The Vulture and Associated Opening Systems
________ The ________
VULTURE & Associated Opening Systems Stefan Bucker
The Crowood Press
First published in German in 1986 as Der (Jelt;r. ~Y' Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, W. Keller &'t9\, KOSMOS-Verlag, Stuttgart.
© Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, W. Keller & Co. KOSMOS-Verlag, Stuttgart, 1986 Published in Great Britain in 1989 by The Crowood Press Ramsbury, Marlborough Wiltshire SN8 2HE English transla ti on © The Crowood Press 1989 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publi4:ation Data Bucker, Stefan The Vulture and associated opening systems. L Chess. Openings - Manuals I. Title. II. Geier. Eng/ish 794.1 '22 ISBN 1 852232935 English translation by Otto Hardy
Set by Hope Services (Abingdon) Ltd. Printed in Great Britain by Hillman Printers (Frome) Ltd., Frome, Somerset Bound by Maclehose & Partners, Portsmouth
Contents
Introduction How to use the book In lieu of a preface: my view of queen's pawn openings The hidden theme of the vulture The vulture concept at a glance The Vulture Subvariation I Subvariation 2 Subvariation 3 Subvariation 4 Subvariation 5 A. The Gambit Variation B. The positional treatment by Black I White develops on the kingside II White expands on the queenside III Miscellaneous Subvariation 6 A. 5 Nc3 B. 5 Nd2Nd6 6e4 C. 5 Nd2 Nd6 6 b3 Main variation A /\ I. 7 B x c3 'Reduced' Benoni /\2.7 dxe6 e.p. Symmetrical Variation I The Classical Vulture Knight retreat with 4 Nd2! Nd6! Main variation B B I Standard action on the queen's wing ... b5 B2 Action on the king's wing ... f5
I 3 7 14 17
17 22 26 34 38 40 44 44 47 48 49 50 53 54 55 60 64 69 69 72 77 81
CONTENTS Main variation C
87
3 The 'Hawk' Orthodox Hawk - accepted The open variation
99 101 109
4 The Woozle The classical Woozle A. The Siidlohn variation B. The classical Woozle - main variation The moderated Woozle
120 121 12S 133 137
5 Other Systems After I d4 c5 A. The 'Vulture' treatment of 1 d4 cS 2 dS Nf6 3 BgS!? B. 1 d4 cS 2 dS Nf6 the harmless continuation 3 g3 C. White tries for a transition into the English Opening D. Does 2 e4 force a transition into the Sicilian 'Open'? (The Sicilian Vulture Special) E. 1 d4 cS 2 c3 Vulture deflected by Slav set-up with reverse colours F. 1 d4 cS 2 e3 Vulture deflected by Orthodox set-up G. 1 d4 cS 2 dx cS e6 White relinquishes his central pawn Gl. 3 e4 BxcS 4 Bd3 G2. 3 Nc3!? 'Bishop pair strategy'
143
Postscript The Vulture with colours reversed
143 146 149
IS3 162 164 168 169 171 17S 17S
Preface to the Revised English Edition
Since the appearance of the German edition of this book in 1986. game material on the Vulture has more than doubled. thus necessitating a thorough revision and. at times. reappraisal in order to update all the relevant variations. This has meant having to omit or only mention briefly certain interesting games which do not advance the theoretical argument. May I take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt thanks to all those many players who took the trouble to send me game examples and suggestions for improvements and to mention in particular Otto Hardy. the translator of this volume. who gave unstintingly of his time to produce valuable research on the opening, and 10hn Littlewood. who patiently incorporated the bulk of the updated material into the manuscript. For those readers who would like to send analytical comments to the author. my address is: Bispingallee 7. 0--4418 Nordwalde. I am always keen to learn about your personal experiences with Vulture. Hawk. Woozle & Company. even though (with apologies to Aristophanes!):
It is such a pity That, despite all our endeavours, We who try to reach the VULTURE Cannot find the right way. Stefan Bucker, November 1989
Introduction
HOW TO USE THE BOOK The shortened algebraic notation (1 d4) is used throughout. Diagrams will convey the critical positions at any given, precise stage of a game. In this way a great deal of important information is made partially accessible.
Normal abbreviations and symbols: The following internationally conventional systems are employed:
+ - White is winning - + Black is winning White has a clear advantage Black has a clear advantage + = White is slightly better = + Black is slightly better The position is equal ±
+
These symbols are also used: A good move A weak move ?I A dubious move I? An interesting move ?? A bad mistake It An excellent move ep En passant + Check Drawn game (Equality)
?
INTROD ueTI ON
Results of games not fully quoted are given as:
(=, 66) Drawn in 66 moves (I -0, 155) White eventually won in 155 moves (0-1, 20) (The Vulture is a dangerous weapon) 1M stands for International Master, and GM for International Grandmaster (both titles awarded by FIDE, the International Chess Federation). The term 'lightning games' refers to games where each player has to complete all his moves in five minutes. Although such games are of minimum value for providing 'proof', they are a good way of clarifying the basic potentials of a position. Those intent on learning variations off 'parrot fashion' would like either to dispatch the opening stage as something barren and uninteresting, an obstacle to be cleared before the actual battle, or else to go to the opposite extreme of saturating themselves by learning 'secret variations' off by heart in an attempt to force the issue by an immediate direct assault in the opening. The b~sic ideas given are rather intended to provide an overall view of the essential strategy. Admittedly, an intensive study of individual opening variations is bound to enable a player to gain an increasing strategic insight, but a great deal of unnecessary time is wasted in the process. In the approach to the 'Vulture', there are quite a few advantages worth bearing in mind: (i) The analysis provided pinpoints the main strategic theme. (ii) No other opening will be found with games so much up-todate and practically quoted in their entirety. (iii) In contrast to the conventional 'streamlined' presentations, it is clearly pointed out whenever, alongside the authentic conclusions reached, there is still ample scope for experiment. The author would recommend the following method of assimilating the theory of the 'Vulture ':
(i) Try to study the rudiments in the Introduction. 2
INTRODUCTION
(ii) Test Main Variations. (iii) Try them out in ten-minute games. (iv) Critically compare your own games with the material given in the book.
IN LIEU OF A PREFACE: MY VIEW OF QUEEN'S PAWN OPENINGS It proved a fortunate coincidence that an unusually large number of members of the 'King's Knight' chess club in Nordwalde opened with 1 d4. Only by constantly having to face the rather primitive, stereotyped procedure which most club players crudely adopted in this opening, was 1 eventually persuaded to develop the theme of the 'Vulture' as an unusual and sharp antidote to 1 d4. However, it all started with a Hop. Since all the top players belonging to my club, whose example any beginner would naturally want to follow, preferred to open queen's pawn, 1 decided one day to abandon the 'beginner's move' 1 e4 and turn to closed systems. In doing so, I displayed an extraordinary lack of strategic understanding (I was twelve at the time!). Playing the Queen's Gambit, an opening probably most in keeping with the concepts of classical development, I graced (or rather disgraced!) the arena with examples such as the following:
Bucker-Sander (North Rhine Westphalia Schools Championship, 1972) I d4 e6 2 c4 d5 3 b3 c5 4 Nf3 Nc6 5 Be3 and after 5 ... Nf6 6 Nc3 Bd6 7 dxc5 Be5 8 Nxe5 Nxe5 9 Bd4 1 was duly punished, even with an extra pawn. After a year with queen's pawn openings, I had only a modest record to show for it, with 9 wins and 5 losses, and discarded 1 d4 in favour of 1 c4 where one can still proceed more according to a plan, even after an error. I was galvanized into action by the following 'mini':
Bucker-Friedrich (Junior Cup, 1973) I c4 Nf6 2 Nc3 e5 3g3 d5 4cxd5 Nxd5 5Bg2 Nb6 6Nf3 Nc6 70-0 Be7 8 d3 Be6 9 ReI 0-0 /0 a3 f5 II e4 fxe4 12 dXe4 a6 13 Qc2 RXf3 14 BXf3 Nd4 15 Qd3 Bc4 16 Qe3 Bg50-1 3
INTRODUCTION
Quite apart from the tactical mistakes, I realized that my approach to the game was a complete fiasco and became convinced that those closed positions with a sterotyped, onedimensional set-up were leading me into an inflexible style of play. I was right because, as soon as I reverted to a newly revised 'open-style' repertoire of king's pawn openings, successful results rapidly returned. However, even more important than my personal lack of success with closed systems was probably the persistent competition against seasoned players of the Nordwalde club who confronted me with their queen's pawn openings. I was inevitably compelled to search for a winning plan against these systems and changed from the symmetrical reply 1 . . . d5, which to a certain extent acknowledges the validity of 1 d4, to more active, fighting defences such as the Leningrad Variation of the Dutch Defence, which I finally adopted at the end of this stage in my development. The following game shows how much I revelled in an unbalanced position with attacking chances:
Bomer-Bucker (Junior League, 1976) 1 d4 c6 2c4 f5 3 Nc3 Nf6 4Nf3 g6 5 Bg5?! Bg7 6g30-O 7 Bg2 d6 (7 . . . Qb6!) 80-0 Nh5 9 Qd2 Qe8 10 Bh6? (10 d5+= Nd7) 10 . .. e5 11 Bxg7 Kxg7 12 e4 (12 h3) 12 ... f4 13 d5? (13 c5) 13 .. . c5 14a3 h6 15b4 Na6 16 Rab1 g5 J7Ne1 Qe7 (17 ... g4) 18 Qd1 g4 19 gXf4 eXf4 20 f3 g3 21 h3 Qh4 22 Qd2 Bxh3 (22 . . . cXb4) 23 Bxh3 (23 b5 Nc7 24 b6) 23 . . . Qxh3 24Nd3 cxb4 25 axb4 Kh8! 26 Rb2? (26 Qg2) 26 . . . g2 27 Re1 Qh1+ 28 Kf2 Qh4+ 29 Ke2 (if 29 Kg1 Rg8 30 Nf2 Ng3)
4
INTR OD UCTION
29 ... gl=N+! 30 Rxgl Qh2+ 31 Kfl Ng3+ 32 Rxg3 fxg3 33 Qe3 (33 Qxh2 Rxf3+) 33 ... Qhl+ 34 Ke2 g2 35 RbI Rxf3 36 Qxf3 gl=N+ 37 Rxgl Qxgl 38 Qf6+ Qg7 39 Qxd6 Rf8 (39 ... Qxc3 40 Ne5=) 40 Qe5 Rf6 41 b5 (41 Ke3 Kh7 and 42 ... Nxb4) 41 ... Nb4?! 42 Qe8+ Rf8 43Qe5 Rf6 44 Qe8+ Kh7 45 Nxb4 Qg2+ 46 Kd3 Rf3+ 47 Kd4 Qg7+ (better is 47 ... Qgl + 48 Ke5 Qg7+ 49 Kd6 Rf6+ winning) 48 Kc5 b6+ 49 Kc6 Rxc3 50 Qd7 (50 Kd6 Rf3 wins) 50 . .. RXc4+ winning. Instead of playing 41 ... Nb4?! I could have achieved a neater finish with 41 ... Nc5 42 Qe8+ Kh743 N xc5 Qg2+ 44 Kd3 Rf3+ 45 Kd4 Qg7+ 46 Qe5 Qgl mate, giving us the following position:
Both white knights are obligingly instrumental in producing the mating net, which is why I nickname this game the 'Six-knightsevergreen' . I began to take an increasing dislike to queen's pawn openings, coming at times frighteningly close to the views of Gutmeyer, considered something of an eccentric in his time, who wrote in 1921: 'Anyone who starts the game with such a stupid, insipid move and in one go wipes out all the profound dimensions which a king's pawn opening provides in abundance, mentally degrades himself and proves that he has lost any finer instincts for spotting strong moves. Such an offender can never attain the dizzy heights of a top chess-player and is doomed to decadence.' (Puzzles and Riches of Chess Openings, Leipzig, 1921). 5
INTRODUCTION
With such an attitude, I could not of course afford to adhere to the merely 'interesting' reply I . . . f5 much longer and in 1977 I decided to look for the definitive refutation of the unpopular initial move 1 d4. My choice was narrowed down to the Benoni defence (1 ... c5! to be precise), for I am specially partial to central pawn majorities which come about in the Sicilian Defence after 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 or equally, by transposition, after 1 d4 c5 2 e4 cxd4 3 Nf3 (see 'Other Systems' at the end of the book). With 2 d5 virtually forced, further ideas emerged, the main theme being the vulnerability of White's d5 pawn. This first gave us the 'Hawk', then the 'Woozle' and finally the anti-queen's pawn key system called the 'Vulture', after some early psychological hang-ups. In October 1978, I began to add the symbol '?!' after I d4, thereby pointing to the wrongheadedness of such an opening move but at the same time revealing a subjective bias on my part against queen's pawn openings in general. Even this attitude was modified when, some three months after the earliest games with the 'Hawk' and 'Vulture' had taken place, I actually used 1 d4 myself as a surprise weapon to outplay an opponent who favoured the Leningrad Variation of the Dutch Defence with which I was quite familiar. The game went:
Bucker-Wagner (Regional Championship, 1979).1 d4 g6 (I ... f5!?) 2h4Bg7 3Nc3d6 4e4f5? 5exf5 BXf5 6 Bg5+= Nf6 7 Qd2 c6 80-0-0 Nbd7 9 Nge2 Nb6?! 10 Nf4 Qd7 11 h5 0-0-0 12 h6 (White already has the advantage) 12 ... Bf8 13 f3 Be6 14b3Re8?! 15Kb1 Bj7? 16g3!Kb8 J7Bh3Qd8 18Rhe1+-
6
INTRODUCTION
18 ... Nbd5 19 Ncxd5 Nxd5 20 c4 (threatening 21 d5) 20 . .. NXf4 21 QXf4 Bg8 22 Rd2 Bxc4 (going bananas!) 23 bxc4 Qb6+ 24 Rb2 1-0 Today, I no longer regard the structural complex of related variations 'Vulture/Hawk/Woozle' as a refutation but merely as the main variations against 1 d4, since there is no other real challenge to the classical closed formations of this opening which is focused so directly on the drawbacks of I d4 and presents from the very start a fundamental counter-structure. As can be seen from the wealth of illustrative material produced since 1980, an ever-increasing number of chess enthusiasts are beginning to share the same view. The rapid spread of the 'Vulture' itself has been particularly surprising, but the support systems will presumably take longer to be established, since the move 3 c4 after I d4 c5 2 d5 Nf6 occurs far more frequently than any of the alternatives.
THE HIDDEN THEME OF THE VULTURE The moves 1 d4 c5 2 d5 Nf6 can be regarded as a que en's pawn counterpart to Alekhine's Defence (1 e4 Nf6) , since both systems provoke the further advance of a central pawn with the aim of unbalancing the position and gaining some advantage from tying down the opposition to defence. In our later analysis we shall justify the fact that, if White dispenses with 2 d5 after 1 d4 c5, he can hardly hope for any advantage. However, is the pawn on d5 as much a target as the pawn on e5 in Alekhine's Defence? After 3 Nc3 or 3 Nf3, this seems to a certain extent credible (see later analysis of the 'Woozle' and 'Hawk'), but the consolidating move 3 c4, which firmly fixes a pawn wedge in Black's territory, engenders optical illusions that the white position is thereby safeguarded or that White's space advantage is now the key feature of the game. These optical illusions go a long way to explaining why no master has dared to cast doubt on the move 3 c4 or play 3 ... Ne4 as part of a logical undermining plan. Still, it cannot be ruled out that, under the auspices of isolated experimentation, certain pioneering games involving the 3 ... Ne4 idea might
7
INTRODUCTION
have occurred in the past, for the basic position of the Benoni with 3 c4 is often seen in modern tournament practice. At the same time, the black attacking strategy initiated by 3 ... Ne4 appears too individualistic and distinct in character to have been anticipated by chance experiments. Such a theory is supported by the correspondence game Bujl-Pereyra (South American Championship) which was probably played without knowledge of any analysis. Although Black interpreted the move 3 ... Ne4 in an entirely different way, his strategic insight enabled him to win by methods which are no less impressive (see later). The main object of the knight's move to e4 is to exploit the a5--el diagonal weakened by the advance of the c and d pawns, whilst preventing the ideal development of the knight on c3. A further important idea is to fianchetto the black-squared bishop in order to occupy the vital al-h8 diagonal similarly weakened and now cleared of knights. After a subsequent . . . b5 (the Volga-Benko concept), opening the b file there will be unpleasant pressure on b2. White's best reply is probably (l d4 c5 2 d5 Nf6 3 c4 Ne4) 4 Qc2! Qa5+ 5 Nd2! Nd6 6 b3!leading to unusual positions after 6 ... f5 7 Bb2 e6 or 6 ... g6 7 Bb2 Rg8 and 8 ... Bg7 or 6 ... e5?! 7 Bb2 f6 8 e3!, all of which we shall consider in Main Variation C. The given order of moves requires mature positional understanding on White's part. In practice, the simpler 6 e4 occurs much more frequently, but after Black has occupied the long diagonal by 6 ... g6 and 7 ... Bg7, the ponderous structure of White's formation has its drawbacks. A similar (or perhaps even worse) pawn structure arises after 4 f3 (instead of 4 Oc2) Oa5+ 5 Nd2 Nd6 6 e4, when Black can hit the white pawn chain effectively with ... g6, ... Bg7, ... b5 and po:;sibly even ... f5 in certain cases. But why waste words? The best way of illustrating the risks incurred by White after 6 e4 is to examine the following game whilst trying to picture the comments that Dr Tarrasch might have made if he were still with us:
P. Becker-Stefan Bucker (Lightning Team Championship, 1978) I d4 cS
8
INTROD UCTION
'A move as risky as it is crafty. Black intends to lead his opponent off the beaten track of routine standard theoretical knowledge into unknown and unclear territory with freedom for both players to use their analytical initiative. The move is considered bad. since the black game is cramped after White's reply.' (Tarrasch. The Modern Game of Chess. page 280.) 'Cr amped positions are the basis of lost positions'. (Page 3.) As an onlooker, Gutmayer might have added his opinion: 'Black can also risk 1 ... c5. A crazy move but it works.' 'You might ask, what doesn't work against 1 d4? It shows up the tedious weariness and lifeless dreariness of this uninspired opening move by White. Black can do anything against it he wants and have a good laugh in the process.' (Puzzles and Riches of Chess Openings. page 176.)
2 d5 Nf6 3 c4 Ne4 ... ? 'Such moves only occur when there are no ordinary good moves.' (Tarrasch, The Modern Game of Chess, page 71.)
4Nd2 'Black must not allow his knight to be exchanged. so White gains a second tempo.' (The Modern Game of Chess, page 137.) 'It is always better to have the advantage of an extra tempo than an extra pawn.' (300 Games of Chess. page 534.)
4 . . . Qa5 5 f3 Nd6 The late Dr Tarrasch quips: 'In my experience a black knight on d6 (or white knight on d3) is almost invariably badly placed.'
6e4 The late Dr. Tarrasch folds his arms and leans back a little: 'One glance at the position shows that White is vastly superior.'
6 ... g6! 9
INTRODUCTION
According to Tarrasch, 'No more than two of the first six moves by Black have helped his development. A typical example of how not to play the opening.' He then reluctantly would have to concede: 'Black's last move is quite good, since the bishop on g7 finds an open diagonal.'
7Bd3 It is of vital importance for White to hold back the advance of his e pawn (for example, 7 eS? NfS, keeping the squares d4 and e3 under observation) Black's previous move ... g6 safeguards an escape square for the black knight on fS, even with the white queen posted on c2 (in variations with 4 Qc2).
7 . . . Bg7 8 Ne2 bS Dr. Tarrasch appears distinctly puzzled, but continues his routine commentary: 'Black gradually gains the upper hand, as happens so often, if White doesn't know how to exploit an advantageous position. Besides, if White had played S Qc2 (instead of S fJ) 9 c x bS would have left the black pawn on cS hanging.'
9 eX bS N x bS lOB x bS 10 ... Nd4 had to be prevented. 10 ... QxbS II Nc3?!
10
INTRODUCTION
Perhaps 11 a4 or 110-0 might have been better. Dr. Tarrasch shrugs his shoulders. He has obviously lost all interest in White's position.
11 ... Qd3 12 Qe2 Ba6 13 QXd3 Bxd3 14 Nb3 Na6 15 Kd2 c4 16 Na5 Nc5 would keep Black's advantage within bounds - Dr. Tarrasch hardly even bothers to listen to this comment!
16 a3? O-O?! Better 16 ... Bh6+ 17 Kdl Bxcl 18 Nxcl Nc5+
17 f4? Rab8 18 Na5 Bxc3+ 19 bxc3 Rb5-+ Black wins a piece. The late Dr. Tarrasch in conclusion: The mole can't understand that the eagle wishes to fly.' Begging the doctor's pardon, this is all about a vulture which nobody will confuse with a mole! Obviously he was too much subjected to the chess prejudices of his day and age and chained to his one-dimensional Queen's Gambit. His teutonic pioneering spirit offended, he conveniently ignores the question as to where the actual turning point of the game occurred. What a pity! - or maybe one has to conclude that there is no such turning point! At any rate two typical prejudices have been revealed. After the move 4 Qc2 Qa5 + 5 Nd2 Nd6 the classically orientated player, examining the position superifically, may be prompted to believe: a) in the optical illusion of space advantage. The principle that a 'constricted position' leads to a lost game seems to assume paramount importance in Dr. Tarrasch's games commentaries! In general such a position might reduce Black's options or increase White's manoeuvring chances - or it might result in neither one nor the other. A limited manoeuvring space in Black's position may occur in a standard Benoni. The second 11
INTRODUCTION
theme (White's additional manoeuvring chances) is illustrated by the following practical example:
Bucker-Haselhorst White can exert more pressure from the 4th rank than Black from occupying the open e-file. After IS Ra4!? (1S Bb3!? is also good) White continues with Ob3 and Rb4. In the actual game the white rook, operating from c4, temporarily tied down the opposition, finally heading for g4 and demolishing the black king's wing. (1-0, 60-after errors.) In the Vulture, on the other hand, the third theme will amost invariably occur. (i.e. the space advantage is of no consequence at all). The white pawn skeleton on a2 - b3 - c4 - dS - e4 - f3 is much too static to endanger the army of black pieces surrounding the square dS; b) that the superficial count of tempo gains offers White a lead in development. Looking at the sub-variation 40c2 OaS+ S Nd2 Nd6 6 b3 fS 7 Bb2 e6 8 f3 Od8 9 e4 through the eyes of an adherent of the 'classical' school, one might presumably be tempted to count two clear additional tempo gains (if indeed not four), for White and disapprove of the structure of Black's queenside. One may conclude that Black's best chance is 9 ... fXe4 10 fXe4 Nfl 11 Ngf3 d6 12 Be2 eS 13 0-0-0 with four extra tempi for White. A typical statement of the kind which nowadays of course evokes ridicule. The following game is a modern example of constructive piece regrouping from the back rank - in closed positions; this is to be regarded as the rule rather than the exception. 12
INTRODUCTION
Kurajica-Nikolac (Jugoslavia. 1978. Commentary based on Kurajica, Chess Informant). 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e5 b6 5 Qg4 Bf8 5 . . . g6, maintaining an extra tempo, is weaker. 6 a4 More important for White than rapid development is to prepare the variation 6 ... Ba6 7 Nb5 and if 7 . . . c6? 8 Nd6+ winning 6 . . . Nc6 7 h4 Qd7 8 h5 challenging Black to prove that the white minor pieces are not sufficiently well developed 8 ... f5 9 Qdl Bb7 10 Nbl!? The purpose of this is to activate the queen's wing. 10 Nce2 only impedes the development of the other pieces 10 . .. Nh6 Jl c3 Na5 12 b4 Nc4
Though confined to the back rank, White's pieces operate just as efficiently as Black's. 13 Bxh6 gxh6 14 g4 Qf7 if 14 ... fxg4 15 Oxg4 0-0-0 16 Bh3 Re8 17 Ne2± 15 gXf5 QXf5 16 Bd3 Qf4! 17 Nh3 Qf7 18 Qe2 c5 counter-attacking 19 bXc5 bXc5 200-0 cxd4 21 cxd4 Bb4!= (I-O, 39.) One shouldn't develop pieces without a proper appreciation of the value of posting them on their best possible squares. [Coming back to the Vulture set-up, this gives rise to a debate about the 'buried' bishop on c8 and its structural functions, reinforcing the potential value of Black's knight on d6.] How fortunate that White can hardly enforce the exchange of this bishop! You might argue that Black is prepared to assume a temporary defensive role so as to win the ending (for in the long 13
INTRODUCTION
run a white pawn on d5 may be too far advanced) and for the time being he is satisfied with the harmonious co-ordination of his forces in lieu of rapid and indiscriminate piece development. Compare this with 1 e4 e5 2 f4 Qf6, considered a near refutation of the King's Gambit, where the variation 3 Nf3 Q x f4 4 Nc3 d6 5 Bc4 f6 60-0 Qg4 is highly relevant. Already, Black is ahead in development, albeit with his KB and KN still on their original squares! We thus have a new system of calculating tempi with a distinct advantage over the classical approach. The classicist may strive to develop four pieces in the first six moves, whereas we feel indifferent to this, since by our method of counting we may acquire five or even seven tempo gains. The remark that one side is 'less developed than at the start' is often quite appropriate! Joking apart, such pseudogeneralisations remind one of the oft-quoted, nonsensical statement that 'the Ruy Lopez is superior to the Vienna Game because each opening move presents a direct threat. .. '
THE VULTURE CONCEPT AT A GLANCE 1 d4 cS 2 dS Nf6 3 c4 In order to establish a pawn on d5 with space advantage, since 3 NO c4!? (Hawk) or 3 Nc3 Qa5!? (Woozle) are risky for White.
3 ... Ne4! Challenging the a5-el diagonal and forestalling 4 Nc3, White's natural continuation.
4Qc2 The Vulture knight prevents normal, harmonious development.
4 ... QaS+! An intermediate check with nuisance value, the queen immediately occupying the aforementioned diagonal.
SNd2 14
INTRODUCTION
After S Nc3 N x c3 6 Bd2 eS 7 B xc3, the white OB is kept under control, as in the Classical Benoni. If instead S Bd2? N x d2 followed by 6 ... g6, and White has abandoned the long diagonal. 5 ••. Nd6!
The blockading knight reaches out in all directions, ranging from bS to fS. After 6 e4 g6! the g pawn acts as a necessary support for the knigh t, should White ever play eS. Phase One is over, with Black having seized an early initiative. White's kilight on d2 is pinned by the queen which controls the 0 wing from as, allowing Black to develop in comfort and exploit the weakness at dS, unless White decides to break this initiative with b4 sacrificing a pawn. The ensuing exchanges would then produce a sharp game with mutual chances. 6e4
The alternative 6 b3 is less commonly seen, although probably the best move here. As we have already stated, Black can then try to isolate the dS pawn by 6 . . . fS or play to exchange White's 'good' bishop by 6 ... g6 7 Bb2 Rg8 followed by 8 ... Bg7. See Main Variation C. 6 ... g6
The dS pawn is to be undermined. The fianchetto of Black's KB makes the move b3 difficult to play, thus turning White's c4 pawn into the base of his pawn chain which will be attacked by moves such as ... bS (or occasionally ... fS) as in the VolgaBenko Gambit. See Main Variation B. As a result of this pressure, White will be forced to take refuge in extensive safety measures, giving us Phase Two, a state of paralysis with three options open to White: (i) He can be induced into playing eS with a massive but overexposed pawn centre. (ii) He may play a3, RbI, b4 with a pseudo-active front, or IS
INTRODU eTlON
even b4 at once, when Black would retreat his queen to c7. (iii) He may try to safeguard his pawn chain by setting up a dangerously rigid formation with moves such as f3, g4, a4. Finally, Phase Three would involve the demolition of White's position, as Black's active, mobile and better posted pieces lay siege to the white pawn chain, aiming at a central preponderance and the creation of further weaknesses.
16
1 The Vulture 1 d4 c5 2 d5 Nf6 3 c4 Ne4!
SUBVARIATION 1 4Qa4 An attempt to prevent Black's plan of ... Qa5+ and leave the black knight on e4 stranded as it were. However, in doing so, White will suffer from a self-imposed handicap. With his queen out of play on a4, this will be almost as serious as in the Main Variations, where his queenside development is impeded. To drive away the black knight from e4, White will have to use up at least one more tempo (fJ or g3 ~ Bg2 or e3 ~ Bd3). In the mean time Black obtains a comfortable game by 'conventional' methods. 4 ... g6! (i) 4 ... e6? 5 e3+ = (5 g3 is a possible alternative, but not 5 f3?? Qh4+) 5 ... g6 (if here 5 ... exd5? 6 cxd5 Nf6 7 Nc3 followed by 8 e4 ± or 5 ... a6 6 Bd3 Nd6 7 e4 f5) 6 Bd3 exd5 7 cxd5 Nd6 8 e4 Bg7 (if 8 Bd2 Qg5!; instead of the text, Black could also try 8 ... c4!?) 9 Nc3 (planning Bf4) 9 ... c4?! 10 Bxc4 Nxc4 (if 10 ... Bxc3+ 11 bxc3 N x e4 12 Ne2 with compensation, but not 12 Ba3? Qf6 13 NfJ Qxc3+ 14 Ke2 Qxal-+) 11 Qxc4 b6 (see diagram (11 ... 0-0 12 NbS a6 13 Nd6 is no better) 12 NbS Na6 13 Nd6+ Ke7 14 Bg5+ f6 15 Bf4 and White wins. (ii) 4 ... e5 5 e3 Be7 (if 5 ... Qf6?+= if 5 ... a6 6 Bd3 b5? 7cxb5 Nf6 8Nc3 Bb7 9Qb3± but not ge4? axb5 10 Qxb5 Ba6 11 Qa4 Nc6!? unclear) 6 Bd3 Nf6 7 Nc3 0-0 8 e4?! (perhaps better 8 Qc2 ~ f4) 8 ... d6= 17
position after 11 ... b6
You might compare this with positions in the Classical Benoni (see Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings A56'11 + 12), where the white queen is better placed on its original square. (iii) 4 ... a6 5 f3 Nd6 6 e4 e6 7 Nc3 b5!? 8 cxb5 Bb7 9 bxa6 Nxa6, followed by ... Be7 ... 0-0 ... f5, and Black has adequate compensation for the pawn he has sacrificed. This original gambit resembles a Benko or Blumenfeld . Gambit (at least as far as the pawn structure is concerned).
5f3!
5 8f4? Qb6 6Qc2 Bg7 7Nc3 Qb4! (but not 7 ... Qxb2 on account of 8Qxb2 BXc3+ 9Qxc3 NXc3 lOBe5+-, a variation discovered by P. OTuathail, Dublin) 8 ReI (8 Bd2 Nxd2 9Qxd2 Qxc4) 8 ... BXc3+! (a typical mistake would 18
THE VULTURE
be 8 ... NXc3? 9bXc3 Qxc4? lOe4+-) 9bxc3 Qxc4± 5 g3 Bg7 (or S ... Nd~ ... NfS) 6 Bg2 Nd6 7 e4 fS!? (7 Nc3 NfS) 8 Nc3 0-0 and Black has a fine game (if here 8 exfS N xfS 9 Nf3 0-0 with the square ... d4 as an outpost) 5 Qa3 maintains some threats (for example, f3 and the pawn capture on cS), on the other·hand it leads to some tricky play with a number of possible traps. If 5 ... Bg7 6f3 Nd6 7 e4 fS 8 Qxc5 fXe4 I) Qe3 NfS 10 Qxe4 QaS+ 11 Kdl Na6 unclear, or here 8 Bd3? bS 9cxbS c4 lOBc2 NxbS 11 Qb4 Nd4 12 Qxc4 Ba6 13 Qc3 0-0=+= 14 Qd2 Nxc2+ IS Qxc2 fXe4 16 Qxe4 QaS+ 17 Nd2 RfS, regaining the pawn. If 5 ... e6 6 Nc3 Nf6 7 BgS h6 8 Bh4 d6 9 dXe6 Bxe6=, or (S ... e6) 6Nd2 exdS 7cxdS Qe7 8Qd3 fS 9g4!? Nxd2 IOBxd2 fxg4 I1Bc3Bg7 12Bxg7Qxg7 13Qe4+Qe7 14Qxg40-0 IS 0-0-0 d6 unclear). Finally if 5 ... d6 6 g3 (alternatively 6 Nc3 Nf6; or 6 b3 Bg7 7 Bb2 Nf6) Bg7 7 Bg2 Nf6 8 Nh3 0-0 9Nf4 a6=+
If the white queen moves, Black can continue with ... bS, e.g. 10 Qd3 bS 11 cxbS axbS 12 QxbS Ba6 would be a favourable line in the Benko for Black. If White refrains from the sequence Nh3-f4, Black has ... e6, exchanging pawns on dS. 5 Nd2 Nf6 6 e4 Bg7 7 f4 0-0 8 eS Ne8 9 Ngf3 d6 10 Bd3 e6 (10 ... Nd7! is unclear) 110-0 exdS 12 cxdS dXeS 13 fXeS QxdS? 14 Bc4 Qd8 IS NgS! QxgS (IS ... Bd7! Otto Hardy) 16 Rxf7 QxeS 17 Re7+ Kh8 18 RXeS BXeS 19Nf3 Bg7 20 Be3 Bd7 21 Qb3 b6 22 Rdl 1-0 v.d. Heyden-Moller (Den Bosch, 1988). Otto Hardy suggests as improvements S ... Nd6 or, even simpler, S ... Nxd2 6Bxd2 Bg7. II)
TilE VULTURE
!\ ... Nd6 6 Bd2?! An innovation, tried out in the game Krumbohmer-Bucker (Team Cup Competition, 1982). A more logical continuation would be 6 e4 Bg7 7 Qc2 f5 (or 7 Nc3 Bxc3+!? 8 bxc3 e5. Instead of7 ... f5, 7 ... b5 or 7 ... a6 also come into consideration with a Benko type of Vulture. One of the odd characteristics of this set-up is a black knight occupying the square d4 by . . . Na6-c7-b5-d4. In the game quoted here, the move f3 presents an obstacle for White; 8 Nc3 fxe4 9 fxe4 e5 10 Nf3 Nf7 with long-winded manoeuvring on the kingside. Black might plan to continue with ... d6, . . . h6 ... Nd7_ ... Nf6 and White h3-g4!? The chances would appear even. After 5 ... Nd6 if 6 Nc3 Nf5, whereas 6 Bf4 is refuted by 6 ... Qb6! 7 Be5 f6 (or 7 Qc2 Nxc4 8 Qxc4 Qxb2 9 Qc3 Bg7-+) 8 Bc3 Nf5 when Black has a clear advantage. 6 ... Bg7 7 Be3 White overestimates the value of the opposing fianchettoed bishop, aiming to exchange it. The drawbacks of this will soon become apparent.
7 ... eS 8 dxe6 e.p. Without White's last move, his bishop on c3 would be extremely badly placed (see Main Variation A), with the black knight on d6 in the most perfect possible position.
8 ... Bxe3+ During the game the author spent a few minutes considering the unnecessarily risky 8 ... 0-0 9 exf7+ Rxf7 9 Nxe3 fxe6=+ 10 O-O-O? White misjudges the situation. An attack against the black K position is not feasible and the black knight will present serious threats via f5. White should have played 10 e4 Nc6
20
THE VULTURE
11 0-0-0 with only a slight advantage to Black. But not 10 e3? NfS llKf2Qh4+ 12g3Nxg3 13hxg3Qxhl 14Nh3?0-0-+. Or here llNe4 NXe3 12NxcS Qh4+ 13g3 Qd4 14Nxe6 Qxb2-+. 10 ... Nf5 11 Rd3 Nc6 12f4
To prevent the occupation of e3 after 12 ... NeS or 12 ... Nb4. 12 ... Qh4!
13Nh3
The only move, since 13 g3 fails to 13 . . . N x g3! 13 . . . 0-0 14 83 86
It only took the author 18 minutes on the clock to create this ideal position. Note the contrast between Black's 'buried' bishop on c8 which acts in a supporting role and White's 'dead' bishop on fl which White has simply had no time to develop! 15 g3 Qe7 16 Ng5 Rb8 17 8g2 Ne5!- +
Ruthlessly exposing the lack of cohesion in White's game. It is all over. There followed: 18 fXeS QxgS+ 19 Kbl Nd4 20Qdl Q x eS 21 Ne4 b6 22 e3 NfS 23 Rfl Bb7 24 Qg4 Bc6 2S Qf4 Qg7 26 Qg4 bS 27 Qe2? (time-trouble) bXc4 28 Rc3 and 21
THE VULTURE
White resigned in view of 28 . . . BXe4+ 29 BXe4 Qxc3 winning a whole rook.
SUBVARIATION 2 4e3 QaS+ 4 ... g6? S Bd3 QaS+ (S Nd2 QaS) 6 Kfl+= SNd2
S Bd2 is a harmless move that nevertheless occurs regularly in lightning games S ... Nxd2 6Qxd2 (6Nxd2? g6=+) Qxd2+ 7Kxd2eS= (7Nxd2?e6 8e4exdS=+ Against the Benoni a white N should occupy the square c3 whenever possible) 8 Nc3 d6.
Going back to 7 Kx d2, instead of 7 ... eS, Black could also try 7 ... g68 Nc3 d6 9 Bd3 Bg7 10 f4 Na6 11 h3 Nc7 12 Nf3 Bd7 22
THE VULTURE
13 e4 e6 with equality. With one minor piece exchanged and without queens on the board. White's space advantage is purely academic. Later Black may be able to make good use of his two bishops in an open position. ' 5 Ke2?! (too artificial) bS 6 cxbS?! QxbS+ 7 Kf3 NgS+ 8 Kf4? Qb6- + 9 KxgS Qf6+ 10 Kg4 d6+ 11 Kg3 QgS+ 12 Kf3 Qg4 mate
5 ... f5 Note the difference between this line, and a variation with the white queen on c2, where if. , . fS, White would have the edge after f3-,>e4. The text move guards the black knight, which is threatened. (cp. Main Theme of Subvariation 4). Other moves are worse. a) 5 .. . g6?6b4cxb4 7Nxe4Bg7 8Rbl Qxa2 9Rxb4+or again S ... g6 6 b4 QX b4 7 RbI QaS 8 RbS Qc3 9 Bb2 Qxd2+ lOQxd2 Nxd2 11 Bxh8 Nxfl 12Bc3+- (Slightly better S , .. g6 6 b4 Qc7 7 Bb2 Nf6±) b) 5 .. ,d6?? 6b4 Qxb4 7Rbl+c) 5 ... e5? 6 b4 Qxb4 7 RbI Qc3 8 Rb3 QaS 9 RbS Qc3 1ONe2 Qd3 11 Ng3+- (Analysis by Stertenbrink) d) 5 , .. e6 6b4 Qxb4 (6 .. , Qc7 7Nxe4 QeS 8Bb2 unclear) 7 RbI. The author used to consider this a drawing variation, but there is now some doubt about it. (i) 7 ... QaS 8 RbS Qc3 9 Rb3 (if 9 Ne2 QeS 10 Bb2 QfS 11 Nxe4 Qxe4 12 Nf4 QfS 13 Bd3 QgS=+) 9 ... QaS (9 ... QeS 10 f4 QfS 11 Bd3+-) 10 RbS (or 10 Ra3) Qc3 11 Ne2!? (indeed a possibility!) QeS 12 f4 QfS 13 NXe4 Qxe4 14 Nc3 Qg6 IS Bd3 Qxg2 (or IS .. , Qf6) 16 Be4 Qh3 17 dxe6 fxe6 18 Rxb7 Nc6 unclear, (ii) 7 , .. Qc3 8 Ne2 (8 Rb3 is also good) QeS 9 f4 QfS (9 NXe4 Qxe4 1ONf4 Qxbl) IONxe4 (if lOg4 Qg6 fS) 10 .. , Qxe411 Nc3 Qg6 12 Bd3 Qxg2 (or, .. Qf6) 13 Be4 Qh3 14 NbS with compensation (e.g. 14 .. ,Na6 IS d6) ----)0
•••
After S ... e6 a quieter alternative for White is 6 Bd3 23
THE VULTURE
(i) 6 ... exdS?! 7 cxdS Nf6 8 e4 (or Ob3) Na6 (8 ... bS? geS) 9Nf3 (or 9Ne2 ~ Nc3+=) g6 (9 . . . Nb4 IOBbl Oa611Nb3c4 12Nbd4Nd3+ 13Bxd3cxd3 140-0BcS IS Nb3 and 16 BgS) 10 0-0 d6 (10 . . . Bg7 II Nc4 Oc7 12 d6 unclear) II Re I Bg7 12 Nc4 Od8 13 eS d x eS 14 RXeS+± (ii) 6 . . . Nd6 7 e4 g6 (7 . . . bS?! 8 eS+ =) 8 eS? (Better 8 Nf3+=) NfS 9 BxfS gxfS (9 d6 Nc6) 10 f4 ~ ~~
~ \WJ r~
~~/
~~~ ,~~ , ifftf;
;~'§'~
rm ,.~~z
~i#?~ f~,
"~,~,,·,'l.,~."~K
~ ~ mmmm~, mm~m m ~,~ ~ *,M1
A ~
rQ~ a £'..~
;.tliJ: i.~
,~,~,~,.
•
, ••••• z
~ •~ • .i..E ,.~~,
.. ,..
10 ... bS (10 ... d6=) 11 d6?! bXc4 12 Ne2 Bb7 130-0 Rg8 14 g3 ObS=+= Playing a similar, though not identical variation in a lightning game, the author was facing an opponent who managed to impose an almost complete stranglehold with a white pawn chain on f4 - eS - d6 - c7, until his pawn on f4 was captured! e) 5 ... Nd66b3(butnot6Bd3bS 70e2bxc4 8Bxc4Nxc4 9 Oxc4 Ba6 with an excellent position for Black) 6 ... NfS (if 6 . . . fS 7g4 fxg4 8Bg2 Nf7 90xg4 Oc3 10 RbI NeS II Oe2 Nd3+ 12 Kdl Nxcl 13 RXcl Ob2 14 Ne4 and White has the edge) 7 Ngf3 eS!? (7 Bb2 d6 8 e4 Nd4 9 B xd4 cxd4 II Ne2 g6 unclear - or 7 Bd3?? Oc3) 8 e4 (8 N XeS Oc3) 8 ... Nd4 (8 . . . Nh6 or 8 ... Nd6 are alternatives) 9 N XeS Oc3 10 RbI Nc2+ II Ke2 Nd4+ 12 Kel Nxb3? 13 Rxb3± (see diagram. 6 g4 Again White has a number of alternatives to 6 g4 a) 6 Bd3 Nd6 7 Oe2 (7 g4 e6
~
24
... Be7 and ... 0-0 with
THE VULTURE
Position after 5 ... f5
unclear play) 7 ... g6 8 Ngf3 Bg7 9 Kfl 0-0 10 h4 b5! 11 h5 bxc4 12 Nxc4 Nxc4 13 Bxc4 Ba6 14 hxg6 hxg6 15 Kgl?! BXc4 16Qxc4 Qb4 17Qe2 Bf6! 18a3 Qe4 19Qdl d6 20 Ra2 Nd7 21 b3 Nb6 22 Rd2 Kg7 23 Bb2 Rh8 24 Bxf6+ exf6 (0-1,53) (Smith-Hardy, Blackpool 1988). b) 6 Ne2 e5 7 f3 Nf6 8 Nc3 d6 9 Bd3 g6= c) 6 [3 Nd6 (6 ... Nf6!?) 7 Kf2 g6 etc. (if 7 g4 b5 8 b3? Qc3) d) 6h3g6 7g4fxg4 8hxg4Bg7(orif8b4Qc7 9Nxe4Qe5 tORbl? Qxe4 attacking both rooks) 9Bg2 (Better 9Bd3) Nd6 ~ ... b5. All the same the text is an attempt by White to treat this theme independently - a follow up with e4 would not be logical. 6 ... fxg4 7Qxg4 Nf6
if 7 b4? Qxb4 (or 7 ... Qc7) 8 RbI Qc3 9 Rb3 Qe5 to Bb2 Qf5 7 ... Nf6 8Qf4
The white queen has nine additional squares, without causing Black any undue problems. (e.g. Black's pawn structure on ... d6 and ... e5 is reliable). 25
THE VULTURE
8 ... g6 9 e4 8g7 (if I) . . . d6 10 eS!?) 10 eS? NhS 11 Qe3 0-0 12 Ne2 RfS- +
Rather typically White's massive pawn centre is over-exposed and brittle (e.g. 13 f4 Nxf4 14 Nxf4 RxeS-+).
