First published in 2015 by Gloucester Publishers Limited, Northburgh House,

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Copyright © 2015 Jimmy Liew

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About the Author
Jimmy Liew is an International Master and a two-time Malaysian Champion.
He has represented Malaysia in eight Chess Olympiads and is a certified FIDE
trainer.
Contents
About the author
Series Foreword
Bibliography
Introduction

1 Black’s Early Deviations

2 3 Bg5: Others
3 The Solid 3 ... c6
4 The Main Line: 4 Qd3
5 The Main Line: 4 e3 and 4 f3
6 Natural Development: 3 ... Bf5
7 White Plays 3 Bf4

Index of Complete Games

Series Foreword
Move by Move
is a series of opening books which uses a question-and-answer format. One of
our main aims of the series is to replicate - as much as possible - lessons
between chess teachers and students.
All the way through, readers will be challenged to answer searching questions
and to complete exercises, to test their skills in chess openings and indeed in
other key aspects of the game. It’s our firm belief that practising your skills
like this is an excellent way to study chess openings, and to study chess in
general.
Many thanks go to all those who have been kind enough to offer inspiration,
advice and assistance in the creation of Move by Move. We’re really excited
by this series and hope that readers will share our enthusiasm.

John Emms
Everyman Chess
Bibliography
A Ferocious Opening Repertoire, Cyrus Lakdawala (Everyman Chess 2011)
Queen’s Pawn: Veresov System, Robert Bellin (Batsford 1983)
Richter-Veresov: The Chameleon Chess Repertoire , Eduard Gufeld and Oleg
Stetsko (Thinkers’ Press 2000)
The Veresov, Nigel Davies (Everyman 2003)

Electronic Resources
ChessPublishing.com
Mega Database 2015 (ChessBase)
The Wicked Veresov Attack, Andrew Martin (ChessBase DVD 2014)
Introduction
I started playing the Veresov in the mid-80s. In those days the Internet was
still not available to the masses and computers were still too expensive for
the ordinary chess player. I lived in a part of the world where chess
information was scarce and games from Europe and America often took
months to arrive in printed form. As a result, I was handicapped by my lack of
the latest theory in the openings that I played.

I started looking around for an opening that was rarely played and thus
did not have a lot of theory. I like to play against semi-open games like Pirc
and French, but I disliked meeting the Sicilian. There were too many lines to
prepare against and Sicilian players are the most booked-up players I know.
What I found as the perfect weapon was the Veresov. Once I started
preparing the opening after 1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5, I found that I was much
the more familiar with the positions that resulted. My opponents started to
avoid this move order and played into other openings like the Pirc, Caro-Kann
and French. This suited me as well. I carefully prepared specific lines for each
of these openings. As time passed, I built up a narrow but complete
repertoire starting with 1 d4.
In my experience, authors of chess opening books seem to be
unconsciously biased in their recommendations. They always seem to
emphasize the positive variations while glossing over or omitting entirely
lines which are unfavourable to their opening. In this book I have tried to be
impartial and you will see my recommendations for both colours. There is a
large number of my own games in this book. I have included them because I
can explain my own games better than any games played by others and in so
doing better educate my readers on the subject matter.
I only recommend the Veresov if you are also comfortable playing against
the French, the Caro-Kann and the Pirc. This is because Black can avoid the
Veresov by playing differently on his second move: for instance, 1 d4 d5 2
Nc3 c6 (Caro-Kann Defence) or 2 ... e6 (French Defence).
This book contains plenty of original analysis that I have made over the
years. After studying it, I am confident you will be ready to meet any black
replies in your Veresov games.

The Scope of this Book

I deal with the Veresov proper and some Anti-Veresov lines. This means that
transpositions to other openings will not be included. If you plan to play the
Veresov, you must be ready to face the other openings I mentioned above.
The Veresov can be reached through the move order 1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3
Bg5 or 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5. A very popular move in modern times is 3
Bf4, instead of putting the bishop on g5. The ideas behind 3 Bf4 are very
different and this move is handled in the last chapter of the book.

A History of the Veresov

Although Savielly Tartakower, Victor Veresov and later the German IM Kurt
Richter were the first well-known masters who started playing this opening
(for this reason it is sometimes called the Richter-Veresov), there is still some
debate on the name of the opening.
GM Serper wrote on Chess.com:
“To call the opening 1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 the Veresov is unhistorical
and forms part of the legacy of Soviet intellectual imperialism. Although
played earlier, this opening owes its development as part of modern chess to
the ‘Hypermodern’ players Breyer, Reti and Tartakower. The latter, a super-
GM of his time, in particular deserves to have his name associated with this
opening: MegaBase has 19 games of his with it, the earliest played in 1922
(when Veresov - born 1912 - was probably still in short trousers), and the last
in 1951.
“Many other strong players have a better (or equal but prior) claim than
Veresov to have their name associated with this opening, notably the German
IM Kurt Richter (a brilliant attacking player) who popularised the opening in
the 1930s; books from that era usually called this Richter’s Opening.
Megabase contains 21 of his games with it, the first in 1928. To compare,
Veresov has 23 games with it in Megabase, the first in 1938. A further
injustice was done to Richter by the Soviets, who named the popular Sicilian
line 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 exd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Bg5 after their player
Rauzer, yet much of the early development and testing was done by Richter.”
With all due respect to Richter, I prefer the shorter Veresov name.
Somehow, the Richter does not have the same ring.

Key Ideas
After 3 Bg5, White ‘threatens’ to take on f6, doubling Black’s pawns. I say
‘threatens’ because White may choose not to capture even if Black allows him
to. For example, one of the main responses is 3 ... Bf5 to which White often
replies 4 f3 which takes the game into a more tactical direction.
There are two approaches to using the Veresov in your own games. The
positional approach involves an exchange on f6, where White gives up the
bishop-pair in exchange for weakening Black’s pawn structure. White can also
go for a tactical approach with early f2-f3 and e2-e4 pawn pushes, when the
play can become very sharp and favours the better prepared player.

Acknowledgements
My thanks to Junior Tay without whom this book would never have seen the
light of day and for providing games, and to John Emms who believed in a
novice like me. I also want to thank my wife, Liway, for her understanding
and support through all the years.

Jimmy Liew,
Puchong,
January 2015
Chapter One
Black’s Early Deviations
1 d4 d5 2 Nc3

In this opening chapter I will examine lines where Black does not play 2 ...
Nf6, although moves which transpose to other openings such as the French,
Pirc or Caro-Kann are not included here. Note too that the rare 2 ... Bf5 is
likely to transpose to Chapter Six after 3 f3 Nf6 4 Bg5, or to Games 52 and 53
if White plays 3 Bf4.

Game 1
Suteev-N.Rudenskij
Moscow 1964

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 c5
Black puts immediate pressure on the d4-pawn. The position is essentially
a Chigorin (1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6) in reverse. With the extra move, White can hit
back in the centre straight away.
3 Bf4
White hopes to transpose to positions examined in Chapter Seven where
Black has played ... c7-c5 too early.
Instead, 3 e4 will be seen in Game 2.
3 ... cxd4

Question: Should White now play 4 Nb5 immediately?

Answer: No! 4 Nb5? will lose the knight to 4 ... Qa5+. The knight is not
protected by the bishop on f1.
Instead, Black can transpose to Games 54 and 55 with 3 ... Nf6 4 e3 cxd4.
Other moves are worse: for example, 3 ... a6 4 e4 dxe4 5 dxc5 (this capture
is possible as White has cleared his back rank and connected the queen’s
rook with the queen) 5 ... Qxd1+ 6 Rxd1 Nf6 7 Na4 Nbd7 8 Bc7 (threatening
Na4-b6) 8 ... e6 9 Bc4 Be7 10 Ne2 0-0 11 b4 when White has a stranglehold
on the queenside and the black pawn on e4 is a weakness. Also after 3 ... e6
4 e4 dxe4 5 dxc5 Qxd1+ 6 Rxd1 Nf6 7 Nb5 Na6 8 Nd6+ Bxd6 9 cxd6 White
has an edge.
4 Qxd4 Nf6
White has a surprising capture after 4 ... e6 with 5 Bxb8 Rxb8 6 e4.
 This is better than capturing on a7 immediately. The plan is to blow open
the centre with the black king still far away from castling. Now:
a) 6 ... Ne7?! 7 exd5 gives Black a choice:
a1) 7 ... exd5? 8 Bb5+ Nc6 was seen in Y.Grodzensky-R.Hartley,
correspondence 1997, when Grodzensky grabbed the a7-pawn and the game
was later drawn. I recommend 9 0-0-0! also winning a pawn for nothing.
a2) After 7 ... Nxd5 8 0-0-0 Qg5+ 9 Kb1 Nxc3+ 10 Qxc3 it is quite
surprising that Black’s position is so much more difficult than it looks. White’s
threats are Qc7 and a possible Bb5+ when the black queen is not on g5: for
example, 10 ... a6 (or 10 ... Bd7 11 Qc7 Rd8 12 Qxb7, and if 12 ... Be7 13
Rxd7! or 12 ... Qg4 13 Nf3 Qb4 14 Qxa7 Bc5 15 Qc7 when White is clearly
winning) 11 Qc7 Ra8 12 Bxa6 Be7 13 Nf3 Qh5 14 g4 Qc5 15 Rd8+ Bxd8 16
Qxc5 and wins.
b) 6 ... Nf6 7 Bb5+ Bd7 8 e5 (now the knight has no good squares and has
to return to base) 8 ... Ng8 9 Qxa7 is clearly better for White.
c) 6 ... dxe4!? 7 Qxa7 (after 7 Qxd8+ Kxd8 8 Nxe4 Nf6 9 0-0-0+ Kc7 10
Ng5 Be7 11 Nxf7 Rf8 12 Ne5 Ne4 13 Nh3 Nxf2 14 Nxf2 Rxf2 15 Nd3 Rf5 16
Be2 Black’s bishop-pair more than compensates for his inferior structure) 7 ...
Bd7 8 0-0-0 Nf6 9 Bb5 Qc7 10 Bxd7+ Nxd7 11 Nxe4 Nc5 12 Nxc5 Bxc5 13
Qa4+ b5 14 Qg4 0-0 and White is a pawn up, but the open lines on the
queenside put his king at risk.
5 Bxb8
This is a try to get something out of the position, but is by no means
forced:
a) 5 e4 is the Chigorin treatment. The difference is that in the Chigorin,
Black does not mind getting an equal position, whereas here as White one
hopes to get something out of the opening. After 5 ... Nc6 6 Bb5 Bd7 7 Bxc6
Bxc6 the position is equal.
b) I recommend the tricky 5 0-0-0!?, although after 5 ... Nc6 6 Qa4 Bd7!
White’s queen is precariously placed. Indeed, he has to go in for the forced
variation 7 Nxd5 e5 8 Bg5 (8 Nxf6+ gxf6 9 Bd2 Rc8 threatens ... Nd4,
attacking c2 and the queen on a4; after 10 Qe4 Nd4 11 Bc3 Bf5 12 Qxf5 Nxf5
13 Rxd8+ Rxd8 Black is better with the exchange for a pawn) 8 ... Nd4 9
Rxd4 Bxa4 10 Nxf6+ Qxf6 11 Bxf6 exd4 12 Bxd4 Rc8 when White has two
pawns for the exchange, but is behind in development.
5 ... Rxb8

6 e4!?
Alrernatively, 6 0-0-0 e6 7 e4 avoids any capture on e4. Then 7 ... a6 8
exd5 b5 9 Nf3 b4 10 dxe6 Bxe6 11 Qf4 Qb6 12 Na4 Qb7 13 Bxa6 leaves White
with two extra pawns and the superior development.
6 ... dxe4 7 Qxa7
Capturing on a7 is bad idea as it opens up the queenside for Black. The
white king has to castle queenside at some point in time and will then be in
trouble.
7 ... Bd7 8 0-0-0 g6! 9 Bb5 Bh6+ 10 Kb1 0-0 11 Bxd7 Nxd7 12
Qa4 b5 13 Qa7? b4 14 Nxe4
 14 Rxd7 is refuted by 14 ... bxc3! 15 Rxd8 Rxb2+ 16 Ka1 Rxd8 17 Ne2
Rxc2. It is very hard to recommend this line for White.
14 ... Ra8 15 Qxd7 Qa5

Black has a decisive attack on the a-file.

16 a3

Exercise: After 16 Qd5 what is Black’s best reply?

Answer: 16 ... Rfd8 17 Qxa5 Rxd1 mate.

16 ... bxa3 17 b3 a2+ 18 Ka1 Bg7+ 0-1

Game 2
J.Liew-N.Villanueva
Selangor Open 2013

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 c5 3 e4
This is a reversed Albin Counter-Gambit (1 d4 d5 2 c4 e5).
3 ... dxe4
Another possibility is 3 ... cxd4 4 Qxd4 dxe4 (4 ... e6 5 exd5 Nf6 6 Bb5+
Bd7 7 dxe6 fxe6 8 Nf3 is clearly better for White; Black’s e6-pawn is weak
and will become a target) 5 Qxd8+ Kxd8.
 There really is not a lot of experience in this line. White has the easier
development and the safer king. These factors should give him a slight edge:
a) 6 Bc4! and then:
a1) 6 ... e6 7 Nxe4 Nd7 8 Bf4 Ngf6 9 Nd6 Bxd6 10 Bxd6 and the position is
very difficult for Black. His king is stuck in the centre and White holds the
bishop-pair.
a2) 6 ... Nf6 7 Bxf7 e6 8 Bg5 Bb4 9 Nge2 Ke7 10 Bh5 h6 11 Bxf6+ gxf6 12
0-0-0 f5 13 Nf4 Kf6 14 Nfd5+ Kg5 15 g4 exd5 16 h4+ Kf6 17 Nxd5+ Ke5 18
Nxb4 Nc6 19 Nxc6+ bxc6 20 gxf5 and White is a pawn up.
a3) 6 ... Ke8 7 Nd5 Kd8 8 Bf4 Na6 9 Bxa6 bxa6 10 Nc7 Rb8 11 0-0-0+ Bd7
12 Ne6+ fxe6 13 Bxb8 and White is completely winning.
b) I do not recommend 6 Nxe4 because after 6 ... Bf5 (not 6 ... Nc6 7 Be3
e5 8 0-0-0+ Ke8 9 Bc4 f5 10 Nd6+ Bxd6 11 Rxd6 Nge7 12 Nf3 when Black
has problems with his development) 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 Be3 Nb4 White has to give
up the bishop-pair.
4 d5 Nf6
 5 Bg5
I prefer this move to 5 Bf4 or 5 f3 as it discourages ... e6 due to the pin on
the h4-d8 diagonal:
a) 5 Bf4 threatens Nb5. Now Black has to play 5 ... a6, but White has not
gained any time as now he has to prevent ... b5 with 6 a4 himself.
b) 5 f3 is an attempt to transpose to the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit without
having committed to Bg5 (as in 1 d4 d5 2 e4 dxe4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 c5 5 d5),
but there is no reason not to play the bishop to g5 as the other logical
square, f4, is quite harmless. After 5 ... exf3 6 Nxf3 g6 7 Bf4 Bg7 8 Nb5 Na6 9
Bc4 0-0 10 0-0 Bd7 11 Nc3 Ne8 12 Be5 Nac7 13 Bxg7 Kxg7 14 Qe2 Nd6 15
Rae1 Re8 16 a4 a6 Black was a comfortable pawn up in D.Trifonov-K.Urban,
Barlinek 2007.
5 ... Nbd7
Black prepares to complete his kingside development with ... g6, ... Bg7
and ... 0-0. Alternatively:
a) 5 ... e6 6 Bb5+ (or 6 dxe6 Qxd1+ 7 Rxd1 Bxe6 8 Nxe4 Nbd7 9 Bxf6
gxf6 when Black has doubled pawns on the f-file; now White should not be
greedy and win a pawn with 10 Bb5 0-0-0 11 Bxd7+ Rxd7 12 Rxd7 Kxd7 13
Nxf6+ Kc6 as Black has good compensation for the pawn with his bishop-pair:
for instance, 14 b3 Bg7 15 Ne4 Bxb3 16 cxb3 Re8 17 Kd2 Rxe4 and the
ending is better for Black) 6 ... Bd7 7 dxe6 fxe6 8 Qe2 Bxb5 9 Qxb5+ Qd7 10
Nge2 a6 11 Qxd7+ Nbxd7 12 0-0-0 Be7 13 Rhe1 Kf7 14 Ng3 and White will
regain his pawn with the better pawn structure.
 b) 5 ... Bf5 6 Bb5+ Nbd7 7 Qe2 a6.

Question: Can White take advantage of the temporary pin on the

d7-knight to capture on f6? Then the black e4-pawn should fall.

Answer: The position is very dynamic. White has to be very careful that
after giving up the bishop-pair, he has the advantage in development. In
positions like this, concrete analysis is necessary. After 8 Bxf6 Black does not
recapture on f6, but takes on b5: 8 ... axb5 9 Bh4 (White has to waste a
move to retreat his bishop and this gives Black the tempi needed to strike) 9
... g5! 10 Bxg5 Rg8 11 Bh4 Bg7. The position has opened too quickly for
White who still has to develop his king’s knight. Black will soon regain his
pawn: for example, after 12 Qxb5 Bxc3+ 13 bxc3 Qb6 14 Qxb6 Nxb6 both the
white d-pawn and g-pawns are vulnerable.
Thus I would prefer 8 Bxd7+ Qxd7 9 0-0-0 0-0-0 and now:
 b1) 10 h3 (this inaccuracy gives Black time to untangle his kingside) 10 ...
e6 11 g4 (if White tries to regain the pawn immediately, he will end up with a
worse position: 11 Bxf6? gxf6 12 Nxe4 exd5 13 Nxf6 Qc6 14 Ng4 Bg7 when
Black’s bishop-pair and strong d-pawn give him very good winning chances)
11 ... Bg6 12 dxe6 Qxe6 13 Rxd8+ Kxd8 14 f4 exf3 15 Qd2+ Kc8 16 Nxf3
(White really does not have enough compensation for the pawn minus) 16 ...
Bd6 (this move allows White to break up the black kingside pawns; Black
could have opened the position further for his bishops with 16 ... h5) 17 Re1
Qd7 18 Bxf6 gxf6 19 Nd5 Qc6 20 c4 (the strong knight on d5 and the
weakened black kingside pawns provide sufficient compensation for the pawn
minus and Black’s bishop-pair) 20 ... Rd8 21 b3 Kb8 22 Qc3 Bc7 23 Re7 Bd6
24 Re2 Bc7 25 Re7 Bd6 26 Re2 ½-½ was J.Liew-W.L.Zaw, SEA Games
(blindfold) 2011.
b2) The pawn sacrifice 10 f3! not only allows White to develop freely, but
also opens the way for the king’s knight to come to the important e5-square
where it controls f7 and g6. After 10 ... exf3 11 Nxf3 Qc7 12 Ne5 e6 13 g4
Bg6 14 Bxf6 gxf6 15 Nxg6 hxg6 16 dxe6 Re8 17 Nd5 Qe518 Qxe5 fxe5 19
exf7 Rd8 20 c4 White has a large advantage with his advanced f-pawn and
strong outpost on d5.
c) 5 ... a6 6 Bxf6 exf6 7 Nxe4 f5 8 Ng3 Be7 9 Bd3 g6 10 N1e2 Bf6 11 c3 0-
0 12 Bc2 b5 13 Qd2 Bb7 14 0-0-0 Qa5 is rather unbalanced.
 Black has moved his queen away to the a-file, leaving his king with only
one defender, the bishop on f6. This may make the following sacrifice look
natural and it must have been very difficult to face over the board. However,
upon more concrete inspection, it is clear that White does not have sufficient
artillery at his disposal to mate the black king: 15 Nxf5!? Qxa2 (after 15 ...
gxf5 16 Qh6 Bg7 17 Qh5 Nd7 18 Qxf5 Nf6 19 g4 Bc8 20 Qf4 Qxa2 21 g5 Ng4
the knight heads to e5 and g6, and possibly later to f8, completely defending
the kingside: for example, 22 h3 Ne5 23 Qe4 Ng6 24 h4 Bd7 25 h5 Rae8 26
Qf3 Qa1+ 27 Bb1 Rxe2! 28 Qxe2 Bf5 29 Kd2 Nf4 30 Qf3 Re8 when White’s
king is caught in a mating net) 16 Nh6+ Kh8 17 h4 Nd7 18 h5 Nb6? 19 Bb1?!
(after 19 Qf4 Bg7 20 hxg6 fxg6 21 Qh2 the threat of 22 Nf7+ and 23 Qxh7 is
decisive) 19 ... Qxd5 20 Ng4 Qxd2+ 21 Rxd2 Bd8 22 hxg6 fxg6 23 Bxg6 Kg7
24 Rxh7+ Kxg6 25 Rxb7 Nc4 26 Rdd7 Bg5+ 27 Kc2 Rad8 28 b3 Na5 29 Rb6+
Kf5 30 Nh6+ Bxh6 31 Rxd8 Rxd8 32 Rxh6 Rg8 33 Rxa6 1-0, D.Tumakov-
I.Volodin, Kazan 2009.
After that lengthy but important aside, we can return to 5 ... Nbd7.
6 f3
 With this move, White is trying to transpose to favourable Blackmar-
Diemer Gambit positions where the black knight on d7 is misplaced.
6 ... exf3 7 Qxf3
Also tempting is 7 Nxf3 g6 8 Qd2 Bg7 9 0-0-0 0-0 10 d6 (or 10 Bh6 Re8 11
Bxg7 Kxg7 12 h4 h5 13 Qg5 a6 14 Bd3 b5 15 Ne2 Rh8 16 Nf4 Rh6 17 Bxg6
Rxg6 18 Qxg6+ and Black already had to resign in H.Kuijf-E.Hoeksema,
Holland 1987, as White regains the queen after 18 ... fxg6 19 Ne6+) 10 ...
exd6 11 Qxd6 Qb6 12 Bb5 (for the sacrificed pawn, White has the superior
development and many open lines to take advantage of) a6 13 Bxd7 Nxd7 14
Qe7 (it is understandable that White does not want to exchange queens,
although it is also to his advantage: 14 Rhe1 Qxd6 15 Rxd6 and Black has not
solved his problems, as his knight remains without a good square) 14 ... Nb8
15 Ne5 Be6 16 Ne4!.
 The knight on e5 is taboo:
a) After 16 ... Bxe5?? 17 Nf6+ Kg7 (or 17 ... Bxf6 18 Qxf6 Nd7 19 Rxd7
when Black loses the queen or gets mated on g7) 18 Bh6+ Kxh6 19 Qxf8+
Kg5 20 h4+ Kxf6 21 Rhf1+ Bf5 22 Rxf5+ Kxf5 (22 ... gxf5 23 Qh6+ wins the
black queen) 23 Qxf7+ Bf6 24 Qd5+ Be5 25 Rf1+ Kg4 26 Qxe5 Black’s pieces
are too far away to help his king.
b) 16 ... Nc6 17 Nf6+ Kh8 18 Qd6 Rad8 19 Nxg6+ hxg6 20 Qg3 (the check
on h4 will be the end of the game for Black) 20 ... Qb4 21 Rde1?? (21 c3 Qa4
22 b3 was more forceful) 21 ... Rd4? (returning the favour; 21 ... Bxf6 22
Bxf6+ Kg8 is winning for Black since after 23 Rxe6 Qd2+ he mates on the
back rank) 22 Rxe6 fxe6 (22 ... Bxf6 23 Bxf6+ Kg8 24 c3 Qc4 25 Rxc6 bxc6 26
Qh3 wins as Black is forced to give up his rook with 26 ... Rh4) 23 Qh3+ (not
23 c3 Qa4 24 cxd4 Qc4+ 25 Kb1 Bxf6 26 Qh4+ Kg7 27 Qh6+ Kg8 28 Qxg6+
Bg7 and Black wins) 23 ... Rh4 24 Bxh4 Qf4+ 25 Kb1 Bh6 26 Bg3 Qxf6 27
Qxh6+ Kg8 28 Re1 and White eventually won in G.Mateuta-B.Istrate, Tusnad
1997.
7 ... g6
Alternatively, 7 ... Nb6 8 Bb5+ (castling is not possible due to 8 0-0-0?
Bg4, winning an exchange) 8 ... Bd7 9 Bxd7+ Qxd7 10 0-0-0 when the pawn
on d5 prevents ... e6 and the bishop on g5 is ready to take on f6 should Black
play ... g6. This makes it difficult for Black to continue development. After 10
... Qg4 11 Be3 Qxf3 12 Nxf3 Rc8 13 Rhe1 Black still has problems with his
development: for example, 13 ... g6 14 Kb1 Bg7 15 d6 e6 16 Nb5 with the
threat of Nxa7 and Nc7+.
8 0-0-0 Bg7 9 d6 0-0 10 dxe7 Qxe7 11 Nd5

11 ... Qe6!
Best. I was hoping for one of:
a) 11 ... Qd8 12 Kb1 h6 13 Nxf6+ Bxf6 14 Rxd7 Bxd7 15 Bxf6 and now 16
Bxd8 Bxf3 17 Ba5 with a material advantage for White.
b) An earlier game of mine had ended 11 ... Qe4?? 12 Bxf6 Qxf3 13 Ne7+
(this in-between move nets a piece) Kh8 14 Bxg7+ Kxg7 15 Nxf3 Nf6 16 Nxc8
Raxc8 17 Bc4 a6 18 a4 Rb8 19 a5 Rfe8 20 Rhe1 b5 21 axb6 Rxb6 22 Rxe8
Nxe8 23 Rd5 Nd6 24 Rxc5 Nxc4 25 Rxc4 and 1-0 in J.Liew-V.C.Nguyen, Kuala
Lumpur 2004.
12 Nc7
White has to accept the gambit as after 12 Kb1 Nxd5 13 Qxd5 (13 Rxd5
Nb6 14 Rd1 Bxb2 wins for Black after 15 Kxb2 Qe5+ 16 Kb1 Qxg5) 13 ...
Qxd5 14 Rxd5 b6 15 Nf3 Nf6 16 Rd1 Be6 he is just a pawn down without
compensation.
12 ... Qxa2 13 Nxa8 Qa1+ 14 Kd2
 Despite being a rook up, White is losing. His weak king and uncoordinated
pieces are his downfall.
14 ... Qxb2
Black’s main threat is 15 ... Qb4+.
15 Ke1
Otherwise:
a) 15 Bf4 Qb4+ 16 Ke2 (or 16 Kc1 Nh5, attacking the bishop on f4 and
threatening mate starting with ... Bb2+) 16 ... Re8+ 17 Kf2 Ne4+ and White
is forced to give up his queen.
b) 15 Qf4 Nd5 16 Qc4 Bc3+ 17 Ke2 N7f6 18 h3 Qxc2+ 19 Rd2 Re8+ 20
Kf3 Qf5+ 21 Bf4 Re4 is fatal.
15 ... Qe5+ 16 Qe3 Qb8!
Now Black picks up the stray knight on a8 and obtains a winning material
advantage of a minor piece and three pawns for the rook.
17 Qf4 Qxa8 18 Bd3
Better was 18 Bb5 a6 (after 18 ... Re8+ 19 Ne2 a6 20 Bxf6 axb5 21 Ra1
Qb8 22 Qxb8 Nxb8 23 Bxg7 Kxg7 White is still material down, but he has
better chances in the ending without queens on the board) 19 Bxd7 Nxd7 20
Nf3 b5 (if 20 ... f6 21 Qc4+) 21 Qe3 (21 Kf2?? f6 22 Bh6 g5 wins the bishop)
21 ... Nb6 22 Rd8 Nc4 23 Qe7 Qb7 24 Ke2 Qxe7+ 25 Bxe7 Rxd8 26 Bxd8 Bf5
27 Rd1 Bxc2 28 Rd5 Be4 (28 ... Bf8 29 Bf6 threatens to pin the bishop with
Rd8 and after 29 ... Nd6 30 Rxc5 the active rook gives White good chances in
this ending) 29 Rxc5 Bb2 when Black is winning on material, but the active
pieces ensure that White can continue to resist.
18 ... Re8+ 19 Ne2 Nd5 20 Qf3 Nc3 21 Bc4 Rxe2+

22 Kf1
Objectively the best option was 22 Bxe2!? Nxd1 23 Kxd1 Ne5 24 Qd5 Be6
and then:
a) 25 Qd6! Nc6 26 Bf3 Nd4 27 Qd8+ Qxd8 28 Bxd8 Nxf3 29 gxf3 and
White has chances to hold the ending.
b) 25 Qxc5 b6 26 Qd6 Qxg2! 27 Qd8+ Bf8 28 Re1 (or 28 Bh6 Qxh1+ 29
Kd2 Qd5+ forcing off the queens) 28 ... Nc6 29 Qa8 Qxg5 30 Qxc6 Bh6 and
mate is unavoidable.
22 ... Re6 23 Bxe6 fxe6 24 Qe3 Nxd1 25 Qxe6+ Kh8 26 Qe8+ Nf8
27 Ke1 Qb8 28 Rf1
Likewise, if 28 Bf6 Qd6 29 Bxg7+ Kxg7 30 Qxc8 Nc3 and wins.
28 ... Qd6 29 Qxc8 Nc3 30 Rf3 Qd1+ 31 Kf2 Ne4+ 32 Ke3 Qd2+
33 Kxe4 Qd4 0-1

Game 3
D.Shengelia-A.Fauland
Feldkirch 2013

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 f5
There are a surprising number of games starting from this position in the
MegaBase, mainly because it is more often reached via the Dutch with 1 d4
f5 2 Nc3 d5.
3 Bg5

This stops ... e6 and entices Black to try to trap the bishop.
3 ... h6
After 3 ... Nf6 4 Bxf6 exf6 we reach a common Veresov structure, but with
the difference that the pawn is on f6 not f7. This is less desirable as it leaves
the kingside slightly weaker.
Black can also try to avoid such a pawn weakness by first deploying his
king bishop to g7, but after 3 ... g6 4 Nf3 Bg7 5 Qd2 Nf6 6 Bh6 White forces
the favourable exchange of dark-squared bishops. The dark squares around
Black’s king are weakened and he has the long-term disadvantage of the bad
bishop. Play might continue 6 ... 0-0 7 Bxh6 Kxh6 8 h4 e6 9 0-0-0 Nbd7 10 e3
h6!? 11 Ne2 Ne4 12 Qe1 c5 13 Nf4 and now 13 ... Qe7 is answered with 14
h5, seizing the g6-square for the knight.
4 Bh4 g5 5 e3 Nf6
The sacrifice cannot be accepted. After 5 ... gxh4 6 Qh5+ Kd7 7 Nf3 the
threat of Ne5+ is unstoppable. Black will lose serious material no matter
what he does:
a) 7 ... c6 8 Ne5+ Kc7 9 Nf7 Qe8 10 Qg6 and White will win material.
b) 7 ... Bg7 8 Qf7 Qf8 (or 8 ... Bf6 9 Ne5+ Bxe5 10 dxe5 c6 11 0-0-0 Kc7
12 Qg7 when White wins back the sacrificed material) 9 Ne5+ Kd8 10 Qxf8+
Bxf8 11 Nf7+ picks up the rook on h8.
6 Bg3 e6
 7 Nf3
I recommend 7 h4! to fix the black kingside pawns. After 7 ... g4 8 Nge2
the knight heads for f4 where it will be excellently posted.
7 ... Bb4
This pin is not so effective in this variation. Black’s main problem is his
weakened kingside, which means that the knight move to e4 is not really on
the cards due to the open h5-e8 diagonal.
8 Ne5 0-0 9 f3 Nbd7 10 a3
This is not necessary as the pin is not particularly dangerous. Indeed, 10
Qd2 c5 11 a3 Qa5 12 h4 gives Black more to think about. After 12 ... g4 (12
... Nh5 13 Bh2 g4 likely has to be tried) 13 Ng6 Rf7 14 h5 White has the freer
game. He has clear objectives with moves like long castling which will force
Black to give up the bishop-pair. White also has waiting moves such as Bd6
and Be2. Meanwhile Black has the problem of how to develop his queen
bishop. Play might continue 14 ... Rg7 (the threat is ... Nxh5) 15 Bd6 Kh7 16
0-0-0! Bxc3 17 Qxc3 Qxc3 18 bxc3 Nxh5 19 Nf4 Nxf4 20 Bxf4 Rg6 21 fxg4,
winning back the pawn with good chances due to the bishop-pair and open
lines on the kingside.
10 ... Bxc3+ 11 bxc3 Nxe5 12 dxe5
12 Bxe5 Nd7 13 Bg3 is a quieter way to proceed for White.
12 ... Nd7 13 h4 f4 14 Bf2 Nxe5 15 hxg5 Qxg5 16 exf4 Rxf4 17
Qd2 Nf7
 18 Be2
There was a more active continuation which would have led to good
prospects against the black king: 18 Rh3 Qf6 19 Rg3+ Kh8 20 Bd3 Ne5 21 0-
0-0 when Black’s king is too exposed and unlikely to survive.
18 ... Rf6 19 Qd3 Qg7 20 0-0-0 Bd7 21 Bh4 Rf4
By exchanging the light-squared bishop with 21 ... Rg6!? 22 g4 Nd6 23
Qe3 Bb5 Black takes control over the important c4-square. His chances are
not worse if he can achieve that.
22 Qe3 Ra4 23 Rh3 Qe5?
Alternatively, after 23 ... Ng5 24 Bxg5 Qxg5 25 Qxg5+ hxg5 26 Rdh1 Rh4
(the only way to avoid material loss) 27 Rxh4 gxh4 28 Rxh4 material is equal
and Black has good chances to hold this ending after 28 ... e5.
24 Qxe5 Nxe5 25 Bf6 Nf7 26 c4!
 Question: Why the exclamation mark?

Answer: White is not really threatening to take on d5. The exclamation is

for cutting off the black rook on a4 from coming back to aid the defence of
the kingside. This leaves Black with a knight as the only effective defender
while White is ready to bring the full force of his army to the kingside.
26 ... e5
Black attempts to obtain some activity for his bishop by returning the
pawn.
27 Rg3+ Kf8 28 Rxd5 Bc6 29 Rc5
White’s plan is Bd3, Rg7 and Bg6.
29 ... Re8 30 Bg7+
30 Bd3 e4 would but force a welcome exchange for Black.
30 ... Ke7 31 Bxe5 Rxa3
It was better to exchange into an ending a pawn down with 31 ... Nxe5 32
Rxe5+ Kf6 33 Rxe8 Bxe8 34 Kb2 Ra5 35 f4. With the bishop-pair still on the
board, White has more dangerous tactical chances.
32 Bd4 Kd8 33 Bd3 Re6 34 Rg8+ Be8? 35 Rd5+
 35 ... Rd6
35 ... Ke7? 36 Bc5+ picks up the loose rook on a3.
36 Bg6!?
36 Bf6+ Kd7 37 Bf5+ Kc6 38 Be7 was a more straightforward win.
36 ... Rxd5 37 cxd5 Nd6
If 37 ... Kd7 38 Bf5+ and now 38 ... Kd8 39 Bf6 mate.
38 Bc5 Ra1+ 39 Kd2 Kd7 40 Rg7+ Kd8 41 Bxd6 Bxg6 42 Be5
Ra6 43 d6 Be8 44 Bf6+ Kc8 45 Rxc7+ Kb8 46 Be5 Ra5 47 Rc5 1-0

Game 4
O.Dannevig-N.Borge
Oslo 1992

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 f5 3 e4!?
White hopes to obtain Blackmar-Diemer-type compensation, but this is
just not possible. See the previous game for the preferable 3 Bg5.
3 ... dxe4 4 Bf4
White prevents 4 ... e5 and aims his bishop at c7 with a possible Nb5 to
follow.
4 ... Nf6 5 f3
 5 ... e6
Alternatively:
a) 5 ... Nc6 6 Bb5 e6 7 fxe4 fxe4 8 Nge2 Be7 9 Be5 0-0 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 11
Bxc6 bxc6 12 Nxe4 Ba6 13 0-0 Bxd4+ 14 Qxd4 Rxf1+ 15 Rxf1 Bxe2 is about
equal due to Black’s many pawn islands, T.Brueckner-J.Fleck, German League
1987.
b) 5 ... exf3 6 Nxf3 gives White the Blackmar-Diemer type position he is
hoping for. We will consider it in our next game, although unfortunately Black
does not need to capture on f3 as White cannot exert enough pressure on e4
to force him to.
6 Bc4 Nc6 7 fxe4 fxe4 8 Nge2 Be7
8 ... Na5 was preferred in J.Benjamin-V.Malaniuk, Moscow 1987, and now
9 Bb5+! Bd7 10 0-0 gives White the advantage as Black’s weak e-pawns are
hard to hold on to.
9 a3 0-0 10 0-0 Kh8 11 Kh1
Clearing the d1-square for the queen’s rook is better: 11 Qe1!? Nxd4 12
Rd1 Nxe2+ 13 Qxe2 Bc5+ 14 Kh1 Qe7 15 Nxe4 and White has sufficient
activity against the black e6-pawn.
11 ... b6 12 Qe1 Nd5
 13 Rd1?!
A further inaccuracy. 13 Qg3 would have forced Black to be more careful:
a) 13 ... Nxf4 14 Rxf4 Rxf4 15 Qxf4 Nxd4 16 Nxd4 Qxd4 17 Rd1 Qf6 (or 17
... Qxc4 18 Rd8+ and mates) 18 Qxc7 and White is winning. Black is unable
to develop his queenside and his back rank is very vulnerable.
b) 13 ... Bh4 14 Bxc7 (there is an interesting idea based on Black’s weak
back rank which almost works: 14 Qxh4!? Qxh4 15 Bg5 Rxf1+ 16 Rxf1 Ba6!;
Black has to return the queen, but he ensures he ends up with the extra
pawn intact after 17 Bxh4 Bxc4) 14 ... Bxg3 15 Bxd8 Rxd8 and now White has
tactical ideas again based on Black’s weak back rank: 16 Nxd5 exd5 (16 ...
Bd6 17 Ndc3 wins the e4-pawn) 17 Bxd5 Ba6 (after 17 ... Bd7 18 Nxg3 Rac8
19 c3 White is better as the e4-pawn is lost for Black) 18 Bxc6 Rac8 (if 18 ...
Bxe2 19 Bxa8 Bxf1 20 Rxf1 Rxa8 21 hxg3 and White has a winning rook
ending) 19 Nxg3 Bxf1 20 Bxe4 Bc4 21 Rd1.
 Here White has sufficient compensation for the exchange.
13 ... Na5 14 Ba2 Ba6 15 Rf2 Nc4
Black already stands better.
16 Be5 Nxe5 17 dxe5 Rxf2 18 Qxf2 Qf8! 19 Qd4
This is just a loss of time.
19 ... Rd8 20 Qg1 Bc5 21 Nd4 Nf4 22 Qf2
Other defensive attempts were:
a) 22 b4!? Nd3! 23 Rxd3 (23 Nxe6 Bxg1 24 Nxf8 Nf2+! 25 Kxg1 Nxd1 26
Nxd1 Rxd1+ 27 Kf2 Rg1 wins the knight on f8) 23 ... exd3 24 bxc5 Rxd4 25
Qxd4 Qf1+ 26 Qg1 dxc2 and the pawn cannot be stopped.
b) 22 Nxe4 Rxd4 23 Rxd4 Nh3 24 gxh3 Bxd4 25 Qxd4 Qf3+ 26 Kg1 Qf1
mates.
22 ... Bb7 23 Qe3
 Exercise: Can you spot a decisive tactical blow for Black?

Answer: 23 ... Nxg2! 24 Kxg2 Bxd4 25 Rxd4 Qf3+ 26 Qxf3 exf3+

27 Kg3 Rxd4 28 Bxe6 Rd2 29 Bh3 Kg8 0-1

Game 5
B.Gelfand-P.Nikolic
Munich 1994

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 f5 3 e4 dxe4 4 Bf4 Nf6 5 f3 exf3

As mentioned in the notes to the previous game, this is not necessary or
forced.
6 Nxf3 e6 7 Bc4 Bd6 8 Qd2 0-0 9 0-0-0
 9 ... c6
After 9 ... Bxf4 10 Qxf4 Qd6 11 Ne5 White has a strong knight on e5.
10 Bg5
Also tempting are:
a) 10 Rhe1!? Nd5 11 Bxd5 (11 Bxd6 Qxd6 12 g4 fxg4 13 Ne5 Nd7 14 Ne4
Qc7 15 Nxg4 Qf4 16 Qxf4 Rxf4 17 h3 N7f6 18 Ngxf6+ gxf6 19 Nd6 is unclear
according to Dautov; White’s threat is Nxc8 and Rxe6 with the better ending)
11 ... cxd5 (or 11 ... exd5 12 Re2 Na6 13 Rde1 when White’s control of the
open e-file and the outpost on e5 gives him the advantage) 12 Nb5 Bxf4 13
Qxf4 Nc6 14 Ne5 (now the fork on c7 is not working because of the
intermediate move ... e5: 14 Nc7 e5 and the knight on c7 is lost) 14 ... Qa5
15 Nc3 (after 15 Nxc6 bxc6 16 Nc3 c5 Black is clearly better as he has a
strong attack along the b-file with moves like ... Bd7, ... Rab8 and ... Qb4) 15
... Nxe5 16 Qxe5.
 Question: Who stands better here?

Answer: Although White has the better minor piece (the black bishop on
c8 is considered ‘bad’ as it is limited by the pawn on e6), he is not better
here. The prospect of an attack is more important and Black has the open c-
file for his rooks, whereas White cannot easily open files on the kingside. If
he plays g4 at some point, he has to be careful that the black bishop does not
become too strong on g6 and take part in the queenside attack.
b) 10 Ne5 b5 11 Bb3 a5 12 a4 b4 13 Ne2 Nd5 14 g4 was suggested by
Dautov, with the continuation 14 ... fxg4 (I think Black has a better move in
14 ... Ba6, threatening to win a piece with ... Bxe2 and ... Nxf4) 15 Bg5 Qc7
16 Nxg4, which he gives this as unclear. However, I prefer White as he has
open lines and can attack on the kingside even though it has cost him a
pawn.
10 ... Na6
 Question: Why is Black allowing Bxa6 which doubles his pawns?

Answer: While it is true that 11 Bxa6 weakens Black’s queenside pawn

structure, we must balance this with the resulting absence of the light-
squared bishop. The pressure on the e6-pawn is immediately relinquished
and Black will play a later ... c6-c5 to exchange the d4-pawn. This will give
him two trumps: the long diagonal h1-a8 for his queen’s bishop and possibly
a chance to advance with ... e6-e5 later on. Balancing the pros and cons of 11
Bxa6, it can be seen that Black benefits more from the exchange.
Instead, Black might have strengthened his grip on the light squares with
10 ... b5 11 Bd3 Nbd7 12 Rhe1 Nb6 13 Qf2 Qc7 followed by ... Nd5.
11 Qe1?!
I would prefer 11 Rhe1!? Nc7 12 Ne5 b5 13 Bd3 Qe8 14 Kb1 Ncd5 15 Nxd5
cxd5 16 Bf4 a5 with an attack on the queenside.
11 ... Nc7 12 g4!?
White is desperate to drum up an attack, even at the cost of a pawn.
12 ... b5
The pawn can be taken as the attack is illusory: 12 ... fxg4 13 Ne5 b5 14
Bb3 a5 15 a4 Qe8 16 Bxf6 gxf6 17 Nxg4 Qe7 18 Rg1 Kh8 19 Qh4 b4 20 Ne2
Ba6. Black will follow up with ... Nd5 and ... Ra7, completely covering all
weaknesses and remaining with the extra pawn.
13 Bb3 b4
 14 Ne2?!
The knight has no good squares on the kingside. 14 Na4 Ncd5 15 gxf5
exf5 16 Nc5 was a better choice.
14 ... Ncd5
Gelfand was no doubt hoping for 14 ... fxg4?! 15 Ne5 Qe8. Now:
a) 16 Bxf6 gxf6 17 Nxg4 Qh5 18 Rg1 Kh8 and Black stands better after ...
Bd7.
b) 16 Rg1!? Ne4 17 Bh4 (and not 17 Rxg4? Nf2) 17 ... h5 18 Ng3 Nf2 19
Nxh5! (19 Rd2? Nh3 is clearly favourable for Black) 19 ... Nxd1 20 Nxg7 Kxg7
21 Qxd1 Rf4 22 Nxg4 with good attacking chances.
c) 16 h3 Ne4 17 Bh4 gxh3 18 Rxh3 is unclear.
15 gxf5
Another option was 15 Ne5 Qc7 16 gxf5 and then:
a) 16 ... exf5 17 Nf4 puts pressure on d5.
b) 16 ... Ne4 17 Bh4 exf5 18 Nf4 when 18 ... Bb7? 19 Ne6 wins an
exchange, while after 18 ... Kh8 19 Nxd5 cxd5 20 Bxd5 Bb7 21 Bd8! (taking
advantage of a tactical resource) 21 ... Qxd8 22 Bxb7 Qg5+ 23 Kb1 Rad8 24
Bxe4 Bxe5 25 Rg1 Qf5 26 Bxf5 Rxd4 27 Rf1 Rxd1+ 28 Qxd1 Qg5 the position
is equal.
15 ... exf5 16 Ne5 Be6
 17 Rg1
Still trying to attack. Instead, after 17 Nxc6 Qc7 18 Ng3 Rae8 19 Bxf6 (or
19 Ne5 f4 20 Ne4 Nxe4 21 Qxe4 Ne3 22 Bxe6+ Rxe6 23 Bxf4 Nxd1 24 Rxd1
with advantage to Black) 19 ... Rxf6 20 Bxd5 Bxd5 21 Qxe8+ Rf8 22 Qe1
Qxc6 23 Rg1 f4 24 Nf1 (if 24 Nh5 g6 when Black is safe and the knight on h5
could be hanging after an eventual ... Kh8) 24 ... Qa4 Black will be winning.
17 ... Qe8
White obtains the counterplay he is aiming for after 17 ... a5: 18 Bxd5
Bxd5 19 Ng3 Qc8 (or 19 ... g6 20 Nxf5) 20 Bxf6 Rxf6 21 Nh5 and the g7-pawn
falls.
The best move, though, was 17 ... Qc7!?, and if 18 Bh6 Ng4 19 Bxg7 Qxg7
20 h3 Qh6+ 21 Kb1 Bxe5 22 hxg4 (after 22 dxe5 Qxh3 the open g-file is
securely blockaded by the knight on g4) 22 ... Bg7 23 gxf5 Rxf5 with an extra
piece.
18 Bh6 Ng4 19 Bxg7
19 Nxg4 fxg4 20 Bxd5 cxd5 is clearly better for Black.
19 ... Kxg7 20 h3 Kh8
Alternatively:
a) 20 ... Bxe5 21 dxe5 f4 22 Nd4 f2 23 Qf2 and after hxg4, White regains
the piece with advantage.
b) 20 ... f4!? 21 Nxg4 Kh8! (and not 21 ... f3? 22 Nf6+! Kxf6 23 Qh4+ Kf7
24 Qxh7+ Kf6 25 Qg7+ Kf5 26 Qg4+ Kf6 27 Qg5+ Kf7 28 Qg7 mate) 22 Qf2
Bxg4 23 hxg4 f3 24 Ng3 Bf4+ 25 Kb1 Be3, winning the exchange.
 21 hxg4 fxg4 22 Rh1
22 Nxg4? Bxg4 23 Rxg4 Ne3 wins the exchange.

22 ... Bxe5?!
Black wants to get rid of the strong knight, but this capture gives up the
bishop and frees the d4-square for the other white knight.
22 ... a5? 23 Rxh7+! Kxh7 24 Qh4+ Kg7 25 Qg5+ Kh7 26 Rh1+ is winning
for White, but after 22 ... Bf5 23 Ng3 Bg6 24 Rd2 a5 25 Rdh2 Bxe5 26 dxe5
Qe6 Black has successfully neutralized the initiative on the kingside, and the
extra pawn should decide proceedings in his favour.
23 dxe5 Qg6 24 Nd4 a5 25 Qd2 Bg8 26 Rh6 Qg7! 27 Nxc6 g3
White cannot capture twice on d5 as his rook is hanging on h6.
28 Rhh1 Rf2 29 Qd4 Nf4 30 Kb1 Rf8 31 Bxg8 Rxg8 32 Nd8! Rf8
Rightly avoiding 32 ... Rf3? 33 Rxh7+! Kxh7 (or 33 ... Qxh7 34 e6+ Rg7 35
Nf7+ Kg8 36 Qd8 mate) 34 Rh1+ Qh6 (if 34 ... Kg6 35 Qe4+ Kg5 36 Qxf3 g2
37 Ne6+ Nxe6 38 Rh5+ Kg6 39 Qf5 mate) 35 Qe4+ Rg6 36 Rxh6+ Kxh6 37
Qxf3 when White wins.
33 Qc5 Re2?
The board is on fire. Here 33 ... a4! would have forced 34 e6 as White has
no choice but to create some threats with his passed pawn. Instead, 34 Rd7?
is a blunder as Black has the astonishing move 34 ... Nh3!.
 This threatens mate on the back rank and now that the rook on f8 is
defended, Black also threatens to take on d7.
However, neither is 34 e6 a panacea for White since Black has the
surprising piece sacrifice 34 ... Nd3!: for example, 35 Rxd3 Rf1+ 36 Rd1 Rxh1
37 Rxh1 g2 38 Rc1 a3 39 bxa3 bxa3 40 Qb6 Qf6 41 Nc6 g1Q! 42 Rxg1 Qf1+
43 Rxf1 Rxf1 mate.
34 Rd7 g2 35 Rc1

35 ... Rxe5??
 This unfortunate time-trouble blunder costs Black the game. He could
have won with the unexpected 35 ... Nd3! 36 Rxd3 Rf1 37 Rdd1 Ref2 (single-
mindedly pursuing the queening of the g-pawn) 38 Ne6 Rxd1! 39 Rxd1 Rf1
and the g-pawn will queen.
36 Nf7+
The move that Black must have totally overlooked. Neither capture works:
36 ... Qxf7 37 Rxf7 Rxc5 38 Rxf8+ Kg7 39 Rxf4 with an extra rook for White or
36 ... Rxf7 37 Rd8+ winning immediately.
36 ... Kg8 37 Nxe5 Qf6 38 Ng4 Qe6 39 Qg5+ Ng6 40 Rdd1 Kg7 41
Qh6+ Kg8 42 Ne3 1-0

Summary
Against 2 ... c5, White has the option of transposing to Games 53 and 54 with
3 Bf4, which is certainly dangerous, as we will see. The other option is 3 e4,
which is actually an Albin Counter-Gambit in reverse. In this line White
sacrifices a pawn with f2-f3 for central control, but in Game 2 Black came up
with a rook sacrifice that puts this variation under suspicion, so it seems that
White is better off with 3 Bf4.
2 ... f5 is more often seen via 1 d4 f5 2 Nc3 d5. A popular reply is 3 e4,
gambiting a pawn as once played by Boris Gelfand. White obtains decent play
if Black takes on e4 and then f3, but this is not forced and in any case Black
got a reasonable position in Game 5. As such, the recommended reply to 2 ...
f5 is just to continue in Veresov style with 3 Bg5 (Game 3), taking on f6 if
Black plays 3 ... Nf6.
 Chapter Two
3 Bg5: Others
1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5

The alternatives to the main lines are examined here. These are mainly
the moves 3 ... h6, 3 ... Ne4, 3 ... c5 and 3 ... g6. The first two moves are
generally harmless and White normally obtains an edge.

