chni c hnical cal dio dior: r:
M rgy oloviov
ovr dsign by:
Kalo al o an Nachv
ranslaion by:
G M vgny rmnkov
h publishrs publishrs would lik o han han Phil dams for for advic advic rgard rgarding ing h nglish ranslaion. h ransla ion.
opyrigh
©
Konsant ons antin in aka akavv 2011 201 1
Printd in Bulgaria Bulgaria by hss tars Ld. oa B N13: 978 954 8782 845 845
Kai Skav
The Petro: an Expert Reperoire fo Black
Chess tars
Other CHESS ST Books
Repertoire books: Opening for Wite Ac. to Kramnik £ by A. Khalian Volume 1a: Old Indian, rre lnes n the Classcal Vraton, 2006 Volume 1b: The Classical Varation, 2006 Volume 2 n-Ni-Ind, n-Ni -Ind, An-Qun's An-Qun 's Ind Indian ian,, Ensh Ensh,, 2008 2008 Volume 3 Englsh (cS), English (four knghts), 2011 Opening for Wite According to nand e4 by A Khalman Volume 8 The cilin, Paulsen-Kan and rare lnes, 2006 Volume 9 The icilian, PaulsenTamnov and other lnes, 2007 Volume 10 The clan, veshnkov, 2007 Volume 1; The iciian, Dragon, 2009 Volume 12 The ician, Rauzer Attack, 2009 Volume 13: The cilan, Englsh Attack, 2010 Opening for Black According o Karpov by Khaifman
Curen heory and practice seris:
An Expert's Gude to the 7.Bc4 Gruenfeld by akaev, 2006 The harpest can by ril Georgev and At Kolev, 2007 The aest can by Delchev and emkov, 2nd reved 2008 he Queen's Gambt Accepted by akaev akae v and emkov, 3rd rev ed, 2008 The Easest iclian by Kolev and Nedev, 2008 The Petrosan ystem Against the QID by Beliavs and Mikhalchishn, 2008 Kill KI.D by emko ekov, 2009 The ng's Indian A Complete Black Repertore by Vctor Bologan, 2009 The cotch Game or Wte by admir Barsky, 2009 The Modern Philidor Defence by adimr Barsky, 200 The Moscow & t-Moscow Varatons by exey Dreev, 2010 queezing the Gambts by Kir Georgiev, 2010 The French Defence A Complete Black Repertoe by Nkta Vtiugov, 2010 A Unversal Weapon d4 d6 by Vadimr Barsy, 200 The Meran & Anti-Mern Variatons by Aeey Dreev, 2011 The afest Grunfeld by eander Delchev and Evgenij Agrest, 2011 Fighting the French a New Concept by Denis Yevseev, 201
Mor or ai ails ls a earom
Contents Prfac
7
Par 1 Al e Repe wo 2 1 2 3 4
l om Play Movs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 inna Gam. c3 f6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 ing's Gambi. 2.f4 xf4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 BishopsOpning. 2.�c4 f6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Par 2 All e Repe wo 3d4 and 3xe5 le4 e5 2 6 6 7 8
hr nighs Gam. 3. c3 �b4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Blgra Gambi. coch Four nighs. 3.c3 c6 4. 4 .. .. . 6 Glk ariaion. 3. c3 c6 4.g3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Four nighs Gam. 3. c3 c6 4.�b 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Par 3 Pero Deene 3d4 le4 e5 2 6 3d4 xe4 9 0 1 12 13 14 1
4. x . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 4.� 3 . x �7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 4.� 3 . x 7 6. c3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 4.� 3 . x 7 6.00 x . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 96 4.� 3 . x 7 6. x 7 7 7.00 � 6 8.h f6 . . . . 01 4.� 3 . x 7 6. x 7 7 7.00 � 6 8. c3 xc3 .... 10 4.� 3 . x 7 6. x 7 7 7.00 � 6 8.c4 c6 . . . . . 108
Par 4 Pero Deene 3xe5 le4 e5 2 6 3 xe5 d6 16 17 18
4. x x. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 4. c4 x4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 4. 3 x4 .c4; .2; .� 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 9
19 20 21 22
4.3 x4 . 4 6. 3 c6 7.00 7 8.1 g4 9.c3 . ... 136 4.3 x4 . 4 6. 3 c6 7.00 7 8.1 g4 9.c4 6 ..14 4.3 x4 . 4 6. 3 c6 7.00 7 8.c3 xc3 . . . . . . . . 17 4.3 x4 . 4 6. 3 c6 7.00 7 8. 4 b4 9.cx ; 9.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 23 4.3 x4 . 4 6. 3 c6 7.00 7 8.c4 b4 9.2 00 10.a3 c6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 24 4.3 x4 . 4 6. 3 c6 7.00 7 8.c4 b4 9.2 00 10.c3 .a3 xc3 12.bxc3 c6 13.1 8 14.4 . . . . 180 2 4.3 x4 . 4 6. 3 c6 7.00 7 8.c4 b4 9.2 00 10.c3 .a3 xc3 12.bxc3 c6 13.1 8 14.cx x 1. ac8 16.a4; 16.g3; 16. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 26 4.3 x4 . 6. 3 c6 7.00 7 8.c4 b4 9. 2 00 10.c3 1 .a3 xc3 12.bxc3 c6 13.1 8 14.cx x . ac8 16.3 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 98 27 .3 x . 6. c6 7.00 7 8.c4 b4 9. 2 00 0.c3 .a3 x 3 12.bxc3 c6 13.1 8 14.cx x . ac8 16.3 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 6 2 .3 x . xc3 6. x 3 7 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216 . x .3 xc3 6. xc3 7 7. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 9
Cmpee Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
PRFAC The Petro Defence is an exceptionally reliable an almost in estructible opening, an a har nut to crack, even for the strongest an most meticulously prepare gran masters heoretically. It is no acci ent that the Petro Defence, name aer its inventor an also know as the Russian Game, has for many years been the main opening weapon of a imir ramnik an Boris Gelfan an has aso been playe regular ly by ishy nan an lexey hirov. owa ays there are also several very young an talente gran masters who play it, such as Wesley o an ish Giri. naoly arpov an rtur Yusupov have been using it as a part of their opening armoury throughout their chess careers... The ist coul go on an on. The Pero Defence is characterise by the fact that on his secon move Black oes not protect his epawn, but instea counter atack th 2... f6, proposing to the opponent the imme iate exchange of a pair of paws, thus slighty simpliing the position an quickly ening the ture pawnstructure. What are the pluses an minuses of an opening reperoire base on the Petro Defence,such as we are recommen ing in this book? I think I can see only one rawback. If White is an experience payer with a goo grasp of theory, an he is in the moo to raw,then he shoul be able to share the point without too much probem. till, the same can also be sai about almost every oher opening, because in contemporary chess it is tremen ously icult to win with Black unless White makes a serious mistake.On the other han ,there is a great a vantage to consi er: you ll not obtain ba positions from the opening he Petro Defence is particularly suitable for players th a positional style, since in a calm, quiet contest you can easily n the game if the opponent takes too many risks. You can see this ilustrate in the omplete Games section. I have en eavoure to present an explain to you all the ner points of his opening,as I u erstan them In general,the critical positions have been treate thoroughly an I have aso suggeste an analyze a great many new i eas in this book. ome variations which have amasse consi erable tournament practice,but which, in my ew, are
ss prin ip , hav bn covr on y bi y. Ohr is, h book oul hav bcom oo big, osing its ssnial purpos. noruna y, oo many auhors i chss boo in hat ay; hy or no o gi na ana ysis an on quo out a gams, som of hich ar vry aky p ay an almos us ss. hop ha you ra i n oy su yin his ook an I is you on r ournamn rsuls is opning
Kntantin Sakaev, Saint eterburg 2
Pa le4 e5 A Wite Repes wout 2)
I have discussed numerous times and I know, from my ow experience, how dicut it is for ite to combat the Petro Defence. enever you are preparing at home against the possibiity of facing this opening in a tour nament game, even if you are a very strong payer you have great probems. In hapter One of our book, we sha rst anayse some very rarey payed attempts for ite to avoid the Petro and lacks reaction to a of them is fairly simple. Later, we deal th the Venna Game, in which White pays incorrectly on the kng
side and Back should respond wth a cassica counterattack in the centre, ending up with an excelent posiion. for the Kng Gamb, this is a very compex opening wth a ong and rich history, but readers wil nd very reiabe ways to combat this too. Finaly, the Bhop pen ng is a direct atempt to avoid the Petro and to introduce themes which are simiar to hose of he Itaian Game. Whites plans are destined to fai, however, be cause aer 2 6 3d3 6 there arises an immediate con ict in the centre, which is quite advantageous for Black.
Chapter
l.e4 e5 edom Payed Moves
veop his kights o c6 a f6 a a vace 7 , seizig space a esurig a very comfortabe posi tio. We sha limit ourseves to examiig White's active possi biity of tryig to a vace th f2 f4. It is quite obvious that this pawn a vace is very risky, sice it exposes White's kig, especiay i coectio with the fact that his ights quare bishop wi be restricte to the e2s quare. 2... 2d4 It is icut to take the move f6 ( Back is preparig 7 . It 2.\hS seriously. Back has may is safer for him to pay 2...c6 atractive optios a I sha show a here 3.f4 seems to be too a you ust oe of these: 2...c6 3. veturous for White owig to 3... c4 g6 4.f3 f6 .e2 g7 )3.f4 ( better move for White 6.bc3 6 7. 3, akamura a is 3.f3, but Back ca aswer sikira, opehage 200. ere, this with 3...c6, foowe by 7 I beieve Back's most ogica . It is aso goo to pay symmetmove is 7...a , exchagig ricay with 3... 6, folowe by White's ights quare bishop for achettoig the bishop o g7. The the kight a e ig up with a positio is cose a White's exslight e ge for Back. tra tempo is irreevat, so the We sha brie y ea with the game is e qua.) move 2. 3. We have o itetio ( iagram) a ow: here of aayzig pas base o some passive setup for White 3...c6 4. e xe . 4 wth a bishop or a quee o the xe4? ( This is a iterestig e2s quare, or with a kight o 2. move. It is simper for Back to I a these cases Back shou e opt for ...c6 6.e e4 7.f3
le e5
8. d3 e7 9.00 00 0.c3 fS . e f6, with e quality.) 6.e2 dS 7.dxe5 h4 8.g3 xg3 9.hxg3 xh 0. e3 e4 1. g2 xeS ( The game is rather unclear aer ... g6?2. f2 c6 3.c3)2. f3 e6 3.d4 eS 14.f3 e6 and aer a repetition of moves the result will be a draw; 3...exf4 4.f4 (4.e5? dS) 4...c6 5. e2 (S.f3 dS6.e5 hS 7. d2 h6, followed by g7g5) S... cS (5... d6? 6.d6 cxd6 7. c4 00 8.c3 a6 9.f3 bS) 6. c3 00 (6...d5 7.e5 g4 8.g4 h4 9. g3 xg4 .xdS d7 .c4 b4 Black has good compensation for he pawn,sucient for e qualiy.) 7.e5 e8 8.f3 d6 (8...f6 9.d4 eS .dxeS xf4 . d5; 8...d4? 9.e4 e6) 9. g5 d7 0.d4 b6 .d5 h6 Black's position is ne apa from the knight on e8,making the position dicult to evaluate. 2exd4 (diagram) First of all, we shall look at White's possible de ations from the entre Game: A) 33, B) 3and then at the entre Game itself: C) 3d4
It is simply bad for Whie to play 3.f4? c6 4. f3 c5 he will not regain his d4pawn and has no compensation whatsoever. The line 3. c4 f6 transposes o he Bishop'sOpening.
A) 33 With this move White is oering the sharp Dansh Gambit. However, Black is not force to accept the sacrice and he has a simple and reliable way of obaining an excellent position. 3 d5 4exd5 Aer 4. xd4 he best White can hope for is e quality. His c3 pawn deprives his knight of hat s quare and does not enhance his position. Aer 4...dxe4 5. xe4 e7 6. g5 d7 7.f3 gf6 8. c2 00 9. e2 h6 0. h4 e8 1.00 h5 Black has an excellent posiion, Tomas Batet orneev, Malaga 2002. 4 'xd5 5xd4 The move 5.f3 makes little sense at this point,because White ll have to capture on d4 with his pa anyway.
Chapter 1
5 6 6 g4
cnr with 14 he! an h solvs al his opning problms.
B) 3 Wih his mov i is rying o transpos to h coch Gam, which ariss if Black rplis with 3... c6. H is no oblig to o his howvr an has a vry goo alrnativ in 3 b4 73 For 7.�2 �b4 8. c3 s 7. c3. 7 b4 e 9 �4 1 0 �b3 h n gam is qual ar 10.c6 bxc6 11.2 x2 12. x2 1 0 �b3 11ab3 ge7 1 e3 0 - 0 - 0 13 0 0 ow hit can rply h: Bl) 43or B) 4 d
Bl) 43 d3 53 Ar .bxc3, Blacks safs mov is ...�7. h bishop is plac on a proc s quar an prvns h possibl sorti of his opponns knigh o g ( vn ar ...�c 6.�c 6 7. 00 c6 i can har ly prov 13 a5! sucin compnsaion for th his mov is br han 13... pawn.). 6.�c 7.x f6 8. a6, which has bn play much 00 00 9.�a3 (ar 9.�b3, Black has h rsourc 9... a6, mor on. 14fdl, D. Masrovasilis wih h i a of a6c) 9... b 7 kmbris, Grc 2001. Black 10.�b3 a3 11. xa3 c+ an shoul coninu o play in h h is vn slighly br, Zvia
le e5
ginsv Moylv, b a 2000. 5 .. .c3 If Black plays h imm ia ...7,hn Whi can rply wih 6. 4 c3 7. xc3 00 8.b4? 9. b2 f6 10. 3 , raching a complica posiion in which Whi has nough compnsaion for h pawn, Zviaginsv Bliavsky, Pororoz 1 9 9 9. 6.bxc3
7.. .d5! 8.exd6 xd6 Ar 8...cx 6 9. a3 bc6 10. x 6 x 6 1 . 6 00=hr is a ransposiion o h sam n gam as in h main lin. 9. 'xd6 cxd6 0 .ia3
ll . d6 0 0 Ar 11...6 Whi can play 12.g 000 13.a3 14. x6, so Back is rlucan o giv up his scon bishop for a knigh. 12. 0 - 0 - 0 ie6 3.®b2 amp o play aggrssivly woul no work for i: 13.g a2 14.@b2 h6 1. @xa2 hxg 16.7 (ohrwis i wll b a pawn own wihou any compnsaion wha sovr) 16...x7 17. 7 g6 18. xb7 f 8= Black's rook is ra y o go o 2 an h is in no angr. 13 . ..8=
i canno pro from h a vanag of h bishop pair, sinc his pics lack coor inaion, whil Black has asy play on h ligh s quars. H has h possibiliy of ploying hs knigh along h rou 7 b6 an lar o a4 or c4, accor ing o circumsancs. Whi can har ly sav his lighs quar bishop from bing xchang , so h gam is qual.
Chapter 1
B2) 4id2
4• d2 5bxd2 Th position is compltly qual ar . xd2 c ( If Black wishs o ntr a mor complica d struggl h can choos .. 7 6. xd4 f6 7. c3 c6 8. 3 00 9. d3 d6 , bu Whit maintains a sligh dg, hanks o his spac advantag.) 6.c3 f6 7. 4 8. f4 d 9.xd6 xd6 0. cxd4 cxd4 5• c6 6b3 Ar 6. b, Black rplis wth 6...a6 7. xc6 (if 7. a4, hn 7... g7 and i is unab o play d2b3, withou which h cannot rgain his d4paw) 7...dxc6 8. b3 b6 9. xd4 xd4 0. d4 c. Black has dpoyd his qunsid paws on dark s quars and h ndgam is xclnt for him. On his nxt mov h can continu wth f,ibrating his bishop ar an xchang of paws, or obtaining th xcln bockading s quar 6 if Whi's pawadvancs. 6•• {6 7id3 0-0 80-0 es
r i appars o b amost quay strong for Back to pay th immdiat 8...d? 9el
9•d5 It is a bit passiv for him to opt for 9...d6 0. d4 d7 1. xc6 xc6 2.f3 and although Black dos no hav any wak nsss or any bad pics,Whi is still slightly btr hanks o his spac advanag, B.avchnko hadav,Olginka 201. 10e5 d7! This is th mos prcis rout to qualiy for Black. is altrnativs ar lss convincing, for xampl: 0... g4 1.h3 gx 12. x x 3. xh7 xh7 4. h g8 x x 6. x f6 7. f4 b6 8. xd4 c 1 9. b a6 20. d6 7 2 .b4 Thr is also a way to rach a mor compx but still approximaly qual position: 0... 4? . bxd4 xd4 2. xd4 c 3. b d7 llbxd4 xd4 2xd4 xe5 3h7 xh7 4h5 g8 15xe5 c5 6 xd5
l.e e5
loss his pawn) 6... 6 7.h3 16.f3 x 17x f6 6 .. .�f6 7. �bx2 8. h6 (t h pcsacric 7... �xc2 9.xc5 �e2= Black's kng x? looks vry araciv oo) is a bi xpos ,bu Whi canno 8.x 6 6 Black has a po l xploi his civly, so h po initiativ for Back. Ar . 2? Black's simpls siion is qual. rply is ... 7 ( aurally h can also play ... b4 an if Whi C) 3. �xd4 c6 os not ranspos o h main lin wih 6. c3, h gam is qual.)6. c3 an ar h x chang of h cntra pa ns, Black's posiion sms mor ac tiv. I looks uslss for Whi o play S. f3?, bcaus h bars h way of his qun o h g3s quar. r ... b4 6.c3 (i is vn wors for Whi o play 6. 2 00 an Black is hraning 8) 6... a 4.�e3 7. 3 00 8.00 S Black is Th main i a of th nr ghing for h iniiaiv. Gam is o ransfr h whit qun o g3, xrting powr prssur agains th g7s quar. ccor ingly, rraing Whit's qun to a4 or 1 maks it sns. Back simply vops his knigh on f6 an bishop on c,ob taining a la in vlopmn an siing th initiaiv. r 4. 3, th bs ha i can hop for is to ranspos o h main in: 4... f6 .c3 b4 ( Back has anothr vry promising alrnaiv hr 5 .. .b4 6 . d2 0 - 0 7. in ... c?) 6. 2 00 7.000 0 - 0 - 0 e8 8.�g3 8 8.g3. Or 8. c4 6 9.f3 10. b3 4 .. .f6 5.c3 c6 an i has no aciv prosI is vry imporan for Whi pcts on th kingsi , whil Black o coninu wih his vlopmn. is ra y o wih raw his bishop o r .? g4 6.2 (o r 6.4 c wih mpo an hn bgin an h4 follow by h Whi onsiv wih b7b an a7a.
Chapter 1
I woul b isasrous for i o op for 8.f3? San his qun on 3 is xpos ,bcoming an asy arg for Blacks pics.
xb4?+) .a3 c6 12. 3 8 13.f3 6 14. h1 h6 1S x8 x8 16. 1 f8+ an now Black us n s o pay c8 7 an a88. i's iniiaiv is insufcin o compnsa for th sac ric pawn. 0 .. .e7! ll.f4 11.f3 6 12.h3 S 13.xS xS 14.f4 aS+ Blacks rook is wll pac on aS an i canno caus any srious probms for him.Or . 3 h4 12.f3 8 with th thrat of c6S. ll .. .d5 2 . d3 12.f3 fS ( In his or r of s .. .xe4 movs, Back has anohr vry init os not hav com- trsting possibiliy in 12... a4? pnsation for h pawn ar 8... 13. 3 xa2 14.b1 aS 1S. h1 x4, but th gam bcoms 4, h vry aciv pay an sharpr an much mor complx. som a vantag.) 13. 3 7 14. possibl coninuation is 9.a3 4 x4 s 12. 3. aS ( 9... g4?)10.f3 8 11.g2 6 12.h4,habalov Martinovs y hicago 1 9 96. Back mus pay vry prcisly to nuraliz hi's kingsi iniiaiv,for xamp: 12...h (12 ...7?) 13. hS h6 14.f4 fS 1S.h4 W ( hi must try o a vanc his gpawn; sinc h has no ohr rasonabl plan) 1S...S 16. 2 7. ow, owing o som acical nuancs,i is ba for hit to pay 17.g4 c3 18.c3 c2 1 9. 2 h7 20.gS 2 ...! fS. i migh hav som his is h righ im o giv ohr inrsing i as, bu if back h xra marial an siz Black plays wll h shoul b abl h iniiaiv o hol his own in all ins. Mor cauious play is lss f 9.xe4 xe4 1 0 .c3 fciv for xamp : 12... h4 13. 10.b4 xb4 (hr i is also f3 8 14.g4 7 1S.2 aS + goo for Black o play 10... wh h i a of aSa4, coninuing
l.e e5
th atack on h qunsi h i has a minimal marial a ensuing play will b rahr sharp vanag, bu Black's bishop on 4 an Whi's compnsation for h is as goo as a rook hr is no pawn will probably b insu- oub ha Black has a v pow rl initiative, Ru , ci nt. 3.e4 e4 4. d Lon on 2010 (game Concuion ite move pan at the beginning of the game and deveop hi queen before hi minor piece o he can hardy eect any advantage and mut even think about equazing. I beieve that in a the rarey payed ine anayzed in thi chapter the bet ite can hope for i that hi opponent i not e prepared to combat them Hoever ith oid common-ene pay in the centre Back houd be abe to obtain exceent poition ithout any probem hatoever.
Chapter 2
l.e4 e5 2c3 f6 Venna Game
can casl aricialy,sinc h has mor han sucin im for his. Whi can coninu his dvl opmn, ignoring Blacks knigh for h im bing, bu ha woud only b sucin for qualiy and no mor: 4. f3 xc3 ( Th ohr rliab way for Black hr is: 4... f6 S.xS dS6. b3 c6Whis bishop on b3 and h knigh on c3 ar svrly rsricd by Backs W shal analyz hr A) pawnchain c6d5, so Black has 3.ic4, B) 3.g3 and C) 3.f4 no opning problms whasovr.) S.dxc3 A) 3 . c4 xe4
4.�h5 I is wakr for Whi o play 4. x S. x4 dS; Black occupis h cnr and lar h
S...c6 ( Back on plays hr S...f6, wih h ida of holding on o h pawn. I do no lik his mov a all from h ashic poin of w and would nvr play lik his. Black fas bhind in dvlopmn and loss his righ
l.e e5 .
to castle comfortably; evertheless, I have faile to a irect retatio of it. Black wats to play 7 6, followe by c7c6 a 6 5, while White ca try to evelop his iitiative i various ways. e ca play for example: 6.�e3,keepig the optio of e2 a 000, although he ca also cosi er the simple possibil ity of 6.00 6 7.h4 g6 8.�e3, followe by f2f4White has the iitiative, but Black has cosi er able efesive resources.) 6.xe5 5 7.00 � 6 8.e 00 9.� 3 7 0.�f4 f6 .x 7 7 2. 6 x 6. The positio is almost smetrical a absolutely e qual. 4 .. .d6 5.ib3 rather ull e game arises aer 5.xe5 e7 6.xe7 7 7. �b3 f5 8.f3 (8. 5 � 8 9.f3 c6 0.e3 5) 8...c6, followe by 7 5. 5 .. .ie7 6. c6 7.xe5 g6 8.�e2
8... 0- 0 The game is more complex a approximately e qual aer 8...
4 9. 3 xb3 10.ab3 f5 1.00 6 12.f3 c6 a Ivachuk, Moaco (rapi ) 9 92. 9. 0 - 0 if6 0 .xc6 Black has a excellet positio aer 10.f3 e8 . 1 b6 . . dxc6 ll.d3 es 12JW a5 3.a4 ie6 4.ixe6 xe6+ a Black's positio is eve slightly preferable.
B) 3.g3 This move is ot at all ambitious.
3 .. .ic5 I thik this is Black's most log ical reactio. The lie: 3... 5 4.ex 5 x 5 5.�g2 xc3 6.bxc3 � 6 7.f3 00 8.00 c6 lea s to the Glek variatio (2.f3 f6 3.c3 f6 4.g3). Black has a alterative o his last move,which lea s to orig ial positios 8... 7. is kight is more exibly place o 7, but it restricts the mobility of his ow lights quare bishop. fter 9. 4 h6 0.e ex 4 .cx 4 b6 2. 3 Zviagisev u,Ohri 200 9, epe ig
Chapter 2
6. 0 - 0 e8 7.d3 on circumstancs, Whi can s quz his opponnt's position Ar 7.h3, Back coninus by a vancing his a or c pawns. th h sam pan: 7..4 8. H aso has th possibiliy of in- h2 c6 9f4 , with th a vancrasing his piceprssur wih ag h mov f3 an Back's play is no at al asy (it is wakr for Whi o op for 12. c6 13.c3 6, wih quaiy, Lko amnik, Bu aps 2001) 4 g2 0 - 0 Back shoul not b in a hurry o play 4 6, sinc hn his bishop has no rtrat an it may soon ry to xchang it by c3a4
5g e2 Th mov .f3 is simply ba hr, owing to ... an Back sizs h initiaiv. 5 . c6 I woul b prmaur for Black o imm ialy aack his opponn's cntr with his kigh sill on b8: ...c6 6.00 7x cx 8. 4 x 4 9.x 4 g4 10. 3 c6, vi G anski, Rj ka 2010. Hr h mov .b3 nabs i o win his oppo nn's cnral pawn an Black's compnsaion will b insucin.
7 .. h6! With his prophyactic mov Black nsurs longrm scuriy of his kight on f6. 8h3 d4 Ar complting his prophylacic masurs on h kingsi Black is ra y o opn th cnr. I is also possibl for him o pay patintly wih 8.a6 9.h2 6 10.f4 4 whn all his pics ar pois n h cnr an Back is ra y to folow up wih b7b an c8b7. i has no prospcs of vloping an initiaiv on h kngsi an in his own king is vulnrab. 9a4 If 9h2 hn 9...c6 10.f4 an Black's aci ty in h cntr is much mor civ han Whi's play on th anks, al in accor anc h classic prncipls 9 .. 1 0 .f4
l.e e 2 c3 f6 3 d
Whie can preven he pawn We sha now ea h the b reak 7 by means of the moves C) 4exd5 an C2) somewha articia move 10 c 4, 4e5 bu Back can couner his eectivey wih he ine: 10 c6 11 ac3 c 12 h2 a6, preparing Cl) 4exd5 This move ony heps Back's b 7b 0 xe2 �xe2 d5 2 eveopmen, so i canno be e5 xe5 3if4 goo 4• xd5 5e5 xc3 6 bxc3 �h4 7e2 ig4 8 c6 9e h5
3 es ( I is aso ineresing for Black o 13 e6? an in severa va aions Back's rook goes to the quensi e, aacking Whie's king is in fron of his ie's pawns an pieces ) 4e5 army, so he canno even quaize, id7 5c3 d4 6 d5 xd5 espie havng an exra pawn 7d5 ie6= Back has 0d achieve safe e qualiy Aer 0 4 000 f2 f6 he fle is opene an hie has C) 3f4 d5 some problems 12 b e 3 xc6 bxc6 14 xe g6 e 6 16 g (aer 16 e4, Black can again pay 6 f8,wih he i ea of increasing his pressure aong he fe h he move f8 f) 6 f8 17 2 f 8xg6 hxg6+ Black regains his pa, mainaining he iniiaive in he process 0 ll �x 2 e2 d5
Chapter 2
3c4 Whi canno achiv any hing h 13f 000 14.f2 (ar 14.�f3 x 1. c6 x 16.x bxc6 17 x� 6 h wil hav iculy sa ng h gam) 14...b8 1.xx . Black xrs pow l prssur on h cnral ls, whil Whi's pics ar vry passiv an h has no coun rplay along h bl. 3 Wxe5 4b 00-0 5g4 Th posiion is oubl g ar 1...b8?16.�f3 f6 17 �c. Back has an xra pawn an aciv pics whil, as compnsaion,Whi xrs powrl prssur on h bl an on h long iagonal. 6 Wxe5 xe5 7 b8 8 e6 c5 9d3 he8 2 0 g5 d6 2d5 c6 2 2 e4 h6 23f4 f6 24 g3 c7+ ( iagram) Black's nx mov wil b �c f2, xchanging h nmy bishop on g3 an nuralizing h possibl angr. Whi mus pay vry prcisly o savag a raw, bcaus his pawnsrucur is inf
rior. If h plays 2.2, hn Back can rply h 2...� 6, with h powrful hra xc4.
C2) 4e5xe4
5.lf
I woul b jus crazy for Whi o pay .f3, ignoring h principls of quick vlopmn, voping his qun in h cnr aha of his minor pics. Ar ... c6 ( Black can obain a vry goo posiion h h simpl mov ...xc3, bu h is sriving for mor an qui jusiaby so.) 6.�b xc3 7.bxc3 h4 (7...�7 8. 4 00 9.� 3 (ar 9.2 f6
le e5 3 d5
10.exf6 f6 .f4 e7+ Black is also sightly better) 9..f6 10.h5 g6 g6 hxg6 12xg6 h8 13h6 g8 it all en s in a raw b y perpetual check) 8.g3 e4 9. xe4 xe4 10c6 bxc6 .e2 b8+. Black has a strong bishoppair an an a vanage in the en ga me. lthough Blacks knight on e4 is very strong, atac ng it with 5. 3 is too passive ites bishop wil remain o f an the pawn on e5 wil be eprive of support. 5... xc3 6.bxc3
6.. 4 Black estroys his op ponents pawnchain wth this move 7f3 c6 8�e2 (it is o better for White to pay here 8 cx 4 �b4 9� 2 2 10.x 2 x 4+; his pawns are a sorry sight,whie Black will soon caste, establishing a consi erable lea in eveopment in the process) 8.�c5 9.00 xc3 10h 00 e Back alrea y has an extra pawn an White ca har ly create any meaningl threats on the kingsi e. Back has many goo moves to choose from an I beieve his best possibiity is: 11.. 4
an now: 2.� e8 13.xc3 xf3 14. xc5 xe5 15 c3 ( ite oses after 15f2 4 16.xf3 f5) 15... 4 16�f4 e7. Whies compensation is far from sucient; 12.xc3 his atemp by White to restore the maeria bal ance is competely ineective. 12...�b6 (2..b6?) 13. 2 xf3 14f3 � 4 15b e5 16.b5 � 4 ( very cautious payer wth Back, fearig the transfer of ites rook to the kingsi e, coul choose 16e8 17.� 5 �f6 8�xb7 b8 9.�c6 xb5 20. �xb5 � 7+, with a slight e ge for Back.) 17c3 W ( hite cannot regain his sacrice pawn,since after 17.�xb7 b7 18xb7 �b6 his rook on b7 is trappe .) 17.�b6 Back has an extra pawn, whie White cannot create ay rea threats on the kingsi e. 5ie7 If 5.c6 White can evelop his bishop to an active posiion with the move 6. b5,preparing to caste 6.We2 It is jus a oss of a tempo for him to pay 6. 3 xc3 7bxc3 00
Chapter 2
8. 4 (hr i is oo passiv for Whi o play 8. 2 c 9.00 c6 10. 4 aS 1 . d2 c4 a Black follows this up by u rmiig Wi's cr wih f6) 8...f6 9. 3 10.x d7 11.f3 ( .h f6 12.2 c 13.00 c4 14. f f 1. xf b6 . Black's qu ll go o 6 a his kight o 4) 1 ...c 12.00 c4 13. 2 c7 a lar h wi ploy his bishop o 6 a th kigh o f6, h vry promisig pay. ompar wih 6. 3,it is mor logica for Whit to coiu h 6. 4, bu v h ar 6...c 7. 3 xc3 8.bxc3 c6 9.00 00 10. 3 c4 1 . 2 b Back has xcll prospcs o h qusi a his chacs ar by o mas wors.
al his pics will b awkwar ly plac . 7. . .xc3 8.bxc3 0 0 9. g3 This crats aohr araciv arg for Back o aack, bu i caot b goo for Whi o pay 9. 4. Ar 9...c 10.g3 c6 11. g2 6 12.00 h6+ Black has a xcl blocka ig bishop o 6 a goo prospcts o h cl. 9 .. .c5 0 .ig2 c6 . 0 0 I woul b ssss for Whi o play 1 .h4, with h i a of scurig th gs quar for a knigh sorti. Black ca simply cour i wih 1 ...h6, sic his mov is an itgral part of his plan i ay cas. n . . .e6 2Jbl bs 3.hl I is icu o suggs ayhig mor aciv for i. Black has xclln corol of all h s quars in his half of h boar , whil h mov 3. 4 ll oly cra anohr arg for Black, as w poin ou arlir.
6 .. .! oubl g posiion arss ar 6... xc3 7. xc3 00 8. f4 c 9.0 00 c6 10.c4 4 1 .4 Jaos c Gligoric, Blgra 1 964. 7.d3 3 •6! 4 . d2 b5+Whis aurally, i canno b pa on is prfcly blocka happy h 7. 6 xf6+, bcaus an Back has xclln prospcs
.e4 e5 2.3 f6 34 d5
for a pawnonsiv on si by mans of g7g? Misr qunsi , as wll as on king imoscnko Barnaul 1 988. Cocuo The Vea Game a aciet opeg whch more or e g ored by cotemporary gradmater. Th i eay udertadabe. Bac ha demotrated reiabe way of obtag a exceet game ad they are mpe ad eay to impemet. It eem to me tha t te mot promg e : 2. c3 f6 3.g3 but Bac houd ot have ay probem couterg that ether.
Chapter3
l.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 Kng's Gambit
lar, sice it iberates the lights quared bishop, but it eads to a ucear positio. 5. �h5 6. d4 e7 This is Back's most use move. e deveops his kigside, depri g White's kight of the ds quare i the process. 7 d6 It is aso good for Back to pay 7..g4, forcig White to make a Of course, there are eor upeasat decisio e must ei mousy compe ad westudied ther sacrice his kight o f3, or possibiities for both sides i this retreat it to a bad s quare. til, opeig, sice the Kig's Gambit Back does ot eed to sharpe possesses a tremedously rich the game so eary, because he has history. But istead of aayig a very goo positio ayway. the etire theory of this sharp opeig I sha just try to show you oe very good defece for Back, We wi deal here with A) 3.c3? ! B) 3.c4ad the most importat move for ite C) 3.
A) 3.c3?! I beieve that to pace the kig i frot of the bishop ca ever be good, period .. White has o compesatio 3 • h4 4. e2 g5 for the pawn ad his kig has o The move 4... is more popu safe shelter, so Black has good
le e5 2 exf
chancs of soon organizing an a- 3 c6 1 . xf4 S 12. 2 aS 3.00 xb3 14.axb3 fS 1. f2 ack agains i. f6 ) 8... c6 ( h posiion bB) 3 . c4 coms vry inrsing ar 8... 3, bu Back os no n o sharpn h gam so much) 9.d3 S 10. x (bu no 10. xf4 b4an Whi loss his casling righs) 10... x S . xf4 cS 12. 00 7 ; 7. 4 b4 (h sruggl is vry compica ar 7... 6 8. f3 00 9.00) 8. xf4 (if 8. f3, Back has a vry srong coninuaion in 8...a 9.a4 0. c6 1 . xf4 00 12.00 x 4 13. 3•d5!? x S x S 14. x 6 ) 8... Black shou rfrain from - 4 ( h posiion ors chancs priving his opponn of h righ for boh si s ar 8...00 9. f3 o cas, sinc ar 3... h4 4. E8 10. ) 9. g2 00 0. f,Whi's knigh wil b vl- 00 xc3 ( Back is inn ing an op o f3 wih mpo an his onsiv on h ligh s quars, so king's rook will lar join in h h givs up his bishop.) . xc3 acion by mans of h mov h2 xc3 2.bxc3 6 3. f3 c6 h4, un rmining his opponn's 14.Ea1 7 Ovchkin apawn on gS. kav, rpuov 2007. 4.d5 Black can quaiz safly an Or 4.x h4 S.f 6 rliably by playing 3... f6 4. c3 c6 S. b3 S6.x cx S 6. f3 hS 7. c3 7 8. 4 00 9.f2 7 10.E b6 1 . b3 x S 12. x x S 13.c4 3 14. x3 fx3 x3, Ju. Pogar Topalov, Mxico 2010. In his posiion, Black coul hav sruck a powr sragical bow on h ark s quars h h mov 1... cS,ransforming h nmy bishop on b3 ino a big pawn . Ar 16. gS 17.h3 fS, follow by an hn: gg4, Back's aack is crushing. 4 .. .f6 5.c3 xd5 h mov 7. f3 alows 7... 4 8. 2 (8. 2 7 9. 4 00 0. Back mus capur his bishop
Chapter 3
as soon as possibl. I is infrior Whi has numrous alrnao play ... b4 6.f3 00 7.00 ivs hr: Cl 4.d4, C2 4 . c4, 8 8. b3 and Whi has h C3) 4.c3 and C4 4.h4 dg. 6.xd5 g5 Cl) 4. d4 In principl, all dvloping his is a vry dubious mov. movs ar good for Black hr,for 4•••g4! xampl: 6...c6, or 6... d6. In his prcis posiion th 7.h4 c6 8.c3 gS+ knighsacric on f3 is no as good for Whi as i is in many ohr lins. Black quickly aacks h d4s quar and dos no allow his opponn o obain a big lad in dvlopmn. Ar 4... g7, an inrsing for Wi is h rarly playd mov .c3?, sinc i is no as good for Black o n a pic wih ...g4 as i was on h prvious mov, bcaus i is br for him o hav dvlopd his knigh on h posiion is qui sharp, c6 rahr han his bishop on g7. bu Black has vry good pros 5 . 4 6.�x pcs.
C 3. Hr, jus as on h pr ous mov, I shall ignor all Black's possibiliis apar from h mos promising on. 3•••g5!
6•• .c6! Ar 6...d6 7.c3 c6 8. 000 Wi's compnsaion for h pic migh sill b insufcin, bu h posiion rmains xrmly sharp. 7 . c4
e4 e5 24 exf4 . g5
Th mov 7. xposs h ark s quars i gral a h b2pawn i paricular. Back ca xpoi his imm ialy wih 7... \f6 8. xc6 \xb2 a Whi oss maria, sic h li 9.c4 \xa1 10. x 8 1.00 \g7 os o work a h aack coms o a a . 7 d5 8d5 xd4 9 'x Wh g7 n. 00
4•! 5Ex c5 6 h d4 7 f4 h6 Sg3 Ar 18. 1 Black ca simpy bosr his bishop wih h mov 8...c 8•h5 9ig5 Black was hraig f6g4. 9• �e8 2 0 Ed e5 2f xf4 22�xf4 E Back's xra pic wil b much mor impor a ha Whi's scar xra pawns. C2) 4 c4
ow Black shoul o b gr y a ry o hol o o h xra marial. Isa h shou b ra y o rur som of i i or r o block h fl. ll ! Th posiio rmais qui uclar ar l...7 1c3 f6 13.\h6 14. 2 •e5 f6 3c3 g6 4�h4 Ar 14.\ 1 7 1.x 4 c6 16. 8 17. 2 f8 18. xf8 xf8 1 9. f4 fS Whi's iiiaiv is isuci o compsa for h sac c pic. Or 14.\gS7 1. f8 a hr 16.x 4 loss o 16...c6
4•g7 Th li: 4...g4 .00 gxf3 6.\xf3 la s o a vry sharp posiio; Black os o o r such complicaions. 5d4 Or .h4 h6 6. 4 6 7.c3 c6 a h mai lin is rach by rasposiio. 5•• d6 6h4 If i os no brak h pawchai gf4 h wil hav gra problms, sic h simpl complio of his vlopm is no vry promisig, for xampl: 6.00 c6 7.c3 h6
Chapter 3
an now: for 8.h4 g4 s 6.h4; 8.g3 �h3 9.gxf4 ( 9 f2 f6 10. gxf4 x4 an Black ar suppors his knigh wih h mov 6 5) 9... 0.x g4 11.g2 12.xg7 f6 13.xf6 xf6 14. 2 g8 15. , inschroh chrr, Zl 1 9 93 an now Back cou hav obain a gra a vanag wh 15...g4 16.5 h5; ar 8.b3, i is vsrong for Back o coninu wh 8... 7, craing h hra of c6a5; 8.a4 � 7 9.b3 a5 10. f8 11.a3 x 12.xa5 c5 Zaginsv kopian, jka (rapi )2010. 6 h6 7.c3 c6 8.00 g 9.el
r i is vry promising for
Back o xpos h nmy king wih h mov 9 .. .£! Th gam akamura vanchuk, ap g 2010, conin u wih 9...xh4 10.f4 f6 11. 5 x5 12. x5 g3 13.g3 xg3 14.xf6 �f8 15. 3 � 6 a i ha h chanc o nr a slighy br n gam wih 6.1 (insa , in h gam h play h risky in: 16.h5 �g4 17. an hr Back coul hav won wih 17... 8 18. 5 �2 an Whi wou sur cisiv maria loss)16... 7.xg3 g3 18. 2 g8 1 9.4 5 20.x5 5 21.a , which, if Back fn s corrcy,shou n in a raw. . I is no corrc for Whi o coninu wih 10.xf3? gxf3 11. xf3 f6, bcaus h canno o anyhing wo hwhil aong h f an whou ha his aack coms o a a n . . . .� r 10...g3 11.g2 f6, is cnr is baui,bu his king is poniay vunrabl. lg2 h3 2.g f6+
le eS 24 exf4 . gS
Whites knight is awkwardy placed on g2 and destroys the harmony of his pieces, while Black has an exceent position.
C3) 4.c3
G M adm Zagise tred recently to resurrect ths ancient moe. In some ariations Whites knght is ready to go to d5, but the serious drawback of the pace ment of the kght on c3 is that his d4paw is nsucienty protected. 4•• 6 It is ess good for Back to pay 4...g4 5.e5 c6 (a ery compcated endgame aises aer 5... h4 6.g3 g3 7.xg4 xg4 8. xg4) 6.xg4 h4 7.f2 c5 8. d4 d4 W ( hte's intiatie is ery dangerous aer 8... xd4?! 9.b4 b6 10.d5) 9.f3 th a doubleedged position. (diagram) 5.g3! This is the essnce of G M adim Zaginse's idea. White does not aow his opponent to capture
the knight with the moe g5g4 and destroys the pawnwedge g5 f4 wthout haig to make heay sacrices. dditionay he wishes to quicy deeop his queenside pieces with the dea of eentualy casting on the quenside. nfortunatey for romantic payers the ancient gambits are unsound: 5.d4 g4 6.e5 (6. c4 gxf3 7.00 eads by transposition to the position aising aer 5. c4 g4 6.00 gxf3 7.d4) 6... xe5 7.dxe5 h4 8.e2 c5 er 5.c4, Back has the res olute response 5...g4 and White is forced to sacric hs kight, but in many ariations the fact that he has deayd the deelopment of his kngside wth his fourth moe becomes impotant. 6.00 (6.d4 gxf3 7.xf3 h4 8.g3 d4 9. f6 10.d5 e5 11. 00 c5 12.f4 f3 13.g2 f2 14.e5 xe5 15.xc7 d8 16. xa8 c5 White's knight on ais trapped and Back must n) 6...gxf3 7.xf3 (7.d4 xd4 8. d4 g5 9f2 c5 10. xf4 xg2 .Exg2 d4 12.Ef2 c6
Chapter 3
Whits pics ar acti but nrthlss, the position can b aluatd in Blacks faour, thanks o his considrab matria adantag in this ndgam.) 7...\h4! 8.d5! This is Whits bst chanc. Other ( s, his position would b trrib: 8.g3 c5 9.g2 \h6 10.d3 d6 1.f4 h3 12.h1 \g6 Whi is a piec dow and his atack has bn parrid. No doubt, h cannot b hap PY with th immdiat transiion ino an ndgam in th folowing sampl ariation: 8.d3 5 9. \xf4 x4 10.xf4 xc .dxc4 d6 12.d5 d7 13ad1 c6 1. 3 8 15.d6 d6 16.xd6 6 and his chancs of sala ion ar problmatic.) 8... c5 9.h1 e5 10.2 W ( hit loss immdiaey ar 10.\c3 g4 .h3 f2 12.h2 c6) 10... f3 11.gxf3 b6 H has som positional prssur, but it cannot compnsat ly for th missing pic, so Back is clarly btr. 5 .. .g4! Black should play this mo! H dos not win th nmy knight, bu h nsurs a powrl pawnwdg on f3. H can also play mor solidly, mphasizing dlopmn: ...d6 6.d g7 .d 5 8.gx gxf4 9. f4 g4 10.b f8 .2 f3 12.f3 \f6 13. 5 \x= th gam is doubldgd and approximatly ual, Zagins P.mirno, Nookuznsk 2008. 6.h4 Th posiion bcoms com
pltly irrationa aer 6...d4 7. d5 g3 8.hxg3 f6 9.c3 d6 10.a4! g3 11.d1 c5 12.cxd4 h4 13.dxc5 xd5 14.xd h 15.d6 f6, but Black dos not nd to ngag in such adnurous xprimnts. 7.d4
Now, undr th cor of th bastion on f3, Black can strk a blow against th nmy cnr: 7.. .b4! Ar 7...7, i should simply fori his cnr wih th mo 8.3 ! and i will b bad for Black o gi up his bishop n for h sak of winning a scond pawn. 8 .c4 d5! I is rahr passi and too slow for Black to continu wih ...d6 9.00 xd 10.d5 c .b4 2 12.h1 d4 13.c3 1.2 2 15.\x2 c6 16.3 and hi has a powl initiai. 9 . xd5 f6! 1 0 . xc6 bxc6 ll.�d3 c5! 1 ...b12.h6 12.dc5 �xd3 13.cxd3 d7
e4 e5 24 exf4 g5
4.@ Other se Black will comfortably pick up the enemy c5pa. It is not good for White to play here 14.d4 f6 since his light suares are treendously vulnerable. 4 ...xc5 5d5 xd3 6 @e3 c6 7f6 @e7 8.xg4 g4 19@xd3 !+ and Wite must think about salvation.
White has two possibilities here: C4a) 7! and C4b) 7.xf6
C4a) 7. ! It cannot be good for hite to withdraw the kight to a defen sive position, losing a tempo in the process. 7 Jg8 8.d4 ih6 9.c3 c6
C4) 4.h4
lOd5 Aer 10. b5, Back has nu4 .g4 5e5 merous promising possibilities It is bad for White to play 10...a6, 10... d7, but his most at5 .g5? h6 6.x x 7. c4 d5 tractive is 10.. xg2! .d5 a6 12. 8. xd5 e8 and his compensa- a4 (12.f xf2 13.dxc6 xf14 xbxc6and he obtains several tion for the piece is insucient. pawns and an attack for the ex 5•d6 6xg4 f6
Chapter 3
e qua aer 14...f3 15.xf3 f3 16.gf3 17.c1 xb2=) 5. b2 xb2 16.00 xc2 17.xf4 xf2 18.f2 �g7 1 9.c �d4 20. xc6 g4 (ack has a good ater nate here n the moe 20...f5, mmedatey gettng rd of one of hs soated pawns. s bshop s superor to te's knght n a strugge on bot sdes of the board, so ack s een sgty better. he matera e on the board howeer, has been reduced consderaby, so hs wnnng chances are ony mnma.) 2. d5 �b7 22.c4 �xf2 23.@f2 xh4 24.xc7 h5= Fer Letao, C4b) 7.txf6 �xf6 8.tc3 Guaruhos 2006. (1) tc6 9 .. .�g6 1 0 .d3 �g3.@d2
change.) 12...b5 3.xb5 axb5 14.b5 �d7 15.c6 (or 15.dc6 �g4 and ack's ntate s crushng)15...c6 16.dxc6 e7. Whte s undeeoped and hs defence w be tremendousy d cut. 0 . . . txd5 ll.exd5 �e7 2 . e 2 tb4 13.c4 14.�a4 @ 15.�xb4 es 16.�d2 xg2 7. @ g3 8.�d e4 19.2 and Whte s hepess aganst the threat of e7g7, so ack wns, Fedoro hro, oanca Zdroj 2000.
9.td5 Aer 9.�b5, ack's best repy s 9...@d8, aer whch Whte must ge up hs bshop (oher wse Back w pay c6d4) and Back's kng w be competey safe on d8. o 10.c6 bc6 11.d3 (here s merey a transposon of moes aer 1 .f3 g8 12.d3 �h6) 11...g8 12.f3 �h6 13.f2 b8 14.e2 xb2 (he poson s
hs poston has been encountered n practce numerous mes and Back has so many possbes hat an extense anay ss s just mpossbe. I thnk hs best way of song hs probems s: ll . .. tb4! oth kngs carry out rather strange sotes n the araton 11...d4 12.c3 c6 13.f6 @e7 14.
. g
cxd4 xf6 15c2 e7 16�e2, bu subse queny White wi soon depoy his bishop on f3 nd gin n edge It woud be inteesting fo Bck o ry he moe 11h6? owee, he cnnot soe his pobems wth he ine: 11e7 12e1 xd5 13exd5 e7 4xg3 g3, Fedoo nnd,Wijk n Zee 2001, since White cn coninue hee wih 5c3 (in the boemenioned gme,he pyed 15e2 g8 16d1 g4=, wih e quity) 15Eg8 16d4, wh he ide of b5 nd Bck wi he some compiced pobems o soe 2.� I woud be oo isky fo hie o y hee 12xb4 e3 13c3 g7 14b3b6 15f4 (i woud be een wose fo him o op fo 15c3 nd he immediey
comes unde cushing tck, Beck eimnn, fohem 2005) 155 163 c5 7d2 d7; Bck hs ceed he the of d74 nd Whie hs no comfobe defence gins his 2 . .�x 13 xd5 14. exd5 g8 5.c3 h6 6.d2 7.el d7=
Bck hs egood posiion in his endgme
Cocuo Th Kg' Gambt a very tretg opeg wth a rch ad exctg htory. W mut admt that t cota umrou pob te whch have ot be xtevy aayzd at a. om of th po to are o harp ad o-tadard that oe ve the bt com putr programfa to vauat thm corrcty. t, I bev that th for Bac that I hav uggetd are qute rabe ad our thor ough aay houd hp Bac to pay them wth codc.
Chapter4
l.e4 e5 2.c4 Bishop's Opening
Black can counr 4.5? wi yical rspons 4...d5 ! wi adanag.
Bisop'sOpning is bing playd mor and mor on jus wih e aim of aoiding th Pro Dfnc. i hops to ranspos o Ialian Gam in whic h can rly on a long posiional balmainaining a minima dg. 2 .. .f6 W will analyz now 3d4 and B 3.d3 mo 3. c3 lads o inna gam 2. c3 f6 3.�c4. Ar 3.f4 h Grco Gambi Black obains a good gam wi rpy 3...d5
4 . .xe4 Ar 4... c6 hr ariss a wllkow orical posiion faourabl for Black bu i is aso good o capur pawn. 5�xd4 f6 6 c3 Ar 6.�g5 Black can solv all is probls wi 6... c6! ( I is infrior for im o play insad 6...�7 bcaus ar 7. c3 c6 8.000 dS 9.E �6 10.4 bd7 . d4 unncssary complicaions aris.) 7.3 (ar 7. 3d4 exd4 4 h4 Black as rsourc 7...d5 ruso Gambi ariss af and Wi dos no hav any compnsaion for pawn.) 7... r is mo.
l.e e5 2c f6
e7 8f6 gxf6 9c3 xe3 10 e3 �b+ and Wite must gt for a draw in a ceary worse endgame 6c6 It is too risky for Back to opt for 6c6 7�g5 d5 8000 �e7 9Ee1 ( 94? krip cenko, Linares 2001) 9�e6 104 bd7 1d4 wit compications 7h4
8 .. .c3 Here 8e7 !?is interesting; a possibe continuation is 9d1 c3 10bxc3 d6 1d4 e5 12 Ee1 c 13f4 cxd4 14 e5 dxe5 15cxd4 �e6 16Exe5 000 t a ery complicated and approximately e qua position 9.bxc3 0 0 0 0 0 0 h6
ll . 6! h6 12 .xh6 d5! Back oses aer te passie moe 12d6 13g ! �e6 1�d3 E8 15Eg1 d7 16�7 8 7ib4 Aer 7�e7 8�g5 d5 9000 17g5, wit te deady treat �e6 10xd5 xd5 d5 d5 of g5g6 3.id3 12c4 ite seizes te initiatie Aer 13g, Back as te r8.ig5 800 c3 9bxc3 00 10 source 13d6 ite can force a draw imm�d3 d5 11Ee1 (but not 1 �g5?6 12Efe1?xg5 13xg5 g6) 11 diatey wit te ine 13Exd5 e4 12f �e6 13Eb1 Eb8 14c xd5 14�d3 f5 15g6 8 16 c5 15Ed1 xd3 16Exd3 d 17 6 3 Wd6 xd4 xd 18Exd4 xd4 1 9 Back as created te treat of xd4 Ebd8 20d3 Exd3 2 cxd3 b6= wit a draw, atoug Back f6e, so ite must take a draw by a perptual ceck stil as a symboic edge 4.Wg5 8�d2 e7 ! 9d1 d5 ! 10xd5 Te moe 14g5? can be xd5 11d5 x4 12c6 bxc6 13x4 c5+ and Backs posi- countred t 1 �f5 15f5 f4 tion is preferabe
Chapter 4
4 . . . h8 5�h6 g8 raw b perpetual check
B) 3d3
3 .. .c6 Black wishes to creae a com plex sruggle with this moe ite's deeopment at he mo men is not in harmon with the classical principles (it is accpted that knights should be developed before bishops), so Black is ng to seie the cenre with his pawns here is a good altrnatie in 3 c5, transposing o a t of al ian Game under er favourable circumstances, becaus Black's knight has not been devloped to c6 et and can be placed on d7, which is sometimes even more harmonious 4 f3 00
50 0 White ( has tried to ex chang Back's bishop for his knight, but in the game Mchane amnik, London 200 9 (game 2 this did not bring him an be ets 5 c3 d6 6 a4 b6 7 c 3 e6 8 b3 b3 9 a xb3 bd7=, with e qualit he pin of the f6 knight is not dangerous for Black either, since it can be supported b the other kight on d7 5 g5 d6 6 bd2 e6 7 c 3 bd7 and the position is approximael e qual, iiako anchuk, Me rida 2004 ) 5 d6 6 c 3 b6 7 b3 bd7 8 bd2 c6 9 e e8 10 f f8 g3 g6 12 h 3 h6
Now the position is compltel s metrica Both sides hae de plo d heir forces harmoniousl and Whie's opening adantage is practicall nullied Black can be quite happ with th resuls of he opening he gam lksee Gelfand, strak an 2010, contin ued wih 13 d 4 d7 14 c2 c5 15 d xe5 dxe5 16 f5 e6 17 e2 c7 18 h2 c4 1 9 g4 xg4 20 xg4 d8 2 d f6 22 f3 h4 23 g4 g6 24 f3 h4 25 g4 and the pla ers agreed to a draw
.e e5 2.c f6 .d c6 . d5 5.b d6
The ine: 3 c 4 f3 transposes to the cassica Itaian Game (We shoud aso mention that White has the attractive move 4 c3, with the idea of deveoping the other knight to the e2 s quare ) 4 d 5 5.b3 Aer SedS cdS �b3 Back has the interesting check �b4 He is abe to compete his deveopmet in this wa , whie maitaiing his pawcentre 7 c3 This s quare is important for the deveopment of White's knight but now it has been occupied b a paw so Back's bishop retreats 7 � d 8.00 00 9 � g5 �e = and Back has obtained a good game 5 .. .d6 Here Back tries to be tric sometimes wth a check S �b4 , aimed at preventing the deveop ment of White's knight on c3, or he pa s a tr ng to make troube for the enem bishop Howeverwe sha ana e Back's most soid and, I beieve, best move
Now White can maintain the tension wth the move Bl) 6.c3, or he can give up the centre wth B2) 6. exd5,in order to compete his deveopment whie attackig the enem centre
Bl) 6.c3 e4 The move d4? has been pa ed on rare It ooks a bit risk , but shows ghting spirit 7 e2 a ( He has a reasonabe aternative here in fortiing his centre wth 7 c5? 8 g3 c ) 8a3 c5 9 � a2 00 (aer 9 �e ,White has the resource 10. b4, doubing the enem paws on the e e)10.00 h White is sight better but Back has his trumps as we He has seied space and White w nd it dicut to advance wth f2 f4
7.g5 It is senseess for White to eave his knight on c3 Aer 7 dxe4 a + Back's knight w go to the cSs quare and he wi even have the edge Aer the harmessoo ng move 7 e4 things are not at a
Chapter 4
iple and Back u t pay vey p eci ey: ...xe4 8.dxe4
8...�g4 ! 9.h3 W ( hite would no obtain much with 9.�g5 f6 10.�e3 a6 11.e2 e 12.000 c5) 9...�h5 10.�g5 f6 11.�e3 a6 12.e2 e 13.000 c5 14. c5 c5, with e quaity, Roge T e hko ky, ac 1 98 . If Black doe no pay 8...�g4 he wil have poblem 8...h6 9.�e3 and late White deveop his queen on d2 and caste queenside wih tempo; e Black's natua move 8...00, White again has the chance to deeop hi piece with tempo: 9.�g5! c7 10.d2 �g4 11.000 �e7 12.�xe xe 13. d6 xd6 14 xd6 and hi ead i developmet i con iderable, Hou Yifan Bu Xiangzhi, hina 2010; 8...�b4 9.�d2 ! W ( hite doe no achieve much wih 9.c3 xd1 10. xd1 �d6,fo exaple:11. c2 e 12.�e3 f6 13. ad1 a6; o 11.�e3 a6 12. e2 f6 13. ad1 e ; o . e2 f6 12. d e 13. d2 aer 13. h4, Black ha he coldblooded eply 13...g6 13... a6 14.a4 c5 15.�c4 a5 16.b
d8 1 .f3, draw, ho t We er inen, Brigton 1 98 ) 9...d2 10.xd2 00 11.c4 and Wie ainain an edge hank o he lne abe d6 qua e in he eney cap. 7 0 - 0 8 . e4 an po iion of ove a i e aer 8.cxe4 xe 9.xe �f5 8 xe4 9 xe4
0.�£ The position i e qual ae 10.00 a6 11.xd6 (11.f3 �xe4 12.dxe4 c5 see 10.f3 �xe4 11.dxe4 d 12.00 c5) 11... xd6 12.f3 �e6 nand amnik, Fankt (rapid)1 9 98. 0 ixe4 lldxe4 d7
.e4 eS 2. c4 6 . d c6 4. dS S b d6
12 a3 ite has tried some other moes here wth the idea of preser ing his lights quared bishop from exchange. In the game Mosesian Bu Xiangzhi hina 2010 (game 3 ite tried to pace his bishop on c2 but aer 12.c3 a5 13.00 a4 14.c2 e7 15.d1 fd8 16.h4 h6 17.g3 b5 he faied to obtain any adantage. 1200 c5 13.c4 b5 14.e2 e7 (the moe 14...h4 was tested in the game Tiiako Rozentais, Kalithea 200 9 and aer 15. e3 it became clear that the e4 paw was taboo, so Back had simply ost a tempo by not deeoping his queen to e7 immediatey (it woud be bad for him to pay 15...xe4 16.fd1 e7 17.xc5 xf3 18.xf3 xc5 1 9.xc6 since he would lose a pawn) 15.d1 fd8 16.g4 e6 17.c3 a5 12 c5 13 a2 e7 14 e3 a4 5 b3 c5 6 a2 a4 7 b3 c5 18 a2, draw, Rubles y akae ochi 2008 B2) 6exd5
6 xd5 It is interesting but eris , for Back to opt for 6...cxd5 !? 7 g5 ( It is too slow for ite to continue wth 7.00 c6 8. g5 e6 9. c3 c7 0. b5 b6 .e1 a6 12. c3 d6 13.h4 00 14. xf6 gxf6 15.d2 g7+and in the game Kams Gelfand Bazna 200 9 Black obtained a ery good position. White cannot achiee anything much with the ine: 7. c3 d4 8. g5 00 9. ce4 b4 10.c3 xe4 1. xe4 e7)7..e6 (it woud be careess for Back to opt for 7.. c6 in ew of 8. c3 and aer 8...e6, ite has the tactica blow 9.xd5!) 8. c3
8..a5! (here, if 8..c7 White has the resource 9.d4! e4 10. d2 00 (aer 10... c6 ite can pay 1.xf6 gx6 12. dxe4 ±, whie if 10... a5 1.f3 !± and the opening of the game seems to be in ites faour) 11. xf6 gxf6 12.h5 a5 13. xd5 xd2 14. xd2 f5 15. f4 xd4 16. c ±; Backs k ng is ulnerable and he is clearly worse) 9.00 c6 10.e1 ( The position is ery dicut to ealuate aer 10.a3 h6 !? 1.h4 g5 12.g3 g4 13 d2
Chapter 4
000 14 h4 e7) cS! (aer 10 d4 White has the remarkabe resource 11 xe6 ! dxc3 12 b 4! xb4 13 b3 ± and his offensie on the ight s quares is tremendousy dangerous for Back)
7. 0 - 0 0 - 0 8 .e
We shal now anaye the risky pawsacrice B2a) 8 .. .ig4, as we as the soid positiona moe B2b) 8 . ..d7!, foti ng the centre It is not good for Back to opt for 8 e8 due to 9 g5 ! h ( 9 e7 10 c3 )10 x! (i n a game between junior payers the moe 10 e4 was payed but that made White's preious kightmoe senseess) 10 x c 4 b4 12 e4 f6 13 c 5 f8 14 xb4 a6 15 c4 fS (it is een worse for Back to pay here 15 e6 16 c3 dS 17 d5 xdS 18 e3 ± and White has a solid extra paw) 16 e3 xd3 17 d2 ad8 18 f3 e6 1 9 c2 dS 20 g3 th an adantage to ite
It looks ike the best for White here is the prophyactic moe 11 a3 !? ( f6 gxf6 12 d 4 exd4 13 xdS 000 14 xf6 b3 15 cxb3 f5 16 e4 f4 17 g3 g6 Backs passed dpaw is ery powe so he has exceent compensation for the pawn) The b4s quare is ery impotant for his queen in numerous ariations since it does not hae too many s quares to go to Meanwhie in some ines White retreats his bishop from b3 and his bpa can go forward o it appears that if Back does not wsh to defend an inferior position (which hap pens in al the ariations in which B2a) 8 .. .ig4 9.h3 ih5 0. he pays d5d4 and his pawns are g4 ig6 ll.xe5 e5 2.xe5 doubed on the ee) then he d7 3.e h4 14. ust pay 11 0 00 !? Posi(diagram) tions wth opposite sides castling 4 .. .ae8 are oen sharp and doubeedged It is not an improement for and this is no exception so there Back to continue wth 14 fe8 great compications wil arise 15 d2 eS 16 g2 f4 17 xf4 with unpredictabe conse quences f3 18 xf3 xe1 1 9 g2 f6
.e e5 2. c f6 .d c6 . d5 5. b d6
20 g ! xb2 2 d2 xa 22 e xb 2 e8 (it i een wor e for im to oo e 2 8 24 4:W ite will oon capture t e bi op on g6, ending up in a te nicaly nning po ition) 24 c7 Black lo e al i queenide paw and ite' pawbe come un toppable It i al o im po ant t at Bla k' bi op on g6 i completely out of pay 5 . d2 ! In t e game lek ee iro, ermany 2007, t ere folowed 15 f 5 (it wa tronger for Bla k to play 15 5 !, pre e ing ome compen ation for t e paw) 16 c x 17bxc 7 and ere aer 18 8 1 9 g2 ± W ite would maintain a great adantage 5 . . . e5 15 xe 16 xe 5 ( 16 e5 17g f6 18 c f 1 9 1 ±) 17d5 xd5 18 e8 1 9 d2 e6 20g2 xg4 2 xg4 ; W ite' k ig t wil come to f and Bla k wil ae no compen ation for t e paw 6g2
6 .. .Wf6 T e alternatie are inferior: 16 5 17 xg4 18 xg4 x 1 9c xg4 20f ; 6 f4 7f4 f 18xf xe 1 9 g2 f6 20g xb2 (an atempt by Black to pre ere by all mean t e pin along t e r t rank would not work: 20 fe8 2 d2 5 ( 21 6 22e xe 2 f4 e7 24f5 f5 25gx5 e2 26f2 e5 27 c xa 28 e4 ; 21 e2 22 c xd2 2 e f8 24 e ; 21 d 22 ) 22 c g5 2 e xe 24f4 e7 25f5 f5 26gxf5 e2 27 f2 e5 28 c xa 2 9 e4) 2 d2 xa (21 fe8 22e ! xa 2 c xb 24 4) 22e xb 2 c e8 24 4 i bi op on g6 i trapped and Black lo e 7.d5 cxd5 8.f4 c4 9 . dxc4 xel 2 0 .el �xb2 2. ic3 �cl 22.h2 �xf4 23.�g3 �xc4 24.d2 We2 25.gl es 26.b3 �xc2 27.el± Bla k' pawn are armle and W ite a excelent c an e of exploiting i extra piece
Chapter 4
B2 8•• .d7! This moe has ony one drawbac : Bac boc s his ight s quared bishop, but he can soe this probem ater.
