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Advance Variation
and Gambit System
Contents
Page
Foreword
Chapter One
Gambit System: I e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 f3
I ndex to Chapter One
7
32
Chapter Two
Advance Variation: I e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5
Everything except 3 ... i.f5
Index to Chapter Two
33
66
Chapter Three
Advance Variation: I e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 i.f5
Everything except 4lL!c3 and 4lL!f3
Index to Chapter Three
67
1 13
Chapter Four
Advance Variation: 4 lL!c3
I ndex to Chapter Four
1 15
21 1
Chapter Five
Advance Variation: 4 lL!f3
I ndex to Chapter Five
214
266
Illustrative Games
Index to Games
268
284
Foreword
Chapter One
Gambit System:
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 f3
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 t3
I
3 ... de 4 fe e5 5 ll'lt3 Black now has
a choice: S .. ed (A), 5 ...i..g4 (B) or
5 ... i..e6 (C).
.
A
5 ed? (the weakest) 6 i.. c4! White
sacrifices a pawn, but it is not so easy
..
Gambit System
..
Gambit System
8
s .ig4!?
...
..
Gambit System
1 4 ....i.h2+!? 1 5 h i g5 !? 1 6 i.c4
e5! 1 7 d5 i.f4 1 8 i.xf4 ef 1 9 l:tc l
10
Gambit System
II
Gambit System
...
Gambit System
..
Gambit System
..
..
Gambit System
Gambit System
III
3...g6
A
4 e3 g7 S lLlc3 A rather watered
down possibility for White is S tDe2after the exchange of pawns in the
centre the knight can go to f3 .
Further, i n the game Conquest Delemarre (Groningen 1 997) there
occurred S . . . de 6 fe lLlf6 7lLlbc3 lLlg4
8 g l eS 9 dS o-o 1 0 h3 lLlf6 I I 'iVd2
bS 1 2 a3 .i.b7 1 3 0-0-0 cd 1 4 ed as
I S bl b4 1 6 ab 1Wxb4 1 7 lLlc l
tLlbd7 with an unclear game.
s. 'ifb6!?
..
..
16
Gambit System
17
Gambit System
18
Gambit System
Gambit System
17 llxf6! gf 1 8 S! fg 19 'ihh6
fS 20 ._.g6+ h8 2 1 hg .i.xa3
22 'ite2 ._.dS 23 lL!fJ Under threat of
a linear mate, Black resigned
(Smyslov - Gereben, Budapest
1 949).
It can be seen that in reply to 7 lL'lc4
Black must be particularly accurate in
the choice of his next moves and
therefore 7....i.e7 8 .i.d3 lL'lbd7 9 0-0
0-0 1 0 c3 b6 1 1 lL!ce5 .i.b7 appears
the most appropriate.
On the whole it is not possible to
say that White's attack 5 ...ef 6 lL!gxf3
lLlf6 looks deadly. In analysis Black's
possibilities are very noticeable, and
he has an extra pawn - not bad
support for the defence. But from the
point of view of practice it would be
wiser to refrain from accepting the
sacrifice:
b) S lL'lf6!? 6 fe eS!
Exploiting the fact that 7 de lLlg4
8 ._.e2 lL!xe5 9 lL!gfJ .i.g4
(Spielmann - Tartakower, Vienna
1 9 1 3), is not good, Black boldly
plays to seize the initiative.
.
20
Gambit System
5 'ifxb2 ! ? It is possible to
postpone the capture on b2 - 5 ...lDd7
6 .id3 c5 7 c3 c4 8 .ic2 'ifxb2 9 lDe2
'ifa3 1 0 0-0 lDb6 I I ed ed 1 2 l:le l
.id7 (Smyslov - Makogonov, USSR
1 944) or completely reject it:
5 . . .lDf6!? 6 .i.d3 c5 7 de .ixc5
The source of this important
8 .ixc5 'iVxc5 9 lDe2 lDc6 1 0 c3 o-o
II ed lDxd5 1 2 lDe4 'ifb6 1 3 'ii'd2 position for the variation 4 .. .'irb6!?
l:ld8 1 4 0-0-0 lDe3 (Mayorov - was the game M itkov - Khenkin
1 999).
The
further
Shobumov, Bryansk 1 995). But ( Bolzano
analysis does not reveal any continuation was 1 5 . . . g6 1 6 lbe5
inconvenience at all in immediately lDxe5 1 7 lDf6+ h8 1 8 de llfd8
1 9 .ig5 with complicated play.
taking the pawn.
But the fact of the matter is that on
6 .id3 6 lDb3 !? 'ii'a3 7 c3 lDf6
mostly leads to a simple transposition 1 5 ... g6?! White could develop a very
of moves: 8 .id3 etc. But in this case strong attack on the dark squares by
worth considering is 7...b6, for the 1 6 .i.h6! Neither 1 6... gh 1 7 lbe5 ! f6
present not deciding the position of 1 8 ltlxd7 llf7 1 9 e5 f5 20 llJf6+ 'ith8
the king's knight - possibly it will 2 1 lDxh5, nor 1 6 ...llfd8 1 7 'ii'f4 f5
prove useful on the e7 square.
( 1 7 . . . gh 1 8 lbe5 llJxe5 1 9 'ii'xe5)
6 .'ii'a3 Also here Black's plan is 1 8 lbe5 ..i.d6 1 9 'ii'g5 .i.xe5 20 de
modified, depending on where he 'itf7 2 1 llJf6 offer Black the least
intends to develop his king's knight. pleasure.
An important improvement, by
Thus, in the game Gdanski - Khenkin
( Koszalin 1 998) there followed comparison with the game Mitkov
6 . .lbf6 7 lDe2 'ii'a3 8 lbb3 b6!? (a Khenkin, was made by Alexei Dreev:
programmed move, preparing an t5 1Wc4!? The point of this move
exchange of light-squared bishops) lies in the fact that firstly, it does not
9 0-0 .ia6 I 0 .i.e I 'ii'e7 II lbg3 'ifb7 allow .ih6 and secondly, no way
1 2 .ig5 lbbd7 1 3 'ife2 .ixd3 1 4 cd should the g-pawn be touched - the
h6 1 5 .ixf6 lbx f6 1 6 f4 0-0-0 position of the king should be
1 7 ltab l 'it'a6 1 8 e5 lDe8 1 9 f5 lld7 reinforced by means of f7-f6, llf8-f7.
..
..
21
Gambit System
..
Gambit System
..
23
Gambit System
4) 4 b6 An especially defensive
plan: Black wants to provoke an
exchange of light-squared bishops by
i.c8-a6, but, not stopping at that, will
then offer new exchanges which will
edge the game closer to a draw.