Game 6
R.Palliser-G.Jones
British Rapidplay Championship, Halifax 2010

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 h6

 Black invites White to carry out his threat of doubling the f-pawns with 4
Bxf6. Clearly there is a clash of ideas here as Black hopes that the bishop-pair
will compensate for his weakened kingside pawns. White must take up the
challenge as after all he has been given an extra move by Black’s 3 ... h6.
4 Bxf6
Logical, although White can also steer the game into positions similar to
those in Chapter Seven with 4 Bf4.
4 ... exf6
This is the most solid reply and now the king’s bishop is ready to come out
in one move. The drawback is that Black does not have any pawn breaks in
the centre. Also, Black’s pawns on h6 and f6 encourage White to advance his
own kingside pawns: h2-h4 and g2-g4 followed by a later g4-g5. This is very
dangerous if Black castles on the kingside as can be seen in the Bellin-
Penrose game below.
Instead, 4 ... gxf6 can reach to positions similar to 3 ... c5 4 Bxf6 gxf6, but
with Black having wasted a tempo with the weakening 3 ... h6.
5 e3
Compared with the variation 3 ... Bf5 4 Bxf6 exf6 (Games 37-39), White
has an alternative in 5 e4.
 Question: Who will benefit most from the opening of the game after this
move?

Answer: Judging from B.Spassky-V.Korchnoi, 16th matchgame, Belgrade

1977, which went 5 ... Bb4 6 exd5 Qxd5 7 Nf3 0-0 8 Be2 Qa5 9 Qd2 Nd7 10
a3 Nb6 11 Rb1 Bxc3 12 Qxc3 Qxc3+ 13 bxc3 Nd5 14 Kd2 Nf4 15 Bf1 b6, the
answer has to be Black who has the better minor pieces. The bishop will
control the long diagonal h1-a8 and the knight is not easily driven away from
its current position on f4.
5 ... c6
If Black tries to transpose to the 3 ... Bf5 variation with 5 ... Bf5 then 6
Qf3 Be6 sees him wasting tempi, while the exchange 6 ... Bxc2 7 Qxd5 is to
White’s advantage.
6 Bd3 f5
Black is fighting for the central light squares at the cost of putting more
pawns on light squares and limiting his queen’s bishop. On the plus side, it is
very difficult for White to organize the e3-e4 break. Black has a solid if not
very active game.
7 Qf3 g6 8 h3
 White tries to undermine Black’s control of e4 with the g2-g4 push.
8 ... h5!
This is in the spirit of 6 ... f5. Black will not allow White to undermine his
pawn structure with g4 so easily.
9 Nge2 Nd7 10 g4!?
White goes ahead and decides to make g2-g4 a pawn sacrifice. Otherwise,
once Black gets ... Nf6 in, White has no break with either g2-g4 or e3-e4.
If 10 Qg3 (to make way for the f3-pawn) then 10 ... Nf6 11 f3 Bd6 12 Qh4
Bd7 13 0-0-0 Qe7 14 Kb1 0-0-0 15 Rde1 Rde8 leaves Black with an edge as
White has a weak pawn on e3 and no way to break, in view of 16 e4? Nxe4.
10 ... hxg4 11 hxg4 fxg4 12 Qg2 Rxh1+ 13 Qxh1 Nf6 14 0-0-0
Bf5?!
This seems to put any e3-e4 break by White to rest. The downside is the
weakness created on f5 after the bishop exchange.
After 14 ... Be6 15 Nf4 Qd6 16 Nxe6 Qxe6 17 Re1 0-0-0 18 e4 dxe4 19
Nxe4 Nxe4 20 Qxe4 Qxa2 21 c3 (21 Qxg4+? f5 22 Qxg6 Qa1+ 23 Kd2 Bb4+
wins for Black) 21 ... Qa1+ 22 Bb1 Bh6+ 23 Kc2 White is temporarily two
pawns down, but he can regain at least the pawn on g4 and with opposite-
coloured bishops on the board, will have good drawing chances.
15 Bxf5 gxf5 16 Ng3 Ne4
If 16 ... Qd7 17 Qh8 Qe6 18 Nce2 Ne4 19 Nf4 Qf6 20 Qxf6 Nxf6 21 Nxf5
when White is for choice as he has a strong knight on f5 and the advanced g-
pawn is a possible target.
 17 Ncxe4 fxe4 18 Qh5

18 ... Qf6!
Black cannot keep the pawn in view of 18 ... Qd7 19 Nf5 followed by
Qxg4. The strong knight on f5 is a definite plus for White.
19 Qxg4 Qxf2 20 Qg5
After 20 Nf5 0-0-0 White cannot make anything from the discovered check
and Black will play ... Kb8 on the next move to get out of the checks. If then
21 Rd2 Qe1+ 22 Rd1 Qf2 23 Rd2 with a draw.
20 ... Be7 21 Qg8+ Bf8 22 Qg5 Be7 23 Qg8+ Kd7?
This gives up the exchange. This game was played in a rapid tournament
and in the last minutes anything can happen even an exchange down,
especially when one has two pawns for it. Instead, 23 ... Bf8 24 Qg5 leads to
a threefold repetition.
24 Qxa8 Qxe3+ 25 Kb1 Qxg3 26 Qxb7+ Qc7 27 Qb3
 In an ending without queens, the rook might not be able to handle the
bishop and two passed pawns. Thus White retains the queens to have
chances against the black king.
27 ... Qf4 28 Qh3+ Kc7 29 Rf1 Qd2 30 Qg3+ Kb7 31 Qb3+
White is unable to organize an attack against the black king and decides a
draw is prudent.
31 ... Kc7 32 Qg3+ Kb7 33 Qb3+ ½-½

Game 7
A.Rabinovich-I.Sorkin
Herzliya 1993

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 h6 4 Bxf6 exf6 5 e3 c6 6 Bd3 Bd6 7 Qf3

 Question: Why does the queen come out so early,
and to f3 where it might be attacked by a later ... Bg4?

Answer: In this variation, as well as other variations in the Veresov,

White plans queenside castling. If Black castles kingside, White is free to
advance his own kingside pawns for a pawn storm. This is very effective here
because Black has played ... h6 and his pawn on f6 makes opening files on
the kingside very easy for White after moves like h4, g4 and g5.
If Black does not castle kingside, White can also open the game with e3-
e4 when the queen on f3 is playing a role by preventing a possible pawn to f5
by Black.
7 ... 0-0
Castling into it as the saying goes. White now has the simple plan of
playing for the pawn lever on g5 with h4 and g4.
8 Nge2 Re8 9 g4
This is even better than 9 0-0-0 b5 10 g4 b4 (Black counterattacks
vigorously, but he lacks the clear targets that White has on the kingside) 11
Na4 (compared with our main game, White did not have the possibility of
retreating his knight to e2, where it can take part in a kingside attack or play
a defensive role after Kb1 and Nc1) 11 ... Nd7 12 h4:
 a) 12 ... Nb6 (Black is doing his best, forcing White to open lines on the
queenside, but despite the opening of the a-file, the white king is surprisingly
safe) 13 Nxb6 axb6 14 Kb1! (the king might look dangerously placed with the
open a-file, but White is perfectly safe as the knight on e2 will go to c1 to
defend the only point of weakness, a2; instead, 14 g5 was played in M.Tal-
E.Geller, Curacao 1962, and after 14 ... fxg5 15 hxg5 Rxa2 16 gxh6 Ra1+ 17
Kd2 Rxd1+ 18 Kxd1 g6 19 Rg1 Be6 20 Nf4 Bxf4 21 Qxf4 Kh7 22 Kd2 White’s
attacking possibilities were blunted and Black even won) 14 ... Qe7 15 g5!
(White is opening the kingside and a pawn sacrifice is a small price to pay
considering the number of lines that are going to open) 15 ... b3 16 cxb3 Qa7
17 Nc1 (the king is now fully secure and White can turn his attention to the
annihilation of the black monarch) 17 ... fxg5 18 hxg5 hxg5 19 Qh5 (White is
just winning; all he needs to do is throw more pieces at the black king) 19 ...
Kf8 20 Qxg5 Kg8 21 Rdg1 f6 22 Qh5 Bg4 23 Rxg4 1-0, S.Clark-F.Barbagello,
correspondence 1986.
b) 12 ... g6 (this slows down the white attack by preparing 13 ... h5 in
answer to 13 g5) 13 Rdg1 Be7 14 g5 fxg5 15 h5 g4 16 Rxg4 g5 17 Rgg1
(Black has done very well in keeping the kingside closed) 17 ... Qa5 18 b3
and now:
 b1) It might seem that the most obvious move is 18 ... Nb6, but this takes
a defender away from the kingside: 19 Nc5! Bxc5 (19 ... Qxa2 20 Kd2
threatens to trap the black queen and after 20 ... Bxc5 21 Qf6 there are too
many threats for Black to defend against; the most obvious is Qxh6 so 21 ...
Re6 might occur, but after 22 Qd8+ Bf8 23 Rxg5+ hxg5 24 Qxg5+ Kh8 25
Rg1 mate can hardly be avoided) 20 dxc5 Qxc5 21 Qf6! (the absence of the
dark-squared bishop will be felt) 21 ... Re6 22 Rxg5+ hxg5 23 Qxg5+ Kf8 24
h6 and the pawn will be unstoppable.
b2) 18 ... Nf6 19 Ng3 Bg4 20 Qg2 Kh8 21 Bf5 Bxf5 22 Nxf5 Bf8 23 f4 Ne4
24 fxg5 Nxg5 25 Rh4 Re4 26 Rf4 Rae8?? (26 ... Kh7 was the only move to
prolong the game) 27 Nxh6 Bxh6 28 Rf6 Qd8 (or 28 ... R4e6 29 Rxh6+ Rxh6
30 Qxg5 and mate on g7) 29 Rxh6+ Kg7 30 Rxc6 f6 31 Qf1 Rxe3 32 Rxg5+
fxg5 33 Rg6+ 1-0. Black resigned as after 33 ... Kh8 34 Qf7 mate cannot be
prevented, R.Bellin-J.Penrose, British Championship, Clacton-on-Sea 1974.
Returning to the immediate 9 g4:
9 ... b5
Black is not slow in launching his counterplay.
10 Ng3 b4 11 Nce2 g6 12 h4 a5 13 0-0-0 a4
 Both sides are attacking on opposite wings. Who will succeed? The race is
well and truly on.
14 Rdg1
White’s large lead in development gives him a clear advantage. While
Black can easily advance his pawns, his pieces lag way behind and his attack
soon runs out of steam.
14 ... Bf8
Black rushes a defender back to help his vulnerable king.
15 g5 fxg5 16 hxg5 hxg5
 17 Nh5

Exercise: This looks very strong, but in what

other way could White have continued the attack?

Answer: There was a quicker win with 17 Rh8+! Kxh8 18 Qxf7

(threatening Rh1 and mate) 18 ... Bh3 19 Rh1 Qd7 (or 19 ... g4 20 Nf4 and
there is no defence to Nxg6+) 20 Qxg6 Re7 21 Bf5 and White wins.
17 ... Bg7??
This loses immediately. The most sturdy defence was 17 ... Be7. Now
White has to find 18 Nhf4! to continue the attack:
a) 18 ... g4 19 Qg3 Kg7 (otherwise Qh2 spells the end for Black) 20 Qh2
Rh8 21 Qxh8+ Qxh8 22 Rxh8 Kxh8 23 Bxg6 Kg7 24 Bh5 f5 25 f3 and White
ends up with an extra pawn.
b) 18 ... gxf4 19 Bxg6 is game over.
c) 18 ... Ra7 (best) 19 Nxg6 fxg6 20 Bxg6 (20 Rh8+? no longer works now
the black rook is on a7: 20 ... Kxh8 21 Qf7 Bh3 22 Qxg6 Bf6 23 Qh5+ Kg8 24
Qxh3 and Black wins as White has no more mate threats) 20 ... Rf8 21 Qh5
Bf6 22 Rxg5 and wins.
18 Nxg7 Kxg7
 Exercise: How did White force resignation in one move?

Answer: 19 Rh7+! 1-0

This is a common tactical motif. Black is mated after 19 ... Kxh7 20 Qxf7+
Kh8 21 Rh1+ Bh3 22 Rxh3.

Game 8
J.Laengl-B.Scholvin
Faaker See 2003

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 c5 4 Bxf6 gxf6

Best as 4 ... exf6 leaves a permanently weak pawn on d5.
5 e4!?
Another Albin-like idea. For the quieter 5 e3 see the next few games.
5 ... dxe4 6 dxc5
 Question: Should Black now exchange the queens?

Answer: No! After 6 ... Qxd1+ 7 Rxd1 White has threats of Nb5 or Nd5
with fork on c7. There will be no time for Black to defend his e4-pawn.
6 ... Qa5
Keeping the queens on. Another option is 6 ... f5 7 Qxd8+ Kxd8 8 0-0-0+
Bd7.
 Question: Black has a strong central pawn on e4 well
supported by one on f5. How can White try to break up the centre?

Answer: White should try to break up the black pawn mass on e4 and f5
with g2-g4. Instead, the endgame that arises after 9 Bc4 e6 is favourable for
Black according to Gufeld and Stetsko. So, 9 g4 and then:
a) After 9 ... fxg4 10 Nxe4 f5 11 Ng3 (11 Nc3 e6 12 h3 is an improvement)
11 ... e6 12 h3 Kc7 13 hxg4 Bc6 14 Rh2 Nd7 15 gxf5 exf5 16 Nxf5 Bxc5 17
Bh3 Rhg8 18 Ne2 Ne5 19 Ned4 Nf3 20 Nxf3 Bxf3 Black’s bishop-pair controls
the board, although White won in 47 moves, J.Luther-R.Schaefer, German
League 2006.
b) 9 ... e6 10 gxf5 exf5 11 Bh3 Kc8 12 Nge2 Bxc5 13 Bxf5 Bxf5 14 Rd5
Bxf2 15 Rxf5 Be3+ 16 Kb1 when the black king is exposed and the pawns on
f7 and e4 vulnerable.
7 Qh5 Nc6
A sharper continuation is 7 ... Bg7 8 Bb5+ Bd7 9 Qg4 Kf8!? 10 Bxd7 f5.

With his last move, Black has opened the diagonal for the bishop on g7
and now threatens the white queen as well as ... Bxc3+.

Exercise: White has two captures, 11 Bxf5 and 11 Qxf5. Which is

preferable?
 Answer: After 11 Qxf5 Bxc3+ 12 Kf1 (or 12 bxc3 Qxc3+ 13 Ke2 Qxa1 14
Be6 Qg7 when White is just an exchange down with no attack) 12 ... Nxd7
Black completes his queenside development with a capture, thus gaining
time. The game P.Heitland-T.Wessendorf, Dortmund 1987, continued 13
Qxd7 Qa6+ 14 Ne2 Bxb2 15 Rd1 Rg8 16 Qc7 Re8 17 g3 Rg6 18 Rd7 Qxa2 19
Qxb7 Qb1+ 20 Kg2 Qxc2 21 Nf4 Rf6 22 Re1 Be5 23 Rxe4 Bxf4 24 Rxf4 Rxf4
25 gxf4 Qxc5 26 Qxa7 Qc6+ 27 Kg3 Ra8 28 Qb7 Ra3+ 29 f3 Rxf3+ 30 Kg4
h5+ 0-1.
Therefore 11 Bxf5! is preferable. After 11 ... Bxc3+ 12 Kf1 Bxb2 13 Rd1
Nc6 14 Bxe4 Qxc5 both kings haven’t castled, but White can be preferred as
his kingside is more intact. The white king will find safety on g1, but the
same cannot be said of its counterpart.
8 Bb5 f5 9 a3 Bg7 10 Nge2 0-0
Naturally, we would meet 10 ... e6 with 11 g4!, as opening the position is
advantageous to the side that is better developed.

The game R.Bellin-R.Lobo, London 1978, continued in brutal fashion: 11 ...

fxg4 12 Qxg4 Rg8 13 Bxc6+ bxc6 14 Qxe4 Qxc5 15 Qxh7 Kf8 16 Qd3 f5 17 0-
0-0 Kf7 18 Qf3 Ke7 19 Rhe1 Rb8 20 Na4 Qb5 21 b3 Bh6+ 22 Kb1 Qxa4 23
Nd4 Kf7 24 Qh5+ 1-0 .
Here 11 0-0-0 0-0 12 g4 has also been seen and after 12 ... Ne5 13 gxf5
exf5 14 Rhg1 Ng6 it looks like White has a winning attack just by advancing
his h-pawn. It is not so simple, though, as he first has to move his queen out
of the way. Thus Black gains the tempo he needs to come to defence of the
kingside: 15 h4 a6 16 Ba4 Qxc5 17 Qg5 Qxf2! 18 h5 h6! (the white queen has
no squares on the g-file, so White has to give up the mate threat on g7) 19
Qd2 Ne5 20 Qxh6 Ng4 21 Qg5 Kh7.

Here the knight on g4 shields the black king from any danger along the g-
file. Moreover, after 22 Kb1 Bf6 23 Qd2 Be6 Black has completed
development, his bishops and knight are on optimum squares, and he is
clearly for choice.
11 0-0 Nd4 12 b4 Qc7 13 Nd5 Qe5
Alternatively, 13 ... Nxe2+ 14 Qxe2 Qe5 15 Rad1 gives Black difficulties
developing his queenside: for example, 15 ... e6 16 Ne7+ Kh8 17 Bd7! Bxd7
18 Rxd7 b6 19 Qc4 bxc5 20 bxc5 Bf6 21 Nc6 Qb2 22 a4 a5 23 Na7 Rad8 24
Rxd8 Bxd8 25 Rd1 (after 25 c6 Qe5 Black establishes a blockade on c7) 25 ...
Bc7 26 g3 Rd8 27 Rxd8+ Bxd8 (Black aims to place his queen on d1 and
harass the white king with checks on f3 and d1) 28 Kg2 Qa1 29 c3 Kg7 (29 ...
Qd1 30 Qd4+ exchanges queens and wins the knight versus bishop ending)
30 Nc6 Bg5 31 Nd4 when White is clearly better as he has a passed c-pawn.
14 Nxd4 Qxd5
 Exercise: The knight on d4 is under attack and cannot move
as the rook on a1 would be lost. White can defend the knight with
15 Rad1 or 15 c3. What is the difference between these two moves?

Answer: 15 Rad1 is not good as after 15 ... Bxd4 16 c3, the black bishop
will sacrifice itself on f2, exposing the white kingside. Therefore the
immediate 15 c3 is better.
15 Rad1?
Instead, after 15 c3! Bxd4 16 cxd4 Qxd4 17 Qg5+ Qg7 18 Qxe7 a5 19
Rad1 axb4 20 axb4 Be6 21 Bd7 Bxd7 22 Rxd7 Rfe8 23 Qd6 Ra1 24 g3 White
is winning as the b7-pawn is indefensible. Indeed, 24 ... Rxf1+ 25 Kxf1 Qc3
26 Qd5! (avoiding 26 Rxb7 e3! 27 Re7 Rxe7 28 Qxe7 Qc4+ 29 Kg1 e2 30
Qd8+ Kg7 31 Qd2 Qe4 with good drawing possibilities due to the advanced e-
pawn) 26 ... Qf6 27 Rxb7 wins.
15 ... Bxd4 16 c3 Bxf2+ 17 Rxf2 Qe5 18 Bd7 e6
 Question: White is a pawn down. Does he have sufficient compensation
given
that the black g-pawn is no longer on g7, resulting in a weakened black
kingside?

Answer: Not really. Despite how it looks, the black king is quite safe as
White cannot get his rooks to the g- and h-files as both the d3- and f3-
squares are covered.
19 c4!?
White is too optimistic about his position. A pawn down and with no
attack despite the weakened black kingside, he should be thinking about
drawing with 19 c6. Then:
a) 19 ... bxc6 20 Bxc6 Rb8 21 Bxe4 Qxe4 22 Qg5+ Kh8 23 Qf6+ Kg8 24
Qg5+ draws by with perpetual check.
b) 19 ... Bxd7 20 Qg5+ Kh8 (after 20 ... Qg7 21 Qxg7+ Kxg7 22 cxb7!
Rab8 23 Rxd7 White’s queenside passers are more dangerous than Black’s
central passed pawns) 21 cxb7! Rad8 22 Qe7 e3 23 Re2 Qxc3 24 h4 (24
Rxd7?? Qc1+ mates) 24 ... Qc7 25 Qf6+ Kg8 26 Qg5+ with another perpetual
check. Note that the winning attempt with 26 Rxe3? fails to 26 ... Bc6 27
Rde1 Qf4 and it is not possible for White to get his rook to the g-file.
Meanwhile Black will activate his rooks and win.
19 ... Bxd7 20 Rxd7 e3 21 Rf1
 After 21 Re2?? Qa1+ White is unable to cover his back rank and will be
mated.
21 ... e2 22 Re1 Qe3+ 23 Kh1 Rad8 24 Rd6 Rxd6 25 cxd6 Qd2 26
Qxe2 Qxd6 27 Rd1 Qf4 28 Kg1

28 ... e5
Black starts to lose the thread of the game, making passive moves and
even eventually losing. Active play was required here: 28 ... Rc8 29 c5 b6! 30
cxb6 axb6 when Black is a clear pawn up and should be winning.
29 g3 Qg4 30 Kf2 f6 31 c5 Rf7 32 Rd8+ Kg7 33 Rd6 Qh3 34 Kg1
Qh6 35 Rd1 Qg5 36 Qf3 Re7 37 Rf1 Kg6 38 Qb3 Rd7 39 Qg8+ Rg7
40 Qe8+ Kh6 41 Qd8 f4 42 Kh1 Rg6 43 Qf8+ Kh5 44 Qc8 f5 45 Qxb7
h6 46 gxf4 exf4 47 Qf3+ Kh4 48 Qxf4+ Qxf4 49 Rxf4+ Kg5 50 Rd4
1-0

Game 9
J.Hector-S.Brunello
Danish League 2012

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 c5 4 Bxf6 gxf6 5 e3

A safer choice.
5 ... Nc6 6 Qh5 cxd4 7 exd4 e6
Prudent. 7 ... Nxd4? is refuted by 8 0-0-0 e5 9 Nf3 Bc5 10 Nxe5! Qc7 11
Bb5+ Nxb5 12 Nxb5 Be3+ (if 12 ... Qxe5 13 Rhe1) 13 fxe3 Qxe5 14 Qxe5+
fxe5 15 Nc7+ Kd7 16 Nxa8 Kc6 17 Rd3 and White is clearly winning. Here the
critical point is 10 ... fxe5 11 Qxe5+ Kd7.

Exercise: Find the best continuation for White.

Answer: If your answer is 12 Qxd5+ Bd6 13 Qxd4, you are wrong.

Certainly White has won back his piece with interest, but this is not the best
continuation. That is 12 Rxd4!, and if 12 ... Bxd4 13 Bb5 mate.
8 Nf3 Bd7 9 Bd3 Nb4
 Black wants both bishops and this makes sense as the bishop on d3 is the
best-placed white minor piece.
10 Rd1 Nxd3+ 11 Rxd3 Bb4
This bishop move is premature, as Black does not really want to capture
on c3 giving up the advantage of the bishop-pair.
More testing is 11 ... Qc7 12 Re3 0-0-0! (this pawn offer will unleash the
power of the two bishops) 13 Qxf7 Qf4 14 Qh5 (after 14 g3 Qh6 the white
queen is in danger of being trapped) 14 ... Qh6 15 Qxh6 Bxh6 16 Re2 Bc1 17
Nd1 (17 b3 Kb8 18 0-0 Bf4 19 g3 Bd6 gives Black compensation for the pawn)
17 ... Rhe8 18 0-0.
 Question: Isn’t White’s last move a blunder?
Can’t Black play 18 ... Bb5, winning an exchange?

Answer: 18 ... Bb5? does not win an exchange because of 19 c4!,

exploiting the poor position of the king on c8:
a) 19 ... Bc6 20 cxd5 exd5 (20 ... Bxd5 is not possible because of the fork
21 Rc2+) 21 Ne3 Bxe3 22 Rxe3 leaves Black saddled with the worst minor
piece.
b) 19 ... dxc4? 20 Nc3 wins a piece.
c) 19 ... Bxc4? 20 Rc2 Bf4 21 b3 and the bishop is pinned.
12 0-0 Bxc3 13 Rxc3 Rc8 14 Rxc8 Qxc8 15 c3 Bb5 16 Re1
 Black’s king is not safe, despite the exchanges. Now White threatens Qxd5
as the e-pawn is pinned and so Black has no time to bring his bishop to the
b1-h7 diagonal, where it would defend the weak h7-pawn and also block the
e-file with ... Be4.
16 ... Qd7 17 Re3
Better was the immediate 17 Nh4! Kd8 (17 ... Bd3 18 Qf3 forks the bishop
and pawn on f6) 18 Qh6 when the f6-pawn will fall.
17 ... h6!
Black keeps the white queen out of h6 and prepares a shelter on h7 for his
king.
18 Qg4 Kf8 19 Qf4 Qd8 20 Ne1
This allows the rook to swing over to the kingside where the action is.
20 ... Kg7 21 Rg3+ Kh7 22 Nc2!?
Perhaps simpler was 22 b3 and then:
a) 22 ... a5 23 c4 Bc6 (23 ... dxc4? 24 Qe4+ f5 25 Qe5 wins the bishop on
b5 because of the mate on g7) 24 c5 Qe7 25 Rh3 Kg7 26 Qg4+ Kf8 (or 26 ...
Kh7 27 Qh4 Kg7 28 Rg3+ Kh7 29 Nd3 Qd8 30 Nf4 when Black cannot prevent
the decisive 31 Nh5) 27 Rg3 Ke8 28 Qg7 Rf8 29 Qxh6 wins for White.
b) 22 ... f5 23 Rh3 Kg7 24 c4 (not 24 Qe5+? f6 25 Qxe6 Re8 when it is
Black who wins) 24 ... Ba6 25 Nd3 dxc4 26 Rg3+ Kh7 27 Ne5 Qe7 28 bxc4
and White is winning. All his pieces are on their optimum squares while
Black’s bishop is shut out of play.
22 ... f5 23 Ne1?
 This inaccuracy gives Black the time to redeploy his queen to f6 where it
defends the important h6-square. Instead, 23 Ne3 Qb8 24 Ng4! was
indicated.

The threats against h6 and f6 leaves Black with no defence: 24 ... Qxf4 (or
24 ... fxg4 25 Qxf7 mate) 25 Nf6 mate.
23 ... Qb8
Black does not play 23 ... Qf6 immediately since after 24 Qc7 the white
queen stands more aggressively than it does on f4.
24 Qh4 Qd8 25 Qh5 Qf6 26 Nf3 Rg8
Now that the white queen has been driven from the f4-square, this move
is playable. Exchanging rooks blunts White’s attacking chances.
27 Ne5 Rxg3 28 hxg3 Kg7
White has a slight edge due to his better minor piece, but it is hard to see
how he can win.
29 f4 Qe7 30 g4?
 Exercise: Why is this move a mistake?
Hint: Black’s bishop is not as good as the white knight.

Answer: The move gives Black the chance to exchange off his worst
piece with a pin.
30 ... Be2! 31 Kf2 Bxg4 32 Nxg4 fxg4 33 Qxg4+ Kh7
White has the better pawn structure, but this queen ending is not
winnable.
34 Ke3 Qf6
 Exercise: Visualize the position without queens on the board.
What is the characteristic of this pawn ending? Once you have
understood it, take a moment to see what White should have played here.

Answer: In the ensuring pawn ending, White has the queenside majority.
Black can neutralize this by fixing White’s queenside pawns with ... b5.
Understanding this, you can see why White had to play 35 a4!.
35 b3?? b5!
Fixing the queenside majority. Black essentially has an extra pawn on the
kingside and will win the pawn ending.
36 Qh5 Qg6 37 Qxg6+
White cannot really avoid exchanging queens. After 37 Qf3 Qc2 white
pawns start dropping like flies.
37 ... Kxg6 38 Kf3 Kf5 39 g4+
After 39 g3 h5 40 b4 a6 41 a3 f6 White is in zugzwang.
 Indeed, 42 Ke3 Kg4 43 Kf2 f5 44 Kg2 h4 45 gxh4 Kxh4 46 Kf3 Kh3 47 Kf2
Kg4 48 Ke3 Kg3 easily wins for Black.
39 ... Kg6 40 Kg3 f5 41 Kh4 fxg4
Black has created a passed h-pawn which will decide the game in his
favour.
42 Kxg4 a6 43 b4 h5+ 44 Kh4 Kf5 45 Kxh5 Kxf4 46 Kg6 e5 47
dxe5 Kxe5 48 Kf7 d4 49 cxd4+ Kxd4 50 Ke6 Kc3 0-1

Game 10
J.Bosch-L.Ftacnik
Hamburg 2009

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 c5 4 Bxf6 gxf6 5 e3 Nc6 6 Qh5 cxd4 7 exd4

e6 8 Nf3 Bd7 9 Bd3 f5
Deviating from Brunello’s 9 ... Nb4.
10 0-0 Qf6 11 Rfe1 0-0-0 12 Bb5!
 Question: Should Black capture on d4? After all it is a centre pawn
in exchange for a f-pawn after 12 ... Nxd4 13 Nxd4 Qxd4 14 Qxf7.

Answer: Normally it is a good idea to swap a centre pawn for a wing

pawn. However, the tactics do not work in Black’s favour here. After 12 ...
Nxd4 13 Nxd4 Qxd4 14 Qxf7 Bc5 15 Bxd7+ Rxd7 16 Qxe6 Qxf2+ 17 Kh1
White is for choice as he can look forward to picking up the black pawn on f5
and possibly the one on d5 as well.
12 ... Qg6 13 Qh3 f6 14 Bxc6 bxc6 15 g3 Qg4
 16 Qf1!?
This must have carried great shock value as Black can only have expected
16 Qg2.
16 ... Kb7
Instead, 16 ... f4 17 Rad1 Kb7 transposes back to the game, while
capturing on f3 loses: 16 ... Qxf3? 17 Qa6+ being White’s point. Now:
a) 17 ... Kc7 18 Qxa7+ Kd6 (Black is mated after 18 ... Kc8 19 Na4) 19
Qa3+ Kc7 20 Nb5+ wins the queen on f3.
b) 17 ... Kb8 18 Re3 (attacking the queen gives White the tempo that he
needs to get his attack going) 18 ... Qg4 19 Nxd5 exd5 20 Rb3+ Kc7 21 Qa5+
Kd6 22 Qxd8 Bg7 23 Qa5 Qxd4 24 Rb7 and Black cannot avoid the loss of a
piece. The immediate threat is 25 Qc7+, and if 24 ... Rc8 25 Qa3+ c5 26
Qa6+ Rc6 27 Qxa7.
17 Na4 f4 18 Rad1 Rb8
Once again resisting the knight as after 18 ... Qxf3 19 Rd3 Qg4 20 Rb3+
Kc7 (or 20 ... Ka8 21 Nb6+ axb6 22 Qa6+ Kb8 23 Qxb6+ Kc8 24 Qb7 mate)
21 Qa6 Kd6 22 Qxa7 Ke7 23 Rb7 Ke8 24 Nb6 Qg7 25 Nxd7 Rxd7 26 Rxe6+
Re7 27 Qa3! (the point of this move will soon become clear) 27 ... fxg3 28
hxg3 Rg8 29 Qd6 there is no defence to mass liquidation of all the pieces into
a won pawn ending: 30 Qd7+ Kf7 31 Rxe7+ Bxe7 32 Qxe7+ Kg6 33 Qxg7+
Rxg7 34 Rxg7 Kxg7 35 a4.
19 Rd3 Bd6
Although this is not a mistake, Black should be thinking of bringing his
king to safety with 19 ... Ka8. Then ... h5 and ... h4 would actually even put
White in difficulties.
20 Rb3+ Ka8 21 Qd3

White has managed to bring some pieces to the queenside and without
losing his f3-knight. That said, his attack is far from progressing, whereas
Black can just advance his h-pawn and harvest his advantage on the kingside.
21 ... fxg3 22 hxg3 Rhg8
22 ... h5! would have been thematic and strong: for instance, 23 Kf1 e5 24
Ng1 h4 25 Rxb8+ Rxb8 26 Nc5 Bxc5 27 dxc5 h3 wins for Black.
23 Re3 Rxb3 24 axb3 h5 25 Kf1 Kb8?
Again 25 ... h4!, and if 26 Nxh4 e5 27 Qa6 Kb8 when White’s pieces are
simply uncoordinated for either attack or defence. After 28 Nc5 Bxc5 29 dxc5
Qd1+ 30 Kg2 Qxc2 31 b4 Rg7! 32 Ra3 Be8 White’s attack can no longer make
any headway and he is lost.
26 Ke1 Re8 27 Qc3 e5 28 Nc5 Bxc5 29 Qxc5 e4 30 Nh4 Qh3?
This pointless move might have lost the game. Black should have been
more concerned about the check on d6.
31 b4
White overlooks the possibility of winning the f6-pawn with 31 Qd6+ Kb7
32 Qxf6.
31 ... Qh1+ 32 Kd2 Qf1 33 Qd6+ Kc8 34 Qxf6 Qc4
 35 Rc3!

Exercise: Why give up the b4-pawn? Try to see if White can hold on to
the pawn with 35 c3. Hint: the position is very sharp and you will have to find
a lot of tactical ideas.

Answer: 35 c3 weakens all the light squares on the queenside and Black
can take advantage of this with the unexpected move 35 ... Qa2 36 Kc1 c5!!.
 Give yourself a pat on the back if you found this move. It lets the black
bishop into a4 to take part in a mating attack. Now the position is very
complex and full of tactical ideas. Let us see:
a) 37 dxc5? loses to a straightforward mating attack: 37 ... Ba4 38 Re1
Qa1+ 39 Kd2 e3+!! (the only point of this move is to stop the white king
escaping the mating net via the e3-square) 40 fxe3 Qxb2+ 41 Kd3 Bb5+ 42
Kd4 Qd2 mate.
b) There is a point to the seemingly nonsensical move 37 c4!:

b1) Firstly, if Black plays 37 ... Ba4? trying to mate, White can reply 38
Qa6+ Kb8 39 Qd6+ Ka8 40 Qxd5+ (the point; the c4-pawn blocks the black
queen from controlling the d5-square) 40 ... Kb8 41 Ra3, which traps the
black queen. If, instead, Black moves the other way with 39 ... Kc8 then 40
Qxc5+ Kb8 41 Qd6+ Kc8 42 Ra3 Qxc4+ 43 Rc3 pins the black queen.
b2) 37 ... Qxc4+ 38 Rc3 Qf1+ 39 Kc2 c4 40 Qa6+ Kb8 41 Qd6+ Kc8 42
Qa6+ with perpetual check.
b3) 37 ... Qa1+ 38 Kc2 (38 Kd2? Qxb2+ 39 Ke1 Qc1+ 40 Ke2 Bg4+ wins
for Black) 38 ... cxd4 39 Qxd4 (now White does not have a check on a6) 39 ...
Ba4+ 40 Rb3 (and not 40 Kc3? Qc1 mate) 40 ... Rd8! (Black wants to play 40
... Qa2, but then there is 41 Qc5+ Kb8 42 Qd6+ with perpetual check).
 This preparatory move stops any checks on d4 or d5. Following 41 Nf5 Kb8
(Black gets his king away from any possible checks, but the white king cannot
get out of the pin) 42 Qe5+ (not 42 Kc3?? Qc1 mate) 42 ... Ka8 43 Nd6 (or 43
Qc7 Bxb3+ 44 Kxb3 dxc4+ 45 Qxc4 Qd1+ 46 Ka3 Rd3+ 47 b3 Qa1 mate) 43
... Bxb3+ 44 Kxb3 dxc4+ 45 Kxc4 (45 Nxc4 Rd3+ forces White to give his
queen to prevent mate) 45 ... Qf1+ 46 Kd5 Qxf2 47 Qxe4 Kb8 Black is
winning, he just has to be careful of any tactical tricks. The game might
conclude 48 Qe5 Qb6 49 Qe7 Qb5+ 50 Ke6 Qe2+ 51 Kd5 Qf3+ 52 Ke6 Qe2+
53 Kf6 Qxb2+ 54 Kf5 Qf2+ 55 Ke6 Qe3+ 56 Kf6 Qf3+ 57 Ke6 Rg8 and ...
Rg6+ will be fatal for White.
35 ... Qxb4 36 Ng6 Re6 37 Qh8+ Re8 38 Qf6 Re6 39 Qg7 Rxg6
Black is defenceless:
a) 39 ... Qxb2 40 Rb3 Qa1 41 Qf8+ Be8 (or 41 ... Re8 42 Ne7+ Kc7 43
Qf4+ Kd8 44 Nxc6+! Bxc6 45 Qd6+ and mate next move) 42 Qb4 and the
threat of mate in two starting with 43 Qb8+ can only be prevented by a
queen sacrifice.
b) 39 ... a5 40 Kc1 a4 41 Ne5 Re7 42 Qf8+ Kc7 43 Kb1 (White can take
his time as Black is helpless) 43 ... Qd6 44 Qa8 wins for White.
40 Qxg6 Qxd4+ 41 Ke1 Qb4 42 Kf1
Much simpler would have been 42 Qxh5 Qxb2 43 Qh8+ Kc7 44 Rxc6+.
42 ... Qxb2 43 Qg8+ Kc7 44 Rb3 Qc1+ 45 Kg2 Kd6 46 Qb8+ Ke6
47 Rb7 Qg5 48 Qc7 Qe7 49 Rxa7 Qd6 50 Qd8 Qe7 51 Qh8 Kd6 52
Qb8+ Ke6 53 Qf4 Qg7 54 c4

White finally breaks open the black king’s pawn cover.

54 ... dxc4 55 Qxe4+ Kd6 56 Qf4+ Kc5 57 Qe3+ Kd6 58 Qd2+
Ke6 59 Qe2+ Kd6 60 Qd1+ Ke6 61 Qxh5
All the checks were engineered to let White take this pawn under
optimum circumstances.
61 ... Qd4 62 Qh6+!?
62 Qh3+ Ke7 63 Rxd7+ Qxd7 64 Qxd7+ Kxd7 65 Kf3 is a simply won
pawn ending.
62 ... Ke7
Although White is still winning, it is not as straightforward as it was
before. Black has a passed pawn and White’s own passed pawn cannot be
advanced without exposing his king to checks.
63 Qg5+ Kd6 64 Qh6+ Be6 65 Qf8+ Kd5 66 Ra5+ c5 67 Qd8+
Ke4 68 Qg5 Bd5 69 f3+ Kd3 70 Ra3+ c3 71 Qc1 Qe5
Black has improved his position slightly. He has a dangerous-looking pawn
on c3 and in time trouble anything might happen. Still, Black would have
been losing after 72 Qd1+ Kc4 73 Qf1+ Kb4 74 Ra6 Qc7 75 Qa1 and he will
either be mated or lose his c3-pawn, in view of 75 ... Qd7 76 Rb6+ Kc4 77
Qf1+ Kd4 78 Qd1+ Kc4 79 Qe2+ Kd4 80 Rf6!.
72 Qf1+?? Kd2
The win has slipped away.
73 Qf2+ Kd3 74 Qf1+ Kd2 75 Qf2+ Kd3 76 Ra1??
 In time pressure, White overlooks Black’s reply. It was necessary to keep
the rook on a3.
76 ... Qe2
The tables have been turned and now White is losing.
77 Kg1 Qxf2+ 78 Kxf2

78 ... Kd2??
78 ... c2 would have stopped White’s next move and won for Black.
79 Ra5 c2 80 Rxc5 Be6 1-0
It is possible that Black lost on time here as the ending is a draw. White
has to give up the rook for Black’s pawn whereupon the bishop will stop both
white pawns.

Game 11
J.Plaskett-H.Jonkman
Mondariz Zonal 2000

1 d4 d5 2 Bg5 Nf6 3 Bxf6 gxf6 4 e3 c5 5 dxc5 Nc6 6 Nc3

Taking play back into Veresov waters. Our move order would be 2 Nc3 Nf6
3 Bg5 c5 4 Bxf6 gxf6 5 e3 Nc6 6 dxc5!?. By capturing on c5, White hopes to
open the d-file after queenside castling and e2-e4. If White can carry this out
before Black has the chance to castle queenside, he will obtain both the
initiative and the superior game.
6 ... e6 7 Qh5
 7 ... Bd7?!
The correct 7 ... Bxc5 8 0-0-0 f5, clamping down on the e4-square, gives
Black a reasonable position.
8 0-0-0 b6!?
And here 8 ... f5 9 Nf3 Bxc5 is correct, since the immediate 8 ... Bxc5 is
answered by 9 e4 when the pawn on d5 is pinned as the bishop on c5 is
unprotected.
9 cxb6
I’ve also analysed 9 e4 d4 10 Na4 b5! 11 Bxb5 Qa5 12 Nc3 dxc3 13 Rxd7
cxb2+ 14 Kb1 Kxd7 15 Qxf7+ Kd8 16 Ne2 (16 Bxc6? Qe1+ 17 Kxb2 Rb8+ 18
Bb7 Qb4+ 19 Ka1 Rxb7 20 Qxf6+ Ke8 21 Qxe6+ Be7 22 Qc8+ Kf7 23 Qf5+
Bf6+ wins for Black) 16 ... Qxb5 17 Rd1+ Kc8.
 In this wild position, there are two checks:
a) 18 Qe8+? Kb7 19 Rd7+ Ka6 20 Qxa8 Bh6! (not 20 ... Bg7?? 21 c4 Qa4
22 Qb7+ Ka5 23 Nc3 Qxc4 24 Qxc6 when there is no defence to Rxa7 and
mate in a few moves) 21 Qxh8 Qxe2 22 Qc8+ Kb5 23 Kxb2 Qf1 (Black
threatens mate starting with ... Bc1+) 24 Qb7+ Kxc5 25 a3 Bf4 and Black has
a decisive advantage.
b) 18 Qxe6+ Kb7 19 Nc3 Qxc5 20 Na4 Qb5 (the queen must keep
protecting the knight, otherwise Rd7+ will win for White) 21 Nc3 Qc5 22 Na4
draws by repetition.
Returning to 9 cxb6:
 9 ... Qxb6

Question: Is 9 ... axb6 a better recapture? After all, it opens the a-file for
the a8-rook.

Answer: 9 ... axb6 is an inferior move for two reasons. Firstly, it is harder
for Black to attack the a2-square; White will play Kc1-b1 and Ng1-e2-c1,
securely defending the a2-square. Secondly, the move allows White an
outpost on b5 for his knight which makes it impossible for Black to place his
dark-squared bishop on the more useful a1-h8 diagonal because of Nd6+.
10 Bb5 Rb8 11 Nge2 Ne5?!
After 11 ... a6 12 Bxc6 Bxc6 (12 ... Qxb2+?? 13 Kd2 Bxc6 14 Rb1 wins
material) 13 b3 White’s king position is more robust than it might seem. It is
near impossible to break through the pawn phalanx formed by the a2-, b3-
and c2-pawns. The only possibility is an attack on the dark squares, but it
takes time for Black to organize this: for example, 13 ... f5 (if 13 ... Qa5 14
e4) 14 Nd4 Bg7 15 g4! (White is already opening lines against the centralized
black king) 15 ... Qa5 16 Rd3 Bd7 17 gxf5 e5 18 Qg5 and clearly Black’s king
position is going to be the more vulnerable.
12 Bxd7+ Nxd7 13 b3 Qa5
13 ... f5 14 Kb1 Bg7 15 g4! Qa5 looks tempting, but after 16 gxf5! Bxc3 17
fxe6 Ne5 18 f4 Ng6 19 Rxd5 Qb4 20 exf7+ Kf8 21 f5 White has a devastating
attack.
 14 Kb1 f5?
Missing White’s reply. Jonkman must also have considered:
a) 14 ... Nb6?! 15 e4 Nc4 16 exd5 Qa3 17 Na4! (the only move, but still a
winning move) 17 ... Qxa4 18 dxe6 Ne5 19 exf7+ Nxf7 20 Rhe1 Be7 21 Nd4
when Black is helpless against the onslaught of all white pieces: for example,
21 ... Rb7 22 Nf5 and Black can resign.
b) 14 ... Rc8 15 Na4 (planning to follow up c2-c4) 15 ... f5 16 Nd4 and
White’s advantage cannot be denied.
15 Nxd5!

15 ... exd5 16 Qxf5 Qa6

16 ... Rb5? 17 c4 Rc5 18 Nf4 wins.
17 Rxd5
17 Nf4 Qf6 18 Qxd5 Rd8 19 Rd4 was another way to continue without
swapping queens.
17 ... Qe6
The only way for Black to stay alive for a while.
18 Nd4 Qxf5 19 Nxf5
The queens have been exchanged, but White has four pawns for the piece
and ongoing attacking chances against the black king. Most importantly,
Black’s pieces are still not able to work together.
19 ... Rg8 20 Rhd1 Rb7
20 ... Nf6? 21 Re5+ is winning.
21 g3 Rg6 22 f4 Be7 23 R1d4 Rc7 24 e4 Nb6 25 Re5 Nc8
 25 ... Rgc6 26 c4 f6 27 Ra5 Bc5 was probably better.
26 a4 Rgc6 27 c4 f6 28 Red5 Nb6 29 Nxe7 Rxe7 30 Rd8+ Kf7 31
a5 Nc8

Black still has not found a use for his extra piece and the white pawns are
starting to roll.
32 Kc2 Rb7 33 Kc3 Ne7 34 R4d6 Rxd6 35 Rxd6 Nc8 36 Ra6 Ke7
37 c5
The game is almost over. White just advances his pawns on the
queenside.
37 ... Kf7 38 b4 Ne7 39 Rd6 Nc8 40 Ra6 Ne7 41 Kc4 h5 42 b5
Rd7 43 Rd6 Rb7
Alternatively, 43 ... Rxd6 44 cxd6 Nc8 45 d7 Nd6+ 46 Kd5 Nb7 47 a6 Nd8
48 b6! and White will queen a pawn.
44 c6 Nc8 45 Rd7+ Rxd7 46 cxd7 Nd6+ 47 Kd5 Nb7 48 a6 Nd8
49 Kd6 Ne6 50 b6 axb6 51 a7 1-0

Game 12
Z.Rahman-B.Gelfand
Tromso 2013

This game was played in the mini-match format of the FIDE World Cup. The
Bangladeshi Grandmaster had lost the first game and needed a win here to
level the match and go into the tie-breaks. This knowledge helps to
understand the choices that the players made in this game.
1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 c5 4 Bxf6 gxf6 5 e3 e6
Another game in Tromso went 5 ... Nc6 6 Qh5 e6 7 Nf3 Bd7 8 Bb5 (8 Bd3
could transpose to Game 10) 8 ... cxd4 9 exd4 Nb4 10 Bxd7+ Qxd7 11 Rc1!?
(White gives up queenside castling as he intends to start an attack on that
side; this is fairly double-edged as his own king on the kingside will also be
subject to attack along the open g-file) 11 ... 0-0-0 12 0-0 Kb8 13 a3 Nc6 14
Nd1 Bd6 15 c4 dxc4 16 Ne3 f5 17 Rxc4 Rhg8 18 Rd1 Qe7 19 d5 Ne5 20 Nxe5
Bxe5 21 Rb4 Bd6 22 Rb3 f4 23 Nc4 Rg5 24 Qxh7 Rxd5 25 Rbd3 Bc5 26 Ne5
Bd4 27 Nxf7 e5 28 Qg6 Rf8 29 Ng5 Rd6 30 Qh5 Rg8 31 Ne4 Rdg6 32 g3 Rg4
33 Qf5 Qg7 34 Rc1 fxg3 35 Rxg3 ½-½, A.Fier-R.Wojtaszek, Tromso 2013.
The actual game arose from a Trompowsky move order 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 d5 3
e3 c5 4 Bxf6 gxf6 5 Nc3 e6.
6 Qh5 Nd7!?
A new move. Previously Black had always played 6 ... Nc6 or exchanged
with 6 ... cxd4. Gelfand intends to put the knight on f6 after ... f6-f5. In this
case, it could be worthwhile spending a move on ... a6 to avoid Bb5 and an
exchange on d7.
7 0-0-0 f5 8 Bb5 Qf6
Gelfand leaves his queen on the kingside to guard the dark squares there.
More normal seems to be 8 ... Qa5.
9 Nf3 a6
Alternatively:
a) 9 ... Bd6? 10 dxc5 Bxc5 11 Nxd5!.
 A thematic blow. After 11 ... exd5 12 Rxd5 White wins material after the
other rook comes to d1.
b) 9 ... cxd4 10 exd4 Bd6 11 Ne5 (White’s pieces, especially the knight on
e5, exert strong pressure on the black position) 11 ... a6 12 Bxd7+ Bxd7 13
Rhe1 and White has the advantage.
10 Bxd7+ Bxd7 11 Ne5 cxd4 12 Nxd7
12 exd4 Qh6+ forces the exchange of queens which is to Black’s
advantage.
12 ... Kxd7 13 Rxd4
Again the only recapture, but a good one at that. White keeps chances of
opening lines against the black king.
13 ... Bg7 14 Rb4
Necessary as otherwise 14 ... Qg6 unveils an attack the rook on d4 by the
bishop on g7.
14 ... b5 15 Rd1
After 15 g4 Qg6 16 Qh3 Bxc3 17 bxc3 Rhc8 18 Rd1 Rxc3 19 gxf5 Qxf5 20
Qxf5 exf5 21 Rxd5+ Ke6 22 Rd3 White has the better ending, but this is not
enough to win. Remember that Rahman needed to win this game at all costs.
15 ... Qg6 16 Nxd5!?
 Objectively this is not a correct sacrifice, but Black was going to exchange
the knight on c3. Gelfand could have avoided the blow by playing 15 ... Ke8,
so he probably thought it was not dangerous for him.
16 ... exd5 17 Rxd5+ Ke7 18 Qh4+ Bf6 19 Qf4 Bg5?!
It is hard to understand what Black wants to achieve with this move.
20 Qc7+?
White should capture the f5-pawn to give his rook on b4 more possibilities
to join the attack: 20 Qf3! Rhd8 21 Rxf5 h5 (necessary before 22 Rg4 pins the
bishop) 22 Qe4+ Kf8 23 Qe5 Be7 (23 ... f6?? 24 h4 wins back the piece with a
won position) 24 Rbf4 Ke8 25 Rxh5 f6 26 Qf5 Qxf5 27 Rhxf5. White has
obtained four pawns for the piece which does give him some winning chances
once his kingside pawns are activated.
20 ... Kf8 21 g4! fxg4
After 21 ... Be7 22 gxf5 Qg1+ 23 Rd1 Qxd1+ 24 Kxd1 Bxb4 25 f6! Black
will lose the bishop and the ending following 25 ... Rg8 (25 ... Kg8?? 26 Qg3+
Kf8 27 Qg7+ is game over) 26 c3 Rg6 27 Qb6 Ba5 28 Qxa5 Rxf6 is worse for
him than the one reached in the game.
22 Rxg4 Bxe3+ 23 fxe3 Qxg4 24 Qc5+ Kg7 25 Rg5+ Qxg5 26
Qxg5+ Kf8 27 b3 h6 28 Qf6 This must be a distressing position for the
Israeli Grandmaster. White has all the winning chances and he can play on for
a long time. To get into such a position, something must have gone wrong
earlier. Probably 19 ... Bg5 was the key mistake.
28 ... Kg8 29 e4!
 29 a3 was also good. White will create a passed c-pawn later with c2-c4.
29 ... b4 30 e5 a5 31 e6!?

Question: Is this a good move?