16.Exd4 gxh4 17.Exh4 g7 18. c4 e6 1 9. xe6 (it is aso good for White o continu here wth 1 9.e5 ± Bac s ing is nerabe and Whites adantage is oerwheming, Tiia o Hera Buda 200 9) 1 9...xe6 20. e2, transferring the ight o the fSs quare: 20...Ead8 21.g3 h7 (21...Ed5 22.c4 EaS 23.b4 ) 22.Exe6 e6 23.g5 g6 24. xe6 Eh8 25.xd8 Exd8 26.f ± ite has an xtra pawn and xcen winning chances. 1 0 .d5 cxd5 1 1�xd4
W sha now anayze he immdiate opening of he cntr B2bl 9.d4 as w as h cam compeion of Whites dopn B2b2 9 .bd2
B2l 9.d4 exd4 It is ust a oss of ime for Bac to pay 9... 5f6 becaus ar .c3 exd4 11.xd4,Whie gains ll. . .c5! a ead in deeopmnt. possibe This is he gh moe for coninuation is ...c5 12. g5 h6 Bac becaus h must pay ac13.h4 gS i y He shoud be ready to sacri ce a pawn in ordr to bring his pieces up to the ring ine. Aer ...b6 12.a4 (if 12.4 fS Bac has co ne ay) Blac s posiion is unpromising and Whis prmann hreat of a4 a5 dooms Bac to compty passi dfnce. 12...7 i is n worse for him o op for 12... S 13.a5 c8 14.c3 ±) 13.f4 14 ad h2 15. xh2 xd4 6 (ar 13...f5 ie shoud
.e4 e5 2.c4 f6 3. d3 c6 4. dS 5.b3 d6
play 4. c3, jus as before) 14. c3 ± and Back is faced wih a long and laborious defence. 2.�d3 If hie acceps he pasacrice Back obains ll compensaion hanks o his bishoppair and more acie pieces: 1 xd5 b6 13 e2 f6 14. b3 a6 5. c3 �e6 6. a4 b6 17.h4, Tiiako efanoa, Wijk aan Zee 2004.
possible continuaion is 17.. 8 ( Black can also hold he posiion in the ariaion 17... �g4 18. 4 a6 1 9 e5 �d6 20. gS hS 21. c3 ! fe8 22.�e3 3 23.gx3 �e5=, bu he main line of our ariaion is much more relable; aer 20... f3 21. xg7 h8 22.gxf3 g8 23. g3 g3 24.hxg3, Blacks dark suares are serously endangered) 8.h3 (i amouns o more or less he same aer 8.b3 �g4 1 9. a4 c6 20. xe8 xe8 21. xc5 f3 22. gx3 x S 23.�b2 xc2 24. f6 g6 25.�g5 h6=) 18... d5 9. 4 bS 0. e �b4 2.c4 xa4 22.cxd5 dS 23.�d2 f3 24. xb4 xb4 25. b4 �c6=, h a draw.
12 . . .�b6! This is Blacks mos acie moe. He canno sole his problems h 2... e8 3. xe8 xe8 4. �f4! (14. xd5? e2; 4.�e3 e3 5. xe3 xe3 16. e3 b6=; 14. c3 e5 15. xe5 xeS=) 4... e4 5.d2
5... f6 (5...�b4 16. c3 c3 17.bxc3 b6 18. e1 a4 1 9.�e3 ) 16. c3 b4 17.�e5 �fS (7... e4 18. xe4 dxe4 1 9.d8 �f8 20. g5 e3 21. e3 e7 22. xe7 e7 23. f3 ;20...h6 2. �c3 c4 22. h7 xh7 23.xf8 f6 24. d xa2 25. f6 ! gxf6 26.b3 �g4 27.xa8 d1 28.xb7 ie pick up he enemy bishop on d wh checks and wins. There is also a e aracie winaraion:
Chapter
24..e3 25 e3 e2 26 e1 c2 27.� f6 ±, but here Whte must sl work hard to rease hs adantage n a poston th bshops of opposte coours)18 f1 (here t mght be nterestng for Whte to try 18f6 !?g f6 1 9 d5 b2 20 e1 c3 2 . f5 ; Black's kng s ulnerabe, so Whte has the edge) 18. d7 1 9.�d4 Whte has consoldated hs positon and s ready o start attacking hs op ponent's d5pawn. nfortunatey for Back the moe 1 9.. b2 s reted wh a simpe but ery ef fectie seres of moves: 20 a4! a3 2 . c5 c5 22 g5 �g6 23. d5 c8 24.e1 b6 25.h4! and Back has suddenly come under an at ack out of nowhere. 13Je2 f6 14c3
d2 ! he was forced to defend a slghty nferor poston, a task whch he faed to cope wth 15e3 Aer 15 e5, Back folows h 15�g4! 16 g4 g4 7 f3 f2 ! 8. f2 ae8 h an a tack ! 15 •e3 6. 'xe3 Or 16 e3 fe8 17 e8 e8 18.b3 c5, and Back has su cient counterpay aong the cle. 16 . 'xb2 7Jbl 'a3 8 xd5 'xa2 He can also play here 18 . e3 1 9 f6 g f6 20 e3 b6= 19 e7 h8 2 0 Jxb7 8 2.xb8 xb8 22.h3, and Black has no problems a all
B22) 9bd2
14••d7! It s essental to deprie Whte's knght of the possibilty of going to the a4s quare wth tempo. In the game Morozech Gelfand, Be 200 9, Black allowed ths and aer 14.�g4 15. a4 c6 16. c5 S 17.�e3 c4 18
9••c7 Aer 9 e8, White has the power resource 10. e4! 7f6 (his pieces are aso much more active aer 10..�f8 .d4 e d4 12 d4 ) 1 �g5 (here Whte could consder 1 . d6 d6 and no an nterestng try s 12c4!?
e4 e5 2.c4 f6 .d c6 4 d5 5.b d6
b4 13.d4, as is the immediate 12.d4!?) ...�f5 12.h3 �g6 13. h4 �e 14. xg6 hxg6 15. f3 ±; White enjoys the advantage of a powerl bishoppair. The move 10. 4 (aer 9... e8) would not be orre t, be ause Bla k's e5pa is su iently prote ted and White should on entrate his for es on the kingsde. Aer 0...� . 3, in the game a hier Lagrave Gefand, anty Mans sk 200 9, Ba k de ided to oust the enemy knight from the s quare, but weakened his queenside in the pro ess: ...b5 (it was orre t for him to play 1... f6 ! and Bla k woud have no problems) 12. e3 f6 13. xd5 ( Naturaly it would be premature for White to play 13.a4, be ause of 13... f4 ) 13... xd5. Now White should hoose 14. 4 (the move 14.a4 allows the unpleasant pin 14...�g4; in the game Whie played rather impu sively 14.d4? and aer 14...e4 15. g5 �f5 Bla k obtained an ad vantage) 14... f6 15. xb5 xb5 16. g5 and aer Bla k prote ts his pa h the rook,White an ontinue with 1 . e4, tr ing to rea h an almost symetri a pawstru ture with a minimal positional plus. 0e4 (diagram) 0 . . .h6 It would again be premature for Bla k to move his rook to e8: 10... e8 11.�g5 ! ( .h3 h6 12.�d2 f8 (12... f6=) 13. h2 f5?!
(13...a5 14.a3 e6) 14. h5 Nevedni hy Beiavsky, Plovdiv 2008) ...f6 12. 4 e 13.�d2 f8 (13... 5 14.�a4 6 15.h3 and Bla k will have problems freeing his knights from the pin; 13...b6 14.d4 ±) 14.d4 exd4 5. 5 d5 16. xd with a slight edge for ite. ll.id2 We should onsider the aer natives for White: 11. 4 5f6 12. xf6 xf6; 11. g3 e8=; aer 1.h3, Ba k an play 11... e8, fortiing his e5pa and preparing to transfer his knight on d to f8 or f6 (the game Ne vedni hy Fridman, Plovdiv 2008, ontinued with ... h8?! 12.�d2 a5 13.a3 13. 4 13... f5?! 14. 3 x 3 15. 3 f6 16. e3 ± and ite maintained a onsiderable advantage, sin e Bla k had di ulty ompeting his developmen); 11.d4 5f6 12. xf6 xf6 13. 3 exd4 14. xd4 (or 14. xd4 xd4 15. xd4 f6=, leading to om plete s mmetand e qualiy)14... e5 15.f4
Chapter 4
and here Black has two e qualy good possibilities: 15 g6 16g3 cS 17 c2 (the endgame arising aer 17 b5 b6 18 e3 Ee8 1 9 x 20 d6 f8 21 xe8 xe8 22d6 e6 23xe6 e6+ seems more pleasant for Back; or 1 9\d2 h3 with ideas of capturing on e3, followed by c5c4, as well as possible knightsoties to f4 or h4, accodring to dierent circumstances) 17b5 18 d5 Eb8=, and the position is approximatey e qual; 15 g4!? this seemingy recess knightmoe turns out to be correct 16h3 h4 17hxg4 (17Ee2 f6 18\d3 d7 1 9 d2 Ead8=)17 g4 18d2 f4 1 9 xf4 xe1 20 h2 (20f xf1 2 xf1 Efe8 22 f4 gS23 g3 cS, folowed by Ea8d8) 20h4=, wth a draw by a perpetual check (diagram) ll a5! This is a ery cleer moe wth the idea of tak ng control of the b4s quare! Black has many other natural moes at hi di posa : White is better aer 11
7f6?! 12 xf6 ! (12 g3 Ee8 13 h3 aS 14a3 a4 1S a2 d7 16 h4? 16c3 16e4 17 hf5, menko aeht, Dresden 2007, 17 exd3+) 12 xf6 13 d4
13e4 This is an intere ting attempt by Black to seie the initiatie, in the spirit of the Marshall ttack, but it is unsound (13 g4 14c4 e7 15dxe5 eS 16Exe5 f3 17e1 fS 18Exf5 xfS 1 9gxf3 Efe8 20 e3 xf3 2 d1 h3 22 h1 Ead 23 e2 ; 13exd4 14d5 cxdS 1S b4 ±)14 xe4 fS15Ee1 Eae8 (15Efe8 16c4 f4 17 4 f4 18 c2) 16c4 (16 e5 eS 17dxe5 ExeS 18c4) 16 f4 17 xf4 f4 18 c2 Exe1 1 9 xe1 e6 20d3 g6 21h3 ;
le4 e5 2. c4 f6 3.d3 c6 4. d5 5. b3 d6
r ... 8, i an on nra on arg on i t mo 12. 1 ! (i i inrior o play 12. g3 aS 13.a3 fS, i a doubldgd po iion, obalia Moyl , o i 2 ). No i no good or Bla k o play 12..., b au o 13. 3 ± and ill a prob i pro tion o i Spa n. hor, u t oninu 12... bu ar 13. 4 f4 14. 2 Wit i iniiai , b au x po r pi pr ur again nral quars and a undrining pa nbrak d3d4 up i l . Ho r, Bla k a a rliab altrnai in .. 8 12.3 f 13. g3 d 14.a3= i a opliad iddlga and approxialy qual han . ould l on n ing or Bla k o op or 12... 8 (in tad o 12... ) 13. 4 (13.d4 S 14. g3 or 14. 3 4= a opli ad and approxialy baan d po iion) 13. f ! ( mo 13... alo n 14. ! gx 1. g 1 . x8 x8 1 . x 14.. 1. 1 . d i a a dangrou iniiai 13... 4 14. 4 x4 1.d4 S 1 . 2 Wi i ligly br, bau Bla k ill nd i o bring i kig on 8 ino play) 14. 2 (14. S 1. 2 dS=) 14... 1. xf x 1 . 3 d4 (r i ould b oo i for Ba k o play 1 ... f4 1 . x4 x4 18 x8 h 1 9 a ) 1 . xd4 b 18. 3 d 1 9. 3
d4 2 . x gx 2 . d4 xd4= aloug ould anag o a i ndga)
2.c4 f no 12.a3, B a k an on inu bra y 12... f ,aking u of ir u an a in aiaion 13. x (ar al d lopnt along lin o 13.h3 a4 14. a2 8 Bla k ill a no prob a o r) 13.. x 14.d4 xd4 1. d xdS, Wi ill no a a o b4 quar or i bi op. i i w you an f o o 1 ...a ! r 12. 3 i ould b inr ing or Bla k o play 12... !? (12... = ould b u in or qualiy) 13. g3 S 14. 2 4 1. 4 x4 1 .d 4 f =, it an a i po iion. 2 ... f4 i l pr i or Bla k o pay r 12... b4, b au o 13. 3 ! ( i alrnai anno ra any probl or Bla k 13. b4 axb4 14. 1. xf x = 13. xd3 14. g xgS 1. xd3 1 . xd8 xd8 and
Chapter 4
ae eey captue of the gSpawn, Black blocks White's bishop with the moe ... dS)13...f5 (3...c5 14. g3 f6 1S.a4 ) 4. cS (the play is ey ineesting af te 4. g3 !? cS 1S.d4 exd4 6. xd4 ) 4... d5 ( I is infeio fo Back to play 14... h8
2S.xf5 and Whie's bishop on c3 is so powe that he has an oewhelming adantage.) 15. d6 xcS 16.d5 cxdS . xc8 Exc8 18.xe5 White pese es a sligh edge thanks to his domina tion of he eSs quae. 13.4 e4 4.d4 f6=
5. d6 xcS 6. Ex . x bxd3 8. xe5 ! xe1 9. xe h 20. g6 g8 2. f8 22. d1 ! f4 ( The idea of ite's last moe can bes be seen in the aiation 22...e6 23. xh6 gxh6 24. d4 and Back gets mated.) 23. f3 e6 24. xf4 x
White woud hae had some adantage th a pa on c3 instead of c4. Now the weakness on d4 and his passie bishop make his position not at all attactie and the game is e qual.
Concuion In paying the Bihop' Opening White i uuay hoping to devia te om the we-nown theoretica ine He wihe to obtain a cam po iton with a ight edge, in the pirit of the Itaian Game, and ome time the game even tranpoe to that opening However, Bac repie with 3.. . c6 the game i quite derentom the uua deveop ment in the Itaian Game. Our anayi how convincingy that there i not a inge variation in which ite can obtain even a mini ma edge and Bac ha an exceent poiton in a ine
a 2 le e5 2 �f6 Al Wite Repies wthout 3d ad 3�xe5
I n the second part of our book we ana se some rare pa ed possibiities for White on moe . Aer . c , Back can rep with .. b4, ac quiescing to a sight worse, but er soid, po siion The s metrica moe .. c6 is aso simpe and quite reliabe.
Of course, pa ers wth Black wi need to memorize the main ines of the ariations arising aer 4 b5 d4. The moe 4d4 eads to a harmess ersion of the coch Game,whie a er 4.g , Black ob tains approximate e qua chanc es in ghing positions of a non forcing nature
ChaptrS
. 5 2.� �6
bishoppair,but vlops uickly, whil kping th position clos . t is mor ambitious an popular o continu th 3... c , which prsnts hit with a c oic of systms non of t m vry promising, howvr...) an w sh ll analyz ths in th fol owing chaptrs.
3.c3 h amatur variation 3. c4 x4 4. c3, is covr in haptr 2 on h inna am with 2. c3 f 3. c4 x4 4. f3. hit canno obtain any a vantag in th opning wit th passiv lin 3. 3 h r 3... c , ollow by , is also goo for Black) 4. 2 g . g . c3 . g h . 3 c 9.h3 .x x 1. x x 2. 3.c3 = lak akav, rn acka Ban a 2 . 3 .. .b4 his bishop sori is a rliabl option for Black, although i is a bit passiv. H prsnts his oppo nnt with h a vantag of th
4.e5 h position is ual a r 4. c4 . . 3 c3 . bxc3 . 4 . 0 0 5 . e2 es 6. d3 c3 7 .dc3 e4 Now it can only crat som problms for his opponnt by makng th most natural mov in th position casting.
le4 e5 b4
8.00! heoconsiders 8 4 as the main ine, but I think that this move, cosing the diagona o Wites o n bishop, oses the minima e ge that he has area acuire 8d6 900 c6 ! this is more active than the more popular coice or Black here: 9 d ) 10a4!? his is an origina a or i e to bring is a rook in o ac ion He ou not achieve much th the natura ine: 10c4 h6 e 12 e 6 and Black as no probems at a) 10h6 a a6 12c4 1 a 6 14 g e4 1 e 6, utovsk akaev, erbia 200 9 (gae 4Whites most prudent ecision here oud be to repeat moves 8 .. .d5! Back mus pa active i his opponent lets him He has exchange his dark suare bishop, so it ou be positiona usti e to bui his pa chain on te ar suares, keeping the position cose In this pa icuar c ase, ho ever, there is a concrete r eason h the move 8 6 is not
good ite has the opportuni o seizing additiona space and then pinning the enem kight on 6 ith 9 f6 10g bd7 e b6 12a4 ( it aso ook at tractive to begin an oensive on the ight suares th 12 b4 !? b 1 c4 h6 14h4 aS1 d g 162 xd 1 cxd f6 18b3 ) 12a 1 f2 h6 144 c (14 8 1 e4 g 16 xf6 x6 1 2 White maintains a slight edge, since Backs king is vunerabe, Ho e iri,Wi k aan Zee 200 9)
No it is ver goo or ite to continue ith 14!, prevent ing g g and thus maintaining the unpeasant pin on Blacks 6 kight it is inferior for W ite to pa 1b4: aer 1axb4 16cxb4 xa4 1 x6 x6 18 b b 1 9b xe 20xe a8 21e8
Chapter S
Whies space advanage promises him a sligh edge and Black is faced wih a long defence. 9.f4
9 ••• f6! Blacks knigh on e4 s only pseudo acive, since i bocks he ele and impedes Blacks oher pieces from occupying heir bes suares. He usually coninues h 9... c6 here, bu aer 10.c4! d4 11. e U here arises an open posiion in which Whies bishoppair is very powerl. 10.ie3 Whie canno creae problems for his opponen wih 10.f c6=. Blacks bishop goes o fS and his kigh on b8 s ransferred eorlessly o eSvia he d suare. 1 0 . . .i!N Aer 10...c6 .f e6 12. e U Black has diculies. ll.g4 ie4! (diagram) 12.g5 Whie can sacrice a paw wih 12. e1 c6 (i is weaker for Black o op for 2...h6 1 .f1 c6
14.f h 15. d2 e5 16. f2 d6 1 .d ; 16...c6 1 .d fd 18. xeS xeS 1 9.h ;Whie has he edge, since he can advance his paw wih empo from f o fS, forcing he enemy bishop ou of play on h )
1 .f c2 14. d2, bu aer 14...h6 15.f2 h 16. ad1= ies compensaion is only enough for eualiy. Or 1 .g5 d 14.xd5 (aer 14.h5 b6 15.g g6 16. d2 c4 1 . c4 dxc4+ Blacks posiion is even slighly preferable) 14... e5 (h e can also solve his problems h 14...de5 15.c4 xc4!16. c4 e5 1 .e2 dS=) 15.c4 xgS 16. g5 xgS 1 .g4 c2 18. xc2 xg4= wih a draw by perpeual check.
.e4 eS 2. f6 3. c3 b4
2 fd7 3.xd5 e5 4. 24. f h4 25. h3 h2 26. g2 c4 xg5 5.g5 xg5 16.ig4 xf3 27.x3 ±; materia e quality ha been r tored, but White' d5 17.h4 piece are much more actie. 8.cxd5 e5 9.ie2 bd7 2 0 .cl xh4 2 .e3
7. . .f4! er all Black' other optio hi iitiatie i gradually eutra ied ad White' extra exchage hould tel, for example: 17... xh4 18.cxd5 f6 1 9. f3 bd7 20.d6 !±, ad the opeig of the cetral le i i hi faour, or 17...g6 18.h5 g5 1 9.f4 h4 20. cxd5 f6 21. f3 g3 (21...xf4 22. g2 e3 23. f2 bd7 24. f3 ±) 22. g2 g4 23. f3 h2
2. ! Black' pa i ready to joi i the attack. 22.g3 f6 23.f4 Oe of hi kight ll occupy the blockadig quare d6 ad hi other kight i headed for e4, o Black ha excelent compe ation for the exchage.
Conuson The move 3... b4 s not very popuar but s reabe. Ba obtans a sod poston and avods havng to study ong theoreta vara tons. The drawbas are that the varaton s a bt passve for Ba and hs opponent s presented with the adva ntage of the bshop-par Overa, the ne s payabe, of ourse, but I suspet that t w not be to everyones taste, so n the foowng hapters we sha examne Ba's more ambtous aterna tve 3. 6.
apter6
l.e e5 2 f6 3.c3 c6 cotc Four gts Begrade Gambt
With his ast moe 3... c6 Black mainains the symetry but he stil has good chances of aoiding a dull position with dra sh tendencies. Insead he can obtain a iely position wih more than sucient couner chances. 4.d4 With the whie knight already deeloped o c3 the cotch ame is not at all dangerous for Back. ites oher more interesting alternaties wi be analyzed in he following chapters. 4 .. .exd4 (diagram) 5xd4 The Begrade ambit is reached aer the moe . d. at does Black need o know
about i The following ariations are quie sucient ... e7 ! 6. f4 (6 . xd4 xd 7.exd xd4 . \xd4 0 0= 6. c4 0 0 7.0 0 d6 . xd4 xd4 9.\xd4 xd 10. \xd e6 11.\d3 \d7=) 6...d6 7. xd4 0 0 . b xd 9.exd e= 5 .. .ib4 6.xc6 bxc6 7.id3 d5
l.e4 e5 2. f6 3. c3 c6 4.d4 exd4
8.exd5 ll. . h6 r 8.00 c 9.bxc dx4+ If Black shs o rach a posiWhi has nohing o brag abou. ion wih mor ghing possibii8 .. .c x d 5 9 0 - 0 0 - 0 1 0 . is, h should ry 11...�d6, wh g5 c6 11.� h ida of a8b8 and vnualy If Whi pays 11.a4, h can b8b4. 12 6 �xf6 13�xf6 6 nd up in an infrior posiion, for xampl: ll...h6 12.�h4 8 1 .c4 14:e2 d6 5.d4 c5 16. �d6 14.cxd5 cxd5 15. c ( Back's 17. = gam sms br too ar 15. c1 b8 16.b �f4 17. c6 �5.) 15... b8+and Black is btr.
r, th opponns can agr to a draw, as was don in numrous gams. Cocuo ite ha deveoped h ght too eary ( comparo wth the cotch Game to the c3-quare ad he caot caim ay advatage whatoever. Uuay aer 4.d4 the poto qucy become mp ed ad the game equa o atey te payer have more or e topped payg th e.
Chapter7
l.e4 e5 2 �f6 3.�c3 �c6 4.g3!? Gek Varaton
White sometimes plays this with the aim of reaching positions that hae not been extensiey analysed G M Igor Glek has contributed consideraby to the deelopment of this ariation and has played numerous games with it 4 ic5 he position is about e qual but much more open aer 4 d5 5 exd5 xd5 6 g2 xc3 7 b xc3 d6 8 reasonable continuation is 9 b1 b8 1 d4 e8 (diagram) and here White has two main possibiities: 1 g5 this is the main theoretical line er for example
1 f5 12 d5 (it is harmless for White to play 12 xb7 xb7 13 c6 b1 14 e8 xe8 ; Black has excelent compensation for the pawn) 12 g6 13 h 4 e 14 xc6 (14 d xe5 xe5 15 e1 f6 16 h 5 f5 17 f4 xg5 18 xe5 f6 1 9 d4 c6 2 f6 xf6+ there arises an endgame in which Black is at no risk) 14 b xc6 15 xb8 xb8 16 d xe5 g5 ( Black can try to seize the initiatie here with 16 h6!? 17 f3 c5 with sucient compensation for the pawn) 17 h xg5 xe5 18 f4 e6 the position is completey e qual; 1 g5!? his is the only way for White to try to create any seri ous probems for Back f 6! ( he moe 1 d7 bocks the bishop's diagona and thus aer
le e5 .g3
1 e3 exd4 13 c xd4 b6 14 c 4 hite ends up th a sligh advantage ) 1 e3 b6! 13 d3 b7 ! (aer 13 e4, Whie is slighly b eter: 14 c4 h8 15 g5 g5 16 xc6) 14 d ( Blacks posiion is quite accepable aer 14 h4 a5 15 d 5 d 16 f5 bd8,folowed by d6f8,exe ing pressure agains hites cenre ) 14 d7 15 fd1 a5 16 b7 xb7 17 a6 a5 18 b3 exd4 1 9 c xd4 c6, wth e quality 5 . g2 d6 6.d3 a6
7.0-0 The move 7 e3!? was ried in one game by G M adim Zaginsev a very inventive player who has made numerous opening discoveries er 7 e3 8 e3, he player wih Back, G M v geniy Najer, played 8 e7 ( f er the auomaic reply 8 00, vgeny was possibly afraid of 9 d !?, wth he idea of casling queenside, when a very nonsandard posiion would arise!) 9 h4 c6 10 d g6 11 f5 f5 1 e xf5 f8 (i seems about e qua ly srong for Black o play here
1 e7) 13 0 00 d5 Zaginsev Najer, Ohrid 00 9 (game 5 In he subse quent complex manoeuving sruggle, he chances of both sides are ap proximately balanced, alhough in he game Back had he iniiative 7 .. . 0 - 0 8 . e3 hite can begin wih the pro phylacic move 8 h 3, but tha would no change the evaluation of he posiion er for example: 8 e6 9 h h6 10 e3 e3 1 e3 d5 1 exd5 xd5 13 e1 d7 14 d1 ad8 15 a 3 xc3 16 xc3 f6 he game is e qual, o robiov akaev, Novokuznesk 008 8 .. .e3 9.e3 e7 10. h4
0 . . .c6 interesting position arises aer 10 g4 1 d d7 (diagram) This move emphasizes he fac that hite has not payed h h3, restricting the mobility of Blacks ights quared bishop White has no construcive ideas
Chapter 7
1 .d2 c7 18. h1 ad8 1 9. g2 f +) 12... h 13. f5 exf5 14. exf5 f 15.dxe5 this is stronge than the oenpayed move 15. h3=) 15...dxe5 1 . e4 xd3 17. d3. Blac s position is cramped and his b s quare is wea Whites ( night is headed there), so the endgame is dicul except for 12.d4 ad8 13. xf ? for him. 2 e8 gx 14. f1 c 15.f2? there are no forcing lines,but White has With his last move Blac gives sucient compensaion for the additional su pot to his e5 pa n, but he has an ineresting exchange. alernative hee 12...f5? 13. lld4 exf5 e . He lac s s ace bu can counte he advance of ies g pa n h acive o eraions on the cena les and he da s quares. he chances ae a ou eual. 3d2
ll )g6 he ove ll... g has a olid i i a bass oo. B c ules u he s ible exchange ci ce on f and i ead o a i ade he f e h the ove f . ill hi lan o d hi eve en n e c ex lo hi 13 ccu nce b enegec l he ve 3...d is su cien . d3 In he g e ha e e ali bu Bl c d e o o il g te l ed h ve la hi . e . e . Bl c b e c he si i bal d af ou l hs an nd g n he e 1.exd cxd .dxe xe 1 . advanage ... h 3. d g = ...dxe 1. xe . f3 e 1. e2 b .b a xe4 1 . e e 1 . xe xe
.e4 e5 2. f6 . c c6 4.g �
the position is consideraby sim- 6.e4 ed5= Black repied and the resut shoud be a pace one bockading piece on 6 draw with another,so the prospects are 14.e e7 15adl Yc7 approximatey e qua Cocuo There wa a tme whe you coud urpre your oppoet wth a move e 4.g but thoe day are og goe. Th varato ha ow eve bee ted afew time at top eve, o ucet materafor aa ye ad cocuo ha bee amaed. ayer who prefer more ope poto ca pay 4 ...d5, but I prefer the move 4... . I beeve th e to be morejuted pooay ad qute ogca too, becaue t guaratee a tog Bac preece the cetre ad good pro pect o the dar quare
Chapter
l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.c3 c6 4.b5 Four ights Game
5. d4 e d4 6.e5 d c3 7.exf6 f6 (but not 7...c d2? 8.d2 xf6 9.00 and Back is dangerousy behind in deelopment) 8. dxc3 e5 9. e2 e2 10.e2 d5 .�f4 c6=
he Four ights Game is, I beiee an opening taught in the rst essons of a chidrens chess casses. I am not panning to dea th this opening thoroughy. I sha just show you the basic theoretica ines which the payer with Back shoud focus on 4 .. . d4 here is a mountain of theo on the symmetrica moe 4...�b4, and we sha ignore a of i. I wi ony mention that, according to the contemporary eauation of this ariation, White can caim a sight adantage. White now has two possibe bishop retreats: A) 5.ic4and B) 5.a4 It is a weknown draw aer
A) 5.ic4 It may seem strange now, but this retreat of the bishop was the cause of great probems for Back for a ong time.
5 .. .c5! his moe is the correct soution of a the probems in this po sition. It is inconceiabe now how White can create any dicuties for his opponent.
le e5 2. 3.c3 .� d
It is too ris for Back to opt for 5... xf3?! in ew of 6.gxf3! � c5 7. g ± and White has a dangerous initiatie aong the ge. Howeer the game is compicated but quite acceptabe for Back a er 5...d6 6. xd4 exd4 7. d5 d7 8.00 g6 6 xe5 The position is e qua a er 6.d3 d6 7. xd4 �xd4 8.00 �e6 9.�b3 00= Franoni nand Bie nik Baku (rapid)2010 (ame 6, then besides the moe that was 1 988. 6 �e7 payed in the game 10... �h5 !? Back coud hae tried 10...h6 ad a er 11.�e3 xd5 12. xd5 xd5 13.exd5 e8 14.00 f3 15.gxf3 �d6 16.f4 h4 there woud e a transposition to the ariation beginning with the moe 10.�e3 but th a pawn on h6 instead of h7. This cannot be harm for Back at a. 1 0 xd5 ll xd5
7 It is rather dubious for White to pay here 7. x?! because of 7...d5 ! 8. xh8 dxc4 Back obtains an exceent position a er 7. d3 d5 8. xd5 xe4 9. e3 �d6 10.f3 h4 . f2 00 7 d5 8ixd5 White's position remais ery ll xd5! 1exd5 e8 passie a er 8. xd5 xe4 9. e3 �g410.�e2 xe2 11.xe2 o-om: 1 3 0 - 0 Ob ectiey speaking ites 8 9d3 (diagram) most prudent moe here is 13.c3 but it eads to a draw by force: 9 0 - 0 - 0 1 0 e3 If 10.�g5 utos y am 13... xf3 14.gxf3 h4 15. d2
Chapter 8
xe3 . e3 Vf2 17. e3 18. b f3 1 9. Ve h 20. Vxh Ve2 2 .a4 Vxd3 22. a2 V4= with perpeua he k 13 1 d6
16 �h3 17Jl £ 18
18 5! hite has ome under a danerous atta k. He wi be happy if it a ends in perpet a he k but he mi ht een get mated. 15f 19c Or 15. g2 Ve5 1 . h f5 17. The folowng ariation is 3 Vxd5 18. Va4 e 1 9.�g5 h 20. 4 Vxd3 2. he1 d4 22. Vd1 early in Ba ks faour 1 9. 3 Vx 4 23. xe xe 24.b3 Vb5 gxf4 20. Va4 ! 2 .dx e3 25�e3 Ve5+ ow in order to 22. xb7 d8 19 f 0 �a prote t his h2s quare hite must make a rather awkward moe with his queen to g or h1 when Ba k an patienty prepare the adan e of his pawnsboth on the kingside and on the queenside. ite is doomed o a ong and aborious defen e. 15 h 16hl Here it is safer to play . 3 th he oninuaion ...g5 17. xd4 (1 7. h Vh3 18. g f3 9. g2 gxf4 20. Va4 transposes to he ain ine of our analysis 0 . .dS 17...gxf4 8. Vf3 e3 1 9.h3 Vxd4 is o h onside n the 20. e3 Vxb2 2 . Vf2 Vg7 22. oe 20... !? and aer 2. x V 23. Vf5 b8= and aho e3 22. xb7 d8 23. h2 24. Bla has soe iniiai e ie 4 xg4 25. xg4 e2 2 . g2 should be able o old. e =V27. xe xe1 28. x 2 7
le4 e5 2 f6 3c3 c6 4b5 d4
ineresing position arises here arises an endgame in which ie mus gh or a draw aer c !? 1 c5 h a e5 3 x x �, Moyle Radjabo, any Mansyisk 2010
Whie can coninue here wih 5 3! x3 63 �xd5 7�c and ie has good chances o sang he game.
B) 5 a
5 c5 I is oo passie or Bla k o play x x c 0 0 d d e 9 d Wie is slighly b eer, J Po gar Hammer, isiansund 2 10
and now: he moe d enables Black o exchange his knigh or the bishop and aer .b . b xb . b d = he obains a ery good game, since ie akes two moes o adance his pawn o d4; aer 0, Black has a good reply in ..\aS, preening he possible exchange on d4. here migh ollow: d d h b ( e7 can be answered wih 9 e , orcing he exchange o he knigh on d4 under circumsances very aourable o Wie) 9 b xb 10.cxb b4 ( Black is no obiged o hur h he adance o his pawn, since aer 10 e d4 b4 12 a4 exd4 1 xd4 d , alhough i migh seem a rs sigh ha Whie is beer, his knigh on a4 is away rom he cenre and Black has more han sucien counerchan es) 1 e 12. bd2 0 0 1 c4 c = he posiion is approximaely eual; xe d d d g4 9 e dxe4 ( 9 x 10.gx h exd alhough Black has numerous aa kng possibiliies
Chapter
here, it was not so eas for him to proe their ee tieness in a pra ti al ompetitie game an huk aruana, Biel 200 9) 10 e4 (0 xe4 xe4 11 xd4 aS 12 3 gS 13 e3 f3 4 gxf3 fS Bla ks initiatie is er powe l hanaa Khenkin reden 200 ; 10 d4 exf3 g xf3 e ) 10 xf3 g xf3 hS 12 e2 eS13 b3
6xe5 If White does not apture this paw he ll not a hiee an thing spe ial out of the opening apturing aer astling b both sides is simpl bad: 6 0 0 00 xeS? ( d3 d6 8 xd4 xd4=) d 6 8 d3 g4 9 e1 f3 0 g xf3 xf3 11 h 3 (aer x S, Bla k wins on e again with the moe 11 g4) 1 g4 12 f4 h4 13 e2 gS14 d hS,mating 6 .. . 0- 0 7.d3 he moe d3 depries Whites knight of an impotant s quare and Bla k an obtain a er good position in the following manner: d 6 ( here 6 !?, followed b d dS, is also good)
8 f3 g4 9 e3 6 10 d4 (af ter 10 0 0 Bla k has the powe l ontinuation 10 xf3 ! g xf3 hS, followed b d8f6+ and er good pla on the dark s quares; b S11 xd4 d4 2 b3 aS3 a 4 b4 14 e2 b2 S b f3 6 g xf3 a3 with a doubleedged position Bla ks pawnstru ture is superior, but his darks quared bishop is out of pa for the moment ) 10 d4 0 0 aS 2 b3 3 13 b x 3 x 3 4 h 3 xf3 1Sxf3 fe8 Bla k will soon manage to adan e with d6dS, soling al his probems 7 .. .b6
ite has two possibilities here to larithe situation in the entre: Bl) 8.fand B) 8 e5
Bl) 8.f c6 It is also possibe for Ba k to pla immediate 8 d S (diagram) and now: 9d 3 dxe4 ( 9 6 is also good, transposing to the ariation th 8 6 9 d 3 dS) 0 d xe4 6 11 0 0
e4 e5 2 f6 3. c3 c6 4. b5 d4
100-0 Or 10.�e3 d e4 1.de4 g4 12 d2 e3 13. e3 e6+ and Back has a cear adantage. 1 0 11�d dxe dxe Aer 12. xe4, Back pays 12... e4 13.de4 h4! 14.d3 (oherwise Back has he moe 14... f3) 14... ad8 15.g3 g3 16. hg3 g5!
e8 12.�e3 e4 13. e4 e4 14.c3 e6=; 9. cd5 g5 !? 10. f6 f6 1. d3 e7 12.00 e4 13. h1 e2 14. 4 a5 15. 1 c1 16.c1 �fS Back's compensation for the pa is quite sucient; 9. d5 e4 ( interesting option here is 9... d5 !?10. d5 h4 1. e3 f5, Naara hiro, Prague 20 4. ie shoud continue with 12.c3!, when Back has to nd some ery creatie ideas in order o proe that his compensaion is sucient.) 10. 6 1 i! a 6 1 . e4 a4 12.00 3 13. It is ess conincing for Back c 3 (it is worse for Whie o play to play here 12...e7 13. e1 ad8 13. 1 c1 14. c3 d4 15.xc1 14. d3 �e6 wih compens ion d2 16. d1 d1 17.d1 �f5+ for the pawn. and Back is een e er)13... e4 13e1 e8 1e5 14.d3 d4 15.�e3 d3 16.f3= he acical usication of 9d3 d5 Back s idea is the ariation 14. d3 e 15. e4 e4
Chapter
16 xe4 (16�e3 g 17d4 xf2 18f2 f2 1 9 xf2 xf4 20 g1 xa4 21d7 ed8 22 xb7 xc2) 16 xe4 17xe4 b3 !, winning the exchange 1••• h5 The aternative is 14g4 1 d3 h4 16f4 xc2 (16e6 17g3 f 18xh4 xh4 1 9 gxf3 xf3 20 g2 xe1 21xe1= and here arises an approximatey e qua but doubeedged endgame, in which Whie's pay is easier and more peasant) 17c2 f2 18 h1 e1 1 9gxf3 f2 20xf2 xf2 21�e3 xc2 22xe xb2 23�d4 c5 24b1 c2 2c1 b2=, with a repetition of moves
ter 17�d 18cxd! (the ine: 18d cxd 1 9xe8 xe8 20 g8 21 cxd f 22xb6 xc2 is advantageous to Bac ) 18f3 1 9 h1 xd2 20d2
20cxd 21d f6 22�c3 f 23 e6 xe6 24x6 ( ite has an exceent posiion, even though Bac has an extra queen!) 24�c7 2ae1 d8 261e e 27xe g6 28xg xg 2 9h4 xh4 30g3 t is ony Wite who migh ave winning chances 8 xg 19e6 xe6 0�xg5 xg5 xg e xe4 xe
15e6 x h 16f4 �c7 ie oses his epawn and Bac s pieces are muc more ac tiv r d3 e6 and hite no su ve is aac once Bac s roo oins in 5••�g5 16ex x 7 t is i ey hat he e l soon b3 a se an e qua posiion bish fantastic positon a ses af ops of opposie colou s
.e4 e5 2. f6 3 c3 c6 4 b5 d4
B) 8 e5
ueensortie creates serous probems for Black 14 h6, ale o ons Leko, Monaco 2005 (the moe 14g6 weakens the dark suar s and aer 5 "e2 "e7 16 f4 ± ite s ceary better)15 c2 ( In the game Whte tried the strange retreat 15 e1, aer whch Black obtaned excellent compensaton for the pawn) 15 d4 6 c4 c7 7 e1 b5 18e6 xe6 9 xe6 bxc4 20 c5 ± and te is better; 8•• e 8 9 d5 d6! 3 e5 14 xe5 xe3 5 e3 Aer 9c6, Back s only try ( It s amost eually good for ng to eualie and cannot hope te to contnue with 15dxe3 for more 10 e3 d5 11c3 f5 d6 16f4 and he has the edge) 1200 f6 13 b3!?Whte might 15 f6 16d4 e6 adance c3c4 at some pont, de stro ng Blacks solid pawnstructure ( It looks more natural for ite to continue wth 13c2 c7 14f4 xe3 15dxe3 f5, Moyle homoe, Tol atti 2003 Aer 16 d2 d3 17 d3 e5 18c4 exf4 1 9exf4 f6 20 "c2 , ite would retan a slght edge)
Black has two possiblites here, but neither of them is sucient to eualize: aer 13 h, ite has the resource 14 "h5 ! This surprising
tes extra pawn,despte its eing bac ard on e3,s uite usel Black must ght for eualiy 10e3 Aer 10c3, Black has 10 "g5 ! 11 e3 (it is not good for Whte to play 1cxd4 xg2 12 e7 h8 13 f g4 14f3 h3 5 "e2 "g5 16 d5 1 7 xf d4 and he comes under a dangerous a ack)1 f 1200 dxe5 13 "f3 xe3 14dxe3 d6 5e4 "e7 and Black has a sli ht e ge
Chapter 8
on d3 impedes the completion of his deeopment) 4..b5 5.�b3 xb3 16.xb3 d6 17.d3 e8 Bck hs obtined exceent compenstion for the pw. ll 1 0 - 0
er 10.e3 Bck hs plesnt choice between the clm nd sfe moe Ba) 1 0 c6 nd the shrp Bb) 1 0 c5! Howeer, we cnnot recommend o Blck the line: 10..dxe5 .xe5 g5 in ew of 12.5c4 ! (beter thn 2.d7 d7 3 f5 14.c3 f6) 12...f5 3.h4 f6 (3...e7 14.c3 c6 15.�b3 h8 16.f ±) 1.f4 d6 15.c3 xc4 (5...g6 16. f e6 7.xd6 cxd6 18.d5 ±White consolidtes his posiion, presering his extr pw) 16.xc4 g6 17. f1 �e6 (here 17...c6 ± is s ght im proement, keeping some miniml compenstion) 18.e5 g3 1 9.cxd4. ite hs prried he ck nd should n his position, Motyle hiro, Moscow 2001.
Ba) 1 0 c6 11.00 d e5 (the sme position rises er ...�c7 12.f4 dxe5 13.xe5 f6; while 12.c3 f5 trnsposes to the min ine 0... c6 11c3 f5 12.00 �c7) 12.xe5 �c7 13.f4 f6 14.5g4 (14.d3 b5 15�b3 h8 nd ite's kight
1 c7! Bck increses the pressure ginst he e5pwn, forcing Whie eiher o llow Bcks knigh o go o he d6s qure with tempo, or o gie bck the exr pw. I is weker for Blck to continue wih 12...xe3 13.dxe3 �f5 14.�c2 e7 15.exd6!? This is ery importnt decision, but i is the ony wy for ite to gh for the iniiie (it would be hrmess for Bck for Wh e to try here 5.e4 e4 16. e1 d5=). 15...xd6 6. h U;White wnts to py f2 f3 nd hen e3e4, when it woud be ery dicut for Bck to proe th he ctiiy of his pieces com penses for the scriced pwn. 13Je1 Or 13.e2 xe3 4.dxe3 dxe5 5.e4 e7 16.�e3 d6 17.f3 c4 18.�f2 �b6= nd he position is e qu.
l.4 5 . . 4.b5 d4
er 13.f4 e3 4.d e3 fS mus consider he possibiity of 1S. c2 (1S. f2 d eS 16.e4 e6 Blck dvncing his b nd c17.fS c4 ; Bck hs sligh pwns. edge, dhibn eksndrov, lc3 Kok 200 9) 1S...d eS 16. eS Bck's ide cn be bes seen in c2 17. c2 eS18. eS e7 he vriion 11.00 dxeS12. eS 3 dxe5 x �xd3 c7 13.f4 bS4. b3 c4 1S.c3 15e7 S. c2 d8 5 \hS 16§c2 �d6 7 xc8 xS =
ie hs he bishoppir, but Bck hs more spce,so he gme is e qu.
B2b) 1 0 c5!?
ow in some vriions White
nd now: clm nd sfe coninuion for Blck is o py 1S... eS 16. eS c b3 17.c d4 d4 18. b3 ( The nurl move 18. b3,opening he le for he rook h empo,is weker for Whie. Aer 18... eS 1 9.d4 e4! Bck's queen on e4 is remendously powel.) 18... eS 1 9.dS dS 20. dS e6 nd he endgme ooks like ded drw; i migh be interesing for Blck o ry 1S...c b3 !? 16.c d4 f6! (er 16...b 2, Whie hs he repy 17.f3 ± nd Blck wll hve problems wh his rook on 8) 17. b3 d4 18.c3 d6 Blck hs e celen compension for the pwn. 12b3 12.00 e3 13.d e3 c4 4. b4 d eS 1S.hS, uskis eu buer, ienn 2008, (1S. d8 xd8) 1S... f6 16. eS e6
Chapter
12.exd6 xd6 13.�c2 f6 14. initatie is ery dangerous. 1 e3 13e3 de5 00 �c7 15g3. Now the best moe for Blac s the patient reply 15... 4 e5 �g5 e8 ! (or 15.. xe3 16dxe3 c6 17.f3 c4 18. f2 and te s welprepared now for e3e4; 15.. b5 16. f4 h4 17.d4 �b7 18.d5 ad8, cs Khafman, Hoogeeen 2002, 1 9. h5! xd5 20. g4 f3 21.xf3 xe3 22. e3 d5 23. f6 g f6 24.f3 ; Bac 's doubled paws are a denite wea ess n hs setup.) 16f3 xe3 17.d e3 �g4 18xb7 �e2 1 9. f4 (1 9. e1 ab8 (here an nteresting try is 1 9...d3!? 20. 15 Aer 15. d7 d7 16.xd7 d3 xd3 21. c7 e4+ with qute promising play on the light xg2 17.d5 g6+White fals to s quares) 20.xb8 xb8 21. xe2 complete the deelopment of hs d5+ Blac s centraied queen is queenside. 15 �g 16gl �h3 17 so powerl that White is faced wth a dcult defence.) 1 9...f g3 �h5 18g5 �h3 19g3= 20.@ 1 ab8 2 . 8 Blac s Drawn by repetton of moes. Cocuo I beeve that the ytem wth 4 . . . d4 the Four Kght Game te caot eect ay advatage. Th becaue h bhop o c4 or a4 oe rema cut oom the acto by Bac' trog paw barrer c6-d5. Furthermore evera e Bac obta exceet pay o the dar quare athough ometme he eed to acrce a paw to acheve th.
Part 3 l. e4 e5 2 f6 3. d4 Petro Defence 3.d4
The rition wth 3.d4 hs been n zed extensie . If p foows the min theo retic ine: 3 txe4 4id3 d5 5txe5 td7 6txd7 d7 7 0 - 0 id6,the drwish tenden cies re quite cer in most of the positions reched. for the other ines er 3.d4, t seems to me tht Bck w s obtins er good posi tions nd in the popur rition
5e5 ie7 6 0 - 0 tc5he een hs exceent chnces of seizing the inititie, becuse ites e5 pwn turns out to be cut ofrom the rest of his forces. It is more or ess the sme er 4dxe5 d5 5td - the e5p is too fr w from Whites cmp nd Bck cn either exchnge on d2,or retret with the ight to c5 nd in both cses he ends up with egood gme.
Chapter9
.e4 e5 2.�£ �f6 3.4
d5 5bd2 his moe has been played many time with White by G M Jan Nepomniachtchi. 5.d3 transposes to the ariation 3.d4 e4 4.d3 d5 5.de5 (s ee hapter 0).
With this moe White is tr ng to open some lines and deelop rapidly. e plans to capture the e5pa one moe later, with either his knight or his pawn. 3•• xe he moe 3...ed4 is wellkno to theory. Aer 4.e5 e4 5.d4 d5 6.ed6 d6 7. c3, despite the symetrical pawntructure, White maintains the initiatie thanks to his more actie piece . e5 We shall deal wth the more popular moe 4.d3 in the hapters 015. he line: 4. e5 d6 5.f3 d5 transposes to the ariaton 3. e5 d6 4. f3 e4 5.d4 d5 (s ee hapter 9).
Black has two possibilites here and they both desere attention: A) 5•• c5 the knight is headed for the wonder blockading s quare at e6, and B) 5 xd2 with the dea of not wasting any time on manoeuing.
A) 5•• c5 6b3 White has also tried some less ambitious moes here: 6.e2 e7 7.00 00 8. b3
.e4 e5 2. f6 .d4 e4 4e5 d5 5. bd2
xb3 9.axb3 c5 1 .c3 c6 1.f4 f5 12.d3 \d7= Negi Gir, Wijk aan Zee 2 1 ; 6.a3 aS ( It is also good for Black to pa 6...e7 7.b4 e6 8. c4 9.cxd5 \xd5 .c4 \c6 and Blacks knight is headed for the f4s quare wth great eect, while his rook s read to go to d8, occup ing the open le.) 7.e2 e7 8. 9 e1 7.h4 c5 8.c4 dxc4 9.xd8 xd8 1 . bd2 bc6 11. xc4 e6 12.d2 ed4 13. xd4 xd4 14. c1 e6 15.d3 = Bauer Giri, France 2 1 ; 7.c4 d c4 8.c4 xd1 9.@xd1 d7 1 .e6 e6 1 . bd4 b6 12. g5 @7 13.b3 d5 14.a3 @e8 15.b2 @e7 16.a3 @e8 17. b2 @e7, draw, achier Lagrave 9... c6 ( he position will be Gelfand, ant Man sk almost identica aer 9...f6 1 . 2 9; exf6 f6= with ve active pa 7.g3 c5 8.g2 c6 9. e7 for Black, habaov Mot ev, 1 .c3 1.h4? (or .e3 b6=, Moscow 2 1 .) 1 . f1 f6 ( Here wth e qualit ) 1 ...c4 12. bd4 1 ...f5 . g3 g6 12.e3 s exd4 3.cxd4 g4 14.\d2 f6 le s preci e; Whte maintains a and White comes under a dangerslight edge thanks to his contro ous attack, J. Polgar Gelfand, of the b5 quare, hort am ant Mans isk 2 9. 7•d4 8d4 nik, Wijk aan Zee 2 1 .) 1.exf6 f6 12. g3 g6 13.e3 \d6= White has also tred 8.\xd4 h6 9.d2 e6 1 .h4 ( his is not 6 e6 Here 6... xb3 has been an attackng move; it i proph pla ed man tmes and s b no la is against the possiblit of g7 means bad, but it improves g5.) 1 ...c5 11.\f4 c6 12.h5 d7 Whites pawnstructure, so it ( Back's queen is uncomfotable on the dle,so the move 12...\b6 seems to me to be less logica. is clearl better.) 13.c4?! (it is (diagram) more prudent for White to con7bd4 We shoud examine White's tinue here th 13. =) 13... ( Here it is at east as alternative :
Chapter 9
good for Back to pay 13... e +, folowed by castling kingside) 14000 e 15. c3 d4 16. d2 f6 1 .exf6 f6 18. d3 hf8 1 9. de1 e 20g3 d6 21h4 e ( Back coud hae continued the ght here for exampe with 21. g4 22. e4 de8+)22.g3 draw, Nepomniachtchi eksee, aana 2010. 8 ie7 It is rather dubious to pay 8 c5? 9. b5 d 10.e6 cxd4 11. exd d 12.d xd 13.xd4 e 14.xg e6 15. d1 f6 16. g3 000 1 . e1 b6, akoenko Wang Yue, Nan ing 200 9. hite coud hae created problems for his opponent with 18. b3 c6 1 9. f4
9id3 9. f4 c5 10. f3 c6 1 .c3 e6 (instead, 11...g5 12. g3 g4 13. d2 f5 woud be ey strong) 12. d3 h6 13.h3 d 14.d2 000 15.000 d4 16.c4. ere, in the game a himo i hao, hany Mansyi k 200 9, he players agreed to a draw, although after 16... b4 1 .b3 g5 18. g3 xd3
1 9.xd3 f5+ Back woud hae an edge. 9 0 - 0 ! It is inferior to continue wth 9..c5 10. f5 f5 11.f5 c6 12.f4 and, thanks to the bishoppair, White has the edge. In the game ashimo efand, ugo 200 9, Back suddeny bundered with 10...00?and aer . xg xg ? ( e could hae defended more resiienty wth 11...c4 12. f5 h8 13. xe xe 14. e2 xeS±) 12.h5 ites attack proed to be decisie. 0 0 - 0 c5 c4 12 xe7 �xe7 3ie2 d8+
Back bishop wi go to f5 and hi knight to c6, aer which he ll be ready to adance with d5 d4,with an excelent position.
B) 5 xd2 6ixd2 c5 It is e s precise for him to pay 6... e , in iew of .c4 00 8. c2. hite is ready to castle queenside, aer which he wil exert pressure aong the de, with a lead in deelopmen.
e4 e5 2 f6 3.d4 xe4 4.e5 d5 5. bd2
xe7 xe7 4.h3 00 1. c2 4! 6.cx 4 Ef 8 !=) 3... 7 14.b4 Now ie can iher try cxb4 1.cxb4 xb4 15... xb4!?) piece pay wih Bl) 7 g5,or un- 6. 4 x 3 7. x 3 00 8.f4 ermine Back's cenre wih B2) f 1 9. f2 ac8 20.c 1 c 8 7c4 Here i wou be much more ineresing for Back o ry 20. . Ef 8 Bl) 7•g5 a5 8c3 e6 9 2 .g4 g6+) 2 .c1 c8 22.c d3 c6 1 0 0 - 0 h6 c 8 rawvi er Ka im ha nov Nachik 200 9 ll...g ! 2. g3 000 !
ll d2 I wou be too ris y for hi o op for ll. h4 since his bishop igh become a arg for lacks a vancing pas: iagram) ll... c7 his move is a bi oo c uiou . 2 e7 Here i is no so goo for Black o play 2... g 3. g3 000 becaus of 4. b !) 3. g3 he posiion woul b approximaey e qual aer 3.
13.e1 I wou be incorrec for i o play 3.b4?! cxb .cxb4 b4 .b 4 inc hi igh on f3 an bishop on g3 are cu o om he quensi .) 3 .. + an in he impen ing sharp gh on boh ank acks prospc are prfrab. ll �c7 12el e7 o payabe bu no essenia i he aggres iv opion 2...g !? 3.b4 aer 3. e2 i
Chapter 9
is ery prom s g for Back to pay 1 000!+) 1 g4! Black shoud gh for e dark s quares ( It is weaker for Black to opt for 1 c4 14�c2 �g7 15 e2 g4 16 d4 xd4 17cxd4 000 ; 15 �a4 00 16c6 bxc6, Gashimo Fridman, Main (rapid) 200 9 ow W ie shoud pay 17h4!, deeloping an initiaie on the dark s quares) 14b5 a5 15h4 c4 13c �d7 a3 0-0 15 b4 8=
T e position is abou e qual Black can neutraie his oppo nen's potential hreas aong the b1h7 diagona th the moe �e6f5, whie aer 16 e3, he has the wonde l possibiity of: 16 d 7cxd cxb 18 axb xb 19 b1 jac8 ( The immediate 1 9a5? is possiby een stronger for Back ) 20�e2 jxc1 21xc d+ White's hopes are based on a possibe kingside atack, since his bishops are aimed in that direcion Black's queenside pawns oweer, ogether wih his exceent
bockade on d5,appear o be more impo ant and so he has t e ad anage, epomn ac tchi Bu, ochi 200 9 (ame 7
B2) 7c c6
8 d3 White must coninue th is deeopment; oherwise he might end up in the worse posiion: 8 b d4 T is moe is ery good because now the white queen is isolated on the queen side and canno exer any pressure against the centre 9�d g6 ( 9�e7 is inferior,since he bish op does not atack t e enemy e5 pawn in tha case er 1000 00 h White mainains a slight edge) 1000 �g7 1 b5 b6 12 fe1 00 1 a4 e8+ and White cannot adance with 14a5 because aer t e exchange of queens his e5paw wil be hang ing; 8 c2 �e6 9cxd5 ( It mig t be interesting, but ery risky, for White to try 9000 !?, whic Back s oud counter with the cam moe 9 �e7 er that he
l. 5 2 f6 d .5 d5 5 bd2
cn choose beween closing he rook is red to penere o he cenre wih d5d4, followed b seenh rnk nd Whie is unble preprtions o csle queenside, o couner his eeciel , so or simpl csling kingside. In he Blck is cer beer. 8 e7 ter cse, Whites king migh urn out o be in dnger on he queenside.) 9...xd5 10. c3
9h3 Wih this moe Whie pre ens Blcks bishop from being deeloped o comforble posiion on g4. If 9.b3, hen er 9...dxc4 10.c4 Whies bishop comes o he c4s qure in wo moes, hing sopped d3 on he w , nd his empoloss should ell in he ure. Aer 0...0 0 11.0 0 0 b6 ( I is een sronger for Blck o pl ... d4 12. xd4 cxd4 , wh sigh dnge, becuse Whies king is er uncomfor ble on he cle.) 12.e6 e6 13.e6 h8,he posiion is blnced, mirin ermn, Isrel 1 9 98. 9 e6 I is less precise for Blck o pl 9...0 0, since er 10.c2 he ll he o lose empo wh he 6...xd4 7. xd4 xd4 8. moe 10...h6, in order o remoe bS b6 1 9.b7 fd8. Bcks the h7pw from ck.
