd2 Qc2 22.Qe3 Qc5=) 12.Qxc3 (12.bxc3 Qc7
13.f4 b5 14.Qe3 O-O! Castling is always very important in order to bring the rook into the play.
15.Kb1 Nb6 16.Ka1 (16.f5 Bc4 17.Bf3 Na4 18.Ka1

18...d5! 19.exd5 e4 20.Bxe4 Nxe4 21.Qxe4 Bxb3 22.Qf3 Bc4-+) 16...Na4 17.f5 Bd7 18.Bxf6 Bxf6
19.Rd3 Rc8 20.Rh3 b4 21.c4

186
21...Bxf5!µ) 12...Nxe4 13.Qe1 Nxg5 14.hxg5 Bxg5+ 15.Kb1 Qc7 16.Bf3 Be7 17.Qa5 Qc8³
7...Bxf5 8.exf5

8...h6!?
An interesting approach! Black should not allow Bg5 in his fight for the d5 square! The only question
is whether he can afford to lose an important tempo or not?
9.Be3!
9.Be2?! White does not seize the moment! Sometimes it comes very early and we are not even aware
it is there, but a move like Qd3 in the early opening should just be a hint for the shape the game could

187
take. 9...d5 10.O-O Nc6 11.Rd1

11...e4 (11...Nb4! By creating new threats, even if not moving the central pawn mass, Black can
mantain the balance! 12.Qg3 Qc7 13.Be3 O-O-O! 14.Na4 d4 15.c3 dxe3 16.cxb4 exf2+ 17.Qxf2
Kb8 18.Rxd8+ Qxd8 19.a3 Bd6 20.Rd1 Qc7 21.Qg3 Rd8 22.Qxg7 Ne4 23.Kf1 (23.Qxh6 Qc2
24.Kf1 Bc7 (24...Qxa4? 25.Qh4±) 25.Nc3 Nxc3 26.Rxd8+ Bxd8 27.bxc3 Qxf5+ 28.Ke1 Qb1+
29.Kf2 Qf5+ 30.Ke1=) 23...Be7 24.Nc3 (24.Rxd8+ Bxd8 25.Qxh6 Qc2 26.Nc3 Nd2+ 27.Kf2 Ka7!
28.Kg3 Bb6 29.b5 Bd4 30.bxa6 Bxc3 31.bxc3 Ne4+ 32.Kf3 Nd2+ 33.Kf2 Ne4+=) 24...Nxc3
25.bxc3 Rxd1+ 26.Bxd1 Qc4+ 27.Be2 Qf4+ 28.Kg1 Qe3+ 29.Kf1 Qf4+=) 12.Qg3 Qa5 (12...Bd6!
Never forget the importance of development! 13.Bf4 Bxf4 14.Qxf4 O-O 15.Bc4 Ne7 16.Nxd5
Nexd5 17.Bxd5 Nxd5 18.Qe5 Qc7 19.Rxd5 Qxc2 20.Qd4 Rac8 21.h3 e3! 22.fxe3 Qe2 23.Qd2 Rc2
24.Qxe2 Rxe2 25.Rad1 Rxb2 26.R5d2 Rxd2 27.Rxd2 Rc8=) 13.Bd2

188
(13.a3 d4 14.b4 Bxb4! 15.Qxg7 O-O-O 16.axb4 Qxa1 17.Bd2 Qb2 18.Qxf6 dxc3 19.Bxc3 Qxc2
20.Re1 e3! 21.fxe3 Rhg8 22.g3 Kb8 23.Bxa6 Rd2 24.Bxd2 Qxd2 25.Rf1 Qxe3+ 26.Rf2 Rd8 27.Be2
Rd2 28.Kf1 Ne5 29.Qe7 Qe4 30.Qf8+ Ka7 31.Qc5+=) 13...O-O-O! An excellent decision! The
black king is doing fine on c8. 14.Rab1 (14.Nxe4?! White goes for the endgame where he is even a
bit worse. 14...Nxe4 15.Bxa5 Nxg3 16.Bxd8 Nxe2+ 17.Kf1

17...Nc3! When it comes to the endgame, one of the most important features is the pawn structure.
Black should have spoiled the oppponent's queenside pawns, and get a small edge! (17...Ned4?!
18.Bb6 Nxf5 19.Rxd5 Nfe7 (19...g6 20.g3 Be7 21.Rad1 Bd8 22.Bxd8 Rxd8 23.Rxd8+ Nxd8³)
20.Rd2 Ng6 21.Rad1 Be7 22.g3 Bd8 23.Bxd8 Rxd8 24.Rxd8+ Nxd8³ Black has a tangible
advantage, but it is not enough to play for a win! 25.f4 Ne7 26.Kf2 Kc7 27.Ke3 Nf5+ 28.Kf3 Nc6

189
29.c3 h5 30.h3 Nd6 31.g4 hxg4+ 32.hxg4 g6 33.b3 Nd8 34.c4 Ne6 35.Ke3 Kc6 36.Rf1 Kc5 37.Rd1
Kc6 38.Rf1 Kc5 39.Rd1 Kc6 40.Rf1 Kc5 1/2 : 1/2 Mateusz Bartel 2648 - Michał Matuszewski 2415,
Polska 2014. A nice game by Black, who shows that the continuation 8...h6 is perfectly playable,
even if a bit dubious at the first sight.) 18.bxc3 Nxd8 19.f6! gxf6 20.Rxd5 Be7 21.Re1 Ne6 22.Re4 b6
23.Rc4+ Nc5 24.Rg4 Ne6 25.Rc4+ Kb8 26.g3 Rc8 27.Rxc8+ Kxc8 28.Rh5 Bf8 29.Rf5 Bg7 30.Rd5
Nc5³) 14...Qc7 15.Bf4 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Qxd6 Rxd6 18.f3 Kc7 19.fxe4 dxe4 20.Bc4 Rf8„
9...d5

10.O-O-O!
White should take advantage of the early played Qd3, and activate his rook.
10...d4 11.f4 Nc6 12.fxe5 Ng4 13.Bxd4 Qxd4 14.Qxd4 Nxd4 15.Rxd4 Nf2 16.Rg1 Bc5 17.Rc4
Nd3+ 18.Bxd3 Bxg1 19.Ne2 Bb6
19...Be3+ 20.Kb1 O-O 21.Re4 Ba7 22.Nf4 Rfe8 23.e6 and White is better.
20.Re4 O-O 21.Bc4 Rfe8 22.Bd5 Re7 23.c4²

190
191
6.Qd3... 8...Nbd7

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qd3 e5 7.Nf5 Bxf5 8.exf5 Nbd7

192
9.g4!?
This is the only, and also very aggressive continuation we can find in the databases.
9...Nxg4!
Why not?
9...d5? This move is in the spirit of the Najdorf, but it is not recommended here for being too
premature. 10.g5 It seems that Black didn't take this move into consideration. (The less accurate
10.Nxd5 gives Black an easier game indeed! 10...Qa5+ 11.Nc3 Bb4 12.Bd2 Rd8©) 10...d4 The only
practical chance. (10...e4 11.Qe2 Ne5 12.gxf6 Nf3+ 13.Kd1 Qxf6 14.Bg2+- Miklós Németh 2494 -
Geert van der Stricht 2379, Bilbao 2014) 11.gxf6 dxc3 12.fxg7 Bxg7 13.Qxc3 O-O 14.Rg1 Kh8
15.Be3 Rc8 16.Qd2 Qc7 17.O-O-O Rfd8™ (17...Nf6?

193
18.Rxg7! Kxg7 19.Bh6+ Kh8

20.Bg7+!! A very nice move to put an end to the battle! 20...Kxg7 21.Qg5+ Kh8 22.Qxf6+ Kg8
23.Bd3 Rfd8 24.Qh6 Rd6 25.Rg1+ Rg6 26.fxg6+-) 18.Bd3 Nc5 19.Bxc5 Qxc5 20.Rxg7 Rxd3
21.Qxd3 Kxg7 22.Qe4 Kh8 23.c3±
10.Qf3

194
10.Bg2 Qh4 11.Qg3 Qxg3 12.hxg3 Rb8 13.Nd5 Ngf6 14.Nc7+ Kd8 15.Nd5 Ke8 16.Nxf6+ Nxf6
17.Be3 Be7 18.O-O-O Kd7 19.Rhe1 Kc7 20.Rd3 h5 21.Rc3+ Kd7 22.Rb3 b5 23.Ba7 Rbc8 24.Ra3 d5
25.Rxa6 Bd6 26.a4 bxa4 27.Rxa4 Ra8 28.b3 Rhc8= and Black is absolutely fine!
10...Ngf6!
10...Qh4?! 11.Rg1 Ngf6 (11...Nxh2 12.Qxb7 Rb8 13.Qh1 d5 14.Be2! Bc5 15.Qg2 e4 16.Bg5 Nf3+
17.Bxf3 exf3 18.Bxh4 fxg2 19.O-O-O Rb4 20.Bg3 Nb6 21.Nxd5 (21.Rxg2 h5 22.Bc7 h4 23.Bxb6
Rxb6 24.Nxd5 h3

25.f6! gxf6 (25...hxg2?? 26.Nc7+ Kf8 27.Rd8#) 26.Rh2 Rd6 27.Re1+ Kd7 28.Nf4 f5 29.Rxh3 Bxf2

195
30.Rxh8 Bxe1 31.Nd3²) 21...Nxd5 22.Rxd5 Be7 23.Rxg2 Rb5 24.Re5! h5 25.Re4 Kf8 26.f3 Bg5+
27.Kb1 Rxf5 28.Bd6+ Kg8 29.Re8+ Kh7 30.Rxh8+ Kxh8 31.c4 Bf4 32.Bxf4 Rxf4 33.c5 Rb4 34.c6
Rb8 35.a4 h4 36.c7 Rc8 37.Rc2 Kg8 38.b4 h3 39.Kb2 h2 40.Rxh2 Rxc7 41.Rc2 Ra7 42.Kb3± and
White has big winning chances.) 12.Qxb7 Rb8 13.Qc6 Qb4 14.Bxa6 d5 (14...Qb6? It is never a good
idea to go into the endgame when free pawns supported by the bishop pair are your opponent's bright
future. 15.Qxb6 Rxb6 16.Bc4 g6 17.a4 Rb4 18.b3 d5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Bxd5 Rd4 21.Bc4 Bb4+
22.Ke2 Nb6 23.Bb5+ Ke7 24.Bg5++- Emilio Tejera Moreno 2435 - Max Orteu Capdevila 2080,
España 2014) 15.a3 Qb6 16.Qxb6 Rxb6 17.Be2 d4 18.Nb5 g6 19.Bg5 Be7 20.a4±
11.Qxb7
11.Bg5 Qc7 12.O-O-O Rc8 13.Rg1 d5 14.Qe2 Be7 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Rxd5 Bf6
18.Bg2 O-O 19.Be4 Rfd8=
11...Rb8
It's Black's turn to sacrifice a pawn, and look for the compensation!
12.Qxa6 d5 13.Bg2 Bb4 14.O-O
14.Bd2? d4 15.Ne4 Bxd2+ 16.Nxd2 Rxb2 17.Rc1 O-O 18.O-O

18...Nh5! Black has a huge advantage that he can try to convert both in strategic or tactical fashion!
(18...Qc7 19.Qc4 Rc8 20.Qxc7 Rxc7 21.f4 Rbxc2 22.Rxc2 Rxc2 23.Nf3 Ng4 24.Nxe5 Ngxe5
25.fxe5 Nxe5 26.Rd1 d3 27.Bd5 (27.Be4 Rxa2 28.Bxd3 Nf3+-+) 27...Kf8 28.f6 gxf6 29.Be4 Kg7-
+) 19.Qa3 Rb6 20.Ne4 Nf4 21.Rfe1 Rh6 22.Qf3 Nf6 23.Ng3 Qa5 24.Ne2 Nxg2 25.Qxg2 Rh5
26.Ng3 Rg5 27.Rcd1 Qc7 28.Kh1 Rc8 29.a4 h5 30.f3 h4 31.Qd2 Nh7 32.Ne4 Rxf5 33.Rg1 Rf4-+
14...e4 15.Bf4

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15...O-O!!
A brave decision, that shows the complex concept of compensation in modern-day chess
tournaments. The speed of development, and the mobility of the pieces are in usually more important
than the material balance. This way of playing chess made a big difference in recent years,
transforming talented children into top players!
16.Bxb8 Qxb8 17.Qb5 Qd6 18.Qe2

18...Ne5!
18...Bxc3 The method of creating weak pawns can also be considered, but in this particular example

197
it does not bring Black the much needed compensation. 19.bxc3 Ne5 20.Qe3 Nc4 (20...Nh5 21.f3
Nc4 22.Qg5 Nf6 23.fxe4 dxe4 24.Kh1 Re8 25.Rg1±; 20...Qd7 seems to be too slow, as the a-pawn
would simply run to promotion! 21.a4 Qxf5 22.f3 exf3 23.Bxf3 Nc4 24.Qd4±) 21.Qg3 Qd7 22.a4
Qxf5 23.a5 Nh5 24.Qh3 Qe5 25.Kh1 g6 26.a6 Ra8 27.Rfb1 Kg7 28.Bf1 Nf4 29.Qg3±
19.Nb5 Qb8 20.a4 Neg4 21.f4 Bc5+ 22.Kh1 Rc8 23.c3 Ne3 24.b4 Nxf1 25.Bxf1
25.bxc5 Nxh2 26.Kxh2 Qxf4+ 27.Kg1 Ng4 28.a5 Qh2+ 29.Kf1 Qg3 30.a6 Nh2+ 31.Kg1 Nf3+
32.Kf1 Nh2+=
25...Bd6 26.a5 Bxf4 27.a6 Be5 28.a7 Qa8 29.Qg2 Qb7 30.Qg5 Ra8 31.Be2 h6 32.Qe3 Qd7 33.Rf1
Ng4 34.Qc5 Nxh2 35.Rf2 Rc8 36.Qb6 Nf3 37.Bxf3 exf3 38.Rxf3

38...Qe7= 39.Qc6 Qh4+ 40.Kg2 Qg5+ 41.Kf1 Qc1+ 42.Ke2 Qb2+ 43.Ke3 Qc1+ 44.Kf2 Qb2+=

198
6.Qd3... 8...d5

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qd3 e5 7.Nf5 Bxf5 8.exf5 d5

199
9.Bg5 d4
9...Bb4 10.O-O-O Bxc3 11.Qxc3 Nc6 12.Bc4 d4 13.Qa3 Qc7 14.Rhe1 O-O-O 15.Qg3 Rhg8 16.a3
h6 17.Bd2 Kb8 18.Kb1²; 9...Nbd7 10.Nxd5 Qa5+ 11.Nc3 Bb4 12.Bxf6 gxf6 (12...Nxf6 13.O-O-O
Bxc3 14.Qxc3 Qxc3 15.bxc3 O-O 16.c4 Rac8 17.Bd3 Rc5©) 13.Be2 Bxc3+ 14.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 15.bxc3
Nc5 16.O-O O-O-O 17.Bh5 Rd7 18.Rfb1 Rhd8©
10.O-O-O
10.Ne4

10...Nbd7 11.Be2 (11.O-O-O Be7 12.f4

200
12...Qa5! (12...Qb6 13.fxe5 Nxe4 14.Bxe7 Nf2 15.Qg3 Nxd1 16.Qxg7 Qxb2+ 17.Kxd1 Qa1+
18.Kd2 Qc3+ 19.Kd1 Kxe7 20.f6+ Ke6 21.Qg4+ Kxe5 22.Qxd7 Rhe8-+ Anna Shukhman 1866 -
Antonio Arencibia Monduy 2148, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020) 13.fxe5 Nxe4 14.Bxe7 Nf2
15.Qxd4 Nxd1 16.e6

16...Ne5! (16...fxe6?! 17.Qxg7 Qe5 18.f6 Rf8 19.Kxd1 Rf7 20.Qg8+ Rf8 (20...Nf8? 21.Bd3 Rxf6
22.Bxf6 Qxf6 23.Rf1 Qe7 24.Bxh7 O-O-O+ 25.Bd3 Qd6 26.Qg5+-) 21.Bxf8 O-O-O 22.Qg3 Rxf8
23.Qxe5 Nxe5 24.Be2 Rxf6 25.Kd2±) 17.Bc5 (17.f6 Nxb2 18.Kxb2 fxe6 19.fxg7 Kxe7 20.gxh8=Q
Rxh8 21.Be2 Rd8 22.Qh4+ Ke8 23.Bh5+ Kd7 24.Rd1+ Kc8 25.Rxd8+ Qxd8 26.Qxd8+ Kxd8
27.Kc3 Kc7=) 17...f6 18.Qd6 Qd8 19.Qxd1 Qxd1+ 20.Kxd1 Rc8 21.Bb4 Rd8+ 22.Kc1 Rd4 23.Bc3
Rf4 24.g3 Rxf5 25.Bg2 Nc6 26.Be4 Rh5 27.Rd1 O-O 28.Rd7 Re8 29.Rxb7 Rxe6 30.g4 Rc5 31.Bd3

201
a5 32.Rc7 Rd6 33.Rc8+ Rd8 34.Rc7 Rd6 35.Rc8+=) 11...Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Qb6 13.O-O Najer chooses a
quiet line, which does not bring White any hope for advantage. (13.O-O-O This is more challenging,
and I would say the logical way for White to proceed. 13...Be7 14.g4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 O-O 16.Qd5
Qc7 17.Kb1 Rac8 18.Bd3 Nc5 19.Qf3 Rfe8 20.Be4 Bh4! 21.g5 Nxe4 22.Qxe4 Bxf2 23.Rhf1

23...d3! Only this way Black finds a good counterplay. 24.c3 Bb6! This is the correct approach!
Black seeks his advantage by pushing the e-pawn. 25.g6 fxg6 26.fxg6 Qc6! 27.gxh7+ Kh8 28.Qxd3
e4 29.Qe2 e3 30.Be1 Qe4+ 31.Ka1 Rcd8 32.Bg3 Rxd1+ 33.Rxd1 Rd8 34.a3 Kxh7 35.Rxd8 Bxd8³)
13...Nc5 The best way to equalise. 14.Nxc5 Bxc5 15.b4

15...Bd6! (15...Be7 16.Bf3 O-O 17.c4 dxc3 18.Bxc3 Rad8 19.Qe2 Bd6 20.Rfe1 e4! (20...Rc8 21.Qe3

202
This is the only way to equality, as White cannot think of anything else. (21.Bd2?!

White cannot afford to play like this. 21...e4! This should bring Black some advantage! In positions
like this, when the e4-pawn captures on f5, we should always consider the possibility of going e4, and
seize the initiative. (21...h6?! Black misses the opportunity to take the upper hand! He is just
interested to preserve the good knight on f6, but this only gives him equality. 22.g3 Rfd8 23.Be3 Qc7
24.a3 e4 25.Bg2 Qd7 26.g4 Bb8 27.Rad1 Qc7 28.Rxd8+ Rxd8 29.h3 Nd5= Evgeniy Najer 2670 -
Vladimir Zakharstov 2478, Saint Petersburg (rapid) 2018) 22.Bxe4 Rfe8 23.Be3 Bxh2+! 24.Kxh2
Qd6+ 25.Kg1 Rxe4 26.f3 Rxb4 27.Rad1 Qe5 28.Bg5 Qc5+ 29.Kh2

29...Rb5! 30.Qe7 Qxe7 31.Rxe7 Rxf5 32.Bxf6 Rxf6 33.Rxb7 g6µ) 21...Qxe3 22.Rxe3 e4 23.Bxf6

203
exf3 24.Be7 Bxe7 25.Rxe7 b5 26.gxf3 Rfd8©) 21.Bxe4 Bxh2+ 22.Kxh2 Qc7+ 23.Kg1 Qxc3
24.Bxb7 Qxb4 25.Bxa6 Rd2 26.Qc4 Qd6 27.Bb5 h5 28.Qh4 Qc5 29.a4 Qxf5=) 16.c3 dxc3 17.Bxc3
O-O 18.Rac1 Rad8 19.a3 Bb8! 20.Qc4 e4 21.Qc5 Ba7 22.Qxb6 Bxb6 23.Bxf6 gxf6 24.Rcd1 Bd4
25.g3 b5=
10...Be7
10...Nbd7 It is imperative for Black to bring the knight to f6. 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.Ne4 Be7 13.f4 Qa5
14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.fxe5 Qxe5 16.Kb1= - please see the 10.Ne4 continuation above.
11.Bxf6
The best option! White takes advantage of the fact that Black cannot bring the other knight to f6.
11...Bxf6 12.Ne4

12...O-O!
12...Nc6?! 13.Kb1 Qd5 (13...O-O 14.h4 (14.Qf3 Rc8 15.a3 Na5 16.h4 Be7

204
17.f6! White sacrifieces the pawn to give way for the light-square bishop. 17...Bxf6 18.Bd3 Rc6
19.h5 Be7 20.Qf5 Rh6 21.Qxe5 Nc6 22.Qf5 Qc8 23.Qxc8 Rxc8 24.Nd2 Rc7 25.Rde1±) 14...Be7
15.g4 Nb4 16.Qf3 Rc8 17.c3 dxc3 18.Nxc3 Qb6 19.a3 Qc6 20.Qg2 Qxg2 21.Bxg2 Nc6 22.Rd7 Bc5
23.Ne4 Bd4 24.Nd6 Rcd8 25.Rxd8 Nxd8 26.h5 Bxf2 27.b4 b5 28.Rc1±) 14.a3 O-O-O 15.g4 h6
16.h4 Be7 17.Bg2 Qb5 18.g5 Qxd3 19.cxd3±; 12...Qb6?!

A useless move, that brings Black nothing. 13.g4! White is already better as he creates imminent
threats. 13...h6 14.h4 Be7 15.Be2 Nd7 16.Kb1 Qc6 17.c3±
13.h4 Qd5 14.Kb1 Nd7 15.Be2 Be7 16.g4 Nc5 17.Nxc5 Qxc5 18.g5
18.Qe4 Rad8 19.Bd3 f6 20.f4 exf4 21.Qxf4 Bd6 22.Qd2 Be5 23.g5 b5 24.Qg2 Qd6 25.Be4 Kh8=

205
and Black has a solid position.
18...f6 19.Bf3 Kh8 20.Rdg1 Qb6 21.Be4 Rad8 22.Rg3 Rd7 23.Rhg1 Rc7 24.Qd1 a5 25.a3 a4
26.gxf6 Bxf6 27.h5 Rfc8 28.Ka1 h6 29.Rg6

29...d3! 30.c3
30.Bxd3 e4 31.Rxf6 Qxf6 32.Bxe4 Rd8 33.Bd3=
30...Rd8 31.Qxa4 d2 32.f3 Qa6!=

206
6.Qd3... 7...g6

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qd3 e5 7.Nf5 g6!

A brave decision, and a totally well-motivated one!

207
8.Ne3 Be6 9.g3
9.Ned5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 Nd7 11.Be3 Rc8! (11...Bg7?! 12.O-O-O (Anna Shukhman 1866 - Aditya
Mittal 2438, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020) 12...Rc8! 13.Qa3 Bxd5 14.Rxd5 Rc6 15.f3 Qc7 16.c3²)
12.O-O-O Qa5 13.Kb1 f5 14.g3 Bxd5 15.Qxd5 (15.exd5 Bg7 16.c3 O-O 17.Qd2 b5 18.Bg5 Nf6 and
Black's position is fine.) 15...Qxd5 16.exd5

16...h5! 17.f3 Bh6 18.Bf2 Nf6 19.Bg2 Kf7 20.h4 b5 Black has nothing to be worried about.
9...Nbd7 10.Bg2 Rc8 11.O-O

11...h5!

208
After playing g6, this pawn push to h5 is quite adequate as it brings Black many possibilities.
11...b5?!

A mechanically played move. Black cannot be blamed for this, as this is a part of the plan, but
somentimes we should just wait and reconsider the options. Chess is a progressive game that is
always giving us new ideas and possibilities, even in such "familliar" positions. 12.b4! This
paradoxical move refutes the early played b5. Who would have thought of such option? Even if it
looks quite strange, it is the strongest move, as White intends to play a4 and the whole Black's
queenside will be in great danger! (12.Rd1 h5 13.h4 (13.Ncd5 Bxd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.Qxd5 Rxc2
16.Be3 Be7

209
17.Qb7! Only an active approach will bring White a better game. (17.Qd3 Rc7 18.b4 O-O 19.a4 Rc4
20.Bf1 Nf6 21.axb5 axb5 22.Qb3 Rxe4 23.f3 Rxe3 24.Qxe3 h4 25.Bxb5 d5 26.Ra6 Qb8 27.Bc6
(27.Bf1 d4 28.Qb3 Kg7 29.Bc4 hxg3 30.hxg3 Rh8 31.Ra2 Rh3 32.Rg2 Qh8 33.Kf2 Qh6 34.Bxf7
Rh2 35.Bc4 e4 36.Bf1 d3 37.Qe6 Bxb4 38.Qb6 Rh1 39.Bxd3 (39.Qxb4? e3+ 40.Ke1 Rxf1+ 41.Kxf1
Qh1+ 42.Rg1 Qxf3+ 43.Ke1 Qf2#) 39...Rxd1 40.Qxb4 e3+ 41.Ke2 Rd2+ 42.Ke1 Qh1+ 43.Bf1
Rd1+ 44.Kxd1 Qxf1+ 45.Qe1 Qxg2 46.Qxe3 Qf1+ 47.Kd2 Qc4-+) 27...Qxb4 28.Kg2 Rc8 29.Qe2
e4 30.fxe4 dxe4 31.Ra8 Rxa8 32.Bxa8 Qb3 33.Rd2 Qe6³) 17...O-O 18.Qxa6 Rxb2 19.Qb7 Qc8
20.Qa7 Qd8 21.Rac1±) 13...Be7

14.b4! Finally, White understands the idea of the initiative on the queenside. 14...Qc7 (14...O-O 15.a4
a5 16.axb5 axb4 17.Ncd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 Rc3 20.Qe4 b3 21.cxb3 Nc5 22.Qe2 Nxb3
23.Bb2 Nd4 24.Qf1 Rc2 25.Bxd4 exd4 26.Ra6 Bf6 27.b6 Rc8 28.Rb1 Rb8 29.b7 Qe7 30.Ra7±)
15.Bd2! (15.Ncd5?! This is a bit too exaggerated! 15...Bxd5 16.exd5 (16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Qxd5 Nb6
18.Qb3 Qxc2 19.Be3 Qc6 20.Bxb6 Qxb6 21.Bf1©) 16...Nb6

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17.Bd2 (17.f4?! White is just too optimistic, but it is not going to work! This is quite a common
mistake players tend to commit especially when the rating difference is huge, but they really forget
about the risks. The real elements to be considered are just the ones related to the correct assessment
of the position, and not the ratings. This game is a clear example of the tribute one has to pay when
crossing over the minefield. 17...exf4! 18.gxf4

18...Ng4!µ This is the correct approach for Black to seize the advantage! White has too many
weaknesses to take care about, and suddenly he realises he is in trouble. 19.Nxg4 (19.Bb2 Nxe3
20.Qxe3 (20.Bxh8 Nxd1 21.Rxd1 Qxc2-+) 20...Nc4 21.Qd4 Rg8 22.Bc1 Kf8 23.a4 Qd8 24.Ra2
Bxh4 25.Bf1 Bf6 26.Qf2 g5!-+) 19...hxg4 The gloomy rook is now turning into an active destroyer
of the opponent's position. 20.Bb2 Rxh4 21.Re1 Kf8 22.a4 (22.Qd4 Rh7 23.Rxe7 Qxe7 24.Qxb6 g3

211
25.Bd4 Rh2 26.f5 gxf5 27.Rf1 Qh4 28.Rxf5 Kg8 29.c3 Rh1+ 30.Bxh1 Qh2+ 31.Kf1 Qxh1+ 32.Ke2
Qe4+ 33.Kd2 Qxf5 34.Qxd6 Qg5+ 35.Be3 Rd8!) 22...Nxa4 23.Bd4 Rh5!-+ Black plays just
perfectly, and there is little White can do to save the game. 24.c4

24...Qd8! Black gets the correct picture! He fights for the dark squares and this will seal the fate of
the game! 25.cxb5 axb5 26.Qxb5 Bf6! The counter-strike is the best method in positions like this!
The white king is very weak and Black finds the correct path to win the game. 27.Qd3 Nb2
(27...Bxd4+ is the easiest way. 28.Qxd4 Nc3 29.Kf1 Nb5 30.Qb2 Nc3 31.b5 Qb6 32.Ra6 Qd4
33.Qf2 Qc4+ 34.Kg1 Nxd5-+) 28.Qd2 Nc4 29.Qd3 Nb2 (29...Bxd4+ 30.Qxd4 Qh4 31.Rac1 Qh2+
32.Kf1 Rf5 33.Re4

212
33...Rxd5! The White king is totally exposed and all the pieces are hanging - so Black has the chance
to finish in a very beuatiful way! 34.Qxd5 Ne3+ 35.Rxe3 Rxc1+ 36.Ke2 Qg1 37.Qxd6+ Kg7
38.Qd4+ Kh7 39.Rh3+ gxh3 40.Qxg1 Rxg1 41.Bxh3 Rb1-+) 30.Qd2 Nc4-+ Nico Georgiadis 2448 -
Fong Yit San 2143, Tromsø (ol) 2014) 17...Ng4 18.Nxg4 hxg4 19.Rdc1 f5 20.a4 Nc4 21.axb5 axb5
22.Be3 Bf6 23.Ra7 Qd8 24.Be4 O-O 25.Bh6 Rf7 26.Rxf7 fxe4 (26...Kxf7 27.Bxf5 gxf5 28.Qxf5©)
27.Qxe4 Kxf7 28.h5

28...Ke7! 29.Qxg4 Qd7 30.Qxg6 Ra8 31.Bg7 Bxg7 32.Qxg7+ Kd8 33.Qg8+ Qe8 34.Qg7 Qxh5
35.Kg2 e4 36.Rh1 Qf3+ 37.Kg1 Qd1+ 38.Kg2 Qf3+=) 15...Nb6 16.a4 Nc4 17.axb5 Nxd2 18.Ned5
Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Qxc2 20.Qxd2 Qxd2 21.Rxd2 axb5 22.Bf1 Bd8 23.Bxb5+ Kf8 24.Ba6 Rb8 25.Bc4

213
25...g5! With the bishop pair on the board we should always try to open the position! 26.hxg5 Bxg5
27.Rb2 h4 28.Ra4 hxg3 29.fxg3 Kg7=) 12...Bh6 (12...Bc4 13.Nxc4 Rxc4 14.a4 Qc8 15.Bd2±)
13.Rd1 Bxe3 14.Bxe3 O-O 15.a4 Qc7 16.Bd2 bxa4 17.Rxa4 Bc4 18.Qf3 Rb8 19.h3! Rfc8 20.Qe3
Rb6 21.Qe1! Qb7 22.Rda1 Be6 23.R4a3 Nb8 24.Na4 Rb5 25.Rc1 Nbd7 26.Kh2 Kg7 27.f4±
12.h4 Nc5 13.Qe2 Bh6 14.a4 O-O 15.a5 Kh7 16.Rd1 Re8 17.Ned5 Bxc1 18.Nxf6+ Qxf6 19.Raxc1

19...Qe7„ 20.b4 Nd7 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.Rxd5 Nf6 23.Rdd1 Rc3 24.Qd2 Rc6 25.c4 Rec8„

214
215
CHAPTER 7
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qe2

This line has not earned a huge popularity, nor has it been employed by top grandmasters. Therefore,
White can only count on its surprise element. However, if chess is said to be a logical game, to put
the queen in front of his own bishop is not a very clever way to start a game. The examples we
analyse deeply include two games in which White suffered very convincing defeats after the thematic
exchange sacrifice on c3. This is one of the main weapons Black has to consider even in the early
stage of the game if he intends to generate a deadly attack, or gain a huge positional advantage.

6.Qe2 g6

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qe2

216
6...g6

This is not an intention of switching to the Dragon Sicilian. Black just does not want to allow the
enemy knight to come on f5 after playing e5!
7.f3 e5 8.Nb3 Be6 9.Be3 Nbd7
A genuine Najdorf-like position.
10.O-O-O h5
Not allowing the g4 advance.
11.g3

217
This is too slow! White should stick to the normal plan by transferring his knight to d5 and obtain a
normal position.
11.Kb1 Be7 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Bf5 14.g4 hxg4 15.fxg4 Be4 16.Bg2 Bxg2 17.Qxg2 Bg5
18.Rhe1 Bxe3 19.Rxe3 Qg5∞

11...Rc8!
Black prepares the exchange sacrifice. This idea is the most adequate against White's intended slow
plan.
11...Qc7 12.Kb1 b5 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5 Rc8 15.Rd3 Bg7 16.Rc3 Qb8 17.Rxc8+ Qxc8 18.c4 Qa8!
19.Qd2 bxc4 20.Bxc4 e4! This might be against one of the basic rules - do not open the centre unless
your king is safe enough - but in this particulare case White cannot take advantage of the uncastled
king, and Black is just fine. 21.fxe4

218
21...O-O! This is the secret! Black is not in a hurry to recapture the e4 pawn! It is important to put the
king to safety, to open the long diagonal for the bishop, and to have the e5 square availbale for minor
pieces. This is the best way to play such positions! 22.Qc2 Re8 23.Nd2 Qb8 24.Qb3 Qc7 25.Bxa6
Nxe4 26.Nxe4 Rxe4 27.Bb5 Qb8 28.Bf2 Nc5 29.Bxc5 dxc5 30.Bc4 Qe5 31.Rc1 Rd4©
12.h3 b5 13.Kb1
13.Qf2?

13...Rxc3! Black does it in style! The g4 advance has not yet been played, so Black has all the time in
the world to push d5 and open the way of his pieces towards the enemy king. There is also an
interesting fact, proved by hundreds of examples in this type of position - white is not able to use his

219
material advantage, and because of the ruined pawn formation in front of his king, he suffers a long
and painful torture. 14.bxc3 Qc7 15.Bd3

15...d5! 16.Kb2 (16.Kb1 Ba3 17.Qe1 dxe4 18.fxe4 Nb6 19.Bxb6 Qxb6 20.Be2 a5 21.Rf1 Bxh3
22.Bxb5+ Ke7 23.Rh1 Qxb5 24.Rxh3 a4µ) 16...Be7µ Black prepares to castle and bring the rook to
the battlefield. White cannot do much and is just forced to maintain a passive defence. 17.Ra1?!
(17.Qe1 dxe4 18.fxe4 O-O 19.g4 Rc8µ) 17...O-O 18.Qd2 (18.a4?

Never push the pawn in front of your own king, unless you are forced to do it! This is a principle we
often break, and in many cases it does not go unpunished. 18...b4!

220
This move leeds to a total disaster for White. (18...Rc8?! 19.Qd2 dxe4 (19...Nb6! Let's repeat again -
don't forget about the principle that says "keep the tension alive". White is obviously worse, and
Black should not make any concessions at all. Opening a file, can sometimes be advantageous for the
weaker side in searching for some counterplay! 20.axb5 axb5 21.Bxb6 (21.Bxb5 dxe4 22.Rhe1 Nfd5
23.Bxb6 Qxb6 24.fxe4 Nxc3 25.Bd7

25...Bb4! 26.Bxc8 Na4+ 27.Rxa4 Bxd2 28.Re2 Qc6! 29.Rxd2 Qxa4 30.Bxe6 fxe6 31.Re2 g5-+)
21...Qxb6 22.Kb1 dxe4 23.fxe4 Qb7 24.Qe1 Qd7 25.Bf1 Bxb3 26.cxb3 Nxe4 27.Qxe4 Rxc3 28.Bd3
Rxd3 29.Ra7 Rxb3+ 30.Kc2 Qxa7 31.Kxb3 Qa3+ 32.Kc2 Qa2+ 33.Kd3 Bg5 34.Rd1 Qb3+ 35.Ke2
Qxg3-+) 20.fxe4 Nb6 21.Bxb6 Qxb6 22.axb5 axb5 23.Qe2 (23.Ra5?

