The Agile London System

Marus Shmeker

THE LOND/E

Marcu Schuecker

The London System

© Marcus Scmuecker

 www.3hss emai:

No p art o ts publcato may be reproduced or trasmitted  ay orm or by ay meas electroic or mecaica  cludig potocopyg recordg or ay iormatio storage or retrieva systems wtout prior wrie permsso rom te autor. 1 st dto i gls 2009 Traslato rom Germa Frot cover desig Back cover desig Cocept ad Type deer Prted ad boud by:

Timo Holoway Lars Rambac Marcus Scmuecker Marcus Scmuecker Ma rcus Scmuecker Topset GmbH Frakurt

Content

age

Lis of symbos Dedicaion Forewod nroducion

5 5 6 9 Cassica Lin

Chaper

+ +

1 2 3

Mai n posion wih . �d6 8  e7 Main posiion wih . . �d6 + 8 . e8!? Man posiion wih . . �d6 he res

18 22 30

4

7.e5

32

5 6

xchange on g3 - ar 1 xchange on g3 - ar 2

35 38

7 8

6 . .�e7 6 . .�e7

+ 7  xe5 + 7 . .0-0

42 45

Th rout to th main

9 0 11 12 3 14 15 6 17

3 . .h5!? 4  .h5?! 3 .. .e6 4  .c5 3  e6 4 .. .�d6 5 e5 3  e6 4 .. �d6 5�g3!? 4  �d6 5�g3 b6!? 3 .. e6 4 .. .�e7 2  e6 3  ..�d6 2 . .c5!?

48 51 52 53 56 59 61 63 67

+ + +

b2 with an

18 19 20

+ + +

4  .b6!? 5. . .xb2 4.b6!? 5 .. .c4 4 .. .b6!? 5  a6!?

b6

69 72 79

b2 wth a "at" b6

21 22 24 25 26 27

5 ..b6 5 ..b6 5 .. .b6 5 . .b6 5  b6 5 . .b6 5 . .b6

28 29 30 31 32 33

4 . .dxc4 4  e6? 4 .. .c6 Mai n posiion wih 6 bd7 Main posiion wih 7   dxc4 Reasons for 4.c4!

23

+ + + + + +

Th av

34

83 89 92 96 97 103 106

Inroducion 8 .. e5? 8 .. .xa3? 8 . .�g4 8  a5!? 8  a7! 8 .. .e6

108 111 112 113 117 119 2 .c6

36 37 38 39 40

Line 1 o he main posion Line 2 o he main posion Ma n posiion wh 7 �e7 Man poson wih 7 . . .c5 2 .. .c6/.  .�g4 wh f6 2 . .c6/ . . .�g4 wihou 6 All he res afer 2 .c6

124 127 130 132 35 137 139

4 42 43 44 45 46

Caro-Kann xchange Varaion Grueneld main lne Grueneld sidene Schlecher se - up Chgorin  Defence Sonewa

141 144 147 15 53 60

35

5

Lit of Sybol +

++ # X

!!

! !  

10

YY

0-

+ ± 

= +

(D)  D)

[



Check Double check Mae Capure Brillian move Srong move neresing move Dubious move Misake Blunder hie won he game was drawn Black won ih a winn in g advanage for hie ih cear advanage for hie ih a small advanage for hie ih equal play ih a sma ll advanage for Black ih a winn in g advanage fo Black see diagram  main line see diagram  sideline diec side vaiaion variaion wihin he sideline

Dedicaion My special hanks go o my wo very good friends Daniel Schirm and Bernd Scharau.

6

Foreword You are looking for an opening wth the followng attributes:  easy to learn  extremely sold  full of poison

System LS) woud not have enough bite to seriously endanger Black However there are also a few people among the top grandmasters who hink othewse. Gata Kamsky for instance used the London System with reasonable success and the London System s very popular one or perhaps two steps lower down at he IM - to FM-evel as hite can easily avoid ong theory variatons forcing his opponent o py chess from he very beginning

The much-praised soidity should not be mistaken for boredom as in truth  fascinatng postons the concep for a very dangerous kingside attack is in heren in the  relatvely unknown London System Numerous games have been decided in favour of hie  plenty of scope for own long before the 30 move ust because Black underestmated the deas white se-up. lt s interesting to noe that the London Lterature System is very wel known  n amateur circes as hite can reach a playable position after the opening phase without having to have a lot of heory knowledge. his fac alone underlines the soldity of the London System Up o 2005 there was only one book which seriously dealt with the London As the system covers all variations System  The London ystem" by aer 1 d4 d5 lazy people can also Andrew oltis which was published use it aga ins 1 . . .f6) it must be in 1993. regarded as a universa weapon But if this system is so good the n why is it stil so little-known? I can only guess at the reason probably the opinion established itself at higher evels that the London

7

Like many ohers I heard of he sysem afer losing a game and quickly recognsed many is advanages I always enoyed looking a chess scienifically and examining he posiions in deail My own heory g ew ew and even evenuall uallyy he he ide ideaa of wriing a book describing he ondon Sysem arose.

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f

h

GM latko Kovacevic he ondon

Sysem Sysem Gu ru) pu bl ished he firs firs really really comprehensive book abou he ondon Sysem called in with the Londonystem in 2005. hile sudying he book b ook  was w as very very su rprised o see how many of my own ideas were menioned n he book and even more surpis su rpised ed o find more new ideas which I had aso been hinking abou So he decision was made o publish my own work.

a

Blackburne obviously iked he open open ing as h e playe playedd  laer laer  mosly mosly in ondon where he name comes from)  agains agains opponen opponenss such as asker Chigorin and Seiniz Alechin also esed he sysem he ondon Sysem urned up regulary in ondon for many years.  mus be presumed ha Mason nvented he ondon Sysem as he had experimened wih f4 on various occasions before his game agai ns Backburne Backburne into other

Aenion mus be paid o wo The London Sysem was played for characerisics he firs ime beween Mason and Blackburne D) during he 2 1  ) Af Afer er 1 .d4 d5 f3 c5 Black Black can nernaonal Chess ounamen in ranspose ino he xchan xchange ge Vaiaion Vaiaion Vienna in 1882 Draw afer 23 of he Slav Defence wih 3c3 cxd cxd44 moves) cxd4

8

he quesion is wheher his will ofen happen in pacce as hie can simpy sim py play from from a safe safe posiion posi ion h alf a empo ahead.  would no make much sense for Black o acively begin wih 2 . . c5 us o anspose ino a passive defence immediaely 2) he second ransposiion is beer. Black can reach a Sonewall posion wih 1 .d d5 2.f3 2. f3 e6 3 3 f c6 .e3 . e3 f5!? D). ven hough his is no par of he ondon Sysem a deailed heoreical expanaion can be found in  he as chape. chape. I hope my book wil un you no an enhusiasic London Sysem advocae who wl be abe o celebae many grea wins wih his wonderful opening

A s

slh, 

o ntrductin o

9

Introduction

en enough Black feels compelled to offer his good bishop for an exchange on d6 which underlines the strength of the f4. If Black does not do something against it hite can also put his emaining pieces onto their most desirable squares see diagram) Basic a

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g

The bishop on f4 is cleary the main feature of the ondon System In addition addition the the London Syste System m i s an al l round weapon which can be used against neary al Black set-ups. set-ups. he f4 f4 has three three coleagues - d4 e3 e wil be meeting this basic set-up set-up and f3. hese are also regulars in frequently. the ondon System set-up. hite has built up an absolutely he main idea of achieving control unshakeable centre with his three c3/d4/ 4/e3 e3 Hi s main ove the black squares and in pawns placed on c3/d particular over the square e5) motif in the middle of the board becomes apparent straigh away consists of pushing through e4-e5 at the right time therwse piece pay is At the same time hite resolves the more likely to stand in the foreground. problem of his bad bishop most eleganty by positioning t outside his n many cases hite can even be so bold as to leave his King standing in pawn chain chain .

o ntductin o



he cenre for some ime. l is no rariy ha hie casles as lae as he 20 move. fen enough he simply has beer hings o do beforehand he good bishop on d3 which ofen plays a decisive roe in an aack on he king assiss here he d2 is very flexible and can quickly be developed furher o eiher he kingsde or queenside - dependi ng on where i is needed. he whie queen ofen finds isef on e2 or b3 bu very rarely on c2 because here i obsrucs he bes rerea square of he d3.

f

Unforunaely hie canno aways accomplsh he desirable se-up. herefore he mus always know how o use his hree mos flexible pieces In he London Sysem he f1 is c2 f1 and b 1 ) nearly always developed o d3 bu here are a few excepions e2 shoud always be he reply o a seup wh g6 because he laer hrea he handling of his pawn is easy o of . .e5-e4 can be very unpleasan for memorie. As soon as Black pus he he wih a bishop a d3. If Back whie cenre under pressure wih ..c5 reacs normally and plays ..c5 or hie wl srenghen his pawn on d4 even ...e6 hen he  can aways be pu ono d3 wihou hesiaion . wih c2-c3

8c2

If Black behaves passivey wh c6 However hie ofen does no have hen one can coninue acvely wih he necessary informaion righ from he sar herefore he usually has o c2-c4 exering pressure on d 5. begin wih he deveopmen of his c2 and b1  Shoud Black for exampe develop

o nrdcin  wih ...�f5 hen �d3 would no be a pomsing opion as he good whie bshop woud be exchanged for he bad back one he correc reacion would be c2-c4 wh an acive game on he queenside If a posiion wh . . .c6/c4 arises and Black does no ake on c4 hen hie wais wih he developmen of h s bishop unl he can ulze �e2 o casle shor



Rule: Both ces (f1 and   shod be deplyed cdig t  the A set.

s

1 d4 d5 covered?

l gradually becomes clear ha he London Sysem is exremely flexible and hie can sar a figh on boh sdes of he board.

b1 he knigh - as well as he bishop - s aso dependen on he posiion of he a h b c d e f c-pawn. f his sands acivey on c4 hen of course c3 inceasng he pressure As explained in he inoducion hie on d5 should be played. obains conrol over he dark squares wih d4 �f4 f3 e3 his applies h a b c d e paricularly o he key square e5 8 8 ih 1 .  .d5 Black did us a favour in permanenly weakeni ng e5 f he goes 6 for 1   f6 insead he remains flexble 6 in he cenre and can fgh for he 5 black squares mu ch more easly. 5 4 4 he can  of course adop hi s usual 3 se-up and reach a solid posiion 3 However if Black chooses o play he 2 Queens In dian Defence or he King s ndian no advanage can be gained from he opening wih he London Sysem.

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 ndcin 

n he oher han d aer 1 ..  d5 Black 1  a clear aacking arge g8 will face a very hard figh. herefore we are only dealing wh posiions 2. a clear aacking plan for nsance afer 1 .d4 d5 in his book. d3 f3-h3 and g4-g5 heher he ondon Sysem can keep up wh he Queens Gambi  or f i s even sronger  plays a secondary role.  personally consder i o be a leas equivalen

 is already very difficul for Black o find means agans hs as he does no have any adequae counerplay aying on he queensde wih a6b5 b4 - or similar - akes far oo long. f Black akes on e5 hen he imporan defensve kngh is forced o rerea from f6 wih dxe5. By coincidence  myself played such a game shorly before finishng his book he German verson from 2007

Schmecker - Vcktor 1401 2007 1.d4 6 2.3 d5?!

becvely speaking hs move canno be a misake bu i allows he London Sysem 34 e6 4e3 e7 5.e5! Here we have a knd of desirable se up for he which ofen comes up like his - or n a smiar form - on he revening ..h5 and occupying e5 board. 5..bd7 6.d2 a6 How is i possible for hie o win counless games from such posions? reparing his counerplay on he he reason is quie smple o queenside undersand. he has 7 d3 c5 8.c3 0 0?! (1 )

o nductin 

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2 e

h

he desirable position, which is similar to the one on the preios page, has been reached. By castling short Black offers a clear target for an attack 9.3 c4?

a

b

c

d

h

e

Maintans the adantage in the most conincing way, as Back can hardly take on e4 and .e5 is also preented [12.xe+? x e 1e4 e5= st shows how qickly an adantage can become ancient hstory.] 1 2...b7

Wins a tempo for the pawn attack on the qeenside, bt is mch too 1 2    dxe4 1.xe4 xe4? 14xe+ committng  xe 1 5xe4+-] 1 0.c2 b5?

13.xe7+  xe7 1 5.h3+ g6

14.e5

e8

Black makes eery mistake that one can possiby make again st the London he only hope or Black consists of System. organizing conterplay with ...b4, bt he wil not be able to do so dring this game. 11.c6 Collecting the good bishop. 1 1 ... e8 1 2.e4! (2)

15 .. h6 is worth consideing, bt it makes a later g4-g5 possibe]

 nducn o



163

with the hope of paying . . .e5.

hreatens g or g5 n certain 19�ae1! cases, therefore Black is practically forced to pay A ery precise moe, as an additiona pece wll be forced into a worse 16 . .6 1 ex6 ex6 (3) postion 3 a

b

c

d

19 . e8 e

f g



al   ·a 7   1     7 6 1 £   ,  ,6 s i  i   Is 41  , 0   3  t"3 21 8  0 8 2 a

b

c

d

e

g

h

lt is nearly impossible to list all the adantages of the white position pair of bshops space adantage more acte pieces. he bshop on b  s ery passe, as all blacks pawns stand on light squares e6 is a permanent weakness and blacks kings position has been weakened with g-g6 ence the dark squares are weak and White wll make use of this fact But Back made no obious mistake. xactly this is ust one of the hidden strengths of the ondon System. 1 8 .0-0 c8

Blacks postion can ony be regarded as sad. [  9  .e5? 2.dxe5 xe5 21 .xe5 'xe5 22. xe5 xh 2gxh] 20. e5 xe5 21  xe5

A further adantage of  9.ae1 is that . . b is again not possibe. 21 . e4 (4)

offering a pawn, hoping to achiee a draw with opposite cooured bshops. 223?

his is the main reason why only one of my own games is included in this book  am much too perfectionistic to torment the readers with such or similar mssed opportunties. he game should hae earned 22xe  22 ..dxe 2xe a 2.xg6+ I oerlooked the last moe in the precalculation, but een without strikng on g6 Whites adantage is obious as te e is more aluable than either of blacks rooks

 nucn 

5

4

to me drng te game Wite pans to occpy te f-fle wt f6 After ts, ps ing te pawn to 5 wold be decisive 29  a (29   rns nto  f1 'f 1 f6+-] 27.'g5

Immediately 5 wold ave been even stronger. 27 ... 'g7 28.h5 h6 (5) 5 a

As a small excse  wold lke to mention tat te game was played in a very important team event and safety was first priority

b

c



22 ...f6 23.'h6

Setting p te treat of xg6 23  �f8 24.g4

And again te treat becomes acte Woever finds te soltion 29.4 gx5 g5 can be very prod of imself Wite treatens 1 and

24. 'f7 25.h4 d7 26.f4

Oers te transiton into te endgam e tere is simply no defenc e fo Black.

My soltion delays te decision 

26 ...f6

26   xe5 2 .fxe5 g 28xf8+ xf8 29.g5 e qeens ave to re main on the bo ard - this was

29.'xg6? 'xg6 30 .xg6 xg4 31 . d6

cle ar At last mat eri al is lost.

 nrdun 

6

31  . 6 (6)

srrender bt my opponen wll delay esgnng he game s theefoe no longer really nterestng.

6

37.8 38.:h7 :e8 39.:e1 Je6 40:a7

and agan the bes contnaton s mssed n tme roble . 4 g7+ g 41 h8+ f 42 .xe8 xe8 4xe6+] 40 . g8 41 . 4 J7 42.:xe8+ Jxe8 43.:a8 8 44. d6+ 7 45:xa6 6 46 .e5 xh5 47.xh6 e7 48g2! (7) 7 a

b

c

d

e

f g



1 . . d8 2  e7 d xe6+- s also bond to lose] 32.5! Jd7

2   exf5 .e8+ g 4.e7+ g 5 e5 and Black can resgn] 33 e7?!

hs moe wns bt .xe6 s een stronger fxe6 xf1 + (   . xe6??  + 4.xf1  woeer sees tha the kng s abe o ake on f1 wll hae recognsed the wn of the e6-pawn A nce motf wth whch a frther pawn straght away.] s capred. 33 . :x5 34.5 ex5 35.d6 :d8 36.:e7 Jc 37.Je5

Blacks poston stands shorly before

48  .4 49.3 g3 50x4 e4

echn cally sl a ltle bt togh 

 ntrductin 

7

51.b8

8

51 ... 6 52h1 e6 53.e1 + e4 54.b3
he pawn was not really reeant to me  inading on e5 wth he king was much more important 57.e
Wth these three pieces a mating net is immnen.

a

c

e

58 ...xb3 59.h6+
8

Chaper 1 M a n poston wih d6 + 8 We7 1 .d4 d5 3 c5 3.c3 6 4.4 e6 he alternaties are handled simiarly, 5.e3 c6 6.bd2 d6 7.Jg3 0-0 for example 8 e8 9. e5. 8.d3 e7 {9) nly 9 . . . d s ery interesting here. 9

9 d? Back preents Jh and plans to get rd of the knight with . . .f6. 1 O.xc6? (. is also fine ..     .   J  .       .J± Yedidia-nkio, French Championship 996 1 O . . .bxc6 11a  Jb (.  2. .  . x d6  .   12Jxd6 1 .a  1 ) 1

9.e5!

9 ..Jxe5

his s definitely the best reacton Black forces a pawn to e5 which he then hopes to pt nder pressre. He gies p his pair of bishops for this prpose and mst take care not to be mated right away erything depends on the rest of the strggle for e5

Chapter 1



Main pstin wih

. . .�d6 + 8   ®e

1  ®e  1 .. e5 145) 14b therwise there would be no pin on c5 any more 1 4.  ®g5 15xc5 xg2  6 e2 g4+ 1 . d2 xc5 1 8.xc f 1 9.af 1 1 )

9

[9.. �d 1 Of4 e8 1 1  f5 1 2.�h4 f6 ( . +- 1f] 9 . h6? 1 f4 �d 1 1 �h4+- 1  LindamISchultheis,/playchesscom 24 28)]

White clearly has the better bishop He can use the open g-file in order to 9   cxd4 1 Oexd4 d 1  .f4 f5 1 2. nitiate an attack on the black kng] f6 1�h4 W? 14e2 e4 15h 1 �d 16g4 �e8 1gxf5 exf5 18g1 11 V Koaceic-Fressinet Solin/Spit 2] Back to the mai n li ne 1 0.dxe5 d7 1 1 .4 (1 2) 12

9 .. d8 1 f4 d 1 1  here s nothing here to speak against castling. he rook from f1 can quicky be brought n to the attack ia f. 1 1 . . .f8 coers h without the risk of being pinned with �h4 as would be the case afer f6 12e2? oo timid . (.  1 2. .f6 1�h4 �d 14.xd xd 15.h1 e 16ae1 ; Bisguer-Fras Pablaza, one Pne 1981.] [1 1 f b6 1 2a4 �b 1 g4 e ( .  14.h h6 1 5. esen Stanetzek Aachen 2.]



Chaper 1



Main psiin wih

. . �d6 + 8 . . e

1 1 .. .6 1 2h5! (1 3)

thewise the pawn on e5 wold simply be lost 14 Still not giing p the fight fo e5 1 1 .. f5 hopes fo a slackening of c h b d a e hostlities. Bt 12.f pepaes �h4 again. An impotant tip White shold nee attack too blindly with g4. He has aleady acheed good contol 7 oe all pats of the boad heeoe, 6 g4 can be pepaed ey caeflly.] 1 1  d4 12 With adantage fo White, as neithe stike on e no White wold keep contol both cases.

a clea Black can 4 on c, as oe d4 in



13 1 3.x6

seems to finally wn the fight fo e5. 1 . x6 14g5 the contol oe e5 s ey impotant. De to his pai o bshops Whte is in a comfotable poston 14.h5 15.xe? stiing fo an endgame 15 . . xe 6�h4 15) An excellent moe which pookes 5 16f5 1 .�f2 and Black wil l hae to spend some time to aoid losing a piece afte g4] 1  6 14e2 Afte this eteat the theat of �h4 becomes acte] he text moe 1 2. h5 foces a the 143! small weakness n B lacks camp  and indiectly stengthens Whites contol . . e5 is again not possible fo Back as oe e5 at the same time white qeen cold take on d5. A possible moe seqence cold be 12  g6 1 3.ex6 ( 14)

:hapter





Main pin wh

 . .�d6 + 8  . e7

15 a

b

c

d

e



te scope of e 8 as been ncreased and de5 was treatened ere really are a lot of 8 resorces n cess 6 4

1 4..d8! 1 5c2!  ( 16) 16

Aods a small trap, becase on accont of te qeens retreat to d8,

Wtes poston s actally ery easy to play, as after  and 2-4-5  ardly see any cances for Black to 1 5? Wold rn nto te trap 1 5.de5 16.e2 xd+ 17xd= Concusion e classcal araton as lost mc of ts poplarty becase Wte gets a strong attack far too often wtot ang to sacrfce anytn g

akng tese consderatons nto accont 8 . e8 looks mc more promsng.

22

Chapter 2 Ma in position with  . .d6 + 8 . . e8 1 .d4 e6 2.3 c5 3.c3 d5 4 4 6 structure would be identical to the one 5.e3 c6 6.bd2 d6 7 . g3 0-0 in the tonewall Dutch Defence 8.d3 Ee8!? (17) where Black sets up his pawns on f5,e6d5c6, but White has managed 17 to position his bad bishop ouside the pawn chain. The following variations a h b c d e g show how dangerous the white attack may become

!   f  _ ,   , ,  6   6 s     s  �  -

4

D  1 

a

b

c

d

e



g

h

nce again ...e5 is threatened Besides supportng the advance of the e-pawn, another advantage of .. e8 is that the f8-square becomes accessible for other pieces. 9.e5 e5! ?

earning all the sidelines by heart does not make a lot of sense, but one should have a good look at them to get a feeling for the positions t is very i mportant to notice that black must not allow the establishment of the knight on e5 with f2-f4. After f2-f4 the resuting pawn

9 .. e7 0.f4 a5 A desperate attemp to create counterplay on the queenside There is nothing else Black can do. 1   h4 g6 12.g5 cxd4 1 3.exd4; e 1 4 00 Whites pieces are ideally placed. 14 d7 1 5. xe7 xe7  6 xd7? This exchange was not really necessary. ( .  1 6.xd7 17.h5 f8  8 f3 f6 1 9 .ae1 d6; 20e5!?= A neat move . ( ; 20 .. fxe5 21fxe5 g6 22.h6 e7 23.f6 D18) ven though White has sacrificed a whole piece for only one pawn, amazingly Black is powerless. The white plan is quite simple, he wil bui ld up an artillery of heavy pieces on the f-file ubsequently he will weaken Blacks king position with h2h4-h5. There does not seem to be anything Black can do about this plan. 23 . . g7 24f4 c6 25.f1 e7 26. h4 c7 27.f3 b5 28h5 g5 29g4 h6. Allowing the bishop to go to g6 but what else was possible? 30 .g6 h8 31 .f7+- xf7 32.xf7 g8 33.f3 d7 34h7+ xh7 35.xh7

Man psn wth .  �d6

Chapter 2 

+ 8 .e8?

3

f8 36. g4 xh 7 Considerng the one advantage of 8 .   e8... 3.00 material, Black should be fine but his  1 4 g4  1 9 acrifices are in very the air. 14 . .e? pieces are placed nharmoniously. Therefore White faces no problems converting his 19 advantage 37.xe6 b8 38g6+ h8 39.xh6+ g8 40g6+ h8 4  h6 g8 42f6+ h7 43.f+ 1 0 Danielsen  Niboer, denthal ikamp 1 981 A really nice game.] 18

g

a

b

c

d

e

g



The theoretical sign ificance of the move 9 . . .e is not absoue but the game ilustates Whites attacking deas n a vey vivid way. 1 0.f4 The white plan consss of �h4/f3h3 , g4-g5 or of 00, followed by f3 h3. Black can only wait and see, hoping to suvive, since there is no sign of counterplay available to him. 1 O  . d7 1 1 df3 f6 weakening g6 and by doin g so weakening h7 as well but Black wants to get rid of the e5 at all costs. 12�h4 f8 At least



a) 1 4.  �e7! is the toughest continuation. 15f2 c4 (. .      .� �      +- 6.�c2 g6 1 7�g3 and White is only a litte bit better. b) 1 4. .  b6? also loses by force. But a least it offers a great show . . . 1 5.�xf6! gxf6 ( +     \  \ \+- 16xf6+ f7 17xe8 xe8 18e5 �b7 19h+ d8 20.e4 g7 21exd5 exd5 22.7+  23xd6 xd6 24.dxc5+ bxc5 25.ad1 d8 26.�e4 e7 27c4+-

1 5. fe5! �d7 (.  



Chaper 2

   +    +    + .   .     +   .+   .+  . .    .       .  16�xf6! gxf6 17.h6+ g7 18g4+ Back resigned in this position Aer  8x h6 a mae in 7 moves will follow 1 9.f3 g6 20�xg6 g7 2  �xh7+ h 8 22.h3 g 23f7+ xf7 24.�f5+ h5 25xh5#



Main psiin wih  �d6

+ 8 . . .e8?

1 0 aeger, M- Federau  /Germany 1990 27 A typical pawn break afer .. c4] 9  h6?  would be even worse than 9  g6 1 O.f4 d7 1 1 h5 cxe5  2fxe5 �e7 1 3.00 f8+- 1 0 Cuno, T vah n X/ICCF-Cup8/9 V071 corr 1990 28]

[9 . .cxd4 gives White an edge, as the e-file offers him some opportuntes. The shown game is very imporan  Oexd4 c7 (   .  and instructive because of the  .  +- 1  .f4] followng aspects 9 . g6? is a sin concerning he rule 1  Attackng motifs Do not unnecessarily weaken your 2 Defensive resources kings position. 1 0.f4 h5 1 1 �f2 f6 3. xploitation of weaknesses. 1 2 xg6 hxg6 1 3�xg6 A sacrfc e at 4 trong sacrificial motifs. ow isk n the game Minasian-Tissir, 9 . c4? As one migh remember, c4 s Abu Dhab 2004. After 13   g7 nearly aways bad - this position is no 14.�xe8 xe8 15.dxc5 �xc5 16.f3 excepton   0.�c2 e7 1 1 f4 d7 g6 17.h4 �d7 18.h5 d3 19g4 Backs pieces were obviously not 1 2f3 f8 1 3.00 f5 14b3! D20 coordinated very well ] 20 Back to the ma in line 10 .dxe5 d7 1 1 3 (21)

Although  1 f4!? migh well be possibe as pointed out by Kovacevic  believe that 11.3 is clearly stronger.

hater 2 

Main stn with   d6

+ 8 .. .e8!?