5 i.f4 (or 5 i.e3 i.a6 6 i.xa6
lDxa6 7 ...d3 lDc7 8 0-0-0 ...c8
9 lDge2 'ifa6 1 0 lDf4 lDf6 I I 'ii'xa6
lbxa6 1 2 e5 lDd7 1 3 lDce2 CfJc7 14 c3
i.e? 1 5 g4 0-0 1 6 lLlh5, draw,
McShane - Speelman, Malmo 2003)
5 i.d6 6 lDhJ xf4 7 lDxf4 lDf6
8 'ifd2 de 9 lbxe4 0-0 1 0 0-0-0 i.a6
1 1 g4 i.xn 1 2 l%hxfl ltlbd7 1 3 lbd3
'ifc7 14 lDcJ %X.fd8 1 5 gS CfJe8 16 h4
lbf8 1 7 'ii'f2 CfJd6 1 8 f4 lLlrs 19 tDes
White has a minimal advantage
( McShane - Speelman, Germany
2003).
5) 4...ltld7 S i.eJ i.b4 6 lDe2 de
7 fe eS 8 aJ i.aS 9 lDgJ lDgf6
1 0 ..ie2 0-0 l l "ifd2 i.b6 12 dS i.xeJ
1 3 "ifxeJ 'irb6 1 4 'ii' x b6 lLlxb6
1S 0-0-0 i.d7 16 l%hfl llad8 I 7 bJ
aS 1 8 a4 l%.c8 1 9 'iPb2 llfd8 20 hJ
'itf8 Imperceptibly, White has
somehow been outplayed and should
now be striving for a draw (Shulman
- Karpov, Lindsborg 2003).
6) 4 .....ib4 Simply the strongest: by
pinning the knight, Black renews the
threat on the e4 pawn by 5 ...de 6 fe
'ifh4+. The overwhelming majority
of games in the Gambit system travel
along this particular path.
It all depends on White whether he
conducts the further struggle with
equal material . 5 ..ie3 and 5 ..id2
imply a sacrifice (at times temporary)
of a pawn; 5 lLle2 and 5 ..if4 are quiet
developmental moves.
.
a) After S eJ de 6 aJ ..txcJ+ 7 be
"ifaS how White now reacts will
dictate his degree of aggression.
8 d2 (the way of appeasement)
8...lLlf6 9 c4 'ii' c7 1 0 fe lDxe4 (worth
considering is I O ...e5 !? I I li)f3 i.g4
with counterplay) 1 1 i.dJ lLlxd2
12 'irxd2 0-0 13 lbf3 cS 14 cJ lLlc6
IS 0-0 cd 1 6 cd eS 1 7 dS lLld4
1 8 lLlxd4 "ifcs I 9 'irf2 ifxd4
20 'it'xd4 ed 21 cS White has
achieved what he wanted: a slight
positional advantage (Tartakower Flohr, Kemeri 1 937).
On the other hand, 8 fe is hardly
correct, even i f extraordinarily
aggressive: 8 . . .'ifxc3+ 9 i.d2 'ii'xd4
I 0 i.d3 e5 I I ltlf3 'ii'c5 1 2 'ii'e2 i.g4
1 3 i.b4 'ifb6 1 4 i.c4 lLld7 1 5 0-0-0
lDgf6
Gambit System
25
Gambit System
move
More
Gambit System
Gambit System
..
...
...
Gambit System
29
Gambit System
Gambit System
31
Gambit System
5 tbf3
A.5 ...ed 6 c4
1 ) 6 ...b4+
2) 6 ...c5
3) 6 ...e6
4) 6 ....1e7
B. 5 ....i.g4
C. 5 ...e6
6 c3 lbf6 7 d3 lbbd7
8 0-0 .1d6
1) 9 lbg5
2) 9 'ii'e2
3) 9 'ith I
II. 3 . . .e5
4 de c5
A. 5 ed
B. 5 lbe2
c. 5 .i.d3
1 ) 5 ...lbd7
2) 5 ...de
3) 5 ... 'ii'b6
D. 5 tbc3
5 . . .'ii'b6 6 lba4 'ii'a 5+
7 c3 xg l
1 ) 8 b4
2) 8 lbg l
III. 3 ... g6
A. 4 .i.e3
B. 4 c3
IV. 3 ... e6
A. 4 .i.e3
1) 4 ...de 5 lbd2
a) 5 ... ef
b) 5 ...lbf6
2) 4 ...'ifb6
B. 4 d3
1 ) 4 ...c5
2) 4 ...lbf6
3) 4 ...de
C. 4 lbc3
1 ) 4 . . .'ifb6
2) 4 ...c5
3) 4 ...lbf6
4) 4 ... b6
S) 4 ...lbd7
6) 4 ... b4
a) 5 e3
b) 5 .id2
c) 5 lbe2
d) 5f4
d 1 ) 5 ...lbf6
d2) 5 ...lbe7
d2 1 ) 6 lbe2
d22) 6 'ii'd2
d23) 6 'ii'd3
7
7
7
7
7
8
8
9
10
II
II
12
12
13
13
14
14
14
14
15
15
15
32
16
16
17
18
18
18
19
20
20
22
22
22
22
23
23
23
23
24
24
24
24
25
25
26
26
29
29
30
30
Chapter Two
Advance Variation:
Everything except 3 .ii. f5
...
I e4 c6 2 d4 dS 3 eS
..
33
il..f5
34
an
interesting
. .
. .,f5
..
..
4 c3?!
Hardly a successful idea. The
arising pawn structure reminds us of
the French defence, but with one
important reservation: the absence of
a pawn on e6 allows Black to solve
his main problem - the 'bad' light
squared bishop. After 4 ...lbc6 Black
should not have difficulties, as shown
by the variations given below.
35
. .
36
i../5
9 ltJd2 .i.f5 1 0 .Uc 1 cd I I 0-0 de
I 2 lhc3 .i.g7 1 3 ltJb3 .i.xe5
14 'iVxd5. Though even here, by
continuing 1 4... .i.g6!? (in the game
1 4 . . . e6? ! was played) 1 5 ..txg6
( 1 5 l:txc6 :dS ! ) 1 5 ... hg 1 6 l.te3 0-0,
Magem could have gained a decisive
advantage.
Yet, all the same, 5 .. .i.f5 looks far
more natural than 5 ...ltJh6 6 .i.xh6
gh.
6 ltJtJ e6 7 0-0 ..ig4 8 ltJbd2 cd
9 cd ltJge7 10 hJ .i.xt3 1 1 ltJxtJ ltJf5
1 2 g4 ltJh4 13 ltJe1
.