SUBVARIATION 3 4Nf3 In this variation the black knight on e4 remains unchallenged, so it is not absolutely necessary for Black to continue with 4 ... OaS +. The same applies to other irregular lines. 4 b3 e6! (4 ... OaS+ probably transposes) S Bb2 (to prevent ... Of6) OaS+ 6 Nd2 exdS 7 cxdS c4!=+
26
THE VULTURE
White's excessive use of the light squares is countered by action, directed against the squares d5, c4, and b3 and involving Black's control of the dark squares! e.g. 8 Qc2 N x d2 (if 8 Rcl c3 9 Nc4 cxb2+ or 8 Bel? c3) 9 Bc3 Qxd5 10 B xd2 Bc5 11 Qxc4 Qxc4 12 bxc4=+ 4 g3 g6 Simplest - Black's aim is t 0 capture the vulnerable white pawn on c4; a game Suhrmann-Niefund went 4 . . . Qa5+ 5 Nd2 g6 6 Bg2 Nd6 7 Qc2 Bg7 8 Nf3 Na6 90-0 Rb8 10 e4 e5?! - 10 ... b5 would have been better - or again (after 4 ... Qa5+ 5 Nd2) 5 ... e6!? 6 Bg2 Nd6 is a possible alternative. Instead of 4 ... g6, 4 ... f5 or 4 ... e5 are also playable. 5 Bg2 Nd6!? 5 . . . Qa5+ 6 Nd2 Nd6 7 Qc2 Bg7 8 e4 b5 9 cx b5 Qxb5 and compared with Main Variation B, Black has saved a tempo by omitting ... Na6; 6 Bd2 Nxc4 7 Bc3 Rg8 8 Qd3 Nd6 (8 ... b5!?) 9 Nh3 b6 10 0-0 Ba6 11 Qf3 h6 12 Re1 Bb7 13 e4 Nb5 14 e5 Na6 15 Nd2 Bg7 16 Qd3 Nxc3 17 bxc3 ReB ( ... c4) 18 Nc4 KfB 19 d6?! 0-1 (66) Mercier-Bucker (Krefeld, 1983). Correct would have been 19 a4! ± 4 Nc3?! Nxc3 bxc3 gives Black a comfortable game, as follows: a) 5 ... d6 e4 Qa5 7 Bd2 g6 8 Bd3 Bg7 9 Ne2 Nd7 10 f4?! (the most effective measure against Black's plan to play his knight to a4lay in 10 a4 Nb6? 11 Ra3 Bd7 12 Ncl!) 10 ... Nb6 11 O-O? Na4 12 Qb3 Rb8 13 h3 Bd7 14 Qc2 0-0 15 Rab1 a6 16 Rb3 Qc7 17 Khl b5 18 Rbbl bxc4 (18 ... Nb6! Hardy) 19 Bxc4 Bb5 20 Qd3? (0-1,46) Hills-Hardy, Grantham 1988, and now 20 ... Nb2! (Hardy) would have won the exchange. b) 5 ... g6 6 e4 Bg7 7 Qc2 d6 8 Bd3 0-0 9 Ne2 e5 10 Ng3 Nd7 11 f3 when a game B. Pytel-Hauchard, France 1988, continued in bold fashion; 11 ... Qh4 12 Be3 f5?! 13 exf5 e4 14fxe4gxf5 15Bf2f4 16Nf5Qf6 170-0-0Ne5 18Bh4Qf7 19 Nxd6 Qc7 20 Nxc8 Raxc8 21 Be2 Qd6 22 Kbl b5? (22 ... a6 with unclear play) 23 cxb5 c4 24 Bf2 Rb8 25 a4 a6 26 b6 Nd7 27 as Qa3 28 Qb2 Qxa5 29 Qb4 Qxb4+ 30 cxb4 Nxb6 31 d6 Na4 32 Bxc4+ Kh8 33 Bel (1-0,72). c) 5 ... Qa5 6 Qc2 g6 = + 7 Bg5 (7 e4 Bg7 8 Bd2 d6 9 Bd3 0-0 and the game Richmond-Dunworth, Nottingham 1988, was drawn in 28 moves) 7 ... Bg7 8 Kd2!? (intending e4, Rel-e3 27
THE VULTURE
and f4) H ... h6 (an idea of the American theoretician Myers, aiming to prevent f4) 9 Bh4 (9 Bf4 f5 10 e4 e5 Myers) 9 ... f5 with advantage to Black. 4 Be3 e6 (or 4 ... Qa5+) 5 f3 (5 Qd3 Qf6!? or 5 Qc2 Qa5+ 6Nd2 exd5 7cxd5 Nf6=) 5 ... Qa5+ (5 ... Qh4+? 6g3 Nxg3 7Bf2+-) 6Nd2Nd6(6 ... Nf6 7Bg5!?) 7b3 (7Kf2 Nf5 8 Bf4 d6 9 g4 Nh4=+) 7 ... Be7 (or ... Nf5) 8 a3 (8 Bf2 Bf6) 8 ... f5 (8 ... exd5 9 cxd5 Nb5) 9 Bf2?! f4=+ 4 Bd2? Nxd2 5 Qxd2 g6!= (4 ... e5 is also possible) 4 Bf4 d6 (an amusing line is 4 ... Qb6 5 Qc2 Nxf2!? 6 Kxf2 Qf6 7 Ke3 g5 8 Bxb8 g4! and wins) 5 Nd2 g5?! (Welling gives 5 ... Qa5 6 f3 Nf6 as equal) 6 NXe4 gxf4 7 Qd2 and White is a shade better (=22) Baumann-Wiiltermann (Correspondence Ma tch 1983/84). However, the most convincing play for Black is 4 ... Qa5 + ! 5 Nd2 (5 Nc3 g6) g5 6 Be3 Na6 7 f3 Nd6 8 Qb3 b5 9 cxb5 Nxb5 10 ReI Rb8 11 BXc5 Bg7 12a4 Nc3 13Qc4 NXc5 14 bXc3 Ba6 (0-1, 40) Toukomaa-Heinola, Finland 1984. The main Line 4 N[3, allows Black three distinct options: A 4 ... Qa5+ B 4 ... e6 C 4 ... g6
A 4 . . . Qa5+ 5 Nfd2
An ambitious plan! White first plays f3 to drive away the black knight on e4 and then plays his QN to c3, the natural square for 28
THE VULTURE
a white knight. With this idea in mind, the move NIJ CIluld prove a serious rival system to the lines we have so far come across. G. M. Yehuda Griinfeld also opted for a similar plan in analytical discussions with the author. Black obtains certain advantages from the tempo gains. The move 5 Nbd2, less worthy of recommendation than the text, may lead to the following variations: a) S ... Na6(ifS ... Nd6? 6e4Nxe4 7b4asuggestion by the translator) 6 a3 Nd6 (6 Qc2 Nd6 7 e4 g6 or here 7 b3 fS with transpositions) 7b4 cxb4 (7 e4 Nxe4!? 8b4 Nxb4 9axb4 Qxal 1ONxe4cxb4) 8e4b3! geSNe4 lOQxb3g6 l1Qe3 Qc3 12Qxe4 Qxal::;: 13Qc2 NcS 14Be2 d6 IS0-0 BfS 16QdlQc3 17exd6exd6 18Rel0-0-0 19NflBc2 20Qd4 Qxd4?=+ 21 Nxd4 Bd3 22 BgS Bg7 23 Bxd8 Rxd8 24 Nf3 B x e2 2S R x e2 Bf6 26 N (1 )d2 Kd7 (0-1, 39) OrnsteinF. Hellers (Stockholm 1984). Hellers competed the following year as a IS year old, the youngeSt player in a tournament at Groningen winning the European Junior Championship. In the game Hernando-Margarit (correspondence, 1987), play went: 6 e3 d6 7 Be2 BfS 80-0 Nf6 9 b3 Nb4 10 Bb2 Bc2 11 Qel Bd3 with equal chances (=, 31) b) S . . . e6 6 b4 Q x b4 7 RbI QaS 8 RbS Q x a2 9 N x e4 ? (9 Rb2=) . . . Q x c4 and White stands to lose material (e.g. 10 Qd3 Qxc1+) c) S . . . g6? (this time the above variation is playable) 6 b4 Qxb4 7RblQaS 8RbS Qxa2 9Nxe4Qxc4? lORxcS+-
After S ... g6 6 b4 Q x b4 7 Rb I, somewhat better for Black, 29
THE VULTURE
though not sufficient. is 7 ... Nxd2 8 Rxb4 Nxf3+ 9 gxf3 cxb4± d) 5 ... f5 6 e3 g6 7 Bd3 Nd6 80-0 Bg7 9 a3 0-0 10 RbI e5 11 e4 Na6 12 b3 Qd8 13 b4 b6 14 b5 Nc7 15 Bb2 Qe7 16 Qe2 f4 (0-1.56) Virtanen-Heinola. Finland 1986.
5 ..• g6 6 Qc2 a) 6 f3 Nd6 7 e4 Bg7 8 Bd3 b5 90-0 Ba6 10 Na3 bxc4 11 Ndxc4 Nxc4 12 Nxc4 Bxc4 13 Bxc4 Qb4 (13 . . . O-O! Krtiner) 14 Qe2 0-0 15 RbI d6 16 Bg5 Bf6 17 Bh6 Rd8 18 f4 Nd7 19 Bb5 Rab8 :l} Bxd7 Rxd7 21 b3 Bg7 22 Bg5 Bf6 23 Bh6 Bg7 = + (24 Bg5 c4!?) Draw. Lopepe-Kruner. Correspondence 1986. b) 6 e3 (6 g3?! Bg7 7 Bg2 Nd6 ~ ... b5 or an amusing line 6 a3 Bg7 7 Ra20-0 8b4cxb4 9Nxe4b3+ IORd2b2!)6 ... Bg7 (6 ... e5 or 6 ... f5 are alternatives) 7 Bd3 Nd6 8 Qc2 Na6 9 a3?! b5 with a comfortable game.
6 ... f5! The white position is not sufficiently weakened. so the retreat of the black knight is a mistake. 6 ... Nd6? 7 e4! (7 Nc3 Nf5!? 8 Nb3 Qb6 9 e4 Nd4 is unclear; 7 b3 Bg7 8 Bb2= Nf5 9 g4 Nd4 10 Qcl d6 e.g. 11 Bc3 Qb6 12 e3 Bxg4 13 exd4 cxd4 14 Bb2 e5 with compensation or 7 h4!?) 7 . . . Bg7 8 Nc3 e5 (8 ... 0-0 9 Nb3 ~ Bf4±) 9 h4±
7 b3?! 7 f3 ~ 8 e4 seems more plausible. Even so, White cannot hope for an advantage, for with a passive game his space advantage is of no consequence, e.g. 7 f3 Nd6 (or 7 . . . Nf6 8 e4 fxe4 9 fxe4 Ng4 or even 7 ... Nf6 8 e4 d6) 8 Nc3 Bg7 (8 e4 fXe4 9fxe4 Nf7 or 8e4 f4 or 8e4 Bg7 also if 8Qd Qxc3 9Nxc3 Bg7) 9 e4 0-0 with attractive counterplay on the dark squares. 7 .•• 8g7
30
THE VULTURE
7 ... Bh6?! is not so good 8Bb2 0-0 ge3 Nxd2+= White could launch a kingside attack with h4 -~ h5. If 7 ... e5 8 d xe6 e.p. dXe6 9 Bb2 Rg8 is unclear; Black aims to prepare ...
0-0-0. 8 Bb2 0-0 If White is not on the alert, Black could encircle the white pawn on d5 via ... e6 -~ ... Na6
9 g3 N x d2 ION x d2 e5 11 Bg2 d6
Instead of 11 Bg2 maybe the Swedish European Junior Champion Hellers' suggestion 11 dXe6 e.p. dXe6 12 Bxg7 Kxg7 130b2+ Kg8 14 Bg2 is an improvement for White, though 14 ... Oc7 15 0-0 Bd7 equalises for Black. As yet Black has only a slight advantage. With this order of moves White has had to make several concessions, because of Black's dominant Vulture Knight. If White opts for the more straightforward 7 f3 this would solve his problems of queens ide development, however only at the expense of creating a new one, since the moves f3 and Nfd2 weaken his kingside, offering Black attacking chances. This is illustrated by Black's counterplay with ... Ne4 _ ... Oa5+, dominating the whole spectrum. Going back to 5 Nld2, instead of 5 ... g6 Black might try: a) 5 .. . 15 6 f3 Nf6 7 Nc3 (7 e4) e5 8 dXe6 e.p. dXe6 9 Nb3 Ob6 (9 ... Oc7 10 Nb5 Oe7 11 Bf4 e5 12 Bg5 Be6) 10 Bf4 31
THE VULTURE
NhS IIBgS h6 12Bh4 Nc6 13e3 Bd7 14f4 Nf6 ISBxf6 gxf6 16QhS+ Ke7 17Be2 Be8 (Better 17 . . . Nb4!=+) 18 Qh3 as?? 19 QxfS Nb4 (if 19 ... Qxb3 20 NdS+! but not 20QxcS+ Kd8 as pointed out by Bosbach) 20Qbl (1-0,47) Bosbach-Bucker (NRW-Hessen, 1983) In the game Middendorf-Lutt, Munster 1987, White won after S ... fS 6g4!?e6 7Bg2Be7 80-0Nd6 9gxfS(I-0,2S),but 6 ... fxg4 is unclear. b) 5 . . . Nd6 6 Qc2 g6= (6 b3 NfS 7 Bb2 e6 or 6 Nc3 NfS 7 Nb3 unclear or simply 6 Nc3 eS) c) 5 ... e6 6 Qc2 fS (6 ... Nd6 7 e4 bS 8 b3 secures the white queenside, restricting the scope of the black knight on d6) 7 f3 (7 b3 Na6!?) Nf6 8Nc3 Na6 ge4+= d6!? B 4 NfJ e6!? This is a most important alternative resource for Black, underlying the entire anti-queen's pawn strategy. This offshoot can occur by diverse transpositional routes, e.g. 1 d4 cS 2 dS Nf6 3 Nf3 e6 4 c4 Ne4 or 3 Bg5 Ne4 4 Bf4 Qb6 S Bel Qf6! 6 Nf3 e6 7 c4 Qd8! In the third South American Correspondence Championship, the eventual winner Pereyra (Argentine) defeated the runner up Bujl (also Argentinian). After 4 Nf3 e6 White continued 5 Qd3! exd5 (if S ... QaS+ 6 Nc3+ =) 6 cxd5 f5 7 Nfd2 Qe7! 8 Nxe4 fXe4= (8 g3 b6 9 Bg2 Ba6 10 Qe3 Nxd2 ~ ... d6=, if 8 f3? Qh4+ when Black's control of the square e4 dominates the position) 9 Qc2 Na6 10 a3 d6 11 Nc3 Nc7 (Black proceeds to secure his advanced pawn both directly and indirectly) 12 g3 b5 13 Bg2 Bf5 14 Be3 g6 15 Rd1 Bg7 16 h3 0-0 17g4 b4 18 Na4 Nb5! (see diagram) 19 axb4 Nd4 (if 19 gxfS gxfS with the threat of ... f4 ... Nd4 ... QgS. Against this White has to try either 20 Qd2 b x a3 21 b x a3 N x a3 or 20 Bf4 Nd4 21 Qd2 Qd7! or 20 Qc1 bxa3 21 bxa3 Qb7! in each case with a dangerous attack for Black) 20 Qbl? (if20 Bxd4 either 20 . . . Bxd4 21 gxfS Bxf2+ or 20 . . . cxd4, both unclear) 20 . .. Bd7 21 Nc3 Rab8 22 Na2 RXfl!!-+ 23 BXfl (23 Kxf2 Qh4+ 24 Kfl Rf8+-+) 23 ... e3 240-0 (24 Bg3 BeS! 2S BxeS Qh4+-+) 24 ... Nxe2+25 Khl exj2 26 RXfl 32
THE VULTURE
Position after II! Na4 NhS '
Ng3+ 27 KgI Bd4 2B Rxd4 cxd4 29 BfJ Qh4 30 Qdl RfB 31 NcJ Ne4 32 Rg2 Ng5 0-1 Bujl v. Pereyra. C 4 NO g6 Yet another interesting idea which delays ... QaS+ as long as possible, giving us the following variations: a) S e3 Bg7 6 Bd3 QaS+ 7 Nbd2 (7 Kfl! Littlewood) 7 . . . Nd6 80-0Na6 ge4eS lOdxe6fxe6 l1eSNf7 12RelNb4 13 Bbl Nc6 14 Nb3 Qb4 IS Be3 b6 16 Be4 Qxc4 17 Nbd2 Qa6 18 BXc6 dXc6 19 Ne4 0-0 20 Nf6+ Bxf6 21 exf6 Rd8 22 Qc2 Qd3 (0-1, 42) Skirpan-Shibut, Washington, 1985. b) S e3 QaS+ 6 Bd2? Nxd2 7 Nbxd2?! (7 Qxd2 Qxd2+ 8 Kxd2 =) 7 . . . Bg7 8 Qc2 0-0 9 Bd3 Na6! 10 Qb3 d6 110-0Qb4! =+ 12Rabl(betterl2RfblQxb3 13axb3Nb4 14 Be2) 12 . . . Qxb3 13 Nxb3 Nb4 14 Nc1 bS! IS Nd2 (1ScxbS c4!) ISNxd3 16Nxd3 BfS 17e4 bxc4! 18NxcS Bg4 19 f3 Bc8 20 Na4 Ba6 21 Nc3 (21 Rfc1? Bh6 22 Rc2 c3!) 21 ... Bd4+ 22Khl Rab8 23 Rfc1 Rfc8 24 g3 fS 2S Rc2 RcS 26 ReI Kf7 27 Nfl?? (27 Ndl) 27 ... Rxb2 (0-1,32) Ulley1. Uttlewood, England 1988 (notes by Littlewood). c) S Qc2 QaS+ 6 Nbd2 Nd6 (6 ... Nf6, or 6 ... fS 7 g3 Bg7 8 Bg2 0-0 90-0 Nd6 10 a3 Na6 11 Rb 1 bS and Black won in 40 moves in the game Werbeck-Hols. West German League 1988)7b3!Bg7 8Bb2NfS ge30-0 10Bd3d6 Ilh4!Bxb2 12Qxb2 Ng7 13hS gxhS 140-0-0 a6 ISg4 Bxg4 16Rdgl 33
THE VULTURE
f.'i 17 Rxh5 Nxh5 18 Bxf5 (1-0, 45) Greninger-Scott, Oregon I()H5. d) 5 Od3 Oa5+ 6 Nfd2 f5 7 f3 Nf6 8 e4 d6 9 Nc3 Bg7 10 Be2 fXc4 II fXe4 Nbd7 12 Nf3 Friedenthal-Zitzman, Correspondence 1985, when Zitzman suggests 12 ... N xe4!
SUBVARIATION 4 4 Nd2 Qa5
Since White has voluntarily dispensed with 4 Nc3, Black does not necessarily insist on the text-move. Alternatives are: A. 4 ... Nd6 a) 5 e4 (5 b4 cxb4?! 6 c5 _ e4 in conjunction with Oa4 or Ob3 - a better idea for Black is 5 b4 Qc7! - if 5 Nb3 N x c4 6 e4 Nd6 7 Oc2 e5 or 7 ... b6=+) 5 ... g6 (5 ... Oa5?! 6 Bd3 g6 7 Ne2 Bg7 80-0 Na6?! 9 Ob3 and \0 Nf3) 6 Bd3 Bg7 7 Nb3!? - Bf4 unclear b) 5 b3 f5! (see Main Variation C.) The black queen is well placed on d8. Other moves are wrong, e.g.: (i) 5 ... e6 6e4 exd5 7cxd5:±: (ii) 5 ... Nf5 6 Ngf3 _ e4+ = (iii) 5 ... e5 6 Bb2 f6 7 e3! _ 8 Bd3 with an attack The game Southam-Shibut, Toronto 1985, went (5 b3 f5) 6 Bb2 e6 7dxe6?!(7Ngf3)dxe6 8g30g5 9Bg2Be7 1ONgf30h6 110-0 Nc6 12Ne5 NXe5 13 BXe5 0-0 140c2 Nf7 15Bc3 34
THE VULTURE
eS=+ 16BdS?e4! 17g4??Bd6 18f4exfJep 19NxfJfxg4 -+ (0-1,27) c) S Qc2 fS?! (S ... QaS transposes) 6 Nbl Ne4 (6 Nb3 or 6 e4 g6!?) 7 Bf4 QaS+ 8 Nd2+= g6 9 f3 Nf6 10 BeS with advantage. B. 4 ... Nxd2 SBxd2 d6! - ? . . eS (S . .. eS 6Qa4 Be7 7 Bc3 f6 8 Rdl and 9 d6) Compare this with 4 Qc2 QaS+ S Nd2 Nxd2 etc. 5 b4?!
The theme of the subvariation under discussion. However White would do better transposing into one of the more solid subvariations, e.g. 5 Qc2 -see Main Variations Band C or 5 f3 -see Subvariation S or 5 e3 - see Subvariation 2 Other possibilities are: a) Sa3 g6 6b4 Qc7 7Bb2 Nf6 8bxcS? (8e4 d6 9f4 Nbd7 10 NgfJ Bg7 11 eS dxeS 12 fxeS Ng4 13 d6 Qd8 14 Qe2 0-0 is unclear) 8 ... Na6 9 e4 NxcS lOeS (n) Nfe4 11 Nxe4? Nxe4 12 Qd4 (12 Bd3? Nxf2!) QaS+ 13 Ke2 NcS 14 Rdl? (14 Bc3 Nb3 IS Qd3!) Bg7 IS Qd2 Qa4 16 fJ (16 Qd4 Qc2+ 17Rd2 Qe4+ 18Kdl Qbl+ 19Ke2 Ne4) 16 . . . Qxc4+ 17Kf2 Qb3 18Rcl Bh6!-+ (0-1, 37) Zsinka-Thesing, Schmallenberg 1986 (notes by Thesing). In the line 7 Nxe4 QeS 8Rbl(8Be3!?)Qxe4 9Bb2Rg8 lOe3(lOf3Qe3)d6 llNfJ BfS (unclear, according to Thesing) Hermesmann suggests the interesting 8 Nd6+!? exd6? (8 ... Qxd6 9 Bb2 and e4) 9 Ra2 Qc3+ lORd2Qxc4 lle4!+-.ForS ... Nxd2 6Bxd2Qc7 7 Bc3 eS see Main Variation A. S ... Nd6 6 Qc2 g6 leads to the Classical Vulture. b) 5b3 g6?! (better S . . . e6 6Bb2 exdS 7cxdS c4!=+, compare this with variations with 4 b3 - or if S ... e6 6 fJ allows 6 ... Nc3) 6b4!? (6Bb2 Bh6 7e3 0-0 8Bd3 Nxd2 9 Qxd2 Qxd2+ 10 Kxd2 Bg7=) 6 ... QXb4?! (6 ... Qc7 7 Bb2 Nf6 or here 7 Nxe4 QeS 8 RbI Qxe4 9 Bb2 Rg8 lOe3 cxb4 both unclear, also 6 ... cxb4? 7 Nxe4 Bg7 8 RbI Qxa2 9 Rxb4 Na6 10 Ra4 Qbl 11 Nd2 Bc3 12 e3 Nb4 13 Ngf3 bS 14 c x bS Nc2+ IS Ke2 Q x bS + 16 Rc4 and White wins - see Diagram. 3S
THE VULTURE
7RbJ Qc3 (7 ... Qa5 8Rb5 Qc3= 9Bb2Qxd2+ 10Qxd2
Nxd2 11 Bxh8 Nxc4 12 RXc5 Nb6 13 Ba1 Na6 14 ReI Nxd5 15e4 Ndc7. However, after 7 ... Qa5 8Rb5 Black's attempt at a swindle with 8 . . . Qxa2? fails on account of 9 N x e4 Q x c4 lOR x c5 + -, threatening both the queen and a back row mate.) 8 Rb3 (8 Bb2? Qxd2+ 9Qxd2 Nxd2 10 Bxh8 Nxb1) 8 ... Qa5= 5 ... Qxb4
The critical continuation is 5 ... Qc7! 6 b5! (otherwise Black can obtain control of c5: 6 NXe4 Qc5 7 Ba3 Qxe4 8 bXc5 Qxc4 =+ 9Qb3 Qxb3 lOaxb3 e6 11 e4 b6 12d6 Nc6 13Nf3 Bb7 14Bd3 g5!? 15Nxg5 Bg7 16Rdl Bc3+ 17Kfl Ne5 18 Bb1? Ba6+ 19 Kg1 h6 20 Nh3? Nf3+! wins. Analysis by Hardy in debate with G. Cole. 18 Ke2! would be unclear) 6 ... Qe5 (if 6 ... Nxd2 7 Bxd2 a6 8 a4=)
Ifnow7Rbl (7Ba3Nxd2 8Kxd2Qd4+ 9 Kc2Qxc4+ -+) 7 ... a6=+(7 ... Nc3 8 Bb2) 8 b6 c6. 36
5 ... Qxb4 The critical continuation is S ... Qc7! 6 bS! (otherwise Black can obtain control of cS: 6 Nxe4 QeS 7 Ba3 Qxe4 8 bxcS Qxc4 = + 9 Qb3 Qxb3 10 axb3 e6 11 e4 b6 12 d6 Nc6 13 Nf3 Bb7 14 Bd3 gS!? IS NxgS Bg7 16 Rdl Bc3+ 17 Kfl NeS 18 Bbl? Ba6+ 19 Kgl h6 20Nh3? Nf3+! wins. Analysis by Hardy in debate with G. Cole. 18 Ke2! would be unclear) 6 . . . QeS (if 6 . . . Nxd2 7 Bxd2 a6 8a4=) If now 7 Rbi (7 Ba3 Nxd2 8 Kxd2 Qd4+ 9 Kc2 Qxc4+ -+) 7 ... a6=+ (7 ... Nc3 8 Bb2) 8 b6 e6. 6 RbI Qa5 7 Rb5 Qc3 7 . . . Q x a2 8 N x e4 Q x c4 9 R x cS +-
8 Rb3 Qe5? 8 . . . QaS 9 Ra3 =; 8 . . . Qd4?? 9 e3 QeS 10 Ngf3 QfS 11 Bd3 +-. 9 Re3 9 Ngf3 QfS 10 Qc2 Nd6 11 e4 QhS 12 eS NfS 13 g4?! Qx g4 14 Rgi Nd4 IS Nxd4 Qxgl (IS . . . Qxd4 16 Nf3) 16 Rg3 Q x h2 (16 ... Qh I? 17 N4f3 + -) and White has insufficient compensation. However, in this line 13 Be2! (Hardy) is most unpleasant for Black. 9 ... f5 IONgf3
lOB Qd4 (10 . . . Qf4?? 11 Nb3 +-) 11 Nxe4 Qxd1+ 12 Kxdl fxe4 13 Rxe4 (13 fXe4 eS =+) 13 ... e6 (13 ... bS 14 c x bS Bb7 IS Rc4 or 13 ... a6!? 14 a4 as or here 14 ... d6) 14 Bb2 Rg8 =+. 10 ... Qc7 11 Nxe4 fxe4 12Ng5 +=
(see diagram)
Instead of 12 NgS White could try 12 R x e4 QaS + 13 Qd2 Q x d2+ = +. Whatever our evaluation of S ... Qc7! may be, 37
THE VULTURE
Position after 12 Ng5
Subvariation 5 allows Black equality at almost any point (8 ... Qa5 =). However, after 4 Nd2 the next few subvariations could perhaps occur by transposition.
SUBVARIATION 5 4 f3 Qa5+ 5 Nd2
After 5 Bd2 (obviously even weaker here than after 4 e3) the game Quinque-Margarit. Correspondence 1987, went: 5 . . . Nxd2 6Qxd2 Qxd2+ 7Nxd2 e6?! (g6) 8e4 exd5 9cxd5 b6 10 Ne2 = (0-1, 29) 5 ... Nd6
38
THE VULTURE
Alternatives for Black are: a) 5 . . . Nxd2 Altogether too cautious: in variations with 4 Qc2 Black may wish to take steps to prevent White from playing b3 e.g. 4Qc2 Qa5+ 5Nd2 Nxd2 6Bxd2 Qc7= 7 Bc3? e5 with equality (c.p. Main Variation A) However, in this instance, with the white queen on dl and a pawn on fJ, there is no danger in b3 and therefore no need to prevent it (see below). b) 5 . . . Nf6 6 e4 e5 is original with about equal chances, whereas 6 ... g5?! seems too speculative.
6e4 White has a number of alternatives on Move 6. As just pointed out, whereas after 4 Qc2 Qa5+ 5 Nd2 Nd6 the occupation of the long diagonal via 6 b3 might cause Black some problems, this does not apply here after 4 f3 on account of White's weaknesses on the dark squares e.g. 4 fJ Qa5+ 5 Nd2 Nd6 and if 6 b3 Nf5 7 Bb2 (7 Kf2 Ne3 8 RbI Qd4+ 9 Kel Qh4+ IO g3 Nx93-+; analysis by Hellers) 7 ... Ne3 8Qd Na6 9a3 (or 9 Bc3 Nb4 10 Kf2 Nec2 11 Rbi Nd3+) 9 . . . d6 10 Kf2 (or lOBc3 Qb6 11 Rbi Bf5 12 Ne4 =) 10 ... Nxf111 Nxfl e5 =. Instead of 8 ... Na6 in this line, Black can also try 8 ... d6 followed by ... e5 or else 8 ... e6 9 Kf2 Nxfl 10 Bc3 Qa6 II Kxfl exd5 12cxd5 then either 12 ... Qg6 13Qb2 Be7 =+ or 12 ... Qh6 13 Qb2 b5?! etc. Other moves are: (i) 6 e3 g6 (also playable is 6 ... Nf5 _ ... g6 or 6 ... b5 for if 7 b3? Qc3, but 6 ... e6 _ ... Be7 is more passive) After 6 ... g6 Black has good attacking prospects via ... Bg7 _ b5 or ... Nf5 _ ... h5 (ii) 6Kf2? b5 (or 6 ... g6=+) 7b3 (if 7cxb5 Nxb5 8Nb3 Qb6 9 e4 Nd4? [correct was 9 ... e5] and now not 10 Be3 e5 11 dxe6 e.p. fxe6 12 Bxd4 cxd4 13 Qxd4 Qxd4+ 14 Nxd4 Bc5- +, but 10 Nxc5! Qx c5 II Be3 Qc2+ 12 Qxc2 Nxc2 13 RcI Nxe3 14 Rxc8 mate) 7 ... Qc3 (7 ... bxc4 8 bxc4 Qc3 9 RbI Nf5 10 Rb3 Qd4+ 11 e3 Qh4+ or 7 ... bxc4 8 bxc4 Ba6 9 e4 Qc3 10 Rbi Bxc4? IlBb2+-)8RblNj.5(8Ba3??b4 9RclQf6-+) 39
THE VULTURE
9 Ne4!? ± Qa5 (9 Bb2 Qe3+ 10 Kel e5=+ or here 10 ... e6 II Qc2 unclear) e.g. 10 a3 g6 II Bb2 (or II g4) Bh6?? 12 Bc3 + - (but of course not 12 B x h8?? Be3 mate). After the Main Line, 6 e4, Black has two options: A. 6 ... b5?! offering a risky gambit. B. 6 ... g6 following normal, positional channels.
A. The Gambit Variation 6 ... b5?! One of the basic principles of the Vulture for Black is not to play ... b5, if White can reply b3. Presumably this rule cannot be fully ignored in variations where White opts for f3. Nevertheless, the move ... bS could lead to some fascinating complications with positions vastly different from those variations where White plays Qc2. Before pursuing this theme, let us examine some of Black's alternatives on move 6: a) 6 ... g5 (an original attempt to control the dark squares) 7 h4! gxh4 (7 . . . g4? 8 fxg4 Nxe4 9 Qf3:±:) 8 Rxh4 Bg7 9 RhS+= b) 6 ... e6 7 b3 Be7 (7 Bd3?! bS 8 b3? Qc3=) 8 Bb2 0-0+ = c) 6 ... Na6!? (a clever waiting move) 7 Kf2 g6 (if 7 b3 Qc3 8 Rbi Nb4 or 7 Bd3 bS= e.g. 8 b3? Qc3 or 7 Ne2? Nxc4 - a better idea here for White would be 7 Qb3, ~ Ne2 ~ Nc3) 8 eS NfS 9 Nb3 Qc7?! 10 g4 Ng7 II Bf4 d6 12 exd6 (or 12 Qe2) exd6 13Ne2 Bd7 14BgS Be7=+ (the white N on b3 is misplaced; its natural square should be c3) 15 Bxe7 Kxe7 16Qd2 hS (to prevent 17Qh6!) 17QgS+ Kf8 18Qf6 Kg8 19 gS? (an error, since the square f6 cannot be occupied by a white knight) 19 . . . h4! 20 Nd2 Nh5 21 Qc3 BfS 22 Rei Re8- + (0-1, 31) Poor-Bucker (Budapest 1984) 7 b3 White has a number of alternatives: 40
THE VULTURE
a) 7 cxb5?! NxbS=+ b) 7 e5? NfS 8 cxbS? Ne3-+ c) 7 Kf2?! bxc4 (7 . . . Nxc4!? 8Bxc4 bxc4 9Nxc40bS 10 b3 d6 11 Bb2 Nd7 12 Ne2 Nb6 13 Nc3 Od7 14 NaS eS=) 8eS NfS 9Nxc4 Oc7=+
Another possibility after 7 Kf2 bXc4 would be 8 BXc4 Ba6.
7 ... e6 Black's active play along the b-file hardly compensates for White's control of the centre. Other attempts are: a) 7 ... Na6 8 Bb2 (or 8 a3?! Rb8 9 Oc2 bxc4 10 bxc4 Nb4 11 Odl Na6~ ... g6 or here 11 Oc3 Nc6) 8 ... bxc4 9 bxc4 Rb8 100el f6 (10 . . . Nc7 11 eS) 11 Be2 Nc7 12 Bc3 Oa4 l3Bdl0a6 14Bb3 Na8 (~ ... Nc7, ... Ob6, ... Na6, ... Nb4)+= b) 7 ... [5 8 Oc2 (8 eS? Oc3) fXe4 9 fXe4 bxc4 10 bxc4 eS 11 Bb2 Nf7 (11 Ne2 Nf7 12 Nc3 d6 13 Be2 g6 140-0+ =) 12 Nf3 d6 13 Be2 g6 14 0-0 Bh6 IS Od3 Na6 unclear (see diagram). c) 7 ... Qc3 8 RbI fS 9 Bb2 Oe3+ 10 Oe2 Oxe2+ II BXe2 fXe4 12fxe4b4 l3 Bd3 as?! 14eSNfl IS Bc2e6? 16dxe6+8Bb2
8cxbS?! NxbS 9Bb2 Bb7 IOBc4 Nc7 or 80c2 Be7 9Bb2 41
THE VULTURE
Position after 15 QJ] Nan
0-0 1OBd3bxc4(1OeSNfS lld6BgS I2cxbSNe3 I30xcS Nxfl 14 Bc3 Bxd2+) II bxc4 fS unclear. 8 ... Be7
Of course Black can't afford to risk such a pawn sacrifice against 40c2. 9Bxg7 The more solid 9 Bd3 0-0 (9 eS?! NfS =+) leaves White with only a slight advantage, e.g. 10 Ne2 bxc4 II bxc4 fS 120-0 f4+ = (other interesting moves for Black here are 12 ... Na6 or 12 ... g6, but not 12 ... fXe4± nor 12 ... BgS? 13 f4 Bd8 14 eS Nfl IS Nb3+-) 13 BeS gS. 42
THE VULTURE
9 ... Rg8 10 Bb2 Alternatives for White are: a) 10 Bh6? bxc4 11 bxc4 8f6 and 81ack captures the a-pawn b) 10 Be5 bxc4 11 bxc4 exd5 (11 8xd6 8xd6 12 bxc4 8e5) 12exd5 Nf5 (12cxd5 8a6) 13Kf2 d6 148b28g5 15Nb3 8e3+ (15 Ne4? 8eH 16 Ke2 8a6 17 Qc2 8d4 - or here 17 Qd3 Qa4) 16 Ke2 Qa4 17 Nd2 Qb4 (17 Qd3 Kd8 unclear) 18 Rbi 8xd2 19 Qxd2 Qxc4+ 20 Kf2 Qh4+ unclear 10 ... bxc4 II bxc4 exdS
If Jl ... Nxc4? 12 8xc4 Rxg2 13 Ne2 (or 13 8e5) 8h4+ (13 . . . exd5 14 Kfl) 14 Kfl Rf2+ 15 Kgl and 8lack's attack grinds to a halt. If II ... RXg2!? 128 xg2 Nxc4 13 Qcl 8g5 (13 ... Ne3? 14 Kf2 8g5 15 Qc3, better 13 ... 8a6!?) 148c3 (14 f4 8xf4 15 Ngf3 Ne3 - 7 16 ... Qa4) 14 ... Qa4 15 h4! (8lack might have hoped for 15 Nh3?, a mistake that has White on the run, e.g. 15 . . . 8h4+ 16 Nf2 Ne3 17 8h3 Nc2+ 18 Kfl Qb5+ 19 Kgl Qe2 20 Qn Qe3 21 Rcl 8a6 22 Qg2 Q x c3 23 Nb3 Qe3 24Rxc2 Qe1+ 25Qf1 8xfl 268xfl c4 -+) 15 ... 8h6 (15 . . . 8f4 16 Ne2) 16 Nh3 (16 Kf2? Nxd2 178xd2 Qd4+) 16 ... exd5 (16 ... Ne3 17 Kf2 exd5 18 8f6 or 16 ... Ne3 17 Kf2 Nf5 18 Rei) 17 Ng5+-
12 exd5! 12 c x d5 8a6 with sufficient counter-chances for 8lac k. 12 .. Nxc4
12 ... Nf5 13 Kf2 Qb6 14 Qc2 Qh6 15 Re 1 etc. Again 8lack has insufficient compensation for the gambit pawn. 13 Bxc4 Rxg2 14Ne2 and White wins.
Even right at the end White could still go wrong, for example if 14 8e5? Qc3! (or 14 h4?! 8a6) 15 8xc3 8h4+ drawing. 43
THE VULTURE
B. The positional treatment by Black 6 ... g6!
As in Main Variation B the Black KB fianchetto forestalls b3 by White and prepares for . . . bS. White can't really afford to prevent this with a4. In this line the move 4 f3 for White is committal and makes it difficult for him to open the position. Here are some typical examples: I White develops on the kingside
a) 7 Bd3 bS 8 cxbS NxbS (8 ... a6!? 9 Qc2 axbS 10 QxcS Bg7 with compensation) 9 Ne2
1'!~
~~~
~LS~tLJ~ ~ ,,,",'
"""Z
~~
~~ ,,,',,z
~LS~~~ • ~ ~LS~ ~
..
~ ~LS~~~ ~ ~ ,,, ... z z.,,' ~,~ ,.,~,~
~i%
h".d
~
~.~jJ~E ~ a
",
9 ... Ba6 (9 ... Bg7 10 0-0 Nd4 11 Nxd4 cxd4 12 Nc4!±; 12 Nb3 Qb6 13 Bd2 as would be less clear) 10 0-0 Nc7 11 Nb3?! (better 11 Nc4!) Qb6 12 BXa6 Nbxa6 13 Be3 d6 44
THE VULTURE
14Nd2QbS! ISNc3Qd7 16Nc4Bg7+= 17Qd20-0 18Bh6 NbS 19 B xg7 Kxg7 20Ne2 Rad8 21 Radl eS 22dxe6 e.p. Qxe6 23 b3?! Nb4= 24 Ne3 Nc6 2S Ng4 fS 26 exfS gxfS 27Nf4 Qf7 28Ne3 Nbd4 29Nc2 Rfe8 30 Rfel Rxel+ 31 Rxel Re8 32Nxd4Nxd4 33 Kf2Re7 34g3Qe8(0-I,SI) Handke-Bucker (NRW League 1980).
b) 7Bd3Bg7! 8Ne2bS 90-0bxc4 IONxc4(IOBxc4Nxc4 11 Nxc4 Qb4 12 b3! Ba6 13 Bd2 Qb7 14 Rcl 0-0 IS Bc3 d6 16 Bxg7 Kxg7 17 f4 Nd7 - 0-1. 4S, Schulze Ameling-Bucker, Active Chess, Ahaus 1988) 10 ... Nxc4 11 Bxc4 Ba6 12 Bd2 Qb6 13 Bxa6Nxa6 14Bc30-0 ISKhl(0-1,82)WolteringBucker, 1986; IS ... Bxc3! with advantage to Black.
c) 7Bd3Bg7! 8Ne2bS 90-0bxc4(9 ... Ba6!? IOQc20-0 11 cxbS BxbS =+ 12QxcS? Na6 13Qe3 Bxd3 14Qxd3 Nb4 IS Qbl QcS+ 16 Khl Nc2 -+ 0-1,22, Both-Toby, NL League 1988) 10 N x c4 N x c4 11 B x c4 Q b6 (otherwise White might try 12 Bd2 Qb6 13 Bc3) 12 Rbi 0-0 (in a lightning game Blicker with the black pieces obtained a good position after 12 ... Na6 13Bd20-0 14 Bc3 Nc7 IS f4 NbS 16 Bxg7 Kxg7 17 eS e6 18 d6 Bb7. Welling's idea for Black to make use of the b-file is reminiscent of the Benko Gambit with the extra advantage for Black of having retained the a-pawn as a potentially useful asset). 13 Be3 Qc7 14 Qc2 (14 b3 d6 IS Qd2 as 16Bh6Bxh6 17Qxh6Nd7 18Ng3Nb6 19Bd3a4 20eSthreatening Nh5 - 20 . . . fS 21 ex f6 ep ex f6 22 h4 a x b3 23 a x b3 Bb7 24 hS Qg7 = +. drawn in 33, Polee-Margarit, Correspondence 1987) 14 . . . d6 IS Rfc1 as! 16 a3!? a4 17 Nc3 QaS 18 f4?! Ba6! 19 Ba2 Nbd7+ 20 Nxa4 Rfb8 21 b4?! cxb4 (21 Nc3 Bxc3 22 Qxc3 Qx·c3 23 Rxc3 Nf6 24 eS Ne4 2S Rb3 dxcS 26 fxeS Rd8 27 Rdl Bc4) 22 axb4 Rxb4!! (see diagram) 23 Bd2 Bd3! (the point: if 24 Qxd3 Rxbl 2S B x bl Q xa4 with advantage to Black, as often is the case in the Benko Gambit after Black has recaptured the gambit pawn; e.g. 26 Be3 NcS 27 BxcS dxcS) 24 Qc8+ Rxc8 2S Rxc8+ Nf8 26 Rxb4 Qa7+!-+ (Black wins at least another piece: 27 Khl Qf2) 0-1 Vosselman-Welling (Correspondence Game, 1982). 4S
THE VULTURE
Position after 22 axh4 Rxh4"
d) 7Bd3 Bg7 8Ne2 0-0 90-0 b5 (9h4 b5 100-0 bxc4 11 Bxc4 NXc4 12 NXc4 Qb4 13 b3? with an unclear position, [0-1, 28] de-Waard-Welling, 1985) 1Ocxb5 Nxb5 11 Nc4 Qc7?! (11 . . . Qd8!=) 12 Bg5 d6 13 Qd2 Nd4 14 Rabl a5 15 Khl e5?! 16 N x d4 eX d4 17 Bf4 Rd8 18 Rfcl Ba6 19 Na3 Nd7?! 20Bxa6 RXa6 21 Nc4 Be5! 22Bxe5 (or 22Bg5) NXe5 23Nxe5 dXe5 24Rc4 a4!! 25Rbcl Ra5 26h3 Qb6 (26 Qc2 Qb6 27 R x c5? d3! Welling) 27 R(1 )c2 Kg7 28 Kh2 h6 29 Qd3 Rc8 30 Kgl Rb5= A game Grunberg, GDR - Welling (Budapest. 1985) continued 31 Qa3 Rb4 32 Kh2 Qb5?? 33 Qxb4+- (1-0,44). e) 7Bd3 Bg7 8Ne2 b5 90-00-0 lOcxb5 a6!? 11 b6?! c4! 12Bc2Qxb6+ 13Khla5 14a4?Na6 15Nc3Nb4 16f4Ba6 17 Rf3 f5 18 e5 Nfl 19 Nfl d6 20 e6 Nh6 21 h3 Rab8 22 RbI Rfc8 23 Ng3?! Qd4! 24 Nge2 Qxd1+ 25 Bxdl Nd3 (0-1,44) Kinney-Shibut, Washington DC 1985. Or here 11 Nb3 Qc7 12 b6 Qxb6 13 Be3 Nb7 14 Khl a5 15 Qc1 d6 16Bh6 Bxh6 17Qxh6 a4 18Nf4 c4! (0-1. 44) Sorri-Heinola, Valkeakoski 1986; 11 ... Qa4!? f) 7 Bd3 Bg7 8 f4!? (using up a tempo to post the knight on its natural square. On the other hand White is not likely to be able to post the other knight on c3) 8 ... b5 9cxb5 Nxb5? (better 9 ... c4e.g.1OBc2Nxb5 I1Ne2c3 12bxc3Nxc3 13Nxc3 Qxc3 14 RbI Qe3+)lONf3Nd4 110-0Qc7 12e5Nxf3+ 13 Qxf3 Bb7 14 Nc4 0-0 15 d6 exd6 16 Be4 BXe4 17 Qxe4 46
THE VULTURE
Nc6 18 Nxd6 and White has a clear advantage de Franca Teixeira - van Damme (Correspondence Game, 1983/84) g) 7 Bd3 Bg7 8 Nh3?! b5 90-0 Ba6 10cxb5 Bxb5 11 Nb3 Qa4! 12 Bxb5 Nxb5 13 Be3 d6 14 Qd2=+ The game ended in a draw. Kojder-Backer (Katowice, 1985). Black's wellposted queen restricts his opponent's play.