21

5

14  b5? In stead, the idea of 14  c5 seems to be ver stong The knight is headi ng for d3 and it is not clear to me whee the white compensation has disappeared.] 1 1 c7 (23) 23

[1 1 .f4! ? Kovacevic The folowing pawn sacrifice is dangeous for Black, but I do not believe in full compensaton. 1 1 . . .c4 12. c2 'b6 1 3 f2 'xb2 1 4.c1 22 22 White suddenl seems to face a real 8 problem How to cover e5? Ths is possibl the main reason wh 1 1 f3! has not been plaed ver ofen 6 [1 1 ...f5 12.exf6 'xf6 ( . .  5 .   .    .  lod  ;  4 Bruckmar,F/ICCF email 1999 33  . . .   1 3c2!; when 3   e5 s prevented] [1 1 . h 6 1 2.00  1 3.e4 transposes to the main line] 1 1 .. f8 1 200; d7 1 3'e2 h6

6

Chapter 2 

Man pstn wh .  �d6

+ 8 . .e8!?

1 4.ad 1 f5 1 5exf6 xf6 1 6 .e4! g6 1 2 ..h6?! Weakens the pawn 17.d2 ce7 18fe1 �c6 19.exd5 structure voluntarily while the move �xd5 20.e5 ad8 2 1 g4?! 1 0 does not threaten anything Blatny,- KoelleA/Germany 1 990 herefore 1 3.e4! b6 14e2! ? is 41 the correct reply. verything is ( is even stronger � protected indirectly 14 . .c4 5�c2   +- ] c5 (      �++- 16.ad dxe4 17.�xe4 xe4 1 8.xe4 xb2 1 9xc4; 25 12.0-0! Covering e5 by tactcal means.

25

[12.�xh7+? The bishop sacrfice is not correct 12 xh7 13.g5+ g8 1 4h5 f8] 1 2..g6! ? (24) 24

White has occupied the d-file and Black has enormous problems concerning the deveopment of his queenside.] [ 1 2.   cxe5?? 14 h5+- 26 ets up the threat against e5 again  but considerably weakens the dark squares. But it is hard to see how White can ever make use of this Aternatives are always answered with 13.e4!

13.xe5

xe5

Makes the point of 1 1 f3! cear and aso a significant disadvantage of 8 e covering the square e5 with  . .f6 is no longer possible ]

Chaper 2 

Man pstn wh �d6

7

+ 8 e 8!?

26

6 3

More or less forced as afer 2. . .g6 the threat to the e-pawn became real From a postional point of view the move s logcal as well The bishop has ulilled its obigations on the diagonal b1-h7 and ensured permanent weaknesses on the dark squares t has done its ob. n contrast one should have a look at the �c8! 1 3.�b5 has not been played so far, therefore my own anaysis will follow. 1 3a6

Back to the main l ne 1 3b5 (27)

Back wants o create counterplay on he queenside whee else?) therefore the text move is very logica 1 4.c6 c6 (28)

[14. . .bxc6 15.e4 b8 1 7exd5 cxd5 1 8b4;]

6.b3

c4

8

Chapter 2 

This is the critical postion. Both payers have acted very logically and it is not cear right now how the strugge will continue. White would realy like to play e4 but the pawn would not be protected sufficiently Therefore, 1 5'c2 or  5e1 come into consideraton But ths loss of time would give Black the opportunity to organise an effectve counterplay on the queenside beginning wth   b5.

Main psitin with   d6

+ 8  e8! ?

if Back simply sticks to his pans [  5dxe4?! 16.d2 eading for d6 The weakness of the dark squares becomes apparent. 16.d5? Black tries to keep his material at all costs 1 6  f5 activates White s dark squared bishop 17exf6 xf6 18.c4!

n this position the control over squares, especally over the weak But i you realy wsh or somethi ng ones n Blacks camp, is mch more important than the material . . .   there are various ideas, such 15e4 as h4 and as soon as one of Blacks pieces arrives on d5 c4! will And t does work! Black gets no time folow, with further destruction of the for his own plans opponents pawn structure White controls the board, his deficit of one 1 5  b5 (29) pawn does not really matter.  29 a

b

c

d

e

(  .. . E   The knight will land on d6 sooner or later (      1 7'e2 xe5 1 8xe4 d 1 9ad1 +- 30 Black can resign, as upon 19.  c6 Whte can counter with 20xd7 ! After 20 ..xd7 21 .f6+ f8 ( ' 22.xh7+ g (  '  .E there is no defence against f6       E  E 23 e5+ ('+  23   xh7 24'g4 with mate to follow sooner or later.]

The variations clearly show how risky the acceptance of the pawn sacrifice would be Therefore Black should not Accepting the pawn sacrifice is far too take the pawn but try to draw the dangerous et us see what happens

aper 2 

Man psn wh  . .d6

9

+ 8 .  e8!?

slghtly worse endgame. Whichever answers with cxb4 then ae cxb4 way one looks at it, Backs position is his d-paw  would becom very weak no o be envied 1 7.  . bxa4 answered wth 18.xa4, afer which the rook is dreaming of 30 being transported to the kingside

IS

Back to the main variaton Conclusion Thanks to 1 1 3! , 1200! and 13b5! the whole variaton starting wth 8    e stands As from now on the e-pawn is mobile, on very shaky legs motifs in connection with e5-e6 come into consideration. This is going to be extremely important idea, an especially during an attack against Blacks king [1 6   'xd 1 7.'e2+- 16.exd5 exd5

17 a4 (31 )

White is better as he can successfully defend his queenside laying b4 soon is a good idea in order to fight or control over d4, thus creating an ideal square for the knight f Black

3

Chapter 3 Ma in position with



d6 + the rest

1 .d4 d5 3 c5 3.c3 6 4.J4 e6 1 2.f3+- g4 ( ..  . 5.e3 c6 6.bd2 Jd6 7.Jg3 e 7  .J  13.'a4+ Jd7 14Jb5 a6 15.Jxd7+ 'xd7 16'xd+ (32) xd 17000+- 10Jg3! The man line has appeared on the boad now! 32 However, two other moves have been played already: b) 8  Je7 9Jxe7 'xe7 1 Oe5 c) 8  .b6 9dxc5 Jxc5 10b4 Je7 ( J  .   1 .b5 a5 33

33

This is a clever idea Black delays castling to avoid offering White a goa for an attack. Instead, he immediately threatens to break through with   e5 [7  c7? is a fatal mistake frequently occuing in Blitz games. 8dxc5 bviously the pawn s ost  8   Jxg3 9.hxg3 e5 10.b4+-]

ptically this position does not look [7 .. .h5!? lt is not easy to find the particulaly good for Whte as he has corect counte. 8.Jh4! to think about his backward c3. However this problem can be solved a) 8  f6 9Jd3 00 9 e5? Does not q uickly 1 2.Jxe7 xe  3.c4 dxc4 work. 1 Odxe5 xe5 1 1 .xe5 Jxe5 1 4 xc4 xc4 1 5.Jxc4 d8  6.'a4]

Chater 3 

Man stn wh   d6

[7... e4 8xd6 'xd6 1 0 d2 cxd4 1 1 .exd4 13fxe4 fxe4 14c4 Kovacevic-alev Ruse 8.e5 d7

+ the rest

3

9. xe4 dxe4 11b3 f5 1 2f3 00 e3 15.f3 The bishop can only be defended by 1983] the rook, but to do so the rook must eave the a7-pawn. 1 1 .b8 12.xd6 xd6 13.a3!

[8 . .xe5 9dxe5 d7 10.f4 ( 1( 03 4)    . ' .'     .   Rubinstein DuzKhotimirsky, Karlsbad 1907. 1 0  . . 00 transposing to Chapter 1 with 8  'e7.]

34

9.xc6!?

Transferring the battleground to the queenside. 9f4 00 1 O.d3 f6 1 1 xc6 bxc6 12'c2 f5 12 . g6 1300 c4 14.e2 e5 Kveinys-Nybck lovdiv cht 003 15.e4 exd4 16cxd4 b6 17b3±) 13.f3 a5 14h4 'e8 Vega Hom-Valleo ons, onferrada 1997 15.e5 xe5 16dxe5 b6 17.b3 a4 1800] 9 ..bxc6 10.a4 Trying

to

take

The whole point, as White colects the pawn with the threat of b3-c5 since

advantag e of the otherwse the pawn on a7 is lost.

weakness in Blacks camp At first glance it seems as though Black can get rid of his doubed pawns by paying cxd4 at some point but this idea will remain an i llusion 1 0...b7

The only sensible defence of c6 1 O ..xg3 1 1 hxg3]

Conclusion 7 ..e7 is a good try, but White can keep the better prospects with 9xc6? or 9.f4. No attention was paid to 7 ..h5!? up till now, athough this move could be used to test White at the least

3

Chapter 4 C assical Li ne with 7 e5 1 d4 d5 3 6 3 .4 e6 4.e3 c5 5.bd2 c6 6.c3 d6 7.e5 (35)

7 . . b6?? 8.dc4 dxc4 9.xc4 d8 1 O xd6+ e7 1 1 dxc5 1 0 Mehmet Nadar, Val Maubue 1990.]

35 a

b

c

d

e

This is the most natural way to fight for the square e5.

h

 5

7  xe5? gives up the good bishop voluntarily and on top of that White obtans great attacking possiblities. What more could one wish for? 8dxe5 d7 9.g4 g8 10f3 g5 1 1 . g3± Tobak-U golk, dessa 2001.] 7 .. .00? 8 . g3 36 36

This is an extremely important line, as Black can achieve this position almost by force with an exact sequence of moves At first glance it is not quite cear whether White can advantageously maintan his central knight on e5 or whether a forced exchange will an produce unnteresting middlegame for him Immediately giving up the pair of bishops with 7 . . .xe5 would be favourabe for White as one will be abe to see 7 ...c7

lt would normally be risky to caste nto the kngs attack White has

Chaper 4  Classca Lne wh 7e5

33

pepared However if Black plays poperly and maintains control over te mportant e4-square, it seems as toug e can keep a soid position

is planning  . b5 and   b7, wic would ead to a balanced stuation n te centre owever wt Wite attacking on te kingside an interesting stuggle is in te offing This position is important because Back must be careful aer 14f3 o the chapter dealing with 3 e6 fe4 15g5 (    ollowed by 4d6  . + @    @   because 1 9. 'h3+ [8df3 s possible even oug less 1 5. . . �xd2?! ambitous 8   5 (.  9 xc6 bxc6 10xd6 xd6 1 1  e5 f6 1 5  b5 s a better attempt, even 12a4 cxd4 13.exd4 c5 14.a3 e4 toug Wite can try 16.4 b7 1 5. d3 cxd4 1 6xd6 xd6 1 7 cxd4=  7.a3! so tat after 1 7  . .a5 185 b4  9.g 6 bxc3 20bxc3 xd2 21 xd2 Ristic-toanovc, Budva 2002.] te back queen cannot go to a5 After 8 .. .c7 is critical. 8. e7 is 2 1   fxg6 22xg6 6 Wite keeps a analysed in capter 1 small edge because s pieces are placed on better squares



1 6 xd2 b5 loses almost by force [9  f4!? is te aggressve continuation 17g4 b7 18.f6+ gxf6 19. x7+ A mating attack is planned But wit @x7 20.5+ g8 21 gxf6+- an exact defence Black is probaby 37 abe to equalze A)

9 .. b6 misses te oppotunity to reac a balanced position10 d3 e7               .                       . Kovacevic Bofll, Carbonel Aragon Campionsip 1 997 B)

9 . .e7!? is possibly good enoug to equalize Aer 1 O  d3 f5 1 1 f2 c4 1 2. c2 e7! 1 3 g4 d6 3 7 Black



Chaper 4



Classcal Line wih

7 e

C)

generae counterplay on the queenside wth b7-b5  soon 9  e4 1 0�d3 f5  1 . xc6 bxc6 becomes clear why the queen s not 12�xd6 xd6 13e5 cxd4 14exd4 on the correct square c5 15.00 b6 38 Helling-Keres Whte can herefore be absoluely Dre  den 1936 After 16b3 Whit happy with his position acheves a promsing endgame example 16   cxd4 1 7xb6 xb6 18cxd4 a4 19c6 �b7 20.b3 a3 21 .b4





Conclusion A frequent strategy of th e ondon ystem is that White _ one eye scrutin ing an attack wth   a�ans Blacks king - always pays Back to the ma in i ne wh hs other eye looking for the an advanageous transiton into 8 .b5 d7 9.xd7 xd7 1 o . d6 endgame 'xd6 1 1 g4 0-0 1 2.4 6 1 3.3 e7 1 4. d3 'b6 1 5b1 (39)



White is n total control of the stuation on the quensde n the long run his pa  conssts of conducting an attack  ganst the black king Blacks queen s acually msplaced on b6 Consdering the fact tha Black has t



35

Chapter 5 Exchange on g3 - Part 1 1 .d4 d5 3 6 3 .4 c5 4e3 c6 Hebde-Arkell Lodo 1 999] 5c3 e6 6.bd2 d6 7 .g3 xg3 8  cxd4 9exd4 g4? 10�b5 �d7 8.hxg3 (40) 1 1 .e2 c7 SKoaceic-Di az Flres Garcia Maresa 1 996] 40 9 b5? (41) 41

A exchage o g3 oly makes sese for Black if he ca successfully fight for e5 f istead he cotiues to deelop ormally White will occupy he positioal soluto he lie e5 with his kight ad iitiate a ey 9.c2!? is ful of tactics as oe will stog attack o the kigside. see i the ext chapter herefore Black oly has oe 9  ..d7 reasoable moe . 8 ..Wd6

8 ..\e 9\a4 00 10e5 xe 1  .dxe5 d 7 1 2 f3 c4 1 3d1 6 1 4exf6 xf6 1 5\d4 e4  6�xc4 xf2 1 7.xf2 dxc4 1 8.\xc4+-

ther cotiuatios clude 9 . . .a6 1 0 .\a4 b8 1 1 �xc6 xc6 1 2.\c2  1 3e5 h6 1 4g4 d7 1 5 df3 f8 1 6.dxc5 xc5 1 7\a4+ b5 1 8.\f4 b7 1 9\d4 xd4

36

Chapter 5 - Exchange on g - Part



Aggtelek  13.c2 6 (. . .  .         +- Kezeic-Lageweg [9 .. .00 1 c2 6 1 1 xc6 bxc6 Saaeo 1 981  14.g4 ac8 2e5 d7 (  Coloiz 1 5.000! 43 odoroic erzeg Noi 2001    43            +-  3.df3 b c e a cxd4 14exd4 c5 15dxc5 xc5 160 00 e7 7.4 b7 18.d1 8 Blaty-Stoe Groige 1 990] 20cxd4; 2000.]

Baa-urzo

d

[9 .. .d7 1 .c2 6 1  .g4 is paw  muates ito a batterig ram i some aratos 1 1 g8 (     5    ; 12000 e7 13e5 cxd4 4.exd4 a6  15.xd7 xd7 16.de1 a5 17.3 a6 1 8.f3+- Braa-Bece Hugary 2003.]



1 O xc6 xc6 1 1 .e5 h6 (42) 42

[ 1 d7

12df3

153 was tried  Pozi-Potki foe Nod 1998 5..b5 16.a3 a5 17g5 xg5 18.7 g4 19xg7? gxf3 20g6 ad Black wo wit 20 xe5 2 .dxe5 d8! 44

e7

( . 

aper 5  Excange on g  Part



37

45

44 a

b

c

d

e

f

22.g8+ (   22   d7 [ 1 1 .  00

1 2.g4

d7

1 3.c2

Whites domina nce is oerwhelming f5

1 4xd7 �xd? Kamsky -Dugy , New

York 1989

12.g4!?

Certainly sronger than 1 2 .a3 which was played in Gymesi-Sergienko Kecskemet 1992 12 ..d7 1 3.df3 c 1 4g 5 Ve7

 1 4..f8 15g6 xe5 (. . .      .   +- 1 6. xe5 f6 1 7 f7 g8 1 8g4 f5 1 9f4 d7+- 15gxh6 gxh6 16.xd7 xd7 17e5 b5 1 8 Vf3 c7 1 9h5+(D45)

Conclu sio n :

he positio nal answer

9.b5 guarantees Whte a solid plus.

38

Chapter 6 Exchange on g3 - Part 2 1 .d4 d5 2. f3 f6 3.f4 c5 4e3 c6 1 .dxe5 xe5 1 1 xe5 xe5 5.c3 e6 6.bd2 d6 7g3 xg3 2.�b5+ uderlies the adatage of 8.hxg3 d6 9.c2! (46) c2 as after 12. . .�d7 13.�xd7+ Black ca oly ecapture with the kig 46 xd 13.   xd7? 14 xh7 ]

9 . h6 1 .dxc5 xc5 1 1 e4 dxe4 12xe4 xe4 13.xe4;] [9 . . .a6?! lt does make some sese to preet the check o b5 but this moe loses time. g4 h6 10. . .xg4 1 1 xh7;  1  .g5 g4 12 gxh6 No atter how Black recaptures o h6 White will maitai the better pospects. 12  xh6 13.xh6 gxh6; 1 3 ..xh6 14.h 12  gxh6 3.g4 +- 10.g4! (47) 47

White prepares to castle log  keepg a eye o the e4-square at the same time Black ca practically forget about castlig kigside Aother adatage of the text moe s that the �f1 remais flexble 9 d7!

Preparig to castle o the queeside as well. his is the oly way Black ca hope fo equal chaces. 9   e5?! Very attactie but White has armed himself agaist ths with 9c2

39

Chater 6  Exchage o g3  Pa 2

he batterig ram is set free

1 4xe5 xe5 (      .  15f3;

[1 0000? seems to be ery heathy but the hidde poit of 9  �d7! is 1 1 .g5 g4 1 2gxh6 xh6! (49) disclosed oly later 1     cxd4 1 1 exd4 b4D48 49 48

his is the oly way for Black to keep his kigside togethe owee the White s ot forced to capture that is kight o h6 is ot placed ery well corect but what is the alteatie? 1 2b3 looks good - but suddely [1 2 xh6 1 3xh6 gxh6  3  xh6 1 2  g4 is played ad f2 ca o 1 4 b3 he ma scee suddely loger be guarded 1 3xb4 xb4 switches to the queeside 14cxb4 xf2 15�e2 c8 16b1 Ufortuately the excursio 14\h e7 17hf1 xd1 18xd1 c7 does ot brig ay success 14     1 9c1 xc1  20xc Due to his 15c5 b6 (  �   destruced paw structure White     .   . caot ee thik of haig a 1 6xd7 xd7 1 7b3- 14 b3] adatage But with a bit of luck he 1 3. b3! might be able to achiee a draw] 1 0..h6

 the kigside eerythig has bee cleared up fo the time beig [ 1 0xg4 1  xh7 g8 (  . . .  herefore Black is tempted to \ 1 2h4 e5 1 3dxe5 gxe5 play  c4 After this White ca



Chaer 6

 Exchange n g3 - Par 2

contemplate a pawn break with eit her The best reaction. b3 or sometimes even e4. [14..jc8? (51) Aer this move 1 3...c4 Bleasak cannot connect the rooks very y , therefore [13cxd4 14exd4 000  51 15000;] [13...b6?! 14.dxc5 bxc5 15c4; (50) 50 a

b

c

xd5 S threatened, snce the pawn on c5  ould no longer be protected suently  lt is not so easy to find a satsfy ing an swer 1 5..d4 1 6 exd4 xd4 17bxd4 cxd4e 18  000+e5?? 19xd4 exd4 20· 4+] 

14.c5

The re is hardly any retreat square avalable for the knig ht - but in actual fact t does not need one. 14 .. b6

(17.xg5? would end in a wonderful flop 17.e5 18 e4. g6. 19 g 5 jf5 20d6+ @ 723d6 : 21 'xf5 xf5 e 22hxh8 xa8 exd4 24 exd4     4 ow Back IS m an excel l e nt poston beng clearly better despite the stunnng turns 25.000 f4+ 26 ·b1 f5+ 27a1 ( + 27 c2+) 17b5 1c5+- g5 cannot be held and the attempt 18 .e5 woud face the answer 19xg5 jxg4 20f3 jc8 (.  . .    .@+- 21 e 4 Bl a ck ·

 N  

 Exchage on g3 - ar 2  1 6.. b5 caot cope with the positio beig opeed up. 2 .exd4 22cxd4 xd4 23.'c3 'xc5 24.exd5+- 16 ..5? 1 7.e5+ xe 18.dxe5] [14...000? 15b3] Chaper 6

17e2 b4

Back to the main  in e 1 5xd7 xd7! (52) 52 a

b

c



e

g

h

Blac begis geig active himself. Files are opeed i order to get at the white ig Thus White must cotiue to play very eergeticaly. [17 ..ab 18e5+! demostrates that i t i s possible to get at the i  g o d7 i  some cases 18.xe5 19.dxe5 'xe5 20e4 rushig violece sometimes reay is a solutio . 20...f4+ (20 .' g+ 21.  b1 'xg2 22exd5 exd5 with a advatage.) 21.b 1 'xf2 22exd5] 18e5+ xe5 19.dxe5 \xe5 20.\a4+ e7 21.\xb4+ f6 22.g4 g6

The positio remas complex but White has the the better mior pie ce more grip i the cere - ad his ig The roos are coected ad there is is also i a safer posiio o dager for he ig o d7 right Concuson ow. [15..' xd7 16. b 3 b5 17a4] The The tactical cotiuaio 9'c2 aso mai reaso fo this evaluaio is the ofers very good chaces of attaiig uguarded roo o a8] a advatage, but the positios are very complicaed. Especial y Bac 16.0-0-0 must cotuously sove dficut e ms, a tas tha i s hardl y [16.b3 b5 17a4 a6 does ot offer a probl advatage ay more as the a8 is possibe durig a practcal game protected by ow.]



Chapter 7 6   e7 + 7  xe5 1 .d4 d5 2f3 f6 3  f4 e6 4.e3 c5 5.c3 c6 6. bd2 e7 (53) 8  .b6 (54)

53

54

his is clearly more passive than 6 d6 but at the same time more The main idea of he queens move s s iid a� well. Actually Black sets up � ge hs he th reat o getting the pair of d7-b5 . I Bl ack. can exchan b h p bad  then he l have soved a  of h his problems. 7 .e5! [8 ..  d7!? he cleveres attempt as Prevents    h5 as well as he natu ral Black wants to execute the same idea as after 8 . b6, but does not sho developing plan of ... b6/... 7. this right aay. 7 ..xe5 9a4! (55) Highl ghts that the idea of b6/b5 has to be eliminaed Brngs immediate carification. immediately  









8.xe5

haper 7

- 6 . e7 + 7 .xe5

3

(9.d3?! b6 1 Oc2 cxd4 1 1exd4 12.b5 13f3 b4 14e5 xe5 b5 12.00 00 13.xb5 xb5 15xe5 a5 1 6.  d2 d7 17.f3 b6 14.ae1 d7 15.g3 ac8= 18.e4 a5= Georgievski-Stamnov, Suskovic-Dumitrache, Zagreb 1997) Struga 1993] 9 .  c4 Hoping to exploit the position of 8 ..d6? 9b5+ @f8 (  the weaklng on a4, but in the     + 10  f3] meantime one should have learnt Back to the mai n line (54) that .  c 4  s sel d om good The queenside is cracked open with 10.b3 cxb3 1 1.xb3 and White can possbly 9�b1!? pay on both wings after 1 1 c6  think covering b2 with the queen 12.d3] must be too passive. 9c2? d7 1 O. a 4 a5 1 1 . d3 h6 12. 0 0 00 13 h 3 freein g the square d4 for  hi( d s kni g ht 13c6 14g4 d7 s  J   · s 15  g3 wi t h an equa game i n M Brandis-Ken, Kecskemet 1992] 7  ·  · £ 1 7 9 ...cxd4 1 O.exd4 d7 1 1 .a4 (56) 61  '   6 55

a

5

b

c

r

e

•m

g

 15

2 D   �  2 l    =  :  d a

b

c

e

g

56

8 . .00?! Black should delay castlin g 9.d3 d7 f Black remain s passive, then f3-h3 etc. is n the offing 10.  g3 f5 1 1 0 0 c4 12. c2? Vey natua, but the bishop has fulfiled its purpose on the diagonal b1h7, therefore the move e2 would be more appropriate .   wi th the i d ea of b2-b3 and perhaps a2a4 White wil play on the Apparently preventng . .b5 queenside, keepng the initiative.



Chapr 7 

  ..0-0

11 'a 12a1 b6 (  .  . hopin g for a repetition moves but this idea wl be prevented with 13a2 (57) 57 

The roo is not placed particularly strongy on a2 but what can be said about the queen on b6? f in the progess of the game Blac wants to open up files on the queenside he can only do so with a timely a6-b5 which would open up the a-file once again  In this case the a2 would suddenly be positioned id eall y for doubling the roos] 2.d3;

Blac does not have any convincin g counterplay but White on the other hand has clea ideas on the ingside

6 e + 7xe5

5

Chapter 8 6   e7 + 7    0-0 1 d4 d 5 2 .f3 f6 3 f4 e 6 4.e3 5 5.3 6 6.b2 e .e5! 0-0?! (58) 58

[7...d7 is interesting, as Black s fghting for e5 beore casti ng 8xd7 xd 9 d3; with a slig ht advantage as the white pieces ae more active and Black has exchanged his importan defensive knight.] [7 a6? Does not produce much. 8 d3 d 900  Giv ing a least a certain sense to 7  a 6 10c2 b5 1 1f3! b4? was played in bersVan Aurch, but White missed the sho 12. +-]

Ba to the main variation 8 .d3 d (59) 59

[7  b6 8.  b1 d (8 d7 with the idea of b7-b5, but this seems to be hardly possible 9 d3 xe 1 O.dxe5!       = 1 O g8  1e4;) 9 d3? (   .; 9 dxe5 10dxe5 g5 11g3 h5 12.h3 d 13.e2 h4 and in the game Zurek-Polak, zechoslovak ht. 1991 both kings posiions emained vulnerable]

 4

 

3

1

here is no simple soluton for Black.