221
23...Bxb3! The simple way to win on the spot! The white king is just too exposed and an easy prey
for the mighty black attacking arsenal. (23...b4?? 24.c4! (24.Rb5?? An exchange of blunders between
the two players! 24...Qxb5 25.Bxb5 bxc3+ 26.Qxc3

26...Rxc3! The easiest way! (26...Ba3+?! 27.Kxa3 Rxc3 28.Bd3 Bxb3 29.Kb2 Rxd3 30.cxd3 Be6µ A
better endgame for Black arose, which still needs to be won - Attila Czebe 2437 - Aleksandar Inđić
2538, Srbija 2014) 27.Kxc3 Nxe4+ 28.Kb2 Nxg3 29.Rh2 Kg7 30.Na5 f5 31.Bc4 Bc8 32.Nc6 Bg5
33.Bd5 f4 34.Na7 Bf5 35.c3 Nf1 36.Rh1 Ne3 37.Bb7 Nc4+ 38.Ka1 Nd2 39.Ba6 f3-+) 24...Bxc4
25.Bxc4 Rxc4 26.Rha1 Nxe4 27.Qd3 Qe6 28.Ra6 Nd6 29.Rxd6 Bxd6 30.Ra8+ Kg7 31.Ra6 Rc3
32.Qxd6 Qxd6 33.Rxd6 Rxg3 34.Rb6 Rxh3 35.Rxb4 Rh2 36.Kc3 h4 37.Re4 h3 38.Re3 g5 39.Rg3
Kg6µ) 24.Rxb5 Qd6 25.Rxb3 Nxe4 26.Qe3 Nxc3 27.Be4 Nd1+ 28.Rxd1 Qxd1 29.Qd3 Qe1 30.Qe3

222
Qa5-+) 23...Qc6 24.Qe1 Nd7 25.Kb1 Bc4 26.Rh2 Nb6 27.Na5 Qe8 28.Qf2 Qd8µ) 19.exd5
(19.cxb4 Bxb4 20.Bd2 Bc5 21.Qe2 Rb8 22.exd5 Bxd5 23.Bc3 Bd4 24.Bxd4 exd4 25.Qd2 Nc5
26.Ra3 Qxg3-+ and White is lost.) 19...Qxc3+ 20.Kb1 Nxd5 21.Bd2 Qc6-+) 18...dxe4 19.fxe4 Nb6
20.Bxb6 Qxb6µ
13...Be7 14.Qe1 Qc7=

6.Qe2 Qc7

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qe2 Qc7

223
7.Be3 e5 8.Nb3 Be7 9.O-O-O Be6
9...b5 10.Kb1 O-O 11.Rg1 Bb7 12.g4

12...b4! This is the way to fight for the initiative. If we can, we should first play b4 before our
opponent manages to push g5, and fight fight for the d5 square in such way. (12...Rc8? This is too
soft, and White is much quicker. 13.g5± Nxe4 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Rxd5 Nd7 16.Bh3 Re8 (16...Rd8? A
blunder that looses immediately, but anyway Black has a very bad position. 17.Bxd7 Rxd7 18.Qg4
Nxg5 19.Bxg5 Bxg5 20.Qxg5+- Velimir Ivić 2326 - Or Bronstein 2098, Poreč 2015) 17.Qf3 Nec5
18.Nxc5 Nxc5 19.Bxc5 dxc5 20.Rd7 Qb8 21.Bf5 g6 22.Rb7 e4 23.Bxe4+-) 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5
Rc8 15.g5 a5 16.Bh3 Nd7 17.Qd2 a4 18.Nc1

224
18...g6! This is a well known idea to the Najdorf players! The pawn invites the bishop to g7. The
main idea is that Black will gladly sacrifice the e5 pawn, just to open the long diagonal and include
his mighty bishop in the attack on the enemy king. The same bishop may also act as a defender of its
own king. 19.Nd3 b3 20.Nb4 bxa2+ 21.Kxa2 Bf8 22.Rge1 Ba6 23.Kb1 Bb5 24.Na2 Rcb8 25.Qc3
Qb7 26.Qb4 a3 27.b3 Nc5 28.Bg4

28...Na4! 29.Ka1 Qc7 30.Qd2 Bg7 31.Rc1 Be8!µ

10.Nd5 Bxd5
10...Nxd5 is also possible, and gives Black equal chances. 11.exd5 Bf5 12.g4 Bg6 13.f4 exf4 14.Bxf4
O-O 15.h4 Re8! 16.Qg2 (16.h5

225
16...Bf8! A beautiful counter-strike that gives Black a comfortable game. 17.Qc4 Qxc4 18.Bxc4 Be4
19.Rhe1 Nd7 20.Nd2 Bg2 21.Rg1 b5 22.Rxg2 bxc4 23.Nb1 Nf6 24.Nc3 Ne4=) 16...Bf8 17.Bd3
Bxd3 18.Rxd3 Nd7 19.Kb1 Re7 20.h5 Rae8„
11.exd5

11...a5!
This idea is also popular! The knight on b3 is going to be kicked, but the main threat is the pushing of
the black pawn to a3, and creating a chaos. White should replay with a3 immediately just to avoid an
unhappy outcome.

226
11...h5?! This move is not making its point now. 12.Kb1!² The most elegant way to refute 12...Ng4
is by making room for the bishop on c1. 12...Nbd7

13.h3!

White prepares to open the position. His bishop pair, and the fact that Black is not sure where to place
his king in shelter would bring him some advantage. (13.h4 O-O! (13...Rc8 14.c4 (14.g3 Opening the
way for the bishop 14...O-O 15.Bh3 Rb8 16.Rhe1 Rfe8 17.c4 a5 18.Nd2 a4 19.a3 g6 20.Ka1 b5
21.cxb5 Nxd5 22.Nc4 Nxe3 23.Nxe3 Qb7 24.Bf1 Nf6 25.Qc4²) 14...a5 With no rook on a8 this
move looses much of its power. (14...O-O 15.f3 Rfe8 16.g4

227
16...e4! The wise way to refute an attack on either wing is by opening the centre! 17.gxh5 Ne5
18.fxe4 Qxc4 Black needs to swap queens as his king is quite exposed. 19.Qxc4 Nxc4 20.Bxc4 Rxc4
21.Nd2 Rcc8 22.h6 Ng4 23.Bd4 Nxh6 24.Rdg1 Bf8 25.Rh3 Kh7 26.Rb3 Re7 27.h5²) 15.Na1! This
manoeuvre is very powerful and leaves Black with no attacking possibilities. (15.a3?! Unnecessary!
15...Ng4 16.g3 (16.Rh3?! Nxe3 17.fxe3 (17.Qxe3 a4! (17...g6 18.Nd2 (18.Be2?! a4 19.Nc1 f5
20.Na2 Nc5³ The opening is over. White didn't follow the plan he started when Kb1 was played and
now he is a bit worse. 21.Qg3 (21.Nc3 Kf7 22.f3 Kg7 23.Rhh1 Recognising the mistake!

23...Qd8! This "modest" retreat cuts the opponent counterplay with g4! 24.g3 Bf6 25.Qc1 Qd7!
26.Qc2 Nb3 27.Bd3 Nd4 28.Qg2 Rhf8 29.g4 e4! The blow in the centre again! 30.g5 Be5 31.fxe4

228
31...f4! A beautiful way to cut down the activity of both White's minor pieces! This procedure is also
common in the King's Indian Defence, and is employed by Black mainly against the Sämish
Variation. 32.Qh3 Qc7 33.Rhf1 f3µ) 21...Kf7 22.Nc3 (22.Rhh1?! (Enrique Rodríguez Guerrero 2440
- Sergey Karjakin 2679, España 2006) 22...Ne4! This wins easily, as White's forces are completely
discoordinated. 23.Qe3 Qc5 24.Qxc5 Rxc5 25.f3 Nf2 26.Nc3 Nxd1 27.Rxd1 Bxh4 28.Nxa4 Rc7
29.Nc3 Kf6-+) 22...Bf6 23.Bd3 Qe7 24.Nb5 Rhd8 25.Bc2 Nd7 26.Bd3 Nb6 27.Rc1 e4 28.Bf1 Qe5
29.Qxe5 Bxe5µ) 18...f5 19.Nf3 Nc5³) 18.Nc1 b5 19.Na2 bxc4 20.Nb4 Qc5 21.Be2

21...Kf8! 22.Nc6 Rh6 23.Rd2 Qxe3 24.fxe3 c3 25.bxc3 Nc5³ Black has a superior pawn structure.)
17...a4 18.Nd2 Nf6 Black has solved all his problems. White has left his bishop undeveloped, and the
rook on h3 is useless. 19.Rf3 Qd7 20.g3 O-O 21.e4 Rc5„) 16...O-O 17.Rc1 f5 18.Bh3 a4 19.Nd2

229
Nc5∞) 15...O-O 16.Nc2 Nc5 17.f3 Qd7 18.Qd2 a4 19.Na3 Qf5+ 20.Qc2 Qxc2+ 21.Kxc2 Nfd7
22.Be2 f5 23.Bg5 Kf7 24.Nb5 Ra8 25.Be3²) 14.f3 Rfc8 15.g4 e4 16.fxe4 Nxg4 17.Bf4 Bf6 18.c3
Be5„) 13...b5 14.f4 Rc8 15.g3 O-O 16.g4 Ne4 17.Rg1 h4 18.Qg2 Ng3 19.Bd3 Rfe8 20.c3 Bf6
21.Rge1 exf4 22.Bxf4 Rxe1 23.Rxe1 Ne5 24.Qc2²
12.a3 O-O 13.g4 a4 14.Na1 Ra5 15.Bg2 Nfd7 16.c3 Nb6 17.Nc2 Rc8 18.Kb1 N8d7 19.h4 Qc4
20.Qxc4 Nxc4 21.Bc1 Nc5∞

230
6.Qe2 e5

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qe2 e5

7.Nf3

231
A rare continuation!
7...Be7 8.Bg5 Be6 9.O-O-O

9.Bxf6 White should have captured this knight, before Black played the other knight to d7, in his
intention to fight for the d5 square. 9...Bxf6 10.h4 Nd7 11.O-O-O Rc8 12.Qd2 Be7 13.Ng5 O-O
14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Kb1 b5 16.g3 Black has at least three decent answers to prove that his position is
solid. 16...Rf6 (16...Nc5 17.a3 Qb6 18.b4 Nd7 19.Bh3 Rf6 20.Nd5 exd5 21.Bxd7 Rc7 22.Qxd5+
Kh8 23.Be6 Rxf2 24.Rd2 Rf3 25.Rd3 Rf2 26.Rc1 Rc4 27.c3=) 17.f4 b4 18.Na4 Qa5 19.b3 Nc5
20.Nxc5 Rxc5 21.Bc4 Kh8∞
9...Nbd7! 10.Bxf6 Nxf6 11.Nxe5
White was counting on this, but Black is willing to sacrifice this pawn, for a solid compensation and
maybe more than that.
11.Kb1 Rc8 12.Qe1 Qb6 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Bd7 15.h4 O-O 16.Bd3 Rfe8µ We used to see this
kind of positions in this chapter. Black is always better due to some elements such as:
1. The strong bishop pair.
2. The central pawn mass, that can turn into a mobile force.
3. The realistic possibility of an imminent attack towards the enemy king.

232
11...Rc8!
The right idea!
12.Qe1
12.Nd3?! The intention is to play the knight to f4 and d5, but that manoeuvre consumes a lot of time,
and Black should not allow it.

12...Rxc3!! It is amazing how much force could be in this exchange sacrifice on c3 at the early stage
of the game! If nothing else, it speaks about the inappropriate White's opening strategy. (12...Qa5?
Black fails to find the correct way that would put his opponent in a very difficult position. 13.Qe1 b5

233
14.a3

14...Rxc3! 15.Qxc3 Qxc3 16.bxc3 Nxe4³ Black already has a small edge! The advantage is
positional of course, since the queens are gone. But, White has a difficult task to defend a position
that is very unpleasant for him. 17.Re1 d5 18.Nb4 It was better to part with the f2-pawn but, as I said
before, wrong decisions come in moments like this. (18.f3? This comes as a result of the explanation
I gave a bit earlier. In chess probably the most difficult positions are the ones where there is no
counterplay at all. There are still decisions to be made, there is also a ticking clock, but in such
positions your opponent plays against himself, and there is a huge possibility that mistakes frequently
follow one after the other. This is the psychological edge one has to understand. 18...Bxa3+µ 19.Kd1
Nxc3+ 20.Kd2 Na4 21.Rb1 Again the most stubborn defence. (21.f4?! O-O 22.Ra1 Bd6 23.g3 Bf5
(23...Bc7!? 24.Kc1 Bb6 25.Ra3 Rc8 26.h4 Be3+ 27.Kb1 a5 28.Bh3 f5 29.Re1 d4 30.Bg2 Kf8 31.Bf3
Ke7-+; 23...a5 24.Ne5 (24.Be2?! Rc8 25.Rhf1

234
25...d4! (25...Bh3?

In momemts like this we should not be distracted by the unnecessary details! Black's plan is to
increase the pressure on the queenside and create a total domination that would allow him to combine
threats and meanwhile prepare for the a-pawn push. With such plan ahead bringing the bishop to the
other side of the board is a totally "empty" manoeuvre. 26.Rfb1! Only this way! Why not trying to
give an active task to your own rook? (26.Rfe1? White throws away an important moment when he
could have even saved the game! The psychological language tells us everything about White's state
of mind. He has already done the reconciliation with himself that the game was lost, so he refused to
fight back as if planning to save the game! This is a common reason for many players to surrender
rather quickly, even though the game is not yet lost on the board, but only mentally. We should try to

235
get rid of this bad habit so our chess progress and results could improve. 26...Bd7! (26...Nb6?!
27.Reb1 (27.Bf3?!

27...a4! Passed pawns must be pushed! (27...Be6 28.Re2?! White is suffering a lot! He is playing like
boxer who is close to a knock out, but stays in the ring awaiting for the final uppercut to put an end to
a useless fight. 28...g6 29.Ke1 Nc4-+ Manuel Pérez Candelario 2537 - Raúl Rabadán Velasco 2309,
España 2008) 28.g4 Nc4+ 29.Kc1 Ba3+ 30.Kd1 d4 31.Rb1 Ne3+ 32.Rxe3 dxe3 33.Rxb5 Bd6
34.Ke2 Rxc2+ 35.Kxe3 a3 36.Ra5 g6 37.Ra8+ Bf8 38.Bd5 Bxg4 39.Ne5 Bf5 40.Nxf7 Kg7 41.Ng5
Bc5+ 42.Kf3 Rc3+ 43.Kg2 Be3 44.Ra6 Kh6-+) 27...Nc4+ 28.Kd1 b4 29.Nf2 Bg2 30.Bxc4 dxc4
31.Rxa5

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31...Re8! Transformation of the advantage! Black gives up his a5-pawn, but gets strong connected
pawns and an active rook plus bishop pair to protect them and attack the enemy king! 32.Kd2 Bf3
33.Rf1 Re2+ 34.Kc1 b3 35.cxb3 cxb3 36.Rb5 b2+ 37.Kb1 Bg2 38.Rd1 Rxf2 39.Rxb2 Be4+ 40.Kc1
Rxb2 41.Kxb2 Be7µ) 27.Bf3 Nb6 28.c3 f6 29.Ke2 a4 30.Nb4 d4 31.Nd5 Nxd5 32.Bxd5+ Kf8
33.cxd4 b4-+) 26...Nc3 27.Rb3 Ne4+ 28.Ke1 a4 29.Rxb5 Re8 30.Rxd5 Nc3 31.Re5 Bxe5 32.fxe5
Bf5 33.Kd2 Rc8 34.Nb4 Nxe2 35.Kxe2 Bxc2 36.Nxc2 Rxc2+ 37.Ke3 Rxh2 38.Rxa4 h5³ and if
there is any truth in the saying that all rook endings are drawn, than this is the moment when White
must look for his chances to save this game.) 26.f5 Bd7 27.f6 Nb6 28.Kc1 a4 29.fxg7 Nd5 30.Rf2
Kxg7 31.Ne1 Re8 32.Ng2 Nc3 33.Bf3

33...a3-+ The image of a total domination!) 24...Bb4+ 25.Kc1 Bc3 26.Bxb5 Bxa1 27.Bxa4 d4
28.Bb3 Bc3 29.Bxe6 fxe6 30.Nd7 Rf5 31.Nb6 Kf7 32.Na4 Bb4 33.Rd1 Rd5µ) 24.Bg2 Be4 25.Bxe4
(25.Rhg1 Rc8 26.Bh1 Bc7 27.c3 Ba5 28.Nb4 Bxh1 29.Rxh1 d4 30.Na2 Rc4 31.Rae1 g6-+) 25...dxe4
26.Nc1 Rd8 27.Ke3 f5 28.Nb3 Bc7 29.Kf2 Bb6+ 30.Kg2 Rc8 31.Ra2

237
31...a5-+ A tragic picture! And also, a very sad conclusion for any player. White cannot afford any
counterplay, or opening the position, despite being an exchange up! But, except the machine, who is
able to bear such pressure and still be quiet? The mixture of a weak pawn structure, poor king and
lack of coordination between his own pieces makes this attempt a real catastrophy!) 21...d4 22.Nf4
Bc8! 23.Bd3 O-Oµ) 18...Nxf2 19.Rg1 O-O 20.Bd3 Rc8

21.Bf5! I don't see any other option for White to stay in the game. 21...Bg5+ 22.Kb1 Bxf5 23.Rgf1
Bd2 24.Rxf2 Bxe1 25.Rxf5 Bxc3 26.Nxa6 Ra8 27.Rxd5 h5! 28.Rd3 Be5 29.Nb4 (29.Nc5 Bxh2
30.Rh3 Bg1 31.Rxh5 Rxa3 32.Nb3 Ra4 33.Rxb5 Rg4µ Another example of the transformation of the
advantage.) 29...Bxh2 30.Rh3 Bg1 31.Rxh5 Rxa3 32.Kb2 Rg3 33.Rxb5 Rxg2µ) 13.bxc3 Qa5 14.Nb4

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14...O-O! The only correct approach! Please remember that Black is not in any rush, as White is still
unprepaired to defend himself properly. For a correct procedure we need to bring all our active forces
to the battlefield in order to succeed. The early sacrifice is just the expression of a deep understanding
of the basic rules one has to master in order play these positions with confidence. 15.Rd4 Rc8 16.Qd2

16...d5!!

239
The right time has come! The position really requires a diagram. Black has all his forces ready for the
final assault, and this is only possible due to total passivity of the white pieces. A rare but very
instructive example! 17.exd5 (17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Qxa2 19.Kd1 Bc5 20.Bd3 Bxd4 21.cxd4
Qa1+ 22.Qc1 Qxd4 23.Qe3 Qxd5-+) 17...Bxb4 18.Rxb4

(18.cxb4 Qxa2 19.c4 Qa1+ 20.Kc2 Bf5+ 21.Kb3 Bd7! 22.Qb2 Ba4+ 23.Kc3 Qe1+ 24.Qd2 Qb1
25.Qb2 Ne4+ 26.Rxe4 Qxe4-+) 18...Nxd5!-+ The only move that leads to the victory!
12...Qc7 13.Nf3 d5 14.Bd3 dxe4 15.Nxe4 O-O 16.Kb1 Rfd8 17.Nfg5 Bd5 18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.Ne4
19.Nxh7

240
19...Bxb2! 20.Kxb2 Qb6+ 21.Ka1 Qd4+ 22.Kb1 Bxa2+! 23.Kxa2 Qa4+ 24.Kb1

24...Rxd3! This is the beuatiful attack I mentioned earlier! Black's dynamic potential is huge, and it
only has to be utilised accordingly! 25.Rxd3 Qxc2+ 26.Ka1 Qa4+ 27.Kb1 Qb5+ 28.Ka1 Qxd3
29.Nf6+ (29.Qe3 Qxh7 30.Rc1 Rd8 31.Qd4 Rf8 32.h4 Qg6-+) 29...gxf6-+

241
19...Be5!
19...Bxb2 20.Kxb2 Qb6+ 21.Ka1 f5 22.Ng3 Qd4+ 23.Kb1 Qb6+=
20.Qe2 g6 21.Rhe1 Bg7 22.c4
22.g3 Qb6 23.c4 Be6µ
22...Bc6 23.c5
23.f3 Rd4³
23...b6 24.Bxa6 Rb8 25.Rxd8+ Qxd8 26.Qd3

242
26...Qe7! 27.f3 Qe5 28.Re2 bxc5 29.Ka1 Qxh2 30.Bc4 Qg1+ 31.Qb1 Qd4! 32.Qd3 Qxd3 33.Bxd3
Rd8 34.Bb1 c4³

243
6.Qe2... 7.Nf5

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qe2 e5 7.Nf5

7...g6
7...Bxf5?! Not a recommendable continuation. 8.exf5 Nbd7 9.g4 d5 (9...Nb6? This is already very
bad. Black is getting a lost position under move 10. 10.Bg2 Qc7 11.g5 Nfd7 12.a4 Rc8 13.a5 Nc4
14.Nd5 Qc5 15.c3 Qb5 16.O-O Be7 17.Rd1 Bd8 18.Bf1 Qb3 19.Ne3 Nxa5 20.Rxd6 Nc6

21.Qg4! (21.Ra3 Qb6 22.Nc4+- Surya Shekar Ganguly 2633 - Konstantin Sakaev 2596, Moccow
(blitz) 2019) 21...Ncb8 22.Ra3+-) 10.g5 d4 11.gxf6 dxc3 12.fxg7 Bxg7 13.b3 Qc7 14.Rg1 Bf6

244
15.Rg4±; 7...d5 8.Bg5 d4 9.O-O-O Nc6 10.f4 (10.Bxf6!?) 10...Qa5 11.fxe5 dxc3 12.exf6 Be6∞ 0 : 1
Justin Sarkar 2356 - David Brodsky 2455, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2021
8.Ne3
8.Nh6 A weird move, with the idea to prevent the short castle. This move is very new, and only some
recent games of 2021 can be found in this continuation. In my opinion, the h6-knight has no business
here since he is just isolated from the play, and White can only be worse. 8...Be6 9.Bg5 Nbd7 10.g3
(10.O-O-O?!

The king is not going to be secure here. 10...Rc8! (10...Qc7?! (Derek Wu 2175 - Eric Li 2264,
Charlotte 2021) 11.Nd5 Qa5 12.Bxf6 Bxh6+ 13.Kb1 Nxf6 14.Nxf6+ Kf8 15.Nd5 Kg7 16.h4±)
11.Rd3 White cannot allow the exchange sacrifice when bxc3 will be the only possibility. (11.Nd5
Qa5 12.Bxf6 Qxa2 13.Bg5 Qa1+ 14.Kd2 Qxb2 15.Ke1 Bxd5 16.Rxd5 Rxc2-+; 11.f3 Qa5 12.Qe1
Bxa2 13.Nd5 Qxe1 14.Nxf6+ Nxf6 15.Rxe1 Nd7µ) 11...Qa5 12.a3 Bc4 13.Qd2 Bxd3 14.Bxd3
Bxh6 15.Bxh6 Ng4 16.Bg5 Rxc3 17.Qxc3 Qxc3 18.bxc3 Nxf2 19.Rf1 h6µ) 10...Qb6 (10...Rc8
11.Bg2 Be7 12.O-O

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(Cristopher Woojin Yoo 2455 - Luke Leon Mendonca 2549, chess24.com (Internet-rapid) 2021)
12...Ng8! 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Qe3 Nxh6 15.Qxh6 g5 16.Rac1 Qf6 17.Qh5 Qg6 18.Qd1 Rc6=) 11.O-
O-O Rc8 12.Qe1 Qa5! 13.f3 b5 14.Kb1 b4 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Bxd5 17.Rxd5 Qxd5 18.Bxa6 Rc5
19.Qxb4 f6 20.Bd2 Bxh6 21.Bxh6 Qxf3µ; 8.Ng3 A weird decision by White. The knight has no
prospects on g3, while the light-square bishop is trapped by his own pieces. 8...Be6 9.Bg5 Nbd7
10.O-O-O (10.Qf3?! Rc8! 11.Bd3 h6 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.O-O

(Luis Esquivel Golcher 2173 - Pouya Idani, 2499, Tromsø (ol) 2014) 13...h5! 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5
Bd7 16.c3 h4 17.Ne4 f5 18.Nd2 Bh6µ The bishop pair and a strong centre at the early stage of the
game are the proof that White's strategy was incorrect.) 10...Rc8 11.Qe1 b5 12.Nd5 h6 13.Be3 h5
14.h4 Bxd5 15.exd5 Qc7³

246
8...Be6 9.g3
9.Ned5 Bxd5 10.exd5 Nbd7 11.g4 Rc8 12.Bg2 Bg7 (12...Qb6?! A way too ambitious continuation.
Black should have finished his development first. 13.g5 (13.O-O Bg7 14.g5 Nh5 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Bf3
O-O 17.Bxh5 gxh5 18.Qxh5 f5 (18...e4 Now this move is not so strong as before because White has
finished development and Black has no target anymore. 19.Nxe4 f5 20.gxf6 Nxf6 21.Qf5 Nxe4
22.Qxe4 Qf7 23.c3 Rce8 24.Qg4 Kh8 25.Rad1 Rg8 26.Kh1 Bxc3 27.Qf4 Qxf4 28.Bxf4 Be5
29.Bc1²) 19.gxf6 Nxf6 20.Qh3 Qc4 21.f3 b5 22.a3 Kh8 23.Rfd1 a5 24.Bg5

24...e4! 25.Be3! exf3 26.Rd4™ (26.Bd4?

26...Nh5! This blow is again possible because of the weak white king! 27.Bxg7+ Nxg7 28.Kh1 b4

247
29.axb4 axb4 30.Na4 f2 31.Nb6 Qe4+ 32.Qg2 Qxg2+ 33.Kxg2 Rxc2 34.Rf1 Nf5-+) 26...Qc7
27.Rf1 Qb7 28.Qxf3 Nd7 29.Rf4 b4 30.axb4 axb4 31.Ne4 Qxd5 32.Rd1 Qa8 33.Ng5 Qxf3 34.Rxf3
Rxf3 35.Nxf3 Ne5 36.Ne1!=) 13...Nh5

14.Ne4! (14.Bh3?! White has no plan, and this is already a serious mistake! By bringing the black
king to d7 White gets nothing. Instead, White should have put the strong knight to e4 and after
finishing development enjoy a long term advantage. 14...h6! 15.Bxd7+ Kxd7 16.h4 hxg5 17.hxg5
Be7 18.Bd2 (18.Qg4+ Kc7 19.Rb1 Qd4! 20.Qxd4 exd4 21.Ne4

21...f5! Only an active play will bring Black a solid edge! 22.gxf6 Nxf6 23.Rxh8 Rxh8 24.Ng3
(24.Nxf6 Rh1+! This "zwischenschach" brings Black a decesive advantage!) 24...Re8! 25.Bg5 Nxd5

248
26.Bxe7 Rxe7+ 27.Kd2 Nf4µ) 18...Ng3 19.Qg4+ Nf5µ Rob Schoorl 2350 - Aleksandar Inđić 2502,
Skopje 2013. Black has covered his king and has an advantage.) 14...h6 15.h4 hxg5 16.hxg5²) 13.g5
Nh5 14.Bf3 O-O 15.Bxh5 gxh5 16.Bd2 (16.Qxh5

16...e4! This is the way to take advantage of the fact that the enemy king is stuck in the centre, while
White's development is not finished. 17.Bd2

17...e3!! A resource that confirms the previous statement! 18.fxe3 Qb6 Being two pawns down Black
is already better! 19.O-O Qxb2 20.Ne4 Rxc2 21.Qd1 Be5 22.Rb1 Qxa2 23.Rxb7 Qxd5 24.Qxc2
Qxb7µ) 16...e4! 17.O-O f5 18.gxf6 Nxf6 19.Kh1 Qd7 20.f3 exf3 21.Rxf3 Ng4 22.Bf4

249
22...Qe8! An exceptional way to fight for the advantage! 23.Qxe8 (23.Qg2 Bxc3 24.bxc3 Qe4
25.Raf1 Rxf4 26.Rxf4 Qxg2+ 27.Kxg2 Ne3+ 28.Kg1 Nxf1 29.Rxf1 Rc5 30.c4 Rxc4 31.Rf6 Rg4+
32.Kf2 Rg6 33.Rf4 b5³) 23...Rcxe8³
9...h5
9...Nc6 10.Bg2 Nd4 (10...Bg7 11.O-O O-O 12.f4 exf4 (12...Nd4 13.Qd3 exf4 14.gxf4 Nd7 15.f5

15...Qh4! Black has a superior development so he can start an attack towards the enemy king. 16.Ne2
(16.fxe6 Ne5 17.Qxd4!? This is also possible! White gives away the queen to eliminate any possible
attack, and play a quiet endgame with three pieces for the queen. In positions like this it may be a
good option for the side that is facing an imminent attack, especially if you are the type of player who

250
do not like to defend. (17.Qd2 fxe6 18.Kh1

18...Rae8!© Black is in no hurry! Keeping the tension is a golden rule in such positions. There is little
White can do to improve his development, thus we should give him the possibility to go wrong! 19.h3
Nef3 20.Qf2 Qe7! 21.e5 Bxe5 22.Ng4 Nh4 23.Qg1 Nhf5 24.Rxf5 exf5 25.Bd5+ Kh8 26.Nxe5 dxe5
27.Bh6 Nxc2 28.Rd1 Nd4 29.Bxf8 Rxf8 30.Qe1 Re8∞) 17...Nf3+ 18.Bxf3 Bxd4 19.e7 Qxe7 20.Nd5
Qh4 21.Bg2 Be5 22.h3 Kh8!∞) 16...Nc5 17.Qd1 Nxe2+ 18.Qxe2 Bd7 19.Nd5 Bd4+ 20.Be3 Bxb2
21.Rf4 Qd8 22.Raf1 Bc6 23.Qd2 Bxd5! The mighty knight should be eliminated as a potential
attacking piece. 24.Qxd5 Qe7! 25.Rg4 Kh8 26.Bh6

26...Be5! The correct approach! Black should consolidate and not be disturbed by the exchange

251
sacrifice. The bishop on e5 worth more than a rook, and White has no satisfactory progress. 27.Bxf8
Rxf8 28.Rf3 Kg7 29.Bf1 f6 30.Kh1 g5 31.Rg1 h5³) 13.gxf4 (Attila Czebe 2468 - Michal Mészáros
2376, Magyarország 2009) 13...Re8! 14.Qf2 Ne7 15.h3 Bd7 16.Bd2 Rc8 17.Rad1 Qc7= and Black is
just fine.) 11.Qd3 h5 12.O-O h4 13.Ncd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.exd5 hxg3 16.hxg3 Rc8= Black
played "normal" moves and achived an equal position. 17.c3 Nf5 18.Be4 (18.Be3?! This is already a
positional mistake! The bishop pair should be kept on the board, or at least traded the same-colour
ones.The game that arose with the opposite-colour bishops can only be in Black's favour, since he has
one attacking piece more. Black proved this and won the game convincingly! 18...Nxe3 19.Qxe3 Bh6
20.Qe2 (Balaji Daggupati 2311 - David Brodsky 2479, Charlotte 2020) 20...f5! This strong centre
guarantees Black a slight advantage! 21.a4 Kf7 22.Ra3 Bg5 23.Rb3 Qd7 24.Rb4

24...Bd8! Black bishop is everywhere! 25.Re1 Kg7 26.Qe3 Rc5µ) 18...Ne7 19.Bg2 f5 20.Bg5 Bh6
21.Bxh6 Rxh6 22.Qd2 Rh8„
10.Bg2 Bh6
10...h4 11.O-O

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11...Bh6!= A modern approach by the Indian super-grandmaster, as he goes for a possible dark-
square bishop trade which is a strategic relief for Black. (11...Bg7 12.Ncd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Bd7
14.Re1 O-O 15.a4 hxg3 16.hxg3 a5 17.Nc4 Qc7 18.Be3 Ra6 19.Bf1 f5 20.Qd2ƒ) 12.Rd1 hxg3
13.hxg3 Nc6 14.Qd3 (Alfonso Romero Holmes 2501 - Pentala Harikrishna 2682, España 2006)
14...Rc8! 15.Qxd6 Qxd6 16.Rxd6 Nd4 17.Ncd5 Bxd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Bxh6 Rxh6 20.Rxd5 Rxc2
21.Rxe5+ Kf8 22.Kf1 Rxb2 23.Rd5 Ne6 24.Kg1 Rh5„
11.Ncd5 Nbd7 12.O-O Bxd5 13.exd5 h4 14.Bd2 Kf8 15.Rad1 Rc8 16.c4 Kg7 17.b3 hxg3 18.hxg3

18...Qg8! 19.b4 Qh7 20.Rfe1 b6 21.Nf1 Bxd2 22.Nxd2

22.Rxd2 a5 23.a3

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23...Qh6! It is important not to give any counterplay to the oppponent! 24.Rc2 Nh7 25.Nh2 Ng5
26.Nf3 Nxf3+ 27.Qxf3 Qh2+ 28.Kf1 axb4 29.axb4 Rh5 30.Ke2 Rf5 31.Rh1 Rxf3 32.Bxf3 (32.Rxh2
Rb3-+) 32...Qxh1 33.Bxh1 Ra8 34.Kd2 f5µ

22...Ra8!!
A strong strategic decision! Black prepares to open the a-file, and control it right away!
22...a5 23.c5 dxc5 24.bxa5 bxa5 25.d6 Rb8 26.Rb1 Rb4 27.Nc4 Qh2+ 28.Kf1 Re8 29.a3 Rxb1
30.Rxb1 e4 31.Rd1 a4 32.Ne3©
23.a3 Qh2+ 24.Kf1 a5 25.Nf3 Qh5 26.Rc1 axb4 27.axb4 Ra3 28.Ra1 Rha8 29.Rxa3 Rxa3 30.Nd2

254
Qh6³

255
CHAPTER 8
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qf3

This move was played by Lilienthal against Kotov back in 1942. Closer to our time, this idea was re-
introduced by the American player Andrew Karklins (Andrejs Kārkliņš) in the mid1990s. In 2010
GM Nigel Short started using this move and scored some good results with it. More recently, it was
tried by many excellent grandmasters such as like Judit Polgár, Francisco Vallejo Pons, Emanuel
Berg, David Howell, Christian Bauer and so on. My recommendation is the rare move 6...Bg4, played
by the Iranian grandmasters Alireza Firouzja and Pouya Idani. After 7.Qg3 e5, the game will take a
Najdorf-like twist, which is indeed the topic of this book. I don't want to go into details of the
Dragon-like structure after 6...g6, where the opinions are divided. Some commentators say that the
Dragon is not a good choice when a6 is played, while others explain that the queen on f3 is not doing
well against the Dragon structure. There is of course the possibility of the Scheveningen?like system
after 6...e6, or the Richter-Rauzer after 6...Nc6, which in my opinion are not so suitable for the
Najdorf players. Going back to our 6...Bg4, I analyse all three possibilities that occur after 7.Qg3 e5,
more specifically: 8.Nf3, 8.Nf5, and 8.Nb3. Even though there are not so many games in this line, we
can conclude that Black is fine in all lines, and the 6...Bg4 reply is indeed the idea to be considered
against the rare move 6.Qf3.