II White expands on the queenside a) 7 a3 Bg7 8 RbI (to prepare for a later b3 or b4) Na6?! (In variations with White Qc2 this is a usual move to guard the black pawn on c5, but here 8 ... 0-0 is preferable, or 8 ... b5!? 9b4cxb4 1Oaxb4Qc7 llc5Nb7~ ... a50rif8 ... b5 9b3 with an unclear position) 9 Bd3 O-D 10 Ne2 b5 11O-D (or 11 b3!?) bxc4 (or 11 ... Rb8 12 b3! e6 13 f4 exd5 14 exd5 bxc4 /5 bxc4?! Rxbl 16Nxbl f5= or here /5 NXc4 Nxc4 16 Bxc4 unclear) 12 Nxc4 Nxc4 13 Bxc4 d6 14 Qd3 Rb8 15 Bg5 Re8 16Bd2 Qb6 17Khl Bb7 18 b4 cxb4 19axb4 Bc8 20 Qa3 Nc7 21 b5 Qc5 22 Qd3 Qb6 23 Be3 Qb7 24 Nd4± Bxd4 25 Qxd4 Bd7 26 b6 axb6 27 e5 Rec8 28 exd6 exd6 29 Bh6 Ne8 30 Rfel f6 31 Re7 Rc7 32 Rbel Ba4 33 R(7)e6! Rn 34 Bd3 Bd7 35 Re7 Ng7 36 Rxn Kxf7 37 Bxg7 1-0 Kanko-Westerinen, 1983.
In the game just quoted White's advanced central pawns were convenient targets for the black pieces working very smoothly, so Westerinen's move 8 ... Na6 seems unnecessarily cautious.
47
THE VULTURE
From Diagram d a game Radnoti-Bucker (Budapest 1984) continued 9, , ,Qc7 lOBb2 Bxb2 11 Rxb2 cxb4 12axb4 as! 13 bS NfS (if 13 cS? Ne8 14bSQxcS ISRc2Qe3+,once again highlighting the loosened white structure, resulting from 4 f3 or again 13 cS Nf5 14 d6 exd6 15 exfS dxcS) 14 Rb3 Nd4 15 Ra3 QcS 16 Ra4 e6 17 Nb3 Nxb3 18 Qxb3 d6 19 Ra2 Nd7 20 Ne2 NeS 21 Ng3 fS 22 Be2 f4 23 Nfl Bd7 24 Nd2 Rfc8 2SQa3 Qe3!? 26Qxd6 Rxc4 (if 26dxe6 Bxe6 27 Qxd6 Bxc4 28 Nxc4 Rxc4!! 29 Qe6+ Kg7 30 QxeS+ Kh6 31 Ral Rc2-+ or 26 Kdl! Qb6!) 27 Kdl Rc3! 28dxe6 Rac8 29Ral Nd3-+ (0-1,40) c) 7 a3 Bg7 8 RbI 0-0 9 Bd3 eS?! (9 , .. fS!? 10 Ne2 f4!? 11 0-0 eS unclear or 9 , , . bS see above) 10 b4 Qc7?! (10 . '. , cxb4 11 axb4 Qd8 12cS Ne8 ~ . . . as) 11 bxcS! QxcS 12 Nb3 Qc7 13 cS Ne8 14 Be3 fS (14 . , , as!?) 15 Nge2 Qd8 16exfSgxfS 170-0d6 18f4b6 19cxd6Qxd6 20Qc2Ba6 21 Ng3 Bxd3 22 Qxd3 e4 23 Qc4 Qg6 24Nd4 Nbd7 25 Qc6± Qxc6 26 dxc6 Bxd4 27 B xd4 Nb8 28 Rbcl Nc7 29 BeS Nba6 30Rfdl (I-O, 46) Yrjolii-Railio (Finland 1984).
III Miscellaneous a) 7 eS?! NfS 8 Bd3 e6?! (8 . , , d6!; 8 ... Nd4 9 Ne2 Bh6? IONxd4 cxd4 11 0-0 - 0-1,42, Karl-Diepstraten, Nendeln 1986) 9 B x fS gx fS 10 d6? b6 11 Kf2 Nc6 12 f4 Rg8 13 Ne2 Bb7 14 Nf3 Bg7 15 ReI f6 16 Ng3 0-0-0 17 Re3 Qa6 0-1 Stadtfeld-Kruner, Correspondence 1984. b) 7 Qc2 Bg7 8 Bd3 Na6 (4 f3 in conjunction with 7 Qc2 does not turn out too well for White) 9 a3 bS 10 c x bS N x bS = + 11 B x bS Q x bS 12 Ne2 (a basic idea of the Vulture, White intends to transfer his KN to c3) d6 13 Nc3 Qb7 140-0 Bd7 15 Nc4 Nc7 16 BgS NbS! (similar to the Benko Gambit, where Black often tries to get rid of the white knight on c3 by exchanges. Without the cover of this knight the white pawns on a2 and b2 are more exposed. The entire strategy is concentrated on Black's control of the diagonal a6-fl, and the whole game is most instructive). 17NxbSBxbS 18 Rabl Qa6 19Rfc1 Bd4+ 20 Kh 1 f6 21 Bd2 Kf7 22 Qd3 Rab8 23 b4 Rhc8 24 g3 Kg7 2SKg2 Rc7 26h4 Rbc8 27hS gxhS 28Rc2 cxb4 29Qxd4 48
THE VULTURE
RXc4 30 Rxc4 Rxc4 31 Qe3 bXa3 32 g4 a2 33 Qh6+ Kg8 34gSaxbl=Q 3Sg6Qf1+! 36Kxfl Rc2+0-1 (if37Kf2hxg6) Oud-Timmerman (Dutch Correspondence Championship 1983/84) c) 7 Kf2 Bg7 8 Nb3 Qc7 9 Qc2 fS (in a game Federau-Litt NRW League 1985, White varied with 9 Bd3 bS 10 Bf4 bxc4 lleScxd3 12exd6exd6 13Qe1+BeS 14Bh6Qd8 ISBg7 Qe7! 16 Bxh8 Bxh8 and White resigned on move 28) 10 Be3 b6 IIBd30-0 12exfS NxfS 13 BxfS gxfS 14 ReI e6 ISNe2 exdS 16 cxdS Qd6 17 Rdl Na6 18 Qd2 Qf6 19 d6 Bb7 20 BgS Qxb2 21 Be7 Qxd2 22 Rxd2 Rf7 23 ReI Nb4 24 Redl Rc8 2S a3 Nc6 26 Ng3 c4 27 Nal c3 28 Rd3 NeS 29 Nc2 Nxd3+30 Rxd3 Be4! (0-1, 44) Balabanov-Frolik (Sindelfingen 1982). d) 7 Kf2 Bg7 8 Nb3 Qa4 9 Bf4 Bxb2 10 RbI Bg7 11 Qc2 (Qe2) Na6 12 eS NfS 13 g4 d6!
14Qe2dxeS ISBxeSBxeS 16QxeSf6 17Qb2Nd6 18Re1 Kf7 19Nh3 Re8 20Nf4 Nxc4 21 Bxc4 Qxc4 22Re4 QbS 23 Rhel Bd7 24 h4 c4 2S gS Qb6+ 26 Kg2 cxb3 27 Re6 BXe6 28 dXe6+ Kf8 29 gxf6 QcS 30 axb3 Rac8 31 f7 Qc2+ 32Re2 Qxb2 33fxe8(Q)+ KXe8 34Rxb2 Nb4 (0-1, 47) Andersson-Sjoberg, RiIton Cup 1985.
SUBVARIATION 6 4Qd3 49
THE VULTURE
Before examining the three Main Variations of the Vulture with 4 Qc2, we will briefly discuss 4 Qd3, .with similar ideas. 4 ... QaS+
As in the three main variations, White now has three continuations. These are:
A 5Nc3 B 5 Nd2 Nd6 6e4 C 5 Nd2 Nd6 6 b3 We shall see how the white queen on d3 (as opposed to c2 in the Main lines) has its advantages as well as drawbacks. The reasons for 4 Qc2 occurring ten times more frequently in tournament practice than 4 Qd3 are mostly psychological. When facing unknown territory, a queen's pawn addict subconsciously tends to follow an established pattern based on standard openings (e.g. Queen's Gambit, Modern Benoni, and so on). In such openings the white queen on d3 might get in the way, since the d-file is often left clear for occupation by a rook. A. SNc3 NXc3 6Bd2 eS
If 6 ... b5!? 7 cxb5 Qxb5 (7 BXc3 b4 8 Bd2) 8 Qxc3 Ba6 9Nf3 e6 (9 ... d6 lOe4 Qd7) 10e4 (or 10e3!?) Qa4 (Qb7) 11 Bd3 B x d3 12 Q x d3 Be7 about equal. In conjunction with 50
THE VULTURE
4 Qc2, this sequence of moves would not have been so good, since after 7 ... Q x bS 8 B x c3 would give White the edge. 7Bxc3
If 7dxe6 e.p. dxe6 8Bxc3 (8Qg3?! Nxe2 is an interesting pawn sacrifice) 8 ... Qc7 (8 ... Qa4!?) 9 Qg3 Qxg3 (but not 9 ... Qe7? lOBxg7!Rg8 11 Bxf8Hergert)lOhxg3f6 11e3 Kf7 12Bd3 h6 13Nf3 Nc6 14Nh4 Ne7 lSf4+= 7 ... Qc7 8 f4 Less dangerous is 8 g3 (8 Nf3 d6 9 e4 g6 10 Be2 Qe7 11 0-0 Bh6 12 b4? c x b4 13 B x b4 Na6 14 Bc3 NcS when Black stood better in Kaljundi-Kruner, Correspondence 1986) 8 ... d6 9 e4 g6 10 f4 Nd7 11 Bh3 f6 12 Ne2 Bh6 13 Be6 Nb6 14 fS gxfS IS exfS Qg7 16 Rd1 Ke7 17 b3 Draw, Muslelin-Heinola, Turku 1988. 8 ... d6 9 Nf3 ge3 Qe7!? !Of xeS dxeS 110-0-0 Bg4; or here 11 Qe4 f6 12 Nf3 Qf7 (or 12 0-0-0 Qc7) unclear 9 ... Nd7 Black has two alternatives: a) 9 ... exf4 lOg3!fxg3?! llhxg3h6 12Rh4!withastrong attack (9 . . . exf4 10 Qe4+?! Qe7 11 Qxf4 h6! _ . . . gS, driving away the queen from its good square is less convincing for White). b) 9 ... f6 _ ... Qf7 possibly comes into consideration, since unlike in the Main Line with 4 Qc2, White cannot build up his attack with Qc2 - Bd3 which would be awkward for Black to meet. 10 e3 g6 II Be2 Bg7 120-0 (l2fxeS!?) 0-0 13 fxeS dXeS?! At this point there was no need for Black to take any notice of Sl
THE VULTURE
the white queen on d3. Better than recapturing on e5 with a pawn was 13 . . . N x e5! 14 N x e5 d x e5 (if 14 B x e5 d x e5 15 d6 e4) 15 d6 e4 (if 15 ... Qc6? 16 Bf3 Bf5 17 Qxf5) 16 dxc7 exd3 (if 16 Qd5 Qc6; or if 16 Qxe4 Qxd6 17 Radl Qe6) 17Bf3 BXc3 18bxc3 Be6 19Rabl! (if 19Rfbl b6!) Rac8 20 R x b7 Rfe8 with excellent counterplay e.g. 21 R x a7 Re7 (21 . . . Bxc4 22Rbl Kg7 23Kf2 Re7 24 Rbb7) 22Bd5 R(c)xc7 23 RXc7 RXc7 and White cannot make use of his extra pawn. For this reason, a correspondence game continued: 15 b4 Bf5 16 Qd2 b6 17 a4 Rfd8 18 bXc5 Qxc5 19 Bb4 Qc7 20 a5 Be4! 21 axb6 axb6 22 RXa8 RXa8 23 Bd3 Bxd3 24 Qxd3 Bf8 25 d6 Qc6 26 Rdl Rd8 27 e4 Rd7 28 Qd5 Qa4 (28 . . . Qxd5 =, Gallinnis) 29 Rbi Qc2 (=, 48) Bobzin-
Gallinnis, Correspondence 1985. 14 d6!+= Qc6 If 14 ... e4 15 Qxe4 Qxd6 16 Radl ISNgS fS? Better 15 ... Nb6 16 Bf3 Bf5! (Better for White either 16 Radl or 16 Ba5) 17 Qxf5 gxf5 18 BXc6 bXc6 19 b3 Bh6 20 Rxf5 f6+= 16 Bf3! e4
17 Nxe4 Qb6 52
THE VULTURE
17 ... fxe4 18 B xe4 is fatal for Black; White exchanges rooks on f8 and penetrates with his queen to f7 via d5 (New in Chess). 18 Ng5+-
A game Gelpke-Hodgson (Ramsgate 1983) continued 18 ... B x c3 19 Bd5+ Kh8 20 Q x c3+ Nf6 21 Ne4 (21 e4 h6 22 e5 Nxd5 23 cxd5 hxg5 24 e6+) 21 . . . Qd8 (if 21 . . . Kg7 22 g4! h6 23 h4) 22 N x c5 (Even stronger is 22 Rad I! with the idea of 23d7 Bxd7 24Be6+-) 22 . . . Rb8 23d7?! Bxd7 (Again 23 Radl Qxd6 24Nxb7 Qc7 25Na5+-) 24Nxb7 Qc7 25 Na5 h5 26 b4 Kh7 27 BO g5 28 Radl Rbe8 29 c5 Bb5+- (1-0,47) Notes from New in Chess. B. 5 Nd2 Nd6 6 e4
If 6Qa3?? Nxc4 7Qxa5 Nxa5 8a3 b6 9b4 Nb7-+ 6 ... g6 7 f4 For alternatives see Main Variation B. We give one example of the gambit line 7 b4 from an important relevant game: 7 b4!? Qxb4 8 RbI Qa5 9 Bb2 Rg8 10 Bc3 Qa3 11 h4 Bh6 12 h5 Bxd2+ 13Kxd2Na6 14hxg6hxg6 15Rh7Nb4 16Bxb4 Q x a2 + 17 Kc 1 c x b4 18 c5 N x e4 19 Q x e4 Q x f2 20 d6 e6 21 Qf3 Qxc5+ 22 Kb2 Rf8 23 Rdl Qe5+ 24 Kbl as 25 Bc4 a4 26 Ne2 Ra5 27 Qf4 Q x f4 28 N x f4 ReS 29 Bd3 b6 30 Rfl Rc3 31 N x g6 Rb3 + 32 Ke2 Rc3 + and a draw by perpetual check (33 Kd2 R x d3 + 34 K x d3 Ba6+ Crouch-Hodgson (Aaronson Congress 1983 - the game was awarded the 'best game prize', and was also a first attempt with the Vulture by an 1M). 7 ... Bg7 7 . . . Na6 8Qc3 Qxc3 9bxc3 Bg7 lOe5 Nf5 11 Ne4+= Ribbegren-BI~cker, (lightning game) Better 7 ... Bh6!? 8 Ne2 b5
8 Nf3 b5!? 9 cxb5 a6 unclear 53
THE VULTURE
An example of a particularly vicious 'Benko-style Vulture'. This is occasionally seen in variations where White plays Od3. Whether instead of 8 ... b5, Black could have loosened the massive white central pawn structure with 8 ... f5? 9 e5 Nf7 10 b3 is dubious. If instead of 8 Ngf3, White continues 8 a4 then after 8 . . . Na6 ~ . . . Nb4 a second black Vulture-Knight impedes the white progressive build-up. • C. 5 Nd2 Nd6 6 b3 f5
6 ... e6 (if 6 ... e5!? 7 Bb2 f6 - compare with Main Variation C, where White would continue with e3 --~ Bd3) 7 Bb2 exd5 (or 7 . . . f5; if instead 7 e4 f5 or 7 e4 Be7 8 Bb2 0-0 ~ ... f5 unclear) 8 cxd5 (if 80xd5 Nc6 9 Qd3 b5 10 e4 bxc4 11 bxc4 Nb4 12 ObI Oa4 13 Nb3 Ba6 14 NXc5 Oa5::;:) 8 ... b6 (what else?) 9 Bd Qa3 10 Nbl Qa6 11 Qf3 ~ e4± 7Bb2 e6 8 Be3 We follow the only existing game with this variation KringsP. Bucker. For alternatives see Main Variation C (with 40c2).
8 ... Qd8 Or 8 ... Ob6!? 9 e4 Na6! threatening ... Nb4 unclear, if 10 a3 fXe4 11 NXe4 and Black wins a pawn. 9 f4!? exdS
54
THE VULTURE
Maybe 9 ... Na6 is more flexible 10 Qxd5 Na6 11 e4
The correct continuation for Black here should be 11 ... Nb4! with mutual chances, for if 12 Bxb4 cxb4 13 cS NXe4 (or 13 ... Qf6), Black controls the dark squares, and if 12 QeS+ Qe7 with equality. Instead Black continued 11 ... Qe7?! and after 120-0-0 Qe6 13 ReI QxdS 14 exdS+ Kd8 IS Ngf3± White was firmly in command. (1-0, 39) Krings-P. Bucker (Detmold 1983). Summary: The subtle nuances between 4 Qc2 and 4 Qd3 require close attention.
MAIN VARIATION A 4 Qc2! Qa5 + 5 Nc3
The first exponents of this system were J. HUismann and Correspondence Chess G. M. G. Stertenbrink. The alternative S Bd2?! (S Kdl?? Nxf2 mate) Nxd2 is fairly innocuous: 6 Qxd2 Qxd2+ 7 Nxd2 (7 Kxd2 and 8 Nc3 =) g6 8 e3 Bg7 9 RbI Na6 10 a3 d6 11 Bd3 0-0 12 f4 Nc7 13 e4 a6 14b4 cxb4 ISaxb4 as! 16cS a4 17cxd6 exd6 18Bc4 a3 19 Ba2 NbS 20 Ne2 Bg4 21 Nf3 Rfe8 22 h3 RXe4 23 Kf2 B x f3 24 K x f3 R x e2 0-1 Lammi-Heinola, Valkeakoski, 1986. SS
THE VULTURE
Or here 6 Nxd2 g6 (6 ... d6!? 7 NO Bg4 8 Qb3 Nd7 9 e4 BxfJ! =+Mosser-Margarit, Correspondence 1987) 7 Nf3 Bg7 8 e4 d6 (8 . . . eS!) 9 Be2 (9 Bd3 Na6 10 Qel, 0-1, 24, Kivirauma-Heinola, Tampere 1987) 9 ... fS (9 ... Nd7 10 h3 Nf6 11 g4; 9 ... eS) 100-0 fXe4?! += 11 NXe4 Nd7 (O-O!) 12NfgS Nf8? (12 . . . Nf6 I3Ne6 Bxe6 14Nxf6+) I3Nxd6+!! exd6 14Qe4+ BeS ISf4 Qd2 16fxeS BfS 17 RxfS gxfS 18 QxfS Qxe2 19 Qf7+ Kd8 20 Qxb7 Qe3+ 21 Khl QxgS 22 Qxa8+ and 23 Qxa7+ 1-0 Hauperf-Quack, Correspondence 1987. After S Nc3, Black must choose his plan carefully. These examples are a warning of what can happen, if he fails to do so: a) S ... fS? 60 Nd6 7 e4 fXe4 (7 ... g6? 8 Bf4) 8 fXe4 g6 (8 ... eS+ =) 9 NfJ Bg7 10 Bd3 and now: (i) 10 . . . 0-0 110-0 Na6 (better 11 ... eS _ ... Nf7 _ ... d6) 12 a3 Nf7 13 Bf4± White's harmonious set-up prevents Black from gaining any activity, 13 . . . d6 (if 13 . . . eS 14 dXe6 e.p. dXe6 IS eS and 16 Ne4 or 13 ... Nc7 14 eS) 14 eS!
14 ... dXeS (14 ... BfS; or 14 ... Bg4 may be better) IS Be3! Bd7 16 b4 cxb4?! (16 . . . Qc7) 17 axb4 Qc7 18 Qb3 + - (If Black mishandles the opening some of the characteristics are a mobile white pawn centre with a black 'Vulture Knight' left stranded without a foothold) 18 ... e4 19Bxe4 Nd6 20cS 1-0 Clever-Mayer (German Championship Rd.2 1981). The author had explained to Black the ideas of the Vulture only one day before this game was S6
THE VULTURE
played and this may explain why Mayer didn't quite find the proper defence against this rather drab system with Nc3. (ii) 10 . .. b5 II eS Nn 120-0 NxeS 13 Nxe5 Bxe5 14 Nxb5 Ba6 15 Bd2 Qb6 16 Bc3 d6 17 Bxe5 dxe5 18a4 Bxb5 19 a x bS as 20 Be2 Nd7 21 Bg4 Nf6 22 Be6 Rf8 23 Qc3 Qc7 24 Rael e4 25 Rxe4! 1-0 Cording-Schuh (W. German League 1981/82)
5 ... Nxc3 To eliminate the knight on its ideal c3 square and thus hinder the sound development of White's Q side forms the basis of the Vulture strategy. Nevertheless, it appears that 5 . . . Nd6!? offers an interesting, if somewhat complex, alternative to the knight exchange, a view shared by OUo Hardy (who has analysed the whole idea) and Andrew Martin 1M. The latter goes as far as to prefer the retreat, in view of the variation 5 ... N x c3 6 Bd2 eS 7 d x e6 ep (see Main Variation A2), but we do not share this opinion. Let us examine the replies 6 b3?! and 6 e4: A. 6 b3?! g6 7 Bd2 Bg7 8 Nb5 Qb6 9 Nxd6+ Qxd6 10 Bc3 0-0 11 h4 Bxc3+?! (11 . . . b5!? is also quite playable) 12Qxc3 Qf6 13 Qxf6 (Qcl) exf6 14e3 d6 15Bd3 Na6 16 Ne2 Bd7 17 Nc3!? Nc7 18 Kd2 f5 19 Rael a6 20 e4 fxe4 21 Nxe4 Ne8 22 h5 b5 23 f3?! (g4!?) BfS!? 24 hxg6 hxg6 2S Ng5 Bxd3 26Nh7(?) (26 Kxd3 Nf6 =) 26 . . . bxc4 27Nxf8 Nf6! 28Ne6 fxe6 29Rxe6 Kf7 =+ 30Rxd6 (?) Re8! (Black is now better) 31 Rxa6? Re2+ 32Kdl NxdS! 33 Ra7+ Kf6 -+ 34 Ra6+ Kf5 35 Kcl cxb3! (0-1, 35) FrostHardy, England 1988.
B. 6 e4 g6 (6 ... f6 7 NB Nn 8 e5 fxe5 9 Bd3 g6 10 M! or 6 ... b5 7 cxb5 a6 8 b6!) giving us two major subdivisions: B 1. 7 NfJ Bg7 8 Bd2 0-0 9 Be2 Na6 10 0-0 FedorowiczAnd, Martin, Lille 1987, which Martin judges as slightly better for White but playable for Black. He also mentions the possibility of 9 ... Ne8 10 0-0 d6 11 Nel Qd8 12 f4 fS 13 Bf3 (13 Bd3!? Na6 14 a3 fxe4 15 Nxe4 Nac7 followed by ... bS 57
THE VULTURE
unclear) 13 ... Na6 14 Nd3 Nec7 IS Rae1 8d7 16 a4 Nb4 = (analysis by Hardy). Or in this line 8 Bd3!? Na6! 9 a3 bS 10 cxbS c4! (suggested by Hardy) e.g. 11 8e2 NxbS 128xc4 NXc3 13 8d2 Qc7! or here 12 8d2 Nxc3 with a good game for 81ack (Hardy). 82. 7 Bf4!? (a sharp move aimed at the knight on d6) 7 ... bS (7 ... 8g7 88xd6 exd6 9Rc1 bS? lOcxbS a6 11 a4 +-) 88eS (88xd6 exd6 9b3 8g7 10Rc1 bxc4 11 bxc4 0-0 12 8d3 Na6 13 Ne2 Nb4 14 Qd2 8a6 IS 0-0 Rab8) 8 ... Rg8 and now: (i) 9 Bxd6 exd6 10 cxbS a6 11 a4 (11 b6 Qxb6 12 a4 as) 11 . . . axbS 128xbS 8g7 13Ne2 Na6 140-0 Nc7 IS Rad1 8a6 168 x a6 R x a6 (intending ... Ke7 and ... Rb8) e.g. 17f4Ke7 l8eSRb8 19 Ne4Ne8 20exd6+ Nxd6 21 QxcS (21 NxcS Rxb2 or 21 N2c3 8d4+) 21 ... QxcS 22 NxcS RaS 23 Nd3 Rxa4 24 b4 RbS =. This seems to be the critical line in the S ... Nd6 system. (ii) 9b3bxc4 lObxc48g7 118xg7Rxg7 128d3(12f38a6 or 12 ... e6) 12 ... 8a6 (12 ... Na6 13 eS NfS 14 Ne2 Nd4 IS Qa4 = Hardy) 13 Qb3 Qb4 14 Qxb4! cxb4 IS NbS 8xbS 16cxbS Nb7 17Rc1 Kd8 18eS d6 1ge6 NcS 20 RxcS dxcS 21 d6!? exd6 228e4 fxe6!? (an interesting sacrifice) 238 xa8 dS! 24 Nf3 Kc7 2S Kd2 a6 26 bxa6 Nxa6 27 ReI Kd6 (planning ... Ra7!) 28 NgS Nc7! 29 8b7 h6 30 Nf3 Rg8 followed by ... Rb8, when 8lack stands better in view of the plight of White's stranded bishop. 6 Bd2
The point of the previous move 6 bxc3 would transpose into the inferior variation with 4 Nc3
6 ... e5 a) 6 . . . bS 7cxbS QxbS (7 ... Qa4? 8Qxc3 8b7 ge3 8xdS 10 QxcS e6 11 Qc8+ Ke7 12 QcS+ _ 13 Qd4±) 88xc3 (8e4?) 8a6 9Nf3Qb7! 1Oe48xfl 11Rxfld6+= 12 Nd2 (12 NgS!?) f6 13 Nc4 g6 14 f4 8g7 IS Kf2 Nd7 16 Kg1 S8
THE VULTURE
Nb6 17Nxb6 axb6 18a40-0 19Qd3 Qa6 20Qxa6 Rxa6 21 b3 fS (=, 2S) Patteson-Zitzman, Correspondence 1985). b) 6 ... Qb4? 7 B x c3 Q x c4?? 8 e4 +c) 6 . . . Qxa2?! amusing, but in the last resort incorrect 7 Rxa2 Nxa2 8 Qa4 Nb4 (if 8 e4 Na6 9 Ne2 g6 10 Bc3 or 8 e4 Na6 9 Be2 g6?! 10 Qa4 N(6)b4 11 Bdl) 9 Bxb4? (This pawn grab allows the Black KB scope; correct was 9 e4 e6 10 Bc3±) 9 ... cxb4 10 Qxb4
Black now has two options: (i) JO ... a5 11 Qd2(llQbSe6 12cS!exdS_ ... Na6,but not 12dxe6Bb4+ 13Kdl O-O!?) 11 ... e6(11 ... Nc6? 12 dXc6 eS 13 QdS Bb4+ 14 Kdl dXc6 IS QxeS+ Be6 16 e4!) 12 d6 (12 Kdl Bb4 with compensation) 12 ... Ra6 13 cS Rc6 14 QxaS Na6 IS b4 b6 16Qa4 bxcS 17 bS Rxd6 18 bxa6 Rxa6 19 Qdl c4 20 e4 Bb4+ (20 e3 Bb4+ 21 Ke2 Bb7 22 Qbl Ra4 23 Nf3 0-0) 21 Ke2 Ra2+ 22 Kf3 Ra3+ 23 Ke2 Ba6 24 f3 Ra2+ 2S Ke3 Bd2+ 26 Kd4 Bf4 (or 26Qxd2 Rxd2 27 Kxd2? c3+! 28 Kel c2 29 Ne2 Bxe2-+) 27 Kc3?! BeS+ 28Kb40-0-+ (ii) 10 . .. Na6 (if 10 ... e6 11 QbS) 11 Qd2 (11 QbS b6 12e4 NcS 13eSe6 14b6g5unclear-orherell ... e6!?) 11 .. . e6 12 d6 NcS 13 f3 as 14 e4 f6 IS Qd4 (to prevent .. . Ra6) Nb3 16 Qe3 a4 17 cS RaS=+=. Black's attacking chances are based on controlling the important dark squares, as a result of White's error 9 Bxb4? Back to the Main Variation 6 ... e5 White is at the parting of the ways. He has to decide whether or not to capture en passant. Depending on what he does, the positions that arise will be S9
THE VULTURE
entirely different in character. So we suggest the following subdivisions:
AI. 7 B x c3 'Reduced' Benoni A2. 7 dXe6 e.p. Symmetrical Variation There is an additional noteworthy line, suggested by H. Eng 7 e4 with the idea of Nge2 _ N xc3, when the recapture with a N will enable White to re-establish a N in its natural square. Here is an example: 7 e4!? (7 e3 Qc7 8 B x c3 transposes into A J and 7 e3 Qc7 8 Qxc3 is harmless) 7 ... g6!? (if 7 ... Qc7 8 Qxc3!? possibly - Qg3 _ Ne2 _ Nc3 - or 7 ... d6 8 Ne2 Nd7 9 NXc3 with approximate equality) 8Ne2 Bh6 9Nxc3 Bxd2+ lOQxd2 d6 11 Qh6 Qd8 unclear
A 1 'Reduced' Benoni 7 BXc3 Qc7
60
THE VULTURE
The term 'Reduced' Benoni is based on the parallel move order in the Old Benoni 1 d4 c5 2 d5 e5 3 c4 and if 3 ... d6 we have a typical Benoni pawn structure with white pawns on e4, d5 and c4 and black pawns on e5, d6 and c5. This spotlights an old strategic motif: space advantage against mobility. However, in the Old Benoni White's space advantage tends to result in the black QN blocking the way, and that's why it could be argued that the absence of this knight entails a certain advantage for Black. On the other hand it creates a different type of position with the white bishop on c3 exerting pressure against e5, as well as the absence of a black KN allowing White some tactical chances, e.g. 8 e3 d6 9 Bd3 g6 10 h4!? etc.
8 f4 a) 8 NO d6 9 e4 (9 h3? g6 10 e4 Bh6 11 Bd3 Na6 12 a3 f6 13b4 Qe7 14Ngl?! Bd7 15Ne2 0-0 16Bd2 Bxd2+ 17 Q x d2 f5, 0-1, 36, Ricketts-Kruner, Correspondence 1986) 9 . . . g6 10 Bd3 Bg7 11 0-0 0-0 12 Nd2 Bh6 13 a3 Nd7 (13 ... Qe7!) 14 b4 b6 15 g3 Qd8 16Nb3 Nf6 17 Bd2 Bxd2 18Qxd2Bh3 19Rfel Nh5 20BflQd7 21f3Bxfl 22Rxfl f5 with advantage to Black (=, 70) van der Berkmortel-Welling, Ghent 1986. b) 8 e3 d6 9 Bd3 g6 (9 ... Qe7 Koparski 10 f4!; 9 ... Nd7 1Of4 Nf6 11 Nf3 Bg4 12 fXe5 Nh5; 9 ... h6 Armas) with the following possibilities:
bl) 10 f4 Bg7 11 Nf3 (11 f5 Bh6 12 Bd2 Nd7 13 e4 Bxd2+ 14Qxd2gxf5 15exf5 16Rg8=)11 ... Bg4 12fxe5dxe5 61
THE VULTURE
13 h3 (=, 74) John-Gal/innis, Correspondence 1985; 13 . . . Bxf3 =. b2) 10 h4! Bg7 (11 ... hS 12 f4 fS? 13 e4 Armas; 12 ... Bg4!?) llhSf5? 12hxg6hxg6 13Rxh8+Bxh8 14g4Qh7 IS0-0-0 Na6 16 Ne2! Compared with the final diagram of A2, there are noteworthy similarities, but here White has saved an important tempo by not playing a3; 16 ... e4 17 B x e4 B x c3 18 N x c3 fxe4 19 Qxe4+ Kd8 20 Rhl (1-0, 36) Foisor-Ungureanu, Rumania 1987. The game St6ring-Uiu, Munster 1988 deviated with 11 ... Na6 12 a3 Qe7 13 f4 fS? (1-0,37); 13 ... Bg4! b3) lOh4! Nd7 11 hS Rg8 12hxg6 hxg6 13Nf3 (13f4 Nf6 14 Nf3 Ng4; 13 Nh3) 13 ... Be7 '(13 ... Nf6 14 NgS Ng4!?) 140-0-0 Nf6? (14 ... Nf8) IS NgS! NhS 16 Ne6 Qb6 17 f4 Nf6 18 fxeS Ng4 19 exd6 Qxd6 with advantage to White (=, SO) Bliibaum-B(icker, Detmold 1983.
8 ... d6 if8 ... exf4?! 9Qe4+Kd8 IONf3!f6 Ilg4fxg3e.p.(II ... d6! unclear) 120-0-0 gxh2 13 Rxh2+- Wellin~; if 8 ... f6?! 9 e3 exf4 10 Qe4+ Kf7 11 exf4 Bd6 12 Ne2 bS 13 cxbS a6 14 b6 Qxb6 IS g4 Bb7?! (IS . . . g6!?) 16 gS Be7 17 Rgl± (= S4). Webers-Kasubke (Borghorst, 1982) 9NO
Stertenbrinksuggest9fS?!g6 lOe4Bh6 11 Bd3gxfS 12exfS f6, but Black can then continue ... Qg7 with an excellent game. The absence of knights considerably reduces the effectiveness of the rigorous pawn advance to fS. (Interesting to compare this with an imaginary position with White's other knight posted on e4 and Black's on d7!) Also if 9 Qe4 Nd7 10 Nf3 Nf6 11 Qc2 ex f4 or here 11 Qe3 Ng4 12 Qd3 ex f4 unclear. 9 ... Nd7 JOe3
We are following the key game Tatai-BI'.icker White is aiming at Bd3 with an attack against the black king position. 62
THE VULTURE
10 ... g6 II h4 110-0-0 Bg7 12 h4 Qd8 13 hS Qe7 14 g4 Rg8 (14 Bd3!?) ISKbl Nb6 16hxg6 hxg6 17fxeS BxeS 18NxeS dXeS 19 Be2 Bd7 20 Qe4 0-0-0 21 Rh7 Rde8 22 Rfl Rgf8 23 b3 Kb8 24 Kb2 Nc8 2S Qf3 Nd6 26 Qf6 Draw, Kaiser-Bucker (Bunde, 1985) II . • . Bg7 12 h5 Nb6!? Black now hopes for . . . Bg4 (the best square for his QB) followed by ... 0-0-0, so White can't postpone his onslaught. The more solid 12 ... Nf8 has the drawback of depriving Black of some active counterplay (e.g .... Nb6 --? . . . Na4) 13 hxg6 The apparently more obvious continuation 13 0-0-0 Bg4 14 fxeS Bxf3 IS exd6 B xdl does not seem correct for White. If here 13 Qd2, Black plays 13 ... Qe7. 13 ••• hxg6 14Rxh8+ Bxh8 15fxe5 dxe5 16Qe4
If now 16 ... BfS? 17 Qh4 Bg7 18 e4. Has White's queen sortie given him an edge? Far from it!
16 •.. Na4! The knight becomes very active, with chances of some fascinating complications. 17 Bxe5 17 Qh4 Bg7 18 Qh7 Kf8 19 Qxg7+ Kxg7 20 BXeS+ QxeS 21 NxeS Nxb2 approximately equal. 17 .•• Bf5 18 Bxc7+
(see diagram)
18 Qf4!? BxeS 19 QxeS+ QxeS (19 NxeS 0-0-0 unclear) 20 N x eS N x b2 21 g4 Be4 unclear. 63
THE VULTURE
Position after 17 ... Bf5
18 ... B xe4 19 BeS! and now: a) 19 . . . BXe5 20NxeS Nxb2 21 a4 f6 22Ng40-0-0 23 Nf2+- Bxg2 24 Bxg2 NXc4 2S Ke2 Nb6 26e4 Kd7 27 Ng4? fS (27eS! fXeS 28 as) 28 NeS+ Kc7 29Nxg6 fXe4 (29 as? N xdS! or 29 Rhl) 30 Nf4 Re8 31 as Nd7 (31 Ne6+ Kd6 32 BXe4 NxdS!=) 32 Ne6+ Kd6 33 BXe4 Nf6= 34 Bf3?? (Time trouble) NxdS-+ (0-1, 49) Tatai-Bl~cker (Biel 1984) b) 19 ... Ke7!= 20 b3 Nc3 21 Kd2 Nbl +! (21 Bxh8 Rxh8 with compensation) 22 Kc1 Bx f3 (22 ... Nc3 23 Kb2 B xf3 24 BXc3 Be4=) 23 gxf3 BXeS 24 Rxbl Rh8 2S f4 Bd6 26 Kd2 RhI 27 a3 Kf6 28 Ke2 gS. Black's active counterplay is enough compensation for White's extra pawn. A2 The Symmetrical Variation 7 dxe6 e.p. dxe6
7 . . . fXe6? 8Bxc3 Qc7 (8 . . . Qb6 ge3 d6 lOBd3 h6 11 Bg6+) 9 e3 eS (9 ... Nc6 10 Bd3 h6 11 Nf3 d6 12 Nh4) 10 Bd3 g6 11 Bxg6+ hxg6 12 Qxg6+ Ke7 13 Nf3± 8Bxc3 8 e3 Qc7 9 B x c3 transposes (9 Q x c3?! is possible) 64
THE VULTURE
8 ... Qc7 9 e3
Or 9 Nf3 Nc6 10 g3 (10 e3 eS) 10 ... eS 11 Bg2 g6 120-0?! Andersen-Hardy, England 1985; 12 ... BfS! 9 ... Nc6
In a game Clever-Bucker played the day after the game CleverMayer, the author varied from his own analysis with 9 ... e5. Play continued 10 Bd3 Nc6 11 Ne2!? (White assumed he could ignore the threat of ... Nb4 by Black, since the square dS could later be occupied by the white bishop. However, after 11 ... Nb4 12Bxb4cxb4 13Be4BcS 14h3g6 IS0-00-0 16BdS BfS Black could just about manage to equalise and obtain counter-chances) . ~ :I~
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~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~[~~~1ZJ~~. ~~ ~ ~IJ:~ '''''/ ~ ~ z.1i<
Instead of 11 ... Nb4, I played the faulty 11 ... g6? 120-0 Bh6 (or 12 Nf4?! Be6 13 NdS BxdS 14 cxdS Nb8 IS BbS+-) 6S
THE VULTURE
13 Be4 Bg4 14 BXc6+ bXc6 IS Ng3 Bg7 (IS Qe4? BXe2 16 BXeS fS- +) 16 f4! hS?! 17 fS h4 18 fxg6 hxg3 19 Rxf7±
. .. . ~
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19 , .. Bh6?+- 20Qe4 (20 Rxc7?? Bxe3+) 20 . . . Qd6 21 BXeS Bxe3+ 22Qxe3 Qxg6 23 Rf6(1-0) Since White was not punished for failing to play a3 he in fact gained a tempo in comparison with the Main Line (see below). So Black never quite managed to equalise against Bc3 as intended. IOa3 Preparing for Bd3 If 1Of4 eS IlfxeS NXeS (llg3 g6; I1fS g6) 12Qe4 Bd6 13 BXeS BxeS (13 Nf3 Qc6; 13 Rdl fS) 14 Nf3 f6 Bd3 Be6 16NxeS QxeS 17QxeS fXeS= There are some practical examples with 10 Nf3 as well, even if this appears less dynamic than 10 f4, e.g. 10 Nf3 eS and now a) 11 Rdl Be7 12 a3 0-0 13 Qe4 Bf6 (also good is 13 ... Be6 e.g. 14 g4 fS IS gxfS BxfS 16 QdS+ Kh8 17 BXeS NXeS 18 QxeS QxeS 19 NXeS Bf6 20 Nd3 Bxd3 21 Rxd3?! Bh4!) 14 g4 g6! (14 RdS g6! 15 g4 Qe7 is about equal, or 14 RdS g6 15 RXc5? BfS 16 QdS Rad8 or here 14 RdS g6 15 NXe5? Re8 16 f4 BfS) 15 h4? (Better IS RdS) Bd7=+ 16 Be2 Rad8 17 hS Rfe8 18 hxg6 hxg6 19 gS Bg7 20 Qh4 Kf8 21 Qh7 BfS 22 Nh2 Rxdl + (22 ... Nd4!? 23 f3 unclear) 23 Bxdl Qd7+ 240-0 Qd3 2S Bb3 Be6 26 Qh4 QfS 27 Rdl e4 28 Bxg7+ Kxg7 29Bc2 Rh8 30 Qf4 Qxf4 31 exf4 BfS 32 ReI Re8??= (1-0,41) (32 ... e3! 33 BxfS e xf2+ 34 Kxf2 Rxh2+ 35 Kg3 Rxb2-+ would have been a winning continuation for Black), Ungureanu-Bucker (Tecklenburg, 1984) 66
THE VULTURE
b) 11 Bd3 (A way for White of saving a tempo by omitting a3. Ifnowll ... Nb4? 12Bxb4cxb413Bxh7g6 14Bxg6fxg6 IS0xg6+ Of? 16NxeS White is in command. Note that in variations where White prefers Nf3 to f4, there is no point in trying for BdS, since this would lose much of its sting, compared with lines with an early f4 by White.) 11 ... g6 12 Be4 (if 120-0-0 Bg7 13 NgS 0-0 14 h4 Oe7! =+ [1-0, 4S] HermesmannBucker, West German League 1987). 12 ... Bg7 13 h4 (13 b3!? 0-0 14 Ob2, a suggestion by Sloots, is about equal) 13 ... Be6! (clarifies the position in the centre) 14 BdS BfS IS e4 Be6 16 Bxe6?=+ (16 Bxc6 with equality is better) 16 . . . fxe6 170-0-0 h6! 18Nel0-0 19 Kbl?! a6 20Nd30e7 21 g3 bS 22 f4 b4! 23 Bel Rad8 (23 BxeS? BxeS 24 NxeS NxeS 2S fXeS Og7) 24Bf2Rxd3! 2S0xd3exf4 26gxf4Rxf4 27Rh2Nd4 28 B x d4 B x d4 29 Rfl? Of6 (Better 29 hS! gS 30 Rfl with a slight chance of survival) 30 Rxf4 Oxf4 31 Oe2 hS!-+ 32 Rhl Kg7 330g2 Og4 340c2 as (0-1, 44) SchOnthier-Bucker (Krefeld, 1983)
10 ... e5 'Curtails' the diagonal of White's OB.