6

per 8

 6 je7 + 7.0-0

9.h5 f5 10g4 dxe5 [8 ..xe5? is vey dangeous 9dxe5 [8..d7? e8 10h4 jd7 1 1.jxh7+ (60). 1 1.d xe5 g6 12.h3 f7 Needleman , Buenos Aies 2003 his sarifie should never be mssed Hungaski 13000±] in the London System [8 .  jd6? an ony be a loss of time 60 ompared to 6 ..jd6 9f3 7 d 1 Ox6 jxf4 1 1.xf4 x6 12h4 b6 13000 xd4 14exd4 d8 15.he1 g6 16.f4 Enst-Ekstrm, Baden 1997] [8 xd4 9exd4 jd7 (.  .    .      . B. BaloghRosta ungarian hamponship 1992 10. 0 0 (. 10a6 1 1.  e1 b5 12 a 3 g6 13e3 xe5 14.jxe5 a 15h3 8 16f3 e8 (  .± 17.xh7 jf6 ( . .  +  # 18h3 10, Pani   Stankovi Belgrade 2003] 9f3 �ea 1 1 xh7 12.h5+ g8 13f3 Afer this move thee is no esape for [9..e8 s not onvining. 1 Oh3 g6 Blak 11.  df3 xe5 12xe5 f6 13.  xd7 13.. f6 14.g5 fxg5 15hxg5 f5 xd7 14.00 4 15j2 jd6 16.jh6 (.  . .   + f7 17.e4± Knezevi -eko, Saraevo    . 10 Rinaldi- 1981] Kaminskas, orrespondene 1992 16h7+ f8 17g6 jg 18h8+ Afer e7 19jxg5+ xg5 20.h4+ 0h3 g6   jhG �e  2f4 (6 ) b) 13 j b5 14  d1 g6 15  h6 f6 16xg6+ g7 1 7g5 fxg5 18hxg5 Bak an for instane ontinue wth f5 ( .+  .# 19.h7+ f8 20g6 e8 21 .xg7+-  2jf c



e

8

5

3

2

a

c)

g

   g6 1 4 Wh6

f7 17 h 5 19 g 4+-]

1 5Wxg6+

18000

[1 2. . .xe 5 1 3.fxe5 th5 1 4g4 tg7

1500 f8 16.f3 b5 17jf4 h5 18 g xh5 xh5 19jh6 g7 20.  h1

...�e7 + 7 ... 0-0 7 b4 2g f5 22.g5 bc3 im portan for White to pay attention to 3.�g7and White won in Sahovc the id ea of �d7b5 as otherwise he Franzon , Bie l 1980.] wil not be able to get an attractive positon from the opening Chaper 8 

6

After having examned al the main positions in detai, the following chapters will now show you how to get there!

 3.g5 b8  4.Yh4 e7  5.0-0 h5 6xe7 Yx e7 7 Yxe7 xe7 8g4 g7 (62)

Black coud ust about manage to parry the attack but he wil l stil l have a disadvantage in the endgame Conclusion The type of posi t i o ns after 7...0-0 are exactly what the nomal ondon System player wishes for. 7..xe5, on the other hand, i s an interesting attempt for equalty as Black avoids castli ng kin gsd e for the time being and thereby does not give White a target for an attack t is very

8

Chapter 9 3    h5!?  .d4 d 5 2.3 6 3.4  h5? (63) 63

 Oxg6 fxg6 1 1�d3+ Berkes Antal, Paks 1999) 53 An attack against the � on h5 s bng pepared  5  e6 6g4 �g6 7h4 h6 8xg6 fxg6 9d3+ Kovacs Schipkov Budapest 1992 Whtes advantage is more than clear] 4 g5

[4�e5? with the idea o povoking f6 is also an interesting way to coni n ue 4 6 5�g3 xg3 6hxg3 The kingside ooks extremely strange, but thee ae smpy not enough practica games o cary out a detailed evaluation] 4 ... h6 5h4

d

Allowin g the exchange Vey unusual at his stage, but n [5�d2?  personally consider this to contrast to some other positions be a cleve choic e White waited unti White cannot avoid the bishop Back played   h6 and ony now exchange by tactical means A retreat retreats hs bishop to d2 he idea to d2 or e3 is out of question and the of  f5 is not recommendable because petty 4�c1 - in the hope of 4 f6 of the weakness of the square g6 and with a repeition of moves - is firstly he fact that brin ging the h5 back embarrassing and secondly Black can into the game wil also cost some continue with 4  f5 more time nfortunately Whte can foge about getting into a position of he ondon System but the game wil Very bad on the other hand is be a long way off any theoretical 3�g4? Whte can win a tempo with variations ] 4e5, which is already sufficient 5 .. .g5 refutation �h5 (4 �f5 5 d2 bd7 6e3 e6 7g 4 �e4 8f3 �g6 9h4 h6 a

b

c

e

3 ..h5? [5 . . c6 is in consequent because although White cannot avoid the exchange of his bishop aer 6e3 g5 fd2 he is able to wn some valuable time 7 g7 8.g3 f5 9c4 wth a certain advantage] apter

9

9



6.g3 xg3 7.hxg3 g7 (64)

rotects the rook and thus prevents xg5. t is not easy to give a definite evaluation of the position Blacks kngside has been weakened, but this has secured him the pair of bishops n the other hand, the h1 was developed or free Therefore, castin g short would be extremely risky for the back monarch. The chances for White can be regarded as slightly beer. ore imporan than anything ese is to know how to dea with this position.

7 ..f5? 8e3? g7 9bd2 c6 1 Oc3 \d6 1 1. \ b3 000= is equal, as pointed out by Kovacevic (Salamon-Kely,Budapest 2003), which is certain ly correct owever,  would ust take the pawn wth 8.xg5 on the 8 move, and although Back wil l get some compensatio n, it shoud not be sufficient] 8.e3 c5 9.c3 (65)

penn g up the position with 9.c4 is not exactly what White wants, as he g7 woud become too strong. This is the critical positon aer 3 ..h5 Black has many moves to choose from and it is stil not clear which is the best. 65

64 a

 2

b

c

d

e

2 9 ...c6

5

Capte

[9 . . d6? Preparig to castle lo g. 1 O.�d3 ( .  should also be take ito cosderatio, as well as 10.bd2 10c6 11.  bd2 �d 12e2 000 13000 b8 ad Blacks pair of bishops compesates for the weakesses o the kgsde (ea-agem, Dos Hermaas 2000)] 9...b6? 10.dxc5 bxc5 11�b5+, because the kig has to move] 10.bd2

y recommedatio strogy believe that the follo wig alterative is ot quite as strog as the text move [1 Odxc5 pei g up the posito with the �g stll beig o the board looks doubleedged, but Whte may well allow hmself the luxury of payig like ths 10 0 0 11.  bd2 (11c2 he oly game with 10dxc5 but I must admi t that I do ot quite uderstad the followg moves. 11..e5 12  a3 e 13.  b5 d4 14d6 dxe3 15. 0 0 0 (+ is easy ad good 15..�e6 16fxe3 f5 1g4 fxg4+ asek-refy zech Republic, 993.) 11...e5 12b3 followed by castlig queeside looks very promisig]

9  3 ...h5!?

solutio. 1 1d xe5 g4 12 h4 00 13.�d3 d4

( .  .  �   +     . =

14.c4 b5?! 15.�e4+- atovic-Pisk, Bro 2001 ] 1   xe5 12.dxe5 (66)

Now ot oly the kigside has bee weakeed, but also the paw o d5 66

Bl a cks pa r of b s hops 1 0...e5!? compesates for some deficits i hs camp, but White ca probably cout The i d ea of 9    c6. o hs lo g-term advatages From a theoretical poit of view 3  h5!? is a good move wi t h whi c h Bl a ck ca i g ht 11.xe5! or equality  ay case, the odo System pl a yer does ot have to fear I cosi d er thi s to be the easi e st thi s idea Concusion

5

Chapter 10 4    h 5 ! ?

the h5. 6h4 g6

(.   1 .d4 d5 3 6 3 .4 e6 4.e3      h5 ?! (6) (.  +-

6 a

b

c

d

h

e

7d3 d 8e5 g A fianchettoed nig ht is not seen every day. 9f3 e 10.xd7 xd] 6.e  e .bd2 d

he bac nig ht on h5 is clearly mis placed Blac must tae care not to end up in an endgame with an extremely passive ight-squared bi s hop. 8.e2 b6 c

9

White shouldmove, always be prepared for this knight since we will be meeting it over and over again 5g5 e

ther moves are worse. [5 ..d6 6.e5 g6 (  . 7 .f3 f5 Such complcations cannot be good for Blac. 8g4 b4+ (   ± 9.d2 g 1 O.gxf5 xf5 1 1000±] [5  f6 ony weaens the in gside and taes away the retreat square from

(. . .  .  .0-0 0-0 1 0.e5 h6 1 1 .4 e8 (  .  .   V   )

1 2.d3 c5 1 3.c3 c4?! 1 4.c2 5 1 5b3 b5 1 6.a4 ba4  .bc4± Rzczsa, Penscla girls 2002.

5

Chapter 11 3    e6 + 4    c5 1 .d4 d 5 23 6 3 .4 e6 4. e3 c5 (68) 68

about gettng a clear advantage.] 5 ...b6

[5 ...c6 tansposes nto well-known anes, for nstance 6c3 d6  .g3 whc h leads to 6�b1 cxd4 7 .exd4 d7

Black threatens to exchange hs bad d va b5 Every London System player wl encounter ths dea sooner or later Anyway, Black wl not be able to accompl sh ths dea wthout drawbacks. 8.c3 b5 9.b3 ! x1 1 0 .xb6 axb6 1 1 . x 

Wh t e keeps a permanent p u s due to Exets pressure on d4 whle the black hs better pawn structure queen s ready to go to b6 Concsion The system wt h 3 .. e 6 5bd2! and 4 ... c5 demands an exact move sequence by Whte. But f Whte plays Allows the defence of b2 wth b and precsely , he mg ht wel obtan a small by dong so the theats n connecton edge. wth . b6 are dmn shed. [5.c3?! s not very exact: 5 ...b6 6.b3 c4 xb6 axb6 and a3 s not possble (ths should be compared to chapter 22) because of xa3 Ths s the trck of an early ...e6 herefore, on 6 ...c4, Whte should have eacted wth c2, but one has to foget

53

Chapter 1 2 3    e6 + 4   d6 5e5  .d4 d5 f3 f6 3 .f4 e6 4.e3 d6 69) 69

Prevents the exchange and occupies e5 a the same time [5 xd6?! I personally do not like this move but it s payable: 5   xd6 6c4 b6 (                  = Hodgson Westerinen, Stavanger 1989 7cxd5 exd5 8c3 00 9 e2 a6 1000 bd7 11  c1 wi t h a draw i n Si m i c  Drasko Ulcin 1998] 5 . .0-0

Si3m ilarly to hapter 2 (with 2 e6 and d6 Black strives for a quck exchange of bishops e is not worried about vountarily trading off his good bishop (Blacks central pawns are mainy standing on ight squares! fo Whites bad one The fight for control over e5 is more im portant to Black Tere are two serious possiblities or ite 5 g3 wi will be aalysed i te ext apter) ad te text move 5e5

[5c5? is aready bad 6 b5+ and the king must move because on 6 d7 ( a smashing strike would follow: 7xf7! xf7 8 xd6 b6 9 xd7 xd6 (      +- 0xc8 hxc8  1dxc5 xc5 12 0 0+- wit h White being a healthy pawn up [5   bd7 pursues a very interesting pan but it takes too much time 6d2 Cf8 7  d3 g6 8  g3 xe5 9 d xe5 Cd7 1 O h5 gxe5 1 1xe5 g6 12xc7 xc7 13h6 e5 14c3 c5 15c2; Schmittdie Pandsteter Prague, 1990] Attain in g control over e4 6 ...5! 70)

3 . . e6 + 4 . d6 5.e5 Prepares to activey develop te te main varation wi  d6 folowed kngt to c6. by 8  . . e7, Blacks  stands on d7 and Wi t e s  i s on f4 i n stead of g3 70 Bo are disadvanages for te payers because Wite cannot advance s pawn o f4 wilst Black in case of an excange on e5 wil ave to retrea wit is f6 to e8.) 71 5

Caper 2



[6 .bd7?! Black can probably continue adopting is Queens Gambi set-up wiout aving to pay attention to te wite piece pacement. But it is important o noice tat te knigt blocks te queens view onto te bis op 7. d3 Black cannot aford to 6.. . b6 7.d3 Wite keeps is cpawn move te c-pawn as is d6 would a6 on i t s i n i t i a l square, ready to counter wit  c4 - i f necessary. no longer be protected and xf7 would be possib le 7  e7 (..            .    .    .   .

Kovacevic-oescinger, endrisio 1988 8.00 c5 9.c4 (D71) Exp o i t s te fact tat te pawn as not moved yet. Due to is lead in deveopment opening up te position ceran ly favours Wite (9.c3 is also possible. In contrast to

A)

n 7 ...a6 8.c4 dxc4 Wite sould not contin ue wit 9f3? because of 9 ... cxd3 10xa8 d5 1 1.  c6 xc6 12.  xc6 b4 9dxc4 b4+ 10.f1 (D72) is muc better Despite losing e rigt to caste

3 ...e 6 + 4 �d6 5.e5 White achieves a very promisig posit o . 10d 72 aper

2

55



 O3 Fritz likes 9..e8 1 Og 4 c5 ad ow 11g6!? ( which maitais the excitemet is a more attractve optio or the practical plhi as yer.posiBlti oa.ck 1has di  i c ul t i e s reei  g 1..�x4 12.x8 x8 13ex4 cxd4 143 wth a uclear positio Back to te ma in variation 7.c3 c6

1�g3 b5 12  d2 Now the atural 2... c5 eads to a quck wi or White: 3.dxc5 6 ( . . . +  .+  . + ± 14.h5 xe3+ ( .     +   �+   + + 15. xe3 xe5+ 16. < e2 g6 17  xe5 c8 18.e4 c6 19.g5
B)

7 .�b7 8.3 bd7 9h3 his positio is diicult or Black as White threates to overru his oppoet with g4-g5 etc lt is too late or 9 .e4 as the kght wil be pushed back with

Aer havig avoided a ew smal pitall s Black ca reall y be satisied with himsel.  otrast to the positio i the 3 has moved to e5 without awaiti g the threat o .e6e5 Thus White has ot played �4 g3 by ow With his bis hop stil beig o 4, the pla o supportig the cetralised kight with 2-4 s rued out he real questio is whether this is reall y tragic? he best move i this positio is 8.�g3 trasposig to the varatio 4 7 0-0 8.�g3 i

56

Chapter 13 3    e6 + 4   d6 5 g3

...c5 6bd2 Immediately preventing .e4 6 b6?! (n order to understand .  . one shoud have a loo a hape 1) 7 .xd6! (. ?!    . d and the threat o �b5 can no longer be parried. The position is bal a nced. ) 7 xd6 Blac lost a tempo by playng d8-b6xd6 White can already mae use o this circumstance 8d xc5 xc5 9.c4 (74)

1 .d4 d5 f3 f6 3.f4 e6 4.e3 d6  5g3 !? {73) 73

74

nly this move seems to be a serio us alternative to 5.e5, as White eeps control over e5 or the time bein g The space advantage on the ingside oers options or a very inteestng attac 5  e4

Whie wns even more ime, because cxd5 and c is in the air Bu Blac can hope or a draw on account o the symmetri c al pawn structure 1 O.cxd5 xd5 1 1 lc1 WaS be proud gettng the pair of 9. . . followed by e4 bishops. The alternatv e   b6 !? will 1 2.c4; Panning be discussed in the next chapter. wit h a very active positio n. early the most crtical move and also the main point o 3 e6 in connecti o n wi t h 4 ... � d6! Bl a c orces eiher an exchange on d6 or he can of s

0-0

0-0

3 ... e 6 + 4 ..jd6 5jg3? 7 [  . .jxg3 6xg3 e (6 .b6 7. e5 c6 [6bd2 Gives up te bsop 8.d2 d6 9c3 d7 1 O4 xe5 voluntarly, oping to create some .xe5 e 12g4± Blatny play on te -ile But tis id ea is not Steitberg, Biel 1991) 7.c3 bd7 suicient or an advantage 6 ..xg3 8.bd2 e5 9.je2 c5 1 0.dxe5 xe5  (     7.  xg3 c5  .       . 11.xe5 xe5 12.jb5+± Vatter Wegner German Bundesliga 94/95.] Kocovski- Mitkov, La oruia 1 995 8.c3 c6 9c2 g6 0.000? jd 6 .xd6! ? (75) 1 1. j b5 cxd4 12exd4 (76) 75 76 d aper  3



a

c

b

e

g



Why does Wite excange on d6 only ier? e move nearl now and not oneinteresti He ust explanation is as teg:move as or e4, wai t ed alWisotegotwilsome drawbacks or B a ck. soon proceed with bd2 and  Back takes on d2 te black k n g could eel a little biIt unpotected aer aving castled. Blackinsteadas teto kngt is deended,pawns on the ewi t  doubl e d eckon ilol e.ss oRetreati n g to 6 would ust be a tm e.

  looks muc 126 (.6= der stronger 13ampoM.nsiPikpet-Van s 2001] We, Dutc 6 ..xd6

  7  bd2 (. [6 .  xd6  +   also looks as a c4 Wite better attactive.advantage  7  d7 8and te space bi s op. ]

3 ..e 6 + 4 .. jd6 5.jg3? [6 .  cxd6? 7.c4 has never been missing in the upcoming kin gs atack payed so far, but shoud be tried Similarly to the Queens Gambt, sometime] White can exet pressure on the queensde. An important tempo or an 7bd2 xd2 attack along the cfile can oen be won wth jd3 and c2 (h) There is a lot of scope for new ideas However, Whites advantage is quite right here, or nstance small due to the reduced materal. Bl a ck has good chances o achevi n g [7.. .b4 8.b1] a draw [7 . . 00 8.xe4 dxe4 9d2 f5 0.je2 Concusion Black can exchange and White wl soon advance his pawn pieces with 5  e4, but by dong so o f3] he has not automatcally equalised Peopl e who l i k e an open posi t on i n [7 .  f5 8jd3 Whe should always which they as commander of the white keep an eye on possbe ransitions pieces can pay for a wn solid y and nto favourable endgames (j against almost without risks wil like this j or  again st j).] variation 58

Chaper 13

8Wxd2 0-0 9c4 (77) 77

Blacks imporan kings knig ht wil be



59

Cha p ter 1 4 4   d6 5.g3 b6!? 1 d4 d5 2f 2 f3 f6 3f 3f4 e6 4e3 d6 5g3 5g3 b6! ? (78) 78

8 5

3

2

With this atempt Black plans to exchange exchange his bad bad bishop with   �a6 �a6 But But such a plp lan always al ways has ha s itsts price 6 bd2 a6?!

[ 600 00 77  e5 �b7 �b7 (7 (7 c5c5 8c3 �b7 9�h4?! White shoud shou d wait wt h this move unti he has h as payed �d3 �d3 and cast casteedd kingside 9   �e7 �e7 0 � d3 e4 11 � xe7 xe7 2  c2 xd2 13�xh7+ h8 14xd2 h4 15.�d3 xf2+ 0 BrandicsBonnet,P/Kecskemet 1989 (38 ert ertaanlnlyy Whte had h ad hoped for more more    

(7 �a6 �a6 8�d3 White sets up his pi eces wiwi th c3, c3, f4f4 �h4 oror - i f possi possiblb l e - witht h �h4 and f f3h3 having good chances for a strong attack] [6   �b7 �b7 Achievng control over the light squares especial y over e4 7 �d3 e7 (After 7    e4 8�xe4? (; 8  dxe4 9e5 9 e5 White managed man aged to win in Travnicek,P-Paol,E/omouc 1 982 (41 (41  8e2 ( is preferable with similar positons to the ones in the vari a ti o n menti o ned above 8    00 9�h4 bd7 10g4 10 Schmitt,A Vuc, Baden-Wuerttemberg 1997 (61  n ths ths game game - once once again White went for the black monarch However I do not thi n k thi s i d ea i s as strong strong as i n other posi positions ns ] 7xa6! (79)

6

3 ......e6e6 + 4 �d6 �d6 5.�g3 b6! b6!?? The nic ni ce idea 9  .  b4!? followed by ..c5/c6 .. c5/c6 does not work because of the simple reply 1 O.a3 O. a3 c6 1 1 �h4h4 and Whi Wh ite has a cert certain ai n advantage advan tage

Chaper 14 79



 0.hxg3 0.hxg3 'd6 'd6   .'a4  b8  2ac 2acU U {8)

Bartha,S-Szokacs/Hungary 1992 progress of the game   0 (26). I n the progress White continuously increased his control control over he queensi quee nsid e. 8

he fact that the knght on a6 is m isplaced pl aced is more more impo i mporrtant than tha n the exchang exchangee of bshops h ops

7

7 ... xa6 8.c4 0-0 0- 0 90-0 9 0-0 xg3 {80) { 80) 80

In order to fight for equ equalal chances, Black should ty eiher 0 0 6 ....�b7 �b7 or 6 ....00 5�g3 5 �g3 ther the refor eforee seems o be a good goo d alternati ernative to 5 e5 Conclusion

6

Ch apt apter 1 5 3    e6, 4   e7  .d4 d5 2.f3 f6 3.f 3.f4 e6 e6 4e 4e33 e7 (82) 82

00 6 � d3 c5 7 [To [To under unde rsand sand 5 .   00 7 c3 bd7 b d7 8.d2 8. d2 one sould us av ave a look a 5    c5. c 5. 5  c5 6.c3 c6 7 d2 can be oun oundd ini n e cl assical c al l i n e wi    . �e7. �e7.]

leari a ring e ffrs rank rank,, ready ready o ee   b6 wi b1 . 6 ... a6

[6 . . 00 7 �d3 c5 8c 8 c3 6  . . c5 77 c3 b6 b6 8.  b1 (D83) 83 

a

Black cooses a very solid seup, bu by payng 4 �e7 �e7 e acuay  rea reaeensns . . 5.  5. So one realy as oo  be aware aware of i is ove! o ve! 5.e5!

5 ... d7

Te kng  sand sandss ore passively on d7. d7 . Black canno ope for an in iiaive. ve.

b

c

d

e

3 e 6, 4 ..�e7 Which of the two maor peces s now d4 and wants to create his own play more usefuly postioned? on the queensi d e But thi s pl a n wi l 8  00 9�d3 d8 1 O.h4!? f8 1 1.f3 simply cost too much time. �d7 12xd7 ( 12..  xd 13. h 5 h6 14g3 h8 15.  f3 �d6 16  e5± Witowsi-Kaspere yslenice 9 c2 b5?!  Oc6! b6   x7 1987] x [6..xe5 7�xe5! (84) (7.dxe5 d7 8.�d3 (. + 8 ..c6 9.e2 Concsion The system with 4.�e7 b6 1 0000!? c5 1 1h4) 7 ...c5 is very solid but too passive to reach 8.c3 00 9�d3 d7 10�g3 e8 1 1 0 equality. 0 �f6 12 f3 b6 13.e4 �b7 14e5;] 6

Chaper 15

85

7c3 c5 8 .d3 c4?! (85

clear posito nal mistae whch a lot of players wil mae over and ove again. Bla c emoves the pressure of

A



63

Chapter 1 6 2    e6, 3   d6 1 .d4 d5 23 e6 3 .4 d6 (86) 86

[4g3? Very creative f Back takes on f4 the g-file wil be opened for White A stong attack can frequenty be conducted 4 .xf4 5gxf4 d6 6.e3 b4+ 7bd2 'xb2 s critical White achieves good compensation wth either of the two following moves 8.e5  .          8 ...e7 9 . d3 d7 1 Ob1 'a3 1 1'h5 g6 12  h6 f5 13xf5 exf5 14 xd7 xd7 As.Arnason-AArnason Reykavik 1988] he llwng altenative m ust be tak en very seriusly.

4g3? Perhaps even better than 4. e 3 ?  After for exampl e 4 ...  f6 we lever Black immediately strves for find ourselves back on our home the exchange of bishops without ground. Therefore, only 4 e7 is of l o sin g tim e wi t h .f6. in dependent relevance 4.e3!? (  l e ads to a Stonewall that  does not l o ok very promi s i n g .  . White is prepared to accept a small weakenin g of his pawn structure in 5bd2 c5 (5 .f5? 6.e4 (87) order to gain total control ove e5. In aking use of his lead in development addton, the e-fle is being opened. 6 xg3 7hxg3 dxe4 8xe4) 6. e 3 00 (6 ..f5 7 . xd6 xd6 B a ck 4.xd6? is defnitely not in the spirit seems to have achieved a lot, but the of the in ventor 4 xd6 5e3 b4+ f5 only appears to stand well As 6bd2 xb2 7 . d3 f6 8. 0 0 bd7 soon as d3 i s pl a yed, i t wi l be 9.'e2 'c3 10.e4 dxe4 11xe4 forced to move. (    +- xe4 12xe4 f6 13 ab1 c6 8.dxc5 'xc5 9 .d3) Schfe-Gasthofer, Staufer 1999.]

2 ... e 6 3 ..  d6 strves to castle queensid e and ever wi e3e4. . . . .  . 9 ..xg3 1 O.xg3 "d6 1 1."c2 d7 12.dxc5 "xc5 13.e4 ac8 Van de orePket Leeuwarden 1993.]