6.Qf3... 8.Nf3

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qf3

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6...Bg4
This is the line that I recommend. Even though there aren't many games in the database, this line is
perfectly playable and is the only one in the spirit of the Najdorf.
7.Qg3 e5 8.Nf3

Alireza Firouzja

8...h6 9.Nd2 Nc6

9...Nbd7 10.a4 Rc8 11.h3 (11.Bc4 Be7 12.h3 Be6 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.Qg6+ (14.Qxg7 Rg8 15.Qxh6
Rxg2 16.Kf1 Bf8 17.Qe3 Rg7 18.Rg1 Rxg1+ 19.Kxg1 Qe7 20.Nf3 d5 21.exd5 exd5 22.Qe2 Qe6©)

257
14...Kf8 15.O-O Qe8 16.Qg3 Qf7 17.Rd1 d5 18.exd5 exd5
19.Nf3 Bd6 20.Nh4 Kg8 21.Qf3 Rc5 22.Nf5 Bf8= Black
is fine thanks to his central pawns.) 11...Be6 12.Be2 (12.a5
d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Bd3

15...Qg5! Black takes advantage of the opponent's queen being placed on g3, and goes for the trade.
Any endgame should be more confortable for Black. 16.Qxg5 hxg5 17.O-O Nc5 18.Bc4 Be6 19.b4
Bxc4 20.Nxc4 Ne6 21.Nxe5 Rxc2 22.b5 Bd6 23.Ng4 O-O=) 12...Be7 13.O-O (13.Qxg7 A crazy
position arises after this one, but I wouldn't recommend it for White. 13...Rg8 14.Qxh6 Rxg2 15.Bf3
Rg8 16.Nf1

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16...Nb8! An important resource! The black knight is heading to c6 from where he can jump on b4 or
d4, seizing the advantage. 17.Nd5 Rxc2 18.Nfe3 Rc5 19.Kf1 Nc6 20.Bg4 Bxg4 21.Nxf6+ Bxf6
22.hxg4 Bg5 23.Qh7 Ne7³) 13...O-O 14.Rd1 Nb8 15.Nf1 Rxc3!? There is even this thematical
sacrifice for those who enjoy to play disbalanced positions. Of course, this is a positional sacrifice in
which Black has some compensation and tries to play actively with his central pawns backed by the
pieces. (15...Kh8 The calm way of playing an equal game. 16.Qd3 Nc6 17.Be3 Qa5 18.Qd2 Qb4
19.Bf3 Nh7 20.Bg4 Nf6=) 16.Qxc3 Nxe4 17.Qf3 f5 18.Ng3 Nxg3 19.Qxg3 Kh7©
10.Bd3
10.Nc4?! Be6 11.Ne3 Nd4 (11...Be7 12.Ned5 (12.Qxg7?

12...Kd7!! A very nice idea that leaves the white queen in a big trouble! 13.Qg3 Nd4 14.h3 Rc8
15.Bd3 Nh5 16.Qh2 Nf4 17.Bd2 (17.O-O Rg8 18.Kh1 Nxg2 19.Nxg2 Nf3-+) 17...Qb6 18.Bf1
(18.O-O Nxd3 19.cxd3 Qxb2 20.Rfd1 Rxc3 21.Rab1 Qxa2 22.Bxc3 Ne2+-+) 18...Qxb2 19.Rb1 Qa3
20.Rxb7+ Ke8 21.Nb1 Qxa2 22.Qg3

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22...Bb3!-+) 12...Nd4 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Bd3 Bh4 15.Qxg7 Kd7! 16.Nd5 Nf5 17.exf5 Bxd5
18.Qg4 Rg8 19.Qb4 a5 20.Bb5+ Kc8 21.Qc3+ Qc7 22.Bxh6 Qxc3+ 23.bxc3 Kc7 (23...Bxg2 24.Rg1
Kc7 25.Ke2 Be4 26.Bc4 Rxg1 27.Rxg1 Rh8 28.Rg4 Rxh6 29.Rxe4 f6=) 24.Bf1 Bxg2 25.Bxg2 Rxg2
26.Be3 Rh8 27.Ke2 Kc6 28.Rab1 Bd8 29.h4 Rh5 30.Rb3 f6 31.Rhb1 Rg7„) 12.f3 Rc8 13.Qf2

13...d5!³ The right decision! It is not early to hit the centre, even if the king is still uncastled. White
has no means to take advantage of it, as his king is also in the centre and has no development at all.
14.Bd3 (14.exd5 Bxd5 15.Bd3 Be6 16.O-O Bc5 17.Kh1 O-O 18.Rd1 Qc7 19.Qe1 Rfd8³ and Black
has better chances.) 14...dxe4 15.fxe4 Bc5 16.O-O O-O 17.Kh1

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17...Nh5! The knight aims for f4. 18.Qe1 (18.Bd2 Nf4 19.Rad1 b5 20.Bc1 Nxd3 21.Rxd3 b4 22.Ne2
Qc7 23.Nd5 Bxd5 24.exd5 f5 25.c3 bxc3 26.bxc3 Nb5 27.Qh4 f4 28.Qg4 Rce8µ) 18...Nf4 19.Nf5
(19.Rxf4? White could not take the pressure any longer and sacrifices the exchange. This is, of
course, a bad choice and equal to surrender, but this is in most cases the psychological effect of the
continuous active and aggressive play. Firouzja is without doubt such a player, so he is going be a big
threat to Magnus Carlsen in years to come. 19...exf4 20.Ned5

20...g5! Black is not weakening his own king, as White is in no possibility of creating an attack.
21.Nxf4 This is already done out of despair, but what else could White play? 21...gxf4 22.Bxf4 Qf6
23.Qd2 Qh4 (23...Rfd8 24.Rf1 Qh4 25.Be3 Bb4-+) 24.Re1 Rfd8! (24...Kh8 25.Nd5 Nc6-+ 26.Rf1
Bd4 27.Bg3 Qh5 28.Be2 Qg6 29.Ne7 Qg5 30.Bf4 Qxe7 31.Be5+ Bxe5 32.Qxh6+ Kg8 0 : 1 Tarik

261
Selbes 2342 - Alireza Firouzja 2685, Türkiye 2019) 25.Rf1 Bd6-+) 19...Qg5 (19...Nxd3 20.cxd3

20...Kh7! (20...Nc2 21.Qg3 Bxf5 22.exf5 Kh7 (22...Nxa1?? 23.f6 g6 24.Bxh6 e4 25.Qh4 Qxd3
26.Rxa1+-) 23.Ne4 Rh8 24.f6 g6 25.Bxh6 Kg8 26.Rac1 Bd4 27.Bd2 Bxb2 28.Rb1 Qd4 29.Rf3±)
21.Qg3 Rg8³) 20.Bxf4 exf4 21.Nxd4 Bxd4 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.exd5 Qxd5 24.Qd2 g6 25.Qxf4 Bxb2
26.Rab1 Bg7 27.Be4 Qxa2 28.Rxb7 Qe6³
10...Be6 11.O-O

11...Nb4 12.Nc4 Rc8 13.Ne3 Nh5 14.Qf3 Nf6=

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6.Qf3... 8.Nb3

263
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 a6 6.Qf3 Bg4 7.Qg3 e5 8.Nb3

This line could be an invitation for the 6.Be2 variation. The queen's position on g3 is a bit different,
but could not play such a big role, since after the bishops trade on c4, the queen will come to d3 from
both g3 or d1.
8...Be6 9.Be2 Nbd7 10.f4 Rc8 11.O-O
The young Alireza Firouzja tried this variation himself as White at the young age of 12.
11.f5 Bc4 12.Bxc4 Rxc4 13.Qd3 Qc7 14.Bg5

14...Be7 (14...d5!? Why not? 15.Nxd5 (15.exd5?! Bb4 16.Bd2 O-O 17.O-O b5 18.a3 Bd6 19.Qh3

264
e4µ) 15...Nxd5 16.exd5 h6 17.Bd2 Bd6 18.O-O-O O-O 19.Kb1 b5 - and Black's position has an
extraordinary potential! 20.Ba5 Qc8 21.Rhe1 Re8 22.Bc3 Nf6 23.a3 e4 24.Qh3 Be5 25.Bxe5 Rxe5
26.d6 Qd7 27.Qg3 Rxf5 28.h3 Rc8∞) 15.O-O-O b5 16.h4 (16.a3 O-O 17.Kb1 h6 18.h4

18...Rxc3! 19.bxc3 Rc8 20.g4 Qc6 21.Rde1 d5 22.Bxf6 Nxf6 23.Nd2 dxe4 24.Nxe4 Nxg4 25.Qf3
h5³) 16...h6 (16...b4!? Black should try to gain the initiative as soon as possible. 17.Nd5 Nxd5
18.exd5

18...Rg4! 19.Nd2 Nc5 20.Qf3 h5 21.Kb1 a5 22.f6 Bxf6 23.Bxf6 Rf4 24.Qg3 gxf6 25.Qg7 Rf8
26.Rhf1 Rxh4 27.Qxf6 Rg4 28.Qf5 Rxg2 29.Nc4 Rg6³) 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.Nd2 Rd4 19.Qf3

265
19...O-O³ Black has solved all the opennig problems and has a small edge! 20.g4 Rc8 21.g5 b4
22.gxf6 Bxf6 23.Ndb1

23...d5! Black has understood the idea! The d5-square should not be left in the control of the white
pieces. 24.Rh2 (24.exd5? bxc3 25.Nxc3 e4 When the bishop is open and all the Black pieces
participate to the attack, it can be very dangerous for White. 26.Qe3

266
26...Rc4! Black could have put an end to the game. The pressure along the c-file, combined with
threats by the queen and bishop should be lethal. (26...Rb4 27.d6 Qd7 28.Rh3µ This is the only way
White can avoid losing on the spot. (28.Rh2?

28...Rxb2!

267
And it is all over! (28...Qxf5?? 29.a3! (29.Rf2? Qe6 30.a3

30...Rbc4! (30...Rbb8?! I guess that the mutual time trouble is to blame for bad decisions from both
sides. As a principle, and especially when time trouble occurs, if no severe changes were made on the
board, we should stick to the ideas we had in mind during the game. The pressure along the c-file was
"here" since the beginning of the operations on the queenside, so why not proceeding in the same
manner and keep the advantage! 31.d7

268
31...Rxc3! (31...Rd8?! 32.Rxf6 Qxf6 33.Qxe4 (Gevorg Harutjunyan 2414 - Pouya Idani 2551, Tehran
2016) 33...Rb6! This move would have been a good try for Black. 34.Na4 Re6 35.Qb4 Rc6 36.Nc5
Qf2 37.Qa5 Rxd7 38.Rxd7 Rxc5 39.Qd8+ Kh7 40.Rd2 Qf1+ 41.Rd1 Qf4+ 42.Kb1 Qe4 43.Qd3
Qxd3 44.Rxd3 g5∞) 32.Rxf6! The strong bishop must be eliminated. 32...Rxe3 33.Rxe6 fxe6
34.d8=Q+ Rxd8 35.Rxd8+ Kf7 36.Rd4 e5 37.Ra4

37...Re2! We should not forget about this motif! In the endgame when each tempo counts, the activity
(or inactivity) of the pieces is very important too. Thus it is important to cut off the enemy king if
possible, while our own monarch becomes active. 38.Rxa6 (38.Kd1 Rh2 39.Rxe4 Kf6 40.Ra4 Kf5
41.Rxa6 Rxh4 42.Ra8 h5 43.a4 Rh1+ 44.Ke2 Rb1 45.b3 h4³ and Black has better chances.) 38...Rh2
39.Rc6 Rxh4 40.Kd2 g5 41.b4 g4 42.Rc3 h5 43.b5 Rh2+ 44.Ke1 Rh1+ 45.Kf2 Rb1 46.Rc7+ Kg6

269
47.Rc6+ Kg5 48.b6 h4-+) 31.Re2 (31.d7 Rd8 32.Rg2 Rxd7 33.Rxd7 Qxd7-+) 31...Rxc3 32.bxc3
Qa2µ) 29...Rb7 (29...Rbb8 30.d7 Rd8 31.Rf2 Qe6 32.Rf4 Bxc3 33.Qxc3 f5 34.Qc5 Rb5 35.Qc7 Qe7
36.h5 Kh7 37.b4 a5 38.Qc6 Qg5 39.Qxb5 Qxf4+ 40.Kb2 axb4 41.axb4 e3 42.Rf1 Qd4+ 43.Kb3 e2
44.Qxe2 Qxd7 45.Ra1 Qf7+ 46.c4 Rb8 47.Ra5=) 30.Rf2 Qe6 31.Qxe4 Qxe4 32.Nxe4 Bxb2+
33.Kd2 g6 34.Ke1 Bxa3 35.Rd3 Bb4+ 36.c3 f5 37.Nf6+ Kf7 38.cxb4 Kxf6 39.d7 Rd8 40.Rd6+ Ke5
41.Rxg6 Rxb4 42.Re2+ Kd5 43.Rxh6 Rxd7 44.Rxa6=) 29.Rd4 (29.Kxb2 Rxc3 30.Qxc3 Qb5+
31.Kc1 Bxc3 32.Rdh1 Qb2+ 33.Kd1 Qb1+ 34.Ke2 Qxc2+ 35.Kf1 Qd1+ 36.Kg2 Qf3+ 37.Kg1
Bd4+ 38.Rf2 Qxf2#) 29...Rbb8! After destroying the defence, the rook goes back, leaving White in
total collapse. 30.Re2

30...Qa7! 31.d7 Bxd4 32.dxc8=Q+ Rxc8 33.Qxe4 Bxc3-+)) 27.d6 Qa5 28.d7 Rb8 29.Rhg1 Kh7
30.Rd2 Qb4 31.Nd1 Bxb2+ 32.Nxb2 Qxb2+ 33.Kd1 Rd8 34.c3 Qb1+ 35.Ke2 Qb5 36.Ke1 Qxf5
37.Qg3 Qf6 38.Rd6

270
38...Rxc3!-+) 24...bxc3 25.Nxc3 dxe4 26.Nxe4 Qc6 27.Rxd4 exd4 28.h5 Kh8 29.b3 Re8 30.Re2
Re5³
11...b5
11...h5?! Black tries to chase away the queen, but she will go to d3 anyway, so the h5 push could not
be fully recommandable. 12.f5 Bc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.Qd3 Rc8 (14...Qc7 The normal aproach!) 15.a4
Qc7 16.Bg5! (16.a5?!

16...d5! The "liberation move" should always be taken into consideration! (16...Qc4 17.Qd1! The
queen leaves but prepares the 18.Ra4 move. (17.Be3 d5! Black finally goes for the d5 advance and
the game is equal. (17...Qxd3 18.cxd3 Be7 19.Nd2 Ng4 20.Ba7 Ra8 21.Bf2 Rc8 22.Nd5 Nxf2

271
23.Rxf2 Nf6 24.Nxf6+ Bxf6 25.Nc4 Ke7 26.Ne3²) 18.exd5 Qxd3 19.cxd3 Bb4 20.Ne4 (20.Bd2 O-
O 21.Ra4 Bxc3 22.bxc3 Nxd5 23.c4 Ne7=) 20...Nxd5 21.Bd2 (21.Rfc1 O-O 22.Kf2 Rfe8 23.Rc4
Be7 24.Rac1 Rcd8³) 21...O-O! (21...Ke7 22.Bxb4+ (22.Ra4?! Bxd2 23.Nbxd2 Rc2 24.b3 Rhc8µ
Alireza Firouza 2325 - Morteza Asgari 2256, Iran 2015) 22...Nxb4 23.Rad1 Nf6 24.Nec5 Rhd8 25.d4
exd4 26.Nxb7 Rd5 27.Rxd4 Rxd4 28.Nxd4 Rc7 29.Re1+ Kf8 (29...Kd7 30.Nb3 Rc2 31.N7c5+ Kd6
32.Nb7+ Kd7 33.N7c5+=) 30.Nd8 Rc8 31.Rd1 Nfd5 32.Nb7 Ne3 33.Rd2 Nc4 34.Re2 Rc7 35.b3
Rxb7 36.bxc4 Rc7 37.Re4 Rc5 38.f6 gxf6 39.Nb3=) 22.Bxb4 Nxb4 23.Rac1 Rfd8 24.Rfd1 Nd5³ and
Black has a small edge thanks to his better pawn structure.)) 17.exd5 Bb4 18.Bd2 O-O 19.Rfe1 Rfd8
20.Rad1 Bxa5 21.d6 Bb6+ 22.Kh1 Qc4 23.Qxc4 Rxc4 24.Bg5 Kf8 25.Rd2

25...a5! 26.Ra1 (26.Nd5?! a4 27.Nxb6 Nxb6 28.Na5 Rd4 29.Nxb7 Rd7 30.Rxd4 exd4 31.Nc5 Rxd6
32.Ra1 Rc6 33.Nxa4 Nc4 34.Kg1 Ne4 35.Bf4 Ne3 36.Bxe3 dxe3 37.Re1 Rc4 38.b3 Rxc2 39.g3 e2
40.Kg2 f6 41.Kf3 Nd2+ 42.Kf2 Nxb3 43.Rxe2 Rxe2+ 44.Kxe2 Nd4+ 45.Ke3 Nxf5+³) 26...Ra8∞)
16...Be7 17.a5 O-O 18.Rfd1 Nc5 19.Qe2 Ncd7 20.h3 Rfe8 21.Rd3± Black has no counterplay at all.
12.f5 Bc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.Qd3 Qc7 15.Be3 Be7=

272
273
6.Qf3... 8.Nf5

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 a6 6.Qf3 Bg4 7.Qg3 e5 8.Nf5

274
8...Bxf5
8...g6!

This move is my recommandation. The idea is to keep the tension a bit more, not allowing White to
create pressure after giving up the light-square bishop. 9.Ne3 (9.h3 Bxf5 10.exf5 Nbd7 11.fxg6 hxg6
12.Bc4 Rc8 13.Bb3 Nc5 14.O-O Be7 15.f4 Nxb3 16.axb3

275
16...Rh5! This nice rook manoeuvre grants Black a decent game.) 9...Be6 10.Bc4 Bg7 11.O-O O-O
12.Ned5 Nbd7 13.Bb3 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Qc7 (14...Nb6 15.Bxb7 Ra7 16.Bd5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 Bxd5
18.exd5 Rc7 19.c3 f5 20.Qd3 Qa8 21.Rd1 a5 22.Bd2 Rfc8© and Black has some compensation.)
15.Bg5 Nb6 16.Bxe6 fxe6 17.Rad1 Rf7 18.Qd3 Re8 19.Rfe1 Nc4 20.Bc1 Rd8 21.b3 Nb6 22.Be3

22...d5! The way to freedom! 23.exd5 exd5 24.Bxb6 Qxb6 25.Nxd5 Qxf2+ 26.Kh1 Rdf8 27.Nc3
Qd4 28.Ne4 Qxd3 29.cxd3 Rd8=
9.exf5
This is a very important position for this system. Black faces an early turning point, and he has two
major options:

276
1. To stick to the "Najdorf way" by having his second knight developed on d7.
2. To try a hybrid plan by putting the knight on c6.
9...Qc7!
9...Nc6 This "Richter-Rauzer" knight is not a good option here. Aiming for d4 means nothing, but
instead Black should develop the knight on d7 to support its f6 colleague in fight for the d5-square.
10.Bg5 d5 (10...Be7 11.O-O-O Nh5 (11...Rc8 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Ne4 Nd4 14.Rxd4 exd4 15.Nxd6+
Kf8 16.Nxc8± José Francisco Torres Bosch 2137 - Raúl Campos Pindado 2018, Madrid 2018)
12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Qd3 Rd8 14.Kb1 Nf6 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Qc7 17.Bc4 O-O 18.Qe4 Ne7
19.Bd5 b5 20.c3 Qc5 21.f3 Rb8 22.Bb3 b4 23.Rd3²) 11.O-O-O (11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.O-O-O Nd4
13.Kb1 Rc8 14.f4 Bb4 15.Ne2

15...Nxc2! 16.Qb3 (16.fxe5 Qb6 17.Rc1 Na3+ 18.Ka1 (18.bxa3?? Bc3+-+) 18...Nc2+=) 16...Qd7
(16...d4 17.Ng3 Be7 18.Bc4 Rxc4 19.Qxc4 Ne3 20.Qb3 exf4 21.Ne2 Nxd1 22.Rxd1 Qc7 23.Rxd4
Bd6 24.Rc4 Qd7 25.Qd3 Be5 26.Nxf4 Rg8 27.Qe4 Rg4 28.g3 Rg5 29.Nd5 Qxf5 30.Nxf6+ Kd8
31.Ng4 Bg7 32.Nf2 Qxe4+ 33.Nxe4 Re5=) 17.Rc1 Ne1 18.Rxc8+ (18.Qxb4? Qxf5+-+) 18...Qxc8
19.a3 Bc5 20.g4 h5 21.Bh3 Bf2 22.Nc3 Qc4 23.Qxb7 Qd3+ 24.Ka2 Qc4+ 25.Kb1 Qd3+=) 11...d4
12.Bc4 Be7 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Ne4 The domination over the light squares gives White a small edge.
14...Rc8 15.Kb1 b5 16.Bb3 a5 (16...O-O 17.f4 a5 18.Nxf6+ Qxf6 19.fxe5 Nxe5 20.Rhe1 Nc6
21.Bd5 Qxf5 22.Qb3 Nb4 23.Be4 Qc5 24.a3 Nc6 25.Qd5 Qb6 26.Rf1 b4 27.a4 Qc7 28.Qxc6 Qxc6
29.Bxc6 Rxc6 30.Rxd4=) 17.a4 bxa4 18.Bxa4 O-O 19.Qf3 (19.Rhe1 Bringing the last piece into play
would be a normal option unless one has something forced at his disposal.) 19...Nb4 Now Black is
fine.

277
20.Rhe1= (20.g4?! Qd5 21.Bb3 Qc6 22.g5 Bd8 23.g6 Kh8 24.Nd2 (24.gxf7? a4-+) 24...fxg6
25.Qxc6 Rxc6 26.Ba4 Rcf6 27.fxg6 Rxf2 28.Rhe1 hxg6 29.Nc4 Kh7 (29...Bc7 30.Nxe5 Bxe5
31.Rxe5 Rxh2 32.Rxa5 Rff2 33.Rb5 Nxc2 34.Bxc2 Rxc2 35.Rxd4=) 30.Nxe5 R8f4 31.h3 Bf6 32.Nd3
Nxd3 33.Rxd3 Rf5³; 20.h4 Qd5 21.Nxf6+ gxf6 22.Qxd5 Nxd5 23.Rh3 Rb8 24.Kc1 Rfc8 25.Rb3
Nb6 26.Bb5 a4 27.Ra3 Nc4 28.Bxc4 Rxc4 29.f3 Rbc8 30.Rd2 Kf8 31.Kd1 h5³)
10.Bg5 Nbd7 11.O-O-O Rc8 12.Bd3 Qa5 13.Rhe1
13.Bd2 d5 14.a3 Qc5 15.Rhe1 Be7 16.f3 (16.Qxg7 Rg8 17.Qh6 Ng4³) 16...O-O 17.Bh6 Nh5 18.Qh3
Ndf6 19.g4 gxh6 20.gxh5 Kh8 21.Rxe5 Qc7 22.Rde1 Bd6! 23.f4 Bxa3 24.Nd1 Bd6 25.Qh4 Qd8!
26.Nf2

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26...a5! As White cannot improve the attack on the kingside, it's Black's turn to try to destabilise the
position of the enemy king! 27.Kb1 a4 28.Ng4 Nxg4 29.Qxg4 Rg8 30.Qe2 Bxe5 31.fxe5 a3 32.e6
Qf6 33.bxa3 Rge8³

13...Rxc3!
We should never forget about this resource in similar positions. This sacrifice can be either tactical or
positional. In this particular situation the sacrifice a positional one, and allows Black to stop his
opponent's counterplay, thus making it possible to launch the attack towards the white monarch.
14.bxc3

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14...Be7!
14...Qxa2?! 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Kd2±
15.Bc4 O-O 16.Bb3 Rc8 17.Kb1 Rxc3 18.Qh4 b5©

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CHAPTER 9
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Rg1

This is quite a new move which leads to a pretty modern line. White wants to push g4 and the battle is
often fought for the d5 square, mainly in the Najdorf type of positions (where Black plays 6...e5), as
the g-pawn is meant to upset the f6-knight. This would be the principal White's goal. My
recommendation is that Black should stick to the 7...h5 continuation in order to make the g4 push
much more difficult for White to execute. First of all, if White still wants to play g4 he needs to open
the h-file which is only in Black's favour. There are some examples of active counterplay obtained by
the h8-rook over the open h-file. There are also other negative aspects White has to deal with, once he
decides to go for this line:
- The possibility to castle short is lost right away.
- There are some examples where, for different reasons, White refrained from long castling, but
eventually his king was trapped in the centre and everything ended up badly.
- Opting for other moves except 7.Nb3 does not seem to be a good option, as the Rg1 move becomes
a waste of time, and Black grabs the initiative immediately which often leads to a quick disaster for
the opponent.
This line is, of course playable, but there are not so many top level games in the database. So, it still
needs to be analysed and explored in great detail.

6.Rg1... 7.Nf5

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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Rg1

6...e5 7.Nf5?!

This is not a good option when 6.Rg1 was already played. Moves like 6.a3, 6.Qe2, 6.Qf3 are more
useful for White than the quiet 6.Rg1. Black has two good options 7...d5, or 7...Nxe4 to reach good
position in both lines, so I consider 7.Nf5 to be a dubious line that gives White nothing but a
headache.
7.Nde2?! This move is hardly a serious attempt here, as it makes the previous 6.Rg1 look useless.
7...Be6 8.Bg5 (8.f4?

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8...Qb6! (8...b5?! 9.f5 Bc4 10.g4 b4 11.g5 (11.Nd5? Nxd5 (11...Nxe4? 12.Ng3! (12.Bg2?? Qh4+
13.Ng3 Qxh2 0 : 1 Christian Zemella 2098 - Ekkehard School, Deutschland (blitz) 2007) 12...Nxg3
(12...Bxf1 13.Nxe4 Bc4 14.f6 g6 15.Be3±) 13.Bxc4 Nxf5 14.Rf1 Qh4+ 15.Rf2 Ra7 16.Be2 Ne7
17.Be3 Rd7 18.Qd2 Nxd5 19.Qxd5 g6 20.g5 Bg7 21.O-O-O O-O 22.Rdf1 Qh3 23.Bd2 Qe6 24.Qxe6
fxe6 25.Rxf8+ Bxf8 26.Bg4 Re7 27.Bxb4 Re8 28.Rf6 Be7 29.Bxe6+ Kh8

30.Bd5!± and White has a large advantage.) 12.exd5 Qa5 13.Bg2 Nd7 14.b3 Bxe2 15.Qxe2 Rc8
16.g5 h6 17.gxh6 gxh6 18.Be4 Be7 19.Rg2 Nf6 20.Bd2 Rg8 21.Bd3 Rxg2 22.Qxg2 Kd7³) 11...bxc3

283
12.Nxc3!! Qb6 13.Rg3 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 Bxf1 15.Kxf1 Qc6 16.Nc3 Nd7 17.Qd5 Rc8 18.Be3 Be7
19.Rd1 Qxd5 20.Rxd5 f6 21.Ne4 Rc6 22.c3 g6 23.gxf6 gxf5 24.fxe7 fxe4 25.Bg5 Rg8 26.Ke2 Nb6
27.Rd1 d5 28.Bh4 Rxg3 29.hxg3 a5 30.Rf1 Nd7 31.Rd1 Nb6=) 9.Qd3 Nbd7 10.Qe3 Nc5 11.f5 Bd7
12.a3 Bc6 13.b4 Na4 14.Qxb6 Nxb6 15.Ng3 Rc8 16.Be3 Na4 17.Nxa4 Bxa4 18.c4 Ng4 19.Bd2
Be7 20.Rh1 Bh4 21.Bd3 b5 22.cxb5 Bxb5 23.Bxb5+ axb5 24.Ke2 Bxg3 25.hxg3 Nf6 26.Kf3 Rc4
27.Rhe1 h5 28.Rac1 Rxc1 29.Rxc1 Kd7µ) 8...Nbd7 9.Qd2 b5 10.Ng3 Be7 11.a3 O-O 12.O-O-O h6
13.Be3 Nb6µ; 7.Nf3?!

7...b5! (7...Nc6 8.h3 Be6 (8...Be7 9.g4 Be6 (9...b5?! 10.g5 Nd7 11.Be3 Nb6

284
12.Qd2! (12.Nd2 Be6³ Ernesto Fernández Pérez - Jesus Manuel Estévez Blanco, La Habana 2009)
12...Be6 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5 Nb8 15.O-O-O N8d7 16.h4ƒ) 10.g5 Nxe4 11.Nxe4 d5 12.Ng3 Qc7
13.Be3 O-O 14.c3 Rad8 15.Qb1 Rfe8 Everything is set for the party! 16.Be2 Bf8 17.Rh1 d4 18.Bd2
dxc3 19.bxc3 e4 20.Nd4

20...Rxd4!! 21.cxd4 Nxd4 22.Kf1 Nc2 23.Ba5

285
23...Ne3+! 24.Kg1 Qxa5 25.fxe3 Qxg5 26.Kg2 Bc5 27.Qe1 Bxe3 28.Rd1 b5 29.h4 Qc5 30.Rf1
Qc8!© and Black has enough compensation!) 9.a3 Be7 10.Be3 O-O 11.Qd3 b5 12.Nd5 Rc8 13.Nb6
Rb8 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.exd5 Na5 16.Nd2 Nc4! 17.O-O-O Nb6 18.Bxb6 Qxb6µ) 8.a3 Be7 9.Bg5
Nbd7 10.Qd2 O-O 11.O-O-O Bb7 12.Bd3 h6 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.Kb1

14...d5! 15.exd5 (15.Rge1 d4 16.Ne2 Nd7 17.c3 dxc3 18.Nxc3 b4µ) 15...b4! 16.d6 Qxd6 17.axb4

286
17...Qc7! An elegant retreat which does not leave many good options for White! 18.Qe2 Bxb4
19.Qxe5 Rac8 20.Na2 (20.Qxc7 Rxc7 21.Na2 Bc5 22.Rgf1 Ng4µ) 20...Bc5 21.Bf5 Qxe5 22.Nxe5
Rc7 23.Ng4 Nxg4 24.Bxg4 Bxf2 25.Rgf1 Bh4 26.Bf3 Rb8 27.Bxb7 Rcxb7 28.b3 Bf6 29.Rd5 Re8
30.Nc1 Rb5³
7...d5
7...g6 This move is not so strong as if White had played 6.Qf3, but at the end of the day Black should
be fine. 8.Ne3 Be6 9.g4 h6 10.Ned5 Nbd7 11.Be3 Rc8 12.Be2 Qa5 13.b4 Qd8 14.Qd3 Bxd5
15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Qc7 17.c4 Be7 18.Rg3 Nb6 19.Bxb6 Qxb6 20.a3 O-O= and Black is ok!;
7...Nxe4 8.Nxg7+ Bxg7 9.Nxe4 d5 10.Bg5 Qa5+ 11.Qd2 (11.Bd2?!

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11...Qb6! This queen retreat is the best option. The strong central pawns and the superior piece
dynamics are enough to give Black the upper hand. (11...Qc7?! (Joachim Wallner 2327 - Gerhard
Glaser 2088, Oberwart 2002) 12.Ng3! Nc6! Keep the tension on! This is the best approach. Black
keeps his pawns on e5 and d5, and is even ready to give up the bishop pair for a quick development.
13.Nh5 Rg8 14.Nxg7+ Rxg7 15.c3 Bg4 16.Be2 Bf5 17.h4 O-O-O 18.Bg5 Rd6 19.g4 Bg6 20.Rc1
Kb8 21.Be3 f6 22.Kf1 Bf7µ) 12.Ng3 Be6 13.Nh5 Rg8 14.Nxg7+ Rxg7 15.c3 Qxb2 16.Rb1 Qxa2
17.Rxb7 Nd7 18.Rb1 Bf5 19.Ra1 Qb2 20.Rc1 a5 21.g4 h5 22.c4 Bxg4 23.Qc2 Qxc2 24.Rxc2

24...Rg6!! Black gives back a pawn, but secures the advantage by promoting the a-pawn and
improving his own pawn structure. A very nice and instructive example of transformation of the
advantage, obtaining at least two benefits by utilising this technique. (24...d4 25.f3 e4 26.fxg4 e3
27.Bxe3 (27.Bc1 Ne5µ) 27...dxe3 28.Rg3 hxg4 29.Rxe3+ Kd8 30.Bg2 Ra6 31.c5 f5 32.c6 Nb6
33.Re6„) 25.cxd5 This pawn is harmless for Black. 25...a4 26.Bc1 Bf5 27.Rxg6 fxg6 28.Ra2 Nb6µ)
11...Qxd2+ 12.Nxd2 f6 13.Bh4 Nc6 14.c3

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14...Ne7! 15.f3 Kf7 16.Bf2 h5 17.Bd3 Bh6 18.O-O-O Bf5 19.Kc2 Rac8³
8.Bg5 d4µ
It is quite difficult to believe, but Black is already better. The biggest problem for White is the g1-
rook which makes the castling impossible, thus creating big problems.
9.Bxf6
9.Ne2?! Qa5+ 10.Bd2 Qb6 11.Neg3 g6 12.Nh4

White's pieces cannot find good places on the board. The position is pretty hilarious. 12...Qxb2 It is a
rare occurrence that Black has a decesive advantage in the early stage of the opening. 13.f4 White

289
seeks counterplay, but this is just a desperate way of making things even worse. As a principle,
counterplay is difficult to achieve when your own pieces are poorly placed. (13.Bd3 Nc6 14.Ke2 Be7
15.Re1 Qa3 16.Kf1 O-O 17.Nf3 Be6 18.Kg1 b5 19.Bc1 Qa4-+) 13...exf4! (13...Bb4 14.Nf3
(14.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 15.Qd2 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2 exf4 17.e5 fxg3 18.exf6 gxh2 19.Rh1 Nd7 20.Re1+ Kf8
21.Rxh2 Nxf6 22.Nf3 Kg7-+) 14...exf4 (14...Bg4 (Nikolay Astrikov 2174 - Dmitry Obolenskikh
2461, Russia 2007) 15.Kf2! exf4 16.Bxf4 O-O 17.Bd3 Nc6µ) 15.Ne2 Bxd2+ 16.Nxd2 O-O-+)
14.Bxf4 Bb4+ 15.Kf2 Ng4+ 16.Kf3 Nxh2+ 17.Kf2 Ng4+ 18.Kf3 Ne3 19.Bxe3 dxe3 20.Nhf5
(20.Rb1 Qf6+ 21.Nhf5 Bd2-+) 20...gxf5 21.Rb1 Qg7-+
9...gxf6 10.Nb1
10.Ne2? Qb6! (10...Nc6 11.Neg3 Bb4+ 12.Ke2 (José Gabriel Cardoso Cardoso 2414 - Anton
Isajevsky 2403, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020) 12...h5! 13.h4 Qb6 14.Kf3

A very unusual position! (14.a3? Bc5 15.Qd3 Qxb2-+) 14...Bf8! 15.Bd3 Be6 16.Qc1 Ne7 17.Ke2
Ng6 18.Kf1 O-O-O 19.a3 Kb8µ) 11.g4 Qxb2 12.Qb1 Qa3 13.Rg3 Qa5+ 14.c3 Nd7 15.Nc1 dxc3
16.Nb3 Qa4 17.Qc2 Nc5 18.Rxc3 Qxe4+ 19.Ne3 Qxc2 20.Rxc2 Nxb3 21.axb3 Bb4+ 22.Ke2 Be6µ
10...Qb6 11.Nd2 Be6 12.Bd3 Qxb2 13.Rb1 Qxa2 14.Rxb7 Nd7 15.Nb3 Rg8 16.Kf1 Qa4µ

290
291
6.Rg1... 7.Nb3

292
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Rg1 e5 7.Nb3

7...h5 8.Bg5 Nbd7

A novelty introduced by grandmaster Inđić in the game versus Fedoseev. The idea is to recapture on
f6 by the knight in case White wants to trade the bishop for the knight. Meanwhile, after playing b5,
the bishop would be transferred to b7 instead of e6.
8...Be7 9.Qd2 Be6 10.O-O-O (10.f4 Qb6 11.O-O-O (11.Rh1!? exf4 12.Bxf4 Nc6 13.O-O-O Ne5
14.Nd4 Rc8 15.Kb1 O-O 16.Ka1 Rfe8= 17.h3 Qa5 18.a3

18...Rxc3! A very brave decision by Black! This exchange sacrifice leeds to an equal endgame, but it

293
is White who must find the sharp lines to hold. Even if we don't speak about the transformation of the
advantage, this example is still a transformation of an equal position into another equal position, but
the difference is that the balance should be kept by White, while Black plays without much risk.
Keeping the balance in such positions requires a lot of knowledge, and it is, of course, a good weapon
against lower rated players. 19.Qxc3 Qxc3 20.bxc3 Nxe4 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Bxe5 dxe5 23.Bc4 Bf6
24.Rd7 Nxc3 25.Rxb7 e4 26.Kb2 (Danila Belousov 2274 - Zaven Andriasian 2605, Moscow (blitz)
2019) 26...a5 27.Rb3 a4 28.Rb7 e3 29.g4 Nd5+ 30.Kc1 Nf4©) 11...Nbd7 12.Be2 Rc8 13.f5 Bc4
14.Bxc4 Rxc4 15.Qd3 Qc7 16.h3 b5 17.a3

17...Rxc3! This idea is very often present in the Najdorf variation. 18.bxc3 Nb6 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.g4
Na4 21.Rg3

294
21...Bf8! A beautiful way to continue the play. Black will engage his king in defending the d6-pawn,
and set the bishop free to rule over the c1-h6 diagonal. 22.Kb1 hxg4 23.hxg4 Rh2 24.Re3 Ke7 25.Rf3
Bh6 26.Na5 Ke8 27.g5 Bxg5 28.Qxd6 Qxd6 29.Rxd6 Rh1+ 30.Ka2 Rc1 31.Rxa6 Rxc2+ 32.Kb1
Rc1+ 33.Ka2 Rc2+=) 10...Nbd7 11.f4 b5 12.Kb1 Rc8 13.Bd3 O-O 14.Rge1 Re8 15.h3 exf4 16.Nd4
Qb6 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Bxf4 Ne5 19.Rf1 Nfd7 20.Ne2²; 8...Be6 9.Qd2 (9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Nd5 Qd8
11.Qd3 is a better option. (11.Qd2?!