II Bd3 g6 As Stertenbrink points out, 11 ... Be6? is dubious, on account of 12 Nf3 Bd6 13 0-0-0 (+ =) g6 (Alternatively if 13 ... Bg4 14 Bxh7; or 13 ... 0-0-0 14 NgS; or 13 ... h6 14 Be4 Bxc4 ISBxc6+ bxc6 16BxeS BxeS 170xc4±) 14NgS Bd7 IS h4 Be7 16 Be4±
12h4 a) 12 [4 Bg7 13 Be4 0-0 (13 NO fS) is less dangerous b) 12 Be4 Bg7 (12 ... Be6 13 f4; or 12 ... Bd7?! 13 BdS 0-0-0 14 Ne2 fS IS 0-0-0 Bg7 +=) 13 BdS BfS (13 . . . 0-0 14 h4 Ne7=) 14 Od2 (or 14 Oa4) 0-0 (or 14 ... O-O-O!?) followed by ... e4 _ ... NeS c) 12Ne2 Bg7 13Nf4 exf4 14Bxg7 Rg8 16 B x e3 NeS 17 Be2 Bd7 _ ... 0-0-0 67
ISBh6 fXe3
THE VULTURE
12 ... Bg7 13 h5 f5 14hxg6 14 Nh3 Be6 14 g4!? is suggested by Sloots. 14 . .. hxg6 15 RxhS+ BxhS 16g4 Qh7
170-0-0 Bd7 (followed by ... 0-0-0; Black is no worse).
17 ... e4? (instead of 17 ... Bd7) would be wrong in view of 18 BXe4 fXe4 19 Qxe4+ Ne7 20 Ne2 BXc3 21 NXc3±
68
2
The Classical Vulture
KNIGHT RETREAT WITH 5 Nd2! Nd6! MAIN VARIATIONS BAND C
The discussion of the position 4 Qc2! QaS+ 5 Nd2! Nd6! that follows constitutes the central theme of the Vulture. This sequence of moves occurs in the 'historic' first example of the Vulture in 1979, and has been seen in a great majority of games since. Prominent protagonists of the white side are GM Henley and GM Ree. We came across the unusual retreat of the black knight to d6 before, in the variation 4f3 Oa5+ 5 Nd2 Nd6 in a similar situation, and there is no need to refer to it again as the 'hallmark' of the opening. First a brief resume of Black's alternatives: a) 5 . . . Nxd2 6 Bxd2 Oc7 7f4 (for 7 Bc3 e5 see Main Variation A - in this line the exchange of minor pieces is on d2) 7 ... e5 (7 ... g6?! 8Bc3 Rg8 ge3 Bg7 10Bxg7 Rxg7 is rather passive, better 7 ... d6 with a later ... e5) 8 e4 (8 f5 d6 69
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
with a constrained position; 8 fXe5 Qxe5 9 Nf3 Qe7) 8 ... d6 (8 ... exf4) 9 fXe5 dXe5 10 Nf3 += (1-0,35) Saba FaragoBucker, Budapest 1988. Compare with the lines from Main Variation A.
b)5 ... f5 6f3(6g4g6 7gxf5gxf5 8Bg2Nd6 9Kf1::!:) 6 ... Nd6 (6 ... Nf6 7Qxf5 e6 8 Qd3::!:) 7e4 e6 8b3 Be7 9 Bb2 0-0 10 Bd3 Na6 (10 e5 Nf7 11 d6 Bg5) 11 a3 b5 12 Ne2 bXc4 (12 ... Rb8) 13 bXc4 fXe4 14 fXe4 (or 14 Bxe4) Bg5 15 Bc3 Qd8 unclear c) 5 ... Nf6 (Zitzman) is an interesting but still untested idea. d) 5 ... Nd6 (Main Line) (i) 6 e4 (see Main Variation B) 6 b3 (Main Variation C) (ii) 6 g4?! e6 (6 ... g6 7 b3 Bg7 8 Bb2 unclear) 7 Bg2 exd5 8 cxd5 Nb5?! 9 e3 d6 10 h3 g6 unclear (iii) 6e3g6 7b3Bg7 8Bb2f6?(8 ... 0-0=)9h4e5 lOh5f5 11 hxg6 hxg6 12 Rxh8+ Bxh8 13 Nf3 (13 g4 or 13 f4 are alternatives) Nf7 14 Nh4 (better 14 g4!) Qb6 15 f4 Qf6 16Nhf3 d6 170-0-0 g5 18fxe5 dXe5 1994 fxg4 20 Ngl unclear (=, 46) Ridley-Gallinnis (Hastings, 1984185) (iv) 6 a3 g6 (White tries to force the issue on the queenside, but has to put up with certain pawn weaknesses) 7 RbI Bg7 8 b4 Qc7 (better 8 ... cxb4!=+) 9 Bb2 Bxb2 10 Qxb2 0-01le3?!(l1b5Qa5 12e3Ne4 13Ngf3=)cxb4 12axb4 a5?!=(Better 12 ... Nf5!=+) 13 c5! Nf5 (13 . . . Ne8? 14b5! Qxc5? 15Rc1+-) 14d6 Qc6! (14 . . . exd6? 15 Ne4) 15 dXe7 NXe7 16 Ngf3 axb4 17 Bd3? (Better 17Bc4 b5= or 17Qxb4= but not 17Ne5?! Qf6 18Ne4 Qg7 19 Bc4 Nbc6 20 f4 Ra3 21 Kf2 N xe5 22 fXe5 Nc6 23Nf6+ Kh8 24Bb3 Ra6, threatening 25 . . . Nxe5!) 17 ... Qd5!
70
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
(A fine position with 18 ... Ra2! in the offing) 18 Ne5 (if 18 Ne4 Qxd3 or 18 Bc4 Qxc5 or 18 Ke2 Ra3!) Ra2 19Qd4 Nbc6 20QxdS NxdS 21 Bc4 NxeS! 22Bxa2 Nc3 23 Ral Nd3+24 Kfl NxcS 2S e4 N(S)xe4+ (0-1, SS) A. Sygulski-Bucker (Krefeld 1983). Or in this line (after 6 a3 g6): 7 e3?! Bg7 8 Bd3 bS 9 cxbS Bb7 10 Ngf3 0-0 (10 ... BxdS Thesing; IO ... c4) 11 0-0 BxdS 12 QxcS Bb7 (Bxf3 Thesing) 13 a4 Na6?? (13 ... Rc8 14 Qa3 a6 with compensation) 14 Qa3 Nb8 1S b4+ - KaposztasThesing, Prague 1986. (v) 6 Ngf3 g6 (or 6 ... e6) 7 b4!? Qxb4 (perhaps 7 ... cxb4 8 Bb2 Rg8 9 Nb3 Qa4 is better with counterplay on the dark squares e.g. 10 cS NbS 11 e4 Nc3 unclear) and now: A. 8 Bb2 f6?! (8 ... Rg8) 9 e3! (The gambit line 6 e4 g6 7 b4?!, given in Main Variation B, would have the drawback of depriving White of attacking chances with Bd3 and, if Black plays . . . f6, h4 ~ hS with siege against g6. In the present variation White avoids this with the text·move e3). 9 ... Nf7 10 Bd3 Qb6?± (10 ... d6 11 h4 Bg4 12 Nh2 BfS!? is unclear; 10 ... Rg8!? ~ ... f5 ~ e6 worth a try) 11 h4 Na6 12 a3 e5 13 dxe6 e.p. Qxe6 14 hS gS IS Bxh7 d6 16 Bg6 Rh6 17 Ne4+- Be7 18 Qc3 Kd8 19 Nxf6 g4 20 Nxg4 Qxg4 21 Qg7 Qxg2 22 Qxf7 Rxg6 23 hxg6 Qxh1+ 24 Ke2 QhS 25Bf6 Bxf6 26Qxf6+ Ke8 27Qf7+ Kd8 28Rdl (1-0) Paulsen-Bucker (Brilon, 1982) B. 8 RbJ QaS 9 Bb2 Rg8 10 Bc3 Qd8 11 e4 fS?! (11 ... Bg7 12 B xg7 Rxg7 13 Bd3 Kf8) 12 Bd3 e6 13 0-0 Na6?! [if 13 ... Ng7 14 NeS White has compensation for the pawn. A game Fartmann-Haslehorst (Warendorf 1984) continued 13 h4!? Na6?! (better 13 ... Bg7!) 14 a3 b6 IS hS Nf7 16 hxg6 hxg6 17 Kfl Bb7 18Rel± (1-0, 24)). 14Rfel Qe7 IS Qa4?! (Better IS NeS Bg7 16 eX fS gx fS 17 Qdl! with advantage to White) IS ... Bg7 16 Bxg7 (Sieglen suggests 16 NeS!?) Qxg7 17 dXe6 Kd8 18e7+?! (either Sieglen's line 18 eS Ne8 19 exd7 8xd7?! 20QaS+ Kc8 21 Rxb7!, or else 18eS Ne8 1gexd7 Qxd7 20 Qb3 is preferable for White) 18 ... Kc7 19 g3 b6 20exfS Re8 21 fxg6 hxg6 22 Ne4 Nf7 23 NegS NxgS 24 NxgS Rxe7 2S Rxe7 Qxe7 26 h4 Bb7 27 Rd1(better 27 Bxg6 Rh8 28 Kfl or even stronger 27 Qdl!) 27 ... Rh8 28 Be4 Bxe4 29 NXe4 Q x e4= + (=, 80) Sieglen-Bucker (Bad Neuenahr 1984). 71
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
MAIN VARIATION B 4 Qc2! Qa5+ 5 Nd2 Nd6 6 e4
Although the move 6 b3 (Main Variation C) is probably better objectively, anybody who wants to include the Vulture in his own opening repertoire should familiarise himself with the diagram position, for the optimistic pawn advance to e4 looks natural and occurs most frequently in practice. It is a developing move, threatens an immediate e5, hitting the black knight and establishes space advantage - all this without encountering immediate resistance. 6 ... g6! 7 NgfJ Here White has at least half a dozen other options. Let's examine them in turn: a) 7 Bd3 Bg7 8 Ne2 Na6 90-0 Nb4 10 Qbl 0-0 (10 ... b5 11 cxb5 Nxd3 12 Qxd3 Qxb5 13 Qxb5 Nxb5 14 RbI Ba6 15 ReI 0-0 16 b4 cxb4 17 Rxb4 Nc3 18 NXc3 BXc3 19 Ra4 Bb5 20 Ra3 Rfc8, 0-1, 34, Vernersson-Hellers, Sundsvall, 1 hour game, 1984) 11 f4 Nxd3 12 Qxd3 b5 13cxb5 Qxb5 14 Qxb5 N xb5=+ 15 Nf3 Ba6 16 Rdl Na3 17 Nc3 d6 18 e5 Nc2 19Rbl Rab8 20b3 Nd4!+ 21 ReI Nxf3+ 22gxf3 Rb7 23 Bd2 Bd3 24 Rb2 Rfb8 25 Ndl c4 26 b4 a5! 27 a3 g5! + (=, 58) Kas-Welling, (Budapest 1985) 72
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
b) 7 Bd3 Na6 8 a3 (8 e5!? Nb4 9 Qc3 Nxd3+ 10 Qxd3 Nf5 11 Nf3 Bg7 12 g4 was suggested by Reinhard Haves, after 12 ... Nd4 the position is unclear) 8 ... Bg7 (8 ... Nb4?? 9 axb4+-) 9 RbI 0-0 10 NO f5 11 0-0 e6 12 e5 Nf7 13 ReI b6? (The correct continuation here is /3 ... exd5 14cxd5 b5+=; also possible is /3 . . . Qc7 14d6 Qd8 15 b4?! cxb4 16 axb4 g5 17 b5 Nc5 18 Bb2 b6= or here 16 c5 b6 17 axb4 g5!? 18 Bxa6 Bxa6 unclear). The game Miikelii-Heinola (Finland 1983) now continued 14 Nfl! Nb8 15 Ng3 Bb7 16 Bd2 Qa6 17 Qb3 h6 18 Re2 White had a slight edge only to go astray later (0-1, 43). Or White can diverge in this line with: 9Ne2 b5 100-0 (lOcxb5 Nxb5 110-0 Rb8 12Nc4 Qc7 13 Bf4 d6 14 Bg3 0-0 15 f4 Nd4 16 Nxd4 Bxd4+ 17 Khl f5! 18 Rae 1 Qb7 19 Re2 Rf7 20 eX f5 B x f5 21 B x f5 g x f5 = +, draw in 58, van Herck-Mastenbroek, Liege 1985) 10 ... bxc4 (10 . . . Rb8 11 RbI bxc4) 11 Nxc4 Nxc4 12 Bxc4 0-0 (Qb6) 13 Bd2 Qb6 14 Bc3 d6 (14 ... e5!) 15 f4 Nc7 16 f5 Ba6 17 b3 with advantage to White (0-1, 45) Green-Hardy, Skegness 1988. c) 7 f4 is not to be feared: (i) 7 ... Na6 (7 ... f5?! is risky: 8 e5 Nf7 9 Ngf3 e6 10 Bd3 Qd8 110-0 b6 12 Nbl! Bb7 13 Nc3, 1-0, 27, Obers-van Ooijen, Netherlands 1986) 8 Nf3 b5 9 b3 Bg7 10 e5!? (or IOBb2Bxb2 11 Qxb20-0 12e5Nf5 13cxb5Nc7)10 ... bxc4 11 bxc4 Nf5 12 Kf2 Nd4 13 Qe4 unclear. (ii) 7 ... Bg7 8 Bd3 Na6 9 a3 b5 =+ IOcxb5 Nxb5 11 Bxb5 (11 Ngf3 Nd4 12 Nxd4 Bxd4 13 RbI 0-0 14 Qc4 Be3 15Rfl Nc7 16b4 cxb4 17axb4 Qb6, =,?, Harri5-Hardy, Nottingham 1988) 11 . . . Qxb5 12 Nc4? (12 Ne2 and 13 Nc3) 12 ... d6 13 Ne2 Rb8 140-0 Nc7 15 RbI? Nxd5 16 f5 Nf6 17 fxg6 hxg6 18 Nf4 Bb7 19 e5 dxe5 20 Nxg6? Be4 and Black won. Leininger-Staudt (Bruchsal 1982). Once again the absence of a Non c 3 that would normally have ruled out such tactics as ... N x d5 proved a decisive handicap. d) 7 Ne2!? Bg7 8 Nc3 f5 9 f3 (9 Bd3 f4!? or ... 0-0, Na6 and e6) 9 . : . e5!? 10 g4 unclear. In the game, Donelly-Shibut, Virginia Open 1986, Black proceeded more cautiously with 73
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
8 . . . 0-0 (8 . . . Na6 9a30-0 10Bd3 fS 11 0-0 fxe4 12 Ndxe4 NfS 13 Ne2 Qb6 14 N4g3 +=,0-1, SI, StrombergerDiepstraten, Nendeln 1986) 9 Bd3 eS 10 0-0 (g4) Na6 II Nb3 Qc7 12 Be3 fS 13 f4 fxe4 148xe4 Nxe4 IS Nxe4 exf4 16d6Qc6 17Bxf4b6 18RaelBb7 19Nbd2Nb4 20Qb3aS! 21 Qh3 Nc2 22 Re2 Nd4 23 NgS?? 0-1 e) 7g4?! Bg7 8f40-0 9Ngf3 Na6 lOa3 bS =+ 11 eS Nxc4 12Bxc4bxc4 130-0d6 14Nxc4Qd8 ISQg2Nc7(0-I,41) Terho-Heinola. lyvaskyla 1987. f) 7 e5?! NfS 8 Nf3 (8 Ne2 Bg7 9 f4 d6 10 exd6 exd6 11 Qe4+ Kd8 12g4 Re8 13 Qbl Bf6!? 14 b4 Qa4 IS gxfS?? Bh4 mate. Dr. Hanning-Bucker, lightning game 1982) 8 ... Bg7 (or 8 ... Na6) 9 Bd3 Nd4!? (9 ... d6 10 e xd6 eX d6 110-00-0 12 Ne4? so far Schiffer-Bucker, lightning game, 1983; now 12 ... Qb6+=) IONxd4 cxd4 110-0 BxeS 12Nf3 Bg7? 13 BgS; White has compensation and went on to win e.g. 13 ... h6 14 Bxg6 hxgS IS NxgS etc. To my knowledge there are as yet no tournament games with the ultra sharp 7 eS, but if anything, the over-exposed advanced white pawn centre plays into Black's hands. g) 7b3 Bg7 8Bb2 Bxb2 9Qxb2 0-0 IOBd3 b5?! lIeS bxc4 12 bxc4 Ne8 13 Ngf3 d6 140-0 Nd7 (14 . . . Na6!) IS Rfel Nb6 16 exd6 exd6 17 h3 Ba6?± (17 . . . Na4!) 18 Re3! Rb8 19 Qcl Nf6 20Bfl Bc8 21 Ra3 Na4 22 NgS! Rb4 23 Nde4 Qd8 24 Qf4 (1-0, 32) Helsloot-Timmermann (Dutch Correspondence Chess Championship 1982-84). On move 10, instead of the text, Black could have profitably continued with 10 . .. e5 IIf4 (11 QxeS Re8 12Qxd6 Qc3 13Rdl Qxd3 14 QxcS Na6 IS Qa3 Qc3!?) 11 ... f6 12 fxeS fxeS 13 Nf3 Nf7 14 NxeS NxeS IS QxeS d6 16 Qb2 Nd7 17 Rfl NeS 18 Rxf8+ Kxf8 19 Be2 Bd7 20 0-0-0 Re8 with compensation. h) 7 b4!? Qxb4 (7 ... cXb4) is not without its dangers: (i) 8RblQaS 9Bb2f6 IOBc3(lOeSNf7!? Ilexf6eS)IO ... Qd8 (10 ... QcT?! 11 eS Nf7 12 eX f6 eS unclear; or here 12 d6 Qc6 = +) 11 Ngf3 (see diagram) II ... eS? (II ... Nf7! 12 eS fS! 13 e6 dxe6 14 Bxh8 Nxh8 with compensation: ISNgS?! Nf7 16Nxe6 Bxe6 17dxe6 Nd6 18 Qa4+ Nc6 19 Rxb7? Qc8!) 12 dxe6 dxeS 13 eS! fxeS 74
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
Position after II Ngf3
14 N XeS Rg8 IS Bd3 Bg7 16 Ndf3 Nd7 170-0 N XeS 18 BXeS BXeS 19 NXeS Bd7 20 Rfe1 Qe7 21 Be4! +0-0-0 22 Qb3 Be8 23 Bf3 Rg7 24 Nd3 NfS 2S Qa3 1-0 Scholz-Breuer, Correspondence 1986. Note that in the diagram position 11 . . . Bg7? also gives White a strong attack after 12 Bd3 Nf7 13 eS! fXeS (13 ... fS 14 e6 or 13 ... NxeS 14BxeSfxeS ISBxg6+!)14h4d6 IShS. (ii) 8 RbI QaS 9 Bb2 RgB 10 h4 (for 10 eS see 8 Bb2; 10 Bc3 Qc7 11 Bd3 fS 12 eS Nf7 13 Ngf3 e6 140-0 b6 IS Rfel Bb7 16 Qb3 Qd8 17 Rbdl =+ gS?! 18 Ne4!? and the game liischke-Ulzenheimer ended in a draw; 17 ... Na6 is possible here) 10 ... bS? (10 ... Na6) 11 cxbS Bb7 12a4 e6?! 13 Bc3Qc7 14eSNfS IS Ne4Bg7 16d6Qc817Bd3 a6 18Nf3axbS 19axbSNd4 20Nxd4?(20Bxd4cxd4 21 Qc7! +-) cxd4 21 Bxd4?? Qxc2 22Bxc2 (1-0, 31) Peisl-LIW, NRW League 1985, and now 22 . . . Bxe4 23 B Xe4 Ra4! with advantage to Black according to Liitt (24 Rdl BXeS or 24 ReI fS!). (iii) 8Bb2Rg8[or8 ... f6!? 9RblQaS 10eSNf7 llexf6eS 12Bd3d6 13Nf3Nd7 140-0 Nxf6 ISNh4Be7 16f4 Ng4 unclear; Post-Wiiltermann (Correspondence 1983-4)] 9 Bd3 Na6 10 Ngf3 QaS?! 11 a3 Rb8 12 Bc3 Qc7 13 eS NfS 14 BxfS gxfS IS QxfS e6 16Qxh7 Rxg2 17 Ne4 Rg6 18 NfgS RxgS 19 NxgS d6 20exd6 Bxd6 21 Qg8+ Bf8 22 d6 1-0 Andruet-Schwamberger, (Homburg 1984). 7S
7 ... 8g7 The author used to prefer the less accurate 7 . . . Na6?! to discourage White's Bd3, e.g. a) 7 ... Na6 8a3 bS 9cxbS (9b3!? Bg7 10 RbI b4?! 11 a4 eS) NxbS 10 BxbS QxbS 11 Qc3 Rg8=+ 12 Qc4 Nc7 13 QxbS NxbS 140-0 e6 IS ReI gS 16a4 Nc7 17 Nc4
17 ... Ba6? (17 ... g4 18 Nfd2 Na6 _ ... Nb4=+) 18 b3 g4 19 Nfd2 Kd8?! 20d6Ne8 21eS+=f6 22Bb2fxeS 23BxeS Rb8 24 Rabl Bg7 2S Bxg7 Rxg7 26 ReS Bxc4 27 Nxc4 Rc8 28 Rd 1 Rc6 29 N as Ra6 ( =, 46) Rosemann-Bucker, 1980. b) 7 ... Na6 8 Be2! (This simple developing move often leaves the black knight on a6 somewhat stranded) 8 ... bS (8 ... fS 90-0 Bg7 10 Nh4!? Bf6 11 g3 Bxh4!? 12 gxh4 fXe4 13 NXe4 NfS 14 Bd2 Qc7 IS Bc3 0-0 is unclear) 90-0 Rb8 (9 . . . NXc4?! 10 Bxc4 bxc4 11 NXc4 QbS 12 Qc3 f6?! 13 eS Qb4 14exf6 Qxc3 IS bXc3 exf6 16 Bf4± or 9 ... Bg7 10cxbS NxbS 11 Nc4 Qd8?! 12 Be3+= 0-0 13 Qd2 Rb8 14 Rabl fS!?) lORdl Bg7 11cxbS NxbS 12Nc4 Qd8 13a4?! (if 13 Be3 with the idea of Qd2 _ NaS or Rac1 _ a3 _ b4 - Black may retort with ... 0-0 _ ... Re8 _ ... eS) 13 ... Nbc7 14 d6 Ne6 IS dXe7 KXe7. (see diagram) The black Vulture Knight on e6 makes up for weaknesses elsewhere. After 16 Bd2 Nb4 the position is unclear. These risky variations show that after 7 ... Na6 8 Be2 Black should proceed cautiously with 8 ... Bg7 (as in the text); even so the black knight on a6 may be awkardly placed. After the text (7 ... Bg7) Main Variation B branches off:
76
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
Position after 15 dxc7 Kxc7.
B 1 8 Bd3 Black continues with . _ . b5 B2 8 Be2 Black continues almost invariably with ... /5
B1 STANDARD ACTION ON THE QUEEN'S WING . .. b5 8 Bd3 (for 8 e5?! Nf5 cpo 7 e5) 8 ... Na6
In a game Bass-Hodgson (Ramsgate 1983) Black introduced a sharp alternative with 8 ... O-O!? (Sloot's suggestion 8 ... e5 is answered with 9 h4 e.g. 9 ... h5 or 9 ... h6 with an unclear game) 9 e5 Ne8 10 h4 d6 11 e6 fXe6 12 h5 cxd5 13 cxd5 b5 14 hxg6 h6 (unclear according to an article in New in Chess) 15 Nh4 Na6 16a3 c4 17Be4 c3 18bxc3 Qxc3 19Rbl Nc5 20Bb2Qxc2 21Bxc2Bd7 22 Nfl Draw 9a3 90-0?(forge5seeagain7e5)Nb4 lOQblNxd3 IIQxd3b5 12 cxb5 Qxb5 (12 ... a6?! 13 Qc2 Qxb5 14 Nb3 Bb7 15 Be3 Qa4 16 Nfd2 c4 17 Nd4 Qxc2 18 NXc2 with a draw on move 39 in Crabb-Hardy, 1985; suggested improvements are 13 Nb3 and 18 ... c3) 13 Qe3 Ba6 14 Rei Nc4 15 Qf4 0-0 16 NXc4 Qxc4 17 Ne5 Qb4 18 Be3 Bb5 19 Ng4 Bxb2 0-1 EigenmannMargarit, Correspondence 1987. 9 ..• b5 77
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
9 . . . Nb4? 10 a x b4 Q x a 1 11 b x c5 +100-0
a) 10 RbI?! Nxc4 11 Bxc4 bxc4 12 Qxc4 Rb8?! (Nc7) 130-0 0-0 14Qc2 =+ (0-1, 73) Rosemann-Lutt, NRW League 1987. b) 10 cxb5?! =+ Nxb5 110-00-0 12 Nc4 Qd8 13 Bd2 d6 14 Ba5
14 ... Qe8? (14 ... Qd7 15 e5 Bb7 16 Be4 f5 or here 16 Ne3 Nd4! or again 14 ... Qd7 15Ne3Rb8 16Rable5=+orfinally if 14 ... Qd7 15 h3 e6 16 dXe6 fXe6 17 Qe2 Nac7 18 Radl Rb8 19Ne3 Bb7 20Ng4 Ba8 21Bc4 Rf4!? 22a4 RXe4 23 Qd3 Nd4 24 Ng5!, 0-1, 33, Gallus-Gallinni~', Correspondence 1985; source, New in Chess Yearbook 4; 24 . , . Rxg4! 25 hxg4 d5 =+) 15 h3! Bd7?! 16 Qe2 Qc8?! (16 ... Nbc7 is better) 17e5! Re8 18a4 Nbc7 1gexd6 exd6?+- (19. , . Nxd5! is unclear)20Nxd6Rxe2 21 NXc8Rxb2 22 Ne7+ Kf8 23d6 Rb3 24 Radl Bf6 25 dxc7 NXc7 26Bxc7 KXe7 27 Bd6+ Ke8 28 Rfe I + 1-0 Ree-Timmermann (Dutch Championship 1983), Instead of the simple 10 ... Nxb5, a game HenleyBonin (USA 1983) went 10. , . c4?! 11 Bxc4 NXc4 12Qxc4 Nc7 13 O-O?! (13 a4! is also strong) a6 14 b4! Qxb5?! (14 ... Qb6) 15 Ra2 Qxc4 16 NXc4 0-0 17 Bb2± In a lost position Black managed a stalemate swindle (=, 51) c.p. Chess Informant 35) 10 . .. Rb8
78
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
Other possibilities: a) 10 . .. Nb4!? II axb4 Oxal 12cxbS cxb4? (12 ... a6! unclear) 13 Nb3? (13 eS! Nb7 14 Nb3 Oa4 IS Be3+-) 13 ... Oa4 14 Bh6 Bxh6 IS Ral Oxa I + (=,21) P6cksteiner-NickL (Austrian Bundesleague 1985). Or here 12 bxcS NXc4 13 Nxc4 bxc4 14 Bxc4 O-O? IS BgS Oxb2 16 Oxb2 Bxb2 17 BXe7 Re8 18d6 (0-1, 2S) Kitching-Hardy, Hereford 1985; 14 ... Rb81 unclear. In his early experimental games with this new system the author used to try a quick break to resolve the tension in the centre. b) 10 . .. b x c4 II N x c4 (N ote with the white B on e2 instead of d3, White could now have played II eS) II ... N Xc4 12 B Xc4 Ob6 (otherwise White plays Bd2 ~ c3) 13 eS
(if 13 Rbi! 0-0 14 Bd2 Nc7 15 Bd?! NbS 16 BxbS OxbS =+ 17Nd2Ba6 18Rfcl?Bh6 19Rel Rfc8 20Nf30d3 210dl?! d6 22 Nd2? Rab8 23 Nf3 Rb7 24 Bd2::;:; 0-1, 71 Dr. Schmidtke-Bucker, Nordwalde 1981. For White IS b4 came into consideration). From the diagram position 13 . . . Bb7 14Bf40-0 ISRfel?Nc7(ISRadle6 16 dXe6fxe6 is unclear, but not here IS . . . Nc7? 16 Rd3! a6 17b4±) 16Radl e6 17 dXe6 fXe6 18 Rd6 Bc6 19 Bg3=+ Rab8 20 b3 OaS?! (20 ... Ob7!) 21 Nd2 Oxa3? (Better 21 ... Bh6 followed by ... Ne8 ... Ng7 ... NfS or 21 ... NbS) 22 Ne4 Ob4 23 Redl NbS? (Better 23 . . . NdS!) (see diagram) 24 RXc6 dXc6 2S NxcS Na3 (2S ... Rfd8 26 Na6) 26Bxe6+Kh8 270cl Rbd8 28 Nd7 Rfe8 29 0 x c6 Rc8 30 OdS NbS 31 Nf6 Nc3 320d6 Oxd6 33 Rxd6± (however White later went astray 79
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
Posi tion
and Black managed to score a full point, 0-1, 46) HofmannBucker, NRW League 1979. The first example of the Vulture! 11 RbI 0-0
Black does not impetuously rush his attack. Either 12 cX b5 or 12 e5 would weaken White's d-pawn; e.g. 12 e5?! Nxc4 13 NXc4 bxc4 14 Bxc4 d6 15 Bd2 Qb6 16 Bc3 Bf5 17 Bd3 Bxd3 18 Qxd3 Nc7 19 Rfe1?! dXe5 20 N xe5 Rbd8! 21 Nc4 Qb3 22 d6 exd6 23 Re7 d5 24 Nd2 Qb6::;: 25 Bxg7 Kxg7 26 Nb3 d4 27 Qc4 Ne6 28 Re 1 Rd6 29 Qa4 a6 30 Nd2 Qd8 31 Rb7 d3 32 Qc4 Kg8 33 Re3 a5?! 34 Rb3 Rd4 35 Qb5 Qa8! (indirectly guarding the pawn on d3, e.g. if 36 Rexd3? Nf4) 36 Qb7 Q x b7 37 R x b7 a4 (0-1, 80) Dr. Vigh-Bucker, (Budapest 1984). 80
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
12 b3! b4 But not 12 ... Qc3? 13 Qxc3 Bxc3 14 eS NfS IS cxbS Nc7 16 Ne4 etc. (1-0. S2) Grun-Bucker. Btinde 1985. 13 a4 e5 unclear. Since 14 Nx eS?!. an attempt to exploit some lack of coordination in Black's game. does not work, the black game looks stable. For those who prefer a sharper continuation for Black. the move 10 ... Nb4?!. previously mentioned. merits attention.
B2 ACTION ON THE KING'S WING . .. f5 88e2
The author's original plan for Black both against Bd3 and Be2 was the standard procedure on the queenside with . . . bS. However. against 8 Be2 a change in strategy soon proved more to the point. By hitting the somewhat vulnerable white pawn on e4 with ... fS, Black can often dispense with ... Na6.
8 ... 0-0 After 8 ... eS the game Panzer-Eng, West German League 1987, continued 90-00-0 lONel fS 11 f3 Na6 12Nd3 Qc7 13 a3 b6 14 b4 Nf7 IS Nb3 d6 (0-1. 64). The alternative 8 . . . Na6 is more often reached by transposition from the previous move after 7 ... Na6 8 Be2 Bg7 90-0 0-0 and now: a) lORd! fS (to ... Rb8 11 Nfl!? bS or 10 ... eS 11 dxe6 e.p. dxe6 12 eS NfS 13 Ne4) 11 exfS (11 Nh4?! Bf6; 11 a3 Rb8 12 RbI) NxfS 12 Nb3 Qc7 (12 ... Qa4? 13 Qe4) 13 Bd2 (seediagram)13 ... eS 14dxe6e.p.?dxe6 ISBc3eS=+ b) lOe5NfS 11 Nb3Qa4 12Bf4bS!= 13Qclbxc4 14Qxc4 Qxc4 IS Bxc4 d6 16 NaS Nb4 17 Radl Ba6 18 Bxa6 NXa6 19 Nc6 Nb8 20 g4 Nxc6 21 dxc6 dxeS 22 BxeS B XeS 23 NxeS Nd4 = + (0-1.29) lohn-Wiiltermann (Correspondence. 1983/84) 81
THE CLASSICAL VUL TU RE
Position arter 15 Bc3 c5
c) 10 Nb3 Qa4 and now: (i) 11 Bf4b5! 12Bxd6exd6 13cxb5Nc7
:s: ~.!~
W
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I" ~~ /\ ~I\~
o [~§'~£[~
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.lIm ~
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Black has a good game, e.g. 14 e5 Nxb5 15 exd6 Nxd6 16 Qxc5 Ne4 with compensation. (ii) 11 Be3 f5 (but not 11 ... b5 12cxb5 Nb4 13 Qbl!) 12exf5 Nxf5 13 Bd2 Nb4!? (with an imaginative piece sacrifice in mind) 14Qbl (14Qc1 Nxa2 15Qdl Bxb2 16Nxc5 Qxdl 17 Rfxdl? Nc3) 14 . . . b6 15Bdl Qa6 16a3 Qxc4 17 axb4 cxb4
82
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
18 Ncl as 19 Bb3 QbS 20 Qe4? (Since neither 20 ReI nor 20Qa2? Ba6 21 ReI Nd4 22Ba4 Nxf3+ 23gxf3 QcS yields White any advantage, White only has 20 Ba4 Qc4 21 Bb3 with a draw by repetition) 20 ... B x b2 (20 ... Ba6!? 21 ReI Bxb2 22 Ba4) 21 Bc4 (21 d6+ e6 22 Rbi Bf6 23 Qxa8 Ba6) 21 ... Nd6 22 BxbS Nxe4 23 Ra2 Bc3 24 Be3 Bb7 2S Rdl Bg7 26 Ne2 b3! 27 Ra3 b2 28 Nfd4 BxdS 29 RbI Nd6 30 Bd3 eS 31 NbS Nc4 32 Bxc4 Bxc4 33Nec3(33Rxb2dS=+)dS 34Nc7d4!? 3SNxa8 Rxa8 36 Rxb2 dxe3 37 fxe3 Bf8 38 Ra4 Rc8+ 39 h4 BcS 40Kf2 Rf8+ 41 Kg3 Be6 42Re2 Bb3?! (42 ... Bb4!-+) 43 Re4 Ra8 44 Na4 Bxa4 4S Rxa4 Kf7 46 Kf3 bS 47 Ral a4 48 Rc2 Be7 49 Ke4 a3 SO Rc7 Ke6 SI Rb7 Ra4+ S2 Kd3 e4+ S3 Kc2 Rc4+ S4 Kb3 Rb4+ SS Kc3 Rc4+ S6 Kb3 Rb4+S7 Kc3 Bd6 S8 Rb6 KeS S9 Rdl BcS 60 Rc6 Be7! 61 Rc7 Bd6 62 Rc6 a2!+ 63 Rcxd6 al=Q+ 64 Rxal Rc4+ 6S Kb3 Kxd6 66 Ra7? Rc7 67 Ra2 Rcl 68 Rd2+ KeS 69 Re2? Rdl 70 Kb4 KdS 71 KxbS RbI +72 KaS Rb3 73 Ka4 Kc4 74 Rc2+ Rc3 7S Rb2 Rxe3 76 Rb7 hS 0-1 Galije-Blkker (Dortmund 1982).
d) JOa3bS lleSNxc4 12Bxc4bxc4 13Nxc4Qd8 14BgS h6 IS Bf4 Nc7 16 Qd2 gS 17 Bg3 Bb7 18 Ne3 e6 19 d6 NbS (19 . . . NdS or 19 . . . Ne8!?) 20Qe2 Nd4 21 Nxd4 cxd4 22 Ng4 Qb6? (22 ... hS! =, Thesing) 23 Rfcl Rac8 24 h4! with an attack (1-0, 30) Gauglitz-Thesing (Kecskemet 1984).
90-0 Attempts by White to launch an attack with 9 g4 or 9 h4 are best countered with 9 ... bS 10 cX bS a6!? with an unclear position, in the spirit of the Volga Gambit. 9 ... f5=
(see diagram)
Black would like to post his knight on d4 via fS possibly preceded by ... eS. If for instance 10 exfS? NxfS 11 Ne4 eS 12 d x e6 e.p. the slight pawn weakness on e6 is more than compensated by the superior activity of Black's pieces. 83
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
Position after 9 ... f5
10eS? The text is based on an instructive game Hobuss-Bucker. 10 Nb3 would be more precise for if 10 ... Qa4? 11 eX fS N x fS 12 g4! and the white queen on a4 is somewhat misplaced. A game Straat-Welling (The Hague 1982) went 10 Nb3 Qc7 11 exfS (11 eS Nf7 12 Bf4 e6= but not 12 . . . b6? 13 Qc3) NxfS 12BgS(12Bd2eS!=+)eS 13Bd3d6 14Bc1Na61Sa3 Qe7?! 16Nbd2 Kh8 17Ne4 Rb8 18Bd2 bS 19b3 Nc7 20 Rabl Bh6 21 BaS! bxc4?! 22 bxc4 Ba6 23 Rfdl Qd7?? 24Rxb8 Rxb8 2SNxeS!+- Qg7 26Nc6 Re8 27Nxd6 (1-0) Instead of IS . . . Qe7, Black could have gained the initiative with 15 . . . Nd4! 16 Nbxd4 cxd4 17 b4 BfS! 18 BxfS (18 NgS Rac8) RxfS 19 Bb2 Rc8 20 Rac1 bS 21 Nd2 Bh6 etc. Other alternatives are: tOexfSNxfS l1a3eS 12Rbld6(Qc7 13 b4 b6) 13 b4 Qc7 14 bxcS QxcS IS Ne4 Qc7 16Bd2 b6 (? Heinola) 17a4 Nd7 18aS h6 (0-1, 44) Koponen-Heino/a, Tampere 1987, or to a3 Na6? (10 ... eS 11 b4 c x b4 12 Bb2 Heinola; to ... Qc7! and ... eS) 11 exfS NxfS 12 Ne4 Qc7 13 RbI eS 14 dXe6 ep dXe6 IS Bd3 (1-0, 32) LaasanenHeino/a, Tampere 1986. 10 ... Nt7 II Nb3 Qa4!= +
84
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
Because of the inaccurate white move order, Black's pieces operate with maximum harmony in the ensuing phase of the struggle for the advanced pawn centre. (Black will undermine the white centre with moves like ... b6 ... Na6 ... ~ Nc7).
12 Bf4 If 12 Bdl b5!
12 ... e6 Threatening . . . eX d5 with the white pawn on c4 unable to recapture, because of ... Qxf4 and already directed against ... e5 as the main target for the black attack.
13Qd2 If 13 Nbd4 Qxc2 14 Nxc2 d6! 15 dxe6 Nxe5=+ (15 exd6 e5)
13 ... b6 14 Rfel 14 Rfcl ~ Bdl is more dynamic and would offer counterchances.
14 ... Bb7 The black plan of laying siege to the white pawn on e5 can be summarised as follows: After ... Na6 ~ ... c7, White is forced to commit himself with his pawn on d5, surrendering the vital square c6 to the opposition, and opening up the diagonal a8-f3 for the black minor pieces. After ... Bb7 Black is likely to force the exchange of one of the pieces guarding the white pawn on e5, and Black can then increase the pressure with a later ... g5. Incidentally, it is worth noting that occasionally in the Vulture the 'massive' white pawn centre (e5, d5) is supported by a pawn on f4 in which case Black should attempt to break up such a structure with ... e6 and ... d6.
15 RadIn 85
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
15Ng5Nd8(15 ... Nxe5? 16Bxe5Bxe5 17Bdl)16h4Na6. Black can of course prevent all this with 14 ... h6, if he so wishes. 15 ... Na6 16 Nc1 Nc7 17 b3 17 d6 Na6 18 a3 Bxf3 19 Bxf3 Rae8 might offer White more chances, but he is still left with serious problems, guarding his pawn on c4, especially after the regrouping of the black ON, ... Nb8- ... Nc6 17 ... Qa3 18 d6 Possibly 18 dXe6!? is better 18 ••. Na6 19 Nd3 h6 20 h4 Nb4+
White has to exchange knights. If he fails to do so, Black will continue with ... Rac8 ... Be4 and ... Nc6. Also White has to be prepared for Black's pawn advances on both wings (gaining valuable space with ... g5 or ... a5 _ ... a4). 21 Nxb4 cxb4 22Nd4 22 c5?! or 22 Be3 Oa5 23 Bd4 Rac8 are good for Black. 22 ... Qa5 23Bf3 Bxf3 24Nxf3 Rac8 86
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
Because of the constant pressure against the white e-pawn advanced into enemy territory the white pieces are reduced to immobility. The game went on: 25 Qe2 Kh7 26 g3 Rg8 27 Kg2 Bh8 28 Rhl Qa6 29 Nd4 Rc5-+ 30 Nf3 Qb7 31 Kh2 Ra5 32 Rdel (otherwise ... Qe4) Rc8 33 KgI? (virtually Zugzwang; White's only other option was 33 Rhfl when Black could either play for a winning end-game with 33 ... Qa6 34 Ral b5 etc. or continue with 33 ... Rcc5 and if 34 a4? N xe5 and wins) 33 ... Qa6 34a4 bXa3 e.p. 35Bd2 Rac5 36Bb4 NXe5 37Bxc5 RXc5 38 NXe5 RXe5 Black won on time; Hobuss-Bucker (W. German League 1982).
MAIN VARIATION C 4 Qc2! Qa5+ 5 Nd2! Nd6 6 b3
White gains control of the important long diagonal, before expanding in the centre. The reason for 6 e4 (Main Variation B) being more popular than 6 b3 is perhaps due to the fact that 6 ... g6 is not often recognized as a positional threat. Normally in the Benoni the fianchettoed black bishop on g7 is naturally opposed by a white knight on c3, but in Main Variation B it fully controls the long diagonal, as it were. Up to now we have only had very limited experience with this variation, which makes it difficult to arrive at an objective assessment of the move 6 b3 and decide whether such a move is purely artificial or potentially carries some threats. Black will try to isolate the white pawn on d5, and, in doing so, make it difficult for White 87
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
to push on with e4. Up to now we haven't come across an effective counter to the mounting threats on dS, imposed by the active placing of the black pieces. 6 .•• fS Beginning a pincer movement against White's dS pawn which will now be attacked by ... e6, Na6 and ... Bb7. Other moves are: 1) 6 ... g6!? 7 Bb2 Rg8 with the interesting idea of exchanging the strong bishop on b2, giving us two variations: la) 8e3 Bg7 9Bxg7 Rxg7 IONf3 NfS l1g4 Nh6 12Qb2 Rg8 13h3d6 14e4f6 ISgSNf7 16gxf6eS!? 17dxe6Bxe6 180-0-0 Nc6 19 h4 h6 20 Rgl 0-0-0 21 Be2 gS 22 hxgS hxgS 23Nbl g4 24 Nh4 (1-0, 33) Zimmermann-Bucker, 1988; 24 ... NfeS! unclear. Ib) 8e4(Bc3)Bg7 9Bxg7Rxg7 IONf3(lOBd3eS; IOf4!? fS 11 eS) gives us a critical variation. In a friendly game played by the author, the continuation was 10 . . . eS 11 NxeS fS (11 ... f6 12Nf3Nxe4+=)12exfS?!Re7 13fxg6RxeS+ 14 Be2 hxg6 IS Qxg6+ Nf7 16 Qg8+ Ke7 17 Qxc8 Nc6 18Qxa8 Nd4 190-0 Nxe2+ 20Khl Qxd2 21Qxb7?-+ Nd6 22 Qb8 Qh6 23 g3 RhS. Also possible is 10 . . . f6!? (10 ... Kf8; 10 ... fS 11 eS Nf7 12 g3 e6 13 Bg2 Qc7! unclear (14 Qc3 gS) 11 eS fxeS 12 NxeS NfS 13 Nef3 eSt? or 10 ... fS 11 e5 Nf7 12 g3 e6 13 Bg2 Qc7! unclear (14 Qc3 gS) 2) 6 ... e5?! 7 Bb2 f6 8 e3! Nf7 (8 ... bS 9 Bd3 h6 or 8 ... Kf7 9 Bd3 Kg8) 9 Bd3 g6 10 h4 (10 f4 d6 11 Ngf3 Na6 12 a3 Bd7 130-00-0-0 14 Bc3 Qc7 IS b4 fS unclear) 10 ... Rg8 (10 ... d6 11 hS fS 12 g4 e4 13 Bxe4!) 11 hS fS 12 f3 d6 13 g4 Nh6 14hxg6hxg6 ISgSNf7 16f4e4 17 Be2 (or 17Bxe4)± with an attack along the h-file. 3) 6 ... e6 with the intention of provoking 7 e4 Be7 8 Bb2 0-0. Here are a number of possible continuations:
(i) geS?! NfS IOd6 BgS ~ ... f6 =+ (ii) 9 f4 bS 10 eS NfS with compensation 88
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
(iii) 9 Bc3 Od8 IOf4 Ne8 11 Bd3 g6 I2e5 d6 =+ (iv) 9 Bd3 (the most natural looking move) f5? (too committal, better 9 . . . Ne8 10 Ne2 d6 11 Nc3 e5=) 10 Bc3 Ob6 11 Ngf3± (11 exf5 Nxf5 12g4 Nd4) 11 ... fXe4 12 NXe4 Nf5 13 Ng3! g6 140-0 Na6
15 dXe6? (better 15 Bxf5 eXf5 16d6!± Bf6 17 Radl or 15 B xf5 gXf5 16 Od2 Bf6?! 17 Nh5) 15 ... d xe6 16 a3 Bd7 17 Rfel Bf6 18 Ne5 Be8!? (better 18 ... Rad8=; the move ... Be8 as played in the game does not maintain a tight enough control over the square d4) 19 Ng4 Bd4 20 Re2 Od6?! (20 ... Rd8!=+) 21 Rael BXc3 220xc3 Od4 230 x d4 N x d4 24 Rb2 Rd8 25 Be4 b6?! (or ... b5) 26 Ne5 Kg7 27 b4+ =(1-0,47) Schulenburg-Bucker, 1981.