. i..j5
II
4 ll'lf3 ll'lc6
Games from this branch quite
frequently cross over into the
variation 4 de, and in this case an
early development of the knight on f3
narrows down White's possibilities,
for example:
5 de e6 6 .i.e3 ll'lge7 7 b5 ll'lf5
8 .i.d4 'ira5+ 9 lDc3 ll'lfxd4 I 0 ll'lxd4
'irc7 1 1 b4 .i.d7 1 2 .i.xc6 ffxe5+
1 3 ll'lce2 be 1 4 f4 'ife3 1 5 ffd2
'irxd2+ 1 6 xd2
1 6 . . . g5 ! ? B lack mobilises h is
central pawns. For this purpose the
pawn is not to be pitied!
1 7 fg e5 1 8 ll'lf3 .i.g7 1 9 llae I 0-0
20 ll'lg3 e4 2 1 ll'lh4, and here the clear
2 l ...f5! established an advantage in
the game Klinova - Kachiani (Pula
1 997).
After 4 ll'lf3 ll'lc6 only two
moves have independent theoretical
significance: 5 c4 and 5 b5.
A
5 c4!?
A very early clash of pawns in the
centre is unusual and foreshadows an
interesting struggle. However the
position is quite quickly defined.
37
...
. . .tj5
...
39
.. i..j5
40
..
41
Ill
4 de!?
i.j5
...
...
42
9 aJ!? Creating the pawn chain a3b4-cS, White cannot claim much but
at least he insures himself against the
trouble that lay in store in the
following variations:
9 iid2 c7 I 0 iie2 a6 II 0-0 lLlg6
1 2 lLla4 i.xf3 1 3 i.xf3 lLlcxeS
1 4 lLlb6 lld8 1 5 b4 lLlxO+ 1 6 xn
i.d6 !? with the initiative (Spassky Kotov, Moscow 1 955);
9 0-0 a6 I0 iie2 lLlfS I I d2 'ilc7
1 2 lba4 l:td8 1 3 .:te l i.e7 1 4 ..if4
i.xO 1 5 iixO gS 1 6 g4 ltlh4 1 7 ..ig3
as! Of course, he was not obliged
to lose at once, as happened in the
game Hennings - Mohring (Leipzig
1 984): 1 8 b3? .-xe l +! But also upon
1 8 ..ixh4 gh 1 9 c3 'iic7 the e5 pawn
will very soon be lost and with it also
White's hopes.
After 9 a3 Black should observe, as
it were, minimal accuracy, otherwise,
as shown by the game Kalugin - Bets
(Kharkov 2000), he might also be
left a pawn down and without
compensation for it: 9...lDfS?! I 0 b4
...
Ji,(5
..
..
43
il,(5
the manoeuvre g8-e7-g6 before
capturing 6....txc5.
7 gO g6 8 .ig3 .txc5 9 .id3
'ti'c7!? In its time there was great
publicity surrounding the game
Fedorov - Morozevich (Samara
1 998), in which White achieved a
decisive advantage by means that
were anything but trivial: 9 . . . f6?!
1 0 efW'xf6 I I 0-0 .ib6 12 .i.xg6+ hg
(more circumspect was 1 2 ...'ifxg6).
44
JJ.,f5
. . .
45
. .
{5
1 8 :xb 1 i.. g 7
.. .i./5
.. Ji..f5
48
49
I S l:tt2 eS 1 6 'ifg3 d4 1 7 cd ed
1 8 i. f4
'ifd5
with
se rious
compensation for the pawn (Lutz Kache ishvili, Pula 1 997);
I S l:lfd l .ic6 1 6 'ikh3 e5 1 7 f3
1i'c8 1 8 'ikxc8 l:laxc8 1 9 i. f2 .Ucd8
20 .i.g3 l:lfe 8 2 1 l:le 1 d4! 22 .ixeS
i.xf3 23 .i.xg7 'iPxg7 24 gf de 25 be
l:r.xe I+ 26 l::t xe I lidS. Both sides are
playing for a win, but ne ither can
achieve it (Nisipeanu - Svetushkin,
Bucharest 1 998);
1 5 l:lfei !? eS 16 c4 c4 1 7 'it'f5 .ic6
1 8 l:lad I 1i'c8 1 9 'itt2 'ike6 20 b3 de
2 1 d4 ..ixd4 22 l:lxd4. Of course it
is more pleasant for White to play this
position, but Black has every chance
of a draw (Kotronias - Pert, Port Erin
2003).
13 d2 ..ixcS 14 .ixcS Wi'xcS
1 5 0-0-0 0-0-0 16 h4 ..ia4 17 l:.de I
to establish material equilibrium - or d4 18 l:th3 l:td7 19 c4
.
50
4...e6
51
52
53
...
54
55
..
56
57
..
. .
...
...
60
3 . i.,[5
. .
3 JJ.f5
...
..
3 iLf5
...
64
3... iLj5
65
3. . iJ..f5
.
33
33
3 ... c5
I. 4 c3
II. 4 tl:l f3
4 ... tl:lc6
A. 5 c4
B. 5 iJ..bS
1) 5 ....ig4
2) s ... cd
III. 4 de
A. 4 ...tl:lc6
1) 5 tl:l f3
2) 5 .if4
3) 5 .ibS
5 ... e6
a) 6 b4
b) 6 'iVg4
b l) 6 ...'ifa5+
b2) 6 ...h5
b3) 6 ... tl:le7
b4) 6... .id7
c) 6 .ie3
B. 4 ...e6
35
35
37
1) 5 c4
2) 5 tl:lc3
3) 5 tl:l f3
5 ... iJ..x c5 6 iJ..d3 tl:lc6 7 0-0
a) 7 ...tl:lge7
b) 7 ... f6
4) 5 iJ.. f4
5) 5 'ifg4
5 . . .h5
a) 6 .ib5+
b) 6 'ifg3
c) 6 'iff4
6) 5 .ie3
5 ...tl:lh6
a) 6 tl:l f3
6 ...tl:ld7
at) 7 c4
a2) 7 .ixh6 gh 8 c4
b) 6 c3
6 ... tl:l f5 7 .id4 .id7 8 tl:l f3
tl:lc6 9 a3 aS I 0 .ie2
b l) IO ... lDfxd4 I I cd b6
b2) I O. . g6
b3) I O. . . f6
b4) I O . . . a4
37
38
38
40
41
42
42
43
45
45
46
46
46
47
47
48
51
66
51
51
51
52
54
55
56
57
57
58
58
59
60
61
62
64
64
64
65
Chapter Three
Advance Variation:
Everything except 4 ttJc3
and 4 ttJt3
I e4 c6 2 d4 dS 3 eS .irs
...
67
6 tt:'lcJ
...