11...g6! This is the logical approach! Black wants to activate the dark-square bishop and suddenly
White has to face the problems. His only choice is to castle long, but then with the queen being on d2
Black equalises immediately. (11...Nd7 It is probably better for this knight to go to c6. 12.O-O-O g6
13.Kb1 Rc8 14.g3 Nf6 (14...Bxd5 This is positionally incorrect decision. Black is in no need to

295
capture this knight. 15.Qxd5² Qc7 16.c3 Nf6 17.Qd3 Ng4 18.Qe2 Nf6 I guess this was a quiet draw
offer, but White plays on, and he does the right thing! (18...Qb6 19.Bh3 Rc7 20.Rgf1 Be7 21.Bxg4
hxg4 22.f4 a5 23.f5 gxf5 24.exf5 Qa6 25.Qd2 a4 26.Na1 a3 27.b3 d5 28.Nc2²) 19.f4! (19.Nc1 Bh6=
20.Nd3 a5 21.Ne1 O-O 22.Nc2 Rfd8 (22...Qb6 23.Ka1 Ng4 24.Rg2 Nf6 25.f3 Rfd8=) 23.Bh3 Rb8
24.Na3

24...b5! This continuation gives Black all the energy he needs to go on! White hasn't done anything
on the kingside yet. So, this is the right moment for Black to seize the initiative. This move is
recommended even if it comes as a pawn sacrifice, as Black opens the b-file and starts a quick attack.
(24...d5?! This move is not the best option now. Any "Najdorf player" should always be prepared to
launch an attack on the opponent's king rather than to open the centre. 25.exd5 Nxd5 26.Bg2 (Alexei
Pridorozhni 2579 - Kirill Shevchenko 2447, Saint Petersburg (blitz) 2016) 26...Nf6 27.Rgf1 Rbc8
28.Nb5 Qc5=) 25.Nxb5

296
25...Nxe4! 26.a4 (26.Qxe4 Rxb5 27.Bf1 d5 28.Qc2 Rc5 29.g4 hxg4 30.Rxg4 Rb8 31.Rg3 Bg7
32.Ka1 e4-+) 26...d5! The queen is under attack but Black still doesn't care and plays for the
initiative. 27.f3 Nxc3+ 28.bxc3 Qxc3 29.Ka2 Qc5 (29...Qb4 30.Qc2 Be3 31.Rge1 d4 32.Qb3 Qe7
33.Re2) 30.Rg2 d4 31.Qc2 Qd5+ 32.Qb3 Qxb3+ 33.Kxb3 d3 34.Ka2 Rb7! Black wants to transfer
this rook to e7 in order to support his pawns. White can still hold but he needs to be very accurate.
(34...f5 35.g4 hxg4 36.fxg4 f4 37.g5 Bf8 38.Be6+ Kg7 39.Bc4 e4 40.Rg4 Rbc8 41.Kb3 Bd6
42.Nxd6 Rxd6 43.Rxf4 Rd4 44.Rf7+ Kh8 45.Bb5 Rb4+ 46.Ka3 Rc3+ 47.Ka2 Rc2+ 48.Ka1 d2
49.Rdf1 Rc1+ 50.Ka2 Rc2+=) 35.Rb2 f5 36.Bf1 e4 37.fxe4 fxe4 38.Nc3 Rxb2+ 39.Kxb2 Bg7
40.Kb3 Rd4 41.Nxe4 Rxe4 42.Bxd3 Rb4+ 43.Kc2 Kh7 44.Rb1 Rxa4 45.Rb6 Ra2+ 46.Kb1 Rxh2
47.Bxg6+ Kg8 48.Rb5 Bc3 49.Rxh5 Rb2+ 50.Kc1 Rg2 51.Rh3 Be1 52.Be4 Rxg3 53.Rxg3+ Bxg3=)
19...Be7 20.Bh3 Qc4 21.Qf3 Rd8 22.Nd2 Qc5 23.Qe2 h4 24.Bg2 hxg3 25.hxg3 Kf8 26.f5ƒ) 15.f4
Bg7 16.fxe5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Bg4 18.Be2 Bxe2 19.Qxe2 Bxe5 20.c3 Rc7=) 12.O-O-O Bh6 13.Ne3
Nc6 14.Kb1 (14.Qxd6 Qh4 15.Qd2 Qxh2 16.Bd3 Bxe3 17.Qxe3 Qf4 18.Nc5 O-O-O 19.Kb1 Qxe3
20.fxe3

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20...Nb8!=) 14...O-O 15.Qxd6 Qh4 16.Qd2 Qxe4 17.Nc5 Qf4∞)) 9...Nbd7 10.O-O-O b5!? (10...Rc8
11.f4 Be7 12.f5 Bc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.Qd3 b5 15.h3! White needs to push g4. (15.Rge1 Qc7
(15...Qc8?! 16.Kb1 (16.Bxf6?! Nxf6 17.Re2 Qc7 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.Qxd5 O-O= Luis Enrique
Esquivel 2314 - Neuris Delgado Ramírez 2557, Santa Clara II 2004) 16...O-O

17.g4! The pawn sacrifice in order to open the lines also works for White, when it comes to the attack
on this side of the board. 17...hxg4 18.h3 g3 19.Qxg3 Re8 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.Rxd5 Nf6 22.Bxf6 Bxf6
23.Rxd6 Kf8 24.c3±) 16.a3 O-O 17.Kb1 Rc8 18.Re2 Qb6 Black has a nice position with lots of
ideas.) 15...Qc7 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.Kb1 O-O 18.g4 b4 19.Ne2 hxg4 20.hxg4 Nxe4 21.Na5 Rc8
22.Qxc4 Qxc4 23.Nxc4 Rxc4 24.Ng3 Nf2

298
25.f6! gxf6 26.Rdf1 Ne4 27.b3 Nc3+ 28.Kb2 Rxg4 29.a3 a5 30.Nf5 Rxg1 31.Rxg1+ Kf8 32.axb4
axb4 33.Ra1±) 11.Kb1 Be7 12.Bd3 O-O 13.f4 b4 14.Na4 Bg4 15.Rde1 Rb8 16.h3 Be6 17.Qe2 exf4
18.Bxf4²
9.Qd2 Be7 10.h4 b5 11.f3 Bb7 12.a3 Rc8
12...Qb6 13.Rh1 Rd8 14.O-O-O O-O 15.g4 hxg4 16.fxg4 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 Bxg5 18.hxg5 Bxe4 19.Bg2
Bg6 20.Qe1 Rfe8 21.Qh4 Kf8 22.Qe1 Rc8 23.Be4 Bxe4 24.Qxe4 Rc4 25.Qd5 Ke7 26.Rhf1 Rf8
27.Na5 Rc5 28.Qd3 Rc7 29.b4 d5! 30.Qxd5 Qe6 31.Rf2 Rfc8 32.Qxe6+ Kxe6 33.Rfd2 Ke7=
13.Bd3
13.O-O-O Qb6 14.Bd3 O-O 15.Kb1 Rfd8 16.g4 hxg4 17.fxg4 d5 18.exd5 b4 19.Na4 Qc7 20.axb4
Bxd5 21.Bf5 Bf3 22.Rdf1 Bc6 23.Nc3 Bxb4 24.Qe3 a5 25.Bxd7 Nxd7 26.Bxd8 Qxd8 27.Ne4 a4
28.Nbd2 Qc7 29.c3 Be7 30.g5 a3 31.b3 Bxe4+ 32.Nxe4 Nc5 33.Nd2 Na4! 34.Ne4 Qb7 35.Ka1
Nc5 (35...Qxb3 36.Rb1 Qe6 37.Qf3 Nc5 38.Nxc5 Bxc5 39.Rge1ƒ) 36.Nd2 Rd8 37.Qf3 Nxb3+
38.Nxb3 Qxb3 39.Rb1 Qc4 40.Rg4 Qc7 41.h5 e4 42.Rxe4 Bxg5 43.Rg4 Qe7 44.Qc6 Bf6„
13...O-O= 14.O-O-O

299
14...d5!?
14...Nb6 15.Kb1 Qc7 16.g4 hxg4 17.Bxf6 (17.fxg4 Nc4 18.Bxc4 bxc4 19.Bxf6 cxb3 20.Bxe7 bxc2+
21.Qxc2 Qxe7 22.g5 Rc4 23.Qd3 Qc7 (23...Rd4? The only active rook should be kept on the board.
24.Qe3 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1² Vladimir Fedoseev 2678 - Aleksandar Inđić 2618, lichess.org (Internet-
blitz) 2020) 24.h5 Rd4 (24...Rxc3?! 25.Qxc3 Bxe4+ 26.Ka2 Qxc3 27.bxc3 d5 28.Rg3 g6 29.hxg6
fxg6 30.Rd2±) 25.Qe3 Qc4 26.Ka1

26...f5! 27.h6 g6 28.exf5 Rxf5„) 17...Bxf6 18.Rxg4 Kh8 19.Na5²

15.exd5 Nxd5 16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Kb1 Bxb3 18.cxb3 Nc5 19.Bf5 Qxd2 20.Bxd2 Ne6 21.Bc3 Rcd8
22.Bxe5 Bxh4 23.Rxd8 Bxd8 24.Rc1 Bf6 25.Bxf6 gxf6 26.Bxe6 fxe6 27.Rc6 Ra8 28.Rxe6 Kf7

300
29.Re4 f5 30.Rd4 Rg8©

6.Rg1... 8.h3

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Rg1 e5 7.Nb3 h5 8.h3

8...Be6 9.g4 hxg4 10.hxg4 g6 11.Bg5?!

White is trying to be original, but in this line the f6-knight should be attacked by the pawn. This is the
idea of the whole Rg1 line, so this move comes as a contradiction per se.

301
11...Nbd7 12.Qf3 Be7
12...Rc8 13.O-O-O Be7 14.Bd3 Nh7 15.Be3 Bg5 16.Rh1 Qf6 17.Qe2 Bxe3+ 18.Qxe3 Ke7 19.Na5
Nc5 20.Bc4 Ng5 21.Bd5 Rxh1 22.Rxh1 Qf4 23.Qxf4 exf4 24.Bxb7 Nxb7 25.Nxb7 Rb8 26.Na5 Kf6
27.b3 Rc8 28.Nd5+ Ke5© and Black has enough compensation.
13.O-O-O

13...Kf8!
The king heads to g7 and Black manages to fulfill two goals:
1. To put his king to safety.
2. To rule over the open h-file.
14.Be2 Kg7 15.Qg2
15.Bd2 An attempt to push g5. 15...Nh7 16.Be3 Ng5 17.Qg2 Nh3 18.Rh1 Nf4 19.Bxf4 exf4 20.Rxh8
Qxh8 21.Nd4 Ne5 22.Rh1 Bg5 23.Kb1 Qg8 24.Nf5+ Kf6 25.Nxd6 Qf8 26.Nf5 Rc8 27.Nd4

302
27...Rxc3! This exchange sacrifice along with the "liberation move" d5 must be known and applied
when appropriate. Now it has a tactical value and serves for creating a strong counterplay that allows
Black to save the game. 28.bxc3 f3 29.Qh2! (29.Nxf3? Qa3 30.c4 Bxc4 31.Nxg5 Bxa2+-+) 29...Qc5
30.Qh8+ Ke7 31.Nxe6 Kxe6 32.Qe8+ Be7 33.Bf1 Qxc3 34.g5 Qe1+ 35.Kb2 Qb4+ 36.Kc1 Qe1+=;
15.Be3 Rh4 16.g5 Ng4 17.Bc4 Nxe3 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.fxe3 b5 20.Kb1 Qh8 21.a4 b4 22.Na2 a5
23.Rdf1

23...Qe8! 24.Nac1 Rh5 25.Nd2 Nf8 26.Ncb3 Nh7 27.Qg4 Nxg5 28.Nf3 Nxf3 29.Qxf3 g5 30.Qg4
Qg6 31.Rf2 Rah8 32.Nxa5 Rh4 33.Qe2 Qxe4 34.Qb5 Rh1 35.Rgf1 Rxf1+ 36.Rxf1 Rf8 37.Rc1 Rf7
38.Qd7 Qd5∞

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15...b5
15...Rc8?! This is too slow and White could have taken advantage by launching a strong attack on the
kingside. 16.f4! (16.Rh1?! Nxg4 17.Bd2 Ngf6 18.Rxh8 Kxh8 19.Rh1+ Nh7 20.f4! It is up to White
to create a stronger pressure and prove that his chances are better. (20.Qh2? Nf8 21.Kb1 Bg5 22.f4
Bxf4 23.Bxf4 exf4 24.Qxf4 Kg8! It is always good to unpin your pieces, if you have time to do it.
(24...Qe7?! 25.Nd4 Kg8 26.Nxe6 (26.Bg4?! Qg5! Black sizes the moment to obtain the advantage.
27.Nxe6 fxe6 28.Qf3 Rc7! The position of the rook on the 7th rank is ideal making it a wonderful
piece for both defensive and attacking tasks. (28...Nf6 29.Rg1 (29.Bh3? Rc7! 30.Rf1 Rh7µ (30...Rf7
31.Qd3 Qe5 32.Rg1 Rh7 33.a3 Kg7µ) 31.e5?! Hoping to get some counterplay, but two pawns down
are already a big loss, so White can hardly claim any compensation. 31...Qxe5 32.Ne4 N6d7 33.Nf2
Qf6 34.Qg2 Rf7 35.a3 (35.Qxb7 Qh4 36.Qg2 Ne5 37.b3 g5 38.Nd1 Rxf1 39.Qxf1 g4 40.Bg2 Qh2
41.Ne3 Qg3 42.Qe2 a5 43.a4 Qf4µ) 35...Ne5-+ (35...d5-+) 36.Qe4 (36.Qg3 Nc4 37.Nd3 Nd2+-+)
36...Qf4 37.Qe1 Nf3 0 : 1 Denis Makalov 2250 - Andrey Zhigalko 2533, Saratov 2006) 29...Nxg4
30.Rxg4 Qh5 31.a3 Rc7 32.Ne2!©) 29.Rf1 Kg7 30.Rg1 Rf7 31.Qh3 Qc5 32.Rh1 Qe5 33.a3 Kg8
34.Be2 g5³) 26...fxe6 (26...Nxe6?! 27.Nd5 Qd8 28.Qh6 Neg5 29.Bg4 Rc7 (29...Rc5

30.Be6!! A bolt out of the blue to put an end to the game! 30...fxe6 31.Qxg6+ Kh8 32.Nf6 Rc7
33.Qxg5 Rg7

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34.e5!! Another very strong and beautiful move that shows what a "poor" king has to endure while all
his pieces cannot help him at all. A remarkable attack carried out with only few pieces. 34...Qg8
35.Qe3 Qf7 36.Qc3! dxe5 37.Qxe5 Rg1+ 38.Rxg1 Qxf6 39.Qb8+ Qf8 40.Qxb7+- ; 30...Rd5™)
30.c3 a5 31.Nxc7 Qxc7 32.Be2 Qc5 33.Bd3 Qe5 34.Ka1±) 27.Qh2 Rc5 28.Nd1 Nd7 29.Nf2 Ndf6
30.Bf3 Qc7 31.Qh6 Qg7 32.Qd2 Qc7 33.Rg1 g5 34.Rd1±) 25.Rd1 Qf6 26.Qxd6 Bxb3 27.axb3
Qxd6 28.Rxd6 Rb8 29.e5 Ng5 30.b4 Kg7 31.Kc1 Nge6=) 20...Nf8 21.f5 gxf5 22.exf5 Bxf5
23.Qxb7 Qd7 24.Qf3 Qe6 25.Bxa6 Rc7 26.Bd3 Bxd3 27.Qxd3 Rd7 28.Nd5 Ng6 29.Na5±) 16...exf4
17.Bxf4

17...Rxc3!? This is not as strong as it was a bit earlier. Black just wants to slow his rival's actions
down a little bit, for the price of an exchange. His compensation is not at all convincing. 18.bxc3 Qc7

305
19.g5 Nh5 20.Be3 Ne5 21.Kb2 Kg8 22.Qf2 Qc6 23.Rh1 Bc4 24.Bxh5 gxh5 25.Bd4 Be6 26.Qf4
Qb5 27.Ka1!±
16.Be3 Rc8 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Qc7 19.c3 b4 20.c4 a5 21.g5 Nh5 22.Nd2 Rce8 23.Qg4 Nf4
24.Bxf4 exf4 25.Rde1 Bd8 26.Qxf4 Qb6 27.Bg4 Rxe1+ 28.Rxe1 Ne5 29.Be2 a4 30.Kb1 Rh3©

In my opinion, Black has more than enough compensation for the pawn.

6.Rg1... 11.g5

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Rg1 e5 7.Nb3 h5 8.h3 Be6 9.g4
9.Be3 A quiet line that was chosen by the World Champion Carlsen. 9...d5?! I guess that the
psychological battle was already won by Magnus. He was just waiting for d5, allowing or inviting his
opponent to play it, but Black is not yet fully developed to commit to it. (9...Nbd7 10.Qd3 Rc8 11.O-
O-O b5 12.Kb1 Be7 13.Be2 Qc7 14.a3 Nb6 15.Nd2 h4 16.Bf3 g6= Even though the engines are
giving equality, Black has many options, and in my opinion a more pleasant position.) 10.exd5 Nxd5

306
11.Nxd5 Bxd5 (11...Qxd5? This is already a wrong decision, and White will punish it right away.
12.Qxd5 Bxd5 13.O-O-O Be6 14.Na5 Nc6 (14...b5 15.Be2 f5 16.Nb7 Nd7 17.Nd6+ Bxd6 18.Rxd6
Ke7 19.Rgd1 f4 20.Bb6 Nxb6 21.Rxb6 Rhb8 22.Rxb8 Rxb8 23.Bxh5±) 15.Nxb7 Nb4 16.a3!
(16.Nd6+?! Bxd6 17.Rxd6 Nxa2+ 18.Kb1 Nb4 19.Bc5± Magnus Carlsen 2876 - Sanan Sjugirov
2662, chess24.com (Internet-m/7-blitz) 2020) 16...Nd5 17.Bc5 Be7 18.Bd3 Nf4 19.Rge1 Nxg2
20.Rxe5 Nf4 21.Bc4 g5 22.b4 Rb8 23.Bxe6 Nxe6 24.Bxe7 Kxe7 25.Nc5+-) 12.Qd3 Nc6 13.a3 Qd6
14.O-O-O Rd8 15.Qc3 Qc7 16.Bc4 Bxc4 17.Qxc4 Rxd1+ 18.Rxd1 Be7 19.Qe2 g6 20.Nc5±
9.Qf3

Another original move! After 6.Rg1 White plays his queen to f3, with the idea of 10.Bg5 and 11.0-0-
0. 9...d5 The normal reaction! 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Bc4 Bb4 12.Bd2 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 Nxc3 14.Bxe6 fxe6
15.Qxc3 Nc6 16.Rd1 (Cristóbal Henríquez Villagra 2600 - Ivan Šarić 2646, chess.com (ol-rapid)
2020)

307
16...Qh4! 17.Qf3 e4 18.Qe3 O-O 19.Nc5 Nb4 20.Rd2 Rac8 21.Qxe4 Qf4! 22.Qxf4 Rxf4 23.Nb3
Nxc2+ 24.Ke2 Nb4 25.a3 Nd5=
9...hxg4 10.hxg4
White has eventually managed to play g4, but Black has the open h-file for his rook and the position
is very promising.
10...g6 11.g5

Magnus Carlsen

11...Nh5

308
11...Nfd7!? Firouzja played an original move fueled by his
exceptional talent. 12.Be3 Nc6 13.Qd2 b5 (13...Na5?!
This is too ambitious, but does not improve Black's
position. 14.O-O-O Nxb3+ 15.axb3± Qa5 16.Kb1 Rc8
(Vincent Rothuis 2346 - Alireza Firouzja 2728, lichess.org
(Internet-m/1-blitz) 2020) 17.Be2! Qc7 18.Bg4 Rh2
19.Qe2 b5 20.Nd5 Qc6 21.Rd2 Bg7 22.Rgd1+-) 14.O-O-O
Nb6 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Ne7 17.f4 Bg7 18.fxe5 Bxe5
19.Bf4 Bg7 20.Kb1 Nc4 21.Bxc4 bxc4 22.Na5 c3
23.Qe3±
12.Nd5
12.Be3

12...Nf4! (12...Nd7 13.Nd5 Rc8 (13...Nf4 14.Nxf4 exf4 15.Bxf4 Bg7 16.c3 Rh4 17.Be3 – 12.Nd5)
14.c3 (14.Be2!? Bg7

309
15.c4? A positional mistake that passes a small advantage to Black. It gives the g7-bishop new
prospects to rule over the dark squares in case of capturing the knight on f4. 15...Nf4! (15...Bxd5?!
16.cxd5 Nf4= 17.Rc1

(17.Bg4?

310
17...Ng2+! After this blow White's position becomes much worse right away. We should always
beware of such possibilities when they occur, especially when the enemy king is not safe and can be
an easy target. (17...Rc4? Returning the favour. Black has totally forgotten about the counterplay over
the h-file. 18.Rc1? (18.Nd2 Qa5 19.Qb3! It is important that Black was not given the possibility to
transfer his other rook to the c-file and seize the advantage. (19.Bxd7+? Kxd7 20.Kf1

20...Rc7! This is a usual move, but the one that gives Black as slight advantage. This kind of
situations can have a great impact on every player, and the standard question is what to do in
moments like this?! The answer is, however, not at all easy, and cannot be given on general grounds.
It lies in the essence of every chess player's assessment, rather than in the capacity of calculation ten
or more moves ahead. A forced line can easily finish in a dead end if we miss something, especially

311
when short of time. In this position, a calm 20...Rc7 keeps the pressure and gives us many
possibilities of converting the advantage, while the opponent must endure an awkward defence.
Needless to say that every wrong step ends up in the instant defeat. 21.Qb3 Rhc8 This rook has
nothing to do on the h-file so it is transferred here to create new threats. 22.Re1 Rc2 23.Qxb7+ R8c7
24.Qb8! Looking for some counterplay. 24...Rc1! Another way of giving White a hard time! 25.Bxf4
exf4 26.Nf3 Rxe1+ 27.Nxe1 Qxa2 28.Rh1

28...f3!! This is the icing on the cake! Black needs to force the opponent to take on f3 so that he can
repel the counterplay that the enemy queen and rook would be able to generate. 29.Nxf3 (29.Qg8
Qc4+ 30.Kg1 Qe2 31.Qxf7+ Kc8 32.Qxf3 Qxe1+ 33.Kg2 Qd2-+) 29...Qxb2 30.Qxb2 Bxb2
31.Ke2 a5µ) 19...b5 20.Kf1 Rc7=) 18...Rxe4 (18...Qc7

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19.Kd2!! White's king was deprived of castling rights, but now he finds the best way to help his
army. (19.Bxd7+?

19...Kxd7µ Thomas Beerdsen 2459 - Bharadwaj Dhanush 2343, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2017)
19...Rh2 20.Rxc4 Qxc4 21.Qc2 Qxc2+ 22.Kxc2 f5 23.exf5 gxf5 24.Bxf5 Nxd5=) 19.Kf1 O-O
20.Nd2 Rb4 21.a3 Rxb2 22.Nc4 Rb5 23.Bxf4 exf4 24.Nxd6 Rb2 25.Nc4 Ra2 26.Qb3

313
26...Rxf2+! 27.Kxf2 Bd4+ 28.Kg2 Qxg5 29.Kh2 Nf6

30.Be6!! An extraordinary resource that helps White to stay in the game! 30...Qh5+ 31.Qh3 Bxg1+
32.Rxg1 fxe6 33.Qxh5 Nxh5 34.Rxg6+ Ng7 35.dxe6 Kh7 36.e7 Re8 37.Rf6 Rxe7 38.Rxf4 Kg6∞
Black is a pawn up but I really doubt it could be transformed into a full point.) 18.Rxg2 Rh1+ 19.Ke2
Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Rc2+ 21.Rd2 Qc7 22.Rg1 Rxd2+ 23.Nxd2 Qc2 24.Bxd7+ Kxd7-+) 17...O-O! 18.Kf1
Re8 19.Rxc8 Qxc8 20.Rg3 f5 21.gxf6 Nxf6 22.Bxf4 exf4 23.Rxg6 Kf7 24.Rg2 Rh8 25.Rg1 Qh3+
26.Ke1 Qh2 27.Rf1 Nxe4 28.Nd2 Nxd2 29.Qxd2 Be5 30.Qc2 Kf6 31.Bf3 Qh3 32.Rh1 Qf5
33.Qxf5+ Kxf5 34.Rxh8 Bxh8 35.b3 Bd4 36.Ke2 Bc5=) 16.Qd2 It is hard to decide to capture this
knight. The common sense tells us that the g7-bishop can turn into a beast if set free. 16...b6 17.Nxf4
(17.Rd1

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17...Rh4! Neither king was able to castle. However, the black monarch is much happier than his
counterpart. 18.Bf1 a5 19.f3 a4 20.Nc1

20...b5!µ) 17...exf4 18.Bxf4 Bxc4 19.Bxd6 Rh4 20.f3 Bxe2 21.Kxe2 Ne5 22.Bxe5 Qxd2+ 23.Kxd2
Bxe5 24.Rh1 Rxh1 25.Rxh1 Ke7©) 14...Nf4 15.Nxf4 exf4 16.Bxf4 Ne5 17.Be2 Bg7 18.Be3 Qe7
19.Qc2 Rh4 20.O-O-O Bc4 21.Kb1 Rxe4 22.Nd2 Bxe2 23.Nxe4 Bxd1 24.Rxd1 Rc6 25.f4 Ng4
26.Bg1 Kd8 27.Qd3 Kc7 28.Nd2 Qe6 29.Nb3± White built a very promising position, while Black's
pieces are just busy defending all the weaknesses in their camp.) 13.Bxf4 exf4 14.Qd2 Bg7 15.O-O-O
Rh4 16.Nd5 Nc6 17.Nxf4 Bg4 18.Ng2 Rh5 19.Re1 Bf3 20.Ne3 Rxg5 21.Rxg5 Qxg5

315
22.Nf5! The only move to keep a small edge. 22...Bf6 23.Nxd6+ Kf8 24.Nxb7 Rb8 25.e5! Nxe5
26.N7c5 Rd8 27.Qxg5 Bxg5+ 28.Kb1 a5 29.c3 Nd7 30.Nxd7+ Rxd7 31.Nxa5 Bd2 32.Bb5 Bxe1
33.Bxd7 Bxf2 A very interesting position emerged. The bishop pair should be a good enough
compensation for the pawn. 34.Kc2 Ke7 35.Bc6 Bg4 36.a4 g5 37.Kd3 Be6 38.Bg2 g4 39.Nc6+ Kd6
40.Nd4 Bc8 41.b4 f5 42.a5 f4 43.Be4 f3 44.b5 Bxd4 45.cxd4 f2 46.Ke2 g3 47.Bg2 Bd7 48.b6 Bb5+
49.Kf3 f1=Q+ 50.Bxf1 Bxf1 51.Kxg3 Ba6 52.Kf4 Bb7 53.Ke3 Kc6=
12...Nd7 13.Be3 Nf4!?
This pawn sacrifice will help Black to activate the dark-square bishop.
14.Nxf4 exf4 15.Bxf4 Bg7 16.c3 Rh4

316
17.Be3!
Now it is White's turn to give back the pawn in order to retain the advantage.
17.Qd2 Be5 18.Be3 Nc5 19.Nxc5 dxc5 20.Qxd8+ Rxd8 21.f3 Bh2 22.Rg2 Bd6 23.Kf2 Ke7 24.Rg1
Rdh8 and Black has some compensation.
17...Rxe4 18.Qc2 Rh4 19.O-O-O Qc7 20.Nd4 Bxa2 21.Nf3 Rh5 22.Bf4 Be5 23.Bxe5 dxe5 24.b3
Rc8 25.c4 Bxb3 26.Qxb3 e4 27.Qe3 Nc5 28.Nd2 Rh4 29.Be2 Qa5 30.Rh1 Qa1+ 31.Nb1 Na4
32.Qa3 Qxa3+ 33.Nxa3 Rxh1 34.Rxh1 Rc5 35.Bd1 Nb6 36.Rh4 Rxg5 37.Rxe4+ Kd7 38.Bf3±

317
6.Rg1... 10...d5

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Rg1 e5 7.Nb3 h5 8.h3 Be6 9.g4 hxg4 10.hxg4
d5!

I admit that 10...d5 is the best option in this position.

11.exd5
This leads to equality and it might be frustrating for White. But, an easily equalising line is better than
a complex one where the opponent is always on top.
11.g5 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qxd8+ Kxd8 14.Be3 Kc7 15.O-O-O White has to be careful, and play
a sharp line to secure the equality. (15.Nd2?! Nc6 16.Bg2 Rd8 17.Bxe4 Rh4! Black has to take
advantage of the open lines and use them to improve the position of his pieces. There is also a good
lesson to be learnt - White is worse even if he does not make any big mistakes. This is the proof that
the whole line is rather shaky, and Black is doing just fine without big effort. (17...Nd4 18.c3 Nf5
19.Bxf5 Bxf5 20.Nc4 Re8 (20...Rd5?! 21.a4 (21.Bb6+ Kc6 22.Ne3 Rd7 23.Nxf5 Kxb6 24.g6 Rh5
25.Ne3 f6 26.Ke2 Rh6 27.Nf5 Rh5 28.Ne3=) 21...Bc5 22.a5 Bd3 23.Nb6 Bxb6 24.axb6+?!
(24.Bxb6+ Kc6 25.O-O-O e4 26.g6 f6 27.b3 Be2³ and even if Black has a small edge, White would
be able to hold.) 24...Kc6

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25.Kd2! This is a difficult decision, and an unlikely one for a human, but still the best option. (25.O-
O-O?! A bad decision, but White has a real problem with his king. This is a highly instructive
example on how Black manages to increase the pressure even with the reduced material.

25...Ra5! The correct approach! 26.b4 (26.Kd2 Rd8 27.Ke1 Ra2 28.Rd2 Rd5 29.f3 Bf5 30.Rxd5
Kxd5 31.Rg2 Ra1+ 32.Kf2 Kc4µ The king's involvment makes the difference! While the black
monarch is a real weapon, the white king is in a real problem since the beginning of the game.)
26...Ra2 27.Rxd3™ Ra1+ 28.Kc2 Rxg1 29.Bc5 a5! (29...Rhh1? 30.Rd6+ Kb5 31.Be3= Alexei
Pridorozhni 2410 - Pavel Zhuchenko, Russia 2001) 30.Rd6+ Kb5 31.Rd7 axb4 32.cxb4 Rb8 33.Rxf7
Rxg5µ) 25...f5 26.gxf6 gxf6 27.Rg7 Be4+ 28.Ke2 Rh3 29.Rg3 Rxg3 30.fxg3 f5³) 21.O-O-O Rh4
22.Nb6 Kc6 23.b4 Be7 24.a4 Rd8 25.Rxd8 Bxd8 26.a5 Be6 27.Na4 Bc7 (27...Bxa5 28.Nc5 Bd8

319
29.g6 Bf6 30.Nxe6 fxe6 31.Kc2 Bd8³) 28.Nc5 Bf5 29.Rd1 Rh8 30.Kb2 Rd8 31.Rxd8 Bxd8 The
endgame is favourable for Black. Whether or not Black is able to convert it into a full point remains a
big question, as it depends on many practical factors over the board such as: - time factor - endgame
knowledge - since there are specific things to be aware of when playing with the bishop pair, such as:
1. The ability to create a pased pawn. 2. The ability to activate one's own king mainly on the opposite
squares of the enemy bishop. 3. The ability to put the opponent in zugzwang. This is one of the most
important techniques in this type of endgames.) 18.Rh1 (18.Bxc6 Kxc6 19.O-O-O Bd6 20.Nb3 Bc7
21.Rxd8 Bxd8 22.Nd2 Ra4 23.a3 Rg4 24.Rxg4 Bxg4 25.c4 Be2 26.Kc2 f5 27.gxf6 gxf6 28.Kc3 b5
29.cxb5+ axb5 30.f4 Kd5 31.fxe5 Kxe5 32.b3

32...Be7! (32...Ba5+ 33.b4 Bd8 34.Nb3 f5 35.Nc5 Be7 36.a4 bxa4 37.Nxa4 Bb5 38.Kb3 f4 39.Bf2=
and White is very close to a draw.) 33.Bb6 (33.a4 b4+ 34.Kc2 Kd5µ; 33.b4 f5 34.Bc5 Bg5 35.Kc2
f4 36.Nb1 f3 37.Nc3 Kf4 38.Kd2 Kg3+ (38...Bc4 39.Be3+ Kg4 40.Bxg5 f2 41.Nd1 f1=Q 42.Ne3+
Kxg5 43.Nxf1 Bxf1 44.a4 bxa4 45.Kc3=) 39.Ke1 Bd3 40.Nd1 Bf6 41.Bd6+ Kg2µ and Black has
good winning chances.) 33...f5 34.Bc7+ Kd5 35.Bg3 Bg5³) 18...Rxh1+ 19.Bxh1 f5 20.gxf6 gxf6
21.Bxc6 Kxc6 22.Ke2 f5 23.Bg5 Rc8 24.b3 b5 25.Rc1 Kb7 26.c4 Bf7³ Black has a more promising
endgame.) 15...Nc6 16.Bg2 Bf5 17.Nd2 Rd8 18.Nxe4 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Rh2 20.Bf3 Rh4 21.Ng3 Be6
22.Rh1 Rxh1+ 23.Bxh1 Nb4 24.a3 Nd5 25.Bd2 b6=
11...Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 13.Qxd5 Bxd5=

320
14.Bg5 f6 15.Be3 Nc6 16.O-O-O O-O-O 17.Bb6 Rd6 18.Bd3 e4 19.Be2 Ne5 20.Bc5 Rd8 21.Bb6
Rd6=

321
6.Rg1... 10...h4

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Rg1 e5 7.Nb3 h5 8.h3

322
8...h4!
The exclamation mark is for originality and consistency! Basically, 7...h5 is played against 8.g4. So, I
don't see anything wrong in continuing with the same idea after 8.h3.
9.Bg5 Be6
9...Be7 10.Qd2 Be6 11.O-O-O Nbd7 12.Kb1 Rc8 13.f4

13...Rxc3! This sacrifice is always a good weapon. Now, there is no attack or doubled pawns, but still
a rich game awaits Black who, in my opinion, won the opening battle. 14.Qxc3 Nxe4 15.Qf3 This is
the logical answer. (15.Qb4 The queen has nothing to do here. 15...Nxg5 16.fxg5 b5 (16...Qc7!?