In the final analysis, however, the move 6 ... e6 only offers White additional chances, since after the immediate 7 Bb2 Black can hardly evade the Main Variation by transposition, e.g. 7 ... exd5 8 cxd5 and now a) 8 . . . b6? ge4 Ba6?! (Also good 9Bc3±) lOBc3 Bxfl 11 BXa5 Bxg2 12 Ne2 Bxhl 13 Ng3 (or 13 f3) Bg2 14 Bc3 h5 15 h4± b) 8 ... f6 9 Bc3 followed by e3 and Bd3 c) 8 ... b5 9 e4 (but not 9 Oxc5?? Oxd2+-+) Na6 10 e5 Nb7 (10 ... Nb4 11 ObI Nb7 12 Oe4 Ob6 13 a3 Na6 140e2 Nc7 15d6Ne6 160xb5±)11Bc3(llOd3Nb4 120e4)Ob6 12 Od3 Nb4 13 Oe4 a5 14 a3 Na6 15 a4 c4? 16 axb5+d)8 ... Nb5? ge3d6 10Bd3h5 I1Ne2Na6 12a3±
89
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
7Bb2 7 Nf3 Rg8 (e6) 8 g3 g6 9 Bg2 Bg7 10 Bb2 Ne4 II Bxg7 Rxg7 12 ReI d6 13 0-0 N x d2 14 N x d2 Na6 (White is better) 15Qb2Kf8 16a3Qd8 17b4b6 18f4Kg8 1ge4fxe4 20Nxe4 Bf5 21 Rfel Rb8 (=,37) Klerstam-Enklund, Swedish Veterans Tournament 1986/7. 7 g3 e6 8 Bg2 Be7 9 Bb2 0-0 lO Nh3 Na6 11 Bc3 Nb4 12 Qb2 Bf6 13 Bxf6 Rxf6 14a3 Na6 150-0 Rb8 16e4 Rf8 17e5 Nf7 18 f4 b5 19 Rfcl Bb7 20 Qc2 Nc7 21 d6 Na6 (0-1, 41) Enklund-Heinola, Turku 1988. 7 f3 is less flexible e.g.
(i) 7 ... e6 8 e4 (8 Bb2! transposes to the Main Variation) 8 ... fxe4? (Be7) 9 fXe4 Be7 10 Bb2 0-0 II Nf3 exd5? 12cxd5 (1-0, 29) Honsch-Lenz, West German League 1987. (ii) 7 ... f4? is refuted by 8 Bb2 e6 9 Nh3! (see 7 Bb2 e6 8 f3 f4? 9 Nh3). However, with inexact play by White, this could still prove dangerous, e.g. 7 ... f4 8g3 (or 8Nh3 e5!? 9dxe6 e.p. dXe6 lONxf4 Nf5 II Kf2 Bd6 12g3?! Be5 13 RbI Bd4+ 14 Kel Ne3 15 Qe4 0-0 16a3 e5 17Nd3Bf5 18Qh4Nc6 19Bh3Bxd3 20exd3e4 21dxe4 Ne5 22 Ke2 Qc3 23 Bb2 Qd3+ 24 Kel Nxf3+ 25 Nxf3 Nc2 mate) 8 ... e6! 9 gxf4 Nf5 10 e4 Nd4 11 Qbl Be7 unclear e.g. 12 Kf2 0-0 13 Ke3 e5!
14 fXe5 Qc3+ 15 Kf2 Nc2 16 Qb2 Qe3+ 17 Kg2 Nel + 18 Kg3 Bh4+ 19 Kxh4 Qf4+ 20 Kh3 g5 and 21 ... Qh4 mate next move. 90
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
7 .•. e6!
Other moves are: a) 7 . . . Ne4? Sf3 (SNf3+= or Sg4?! Nxd2 9Bc3 Qc7 10 Qxd2 fxg4 11 QgS with good compensation for the pawn) Nxd2 9 Bc3 Qc7+= (or 9 . . . QdS; or if 9 ... Nxf3+?! 10exf3 Qc7 11 QxfS) b) 7 . . . b5 S cxbS (better S f4) Bb7 9 Nf3 (9 QxcS? Qxd2+-+ wins a piece) BxdS 10QxcS QxbS unclear.
In the diagram position Black immediately challenges the white pawn on dS, so White has to devise some counterplay against the impending threats of ... bS, ... Bb7, ... Na6. 8f3
The basic reply. White establishes a rigid fixed pawn centre, forming a chain with f3-e4-dS-c4. There are a number of serious alternatives to be considered: a) 8 dXe6 dXe6 9 e3= Nc6 10 Nf3 (or 10 f4) Bd7 11 a3 0-0-0
12 Bd3 RgS? 13 Bc3? (The correct tactical refutation of Black's error is 13 b4! Qc7 14 bS and IS NeS::t or here if 13 ... cxb4 14axb4Qxb4 ISRa4QcS 16Ba3Qb6 17cS+-)13 ... Qc7 14 NeS NXeS (This time 14 b4? Nf7 IS Qb2 Bd6 is unclear) IS BXeS Qc6?! (1S ... Bc6 16 b4?! Qd7 17bxcS Nf7=+ or IS ... Bc6 16b4 Bxg2) 160-0 Nf7 17Bc3 gS ISb4 Qa6?+= 91
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
(Better was 18 ... hS! the text takes exaggerated precautions against non-existent threats!) 19 Nb3 Ba4 20 Be2 Be7 21 Qb2 Bxb3 22Qxb3 g4 23 Rfdl eS 24bxcS! BxcS 2SQbS Qc6 26Qxc6+ bXc6 27 BaS (Better 27 Bb4) Rd6 28 Rdbl f4 L9 Rb3 g3 Xl fxg3 (with the offer of a draw) fXe3!?± (if 30 ... BXe3+ 31 Khl and 32cS) 31 Rabl Kd7 32Rb7+? (32 Bb4!) Ke6 33Bb4 Bxb4 34R(7)xb4 Rd2 3SRei Rgd8 36Bg4+ Kf6 37Rxe3 Ra2 38Rbl Rdd2 39Bf3 NgS= (=, 69) Bischoff-Bucker (Dortmund 1982). b) 8 Nf3 Na6?! 9 e3 (9 dXe6 dXe6 10 NeS was suggested by F. Hellers. Black can continue with 10 ... Be7 or even stronger 10 ... Ne4) 9 ... Nb4?! 10 Qbl? (10 Qc3 is unclear) exdS 11 a3 Na6 12 cxdS Nc7 13 Bc4 bS 14 Bd3 Bb7 IS BxfS NxdS 16 Bxh7 0-0-0 (0-1, 33) A. Hols-P. Bucker (lightning game 1981). c) 8e3 (8g4!?; 8h3) 8 ... Na6 9a3 Rg8? (9 ... Nc7 lOBd3 exdS 11 cxdS NxdS 12BxfS c4! 13bxc4 Nxe3) lONB Nf7 11 h4 Be7 12 e4 g6 13 hS and White stands better ( = , 3S) Groffen-Welling, Utrecht 1985. d) 8 g3 (! Miles) is a suggestion by Hobuss which proves more dangerous for Black than most alternatives. 8 ... Ne4 (8 ... bS?! 9dxe6! Bb7 lOexd7+ Nxd7 is a dubious pawn sacrifice; 8 ... Qc7?! 9 BeS QbS) 9 Nf3 Na6 (bS) 10 Bg2 unclear. e) 8 Bc3 safeguards the pawn advance to e4, supported by pieces rather than a pawn chain and is more flexible than the text 8 B; e.g. 8 Bc3 Qb6 (8 ... Qc7 9 BeS? Qd8!) 9 e4 (9 Qb2, a suggestion by Heller, is unclear after 9 ... Rg8 10 Ngf3 Nf7 11 e4 d6!? Other interesting alternatives are 9 h4, 9 g4, 9 g3 or Benjamin/Schiller's 9 Nh3) 9 ... Na6!
:I~i.~.OO
~~i~i~ """ , ~ ~ ~~tli{ i'}
~
.i~ »"'" ~
~~
Wi , ,,""
~ ~
~~~.t~ ~~~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~
~~~~ ~ ;.".. , ~!'!:,~ L,,~ L,,> ~~ ~ m.t~I1 ''',,' ~ "",r;; »",,7
92
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
An unusual defensive system. From the diagram: el) JOe5 Nf7 11 f4 (11 d6?! is too committal) d6 12 Ngf3 Nb4
13 Qbl exd5 14 a3 d4 IS Bxd4 cxd4 16 axb4 dXe5 17 fXe5 Bxb4 18 Bd3 0-0 190-0 Qc5 20 Khl NXe5 21 NXe5 B x d2 - + Stertenbrink-Bucker (lightning game 1981). e2) JOa3? fxe4 11 NXe4 NXe4 12Qxe4 Qxb3 e3) 10 Bd3 Nb4 and now White has the option of (i) II Qbl Nxd3+ 12 Qxd3 fXe4 13 NXe4 Nf5= (ii) 11 Bxb4 Qxb4 12 exf5 N xf5 13 Bxf5 exf5 14 Qxf5 d6 followed by .... Be7 ... Bf6 with compensation for the pawn. e4) JO Qbl!? is another possibility e5) 10/3 Qd8!? (in analogy with the Main line move order, cpo 8 f3 Qd8. An important alternative to the text is 10 ... Nj7, e.g. 11 exf5 Nb4 12 Qb2 exd5 unclear) II a3 fXe4 12 fXe4 Qh4+ 13 g3 Qh6 14 Qd3 Be7 IS Ngf3 0-0 16 Bg2 b5 (16 . . . Nn 170-0 d6 18 e5 Nc7 unclear) 17 Bb2! (the threat was 17 ... b4; if instead 17cxb5 Nxb5! 18Qxb5 Qe3+ etc.) 17 . . . Rb8 18Be5! bxc4 19bxc4 exd5 20exd5 Rb6 210-0 Nf5 22 Rael Qg6!= (prevents g4 and also in general a useful move) 23 Bal (23 Ne4 d6 24 Bal Bd7 25 Nc3? Bf6) 23 ... d6 24 Ne4 Bd7 25 Qc2 Qh6 26 Qd3 Qg6 27 Qc2 h5? (either 27 ... Qh6 with equality or 27 ... Nc7 ----'; ... Ne8 ----'; ... Nf6 is preferable) 28 Nf2 Qh6? (28 ... Nc7) 29 Qd3 Qh7?! 30 Nh3 Nc7 31 Nfg5 Qh6 32 Ne6 BXe6 33 dXe6 g6?+- (Better 33 . . . Nd4 34 Rxf8+ Kxf8 35 Bxd4 cxd4 36Qxd4 Bf6 37 e7+ BXe7 93
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
38 Qe4 Bf6 39 Nf4 unclear) 34 Nf4 a5 35 Be4 a4 36 N x g6 Rb3 37 Nxe7+ Nxe7 38 Bh7+ Qxh7 39 Rxf8+ Kxf8 40 Qxh7 1-0 Markmann-Bucker (NRW League 1981) e6) 10 Nh3 (a suggestion by G. Walter, Brandenburg) 10 ... fxe4 11 dxe6 Nb4 12 Qbl dxe6! 13 Nxe4 Nf5. Black has no problems. He will proceed with ... Nd4, ... e5, ... Bf5, ... 0-0-0
8 ... Qd8 The key move of the Main Variation with 6 b3. The queen from a5 transfers to the kingside where it is purposefully required, when the f-file is opened and more than anything to aid Black's kingside development and the cover of the weakness on g7. The envisaged transfer manoeuvre consists of ... Qa5 -~ ... Qd8 ~ ... Qh4 ~ ... Qh6. Alternatives to the text are: a) 8 ... f4? (transposition from 7f3 f4?!) 9Nh3! Nf5 IONxf4 (10 Be5? d6 11 Bxf4 e5~ ... Ne3 ... Bxh3) 10 ... Qc7 (10 · .. Bd6 11 Nh5±) 11 Qe4 (11 g3?! Ne3 12 Qe4; a better idea is 11 ... Be7, threatening ... Qxf4 -~ Bh4+ -+ ... Ne3+) 11 · .. Be7 12dxe6± b) 8 ... Nf7?! 9Nh3 (ge4 f4!?) d6 lOe4 fxe4 e5+=
11 Qxe4
9e4 Alternatives are: a) 9 O-O-O!? (suggested by Sloots) played with the intention of avoiding a weakness with g3, but committing himself with his King at an early stage in the game. e.g. 9 ... Qh4 (9 ... a5, or 9 · .. b5 or 9 ... f4!? are all possible options) 10 e4 Na6 ~ ... b6 · .. Bb7 ... 0-0-0 b) 9 Nh3 Na6 10 Nf2 Nb4 11 Qc3 exd5 12 Qe5+? (12 cxd5 Nb5) Qe7 13 Qxe7+ B xe7 14 Rcl d4 15 Nd3 Nxd3+ 16exd3 b6 17Be20-0 180-0 Bb7 19Rfel Bg5 20Rc2 Be3+ 21 Khl Rae8 22 Nfl f4 and a rapid 0-1 A.HolsP. Bucker (lightning game 1981) 94
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
c) 9 g3 QgS would generally transpose into the text after 9 e4. d) 9 h4 Be7 10 g3 f4!? 9 . . . fXe4
a) 9 ... f4?! 10 BeS QgS 11 Qc3
~
12 Nh3
b) 9 ... Qh4+ is about as good as the text but with the f-file still closed could give rise to some unusual positions: e.g. 10 g3 Qh6 11 f4 fXe4 (or ... Na6) 12Nxe4 NfS unclear, or lOg3 Qh6 11 eS Nf7 12 f 4 gS with advantage to Black. White has problems defending his vulnerable kingside. However, after 10 g3 Qh6 11 eS a mistake would be 11 . . . Qe3 +? 12 Ne2 Nf7 13 f4! followed by Bg2 and Nfl threatening to trap the black queen. 10 fXe4
If 1ONxe4 exdS?! (Better 10 ... Nf7; or 10 ... NfS 11 Bd3 Nd4 unclear) 11 cxdS (11 NxcS? QaS+) NXe4 12Qxe4+ Qe7 13 Qxe7+ KXe7 140-0-0+= 10 ... Qh4+ 11 g3 Qh6=
In many modern openings the defender puts up with an opposing space advantage, provided that his pieces can operate smoothly within limited territory. If you study the key position above, you soon realise that Black in no way has to assume a
9S
THE CLASSICAL VUL TU RE
passive role. He plans to seal off the long diagonal with ... Nf7 _ ... eS, and this could be followed by a piece attack against the white king position weakened by g3.
120-0-0 White could also chance 12 Bh3 Be7 13 Kfl!? but not 12 Bd3?! Be7 (or here 12 ... Nf7 and if 13 eS! Qe3+) 13 Kfl 0-0+ 14 Kg2 Nf7! (alternatively 14 ... Na6 IS a3 Nf7 16 d6!?) IS eS Na6 (or IS ... d6 16 Ne4 Na6 17 Qe2 exdS 18 cxdS BfS) turns out well for Black, e.g. 16 dXe6? Nb4 17 exf7+ Rxf7 18 Qc3 dS!::;: Also plausible seems: 12 Ngf3 Be7 13 Qc3 0-0 14 Bg2?! bS (or 14 ... Nf7 - ... d6 - . . . eS) IS0-0 Na6 16NeS? Bf6 17Radl?! b4 18Qc2 Qe3+ 19 Khl exdS 20 exdS?! BXeS-+ A. Hols-P. Bucker (lightning game 1981) or 12 Qc3Nf7 (also interesting is 12 ... Be7!? 13 Qxg7 Qe3+_ 14 . . . Rf8) 13 Ndf3 (13 eS d6; or 13 eS Be7 14 d6?! need examining more closely) 13 ... d6 14 Bh3 Na6 IS dXe6 (or here IS Kf2) BXe6 16 BXe6 Qxe6 17 Kf2 (possibly 17 Ne2) Nb4=+
Black can utilise his vantage point eS more easily than White can make use of the -square dS. In a way, this is a delayed consequence of 3 ... Ne4 _ 4 ... QaS+ which induced White to play Nbd2 instead of the Nbc3 which would have been more typical against the Benoni structure.
12 ... Be7 13 Ngf3 96
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
The alternative for White 13 Kbl 0-0 14 Ndf3 Nf7 15 Ne2 (15 dxe6?!=+) d6 16dxe6 Bxe6 17 Nf4 Nc6 is approximately equal
13 ... 0-0 14 Kbl Nt7 15 h4 d6 16 Bd3 e5 17 Rdgl Qh5!? 17 ... Na6 18 a3 Bd7 19 Nfl Nd8 (or 19 g4 Qf4) looks more straightforward. 18 Nh2 Nd8 or 18 ... Nh8!? possibly in conjunction with Ng6 and a later ... Nf4 19 ... Ndf3 b5!? (or 19 ... Qe8) 20g4 Qe8 21 g5 Nd7 Wastes time; 21 . , . bxc4 was preferable 22 cxb5 a6 23 Qe2! Nb6 24 Nd2 Because of White's favourable placing of his pieces he has the edge. He can post his other knight on an excellent square (e3). Black's plan of a possible breakthrough with ... c4 is rather farfetched, so his knight on b6 is not ideally placed. Even so, a game Luchtmeijer-Timmerman (Dutch Correspondence Championship 1983-84) went on to an exciting climax. 24 ... axb5 25Bxb5 Bd7 26Bd3 Nb7 27Ng4 Qb8 28Ne3 Qa7 29Nf5? (A bold move, but 29a3 was better) 29 . . . Bxf5 30 exf5 c4! 31 bxc4 Qxa2+ 32 Kcl Na4 33 Ne4 Na5 34 Rg2 Rab8 35 Nc3 NXc3 36 Bxc3 (see diagram) 36 . . . Rbl+ 37 Bxbl Nb3+ 38 Kdl Qxbl mate. Admittedly White often obtains a certain preponderance in the centre against the Vulture, but taking the above game as an example, one should bear in mind what Black managed to achieve by just operating along the 'a' file and keeping the 'h' file closed. Note that Black in that game played no fewer than ten queen moves exclusively along the edge of the board!
97
THE CLASSICAL VULTURE
Position after 36 B x c3
98
3 The 'Hawk'
1 d4 c5 2 d5 Nf6 3 NO c4
By his third move (3 Nf3) White has evaded the sophisticated Main Line with its confusions but once again finds his advanced d-pawn threatened. The black strategy after 3 ... c4 is as simple as it is effective: 4 Nc3 is answered with ... Qa5, followed by ... b5 _ ... b4. How come then that such a straightforward counter-attack has not been common knowledge of old? Presumably nobody seriously believed that the white pawn on d5 against the Benoni could be regarded as weak and vulnerable and conceive a black counter-strategy along those lines. It may be mentioned in passing that even the Alekhine Defence (1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5) where the white pawn on e5 can be challenged much more easily, only became established at a later stage. In the normal variations against the Benoni, White guards the square d5 more than any other point. However, here we break new ground. The Vulture foils the natural set-up with
99
THE 'HAWK'
4 Nc3, and in the Hawk the black c-pawn directly challenges the opposition for occupation of the square c4 itself. So again it becomes apparent that play against 1 d4 follows a set pattern, which is not merely based on an accumulation of chance innovations. This plan, in effect, consists of establishing a central pawn majority. Anybody who enjoys a theoretical discussion on the strategy of the Vulture will feel equally at home with the 'Hawk' and the 'Woozle'. For tactical reasons you may, of course, wish to vary your repertoire, if you anticipate your opponent being familiar with the Hawk and ready to face it. Here are some examples: a) 3 ... bS 4 c4 would transpose into one of the lines in the Benko--Volga Gambit b) 3 . . . e6 4 c4 eX dS is a Modern Benoni (avoiding the sharpest lines!) c) 3 . . . e 6 4 c4 N e4!? (Zitzman) compare the game BujlPereyra (page 00) d) 3 ... d6!? 4 c4 Ne4 e) 3 ... g6 4 c4 Ne4
= Vulture
f) 3 . . . g6 4 g3 c4 is another possibility that needs to be explored. Finally, (g) 3 ... g6 4 Nc3 QaS S Bd2 bS 6 e4 b4? (6 ... c4) 7 eS Ng4 8 Ne4 Bg7 9 Bf4 Qc7 10 d6 Qc6 is a particularly intriguing line with unclear complications. However, in the game Zsu, Polgar-Bucker, (40 min. game, Nordhorn 1988). White improved in this line with 8 h3! Nxf2 (8 . . . NXeS 9NxeS bxc3 lOBxc3 Qa4 11 Nc4 f6 12Qg4! +-) 9Kxf2 bxc3 10 Bxc3 Qb6 11 e6 f6 12 exd7+ Nxd7 13 Bc4 Qd6 14 ReI Nb6 IS BbS+ Kf7 16 Bc6 Rb8 17 NgS+ Kg8 18 Ne4 Qf4+ 19 Qf3 (1-0, 27). The name 'Habichd', short for Hab ich dich is best translated into English as 'I've got you r It refers to the point in the game where Black captures on dS. The association with 'Habicht' (hawk), as another bird is quite fortuitous, emphasising the link between the two related opening systems, in terms of two birds of prey - vulture and hawk. 100
THE 'HAWK'
ORTHODOX HA WK - ACCEPTED 4Qd4 Challenging the opposing pawn, At the same time White will guard his own pawn after e4. In 1979 G. Stertenbrink and I embarked on a theoretical debate by correspondence in which Stertenbrink committed himself to this particular move order for White. Although 4 Nc3 Qa5 5 Qd4 would normally transpose, the move 4 Nc3 might" after all offer White more changes, e.g.: a) 4 ... Qa5 5 Nd2 (In Unorthodox Openings, 1987, this move was purported to demonstrate that the Hawk 'is not nearly as good as Bucker thinks'). 5 ... b5 6 e4 d6 (6 ... e6?! 7 Be2 + == Schiller; 6 . . . e5) 7 a4 Ba6? (Bucker, 1982) 8 a x b5! Q x al 9 Bxc4! (threatening Nb3) Benjamin/Schiller. However, Black can improve with 7 . . . a6! 8 f3 (8 Ra2? b4 9 Ncbl Nxe4!) 8 ... Bb7 9Ra2 Qb4. 5 ... Nxd5 6Nxd5 Qxd5 7e4 +==. b) 4 . . . Qa5 5 Bd2! (a move suggested by G. Walter, Brandenburg. Of course Black too, has other options, as we shall see in variations c) and d). 5 ... Nxd5 (5 ... b5!? 6a3 g6 7 e4 Bg7 is unclear, but after 5 ... b5 6 b4 Qb6 7 a4 bxa4 or here 7 e4 a5 may be a possible improvement for White) 6 e4 NXc3 (6 . . . Nf6 7 Bxc4 Qb4 8Bd3 Qxb2? 9Nb5 Na6 10 Bc3+- Walter or 6 ... Nb6? 7 Nd5 Qc5 8 Bb4 Qc6 9 Ne5 Qh6 lONc7+ +- Walter)7Bxc3Qc5 8Qd4Qxd4 9Nxd4 Nc6 lOBxc4 Nxd4 11 Bxd4 e6+== (White has a slight advantage in the ending). c) 4 ... e6? (Stertenbrink) 5 e4 (If 5 dxe6 fxe6 6 e4 d5 7 Bg5 Bb4 8exd5 exd5 [8e5 h6 unclear] 9Bxf6 Qxf6 lOQd4 Nd7== or 5 Bg5 Qb6) 5 ... b5 6dxe6! fxe6 7e5 b4 8Nbl Nd5 9 Bxc4 d) 4 ... b5!? 5 a3 (for 5 Qd4 Qa5 cpo Main Variation of the orthodox Hawk, other attempts are 58g5 or 5 Nxb5 Qa5+ 6 Nc3 Bb7) 5 ... Qa5 6 Bd2 e6 (6 ... g6 7 e4! d6 8 b4 with an attack on the queenside or 6 ... g6 7 e4 Bg7 8 Nd4 a6 9 e5 etc.) 7 e4 Qb6 8 Be3 Qb7 (8 . . . Qa5 9 Nd2) - the game is even. The ending is quite typical. Black apparently confined in 101
THE 'HAWK'
space has a harmonious position and he can count on control of dS and cS. Apart from 4 Qd4 and 4 Nc3, White has a number of other moves: (i) 4 e4! (see 'open variation') (ii) 4 c3!? setting a trap. Black is given plenty of chances to go wrong. e.g. I) 4 ... Qa5? Se4Nxe4 6Bxc4bS? 7b4!would be a transposition in White's favour (4 e4 NXe4 S Bxc4 QaS+? 6 c3 bS 7 b4!). 2) 4 ... Qb6 S Nbd2 3) 4 ... e6?! S e4 Nxe4 6 Bxc4 The correct reply is 4 ... Qc7! S Qd4 e6 6 Bf4 (or 6 e4 bS -77 ... BcS::;:) QcS 7 d6 QbS - unclear - e.g. 8 Nbd2 NdS! threatening both ... Nc6 and ... Q x b2 and Black has solved his problems. (iii) 4 Na3?! QaS+ (4 . . . c3!? S Nc4 Qc7 6 Qd4 bS) S c3 QxdS 6QxdSNxdS 7Nxc4Nf6 8g3dS(or8 ... Nc6) 9 NceS Nc6 10 Bg2 e6 110-0 Bd6 12 Nxc6 bxc6 13 c4 Ke7= 14 b3 Ng4?! IS Bb2 f6 16 Rfel NeS 17 e4 Nxf3+ 18Bxf3 dxe4 19Bxe4 Bd7 20Radl BcS 21 Rd3 eS 22 Redl Bg4 23 Bxc6 Bxdl 24 Bxa8 Be2 2S RdS RXa8 26 RxcS Bf3 (with compensation) 27 Ba3 Ke6 28 h3 hS 29 Bb4 Rd8 30 Bel Rdl 31 Kfl KfS 32 Rc7 g6 33 Rxa7 h4 34 gxh4 Kf4 3S b4 Be4 36 Ra3 Bd3+ 37 Rxd3 Rxd3 38 a4 Kf3? (Better 38 ... Ke4::;:) (1-0, 49, PrieBucker, speed-game 1980) 4 ..• QaS+ 5Nc3
The alternative S Bd2!? was suggested by Weiermann, e.g. S ... QxdS 6 QxdS NxdS 7 e4 c3! (If 7 ... Nb6 8 Na3 dS! 9 exdS e6! or 7 ... Nb6 8 Be3 dS 9 Bxb6 dxe4 is good for Black, however White has a marked improvement after 7 ... Nb6 with 8 a4! as [Perhaps 8 . . . d6] 9 Be3 Ra6 10 Na3!? followed by NbS and a very strong position). 8 Nxc3 Nxc3 9 B x c3 e6 10 0-0-0= 5 ••. bS 6 e4
(see diagram)
6 Nd2 Na6 7 e4 e6 would transpose into the game Haitsma102
THE 'HAWK'
Position after (, c4
Bucker discussed later where the alternative 7 ... Nb4 would be tempting but wrong, since after 8 Kdl e6 9 a4, Black has problems in finding a good reply, e.g. 9 ... a6 10 Ra3 Ng4?! 11 eS!± (but not 11 axbS? eS 12 Qxc4 Qb6 with an attack). Other attempts are: a) 6 a3?! e6 7 e4 b 4 8 Q x c4 Ba6 9 NbS b x a3 + 10 c3 Q x bS 11 QxbS BxbS 12 BxbS NXe4+ b) 6 Qc5?! Ba6 7 Nd2 (or 7 b4?! cxb3 ep. 8 cxb3 e6 9 d6 NdS+) 7 . . . e6 8d6 Qb6 9Qxb6 axb6 10 Nde4 NXe4 11 NXe4 fS 12 NgS Bxd6-+ (0-1,38) Marth-Pieper, Berlin 1985. c) 6 Bg5 Na6 7 e4 h6 8 BXf6 exf6!
Black has an excellent game. He will continue with ... Bb4, NcS ~ ... Na4 or ... BcS, ... 0-0 ... fS and an attack. This 103
THE 'HAWK'
emphatically shows that Black's third move (3 ... c4!?) is not merely a tactic, threatening ... OaS+ later followed by ... Ox dS. Although the white pawn on dS to a certain degree constricts Black's game, it also surrenders control of the dark squares (eS, cS, b4). d) 6 Bg5 Na6 7 e4 h6 8 Bh4 gS 9 Bg3 Bg7 10 eS is unclear, e.g. 10 ... b4? 11 exf6 Bxf6 l2 BeS bXc3 13 bXc3 BXeS 14 NXeS± (Black's mistake was on Move 10) e) 6 Bd2 b4 (if 6 ... e6? 7 Ne4 Od8 8 BgS Be7 9 d6+-; in a game DavolI-Myers, Burlington 1983, Black varied with 6 ... d6?! 7 Ne4 Oc7 and won in 20 moves; however after 8 N x f6+ gxf6 9a4 Ba6 White could have gained the upper hand) 7 Ne4 N x dS 8 NeS (8 e3 Nb6 _ . . . dS or 8 0 x c4 Ba6 9 OcS Schiller - 9 ... ObS about even) 8 ... Ba6 (8 ... c3!? is worth a try) 9Nxc4 Nc6 10 Od3 (lONxaS! Nxd4 11 0-0-0 e6 with equality but not 11 ... Rc8 12 Bel NXc2 13 RxdS±) 10 ... ObS 11 e3 Oxc4 12 Oxc4 Bxc4 13 Bxc4 Nc7 14 NcS!? as IS a4 e6=+ (or IS a3 dS=+) Back to the Main Variation (6 e4) 6 ... e6 To prevent the threat of 7 eS. Not 6 ... Bb7? 7 Bd2 d6 8 b4! 7 Bd2
104
THE 'HAWK'
A) 7 Bg5 Note quite as strong as the text. Black now has a choice: a) 7 ... b4 (i) 8Bxf6 bxc3 9b4 (9Qxc3 Bb4-+) cxb3 ep 10 BXg7 BcS 11 Qe5 Rg8 12 Bd3! Ba6 13 Bxa6 Nxa6 140-0 b2 IS Rad 1 Rc8 unclear. (ii) 8 B xf6 bxc3 9 b4 cxb3 10 Bxg7 BcS 11 Qf6 Be7 12 Qh6 Rg8 13 Qxh7? Rxg7 14 Qxg7 Qxa2! Or here 10 Qc4 Na6 11 B xc3 Bb4 12 Bd2 bx c2 13 Qx c2 Bb7 14 RbI Bxd2+ IS Nxd2 Rb8? (Rc8= +) 16 Rxb7! (1-0, 43) Blees-H. Kuyf, Hoofdklasse 1986. (iii) 8Qxc4! Ba6 9NbS QxbS IOQxbS BxbS 11 BxbS Nxe4 12 Be3+= with transposition to the main line (iv) 8 Na4?! Qxa4 9 Bxf6 gXf6! 10 Qxf6 Rg8 11 NeS Rg7 12 Be2 d6 13 b3 Nd7!- + b) 7 ... Be7 8 B x f6 (80-0-0 Bb7) B x f6 9 eS Be7 with a good game for Black (comments by Stertenbrink) e.g. IOd6 Bd8=+ with the idea of ... O-~ ... f6 or ... Bb7. The black pieces are in no way hampered by the white pawn on d6 and the bishop on d8 (as in many games typical of Steinitz) has access to some useful squares (b6 or as or f6) B) 7 Nd2 Na6 (Not 7 d6? Nc6. We follow a game Hai{smaBucker Munsterland v. Overijssel 1981, where this position occurred by slight transposition. Instead of? ... Na6, Black has one possible alternative; however this does not turn out too well: 7 ... b4? 8 Q x c4 Na6 9 Nb3 but White in turn must not play 8Nxc4? QcS 9QxcS BxcS IONa4 Nxe4 11 f3 Bf2+ and 12 ... NcS when Black turns the tables) 8 Be2 (Black was threatening 8 ... BcS 9 QeS B x f2 + 10 Kx f2 Ng4 +) 8 ... Bc5 =+ [or 8 ... Bd6 (----) ... eS) 9dXe6 BcS lOexf7+ Kxf7 11 QeS Re8 12 Qg3 Nb4 e.g. 13 NxbS?! Nxc2+ (13 ... Nxe4 is unclear) with unforeseeable complications. Another possibility would be 8 . . . Bd6 90-0! eS 10 Qe3 0-0 11 Ndb 1 BcS 12 Qg3 b4 13 Bh6 Ne8 14 Ndl Kh8 IS Bd2 Nd6= +1 9 Qe5 0-0 [9 ... Nb4?! 10 Bdl Bxf2+ (lOdxe6? d6) 11 Kxf2 Nxc2 is probably an unsound sacrifice, e.g. 12 RbI (But not 12 B x c2?? Ng4+) 12 ... Nb4 (12 ... Qb6+ 13 Kg3) 13 Kfl lOS
THE 'HAWK'
and White consolidates] 10 0-0 Re8? The idea is to drive away White's queen after which Black hopes to co-ordinate his minor pieces with ... Bd4 ~ ... Nc5. Incidentally this is a common theme in some of the variations of the 'Woozle' declined, with some confusion whether the square ... c5 should be occupied by a bishop or knight. So a better idea for Black instead of the text would be 10 ... d6! stronger than 10 ... eX d5 11 N x d5 Nxd5 unclear) 11 Qg3 Bd4! (or 11 ... Bb4)=+ e.g. 12Qxd6 BXc3 13 bXc3 Qxc3 14 RbI Qxc2 (or 14 . . . Qa5) with advantage for Black. In comparison with the actual game White cannot free himself with 12 e5. 1J Qg3 Bd4?!
12e5 BXe5 (Accepting the sacrifice is not to be recommended: a) 12 ... BXc3 13 bXc3 Nxd5 14 Ne4 Kf8 15 Bd2 b) 12 ... Nxd5 13 Nde4 Kf8 14 Nd6± NXc3 15 bXc3 Qxc3 16Bf3 BXe5 17Bf4+-) 13 Qxe5 exd5 14Qg5 h6 (14 ... b4? 15 Nxc4 Qc5 16Be3) 15 Qg3 b4 (15 ... d4 16 N ce4 N x e4 17 N x e4 R x e4 18 B x h6 g6 19 BO) 16 Nxd5 Nxd5 17 NXc4 Qc7 18 Qxc7 += The game went on 18 ... Ndxc7? (if 18 ... Naxc7 19 Bf3? Ba6 or better 9 Bd3 ~ 20 a3) 19 Bf3 d5 20 Nd6 Rd8 21 NXc8 Raxc8 22 a3! b3 (see diagram) 23 c3?! (23 cxb3 Nc5 24 Bdl N7e6 and now 25 b4! Nd3 26 Be2+ = but not 25 Be3 d4 26 Bd2 Rb8 27 b4? Ne4) 23 ... Nc5 24 Be3 Na4 25 RabJ a6?! (25 ... a5!=) 26 Rfdl g5 27h4f6 28Rd4Nb6 29Rb4Nc4 30Rxb3Rb8 31Rxb8 Rxb8 32Bd4?! Nd2 33Rel NXfJ+ 34gxfJ Kf7 35hxg5 hxg5?! (35 ... fxg5 36 Re2 Ne6 37 Be3 Kf6 ~ ... Kf5=) 36 Re2 Ne6 37 Be3 Rb3?! (37 . . . f5) 38 Rd2 Nc7 39f4 gXf4 106
THE 'HAWK'
Position after a3!
40 BXf4 NbS?? (40 ... Ne6) 41 a4 Na7 42 Rxd5+- (1-0, S8) Back to the main line: (7 Bd2) 7 .•. b4
If 7 . . . Na6? 8 e5 Nb4 (8 ... BcS 9 Of4±) 9 ReI with advantage to White but a mistake would be 9 KdI? NfxdS 10 N x dS eX dS 11 B x b4 0 x b4 12 0 x dS 0 x b2 - +
8Qxc4 If 8 N d 1 BcS 90 x c4 (9 OeS? d6 10 OgS 0-0 and Black has an attack) 9 ... Ba6 10 Ob3 N x e4? (the correct move here is 10 ... Bxfl 11 Rxfl NXe4=+) 11 Bd3 Nf6 (not 11 ... exdS? 120-0 0-0 13Be3 with advantage to White) 12c4! exdS (12 ... Bb7 130-00-0 14BgS) 13cxdS NxdS 140-00-0 (14 Be4? ObS) IS Be4 with a strong attack, e.g. IS ... Nb6 16Bxh7+
8 ... Ba6?! += This is not Black's best continuation. Although he regains his pawn, White will maintain some advantage in the ending, as shown by Stertenbrink. (Another dubious move would be 8 ... Bb7 9dxe6! bXc3 IOBxc3± or here 9 ... fXe6 lOeS Ba6 11 Oh4! but not 11 Of4? bXc3 12 BXc3 Oc7) More in keeping with the complex nature of this system is the ·move 8 ... Na6! 107
THE 'HAWK'
A game Huss-Bucker, Bie11984, continued 9 e5 (9 Qb5 Qc7; or 9 Nb5 Bb7 10 dXe6 fXe6 11 e5 Ne4 12 Nd6+ Bxd6 13 exd6 Nxd2 14 Nxd2 Qe5+ 15 Be2 Qxd6 160-0-0 Rc8 17 Qb5 Qc7 18 Nc4 0-0= +; 1-0, 53, Pietila-Heino/a, Finland 1986) 9 ... bXc3 10 BXc3 Bb4 11 exf6 gxf6 12 Bd3 BXc3+ ?! (More precise was probably 12 ... Bb7 13 dxe6 fXe6 with compensation e.g. 14 Bxb4 N x b4 150-0 Rg8!?) 13 Qxc3 Qxc3+ 14 bXc3 Bb7 15 Kd2 Nc5 16 c4 d6? (16 ... exd5 is better) 17 Rhel Kd7 18 Nd4± e5!? 19 Bf5+ Ke7 20 Rabl Rhg8 21 g3 Bc8 22Nc6+ Kf8 23Bxc8 Rxc8 24Nxa7 Ra8 25 Nb5 Ke7 26 a3?! (better 26 Nc3) h5 27 Re3 Kd7 28 h3 h4!? 29 g4 f5 30 gxf5 Rg5 - 31 Rf3 f6 32 Ke3? (Time trouble; As Huss pointed out 32 Ke2! with the idea of 33 Nc3 Rxa3 34 Ne4 would have been good for White) 32 . . . Rg2 33 Ke2 Ne4 34 Nc3? Rxf2+ 35 Kel Rxf3 36 Nxe4 Re3+ (0-1,42) 9Nb5 Qxb5
if9 ... Bxb51OQc8+!? 10 Qxb5 Bxb5 11 Bxb5 NXe4+ = (see diagram)
12Be3
If 12 dXe6 fXe6 13 Ng5 N xg5 14 Bxg5 Be7 15 Be3 Stertenbrink 12 . .. a6
The ending is good for White: a) 13 Ba4 Bc5 14 dXe6 fXe6 15 Ng5!? BXe3 16 NXe4 Bb6 108
THE 'HAWK'
Position after II 8 x h5
170-0 Ke7 and Black still has to complete his development with ... RfB ... Ra7_ ... Rc7 ... Nc6 b) 13 Bc4 Be7 (perhaps better is 13 ... as _ ... Na6 and ... BcS) 140-0-00-0 IS Rhel RcB 16 Bb3 as 17 Ba4+= c) J 3 Bd3! Nf6 14 d xe6 fXe6? (Occasionally this kind of pawn structure is acceptable in the ending, but here with the two bishops and open lines for his rooks White has good attacking prospects in the middle game.) IS Nd4 Bd6 160-0-0 Ke7 17 Rhe 1 BeS (White was threatening NfS+; if instead 17 ... g6 IBBgS) IBf4 Bxd4 19Bxd4 Nc6 20BcS+ Kf7 (20 ... d6 21 Bc4+ - Stertenbrink) 21 fS± (Analysed by Stertenbrink.)
THE OPEN VARIATION (1 d4 c5 2 d5 Nf6 3 Nf3 c4)
4e4 NXe4 4 ... QaS+? S Bd2 (or S c3) Qb6 6 Nc3 Ng4 7 Qe2 Qxb2 B RbI Qxc2 (B ... Qa3 9 Qxc4 Nab6 10 NbS+-) 9 Qxc4 Na6 1OBd3+5Bxc4 By allowing his e-pawn to be exchanged for the black c-pawn White has opened the game and obtained a slight lead In development 109
THE 'HAWK'
5 ... b5!
If Black does not play this move he will lag too far behind in the development of his queenside. Black makes use of a simple tactic, for if now 6 BxbS? 6 ... QaS+ of course wins a piece. Moves like ... QaS + ... Na6 ... Bb7 ... Nf6 ... e6 not only challenge the white pawn on dS, but also ensure that the weakened square on cS is occupied by one of the black minor pieces. It is no coincidence that the black set-up, say in the St. Georges Defence (1 e4 a6 2 d4 bS _ ... e6 _ ... cS _ ; .. Bb7 _ . . . Nf6) often turns out very similar; since in that variation Black often aims to provoke the white pawn advance to dS, he must obviously be geared to counter this strategy. In lieu of the text, G. Stertenbrink suggested the move S ... g6 and estimated the position as level. Even if this could be assumed a correct assessment, it would in no way diminish the significance of 5 ... b5! Once pressure against the pawn on dS is not maintained, Black also loses sight of his original objective of creating a 'central pawn majority' and has to put up with passive defence and a backward 'e' pawn. Here are a couple of examples: a) 5 ... g6 60-0 Bg7 (6 ... Qb6)7 ReI Nf6 8 Qe2 d6 (8 ... e6) 9 h3 a6 (if 9 ... Nbd7 10 Nc3 a6 11 a4 Nb6 12 Bb3 Bd7 13 as Nc8 14 Be3 0-0 IS Na4± Bxa4 16 Rxa4 bS?! 17 Ral) 10 a4 Qc7 (10 ... b6 11 Nc3 Ra7 12 Be3 Rd7 13 Nd4 Bb7 14 Ne6 fXe6 IS dXe6 Rc7 16 Bxb6) 11 Na3 b6 12 Bb3 Ra7 13 Be3 Rb7 _ ... 0-0 (+=) 110
THE 'HAWK'
b) 5 ... Qa5+ 6c3! bS (6 ... QcS 7Qe2Nxf2?? 8Be3+-) 7 b4! (this important move makes all the difference) 7 ... N xc3 (7 . . . Qc7 8BxbS NXc3 9Nxc3 Qxc3+ 10 Bd2 Qc7 11 ReI Qb7 12 Bf4 Na6 13 Qe2 etc) 8 bxaS Nxdl 9 BxbS (9 Bb3 g6 10 a3 Bg7 11 Ra2 Nc3 12 Rc2 b4! 13 axb4 Na6) 9 . . . gS 10 a3! (10 a4? Bg7 11 Ra2 Nc3 12 Rc2 Na6!= 13 N x c3 Nb4) 10 ... g4 11 Nh4! [The precise choice of moves here is important; if instead 11 Nfd2?! Bg7 12 Ra2 Nc3 13 Rc2 Nc6! 14 NXc3! Nd4 IS Rb2?! NxbS (1S Ra2!±) 16 NxbS Bxb2 17 Nc7+ Kd8 18 Bxb2 Kxc7 19 Bxh8 f6 unclear] 11 ... Bg7 12 Ra2 Bf6 13 NfS Nc3 14 Rc2 e6 IS dXe6 fXe6 16 N x c3 + - Black has to play his fifth and sixth move in the correct order. Supposing White tries to trick his opponent with the crafty 4 c3!?, Black must ·not reply 4 ... QaS S e4 N Xe4 6 B x c4 bS? since this would transpose back into the unf avourable line just mentioned. 6 Bb3!