Answer: This is one of those questions where there is no right or wrong

answer. By exchanging pawns, the black king becomes more exposed to
checks and consequently tactics. However, keeping the pawns as they are
would have limited the black king’s freedom and subsequently kept the rook
on h8 out of play longer.
Overall, I suspect that 31 Kb2 might be simpler. White aims to create a
passed c-pawn with a2-a3 and he should be winning after that.
31 ... fxe6 32 Qg6+ Kf8 33 Qf6+ Kg8 34 Qxe6+ Kg7
Black has tried his best to hold everything together. It is up to White to
find a winning plan. The Bangladeshi Grandmaster tries his best and came
close, very close.
35 Qe5+ Kf7 36 h4 Rhd8 37 Qf5+ Kg7 38 Qg4+ Kf7 39 h5 Rh8
The only thing left for White is the pawn break on a3.
40 Qf5+ Ke7 41 Kb2 Kd6 42 Qf6+ Kd5 43 Qf5+ Kd6 44 a3 bxa3+
45 Kxa3 Raf8
Black must go on the offensive and create some counterplay. Otherwise
White will win by advancing his passed pawn. Normally the two rooks should
be the equal of the queen, but with the black king so exposed to checks,
something is bound to be lost.
46 Qd3+ Ke5 47 Qg3+ Kf5 48 Qg6+ Kf4 49 c4 Rfg8 50 Qf7+ Kg4
51 c5 Rf8 52 Qg6+ Kh4 53 c6 Rfg8 54 Qf7 Rf8 55 Qd5 Rd8 56 Qc5
Kg4 57 c7

Exercise: Black is lost. Try to figure out the winning idea and Black’s best
defence.

Answer: 57 ... Rdf8

If the white king crosses the fifth rank and reaches b7, the game is over.
57 ... Rdf8 prevented this for the time being.
58 Kb2
The threat is to take the a-pawn with the queen. However, White missed
a winning move here: 58 Qd5!, putting Black in zugzwang. Now:
a) 58 ... Kg3 59 Ka4 Kg4 60 Qd1+ Kg5 61 Kxa5 wins.
b) 58 ... Rhg8 allows a pretty win with 59 Ka4 Rf4+ 60 b4!!.
 Here 60 ... Rgf8 61 Qd1+ (61 c8Q+ Rxc8 62 Qe6+ Kxh5 63 Qxc8 axb4
also wins as shown below) 61 ... Kg3 62 Kxa5 wins easily.
White can also win after 58 Ka4, but this is very tricky and not something
that you want to work out at the board, especially under the circumstances.
After 58 ... Rf4+ 59 b4 (59 Kxa5? Rf5 pins his queen) 59 ... axb4 60 c8Q+
Rxc8 61 Qxc8+ Kxh5 62 Qc7 White will place Black in zugzwang, force the
win of the b-pawn, and so reach a winning queen versus rook and pawn
endgame: 62 ... Rg4 63 Qf7+ Kh4 64 Qe7+ Kh5 65 Qf6 (zugzwang) 65 ... Rg6
66 Qf5+ Rg5 67 Qh3+ Kg6 68 Kxb4 and wins.
58 ... Ra8 59 Ka3 Raf8 60 Qd5 Rhg8 61 Qe5 Re8 62 Qd5 Ref8
The move repetitions are just to gain some time on the clock. White now
sees the winning idea.
63 Ka4 Ra8
This is forced as shown in the previous variations.
64 Qd1+ Kg5 65 Kb5
The king heads for b7 to tie the black rooks down completely to the back
rank.
65 ... Rgf8 66 Kb6 Rf6+ 67 Kb7 Rff8 68 Qd5+ Kg4 69 Qe5 Rfe8
70 Qc5 Rf8 71 Qd5 Kh4
 By now the players had been at the board for hours and fatigue must have
been taking its toll. Indeed, the Bangladeshi Grandmaster was unable to see
the winning continuation.

Exercise: Can you do better than the grandmaster?

Answer: The winning plan is to put the queen on the a-file, pinning the
a5-pawn before pushing White’s b-pawn. Black is unable to take on b4 as
White captures twice on a8 and queens his c-pawn: 72 Qb5 Kg4 73 Qa4+
Kxh5 74 b4 followed by b4-b5-b6 and so on.
72 Kc6 Kg4 73 Kd7 Kh4 74 Qh1+ Kg4 75 Qh2 Rf7+ 76 Kc6 Rf6+
77 Kb7 Rff8 78 Qh1
White is moving around searching for the winning plan, but there is only
one.
78 ... Rfe8 79 Qa1 Kxh5 80 Qa4
 White finally figures out the winning idea. He could have this position with
him to move, but even with the move, Black cannot avoid defeat.
80 ... Kg5 81 b4 h5 82 bxa5 h4
Black grabs his only chance for counterplay, but it should not be enough.
83 Qd7 Rh8
Now White only has to stop the black h-pawn from moving too close
towards the queening square and he will win.
84 Qd5+??
After this check, White cannot get his queen to the important h3-square
and the game is drawn.
Correct was 84 Qh3! Rxa5 (after 84 ... Rae8 85 a6 White just pushes his
pawns and wins) 85 Qe3+ Kh5 86 Qe2+ Kh6 87 c8Q Rxc8 88 Kxc8 Rg5 89
Qe3 Kh5 90 Qf3+ Kh6 91 Kd7 when the queen versus rook and pawn ending
is known to be a winning one.
84 ... Kf4 85 Qd4+ Kg3 86 Qg1+ Kf3
White cannot force his way to h3.
87 a6 h3 88 Qh2 Rae8 89 a7 Reg8 90 Qh1+ Kf2 91 Qh2+ Kf3
This is the difference. With the queen on h2, White is unable to queen his
own pawn.
92 Kb6 Rg6+ 93 Kc5 Rh5+ 94 Kc4 Rg4+ 95 Kc3 Rc5+ 96 Kd3
Rd5+ 97 Kc3 Rc5+ 98 Kd3 Rd5+ 99 Kc2 Rc5+ 100 Kd1 Rd5+ 101
Kc1 Rc5+ 102 Kb2 Rb5+ 103 Kc3 ½-½
Game 13
B.Maryasin-I.Manor
Israeli League 2002

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Ne4

Players meeting the Veresov for the first time might be tempted to play
this move. After all, in the Trompowsky 2 ... Ne4 is an acceptable response.
In the Veresov, though, this move cannot be recommended since the
resulting exchange leaves Black with a weak e4-pawn.
4 Nxe4 dxe4 5 e3

This is a quieter approach than the ambitious 5 f3 of Game 14. White

allows the e4-pawn to remain and will treat it as a weakness.
5 ... c5 6 Qd2 Nc6?!
This natural response is punished most convincingly in this game.
7 d5! Ne5 8 0-0-0 g6
8 ... h6 9 Bf4 Ng6 10 f3! would see White ripping open lines to his
advantage.
9 f4 exf3
Due to the weakness of his e-pawn, Black is more or less forced to try
this, but it does have the disadvantage of speeding up White’s development:
a) 9 ... Nd7 10 Ne2 h6 11 Bh4 Bg7 12 Nc3 f5? is natural, but not advisable
in view of 13 d6 and then:
a1) 13 ... Nf6 loses a piece: 14 Bb5+ Bd7 (or 14 ... Kf8 15 d7) 15 dxe7
Qxe7 16 Nd5 Qd8 17 Nxf6+ Bxf6 18 Bxf6 Qxf6 19 Qxd7+.
a2) 13 ... Bf6 14 Nd5 Bxh4 15 Nc7+ Kf7 16 Bc4+ e6 17 Nxe6 Qb6 18 Qd5!
Kf6 19 Nc7 Rf8.

Exercise: White can win material with 20 Nxa8, but can you find a better
move?

Answer: When you see a good move, look for a better one! White has a
mate with 20 Qf7+! Rxf7 21 Ne8 mate.
b) 9 ... Ng4 10 d6! a6 (10 ... Qxd6 11 Bb5+ Bd7 12 Bxd7+ Kxd7 13 Qe2
leaves the black queen pinned) 11 Bc4 h6 12 Bh4 (now Black has no good
moves at all) 12 ... g5 (12 ... Qxd6 13 Qc3 wins material) 13 fxg5 hxg5 14
Bxg5 Ne5 15 Qd5 Nxc4 16 Qxc4 Qb6 17 Qxe4 Be6 (what else?) 18 dxe7 Bxe7
19 Bxe7 Kxe7 20 Ne2 is just resignable for Black.
10 Nxf3 Nxf3 11 gxf3 Bg7 12 d6!
A hammer blow to Black’s hopes of completing development smoothly.
12 ... f6
After 12 ... Qxd6 13 Bb5+! Kf8 (or 13 ... Bd7 14 Bxd7+ Kxd7 15 Qe2) 14
Qa5 there is a threat to the black queen and the subsequent check on d8 will
be decisive.
13 Bb5+ Kf7 14 Bf4
Not the only good move. Indeed, 14 d7 fxg5 15 Qd5+ e6 16 dxc8Q Qxc8
17 Qe4 Rd8 18 Rxd8 Qxd8 19 Rd1 Qf8 20 Qxb7+ Kg8 21 c3 leaves White
clearly on top.
14 ... Be6 15 Qc3 f5 16 Be5 Bxe5 17 Qxe5 Qb6?
This allows a nice tactical shot.
17 ... a6 was essential, although after 18 Be2 exd6 19 Rxd6 Qe7 20 Rhd1
Rhd8 21 Rxd8 Rxd8 22 Rxd8 Qxd8 23 Qxc5 White is clearly better.
18 Bd7! 1-0

Black must capture on d7, but 18 ... Bxd7 19 Qxe7+ Kg8 20 Qxd7 leaves
him helpless against the white d-pawn advancing to queen.

Game 14
O.Roesch-R.Henkel
Nuremburg 1990

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Ne4 4 Nxe4 dxe4 5 f3!?

 Question: Should Black now exchange on f3?

Answer: Black should not take on f3 as this loses a tempo. White will
recapture with the knight, bringing out a piece. A sample line: 5 ... exf3 6
Nxf3 Bf5 7 e3 c5 8 Bc4 and White already threatens 9 Ne5, thanks to the
bishop on g5 which pins the black e-pawn. A careless move like 8 ... h6?
allows 9 Ne5! Qa5+ 10 c3 hxg5 11 Qf3 (now the double attack on the f5-
bishop and b7-pawn will enable White to win back his material with a big
advantage) 11 ... Bc8 12 Qxf7+ Kd8 13 Ng6, regaining the material with
some interest.
5 ... Bf5 6 fxe4 Bxe4 7 Nf3 Nd7
7 ... c6 contains a little trap:
a) 8 e3?? Bxf3 9 Qxf3 Qa5+ forks the bishop on g5.
b) 8 Bf4 e6 9 e3 Be7 10 Bd3 is a sensible way to avoid the trick.
c) 8 c3 prepares to defend the b-pawn if Black plays ... Qb6. After 8 ...
Qd5 9 Bf4 e6 10 e3 Be7 11 Be2 0-0 12 0-0 Nd7 13 Nd2 we reach a further
divide:
 c1) 13 ... Nf6 (both players are fighting for control of e4) 14 c4 Qf5 15
Nxe4 Nxe4 16 Bd3 Qg6 17 Qb3 b6 18 c5 bxc5 19 Qb7 Rfe8 20 Qxc6 f5 21 Be5
and White has the upper hand. He has the bishop-pair and Black a weak
pawn on e6. Furthermore, the black queen is misplaced on the kingside.
c2) 13 ... Bg6 14 e4 Bxe4 15 Bc4 Qf5 16 Qe2 Bc2 (16 ... Nf6 17 Be5 Qg6
18 Bxf6 wins a piece) 17 Bd6 Qg5 18 Nf3 Qf6 19 Bxe7 Qxe7 20 Qxc2 wins a
piece.
8 e3 c6
As usual in this variation, White must watch out for double attacks on his
g5-bishop. Black threatens 9 ... Bxf3 and 10 ... Qa5+
9 Bf4 e6 10 Bd3 Nf6 11 0-0 Bd6 12 Bg5
Now White has successfully taken over the e4-square by pinning the black
knight on f6.
12 ... Bxd3 13 Qxd3 Be7 14 Ne5
White’s pieces are ideally placed for a kingside attack.
14 ... 0-0 15 Rf3 Qd5?
After this mistake, the pressure on the kingside will be unrelenting. Black’s
only defence was to exchange minor pieces with 15 ... Nd7 16 Bxe7 Qxe7 17
Nxd7 Qxd7 18 e4 Rad8, with equality.
16 Raf1
 Black is unable to take his piece off the f6-square as the knight is pinned
to the f-pawn.
16 ... Rad8 17 Rg3
Perhaps surprisingly, White is already winning.
17 ... Kh8 18 Rh3! h6 19 Bxf6 Bxf6 20 Rxf6 g6 21 Rxg6 1-0
Mate is unavoidable.

Game 15
D.Baretic-W.Nicola
Hastings 1962/63

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Ne4 4 Nxe4 dxe4 5 c3!?

This is a flexible move with a few points. White’s queen is now free to go
to b3 to pressure b7 or to c2 to attack the e4-pawn. Another point is that
after 5 ... c5 6 dxc5, Black cannot regain the pawn with ... Qa5+.
5 ... h6 6 Bh4 c6
After 6 ... Bf5 7 Qb3 Qc8 8 e3 Nd7 9 h3 e6 10 g4 Bg6 11 Bg2 Bd6 12 Ne2
0-0 13 Ng3 Bxg3 14 Bxg3 White has the advantage as he has obtained the
two bishops and Black’s e4-pawn remains a liability, J.Liew-Y.S.Fong,
Malaysian Championship 2014.
7 e3 Bf5 8 Qc2
 White tries to take advantage of the pin on e4 to transfer his knight from
g1-f3-d2 where it will put a lot of pressure on the e4-pawn ...
8 ... Qd5
... which Black stops immediately.
9 Ne2 e6 10 Bg3
White has a better plan with 10 Nf4 Qa5 11 Nh5! (the knight on h5 is
surprisingly effective here, stopping Black from developing his pieces
normally) 11 ... Bg6 12 Ng3!:
a) 12 ... Qb6 13 Bc4 Bh7 (trying to trap the bishop on h4; 13 ... Nd7 14 0-
0-0 is very much in White’s favour) 14 Nxe4 Bxe4 15 Qxe4 Qxb2 16 0-0 g5 17
Rab1 Qxc3 (after 17 ... Qa3 18 Bg3 White’s threats of 19 Bxb8 Rxb8 20 Qe5,
forking the two rooks, and also 19 Rxb7 with a mating attack cannot be met)
18 Bxe6 gxh4 19 Bxf7+ Kd8 20 Qe8+ Kc7 21 Be6 and White will mate: for
example, 21 ... b5 22 Rfc1 Qa3 23 Qc8+ Kd6 24 Rxc6+ Ke7 (or 24 ... Nxc6 25
Qd7 mate) 25 Qb7+ Kf6 26 Qf7+ Kg5 27 f4 mate.
b) 12 ... Qd5 13 Be2 Bh7 14 Nh5 Nd7 15 0-0 g5 16 Bg3 Qa5 (otherwise
b2-b4 could trap the black queen) 17 b4 Qd8 18 b5 sees White opening lines
on the queenside, while Black is not able to develop and castling is still far
off.
10 ... Nd7 11 b4 g5 12 a3
 Exercise: How should Black continue after 12 a3?

Answer: 12 ... Nb6

The only move to avoid a quick loss.
White was threatening 13 c4, winning the black queen. Even 12 ... b5?
does not stop this, in view of 13 c4 and whichever way Black captures, 14 Nc3
will trap the queen.
13 c4! Qd8
Naturally Black cannot take on c4: 13 ... Qxc4? 14 Nc3 traps the queen,
while after 13 ... Nxc4? 14 Nc3 the knight on c4 is lost.
14 Nc3
White has successfully surrounded the e4-pawn and will win it.
14 ... a5 15 b5 Nd7 16 Nxe4 cxb5 17 c5!
This is stronger than the automatic capture 17 cxb5. White will put a
knight on d6 and force Black to give up his dark-squared bishop.
17 ... a4
After 17 ... b4 18 Bd3 Be7 19 Nd6+ Bxd6 20 Bxd6 Bxd3 21 Qxd3 Black
cannot castle and his dark squares are very weak. White merely needs to
castle and put his rooks on the a- and b-files, and he is already winning. Here
Black might also try 18 ... Bxe4 19 Bxe4 Qc8.
 Exercise: Can you identify the major weakness in Black’s position?

Answer: The b7-pawn. White’s bishops on g3 and e4 combine to make it

impossible for Black to protect this pawn, and 20 Qc4! intends Qb5, winning
the pawn.
18 f3 Bxe4 19 Qxe4 Bg7 20 Rb1 Qa5+ 21 Rb4 b6 22 Kf2 bxc5 23
dxc5 0-0 24 Bd6 Rfc8 25 Bd3?
A serious error. After 25 Rxb5 Qd2+ 26 Be2 Nf6 27 Qc4 Ne8 28 Bg3 Nc7
29 Rd1 Qc3 30 Qxc3 Bxc3 31 Rb7 Nd5 32 Bd6 White is winning with an extra
pawn and the bishop-pair.
25 ... Nf6 26 Qb7 Nd5 27 Rhb1
If the b4-rook moves, then 27 ... Qd2+ is winning for Black.
27 ... Bf8
After 27 ... Nxb4 28 Rxb4 White has more than enough compensation for
the exchange. He has a strong passed pawn on c5 and attacking chances on
the light squares with Qe4.
28 Bh7+!?
White knows he is lost after 28 R4b2 Qc3 29 Be4 Bxd6 30 cxd6 Qxe3+ 31
Kg3 Qxa3, so tries a sacrifice.
28 ... Kxh7 29 Qxf7+ Bg7 30 h4 Nxb4 31 Rxb4 Qd8 32 hxg5 Qxg5
33 Rg4 Qf6 34 Qb7 b4
After this rather pointless and careless move, White gains some chances.
 35 f4

Exercise: White is threatening 36 Be5. Black’s next

move will decide if he wins or draws. What should he play?

35 ... Qb2+?
This finally throws the win away. Likewise, after 35 ... Rg8? 36 Be5 Qf8 37
Bxg7 Rxg7 38 Rxg7+ Qxg7 39 Qxa8 bxa3 (the more exposed black king gives
White the better chances) 40 Qe4+ Qg6 41 Qxa4 Qd3 42 c6 Qc3 43 Qe4+
Kg7 44 Qxe6 Qc2+ 45 Kg3 a2 46 c7 the exchange of pawns gives White a
winning queen ending.
Answer: 35 ... Rf8! (preventing Be5 due to the pin on the f-pawn) 36 Kg1
(or 36 Bxf8 Qb2+ 37 Kg3 Rxf8 when White cannot do anything without the
bishop and Black wins) 36 ... Qf7 37 Qe4+ Kh8 38 Qxb4 Rg8 wins easily with
Black’s extra rook.
36 Kf3 bxa3 37 Qe4+ Kh8 38 Rxg7 Qxg7 39 Be5 a2 40 Qd4 Rc7
41 Bxg7+ Rxg7 42 Qb2 a3 43 Qxa2 Rb7 44 g4 Ra6
The king is too exposed for Black to try to win by queening his pawn.
Indeed, 44 ... Rb2? 45 Qxe6 Rab8 46 Qxh6+ Kg8 47 Qg6+ Kh8 48 Qf6+ Kg8
49 c6 a2 50 c7 a1Q 51 cxb8Q+ Rxb8 52 Qxa1 wins for White.
45 f5 exf5 46 gxf5 Rb5 47 Qf7 a2 48 f6 Rb7 49 Qe8+ Kh7 50
Qe4+ Kh8 51 Qe8+ Kh7 ½-½
Game 16
Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son-Yu Yangyi
Ho Chi Minh City 2011

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5 g6 4 Qd2

Again, I do not recommend 4 Bxf6 unless provoked. With 4 Qd2, White

intends to exchange off the dark-squared bishops with Bh6 and possibly start
a kingside attack with h2-h4-h5 if Black castles on that side.
4 ... Nbd7
4 ... Bg7 5 Bh6 looks dangerous, but then why play 3 ... g6 if not to follow
up with ... Bg7?
In fact, Black has enough defensive resources after 4 ... Bg7 5 Bh6 0-0: for
instance, 6 0-0-0 c6 7 f3 (this stops the black knight from coming to g4 and
prepares e2-e4-e5) 7 ... b5 8 h4 Bxh6 9 Qxh6 b4 10 Nb1 Qc7 (this has two
ideas: Black can exchange the queens after 11 h5 Nxh5 12 g4? Qf4+ and the
move also prepares to defend h7 with the queen along the second rank) 11
h5 Nxh5 12 e3 (an unfortunate necessity and this gives Black time to prevent
g2-g4) 12 ... f5 13 Ne2 e5 and Black has successfully set up a defence against
the threats on the h-file.
5 f3 h6 6 Bf4 c6 7 e4 e6 8 e5 Ng8 9 Be3 Ne7 10 f4 b5 11 Bd3 a5
12 Nf3 Ba6 13 0-0 Nf5 14 Bf2 h5
 Black has a position similar to the Gurgenidze System of the Modern
Defence which arises after 1 e4 g6 2 d4 Bg7 3 Nc3 c6 4 f4 d5 5 e5 h5 6 Nf3
Bg4 7 h3 Bxf3 8 Qxf3 e6.
In the Gurgenidze System, Black develops his queen’s bishop to g4 before
playing the pawn move ... e6. Here the bishop is on a6 which is fine and it
can exchange itself for White’s light-squared bishop on d3. Black is also better
off here than in the Gurgenidze proper. He has not played his bishop to g7,
which is not the ideal square for it - the bishop should stand on e7. Thus he
saves tempi as the bishop can go to e7 in one move. Moreover, Black has
already advanced his pawns to a5, b4 and c5, which is part of the Gurgenidze
strategy of queenside expansion.
For White’s part, he is still to play h2-h3, g2-g4 and f4-f5. Alternatively, he
can play b3 and c4, but this is made more difficult as Black has a bishop on
a6. Summarizing, we can say that Black has solved his opening problems and
his position will even start getting better if White does not find suitable
activity for his pieces.
15 g3?!
In the Gurgenidze, this is a normal move since an immediate h2-h3 is
answered by ... h4, permanently preventing g2-g4. Therefore White has to
play g3 before h3, but in this situation the g2-g3, h2-h3 and g3-g4 plan is too
slow. Black is already ready to expand on the queenside. The move also
takes away a square for the white knight on g3 from where it could exchange
itself for the strong black knight on f5.
 White should take action on the queenside before Black has time to co-
ordinate his pieces: 15 Ne2!? Qb6 16 Ng3 with the idea to exchange the
excellent knight on f5 is one possibility. If 16 ... b4?! White can take
advantage of Black’s uncoordinated back rank by breaking open the
queenside: 17 Nxf5 gxf5 18 a3 Be7 19 axb4 axb4 20 Ra4 Bb7 21 Rxa8+ Bxa8
22 Ra1 and White is better.

15 ... Qb6 16 Ne2 b4

Black prepares for the exchange of White’s good bishop. The pawn on b4
also stops any ideas of b2-b3 and c2-c4.
17 Kg2?!
Another unnecessary move. White seems to be waiting to see how things
unfold. More active would have been 17 Bxf5 gxf5 18 Re1 c5 19 Nc1,
intending Nb3 or Nd3.
17 ... c5
 18 c3?
Even here after 18 a3! c4 19 Bxf5 gxf5 20 axb4 axb4 21 c3 chances are
equal in this closed position. Alternatively, if 18 ... Bxd3 19 cxd3! and the
opening of the queenside will favour White who is the better developed.
18 ... Be7 19 h3 Bxd3 20 Qxd3 c4 21 Qc2 a4?!
This is too early. 21 ... Kf8-g7 connecting the rooks is better.
22 g4!
Just at the right time.
22 ... Nh6
22 ... hxg4 23 hxg4 Nh6 24 Rh1 is bad for Black.
23 Nh2?!
White needs to create some counterplay on the kingside. After 23 gxh5
gxh5 24 cxb4 Qxb4 25 Rab1 Black cannot find safety on the kingside for his
king, but if the king goes to c7 then a timely b2-b3 will create more than
enough counterplay.
23 ... b3 24 Qd2
 24 ... bxa2?!
Just when he had the advantage, Black gives it all away with this move.
He should have pushed on the queenside with 24 ... a3 25 axb3 cxb3 26 bxa3
hxg4 27 Nxg4 Nxg4 28 hxg4 Rxa3 29 Rab1 Qb5, clearing the way for the
black knight to go to c4 via b6 when White will be toast.
25 Rxa2 Qb3 26 Nc1 Qb5 27 Qe2 Nb6 28 Be3 Kd7 29 Qd2 hxg4
30 hxg4 Rh7 31 f5 Rah8 32 fxg6?
Locking Black’s bishop out of play was correct: 32 f6 Bd8. The doubled
rooks on the h-file cannot achieve anything. Meanwhile White can manoeuvre
his knight from c1 to g5 with Ne2-g1-f3-g5 and he should be better in this
position.
32 ... fxg6 33 Bxh6 Rxh6 34 Nf3 Kc8 35 Ne2 Qe8 36 Raa1 Qg8 37
Ng3 Kd7 ½-½
Neither side has any winning chances.

Game 17
J.Hector-D.Howell
Saint Helier 2005

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5 g6 4 Qd2 Bg7 5 f3 0-0 6 0-0-0 c5?!

Perhaps Howell mixed up his lines. Normally ... c5 is okay, but combined
with ... Bg7 it is rather dubious. Black’s king’s bishop is not on the a3-f8
diagonal and he essentially gives up a pawn for no compensation.
 7 dxc5 Qa5

8 Kb1

Question: Why not take the pawn on d5? It does not look
like 8 ... Qxa2 is mating and White will have Nxe7+ to hand.

Answer: It is too dangerous to grab the d5-pawn: 8 Nxd5? Qxa2 9 Nxe7+

Kh8 10 c3 Be6 11 Bxf6 Bxf6 (11 ... Bb3 12 Bxg7+ Kxg7 13 Nf5+ Kh8 14 Qd3
Qa1+ 15 Qb1 Qxb1+ 16 Kxb1 Bxd1 17 Nd6 Nd7 18 b4 may technically be a
win for Black, but he does not need to take this risk) 12 Nd5 Na6 13 e4 Nxc5
14 Qf4 Bg7 and Black has excellent attack for the pawn invested.
8 ... Nc6 9 e4?!
White could have just kept the pawn with 9 Nxd5 Qxc5 (after 9 ... Qxd2 10
Nxf6+ Bxf6 11 Bxd2 White ends up with two extra pawns) 10 e4.
9 ... d4
9 ... dxe4 10 Nxe4 Rd8 11 Bd3 Nxe4 12 Qxa5 Nxa5 13 fxe4 keeps the
extra pawn.
10 Nb5 Qxd2 11 Rxd2 Nd7
Once again, 11 ... e5 12 Nc7 Rb8 13 Nd5 Nd7 14 b4 leaves White a pawn
to the good.
12 Ne2 e5 13 c3 Nxc5 14 cxd4 exd4?
Possibly Howell did not see 14 ... Ne6 15 Be3 a6 which drives away a
defender of d4. Now the following line is forced: 16 d5 axb5 17 b3 Nc7 18
dxc6 bxc6 and Black regains his pawn with equal chances.
15 Nexd4 Nxd4 16 Nxd4 Bxd4 17 Rxd4 Ne6 18 Rd5 Nxg5 19
Rxg5 f5 20 Bd3

White simply threatens to swap everything on f5 and remain a pawn up.

20 ... Rd8 21 Bc2 Kf7 22 exf5 Kf6 23 h4 Bxf5 24 Bxf5 gxf5
Howell might have been aiming for this ending where he can take control
of White’s second rank with some counter-chances.
25 Rh5 Kg6 26 g4 fxg4 27 fxg4 Rac8
Unfortunately for Black, after 27 ... Rd2 28 Rg5+ Kf6 29 Rf1+ Ke6 30
Re1+ Kf6 31 Rf5+ Kg6 32 Re6+ Kg7 33 Re7+ Kg6 34 a3 Rc8 35 Rxb7 he has
no threats against the white king and loses the double-rook ending.
28 Rg5+ Kh6 29 Re1 Rc6 30 a3 Rd2 31 Rb5 b6 32 Re7 Rd4 33
Rh5+ Kg6 34 Rexh7 1-0

Summary
After 3 ... h6, there is no reason not to carry out the Veresov ‘threat’ of taking
on f6. White then takes control of the light squares e4, f5 and g4 with the
moves Bf1-d3 and Qd1-f3 (after e2-e3). If Black castles too early on the
kingside, White will have an automatic attack by pushing his kingside pawns.
3 ... c5 is the most combative alternative to the main lines of the next few
chapters. Black is not afraid of being saddled with a damaged pawn structure
after 4 Bxf6. I recommend going ahead with the trade. Black usually
recaptures with 4 ... gxf6 and in this line the white queen takes up a strong
position on h5. Rahman-Gelfand is a good example of the kind of pressure
White can exert on the black position.
Many players of the black side think they can take White out of his
preparation with 3 ... Ne4, so it is important to be prepared with a suitable
plan against this. After 4 Nxe4 dxe4 White has a pleasant choice between 5
f3 or the solid 5 e3 or 5 c3.
Finally, 3 ... g6 followed by kingside fianchetto and castling is less dangerous
than it looks. White may continue his attacking ambitions with Bh6 and h2-
h4-h5, but this is too slow and allows Black to organize a defensive set-up on
the kingside. It is better to play for the central advance e2-e4-e5 supported
by f2-f3.
Chapter Three
The Solid 3 ... c6
1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 c6

This is a common reply from those black players who are not prepared to
meet the Veresov. They do not believe that White will really give up his
bishop by capturing on f6. The move is also attractive since it defends the d5-
pawn and, more importantly, makes way for the queen to go to b6 or a5 to
exploit the move 3 Bg5. Here, again, I recommend to go ahead and take that
knight.

Game 18
C.Hoi-C.Hansen
Politiken Cup 1982

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5 c6 4 Bxf6

This is the move if White wants a safe game with some pull. The
weakness inflicted on the black kingside structure guarantee White some
chances with minimum risk.
We should certainly avoid 4 Nf3 (without first playing 4 e3, this is a
mistake) 4 ... Ne4 (this is already very awkward for White as ... Nxg5 and ...
Qa5 are both unpleasant threats) 5 Nxe4 dxe4 6.Ng1 (where else?) 6 ... Qb6
7 Rb1 e5 8 dxe5 Be6 (Black threatens 9 ... Bxa2 10 Ra1 Qxb2) 9 b3?? (a
careless move) 9 ... Bc5.

Amazingly there is already no good way to defend f2: 10 e3 (or 10 Bh4

Bb4+, winning the queen) 10 ... Bb4+ 11 Ke2 Qa6+ 12 c4 Qxa2+ and mate
follows.
4 ... gxf6
This is more ambitious than 4 ... exf6 which will be dealt with in the next
game. By capturing towards the centre, Black hopes to counterbalance his
weakened pawns, especially the h-pawn which is now isolated, with better
control of the centre. One of the disadvantage of this move is that Black will
be committed to castling queenside.
5 e4
 Question: Why did White play 5 e4, instead of keeping the position
closed with 5 e3? Surely opening the game should be beneficial to the side
with the bishop-pair?

Answer: The bishop-pair is a long-term advantage. In the current

position, Black is not able to deploy his bishops to the best squares, which is
d6 for the king’s bishop and f5 for the queen’s bishop. After 5 e4 Black is
forced to exchange and allow a white knight to occupy a fine central square
where it will prevent ... Bd6. At the same time there are tactical reasons why
the black bishop no longer stands so well on f5, as will become clear later.
5 ... dxe4 6 Nxe4 Qb6
Instead, if 6 ... Bf5 7 Qf3 (this move was not possible if White had played
5 e3 Bf5 since then the c2-pawn would be under attack) 7 ... e6 8 0-0-0 Be7 9
Ng3 Bg6 10 h4 h5 11 Bc4 Nd7 12 N1e2 (White threatens Nf4 and Nxg6) 12 ...
Nb6 13 Bb3 Bd6 14 c4 and White enjoys a slight plus.
7 Nf3! Bf5
Pawn hunting is out of the question: for example, 7 ... Qxb2 8 Bd3 Bg4 9
0-0 Bxf3 10 Qxf3 Qxd4 11 Rab1 b6 12 Rbd1! Qb2 (12 ... Nd7 13 Bb5 reveals
the point of forcing 11 ... b6; White captures on c6 with the bishop and wins)
13 Rfe1 Bg7 14 Nd6+ Kf8 15 Nf5 e6 16 Qg3 when the double threat of Qxg7
and Qd6+ wins for White.
However, a solid alternative is 7 ... Bg4. With 8 Bd3 White ignores the
threat of 8 ... Bxf3, winning the d4-pawn, and now:

a) 8 ... Nd7 9 Qe2 (Black must be careful not to fall for Nxd6+ as the e-
pawn is pinned) 9 ... 0-0-0 10 c3 e5 11 h3 Bh5 12 g4 Bg6 13 0-0-0 exd4 14
Nxd4 Bh6+ 15 Kb1 Bf4 16 Qf3 Be5 17 Nf5 Kb8 18 Bc2 Nc5 19 Nxc5 Qxc5 20
Qe3 Qxe3 21 Nxe3 Kc7 22 Ng2 h5 23 Rxd8 and ½-½ saw Black playing pretty
well to hold in T.Lipski-J.Chabinec, Lublin 2007.
b) 8 ... Bxf3 (Black goes pawn hunting and will again pay the price) 9 Qxf3
Qxd4 10 c3 Qe5 11 0-0 Nd7 12 Rfe1 0-0-0 13 Rad1 and then:
 b1) 13 ... Qc7 14 Qh5 Ne5 15 Bc2 Rxd1 16 Rxd1 Bg7 17 Bb3 e6 18 f4 Ng6
19 f5 and now no matter what Black does, he ends up worse: 19 ... exf5 20
Nd6+ Kb8 21 Nxf7, 19 ... Nf8 20 Nd6+ Kb8 21 Nxf7, or 19 ... Ne5 20 fxe6 fxe6
21 Bxe6+ Kb8 22 Qe2, safeguarding the pawn on b2 and also potential
invasions on the e3-square after Black plays ... Qb6+.
b2) 13 ... e6 14 Bc2 (the threat is 15 Nd6+, winning the queen for rook
and minor piece) 14 ... Qc7 15 Qh5 (taking on f6 would just ease Black’s
position) when White regains the pawn with the upper hand.
b3) 13 ... Nc5 14 Nxc5 Qxc5 15 Bf5+!.

Black has not connected his back rank and White can exploit this with his
superior development: 15 ... Kc7 16 Rxd8 Kxd8 17 b4 Qb5 18 Rd1+ Kc7 19
Rd7+ Kb6 (19 ... Kb8 20 Rd8+ Kc7 21 Rc8+ Kd6 22 Qg3+ e5 23 Qd3+ Qd5
24 Rd8+ wins the queen) 20 Qe3+ c5 21 a4 Qc4 22 Qf3 and mate follows on
b7.
b4) 13 ... Qa5 14 Bc4 Ne5 15 Qf5+ Kb8 16 Bxf7 wins back the pawn with
interest.
8 Bd3 Nd7 9 0-0 e6 10 c3 0-0-0 11 b4
 11 ... Rg8

Question: Is 11 ... Ne5 a better move? Black threatens to take the

bishop on d3 and if 12 Bc2 then 12 ... Bg4 is annoying for White.

Answer: After 11 ... Ne5 White does not retreat his bishop, but plays 12
a4! Nxd3 13 Qxd3 Qc7 14 Rfe1. White is better despite Black’s bishop-pair.
He is ready to play a5-a6 to weaken the queenside where the black king is
located. Meanwhile his own king is pretty safe, despite the half-open g-file. If
Black tries ... Rg8 and ... Bh3, the simple Ng3 will stop the attack dead in its
tracks.
12 Ng3?!
White should just continue the plan of advancing the a-pawn with 12 a4.
Now Black obtains the chance to ease the queenside pressure by exchanges.
12 ... Bxd3 13 Qxd3 Ne5 14 Nxe5 fxe5 15 Qf3 exd4 16 Qxf7 Rg6
17 cxd4 Qxd4 18 Rad1!?
After 18 Qxh7 Rh6 19 Qc2 Qxb4 20 Rfd1 Rd5 21 Ne4 it is not immediately
clear who is better, though I would prefer to have White here.
18 ... Qxd1 19 Rxd1 Rxd1+ 20 Nf1 Bxb4 21 Qxh7 Rf6 22 Qc2 Rd4
23 g3 Ba5 24 Kg2 Rd7 25 f4 Rf5 26 Qe4
 26 ... Rc5?
It is hard to understand why Black voluntarily gave up his e-pawn.
27 Qxe6 Rc2+ 28 Kh3 Bb6 29 Ne3 Bxe3 30 Qxe3 Rxa2 31 f5
Ra5?
The best chance was 31 ... Rh7+ as 32 Kg4 Raxh2 33 f6 Kd7! 34 Kf4 a5 35
g4 a4 36 g5 R2h3 37 Qe5 R7h4+ 38 Kf5 Rf3+ 39 Kg6 Rhf4 stops the white
pawns.
32 g4 Rad5 33 Qe8+ Kc7 34 f6 Rd3+ 35 Kh4 Rf3 36 Qe5+ Kb6
37 Qb2+ Kc7 38 g5 c5 39 Qe5+ Kb6 40 Qe6+ Kc7 41 Qe5+ Kb6 42
g6 1-0

Game 19
T.Tolnai-P.Lukacs
Budapest 1991

1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 d5 3 Bxf6 exf6 4 Nc3

By transposition, we have reached a Veresov where Black replies with ...
exf6 instead of ... gxf6, which was the previous game.
4 ... f5 5 e3 c6 6 Bd3 g6
Now White normally plays 7 Nf3 and later Ne2 and c4.
Tolnai has a different interpretation of the position. He wants to develop
his queen on d2 and castle queenside before deciding whether to play for the
e3-e4 break or more positionally with h2-h4 and g2-g3.
 7 Nge2 Bd6 8 Qd2 Nd7 9 0-0-0 Nf6 10 f3 Qe7 11 Rde1 0-0 12
Ng3 Qc7 13 Kb1 f4 14 e4

14 ... dxe4

Question: What happens if Black takes the knight?

Answer: After 14 ... fxg3 15 e5 gxh2 16 Qh6 Re8 17 Qxh2 Bf8 18 Qh4
Bg7 19 exf6 Rxe1+ 20 Rxe1 Qd8 the pin on the f-pawn saves Black and 21
Re7 Bf8 22 Re5 Bg7 23 Re7 Bf8 draws by perpetual. Note too that there is
nothing to be gained by sacrificing the exchange with 24 Ne2 Bxe7 25 fxe7
Qe8 26 Nf4 Bd7 27 Qf6 a5.
15 Ngxe4 Nxe4 16 fxe4 Qb6 17 Bc4 Bb4 18 Rhf1 Be6 19 Bb3
Rad8 20 Rd1 Bg4 21 Qxf4 Bxc3
21 ... Bxd1 22 Bxf7+ Kg7 23 Qf6+ Kh6 24 Qf4+ Kg7 25 Qf6+ is another
draw by perpetual.
22 Qxg4
22 Bxf7+ is again a draw, but White tries for more.
22 ... Bxd4 23 c3 Be5 24 h4 Rxd1+ 25 Rxd1 Qe3 26 h5 Kg7 27 a3
b5 28 hxg6 ½-½

Game 20
J.Liew-Tirto
Kuala Lumpur 2007
1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Bf5 3 f3 Nf6 4 Bg5 c6 5 Qd2
By transposition we have reached the 3 ... c6 variation where White plays
4 Qd2, and if 4 ... Nf6 5 f3.
5 ... Nbd7 6 g4!?

This is not so commonly played. The idea is to gain space on the kingside
with h2-h4 and maybe h4-h5, and so discourage Black from castling on that
side.
However, the gambit with 6 e4 is very unconvincing: 6 e4 dxe4 7 Bc4 (or
7 Qf4 Qa5 8 0-0-0 e6 9 d5 Nxd5 10 Nxd5 cxd5 11 fxe4 Bxe4 and White has
nothing) 7 ... e6 8 Nge2 exf3 9 Ng3 fxg2 10 Qxg2 Bg6 11 0-0-0 Bb4 12 h4
Bxc3 13 bxc3 Qa5 14 Bd2 Nb6 15 Bb3 Qa3+ 16 Kb1 Na4 17 Bc1 Nxc3+ and 0-
1 in 34 moves, S.Novikov-E.Romanov, Belgorod 2008.
6 ... Bg6 7 e3 e6 8 h4 h5
I was expecting 8 ... h6 9 Bf4 Bb4 (9 ... b5 is an improvement, intending
... Nd7-b6-c4) 10 Bd3 Bxd3 11 Qxd3 Qe7 12 0-0-0 0-0-0, which saw White go
on to win in G.Haubt-F.Just, Offenbach 2005.
9 Bxf6
Necessary as otherwise Black takes control of the central e4-square with
... hxg4 and White has to recapture with fxg4.
9 ... Nxf6 10 g5 Ng8 11 Nge2 Bd6 12 Bg2 Ne7 13 e4 Qb8?!
 Question: What is the purpose of this strange move?

Answer: Black does not want to exchange his king’s bishop after 13 ...
Qc7 14 e5 Bb4 15 a3 Ba5 16 b4 Bb6 17 Na4. However, this position is
actually in Black’s favour after 17 ... a5 18 Nxb6 Qxb6 as his pieces are more
harmoniously placed. The bishop on g6 is on an excellent diagonal and the
knight can go to f5 where it keeps the white rook tied to the defence of the
h4-pawn.
14 e5?!
Closing the centre so early is not such a good idea and giving up the f5-
square makes matters even worse. The natural 14 0-0-0 was better.
14 ... Bc7 15 Nd1 b6
Black is starting the standard plan of attacking the pawn chain. However,
the way he does it is much too slow and allows me to consolidate and
redeploy my pieces to better squares.
16 Ne3 c5 17 c3 Qc8 18 Nf4 b5 19 0-0 Bb6 20 Kh1 b4 21 Rac1
bxc3 22 bxc3 Qa6
 Black could have castled on any of the last four moves and had a fine
position. Now, though, having completed development, White can start
thinking of taking over the initiative.
23 Nxg6! Nxg6
After 23 ... fxg6 24 Bh3 Nf5 25 Bxf5 gxf5 26 dxc5! Bxc5 27 Nxf5 exf5 28
Qxd5 Qc8 29 Rb1 Bb6 30 Rfd1 White has more than enough compensation for
the piece.
24 f4
Giving up the h-pawn is a small price to pay. White gets in the critical
pawn break on f5.
24 ... Nxh4 25 f5 Nxg2 26 Qxg2!
White is already planning a knight sacrifice. The other recapture 26 Kxg2
was less good: 26 ... cxd4 27 cxd4 0-0!. Black’s king is actually safer than the
white king, as attempts to mate it along the h-file will fail as Black can
generate enough counter-chances against the white king: for example, 28
Rh1 Rac8 29 Rxc8 Rxc8 30 Rxh5 Bxd4! 31 Qxd4 Qe2+, forking the rook on h5.
26 ... Qd3 27 g6 Qxe3
I was also busy analysing 27 ... 0-0 28 Rf3 Qe4 (or 28 ... fxg6 29 Nxd5
Qe4 30 Ne7+ Kh8 31 Nxg6+ Kg8 32 Ne7+ Kh8 33 Rh3 Qxg2+ 34 Kxg2 and
now the mate threat forces Black to give up an exchange: 34 ... Rxf5 35 Nxf5
exf5 36 Rxh5+ Kg8 37 d5; White wins this ending easily with his passed
pawns and extra exchange) 29 gxf7+ Rxf7 30 Rg1 Re8 (after 30 ... exf5 31
Nxf5 White is winning thanks to his numerous threats such as Nxg7, Nh6+
and Nd6).

Here there is a neat blow: 31 fxe6! Qxf3 32 exf7+ Qxf7 33 Nf5 and wins.
28 gxf7+

28 ... Kf8
Not the only square:
a) 28 ... Kxf7 29 Rce1 (not 29 Qg6+ Kf8 30 fxe6+ Kg8 31 Qf7+ Kh7 32
Qf5+ g6 and driving away the queen from covering the h3-square gives Black
a saving check on h3) 29 ... Qh6 30 fxe6+ Kxe6 31 dxc5 Bxc5 32 c4 Rad8 33
Rd1 wins because if the pawn moves, Qc6 wins back the piece with a
devastating position.
b) 28 ... Ke7 29 Rce1 and then:
b1) 29 ... Qh6? 30 f6+ gxf6 31 Rxf6 Qf8 32 Qg6 when the e6-square is
indefensible, and if 32 ... Qc8 33 f8Q+.
b2) 29 ... Qxc3 is best. Black does not allow the white queen free rein to
harass his king. Now:
b21) 30 Qxg7?? 30 Qxg7?? Qh3+ 31 Kg1 Qg4+ wins for Black.
b22) 30 f6+? gxf6 31 exf6+ Kd7 when Black’s king is safe and so he wins.
b23) White must find 30 fxe6!, leading to a further divide:
b231) 30 ... Raf8 31 Qg5+ Kxe6 32 Qg6+ Kd7 (not 32 ... Ke7? 33 Qd6
mate) 33 e6+ (33 Qd6+ Kc8 34 e6 Rd8 35 Qc6+ Kb8 36 e7 Qh3+ 37 Kg1
Qg3+ draws by perpetual check) 33 ... Kc7 34 e7 reaches a remarkable
position.

Moreover after 34 ... Rxf7 35 e8Q! (much better than 35 Qxf7 Qh3+ 36
Kg1 Qg3+ or 35 Rxf7 Qxe1+) 35 ... Rxf1+ 36 Rxf1 Qh3+ 37 Kg1 Rxe8 38
Rf7+ Qd7 (38 ... Kb8? 39 Qd6+ Ka8 40 Qc6+ wins the rook) 39 Rxd7+ Kxd7
40 Qf7+ Kd8 41 Qxd5+ Kc8 42 dxc5 Bc7 43 Qxh5 White has excellent winning
chances.
b232) After 30 ... Bc7 White has three replies:
b2321) 31 Rd1! (White threatens to drive away the black queen with Rf3!;
now Black must find a precise move) 31 ... Qe3 32 dxc5 (or 32 Rf3 Qe4 and
Black will force the exchange of queens on g4) 32 ... Bxe5 33 Rxd5 Rad8 34
Rxd8 Rxd8 35 f8Q+ Rxf8 36 Qb7+ Kxe6 37 Qc6+ Ke7 38 Qb7+ and after all
that, it’s but a draw.
b2322) 31 Qg5+? Kxe6 32 Qg6+ Ke7 (we see now the reason for 30 ...
Bc7; there is no mate on d6) 33 Qg5+ Kf8 and Black wins as 34 e6 Qh3+ 35
Kg1 Qh2 is mate and after other moves, he has ... Qh3+ and ... Qg4+,
exchanging queens.
b2323) 31 f8Q+? Raxf8 32 Qxg7+ Kxe6 33 Rf6+ Rxf6 34 Qxf6+ Kd7 35
e6+ Kc6 36 e7+ Bd6 37 e8Q+ Rxe8 38 Rxe8 c4 is another line I spent quite
some time analysing after the game.

Unfortunately for us, Black is winning as he has a strong passed c-pawn

and the safer king: 39 Rc8+ Kb7 40 Qf5 (40 Qd8 Qh3+ wins material) 40 ...
Qe1+ 41 Kg2 Qe2+ 42 Kg1 (forced since 42 Kh3 Qh2 is mate) 42 ... Qg4+ 43
Qxg4 hxg4 (Black has a won ending as the c-pawn is too dangerous) 44 Re8
Bf4 45 Re2 (or 45 Kf2 c3 46 Re2 Bd2 and the pawn queens) 45 ... c3 46 Rc2
Bd2. The simplest win; Black’s king marches to d3 while the white king is
picking up the g-pawn.
After that long but enjoyable digression, we return to 28 ... Kf8:
29 fxe6 Qh6??
In the heat of the battle and with less than five minutes left for both
sides, this was a very difficult position for both players. During the game I
immediately felt that this was a losing move. I was ready for 29 ... Qe4 30
Qxe4 dxe4 31 d5 and with four passed pawns, I figured I had enough
compensation and should be the one playing for the win.
 30 dxc5
Missing 30 e7+! (30 c4 Qxe6 31 cxd5 Qe7! 32 dxc5 Qh4+ 33 Qh2 Qe4+
34 Qg2 Qh4+ only draws) 30 ... Kxe7 31 c4 Qe6 32 cxd5 Qg4 33 dxc5 Qxg2+
34 Kxg2 Ba5 35 Rb1 when the arrival of the rook on the seventh proves
decisive.
30 ... Bc7
My opponent was also frantically trying to analyse:
a) 30 ... Bxc5? 31 Qxd5 Rc8 32 Qd7 followed by a fork on c7 or c6 proves
decisive.
b) 30 ... Qxe6 31 cxb6 axb6 32 c4 Qg4 33 cxd5 and then:
b1) 33 ... Qxg2+ 34 Kxg2 Rh6 35 e6 Rf6 36 Rxf6 gxf6 37 Kh3 is hopeless
for Black.
b2) 33 ... Qh4+ 34 Kg1 Qd4+ 35 Qf2 Qxd5 36 Qf4 (threatening Qb4+) 36
... Qd7 37 Qb4+ Qe7 38 Qe4 and Black is lost as he cannot co-ordinate his
pieces as the pawn on f7 ties him down completely. There’s also 35 ... Qxe5
36 Rce1 Qd6 37 Qh4! when Black has no defence.