323
17.Be2 d5 18.Qd2 Nb6 19.g3 hxg3 20.Rxg3 g6 21.a3 d4

22.Nxd4! This is an important resource for White. Sometimes by such sacrifices we change the
character of the play trying to save the game. 22...exd4 23.Qxd4 O-O 24.Rc3 The dynamics of the
position has changed, and White is no longer suposed to suffer the opponent's initiative. 24...Qh2
25.Bg4 Nd5 26.Rb3 Nf4 27.Rxb7 Bxg5 28.Qe5 Qg2 29.Rb8 Rxb8 30.Qxb8+ Kh7 31.Bxe6 Nxe6
32.Qd6 Qf3 33.Qd3 Qb7 34.Qd5 Qa7 35.Qd7 Qf2 36.Qd3 Qb6=) 17.g6 f5 Black has an impressive
central pawn mass and his king is doing fine. The g6-pawn cannot be a real threat. (17...fxg6 18.Bd3

18...Bf7! (18...O-O 19.Bxg6² Claude Kevin Bordi - Graham Horobetz, chess.com (Internet-blitz)
2020) 19.Qa5 Qxa5 20.Nxa5 d5 21.Nc6 e4 22.a4 Nc5 23.axb5 exd3 24.Rge1 dxc2+ 25.Kxc2 Be6

324
26.b4 Bf5+ 27.Kc1 Ne4 28.Rxd5 Bg5+ 29.Kc2 axb5 30.Kd3 Kf7 31.Rxe4 Rc8 32.Rc5 Kf6 33.Kd4
Bxe4 34.Kxe4 Re8+ 35.Kd5 Re2 36.Rxb5 Rxg2 37.Rb8 Rd2+ 38.Kc4 Rc2+ 39.Kd5 Rd2+=) 18.Bd3
(18.Qe1 Nf6 19.Nd4 (19.Nc5 Bc8 20.Nd3 Qb6 21.Be2 Rh6 22.Bf3 Rxg6 23.Qxh4 Rh6 24.Qg3 Kf7
25.Rge1 Qc7 (25...e4 26.Nf4 d5 (26...exf3?? 27.Rxe7++-) 27.Be2 Qc5 28.c3 Bd7 29.Rf1 Bd6 30.h4
Kg8 31.a3 a5 32.Qf2 Qxf2 33.Rxf2

33...Bxf4! A difficult, but correct decision. Black parts with his bishop pair, but it is important to
anihilate any opponent's counterplay. This is a general rule indeed - we should first eliminate the
pieces that may be used by our opponent for creating counterplay. 34.Rxf4 Rg6 35.Rf2 Kf7 There are
no queens on the board anymore, so the black monarch goes back and helps his central pawns. 36.Rh1
Ke6 37.Rh3 Ke5 An excellent square for the king. White cannot do anything to chase him away.
38.h5 Rg5 39.g3 Be8 40.Rfh2 Bf7! It is again very important to apply the "do not rush" principle.
41.h6 gxh6 42.Bxb5 Nh5µ) 26.Ba8 a5 27.Qf2 g6³) 19...Bd7 20.Nf3 Qb6 21.Be2 Qc5 22.Qd2 Ne4
23.Qa5 Qc6 24.Rge1 O-O 25.Qb4 Nc5 26.a4 Kh8 (26...Nxa4? 27.Nxe5!+-) 27.Bf1 (27.axb5 axb5
28.Nxe5 dxe5 29.Bxb5 Qxb5 30.Qxb5 Bxb5 31.Rxe5 Re8 32.Rde1 It seems that all the black pieces
are hanging, but it is not really so.

325
32...Nd3!! 33.cxd3 Bxd3+ 34.Ka2 Be4 35.R1xe4 fxe4 36.Rxe4 Kg8 37.b4 Kf8 38.Kb3 Bf6µ)
27...Rc8 28.Nd4 Qb7 29.Nb3 bxa4 30.Qxb7 Nxb7 31.Nd2 Rb8 32.Nc4 Be8 33.Ne3 Bxg6 34.Nd5
Bf8 35.Bxa6 Nc5 36.Bc4 Bh5µ) 18...d5 19.Qe1 O-O 20.Nd4 Qb6 21.Nxe6 Qxe6 22.Rf1 e4 23.Be2
Qxg6 24.Rxd5 Nb6 25.Rd2 Qe6 26.c3 g6 27.Bd1 Kg7 28.Bb3 Qe5ƒ) 15...Nxg5 16.fxg5 Qb6
17.Bd3 d5 18.Bf5 e4 19.Qf4 Bd6 20.Qf1 O-O 21.Bxe6 fxe6 22.Qe2 Rf2! 23.Qh5 Bg3 24.Rgf1 Nf8
25.Rxf2 Qxf2 26.Qg4 Qxg2 27.Nd4 e3©
10.Qd2
10.Qf3 A new move, which seems to be quite promising! 10...Nbd7! (10...Be7 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.O-
O-O Nc6 13.Kb1 Rc8 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Rxd5 Ne7 (15...Qe7?! 16.c3 b5 17.Be2 Qc7 18.Rgd1ƒ
Vladislav Artemiev 2709 - Vugar Rasulov 2478, lichess.org (Internet-blitz) 2021) 16.Rd1 b5 17.Be2
O-O 18.c3 Qb6∞) 11.O-O-O Qc7 12.g4 hxg3 13.fxg3 Be7 14.g4 Rc8 15.h4 b5 16.Bd3 Qb7„
10...Nbd7 11.O-O-O b5 12.Bd3 Be7 13.Kb1
13.f4 Nh5 An interesting approach. The pawn on h4 does allow Black to play like this. The knight
will be free to go to either g3 or f4, and create enough counterplay. 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.f5 Bxb3
16.axb3 Ndf6 17.Be2

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17...Nf4! 18.Bf3 Rd8 19.b4 Qc7 20.Qe3 Ke7 21.Kb1

21...Ra8! A move that announces counterplay and a possible attack against the white monarch!
22.Rgf1 Rhc8 23.Rf2 Rcb8 24.Be2 a5 25.Nxb5

327
25...Rxb5! 26.Bxb5 axb4 27.Rxf4 Qa5! 28.c4 bxc3 29.Qxc3 Qxc3 30.bxc3 exf4 31.Rd4 g5 32.fxg6
fxg6 A very interesting endgame arises. Black is better due to the weak white pawns .Even though
White has a bishop, there is little he can do to stop the opponent's majority on the kingside. 33.Kb2
g5µ
13...Rc8 14.Rge1
14.a3 Nh5 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Bf1

16...Rh6! 17.Nc1 Nb6 18.b3 Kf8 19.Kb2 Bd7 20.N1a2 Kg8 21.g3 hxg3 22.fxg3 This position is
very complex, even though it is unlikely to be reached very often. It is very difficult to find plans and
ideas over the board, espacially in rapid or blitz games. Nevertheless, it requires a good knowledge of

328
the common Najdorf motifs. 22...Bc6 23.h4 Nf6 24.Nb4 (24.Bh3 Rb8∞) 24...Bxe4 25.g4 (25.Qxd6

25...Qa7! Creating hidden threats is just another important feature of a good chess player. 26.Qxe5 a5
27.Nxe4 Nxe4 28.Qxe4 axb4 29.Qxb4 Na4+ 30.bxa4 Qxg1 31.axb5 Rf6 32.Qg4 Qc5 33.Bd3 g6
34.Qe4 Rd6 35.Qb4 Qe5+ 36.Kb1 Rd4 This is the concept I was talking about earlier! It is more
important to have active pieces than to grab a pawn. 37.Qb3 Kg7 38.Ka2 Rc7 and Black is able to
hold) 25...a5! 26.g5 axb4 27.axb4 Rxh4 28.gxf6 Qxf6 29.Nxe4 Rxe4 30.Qxd6 Qxd6 31.Rxd6 Rb8
32.Rg5 Rxb4 33.Ka3 Rd4 34.Rxd4 exd4 35.Rxb5 Kf8 36.Rb4 Ra8+ 37.Kb2 Nd5 38.Rxd4 Ne3
39.Bb5 f5=
14...Nb6 15.f4

329
15...O-O!
15...Nfd7?! This move does not look good at all. 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.f5 Bc4 18.Na5 Rh6 19.Bxc4 bxc4
20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.exd5 (21.Qxd5? White does not feel the moment to recapture by the pawn and
maintain the pressure. 21...Nb6 22.Qd2= (22.Qb7 Qxb7 23.Nxb7 Ke7³ It seems that White does not
understand that he should look for the advantage in the middlegame, as the endgame can only be
favourable for Black. 24.b3 Rc7 25.Na5 (Radivoj Perišić 2243 - Velimir Ivić 2456, Srbija 2018)

25...g6! 26.Rf1 gxf5 27.Rxf5 cxb3 28.axb3 Rc5! 29.b4 Rc8 Does anybody remember the technique
called provocation? 30.Rf2 Na4 31.Re1 Ke6 32.Ka2 Rg6 33.Kb3 Nc3 34.Kb2 Rg3 35.Rf3 Rxf3
36.gxf3 Nb5 37.c4 Nd4 38.Rg1 The active approach is always better, even if some material is
sacrificed, instead of a passive defence. (38.Rf1 Rg8µ) 38...Rb8! 39.Ka3 Nxf3 40.Rg2 f6 41.Rg4 Rh8
42.b5 axb5 43.cxb5 Rb8 44.Ka4 d5 45.Nc6 Ra8+ 46.Kb4 Ra1 47.Nd8+ Ke7 48.Nc6+ Kd6 49.exd5
Kxd5µ)) 21...Nb6 22.Nc6 Qc7 23.Nxe5 dxe5 24.d6 Qc6 25.Rxe5+ Kf8 26.d7 Nxd7 27.Qxd7 Qxd7
28.Rxd7 Re8 29.Rxe8+ Kxe8 30.Rc7 Rf6 31.Rxc4 Rxf5 32.Re4+ Kd7 33.b4±
16.f5 Bd7 17.a3 Bc6 18.Na5
18.Bxh4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxh4 20.g3 Be7 21.Bxc6 Rxc6 22.Nd5 Nxd5 23.Qxd5 Qc7„
18...Ba8 19.Bxh4

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19...Rxc3!
It is again the rook sacrifice on c3 that keeps Black alive!
19...d5 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.exd5 Qxd5 23.Be4 Qxe4! 24.Rxe4 Bxe4 25.Rc1 Rxc2
26.Rxc2 Rc8 27.Nb3 Rxc2 28.Qxc2 Bxc2+ 29.Kxc2 Be7=
20.Qxc3 Nfd5 21.Qd2 Bxh4 22.exd5 Bxe1 23.Qxe1 Nxd5 24.Be4 Nf6 25.Bxa8 Qxa8 26.g4
26.Rxd6 Qxg2 27.Qxe5 Rc8³
26...Qf3 27.Rd3 Qg2 28.Qd2 Qg1+ 29.Qd1
29.Ka2 d5 30.Nc6 Re8„
29...Qg2=

331
332
CHAPTER 10
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3

This line was used with a great success by Bobby Fischer in the 60s, and launched again at the top
level by Magnus Carlsen in 2008. Nowadays it is played by many top players, and I think that along
with 6.a4, it is the most logical among all the rare lines we deal with in this book. The number of
games in this line is becoming larger every year, so I guess that in less than a couple of years this line
will no longer be considered a rare anymore. After 6...e5, White can mainly choose between 7. Nde2
and 7.Nb3. In the first continuation, there are more plans according to Black's answer. My suggestion
is 7...h5 in order to prevent 8.g4 which is White's main idea. Nonetheless, 8.g3 or 8.Bg5 are the most
popular lines offering us a wide range of practical possibilities. With 8.g3 the game could contain
many common ideas as in 6.g3 line, if the short castle is chosen. On the other hand, White can choose
the long castle and the game can turn into a battlefield where the speed of the attack is the most
important aspect for both side. The 8.Bg5 continuation provides a wide range of theoretical lines, as
we shall witness in the analysis below. After 7.Nb3, White mainly goes for the long castle and uses it
to launch the attack on the kingside. Black can count on the exchange sacrifice on c3 as well, giving
White a real hard time.

6.h3... 8.f4

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3

333
6...e5 7.Nb3 Be6
7...Be7 8.g4 h6 9.Be3 Be6 10.Qd2 (10.Qe2 A rare continuation. The best place for the queen is on f3
and a good one is on d2. 10...Nbd7 11.f4 Rc8 12.f5 (12.O-O-O?

12...Rxc3! I have seen a lots of super grandmasters allowing this exchange sacrifice. It is obvious that
they do not really believe in the power of such sacrifices, until they get totally crushed. 13.bxc3 Nxe4
14.Qd3 exf4 15.Qxe4 fxe3 16.Kb1 Qb6µ Alexei Shirov 26707- Anton Korobov 2685,
ProChessLeague (Internet-rapid) 2020) 12...Bc4 13.Qd2 b5 14.O-O-O Qc7 15.Kb1 Bxf1 16.Rhxf1
b4 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 a5³) 10...b5 (10...d5

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This move is good enough for getting a drawish endgame. But I guess it is too early to go for such
outcome. 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.O-O-O Nxe3 13.Qxd8+ Bxd8 14.fxe3 Bb6 15.Bg2 Bxe3+ 16.Kb1 Nc6
17.Rhe1 Ba7 18.Bxc6+ bxc6 19.Rxe5 Rd8 20.Nc5 Rxd1+ 21.Nxd1 Bxc5 22.Rxc5 Kd7=) 11.O-O-O
Nbd7 12.f4 Rc8 13.f5 Bc4 14.Kb1 Qc7 15.a3 Qb8 (15...Nb6 16.Bxb6 Qxb6 17.Qe1 O-O 18.h4
(18.Nd5? Nxd5 19.exd5 Bxb3 20.cxb3 Bg5 21.h4 Bf4 22.f6 Qe3 23.Qxe3 Bxe3 24.Rh3 Bf4³ Zaven
Andriasian 2606 - Hovhannes Gabuzyan 2557, Armenia (ch) 2021) 18...Bxb3 19.g5

19...Rxc3! 20.Qxc3 Nxe4 21.Qxb3 Nf2 22.f6! Bxf6! 23.gxf6 Nxd1 24.Bd3 Nf2 25.Rg1 g5 26.Bf5
Qd4 27.Qg3 Nd1!

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28.Qxg5+!! A spectacular way to reach a perpetual after an intense fight. 28...hxg5 29.Rxg5+ Kh8
30.Rh5+=) 16.Bd3 b4 17.axb4 Qxb4 18.Rhg1 a5 19.Bxc4 Rxc4 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.Qxd5 Nf6
22.Qa8+ Bd8 23.Bd2 Qa4 24.g5 hxg5 25.Bxg5 Qc6 26.Qxc6+ Rxc6 27.Bxf6 gxf6 28.Rd3 Ke7=
8.f4

8...Be7 9.f5 Bc8 10.g4

10.Qf3?! A less popular continuation, which allows Black to equalise very easily. 10...b5 11.a3 Bb7
12.Bd2 (12.g4? A pseudo-aggressive move which weakness the kingside. 12...d5! Black does not
hesitate at all, and grabs the advantage immediately. 13.exd5

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13...e4! 14.Qe2 Nxd5 15.Nxe4 (15.Bg2? Bh4+ 16.Kf1 Nxc3 17.bxc3 O-O-+ 18.Bf4 (Emil Sutovsky
2632- Radosław Wojtaszek 2736, Bilbao 2014) 18...Nd7! 19.Rd1 Rc8 20.Qd2

20...Nb6! A pure strategic decision! Black does not hesitate to trade queens. Almost any endgame is
winning for Black, as White's weak pawns on the queenside will eventually fall one by one. 21.Na5
(21.Qxd8 Rfxd8 22.Rxd8+ Bxd8 23.Nd2 Rxc3-+) 21...Ba8 22.Qxd8 Rfxd8 23.Rxd8+ Bxd8 24.Bd2
Nd5 25.Nb3 Rc4 26.Ke2 Nxc3+-+) 15...Bh4+ 16.Nf2+ Ne7 17.Rg1 O-O 18.Bd2 Re8 19.O-O-O
Nec6 20.Be3 Qe7 21.Re1 Nd7µ) 12...O-O 13.O-O-O Nc6 14.Nd5 Nd4 15.Nxd4 exd4 16.Kb1 Nxd5
17.exd5 Rc8 18.Bd3 Bf6 19.Rhe1 Rc5 20.Be4 Re8 21.Bb4 Rc8 22.Qf4 Be5=
10...h6

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11.a4!
The only correct move! White realised that the b5 advance must be stoped at any cost.
11.Be3 b5 12.a3 Bb7= Emil Sutovsky 2642 - Kamil Dragun 2564, Česko 2016

11...Nc6!
A very strong novelty at the time. Sutovsky prevneted the b5 push, but the options to play the knight
to either b4 or a5 are still available.
12.Bg2 Bd7
12...Nb4 13.Be3 Bd7 14.a5!? (14.Ne2?! It is understandable that Emil wants to chase away the b4-

338
knight. 14...b5 (14...a5 15.c3 Na6 16.Ng3 Bc6 17.Qe2 Nd7 18.O-O Qc7 19.Nh5 O-O 20.Qd2 Nf6∞)
15.a5 Qc7 16.c3 Nc6 17.Ng3 b4 18.Bb6 Qb7 (18...Qc8 19.c4 Nd8 20.Qe2 Bc6 21.Qd2 Qb7 22.Qd3
O-O 23.O-O Rb8∞) 19.c4 Nb8 My position is quite flexible, so it is not a big deal that I played so
many moves with my knight. 20.c5 (20.h4 Bc6 21.Nd2

21...Nfd7! 22.Be3 Nc5 23.f6 gxf6 24.O-O Nbd7 25.Qf3 O-O-O 26.Nf5 Bf8 27.Bf2 Ne6³) 20...dxc5
21.Nxc5 Bxc5 (21...Qc8? This is romantic chess, but it simply does not work. 22.Rc1! (22.Nd3?

Too original as well, as Emil returned me the favour. 22...Bb5!³ (22...Nc6?† 23.h4 Rb8 24.g5
(24.Rc1 Rxb6 25.axb6 Qb7 26.g5 hxg5 27.hxg5 Rxh1+ 28.Bxh1 Nh7 (28...Qxb6 29.gxf6 Qe3+
30.Kf1+-) 29.g6 fxg6 30.Nc5 Bxc5 31.Rxc5 Nf6 32.fxg6 Qxb6 33.Qd6+-) 24...hxg5 25.hxg5 Rxh1+

339
26.Bxh1 Nh7 27.Qh5 Nf8 28.Qh8† (28.Ne2 Rxb6 29.axb6 Qb7 30.Qh2 a5 31.Qf2 Bd8 32.Qh2
Qxb6 33.Qg3 Nh7 34.g6 Ng5 35.gxf7+ Nxf7 36.Rd1 Bg5∞) 28...Rxb6 29.axb6 Qb7 30.Qxg7 Qxb6
31.Kd2

(31.Nf1

31...b3! 32.Nxe5 Bb4+ 33.Ke2 Nd4+ 34.Kd1 Nc2 35.Qxf7+ Kd8 36.Bf3 Nxa1 37.Qc4 Nc2
38.Qxb3 Qf2 39.Ng4

340
39...Ne3+!! Too many pieces are hanging, and as a rule there should always be a bolt from the blue!
40.Qxe3 Ba4+ 41.b3 Qxf1+ 42.Kc2 Bb5 43.Qd4+ Nd7 44.Qxb4 Qxf3 45.Nf6 Nxf6 46.gxf6 Qe2+
47.Kc1 Bd3 48.Qe7+ Kc8 49.Qc5+ Kd7 50.e5 Qf1+ 51.Kb2 Qb1+ 52.Ka3 Qa1+ 53.Kb4 Qe1+
54.Ka4 Qa1+ 55.Kb4 (55.Qa3?? Bb5+ 56.Kb4 Qe1+ 57.Kc5 Qc3+ 58.Kd5 Bc6#) 55...Qe1+=)
31...Nd4! Yes, of course! The knight should be moved here and mentaining an equal game, most
probably leading to a draw! In such positions, the material is not so relevant, as the piece dynamics
matters the most. The white king is very unsafe, and his queen is far away, while the other pieces are
not able to protect their monarch well. (31...Na5?? 32.Rxa5! Emil is a world class player, and he
realised that the a1-rook is not really a piece that makes the difference. So, he gladly sacrificed it in
order to kill any counterplay I might have had! 32...Qxa5 33.g6± Emil Sutovsky 2625 - Ranko
Szuhanek 2496, Novi Sad 2016 – 130/73) 32.Nxe5 (32.Rd1 Nb3+ 33.Ke2 Nd4+ 34.Kf1 Nc2
35.Qh6 (35.Nxe5 Ne3+ 36.Ke1 Nxd1 37.Ne2 (37.Qxf7+ Kd8-+) 37...Nxb2 38.Qxf7+ Kd8 39.Qb3
Na4µ)) 32...Nb3+ 33.Ke2 Nxa1 34.Qxf7+ Kd8 35.Qd5 Qg1 36.Nxd7 Nxd7 37.Qa8+ Kc7 38.e5
Bxg5 39.Qb7+ Kd8 40.Qa8+ Kc7 41.Qc6+ Kd8 42.Qa8+=) 23.Rc1 (23.Nxe5 Nbd7 24.Nxd7
(24.Rc1? Qb8 25.Bc7 Qa7 26.Qb3 O-O 27.Nc6 Bxc6 28.Rxc6 Rac8 29.Bb6 Qb8 30.Rxc8 Rxc8
31.O-O Nxb6 32.axb6 Bd6 33.Nh5 Qxb6+ 34.Kh1 Nxh5 35.gxh5 Bb8-+) 24...Nxd7 25.Bf1 Bc6
26.Bf2 O-O 27.Be2 Nf6 28.Rc1 Qb7 29.O-O Nxe4 30.Bf3 Nxf2 31.Bxc6 Qxc6 32.Rxc6 Nxd1
33.Rxd1 Bf6 34.b3 Rfe8 35.Rd3 Re5 36.Rb6 Be7 37.Kf1 Rxa5µ) 23...Nc6 24.Bf1

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(24.Nxe5? Qb8!-+) 24...Qb8! 25.Nc5 O-O 26.h4 Nxa5 27.Bxa5 Qa7 28.Bxb4 Rfc8 29.g5 Nd7
30.Bxb5 axb5 What an incredible position! The c5-knight cannot move as there are too many threats
White cannot deal with. 31.Ke2 Nxc5 32.Qd5 Nd3 33.Qxd3 Bxb4 34.Rxc8+ Rxc8 35.Kf3 Qa2=)
22...Bc6 23.h4 Nbd7 24.g5 hxg5 25.hxg5 Rxh1+ 26.Bxh1 Ng8 27.g6 Nxc5 28.Bxc5 Qd7 29.gxf7+
Kxf7 30.Qb3+ Kf8 31.Qxb4+-) 22.Bxc5 Bb5 23.Qd6 Nc6 24.Bb6 Qd7 25.Rd1 Qxd6 26.Rxd6 O-O
27.Bf1 Rfc8 28.Kf2 Na7 29.Ke3 Bxf1 30.Rxf1 Nb5=) 14...O-O 15.h4 Nxg4 (15...d5 16.exd5 h5
17.Bb6 Qc8 18.g5 Ng4 19.f6±) 16.Qxg4 Nxc2+ 17.Kf2 Nxe3 18.Kxe3 Bc6 19.Kf2 Bf6 20.Nd2 b5
21.Nf1±
13.Be3 Na5 14.Nxa5 Qxa5 15.O-O Rc8∞

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6.h3... 8.Be3

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3

8...Nbd7 9.g4
9.f4 Rc8 10.Qf3 Be7 11.O-O-O exf4 12.Qxf4

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(12.Bxf4 O-O 13.Nd4 Qa5 14.Qe3 Ne5 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Kb1 b5³) 12...Rxc3! 13.bxc3 Qc7 14.g4
Ne5 15.g5 Nfd7 16.h4 Qxc3 17.Bd4 Qb4 18.Bb2 O-O 19.a3 Qa4 20.Nd4 d5 21.Qg3 Rc8 22.Rh2
Bd6 23.exd5 Bg4 (23...Bxd5

24.Nb5! (24.Nf5?? Be4 25.Nxd6 Rxc2+-+ Sabrina Vega Gutiérrez 2392 - David Antón Guijarro
2679, Salamanca (rapid) 2021 – 147/76) 24...Nd3+ 25.Qxd3 Bxh2 26.Nc3 Qf4+ 27.Kb1 Bc6 28.Bh3
Rc7 29.Qe2 Nf8 30.Nd5 Bxd5 31.Rxd5 Bg1 32.Rd8 Bc5 33.Qe1©) 24.Rdd2 Nc5³
9...h6 10.Qd2
10.f4? This move is against the opening principles. 10...exf4 11.Bxf4

344
11...Nh5! This is the point! Black is better since the very beginning! 12.Be3 Ng3 13.Rh2 Nxf1
14.Kxf1

14...h5! A correct reaction. Black should try to open the position since the white king is unsafe. 15.g5
Be7 16.Nd4

345
16...Ne5! (16...Bxg5?! 17.Qd2? We had many examples of returning the favour in this book. It is
rather a psychological issue. Excellent players, when defending worse positions get bored and might
also experience the feeling of self guilt.This is a big mistake indeed, and I suggest to forget the past
events if possible. Deal only with the present position, trying to play the best move, and your chess
will improve a lot! (17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Qxd6 Qe7 19.Qxe7+ Bxe7 20.Rg2 Bf6 21.Nd1 Ne5 22.c3 Rd8
23.Ke2 Nc4 24.Bc1 O-O³) 17...Bxe3 18.Qxe3 Ne5 (18...O-O 19.Ke2 Ne5 20.Rg1 Re8 21.Rhg2 Ng6
22.Kd1 (22.Rxg6? This is not an attacking sacrifice but rather a self punishing one! 22...fxg6 23.Rxg6
Qd7-+ Emil Sutovsky 2652 - Grigoriy Oparin 2526, Yerevan 2014 – 120/92) 22...Qh4 23.Kc1
Rac8³) 19.Ke2 Qh4 20.Rg1 g6 21.Nf3 Nxf3 22.Kxf3 Rc8 23.Ke2 b5 24.Kd1 O-O 25.a3 Rfe8µ)
17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Rf2 Nc4 19.Bd4 Bxg5 20.Qd3 Nxb2 21.Qf3 Qe7 22.e5 dxe5 23.Bc5 Qxc5
24.Qf7+ Kd8 25.Qxg7 Re8 26.Qxg5+ Kc7 27.Rf7+ Kb6 28.Qd2 Rad8 29.Qf2 Rf8-+
10...b5 11.O-O-O Be7 12.f4 Rc8
There are many possibilities here like: 12...b4, 12...exf4, 12...0-0.
12...O-O 13.Kb1 b4 14.Nd5 Bxd5 (14...Nxe4?! Giving up the e7-bishop is not a good idea for Black.
15.Nxe7+ Qxe7 16.Qxb4 f5 (16...exf4 17.Bxf4 Bxb3 18.axb3 Rfe8 19.Bg2 Ndf6 20.Bxd6 Qe6
21.Rhe1± Ivan Šarić 2614 - Zdenko Kožul 2637, Hrvatska (ch) 2014) 17.gxf5 Bxf5 18.Bg2 Rab8
19.Qc4+ Qf7 20.Qxf7+ Rxf7 21.Rhf1 Ng3 22.Rf3 Rc8

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23.Na1! exf4 24.Bxf4 Be4 25.Rxg3 Rxf4 26.Bxe4 Rxe4 27.Rg6 Nc5 28.Rgxd6 Re2 29.Rg1 Re6
30.Rd4 Re3 31.Rdg4 Rc7 32.h4 Rce7 33.Nb3 Re1+ 34.Nc1 Rxg1 35.Rxg1 Re4 36.Rh1² and White
has better chances in the endgame.) 15.exd5 a5 16.Bg2 a4 17.Nc1 Qc7!? 18.Nd3 b3 19.cxb3 exf4
20.Bxf4 axb3 21.a3 Rfe8 22.Rhe1 Bf8 23.Bg3 Nb6 24.Rc1 Qd7 25.Bh4 Rxe1 26.Nxe1 Qa4 27.Bxf6
gxf6 28.Bf1 f5 29.gxf5 Bg7©
13.Kb1 exf4 14.Bxf4 Ne5 15.Nd5 Bxd5
15...Nxd5?! 16.exd5 Bd7 17.Bxe5 (17.Qg2?! Bf6= This is what Black needs - to consolidate his
strong knight in the centre. 18.Nd2 (18.Nd4 O-O 19.Bc1 Re8 20.Bd3 (20.Rg1 Nc4 21.Qf2 Rc5
22.Nb3 Rc8 23.Nd4 Bh4 24.Qf3 Ne5 25.Qg2 Bg5³) 20...Nc4 (20...Nxd3 21.Rxd3 Qb6 22.Rhd1 b4
23.Nf5 Bxf5 24.gxf5

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24...Kh7! A well known hidding place for the king, where the f5-pawn is just a traitor of his own
army!) 21.Nf5 Bxf5 22.Bxf5 Rc7 23.Rhe1 Rce7³ Alexander Seyb 2412 - Eltaj Safarli 2628, Doha
2014) 18...O-O 19.Ne4 Qe7 20.Bd3 Bh4 21.Rhg1 Rce8 22.Qd2 Bg5 23.Nxg5 hxg5 24.Bxg5 Nf3
25.Bxe7 Nxd2+ 26.Rxd2 Rxe7 27.b3 Re3©) 17...dxe5 18.Qe3 Qc7 19.Bd3 O-O 20.Rhe1 Rfe8
21.Qxe5 Qxe5 22.Rxe5 Bd6 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Na5±
16.exd5 O-O 17.Bd3 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 Qc7 19.Rhf1 Rfe8 20.g5 hxg5 21.Bxg5

21...Ne4! 22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.Nd4 Rc5 24.Ne6

348
24...Rc4! 25.Nd4 Qg5 26.a3 Qxd5 27.Nf5 Qe6 28.h4 Rc5 29.Nxd6 Nxd6 30.Qxd6 Qc4 31.Qd3
Qxd3 32.cxd3 Re7=

6.h3... 8...Be7

1.Nf3 c5 2.e4 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3 Be7

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9.Qf3 O-O
9...Nbd7 10.O-O-O Rc8 11.Nd5 (11.g4

11...Rxc3! This blow is absolutely fantastic! It can be delivered in almost every moment, creating a
nightmare for White. (11...h6? 12.Nd5 (12.Rg1 Rxc3! (12...b5? 13.h4?

350
13...Rxc3! Unbelievable! Black had this possibility three times, but has not even thought about it!
(13...b4? and now he just obliged his opponent to move away so that the exchange sacrifice is no
longer available. 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.exd5± Boris Savchenko 2552 - Jeffery Xiong 2709, chess.com
(Internet-blitz) 2021) 14.bxc3 Qa8 15.Bd3 d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.c4 bxc4 18.Bxc4 Ba3+ 19.Kd2
Qc6∞) 13.bxc3 Qc7 14.Kb2 Qc6 15.Bd3 Nb6 16.Bxb6 Qxb6 17.a4 Qc7 18.h4 Nd7 19.g5 Nb6µ)
12...Nf8 13.Kb1 Ng6 14.Bb6 Qd7 15.c4 O-O=) 12.bxc3 h6 13.g5 hxg5 14.Bxg5 Qc7 15.c4 Qc6
16.Rg1 Qxe4 17.Bg2 Qxf3 This is very suggestive indeed! Black is better not only if he options for
further tactics, but the quiet positional continuation will also lead him to a better game. 18.Bxf3 b6
19.Nd2 Kf8 20.Be3 (20.h4 Nc5 21.Rh1 g6 22.Rdg1 Na4 23.Bxf6 Bxf6 24.h5 gxh5 25.Rxh5 Rxh5
26.Bxh5 Nc3 27.Bf3 a5³) 20...b5 21.cxb5 axb5 22.Bc6 b4³) 11...Bxd5 12.exd5 Nb6∞

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 Ian Nepomniachtchi

10.g4
10.O-O-O b5 11.g4 b4 12.Nd5 a5 (12...Nxd5 13.exd5 Bc8 14.Bd3 Nd7 15.Rhg1 (15.Nd2 a5 16.g5

16...Ba6! The d3-bishop is an important defender so Black does the right thing trying to exchange it.
17.Bxa6 (17.Bf5?! g6 18.Bg4 (18.Bxd7?! A bad strategic decision. White gives up his bishop pair.

352
18...Qxd7µ Kacper Drozdowski 2432 - Grzegorz Gajewski 2653, Polska (ch) 2013 – 117/(75))
18...a4 19.Qe4 b3 20.axb3 axb3 21.Nxb3 Bxg5µ) 17...Rxa6 18.Rhg1 Qc7 19.Kb1 a4 20.Qe2 Raa8!
21.Qc4 Qxc4 22.Nxc4

22...f5! Black often uses this move to stop the opponent's attack. 23.gxf6 Nxf6 24.f4 exf4 25.Bxf4
Ne4 26.Bg3 Weird enough, but this move retains the equality. 26...Bf6 27.Be1 Rab8 28.Rd3 Rfe8
29.Nd2 Rbc8 30.Nxe4 Rxe4 31.Bd2 Be5 32.Re1 Rec4 33.Rc1 h6 34.b3=) 15...a5 16.Nd2 Qc7
17.Bb5

17...a4! (17...Ba6 18.Bc6?! This move was played with the idea to slow down the opponent's attack
on the queenside. However, this construction is not very stable, so Black will smash it. (18.Bxa6

353
Rxa6 19.Kb1 Rc8 20.Rc1 Qb7 21.Rgd1 a4 22.g5 Ra5 23.Ne4 Rc7ƒ) 18...Rac8?! (18...Bb7! Black
should have taken immediately. 19.Nc4 Rfc8 20.Bxb7 Qxb7 21.b3 a4 22.Kd2 axb3 23.axb3

23...Rxc4! 24.bxc4 Ra2! Black should take advantage of the opponent's poor defending possibilities,
and strike right away. (24...b3? 25.cxb3 Qxb3 26.Qe4 Ra2+ 27.Ke1 Nc5 28.Bxc5 Qc3+ 29.Kf1
Qxh3+ 30.Ke1 (30.Qg2? Qb3-+) 30...Qc3+=) 25.Rb1 b3 26.Qf5 Qb4+ 27.Ke2 Qxc4+ 28.Kf3 bxc2
29.Qxd7 cxb1=Q 30.Rxb1 Qxd5+ 31.Kg3 Bf8 32.Rb5 Qe6µ) 19.Kb1 Bb7 20.Nc4 Bxc6 21.dxc6
Nb8 22.Qd5 (22.Nb6 Qxc6 23.Qe2 Rce8 24.Rd5 Nd7 25.Qc4 Qxc4 26.Nxc4 f5 27.gxf5 Rxf5
28.Nxd6 Bxd6 29.Rxd6 Nf6 30.Ra6 Ne4 31.Rg2 Rd8 32.Kc1 Rd5 33.Bb6 h5 34.Rxa5 Rxa5 35.Bxa5
Nxf2 36.Bxb4 Nxh3 37.a4 Nf4 38.Rd2 h4 39.a5 h3 40.b3 g5 41.a6 Rf6 42.Rd8+ Kh7 43.Rd7+ Kg8
44.Rd8+ Kh7=) 22...Nxc6 23.b3 (23.Nxd6?

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23...b3! This move has escaped White's calculation for sure, but Nepomniachtchi is a world class
player, so he cannot miss someting like that! 24.axb3 (24.c3 bxa2+ 25.Kxa2 Bxd6 26.Qxd6

26...Nb4+!​→ 27.cxb4 Qc4+ 28.Ka1 axb4 29.Qd5 Qc2 30.Qa5 Ra8 31.Ba7 b3!-+ Another precise
move and White is hopeless. His king is in dire straits, while the g1-rook did not have the chance to
be part of neither attack nor defence. 32.Qa3 Rfc8 33.Rge1 h6! It seems that Black is aware of the
principle "Do not rush!", and of course, Black is in no hurry. White is almost in zugzwang, but before
launching the final attack we should always take care of our own king first. Prophylaxis has never
killed anyone, while its absence for sure has. 34.f3 Rc7 35.Bc5 Rxa3+ 36.Bxa3 Ra7 37.Rd8+ Kh7 0 :
1 Sugar Ganerdene 2407 - Ian Nepomniachtchi 2776, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/1) 2019) 24...Nb4
25.Qd2 Bxd6 26.c3 Qc6 27.cxb4 Bxb4 28.Qd3 e4 29.Qc4 Qxc4 30.bxc4 Rxc4 31.Rd7 h6µ) 23...a4

355
24.Rge1 Nb8 25.Bb6 Qc6 26.f4∞) 18.Kb1 Nb6 19.Bc6 Bb7 20.Bxb6 Qxb6 21.Nc4 Qc7 22.g5 b3
23.cxb3 axb3 24.axb3 g6 25.h4 Ra7 26.Bxb7 Qxb7 27.h5 Rfa8 28.Qh3 gxh5 29.Kc2 Qc8=) 13.Nd2
Nxd5 14.exd5 Bc8 15.Bd3 Ba6

16.Kb1! (16.Bf5?! The bishop is not well placed here and Black can be satisfied with the outcome of
the opening. 16...a4 17.h4 Nd7 (17...b3?! 18.axb3 axb3 19.Nxb3 Nd7 20.g5 Nb6 21.Rhg1 (21.Na5?!
The knight is a good defending piece, and should have been kept on b3.