10... d8 ! Blcks concree ctions re er eectie. ( I is quite sfe o clml pl 0... e7 11. d3 000 ! 12. e2 b8 3.00 b4 4.b4 cxb4 15.b3 cS,wih n pproximel e qu posiion;but i is inferior for Blck o coninue h ... c8?! 12.00 b4 13. b4 cxb4 4.e2 00 15. fd U Nepomnichchi Fridmn, N n (rpid) 200 9). . e2 d4 12. xd4 cxd4 3.4 d7 14. 000 cS 5.d4 00 6. f3
Chapter 9
0� ndga Nponiach chi Ra H Black can count 1 khano, Dagoys 2 9 b t th standard action e6 1 \ b his pics a btt But not 12 c4 1 \xc4 coo dina d and th possibl nd- xS! gas ll b in his faou Black has no ason to b 0 . c4 ll c4 afraid of 12 d g 1 b4 14 b4 cxb4 1 1 c8 1 \2 \b = His pics a uit acti ly pacd and t is copnsats for th inial dfct in his pa nstructur e6 3J; 4 4. 4 c4 5.�b3 �b6=
. . 0 0 Back is abl to aintain th tnsion in th cntr, abstaning fro any as y action 11 c4 12 \ xc4 \d7 1 \g4 (o 1 \ !14 \ x th a coplca d posi ion) 1 14 c \xg4 1 xg4 Black as no ng o o y b 1 b it a doub gd about in this ndga Cu te e5paw eparate m the ret f h fre a a thug t ramp a pt a tte t a a target a thu a pteta abt I at a bta the wer ba g a re at e6 a pee are ver we rate te gt uare e thu reahe g wthut a prbem aer bt 5 a 5 . �x.
Chapter
le4 e5 2 f6 3d4 xe4 4 d3 d5 5e5
teniuk, Mo cow 200 9 10 e2, Ni ipeanu akae, Kaihea 2008 Back can continue here with 0f6 ! 11exf6 x6 12 e3 e8 1 xc6 bxc6 14 c5 a6 15 f2 \xf4=, obtaining a good po ition 60-0 Aer 6 bd2, Back be t repy i the thematic moe 6 c5, eaing White knight on d2, Thi moe ha become ery where it tand in the way of hi fa hionabe atey t r t,White dark uared bi hop and comwa paying it u t to reach fre h petey rue out the po ibiity of po ition , but oon the theory of making the undermining moe thi ine began to deeop teadi- c2c4 y though it ead to intere ting po ition , Back i fine in a ca e We ha anayze the moe 5 xe5 in hapter 1115 5 e7 Here 5 c5 u uay tran po e to other ariation and ony rarey ead to independent po ition One intere ting po ibiity i 6 c c6 7 d4!?g6 !? (a er 7 e7, Back ha to take into account both 8 e2 and 8 f5!? 6•• c5 80 0 g7 9f4 00 ( 9 xd !? Aer 600 Back mu t reck10xd 00 Naidit ch Ko on wth the ariation 7c4 c6 8
Chapter 0
c2 ! b4 ( 8... e6 9.e2 cS 10. d1 d4 . c3 g4 12. d5 ±) 9. cxdS xc2 10.xc2 xdS 11. d1 c6 12.xc6 bxc6 13. e3 cS 4. bd2 xd2 15. xd2 ! ( It s ess precse or Whte to pay 15. xd2 e6 16. dc1 d8 17. b3 xb3 18.axb3 dS 1 9. 4 6 akoenko arkrshna, och 2008.) 5... b8 16. c1 bS 17. g5 6 18.ex 6 gx 6 1 9. 4 b7 20.b3 ±and Whte mantans the adantage n the endgame.
Now Wte can try to exert pecepressure aganst the centre wth A) 7c3 or aod the exchange o hs bshop wth B) 7 e2 Aer any other moes by Whte, Black can contnue wth hs deeopment by castng, or (an een more promsng dea)he can mmedately exchange the bshop on d3, or exampe 7. e3 xd3 8.xd3 cS+, or 7.h3 xd3 8.xd3 00 9. 4 a6+, and n both cases Back has the more pleasant poston, thanks to hs bshoppar and the successl blockade on the ght s quares.
A) 7c3 xd3 It s best or Back to capture ths bshop mmedatey. I 7...c6, then 8. d4 ( It mght be more precse or Whte to play here 8. e2 00 9. d4, preent ng the exchange o hs bshop.) 8...00 9. e2 !? see 7.e2 00 8. c3 c6 9. d4. 8xd3 c6 9d 00
0g3 . S S 11.x 5 d7 12. d3 a6 13. e2 6+ Berndt rnst, Germany 200 9. 10. 4 a6 11. 5 cS 12. xe7 xe7 13.d2 S+; Back has eery chance o adancng wth d5d4, whe Whte has no promsng deas. Back's bockade on the S and e6 s quares s qute secure, Pargras Landa, Germany 2008. 10. 4 S! Whte's kngsde operatons are competey bocked. Now, to accompsh anythng, Wte woud need to organe a blockade o the dark s quares b6c5d4, but n the game he dd not manage to achee ths 11. b 3 a6 12. e3 ( Aer 12. d1
.e e 6 .d e . d d e e 6 0 0
c7 13. e3, Bck shoud p , not 13... e6? 1 . e2 h8? 15. c ± nd Bck hs fied to soe the probem of his c8bishop, Hrcek Mot e, Dresden 2007, but 13...b6 Bck shoud pre pre the deeopment of his bishop on b7 or 6, er which he shoud tr to dnce with c6c5 1 . §f2 §b7 15. d d7+) 12... c7 13. e2 b6 1 . bd §6 15. d2 e8 16.c3 c5 17. f3 d8+. Bck's knight wi occup the ex ceent bockdng s qure on e6 nd he hs stbe dntge, Nr Krmnik, Prgue 2008 (game 8 10 •••h8 It is so good to p 10... §h .f3 d7 ( Bck's pwnbrrier compee restricts the enem kight on c3, so it woud not be good to continue with ...c5 12. f5 f5 13.xf5 c6 1 . f , becuse White s ight on c3 woud then become ctie.) 12. f e8 13. e1 f8 14. g3 g6=. White's forces re tied up protecting his e5pwn nd Bck hs er good position. lUel
l .. a6 Here the moe 1 ...c5? ooks good, becuse Bck mintins rm contro of the ght s q res e6 nd f5. 12. f3 c6 13. b5 W ( hite chiees nothing with 13. g5 g5 1 . xg5 h6 15. f3 §e6+)13... §f5 1 .c3 g6 15. g5 f6 16.exf6 gxf6 17. §f g8 18.h3 e 1 9. e3 c8 ( The gme is shrp nd er uncer er 1 9... c8? 20. d1 b6 2 .c d ) 20.xc8 xc8, with n pproximte e qu endgme. 12 •f4 Now it woud be er nteresting for Bck to continue with 12 •••c5!? Bck's most soid ine woud be: 12... c5 13. d1 5, with the ide of §c8d7, b7b5b ,etc. The gme is bout e qu. He hs n terntie in 12... c7 13. d1, but now it is not good for Bck o p 13... §h 1 .f3 e6? He is red to ex chnge knghts, but this is not re necessr . 15. ce2 xd 16. xd Predo e c Mi io c, Neum 2008. It is stronger for Bck to p insted 13... d7, with the ide of b7b5b , er which, hing reduced the pressure ginst his d5pwn, he shoud be be to dnce c6c5. 13.db5 b4 .e2 (dgrm) 4 .. .g5!? There is queter option here i n 1 ... §h 15.f3 §e6 16. d6 d7=,with compicted nd pproximte e qu position.
Chapter 1
. c3?! c6 9. d4 d4 10.\ d4 00 ll. e3 f6 != abo Giri, jeka 2010 might also be ineresing for ie to ry he stup .c3 !? 00 9 c2. Then he can develop his rook on d1, or play e2d3, provok ng g7g6 and securing the h6s quar for his darks quared bishop) 00 (aer 8... c5 White has he promising move 9 e3) 9 d1 c6 10.c4 d c4 11\ c4 \c7 12 c3 d 13.\e4 15ic e6 Blacks king is a bit open,so he dc5 14.\e3 and Whie has a should block the centre t is bad slight edge 8ie3 to pay 15.. f5?! 16. d6 g6 17 a3 ! c2 1. c2 c2 1 9. d5 ie canno achieve much h6 20.b4 and Whie is aack- wih . c3, because his knigh is ing restriced by he paw barrier c6 6 d6 he posiion is d5 an is hus misplaced, so his ve complicated but B ack has posiion is prospecless ..c6 9 e cellent prospects. 4 ( 9b4 e6 10 b1, koberne rebrnic, Maribor 2011, and B) 7•e now h 10..b5 !+ Black can emphasie he bad posiion of he enmy k igh on c3 H can coninue h a7a5 and ite wl have p oblems wh the protecion of his b4pa.)
7 0 - 0 ... e6?! is oo early or Black k igh o ob ru h diagonal o hi l ghs qua i hBlack has wo rea onable po op,since he has no ye comple sibiliies he e he imm ia 9. hi devlopmn. \d3 !? ( B ac 6 and 9.. \c7! i able o ca ou hi i a aer Aer 9..6 Blac mus play
le4 e5 2 J {6 3d4 {xe4 4 d3 dS 5e5 e7 6 {5
ery accurately to e quaze. 10. f4 ( Black eed ot fear 10.ef6 f6 11. e3 {e6 !, with e quality, Dembo Mamedyaroa, aty Mas sk 2010) 10... e5 (1 0... b6 11. h1 e5 12. e5 Ef 13. f1 {bd7 14. {f5 f8 15.f4 {e6 16.g3 h8 17.b3 ad although Black might be abe to hod this positio White obiously has the itiatie) . e5 {bd7 12.b4 ( fter 12. f4 Back should ot pay 12...b6 13. h1 g5?14. e3 ! b2 15.d2 ad he comes uder a dagerous attack, but, 12...Ef4! 13.E4 {e5 ad his compesaio for the echage is qute sufcet.) 12...Ef1 13. {e4 14. {e4 de4 1S. {f5 (aer 15. f4 Black soles his probems wth the move 15... {b6 !) 15... {e5 16. {e7 e7 17.d4 f5 (17... {g4 18. c4 h8 1 9. b2 ) 18. b2 Ee8 1 9.a7 c7 20. e2 (f 20. c5 Black has the respose 20... b6 ! 21.c3 {g4 22.g3 e3 !, wth sucet couterplay) 20... g4 21. a6 c8 22. e2 g4, th a draw by repetto of moes. 9...c ! It is usel to prooke the moe 4 before udermiig the e5pawn.
10. f4 ( If 10.f4, the 10...f6 11.ef6 f6 12. e3 {e6 ad here t is bad for te to pay 13. {b3 d4! 14. {d4 {d4 15. d4 Ed8 16. c h8 17 E e1 f5,because he loses his bshop o d4, while if 13. {e6 e6 14.f5 Back shoud ot be afraid of the adace of Whites gpaw, because he has suciet couterpay alog the ele.) 10... {bd7 11. {f3 (aer .Ee1 {e6 12. {e6 e6 13. g3 aS 14. g4 {cSa strategicaly ery complicated posito arises, with appromately e qual chaces) 11... {e6!. Blacks bock ade o e6 is particularly eectie whe ite caot adace hs fpawn the ear ture ( It s less good, but possible, for Black to play 11... {e4 12. d3 {dc5 13. Ee1 b6 14. e4 d e4 1S. {d2 b2 16. {d e4 {e4 17. {e4 f5 18. {d6 c2, draw, . Polgar Gi , Hoogeee 200 9.) 12. g3 {dc5+. Back s ready to cotue his queesde attack with b7b5, a7a5, c8a6 ad b5 b4, while Whtes peces are msplaced.
Now Black has a choice be
Chapter 1 0
een he deeoping moe Bl) 8 ... 6 and he radica souion B ) 8 ••c6
Bl) 8 . . . 6 Back compe es his deeopmen and wi hae a exibe pasrucure, bu his paw on dS i no be suppo ed by is neighbour he cpaw. This is he reason why Back can ony euaize in his ariaion and nds i dicu o seize he iniia ie. 3 ie6
1ib5 We shoud anayze ie's a ernaies: 10. c1 d7 ! (10... c8 1 d1 d8 12.�g5 h6 13.e7 xe7 14. d4 14. e3 14...�g4 15.f3 �d7 16.f c6 7. e3 e6 18. xe6 e6 1 9.c5 g6 20. f2 �g4 21. h3 e2 22. xe2 Whie can ry o prepare f4f5; haing an exra pa on he ank where he kings are paced gies him a sigh adanage, masi Landa, Reggio iia 2008)1 �f4 f6 12.exf6
ow Back canno e quaize h 2...f6 because of 13. g5 ! and he mus gie up his darksuared bishop,guaraneeing a sigh edge for Whi e: 13... c5 (13...g5 4.g5 f6 15. e1 h6 16.�h4 d7 17. d2 ) 14. e3 d4 (14... d4 15. ad1 h6 16. xe6 cxe6 7.�g3 ) 15. xe6 dxe3 6. xd8 exf2 7. xf2 d8 18. 1 gS 1 9. �e3 d4 20.d4 xd4 2 .�c4 g7 22. xf8 xf8 23. e U; i is correc for Back o pay 2... xf6 ! 13. b5 (or 13. e1 �cS 14.a3 hS 15.�g5 d7 16.b4 �d6 7.b5 eS 18. d4 �g4 1 9.f3 + and Back has he iniiaie) 13... c8 14.c4 d7= he posiion is ui e compicaed, bu Back's prospecs are no worse. 10.a3 Whi e brings he b4 s quare under conro and awais his opponen 's reacion. Back's mos naura response o Whi e's prophy is on he ueenside woud be o pay ac iey in he cen re: 10... e4 !?. b5 (1. d3 xc3 12. xc3 f6) 11...�c5 (aer 11... d7, Back mus reckon wi h 12.c4!) 12.c5 xcS 3. bd4 xd4 4. xd4 d7= and he is cose o euai y. He can aso ry
le4 eS 2 f6 3d4 xe4 4d3 dS 5e5 e7 6 C
prophylaxis with 10 a 6!? 1 e1 e ( t is also good for Black to pay 1 c8 12 d1 d8= Najer Gelfand,Odessa (rapid) 200 9) 12 Cd4 xd4 (12 xe5?) 13 d4 Ca4 14b3 xc3 15c3 f5 16exf6 f6 17 d3 f5 and rther simplication is unaoida ble, so the game shoud end in a draw, Kamsky kopian, ermuk 200 9 10 Cb5 d7 (10 g4 1 Cbd4 Cxd4 12 xd4 e2 13 xe2 )11 f4 a6 12 Cbd4 Cxd4 13 Cxd4 c5 14 Cxe6 e6 15 g3 c4 16 g4, hiro Gelfand, Kalithea 2008 Here,aer the game continuation 16 c5 17b4! cxb3 18axb3, White obtained some adantage Instead, Back should hae payed 16 b6=, with approximatey e qua chances 10e1 Ce4
1 Cb5 ( er 1 d1 Black has the rather unpleasant pin 11 b4 If 1 a 3 it is possible for Black to continue with 1 f 6 12 Cxe4 dxe4 13 d1 e8 14exf6 xf6 15 Cd4 Cxd4 16 d4, but now not 16g6 17 c3 ± alga do Loik, Ke er 200 9,but 16 c6= and Back holds the al
ance Howeer, it is een simpler for him to play 11 xc3 12 xc3 f6=) 1d7 12 Cbd4 g4 ( ery interesting position arises after 12 f 6? 13exf6 f6 14 Cxe6 xe6 15 c 3 ae8 16d1 Blacks pieces are ery actie but his light s quares are ulnerable In addition, White has the bishoppair, so the prospects are about e qual) 13 Cxc6 bxc6 14 Cd4 e2 15 Cxe2 f6 16 f3 g5 17 d2
17 ! ( It is less precise for Black to continue wth the natural line:17 e6 18exf6 f6 1 9 Cd4 xd4 20d4 d4 2 xd4 d6 ; White maintains a sight edge,but his winning chances are only minimal, Balogh Grabarcuk,Wroclaw 200 9)18 e xf6 f6 1 9 d4 d4 20 Cxd4 (20 xd4 d6=; Black adances with c6c5, aer which he wll hae no prob lems whatsoeer) 20 c 5 2 Cb3 c4! 22 c5 d6 23d4 Ch6 24 fd1 White ( must place this rook on d1, because if 24 ad1 Black plays 24 f5 25 xd5 xd5 26 xd5 Ce3 a double attack) 24c6 25xc4 xf3 ! With this tactical shot, Back not
Chapter 1 0
oly solves all his problems b eve obais he advaage.
1 0 a6?N I is oo passive o coi e wh 10...d7 .xd5 ad ow Black is able o achieve complee e q aliy: 1 ... d5 12 xd5 dxe5 13. xc6 14.b5 ( The move a7 a6, which Back wll play laer wh empo, is sef l o Black, so maybe i wo ld be beer for Whie o play immediaely 14. b3?) 14...c8 15 ad1 �f6 16. fe1 e8 17.�f4 xe1 18. xe1 a6 1 9. b3 h6 20.h3 b8, meko Moylev, Wi k aa Zee 200 9. Now Whie has he srog move 2 . d1, deprivig Back's q ee of he d7 s q are; 11...d e5 12.xe7 xe7 13. xe5 xe5 14. d4 fd8 (14...g4 15. c5 f6 16.�d4 f4 17.g3 h6 18.h4 ) 15.xe5 d5 16. e4 xb5 17.b3 c6 18.c4 h5 1 9.h3 ; Blacks rook o h5 wll have problems re rig o he cere, so he is doomed o a raher dic l defece, Kariaki Gelfad, Jerm k 200 9.
llc6 bxc6 12d4 d7 3b3 Or 13.f4 f6 14. d2 e5 15. e5 b8 16.b4 e6 17.a3 aS+ ad Whie wll be able o maiai he blockade o he dark s q ares 13 xb3 14ab3 6 15 e6 6 16 c5 e8
The defecs i Black's paw sr c re are compesaed for by his bishoppair,so he game is approxmaely e q al
B2 8 c6
This is he mos exible move for Black. Firs of all he bolsers his d5paw. I is impora ha Blacks developed mior pieces
l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.d4 xe4 4 . d3 d5 5.e5 e7 6. 0 - 0
on h unsid can b b dployd sraigh o vry harmonious posons and will no ruir any addiional manou ng , so ha Blac 's minmal loss of tim and sligh ag in dvlopmn should b of no consunc. 9c4 Or 9. £d4 c7 ! 0.f4 f6 11.xf6 . f3 5 12. x5 bd7+ Baogh Rusmov, Grmany 2006 1 ... xf6 12. c3 6!
13. x6 ( I s bad for Whi o pay 13.f5? xd4 14. xd4 f5 15. h1 xd4 16.xd4, Nisipanu Hand e, Grmany 2010; hr Black can coninu wh 16... b6!, retaining his xtra pawn thout any compnsation for Whit whatsover. It is vn mor precse for Blac to play 13...5! 4. x6 x3 15. h xe6 16. 6 x6, also h an xtra pa. Or 13. b3 d4! 4.xd4 xd4 5. xd4 d8 16. c4 h8 17. 1 f5 and Wit has dicultis ging out of h pin along he dl. 13... x6 14.f5 +. Blac 's oprations in the cntre ar much mor ctiv han Whit's paonsiv on th ngsid.
Ar 9. bd2 6 10. b3 c5 11.c4 ? ( Ar 11. 1 b6 12.c4 b7+ Blac 's pces ar vry harmoniously placd and his gam is clarly prfrabl, Inar iv asimdzhanov Jrmuk 200 9 11... d4 12. c1
12... c6 ( I might b inrsing o try 12...f5 !? 13.exf6, bu hr no 13... 6 14. d3 c6 15. 1 t and Whit has th initia tiv, Palac unin, chwarzach 2010, bu 13... xf6! Blac 's bishop shoud go o d6, from whr wil aim at i's ingsd 4. d3 c6 and th posiion is rahr uncar. 13. d3 a5! Black shoud try o undrmin the bas of the enmy night on b3. 14.a4 c7 ! Blac has various possib stups, bu I prfer on which forces it to proct his 5pawn. 15. 1 8 !+ and now Black can use th f8s quar for manou s with any of his mnor pics, whil his ight on c6 will always b rady o go o h b4 suar and his un's roo may com ino pay via th a6suare. Blac has an xcllnt position. 9 c4 I is wakr to play 9... 6 0.
Chapter 1 0
cxdS cxdS 11.c3 c6 12 1 c8 13.b5 d7 14.f4 ,wth a sght edge for Whte. 1 0 c4
1 0 bd!? Back ca aord to pa ths move hs ght for the tatve, expotg the crcumstace that Whtes eSpaw acks sucet protecton. Back aso has a smper souton avaabe: 10... xd1 1 . xd1 bd7 12. c1 (12.c3 b6 13.e2 ca4! 14. xa4 xa4 15. d2 b6 and thaks to the possbe outpost on dS for hs knght, Back soves hs probems, for exampe: 16.g5 gS 17. xg5 fS 18.g4 e6 !, th a ver safe posto.) 12... a4 13.b3 ab6 14.e6 e6 15.e6 h 16.bd2 eS 17. c8 xf3 18.xf3 c8 1 9.c5 e8= and the endgame s compete e qua, Gashmov Ge fand, Bursa 2010. llb4? hs s tes most prncped opton; othe se, Backs game s eas ad probemfree: . bd2 b6 12.c5 cS
13.b3 fS 14.c2. Ths posto was reached the Word hamposhp for computer programs the game between Rbka ad arcs Lede 2010. Backs most precse road to e quat woud ow have bee 14...d3 15.d3 xd3 16. b3 xd1 17. d1 e7; 11. c2 c7 12.e2 e6 13.d3 xeS 14. xe5 xeS 15.h7 h 16.d3 d6 17.g3 cS+ Back s sght better, Boogan akaev, agujevac 200 9; .e2 c7 12. c1 e6 13.c3 b6+; 11.c3 c7 ( Back ca smp the posto f he so wshes: 11... b6 12.e2 xd1 13. d1 ca4, reachng a posto whch usua arses aer 10... xd .) 12. d4 b6 ( It woud be too rsk for Back to weaken hs pastructure; aer 12...b5 13.e2 e6 14. e4 fS 15.c2! f4 16.d2!, a though Whte ma ose hs eSpaw, he w gan exceet pa o the weak ght s quares.)13.e2 fS! 14. f4 g6 the posto oers chaces to both sdes. ll e6
le e f6 d e d d e e7 6 0 0 c
12�b3 12.c2 c7 ( It is weake fo Back to pay 12... b6 13. d . Now 13... xc4?! 14. xd8 xd8 15. d2 xd2 16. bxd2 b4 17. e4 t is ceatie but unsound White has excelent chances of oganiing a stong kingside attack.) 13.b2 b6 14. b3 (14. bd2 xc4 15. xc4 b6 wth an exceent game fo Back)14... d8 ( It is infeio to continue wth 14... d5 15.d5 cxd5, since White shoud pay hee, not 16. c3, which Back can counte wth 16...c4 17. fd1 d8 18.b3 xb3 1 9. b3 d4 20. xd4 b4=,wth e quaity, but 16. c ! d7 17. d1! and White maintains an edge.)15. c3 (ae 15.a3, Back has the excelent positiona moe 15... f8 !, opening the diagona fo his lights quaed bishop) 15...b4 16. e6 c3 17. x 18.xc3 h6 1 9. fe1 d5=, with a good game fo Back. 12 ••• a5 Ae 12... b6 13. d1 c7 14. bd2 hite has potected all his pawns and competed his deeopment, pese ing the bette pospects.
13b5 The ine 13.e6?! e6 14. xe6 h8 15. bd2 axb4 16.b3 c7 leads to a shap position wth a slight edge fo Black. 13 ••• a 1.�b2 b6 5 bd2 d5 16.bxc6 bxc6 17 e ia6 18 xa6 xe3 19 . e3 xa6 2 0 ad1 Wb6 21 �e2 a5= The chances fo both sides ae appoximately e qual, and ae 22.d6 Black has the amaing, puey compute moe 22 •••d6, sol ng al his poblems. Ae 23.exd6 d5 it becomes cea that White wl be unable to hod on to his d6 paw, fo exampe: 24� Wb8+ and ite een has to start thinking about maintaining e quality.
Concusion Just as in the previous chapter, in which we ana yzed the variaton d e e d bd, ite's prematrey faradvanced e pawn enabes Back's pieces to be depoyed comfortaby around it In additon, Back can attack it or ese undermine it with the moveP6 opening the !e for his rook in the process I ke variaton B) very much, particuary the move 8.. c6 since it eads to a very compi catedght in which Back's prospects are not a t a worse
Chapter
l.e4 e5 2)£ f6 3.4 xe4 .d3 d5 5.xe5
o c5 and Whie s bishop on d3 wil come under he hrea of a raher unpleasan exchange. There was a ime when it was ve popuar for Black to develop his bishop symerically h 5... d6 bu hen i was esablished ha he posiion which arises by force aer 6. 7.c4 e5 8.dxe5 c6 9.cxd5 xd5 1 . c2 b4 11. e4 xc2 12. d5 f5 (i This is he main line of heory. is disasrous for Back o play 12... The posiion is almos symeri- xa1 immediaey, since aer 13. ca alhough ie is slighy e4 he soon loses his knigh more acive hanks o ha ng he sranded on a1)13.g4 g4 14. e4 rs move. ill he placemen of xa1 15. f4 f5 16. d5 h8 17. his bishop on d3 has a cerain c1 urns ou o be in Whie s fadrawback. Aer he possible ex- vour. Hence Back sopped playchange on e5, Whies pawn will ing his line. be removed from d4 and is bishop is hen oen exposed o aack or exchange by Black s knigh which goes from e4 o c5. 5 d7 Wih is move Black exchanges he knighs. His knigh is us deveoped while he enemy igh is wellplaced in he cen re. If ie allows his opponen o exchange on he e5suare hen Blacks knigh on e4 will go
le4 eS 2 f6 3.d4 xe4 4 d3 dS S xeS
6c3 The main heoreical line of hi aiaion he moe 6. Cxd7 will be analyzed in haper 1 1Sand he moe 6.00 in haper 12. aly deelopmen of Whie' queen in the cenre is no a all pomi ing 6.e2 CxeS 7.e4 dxe4 8.xe4 e6 9xeS d7 10. 00 (10. e b4 1 .c d6 12. xg7 000 1 . Cd2,O l Khalifman, ochi 1 984; Black can coninue here wih 1 ...c6 ! , wih a dangerous iiiatie) 10... 000 . e
acriced paw. White can ignore he enemy bi hop on b4 and coninue wih hi deelopmen 12. Cc ,but Black can couner his wih 12..f6 1 .g c ( I like the immediae 1 ...hS!? een more, keeping he pos ible ex change on c in re ee.) 14.bxc hS. Black ha good pro pec of deeloping an iniiaie o he king ide, while Whie' exra queen ide pawn i dealued and in ignican, Karpo Lar en, Tilburg 1 980 (game 9 6 xe5 ie' knigh on eS wa olidly placed and an atemp by Black o force hi opponen o exchange he ights him elf doe no wok 6... Cxc 7.bxc d6 800 00 9. e 7dxe5 xc3 8bxc3
... b4! Black deprie he enemy queen of i po ible erea o he aS quae (anoher inere ing ry for Black i 11... d6 !? 12.aS dS) and now ie can repel the enemy bi hop bu aer 12.c d6 hi pawn on c deprie he knigh of hi quare 8 e7 and al o blocks he whie queen' The game i much more liely line of rerea back ino i ow camp. 1 .hS (aer 1 .aS Black aer 8... cS. Black's darkha he re ource 1 ... dS! and quared bi hop, if i i no ex hi hrea uch a d7c6 and changed, will rerea to b6 and dSxg2 are ery dangerou ) 1 ... hen Black migh een ca e fS 14.f4 he8 . Black' iniiaie queen ide under i proecion. moe han compen ae for he 9.hS ( e 9.00 00 .hS
Chapter 11
g6 11. h6 e7 12.�f4 f5 13. ab1 b6 14. fe1 �e6 15.�g5 16.h4 c6 17.a4 fe8. Back s ready to exchange bshops a the e7 s quare and then organe some actie pay wth the paadance c6c5, Gashmo amnik, Baku 200 9) 9...�e6 ( It is ess precise for Back to opt for 9...g6 10.h6 �f8 .e3 Whe s queen s ery we paced on e3, from where t can partcpate n the strugge for the dark s quares. Aer 11...�e7, Whte can choose between 12.00, 2.g3 and the surprisng moe 12.h4?, and n a these ines Back must ght for e quaity.)
Now White has wo possibi ies: 10. b1 d7 11.�g5 (bu not 11. xb7? �b6 and his rook is trapped) ...h6 12.0 0 g8 13. �d2 000 Mosesian Haba, ech 2004; 10.00 d7 11.h4 (11.�g5 �f5 12. ab1, Mosesian Naara, ech Repubc (bt) 2005. Back s b7 pawn is no reay hangng yet, since Whe s rook woud be trapped on b7 aer the moe �c5b6,so Back can simpy
caste and aer 12...00 he poston s approxmatey e qua.) 11...�e7 12.�g5 (the game s dou beedged aer 12. g3 0 0 0) 12...g5 13.xg5 0 0 Hracek Z. ogar, ardubce 1 9 94. 90-0 White sometmes tries to weaken Back s kngside wth 9.h5 �e6 10. b1 d7 11.h3 (the poston s e qua aer .�g5 c6 12.00 g5 13. xg5 00 14.f4 h6 15.g3 f5 Gashmo Gefand,ochi 2008)
and here he can soe the probem of the proecton of his b7 pawn n two e quay good ways: ...c6?12.0 0 b5. Back hus depries hs opponent of he possiby of c3c4 and seies space, which he migh need ater when he begins his queenside oense. 13.�e3 (aer 13.a4 Back shoud pay,not 13...a6, Du Froyano, Taganrog 2011, because of 14. a1 and Whte exerts pressure on the ae, but 13...bxa4 ,with a ery compcated srugge.)13... g6 14. h6 �f8 15.f4 �e7=. If White does not repea moes, Back castes with a ery good po
e4 eS { 6 d4 {e4 4 d dS S {eS
son The moe b6 is ess ce hn he pn wh c7 c6 nd b7 b5 b is ery sod nd q e sfe 1200 g6 13 h6 f8 14 h4 e7 15 g5 gS 16 g5 00 17f4 d8 18 g3 h8 1 9f5 g fS 20 Ef4? (20 f5 Eg8= hro Gefnd, Moscow 2008) 20Eg8 ( Bck sho d bsn from enerng shrp compcions wh he ne 20f6 2 Ee eS 22E e5 d6 23 e3 Ee8= osky hro, Ke er 2007) 21 f3 g5 22 f5 g3= The ens ng rook nd pwendng ooks e q nd sho d end n drw 9 0- 0 (dgrm) lObl 10f4 fS 11 e3 (er Eb,
Kornee Grci mero, Mdrd 2007, Bck shoud ke he oppor ny o deelop his drk s q red bshop o more cie poson h 11 c5 !?12 h c6 13c4 b6 14cxd5 d5 15 e2 e6=) 11 e6 12Eb b6= 1 0 b6 ll�h5 g6 12�e2 e6 13b5 d7= ordchesc mees, Dresden 2008
Concusion In the variation with 6 {c ite immediatey echanges a the knights, so Back is orced to bock his opponent's aradvanced e5 pawn with his bishop Back has no open es on the queenside and this is in ite's avour, because Back cann ot quicky attack ite's doubed cpawns On the other hand, Back has neither weaknesses, nor bad pieces, so he can maintain the baance with accurate pay It is essentiaor him to be abe to parry ite's possibe kingside in ita tve with the timey bocking pawnadvance P ite does not react to this, Back wi graduay organe an oensive on the queen side, or, one othees on the king side becomes open, severa major pieces wi be echanged on it As a rue, this a resuts in an equa position
Cater 12
l.e e5 2 f6 3.d xe .d3 d5 5.xe5 d7 6. 0 - 0
Aer 8.e2 e7 9.e3, he game transposes to the ariaion 8.e3 e7 9.e2. The moe 8.f4 presents Black th a choice:
With this moe White is trying not to assist Black's deelopment and he continues to mobilize his own forces as quickly as possibe. Howeer, the subse quen altera tion to the pawnstructure is adantageous to Black. He obtains the excelent c5s quare for his knight and then Whites bishop on d3 is threatened th exchange. In addition, Back can set up a secure bockade on the e6 and f5 s quares. 6 • xe5 We cannot recommend 6... d6?, because aer 7.c4 c6 8. cxd5 cxd5 9.f4 the oose black bishop on d6 is a tactica weak ness. 7 e5 c5 8ie3
aer 8...g6,White can change his mind and aoid the exchange of his lights quared bishop with. 9.e2. Aer 9...f5 10.e3 c6 11. d2 e7 (i t is not good for Black to play ...d4 12.f2 d3 13.cxd3 xd3 14.e3)12. f3 e6 13.d3 xd3 14.cxd3 d4 15.d2 d5, a compex strategical battle arises, with chances for both sides, Karjakin Topao, Nice ( rapid) 200 9; 8... xd3? I like this moe best. 9.xd3 c5 ( 9...g6 10.e3 e7 . c3 c6 12. e2 see 8.e3 e7 9.f4 xd3 10.xd3 g6 . c3
3.d4 xe4 4. d3 d5 5. xe5 d7 6. 0 - 0 xe5 7e5 c5
c { ) 0 x x fS= Black has oband a good poson Ar 8 {c , Black bolsrs hs dSpawwh 8 c
and hn: 9 f 10 { d {f4 {xd c xd , Ti akov Dvakn, Moscow 00 9 Ar fS 1 d ( 000 ! ) 4 {hS00 1Sg g {f4 fS= hr s a possbl rpon of ovs Howvr, h only rasonabl possbly of avodng hs s or Black o casl unsd on hs ov 9 4 g ( 9 {xd ! 10 xd cS h g =)0 { , narkv opan, Jruk 00 9 his was h rgh o capur h bishop 0 {xd ! xd fS=, wh a n poson 9 { I blv ha hs s i's os logcal ov Hs kngh s rsrcd by h paw chan c dSand h wans o rdploy o a b r locaon 9 0 4 (for 10 {xd xd g s 8 9 f 4 {xd 0 xd g {c c { ) 11 {xd xd 00 c4 S 4 S
4 ( was also good for Black o op hr for 14 c ! ScxdS xS dxc bxc =) S f4 fS d4 gS c xdS xf4 18 xf4 xdS 1 9 xdS cxdS 0 a ( 0 c 1 xf8 xf8 c x x xa d= Black s a pawn down, bu w h bshops o oppos colour Black should asily dra his posion ) 0 g 1 g 8 x8 xf8, draw, Madyarov Krank,W k aan 008 8 ie
94 9 W avods h xchang, bu s orcd o ov hs bshop o a lss acv pos H loss a valuabl po n dong so, and n h an Black
Chapter
succeeds in coordinating his own peces. 9...00 10.f4 c6 ! It is es sental for Back to boster his d5 paw. ( He should refrain from 10 ...f6 11.exf6 xf6 12.c4 e6 13. cxd5 and here t woud be a disas ter for Black to pay 3...d5 14. c3 ± because with queens pre sent on the board Whites adan tage s oerwhelming thanks to hs great peceactity in the cen tre and on the kingside Tkachie Giri France 2010. The correct way for Black s to play 13... ®xd5 14. c3 ®xd1 15. d and ites postion is ony slighty more acte.). 11.c3 ( The reckess moe 11.f5? rreocably weakens hs e5pawn and Back can expoit this mmedately with 1... d7 12.f6 gxf6 13.exf6 f6 14. c3. White cannot deelop his knght to any other reasonabe s quare but here t is restricted by the pachain c6d5 and thus Black easily parries hs opponents ni tiatie. 14... e8 15. ®d2 ®e7 16. f3 e5 17. g3 g6 18. f1 e5 1 9. gf3 ®d6) 1 ...f6 ! (aer 11... f5 Black must reckon th the possibilty of 12.g4!?)12.exf6 xf6 13. d2 f5 (another interesting try is 13...a5 !? preenting b2b4 and securing the safe c5s quare for his kight)14.g4 d3 15.d3 xd3 16. ®c2 c5 7. ae f8=. ites position is seemingly more acte but al Backs piec es are well paced and his c6 and d5 paws solidi hs posi tion. The game is approxmately e qual.
9 . . . d!? This is a ery interesting pos siblty for Back. It s too rsky to continue with 9...00 0.f5 d4 1. f4 !; with his ast moe Whte bolsters his pawn centre. It is quite sound for Black to continue with the popuar ine 9... xd3 10. ®xd3 g6 11. c3 c6 12. e2 0 0 ( Aer routine play by Back White maintains a sight edge 12... f5 13. ®d2 ®d7 14. g3 00 15. ae . It might be inter estng for Back to try to secure the bockadng s quare f5 for his bishop2...h5 !?3 ad1 h4 14.h3 f5 ;White has been depried of the g3s quare for his kight whie if he attacks the enemy bishop on f5 wth his ight from d4 Black l pay f5e4.)
34 xe4 4 3 5 5 xe5 7 6 0 0 xe5 7xe5
13.g3 (t oud be premature for hte to pay 13.f5?! f5 1.xf5 gxf5 15.6 8 16.xf8 xf8 17.f1 b 6 18.1 xb2 19.d e8; te does ot ave eoug peces e to orga ze a eectve attack e Back as already gobbed up a couple of pas Pogar Gefad atyMasysk 2009) 13 ... (Back caot alt te enemy fpan tout excangg s darksquared bsop. er 13 . .. 5 1.f5 htes kgt jos te attack t 15.5 ! ! + ad Back s bg trouble. It s ot good eter to cotue th 13 ... f5 1.xf6 f6 15.f5 gxf5 16.c3 ad hte as te ntatve; ad f 13 ...c7 1.f5 xe5 15.d c7 16.ae1 tes attack s tre medousy dagerous. 1.c5 e8 15.1
15 .. .b6! (Back does not yet need to dfed agast ff5 n radcal fason by payng 15 ... g3. H oud prefer to trade s darksquared bsop for ts te couterpa or ot ex cange t at al. er 16.xg3 f5 17.c3 h5 18.3 7 19.2 b6 dams Gelfad Povdv 20 10
hte could maa a edge t 20.d6! peetratg o te eemy camp t s bsop .) 6.d6 e7! Back s reucta o tolerate te eemy bsop o d6 for ong especay sce aer ts excange e d t d cult to to advace t ff5. 17. e7 xe7. Black as a good game snce ff5 s o oger a treat. For example e ca cou er 18. ae t 18 ...a5! 19.d2 a6 20.f3 f5. htes kngsde play as been blocked e Back s ready to gradualy pre pare to advance it c6c5 ad d5d sezg te tatve. 10.i 00
ll. htes pas ook beautl but ty are not suported eectvely by s peces so Back gas excellent counterplay. atempt by te to te eemy dpa by any means oud not brg ay beet 1. c f5 12 .g d7 (aoter ter estg opto s 12 ...e! ? 13.d2 b5 1.b5 b7 ad Black as good compesato for the pa
ha ter 1
thanks to the eakened long diagonal in htes camp) 13.f5 e 1 . d c6 15.c3 h ; Back pans to use the g5square for his queen or knght and he also has the undermining move h7h5 in resee. ven thoughite has an extra pan his defence is ve problematic. ll.g5! Blacks bishop is activated evading the possble threat of f5 f6 n the process. 12a3
12 .b6!? Black could have played the even simpler 12 .. .d 13.b5
�xe 1 .g3 �e3 15.h1 xd3 16.cxd3 d7 17.xc7 ad8 18. d5 �d2 19�xd2 d2 20. c7 a8 another interesting option is 20 ...de8! ? 2.d6 e2 22 . f8 xf8 and in this position Blacks domination compensates for the exchange) 2.f6 g5! and Black should be able to to hold the bal ance. 13� b7 14�g4 xd3 15cx3 f6!? 14 i6 17e6 c5
The position oers chances for both sides since they both have their trumps for the coming struggle.
ncin n thi ine t a in the variatin in which Wite ca tre n e with hi awn reerving hi night n m echange cmi catedghng in arie in which Bac ha g d r ect he m ve 9 ... d4!? which eieve i a ver intereting iiit de erve eri te
Chapter 3
.e4 e5 2 �f6 3.4 �xe4 4 . d3 d5 5 �xe5 �7 6.�x7 d7 7 0 - 0
pltly qual i ht plays n prmv ashion w 8.d2 00 9.x dx 10. h2 11. xh2 � 12.g �x 13.1 �5 hts mor popular optons 8. c3 and 8.c wll b anayzd n th nxt two caprs.
7 d6 Ths mov s smpl, naural and h bs. Black only nds o casl o complt s dvlop mn. hts ask s o xplo h somwha xposd poston o hs opponns kght on and o ry o atack somthng, or o provok som waknng mov such as 5. shall o an alyz all hs possbls, on by on. I am no gong to try o analyz all o Blacks possblts hr, so I shall skp h amous horcal ln sarng wih ...�h, ollowd by caslng qunsd, whch s v rs or Black. 85 Th poson bcoms com
8 ! Ths s th most prcs and orcng way or Black o qualz. I s wakr or hm o play 8 ... 6 9.1 8 and hs poson s uncomorabl, snc h has lost hs caslng rghs. 9c3 Th alrnavs lad to a draw: 9.3 5 0.3 g6 1.�6 8
ha ter 13
12.f d6 ordacescu Landa Reggio milia 20 06 ; 9.xd5 c6 0.5 (but not 10c?! 000 and Blacks nitiative is tremendousy poerl) 10 xd 11.d2 00 (capturing te pan s too risky aer xd2 12d2 xb2?! 13fe1 f8 1. altoug te as no drect treats Back as ost is castling rigts and ites longterm initiatve based on tis is ort muc more tan a pa) 12xe e 13.e3 d5 . xd5 d5 ere l ardy be any gt le n tis poston. 9 .. .xd4
1 0 . e3 10xd5 xd5 11. xd5 c5 10.xd5 c6 11.e3 g6 12 3
12 . 00 ! enever you dont kno at to do deveop your peces! is principle s quite appropriate in ts position because casting is Backs most relable road to equaity 3.c c5 (a good aternative is 3 .fe8 1 e3 f6 15xd6 xd6 16.c3 e= Backs knigt is eaded for te f5square) .e3 f6 15 xd6 (15.e2 e6 16.xd6 cxd6 7.c3 f 18.f xf Black il soon seize te open ee and tis il compensate for is lnerabe d6pan ) 15 .. xd3 16 xb7 xb2 7.a5 e If Black cooses any move oter tan 12 ..0 0 e fails to equalze completely 12 .g5 13.g f (or 13 .. xg 1xg e 6 15.e1 000 16e5 an d tes bisoppair ill create longterm problems for Black) 1.xf f 15.c and ite maintains some pressure Deep Fritz amnik Bonn 2006; 12.c5 3.d1! (13c d7 1.f3 000 15d1 e5 6.g3 e6) 13 .. xd3 1xd3 e 15.d2; ite as a dangerous initiative on te dark squares. 10 ...e5 ll.�xe5 xe5 12.xd5 f (dagram) 13ael is move is muc trickier tan 13fe1 00 en Black equalizes immediately akov Gir Hoogeveen 20 10 13... xd5 14.id4 Aer 1d2 f6 15.f xf
3d4 xe4 4 d3 d5 5xe5 d7 6xd7 d7 70 -0 d6
1 . .xc2 e2 f .ic
16.f 00 17.e5 e5 18.c h8 19xf8 xf8 20.xe5 e8 2U xe8 e8 22 .h h6 23.f2 g5 2.hxg5 hxg5 25. e3 g7 26. d f6 athough htes kg s more actve he caot acheve much. 14 .. . 0 - 0 - 0 5 . xe5 If 15.xe5 Cf 16.e7 Cxd3 17.cxd3 c6
19.g4 Back aso equalzes covc gy aer tes other optos 19.e7 d7 20.xd7 xd7 21. d e7 2 2. c c5 23 .g g6 2 . b3 Cd 25.d cxd 267 d6 27.xb7 e8. Backs dpa s so poerl that te must or about maitag equaty. 19.c Cd 20 .e7 g5! ; te has some compesato for the pa but oly eough to keep the baace. 9 ..ig 20{4 If 20.c Cd 2.e7 he8 22.xg7 e 23.h3 Cf3 2.g2 xc 25 .xf3 d3 26 .g2 b5 2 0 d4 2e7 he 22. xg7 2.g5 Or 23.d xd 2.b3 a6 25.a ee 2 e2 24.g2 2.e2 xe2 25.f2 xf2 26. xf2 d7 27.g8 d8 24 ... xc 25.bxc e4 2 . g d2 27. x 2.x x{4 29.g g4 0.
15 ..b4! It s esseta for Back to em ate htes advatage of the bshoppar qucy ad he ca acheve ths by meas of some trcate tactcs. 1.ic4 Or 16.g7 Cxd3 17.cxd3 hg8 foloed by d7c6
ha ter 1
0 ...b5! In this way Black lans to r at a assd awn on th qun
sid. It is lss rcis or hi to lay 30 .. .xg5 3.6 d 3. 33xc, and it hs a slight dg, although th ost roal rsult o th ga is a drw. 1 .xh7 xh7 2.xh7 xg5 .h4 g4 4.h5 h4 5. g g4 .h gl 7.h f4 8.@h4 9. hl 4 0 .@g5 gl 41.h5 hl 42.@g gl ht s orcd to at ovs, caus i h ovs his king to h h ight vn los.
ncin he mve h5 ead t imcatin and cmete eqaity Natray the mt iey ret wi e a draw th ide ay c r recty
Chapter 14
l.e4 e5 2 . f6 3.d4 xe4 4 . d3 d5 5.xe5 d 6.xd7 d7 7. 0 0 d6 8.c3
but also wakn th 5squar which ight b ry unplasant for hi if h s unabl to prnt th disadantagous xchang of th darksquard bishops For 0b1 b6 11�h5 f5 s 10�h5 1 0 ..
In this ariation Black ust play accuratly to qualz .. X It would b too risy for Black to play hr 8 �h 9g3 xc3 10bxc3 �h3 (ar10 �g 11 Black loss hi s castling rights and is thus facd with a long and rathr unplasant dfnc) 11 lUbl b1! 000 12c dxc 13�f3 c6 111 c6 (Black is clos to 1 c an d hits initiati is ry dangrous Zhigalko Li quality ar 11�f6 12�f3 �! 13f a8, Korn Khnkin hao, Purto Madn 2009 Drzdn 200) 12g5 (hit 9.bxc 0- 0 0 .�h5 This is th ida of th o dos not achi uch with 12c 8c3 it allows his cpawns �f6 13c3 f8 1g5 � 15 to b doubld, but prooks an �x x= Rozntalis Hariiportant postional waknss krishna, Grany 2008 ) 12 ny p Black's pan �c 13c (it is a draw ar 13 will not only rstrict hs bshop f8 1xf5 h2 15�xh2 �xh2
haer 14
6.xh2 5 Balogh usuov, Bastia 2 00) 3 ...
.�h dxc4 5 .c 16. d3. Hr it is ircis or Black to lay 16 ...g6, Doinguz Glfand, Bruda 2005. it can continu with 7.c!, k ing a slight dg. t is uch strongr or Black to ravly lay 6 ...g6!, without ing afraid o ghosts. His kingsid awnstructu is quit haronious and ar 7.6 hit cannot xloit th slight wakning o th dak squars in Blacks ca. .�h3 dxc 5 . c (Th o sition is qual ar 5 . 5 h6 16 . 6 . h6 gxh6 .�xh6 h2 9.�xh2 �xh2 20.xh2 6 2 .x6 x2 2 2., draw, achir Lagrav Gland, KhantyMansyisk 2009.) 5 . .. 6 . 6
6 ...6 (H 6 .. .g6 is lss rcis. vn though it is harlss or Black i hit now lays 7.2 .ax6 19.x6 6 20.x6 �6 2.g �xd 22.gx5 c5 Madyarov Gashiov, Kallitha 200, ar 7.c! instad, Black has to lay vry rcisly to qualiz, i indd that is now ossil.) 7. x6a .a1 x6 9.x6. n th ga Zhigalko tuak, Minsk 20 10 , ar 9 .. .d7 20 . �3 it gaind an dg, ut Black could hav qualizd convincingly with th ov 9 ... �6!=, xloiting th vulnaility o his oonnts ack ank. ll...b
12.e1 I 2 .g5 � 3.�3 �g6 . 5. �d6 6.�xd6 cxd6 7.c 6 .cxd5 d5 9. c Kornv anda, asalanca 2005. 12 ... c 1. g5 I 3.c �f6 1.. .�c7 14.c4 e
4 . d3 d5 5xe5 { d xd d 0 -0 d 8c3
E= Blacks plans will nclud th pawnadvanc 65, advanta gously stailizing th pawn structur. his should lly copnsat or hits picactvi ty.) 19 . ..Ex6 0.�x6 E .� E .�6 E=, draw, hirov anik, asorla 199.
15.� Black can countr 15.�3 wth 15 .. .dxc4! (nncssary coplications ars ar 15 ... 16. �xS g6 .�h3 dxc4 . 4) 6.c4 1. Ex .h3 �d=, prparing to ov his rook to , atr which th position will rthr siplid. 15 .. .dxc4 Black can also ruls th ny ishop rst th 15 ...h6 6 . d dc4 .c4 , not aring th lin 1 . d3 a ! 9.Ea1 d5! 0.c 4 .4 4 .Ex4 �=. Blacks outsid passdpaws on th qunsid ar potntially vry dangrous, so his prospcts ar not at all inror. 1 . Ar 6.c4 . 6 6 1.Ex6 Ea 9.�3 (Ar 9. E1 Ex6 0.Ex6 �d .�3
1 .. .! It is wakr or Black to play 16 .. .g6 . g4 whn th osition is rathr coplicatd ut hits chancs a pral, achr g rav Glad, hMansyisk. 1 . e 1. 19.�xh 2 20.�xh2 �xh2 2l.xh2 xe 22xe x 2.xc xc2 24.c 25. x f h atrial on th oard has n alost annihilatd, so th position should a draw.
oncluion here were time when the move 8 wa the caue of eriou worrie for devotee of the Petro Defence Nowada I do not ee an dculte for Black in achieving equalit ut ou can carcel hoe for more than that ince mot of the variation are quite drawih
Chapter 15
l.e4 e5 2. �£ �f6 3.d4 �xe4 4 . d3 d5 5. �xe5 �d 6.�xd xd . 0 0 d6 8.c4
This is th ost oular o or Whit in rcnt yars and it crats th ost rols or Black. 8 .. .c 9.cxd5 Th ariation 9.c3 00 10. cxd5 xc3 .xc3 cxd5 transos s to th ain lin. 9 .. .cxd5 1 0 .c Priously it usd to lay 10.h5 00 11.xd5 c6 1.h5 g6 13. h3 Th o 13. h6 is snslss, caus th qun is islacd thr and ar 13 ... Black has th usl xtra ossiility o oing his isho to .) 13...g5! diagra) and Black has xcllnt co nsation or th awn, or xal:
1.g5 xg5 15.c3 It is slightly lss rcis or Black to lay 5 ... a 16.ad1 1.d5 d . x 19.xd 0.x x and its dg is only solic, drg P. H.ilsn, wdn 000.) 16.d5 d5 1. d .xd5 c5 19. h1 xd5 0.ac1, hiro anik, azorla 199. Black can con tinu hr with 0 ...3 1.c d, solng all his rols. Ar 1.g Black lays 1 ... 6
. d4 xe4 4 d d5 5 xe5 d7 6 . xd7 d7 7 0 -0 d6 8. c4
and now: Th ov 2 .. .5 wakns th 15.c3 h5; 5squar and a 13.f3 h 15.3 h5 16.h3 4 17.4 14.4 hit aintains a sal 4 1.c3 xd4 19.2 6 advantag. 20.4 x4; 1Wxd5 Wc7 th ov 15.h6 can countrd with th sctacular shot 15 ...4! ! 16. (Or 16.4 xd4 17.c3, Holzk chado, Grany 2001, and now ar 17...h5! and it would hav srious rols to solv, or xal: 1.g3 x4 19.1 6 20.1 Ead Blacks ics ar considraly or activ.) 16 ... xd4; all hits ics a hanging and although Black has a atrial dcit, h has th advan shall analyz now A 14c4 and B) 14 h tag. For 14.h4 6 15.3 xc3 15.d5! (This is th only ov ar which hit ay l or 16.h6 Efd s 14.h6 Ed or lss condnt.) 15 ...d5 16. 15.h4 6 16.3 xc3. I 14.3 xc3 15.h6 (i 15. c3 c6 (Hr 16 ... h5! ? is worth considring.) 17.h6 E 1.Ead1 6, thn Black savs th day with 6 (ar 1 ...c7, Black ust 15 .. .c6 ! 16.g5 E 17.Eac1 6 rckon with 19.5) 19.g6 1 .Exc6 Ex6 Grigoriants Moh2 20.xh2 hxg6 2.Ed2 tylv, Krasnojarsk 2007), Black can rly with 15 ...Ed 16.6 Ead 17. Ex 1.4 c6, as wll as with 15 ...E 16.6 17. Exf 1.4 c6 and in oth cass thr is a transosition to th variation 14.h6 d 5. g5 xc3 16.6 17. Ex 1.4 c6. hit's kingsid initiativ atr 14.h3 6 15.3 xc3 is unroising. H will hav to sk activ lay on th qunsid, ut this will only sucint or 1 0 xc ll.bxc 0-0 12. quality and no or. A 16.E1 a2 (it is a draw ar 16 ... xd4 Wh5 g
haer 15
1. 5 1.g3 h3 19.b2 Vg5 20 .c3 6 21.d1 5 22.c h 23 . 5 x5 2.xb ac 25.Vd5 Vxd5 26.xd5=, but ths s unncssaly colcatd) 1. xb Vxd 1 . b2 V= , and th daw is unavodabl. t would b sat o t to lay 1.g3, to adcally rvnt th ossbl constucton o hs oonnt's batts d6V5, o d6V, but Black qualzs vn thn. 1 .. .6 (h 1 ...h3 als to 15.d g 16 . h6 d .dc and Black nds u a awn dow, sinc h cannot continu with 1...g3 owing to 1.Vg5! t s thratnng V6 and Blacks bsho on g s hanging.) 5.V3 Vxc3 16.b Vxd 1. c
x x 23.xa, o 19. b2 h3 20.d3 V6 21.a1 5, th dash outco o th ga s unavodabl; ht has anoth nsdous ossblty h n 1.b2, whn Black should ay hs oonnt's thats on th long dagonal, not with 1 .. ., bcaus o 19.c Vxa2 2 0.c d 2Uxb+ and th dinc n actty o th cs s so gat that h s byond salvaton, g o, w Dlh 2011, but with 1 ...6! 19.d 5! = , qualzng; Th oth ossblity o ht hr s 1 . b ad 19.h6 20.c Vg 21.Vxg g 22. 3 a3 ! Black uss hs bshos to oc hits ook to lav th back ank and thn h xlots ths waknss 23.c3 5 2. b5 d+ 2.g2 d6 26.a d3=; Black is ady to gv rtual chck with his bshos o th and 2 squars. A 14c4
and now: 1.xb a! (t s lss cis or h to ot or 1 .. .ab 19.V6 h3 20. 6 21.Vx6 6 22.3 xb 23 . b a5 and h hit s slghtly btt, but ths will hadly ovd h with any anngl winnng chancs, alljo Pons Gland, Lon (aid) 2010). ow, ar 19.h6 c 20 . x 21.V
4 c!
. d4 xe4 4 . d d5 5xe5 d7 6. xd7 d7 70 0 d 6 8. c4
1 .. .6 15.3 xc 16.h6 th a5squa.Thus th lin: 8. d8 (16 ...c8 1.c1 5 18.a± 1 6 19.h6 (o 19.h aS) olokitin Maslak jka 20 10 ; allows 9 ...a5! 20.x8 x8 16 ... 8 1. c1 5 18.g3± and 2.g1 1 22.x1 x1 23.1 Ianchuk ala 20 0) 1.c1 xg2 2.xg2 = with a daw 5 and hio ijk aan Z y a pptual chck. 200. H hit could ha con 1...f! tinud th 18.g3 !± with th plan hit playd lss stongly in o a2a4 and this would ha in- th gam akonko Gland casd his adantag (in th ochi 2009 which continud 18 ... gam h playd 18.a 19.xc d8 19.xd8 xd8 20.d5. its xc 20.xc h 21.h3 xh3 ishop gos to 6 a which 22.gxh3 ac 23.ac1 xc 2. Black has som sious polms. 19.Wh xc 5 and Black managd to hold this ath unplasant nd gam). 15."g5 x2 1hl d 1 b2 1.d2 8 18.a1 19. d6 20.h 2.g5 xg5 22.xg5 d6 23. d5 d= . .d5 a8 18.2 5 19.5 (9.d2 d 20 .1 6=) 19 ... x5 20.g3 d 2 .a1 8= 1.. e
1Jel! This is th coct ook o hit to plac on 1; i th 1ook gos th it will hanging with chck onc Blacks qun gos to
19 .. Jxel! It is ssntial o Black to x chang all th oo and this is th point o his ida on o 18. In th ga Koz Hlich IF 2008 Black trid to haass his opponnts qun ut a 19 .. . 20.h g5 2.g d 22.3 Whit gaind an dg. Black cannot sol his po ls with th ov 19 ...a5 caus a 20.x8 h is ocd to captu with 20 ...x8 ging up th l (H cannot play 20 ... x8 caus o 2.d5; now you can s why it od his a1
ha ter 15
rook rathr than his rook to Hr, it has a choic .). ow ar th sil ov twn Bl 15.Yg5 and B2 .a3 Whit ks his owl 15.h4. For 5.3 xc3 6.6 8 cntr intact and thus rtains a s 5g5 xc3 6.6 8. slight ut v stal advantag 2 0 Jxel e8! 21.xe8 xe8 Bl 15.Yg5 Yx ow, ar th rooks hav disaard o th oard, its Black is qut clos to quality connctd awns ar not at all ar 5 ...h 6.h d6 7.c dangrous and can asily 8 8.8 x8= Gusinov lockadd. Kranik, Baku 009. B 14 . h fd8 t s lss conncing, ut still roaly sucnt o a draw, to play .. 8. Blacks dnc s basd on th variation 5.h 6 6.g5 xc3 7.d (7.6 8 8.x8 x8 9. ad8 0. d dS .ac .h5 d6 3.xd6 xd6 .d5 xdS 5. h6, and dsit th act that hits hawn is vry unlasant, Black should anag to draw 1.Wf ith accurat dfnc, Rausis Ar 6.d Black has th rtudnicka, Dcin 009.) 7... sourc 6 ...8!; Black should x\xd 8.g6 S 9. xgS chang th darksquard ishos 0.g5 5=. Blacks king s diatly h can, caus rathr xosd, ut wth so littl thn his king will uch sa. atral l on th oard Black 7.8 x8 8.ac 9c should al to sav th ga. ac8 0.h .3 xc . xc d6= Rublvs ang u, ingo 0 0 . Black lays 6 . ..a (instad o 6 ...8!), thn ar 7.ac a3? (hr 7... is ttr, ut ar 8.c d 9.x 0.5 Black still has rols to worry aout) 8c7!, and it has a clar advantag, Rulvsky olokitin, Poikovsky 008.
. d4 xe4 4 . d dS 5 xe5 d7 6. xd7 d7 7. 0 0 d6 8 c4
1 .. . 17. x 18 . e4
�6) ... a3 5.d7 �d 6. cd �aS 7. d 2 .�c a . It all nds with th xchang o th critical awns on d7 and a and a draw. 2 0 .c bxc 21.xc d8 22. xd4 2.xd4 xd4 24.x7 c8 Blacks rook will go to th c squar, ar which it will not al to hold on to his aawn, Tiviakov anik, ijk aan Z 007.
Hr th asist way or Black to sav th draw is th ov: 18 .. .c! It is air to say that Black should al to hold th osition vn with th assiv lin: ... a 19.ac (19.a 6 0. c �a5 .c7 6; 19.c �a5 0.h 21.� 6 . a d 3.7 xa 2.a �6 5.xa �x7) 9 ... �a5 0.h .c5 �d .c7 B2 15.h4 e 6 3.�3 �xd .d �x 5.�x x 6.dd7, draw. 19.cl it dos not chang anything with 9.c � 0.c �c3 .c, draw, o Gland, strda 0 0. (diagra) 9.. . b4 Hr thr is a or attractiv way or Black to sav th day: atr 9 . ..�a5 0.c6 xc6 . �xc6 �xa .d5, its dawn 1.�g5 looks vry owrl, ut Blacks Black has no rols ar assd awn can also advanc: 6.�3 �xc3 7.g5 d7, or x...a5! 3.d6 a . .d7 al: .6 dS 19.�3 �c6
hapter 15
20�g5 2Uac h6 22.b5 �xc 23.�xc xc 2.d7 h6, oowed by g7. 1 . .�xc 17Jl It woud be a blunder or hte to contnue with 17.�6? n vew o 17...�xd! 1.�xd h2 19.xh2 xd and he ends up a pawn do or nothng, Zakhar tsov Maslak, Irkutsk 20 10 . 17. . Back loses ae 17 .. .a3 . g6! hxg6 19.�6 20. x (20 ...x 21.h5 h7 22. ac+) 2.ac �a5 22.d5 d5 23.h5! gxh5 (hte was threaten ng 2.hxg6, as we as 2.h6!) 2.e g 25.�g5 26.�h6 g 27.e5+ 1. (dagra) 1 x! Here t would e naccurate
for Back to pay 1 ...d5 19.�6 xf 20.e4 snce hs rook coes under attack wth tepo, and Krank, ce 20 09. 19.h g 20h5 xd4 21acl �b2 22b1 �c 2 bcl t ends n a daw by repe ttion (t woud be senseess or hte to try 23.hxg6 hxg6 2. g6 xd 25.xd �g7 the endgae s even slghtly bette or Black).
onclusion The variaton beginning with the move 8c4 is very tricky and re quires very precise play by Black. If he is well-prepared however and has several improvements up his sleeve in various wellknown varia tons, as shown and analyzed in this chapter, he has nothing to worry about
Part4 l.e4 e5 2) f6 3.xe5 The Petro Defence 3.xe5
Th mo 3x5 is hits most popular choic Ar that, hit can t many dirnt systms but th abundanc of al kinds of rarly playd options should not b a caus of worry for Black. rthlss, h must b ry wll prpard against on particular lin, namly .xe5 d 4. txe4 5.d4 d5 .id ie .0-0 0-0 .c4 tb4 9. ie2 0 - 0 10 .tc i ll. txc 12.bxc tc Jel es 14. cxd5 �xd5 15.if4 cs
Hr h must b rady to countr a multitud of altrna tis or hit. hits othr possibl contin uation, 5.tc txc .dxc ie .ie,
will no doubt continu its thortical and practica dlopmnt Black has no rason to b afraid of playing 0 - 0 , sinc th nsuing ght, with opposit sids castling, ors hi rich and promising prospcts.