For example, if he tries 37 ... Rh6 then 38 Re8+! Rxe8 39 fxe8Q+ Kxe8 40
Qa4+ Ke7 41 Qa7+ Ke8 42 Qf7+ Kd8 43 Qg8+ Kc7 44 Rf7+ wins everything.
31 c4 Rb8
A nice finish would have been 31 ... Qxe6 32 cxd5 Qxe5 33 d6 Rd8 (or 33
... Rc8 34 d7 Rd8 35 Rce1 and Re8+ wins) 34 Rfe1 Qf4 35 Re8+ Rxe8 36
fxe8Q+ Kxe8 37 Re1+ Kd8 38 Qa8+ Kd7 39 Re7, mating.
32 cxd5 Rb4 33 e7+ Kxe7 34 d6+ Kd7
 Not 34 ... Kf8 35 Rc4 Rxc4 36 Qa8+ and mate.
35 Qh3+
In time pressure I missed a quicker win with 35 c6+ Ke6 36 Qh3+ Rg4 37
Qb3+ Kxe5 38 Rc5+ Kxd6 39 f8Q+ Rxf8 40 Qd5+ Ke7 41 Qd7 mate.
35 ... Rg4
Alternatively, 35 ... Kc6 36 e6 Rf4 37 Qg2+ Kb5 38 Qe2+ Kc6 39 Qa6+
Kd5 40 Rcd1+ and Black can resign.
36 c6+ Kc8
36 ... Ke6 37 Qb3+ Kxe5 38 Rc5+ is mating once again.
37 f8Q+ Rxf8 38 Rxf8+ Bd8 39 Rb1 Qg5 40 c7 1-0

Game 21
J.Bosch-M.Freeke
Vlissingen 2009

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5 c6 4 e3

This is definitely not the most ambitious line against 3 ... c6.
4 ... Qb6

The immediate attack on b2 makes this its own unique line. Now White is
forced to give up any ideas of queenside castling as he needs to defend his b-
pawn with the rook.
Other moves can transpose to the other lines: for instance, 4 ... Nbd7 5
Qd3 is Game 25. However, 4 ... g6 is an independent approach when 5 Bd3
Bg7 6 f4 0-0 7 Nf3 b5 8 0-0 a5 9 Qe1 b4 10 Na4 Ne4 11 Qh4 Ra7 12 Bh6 f6 13
Bxg7 Kxg7 14 Bxe4 dxe4 15 Nd2 f5 was N.Davies-S.Mannion, Preston 2003.
White should have continued with 16 Nc5 with a clear plus.
5 Rb1
5 Bd3 Qxb2 6 Nge2 was once suggested by Bondarevsky and Spassky, but
I do not see why White should risk sacrificing a pawn.
5 ... g6 6 Bd3
White plans to play f2-f4, clamping down on e5. However, my preferred
continuation is 6 Bxf6 exf6 7 g3. The plan for White is quite simple: he
fianchettoes the bishop, develops the knight on f3 and castles. Once that has
been completed, White moves the knight on c3 away and goes for the c2-c4
pawn push.
6 ... Bg7 7 f4 0-0 8 Nf3 Bg4

Black commits to giving up the bishop-pair, which suits White just fine.
9 0-0 Nbd7 10 h3 Bxf3 11 Qxf3 e6 12 Ne2?!
Instead, 12 b4 a5 13 a3 axb4 14 axb4 Ra3 is better for Black, but the
correct way to go is 12 b3 c5 13 Na4 Qd6 14 Nxc5 Nxc5 15 dxc5 Qxc5 16 c4,
opening the game for the two bishops.
12 ... c5 13 c3 Qc6 14 b4 cxb4 15 cxb4 Rac8 16 Rb3
Black was going to play ... Qa4, attacking the a2-pawn. White’s last move
stopped this because after 16 ... Qa4 White now has 17 Nc3, defending the
pawn.
16 Rfc1 is not adequate because after 16 ... Qa4 17 Nc3? Qa3 wins a
piece.
16 ... Nb6 17 Rc1 Qd7 18 Qf1?
Better would have been 18 Rc5 Nc4 19 Bxc4 dxc4 20 Rc3 b5 21 a4 a6 22
e4 when White retains control over the central squares.
18 ... Ne4 19 Bxe4 dxe4
Black is clearly better now as he has the juicy d5-square for his knight and
he will soon take control of the open c-file.
20 b5 Nd5 21 Bh4 Rxc1 22 Qxc1 Rc8 23 Qb2 Rc4 24 Bf2 Qc7 25
Qb1 f5 26 Kh2 b6 27 Kg1
White can only wait for Black to show what he can do.

Question: Black has full control of the only open file, but what does he do
next?

Answer: When you have a position like this, do not hurry! Start by
looking for better squares for your pieces. Just by doing this, you may end up
finding a clear line to continue.
Here the bishop on g7 is limited by the well-protected pawn on d4, so
Black looks for a better diagonal. He intends ... Bb4, controlling the e1-a5
diagonal.
27 ... Bf8 28 a3
Preventing ... Bb4, but now there is another weakness on a3. Already the
white pieces are groaning under the need to defend all the weaknesses.
 28 ... Rc2

29 Rb2 Rxb2 30 Qxb2 Qc4 31 g4

A desperate move to try and distract Black.
31 ... Qd3 32 gxf5 gxf5 33 Qa2 Qxa3
It was not necessary to allow any activity by the white queen, even if
there is no danger to the black king. Indeed, 33 ... Kf7 would have
underscored how helpless White is in this position. Black just takes the pawn
on e3 at his pleasure.
34 Qc4 Qd3 35 Qc8 Kf7 36 Qd7+ Be7 37 Kf1
After 37 Ng3 Nxe3 38 d5 Nxd5 39 Nxf5 exf5 40 Qxf5+ Kg7 41 Qg4+ Kh6
42 Qe6+ Bf6 there are no more checks and Black wins by pushing the e-
pawn.
37 ... Qd1+ 38 Be1 Nxe3+ 39 Kf2 Nd5 0-1
Not the best, but White had had enough anyway.

Summary
With 3 ... c6, Black bolsters the d5-square and opens the diagonal for his
queen to the a5- and b6-squares. He is also waiting to see what White has in
store and whether he will really capture on f6. The plan of f2-f3 and e2-e4 is
not very effective against 3 ... c6, but the best reply is to play 4 Bxf6. If,
instead, White does not take immediately on f6 and goes 4 e3, Black can still
transpose to the 3 ... Nbd7 lines with 4 ... Nbd7.
 Chapter Four
The Main Line: 4 Qd3
1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 Qd3

3 ... Nbd7 is one of the main lines of the Veresov and Black’s most popular
move. He prevents one of White’s main themes which is to double the pawns
on f6. Black often follows up with ... c6 or ... c5 to open the diagonal for his
queen to go to a5 to pin the knight on c3. Against this line the move 4 Qd3
has become very popular in recent times and even Hikaru Nakamura has tried
it.

Game 22
M.Anurag-R.Jumabayev
Baku 2013

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 Qd3

In the early days of the Veresov, White mainly played for the f2-f3 and e2-
e4 pawn push. Nowadays black players are familiar with the methods of
countering this, as we will see in the next chapter. That helps to explain why
the queen move has become the most popular in recent times. White does
not waste time on pushing his pawn to f3. Instead, he supports e2-e4 with his
queen and prepares for quick queenside castling.
4 ... c5 5 e4

One of a few options, as we will see.

5 ... cxd4
Instead, 5 ... dxe4 6 Nxe4 Nxe4 7 Qxe4 cxd4 8 Qxd4 Qa5+ 9 Bd2 Qe5+ 10
Qxe5 Nxe5 11 Bc3 Nc6 12 0-0-0 Bd7 is equal. However, if Black tries to be
ambitious with 12 ... e5 then 13 Bb5 f6 14 f4 exf4 15 Ne2 f3? 16 Nd4 Bd7 17
Rhe1+ Kf7 18 Bc4+ Kg6 19 gxf3 Nxd4 20 Rxd4 Bf5 21 Rg1+ Kh5 22 Bf7+ g6
23 Rd5 wins.
6 Bxf6
I believe 5 e4 is playable as long as White does not mind getting a drawn
game quickly. See my recommendations in the notes to Black’s 9th move,
below.
5 e4 was dismissed by Eric Prié as “obviously wrong” based on the game
P.Richmond-J.Gallagher, Nottingham 1987, which went 5 ... cxd4 6 Qxd4 e5 7
Qa4 d4 8 Nd5 Be7 9 Bxf6 (after 9 Nxe7 Qxe7 10 0-0-0 0-0 11 f4 h6 12 fxe5?
Nxe5 13 Bxf6 Qxf6 14 Qxd4 Bg4 15 Re1 Rfd8 Black has a winning attack) 9 ...
Bxf6 and Black was better with his bishop-pair and strong centre.
6 ... Nxf6
Another encounter witnessed 6 ... dxe4 7 Qxd4 exf6 8 0-0-0 Bc5 9 Qd5
Qe7 10 Bb5 (better than recapturing the e-pawn immediately; the key is to
prevent Black from castling to safety) 10 ... a6 (10 ... 0-0 11 Bxd7 Rd8 12
Bxc8 Rxd5 13 Nxd5 Qd6 14 Bg4 Bxf2 15 Ne2 is not something Black fancies
unless it is forced, which it is not) 11 Bxd7+ Bxd7 12 Qxb7 Ra7 13 Qb8+ Qd8
14 Qxd8+ Kxd8 15 Nxe4 Bb6 16 Nf3 Kc8 17 Nd4 (Black’s bishop-pair does not
give him any compensation as his king and rook on a7 are badly placed) 17
... Rf8 18 Rhe1 Rc7 19 f3 Kb8 20 c3 h5 21 Nd6 Bxd4 22 Rxd4 Be6 23 Kc2 Rc6
24 a4 g5 25 b4 Rd8 26 Red1 (White is essentially two passed pawns up and it
is only a matter of technique before the point is his) Rd7 27 b5 axb5 28 axb5
Rb6 29 c4 Rc7 30 Kb3 g4 31 f4 Rxd6 32 Rxd6 Bxc4+ 33 Kb4 Be6 34 Rb6+ Ka7
35 Rc6 Rb7 36 Rd8 Re7 37 Kc5 h4 38 Kd6 and 1-0, R.Barhudarian-
A.Kazantsev, St Petersburg 2011.
7 Qxd4 dxe4 8 Qe5!?
After 8 Qxd8+ Kxd8 9 0-0-0+ Kc7 Black is better. His king can reach
safety on b6 and White may not be able to regain his pawn.
8 ... a6 9 Rd1

9 ... Qb6??
Falling for White’s well concealed trap. Much better is 9 ... Bd7 10 Nxe4
Nxe4 11 Qxe4 Qa5+ 12 c3 Bc6 13 Qf4 and then:
a) 13 ... g5!? 14 Qd4 Rg8 15 Bc4 (15 Nf3 did not work out in I.Schneider-
H.Steingrimsson, German League 2005, where after 15 ... Bg7 16 Qd3 g4 17
Qxh7 Kf8 18 Nd4 Qe5+ 19 Be2 Bxg2 20 Rg1 Rh8 21 Qf5 Qxh2 White lost) 15
... Bg7 16 Qg4 Qe5+ 17 Ne2 b5 18 Bb3 e6 19 0-0 h5 20 Qd4! Qxe2? 21 Qd6
Rc8 22 Rfe1 Qg4 23 f3 Qf5 24 Bxe6 fxe6 25 Rxe6+ Kf7 26 Qe7 mate.
b) Safest is 13 ... e6 14 Nf3 Bxf3 15 Qxf3 Qb6 16 Bd3 Be7 17 0-0 0-0 18
Qe2 with an equal position.
 10 Bb5+! Bd7
10 ... axb5 11 Nxb5 wins the rook on a8 thanks to the knight fork on c7.
11 Nd5 Nxd5 12 Bxd7+ Kxd7 13 Qxd5+ Kc7 14 Qxf7

Exercise: How could White have improved on the text move?

Answer: It was more important to prevent the black king from reaching
safety on the queenside. Thus 14 Qe5+ was better, and White can always
regain the pawn on f7 and/or e4. After 14 ... Kc8 15 Ne2 f6 16 Qxe4 e5 17 0-
0 Qc6 18 Rd5 Kc7 19 Rfd1 Rc8 20 Ng3 Kb8 21 c3 White has control of the
open d-file.
14 ... Rc8 15 Ne2 Kb8 16 Qf4+ e5 17 Qxe5+ Ka8 18 0-0 Bc5 19
b4?!
Quite unnecessary. Instead, 19 Qxe4 Rhe8 (or 19 ... Rce8 20 Qc4) 20 Qf3
Rf8 21 Nf4 g5 22 Nd5 Qxb2 23 Qb3 Qe5 24 Rd2 defends the weaknesses on
c2 and f2 and keeps an extra pawn.
19 ... Qxb4 20 Rb1 Qc4 21 Qxg7 Rb8 22 Qc3 Qd5 23 Qb3 Qc6 24
Nc3 Rhg8?
Missing 24 ... e3 25 fxe3 Bxe3+ 26 Kh1 Rhd8 when Black has sufficient
counterplay.
25 Nd5 h5 26 c4 Rg7 27 Qh3 Rbg8
 28 Rb3?
28 g3 had to be played.
28 ... e3 29 fxe3 Rxg2+ 30 Qxg2 Rxg2+ 31 Kxg2 Qg6+ 32 Kf2
Qc2+ 33 Kg1 Qg6+ 34 Kf2 Qf5+ 35 Ke1 Qc2 36 Rf7??
This should have lost due to the looseness of the rook on f7.
36 ... Qxc4?
Not the best and now Black even went on to lose. After 36 ... Qc1+ 37
Ke2 Qxc4+ 38 Rd3 Qxa2+ 39 Rd2 Qc4+ 40 Kf2 a5 Black just advances his
passed pawn. White really has no dangerous threats against the black king
here, as shown by 41 Nc7+ Ka7 42 Rdd7 a4 43 Nd5 a3 44 Rxb7+ Ka6 45
Nb4+ Ka5 46 Nc6+ Ka4 47 Nd4 a2.
37 Rd7 Qh4+ 38 Kd2 Qxh2+ 39 Kd3 Qb8 40 Rc7 b6?? 41 Rxc5
Qd6 42 Rc8+ Ka7 43 Rc7+ Ka8 44 Kd4 b5 45 Rbc3 1-0

Game 23
R.Mesias-A.Escobar
Cali 2007

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 Qd3 c5 5 Bxf6 Nxf6 6 dxc5

Another radical approach.
6 ... e6 7 e4
 White must open the game immediately before Black has the chance to
complete his development with ... Bxc5 and ... 0-0.
After 7 0-0-0 Bxc5 8 e4 0-0! 9 exd5 exd5 10 Nxd5 Be6 11 Nxf6+ Qxf6
Black is temporarily a pawn down, but his superior development supplies
more than enough compensation, to say nothing of the pawns on a2 and f2
which are hanging.
7 ... Nxe4
Instead, 7 ... d4 8 0-0-0 Bxc5 9 Na4 (better is 9 e5! Nd7 10 Ne4, and if 10
... Nxe5? 11 Qg3 or 10 ... b6 11 f4 Bb7 12 Nf3, when White is for choice as
the pawns on f4 and e5 control some important squares; if Black castles
kingside he can come under great pressure by moves like Nfg5, Qh3 and Bd3)
9 ... b6 10 e5 Nd7 11 Qg3? (White should play f4, Nf3 and take on d4) 11 ...
Qc7 12 Nf3 0-0 13 Bd3 h6? (missing 13 ... Bb7, and if 14 Bxh7+? Kxh7 15
Ng5+ Kg8 16 Qh4 Rfc8) 14 Be4 Rb8 15 Nxd4 Bxd4 16 Rxd4 Qxe5 17 Qxe5
Nxe5 was equal in P.Freisler-A.Delchev, Pardubice 1997.
8 Nxe4 dxe4 9 Qxe4 Bxc5 10 Bb5+ Ke7
 The king on e7 is not in the best position. However, White’s next two
moves only help it to achieve a kind of security on f7.
11 Qh4+
It was better to regroup with 11 Qe2 Bd7 (11 ... Qb6 12 0-0-0! Bxf2 13
Kb1 a6 14 Ba4 Bd4 15 Bb3 Bf6 16 Nf3 Bd7 17 g4 h6 18 h4 g5 19 Ne5 gives
White a strong attack) 12 0-0-0 Bxb5 13 Qxb5 Qc7 14 Nf3!? Bxf2 15 Rhf1
Be3+ 16 Kb1 and Black’s position is very precarious: for example, 16 ... f6 17
Qb4+ Bc5 18 Qg4 Rhg8 19 Rfe1 Qc6 20 Rd2 Rad8 21 Ne5!.
11 ... f6 12 Qg3 Kf7 13 Bd3 Qd6
After 13 ... Qa5+ 14 c3 Qb6 15 Ne2 Qxb2 16 0-0 White has very good
compensation for the pawn.
14 Qf3 Qe5+ 15 Ne2 Bd7
Wisely avoiding 15 ... Qxb2 16 0-0 f5 17 Nf4 Bd6 18 Rae1 with pressure on
the e-file.
16 Qxb7
Instead, 16 0-0 Bc6 17 Qh3 and Rae1 would continue to apply pressure on
e6.
16 ... Rhd8 17 Qe4
And here after 17 0-0 Rab8 18 Qf3 Rxb2 19 Rad1 Rxa2 20 Bxh7 White has
a slight advantage due to the Black’s shaky king position.
17 ... Qxb2 18 0-0 f5 19 Qh4 Qf6 20 Qh5+ Kg8
 White’s last few moves were quite pointless and allowed Black to bring his
king back to safety. Black’s pair of bishops now decides the game.
21 Bc4 Rac8 22 Bb3 Kh8 23 Rad1 Bb5 24 Qf3 e5 25 c4 Bc6 26
Qh3 g5!?
This is quite unnecessary. The two bishops are already aiming at the
white king and Black merely needed to open more lines to make their
presence even more commanding: for instance, 26 ... e4 27 Nc3? (even after
27 Qc3 e3 28 fxe3 Rxd1 29 Rxd1 Qg5 30 g3 Bxe3+ 31 Kf1 Re8 the black
bishops are all powerful) 27 ... e3 28 Nd5 Bxd5 29 Rxd5 exf2+ wins.
27 Qc3?
Eric Prié gives the amazing line 27 Nc3!! g4 28 Rxd8+ Rxd8 29 Qh5 Be8
30 Nd5!, which was very easy to miss. However, even here after 30 ... Bxh5
31 Nxf6 Bf7 32 Nd5 Kg7 followed by the plan of ... a5, ... Bf7-e8 and ... Rd8-
b8 Black will penetrate down the b-file.
27 ... f4!
A classic case of complete domination by the two bishops over the White’s
pieces.
28 Bc2 g4 29 Rxd8+ Rxd8 30 Rd1 Rg8
 31 Kf1 Bxg2+! 32 Ke1
Or if 32 Kxg2 f3+ 33 Kh1 fxe2 34 Re1 Qf3+ 35 Qxf3 gxf3 36 Be4 Bxf2.
32 ... Bc6 33 Qd3 Qh4 0-1

Game 24
R.Vaganian-J.Adamski
Copenhagen 2006

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 Qd3 c5 5 0-0-0

 White’s main move. He applies indirect pressure to d5 and waits for Black
to commit himself.
5 ... cxd4
5 ... e6 is well met by 6 e4. Now that Black has committed himself to ...
e6, this is good as it opens up the game with the black king still in the centre:
a) 6 ... cxd4 7 Qxd4 Bc5 (opening the d-file is really bad: 7 ... dxe4? 8
Nxe4 Qa5 9 Bxf6 gxf6 10 Nxf6+ Nxf6 11 Qxf6 Rg8 12 Bb5+ and Black
resigned in J.Hector-N.Kirkegaard, Copenhagen 2006, since 12 ... Qxb5 13
Rd8 mates) 8 Qa4!? (8 Qd3 d4 9 Na4 b6 was E.Jakubiec-V.Koziak, Koszalin
2005, and now White should continue 10 Nf3 e5 11 c3 with chances for both
sides) 8 ... d4 9 Rxd4! Bxd4 10 Qxd4 when White’s better development
compensates for the exchange.
b) 6 ... dxe4 7 Nxe4 Qa5 8 Bxf6 gxf6 9 Kb1 f5 10 Nxc5 Nxc5 11 dxc5 Bxc5
12 f4 was R.Barhudarian-R.Eidelson, St Petersburg 2007. Instead of 12 f4,
White should have emphasized Black’s inability to develop his queenside with
12 Be2! 0-0 (or 12 ... Bxf2 13 Nh3 Bc5 14 Qg3 Bd7 15 Ng5 Rg8 16 Bh5 with a
clear advantage) 13 Nh3 Be7 14 g4 with good attacking chances on the
kingside.
Instead, for the critical 5 ... c4, see the next game.
6 Qxd4 e5 7 Qa4 d4 8 Nd5 Be7
8 ... b5! is a big improvement.
 Now:
a) 9 Qb3 a6 10 Qf3 Rb8 11 e3 Bb7 12 Bxf6 Nxf6 13 Nxf6+ gxf6 14 Qf5 Qb6
15 exd4 Rd8 and Black takes advantage of White’s poor development: for
example, 16 Nf3 (16 dxe5 Bh6+ wins for Black) 16 ... Qe6! 17 Qxe6+ fxe6 18
a4 (White gives back a pawn to bring his bishop to an active square) 18 ...
bxa4 19 Bc4 Bh6+ 20 Kb1 e4 21 Nh4 Ke7 when Black’s bishop-pair and open
lines give him the edge.
b) 9 Qxb5? (the sacrifice is too dangerous to accept as this opens lines on
the queenside) 9 ... Rb8 10 Qa4 Bb7 and then:
b1) White is in serious trouble after 11 Nxf6+ gxf6 12 Bd2 (the bishop is
needed on the queenside; if 12 Bh4?? Qc7 13 Bg3 Be4 14 Rxd4 Bc6 15 Qc4
Qb6 16 Rd3 Qxb2+ 17 Kd2 Bb4+ 18 Ke3 Qc1+ 19 Rd2 Qxd2 mate) 12 ... Qc8
when his queen has a distinct lack of squares. Indeed, after 13 e3 Bc6 14 Qc4
(14 Qa6 Qxa6 15 Bxa6 Bxg2 wins the exchange) 14 ... Nb6 15 Qe2 Na4.
White is busted.
b2) 11 e4 Bxd5 12 exd5 Qb6 13 b3 (not 13 Qb3?? Qa5 14 Qc4 Ne4 15 Bh4
Ba3 16 bxa3 Qxa3 mate) 13 ... Nxd5 and Black regains the pawn with the
superior development.
b3) 11 Bxf6 gxf6 12 e4 Bxd5 13 exd5 Bh6+ 14 Kb1 0-0 when Black will
regain a pawn as the d5-pawn is too weak.
9 Nxe7 Qxe7 10 f4! 0-0 11 fxe5 Nxe5 12 Nf3 Nc6 13 Nxd4 Nxd4
14 Qxd4 Bf5 15 Bxf6 gxf6 16 e4!
 White has taken control.
16 ... Rfd8 17 Qe3 Rxd1+ 18 Kxd1 Qxe4 19 Qxe4 Bxe4 20 Bd3
Rd8 21 Ke2 Bxd3+
Black also loses after 21 ... f5 22 Ke3 Kg7 23 Bxe4 fxe4 24 Rf1 Kg6 25 Rf4
f5 26 g4.
22 cxd3 Kg7 23 Rc1 Rd7 24 Rc5 Kg6 25 g4 b6 26 Rb5 Rd4 27 h3
Ra4 28 a3 Ra5?
The only way to explain this was that Black miscalculated something in
the ensuing pawn ending.
29 Rxa5 bxa5 30 Ke3 f5 31 Kf4 fxg4 32 hxg4 Kf6 33 a4 h6??
Actually even here Black might have drawn with 33 ... Ke6 34 Ke4 Kd6 35
Kf5 Kd5 36 Kf6 Kd4 37 Kxf7 Kxd3 38 Kg7 Ke4! 39 Kxh7 Kf4 40 Kg6 Kxg4.
However, after 33 ... h6?? this line is no longer possible as White captures on
h6 instead of h7 and defends his g-pawn.
34 d4 Ke6 35 Ke4 Kd6 36 d5 f6 37 Kd4 a6 38 b3 Kd7 39 Kc5 f5
40 gxf5 h5 41 Kd4 h4 42 Ke4 h3 43 Kf3 1-0

Game 25
H.Nakamura-S.Karjakin
Baku 2014

At the time of this game, with Nakamura rated at 2764 and Karjakin at 2767,
they have to be the highest-rated players involved in a Veresov struggle at
standard time controls. This game was played about three weeks after I had
completed my study of the 4 Qd3 variation. The chess engine Stockfish 5 had
indicated a new move 5 ... c4 that was not in my database. As I analysed the
position further and further, I thought that 5 ... c4 might be the antidote to 4
Qd3. Then one night in October 2014, I was following the games from the
Baku Grand Prix and a familiar position appeared.

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 Qd3

Nakamura had played this opening before in 2013 against Ruslan
Ponomariov and also Fabiano Caruana. Both had replied with 4 ... h6, as we
will see.
4 ... c5 5 0-0-0 c4

Black’s intentions are clear. A pawn storm on the queenside is coming.

6 Qg3
Nakamura spent 34 minutes on this move. He had evidently not
considered 5 ... c4 in his preparation.
6 ... Qa5 7 e4 b5 8 Kb1
Nakamura spent 31 minutes here and I believe most of it was on whether
he should take on f6 immediately.
8 Bxf6 Nxf6 9 e5 Ne4 10 Nxe4 dxe4 11 Kb1 “is a complicated position”
according to Jaan Ehlvest. However, I think Black is just much better after 9
... Nd7 10 Kb1 b4 11 Nce2 Nb6 12 Qf3 (White has to stop Black from
developing his bishop to f5 followed by ... b3) 12 ... h5 13 h3 (13 Nh3 Bg4 14
Qe3 c3 is possible because the black knight goes to c4 with tempo) 13 ... g6
as he has clear plans like ... Bf5 followed by ... b3 or ... Rc8.
8 ... dxe4 9 Bxf6 gxf6

It is only the ninth move and both players had already expended more
than an hour. Curiously, Nakamura had spent more time with some 75
minutes while Karjakin had used up just 65 minutes.
Alternatively:
a) 9 ... Nxf6 10 Qe5 pins the b5-pawn and White has threats such as Bxc4
or Nxb5.
b) 9 ... exf6 10 Nd5 Rb8 11 f3 and the opening of the e-file will be of some
concern for Black.
10 Nxe4 Bb7 11 Nc5
11 Qe3!? is an alternative, keeping more pieces on the board and
incidentally threatening Nd6+, winning a piece.
11 ... Nxc5 12 dxc5 Rc8 13 Be2 Qc7
It is possible Karjakin did not like 13 ... Rxc5 14 Bf3 Qc7 (after 14 ... Bxf3?
15 Qb8+ Black gets mated) 15 Bxb7 Qxb7 16 Nf3 e6 17 Rd4 when White
stands better. He plans doubling rooks on the open d-file and Black is unable
to find a safe haven for his king.
14 Qh3
Naturally White avoids exchanging queens which would leave him no
attacking chances against the black king in the centre.
14 ... Bg7
 15 Bf3?!
White could have taken advantage of Black’s inability to castle with 15 Nf3
and now:
a) 15 ... 0-0 16 Rd7 Qb8 (or 16 ... Qc6 17 Nd4 Qxg2 18 Qxg2 Bxg2 19 Rg1
Bh3 20 Rxe7 Rxc5 21 Rxa7 Rd8 22 c3 Kf8 23 Ra5 f5 24 Rg3 Bg4 25 Bxg4 fxg4
26 Rxg4 Bxd4 27 Rxd4 Rxd4 28 cxd4 Rd5 29 a4 Rxd4 30 Rxb5 and White has
a winning ending) 17 Nd4 Rxc5 18 Ne6 fxe6 19 Qxe6+ Kh8 (19 ... Rf7 20
Rxe7 Qf8 21 Re8 wins the black queen) 20 Qxe7 Rg5 21 Rxb7 Qe8 22 Bf3
Qxe7 23 Rxe7 and the black queenside pawns will fall.
b) 15 ... e6 16 Nd4 a6.
 Exercise: Black is ready to castle on his next move. White must do
something, otherwise his weak c-pawn will fall and he will be a pawn down.
What is the move that White must play here? Hint: it is actually a natural
move in Sicilian type positions.

Answer: Black’s king will be marooned in the centre after the sacrifice 17
Nxe6!: for example, 17 ... fxe6 18 Qxe6+ Qe7 19 Bh5+ Kf8 20 Qh3 Qxc5 21
Rd7 Qc6 22 Qg4 when Black is lost as both 22 ... Rg8 and 22 ... Bh6 lose to
23 Rf7+ followed by a discovered check by the rook, while 22 ... Qxg2 23
Rf7+ wins easily.
15 ... Bxf3 16 Nxf3
The less obvious and dynamic 16 gxf3 should be considered. White opens
the g-file in anticipation of kingside castling by Black. After 16 ... 0-0 17 Ne2
Qe5 18 Rhg1 Kh8 19 Nc3 b4 (or 19 ... f5 20 Rd5 with advantage to White) 20
Na4 the knight is well placed, defending b2 and the c5-pawn, and chances
are equal.
16 ... e6
 17 Rhe1?!
At the Baku Grand Prix, Nakamura did not display his usual dynamic chess.
Instead he tried to play more safe moves such as the text, which allowed
Black to castle to safety.
It was necessary to keep up the pressure with 17 Nd4 and then:
a) 17 ... a6? 18 Nxe6 fxe6 19 Qxe6+ Kf8 (or 19 ... Qe7 20 Qxc8+) 20 Rd7
wins.
b) 17 ... 0-0 18 c6 (after 18 Nxb5? Qxc5 19 Nd6 Rb8 White is very weak on
b2 and a subsequent ... f5 will be deadly) 18 ... f5 19 Qg3 Qxg3 20 hxg3 a6
21 c3 Rfd8 when Black is slightly better as the c6-pawn will fall eventually.
17 ... 0-0 18 Rd4 Qxc5 19 Rg4 Rfd8 20 Qh6 Qf8 21 Qxf6 Kh8 22
Qf4 Rd5 23 Ng5 Rf5 24 Qe3 Rd8
Karjakin plays it safe as both he and Nakamura were very short of time.
24 ... c3 would have won more quickly, as shown by 25 b3 Qa3 26 Qc1
Qxc1+ 27 Rxc1 h5 28 Rg3 Be5.
25 Rh4 Kg8 26 Rg4 h5 27 Re4 Qb4
Again, 27 ... c3 wins more quickly.
28 c3 Bxc3 29 Qxc3 Qxc3 30 bxc3 Rxg5 31 g3 Kg7 32 Kc2 Rd3
33 f4 Rgd5 34 R1e2 Kf6 35 a4 a6 36 Rf2 Kf5 37 Re5+ Rxe5 38
fxe5+ Kg6 39 a5 Rd5 40 Re2 Kf5 41 Rf2+ Kg6 42 Re2 Rd3 43 Re4
Alternatively, 43 Rf2 Re3 44 Rd2 h4 45 gxh4 Rxe5 46 Rd6 Re2+ 47 Kb1 f5
48 Rxa6 f4 49 Ra8 f3 50 Rf8 f2 51 a6 Re1+ and queens.
43 ... Rf3 44 Rd4 Rf2+ 45 Kb1 Rxh2 46 Rd6 Rg2 47 Rxa6 Rxg3
48 Kb2

48 ... b4 49 cxb4 Rb3+ 50 Ka2 Rxb4 51 Ka3 Rb5 52 Ka4 Rc5 53

Rb6 c3 54 Rb1 c2 55 Rc1 h4 56 a6 h3 57 a7 Rc8 58 Kb5 h2 59 Kb6
Rh8 60 Rh1 Kf5 0-1
The black king just marches to g2 and queens the h-pawn.

Game 26
H.Nakamura-R.Ponomariov
Thessaloniki 2013

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 Qd3 h6

In my opinion this is Black’s best response. Now the bishop has to decide
which diagonal to stay on. If the bishop retreats to h4 then the queenside
dark squares may become weak.
5 Bh4 e6 6 e4 dxe4 7 Nxe4 Be7 8 Nxf6+ Bxf6 9 Bxf6 Nxf6
Not the only recapture. After 9 ... Qxf6 10 Nf3 0-0 11 Qe3 c5 12 0-0-0 the
position is identical to Hector-Koneru (Game 29) with the exception that the
black h-pawn is on h6, which may be undesirable: for example, 12 ... cxd4 13
Rxd4 Nb6 14 c4 (White has to expend a move to prevent the black knight
going to d5) 14 ... Bd7 15 Ne5 Rad8 16 Be2 Ba4 17 Rf4 Qe7 18 Rg4 Kh8 (18
... Kh7 can be answered by 19 Bd3+ g6 20 Nxg6) 19 h4 Nd7 20 Rh3 Nxe5 21
Qxe5 f6 22 Qa5 Bc6 23 Rhg3 Rf7 24 Qxa7 e5 25 Rd3 Rxd3 26 Bxd3 f5 27 Rg6
e4 28 Bc2 Qc7 29 Qd4 Kh7 30 Rd6 Qa5 31 a3 Qe1+ 32 Bd1 f4 33 h5 Re7 34
Qd2 Qxd2+ 35 Kxd2 Re5 36 Bc2 Kg8 37 b4 e3+ 38 fxe3 fxe3+ 39 Ke2 Bxg2
40 Bg6 Kf8 41 Rd8+ Ke7 42 Re8+ Kf6 43 Rxe5 Kxe5 44 Kxe3 b6 45 a4 Bc6 46
a5 bxa5 47 bxa5 Bb7 48 c5 Bc8 49 Be4 Ba6 50 Bd3 Bc8 51 a6 Kd5 52 a7 1-0,
H.Nakamura-F.Caruana, Moscow (blitz) 2013.
10 0-0-0 0-0 11 Nf3

11 ... b6
Slow. Instead, the temporary sacrifice 11 ... c5! leads to equality after 12
dxc5 Qa5:
a) 13 Qc4 e5 (Black sacrifices another pawn to bring out his bishop) 14
Nxe5 (15 a3 Be6 16 Qb4 Qxb4 17 axb4 Ne4 wins back the pawn as f2 is not
defensible; 18 Rg1 a5! 19 b5 f6 guarantees that Black will win back his pawn
with advantage) Be6 15 Qb5 Qxa2 16 Bd3 a6 17 Qb4 Nd5 18 Qa3 (18 Qd4 is
very risky: for example, 18 ... Qa1+ 19 Kd2 Qa5+ 20 c3 Rac8 21 b4? Qa2+
22 Bc2 Bf5 23 Nd3 Nb6!! 24 cxb6 Bxd3 wins for Black) 18 ... Qxa3 19 bxa3
Rfc8 20 c6 bxc6 and the position is equal.
b) 13 Qb5? Qxa2 14 Bc4 (S.Palit-J.Moreno Ruiz, Barbera del Valles 2012)
14 ... Bd7! 15 Bxa2 (White has to allow the exchange of queens, as the
alternatives are worse: for example, 15 Qb4 a5 16 Bxa2 axb4 17 Bb3 Ne4 18
Kb1 Bc6 19 Rd4 Ra5 20 c3 Nxc5 21 cxb4 Nxb3 22 bxa5 Bxf3 23 Rb4 Bxg2 and
Black has a winning material advantage) 14 ... Bxb5 15 Nd4 Bd7 (Black is
doing well here, as the white pawn on c5 is a weakness; attempts to jettison
the pawn for activity are not quite sufficient) 16 c6 Bxc6 17 Nxc6 bxc6 18 Rd6
Rfc8 19 Rhd1 Rab8 and the bishop is not a better piece than the knight here.
 12 Ne5 Bb7

13 Rg1
Nakamura is too cautious. The g-pawn can be sacrificed for an open g-file.
13 Be2!? is my improvement. The idea is to challenge the strong black
bishop on b7 with Bf3. My analysis shows that it is too dangerous for Black to
accept the pawn, 13 ... Bxg2 14 Rhg1 Be4 15 Qe3 Kh7 16 Bd3 Bxd3 17
Qxd3+ Kh8 18 Qg3 Nh5 19 Qf3 Nf6 20 Qg2 Nh5 and then:
a) 21 f4 Qd5 22 Qg4 g6 23 Nxg6+ (23 c4 Qe4 brings the queen over to
the kingside defence) 23 ... fxg6 24 Qxg6 Rf6 is winning for Black.
b) 21 Kb1! Qe7 22 Rd3 Rg8 (Black shores up the g6-square) 23 Rh3 g6 23
Qf3 Nf6 24 Qf4 Rad8 25 Rh3 and here:
b1) Most certainly not 25 ... c5?? 26 Rg6!.
 Suddenly there is no defence to 27 R6xh6+ and 28 Qxh6+, mating.
b2) 25 ... Qf8 26 c3 (this is not just to protect the d-pawn, but also to give
the white king an escape square as shown in the line 26 Rg6 which is
answered by 26 ... Kh7 and the white rook has to retreat, as well as by 26
Rxg7 Rxg7 27 Qxf6 Kg8 when White has no time for 28 Rxh6? due to 28 ...
Rg1 mate) 26 ... Kh7! (26 ... c5 27 Rxg7 Qxg7 28 Rxh6+ Nh7 29 Nxf7+ wins
the queen, or here if 27 ... Rxg7 28 Qxf6 Kg8 29 Kc2!! and by avoiding the
check on g1, White sets up the threat of 30 Qxh6 and mate on h8; after 29 ...
Rg6 30 Nxg6 fxg6 31 Qxg6+ Qg7 32 Qxe6+ Kh7 33 Rg3 Qf8 34 Rg6! Re8 35
Rxh6+ Qxh6 36 Qxe8 Qxh2 37 Qf7+ Kh8 38 Qf6+ Kh7 39 dxc5 bxc5 40 Qf5+
Kh8 41 Qxc5 White has a won queen ending) 27 Nf3 Kh8! (Black must play
accurately; a careless move like 27 ... c5 allows 28 Ng5+ Kh8 29 Rxh6+!
gxh6 30 Qxf6+ Rg7 31 Qxh6+ Kg8 32 Rg3 when there is no defence to the
threat of Rh3 and mate) 28 Qxc7 Nd5 29 Qxa7 f6 30 Rhg3 when White has a
clear advantage as he has won a pawn and remains with a very active
position.
13 ... c5
 Black equalizes with this move.
14 dxc5 bxc5 15 Qxd8 Rfxd8 16 Re1 Kf8
Black can try to exchange the only good piece White has, his knight on e5:
16 ... Nd7 17 Nc4 Nb6.
17 g4 Rd4 18 Rg3 Rf4 19 Rb3 Rb4 20 Ree3 Rc8 21 c4 Rxb3 22
Rxb3 Rc7 23 Ra3 a6 24 Kd2 Ke7 25 Be2 Nd7 26 Nd3 Kd6 27 Ke3 g5
28 h3 Ne5 29 Nxe5 Kxe5 30 Rb3 f5 31 f3 f4+ 32 Kf2 Bc6
Black could have just sat on this position. Even if White plays Rb6, a3 and
b4 there is not enough to create any real winning chances. Ponomariov,
though, goes for active defence.
33 Rb8 Rb7 34 Rc8 Kd6 35 b3 a5
 Black gives up the h-pawn as he will have enough drawing chances once
he can activate his rook.
36 Rh8 a4 37 Rxh6 axb3 38 axb3 Rxb3 39 Rg6 Rb2 40 Rxg5 Ba4
41 Rg8
White cannot avoid the coming the checks, as shown too by 41 Ke1 Rb1+
42 Kd2 Rb2+ 43 Kd3 Rb3+ 44 Kd2 Rb2+ 45 Ke1 Rb1+ 46 Kf2 Rb2.
41 ... Ke7
41 ... Bd1?? 42 Rd8+ was White’s last trick before conceding the draw.
42 Kf1 Rb1+ 43 Kf2 Rb2 44 Ke1 Rb1+ 45 Kd2 Rb2+ 46 Kd3
Rb3+ 47 Kd2 Rb2+ 48 Kd3 Rb3+ 49 Kd2 Rb2+ ½-½

Game 27
J.Liew-Z.R.Lim
Kuala Lumpur 2013

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 Qd3 h6 5 Bh4

5 Bf4 will be examined in the next game.
 5 ... e6
Alternatively:
a) 5 ... c6 is designed to prevent White’s next move: 6 e4? (White does
not suspect anything and goes ahead with his plan, but now loses a piece) 6
... dxe4 7 Nxe4 Nxe4 8 Qxe4 g5 9 Bg3 Qa5+ 10 c3 f5 11 Qf3 (11 b4 Qa3 12
Qc2 f4 traps the bishop) 11 ... f4 12 Qh5+ Kd8 13 Bxf4. The black g-pawn is
pinned, but Black’s next move forces the white queen away from h5 and wins
the bishop on f4: 13 ... Nf6, D.Rosandic-A.Brnas, Croatian Team
Championship 2012.
b) 5 ... c5 is another way to take advantage of White’s fifth move. Black
immediately challenges the centre before White has a chance to get in e2-e4.
Now:
b1) 6 0-0-0 b5 7 Qd2 c4 8 e4 Nxe4 9 Nxe4 dxe4 10 f3 Nf6 11 Qe1 e3 12
Bxf6 exf6 13 Qxe3+ Be7 14 Re1 Rb8 15 h4 Rb7 16 g4 0-0 17 Kb1 Bb4 18 Rd1
Re8 19 Qf2 c3 (clearly White’s opening has failed; now the dark-square
weaknesses on the queenside are mercilessly exploited) 20 Bd3 Qa5 21 g5
Rb6 22 Ne2 cxb2 23 c3 Be6 24 Kc2 Rc6 25 Be4 Qxa2 26 Kd3 f5 27 Ke3 fxe4
28 cxb4 exf3 0-1 D.Sengupta-A.Delchev, Sort 2008.
b2) 6 Nf3 e6 7 e3 Be7 8 Be2 (Laengl’s handling of the opening is
uninspiring, although he eventually won; here Black could have had the
advantage after 8 ... c4 9 Qe2 g5 10 Bg3 Ba5) 8 ... b6 9 e4 Bb7 10 e5 Ne4 11
Bxe7 Qxe7 12 0-0 0-0 13 Rad1 cxd4 14 Qxd4 Nxc3 15 Qxc3 Rfc8 16 Qd2 Nc5
17 Qb4 Rc7 18 Nd4 Ba6 19 Qe1 Qe8 20 Bxa6 Nxa6 21 f4 g6 22 Rd3 Qe7 23
Rh3 Kg7 24 f5 exf5 25 Rxf5 Rc4 26 Rf4 Re8 27 Rhf3 Nb4 28 Qg3 Nc6 29 Nf5+
1-0, J.Laengl-U.Schenk, Bad Wörishofen 2000.
6 e4 dxe4 7 Nxe4 Be7 8 Nxf6+ Nxf6
Deviating from Ponomariov’s 8 ... Bxf6.
9 0-0-0 Qd5
After 9 ... 0-0 10 Nf3 b6 White has two main plans:

a) He can try to weaken the black kingside further with the exchange on
f6: 11 Bxf6 Bxf6 12 Qe4 Rb8 13 Bd3 g6 14 Qf4 Bg7. However, Black has no
problems here as White has no attack on the kingside and Black has the long-
term advantage of two bishops.
b) 11 Ne5 Bb7 12 Rg1 Qd5 13 c4?! (13 Kb1 Rad8 14 Be2 Qe4 is equal) 13
... Qa5 14 a3 Rfd8 15 g4 c5 16 d5 exd5 17 Qh3 d4?! (White’s play is highly
speculative and here Black should not have closed the centre since this allows
White a free hand on the kingside) 18 g5 hxg5 19 Rxg5 Rd6 20 Bd3 Bf8 21
Rdg1 Ne4 22 Bxe4 Bxe4 23 Qg4 Bg6 24 Nxg6 Rxg6 25 Rxg6 fxg6 26 Qe6+
Kh8 27 Bg5 1-0 (Black has no defence to the rook lift to the h-file), J.Hall-
R.Jones, European Team Championship, Gothenburg 2005.
10 Kb1 0-0 11 Nf3 Rd8 12 Rg1 g5 13 Bg3 c5 14 dxc5 Qxc5 15
Qxd8+ Bxd8 16 Rxd8+ Kg7 17 Bd6 Qa5 18 Bf8+ Kg6 19 Bd3+ Ne4
20 Bxe4+ f5 21 Bxf5+ Qxf5 22 Bd6 e5
 23 Nxe5+?
Missing 23 Rd1 b6 24 Bxe5 Bb7 25 R8d6+ Kh5 26 Bg7 and wins.
23 ... Kh7 24 Rf8 Qe4 25 Rf7+ Kg8 26 Rf8+ Kh7
The tournament situation required me to win so I now rejected the
perpetual with 27 Rf7+.
27 Nd3?
There was a better knight move in 27 Nd7, and then:
a) 27 ... Bxd7 28 Rxa8 Bf5 29 Rc1 retains some winning chances.
b) 27 ... Kg6 28 Rg8+ Kf7 29 Rd8 b6 30 f3 Qe3 31 Ne5+ Kg7 32 Rc1 is still
very complicated, but White has chances.
c) 27 ... Qe6 28 Nf6+ Kg6 29 Ne8 Qe2 30 Nc7 Rb8 31 h4 (the position is
very difficult if not already lost for Black) 31 ... Qd2 32 h5+ Kxh5 33 Rh1+
Kg6 34 Ne8 and Black has to give back the queen to avoid mate.
 One sample line is 34 ... g4 35 Rf6+ Kg5 36 Rfxh6 and mate is
unavoidable.
27 ... Qd5! 28 Bb4??
A time-trouble move. 28 Ba3 would have allowed White to continue to
play on for a while.
27 ... Be6 29 Rxa8 Qxa2+ 30 Kc1 Qa1+ 31 Kd2 Qxg1 32 Re8 Bd5
33 Re7+ Kg8 34 Bc5? Qxg2 35 Bd4 Kf8 36 Bc5 b6 37 Ba3? Kg8 0-1

Game 28
R.Barhudarian-A.Smirnov
St Petersburg 2011

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 Qd3 h6 5 Bf4

 This is similar to the position reached after the moves 1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3
Bf4 Nbd7 4 Qd3. Here Black has spent a move on ... h6 which might prove
weakening if the black king were to castle on the kingside.
5 ... c6
White was threatening Nb5 to attack c7. Black can stop this in a number
of other ways:
a) 5 ... a6 6 g4!? (White’s little experiment should have turned out badly
for him) 6 ... c5 7 0-0-0 e6 8 Qg3 cxd4 9 Bc7 Qe7 10 Rxd4 b5 11 e4 Qc5 12
Nge2 was very wild in J.Hector-R.Akesson, Swedish League 2006.
b) 5 ... c5 6 0-0-0 cxd4 7 Qxd4 e6 8 Nb5? did not work out for White in
S.Fitzpatrick-J.Tait, correspondence 2002, with Black winning in 23 moves
after 8 ... Bc5 9 Nc7+ Ke7. Instead, Black could have won straight away with
9 ... Kf8 10 Qc3 e5 11 Bxe5 Ne4! 12 Bxg7+ Kg8 13 Qb3 Qxc7 14 Bxh8 Nxf2,
winning a piece no matter how White continues.
c) 5 ... e6 6 Nb5 Bb4+ 7 c3 Ba5 8 Qg3 Nh5 (8 ... c6 9 Bc7 Qe7 10 Nd6+
Kf8 11 Nxc8 Rxc8 12 Bxa5 wins a piece) 9 Bxc7 Nxg3 10 Bxd8 Nxh1 11 Bxa5
nets two minor pieces for the rook as the black knight on h1 is good and
buried.
6 Nf3
It is not a good idea to castle so early as Black can then start pushing his
queenside pawns: 6 0-0-0 b5 7 f3 b4 8 Nb1 Qa5 9 a3 bxa3 10 Qxa3 Qb6 11
Qa4 e5 12 dxe5 Nh5 13 Bd2 Bc5 and Black already stands better as in
S.Fitzpatrick-I.Pheby, correspondence 2002.
 6 ... e6 7 a3
White can also advance in the centre: 7 e4!? Bb4 8 e5 Ne4 9 Nd2 Nxc3 10
bxc3 Ba5 11 Nb3 c5 12 Nxa5 Qxa5 13 Bd2 Qa4 14 Be2 0-0 15 0-0 b6 16 Rfb1
a5 17 Bxh6 gxh6 18 c4!? (18 Qg3+ Kh8 19 Qe3 Kg7 20 Qg3+ Kh8 21 Qe3 is a
repetition) 18 ... Re8 (18 ... cxd4 19 Qg3+ Kh8 20 Rb3 dxc4 forces White to
take a draw as 21 Rf3 can be answered with 21 ... Qxc2 21 Qf4 cxb3 22
Qxh6+ Kg8 23 Bd3 f5) 19 Qg3+ Kf8 20 Qf4 Qxc2 21 Qxh6+ Ke7 22 Qg5+ Kf8
23 Qh6+ Ke7 24 cxd5 exd5 25 Bf3 Rb8 26 Qh4+ Kf8 27 Bxd5 cxd4 28 e6!
(this sacrifice opens up Black’s king position yet further and disrupts his co-
ordination) 28 ... fxe6 29 Be4 d3 30 Bg6 Qc3 31 Qh6+ Qg7 32 Qxg7+ Kxg7
33 Bxe8 Nc5 34 Bb5 e5 35 f3 Bf5 36 Kf2 Rh8 37 h3 Rh6 38 Ke3 Rd6 39 Rb2 a4
40 g4 a3 41 Rd2 Bg6 42 h4 Rd4 43 Rad1 Rb4 44 Bxd3 Nxd3 45 Rxd3 Bxd3 46
Rxd3 Rb1 47 Rxa3 Re1+ 48 Kf2 Rb1 49 h5 1-0, M.Lacrosse-A.Vegjeleki,
correspondence 2003.
7 ... b5 8 Ne5 Nxe5 9 dxe5 g5 10 Bg3 Nh5 11 e4 d4 12 0-0-0 Bg7
13 Be2 Nxg3 14 hxg3 Qb6 15 Qxd4 Qxd4 16 Rxd4 Bxe5 17 Rd2

Question: Should Black now double the white pawns with 17 ... Bxc3?

Answer: No. White is ready to take over the d-file after Rhd1. Black
needs to cover the square d6 from a rook invasion and for this he needs the
dark-squared bishop.
17 ... a6 18 Bh5 Ke7
 Question: Does the bishop-pair confer the advantage to Black in this
position?

Answer: Not necessarily. The bishop-pair needs an open position to exert

its combined influence and this position is anything but open.
Over the next few moves, we will see White push Black’s dark-squared
bishop back and create a useful square on e4 for his knight.
19 Ne2 Ra7 20 f4 Bb8
After 20 ... Bg7 21 e5 Black’s king’s bishop is locked out of play, while
White has the simple plan of doubling rooks and transferring his knight to e4
and maybe then to e6.
21 Rhd1 Rg8 22 e5 Rc7 23 Bf3

Black’s bishops are neutralized and White holds the edge.

23 ... c5 24 Nc3 g4 25 f5
Another option was 25 Ba8 Ra7 26 Bc6 Rc7 27 Rd6 Ra7 28 Ne4 29 exd6+
Kd8 30 Nxc5 (Black’s next is forced as White threatened to win immediately
with 31 d7) 30 ... Bd7 31 Bxd7 Rxd7 32 Nxa6 Rb7 (other moves allow Nb8) 33
Nc5 Rb6 34 b4 when White is winning. He has two pawns and a knight for the
rook, and the possibility of creating more passed pawns with c2-c4.
25 ... exf5
Alternatively:
a) 25 ... gxf3? 26 f6+ Ke8 27 Rd8 mate.
 b) 25 ... f6 26 Bd5! is a powerful blow.

Following 26 ... exd5 (26 ... fxe5 27 fxe6 Bxe6 28 Bxe6 Kxe6 29 Rd6+ Kf7
30 Rf1+ Kg7 31 Rff6 is completely winning for White) 27 Nxd5+ Kf8 28 Nxf6
Rg5 29 e6 Rxf5 30 Rd8+ Ke7 31 Ng8+ Kxe6 32 Re1+ Kf7 33 Nxh6+ Kg6 34
Nxf5 Kxf5 35 Rf8+ Kg6 36 Ree8 White wins one of the bishops.
26 Nd5+ Ke6 27 Nf6!
More effective than taking on c7.
27 ... gxf3
27 ... Rf8 28 Rd6+ Ke7 29 Nd5+ Ke8 30 Nxc7+ Bxc7 31 Bc6+ Ke7 32
Rd7+ Bxd7 33 Rxd7+ wins a piece.
28 Rd6+ Ke7 29 Nxg8+ Kf8 30 Rd8+ Kg7 31 Nf6 1-0
Black is mated after 31 ... h5 32 Rg8+ Kh6 33 Rh1.

Game 29
J.Hector-H.Koneru
Wijk aan Zee 2003

The Swedish Grandmaster Jonny Hector has done a lot to popularize the 4
Qd3 variation and has been very successful too. In the 2014 MegaBase, he
has fifteen games with 4 Qd3, scoring three draws, one loss and eleven wins!