21...Be2! Anyway, Black parts with his bishop pair in order to increase the attack on the queenside.
22.Qxe2 Rxa5 23.Qd3 (23.b4?! This is too ambitious! Vishy wants to create a promising passed
pawn, but his king will be weakened and for sure a target for the black pieces. 23...Ra3 24.Qb5

356
(24.Rh3? Na4µ Viswanathan Anand 2751- Ding Liren 2791, chess24.com (Internet-m/3-rapid) 2020
– 145/79) 24...Qc7 25.Kd2 Nc4+ 26.Ke2 Nxe3 27.fxe3 g6 28.Bd3 Rc8µ) 23...Qc7 24.Bxb6 Qxb6
25.Bxh7+ Kh8 26.Be4 Qxf2 27.b3 Rfa8 28.Rhf1 Ra1+ 29.Kb2 R1a2+ 30.Kc1 Ra1+=) 21...g6
22.Bd3 Nc4 23.Rg4 Qc7 24.Qe2 Rfc8 25.Kb1 Bb5©) 18.Kb1 Qc7 19.h5 a3 20.h6 g6 21.Ne4 Kh8
22.Bxd7 Qxd7 23.Bd2 axb2 24.Bxb4 f5 25.gxf5 gxf5 26.Nc3 Bc4³) 16...Bxd3 17.cxd3 a4 18.h4
Nd7∞
10...a5 11.O-O-O
11.a4 Nc6 12.O-O-O Nb4 13.g5 Nd7 14.h4 Rc8 15.Kb1 Nb6 16.Bb5 Nc4

17.Bc1! The only way to keep the balance. 17...f5 18.gxf6 Bxf6 19.Qe2 Qc7 20.f3 Kh8∞
11...a4 12.Nc5 a3 13.g5
13.Nxe6?! axb2+ 14.Kxb2 fxe6µ The opening is over. White had a bad concept and he stands worse.
His king is left alone, while the other pieces did nothing on the kingside. 15.Bc4

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15...Qa5! The queen had to be part of the attack. The e6-pawn means nothing, and White cannot
really deal with the multiple threats. (15...Qc8!? 16.Qe2 b5!? 17.Bb3 (17.Bxb5 Qb7 18.g5 Nxe4
19.Nxe4 Qxe4 20.Qc4 Qf5 21.Kb1 Qf7 22.Qe4 Na6 23.a4 Nc7 24.Rd3 Rfb8 25.Rb3 Nxb5 26.axb5
Qe8µ) 17...d5!? The e7-bishop should also have a word in this battle. 18.Nxb5 Nxe4 19.Rxd5

19...Nc3!!³ A very beautiful tripple attack! The king is the origin of all evil White has to bear!
20.Rxe5! White gives up a piece, but also deflects the attack. (20.Nxc3? Ba3+-+ Denis Khismatullin
2654 - Sanan Sjugirov 2646, Khanty-Mansiysk 2015 – 127/81) 20...Nxe2 21.Bxe6+ Qxe6 22.Rxe6
Bf6+ 23.Kb3 Na6 24.Rc6 Rfb8 25.Kc4 Rc8 26.Rxc8+ Rxc8+ 27.Kb3 Nc3 28.a4 Ne4 29.Re1 Nac5+
30.Bxc5 Nxc5+ 31.Kb4 Nb7 32.Re2 Kf7 33.c4 Rd8µ) 16.Bxe6+ Kh8 17.Bd2 Nbd7 18.Bc4 Qa3+
19.Kb1 Nc5 20.Qe3 b5 21.Bc1 Qa5 22.Bb3 b4 23.Nd5 Nfxe4-+

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13...axb2+ 14.Kxb2 Nfd7 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Qg4 Kh8 17.Qxe6 Nc6∞

6.h3... 7.Nde2

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nde2

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7...h5 8.Bg5 Be6 9.Ng3
An interesting idea. By opening the way for the queen and the f1-bishop, White aims to add some
pressure on the kingside.
9...g6 10.Bd3 Nbd7 11.Qf3

11...Bh6!
Nowadays chess has turned into a pragmatic struggle, as the whole life in general. Rules and
regulations are here to be followed, of course, but the "modern" chess allows such moves as a
dynamic solution. After the h5 push the g5-bishop cannot be really upset by the enemy pieces.This
way Black finds an idea to get rid of the pressure by exchanging the strong enemy bishop. Also,

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Black gets a free acces to dark squares which is another big advantage of this unusual idea!
11...Be7 12.O-O h4 13.Nge2 (13.Nf5?! gxf5 14.exf5

14...Bd5! 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Bxg5 17.Bc4 O-O 18.Qxd6 Nf6 19.Qxe5 Re8 20.Qc3 Qc7µ)
13...Nh5 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Qe3 Rc8 16.Rad1 O-O 17.Qh6 Ndf6 18.f4 exf4 19.Nxf4 Nxf4 20.Rxf4
Nh5 21.Rff1 Rfe8 22.a3 Rc5„; 11...Bg7 12.Nf5!? (12.O-O O-O 13.Rfd1 Rc8 14.Be2 Qb6 15.Rab1
Rfe8∞) 12...gxf5 13.exf5 e4 (13...O-O? 14.fxe6 fxe6 15.Qg3 d5 16.Bg6 (16.O-O-O?! e4 17.Be2 Qa5
18.Bh6 (18.Kb1 Rac8 19.Be3

19...Rxc3! A typical positional sacrifice! Black does not have enough power to execute an attack, but
he reduces the material into a confortable position with no major risks. 20.bxc3

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20...Rc8! (20...Qxc3 21.Bd4 Qxg3 22.fxg3 e5 23.Bb2 d4 24.Rhf1 Kh7 25.Rf5 Kg6 26.Rdf1 Rc8©)
21.Bh6! This is the only way to equality. It is important to get rid of potential attacking pieces, as the
white monarch could also be a target. (21.Bd4? e5! 22.Bxe5 Nxe5 23.Qxe5 Rxc3 24.Qb8+ Kh7
25.Qxb7

25...Rc6!! An awesome tactical solution, leaving White without any chances to defend. 26.Kc1 Rb6
27.Qe7 Ng8-+) 21...Ne8 22.Bxg7 Nxg7 23.c4 Nb6 24.h4! Such moves are difficult to find over te
board, but very important when defending "from a distance". The passive h1-rook joins defence of the
3rd rank, giving the possibility to the queen to serve another goals. 24...Na4 25.Rh3

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25...d4! 26.Qg5 Nc3+ (26...Rc5 27.Qd2 Nc3+ 28.Rxc3 dxc3 29.Qd8+ Qxd8 30.Rxd8+ Kf7 31.Rd4
Re5 32.Rd7+ Kf6 33.Rxb7 Rf5 34.f3 exf3 35.Bxf3 Rc5 36.a3 Rxc4=) 27.Rxc3 Qxc3 28.Qf6 Qb4+
29.Kc1 Qa3+ 30.Kb1 Qb4+=) 18...Rf7 19.Kb1 Rc8 20.Rhe1 (20.Rd4?

20...Qb6! (20...Rxc3? 21.bxc3 h4= (21...Kh7? 22.Bxg7 Rxg7 23.Qd6 (23.Qe3? e5 24.Rb4 d4µ
25.Qd2 (25.Qc1 Nd5 26.Rb3 Nxc3+-+) 25...Nd5-+ 26.Rxb7 Nxc3+ 27.Kc1 Qa3+ 28.Rb2 Nc5
29.Bc4 N5a4 0 : 1 Ward Altarbosh 2189 - Alexandar Inđić 2607, lichess.org (Internet-blitz) 2021 –
148/76) 23...Qxc3 24.Qb4 Qxb4+ 25.Rxb4 Rxg2 26.Rxb7 Kg6 27.Rf1 a5=)) 21.Bxg7 Rxg7 22.Qe3
Rxg2 23.Nd1 e5 24.Rd2 d4 25.Qh6 Rg7-+) 20...Qb6µ) 16...Rc8 17.O-O Rc6 18.Ne2±) 14.Bxe4 Bc4
15.O-O-O Qb6 16.Qf4 Ne5 17.Bf3 O-O-O 18.Rhe1 Qc7∞

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12.Bxh6 Rxh6 13.Nf1 Rc8 14.Qe3 Rh8 15.Nd2 Ke7 16.a4 Qb6 17.Qxb6 Nxb6 18.a5 Nbd7 19.O-
O Nc5=

Black is doing just fine.

364
6.h3... 9.f4

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nde2 h5 8.Bg5 Be6 9.f4

9...Nbd7 10.f5
10.Qd2 Rc8 11.g3 (11.f5 Bc4 12.O-O-O Be7 13.Kb1 b5 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.a3 a5 16.b3 (16.Ng3?!
Bxf1 (16...h4?! 17.Bxc4 Rxc4 18.Nf1 (18.Nge2 b4 19.axb4 axb4 20.Nd5 O-O (Luca Rotolante 2010

365
- Hovhannes Grabuzyan 2557, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020) 21.Qd3 Rc5 22.Qb3 Qd7 23.c3 Nxd5
24.Rxd5 Qb5 25.Re1 Bg5µ) 18...b4 19.Qe2

19...Rxc3! This sacrifice is always in fashion when it comes to this type of positions. The most
important thing for the Najdorf players is too realise that material disbalance has no negative meaning
for Black, but the opposite. In many cases White looses his coordination and struggles for a draw,
which is usually very hard to secure. 20.bxc3! O-O! Another good option. Please remember that no
attack or fight for the initiative can be carried out without the sufficient piece activity against the
enemy king. 21.c4 (21.Ne3 Nxe4 22.Nd5 Ng3 23.Qg4 Nxh1 24.Rxh1 bxc3 25.Ka1 Bg5 26.Rb1
White is also trying to activate his pieces. 26...Kh7 27.Rb3 Kh6 28.g3 Qc8 29.Rxc3 Qb7 30.Qe4
hxg3 31.Rxg3 Rb8 32.Rb3 Qa7 33.Rxb8 Qxb8 34.Ka2 Qb7µ) 21...bxa3 22.Ka2 Qb6 23.Rb1 Qc6
24.Nd2

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24...d5!! An instructive example with all the thematic blows included. After 19...Rxc3, it is time for
24...d5 and Black has overwhelmed his opponent getting a nice opening result. 25.Rb5 dxe4 26.Rhb1
Bb4 27.Nf1 Rd8 28.Ne3 Rd2 29.Qf1 Qd6³) 17.Rhxf1 b4 18.axb4 h4 19.Nge2 axb4 20.Nd5 Nxd5
21.Qxd5 O-O 22.Nc1 Ra8 23.f6 Bxf6 24.Nb3 Ra6µ) 16...Bxe2 17.Bxe2 b4 18.Bb5+ Kf8∞) 11...b5
12.Bg2 Be7 13.O-O O-O 14.a3 (14.b3?! Not a good strategic decision. The move is absolutely
useless, as 15.f5 is not a real threat. 14...exf4 15.gxf4 b4 (15...Nc5!? 16.b4 Ncd7

17.a4! The idea is to destabilise Black's queenside. (17.Nd4 Nb6 18.a4 (18.Nce2?! Nc4 19.Qd3 Nh7
(19...d5 20.Bxf6 dxe4 21.Bxe7 exd3 22.Bxd8 dxe2 23.Rfe1 Rcxd8 24.Nxe6 fxe6 25.Rxe2 Rd6 Both
sides have some weknesses, however White must be precise to secure the equality. 26.Rae1 Rxf4
27.Rxe6 Rf6 28.Rxf6 gxf6 29.Re7 Kf8 30.Ra7 Rd1+ 31.Kf2 Rd2+ 32.Kg1 Ne3 33.Bf3 Nxc2

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34.Rxa6 Kg7 35.Bxh5 Nxb4 36.Ra7+ Kh6 37.Be8 Nxa2 38.Bxb5=) 20.Bxe7 (20.Nxe6?! fxe6
21.Bxe7 (21.h4?! Bf6 (Jan-Krysztof Duda 2542 - Alexander Areschenko 2720, Warszawa 2013)
22.c3 Qb6+ 23.Kh1 Qe3 24.Qxe3 Nxe3 25.Bh3 Rce8 26.Rg1 e5∞) 21...Qxe7 22.Nd4 Rf6 23.Kh2
e5 24.Nf5 Qc7 25.a4 exf4 26.axb5 axb5 27.Rxf4 g6 28.Qg3 Ne5 29.Rd1 Rcf8 30.Rff1 h4 31.Nxh4
Rxf1 32.Rxf1 Rxf1 33.Bxf1 Nf6 34.Qg2 Kh7©) 20...Qxe7 21.Nxe6 Qxe6 22.Nd4 Qf6 23.c3 Nb2
24.Qd2 Na4 25.Rf3 Rc4 26.Bf1 Rc7∞) 18...d5 19.axb5 dxe4 20.Rad1 axb5 21.Nxe4 Bc4 22.Nxf6+
Bxf6 23.Rf2 Bxg5 24.fxg5 Qc7∞) 17...bxa4 18.Nxa4 Nb6 19.Nd4 Nc4 20.Qf2 Bd7 21.Nc3 Qb6∞)
16.Na4 Nc5 17.Nxc5 Rxc5 18.a3 bxa3 19.c4

19...Nxe4! An interesting sacrifice! Black gains the initiative and also pressure against the enemy
king, which is more than enough compensation. It is advisable to follow this path in positions like
this. Our initiative flows very smoothly, while for the opponent it is very difficult to find unique
defensive moves without making a mistake. 20.Bxe4 Bxg5 21.fxg5 Rxg5+ 22.Kh2

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22...Bxh3! 23.Rf4 (23.Kxh3 Rg4 24.Qe1 Rxe4-+) 23...d5! 24.Kxh3 (24.Bxd5 Be6 25.Nc3 Qb8
26.Kh1 Rg3 27.Bxe6 fxe6 28.Nd5 (28.Rxf8+ Qxf8-+) 28...Re8 29.Rxa3 Qe5 30.Ra5 exd5 31.Qxd5+
Qxd5+ 32.Rxd5 g6µ) 24...Qc8+ 25.Kh2 dxe4 26.Rxe4 Rg6 27.Qe3 Qc7+ 28.Kh1

28...Qc6! This is important. Black provokes the move 29.Nd4 leaving no possibility for 29.Nf4.
29...Qb7 30.Nf3 Rg4 31.Re5 Rg3 32.Rd5 Qc8 33.Rxh5 Qc6 34.Rd5 Qe6! 35.Qxe6 fxe6 36.Rd3
Rfxf3 37.Rxf3 Rxf3 38.Rxa3 Kf7 39.Kg2 Rc3 40.Rxa6 Rxb3 41.Ra7+ Kf6³ and the endgame offers
Black good winning chances.) 14...a5 15.Rac1 Re8 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Qb6+ 18.Kh2 Nc5„
10...Bc4 11.Ng3
11.b3?! A weird decision. White puts all his pawns on light squares, and gives Black the possibility to

369
achieve a decisive domination over the dark ones. 11...Bxe2 12.Bxe2 Qa5 (12...Be7

13.O-O! (13.Bf3?! Rc8 14.Bxf6 (14.Qd3 d5! 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Qa5+ 18.Kf1
Rc3 19.Qe4 Qc5µ) 14...Nxf6 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Rxc2 17.O-O (17.Qxb7? An error which is
equal to capitulation. 17...Qa5+-+ Zhang Pengxiang 2603 - Zhou Jianchao 2652, Hefei (rapid) 2010)
17...Qb6+ 18.Kh1 Bg5 19.Rfd1 Ke7µ) 13...Rc8 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.Nd5 Nxe4 16.Qd3 Nf6 17.Bf3 O-
O 18.a4 Nxd5 19.Bxd5 Bf6 20.Rad1 b5 21.axb5 axb5 22.c4 bxc4 23.bxc4 Qb6+ 24.Kh1 h4
25.Qf3©) 13.Bd2 Rc8 14.Nd5 Qc5 15.b4 Qxc2 16.Qxc2 Rxc2 17.Bd3 Rc8 18.Nxf6+ Nxf6 19.Ke2
d5 20.Rac1 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Kd7 22.exd5 Bd6 23.Bg5 Nxd5 24.b5 Ba3³; 11.Qd2 Qa5 12.Nc1 d5
13.exd5 Bxd5 14.Nxd5 Qxd5 15.Nb3 Qe4+ 16.Be2 Qxf5 17.O-O-O Be7

370
18.Bg4! White definitely has some compensation and should take advantage of the enemy king still
stuck in the centre while queen is exposed. 18...Nxg4 19.Bxe7 Nf2 20.Rhf1 Qe6 21.Rxf2 Qxe7
22.Re2 O-O-O 23.Qc3+ Kb8 24.Red2©
11...Rc8 12.Bxc4 Rxc4 13.Qd3
13.Qf3 Qc7 (13...Qa5 14.Bd2 White has to avoid the exchange sacrifice on c3 by all means! (14.O-
O-O

14...Rxc3! (14...b5 15.Kb1 Rxc3 16.bxc3 Nb6 (16...h4 17.Ne2 Nb6 18.Nc1 Qa4 19.Qf2 Nfd7
20.Nd3 Be7 21.f6 gxf6 22.Be3 Nc4 23.Bc1 Bd8©) 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.h4 (18.Nxh5?

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18...Rxh5!-+ Mariya Muzychuk 2491 - Josif Dorfman 2580, Poděbrady 2013) 18...Nc4 19.Ka1 Qa3
20.Rb1 Nd2 21.Qd3 Nxb1 22.Rxb1 Bh6 23.c4 Qxd3 24.cxd3 Bd2 25.Ne2 b4 26.a3 a5 27.axb4
Bxb4=) 15.Qxc3 Qxc3 16.bxc3 h4 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.Ne2 Nxe4 19.Rhe1 Nc5 20.c4 Rh5³) 14...Be7
15.Nge2 Qc7 16.O-O-O b5„) 14.O-O-O Rxc3! White has to be always aware of this sacrifice. For
both positional or tactical reasons, Black can often use this weapon. 15.bxc3 (15.Qxc3? Qxc3
16.bxc3 h4 17.Ne2 Nxe4µ Aryam Abreu Delgado 2470 - Sergio Barrientos Chavarriaga 2513,
Cartagena 2012) 15...h4 16.Nf1 Qa5 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Nh2 Qxa2 19.Ng4 Bh6+ 20.Nxh6 Rxh6©
13...b5
13...Rd4 14.Qf3 Qc7 15.O-O Rc4 16.Kh1 h4 17.Nge2 Be7 18.Rac1 b5 19.b3 Rc5 20.a3 1/2 : 1/2
Francisco Vallejo Pons 2696 - Josep Manuel López Martínez 2570, España (ch) 2009
14.O-O-O
14.a4 Rd4 15.Qf3 Qa5 16.Ne2 b4 17.Nxd4 bxc3 18.b4 Qxb4 19.Bxf6 (19.Ne2? Nxe4µ Nikita
Matinian 2514 - Aleksandar Inđić 2623, Batumi 2019) 19...Nxf6 20.Ne2 Nxe4 21.O-O d5 22.f6
Qc5+ 23.Kh1 g6 24.Qd3 Bh6 25.a5 O-O 26.Qxa6 Rb8 27.Qd3 Be3 28.Kh2 Nd2 29.Qxc3 Nxf1+
30.Rxf1 Bf4+ 31.Kh1 Qb5!³
14...Nc5 15.Qf3 Qa5 16.Kb1

16...Rxc3! 17.bxc3 h4 18.Ne2 Be7 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Rhg1 Qa3 21.Ka1 Qa4 22.c4 Qxc4 23.Nc3
Rg8 24.g4 hxg3 25.Rxg3 Rxg3 26.Qxg3 b4 27.Nd5 Qxc2 28.Qg8+ Kd7 29.Rb1 Qxe4 30.Qxf7
Qd4+ 31.Rb2 Qd1+ 32.Rb1 Qd4+=

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6.h3... 9.Bf6

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nde2

A modern line gaining more and more atention nowadays.
7...h5
I warmly recommend this line. White intends to play 8.g4, followed by 9.Ng3, and after Bg2, Be3,
and short castle, his position is very pleasant. Thus 7...h5 is meant to prevent all of that.
8.Bg5
8.Nd5 An old line, employed by Anand in famous victories over Topalov, Leuven (blitz) 2016 –
129/(74) and Vachier-Lagrave, Leuven (blitz) 2016 – 129/(74). 8...Nxd5 9.Qxd5 Nc6 10.Qd1 Be7
(10...Be6 11.Nc3

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11...Ne7! A nice idea by Nakamura, solving the "d5 problem". It seems that Nakamura knew the line
9...Nd7 played by both Topalov and Vachier-Lagrave and improved on it reaching the equality.
(11...Rc8 12.Be2 Nd4 13.Bd3 Be7 14.Nd5 Nc6 15.c3 Bg5 16.Bxg5 Qxg5 17.Ne3 h4

18.Be2! (18.Qf3 O-O= Lei Tingjie 2505 - Marie Sebag 2438, chess24.com (Internet-blitz) 2020)
18...Rd8 19.Bg4 Bxg4 20.Qxg4 Qxg4 21.hxg4 Kd7 22.f3 Ke6 23.a4²) 12.Bd3 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5
14.O-O Nb4 (14...Nxc3 15.bxc3 f5 is the engine's recommendation, but I wonder how many of us
would dare to play this over the board especially when facing Vishy Anand.) 15.Qe2 Qc7 16.f4 Bc5+
17.Kh1 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Bd4 19.f5 Bd7 20.f6 g6 21.Nd5 Qd6 22.Ne7 Rd8 23.a4 Bc6 24.Be3 Bxe3
25.Nxc6 bxc6 26.Qxe3 Qd4= Viswanathan Anand 2770 - Hikaru Nakamura 2791, Saint Louis 2016
– 129/74) 11.Nc3 Be6 12.Nd5 Rc8 13.c3 (13.Nxe7 Nxe7 14.Be2 Qd7 15.O-O Qc6 16.Re1 d5

374
17.exd5 Bxd5 18.Bf1 f6 19.c3 Kf7 20.f4 e4 21.Be3 Nf5³ Robert Hovhannisyan 2631 - Hovhannes
Gabuzyan 2585, Armenia 2017) 13...Bg5 14.h4 Bxc1 15.Rxc1 Ne7 16.Nxe7 Qxe7 17.g3 g6 18.Be2
O-O 19.O-O Rc6= Akshat Chandra 2490 - Dariusz Świercz 2636, Atlantic City 2016

Viswanathan Anand

8...Be6 9.Bxf6

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9...Qxf6 10.Nd5 Qd8 11.Qd3
The most flexible choice. White prepares the long castle right away.
11.c3 Nd7 12.h4?!
White is changing the plan, but this idea is practically too slow, and Black is ready to take over.
(12.Ng3?! White wants to transfer this knight to e3. 12...g6! The best way to restrict the white
knight's activity. The g6 is, however, useful for Black, and he is already in position to fight for a
small edge. (12...h4 Black allows the transfer of this knight to e3, thinking that White loses several
tempi for this manouevre. 13.Nf5 g6 14.Nfe3 Nc5 15.Bd3 Bh6 16.Bc2 O-O 17.O-O Rc8 18.b4 Nd7
19.Bb3 Bxe3 20.Nxe3 Bxb3 21.axb3 Rxc3 22.Qxd6 Rc6 23.Qd5 Qe7 24.b5 axb5 25.Qxb5 Nf6=
Marcin Tazbir 2512 - Radosław Wojtaszek 2736, Trzcianka (rapid) 2015) 13.Bc4 b5 14.Bb3 Bh6
15.a4 O-O 16.O-O h4 17.Ne2 Kg7 18.a5 Rc8 19.f4 Bxd5 20.Bxd5 Nf6 21.Bb7 Rb8 22.Bd5 Qc7³)

376
12...Nb6! (12...Bxd5 An early decision that helps only White. 13.Qxd5 Be7= Black has no problem
to equalise! 14.O-O-O (14.g3 O-O (14...Qb6 15.Qd2 Nc5 16.Bg2 Qxb2 17.Qxb2 Nd3+ 18.Kf1
Nxb2 19.Rb1 Na4 20.Rxb7 g6 21.f3 Nc5 22.Rb1 O-O³) 15.Bh3 Nf6 16.Qd3 b5 17.Rd1 Qb6 18.O-O
a5 A good idea even though the enemy king chose to castle short. The initiative on the queenside is a
natural option in the Najdorf variation. 19.Bg2 It is difficult to say what plan White may utilise. Since
the beginning of the game, it was a mixture of few ideas, but neither one was applied to the end.

19...Rfc8! 20.Bf3 b4ƒ 21.c4 g6 (21...a4³) 22.Kg2 a4 23.Nc1 (23.Ng1?! Qc6 24.Rc1 Nd7 25.Rfd1
Nc5 26.Qe2 Bf8 27.Nh3 Ne6 28.Qe3 Nd4 29.Rxd4 exd4 30.Qxd4 Qc5µ Arkadij Naiditsch 2689 -
Viswanathan Anand 2788, Moscow (blitz) 2009) 23...Qb7 24.Rfe1 Nd7 25.Be2 Kg7 26.Qd5 Qa7
27.Qd3 Rab8³) 14...Rb8 15.Qd2 b5 16.Kb1 Nc5 17.f3 Bxh4 18.g3 Bg5 19.f4 Be7 20.Nc1 White

377
should not care about the e4-pawn. Instead, he should try to exchange the knights and look for
compensation in the position with opposite-colour bishops. 20...g6 21.Nd3 exf4 22.gxf4 Nxe4
23.Qe1 d5 24.Bg2 f5 25.Ne5 Rb6 26.Bf3 Rd6 27.Rg1©) 13.Qb3 Nxd5 14.exd5 Bd7 15.Qxb7 Rb8
16.Qxa6 Rxb2 17.Ng3 Be7 18.Be2 O-O 19.O-O Bxh4 20.Rab1 Bc8 21.Qc4 Rxb1 22.Rxb1 Bxg3
23.fxg3 Bf5 24.Rf1 g6 25.Qh4 Qb6+ 26.Kh2 Qe3 27.Bxh5 Kg7 28.g4 Bd3 29.Qf6+ Kg8 30.Rf2
Be4µ; 11.Nec3 g6 12.Bc4 Bh6 13.O-O O-O 14.Bb3 Nd7 (14...Nc6 15.Qd3 Rc8 16.Rad1 Nd4
(16...Kg7 17.Ne3 Nd4 18.Ncd5 Bd7 19.Nc4 Bb5 20.a4 Bc6 21.Ncb6 Bxd5 22.Nxd5 Qa5 23.f4
Nxb3 24.cxb3 Bxf4 25.Nxf4 Qb6+ 26.Kh2 exf4 27.Rxf4 Rc6=) 17.Ne2 Nxb3 18.Qxb3 b5 19.a4

19...b4!? An interesting idea by Vachier-Lagrave, which has its good and bad sides. The queenside
will be open and it is hard to say who will take advantage of it. (19...Rc5= is fine and Black is doing
well.) 20.c3 bxc3 21.Nexc3 a5

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22.Rd3! White could have exerted the pressure along the d-file combined with moves such as Nb5
and Qa3. The bishop pair does not have a great value in this kind of positions. (22.Qb7?! Kg7!?
(22...Rb8 23.Qc6 Rxb2 24.Nb5 Bd2 25.Nbc7 Bxd5 26.Nxd5©) 23.Qa6 Ra8 24.Qe2 Rc8= Hikaru
Nakamura 2787 - Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 2768, Saint Louis 2014) 22...Kh7 23.Qd1 (23.Rfd1 f5
24.Rf3 Rc5 25.Qb7+ Rf7 26.Qa6 f4=) 23...Rc6 24.Qe2 (24.Nb5 Bg5 25.Rc3 Qd7 26.Ndc7 Rxc3
27.Nxe6 Qxe6 28.bxc3 Be7 29.Nc7 Qc4 30.Nd5 Bg5=) 24...Qh4 25.Nb5 Rb8 26.Rfd1 Qd8 27.Qf3
Kg7 28.b4 Bxd5 29.Rxd5 axb4 30.Qb3²) 15.Qf3 Nc5= 16.Rfd1

16...Kg7! (16...b5?! 17.a4! The correct reaction! Opening the queenside serves only White. 17...b4
(17...Rb8 18.axb5 axb5 19.Ra7 Bg5 20.Qe2 Nxb3 21.cxb3 b4 22.Nb5 Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Rc8 24.g3
(24.Nxd6?! Rc1+ 25.Kh2 h4³) 24...h4 25.Kg2 Rc6 26.g4 Qb6 27.Qd3 Rd8 28.Ra4² and White is the

379
one who plays for a win.) 18.Nxb4 Nxb3 19.cxb3 Bxb3 20.Rd3 Bc4 (20...Rc8?! 21.Ncd5! (21.Nb5?!
axb5 22.Rxb3 bxa4= 23.Rba3

(23.Rxa4 Rc1+ 24.Kh2 Qg5 25.Nd3 Rb1 26.Ra7 Qd2=) 23...Rc1+! This move is a must Black since
should exchange as many pieces as possible in order to reduce the pressure. (23...Bc1 24.Qe2
(24.Nd3 Bd2 25.Rxa4 Rc2 26.Ra7 Qc8 (26...Rc7 27.R7a6² G. Akash 2411 - Maxim Matlakov 2692,
Dubai 2019) 27.Qf6 Qd8 28.Qf3 Qc8 29.R7a6 Qe6 30.Rb6 Bg5 31.Raa6 Rd8 32.Ra5 Qd7 33.Rd5
Qc7 34.Ra6 Rc6=) 24...Qd7 25.Rxa4 Qb7 26.Rb1 Bg5 27.Qd3 Kg7 28.b3 f5 29.exf5 Rxf5 30.Nd5±)
24.Rxc1 Bxc1 25.Nd3 Bd2 26.Rxa4 Qb6 27.Qf6 Qc6 28.Ra1 Qxe4 29.Qxd6 Qe2 30.Rb1 e4 31.Nf4
Bxf4 32.Qxf4 Qc2 33.Rf1 Re8©) 21...Bc4 22.Rdd1 Kg7 23.b3 Bxd5 24.Nxd5± and White is much
better.) 21.Nc6 Qc7 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.exd5 f5 24.Rc3 Qf7 25.Rd1 e4 26.Qe2 a5 27.Rc4 Rfe8 28.Nd4
(28.b4 e3„) 28...Rab8 29.Nc6

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29...e3! 30.f3 Ra8 31.b4 axb4 32.Rxb4 Bg7 33.Rc4 Be5 34.a5 Bg3„) 17.Ne3 Rc8 18.Bd5 b5 19.b4
Na4 20.Nxa4 bxa4 21.c3 Qb6 22.Rac1 a5 23.a3 Bxe3 24.Qxe3 Qxe3 25.fxe3 Bxd5 26.Rxd5 axb4
27.axb4 Rc7 28.Rxd6 Rfc8 29.Ra6 Rxc3 30.Rxc3 Rxc3 31.Kf2 a3 32.h4 Rb3=

Maxim Matlakov

11...Nc6
11...g6 12.O-O-O Bh6+ 13.Kb1 Nc6 14.h4 (14.g3 Rc8 15.a3 O-O 16.f4 exf4 17.gxf4 Bg7 18.Rg1

381
Re8 19.c3 Ne7 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 21.Bg2 Bc4 22.Qd2 b5 23.Nd4 a5³ Shamsiddin Vokhidov 2526 -
Ivan Cheparinov 2687, Moscow (blitz) 2019) 14...O-O 15.g3 Ne7 (15...Bxd5! 16.Qxd5 Qb6 17.g4
hxg4 18.h5 Kg7 19.Rh2 Ne7 20.Qd3 Rac8 21.c3 (21.Rg2?! d5 22.exd5 (22.hxg6

22...Rfd8! A lesson in development given by Black! 23.Nd4 dxe4 24.Qxe4

24...f6!! Do not rush! Black secures his king first as the d5-knight is pinned! 25.Rxg4 Rxd4 26.Rxd4
Qxd4 27.Qxd4 exd4 28.Rxd4 Rc7-+) 22...Nxd5 23.Qxd5 Rfd8 24.Qxe5+ Kg8 25.Rxd8+ Rxd8 26.a4
Bg7 27.a5 Rd1+ 28.Ka2 Qc6 29.Qb8+ Bf8-+) 21...Ng8 22.Rg2 Nf6 23.hxg6 fxg6³) 16.Ne3
(16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.Nc3 b5 18.Qxd6 Qxd6 19.Rxd6 Rfd8 20.Rd3 Rxd3 21.Bxd3 Rd8 22.a4 bxa4
23.Nxa4 Bf8 24.f3 a5 25.Rd1 Kg7 26.b3 Be7©) 16...Qa5 (16...Qb6 17.Bg2 Rac8 This kind of

382
position could be a real riddle for every player - what to do? We can choose between playing on with
the text move, or just to exchange on e3 and deal with a drawish-like endgame. The answer is not
easy at all, and cannot be offered without considering many aspects:
1. Our own motivation to play for a win.
2. Our opponent's strenght and whether a draw would be a satisfactory result.
3. Tournament situation: a draw could be a result which takes us to some desired position in the
standings.
(17...Bxe3 18.Qxe3 Qxe3 19.fxe3 Rfd8 20.Rd2 Rac8 21.Nc3 Kg7=) 18.Nc3 Rc6 19.Bh3 Bxe3
20.fxe3 Bxh3 21.Rxh3 Rfc8„) 17.Nc3 Rac8 18.a3 Bxe3 19.Qxe3 d5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.exd5 Bxd5
22.Rg1 (22.b4?? Qa4!-+ (22...Qc7 23.Rxd5 (23.Bd3 Bxh1-+) 23...Qxc2+ 24.Ka1 Rc3 (24...Rfd8-+
Szymon Gumularz 2517 - Anton Isajevsky 2403, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2021) 25.Rd3 Rfc8-+))
22...Be6 23.Be2 Rfd8 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Bd3 Qd5 26.b3 Qd4 27.Re1 Bxb3 28.Qxd4 Rxd4 29.Rxe5=
12.O-O-O

12...Rc8!
A good novelty at the time. I wanted my rook to be ready for battle, as there is a good square for it
anyway. At the same time, I delayed a bit development of the dark-square bishop, in order to see what
my opponent's intention were.
13.Kb1
13.Nec3 g6 14.Kb1 Bh6 15.g3 Nd4 16.f4 Bxd5 17.exd5 O-Oƒ
13...g6
It is clear now that the bishop goes either to h6 or g7.