Chapter 6
l.e4 e5 2 �f6 3. �xe5 d6 4.�x?! Cochrane Gambit
prcis raction would 6 ... c5! . H has a atria adantag and sizs th initiati! 7.d3 c6 . c3 c! 9.dxc dx 0.c5 g6+ hit has no copnsation or th pic and Black should n. It is no ttr or it to choos 7.xd5 .2 x2 9.x2 d6+ his pics ar discoordinatd and h l los his d5 pawn.) Th ochran Gait was in ntd as long ago as th 9th cntury. Thr wr tis whn such attpts to prook an arly crisis on th oard wr trriing to Back. owadays, in th coputr ag, prossional chss playrs only sil condscndingly at such roantic xprints. In act, th corrct raction in this cas is or Back to play actily and aoid kping his pics on th last two ranks, sinc that ight wll nd in disastr. 4 �x 5.d4 Th stupid o 5.c lads to a situation in which Whit is alost idiatly lost! This is th truth I a not jokng! 5 ...d5! 6. xd5 (Ar 6.3, Black's ost
6 .. .d6 (Black has a good altrnati hr in 6 ... 7.2 c6! . This is all don or th sak o th quickst possi dlopnt! .dxc6 xc6 9.00 d 0.c 6 . c6 2.6 x6 3.d +) 7.00 . h3 g +; Black has xtra atrial and good chancs or a kngsid attack.
f6 . xe5 d6 4 x e4 eS 2 f6
S.c3. Ths s an nsdous oe hch hte hte ust lay l ay an yay y ay.. The dea dea s s that he he does not allo hs acente to be edately edately undened. unde ned.
S .. . cS! t s essental fo Black to contol the cental squaes snce sn ce unde un de the coe coe of hs as as h can deelo hs h s eces to acte acte ostions (The asse asse oe S . . .c 6 enabls hte to adance his achain achain a long lo ng ay n the cenc entre: 6.d e .f f .e5 dS 9.�h g 10.d3 g6 11.g6 hxg6 1.�xg6= ith a dra by ee eetu tual al check check Hebel Hebelaa Ga Ga aczyk Lubln 00.). 6.c e6 e 6 e6 e6 xe6 xe 6 . d 9. 9 . dxc5 dxc 5 c6 and the gae tansoses to ou anl anlne ne gae gae Toa Toalo lo Krank Lnaes 1999. 5 .. . c5! (daga) .dxc5 f 6.c dS .exd5 t s ery good for Black to contnue ith .. .5! . (t s een wose fo te to lay hee .b5 �xdS 9.00 10.3 �xd 11.�xd cxd+) cxd+) . . .b 9.dxc5 (9.00 �xdS �xdS 10. 10 .33 �d+ �d+)) 9 . . .c5
10.00 �xdS 11.�xd5 xdS 1. bS and htes dang chances ae absolutely nal fo exal alee : 12 . . . a6 13.d3 bd 1. c3 e6+ .. . c 7.c4 e .e xe
9.c 9.00 10.�e (hites qun can go to d3 and fo fo thee the e t ay be tansfered to b3 o to bS but t ll coe und attack: 10.�d3 �d .d1 �e6 1.cxd6 ! 13.�b5 d6 1.c3 ad 1S.f xf 16.�xb b6+; Black ns eautlly n the aiaton 1.c3 c c 15. 15. xd6 hd!+ hd!+ ) 10 10... �e 11.e 11. e11
hapter 16
and hte has copensation fo he piece
1 1 e6 ! (hi (hiss is song songe e han han 11 d5 12e5 e4 13c3 xc3, ho hott hov, Du Duba ba 200 2, gme 10 hite can continue here th th 1 1 f3 @g 15 15 xc3 b6 16e3, obtaining sucien copensaion fo the piece) 2 c3 d! (Black should efan fo fo 12 dc5, since ae 3e5 d4 d3 hie eains soe copensation fo the knigh) 3g5 (If 13d1 e7! 1cxd6 xd6 xd6 Black Black is clealy clealy bette) bette) 13 dc5 e5 h6 156 156 (Black (Black's 's poposition is pefeable aer 15h4 g5 6g3 d4 17d3 h5+) 5 gxf6 16f4 (16h5 @g7 17 exf6 xf6 1ad1 e7+ and Black paies the atack while e taining taining the exta exta piece) 16 f5!; Black's Black's blocka blockade de is i s secue a n d he exta knight should ell 9 . . ! The king is not the bes ghting uni when the boad is ll of pieces, so his odest retreat is Black's best ove ove 1 0 .e2 .e2 �d �d7 Black's queen on the dle prevents hite fro castling queenside It is i s weake weake fo Black Bl ack to opt fo 10 e 11e3 dxc5 12000
ll . e 11cxd6 xd6 1200 ad 13e3 13 e3 e5 e5 Ae the pseudoactive ove 1g5, Black can foce his opponent o ente ente an endgae: endgae: 11 g4 g4 ( (hie's hie's plans would be b e ustied ae 1dxc5 12xf6 gxf6 13d5 g 14000 g 15f3 e6 16f 16 f) ) 12 xg xg (12 (1 2c c? ? d5! 13xd 13 xd55 xe xe+) +) 2 xg 13 000
13 h6 ! Black plays plays activel activelyy and does not necessaily hold on to his ateial (aer (aer 13 @g6 14 h4 dxc5 15h3 f6 6f e7 17 e5 d5 xd5 xd5 xh xh a ve unclea position aises, in which
e4 e5 2 3xe5 d 4 x
Blacks kng s xposd to vaous vaous 12 .. . .d d N ath ath unplasant unpla sant chcks) chcks) 14h4 14 h4 I t s s ak fo fo Black to opt fo fo g5 15 g3 dxc5 16 16 d7 6 6 17 17 12 8 Top Topal alov ov Kan Kank k Ln Ln xb7 d6 18d1 ab8 19xb8 as 1999 (gme 11 xb8 xb8 20 xb8 xb8 xb8 2 1 h4 c5 1. 1 . xd cxd 1. 0 - 0 - 0 ht's poston s vn os 2 2 hxg5 hxg5 23f 23 f33 f6 f6 h aa 14c4 6 15x 15 xd4 d4 c8+ tal l on th boad has bn a consdably ducd and th 1 . . c c 15.e5 A th pophylactc ov ost lkly outco s a da b1 Black Black has nough nou gh t t to Hov only Black can play fo 5 b1 hs focs: 15 c5 a in h snc hs pcfoa- consoldat hs 165 h8 17 x4 18x4 ton n th cnt s vy stong g g and no 19c3 fals fals to 9 l l dxc5 12.f c4+ + A 1200 Black has th b6 20 cxd4 c4 souc souc 12 6 dfndng aganst th chck fo th c4 squa and ovng hs qun fo fo th th dl dl n th pocss pocs s
15 .. . xc 1.bxc 17. bl d5 1.l 1.l �c �c B l a c k has an ovhlng advantag onclusion The ochrane Gambit is not sound and Black plays precisely Wite cannot obtain sucient compensaon for the sacrced piece.
Chapter 17
l.e4 e5 2) �f6 3.�xe5 d6 4.�c4 Pauen Attack
ra ractio ctio is 6 . . d 5 7.3 (i (i 7.5 7. 5 Black ca attack this knight with t to: o: 7 . . . d6) d6) 7 . . . 6 .d3 .d3 c5 9.00 00=
Just lik th ochran Gait which w w analyzd in i n th rous chatr, this rathr awkward rtrat o th knight origiatd origi atd during th 19th cntury. It was ivntd y Louis Paulsn, on o th ost aous layrs o th ti. hits knight on c is r strictd y Blacks aw on d6 and has no good roscts, so th ntir variation can valuatd as quit original ut in act co ltly harlss to Black. 4 . xe4 xe4 hit has thr logical ossiilitis in this this osition: osition: A) 5., 5. , B 5e2 and C) 5.d4 A) 5 c xc bxc bxc Ar 6.dxc3, Blacks silst
g Black is trng to crat a colicatd osition li sucint or quality is 6 . . . d5 7.3 7. 3 c6 .d . d d7 9c (or 9.d3 6 0.00 d6 d6 .c 0 0 s s 9.c 9. c) 9 ... .. . 6 (Black should rr rrai ainn o 9 . . . ?! 0.d aS .cxd5 cxd5, Khairul hairulli linn dr drik ikin, in, r ruk uk-hov 003, caus it can continu th 1.d3 00 13 d .xd xd 15.xd±, aintaining a grat advantag) 10.c3 (i 10.cxd5 Black continus with with 10 . .. xd5!, rsrving th
. e4 e5 2 xe5 xe5 d 4 c4 xe4
.f4 4 as wll as xibility of his pawnstructur) risky ov 0 .f 0 .. .d6 . .d3 d3 00 2.0 2. 000 6=. A2 A2 1 0 .� .�£ £ Both sids hav copltd th obilization of thir forcs and 0 .f4 b b . . e ! ! hav no pawn waksss. Th 2 d2 b2 Th Th ov ov 2 . . . c5 can lad to position is appoxiatly qual. coplications, but Black dos not 7.d4 attack along th hl nd to go in for th. 3.f5 cxd xd4 (ar (ar 14 . . . b2 5. would woul d obviousl obviouslyy b b pratur, pratur , so s o 4.cxd4 xd4 hit has ha s th th intr intr Black should not b afrai afraidd of 7.h4 7. h4.. f3 xd3 hit H should continu cally with diat ov 6.f6!) 5.h b2 6 .g4 x x33 (a 6 . . .f6 it his his dv dvlopnt: lopnt: 7 . . .g7 .h5 6.g4 7.d5 d5 5 . 4 c4 00 9.3 d7. its pics can play 7. 9. ad) 17 . x3 x3 xd3 .cxd3 .cxd3 a discoordinatd and Black has 9.ad) asy and c ctiv tiv play in th cn- a 9 . d4 xf5 2 0 .g5 f6 2 1 . tr tr and and on th th l l, , Brto Brtokk Ba Ba xf6 . t looks as though hit is unabl to xploit th jc, arajvo 95. wak waknd nd long lon g diagonal in his op7.. . g7 . d 0 - 0 9. 0 0 position , but th th is still t would b rathr advntur- ponnts position, ous for for Whit Whit to try 9.h4 9. h4 0 . tnsion on th boad and Blacks far fro fro asy. as y. f f , narkiv narkiv hadav, hadav, Olginka Olginka dfnsiv task is far .� .� xd xd 4.cxd 4.cxd (rapid) 20. Hr Black can strik a powrl countrblow with with 0 . . . d5! .3 (.5 d7 2.f 2 .f44 h5) h5) . . . c5 2.h5 c6 and his action in th cntr is uch or ctiv ctiv than hit hitss attack on th ank. 9 . .d7
14 c5! It is considrably wakr to play play th th i i diat diat . . .f5, .f5, not not bcaus o 5.d 5 .d5, 5, wh which ich is obously obously bad, sinc it ducs th sco of it itss ow ownn qun: qun: 5 . . .d7 6. ab b b Ovt Ovtch chki kinn Moty Motyl lv, v, ochi 200 (ge 2, but b
should now xain th
hapter 17
caus o 15.d5+ h8 16a1 c6 xc3 16.d2 6. Back's pcs 17.b3= . t ants to play d a uch o actv alsn d5 and c3c a hch h ll ank c 2008 game 1 hav th rath unplasant pos tona that of xchangng th daksquad bshops o th c3squa. Manhl ht also has good pospcts o donatng th l. 15.d5 . o ht can only dra about th xchang o th daksquad bshops on th ong diagonal. Black plans to sz addtonal spac on th unsd and a th ppaatory ov c8d7 h ould lk to contnu ll..e! Black sovs all hs probls ith b7b5. Hs slght but stabl dg s not n doubt. th ths tpoay pasac c. Back's oth ovs do not dvlop pcs and nab ht A2 10.' to psv hs pcactvity. Ths poston as achd onc n a ga btn coputrs and t contnud ith: ...c5 12.! d5 13 . d6! cxd 1.cxd d 15. ab1 hn ht's copnsation o th pan as o than sucnt Rybka Th Baon Ldn 200 8. 12.xb axb 1.'xb7 a 14' a2 1 0 b 1Uel Th ov 11.3 s a bt too so and Black can datly xploit ths th 11...c5! 2.dc5 dxc5 13.a d7! (oput pogras rcond h 3 ...c3 a3 b but it's copnsation a 15d1 fo xapl ss qut al o th huan pont o vi.) 1.a5 a 15.xb7
. e4 eS 2j f 3xe5 4 c4 xe4
Blacks osition is slightly abl thanks to his suio awnstructu
11d2 g5 12g3 g with an x cllnt osition) 10 x6 11 d!? (in th ga Ljubojvic Hort, Bugojno 190, hit con B 5.\e2 tinud with 11d5 g5 12c3 and th oonnts agd a daw in viw o th sal variaton 2 d 31 d5 1h 5 15xd5 000=) 1xd 12 c6 13d5 d c3 hit has xcllnt consa tion o th awn; c6! This is Blacks bst sons H should not b aaid o his aws bing doubld on th l bcaus thn h sizs th initiativ and obtains th advantag oth bishoair c3 (H 5 \e7 e It is harlss o hit to lay has no nd to a 6 gx6 6d3 6 g5 9x x 10c3 6=, bcaus thn his bisho gos to h6 and Black bgins to ght o th initiativ) d
and now: ar th tiid lin: x2 Whit has a slight dg; Black has also tid 6, which ss to to b a bit articial It is a wllknown incil in chss to ty to dvlo rst th knights and thn th bishos t c3 c6 9000 h6 10 6 (Blacks ida can b bst sn in th vaiation 10h d
Blacks knight is rctly lacd on d and h ocs his o onnt to xchang uns gain ing ti or dvlont in th ocss 9x6 gx6 10x 113 c6= Th osition is aoxiatly ual Blacks ain stratgic task is to vnt by all ans th xchang o th
hapter 17
lightsquard ishops, caus thn Whit ould antain a clar advantag thanks to th xcllnt 5outpost or hs kght
.c3 g5 Balogh Gross, ustria 2009 7 . .xc .bxc d7 9g g Th prospcts or oth sids ar approxiatly alancd, tvi akav, Budva (litz) 20 09 C) 5.d4 d5 .e f This ov nals Black to crat so disharony n Whits cap
c It is nror or Black to play 6 . 6 H should not ov his knight aay ro th cntr, sinc it is not undr any attack c3! , Todorovc tanova, ngapor 990 hit ishs to captur on d5 ith hs knight at so point (Black can countr th crativ ov .3 with activity in th cntr: . .c6 2 6 9.g3 d5 0.g2 000 ith a slght advantag, Brg P ilsn Hlsingor 2009, gme 14 .. .6 .g3 c6 9.g2, rachng a vry ntrsting position hich has not yt n thoroughly analyzd It looks as though it's ga is th or plasant. 7.c Th ov .c akns th dsqar and Black can highlight this idiatly th . . g6 ! . Thr ight ollo or xapl: g3 g 9.g2 00 0.00
shall no analyz C) 7 b5 and C2) 7e2 aatur playr ight ll continu hr ith .3?!, ut atr . .h @2 Black has th grandastrly rply ..2! (it ould still hav so countrplay ar th psudoastrly rspons . g3 9 hxg3 xh 0xd5 d6 @2 00 2.c3) .g 9@d3 c6! 0 . dx .@c3 6 and Blacks attack is trndously dangros.
Cl) 7 b5 c 8. 0 0 This ida looks intrsting, ut th concrt variations indicat
. e4 e5 2C Cf 3. Cxe5 d 4 Cc4 C xe4
that th coplications should nd in Blacks aour.
bloodd rspons ...bxc+) 1 ... 5 19.x5
8 cxb5 Black should not b araid to captur th pic and in act h ust do so, sinc ar th unprincipld o ...d6 9.Cxd5, Black would nd up a paw down. 9xd5 ¥d 8 OEe �xd5 c3 ¥d8
13 c6! It is uch wors to play 13 ...6 1 . x6 g6 15.�h5 < 16.a Cc6 1.Cd5 h6 1.Cx Cx 19. x �x 0. x
hapter 17
14 f6 15d5 Th mov 15 . 6 would not lad to a draw y prptual chck: 15 ...gx6 16.�h5 8 17.�h6 18.�h5 g7+ and lacks king suzs out th nmy un. 15 e5 16J dl 0 - 0 lack has a good altrnativ hr in 16 ...g or xampl: 17. 3 ! 18.d6 xc3 9.dx7 �6+ 20.3 �c6 and h has th advantag or 17.xg xg 18.d6 9.�5 d7 10.�x7 8 11.�xc7 g5 9.x5 6 and thr aris- d6 12.�c6 00 13.x dx s a position in which hit has 1.c3 �5 15.c xc 16.�xc som compnsation ut h can- c5 lack has a v dangrous not rally hop o mor than a initiativ. draw.
17d6 d6 18xb5 i 19e3 d3 20g4 ig6 21 exd3 d3 22�e6 h8 23 xd6 ig6 24ie3 �c7 and Black maintains som advantag, mostly owing to th act that hit has waknd his position with th mov g2g. C2) 7�e2 (diagram) 7 ie6 8c3 I 8.d2 thn ar 8 ...�xd
8 d7 Or 8 . ..c6 9.d2 (9.g3 d7 10. g2 000 s 8 ... d7) 9 ... xd2 . d2 d7 .g3 d6 1 2. g2 00 13.00= th complt uality. It is possil or lack to play hr 8 ...c6 9.d2 000 10.g3 (hit should not play .xd5? xc3! .xc3 xdand lacks attack is dcisiv. d it would ovroptimistic or Whit to opt or .x?! dx .g3, . avchnko Linchvski t.P
e4 e5 2j f 3xe5 4c4 xe4
ersbrg 2008, since Back can cnter his his with with .. xd4! xd4 ! 1 2 . g2 d8 13.xe4 e5 14.xc6 bxc6 5.a6 b8 16.xc6 c8! 7.00 b7 18.c4 c5, with a dangers iniave.)
several times, incding a grandmaser eve in he game B. avc a vche henk nk Fr Frya yan nv, v, a annde 2 0 09. 09 . Nw Nw hie cd cd have payed 12.c4!, emphasizing he (I n 10 ...d6!N ... d6!N I particlary like fact tha Back has nt casled. (In his mve. .g2 e7, eaving he game hite payed 12.f3 he c1bishp bsrced by is 000 13.h3 e7 14.g2 n pieces and remvng he 15.f4 g5 16.d3, wh a cmknigh frm the c6sqare, snce picaed psiin ering excei has aeady cmpeed is mis- en prspecs prspecs fr Back. Back.)) 12 . . .d6 13.cx 13. cxd5 d5 cxd5 cxd5 14.b 14. b55 00 0 0 (Back's sin here. Back cd as cnine in cmpensain fr he paw aer direct direct fashin fashin wih wih 1 0 . . . xd2 (in- 14 ... ... 15.xe 15.xe44 e4 16. 00 00 sead sead f 10 . . .d6) .xd2 h5=, 17.xb7± is ceary inscient.) 15.xd5 16. 16. c3 xd2 (16 (1 6 . . . a6 reaching a psiin psii n wh wh a dynam- 15.xd5 ic balance n he bard, magin 17.xb7 xd2 18.xd2 ab8 9. Marich Marichev, ev, Msc Mscw w 1990 199 0 . Bac Backk xa6 x a6 b6 20.e2 f6 21.b3 e8 has a sigh ead in devepmen, 22.00±) 17.d5 (This is an imb he ms keep in mind min d tha his his pran inermediae mve, shwknight n c6 is resricted by ing why 12. 12 . c4 was was s srng srng.).) 7... 7 ... hite's hite's pawnc pawnchai hainn c3 c3 d4 and and e4 (Blacks cmpensatin fr he he paw paw is insc in scien ien aer ae r 17 . . . is n very harmnsy harmnsy paced. paced . e5 18.dxe6 df3 19.e2 d4 9g3 Back can cner 9.d2 wth 20. xe6 21.xb7 c7 22. dS±) 8.de6 8 .de6 xe6 x e6 19 .00 .0 0±; ±; 9 .. . 000. hite has a cear advanage, (dagram) hanks t his pwel bshp9 0 - 0 - 0 I is a bi sw f f Back B ack pay pair. 9 .. . c6 10.g2 g6 11.d2 f5, 1 0 g2 c6 d d22 d6 which has been esed in pracice 12a4
hapter 17
hite is rearing b2b4b5. He has n ther prmising an an in this sitin. sitin. 12 h5 h5 The cmments t the pres mve are aicabe t Back as we. He mst cncentrate his actins n the kingside and the ee. 13h 13h4 4 es es
The psitin is very cmicated, bt Back's rspects are sighty better. better. Deending n hw hite cntines, Back can mve his bishp t g4 r ese pen the game th g7g5. The qite reasnabe reas nabe an an f g7g6, flw flwed ed by f8h6, exerting ressre against hite's knight n e3, is als wrth cnsidering.
oncluion Wite knight, knight, which retreat o the c4- c4 -quare quare on move 4, 4 , ha only only one poible propect to move evenually to the e-quare. But Wite oe another empo in the proce and obtrct hi bihop on c. I i clear hat Black ha nothing toear toear in thi variaion.
Chapter 18
l.e4 e5 2 f6 3.xe5 d6 4. xe4
In this chaper we shal anayze sme seldm payed lines n which ie pays nether the im mediate 5. 5 . d4 nr he he pplar pan f casting qeenside aer 5.c3 c3 c 3 6 dxc3. His His pins fr fr aviding the main lines are 5c4, 5 c4, B 5e2 and C) 5 d3
d3 00 8.00 c6 (Black's knight is generaly nt very wel placed n c6, b it is a develping mve and creates the rather npleasant pleasant threat threat f 9 . . . b4 10.c4 f5) 9.c3 e6 (the her pssibiity here here is 9 . . . g4 10.h3 h5 11 e d5= and Back has ams eqalized) 10.g5 (therse Back wld cntine wih d8 d7 and e6f e6f5) 10 . . .d7 .e4 e8 12.e xe4 13.xe4 g5= and he psitin is eqa.
5c4 This is an rigina mve, bt ha's abt the mst psitive thing that can be said sai d ab it. ite can shw even ess ambitin bitin th 5.d3, 5. d3, when aer aer 5 . . 5 ]c6! f6 f6 6. d4 Back can pay pay 6 . . d5, if This is the best mve, mve, discrhe s wishes, transpsing t he aging aging d2d4. d2d 4. exchange variain f he French Naray Back can as pay Defence, bt it is even better fr 5 .. .e7 6.d4 00 7.d3 g5=, him t cntine h 6 . .e7 7. with with smething sm ething clse t eqaty eqa ty
hapt hapter er 18 18
6c3 Aer 6.d4?! d5, ny hie can have prbems. The ine: ine: 6.e2 e7 7.00 7.0 0 00 8.d4 f6= is harmess; Back has cmfrabe devepmen and an easy game, Nisipean Giri, Giri, ijk aan Zee 2010. 6 xc3 7c3
8 ... .. . �e7! , creaing creaing disharmny in in hie's camp. c amp. 8 g7 9ig5 Oherse Back wi cmpee his devepmen and have n prbems whatsever.
9 �d7! The The ine: 9 . . .6 10.h6 f5 11.00 �d7, wih the idea f cnining wh 000, is as 7 g6! risy fr Back. This is he mst prmising pssibe bt raher risy mve, wth which Back ensres 1000 0-0 11e1 es= he back back qeen remains n d7 the harmnis devepmen f I f he fr ng, Back's ightsqared his kingside. kingside. The mve mve 7 . . .e7 is as pssi- bishp wi be ancheted t b7. be, bt I ike it ess. The psiin is eqal. Back hds he psitin, bt ny jst, jst, aer aer 7 . . .f5 8.d3 �d7 B) 5�e2 5�e2 (8 ... ... d3 9.�x 9.�xd3 e7 e7 10.00 00 1.e1 6 12.4) 9.00 e7 10.f5 �x5 1.e1! (1.�d5 �xd5 12.cxd5 e5 13.xe5 de5 14.e1 6= , Mit Mitn Ga Gash shim imv v,, Havana Havana 20 07) 11 . . . 00 00 12.�d 12 .�d5. 5. Here he rad eqaity is rather cmp cmpi ica cated: ted: 12 . . . �c2! 13.f4 ab8! ab8! (13 .. . f6 14.�b5!) 14.ab1 fe8= 8 e2 Aer 8.d3 Back shd pay
e4 e5 2C Cf 3Cxe5 d 4C Cxe4
6 d3 f6 7 �7 6 Back B ack w w have have exchange exc hange n e2 eiher nw r n he nex mve, hs increasing hies ead in devepmen. Hwever, he psiin is csed and he premare devepmen f hies bishp g5 baances his advanage s Back has n prbems in he exchange variain.
24.g3 d8, draw, passky Hr, Reykjavik 1977. 8 c3 �x2 92 h6
1 0 d2! In pracice, here hie mre en pays 10.h4 g5 g3
7 bd7 I ike his mve, becase i is qie afe b as reains sme chances f baining a ghing psiin raher han a d and drawish drawish ne. I is very ery sid pay: 7 . . .xe2 8 . e2 e7 9c3 9c3 c6 1 0 00 0 000 (hie cann achieve mch wih 10.00 a6 1Ufe1 c7 12.d4 e6 13e3 g6= advakasv Timman Hgv Hgvee eenn 1999.) 199 9.) 10 . . . a6 1U 1 Uhe1 he1 c7 c7 12 .e4 xe4 xe4 13. 13 . dxe4 g5 g5 14.xg 1 4.xg55 e7= e7 = . hies hies edge is s mnima ha if bh sides pay crrecy he game hd end in a draw fr exam pe: 15f4 e6 16.h3 c5 17.f2 d8 18.f3 f6 19.h4 e6 20.g4 aS 21.a3 h6 22.h5 d7 23.h1 e8
and nw Back has w psi biiies: i is cam and safe safe pay pay 11 . b6 12.000 d7 13.d2 (13. e4 g7= g7= ; 13.he1 13. he1 000 0 00 14.f1 14.f1 g7 g7 rme rmenk nkv v Maka Makary rych chev ev,, Lb Lbin in 1976) 13 . . 000 (The mve mve 13 . . .h5 is se, b is n wrh a emp a he mmen and aer 14h4 g4 15.de4 hie mainains a sigh edge, picea My Mye ev, v, Bcha Bchare res s 2000 20 00)) 14. h4 g7=, and he psiin is apprximaey eqa.
hapter 18
11 h5!? This cmbaive mve is qie nara and prmis ing fr Back 12d5 d8 13h4 (13 e5 xe5 14h5 e6=) 13 g4 14d2 b6 15f4 xg3 16 g3 g7= Back's prspecs are n a a wrse in his raher cmplicaed endgame, Reinder man Kasimdzhanv, ijk aan Zee 1999 (game 15
12 a6! 13c3 xc3 14c3 e7 1500 00=, wh eqal chanc es) d7 (e7 12fe1 00 13d4 and hie's bishp ges f3, wh wer pressre n he ng diagna) 12a4! 000 13a5 bd5 14xd5 xd5 15a6 b6 16c4 f6 17fe hie has a sigh avanage, b Back has cnerchances If hie's inii aive reaches a dead end, his a6 pa migh trn in a iabiliy in he ng rn 110-0 Back can cner 11000 h 11 d5! = and ater he knigh ges c5 and he bishp d6; hie wi be nabe rganize any acive pay d5!
10 c6 This is Back's ms reiabe eqaizing mve It is als gd, bt n qite scien t eqaize the sitin, t play 10 c5 11 00 e6 12 d4 d5 (aer 12 c6, Back ms reckn with 13d5 ?) 13 e3 c6 14e5 d6 15f4 00 16ae, and ite is sighy better The ay is mch mre interesing aer I is imprtant fr Back t de10 b6!? 1100 (11000 vep his bishp n the d6sqare d7 12h3 g6 13e4 xe4 14 (in pracice, he sally pts i n de4 g7= gt Kasimdzhanv, e7), becase i is ve acively Germany 2006 Black shld nt paced hee and des n cme be afaid f 11b5 bd5 12c4, nder atack, as i wld n the ebt hee he shl cntine, nt le wth 12 c6, ams Kamnik, 121 d6 13d4 If 13d4 g6 Ds Hermanas 1999, becase f 13cxd5 cxb5 144, bt with 13 14 d3 e6 15.
e4 e5 2 f6 3Cxe5 d6 4 C Cxe4
e2 0-0 16g3 es 17c3 18xe8 xe8 19. Aer 19e1, Back can pay 19 ...e6 20.f5 c7, freeing the d6sqare fr his knight. 19 20 g6 21 d3 g7 22e1 f6 23 Or 23.e5 e8 24.f e7= 23 es 24xe8 xeS=
Nw he fais eqaize aer the fwing pssibiities : 12 ...d7 Mrzevich Kram nik, arajev 20 09. hite has n mers attractive ptins here fr instance: 13.a3 c8 14.a4 f3 15.�xf3 00 16.xe7 xe7 17.e2 b5 18.ae1 g6 19.b2± with advantage; if 12 .. .xf3 t is very prmiing f ie t respnd with 13. gxf3!?, athgh he a main tains an edge aer 13.�xf3 00 14.a3 Mvsesian Harikrishna, arajev 2009. 6 0 0 e7 7h3 Oherwie Blacks bishp wil be deveped t the cmfrtable g4qare: 7.c3 00 8.c2 g4 9.d4 bd7 10.bd2 d5 (The mve 10 ... e8 alws ite's The itin is ced, s kniht t ccpy the c4sqare, ites bihpair is nt s dan- bt thi is nt very dangers ge and the chances are ba- fr Black either: .c4 h5 12. anced, Rehetnikv akaev, e3 f 13.f5 c6 14.a4 d5= vanchk Gefand, Bazna Taang 2011. 2009.) 11.e1 §d6 12. f1 e8 13.xe8 �xe8 14.e3 h5= Naiditch Jakvenk Odessa (rapid) C) 5 . d3 f6 It i es reliabe fr Black t 2009. 7 0 0 8c3 lay 5 . . .d5 6.�e2 �e7 7.00 d6 8.�d1 �d8 9.e1 e7 10.c3 c6 11.�e2 g4 12 .b3
hapter 18
8 b6! The depoyent of Black's pieces wil be quite hamonious ae the anchetto of his bishop to b7. In addtion, he does not waste any temp on fo unneces sary pawnmoves such as d6d5. 9 c2 b7 1 0 d4 ometmes Whte begns with the move 10.e1 but ae 10 ... bd7 his next move woud again be .d4 and the game tansposes to positions which we shal analyze ate. 0 bd7
e8 12 c4 2.e1 f8 13.xe8 \xe8 14. f1 g6 15 . f4 g7 16.e3 d5 17.xd5 xd5= viakov Wang Yue, antyManssk 2007. 12 13 g5
13 h6 It is also possibe fo Back to opt fo the moe pdent move 13 .. .\c, evading the pin on the kight. Ae 14.e3 e 15 . b3 (ae 15.d2 xc2 16.\xc2 \b7 17. fe1 h6 18 . h4 d5= Black is vey close to equality) 15 .. .\b7 16.d2 g6 17.e1 b5! 18.df1 aS 19.a3 c5!=. Black obtained an excelent position in the game Naje Lintchevsk, Taganog 2011 . 14 h4 g5
bd2 . a4 a6 12.e1 e8 13 .g5 h6 14 . h4 h5 15.\d3 f8 (15 ...g6=, with the idea of puting his d7 knight on the f6squae) 16 . xe7 xe7= Movsesian Kasimdzhanov an ebastian 2009. 1. g5 e8 12 .e1 d5 13.\d3 g6 14 . d2 c5 5.c4 c7 16 . c3 d5= Ni Hua Motylev, Tiayuan 2005 (game 6 Fo 1.e1 e8 12 .bd2 (12 . g5 d5 see 1.g5 e8 12 .e1 d5) 12 ... f8 see 1. bd2 e8 12.e1 f8.
. e4 e5 2. j 3. xe5 d 4 j xe4
15 g3 It s inteesting but stl nsuf cient fo any whte advantage to a6 play 15.xg5 hxg5 16 17.e3 xf 18.xf. Whte has no eal theats whle Black has a whoe exta ook fo two paws. 5 4 6fd2 xg3 7 g3 f6 (dagam) lthough Black's lght squaes on the kngsde ae vlneable thee s no way fo Whte to explot this so Black's pospects ae
not at al wose Tvakov G Gemany 2010 (gam 7
onclusion Wenever Wite plays 5 . c4 , he is mostly relying on the eect o surprise. I Black reacts correctly, he will have no problems in the opening whatsoever. I Wite chooses the variation with the exchange of queens aer 5. e2, it almost always means that he is in the mood to make a draw. This is the usual result, but in some o the games that we have ana lyzed in this chapter, there is a realght, victory usually goes to the side that plays beter in this practcally equal endgame. The variation with 5. � d3 is quite original but leads to solid, classi cal positons in which the prospects are approimately equal.
Chapter 19
le4 e5 2 D 6 3xe5 d6 4 xe4 5d4
Thee is anothe possibility too 6 ...e7 with the idea of answeing 7. 00 with 7 ..."c6 and then tansposing to the main line. In that case Black must also eckon with the move 7.c4, so it is much bette fo him to develop his knight st.
5 d5 If Black voluntaily eteats his kight fom e4, he ends up in a passive and camped position, fo example: S .. .e7 6.d3 "f6 7.00 00 8.h3 with a slight edge fo White. 6d3 6 Black's othe possibility is to 700 abstain fom exeting pessue against the cente with his pieces The othe two possibilities fo and to foti his dSpaw in- ite equie pecise play fom stead. Fo this pupose Black usu- Black: ally plays 6 ...d6 7.0 0 00 8.c4 7.e2 fS 8."bd2 e7 9.00 c6. Thee is a lot of theoy on this "d 6 .d 000 ! (It is weake vaiation and I believe White has fo Black to opt fo 10 ...d3?! much moe chance of ghting fo .cxd3 d7 12 ."e5 xeS 13.dxe5 an opening advantage hee than "fS 14."f3, th a slight edge fo in the vaiation we analyze in this White, Gischuk akaev, Moschapte. cow 2007.) .e f6 12."b3
. e4 e5 2. 3 xe5 d 4 . xe4 5d4 d5
g4 12 ... e4 13.c4 dxc4 14.e4 e4 15.xe4 cxb3 16.�xb3 �g6 17.e2 �f5) 13.g5 13.c3 e7 14.e2 e4) 13 ...�xg5 14.xg5 d1 15.axd1 b4 16.c3 xd3 17.xd3 c6 18.f3 f6 19.e6 e8 20 .fe3 b6 21.3e2 g6= ; 7.c3 xc3 Ae 7 .. .b4 8. 00 c3 9.bxc3 00 10.c4 f5 .cxd5 �xd5 1 2. c4 White maintains a slight advantage.) 8. we shal analyze these in the fobxc3 lowing chaptes. 8.bd2 xd2 9.d2 g4 10. c3 0 0= allejo Pons Gelfand Linaes 2010. 8.c3 g4 9.bd2 fo 9.e1 f5 see 8.e1 g4 9.c3 f5) 9 ...xd2 10.d2 00 .e1 d6 12.h3 h5 Moozevich Bu Xiangzhi Yeevan 2008. 8 §g4 9.3 9.e4 dxe4 10.xe4 f3 11. 8 .. .d6! Black's bishop is moe actively placed hee than on e7. n �xf3 t is bad fo Wite to play addition he can tansfe his 11.gxf3 f5 12.e1 �xd4 and his kight to the kingside via the e7 pstuctue has been weaksquae He should efain fom ened so Black has the advantage.) 8 .. .g4 9.b1 b8 10.h3 h5 11. 11...xd4 12.�d3 e6 and the b5 e7 12.g4 g6 13.e5 00 position is equal. 14.c6 bxc6 15.xc6 xb1 16. We shal dea with the move xd8 a3 17.a3 xd1 + 18. xd1 9 .. .c4 in the next chapte. 9 10 bd2 xd8 19.d2 b8 20.e± and Black aso answes 10.�b3 Wite is close to ctoy than Black is to the daw Leko Gel with 0 ... 0 0 when Wite has fand Miskolc 2010.). 9.00 00 nothing bette than 11.bd2 10.g5 g6 11.�f3 e7 12.e1 c6 tansposing to the main line since it is wong fo White to play 13.f4 f5 11.�xb7 owing to 1...f6! and 7 §e7 diagam) Black's ook is eady to join in the attack a the sixth ank. 12.f4 se White has two popula alte- (t is even wose fo ite to play natives hee 8. c3 and 8.c4 and 12 .�b3 3! 13.gxf3 b8! fo ex
hapter 19
ample: 14.�c2 g6+ 15. �d6; 4.�d1 g6+ 15.f �d6; o 14.�a4 g6+ 15. f1 g5) 12 ... xf3! 13.c7 g6 14.xe4 e4 15.xd8 b8 6.�xc6 xc6 0 . .. 0 0
�b3 t s useless fo Whte to play 1.�c2, because compaso wth the ma e: .�b3 a5 2.�c2 c6 he smply pesets hs oppoet wth a exta tempo. The move 11. f eve ceas es the eect of the p o the f3 kght, so t caot be dageous to Back. Black ow has umeous attactve possbltes, of whch shall show you just the oes whch seem to me the most puposel: ...h4 (Black ca also efa fom focg the s sue, by payg 1...d6, ceasg hs kgsde pessue. Thee mght folow: 12.�b3 h8 13. �xb7 �f6 ad Black has a vey dageous tatve as compesato fo hs mmal matea dect.) 12.g3 (Ae 12.e2, Black has may attackg deas,
but I lke best the pophylactc move 12 . ..b8! , defedg agast the possblty of �d1b3. It s the had to see how Whte ca complete hs developmet.) 12 ... xf2 (Black ca mata the teso hee wth the move 12 ... �d6!?) 13.xf2 f4 14.�c2 f3 15.gxf3 �f6 16.h7+ h8 17. f4 �xf4 18.�d3 �h6 19.f5 xg3+ 20.hxg3 (t woud be too sky fo Whte to opt fo 20.xg3 e7! 2.g4 g6 ad Back's kght peetates to the f4outpost th geat eect.) 20 ...�h2 21.f=. f Black so wshes, he ca ow daw by pepetual check: 2...�h1 22.f2 �h2, but he ca aso play fo a wthout too much sk. a5 1.. .h8? ! Ths pawsacce s coect ude these ccumstaces. 12.�xb7 f6 13.�b3 g6 14.b5 xd2 (14 ...d6 15. xc6 xd2 16.d2 f3 17.g3+) 15.xd2 d6 16.g3 e7 17.d3! (t s less mpessve fo Whte to choose 17.f1 f4 18.g2 b8 19. �c2= ad thaks to hs paw wedge o f4, Back ca be opt mstc about the tue, meets Bayam, talya 2004.) 17...f6 18.c4 c6 19.c5 c7 20.f4±; Whte has a sod exta pa ad Back's compesato s obously sufcet. (dagam) 2�2 2.\a4 c6 13.b5. Beag md what folows ths vaa to, t would be moe pudet fo
. e4 e5 2Cj Cf 3. Cxe5 d 4 Cj Cxe4 5.d4 d5
White to eteat his queen to b3 now. 13 ... h4! (Back povokes, wth tempo, an impoant weakening of the white king's shelte.) 14.g3 (but not 14.Cxh4 xh4 15 f6 and ite come under diect attack) 14 ...f6 15. c6 bxc6 16.xc6
and now: 19.xe4 xf3 20.xf3 g3 2.hxg3 d4 22.f4 xb2 23.f1 xf2 (hee it might be stonge fo Back to continue with 23 ...d7!?, inceasing the pessue) 24.xf2 a. Back has an exta pa, but reaising it wil not be at a easy, hepainov Gefand, ochi 2008; 19.CeS eS 20.dxe5 g3 21. hxg3 b6 22.xe4 (It is even wose fo White to choose 22. dS+ xdS 23.cxd5 f3 24.g4. He has no other defence against his opponent's manoeue fShS. 24 ...g4 25.xe4 f3 26.f4 xf4 27.4 g5 28.g3 xb2 and Back has exceent chances of winning this position.) 22 .. .f3 23.h4 xh4 24.gxh4 g6+ 25. h2 g2+ 26.h3 xf2 27.e3 xb2 and ony Back has winning pospects. 12 6 3b4 a6 (diagram) White has two ogical possibiities now: 4b and B) 4a4
16...b8! . This is a vey powe attacking move (it is much weake fo Back to pay 16 ...e8 since ae17.Ce5 he need to woy about maintaining the balance, nand amnik, Wijk aan Zee 1999). 17.c4 (Ae 17.e6+ 18.Cxe4 dxe4 19.CeS e5 20.xe5 f3 Back's queen wl be continuay tng to get to the h3squae and ite's position is 14bl b5 ! very dangeous.) 7. ..f4 18.Cxe4 Back exploits the cicumstance that White's ook has dxe4
hapter 19
abandoned the ae and blocks the advance of his b4pawn indefinitely. 15a4 bs 16axb5 axb5
save the gae with a perpeta check against White's eposed king) 19f3 �b6 20.e4 e4 2.g4 cb4+ 22h �f2 23.g (the gae onatov Kunin, Moscow 2009, contined with 23.�d? bc3+ and Black won) 23 ..c5 24. b2 e3 2S.cb4 b4 26.�b3 d2 27�d5+ � 28 e6 �e7 29 a b4 30 . d4 bd8 3.�e5 d4 32.�d4 �e6. White wil be hard pressed to save the gae. 17 b6 185 x5 19 dx5
17al 17.e5 eS 18.de5 cS! (The eWorld hapion played too risly here: 18 ...f2 19f2 h4+. Here, instead of 20.f e 21. e �h4+ 22.g3 �h2 23.f �c2 24.c2 Howell Kranik, London 2009, which led to a very coplicated endgae, it wold be ch stronger for White to play 20 .g3 f4 2 .g2 g3 2 2.hg3 h3+ 23.h3 g3 24.f3 f3 2S.g2 f2+ 26. g3 c2 27.c2 and Black shold be happy if he anages to
19 c5!?N Now some very interesting coplications arise. Black has also tried 19 .. .f2 20.f2 h4+ 2.f (2.g3 f4 22.g2 g3 23. hg3 g3 24.h7+ h8 25h eS= and, strangely enogh, ite has nothing better than perpetal check) 2 .. . e 22. e �h4+ 23.g3 �h2 24.f, and the position is very ncear, tellwagen Fridan, Netherlands 2007. 20 cxb4 21b3! Aer 2.cb4, Black shod
. e4 e5 2. j 6 3. xe5 d6 4 . j xe4 5 . d4 d5
contine with the fafomobvi os move 21g6!, with a crshing attack In the vaiation 2e4 e4 22xe4 (White cannot keep his exta piece: 22e2 c5+ 23h1 \h4+, o 22f c5+ 23h1 \h4+) dxe4 23e4 bxc3 24 \c3 b4 White's e5pawn s safey bockaded by Back's bshop, whie Black's otside passed b4 pawn is temendosy dangeos, so he has the advantage 21 ih5! White is cleary bette ae 21h 22f c6 23g4 xc3 2\b1 g4 25xf8+ \xf8 26 e3 f2+ 27f2 \xf2+ 28h1±
f4 \xf4 33xd6 h3! 34gxh3 \xd6= with a pobable daw) 27c3 28h 244 dx4 It is not good fo Black to co tine with 24 \b6+ 25\f2 \xf2+ 26xf2 e4 27e2 ite also maintains a cea advantage ae 24 e4 25 xf8+ \xf8 26 c8 27\a2± 25i2 8 2 6a2 26 e2 27\xe2 \d5 28b1 \xe5 29f4± 27b! 3 28h!
28 b6 Thee are nmeos tactical nances in this position and I wold evalate it as appoximate ly eqal om the dynamic point of view White is bette ae 28 e3 29 6! e6 30\a6 c 31c4+ bxc4 32d4 \xd 33\e6+ h8 34xb4± and the fact that Back's king has no escape sqare is deci sive 29x Or 29 fc8 30b2 h6! with excellent compensation fo th paw
22xb4 Black has a vey good position aer 22e4 e 23e2 e2 2xe2 c6=, obtaining severa passed paws for the piece 22 b4 23J bs Thre is a transposition of moves ae 23 b7 24e xe4 25e2 c7 26\a2 27b ! (it is weakr fo Whit to opt for 27 d1 \e7 28b5 c3 29a4 e5 30\b2 h5 3 d4 d6 32
hapter 19
29.g5 ! ? e3 (29 . ..h6! ? 30 .h4 h7!?) 30.h4 ¥c6 3Ub2 c4! 32.g3 (32g5 d5 33.g1 a8 34.¥b1 c3 35c2 b4 36.f3 f3 37.xf3 ¥e4 38.f4 d3 39 xb4 e2 40.c ¥xb1 4.b1 xb4) 32 ...d5 33.c4 (33.g1 f4) 33 ...c4 34f3 c3 35.b1 ¥e4 36.e1 e5 and despite the absence of a whoe ook, Back s on top n this poston. 29 xb3 30x+ 31�b2 2 32�x3 xb 33b3+ h8 34�xb � 35 ig5 x2 366 b4 377 x7 387 b3 Whte must gve up his bishop n ode to stop Black's passed pawns, so it al ends in a daw.
advantage.) Now, ae 21.e2 o 2.f1, Black can play 2.¥e7, wth a compicated poston. and 15 h8 Back cannot obtain much th staghtfowad pay: 15 . . f6 16.b5 (Ae 16.h3 Back's coect eacton woud be, not 16 ... xd2? 17.xd2 h3 18.gxh3 g6+ 19.f1+ and White paied his opponent's attack and won the game, Lastin ugin, oonezh 2005, but 16 ...h5 17. b5 axb5 18.d6 cxd6 19.ab5 a5=, with an acceptabe postion.) 16 . .ab5 (Ae 16 . xd2, Whte has the athe elegant vaation 17.¥xd2! f3 18.bxc6 g6 19.g3 bxc6 20.d6 cxd6 21.f5 f6 22.d3 g6 23.xf3±, wth evey chance of ealising his adB) 1 4a4 id6 vantage, Moozech Kapov, Pague 2002.) 17.d6 cxd6 18. ab5 a5 19a3! planning ¥a2!, with advantage. 16�b2 It seems a bit awkwad fo White to play 16.eb1 ¥e7 (Ae 16 .. xd2?! 17.xd2 ¥h4 18. e7 19.f3 h5 20b5± Black's attacking potential was neutaized, whie his bad bshop and the weakness of the e5squae would ate tel, Moozevich Gelfand, 15ia3 15.b1 h8 16.b5 axb5 17.ab5 Yeevan (apd) 2008. Howeve, a a5 18.e5 e5 19.dxe5 h5 faiy eiabe continuation fo 20.f3 ¥h4! (In the game ulypa Black is 16 . .b6 17.b5 a3 18. Tuov, Latschach 2009, Back xa3 axb5 19.b5 �d6 20.aa1 payed the ovey cautious move xd2 21.xd2 f4!=,with appoxi20 .. .xd2?, when White could mate equalty.) 17.¥b2 d8! have payed 21.¥xd2! c4 22. (Black's knight is headed fo the f4±, obtainng an ovehelming f4squae.) 18.b5 ab5 19.d6
e4 e5 2 C Cf6 Cxe5 d6 4C Cxe4 5d4 d5
cxd6 20 b5 Ce6 an d Blacks position is at least equal Ae 16b5 axb5
Now Black's most pomising move seems to be 18 f6 ! (Natually he can also pay a calm pophylactic move, such as 18 b6 o 18 h5) with the standad idea of d6f4 and also peseving the possibility of tansfeing the ook to g6 o h6 to oganize an attack against White's king 19Ce5 (ae 9h3 Black does not need to sacice mateial o exchange pieces; he can simply play 19 h5) 19e5 20dxe5 h6; Whte's kng is seiously endangeed
we shal analyze two possibilities: 17 d6 and 17 b5 17 cxd6 18ab5 (18 b5 Ca5 see 17b5 Ca5 18 xd6 cxd6) 18 Ca5 19h3 h5 20Ch2 c8 21a3 b6 22Cdf1 f4 23f3 h4 24e2 Hee it is vey pomising fo Black to play 24 fe8 ! , inceasing the pessue (n the game Ponomaiov dams Wijk aan Zee 2005 , thee followed 24 Cg3 25Cxg3 g3 26Cf1 xf3! 27gxf3 xf3 and Black had sucient compensation fo the piece) e 25c1 Cg3 26 xe8+ xe8 27Cg4 Cxf 28xf1 g3, only Whte might have difculties in the nal position 17 b5 Ca5 (t woud be too isky fo Black, fom the pont of ew of stategy, to pay 17h5 18xc6 bxc6 19 Ce5 g5 19 c5 20f3 20 C df3 f3 21 Cxf3 16 7! e7 22 d6 cxd6 23Cd2 h4 This move has a ve bad ep24Cf± monatov ljin, ochi 2007) 18b4 (18 d6! ? cxd6 utaton but in fact it is vey good 19ac1 c8 20b2 h5 hepa- Back's knight is tansfeed to nov Koneev, oia del Rio the kingside, adding to his aeady excelent piece fomaton thee 2005)
hapter 19
The altenatives ae infeio: 16 ... �e7 17.b5 a3 18.xa3 ab5 19.b5 f3 20.xf3 d8 21.d3 22.c4 dxc4 23.c4 fd6 24.a2± ndekin Rakhmanov, Dagomys 2009; 16 .. .e8 17.b5 ab5 and hee White wod not achieve mch with 18.b5 �f6 (hee 18 ...f4!? is also vey good, isolating the enemy bishop on a3) 19.d6 cxd6 20.a5 (ae 20 .h3, Black can play camly 20 ...h5, maintaining the tenson) 20 ...eb8; Whte has lost his aSpawn and mst ght fo eqaity, vidle Pe.H.Nielsen, Dortmnd 2005. Instead, it wold be coect fo hm to continue th 18.axb5! a5 19.d6 cxd6 20.b6, etanng a sight edge. 175 g6! It is bad fo Black to pay 17 .. . e5 18.dxe5 g6 19f3 xe5 20. f± when his compensation fo the piece is ceay inscient, o Gii, Wijk aan Zee 20 10 . 18xg4 Ae 18.e4, Black can advantageosy sacice a piece: 18 ...e4! 19.xg4 �h4 20.e5 (the move 20 .h3 weakens White's
kingside and ae Black's simple eaction 20 ...h5 White is clealy wose) 20...�xf2+ 21.h1 xe5 22.dxe5 e5 23.b5 f5 24.bxa6 bxa6!. White's king is lneable and Black's powel centalized pieces povide him with an advantage. 18 xd2 9xd2 g4 20g6 White is unable to estict the mobiity of Blacks knight; ae 20.g3, Black has the epy 20 ... h4! 2 0 hxg6 26 f6
Black has no pobems at all. His bishop is mch moe powel than its whte contepart and his tipled (!) pawns ae qite safe.
onclusion Wite usually castles on move 7, but the moves 7. e2 and 7 require very precise playom Black in order to maintain equalit. n the main line, Wite has the possibili of repeating the posion on his thirteenth move by playing 1. b. f he does not do so, however, Black obtains very active play and his prospects seem to be at least equal.
Chapter 2 0
l.e4 e5 2 �f6 3.�xe5 d6 4.�£ �xe4 5. d4 d5 6 . d3 �c6 7. 0 0 e7 s. gel 9.c4
A) 10 .xd5 i welknow theoetica posi tion aises ae ...xdS .c3 00 12.h3 e6 13.a3. White has an isoated pawn, but his pieces ae so active that it is vey dicut fo Black to equaize. 11.�x£ �xd5
Ae this move the chaacte of the game is entiey dieent fom the one aising ae 9.c3, when White intends to go to b3 with his queen and attacks on the dak squaes. Now, thee is an immediate shap conict in the cente and the pay is mainy tactica, without any cea positiona guideines. White must choose now between shap ines, based on the 9 f6 A1) a esut of the move 9.c4, sacice of his d4paw the base of the back kight on e4 12.�g3?! and A2) 12.�h3, and is undemined, so it must eteat. aowing simpication into an White now has two possibiities: endgame with 12.�xd5 to foce a caication of the situation in the cente th A) A1) 12.�g3?! 1 0 .xd5, o to incease the pesThis is one of two possibiities sue with B) 1 0 .3 fo White to keep the queens on
-
hapter 20
the boad and ty to exet pes sue in the cente, but it tuns out to be tie. 12 d 133 00 1 b5
16ad1 White fails to tap the enemy queen with 16.a3 �xb2 17.ab1 �a2 and hee he is stuck fo a continuation. 16a6 17x7 Ae 17.c3 it is vey good fo Back to continue smpy wth 17 ... fe8, with a soid exta paw. 17d6 18�h3 7 19 6 xd3 2 0 �xd3 6 21 �a5 22 g+ @h8 23 h 2�h3 @g8 25xh7 5 Back has paied his opponent's attempt to mate him and has pe seved the eta mateial, so he maintains an advantage.
1 �b It is payabe but nfeio fo A2 12�h3? Back to opt fo 14 . ..�g4 15.�xg4 xg4 16. f6 17.xc7 ad8 18.e3, Kamsky Khaifman, Las egas 1999. Hee Black can play 18 ... a6!, which leads to a vey complicated stugge in which White has a powe bishoppai but his knight is standed in ene my teitoy. 15g5 adS This centalising move is the best, as is oen the case in open positions, and it even aows Back This queensotie is much to ght fo the advantage! In moe inteesting, but Back can many vaiations White's bishop sti seze the initiative with peon d3 is hanging and his ack of an cise pay. 12 �xd escape hole fo the king is bound to te as wel. Back can ony stuggle to Back only equaizes with the each equaity with 12 ...xd4 13. ine: 15 ...h5 16.xe7 xg3 17. c3 d7 14.xd7+ xd7 15.e3 xb4 xb4 18.ad1, hapyko e6 16ad1 d6 17.f5 (othe T.Balogh, Zagan 1995. Hee he good white option is 17.f4!? he8 should continue with 18 ...ad8!= 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4 g6 20.f5
4 xe4 5. d4 dS 6 §d3 c6 70 0 e7 8 e g4 9 . c4 6
d8 2 1.d4 c6 22 .c3; Backs foces ae al squashed into the ast few anks but he has an exta paw and shoud not lose. ) 17 ... e7 18.b5 hd8 19.xd6 cxd6; White has at least enough com pensation fo the pawn Kaspaov Kapov, Moscow (m/28) 1984. 33
natives fo White hee: 14.e2 0-0-0 15.e3 �xd3 16.�xg4+ b8 17.�xg7 �f5 18. �h6 hg8; Black has a moe active position; 14.e3 �xd3 15.�xg4 �g6, and White must pay pecisey to equaize. 4 h5! 5 4 �5 6g3 Ae 16.e3 a good continuation fo Back woud be 16 .. 0-0 17.ae1 d6 18.g3 fe8 6 �6 7 f4 with an exceent position fo Back.
A3) 2�xd5 xd5 13c3 Fo 13 . e4 0-0-0 14.c3 see 13.c3 0-0-0 14.e4. 13 g4! Black's knight is pefectly paced on g4 and ite is foced to potect his f2paw.Having blocked the h3c8 diagona Black oen has the possibiity of casting queenside. Hee Black usually plays 13 ... d8, but then he must eckon with the possibility of 14.c2! ? (it is useless fo ite to ty 14.b5 3 We should point out that Back in view of 14 0-m=, when the bishop on e7 is not hanging has a vey inteesting atenative owing to the vulneability of at his disposa hee: 13 ...db4!? Whites back ank; and it is had 1 4. e4 xd4 1 5. e3 dc2 ! (but to see how White can continue not 15 .. .c5? in view of 16 . xd4! his attack ae 14.f5 0-0 15.e3 cxd4 17.b5± with a stabe ad�b4 16. a3 �b3!) 14 . 0-0 15.e3 vantage to White) 16.a3 xe1 (it is �b4 16.g5 o even 16.ab1!? aso quite safe fo Black to opt fo 16 ... xa1 17.ab4 xb4 18.xa1 4 We should gance at the alte c6= when his pawchain b7c6
hapter 20
cosideably esticts the actity of White's bishop o e4) 17.axb4 (i the vaiatio 17xe1 000 18.xa7 b6 19.f5+ b7 20.xe7 he8 2.xe8 xe8 22e4+ c6 White's bishop staded o a7 is i much geate touble tha Black's kight pied o c6.) 17 ... xb4 18.xe1 000=. Black's ook ad two paws do ot seem to be ay weake tha Wite's two mio pieces.
This staightfowad ad solid move is best hee. Ae the moe exible 15 ... f6 16.e4 b5 (16...a5 17.d5 e7 18.b4!) 17.d5 e7 18.ad o 18 .xa7! ? White has chaces to ght fo the iitiative. 16 e4 d7 17. xd4 xd4 18 . x7 xb7 19.xe7 hd8 20. 8d7= The ook ad paw edig is equal ad a daw is ve likely.
14.xd5! This is the oly possibility fo ite to ceate ay seious poblems fo Black. The alteatives ae completely hamless : 1.c4 b4 15.d2 xd4 16. xdS xd2 17.d c6 18.xd2 cdS 19.xd4 dc4 20.c4+ b8 v Razuvaev Tashket 1984; 1. b 15.d2 (S.dS d 16.a3 xc3 17.bx3 d7=) 1 .. .f6 16.xc6 bxc6 17.e3= ams arpov iaes 1994. 14 Jxd5 15 . e3! (iagam) 15 .xd4!
B 1 0 .c3
10 Thee is aoth thoetical lie he: 10 . ..xd .cxS f3 12.gxf3 cS but I do ot oside it to b completel sf for Black.
4 . C Cxe4 5. d4 d5 6 . d c6 7. 0 -0 e7 . e g4 9 . c4 f6
Thee is aso a weknow vaiation: 10 ... 00 1.cxd5 xd5 12.h3 e6 13.a3 whch can aso aise ae 10.cxd5 xd5 .Cc3 00 12 .h3 e6 13.a3 �x xd4 2�d completey equa endgame is eached ae 12.�h3 dc4 13. xc4 c2 14.d1 �c8 15.�g3 00 16.b1 d6 17.�h4 �g4= aana Gelfand Biel 2009. Thee is a tansposition of moves ae 12.�g3 dxc4 13.xc4 00 14.d (14.g5 §d6 15.�h4 h6 16.xf6 �xf6 17.�xf6 gxf6 obon Kapov Hanove 1983) 14.. .c5 15.h6 h5 16.�h3 (16. �g4 �d6) 16 .. .f6 (16 ... �d6 17. e3=) 7.�g3=
This move has been extensve y anayzed in theoy and tested many times in pactice. Black can hold the position but he must memoize a ot of vaations and kow them thooughly. He plugs the aimportant ee which White can open only by giving up his lghtsquaed bishop a temendousy impotant attacking pece.
hite can now continue opening les with 1a) 3cxd5 o else ty to incease the pessue with b) 3i 1a) 13cxd5 xd5 ib5 c6 15 xd5 cxb5
Ae 12.�d Back can equal ize in wo ways. The move ) 12 e6 has been played nume os ties but the is also the simple and moe pecise move 2) 12 dxc4! e hall dea with the both in oe to make the situation copltely clea.