6

Chaper 16 

87

Let us retur to the m a  varatio 4 .x4

 [4 e7 5  bd2 c5 (5g6 6xd6 "xd6 7. c 4; Te b a ck kni g t i s  mi[5...splaxf4ced6.onexf4g6.]"d6 7g3 c5 8.dxc5 2 "xc5 9c3 bc6 1 Od3 b6 1 1.00 b7 12e g6 13"e2 00 14b3 "d6 15.  ad1 a6 16  4 g7 17  e5; upri k ov-AI  K arpov Russi a 7d3 6 8.c3 bc6 9.00?! (88) (Smolensk) 2000) 6dxc5 xc5 7.d3  di s l  ke cast i n g  n ts posi t i o n bc6 8.00 g6 9.g3 "f6 10.e4 00 because now aer te excange on  1c3 b6 12"c2; BageriAkobian, g3 tere wil be no dangerous rook on oscow 2000] 1 any moe 88 5ex4 d6 (89) g

89

.. e6, 3 �d6 65  O.�xf Ce7 1 1�d3 �xd3 12xd3 e most actve cotiuato but Cbc6 13.00 00 14C e?! (stead of other moves are possible as well. ths Whte could have maitaied the [5.. . b6 Black iteds to exchage the i itiative with 4.ae1 !) 14 .b4= Storm-B a ty 2 Nati o al League remai    g two bi s hops 6. c 3 Ce7 .�d3 00 8e2 a 9.Cbd2 9Ca3 1990/] Possibly more active  the idea of Cb [6 Ce7 7Cc3 00 8000!? (90) occurs.  �c8-a6  would ecommed takig o a6 because Gave Black good chaces o the e Black has to decde betwee queeside after 8 b6 9.h4 c 10g3 eepg the kight guarded o c4 1.  e2 Cd7 12. � h3 b8 i  emovig it at some pot. 9 ..�a6 0.e c 11.�xa6 Cxa6 12.Cdf3 Efimov-uther, Asti 1996 therefore I d6 300 f6= Gretarsso-Luthe, thk 8�d3 is better. lchy 199] 90 [f6.. . c96.dxc a+ 7c3 xc 8 � d3 00 00 10.Cbd2 b6 11e a6 12.�c2 Cbd7 13.Ce ad8 4.Cb3 c7 1 C d4; Ad the ki g hts 7 occupied promsg squares i Plaskett-Bsch, Soch 1984.] apter 1 6





8

7

6

6

5

5

[9. �.. .xa6 Cf6 6c3 00 7 � d3 b6 8.00 �a6 xa6 10. d3 c8 1 1 . C bd2 4 c5 12.a3 c4 13c2 Cc7 4fe ce8 1  e5 I  orvath Boguszasski ugary 2000.]

3 2

2

6d2

[6.c1!? as oly oe predecesso but a vey famous oe. 6 ...Cd7 7�d3 5 8.00 Cgf6 9c3 00 10.e1 e8 .Ce5 ad i Alechi-Rivier, Ber 932, Whte got more from the game] 6  f6

[6 ..b6 7Cc3 a 8�d3 �a6 9f exf5

he whte ki g does ot yet have to commit himself to oe of the two castlig possbilites. Istead White ca immediatey lauch out o attack agaist the ki g o g8. ] 7 3 a6 (91 )

66

Chapter 16 

91 a

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

1 2.xc6 c6 1 3.e3 b7 1 4.ad1 fe8 1 5a3 g4 1 6.h3 f5 (92) 92 a

Preparing counterplay on the queenside [ ...00 8d3 d 900 c5 1 Odxc5 xc5 1e5 d8 12.fe1 c6 13  ad1 e8 14.  e2 d 15  g3 g6 16h4; Elet-Basov, Bogny sur euse 2003]

3...e 6 4 ...d6

b

c

d

e

Blacs queenside initiative was suficient compensation for his bacwad pawn on e6 n V.KovacevicVaganan, Hastings 1982/3. Cocusio Bl a c can equal i se after 8 d3 b6 90-0 0-0 1 0fe1 c5 4.e3!? by playing precisey, but with 11.e5 only a single passive move the white White is not afrad of . c4 because forces wil l be storming the blac ing However, 4.g3? oers a very good after this Blacs position would lose chance to pla y for the advantage all dynamic potential. Whte could comfortably go afer the bac ng 1 1 ..c6

[1 1 cxd4? A postional bunder 12e2 e4 13xe4 dxe4 14.xd4]

67

Chapter 17 2    c5!? 1.d d5 23 c5? (93)

3 ..e6

93

a

b

c

d

e

 . c6 5e3 d6 a

c

d

e

f

g

h

his reminds one a lot of the classcal n important expanation is necessary system with d6. he dierence s concerning ths move sequence. f that Black has not yet played .  . f6 Back wants to prevent the usual ondon System set-up at all costs 6.g3 ge7? (9) his is one of he possible moves Is a better way to fight for contro over 3c3 e5. The only move. 3.c is not our [6   6 transposes to the cassical ubject , nor s 3dxc5. On the other system with 6  . .d6]

hand 3e3 would lock in he bishop

and possibly lead to the Coll  System The desirable 3.f4? is met by 3  .cxd  xd d?!� when ack threaten s to win a piece with

[6   xg3 7.hxg3 d6 8bd In actual fact Black can not really push his pawn to e5 With 8  . f6! The postion ransposes to the chapter

 . e5. Therefore only the text move "Class ical Exchan ge on g3"

emains.

But 8  e5? gets hit by 9dxe5 xe5  O. e xf3+   .gxf3 and White

68

Chaper 17  2  .c5?

wins a pawn 1 1 c6?? 12.�b5  game over) ] 94

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

1 5.W4! (95)

akes control of the dark squares and prevents his opponent from casting. 1 5..0-0?! 16.Wd6+ 95

6

4 3

 d3 g6

2

1

[7 . f5 he knght is not placed wel on f5 8 �xd6 xd6 Capturing with the queen is forced as otherwise c5 would be lost 9 bd2 cxd 1 0 exd 00 1  .00; Cncusin Striving fo the classical Platonov-Lputian  asnodar 1 980] line without .f6 is not a bad idea Back can achieve a position close to 8d6 d6 9.bd2 e5 1 0 de5 equality. ge5 1 1 e5 We5 1 23 Wh5 13.W4 We are now switching to positions with the exciting ...W b6 Whle Back won the fight for e5 d5 has been weakened White secures a small advantage 1 3..h3!? 4.e2 d

[ 1 .xg2?? 15.h+-]

69

Chapter 1 8





4  b6! ? + 5 xb2  .d4 d5 2f3 f6 3.jf4 c5 4.e3 b6! ? (96)

.+  .  .   .    .  +  .  .    . + For 6c3 one should have a look at the chaer on the xchange Variation of the Caro-ann - Defence]

96 a

b

c

d

e

f

g



 ! B J· M '  ,7 7·   6  -· 1 41     4   l    a

5

a

b

c

d

e

g



97

b

c

d

e

f

g



· M Wl 76  4

2

Clearly shows the small dawb ck of he move f he b-awn no onger rotected by the bisho White h a b c e g can not resond with b3 herefore a  . . . c6 5.c3 e6 leads to the basic secial idea is needed osition of the classica sysem] [ .. .h5? Loses but the variation is worth noting: 5xb8 xb8 6b5+    g? is also not a good idea: d7 7xd7+ xd7 8. e5 f5 9e 5c3 leads into known channels nd 97) f6 1 0b5+ d7 1 1 c3 cxd does so without the ossble .exd d8 (. . .  adventure afte 5. dxc5 13.xd5 e+  4 .+- (. is cerainy fun ny - but ony 1.f1+] for White  .

= l  r  d

IS

[4 . cxd4 5 .exd4  c6 (. . .  h? W it

�

smilar varaion to the one a e a) . . . a+ .  3   (. . .a!)  . .h5? .  +  .  .  +- oo-

7

Chapter 18

Fauconnier, France 1998.) b 5.  c6 6.5 Wa5+ 7 c3 a6 (7. . e6!) B. c6+ bxc6 9. \d4 f3 10gxf3 g6 11�e5 �gl 12.a4 0-0 13.b4+ NemethGrabher udapest 1993. c) 5. .bd7 65 f3 7.gxf3 g6 B c4 dxc4 (B . a6) 9.\a4 WB (9. . .�g7 10.c3 0-0? 11."d1+) 10.c6+)

-

 . .b6? + 5 . xb

Here one meets a big excepion in the London Sysem. The b is acicaly protected But isnt this move ugly, especialy as in the London System one would preer to play cc3 at some point? n fact, White does plan cc3, after having played  b5 when the typical pawn structure of the London System arises once again

[5.b3 As the author o the London System I cannot agree with such a a) 5 .. .e6 6b3 b6 7e5 xb3 move Nothing more than an equal (7. . .�f5? B�b5+ c6 9a4+) 8.axb3 game is possible. 5   c6 (5. . .�f5 6.�e2 c6 7c3 e6 B.dxc5 c5 9.b4 �f5 9�b5+; Back to 5.c3

�el 10.a4 a6 11a5 WdB 12d4 b) 5  b6 6\b3 c 7.xb6 axb6 xd4 13.exd4 0-0  in adas 8.e5 (B xbB xbB 9b3 b5  Hajna,Heves 000 6c3 �g 7�e

MontalvoBorges Mateos, Sant e6 800 �e7 9bd 00 10h3 �h5 Domingo 001  8   �f5 9. a3;] 1 1 .a fc8 1 a5 d8 1 3a6 b6 = SahovicomarovBelgrade 1 995.] Back to the main vaiation [5\c1 is quite popular. After 5 c6 6c3 �f5 7�e White can conclude 5c3 (98) his deveopmen without weakening his position, but thats about all he can 98 do]

5  xb2?

Whoever is as greedy as that should be punished straight away 6 b5  a6  .a3 (99)

My refutation always went on with 7.b1, but ovacevcs idea is even better and very nice indeed 

apter 18



1 1 . bd4 (1 00) g6

7...f5 8dxc5

Whte threatens e5

[ 1 c8 1 1 . . d 1.c6]

8 ...xc2

+ 100



[ . .d  _ fd g 10f3 e5 eveals

the second

7

 . .b6? + 5 ..xb

1 2.b5+ d8 13.c6+

motif of tra pp g th e Black is not to be enved

queen. 1 b1 a  c1 exd   3b xb 1 xb+-] Conclusion Black should keep hs fingers o forbidden fruits 9.'c1 'xc1 + 1 0xc1 Black is a pawn up but his position wil soon collapse because of c5-c6. 1 0.f5

[  0..a 1 1 c6 b6 1 d6+ exd6 3xa6+-] [1 0 . . .g6? 1 1 .c6]

7

Chapter 1 9 4   b6!? + 5    c4  d4 dS 2. f3  f6 3 .f4 cS 4e3 b6 7.b5 a6 8.b1 a 9a1 b= .c3 c4 6: b ( 0 ) 6 ..g4 0 This is probably the ony move giving Back a chance of equality. he position is even consdered to be slightly better for Black But my change discovery will this assessment. . .

a

b

c

d

[6 . .f5 7. e5 e6 8.f3 Gaining space on the kingside. 8 .c6 9.g g6 1 0h b 1 1 e h6 1 xg6 fxg6 13.a3 (13.e5 d7 14a3? A bunder which occured n Vdmar-Reti osce 1918. 14  .  Wxd4!+) 1 3  .c6 1.e5 d7 15e with a solid advantage for White.] 

g

h

As in no other position n the London System White absoutely focusses on the pawn breaks b3 and e and hopes to get an dvantage wth his active pieces f Black can keep the postion closed the white pieces c3 b1  f1 ) wil be out of work. Therefore White must proceed according to dynamic principes

7 . e2

[7b3? Defnitely mu ch too early. 7 . . .e 7  .e6 8.0-0

White completes his development before doing anythng else 8 ...c6 9.3 ( 02)

[6a All Whte can achieve throug h [9b3? a5 1 0.a b5 1  . c5 xc5 this is a repetition of moves 6 . . .xb 1 .dxc5 e+

apter 19



  b6? + 5  c 02

73

 0.3 e7   .e4  ( 03) 03

9 ..x3

9. . .h5? is certanly aso worth a try 1 O b he threat is b5 followed by the advance e3e 10  �e7  .  b4?? 11a3) 1.b5 a5  2. e 5 �xe 1 3xe2 00 1  fd 1 fe8  5.e Whte has soved all of his problems  5..dxe 16xe xe 17xe ad8 18c3; his variation coud be an example of how the game deveops after  �h5. White stands more actively but Blacks compac position looks very safe.] Back to t e main ariation

n no other position of the London System is this thematic move more stunning f course a detailed analysis of the value of 1 1 .e must be carried out he main reason why this move can work surely ies n the fact that the back king is still in the centre.  1 e2? is payed with the intention of poceedng with c3 But how can an advantage be reached with such a passive move? t is no real surprise to me that White gets into difficulties aer 1 1 .a5 .a3 h6 13c3 g5 1 �h2 h5 1 0)

7

Chapter

9

-

 . .b6? + 5 . .c

1 05

1 04

Meduna -Van der Seren , Prague 1 6 Jd 1

xd 1 +

 7xd 1 +

c8

eepng he pawn on he board as a sor of kings shield.

1 99. 

1   dxe4 ( 08)

(17. . .xcl 18 d4 W + 19h2 Wg5 The following alernav es are also (1 9. . . Wxb2?? 20'e5+) 20.Wxc4+



very mporan.

1 1 ..xd 1exd5 xf (12  xd5 18g3 Howeve, Black mus capure 13 Cxd5 exd5 14/e3 Wxd1 on c7 afer all. 18. . xc7 19d b6 15fxd1+; 12  exd5 13/e3 Wxd1 1 9 b8? 0b5+ c5 1 .xc 14fxd1+) 13.dxc6 d8 1e d xb5 c8+ xc8 3.xb5 c7) 0xc+ b8 1 . b5 D 1 06) (14  bxc6 15c6+ fB 1 6fd1 +) 15c7! (105)

The whie aack remains dangerous

1 5 d7 Such a pawn can quickly Afer 1 1 . . .xd Black can be happy if

become very valuabe (1 5.. 0-0?

1 6g3

Wd4

he can hold he posion unil reaching

(16   xe2 the time contro l.]

1 7.gxf4 xc2 1 8/xb l} 1 7 Cb5+)

hapter 1 9



  b6? + 5  c 106

75

107

12xe4 xd4

[  .xe Avoding the complications s combined with getting into a Because of the high tactical content it passve position 1.xe dxe is very dicult to give detaled text 3.xe; With his pair o bishops comments White stands more than comfortable] 1  .  d5? 1 3d6+  xd6 1 .xd6 [1 1 ..00? Simply ignoing everything. xd  5.xd5 d8 1 6xc xd6 exd5 xd ( . .exd5 13xd5 17c3 c6 18.cxd xc 9c1 xd5  3dxe6 xf3+ xa 0.c8+ d8 1xd8+ xd8  .   1 'xf3 fxe6 .g+- 5.e; he pawn stucture is cearly [1 .xd?  1 3d6+ f8 avou rable for White (.. + 1g3 xd1 [1 1 . .d8 1 exd5 xd 1 3e3 (.. +  .' xf3+ 1 .xf3 a6  5dxe6 fxe6 xd4 1 7b7 dB  15fxd1 6.bd1 00 17xd8 xd8 18d1 xd6 16.xd6+; xd1+ 19'xd Similarly to the previous variation, the better pawn 1 3.xf6+ gxf6 (1 08) structure guarantees White a plus] ny this move seems to cause Whte any difficulties hereore this Back to te main variaton variation is very important he idea lying behind 13  gxf6 is to halve the dangerous pair of bishops

76

Chapter 19 

follow wit more tan suficient compensaton.]

108 a

b

 .. .b6? + 5 c

c

16.cxd4

1 6.�e5?? c6 1 6. xe4



1 6 .. xd? is also refuted n a very nice way 17.�xb7+ xb7 18.f3+ c6 (18    5 19b3+) 9.xc6+
[ 1 3..�xf6 1�e 00 15.�e3] 14.e4!

Anoter move wic actually seemed to be impossible - because of . . .f5 nly afer a deeper analysis dd  discover tat in reaty f5 was not good for Black Wt ..f 5 not workng Wte is well advised to try to keep te pair of bisops at all costs 1 40-0-0 lt is not easy for Black to find a safe position for is king. Te peces on te queenside will take over te job of protectng ter monarc. Aer te explosion in te centre te smoke as settled and te game 1  f5? 1 5.�e5 lt s really just as continues. Wite recognises tat is easy as tat 15..000 1 6�x8 x8 rook on b1 as done ts ob and would 17.c3] now be muc better placed on te c 15c3 f5 file. To aceve tis Wite is actually prepared to sacrifice a second pawn [Aer 15 . c6 1 6.a, b3 s going to

apter 19



77

 .. b6?  5 . .c 1 7. xd4

ccepting te sacrifice sensible  1 7 . .xd?? 18.a]

seems

[ 1 8 . .d 1 9.xc xc 0.xc+ c6  1 .e d5 xe; 1 9xc6+ bxc6 20.e5 �hd8 21 .xd4 �xd4

 1 7d6 18.xc+ b8 19d c8 n amusing endgame as come up 0.fc1 xc .xc;] wic Back opes to draw on account of is wo additiona pawns e solution is quite inventive 1 8.4 c6 (1 1 0) 22.�d1 ! (1 1 1 )

pparently te only serious defence



 1 8.  .b 1 9xa7 d8 0e5 d5 n excange on d 1 is ruled ou so 20 .. .d 21Wb8 d7 22Wc7 e ite w ns on  empo in companson 2.xc4 Domnnt is te corect wt te mmed ate fe  wod for Wites position. 1b3 22 . �d (21.Wb d7 22.Wc7 e 2.xc4 b5 24xe4)  1    c5 c3 b5 3a a6 (2  .Wxb? 24.b1   .xd1  3.xd1 f6 c1 2... Wc 24.b4 c 25.xc5 Wxc5) xb 5.xc f5 6.xc6++-] xa6 bxa6 5.b+- f te rook 111 eteats to c7 ten Wite wins te excange afer a5]





2e1 �d4

8

Chaper 19 

..b6? + 5   c

[3  d xe Exb 5 Eexc c5 Finaly the king is activ ated . 6Eg . +  25  f5 26e2 c 2d1 e5 6  Exa 7 Eg7 a5    28xd4 exd4 29xc4 24c2 he back pawns seem to be petty he idea is Eec . dangerous but after 24 g5

  c5 5Ee3;]  . .f5 5Eec1 �g5 6.Exc �xc1 7 Exd c ( .     .  8Ea he endgame is also cearly better for White 8 . . b6 .. .+        his stops the c-pawn just in time he two passed pawns on the a and h-files decide the day. 9.f1 c5 30.b3 and i becomes clear that White is much better probably already winn ing] 25f1  (1 1 2) 112

29 d3 30 d 1

all danger has been wiped out. Such detailed analysis can hardy be given without any mistakes but the variations have certainly poved hat   e is the only correct idea in the posiion. With moves other than  1 e, White abandons the attemp to fight fo an advantage n account of the high tactical content the analysis is vey extensive but one can - at the very least - learn a number of motifs from the variations I sometimes feel I should apologise for the long analysis but several days of work on the position arising after 1 1 .e were just too enoyable Conusion Also after 5  . .c, White gets ino a position with very good chances.

79

Chapter 20 4   &b6 ! ? + 5    a6!?  .d4 d 5 3 6 3 .4 c5 4.e3 b6 1 O. xd5 xd5 1 1 .xd5 e6 1 2.h5+Fobes-Summerscale Briish 5c3 a6!? (1 1 3) Championsh ips astbourne) 1 991 ] 13 11 a b c d e 8

a

b

c

d

e 8

d

e

g



Pevents b5 and pursues similar ieas to 5  c 5 . .  e6 6. b 5 a6 7.c3? c

g



8

Capter

Back to the mai vaato

20



 . b6? + 5  .a6?

Accordingy, 6.a3? is not adequate for acheving an advantage.)

.e2 e6 800 bd7 Sovacevic · afad of the rule A knight Sagall Capee a Grande 1 99 Whte Not b eng should now continue with 9a c6 on the rim is di m. 1 0. xc5 xc5 1 1 .dxc5 xc5 1 2.e5 xe2 1 3.xe2 a 1 .c] [6a3? is trcky 6 . . .g 6 .. .xb2?? 7.a) 6 . cxd 7exd c6 8.h3 f5 9.a d8 10.c5 and now 10. . .e6 proves  115)

6 a5+ 7c3 1 1 6) 116

7 . cxd4

[Also wih 7   bd7 Black wi not be able to obstruct the white initiative 8xc5 xc5 9b  a3 1 O. bxc xc3+ 1 1 d2 1 1 7) he pawn stru cture guarantees Whte a ong  lastng initiative on the queenside 1 1 . .f5 1 2.c1 xc1 + 1 3xc1 c

S

·

{ 'aper 20



 .. .b6 ? + 5 . a6?

8

 7.xf4

.Ec3+-] 117 a

b

c

d

8

e

a

b

c

d

e

8

8

6 5

6 5 5

6 5

3

3 3

3

2

2

[ 1 7.. b5? 1 8. x6+ x6  9c5 8 0.f5  5  1 .Exe 00 c5 right away is answere by . b6. . .   e knight on the rim is waiting  +- .f6+- 1 7   E8 1 8 axb6 xf  9xf xf 0Ef1 patiently for its opportun ity g5 1 e f5  a e7 3a5 5 .c a8 5xa8 Exa8  0 .. d6   e5 c7 200 c6 6.b5+-]  3�e b6 4 .g3 b7  5.f4 8exd4 e6 9.b4 d8 0.d3

e last moves were all quite normal.  8.xf4 xf4 9�xe4! c7 Wite has plante in a knight on e5 20.axb6 �d8 n increase the control over tis important central square in general . [0 . .e7  1 a ++-] 5 .e4  6.xe4 dxe4  7.c4! (8

he opportunity appears [1 7Exe? runs into the trap 1 7  xb]

2 d5 00

Despite having castle the king oes not realy feel safe. 22d6 b 8 23.�h4 Va7 24.Vh5 h6 (9 25.Vc5?!

8

Chapter

20



. . b6 ? + 5  a6?

h7 36.xf3 Ed7 37f2 d4 38Exe5 Ef7+ 39.f4 Ef6 40Ee7 (120)

b

c

d

e

f

g



Undestandable but unnecessay [5.d 1  is muc easier as tere is ardly anytg available to meet te plan of d3-g3 5   f5 . .   6e 6 7d7  5 10 in Mastrapa-Medina Cuban 1 g6 9d5 e6 30.5 w 000 a winnng positon for Wite] Concusion 5 ..  a6? is an ineestng 25.f5 26.a4 f4 27.f2 f3 28.g3 Ef5 attemp to stamp te wte kngt as a 29Ee1 Ef6 30Ehe4 e5 probem cild. But Wie can make good use of te orse on is lt is no possibe to defend e6 any queenside longer. [30.f7 3  f xf 3 .gxf b8 33 .e3 c8 3f5+-] 31.d5 Efxd6 32.xd6 Exd6

e figt is al over 3 . . xf+ 33xf xd6 3.c a5 35b5 b 36d1 xd5 37cxd5 f7 38.xe5+-] 33xa7 xa7 34.c4 c6 35f2

83

C hapter 2 1 5   b6

Introduction



1 d4 d5 2. f3 f6 3 .4 5 4.e3 6 the Caro-ann xchange Variation] 5.3 5 . .5? gves away the pawn . 6dxc5 e6 6  xb1 ? 7 xb1 e White sets up the threat of simply 8e5 xc5 9 .b5+- 8? 1 0f3 winn ng a pawn with 6.dxc5 a (     1 1 xd5 Cibulka - usek Slovaka 001 .) 5 ..b6 (12 1) 7d xb1 8.xb1 xc5 9.a] 121 a

b

c

d

h

e

8



[5 . .h5? could be a sort of personal tip but was only tested once at a high level so far 6 .dxc5 Th e best is  xf 7.exf e6 8.b f6 9.d b5?) xb   .   % in ovacevic-Greenfed  jubljanaPortoroz 1989 The game ends at the most excting point. 1 0b5 e7 1 1 .g3 1 ) is forced 1 a

a

b

c

d

e

g

b

c

d

e

h

h

This is the most energetic ontinuation. Black s tryng hard to  obtain activity and would like to deonstrate the absence of the f 3 om the queenside he following hapters ae the most exciting and omplex in the whole Lo ndo n System. nybody enterng nto these wthout c ufficent knowledge of the basics wil go down with all flags flying he desirable 1 1 .d would be met b y 1 1. . f5 with an unclear positon . 5 .. .cxd 6exd would transpose to If Black leaves out 1 0 . .  e then

8

Chapte 2 1

1 1 'd i good herefore the uppoting  1 g3 i the correct move in thi poition White increae hi inuence in the centre and can claim a mall advantage Be that a it may even here Back i not without counter chance ) 1 0 cxb xa1 1 1 b5+ d8 1 00 f6 i the tarting point for intereting complexitie 1 3c3 c7 1e1 with the idea of e5 and ome noticeable compenation]

high level

 5   'b6  Idct

a) 9b5 i recommended by Solti 9   'xb5 1 Oxb5 a6 1 1 e  e5  1  d6 13b3 cxb3 1 xc6 xf 1 5exf bxc6 1 6axb3 ccording to Kovacevic the poition i balanced after 1 6  .e Herzog Nogueira Lucerne L 1 98 b 9b1 e7 1 0d3 00 1 1 00 d8 1g3 ac8 13e5 h5 1'c g6 1 5 xc6 xc6 and Back could have equalied eaily in KereRehevky Kemeri  937 t hould be examined whether it would have been better had Wh ite taken on c5 on the 1 1  or 1  move fter all he had the advantage o the two bihop.