383
13...Bxd5 14.exd5 (14.Qxd5 Qb6 15.Qb3 Qxb3 16.axb3 Be7 17.h4 g6=) 14...Na5 15.Nc3 g6
16.Qe4 f5 17.Qb4 Bg7∞
14.f4
This move requires a lot of attention! Although nobody can blame White for playing it, I still believe
that from the positional point of view, it was played too fast, giving the dark-square bishop the
opportunity to become a star.
14.a3 Grandmaster Bacrot was more cautious and did not rush to play f4, keeping the f8-bishop in the
cage. 14...Bg7 15.h4 O-O 16.g3 Na5 17.Nec3 b5 18.Bh3

(Étienne Bacrot 2692 - Boris Gelfand 2731, Ashdod (m/1-rapid) 2015 – 127/75) 18...Nc4! 19.Ne3
Rc6 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.g4 hxg4 22.Nxg4 b4 23.axb4 Qb6 24.Na2 Qd4 25.Qxd4 (25.c3 Qxd3+
26.Rxd3 Rf4©) 25...exd4 26.Rh3 Rb6 27.Kc1 Rb5© and Black has a big compensation for the pawn.
14...exf4 15.Nexf4 Bg7 16.Be2
16.Nxe6 fxe6 The pawns are weak, but it does not really matter as Black will launch an attack against
the enemy king very soon. 17.Ne3 (17.Nf4? Qf6-+) 17...Qf6 18.c3 (18.Nc4 O-O! 19.c3

384
19...b5! 20.e5 Nxe5 21.Nxe5 Qxe5 22.Qxd6 Rcd8 23.Qxd8 Rxd8 24.Rxd8+ Kh7 25.Rd1 b4 26.Bxa6
bxc3 27.Rc1 Qa5 28.Be2 cxb2 29.Rc2 e5 30.Bf3 Qb4 31.Re2 Bf6 32.Rd1 Kh6 33.Be4 Bg5³)
18...Rd8 19.Qc2

(19.Be2 O-O 20.Rhf1 Qg5 21.Bf3 b5 22.g4 Ne5µ This kind of position you do not want to play as
White. Black is always better mainly due to the control over dark squares and the possibility to launch
an attack on the queenside. 23.Qe2 Nxf3 (23...h4 24.Bg2 Rxf1 25.Nxf1 Qf4 26.Nd2 Rf8 27.Rf1 Qg3
28.Rxf8+ Kxf8 29.Nf1 Qf4 30.Qd2 Qxd2 31.Nxd2 Kf7 32.Kc2 Kf6 33.Bf1 Kg5 34.c4 (34.a4?!
bxa4 35.Bxa6 Kf4 36.Bf1 Nf7 37.Nc4 Kg3 38.Nb6 Ng5 39.Kd2 Nxh3 40.Nxa4 Bh6+ 41.Ke1 Ng5
42.b4 Nxe4-+) 34...b4 35.Nb3 Nd7 36.c5 Nxc5 37.Nxc5 dxc5 38.Bxa6 Kf4 39.a4 bxa3 40.bxa3
g5µ) 24.Rxf3 Rxf3 25.Qxf3 Rf8 26.Qe2 Qh4 27.a4 Rf2 28.Qe1 Qg3 29.Rd2 Rf3 30.Qxg3 Rxg3

385
31.Nc2 h4 32.axb5 axb5 33.Nd4 (33.Rxd6 Rxh3 34.Rd8+ Kh7 35.Rd1 Rg3-+) 33...Rxh3 34.Nxe6
Rg3 35.Rxd6 Rxg4 36.Rd3 g5-+) 19...b5!„ 20.a4?! This is another move recommended by the
engines. White has a problem with the undeveloped f1-bishop, and is trying to find a good square for
it. On the other hand, moving the pawns in front of your own king could be a suicide mission, but
nevertheless it is not easy to suggest a good plan for White. 20...Qe5 21.axb5 axb5 22.Qd3 O-O! A
delayed castling, but still excellent timing for it. 23.Qxb5

23...Qg3!!³ I am very proud of this move! As stated earlier, this game should be played in close
connection with the dark square strategy, which means that the e4-pawn should not be captured, as it
keeps the white light-square bishop in passivity. With the text move, I was already starting to cast the
net in which the enemy king was supposed to suffocate! (23...Qxe4+! 24.Bd3 Qxe3 25.Qxc6 Rc8
26.Qe4 Qxe4 27.Bxe4 Rb8 28.Rc1 Kh7 29.Bf3 d5=) 24.Qxc6 (24.Nc4?! Ne5 25.Nb6

386
(25.Nxe5 Rb8 26.Qd3 Qxe5 27.Be2 Qxc3 28.Qxc3 Bxc3 29.Kc2 Bg7 30.Rb1 Rf2 31.Kd3 Rxg2
32.b4 Rg3+ 33.Kc2 Re3 34.Bd3 Ra8 35.Kd2 Bh6 36.Rbd1 Ra3-+) 25...Rb8! 26.Rxd6 (26.Qa5 Qe3
27.Rxd6 Nc6! 28.Rxc6 Qxe4+ 29.Bd3 Qxc6-+) 26...Qe1+ 27.Ka2 Rf7 28.Qa6 Rf2 29.Na4 Qc1
30.Rb6 Rxb6 31.Qxb6 Rxf1 32.Rxf1 Qxf1 33.Qxe6+ Kh7 34.Nc5 Qxg2-+; 24.Qd3 Ne5 25.Qe2 Rf2
26.Qe1 Bh6 27.Nc2 h4µ A nice position! An example of total domination.) 24...Qxe3 25.Bd3
(25.Bc4?†

Here Kovačević was already short on time, but at the first sight this is a normal developing move. The
fact that it took White 25 moves to develop his f1-bishop should put a quetion mark to the line White
opted for. 25...Rb8!-+ Aleksandar Kovačević 2540 - Ranko Szuhanek 2511, Srbija 2013 – 121/69;
25.Bb5 Rb8 26.Rhe1 Qg5 27.e5 Bxe5 28.Rf1 Rfc8 29.Qd7 Qxg2! 30.Qxe6+ Kh8 31.Qd5 Qxh3

387
32.Rf3 Qg4 33.Rdf1 Rc5 34.Qd2 Bg7 35.Be2 Qe4+ 36.Qc2 Qe5-+) 25...Rb8 26.Rhe1 Qg3 27.e5 Rf2
28.Re2 Rxe2 29.Bxe2 Qxe5 30.Bf3 d5µ
16...O-O 17.Rhf1 Qg5 18.c3 h4 19.Ne3 Rcd8 20.Bg4 Bxg4 21.hxg4 b5∞

388
389
6.h3... 8.g3

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nde2 h5 8.g3

A modern line which has been developed lately, and played by many top players. White accepts the
fact that he can no longer go for g4 and Ng3, and settles for the ideas usually applied in the 6.g3 line.
However, after 8. g3 we will see different ideas employed by White, especially the long castle, which
is not often utilised after 6.g3.
8...Nbd7

390
Another good option. Black aims his c8-bishop to b7, after playing b5 or b6. This is a well known
setup in the 6.g3 line against the Najdorf variation.
9.Bg5
9.Bg2 b5 10.Bg5 (10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.Qxd5 Qc7 12.Be3 Bb7 13.Qd2 Rc8 (13...Nf6!? 14.Nc3 Rc8
15.O-O Qc4 16.Qd3 Be7 17.a3

17...h4! The best continuation! Before going to castle, Black should have gone for this pawn
exchange as the open f-file means nothing to White. After the exchange of queens there can be no
attacking possibilities, and it is only Black who can hope to create counterplay on the queenside.
(17...O-O 18.Bg5 (18.Rfd1 h4 19.gxh4 Nh5 20.Qxc4 Rxc4 21.Bf1 Rc7 22.Bg5 f6 23.Be3 f5 24.exf5

391
Rxf5 25.Nd5 Bxd5 26.Rxd5 Nf4 27.Rd2 d5 28.a4 Bxh4 29.axb5 axb5 30.Bxf4 Rxf4 31.Bxb5 e4
32.Ra6 d4 33.Kg2 Rc5 34.Bd7 Re5 35.Rg6 e3 36.fxe3 dxe3 37.Re2 Kh8© and Black has enough
compensation for a draw.) 18...Qxd3 19.cxd3

19...Nd5! Liquidating to an equal endgame. 20.Bd2 Nxc3 21.Bxc3 h4 22.a4 hxg3 23.fxg3 Bd8! 24.a5
Bg5 25.h4 Be3+ 26.Kh2 Rfd8 27.Bh3 Rc7 28.Rae1 Bc5= David Navara 2730 - Nikola Đukić 2553,
Reykjavík 2015) 18.Rac1 hxg3 19.fxg3 O-O 20.Rf2 a5 21.Ra1 Qxd3 22.cxd3 Bc6 23.Bb6 Ra8 24.Rc2
Bd7 25.Nd1 Be6 26.Kh2 Rfb8„) 14.Nc3 h4 (14...Nb6 15.Bxb6 Qxb6 16.a4 Be7 17.axb5 axb5 18.h4
O-O 19.O-O Rc4 20.b3 Rc7 21.Nd1 Qd4 22.Qa5 Qc5 23.Ne3 Ra8 24.Qd2 g6 25.Rxa8+ Bxa8 26.Ra1
Ra7 27.Ra5 Qb6 28.Rxa7 Qxa7= Hikaru Nakamura 2792- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 2791, Saint
Louis 2017) 15.O-O Nb6 16.Bxb6 Qxb6³ Jacob Sylvan 2312 - Kirill Shevchenko 2539, Teplice
2019) 10...Be7 11.O-O (11.a4 b4 12.Nd5 Nxd5 (12...Bb7 13.Bxf6?! (13.Nxe7 Qxe7 14.c4 Nc5 15.f3
O-O 16.O-O Ne6 17.Be3 h4 18.a5 Nh5 19.g4 Ng3 20.Re1 Nc5∞) 13...Nxf6 14.a5 Nxd5 15.exd5
Rb8 (15...h4 16.Qd2 Rb8 17.Qxb4

392
17...O-O! This is the point! Black can afford to sacrifice a pawn, and still keep a consistent
advantage. 18.Qc3 Bc8 19.O-O Bd7 20.b3 Bg5 21.Qd3 f5 22.c4 e4 23.Qc3 Re8 24.Ra2

24...Qf6!µ A correct decision! Every endgame is favourable for Black, due to his bishop pair and
active rooks.) 16.O-O O-O 17.Nc1

393
(17.h4 This is a must if White wants to keep the balance, and look for a path to save the game in a
slightly inferior position. 17...Bc8 18.c4 Bg4 19.Qd2 g5! 20.hxg5 Bxg5 21.Qd3 Qc8 22.Rae1 Kg7³)
17...h4!µ Pascal Vandevoort 2390 - Tigran Gharamian 2657, Belgique 2015) 13.Qxd5 Rb8 14.Bxe7
Qxe7 15.Rd1 Nb6 16.Qc6+ Qd7 17.Qxd7+ (17.Rxd6 Qxc6 18.Rxc6 Nxa4 19.O-O (19.b3? At this
point White is already worse. Who may have thought that the black monarch would play such an
important role and literally win the game. 19...Kd7! 20.Rc4

20...Kd6!!µ If the Kd7 move can be a viable option or not is very hard to see from a distance. Indeed,
White should evaluate this position some five, six moves earlier. A very instructive example when a
"good" king can trap a "bad" rook in the middle of the board. 21.f4 f6 22.Nd4 Nb6 23.fxe5+ fxe5
24.Rc6+ Kd7 25.O-O exd4 26.e5 Rh6-+ Nazar Firman 2523 - Kamil Dragun 2564, Krakow 2016)

394
19...Kd7 20.Rc4 Nxb2 21.Rc5 Rb5 22.Rxb5 axb5 23.Rb1 Nc4 24.Rxb4 Kc6 25.Nc3 Nd6³)
17...Bxd7 18.b3 Ke7 19.Rd2 Rhc8³) 11...Bb7 12.b4 O-O 13.Qd3 Rc8 14.a4 Rc4 15.axb5 axb5
16.Nxb5 Rxb4 17.Nxd6 Bxd6 18.Qxd6 Rc4 19.Rad1 Qc8 20.Bxf6 Nxf6 21.Qxe5 Bxe4 22.Nd4
Bxc2= Parham Maghsoodloo 2676 - Alexander Grischuk 2777, ProChessLeague (Internet-rapid)
2020; 9.a4 b6 10.Bg2 Bb7 11.O-O Be7 12.Bg5 Rc8 13.Qd2

13...Rc4! A strong novelty by Vachier-Lagrave. Although the line is pretty quiet, Black finds a nice
way to provoke weaknesses in the enemy camp. (13...O-O 14.Rad1 Qc7 15.Kh2 Rfe8 16.f4 b5
17.axb5 axb5 18.Nxb5 Qxc2 19.Nbc3 Qxd2 20.Rxd2 Rc4³ Zhansaya Abdumalik 2478 - Marie Sebag
2438, chess24.com (Internet-blitz) 2020) 14.b3 Rc7 15.Rad1 O-O 16.h4 Qa8 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5
b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Ra1 Qb7∞ Wei Yi 2721 - Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 2774, chess.com (Internet-
m/10-blitz) 2019

395
 Fabiano Caruana

9...Be7 10.a4 Nc5 11.Bg2 Be6 12.a5

396
12...b5!?
12...O-O 13.O-O Rc8 14.Nc1 g6 15.Nd3 Qd7 16.f4 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Bxh3 18.fxe5 Nh7 19.Bxe7 Bg4
20.Qd2 Qxe7=
13.axb6 Qxb6 14.b3 O-O 15.O-O a5 16.Qd2 Rfc8 17.Rfd1 Qb4
17...a4 18.bxa4 Bc4 19.Bf3 (19.a5 Qd8 20.Bxf6² Fabiano Caruana 2811 - Hikaru Nakamura 2776,
Zürich 2015) 19...Qd8 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Bxh5 Bg5 22.Qe1±
18.Rab1 a4 19.bxa4 Qa5 20.Ra1 Ra6 21.Rdb1 Qd8 22.Bh4 Qd7 23.Kh2 Nxa4 24.Nd1 Rb6=

397
6.h3... 8...Be6

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nde2 h5 8.g3 Be6

398
9.Bg2 Nbd7
9...b5

10.O-O Be7 11.Be3 (11.a4 b4 12.Nd5 a5 13.c3 Na6 14.Be3 Bxd5 15.exd5 O-O 16.cxb4 axb4 17.a5
Qb8 18.Qd3 Rd8 19.Nc1 Nc5 20.Bxc5 dxc5 21.Nb3 h4 (21...e4 22.Bxe4 h4∞ Jason Liang 2345 -
Samvel Ter-Sahakyan 2640, chess.com (Internet) 2021) 22.Kh2 Qc7 23.Rfc1 hxg3+ 24.fxg3 e4
25.Bxe4 Bd6 26.Nd2 Nh5 27.Nf1 Rxa5 28.Rxa5 Qxa5 29.Bf3 Nf6 30.Nd2 Qc7 31.Bg2 Be5 32.Nc4
Bd4„) 11...Nbd7 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Bf5 14.f4 Rc8 (14...Bh7 15.fxe5 Nxe5 16.Nd4 Bg5 17.Bf2
Bg6 18.Nc6 Qd7 19.Re1 O-O 20.Bd4 f6 21.h4 Bh6 22.a4 Rfe8 23.axb5 axb5 24.Rxa8 Rxa8 25.Qe2
Re8 26.Bxe5

399
26...fxe5„ Ivan Šarić 2646 - Leinier Domínguez Pérez 2758, ProChessLeague (Internet-rapid) 2020)
15.c3 Bh7 16.a4 Vachier-Lagrave played himself this line, but could not find any advantage for
White. (16.Qe1 O-O 17.Rd1 h4 18.g4 exf4 19.Nxf4 Bg5³ 20.Bd4 Re8 21.Qf2 Ne5 22.Rde1 Qd7
23.Be4 Bxe4 24.Rxe4 Qb7 25.a3 Rc7 26.Bxe5 dxe5 27.Rfe1 Rc4 28.Rxc4 bxc4 29.Ng2 Qxd5
30.Nxh4 e4 31.Nf5 e3 32.Qe2 g6 33.Nd4 Bh4 34.Rf1 Bf2+ 35.Rxf2 exf2+ 36.Qxf2 Qe4-+ Sergey
Karjakin 2781 - Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 2796, Paris (rapid) 2017) 16...O-O 17.axb5 axb5 18.Ra6
(18.fxe5 Nxe5 19.Nd4 Bg5 20.Qc1 Bxe3+ 21.Qxe3 Qb6 22.Rfe1 Rfe8=) 18...exf4 19.Nxf4

19...h4= 20.Bd4 Ne5 21.Nh5 Bg6 22.Nf4 Bh7 23.Nh5 Bg6 24.Nf4 1/2 : 1/2 Maxime Vachier-
Lagrave 2804 - Anish Giri 2771, London 2016

400
 Anish Giri

10.f4
10.Nd5 Rc8 11.Nec3 Nxd5 (11...b5?! 12.O-O Nb6

401
This "template" solution would not work in this particular position. (12...Nxd5 13.Nxd5 h4 14.a4
Bxd5 15.exd5 b4 16.a5 Qc7 17.Bd2 hxg3 18.fxg3 Be7 19.Qg4²) 13.a4! Black lost too much time,
and it is the perfect time to strike! (13.Qe2?! The young Russian player did not take the opportunity
to take over the initiative. 13...Nbxd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Bf5 (15...Bd7! leaving the f5 square
free for the pawn push. 16.f4 Qc7 17.c3 Be7 18.Be3 f5„) 16.c3 Be7 17.Be3

17...Qd7! (17...Bg6?! 18.a4 White did it just in time! 18...O-O 19.axb5 axb5 20.Qxb5 Rb8 Black has
no compensation at all. 21.Qe2± Vladislav Nozdrachev 2500 - Alireza Firouzja 2759, lichess.org
(Internet-blitz) 2021) 18.Kh2 h4 19.g4 Bg6 20.a4 O-O 21.axb5 axb5 22.Ra7 Qe8 23.Re1 f5!„)
13...Nbxd5 14.exd5 Bd7 15.axb5 axb5

402
16.Na2! Ra8 17.Be3 Qc8 18.Nb4±) 12.Nxd5 Bxd5 13.Qxd5 Rxc2 14.Qxb7

14...d5! A true ''liberation move" which gives White a headache. 15.O-O (15.exd5 Qa5+ 16.Kd1
Rxf2 17.d6 Bxd6 18.Be3 (18.Bc6? O-O! 19.Bxd7 Rd8-+) 18...Rxg2! 19.Qxg2 O-O 20.Qc6 Nf6
21.Rc1 h4 22.Kc2 Nd5 23.Kb1 Nxe3 24.Qxd6 hxg3 25.Rhe1 Rd8 26.Qc6 Nf5µ) 15...d4 16.Qxa6
Be7 17.Qd3 Qc7 18.Rb1 h4 19.Bd2 hxg3 (19...O-O?! 20.Bc3 Rxf2! 21.Rxf2 Nc5 22.Qc4 dxc3
(22...hxg3 23.Rc2 dxc3 24.Rxc3 Qa7 25.Kh1 Ne6 26.Rxg3 Nf4 27.b4±) 23.Qxc3 Qa7 24.Rbf1 Ne6
25.Kh2 Qb8 26.Kh1 Bc5 27.Rc2 Bd4 28.Qd3 hxg3 29.Qxg3 g6 and Black has some compensation,
but I am not sure it is enough to save the game.) 20.fxg3 O-O 21.Bf3 Qb6 22.Ba5 Qa7 23.Bd2 Qb6
24.Bg4 Nf6 25.a4 Nxg4 26.hxg4 Rb8 27.b4 Rbc8 28.Rf2 Qe6„
10...b5 11.b3
An original idea a la Shirov! Still, it will not bring White any advantage since the f5 advance is easily
refuted by Black.
11.Be3 Rc8 12.O-O Be7 13.b3 Nc5 14.a3 O-O (14...Qc7 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Bd7 17.Rc1 O-O
18.f5 a5 19.g4 hxg4 20.hxg4 Qd8 21.Qd2 f6 22.Ng3 Kf7

403
23.Kf2!±) 15.Qd2 Re8 16.Rad1 a5 17.Qe1 Bd7 18.Qf2 (18.fxe5 dxe5 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.Rxd5 Qc7
21.Nc3 b4 22.axb4 axb4 23.Nd1 h4³) 18...Rf8 19.Qe1 b4 20.axb4 axb4 21.Na2 Ncxe4 22.Nxb4 Qe8
23.Rc1 h4 24.g4 exf4 25.Nxf4

25...Bd8!„
11...Nb6 12.Bb2 Qc7 13.Qd2 Rc8 14.a3 a5
The perfect way! White has several possibilities, but Black has a fine game.
14...Be7 This is too slow. A rare position occured, and Black should force his opponent to make an
important decision. 15.O-O-O² This is not a bad decision at all. Shirov sees the possibility of

404
attacking the black king on the opposite side, and goes for it. 15...O-O 16.f5 Bd7 17.g4 Nh7 18.Kb1
a5 19.Na2! (19.Nd5 This "active" move is doomed. White's king becomes a target, while Black's
king will be forever safe. 19...Nxd5 20.exd5

20...b4!³ 21.a4 h4 (21...Bg5 22.Qd3 Nf6 23.Ng3 h4 24.Ne4 Nxe4 25.Bxe4 Qa7 26.f6 Bxf6∞)
22.Ng1 Bg5! (22...e4?! This sacrifice has no point since it gives free way for the b2-bishop. Even
after the exchange of the dark-square bishops, the g1-knight can go to f3 or e2 covering the central
dark squares. 23.Bxe4 Bg5 24.Qd3! (24.Qf2 Rfe8 25.Bd3 Bf6 26.Ne2 Bxb2 27.Kxb2 Nf6 28.Bc4
Bxa4 (Alexei Shirov 2705 - Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 2710, España 2011 – 113/82)

29.Nd4! Nd7 30.Ba6 Ra8 31.Bd3 Qc3+ 32.Kb1 Nc5 33.f6 Bxb3 34.Nxb3 Nxb3 35.cxb3 Qxb3+

405
36.Qb2 Qxb2+ 37.Kxb2 Re3 38.Bc2 a4=) 24...Bf6 25.Nf3 Bxb2 26.Kxb2 Nf6 27.Rhe1 Rfe8
28.Ng5 Re5 29.Bg2 Rce8 30.Nf3 Re4 31.Rxe4 Nxe4 32.Re1 Nc3 33.Rxe8+ Bxe8 34.Ng5 Kf8
35.Ne4±) 23.Qe2 Qc5 24.Be4 Qe3 25.Qxe3 Bxe3 26.Nf3 Nf6 27.Rhe1 Bf4 28.Re2 Bg3³ The
further plan is to open the position by playing g6, when either the f- or g- file would allow the black
rooks to join the battle.) 19...Qc5 20.Nec1! Bg5 21.Qe2 h4 22.Nd3 Qc7 23.Ne1 Nf6∞
15.Nxb5
15.fxe5 dxe5 16.Nxb5 Qc5 17.a4 Qxc2 18.Qxc2 Rxc2 19.Bxe5 Bxb3 20.Nbd4 Rc5 21.Bxf6 Bc4!
22.Bh4 g5 23.Rb1 Nxa4 24.Rb8+ Kd7 25.Bxg5 Rxg5 26.h4 Rc5 27.Kf2 Bxe2 28.Nxe2

28...Rf5+! 29.Ke1 (29.exf5 Bc5+ 30.Kf3 Rxb8 31.Ra1 Nb2 32.Rxa5 Rb3+ 33.Kf4 f6!= 34.Bd5
Nd3+ 35.Kf3 Ne1+ 36.Kf4 Nd3+=) 29...Rf6 30.Rb7+ Kc8 31.e5 Rb6 32.Rxf7 Bc5 33.Be4 Re8
34.Rf5 Rb2 35.Kf1 (35.Rxh5 Kb8! 36.g4 Nb6 37.Nf4 Bf2+ 38.Kf1 Nc4 39.Kg2 Bd4+ 40.Kg3
Bxe5©) 35...Nb6=
15...Qxc2 16.fxe5 Qxd2+ 17.Kxd2 dxe5 18.Rhc1 Rxc1 19.Rxc1 Bxb3 20.Bxe5

406
20...Nc4+ 21.Kc3 Nxe5 22.Kxb3 Nfd7 23.Rc8+ Ke7 24.Nbc3 Kf6 25.Nd5+ Kg5 26.h4+ Kh6
27.Ka4 Kh7 28.Bh3 g6 29.Bxd7 Nxd7 30.Rc7 Ne5 31.Nd4 Bd6 32.Rc3 Nd7 33.Kb5 Rb8+
34.Kc6 Be5 35.Rd3 Nf8=

407
408
6.h3... 9...Be7

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nde2 h5 8.g3 Be6 9.Bg2 Be7

10.O-O Nbd7 11.a4 Rc8 12.Be3

12.Bg5

12...Nh7!? 13.Be3 h4 14.g4 O-O 15.Qd2 Rc6 16.Rac1 Bg5 17.f4 exf4 18.Nxf4 Re8 19.b3 Qa5
20.Nce2 Qxd2 21.Bxd2 Rcc8= Alexander Motylev 2655 - Ian Nepomniachtchi 2717, Russia 2013;

409
12.b3 Nc5 13.Be3 O-O 14.a5 Bd7 15.f3 Bc6 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 h4 18.g4 Nh7 19.c4 (19.f4?!
exf4 20.Nxf4 Re8 21.Bd4 Bf6 22.Nh5 Be5 23.b4 Nd7 24.c3 Qg5µ Igor Kovalenko 2667 - Grzegorz
Gajevski 2605, Warszawa 2016 – 129/75) 19...Bg5∞
12...Nb6 13.b3 d5 14.Bxb6 Qxb6 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Bf5
16...Bd7!? An interesting concept by Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. He puts his bishop back to d7 instead
of going to f5. There is an unwritten rule which says that you should make room for your pawns to
roll on, when looking for compensation for the sacrificed material. On the other hand, the dark-square
bishop is doing excellent job in stopping the opponent's pawn majority. We can conclude that Black
has good compensation for the sacrificed pawn. 17.c4 Qd6 18.f4

(18.a5?! It is understandable that White prevents Black from playing a5 and b6, but the text move is
too slow. 18...f5 19.Qd3 h4 20.g4 O-O! It is important to bring all the pieces into play. 21.Nc3 e4
22.Qe3

410
22...Bd8! Prepairing the battery after Bc7 which is equal to winning. 23.Bxe4 The most logical way
to obtain some practical chances to save the game. 23...fxe4 (23...Bc7! 24.f4 fxe4 25.Nxe4 Rce8!µ)
24.Nxe4 Qf4 (24...Qg6 25.Kh1 Bc7 26.f3 Rce8µ) 25.Qxf4 Rxf4 26.f3 Be7! 27.Kf2 Rcf8 28.Ke3

28...Be8!µ Fabiano Caruana 2820 - Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 2757, Wijk aan Zee 2015 – 123/78)
18...e4! 19.Nd4 f5!³ Although the engines are giving equality, I prefer Black. The dark-square bishop
domination over the whole board can hardly be avoided by White.

411
 Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

17.c4

17...Bb4!
17...h4?! 18.g4 Bd7 19.a5 Qd6 20.Nc3 f5 21.gxf5 (21.Qe2?! fxg4= 22.hxg4 h3 23.Be4 O-O 24.f3
(24.Na4 Bxa4 25.Rxa4 g6 26.Kh2 Qf6 27.Qe3±) 24...Qb4

412
25.d6! (25.Qc2 Bc5+ 26.Kh2 Bd4 27.Rfc1?

27...Bxg4!µ 28.Ra4? Qd6-+ 29.Raa1 Bxf3 30.Rf1 Bxc3 31.Qxc3 Bxe4 0 : 1 Seo Jung Min 2453 -
Luis Supi 2572, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020; 27.Rac1±) 25...Bxd6 26.Bd5+ Kh8 27.Ne4 Bc5+
28.Nxc5 Qxc5+ 29.Kh2 Bc6 30.Rad1±) 21...Bxf5 22.Re1 O-O 23.Qh5 g6 24.Qh6 g5 25.Qxd6 Bxd6
26.Ne4±
18.Rc1 Ba3 19.Ra1 Bb4 20.Ra2

413
20...O-O© 21.a5 Bxa5
21...Qc7 22.Nc1 Bg6 23.Nd3 Bxd3 24.Qxd3 Qd6 25.Qe2 h4 26.Qg4 hxg3 27.fxg3±
22.Qa1 Bb4 23.Qxe5 g6 24.Rd1 Rfe8 25.Qf4 Bd6 26.Qd2 Re5©

414
CHAPTER 11
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h4

Indeed, this line can be considered as a weird one. The idea behind this move is pretty unclear, since
it can only be useful if an attack involving the kingside pawns is launched. But, Black can prevent
such attack in many ways. After 6...e5 the only rational answer is 7.Nb3. White can proceed either
with 8.Bg5 and after taking the knight on f6 transpose into lines starting with 6.Nb3, or go directly for
7.f4 followed by long castle. Black has a rich play in all these lines and may choose between either a
central break with exf4 and d5, or a typical attack on the queenside by pushing the a- and b-pawns
supported by other pieces as well.

6.h4... 8.f4

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h4

415
This move was first introduced on the top level by Peter Heine Nielsen vs. Jacob Carstensen, in
Berlin (blitz) 2015 and later also used by some Israeli players. The idea behind this line is not clear to
me at all, so maybe the future tournament games will help us to understand the whole concept better.
6...e5 7.Nb3
7.Nde2?! This continuation is not popular at all. The knight has no future here after the h4 move was
played. 7...Be6 8.Bg5 (8.Ng3 Be7 9.Be2 Nc6 10.O-O O-O 11.Be3 d5 12.exd5 Bxd5 13.Nf5 Be6
14.Qxd8 Bxd8 15.Nd6 Nd4 16.Bd3 Be7 17.Nce4 Nxe4 18.Nxe4 Bxh4 19.Nc5 Bf5 20.Bxd4 Bxd3
21.cxd3 exd4 22.g3 Be7³) 8...Nbd7 9.h5?! Rc8 (9...Qb6 10.Qc1 h6 11.Be3 Qc6 12.Ng3 b5µ)
10.h6?! In actual fact, this helps Black to create a strong fortress for his king. 10...g6µ Justin Sarkar
2307 - Martin Červený 2359, Pardubice (rapid) 2018; 7.Nf3?! is also a dubious retreat and not played
at top level. 7...h6 8.Bc4 Be7 9.Be3 Be6 10.Qd3 Nc6 11.Bxe6 (11.Bb3 Rc8 12.Rd1 O-O 13.Kf1?!
White has no plan. After the h4 was played, the short castle is not a great idea, but after failing to
castle long, White is clearly worse. 13...Na5 (13...Bg4 14.Bc1 Na5 15.Bd5 b5 16.a3 Qc7µ) 14.Kg1
Nc4 15.Bc1 b5µ White's position is sad indeed, and Black quickly won in Alexey Bezgodov 2456 -
Yaroslav Remizov 2382, Chelyabinsk 2020) 11...fxe6 12.O-O-O O-O 13.Kb1 b5 14.Ne2 d5 15.Ng3
d4³
7...Be6
The most popular answer.
7...Be7 This is also a good move as it does not allow White to play 8.f4. Nevertheless, after 8.Bg5 the
game can easily transpose into some lines starting with 6.Nb3. 8.Be2 Be6 9.f4 Nc6 10.f5 Bxb3
11.axb3 d5 12.exd5 Nd4 13.O-O

416
(Nitzan Steinberg 2554 - Maksim Chigaev 2588, lichess.org (Internet-blitz) 2020) 13...Bc5!©
8.f4

This is also a modern choice today, even though it weakens the g4-square for good.
8...exf4
8...Nc6 A popular answer. 9.f5 Bxb3 10.axb3 Be7! (10...d5?! (Daniel Naroditsky 2646 - Yaroslav
Zherebukh 2605, USA (ch) 2017 – 132/86) 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.exd5 Nd4

417
13.f6! I am sure that Naroditsky missed this "zwischenzug" to gain a huge advantage. 13...Qxd5
14.c3 Qe4+ 15.Kf2 Qf5+ 16.Kg1 Nc6 17.fxg7 Bxg7 18.g4 Qe4 19.Bg2 Qg6 20.h5 Qe6 21.Be4±)
11.g4 d5 12.g5 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Qxd8+ Bxd8 15.Bg2 Nd4 16.Bxe4 Bb6 17.Bd2²; 8...Bg4!?
An interesting choice even after 7...Be6. This is an excellent line after 7...Be7 8.f4. This way Black
loses a tempo, but after 9... h5 he consolidates the kingside and the position is perfectly playable.
9.Be2

9...h5! (9...Bxe2?! 10.Qxe2 Nbd7 11.g4 h5 (11...Nb6?! 12.g5 Nfd7 13.Be3 (13.a4 Rc8 14.a5 Nc4
15.f5ƒ Nitzan Steinberg 2486 - Lali Agbabishvili 2095, Gibraltar 2017) 13...Rc8 14.O-O-O exf4
15.Bxf4 Rxc3!? Now this sacrifice only prevents White from gaining a decisive advantage. 16.bxc3
Qc7 17.Rh3 Ne5 18.h5 Be7 19.Kb1±) 12.g5 Ng4 13.f5 Nb6 14.Bd2 Qc7 15.Rh3 Qc4 16.Rd3 Be7

418
17.O-O-O Rc8 18.Be1 O-O 19.Na5 Qc7 20.Bf2±) 10.Bf3 Be7 11.Be3 Nbd7 12.Qd2 b5 13.O-O-O
Rc8 14.a3 exf4 15.Bxf4 Ne5 16.Bxg4 Nfxg4 17.Nd5 Nc4 18.Qe2 Bf6 19.Nd4 O-O 20.Kb1 Re8„
9.Bxf4 Nc6 10.Qd2

10...Rc8!
The rook is always well placed here.
10...b5?! 11.O-O-O Ne5 12.Nd5 Nxe4 (12...Rc8? 13.Nxf6+ (13.Qd4? (Omer Reshef 2466 - Ariel
Erenberg 2366, Budapest 2017) 13...Bxd5 14.exd5 Qc7 15.c3 Be7=) 13...Qxf6 14.Nd4 Be7 15.Be2
Nc4 16.Bxc4 Rxc4 17.Bxd6+-) 13.Qe3 Bxd5 14.Rxd5 Nf6

419
15.Rxb5!! An excellent way to punish Black for keeping the king in the centre. 15...Be7 16.Bxe5
dxe5 (16...axb5? 17.Bxf6 Kf8 18.Bd4+-) 17.Rb7 (17.Rxe5? Ng4µ) 17...e4 18.g4 O-O 19.g5 Ng4
20.Qf4+-
11.O-O-O Ne5 12.Kb1
12.Bxe5? dxe5 13.Qxd8+ Rxd8 14.Rxd8+ White hopes to increase his chances for a draw by
reducing the material, but this is a bad decision. 14...Kxd8 The bishop pair and a much better pawn
structure gives Black a big advantage. 15.a3 Kc7 16.Nd2 g6 17.Nf3 Ng4µ Jan Olov Lind 2254 -
Tiger Hillarp Persson 2522, Lund 2017
12...Be7 13.Qe1
13.Nd4 O-O 14.h5 h6 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.g3 Nc4 17.Bxc4 Rxc4=
13...Qc7= 14.Nd4
14.Bxe5? A positional mistake which suddenly throws White in an inferior position. It gives away the
bishop pair, but the pawn structure is being improved and the dark-square bishop comes to life.
14...dxe5 15.Bd3 O-O! (15...Bb4 16.Nb5! (16.Qg3? O-O (16...Bxc3 17.Qxg7

17...Bxb2! 18.Kxb2 Ke7 19.Rhf1 Qc3+ 20.Kb1 Ng4 21.Qg5+ Kf8 22.Qc1 Rg8 23.Rf3 Qb4 24.Be2
Kg7 25.Rg3 Kh8-+) 17.Ne2 (17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Bd7 19.Nd2 f5 20.c3 Bd6 21.Nc4 Rf6µ)
17...Rfd8 (17...a5 18.Rdf1 Kh8 19.h5 (Dmitry Mischuk 2364 - Yury Kuzubov 2642, lichess.org
(Internet-blitz) 2020) 19...h6 20.a3 Be7 21.Nc3 Qd7-+) 18.Rhf1 Be7 19.Nc3 b5 20.a3 h6-+)
16...Bxe1 17.Nxc7+ Rxc7 18.Rhxe1 Ke7 19.Nd2 Rd8µ) 16.Rf1 Rfd8 17.Rc1 b5 18.Qe3

420
18...h6!-+ In such positions it is of big importance to prevent any counterplay and force the opponent
to passivity. Only after that our plans can be carried out.
14...b5 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.a3 O-O= 17.g3 Rfe8 18.Bh3 Bf8 19.Rf1 Nc4=

6.h4... 10...d5

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h4

421
6...e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f4
The main move in the 6.h4 line.
8.Bg5 Be7 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.g3 reaching the position we have already met in the third chapter –
7...Be7
8...exf4 9.Bxf4 Nc6 10.Qd2

10...d5
Black has many other choices as well.
10...Be7 11.O-O-O Ne5 (11...Qb6?! 12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Ne5 14.Qa5 (14.g3 O-O 15.Bh3 Rfe8„

422
Lei Tingjie 2545 - Tran Minh Tuan 2522, Hanoi 2018) 14...Qd8 15.Qxd8+ Rxd8 16.Na5 Ng6
17.Bg3 Ne4 18.Be1 Rd7

19.g4±) 12.Nd4 O-O 13.g3 (13.Nf5 Bxf5 14.exf5 Rc8 15.Kb1 b5 16.Bg5 b4 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.Qxd5
Bxg5 19.hxg5 Qxg5 20.Bxa6

20...Rc6! (20...Rcd8 21.Rd4² Jules Moussard 2576 - Namig Guliyev 2552, Clichy (rapid) 2019)
21.Bd3 Rc5 22.Qxd6 Nxd3 23.Qxd3 Rxf5=; 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.g3 Qa5 15.Bh3 Kf7 16.Rhf1 Nc4
17.Qd4 Qb4 18.Ne2 e5 19.Bd2 exd4 20.Bxb4 Ne3 21.Nxd4 Nxd1 22.Kxd1 d5 23.Bc3 dxe4 24.Ne6
Rg8

423
25.Ke2!²) 13...Bc8 (13...b5?! 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Bh3+- Bilel Bellahcene 2501 - Alexander
Donchenko 2646, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020) 14.Be2 Re8 15.Kb1 b5 16.Nf5±
11.O-O-O Bb4 12.Bg5

12.Qe3? A mistake by Caruana, and the game takes a turn in Black's favour.