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 Qd3 e6

This is an invitation for White to transpose into a French Defence with 5
e4.
5 e4 dxe4 6 Nxe4 Be7
This position might be reached after the moves 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4 5 Nxe4 Nbd7 and then the unusual 6 Qd3!? Be7.
7 Nxf6+
Best as 7 0-0-0? loses a pawn to 7 ... Nxe4 8 Bxe7 Nxf2.
7 ... Bxf6
Another instructive game saw 7 ... Nxf6 8 Nf3 0-0 9 0-0-0 b6 10 Ne5 Bb7
11 Qh3 Nd7 12 Be3 Nxe5 13 dxe5 Qc8 14 Bd3 g6 15 Qg3 c5 16 c3 c4 17 Bc2
b5 18 h4 Qc6 19 f3 Bc5 20 Bxc5 Qxc5 21 h5 Qe7 22 hxg6 fxg6 23 Bxg6 hxg6
24 Qxg6+ Qg7 25 Qxe6+ Rf7 (25 ... Qf7 26 Qg4+ Qg7 27 Qxg7+ Kxg7 28
Rd7+ Rf7 29 Rxf7+ Kxf7 30 Rh7+ wins back the piece with a bunch of extra
pawns) 26 Rd7 Qg5+ 27 Kb1 Qf5+ 28 Qxf5 Rxf5 29 Rxb7 Rxe5 30 Rbh7 Rae8
31 Rh8+ Kg7 32 R1h7+ Kf6 33 Rxe8 Rxe8 34 Rxa7 Re1+ 35 Kc2 Re2+ 36 Kc1
Rxg2 37 a4 and 1-0 in R.Saptarshi-F.Zamengo, Livigno 2011.
8 Bxf6 Qxf6 9 Nf3 0-0
After 9 ... c5 10 0-0-0 cxd4 11 Qxd4 Qxd4 12 Nxd4 a6 13 g3 b6 14 Bg2
Ra7 15 Nc6 Rc7 16 Rd6 White had the advantage in T.Tolnai-C.Balogh,
Budapest 2000.
10 Qe3!

Question: Why the queen move? Castling looks more normal.

 Answer: With the text, White increases his control over the e5-square
and prevents Black from playing the freeing move ... e6-e5.
Instead, after 10 0-0-0 e5 11 Qe3 exd4 12 Rxd4 Nc5 13 Rf4 Qh6 Black had
no problems in K.Shirazi-M.Quinteros, Jakarta 1978.
10 ... c5
V.Anand-A.Shirov, Monaco (rapid) 2001, saw 10 ... Rd8 11 Bd3 c5 12 dxc5
Qxb2 13 0-0 Qf6 (13 ... Qb4 does not win the c5-pawn, in view of 14 Rfd1
when the indirect pin on the d-file prevents Black from capturing on c5) 14
Rfd1 Qe7 15 Be4 Nf6 16 Ne5 Nxe4 17 Qxe4 Rd5 18 c6 Qd6 19 Rxd5 exd5 20
cxb7 and now the position is equal after 20 ... Bxb7.
11 0-0-0 b6
Black’s problem is his queen bishop. He would like to develop it along the
c8-h3 diagonal, but this is not possible: for example, after 11 ... cxd4 12 Rxd4
e5 13 Re4 Black cannot continue without giving up his e-pawn, as after 13 ...
Qe6 14 Bc4 Qc6 15 Bb3 Nf6 16 Rc4 White has a clear advantage.
12 Bb5!

Once Black can put his bishop on b7 he will equalize. 12 Bb5 prevents this
as 12 ... a6 13 Bxd7 Bxd7 14 dxc5 wins a pawn.
12 ... cxd4
Another Hector game saw 12 ... Qe7 13 d5 Nf6 14 Bc6 Rb8 (14 ... Bb7??
15 d6 wins the bishop) 15 d6 Qd8 16 d7 Bb7 17 Ne5 Ng4 (or 17 ... Qc7 18
Bxb7 Rxb7 19 Qf3 Nd5 20 Rxd5! exd5 21 Qxd5 Rbb8 22 Rd1 when White is
winning after a well-timed Nc6) 18 Nxg4 Bxc6 19 Rd6 Bd5 (19 ... Bxd7 20
Rhd1 Rb7 21 Ne5 wins the pinned piece) 20 Rd1 h5 (this weakens the
kingside, but there really is no good move for Black, as shown by 20 ... Qc7
21 Qg3 f5 22 Nf6+! Rxf6 23 R6xd5 Qd8 24 Qxb8, winning material) 21 c4
Bxc4 22 Ne5 Bd5 23 R1xd5 exd5 24 Nc6 Qc7 25 Ne7+ Kh7 26 Qe5 g6 27
Nxd5 (Hector misses a more spectacular win with 27 Nf5!, and if 27 ... Rg8 28
Qe3 g5 29 Rh6 mate or 27 ... gxf5 28 Qxf5+ Kh8 29 Rh6+ Kg7 30 Qh7 mate)
27 ... Qd8 28 Nf6+ Kh6 29 g4 hxg4 30 Nxg4+ Kh7 31 Nf6+ Kh6 32 Rd3 g5 33
Rh3+ Kg6 34 Qe4+ Kxf6 35 Rh6+ 1-0, J.Hector-B.Lindberg, Malmo 2003.
13 Rxd4 Qe7
Following 13 ... Nc5 14 Ne5 a6 15 Bc6 Ra7 16 Rhd1 Rc7 17 g4 White is
clearly better as Black’s pieces, especially the bishop, have no good squares.
14 Bc6 Rb8 15 Rhd1 Nf6
If the knight goes to c5, it will be driven to a worse position: 15 ... Nc5 16
b4 Na6 17 a3 with a big advantage.
16 Qe5!

16 ... Ba6

Question: Why did Black move the bishop to such an odd square as a6?

Answer: Black has no good square for the bishop. Indeed, after 16 ... Bb7
17 Rd7! Nxd7 18 Rxd7 Qb4 19 Rxb7 Rxb7 20 Bxb7 White has the material
advantage of two minor pieces for a rook and pawn.
17 Ra4
 The bishop is out of squares and will soon be lost.
17 ... Rbc8
17 ... Bb7 18 Rxa7 pins the bishop.
18 Nd4 Ng4
Instead, 18 ... Qc5 19 Qxc5 bxc5 20 Rxa6 cxd4 21 Rxd4 wins.
19 Qf4!
More accurate than 19 Qg3.
19 ... h5
The point of White’s last move is that now 19 ... e5 20 Nf5 wins
immediately.
20 Rxa6 e5 21 Nf5! Qf6 22 Qf3!

Defending the bishop on c6.

22 ... Rxc6 23 Qxc6 Qxf5
23 ... Qxc6 24 Ne7+ is killer fork.
24 Qf3 Qg5+ 25 Kb1 Nxh2
Or 25 ... Qe7 26 h3 Nf6 27 Ra3 and wins.
26 Qg3 Ng4 27 f3 Rd8 28 Rxd8+ Qxd8 29 Qe1 Nf6 30 Rxa7 e4 31
fxe4 Nxe4 32 a4 f5 33 Qe2 Qg5 34 Rb7 Qg6 35 Qb5 Qg4 36 Rxb6 h4
37 a5 Nd2+ 38 Ka2 Nc4 39 Rc6 Ne3 40 a6 Qd4 41 c3 1-0

Game 30
J.Liew-V.H.Nguyen
Manila 2013
1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 Qd3 c6
This is a logical choice. Black strengthens d5 and paves the way for the
queen to take up a position on a5 where it pins the white knight and
increases his control over the e4-square.
5 e4
The plan with 4 Qd3 is to play e2-e4, so why not do so?
5 ... dxe4 6 Nxe4 Nxe4 7 Qxe4

7 ... Qa5+
Another set-up is 7 ... Nf6 8 Bxf6 gxf6 9 Bc4 Qa5+ 10 c3 Qf5 11 Qe2. Now:
a) A possible plan is 11 ... Qg6 12 g3 Bg4 13 f3 Bf5 when White is
deprived of the f3-square for his knight and so Black’s bishop and queen
battery on the b1-h7 diagonal is safe.
b) 11 ... Rg8 (this combined with ... h5 is a faulty plan; Black should be
thinking of ways to develop his queenside and castle over there) 12 g3 h5
(the pawn is now a target on h5) 13 Nf3 e6 14 Nh4 Qg4 15 f3 Qg5 16 f4 Qg4
17 Qe3 Rh8 (the need to defend the h5-pawn is already an indication that
Black has gone down the wrong path) 18 d5 (White’s queen is well placed on
e3 and with this move he opens the diagonal towards a7; Black will find it
difficult to find a safe haven for his king) 18 ... Bd7 19 h3 Qg8 20 dxe6 fxe6
21 0-0-0 Rh7 was seen in D.Sengupta-J.Campos Moreno, Banyoles 2007. Now
the most effective way to take advantage of the black king’s position would
have been 22 Nf5!, preventing Black from castling game since 22 ... 0-0-0 (or
22 ... b6 23 Rxd7, and if 23 ... Kxd7 24 Bxe6+ Qxe6 25 Rd1+ Bd6 26 Rxd6+
Qxd6 27 Nxd6 Kxd6 28 Qd3+, forking the king and rook on h7, or 23 ... Rxd7
24 Bxe6 Qh8 25 Qe4!! Rc8 26 Bxd7+ Kxd7 27 Rd1+ Kc7 28 Ne7 Bxe7 29
Qxe7+ Kb8 30 Rd7 and wins) 23 Qxa7 (possible now the g3-pawn is covered
by the knight on f5) 23 ... Qg6 24 Qa8+ Kc7 25 Qa5+ Kc8 26 Nd4 and Black
has no time to capture on g3 because of the threat of Nxe6.
8 Bd2

8 ... Qd5
8 ... Qb6 is a strange idea. Black attacks the b2-pawn, but White was
intending to castle queenside anyway. C.Dolezal-G.Hernandez Guerrero,
Buenos Aires 2013, continued 9 0-0-0 Nf6 10 Qe5 Ng4 (Black fell into the trap
in J.Liew-E.Kwan, Kuala Lumpur 2014, with 10 ... Be6 11 Ba5 1-0, and also in
R.Saptarshi-B.Ramnathan, Aurangabad 2011: 10 ... Bg4?? 11 Ba5 1-0) 11 Qg3
Nf6 (after 11 ... Qxd4?? 12 Ba5 Black loses the queen because of the mate on
d8) 12 Bc4 Bg4 and now 13 f3 was possible, since 13 ... Bf5?? 14 Qe5 has the
same theme as before; 14 ... Bg6 15 Ba5 Nd7 16 Qe1 traps the black queen.
9 Qe3 Nb6
Another encounter saw 9 ... Nf6 10 Nf3 Bf5 11 c4 Qe4 12 Ne5 Rd8 13
Qxe4 Nxe4 14 Be3 (now the knight on e5 must be driven away immediately)
14 ... f6 (or 14 ... e6 15 g4 Bb4+ 16 Ke2 Bg6 17 h4 f6 18 Nxg6 hxg6 19 Bg2
Nd6 20 Rac1 Ke7 21 c5 Nc8 22 Rc4 Ba5 23 Ra4 Bc7 24 Rb4 b6 25 Bxc6 when
White has won a pawn and has the superior position) 15 Nf3 e6 16 0-0-0 Kf7
17 Nh4 Nd6 18 c5 g5 19 Nxf5 Nxf5 20 Bc4 Nxe3 21 fxe3 f5 22 Kc2 h5 23 b4 a6
24 e4 fxe4 25 Rhf1+ Ke7 26 Rfe1 Rh6 27 Rxe4 Bg7 28 d5 cxd5 29 Rxd5 e5 30
a4 Rf8 31 Rd2 b6 32 Bxa6 bxc5 33 b5 (33 Bb5! cxb4 34 Rd7+ Kf6 35 a5 is a
better winning attempt) 33 ... Rd6 34 a5 Rxd2+ 35 Kxd2 Rf2+ 36 Re2 Rxe2+
37 Kxe2 Kd6 38 Bb7 e4?? (38 ... c4 was absolutely necessary to answer 39 b6
with 39 ... Kc5) 39 b6 (now the a-pawn is unstoppable) 39 ... c4 40 a6 1-0,
M.Khachiyan-I.Koniushkov, Moscow 1996.
10 b3 Bf5 11 c4 Qe4 12 Nf3 g6 13 Be2 Bg7 14 Rd1 Rd8 15 Qxe4
Bxe4 16 Be3 0-0 17 0-0 h6 18 Ne5!? Nd7 19 f3 Bf5 20 g4 Be6 21
Nxc6 bxc6 22 d5 cxd5 23 cxd5 Bxg4 24 fxg4 Nb6

25 Bf3
White can create connected passed pawns with 25 a4 Nxd5 26 Bxa7 Ra8
27 Bc5 Nc3 28 Rde1 Nxe2+ 29 Rxe2 Rfb8 30 Rf3 e5, but the problem is that
those two passed pawns are unable to advance. Thus I thought it better to
keep the bishop-pair to have better winning chances.
25 ... Rc8
After 25 ... Rd7 26 a4 Rfd8 27 Kg2 Nxd5 28 Bxa7 Rxa7 29 Bxd5 e6 Black
has good drawing chances with the opposite-coloured bishops.
26 Rc1 e6 27 dxe6 fxe6 28 Bb7 Rxf1+ 29 Kxf1 Rxc1+ 30 Bxc1
Nd5 31 Ke2 Kf7 32 Kd3 Be5
Instead, 32 ... g5!? 33 Kc4 Nb6+ 34 Kc5 Be5 35 h3 Bf4 36 Bb2 Be3+ 37
Kd6 Bf4+ 38 Be5 Bxe5+ 39 Kxe5 Ke7 holds the endgame.
33 Bxh6
Perhaps better was 33 h3 g5 34 Ke4, and if 34 ... Bf4 35 Bb2 Nf6+ 36 Kd3
Bc7 37 b4 (if 37 Bd4 a5) 37 ... e5 38 a4 h5 39 gxh5 Nxh5 40 Ke4 Nf4 41 Bc8
Kf6 42 Bg4 Bd6 43 b5 Bc7 44 Bc3 Ng2 45 a5 Nf4 46 b6! axb6 47 a6 Bb8 48
Bxe5+, winning.
33 ... Bxh2 34 Bxd5 exd5 35 Be3 Bb8 36 b4 a6!
After 36 ... Ke6 White can create the correct passed pawn: 37 b5! Kf6 38
a4 Ke6 39 a5 Kf6 40 b6 axb6 41 Bxb6 (the a-pawn is the decisive pawn) 41
... Kg5 42 a6 Kxg4 43 Kd4 Kf3 44 Kxd5 g5 45 Kc6 g4 46 Kb7 and wins.
37 a4 Ke6 38 Bd4
I missed a win with 38 a5! Ke5 39 Bg1.

Now:
a) 39 ... Kf6 40 b5 axb5 41 Kc3 Kg5 42 Kb4 Kxg4 43 Kxb5 Kf3 44 Kb6 Ke4
45 Kb7 Bf4 46 a6 and the pawn queens.
b) 39 ... Ke6 40 b5! axb5 41 a6 b4 (or 41 ... Kf6 42 Kc3 Kg5 43 Kb4 Kxg4
44 Kxb5 Kf3 45 Kc6 g5 46 Kb7 and wins), and then:
b1) White must avoid 42 a7?? Bxa7 43 Bxa7 Kf6 44 Be3 b3 45 Bd2 d4!.
 Exercise: Can you see why this is a draw?

Answer: White cannot take on d4 because of 46 ... b2 queening. If the

white bishop goes to c1 then ... b2 deflects the bishop from controlling the
g5-square, allowing Black to play ... Kg5 and capture the last remaining white
pawn. However, if the bishop goes to other squares like f4, then Black just
moves his king between f6 and e6.
b2) 42 Bd4! Kd6 43 Kc2 sees the king march to b7, grabbing the b4-pawn
along the way, and Black can do nothing.
38 ... Bg3 39 Bc3 Kd6 40 Bf6 Be1 41 Bc3 Bg3 42 Bd4 Kc6 43 Bc3
½-½

Game 31
R.Saptarshi-B.Ganesh
Panaji 2012

1 d4 d5 2 Bg5 Nf6 3 Nc3 Nbd7 4 Qd3 g6 5 f3

Hoping for an ideal pawn centre. We’ll see the immediate 5 e4 in Game
32.
5 ... c5 6 dxc5
After 6 e4 dxe4 7 fxe4 Bg7 8 d5 0-0 9 Nf3 b5!? White’s centre is too
strong, so Black tries to give up a pawn to open lines on the queenside: 10 e5
(10 Nxb5! Ba6 11 a4 with a pawn advantage was good enough; now Black
gets chances) 10 ... Ng4 11 d6 Ngxe5? (11 ... Ndxe5 was better) and now 12
Qd5 was necessary in R.Saptarshi-G.Gopal, Indian Championship, Aurangabad
2011.
6 ... Qa5 7 Qb5 Qd8 8 0-0-0 a6 9 Qa4 Bg7

10 Bxf6! exf6
White is happy too after 10 ... Bxf6 11 Nxd5 0-0 (or 11 ... Bg7 12 Nb6
when Black’s queenside pieces are paralyzed) 12 Nh3 Bg7 (after 12 ... Nxc5
13 Qa3 the knight is under attack and White also threatens Nxf6+ winning
the queen; then 13 ... Nd7 14 Nxf6+ exf6 15 Nf4 gives White a clear
advantage as the pin on the d-file is difficult to handle and the dark-square
weaknesses in Black’s camp are glaring after White’s knight goes to d5) 13
Qh4 e6 14 Ne7+ Kh8 15 Ng5 h6 16 Nxf7+ Rxf7 17 Nxg6+, which wins the
black queen.
11 Nxd5 0-0 12 Qb4
With 12 Qa3! Re8 13 Nh3 Bf8 14 b4 Rb8 15 e4 a5 16 c3 White keeps the
pawn with a superior position. He plans Bb5, Rd2 and Rhd1 to put more
pressure on the d-file.
12 ... a5 13 Qb5
White could still go 13 Qa3, and if 13 ... a4 14 b4, exploiting the pin on
the a-file.
13 ... a4 14 e3 Ra5 15 Qb4 Rxc5 16 Bb5 b6 17 Bxa4?
Saptarshi could have liquidated into a winning ending with 17 Bxd7 Bxd7
18 Nxb6 Rb5 19 Qxb5 Bxb5 20 Rxd8 Rxd8 21 c4 Rb8 22 cxb5 Rxb6 23 Ne2 f5
24 Rd1 Rxb5 25 Rd8+ Bf8 26 Nc3 Ra5 27 Kd2! (and not 27 Rd4? Bg7 28 Rxa4
Bxc3, which even wins for Black). Here Black has no good move and 27 ...
Kg7 28 Rd4 a3 29 b4 is winning for White.
17 ... Ne5!

Now the b-pawn is untouchable.

18 Bb3
Prudently avoiding the bait:
a) 18 Qxb6? Rxd5 wins.
b) 18 Nxb6? Nd3+ 19 Rxd3 Qxd3 20 Qxc5 Qf1+ 21 Kd2 Ba6 22 Ne2 (there
is no defence to ... Qxg2+ forking the king and rook in any case) 22 ... Qxh1.
 On the surface, White may look like he has sufficient material
compensation with a minor piece and three pawns for the rook. However, his
exposed king position and the fact that his pawns are vulnerable puts Black
on top: for example, 23 c4 f5! (White is winning after 23 ... Qxg2? 24 Qc6
Rd8+ 25 Nd7 Bc8 26 Qc7) 24 Qc6 Qa1 25 Nd7 Qxb2+ 26 Ke1 Bb7 27 Qb5 Rd8
and Black has the advantage.
18 ... Be6 19 Nc3 Qc7 20 Nge2 Rc8 21 Kb1!?
After 21 Bxe6 fxe6 22 Nd4 the e6- and b6-pawns cannot both be defended
as 22 ... Kf7?? 23 Ndb5 and Nd6+ forks the king and rook.
21 ... Bc4 22 Bxc4 Nxc4 23 Nd5 Qe5 24 Nec3 Nxe3? 25 Nxe3
Qxe3
 26 Rhe1
There was a quicker win with 26 Nd5 Qe5 (Black cannot allow Ne7+) 27
f4 Qe2 28 Rd2! (and not 28 Rhe1? Rxd5) 28 ... Qe8 29 Nxb6 R8c6 30 Rhd1.
26 ... Qh6 27 Qxb6 f5 28 Rd8+ Rxd8 29 Qxd8+ Bf8 30 Re8 Rc6
31 Nd5 Re6 32 Ne7+ Kg7 33 Qd4+ 1-0

Game 32
M.Khachiyan-D.Bojkov
Los Angeles 2011

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 Qd3 g6 5 e4 dxe4 6 Nxe4 Bg7 7 0-

0-0
If Black fianchettoes his king bishop, castling queenside is not advisable,
as we will see. I recommend 7 Nf3 instead. Now:
 a) 7 ... 0-0 8 0-0-0 c6 9 c4 Qa5 10 a3 b5! 11 Qd2 (or 11 cxb5 cxb5 12
Nxf6+ Nxf6 13 Qxb5 Qd8 and for the pawn, Black has opened many lines on
the queenside) 11 ... Qb6 12 Nxf6+ Nxf6 13 c5 Qb7 14 Bd3 Be6 15 Bh6 Bxh6
16 Qxh6 b4 17 a4 b3 18 Ng5 Qb4 19 Rhe1 Qxa4? (19 ... Bd5 is winning for
Black as White has no meaningful threats while his a4- and d4-pawns are
falling) 20 Rxe6 Qa1+ 21 Bb1 fxe6 22 Nxh7 Rf7 23 Ng5 Qa4 24 Bd3 Qa1+ 25
Bb1 Qa4 26 Bd3 was agreed drawn in J.Acers-V.Jansa, Kamena Vourla 2012,
although White could even have tried for more with 26 Nxf7 Qc4+ 27 Kd2
Kxf7 28 Bxg6+ Kg8 29 Qe3.
b) With 7 ... c5 Black carries out the thematic pawn break, but can it work
with his king still in the centre? White has a further choice:
b1) 8 Bxf6 exf6 9 Nd6+ Kf8 10 0-0-0 Qc7 11 Nxc8 (White loses his
advantage after this exchange, and why exchange a good knight for the
inactive bishop on c8? instead, 11 Nb5 is still a clear plus for White) 11 ...
Rxc8 12 d5 Qd6 13 Qa3 a6 14 Kb1 f5 saw Black beginning to take over in
A.Groenn-F.Elsness, Oslo 2011.
b2) 8 Nxc5 Nxc5 9 dxc5 0-0 10 Qxd8 Rxd8 11 Bd3 Be6 12 0-0 h6 13 Bd2
Nd7 and Black regains the pawn on c5 with equality.
b3) 8 Nxf6+ Nxf6 (8 ... exf6 9 Qe3+ prevents the black king from castling,
whereas White has easy development; after 9 ... Qe7 10 Qxe7+ Kxe7 11 Be3
cxd4 12 Nxd4 a6 13 0-0-0 White has a clear advantage due to his better
pawn structure) 9 Qb5+ Bd7 10 Qxb7 0-0 gives Black good compensation for
the sacrificed pawn. He is fully developed, whereas the white king still needs
two moves to castle to safety. After 11 dxc5 Qa5+ 12 c3 Rfb8 13 Qa6 Qxc5
Black will regain the pawn on b2 as 14 0-0-0?? loses to 14 ... Rxb2 15 Kxb2
Ne4.
c) 7 ... Nxe4 8 Qxe4 Nf6 9 Qe3 Nd5 10 Qd2 h6 11 Bh4 c6 12 Bd3 Be6 13 0-
0 Nb6 14 Rfe1 Qd5 and then:

c1) 15 b3 15 ... Rd8 16 Rad1 (16 Rxe6 is more speculative and probably
unnecessary as 16 Rad1 already gives White a clear advantage) 16 ... Nc8 17
Bc4 Qf5 18 Bxe6 fxe6 19 Qe3 (Black’s broken pawn structure is sufficient for
White to claim a decisive advantage) g5 20 Bg3 Kf7 21 h3 Bf6 22 Bc7 Rdg8
(22 ... Rd7 23 g4 Qh7 24 Qxe6+ Ke8 25 Be5 wins) 23 g4 Qd5 24 c4 Qd7 25
Ne5+ Bxe5 26 Bxe5 Rh7 27 Qe4 Rhg7 (or 27 ... Rg6 28 Rd3 Qe8 29 d5 cxd5
30 cxd5 Kg8 31 dxe6 Rxe6 32 Qc4 with a deadly pin) 28 Bxg7 Rxg7 29 d5
cxd5 30 cxd5 exd5 31 Rxd5 Nd6 32 Qd4 b6 33 Rf5+ Ke8 1-0, J.Liew-
T.T.Dang, Kuala Lumpur 2013.
c2) Even better would have been the immediate 15 Rxe6! fxe6 16 Bxg6+
Kd8 17 b3 Bf6 18 Bg3 Rg8 19 c4 Qd7 20 Be4 Kc8 21 Qxh6 a5 22 a4 and White
has more than enough compensation for the exchange. He has two extra
pawns and Black’s king cannot find safety because of the white bishop on g3.
Returning to the less precise 7 0-0-0:
 7 ... Nxe4!

Question: Why the exclamation for a normal piece exchange?

Answer: The exclam is for the idea behind the capture on e4. Black
intends to bring the queen to d5, gaining time by attacking the unattended
a2-pawn. See the notes to White’s 9th move for the full analysis.
Instead, 7 ... 0-0 8 Nf3 c6 9 Kb1 Nxe4 10 Qxe4 Nf6 11 Qh4 Re8 12 Ne5
Be6 might lead to:
a) 13 Bd3 Nd5 14 Rhe1 Nb4 15 Bc4 Bxc4 16 Nxc4 Qd5 17 b3 Qf5 18 Rd2 f6
19 Bh6 Bxh6 20 Qxh6 Rad8 and Black has full counterplay in the centre.
b) 13 c4 (this weakening move allows a strong riposte) 13 ... Ne4! (Black
utilizes the pin on the d-file to threaten both 14 ... Bxe5 and 14 ... f6) 14 Nf3
Nd6 (already the weakness of the c4-pawn is showing) 15 b3 h6 16 Be3 (16
Bxh6 Nf5 forks the queen and bishop) 16 ... g5 17 Qh5 Ne4 when the threat
of ... Nc3+ and ... Bf5 is very hard to meet.
8 Qxe4 Nf6 9 Bxf6
White does not really want to give up his dark-squared bishop for a knight
in this opening, but the alternative is even worse, namely 9 Qh4 Qd5 and
then:
a) 10 c4 Qa5 11 Kb1 Bf5+ 12 Ka1 (after 12 Bd3 Bxd3+ 13 Rxd3 Qe1+ 14
Kc2 Qf1 White is in trouble in view of the threat of ... Qxg2, winning the rook
on h1) 12 ... c5 13 Ne2 (13 dxc5 only opens the diagonal for the bishop on
g7) 13 ... h6 14 Be3 g5 15 Qg3 Ne4 and Black already stands better.
b) 10 Kb1 Ne4 11 Be3 Bf6 12 Qh6 Be6 13 c4 Qf5 14 Bd3 Bxc4 gives Black
a huge attack and an extra pawn.
9 ... Bxf6 10 Nf3 c6

11 Bc4
A thematic move in such positions is always ... Qd5, so White moves to
prevent it.
11 ... Bf5 12 Qf4 Qd6 13 Ne5 Be6 14 Bxe6 Qxe6 15 Rhe1?
White tries to muddy the waters, banking on his next move to complicate.
After 15 Kb1 White has nothing, although he is also not worse.
15 ... Qxa2 16 Nxc6
Instead, 16 Nxg6 hxg6 17 Qxf6 0-0-0 18 Rxe7 Qa1+ 19 Kd2 Qxb2 20 Kd3
is not a position one would want to be in.
16 ... 0-0!
 Exercise: Try to work out why Black can allow 17 Nxe7+.

Answer: After 17 Nxe7+ Kg7 the knight on e7 is trapped, and 18 Rd3

Qa1+ 19 Kd2 Qa5+ 20 Kd1 Qd8 21 Rde3 Qxd4+ 22 Qxd4 Bxd4 23 Rd3 Rad8
sees Black’s advantage becoming clear. White will lose either the f-pawn or
the b-pawn.
17 Rxe7 Rac8
17 ... Bxe7 18 Nxe7+ Kg7 19 Nf5+ Kh8 (19 ... gxf5 20 Qg5+ Kh8 21 Qf6+
Kg8 22 Qg5+ draws by perpetual) 20 Ne3 is not so clearly winning for Black.
18 Qxf6 Rxc6 19 Qe5 Qa1+ 20 Kd2 Qxb2 21 Rc1 Rc4 22 d5
22 Rd7 Rfc8 is now possible since the white rook has been lured away
from e7 and so a check on the back rank is not possible. Moreover, once
White has been tied down to the defence of c2 and d4, the pawn advance 23
Qe4 a5 wins.
22 ... Rd4+ 23 Ke2 Qb5+ 24 Ke1 Rxd5 25 Qe3 Rfd8 26 f3 Qb4+
0-1
White resigned as he will soon lose material.

Summary
4 Qd3 is the modern way to play against the main line with 3 ... Nbd7. White
can continue with e2-e4, but this time he is supporting that central advance
with pieces instead of pawns. White reasons that the opening of the game
after e2-e4 and Black’s capture on e4 will benefit him more than Black, as 3
... Nbd7 locks in the c8-bishop and because Black is behind in development.
 Chapter Five
The Main Line: 4 e3 and 4 f3
1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7

4 Qd3 might be the modern twist on countering the 3 ... Nbd7 variation,
but it is by no means White’s only weapon. In the 21st Century white players
have also experimented with 4 e3 (Games 33-36), and in this chapter we’ll
also see the older and sharper 4 f3 (Games 37-40), as well as 4 Nf3 (Game
41).

Game 33
S.Khader-E.Ghaem Maghami
Doha 2013

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 e3

Keeping things simple, although White may still have in mind an
aggressive enough set-up. Indeed, the plan of Qf3 and early queenside
castling is possible.
 4 ... e6
Taking advantage of the fact that White has played 4 e3, Black plans ...
c5, ... Bb4, ... Qa5 and ... Ne4, pressuring the knight on c3. This will be very
unpleasant for White if he does not undertake active measures to counter this
plan.
5 Qf3!?
This is a suggestion by Nigel Davies to make the 4 e3 line playable for
White. It prepares quick castling on the queenside and g2-g4 to open lines on
the kingside.
5 ... Bb4!
This pin is best before ... c5 locks in the bishop, as happens in our next
game.
6 Nge2
White is now ready to play a2-a3, putting the question to the bishop.
6 ... h6

7 Bf4
The only consistent move:
a) 7 Bh4? g5 8 Bg3 g4 9 Qf4 Bd6 traps the queen.
b) The artificial attempt to maintain the bishop on the h4-d8 diagonal with
7 Qh3 cannot be recommended. The queen is hardly well placed here and will
be threatened by the c8-bishop later on:
b1) 7 ... c6 8 g4 e5 9 Bg2 (all these moves look very unconvincing) 9 ... 0-
0 10 Bh4 (after 10 Bxf6 Qxf6 11 0-0-0 exd4 12 exd4 Nb6 if White can quickly
push h2-h4 and g4-g5, he will have some attacking chances; however, Black
is better placed for his queenside attack: for example, 13 Qg3 Nc4 14 h4 Qe7
15 Rd3 Bd6 16 f4 Re8 17 g5 Bf5 18 gxh6 g6 19 h5 Bxd3 20 cxd3 Qe3+ and
wins) 10 ... exd4 11 exd4 Be7? 12 Qf3 Re8 13 0-0 Nf8 14 h3 Ne4? (this allows
White to unravel his pieces on c3 and e2; it is better to keep pieces with 14
... Ne6)15 Bxe7 Rxe7 16 Nxe4 Rxe4 17 Qd3 Re7 was about equal, although I
prefer White here as the black bishop does not have any good squares,
A.Feicht-M.Hermann, Bad Zwesten 2004.
b2) 7 ... 0-0 8 Bh4 e5 9 0-0-0 c6 leaves the white pieces awkwardly
placed.
c) 7 Bxf6 Qxf6 8 0-0-0 c6 9 a3 Bd6 10 e4 (this untimely push saddles
White with doubled f-pawns; normally this is not that bad if the white pawn is
still at e3 as he can then set up a structure with pawns on d4, e3 and f4)
Qxf3 11 gxf3 Be7 (after 12 e5 0-0 13 f4 f6 14 Bh3 Nb6 Black is better as the
doubled f-pawns will always be a headache for White) 12 Bg2 Bh4 13 Rhf1 b6
14 f4 g6 15 f5 gxf5 16 exf5 exf5 17 Rd3 Rg8 18 Bh3 Nf6 19 f3 Be6 20 Nd1 f4!
0-1, C.Wisnewski-L.Aronian, German League 2005.
7 ... g5
Most other moves do not pose any problems for White:
a) 7 ... Ne4 8 a3 Bxc3+ 9 Nxc3 Nxc3 10 bxc3 c5 11 Bd3 Qa5 12 0-0 Qxc3
13 Qg3 g5 14 Bd6 cxd4 (and not 14 ... c4?? 15 Bb4) 15 Bb5 dxe3 16 fxe3
gives White the type of position he is aiming for.

He has the bishop-pair and open lines against the black king which is
caught in the centre. The immediate threat is Be5, forking the queen and
rook, and 16 ... Qg7 17 Be5 Qh7 18 Bf6! 0-0 19 Bd3 wins material.
b) 7 ... 0-0 8 a3 Ba5 9 g4 plays into White’s hands.
c) 7 ... Nf8 8 a3 Ba5 9 g4 Ng6 10 0-0-0 Nxf4 11 exf4 0-0 12 h4 is suicidal
for Black.
d) 7 ... c5 8 a3 Qa5 9 0-0-0 and Black is forced to give up the dark-
squared bishop as after 9 ... Bxa3? 10 bxa3 Qxa3+ 11 Kd2 Qb4 White has the
tactical blow 12 Rb1 Ne4+ 13 Qxe4 Qxb1 14 Nxd5 0-0 15 Ne7+ Kh8 16 Nc3
when he has a winning material advantage.
e) 7 ... c6!? (since 7 ... c5 is not working that well, Black might try to start
a pawn storm on the queenside) 8 0-0-0 (this might well be delayed) 8 ... b5
9 g4 Be7 10 h4 b4 11 Nb1 Qa5 12 g5 Ne4 13 gxh6 gxh6 14 Ng3 (the knight
on e4 must be eliminated as soon as possible as it can become a key piece in
the black attack) Nxg3 (or 14 ... Ndf6 15 Bd3 and Black will have to exchange
on g3 anyway) 15 Qxg3 Qxa2.

Question: Who stands better here and why?

Answer: At first it looks like White has the upper hand. Black’s king is
uncastled and unlikely to do so on the queenside as that would mean he has
no way to attack on the queenside. However, Black has the clearer plan of
attack. He can play his queen’s rook to c8 and push ... c6-c5. If White
captures, then Black recaptures with the knight and there are already threats
along the c-file like ... Nb3 which happens to be checkmate as well. Another
possibility is to bring the knight to c4 via b6 where it can combine with the
queen on a2 or a1 to threaten to take on b2.
Meanwhile a queen invasion on g7 can be answered by ... Bf6, while the
knight on b1 is actually hampering the white king which should ideally be
standing on the b1-square. Thus White can only play Bd6 and exchange the
e7-bishop, but even with the black king sitting on e7, there is no way to take
advantage of its position.
These factors indicate that Black should be the one that has the
advantage here. S.Munson-Y.Zhou, British League 2012, continued 16 Be2
Ba6 17 Bxa6 Qxa6 18 e4 Nf6 19 exd5 Nh5 (removing White’s strongest minor
piece, leaving him with just a useless knight on b1) 20 Qf3 Nxf4 21 Qxf4 cxd5
22 Rd2 Qd6 (endgames are lost for White since Black has an extra pawn, so
he has to drum up an attack based on some tactics) 23 Qf3 a5 24 c4 Qa6 25
Rc2 dxc4 26 d5 Qb7 27 Rd1 Rd8 28 Rxc4 Rxd5 29 Rxd5 Qxd5 30 Rc8+ Bd8 31
Qf6? (a mistake, although White was lost anyway) 31 ... 0-0! 32 Qxh6 Bg5+
33 Qxg5+ Qxg5+ 34 hxg5 Rxc8+ 35 Kd2 Kg7 36 f4 Kg6 37 Kd3 Kf5 38 Nd2
Rd8+ 0-1.
8 Be5

8 ... c6
Again, Black has quite a wide choice:
a) After 8 ... c5 9 a3 note that Black normally plays ... Qa5 in this type of
position, but this is not possible here as the queen must protect the knight on
f6. Thus 9 ... cxd4 10 exd4 Be7 (Black has some possibilities on the
queenside, but his weakened pawns on the kingside and uncertainty of how
to keep his king safe are more important) 11 h4 g4 12 Qg3 Nxe5 (forced as
White threatened 13 Bc7) 13 dxe5 Nd7 14 0-0-0 h5 15 Nf4 a6 16 f3 gives
White the advantage.
b) 8 ... Nxe5 9 dxe5 Nd7 (or 9 ... Ne4 10 0-0-0 Bxc3 11 Nxc3 Nxc3 12 bxc3
Qe7 13 h4 gxh4 14 Kb2 Bd7 15 Qf4 0-0-0 16 Rxh4 when White has the
advantage as the h6-pawn is on an open file; White will just double up on
this pawn and win it) 10 Qg3 f6 11 h4 Rf8 12 hxg5 hxg5 13 exf6 Qxf6 14 0-0-
0 Qxf2 15 Qxg5 gives chances for both sides.
c) 8 ... h5 9 a3 and then:
c1) 9 ... Ba5 (this retreat is more useful than 9 ... Be7; Black plan to
capture on e5 then play ... c6 and ... Bc7, putting pressure on e5) 10 h4 10 ...
g4 (better than 10 ... Nxe5 11 dxe5 Ng4 12 Qg3 gxh4 13 Rxh4 Bd7? 14 Qxg4
hxg4 15 Rxh8+) 11 Qf4 Nxe5 12 Qxe5 (12 dxe5 Nd7 13 b4 Bb6 leaves a
weakness on e5) 12 ... c6 13 Ng3 Bxc3+ 14 bxc3 Qa5 15 Bd3!.

White shows that 15 ... Qxc3+ is not a threat as after 16 Ke2 Ke7 17 Nf5+
Kd7 18 Qxf6 the rook on h8 is under attack so White wins a piece. However,
even after 15 ... Qd8 16 0-0 White has a big advantage and can consider
breaks like e3-e4 or f2-f3, as Black has not found safety for his king.
c2) 9 ... Be7 10 Qg3 Nxe5 11 dxe5 Nd7 12 h4 gxh4 13 Qg7 Rf8 14 0-0-0
with a clear advantage for White.
c3) 9 ... Bxc3+ 10 Nxc3 Nxe5 11 dxe5 Nd7 12 h4 (not 12 Qg3 h4 13 Qg4
Nxe5 14 Qd4 Qf6 15 Nb5 Kd8 when Black is a clear pawn up) 12 ... g4 13 Qg3
c6 14 0-0-0 (14 f4 gxf3 15 gxf3 Qb6 16 Nd1 Qa5+ 17 c3 Qc7 18 f4 is another
option) 14 ... Qc7 15 f4 gxf3 16 gxf3 Qxe5 17 f4 (showing up the dark-square
weaknesses in Black’s position) 17 ... Qc7 (or 17 ... Qf6 18 e4) 18 Qg7 Rf8 19
Be2. The h5-pawn falls when White’s h-pawn will be near unstoppable.
9 h4 Nxe5 10 dxe5 Ne4
After 10 ... Nd7 11 Qg3 Rf8 12 0-0-0 Qc7 13 hxg5 hxg5 14 f4 Be7 15 Rh7
White has the freer game, but Black’s position is very solid. Chances are
equal here.
11 0-0-0 Nxc3 12 Nxc3

Question: Should White be worried about

12 ... Bxc3, breaking up the pawn cover around his king?

Answer: After 12 ... Bxc3 13 bxc3 the white king’s cover is indeed
disrupted. However, there is no way for Black to exploit this as he only has a
queen which can attack on the dark squares. Meanwhile Black also has dark-
square weaknesses around his own king that he has to worry about.
Following 13 ... Qa5 14 hxg5 Qxc3 15 Qf6 Qa3+ 16 Kd2 Qb4+ 17 Ke2 Qc4+
18 Rd3 Qxc2+ 19 Rd2 Qc4+ Kd1 Qa4+ 21 Ke1 the checks runs out and
White’s threats are a winner.
12 ... Bd7 13 Ne2 gxh4 14 Qg4 Be7 15 Qg7 Rf8 16 Qxh6 Qc7 17
Qh5 0-0-0
 White’s problem is that he has no clear plan in this middlegame. His pawn
on e5 is weak, while Black has the bishop-pair and the position will shortly
open.
18 Nd4
18 Nf4!? looks better as it discourages Black from an early 18 ... f6, in
view of 19 Ng6 Be8 20 Nxe7+ Qxe7 21 Qxh4. Here the worst is over for
White as he has dissolved one of Black’s trumps, the two bishops.
18 ... f6 19 Qxh4 Qxe5 20 Nf3 Qd6 21 Qa4 Kb8

White already looks lost.

22 Be2 Rh8 23 g3 e5 24 Nh4 f5 25 Nf3 Bf6 26 Nd2 Qc7 27 c3 c5
28 Bb5 Be6 29 Kb1 c4 30 Rxh8 Rxh8 31 Qa3 Be7 32 b4 e4 33 Qc1
Bf6 34 a3 a6 35 Ba4 b5 36 Bc2 Bxc3 37 Ka2 Bg7 38 Nb1 Rh2 39 Rf1
Qe5 40 Nd2 d4 0-1

Game 34
N.Short-A.Giri
3rd matchgame, Amsterdam 2010

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 e3 e6 5 Qf3 c5 6 0-0-0 a6 7 Nge2

Qa5
 8 Bxf6!?

Question: Why does Short give up the bishop

for a knight? He does not even double Black’s pawns.

8 ... Nxf6 9 g4
Answer: This is the point of 8 Bxf6. White gets in g4-g5 a move quicker.
That said, although White was successful in this game, I do not recommend
this plan at all.
9 ... b5 10 g5 Nd7 11 Nf4 cxd4
Black should continue 11 ... Bb7, protecting the d5-square. After 12 Bh3
b4 13 Ncxd5!? exd5 14 Bxd7+ Kxd7 15 Nxd5 (making Black play accurately)
15 ... Rd8 16 Qf5+ Kc6 17 dxc5 Qxc5 18 e4 Kb5 (Black will exchange White’s
most dangerous piece) 19 Qxf7 Bxd5 20 exd5 (or 20 Rxd5 Rxd5 21 Qe8+ Ka5
22 exd5 g6 23 Rd1 Bg7 24 Qe4 Rd8) 20 ... Bd6 21 Qxg7 Rc8 22 Kb1 Qxc2+ 23
Ka1 Ka5 Black’s king is safe and he will win with the extra piece.
Returning to Giri’s 11 ... cxd4:
 Exercise: Black has been neglecting his development and his king is still
in the centre. What is the recommended course of action that instruction
manuals always say we should carry out in such situations? Can you figure
out how Short continued?

Answer: 12 Ncxd5!
The typical action in this situation is to open the centre. Short shows that
by sacrificing a piece to open the position, he gives Black a lot of problems to
solve. Even though the position is not lost after 12 Ncxd5!, it is extremely
difficult for a human to play over the board.
12 ... exd5
Black has an alternative in 12 ... Qxa2, which leads to some wild play.
White now has:
a) 13 Nc7+ Kd8 14 Qxa8 Bb4 15 c3 dxc3 16 Ncxe6+ fxe6 17 Rxd7+ Kxd7
18 Qa7+ Ke8 19 Bxb5+ Kf8 20 Nxe6+ Bxe6 21 Qb8+ Kf7 22 Qf4+ Kg8 23
Qb8+ Bf8 and White has no more checks.
b) 13 Nf6+ gxf6 (now 13 ... Kd8?? is a blunder: 14 Nxd7 Bb4 15 c3 dxc3
16 Ne5+ Ke7 17 Nfg6+ hxg6 18 Qxf7 mate) 14 Qxa8 Qa1+ 15 Kd2 Qa5+ 16
Ke2 Qc7 17 Bg2 fxg5 18 Nd3 dxe3 19 fxe3 Bd6 and Black has enough
compensation for the exchange. He has two pawns and is able to castle
kingside into relative safety compared with the white king which is stuck in
the centre.
 13 Qxd5 Ra7
13 ... Rb8? 14 Bc4 takes advantage of the pin on the black b-pawn,
leaving the f7-square indefensible.
14 Bh3
14 Bc4?! can now be answered with 14 ... Nb6 when the rook on a7
defends the f7-pawn.

14 ... Be7?
Giri blunders under pressure. Black can still hold with 14 ... Rc7:
a) 15 Kb1 (this releases the queen from the defence of the a-pawn) 15 ...
Be7 16 Qxd4 0-0 17 Nd5 Nb8 18 Bxc8 Rfxc8 19 b4! Qa4 20 Nxc7 Nc6 (20 ...
Rxc7? 21 Qd8+ Bf8 22 Qxc7 Qxb4+ 23 Ka1 leaves White material up) 21 Qd7
Qxb4+ 22 Kc1 Qa3+ 23 Kb1 Qb4+ draws by perpetual check.
b) 15 Rxd4 Be7 16 Nh5 0-0 (threatening 17 ... Bb7) 17 Bxd7 Rxd7 18 Qe5
f6 19 Qe6+ Rf7 20 Rxd7 Bxd7 21 Qxd7 Qxa2 and Black is on top as the threat
of ... Qa1+ and ... Qxb2 cannot be adequately met.
15 Qxd4
This is the reason the bishop was best left on f8. The g7-square and the
rook on a7 are forked.
15 ... 0-0
After 15 ... Rc7 16 Qxg7 Rf8 17 Nd5 Rc6 18 Nxe7 Kxe7 19 Bxd7 Bxd7 20
Rxd7+ Kxd7 21 Qxf8 Black is down three pawns and he is lost with such an
exposed king.
16 Nh5! f6 17 Be6+ Kh8 18 Qxa7 Bc5 19 Qa8 Ne5 20 gxf6 gxf6
21 Qg2 Ng6 22 Qc6 Bb4 23 Kb1 1-0

Game 35
J.Liew-H.Nouri
Kuala Lumpur 2014

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 e3 h6

Another option is 4 ... c6 and then:
a) 5 Nf3 Qa5 (Black intends ... Ne4 with threats on c3 and g5; White can
answer this with a little tactic) 6 a3 Ne4 7 b4 Nxc3 8 Qd3 Qc7 9 Qxc3 e6 10
Bf4 Bd6 11 Bxd6 Qxd6 12 Bd3 and White stands better with a slight space
advantage after the pawn advance e3-e4.
b) 5 Qf3?! mixes up lines with 4 ... e6 5 Qf3. The difference is that the f6-
knight is not pinned. After 5 ... Qa5 6 a3 e5 (or 6 ... Ne4 7 b4 Nxg5 8 Qh5 Qc7
9 Qxg5 and White is okay here) 7 Bxf6 Nxf6 8 dxe5 (with 8 Nge2 Bd6 Black
simply threatens to win the queen with ... e4, and 9 g3 e4 10 Qg2 b5 is very
bad for White) 8 ... Ne4 9 Qd1 Nxc3 10 Qd2 Bb4 11 Ne2 White has survived
the worst and can regain his piece after 12 Rc1, although Black is still for
choice.

5 Bf4

Question: How about 5 Bh4, maintaining the bishop on the h4-d8

diagonal? The original reasons for playing 3 Bg5 are still valid, right?
 Answer: Now that White has committed to 4 e3, maintaining the bishop
on the h4-d8 diagonal makes less sense as he is not going to play e3-e4 in
response to ... e6. Retreating the bishop to f4 reaches positions similar to
those examined in Chapter Seven where ... h6 and ... Nbd7 are not moves
that Black wants to make. The pawn on h6 will invite a possible pawn storm
on that side of the board (see Game 53 for the attacking ideas).
5 ... c6 6 Bd3
With the bishop on f4, White can play this move without fear of the
reprisal 6 ... e5.
6 ... Qb6 7 Nge2

7 ... Nh5

Question: Can Black take the b2-pawn or is it poisoned?

Answer: The pawn can be taken, but Black must be ready to accept a
draw by repetition in the main line. The usefulness of the bishop on the h2-b8
diagonal can be seen in the variation 7 ... Qxb2 8 Bc7 when the trap is closing
around the black queen. Indeed, Black must play accurately to avoid
immediate loss:
a) After 8 ... Nb6? 9 a3 the next move will be Ra2, trapping the queen.
Following 9 ... Kd7 (9 ... Ne4 10 Bxe4 dxe4 11 Ra2 wins) 10 Be5! (this is even
stronger than winning the queen with 10 Ra2 Qxa2 11 Nxa2 Kxc7) 10 ... Nc4
(the only move to avoid losing the queen) 11 Bxc4 dxc4 12 d5! White has a
monstrous initiative:

a1) 12 ... c5 13 0-0 Ng4 14 Rb1 Qxa3 15 Nb5 Qa5 16 Bc7 Qa6 17 Bg3 Qf6
18 Nec3 Ne5 19 Ne4 Qf5 20 Nxc5+ Kd8 21 e4 and White has a crushing
position.
a2) 12 ... cxd5 13 Rb1 Qxa3 14 Nxd5 Nxd5 (or 14 ... Qa5+ 15 Nec3 Nxd5
16 Rb5 Qa3 17 Rxd5+ Kc6 18 Qf3 Kb6 19 Rb5+ Ka6 20 Qd5 when mate is
unavoidable) 15 Qxd5+ Ke8 16 Rxb7 Bxb7 17 Qb5+ (this neat in-between
move forces the black king to the open d-file) 17 ... Kd8 18 Qxb7 Rc8 19 0-0
and there is no defence to Rd1+.
b) 8 ... Qa3! 9 Nb1 Qb4+ (or 9 ... Qb2 10 Nd2 Qa3 11 Nb1 with a draw) 10
c3 Qb2 11 Nd2 Qa3 (after 11 ... e6 12 a4 the black queen will remain trapped
for a long time even though White has no immediate way of winning it) 12
Nb1 with an early repetition.
Returning to my opponent’s 7 ... Nh5:
8 0-0
8 Be5 Nxe5 9 dxe5 g6 10 Na4 Qa5+ 11 c3 Qc7 12 f4 Bg4 is fine for Black.
8 ... Nxf4 9 exf4 g6
Black could have done better with 9 ... e6 as White cannot play 10 f5 e5
when Black is better.
10 f5 g5 11 Qd2 Nf6
It was perfectly okay to take on b2: 11 ... Qxb2 12 Rab1 Qa3 13 Rfe1 and
it is hard to fully justify the pawn sacrifice.
 12 a3 Qc7 13 b4 a6 14 Rfe1 Bg7 15 Ng3 Qf4 16 Qxf4 gxf4 17
Nge2 f3! 18 gxf3 Nd7 19 Nd1 h5 20 Ne3 Nf6 21 c3 Bd7 22 Nc1 Bh6
23 Ne2

Question: Why is the knight moving back to e2, losing a tempo?