5 . g? Very natural and not bad at al l 6 bd 6b3 b6 7.dxc5 .'  . 7 . . .xb3 8axb3 xf3 9gxf3 e5  Knigeterle nd Nationa League Germany 1 9901 ) 6 e6    . -> Caro-Kann once again 7'a?  truly unuual place for the queen in the London Sytem  7  c 9d3 1) he olowing xf3    . can be mied analyi i given by Kovacevic eaily 8xf3 b6 3)  13 a

a

b

c

d

e

h 8 8

J

a

hi ha already been teted at a very

8

c

d

e

g

Nothing more ogical than hat



apter 21



8

5 . b6 - trodcio

White goes for a quick evelopment, unu sual sieines we retun to the but noboy at al has thought of this main position. iea before Three moves will be examine more closey 6b3 1 25) [9 . . .c 1 0.c xb  1 .00 an now 1  . . .a3 is the best contnu ation . Nevertheless, White will get the avantage The 1 1  move alternatves ae clearly worse

125 a

8



b

c

d 8

a)  1   xc3? 1  e5   . .   1 3xc6 bxc6 1 xc6+- xc3 11e7? 1.ab1 b) 3xb7+-

Back to 1 1 ...a3 1.ab1 xc3 00 3.xb7 1xh7+ xh  .  .+         .  +- 1 5xc6 b 16.e5 ac8 17a6 a3 8.b5 g h  e 6 1 9x7 xf   . .    +   0exf This is the traional main lne 6a3 or 6.c are the ecommene f6 1 .g5+-] moves, but  beleve these two [9 . .xb? 1 0 00 c   .  choices o not inclue Whites best     . option Aer the queens move, White  . -  1 ab1 xc3 oes ot have to fear 6  . .xb3, as the 1.xb7 cx3 13.c7 c 1.xc half-open a-file woul beneit him xc 1 5xc6 5 1 6xc xf Moreover the ouble pawns woul no t represent a weakness 1 7.exf 6 1 8.e5;] [9 .. .h5  1 000 xf 1 1 .exf an now 1 1   c 1 1 . .cx 1 .f5? c5 . .  .          - 1 3fxe6 fxe6 1b 6 1 5.x 00 16.xe6 f6 17g5 h6 8f3 e5 9.e;) 1.e 6 13.f5 00 1.b3 cxb3 15axb3;] Aer this small excusion in to perhaps

[6.a3? eas to wil compicatons 6  xb 7 b5 e Whoever is intereste can invest time in the arsing positions 6. c cx            .          .  Wirthensohn-Pelletier Swiss Cht 1 999. .   

5  'b6 - trdct

86

Capter 21 

  .         '                Borbjerggard-Hector,   Stockhom 00 7.exd f5 8b3 and White may be an ounce better, but 6   .c would also not have been bad]

ovacevc and also GM Solis suggest retreatng with the queen.  have a different approach My recommendation is o exchange on b6 Bu why?

6    4 (126) 126

here is nothing better avalable he disadvantage of 6   c is that no more pressure is being put on d, but on he oher hand the b3 s forced to make a decison. [6 ...f5? 7 .dxc5 'xb3 8axb3 d     . +- 9.b e5 1 0g3 f6 1 1 b5 e7 1 b+-] Let us take a deep breath at ths moment and pause for a whe he posiion on the board is extremely mportant for the London System GM

The strategy behind 7'c f5 and 8'c1 is the consderation that the long-term poential of the postion belongs to White. Since Black has got his central pawns fixed with ...c5c it is White who dreams about achieving b3 or even e sooner or later. Black on the other hand has secured a space advanage on the queenside as well as a ead n developmen. The factors of the position are considered to be balanced accordingly there s no obective proof of an advantage for Whe n exchange on b6 is frowned upon as White dd no achieve reasonable results. But in my opnon hs is not a reason to doubt the q uality of hs move GM ovacevic proclaimed that the positions afer 7.xb6 are oten complicated and tha White nearly always tries to cause some trouble on the queensde with he help of his mnor peces U nfortunately this would oen lead to the pieces becoming endangered.  thnk many mstakes concerning the evaluaton of the posion simply happen - as ofen in many new and unknown pahs because the secres of the positions are not recognised. I found a few of these secrets, but there are ceranly many more to be foun d. Bu firs let us have a look at the consequences of 7'c

aper 2  

5 b6 - Irdcti

7.2 f5! (127) 127 a

b

c

d

e



g

h

87

b5   .. �        and now te player agreed to a draw in arlov-Volzin Linare 1997. a3 b6 300 c8 1.e �e 15.�d 00 6.c ow i ometing ike ti uppoed to produce an advantage? 16. . b7  7.b 1 xc 1 8.xc a5 1 9e b  Drazic-Brancaleoni Sant Vincent 003.] 9.bd2 (1 28)

7  . .g6 i jut a lo of time. 8.1 e6

T  te crtical potion of te ine wit 6b3-c-c1  Te loe of tempo peak againt Wite but Black a fixed  pawn in te centre wit c5-c and Wite a te pawn break b-b3 a well a e3-e at i dipoa n te long run e will ave promiing cance Black in contrat mut look fo dynamc pobilitie 128

ook good but allow Wite to poe te quetion to te � on f5 wit i knigt [8 . . 5? 9.�g5 6 10.� g5   .�g3 a5  bd xg3  3 xg3 �g7 1e dxe 5xc  6.d 00 7.b1 Semeniuk Rublevky Ruian Ct Tomk) 001] [8  . .8 9. bd 6 1 0.�e e6 1 1 .00 �e 1.b3 cxb3 13.axb3 00 1.b a5 1 5. 3 a8 1 6a  fc8  7.fa1  Meduna-irovky Czec Republic h a b c d e g 993] [8 . .6 Seem to be low but i vey [9. brougt noting n amky fe xible. 9. 3 e6  0�e a5 1  .bd Pinter Pari 1 990 9 .  .e 0.d

88

Chaper 21 

5 .. .b6 - Itrodco

e7 ne wil probably remember this .      idea from Whites pont of view? .  . Sclndwein Har-Zvi, Rotterdam 1 998  1 .f3 g6 1  e 00 1  .h f3 g6=] 1 .e h5  3.g3 e7     9  d8 .   +   . + = [9 .. .8 1 0e e7 1 1 00 00 .xg6 hxg6 15.f f5 16.c d7 1e1 a5 13.a3 b5 1.d1 b6 17b3 cxb3 18.axb3 c8 19b1= 15c a5 16.g5= Petran-Gonda, Schlindwein-Pinter, National League 978] Budapest 00  ] [9 ..e7 1 0 .e 00 1 1  00 fc8 1.e1 d8 13e5 xe5 1.xe5 b5 1 5.f3 d3 1 6e b 1 7.xf6 xf6 1 8exd5 exd5 1 9 f1 = ovacevic Dizdarevic, Mravinci 1995] [9 a5 1 Oe b5 1 1 .b b6 1 . a bxa 1 3. xa e7 1 00 00= Plaskett-Pinter,Copenhagen 1 985]

 0..b5 11.a4 a6 12.e2 e7 13.0-0 0-0 14b2 d7 15d1 h6 16.e5 xe5 17 .dxe5 e4 1 8.bxc4 bxc4 19xe4 xe4 20xc4= (129) 129

10b3

t is not clear whch of te possibe options to recommend We have reached a poston in which the stronger player will have the better prospects Neithe side can claim an objective advantage [1 0.e 6  . .                    = Blatny-Zso Pogar, Bno 1 991  1 1 00              .   = Meduna Van Wely, Moskau 1 99. 1 1 . . .e7 1.e5 xe5 13xe5 b5 1.xf6 xf6 15.f 00 16.f3 d3 Bagheri Yagupov, Moscow 000.] 10.h? e     . 

ith 7.c2 White achieves absolutely playabe postions, which the better player wll win in the end But neiter side can claim an obective advantage.

89

C apter 22 5   'b6 + 8    e5? 1 d4 d5 2.f f6 .f4  5 4.e 6 all the variations In many cases the 5. b6 6.b 4 7.xb6 axb6 material on hand was ust not enough 8a! (1 0) and had to be completed wth self analysis. With such at ones dsposal 10 the London System payer now obtains an extremely dangerous a b c d e h weapon

Now we move on to an explanation of 8.a3 Without this knight move Black could just let b5-b etc. follow and Wh ite could no longe hope for an advantage Theefore coming to this decison was not realy difficult Besides preventing the opponents ideas White might well threaten to pay a3-b5-c7 at some point. In oder to understand the variations we will begn by looking at Blacks worst answer. We are now reaching my favoute position in the ondon System. There are a surprsing number of dificulties as well as complex problems to be solved even though the queens were exchanged and the pawn structure is determned to a large extend The halfopen afile looks very promsing for Black but White does not have to be worried about this As mentioned in the last chapter ths position s not aspired to as the results clealy speak against White But the main reason is probably that the correct approach for White has not been foun d yet. Ths applies to nearly

8 ...e5?

Despite being very tempting pushing though ...e5 is ust not as easy as that .. 9 b5 aS

therwise the pawn on e5 would vanish from the board without any compensaton 10.7+

Whte had no option but we already see the frst bg point of 7.xb6 Regardless of how Black contn ues a

Chapter 22 

9

5 .. .b6 + 8 . . .e5?

very stong piece sacrifice is going to .
b

c

d

h

e





c

9

Wite actually got fou pawns for te piece but tere is anoter mportant feature in te position e pawn structue is no longe compact and ence open to attack In te progress of te game Black made use of tis and eventually went on to win 1 5
 1 f1
apter 22

-

5 . b6  8  . .e5?

9

1 1 .xe5 {1 )

Tis move was never played n te ew games covering 8 . . e5. erefore,  is no surpise at even in te posiion after 1 0 c7 + d8 Black acieved satisfying esults

Wite can stand better in s poson He got tree pawns for te piece and as an absolutey flexible pawn structure Wite must of course, act very carefully But gradually te pawns will advance, wit a crusing eect on Backs position 

1

4

a

b

d

c

e

g



 si    8 £ £ 1  6 6  -�8 5 8 £   15 4 41 8 . D 8 13 3 2  � 0 8

8

� ;  ;

.,

8

a

b

c

d

e

g

h

1 1 ...xe5

[1 1 ..xc7 1 xf7+ d7  3x8 e8- 12 .xe5 e4 1 .xd5 �xdS 14 .xc4 �d7 1 5.b5 �e7 1 6f (D14) Concusion lt is very interesting to see ow PC programmes udge ts position, as tey ae no capable of foreseeing te long-term consequences. umans, on te oter and will see at frst glance tat only

9

Ca pter 23 5   b6 + 8   J�xa3? 10.e5! (136) 1 .d4 d5 3 6 3.4 5 4.e3 6 5.3 Wb6 6b3 4 7xb6 axb6 8.a3 xa3? (1 35) Some soutions cannot be recognised immediately. Long analysis did not 135 brng any resuls until  finally found te text move. e idea beind te knigts move s anying but obvious Wte wil voluntarily return some material in order to free te imporant b1-square for s rook 136

is is a very creative excange sacrifice wc luckily enoug, is not quite correc Back plans to compleely constrict Wite wit ...�f5, e6 and �xa3-b If e succeeds n realsng ts plan ten te sacrfce as to be considered to be absolutey correc. A small excerpt from my own 9.bxa3 S! analysis 1 O. d Movng back passvely in order to gan control over Clearly te best contnuation. e.  seems as toug te move is playable but finding te correct [9. e? is realy too optimsic continuations s far from easy. 1 O  e6 1 1 .a �a3  .+-] Anyway e possibilities are certainly wor looking at 1 O   . e6 1 1 .�g5 e

Chapter 23



5 .. .b6 + 8   xa3?

93

night has to move. At the same time events are forced. 1 1   xa3  1 1 . .  b5 prevents a ater xc. White can still gain an advantage with absolutely exact moves 1.xf6 gxf6 1 3.e dxe 1 g 1 37)

it 1. . .xb1 15.xb1 xg7 16.d b5 17.c a1 18a3 d7 19d Places his hopes on the extra piece White has to give away three pawns now 19  g8 With the plan of getting to a 0.e xc3

137

138

Two pawns are sacrifced in order to beak through the stranglehold 1 .. xg A retreat to g6 does not help.  . . . .  .  . +   .+  .  .    .  .  .+- 15.b1 a7 The disturbing knight was pushed back 16.a Softening up the csquare 16 . .b 17.g1 17  .f5 18xc c6 19e3 g6 0d f5 21 .c h6+ .d)

0 . . .b 1 axb a8 xc dxc 3. xc Al of a sudden White is a whole piece down but his compensation is obvious nonetheless. ) 1 xc3 xg h5 Striving for an endgame without rooks.  . .  xf 3.f x1 xf1 e 5.g3 1 39)

1.xf6 b 13.xg7 g8 1.b1 138) A beautiful motif The bshop is trapped and Black must try to rescue

Blacks three extra pawns are relatively immobe but nevertheless it will be dfficut or White to win due to the small amount of remaining material]

Chapter 23  5 .. b6 + 8  . .xa3?

9

139

capture on c3. 1 1 .xc3 1e Ths lever s certanly annoying . . . 1 . . .dxe  1  ..�e6 1 3c1  b5 ( . . .  .+- 1exd5 �xd5 15.�xc �xc 16.xc bxd+) 13�xc xe5 1.�xe5+-]

4

[ 1 0. . .xe5 1 1 .dxe5 e 1 f3 xc3 1 3 e is much better for White] 1 1 .g4! (40) 40

ack to the m ain variation ( 1 36) 136 a

b

c



he crucial point   ..e4

he bishop shoud not give up the control over b1 . 1 0.  e6

[1 O . .  e 1 1 .f3 ven aiding Black to

[1 1 . . .�xg? 1 3b1 +- ]

1.xg

xg

aper 23



5 .. . b6 b6 + 8    xa3?

[  1  . . xg xg 1 . xg xg �xg �xg  3.b 1 d7 1xb 1xb6 c c8+- 8+- 1 1  . .�c . �c .d �a 13.f3 �xa3 1b1 b5 5.xc6 bxc6 16.�g+-]

95

141

12.3

nd that is the finish for him. 1 2 ..xe5 .. xe5 13xe4 3+ 14.2 d2 1 5.exd5 exd5 exd5

[ 1 5 5    xd5 16e1 xf1 17.xf1 with the advantage.] 16.e1

Black realy do does es look sl s lly ly without the ght g htsqua squarred bishop bishop  nd hardly any questions ae left unanswered. 1 6 .. de4 de4 1 7 b1 xg4 [ 7   d d77 1 8�g xc xc33 1 9.c1 9. c1 +-] 18xb6 18xb6 x3 x3 1 9xb 9xb7+ 7+ (141 )

Conusion Despite its great idea, the 8 .xa3? . xa3? exchange sacrifice s just not good enough

96

C h aper aper 24 5    b6 + 8    1 d4 d5   3 6 6 3 .4 c5 4e3 c6 he bishop on g6 is not paying at all 5.c3 b6 6b3 c4 7xb6 axb6 and t wll wl l tae some time for the th e roo on h8 to enter the game as well. 8.a3 g4   . .   1 9 . d3] Has hardly ever been payed but is 142 doubtless much better than the moves exam examined ined previously previously

he altenative is 9b5 but White has something else in mind 9 ..:a .. :a 5 1 0.e4 e6 (1 42) 42) 11axc4!!

Welcome to the fantastic word of the ondon System! In the following we wll experience different variations of this piece sacrifice time and again White gets 2- 3 pawns for the piece piec e as wel as long lasting compensation 1 1 . dx dxcc4 1 2.3 2.3 h5 1 3.xc 3.xc4 :a7

 1 3. 3 . . .a6 . a6 Preferring to give away only two pawns aer ecognising that Whte has no strong discovered attacs with his night 14.g4 g6 15.h4 h5 6.g5 d7 17.d6+ xd6  8 .xd6 a espite o nly havng hav ng two pawns for the pece White obtains more more than than eno ugh compensa compensattio n.

14xb6+ Cocusio The piece sacrifice was not the forced continuation after 8 ..Jg4 .. Jg4 but the main aspect of this chapter is the demonstration of this very common idea

97

C a per per 25 5   b6 + �aS! �a S! ?  d4 d 5 f3  f3 f  f6 3 .f4 c5 4e3 4 e3 c6 b6 Black has to make a difficult choice Shoud he defend b6 or 5c3 'b6 6.'b3 c4 7.'xb6 axb6 continue with his development? t 8a3 Ea5!? 1 43) becomes cear that only two moves 143 come in to consider consid erat ation ion  a

b

c



e

8



8

9   . e5? rying to make use of the knight on a3 10  c2 e4 1 1 d2 Ea6 Ea6 144) 144

A clear declaation of war as b5 wil no longer be allowed. In addition Black may renew renew hs h s th eat eat of b6b5. he move 8  a5 s q u ite ite popu ar and a nd therefore very important fo the evaluation evaluation of the ondon ond on Syst System  9 . c7

Very ogical White focusses on the b pawn pawn which whic h is pinned pinn ed But one has to to be aware of the following tick he bishop can possibly get trapped on the queenside! herefore White is not really een on captuing the pawn on

ooks good for Black but with the following plan White gets the advantage. 12a4 he idea is b4-b5. he pawn chain e4-d5-c4 is very vulnerable. Sooner or later it wil be disrupted 12 12 . . b5? 1 3. axb5 axb5 xa 1 + 14xa1 a 15.b3 xb5 16 16  a5 b6 1 7 . xb6 xb6 xc3 1 8  a5 a5 a2 1 9 bxc4 bxc4 a6 a6 20.c5 xf1 21 .xf .xf11 +- c1 22.f3 22.f3

98

Chapter 25  5  b6  8 . . a5?

e 23.d  d3 24.e2 00 25.fxe4 [9e6!? Very soid . Anyhow there are dxe4 26.xe4 xe4 27 xd3 f5 a few pitfalls White has to be aware 28g4 g6 29gxf5 gxf5 30.b3 h4 of. he  is not worth much more 3  . d2 f2+ 32.e2 h 3 33.c6 4 han a pawn but Blac plans to mae 34.f3 1 0 Kovacevic-Kristensen  use of it ater on. 1 O c2  1 46) hessa-loni 988/] 46 [9 . ..a6?! invites us to the aready a d e b c wel nown piece sacrifice 10.xc4! dxc4 1 1 .xc4 a8 1 2xb6 etc] [9  d7?! deends c7 but forgets about the square e4 - a fact which is exploted mmediately 1 O.e4! e6 t is not worh capturing the pawn as it cannot be etained anyway and c4 would become too wea 1 1 . c2 a6 4 1 2.exd5 exd5 1 3e3; 1 45)



1 45

d



e

c

6

10.xb6? he irst rap 10  xa3! 1 1 bxa3 xa3 and now it is ony White who faces difficulties)

4

Before having a closer loo at he variatons it is worthwhile pausing for a moment in orde to understand he situation on the board he main elements of such a closed position are banded strategically  not tactcally he main plan for White is ound quicly He woud lie to accomplish e3-e4 but to do so he must first gain control over the e4square for nstance wih d 2 How can Bac counte e3-e4? If he taes on e4 then ines wll be opened



3 2

a

e

g

Afe the excursion via a3 and c2 the nigh has reached a very strong square from which i can constantly put pressure on d5 . Whites advanage is not very big but t is permanent.]

apter 25



5  'b6 + 8 . . xa5!?

99

and c4 has to be protected with b6- aforementioned plan . b5. In ths case there would be 147 another plan avaiable for White in the endgame: Creating a passed pawn b wth f4-f5! f Blac does not tae on e4 then he wi have to deal with a permanent weaness on d5 hs w of course not become acute or some time but Whte can slowly wor towards t. Which plans are available for Blac? n the queenside   b5 can never be taen into consideraton because of b-b4 he pressure on a will cease soon because of aa3 he bshop on c7 must dsappear to allow the roo to become fexible but this taes time. ven if this is achieved how to continue? There is no quic route from a8 to e8 at the moment as the c8 has to be developed beforehand No matter how the game goes on Blac wil contnue to have two bad pieces for a long time As he can hardly conduct an attac on the queenside Blac w have to organi ze some pay in the centre. his would once agan be in the sprit of White who is well prepared for this Al in all White just has the better chances.  0 . d7 lt is ogical for Blac to drive the bishop out of his camp but by doing so the not on the queenside wil be pu lled even tghter. [ 1 0  e7 1 1 .d  47) nitiates the

3

3

2

2 c

e

g

 1 .  .a6 Unpins the roo thus maing b6-b5 possble.  1 1   00? 1.b3! ven in this ind of position tactica motifs can be seen White maes use of the pi n along the diagonal c7-a5  would also be possibe 1 . e8? Blac would lie to get rid of the annoying bishop but overloos a minor detai.     White has the better position but this is the way Blac should play) 13.xb6 b5 14c5 xc5 15dxc5 and all of a sudden Blac stands in a heap of rubble as the pawn on c5 s proected tactically 1 5. . .a5   Apparently winning bac the pawn but..            +     +- ust loses a piece 16.d4 xc5 17bxc4 dxc4 18xc4+-)



Chapter 25  5 . b6

 8 . .xa5!?

9  f5 (149)

12a3 is payed under the motto xtend Contro White uses his time before the real figh starts. The ine will ontinu e as mentioned .

149

( unfortunately does not work beause aer     8 aB    White must soon play 5 afer whih the pawn struture reeives a hard blow. There is really 6 not enough ompensation for the piee at hand.  5

a

b

c





7

1 1  g3 b5 1 48)

a

b

c

148 d 

g



8 £17

12.a3 hereby finaly eliminatng ..b4 beause the 2 protets the  on a 1  1 2  .e4 1 3f4 !? The alternative 13.d2 is good as well whih one o play is simply a matter of taste. Back to te ma  variatio

An ative developng move an hardly ever be bad With the ext move Blak akes onrol of the 2-square. All of a sudden e6 would beome a serious threat to the knight on a3. Therefore it looks as though White has to apture on b6 et us have a short ook at .  1 O xb6? a6 1 1 7 d7 12.b5 e6 150) White will have to defend his Knight wih a2-a4 after whih Bak will double his rooks on he a-file aually an advaage of 8 .. .a5) The a4-pawn an then only be defended wh e2-d 1 and Blak will stil have enough opensaion for the sarifed pawn  an only warn aganst suh a passve treatment of he position and again reommend nstead a move ou of my fund

( 'apter 25 - 5  b6 + 8  . xa5?



150



a

b

d

c

e

f

  � 7?/;

g

h

M

a

b

c

151 d e

f

8

8

 ,    i - i l   6 1. i  6 6 s - i 1 I s 41    4 4    1   1    0 8  



a

b

c

d

e

f

g



0.d2!?

1 0..d7

Very creative  and that is the way the he idea s smpl e. A sacrifce on c4 s varations wil go on . . being prepared 1 1 .b6 1 1 a6 1 2.c5 (1 52) [ 0   e5 Threatens to weaen the whte pawn structure  1 dxe5 �xa3 152 2.bxa3 g4 13e4! 51) This move forces the following line.  3 .. �xe4 1 4f3 e3 1 5.fxe4 c2+ xd5 17exd5 xa1 6.d1 8.�xc4+-] [  0.e6 Ignoring Whites idea completely  1 1 . axc4 dxc4 1 2. xc4 a6 1 2  .. a 1 3�xb6 a8 1 4f3 etc. 2 .  d5 1 3.f3 d 14 �xb6) 1 3. xb6 a5 with the same motif.]

Caper 25  5  'b6 + 8   xa5!?



 2...b6!

Prepared to try somethng  12 ... e5 is he boring continuation 1 3.xf8 xf8 1 4.dxe5 xe5 1 5 3 xf3+ (.. +     .++- 16gxf3; with a positional advanage) 3.axc4 bxc5

(.  .      .  .     +     4.e5+ xe5 5a6 cxd4  6.cxd4; ( 53) 53

Fo the two peces White got a roo and two pawns, which are connected passed pawns . herefore, they can quicy become extremely dangerous Concusion he idea of 0.d2!? is very sound and realizes the night sacriice n a direct way he advantage s that Whte folows a simple recipe which is easy to remember.

3

Chapter 26 5    b6 + 8    a7! 9.b3! (1 57) 1 d4 d 5 2 .f3 f6 3 f4 c5 4.e3 c6 5c3 b6 6.b3 c4 7 .xb6 axb6 his is the only way to fght for an 8.a3 a7! (154) edge The big drawbac of 9b3 or 9. b4 es in weaening the £c3 A 154 definite analysis is nearly impossible  c d  a b as there are several option s to 8 choose from in each position. herefore  tried to wor out certan ideas and plans n the following A ot of practical tests with 6 variations. 8 . a7 would cetain ly be desirable



What is happenng here?! Some eoe will certainly as this question No normal person will earnestly consider this move n a game but it oes contain some poson he b5square will be contoled again and b6b5 is being prepaed But this is ot the whole plan because the idea of a7-c8-b6-a4 aso comes to mind n additon the threat of ...e5 seems to become acute again White s well advised to tae great care. Quic action is necessay Thus the dea of pushing the b-pawn stries ones mind .  . . Should it go to b3 or to 4?

9 b4? At first glance this seems to be the solution to all problems. 9   d! 155) 155

 4

 1

his is the refutation of 9b4 However the probability of meetng this line in a practical game is very low



Chapter Chapter 26  5 .. . b6 b6 + 8  . a7!

as Bac has to find the two dificut moves moves 8  .  a7 and 9  �d7.  �d7. Afe the text move the square c8 becomes avaiabe for the a7 and the bishop taes over the tas of protecting the b5-square. Consequently Blac wl accompish the manoeuvre c8-d6b5 or White wll have to give up his bshop pair on d6. Both would be very good for for Bac. Bac .

with the idea of d6-b5 with a ot of pressu pressurre on c3 1  a b1 d d66 12.�xd6 exd6 he doubed pawns loo hoibe but in reality they are very strong. White does not manage to accomplish a2-a4 thus eeping a bacward a-pawn. I cannot see a way to prev preven entt the simple simpl e plan o o . . .�e7 00 a fa8]

 9  . e4?!  e4?! %% Pavlovic. Kosic. /ahorina 2000/X 2001 9). his game ended in a draw although White could have got a clea edge with with 1 0�xc4! 0�xc4! dxc dxc4 1 1 .xc . xc4+-. 4+-. ]

Let us o back to the main vaiation 57

 9 ..� .. �f5 1 O d2 e6 1 1 �e2 �e2 As soon as the night moves away from a the a3-night a3-ni ght goes to b5! he further further plan c o n s i st of 00 00 f3 e4 e4 - w wth th a pleasant position fo fo White. White. ] 1 0.d2 c8 1 56) 56) 56

9    e5!?

Very concrete and therefore the main ine.