424
12...d4! 13.Nxd4 Bc5 14.Nxe6 A lesser evil. (14.Nce2?? This is already equal to resigning.
14...Qb6-+ This is a deadly pin and White cannot break it. 15.Kb1 Ng4 16.Qc3 Rd8 Another pin, to
fix the d4-knight at a crossroads of two roads to hell. 17.Nxe6 Rxd1+ 18.Bc1 fxe6 19.Qxg7 Rf8
20.Qxg4 Ba3 21.Qxe6+ Kd8 22.b3

22...Qd4! 0 : 1 Fabiano Caruano 2823 - Jan-Krzysztof Duda 2743, chess.com (Internet-m/6-blitz)

2020. A beautiful move forcing Fabiano Caruana to stop the clock.) 14...Bxe3+ 15.Bxe3 fxe6
16.Rxd8+ Rxd8 17.Bc4 Ke7³
12...Nxe4!
The only practical chance!

425
12...dxe4 13.Qf2 Qe7 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Qxf6 gxf6 16.Nxe4 Be7 17.Nbc5 Rd8 18.Nxb7 Rxd1+
19.Kxd1 O-O 20.Kc1 f5 21.Nec5±
13.Qe3 Nxg5 14.Nxd5 Bd6 15.Nb6 Ne4 16.Qxe4 Qxb6 17.Rxd6 Qc7 18.Rd2 O-O 19.Bd3 g6
20.h5 Ne5=

6.h4... 8...b5

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h4 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f4 b5

426
9.f5 Bc8 10.Bg5
10.g4 This is another possibility which announces an attack on th kingside and finally makes the
move 6.h4 somehow useful. 10...Bb7 11.Bg2 b4 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 a5 14.a3 (14.Be3 Be7
(14...a4 15.Nd2 Nd7 16.g5 Qa5 17.O-O h6 18.a3 hxg5 19.hxg5 Be7 20.Ne4 bxa3 21.Rxa3 Nb6
22.Bf2 Bxd5 23.Re1 Rc8 24.Rg3©) 15.g5 Nd7 (15...Qc8?! 16.Qd3 Nd7 17.a3 a4 18.Nd2 bxa3
19.Rxa3 Nc5 20.Qb5+ Qd7 21.Qxd7+ Nxd7 22.O-O± Ori Kobo 24459 - Elizabeth Pähtz 2473,
chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020) 16.Nd2 Rc8 17.Ne4 a4 18.Qd2 Qa5 19.Bf3 Nb6=

) 14...Be7 (14...bxa3 15.Rxa3 Nd7 16.Be3 h6 17.g5 hxg5 18.hxg5 Rxh1+ 19.Bxh1 a4 20.Nd2 Qa5
21.c4 Qb4= Orlen Ruiz Sánchez 2427 - Dmitry Gordievsky 2613, Greensboro 2017) 15.g5 h6
16.Qg4 hxg5 17.hxg5 Rxh1+ 18.Bxh1 Qb6 19.axb4 axb4 20.Rxa8 Bxa8 21.Be4 Nd7 22.f6

427
22...gxf6 23.g6 fxg6 24.Qxg6+ Kd8 25.Qg8+ Bf8 26.Bf5 Bb7 27.Bxd7 Kxd7 28.Qe6+ (28.Qxf8
Qg1+ 29.Ke2 Qg2+ 30.Ke1 Qe4+ 31.Kf1 Qf3+=) 28...Kd8 29.Qg8 Kd7=
10...Nbd7 11.Nd5
11.g4 Bb7 12.Qf3 Rc8 13.Bd3 (13.O-O-O Be7 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.g5 Rxc3 16.Qxc3 Nxe4 17.Qe3
Nc3 18.Qxc3 Bxh1 19.Bxb5+ axb5 20.Rxh1 h6 21.Qc6+ Qd7 22.Qa8+ Qd8 23.Qc6+=) 13...Rxc3
14.bxc3 Qa8!? (14...Qc7© Cemil Can Ali Marandi 2515 - Ivan Cheparinov 2703, Türkiye 2017)
15.Bxf6 Nxf6

16.g5! (16.O-O-O?! Bxe4 (16...Nxe4? 17.Na5±) 17.Bxe4 Qxe4 18.Rh3 Qxf3 19.Rxf3 Nxg4 20.c4
g6 21.cxb5 axb5 22.Rd5 gxf5 23.Rxb5 Ke7 24.Rxf5 Ke6 25.Rf3 Bh6+ 26.Kb1 Be3 27.c4

428
27...f5!³ and it is Black who plays for a win.) 16...Bxe4 17.Bxe4 Qxe4+ 18.Qxe4 Nxe4 19.a4

19...bxa4! (19...b4?! 20.cxb4 d5 21.Nc5 Bxc5 22.bxc5 Kd7 23.Rb1 Nxc5 24.a5±) 20.Rxa4 Ng3
21.Rh3 Nxf5 22.Rxa6 h6 23.Ra8+ Ke7 24.g6 fxg6 25.Na5 Kf7 26.c4 Rg8 27.Nc6 Be7 28.Rxg8
Kxg8 29.Nxe7+ Nxe7 30.c5 dxc5 31.Rc3 Kf7 32.Rxc5 Nf5 33.Rxe5 Nxh4 It is very likely that
Black can hold this endgame.
11...Bb7 12.g3
12.c4? A positional mistake. White loses the possibility to castle and place his king in safety.
12...bxc4 (12...Be7 13.Nxe7 Kxe7 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Bxb5 Bxe4µ) 13.Bxc4 Be7 14.Qd3 (14.Nxe7
Qxe7 15.Nd2 O-O 16.Rc1 h6 17.Qb3 Rab8 18.Qg3 Kh8 19.b3 Rbc8µ) 14...Nxd5 (14...h6?! 15.Bxf6

429
Nxf6 16.O-O-O O-O 17.g3 Nxd5 18.Bxd5 Bxd5 19.Qxd5 a5 20.Kb1 a4 21.Nc1 Qb6³ Nikola
Nestorović 2506 - Miloš Lapčević 2358, Srbija 2017) 15.Bxd5 Bxd5 16.Qxd5 O-O 17.Bxe7 Qxe7
18.O-O-O Nf6 19.Qxd6 Qxd6 20.Rxd6 Nxe4 21.Rd7 Rac8+ It is important to learn this aspect! The
"zwichenschach" is ment to chase away the enemy king. Forcing the opponent to put his pieces to
inferior positions is a technique that can get us to extarordinary results. (21...Ng3 22.Rh3 Nxf5 23.g4
Rac8+ 24.Kb1 Nh6 25.g5 Nf5 26.Rd5 f6µ) 22.Kb1 Ng3 23.Rh3 Nxf5µ; 12.a4 Be7 13.Nxe7

13...Kxe7! 14.Bd3 h6 15.Bxf6+ Nxf6 16.Qe2 bxa4 17.Rxa4 a5 18.Kd1 Bc6 19.Ra2 a4 20.Nd2 a3
21.b4 Qb6 22.b5 Bd7³
12...Be7 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.Qf3 Nxd5 15.exd5 b4∞

430
6.h4... 8.Bg5

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h4 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Bg5

8...Nbd7
8...Be7 See the 7...Be7 analysis.
9.Qd2
9.a4 A novelty played to prevent the b5 push.

431
9...Rc8! The best reaction. 10.g3 (10.h5?! h6 11.Bh4 Be7µ It is only the early stage of the game, but
Black is already better playing only normal developing moves. The message is quite simple - White
played a dubious line and lost a lot of time on unnecessary moves. 12.Bd3

12...O-O! (12...d5!? Played a bit prematurely, thus giving White the opportunity to reduce the gap
and come closer to equality. 13.Nxd5 (13.f3?? dxe4 (13...Bb4? 14.exd5 (14.O-O Qb6+ 15.Bf2 d4
16.Ne2 Bxb3 (16...Nxh5 17.f4 Bxb3 18.cxb3 Nxf4 19.Nxf4 exf4µ Maxime Lagarde 2591 - Niclas
Huschenbeth 2560, Berlin (blitz) 2018) 17.cxb3 Nxh5-+) 14...Bxd5 15.O-O Bxc3 16.bxc3 O-O
17.Qd2 Qb6+ 18.Bf2 Qc7µ) 14.fxe4 O-O 15.Qe2 Bg4 16.Qe3 Bxh5-+) 13...Nxd5 14.exd5 Bxd5
15.Bf5 Bxg2 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Rg1 Bc6 18.Qg4 Qg5 19.Qxg5 hxg5 20.Rxg5 Rc7 21.Bxd7+ Kxd7
22.Rxe5 f6 23.Rc5 Bf3 24.Kd2 Rxc5 25.Nxc5+ Kd6 26.b4 a5 27.Ra3 axb4 28.Rxf3 Kxc5∞) 13.O-O
Ng4 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Be2 Ngf6 16.a5 Rfd8 17.Nd5 Qe8 18.Bf3 Nxd5 19.exd5 Bf5 20.c3 Nf6
21.Nd2 Qb5µ) 10...Be7 11.Bh3 O-O 12.Qd3 h6 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.O-O-O b5 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.f3
bxa4 17.Nxa4 d5³

432
9...Rc8 10.O-O-O Be7 11.Kb1 b5
11...Rxc3!? 12.Qxc3 Nxe4 13.Qe3 d5 (13...Nxg5?! 14.hxg5 d5 15.g3 Bxg5 16.f4 Bf6 17.Bg2 Qb6
18.Qe2 e4 19.g4 g6 20.f5 gxf5 21.gxf5 Bxf5 22.Rxd5 Qe6

23.Rxf5! Transformation of the advantage! White gives back the exchange, but removes an importnat
defender of the enemy king, as well potential attacking piece. 23...Qxf5 24.Bxe4 Qe5 25.c3 Rg8
26.Qc4±) 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Bd3 Nd6 16.c3 O-O 17.g3 b5©

433
Black has enough compensation.
12.f3 O-O 13.g4

13...Qc7!
13...b4? 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.exd5 e4! The last chance to stay in the game. (15...a5? 16.Bb5 Nc5
(16...Ra8 17.Bc6 Qc7 18.Be3 Nb6 19.Qd3±) 17.Bc6 Nfd7 (17...Nxb3?! 18.cxb3+- Fabiano Caruana
2811 - Zaven Andriasian 2585, ProChessLeague (Internet-rapid) 2018) 18.Be3 Nb6 19.Nxc5 dxc5
20.Qd3 a4 21.h5 a3 22.b3 Bd6 23.Rhg1±) 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Bxa6 (17.fxe4 Nc5 18.Nxc5 Rxc5 19.g5
Be5 20.Bh3 g6 21.Rdf1 a5© With good compensation.) 17...Ra8 18.Bb5 exf3 19.Qxb4 Qc7 20.Rhf1
Rfc8 21.c3 Bxh4 22.Rxf3 Bf6 23.Rdf1±

434
14.Rh2 Nb6 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.g5
16.Qxd6 Qa7 17.Qd3

17...Na4! 18.Nxa4 bxa4 19.Nc1 Rcd8 20.Qe2 Bc4 21.Nd3 Bxd3 22.cxd3 a3 23.b3 Rd4 24.Rc1 Be7
25.Qe1 a5 26.Rhc2 Bd6³
16...Be7 17.f4

17...d5! 18.exd5 Rfd8 19.Qe1 Bg4 20.Be2 Bf5 21.Bd3 Bxd3 22.Rxd3 exf4 23.Re2 Bf8 24.a3 Nc4
25.Nd4 Ne3=

435
6.h4... 7...Be7

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h4 e5 7.Nb3 Be7

436
8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.a4
9.Qe2 An interesting, never played move up to that point. White's intention is obviously to castle
long, to play g3, or g4 and to put the bishop on either g2 or h3. 9...b5 10.O-O-O h6! (10...O-O
11.Kb1 Bb7 12.g4 White goes for the aggressive approach. (12.a3 Rc8 13.Qe1 Rxc3 14.Qxc3 Nxe4
15.Qe1 Bxg5 16.hxg5 Qxg5© and Black has more than enough compensation.) (12.Bxf6 Nxf6
13.Nc5 Bc8 14.Nd3 Be6 15.Nb4 White should stick to the main idea of controlling the d5 square.
(15.Nxe5? Taking the pawn is bad, since White is not developed and Black can create an immediate
counter-attack. 15...Rc8 16.Nd3 Rxc3 17.bxc3 Qa5 18.Nb4 Rc8 19.Qe1 Qa3 20.Rd4

20...Bd8!µ) 15...Rc8 16.Ncd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Bd7 18.g3 f5 19.Nc6 Bxc6 20.dxc6 Rxc6 21.Bg2 Rc5

437
22.Bd5+ Kh8 23.Qd2 a5 24.Rhe1 b4³) 12...b4 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 a5= The position is equal, but
a typical Najdorf one, where both sides organise attacks towards the enemy king. 15.Bxe7 Qxe7
16.Nd4 Nc5 17.f4 (17.Bg2 Qc7 18.Nc6 a4 19.h5 b3 20.h6 g6 21.Qd2 f5 22.f4 e4 23.gxf5 Rxf5∞)
17...Rfe8 18.Nc6 (18.fxe5? An old rule says that we should keep the tension alive, and White should
have done it here. 18...Bxd5 19.Bg2 Bxg2 20.Qxg2 dxe5³ White is a pawn down with no particular
compensation or attack. 21.Nf5

21...Qc7! Only this move would have kept the advantage for Black. (21...Qe6?! 22.Rd6 Qc4 23.Re1
e4 (23...Ne6 24.Rxe5 Qf4 25.Qe2

25...h5! 26.Re4 Nf8! 27.Rxf4 Rxe2 28.b3 Ne6 29.Rc4 hxg4 30.Rxg4 Ra7 31.Nd4 Nxd4 32.Rgxd4

438
Rc7 33.Rd2 Rxd2 34.Rxd2 Rc5=) 24.Qf2 Ne6 1/2 : 1/2 Lazar Nestorović 2377 - Denis Kadrić 2515,
Paraćin 2017) 22.Rd5 Ne6 (22...Rad8 23.Rhd1

23...Ne6! 24.Qe4 Rxd5 25.Rxd5 Nf4 26.Rd1 h6³) 23.Qe4 Nf4 24.Rd2 Rad8 25.Rhd1 Rxd2 26.Rxd2
f6 27.h5 h6 28.b3 Kh8³) 18...Qc7 19.fxe5 Bxc6 20.dxc6 Rxe5 21.Qf3 d5 22.Bb5 Rb8 23.Rhe1! Ne4
24.Qf1 Rbe8∞) 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.a3 O-O 13.Kb1 Be6 14.f3 Rc8= and Black is just fine.

9...h6 10.Be3
10.Bd2?! This is a novelty, but it can hardly be a good one. The d2 square is usually reserved for the
knight, while the bishop should either take on f6 or retreat to e3. 10...Qc7= Black has equalised
completely. Now the h4 move was played in vain, and White must lose some tempi to put his pieces

439
on desired places. 11.Qe2 (11.a5?! This is a small positional mistake. White should keep the pressure
on this wing, but by playing a5 Black takes control over it. 11...b5³ 12.axb6 Nxb6 13.Na5 O-O!
(13...Be6 14.Bd3 (14.f4? Already a serious mistake! White has no development and his pieces are
chaotically placed - this is surely not the moment to open the centre. 14...d5 15.f5 Bd7 16.Bd3 d4
Black closes the centre and drives awa the opponent's pieces to bad squares. 17.Ne2

17...Na4! (17...h5?! Black does not sense the moment for grabbing the initiative. 18.Ng3!
Provocation is a really good technique and White should have applied it here. The black monarch
cannot stay in the centre forever, and he canot castle long, so the g6 push is surely not the move Black
would play unless provoked! (18.c4?! dxc3 19.Nxc3 Bc5!? (19...O-O 20.Bg5 Qc5 21.Nb3 Qb4
22.Bd2 Qd6 23.Be3 Qc7 24.Qe2 Ng4 25.O-O a5!µ) 20.Qe2 (20.Nb3 O-O 21.Nxc5 Qxc5 22.Qe2
Ng4 23.Rc1 Qd4µ White has too many weaknesses and his king is not safe in the centre. This is
enough reason for Black to be better.) 20...Ng4 (20...O-Oµ) 21.Rf1 Nh2 22.Rh1 Ng4 23.Rf1 O-O
24.Nd1

440
(24.Rc1 Rfc8 25.Nd1

(25.Bxa6 Rcb8 26.Nb3 Bb4 27.Rf3 Qa7 28.Ra1 Bxc3 29.Bxc3 Na4 30.Bc4 Bc6 31.Rc1 Qg1+
32.Kd2 Qb6 33.Ke1 Nxc3 34.bxc3 Qg1+ 35.Qf1 Qxf1+ 36.Kxf1 Bxe4 37.Rg3 Ra4 38.Nd2 Bxf5-+)
25...Qb8! This kind of a sublte move should be in the arsenal of every good player. The retreat does
not come without poison for White. For example: 26.Rf3 Bd4 27.Nb3 Rxc1 28.Bxc1 Na4 29.Bc4
(29.Nxd4 exd4 30.Bf4 Qb6 31.Kf1 Nc5 32.Bc4 Re8 33.e5 Bxf5 34.Nf2 Ne6-+ and White
collapses.) 29...Bb5 30.f6 Nxf6 31.Bg5 Bxc4 32.Qxc4 Nb6 33.Qd3 Nbd7 34.Nxd4 Qb4+ 35.Qc3
Qxd4 36.Qxd4 exd4 37.Bxf6 Nxf6 38.Rd3 Re8 39.Rxd4 Nxe4 40.Ne3 Nc5 41.Ke2 g6µ) 24...Bb5!µ
Petr Kostenko 2440 - Rinat Jumabayev 2614, Kazakhstan (ch) 2017) 18...g6 19.O-O Ng4 20.Rf3
Bxh4 21.Nf1 Qc5 22.Qe2©) 18.Nc4 Bb5 19.b3 Bxc4 20.Bxc4 Nc5 21.Ng3 O-O 22.Qf3 a5 23.O-O

441
Qb6 24.Rfb1 Rfc8µ) 14...d5 15.exd5 Nbxd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.O-O O-O 18.h5 f5³) 14.Bd3 Bg4
15.Qc1 d5³)

11...Nc5 12.Nxc5 Qxc5 13.Qc4 Qxc4 14.Bxc4 Be6 15.Bd3 Rc8=

10...b6 11.Bc4 Bb7 12.f3

12...Nh5!?
12...Rc8 13.Qd3

442
13...d5! This blow is common for many positions in the Najdorf variation, but this is the excellent
moment to execute it. White's pieces, even though "well placed" cannot stop Black from playing d5
obtaining the advantage. 14.exd5 (14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.Bxd5 Bxh4+ 16.Kf1 Bxd5 17.exd5 Bg5 18.c3
Bxe3 19.Qxe3 O-O³) 14...e4! The second pawn sacrifice comes with a tremendous power, leaving
White the only option of playing his queen back. 15.Qe2 exf3 16.gxf3 Ne5 17.Nd2 Nxd5 18.Bxd5
Bxd5 19.O-O-O

19...Rxc3! Another typical blow that this position requires. 20.bxc3 Qd6 21.Nb1 Qe6 22.Nd2 O-O©
13.Bf2 Ndf6 14.g3 Qc7 15.Qe2 O-O 16.O-O-O
This is very optimistic, but not recomendable. Black has a target and he will take advantage of it.

443
16.O-O Rfc8 17.Nd2 d5 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 (19.exd5 Bb4 20.Nde4 f5 21.Na2 a5 22.Nxb4 axb4
23.d6 Qc6 24.Nd2 Qxd6 25.Nc4 Qf6 26.b3 Ba6 27.Kg2 Bxc4 28.bxc4 Ra5µ) 19...Bxd5 20.exd5
Qxc2 21.Qxe5 Qxd2 22.Rad1 Qb4 23.d6 Bxd6 24.Rxd6 Nf6=
16...Rfc8 17.Bd3
17.Nd2?

17...b5! 18.Bb3 Bc6! Black should have tried to open the position as much as possible. (18...b4
19.Na2 (19.Nd5? Nxd5 20.exd5 Bxd5 21.Kb1 Bxb3 22.Nxb3 Qc6! (22...Qc4 It is understandable
that Black wants to trade queens and play the endgame being a pawn up, but in this kind of position it
is advisble to keep the queen and try to launch an assault on the white monarch. 23.Qxc4 (23.Qd2?!
Qc6µ Ian Nepomniachtchi 2732 - Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 2796, Leuven (blitz) 2017) 23...Rxc4
24.Na5 Rc7 25.g4 Nf6 26.Bb6 Rcc8 27.Be3 Ne8³) 23.Rhe1 Nf6 (23...Qxa4 24.f4 Qc6 25.Rd2 Nf6
26.fxe5 dxe5 27.Qxe5 Bf8µ) 24.a5 Rab8 25.g4 Rb5µ) 19...d5 20.exd5 Bxd5 21.Kb1 Bxb3 22.Nxb3
Re8 23.Rhe1 Rac8 24.Rd2 Qc6 25.a5 Bf8„) 19.axb5 axb5 20.Nxb5 Bxb5 21.Qxb5

444
21...d5! The move that brings a clear advantage. 22.exd5 Ra1+ 23.Nb1 e4 24.Qc6 Qd8 25.Qb6 Qxb6
26.Bxb6 Nxg3 27.Rhe1 Bd6 28.fxe4 Ngxe4µ
17...d5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Bxd5
19...Nf6!? 20.Kb1 Nxd5∞
20.Kb1 Nf6∞

445
6.h4... 8...Be6

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h4

This rare line merges with the 6.Nb3 line.
6...e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Bg5 Be6

9.Bxf6
9.Bd3?! Nbd7 10.Qe2

446
10...Rc8! Forcing White to play (10...b5 11.O-O-O O-O 12.Nd5 (12.f4? exf4 13.Bxf4 Bg4-+ Evgeny
Postny 2605 - Jan Klimkowsky 2296, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2021) 12...h6 13.Kb1 Bxd5 14.exd5
e4 15.Bxe4 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Bxg5 17.hxg5 Qxg5³) 11.Bd2 (11.O-O-O

11...Rxc3! And again this exchange sacrifice is a powerful weapon! 12.bxc3 Qc7 13.c4 O-O 14.Kb1
Nb6 15.Qd2 Nxc4 16.Bxc4 Qxc4 17.Qd3 Qc6µ) 11...O-O 12.O-O-O b5 13.a3 Nc5 14.Nxc5 dxc5
15.Bg5

447
15...Qe8!! Keeping an eye on a4, from a distance! 16.Qe3 b4 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.axb4 cxb4 19.Nd5 b3
20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.c3

21...h5!! A computer move, which is very difficult to be played by a human. Still, the text move gives
Black a solid advantage. 22.Kd2 (22.Qh6 Qa4 23.Kd2 Qa2 24.Rb1 Rfd8 25.Rhd1 Rxc3! 26.Ke2
Rcxd3-+) 22...Rd8 23.Ke2 Qc6 24.Rhe1 Kh7µ
9...Bxf6 10.g3
This is an interesting plan for White. He trades the bishop for the knight, but pushes h4 and g3
limiting the opponent's dark-square bishop, and keeping the ideas of controling the d5, and executing
a pawn-storm initiative by playing f4-f5.

448
10...Be7 11.Qd2 Nd7 12.O-O-O Nf6
12...Rc8 Another logical continuation, and a novelty in this position. 13.f4 Nf6 14.f5 Bd7 The bishop
should go to c6, as the fight for the d5 square goes on. (14...Bc4?! 15.Bxc4 Rxc4 16.Qe2 Qc7
17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.Rxd5±) 15.Be2 h5 It is very important to block the pawn structure on the kingside.
Black might even want to castle, and the mobile enemy pawn chain rolling over him is not a pleasant
perspective. 16.Qe3 Qc7= 17.Kb1 b5 18.Qd3 (18.a3?! A rather useless move. 18...Bc6! 19.Bf3
(19.Rd2

19...Rb8! There is no need to castle right away, until some problems are solved on the queenside.The
black monarch is doing well in the centre, and does not need to become a target after 19...0-0 20.g4
hxg4 21.h5 etc. 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 a5 22.Rc1 a4 23.Na1 b4 24.axb4 Rxb4 25.c3 Rb7 26.Nc2 O-
Oµ Short castle is now a good option, not only to put the king safely, but also to bring fresh forces
into attack.) 19...a5 20.Be2 White has no plan at all, as he just awaits to see what Black does next.
(20.Na2 O-O 21.Rhe1

449
21...Ra8! A deep move that makes room for the second rook, while supporting its own pawns in
advancing. 22.Nbc1 Rfb8µ) 20...b4 21.axb4 axb4 22.Nb5 Qb8 (22...Qd7 23.Na7 Ra8 24.Nxc6 Qxc6
25.Nd2 Qa4 26.Kc1 O-O-+ This is now deadly, as White cannot hold such a big wave coming
towards his king. 27.Bc4

27...d5!! 28.exd5 Qa1+ 29.Nb1 Bd6! The finest way to build a crushing attack. Black needs almost
all his pieces, but first no conuterplay should be allowed. 30.Rhe1 Rfc8 31.Bb3 e4 32.Rd4 Re8
Precision up to the end! 33.Red1 Qa7 34.Qe1 e3 35.Qe2 Ne4 36.R4d3 Nxg3 37.Qf3 e2 38.Re1 Qb8!
An elegant way to fisnish the battle! 39.Rd4 Ra1 40.c3 bxc3 41.Kc2 cxb2 42.Rc4 Qa7-+) 23.Na7
Bxe4µ 24.Nxc8 Qxc8 25.Bb5+ Kf8 26.Rh2 Bxf5 Black is better due to the badly placed enemy
pieces, and the elastic central pawns that can hardly be stopped by White without some material loss.

450
27.Qa7! (27.Rhd2 g6 (27...Qc7 Not allowing any counterplay.) 28.Na5

28...Qb8! (28...Ne4 29.Re2 (29.Rd5 Kg7 30.Nc6

30...Nf6! 31.R5d2 Bf8 32.Rf1 Ne4 33.Rd5 b3 34.Qxb3 Be6 35.Qd3 f5 36.Rd1 Qb7 The mighty
centre cannot be held by White. 37.c4 Bxd5 38.Qxd5 Nxg3 39.Qf3 Ne4 40.Kc2 Qb6 41.Ra1 Kh6
The best square for the king. 42.Qg2 Bg7 43.Ne7 Qf2+ 44.Qxf2 Nxf2 45.c5

451
45...Rb8! An elegant solution for closing the 6th rank. In such positions the most important task is to
neutralise the opponent's counterplay. Even the number of pawns does not mean so much, but their
quality or ability to promote. (45...dxc5? 46.Ra6 Kh7 47.Rxg6 f4 48.Rg5 Bf6 49.Rxh5+ Kg7 50.Rxh8
Kxh8 51.Nf5 Kh7 52.h5 e4µ) 46.cxd6 Ng4 47.Ra6 Bf6 48.Bc4 Ne3+ 49.Kd3 Nxc4 50.Kxc4

50...e4! Passed pawns must be pushed! (50...Rxb2??

452
We should refrain ourselves from moves such this one. 51.Nxf5+ gxf5 52.d7 Rd2 53.Rxf6+ Kg7
54.Rxf5 Rxd7 55.Rxe5=) 51.b4 Rd8 52.b5 Bxh4 The mighty bishop is helping the defending rook and
passed pawns which are running to promotion. 53.b6 e3 54.Ra2 Bg3 55.Rg2 f4 56.b7

56...h4! (56...Rb8 57.d7 f3 58.Rxg3 f2 59.Rxg6+ Kh7-+) 57.Nc6 f3 58.Rxg3 hxg3 59.Nxd8 f2
60.Nf7+ Kg7 61.b8=Q f1=Q+ 62.Kc5 e2 63.Qh8+ Kxf7 64.Qh7+ Kf6 65.d7 Qc1+ 66.Kb5 Qb2+
67.Kc6 Qc3+ 68.Kb6 Qd4+ 69.Kc7 Qa7+ 70.Kc6 Qa8+ 71.Kc7 e1=Q 72.d8=Q+ Qxd8+ 73.Kxd8
Qa5+-+) 29...Kg7 30.Bd3 d5-+ Carlos Albornoz Cabrera 2573 - Maksim Chigaev 2588, lichess.org
(Internet-blitz) 2020) 29.Be2 Qc7 30.Nc4 Kg7 31.Rxd6 Bxd6 32.Rxd6 Ra8 33.Qxe5 b3 34.Qxf6+
Kh7 35.Bd3

453
(35.Ra6

35...Qxg3! The white king is so weak that even four pieces and two pawns cannot protect him. A very
rare, but beautiful picture! 36.Qxf7+ Kh6 37.Bd1 Qg1 38.Rxg6+ Bxg6 39.Qf4+ Kh7 40.Qc1 bxc2+
41.Bxc2 Ra1+ 42.Kxa1 Qxc1+-+) 35...Qxc4!! 36.Qc3 (36.Bxc4 bxc2+ 37.Kc1 Ra1+ 38.Kd2 c1=Q+
39.Ke2 Qxc4+-+) 36...Qg4 37.Bxf5 Qxf5 38.Qd3 Qa5 39.cxb3 Qa2+ 40.Kc2 Rc8+-+) 27...d5
28.Ba6 Qd8 29.Rhd2 g6 30.Bd3 Be6 31.Nc5 Qd6 32.Nxe6+ Qxe6µ) 18...b4 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.exd5
a5 21.Nd2 a4 22.Rhf1 a3 23.b3 Qc3 24.Qxc3 Rxc3 25.Bd3 Rc5 26.Bc4

454
26...f6! 27.Ne4 Rc7 28.Be2 Kf7 29.Bd3 Rf8 30.Rde1 Rcc8=
13.f4 b5 14.f5
14.Bh3 The young and talented Romanian grandmaster Deac wants to trade the bishops, but in most
cases Black does not mind to have this kind of structure with doubled pawns on e6 and e5. We should
remember that these pawns are not weak, but rather they have the ability to stop every possible
counterplay in the centre. 14...O-O 15.Bxe6 (15.fxe5? A positional mistake. White gives up any idea
of playing for a win. 15...dxe5 16.Qxd8 Raxd8 17.Rxd8 Rxd8 18.Bxe6 fxe6³ 19.a3 (19.Nd2 Bc5
20.Nd1 Nh5 21.Rh3 Bb6³) 19...Rc8 20.Kd2 (20.Rd1 Bxa3 21.Nxb5 axb5 22.bxa3 Nxe4 23.Re1 Nd6
24.Rxe5 Rc3 25.Rxe6 Nc4 26.Nd2 Nxa3 27.Ne4 Rxc2+ 28.Kd1 Rc8µ) 20...a5 21.Kd3 Rd8+ 22.Ke3
(Bogdan-Daniel Deac 2609 - Maxim Rodshtein 2673, Skopje 2019 – 140/79) 22...Ng4+ 23.Ke2 Rc8
24.Kd2 a4 25.Nc1 Bc5 26.Nd1 Bf2 27.Ne2 h5 28.Kc1 Rc4³) 15...fxe6 16.a3 Qb6 17.Qe2 Rfc8ƒ
14...Bd7 15.Qd3
Not a natural square for the queen.
15.g4!? Nxg4 16.Rg1 h5 17.Kb1 Kf8 18.Nd5 Bxh4 19.Be2 Nf6 20.Nxf6 Qxf6 21.Qd5 Rd8 22.Na5
Be8!³
15...Rc8 16.Kb1 O-O 17.Nd5
17.Nd2 Bc6 (17...Rc5 18.Nd5 (18.Nb3 Rc7 19.Qf3

455
19...Rxc3! 20.bxc3 Bc6 21.Nd2 d5 22.Bg2 Qa5µ) 18...Nxd5 19.exd5 Qa8 20.Bg2 b4 21.Nb3 Rb5
22.Qe4 a5ƒ) 18.Bg2 Qb6 19.Bf3 (Andrey Esipenko 2620 - Maxim Matlakov 2697, Russia 2019 –
140/ (79))

19...b4! 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.exd5 Ba4 22.Rc1 Bb5! 23.Qe4 Qf2³

17...Nxd5 18.exd5 a5 19.Nd2 Qb6 20.Qe4 f6 21.g4 Qb7 22.Bd3 Be8∞

456
457
VARIATION INDEX

Chapter 1
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a3
A) 7.Nf3
A1) 7...Qc7
B) 7.Nf5
B1) 9...gf6
B11) 10.Na2

Chapter 2
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4
A) 7.Nde2
B) 7.Nf3
B1) 9...h6
B11) 10.Bf6
B12) 10.Bh4
B121) 12.Qf3

Chapter 3
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Nb3
A) 6.Nb3

Chapter 4
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd2
A) 7.Nf5
B) 7.Nb3

Chapter 5
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd3
A) 8...Be6
B) 8...0-0
B1) 9.Ng3
B11) 13.Bh6

Chapter 6
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qd3
A) 6.Qd3
A1) 8...Nbd7

458
A2) 8...d5
A3) 7...g6

Chapter 7
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qe2
A) 6...g6
B) 6...Qc7
C) 6...e5
C1) 7.Nf5

Chapter 8
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qf3
A) 8.Nf3
B) 8.Nb3
C) 8.Nf5

Chapter 9
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Rg1
A) 7.Nf5
B) 7.Nb3
B1) 8.h3
B11) 11.g5
B12) 10...d5
B13) 10...h4

Chapter 10
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3
A) 8.f4
B) 8.Be3
B1) 8...Be7
C) 7.Nde2
C1) 9.f4
C2) 9.Bf6
C3) 8.g3
C31) 8...Be6
C311) 9...Be7

Chapter 11
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h4
A) 8.f4
A1) 10...d5
A2) 8...b5

459
B) 8.Bg5
C) 7...Be7
C1) 8...Be6

460
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

RANKO SZUHANEK is a Serbian International Master

Born on 24 July 1974 in Timişoara
Graduated from the Faculty of Economics 1997 -
Timişoara
MBA - Audit applying to private companies and public
institutions - 2006
MBA - Social and Health Services Management - 2011
PhD - Engineering risk of the management health system -
Inventor of a mathematical model for a complete risk
assessment of a hospital, or a health system of a country –
2016 Timişoara
Professional career of more than 18 years of middle and
top management positions.
Peak rating 2519 – 2013
European Junior Team Champion - Çannakale, Türkiye -
1994
Balcaniad Team Bronze Medal - Varna Bulgaria - 1994
1st place - Vukovar 2001, Paks IM closed 2003, Roma
EMG 2007, Vukovar open 2007, Borovo GM closed 2010, Apatin – Vukovar GM closed 2010,
Bijeljina 2015 GM closed, Novi Sad GM closed 2016, etc.
Contributor to “Chess Informant “ since 1992

461
Table of Contents
Title page 3
Foreword 5
System of signs 7
Introduction 9
Chapter 1 11
Chapter 2 61
Chapter 3 116
Chapter 4 135
Chapter 5 152
Chapter 6 184
Chapter 7 216
Chapter 8 256
Chapter 9 281
Chapter 10 333
Chapter 11 415
Variation Index 458
About the Author 461

462