69
I O . .'iVd8 !? I I .i.g5 a6 1 2 f4 g6
1 3 lLlg3 'iVc7 14 f5 cd 1 5 fe fe
1 6 'iVxd4 'iVc5 ! Khalifman's reward
was a better endgame.
One thing is unclear: if it is possible
to reckon on an advantage, by
randomly losing two tempi ('iVd8-a5d8), then is it not better to start
directly with 6 ...c5!?
.
II
4 lDe2
...
..
..
..
71
73
..
..
76
4 .i..e 3!?
Analogous to 4 fl)d2 (in so far as
the advance of the bishop to e3 is also
directed against the undermining of
the centre by c6-c5 ), but far more
modem.
77
..
17 liJc4 g4 18 hg hg.
11 l:l.cl .i.g7 12 cd cd 13 .td3 0-0
14 'ii'd 2 .txd3 15 1fxd3 l:l.fc8 1 6 h3
a6 17 1fd2 liJfS 1 8 g4 liJxe3 19 fe
Ac6 20 liJaS (or 20 l:l.xc6 be 2 1 l:l.c 1
aS) 20 ....l:l.xc l 2 1 l:txc1 f6 The
position has simplified unexpectedly
in Black's favour ( Kurnosov Huzman, Istanbul 2003), but it would
be nai"v e to think that this game will
remain long as a basis for the
variation 5 ...1fb6? !
2) 5 liJd7!? Nowadays this seems
the strongest.
...
4 e3!? e6 5 ..ie3
...
80
81
..
...
...
84
. .
85
...
...
...
86
1 0 'iVhS+ e7 I I de ltlxe5 1 2 d4
g7 1 3 ltlc4 (Golubev - Khenkin,
Germany 2002). Subsequently, White
gained a beautiful and convincing
victory.
But here, about to continue the
attack, there is something he has not
seen if Black takes the offered piece:
1 3 . . .dc!? . . .
F o r example: 1 4 c5+ 'ifilf6
t s d4 ( 1 s i.t2 i.g6 t 6 h4+ cttn
1 7 ltlxg6 hg) 1 5 ...e7 (dangerous is
1 5 ...'ifa5 in view of 1 6 .i.xc4 .D.d8
1 7 b4 'ifc7 1 8 0-0) 1 6 .i.c5+ f6 with
a repetition of moves.
s gf 9 xf4 .i.h6 1 0 gJ 'Wb6
...
without any
Black has
reservations - an excellent position
(Belotti - Khenkin, Bratto 2002).
Today it is possible to boldly
recommend in reply to 6 ltld2 both
the breaks - 6...cS and 6 ... f6 - as a
means of achieving a game with fully
equal rights.
2) 6 'iVbJ Inviting the opponent to
return to the variations analysed
above after 6 . . . 'ii'b 6. But an
unpleasant surprise awaits White ...
6 .'.c7!? A joke on the side. Black
intends to castle long, after which by
means of r7-f6 (in reply to f2-f4, of
course follows g7-gS) he will
commence a direct attack on the
king!
7 ltld2 Experienced grandmaster
Yudasin
played
the
opening
carelessly in a game against Furdzik
(New York 2000): 7 f4 ltle7 8 ltlf3
i.g6 9 e2 lilfS I 0 f2 hS I I g3
i.e? 12 0-0 eS 1 3 c4 de 1 4 'ifxc4 0-0
I S lle l 'ii'b6 1 6 de (also nothing is
offered by 1 6 'ii'b S, since a fter
1 6 ...llfd8 1 7 de 'ii'x b5 1 8 xbS
Black has available the counterblow
1 8 ...ltlxcS! 1 9 .J:xeS i.xcS 20 .i.xe5
l:.ac8 or 1 9 xeS ltae8 20 b4 b6 - in
both cases with a great advantage)
1 6... .i.xc5 17 xeS ltlxc5 1 8 'ii'bS
( 1 8 'ii'xc5? l:Uc8).
.
87
..
20 0-0 e5 2 1 cd ed 22 'fft2 d3 23 de
be 24 i..d l i.. f4 25 l:le l l:lxe l +
26 1fxe I l:le8 27 'irh4 1fb6+ 28 'it>fl
(losing is 28 Wh I ? i..xd2 29 li:Jxd2
'ife3 30 i..f3 1fxd2 3 1 l:lxc6+ d8)
28 ...l:tf8 29 li:Jc4 'iVa6 30 l:lc3 '*xa2
3 1 g3 i..c7 with a great advantage for
Black. But after 1 8 1fc3 (instead of
1 8 li:Jhf3) 1 8 . . .i..e4 !? 1 9 li:Jhf3 e5
20 de li:Jxe5 2 1 0-0-0 (2 1 c5 li:Jxf3+
22 gf .ie5 23 'ifa3 .ic2) 2 1 ... lt)xf3
Black has again happily solved all his
problems.
1 5 cd ( 1 5 h3 lt)h6 ! ) 1 5 .ixg5
16 lL)xfS ef 17 l:lcl Even if he opens
the c-file 1 7 de '*xc6 1 8 .ixg4 fg
1 9 .ie3 .ixe3 20 'i6'xe3, White will
not manage to exploit it since Black
prevents castling and does not allow
the opponent to connect his rooks:
20 ...l:lhf8 !
VI
4 c4!?
..
89
..
..
91
VII
4 g4
of
continuation
old
This
grandmaster Richard Reti was
introduced into tournament practice
as long ago as 1 9 1 3 . Sharp play
commences, where the cost of each
move for both sides is extremely
high ...
Black has available three replies:
4....id7, 4 . . ..ig6, 4 . . ..ie4. We look at
each of these in tum.
A
..
..
93
4 .tg6
.
94
..
..
96
4... h6
98
I nsufficient
for equality
is
S ... xb I ?! 6 lhb I e6 in view of the
fact that White has immediately
gained space on the queen's flank:
7 c5 ! b6 8 b4 aS 9 a3 lbe7 1 0 lbf3 ab
I I ab lbfS 1 2 d3 e7 1 3 g3 g6
1 4 0-0 f8 1 5 f4 g7 1 6 'ife2 lbd7
1 7 lla I with a tangible advantage
(Vasyukov - Skembris, Corfu 1 989).
4... h5!?
The basic continuation. Black
prevents 5 g4, but at the same time
weakens the g5 square.
1 00
I) 5...dc 6 xc4
101
b) 7 lDd7
.
1 02
1 03
...
1 04
1 05
106
..
1 07
1 09
4...'ifb6!?