Chapter 26



5   b6

+ 8 a7

[ 9 b5  b5 he London L ondon System System fan fan cannot can not al to lie this because b5 is no onger accessible for the blac peces e4 - befo beforre the  O d2 prevents e4 decision of what will happen on c4 is made]

5

a

b

c

159 d e

g



[9  cxb3 cxb3 1 0axb3 is i n Whte Whte s spirit] [9 [9   e6 is no qu ite ite as ambitious ambitious as 9   e5 but not to be unde u ndeestmate estmatedd  1 0c2 0c2 b5 1 1 bx bxc4 xc xc3 1 58) 158

efends the night on d2 and alows Whte to finish his development without being d isturb isturbed ed 1 2 ...jxc3+ ... jxc3+ 13d2 cxb3 14xg7 �g8 15.axb3 c6 16. 16. d3

12d3 White really wants to complete his development even sacrificing a pawn to do so 12 12  dxc4 dxc4 ( ( .      . with good compensation 13xc4 he positon ema ns very very exciting fo forr both both sides] 1 O.dxe5 jxa jxa33 1 1 .ex ex6 jb2 jb2 1 2.d1 ! (159)

Aer 00 White should have the edge due to his beter pawn stucture but Blacs active pieces compensate for some of his own dsadvantages ence an exciting strugge is guaranteed Concluson My recommendation for Blac s cleary 8 . .  a7! Aer this both sides have difficult decisions to mae bu with the ideas  have described  hope to have shown you the proper direction

6

C ha pter pter 27 5 .Wb6 + 8 .. e 6 1 .d4 d5 f3 f6 f6 3.f 3.f4 c5 4. e3 c6 herefore White tries to secure the pair of bishops and an d eeps the game n 5.c3 b6 6 b3 c4 7xb6 axb6 cam and quiet waters 10. 10. . .xd6 . xd6 8a3 e6 9.c2! 9.c2! (1 60) 60) 1 1 .xd6 .xd6 e4! Fo Forc rces es the the bishop bis hop to to quit from the diagonal a3-f8. 160 Addtionally after b5-b4 c3 will be a b c d e g  unprotected 12.c7 hinders b5 (  12. 12.b5! b5! creating counterplay cou nterplay ] 9 . e4!?

t

 9 . . b5  b5 1 0.a3 e4 1 1 .d2 x x d 2 1 2.xd2 2. xd2 resembl resembles es the main main ine i ne]]  9 . .h5! . h5! Again important 10e5! b5 1 1 .a3 f6! f6! (           . 12.f4 h5 13c7 (= 13 13  . d d 1 4b6 a6 a6 1 5c5 5c5 xc xc55 1 6dxc5 6 dxc5 Can Wh ite ite eep eep his ext extra ra paw pawnn on c5? 1 6 .f6 . f6 161) 161 a b c d e  g Maing an excursion with 9b5 a5 is very temptng but actually White would achieve nothng usefu through thi s. Afer all al l Blac has oced oced in his c8 wth wth 8 . . . e6 and this turns c2 into a very safe square for the night. The a-file is sealed af afer er a3 - White White can carefuly plan the development of his pieces

t

+

9.b5?! a5 (. (. . .  . - 10d6!? Alternatives lie 10.c7+ do not bring anythng because White must play a4 sooner or later after which the blac b5-pawn-brea would cause some big problems.

hapte 27  5 . .b6 + 8   e6

7

7b4 a5 18.xc6 bxc6 19.e5+ 1 5..b4 1 6.xb4 a4 1 7e2 (1 63) 20f3? c7 therwise c6 fas. Secuing c5 permanently 20xf7 is more courageous. 20  f8 21.e5 163 e4 22 . e2! offering f2. 22   xc5 . . .        . 2300 stil beng very exciting Both sides have cances) 20 . .f8      .   . 21 . e2 d  22xd7 d7 he endgame should be equa] Back to te man vaiation 1 0.d2 xd2 1 1 .xd2 bS 12.a3 aS 13e1 b3+ 14d1 d7! (162) 162

Conclusion he endgame coming up after 8 . e6 is vey exciting indeed  probably equalise Blac can 9 .. h5) Nevertheless the resulting positons offer enough possibilities for aggressive continuations

Strives fo .b4 foowed by a4! 15g4!

[ 1 5.e2? b4 ! 1 6e4 a4]

8

Cha pter 28 ym metry wth 4 . dxc4 1 .d d5 2f3 f6 3 .f fS .c! (16) 16 a

b

c

d

e

8 

6 5

straight away but gets rid of his bad bishop However afer 6xd3 cxd3 7xd3; White stands better because of his lead n deveopment]   e6 6xc4 bd7 (   + .  osing the rght to castle is not realy tragic. 7.00 e7 8.h3 00 9.c3 c6 1 O. h4 g6  1 .xg6 hxg6  PaezaZ Czaon /Castelldefels 2006 34)]

 . . .xb1 trying to eep the extra  pawn 6.xb1 b (..         7.b3 and Blac must tae care not to be 2 overrun]

 3

.d!?  16) 4c4! he answer to the question of why 4.c4! is correct in this postion is expained in chapter 33 Reasons for 4c4!  ...dxc

Accepting the pawn sacrifice results in positions similar to those in the Queens Gambit Accepted 5.3 b5

nly wth this move can 4.c4 be challenged.   d3 Blac gives the pawn bac

16 a

b

c

d

e

f





{ apter 28

- Symmetry wth 4 . dxc4

e dea les in  b4-d3. 6.�g3  b4 7a3 d3+ his also does not suce or equalty. 8�xd3 �xd3  . .   9.e5 e6 10.xd3 103!? �b4+ 1 d1 00 12xd3 xa3     +- 13xb7 d7 14.bxa3 cxd3 15xc7 White has the edge but he s pobably ot enoying the act that hs ing is stuc n the midde.) 10. . .cxd3 (10 .   +    1100 6a4 c6 7 .axb5 cxb5 8c3 'b6 166)

a

b

c

166 d e

9

8   b4? 9. b5+-] 9e5!

My original dea 9b3 does not wor whch s wy  nearly had to orget about this ine. he main point o 9e5 is to prevent 9   e6. 9.b3? e6! Ater this White wi be crushed on the queenside 1 Obxc4 �b4 1 1 .b3 bxc4 1 2xc4 d5+ ere White can ony oer a daw and hope h is sient prayers or acceptance will be heard  . .] 9 ...bd7



g



9  e6?? 1 0.3 d5 1 1 xd5 exd5 1 2.xd5+- winni ng materia] 9 . . .c6 1 O3 c8 1 1 �g5! 1 67) 67

a

c

d

e

g



Whte will be clealy better  he manages to get is pawn bac ereore Blac must secure the aterial wth the hep o hs queen. How will White contnue? Normal developing moves such as 9.�e2 are ot convincing at all



Chapter 28  Syetry wth 4  dxc4

Wth an attac on the f5  e6 will be provoed - an important detail in the varaton  1  e6 1 2 xc6 xc6 1 3xf6 gxf6 14xa7; as afe 1 4xa7 15c6+ Blac can no longer play d7]  0.g4 ( 68) 68

White has a very active positon for the pawn and the further development of the ngside will cause Blac a few headaches White wil brea open the queenside wth b2-b3 after having casted on the other flan Afe that he wll set all the dogs loose on his opponent 69 a

The postion s highly dynamic Therefore normal moves will not be any good for White 9 bd7 too away mportant retreat squares of the f This crcumstance wll be expoited immediately  0...xeS

1 O  e6 1 1 xd7 xd7 blocs d7          and the bishop is trapped in the midde of the boad 12g5;] gxf5 c6 2g2 (69)

b

c

d

e



Concusion Accepting the pawn sacrfice with 4 dxc4 leads to very exciting positions in which White always gets more than enough compensation Anyone not aware of this wil stumble very quicly



Ch apter 29 with 4    e6?! 1 .d4 d5 2 f3 f6 3 .f4 fS 4c4 e6?! (170) 170

squares on the queensde wil remain feature of the position for a ong tme and can quicky become very problematical for Black n 5 . c8 a prompt c1 woud be annoyn g.

�

Ignores his queenside a carelessness which is punished immediately 6.c3 d6! ? 7 .xd6 Wxd6 8.c1

Aer ths White continues to develop normally and can be happy about a slight but permanent advantage. He should play carefully and always think twice about such attempts as c5 8 c5? d8=) Normal developing moves 5 .. .b6 (171 ) such as 9.e3 e2 and 00 look very ne might get the wrong impression ogical that the light-squared weaknesses canno be exploited immediately. his might be true but having weakened After this Black wil be annoyed that he dd not play ...c6 straight away because now he wil have to weaken hs queensde permanently.



Caper 30 wi 4    c6 1 .d4 d5 2.f3 f6 3.f4 f5 4.c4 c6 {172)

he game Bagheri- Bezgodov ap d Agde 2002.] 73

4.c6 has no independent relevance, 6b should also be playable but is thus not a ot has to be sad about t. not n the sprt of our openng. 5e3 b6

6 ...dxc4

5  e6 6.c3 leads to the next th  rwse a transpositio n of moves is chapter] evt ble leadng to one of the followg chapters.    xb1 ?! 6xb1 e5 Th e d ea of e6 8  bd2 bd7 9 .0-0 aS 5 xb 7xe5 b4+ 8 d1 d o 17O.c4 h4 a4 1 1 .xb6 xb6 1 2.xf5 not look good but afte B 00 9 e8 1 O d3 bd7 1 1  xd77 d7 exf5 1 3.�d3 b4 1 4. Ead1 g6 1 5. tc4 bd5 16. e5 1 2f5 'd8 1 3. g5 (01 3) it becomes clear that the white monarch Wlth a small edge for Whte fees very happy on d 1 he extra (Nikoa _0stl , Natonal League pawn promsed a clear advantage in 1988/8) 



3

Ch apter 31 Main position with 6   bd7 1 d4 d 5 f3 f6 3 f4 fS 4.e3 e6 9 . . .e7 1 0h3 (. = 1 0.00 1 1 . b4 a6 1 2.d2 fe8 1 3 b3 d8 5.4 6 63 bd7 7b3 b6 1 4. b5 e5 1 5dxe5 xe5 1 6 bx6?; · (174) Wirthenson-Saesseli Swiss Cam ionshi 2002 ( .+-] 175 c

d

e

Tis osition an also be the esut of 6 .. .b6 7.b3 bd7 9 . . .b5? 1 0.a6  b8 1 1  xb8 xb8 12.b4+-] 85! xb3 9axb3; (175) 9 .. .h5!? must be taen very Bla should avod is awn seriously 1 O . 7!  1 76) formaton as Wite will ut dangerous ressure on te queenside wth the ter attemts odued nothing el of the alfoen a-file Tere is sine Bla ushes is awn to e5 no adequate ounterlay in sight for and reates ountelay aganst d4 Ba. Te nights move to h5 does no ony ave advantages as the iee set-u 9 a6 on the ingside as beome rone for a awn for g4)

Chaper 3 1  Mai psii wh 6 .. bd7



176

bait here o provoe 6. 1 1   a6 ! Alternaives are clearly worse 1 1 . 6?  2.�d6  78) 178

The roo is to be lured to c8 with the bishop move. 0 . . c8 1 1 .�e5!  1 77) 177

The bishop still does not go to g3 but eeps up the pressure. Aer the exchange on d6 Blac wil either lose the pawn on a or even a piece. 1 2. . .�xd6 13cxd6 Now a is unproeced 13.  .a6 14.h3 lt is already very diicult or Blac aer ths move.] 1 1  xe5? 12xe5 Tha is the point o  O.�c7 a and g2-g4 are threatened at the same time. 2..6 1 2  a6 1 3.�e2! .  .  �  .   .  1 3. . . 6 . . .+    The piece sacriice allowed with .+ 14.g4 �g6   � 1 1 xa7 woud ust no be enough .      �   The ormer �4 is repeatedly used as

hapter  1

Mai psti wth 6  bd7



5

10.b4 �ea  .   15h4 d 16.xd7 xd 17.h5 �c2 1 8.a4  1 9. b6 d8 20.d2 1 0  000?? 1  xa6 bxa6 1 2.�xa6# �x3 21 .c3 �c4 22�xc4 dxc4 can be played in a blitz game from 23.xc4+- A nice example of a really time to time] 11.h3 stong ing) 13f3 a6 already losing a piee 1 4 h3 e5 1 5.g4+-] ndeed Bac did prevent b5 but in 12.h3 hf6  . � . � return b has become wea now �  .� With the threat of Sd2 Wh ite should organise a retreat  . �  .   +- square for his bshop before starting otunately White managed to get rid concrete actons on the queenside. of his douled pawns. 13�h2 1 1 .  .e7 (180) 179)

a

b

c

179 d e

180

1d2 n contrast to the main varation the bishop stands on h2 instead of h4 but at the same time the b-pawn is still on The simple threat of d2-b3-a5 b3. espite the small time oss Wh ite already brings Blac into dificuties. can play the position precisely lie 1 2...0-0 similar positions  for instance try to pay b4 followed by d2-b3-a5 et us go bac to the main variation. 1 2 . .�d8 Planning to get the  as soon as it reaches a5. 13�d6

6

Chapter 3 1

-

Mai psii wth 6 .bd7

 8.xa6 !! :xa6  9.xc6 :xc6  is simpe but only sufficien for a slight advantage  . . . 0-0     .    .  19 .. .xa1 20.xe7+ f8 21 xg6+]  with the idea of b4 Russian 20.:xa6 :c8 2.:ha bxc5 22.:a8 Kharlo-ouchaev Championships 1995 :f8 23bxc5+ Kovacevic  Byrne Kazan) ik aan Zee  980 1 3. . .c7 14 xc7 xc7 1 3d6 loos i e a mistae since Blac managed to 8 exchange the bishop and is eady o castle ingside However the first an was weaened with xc7 for a moment and ths s already enough . . . 1 5b5 00 . .   .  .+Kovacevic-Arzmendi Mislata 1 995. 1 6.bxa6 a8 16 . . .bxa6 1 7xa6 b8 1 8a2 e5  . . . .  .  .  .   . +- 1 9. e2 exd4 20exd4 cb7 21 .g4!+-) 17a2 bxa6 18.g4 g6 19.g5 e8 20. h4 b8 21 h 5 f+-] 3g4;  3..g6 4.b3 :a8 5.a5 :a (8)

A sad pace for the oo. 6.f3 :ea 7.d2

actcal threats are gradualy created.  7..b6?  1 7. . .f8? 18xb7! xb7 9xa6 bb8 20  xc8 xc8 21 .a7 e8 22.ha1 +- nly with  7 . .e8 could Blac have stayed in the game

Concusion Blac can hadly find anything to compete against White s simple plan on he queenside sarting wth 8.c5.

7

Chapter 32 Mai n position with 7    dxc4  .d4 d5 2.f3 f6 3 .f4 fS 4e3 e6 dxc4  3"xc4; Muzychu -Yaivch 5.c4! c6 6.c3 b6 (1 82) nepropetrosv 2004 8  . .b6 (B   " shoud be cleary favourable or White 182 aer the simple answer . 9e2;] 7.b3 dxc4! (183) 183 a

6

b



d

e

6

5 4 3 [6 . . e7 7"b3 "b6 8c5 "xb3 9axb3 leads to well-nown set-ups.]

3 2

[6  h6 7."b3 " 81 e 9e5 bd7 1 0e2 xe5 1 1 .xe5 00 1 2.cxd5 xd5 1 300 xc3 1 4"xc3 [7 .. .bd7 leads to 6    bd7 .] a5 15a3 d8 16.f3 with a slight whte advantage Couch-Housa 8.xc4 Britsh League 200 1/02] With the exchange on c4 White was [6   d6 7.xd6 "xd6 8."b3 White aowed to immediately deveop his forces a clarfication on the queenside bishop but on the othe hand the and avoids the exchage of his pressure in the centre has decreased valuable bishop. 8d3  consider this The queens wil be exchanged vey to be worse 8 . . .g6 900 bd7 soon - how can one play for 1 O.c1 00 1 1 xg6 hxg6 1 2 .b3 advantage?

Chapter 32  Ma pst wth 7 . .dxc4

8

8  bd7 9h4 ( 1 84)

185

Moe active han 9h3. 9.h3 e   ofes a bete chance fo equality      .     Haba-W.Richte Nationa League 1 992/93. 1 000 00 1 fe1 g6 1 2ad 1 fe8 1 3 e5 xe 1 4.xe e4 15.xe4 xb3 16xb3 xe4 1 7.a3 ed8=] 184

Concuson he position seems to be only a tiny bit bete fo White. In the London System Blac will seldom come as close to equality as this

9 ...xb3 1 0.xb3 d3 1 1 .0-0-0 a6 1f3 (185)

9

Chaper 33 Reasons for 4c4! 1 .d4 d 5 2f3 f6 3.Jf4 Jf5 4.e3 e6 (186)

a

b

c

186 d e

5.c4 Jxb1 ! (1 87)

Thats it! Blac gives up hs pair of bshops in order to eep the white ing in the centre permanently Interesting positions with marvelous 8 complications arise on the board But unfortunately I was not able to find an advantage for White 187 a

b

c

d

e

g



In the ondon System there exist a lot of hdden points. This is ust one of them  but a very special one indeed. People rarey thi n or very long here they ust carry out the move 4e3. How can such a normal move  which prepares the further development  be dubous? The answer comes along 6xb1 with the question How is White going to become active? Certainly 6a4+ c6! 7.xb1 Jb4+ 8d1 only with c2-c4! But the snag has not 8e 2 d7 9 c5?? xd4++) did not yet been found Let us loo at what really fl me with enthusiasm happens 6 ..Jb4+ 7.e2 (188)

Capter 33  Reass fr 4.c4!



Looks suspicious but a good chess player should always be obective. Let us have a closer look a the position White has he pair of bishops and threatens to win a piece with c5 followed by a3 and b4 Another idea is to give a check on a4 followed by e5 he b1-rook is also well placed for a pawn stom. If only the king was not sanding on e2   ! This is of course exactly the reason for Blacks compensation!

because afer 9d6 e8 1 0.b3+ b7 is also under attack.) 9.a4 c6 9  a5?? 1 O.a3 c6 1 1 .axb4 axb4 1 2.b3+-) 10 .a3 a5 1 1 c2 The current problem is tha White cannot immediately play b4. White leaves Black no other option apart from the queens move 1 1 . . g5 12.g3 f5 189) 12. . .g4 13.b4 xb4 14axb4 gxf3+ 15gxf3 xg3+ 16hxg3+-) 189

188

7   d6!

Clearly the best move. The black problem piece retreats from b4 and offers itself for an exchange agains he active bishop on f4. [After 7   00? the b4 is really cut o from fresh air: 8c5 e4 An attempt o defend the bishop by actical means. 8 . .c6 t is not as easy as that

13d1! Sill refraining fom b4 because in that case Black could open imporant files and d4 would become weak. 13. . .g4 ( .  +- 14g1 Withdrawing from al exchanges thus winning the bishop after all. The question remains whethe Black can get enough compensation for the piece but this pobably will not be the case

Capte 33





Reass f 4c4

[7dxc4? Snatching the pawn. 8.a4+ c6 9e5  1 90) 9   d6 9 . . . d5 has been tried as well . After  0. xc6 d7 1 1 g3 xc6  2xc6+ xc6 13f3 White wns his pawn back The par of bishops in combination with the better pawn structure promises a small edge 10 HulakK-RowleyR/New York 1989/ 47))

a

b

c

191 d e

g



90

Also without the exchange on f4 White will have a certain advantage His kng n the centre stands safely as wel as actively Besides the advantages of the pair of bishops and the better structure the kings position s a cear plus for White 15gxf4 c5 16d5 pposite coloured bishops do not automatically ensure a draw ven though there is ony a small amount of material le White will be able to conduct strong attacks  meanwhie the  on d6 does not exactly know The bishop move is better but after what to do] 1 O.xc6 d7 1 1 .g3 1 1  xc6  . 1 2xc6+ bxc6 3f3 [7 .. .c6? 8b3 a6 9c5 c8 1 0.d 1 ! d5 14xc4 9) the question Threatening to win a piece once arises whether Black can hold the again . 1 O  .a5 1 1 xa6 bxa6 endgame wth opposite coloured 12.a4+lt s already impossible for Black to bshops defend c6 satisfactorly.] 8.'b3 (192)

Chaper 33  Reass fr 4c4



193

192 a

b

c

d

e



f

e White must proceed energeticay since otherwise the ings placement will quicy have a negative effect on his position he alternative 8. g5 is far too harmless and gives up the fight for an advantage because after 8 .. .dxc 9a4+ c6 10xc4 thee are no problems for Blac to solve. White on the other hand, has to be very careful he queen on b3 defnds c4 and attacs b7 simultaneously 8   Jx4!

Again vey logica The b7-pawn is sacrificed Blac wants to open more files aganst the white ing. A lot of complicatons arise. 8 . . b6 does not cause any problems because now 9 g5 wors well  as for instance after 9  c6 10cxd5 cxd5 1 1 .1    93) White stands a lttle bit better



g



He will be able to complete his development with d 1  d3 e2. Thans to the c-file he can  seen ongterm - exert some pressure on the queenside 9xb bd 10.ex4 (194) 194

apter 33  Reass fr 4c4

here s no other position in the whole London System that s tainted with so many complications Usually one the advantages o the London System is the good control the white pieces attain ove the position. his feature is is completely missing here White has an extra pawn but his ing is stuc in the middle o the boad His structure has been damaged permanently. n addition completng his development will cost some more time. n summary No easy tas s awaiting White. Blac on the other hand has no weaknesses but nevertheless it is not easy for him to organise play in the centre such liing Anybody unbaanced positions will be exacty in his element. he following vaiations are o orientation purposes only as they are al new territory.

3

195 a

b

c

d

e

g



and the ing ound a safe home.

Conclusion ven though the positions are very complex and urther files are opened  nothi ng interesting  could not find an obective way to get an advantage White taes more ogical than that the xb1 /b4+ possibil ity out of the  0 .. .00 1 1 c5 e4 1 2 e c3! position with 4c4. herefore the 13.a1 14.xa Eb a move is moe precise than 4 e3.  1 4.  xb2?? 1 5a3) 1 5b leads to a repetition o moves] 1 0..dxc4

 1 0.b 1  xa a 12 .b Exa2 13.e5 00 14c6 e 1e1 a 16xa fxa 17.d3 1 1 e5 xe5?  1 1   c5 openi ng even moe files.) 1 2fxe5 d  1 3f3!  1 95)



Chapter 34 Li ne 1 to the ma in position 1 .d4 d5 2.f3 c6 (1 96 196

the following the ony question will be: which queen stands better/ wose? White will let c2-c4-c5 follow very soon and is on the looout for play on the queenside Blac delays the development of his g8 fo the time being 197

This is the Slav way Blac probably hopes fo 3c4 with a transposition into the Slav efence t is very important for the London System payer to now that the normal pawn structure against c6 d5 e6 does not eally produce much Therefore  becomes essential sooner or later But as the variations will show this must be prepared very caefuly

4bd2? An interesting gambit though probably not quite sucient to bring an advantage 4  xb2     .  .     .  .  with a balanced position in Gagloshvili 3 .f4 b6 4.c1 (197 Stripunsy Cese Budeovice 1994 5e4 f6 6 d3 .  is less This is the traditional main line 4 b3 is convincing Afer 6   xe4 6   e6 7.0 playable but it fulfils no purpose and I 0 bd7 .    would therefore not recommend it In  .    .   

Lie 1 t the mai pst

5

 .± Rutman- Shabanov Sochi 1 998 8.c7 xe4 9xe4 dxe4 1 O. xe4 a3 1  .e 1 f6 1 2xf6+ gxf6 1 3c4 Black faces a lo t of problems regardng completng his development ostPapa Baden 2002. ) 7. xe4 dxe4 8xe4 b4+ 9d2 d6 1 000 d7 1 1 b1 e6 12e1  13.e5 xe5 14.dxe5 White obtained compensation for the sacficed pawn in the game CsiszarVarga Zalakaros 2002.]

Whtes lead in development is evdent. 1 1 e7 2.f4 lt s surps  g what 7xb8 has produ ced  .  1 2 ..a8      .+- 1 3d6+ xd6 1 4.xd6 c5 Raud-Sergeew stonan Championsh ip 1 996 1 5 .b4! g5

aper 3



4 ...5

   1 7bxc5±]

 6.xf6

xf6

4 .g4 5e5 And again we have reached a vaiation in which White wins a tempo on the g4-bishop

[4 .c5?! as Black never heard of chess sins? 5.dxc5!? xc5 6c3 f6 7.xb8! therwise Whte would lose some tme retreating with his bishop after e7e5. 7 . . .xb8 8d2 and by the way Back must narrow-min dedly pay 8 .. e6 now: 8   e6 9.e4 dxe4 5 . .f5 6e3 d7 (r    Very attractve but what is black going to 1  xe4 c6 1 1 .000  1 98) do with his kngside .          198    Wf .       ± V. Kovacevic-P  N ikoc Sarajevo 1 983 7xd7 xd7 8c4 f6 9.c3 g6 1 O.e5 d5 will fall 1 O  dxc4 1  xc4 g7 1 2.00 00  3 a4 d8 1 4 c5± Stoh-Shirov resden Rapid Game 1999 Back o e mai n vaaion 5.e3 e6

5  f6 leads to the variation 2 .  c6 with ...f6] a

b

c

d

e

6.c4!? (1 99)



Chapter 34  Lie 1 t the mai psii

My tip for White woud be to always ty to reach the main position of the system Therefore 6e2! would be the correct decision in this position. More about this idea can be found in the concluson

7 .. h?! 8.c a 9.e!?  do lie this move 9  . .d7 9  f6? 10.xb8 xb8 1 1 . h4±) 1 Oe2 xe 1 1 xe f6 1 2g4 g6 1 3h4 g8 14h e4 1f3 f6 16.xc6 bxc6 17.fxe4±)

6 .xb1? 199

8c5 d8

8  a! The queen could become a taget on a but she does impede b4 8 for the moment 9h4 h 1 O xf xf4 1 1 .exf4 exf 1 2.d3 g6 1 3.e3+ e7 14.00 f8 1.a3 daw GuloSmagin Rga 198 Afer 1..f6!  do not see a great advantage any 5 more)



4

9 h3  e4 1 0.b4 e7 1 1 .e2 00 1 2.00 6 13.xe4 xe4 14.d6 x3 15.x3

Miles-Wotiewicz Reyavi 2000) 1 5. �e8 1 6.c3 e5 1 7.b5;

Played with the intention of bringing the white foces nto a slight mud dle 6 f6!? is examned by Kovacevic via the move sequence 1 d4 d 2f3 c6 3.f4 b6 4.c1 f6 .e3 f 6. c4 e6?! 6 a6!) but in my opinon the postion can only be reached via this chapte 7c3 bd7 7 . e7 8c d8 9.h3 h6 1 0 e2 00 1 1 00 b 12 .b4 a 1 3a3 e4 14xe4 dxe4 1d2 axb4 16axb4 d7 17b2 lonescu-Savcheno Bucarest 1996.)