Answer: The knight had to go back to stop Black from playing ... Bf4,
which is a more useful square for the bishop as it can retreat to c7 and the
diagonal h2-b8 is its best diagonal. Moreover, time is not so important in this
closed position. Both sides can play around for a while, but ultimately they
have to decide which pieces to keep and which to exchange, and this is not
always obvious.
23 ... Kf8 24 Kh1 Rg8 25 a4 Kg7 26 Rg1+ Kf8 27 Rgb1 Kg7 28
Rg1+ Kh8 29 a5 Rxg1+ 30 Rxg1
The exchange of rooks is in White’s favour as his king can move freely to
h4 to win the weak h-pawn.
30 ... Rg8 31 Rxg8+ Kxg8 32 Kg2 Kg7 33 Kg3 Bg5 34 f4 Bh6 35
Kh4 Kh7 36 f3?
A time-trouble move. The f3-square could have been used by a knight
later on.
White missed a tactical possibility with 36 Nf1 Bg7 37 Neg3 Kh6 (37 ...
Bh6 38 Nxh5 Nxh5 39 Kxh5 Bxf4 40 f6+ wins) 38 Ne3 Bf8 39 Nxh5! Nxh5 40
Ng4+ Kg7 41 Kxh5 and wins with the two extra pawns.
 36 ... Bf8 37 Ng1
Again missing the tactic 37 Ng3 Kh6 38 Nxh5! Nxh5 39 Ng4+.
37 ... Kh6 38 Nh3 Ne8 39 Ng5 Nd6 40 Kg3
White misses a last chance to try for the win, although after 40 c4!? dxc4
41 Nxc4 Be8 42 Kg3 Nxc4 43 Bxc4 e6 44 fxe6 f5! (the point is that the white
knight is kept out of action on g5, and White’s pawns on b4 and a5 will be
indefensible) 45 Nf7+ Bxf7 46 exf7 Bxb4 47 d5 cxd5 48 Bxd5 Kg7 49 f8Q+
Bxf8 (49 ... Kxf8 50 Kh4 Bxa5 51 Bxb7 Bd2 52 Kg5 a5 53 Bc6 is also drawn,
but why give White any chances?) 50 Bxb7 Bb4 51 Kh4 Kg6 52 Bxa6 Bxa5 53
Bb5 Be1+ it’s still just a draw.
40 ... Bg7 41 h4 Bf6 42 Kf2 Kg7 43 Ke2 Kh6 44 Kf2 Kg7 45 Kg3
Bc8 46 Nh3 Kf8 47 Nf2 Bg7 48 Nfd1 Bh6 49 Nb2 Kg7 50 Na4 Kf6 51
Nc5

51 ... Bg7
A more forcing choice was 51 ... Bxf5 52 Nxf5 Nxf5+ 53 Bxf5 Kxf5 54 Nxb7
Bxf4+ 55 Kg2. Here:
a) 55 ... Bd2 56 Nc5 Bxc3 57 Nxa6 Bxd4 58 Nb8! c5 59 Nc6 Be3 60 b5 c4
61 b6 c3 62 b7 c2 (or 62 ... Bf4 63 a6 and White wins as 63 ... c2 is met by 64
Nd4+, forking the king and pawn) 63 b8Q c1Q 64 Qe5+ Kg6 65 Nxe7+ Kh7
66 Qxh5+ Kg7 67 Nf5+ Kf6 68 Nxe3 Qxe3 69 Qg5+ and White wins the pawn
ending.
b) 55 ... Ke6! 56 Nc5+ Kd6 57 Nxa6 Bd2 58 Nc5 Kc7 59 Na4 Be1 draws.
The black bishop is ideally placed on e1, attacking both the h4- and c3-
pawns. White is completely tied down and cannot win even with his extra a-
pawn.
52 Bc2
52 Ne4+!? dxe4 53 fxe4 is a very interesting winning try.

The threat of mate on e5 forces Black to give back the piece with 53 ...
Bxf5 54 Nxf5 Nxf5+ 55 exf5 Bf8 56 Kf3. Now he can draw with care:
a) 56 ... e6 57 fxe6 fxe6 58 Be4 Bd6 59 Ke3 Bc7 60 Bd3 Bd8 61 Be2 Kg6
62 f5+ Kxf5 63 Bxh5 e5 64 Be8 Bxh4 65 Bd7+ Kf6 66 Bc8 exd4+ 67 Kxd4 b6
68 Bxa6 bxa5 69 bxa5 Bf2+ and White has no more winning chances.
b) Not, though, 56 ... Bg7?? 57 Ke4 e6 58 fxe6 fxe6 59 Be2 Kg6 60 Bxa6
bxa6 61 c4 Bf8 62 b5 Bd6 63 bxa6 Bb8 64 d5 cxd5+ 65 cxd5 exd5+ 66 Kxd5
Kf5 67 Kc6 when White will win the bishop and queen one of the a-pawns.
52 ... Bh6 53 Bd3 Bf8 54 Bc2 Bh6 55 Bd3 ½-½

Game 36
I.Miladinovic-D.Antic
Pancevo 2006

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 e3 e6 5 a3!?

 Question: Why does White violate opening principles by playing
a pawn move, and a side pawn at that early in the opening?

Answer: Opening principles are taught to beginners so that they will not
lose straightaway. Do not bring your queen out early, castle quickly, do not
make pawn moves unnecessarily, etc. This is what we are taught when we
first learn chess. However, as we have seen in earlier games, the move ...
Bb4 is not only annoying, but can be dangerous to White. The move 5 a3 is
designed to stop this altogether and is perfectly okay in the Veresov.
5 ... c5
Black wastes no time in putting some pressure on the white centre.
6 Nf3 Be7 7 Bd3
 Question: This move seems to invite Black to play ... c4 with
tempo on the bishop. How should the position be evaluated after 7 ... c4?

Answer: After 7 ... c4, the plan for Black is to advance his queenside
pawns. If he can get in ... b7-b5, ... a7-a5 and ... b5-b4 then he has a strong
initiative on the queenside. The problem is that those pawn moves are harder
to play than it might seem. The b5-square is controlled by the c3-knight and
a move like ... Rb8 will be answered by Bf4. Black can support ... b5 with ...
a6 first, but after reaching b5 the b-pawn cannot advance further without the
a-pawn’s support. On the other hand, after 7 ... c4 White’s break of e3-e4 is
much easier to carry out.
7 ... a6
Alternatively, Black can fianchetto the queen’s bishop as soon as possible
to exert more control over the central squares:
a) 7 ... 0-0 8 0-0 b6 9 Re1 Bb7 10 Bxf6?! Bxf6 11 Qd2 a6 12 Rad1 Qc7 13
h3 b5 14 Nb1 e5 with the advantage for Black in J.Farrand-M.Tseitlin, Port
Erin 2004.
b) 7 ... Qa5 8 dxc5 Qxc5 shows another point of 5 a3, namely that Black
cannot recapture on c5 with his knight or bishop. Black has lost some tempi
here as his queen is not well placed and will have to move again.
12 ... Bd7 8 0-0 b5
Instead, 8 ... 0-0 9 Re1 b5 10 e4! (Black is too late to prevent this move)
10 ... h6 11 exd5 Nxd5 (after 11 ... hxg5 12 dxe6 fxe6 13 Nxg5 Nb6 14 Qe2
Qd7 15 Qxe6+ Qxe6 16 Nxe6 Bxe6 17 Rxe6 Nc8 18 d5 White has three pawns
for the piece and his passed d-pawn is very strong) 12 Bxe7 Nxe7 13 Be4 Rb8
14 Ne5 cxd4 15 Qxd4 Qc7 16 Nxd7 Bxd7 is equal, A.Sidorov-A.Eliseev, St
Petersburg 1999.
9 dxc5 Nxc5 10 b4 Ncd7!
Avoiding 10 ... Nxd3 11 cxd3 0-0 12 Rc1 Bd7 13 Qb3 when White is in a
better position to take control of the open c-file.
11 e4 Qc7 12 Qe1 dxe4 13 Nxe4 Bb7 14 Rc1

Both sides are fighting for control of the c4-square. Now White will push
15 c4 if Black allows him to.
14 ... Bd5 15 Bh4?!
Correct was 15 c4 bxc4 16 Bxc4 Bxc4 17 Ned2 a5 (Black needs to
exchange this pawn before it becomes blockaded by a knight on a5) 18 Nxc4
axb4 19 axb4 Qb7 20 Rb1 0-0 21 b5 with chances for both sides.
15 ... Qb7 16 Nfd2 Rc8 17 Bg3 Nxe4 18 Bxe4 0-0 19 Qe2 Nb6
The time-wasting moves with Bh4 and Bg3 now result in full control of the
c4-square for Black.
20 f4
This is just a desperate attempt to create some chances on the kingside.
20 ... Nc4
20 ... Na4 was more accurate: 21 Bxd5 Qxd5 22 c4 Qd4+ 23 Bf2 Nc3! 24
Qf3 (or 24 Qe1 Qd3 threatening ... Nc3-e2+) 24 ... Qxd2 25 Rxc3 Rxc4 and
Black has a clear advantage.
21 Nxc4 Bxe4?!
Alternatively:
a) 21 ... Bxc4? 22 Bxb7 Bxe2 23 Bxc8 Bxf1 24 Bxa6 Bc4 25 a4 is better for
White.
b) 21 ... Rxc4! 22 Bxd5 exd5 23 Rfd1 Bf6 24 Rd3 Qc6 when Black’s control
of c-file gives him the upper hand.
22 Na5

22 ... Qa7+?!
This pointless check only helps White to bring the bishop to a more active
position on d4. Correct was 22 ... Qd5 23 Rfd1 Qf5 24 c4 Rfd8 25 c5 Rxd1+ 26
Rxd1 h5 27 Nb3 h4 28 Nd4 Qg6 29 Be1 h3 30 g3 Rd8, still with some
advantage to Black.
23 Bf2 Qa8 24 Bd4 Rfd8 25 c3 Bd5 26 f5 Bf8?!
Too passive. 26 ... Qb8 27 f6 Bd6 was indicated.
27 f6
White finally obtains some chances on the kingside after this move.
27 ... g6 28 Rce1 Re8?!
Black continues with his passive moves. 28 ... Bd6 was very strong with
the same plan as before: 29 Rf2 Qb8 30 g3 Bxg3! 31 hxg3 Qxg3+ 32 Kf1
Qh3+ 33 Rg2 e5 (the opening of the e-file will prove decisive) 34 Bxe5 (34
Bg1 Rxc3 wins) 34 ... Re8 35 Qf2 Bxg2+ 36 Qxg2 Qf5+ with deadly material
gain.
 29 Qg4 Qb8 30 Re5! Rcd8
Not 30 ... Bd6 31 Qg5 Bxe5? 32 Qh6 and the mate on g7 is unstoppable.
31 h4 Bd6 32 Rg5 e5 33 h5 Qc8
Black might have settled for a draw with 33 ... exd4 34 hxg6 fxg6 (34 ...
hxg6? 35 Rxg6+ is winning) 35 Rxd5 (after 35 Rxg6+ Kh8 36 Rg7 Bh2+ 37
Kh1 Qg3 Black gives back the piece to save his king) 35 ... Bh2+ 36 Kh1 Rxd5
37 f7+ Kg7 38 fxe8Q Qxe8 39 Kxh2 Rh5+ 40 Kg3 Qe3+ 41 Rf3 Qe1+ 42 Rf2
Qe3+ 43 Qf3 Qg5+ 44 Qg4 Qe3+ and it’s perpetual check.
34 Qh4

Now Black is in serious trouble and even overlooks White’s threat.

34 ... Bf8?
White wins too after 34 ... exd4? 35 hxg6 hxg6 36 Rh5, but 34 ... Rd7! was
the only move, guarding the second rank.
35 hxg6 hxg6 36 Bc5
Probably the move that Black overlooked.
36 ... Bxc5+ 37 bxc5 Qxc5+ 38 Kh2
Despite having the move, Black is unable to defend his king.
38 ... Qf8 39 Rff5! Be4 40 Rh5 1-0

Game 37
V.Gashimov-H.Jonkman
Antalya 2004
1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 f3
This is one of the sharpest lines in this variation. White pushes e2-e4 at
the cost of development. It is a very old move and, needless to say, is only
dangerous if Black does not know how to counter it. Believe me, there are a
number of ways.
4 ... h6 5 Bxf6?!
Even though in this game the young Azeri Grandmaster won, he was very
lucky as you will soon see. I must caution you that White should never give
up his dark-squared bishop without obtaining something in exchange.
5 ... Nxf6 6 e4 e6

7 e5
This is the only good continuation, going into a French type structure but
without the dark-squared bishop for White:
a) After 7 Bd3 c5 8 Bb5+ Bd7 9 Bxd7+ Qxd7 10 e5 Ng8 11 Nge2 Rc8 12 0-
0 Ne7 13 dxc5 Nf5 Black already stood better in A.Alekhine-E.Jesty, London
1926.
b) 7 Qd2 a6 (better than 7 ... dxe4 8 fxe4 e5 9 dxe5 Qxd2+ 10 Kxd2 Ng4
11 Nf3 g5 12 h3 Nf2 13 Rh2 g4 14 hxg4 Nxg4 15 Rh5 when White had an
extra pawn, albeit a doubled isolated one in A.Kashashvili-N.Khurtsidze,
Batumi 2003) and then:
b1) 8 a3 (this is a waste of tempo) 8 ... c5 9 dxc5 Bxc5 10 0-0-0 0-0 11
exd5 exd5 12 Nge2 Re8 13 Kb1 b5 14 Nxd5 Bb7 15 Nec3 Nxd5 16 Nxd5 Rc8 is
unclear. Black has the bishop-pair for a pawn, P.Gelazonia-G.Kacheishvili,
Batumi 2003.
b2) 8 0-0-0 dxe4 (or 8 ... Bb4 9 e5 Nd7 10 f4 c5 11 Nf3 cxd4 12 Nxd4 Nc5
13 Qe3 Qa5 14 Nde2 followed by a2-a3 with equality) 9 Nxe4 Be7 10 Nxf6+
Bxf6 11 Ne2 0-0 12 Ng3 b5 13 Ne4 Be7 with equality.
c) 7 Qd3?! Be7 8 0-0-0 0-0 9 f4 c5 10 dxc5 Bxc5 11 Kb1 (11 exd5 is also
answered by 11 ... Ng4) 11 ... Ng4 12 Nh3 Ne3 and Black was clearly better in
A.Sasu Ducsoara-S.Petronic,S, Banja Dvorovi 2000.
7 ... Ng8

Question: Where is this knight heading?

Answer: Black intends to play in French Defence style with ... a6, ... c5,
... Ne7 and ... Nc6. The knight stands well on c6 where it exerts pressure on
White’s centre.
Also good, though, is 7 ... Nd7 8 f4 c5 9 Nf3 a6 10 Qd2 cxd4 11 Nxd4 Be7
12 Bd3 Qb6 13 Nb3 g5 and Black was for choice in H.Rossetto-C.Poch,Buenos
Aires 1973.
8 f4 c5 9 Nf3 Ne7 10 dxc5 Nc6 11 Na4?
A very bad decision. After this White is in serious trouble.
11 ... Qa5+ 12 c3 Bd7 13 b3
Not 13 b4? Nxb4 14 cxb4 Qxb4+ when Black wins back the piece on a4.
 13 ... Bxc5 14 a3
The best try, as we can see from:
a) After 14 Nxc5? Qxc3+ Black regains his piece with interest.
b) 14 b4?? Bxb4 15 cxb4 Qxb4+ 16 Kf2 Na5 and White’s knight on a4 is
trapped.
14 ... Be3 15 b4 Qc7 16 g3 g5!
Now White’s centre collapses and he is lost.
17 Nc5 gxf4 18 gxf4 Bxf4 19 Nxd7 Qxd7?!
Missing 19 ... Kxd7! When the pawn on e5 falls as well and Black has a
totally won position.
20 Bb5 Rg8 21 Kf2 a6
21 ... 0-0-0 is also good.
22 Bxc6 Qxc6 23 Qd4 Rg4?
Black could retain an advantage after 23 ... Bg5 24 Rhg1 0-0-0 25 Rg3 Rg6
26 Rag1 Rdg8 27 h4 Bd8.
24 Rag1!
 24 ... Rxg1
Maybe only now did Black realize that his intended 24 ... Bg3+? 25 Rxg3
Rxd4 fails to 26 Nxd4 Qc7 27 Rg8+, which wins his rook on a8.
25 Rxg1 Bg5 26 Nxg5 hxg5 27 Rxg5 Rc8??
After this blunder, Black is lost. He could still have struggled on with 27 ...
0-0-0 28 Rg7 Rf8 29 h4.
28 Qf4! Qb6+ 29 Kg2 f5 30 exf6 Kd7 31 Rg7+ Kc6 32 a4 Qd8 33
Qd4 Qd6 34 c4 b6 35 b5+ 1-0

Game 38
P.Pazos Gambarrotti-K.Murugan
Moscow Olympiad 1994

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 f3 h6 5 Bh4 e6 6 e4 Be7 7 e5 Ng8

When White has retained his important bishop, the knight has no better
square:
a) After 7 ... Nh7 8 Bxe7 Qxe7 9 Qd2 a6 10 f4 c5 11 Nf3 0-0 12 Be2 b5 13
0-0 Bb7 14 dxc5 Nxc5 15 a3 White is already better. He secures his c3-knight
and prepares the f4-f5 break with moves like Nd4, Qe3 and Rae1, B.Nisman-
T.Okunev, Ramat Aviv 2003, which White won in 23 moves.
b) 7 ... Nh5 8 Bxe7 Qxe7 9 Nh3 c5 10 g4 Qh4+ 11 Ke2 cxd4 (or 11 ... 0-0
12 Qe1 and after 12 ... Qxe1+ 13 Rxe1 cxd4 14 Nb5 Nxe5 15 gxh5 Black does
not have enough for the piece; however, if 12 ... Qe7 13 gxh5 cxd4 14 Nb5
Qc5 15 Kd1 a6 16 Rg1! then he is struggling too: for example, 16 ... axb5 17
Qg3 g6 18 hxg6 f6 19 g7 Rf7 20 Qg6 Nxe5 21 Qh7+ Kxh7 22 g8Q mates) 12
Qxd4 f6 (White now forced off the queens and won with the extra piece) 13
Qf2 Qxf2+ 14 Kxf2 fxe5 15 gxh5 0-0 16 Kg2 Nf6 17 Re1 and 1-0 in 36 moves,
M.Khachiyan-A.Kostin, Pardubice 1996.

8 Bxe7
8 Bf2!? looks quite attractive, leaving Black with the problem of how to
untangle his pieces:
a) 8 ... a6 9 f4 c5 10 Nf3 c4 11 f5 Bb4 12 fxe6 fxe6 13 Nh4 Qg5 14 Qf3
Ne7 15 Be2 Rf8 16 Qh5+ Qxh5 17 Bxh5+ Kd8 18 0-0 and White is better.
b) 8 ... c5 9 f4 cxd4 10 Bxd4 Bb4 11 Nge2 Ne7 12 a3 Bc5 13 Bxc5 Nxc5 14
b4 Nd7 15 Nd4 a6 16 Bd3 Nc6 17 Nce2 Nxd4 18 Nxd4 with a slight edge for
White.
c) The straightforward plan of 8 ... Bb4 is not wholly sufficient either as
after 9 Qd2 Ne7 10 a3 Black is forced to give up the bishop.
8 ... Nxe7 9 f4
The position is very similar to one from the French Defence with 1 e4 e6 2
d4 d5 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7 5 e5 Nfd7 6 Bxe7 Qxe7 7 f4. In our case, the
knight is on e7, instead of the queen, and Black has the extra move ... h6.
 Exercise: How would you evaluate this position compared with the
French?

Answer: This position is slightly worse for Black than the related French
line as the pawn on h6 will only accelerate White’s attack if the black king
should castle kingside.
The plans for both sides are similar to the French. White will develop his
queen to d2, bishop to d3 and knight to f3. This set-up is perfect for a
kingside attack. Meanwhile Black will put pressure on the white centre with ...
c5, ... Nc6, ... b5, ... Bb7, ... Qc7 or ... Qe7, and then castle on the queenside.
Note that with the black queen still on d8, Black does not need to play the
move ... a6 before ... c5 as the queen defends the c7-square. The queen
could also go to b6-square to pressure the d4- and b2-squares. In this case,
White may not have any kingside attack, but he still holds the trump of the
better bishop.
Black’s light-squared bishop is always the worse piece in this structure.
After ... c5 White can exchange and place a knight on the d4-square. He can
also try to engineer an f4-f5 break and open the f-file for his rooks.
Sometimes, he just does a general space grab with g2-g4 and h2-h4. Overall,
White usually has the better prospects just like he does in similar positions in
the French Defence.
9 ... c5 10 Nf3 a6
 Black plays this intending to follow up with ... b5.
He might prefer:
a) 10 ... Nf5 11 Qd2 cxd4 12 Nb5 Nc5 13 Nbxd4 Ne4 14 Qb4 Nxd4 15 Qxd4
Qa5+ 16 c3 Bd7 17 Bd3 Nc5 18 Bc2 Qb6 19 0-0-0 0-0-0 20 h4 and although
White has the better prospects, a draw was agreed in D. Foetsch-W.Uhlmann,
Dresden 1998.
b) 10 ... Qb6 11 Qd2 cxd4 (taking the pawn is very risky: 11 ... Qxb2 12
Rb1 Qa3 13 Nb5 Qxa2 14 Nd6+ Kf8 15 Rd1 a6 16 Be2 and White’s attack is
simple: 0-0, g2-g4 and f4-f5 to open the f-file) 12 Nxd4 Nc6 was R.Keller-
A.Lombard, Switzerland 1986, and now 13 0-0-0 in the spirit of a similar
position from the French should have been played.
11 Qd2 b5

12 g3
Another plan is 12 dxc5!? Nxc5 13 Bd3. Exchanging on d3 is to White’s
advantage as Black will have one less piece that can control the dark
squares.
12 ... Bb7 13 Bg2 Qb6 14 0-0 0-0 15 Rf2 Bc6 16 Ne2 b4 17 g4
cxd4
After 17 ... Bb5! 18 Ng3 Nc6 19 c3 bxc3 20 bxc3 Qa5 21 f5 (if 21 Qe3
Black stops White’s intended f4-f5 with 21 ... Qa3 22 f5?? cxd4 23 Nxd4
Ndxe5 24 Nh5 Nc4!; he will exchange queens after 25 Qg3 Nxd4 26 cxd4
Qxg3 27 hxg3 exf5 28 gxf5 Ne3 29 Nf4 Bc4 and stands better) 21 ... cxd4 22
cxd4 Qxd2 23 Rxd2 Black has an excellent position. He has solved the
problem of his queen’s bishop and the c4-square is very inviting for his knight.
The important factor is that without queens, White has no chances of
attacking the black king.
18 Nfxd4 a5 19 Ng3 Ng6
Black embarks on a faulty plan.
20 Re1 Rae8 21 Re3 Bb7 22 Nh5 f6??

Opening the centre where White has been amassing pieces was not the
best of ideas.
23 exf6 Nxf6 24 Nxf6+ Rxf6 25 f5 Nf8 26 Rfe2 Qd6 27 Re5!
Not allowing ... e5 which would solve a lot of problems for Black, as well
as planning to apply more pressure on the e-file with Qe3 or Qe1. Black is so
helpless that White can even play h2-h4 and g4-g5 without fear for his own
king.
27 ... Nd7!?
The e-pawn is falling anyway so Black gives it up and hopes to get his
knight to an active position.
28 Rxe6 Rfxe6 29 Rxe6 Rxe6 30 Nxe6 Nf6 31 Bf3 Qe5 32 Qf4
Qe1+
32 ... Qxf4 33 Nxf4 is game over for Black.
33 Kg2 Ba6 34 Qb8+ Kh7 35 Nf8+ Kg8
 Exercise: How did White force resignation in one move?

Answer: 36 Bxd5+! 1-0

Deflection. Black’s knight is forced to give up control of the e8-square
after 36 ... Nxd5 whereupon White will mate with 37 Ng6+.

Game 39
J.Verstraeten-P.Hohler
Orebro 1966

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 f3 c5

4 ... c6 is more solid and covered in the next game.
5 e4 dxe4 6 dxc5!?
Instead, 6 d5 would transpose back to our opening chapter and Game 2.
6 ... Qa5
After 6 ... e6 (6 ... h6 7 Be3 e6 8 b4! is similar) White has two
continuations:
 a) 7 b4 (I recommend this move to preserve the pawn on c5 which will be
quite annoying for Black) 7 ... exf3 8 Nxf3 a5 9 a3 Be7 10 Be2 (10 Bc4? runs
into 10 ... axb4 11 axb4 Rxa1 12 Qxa1 b6! 13 c6 Ne5! 14 Nxe5 Qd4 by when
White’s position has collapsed) 10 ... 0-0 11 0-0 Nb8 12 Nb5 is better for
White.
b) 7 Nxe4 Qa5+! (Black must make this brave decision and give up a
pawn; the alternative is 7 ... Nxc6 8 Nxc5 Qa5+ 9 Qd2 Qxc5 10 0-0-0 when
White maintains a slight edge) 8 Bd2 (8 c3 Nxe4 9 fxe4 Bxc5 is possible due
to the loose bishop on g5; after 10 Nf3 Qc7 11 Qd2 f6 12 Bf4 e5 13 Bg3 0-0
Black has solved his opening problems) 8 ... Qc7 9 Nxf6+ Nxf6 10 b4 b6! 10
cxb6 axb6 11 Bb5+ Bd7 13 Bxd7+ Nxd7 14 Ne2 Bd6 15 f4 0-0 16 0-0 Rfd8
and Black has active pieces to compensate for the pawn.
7 Qd2
Another option is 7 Bb5 a6 and then:
a) 8 Bxf6 makes no sense, in view of 8 ... exf6 9 Ba4 Bxc5 10 fxe4 b5 11
Qd5 bxa4! 12 Qxa8 Nb6 13 Qb8.
 Exercise: What has Black obtained for the sacrificed
material and how would you continue in this position?

Answer: Black has the dark-squared bishop which is very powerful

against the weakened dark squares around the white king. Black can castle
immediately if he so wishes, but he can utilize the pin on the e1-a5 diagonal
immediately with 13 ... a3!.
This undermining of the c3-knight is a common theme in Veresov and
after 14 Nge2 axb2 15 Rb1 0-0 (15 ... Bd4 16 Kd2 Be5 17 Qa7 Na4 wins a
piece cleanly, although Black’s position is so strong that even the move
played is winning) 16 Rxb2 Na4 17 Qb3 Nxb2 18 Qxb2 Bg4 19 Rf1 Rc8 20 Rf4
Bxe2 21 Kxe2 Bd4 22 Qb7 Qxc3 White had to resign in B.Czap-B.Kreiman,
Bad Wiessee 1997.
b) 8 Bxd7+ Nxd7 9 Qd4 e5 10 Qxe4 Nxc5 11 Qxe5+ Be6 12 Bf4 Be7? 13
Qc7? (wrongly rejecting 13 Qxg7 0-0-0 14 Nge2 Rhg8 15 Qe5 Bd6 16 Qe3
Rxg2 17 0-0-0 Bxf4 18 Rxd8+ Qxd8 19 Nxf4 Rg5 20 Rd1 when Black’s pieces
on g5 and c5 are so vulnerable that he will have to give up another pawn;
after 20 ... Nd7 21 Nxe6 fxe6 22 Qxe6 White should be winning) 13 ... Qb4 14
Nge2 Rc8 15 Qe5 Bf6 16 Qd6 Qxb2 17 0-0 Be7 (Black probably looked at 17
... Bxc3 18 Rab1 Qa3 19 Rxb7 Bf6 20 Rfb1 and decided this was too scary, so
he bailed out with a draw; however, 20 ... Qa5! is winning because 21 Rb8
Bd8! 22 Rxc8 Bxc8 23 Qe5+ is answered by 23 ... Ne6, defending everything)
18 Qe5 Bf6 19 Qd6 Rc6 20 Qb8+ Rc8 21 Qd6 ½-½, R.Cappello-L.Lengyel,
Reggio Emilia 1979.
Returning to the superior 7 Qd2:

7 ... g6
After 7 ... exf3 8 Nxf3 a6 9 Bxf6 (9 a3? Qxc5 just forced Black to win the
pawn on c5 in A.Bezgodov-V.Zakhartsov,Voronezh 2002) 9 ... exf6 10 Nd5!
Qxd2+ 11 Nxd2 Rb8 12 b4 the strong knight on d5 and Black’s difficulty in
castling gives White the advantage.
8 Nxe4
White missed his chance to gain a lasting advantage: 8 Nb5! Qd8 (or 8 ...
Qxd2+ 9 Bxd2 Rb8 10 0-0-0 Bg7 11 Bf4 e5 12 Nd6+ Ke7 13 Be3 and Black’s
position leaves much to be desired) 9 0-0-0 a6 10 Bxf6 exf6 11 Nd6+ Bxd6 12
cxd6 0-0 (12 ... exf3 loses an important tempo and allows White to start an
attack on the kingside with 13 Nxf3 0-0 14 h4 Nc5 15 h5 Be6 16 Qe3!) 13
fxe4 is clearly in White’s favour.
8 ... Qxd2+ 9 Nxd2 Bg7?
After 9 ... Nxc5 Black has equalized.
10 Nb3 0-0 11 0-0-0 Ne5 12 Ne2 h6 13 Be3 Be6 14 Ned4 Bc4?!
15 Bxc4
After 15 c6 Bxf1 16 cxb7 Rab8 17 Rhxf1 Rxb7 18 Na5 White is still a pawn
up and with a passed c-pawn.
15 ... Nxc4 16 Bf2 Rac8 17 Rhe1 Rfe8 18 c3 a6 19 Nc2 e5 20 Ne3
Nxe3 21 Bxe3 Bf8 22 Kc2 Rc7 23 Na5 Rec8 24 Rd3 e4
 25 Rd2
And here 25 fxe4 Nxe4 26 b4 would have been close to winning for White.
25 ... exf3 26 gxf3 Nd7 27 c6
This looks good, exchanging the doubled pawn on c6, but a stronger
continuation was 27 Nc4 (threatening 28 Bf4) 27 ... Nxc5 28 Nb6 Re8 29 b4
Ne6 30 Nd5, winning material.
27 ... bxc6 28 Nxc6 Rxc6 29 Rxd7 Re6 30 Bd2 Rf6 31 f4 Kh7 32
Ra7 Bc5 33 Rb7 Rd8 34 Rc7 Bb6 35 Rc4
White has managed to lose much of his advantage because he was not
brave enough to force the win.
35 ... g5
Black takes advantage of the white king on c2 to create an outside passed
pawn.
36 Re2
36 fxg5? Rf2 37 Rd1 Be3 wins a piece for Black.
36 ... g4 37 Be3??
White finally blunders the game.
37 ... Re6 38 Bxb6 Rxe2+ 39 Kb3 Rb8 40 Rb4 Rxh2 41 a4 g3 42
Bd4 Rxb4+ 0-1

Game 40
T.Vogler-A.Balzar
Germany 1991
1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 f3 c6
Black prepares to counter with the pin ... Qa5.
5 e4 dxe4 6 fxe4 e5
Black hits back on the vulnerable dark squares, which is logical if far from
forced:
a) 6 ... Qa5 and then:

a1) White should occupy e5 before Black has the chance to push ... e7-e5:
7 e5! Ne4 8 Bd2 Nxd2 9 Qxd2 e6 10 Nf3 supplies an edge.
a2) 7 Qd2 e5 8 Nf3 exd4 9 Nxd4 Bb4 10 Bd3 0-0 11 Nf5 Re8 12 0-0 Ng4
(not 12 ... Bxc3 13 Qxc3 Qxc3 14 bxc3 Nxe4 15 Ne7+ winning material) 13
Qf4 was preferred in I.Shkurikhin-A.Bragin, Tomsk 2007, and now Black could
have used his control of the e5-square to his advantage: 13 ... Nde5! 14 h3
Bc5+ 15 Kh1 Bxf5 16 exf5 Ne3 17 Rfe1 Nxd3 18 cxd3 Bb6 19 f6 Bc7 20 Qh4
Nf5 21 Qg4 Rxe1+ 22 Rxe1 h5 (now the bishop on g5 can no longer be
protected by the white queen) 23 b4 Ng3+ 24 Qxg3 Bxg3 25 bxa5 Bxe1,
winning material.
b) 6 ... Qb6.
 Question: Should White defend the b2-pawn?

Answer: This is a very common situation in the Veresov. If White has a

sufficient lead in development and can create threats on the kingside, which
prevent Black from castling on that side, then the pawn is irrelevant.
Here after 7 e5! Qxb2 8 Bd2 (8 Na4 does not win a piece, in view of 8 ...
Qb4+ 9 c3 Qa5 10 exf6 Qxg5) 8 ... Nd5 9 Nxd5 cxd5 10 Ne2 e6 11 Rb1 Qa3
12 Nc3 a6 13 Bd3 White has ample compensation for the pawn thanks to the
open lines on the kingside and his better development, not to mention the
fact that the black king will be hard put to find safety on either side of the
board.
7 dxe5 Qa5
After 7 ... Nxe5 8 Qxd8+ Kxd8 9 Nf3 Bd6 10 Be2 Kc7 11 0-0-0 Nfd7 Black’s
position hinges on the blockade on e5. If he can maintain it and complete his
development, then his future is bright as White has a permanent weakness
on e4. P.De Souza Haro-E.Tsuboi, Brasilia 2000, continued 12 Nd4
(threatening both 13 Ndb5+ and 13 Nf5) 12 ... Bb4 (this is an inaccuracy as
White has a tactic at his disposal) 13 Ndb5+! Kb8 (13 ... cxb5 14 Nd5+
recovers the piece with advantage) 14 a3 Bxc3 15 Be7 b6 16 Bd6+ Kb7 17
Nxc3 and White eventually won. However, even better would have been 17
Nc7. After 17 ... b5 18 bxc3 (18 Nxa8? Ba5 traps the knight) 18 ... Rb8 at
some point, Black will have to play ... f6, giving the white knight have a
square. White also has the possibility of opening up the queenside with a2-
a4. Overall, White can be said to hold an advantage in this position.
8 Bxf6
8 exf6 has also been tried without posing many problems for Black after 8
... Qxg5:

a) After 9 fxg7 Bxg7 10 Qd2 Qxd2+ 11 Kxd2 Nc5 12 Bd3 Be6 13 Nf3 0-0-0
14 Ke2 b5 15 a3 a5 Black had compensation for the pawn and won in
L.Alburt-M.Tal, Baku 1972.
b) 9 Nf3 Qxf6 10 e5?! Nxe5 (better than 10 ... Qh6?! 11 Ne4 Nc5 12 Nd6+
Bxd6 13 Qxd6 Qe3+ 14 Be2 Ne4 15 Qd4 Qxd4 16 Nxd4 0-0 17 0-0 Nc5 18
Rad1 Re8 19 b4 Na4 20 Bc4 Rf8 21 Rxf7 Rxf7 22 Rf1 Nb6 23 Bxf7+ 1-0,
J.Liew-M.Noor, Kuala Lumpur 1989) 11 Qe2 Bd6 12 0-0-0 Bc7 13 Ne4 Qf4+ 14
Kb1 Bg4 and White has no play for the pawn.
8 ... gxf6 9 e6
9 exf6?! loses an important tempo and 9 ... Ba3! is the reason this line is
unplayable for White. Here 10 Qc1 Nxf6 11 Bd3 Ng4 12 h3 Qb6 13 Nd1 Bb4+
14 c3 Ne5 15 Be2 Bd6 shows how bad this line is. Black dominates the dark
squares.
9 ... fxe6
 10 Qg4!
The attack on e6 forces the black knight to move to an unfavourable
square on b6.
Somewhat worse is 10 Bc4? Ba3 11 Qc1 (after 11 Qb1 Ne5 12 Bb3 Ng4 13
Nf3 Bc5 White is very weak on the dark squares; no one in his right mind
would want to willingly go into this position) 11 ... Qxc3+ 12 bxc3 Bxc1 13
Rxc1 Nb6 14 Bd3 e5, which leaves White with weak queenside pawns and a
bad bishop.
10 ... Nb6
The knight can also go to:
a) 10 ... Nc5 11 Qh5+ Kd8 (not 11 ... Ke7 12 e5! fxe5 13 Nf3 Bg7 14 Ng5
and the threat of Qf7+ can hardly be stopped) 12 0-0-0+ Kc7 13 Qf7+ Nd7
and then:
 a1) 14 Nf3! (the knight controls the important e5- and g5-squares against
the black queen; now it will not be easy to drive away the white queen from
f7) 14 ... Bb4 15 Bc4! Bxc3 16 Bxe6 Bxb2+ 17 Kxb2 Qb4+ 18 Bb3 Qf8 19 Qh5
when White has the better position and safer king.
a2) 14 Bc4 Qg5+ 15 Kb1 Qg6 16 Qxe6 Ne5 17 Nd5+ cxd5 18 Qxd5 Be7
and without supporting pieces, the attack on the exposed black king can
never be successful.
a3) After 14 Qxe6 Qe5 15 Qf7 Qe8 16 Qxe8 Bh6+ 17 Kb1 Rxe8 Black is
very comfortable. He has the two bishops and an open file for his rook to
pressure the weakness on the e4-square, which is enough compensation for
the pawn minus.
b) 10 ... Ne5 11 Qh5+ and then:
 b1) 11 ... Kd8 12 0-0-0+ Kc7 13 Qh4 Be7 14 Kb1 Bd7 15 Nf3 Rad8 16
Nb5+ cxb5 17 Nxe5 (not only have Black’s queenside pawns been degraded,
he is also facing the loss of his h-pawn) 17 ... Bc8 18 Rxd8 Rxd8 19 Bd3 Re8
20 Ng4 e5 21 Nxf6 Be6 (21 ... f5 is answered by 22 Qh5) 22 b3 Kb8 23 Qh5
Rf8 24 Nd7+ Bxd7 25 Qxe5+ Qc7 26 Qxe7 Rc8 27 Qxh7 a5 28 Qg7 a4 29 h4
Qd6 30 h5 Be6 31 h6 axb3 32 axb3 Bxb3 33 h7 Qb4 34 Qb2 1-0,
M.Yilmazyerli-R.Song, Singapore 2007. This game illustrates how fragile the
black pawns can be in this line.
b2) 11 ... Ke7 (Black is threatening ... Nf3+ or ... Nd3+, winning the
queen) 12 Be2 Bd7 13 0-0-0 Be8 14 Qh3 h5 15 Nf3 Nxf3 16 gxf3 Bh6+ 17 Kb1
Qe5 (Black may have two bishops, but his king position means he cannot try
to open up the game and White is better here in my opinion; he can try to
play for f2-f4 with Bd3, Rhf1 and Ne2) 18 Bc4 Bf7 19 Ne2 Rad8 20 f4 Qc5 21
Bd3 Rhg8 22 e5 Rg4 23 exf6+ Kxf6 24 Ng3 Ke7 25 f5 Rdd4 26 fxe6 Bxe6 27
Rhe1 Kd7 28 Nxh5 Qf8 29 Bc4 Bf5 30 Qxg4 Bxg4 31 Rxd4+ Kc7 32 Rxg4 Qf5
33 Be2 Qe5 34 Ng3 Qe3 35 Rf1 Bg5 36 Bd3 Bd8 37 h4 Qe5 38 Ne4 Kb6 39
Nc3 Bf6 40 Rgf4 Bg7 41 Rf7 Qd4 42 h5 Bh6 43 R7f6 Bg7 44 Rg6 Be5 45 h6 1-
0, D.Foetsch-G.Jacob, German League 1998.
c) 10 ... Qg5!? has been suggested by Cyrus Lakdawala. Following 11
Qxg5 (11 Qxe6+!? Be7 12 Qf5 Qxf5 13 exf5 Ne5 14 Nf3 Bxf5 15 0-0-0 Nxf3 16
gxf3 gives Black the two bishops, but his king is uncastled and White will take
advantage of the open position; this is roughly equal) 11 ... fxg5 White has
nothing and Black was even better after 12 Nf3 g4 13 Nd4 Ne5 14 Be2 Bg7 15
h3 h5 16 0-0-0 Bd7 in D.Collas-X.Parmentier, French League 1989.
Returning to 10 ... Nb6:
11 0-0-0

11 ... Bd7
Once again, there are alternatives:
a) Black does not achieve anything with 11 ... e5 12 Qh5+.
b) 11 ... Qg5+ 12 Qxg5 fxg5 13 h4 g4 (White hopes to activate his rook
after 13 ... gxh4 14 Rxh4) 14 h5! (the idea is to isolate the pawn on g4; Black
will have to play ... f5, allowing White’s knight a strong square on f5) 14 ... e5
15 Kb1 Be6 16 Bd3 Bh6 17 Nge2 0-0 18 Ng3 Bg5 19 Nf5 Nc8 20 Be2 Ne7 21
Bxg4 Nxf5 22 exf5 Bxf5 23 Bxf5 Rxf5 (Black has traded the weakness on g4
for one on e5, and now the white knight. has a very strong square on e4) 24
Ne4 Be3 25 Rhe1 Bd4 26 c3 Bb6 27 g4 Rf4 28 g5 Rd8 29 Nf6+ Kg7 30 Rxd8
Bxd8 31 Ne8+ Kf7 32 Rxe5 Bxg5 33 Nd6+ Kf6 34 Re8 b5 35 Rc8 Ke6 36 Rxc6
Kd5 37 Ra6 Rf1+ 38 Kc2 Rf2+ 39 Kb3 Bc1 40 c4+ bxc4+ 41 Nxc4 Rf3+ 42
Kb4 Rf7 43 Rd6+ Ke4 44 Rd1 Bf4 45 a4 Kf3 46 Ne5+ 1-0 was A.Flaata-
S.Mihajlov, Oslo 2011.
12 Qf4 0-0-0 13 Bd3
Taking on f6 would be very bad because Black’s dark-squared bishop will
find the long diagonal to be perfect for him. After 13 Qxf6? Rg8 14 Rd3 Bg7
15 Qe7 Bf6 16 Qxf6 Rgf8 17 Qe7 Rxf1+ 18 Rd1 Rxd1+ 19 Kxd1 Nc4 20 Nge2
Nxb2+ Black was much better, but a draw was agreed in F.Cottegnie-
R.Galvez Ponziano, correspondence 2000.
 13 ... Rg8 14 Nge2 Be7
In principle, the player with the bishop-pair should open the position. Thus
Black should open more lines for his pieces, especially the dark-squared
bishop, with 14 ... Rxg2!? 15 Qxf6 Bg7 16 Qf3 Qg5+ 17 Kb1 Rf8 18 h4 Rxf3 19
hxg5 Rxg5 20 Rxh7.
15 g3 h5 16 Kb1 Na4?!
Black fails to understand that the position revolves around the e5-square.
17 Nxa4 Qxa4 18 e5!

18 ... Qxf4 19 Nxf4 fxe5 20 Ng6 Bc5

After 20 ... Bd6! 21 Rhe1 Be8 22 Nxe5 Black can still hold as he has the
bishop-pair. Indeed, 22 ... h4 exchanges more pawns and opens the position
to his advantage. Even if he loses the e6-pawn, Black can still play for a
draw.
21 Nxe5 Be8 22 Bc4 Rxd1+ 23 Rxd1 Rf8
The pawn on e6 is lost so Black tries to find counterplay. It is natural to
want to place the rook on the open f-file, but he has missed White’s 25th
move.
24 Bxe6+ Kc7 25 Nd7! Bxd7 26 Rxd7+ Kb6 27 Bf7
The black rook is shut out of play. White has a potential passed pawn on
the kingside, but with opposite-coloured bishops on the board it will not be
easy for him to convert.
27 ... Bg1 28 h3 Bh2 29 g4 hxg4 30 hxg4 Bf4 31 c3 Rh8 32 Rd1
Rh2 33 Be6 Rf2 34 a3 a5 35 a4 Kc5 36 Ka2 b5 37 axb5 cxb5 38
Rd5+ Kb6 39 Bd7 b4 40 Rb5+ Kc7 41 Bf5 Bc1?
41 ... bxc3! 42 Rc5+ Kd6 43 Rxc3 Rg2 44 Ka3 Bd2 is an easy draw.
42 cxb4 Bxb2 43 bxa5 Bd4+ 44 Kb3 Rf4
Note too the line 44 ... Rb2+ 45 Kc4 Rxb5 46 Kxb5.

This ending is lost since the White has the correct colour bishop for the a-
pawn. The winning plan for White depends on which side the black king will
go. For example, 46 ... Be3 47 a6 Kd6 (or 47 ... Kb8 48 Kc6 Ka7 49 Bd3
followed by bringing the king over to f5) 48 g5 Ke5 49 g6 Kf6 50 Kc6 Bd4 51
Bd3 Kg7 52 Kb7 and Black has to give the bishop for the a-pawn.
45 Rb4 Kd6 46 a6 Rf3+ 47 Kc4 Bc5 48 Rb3 Rf4+ 49 Kb5 Bf2 50
Rd3+ Ke5 51 Ra3 Ba7 52 Kc6 Rb4 53 Ra5+ Kf4 54 Rb5 Ra4 55 Kb7
Bd4 56 Bd7 Ra3 57 Rb4 Ke5 58 Rxd4 Kxd4 59 a7 Rb3+ 60 Kc6 Ra3
61 Kb6 Ke5 62 Bb5 Kd6
62 ... Kf4 63 Ba6 blocks the rook from stopping the pawn and wins.
63 Kb7 Rb3 64 a8Q Rxb5+ 65 Kc8 1-0

Game 41
A.Souza-S.Mareco
Curitiba 2010

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 Nf3

Yet another option. This is a wait-and-see move. White waits for Black to
play 4 ... e6 in which case he can play the gambit line with 5 e4 h6 6 Bh4 g5
7 Bg3 dxe4 8 Ne5. It also keeps Black guessing as White can still play back
into e2-e3 territory.
4 ... e6
With 4 ... c6 Black plans ... Qa5 and ... Ne4. After 5 e3 (5 a3 e6 6 e3
brings the position back to those similar to 4 e3) 5 ... Qa5 6 Bd3 Ne4 7 0-0
Nxc3 8 bxc3 Qxc3 9 e4 we should consider:

a) 9 ... dxe4 10 Bxe4 Nf6 11 Bxf6 gxf6 12 Rb1 and White has definite
compensation for the pawn.
b) 9 ... e6 10 exd5 cxd5 11 Qe2 Bd6 12 Rfe1 h6 13 Bd2 Qc7 14 c4 dxc4 15
Bxc4 0-0 (White has good development and open lines on the kingside for the
sacrificed pawn) 16 Rac1 Qd8 17 Ne5 Nf6 18 Rc3 Bb4 19 Rg3 Bxd2 20 Qxd2
Kh8 21 Rh3 Nh7 (after 21 ... Kg8 22 Ree3 White brings another rook into the
attack and Black is hard pressed to defend against the threat of 23 Reg3 and
24 Rxh6) 22 f4?! (22 Bd3! wouldn’t have blocked the queen’s path to h6) 22
... b6 23 Qf2 Bb7 24 Bd3 Rc8 25 f5 Ng5 26 Rh5 Rc3? was O.Johnsen-
A.Malachi, Kaunas 2012, and now 27 h4 Nh7 28 fxe6 was just winning.
5 e4?!
This is the start of an unsound gambit which I do not recommend.
5 ... h6
 6 Bh4

Question: Do you think White should capture on f6 instead?

Answer: It is true that 6 Bxf6 avoids losing a pawn, but the point of this
variation is to sacrifice one. White wants to give a pawn to obtain a very
complex position where the better prepared player will have the advantage.
After 6 Bxf6 Nxf6 7 e5 Ne4 8 Qd3 Nxc3 9 Qxc3 Black is better with his
bishop-pair.
6 ... g5 7 Bg3 Nxe4 8 Nxe4 dxe4 9 Nd2
Another line is 9 Ne5 Bg7 10 h4 Nxe5 11 Bxe5 Bxe5 12 dxe5.
 Question: Should Black exchange queens since he is a pawn up?

Answer: No. Exchanging queens into an endgame will be worse for Black
as his pawns are mainly on the same colour square as his bishop: 12 ...
Qxd1+ 13 Rxd1 g4 14 Bb5+ Ke7 15 Rd4 Rd8 16 Rxe4 h5 with the better
pawn structure for White.
Correct is 12 ... Bd7 13 Qg4 Qe7 14 0-0-0 (after 14 Qxe4 Bc6! 15 Qd4 Rd8
16 Qc3 gxh4 Black had the superior game in J.Hector-R.Simon, Naestved
1988, and even worse would be 15 Bb5? Bxb5 16 Qxb7 Qb4+ 17 c3 Qxb2 18
Qxa8+ Ke7 when the threat of mate on e2 costs White a rook after 19 Qf3
Qxa1+ 20 Qd1 Qxd1+ 21 Kxd1) 14 ... 0-0-0 15 Qxe4 Bc6 16 Rxd8+ Rxd8 17
Qe3 gxh4.
 This is not a tabiya I can recommend entering:
a) 18 Qxh6? Qc5 19 Qf4 Qd5 (the threat of mate on d1 will cost White
more material) 20 Bd3 (after 20 b3 h3 White is unable to capture on h3 and
will lose material) 20 ... Qxa2 21 Rxh4 Qa1+ 22 Kd2 Qxb2 and White will lose
another pawn on g2 in view of the threat of ... Bb5.
b) 18 f4 a6 19 Qf2 Be4 20 Rxh4 (and not 20 Qxh4? Qc5) 20 ... Qd7 21 Qe2
Qd5 22 c4 (or 22 b3 Qd4 23 Kb1 Qc3 24 Rh3 Bxc2+! 25 Qxc2 Qe1+ 26 Kb2
Rd2) 22 ... Qd4 (the immediate threat is 23 ... Qg1 followed by 24 ... Bd3) 23
Rh1 (23 Rxh6? fails to 23 ... Bd3! 24 Qxd3 Qxf4+) 23 ... Bd3 24 Qf3 Bf5 when
the threat of 25 ... Qd2+ cannot be met satisfactorily.
c) 18 Qxa7? Qg5+ 19 Qe3 Rd4 leaves White with no good moves. He
cannot move his bishop because the g2-pawn is hanging and he cannot unpin
his queen with f2-f4. R.Reynolds-J.Nunn, London 1987, concluded 20 Qxg5
hxg5 21 f3 Rd5 22 f4 gxf4 23 Rxh4 f3! (after 23 ... Rxe5? 24 Rxf4 White might
still hold on for a draw) 24 Rh5? (or 24 Rh8+ Kd7 25 Rh5 f2 26 b3 f5 when
Black wins after ... Rd5xe5 and ... Re1) 24 ... Rd8! (after this move White
cannot handle all the tactical ideas that Black has in store) 25 Rh2 Rg8 26 g3
(or 26 gxf3 Rg1 27 Rf2 Bb5 and Black is winning) 26 ... Rxg3 27 Kd2 Rg1 28
Ke1 (28 Rf2 Rg5) 28 ... Bb5 29 Rf2 Be2 30 c4 c5 31 a3 b6 32 b4 Kc7 0-1.
9 ... f5
 The critical test of this line. Black threatens to bury the bishop on g3 with
pawn ... f5-f4. His king will be caught in the middle of the board after Qh5+,
but there is no need for him to panic as White does not have the pieces to
take advantage of this factor.
10 Qh5+
White has also tried 10 Bc4 f4 11 Qh5+ Ke7 12 Bxf4 gxf4 13 Nxe4 and
then:
a) 13 ... Bg7 14 0-0-0 Nb6 15 Bb3 (now Black is unable to capture on d4)
15 ... Qe8 16 Qh4+ Kf8 17 Rhe1 Qe7 18 Qxf4+ Qf7 19 Qh4 Kg8 20 Rd3 Nd5
21 Rf3 Qe7 22 Qg3 Kh7 23 Bxd5 exd5 24 Nf6+ Qxf6 25 Rxf6 Bxf6 26 Qxc7+
Kg6 27 Re3 Rh7 28 Qg3+ Kf7 29 Rf3 Rg7 30 Qe5 Rg6 31 Qxd5+ Kf8 32 Qe4
Kg7 33 Rc3 Bd8 34 f4 Rf6 35 Rg3+ Kf8 36 Qh7 Be6 37 Qg7+ Ke8 38 Re3 Be7
39 d5 Rc8 40 d6 1-0, M.Aymard-P.Briao, correspondence 2010.
b) 13 ... Nb6! is the move that puts the whole piece sacrifice variation out
of commission: 14 Be2 Nd5 (the point of 14 Be2 can be seen after 14 ...
Qxd4?? 15 Qh4+ Kf7 16 Qxf4+ Kg7 17 Qg3+ Kf7 18 Bh5+ Ke7 19 Qh4+ Kd7
20 Nf6+, which wins the black queen) 15 c4 Nf6 16 Nxf6 Kxf6 (Black’s king
looks highly exposed, but White has no way to take advantage of it) 17 0-0-0
(after 17 Qh4+ Kg7 18 Qxd8 Bb4+ Black gets his queen back, or if 17 Qe5+
Kf7 18 Qxh8 Bb4+) Kg7 18 h4 Qf6 19 g3 fxg3 20 Rd3 Bd6 21 Rg1 Rf8 22 c5
Bf4+ 23 Kd1 g2 24 Rxg2+ Kh8 25 Rf3 Bd7 26 Rg6 Qxd4+ 27 Rd3 Ba4+ 28
Ke1 Qe4 0-1, V.Mutter-A.Shakarov, correspondence 1971.
10 ... Ke7 11 h4 f4
 With 11 ... g4? Black harbours hopes of trapping the white queen after ...
Nf6 and ... Rg8, but White can act quickly with 12 Qg6 Qe8 (the point of
White’s last move is that 12 ... Nf6 13 Be5 pins and wins) 13 Qxe8+ Kxe8 14
Bxc7 Bg7 15 c3 Nf6 16 Be5 Bd7 17 Nc4 b6 18 a4 Kf7 19 a5 bxa5 20 Rxa5 Nh5
21 Bd6 Kg6 22 Ne5+ Bxe5 23 Bxe5 Rhd8 24 Ba6 Bc8 25 Bc4 Nf6 26 Ke2 a6
27 Rha1 Nd5 28 Bxa6 f4 29 Bc4 f3+ 30 gxf3 exf3+ 31 Kd2 Bb7 32 Bd3+ Kh5
33 c4 Rxa5 34 Rxa5 Kxh4 35 cxd5 Rxd5 36 Ra7 1-0, R.Pasiev-A.Vafin, Kazan
2009.
12 Bh2 Nf6 13 Qe2 Qxd4 14 0-0-0 Bg7

Black is simply two pawns up and his king is quite safe on e7. Moreover,
the white bishop is buried on h2 and will not be able to harass the black king.
15 c3 Qd5 16 g3 f3 17 Qe1 Qxa2 18 Bc4 Qa5 19 g4 Bd7 20 Nb3
Qa2 21 Be5 Bc6 22 hxg5 hxg5 23 Qe3 Rxh1 24 Rxh1 Rh8 25 Rxh8
Bxh8 26 Qxg5 Qa4 27 Qh6?? Qxc4 28 Qxh8 Qf1+ 29 Kc2 Qxf2+ 30
Kb1 Ne8
 The knight is a very good defender against a queen in such situations.
White has no attack and the black pawns decide the game.
31 Bf4 Qg1+ 32 Ka2 Qxg4 33 Be3 Bd5 34 Qd4 Bxb3+ 35 Kxb3
Qf5 36 c4 b6 37 Bf2 Nd6 38 Qh8 e3 39 Bh4+ Kf7 40 Qd8 f2 0-1
The pawn cannot be stopped.