111
112
67
67
67
68
68
69
70
71
71
72
73
74
74
75
77
77
78
78
79
80
81
81
81
81
82
82
83
84
85
85
86
c) 6 ...c5
d) 6 ... f6
2) 6 'i!Vb3
V I. 4 c4
4 ... e6 5ltJc3
A. 5 ... dc
B. 5 ....i.b4
c. 5 ...ltJd7
D. 5 ...ltJe7
VII. 4 g4
A. 4 ... .i.d7
1) 5 .i.e3
2) 5 c3
3) 5 .i.g2
4) 5 c4
B. 4 ....i.g6
1) 5ltJe2
2) 5 h4
3) 5 e6
C. 4 ....i.e4
VIII. 4 h4
A.4 ... h6
5 g4
1) 5 ....i.h7
2) 5 ....i.e4
3) 5 ... .i.d7
6 h5
a) 6 ... e6
b) 6 ...c5
B. 4 ... h5
5 c4
I) 5 ...dc
6 .i.xc4 e6 7ltJc3
a) 7 ... .i.e7
b) 7 ...ltJd7
2) 5 ...e6
1 13
86
87
87
89
89
90
91
92
93
93
93
93
93
94
94
94
94
94
95
96
97
97
97
98
98
99
1 00
1 00
101
1 02
1 03
c) 6 .. .i.e7
cl) 7 g3
c2) 7 -.,3
cJ) 7 cd
c. 4 .....,6
1) 5 g4
2) 5 liJc3
.
1 04
1 05
1 05
1 05
1 06
1 06
1 06
1 14
1 07
1 07
1 08
1 09
1 10
1 10
I ll
Chapter Four
Advance Variation:
4ltJc3
invariably arising after 4 ... e6 5 g4.
However the fact that Black delays
the advance e7-e6, in itself already
looks unnatural and in no way
promotes the development of pieces.
At the present time, all moves, apart
from 4 ... e6, are regarded as artificial
and secondary.
1 e4 c6 2 d4 dS 3 eS .trs 4 ll'lcJ
4 a6!?
1 15
1 16
..
..
..
8 h4 h5 9 lbf4 h7 1 0 lbxh5lL'lc6
I I l%.h3 cd 1 2 xd4 lbge7 1 3 lbe2
lbb4! 1 4 J:lc3 l:lc8 1 5 c5 l:lxc5 !
1 6 llxc5 lbec6 1 7 l:txc6 lbxc6
1 8 lbd4 1Vb6 ! with advantage to
Black (lnarkiev - Palo, Halkidiki
200 1 );
8 f4!? 'iVh4+ 9 t2 (or 9 lbg3 lbh6
1 0 e2 lbc6) 9......xg4 1 0 1Wd2 lbc6
I I h4 cd 1 2 lbxd4 lbxd4 1 3 1Vxd4
lbe7 1 4 e2 1Vg2 1 5 llg l ..,h2
(Antal - Vajda, Hungary 2003), and
here White did not find the strong
move 1 6 'tib6!?;
8 de, and then:
8 ...lbd7 9 b4 lLlxe5 I 0 lbd4 lbf6
I I g5 lbe4 1 2 lbxe4 de 1 3 g2?!
( 1 3 h4! ?) 1 3 ... b6 1 4 0-0 be 1 5 be e7
1 6 h4 0-0 1 7 1Ve2 1Vc7 1 8 l:lad l
.ixc5 1 9 f4 (Smirnov - Burmakin,
Nefteugansk 2002). It is not clear
why, in this position, Black rejected
the favourable endgame after
1 9... lbf3+ 20 xf3 ef 2 1 xc7 fg;
8 ... lLlc6 9 i.g2 lLlxe5 1 0 lL!f4 lbf6
I I g5 lLlfg4 1 2 'ffe2 lLlxe3 1 3 ..,xe3
lbc4 1 4 'ii'd4 'ii'xg5 1 5 xd5 ed
1 6 lbcxd5 0-0-0 1 7 'ii'xc4 'ii'e5+
1 8 fl ..,e4 Nothing has come out of
White's attack (Charbonneau - Bu
Xiangzhi, Bled 2002).
From the previous examples it is
apparent how the provident move
a7-a6 helps Black. White's bishop
and knight. which in the main
variation continually threaten to jump
to b5, are now denied this possibility.
And other attacking resources are not
very impressive!
Apart from 7 ... c5!?, we want to
suggest for Black one more very
concrete plan, worked out in detail by
1 17
118
..
c
4... h5
In this cardinal way Black averts
the programmed g2-g4 and secures
an outpost for his light-squared
bishop.
119
14 cf gf 15 e4!? de 16 xe4 eS
1 7 1Wcl
..
120
serious
of
worthy
Not
consideration is 4 'ifc8?! White will
nevertheless advance g2-g4, and the
black queen will find herself poorly
placed.
5 h3! h6 6 g4 h7 7 g2 e6
8 ltJge2 c5 9 0-0 ltJc6 1 0 ..ie3 cd
11 ltJxd4 lLlxd4 (taking the pawn l l . . .lLlxe5? - is rash in view
of 1 2 ..tf4 lLlg6 1 3 g3 'ifc5
1 4 lLla4 'ifa5 1 5 c4 lLlf6 1 6 cd lLlxd5
1 7 lLlc3 with a very strong initiative)
12 'ifxd4 lLle7 t3 f4 lLlc6 14 'ifa4
..ie7 1 5 f5 Without making a
superhuman effort, White has
achieved an overwhelming advant
age (Shabalov - Seirawan, Seattle
2000).
4 .'ifd7
1 22
..
...
F
4 'ifb6
..
123
1 24
..
1 25
...
126
...
1 27
..
4...e6
..
6.. Ji'h4?!
A move which pursues the
objective of keeping in check the
advance of White's pawns on the
king's flank - but, as we will see
below, his objective is not achieved.
7 ltlf4!? One cannot treat 6 ...'it'h4
too condescendingly. At times Black
has been successful with it, as, for
example, in the game Smimov Obechkin (Togliatti 2003): 7 ltlg3?!
..i.b4 8 ..i.g2 h5 9 h3 ltld7 I 0 ..i.f4
0-0-0 I I 'ifd2 'ife7 1 2 0-0-0 ltlb6
1 3 'itr>b l ltlc4 1 4 'ife l .i.a5 1 5 ..i.c l hg
1 28
II
6... h6
Above all Black safeguards his
bishop from attack or exchange,
while he intends to construct his play
depending on his opponent's
subsequent threats.