The only effective way of guarding the pawn on dS. Otherwise White will be obliged to play c4 allowing free scope for the black pieces on the queenside, e.g.: a) 6 Be2 QaS+ (6 ... Bb7 70-0 Nf6 8 c4 Na6!? 9 Nc3 bxc4 10 Bxc4 RcB 11 Bb3 e6 - ... Bb4= or 6 ... Bb7 70-0 Nf6 8c4 Na6 9cxbS Nb4 10 d6 e6_ ... NbdS unclear) 7c3 Bb7 80-0 Nf6 9b4 (9c4! bXc4 1OBxc4 e6! 11 dXe6 dXe6 12Bf4 would be about equal, but not 9c4 bxc4 10Bxc4 N xdS? 11 Qb3 Bc6 12 Bd2 QcS 13 Nc3±) 9 ... Qb6 10 Be3 Qd6 11 BxbS QxdS 12Qe2 QhS 13 Nbd2 e6 14Radl Be7 IS Rfel 0-0= 16 Nd4 Qxe2 17 RXe2?
111
THE 'HAWK'
17. , .,NdS 18Nbl Rc8 19Bd2 Bf6 20Nb3 Ba6!=+ (20 .. , Nxc3 21 Nxc3 Bxc3 22 ReI Bxd2 23 Rxc8+ Bxc8 24 Rxd2 with equal chances) 21 Bxa6 Nxa6 22 bS Nb8 23 Rcl Nb6 24 Bf4 Nc4 2S N(I)d2 dS? (2S , .. a6!) 26 Nxc4 Rxc4 27 Bd6 Nd7 28 Bb4 Rac8 29 Rec2 BgS 30 NaS= (0-1, S3) B. Schneider-Bucker (Tecklenburg 1984) b) 6 Qd4?! QaS+ (6 . . . Nxf2 70-0!?) 7c3 bxc4 8Qxe4 Bb7=+ c) 6 Bxb5 QaS+ d) 6 Qe2 Nf6 e) 6 Bd3 QaS+ (6 ... Nf6 7 Bx bS QaS+ 8 Nc3 Ne4 9 Qd3) 7 Bd2 (7 b4? Qxb4+ 8 c3 Nxc3+ or 7 c3 Nf6 80-0 Bb7 9 c4! cpo 6 Be2) 7., . Nxd2 8Qxd2 Qxd2+ (Alternatives are 8 ... b4 or 8, .. Qb6) 9 Kxd2 (9 Nbxd2 Bb7; 9 Nfxd2!?) 9 ... Bb7 1ONc3a6 I1Be4g6 12g4Bg7 13b4d6 14a4bxa4 ISRxa4 Nd7 16 Kd3 Nb6= +
6 ... QaS+ The idea behind this move is to induce 7 c3, so as to block this square for the white knight. Besides, Black has to ensure that his pawn advance, . , bS _ . , . b4 can be carried out, even after White's move 'a4'. In this context the interesting move 6 ... a5!? is just as logical, and we shall see an example of this in a later game Nachtmann-Bucker. On the other hand 6 , , . Nc5 would be wrong, since the N should occupy the square f6. After 6 ... NcS 70-0 N x b3 8 a x b3 Bb7 9 Nc3 a6 10 Be3 (played to deter, .. b4) e6 I1Bd4 b4?! 12Na4 as 13c4 bxc3 ep. 14 bxc3 BxdS IS Nb6 Bxf3 16 QxfJ Ra7 (if 16 . . . Ra6 17 Qb7 Bd6 18 b4 _ 19 bS) 17 Na8, and after 17 . . . Ra6, White plays 18 Qb7, followed by 19 Bb6.
7c3 a) 7 Nbd2 e6 80-0 N f6 9 ReI Bb7 10 Nfl Be7 11 Ne3 Na6 12Bd2 Qb6 13Bc3 (or 13a4) Nc7 14Bd4 Qa6 ISdxe6 fxe6= 112
THE 'HAWK'
b) 7 Nfd2?! Bb7 80-0 Nf6 9 Nc3 b4 10 Nc4 Qa6 11 d6 bXc3-+ c) 7 Bd2 b4!? [or 7 . . . Nxd2 8Qxd2 Qxd2+ 9Nbxd2 Bb7?! (better 9 ... Na6! 10 Nd4 Rb8=) 10 Nd4 b4 11 NbS Na6 12 a3+ =] 8 Na3 (80-0 e6 9 a3 Na6 10 Bel Bb7 11 Nbd2+ =, but after 80-0 e6 9 a3 9 ... Nf6! is better) 8 ... Nf6 9c4 (if 9 Nc4 QxdS 100-0 Qb7) 9 ... e6~ ... Na6 with a good game 7 ... Na6
Again Black has several alternatives: a) 7 ... Nf6 8BgSNa6 90-0e6 10Bxf6gxf6 11Qd4Be7 12 Nbd2 Qb6 about equal (or 12 NgS?! Qc7 13 Ne4 QeS=) b) 7 ... e6? 8 dXe6 fXe6 9 BdS!
9 . . . exdS 13 Nd4!+-
10 QxdS Nf6
11 Qxa8 Qc7
12 Be3 Nc6
c) 7 ... Bb7?! (Prematurely committed; Black has created a weakness on his squares ... f7 ... e6 and ... d7 surrounding the king, which allows White the possibility of various piece sacrifices. After 8 0-0 e6 (if 8 ... Nf6 9 ReI d6?! 10 Bf4 Na6!? 11Bxd6Rd8 12Bb4!+=butnot12Bxe7?Bxe7 13d6Ne4) two such sacrificial lines should act as deterrents: (i) 9 ReI Nf6 10 NeS! Be7 11 Nxf7 Kxf7 12 dXe6+ dXe6 (or 12 ... Kf8 13 BgS Qc7 14 Bxf6 Bxf6 IS QhS) 13 Rx e6Kf8 14Rxf6+Bxf6(14 ... gxf6 lSQhS+-)lSQhS! 113
THE 'HAWK'
15 ... g6 (15 ... Qc7? 16 Bf4 Qd7 17 Bd6+) 16 Bh6+ Ke8 17 Qe2+ Kd8 18 Na3 with a strong attack. (ii) 9 Qe2 Nf6 10 Rdl Na6 11 dXe6 fXe6 12 BXe6 dXe6 13 Qxe6+ Be7 14 Ne5 (or 14 Ng5!? Rf8 15 Nxh7) 14 ... Rf8 15 Rd7 Qd8 16 Rxd8+ Rxd8
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M ~
17Qb3 Rd5 18Nf3 Nc5 19Qxb5+ Nfd7 20Bd2 Ba6 21 Qa5 with advantage to White.
80-0 8 d6 is a dubious gambit, but if Black wishes to avoid it, he could have done so by playing 7 ... Nf6 instead of Na6 on the previous move. After 8 d6 Black has 8 ... Nxd6 (also possible is 8 . . . Qb6 9 B xf7+ Kxf7 10 Qd5+ unclear) 9 Bf4 Nb7 (9 ... Nc4? 10 Qd5) 10 Bxf7+?! Kxf7 11 Ne5+ Kg8 (or 11 ... Ke8 12Qh5+ g6) 12Nxd7 Bxd7 13 Qd5+ (13Qxd7 Nac5) e6 14 Qxb7 Rd8::;:
8 ... Nf6
114
THE 'HAWK'
8 . . . e6? is answered with 9dxe6 _ winning.
10Bd5! and White is
9Rel 9 Bg5!? Bb7 (After 9 ... e6 10 Bxf6 we have a transposition into the lines with 7 ... Nf6 - also 9 ... e6 10 Nbd2 looks possible) 10 B x f6 g x f6 11 Nbd2 Nc5 12 Bc2 b4 is unclear, e.g. 13 a3 bXc3 14 b4 Qc7 and Black has quite a satisfactory game. 9 ... e6 108g5
10 Nbd2 Nc5 (10 ... Bb7 11 Ne4) 11 Bc2? N x d5 12 b4 Qc7 13 bXc5? NXc3-+ is an amusing way of trapping White's queen, but 10 Bf4 is a sound developing move: a) 10 .. . Bb7? 11 dXe6! dXe6 12 BXe6fxe6 13 RXe6+ Be7 (13 . . . Kf7 14 Ng5+ Kg8 15 Rxf6 gxf6 16 Qb3+ +-, 14Rxe7+ KXe7 15Qd6+ Ke8 16Qe6+ Kd8 17Ne5 Rf8 18 Na3 Nc5 19 Qd6+ Ncd7 20 Rdl Qb6 21 Qxf8+ ! +b) 10 ... Nc7?! 11 Nbd2Bb7(11 ... Nxd5?? 12Bxd5 Nxd5 13 Nb3) 12 dXe6 dXe6 13 a4 and White has a clear advantage. c) 10 . . . Be7 11 Nbd2 Nc5 12 a4?! (12 Qe2) Nd3 13 axb5 Qd8 14 Bg3 NXel 15 Qxel Bc5 16 Bh4 h6 17 Bxf6 Qxf6 18 Ne4 Qe7 and White has insufficient compensation for the exchange. d) 10 . .. Nc5!? 11 Na3 Bb7 (11 Nbd2 Nd3, or 11 Ne5 Nxb3 115
THE 'HAWK'
12Qxb3 Bb7 13 dxe6 dxe6= + 14 Nxf7? BdS IS Rxe6+ Kd7 16Qdl Kxe6 17Nxh8 Be7-+; simpler and better seems 11 a4=) 12dxe6 dxe6 13Qe2 a6 14Nc2 Nce4!? IS Radl BcS 16 Nfd4 Ba7 17 f3 NcS= 10 ... Be7! Any other moves would be wrong. a) 10 . . . Bc5? II B xf6 gxf6 12 dxe6 dxe6 13 BdS and 14 b4 winning material b) 10 . . . Bb7? 11 NeS! NcS 12 B xf6 gxf6 13 Nxf7 Kxf7 (13 ... Nxb314QhSNxal ISNd6++Ke7 16Nxb7withthe deadly threat ofd6+) 14 dxe6+ dxe6 IS QhS+ Kg7 16 Qg4+ and White wins easily. c) 10 . . . Nc5? 11 Bc2 b4 (1 I . . . Qb6 12 b4 Na6 I3 a4) 12 cxb4 Qxb4 13 Nc3 Be7 (13 ... Qxb2 14 Qd2 Ba6 IS NeS followed by dxe6 and Bxf6) 14 Qd2 as IS a3 Qb6 with advantage to White. II Nbd2 II a4?! b4?! (maybe 11 . . . NcS 12 Bc2 is more precise) 12 c4 [12d6 Bd8 13 ReS NcS 14 Bc4 bxc3 IS Nxc3 (better perhaps IS bxc3) IS . . . Qb4 16 Qd4 Nb7 17 Rdl h6 is unclear I 12 ... NcS 13 Nbd2 with a rather complicated game (Black might continue 13 ... d6 or 13 ... h6 14 Bh4 gS) II NcS NcS The knight controls the vital square e4; for this reason the alternative 1/ ... Nc7 should be avoided. 12 Bxf6 gxf6 (or 12 ... Bxf6 13 Ne4 Qb6 14 Nxf6+gxf6 IS Nd4 Bb7 16 Qf3 0- 0-0 17 Qxf6±) I3 Ne4 fS 14 Nd6+ Bxd6 (14 . . . Kf8 IS Nxf7 Kxf7 16 NeS+ Kg7 17 d6 Bf6 18 dXc7 Qxc7 19 f4 with an attack) IS dxe6 dxe6 (see diagram) 16 Qxd6 Qb6 (16 ... Bb7? 17 Bxe6)+=. Other alternatives on Move I I for Black are: 116
THE 'HAWK'
Position after 15 dxco dxco
a) 11 . . . Bb7?! 12Ne4 NxdS 13BxdS BxdS exdS IS Nd6+ Kf8 16 Bxe7+ Kg8 unclear
14QxdS
b) 11 ... Qb6 12 dXe6 dXe6 13 a4 0-0 (13 ... b4 14 Nc4 Qc7 IS cxb4 Bxb4 16 Rcl 0-0 17 Bxf6 gxf6 18 Re4 fS unclear) 14 axbS+= QxbS IS Bc4 Qb6 16 Be3 Qd6 17 Qe2 (or 17 b4) NcS 18 Bd4 Bb7 19 b4 Nce4 20 Nb3 Rfc8, followed by ... BdS Black has a solid position. 12Nn
12 Bc2 b4!? (or 12 ... Qb6 13 b4 Na6 14 Nb3 Bb7 gives Black a comfortable game, but not 14 ... NxdS?! IS QxdS) 13 Nc4 QbS (13 ... Qa6? 14 cXb4) 14 cxb4 Qxb4 IS Ne3 Qxb2 with an unclear position. 12 . .. Nxb3
12 . . . b4!? 13 dXe6?! (13 c4) fXe6 (Better 13 . . . Nxe6) 14 Bd2 Nxb3 IS Qxb3 bXc3 16 BXc3 is about equal. 13 axb3
13 Qxb3 NxdS (simpler is 13 ... 0-0 14 Ne3 Bb7 IS Radl N x dS 16 N x dS B x gS 17 N x gS B x dS =+=) 14 Q x dS!? eX dS IS RXe7+ and White may be able to draw.
13 ... Qb6 117
THE 'HAWK'
With chances for both sides: e.g. 14Be3 Qb8 15 dXe6 dXe6 (or 15 ... fxe6!?) 16 Qd4 a5 (or 16 ... a6) 17 Bf4 Qb7 18 Bd6 0-0 19 BXe7 Qxe7= 20 Qb6 Qb7 We now return to Black's main alternative on Move 6. A game Nachtmann-Bucker (Alligator Cup 1978). already referred to. after 6 Bb3 continued 6 ... as 7 c3 [other moves are 7 a4 b4 and 7 a3!?, also 7 Qe2 Nxf2 (if here 7 ... Nd6 8 Bf4) 80-0 a4 9 Rxf2 (9 Qxf2 axb3 _ ... f6, ... e6) 9 ... axb3 10 Ne5?! Rxa2j 7 ... Na6 Or 7 ... Bb7 80-0 Nf6 9 c4 a4 10 Bc2 bxc4 11 Nc3 80-0 Bb7 An alternative plan that comes to mind is 8 ... Nf6 9 ReI (or 9 Na3) e6 10 Bg5 Qb6= 9 ReI Nf6 10 Na3 b4 II Nc4 e6 12 dXe6 fxe6 (12 ... dXe6? 13 Ba4+) 13 NgS! To prepare for Nd6+ without having to be saddled with a double pawn on the f-file. However, the text creates even further tactical problems for Black who has his work cut out trying to find a defence. /3 ... NcS? Better 13 . . . Qc7 (_ 14 . . . a4) 14 Ne5 Bd6 15 Bf4 BXe5 (15 Nef7? Bxh2+16Khl 0-0 with an attack. but 15 Ngf7!? is another possibility) 16 RXe5 Qc6 17 f3 Nc5 _ ... 0-0 unclear /4 Be2! Qc7 IS NeS 118
THE 'HAWK'
15 N x h7? 0-0-0 leaves the white N stranded 0 n h7 on account of the threat ... Qxh2+ 15 ... Be7 16 Bf4 16 Bd2 is also good. 16 ... Qb6 17 Bg3± O-O?!
It is extremely doubtful whether Black can save himself. White could now have played his 'trump-card': 18 Qbl! + - with the possible continuation 18 . . . g6 19 Bxg6 hxg6 20 Qxg6+ Kh8 21 Net7+ Rxt7 22 N xf7 mate; a model example of how to combat opposing weak pawn islands of this kind by means of active piece play. Less forceful would be 18 Qh5 h6= or 18 Nxd7 Qc6 19 Nxf6+ Bxf6 with compensation for the pawn. White now spoils all his good work:
18 Nxh7? Nxh7= + Played under increasing time pressure by White who soon loses the thread of the game. 19 Bxh7+ Kxh7 20 Qh5+ Kg8 21 Ng6 Bf6 22 NXfB+ (slightly better was 22 Qh8+ Kf7 23 Qh5 d5= + Black can then continue with ... Ke8 _ ... Kd7) 22 ... R x f8 23 eX b4 a x b4 24 Rael??-+ Nd3 25 Be7?! QXf2+ and mate next move.
119
4
The Woozle
1 d4 c5 2d5 Nf6 3 Nc3 Qa5
In modern tournament practice the move order of the Benoni will mostly be 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 dS. In our anti-queen's pawn complex we start off with the older move 1 . . . cS. The advantage of this move order will only become apparent, when we analyse 2 Nf3. Present theory, however, claims one drawback of 1 ... cS compared with 1 ... Nf6. After 1 ... cS 2 dS Nf6 3 Nc3, with a later e4, NB and Be2 White might use the vacant square c4 for occupation by one of his minor pieces (e.g. Nf3--+ Nd2 --+ Nc4). As soon as Black threatens to go ahead with ... bS, White plays a4. Notwithstanding, we think it has been overlooked that Black, by means of 3 ... QaS can immediately advance his b-pawn for contrary to appearances 4 Bd2 bS S e4 b4 6 eS (The Classical Woozle) cannot be regarded a refutation of Black's plan. The significance that can be attributed to the Woozle within the range of our anti-queen's pawn opening structures can be 120
THE WOOZLE
seen from the following comparative statistics. Out of the first 16 games played with our system, White allowed the Vulture in 12, chose the Woozle in 3 and accepted the Hawk in just one. On structural grounds (in the 'Moderated Woozle', positions similar to those in the Hawk regularly occur) we discussed the Hawk first.
THE CLASSICAL WOOZLE I d4 c5 2 d5 Nf6 3 Nc3 Qa5 , 4 Bd2 b5 5 e4
Less critical are some of the less forceful methods of play allowing Black to consolidate with 5 ... a6. The text forces the following variation, on the surface at first sight in White's favour. 5 . . . b 4 6 e5 b x c3
An alternative is 6 ... Ba6!?: a) 7Bxa6 Qxa6 8exf6 bxc3 9Bxc3 gxf6 10 Qe2 Rg8 11 Qe4 Qb7 12 B xf6? Rg6 13 Bc3? Re6 14 Be5 d6?? (14 ... f6 -+) 15 Qa4+ (1-0, 19) Hallecamp-Lutt, NRW League 1987. b) 7 exf6 B xfl 8 Kxfl bxc3 9 Bxc3 Qa6+ (9 fxe7 cXd2) 10 Qe2 Qxe2+ 11 Nxe2 gxf6 and the exchange of lightsquared bishops facilitates the defence (admittedly with increasing chances of a draw) One typical example would be the continuation 12 f4 d6 13 Kf2 Nd7 14 Rhel e5 15 dxe6 ep. fxe6 16 f5 e5 17 Nf4 Kf7 with approximate equality. Black's alternatives on moves 6, 7 and 8 have loomed larger since our original edition, in view of the improvement found in ourhithertomainline6 ... bxc3 7Bxc3Qa4 8exf6Qe4+ 9 Qe2 Qxe2+ 10 Nxe2! gxf6 when 11 d6! causes problems. However, the analysis connected with the 8 . . . Qe4+? variations still remains useful for our understanding 0 f the whole system. 121
THE WOOZLE
7 8xc3 Qa4 An improvement on 7 ... Qc7?! played in one of the earliest games which continued 8 d6! Qc6 (8 . . . Qb6 9 exf6 exf6 lOQe2+ Kd8 110-0-0 Bxd6? 12Rxd6!+-) gexf6 gxf6 10 Be2 Qe4 11 Qd2 Bb7 12 Nf3 e5 13 0-0-0 h5 14 Bd3 Qg4 15 Kbl Nc6 (15 . . . Qxg2 16 Nxe5! fxe5 17 Bxe5 Rg8 18Rhel +- 1. Adams) 16h3 Qxg2 17Be4 Bh6 18Qe2 Qg7 19 Rhgl Qf8 20 Nxe5!! 1-0. Sacharov-Schuravlev, 1965. The text aims at the exchange of queens. This would invite an ending where Black could make use of his pawn majority in the centre. Black would not envisage a K+P or N+P ending where a remote passed pawn could be of some consequence, but rather aim at a R + P or B + P ending where the central pawn control would constrict the opposing game. We may compare this theoretically with a very similar recent strategic motif in the Benko Gambit, 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5 (the characteristic opening moves of the Benko Gambit) 4 cxb5 a6 5Nc3Qa5!? 6Bd2axb5 7e4b4 8e5bxc3 9Bxc3Qa4! (a striking resemblance to the Classical Woozle) 10 Q x a4 Rxa4 l1exf6gxf6 12Be2Rg8 13 Bf3d6 14b3Ra8 15Ne2 Bh6 (15 h3?! Bh6 16 Ne2 Na6 17 Ng3 Bf4! 18 Nh5 Be5+: Analysis by Ochoa de Echagii.en.) 160-0 Bg4 17 Bxg4 Rxg4 18f4f5! 19N93e6 20Nh5Kd8! 21 Rfel Rg6 22b4Nd7(0-1, 47) Danner-Ochoa de Echaguen (Lucerne Olympiad 1982. See Chess Informant No. 34.) Unfortunately, our intention of applying an analogous plan (8 ... Qe4+) in the Woozle has not proved fully viable, so the alternative here 7 . . . Qb6!? gains in significance. The game Libeau-Bucker, West German League 1988, continued: 8 exf6 gxf6 9Nf3 (9Ne2; 9d6) Rg8 lOQd3 Na6 l1Qxh7 Rg7 12 Qe4 (12 Qd3 Nb4 unclear) Nc7 13 0-0-0 (13 g3 Bb7 14 Bc4 0-0-0 150-0-0 e6 unclear) 13 ... Bb7 14 Bc4 Rxg2 15 Nh4 Rg5 16 Nf5? (16 Rhel 0-0-0 17 Nf5 e6 18 Ne3 Bg7 19 Bb3 unclear; 16 f3? Nxd5 17 Bxd5 Rxd5!) 16 ... Qe6! and Black already stands better. (see diagram) 17 dxe6 Bxe4 18 Rxd7? (18exd7+ Kd8 19 Ng3 Bxhl 20Nxhl Rg4 21 Bxf7 Bh6+ 22 Kbl Bf4! and Black is still better) 18 ... Rxf5! -+ 19 ReI Bd5 (20 Bd3 Ne6!) 0-1.
122
THE WOOZLE
Position after 16 . . . Oc6!
8 exf6 Qe4+?
The alternative 8 ... gXf6 9 Bd3 (Stertenbrink) Bb7 needs further investigation. Here are some examples: a) JOb3 Of4! 11 Nh3 (11 Ne2 Og4!; 11 g3 Od6) 11 ... Od6 (or 11 ... Oh4 12 Of3 Rg8) 12 Be4 Na6~ ... Nb4 or ... Nc7 unclear b) JO Qf3 Rg8!? 11 Bxh7 RgS 12 Be4 fS (12 b3 Oh4 13 Be4 Rg4) 13BxfSe6 14Be4fS ISBd3BxdS 160e3unclear After 8 . . . gxf6, White might also try 9 Qf3 (instead of 9Bd3)Oxc2(9 ... Bb7!? lOb30h4 I1g30gS 12Bc4hS!?)
123
THE WOOZLE
10 Bd3 Qa4 11 d6 Nc6 e.g. 12 Ne2! Bb7 130-0? (Better 13 dxe7) Nd8 14 Qg3 Ne6 15 dXe7 Bxe7 16 b3 Qc6 17 f3 0-0-0 18 Qh4 Ng5 19 Ng3 Rhg8 20 Bf5?! Kb8 21 Radl d5 22 Bd2 h6 23 Bf4+ Ka8 24 Khl Rde8 25 Qh5 Rgf8 26 Bg4 Bd8 27Nf5Bc7 28Bxc7Qxc7 29Rfelc4!?=+ 30Nd4Qa5 31 Rgl! In a game Backwinkel-Bucker (North Rhine Westphalia Championship 1985), White went on to win (1-0,50); however Black missed the correct continuation 31 ... Qb6! ---7 . . . Ne6.
9Qe2
9 Be2?! gxf6 10 Kfl Ba6 11 Bxa6 Nxa6 ---7 . • • Nc7 9 Ne2!? (U. Hobuss) gxf6 (9 ... exf6!? 10 f3 Qe3 11 Bd2 Qe7 Shibut; 10 ... Qe7) is a dangerous alternative: a) 10 Qd2 h5? 11 f3 Qh7 120-0-0? (12 Nf4! and White is better) Bh6 13 f4 Qe4 14 Rgl? (14 d6) d6 15 ReI Nd7 16 g3 Qf5 17 Bg2 Nb6 18 b3 Bb7 19 Rdl (19 BaS) 0-0-0 20 Bb2 (20a4!) Kb8 21 Kbl e5 22Qd3 Qxd3 23Rxd3 Bc8 24Rfl h4 25 h3 c4 26 Rddl Ba6! (0-1, 36) Leiber-Kruner, Correspondence 1986 (notes by Krtiner); 10 ... Na6 (10 ... Bb7) 11 f3 (11 0-0-0 Nb4! 12 Kbl Bh6) 11 . . . Qa4 12 d6 Bb7 unclear. b) 10 f3! Qa4 (10 . . . Qe3 11 Bd2 Qe5 12 Bf4 is better for White) 11 b3 Qh4+? (the black queen is misplaced on the K side) 12 g3 Qg5 13 Nf4 d6 14 Rgl Rg8 15 h4 Qh6 16 Kf2 Nd7? (16 . . . a6 17 RbI Shibut) 17 Bb5 Rb8 18 Qe2 Kd8 19b4!cxb4 20Bxb4f5 21 Bxd7Kxd7 22Qc4Rb6 23Ba5 Ba6 24 Qa4+ Bb5 25 Qb4 Rb7 26 c4 and White won quickly, Nikoloff-Shibut, Toronto International 1985; in our opinion 11 ... Qa3! offers adequate counter play.
9 ... Qxe2+ 9 ... Qxd5 10 fxg7+This position was reached in practically every game with the Classical Woozle. We now branch off:
A. 10 Bxe2 gxf6 The Sudlohn Variation B. 10 Nxe2 gxf6 The Main Line of the Classical Woozle 124
THE WOOZLE
A. THE SODLOHN VARIATION 10 BXe6 gxf6
After the exchange of queens we have a situation where Black hopes for the chance of mobilising his static pawn cluster. This strategy may entail the forcible removal of the white pawn on d5, even if this means sacrificing the exchange. However, in the first instance, conducting a middle-game without queens requires patience, so Black may plan to get rid of his passive KB first with moves like ... Bh6- ... Bf4 and then ... Be5, hoping to exchange it on that square. White, on the other hand, may hope for an advantage with the isolation of the black a-pawn or hpawn, exploiting the subsequent weak squares for an attack with (Ba5 - Ne2_ Ng3 - Nh5 also ReI _ Re4 followed by Ra4 or Rh4). 11 BO
White has a number of alternatives: a) Jl 14 d6 12 Bf3 Nd7 13 Kf2!? Rb8 14 ReI Nb6 15 b3 Bb7 16 Rdl Nd7 17 Ba5 Nb6 ... e5 unclear b) 110-0-0 d6 12 Bd3 Nd7 13 Ne2 Bh6+ (i) 14 Bd2?! Bxd2+ 15 Rxd2 e5 (ii) 14f4 Ne5! 15 Bb5+ (15 Be4? Bg4) 15 ... Kf8 (iii) 14 f4 Nb6! 15 Bb5+ Kd8 125
THE WOOZLE
c) 1l0-0-Od6 12Bd3Nd7 13Ne2 Rb8?! (we follow a game Pook-Roth, Saarbri.icken 1983) 14 f4 Bh6 (Better 14 ... Nb6 IS BbS+ Kd8) IS g4!? O-O? (Again wrong; IS ... Bb7 or IS ... eS had to be played) 16 gS Bg7 17 Rhgl Kh8 18 Ng3+- (1-0, 2S) d) 11 0-0-0 d6 12 Nf3 Nd7 13 BbS Rb8 14 Bc6 Bb7 IS Rhe 1 BXc6 16dxc6 NeS 17 NXeS fXeS 18 RXeS Bh6+ 19 Kbl Bg7 20 Re3 BXc3 21 RXc3 Rb6 22 Ra3 a6 23f4 RXc6 24 Rb3 Kd7 = + (0-1, 73) Carey-Gallinnis. Hastings Challengers 1985. e) 11 d6?! eS 12 BO Nc6 13 BXc6 (130-0-0 Bb7 14 Ne2 0-0-0=+ ISNg3 Nd4 16Bxb7+ Kxb7 17Ne4 Kc6:;=) 13 ... dXc6 and now two games played by the author continued:
(i) 14 f4 Rg8?!= (Even stronger was 14 . . . Bxd6=+ e.g.
IS 0-0-0 Ke7 16 NO e4 17 Rhel Bxf4+ 18 Kbl Be6 19 RXe4 Bc7; or 14 ... Bxd6 IS 0-0-0 Ke7 16 Rei Rg8 17 g3 Be6! threatening ... BdS; or again 14 ... Bxd6 IS Nf3 e4 16 B xf6 Rg8 17 Nh4 Bx f4 18 g3) IS Kf2 e4 16RdlfS(16Bxf6Rg6 17BeSf6 18Bc3Bxd6=)17Ne2 Be6 (or 17 ... Rg6) 18 Rd2 hS! (18 Ng3 0-0-0 19 BeS Rg6 20 NhS BdS 21 N g3 =) 19 Rhd 1 0-0-0 20 Ng3? (20 BaS Rd7 21 Nc3 Rg4 22g3 h4 23Na4 hxg3+ 24hxg3 e3+ +=) 20 . . . h4 21 NhS Rg6 22Bf6? Rh6!-+ (22Nf6 Bd7 23NhS Re8) 23Bxd8 Kxd8 24g4 fxg4 2SfS BxfS 26 Nf4 Kd7 27 Ng2 Bg7 28 Ne3 Be6 29 c3 BeS 30 Kgl fS 31 Rg2 h3 32 Rg3 B x d6 33 Rfl RhS (0-1) Lalev-Biicker (Czestochowa 1984). 126
THE WOOZLE
(ii) 140-0-0? 14 . . . Be6::;: IS BaS Rg8! (with pawn gain) 16 g3 Rg4! (threat 17 . . . Ra4) 17b3 Rd4 18Ne2 Rxd6 19c4 Bg4 20 Rxd6 Bx d6 21 Nc3 fS 22 Na4 Kd7 23 Bd2 Bf3 24 ReI Re8 2S Be3 f4! 26 B x cS Bb8 27 Bb4 Ke6 28 NcS+ KfS 29 Na6 fxg3 30 hxg3 e4 31 Nxb8 Rxb8 32 BcS
And now Black should not play 32 ... Rb7? = + (1-0, 49) J. Bohm-Bucker (Siidlohn 1981) but 32 ... a6! winning outrigh t, e.g. 33 Kb2 Kg4 34 Kc3 Rd8 3S Kb4 fS 36 Be3 hS 37 Rgl Rdl! 38 Rxdl Bxdl 39 KcS f4! 40gxf4 KfS! etc. 11 ... d6 12Ne2 12 Be4 Rg8
~
... fS, ... Bg7 ... Nd7
12 ... Nd7
12 ... Bh6?! 13 Be4!+= 13Ng3
13 g3!? NeS 14 Bg2 13 .•. Rb8
13 . . . Bh6 14 NhS?! NeS 16 Bdl Be4
IS Bdl Bb7 or here IS Be2 BfS
140-0 e5?! 127
THE WOOZLE
Black can solve his problems of development more neatly with a sequence of moves with his KB ( ... Bh6 ... Bf4 ... BeS) If White then wants to avoid the exchange of bishops, he will have to guard his pawn on b2 or prevent the black bishop from gaining too much activity along the diagonal. We now look at this alternative
14 ... Bh6! We discuss four possible continuations: a) 15 Ne2 NeS 16 Be4 fS 17 f4 Bxf4= b) 15 Nh5 NeS 16 Be4 Bg4 17 Ng3 Bf4 18 f3 Bxg3= c) 15 Nf5(!) A book entitled Unorthodox Openings shortly due for publication, brands the Woozle as 'ugly and bad', according to the coauthors E. Schiller and American International Master Benjamin. At the time of completing his German edition on the Vulture the author has access only to a draft copy of the American book, but remarks that everybody is entitled to his taste and tastes may vary widely. Fortunately, openings still exist outside the framework of established theory, causing those theorists concerned some unrest, as they plough their own furrow. Following Bucker's analysis, the American version goes along with 15 ... Bf4 16 Rfel! Be5 but then adds that, after 17 BhS and the intended continuation Nh6 and f4, the pressure along the e-file is too powerful. However, picking up the thread from here, the author points out that, after the given sequence, 17 ... Bxc3! 18 RXe7+ (doubtless White's original intention) 18 . . . Kd8 19 bxc3 NeS! Black gains material (20 RxeS!? Hardy) - or 18 bx c3 NeS 19 Nh6 Kf8= + 20 f4 Ng6 (or 20 ... Kg7) is in Black's favour. d) 15 Rabl Bf4 16 b3 BeS (see diagram) 17 BXeS= (17 Bd2 e6 or 17 Bd2 Bxg3 ---7 18 ... NeS=) 17 ... fxeS 18 Bg4 (18 Be4) Rg8 19 BfS Nf8 20 Bxc8 Rxc8 21 Rbel Ng6 (aimed against 22 Re4) 22 NfS (of course not 22 Re4?! Nf4 23Rdl fS 24Ra4 Rxg3! 2Shxg3? Ne2+ 26 Kfl Nc3- + slightly better here 2S Rxf4= +) 22 . . . Kd7 128
THE WOOZLE
23g3 (23 c4=+) c4 24 Ne3 c3 2S Khl (White's play is altogether too passive, better 2S b4!? _ RbI _ Rb3!?) 2S ... RcS 26Rdl (26f4!?) hS 27h4?! (27f4 h4 28fS Nf8 29gxh4 Nh7 30 Rgl Rh8 with compensation) 27 ... Nf8 28 a4?! Nh7=+ 29 Rd3 (29 b4) Nf6 30 Kg2 Rb8? (30 . . . e4! 31 Rd4 eS+ 32 Rb4 Kc7 33 Rdl as 34 Rc4 Kb6 etc. was much better) 31 f3 Rg8 32 Rfdl Rg6 33 Nc4 ReS 34 Kf2 Rcg8 3S Rgl e4 36 Rd4 exf3 37 Kxf3 Rg4 38 Rxg4??-+ (Time-trouble; 38 R(4)dl Re4=+)38 ... hxg4+ 39Ke3NxdS+ 40 Kd4Nf6! 41 KXc3 eS 42 b4 Ke6 43 bS dS 44 NaS Ne4+ 4S Kb4 fS 46 Nc6 Nxg3! 0-1 Kruger-Bucker (Dortmund Open 1982).
If you bear in mind the white pawns that have been captured in the course of the game, it becomes noticeable how many central pawns there were on offer as convenient targets for Black. Incidentally, after 140-0 a mistake would be 14 . . . e6? ISRfelBe7 16BhS!Kf8 17Bxf7orhereI6 ... exdS 17NfS NeS 18 NXe7
129
THE WOOZLE
15Bg4!+=
White tries to dominate the light squares. After exchanging light-squared bishops, Black's remaining bishop is rather passive. We need to examine 15 Be4 c4 16 f3 Nc5, followed by ... h5 to activate the black KB. 15 ... Bh6
15 ... Bb7 16Bxd7+ Kxd7 17 Radl Rg8 18f4Rg6 19fxe5 dXe5 20 Ne4 Be7 21 Rd2 Rc8 22 Rf3 c4 23 Khl?! (23 Kfl may be stronger) Rcg8 24 a3 Rd8 25 Ba5 Rc8 26 Bb4 a6+ =
~:I~
~
~
~.A.~.~'~' ,~ ~"~:I~ ~
~
~~~
~'~lb~
~
~
~ ~:§:~ ~~~m ~~~ ~'''''./~'''''./~ ~~'~
27 d6?! BXe4 28 dXe7+ Ke8 29 Rc3 f5 30 Rg3 (30 Rxc4? Bxg2+) 30 ... a5 31Rxg6hxg6 32Bd6f6 33Kgl (33c3? Bd3) c3 34 bXc3 RXc3 35 a4 Rxc2 36 Rxc2 Bxc2-+ (0-1, 50) 1. Bohm-Vetter (Siidlohn 1981). 16 Radl
130
THE WOOZLE
Prophylactically guarding the important d-pawn; 16 NfS Bf8 17f4 (+= Vetter) 17 ... Nb6!? unclear.
16 ... Rg8 17 Bf5 Apparently causing Black great problems with the defence of his h-pawn. An interesting alternative for White is 17 h3, reserving the fS square for his knight.
17 ... Rg6! A surprising exchange sacrifice, like a bolt out of the blue! If White captures the exchange, his d-pawn is deprived of an important cover, allowing Black good chances.
18Rfel Bb7 19 Ne4?= White does not adhere to his plan conceived on Move IS. He should continue blocking the light squares with 19 B x d7 + (19BaS!?) Kxd7 20 NfS+= (if20Re4 Rbg8).
19 ... Ke7 20b4 20 BaS!? Nb6 21 c4 Nxc4 22
Bc7~
b3 unclear.
20 •.. c4 21 b5 Nb6 22 Bb4 Rd8 As a result of his error, White now forfeits his control of the dS and fS squares.
23 Bxg6 As a last resort White decides to accept the sacrifice after all. If 23 Nc3? RgS 24 Bxh7 fS.
23 ... hxg6 24Nc3Ra8! 25a4a5 26 bxa6ep. But not 26 Ba3? where the Bishop would be doomed to inactivity. 131
THE WOOZLE
26 ... BXa6 27Ne4 Ne8 28Rbl f5 29 Nd2?!
After the game White suggested 29 Bd2 Bxd2 30 Nxd2 as an improvement, however after 30 ... c3 31 Nb3 Bc4 32 a5 Bxb3 33 cxb3 Rxa5 followed by 34 ... Nb6 Black would have an excellent position. When rooks are reduced to passive defence of weak pawns, then the advantage of the exchange largely evaporates. 29 ... Kd7 30 Redl Ra7 31 Be3 Bg5 32 Rb4 Re7 33 Rb8!=
The remainder of the game went 33 ... Ra7 34 Nf3?! (better 34 Rb4) Bd8 35 R(8)b1 f6 36 h3 Ne7 37 g4?! (37 a5 Bb7 38 Rb5=) 37 ... fxg4 38 hxg4 Bb7 39 Rb5 (once again the white pieces are tied down to defending the pawn on d5) 39 ... Bxd5!? (trying for a win) 40 Rxd5 Nxd5 41 Rxd5 Rxa4
position after 41 Rxa4 I'anczyk-Buckcr
42Kg2 (42Kfl Ra3 43 Rxd6+ Ke8) 42 ... Kc6 43 Rd2 g5 44Kfl (44Nxe5+) Bb6 45Ke2 Bc5! 46Bb2 c3 47Bxc3 Rxg4 48 Ne1 Rc4 49 Rd3?! g4! 50 Bd2 f5 51 c3?+ (51 Rg3! _ f3 was preferable) 51 ... f4 52 f3 g3 53 Ng2 d5 54 Bel Ra4! 55 Rd1 Ra8 56 Bd2 Rh8 57 Ne1 Rh1! - + 58 Bel Rg1 59 Rd2 g2 60Rd1 Kb5! 61 Nxg2Rxg2+ 62Kd3Rf2(0-1) PanczykBucker International Youth Tournament (Siidlohn 1981). 132
THE WOOZLE
B. THE CLASSICAL WOOZLE - MAIN VARIATION 10 N xe2! gxf6
10 ... exf6 11 Ng3 d6 120-0-0 Be7 13 Bb5+ Kf8?! 14 Rhel a6 15 RXe7! (1-0, 32) Dermann-Molinaroli, West German League 1986. 11 Ng3
Or 110-0-0 d6 12 Ng3 Nd7 with transposition if 11 g4!? Rg8 12 h3 Na6 13 0-0-0 Nb4 14 Kbl Nxd5 15 Rxd5 Bb7 16 Nf4 Bh6 17 g5 B x g5 unclear. As we pointed out earlier, the improvement 11 d6! probably gives us the most critical variation e.g. 11 ... e5 (11 ... Bb7 is a little better) 120-0-0 Nc6 13 Ng3 Nd4 14 Ne4 with advantage to White. This leads us back to consideration of Black's alternatives on moves 6, 7 and 8. 11 ••• d6 12 Bb5+
Or 12 f4 Nd7 13 Bb5 again transposes; 12 Bd3 Bb7 13 Be4 Nd7 140-0-0 (14 f4?! Nb6) Nb6 15 b3 (15 f4 h5) 15 ... Bh6+~ ... Bf~ ... Be5 In their book Unorthodox Openings (London 1987) Schiller and Benjamin grouped the Vulture, Hawk and Woozle in the 133
THE WOOZLE
section named 'The Ugly' (risky but playable), but unfortunately did not have the up-dated edition of my book (Stuttgart 1986) at their disposal. This meant that their 'improvement' (10 N x e2 gxf6 11 Ng3 d6) 12 Bb5+ already represented the Main Variation of the Woozle and that their assertion that 'neither 12 ... Bd7 13 Bd3 nor ]2 ... Nd7 130-0 provide Black with a simple plan of development' is critically examined in analysis and games. However, the informed comments of a Schiller or a Benjamin are music to the ears compared with those of another author (Opferman) who, at some length, purports to refute the 1 d4 c5 system 'easily', culminating in the sublime offering 2dxc5 e6 3c4 BXc5 4Nc3 Nf6 5 Bg5?? which I leave the reader to 'refute ... easily' ... 12 .•• Nd7
But not 12 ... Bd7? 13 Bd3!± Bh6 140-0 Bf4 15 Ne2 Be5 16 Bd2 (16f4± Welling) f5 17 f4 (or 17 c3) Bxb2 18 Rabl Bf6 19 Ng3 h5 20 N x f5 c4 21 Be4 Na6 22 Be3 Nc7 23 Nd4 a6! 24 Rb4?! Nb5! 25 Ne2 Rc8 26 Bd2 h4 27 h3 Kf8 28 Kh2 a5 29Rbbl Na3 30Rb7 Ba4 31 Bxa5 Bxc2 32Bxc2 Nxc2 33 Bc3? Ne3 34 ReI Nxd5 (0-1, 57) Peek-Welling (Holland 1983) White loses his 'd' -pawn without compensation and later has no answer to Black's central pawn roller. 130-0-0
134
THE WOOZLE
Other possibilities: a) 13[4 Rb8 14 Bc6 hS IS 0-0 h4 16 NfS RhS 17 g4 (Welling points out that 17 N xd6+ is wrong and gives the following variations in support: 17 ... exd6 18 Rael+ Kd8 19 BaS+ Rb6 or 17 ... exd6 18 B xf6 Bh6 19 Rfel+ Kf8 20 Be7+ Kg7 21 Bx d6 Rxb2) 17 ... h xg 3 ep 18 hxg3 Ba6? (Black would do better to sacrifice some material to free his game, e.g. 18 ... RxfS! 1994 RxdS! 20BxdS Nb6 21 Bc6+ Bd7 22Bxd7+ Kx d7, followed by . . . Kc6, . . . NdS, . . . e6 with full compensation for his slight material deficit) 19 Rf2? Kd8 (I9Nxd6+ exd6 20Bxf6 Bxfl 21 Rel+ Be7 22Rxe7+ Kf8 23 Rxd7+- Welling) 20g4 Rh7 21 ReI Nb6 22 BaS and White won the ending with a good knight against a bad bishop (1-0, 43). Douven-Welling (Eindhoven 1983). b) 13 Nf5?! Rb8 14 Bc6 Ba6 [Alternatives are: 14 . . . Kd8 IS 0-0-0 NeS 16 BaS+ Rb6 17Ne3 Nxc6 18dxc6 Kc7 19 NdS+ Kxc6 20Nxb6 axb6 21 Bd2=. Or 14 ... e6?! IS 0-0 Kd8 16 BaS+ Nb6 17 Ne3 fS. Or 14 ... Rb6!? (with the idea of an exchange sacrifice on c6) IS Ba4 Ra6] ISa4 Bb7 16Bxd7+ Kxd7 170-0-0 Rg8 18g3 (18Rhgl Rg4 19b3 Rf4) 18 . . . RgS 19Ne3 =+ eS 20h4 Rg8 and Black has a good game. c) 13 0-0 (Schiller) Rb8 14 Bc6 (14 Ba4) hS IS h4 Kd8 16 BaS+ Nb6 followed by 17 ... Bd7 (analysis by Myers); 14 ... Bb71SRfelKd8(IS ... Bxc6?! 16dxc6NeS 17c7Rc8 18 f4 Rxc7). d) 13 Ba5!? (suggested by Wesnigk) Rb8 14c4 a6 IS Bxd7+ Bxd716b3fSunclear 13 ... Rb8 14 Ba4
14 Bc6 Kd8?+ = (Trying to unpin his knight in this way is not going to be satisfactory in the long run, correct would be 14 ... Bh6+ similar to the text; then after IS Kbl Kf8 = +, e.g. 16 NfS? Bf4) IS BaS+ (IS Rhe 1 is more flexible) Nb6 16 f4 Rg8 17 b3 hS 18 Rd2 h4 19 Ne4 BfS 20 Nc3 eS? (better 20 ... h3 21 g3 eS= 22 dXe6 ep. fxe6 23 Be4 Bg4 unclear 13S
THE WOOZLE
and froll} the diagram position 24 Nb5 d5 25 c4 f5) 21 dXe6 ep. fXe6 22Be4 BXe4 (22 . . . Bg4? 23h3 Bh5 24Nb5d5 25Bxd5+-)23Nxe4Ke7(23 ... f5 24Nxc5Ke7 25 Bxb6! _ Nd3±) 24 Nxd6 Bh6 (24 ... Rd8? 25 Nf5+!+-) 25 g3 Rbd8 26 Ne4 e5 27 Rxd8 Rxd8 28 Bd2 c4? (28 . . . exf4) 29fxe5 Rxd2 30exf6+ Kf7 31Nxd2 c3 32Kdl Bxd2 33 gxh4± Nd5 34 Ke2 Kxf6 3 Rdl Nf4+ 36Kf3 Ke5 37 h5! Nxh5 38 Rxd2 cxd2 39 Ke2 and the black knight can no longer contain the white pawns advancing on both sides of the board. (1-0,51) Schleh6fer-Bucker (Brilon 1982) 14 ... Bh6+ 15 Bd2
If 15 Kbl Kf8 (or even 15 ... Bf4 _ ... Be5) 16 Ne2 Nb6 17 Bc6 Ba6 18 Rhel BXe2 19 RXe2 Bf4= 15 . .. Bxd2+ 16Rxd2 Rb4 17 Bc6 Kd8=+
After the exchange of bishops White's attacking chances are practically gone with the endgame at hand. From now on White is forced more and more on the defensive: 18 Bxd7 (otherwise 18 ... Ne5) B x d7 (At this stage Black has played all his moves in 5 minutes and White has consumed 90 minutes on his clock) 19 ReI h5 20 f3 h4 21 Ne4 Ra4 22 Kbl Rh5 23 Rde2 Rd4 24 f4 Bg4 25 Re3 Bf5 26 Nc3 e5 27 Kcl a6 28 Rfl Ke7 29 h3 Bg6 30 Ref3 Rh8 31 Re3 (White is at a loss for a plan) 31 ... Rb8 32 Rf2 Kf8? (32 ... Rbb4! would force the issue in the centre) 33 Ne2 Rdb4?? (33 ... Re4! with advantage to Black) 34f5 Bh7 35 a3! Rxb2 36Nc3+- (the author had overlooked 136
THE WOOZLE
White's 35th move) 36 ... Kg7 37 Re4 (\-0, 49) Busch-Bucker (Wittlich 1983).