Cocsio Blac is able to equalize with 8   a! I believe the man reason he can do so is that White played the move  too early. Therefore I would recommend playng 6e2 instead of 6c4 By the way the move offers a great merit because there is no bette move for Blac than 6 . f6 transposing to the main position of the system herefore White does not have to bother earning a countless number of transpositions

7

Chapter 35 Line 2 to the main position 1 d4 d5 2 . f3 f6 3 .f4 c 6 4.e3 b6 5 . .h5? hs possblty should not be underestmated f Blac halves the 5.c1 fS {200) par of bshops then he wll be al rght. 200 herefore 6  g3 s ou of qu eston. 6 . e5 The only way. he olowng  a b c d e tactca trcs can be appled 8 frequently 6 .  d7

 3

6 .f6? 7 . xb8 Exb8 8h3; s one 6 dea of 6 e5. Wh te threaens to play the powerful 9.g4 and a the same 5 tme a further square s taen away from the c8 Blac can ranspose to  a type of Stonewall wth 8 . . .f5 but Whte should have he beter poston due to hs excellent control over e5 2 and the successful exchange o hs bad bshop

7 h3 20 1 ) g l s no wonder that ths varaton was b c a ested at a hgh playng-evel so often because the bshops development to 5 s absoluely naural and certanly he strongest choce. However the  key feature of ths move sequence les n an early . . .f6 5 5 . e4? ust too early 6bd2 xd2 7. xd2 f 8.c4 d7 9 .c5 d8  The followng 1 Ob h6 1 1 c3 ncreases he control over e5 even 3 more. 11 . . g5 12 g3 g7 1 3. e2 00 1400; homsen-An.Bykhovsky Torshavn 2000 5 .. .g 6 e5? As aways

20 d e



8

35  Lie 2  the mai psiti

202

Forces an exchange on e otherwse White woud ust continue with h2. he tie oss is not eally tragic as the h wil have to move again as well  7 . xe 8.dxe he pawn on e does not loo nice but certainly constcts Blacs ingside whilst being dificult to attac. Unfortunately this excitng and important position has never been tested practically therefore a few sample variatons have to be sucient for the time being. 8 . . g6 (B    is really not good  .  9c4 g2-g4 can possibly be slipped in later B ut first of al some pressure wi be put onto d 9 .e6 9  e6 would finaly bury the c8. (    with the idea of 1 1  xc4 should be sufficient for an advantage. 1 Oc3! 202) his is a mysterous queen move which has a ew advantages. he queen stands much more actvey on c3 than on c 1  she clears the frst ran so that White can accomplish castling q ueenside  !) At the same time .. f6 is a so bloced  Blac has some problems to solve concerning the development of his ingside as g7 would lose the  on h. herefore the nght must go to g7 soon but what is the f8 going to do i n that case? n the other hand White smply plays bd2/000 as well as perhaps c4c and will stand better d ue to his lead in development and his space advantage.]

b

a

d

c

h

g

e

Back to the ma n vaaton

a

b

c

d

e

6c4?

g

h

aper 35



9

Le 2  Mai ps

his is exacty the problem Having 1 5c2 xd3  6.xd3 Hula appreciated the strength of Blacs Kul igowsi W aan Zee 1 983. ) ext move 6 e2 - transposing into the man position - is clearly 9 ...xf4 (204) preferable. 204

6 .. a6! (203)

a

b

c

203 d e



1 0 . xa6? xg2+ +]  0.. g6?

g An important improvement in Blacs strategy he threat is . b4 therefore White has to pay a3 or lose some time with a3 . he point lies slightly deeper because the idea of. h5 will gain in strength after having prevented White from capturing the night on b8. 7 a3  h5 8.c5 d8 9  bd2

Loos very reasonable as Blac is not afraid of 1 1 . xa6 White would have to continue with b4 very soon However Bac would use his doubled a-pawn n order to open fies on the queenside he d4 would be put under pressure aer c7-e6 and g. herefore  evaluate this position as being equal.]

Concusion he London System player should not meet 2   c6 too 9  f6?! 1 O. b4 g5 1 1  g3 xg3 blindly and s well advised to 12hxg3 c 13c3 f 14. d3 d7 memorize ths rule of th umb.

3

Chaper 36 Ma in posiion wih 7 . e7 1d4 d5 2f3 c6 3.f4 'b6 4.'c1 fS 5e3 e6 6 .e2 f6 .0-0 (205) 205

d2 is out of question as the knight learly eongs at 3.

with this idea 8e5! 206) he ove looks strange ut 8 f6? would lose a piee on aoun of 9.x8 8 .. .d 9.h3; 

a

b

c

d

e



g



Aer 0-0 the ost portant ain [   d 8.4 d8 (B.    ; position of the syste with 2   6 and usw. 9h3 e 4 1 0 . 3 d6  1 .xd6 x d6  2 5 e 4  34 00 14.a4;] 3 .. .6 has een reahed [ . a6? Aer astlng short a64 s no longer a serious threa so White an spy ontinue with his plan 8. 4! 4 9.5 d8 1 0e  .e t is just as easy as that! All invasion s uares are overed and the kght    Before startn on rete atvty Bak w e driven away winn in g a tepo] should also ng hs king into safety [ . . . h6?! loses ore tie 8 4 dx4  . .h5? ! White us always rekon 9.d2! We have seen his several

t

hapter 36  Ma psiti wth  .. e

3

White tansfers hs knight to the queenside wnning a tepo against the lak queen and preventing . 8.c4 dc4 h5. At the sae tie he prepares a [8 .. .00 allows 9.5 d8 1 O.h3 quik f3 and e4 gainng further spae Safeguards the ishop just in tie. in the entre. 1 O . . d 1 1 .3 eause of the spae advantage on the queenside 9 . 00 1 .c4 d8 1 c3 1  . . .e4  2. 4     . 1 1 ...g6           . 12. . .f6 1 3.xe4 xe4 Now h has eoe a threat again. 14.3 e8 15. d6 xf3 1 6xf3 e5 12.3; 1.fe1 exd4 18.exd4] es already 9  . . d5 1 O  g3 ]

[8 . . x1 ?! does not look very strong any ore 9.x1 dx4 1 0. e5 00 1 1 .x4 d8 1 2.a3 a 1 3d  d 4 . g3  Gasanov-Voloshin zestohowa  992/ 6). White seures a peranent advantage eause of hs pai of ishops] 9d2 {207)

a

b

c

207 d e

g





£ 1

This is an extreely lever ove

The pawn struture is very siilar to the one in the Sav Defene exept for one detail White did not weaken the square 4 y playing a4. His piees have oupied nie squares he 1 won the fight for the etter position of queens and White an try to oupy the entre with f3 followed y e4 Howeve Baks position is very opat and without any weaknesses. Concusion Wth 7 .. e7 Blak is in possession of a very soid ontinuation. However White gets a favourale verson of the Slav Defene aer 9. fd2

3

Capter 37

...

Ma n position wt 7 c5 1 .4 5 f3 c6 3 f4 WbG 4c1 fS 5.e3 e6 6 .e2 f6 7.00 c5!? (208) 208 a

b

  B . 61 s

c

d

e





a

b

c

d

1 0dx5 \x   .  209



Is

g � - 13  2 �= 1 

41  D

21

symmetry - te posiion would e pratially equal 1 0 a4! 209)

e







ven tough Blak has no yet astled, he takes e risk of opening up te posiion and moves is -pawn for the seond tme Surprisn 1 enough , it is n ot at all easy to ae an advantage.

�



1 · a4 4 1 2\x4 \x4 1 3  looks good for Whte. ) e  4 5  1 x5 x    12.dx5 \x

 . .   . 

8.c4



1 .\x4 x4 14. x4 White is a Quite ovious t etter due to is sight ead in development and te pair o isops 8 ... c6 9.c3 cx4 However, the symmetrial pawn struture makes a draw quite 9  dx4 roay oping for 1 O.dx proale.] after whih - on aount of t



aper 37

Ma pst wt  .. .5



33

proising against 12..�e4

 0.b5 2 0)

with he idea of oupying d4 with a knight. 20

 3...dxc4

[13 ."x2? 1 4"a4++- is too isky for Blak] [13 ..�5 1 4."a4+ e 1 5 3 dx4 16x5 "x5 1fd1 hd8 8.xd8 xd8 19"x4 \x4 20�x4 and aso here White stands slightly etter due to his pair of ishops] 2

a

b





e



g



[ O. xd4? rought nohing after 1 0. . xd4 1  .exd4 dx4  2�x4 �e 1 3�5+ f 14"e3 8 15a4 a6 1 6a5 x3! (   "  �  .�= DjurhuusR - spinoza,R/Manila ol 1992/ 52) ax6 xe3 18.fxe3 ax5 19.a8+ e8 201 f6]    c8   fxd4 xd4  2. xd4 g6  3\d ! 2)

As in he diretion of the e8! Whites lead in developent eoes evident partiuarly after aeping the pawn sarifie This idea is also very

 4.\a4+ d7  5.xc4 \b4

Trading of queens therey hoping to ahieve equalty. [1 5 .. x4? This is a nie trik ut it does not work. 16\x4 e5 1 "8+ d8 (   ! and he kng will never e happy again - White s winning 18.\xd8+ xd8 19�g5++et.]

Chaper 37  Mai psiti wh  . 5

3

1 5. . .a6 6a1 and the 2-pawn is taoo eause of xe6!.]  6. b5 Wxa4 1 7xa4; (21 2) 212

 8.b5! (21 3)

This underlines the drawak of the rooks ove White should y no eans play 183?? eause of 1 8.  .xa4 1 9 .xa4 e5!] 213

White is etter developed and his piees are plaed very atively whih 1...c 9b4+ finally rings a plus Fro Blaks point of view the worst thing in his Concusion t s not easy to fae the position s the pinned knight opening sin  . 5 sine Blaks ain idea is to reah a syetrial pawn struture and y doing so to inrease ow the trik ..e5 has eoe a the drawing range. However there are enough dynai possiilities to really serious threat. high ight the drawaks of   . .5. [1  ..e 18.a1+-] 1  ..a6 18.d1 5? 19.x5 ax5 20  x5+-]

35

C ha pter 38 2    c6/   g4 with f6 1 d4 d5 2 f3 f6 3 .4 c6 4.e3 Jg4 5 .. .d 6  3 e6 3 Jxf3 8gxf3 (214) h5     .   J  .   214      .J+     rouh-Bauin a b c  e British league 2000/1)    .J  .  J± 9Jg3 xg3 10hxg3 D215)

215

6 5



 3

6

3 White ust seek the initiaive on he queenside efore he pin starts getting unpleasant 5c4 b6

[5 . .a6 pursues the idea of answering 6.3 with 5?! A plan whih is ore than doutful though .  .   J    x5 x5 e5 a5+ 93 Je6  . J   J  J± 1 O. Je2 e4 1 1 .Jf3 4  2a+ xa4 1 3 xa f6 14.d3±  etran-M. Neeth Zalakaros 1995.]

here are plenty of players who generaly have a thing aganst douled pawns We already et a few in the ondon Syste and here is another exaple he white postion wins enorously through ths as he now holds ontrol of the h-fie. The king is fine on g2 All in all the douled pawns offer a lot of erits 1 O   8 1 1 .2 g6 1 2 .Jd3 Jg 1 3 f1 dx4 1 4Jx4 00 1 5 g2

36

Chaper 38 

Wirthensohn -herniaev Suol 2001 . 5 .�xf3 6gxf3 d .   +  � . +    +    .      .     Meduna-Hort National eague 1 989/90)  3 6 83 e6 95 x3 10.ax3 h5 1 1 .�g3 a6 2 .4 8 1 3�d3; Hulak-Wessann Nov Sad  1990] [5 .. .e6 6.3 8 e5 �5 83 d 9xd5 exd5 10xd �xd 1  1 �e 1 2.�e5 00 1 3�xf6 f6 14.xd5 �g5 153 5 16�d3± Gretarsson-K Rasussen openhagen 199]

2  6/ .. �g4 wih f6

syetria syste .a5+ 83 6 9e5 �f5 10.a3 �e 1 1 .�e2 00 12 .g4 �e4 1 3f3 �g6 14h4 h6  .   .+- V Kovaevi-h Wijk aan Zee 1980 15.xg6 fxg6 16.4 x4 1.ax4± 8xb3 bd7 9h3 xf3

[9   �f5?! an qukly go wrong for Blak 1 O3 h6          �  �; 1 1 4 �e 1 2. 5 00 1 3.x6 x6 1 4�a6 1 0 SKovaev-Goez Manzano Valenia 2001 .

Bk to the min vrtion

1 0 gxf3  h 5 1 1 h2 f5 1 2b4 6 1 3b5 xb5 14  xb5 �8 1 5d3 g5 1 6�g1± (217)

6b3 e6 75 xb3 (21 6)

217

216

S. Kovaevi-Mooney appele la eading to siilar strutures to the Grande 1 995. ones disussed in the hapters on the

7

Chape 39 2    c6/  g4 wiho u f6 1 d4 d5 2.f3 c6 3 f4 g4 4e5 ?   9 h 3 White a n seure an (218) edge with 1 and the idea of x)

a

b

c

218 d e

xg6 hxg6 8 . g2 e5 9.dxe5 fxe5 1 O  xe5 xh4 1 1 .d4 xh 1 1 2. xh 1  d   3 g3  Horvath-B  Steiner Zalakaros 1991.]

+

 8

5.g4? (21 9) 219

d

c

d

e



g

e





The knight oupies e5 wnning a tepo against the  on g4 his s the ost aitious ontinuation  4 ...f5

This is the est square for the shop [4  . .h5 keeps the e2-pawn ut 5g4! ? winning spae kingside looks very proising 5..g6 6 h4 f6 Noody serously thin k aout h-h6   .

pin ned  on the as well should

Whoever finds this line too sharp an also try the al alternative 5e3 But  do like this onsistent way of handling the poston - it strongly resees the aro-Kann Defene.

5.e3 is of ourse less oitting 6..6 A little it too optiisti. 5  . f6   .    e 3 x2 8. xg6! More prese        than 8.h3 8 . hxg6  . .+  .        . 

2  6/  . .g4 witht f6

38

Chapte 39 

  .  . er-Kreuzer Germany 1995 6.f3 d .4 x1 8.x1 e6 9a3 f5 1 Oe2 gf6  1 .00 e4 1 22 e 13.e5 00 14xd xd 154 d6 1 65 xf4 1  exf4 Karlik Shshkin Litomysl 1996]

Up to now the game went vey logally and t is not lear how White will ontinue The lak monarh wll ertainy astle queenside soon therefore a pan wth a4 shoud e onsidered.

5 e6?

1 3 b3 g7 1 4a4 aS 1 5c3 �h8 1 6�xh8 xh 1 7f3 (221 )

Looks artifiial ut is not ad a t all [5 .8 erhaps the est squae. After 6. e3 d  i ke the idea of .d3 An exhange of knights woud only enefit Blak. From d3 the knght s overing mpotant squares Whte should seriously onsider the followng plan 3d2f3 000 with a strong attak on the kingside]

221

6e3 d7 7d2 gf6 8xd7 xd7 9d3 g6 10h4 b6 11h5 �g8 1 2hxg6 hxg6 (220) 220

Whites position is more fexle ut this fat on ts own an not ensure a permanent advantage Concusion he sharp idea 5.g4!? is possily not enough to gan an advantage From a theoretial point of view the solid ontinuation 5.e3 is to e preferred .

39

C hapter 40 A the rest ater 2    c6 1 .d4 dS 3 6 3 .4 S 4.e3 e6 S.4! () 

transpose into well known positions for instane 6   dx4    . fd2;] 6�xb1 ! aS+

Snathing a pawn [6  . .4+ Rght now the hek on 4 s ather harless. his s the drawak of delaying  . f6 .d2 f6 8a3 d6 9 .xd6 xd6; White plans to gain even ore spae on the queenside with 5 and 4 ] 7.d! (3) 3

Bak delays ..f6 as wel as ..6 for the oent, hoping to ring his f8 into the gae very soon . .  S ..xb1?

[5. d6 6 . xd6 xd6 3 6; White plays 3 1 and always keeps a slightly etter positon due to the ong-te weakness of the light squares in Blaks ap -6). f ourse this advantage will n ot rng a win iediately ut Blak wil always have to take are of it.] [5  6 6.1 and Blak will have to



Caper

7 . .xa2 [ . . .f6 8d3 xa2 900+-]

40  All e res aer 2 c6

Conclusion Te greedy apture of te pawn s refuted n a very onvining anner

8�a1!

Sarfiing anoter pawn in order to open te -file. 8 ..xb2 �b1 a3 1 �xb7 d7 1 1 .cxd5 cxd5 (224) 224

[ . . .exd5 is also not very nie. Wte siply plays e2 and 00 wit an overweing postion] 1 2 b5 gf6 1 3.00+ (225)

Blak is powerless aganst treats su as 2 xd   te pin of te 5 against te d is just too strong.

225 a

b

c

d



f



Ch apter 41 Caro-Kan n Exchan ge Variation  .d4 d 5 f3 f6 3f4 c 5 4.e3 cxd4!? 5.exd4 c6 6.c3 (226

a

b

c

226 d e

not ave any direct weane but Wite  n poeion of te alf open e-file, control e5 and can adopt an active et-up witout really beng diturbed All ti mean Bac mut defend ard ut to fin aly celebrate a  draw lie a win  6 . .g4 (227 227 a

b

c

d

e

g



 J     

1 �   s f    Is 4 1      4 6

e uual move equence to reac ti poition would be 1e4 c6 2d 4 d5 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.�f4 altoug te move 4c4 (Panov-Attac, 4�d3 and 4c3 ae te mot popular. Doe ti mean tat 4�f4 and perap even te ondon ytem in general a to be evalu ated a bad o, not at al  Firt of all Blac mut now were exactly e a landed. econdly e mut compreend te ao-Kann Defence very well. Even wit uffcient nowledge of te potion aer 4�f4 acieving equal cance i far from eay. Blac doe

6

1�  0 �  2  U  =  M 1 

2

a

b

c

d

e

g



ee are variou move equence wic ead to t poiton, motly begi n ni n g wit  ...cxd4 [6 g6 7 .bd2 �g7 8.�d3 00 900 �f5 10f5 gxf5 1 e5 xe5 12xe5 e4 13xg7 xg7 14.xe4 fxe4 15f3 f5 6.fxe4 dxe4 17d2; Karlov-Gal in , Eaterinburg 1997.]



Chapter  1 

CaoKann Exchang Vaiaton

[6 . .a6 .d2 f5 8.e2 e6 9.00 d6 1 0xd6 xd6 1 e 1 00 1 2.f1 g4 13e2 a8 14.a4 d 15.e3; Sveshnikov-vseevMinsk 2000.

   e6 83 8 9.e5 xe5 .        .  .   wns for White yte-Gierg Frane haery) 1 994. 1 O.xe5 a6 1 1 .d3 e 1 2.00 d    6..f5 3 8 8e2 e6 900 Shaanov-Gulev 1992 riol e 1 0. d2 00  1 .a1 e4    .+- 1 3.f4 6; 12fe1 h6 13xe4 xe4 14.e5; Kovalevskaya-Kadyova Mosow 8.d3 e6 900 228) 1994] 228 7.bd2 a b c d e  9 White s not in a hury to play 3 and prefers to develop the knight eforehand. [3 has een played ore often.   8   a5 8a4+ d 92 8  . ..   .  .    + Rausis-Gerstner 2nd National Geran eague 1995/6 1 Od3 6 1 1 00; ShindweinD ttar ade onstane 1999.) 8e5 d . . .   +- 9.d2 g6 10.xd xd the oves are also well playae. 1 1 5 a6 1 2.e2 g 1 300 00 14a4 a8 1 5.a5; avasovi-S.e [9a4 d6  Oxd6 xd6 1  00 h 2e d 13.e2 00 14e3 g6 juljana 1 993] 15.xg6 hxg6 16a5 fe8 .e5; S.KovaeviKagojevi ugoslavia 7   . a6 1994.]  .. .6 8 3 e6 9h 3 h  O.d3 e 1 1 .00 00 1 2.fe1 a8 1 3x6 9.3?! is no good any ore. ax6 14e5 xe5 15xe5; riy 9 .. .d6! 10e5 Krutt ondon 1999]

Chape 4 

3

CaoKa xchage Vaato



1 O.xd6 xd6 1 1 x?! 00 1 2 3 e 1 3. dxe xe 1 4 .xe xe+ 1 .f1 e8 1 62 e2+ 1 g 1   +  .  + 1. . xd3 18xd3 e2 1 9xe2 xe2 20 f1 x2+) 1 0 . . 00 1 1 .00

[1 1  e ourred n Larsenahan  Asterda Z 1 964 1 2. 4? dx4 1 3. x4 d8 14fe f wt h nearly equal hanes] 12.We3 hS 13�fe1 g6 14.f 0-0 15e5 cxeS 6.dxe5 Wb6 1 7Wxb6 xb6 1 8.a4 (230)

   1 1 . . .xe 12xe   .           

230

1 2.xe 1 3.dxe d 1 4a e1  1 2 xd3 1 6xd3 f=] 9 .d6

[9  h 1 Oe 1 e 1 1 .2 g6 12.e xe 13.xe 00 14 xg6 hxg6 13 d 16.f3; Fetek S.Kasparov atranske Zruy 2001] 1 O .xd6 Wxd6 1 1 .We1 d7 (229) 229

a

b

c

d

e

f

g



RakBagrov Frunze 1 983 Conclusion Whte an seure a sall advantage ut 3 also represents a vey prosng opton.

a

b

c

d

e



g





Chaper 42 Gruenfeld m ai n l ine  .d4 d5 23 6 3 .4 g6 4e3 g ursues a very atous plan 5 .e2 0-0 6.00 c5 .c 3 c6 8 bd2 [8.. 6 9.3 4 1 0x6 ax6 (23) 1 1 e5 xe5 1 2xe5 d 1 3.3 23 6 1 4 fe1 fe8 1 5 .a3 e6 1 6e2 d 1.xg xg 1 8e4; Wang Rui Haoyu Tianjin2001 .]

8  .6 is a little it too sow 9.h3  1 Oe5 d 1 1 x6? 1 1 .xd 232) 232 a b c d e

With g6 Blak has learly adopted the ost ative set-up The darksquared ishop on g is a perfet defender of the kng. But on the other hand the developent of the 8 auses ore troue than in any other position of the ondon Syste. Blak an of ourse exhange it for the knight on f3 But this would not really worry White. Another dea would e the developent of this itre to  ut this osts tie If Bak an solve the prole of his ishop he w have equalised. 8 .h5

g



g Fores the queen to go to d and surprisingy wins a pawn aer 1 1 . . .xd 1 2dx5 eause afer 1 2 . .x5? the white knght akes use of the unproteted queen with 13.e4 13  e5 14.g5 f5 Does not threaten anything in reality as 1 5.g4 'xe4? 1 6f3+- loses the a

Chapte 42



5

Guenfeld main lne

queen.)

Whenever possle  prefer to keep the par of shops. 1 1 .�g3 xg3 12hxg3 cxd4 13exd4 �f5 14.e1 d6 15.3 6= and Black was not worse n Malakhatko-Nknaddaf revan 2001 although he went on to lose the gae.]

1 1 .. �xc6 1 2. f3 e6   �    � Koskov Shanovsky Kev 200 13a4 a6           = Soos-Dzevlan Budapest 1991 14c2 e 5.fc1 h6 16h4 5 .c4 wth chances fo oth players   f6 n the gae Mensng-so olgar uracao 2002] 1 1 .gxh4 12�xh5 s certany playale ut the pawn structue [8 . . .d s a ctca alernatve. would e daaged peranently] Strangely enough only one sngle gae has een payed wth ths ove 2 .g3 d7 234 9.3 e5?!       1 Odxe5 dxe 1 1 xe5 xe 234 1 2.ad1 �e6         c d e a ± 1 3x a 14 a6 xa6 15�xa6 c4 16�xe5 �xe5 1e4± 8 8 Anastasan-. Soolewsk Lenngrad 1990] .g5 6  0.4 gS   e ! 233

a



c

233 d e

7

61

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 1  3

5 

g

h

4

a

c

d

e

g



3

//

vm ·

2

/ ' " 



b

5

4

2

a

6

 ·



c

d

e

g

h

Black strves wth vengeance for ..e5 wth all forces He was successful n catchng a oent when the whte peces especally the e1) no longer kept opa control over e5. Blacks kngsde s However consderaly weakened and although

Caper 2 



Gruenfel man line

16.f4? White annot ake use of this postional disadvantage i ediately Anyody wanting to have a quieter it an e exploited later on gae an onsder 16.f3. However 16f4 is the ost aitious way to 13.ef3 ake use of Baks weakened kings White allows a piee exhange on e5 position  elieve the white hanes ut still has an iportant ron in the are slghtly eter. fire . . . 235 13d3 4 4e1 e5 eads to a oplated gae with hanes for 8 oth sides Avarez Fernandez-Lopez 8 del Alao opesa del Mar 2001 ) 7 7 1 3f3!? attaks d5 and sees to ake the panned pawn advane ore difiult to aoplish  But 5 1 3. . .e5 s possile anyway 13..xd4 14xd4 f6 (    ±  15d3 6 161 f5 1.3) 3 3 14xd5 xd4  5xd4 exd4 1 6e4 e? (  1.4 g6 2 2 18.d3] 1 3..  e5

a

g

[ 1 3. . .g4 ?! 1 4h4] 14 .xe5 dxe5 1 5dxe5 xe5 (235)

As so often in the London Syste the reakthough e5 does not autoatially lead to equality Blak forgets  or often overlooks  the fat that d5 eoes a weakling f Blak anages to solve this prole y paying d4 in the right oent then he will e dong fine

Cocuso The Gruenfed variation s very solid for Blak. White ust pay attention to the fat that after ..e 5 the d5 eoes very weak and B ak is eft with his 8. hese harateristis should e suffiient for an edge n a pratial gae

7

Chapter 43 Gruenfeld sd el nes 1 d4 d5 f3 f6 3 .f4 g6 (236) 236



ven though a lot of good  playe s hose d3  elieve the shop etter off on e2 where it stands very safely  patiuarly ate Blak has advaned his pawn to e.