7 eJ lbd7 8 'fld2 White played
somewhat chaotically
in
the
following game: 8 lbf4 Jlh7 9 'ii'd 2
lbe7 10 b4?! lbg6 I I a3 lbh4 1 2 .ie2
a5 1 3 llb l ab 14 ab g5! 1 5 lbh5
lbg2+ 1 6 fl lbxe3+ 1 7 fe f6 1 8 ef
lbxf6 1 9 lbxf6+ 'ifxf6+ 20 ..tg2 .ild6
(Bauer - Piket, Krsko 1 998). No
White has more than one way to
wonder that Black is already playing
obtain a high quality position with a for a win.
view to an advantage:
Worth considering is the formation
9 a3 Jlxe3+ 1 0 be 0-0 1 1 Jle3 e5 that Kobalia chose in a game against
12 lbg2 'fle7 13 h4 ed (Kupreychik Gavrikov (St. Petersburg 200 I ):
Kremer, Leuwarden 1 993). Viktor 8 h3 !? (White reinforces the g4 pawn,
Kupreychik took on h6, but worth so as then to ram Black's position by
considering is 1 4 .ilxd4!? f6 1 5 ef gf f2-f4-f5) 8 ...lbe7 9 1i'd2 c5 I 0 f4 lbc6
1 6 J.e3 q;g7 1 7 lbf4 llc8 1 8 llg I ! I I J.g2 :tc8
lbf? 1 9 .ild4 with an attack.
9 .ild2 lbd7 10 lbee2 xd2+
11 'ifxd2 'i/ie7 12 f3 f6 13 ef 'ifxf6
14 0-0-0 0-0-0 15 h4 'ike7 (van der
Wiel - Timman, Brussels 1 987), and
here simply 1 6 lbxg6 hg 1 7 lbt't
leads to an advantage.
9 lbg2!? (a graphic illustration for
Black of the fact that his queen is
a poor blockader) 9...'ike7 10 h4 e5
1 2 f5! Kobalia sacrifices a pawn,
11 a3 ed 12 ab de 13 Jlb5+ lbe6 rightly supposing that his advantage
14 be f6 15 h5 .iti 16 J.xh6 gh in development will compensate for
17 'iVd4 (Senff - Lorinc, Budapest the slight material loss.
2000).
1 2 ...ef 1 3 gf J.xf5 1 4 0-0 .ie6
1 5 lbxd5 cd 1 6 lbxd4 lbxd4
The move 6...'ilh4?! , without any ( 1 6 ...lbdxe5 1 7 lZ'lf4) 1 7 Jlxd4 .ic5
doubt, is principled, but. .. up to now 1 8 lbf4 lbxe5 1 9 lbxe6 fe 20 c3 with
a dangerous initiative.
it has not justified itself.
..
1 29
..
III
6...ltJd7
Unambiguously
preparing
to
undermine the white centre - both by
the usual c6-c5, and also with f7-f6.
7 h4 Black has three ways to
safeguard his bishop against h4-h5:
the sharp 7 ... f6 and 7 ... h5 and the
moderate 7 ... h6.
8
The move 7. hS starts a forcing
vanatton in which the arising
complications are favourable for
White.
8 ltJf4 lLie7 9 lLixg6 lLixg6 I 0 gh
ltJxh4 II .id3 eS 12 'ifg4 ed 13 lDe2
.ie7 14 'ifxg7
..
In
the
game Kotronias
Simeonidis (Athens 1 997) Black
played weakly: 14 ... 'iVa5+?, driving
the enemy king where generally
speaking it wants to go. He does not
have to wait long for his punishment:
1 5 Wfl 0-0-0 1 6 'iVxt7 ltde8 1 7 .ih6!
(the decisive move; White transfers
1 30
131
IV
6 .ie7
A solid move, preventing h2-h4.
White has a few ways to develop,
each of which has its virtues and
defects.
.
1 32
6 i.b4
..
...
133
1 34
..
Advance Variation: 4 c3
8 f4 e7 9 d3 The space
Taking into account the above, in
reply to 7 ...xc3+!? more interesting advantage he seeks after 9 xg6
is 8 be! ? Black should play 8...'ifa5, xg6 1 0 h5 e7 I I a3 xc3+ 1 2 be
threatening the manoeuvre 'ifa5-a4, d7 1 3 a4 as 1 4 .i.d2 'ifc7 1 5 f4 is
and White has serious problems with at hand. However in the game
the defence of the c2 pawn. There are Kobalia - Labumskiy (Ekaterinberg
still no games on this theme; here is 2002) White did not manage to
convert it into something more
some preliminary analysis:
substantial. On the other hand, Black
9 'ifd2!? d7 The threat of9 ...'ifa4
will already soon start to play for a
is devalued by I 0 lib I b5 I I l4b2
win: 1 5 ... c5 1 6 e3 6 1 7 ..id3 cd
tlJd7 1 2 c4!
1 8 cd b4 1 9 ._.d2 xd3+ 20 cd
10 g3 h6 1 1 f4 tlJe7 12 h3!? b8 2 1 e2 c6 22 a5 a6 23 llhc I
White makes it clear that he too has a ._.e7 24 t2 l4c8 25 l:r.c5 0-0 26 ._.e3
threat - the advance f4-f5. Absolutely f5.
harmless would be 1 2 d3 xd3
9 ..ixd3 10 'ifxd3 d7 11 ..id2
1 3 cd c5.
'ifb6 1 2 0-0-0 0-0-0 13 hS e5 14 de
12 ...h5! (the only move) 13 gh xeS 15 f4
(White gets nowhere by 1 3 f5 hg
1 4 fg gh 1 5 gf+ <t>xf7 1 6 l4xh3 c5)
l3 ... xh5 ( 1 3 ... f5 !?) 14 fS ef
IS xf5 xf5 16 xf5 f8 17 l4b1
b6 1 8 l4b3 e6 (or 1 8 ... g6
19 xg6 xg6 20 'irg2 with an
initiative for White) 19 a3
..
1 35
6 f6
Black, in spite of the teachings of
Nimzowitsch, undermines the centre
not at the base of the white pawn
chain (for which simply c6-c5 does
the job), but at its last link. Of course,
such a strategy is a departure from the
rules - but in return it secures a
retreat for the bishop on fl.
White has two main continuations:
7 h4 and 7 li:)f4.
A
7 h4!?
136
1 37
..
1 38
...
1 39
..
...
1 40
..
141
..
...
142
1 43
1 44
145
146
...
7 f4!?
148
..
1 49
1 50
..
..
lSI
..
1 52
..
153
Advance Varia/ion: 4 c3
...
..
1 54
a t ) 1 3 'iVe2 lDbc6 14 c3 !? A
programmed move. It favours White
to exchange the d4 pawn, as after
14 . . . de 1 5 be he controls the d4
square. And otherwise, after a7-a6,
1 55
..
Advance Variation: 4 3
1 S lLlf4 The second critical positon
of the variation l l ...xO !?
1 5 lLlxe6! fe 1 6 'ifxe6+ e7
1 7 f4 f8 1 8 lLld6 and he still had
to resign.