THE MODERATED WOOZLE 1 d4 c5 2 d5 NI6 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 Bd2 b5 5 a3
Other variations of lesser importance than 5 e4 do not have as much authentic illustrative material. In the Moderated Woozle (sometimes called the 'Woozle Declined' or the 'Non-Classical Woozle'), Black is recommended first to stabilise the queen's wing as in the Hawk, ( ... c5 ~ ... c4) in order to gain control of . . . c5 and restrict White's scope. First we give some examples where White varies on Move 4. Instead of 4 Bd2 he could try 1) 413 b5 (4 ... e6 5 e4 a6 6 Bd2 Qc7 7 a4 Bd6 8 Nge2! with advantage) 5 e4 (the game Siirkilahti-Heinola, Finland 1986, went 5 Kf2 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Nh3 b4 8 Bxf6 gxf6 9 Ne4 Qb6 10 c4 f5 11 Ng3 Qd6 12 e3 Qe5 13 Qd2 Bh4; 0-1,55) and now (after 5 e4) we have:
a) 5 ... c4 (i) 6 Bd2 e5 7 a4 b4 (7 d x e6 ep. d x e6 8 e5 Nfd7 unclear) 8 Nb1 Ba6= + (see diagram) From the diagram position if 9 Na3? c3- + In general, Black will continue with ... Bc5 ~ ... d6 ~ Nbd7 or ... d6 at once. (ii) 6 e5 b4 (hitting the white pawn on d5) The position is 137
THE WOOZLE
Position afler H N hi Ba6
comparable to the Hawk. Other attempts by White on Move 6 can be answered with 6 ... e6 - Bb4 or ... Na6 _ ... NcS. b) 5 ... b4 6 Nbl with the following variations: (i) 6 ... d6 7Nd2e6 8Bc4exdS gexdSBe7=+ IONe20-0 11 0-0 Nbd7 12 b3 Qc7 13 Bb2 Nb6 14 Ne4= (but 0-1, 41) Tolk-Welling (Holland 1985); now 14 ... NXc4 does not work on account of IS Nxf6+ Bxf6 16Bxf6 Ne3 17 Qd2 N xfl 18 QgS!+(ii) 6 ... b3+!? 7 Nc3 bXc2 8 Qxc2 Ba6 (1-0,38) SmaginHeinola, (Tamp ere 1987) (iii) 6 ... e6 7 d6 eS 8 Nd2 Ba6 unclear. (iv) 6 . . . g6!? 7 Nd2 Bg7 8 Nc4 Qd8 9 Bd3 (0-1, 23) Molinardi-Bucker, (Munster, 1986). 2) 4 Nf3 bS (4 ... c4 S Bd2! cpo Hawk) S e3 Bb7 6 Bd2? b4- + (better 6 BxbS NxdS 7 Qd3=+) B. Schneider-Bucker (DBEM 1983) (lightning chess) 3) 4 Qd3 (Stertenbrink) has two replies for Black: (i) 4 ... b5?!SQxbSQxbS 6NxbSNxdS 7e4Nb4+ (7c4 a6!? 8cxdS axbS ge4 b4 - or simply 7c4 Nb4) (ii) 4 ... Na6 S e4 e6 (S ... Nb4! 6 Qe2 e6) 6 BgS Be7 7 d6 Bd8? (7 ... h6! 8 Bh4? Bd8 9 eS c4 10 Qg3 gS! - or 7 ... h6 8 Bxf6! Bxf6 9 f4! bS!? 10 eS [10 Nf3 cf] Bh4+ 11 g3 Bb7 12 Nf3 Nb4) 8 eS c4 9 Qg3 Ne4 (9 ... Nb4? 10 exf6! gxf6 11 Bh6 - Qg7 and White wins - G. Walter) 10 Bxd8 Qxc3+ 11 Qxc3 N xc3 12 BaS Na4 13 b3 b6 14 Bd2 c3 IS Be3 N(4)cS 16a3! Bb7 17Ne2 Rc8 18Bd4 Ne4 19f3 Nd2 138
THE WOOZLE
20Nxc3 and White has a safe extra pawn (=, 63) KilianP. Bucker (1983) 4) 4 e3 Ne4 (4 ... a6 S Be2 bS 6 Bf3 Ra7 and ... eS; S Bd2) SNge2 bS 6Qd3 Nxc3 7Nxc3 (7 Bd2) c4! 8Qd4 Bb7 ge4 e6 10 Be2 b4!? 11 Ndl b3+ 12 Bd2 QcS 13 QxcS BxcS 14 Bxc4 exdS IS exdS bxc2 16 Nc3 Ba6 17 b3? Bxc4 18 bxc4 Na6 19 Na4 Ba3 20 Ke2 Rb8 21 Kd30-0 22 Bel Bxcl 23 Rhxcl Rb4 24 Nc3 Rc8 2S Rxc2 Rcxc4 26 Rac1 NcS+ 27 Ke3 fS 28B f4+ 29 Ke2 Kf7 30Ndl Rxc2+ 31 Rxc2 d6 32 Nb2 RbS 0-1, Bonavilla-Margarit (Correspondence 1987). A highly instructive game! S) 4 e4?! Nx e4 S Qf3 Nf6? (S ... Nxc3 6 Bd2 eS! Bellon) 6BgSd6 7Bxf6exf6 80-0-0 Bd7?! 9Bd3Be7 IORelKd8 11 Qg3 g6 12 Nf3 Re8 13 Qh4 hS 14 Rxe7! Rxe7 IS Qxf6 Be8 16 ReI Qc7 17 NbS! +- (1-0,20) Pornes-Bellon (Spain 1985). Now, back to the main line:
4 Bd2 b5 5 a3 S d6?! b4 6 dxe7 Bxe7 7 Nb 1 Bb7=+ (=, 18) TiihkiivuoriHeinola (Finland, 1988). S Ne4 is harmless e.g. a) S ... Qa4!? (S ... Qc7) 6 Nc3 (6NxcS Qd4 =+) 6 ... QaS 7 Ne4 Draw, Dresen-Bucker (West German League 1988). b) S ... Qb6 6Nxf6+Qxf6(6 ... exf6 7e4d6 8b3aS 9a4 b4 10 f4 g6 11 Nf3 Bg7 12 BbS+ Bd7 13 Bc4 0-0 140-0 Bg4 Ugge-Zitzrnan (Correspondence 1988) 7 Bc3 (a4!?) Qg6 8 Qd3 (8 b3 e6 9 dxe6 fxe6 10 Nf3 Nc6 11 e3 b4 12 Bb2 Be7 13 Bd3 Qh6 14 c4 bxc3 ep IS Bxc3 0-0 16 h4 unclear; drawn in 40, Montada-Roth, Saarbriicken 1983) 8 ... Qxd3 9cxd3 Bb7 10 e4 e6 11 dxe6 dxe6 12 NB Nc6 13 Be2 Bd6 = + 140-0 (14 Bxg7 Rg8 IS Bf6 Rxg2 16 Bh4!? Shibut) 14 ... 0-0 ISa4b4 16Bd2NaS 17Be3Rfd8 18eS?Be7 19d4c4 20 Nd2 BdS 21 BB B xf3 22 NxB Nb3 and Black stands better (0-1, SO) Peters-Shibut, (Washington, 1985).
5 ... a6 139
THE WOOZLE
If instead 5 ... Qc7?! White has two options:
a) 6Nxb5! Qb7 7c4! (7e4 NXe4 8Qe2 a6! or 7e4 NXe4 8 BaS Na6 9Qe2 Qxd5) 7 ... Nxd5 8cxd5 Qxb5 9Bc3 Ba6 10 Nf3± (cp. Vulture Subvariation 6A where Black plays 6 ... b5) b) 6 e4 b4? (6 ... a6 transposes into the text) 7 axb4 cxb4 8 NbS Qb6 [so far W. Bucker-St. Bucker (Wordwalde 1980, 0-1, 35)1 and now 9 Bf4! d6 to e5! and White has an advantage. After 5 ... Qb6? the game Tolvanen-Heinola (Finland, 1986), went 6e4 b4 7 axb4 cxb4 8 Na4 Qc7 (=, 35); (9 Bxb4!) 6e4 Qc7 7 Bd3
a) 7[3 (the most usual move here) and now: (i) 7 ... Bb7 8 Nge2 d6 (8 ... g6 9 Bg5! Bg7 10 e5! Qxe5 11 Bf4 is better for White) 9Ng3 g6 JO Be2 h5!? 11 h4? (0-0) Bg7 120-0 Nbd7 13f4? Ng4!
i4 Bxg4 hxg4?! (14 . . . Bd4+! 15 Khl hxg4) 15 Be3 Rxh4 16 f5 0-0-0 17 RbI Rdh8 18 fxg6 fxg6 19 Nce2 Ne5 20Nf4 Nc4! 21 Bf2 Be5 (22Nxg6? Rh1+!) 0-1, Peters-Shibut (Washington 1986) (Notes by Shibut). (ii) 7 ... e6 8dxe6 dXe6 (8 ... fxe6) 9g3 Bb7 tOBg2 h5 llBf4 Qb6 12e5 Nd5 13Nxd5 Bxd5 14Ne2 Nc6 15Nc3 Rd8 16Qe2 (16Nxd5? Rxd5 17Qe2 g5! -+ Welling) 16 ... Bc4 17 Qf2 Be7 18 h4 Nd4 19 Bft (0-1, 36) van der Tak-Welling (Ghent 1985), and now, according 140
THE WOOZLE
to Welling, 19 ... Be2! 20 Bg2 b4 is best for Black e.g. 21 Ne4? Nxc2+ 22 Kxe2 QbS mate. b) 7Qf3!?Bb7(7 ... g6 8Bf4d6 9Qe3+=;better7 ... eS!?) 8 Bf4 (8 g4? b4 9 N dl QeS) 8 ... QaS (preparing for ... e6) 9 Bd2 Qc7 10 Bf4= d6?! 11 Qe3 Nbd7 unclear. c) 7 Bg5 g6? (7 . . . h6! 8 Bh4 QaS! 9 f3 Bb7 = +; or here 8Bxf6exf6!)8Nf3d6 geS!dxeS IOd6Qd8 11 NxeSRa7 12 NxbS Rb7 13 Nc7+ Rxc7 14 dxc7 Qxc7 IS Nc4 Bb7 16 Nd6+ 1-0, Rakic-Freckmann (Berlin 1986). d) 7 Nf3?! d6 8 b4 g6 (8 ... Nd7!? Heinola) 9 Bd3 Bg7 10 0-0 0-0 11 bxcS QxcS 12 Ne2 Nbd7 13 Nfd4 Qc7 14 Nb3 NcS 15 NxcS dxcS 16 c3 e6 17 a4 exdS 18 exdS c4 19 Bc2 NxdS?! (19 ... Bb7 Heinola) 20axbS Bb7 21 bxa6 Rxa6 22 Rxa6 Bxa6 23 Be4 Bb7 24 Qc2 Re8 2S Bf3 Draw, Yrjolii-Heinola (Finland 1988).
7 .•. e6?! Hoping for a position similar to the Hawk. However, as we see in the game, Black is unable to exploit the square cS in the usual way. That's why 7 ... g6! is better, 8 Nf3 (8 f4!?) Bg7 90-0 0-0 10 ReI d6 11 h3 Nbd7 12 Bf4 Bb7 13 ReI Rac8 14 Bf! b4 IS Na4 NhS 16 Bh2 QaS 17 c3 bxc3 18 Nxc3 c4= + Black won (Schiffer-Bucker, lightning tournament, DBEM 1981)
8 Nf3 Bb7 90-0 e4 10 Be2 BeS Perhaps 10 ... Be7 was better, but if Black instead accepts the pawn offer with 10 . . . exd5 White obtains an attack, e.g. 11 NxdS NxdS 12exdS BxdS 13BaS!? Qb7 14Rel Be6 (14 ... Be7 IS Bb4) IS Nd4 (or NeS) Nc6 16 Bf3 BcS 17 BXc6 dxc6 18 Nxe6 fxe6 19 QhS+ +-
11 BgS d6 12 Nd4 Qb6 13 Be3= This move order occurred in a speed-game Meinsohn-Bucker, 1980, which became increasingly chaotic as it progressed: 141
THE WOOZLE
13 ... e5?! (0-0) 14 Nf5 g6? (14 ... BXe3 15 NXe3 Nbd7+=) 15Bg5Nbd7 16Nh6Bd4 17Bg4Rf8 18Qf3(18Bh3!?-) Qf3) Nxg4 19 Qxg4 Bc5?! (19 ... f6 20 Qe6+ Kd8 21 Nf7+? Rxf7) 20 Kh1 (Meinsohn later suggested 20 a4) f6 21 Qe6+ Kd8 22 Be3 Re8 23 BXc5 Qxc5 24 Qh3 Re7 25 b4?!= (Both 25 f4 and 25 Rael -) Re3 -) Rg3 -) Rg4 -) Rh4 would be to White's advantage on account of Black's bad QB). 25 ... cxb3 ep. 26cxb3 Rc8 27Ne2 Qc2?! (27 ... a5-) ... b4 ... Ba6) 28 Qe3 Qc5 29 Qd2 (Better 29 Qg3!) 29 ... Qc2 30 Qe3 f5? 31 exf5 Bxd5 32Racl Qxb3 33 Qg5! Rxcl 34Rxc1 Qh3
35 Ng1? (Time trouble; 35 Ng8 or even stronger 35 Nf7+!+-) 35 ... Qh5 36 Qd2 Bc4 37 f6? Nxf6 38 Qxd6+ Nd7 39 Rd1 Ke8 40Qd2e4 41 Nh3e3 42fxe3Qxh6 43 Nf4Qg5 44Qd4 Qe5 and Black won in the end.
142
5
Other Systems After 1 d4 c5
A THE 'VULTURE' TREATMENT OF 1 d4 c5 2 d5 Nf6 3 Bg5!? 3 8g5 (or 3 g3) are of relatively minor significance. After 3 8g5 81ack has a wide choice of satisfactory moves: e.g. a) 3 . . . Qb6 4Nc3!? Qxb2 58d2 Qb6 6e4 e5 7f4 d6 8 fx e5 d x e5 9 NO 8d6 10 8c4 with compensation for the pawn Priby/-Hazai (Varna 1978) b)3 ... Qb6 48xf6gxf6 5Qc1f5 6e38g7 7c3e6 8Nh3 h5 98e2 e5 lOf4 e4 11 Na3 d6 12Nc4 Qc7 13 a4 Nd7 is unclear according to Hort. c) 3 ... Qa5+!? 4 c3 Qb6 5 8xf6 Qxf6 6 e4 g6 7 Nd2 8g7 8 Ngf3 0-0 (B6hm-Ljubojevie, Amsterdam 1975) and now after 9 8d3 d6 Hort considers the position unclear. d) 3 ... d6 (intending ... Nbd7)48xf6 exf6 5c4f5 6e3 g6 7 Nc3 8g7 88d3 0-0= Trompovsky-Najdorf (Montevideo 1954) Of course we give preference to the continuation we think is best, 3 ... Ne4, especially as this could lead to a black initiative on a par with the Vulture. 3 Bg5 Ne4 4 Bf4 Alternatives are: a) 4 Bel?! e6 5c4 Qa5+ 6Nd2 Nf6 7Qb3 Na6 8f3 exd5 9 c x d5 c4 10 Q x c4 N x d5 + b) 4 Bh4?! Qb6! 5Qclg5 68g38g7 7c3Qh6 88xb8Rxb8 143
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 04 C5
9Nd2 Nxd2 lOQxd2 bS::;:: O. Rodriguez-Hort (Las Palmas 1975) 4 ... Qb6 5 Bel
a) Of course not 5 b3?? Qf6 -+ b) A game van der Sterren-Yusupov (Amsterdam 1978) went 5 QcJ gS 6 BeS f6 and now, according to Yusupov, 7 B x b8 would be unclear. However, Kasparov revealed a profound understanding of the 'Hawk' strategy, when he cryptically referred to the key variation in his games commentary (S Qel c4! 6 e3 QaS+ 7 Nd2 c3) c) 5 Nd2?! Nxd2 (S ... Qxb2! 6Nxe4 Qb4+ 7Qd2 Qxe4 8f3 Qb4 '9c3 Qb6 lOe4 d6; 0-1, 3S, Hann-Hardy, Leicester 1988; 9 ... QaS lOe4 b6!?) 6Bxd2 Qxb2 7e4 Qb6 8f4 d6 9c4 eS 10 fXeS dXeS 11 Nf3 Qc7 12 Bd3 Be7 13 0-0 Bg4 14 Qe1 BhS IS Qg3 Bf6 16 Qh3 Bg6 17 g4 Nd7 18 gS Be7 unclear (1-0, 33) Piket-Klinger (Kiljara 1984). From the diagram position the following attempts have been seen in tournament practice: (i) 5 . . . c4? 6e3 e6 7dxe6 Qxe6 8Nh3 Bd6 9f3 Nf6 10 Qe2 bS 11 a4± Alburt-Kuprechik (USSR 1974). (ii) 5 ... e6 6 f3 Nf6 7 c4 [7 dXe6 fXe6 8 e4 Nc6 9 Nc3 Be7 IOf40-0(1O ... dS!?)lleSNdS 12NxdSexdS 13QxdS+ Kh8 14 c3 d6 and Black has compensation for the pawn Bohm-Yusupov (Amsterdam, 1978)) 7 ... exdS 8 cxdS d6 (8 ... c4!?) 9 Nc3 g6 10 e4 Bg7 II RbI!? 0-0 12 Be3 144
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 D4 CS
Re8 13 Qd2 Qa5 14 a3 a6 15 Nge2 Nbd7 16 Ng3 b5 17Be2 Bb7 180-0 Rac8 19b4 Qxa3 20Ral Qxb4 21 Rfbl Qxc3 22 Qxc3 Nxd5 23 Qd2 Nxe3 24 Ra3 d5 25 Rxe3 d4 26 Ra3 c4 27 f4 c3 28 Qc2 Nc5 29 Bd3 Bh6 30 Rfl b4 31 Rb3 as 32 Ne2 Nxd3 33 Qxd3 Bxe4 34 Qxd4 Bc2 35 Ncl Bf8 36 Khl Bc5 37 Qd5 a4 38 Rxc3 b x c3 39 Qa2 Bf5 40 Q x a4 c2 0-1 Landsman-Goldstern (Holland, 1983) An unusual but imaginative Queen sacrifice! (iii) 5 ... e66f3Qa5+!? 7c3Nf6 8e4d6(8 ... exd5 ge5± Kasparov) 9 Bd2! (9 Na3 eX d5 10 e x d5 Be7 11 Nc4 Qd8 12 Ne3 0-0 = van der Wiel-Kasparov (Moscow 1982) 9 ... Qb6 (better 9 ... Qc7 ~ ... g6 and ... Bg7) 10 c4 Q x b2 11 Nc3 Qb6 12 f4! Nbd7 13 Nf3 e5 14 f5 with an attack 1-0, (35) Ehlvest-Vyzmanavin (USSR 1984). In all these variations the black knight is first driven away with f3, before White has weakened his diagonal a5--el with the move c4, so we can't really talk in terms of a genuine Vulture strategy. However, a 'Pseudo-Vulture' can be reached from Diagram 88, along the right lines for Black. 5 ••• Qf6! 6 NO 6Nh3 (6f3?? Qh4+ -+)d6 7Nf4e5 8dxe6ep.(8Nd3?c4) fxe6 with advantage to Black. 6 ... e6! 7 c4 7 e3 exd5 8 Qxd5 Qe6 9 Bc4 Nf6= 7 g3 eX d5 8 Q x d5 Qe6 9 Qdl Nc6 10 Bg2 Be7 11 0-0 0-0 12 Nbd2 d5 13 Nxe4 dxe4 14 Ng5 Bxg5 15 Bxg5 h6 16 Be3 Rd8 = + Hermesmann-Bucker (Ahaus 1988). 7 •.. Qd8!? And with this astonishing final move (which Black may be able to improve upon with 7 ... g6 or 7 ... Na6) we have transposed back into the game Bujl-Pereyra previously discussed. Whereas the relevant position already occurred in that game on the fourth 145
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 04 C5
move, here the delay is due to a triangular detour on both sides: White: Bel ~ BgS ~ Bf4 ~ and back to cl Black: . . . Qd8 ~ Qb6 ~ ... Qf6 ~ and back to ... d8 leading to the key position. Amusing (but unfortunately unsound) is the line 1 d4 cS 2 dS Nf6 3 BgS c4? which the author dubbed with the name 'Kriegichd' (short for 'Krieg ich dich' meaning 'I'll get you') - in analogy with 'Habich' ('I've got you!')
Just because something is a novelty it isn't necessarily good! We give a few examples: 4 Bxf6 gXf6! and now a) S Nf3 Qb6?! (S ... eS) 6 Qd4! += b) S Qd4 bS (S ... QaS+ 6 c3 bS 7 a4 a6 8 Na3 Bb7 9 axbS axbS lONc2 Qxal+) 6a4 Qb6?! (6 ... QaS+ 7Nd2 Bh6 8 e3 Na6 and possibly ... Nb4) 7 Qxb6! axb6 8 Nc3 bxa4 ge4 Rg8 lOg3+= c) Se4 (Se3+=) Qb6 6Bxc4 (6Qc1? Bh6 or 6Nd2 Qxb2 7 RbI Qa3 8 Bxc4!; also possible 6 b3+=) 6 ... Qxb2 7 Nd2 e.g. 7 ... b6 8 Ngf3 Na6 90-0 e6 10 Qe2 Nc7 11 a4 Qc3 12 as bxaS 13 eS fXeS 14 Ne4 Qb4 IS Rfbl Qe7 16 d6 Qd8 17 NXeS+-
B I d4 c5 2 d5 Nf6 THE HARMLESS CONTINUA TION 3 g3 After 3 g3 other systems could easily occur by transposition (e.g. 3 . . . bS 4· c4 Bb7 Benko Gamit). More recently, 146
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER I 04 C5
however, the continuation 3 ... e6 4c4 exdS S cxdS bS!? has enjoyed some popularity (the fianchetto of the white KB facilitates this set-up). Black obtains full counterplay without releasing the tension. 3 g3 e6 4 c4 4Nc3 exdS SNxdS NxdS 6QxdS Nc6 7e4 d6= 8 Bg2?! Be6= (8 ... Nd4 9 Qc4 dS!) 9 Q d 1 hS!? (9 ... fS = to eX fS B x fS 11 Ne2 Nb4) 10 h4 (to f4!? is worth a try) Be7 11 Nh3 Qb6 12Nf40-0-0 13 c3= lunge-Richter (Munich 1942). Active piece play for Black compensates for the backward 'd' pawn. 4 ... exd5 5 cxd5 b5 68g2
6 a4 bxa4 7 Nc3 d6 8 Qxa4+ Bd7 9 Qb3 Qc7 to e4 Be7 11 Nf3 0-0 12 Nd2 as 13 Nc4 Na6 14 RxaS Nb4 with compensation Quinteros-Forintos (Montilla 1973). 6 e4 N x e4 7 Qe2 Qe7 8 Bg2 Nd6 9 Be3 b4 (9 ... c4 unclear) 10 BxcS Q x e2 + 11 N x e2 Na6 12 Bd4 NfS 13 0-0 BcS = SosonkoOlafsson (Wijk aan Zee 1977) 6 ... d6 7 b4!?
White has numerous alternatives: a) 7 b3 g6 8 Bb2 Bg7 9 Nh3 0-0 100-0 Nbd7 11 e4 Re8 12 Qc2 NeS 13 Nf4 hS 14 Nd2 h4= + Tolusch-Keres (Hastings 19S7/S8)
147
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER I D4 CS
b) 7a3 as 8Nc3 Qb6 9Nf3 Be7= Larsen-Tal (Bled 1965) c) 7e4 Bb7 (7 . . . g6 8Qe2!? Nbd7 9f4 Bg7 lOe5+= Plaskeu-Grosspeter, Thessaloniki 1981) 8 Ne2 g6 90-0 (9 a4 b4 10 Nd2 Nbd7 11 Nc4 a5=) 9 ... Bg7 10 a4 b4 11 Nd2 Ba6 12 Ret Nbd7= Rovner-Mikenas (USSR 1949). d) 7 Nf3 g6(7 ... Be7!? 80-00-0 9 a4 b4 10 Nfd2 Ba6 11 b3 Nbd7= Fernandez-Estevez, Cuba 1983) 8 Nfd2?! (80-0=) Nbd7 9Nc3 a6! 10 a4 b4 11 Nce4 as 12Qb3 Be7! 13 Nc4 Nxe4 14 Bxe4 Nb6= + Portisch-Korchnoy (Lucerne 1982) e) 7 a4 b4 8 Nd2 g6 9 Nc4 Ba6 10 Qc2 Bg7 [10 Qd3 Bg7 11 Qe2+ Kf8 12Qf4 Bxc4 13 Qxc4 Henley-Seirawan (Indonesia 1983) now 13 ... as! according to Henley would give Black some advantage] 11 Nf3 0-0 120-0 Re8 13 ReI Bxc4 14 Qxc4 Nbd7= Polugayevsky-Lisitzin (USSR 1956) As you see, in all these variations Black managed to equalise fairly easily by simple development. The text does, however, require more precision and a closer knowledge of the variations concerned. 7 ... Na6! If Black accepts the 'b' pawn, White gains control on the queenside; 7 ... cxb4 8a3 bxa3 9Nxa3 Qd7 IOQb3 Na6 11 Qxb5 (11 Bh3 Qb7 12 Qxb5+ Qxb5 13 Nxb5 Nb41ed to a draw in a game Sosonko-Timman, Tilburg 1982) 11 ... Rb8 12 Qxd7+ Bxd7 13 Nc2 Nc5 14 Rxa7 Be7 15 Nf3 Nxd5 16 Nfd4± Sosonko-Adorjan (Wijk aan Zee 1984) 8 bxcS NxcS 9 Nf3 g6 The interesting move 9 . . . Bb7 (Unzicker) is answered by 10 Nh4! with advantage to White (if instead 10 Nd4 Nxd5 11 N x b5 Nc3! and . . . B x g2 when Black has solved his problems).
100-0 8g7 II Nd4 O-O? This was played in a game Kasparov-Korchnoy (Candidates' Tournament, 11th Match game, London 1983) after 12 Nc3 a6 (12 ... b4 13 Nc6 Qd7 14 NbS! Nfe4 15 Nbd4 Nc3 16 Qc2 Ba6 148
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER I 04 C5
17 ReI ± Kasparov) 13 Nc6! Qc7 14 Be3! Bb7 IS Bd4 Rfe8 16a4 bxa4 17BxcS! dxcS 18Qxa4 Nd7 (1-0, 32) when, according to Kasparov, 19 Qa3! ± would have been White's best move. However, instead of 11 ... O-O? the correct continuation for Black is 11 ... Bb7 12 N x bS Nfe4 13 Nd4 B x dS (Kasparov) The position is unclear. If instead 12 e4? Nfxe4! 13 BXe4 (13 ReI Qf6) Qf6 14 Bb2 Na4! is good for Black.
C WHITE TRIES FOR A TRANSITION INTO THE ENGLISH OPENING 1 d4 cS 2 NO After 2 ... Nf6 3 c4 c x d4 4 N x d4 White would like to steer the game into the domain of the English Opening. However, Black can easily cross this plan with 2 Nf3 c x d4 3 N x d4 dS! as in the text. Even if White tries to change the move order, his plan will not work, e.g. 2 c4?! cxd4 3 Nf3 eS!::;:: (or 3 Qxd4=)
4g3 (4NxeS?? QaS+ SNd2 QxeS is a familiar trap in a number of other openings, too) 4 ... Nc6 S Bg2 BcS 60-0 Nge7 and Black has a sound extra pawn Dr Pavlovic-Bucker (1981) (0-1, 12). After 2c4 cxd4, regarding the move 3 Nf3, Dr Tarrasch's criticism in his chess magazine is quite drastic. Referring to it as ('3 Nf3?') he comments that 'a worse move could hardly be imagined' adding that 'it could be regarded the losing move'. Yet, as we see it, not even 2 b4? (given an exclamation mark by Nakamura) merits such outright condemnation; 2 b4 cxd4 3 Qxd4 (3 Nf3 Nc6 4 a3 eS S Bb2 dS 149
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER I 04 C5
6 c3 dXc3 7 N xc3 [unclear according to Nakamura)7 ... Be6 8 bS NaS 9 N XeS d4- +) 3 ... Nc6 4 Qh4 (so far we follow Nakamura) and now 4 ... Qb6 S c3 as+ 2cxd4 3Nxd4
Or 3 Qxd4 Nc6 4 QdI dS S g3 eS 6 Bg2 Nf6 7 c4 Bb4+ 8Bd2 Be7 9cxdS NxdS lONc3 Nb6=+ Semotam-Cabrilo (Hungary 1977). 3 ... dS
Black establishes a 'classical' pawn centre, with . . . eS to follow, which White sooner or later will have to challenge. The most White can hope for is equality and in practice Black is likely to wrest the initiative on psychological grounds, since he has the more comfortable starting position. 4g3
Alternatives for White are: a) 4 c4 eS S Nc2 d4 6 e3 Nc6 7 exd4 exd4 8 Bd3 Nf6 0-0-0 Be7 10 ReI Bg4! 11 f3 Be6= + Menchik-Alekhine (Hastings 1933/34) b) 4 e4!? dxe4 (4 ... eS? S NO d4 6 c3!) S Nc3 eS (S ... Nf6 6 BgS Nbd7 7 Bc4 and White has enough compensation for the pawn) 6 BbS+ Bd7 7 NfS a6 8 Bxd7+ Qxd7 9 Qxd7+ Kxd7!= ISO
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 D4 C5
c) 4 Bf4?! Nc6 (4 ... Nd7, Tarrasch) 5 N xc6?! (5 e3 g6 6 c4=) 5 ... bXc6 6e3 g6 7 Be5 f6 8 Bg3?! (8Bc3 e5 9 f4 Bg7=+ looks safer than 8 Bc3 e5 9 f4 Qb6 10 fxe5) 8 ... e5 9 Be2 Qb6 10 b3 Bg7 11 Nc3 Nge7 12 Qd2 0-0 13 Na4 Qd8 140-0 Nf5 15c4 d4 16exd4 Nxd4
17 Rad1 Qe7 18 Rfe1 Bf5 19 Bd3? Bg4 20 RbI (20f3? Bxf3) 20 ... Rad8 (0-1, 30, Hillenkotter-Bucker, Nordwalde 1981) 4 ... e5 5Nb3 If instead 5 NO Nc6 6 Bg2 Nf6 7 Bg5 Be7 80-0 Be6 9 Nbd2 0-0 lOc3e4 11Ne1Ng4 12Bxe7Qxe7 13Nc2Rac8 14h3 Nge5 15f4 Qc5+ 16Kh2 Nc4 17NXc4 Qxc4=+ G. Oeljeklaus-Bucker (lightning game 1980)
5 ... Nc6 68g28e6
6 . . . Nf6 7 Bg5 Be6 8 Nc3 d4 9 Ne4 Be7 10 Bxf6 gxf6 110-0 Qb6 12 Qd2? h6 13 Qel f5 14 Ned2 h5 15 NO h4 (0-1, 24) Sanchez-Ruiz-Shibut (USA Virginia Championship 1985) 70-0 a5!?
Other good, solid continuations for Black are: a) 7 ... Nf6 8 Bg5 Be7 9 N(1)d2 (9 Nc3 d4 10 Bxf6 gXf6=+) 9 ... 0-0 lOc3 Nd7 11 BXe7 Qxe7 (Black has an ideal position) 12 Qc2? (Better 12 e4 d x e4 13 N x e4 f5 14 Ned2 _ Qe2 when 151
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER [ 04 C5
Black only has a slight advantage in space) 12 ... fS 13 Radl Rad8 14 Nf3 Nf6 IS Nel gS 16 Qel f4!::;: and the attack quickly proved decisive Bonhomme-Bl~cker (speed-game 1980, 0-1, 2S) b) 7 ... [5!? 8 f4 e4 9 Be3 Nf6 10 h3 hS= + with a kingside attack Tatai-Mariotti (Rome 1977); or here 10 Nd4 BcS 11 c3 Qb6 12 b4 Bxd4 13 Bxd4 Nxd4::;: (Cabrilo).
8 a4 Bb4! 9 c3 Be7 10 Na3
The strong point in Black's position is not so much the impressive looking pawn centre in itself which will soon be challenged by White's f4, as the ideaL posting o[the bLack pieces, guarding these pawns. This can be illustrated by the following sequences of moves: if 10 f4 Qd7 11 fS (11 fxeS) BxfS 12 QxdS Nf6 or 10 Be3 Nf6 11 NcS Bc8 with approximate equality. 10 ... Nf6 11 BgS 0-0 12 NbS Re8 13 Ncl?!
Better 13 B x f6 B xf6 (13 ... gXf6? 14 f4) 14 NcS (14 f4?! exf4 IS gx f4 Bg4) 14 ... e4!? unclear (or 14 ... Qe7 IS N xe6 fXe6 16 e4)
13 ... Ne4=+ A game Schuh-Bucker (Tecklenburg 1984) continued 14 BXe7 IS2
.'
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 D4 CS
Qxe7 ISNd3 Rad8 16e3 Nf6 17Rel Rf8!? 18f4 exf4 19Nxf4 (1gexf4 Ne4 20Bxe4 dxe4 21 Rxe4 Qd7 with compensation f or the pawn) 19 ... Bg4 20 B f3 B x f3 21 Q x f3 NeS 22 Qg2 gS! (Because of White's f4 and the exchange of light-squared bishops his king position is wrecked) 23 Kh 1 Neg4 (23 ... gxf4? 24exf4) 24Nh3 Ne4 2SNd4 fS 26Re2 Rd6 27 Rfl Rdf6 28 NxgS!? NxgS 29 QxdS+ Kh8 30 Rf4 (to prevent . . . Qe4+) Nxe3 31 QxaS b6 (threatening 32 . . . Qb7 +) 32 Qa6 Nh3 33 Rf3 f4 34 gx f4 Rg8! (34 . . . Qe4 3SRexe3 Rg8 36Qft Rfg6 37Ne2!+-) 3SRxh3 Qe4+ 36 Nf3 Rxf4 37 Rxe3 Qxe3 38 Qft Qe4 (0-1)
D DOES 2 e4 FORCE A TRANSITION INTO THE SICILIAN 'OPEN'? (THE SICILIAN VULTURE SPECIAL) From what we have just seen, in contrast to the sequence I d4 Nf6 2 c4 cS 3 Nf3 where transpositions into the English opening can be forced, our preferred move order I d4 cS does not allow this. On the other hand, it could be argued that with our choice of move order White also has a certain advantage, since the move 2 e4 offers him additional options. In the light of traditional theory after 2 . . . cxd4 3Nf3 and 4Nxd4 this would steer the game into variations of the Open Sicilian. So has Black got himself from the frying pan into the fire? In the first instance, for purely psychological reasons, the move order I d4 cS 2 e4 is unlikely to occur very often, since White, for his part, would have to be familiar with the Sicilian. Frequently I d4 cS 2 dS simply transposes into a normal Benoni. If White had wanted an open game, why not I e4 etc. immediately? Furthermore, many of our readers will opt for the Sicilian against I e4 anyway. Finally, contrary to the verdict reached by most theorists, Black does have a 'secret antidote' which sidetracks the standard Sicilian, with all its inexhaustible variations, by making use of certain factors. Granted then that there is no need for Black to be afraid of the Open Sicilian, nevertheless for anyone who is only prepared for our special lines, such a useful by-pass is entirely adequate. 1 d4 cS 2 e4 ex d4 3 N f3
IS3
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER I 04 C5
3 Q x d4 is considered harmless 3 ... Nf6 (or 3 ... Nc6=) 4 NO g6 S eS Nc6 60f4 NdS 70e4 Nc7 8 Nc3 Bg7 9 Bf4 Ne6 lOBc4Nxf4 llOxf40-0 120-00aS= (Geller). 3 c3 (offering the Morra Gambit) 3 ... dS?! (3 ... dXc3 or 3 ... Nf6 is theory) 4 exdS (4 Oxd4?! dXe4 S Oxe4 Nf6= 0-1, SO, Evertz-Bucker, 1979) 4 ... 0 x dS S Nf3 (or S c x d4 Nc6 6 Nf3 with transposition) S ... Nc6 6 cxd4 eS with transposition into the text. 3 ... e5!? This trick line (4 NXeS?? OaS+ wins a piece) was until recently under a cloud, because of the text (4 c3) Also worth mentioning is 3 . . . dS?! 4 BbS+ Bd7 S Bxd7+ Oxd7 (S . . . Nxd7 6exdSOaS+ 7c30xdS 80-0+=)6exdSOxdS 70-0!+= As a rule other moves will steer the game into an Open Sicilian. 4c3
In two ancient games (1848) between Anderssen and Harrwitz White twice varied with 4 Bc4 with the following possible sequel. This move hasn't been thoroughly examined even to this present day, but Black seems to be able to consolidate. a) 4 ... Nf6 S 0-0 Nc6=+ b) 4 ... Nf6 S NgS dS 6 exdS h6 7 Nf3 Bd6 c) 4 ... Nc6 SNgS?! Nh6 6f4d6 70-0Bg4 8Bxf7+? Ke7! Anderssen-Harrwitz (Breslau 1848). lS4
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 D4 CS
d) 4 . . . Qc7 SBb3 (SQe2 Nc6 Pollak) S . . . Nf6 (S .. Bb4+?! 6 c3 dxc3 70-0 Nf6 8 Bxf7+? Anderssen-Harrwitz Breslau 1848) 6 NgS (6 Nbd2!?) dS 7 eX dS Bd6 8 c3 h6 9 Nf3 d x c3 10 N x c3 a6 11 0-0 0-0 12 h3 BfS 13 Be3 Ne4 14 Ret Nx c3 IS Rxc3 Qe7 16 Qc1 Nd7=+ (Geller).
4 ... Nc6! The older move 4 ... dxc3?! would lead into an unfavourable line in the Morra; e.g. S Nxc3 Nc6 (S ... d6 6 Bc4 h6? [or 6 . . . Be6±) 7Bxf7+ Kxf7 8NxeS+ Ke7 9NdS+ Ke6 10Qg4++- Krogius-Ojanen, 19S1) 6Bc4 Bb4 (6 . . . d6 7NgS Nh6 80-0±) 70-0 Nf6 (7 ... Bxc3 8bxc3 d6 9Ba3 Bg4 lORbl± Gereben-Salay, Hungary 19S4) 8NdS+= (Geller)
5cxd4 S Bc4 (S BbS d xc3) Nf6! 6 Qe2 (The alternatives are 6 cxd4?! Nxe4 7dSBb4+;6Qd3Be7 7cxd4exd4 8Nxd4NeS and 6 Ng5 dS 7 exdS NxdS 8 Qf3 Be6) 6 ... d6 (6 ... dxc3 or 6 ... BcS 7Bxf7+?!) 7cxd4 Bg4 8 BbS Nd7=+.
5 ... d5?! B lack is trying to transpose into the Sicilian line: 1 e4 cS 2 Nf3 Nc6 3c3dS 4exdSQxdS Sd4cxd4 6cxd4eS.However, both S ... Bb4+ and S ... exd4! 6 Nxd4 Bb4+ (6 ... dS; 6 ... Qh4?! 7 NbS) with a rapid . . . dS (=) must be considered objectively better.