1) 12 e6
4
hapter 20
16�b3 White has aso tried some oth er moves hee: 16.a4 16 .a4 00 0 0 17.axb5 17 .axb5 cS 1 . e3 e3 xe3 19xe3 gS 20.g3 fd 2 . d3 h= h = , ad ad White's White's edge edge is is merely symboic, Gashimov Gefad, Liares 2010; 16.hS 00 17.xe7+ xe7 1.xb5 1 .xb5 fd fd 19 . e3 a6 2 0 .b3 .b3 ac 2 . ad1 ad1 = , daw, daw, a achi chie e La La grav gravee Gef Gefad, Bie Bie 2009 20 09 ; 16.d3 00 17. 17 . e3 c7!N c7 !N This is Back's most pecise e spose the positio is ess cea aer 17... 17...c5 c5 1.ad1 xe3 19. xe3). xe3) . 1. 1 .xe7+ xe7+ xe7 xe7 19 . xa7 xa7 d!. Black has othig to be afaid of with the quees o the board. His doubed paws o the ble are ot realy a iabiity. 20.xd d 21.b6 dc 22. a 3 d S 23 . d4 d4 f6= , th th ideas ideas of 2 4 ...c ... c22 or 24 . . . b4; 16 .f4 f4 xf4 xf4 17. xe7+ f f 1 . eS d6 19.d2 19.d2
16 .. . xeS! This is the right move, sice Black does ot eed to be afra afraid id of ghosts ghosts!! (19 . . . g6 20.ee1 f6 2.ad± Naiditsch amik, Dortmud 200) 20. b4+ e 21.xbS+ White
achieves othig much th 21. e1 e2+ 22.f c 23.f4 xdS 24.xe2+ d7 25.d2 xd2 26. xd2 c 7 27.c3+ a d ow ow Blac Blackk ca choo choose se betwee betwee 27 . . . b 2 . xg7 with a appoximatey equa but doubeedged ght o both sides of the board, ad the immediate immed iate daw daw aer 27 . . . b6 2.e3+ a6 29.a3+) 2...d 22.d1 e2+ 23. h1 White os es immediatey imme diatey folog folog 23. f1 f1 d4 24.a4 c6 + ad he e mais a whole rook dow, th out havig havig ay dageous discov ered ered chec checks.) ks.) 23 . . . d4 24.xb7 c 25.h3
25 ...g5! ... g5! This is the simpest ad safest move; move; Black prevets prevets a possibe f2f4 ad at the same time protects his rook o h th his quee. Now White captures the kight o d4 i various ies, but i the meatime mea time Black brigs his kig to safet safetyy ad activates ac tivates his hook hook istead istead,, aer aer 25 . . . c5 the postio becomes vey sharp) 26.xa7 26.c3 c7 27.b+ d7 2.b4 29.xd4 d) 26 .. . e 27.xd4 xd4 2.xd4 c2 29.b4 d7 ad oly White ca ose this positio.
4Cj 4 Cj Cxe4 5 d4 d5 6 � �dd3 Cc6 70 -0 � e7 8 e �g4 � g4 9 c4 C6
16
00
20�2 I ode to deveop hs tatve, Whte must somehow combat the eemy kght o e6, so t seems ve ogca fo hm to opt fo the mmediate 20.f4.
17i3 17.Cxe7+ xe7 18.xb5 fd8 19.e3 a6 20.b3 a ac8 2 . ad1 , daw, daw, ac ache he Lag Laga ave ve Gefa Gefad, d, ad ow: Bie 2009, ad despte the fact f Back B ack eteats eteats his kight imi mthat the bshop s usuay stoge mediatey, medi atey, befoe befoe t has eve bee bee tha the kght whe whe thee s pay atta attacked, cked, th 20 2 0 ... C c7, the ae o both aks, ths patcua 2.c3 �xc3 22.Ce7+ h8 23. stuato Back s safey hodg xc3 Ce6 (o 23 .. .Ca6 Ca 6 24.d7 24 .d7 b4 b4 the positio. Thee ae quees 25.2 b6 26.Cc6 Cc5 27xa7 peset o the boad, ad quee xa7 28.Cxa7 a8 29.Cc6 xa2 ad kight kig ht wok togethe togethe at east 30.Cxb4 ad Back has o pobas we as quee ad bshop. It s ems at a) 24.f5 ad8 25.xd8 aso vey good fo Back that o Cxd8 26.c7 thee ases a the queesde hs pawnbase o edgame whch Back's peces b7 is vey secuey potected. potected . ae stuck o the back ak ad his 7 5 5 18Jad1 3 19 defece wi be dcut; dcut; it s more accuate fo him to x3 �a5 cotiu cotiuee th 20 . . . fd8 2.f5 Cc7 22.Ce7+ h8 23.de1 b6 24. x d1 25.xd1 25 .xd1 xe3+ xe3+ 26. f (26. (26 . h1 e2 27.b1 d8 ) 26 . . . f4+ 27.g1 e3, th a daw by pepetua check. 2 0 f8 21f4 b4 22 23d3 23.Ce7+ h8 24.c4 Ce6 25. Cd5 ad8 ad 8 26 .ee1 c5+ c5+ 27. 27. xc5 xc5 Cxc5 Cxc5 28. 2 8. xe8+ xe8 29. Cxb4 Cxb4 g6 g6
hapter 20
30 .g6=, .g6=, daw, vid vide e GeGe- the fact that Back's king acks safe safe shete. shete . fand, Moscow Moscow 2009 20 09.. lb) 13i
2 3 5! 5! In the game game Lek Lekoo Gef Gefand, Nachik 2009, Back went ong with: with: 23 . . . d7?! and ae 24.�c7 �c5+ 25.@f1 �b5 26.�g3± he came unde postona pessue. 24f6 a8 25g7 O 25.e7+ h8 26.�f2 e6 27 27 7 g5= g5 = , aand nd Back B ack ceates ceates active tive countepay, co untepay, whie pesevng pe sevng the exta mateia. 25 xg7 26� g6=
The poston is so open that White must woy about hs op ponent's numeous unpeasant check, so he is unabe to expoit
13 6! Wth ths move Black potects his ght squaes squaes as best he h e can. The atenatives woud not sove sove hs pobems : 13 .. . d4 14.e2 d3 15.f4 xf4 16.f4 00 17.�f3; Black's d pawn is ost and te maintans the intiative; 13 .. . dxc4 4.�a4+ c6 15.e6! (ae 15.�xc4, besdes a tansposition to the main ine with: 15 . . . 0 0 , Wh Whit itee must must eck eckon on with with 15 .. . d4 16.d1 �a5 17.h3 c5, with a athe uncea position.) 15 ...e6 ...e6 16.�xc4 00 17.xe6! (17.�xe6+ 18.e3 �d6 19. �xd6= �xd6= da daw nand nand amn amnik ik,, Manz (apid) 2001) 17. 17 . . .d5 . d5 18. e3. (diaga) Now Back fails fails to equaize, equaiz e, no matte what what he pays: pays : 18 . . . h8 19.x 19. xd5 (19. (19 .d4! d4! ?) 19 ...cxd5 ... cxd5 20.�a4 (20.�d3!? f6 2.d4 �d7 22.ae) 20... 20...f6 f6
4 . e4 5 . d 4 d5 6 . � d c6 7. 0 -0 � e7 8. ' e �g4 � g4 9 . c4 f6
21.d b2 22.\bS f6 23.xd5 \ 24.ed6 and White maintains a sight edge thanks to his command comm and of the cente. 18 . . .f6! 9.c5 (19.d \d7 20.e4 c3 2.bxc3 ae8 22. Exe8 Exe8 23.a7 bS 24.\d4 \e7 25.h3 \a3 26.c5 \xa2=) 9 .. . \d7! (In the bitz game Mooze ozevvich ich van vanch chuk uk Mosc Moscoow 20 07 thee thee fo foow owed ed 19 . . . e8?! 20.Exe8+ \xe8 2.xd5 cxdS 22. \xd5+ \. Now White oud have ontinued with 23.x+ x 24.e3± peseng his ex ta pawn and a his winning chances.)
20.Ed6 (20.Eae1 bS 21. \d3 3 3 2 2 .bxc3 .bxc3 Efe8 Efe8=) =) 20 . . . \ 21. xdS xdS 22.Exd5 (22.\xdS Efd8 23.\x+ x 24.Ead1 Exd6 25.Exd6 b6 26.a3 8 27.g3 2 28.Ed7+ g6 29. xa7
b2= b2 = and in this this rook rook and pawn pawn ending Black only needs to exchange the queenside aws to daw daw the the game. 22 . . . Efd8 Efd8 2 3. Ead1 ExdS 24.xd5 (in the vaiation 24.\xdS \xdS 25.Exd5 b2 26. Ed7 Ed 7 8 8 27.e 27 .e33 a S 28.Exb 28 .Exb7 7 Blac Black hods the baane baan e thanks thanks to the elegan egantt move move 28 . . .d4!=) 24... 24 ...Ee8 Ee8 25.e3 b2 26.\d3 f6 27.h3. ite is bette but Bak shoud be abe to daw th accuate defence. 14.xd5 14.xd5 xd5 xd5 15.\g4 15.\g4
15 ... 0 0 The The move move 15 . . . xc3 opens additiona es fo ite's attack and in the game game Rad Radj abov abov Ge Ge fand Medias 2010 he expoited this biianty with 16.bxc3 00 17.b! \c7 18.h6! d6 19.\h3! Efe8 20.g7! 20 .g7! + winning. winning. 6.xd5 16.e6 16 .e6 xc3 17.bxc3 17.bxc3 e6= e6 = 16.\h3 g6 17.e6 e6 8. \xe6+ = 6 ... xd5 17. 17. 6 6 18. Wx6 Wx 6 19 . 3 3 19.f4 c5= 19 . . . f6 20.ad1
apter20
2 0 d7! Hee t woud be mpecise fo Back to opt fo 20 2Uxd5 e7 22.g4 and White man tains some advantage thanks to hs safe safe king and actve actve rooks as we as the pesence of queens on the the boad boad De Fm Fman an cha cha do openh openhag agen en 200 0. Howeve t woud aso be quite safe safe fo Back to pay 20 . . . d4 21.b3 d7 22.f4 d8 23.e5 xe5 xe5 24. 24 . xe5 xe5 g6= g6 = and he wi wi not pat pa t easiy wth hs key d4pawn. 21.xd5 xd5 22Jxd5 b2 Back shoud shou d daw eot eot-essy.
14.a4+ White shoud ente an endgame n ode to pevent his opponent fom comfoaby com petng hs deveopment ae casting. Whte keeps hs two bshops and estoes estoes the mateia m ateia baance n the pocess but fas behind n deveopment. 14.b5 00 15.xd4 cxd4 16.f4 c8 17.d3=; ite has sucient compensation fo the pawn but no moe. The ne 14.g5 00 15.xe7 xe7 16.d5 d6 17.xf6+ gxf6 18. 18 .h6 h6 Lawi Lawits tsch ch Haasz Haasz ustia 1995 fas fas to 18 .. .f5 .f5 19. 19 . xf8 xf8 and Back ends up with a sod exta pawn. 14 . Jd7 Jd7 15xd7+ 15xd7+ xd7 xd7
B2) 12 dx4! 134 5
16 e 16.g5 h6 17.h4 g5 18. g3 d6= Back simpies the poston advantageousy. 16.e3 hd8! This is the ght ook to pace hee so that he can bng hs king to safety safety on the e8 e8 squae. 17.xd4 (17. c2; 17. ac e8!) 17... 17 ...cxd4 cxd4 18.b5+ d6 19.ad1 c5 (Back aso
4 [ x 4 5d4 d5 6 d3 [ c6 7. 0 0 7 8J g4 9.c4 [ 6
equalizes wth 19 ...f8 20.xd4+ c7 21.f4 ac8 22.c4 d7=) 20. e5+ d6 21.ee1 (White woud not achieve much th 21. f4 f8 22.xd4+ c7 23.c4+ b8 24. a4 a6 25.b3 a7 26.a4 b6=) 2 .. .c5 22 .e5= daw miin Gii, antyMansyisk 2010. 16 d6! This is an impotant muti pupose move. Back peseves the possibiity of going to f8 with eithe of his ooks depending on cicumstances, and his bishop goes simultaneousy to a vey active position, ceating the theat of [d4c2 . Back cannot sove his pob lems with the natual ine: 16 ... hf8 17.c4 d6 18. [b5 ! [xb5 (it is athe dubious fo Back to opt fo 18 . ..[c2 19.d [xa1 20 .[xd6 c6 21.b5+ b6 22.b4!± and ite has a dangeous attack, despite the tansition into an endgame) 19.b5+ c7 20.d2 and White has a slight edge, thanks to his bishoppai. 7 c4 Black can counte 17.d1 wth 17 ...af8!. This move is not easy to nd, but it soves a his pobems. His othe ook emains on h8 as an attacking piece! 18.c4 [g4 19.f4 (if 19.f3 h2+ 20.h1 h5 21.[ e4 c6 see how use the ook on the h8squae is!; o 19.h3 h2+ 20.h1 [xf2+ 21. xh2 [xd1 22.[xd1 b5 and Back's pospects ae pefeabe) 19 ...f4 20.xf4 xf4 21.[e2 e4 22.[xd4 xd4 23.xd4+
cxd4 24 .d1 [e5 25.xd4+ c6=; Back maintains equaity thanks to his active pieces.
7 c2! This is a concete decision by Black; he cannot sove his pobems just by paying positionaly: 17.. . c6 18.d3! (Back is bette ae 18.g5 [c2 19.xf6 gxf6 20.e6 [xa1 21.b5+ c7 22. [d5+ c8 23 .xd6 d8; the position is equa ae 18.d1 ad8 19.g5 h6 20.f6 gxf6=) 18 ... ae8 (if 18...c4 19.[e2! cxd3 20. [xd4+ d5 21.[f3±, Black's d3 paw wl soon be lost) 19.d2 and although Black's pieces ae centaized, White has the advantage thanks to his two powe bishops. 18.M xa1 19 f4 (diagam) 19 8! This is the most pecise way to daw; the atenaties ae not competey convincing: If 19 ...[c2 20.xd6+ e7 21. d 5+ [xd5 22.xd5 White's po sition is possiby pefeable. Ae 19 ... ad8 20.xd6+ e7
haper 20
2 0 ds 21 xd6 Aer 21.g5 a8 22 .xa c7 White's copensation for the exchange is insucient. 21 xd6 22:xd6+ e7 23 :e6+ d7=
21.e6+ d7, White has the rather ris t: 22.e5!? a6! 23. he8 2.xc5, with rather unclear consequences. 20e4 It is again a draw aer the transosition of oves 20.b5 d8 21.xd6 xd6 22. xd6+ e7 23. e6+ d7
ite ust take the draw by eretual check.
onluion he vaiaon wih 94 whih we have analyed in hi haper doe no preen a eriou danger o Blak, a long a he i well pre paed and underand he main idea I believe ha in he key vari aion 9 f O x xd4 2 d, aer 2 4! Bak equale even more onviningly han wih he he more popu ar move 2 e, epeialy ine here are fewer line o memore
Chapter 21
e4 e5 2 6 e5 6 4 e4 54 5 6 c6 70-0 e7 8c
ine hee is: 8 ...f5 9e xc3 0. bc3 d3 .xd3 00, but ths seems to me to be much iskie fo Back. 9bx3 g4 If 9 .. . 00, then 10.h3! and Black's ightsquaed bishop is depived of any acve squaes to go to.
This vaiation was the cause of seious woies fo Back fo a ong peiod of time. It is sti quite popula, but the situation is diffeent now, because Black has found eliabe ways of obtaining an acceptabe position. White is wiling to slighty weaken his pawstuctue, but in etun he gins a ead in development, which can even be inceased in the tue, because Black wil have to edepoy his kight om the squae. t tuns out to be isplaced thee, since White's pwnhain c3d4 hmpes its obility and Black l need time to improve its position. 8 x The othe popua theoetical
Now ite's most popula a tenative is the natua deveoping move A) 1 0 1 but lately he has been playing moe and moe oen ) 10 b1 intending to folow anothe scheme of deveop ent. Fo 10.f4 00 1Ue1 see 10.e. Fo 10.h3 h5 1Ub1 b8 see 10.b1 b8 11.h3 h5.
hapter21
A) O 00 f4 Hee, ae .b1, Black shuld play, nt ...b8, whch tanspses t the vaiatn 10.b1 b8 1 .e1 00 , but ...b6! e infcng hs ente queensde f matin whle Whte's k n b1 tuns ut t be useless.
seems that ths mve slves all Black's pblems. pssibe cn tnuatn s: 16.g5 f6 17.f4 h6 18.f3 xf3 19xf3 e8 20.e3 xe3 2.�xe3 e6 22.�f3 e7 23.c4 �a4 24 . xf5 xf5 25.�xd5 xd4 and hee f 26.f5 e2+ 27.h1 f4 Whte is even sight y wse, whle ae 26. �xd4 �c2 27.�d5 �e4= t al ends n a daw.) 13 ...h5 14.b1 �d7 15.g4! g6 16.h4! Whte has the n tatve. 13�x The endgame is abut equal ae 13 . xc7 xd1 14 . xd8 xc2 15 . xc2 d8= 3 �xd6
Black has sevea pssibltes nw and nealy all f them equal ize: id6 , A2) l b8 and A3) ih5 A) id6 Ths mve is a bit passive but still eliable. 12ixd6 h Black lses ae 12 .. .xd6? 13 . xh7+ xh7 14.g5+ g6 15. �xg4 f5 16.�h4 h8 17e6+ �xe6 18.�xh8 xh8 19.xe6+ e 12 .. .cxd6, Whte has the stng eply 13.h3 ! (It is weake t play 13.e3 �d7 14.h3 h5 15. �d2 . In the game Tpav Gelfand, Wijk aan Zee 2008, Black nw played 15 ... ae8 16. h4, when White had a athe unpleas ant intative, s it was much bet te t cntinue th 15 ...f5!N. It
143 14.h4 ae8 15.h5 e6 16.g3 fe8 17.xe6 xe6 18.g2 e7= Ivanchuk Huzman, Ohid 2009. White has ted 14.b1 hee, but it des nt seem sensbe t pvke b7b6. Ae 14 ...b6 15.e3 ae8 16.be1, vetushkn Haba, Gemany 20 09, Black can pt f 16 ...e7!, as n the game Gschuk amnk fm the main ne, except f the n
4 xe4 5d4 d5 6d Cc6 70 -0 e7 8 c Cxc 9x c 4
usion of the use move b7b6. 14 a8 15a
Hee Back can equaize by foce with 22 b5 23 b3 a5 24g3 a4 25 d5 (ae 25.c2, Back continues wth 25 ... a3 15 7! This exceent idea comes fom 26.d3 g6 and White cannot adimi Kamnk and it pacti hod on to hs c3pawn) 25 xd5 The position has bee cay equaizes the game. If 15 .. xe3 16 xe3 g6 17.h4 simpied and a daw is vey ike b8 18.h5 d7, then ae19.g4! y. Leko Kasimdzhanov, Nachk A2) u bs 2009, White has the ee and ex ta space on the kingside, so Backs defence w not be at a easy. 16x7 x7 17h4 ds ! Back pans to egoup hs foces wth h7h6, g8f8 and e7g8f6. 184 b6 93 The vaiation 19.e2 dxc4 20. xc4 f5 21.c3 g6 = eads to equa ity. 19 h6 2 0 xd5 Back epies to the pophyacThis amusing move was found tc move 20.g3 with the consoi by GM exande Motyev and it datng move 20 ...c6, ae which t is not a bad one. The idea is fo is had to see how White can im- Back to pay (say ae 12.b1) pove his positon. 12 ... d6 13.xd6 xd6 and now 2 0 xd5 24 6 22 te does not have the move , Gischuk Kamnk, Kazan 14.xh7+ because ae 14 ... xh7 15.g5 g6 16.xg4 f5 17.h4 2011.
hapte 21
h8 18e6 xe6 19xh8 xg5 Black's rk n b8 is prtected! 2.h3 Fr 12b1 d6 see b Aer the immediate 12e3, Back has the surprising repy 12 g5! 13g3 f5 14e5 xe5 15 xeS d6 16e1 c6 and his psitin is in n way wrse 2 h5
th a white rk n e3 it wuld have been very gd fr Black t cntinue with 15 f5! This pawn is ready t advance ne square rther, enhancing the eect f the pin n White's kight n f3 We anayzed the same psitin by transpsitin aer 10b1 b8 11e1 00 12f4 d6 13xd6 xd6 14e3 f5! 15h3 h5 3 6 4.%3
3.%2N This is the ny way fr White t ceate sme prblems f Back; the atenatives are harmless: 13g4 g6 14xg6 hxg6 (it is as gd fr Black t pt fr 14 g6 15g3 d7= th the idea f e7d6 and h7h5) 15d3 e8 16ab1 d7 17c4 dxc4 18xc4 d6= Back has practicay equaized, Bgan Mtyev, Pi kvsky 20 10; 13e3 d6 14xd6 xd6 15 b1, vider Mtyev, Ohrid 2009 Here, Back payed the rather tentative mve 15 f6 and ae 16c4 dc4 17xc4+ h8 18c3 he ended up in a very unpleasant psitin. is en the case in simiar pawstructures,
4 .8 Aer Back's the ptins White maintains a slight advan tage, which is quite typical fr this variatin He dminates the ele and his bishp is much better than Black's kight: 14 d7 15 xd6 xd6 16h4 g6 17xg6 hxg6 18ab; 14 xf4 15xf4 xf3 16xf3 d6 5.%x8+ 'xS 6.x8+ x8 7 6 cxd6 8 h4 g6 9 xg6 (diagram) 9 g6 This is nt a very bvius mve; the idea is t be abe t bring the king clser t the du bed central paws
4 xe4 5d4 d5 6 d3 c6 70 -0 e7 8 c3 xc3 9bxc3 g4
Ae the atual lie: 19 .. hxg6 20b1 b6 21.f White maitais the pessue . 20. 2Ubl b6 22 . b5 It is essetial fo White to foe the eemy ook away fom the e8squae, i ode to be able to bg his kig lose to the e te 22 .. Jk8 23.2 5 24. 3 c7 25.f4 7 26.g4 f6
Bak is simply waitig. White's positio is slighty moe pleasat, but he has patially o hanes of ahieg aythig meaingl fom his tiy edge. A3) ll...ih5
12.bl It is bad fo ite to play 12 .e3, Kaaki Maieja, P Blitz 2004, i view of 12 ...g5! 13 g3 f5 14.e5 g4 15d2 xe5 16 xeS d6 12 ...bs
13.�2 Just as befoe, it is ufavouable fo White to t to get id of the pi o the kight th the help of the ook, beause ae 13.e3 Blak has the powel iposte 13 . ..g5! 14.g3 f5 15.e5 g4 16. d2 xe5 17.xe5 d6 If 13.h3 d6 14d6 �xd6 15.e3 f5! ad by taspositio of moves we have agai eahed the positio aisig fom the vai
hater21
ation 10.Eb1 Eb8 11.Ee1 00 12. f4 d6 13.xd6 xd6 14.Ee3 fS 5.h3 hS. 3 6 4.'3 �7 It is athe dubious fo Black to pay 4 .. .f6 15.xd6 xd6 16. h4 Efe8 17.h3± White obtains a noma sight edge, which is just what he is sting fo in this vaiation, ae 4 . .f4 5.xf4 xf3 16.xf3 d6 7. Ee3 g6 18.h4 asikian Wang Yue, isakhapatnam 2008.
pobems ae 25 ... a5 26 Ee1+ f8 27.c5 dxcS 28.Exd8+ Exd8 29 .dxc5 bxcS 30.Ee5 Ec8 31.b5± and ite maintains a clea advantage.) 17g3 d3 18.d6 xd6 19xd6 cxd6 20.cxd3 bS 21.f4 (thee emains nothing to ght fo ae 21.a3 aS 22.f4 b4 23.axb4 axb4=) 2..b4 22.xd5 bxc3 23.xc3 xd4 24.e4 dS 25.c3 Exb1 26Exb Ec8 27 xdS Ec2 28.a4 Ea2= th an im minent daw in sight. 5 .. .x6 6.h4 g6 7. xg6 hxg6 8. h4 The move 18g3= eads to an equa endgame, daw, Boogan Gefand, KhantyMansiysk 2010. 8 a6 Back's idea i s to continue with b7b5. 9.a4 a5 20.g3 'c6 2. 'g5 Fessinet Li hao, Wijk aan Zee 201 .
5.6 The ine: 15e5 eS 16.dxe5 g6 17.g6 hxg6 18.Ebd1 e6= leads to an appoximately equal position, meets Gefand, Nice 2010. 15g5 h6 16.h3 g6!N (It is weake fo Black to play hee 16 ... g4 17.g3 h3 18.d6 cxd6 19.xh3 xh3 20.gxh3 fd8 21. EbS f8 2 2.Eeb1 b6 23.Exd5 Ebc8 24.c4 e7, Bacot Wang Yue, Nanjing 200. White now avoided a ght with 25.Ee1 + f8 26.Eb1= , but he could have tied 25.g2, since the immediate attack on the c4pawn would not solve Black's
Hee, in ode to maintain the balance, Back needed to play 2..8, fo exampe: 22.g2 (The idea of this move is ae h4 h5 to edepoy the ook to the he fo an attack) 22 xl
4 Cxe4 5.d4 d5 6.d3 Cc6 7. 0 0 e7 8. Cc3 Cx3 9 . x c3 g
23 .xe �xc3 24.e7 �x4 25. xc7 c 2.f4 �c5 27.7 (27.�g4 d8 28.f5 28.xb7 Cb4 28 .. .�d6 29.xb7 Ce5=) 27 b4 28.�e5 x3 2. �xb8+ h7 30.cx3 �c2+ 3.h3 �3 Whte cannot avod the pepetua check.
and most natua way to equaze woud be 16 ... Cc4. Ae 7.fe Back can pay 17...d6! , equaz ng, because the d5pawn woud be taboo; f 18.xd5, Back has the tactca shot 18 ... Cd2 ! 1 0 - 0
B) O .b
It s consdeed usefu to at tack the b7pawn, focng Back to make an awkwad move wth hs ook. Late, Whte can tansfe hs ow ook to the kngsde, va the b3 o b5 squaes (natuay, ae ceang the thd ank by advancng c3c4). 1 o ...bs u. e Back s n no dange ae .h3 h5 12.g4 (12. e1 see 11. e1 00 12.h3 h5; 12.f5 00 13.�d3 g6 14.e1 see 10.b1 b8 1.e1 00 12.h3 h5 13.f5 g6 14.�d3; ae 12.c4, Back's smpest eacton woud be 12 ... Cxd4 13.g4 Cxf3 14.�xf3 g6=) 13.Ce5 d3 14.xd3 00 15.�f3 Ca5 16.f4, Kamsky Inakev, Jemuk 2009. Back's smpest
2.h3 Whte has aso ted deveop ng hs bshop to f4 n ths pos ton: 12.f4 d6 13.xd6 xd6 14. e3 (fo 14.h3 h5 15.e3 f5! ee 14.e3 f5! 15.h3 h5)
14 .. .f5 ! The dea of ths move s vey smpe. Ae f5f4, the pn on the knight w be vey unpeas ant. 15.h3 (It s aso possbe fo Whte to pay 15.e1, with the dea of contnung with d3e2, n o de to get d of the pn and ate
hapter 21
expoit the vuneabiity of the eS and e6squaes, caused by the move f5. In that paicua case, Black can sove al his pob ems with 15 ...b6!=, feeing the ook fom the defence of the b7 pawn and panning to continue with be8) 15 .. .h5 16.e1 (16. e2?! f6 17.ae1, Bkic Huz man, Povdiv 2008 and ae the alpupose fotiing move 17... bf8 ! , Back obtains an even moe peasant position) 16 ...f4 17.e6 d7 18.b5 f3 19.c6 bxc6 20.xb8 xb8 2.e7 fS 22. e8+ (ae 22.gxf3, it woud be quite safe fo Black to pay simply 22 .. .h6=, secuing an escape squae fo the king on h7) 22 ... xe8 23.xe8+ f 24.e6+ 25.c8+ f8 26.e6= with a daw by pepetual check. Black's othe possible esponses to 14.e3 fail to sove his pobems: 14 .. .d7 15.h3 fS 16.f5 xfS 17.e2± and thanks to his tota domination of the de, ite maintains dangeous pessue, aiditsch Mudzia, Gemany 2011; if 14.. .h5 15.d2 f6 ite shoud continue, not th the outine move 16.c4, which ae 16 ... dxc4 17.c4+ h8 18.c3 3 19.gxf3 eS= eads to appoximate equality, but with 16.h4 and ite maintains a dangerous initiative, which l equie ve precise play fom Black to neutalize. 14 ...f6 5.h3 (1S.c4 dc4 16.
c4+ h8 17.c3 e7 18.h3 fS= ) 15 ...h5
16.c4 (ite cannot ceate any dangeous theats with 16.e2, because ae 16...d7 17.g4 18.h4 fe8 19.f5 xe3 20. xe3 e8= Black successy solves all his poblems, nand Gelfand, Monaco 2006) 16 ...dxc4 (if 16 ...xd4 17.h7+ xh7 8. xd4 19.c5 Blacks king is vey weak, thanks to which White initiative deveops eortessy) 17.c4+ h8 18.c3 with a better position fo White, vide Motylev, Ohid 2009. 12 h5
13 The move 13.g4 only ceates aditional weaknesses, so it is not
4 Cxe4 5 .d4 d5 6 . d3 C6 7. 0 -0 e7 8. C3 Cx3 9 . x3
at all dangeous. Ae 13 ...g6 14.f4 d6 15.�d2 Ce7 (5 ... �d7) 16.Ce5 d3 17.Cd3 Cc8 (7...Cg6 18 .d6 �xd6 19.f4 f5 20.g5 c5) 18.Ce5?! (it would be moe pudent fo White to con tinue with 8e 2= ) 18 ...Cb6 Black's position was even moe pleasant in the game Gashimov Illescas odoba, Bacelona 20 07. In olak Istatescu, Desden 2008, ite played 13.c4!? dxc4 ( endgame a pawn down aises ae 13 ...Cxd4 14 . h7+ xh7 15.�xd4 f6 16.�xd5 �xd5 17. cxd5 f3 8.gxf3 fd8 19.c4 b5 20.e4 and it would be fa fom easy fo Back to save the game.) 14.c4 d6 (if 14 ...f3 15.�xf3 Cxd4 16.�e4 c5 17.xb7 xb7 8.d3 g6 19.�xb7 Ce6 20.�e4 White maintains a slight edge, and the same is tue of the vaiation 14 . ..b5 15.xb5 xb5 16.b5 3 17.�xf3 Cxd4 18.�e4 Cxb5 9.�xe7 Cd4 20.�e4 ite's bishop is bette than his opponent's kight in a position with play on both wings, so Black cannot eqalize) 15.c3
ow Black's most precise
move seems to be the devep 15 ...e8 (In the abovementoned game thee folowed 15 ...a6 6 d3 b5; Hee White can pa a4! b4 18d2! ceating dente pobems fo his oppnent, be cause in many vaatons Backs ight on c6 has no comfotabe squaes to go to) 16.e3 (6. xe8+ �xe8 17.e3 Ce7; 6. e3!? h6 17.d3 xe3 18.e3 Ce7 19.c4 c6 ) 16 ...h6 7.d3 �f6= with equality. 13 .. .g 14.3
14 . N The altenatives fo Black ae less conncing. It is bad fo him to opt fo 14 ... �d6 15.g6 hxg6 16.c4 dxc4 17. �x4 and his queen on d6 is mis placed in many dieent vaia tions, fo exampe: 17. . .f6, u tovsy Zhou Weiqi, KhantyMansiysk 2009, 18.d5! e5 19. Cxe5 e5 20.b3 fe8 2.be3± Black holds his position by a miacle ae 14 ...a6 15.g6 hxg6 16.c4 (othese Black plays b7 b5) 16 .. .dxc4 17.�xc4 f6
hapter21
8.f4 (8.d5 a 9.d3 b5= ; if 8.c3 then not 8 .. e8 because of 9.f4 and he must eckon with the theat d4d5 but ...d7 9.g5 b 2.c d6 2 .xd6 cxd6 2 2.f4 fd8=) 8 ... xd4 9.xd4 xd4 20.xd4 xd4 2.xc7 be8 22.ed c5 23. d5 b6 menko Li hao Wijk aan Zee 20. White can continue hee th 24.a4! (the abovementioned game contin ued 24.xb6 b6 25.xb6 e + 26 .h 2 e2= and it ended imme diatey in a daw) 24 ...c8 25.xb6 xb6 26.xb6 xc2 27. xa6 e8 28.d4 g5 29.g4 White maintained some nning chances but with coect defence Back shoud be abe to daw. It is quite possibe to pay 4 ... a5.
much with 5.e5 d6 16.f4 (6. d7 e8 7.d2 xe+ 8.xe a8=) 16 .. .c6 (With this move Back secues the c7squae fo his queen) 7.xg6 g6! (ae 7...hxg6 it woud be pobematic fo him to advance f6) 8.g3 c7 9.e2 be8 20.be xe5 2.xe5 =. continuation pesenting moe dange to Back is 5.f4 c4 6.e5! (e 6. e2 Back can pay 6 ... f6 and the position simpies to equaity ae both 7.d2 xd2 8.xd2 e8= and 7.h2 g5! 8.xg6 g6 19.xg5 xg5=) 6 ...d6 7. xg6 hxg6 8.g3! White is abe to maintain the tension with this move (18.xc4 dxc4 9.f3 b5 20. xd6 cxd6 2.d aS=) but af te 8 ...xe5 9.dxe5 e8 20.ed t b6 Back pans to tansfe his queen to the bockading squae e6. White has ony a minima ad vantage in this compicated posi tion thanks to his exta space. 5.� b5
It is essentia fo Back to depive his opponent of the possibi Now ite woud not achieve ity of c3c4. we as contoing
4 xe4 5.4 5 6 . 3 c6 7. 0 -0 e7 8. c3 xc3 9.bx3 g4
the c4squae, Black has the possibility of pepaig the beak though b5b4, activatig his foces o the queeside. 1.f4 g 7JWg4 18. e2 f4 1JWxf4
structue. Ae 19 .. .d6 20.h6 f6 21. be d7 22.f4, Back stil has poblems to woy about. 2 0 .bel �
Back equalizes, because ae 1 g7 21.�g4 he has the stog reply It is very importat ot to let 21...b, th the idea of coite's quee go to the h6 tiuig ith b6a6, emidig squae, because i that case Black White that he has umeous ll have to weake his paw weakesses o the queeside.
onclusion The variation beginning with 8. 3 is very problematic for Black an requires very precise play om him to maintain equali It is essental to remember that Wite tries to get rid of the pin on his j knight with the help of the move e-e3, then it is almost always good for Black to play- !, seing the initative on the king sie. ange ly enough, this resource, even uner the most favourable circum stances, has been generally ignored by Black.
Chaper 22
le4 e5 2� �6 3.�xe5 d6 4.� �xe4 5.d4 d5 6.d3 �c6 7 0 0 e7 8.c4
8 .. b4 The move 8 ...f6 is aso quite we egaded by theoy; Back is tng to gain secue conto ove the d5squae. Back sometimes pays 8 .. . g4 but White can continue with the foowing unpeasant vaiaon: 9cxd5 xd5 10.c3 xc3 11. bxc3 00 12.b f3 (12 ... d6 13.e4 h5 14.h3±) 13.xf3 xf3 14.gxf3 and thanks to his two powe bishops ite maintains a sight but stabe advantage. In this chapte we shal anayse A) .cx5 and ) J el If White alows his bishop to be exchanged without ceating any immediate theats Back has evey eason to be happy with the position ae fo example 9.c3
xc3 10.bxc3 xd3 .xd3 dxc4 12.xc4 00. White's centa paws ae hamess while Black's bishoppai might become a powe foce. It is not sensible fo ite to exchange his bishop fo the centaized enemy knight: 9.e4 dxe4 10.e5 00 .a3 (it is even wose fo him to opt fo .c3 f6 12.g4 d3) ...c6 12.xc6 bxc6 13.c3 f5 and Back's pospects ae again pefeable owing to his powe bishoppai. In the next chapte we sha deal with the eteat of ite's bishop 9.e2 which is a vey soid move and the main ine of this vaiation. A) .cx5
4 C Cxe4 5d4 d 6 d Cc6 0 0 � e .c4 Cb4
Tis is a very sarp and concrete ove wic leads to a long forcing line. ite is illing to part with is ligtsqared bisop and e allows its possible ex cange. In retrn e gains te e le, on wic e plans to organize an attack against te eney king, wic as not yet castled. .. xd3 1 0 .d3 xd5 12.e5 000! (this ove is ch ore proising for Black tan te ore poplar 12 . ..g6 13.f3 g6 1.g (It wold be ore prdent for ite to play ere 1.c3 xc3 15.bxc3 xf3 16. gxf3 e6 17.x 18xe7 d7= t siplication and a draw.. 11.e1 Wite exerts pressre along te ele and attacks te kigt on e; tis is te only way for i to jsti is positional concession on ove nine. If e plays less abitiosly, ten aer 1.c3 xc3 12.bxc3 00 13.c f5, Blacks prospects are slighty better. l ... (diagra 12.g4 The idea of tis ove is to force te eney bisop to go to g6, so tat Black cannot plg te open ele t f5e6. ites alternatives ere cannot provide i wit anyting ore tan eqality:
Here, Black can choose between two attractive possibilities: 1 ...b 15.e3 (In te gae das eets, ondon 2009 ite ade a terrible blnder, wich is ardly srpsing in sch a sarp and coplicated position: 15.e2? g 16.xg c3 17.xd5 xe2 18.f xd5 19.xe2 xd 20 .e3 h4 2.f1 d6 and aer the rter loss of is 2paw ite went
hapt er 22
cases he has no poblems whatsoeve If ite becomes geedy and gobbles up the pawn, then he wil end up in a very passive position with bad pieces 4\xc7 d6 S\c3 White ll not change anything by eteating the queen to c2, because Black can simpy castle and then bing his ooks into action 1S Black has wo powel bishops and a pefect blockade on dS, and he also dominates the ce, al of which adds up to excellent compensation fo the pawn, Mihalcisin Pavasovic, Portooz 200S ) 14 \c6 1S\aS (1S\xc6 bxc6= Black has no poblems, thanks to his bishoppai and the dSoutpost The position is equal ae S\e 000 16gS xgS 7xgS xd4 8xe6 e6 9xe6 \b5=) 1S d8 16f4 (16gS gS 7xgS 00 8xe6 e6 9 \c3=, draw, allejo Pons Kasimdzhanov, an ebastian 2009) 6 00 7c \b6 8bS \xaS 9xaS a8 20d5 d7 2eS d6 (2e8 22xc7 b4 23 c4 aS 24xaS) 22g3 e5 23e5 c6= Naiditsch Kamnik, Desden 2008 2 g 13.c3 t is bad fo White to play 3 eS, fo example: 3 xf2 4 \g3 e4 1Sc3 \xd4 16e3 \d6 7xe4 e4 18ad d5 4eS (Ae White's outine 9b4 b6 20 f4 00 He candeveloping move 4f4 Black can not create any real theats, while simply complete his development the variation 2f3 \d7 22xd5 with 4 00, o else play 4 \xdS 23xe7 aS leads to an add6 Sd6 cxd6 and in both vantage fo Black on to lose the game) 5 \xd4 6gxf5 g5 7\e2 d6 8 \f4 19d3 \xf5 The position aising is temendously dicult to evaluate, since thee ae so many possibiities to conside 14 hg8! believe this is a vey good move fo Black; it indi ectly potects the bishop on f5 5gxf5 (If White does not cap tue the bishop, he l simpy be le with too many kingside weaknesses to woy about: 5 c3 xc3 16\xc3 d7 7f4 d6) 5 b4N 6e3 gxf5+ 7 f (7h?? xf2#) 7 \e6 8 d3 (8a3 d6) 8 xd4 9 xb4 xb4 20c3 d4 21e1 \g6 (Black has an altenative hee in 2\c4+ 22e2 d6, with numeous theats) 22 xe4 xe4 23xe4 e4 Black's attack is extemely dangerous and thee ae too many annoying check luking on all sides 2c3 xc3 3\xc3 e6
4 xe4 5 d4 d5 � d3 70 0 �e7 8 4
13 xc3 14�xc3 f
This is the most reiable move. Black secures the square fo his ng and simultaneousy deprives his opponent's pieces of the e5 square. 15 f4 We must eamine White's aternatives here: 15.b3 16.�c7 he8 17. �c4 c4 18.bc4 b6 Wite's pawncentre is so unstable that Black's position is preferable, de spite the absence of a pawn, Zhang Penqiang Motyev, hanghai 2001 (game 18 15.h4 16.xc7 he8 17. g6 hxg6 18.f4 ad8 19.ad1 d7 20.c3 g5 21.g3 d8 22. e8 e8= Back transferred his bishop to the b6square and drew eortessy, dams meets, Wijk aan Zee 20 09 ; 15.c7 00 16.e7 f3 17. xg7+ h8 18.h6 g4+ 19.g3 d4 20. g6 hxg6= nand I. okoov, Dortmund 1999. 15 1.h4 16.e3 he8 17.ae1 c6 White's attack reaches a dead
end, whie the chonic pawn weaknesses in his camp emain. 16.c7 he8 17.h4 e4 18. f5 f5 19.gxf5 Ead8= 1 ...h5
17J�xc7 er 17.gh5, Back's best move is 17...f5 ! (or 7...h5 and 18.c7 he8 19.g5+ g5 20. g5 ite wins a pawn, but his chances of realising it are only minimal) 18.c7 he8 9.c3 (This move is necessa, beause White's knight is hanging and Back is also threatening a8c8.) 19 ...ac8 20.b3 e6 and in the ensuing endgame Black will depoy his bishop on d5, dominating the entire board. ite fails to achieve much th 17.e5 e5 (Back can aso retreat with 17...d7=, intending to continue th e7d6) 18.e5 g8 19.g6 e4 20.b3+ h7 21.gh5 he8 22.e5 f5 Back can continue paying without any isk, because he has at east a pepetua check at any moment. 17 Jhe8 18.g5+ g5 1. g5
hapter
along the ele, jst as in variation A, bt here the game is mch qieter.
19 In the game Radjabov Kramnik, Nice 2009, Black chose 19 ... g8, acqiescing to a position a pa dow. However, that did not prevent the exworld champi on from drawing easily. Black has another interesting alternative here in 19 .. .e4 20. ac1 h1 (aer 20 .. b6, White has the coldblooded reply 21.c3!±, th the ve powerl threat of ce3) 21.xe7+ xe7 22.e7+ g8 23.f3 f3 24.e5 hg4 25. c7 xe5 26.de5 e8 and this shold aso lead to a draw. 20.xe7 20.e7 e4 21.g5+ g8 22.h2 g4+ 23.g3 d7 Black has very active play on the light sqares and, despite White's extra paw, the draw sees inetable. 2 o ...xe7 21.xe7 g8 22.e6 h7 23.el es 24. e7 xe7 25.xe7 xg4= Black has perpetal check.
) 9.el This move is played with the same idea of exerting pressre
9 .. .xd3 10.d3 c6 11. cxd5 cxd5
12b5 Before placing his qeen on b3, from where it attacks Blacks paws on b7 and d5, ite wishes to force the enemy qeen to oc cpy the d7sqare, hampering the development of his lightsqared bishop. 12 ...d7 13.b3 0 0 (diagram) 14.c3 The alternatives are not at all dangeros for Black:
4 . j xe 4 5d4 d5 . d3 c 7. 0 0 e7 8c4 b4
Back can pay hee either B 5 Jd8, whch invoves an absoutey corect positiona pansacrce, o he can aow the exchang of his daksquaed bishop with B2) 15 .. .e8; in prnci pe this exchange s undesiabe, athough nothing seious to woy about In both cases the position emains about equa and the choice is just a matter of taste and stye
14e5 �d8 15f3 d6! This knight is much bette depoyed here than on f6 16c3 e6 17 f4 e8 18ad1 �b6 19xd5 �xb3 20xe7+ xe7 21axb3 b3=, draw, and Kramnik, Linares 1999; 14bd2 f6 1Sxe4 dxe4 16 xe4 �fS 17f4 �hS 18e3 b6 19d5 in the game Ponomaiov Motyev, Ohrid 2001, ite continued th 19e5= and the opponents agreed to a draw) 19 b7 20d1 ad8 21d6 d7 22 d4 �h6 23e3 �hS=; 14f4 b6 1Se5 �b7 16c3 e6= Peng Xiaomin Motyev, hanghai 2001 14 xc3 15.bxc3
Bl) 15 d8 . a3 ite must t to exchange the darksquared bishops, othewise Back's defence wil be ve simpe: 16e5 �d6 17a4 �a6 18h3 e6= 1 .. .f6 17.e3
17 �c7! This is an exceent positiona move Back gives up his dSpawn, but presees his bishoppai and bockades his opponent's isoated pawcoupe In addition, White is e with a bad bishop on a3 The move 17�c6 is sucient fo Back to hod the draw, despite
hapt er 22
the fact that his position ooks a bit ugly since his ightsquaed bishop is esticted by the pawn on d5. 18.e7 e8
19.ae1 19 .f6 xe3 20.e3 gxf6= Black has doubed pawns but his counteplay mostly based on the pessue on the ce against the backwad enemy pawn is quite adequate. 19 .. e7 1 9...xe7 20.Exe7 e7 21 xe7 f6 22.e1 b6 = itz Maciea asaw 20 05 20.Exe7 d7 21.h3 f6 22.�a3 a6 It is much moe active fo hi to play 22 ... b6! with the idea of plaing a7 a5 placing his paws on daksquaes as is appopiate th a lightsquaed bishop on the boad. 23 .d2 Exe7 24.Exe7 Ee8 25.f Exe7 26.�xe7 �e6 27. �d8+ �e8 28.�b6 c6=. Back's g7 and f6 paws cove the dak squaes pefectly and he ain tained the balance in the game Topalov amnik Las egas 1999. 18.d5 ie6 19.b5 In the endgame aising ae 19.�c5 �xS 20c5 b6 2.b4 Eac8= Back has no poblems at al; moeove hite has so many
weaknesses in his camp that he must play vey accuately to hod the balance. 19 .. .ac8
Back's compensation fo the paw is sucient as tounament pactice has coned. 2 0 h3 h6 21.e2 2.�b2 b6 22.Eae1 �c4 23. 1e2 �a4 24.h2 Ed5 25.b4= daw Topalov das Dotmund 2001. 21 .c4 22el 6 23. icl c6 24.id2 , daw Leko Gelfand Moscow 2008. B2) 15... e8
16.ia3
4 Cxe4 5. d4 d5 . d3 Cc 7. 0 -0 e7 . c4 C 4
Ae 16.e5, Back can eteat with his queen to c7, obtaining adequate compensation fo the d5paw, o to the dsquae, not focing the issue fo the moment. His simplest move howeve is 16 ...f6, aiming fo an equa posi tion th bishops of opposte col ous on the boad. 1 a3 17�a3 b Black's ightsquaed bishop is esticted by the d5pawn, so Black shoud ty to depoy his paws on dak squaes. It is amost equaly good fo him to continue with 17 ...f6 18. xe8+ �xe8 19.e1 �c6 183 18.ab1 xe + (It would be a blunde fo Back to play 18 ... �d8? 19.xe8+ �xe 20.xb6 g4 2.b7 f3 22.gxf3± and White eaised his exta pawn in the game nand Gi, Monaco 2011 .) 19.xe1 �c6 (with 19 .. .f6 20.e7 �c6= Back aso main
tains equality, despite his poston not ooking completey safe.) 20. e5 (20.e7 f6 21.h3 a5=) 20... �c7 21 .c4 e6 22 .c5 bxc5 23 .dxc5 d4=. Black's passed d4pawn s sucient to countebaance Whte's passed c5pawn. 18 O 18 .. .f6 19.xe8+ �xe 20. e 1 �c6 21. e7 a5 1abl �c 0e8+ �eS el �=
Dominguez amnik, Wijk aan Zee 2010 .
oncluson The varaon wth 9. cxd5 s rather drawsh and oth sdes play correctly a draw ecomes the most lkely result A s for the move 9 . e Black has several qute relale ways of equalng aganst t. Wtes attempts to exert pressure on the e le are not dangerous and Black s a le to solve hs prolems convncngly n all varatons.
Chapter 3
l.e4 e5 . f6 3.xe5 d6 4. xe4 5 .d4 d5 6.d3 c6 7. 0 0 e7 8.c4 b4 9.e
move in the folowing chpters. 1 0 llcxd5 If .c3, then aer ...xc3 12.bxc3 Black brings another piece into the ght for the central squares: 12 ...e6! 13.cxd5 dS=. Black's bishop is perfectly placed on dS and he obtains a very good position thout any problems whatsoever. ll �xd5 2c3 xc3 13 bxc3
We have already seen in the previous chapte that White's at tempts to create immediate pres sure along the ee fail and give him no chances of obtaining an advantage in the opening, so he should avoid the exchange of his bishop. 9 0 0 10 a3 This is an atracive move and it was very popular at the dawn of the development of this variation. White immediaely reduces the tension in the centre and denes the pawnstructure. Nowadays White almost auto matically chooses the more pre cise move 10.c3, maintaining the tension an preserving more options. We shall analyze his
14 f4 ite can boster his centre th 14 . e3, but his bishop is not so active on e3 and Black can ef fortlessy evelop his pieces to ac tive positions: 14 ...a5 (it is also good fo him to play here 14 ...f6)
4 xe4 5 d4 dS 6 �d c6 70 0 �e7 8 c4 b4 9 �e2 0 0 10a
15d2 (if 15.e5, then Black can It sees to e that the quiet dislodge the kight th 15 .. f6! move 1.e1 is White's best and 15.fe8 16.f3 d7 ae 1 ..e8 15f, White woud not achieve uch with 1.d 2 He wants to tansfe his ight to e3 via the csquae, so it woud be logica fo Black to pevent this: 1 ..a5 15f3 d7 16b3 b3 17.b3 c6 ite has tied advancing his connected pawns imediatey, when Black shoud oganize a bockade on the dak squaes: 1.c d6 15.d5 e5 16d d7 it is not good fo Black to sacice the c7pa: ae 15 .. 17a a5 16c7 ac8 17.a b6 18b5 c2 19c2 b5 20. f± his copensation fo the paw is insucient, so he should continue with 15 ac8 see 10 c3 f5 11a3 c3 12.bc3 c6 13.e1 e8 1cd5 d5 15.f ac8 14.. a5!? Back sacices a paw with 17 . fe8 (it is ess eiable to this move, tng to each a posiplay 17...g6 18.f d6 19.c5 tional daw He can accomplish f3+ 20.f3 f 21g3 Black this by estabishing a bockade on has the bishoppai, but ite's the dak squaes in a few oves connected paws ae oe imIf he wants to ente a uch potant 18.b5 (It is infeio to moe coplicated stuggle, he opt fo 18.e3?! g6 19b5 h3 can tanspose to the main ine 20 d6 21d + 22. aising ae 10c3 by plang g 23c3 f and White is 1 ac8 15e1 fe8. foced to ght fo equality, Ivan15.c7 chuk Kanik, Nice 2008 18 . If 15.e1, then 15 d6 16e5 b5 19.ab5 d7 20a2 c5 21 \b3 see 15.e5 d6 16.e1 g3 a 2 2ba6 a6 Back's block- \b3 ade on the d6 and c5 squaes Ae 15.e5, Back can equalsees quite haonious and he ize in seveal dient ways: has eqalizd completely, ad(diaga 15 c5 16\a (16f3 b3 jabov Jakovenko, lista 200 8
hapter23
ite wi be unabe to hod on to his apawn.
16 ...cxd4 17.f3 5 18.g4 g6 19.cxd4 c2 2 0.d7 d6= ; 1 5. . .b3 16.xb3 xb3 7. ae1 a5 18f3 d6 19.d5 ac8=; 15...d6 16.c4 (16.e1 b3 17. 18 e d2 c2 18.xc2 xc2=; 6.g4 If 18 ..fd8 19.b e4 7.£3 g6 18.a4 b6=, with a Back cannot sove his pobvey compicated stugge and ap- ems with 18 ...g4 9.h3 xf3 20. poximatey equa chanes) 16 ... xf3 and he fais to each come4 17.g3 c2 18.c5 xe5 19. pete equaity: xe5 c6 20.xc7 xd4 21.xd4 xe2= 15.. ac8 1.a5 a5 17. c4 f 18 . 3 Ae 18.b3 b6 (Back can aso patiay equaize th 18 ... e8=) 19.xb6 axb6 20.a2 (afte 20.d1 Back can incease his pessue against the enemy cente th 20 .. .fd8, obtaining sufient compensation fo the 20...cd8 21.ab xd4 22. paw, Wedbeg Niesen, Mun- xb7 g6 23.e4 d6, Zhang Zhong kebo 1998) 20...d8 (it is ess Kapov, ap d'de 2000, 24. pecise fo him to opt fo 20...g4 dS f6 25.d1 b6 26.a4 e8 21.d5 22.gxf3 d4 when 27.h1, with the idea of advancite sti pesees some, abeit ing his fpawn; 20 . ..d8, amnik and, minima, winning chances, Kaakin ndeikin, Oopesa 20 00) oa 2005, 21 .ab1 b6 22.fd g6 21 .b2 xd4 (21. ..d6) 22.xd4 23.c5 xd4 24.cxb6 (24.c6) 24... xd4 23.xb6 d2 24.f3 xc4 axb6 25.f4 f6 26.xf6 xf6 25.xb7 g6= Back saves the daw 27.xb6 and White sti has some thank to his active ooks, since minute winning pospets.
xe 5d dS 6 d3 c6 70 0 e7 8c 9e2 00 10 3
19.b3 f8 0.fl 20.ae d4 21xd4 xd4 22h7+ xh7 23.xe6 dc4 24e7 c= 0 ... g 1. 2e2 g4 22xb7 f3 23 xf3 d4 24.ab cS 25xd8+ Exd8 26.b7 \e+ 27 fS 28 e2 xe2 29e2 d2=
o try her 2.g4!? 22xb7 b8 23.e4 xf3 24gxf3!? (24 xf3 d4 25.ab xb 26xb Ed6=) 24 b2 hs pieces ae s actve that he shud be abe egan one of hs oppe's c nected pawns and save the game. .acl g4 3.5 e7 . al 24.h3 xa3! 25.\xa3 a3 26.a xf3 27gxf3 cS 28xa7 bS 29.b7 bxc4 304 2+ 3.xf2 xc4 24 f 24 ...d6 25.h3 f3 26xf3 e8 5.a c3 2.xc3 c3 Black ll exchang his lightsquared bishop for the eney knigh and his darksquared bshop will transerd to th cSsquar, building a roksolid, drawsh setu.