Summary
4 f3 is White’s sharpest choice against 3 ... Nbd7. White hopes to exploit the
slow development of Black’s queenside with a quick e2-e4 followed by
building a strong pawn centre. This line was defused, though, once Black
understood that countering in the centre with 6 ... e5 (Game 40) is the best
reply. White is unable to take advantage of the resulting open lines as his
kingside is still undeveloped. Due to this, Veresov exponents started looking
for moves beside 4 f3 and came up with 4 Qd3 and 4 e3.
4 e3 is a quieter way of continuing without an early e2-e4 push. Moreover,
the line with 5 Qf3 can be quite dangerous as shown in the game Short-Giri.
 Chapter Six
Natural Development: 3 ... Bf5
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5 Bf5

This is the most natural reply by Black to the Veresov. In the variation
with 3 ... Nbd7, Black’s queen’s bishop is hemmed in. This move avoids that
problem and at the same time the bishop on f5 prevents White from carrying
out the e2-e4 pawn push.

Game 42
J.Liew-E.Torre
Asian Team Championship, Dubai 1986

This was my first win against the Filipino legend, Eugene Torre, who was the
first grandmaster in this region of the world. This was not the first time that I
had played against my chess hero, but I had lost all the previous games.
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5 Bf5 4 e3 e6
 5 Nge2!?
A novelty that I came up with during the game. The knight goes to g3 to
take further control over the e4-square. In some cases, the knight can go to
h5 to take part in a kingside attack and I was certain that Torre would retreat
his bishop giving me a tempo.
5 Bd3 is the normal continuation. The most famous player in this variation
is David Bronstein, who played it against Bobby Fischer at the 1960 Mar del
Plata tournament where Fischer shared first place with his future rival, Boris
Spassky. That game went 5 ... Bxd3 6 Qxd3 c5 7 Bxf6 gxf6 8 dxc5 Nd7 9 e4
dxe4 10 Qxe4 Nxc5 11 Qf3 Bg7 12 Nge2 0-0 13 g4 b5 14 Ng3 Na4 15 Nxa4
bxa4 16 0-0 Rc8 17 Rac1 Qd4 18 b3 Qb2 19 bxa4 Rxc2 (Fischer could have
maintained an advantage with 19 ... Rc3 20 Qf4 Qxa2; the c2-pawn is under
attack and Black also threatens to win the a4-pawn with ... Rc4) 20 Rxc2
Qxc2 21 Qb3 Qg6 22 h3 Bh6 23 Qf3 Rd8 24 Rd1 Rxd1+ 25 Qxd1 f5 26 Qd8+
Bf8 27 gxf5 exf5 28 Qb8 Qh6 29 Nxf5 Qxh3 30 Ne7+ Kg7 31 Qe5+ f6 32 Nf5+
Kf7 33 Qd5+ Kg6 34 Ne3 Qh5 35 Qg8+ Bg7 36 Qe8+ Kh6 37 Qd7 Qg6+ 38
Kf1 Bf8 39 Qxa7 Qd3+ 40 Kg2 Qe4+ 41 Kg1 Qg6+ 42 Kf1 Qd3+ 43 Kg2 Qe4+
44 f3 Qd3 45 Qd4 Qe2+ 46 Kg3 Qe1+ 47 Kg4 Qg1+ 48 Kf5 Qg6+ 49 Ke6
Qe8+ 50 Kf5 Qg6+ 51 Ke6 Qe8+ 52 Kf5 Qg6+ 53 Kf4 Qg5+ 54 Ke4 Kg6 55 f4
Qg1 56 Qd7 Qh1+ 57 Kd3 Qb1+ 58 Ke2 Qxa2+ 59 Kf3 Qa1 60 Qg4+ Kf7 61
Qh5+ Kg7 62 a5 Qc3 63 Qg4+ Kh8 64 Qe6 Bc5 65 Qe8+ Kg7 ½-½,
D.Bronstein-R.Fischer, Mar del Plata 1960.
5 ... c5
 This is very natural. Black challenges the centre before developing his
knight to c6.
6 Ng3 Bg6 7 Bd3 Nc6
Normally Black would like to capture on d3, but here that would allow the
g3-knight to hop to h5 later on.
8 0-0

The main question is whether Black can take advantage of a missing

white knight on f3 by playing ... e5 at some point in time.
8 ... cxd4
And not 8 ... e5? 9 dxe5 Nxe5 10 Bb5+. Clearly ... e5 cannot be played
prematurely.
9 exd4 Be7 10 Nce2
This clears the square for c2-c3 to support d4. The knight is also heading
for the kingside to support the attack.
10 ... 0-0 11 c3 Na5 12 Nf4 Rc8 13 Qe2 Nc4 14 Rae1 b5
Black goes for the minority attack as prescribed by the pawn structure.
Instead, if 14 ... Bxd3 15 Nxd3 h6 16 Bxf6 Bxf6 17 Nh5 then f2-f4-f5 would be
very thematic.
15 Nxg6 hxg6 16 h4 Re8
After 16 ... b4 17 cxb4 Bxb4 18 Rc1 Nd6 19 h5 White is breaking through.
17 Bc1!?
 Question: Why does the bishop retreat from the scene of the action?

Answer: This is a move that was criticized by some and praised by

others. The late grandmaster Eduard Gufeld liked it, but Nigel Davies, author
o f The Veresov, wrote: “Not quite incisive enough” and gave it a ‘?!’ in his
column in ChessCafe.com.
At the time 17 Bc1 felt right to me. White must move the bishop, in view
of 17 h5 Nxh5 18 Bxe7 Nxg3, and the only square which did not get in the
way of other pieces was c1.
17 ... Bd6 18 f4
White cannot allow 18 ... Bxg3 as the knight is needed in the attack.
18 ... Bf8!?
18 ... b4 seems to be the right move. Black really must get something
going on the queenside, if only to distract White a bit.
19 h5 gxh5 20 Nxh5 Ne4
 Question: Was this really necessary?

Answer: For the time being White has no immediate winning threats, but
if left alone, he will play Qf3 followed by f4-f5 with a strong attacking
position. Torre felt he had to be more active in defence or risk being overrun
by a standard attack, so he gives up a pawn hoping to blunt the attack.
After 20 ... Nxh5 21 Qxh5 g6 22 Bxg6 fxg6 23 Qxg6+ Bg7 24 Rxe6 Rf8 (or
24 ... Rxe6 25 Qxe6+ Kf8 26 b3 Nd6 27 Ba3 Rc6 28 Re1 and Black has no
good moves left) 25 f5 Rf6 26 Qg4 Rxe6 27 fxe6 Rc7 28 Qg6 Nd6 29 Bf4 Qe8
30 Qg4 Black has no defence to the simple attacking idea of Be5 and Rf7
amongst others.
21 Bxe4 dxe4 22 Qxe4 g6??
22 ... Qh4 23 Qf3 g6 was the correct sequence. White has an extra pawn,
but the game is still not over.
23 f5!
 23 ... gxh5
The f-pawn cannot be taken:
a) 23 ... exf5? 24 Qxe8 Qxe8 25 Nf6+ winning a whole rook.
b) 23 ... gxf5? 24 Qf4 Kh8 25 Qg3 when there is no defence to Bg5 and
Nf6 forming a mating net.
24 f6 Bg7?
Desperation. Black could have put up more stubborn resistance with 24 ...
Qd5 25 Qh4 Bd6 26 b3 Kh7 (26 ... Nb6? 27 Re5 will mate quickly) 27 bxc4
Rxc4 28 Rf3 Rg8 29 Qh3 Rg5 (otherwise 30 Re5 wins) 30 Bxg5 Qxg5 31 Rxe6!
fxe6 32 Qxe6 Ba3 (the bishop must remain on the diagonal to stop the f-
pawn which is about to become a queen) 33 Qf7+ Kh6 34 Qe8 Kh7 35 f7 Qg6
36 f8Q Bxf8 37 Qxb5 (a little finesse) 37 ... Rc7 38 Rxf8 Rg7 39 Qd5, although
by now White wins handily with the two passed pawns.
25 Qh4
Stronger than just capturing the bishop. White goes for mate.
25 ... Qd6 26 Rf3 Bxf6 27 Qxf6 1-0
The exposed black king will be mated.

Game 43
J.Liew-D.Kayumov
Kuala Lumpur 2013

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5 Bf5 4 f3

 This is the main line. With this move, White might push e2-e4 or he may
hope to transpose to another variation after 4 ... c6 5 Qd2 (Game 20).
4 ... Nbd7
A lot of players make a mistake in blitz with 4 ... e6.

Exercise: Can you see why this is a blunder?

Answer: 4 ... e6?? loses a piece after 5 e4 dxe4 6 fxe4 Bg4 7 Bxf6. Also if
6 ... Bg6 7 e5 h6 8 Bh4 and Black does not have ... g5 to save himself.
5 Nxd5 Nxd5 6 e4 h6
Alternatively:
a) 6 ... Be6 7 exd5 Bxd5 8 Bd3 h6 9 Bh4 c6 10 Ne2 Qb6 11 0-0 0-0-0??
(this is a blunder; Black’s queen and bishop are in very awkward positions
allowing White tactical possibilities) 12 c4 Be6 13 Bf2 Qxb2 (this just loses a
piece) 14 Qa4 a6 (14 ... Qb6 15 d5 wins the bishop) 15 Rab1 Qd2 16 Rfd1
Qg5 17 h4 Qh5 18 Nf4 1-0 was J.Liew-F.O.Liew, Kuala Lumpur (rapid) 1989.
b) 6 ... f6 is not as bad as it looks. If White can play f3, why Black cannot
play ... f6? This has the point that the queen’s bishop can retreat to f7 out of
danger. After 7 Bh4 Be6 8 exd5 Bxd5 9 c4 Bf7 in my opinion Black has a good
game as long as he plays a timely ... e5.
7 Bh4
Other moves do not trouble Black at all: for instance, 7 Bc1?! sees the
bishop retreats to its original square. This cannot be good and Black has a
tactical refutation: 7 ... e5! 8 exf5 Qh4+ 9 g3 Qxd4 10 Qxd4 exd4 11 Ne2
Bb4+, as in A.Roesch-M.Klebel, German League 1992.

7 ... Ne3
For a while, it was thought that 7 ... N7b6 was a refutation of the 4 f3 line
for White. The point being that after 8 exf5 Ne3 9 Qd3 Qxd4 10 Bf2 Qxd3 11
Bxd3 Nxg2+ 12 Kf1 the marauding knight escapes with 12 ... Nf4. Likewise,
after 10 Qxd4 Nxc2+ 11 Kf2 Nxd4 Black had won a pawn and had the better
position in L.Braeu-W.Kuhn, correspondence 1968, while after 10 Bg3 Qxb2
11 Qb5+ Qxb5 12 Bxb5+ c6 13 Bd3 0-0-0 the two bishops could not
compensate for the pawn minus in L.Aronian-N.Das, Bratislava 1993 (yes, the
super-grandmaster Levon Aronian played the Veresov in his early formative
years).
Here 9 Qe2 is a better choice as played by Veresov himself: 9 ... Qxd4 10
Bf2 Qxb2 11 Qb5+ Qxb5 12 Bxb5+ c6 13 Bxc6+ bxc6 14 Bxe3 being
G.Veresov-V.Makogonov, Leningrad 1938. However, White has an even better
alternative: 8 c3! Ne3 9 Qd3 (not 9 Qe2 Nxf1 10 exf5 Qd5 11 Kxf1 Qxf5 and
Black has no problems) 9 ... Nxf1 10 exf5 Nxh2 11 Rxh2. This position is in
White’s favour as Black has problems developing his kingside.
8 Qd3 Nxf1 9 exf5
 9 ... Nc5

Question: The knight on f1 is trapped so

why not sell itself as dearly as possible with 9 ... Nxh2?

Answer: The type of positions after 9 ... Nxh2 10 Rxh2 are always in
White’s favour. He is better developed and ready to castle on the queenside.
Moreover the pawn on f5 will exchange itself on e6 or g6, giving Black a weak
pawn on that square.
The other alternative is 9 ... Nb6 10 Kxf1 Qd5 11 b3 0-0-0 12 Ne2 when
White has a space advantage. Another problem for Black is that he cannot
play 12 ... e5 due to the pin on the h4-d8 diagonal. Note too the instructive
game 12 ... Rg8 13 c4 Qd7 14 Rd1 (it was better to leave the rook on the a-
file and start pushing the a-pawn: 14 a4 Kb8 15 a5 Nc8 16 a6 b6 17 g4 when
White has control over a major portion of the board) 14 ... g5 15 fxg6 fxg6 16
Kf2 g5 17 Bg3 Bg7 18 Qe4 e6 19 a4 Kb8 20 Rd3 Nc8 21 d5 Rge8 22 Rhd1
exd5 23 Rxd5 Qf7 24 Qc2 Rxd5 25 Rxd5 Qe6 26 Qd3 Re7 27 Kf1 Rf7 28 h3 a6
29 b4 Bf6 30 Nd4 Qe8 31 a5 Ne7 32 Bxc7+! and 1-0 in L.Myagmarsuren-
B.Andersen, Tel Aviv 1964.
10 Qc3 Na4 11 Qb3
 11 ... Nb6

Question: What is wrong with 11 ... Qxd4, taking back a pawn?

Answer: White has two good replies to 11 ... Qxd4, one of which forces a
draw:
a) White can have a safe draw with 12 Qxb7 Rd8 (12 ... Qxh4+? 13 g3
wins for White) 13 Kxf1 Qxh4 14 Qb5+ Rd7 15 Qb8+ Rd8 16 Qb5+.
b) Or he can try for more with 12 Bf2 Qe5+ 13 Kxf1 Nb6 14 a4 0-0-0 15
a5. Now:
b1) 15 ... Nd7 16 a6 b6 17 Ne2 (compared to the previous variation,
matters are worse for Black as he cannot even take on f5) 17 ... Qxf5? 18 Nd4
Qg6 19 Qd5 and the white queen is invading on the light squares.
b2) 15 ... Nd5 16 a6 b6 17 Ne2 Qxf5 18 c4 Nf4 (after 18 ... Nf6 19 Nd4
Qd7 20 c5 White has a strong attack) 19 Nxf4 Qxf4 20 c5 e6 21 g3 Qd2 22
cxb6 axb6.
 Despite appearances, Black is not lost here. The pawn on a6 might look
menacing, but White cannot queen it by force. Indeed, after 23 a7 Kb7 24
Qa4 Bb4 the a-pawn is no longer a threat and White even has to worry about
his king safety. Also possible is 22 ... cxb6 23 Qc4+ Kb8 24 Bxb6 Qd3+ (24 ...
axb6? 25 Qc6 Rd7 26 a7+ Rxa7 27 Qe8+ Kb7 28 Qxf7+ wins) 25 Qxd3 Rxd3
26 Ke2 Rd5 with equal chances.
12 Ne2 Qd5
Black regains the pawn with this move as queen exchanges are no longer
favourable to White.
13 Rxf1 Qxf5 14 0-0-0 0-0-0 15 Kb1 a6 16 Nc3 g5
 Black needs to play this to continue his kingside development. The
disadvantage is that the kingside pawns are on the same colour square as his
bishop and White will attack the pawns with h2-h4 at a later stage.
If, instead, Black tries to unpin the e-pawn with 16 ... Rd7 then White has
17 d5, gaining space and discouraging ... e6.
17 Bf2 e6 18 Rfe1 Bg7
I do not think the bishop is well placed here, although it attacks the d4-
pawn. At some point, Black must play the bishop back to the a3-f8 diagonal
to prevent a knight invading on c5.
19 Ne4 Qb5 20 h4 gxh4 21 c3 Qf5!?
Black decides to keep queens on the board and intends to attack with ...
Rd5-b5. A safer alternative was 21 ... Qxb3 22 axb3 h3 23 gxh3 Nd5 with
equal chances.
22 Bxh4 Rd5 23 c4!? Rxd4 24 c5 Rxd1+?
Instead, 24 ... Nd5 25 Rxd4 Bxd4 26 Qd3 Bf6 (or 26 ... Bg7 27 g4 Qh7 and
now that the black queen is driven to the kingside, White has good chances
of a queenside attack with 28 c6) 27 Bxf6 Nxf6 28 Qc3 e5 29 c6 Nxe4 30 fxe4
Qe6 31 cxb7+ Kxb7 32 Rc1 gives White the initiative.
Best is 24 ... Nd7 25 Rxd4 Bxd4 26 c6 bxc6 27 Qd3 Bb6 28 Qxa6+ Kb8
(Black has an extra pawn and intends ... Qb5 to drive away the white queen)
29 Qa4 Qb5 30 Qc2 when Black has survived the worst.
25 Rxd1 Nd5 26 g4!
 26 ... Qg6
Not 26 ... Qe5 27 Bg3 Nf4 28 c6 bxc6 (28 ... b6 29 Bxf4 Qxf4 30 Qa4 also
wins) 29 Bxf4 Qxf4 30 Nc5, mating on b7.
27 c6 Nb6
After 27 ... bxc6 28 Qa4 h5 29 Qxc6 hxg4 30 Ka1 Be5 (30 ... Rxh4? 31
Nd6+ Kd8 32 Qe8 mate) White has a neat win:
a) 31 Nc5 Bxb2+ 32 Kxb2 Qc2+ 33 Kxc2 Nb4+ 34 Kc3 Nxc6 35 Bf6 Rh3 36
Rf1 Rxf3+ 37 Rxf3 gxf3 38 Kd2 Nb8 39 Bc3 (39 Ke3 Nd7 repeats) 39 ... Nd7
40 Nxa6 c5 traps the knight.
b) 31 Bg3!! Bd4 (alternatively, if 31 ... Bxg3 32 Nc5 when there is no
defence to mate on a8 or 31 ... gxf3 32 Bxe5 Qxe4 33 Bxh8 Qe2 34 Rg1 Ne7
35 Qe8+ Kb7 36 Qxe7 f2 37 Qb4+ and White will mate) 32 a3 avoids any
back-rank tactics from Black. White is now free to concentrate all his pieces
against the black king and after 32 ... gxf3 33 Nc5 Bxc5 34 Rxd5 Black has no
defence to the combined threats of mate on c7 and a8.
28 Qd3 Kb8
28 ... f6? 29 Nd6+ wins the black queen.
29 cxb7?!
The simplest continuation was to remove the king’s only defender with 29
Bf2 Rc8 30 Bxb6 cxb6 31 Qd6+ Ka7 32 Qe7 Rxc6 33 Rd7 when mate is
unavoidable.
29 ... e5
Instead, 29 ... Kxb7 30 Rc1 (Black is helpless against the coming
onslaught on his king) 30 ... Be5 31 Rc2 (this unpins the queen to threaten
Nc5 and Qxa6) 31 ... Ka7 32 Bf6 Bxf6 33 Rxc7+ Kb8 34 Qd6 Nc8 35 Qc6
mates.
30 Rc1
This simply threatens Bd8 and it is game over for Black, whereas 30
Qxa6? would have allowed the black queen to return to the queenside after
30 ... Qc6 31 Rc1 Qxb7.
30 ... h5 31 gxh5 Qf5 32 Bd8 1-0

Game 44
J.Liew-M.F.Zakaria
Kuala Lumpur 2004

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Bf5 4 f3 c5 5 dxc5 d4 6 e4

This strike in the centre is necessary in this variation, otherwise White has
a bad game.
6 ... dxc3
Alternatively:
a) 6 ... Bg6 7 Nb5 e5 8 c3 a6 9 Nd6+ Bxd6 10 cxd6 Qxd6 11 cxd4 exd4 12
Bd3 Nc6 13 Ne2 0-0 14 0-0 Rfe8 15 Qd2 Rac8 16 Rfd1 Nd7 17 Rac1 Nde5 18
Bb1 f6 19 Bh4 Rcd8 20 Bf2 Bh5! and Black had the initiative, although White
won in 47 moves in J.Liew-M.Kamal, Kuala Lumpur 1989.
b) 6 ... Nc6 7 exf5 dxc3 8 Qxd8+ Rxd8 9 bxc3 e6 10 Bxf6?! (10 fxe6 fxe6
11 Bc4 Kf7 12 Rb1 Na5 13 Bd3 Bxc5 14 Nh3 gives White a small advantage)
10 ... gxf6 11 fxe6 fxe6 12 Rb1 Rd7 13 Bb5 Rg8 14 g4 Rg5 15 Bxc6 bxc6 16
Ne2 Rxc5 17 h4 Ra5 saw Black go on to win in P.Marttinen-V.Nieminen,
Finland 1978.
7 Qxd8+ Kxd8 8 exf5 cxb2 9 Rb1 Nbd7 10 Rxb2 Nxc5
Although material is even, White has the easier development. The pawn
on f5 is quite useful and Black cannot develop his kingside without being
saddled with an isolated e-pawn.
11 Bc4 e6 12 fxe6 fxe6 13 Nh3!?

Question: Why does the knight go to h3 when e2 seems a better option?

Answer: I wanted the option of a later Ng5, but, yes, developing towards
the centre is another option. Indeed, one of my games went 13 Ne2 Bd6 14
0-0 a6 15 Nd4 Be5 16 c3 b5 17 Re2 Bxd4+ 18 cxd4 bxc4 19 dxc5 Kd7 20 Rc1
Rhc8 21 Bxf6 gxf6 22 Rxc4 and White had a winning ending in J.Liew-A.Chin,
Kuala Lumpur 1991.
13 ... Kc7 14 Bf4+?!
White should really avoid exchanges. After 14 Bd2 Bd6 15 Ng5 Rhe8 16
Nf7 Bf8 17 0-0 Rad8 18 Bf4+ White takes control of the dark squares.
14 ... Bd6 15 Bxd6+ Kxd6 16 0-0 Rhe8 17 Rbb1 h6 18 Nf4 g5? 19
Rfd1+ Kc7 20 Nd3!
 20 ... Nfd7
Even here White is doing well enough, as we can see too from:
a) 20 ... Nxd3 21 Rxd3 b6 22 Rc3 Kb7 23 Bb5 Rec8 24 Re3 Rxc2 25 Rxe6
Rf8 26 Re7+ Kb8 27 a4 Nd5 28 Rh7 Ne3 29 Re1 Nf5 (Black cannot allow the
doubling of rooks on the seventh rank after 29 ... Nxg2 30 Ree7 Nh4 31 Rb7+
Kc8 32 Ba6 Nxf3+ 33 Kf1 Nxh2+ 34 Ke1 Nf3+ 35 Kd1 when he runs out of
checks) 30 Bd3 Rc7 31 Bxf5 Rxf5 32 Rxh6 wins for White.
b) 20 ... b6 21 Nxc5 bxc5 22 Rb5 Nd7 23 Ra5 when White has easier
position and clear targets on a7, c5 and e6.
c) 20 ... Na4 21 Re1 (or 21 Rb3 Re7 22 Re1 Kd6 23 Ne5) 21 ... Nc3 22 Rb3
Ncd5 23 Nc5 (23 Bb5 Re7 24 c4) 23 ... b6 24 Ne4 Nxe4 25 Rxe4 Kd6 26 Rd3
and White has the advantage due to his more active pieces.
21 Bb5 Re7 22 Bxd7 Nxd7 23 h4 Rg8 24 Rb4 Rf8 25 Rc4+ Kb8
26 hxg5 hxg5
White has the advantage with two weaknesses on e6 and g5 to target.
27 Rd2
27 Nc5 is not a good idea as exchanging more pieces helps the defence:
27 ... Nxc5 28 Rxc5 Rc8 29 Rxc8+ Kxc8 30 Kf2 Rc7 (exchanging rooks loses
the pawn ending: 30 ... Rd7 31 Rxd7 Kxd7 32 Kg3 Ke7 33 Kg4 Kf6 34 f4 when
White’s active king position and outside passed pawn decide) 31 Rd2 Rc4
with equal chances.
27 ... a6 28 Re2 Nf6 29 Rc5 g4 30 f4 Rh8 31 Rg5 Rhh7
 32 Nc5
Black can no longer defend his weaknesses. However, 32 Nc5 was not the
best move and allowed Black some activity. A better way to win was 32 Rg6
Nd5 33 Rexe6 Rc7 34 Rg5 Rhd7 35 Ree5 Nf6 36 Re2, netting the pawn
cleanly.
32 ... Nd5
This loses quickly. The superior 32 ... Rc7 33 Nxe6 Rc3 at least gives Black
some activity.
33 Rxg4 b6 34 Nxe6 Rh6 35 f5 Nf6 36 Rg7 Re8 37 Kf2 Rh4 38
Rg6 Ne4+ 39 Kf3 Nc3 40 Rd2 Rh5 41 Ng7 Ne4 42 Re2 1-0

Game 45
J.Liew-M.Nasrul Humaimi
Kuala Lumpur 2014

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Bf5 4 f3 h6 5 Bh4 c6 6 Qd2

This position can also arise after the interchangeable moves 4 ... c6 5 Qd2
h6 6 Bh4.
6 ... Nbd7 7 0-0-0 Qa5
White will take advantage of the black queen on a5 to effect an e2-e4
push in the centre. The other move is 7 ... e6 and then:
a) 8 e4?! is an over-optimistic sacrifice: 8 ... dxe4 9 fxe4 Nxe4 10 Qe1 g5!
11 Nxe4 gxh4 12 Nf3 Be7 13 Bc4 Qc7 14 Rf1 h3 15 gxh3 Bxh3 16 Rf2 0-0-0 17
Kb1 Bg4 18 Rd3 Bf5 19 Qe3 Nf6 0-1 J.Liew-N.Murshed, Kuala Lumpur 2006.
b) 8 Re1 Bh7 9 e4 and here:

b1) 9 ... dxe4 10 fxe4 Bb4 11 Bd3 c5 12 d5 Qb6 and Black’s chances are
not worse than White.
b2) 9 ... Nxe4 10 fxe4 Qxh4 11 Nf3 Qd8 12 exd5 cxd5 13 Nxd5 Bd6 14 Bd3
Bxd3 15 Qxd3 0-0 16 Ne3 Rc8 17 Kb1 (chances are equal here and both sides
have ambitions of starting attacks on the opposite wings) 17 ... Bf4 18 g4
Nb6!? (Black should go ahead and play 18 ... Nf6, not fearing 19 h4 Bxe3 20
Qxe3 Nxg4 21 Qf4 h5 when White has no attack) 19 Ng2 Bd6 20 g5 h5 (20 ...
hxg5 21 h4 Qf6 22 hxg5 Qf5 23 Re4 (now White has a strong attack on the
open h-file) 21 g6 Nc4 22 Ne3 b5 23 Rhg1 f6 24 Qe4 Re8 25 Qh4 f5 26 Qxh5
1-0 was A.Kosteniuk-E.Korbut, Samara 2005.
8 e4 dxe4 9 fxe4 Bg4
Black loses a piece after 9 ... Nxe4 10 Nxe4, discovering an attack on the
queen on a5.
10 Be2 Bxe2 11 Ngxe2
 11 ... e6
I’ve also analysed:
a) 11 ... b5? (Black is in no position to start aggression on the queenside)
12 e5 b4 (or 12 ... Nd5 13 Nxd5 Qxd2+ 14 Rxd2 cxd5 15 Nc3 and White wins
a pawn) 13 exf6 bxc3 14 Nxc3 Nxf6 15 Bxf6 gxf6 16 Qe2 Bg7 17 Rhe1 e6 18
d5 cxd5 19 Rxd5 Qb4 20 Qh5 0-0 21 Rd3 Rab8 22 b3 f5 23 Ree3 Rfd8 24 Qd1
Bf6 25 Kb1 Rxd3 26 Qxd3 Rd8 27 Qc4 Qxc4 28 bxc4 Rb8+ 29 Nb5 a6 30 a4
axb5 31 cxb5 Ra8 32 Ra3 Be7 33 Ra2 Bb4 34 Kb2 Ba5 35 c4 Rc8 36 Kb3 Kf8
37 Rf2 Ke7 38 Rf3 Kd6 39 Rd3+ Kc5 40 Rd7 Rc7 41 Rd8 Bb6 42 g3 Ra7 43
Rc8+ Kd4 44 Rc6 Bc5 45 Rc8 Rd7 46 a5 e5 47 b6 Rb7 48 Rc7 Rb8 49 Rd7+
Ke4 50 b7 f4 51 gxf4 exf4 52 a6 f5 53 Ka4 f3 54 Kb5 1-0 C.Renner-G.Loew,
Nuremberg 2007.
b) 11 ... e5 is less effective here than in analogous positions from Game
40. White is already castled and the light-squared bishops have been
exchanged, leaving Black’s light squares weak, especially f5. For example, 12
dxe5 Nxe5 (12 ... Qxe5 13 Bg3 Qa5 14 e5 gives White a clear advantage after
14 ... Nd5 15 Nxd5 Qxd2+ 16 Rxd2 cxd5 17 Rxd5) 13 Bxf6 gxf6 14 Ng3 Ba3!
15 Qd4 (15 bxa3 Qxa3+ 16 Kb1 Nc4 17 Qd7+ Kf8 18 Na4 Qxa4 19 Qxb7 Kg7
20 Nf5+ Kg6 21 Ka1 Qxc2 22 Nh4+ Kg7 23 Nf5+ Kg6 24 Nh4+ draws) 15 ...
0-0 16 Nh5 Bc5 17 Nxf6+ Kg7 18 Nh5+ Kh7 19 Qa4 Be3+ 20 Kb1 Qxa4 21
Nxa4 Rad8 when White has an extra pawn, but Black’s solid knight on e5 and
better control of dark squares should be sufficient to hold the game.
12 a3
 12 ... b5

Question: Can’t Black sacrifice on a3?

Answer: Well, 12 ... Bxa3 13 bxa3 Qxa3+ 14 Kb1 Qb4+ (after 14 ... Nb6
15 Qc1 Qa5 16 Bxf6 gxf6 17 Qb2 Nc4 18 Qb3 b5 19 d5 Black does not have
enough pieces to continue the attack) 15 Ka1 Qa5+ 16 Na2 Qxd2 17 Rxd2
Nxe4 supplies some compensation, but a piece is still a piece.
13 d5 cxd5 14 exd5 e5
Instead, 14 ... Bxa3 15 dxe6 Nb6 (or 15 ... fxe6 16 Bxf6 Nxf6 17 bxa3
Qxa3+ 18 Kb1 0-0 19 Qd6 when White’s extra piece should carry him
through) 16 bxa3 Qxa3+ 17 Kb1 Qb4+ (not 17 ... Nc4?? 18 Qd7+ Nxd7 19
exd7+ Kf8 20 d8Q+ Rxd8 21 Rxd8 mate) 18 Ka1 Qxh4 19 e7 keeps the black
king firmly in the centre.
15 d6 g5 16 Bf2 Rc8 17 Ng3 Rc6 18 Nf5 b4 19 axb4 Qxb4 20
Rhe1 Ra6
 21 Bd4?
A slip. Correct was 21 Bg3 Ne4 22 Qd3 Ra1+ (or 22 ... Nxc3 23 Qxa6) 23
Nb1 and wins.
21 ... Kd8?
21 ... Bxd6 is a better move and Black can survive after this:
a) 22 Bxe5? Ra1+ 23 Nb1 Qxd2+ 24 Rxd2 Bxe5 and Black wins.
b) 22 Nxd6+ Rxd6 23 Bxe5 Rxd2 24 Bd6+ Kd8 25 Bxb4 Rxd1+ 26 Rxd1
and White has an edge.
c) 22 Qd3 Ra1+ 23 Nb1 0-0 24 Nxh6+ Kh8 25 Bc3 Qf4+ 26 Qd2 Bc7 27
Rf1 Qxd2+ 28 Bxd2 g4 29 Bb4 Rb8 30 Nxg4 Rxb4 31 Nxf6 Nxf6 32 Rxf6 Bb6
when White is much better, but the game is still far from won and Black can
fight on for a while.
22 Bxe5 Nxe5 23 Rxe5 Ne4 24 Qd3
Wisely avoiding 24 Qd5?? Ra1+ 25 Nb1 Rxb1+ 26 Kxb1 Nc3+ which wins
the queen.
24 ... Ra1+
Alternatively, if 24 ... Nxc3 25 Qxa6 Qf4+ 26 Re3 Qxf5 27 Qc6 with mate
to follow.
25 Nb1 Nc5 26 Qd5 Ne6 27 Nd4 Qb6
Likewise, 27 ... Nxd4 28 Rxd4 Qb8 29 Qc6 and White wins.
28 Nxe6+ fxe6 29 Qxe6 Bg7 30 Qe7+ Kc8 31 d7+ 1-0

Game 46
D.Reinderman-C.Van Oosterom
Haarlem 2009

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5 Bf5 4 Bxf6

If White does not want to play the sharp 4 f3, this is a good alternative.
Black’s kingside pawns are weakened after the exchange.
4 ... exf6
4 ... gxf6 will be seen in Game 48.
5 e3 c6 6 Bd3 Qd7 7 Nge2 Bd6 8 e4 dxe4 9 Nxe4

White has chosen the right moment to play the break on e4. Now he is
threatening to take back the dark-squared bishop on d6.
9 ... Be7
Exchanging on e4 is not a good idea as this gives back the bishop-pair: 9
... Bxe4 10 Bxe4 and White has all the winning chances here as he has a
majority on the queenside.
10 c3 Na6 11 Qc2 Be6
White was threatening 12 Nxf6+ Bxf6 13 Bxf5, winning a pawn.
12 Nf4 Nc7 13 0-0 0-0-0?!
This is a very bad decision. White has a ready-made attack on the
queenside because Black has played the move ... c6.
14 b4
White is just playing for the b5 break.
14 ... g6 15 Rab1 Bf5 16 a4 Rhe8 17 b5 cxb5 18 axb5
 18 ... Bxe4?
Giving up the bishop for knight on e4 just to win the b5-pawn was a bad,
bad decision.
19 Bxe4 Nxb5? 20 Qb3 Bd6
Alternatively, 20 ... a6 21 c4 Nd6 (or 21 ... Nxd4 22 Bxb7+ Kb8 23 Qb6
and it is over) 22 Bd5 when Black is helpless against Nf4-d3-c5, pressuring b7
and a6.
21 Qc4+ Qc7 22 Bxb7+ Kxb7 23 Qxb5+ Kc8 24 Nd5 1-0
Black resigned as 24 ... Qd7 25 Qa6+ wins.

Game 47
J.Liew-R.Barcenilla
Asia Zonal, Shah Alam 1990

This game is a good example of how passive play from Black can be
punished. White’s queenside advance is typical of his strategy in this 4 Bxf6
variation.
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5 Bf5 4 Bxf6 exf6 5 e3 c6 6 Bd3 Be6
This retreat is a little strange, although even after 6 ... Bg6 7 f4 Bxd3 8
Qxd3 Bd6 9 Nge2 0-0 10 0-0 Re8 11 e4 Na6 12 c3 dxe4 13 Nxe4 White enjoys
both a space advantage and central majority.
7 Qf3
From here the queen prevents a possible ... f5 by Black. By placing the
queen in front of the king’s knight which is bound for e2, White has further
possibilities of conducting a fast kingside attack should Black castle on that
side.
Instead, 7 Nge2 Bd6 8 e4 dxe4 9 Nxe4 Bc7 10 Nc5 Bc8 11 Qd2 Nd7 12
Nb3 0-0 13 0-0-0 a5 14 Kb1 a4 15 Nbc1 Nb6 16 Nf4 Nd5 17 Nce2 b5 18 a3?!
Qd6 19 Nxd5 Qxd5 20 Nc3 Qd6 was seen in the later game J.Liew-Nguyen
Duc Hoa, Kuala Lumpur 2006, when I should have gone for 21 Qe3! b4 22
Ne4 Qe7 23 axb4 Qxb4 24 Nxf6+ gxf6 25 Qh6 f5 26 Qg5+ Kh8 27 Qf6 with
the advantage.
7 ... Qd7 8 Nge2 f5

Question: Why does Black play ... f5 putting his pawns

on the same colour square as his queen’s bishop?

Answer: 8 ... f5 stops any immediate e3-e4 plans by White at the cost of
limiting the light-squared bishop on e6. By preventing the opening of the
game, Black gains time for development and hopes that once that has been
completed, he can start opening up the position for his bishop-pair.
9 Nf4 g6 10 h4
A space-gaining move. White is not necessarily planning on pushing on to
h5. Instead, by putting his own pawns on dark squares, White forces his
opponent to put his own pawns on the light squares and so further limit the
already bad bishop on e6.
 10 ... h5 11 Nce2
In this structure, White’s plan is to advance the pawn to c4. Depending on
the situation, he may exchange on d5 and, after some exchanges, saddle
Black with an isolated d-pawn. Alternatively, he can continue to push the
pawn to c5 followed by a general pawn advance on the queenside as occurs
in the game.
11 ... Bh6 12 0-0 Qe7 13 Qg3 Nd7

14 Nxe6

Question: White exchanges his knight for

the bad bishop. Doesn’t this violate principles?

Answer: Keeping the opponent’s bad bishop is a good general rule, but
rules can sometimes be broken. Here White wants to play pawn to c4 at
some point. White is also anticipating that the black knight will go to e4 and
he wants to keep his light-squared bishop on d3 to exchange the knight when
that happens. So the reason for the knight exchanging itself for the bad
bishop on e6 is to enable White to keep the d3-bishop. A good example of
not being overly dogmatic about chess principles.
14 ... Qxe6 15 Rfc1
 Exercise: Why this rook? Your early chess books probably emphasized
that rooks should go to the central files, so why leave the rook on a1?

Answer: The rook is kept on a1 because White anticipates that he will

advance the a-pawn later on. Then the rook will be better placed on a1 in
case the a-file opens up. In general, it is always advisable to think about the
possible opening of files and envision how your rooks will be best placed to
take advantage of it.
15 Qc7 might look attractive at first as the queen gets deep into Black’s
pieces. However, after 15 ... Rb8 16 Nf4 Qe7 17 c4 0-0 (not 17 ... Qxh4 18
cxd5 Bxf4?? as opening up the e-file is disastrous with the black king still in
the centre: 19 exf4 Qd8 20 Qd6 Qf6 21 Rfe1+ Kd8 22 Qa3 cxd5 23 Qa5+ Nb6
24 Re5 Qd6 25 Rae1 when Black is almost lost, if not lost already) 18 cxd5
Rfc8 19 Qa5 Bxf4 20 exf4 Qxh4 21 dxc6 bxc6 22 g3 Qd8 Black has good
counterplay.
15 ... Nf6 16 c4 0-0 17 Nf4 Bxf4
After 17 ... Qe7 18 cxd5 Bxf4 (or 18 ... cxd5 19 Rc5 Bxf4 20 Qxf4 Rfc8 21
Rac1 when White has taken control of the open c-file) 19 Qxf4 Nxd5 20 Qg5
Qxg5 21 hxg5 and White has the better endgame chances as his minor piece
is the stronger.
18 Qxf4 Rfe8 19 b4 Rac8 20 c5 Qd7 21 a4 Qc7?!
This gives White a free hand on the kingside. A more stubborn defence
would have been 21 ... Qd8 22 b5 Ng4 (if 22 ... Qa5 23 Bxf5! gxf5 24 Qg5+,
winning back the piece) 23 g3 Qa5. Moreover, this position is actually equal
as there is no way for White to remove the blockade on a5.
22 Qxc7 Rxc7 23 b5 Ree7 24 g3 Ne8 25 Rcb1 Ng7 26 a5

White is ready to break through on the queenside with this move.

26 ... cxb5 27 Bxb5
This is winning, but opening the a-file for the rook with 27 a6 was the
most accurate.
27 ... Ne6
Alternatively, 27 ... Re6 28 a6 b6 29 cxb6 Rxb6 30 Be2 and Black’s
weaknesses on d5 and a7 will soon become indefensible: for example, 30 ...
Rcc6 31 Rxb6 Rxb6 32 Ra5 Rd6 33 Rb5 followed by Rb7 wins.
28 a6 Nd8
Another plan would be to put the knight on f6 to defend the d5-pawn, but
this too fails to hold the position:
a) 28 ... Nf8 29 axb7 Rxb7 30 Bc6 loses the pawn immediately.
b) 28 ... bxa6 29 Bxa6 Nf8 30 Rb8 Kg7 31 Rab1 Nd7 32 Rd8 Kh7 (32 ... Kf6
33 Rg8 puts Black in zugzwang: 33 ... Re6 34 Rb7 Rxb7 35 Bxb7 and the
pawn on d5 falls) 33 Kg2 (there is no need to hurry when you have a position
like this as the black weaknesses are not going anywhere; thus White takes
the opportunity to get his king off the back rank) 33 ... Kg7 34 Bb5 (the
bishop goes to b3 to attack the d5-pawn) 34 ... Kh7 35 Ba4 Kg7 36 Bb3.
 As we can see, at last the d5-pawn will fall.
29 Ba4 Kg7 30 Kg2 bxa6 31 Rb8 Ne6 32 Bb3 Red7 33 Rxa6 g5
34 hxg5 Nxg5 35 Ba4 Re7 36 Bb3
Again there is no need to hurry for White. Indeed, I tried to repeat moves
to get closer to the time control at move forty.
36 ... Re6
Or 36 ... Red7 37 Ba4 Re7 38 Rd8 and the d5-pawn falls anyway.
37 Ra2 Rd7 38 Ra8 Ree7 39 c6 Rd6 40 R2xa7
The last move before the time control. I had seconds to make a move and
went for the most obvious. The text wins, but White can play more forcefully
with 40 Ra6 Rc7 41 Ba4 Ne6 42 R6xa7, winning a clear pawn.
40 ... Rxa7 41 Rxa7 Rxc6 42 Bxd5 Rc2 43 Ra2 Rxa2 44 Bxa2 Kf8
45 Bd5 Nh7 46 Kh3
Black continued to play on in this lost ending and only eventually resigned
on the 81st move.

Game 48
A.Sherbakov-B.Niktinykh
Correspondence 2002

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5 Bf5 4 Bxf6 gxf6 5 e3 e6 6 Bd3 Bg6 7 e4 c6

8 Nge2 Nd7 9 h4?!
This weakening and time-wasting move does not achieve anything here.
 9 ... Qb6 10 f3

Of course, h4-h5 was never a threat without this move, but now the
position is opened and that favours the side with the two bishops.
10 ... dxe4 11 fxe4 h5 12 a3 Bh6 13 b4 0-0-0 14 Na4 Qc7 15 Rh3
f5 16 e5 f6!
Naturally Black wants to open the game for his bishops.
17 Nc5
After 17 exf6 Nxf6 18 Nc5 Rhe8 19 c3 e5 White is in trouble.
17 ... Nxc5 18 bxc5 fxe5 19 c3 exd4 20 cxd4 e5 21 Qa4 exd4?!
Black is winning here and only needs to ensure that White has no
counterplay against his king. Once the king is safe, he can proceed to open
the position further for his two bishops against the white king.
With that in mind, the best move was 21 ... Kb8! (defending a7) 22 Rb1
Ka8!.
 The king is completely safe on a8 and now Black can confidently start his
own attack against the hapless white king.
22 Rb1 Rhe8 23 Qxa7 b5!?
After 23 ... Qb8 24 Rxb7 Qxa7 25 Rxa7 Rd7 26 Rxd7 Kxd7 27 Kf1 Be3 28
Rg3 White will win the pawn on f5 because 28 ... Bh7? 29 Rg7+ Re7 30 Rxh7
Rxh7 31 Bxf5+ nets a piece.
24 cxb6 Qxa7 25 bxa7 Kc7 26 Rg3 Bf7 27 Ba6
Suddenly White’s pieces come alive and he now even stands better thanks
to the pawn on a7.
27 ... Kd6 28 Rb7 Rd7 29 Rxd7+?
Simply 29 Rd3 was winning for White as there is no good way to defend
the d4-pawn: 29 ... Be3 (or 29 ... c5 30 Rxd7+ Kxd7 31 Bb5+) 30 Rxd7+
Kxd7 31 Bb7 Bc4 32 Rxe3 followed by queening the a-pawn with a material
advantage.
29 ... Kxd7 30 Bb7 Bc4 31 a8Q Rxe2+ 32 Kd1 Rd2+ 33 Ke1
Probably White only now realized that his intended 33 Kc1 does not work
because of 33 ... Rf2+ 34 Rg5 Rf1+ 35 Kd2 Rf2+ when he cannot escape the
perpetual check.
33 ... Re2+ 34 Kd1 ½-½

Summary
Against 3 ... Bf5, 4 f3 is the sharpest reply. Black players who are not
prepared for the Veresov can easily lose their way in the line 4 ... Nbd7 5
Nxd5. Take note that Black can almost force a draw in this line, though, so if
you are in a must-win situation, 4 f3 may not be the move. Game 43 shows
this drawing line in the notes to Black’s 11th move, although White can avoid
the draw by trying my 12 Bf2!? move.
White players who do not want to risk too much can rely on 4 Bxf6 and 4
e3, which are both safe alternatives that give White a slight edge.
 Chapter Seven
White Plays 3 Bf4
1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bf4

When I started this book, I did not intend to include this line. I always
considered the opening as a proper Veresov only with Bg5 as the third move.
However, in recent years there has been a wave of popularity for 3 Bf4 with
such top players as the British Grandmaster Nigel Short, the Georgian
Grandmaster Baadur Jobava, the American no.1 Hikaru Nakamura and the
Azerbaijani Grandmaster Shakhriyar Mamedyarov playing some great games
with this move. So let me end this book with a chapter on the line that
someone once called ‘the New Veresov’.
The move is not new by any means and it was first played as long ago as
1882 by the strong Irish player James Mason, so it is sometimes referred to
as Mason’s Opening or the Mason Variation. However, this opening normally
goes 1 d4 d5 2 Bf4, which differentiates itself from the Veresov where White
plays Nc3 either before or after Bf4.
Here is a miniature game won by James Mason against the great Mikhail
Chigorin himself.

J.Mason-M.Chigorin
New York 1889
London System/Mason Opening

1 d4 d5 2 Bf4 c5 3 Bxb8 Rxb8 4 dxc5 Qa5+ 5 Nc3 e6 6 e4 Bxc5 7

exd5 Nf6 8 Bb5+ Ke7 9 Nf3 Nxd5 10 Qd2 Nxc3 11 Qg5+ f6 12
Qxc5+ Kf7 13 Be8+ 1-0

Now on to some contemporary examples and theory, and with White playing
an early Nc3.

Game 49
A.Stefanova-A.Galliamova
Krasnoturinsk 2007

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bf4 e6 4 e3 c5?!

Black should play ... a6 first if he wants to play this move.
5 Nb5

This is one of the points behind 3 Bf4 and also the best move to take
advantage of the less than accurate 4 ... c5. White forces Black’s queen’s
knight to an unfavourable square and it will be very difficult for Black to drive
the knight on b5 away.
5 ... Na6 6 c3
Black might try to get rid of the b5-knight with 6 ... Bd7 in which case
White should just continue with 7 Nf3 c4 8 a4. Now 8 ... Bxb5?! is a mistake:
9 axb5 Nc7 10 b3 opens up the game to White’s advantage as 10 ... cxb3??
11 b6! axb6 12 Bxc7 Rxa1 13 Bb5+ Nd7 14 Qxa1 Qxc7 15 Ne5 wins the
pinned knight.
6 ... Be7 7 a4 0-0 8 Be5
This looks really strange, considering that with her whole kingside
undeveloped, White moves the bishop again. Stefanova wants to avoid 8 Nf3
Nh5, taking off the bishop, but 8 h3 should do nicely, as we’ll see in our next
encounter.
8 ... Bd7 9 Nf3 c4
This is critical. Black plans to leave White with a weak pawn on b5 after
10 ... Bxb5, so White has to undertake active measures.
10 b3!?