6exd5 6 BbS would not offer White much, e.g. 6 ... dxe4 7 NxeS Bb4+ 8 Nc3 Nge7= (9 Qa4 QaS) 6 ... QXd5 With this the intended transposition is completed. 7Nc3
ISS
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER I 04 C5
7 d x e5 Q x dl + B K x dl Bg4 9 Be2 0-0-0+ with equality. 7 ... Bb4 8 Bd2
B Be3?! exd4= 9 Nxd4 Nge7 10 Qa4?! (White's position does not justify this) 10 . . . Qe5! 11 Bb5?! O-O?!+= 120-0-0 BXc3 13 bxc3 Bd7 14 Kb2 Nd5!::;:: threatening Nb6, Sirringhaus-Bucker (0-1, 26) (Enger-Spenge, 1977) 8 ... 8xc3 9 8xc3 e4 If Black were to open up the game, the white bishop pair would assert itself. e.g.
a) 9 . . . Qe4+ 10 Qe2! Qxe2+ 11 BXe2 e4 12d5 exf3 13 Bxf3 Nce7 14 Bxg7 Ng6 15 d6 h6 16 BxhB NxhB 17 0-0 Nf6 IB Rac1 KdB 19 Rfel NeB 20 RXcB+ (1-0) KicovicForintos (Bognor Regis 1956) b) 9 ... exd4 10 Nxd4 Nge7 (10 ... Nxd4+=) 11 NXc6 Qxc6 12Bxg7 RgB (12Qd4 Bf5 13Rdl Rc8 14Rgl h5? 15Qxg7 Rh6 16 Rd4?! Qe6+ 17Kdl a6 IBBc4 Rxc4? 19 QfB+ KxfB 20 RdB mate; P. Bucker-Janzen, 19B2) 13 Bd4 Bh3 14Rc1 Qe4+ 15Be3 Bxg2 16Rgl Bxfl 17RxgB+ NxgB IB Kxfl += Matulovic-Ciric (Yugoslavia 1956). lONeS Nh6?!
The traditional continuation 10 ... NXe5 11 dXe5 Nge71eaves the white QB more scope and is considered worse for Black, 156
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 04 C5
whereas the more ambitious but also riskier text move aims at blockading the 'd' pawn. The text is an important improvement for Black. 11 Bc4
The critical continuation. 11 Be2 would lead only to equality; also 11 Nc4 NfS 12 Ne3 NXe3 13fxe3= is playable. 11 . . • Qd6 12 0-0
a) 12 a3?! 0-0 (12 . . . as!?) 13 Nxc6 Qxc6 (the exchange sacrifice 13 ... bxc6?! 14 Bb4 Qg6 IS Bxf8 Qxg2 16 Rfl is dubious) 14 Qb3 Qg6 (14 ... e3) IS 0-0-0+= b) 12 Bb3!? 0-0 13 QhS Ne7 (13 . . . Be6? 14 dS BxdS IS Rdl Nb4 16 BxdS N xdS 17 Nc4 Nf4 18 QgS± or 13 ... Nb4 14a3Nd3+Nxd3±or13 ... Nb4 14a3NdS ISNxf7!) 14 Nc4! Qd5? IS QeS!± Be6?! (IS ... QxeS 16NxeS Rd8~ ... NdS but IS ... QxeS 16dxeS! is much strongerfor White) 16 Nd6 (winning a pawn) QxeS 17 dXeS Bxb3 18 axb3 NdS 19Nxe4Ng4 20RaSNf4 210-0b6 22RbSRfb8 23Ng3 (1-0, S4) Rovekamp-Biicker (Munster 1982). In this particular variation of the Sicilian Black should try and operate the blockade against the isolated white 'd' pawn. That's why in the game just mentioned instead of 14 ... QdS? Black should have played 14 ... QdB (threatening ... NdS) IS Bb4 (1S QeS BfS) IS ... NdS (IS ... Bg4 16 QcS NhfS unclear) 16 Bxf8 Nf4 17 QaS b6
IS7
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 04 C5
After 18 Qd2 (18 Nxb6 Nxg2+) Nxg2+ 19 Kfl?! Nh4 20 B x g7 Bh3+ 21 Ke2 Bg4+ Black has compensation for the sacrificed material. c) 12 NXc6 bXc6 (or 12 . . . Qxc6 13 Qe2 0-0) 13 d5 0-0 14 Qd4 Qg6 15 d x c6 is a notable alternative. d) 12 Qe2! looks particularly dangerous; 12 . . . Bf5 13 g4 Nxd4 14 Qdl (14 Qd2 Qxe5 15 Bxd4 e3) e.g. 14 ... Qxe5 15 Bxd4 Qa5+ 16 Bc3 Qc5 17 gxf5 Qxc4 18 Bxg7 Nxf5 19 ReI Qb5 20 Bxh8?! Nh4! Or 13Rd1 Rd8 140-00-0 15h3 NXe5 16dxe5 Qg6 17 Rxd8 Rxd8 18 Rdl Rc8 19 Rd6 Be6 20 Bd5 e3 21 Bxb7 Rf8 22fxe3 Nf5 23Rdl Ng3 24Qf3 Bc4 25Re1 Bxa2 26 Kh2 Nf5 27 Be4 Be6 28 Rfl Nh4 29 Qf4 Qh5 30 g4 g5 31 gxh5 gxf4 32 Rxf4 1-0 Dr Ostermeyer-Kaiser (W. German League 1987). 12 ... 0-0 13 ReI
a) 13Qe2Bf5 14Nxc6bxc6=+ 15h3Be6!
16 Rfel Bd5 (Black has achieved his strategic objective) 17 a3 Rfe8 18 Bb4 Qe6 19 Bxd5 Qxd5? (19 ... cxd5!)=+. Black's chances of a kingside attack are more promising than White's counter-chances on the queen's wing with ReI - Rc5 and Qb5) 20 Rac1! (with the idea of 21 Rc5 Qxd4 22 Rc4, trading his 'd' pawn for the black 'e' pawn) 20 . . . Nf5?! 21 Rc5 Nxd4 22Qdl± (=,74) Kruger-Bucker (OHMM 1981). b) 13 Qh5 Be6? (13 ... Ne7 14 Bd2 Nef5 unclear) 14 d5! (the 158
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER I 04 CS refutation) 14 ... BxdS IS Radl Ne7 16 BxdS NxdS 17 Nc4 Nf4 18Nxd6 NxhS 19Nxe4 Rfd8 20g3 Ng4 21 Nd6 Rd7 22 NbS Ngf6 23 Bxf6 Nxf6 24 Rxd7 Nxd7 2S Rcl a6 26 Rc7? (stronger 26Nd6!) 26 ... axbS 27Rxd7 hS (=, S9) Fette-Ht'i.nerkopf (West German League 1983). 13 ... BfS 13 ... NxeS? 14 dxeS Qg6 IS QdS and Black loses a pawn
14Qh5 It's not a mere coincidence that in the few games where Black has attempted this new idea with 10 ... Nh6, White frequently counters with QhS where he can exert combined pressure against the squares ... f7 and the bishop of ... fS, immobilising the black king position. In addition White has the move Rad 1, and already Black has to face the threat of ISNxt7! Nxf7 16 QxfS. Instead of the text, if 14 h3?! Rad8 IS Nxc6 bxc6 16 Qa4 Qg6 17 Re3 Bd7 18 g4 NfS 19 Rxe4 Nd6 20 Re3 cS 21 Qb3 cxd4 22Bxd4 NfS+ (0-1, 26) Lieff-Bl"i.cker, (West German League 1985).
14 ... b5!? An interesting diversionary offer of a pawn. Other moves are: a) 14 ... Nxd4? IS Nxf7 Nxf7 16 Radl b) 14 ... Qe7 IS h3 c) 14 ... Ne7 IS g4 (IS Nxf7? Nxt7 for the bishop on fS is now covered - or IS Bd2? Qxd4) IS ... Be6!? (Better than IS . . . Bg6?!) 16Bd2! (Stronger than 16Rxe4 NdS with compensation - or 16 Rxe4 f6!? - also if 16 Bxe6 Qxe6 17 Rxe4 f6 18 Rael fxeS 19 RxeS Qf6 20 Rxe7 Qxf2+ with a draw by perpetual check) 16 ... Bxc4 (16 ... Nxg4 17Bxe6 NxeS 18QxeS QxeS 19Bxf7+ +-) 17Nxc4 Q x d4 18 B x h6 Q x c4 19 B x g7 K x g7 20 QeS + Kg8 21 Q x e7 Rae8 and although White has the edge, Black has drawing chances because of the insecure position of either king. IS9
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 D4 CS
e.g. 22Qxb7 Qe6 25 Rael Rb8
23f3 (or 23h3) Qf6
24Rxe4 Qxf3
15 Nxc6
15 Bxf7+ (15 Nxf7? Nxf7-+; 15 Bxb5 Nxd4; 15 Bb3 b4 16 Nxc6 bxc3) 15 ... Nxf7 (15 ... Kh8!?) 16 Qxf5 Nfxe5 (16 . . . b4?! 17Qxe4 Nfxe5 18dxe5 Qb6 19Bd2 Qxf2+ 20 Khl ± and the white 'e' pawn becomes too powerful) 17 dxe5 Qc5 18 Qe6+ Kh8 19 Rfl b4 20 Bd2 Rae8 with an approximately equal game. 15 ... Qxc6
Presumably the alternative 15 ... bxc4 16 d5! is favourable for White. although there is no immediate clear win in sight, i.e. 16 ... Rfe8 (16 ... Qxd5?? 17 Ne7+) 17 Qg5 f6 (17 Radl? Bg4; 17 Bb4 Qf6 _ . . . Bg4) 18 Qd2 (or 18 Qg3) Ng4 19 g3 e3!? 20 fxe3 Bd3 is still unclear, e.g. 21 Nb4 Be4 16 Bb3 Rad8
If now 17 Bd2 Bg6! 17 h3
Once and for all White intends to eliminate the threat of ... Bg4 and prepare for Rdl with either rook 17 ... Be6
Again offering a pawn. Black deprives his opponent of the two bishops, and gains control of the d5 square. It is not easy to decide whether in practice the white extra pawn counts for more than the potential black kingside threats or vice-versa. 18 Bxe6 Qxe6 19 Qxb5
19 Qe5? Rfe8 20 Rxe4? Qc6 21 d5 Rxe5-+
HiO
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 04 C5
19 ... Rd5 20Qe2 ReS 21 Radl Nf5 22Qg4! h5!?
Less good would be 22 ... Rd6 (hoping to regroup via ... Od5 and ... Rde6) 23 B b4! R x d4 24 R x d4 N x d4 25 0 x e6 R x e6 26 Bc5 and White has the better ending. The diagram position is unclear. A game Bischoff-Bucker (Individual German Championship, Bad Neuenahr 1984) continued 230f4 (23 Oxh5? Ne3) 23 ... Nh6? (A mistake. Black must leave his knight on the strong square it occupies. Much better would have been 23 ... Oe7! 24 Re2 g5 25 Od2 Od8! 26 Khl Re6! and it is extremely difficult for White to find a plan) 24 Re2 g5 250d2 g4 26 Rdel Og6 27 hxg4 hxg4 280f4!± Rf5 (28 ... f5 29 Bd2) 290c7 Rh5?! 30 d5! f5 (30 ... Rxd5? 31 RXe4 RXe4? 320c8+ and mate) 31 Oc6 Of7 32 g3 (Black still has counter-chances, as the game shows) 32 ... Rd8 33 Rd2 Oh7 34 Kfl Nf7 35 Ke2 Rh6 360c5 Ng5 37 Rddl Nf3 38 Rhl!? f4? (a miscalculation; instead 38 . . . Rxhl 39Rxhl Oxhl 400e7 Nd4+! 41 Ke3? f4+ or here 41 Bxd4 Of3+ 42 Kel Ohl + 43 Kd2 Oh6+ 44 Kdl Rc8 45 Bc3+- would leave White more scope for error) 39 Rxh6 Ox h6 40 Oc6 Rd6 (Black had intended 40 ... Ngl + 41 R x gl f3+ but this does not work because of 42 Kfl Oel + 43 Bel Ox b2 440g6+ and Black can no longer hang on to his pawns) 41 Oe8+ (I-O).
161
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E. 1 d4 c5 2 c3 VULTURE DEFLECTED BY SLAV SET-UP WITH REVERSE COLOURS Players with White who prefer a clear-cut position (or are not sufficiently prepared for 1 ... c5) will invariably opt for 2 c3. This means, of course, that White, equally, cannot hope for an advantage; for instance, after 2 ... cxd4 3 cxd4 d5 the game transposes into the drawish Exchange Variation of the Slav Reversed. For anybody with Black wishing to keep the game alive with some sharper possibilities, the following suggestions may offer some incentive after 2 c3 a) 2 ... e6 3 e4 a6!? (3 ... d5 4 e5= Advance Variation, French) 4 Bd3 b5 5 Nf3 Bb7 60-0 Nf6
The game has transposed into the so called St. George's Defence (1 ... a6 _ 2 ... b5 or 1 ... e6 _ 2 ... a6 _ 3 ... b5) the brainchild of the British master Michael Basman. For further comments see later. b) 2 ... f5!? 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 dXc5 a5 [4 ... e6 5 b4 a5 6 a3 axb4 7 cxb4 b6 8 cxb6 Bxb4+ 9 Nbd2 Ba5 10 RbI Ba6 11 b7 Ra7 12 e3 Rxb7 13 Rxb7 Bxb7 14 Be2 0-0 150-0 d5 =+ (=, 37 Gallo-Bucker DHMM Munster 1987)] 5 b4 b6 6 cxb6 Qxb6 7 a3 Nc6 8 Bb2 f4! 9 Nd4 e5 10 Nc2 Ba6 11 e3 Bxfl 12 Kxfl fXe3 13 fXe3 Be7 14 g3 Qb7 15 Rgl 0-0 16 Rg2 162
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 D4 CS
(1-0,35) Franke-Bucker (German Championship, Bad Neuenahr 1987) Now 16 ... e4! would give Black a definite advantage. c) 2 . . . Nf6!? 3 dxc5 e6 4 b4 as 5 Qb3 axb4 6 cxb4 b6 7 cxb6 Qxb6 d) 2 ... Nf6!? 3 Nf3 e6 4 Bg5 [4 g3 cxd4 5 cxd4 b5!?; or 4 Bf4 cxd4 5 cxd4 b5 6 e3 a6 7 Bd3 Bb7 8Nbd2 Nc6 9 h3 Qb6 10 0-0 Be7 11 Ne5 Nb4 12 Bbl d6= Knezevic-Velimirovic (Jugoslavia 1978)]4 ... Qb6 5 Qc2 cxd4 6 cxd4 Nc6 7 e3 d5 8Nc3 Bd7 9Bb5 Ne4 100-0 Nxc3 11 Bxc6 Qxc6= Marshall-Tartakover (Berlin 1928). Let's return to the St. George's Defence. One of the most prominent victims of this opening, when he encountered it for the first time, was no less than Karpov, the previous world champion! Anyone interested in this thoroughly sound and playable defence will soon discover interesting correlations with the Hawk. Black puts the white pawn centre under pressure and deliberately induces the advance of these central pawns. The advance to d5 is invariably parried with ... c4 to prevent White from consolidating his 'd' pawn with c4. From Diagram 99, the main line is 7 Rei QM (7 . . . h6 8 d5 c4! or 7 . . . Be7 also come into consideration) After the text 7 . . . QM a game Nicholson-Basman (Cambridge 1980) went 8a4 cxd4 (8d5 c4) 9cxd4 Nc6 IOaxb5 Nb4! 11 Nc3 Nxd3 12 Qxd3 axb5 13 Rxa8+ Bxa8 14 Bf4! Bb4 15 Bg5! 0-0 16Ne5 Qb7 17Bxf6 gxf6 18 Qg3+ Kh8 19 Qh4 Be7+ (= 46) Other variations are: a) 7 Bg5 h6 8 Bxf6 Qxf6=+ Hyslo[rWelling (Correspondence 1981) b) 7 Qe2 Nc6! 8 d5 Ne7 9 d6 (9 dxe6 dxe6= + Kok-Welling, 1981) 9 . . . Ng6 lOe5 Bxf3! I1gxf3 Nd5 12Khl f6 13 Bxg6+ hxg6 14 Qd3 Kf7 15 Rgl g5 16 Nd2 Bxd6! 17 f4 Nxf4! (0-1) Afek-Basman (Biel, 1979). (If 17exd6 Rxh2+! 18 Kxh2 Qh8+ wins the queen). The above variations indicate just a few possible options. You will find a more detailed discussion of the theme in Basman's book Play the St. George (Pergamon Press, 1983). In this 163
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER I 04 CS
relatively unexplored theoretical domain, however, you can also go your own way.
F 1 d4 c5 2 e3 VULTURE DEFLECTED BY ORTHODOX SET-UP Just as with 2 c3, the move 2 e3 is hardly designed to give White an opening advantage. One drawback, for instance, is that White, in the case of Queen's Gambit variations, can no longer aggressively post his QB on either g5 or f4. We give a few examples of a reliable black build-up from the opening where Black chooses a Queen's Indian defensive formation: a) 2 e3 e6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Bd3 b6 5 Nbd2 Be7 60-0 0-0 7 c3 B a6 8 B x a6 N x a6 9 Qe2 Qc8 10 e4 c x d4 11 N x d4 d6 = Osmanagic-Portisch, 1963. b) 2 e3 e6 3 Nf3 Be7 4 Be2 Nf6 50-0 b6 6 b3 Bb7 7 Bb2 0-0 8c4cxd4= 9Nxd4d5 lOBf3?Nbd7 IINc3?!Ne5 12cxd5 Nxf3+ 13 gxf3 Nxd5 14 Ne4 Qd7 15 Qe2 e5 16 Qb5 Rfd8 17Qxd7 Rxd7 18Nf5 f6=+ (0-1,39) Kordsachia-Bticker (Hamburg 1983). c) 2 e3 e6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 c4 (4 Bd3 b6 5 Nbd2 Be7) 4 ... cxd4 5 eX d4 b6 6 Nc3 Bb7 7 a3 d6 8 Bd3 Nbd7 Schrirmann-Bucker (West German League 1986, 0-1, 70) d)2e3e6 3f4cxd4 4exd4Qh4+ 5g3Qd8 6Nf3?!b6 7 Bg2 Bb7 80-0 f5 (0-1, 48) Heutgens-Bucker (Duren 1985). For anyone adopting the Caro Kann (1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5) in his opening repertoire, there is the simple, familiar transposition of 1 d4 c5 2 e3 c x d4 3 eX d4 d5 (with 4 c4 leading into the PanovBotvinnik attack and 4 c3 into the Exchange Variation). So after 2 e3 theory offers Black a large enough number of sound methods of obtaining rapid equality for us to be satisfied. And yet the Vulture concept is surely, in the last resort, an uncomprising plan of campaign. With the integrated elements of a hypermodern approach (i.e. provoking early weaknesses in the enemy camp, storing up latent energy, dominating the opposing method of play), the strategic factors cannot always be fully separated from the psychological influences at work. The 164
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER I D4 CS
rather passive move 2 e3 may invite Black to subject an opponent, who has thus declared his 'peaceful' intentions, to further early tests, challenging him to commit himself to an early d5 against the Dutch Defence ( ... f5 and ... e6), since such a pawn advance is recommended by theory in similar situations, perhaps somewhat too glibly, as good for White. However, in such circumstances, even if White does not advance his pawn to e4, the white pawn on d5 (unlike in the Vulture) can still be safely guarded by a white knight on c3. So after 1 d4 c5 2 e3, instead of an immediate ... f5, Black might interpolate 2 ... c x d4 3 eX d4 so that if White were then to continue with an early d5, this would leave the c5 square vacant for occupation by a black minor piece. By playing simple suitable developing moves, Black may then force White to delay d5, until White himself may be obliged to playa move that impedes his own pawn advance to d5, such as Nbd2 or Bd3. Our available games (quoted below) will hardly lead to many authentic conclusions. However, the illustrative material may help to focus attention on the chances that might occur when Black decides to exchange pawns in the centre early on (and also some of the possible hazards of omitting such an exchange).
Game A Janisch-von der Lasa (Berlin 1842) Id4f5 2c4Nf6 3Nc3e6 4f3c5!? 5e3b6 6Bd3Bb7 7Nh3 Nc6 8 Bc2 h6? 9 a3 g6 10 Nf2 Bd6?! 11 d5 Ne5 12 b3 a6 13 e4 Nh5 (Bellin thinks 13 . . . Nf7 is better, e.g. 14 f4 Oc7 15e5? Bxe5!) 14f4 Nf7 15e5 Bb8 16Rgl Ng7 (The pawn formation is reminiscent of the Vulture, but with ... h6 Black has saddled himself with an annoying weakness, and the coordination of Black's pieces leaves much to be desired). 17 g4 Kf8 18 g Xf5 g x f5 19 Rg3 Rh7 20 Oe2 Oe8 21 d6 Ba7 22 Be3 Nh8 (1-0, 50).
Game B Blackburne and Steinitz-Anderssen, L. Paulsen and Rosenthal, Consultation Game (Vienna 1873) 1 c4 e6 2 e3 f5 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 a3 c5 5 Nc3 Nc6 6 d4 c x d4 7 exd4 Bd6!? 8 Bd3 b6 90-0 0-0 10 ReI Ne7 11 d5 Ng6 12 b4 a6 13 Ob3 Ng4!? (Black's approach is thoroughly modern in concept, completely avoiding any stereotyped pattern) 14 h3 N(4)e5 15 Nxe5 Nxe5 16 Btl Oh4 17 Be3 Rf6 165
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 04 C5
18 f4 (Bachmann gives the variation 18 B x b6 Rg6 19 Kh 1 Nf3!, threatening 20 . . . Oxh3+ 21 gxh3 Rg1 mate, or if 20 gxf3 Of4) 18 ... Ng6 19 Ne2 Nxf4 20 Bxf4 Bxf4 21 g3? (21 Of3 Bd6 22 d x e6 Rb8+, Bachmann) 21 ... Rg6 22 Kh2 BeS 23Bg2Bb7 240e3Bxg3+ 2SNxg3f4 260e40xg3+ 27 Kh1 bS! (With the capture of the 'd' pawn, the game will turn into a perfect example of Vulture strategy - and that more than a hundred years ago!) 28 RadI bxc4 29 Rfl Rf8 (0-1).
Game C M. Sieg-Biicker, (German Championship 1981) I d4 cS 2 e3 fS 3 b3 e6 4 Bb2 Nf6 S Bd3 bS?! 6 Nd2? (better 6BxbS! OaS+ 7Nc3 Bb7 8Kfl! but not here 8f3? NdS 90d3 f4!) 6 . . . Bb7 7 Ngf3 cxd4 8 exd4 b4+ (Black has secured an outpost for his minor pieces on dS) 9 a3?! (better 9 Oe2 followed by a4 and 0-0-0 or 9 Nc4 and BcI _ Bf4) 9 ... as IOOe2 Be7 II axb4 axb4 I2Rxa8 Bxa8 13Bc40-0 140-0 NdS IS RaI Bb7 16 NeI Oc7 17 Nd3? (jeopardizes the position of the B on C4) 17 ... Nc3! (see diagram) 18 BXc3 (to avert a later threat of 18 . . . dS) 18 . . . b x c3 19 Nf3 Be4! 20 dS?! Ob7! (The Refutation; White has to lose a pawn, since 21 dXe6? dS would trap the white bishop) 21 Nf4 gS 22d6 Bd8-+ (22 . . . Bxd6? 23Nxe6 dXe6 24Bxe6+ Kg7 2S Oe3 with a multiplicity of threats) 23 Nd3 Ob6 24 Rdl Ox d6 2S NdeS Oe7 26 Bd3 d6 27 Nc4 dS 28 Ne3 Og7! 29 Ne1 Nc6 30 BXe4 fXe4 31 Oa6 Od7 32f3 Oa7 330xa7 Nxa7 34 Kf2 Bb6 3S Ke2 NbS 36fxe4 dxe4 37 Rd7 Nd4+ 38 KdI Ra8 (0-1) 166
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 04 C5
Position after 17 ... Nc3!
Game D Dehen-Bucker, 1982 1 d4 c5 2e3 fS 3Nf3 cxd4 4exd4 e6 SBe2 Be7 60-0 Bf6 7 c4 Ne7 8 Nc3 (or 8 Bf4) Na6?! (8 ... d6? 9 dS! eS 10 cS with an attack but 8 ... Ng6 is a better try for Black) 9 Bf4!+ = 0-0 10 ReI b6 11 NbS dS 12 Nd6? (12 Qb3 ±, also 12 Qa4 comes into consideration) 12 ... Nc7 13 NXc8 RXc8= 14 cS bxcS IS RxcS Ng6!? (setting a cunning trap) 16Qd2? Nxf4 17 Qxf4
17 ... eS 18Qd2 (18dxeS? Ne6 19 RXc8 Nxf4 20Rxd8 NXe2+ 21 Kh1 Bxd8-+ or 18QxfS e4- 19 ... Be7 are no better) 18 ... e4=+= (The white 'd' pawn is exposed) 19 NeS Ne6 20 R x c8 Q x c8 21 ReI Qe8 22 Nc6?? (Perhaps 22 f4 Bd8 _ 167
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 D4 C5
Bb6 or 22Qa5 Nf4 23Bfl Bxe5 24dxe5 Qxe5 25 Qxa7=i= hold out longer) 22 ... Bg5- + (0-1,30)
Game E Scharmann-Bl".icker (Brilon 1982) 1 d4 c5 2 e3 e6 3 Nf3 Be7 4 Bd3 b6 50-0 Bb7 6 Nbd2 cxd4 7 exd4 Na6!? 8 c3 Nc7 9 Ne4 f5 10 Ng3 Nf6 11 ReI 0-0 12 a3 (12 c4) Rc8 13 Ne5 d6 (Better 13 ... Nce8 ~ ... Nd6 or 13 ... Qe8 ~ ... d6, ... Qc6) 14 Nf3 Nfe8 15 Qe2 Rf7 16 Bc4 d5? (16 . . . Bxf3! 17 Qxf3 d5 is equal, or here 17 gxf3 f4 18Nh5 g6 19Nxf4 d5 2OBd3 Bd6 unclear) 17Bd3 Nd6 18 Ne5 Rf8 19 Nhl Qe8 20 g3 Bf6 21 f3 b5 22 Bc2 Nc4 23 Nd3! Qh5? 24Bf4Rfe8 25Nhf2Na8 26g4±Qf7 27Nh3 fxg4 28 fxg4 Nxb2?! 29 g5 Rxc3 (29 Nxb2 Rxc3 30 Be3 e5) 30 gxf6 Qg6+ 31 Bg3 Nxd3 32 f7+! Kxf7 33 Redl Qh6 34 Qn + Kg8 35 B x d3 + - (=, 51)
G 1 d4 c5 2 dxc5 e6 WHITE RELINQUISHES HIS CENTRAL PAWN After the usual reply 2 ... e6 Black has to regain his pawn and will have an extra central pawn from then on. White will either steer the game into a type of Sicilian (3 e4 etc.) or (what seems more interesting) he might continue with 3 Nc3 with the idea of Ne4 ~ Nd6, using the black bishop on c5 as a 'target' (3 Nc3 'Bishop Pair Strategy') Possible alternative transitions are: a) 2dxc5 e6 3Nd2 Qa5 4c3 Qxc5 5g3 Nf6 6Bg2 d5 7Ngf3 Qc7 80-0 Nc6 ge4 Be7 lOexd5 Nxd5 IINc40-0 12 Ne2 Nf6 = Mikenas-Afekhine (Warsaw 1935) b) 2 dx c5 e6 3 b4? as 4 c3 b6 c) 2dxc5e6 3Nf3Nf6(3 .. . Bxc5)4a3(4Bg5Bxc5 5e3 Qb6= Szilagyi-Defy, Zinnowitz 1965) 4 ... B x c5 5 b4 Be7 6 Bb2 as! 7 b5 0-0 8 e3 d6 9 c4 Nbd7 10 Be2 Nc5 110-0 and now either /1 ... Qc7= (Keres-Geller, 1962) or 11 ... e5 = (R. Garcia-Keres, Buenos Aires 1964) d) 2 dxc5 e6 3 c4 Bxc5 4 Nc3 Nf6 5 Bg5?? [Opfermann) Bx f2+ (or 5 ... Qb6) 168
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER I 04 C5
(GI) 3 e4 Bxe5 4 Bd3 a) 4 Nf3 Qb6 S Qd2 Nf6 6 Bd3 Nc6 7 Nc3 Qc7 80-0 0-0 9Qe2 Ng4! lOg3 NgeS IINXeS NXeS 12Bf4 a6 13a4 b6= + (0-1, 2S) Robert-Shibut (World Open, Philadelphia, USA 1986) b) 4 Nc3 (4 c4?! is too static) 4 ... Nc6 S Bd3 (S Nf3 Nf6 6 eS? Ng4 or S Bc4 a6 6 a4 gives Black a good position) S ... Nf6 6 NO dS= 7 eS? Ng4. 4 ... Nc6 5 NO
5 ... Nf6 a) 5 ... Be7!? (_ ... d6, ... Nf6) can be compared with other variations in the Sicilian b) 5 . . . Nge7!? 60-0 dS 7 eS Qc7 8 ReI Ng6 9 Qe2 Nd4 10 Nxd4 Bxd4 11c3 BXeS 12 Bxg6 Bxh2+ 13Kfl hxg6 14 g3 B x g3 unclear 60-0 White is trying to avoid a transposition into a key position of the old Steinitz variation of the French Defence which could occur after 6 Nc3 dS 7 eS Nd7 8 Bf4 f6(8 ... O-O? 9 Bxh7+) 9 exf6 N xf6 with equality. This has a drawish reputation, although 169
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER I D4 CS
some specialists in th e last few years have tried to prove a slight advantage for White. 6 ... dS 6 ... Qc7 7 Nc3 a6 8 Qel Ne5 9 Nxe5 Qxe5 10 Khl Ng4 (unclear according to Ciocaltea) Szilagyi-Gaszlony (Budapest 1967)
7 eS Nd7 8 Bf4 8 Qe2 (8 ReI Qb6~ ... Nd4) Nd4 9 Nxd4 Bxd4 10 Bb5 Qc7 llRel0-0 12Bxd7Bxd7 13c3Bb6~ ... d4. Inthisline,in contrast to the Steinitz variation just mentioned, White has not blocked his c pawn with Nc3 and hopes for a slight plus with a quick advance to c4, for if the position were opened up, this would suit him, with his pieces more actively placed. Yet the omission of Nc3 also has its drawbacks. 8 ... f6 a) 8 ... O-O? 9 B x h7 + (the classical piece sacrifice) 9 .. Kxh7 10 Ng5+ Kg8 11 Qh5 etc. b) 8 ... f5?! 9 Nbd2+ = (or 9 a3 possibly followed by c4 later. If instead 9 c4?! at once this would be premature on account of 9 ... Nb6). White now calmly proceeds to occupy the square d4 and build up on the queenside. 9Qe2 gexf6? QXf6; (with a double attack) say if now 10 Qc!!? h6 and Black has the initiative.
9 ... fxeS 9 ... O-O?! lOexf6 Qxf6 (10 ... Nxf6+=) 11 Bg5 Qxb2 12 Qxe6+ Rf7 13 Nbd2 Nf6 14 Qe2 is unclear. 10 NxeS Qf6=
170
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 D4 C5
The game might continue 11 Nxc6 bxc6 12 Bg3 0-0 13 c4 Bd4 14 Nc3 NeS Theorists find these 'near transitions' into well-known openings especially fascinating. The old material can be used for analytical purposes provided that the specific differences are kept in view. For, in comparing the newly acquired material with recognized established ideas, these new ideas can often also be applied to the older established patterns.
(G2) 3 Nc3!? 'BISHOP PAIR STRATEGY' This tactical attempt to gain the bishop pair was until recently considered good for White.
3 ... 8xc5 4 Ne4 4 e4 will merely transpose into the previous variation. With the text White intends S NxcS, or if the black bishop vacates the square cS, there follows S N d6+ and (sooner or later) Nx c8. In either case the white knight is exchanged for one of the black bishops. 4 ... 8b4+!
An innovation introduced by Mohring. Other moves are: a) 4 ... d5 S NxcS OaS+ 6 c3 OxcS 7 e4 dxe4 8 Be3 OaS 90g4 Ne7 10 Oxg7 Ng6 11 h4 OeS 12 OxeS NxeS 13 Bd4 Nbd7 14 BbS 0-0 IS Rh3± Mikenas-Czerniak (Buenos Aires 1939). b) 4. . . d5 S NxcS OaS+ 6 Qd2 OxcS 70gS g6 8 c3 f6 9 Oh4 Nc6 10 NO eS 11 e4 Be6 12 ex dS 0 x dS 13 Be2 gS 14 BxgS fxgS IS NxgS (1-0,36) Backwinkel-l.Franke, (West German League, 1988) c) 4 . . . b6?! S N x cS b x cS 6 c4 d) 4 . . . Nf6 S N x cS OaS + 6 Od2 0 x cS 7 OgS 0 x gS 8BxgS Nc6! [8 . . . b6 9c4 Bb7 1Of3 h6 llBd2+= Romanishin-Vaisman (Moscow 1977)] 90-0-0 (9 c4!? dS 10 cxdS Nb4 11 Bxf6 gxf6 12 Kd2+= or 9 c4 Nb4 10 Kdl!? 171
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 D4 C5
b6! with only a minimal advantage for White) 9 ... h6 10 Bd2 dS 11 f3 eS 12 e3 BfS 13 c4 Rc8 14 Bc3 Be6 IS cS d4 16 eX d4 eX d4 17 B x d4 N x d4 18 R x d4 R x cS + 19 K b 1 BfS+ 20Bd3 Rc4! 21 RXc4 Bxd3+ 22Rc2 NdS and Black won a pawn Wul-Ze jilin (Moscow 1981, 0-1, SI). 5 c3 d5!
The point of the innovation. If White still captures the black bishop Black can now retake the white knight with his 'd' pawn which considerably constricts White's game and procures a valuable outpost for the black knight on dS. 6 cxb4 6 Qa4+ Nc6 7 cxb4 dXe4 8 e3 (if 8 bS Qd4!) Nf6 9 Bd2 (if 9 bS!? NeS 10 Qd4 Nd3+ 11 Bxd3 Qxd4 12 exd4 exd3=) 9 ... 0-0 lOBc3 NdS (10 ... Bd7?! 11 bS Ne7 12Bxf6? gxf6 13 Qxe4 BxbS!::;::) 11 Ne2 Bd7 12 bS Nce7 13 Qb3 Qb6 14Ng3(14Nd4!?)fS=+ ISBe2f4 16Nxe4fxe3 170-0-0!! a~!(17 ... exf2? 18Bd4Qc7+ 19KblQf4 20Bf3±or17 ... NXc3!? 18 bXc3 Rad8 unclear) 18 bxa6?!= (18 Bd4+=) Heinig-Mohring (Halle 1980, 1-0, S2 - comments by Mohring) 6 ... dXe4 7 QxdS+ KxdS Mohring judges this position as equaL 172
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 D4 CS
8 Bd2! With the idea of Bc3, exerting pressure on g7. This counteracts the black build-up of ... Nf6 ... NdS. (The alternative 8 Bf4 Nf6 90-0-0 NdS seems harmless.) A white bishop on c3 would also guard the pawn on b4, and Black will constantly have to reckon with bS ~ Bb4 which could enable the white darksquared bishop to gain complete control of the diagonal f8-a3. Another possible alternative for White is 8 b3?! Nf6 9 Bb2 Nc6 lOa3Ke7 11e3a6 12f4Ng4 13Ke2Rd814RblRd3(14h3? Nf2) IS Bel eS 16 h3 Nf6 17 Kf2 Rd8 (17 ... Rc3 18 Ne2 Rc2 19 Rb2) 18 Ne2 exf4?! (Better 18 . . . hS=+) 19 exf4 NdS 20 g4 fS 21 Rgi fx g4 22 h x g4 gS? (Better 22 ... h6; or 22 ... Nf6; or 22 ... Rf8) 23 fS h6 24 Bb2± (1-0, SO) TomaszevskyBucker (Czestochowa 1984). 8 ••• Nf6
Relinquishing the square dS as an outpost also comes into consideration. A game Knezevic-Bucker (Budapest 1984) continued 8 ... eS [Stronger than 8 ... Nc6?! 9 e3 Nge7 10 bS NeS 11 Bc3 f6 12 B x eS fxeS with advantage for White (=77) Schurr-Seyffer (West German League 1988») 9 f3 BfS? (9 ... eX f3 10 Nxf3 f6 11 e3 Be6 12 Bd3 Ne7 or 9 . . . exf3 lOexf3 Be6 11 f4 exf4=) lOe3 Ne7 II Bc4 f6 12Ne2 Nd7 13 Ng3 exf3 14 gxf3 Rc8? (Better 14 ... Nb6 IS Bb3 Bg6) ISNxfS NxfS 16BdS Rc7 17Ke2 Ne7 18Be6 Rc6 19Bb3 a6 20 a4 bS 21 a x bS a x bS 22 Ra8+ Rc8 23 RaS Rb8 24 Rcl ± Nc8 2S Rc6 Ne7 26 Re6 g6 27 e4 hS 28 Be3 Nc8 29 BcS! Rh7 30 BdS Ne7 31 Bb3 gS (31 Ba7 NxdS) 32 Bd6 Rc8 33Bxe7+ Rxe7 34Rd6 Kc7 3SRdS Rb8 36Ra7+ Rb7 37Rxb7+ Kxb7 38RxbS+ Kc7 39RaSg4 40fxg4hxg4 41 Kf2 Kb6 42 Kg3 Nb8 (sealed move) 43 Ra8? (43 Bc4 Rh7 44 Ra8!+-) 43 ... Nc6 44 bS Nd4! 4S Ba4 Draw (4S BdS fS 46 exfS NxfS+ 47 Kxg4? Ne3+) 9 Bc3 Bd7
(see diagram)
Lessgoodis9 ... Ke7 1Of3!Rd8 IIfxe4Nxe4 12Bxg7f6 13 Nf3! (but not 13 Bh6? Nc6 14 a3 Nd4 IS Rel NfS=+ 173
OTHER SYSTEMS AFTER 1 04 C5
Position 9 Be3 Bd7
16Bf4 e5 17 Bg3? Ne3! ~ ... Rd1+ and Nc2 mate). In the position of diagram 105 Black has achieved full equality. If 10 f3 Bc6.
174
Postscript
THE VULTURE WITH COLOURS REVERSED A relatively novel trend within opening theory for White is to lry a defence with colours reversed, hoping to be able to capitalise on the extra tempo. Such an idea makes good sense, as long as one also bears in mind its limitations. For example, even with the extra tempo of the Bird's Opening (1 f4), it isn't so easy for White to give his game an aggressive character from the outset, even if he adopts the Leningrad variation with colours reversed (1 d4 f5 2 g3 g6). This is not so much due to any simplifications. Although complex and asymmetrical, the Dutch Defence remains essentially a counter-attacking system. Very much the same applies to the Vulture variations, for it is only the move 2 d5!? that sets the actual counter-attacking mechanism into operation. The question then arises whether Black would not do better to dispense with 2 ... d4 altogether after 1 Nf3 d5 2 c4 in favour of a more cautious continuation. In 1984 Pachman expressed his view in Chess Archives that 'White finds it difficult to maintain the initiative after 2 ... d4.' Naturally, in his analysis he paid no heed to the Vulture Complex structures. However, the problem of how to employ a Vulture strategy most effectively with reverse colours (i.e. the way of making the best possible use of the extra tempo with the white pieces) is certainly not without interest. and could also lead to certain retrospective conclusions, regarding the original systems. We offer a few ideas: A) R. Schwarz called 1 f4 d5 2 c4 the 'Bird-Benoni gambit'; 175
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(the sequence 2 Nf3 _ 3 c4 would seem somewhat more flexible); after 2 ... d4?! 3 Nf3 c5 (3 ... Nf6 4 c5 etc. or 3 ... Nc6 4 Qa4 Bd7 5 b4 e5 6 b5 e4 7 Ng5!) 4 Ne5 Qc7 (4 ... f6) 5 Qa4+ Nc6 6 e4 (6 g3 f6 7 Nxc6 Bd7 8 Bg2+=) 6 ... f6 7Nxc6 Bd7 8d3 Bxc6 9Qc2+= B) 1 Nf3 d5 2 c4 d4
Most theorists consider this as equal; 3 e3 Nc6 etc. 3g3
a) 3 Rgl?! 'The Penguin'; (Rgl would also have been possible a move earlier for White, but then after White's c4, Black would presumably no longer reply ... d4) 3 ... g6! (3 ... Bg4?! 4 c5; 3 ... Nc6?! 4 Qa4) 4 Ne5 (4 g4?! or 4 Rhl?! are alternatives) 4 ... Bg7=+ b) 3 e3 Nc6 (3 ... c5 4 Ne5!?;;l;) 4 c5!? (4 Qa4!? dxe3 5 fXe3 Bd7 6 Qd] e5 7 d4 with approximate equality) 4 . . . d x e3 (4 . . . e6 5 b4! d3 6 Qa4± luferov-Kjiirner USSR 1976; according to Suetin 4 ... e5 would be unclear) 5 fxe3 g6 6 Bc4 e6 7 d4 Bg7 8 Bd2 Nge7 9 b4± Krnic-Osterman, 1977. c) 3 c5 'The Penguin Hawk' e5 (3 ... Na6; or 3 ... Nd7 4 c6 Nb6) 4Nxe5 (4 Qc2!? Nc6 5e3) 4 ... Bxc5 5b4 (or 5g3) Bd6!? 6 Qa4+ Bd7 7 Nxd7 Qxd7 8 Q.xd7+ Nxa7 9 Bb2 Bxb4 (or 9 ... Be5) lOBxd4+= d) 3 Na3!? Nf6 4c5.
3 ... c5 3 ... Nc6!? 4 Bg2 (This time 4 Qa4 is not recommended. In contrast to the Woozle, White has weakened himself with g3, so now 4 . . . Bd7 is a good reply). 4 . . . e5 5 d3 - (theory considers this position as slightly better for White). 4 Ne5 Nd7 5 Nd3!
The difference from the Vulture is that if 5 Qa4? b5! is good for Black because of the weakening of the main diagonal, say if 6 Qc2 Bb7 with advantage to Black, or 6 Q x b5?? Rb8 7 Qa4 Rb4 8 Qc6 Bb7 winning for Black. 176
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5 ... b5?!
If Black chooses alternatives, the game will come to resemble the familiar Vulture complex with White a tempo ahead. The omission of the moves Oa4 Oc? is of no immediate consequence.
68g2 Rb8 7 cxb5 c4 8 Nb4 Rxb5 9 Nc6 Qb6 10 a4! with complications in White's favour. Not so good is 10 Na3? Bb7 11 Nxc4 (11 Nxb5 Bxc6) 11 ... Oc7 (11 ... Oc5 12b3 BXc6 13 Ba3) and White loses material. We now include the first example of 'The Eagle', (nicknamed by the author for the Vulture with colours reversed) played in a game MastenbroekWillemsen (Liege 1985). 1 Nf3 dS 2 c4 d4 (According to Dr Tarrasch this is the 'only correct reply' for Black) 3 g3 (a clever 'waiting' move by White. A standard Vulture with colours reversed is now virtually guaranteed) 3 ... c5 4 Ne5 e6 5 Bg2 Bd6 60a4+ Nd7 7Nd3 Nf6 8b4 0-0 9bxc5 NXc5 10 Nxc5 BXc5 11 d3 Bd7 12 Oc2 Bc6 130-0 Bxg2 14 Kxg2 h6 15 Nd2 e5 16 RbI Oc7 17 Oa4+= (1-0, 30). In spite of the comprehensive nature of the available material, you, my readers, will constantly come across novelties which your opponents will tryout and which have not been examined by the author. Once you are faced with the challenge of having to improvise against such innovations, this will present you with a genuine test of whether you have really assimilated the underlying strategic ideas of the Vulture and associated 177
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systems. As we said before, an innovation does not necessarily entail an improvement, so it is your own mental attitude that will prove the decisive factor on such occasions. Good luck in your endeavours!
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