21 b It is also intresting or Blak
onclusion In the variation we have analyed, eginning with the move 10 a3, Wie reduces the tension in the central awn-structure too early The straighorward move 14 f4 (it is moreeible for him to coninue with 14 e, tansosing to he main line aer O c3) rovdes Black with the additional ossiility of 14 a5!?, sacrcing the c7awn and later, with recise lay, he can equale comletely
Capter 24
l. e4 e5 2.� �f6 3.�xe5 d6 4.� �xe4 5.d4 d5 6.d3 �c6 7. 00 e7 8c4 �b4 9e2 00 10�c3
e exers addional ressure agans he cenre before exelling he enemy knigh from he b4square and clarng he asrucure. ow, Black s faced wih a choce of where o deelo hs lghsquared bisho. 1 0 i The araon ...e6 1.e5 f6 2.f3 was oular for a whle, bu laer on os s good reuaon. he moe f6 weakens Blacks oson and hs is lkely o ell n he ure. lla3 On he f4square Whe's bisho can come under aack by he enemy kngh and aer .f4 c4 12.c4 xc3 3.bxc3 dS= e mus lose an imoran
emo for s rerea. The move .b3 s harmless, because Black has a choce beween 11...f6 2.c5 aS 13.e wh a raher unclear oson, Morozech Pogar, Buenos res 2 and he more reliabe ...dxc4 2.c4 f6 3.g5 (he oson is reeaed aer 3.e5 xd4 4+ h8 5f3 d7 6. e5 d4= Bologan Zarnck, Buenos res 2 ) 3 ...g6 14. a3 c2 5.x 6.x+ x 17.xc2 xd4= ll xc3 12 bxc3 c6
13Jel For 3.cxd5 xdS see. .a3. Aer 3.e3 Black can equal ze n arous ways, for examle
8. c4 b4 9 . � e2 0 -0 10 . 3 � 11. a3 xc3 12 bx3 c 13 eJ e
wth 13 .. .a5= r 13 . .. dx 1. d6 15.e1 h6= and hte's bshp n e3 has n gd prspets. ite's bhp w b exhanged n f and aer 13.f dx 1. d6= the pstn s equa. 13 e8
14.if4 White's pawnentre lks pwel but he annt aheve anhing wth t. His attept t advane t with the help f the bshp n e3 s nt dangerus fr Blak at all sne n e3 hs bishp s nt ative. 1.e3 f6 15.d2 a5 16.xd5 xdS 17.a d7 18. b e7 19.b2 6 20.f3 d7= Tpav nand jk aan Zee 2005. The ve 1.a2 s rather ray. The b1square s attaked by Blak's ghtsquared bshp s hite wants t upy the b le using the b2square. Aer that his rk an be redeplyed t e2 t ght fr the ele. (dagra) w aer 1 ...e6 hte an establish a stable pstna ad
vantage wth the spe ve 15. S It s pssbe fr Blak t play the theat ve 1 ...a5 but aer 15.xd5 xdS 16.b2 6 ite has the nterestng re sure 17.e5 ! ? (n the gae Ka sidzhanv Gelfand lsta 2007 hte tried 17.a d8 18. f6 19.e3 e 20.d2 b6 21 .e5 e7 22 g g5 and the pstn reained apprxately equal) 17 18.f3 d6 19 be2 1 2 0.x1 e6 but here nt 2.h5 Mela eblsna jeka 2010 but 21.b1! and hite has gd pensatn fr the pawn; n partular he shes t prvke the ve g7g6 wth f3e and then begn an attak n the kingsde wth the help f the pawnadvane h2hh5. Blak's st prese respnse s 1 ...f6! 15.b2 b6 16.f a5 17.xd5 xdS 18.e5 eS 19.f3 d7 20.e5 2.be2 6 22. dS xe5 23.xe5 xdS 2.xd5 ad8 25.xe8+ xe8 26.xe8+ xe8 27.g e6 28.b7 8 29 xa7 g 30 .d5 hS 31.xb6= wth a draw by pepetual hek ekseev Kanik Dtund 2007.
hapter24
Th most logical and poplar in for hit is rst to xchang paws with: 14.cxd5 �xd5 and only thn play 15.f4, and w shal analyz this variaton n th folowing chaptrs of th book. 14 .. .dxc4 Ar 14 .. 8, ht has th powl ripost 15.c5 f6 16.�a4 (It might b vn mor promisng to contin with 16.�b3 b8 17. b5 4 18.x4 x4 19.d2) 16...a6 17.f1 �d7 18.�b3 x1 19.x1 b8 20.g5 xg5 21. xg5 and ack has a light sqard bshop and nmros paws on th sam color, so hs position is rathr nplasant to dfnd, Motylv Gashimov, Poikovsky 2009. 15.c4 d6 16.xe8 16.�d2 �d7 (it is also good for lack to play hr 16 .. .h6, dpriving Whit's kight of th g5 sqar 1.xd6 cx6 18.h4 a5 1.a2 6 20.d5, orozc Glfand, ochi 2007. lack can otain a rliabl position wthot any problms with th mov 20... 5 16 e8
17.g5 For 17.xd6 cxd6 18.g5 g6 s 17.g5. ht dos not achiv mch ith 17.�d2 �d7 18.xd6 cxd6 19.1 8 vdlr Topalov, ijk aan Z 2005. Ar 17.h4, lack cannot achiv ll qalty with 17...a5 18.xf5 xc4 19.�f3 Eb8 20.h6 g6, in vw of 21.xd6 (21.3 x3 22.3 �7 23.h3 �h4 24.f4 x4 25.xf Jakovnko Gfand, antyMansyisk 2009) 2...xd6 22.�f6 f5 23. f4 with a slight dg for Whit. It is mor prcis for lack to play hr 17...d7!18.�3 �7 19. xd6 cxd6 20.5 xf5 2.�xf5 g6 22.�f3 c8 23.d5 g7 and his knight coordinats pctly ith his qn, so it is not infrior to hits bshop, olokitin ts, Grany 20 09 . 17...g6 18.d6 cxd6
19.h4 If it dos not attack th nmy bishop on g6, lack wll asily improv th coordination o his pics. In addition, hit
8. c4 {b4 9 . � e2 0 -0 {c3 � 11. a3 {xc3 12 xc3 c 13 eJ e
dos not hav an saphol for his king and ths is likly to tll at so point: 19g4 h6 20{f3 4 2g3 2 22{h4 4 23 d5 24f Kaakin opaov Lon 2003 Hre it s very good for Blak to pay th alpurpos dfnsiv ove 24f8! and ar 253 ! h pins the bishop on f and at the sa time attaks th paw on a3 19 �e7 2 0 .g4 Whit an simpl th pos ton with the ln: 20 h5 xg5 21 hxg6 xg6 22 d3 g5 23b b6 24h7+ f8 25e4 8 Blov Bu iangzhi Mosow 201 0 20 ...h
qual ndgame arises aer 22d7 {a5 23a2 6 24x6 {x6 Bologan hirov Po kovs 200 9 If Whit puts his knight vountarily in a pin with 22{f4 thn Blak an xploit this wth the variation 22 {5! 23dx5 x4 24xd6 (246 6 25xg6 xf4 2 6x6+ h8=) 24 x3 (24 d8 25d 2 26d5 x3 27h2) 25d (ar 25 Blak ontinus wth 25 4 and Wt annot support his d6 paw wth his pis) 252 26d5 4 27d 2 and a draw by rptition of ovs
22 c8 hs is a devloping ov and 21.j3 It s a fored draw ar 2h5 it denitly solvs all Bak's h5 22xh5 hxg5 23d f8 probls so I prfr it 24d3 + 25h2 xf2 26 It is lss onvinng for Blak xg5 f6 27xf6 gxf6 28g3+ to hoos th or onrt aph8 29h3+ g7 30g3= Rad- proah 22{a5 23a2 2 (afjabov Wang Yue Mdias 201 0 ter 23 d 3 Whit has th prob21. �e4 22.g3 lelik rply 24! and Bak Only Bak an b bttr if wl hav so diutis to onWht plays in smpl fashion tend with Grishuk dams 22x4 x4 23e f5 24{f4 Halkidiki 2002) due to 24d5! (Whit annot ahive muh th 8
hapter24
24h5, bcaus Black has th strong rspons 24 f5 It is also possibl for hi to opt for 24 4 25\xd6 \xc3 26f1 d2, Hou Yifan Bu Xiangzhi, hina 2009 ow, it ust forc a draw by a prptual chck with 27 x 28\d7 f8 29\d6) 24 c8 (ar 24 8, hit has th quit ov 25 h2! and it is dicult for Black to iprov his position) 251 xc3 268 h7 27xc8 \xc8 28\xd6 \8 29f4 e4, ibor Li hao, ik aan Z 2011 Ar 30 a2 ! c6 31\cS! Black ust be prepard for a ong and patient defence 23 23\xd6 xd4 (23 \c2!?) 24 d5 bS 25\d7 26\xe8 xe8 27c4 d6 28c5 4 Hou Yifan ang Yu, hina 2011 23 e7 24.\xd6 25. Wb4 x4 It is qually good for Black to connu hr with 25 b6 and thn if 26g3 c6 (Thr is no nd to ntr th shap coplications arising aer 26 xg3 27g3 3 28f2 xg3 29 g2 xc3
30\7 with a vry unclar position 27f4 (but not 27c1, bcaus of 27a5 and it's d4 pawn hang) 27 \xc3 28d1 26.d5
26 a5! In th ga Topalov Glfand, Monaco 2003, Black playd 26 f5, to which hit could hav rspondd with 27f4!, prsrving a vy favourabl opposition of th quns, wher nithr sid can xchang advanta geously 27.\xe4 e4 28.c4 29.f4 d6 30.cl b6 31.£ i7 Thre ariss an unbalanced endgae in which Black's prospects are by no ans wors
onclusion The variation beginning with the move 4 4 eads to simpca tion and resuts either in a draw or an unbaanced position with ap proimatey equa chances
Chapter 25
le4 e5 2 6 3xe5 d6 4 xe4 5d4 d5 6 . d3 c6 7 0 0 e7 8c4 b4 9 e2 0 0 l O . c3 lla3 xc3 2 bxc3 c6 3 el ges 4cxd5 Vxd5
has o coninue ith 17.a2, bt aer the siple ove 17.e5, Blacks poson s preferabe. 15 .. Jac8
15.if4 is oen he case in siiar posiions, on e3 hies bshop is passive and ied in its scope: 15e3 f6 16d2 ad8 17f3 d7 18b3 b6= Movsesan Haba, zech Repubic 2003. t is no good fo ie o pay 15c4 under hese ccusances, because of 15 d6 16d5 (Hee, praccay no ae ha he pays, Bac's bshop comes o he f6sqare th gea eec) 16 f6! and e does no have he ove 17.c5? (hch oud have been possibe hou he n csion of he moves e1 and f8e8) n ve of 17 xc5 18 dxc6 xa1 19cxb7 ab8 20e3 xe3 ! + and Bac ns. o Whe
hs s one of he abas of he Peo Defence. ould appea ha Bacs gh s mispaced on c6, because i hapes he paadvance c7c5, but exen sve ournamen pracce of his vaaion has shon ha i s very dct for hie o deploy his peces to acive posiions in order o advance his c and dpas ef fecvely. Bacs forces reain very active. One of his ain ideas s to play a5 and folo ha ih he nderining ove c7c5 It is orh enioning tha al he
hapter25
ossible exchanges ae favouable xa7 Ea8 23.b5 b5 24.cxb5 fo Black because his awn- xa3= ; 22.xc7 Exc7 23.d6 d6 stucture is wthout any defects 24.Exd6 e6 25.c5 bxc5 26 . b5 and this would be vey usel in f8=) 20 ...d7 2.d2 f6 22. xa5 d4 23 .xd4 xe2= draw an eventual endgame. he ohylactic move 16.h3 Leo Kamnik Bssago 2004. s one of White's tickest otions 16 . g3 and it will be analyzed n the fol lowing chates. ow we shall analyze to oughly: A} 6.�a4, B) 6.g3 and C) 16.id3 Black's defensive task s much simle ae Whte's altenatives. 16. d2 a5 17.f1 �b3 of ten hapens Blac eacts in staghtfowad fashon aganst his bisho is laced on a rohs oonent's stange manoeues and foces a tansition into tected squae but Black has an endgame. 18.e3 �xd1 19. enough time to simli the osiaxd1 d7 20.d5 d6= Puijs- tion. 16 .. .d6 17.d2 (17.�a4 d7 18.�c2 f5 19.�b2 a5 20. ses Fdman emany 200 8. d 2 g3 21.hxg3 c5 it is even 16.c4 �e4 17 . e3 more solid for him to ot fo 21... b6 22 .f1 �b3= 22 .�b5 b6 23 . 4 e 24. � 25.= arlsen Pe.ielsen Faabog 20 07) 17 ... g3 18.hxg3 a5 19.�a4 d7 20 .�c2 b6 (20 .. .f5 2.�a4=) 2. d3 h6 22 . h7+ h8 23 . e4 �d6 24. e6= the sion equ dams nand oa 2005. 16.�c1 17...�c2 he exchange of queens again solves all Black's oblems. (Aer 17...f6 Whte can ght for the initiatve wth the move 18.Ea2 deiving Black's queen of the c2squae.) 18.d5 a5 19.d4 �xd1 20.exd1 (White would not change much wth 20. Eaxd1 d7 2. b5 b6 22 .
a3 xc3 12bxc3 c6 13e e8 14 cxd5 xd5 154 ac
16 ..f6! hs is a typca move in ths panstructure. Back mproves he pacemen of hs pieces as much as he can before making the move a5. (he aternaves ould no solve hs probems: 16 . .a5? 17.c4! �e4?? 18d1 �d3 19e3 �xc4 20.e5 10 nand ramnk oa 2005. Back has no ye esed he move 16 . .�d7 a hgh eve I seems o me that aer 17�b2 d6 18e3 a5 19.c4 hte manans a sight edge) 17.�b2 a5 18.e5 �b3 19.�d2 e5 20e5 c4 2.�g5 g6 2 2g4 a8 he other ossbe roue to equaity for Black here is 22...h6 23�h4 f5 2.h5 xe5 25dxe5 h5 26 �xh5 �e6 23.d7 f6 24f6 xe1 25.xe1 gxf6 26.�xf6 276 e6 28�xe6 h8 29. �f6 g8 30�g5 h8 3h4 f8 32 7 �b1 33h2 �g6 3. �xg6 hxg6 35xc7 xa3 36xb7 xf2 and t all ends n a dra. 16.f1 d6
17.xe8 (17.c4 xe1 18.�xe1 �e4 19.d6 �xe1 20.xe1 cxd6 2.d5 a5 22.d4 d7 23.e7 d8 17..xe8 18.c4 �e4 19 d6 cxd6 20�d2 �c2! hs
move s ypca n such postons e have already mentoned that any smpcaon s advanageous for Back. (t s eaker for hm o pay passvey h 20... �e7?! 2.e1 �d7 22.xe8 �xe 23.� �d7 24.d5 e7 25.d4± snce Backs poson s cramped hs d6pa requres protection and hte s hreaening o break hrough h c4c5 opan Domnguez urin 2006.) 2.�f4 h6! hs s an excelen prophy acc move. ( s aso possble for Back o pay 2...g6 but he shoud ry o depoy hs pans on dark squares havng a ighsquaed bshop 22h3 (he pan is poi soned because aer 22.�xd6?! �b2 23.d1 g4 24d5 f3 25. �d7 f8 26�d6 e7! 27gxf3 5 Blacks initiative is ve dangerous ) 22 ..�c3 23d1 �c2 24.d2 �b1 25.�xd6 a5 26e5 b3 27e2 f6 28�d5 h7 29 d3 d3 30xe8 �xf1 31h2 �xf2 32.�g8 g6 33e7 �f 34h1 �f1 and a dra by a perpetual check.
hapter5
16 ...d7! bshop on d6 turns out to be mis It is usel to repulse the ene plced in this cse becuse it my queen. It is less precise for might come under ttck with Blck to continue with the seem tempo er c3c4 followed by c4 ingly ctive move 16 ...e4 17. g3 c5. f5 owing to 18.b5! (18.d2! However it would be good for c2 19.b5 xb5 20.b5 6 Blck to ply 17 ...f5 18b2 5 21 .c6 bxc6 egi Fdmn 19.e5 b3 nd he would be Germny 2008) 18 ... xb5 19. very close to equlity b5 dS 20.e5 6 2.xc6 18.� c6 22.c6 bxc6 23.f It is useless for ite to con Blck's queenside pwstructure tinue to rom ll over the bord hs been wekened therefore with his queen becuse er White hs the edge in this simple 18.d2 d6 19.d6 cxd6 Blck looking position. hs no problems t ll. 17.�c2 lS ... 19 .5 Aer 17b1 Blck cn equl White wekens his opponent's ize with this long vrition: 17. . . pwstructure with this move d6 18.d6 cxd6 9b5 e7 20. but presents him with the dvn xd5 4 21.5 c6 22.x7 tge of the bishoppir. f3 23.gxf3 f5 24.xb7 xc3 He would not chieve much 25 . f ec8 26 . h3 xf3 27.e3 with 19.d5 5 2 0.d4 d7 f4 28 .c7 b8
17...� If 17 ...d6 (The move e7d6 is usully good if White cnnot void the exchnge of bishops.) ite cn ply 8 . e3! f5 19. c1! nd his centrl pws re redy to dvnce while Blck's
19 .. .a6! It is less precise for Blck to ply 19 ...d7 20.d5 (20.d2 6 21.d3 5 20 .. .e5 21.d4! (hite will be in trouble er 2. d7 xd7 22.c7 xc7 23.d6 xc3 nd here er 24.xe7 xe7 25.dxe7 f6 26.d4 6 with the
a3 x3 12. bx3 c6 13' e ' e8 14. cxd5 xd5 15� f4 ' ac8
plan of f6e8 f6 and g8 hites e7paw eains without the sppot of the est of his piec es and is dooed; whle ae 24dxe7 f6 25ad1 c7 26d4 e5 27f4 c6 28xc6 bxc6 ite st play accuaely to ake a daw and Kamnik Mexico 2007) 21c6 (he othe possibility fo lack hee s 21 b5 22xb5 d6 23xa7 a8 24b5 f3+ 25gxf3 f4 he should be able to daw but play ing a pawn dow ight be athe npleasant) 22f1 g6 23dxc6 bxc6 (lack fails to solve his pob les with 23 c6 24xc6 xc6 25e3 and hte exets pes sre thanks to his powel bish oppar whle lack cannot ex change all the paws o he queenside aer 25 a6 26eb1 xc3 27xb7 xa3? ite wns with the siple response 28 xe7 24g3 c5 25a4 ad White aintains a slight advan tage thanks o his oe actve pieces 20.ixc bxc 2Ue5 d3 22.:ael 23.:a5 d 24. e5 xe5=
te's edge is eely sy bolc and lack should aage o daw wihout too uch eot B) .g3
his is a ogal move but t does not ceate ay seous pob les fo lack .. .f It is too isky for hi to op fo 16b5?! 17d2 a5?! Kaaki eets ijk aan Zee 2010 ie ca continue with 18a4! b4 1a6± obtaining a ateial ad vantage 17.d2 17c1 h6 18c4 �a5 (lack equalizes even oe siply with the standad ove 18 �d7) 19. d5 e5 20 e5 e5 2 d3 g4 22h7+ (It is overly abitious for ite to choose 22e4?! v anchuk Gelfand Moaco 2011 becase aer 22 f5! 23xg4 g4 24xe5 xe5 25�xg4 f8 26�d4 e1+ 27xe1 �xe1+ 28 g2 b6 he can oly struggle to draw 22 xh7 23�d3+ g8 24xe5 f6 25�g6 h3 26� + h7 27�g6+ g8 and a daw
hapter25
by eretual hek 17 . .�d7 18 c4 h3! his move emhasies the weakenng of the ight squares in Whites am aused by his sixteenth move 19.�d3
19 . .g5! lak weakens his kings shelter a little but this is not imortant here beause it auses disharmony in the setu of ites iees is bisho must retreat to e3 thus eiving his own knight of this square 2 0 . e3 �d5 21. 22.�
22...b5!
Aer 22 e7 White an ativate his fores with 23f4! (23 ab1 f5 24a4 a6 25�d3 b5 26 a3 6 27 2 �f3 2 8�d1 �xd1 29exd1 d6 Gashmov Wang Yue Nanjng 2010) 23 gxf4 (it woud be too risky for lak to ot for 23 g4 24e5± and Whites entre is very owerl) 24 f4 th a slght edge for White 23.d2 h6! his is a usel rohylat move roteting the g5awn he osition is aroximatey equal and 24f4 is not dangerous in view of 24 e6! and lak exets ressure along the ele C) 16 d3
16 ..�d7 17.bl he osition is omletey equal aer 17f5 �xf5 18 g3 d6 19�b3 b6 204 �f6 21d5 d4= vanhuk Gefand avia 2004 17..b6! Aer the reiminary exhange 17d3 18�xd3 b6 White has an interesting resoure
a3 Cx3 12bx3 Cc6 13 e e8 14 cxd5 xd5 15. f4 ac8
at his dsposal 9e3! ? (the 4xe8 xe8 White s unable to move 9d5 transposes to the explot the pin on the ee main line of the vaiation) 19 19 .. .f 2 0 dl xa3 0 Cg5 g6 1Ce4 (It i not ver dangerous for lac if hite tres h3 h5 xh5 Ce5 3 c g4 4h8+ xh8 5xe5+ g8 6Cx x 7 b3+ e6 8xa3 a5 9e c5 the poston remans ver com plicated but lacs defensve resources seem to be sucient fo equalt) 1e7 be1 hite has numerous possibiltes fo de veloping hs intiatve n retun Here lac has to queenfor his minmal material dect so lac must defend superpre- sorties: Cla) 2 0 ... g4 and Clb) cisel to eep the balance 2 0 ...d5! rischu efand Moscow 006 Cla) 2 0 ...g4 21.g3 ac mantans a slight edge followng xc6 xf4 xe8 xe8 because his bishop is stronge than the enem nght when the ght continues on both sdes of the board 2. .. 22.8 S 23. l �d 24.�4
ow hte can sharpen the game with the move Cl) 8.b5, or he can continue plaing n a purel positonal manne C2) 18.d5 Cl) 8.ib5 bl l9.b 9Ce5 f5 0xc6 xf4= 9d5 cd8 0xb xd5 1 c4 c5 e3 d 6 3e4 Ca5
24 .. .c! lac could have evaded the
hater25
pin vn arlir with 24 .. .8.
hit annot tak advantag of his ontro of th : 25.b7 6 26.a6 (26.x6 x6 27 h6 (27...7 2 8.f4 a3 29.d5 a5 30.d4 f8 31. d6 Ed8=) 28.f4 a5=) 26. . . Ef8= 25.5 e5 26.x5 6 27. b7 f6 28.d3 (28.f3 6 29. a6 E8 30.4 8 31.Ex8+ x8 32.b7 d7=) 28 ...6 29. x6=, draw, sipanu Fridan, Turin 2006 Th ov 25.h4 has svral drawbak in soe variations ths pawn is hanging hit no ongr has th h4squar avaiab, whih h uses as a bas for his pes in so variations and h no ongr has th possbilit of g2g4, in ordr to disodg Blak's knght fro th f5squar, whih t a oup in so ns. 25 .. . h6 (so worth onsidering s 25 .. . b5! ? 26.5 d5 27.6 gxf6 f it's pawn had bn on h3 hr nstad of h4, h ould hav transfrrd hs knight to f5, a th h4squar, whi now he s unab to do this and Blak has suint ountrpa. Bak has
t anothr intrsting possibilt 25 ...f5 26.7 h5 27.5 Ex3 28.f6 gxf6 29.d5 E5 30. Ed d6 31.f4 g7= and h aintains quait hr as wll. 26.5 5 27.x5 6 28. b7 f6 29.d3 6= Jakovnko ang u, izhn ovgorod 2007. hit an iprov his position with th ov 25.h3 !
Thr ight foow: 25 ...b5 26.5 25 .. .h6 26.5 (26.h4 d5 27.4 h4 28.xh4 f6 29.5 d6 30.E3 E8 31.Eg3 @f8 32. E3 g8=) 26...e5 27.x5 e6 28.b7 f6 29.f3 6 30. x6 x6 31.d5 a5 32.E7 6 33.d4 xd5 34.f5 and t has so hans of antainng a sght edge 25 .. .6 26.5 xeS 27.xe5 d5 28.4 f6 29.3 E8 30. 5 f5 31.g3 g6 32.3 with a inia advantag for hit. 25.a4 This ov s aid at prvntng b6b5 and, in addition, ht's pawn is reovd fro a squar on whih it ight sotis o undr attak.
a xc 12bxc c6 1 e e8 14cxd5 xd5 15 f4 ac
He cnnot chieve uch with the strightford line 25.e5 eS 26.xe5 f8= with the pln of continuing with e7f5. If 25.c4 then not 25 ...c8 even though er 26.h4 h4 (It would be huge positionl concession for Blck to ply 26 ... g6? 27. f6 gxf6± Tiofeev ng Yue ingbo 200.) 27. xh4 e8 Blck hs excellent chnces of neutrlizing ite's inittive but siply 25 ...h6!= with ides of e8d8 nd b6b5. Aer 25.h3 besides the prophyctic ove 25 ...h6 it is possible for Blc to continue with 25 ...b5 ! 26.h2 e6 27.xe6 e6 28.xe6 29.d6 d5= nd the ctivity of his peces copen stes for the scriced pw.
25 .. .b5! It is high tie Blck plyed ctively! He still hs soe probles in the vrition 25...h6 26.h3 6 27.e5 (ite hs n interestng resource here in 27.h2!? nd Blck loses er 27...f8 28. g4 dS 29.d6 e7 30.h7 f6 in
view of 3.g3!. He cn intin equlity only er very precise defence 27...h5 28.f3 bS nd now it would be bd for ite to continue with 29.xb5 cxbS 30 .h4 h4 3.xh4 S 32 .e5 e6 33.xe6 e6 34.xe6 4 nd Blc's outside pssed pwn s so powerl tht ite ust py very ccurtely to ke drw. Insted it is stronger for hte to opt for 29.e5 e6! 30.c2 g6! when Blck's position is stil cceptble but fro purely prctcl point of view ite's ge s esier.) 27 ...e6 28.b c8 29.c4 (It is lso t trctive for hi to try 29.5!? bx5 30.d3 d 7 3 .xe8 xe8 32.b7 e7 33.x6 fS 34.e5 eS 35.xe5 cS 36.x5 cxd4 37.cxd4 xd4 38.x f3 39. gxf3 x nd Bck mus ply precisely to sve the ge.) 29 ... eS 30.xe5 d Blc's posi tion here is sold but pssive Tiofeev ng Yue ingbo (rpd) 200. 2.b5 cb5
27.e5 (But not 27.d5? be
hapter25
ause of 27 ..d8 28.d6 f5) 27 e5 28.�xe5 f6 29.�c5 30xe8+ �xeS 31.h3 xg3 32.g3 �d7= •..
Cb) 2 0 ..�d5
23.c4 ak s better aer 23.d7 6 24.xf8 xb5 (24...xb5 25xh7 d4 26.�e4) 25.xh7 x3 26.xf6+ gxf6 23 .. Jb7 24.d7 c6 25. Aer 25.xf6+ gxf6 26.a4 �a6 hte's ompensaton for the exhange s nsuent. 25 .. .cxb5 26. xh7 bxc4 27. xf6+ f6 28.d5 c3 29.�c2 xd5 30. d6 �c6 31.� c2 32.�g4+
2.g3 e7 22.e5 22.4 f5 23 . e8 xe8 24.d5 (24.b3 �d7) 24 ...xb1 25.x b 6! 2 2. e8 xe8 2 3. 7 4 24.e5 d5 Aer an exhange on f6, ak shoud reapture th the pawn, makng use of the rumstane that hte's piees are too passve to expoit eetvey the defets of ak's kng sheter. 22 . .J 19 . .a3 hs s a's most dret route to equaty. he queter move 19 . ..f6 eads to a safe poston, but fals to equalze ompetey n view of Whte's smpe repy 20.4 (dagram) and now: 20 .. .h6 21.h3 e7 22.e5 e5 23.xe5 (or 23 . e5 f5
. a x 1 . bx 6 1. e e8 14 .xd5 xd5 15. 4 a8
The move 21e7 cannot be reed directly but sees quite ris
and ite again has a slight edge) 23 g6 24xe8+ xe8 25g3 with a pleasanter position for ie, nand hirov, onaco (blindfold) 2005; 20e7 21bd (Black has nothing to fear aer 2e5 e5 22xe5 d6= ite can sim pli the position rather quickly with 2e5 e5 22e5 f6 23f4 f5 In the gae vidler Kramnik, Dortund 2006, r ther exchanges followed 24c5 bxc5 25c4 g5 26d2 d6 27 xc5 e4 28 a5 c6 29e3 cxd5 30xa7 xa7 31a7 c3 32 xe8+ xe8 33b8 xb8 34 xb8 d4 35f 36a7 d3 37 e d2+ 38xd2 b+ 39d3= and a draw 2 1 d8 2 2 h3 g6 23g3 h6 24b3 e7 25a4 de8 26xe7 xe7 27e c6 28e5 cxd5 29f6 dxc4 30xc4 gxf6 31h4 hte's initiative more than compensates for the sacri ces pawn, but th precise de fence Black should anage to hod, eko Kramnik, Dortmund 2007 20g5 20xe8+ xe8 2b5 b8 22 xd7 xd7= 2 0 g6 21. e4 � •••
22b5 f5 23c7 xc7 24 d6 d6 2 5xe8+ g7 26dxc6 c5; 22bd f5 23d6 (ite should have preferred here 23 g5 g5 24g5, with soe compensation for the pawn) 23 cxd6 24d5+ h8 25xd6 d6 26d6 xe + 27 xe e8 28xe8+ xe8 29h3 h6 30c4 h7= , draw, Jkovenko Kram nik, oscow 2007 Black's posi ion is slightly pleasanter, but his chances of nning are just negli gible, since his ng is quite ex posed; 22d!? a5 23h6 f5 24 e3 Back might succeed in hold ing this position wth very precise play, but the defence would be ar duous; The most dngerous variaton for hm s 22d2 a5 23h6 f5 24d4 f6 25a4 (25g3 d7 26e4=) 25b7 (25 g5 26d6 cxd6 27xd6 d6 28 xe8+ 29be g6 30 g4 +) 26 bd and htes in tiative is very powel
haper25
compensation for the outside passed apawn, the best that Black can hope or is to attack Whites c4pawn and make a draw; 25 8! 26bd it would be premature or ite to play 26 d6 because o 26e6, with the threat of ) 26 g7 27d6 d8
22c7 Or 2 23 e5 23 e5 xf3 ! 23 xe5 24x5 x5 25a=) 2gx3 xe5 256+ g7 26 xe5 x6 27e4 d6 an only ite might have problems here 22 c7 It is interesting but very risy or Black to opt or 2 e5! 23 e5 xe5 24c4 e 253
ites d6pawn looks angerous, bt Black also has his trumps His bishop is stronger than the eney knight an i he manages to avanageously retrea his qeen an out Wites kight the initiative an hi opponents dpawn will become a target
an now: 25 c5 26h a5 Black apawn bolly advances, exloiting he act that ie cannot catre i comortably, since hi ng is vlnerable 27! a 2 a! 2c3 a3 2a 3 xc5 h5 3h3 xh3 32xh3 23f6 �xf6 24e8 e2 ; 2xc bx 2 3 b5 a3) 2a A series o g7 25dxc6 c5 26 .b2 xc6 manoeves will ollow, b, a 27.�d8 �xd8 28.xd8 5=
. a3 xc3 12. bxc3 c6 13. ' e ' e8 14. cxd5 xd5 15. 4 ' ac8
Leko Gefad, Moscow 2009
acks bshop o c5 s com petey stabe ad supports te apa, whch soo be ad aced to the a3square t aso attack he f2pa ad Whte wil be ed down to ts defece Meawhe, acks rook s free o roam a oer the board, atackg he eemy pawns Hag a ths md, ack woud ot hae ay probems ad he game shoud ed a draw
onclusion e have examined how Wie can aemp lively piece-play, bu Black has no serious problems anywhere Blacks main saegic ideas are as follows: 1) He mus exer pressure agains Wies pawn-chain c3-d4, pre vening is advance, since ha might cramp Blacks posion. I is usu ally benecial for him o place his bishop on f6 . Wite succeeds in advancing his c-pawn o c4, hen Black mus ry o force Wie to push d4-d5 o , so hat he can hen organe a blockade on he square. 2) He us consanly consider he possibiliy of playing a5, fol lowed by he undermining move c7-5. 3) E xchanges are almos always use l for Black. I is paricularly advanageous for him o exchange he queens, as well as he bishops. In order o simpl, he has he following resources up his sleeve: wih a knigh on a5, Black can play d5-b3, exchanging queens, which migh be raher unpleasan for Wie; wih a bishop on and a queen on e4, Black can oen lay e4 c2; i is someimes use l for him o play e7-d6, his forces he exchange of he dark-squared bisho s. Furhermore he can also ex change he rooks along he ele.
Chapt 26
l.4 5 2) �f6 .�x5 d6 4.�£ �x4 5.d4 d5 6.d �6 7. 0 - 0 7 8.4 �b4 9.2 00 10.� ll.a �x 12.bx �6 1Jl gs 14.xd5 xd5 15.f4 g8 16.h
hite ha a rch choice of pobiitie here. He can begin forc ing play th the move A) 172, trengthen hi centre wth B) 17. e3, remove hi pawn from attack with C) 17.a4, or tart to tranfer hi queen to a more active poiton with the move D 17.�a4 or E) 17.�c Thi i hite mot popular move here. He open an ecape hole for hi king and create the poibiliy of paying g2g4 at ome point outing the enemy bihop from fS and opening the long diagonal for hi ow bihop. Back ha two reaonable repone and both of them are ufcient for him to face the ture with optimim: with 16 ...e4, he put direct preure on the kight on f3 and xray the pan on ite inte the enemy bihg2; alternatively he can reply in op into hi camp hoping that it imilar fahion with the prophy- might become trapped. However actic move 16 ...6 (which we the concrete varation how that hal analye in the nex chapter) ite cannot trap t and can ony leting hi opponent clari hi in- exchange it tention rt 17...g2 18 .g4 19. 16 ...e4 4
12bxc3 c613el e814cxd5 Vxd5154 ac816h3 e4
ter than to repeat moves wth 24.4 e6 25.e4 =
23.�b3 e7 2.+ 25.c g6 26 2 f6= The
endgame s appromately equal hirov amnk, Wijk aan Zee 200.
B) 7 e3 a5
20.e Aer 20. 5 21.h5 g6 22. h gh5 23.g + h8 Black has a paw whch s doubled but still etra Leko and an Lus 2005. 20.e8+ e8 2.h S! (2 1. ..e+ 2 2 .e e 23 .e 5 24.e8+ 25.c8 g4 26. c7+ g8 27.c8+ 28 .c7= 2 2 .g ! Whte's pawnstructure has been weakened and Black's prospects are better.
2 0 2.xl g 22. g
22
It seems very good to play 22 . . . e7 immedately here. Aer 23. h2 Whte has nothing bet
8.d2 8.e5 6 19.g4 (9.g4 cd8 2 0.a4 c6 2 .3 g6 2 2 . g6 hg6= te's bishop on g4 s restrcted by ts own paws and thus Black has a very comortable postion. He has nothng to fear aer 9.c4 d6 2 0.g4 h4= since te's peces lacks harmony 9 .. .e7 2 0 .e5= , draw, Tmman renburg Goteborg 20 05 . 18.c4 c4 9.c4 c4 20. d2 dS 21.e4 e4 22.g5 e+ 23.e g5 24.a5 6 25.a7 cS = Black has sucent compensation or the queen th a rook a bshop and a passed cpa suppoted by the bshop Leko amnk Brssago 20 04
(game 9 18 19.c
Chapter26
hite cannot create any problems for his opponent with the line : 9 f3 d7 2 0e 4 Laznicka topa Legnica 2 004 Blacks most solid move here would be 20 b6!= cementing the queenside and depriving Whtes knight of the c5square
19 .. .d7 2 0 . f6 2cl c5 22.dxc5 xdl 23.cxdl b3 2.c6 xc6 25.a7 c3 26. a6 27. e3 6 = Ivanchuk amnik Wijk aan Zee 2008
C) 17.a
This move is typical for similar positions ite removes his
pa from attack and controls the b5square just in case
17 d6!
Blacks other standard reply here would be 7 f6 but in this position it is less precise
Hang played a3a4 White is not planning to advance with c3 c4 any time soon Black usually places his bishop on f6 in order to prevent the advance o his opponents central pas Now ite would not achieve anything by trying to sharpen the game: 8 d2 g2 9 g4 h (9 e+ 2 0%e f8 2 b h5 22b5 d8 23h5 g6 24b5 dS 25c7 e8 26d c7 27d5 vanchuk Gelfand ochi 2008 20f3 (20f3 h4 2e8+ e8 22%b3 rian Wang Yue Taiyuan 2007 22 b3 23b3 f5 20 e1 +! (20f3 2 f3 f3 22 f3 2 e f3 22 c8 e7 23 g4 g4 24hg4 f3 25c7 g4+ 26�g3 h5 and Blacks counterplay s sucient for equality It is stronger for White to choose the positonal move 8 �d3 ! y simplication is usually
12bxc3 c613eJ e814cxd5 xd5154 ac816h3 e4
n Blacks avour but n ths particular case he has problems because th a bshop on 6 his c7 paw is hangng
He has several possbltes to choose rom but none o them equalze 18 3 19xe8+ xe8 20 x3 x3 2gx3± Whte s beter thanks to hs bshoppair; 18 g6 19e3 d3 20xd3 xe3 2e3±; 18 d3 19xe8+ xe8 20 xd3± Black has dcultes protectng hs c7pawn; 18 e7 19xe4 xe4 20c4 5 (it would be too rsky or hm to opt or 20 e6 2d5 e8 22dxc6 x4 23cxb7 b8 24b1 c6 25e2 d4 26xd4 xd4 27e3 Whtes bshop wll come to the long dagonal and ater that Black's poston wll become dcult 2e3 b4 22 e4 xe4 23b1 e7 245± and te mantans a slght edge
8.ie3 (dagram
8 a5
In the game mrn Voloktn, rete 2 007, Black tred 18
a5! In ths varaton that can hardly be the right square or Blacks queen 19b3 5 20 d2 a5 By playng 2a2!±, te could have obtaned the advantage o the two bshops, snce Black would not have the move 21 c6 n vew o 22g4 g6 23d5+
9.d2 2.c5
i
20.c Ve6
2..i Here Black has a good alternatve n 21e7= plannng the transer o hs bshop to the 6 square
22cl b6 23. b3 2. Vxb3 xb3 25.c3 a5 26. d5
Chapter 26
7 �
26. . .d7 It would be a mstake or Black o play 26 . ..bxc5 27.c5 �d7 adjabov Wang Yue Baku 2008. Here Whte can mantan he advantage with the arrom obvious line: 28.8 xf8 29. h2! threatenng 30.�a6 xe1 31.c8.
27. a6 aS ! But not 27 . .d8 because o 28 .d 6! d6 2 9.cxb6
28 b5 xb5 29.axb5 b7 30.cxb6 cxb6 The queensde •
paws ll be annihlated n the nearest ture so the draw seems netable.
Here Black could consider 7 .. . a6! deprving his opponent o the mportant bSsquare. 18.d2 (aer queter play Black's game wll be even easer: 18 .�g3 �d6 =; 18.�e3 fS 19.d2 �c2 20.c4 aS 2 .a2 g6= 8 .. . g2 9. �g4 �h 20.3 S 2.�h5 g6 22. xh1 gxhS 23.c4 xc4 24.xc4 �6 25.xe8+ xe8 26.c7 Ku laots Nouro Fnand 20 06 ; now wth 26 . . .b! 27.b6 wf 2.d e7= Black equalzes eortlessly.
8 .g3 c2 8 .. .�d6 9.e5 �xeS 20.�g4 g6 2 .dxe5 �S 2 2 .�3± Grischuk Pe.Nelsen Monaco 20 06 .
9.�b5 �xb5 20 . xb5 a6 2 .xc6 bxc6 22Je5 I 2 2 .a2 �a4 23 .c4 then 23 ... cS! (it s weaker or Black to opt or 23 . ..�b3 24.ae2 8 25.c5 �dS 26.e5 cd8 27.e3± snce his position s terribly cramped so Whte's prospects are preera ble Grischuk Volotin Foros 2006 24 .d5 �6 25.ae2 8=
D) 7.�a
22. . .c5!= It s essential or Black to ac
12bxc3 c613el e8 14.cxd5 xd5154 ac816h3 e4
complsh ths pawnbreak at ths precse moment whle Whte's rook has not yet occupied the ecellent aSsquare If instead Black plays 22 f6 2 3aS d3 24 eU he stll has some dcultes to worry about vdler nand Morelia/Lnares 2007
23ael 2c5 f6 25d5 b3 26d7 a 27 d c6= hirov Gelfand Moscow 2007
E) 7cl White's queen s free to manoeuve from ths square and hs bishop on f4 s protected whch s also usel
7f6! s oen the case n such postons ths s the most favourable square for the bshop It is good for Black to place t on d6 only f hite cannot avod the echange of the darksquared bshops It s rather dubous for Black to play 7 aS! 18e3! f8 (It s slightly preerable to contnue h 18 fS but aer 9
eS cS 20hS cd4 2cd4 e6 22f3 Whte s clearly better) 9c4 d8 20eS S 2c3 and Whte is domnatng the entre board and amnik Wijk aan Zee 2 010 Aer 7 d6 Whte has the reply 8e3±; now Blacks bshop s msplaced on d6 snce t does no prevent he advance of Whte's central pawns
8�b2 a5 Black shes to play dSb3 brnging about advantageous smplcaton
19d2!? Ths s the only move for Whte to ght for the advanage
19 g2 20 g
Now Black can equalze th precise play:
2 0 cd8! Ths s the best move It s less convncng to opt for 20 hS 2c8 c8 22e3 cS 23ae! when te moblzes hs last undeveloped orces and begins a counteroensve The move 20 a8 also equal zes for Black but n a much more
Chapter 26
dcul way Furhemoe i is 23. dl psychologcally unpleasan o Ae the alternatives o hm o etun the ook o s inal Whie pepetual checks are lurksquae 23 h5! (n he vaiation ng on all sdes: 23� 5 24g2 g6+ 25 21�h4 22e5 e5 23e5 h5 24g2 hg4 25hxg4 �g5 26 h2 ( 25 h 5 =; 25 d3= h 6 27c2 ! d2 28 6 ! 25 �g5 2 6e4 �4+ 27 h 5 29g7! g7 30a2+ 8 31 28 g2 g6+ 29 5 = ; d2 Whe has a ve dange23h5 �h 243 h5 25 ous aack 22 g2 hg4 23 hg4 h h3+ 26g g3+ 27 c4 (Black can hold the balance h3=; in anothe long variation oo: 23 233 hg4 24g2 gh3+ 25 �g5 24g5 g5 25 e4 d5 xh3 (i Whe does no capue 262 5 27g5 g4 28h4 this paw hs posiion can only gx3+ 29g3 e 30e 2 be wose 25 h5+ 26g2 31h d6+ 32xf2 8+ 33 g6+ 27 d3+ 28g2 g6= e e8+ 34d h6 35xh6 wih a daw gxh6 36xh6 wih a daw 24 23 .g5 I is ineesing o Bak o xc4 xc4 25g5 �e7 26xb7 xc3 27ac xd4 28e4 b6 hee 23 h3! 24e4 e7 25 29xb6 axb6 30e f8 31 f3 f5 26e2 h4 27g3 e6 7 31 h g8= 3 1 �5 - 28xe6 e6 and n s doumos l he peces have been bleedged endgame boh sides elminaed so he daw is una- pospecs ae abou equ vodabe 2h g6 255 5
2c7
26g2 �g+
Whe does no aheves much wh 2 �h4 2 2e5 xe5 23 e5 h5 24xg2 hxg4 25hxg4 g5
2 h5 22 d8 d8
27.h2 I is oo isky o he o pla 27 h3 28 e2 h4 his ng wll be ve unsafe and
12bxc3 c613el e814cxd5 Wxd5154 ac816h3 e4
Blacks iniiaive more han com pensaes for the sacriced echange
= and the game ends in perpeual check.
Cocuso T he move 16. e4 obectvey euaes However as oe hap pes whe Backs bshop captures he g2-paw he resutig es requre cocree ad precise cacuao Every mstake becomes cru cia e have aayzed umerous orcg variatios ad t is very easy or a payer to go astray them. Accordigy the quieter es arisig aer16h6 a move we sha dea wth i the ext chapter are much more popuar at gradmaster eve
hater27
l.e4 e5 2. �f6 3.�xe5 d6 4.�£ �xe4 5.d4 d5 6.d3 �c6 7.0-0 e7 8.c4 �b4 9 .e2 0-0 10.�c3 ll.a3 �xc3 12.bxc3 �c6 13Jel e8 14.cxd5 'xd5 15.f4 ac8 16.h3 h6
here 18. . .cd6 19. d7 2 0.e3 g5= 19 . a5 20 .e3 g6 21. a4 b6 22.a6 cd8 23.c4 e+ 24.e c4 25.c4 a5 ollowed by the echangng manoeuve d8d7e7 and Black equalzed convncngly n the game Lutz Landa Germany 2007. The poston s o a nonorcing nature and hte has numerous possibilties. We shall analyze them thoroughly: A) 7.a B)
A) 7.a Wth the help o ths move te hopes to bing hs lghtsquared bshop into action via c4 orbS.
7.i C) 7.c D) 7.g E) 7d2 and F) 7.cl hite has also tried: 17.a4. hte removes hs pawn away rom a square on whch t mght come under attack but Black can use ths tempo to simpli the positon: 17 . . .d6 18 .e3 a5= Hracek Dydyshko zech epublc 2010; 17.h2. The transer o ths knight to the e3square takes too much tme or Whte so that he cannot epect to obtan any ad vantage. 17. . .d6 18.d6 d6 (t is also good or Black to play
7. . .id7 It would be rather dubous or Black to opt or 17...a5! 18.b3 b6 Fedorov tupak Mnsk
12bxc3 c613el e814cd5 xd5154 ac816h3 h6
2010. Here Whte could have played 19 .b6 ! ab6 2 0.b5 th an advantage.
no weaknesses and his pieces are harmonously deployed.
B) 7. d6
s.abl
18.c2 5 19.5 5 20. b5 (20.d5 a5 21.d4 d7 22. b5 vidler Domnguez Pok ovsky 2005. By replng th 22 . . . 6!= Black could have solved all hs problems. 20 . . . a6 2.c6 bc6 22e5 d3 23ae 24. a5 d6 25.e5 e5= and the draw s mminent.
8.xe8+
8 ...d6 It s a mstake or Black to try 18 .. .a6 n ew o 19.d! (19. d2 a5 20.c2 5= Quezada Bu Xangzh antyMansyisk 2010 19 .. .b5 20.a4 5 2.ab5! b1 22 .b the lght squares n Black's camp are terrbly weak. However he has a good opton n 18 .. .5 19.e3 b8= wth appromately equal prospects.
18.c4 e 19.e e4 20. e3 b6 = Frman Gr Germany 2010. 18.e3 a5 19.d2 b6 20.c4 lModahk Dao Thien Hai Doha 2 00 6. It s most precse or Black to retreat now with 20. . . c6!=. Whte's peces are ted to the protection o hs c4paw whle Black's queen can retreat to the comortable d7square. Black has no problems whatsoever.
8 .. .xe8 9.c �e 20. d6 cxd6 2.�d2 21 .a2 e7 22 .e2 b=
2...�c2 22.�f Or 22.c2 c2 23.d5 a5 24.d4 a4 25.5 b3 26.b d8 with a slght edge or Black.
22. . .�b2 23.dl
9 . xd6 Aer 19.e3 Black has the smple reply 19 .. .b6=
9 .. .xd6 20.d2 b6 2. b5 cd8= The postion has -
been smplied a lttle; Black has
(dagram
23 ...�b3!
This s Black's most precse re sponse. The alternatves do not pro
Chapter27
vde hm th complete equalty: 23 ...c2 24.d2 b3 2Sc (Whte can create more problems or hs opponent wth 2S.e e 26.e b 27.e8+ h7 28. d3 29.d2 30.3 31. c4 32.S+ h8 33.c8+ h7 34.b7 d4 3S. h2 and thanks to hs much sa er ng Whte's poston s preer able although Black should manage to make a draw wth accurate deence. 2S . . .e4 26.e e7 27. e3 (27.4 dS= 27. . .b 28. e= draw Belov Bu Xangzhi Moscow 201 0; 23 ...g6 24.d6 e4 2S.e (I 2S.4 then 2S . . .3 and ater 26.3 d4= the poston s equal opan Gashmov ls ta 2008. The move 26.g3 wth the dea o preservng the d4 pawn seems to be too rsky. Black can mmediately eploit Whte's weakened kingposton by playing 16 .. .e6. Whte cannot avod the varaton 27.dS g6+ 28 . g2 e2 28 . ..eS 29.d2 e+ 30.h2 eS 3.a2 3+ 32. 3 eS+ 33.g e= and Black draws by perpetul check.
2S ...d8 26.c7 3 27.dS! d2 28.b dS (Black cannot presee the etra piece under avourable crcumstances: 28 . . .gS 29.b7 eS 30.h4 6 3.e7 e7 32.e7 g6 33.a7 e4 34.a4 and te has ecellent chances o promotng his paws. 29.cdS (t s bad or White to play 2 9.b7 e6 3 0.c6 e 29 ...dS 30.b7 S 31.c8+ d8 32.S b Black must work hard here to make a draw because wth play on both anks hs kight s neror to te's bshop.
2.d2 �b 25.xd6 Aer 2S .g4 g6 2 6.d6 te's pieces turn out to be msplaced.
25 .a5 26.e5 b3 27. e2 f6 28.�d5+ '7 29 d3
•
29.g4 eS 30.gS d4 31. e 3 S 32 .eS eS 33.eS=
29 x+
29 .. .d3 30.e8 x+ 31. h2 2 32.g8+ g6 33.e7 4+ 34.h=
30.x d3 3.gl xe2 32.�xb7 d2 33.5 el+ 3.
12bxc3 c613e e814cxd5 xd515 4 ac16h3 h6
2 e 35.�xa + 36. gl= Bla is unable o weave
�xc2 c2 2xe8+ xeS 22.cl
any maing nes agains s oonen, so e mus ae e aw by eeual e. .c �e
22 g6! •
I is quie eliable, bu less convincng, o Bla to ontinue wi 22 . . .a4 23 .5 eS 24.2= omoev Landa, oi 20 06 .
23.d5 e5 2.xe5 8 . g3 Ae 18.e3 Blac elies t te sana move 18 . . .2 ! (I he oes no exange queens and plays o example 18 . . .6, en ie an immedately oet te c2squae wih e move 19. a2 ! . Te positon ae 19 ...a5 20 . 6 21.d5 d6 was tested in te game enguta uvaj, New Deli 2010. By laying 22. 3! e4 23.e4 Exe4 24.3, White coul have maintaine an advanage: 24 . . .xc4 25.2 3 26 .5 o 24 . . .ce8 25.Eae2 19.5 (19.x2 2 20.d5 aS 21.d4 a4= 19 . . .a5 20.4 x 2 1.ax ( 21 .ex 7 22 . 2 6= 2 1...d7 22 .b5 b6 23.xa7 a8 24.b5 bS 25. xb5 a3=
8 ...f6 9 . �c2 2 0 .
24.4 d3
2 ...e5
25.e5 Te biso ening aising a te 25.e 6 26.e5 xeS 27. xeS eS could even be losing o Wie, sine is opponent's king woul mac to te cSsquae.
25 .. .xe5 26.
I 26 .. .e3! ite has the
Chapter27
rather unpleasant response 27.c5.
27.' 'e7 28.f e 29. g3 d 3 0 .'e3 e+ 3. D) 7.g g6
Dl) 8 D2) 8 d3
hs bshop s on S. . . .d3 19.\xd3 \d7! (It s less precse or hm to play 19 . . .d6 20.c4 \aS, Ivanchuk Kamnk, Nce 2 010, 2xe+ ! xe 22 . d2 Whtes centre s securely protected and he has the dea o g4g5 n reserve, so he has the better pros pects 20.d5 6
•
•
Dl) 8 •
Ths move s played wth the dea o transerrng the bshop to the long dagonal and om there t wll be exet xray" pressure (through the knght on 3 aganst Backs queen. 1 . d3
2.ab (2.xe+ xe 22. \bS eS 23.\xd7 xd7 24 . c7 c3=; 22.b e7 23.c4 g6 24 .g3 b6= Howell Geland, sterdam 2010 2...xe+ 22. xe e 7 23.c4, Kaakn Geland, Nce (rapd 2010. The game s equal aer 2 3 .. .h5! 24.g5 g6 25 . g3 e7 26 .g2 d6=
8 d6 •••
1 .. .6! 19 .xe+ xe 20 . c7 c, akovenko Frdman, Dresden 200, 2.4 aS 22. c
9.xe8+ xe8 20.c \e 2.e3 (dagram 2 ! N Whte hopes to advance d4d5 and c4c5 wth tempo, so Black's prophylactc retreat th the bshop s hs smplest and most relable way to equalze. •••
The act that te has played g2g4 means that Black s now orced to exchange on d3, whch he s usually reluctant to do when
12.bxc3 c613el e814cxd5 fxd5154 ac816h3 h6
28b7 e5 297 e8 30 §d5 Blak mght objevely be able o hold ths poson, bu ghng agans Whte's faradvaned passed paw, suppored by hs bshoppar, s lkely to be raher an unpleasan task 30 a3 3f4 d3 32d6 e2 336 d3 34g3 e + 35 h2 f3+ 36 g2 e=
22 . g2 I mgh be nerestng for hm o he doubleedged move 2 d8! 22g2 (f 22d2, Blak has he resoure 22 e7 235 §g3! 22 e7! (22 2 23d5 a5 24 5 Yemeln Polak, zeh Republ 200
and now: 23g5 5 24a2 (24gh6 h5 24 h5 (24 hg5 25 d2 a3 26 gh6 b4 Ths poson s very rh n possbles, bu Blak's hanes ae a b beer, Grshuk Ivanhuk, Lnares 2009 (game 2 0 ; 23 d7 243 e7= ; e's best opon here mght be 23 b3 ! e4 (23 f6 24 dU 245 (24d2 g2 25 g2 b6= 24 5 25d5 f3 26f3 f6 27g2 a
22d5 e5 23d2 2 24 2 2= 22..�d3 =
The pospes of boh sdes are abou equa n he ensung end game
E) 7d2
Chapter 27
7 a5 •••
Black has also tried a ew other moves here: 17 d7 18 c4 �d6 19 d6 (1 9 d2 4 20 f4 e4 21g3 ce8 22e3 4e7 23�b5 a6 24�c4 a5 25�a2 �e6 26d5 �f5= Kasparov Motylev Moscow 2004 The dea o avodng all the possble echanges wth the move 19�e3 deserves attenton; aer or eample 19 e7 20b3 b6 21d6 d6 22c4 �e4 233± te's poston s preerable 19 cd6 2 0 e3 a8 21 a4 a6 Karjakin Geland Pamplona 2004 Here wth the smple move 22f5 (nstead the game contnued wth 22b3 �e4 23�g4 c7 and hre aer the concrete move 24f3! Black woul have some problems to worry about 22 xf5 23b3± ite would maintain a slight but longlasting and stable edge usual White can avod the exchange o the bshops he should do so thus aer 17 �d6 hite has the possbility of 18 �e3! (18 �f3 a5 19 d6 cd6= Wan Yunguo Bu Xiangzhi Bejing 201 0 2 0 c4 xe+ 21 xe1 c7 2 2 e3 e8= 18 a5 9c4 e6 2 0a4 b6 2 1c5 �e7 22 ac1 �f6 23�a6 cd8 24c4 xc4 25 c4 e7 26�b5 �d7 27 d7 d7 28 xa7 a8 (2 8 d4 29 c6 ! 29b7 eb8 30 e4±
8i 81 b3 19d2 c4 20 c4 xc4 2 1e3 b5 22c4 d7 23 c5 hirov meets Wijk aan
Zee 2 00 Black could have played actively here th 23 �e4 aer which he could have even tried to seze the nitatve 18�g4 �g5 (It s quite possble that GM Kiril Georgiev chose ths move rom a purely aesthetic pont o vew because the rectangle ormed by the bishops s very unusual and beautil However Black could have equalized mmediately wth the simple move 18 �d6= 19�3 e1+ 20e1 d8 21�g5 g5 22 e5 (2 2h4 f6= opian KirGeorgiev Vrnjacka Banja 20 10 22 �g6 23 g5 hg5 24e1 f6=
8 J�M7
9.b3 Aer 19e4 Black has sever al possibilites 9 �8! 20a2 ! b6 (it is possibly preferable or him to choose 20 c4± Now t is rather dubious for White to continue wth 2g4 �g6 22a4 f5 23g3 g4 24 g4 e1+ 25xe1 e8 hirov Gashimov estao 2010 The correct reaction is 21ae2! and havng set up a battey on the e
12bxc3 c613el e814xd5 xd515.4 ac8 6h3 h
le White seizes the intiatve Black has a good alternatve in 19 §e6!?= takng control over the light squares in the centre and preventing the transer o Whte's rook to e2 va the a2square It is also good or Black to play 19 cd8 exertng powerl pres sure aganst the central squares with the plan o advancing later with c7c5 The gae opan Kasdzhanov Nalchuk 2009 continued 20g3 §g6 21h5 §d6 2 2 d6 xe+ 23xe cxd6 24§xg6 g6 and Black had no problems in act his position was even preerable Aer 20a2 in stead Black has the response 20 §e6 21ae2 c4 The logical con tinuation o the gae might be 22d2 (What else? ite ust t to clear the ele 22 b6 23c2 (aer 23§xb7 Black equalzes with 23 c5! 23 §5 24b3 c5=
9 xb3 2.g
20.xb3
§xd5 §d6 25d6 cxd6 be cause wth the help o the a noeuvre §d5c6 and d4d5 te will gain control o the ele and obtain a slight edge although Black should be able to draw wth accurate deence hrov o antyManssk 201 0
22.e3 22 b7 b 23d5 b 24 a4 (24 c4 §a4 25xd7 §xd7= 24 xb7! 25xb5 c6=
22 c5 23d5
23ae c4!
23 .b5! 2.b7
24ae §8=
2 !
b6
25.dl But not 25 d5 in view o 25 h7! Black indirectly protects hs paw in spectacular ashon: 26 e5 2 + ! 27x2 b2 + 28 g3 xa 29xd3 e+ 304 cxd4 3e4+ h8 32d4 c7 33d5 ce7+ Black's attack s decisive
25 �b2 26.exd3 � + 27.l el+ 28.xel �xel+ 29.2 �+ 30.l =
2 id3!
I is less recise to play 21 §g6 2 2§b7 b8 23d5 xd5 24
Black draws by perpetual check
Chapter27 F) 7.�cl
9 .. .cxd6 7 .. .�d7 t s also qute relable or Black to contnue wth 7. . .f6 8.b2 aS 19.e5 (19.e5 b3=; or 9.ad1 b3 20.xb3 xb3 21.c4 aS 22.a2 Modahki Wang Yue Ha Long ity 2009. Here hs most solid move would be 22 . . .b6!=) 9 .. . eS 20.xe5 cS 2.3 d6 22. ad b6 23.a2 e6 24.d5 h3 5.x xe1 26.xe1 x 27. gxh3 e8 28.xe8 ( 28.e4 wth the dea o preservng the rooks in order to organze an attack then 28 . . .e7! 29.e3 e8!= removng the kng to a safer area) 28 . . . xe8 29.e2 d8 30.a6 g6 31.g2 b1+ 32.h2 f 33.xa7 4 34. g c 35.h2 f4= draw onomaov Geland KhantyMansysk 2009.
8 .�b2 d6 9 . xd6 Aer 19.e3 Black has at his dsposal a tactcal shot 9 .. .h3! 20.gxh3 xh3 2.xb7 g4+ 22. h3= ending the game th a perpetual check.
believe t s less precse or hm to choose 9 . . . xd6 20.c4 (f 20.d2 b6 2.b5 xe1+ 22. xe1 aS= Black advances wth c7c5 and solve all hs problems; or 20.xb7 xe2 2.xe2 b8 2 2 .xb8 xb8 23 .e8 h7 24. xb8 c6 25.e xc3 26.e3 c 27.h2 c2 28.g3 e6= when ite's pieces are not su cently coodinated and so Black equalizes easly) 2 0 . . .b6
and now 21.b5. his transer o the queen to the kngside need not worr Black. .. .d7 22 .h5 4 (t would be even smpler or Black to respond with 2 2 . . .xe1+! 23.xe1 8=) 23 .b5 cd8 24.a4 and the most diect road to equal
12bx c613 el e814cxd5 xd5154 ac816h3 h6
ty or Black now s to quckly smpl the poston on the ele with 24 . . .xe. (t s less precse to play 24 . . . 25 .g3 6 opan Geland traan 2 010 26 . g2 xe 27.xe e8 28.xe8+ xe8 29.d5). 25.xe g6 26. d5 (26.h4 xh4 27.xh4 8= ) 26 . .. e6!=. Now Whte cannot play 27.xc6? owng to 27 .. .d5 28.e8+ g7 29.xd8 xc6 30 .xc6 6 3 1.d7 xc6 32 .x+ g8+ and Black wns; t s reasonable or Whte to contnue wth 21.a2 6 22 .b5 d7 23.a4 and hs poston s a lttle better.
Ths s the most concrete plan or Black. He wants to exchange all the rooks consderably reduc ng the attackng potental o hs opponent's peces. n the game kopan Wang ue strakan 2010 Black chose another lne 22 . . .b6 23.b (t s better or Whte to play here 23. e3 prepang to double hs rook along the ele) 23 . . .d 8 24.3 6= Black's lghtsquared bsh op has acqured reedom o move ment and the game s equal.
23.e3 d7 2.del xe3 25.xe3 e8 26.xe8+ xe8=
2 0 . e6 2.adl d5 22 d3 •
22 �c7! N •••
Black's bshop s not very good but te has a backward c3paw so these two deects bal ance each other out.
Concusion You shoud be convinced by now that 6h6 is Back's camest and most reiabe move I during a tense compettve game, a payer with Backais to remember some o the variatons provided in this chap ter, he st ll has e xcellent chances o f ndi ng the right path over the board by himse It is essental, not so muc h to memori ze the long forc ing lines, but to understand t he main ideas of t he variaton. T hese have all been exlained quite t horoughly in the conc luson o f Cha p er res pec t to both he lnes 2 5 , whi c h i s very si milar t o thi s c ha pt er, wi th
and the ideas.
ater28
l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.xe5 d6 4. xe4 5.c3
Wte exchanges Black's centralzed knght acceptng the appearance of a slght defect n hs pawstructure. Meanwhle he prepares queensde castlng. n the last few years ths lne has be come tremendously popular whch s not surprsng because Black oen faces dcultes.
6 .. .d5 7.d4 �d6! Black has already played d6d5 so t s appro prate to develop hs bshop to an actve poston. 8.�d3 00 9.00 h6=; 6 .. .�e7 7.d4 00 8.�d3 dS 9 00 cS .dxcS (othese Black ll deploy hs knght on c6 whle aer .eS Black has the strong reply 10 ... c4 followed by f6) 10 .. .d7 .c6 dc6 2.d4 �d6! 13.f5 �eS=
6 .. .e7
5 xc3
If Black retreats hs knght wth S . . .f6 te obtans an advantage thanks to hs extra tempo or development.
6. Aer 6.bxc3 Whte's pawnstcture s seriously weakened and he has no chance of ganng an advantage. Black can obtan a very good poston s several ways
7. f Wte's other possblty here s 7.�e3 wth the same dea of preparng queensde castlng; we shall analyze ths n the next chapter n a somewat derent
2 6 3xe5 d6 4 xe4 5c3 xc3 6c3 �e7 7 �4
verson. If Whte cstles kngsde here, Blck hs no problems t ll. Aer 7.�d3 00 8.00 c6 (t s lso good for hm to opt or 8 ...d7 wth the de of 9 . . .c5) 9.e1 �e6= followed by d7, the poston s equl. he trnser of Whte's queen to 4 s not dngerous or Blck, snce aer 7.d4 00 8.�e3 c6 9.f4, he hs sfe route to equlty 9 . . .d7 10.h3 (preventng 10 . . .g4) 10. . .f5 .4 5=, enterng n equl endgme, D.chneder Ilncc, Torokblnt 2 004.
complcted poston, whch sometmes becomes ve shp, th oppostesdes cstlng. A) 7 c6 •
8.�d2
Aer 7 f4, one possblty for Blck s A) 7 . c6 He prepres to cstle on the same sde s te, to prevent hs opponent rom organzng an attack. hs scheme o development s very safe but somewhat passve, nd t leaves Black th almost no chnce of sezng the nttve. Blck's other possble develop ment scheme s based on the dou bleedged move B) 7 . 0 - 0 and n tht cse there rses ve
f 8.�b5 Black's smplest wy to equlze s wth 8 . . . 00 (he poston remans very unclear fter 8 . .. a6 9.c6+ bxc6 10.d3 00 1 1. 0 00 obava Moty lev, okovsy 2010. Whte's plan s qute standard; he wnts to push h2h4 nd use the g5square as a spngbord or hs mnor peces.) 9 .d3 d7 10 .0 0 0 f5 1.xf5 f5 2.he1 �6 13.d4 xd4 14.cxd4 a6 15.�4 g5 16. �g3 h5 17.3 h4 18.�f2 d5= , drw Kuzubov drekn, Lubbock 2009. Blck should not be ad o the move 8.�d3 the whte bshop wll come under ttck fom Blck's mnor peces, snce he wll prepre the development of hs bshop to f5, or hs knght to the e5square. hs wll tend to led to exchnges, whch should sut Blck, snce hs poston s bt
Chapter 28
cramped. 8 . . .�e6 9.e2 (Whte cannot acheve much wth 9.d2 d7 10 .0 00 00 0= ). t wll be ver good or Black to develop hs rook to the ele n order to attack the enem queen so he can boldl castle here 9 . . . 00!N 10.000 �6= aer whch he deplos hs rook on the e8squae and completes hs development.
8 e6 9 . 0 - 0 - 0
For 9.g3 d7 10. 000 see 9.000 d7 10.g3. The poston s absolutel equal ollowng 9.d4 xd4 10. cxd4 00= 9.g5 besdes the transpo ston to the an lne wth 9 . . . g5 10.g5 d7 11.000 6 12.�e3 000 Black has the nterestng move 9 . . .�5! ? preseng both bshops.
9 . �d7
The poston o Whte's bshop on 4 rather than e3 (the same poston wth a bshop on e3 arses aer 7.�e3 c6 8.d2 �e6) has some nuances that are worth mentonng. Here Whte does not have one o the deas o
�e3 whch s to pla 3d4 and aer the trade o the knghts hs darksquared bshop attacks the enem queensde. Nether can he acheve anthng uch wth the move h2h4 preparng a knghtsorte to the g5square. On the other hand Whte has the possblt o exchangng hs knght or hs opponent's darksquared bshop whch Black can avod when Whte's bshop s on e3.
0g5 The poston would be ve smlar to the man lne aer 10.�e2 000 .g5 �g5 12. �xg5 6= 10.g3 a complcated strug gle arses aer 10 . . . 00 . olgar Ghaem Magham Dresden 2008 but t s also possble or Black to pla 10 .. . 000 1.�g2 b8= Whte does not obtan much wth 10.h4 h6 1.�b5 (.g3 �6 12.�g2 000 13.b Ehe8 14. Ehe1 �g4 15.d5 Exe1 16.xe1 e8 = menko Zhou nchao n 2008) 11...a6 12.�a4 b5 13.�b3 b3 14.axb3 5 15.he1 0 0= Voloktn renburg och 2006. 10.b1 00 0
2 6 3xe5 d6 4 xe4 5c3 xc3 6c3 �e7 7�4
11g5 g5 12 .g5 6 13�e3 see 10 .g5 g5 .g5 6 12 �e3 00 0 13b. The poston s equal aer 1. d4 xd4 and here ollowng 12cxd4 t s good or Black to play 12 . �6 13.d5 �5 preparng to ree the ele whle he can counter 12xd4 wth the move 12 ..c5= equalzng snce aer 13 xg7 dg8 14.h6 Black has not only the lne 14 .g6 15 .h5 �g4 16.d5 d1 7.xd1 but also the possblty o 14 .�g4 15�d3 �8 166 �e7 17.x 8 18. g7 dg8 19h6 �8= wth an unavodable repetton o moves. 11.�b5 a6 12.�a4 �6 13�g5 (13he1 h6 14.d4 �d5 15.3 he8 16.e2 �c4= Kaakn vanchuk och 20 08 ) 13 g5 14xg5 b5 15�b3 6 16e6 xe6 174 h5 18h3 g5 19d4 d5 2 0xc6 xd1+ 21.xd1 gx4 22 xd8 xd8 23c g8 24g1 3 25g3 e8 26.d e2 27d2 e1+ 28d1 e2= draw van chuk Kramnk Moscow 200 8.