A very risky move as c3 is going to come under attack and White has still
not castled.
10 ... cxb3
Perhaps 10 ... Ne4 11 bxc4 f6 was better. Indeed, after 12 Bg3 (12 Bf4 is
worse because a later ... e5 will come with tempo on the bishop) 12 ... Qa5
13 Nd2 Nxc3 14 Nxc3 Qxc3 15 Be2 dxc4 (15 ... Nb4 16 0-0 Bc6 17 Rc1 Qa3 18
Ra1 Qb2 19 Rb1 Qc3 20 Rc1 only draws) 16 0-0 Rfc8 17 Rc1 Qa5 18 Bxc4 Bb4
(18 ... Qxa4? 19 Qxa4 Bxa4 20 Bxe6+ forks the rook and king) 19 Ne4 Rxc4
20 Rxc4 Qd5 21 Rxb4 Nxb4 22 Qb1 a5 Black stands better as the a4 pawn is
very weak: for instance, 23 Nc5 (or 23 Nc3 Qc4 24 Rc1 Rc8 25 Qa1 Nd3 26
Rc2 Bxa4) 23 ... Bc6 24 f3 b6 and the pawn will be lost.
11 Qxb3 Qa5 12 Qb2 Ne4 13 Bd3 f6 14 Bf4
Not 14 Bg3? e5 15 0-0 Nxg3 16 hxg3 e4 17 Qa2 Rf7 and Black wins a
piece.
14 ... Nxc3?
This turns out to be a blunder. Better was 14 ... e5 15 dxe5 Nac5 16 Bc2
a6 17 Nbd4 Bxa4! 18 0-0 Qxc3, which leaves Black on top with an extra pawn
and the better position.
15 Nxc3 Bb4 16 0-0 Bxc3 17 Qxb7

17 ... Bxa1?
White has only a slight advantage after 17 ... Nb4 18 Qxd7 Nxd3 19
Qxe6+ Kh8 20 Rab1 Nxf4 21 exf4.
18 Qxd7 Nb4
Galliamova must have overlooked that 18 ... Bc3 19 Qxe6+ forks the
knight on a6.
19 Bc7 Rf7 20 Qxf7+ 1-0

Game 50
N.Short-F.Amonatov
Bangkok 2012

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bf4 e6 4 e3 c5?! 5 Nb5 Na6 6 c3 Be7 7 a4 0-0 8

h3 Bd7
 Another decent attempt to get rid of the knight on b5 is 8 ... Ne8. Then 9
Nf3 Nac7 10 Nxc7 Nxc7 11 Bd3 Ne8 12 a5 Nf6 13 0-0 Bd7 14 Ne5 a6 15 Qb1
Bb5 (Black correctly judges that exchanging the light-squared bishops will
ease his position and is willing to accept the resulting pawn weakness on b5)
16 dxc5 Bxc5 17 Bxb5 axb5 was B.Jobava-S.Yudin, Tashkent (rapid) 2014,
when 18 Qd3 Qe8 19 b4 Bd6 20 Ng4 Ne4 21 f3 Bxf4 22 fxe4 Bc7! (Black will
regain the d5-pawn through tactical means) 23 exd5 h5 24 Nh2 Rd8 25 e4
exd5 26 exd5 Qe5 27 Nf3 Qxd5 28 Qxd5 Rxd5 would have been about equal.
9 Nf3 Bxb5 10 Bxb5 Nb8

11 Bd3
Otherwise the bishop will be trapped after 11 ... c4 and after 11 dxc5 Bxc5
12 0-0 Bd6 13 Bxd6 Qxd6 14 Qb3 Nbd7 15 Rfd1 Nc5 16 Qa3 Qc7 White can
claim no more than equality with a subsequent c2-c4 push.
11 ... Nc6 12 0-0 Bd6 13 Bg5 h6 14 Bh4 Be7 15 Ne5
Short gives the position the Torre Attack treatment. Now the knight must
be taken, otherwise after 16 f4 it will be worse for Black.
15 ... Nxe5 16 dxe5 Nd7 17 Bg3 g6?!
 Question: Is this necessary?

Answer: I belong to that school of thought that we should never push

pawns in front of our king unless it is absolutely necessary, and here it looks
far from necessary. Black wants to get the move in before White can play
Qd1-g4. However, after 17 ... c4 18 Bc2 Nc5 19 Qg4 White’s attack is less
dangerous than it looks: for example, 19 ... Qb6 20 Bf4 Kh8 21 Rab1 (or 21
Qh5 Qxb2 22 Rac1 Nd3 and with the bishop shut out from the attack, Black
has nothing to fear) 21 ... Qc6 22 Qh5 Nd3 23 Bxd3 cxd3 24 Rfd1 Qxa4 25
Rxd3 Qe4 and Black is even for choice here.
18 b3 Qc7 19 f4 c4
Black has the right idea which is opening lines in the centre and on the
queenside. Note that the bishop on g3 takes no part in this section of the
board.
20 bxc4 dxc4 21 Bc2 Rfd8
21 ... Nc5 is more accurate, and if 22 Qe2 Nd3!. After 23 Bxd3 (or 23 Rfd1
Rad8 24 Bxd3 cxd3 25 Rxd3 Qc4 26 Rad1 Rxd3 27 Qxd3 Qxa4 28 Rb1 Rd8
when Black has the advantage with his outside passed a-pawn) 23 ... cxd3 24
Qxd3 Rac8 25 Rfc1 Qc6 (keeping the white queen away from the e4-square)
26 a5 Rfd8 27 Qc2 Rc7 Black has sufficient play for the pawn. He will prepare
to double rooks on the d-file or pile up another rook on the c3-pawn.
22 Qe2
 Now 22 ... Nc5 can be answered by 23 Qxc4.
22 ... Qa5 23 Be1 Rac8 24 h4 Nc5
24 ... h5 25 g4 hxg4 26 Qxg4 Bc5 27 Rf3 Nf8 28 h5 Rc7 29 hxg6 fxg6 30
Rh3 This is not a position Black wants to defend.
25 h5
Right now Black must have been wishing he had not played 17 ... g6.
25 ... g5 26 Qxc4
The pawn had to be taken before Black had the chance to plant his knight
on d3. In any case Short has worked out that there is nothing to be feared
from the discovered attack.
26 ... Nd3 27 Qe4 Qd5 28 Bxd3 Qxd3 29 Qxb7
 29 ... Bc5 30 fxg5! Qxe3+
I also analysed 30 ... Bxe3+ 31 Bf2 Rxc3 32 g6! fxg6 33 hxg6 Qxg6 34
Bxe3 Rxe3 35 Rad1 Red3 36 Rxd3 Qxd3 (if 36 ... Rxd3 37 Qe7 Qg7 38 Qxe6+
Kh8 39 Rf7 and White wins) 37 Qf7+ Kh8 38 Qxe6 Qe3+ 39 Kh1 Qg5 40 a5
Qh4+ 41 Kg1 Qd4+ 42 Kh2 Qh4+ 43 Qh3 Qxh3+ 44 Kxh3 Rd5 45 e6 Re5 46
Rf7 Rxe6 47 Rxa7, with good chances to win the rook endgame.
31 Kh1 Rf8
After 31 ... Qxg5 32 Qxf7+ Kh8 33 Qf6+ Kh7 34 Qxg5 hxg5 35 Rf6 Rc6 36
Rb1 White will have no problems winning with his extra pawns.
32 gxh6 Qxe5 33 Rf3?!
Short finally makes a mistake. Instead, 33 Qf3 Bd6 34 g3 would have kept
his two-pawn advantage.
33 ... Qxh5+ 34 Rh3 Qd5
Going into an ending a pawn down was not Black’s best choice. He could
have kept the queens on: 34 ... Qf5 35 Bg3 Kh7 and with the h-pawn securely
blockaded, it is not that easy for White to convert his extra pawn.
35 Qxd5 exd5 36 Rd1 Rfe8 37 Rh5 Kh7 38 Bd2 Be3 39 Bxe3
Rxe3 40 Rdxd5 Rexc3 41 Rdg5 Rg8 42 Rxg8 Kxg8 43 Rg5+ Kh8 44
Rf5 Rc4 45 a5 Rh4+ 46 Kg1 Rxh6 47 Rxf7 Ra6 48 Rf5 Kg7 49 Kf2
Kg6 50 g4 Rc6 51 Kg3 Rc3+ 52 Kh4 Rc1 53 Rg5+ Kf6 54 Rd5 Rh1+
55 Kg3 Ra1 56 Rc5 Ra2 57 Rf5+ Kg6 58 Rb5 Kf6 59 Kf3 Ra3+ 60
Ke4 Ra4+ 61 Kf3 Ra3+ 62 Kf4 Ra4+ 63 Kg3 Ra1
So far Black has successfully prevented the white king from attacking his
pawn on a7.
64 g5+ Kg6 65 Kf4 Ra4+ 66 Ke3
Instead, 66 Ke5 Kxg5 67 Kd6+ Kf6 68 Kc7 Ke6 69 Kb7 Kd7 70 Kxa7 Kc7
reaches a well-known draw.
66 ... Rg4 67 Rb7 Rxg5 68 Rxa7 Kf6 69 a6 Ra5??

Question: Why the question marks? The rook positions itself

behind the pawn which is the standard rule in rook endings surely?

Answer: Hmm ... no. With the passed pawn on the sixth rank, putting the
defender’s rook behind the pawn does not hold the draw.
The draw can only be achieved using the Vancura position where the
defending rook attacks the pawn along the defender’s third rank.
Instead, 69 ... Re5+?? 70 Kd4 Re6 fails to 71 Rh7 Kg6 (71 ... Rxa6 72
Rh6+ loses the rook to a skewer) 72 a7 Ra6 73 Rc7 Kf6 74 Kc5 Ra1 75 Kb6 is
winning. For example, after 75 ... Rb1+ 76 Kc6 Rc1+ 77 Kb7 Rb1+ 78 Kc8
Ra1 79 Kb8 Rb1+ 80 Rb7 the pawn queens.
Therefore 69 ... Rd5 is correct and the only drawing move. After 70 Ke4
we should consider:
 a) Only 70 ... Rd8 draws as the white king is unable to cross the d-file. On
the next move, whatever White plays, Black will move his king along the third
rank and reach the pawn: 71 Rb7 (or 71 Rh7 Ke6) 71 ... Ke6 72 a7 Ra8 73
Kd4 Kd6 and draws.
b) Instead, 70 ... Rd6? fails to draw due to the unfortunate position of the
black king: 71 Rh7 (setting up the skewer; now Black must abandon the third
rank) 71 ... Rd8 72 Rh6+ Ke7 (or 72 ... Kg7 73 Rb6 Kf7 74 Ke5 Ke7 75 Rb7+
Ke8 76 a7, winning) 73 Ke5 Rd1 (the black king cannot approach the pawn,
as if 73 ... Kd7 74 Rd6+ Kc7 75 Rxd8 Kxd8 76 a7) 74 Rh7+ Kf8 75 a7 Ra1 76
a8Q+ Rxa8 77 Rh8+ and wins.
70 Ra8 Ra4
The best try, keeping the white king as far away as possible, but the
position is already lost.
71 Kd3 Kg7
The king cannot wander too far away else White just pushes the pawn to
a7 and it is over. For example, 71 ... Ke5 72 a7 Ra3+ 73 Kc4 Ra4+ 74 Kb5
Ra1 75 Re8+ and the pawn queens.
72 Kc3 Rf4
Trying to reach f6, but he is one move late.
73 Ra7+ Kg6 74 Rb7 Ra4 75 a7 Kf6 76 Kb3 Ra1 77 Kc4 Ke6 78
Kc5 1-0
Nothing can stop the white king from marching to b8 and queening the
pawn.
Game 51
B.Jobava-O.Korneev
Sochi 2014

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bf4 e6 4 e3 Bb4

This is a logical continuation. Black pins the knight thus avoiding Nb5
ideas.
5 Bd3 c5
Black should play this move immediately. Instead, 5 ... 0-0 6 Nge2 c5 runs
into 7 a3, forcing Black to give up his bishop for the knight.

6 dxc5!

Question: Shouldn’t White play 6 a3, virtually

forcing 6 ... Bxc3+ as 6 ... Ba5 loses the pawn on c5?

Answer: After 6 a3?! Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 Qa5 8 Qd2 c4 9 Be2 Ne4 Black wins
the pawn on c3.
6 ... Nbd7

Question: Now why does Black not play 6 ... Bxc3+,

wrecking the white pawns on the queenside?
 Answer: The dark-squared bishop is a very important piece here. Quite
simply, Black will badly weaken his dark squares if he gives up the bishop.
After 6 ... Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 Qa5 8 Bd6 Qxc3+ 9 Kf1 Nbd7 10 Rb1 an original
position is reached. White has the pair of bishops, but his king has forfeited
castling rights. This is not so bad, though, as he can tuck his king on h2 with
moves like Ne2, h3, Kg1 and Kh2. From Black’s point of view, he has the
better pawn structure, but after 10 ... a6 (not 10 ... Nxc5 11 Ne2 Qa3 12 Rb3
Qa5 13 Rb5 and a piece is lost) 11 Ne2 Qa5 (now Black is ready to take on c5
and White has to find a way to prevent this) 12 Qe1 Qxe1+ (alternatively, 12
... Qxa2 13 Nc3 Qa5 14 Ra1 Qb4 15 Ra4 Qb2 16 Nb5 Kd8 17 c6 bxc6 18 Qa5+
Ke8 19 Nc7+ Kd8 20 Nxe6+ Ke8 21 Qd8 mate) 13 Kxe1 White holds the
advantage with his bishops and pressure down the b-file.
7 Nge2
Now that the bishop is in no danger of being trapped, White secures his
knight on c3.
7 ... 0-0
Another game saw 7 ... Nxc5 8 a3 Nxd3+ 9 Qxd3 Bd6 (9 ... Be7 10 Nb5 0-
0 11 Nc7 Rb8 12 Nxd5 wins material for White) 10 0-0-0 Bxf4 11 Nxf4 Bd7 12
e4 Qc7 13 Qg3 Rc8 14 exd5 Ne4.

After 15 dxe6! Nxg3? (the best chance for Black was 15 ... Bxe6 16 Nxe6
Qxg3 17 hxg3 Nxc3 18 Nxg7+ Kf8 19 Ne6+ fxe6 20 bxc3 Ke7 21 Kb2 with a
double-rook ending a pawn down) 16 exd7+ Kd8 17 hxg3 (the pawn on d7 is
worth a rook) 17 ... Rb8 18 Rhe1 (18 Ne4 with the threats of Ng5 and Nd6 is
also winning) 18 ... Qc5 19 Ne4 Qc4 20 Nd6 Qa2 21 Nxf7+ Kc7 22 Nd5+ Black
had to resign in I.Kopecek-P.Kubicek, Brno 2011.
8 Bd6 Re8 9 Bb5 a6
Instead, if 9 ... Ne4 10 Qd4 Qa5 11 Bxd7 Bxd7 12 a3 Bxc3+ 13 Nxc3 Nxc3
(or 13 ... Nxd6 14 cxd6 Qa6 15 e4 Qxd6 16 0-0-0 Bc6 17 exd5 exd5 when
White has the advantage because he has the better minor piece and also
because of Black’s IQP) 14 b4 Qa6 15 Qxc3, which sees White retain the extra
pawn and have slightly the better bishop. At the moment castling is not
possible, but with the position being closed, he can just play f2-f3 and Kf2
when his king remains safe.
10 Bxd7 Nxd7 11 Qd4 Qa5 12 0-0-0!?

Question: This is a rather surprising choice, putting

the king on the queenside. This looks quite risky?

Answer: The queenside is not the safest place for the white king, but
Jobava is already anticipating the coming ending and queenside castling
ensures that the rook goes to the d-file in one move which is very useful, as
we will see later on. The problem is that Black is not forced to go into an
ending. Keeping as many pieces as possible on the board favours him as the
white king will, indeed, be uneasy on the queenside.
12 ... Bxc5?!
Playing into White’s plan of going into an endgame. Instead, Black had the
strong 12 ... b6! 13 Qf4 (or 13 Bc7 Bxc5 14 Qa4 Qxa4 15 Nxa4 Ra7 16 Nxc5
Rxc7 17 Nxd7 Bxd7 and Black has some initiative) 13 ... Bxc5 14 a3 h6
(better than 14 ... e5 15 Bxc5 exf4 16 Bb4 Qxb4 17 axb4 fxe3 18 fxe3 Rxe3
19 Nf4 Bb7 20 Nfxd5 Re5 21 Nc7 Rd8 22 Rd2 Bc8 23 Rhd1 when White has
pressure on the d-file) 15 Nd4 Bxd6 16 Qxd6 Qc5 17 Qg3 Bb7 18 Nb3 Qe7
and the position favours Black who has the open c-file.
13 Bxc5 Qxc5 14 e4

White wastes no time and goes for the thematic e2-e4 break.
14 ... Qxd4 15 Nxd4 dxe4 16 Nxe4 Nf6
Black cannot waste time; he must complete his development even at the
cost of weakening his pawn structure.
17 Nxf6+ gxf6
White has the edge in this ending as he controls the important d-file and
because most of Black’s pawns are on the same colour as his bishop.
18 Ne2 e5 19 Nc3 Be6 20 Nd5
This forces the exchange of minor pieces. White foresees that he will take
control of the open d-file.
20 ... Bxd5 21 Rxd5 Kg7
Allowing exchanges only favours White: 21 ... Rad8 22 Rhd1 Rxd5 23 Rxd5
Re7 24 Kd2 Kg7 25 c4 f5 26 Rd6 and White pushes his queenside majority as
in the game.
22 Rhd1 Re6 23 Rd7 b5 24 R1d6
 After the exchange of a pair of rooks, the white king will penetrate the
queenside and win. Jobava shows good technique from this point on.
24 ... Rae8 25 Kd2 f5 26 b3 f4 27 g3 fxg3 28 hxg3 b4 29 c3
bxc3+ 30 Kxc3 h5 31 b4 e4 32 a4 e3 33 fxe3
White should really exchange rooks first to make things simple: 33 Rxe6
Rxe6 34 fxe3 Rxe3+ 35 Rd3.
33 ... Rxe3+ 34 Rd3 Rxd3+ 35 Rxd3 Re6 36 b5 axb5 37 axb5
Re4 38 b6 Re6 39 b7 Rb6 40 Rd7 Rb1
There is a neat trick after 40 ... Kg6 41 Rd6+ and wins.
41 Kc4 Kg6 42 Kc5 Kg5 43 Rxf7 Kg4 44 Rf4+ Kxg3 45 Rb4 1-0

Game 52
A.Naiditsch-P.Harikrishna
Wijk aan Zee 2014

When a 2700 player loses in under 20 moves, that is something unusual and
we should pay attention to what happened. Naiditsch did everything that one
should not do in the Veresov.
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bf4 Bf5 4 f3 e6
Black cannot play this move against the Veresov proper with 3 Bg5 Bf5
because after 4 f3 e6?? White wins a piece with 5 e4. This is one of the
drawbacks of 3 Bf4 instead of 3 Bg5; after 4 ... e6, Black can develop his
pieces easily. Note that White cannot gain space in the centre as in the
Veresov proper, because he is unable to play the important e2-e4 move.
5 Qd2 Be7 6 0-0-0 Nc6

7 Qe1
It is hard to understand why White played this queen move. Either he
planned to try for the e2-e4 push or he intended to answer the threat of 7 ...
Nb4 with 8 Rd2. It already makes one uneasy about the whole opening idea
with Bf4 and f2-f3.
Instead, 7 g4 Bg6 8 h4 would be the normal way to continue in this
opening.
7 ... Bg6
7 ... Nh5 is an interesting idea. If White wants to keep his bishop he has
to play 8 Be3 which will really mess up his kingside development, as if 8
Bd2!? Nxd4 9 Qf2 Nc6 10 g4 d4 11 Nb1 Bh4 12 Qg2 Bxc2 13 Kxc2 Nb4+ 14
Bxb4 (or 14 Kc1 Nxa2+ 15 Kc2 Nb4+ 16 Kc1 Qd5 17 gxh5 Qc4+ 18 Bc3 Na2+
19 Kc2 dxc3 20 Nxc3 Nxc3 21 bxc3 Qa2+ 22 Kc1 Be7 when mate is on the
horizon) 14 ... Nf4.
 This traps the queen and after 15 Nc3 (15 e3 Nxg2 16 Bxg2 c5 17 Ba3 Bf2
wins another pawn since 18 exd4 cxd4 19 Nd2 Rc8+ 20 Kb1 Qc7 21 Nh3
Qc2+ 22 Ka1 Be3 loses a further piece) 15 ... Nxg2 16 Bxg2 e5 (White may
have three minor pieces for the queen and two pawns, but with his exposed
king he has no time to organize his minor pieces) 17 e3 Qf6! 18 exd4 Qg6+
19 Kb3 a5 20 Ba3 a4+ 21 Kc4 b5+ 22 Nxb5 Qc2+ Black forks the king and
bishop on g2.
8 Nh3 0-0 9 Nf2 Nh5 10 Be3
This is not a move White really wants to play, as mentioned earlier. The
alternatives are no better, though:
a) 10 Be5 Nxe5 11 dxe5 d4 12 Nce4 Qd5 and a white pawn drops.
b) 10 Bg3 Nxg3 11 hxg3 b5 (in the absence of White’s dark-square bishop,
Black can confidently open up the game) 12 e3 b4 13 Nb1 a5 14 Bd3 Qd6 15
Bxg6 fxg6 16 g4 a4 when Black has a strong attack with moves like ... e5 and
... a3, focusing on the dark-square weaknesses.
10 ... Nb4 11 Rd2 c5 12 g4 Nf6 13 h4 Nd7
13 ... h5 also maintained a clear advantage and with no risk.
 14 f4

Question: Didn’t Black just blunder, leaving his bishop on g6 trapped?

Answer: Actually Black has calculated the line 14 h5 cxd4 15 Bxd4 Nxc2
16 Rxc2 (or 16 Qd1 Bg5 17 e3 Nxe3 18 Bxe3 Bxe3 19 hxg6 fxg6 20 Bg2 Ne5
21 Kb1 Bxd2 22 Qxd2 when Black has quite a few pawns and a rook for two
minor pieces) 16 ... Bxc2 17 Kxc2 e5 18 Be3 d4, which is a strong counter-
fork.
14 ... Bf6
The threat is simply ... Nxc2. Already White cannot hold his position
together.
15 Qd1 Nb6 16 dxc5 Bxc3
Basically it’s game over as White cannot recapture.
17 cxb6
Or 17 bxc3 Nxa2+ 18 Kb2 Nc4+ 19 Kxa2 Qa5+ and mate in two.
17 ... axb6 18 bxc3
Likewise, 18 f5 Bxb2+ 19 Kxb2 Rxa2+ 20 Kb1 Qa8 mates.
18 ... Nxa2+ 19 Kb2 Qd6 0-1

A good game to illustrate the danger in the opening of falling behind in

development, if a painful one for fans of the New Veresov. White’s 7th, 8th
and 9th moves looked really bad. These three moves did nothing and
basically gave Black three free moves, which is frankly three too many.

Game 53
B.Jobava-S.Mamedyarov
World Rapid Championship, Dubai 2014

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bf4 Bf5 4 f3 e6 5 g4

Compared to the previous game, Jobava goes for the correct plan of
kingside expansion.
5 ... Bg6 6 h4 h6 7 e3 c5
This is not good here just like in the earlier games.
Instead, 7 ... a6 was tried by Ian Nepomniachtchi against Hikaru
Nakamura in round 9 of the same tournament. The point of 7 ... a6 is, of
course, to avoid Nb5. Play proceeded 8 Bd3 Bxd3 9 Qxd3 c5 10 Nce2 Nc6 11
c3 Bd6 12 0-0-0 Qe7 13 Bxd6 Qxd6 14 Nh3 0-0-0 15 Kb1 Kb8 16 g5 hxg5 17
hxg5 Nd7 18 g6 f6 19 Nhf4 Ne7 20 Rh7 Rxh7 21 gxh7 Rh8 22 Ng6 (this must
be played before Black gets in ... Ndf8).

Both sides now played very accurately to reach a hard-fought draw: 22 ...
Nxg6 23 Qxg6 Qh2 24 Nf4 (not 24 Qxg7 Rxh7 25 Qg8+ Ka7 when Black is
better because of his more active major pieces; 26 Nf4? would be a major
blunder because after 26 ... e5 27 Nxd5 Qe2 White is lost in view of the
coming ... Rh2 and mate on b2) 24 ... cxd4 25 cxd4 Qxh7 26 Qxh7 Rxh7
(Black’s active rook ensures that he will not be worse in this ending) 27 Nxe6
g5 28 f4 Rh3 29 Re1 Rg3 30 Kc2 Rg2+ 31 Kc3 Nb6 32 Nc5 (preparing to
counterattack against the b7-pawn; the g-pawn is not dangerous as long as
White can get behind it) 32 ... Rg3 (after 32 ... g4 33 b3 Rxa2 34 Rh1 g3 35
Rh7 g2 36 Rxb7+ Ka8 37 Rg7 the g-pawn is not going anywhere) 33 fxg5
fxg5 34 Kd3 Kc7 35 b3 Nd7 36 Rf1 Nxc5+ 37 dxc5 Rg2 38 a3 g4 39 Rf6 g3 40
Rg6 Rg1 41 Kc2 g2 ½-½ H.Nakamura-I.Nepomniachtchi, Dubai (rapid) 2014.
Even in a rapid game, both players displayed a very high level of accuracy.
8 h5
White pushes his h-pawn as far as possible and gains a tempo before
exchanging the bishop on g6.
8 ... Bh7 9 Nb5
In one move, White forces the black knight to a passive square and
prevents Black from exchanging the dark-squared bishops with ... Bd6.
9 ... Na6 10 c3

Question: This c3 move seems a common one in this variation, but it

blocks the b5-knight’s retreat to c3. What is the reason behind the move?

Answer: 10 c3 bolsters the d4-pawn and prepares to retake with the c-

pawn in the event of 10 ... cxd4 11 cxd4 Bb4+ 12 Kf2, which is perfectly fine
for the white king. White now plans to continue harmoniously with Bf1-d3 and
Ng1-e2. As for the second part of the question, the b5-knight is not easily
driven back as Black’s knight on a6 blocks the a-pawn. Indeed, the knight
actually stands very well on b5.
10 ... Be7 11 Bd3 Bxd3 12 Qxd3 Nd7

Question: Why does Black move a developed

piece again without completing castling?

Answer: This move is not necessary and Black can castle straightaway.
Mamedyarov wishes to delay castling for one move in order to prevent g4-g5.
However, g4-g5 is not necessarily good for White: 12 ... 0-0!? 13 g5 hxg5 14
Bxg5 is less dangerous than it looks for Black who can always answer h5-h6
with ... g7-g6. White still needs a few moves before he can sacrifice a knight
on g6.
13 Ne2
After 13 Nd6+? Bxd6 14 Bxd6 Qb6 White loses a pawn for nothing, as if 15
dxc5 Naxc5 16 Bxc5 Qxb2!.
13 ... 0-0 14 a4
 Question: Where is White planning to castle after this move? Surely the
kingside is out of the question with all those advanced kingside pawns?

Answer: White definitely wants to castle on the queenside as long as he

is safe there. At the moment he does not have enough going on the kingside
and a premature queenside castling might be detrimental to his king’s health.
Thus 14 a4 secures the knight on b5 and is actually a waiting move as well.
White may want to forgo castling and put his king on d2 or f2 instead. Note
especially that Black has no great move for the moment and he cannot eject
the b5-knight.
The immediate 14 0-0-0 is not good due to 14 ... Qa5, threatening 15 ...
c4 winning the knight, and if 15 Na3 c4 16 Qd2 Bxa3.
14 ... Bf6

Question: The black knight on a6 is not doing much so how about

relocating
it to c6 with ... Na6-b8? I see a possible tactical trick if White goes Nc7.

Answer: Tactics can rebound on you without accurate calculation: 14 ...

Nab8? is a blunder after 15 Nc7! e5 16 Nxa8 exf4 17 Nxf4 Nf6 18 Qf5 Nc6 19
g5 hxg5 20 h6, which is a winning breakthrough on the kingside.
15 Bd6
 After 15 0-0-0!? Qa5 16 Qc2 cxd4 17 exd4 White’s attack should be faster
as he can play g4-g5 to open lines on the kingside.
15 ... Re8 16 f4
Here too after 16 0-0-0 Qa5 17 Qc2 Nb6 18 b3 cxd4 19 Nexd4 Rec8 20
Kb1 White’s queenside is safer than it looks. Meanwhile the plan of f3-f4 and
g4-g5 might even be winning for him.
16 ... Nb6?
This is too much, removing another defender from the kingside. Does one
wave a red flag at an enraged bull?
Instead, 16 ... Bh4+ 17 Kf1 (or 17 Kd2 Nf6) 17 ... Be7 removes a key
piece that controls the dark squares. Black is fine after the exchange of the
bishops.
17 g5!

Jobava does not need any further invitation to start opening the kingside
with some sacrifices.
17 ... hxg5 18 h6! g6 19 fxg5 Bxg5 20 h7+
Black’s king will be much safer if it takes up position on h7.
20 ... Kg7 21 Be5+! f6
After 21 ... Bf6 22 Nd6 Bxe5 (22 ... Rh8 23 Nxf7 Kxf7 24 Nf4 is also lost for
Black) 23 Nxe8+ Kh8 24 dxe5 Qxe8 (now Black must always watch out for
the white queen invading on the dark squares, especially f6) 25 e4 Rd8 26
Qg3 Black is lost.
 The two knights on the queenside are too far away from the action to help
and 26 ... Nc8 27 0-0-0 Nc7 28 exd5 exd5 29 Nf4 Rd7 30 Qg5 Qe7 31 Qxg6
wins.
22 Nd6
The best way for White to continue the attack was 22 Nf4 Bxf4 23 Bxf4 g5
24 0-0-0 with numerous attacking ideas. The most obvious is just Rd1-g1
followed by Rxg5+.
22 ... Rh8?
I suspect 22 ... fxe5, giving up the queen after 23 Nxe8+ Qxe8 24 h8Q+
Qxh8 25 Rxh8 Rxh8 26 0-0-0 is less appealing.
23 Nf4! Bxf4 24 Bxf4
This is a slight inaccuracy. After 24 Rg1! g5 25 exf4 fxe5 26 Rxg5+ Kf8 27
Rg8+! Rxg8 28 hxg8Q+ Kxg8 29 Qg6+ White mates next move.
24 ... g5 25 0-0-0! Nc4
25 ... gxf4 is met by a queen sacrifice: 26 Qg6+!! Kxg6 (or 26 ... Kf8 27
Qf7 mate) 27 Rdg1 mate, while after 25 ... Qd7 26 Rdg1 Black is defenceless
against 27 Rxg5+.
26 Rh6! Kxh6
Alternatively, 26 ... gxf4 27 Qg6+ Kf8 28 Qf7 mate or 26 ... Nxd6 27 Qg6+
Kf8 28 Bxd6+ Qxd6 29 Qxf6+ and wins.
27 Nf7+ Kg7 28 Nxd8 Raxd8 29 b3 Nb6
Likewise, 29 ... Nd6 30 Bxd6 Rxd6 31 Qb5 wins.
30 Rg1 Rxh7
 31 e4
Again, not bad, but 31 Bxg5! fxg5 32 Rxg5+ Kh8 33 dxc5 Nd7 34 c6! Nac5
35 Qg6 bxc6 36 Rh5 Rxh5 37 Qxh5+ Kg7 38 Qg5+ Kf7 39 Qxd8 was winning.
31 ... Kh8?
The game ends quickly after this. Following 31 ... Rc8 32 e5 f5 33 Bxg5
Kf7 White is winning, but still has some work to do.
32 e5 gxf4
32 ... Nd7 loses to 33 exf6.
33 Qg6 Rf8 34 exf6 1-0
Black resigned as the threat of 35 f7 and 36 Qg8+ cannot be answered.

Game 54
R.Rapport-E.Sutovsky
Tromso Olympiad 2014

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bf4 c5!? 4 e3

Since White has yet to play e2-e3, 4 Nb5 can be answered by 4 ... Qa5+.
4 ... cxd4
4 ... a6 is an interesting idea, inviting White to win a pawn. However,
after the accurate 5 dxc5 e6 6 Na4 (6 b4?! is a mistake as Black replies with 6
... b6 and regains the pawn with advantage) 6 ... Nbd7 7 b4! (maintaining the
captured pawn) 7 ... b6 8 c6 e5 9 cxd7+! (much better than 9 Bg5 Qc7 10
cxd7+ Bxd7 11 c3 Ne4 12 Nf3 Nxc3 13 Nxc3 Qxc3+ 14 Nd2 Bxb4 15 a3 Bxa3
16 Be2 Bb4 17 Ra2 f6 18 Bh4 0-0 19 0-0 Bb5 20 Bxb5 axb5 21 Rc2 Qd3, and if
Black can play ... Bb4-c3 and ... b5-b4 he has very good compensation for the
piece) 22 Qc1 Qa3 23 Qb1 Qd3 24 Rb2 Qxb1 25 Nxb1 Ra4 26 Bg3 Rd8) 9 ...
Bxd7 10 Bxe5 Bxa4 11 Qd4 Be7 12 Bd3 White has an extra pawn and
excellent diagonals for his bishops. Once he completes his development with
Ng1-f3 and 0-0, it is but a matter of time before he wraps up the game.
5 exd4 a6
As we have seen in the previous games, this move is really necessary.
6 Nf3 Bg4
After 6 ... Nc6 7 Ne5 Bf5 8 g4 Nxe5 9 gxf5 Nc6 10 Qd3 g6 11 0-0-0 White
had the edge in J.Hector-M.Andersen, Vaxjo 2013, and he won in 32 moves.
7 h3

Question: Should Black now take the knight on f3?

Answer: There is no clear reason whether to take or not, although if the

knight is not taken, it will find a nice post on e5. It is a matter of taste
whether one wishes to stop the knight occupying e5 by giving up the light-
squared bishop.
After 7 ... Bh5 White can try a manoeuvre from the Caro-Kann Exchange
Variation: 8 g4!? Bg6 9 Ne5 Nc6 10 h4 Qb6! (White threatens to win the
bishop with h4-h5 and Black must react vigorously) 11 Nxc6 bxc6 12 Na4
(after 12 h5? Be4 13 f3 Qxb2 the white queen is overloaded defending a1 and
f3: for example, 14 Kd2 Qb4! 15 Be3 Bxf3 16 Qxf3 Ne4+ wins for Black) 12 ...
Qa5+ 13 c3 e6 14 b4 Bxb4 15 cxb4 Qxb4+ 16 Ke2 Nxg4 when Black has
sufficient compensation for the piece.
Instead, White might continue more quietly with 8 Be2: for instance, 8 ...
e6 9 0-0 Bd6 10 Ne5 Bxe2 11 Nxe2 Nh5 12 c3 Nxf4 13 Nxf4 Nd7 14 Qg4! Nxe5
15 dxe5 Bxe5 16 Nxe6 fxe6 17 Qh5+ g6 18 Qxe5 Kf7 19 Rae1 Qf6 20 Qc7+
Qe7 21 Qf4+ Qf6 (after 21 ... Kg7 22 Qe5+ Kf7 23 Re3 Black has been tricked
into losing a move and White now brings his rooks into play) 22 Qh6. Black
has an exposed king and will find it difficult to counter the threats of Re1-e3-
f3 or just of doubling rooks on the open e-file.
7 ... Bxf3 8 Qxf3 Nc6 9 0-0-0 e6 10 g4 Bb4

This is not a useful move for Black as White was already intending the
familiar Nc3-e2-c1 manoeuvre when the knight on c1 will be an excellent
defensive piece.
For 10 ... Bd6 see the next game.
11 Ne2 Qa5 12 Kb1 Ne4 13 Nc1 Bd6 14 Nb3!?
This just invites Black to play ... a5-a4-a3, opening the a-file.
The alternative is 14 Bxd6 Nxd6 15 c3 Qc7 16 Bd3 (now Black cannot
postpone the decision on which side his king would like to be much longer; it
may look like Black has some sort of queenside attack, but this is not
dangerous at all) 16 ... Na5 17 h4 Nac4 18 g5 Qb6 19 b3 a5 20 a4.
 This looks risky, but the white king is somewhat safer than it appears at
first glance, Without the possibility of ... a5-a4, the black attack is halted.
14 ... Qc7 15 Be3

Question: What do you think of White’s decision to avoid exchanging

bishops?

Answer: Logically speaking, White should exchange. His bishop on e3 is

not such a great piece compared with the bishop on d6. Indeed, after 15
Bxd6 Qxd6 16 Bd3 Nf6 17 c3 White’s pieces are all well placed, so exchanging
should be the better choice.
15 ... 0-0
Missing 15 ... a5! 16 a4 (this is necessary as after 16 Bd3 a4 17 Nc1 a3
Black just sacrifices a pawn to open the a-file) 16 ... 0-0 17 Bd3 Nb4 (notice
how Black waits for the white bishop to go to d3 before playing this move;
now 18 c3 Nxd3 19 Rxd3 b5 supplies a strong attack) 18 Rc1 (the pawn
sacrifice cannot be accepted: 18 Bxe4?! dxe4 19 Qxe4 Qc4 20 Nc1 f5 21 Rd2
b5 and the black attack is unstoppable) 18 ... f5 19 gxf5 Rxf5 (this is better
than recapturing with the pawn; Black opens the f-file for counterplay as his
queenside attacking possibilities are diminished) 20 Qg2 Qd7 (this in-
between move lures the bishop on d3 away from pressuring the e4-knight) 21
Bb5 Qf7 22 Rhf1 Bf4 23 c3 Nc6. Chances are equal in this position.
16 Rg1 b5 17 Bd3 f5?!
 Again, Black had a better alternative in 17 ... a5 18 Bxe4 dxe4 19 Qxe4 a4
20 Nc5 a3 (this natural push weakens White’s c3-square) 21 b3 Ne7 when his
initiative on the queenside is well worth a pawn.
18 gxf5 exf5??
This obvious recapture loses to a cunning sacrifice. After 18 ... Rxf5 19
Qg2 Qf7 20 Bxe4 dxe4 21 Qxe4 Black is a pawn down, but at least he is not
completely lost yet.
19 Bh6!

Rapport thought for a long time before playing this, anticipating the
coming complications after the sacrifice.
19 ... Rf7 20 Bxg7 Rxg7 21 Qxf5 Kh8
The point of the sacrifice becomes clear; Black cannot defend his light
squares. Indeed, after 21 ... Qf7 22 Bxe4 dxe4 23 Qxe4 Rc8 24 Rxg7+ the
rook on c8 will be forked whichever way Black recaptures, while after 21 ...
Ne7 22 Qe6+ Kh8 23 Rxg7 Kxg7 24 Rg1+ Ng6 (24 ... Kh8 25 Bxe4 Rf8 26
Bxd5 does not change the result) 25 Qxd5 White will win back his piece and
maintain a winning position.
22 Rxg7 Qxg7 23 Qxd5 Nxf2 24 Qxc6 Rf8
 25 Rc1
The safe option. White has an extra pawn and a great position. Black can
continue to play on, but the end result cannot really be changed. White also
has the opportunity to grab all the black queenside pawns in return for the
exchange.

Exercise: Try working out if 25 Qxa6 is a better alternative.

Answer: After 25 Qxa6!? Nxd1 26 Qxd6 Nf2 27 Bxb5 Ne4 28 Qe5 Qxe5 29
dxe5 Rf5 30 a4 Rxe5 31 c4 the white pawns will win the day.
25 ... Nxd3 26 cxd3 Qg3 27 a3 Bf4 28 Rd1 Qxh3 29 Nc5 Be3 30
Qe4 Qf3 31 Qe5+ Kg8 32 Re1 Bf2 33 Re4 Qf5 34 Qc7 Kh8 35 Ne6
Rg8 36 d5
The pawn is immune as the long dark-square diagonal is open for the
white queen: 36 ... Qxd5 37 Qc3+ wins.
36 ... Bh4 37 Qc5 Bf6 38 Ka2 h5 39 Rf4 Qg6 40 d6 Bg7 41 Qf5
Kh7 42 d7 Qxf5 43 Rxf5 Kg6 44 Rf8 1-0
A good example of many typical ideas in this line.

Game 55
R.Rapport-P.Nikolic
Serbian Team Championship 2014
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bf4 c5 4 e3 cxd4 5 exd4 a6 6 Nf3 Bg4 7 h3 Bxf3
8 Qxf3 Nc6 9 0-0-0 e6 10 g4 Bd6

Better than 10 ... Bb4, as played in the previous game. Black prepares
queenside castling by exchanging the dark-squared bishop, as the kingside is
too dangerous a place for the black king.
11 Be3
Perhaps influenced by the previous game he had played earlier against
Sutovsky, Rapport again declined the exchange of dark-squared bishops.
However, avoiding exchanges is not necessary. Indeed, after 11 Kb1 Qc7 12
Bxd6 Qxd6 13 h4 Rf8 14 g5 Nd7 15 Ne2 0-0-0 16 c3 White has a slight
advantage as Black has little chance of counterplay. The natural break with ...
e6-e5 leaves a weakness on d5, or if 16 ... f6?! 17 Qg3! (White exploits the
weakness on e6 created by Black’s last move) 17 ... Qxg3 18 fxg3 when
White has a straightforward plan of Ne2-f4, Bf1-h3 and Rh1-e1 to attack the
e6 weakness.
11 ... Qa5 12 Kb1 Rc8 13 g5 Nd7 14 Bc1
The logic behind this move is not hard to understand. Rapport is aiming to
prevent the exchange sacrifice on c3 after 14 h4 Nb4 15 a3 Rxc3 16 bxc3
Qxa3 17 cxb4 Ne5 (17 ... Bxb4 18 Rd3 wins for White) 18 Qh3 (and not 18
dxe5?? Bxe5 when thanks to the pin on White’s third rank, he cannot
effectively stop the mate on a1 or b2) 18 ... Qxb4+ 19 Kc1 Qc3 20 Rd3 Qa1+
21 Kd2 Bb4+ 22 c3 Qb2+ 23 Kd1 Nxd3 24 Bxd3 Bxc3, which is not a pleasant
position to have despite an extra piece.
 14 ... b5 15 h4 Nb4
After 15 ... b4 16 Ne2 Qc7 17 Bh3 Nce5 18 dxe5 Qxc2+ 19 Ka1 Nxe5 20
Qe3 Black has no immediate threats and White can consolidate his position
next move with Ne2-d4.
16 a3 Nc6 17 Na2!

Question: What is the logic behind this knight retreat?

Answer: By moving the knight to a2, White has three objectives. The first
is to prevent any possible rook sacrifices on the c3-knight. Secondly, White
clears the third rank for defensive purposes by the queen and later a rook on
h3. Thirdly, the move also discourages Black from advancing 17 ... b4 as after
18 axb4 Nxb4 19 Nxb4 Bxb4 the exchange of knights nips any possible black
attack in the bud.
17 ... Qb6 18 Qd3
Another dual-purpose move. White waits to see if Black will castle
kingside. The move also further discourages any intentions of ... b5-b4 as the
pawn on a6 will be lost. It is strange that White has most of his pieces on the
first and second rank, and yet he holds all the cards as Black has no safe
haven for his king.
18 ... Kd8
Nikolic cannot be blamed for wanting nothing to do with 18 ... 0-0 19 h5
when White is ready to play g5-g6.
 19 Rh3
The rook lift tells Black’s king that even on the queenside, he will not be
safe as the rook can now swing to b3 or c3.
19 ... g6
It is getting harder to find good moves. The point of 19 ... g6 is to free the
king’s rook from having to defend the h- pawn, but now White has the
possibility to open up the h-file for his rooks.
Black can try 19 ... Qb7 to cover the weak f7-pawn and free b6 for his
knight. However, after 20 h5 Ne7 21 Re1 Nb6 22 Rf3 Nf5 23 Rxf5 exf5 24
Qxf5 (Black’s exposed king and the weakness of the h7-pawn makes White’s
exchange sacrifice quite sound) 24 ... Rb8 25 h6 g6 26 Qf6+ Kc7 27 Bf4 the
multiple threats of Qxd6 and Re7+ will force Black to resign.
20 h5 Rf8 21 hxg6 hxg6 22 Rh7 Ne7 23 Bh3 a5?!

Black’s best chance was to sit quietly and see how White would try to
break through. Weakening further squares with this move just makes his
position much harder to hold.
24 Qf3 Ke8
White has built up a very strong position just by playing simple and logical
moves. Now to break the black defences, he needs to exchange some pieces.
25 Bf4! Bxf4 26 Qxf4 b4
Played to create some counterplay, but in reality Black ends up with a
weak b-pawn.
27 Rd3 Qb8 28 Qd2 Nc6 29 axb4 axb4
 Now Black has another weakness on b4 to defend.
30 Re3 Qd6
After 30 ... Nb6 31 Bxe6 Nc4 32 Bxc8+ Kd8 33 Qe2 Nxe3 34 fxe3 Kxc8 (34
... Qxc8 35 Qb5 loses either the d5- or b4-pawn) 35 Qf3 another pawn falls.
31 Qd3 Ne7 32 Qe2 Rc6 33 Nc1!?
Rapport goes for a line where he can play a promising-looking sacrifice.
However, Black’s weaknesses are not going to go away and a quiet way to
maintain White’s advantage could be 33 Qd2! Rb6 34 Rb3 Nc6 35 Bf1. White
prepares to switch his other rook to the h-file and maintains the possibility of
Na2-c1-d3/b3 without any pawn exchanges.
33 ... Qf4 34 Nd3 Qxg5 35 Nxb4 Rb6 36 Bxe6

This is the point of White’s previous moves. He breaks through on the e-

file with a sacrifice, but leaves his own king vulnerable.
36 ... Rxb4 37 f4?
The bait that Rapport is dangling before his opponent: “come for my
king”.
37 ... Qg1+
Black cannot resist the bait. However, he could have turned the tables
with the calm 37 ... Qf6 38 Bxd5 and now 38 ... Kd8 39 Bb3 Rxd4 when White
does not have sufficient compensation for the piece.
38 Ka2 Ra4+ 39 Kb3 Ra7 40 Bxd5
The difference between this position and the one in the notes to Black’s
37th move is that the black queen does very little on g1. It does not help in
the defence and it needs time to get into an attacking position.
40 ... Qa1??
This loses the game. After 40 ... Kd8 41 Rxe7 Qxd4 (now ... Nc5+ is
threatened so White’s next move is forced) 42 Rxd7+ Rxd7 White is down an
exchange for a pawn. Normally the two queenside pawns supply enough
compensation, but with the king so exposed White is just lost.
41 Rxe7+ Kd8 42 Rxd7+ Rxd7 43 Qb5

We see the big difference. White now has three passed pawns that his
king can shelter behind and, more importantly, Black’s queen is poorly placed.
43 ... Qa7 44 c3 Rd6 45 Kc2 Rb6 46 Qc4 Qb8 47 b4
Black is clearly lost.
47 ... Qxf4 48 Qc5 Qd6 49 Bxf7 Rc6 50 Qa5+ Rc7 51 Be6 Qc6
After 51 ... Rf2+ 52 Kb1 Rf1+ 53 Kb2 Rf2+ 54 Ka3 the king is secure on
a3.
52 Rd7+ Ke8
Or if 52 ... Qxd7 53 Bxd7 Kxd7 54 Qd5+ when White will pick up the g6-
pawn after further checks and win the ending.
53 Rxc7 Rf2+ 54 Kb3 1-0

Summary
One of the points of 3 Bf4 is that if Black plays an early ... c5, White can put
his knight on b5 with good effect. The threat on c7 forces Black to defend
with ... Na6 when his knight will be out of action for a while. At the same
time, the white knight on b5 cannot be driven away with ... a7-a6. Take note
that this refutation of ... c5 can only work with 2 Nc3. If White goes for the
move order 1 d4 d5 2 Bf4 Nf6 3 e3, then Black safely plays 3 ... c5 and after 4
Nc3 cxd4 5 exd4 a6 denies White the possibility of Nc3-b5.
Two important games have been played in this line by the Hungarian
prodigy Richard Rapport where he castles quickly on the queenside. Black
should also go for the same queenside castling as the kingside is too
dangerous a place for his king, with White very quick with his kingside pawns
on that side.
After 3 ... Bf5, White should play 4 f3 and expand on the kingside with g2-g4
and h2-h4. The move e2-e4 is not typical in this line. Instead, White should
continue by exchanging Black’s light-squared bishop, which is his most active
piece, with e2-e3 and Bf1-d3.
Index of Complete Games
Anurag.M-Jumabayev.R, Baku 2013
Baretic.D-Nicola.W, Hastings 1962/63
Barhudarian.R-Smirnov.A, St Petersburg 2011
Bosch.J-Freeke.M, Vlissingen 2009
Bosch.J-Ftacnik.L, Hamburg 2009
Dannevig.O-Borge.N, Oslo 1992
Gashimov.V-Jonkman.H, Antalya 2004
Gelfand.B-Nikolic.P, Munich 1994
Hector.J-Brunello.S, Danish League 2012
Hector.J-Howell.D, Saint Helier 2005
Hector.J-Koneru.H, Wijk aan Zee 2003
Hoi.C-Hansen.C, Politiken Cup 1982
Jobava.B-Korneev.O, Sochi 2014
Jobava.B-Mamedyarov.S, World Rapid Championship, Dubai 2014
Khachiyan.M-Bojkov.D, Los Angeles 2011
Khader.S-Ghaem Maghami.E, Doha 2013
Laengl.J-Scholvin.B, Faaker See 2003
Liew.J-Barcenilla.R, Asia Zonal, Shah Alam 1990
Liew.J-Kayumov.D, Kuala Lumpur 2013
Liew.J-Lim.Z, Kuala Lumpur 2013
Liew.J-Nasrul Humaimi.M, Kuala Lumpur 2014
Liew.J-Nguyen.V, Manila 2013
Liew.J-Nouri.H, Kuala Lumpur 2014
Liew.J-Tirto, Kuala Lumpur 2007
Liew.J-Torre.E, Asian Team Championship, Dubai 1986
Liew.J-Villanueva.N, Selangor Open 2013
Liew.J-Zakaria.M, Kuala Lumpur 2004
Maryasin.B-Manor.I, Israeli League 2002
Mesias.R-Escobar.A, Cali 2007
Miladinovic.I-Antic.D, Pancevo 2006
Naiditsch.A-Harikrishna.P, Wijk aan Zee 2014
Nakamura.H-Karjakin.S, Baku 2014
Nakamura.H-Ponomariov.R, Thessaloniki 2013
Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son-Yu Yangyi, Ho Chi Minh City 2011
Palliser.R-Jones.G, British Rapidplay Championship, Halifax 2010
Pazos Gambarrotti.P-Murugan.K, Moscow Olympiad 1994
Plaskett.J-Jonkman.H, Mondariz Zonal 2000
Rabinovich.A-Sorkin.I, Herzliya 1993
Rahman.Z-Gelfand.B, Tromso 2013
Rapport.R-Nikolic.P, Serbian Team Championship 2014
Rapport.R-Sutovsky.E, Tromso Olympiad 2014
Reinderman.D-Van Oosterom.C, Haarlem 2009
Roesch.O-Henkel.R, Nuremburg 1990
Saptarshi.R-Ganesh.B, Panaji 2012
Shengelia.D-Fauland.A, Feldkirch 2013
Sherbakov.A-Niktinykh.B, Correspondence 2002
Short.N-Amonatov.F, Bangkok 2012
Short.N-Giri.A, 3rd matchgame, Amsterdam 2010
Souza.A-Mareco.S, Curitiba 2010
Stefanova.A-Galliamova.A, Krasnoturinsk 2007
Suteev-Rudenskij.N, Moscow 1964
Tolnai.T-Lukacs.P, Budapest 1991
Vaganian.R-Adamski.J, Copenhagen 2006
Verstraeten.J-Hohler.P, Orebro 1966
Vogler.T-Balzar.A, Germany 1991