Considerably stronger is 13 ...lLlbc6
with the idea, on 14 e2, ( 1 4 lLld3!?)
to play in a serious game 14...'ifb6
I S c3 a6!? 16 cd (bad is 1 6 lLlxd4 in
view of 1 6 . . . c5 1 7 e3 'ifxb2
1 8 0-0 'ifxc3) 1 6 lLld7 17 lLlcJ
lLlxd4 18 d1 cS, while in a casual
encounter, fittingly, 1 4 . . .lLlxg4! ?
1 5 'ifgl (or 1 5 xg4 1Wa5+ 1 6 c3
'ifxb5 1 7 .:n 0-0-0) 1 5 ... lLle3
1 6 xe3 de 1 7 'ifxe3 d4 1 8 g3
ifa5+ 1 9 c3 de 20 lLlxc3 d6 with a
sharp game.
a3) 1 3 'ifgJ The most natural
retreat of the queen and - really not
such a frequent coincidence considered the main line in the theory
of the variation.
lJ lLlbc6 14 lLldJ f6!? Creating
nervous tension in the centre of the
board. Weaker is 1 4 ... lLlxd3+? !
1 5 xd3 e5 1 6 o-o c5 1 7 llf5!'!
0-0 18 h6 g6 19 llxe5! with the
advantage (Kotronias - Karpov,
Athens 1 997).
.
1 56
1 57
1 58
..
1 59
..
...
..
1 60
..
161
..
162
..
1 63
1 64
1 1 xc5 1 2 hS e4 Shirov
considered that l 3 lLlxe4 de 1 4 'ii'e2
was quite frankly weak in view of
" 1 4 . . . f5, and Black has a great
advantage" The move 1 4 ... f5 ! is
indeed very strong, but here we want
to take issue with Shirov 's
assessment. Let us continue the
variation: 1 5 'iVc4 lLld8 1 6 gf ef
17 f.3 ! ? (in time activating the bishop)
1 7 ...lLld7 1 8 fe fe 1 9 'ifxe4 l:tf8
20 .i.d2 lLle6 2 1 Ae 1 lLlxf4 22 i.xf4
e7. The position is approximately
equal, isn't it?
I nstead of 1 4 ... f5 ! less significant is
14 ...lbd7 1 5 'ifxe4 ...xe4 16 xe4
lLlf6 I 7 xc6+ be I 8 lLld3 d6 1 9 g5
lLld7 20 l:r.h4. White obtains the better
endgame, technically a win (Sakaev Bareev, Moscow 200 I ).
..
1 65
..
..
1 66
..
167
This is also how the Almasi Karpov game continued. Black took
on g6, allowing the opponent to
create a menacing pawn chain on the
queen's flank by means of b2-b4!
Play went 13 cb! 14 .i xb2 and then
14 lLl7xg6 In this case there do not
appear to be any problems at all
securing equality, for example:
1 5 lLlxg6 lLlxg6 1 6 .i.xb7 .ixc5
1 7 .i.xg7 llg8 1 8 llxh7 lLlf8.
.
All
opening
vanat10ns can
conventionally be divided into three
groups.
The first - 'proletariat-variations'
These are played only by amateurs;
for their part,
masters and
grandmasters avoid them. Why?
Probably, they have found some hole
in them, but for some reason do not
want to let out their findings to the
general public. Or simply laziness ...
There are not very many of these
variations but still far more than we
could present ourselves.
The second
'democraticvariations' These are played by
everyone - grandmasters, masters,
and amateurs. Old and young. Such
variations are in the overwhelming
majority. And this is right - chess
should unite the people.
1 68
..
1 69
b) 9 llh3!?
1 70
171
1 72
Advance Variation: 4 cJ
1 73
21 lDb3!! 22 cb .txfS+ 23 cl
llxf4 24 'iWxbS :c4+!! with
unavoidable mate.
Analysis shows that instead of
20 lDxf5 there is no help in other
variations either.
20 lDc6 "ifxd I + 2 1 l:txd I be
..
1 74
..
Kooliman
game
Evelins
(correspondence, 1 995/96): 14 lbxe6
'fie? 1 5 1i'e2 f7! 1 6 xd7 (if he
wants, White can force a draw by
1 6 lbg5+ e8 1 7 lbe6) 1 6...1i'xd7
1 7 lbg5+ f6 1 8 e3 (also here
White is not satisfied with a
repetition of moves: 1 8 lbce4+ de
1 9 lbxe4+ f7 20 lbg5+ with a
draw) 1 8 .. J:le8 1 9 0-0-0 f7 20 1i'f2
l:th5 2 1 lbge4+ g6 22 lbg3 l::lh3
23 lbxf5 e6 ! ? 24 lbd4 lbf6 ! ?
2 5 lbce2 d6 and by now nobody
can suggest that White has more than
a draw in this game...
14...1i'e7!? 1 5 g5! (a case where
the sacrificer of the piece is pleased
with himself, but the recipient of this
sacrifice - not so) 15 1i'xg5
16 lbxe6 The most popular even if
there is a simpler way - 16 xd7+!
'itxd7 1 7 'ifxe6+ d8 1 8 'ifxd5+, and
then:
1 8 .. .'t>c8 1 9 'it'e6+ Wb8 ( 1 9 ...d8
20 lid I ) 20 'ife5+ c8 2 1 lbe6 .i.d6
(2 1 ...1i'e7 22 0-0-0) 22 'iVxd6 'ife7
23 0-0-0 'ifxd6 24 l::lxd6 b6 25 l::ld8+
b7 26 l:td7+ Wb8 27 l::lxg7;
I 8 ...e8 1 9 'ifbs+ q;n 20 lbxf5
l:le8+ (20 ... xf5 2 1 l::lx f5+ 1i'xf5
22 1i'xf5+ lDf6 23 0-0-0; 20 ...lbf6
2 1 1i'b3+) 2 1 lbe3+ 1i'f6 22 1i'b3+!
I:le6 23 0-0-0
Such variations are not very
complicated, and the moves White
makes are natural, therefore it
is incomprehensible why such
excessive attention has been devoted
to 1 6 lbxe6, though this move also
wins.