0 g5 It would be nterestng al
though a bt rs or Black to try the move 10 �5 ! ? 11.�c4 (Whte acheves nothng wth 11h3 h6 12 .3 00 0= ) . h6 123 00 and the poston s doubleedged
llg5 f6 12 e3 0 0 0
A smlar but less advantageous or Black poston arses aer 7�e3 c6 8d2 �e6 9 000 d7 10b1 a6 g5 g5 12 g5 6 3�e3 0 0 0
The derence s that Whte's kng s on c1 rather than b1 whch s not very mpoant and Black's pawn s on a7 rather than a6 whch s dentely preerable or hm Wth the black pa on a6 Whte has the possblty o advancng wth a2a4 ollowed by a
Chapter 28
march of the bpaw to b5 whle wth the pa on a7 ths dea would not work. Black's plan s now very smple. He should not touch the pawchan c7d6f6g7 but should strve to exchange peces. f he manages to exchange the lghtsquared bshops hs poston mght even become preferable because Whte's darksquared bshop s severely restrcted n ts moblty. The concrete varatons n ths stuaton are not so mpor tant. The essental thng or Black s to understand where to put hs peces. Here s an example to show how the struggle mght develop
3.b3 @b8 .ie2 e8 5. el ig
mussen Frdman Nov ad 2009.
B) 7 ... 0 0
Wth the whte bshop on f4 kngsde castlng s a good choce for Black.
8.�d2 It s weaker for Wte to play 8 . d3 owng to 8 . . . d7 ollowed by d7c5 Whte's bshop on d3 wll come under the threat of beng exchanged.
8 .. .d7 9. 0 - 0 - 0 c5
Black provokes the advance of the enemy paw snce the weakenng mght prove helpl. 6.
i5 7.i i 8.@b2 e7 9.i xel 2.xel es 2. dl ig6 22.a � 23. ig3 �e6 2.ic �e3 25.�xe3 xe3 26.i e7 Black drew wthout any problems n the game Ras
The plans of both sdes have become clear. te has good prospects on the kngsde whle Black has chances both on the
queensde and n the centre eplotng the ele. Whte must regroup hs orces n order to begn an eectve kngsde attack. He must eventuall pla 23 n order to cover the e4 square aganst possble nvason b Black's knght and to do that he must rst move hs o knght rom 3. Whte's bshop on 4 s not helpl n the development o hs ntatve ether; t s restrcted b Black's pawns at the moment. Now we shall analze all Whte's reasonable optons here
B) 0 . c B2) 0 .d, B3) 0. and B) 10 . e3 . It would obvousl be a bad dea or hm to tr 0.h3?! e .g4 snce aer 1...e4 2e1 6 Black sezed the ntatve n the game seshkovs I.Zatsev R 975. he move 0. b looks rather ndierent and Black should respond wth . . . e. he ncluson o these moves s advantageous or Black because te's kng s onl slghtl better on b1 than on c while Black's rook s very useul on e8 where t is ver actve and stands read to support the kght t goes to e4.
e6?! 2 .e3 and Black ll have to pla d6d5 at some pont aer whch hs e6pawn will become backward.
2 . e3 "d7 It mght be nterestng or hm to opt or 2 .. .c6!? 3.h4 dS 4. gS h6 S.e6 e6 6.h5 eS=. Whte's rook can penetrate nto the enem camp along the route h1h3g3g6 but Black's centre s very powerl so the poston oers chances to both sdes. 3. "b5! Val.opov enkn och 20 05 .
B) 0 . c (dagram) Wth ths move Whte just pro vokes an exchange whch s n Black's favour snce hs poston is a bt cramped.
0
•
e6 ll xe6 xe6
It is rather dubous to pla . . .
Black deprves the enem queen o the allmportant d3 square rom where t can create threats aganst Black's kng
Chapter 28
combnaton wth a ght on g5. Whte can play d3 only he s prepared to enter an appro mately equal endgame. He has hardly anythng better though ...
B2) 0 .d
el �d7 dams Kramnk Wijk aan Zee 2 008.
Whte s preparng 23 to deprve Black's knght o the e4 square and to prepare the advance o hs gpaw.
0 Je8 ll. e6 2 . e3 g5 •
he other relable possblty or Black here s 2 . . .d4 3. cd4 �5! (otherwse hs bshops ll reman cramped) 4.g4 �g6 5.b �h4! 6.�2 h6= Huebner Kramnk Fra (rapd) 996.
3.f 3.xe6 e3 4. xd8 d2+ 5.d2 d8= 3.g5 g5 4.g5 g5 5.b5 e6 6.�c4 �d7= Yemeln Kochyev t.etersburg 997. (dagram)
3 .. .xd! 3 .. .�6 4.3
.g5 c6 5. g 6.
Black plans to follow up th e8e5 preparng to double hs rooks on the ele. He also has actve possibltes on the lght squares and all ths provdes hm wth good chances o equalzng.
B3) 0 . Wth ths move hte secures the g5square as a springboard or hs knght and sometmes even a black pawn on h6 does not preclude ths manoeuvre. It would be ve dangerous or Black to capture the knght snce hte's matng attack along the hle could prove atal.
2 6 xe5 d6 4 xe4 5.c 6c e7 7.
xe7 xe7 3.d e .e 6 5.3 d6= Rozentals encba lsta 998.
ll ... xd6 2.�xd6 �xd6 3.xd6 e .d x 5. gl g
0 . . .c6 Ths s the saest road to equal t or Black. He prepares d6d5 n order to acqure some space and he also opens the wa to the aSsquare or hs queen. Black's other popular optons here 0 . . .e8 0 .. .6 and 0 . . . g all lead to a complcated struggle but with more possbl tes or Whte to seze the nta tve.
This endgame looks smple but n act t s qute nsdous and Black must nd several accurate moves in order to equalze. he plas mprecsel the lnerabl t o hs queensde pawns s bound to tell.
6 . c
ll . xd6
Aer .h5 t s good or Black to pla ...h6= or 1...d5 2.h6 g6= ndrews Haessel hikago 2007. Whte cannot acheve much wth 1.g5 n vew o 11...d5 2.
Black need not ear the lne 6 .d3 e8 7. d2 6= lmas Gashmov Lugo 2007. I te sezes addtonal space on the queensde wth 6.a Black should repl not with 6.. e6 whch would enable White to mprove hs pawnstructure with 7. g5 5 8 . d3 xd3 9.cxd3 6 20.e e8 2.xe8 xe8 22 . d2 8 23.b± and Black wll have to work hard to make a draw menko alman och 20 06 but wth 6 . . .e8 17. d3 h6 8.a5 e6 19.e 6= Topalov Geland Monaco (rapid) 2 006 .
Chapter 28
6 7 d3 xd3 8 cxd3 tf6 9d2 19 e e8 20 xe8 xe 8 2 d2 8 22 a4, Topalov Geland, Wjk aan Zee 2006 Here Black could have equalzed convncngly wth 22 c5 234 b6=
2 2 d7!? 23e4 xe4 24dxe4 8 25e3 e7=
23e 23e1 xe1 24xe1 6=
23 ! 19 J8! t s too passve t o play 19 d8 20a4 e8 21e1 xd4 22 xd4 8 23a5 c7 24b4± heparnov Domnguez, uer navaca 2006
2 0 g c5 21 c The move 21d6? loses the exchange wthout compensaton 28 22g5 e7 23gx6 xd6 24g7 g8 25g5 e7 26xh7 ac8! (Black's rook s ready to jon n the acton along the 6th rank) 27e1 d8 28g c6 29g5 e7 30e4 g6 31 e1 g2 32 c1 d8 33xc5 b6 34e4 8xg7 35g5 h2 and Black has excellent wnnng chances 21a4 d5 22e1 xe1 23 xe 6=
2 b6 22g5 td5 t s also sae to deend th
t s less convncng or Black to contnue wth 23 xe4 24 dxe4 e7 25 e3 d8 26b4! c4! ? Ths pawn s now separated rom the rest o hs orces, but ths s the only way or Black to prevent the openng o les, whch Whte's rook mght use to penetrate nto hs cmp 27d4 e8 28 g6 29h5 e5 30e3 d8 3a4 g6 32h6 8 33a5± d Black sh some dcultes to worry about
26 txf6 25e5 xe 26txe5 e8=
2 6 3x5 6 4 x4 5c3 xc3 6c3 7 7j4
ite has been unable to attack his opponent's vulnerable queenside pas while Black has the possiblty of creatng hs own passed pa on the ngside in the ture.
B) 0 e3 •
0 c6! •••
It seems ve reasonable or Black to fort hs knight on c5 wth the move 0 . . .b6 but aer .d4 b7 2.f3 6 3 .b a6 4.h4 e8 5.2 te is ready to seze the intiatve on the king sde and the advance of his gpawn mght be partcularly dangerous for Black. Here Black's most popular lne s 10 .. .e8 11.c4 e6 12. e6 xe6 3.h4 d7 4.d5 c6 5.f5 c4 6.b (strangely enough the ollowing variation has been tested only once at top level 6.g5 g5 7.hxg5 f8 8.bU and ite's poston s slightly better Kaakin Kamnk Wjk aan Zee 2 007.) 16 . . . g6 17.h3 h5 8Cd2 e2 9.de g4 20.h2 d5 2.f3 a4 22.g4
d6 23.f2. he theory of this line goes even rther but I think that from Black's point of view we should stop the analyss here. His deence s dcult and he must nd some only moves" in order to survve zabo Huzman Budva 2009.
ll.c5 Ths s the only way for Whte to justi the retreat o hs bshop on the prevous move. Black wns a tempo or actve operations aer 1. b1 and followng . . . e8 (t is also good or hm to play the mmedate 1.. e4) 2 .d4 e4 13 .c1 d5 4f3 d6 hs poston is preerable Val.opov Frolyanov ochi 2006. It is more or less the same after .d4 e4 2.e e8 3.f3 f6 ebag Koneru katerin burg 2006. If .h4 t is very good for Black to contnue with . . .a5 12 b e6 3a3 e4 4.e1 6= and his prospects are not at all worse Deepan Koneru Vi sakhapatnam 20 06 .
Chter 28
Aer .c4 Black's best lne would be 11...e4! 12.d3 �5 3.g4 �g6 14.b3 ! and 15.g1 then 15 . . .5 ! and he sezes the ntatve.
ll ...dxc5 2.f Wa5 3 . d3 e6 .a3 adS t s less precse or Black to opt or 14 . . .�6 n vew o 15.g5! (or 15.he1 ad8 see 14. . .ad8 15.he1 �6 whereas t s a orced draw aer 15.h4 c4 16.�e4 c3 17.bxc3 xa3 18.b1 5 19.g5 e4 20.xe4 �5 2.xc4 h8 22. x 23.x xc3 24. x5 b4 draw Leko Kra nk Wjk aan Zee 2 008) 15 . .�xg5 16.xg5 ad8 17.he
Aer 16. . .a4 17.he1 xd1 (17... c4 18.xe7 �d5 19.g3±) 18. xd1 c4 19.xe7 �d5 20.e5 �e6 21.xc5 �5 22.b3 4 23. e3 xh2 24.g3± hs lghtsquared bshop s restrcted b hs own pawns and so Whte antans a slght edge. It s correct or Black to pla the straghtorward 16 . . .�xc4! 17.xe7 (17.xc4 c7=) 17.. .de8! 18.h4 (the pawn s posoned and aer 18. xb7 b8 ! Black's attack becoes ver dangerous) 18 . . .�d5 19.g5 h5 2 0.c4 (Black s much better a ter 20.g4? a4) 20. . . a4 21 . he1 xe1 22.xe1 xc4 23.xc4 �xc4 24. e7 b6 25 .xa7 e8=
5 .. .f6 But not 15 ... g6 16.h4 wth a powel ntatve or Whte.
6.e3
5el 15.h4 c4 16.�xc4 a4 17.c7 xc4 18.xe7 de8 19.b4 a2 2 0. d4 c8 21 .xe6 e6 22 .b3 xb3 23.cxb3 x2= jugrov Frolanov t.Petersburg 20 09. Whte can deprve hs oppo nent o the advantage o the bsh op par wth 15.e4 g6 16.�c4 and here the seemngl attractve pn o Whte's bshop turns out to be the ong decson or Black.
Black s clearl better aer 16.g5?! c4 17 (17.xh7 c3 18.x8 cxd3 19.xe6 e6 20.g6 �6) 17...h8 18.xe6 e6 9.xd8 xd8 2 0.e4. Whte s unable to parr the threat o �6g5 and cannot protect hs bshop n an other wa. 20 . . . c3 2.e2 g5 22.e3 xe3 23.e3 b2 24.xb2 xh7 25 .c3 b5 It is possble or te to contnue wth the standard move 16. h4 when Black has a choce be tween a move whch leads to an unclear poston and a move whch equalzes. 16 ...c3!? 17.xe6 e6 18. e4 �6 19.xh7 20.g5 e7 21.xe6 b6 22.c3 xe6
2. 6 3xe5 d6 4. xe4 5c3 xc3 6.c3 e7 7.4
23.\ d6 (23 . . . ? 24 .Jc4 d5 25.xd5 cxd5 26.\d7 e7 27.d5 6 28.\g4 e 5 29. \e4 6 30.\e3 g 6 31.\xe7 \6 32.\xc5) 24.c4 (24 .\4 e 7 25.\e3 26.Jc4 d5 27.xd5 cxd5 28.d5 g 6 29. Je4 30 .d5=) 24 ...Jd4 25. \g6 c 7 26.\g3 d6 27.cxd4 d8 28.\xg7 b8 Ths poston s nonstandard and com pletely unclear; 16. . .c4 17.xe6 ( 17.c4 xd1, and aer 18.xd1 a4 or 18.xd1 c4 19.\xc4 b6 20. b4 \x2 21.\xb7 \xg2 22.\xc6 h4 Black s clearly better.) 17. . .cxd3 (17. . .e6 18.\xc4 te has excellent compensaton or the exchange) 18.x6 gx6! (18. . .d2 19.Cxd2 gx6 20. e 1 \d5 2 .Ce4 \a2 2 2 .Cd6 \d5 23.C5 h8 24.b3 \xg2 25.Cg3) 19.cxd3 \c5 20.\x6 \x2 21. \g5 h8 22 .6 (aer 22 .d 2, Black hs the ntermedate move 2 2 . ..6! ) 22 .. .g8=
6 b5 7.Mel 7.\e4 g6 18.xc6 b4 19.a6 \xa6 20.a6 bxa3 2.bxa3
xd1 22.xd1 d8 Whte's pawns are vulnerable and Black has exellent compensaton or hs mnmal materal dect.
7..c 17. . .\b6 8. Cg5 (aer 18.g4, Black has the strong move 18 . . . b4 !) 18 . . .g5 19.\xg5 d5 20. g3±
8 . e
8 .. .6! Ths s a very mportant pro phylactc move, whch s not at all obvous. t has become possble, because Whte s unable to open the kngsde by advancng hs gpawn. I 18 ... b6 19.g4! (9.Cg5 g5 20.\xg5 c5=; 19.h4 c5 20. g5 b4 Black's attack aganst the enemy kng s aster) 19 . . . c5 (19 ... a5 2 0.g5 Je7 21 .d4 \c5 22 . \h4 h6 23.4 d6± Blacks de ence s nearly collapsng and hs poston s very precarous; 19 ... Je7 20 .C e5 d6 2.g5 c5 2 2.5) 20.g5 Je7 2 .5±
9.bl
Black s clearly better aer 19.g4 Je7 20.g5 (20.J5 a3 21.
Chapter28
(dagram) 2 1 . . .xe4
The move 21 . e6= leads to a epetiton of moves. 22.Ye4 b4 23.te5 bxc3 4.lxc3 8 25.f4 M4+
Black's poston s even slghtly
preferable.
Conclusion The variaton beginning with the move 5. is one of the most dangerous for Black in the Petro Defence. As for the line with 7 f4 which we have analyzed in this chapter, we can recommend to play ers who are ready to defend a minimally worse but quiet and safe posion the move 7... c6 Players who are not aaid of a com pli cated and approximatey equal struggle with opposite-sides castling can choose the move 7...0-0.
Chapter29
l.e4 e5 2)£ f6 3.xe5 d6 4.£ xe4 5.c3 xc3 6.c3 ie7 7.ie3
tlng and the dobleedged B)
7 0-0 •
A) 7 c6 Wt ths move Black s tryng to eqalze and wants to avod getting nto sharp postons wt oppostesdes castlng. He is pre parng to castle qeensde m self.
I tnk ts s te most danger os move for Black to face. he only dvantage of pttng te wte bsop on f rater tan e3 is tat te ele remans open bt ite as no plans to se te ele anywy! n e3 te bisop s eyeng te qeensde wc mgt prove sel f Black castles on tt side. If te black kng seeks selter on te kingside ten te bsop deprves Black's knigt of te c5sqare and s also more armonosly placed on e3 for te development of ite's kingside intatve. ow jst as aer f Black s two plns at is dsposal te ctios 7 6, wit te dea of preparing qeensde cas
S.d2 ite's farng qeenma noees sold not troble Black n te least 8.d5 e6 9.b5 c 0. 00 0 a6 .a 0 0 . \f f6 3.d3 e5= and the game s eqal Kaakin ren brg och 006. It s not worth te losng a
Capter29
tempo or the prophylactic move 8.h3 because the development o the bishop to g4 is not part o Black's plan. It is pointless to pn the knight since Whte can simply ignore it. I Black echanges his bishop on 3 doubling hs opponent's pawns then Whte wll develop his nitiative along the open gle. he game Leko dams Miscolc (rapid) 2005 connued ith 8 ...�e6 9.d2 d7 10.000 a6 1g5 g5 12 g5 6 3�e3 000 and there arose a tycal pastructure or this variation. However it seems much more sensible or Black to ollow the plan o castling king side 8 . . . 00! ollowed by c6e5.
8 .. .e6
Now White played imprecsely wth 14.�3= and his bishop was soon echanged. his tye o po sition with both sides castlng kingside has hardly been ana lyzed at all yet. I believe ite should ollow this plan play 23 retreat the bishop to 2 via the h4 square and avoid the echange o his other bishop by retreating it to . hen he can organize a pawnoensive on the queenside. Black's deence is rather unpleasant while ite's edge is minimal but stable.) 0 . 000 (o 10.�c4 e5 .�b3 0 0= and his bishop on b3 is not doing much) 0 . . .d7=
9 d7 •••
9.0-0-0 er 9.g5 Black is not obliged to exchange his darksquared bishop. He can play instead 9 . . .�5! (aer 9 . . .g5 0.g5 d7 White has the possibility o castling kngside . �e2!? 00 12.00 e8 3.e �5 Landa Wang Yue akhchivan 20.
ow we shall analyze in detail the moves Al) 0 . and A) lO.'bl
2{ {6 3{xe5 d6 4{ {xe4 5{c3 {xc3 6c3 e7 7e3
The poston s equal aer 0. b5 a6 .a4 b5 2.b3 00 3.e6 \xe6= The mmedate 0.{g5 seems pontless.
Naturally Black can continue with the smple lne: 0 . . .g5 1.g5. Aer 1...6 2.e3 000 there arses a standard positon Black has completed the moblzaton o hs orces wthout losng any tempi with moves such as a7a6 or e76. Mevertheless Whte's poston s slghtly. preerable. Gong n or a poston with oppostesdes castlng s unnecessarily rsy or Black and aer ...00 Whte can play 2.b3! Wth this strong move te prevents the possble exchange o hs important lghtsquared bishop va the c4square. 2 .. .e8 ( 2 .. .a5 te plays 13.a4!± blockng the queensde) 13.h4 {e5 4. 4 \c6 5.b2± and thanks to hs control o the ele Black will always have counterplay but Whte's kng s saer and he has the advantage o the bshoppar so hs poston is preerable jugirov akaev Dagomys 20 0.
However t is ve good or Black nstead to choose 0 . . .5!? (analogously to the variation 0. b a6 .{g5 5 but under even more avourable crcumstances) .c4 h6 2.{3 e6 3. b5 a6 14.a4 b5 5.b3 6= jugrov O.vanov lovdiv 200 t s possble or Whte to play 10.h 3 in order aer 0 . . . a6 1. {g5 to orce the opponent to gve up hs darksquared bshop or the kight. Aer .g5 2. g5 6 3.e3 000 we agan reach a standard poston with a mnmal edge or te. Thereore t would be sensble or Black to opt or . . h6 ollowed by e7 6 and 000 th an approxmately equal game. Al) 0.
The dea o ths move s to play {3g5 and aer an exchange on g5 to recapture wth the paw mprovng Whte's pawnstructure. Naturally Black should not allow ths.
0 ... 6!
Chaper 29
Black not only prevents the appearance of hs opponent's kght on gS but keeps n mind the possblty of castling kngsde hs does not happen very oen wth hs kight already developed to c6 butBlack s still prepared to castle queensde after all
d If b5 a6 2a4 bS 3b3 f6 4e2 then t s qute safe to contnue wth 4 000 5c4 aS 6c5 xb3+ 7b3 c6= and Black's poston is not at all worse hrov Gr Wjk aan Zee 20 However t s even better or hm to opt for 4 00!? snce White's queen on e2 turns out to be misplaced and the move b7b5 wll be very helpl for the development of Black's queensde ntative Aer the prophylactc move b (dagram) Black has a choce f6 2d4 xd4 3d4 d4 4xd4 00 Se2 ae8 6f3 N Hua Gr Wjk aan
Zee 200 Black can contnue with 6 b6 (n the game he played 6 b5 7g4 b6 and here th the resolute move 8g5! Whte could have created great problems for hs opponent) 7g4 f6 buldng a defensve lne whch Whte wll nd dcult to break although he stll mantans a slght edge; I much preer the move a6 ! ? for Black th which he prepares to castle queensde whle preserving the opton to castle kngsde Aer 2d4 xd4 3 d4 Black should contnue not th the passve lne 3 g8?! 4c4 000 5c3 g6 6e2 wth consderable pressure for Whte Bologan Motylev Pokovs 200 9 but wth 3 0 0! the move a7a6 turns out to be usel snce Black can counter c3c4 to lengthen the dagonal of Whte's bshop th the move b7b5! ll...xd 2.d (dagram)
2 .. . 0 - 0 !? I lke ths move ver much Whte wll try to pepare the ad vance of hs gpawn and n the meantime Black combnes actve
2 6 3 x d6 4 xe4 5 c3 xc3 6c3 �e7 7�e3
sponse, he can coose beween e sanda move 1 0 a6 nd 0 ...f6! It would be bad for im o o for . . .000 1.d4 xd4 xd4 losing a pawn ••
0 . a6 Black's position is very solid aer this move, but he fails to equalize compleely. ltg5 I would be senseless for White to choose 1.h3 since Black can respond simply t 11...000, reaching a tical position aer 12.g5 gS 13 g5 f6.
queenside play with an oensive usng his c and d pawns, obain ing completely sucent counter play. Black has also tried 12 .. g8 13.c4 cS 14.�c3 000 5.e3 de8 1 6.b1 �f6 17.g3 �xc3 8. xc3 c6± when White's game is slightly pleasanter but nevertheless the posiion seems quite drawish Nisipeanu Wang Yue Medias 201 0. lO.�bl
ll g5 GM Vasily Ivanchuk had an interesing but not completely convincing idea here: ll . . �fS!? ••
This is a usel prophylactic move nd Black must now make up his mind about how to com plee is developent. In re
Chapter 29
Black is trying to avoid the exchange of Whte's knight for one of his bshops. If White continues routinely there will be exchanges, which will be n Black's favour: 12.c4 h6! 13.f3 (te can expect no advantage from the rs line: 13x Ef8 14d5 g6 15. xh6 gxh6 16.h6 17.e4 Eh8 18.+ x=) 13 .. .e6! 14. e2 f6! Black has deployed hs forces harmoniously and White is forced to simpli the poston. 15.d4 xd4 16.d4 d4 17. xd4 00 18.f3 Eae8= Whte's edge s purely symbolic, ekseev vanchuk, strakhan 20 10 . It s much trckier if Whte chooses 12.h3!?. With this move he emphasizes that Blacks bishop on f5 is a bit exposed and he re veals his intention to aack it by advancing his g and f pawns. 12 .. 0 0 13.e2 (13.f3 f6=)
is slghtly better, thanks to his ex tra space, Nepomnachtchi ekseev, Irkutsk 2010.
12.g5 f6 13 e3 0-0-0
It is very dicult now for White to break Blacks defensive line. His only real plan would be to trade a pair of rooks and then advance his queenside pawns This plan is not easy to implement, however.
14.b3 Bearing n mind that Black in tends to go with his queen to the square, attacking the a2pawn, Whte needs this prophylactic move. Of course, he can postpone it a while by playing here 14.f3, 14.e2 or 14.h3 .
14 . Je8 15.£
13... e5 (If 13 ... h6 14.f3 Efe8 15.g4 e4 16.EhgU Black must reckon with the possble development of White's intiative on the kingside, which his pawn on h6 only helps, since it provides Whte with a target.) 14.f3 xf3 15. f3 c6 16.g4 e6 17.g2± White
It is harmless for White to choose 15.e2 , in view of 15 . . . g4= einderman Fridman, Hilversum 200 9. Black forces the exchange of the lightsquared bshops, ecause if 16.f3 e7 his poston would be preferable. 15.h3 ! He transfers his bishop to b7, aer which his queenside wil be much more se
2 6 3. xe5 d6 4 xe4 5. c3 xc3 6c3 e7 7e3
cure. 16.�e2 8 17.he1 �c8 18. c4 6 19.d5 e5 20. 21.�h5 d7 22 .�d2 e5 narkev dams Baku (rapd 20 08 .
16.i 8 17.ie2 �g6! Whte has no convenient way to protect hs g2pawn ut even f he were ale to play he1 and �e2f Black would have nothng to worry aout snce Whtes edge s mnmal.
) 1 0 .. .f6!
15 �!
Black's queen is comfotaly placed on the and g6 squares whle t would e reasonale for hm to retreat his shop to c8 n orde to later prepare the thematic move 76 restctng Whte's darksquared ishop. Black has also tried 15 . . .h5 16.�f2 �f5 17.�e2 e7 18.he1 de 9.�f1 e1 20.e1 e7 2. �f2 e 8 2 2 .c4 a5 23. a3 b6 24.c3 (24.b4 a4 25.a4 Ce5 24. . . C8 25.2 (er this nder ent move Whte cannot achieve anhng. He could have created some prolems for his opponent wth the energetc 25 .b4 ! 25 . . . c6 2 6.d2 d7 27.d5 e5 28 . e1 �e6 29.d2 e8 30.f4 Cc6 3 .�d3 � 32 .e7 e7 33 .d1 8 34.f3 d8 35.�e4 f5 36. �d3 g6 37.g3 �e8 38.e3 e3 39.�e3 Ce6 40.4 a4 4.a4 c5 draw amnk dams Dortmund 200 6.
This is the contemporary treatment of this varaton. Black does not agree to the echange of hs dasquared shop for the enemy knight.
ll.h4 er 1.Cg5 he should play .. .�f5 of course and White acheves nothng. 1.�e2 00 0 12 .d4 Domnguez Wang Yue oa 200 9. Here the smplest way for Black to equalze s 12 ... Cd4! (in the game he played 12 . . .d4 13. cd4± 13.d4 d4 14.d4 8. Now aer 15.g7 the poston would e smpled even more wth the lne: 15 . . .a2+ 16.a2 e6+ 17.1 e2 1.�g5 e7 (t is less precse for Black to contnue wth 11 . .
Chapter 29
gS 12xg5 000 13xe6 e6 14d3± ad hs knght o c6 s misplaced) 12b5 (12f4 gS 13xg5 000 14xe6 e6 15a4 b 16b5 eS 17 f4 d7 18he1 c6 19 Ehe8 20 g3 eS = Black's peces are well cetralzed ad hs eSsquare s wel protected) 12 00 (It s less accurate to play 12 a6 achuk Gashmov Moaco 2011 There mght follow 13 c6+ ! bxc6 14 Ehe1 00 15f4 gS 16 xg5 cS 17f3± ad there wll soo arse a multpece edgame whch ll be a bt better for Whte owig to Black's weak a6pa whch ca be atacked by White's rook, a e1e4a4) 13d3
ite's attempt to attac o te gside looks dagerous, but Bac's defece seems adequate: 13 e5! (ot 13 6? ! 14 6 ! gxh6 15x6) 144 xd3 ! te te exchage of White's lightsuared bishop, e has o moe teats o te gside 15cxd3 Eae8 16f4 cS 17xf6 xf6 18xf6 gxf6= Blac's doubled pawns ae ot a poblem at all ad te edgame s appoxmate ly equa
11 .. 0 0 0
12d4 The prospects ae baaced af ter 12g5 e7 13f4 h6 14f6 xf6 15xf6 gxf6 16d4 d7= Black places hs rooks o te gad e les ad te's move h2 turs o ut to have bee a weakeg Te kightsortie 12g5 is not dagerous here: 12 f5 13 d3 (13c4 eS 14b3 h6 15 3 g4 16f3, daw, Kaak Li ao KatyMassk 2010 If we cotiue ts vaiatio a bit her, te aer 16 xf3! 17 gxf3 3 18a7 e6 Black's caces are superior) 13 d3 14xd3, arev Wag Yue, taan 2010 Black ca solve al is problems ow t 14 h6! 15e4 e6!= Black's ext move wll be de8, forcig te to excage o f6, aer wich the posiio is equal
12 d4 If 12 d4 13cxd4 (ae 13 d4 f6= we reac a stadard posito, except fo a extra weaeg moe by ite 2h)
2 6 3xe5 d6 4. xe4 5 c3 xc3 6c3 �e7 7 �e3
13 d5 14h5 h6 15f3 Whte antains a slight ut stale advantage thanks to the shop par
13.d4 e5 14.e2 ! White would not gan any ad vantage with 14e3 a4 15c4 a5= snce Black's queen on a5 protects the e5 and c squares and is perfectly placed Aer 14f4 nand Gashiov onaco 2011 Black equalzes wth the counterattacking line: 14 c5 15�e3 �f6=
les wth 14 a4 153 a5 16 4 �xd4 1xd4 f6 (White has alost the sae nal edge aer 1 g6 18h5 c5 19�f3 18he1 he8 19�f3 � 20g4 and of course t should end n a draw ut Whte has acqured uch ore space so he has chances o toturing Black for a it longer
15.�d4 bS
16.h5
. . .d4! Black should exchange on d4 now despite the loss of a tepo ecause te's shop has een developed on e2 and thus hs g2 pawn is hanging n soe variations The ove 14 f6 s douleedged snce it deprves Black's bishop of a square to retreat to 15�e3 a4 163 (It s also possible for ite to play smply 16a3 d5 17heU 16 a5 1 b2 d5 18h5!? c6 19h4 a6 20 a4 c 2 �c5 Black fails to solve his pro
16�f3 f6= 16g a2+ 1c1 (1 xa2 e6= 1 �e6 18d4 hg8 19g3 �g4= In ths ajorpiece endgae White cannot exploi his slghtly eter pawnstructure ecause Black's isolated fpawn s ready to advance with f5f4 and Whte will e unable to lockadet successlly 16 ...h6 17.i f6= Mchane Giri Wolvega 20 10
B) 7 ... 0- 0 (dagra
8.�d2
GM lexander Motylev had an interesing ut not very good de here of playing 8h4 hie
Chapter29
immediately sends his knight to gS and only later does he com plee the development of his queenside. er 8 . . . d7 9.g5 Black can play 9 . . .e5 and then if 10 .d2 c6 11 .0 0 0 there arises a position which we have analyed with the moveorder 8.d2 d7 9.000 eS 10.h4 c6 .gS. However Black has a wondel alternative here 9 . . .f6!N. His knight perfectly protects the h7 square and controls the central squares. er 10.d3 cS 11. 000 dS Black has excellent prospects.
8 d7 ••
I is interesting but strategically risy for Black to opt for 8 . . . cS. This move is aimed at preventing the opponent from castling queenside because then Black plans to advance with b5b4 opening up the queenside. t the same time his opponent's knight is deprived of the d4square. (diagram) Nevertheless White's most promising move is still 9.000 (White can also t to begin an allout assault with 9.h4. He is pre
paring a kingside attack but his ow king is not securely protected. In the game Mamedyarov Nabaty Ningbo 2011 there followed 9 . ..d7 10.g5 f6 1.f3 dS 12.g4 aS with a doubleedged struggle but quite favourable for Black though.) 9 . . .e6 (er 9 ... a5 10 .a3 Black's plan ofb5b4 is too slow. White is rst to create threats both in the centre and on the kingside. If Black continues analogously to the abovementioned game with 9 . . . d7 hoping to transfer his knight to f6 then White should play not 10.f4 f6 1 1.c4 bS 12 .b5 Eb8 th a completely unclear position but .gS! gS .xgS f6 12. c4 bS 13.+ Ex 14.x x 15.xd6 xd6 16.Exd6 b7 17.f3 Black's minor pieces lack secure squares and ite's prospecs are preferable.) 10.a3 c6 11.g5 fS The position is doubleedged and needs practical tess. I have to say that this does not seem to e a safe line for Black. His d6paw is backward and the bishop on fS might come under atack by White's paws.
9.00-0
2 6 3. xe5 d6 4 xe4 5 3 x3 63 e7 7 e3
Black ca choose here the cau tous move Bl) 9 e8, whch has ot yet ee tested much practce, or he ca try the more cocrete le B2) 9 e5 •
Bl) 9 e8 •
The idea o ths move s to postpoe the decsio aout where to move the kght to e, 6 or c
10. Aer 10.�d3, Black ca co tue th 10 . Cc 11c dxc 12. he1 g6=, or 10 .. .c6 11.he aS 12.1 Ce 13.Cxe dxe= ad i oth cases the posto re mais approxmately alaced I 0 1, the 10 .c6 ad a ter Whte's most logcal move .h4 see 10.h4 c6 11.
10 c6
(dagram)
.@b The cluso o the moves 11 . h h6 has some drawacks or te too It ll e dcult or White to ope the gle ow ad he loses the gsquare as a s prig oard or hs knght 121 C6 13�d3 �8 14dg1 Cg4 (It is ot
good or Black to opt or 14 . . .�g4, view o 1.Ch2 ad he will have to allow hs ishop to e ex chaged, sce t retreats Whte's gpa wll avace, og the attack Black ca ac cept the challege, though: 14 . . d ? 1g4 Cxg4 th a very u clear posito, ecause White has o real cocrete threats.) .�f4 6 16.C h2 , Topalov Gead, ares 20 10 . 16 . Ce 17g4 Cxd3 18cxd3 e7. Black's pos tio looks upleasat, but he ca otai sucet couter chaces wth precise play 19.�e3 (19g hxg 20.g e2 2xe2 xe2 22.�e3 � 23d1 e8 24.C1 �g4 2c1 d Whte s the oly oe takig a risk here, ecause a ter 26.Cg3, Black cotues with 26 . 8xe3 27e3 xe3 ad he pcks up the d3paw too as com pesato or the exchage) 19 . 6 20 g3 �e6 2.4 ! 2 2.g5 hxg 23. g The postio is com pletely uclear ad oth sides have their trumps i the esuig cotest Whte ca cotiue th the quet developg move 1�d3, to
Chapter 29 l l dS! ?
th the dea of puttng the knght on cS
whch Black can respond n varous ways: aer ll aS Black must bear n mnd that f hs queen's access to the kngsde becomes blocked by the paw capture deS the poston of the queen on aS mght turn out to be unfavourable 12 b1 eS (12 f!? 13eS deS 4e2 �e 1Sc4! (S�c4?! �xc4 1c4 ad8 17hS d1+ 18d1 d8 19d3 a 20g4 c7 aruana amnk Wjk aan Zee 2 01 0 S ad8 1f3; l l f 2de1 (t mght be nterestng for te to try here 2 hS h 13b1 dS 4�h gh 1Sh �f8 1gS+ h8 and although t appears that Black's defences mght hold some play ers mght nd t all a bt too scary 12 dS 13�d4 cS 14f Sf4 Nakamura Kramnk Moscow 2010 Here Black should have played 1S �d7! 1 xe8+ (g4 e1+ 17e1 b8 8eS �eS 19eS eS 20 xeS g4 2 1dS b 1 e8 obtanng sucent counterplay thanks to hs powerl bshoppar I beleve a very good decson for Black here would be to play
ll N
It mghty be too risy to play ll aS because there the queen can oen turn out to be cut o from the man eld of acton 12 hS (2�d3 see 11�d3 aS 12 b1 12 h 13�d3 eS (13 f 14�xh ! gh 1S h+; 13 �f 14g4 and Black comes under a dangerous attack vanchuk Gelfand Nce (rapd 20 10 14eS deS 1Se2 �e 1�c4 c4 17c4 ad8 18g4 f 19d7 (te's poston remans slghtly pleasanter aer 19fS f snce Black's kngsde paws are ed on the same colour as hs ow bshop 9 xd7 20d7 bS (It would be too haardous to opt for the lne: 20 dS 21dS cdS 22a7 a8 23�e3 bS when Black has some actve prospects but not enough to compensate for the lost pa Domngue Gelfand Nce 200 2b3 Whte mantans a slght advantage It s nterestng for Black to contnue with l f6 2�d3 dS
2 6 3xe5 6 4 xe4 Sc3 xc3 6c3 e7 7 e3
3 h5 e4 4c (4 xe4 dxe4 5e a5 6d h6 and he has sucien counerpay, while aer 7xe4 e6 18b3 he has he resource 18 5! ) 4 f6 15 h6 g6 Boh sides prospecs are approximaely equa
12.id3 ; 1h5 h6 13
12 .c5 13.g5 d3 14. �d3 g6 15.c4 •
Back has no probems aer 5d 6 63 g4
15 i 16.b3 �c7 •
Now Whie can choose be ween B2a) 10.Ib1 and B2b)
10.h I is inferior o opt or 0 d4, owng o 0 c5! b5 e6 xd6 b6 34 g4 4c4 (45? xa 15 f4 ad8 6b3 f6 7b xd6 8 xd6 xb3 9cxb3 e4 and Back ends up wih an exra paw) 4 a6 5 a3 a5 (15 c4 65 x5 7 xc4 g6 8 f4 xa3 9bxa3) 16c4 xd+ 7xd f6 Back has seized he iniiaive and it s White who must hink abou equaizing
B2a) 1 0 .Ib1 c6 ll . e2 For h4 a5 see 10 h4 c6 1b1 a5
complicaed posiion has arisen on he board, oering chances for boh sides
B2) 9 .. .e5 ll. . .e8!
This move is always useul or Back Now ie must cari his inenions: is he going o pay in he cenre or organze an aack on he kingside? I is less precise for Back o pay he immediae g4, because of 1 d4! (Aer d3 Back should pay, no d5 3
Chapter 29
f4 d6 14h3! f4 15h7+! h8 16xf4 xf2 17g5 f6 18+ Ex 19g6 xd1 20 h4+ g8 21Ee1+ and Kasimdhanov, Tashkent 2011, but 12 xe3! The powel bishop should be exchanged at the rst opportune moment! 13xe3 Ee8 and now aer 14Ehe1 e6 15 d4 d7= the postion is equal, while or 14h4 d5 see 11 Ee8 12h4 g4) 12 c5 13h3 cxd4 14 hxg4 dxc3 154 ! h6 16d3 b6 17b3 d5 18 g5 b4 19 xb4 xb4 20gxh6 and the endgame is slightl better or White
b6 17d4), because o 16g5! (16xd6 g4 17b4 xb4 18 cxb4 g6 19c3 3 20gxf3 EeS 21e4 Ed8= Whites h4pa is hanging, thanks to which Black convincingl holds the balance) 16 h6 17h7+ h 18a1 ! c7 19d3 g8 20 Ehe1 Ee7 (2 0 Ee5 213 Exe1 22Exe1 e6 23 a3) 21g3 Exe1 22Exe1 d7 23 e4 e7 24 4 White maintains the initiative and Black must pla accuratel to equalie
15.% h6 16.de1 ie6 17. d4 id6 The prospects or both sides are equal
12.4 The prospects are balanced after 12Ehe1 g4 13d3 xe3 14 xe3 e6 15d4 d7=
B2b) 1 0 .4
12 .g4 13.d3 e3 14. e3
1 0 c6
14 d5!
Black wants to develop his bishop on d6, from where it will deprive ites queen o the wondel f4square It is inferior for Black to pla the seemingl attractive line 14 f6 15f4 b6 (15 h6 16g4
This is Blacks most exible move He prepares to move his queen to aS, or gain extra space with the pawnadvance d6d5 t s bad or Black to pla 10 x3, since that would open the gle or Whites attack Aer 11 gxf3 e6 12 g 1, or 12 h5 Whites initiative grows eort lessl
2 6 3xe5 d6 4 xe4 5. c3 xc3 6c3 e7 7e3
It s cnsdered ldfashned play 14gS!, frcng Black t and nexble fr Black t cntn blck n his bishp n c8. Aer ue wth 10 .g4 1 .e2 c8. Nw 14 . . .d7 1SdS+ h8 16bU the mst dangerus way fr Whte Black has prblems cmpletng t develp hs nitatve seems t the develpment f hs peces. be: 12.hS (t s weaker t pt fr White has a gd alternatve 12.xeS e2 13.g6 g6 14. n the uet mve 1.hS. Nw aer xe2 e6 1S.b1 ae8= and 11g4 12e2 c8 13.h6 g6 14 Black s clse t eualty) 12 . .h6 xeS dxeS (14 .e2 1S.xg6+ 13.xeS! ? (13.b1! ?) 13 .. .xe2 Pnmarv Gelfand, Odessa 14.xe2 eS 1S.bS (aer 1S. 2008) 1S.g4 xg4 16.dS he c4 c6 16a4 Whte has nly a mantans a stable advantage, slight edge, aruana Gashmv, whle aer 1. .f6, nand GelantyMansyisk 2009) 1S . d6 fand, Mexc 2007, t s very 16.g4 prmsng t play smply 12xeS It is nt adsable fr Black t (Black als has prblems aer cntinue here wth 10 .e8, 12.bU.) 12 .. .eS 13h6 g6 14 which was freuently tested n the e2 Black lacks space and the early days f the develpment f dark squares n hs kingside are ths variatn. vulnerable.
Whte can cunter ths n tw prmsing ways: .xeS!? dxeS 12d3 d6 (t s preferable fr Black t play 12 . c6 here, but aer 13.e2 aS 14b1 e6 1S.c4 ad8 16f3 Whtes pstn s better, snce he can prceed with actve play n the lght suares n the kingside) 13e4 fS, aruana Gashmv, antyMansysk 2009 Here t wuld be very strng fr Whte t
ll.'bl We shuld examne Whtes alternatves here: 1.gS aS 12.a3, Mtylev amnik, Wjk aa Zee 2007. Nw with 12 . . .fS 13.e2 a4 14.f3 c4 1S.c4 xc4, Black culd have btae a excelet pstn 1.c4 e6 12.S f 13.f3
Chapter29
3 e8 4f3 the it is ot good for Black to play 4 h6 after which i the gae Kaaki Kanik Moscow 200 White coolly replied 15�e2 It would the e ery risky for Black to accept the piecesacrice ut otherwise White wll advace his g ad fpawns opeig the position o the kigside stead the correct reactio for Black is 14 f6 ! 5 e4 c7 16h5 h6 ad he is ready to cotiue wth ad8 ad d6d5 otaiig suciet couterplay)
oe 75 Kaaki Gelfad Moaco (lidfold) 20 (game
21
ll. .a5! .
Black caot sole his prolems with �g4 12�e2 xf3 3gxf3 �h5 4f4 e2 5xe2 �f6 6hgU sice White exers powel pressure on the gle ad Bls defene will e log and diult, Kan elfand Moscow 20 0
12.te5 3 f6 ! This is the right pawn with which to repel the eey ight (White should ignore the oe 13 h6 ad simply complete his deelopent wth 4 �e2 ! if Bla acepts the nightsacrice he is ery liely to get ated alog the hle) 4h3 (Aer 4e4 Bla should cotinue wth 4 e8= idirectly protecing his d6pa is plans include playing d87 ad8 and then dancing d6d5 ) 4 �e6 5b3 a6 6f4 � ites ingside operaions he rehed a ded end while Bla is ready to ontinue his queenside initiatie wth the
2 �e2 �e6 33 (3a3 d5= ) 3 fe8 ! = Black l deelop his forces in the centre placig the roo on d8 nd the bishop o f6 wth a ery good positio The more strightforward line: 3 xf3 4f3 �f6 was ted i the game Koare Maslk Dagoys 200 Now y playig 5 c4! ite could hae maintained a slight ut stable adantge
12 de5 1 . c4 b5 14 . b c 15 . g5 a5 •••
(digram)
16 . e Aer 6a4 Blak plys 6
2 6 3 xe5 d6 4 xe4 5 c3 xc3 6.c3 e77.e3
bxa4 ! and aer 17.a4 f6 18.e3 e6 e obtains good prospects for active play on the ble wile if 17.e7 Pavlovic avic Kragujeva 2 010, e has te intermediate move 17...b3! 18.f8 f5 and only ite wll have problems in tis position.
16 .. .xe7 17.a4 bs
18.d6 Aer 18.axb5 a4! 19.c4 (if 19.a4? a7+ and he eiter loses is bishop or is mated on the a le 19 . . .cxb5 followed by b5b4.
18 .. .�b7 19.axb5 �xb5 20. c4 �b7 21.�xe5 a4 22. a2 e6 Black's compensation for te paw is quite sucient.
Concusion Nowadays, the variation c3 c3 6c3 e7 7e3 seems to be one o the most dangerous or Back in the Peto Deence he pan o casting queenside aer 7 c6 seems reiabe enough, but he has practicay no chances o winning the game ite obtains the advan tage o the bishop-pair in some ines, enabing him to tortre his op ponent or a ong time Back might nd this rather unpeasant om the purey practica point o view he variation with 7 . . 0-0 is much more interesting or Back and eads to a compicated stugge with chance or both sides, but one in which Back can ace theture with opmism here are sti some position which have not been we anayed yet and payer can improve their anayca capabiities by stuying these variations here are pen o possibiities or reai ing you creative potentia over the board as we.
COMPLETE GAMES
1
Rudd
Avk
odo 2010
1.e4 e5 2.d4 ed4 3.d4
17.b3 \b5 Black has a good alterative i 17 \d6 18\f2 \a6 with sim lar ideas
18. @b2 c5
19.e5 14.e4 If hite does ot take the exchage then Black's rook will go o the a4suare and White will end up a pa down
14 . ..e4 15.e3 Aer 15he Black agai pays 15
15 ...
16... other very good move s 16 f6 restrictig the bishop o d4 ad depriving ite's knight of the e5suare
It is more resilient for ite to defed with 19 f2 although after 19
19 .. .
Compete Games
2 0 e3 2g5
Whte cnnt chnge much wth 2 e2 nd Blck s thretenng e3c2
21. e2 22.l c2 23. c2 c2 24.el d3 25.g4 Whte resgned
2
cane
Kamnk
ndn 2009
l.e4 e5 2 . c4 f6 3.d3 c5 4 . 0 - 0 5. c3 d6 6 . a4 b6 7 .c3 e6
Blck crres ut n mprtnt nd dvntgeus exchnge Whte s prevented frm gnng the dvntge f the bshp pr nd lses the serces f hs bshp whch s very ctve n c4
justed rs" Objectvely speng the pstn remns blnced pssbly even slghtly wrse fr Blck but Whte s very lkely t mke mstke If Vldmr Krmnk hd been plyng gnst Vshy nnd fr exmple he wuld nt hve plyed ths mve whch shrpens the p stn tremendusly nd nsted he wuld hve preferred sme queter cntnutn whch mght led t drw n ths gme mnk cmplctes the ssue but he stys withn lmted mrgn f rsk wthut cmng clse t lss
11. b5
8 . b3 Whte culd ls hve exchnged n e6 t s understndble tht Whte ws reluctnt t present hs ppnent with the sempen fle The pstn remns equl n ether cse
b4
8 .. .b3 9.ab3 bd7 10. (dgrm
1 0 . . .! Ths mve cn be descrbed s
12 d2?!
Blc must crry ut pwnbrek n the lght squres f he wishes t seze the nttve s te shuld frt hs lght
Compete Games
squares immediately. The d2 square is hardly any better for his bishop than the csquare, so Whte practcally wastes an im poant tempo. t was necessary to deprve Black's knight of the g4square with the move 12.h3. Then aer, for example: 12 . . .a5 (It would be too risky or Black to leave him self with a pawnsland on the a le: 12 .. .bxa4 13.\xa4 c5 14.e3 and Whte maintains the adva tage.) 13.bxa5 xa5 14.b4± ad his poston s slghtly preferable, but still quite close to equality. ou can say more or less the same about the position arising aer 12 .e1 aS (here 12 . . .bxa4 13. xa4 c5 s very dubious for Black, in view of 14.b5 and the presence of White's rook on e1 prevents Black from advancng c5c4 or d6d5) 13.bxa5 xa5 14.b4±
ger and ignores his opponent's possible pabreaks on the light squares. He had to strengthen his position with 14.he1 cxb4 15.cxb4. He has doubled pawns but all his pieces are ve active and he has nothing to be afrad o.
14 .. .d5! 15.ed5?! ust as before, it was best for Whte to bring his inactie rook into play with the move 15.he. Aer 15 ... c4 (He should not be afrad of 15 ... b6 16 .c2 c4, because of 17.g5.) 16.exd5 b6 17. b4 d5 18.a5 cxd3 19.xe5 the position would reman dou bleedged.
15 .. .tb6
12 .. .ba4 Or 12 . . . a5 13.bxa5 xa5 14.b4 xa4 15.xa4 bxa4 16.xa4= and the postion is approximately equal.
13.a4 c5
14.b5?! ite does not sense the dan
16.c2?! White continues his series of mstakes. In fact, he is under the false impression that his position is quite acceptable. Meanwhile, it was high time for resolute action nd he had to play actively 16 .\h4! \xd5 17. hd1 (It is no better for ite to play 17.g5 fd7 18. hd1 b3 19. c4 f6 20.e3 a6! 21.bxa6 xa6 and one of his pawns will fall soon.) 17. . .\xd3 18.g5 c2 19.
Compete Game
g Black has an extra pa and the advantage bu White has counerplay
33.id2 d6 34.a3 �b6 35. h1 36.h2 6g4 White resigned
16 ...c4! 17.e5 It is more resilient for White o defend with 17he xd5 18d4 although aer 18 e4 19 e5 xb5 20g h6 Black ends up th a solid extra pawn
17 . . .�d5 18.d4 This is positioal capitulatio but hite is already beyod salvation For example i the varia tion 18 he cxd3 19 xd3 xd3 20 xd3 ad8 he ends up a piece down
3 ovean - Bu Xangzh Naning 20 08
l.e4 e5 2.ic4 f6 3.d3 c6 4. d5 5.ib3 id6 6.c3 de4 7.g5 0-0 8.ce4 e4 9.e4 i 1 0 .� e4 ll.e4 d7
18 .. .e4 19.g1 fe8
12.c3 a5 13.0-0 a4 14.ic2 �e7 15.d1 fd8 16. h4 h6 17.g3 b5 18.id2 The game is practically over from the point of view of strategy White is helpless against the com bined pressure of all Blacks piec es
noher good move here is 18 f6 planning to transfer his bishop to c5 ad his ight ee tually to the g4square
19.�g4
20. �b5 21.h4 �b3 22.�b1 d5 23h3 h6 Black was winning easily with the straightforward move 23 ab8 but he could equally aord to play more patiently
24.�c1 �b6 25.a4 ab8 26.a2 �b3 27.�a1 b6 28. h2 df6 29.ie1 g4 3 0 .g1 ef6 31.d5 d5 32 .g3 df6
19 .. .�e6! He could also have payed a
Compee Games
middle game by opting for eiher 19 @h8 and 19 \f6 but he does not need to be afrad o anythig n an endgame!
2 0 .�e6 e6 21 .@ @ 22 el
Whte rereats his bshop to a square where t cannot be ex changed so isisting by all means on mananing his advatage of the bishop par It would all be perfect or White but for the fact tha the posito is not sucet ly ope ad hs bishops are very passive
22 ... @e7 232 It was more prudet for Whte to play 23 @e 2
c4 There might follow for example: 24f3 c4 25ad �c 26d5 xdS 27xd5 f6 28f4 exf4 29 gxf4 d8 30xd8 @xd8 31�d2 �d6 ad hite is unable to sup port he paw on f4 Aer the routie move 23 d7 White's idea would b e justied since aer for example: 24 ad ad8 25f3 �cS 26xd7 xd7 27xd7 @xd7 28@e2 Whte obtains winning chaces thaks to his possble undermig moves f3f4 and b2b3 actvatng hs bishops
24.g5 g5 25 . dl Black can counter 25ad or 2S @e2 wth 25 g4! hreateng to transfer his knght to f3 va the gSsquare On the other side of the board White mus recko with the possible underming pawbreaks a4a3 and b5b4
25 ...b4 26 . g4 bc3 27. bc3 ab8
23 g5!
This move s not at all obvious and it is tremedously powerl! t mght seem that Black weakes the lght squares in his camp but Bu Xanghi is takig into cosderaton some cocrete peculiar ties of ths positio in paticular the awkward placement ofWhite's rook on d2 ad he begins active play on the dark squares over the etire board! The posto would be equal aer 23 c5 with the dea of cS
Black has occuped the ble and prepared the penetraton o his knight into his opponent's camp; Whie is practically helpless against this
28.adl ie's defensive ask would
Compete Games
ot be ay easer aer smplca tos. the varato 28 . e6 xe6 29.e2 h8 30.ad �cS Black maitais the advatage thaks to hs extra space ad more actve peces.
28 .. .c5 29.£ a3 30.i a4 31.ie3 f6 32.c4 b2 33. l ib4 34Jh2 h8
�dS= t should all ed a draw.). Now Whte should cotiue to play the same actve way: 36. xh8 xh8 37.cS! (Whte is com pletely paralysed aer 37.�c a4 38.g2 S! ad to add to Whte's worres Blacks kght peetrates to the d3outpost.) 37. . .a4 38.f4! (aer 38 .g2 i t s very good for Black to play 38 ... b8 threateg �b4c3 ad b8b2 ad White's bshop o c s helpless to prevet ths dea.) 38 ... exf4 39.gxf4 gxf4 40.�d4! ad te still presees good drawg chaces.
35 h8 36.g2 d8 37. hl •
35.h8 White loses valuable temp but i a practical game t would be almost mpossible for him to d the very arrow path givg hm some chaces of saving the game. He had to play 3S.cc2! aer which Blac should o try to force he ssue but should increase the tesio wth 3S ... bd8! (f Blac capures the pawn th 3S . . . xc4 then 36.�g leads t o a draw: 36 . . . d2 37.cxd2 d2 38.�cS 39.xd2 b 40.e2 h2 41. d3 xd2 42.xd2 b2 43.c3 xa2 44.b3 g2 4S . a3 xg3= ad a mutual fortress positio has arise o the board; or 36. . .xh2 37.xh2 ad White actvates hs forces so that for example aer 37 ...d8 38.h7 d6 39. cS 40.g2 c6 4.�e6 bS 42.�d7 aS 43.�e6 d2 44.�e3 d6 4S.
ite ca try passve defece but that would ot help because aer 37.c2 Black peetrates sde hs oppoet's camp: 37. . . d3 38.�c a4 39.f4 gxf4 40. gxf4 d6 ad Whte's pas o a2 a d c4 wll soo fall.
37 c4 38.h7 d6 39. ia7 c5 4 0 .ih5 •
4 0 . . .ia5
Ths move complicates Blac's wn slghtly stead he could have wo easly with 40 . . . c6+ clearig the dle for his rook.
Compete Games
1. c6 2.f6 b5 3. h3 hs
rther advace
Back prvkes the mve g3 g4 s that Whtes kg cat ccupy that square but t was much strger fr Back t pay 43 e3 with the same dea The his rk peetrates t d r d2 (accrdig t crcumstaces ad he s easy
Thgs are t s cear the vaat 49 b5 5e6 c4 5 f2
9.e5 c8
5 0 .e6 d6
.g as Back bases his hpes ite's straded bshp a7 but ths prvides his ppet with tactca chaces Hs mst reabe rute t vctry was t prevet a attempts at cuterpay by pag 44 b 2 ! fwed by the trasfer f ths kight t the d3utpst
5. d6 6.d7 c6 7. h7 b 8 .f! Ths s te's y practica chace
8 ...ef Back's here was by meas easy t d It seems at rst sght that aer 48 gxf4! 49 g5 te's passed gpaw may be ve dagerus but i he ie 49 g8! 5g6 xe4! 5f3 d5 Back easiy prevets its
.hs White verks a chace f savg the game 5b6! e7 (r 5 xe6 52d8 a7 53h6 e5 54g5 c4 55f6 e4 56g5 ad hs gpa s as pwe as Back's passed paws 52c7 xc7 (52 xe6 53 d7 ad w the varat 54e5 c4 55c4 c8 56b3 c3 57a4 e6 58b3 xe5 59 xe7 d4 as we as aer 54c4 xc7 55 xe7 b6 56e6 a 57e5 d8 58 xg5 d4 59 e6 ite has chaces fr a draw has t the presece f bishps f ppsite cur 53xe7 d6
Compete Games
54.e8 Here, it lks as thugh the edgame th ppsite clured ishps aer 54 . . xe8 55. e8 e6 56g2 is a draw aer all: 56 . . e 5.f3 d4 58 .e2 ut t 58 .�g6 c3 59.e2 c4 60.� f3 61.xf3 d3 + ad the cpaw prmtes) 58 . c4 59f3 �d6 60. �d c3 61.�5 d3 62.�a6 ad Black cat make a prgress. If 62 . . . d4, the 63 .�c8= ad if h e advaces his cpaw, White's ishp ges t the h diagal. It is crrect fr Black t pla 54 .. .7, keepig the rks the ard. 55.�g6 If White advaces his paw rther, Black will cpture it, still keepig the rks the ard. I the variati 55e �c3 56 .g2 �f6 5.a8 xe 58.a6 e 5 59.xa3 d5+ his passed pas c5 ad f4 will settle he issue.) 55 . . .c 56.g2 e5 d there is still sme ght le.
51. ..e6 52 . g6 d5 53. d8 c4 54 . a7 55.c8 c3 56.c6 b2 57 e6 e7 58.g2 e6 White resiged
1 0 . . .6 This is a usel multipurpse mve Black ca use the hsqare t l as a escapehle fr his kig, ut als as a retreat fr his ishp f5. It is als imprtat that the h6paw restricts Whites darksquared ishp, deprivig it f the g5square.
ll.a5 ie radicall prevets Black's pla f deplig his paws the dark suaes. This is ver reasale frm the strategic pit f view, ecause White's darksquared ishp tais gd prspects i the ture
ll .. .a6
4
uov
akaev
eria 2009
l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.c3 b4 4. e5 0 0 5 . e2 e8 6.d3 c3 7.dc3 e4 8. f4 d6 9. 0 0 c6 1 0 .a4!? his is a ve iterestig ad stdad idea. hite prepes t trasfer his rk t the third rk.
Black is viusl rectt t pla this mve, ut ite was threateig t advace his apw rther, udemiig the ase f the eem kight c6.
Compete Games
Black's last move has some pluses too because ow White's aSpawn wll be pemaetly ude attack by Black's kight.
12.c4 13.a3 f6 Black's kght cleas the ele fo tue active opeatios.
lems o the ah8 diagoal as well as o the gle; S.hS g6 (hee S . . .xhS 6.hS is bad sice the dak squaes o Black's kigside ae disastously weak) 6. xg7? (6. f4 fS=) 16 ... xg7 7.d2 xe2 8.xe2 c6 9.d2 ad White has vey good compesatio fo his mimal mateial decit.
15.e3 f6 16.g3 e4 17.e3 f6
14.g3 White must play vey pecisey because ae the caeless move 4.dS Black has the esouce 4.. .c2 wiig a pa. Ae 4.e Blac's most eliabe move seems to be 4 . . . b4 (4 .. .eS 1S.g3 e4 6.e3 f6 is also payable but hee ite does ot eed to epeat moves ad he ca play fo example: 7. dS obtaiig sigicat compesatio fo the saciced aSpawn. S.d3 c6 ad White has othig bette tha 6.f4 which leads to a epetitio of moves.
18.e8 White is eage to cotiue the ght although it would have be moe pudet to epeat moves.
18 ¥e8 19.el a5
1 e
Hee it would be too isky fo Black to play 4 . . .xaS. White has o immediately decisive cotiuatio but he has seveal attactive possibilities at hs disposal: S.b4 c6 6.b2 eS 7.hS± ad Black will have seious pob
2 0 d5?!