237

1

The Gruenfeld set-u p an arise ae either    d5 or also after 1 .. Sf6. We will exaine the positions where Blak starts with the doule step of his d-pawn after whih the entre ha s een fxed to a etan extend Blak s ost portant idea onsists of ... fd . e 5 - a plan whih i s dfiut to Having two attrative squares for t e prevent f Blak pursues a opletely ishop is the ain reason why Whte different approah without prepang usually starts with d2 ! the reakthrough .e White norally gets a peasant gae  as Blaks 5 ...0-0 shops are dfiult to atvate 5 .  h 5 6 . g5 h6  . h4 g5 8. e5 4.e3 g7 5e2! (237)   s relatively equal e en though Blak is slightly less flexle with his pawn on d than would e

�

8

Chapt 43 

Gufld sidlis

the ase with the pawn on d6. 8  . f6 (B . .  .   . 9�g3 e4 1 O.4 xg3 1 1 .hxg3 dx4 1 2.a3 eant an iproveent over Ree-angeweg gae the Asterda 196 whih was ontin ued with 1 000.]

± .   Andrianov-Lffler annes 1995 9h3 d 1 0e5 xe5 1 1 .�xe5 d 12�xg xg draw Watanae Braga Brazil 1 991  1 3f4]

238

n general it is risky for Blak to attak the ishop with ..h5 after having played ..5 as White ay take on 5 and it will e extreely diffiult or hi to get the 5pawn ak.

he position after 6   h5 !?  .�g5 h6 8.�h4 g5 9e5 f6 10.�g3 e4 is 6.00 cS y no eans ad for Blak. 1 1  3 xg3 12hxg3 White strives for f4 ut [6  �g4? gives up the pair of ishops very interesting opliations arise too arelessly  .h3 �xf3 8.�xf3 6 aer 1 2. . .�xe5 1 3dxe5 �e6 1 4�g4] Davidovi-Anka Szolnok 1 98) 94 238) 7.c3

7 ..cxd4

his avoids Blaks anxiety aout ut Whites dx5 enefits developent [After  . . .h5?! 8.�x8 x8 9.dx5 White otains pressure against d5 as well as tatial otifs in onnetion with the unproteted apawn] a

b

c

d

e

8exd4 (239)

d  .  .  .   �± 1 O.3 6 1 1  3 dx4 1 2.x4 ae8 1 3�g3] [he preparation of  . . .5 with 6 . . .6

is an oune too sow: .d2 � This opens the e-file and pawn struture 8.c3 c5 (B.  bd 94 h 1 0. �g symmetrica l 6    . 6  3. �3 avoided  after whih the drawin g .

a

is

hae 43

9

Gueeld sdeles



1 0 e3 c7

chances would e ncreased 8 .. . c6 9.bd2

hs poston can result fro the followng ove sequence as well  3  c5 4.c3 c6 5 d2 g6 6 f3 g e2 00 8 00 cxd4 9 exd4 owever we do not have a noral aro-Kann xchange Varaton as the shop would usually stand on d3 rathe than on e2

a

b

c

239  e

 8

eparng the occupaton of the square f4. [1 0 ..d6 1 1 e1 f5 123 f4 13.d2 h8 Turov-Burakn  Moscow  1 994 1 4 g5 s crtcal for Black] [ 1 0..f5 1 1 .3 f4   . . .   aS .  .± Sygulsk Szyczak olanca Zdroj 1983) 12d2 h8 13c5 d6 14.d3 f5 1 5e 1 xd3 1 6 xd3 ae8 Sydor Macejewsk odz 1980) 1g5!? e5 18xh xh 19'xh5+ h6 20dxe5 xe5 21 . c2±] 11e1 g4

Aer 1 1  . .f5 1 2 3 whch occurred the gae Andranov-M. n Dajanovc eAvv 1 991  Black should have tred the consequent 1 2.  .4! ? nstead of  .    . 3  .   .     2    whch  n the end led to a wn for Whte ] e

g

1 2.b3 f4 1 3.b5? (240) 1 3.5

lt woud e nterestng to know what

[As Back's an source for Kees had planned on 1 3 . .a6!? He counterplay  es n the f4-square and would probably have tred to ake the olty of hs f-pawn, 9. . f5 use of the weaknesses on the

10e1 queensde wth 14f1 6 15.h3 f5 "c8 1 1 e5 d 1 2xc6  as 1 6 .  . sees to e nconsequent

1 33 "6 1 4.'xd5 %x2 1 5 c4 1 8. g4+- would lo se a p e ce]

e6 16f3± Zlerann-Kantser, e-Avv 2002]

5

Chapt 43  Gufld sidns

240

White had a very pleasant gae during the enounter etween Keres and Bonstein ilisi 1959. Cocusio The sideines in the Gruenfeld oration ae elatively poising for Whte  ainly eause Blak faes proes onerning the deveopent of his queen s ishop.

[155!?] 1 5...:e8 16.h6 h 1 7.1 (241) 241

5

C hapter 44 ch lechter set-u p  .4 5 2.f3 f6 3.f4 g6 (242)

a

b

c

242 d e

passive n genera the London Syste player shoud eorize the followng rule

4e3 g7

4  6 54 g 63 00 d3 g4 8h3 xf3 9xf3 dx4 10x4; DreevBagrov Sevastopol 1 986] 5.e2 c6 60-0

[63 leads to a variation of the Barry attak in whih Blak has ade a onession with  6] 6 .. 0-0 7 c4 (243)

he Shlehter set-up with . . .6 is slghtly ore solid than the Gruenfeld variation ut at the sae te ore

[f White prefers a typial London set up then h3 is proaly the est hoie  .6   . d 8. d2 e8 9.4 e6 1 0 4 6 1 1  1  1 2a4 8 1 3.3 Gerasienyk-Kopasov St etersurg 2003) 81 5! 8  e4 94 e6 1 O 5 d8 1 1 .4 6 12.d2 xd2 13xd2 f6?! 14f  d ?! 1 55 x5 1 6x6 6 1x5 1 0 Falhetta-ase

5

Caper  

aole 1984 9.c3 c6 10.bd2 f5 1 1.a4 cxd4 12.exd4 ac8 13.a3 a5 14. b 4 c6 15. a 5 d8 16  a1 e4 17.b5 Galego-Frois, aldas de eguera 1999.] 7bd2 and 7c3 can be answered wit 7 ...5 but 7e5!? s wort a try] 7  bd7

Sleter setp

9  xc4 b6 1 O b3 fS D 24S)

[10 .bd5 11 e5 g4 123 xf3 13.xf3 xc3 14bxc3 d7 15. xg7 xg7 16e4 e5 17.e3 "e 18f4± Rder-Mare, appelle la Grande 1994] a

b

c

245 d e



9



        [7 ..5? is not convincing: 8 .e5 f6 9 .xb8 xb8 1 Ofd2 f5 1 1.x5 7 ·  - ·  · 1  gx5 12. c xd5 xd5 13  c3 .  ·   · 6         "  . ± 1 3. f7 14f4]   I s 8c3 dxc4

[8  .e8 9c1 f8 10cxd5 xd5 1 1.xd5 xd5 12c4 5? (244 2 1 � 0  �2 244 1 0  M C 1  b c d  b c d is now deveoped and  BlTaecbifisgop ts for te d5square. Has e solved all is problems? Te answer is clear No 6 a

e

a

e

9

1 1 e2 a 12a3 bdS 1 3xdS xdS 1 4eS f6

Blac sould not alow te excange of bsops. 1S g3 e6 16c2 f7 17fd1 e6 18ac1±

13g5+Kirpicniov-Ten, Togli atti 2001]   "

  ±

Asarian-Grinblat Karov 2002

53

Chapter 45 Chigorin-Defense  .d d5 f3 c6 3f (26)



b

c

26  e



g



7_, ·-·1 61  6 s   ·   Is 41 - D  4 3 -13 2l 8  8  8 0 8  2 1 U t m  M I 1 d  

b

c

e

g

(4 ..f6 5c4 e6 6.c3 (4 .  b4 5a3 e6 6c3 c6 7.b5 d6 8d6+; picela -Prie, Frace (Nates 1 993  (4. e6 5c4 d6 6g3 ge7 7.c3 00 8.4 d c4 9c4 d7 1 O.c1 g6 1 1.  g3 g3 1 2g3 Bel i ov is i   l u sta 2001 .  5c4 e6 6c3 f6 (6 b4 7cd5 ed5 8.c1 Mies-Merwi, Reo 1999 7e2 d6 8g5 e7 9f6 f6  O.cd5 ed5 1 1b3 e7 12  b7+- WotiewczMamuti, Berd 1996

Deces te ivitatio to eter e gor-Defece wit 3c4? ad steers te game o Lodo ystem caes 3 ...

.3 6 5.c (27)



3 ...f6 or 3 f5 are also possible 6 but do ot fit i te ig or ystem 5 style Blac prefers to deveop actively, wic loos perfectly 4 reasoable opticaly. [3.f6 4. e 3 5 5  g5 6 6  4 g5 7  fd2 g7 8g3 f5 9c4 g3 1 O.g3 g7 1 1cd5 d5 12.c3  d8 13 b5+- Yedi d i a-urdo, U 1997 . 3f5 4.e3 a6

27 

b

c

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e

5

Chapte 45 

ChgnDefene

Even e aenaive is npleasan fo 12 .e7? Wi e plan of   f5 Blac  ofen fsaes igoin an .c6 is bee B Wie can playes o play again s f4 - ey o caim an avanage wi 13c5 e no ge ei sal acive game  in immeiae ea is obvios.  oe wos e c6 loos even xa5  13... c 6 14a3 a5 15xa5 1 6b4 c7    moe iiclos an n any oe vaiaion       an Wie is winning. 17a4 6 5e2 6 6g3 ge7 7 b2 00 18b5; 800 Blac as poblems becase of 13xc4 6 249 ioe s space i s avanage 8 f5  n o sow some compensaio n e 249 opes o a leas eep is pai o bisops 9.c4 As e g3 as aleay flfil e is oblgaions one sol no ave anying agains e excange on g3 9 ..  xg3 1 Oxg3 248 248 a

b

c



e



g



61 6 s a  ·   Is  1  � n  j   e fances paying 5 - ceaing a 1 3 Wi oble aac again s c6 an g4 B a e momen Blac sil as e eply a

b

c



e

g



Even og no oo emai ns on e -file e pawn on g3 also as is meis Wie sece pemanen conol ove f4. 1 0b4 1 1c1 c8 12b3 xc4? De o is lac of space Bla c feels oblige o ae on c4

.. e5 Wi pesse 14.c5 Wone exes angeos e qeensie f cose Blac co ae on c5 b a wo cos im e only ace e as 14..b8 15.2 e7 16.fc1 c6 17.3 f5 18e4 winning fe space 18g6 19.e3 e8 20.4c3 c8 21.g4 gaal l y pl a nni n g g3 g2 1 21 ..b6 22.a3 c8 pe

Chapter 5 

55

Chgorefece

hepene. 23b3 c7 24g3 b6    on y fai   to +- 25.g2 d7 26.e 5 e 26 ..xd3? 27. e xd6- 26..f 27.xg6 fxg6 i the ony way to prevent being mated on the h-fie but the pawn tructue pea voume. 27.xg6 hxg6 2e4 D250 250

- and again there i no defence again t the mate on the h-fie. 30g 5 d 31f4  32.f6 xf6 33gxf6 10 in Roger - Ye Rongguang uaa umpur 1990] +  

Back to the ma  ariatio 5    f6 (251) 251

There ae ao penty of aternative at thi point he white matin g attac on the h-fie i   ow - but dead y The motif of [5 dxc4 6xc4 d6 7 g3 f6          . f6 a o emerge a an id ea          2.a 5   .     .     .  .      Ma a hato-wi c   i a further exampe of how Po a ni c a Zdro 2001.    c3 00 ..     quicy the game can end.       .   29.h1 d5 (   he dying      may eat everything  . . f Tryin g  . HanenMiadinovic to etabih a defence with ..f6/f5 Mam 99. 9.00 a5 1 O.e2 c5?

56

Chapt 45 

ChigoinDfnc

1 1dx  12.xd8 10 Szeely-   +- 13 6 16.dx6 x6 174 h4 18.g4 Veltamp, aarlem 2001  h8 19.d3 e7 2000 [ d6 A popula r ontinuation 6g3 22 f6 .             .          

a

b

c

d

e

g



Nordah Bromann, Gausdal 2003. 73 00 8.xd exd (8 xd 9e2 x3 1 Ox3 f6 1    6 and now 2e4!;      = Marti n ovi   Degraeve, Sremi Krso 1998  9e2 e8 1000 xg3 1 1.hxg3 e7 12.3 d6 31 6 4x6 ax6 1.+- Martinovi-Trifunovi, Estensi 2001 . [ .4+ n the spiit of higoin 63 ge7 (22 Bla pursues another plan with this move e wants  ...00 8.d3 (8.h 3!? is only enough to ontinue with g6 and e. But this or equaity y now 8 ...xf3 9xf3 s a it too slow. (6 ..x3+!? 7x3 e!? 1 0 .dxe d4 1 1exd4 xd4 ge7 8.h3 f 91  9 ..00 12e2 g6 1 3.e3 xe 4.00 d6 1 O.e2 a 1 1xd exd 12.d2 g3  16x x= Vezzosi 8 3.a4  14.3 x3 Semris Monteatn i Teme 2000. .ax3; Karlsen-ohannessen slo 2003 8 .  g6 And White has to e very . 9.g3 (After 9h3? Bla an 7 .1 ?! Afte this move White wil find areful nue with 9 ...xf3  Oxf3 dx4 it muh more diffiut to otain an ont 1 x4 xd4! and the position after advantage 2x7 xf4 13exf4    + .   +  (7h3! h 8.1 00 9.a3 x3+ ++ 138 14e4 Shssler-etor,        .     ; and Shweden (Mal m  1986 4.f!  is very sharp and diffiult to ater f4 White has the reply e4 eval uate 00   10.x3 dx4 1.x4! g6 12.h2 1d6 6d3 x4 17x4 d6 xf3 13xf3 e All Blas hopes 834+ were ased on this move. 14.d  a  .       +

Chapte 45



57

ChgnDefene

9..f5 . . .  .   .   .  .      .

a

b

253 d e

Yermolinsy Raman, tratton Mounain 2000  O3 5 1 1cxd5 exd5 12.00 f4 6 13.xg6 xf3 14.xf3 fxg3  .   .    4  . 15.f5 xc3 6xc3 gxf2+ 17xf2 3 f6? 18.e6+ 8 9.xd5] Back to the m ain variation g

6.c3 b4 {253)



[73 xf3 8xf3 Ce4 91 e c xd5 exd5 1d1 .  [Te modern 6 .a6 s met y 7e2 10 1 1.00 12e2 Cd8 13.00 .  .  .      .    .  xc3 14  xc3 Ce6 15.  2 fd8 Ki.Georgev-Pirrot Bad .    A gdestei n  16. c 4 E.Agdestein, Norway (teiner Wrisofen 2002.] 1986 7 ... dxc4 8xc4 d6 9.xd6 7 . 0-0 . 9 .. c xd6 10 0 0 00 11.  e2 e5 12dxe5 dxe5= Fros-emrs, Lnares 2000] [7 ..Ce4 Very rsy. 83 xf3 (8 5 9.d3 00 1 Ocxd5  .   .    .     .  1 O .exd5 1 1. c2 As is common in te Queens Gamit, xf3 12gxf3 Cg5 13.4 Cxf3+ it is all aou e isops tempo Te 14.f1 + 9.xf3 e 10.cxd5 exd5 nigt s supported y c1 and te 1  d 1 4 1 2c2 00 13d3 ae8 idea of gain n g conro of te important 1400 7 .  dxc4 is armless y now c-file ecomes apparent immediatey. 8.xc4 Cd5 9g3 00 1000 Cxc3 1 1  xc3 d6  25 Very i m portant, 7.g5 6 8.xf6 xf6 9.cxd5 exd5 as oterwise for instance afer 1 Oe2 00 1 100 xc3 12.xc3 Ca5 12.e2, Blac wil accompls te 13. Ce5 P. ramlin g-Arenciia important pawn rea .e5. 12.Ce7 Malaga 2000] 13.d3 xg3 14xg3 

58

Chapt 45 

8. h3 ? {254) 254 a

b

c  e



 h

ChgonDfnc

[9 .�c3+ 1 Obc3 e 111 (1 1 c5 5  � 12�c4 1 1e5 12�g5 e4 13�f6 f6 14c4 Moeno Ruiz-Moeno aneo, Apanen (evil le, 2004.] 0.g5 {255) 255 a

The attentve eae wl have notice that h3 is vey mpotant in ths vaiation The iiculty lies n etecting eactly the ig ht moment to pIay it. 8.�e2 e8 900 c4 1 O.�c4 e5?  1  e5 1 12  f1 �f3 13.gf3 e5      +- 14b5+- m c  Yeo, Begae 2003]

b

c  e

3

1

Blac planne .e5 an woul have attane equalty wth this iea ae 10.�3 To avoi this Whte must move his bishop fo a secon tme. uppoe by his lea in evelopment, Blac ties to compli cate the position. If he oes not manage to o so, he 8 . x3 wl sm ply be wose o. [8 �h5 9.a3 �c3+  �    � +- 10  c3 [1 �3? e5 1 1. e5 e5 12.�e5 e      �    e5=]  11 � e2 c4 12  c4 5 13. � h2 f5 14.00 ebalo  0...xc3+ Gusonvna, Potooz 2004] 1 O f8? 1 1 c5+] 

9x3 e7

Capte 4



59

CigoinDefence

256

11x3

1 1  bxc3? a3 12c2 e4 is wat Bac deams of.



b

c



e



g

h

1 1 . b4

oos very strong. 12xf6 xb2 1 3�b3 (256)

orcin g te transposi ion nto a better endgame 1 3...1 + 14.d1 xd1 + 1 5.xd1 dx4 16xb7 gxf6

ere ae tee reasons for Wies Consion Also agains te advantage te pawn structure te ig orin Defence e ondon ystem bette minor piece and te ing wic represents a bril iant weapon in te s more centrai sed. figt for a permanent advantage 172

ontrollng all possible nvasion squares  17 d2? and Bac could stil old on in Kramnilvancu inares 1998 1 7...�ab8 1 8.�xb8 �xb8 1 9.x4 f8 20.3 e7 21�dU

Wite controls every part of te board and pla ns e4 oll owed by d5, wit e ustfiable ope of extendng is advantage

6

Chapter 46 tonewa 1 .d4 d 5 2f3 e6 3.4 f5 4.e3 f6 5.c4 (257) 257

However, wth he poston at hand Black has compleely gven up he conrol over e5. Therefore he s no longer able o explot the poston of he �f4 - n fact, qu te the opposte s rue. 5 ...c6

[5  .�d6 6.c3 00 6 .�xf4?! 7.exf4 00 8�e2 b6 900 �b7 0Ec bd7 5   b4 dxc4  2�xc4 d5  3.�xd5  exd5  4.Ee f6  5. e5+- Sakaev Radulsk ugoslava 996. Because of f3 Black wll never be able to 2 occupy e4) 7.�d3 c6 7  b6 800 e4 9.�xd6 xd6 0cxd5 exd5   Ec c6  2e5 �b7  3.f4 Suran rlowsk Bavara  997.) 7 . c6 80 0 �d7 9�xd6 cxd6  O. cxd5 exd5 The typcal reacton aganst an early   b3+Vyzhmanavn-Padevsky, �f n the Duch Defence s ..b 6 and Gelsenkrchen 99.) refranng from pushng the pawn to d5 he advantage s tha Blacks 800 c7 8   e4 9.�xe4?  poston remans fexble As we wll f s n mu ch better 9  . .fxe4 0e5 see, the Sonewall s not always the e7   .c5 �c7  2.f3 exf3  3 Exf3 b6 correct recpe Therefore one should 4.a4 �a6 5Ec b5 6.c3 b4= not fear ths ransposton. Sokolov  Lukov Marbor  990) 9. e2  9 . . .h5 0�xd6 xd6 Why do we no have a ook at he   .c5 c7  2b d7  3c2 g6 move sequences  d4 f5 or  .d4 e6?  4.b2 Ee8  5.e5! D258) The reason s qute smple Smlarly  5. . xe5 6dxe5 g5 7.f g4 to  d4 f6, Black s stll n a poston  8d4+ ac-de Ios Santos, to fght for e5. Malaga 2002. In hs book about the enngrad Sysem GM Kndermann proved he 6.c3 e7 dsadvanages of an early �f4 n the Dutch Defence. [6   .�d6?! here s nohng o say



Chapt 46



6

tonwal

against this exchange from Whites point of view since the efile wi be opened: 7d3 00 8.00 e4 9.c2 xf4 1 O.exf4 d7 1 1 .fe 1 df6 12e5 d6 13c5 f7 14b4+ Savchenkollu shi n, Linares 1 998] 258

Strives for counterplay mainly against the  on c3. [8 . . .d7 9.e5 a6 1 O a3  c7  1 cxd5 cxd5 1 2g3 h5 13f3 xg3 14hxg3; ScherbakovGrabarczyk Koszalin 1 997 8 .. h8 9.h3 e4 10g4 d6 1 1 .xd6 xd6 12 .e5 d7 1 3000 e 14cxd5 cxd5 15f4 f6 16.h4 d7 1 7.h5+- ogorelovGulev, Moscow 1996.] 9g4! (259)

Ths is the point of Whites set-up The king wll most likely go to e2 sometimes White will be castling queenside Due to the safe position in the centre, e2 is probably the best place for the monach Black on the other hand will have to get prepared for the attack on his king which Wh ite will conduct As the variation wll show Black does not have enough dynamic resources i n the centre 259 b d e a f Black does not caste White can strive for the central breakthrough e4: 7 .. .bd7 8h3 e4 9c2 df6 1 O. e5 xc3 1 1 bxc3 e4 1 200 00 13f3 d6 14.ab1 f7 15e4; Su lypa-Baron  lancourt 2004 ]

c

7 

8.c2

All pieces are developed to active positions 8e5 followed by castling kingside is also absoutely playabe but the move woud not quite fit n with the plan of playing g2-g4]

1

Chap 46

3

Stonewall



1 6.eS f  c2 d 1 8.d3 +

1 0a3 a5

White achieves a clea advantage

Renewing the theat of .b4. 1 1 e 2 (261  dxc4

1 1 .. g5 12e5 fxg4 13.xe4 dxe4 Yermolinsky-Milicevic Los Angeles 2002 14d2 b8 15.xe4 d7 1 6.b4 d8 1 7xg4 1 1  d7 12.e5 e8 13.f3 xc3+ 14.bxc3 c       .          .  +   .  +   .  1 0 Khenkin-Hustert Ruhr District 1 995 1 5.gxf5 dxc4 1 6 xc4 d5 17.xc7 exf5 18.e5 10 l konnikov-Speck Winterthu r 2002] 261 a

8

b



d

e

12.xc4 xc3+ 3xc3 14.gxf5 xfS 5hg1 c

h 8

b6

ellstenStraeter National eague 2001  and now

Concuion Playing a Stonewall against al Whites set-ups is certainly not ecommendable for Black  and defintely not against the ondon System he postions are a little bit too complicated for a blit game but in a tournament battle Black will face enomous difficulties Information on the question concerning why White does not already play 2f4 afte 1 d4 f5 or 1 d4 e6 can be found i n the foreword Finally I would like to wih all of you a lot of very exciting and ucceful game with thi opening ytem

6

hape 46 -

9 .. &a6

Soneal

F)

Forcng the next move, whch suts 9 . a5! nn ng the knght 1 gxf5 Whtes poston very well  26) claryfng the stuaton on the kngsde. 1e2 s answered by A.) a3!. Black acheves an unbalanced poston through tactcal trcks afer 9.d 7 ! 1 O gxf5 exf5 1 1 .cxd5 cxd5 1 1 ac1 xc3+ 12xc3 xc3 xb2 12xd5 a+ 1 3e2 d6 13xc3 14b3 fxg4    . 14b4 d8 Shabaryazdanov-Radjabov Be 15.xd6 xd6 16.c7 1 Arkhpov 2 A completely uncear poston   . Stckmann M uenster 1 99 1 ] The threat s . xd4) 1.  .exf5 1 1 e2 xc3+ 1 1  �e6 12cxd5 B) cxd5 1 3b3 d7 14hg 1 h8 15e5 fc8! 16xe4 fxe4 17xd7 9 .d6 1 O e5 xc3 1 1 bxc3 xe5 a6+ 1 8b5+- Aagaard-edersen, 12xe5 d7 13xd7 xd7 14a4 Rngsted 1 992 1 1 .a3) d6 15f4 h8 16g5 b6 17a5 a kabAntal Budapest 22.] 26

 

C) 9  b4 1 . e2 xc3 1 1  bxc3 b6 12.hg1 a6 13gxf5 exf5 14e5 d7 15.f3 h4! 16g2 ef6!      s also clearly better for Whte 17ag 1 xe ae8 2d1 18xg7+ h8 19 xe5 2 1  dxe5 h 22g2 1  Seres-Vada ger 22]



e

8 7

D.) 9. . xc3 1 O bxc3 dxc4 1 1 .xc4 fxg4 1 2e5 g5! 1 3d3+- Volzhn Farel l, Ca nberra 21 ]





12.bxc3 e6 13b3 dxc4 14xc4 xc4+ 1 5xc4+ d5 1 6xd5+ cxd5 ) 17hb1 b6 18b5 d8 19c1 a6 9  .h8 s a useful watng move 2a4 ac8 21 .a5+ Rustemov 1 .gxf5 exf5 1 1  e6 12e5 Schaffarth Bad Wessee 1999] Novkov-Makarychev Tallnn 1988]