This is a mistake. The coect move fo Whte hee is 20.g4! ad oly ae 20. . .h7 plag 2.dS fo example: 2...xdS
Compete Games
22cxd5 b5 (Black caot cotue here aalogously to the gae th 22 . . e4 because of 23d3 ad Whte's d5paw s taboo.) 23b4 b7 24.c4 d7 25.cxb5 axb5 26.f e8 27.xe8 xe 28f3 d8 Whte's tatve copesates for the sacrced paw, but o ore tha that ad a draw sees to be the ost lkely outcoe
2 0 . . .xd5 21.cxd5 �e4! l obvously ths ove.
should ed a draw Black's best e sees to be: 22 . .. xc2 23.xc2 xc2 24c gxh6 25.xc2 c5 26dxc6 xc6 27.f3 c8 (aer 27 . d4, hte has the resource 28b7! e8 29.c8!) 28g3 ad Black's pawstcture s rus, so Whte has great drawig chaces .
22 .. .xd5 23. �b5 24. c3 c6 25.id5 !
overlooked
22. d2 Here, aer log delberato, Whte chose a very rsy le the hope of atg the oppoet Of course, ot 22d3 xd5 ad the bshop o f5 s protected Whte's objectvely best ove here was 22 xh6 ! ad ow: aer 22 . gxh6, he cotues with 23 d3 f4 (f 23 . xd5 24h5 with sucet cope sato) 24g3 g4 (aer 24..5 White plays 25b4, cofortably regag hs pece) 25.x4 xg4 26b4 f3 27.bxa5 xd5 28. e 7 c 8 29 f5 f8 30.x x 31c8 ad ths bshop ad paw edg s very sharp but
Black has cosoldated hs po sto Wte's tatve ca copesate for oe of the sacriced paws, but ot both, so Back has the advatage
26.h3 te adts that hs strategy was wrog. He could have rek dled hs fadg tatve with the otsoobvous ove 26 .h4 ! , with the dea of advacg g2g4g5 wth tepo er, for exaple, 26 ...d7 27.e3 h8 28.f3, he would have ataed soe copesato, although ot qute eough
26 .. . h7 27.h4 f6 28.f4 �c5 29. b4 3 0 .ib3 d5 Black begs hs a oesve ad hs posto s wg.
31.�h5 ig6 32.g4 d4 33.
Compee Games
This move prepaes g3g4, but b4 b4 34. d3 35.h5 c5 36.g3 i 37.dl dc2 is possibly impecise, because 38.d2 h8 39.h4 b6 40. hite's ook is removed from the e3 a5 41.g4 ih7 42.c3 c6 hle, which ll be opened It seems more logical to pre43. a4 44 a4 b2 45. c2 bl 46.cl b6 47.ic2 pare the advance of the gpa ds 48.f4 ig8 49.bl c5 with the help of the line: 14\e2 ! ? 5 0 .ie4 e7 51. el d4 52.e2 h 1h3 \e7 16g4 h7 53. d6 54.g3 b4 55.i d3 56.c7 57. e3 f4 hite resigned
5
Zanev
Najer
Ohrid 20 09
l.e4 e5 2.t tc6 3.tc3 tf6 4.g3 c5 5.ig2 d6 6.d3 a6 7.e3 e3 8.e3
8 ... te7 9. th4 c6 1 0 .d2 tg6 .t � 12.e t 13. 0 - 0 - 0 d5
Now, Black is faced wth a choice: 16 000 17g e8 18h4 d6 19\f2 \c7 (ae 19 g6, hite dominates the fle, while if 19 f6 20g6, Black's hpawn is isolated and might soon be lost 20f6 g6 2d4 th a ve complicated ght ahead ; 16 g!? (Black is trng to prevent his opponent fom seiz ing additional space on the kngside 17g6 g6 18g 6d7 19h4 000 2 0h3 e6 2 hf Ehf8= Black's pawns ae placed on light squares and they pefectly restrict White's bishop The game is equal
14 .. .h5 15.h3 \e7 (diagram
16.e4?! 14.hgl
Now ite's lightsquaed bishop emains in exile In fact, from the point of vew
Cmpete ames
@b2 a4 33.�d2 ab3 34.cb3 @d7 35.�c2 :aS 36.b4 Now he a2g8 diagonal is open and hie is able o organize sucien counepla along i
36 ...:hl 37.:hl
of coec pawnsaeg ie should o advance d3d4 and no e3e4 I seems moe logica for Whie o pla 16�f3 8d7 17g4 hxg4 18 hxg4 00 0 wih a complicaed bale
16 d4 17e2 0 0 0 18 . 8d7 19.g4 g4 2 0 .hg4 h7 21 .g5 f6 22 .g6 g5 • •
Black alread has a sligh bu sable edge
23 g2 :h2 24.�el b6 25. g3 �c5 •
37 c5?! •
Black should have kep he po siion closed He should hav coninud wih 37 @c7 38b3 @b6 scurel dfending agains i's onl dangerous idea based on plaing hh7 Neihr side has an real chances of improving his position so a positional draw appears on the boad
38.�c5 �c5 39.bc5 @c6 40 @c5 41.e2 @d6 42. dl c8 43. b3 @d7 44. c4 @d6 •
Hee 25 @b8! ? deseed consideaion prepaing he advance of his cpaw
26. :hh8 27.d2 �a5 28.a3 �b5 29.�e2 a4 30. b3 Ae 30c4 Black would have possibl coninued wih 30 c5 followed b b7b5
3 0 a5 31.:hl b2 32. •
45 . b3?!
Compete Games
hite eses to ght ad this is ot easy to udestand He had the oppotuity to play 45b3!, with the idea of peetatg with his kig e 45 c5 Whte plays 46a4, followed by a3, gadually squeezg lack's kig
45 ... d7 46.ic4 d6 47. ib3 d7 48.ic4 Daw hs gae was uspectacula but t was evetheless vey iteestg ad ostadad
which is ve usel to lack He fees the gle, cleaig the way fo a possible g7g5 t the sae tie, lack ow has the possiblity of exchagig knights o f3, af te whch his lightsquaed bishop will o loge be attacked th tepo esides this shap ove, t is good fo lack to play hee 10 h 6 ! ? , as we pointed out the theoetcal sectio of hapte 8
ll. 6
uov
Kamnk
aku (apd) 20 10
.e4 e5 2. £ c6 3 . b5 f6 4.c3 d4 5.ic4 ic5 6.xe5 �e7 7.£
7.. .d5 8.d5 ig4 9.d3 0 0 0 1 0 .ig5 ih5!?
his is a coosese ove
e 00 lack ca play h6 12 e3 (t would be too isky fo White to cotiue th 12 h4 g5 3 g3 f3 4gxf3 h5 15h3 g4 ad lack has a cush g attack) 2 xf3 13gxf3 xd5 and ow the atual ove 4 xd5 loses to 14 h4 5g2 (5c5 xd5 6exd5 h3+) 15 d6 6 h3 c6 7c3 f5+ ad lack's attack is decisive, while follog 4exd5 e3 5e3 xe3 16f2 he8 hs iitiative oe tha copensates fo the saciced pa White's best ove hee is 1 b3!, eovig the bishop o possible atacks by the eey ooks o knight lack has o cocete opeatios i sight, so his best idea would be to potect the d5squae fo ivason by the eney kight th the ove 11 c6! (11he8 2h3 h6 3 e3 xf3 14gxf3 e3 5e3 xe4 16xe4 h4 7d2 xe4 8e f3 9xh4 xh4 20hg1 g5 21 ; h6 12 e3 xf3 3 gxf3 e3 14e3 d7 15d2
Compete Games
e5 16EfU
It beces cler nw tht Blck hs n excellent psitin in l vritins 12h4 (1200 d6; 12e3 d7 13d4 d4 14e2 b2 15Eb1 3 nd he hs wdel cpenstin fr the pw 12 g5! 3g3 (13 g5 Ehg8 14h4 h6+ 13 f3 14gxf3 h5 15h4 g4
ll...c6 12 . c4 Nw Blck hs n dditil resurce, bsed n the dvnce his bpw It ws better fr White t re tret his bishp bit rther with 12 b3, lthugh er 12 xf3 (if 12 h6 White cn retret th 13e3, where his bishp is very cive in the ght fr the centrl squres 13gxf3 h6 14h4 d4 wth he pln f g7g5 fllwed by the trnsfer f the ight t e5 vi the dsqure Blck btins re thn ucient cpens tin fr the pw
12 ...h6 13 . h4 Here White shuld hve plyed 13e3, er which Blck cn chse between severl prising pssibilities fr intiing his inititive
13 d7 14d4 d4 15 e2; 13 xf3 14gxf3 (but nt 14 c5 xc5 5gxf3 d7 nd Blck's knight will g t the e5 squre th decisive eect 14 e3 15e3 b5 16b3 b4 17b1 xe4 8d2 xd2 19xd2 f3 2 0Eg1 g5 23 ; it lks s thugh Blck's best line here is 13 g4 14d4 d4 15d2 2 16h3 e3 17 x2 xc4 18f4 c5 19e2 xb2 20f5 xf5 2exf5 Ehe8 nd Blck intins slight dvntge, while er 22f2 f3 23gxf3 Ee5 24 Eb1 xd3 ! ? (24 Ec5 25Exb2 Exc3 26Eg1 Ed5= 25cxd3 Exd3 he btins three pws fr the piece nd his pieces rein very ctive
13 ...g5 14 g3 b5! 5 b3 b4 16.a •
•
Blck is cerly better er 16e5 bxc3 17exf6 xf6 18e5 f5 19d4 Exd4
16 e4 17.el •
Blck wuld hve gret dvntge er 17 xf3 18gxf3 f3 19dxe4 h1 2 0xc5 xc5 21e2 b7 22g1 f5 when Blck hs n extr exchnge The
Compete ames
line he chooses in the game is even stronger
18.de4 e2 19.gl b5 20.c4 Or 20h3 h5 21xc5 xc5 22h4 e2 23h2 xg3 24g3 gxh4 25c4 hg8 26cxb5 hxg3 27h3 g4!+, with the unpre ventable threat of c5e7 protects the f3square against Black's nightsorties and at the same time eyes the h5square
2...! If Blac had tried to play positionally, then aer 23 g4 24 h2 ge8 25a3 ite would have oganized counterplay
24.hg5 2 0 . . .a4 It was much more practical, om the point of vew of preventing tue mistaes, to begin gaining material here with 20 xb3 2axb3 a4 22bxa4 he8+ ad Blac would be totally dominant on the central les, with a ve easy game
21.a4 h5 Blac could maintain an overwhelming and easily realisable advantage with 21he8, threatening to capture on e4, but Blac obviously wants more than that
22.h4 hg8 Aer the immediate 22 f5! 23hxg5 xg5 24h3 f3! 25 gxf3 h4+ his attac is decisive
2 .dl ! (diagam This is an excellent defensive esource for ite is bishop
24 ...g5 Blac has played perfectly until now, but the position is still ve sharp e was evidently short of time (this was a rapid game and inevitably mistaes start to appear I t is very liely that i n a game wth a classical timecontrol adimir amni would have found the line 24 xg5! 25 xh5 e2! 26e2 xg3 27f d2 28e g4!+ th a decisive aac for Blac
Compete Games
25.ih4 dg8 26 . White could have gained some material here with 26g5 xg5 27Eh2 when continuation of Black's attack is far from easy
3 0 5 •
It is possible that in the heat of battle Black had overlooked that aer 3 .xf3 White has the in termediate check 3 h7
26 f4 •
Nw ite's f2paw, which is the main source of his worries, is reliably protected It was stronger for Black to play 26 e4 27g5 xg5, with sucient compensation.
27.i �e5 This is an attempt t seek complicatins by all means Black was not tempted to t to egain the exchange, because aer 27 c2 28d xa 29xa he would end up a pawn dow without any cmpensation
31.ih5 b6 32.�g4 �e4 33.e It is stronger to play 33.�g6!, not letting the enemy queen enter his camp Aer 33 .. e5 34e h8 35.h5 f6 36�e4 ite should gradually realise his advantage
33 �d3 34.gl �d2 35. d �b2 36.�f4 e6 37. �d2 �f6 •
2 . g5 g5 29 .�d It was strnger fr ite to pay simply 29d, with a clear advantage
29 b7 •
Black should have assured himself of a queenside pawnma jity by plang 29 xf3 3 xf3 xb2 with excellent cun terplay
30.h5
38.bl?!
The correct plan here wuld be 38�g4 ! d4 39 e ! , freeing the dsquare for the bishp, from were it protects f3 nd blcks the possible advance f Black's
Compt Gams
queenside pns
38. . .a5 39.a3?!
9.id3 c6 1 0 . 0 - 0 h6 ll.id2 �c7
White probbly overlooked his opponent's next ove
39 . .. 40 .b2 Here it s better to ply 0 e, lthough Blcks counterply is lredy quite sucient
4 0 .. .h5 41.ab4 b4 42.b4 c7 43.b1 d4 12.e1 ie7 13.c1 �d7 14. a3 0 0 15.b4 fd8 16 . e3 d4 17.cd4 cb4 18.ab b4 19.ib1 ac8 20.�e2 c1 21. c1 id5 22.d2
4.f4?
This knight is heded for the esqure nd the qeen cn go to hS, but ies cions on the kingside re too slo
This is blunder Aer the nturl move eU complited position rises, but ite ould still be slighly beter
4 id6 5.d4 �h2 46. @ �h1 47.e2 �b1 •
No it is ll over nd Blck esily relises his exr bishop
48.�g7 c8 9.�g8 @b7 5 0 .�g7 c7 51.� �e4 52. @ �d3 53.e1 b6 54.c5 @b7 22 ...c8 It is high time ht Blck d 55.e7 �d4 56.e2 �g4 57. e3 �g2 58.h7 White re- vnced his pssed ps, espesigned
7 NeachchB ochi 20 09
.e4 e5 2. f6 3.d4 e4 4.e5 d5 5.bd2 d2 6.d2 c5 7.ig5 �a5 8 .c3 ie6
cilly since er 22 b5 ! he ould soon tke control of he ipotnt esqure He exploits this in the vrition 23e c 2h5 xd 25e3 b2 2d6 xd6 27exd6 d3 28xd3 xd3, ending up ith n extr pn
23.e4
Compete Games
Aer 23. Black ca play 23 .. .a5 24. e3 �e6 25 .�b2 dS securely blockadig his oppo et's cetre paws.
23 �c6 24.a3 c2 25. c2 •••
ected paws ad at the same time maitai the blockade o dS so the draw is uavoidable.
3 0 c7 31.id6 c4 32. a7 d4 •
The rest o the game is quite simple ad o o iterest . .
33.al b5 34.bl c4 35. b2 h5 36.® ®h7 37.®e3 d3 38.®e4 dl 39.f4 el 4 0 .@ ®g6 41.h3 42. ®e4 h4 43 c5 44.®e3 el 45. @ d5 46.®f2 e4 47.g3 c4 48.e3 b4 49 d2 d4 50.b4 d3 51.4 •
•
Draw.
25 �c2 •••
Black does ot wish to risk ahig. lthough with 25 ...a3 26.�d3 aS he could have mai taied the advatage he would eed to precisely calculate various tactical complicatios coected or example with a ight sacri ce o 6. Furthermore it would help White to exchage his dark squared bishop restricted by his paws o d4 ad eS.
8
N avara
Kamnk
Prague rapid) 2008
l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.d4 e4 4.id3 d5 5.de5 c5 6. c3 c6 7.d4 e7 8. 0 - 0 0 - 0
26.�c2 c2 27 e7 e4 28. c6 29.dl d5 30.al •
9.f4 d3 10 .�d3 11. b3 a6 12.e3 c7 13.e2 b6 14.bd4 ia6 15.�d2 �e8 16.c3 c5 17. d8 18.fdl e6 diagram)
19.a4 Black caot keep his co
White does ot have ay active pla o his own so all he ca do is
Compete Games
pevent te development of Black's initiative His last move is aimed at twating te advance of Black's queenside pas
19 .. .h6 Black reminds is opponent tat esides te queenside, tee is a kingside wee Black as ex cellent pospects ased on te pawnadvance g7g5
20.a5 Tis move only elps Black Instead, Wite sould emain passive, plang for example 203
23.a4 Now Wite loses by force, ut even aer is elatively est line, 23d2 6, Black cannot be pevented fo advancing d5d4, t decisive eect
23 .. .a4 24Ja4 d4 25. cd4 cd4 26.d4 It is adly any bette fo Wite to play 26�d2 d5 and Black dominates te entie board
2 0 .. .b5 21.g3
26...ic5
21...ba5 Hee Black could ave launced a decisive opeation igt away 2 d4 22.cxd4 cxd4 23�f2 �b7 wit an ovewelm ing advantage
22.c2 g6
Black could ave maintained te deadly pin along te dle wt te move 26 �b4!, ae wic Wite loses by foce in all vaiations: 27 aa xd4 28 xd4 �c5 29xa5 d4 30d4 xd4 31xa6 g7, o 27f2 xd4 28d4 �c4 followed by �c4 b3
27Ja5 d 28.a6
Compete Game
29. e3 30. d 3.e3
42 . d4 31. ..fd8 Tis was a rapid game, so it was quite natural at te opponents ad practically no time le aer move 30, so there were plenty of mistakes towards te end of te game It was stronger for Black to play 31g7, mantaining te compactness of his pawcan on te kingside ite would need to play very precisely ten in order o save te game
Tis las move was imprecise Aer 2d a 3e5 a3 d a2 5c2 g7 6e6 b6 7d7 b7 8e6= tere s an easy draw
42 . .. a4 43 . c6 es 44. d4 g7 45.c4 46.b4 as 47.a3 a6 48 b4 d6 49. a4 e7 50.b5 d2 51.g4 2 52.c5 e6 •
32.g6 h7 33.a6 sd3 34. ld2 35.e2 d7 36. e6 b7 Aer 36 c7, ite can reply wit 37e3 xb2 38g obtaining good counerplay
37.e3 2b6
db2
38 d4
It is again a draw aer 38 g6 39e7 0xf5 7b3 1 e xg2 =
39.b6 Te evaluation of te posiion would remain te same aer 39 a5 g6 0e5 e7=
39 b6 40.e7 bs 41. a5
53.d4? Tis s te's decisive mistake Te move 53d3= would have still drawn
53 h4
Now it is all over, because ite loses is most importan paw
54. 55.e5 g4 56. d5 a4 57. c3 b4 58 . e4 h5 59 . g5 g8 6 0 .f6 h4 6. b5 62.g6 g5 ie resig ned
Compee Games
9
aov
aren
Tiur 1980
l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.d4 xe4 4 . d3 d5 5.xe5 d7 6.We2 xe5 7.e4 dxe4 8. Wxe4 e6 9.Wxe5
9 .. .W d 7 1 0 . 0 - 0 0 - 0 - 0 l l. e3 b4 1 2.c3 f6 13.Wg3 c3 14.bxc3 5 15.4 This is a attept y White to stop the deveopet o his oppo ets kside attack. Black is ready to cotiue th 75, o owed by h5h4, developi his oesive, aer aost ay ove y White.
15 .. .g5!
as restraini Whites doubled paws o the ce
18 . d2 g4 19.f4 c4
Back eets poweu pressure on the iht squares eawhie, Whites quee and rook are out o the ae.
20.d5 This is a desperate attept to ree hisel ro the positioa bid.
2 0 ...d5 21. e8 22.a3 e4 23.el e8 24.xe4 xe4 25.2 Wc5 26 .f4 el 27. d2 al 28.We3 Wd6 29.f4 b6 3 0 .c4 c4 31.Wd4 Wxd4 32.xd4 ib5
t would be suciet or Back to equalie th the ove 15 . . he8= olowed y sipii the positio y echani the rooks alo the ele, but he wats to ht or ore tha a draw in this positio.
16. White hopes to restrict the e ey lihtsquared bishop th this ove, but Black opens up the light squares anyway.
16 dg8 17. Wc6 •
The quee cotrols the long diaonal ro this square, as wel
Now White also oses his a3 paw.
33.i6 xa3 34.ig7 id7
Comete Games
t s een stroner or Black to 35f4 a5 36 .f6 x 37.c3 e6 38.g3 5 39.e4 7 play ll . . .e6! as was ponted out 4 0 . e5 2 4l. f4 xg2 42. n the theoretcal secto o hap g5 c 2 43. x5 g3 44 . xg3 ter 16. xc3 45 . e5 c4 46.e3 5 12.e5 e4 13.c3 xc3 47.a3 e6 48 . g3 @ 49. 6 a5 50 .g7 g4 5l.f6 a4 52 .e3 53 .el cl 54.e7 3 55 . 2 c4 56.e3 g2 57. el c1 58 .2 l 59 . c3 c5 6 0 .e7 b5 61.e5 a3 62.7 b4 63.h5 b3 64.6 b2 65.g7 66 . g3 e3 Whte re sned.
14.bxc3 10
o
rov
ua rapd) 2002 The ollon ae was played wth a ast tecontrol so we should not e too crtcal towards the randasters. en thouh they ade any istakes the ae was still treendously nterestn and create n the sprit o the old asters.
l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.xe5 6 4. x x 5.4 c5 6.xc5 c6 7 . c4 e6 8 . xe6 xe6 9.0-0
The deects o White's pawn structure are ore iportant than any ntate he can deelop on the le. t was preerale to continue wth 14.3 8 1.c3 6 16. e3 Black s unale to castle ar tically whle Whte's pawnor aton is really presse and ery eecte.
14 �e6 15.bl b8 16 . e3 e7 •
17.f4 9 . . . 10e2 �e8 ll.el 5
Black has te now to rn hs rook on h8 nto play. t would e uch harder or
Compete Games
Black to prove any advantage af ter 17f g8 18ed and here he could mantan an edge only aer the notsoobvous move 18 ! (The engame aer 18 xe5 19d5 xd5 20xd5 c6 21f4 d8 22c4 2xb7= seems to be approximately equal; te has too many pawns and his peces are very actve ) 19 h (Aer 19xd5 xd5 20xd5 Black's kng ll occupy the e6square and Whte's pawnchan e5f4 wll soon be under mined wth the move g7g5 ) 19 xe5 20f4 c6 (Aer the attractve variation: 20 c4 21c6 xe 22xb7 xd1 2xb8 f8 24xf8 xf8 25c8 e7 26 c7= te draws by erpetual check 21d7 h5! Black secures the h6 and h7squares for hs rooks and hs king, as approriate 22xb7 xb7 2xb7 e6 2 f2 h6 25e1 Black has consolidated hs forces and hs extra piece (ignoring the tripled pawns) will surely tell
would be much more solid for Black to opt here for 19 , bringing hs other rook to the f8square and carrng out the underminng move g7g5 only later
2 0 .g5 g5 Aer 20x 21x g5 Black's kng would be much more comfoable
21. 22.Wh5 If 22d Black would play 22 g8 2 g g6 24e6 h6, parrng Whte's attack
22 Wg6 23.� @g7 24. �d5 ••
There will be no reetiton of moves, because aer 24f1 d8 25b1 Black ll play 25 b6! 26cxb6 xd4 27cxd4 b6
17 h 18.id4 g8 19. ••
24 �c2! • •
Ths is a very imortant move and the best for Black in this postion! Now, his king remains com letely exposed, but with the help of hs queen he succeeds in creatng dangerous counterthreats
25.e6 19 g5 •••
Ths s a very ris move! It
It was correct for hite to play here 25f! xd4 26cxd4 d 27 h8 28g e 29g2 d4 0h! and there would
Compee Games
be penty of ght e but Blak wou sti be muh better
25 g6 •••
Blak was winning wth 25 @h6! 26e xd4 27x4 8 28 e5 f8 29 d4 (aer 29 e2 Blak's simplest solution would be the ounterattaking move 29 f5! + ) 29 d2+ and aer the exhange o queens his roa to vitory woul be quite easy
26.
f6 @g7 3e5+ there is no eene against White's ealy disovere hek) 29h5 @h6 3 e3 @g7 3g5 @8 324+ an d Blak is hepless
27 e3 •••
It al ens in a draw in the variation 27 xd4 28 @h6 29 x4 x4 3@h e4 33 8 32h4! h4 33f6 f6 34 xf6 @h5 35x8
28.e3 e3 29.h
It was more tenaious for White to efen wth 26e athough the position arising aer 26 x4 27xd4 f8 28e4 xe4 29xe4 4 3xf4 4 3f2 f6+ seems to be winning for Bak in any ase
26 d3? •••
Bak overlooks the possibility of onluing the ght in speta uar fashion wth 26 x4! 27x4 f8! +
30gl Most probably both players were blitzing an they overlooke the simple but very beauti variation 3! x 31ex+
30
•••
e 5 31 .d6 f6
27.d7 ite misses a n in turn although it is a rather ompliate one 27h4! e3 (or 7 h4 28 e7! x4 296 h 3e5 g5 3 xb8 + an Bak has no angeous heks) 28h2 xf (aer 28 x4 29h5 h6 3
32.h3
If the opponents ha ha enough time, the game might have ene in briiant an rather
Comete Games
uusual fashio aer 32e7 g4 33 g3 g3 34e8 g5
cal pat that it is preferable for Black to cotue here th 12 d4 13 d cd4 14 0 0 c8 15e5 c3 1bc3 a3 17 b 1 d5 18 a 1 c
13.e5
35g8 (or 35hg3 h ate ) 3 5 g 3g hg 37hg3 f2 38 h 2 g4 ad Backs loe knght gives perpetual check
32 .d3 33.�d5 xc5 34. e7 xe7 35.g8 6 36JMl e4 White resiged This gae •
as ll of istakes, but it as ve mpressive ad beautil
1
Topaov
Kamnk
iares 1999
l.e e5 2. f6 3.xe5 d6 4.x x 5.c3 c5 6. ic ie6 7 e6 xe6 8.d4 •
13 g4 •
He should aser a attack ith a couteraack, by playig 13 d4 The alost ubelievable variato 14 d4 (Black is better aer 14c4 e 15e e 1 d4 cd4 17b5 d5 18d4 ) 14 d4 15f3 g5 1e2 b4 17 f2 e4 18 e3 f 9 f2 leads to a dra by repetitio of oves
14.dl The quee has occupied a very good blockadig square Here 14 e6 ould fal to 15f5 eS 1c4 f6 17d5
5. 0 - 0 5!
9.dxc5 c6 10.e2 d7 11 e3 dxc5 12.f4 es •
We etioed the theoreti
ompete Gmes
He cotiue th hi block adig trategy ad radically pre et the poiblity g2g4 Mea whle Black' rook ight eter the game at oe pot ia the huare
d4 becaue Black's piece coe ito play whle hite' two paw are iuciet to cope ate or the acriced pece.
16.ic hte aoid echage but pay a hey price for thi ce hi bihop goe back to it itial potio. It wa better or hi to chooe 1.h3 e3 1.e3 h 18.e4 g8 19.c3 ataiig good compeato for the pece.
16 .. .d4 1.c4
19 .. .a6! This a ecellet moe for Black H cpa coiderably retrct hi ow bihop ad t i ery uel for hi to hae t re moved.
20.xd4 c8
. . .g6 Black oerlook the poibilty of echagig uee: 1 . . .e! 18.d3 a !. It i eay to i a oe like this particularly whe calculatig seeral oe ahead. 19.e4 c 20.c (ite ca ot really avod the echage of uee becaue aer 20.d3 Black ha the reouce 20 c4!+) 20. . .bc6 21h3 h+ ad he i ery cloe to ictory.
18.h3 h6 19.b5 It is o beer for White to opt here fo 19e3 c2 20f2
cxd4
21.xd4
Now hite ha ot two but three paw for the piece It i troger for Black to co tiue wth 2...c2! 22.f2 (it i o ue for hite to play 22.f f 23.f4 c 24.h2 hf8 2.d2 e3! +) 22 .. . c (Black alo maitais hi adatage wth the ove 2 2 .. .f) 23d3 f 24.e3 e 2.c2 b 2.e4 h4 Black ha et up a ecure blockade o the kigide ad hite' poto i terrible.
22.b6 23.xb xc2 2.ie3
Gobblg pa caot ed well for hite: 24.a c5 25. h g4!+ ad he i helples agait g4f2.
Compete Game
2 g6
This was played instantly but as is oen the case in open posi tions thee was a stonger con tinuation: 24 . e2 ! 25 . a7 e4 26.xe4 xe4 and Black would hae stll maintained a slight edge.
25l xcl Ae 25 . . .e2 the bishop does not need to ee: 26.f3! (o 26. fe xe 27.xe f5 28 . f2 e7 29.e6 26 .. .xb2 27.f5 xf5 28. xf5 xg2 29.h g3 30.xg6 x g6 3 .c6 h7 32 . c b4= with a draw.
26.xcl 27 h
Black frees the h5square fo his queen. Ae 27 ... e7 28 .c6 29 . xa6 d8 30 .e2 te is een bete because he already has fou pas for the piece and his connected pawns on the queen side ae paticularly dangeos.
28.c7 The game should end in a daw ae 28.c6 h5 29xa6 e7 30.h2 d8 3.c8 d 32.e6 g3 33.g3 hxg3 34.xg3 d3 3 .g4 e2 36.g3= (diagram
28 g3!
This is a pdent decision fo Black because ae 28. . .h5 29. e4 White is totally dominant and Black's pieces might nee come into play.
29.'h2 3.gl bl 31 .xh ic5 This is not a stupid moe. It s the simplest rote to a daw fo Black. Ae 31...g3 White has the additional possiblty of 32 .f2 ! ? shapening the game. 32.xc5 Dawn in iew of the lne: 32 . . . g3 33.h2 (o 33.f2? e4 and White loses his ook 33 . . . f.
12
Ovechn
oev
ochi 2004
l.e e5 2. f6 3.xe5 d6 .c xe 5.c3 xc3 6.bxc3 g6 7.d g7 8 d3 - 9.-
Compete Games
9 . . . d7 1 0 .f b6 ll.3 a 1 . d b 13 d3 1.cd3 15.d5 d7 16.abl bs
threats et, so he simply improves his posion His bshop on f6 con tnues to exet pressure along the long diagonal, forcing Whe to protect his c3paw In addtion, t has some new nctions now, deprving Whte's bshop of the h4square and hs queen of e7, a possbe nvasonsquare on the ele
7.� '
There wll nevtably be a clash of paws on the queensde and the postion will then be opened up Black has the bshoppar, whch wll gve him some advantage
17.� c5 It s more or less the same after 17 c6, since ite can hardy maintain the tenson n he centre
18.c6 bc6 19.c �c7 0 . 3 .�d c6 . f8 3.fl bl .bl a8 !
Black's ng s brought closer to the centre n anticpaton of the fothcoming endgame He s alrady plannng to exchange the strongest pecs on the board Hs other chances of realsing hs advantage would requre hm to keep the queens on the board and in that case t would be more natural for Black to play 27 . .@g7
8 .' ie7 Black's bshop protects the d6 paw in order to release th queen, whch has been carryn out tha task untl now
9.�b �b7 3 0 .�b7 b7
Black s already threatening c7c6!
5.l el 6.l if6!
Black cannot create any direct
There are three pawnslands each on the board: on the ale, on the c and d les and on the f, g and h les This te of game, patcularl since here s play on
Compete Games
both ans, s clearly n Blac's favour, because he has a powerl bshoppair In addtion, White's f4pa s terrbly msplaced If it had been on f3, he would have consderably more chances of a successl defence
2, deprivng Blac's bshop of the e4square in the process
...e 2. d2
3 . a5 a 32.c f6 33 . d2 e6 3.b3 d7 35. c6 Blac maes several noncom mttal moves th hs kng before the tmecontrol, follong the endgame rule don't hurry f you don't have to " It loos much more purposel for hm to transfer hs bshop somewhere, for example to e6, or to play h7h6, followed by g6g5
36. e3 e7 37.d cxd 38 . d a6 39.g3 dS 0.e3 d7
2 ...c2 Blac could have created great problems for hs opponent th the straghtforward move 42 d5, openng the route for hs king nto the enemy camp via the lght squares On the other hand, from the practcal pont of ew, the rule don't hurry" s qute applicable here as well Whte cannot do anythng meanngl at the moment, so Black always has the pawnbrea d6d5 n resee c cordingly, lexander Motylev's decsion at ths pont can only be applauded!
3. a5 .a3 dl 5. g5 6 6. .? Whte loses patence and that s the reason why so many end games of this type are lost! The move g6g5 s not a threat yet and t ll be much easer for Black to attac the g3pa than the h2pawn, so Whte's last move s a decsve mistae He should have played the waiting move 4
6 . . .!
Compete Games
Do you see the consequences of the move 4h4? The bishop and pawn ending would have been a draw wth a white paw on h2 and Black would need to try to break wth the move d6d5
47.®x e1
48.5 ite is in agony, because he is helpless against d7c6, followed by d6d5 His ing is stuck with the protection of his g3pa and in the king and paw ending aer 8�f2 f2 49xf2 c6 50e3 cS Sd3 dS 52cxd5 xdS Black is victorious, since his king gains the opposition one of the most typical resources in all kng and paw endings
48 .. .5 9 . g7 c6 5 0 . 6 c5 5 . a5 5 2 e7 a4 53.®g2 xc4 •
Blac wns even faster aer 53 �c3 54h3 �b2 h4 a3 56�f6 �c 57xh5 a3+ followed by �cb2 and the apaw promotes
54.d6 c3 55.3 f6 56 . 'b3 57 . d6 b2 58. 4 a3 59 . e5 b4 6 0 . x5 a3 6 .g4 c3 62. a2 ite resigned
13
Caren
Kamnk
Nice (rapid) 200 8
l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.xe5 d6 4.c4 xe4 5.c3 xc3 6.bxc3 g6 7.d4 g7 8 . d3 0 0 9. 0 0
9. . .d7 10 .� b6 ll.e3 c5 12.dxc5 dxc5 13.a4 d7 4.a5 a4 5.�xb7 xc3 16. d2 e6 17.c3 c3 8 . a4
18 . ..�d7 Black wshes to play a slightly beer endgame wthout any, even minimal, risk nother good option was 18 �d4 (with the threat 19 b8 20a c4) and here White loses aer 19�e4 b8 20a7, in view of 20 d6! (Black is threatening 21c5c4) 21c4 (or 2c3 e3 22e3 fS 23�f3 and he traps the en
Compete Games
emy queen) 21 .. .f2 2 2 .h c4 23.xc4 fd8 followed by 24 .. .d7+; Or 9.c4 c4 20.xc4 f6 with a clear advatage for Black.
19�xd7 d7 20a3 ib 2Uaal ic6 the exchange of a pair of rooks, which facilitates White's defence.
27d xd 28xd id 29id5 d5 3 0 xd5
This situation is quite typical, because in a ght on both sides of the board, Black has the advantage, thanks to his powerl bishoppair.
22 6 adS It is almost the same aer 22 . . . fd8, leaving the bsquare for his queen's rook.
23fcl ic3 2abl fe8 25ib5
White has exchanged one of the black bishops and thus diminished the attacking potential of Black's pieces, but Wite's a6 paw is defenceless now and Black could have exploited this.
3 0 e2 Black could have created great problems for his opponent with some delicate manoeuvres of his rook: 30 . . .e5! 3.f4 f5 32.g3 f6 33.c3 e5 34.d5 xa6, winning a paw and preserving excellent winning chances .
Black's pieces are active all over the entire board, so ite is tryng to free himself from the positional bind. e will need to ac quiesce to the eventual loss of his a6paw, which is likely aer the exchange of the lightsquared bishops.
25e6 26ic (diagram)
6 e It is stronger for lack to play here 26 . . .ed6 ! 27.d d4, con trolling the board and preventing
31c Now, the ght becomes very tense again. It was an easy draw aer 3. e3 ! e3 32 .e3 xc2 33.d7
Compete Games
31. 32. :a2 33. :bl h •
Blak s unale to keep hs shop on the a7g dagonal: ... 4 4.8 g 7 5.8. The 5 square s under attak y Whte's rook and the rook and pawn endng aer 5 ...6 6.x6 ax6 7.x4= s a draw.
3.g3
pont of ew ths moe is strong ut t has a dente drawak. uddenly Whte sueeds n e plotng the ulneralty of the g6pawn. Blak would hae preseed deen winnng hanes th the lne: 46 . . .h 47.4 48. d6 e5
7. e2 f
It s more prese for Whte to play 4.8 g7 5.7 atatng hs pees and attakng the enemy a7pawn.
3 .. .g5 35.h d2 36.f6 g7 37.e 6 38.:b7 :xa6 39.xc5 :c6 0.e :e6 1. c5 :e5 2.d7 :e3 3.:xa7 :xg3 .e5 f6
Aer 44 . . .e 45.x g8 46.e7 f4 47.6 x 48.d4 4 49.f g 50.h5 gxh5 a e unusual poston h douled lak hpawns arises and here Blak an onnue to or ture hs opponent for a long me.
5.x e3 6.:b7
8.c Whte ould hae dra mmedately wth 48.h8! e5 49. 6 f 5 50.xg6 xg6 5.xg6 xg6 52.f= and later the whte king goes into he orner and there as is wellknown Blak an only stalemate t!
8 :e3 •
6 h5 • •
ie's pawn s xed on the h4square and s lkely o be apured soon. From the srateg
Blak would hae more prat al wnnng hanes aer 48 . . . f 5 49.6 e 50.f 51. h8 g5 52.hxg5 x g5 5.g6 (te loses aer the areless moe 5. g 4+ and Blak's hpa eomes unstoppale. 5 .. .f5 54. 6 2 and there will soon arse an endgame of rook and ishop aganst rook n whh the defendng sde must play pre sely to draw.
9. :c3
Compete Games
50.8! Finally a bit late but not too late Magnus arlsen demonstrates the correct idea to save the game
5 0 .. Jxc4 5.b6 @ 52. xg6 ig3 53.@g2 @g4 54.b2 e4 55.a id6 56.a5 e2 57.@ e6 58.g5 @ 59. @g4 60.g5 @3 6.@ f6 62.@e2 ig3 63.@e3 e6 64. @ f6 65.@e3 e6 66.@ Daw
Berg
Pe.Neen
Helsingor 200 9
.e e5 2. f6 3.xe5 d6 4.c4 xe4 5.�e2 �e7 6.e3 f6
White has developed his pieces a bit awkwardly on the ank and Black counters this th straightfoward play in the centre Only nine moves have been played but Black already has the advantage
0 .ig2 0 - 0 0 .d4 Look at White's bishop on b2 a sorry sight!
...5! This is a ve usel move because Black keeps the option of gaining additional space on the kingside ith the move h5h4 as well as using the g4square as a base for his minor pieces
2. d2 g6 The move 2 h4 would not create any concrete threats so Black prefers to complete his development
3. 0 - 0 0 i6 4.e
7.b3?! We have shown in the theoretical section that White should prefer 7c3 here
7 .. .c6 8.ib2 ie6 9.g3 d5
Compete Games
1 b4
Black attacks the d4pawn and at the same time rees the ele r his rk Hwever, in mst variatins Whites d4paw is ta b, therefre instead f this mve, brinin his last piece int actin th 14 he8 was wth cnsiderin Frm a human pint view the psitin is rather unclear aer 14 15\xe3 (it wuld be antipsitinal r White t play 153 �4 when Black wuld have very easy play n the liht squares) 15 4 16e2 xh2 173 h4 184 h3 19 �h d6 and in many variatins Black must sacrice a piece (in act he has n alternative, since his kniht n h2 is trapped ) pssible cntinuatin is 20\2 Ede8 2Ee2 x4 224 4 and Blacks three cnnected passed pawns are strner than Whites piece, mstly because the bishp n b2 is rather islated frm the real actin
15.a3
16.bl This is a usel prphylactic mve, because Whites kin retreats t a sae place, away frm the ch6 dianal The d4pawn is nt hanin yet, s he des nt need t prtect it with the mve 16\d3 Furthermre, aer 16 4 17x4 4 18�3 � 19\c3 �7, the d4paw really wuld be defenceless and aer 20f, Black wins with 20 xd4 2 Exd4 cS
16 e8
The pa is tab 16 xd4? 17\d3 cS 18b4 + and White ns a piece
17.d3?! It was much mre resilient t play 174, neutralizin the ene my bishp n h6 It wuld be rather dicult fr Black t explit the vulnerability f the liht squares in the centre e454 and aer, r example, 17 �4 183 e4 19\f f3 20f3 S, Blacks advantae wuld be nly minimal
17 .. .g4
Aer 15 c3 \aS 16b Ehe8 Black maintains sme piecepres sure
15 .. .\b6
18.xg White culd have tried t cmplicate mattes a little with the
Compete Games
line: 8xd5!? �xd5 9xe8 g2 2 0 c4 a6 2e2 �dS 22 f3 f6 23xd8 xd8 24e and although Black would have the edge White would have counterplay
18 g4 •
Black's g4paw restricts hite's possibilities considerably because now he does not even have the f3square for his ight
'xb2 d1 4 0 'c3 'b8 41a4 White resigned
15 de-ov Wijk aan Zee 999
le4 e5 2 f6 3xe5 d6 4 xe4 5�e2 �e7 6d3 f6 7 g5 bd7 8c3 �xe2 9e2
19b4 White wants to place his knight on b3 but proves unable to do this
9 6 1 0 4 g5 l g3 5 12d5 'd8 134 g4 14d2 b6 15f4 xg3 16 g3 g7 17 0 - 0 - 0 19a5! With his last ove Black provokes new weakesses in his opponent's cap
2 0 bxa5 xa5+
Or 7.c3 e 8d4 �d7 9f �h8 followed by c7c6 and d8c7 The endgae is doubleedged but Black has a powerl bishoppair and is not worse at all
17 es 18de1 •
White has nuerous weak squares bad pieces and a terrible pawstructure so he is already beyond salvation
21�c3 d2 22Jxd2 c4 23dd1 M6 24 xb2 25 �xb2 s 26e3 �xb2 27 'xb2 x2 28d2 29c4 e4 3 0 e2 31c5 ds 32 d1 ds 33'c3 h1 34 c2 c1 35 'b2 h1 36 e4 e4 37'b3 b1 38b2 b2 39
18 d4!? Black seeks coplications by
Compee Game
penetating with his bishop into White's camp The position would have been appoximately equal ae 8 d7 9hf eS 20c3 cS 2c4 c7
9h e3 0.h5 .g7 Black will counte 2c3 with 2c5, not allowing his opponent to advance d3d4
..e5 .c3 c5 3.'c d5! This supising move is also vey song Wite wanted o play d2b3 and then d3d4, in ode to oust the enemy oo fom the eSsquae
xd7 3e2 26d4 e4 27 d3; 24 d4 25bxc5 xcS 26c4 dS 27xf5 xfS 28xf5 b4 29cxb4 xfS 30g4 f2 3b3 xg2 32xe3 dxe3 33xe3 and a daw is the most likely oucome
4 .. cd4 5 . d3 dc3 6. bc3 d4 Blac would not achieve much with 26 f4 27gxf4 xf4 28d g3 29f8 c7 30 and ite maintains the baance thanks o his pieceactivity
7 c5 8e3 c3 9.
9 . a4! 4.d4 Aer 24b3, Black has the re souce 24 d4!, securing eliable bases fo his bishop on e3 and rook on eS and maintaining a clear advantage ie had here a vey interest ing move at his disposal in 24 b4! , th the idea of eliminating by all means he enemy pawn on cS I have failed to nd any advantage for Black: 24 cxb4 25 b3 bxc3 (25 d7 26d4 e4 27c5 bxc3 28 d3 d2 29e4 dxe4 30xd7
Here it would be bad fo Black to play 29 xd3 30ec4 xc4 31 xc4 xg3 32 White seiz es the initiative and th a tre mendously powel oo on the sevenh ran he will a least man age to daw by pepeual check
30a de3 3.e3 c5 3.d d3 33.d3 d3 34e 35d3 (diagam
35 'e7 •••
I was much bette for Black to advance his kng to the queenside, because he could eventually re
Compete Game
1c3 White redeploys his knight to an active position and Black's edge evaporates
1 d2 2d5 @ 3 e7 @ e5 g6 5f Dra ••
ate ate a passed pan pan there there : 35 c7 363 d7 37c5 c6 th excellen excellentt inning chances chan ces
3 6 e3 e3 MS 37b2 37 b2 38 38 c3 d1 d1 39a3 g6 g6
6
N
Hua
oev
Tiayuan 2005
e e5 2 f6 3e5 d6 e e 5 d3 f6 63 6 3 ie7 7 0 - 0 0 0 •
Or 39 b6 40c4 e4 (aer 40 . h5 White plays 41c3= and his knight ill ill go to the f4square via via e2) 4 xe4 xe4 h5 42 e5 d2 43 xh5 xg2 44h7 f6 45xa7 xg3 xg3 46 a8 a8== White White should should man age to dra
8c3 b6 9 c2 b7 10d bd7 ig5 es 12e1 d5 13d3 13d3 g6 1id2 1id2 c5 15c c7 16ic 16 ic3 3 d5 •
0c This move move is imprecise imprecis e It as as beter beter for for White White to opt for 40 c5 b6 41e6= and he should not lose aer transferring his knight to the f4s f4square quare
0 b6 •••
Black in turn turn makes a mistake Aer Aer 40 e6! 4b4 f5! he ould still have good chances of inning this game
1 7 bd2 •
This natural move is imp recise and enables Black to ght for the initiative
Compete Games
It was correct co rrect for hite to play 17. 17 .a3 a3,, with with the the following following sample continuation: 17. 17 . . . e6 18.Ead dc4 19.xc4 19.xc4 f4 20 .e3 .e3 dS 21 . d3 f4= and a draw by repetition of moves
7. . .b5! .b5! 18.cxb5
and he can counter 25.h4 with 2S .. . b6, with the idea of b6 a4.
25 . . x8 26.�xg7 'xg7 2 7 f f 2 8 b6 2 9 g3 b8 30.l xl 3.xl c8
If 18 .b3, then then ae ae 8 . . dxc4 19.bxc4 b4 20.b2 cxd4 21.xd4 cS 22.g3 f6 Black is slightly better, because his pawnstructure is superior su perior and his pieces are more harmoniously deployed. deployed.
8 .c4 . c4 9.�3 xb5 20 20 a4 a6 t this point the opponents agreed to a draw, which seems rather premature, because Black could have captued on a4 with his knight, creating serious problems for hite. hite.
Tako
Gr
Black has seized more space and maintains an edge.
7
2.xb5 axb5 22a3 d6 23�h6 �f6 24.g5 �g7
l. 5 2. f6 3.x5 d6 4. 4. x4 5 d3 d3 f6 6. 0 0 7 7.h 7.h3 0 0
25x8 Blacks position is preferable with queens present on the board
Germa Germany ny 2 01 0
8 c 8 9 c2 c2 b6 0 .d4 b7 b2 b2 2 c bd7 bd7
Compete Game
ig5 h6 ih g5 5ig 6fd g 7g f6
edge Now the position is equal .
g 8
Black could have maintained the tenson by by playing playing 24 . . h5, but he decded to rely on simplica tion.
5e e1 6 7 h3 d5
8e White must try to exchange the rooks, because otherwise his queen cannot come into play, since since it has no squares.
8 e
The poston would be much more complex aer aer 18 . . . d7 19. e3 Ee7
9 9 7 0 ¥ ¥77 If 2.f2, then Black continues with 2 . . . Ee8, occupying occupying the ele and not allowing White's knight to go to the fSsquare a e3
0 e7 13 e8 e 8 3 id3 id3
8 It is slightly more precise for White to play 28.c4 e7 29. ce3 xf5 3. 3 . f5 �b7, �b7 , but even then the draw is certain. certai n. It is essential for Black to prevent the exchange of the lightsquared bishops, since in tat case he would end up with a bad" darksquared bishop. If he keeps both bishops, he has no problems whatsoever.
8 e7 e7 9 7 7 e7 e7 3 0 h g d5 33h d6 g g 35 g7 36 h5 7 e6 5 38d5 d 9cd h6 Draw. White's king must
protect the g3pawn and he can make no progress. progress.
8 ZhangPenang ZhangPenang ov ov The f5square is ve weak; otherse, Black would have the
hanghai hai 2 1
5 f6 5
Compete Games
d6 e 5d d5 6id3 c6 c6 0 0 ie 8c b b
9cd5 d3 0d3 �d5 lel g g6 3 c3 c3 1�c3 f6 5b3 @ 6.�c e8 1�c �c4 �c4 8.b 8 .bc c4 4 b6 b6
(or (or 2 0 d2 4 4 and and Wi Wiee s oally pinned, whe aer 20ac a3 he loses maeri maerial al 20 xc5 2 dxc5 dxc5 xc5 xc5 22 xc5 xc5 xe xe 2 3 xe xc5 Black will e ale to toure his opponent for a long time His ishop s superior o he enemy knigh and his rook is more acive ie needed magnaion in order o reach equaliy He could have solved his prolems only af after the nosooous line: 19 e3 ac8 20 20 a3 , exchang exchangng ng the darksquared ishops and manaining the aciviy of hs piec pi eces es Aer 20 a3 2xa3 xc4 xc4 22 2 2 xa7 @f8 @f8 23d 23 d Black Black has ll compensaion for the pa, u no more mo re han hat hat The game game should sh ould end n a draw
9 ac8 0acl id6 1 eS For 2c5 f4 22xe8 xe8 see 2xe8
.e8 . e8 c5 if 3c3 ie Black s a pawn dow, u he has no prolems a all In fac, fac, s White who mus play precisely, ecause his c4pawn is not proteced and he g4pawn does not emellsh his poson eher If Whte had had a lightsquared ishop, ishop , instead of any any other mnor pece, his posion would have een preferale
This ishop s ready o go o the d5square, since his is he pefec pefec place for it
9ib Aer his move Whie's kingside ecomes even more vulnerale, n paicular his f4squ f4square are Follong 19 e3 ac8 2 0 c5
hie makes a misake in a
Compete Games
dcult poston He wants to tanse hs knght to the Ssquae but ths poves to be mpossble Aer 24a3 Black has the the stong stong espon esponse se 24 b8 keepng hs queensde pawnor maton ntact
d6 4.£ 4 .£ xe4 xe4 5.d4 d5 6 .d3 .d3 c6 7. 7. 0 - 0 ie7 8.c4 b4 b4
24 ...bxc5! ... bxc5! 25.a3 It tuns out ou t that that the cSpawn cS pawn s taboo ong to the vulnerablty o White's hite' s back rank Ae 25 2 5 c5 Black wns wit with h 25 b8+ whle 25dc5 then 25 d8 wns
2 5 ...bs ... bs 26.b3 c4
This s the smplest road to vctoy Black's kng goes to the dSsquae aer the trade o the ooks The est est s vey vey smple sm ple
2 7 . xb8 xb8 b8 28 . g2 g2 g2 29.xg2 e6 30.3 d5 3. £ g6 32.e3 ic7 33.c3 b6 34.a4 a6 35.£ 36.4 g4 37.g4 5 38.5 5 39.f4 d4 40.ie c3 4. c2 42.id2 c4 Whte re-
9.ie2 0-0 0.c3 i 1. a3 xc3 2.bxc3 c6 3.e1 e8 4.cxd5 4.cxd5 \xd5 \xd5 5 5.i .iff4 ac8 16.3 16 .3 e4! e4!
7.ie3 a5 18.c4 xc4 c4 \xc4 20.d2 \d5 xe4 \xe4 22.ig5 \xe1+ \xe g5 24.\a5 24.\a5 if6 \xa7 c5 c5
sgned
19
Leko
Kamnk
Bssag Bssagoo (m/ 1) 2 0 04
.e e5 2.£ f6 3.xe5
26.\xb7
19. 21. 23. 25.
Compete Games
If ite's rook escapes from the Xray" pressure of the enemy bishop with 26b, then Black plays 26 d4 and aer 27 xb7 a8 28b6 xa3= White loses his only queenside pawn and, wth it, any remaining illusions of being able to play for a wm.
26. . .d4 27a2 c4
29.a4 If 29 d2 , Black plays 29 f6 30xd8+ xd8= and he has eve rything protected and his cpawn is ready to advance er that he l use this paw to deect the enemy queen and will then pick up White's apawn With pawns le on only one side of the board, the draw l become inevitable
29 .. .c3 30.4 For the side having a queen against a rook and a bishop, it is usuay advantageous to have an outside passed pa In this case however, Whites apaw is not ve dangerous, since Blacks cpaw has been advanced much he and is well suppoed by his pieces
er 30 b3 b8 31 c4 dc8 32 d3 g6 33xd4 (ifite does not capture the bishop, Black plays b8b2 ! 33 c2 34xc2 xc2 Whites apaw will inevitably be lost, so Black is in no danger In fact, it is White who ll have to try to make a draw by a perpetual check on the kingside
28.2 Black can counter 28c2 with 28 c3 and ite's rook will remain passive
28 ...d8 fter 28 c3?, the vulnerability of Blacks back rank be comes the decisive facto and fol lowng 29xe8+ xe8 30d7 e+ (30 b8 31xd4 c2 32 d2+ 31h2 e5+ 3 2f4 f4+ 33g3 e2+ 34g+ White wins
3 0 . . .6 his is a quiet positional eply The advance of White's apawn
Cmpete Games
has been stopped Black also had a tactical solution available: 30 g6? 31a5 �e5 32\xeS c2 33xc2 xc2 34h4 when ite should be able to draw by perpetual check aer advancing his kingside paws
31.c2 White can also block the enemy cpaw wth his rook: 31c2 �a5 32\f5 a8 with a probable positional draw
31. ..g6
36.c3! Now hite wll have great problems achieving a draw The right way for Wite to save the game was 36g5, creating the threat o perpetual check on the ingside Aer 36 xc2 37\xc2 d2 38e4 c2 39\e8 g7 40e5 it l be a draw by perpetual chec
36 ...c3 3.\c3 2d5 Black redeploys his rook to be able to capture the enemy apaw
38c6 a5 39.g3 da8 .h! ites paw is not threatening to advance, so Black has enough time to mae a generally usel move
32.b3 d6 ere Black could have played 32 �a5 33e7 f8 34e2 fd8 wih a repetition of moves
33.c2 White did not need to place his rook so passively e could have maintained the balance wth the move 33g4, planning to advance his hpaw later and also securing the g2square for his king
33 a5 3.g d2 35.g2 cd8 •
... 5a6 It ould be imprecise for Black to play 40 xa4 4h5, intending h5h6 Black could have stopped the advance of ites hpaw with 40 h6 41h5 g5, although aer 42 f4 (42 \xh6? 8a6 42
Compete Games
gxf4+ 43. xf4 Exa4+ 44. g3 4a6 45d5 Black could have still totured his opponent for a long time transferring his rooks to attack the g4pawn.
41�cl a Black continues to thwart the advance of the enemy hpawn. Aer the immediate 41 .. Exa4, White can continue with 42.h5=
42�6 xa4 435 4a5
would fail; aer 46.f4, Black wins for example with 46 Ea2 47.f3 8a3+ 48.e4 a4+ 49e3 2a3+ S e2 Eb3 +, combining his threats to capure White's pas with mating threats with his rooks.
46 5a6 47�c3 a4 48 �c6 sa6 49�e8+ g7 50 �b5 4a5 51�b4 d 52�b3 ad6 53�c4 d3! 4�f4? This is the decisive mistake Now Black can keep he position closed, preventing the threat of pepetual check. Later he can re deploy hs rooks for an attack agains Whie's backward fpaw Insead, ite could have tried o open the position a litle with the lne : 44hxg6 hxg6 There woud still be pleny of gh le but a draw would be he most likely result
4 g5! 45�f6 6! •
(diagram Thanks to this possibility, Back s able to cement his kng side pawsucture
Whte is in zugzwang. f hs qeen rereats Black redeploys his roos for an attack agains he f3paw, while if ites ng re treats to the second rank, Black is able to avoid hs rook beng at tacked with check and he wins a tempo for the transfer of his other rook o the f6square.
46
5 a3 55�c5
46xh6 8a6 + atempt to play actively
Aer SS.f4
Black
conti ues
wth SS . Ed2+ 56.e Eh2 7.
Compete Games
d4+ g8 8g a+ 9a h+ , wg the quee
55 ... a2+
56.g3
6
hte's 3pawn alls ad the rest s smple 57.Wb4 aa6 58.g2
f4 59.Wb2+ af6 60JWe5 x 61.Wa1 62Wc3 1+ 63.g3 2+ 64x x+ 65.x f6 Whte resged 20
Grcuk - vancuk Lares 2009
l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.xe5 d6 4. xe4 5 .d4 d5 6 . d3 c6 7.0-0 ie7 8.c4 b4 9. e2 0-0 10.c3 ll.a3 xc3 12.bxc3 c6 13.e1 es 14.cxd5 Wxd5 15 f4 ac8 16. 3 6 17.g4 ig6 •
hte has a pawncetre, but Black's prospects are better thaks to hs powerl pressure agast t
27d3 d6 Ths rook s gog to the g6 square, rom where t wll eert pressure alog the gle ad protect Blacks kg He caot acheve much wth the cocrete varato 27 g6 28b3 a 29 g 6 30 e3 t would be more promsg or Black to opt or 27 a!?, advacg hs passed paw ad bolsteg the bshop o b4 l ths mght be very usel the eve tual sharp struggle
28.c5 Aer 28 4 g6 29hxg7 d6 30d6 cd6, the materal s equal, but Black retas the ta tve
28..g6 29.if4
18. id6 19.xe8+ xe8 0 .c4 �4 21. e3 ds 22 .ig2 �e7 23.g5 ic5 24.a2 i5 5.d2 a3 266 ib4 29 ...�6 t would be more precse to cotue wth the mmedate 29 gxh6 30 g3 a sce Black's quee would ot be orced to go ro e7 to 6 as happeed the game Aer 3h2 b6 32cb6 (32 d? e+) 32 cxb6 33
Compete Games
b3 Whte stll presees soe copensaton for the exchange but only enough or equalty at best
3 0 .g3 6 31.@2 a5 32.�a4 Whte wants to put hs queen on b5 or advance d4d5 Instead 32b3 was worth consderng with the rather un pleasant threat of b3d5 ; the poston would then have reaned unclear
21
ajan
Gefand
Monaco (blndfold) 2011
l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.xe5 d6 4. xe4 5.c3 xc3 6. c3 e7 7 . e3 0 - 0 8.�d2 d7 9. 0 - 0 - 0 e5 0 .4 c6 1. c4 e6 2. g5 13.£ f6 14. 3 e6 5.b3 a6 6.f4 i
32 .. . . Aer 32 f5 Whte contnues wth 33b5 wth soewhat better chances hus Black's exchangng operaton s copletely justed
33 . .
7.� Here Whte should have preferred 17d3 b5 18xe5 re ducng the attackng potental of hs opponent's peces Aer 18 e5 or 18 dxe5 Black would retan the ntatve bu Whte would have consderable chances o equalng
17.. .b5 8.c5 �c7 33 .. .xg3! 34.g3 xd4 35 . g2 c6 36.�d xc5 37. �g+ @ Aer 37 @h7 Whte can play 38h4= deprving hs opponent of the g5square aer whch Black cannot avod perpetual check
38.�c8+ @g7 39.�g4+ @ 40.�c8+ @g7 4.�g4+ Draw
It was also very good for Black to play the edate 18 a5!? when hs threat of a5a4 would be very serous whle Whte would have no chances of eectvely ex plotng the pn along the dle
19.d3 f Whte contnues with the postonal pasacrce 19 g3 dxc5 20 h3 wth the dea f4 e6 then Black responds th 20 c4 21e6 aS preserving hs extra paw and the ntatve
Compete Game
19 a5 2 0 .cxd6 •
It is no improvement for Whte to opt for 20.xe5 dxeS Black's initiative is dangerous and he can comine the threat of a5a4 th the advance of his f and e pas.
2 0 ...d6 21.ib6 �b8 22. ic5 White is trying to ease his de fence y exchanging peces.
22 .. d8 Here t was even stronger for Black to choose the straightfor ward move 22 ...a4 whe te would come under a dangerous attack.
23.xe5 e5 24.x8+ �x8 25.f4 id6 26.id3 a4 27. dl axb3 28.cxb3 c5 29. �xc5 �c7 3 0 .bl ds 31 .�c2 1.c2 d+ 2.xd xf4 .xc6=
3. . .s 32 .g3 Or 2.e2 d4 .g followed y moving the shop out of the pin on the dle.
32 ...�d7
However, White's pawn is rather misplaced on fS, since it re stricts the movements of his own ishop. His only chance of saving the game was 3.e2! g6 4. c2 a7 5.xg6 xa2+ 36.c xd+ 7.xd a+ (The king and pa ending arising aer 37. . .xe2+ 8.xe2 hxg6 9.e cS 40.e4= is a draw. 8.c2 hxg6 9.e4 and having re gained his pawn, White should e ale to save the game.
33 Wd6 •
Black's queen exerts pressure across the whole oard from this square.
34.� id5 Black's ishop has occupied a sold outpost in the centre. Black is ready to continue with h7h6 on the kingside, otaining the safe h7suare for his kng. On the queenside he plans to penetrate wth hs queen to a3, aer which his cpan wll carry out the crushing reak c6c5c4 !
35.�f4 �a3 36.ie4?
33. White locks the h7 diago nal in this way to prevent Black's ishop from occupying it later.
This is a lunder in a very df cult position, most proaly due to the fact that the game was played lindfold. But even aer the natural line : 36.d4 cS 7.2 a 38.c2 hS ! White would e faced with a very dicult defence, ecause Black's king is safely sheltered, while its white counterpart is ex posed.
36 e4+ 37.�xe xdl ••
White resigned.