16 ...'iff6 17 0-0-0! ? In the
approaching calm Black will examine
1 75
1 76
1 77
enters the game, and at the most 1 7 l:lxg8 - after which it is difficult to
decisive moment) JJ gh 34 'ifxh8+ give a single assessment on the
winning.
position) 1 3 tLib5. In the game van
However, Black lost heart too early Tel lingen - Vink (Hengelo 1 997)
in the variation 8 f4. We advise you Black then decided not to risk and
not to follow fashion but switch your went in for the forced drawing
attention from 8 ....ie7?! to 8 ...tbc6!? variation: 13 ... liJbc6 ( 1 3 ... liJf5 1 4 g6
b) 8 tbf4?! Dubious, as after liJc6 1 5 .ie2 leads to an unclear
8 .ih7 it is not clear what the knight position) 1 4 liJd6+ d7 1 5 tDxb7
is doing on f4. The only reasonable 'itb6 1 6 tbxc5+ c7 ( 1 6 . . .We8?
idea is to continue on the way to h5, 1 7 lhf8+) 1 7 tDa6+ d7 1 8 tLic5+
but in practice the development of with perpetual check.
A sympathetic idea, right? And yet
this idea has not once turned out well.
For example, in the old game it is not above criticism. Black should
Korchnoi - B ivshev (Leningrad concentrate on development: 9 cd !?
1 95 1 ) after 9 .ie3 tbe7 1 0 de tbec6 10 'ifxd4 tbc6 11 .ibS .ixc2 12 g6
I I .ib5 tbd7 1 2 'ife2 'ilc7 1 3 0-0 liJe7 13 hS a6 14 .ixc6+ tL!xc6, as it
(more logical is 1 3 0-0-0! ?) becomes clear that White has lost the
1 3 . . .'ilxe5 1 4 .:tad l B lack could opening battle ( Handoko - Adianto,
Yangon 1 998).
obtain the better game by 14 ... .ie7.
Usually White in this position sets a
c) 8 .ie3!? White did not come
trap: 9 gS?! It seems that it is easy to right away to the realisation that this
win by 9 ... hg 1 0 hg .ixc2, however if move is best; one might say it came
we continue the variation, then it about by the method of trial and error.
becomes clear that all is not so But today all serious chessplayers
play exclusively 8 .ie3.
simple:
White's plan is simple: to play
9 'li'd2, castle queenside and start an
attack on the uncastled black king. It
goes without saying that White is
nearly always prepared to spoil his
own centre by capturing on c5 - if
only t o open the central files.
Black has a choice: 8 ... tbc6, 8 ... cd
or 8 ... 'ifb6.
c I ) 8 ... liJc6? Quite unsatisfactory.
Black, apparently assuming he is
I I llxh8! .ixd l 1 2 xd l liJe7 (or dealing with the usual opening
12 ...cd 1 3 c!Db5 a6 1 4 tbxd4 'ifb6 variation, gets rather careless. No, in
1 5 .ie3 'ii'xb2 1 6 liJc2, and in view of the present case exceptional accuracy
the threat of .id4 Black has to give is required of him in his choice of
up the knight on g8 - 1 6 ...'ifxe5 moves!
...
..
1 78
9 de tDxeS 1 0 tDf4! I t is no
exaggeration to say that with the
'natural' move 8 ...tDc6 Black has
placed himself on the edge of defeat.
..
1 79
1 80
..
Advance Variation: 4 c3
12 0-0-0 c4! 13 ll::if4 'ii'a6 14 fe.
The most important question for the
whole 8 .. .'ifb6 variation is whether
to advance b7-b5-b4 or prefer a
piece attack? At present all the
theoreticians are oriented towards an
analysis by Timman: 1 4 ... b5 1 5 ef
ll::ige7 1 6 ll::ie6 b4 (Timman Seirawan, Hilversum 1 990) 1 7 ll::ic 5!
be 1 8 'ii'xc3 "with the advantage"
19 ll::ixd5 b5! White and Black have
Although one cannot guarantee that been exchanging heavy blows.
However, this is all still theory
such an assessment is I 00%.
(analysis
by Kotronias).
14 ll::ib4! ? 15 ef ll::ie7 16 g5!? The
In
the
game
Nijboer - Hakulinen
position is very sharp and the
responsibility for each move made ( Parana 1 993) Black joined his
opponent's
cause:
1 9 ... 1:txd5?
increases over and over again. Also
20 ..txc4 'ii'a4, and after 2 1 '1Vb3 !
here: White rejects 1 6 a3, but is he
(accurate to the end! - losing is
right? In the game Magnusson 2 1 ..txd5? ..tb4 22 b3 'ii'a2 or
Anhalt (by correspondence, 1 99 1 ) 22 ..txc6 'iVa I + 23 d2 'ifxb2)
after 1 6 a3 ll::ix c2 1 7 'ii'f2 ll::ia l 2 1 ...'ii'a I + 22 d2 'IVaS+ 23 We2 and
(Thipsay's recommendation 1 7 ...b5 !? fell into a hopeless position.
has still not passed practical trials)
20 <;t>d2 <;t>bS! The knight on d5 is
1 8 .tte l ll::ic 2 ( 1 8 ...b3+ 1 9 d l b5 !? l i ke a Trojan horse: 20 ... .ttx d5?!
Thipsay) White carried out what 2 1 l:ta I ! 'ifxa I 22 ..th3+ <;t>b7
looked a promising queen sacrifice - 23 l:lxa I ..tb4 24 ..tg2 with a great
1 9 'ii'x c2?! ..txc2 20 Wxc2, but advantage.
21 b4 A fork. Weak is 2 l ...cb?!
overlooked the counterblow 20 ... g5!
because
of 22 l:r.a I '1Vxc2+ 23 ...xc2
2 1 hg hg 22 .rlxh8 gf, and in view of
..txc2
24
..tg2 b2 25 l:r.a6 b I 'tv
the threat of check on g6 the
26 lbb I ..txb I 27 l:lxc6 with a great
advantage passed to Black.
advantage.
16 ll::ixa2+. In the heat of battle he
A sharp endgame with better
should not forget about very simple
chances for White arises after
replies by the opponent, as occurred
2 1 ...%lxd5 22 l:la I 'ifxc2+ 23 'ffxc2
in the game Rodin - Buknicek ..txc2 24 <itxc2 hg (if 24...ll::ixd4+,
(Pardubice 1 996): 1 6 .....txc2?! 1 7 a3 ! then 25 ..txd4 .ttxd4 26 :as with the
From an unclear position things advantage) 25 ..tg2 ll::ixb4+ 26 <it'd I
immediately became difficult for gh 27 ..txdS ll::ix dS.
Black.
21. '1Va6! Keeping queens on the
board is the best decision. The black
17 ll::ixa2 'lha2 18 '1Vc3 ll::ic6
181
I R2
..
1 83
1 84
..
1 85
1 86
..
..
1 87
1 88
..
l l lbxd4
..
1 89
...
1 90
...
191
..
...
..
...
1 6 lL!xc2
192
..
1 93
..
1 94
..
..
..
1 95
..
..
..
..
..
I 96
..
..
..
1 98
1 99
..
200
..
20 1
Advance Variation: 4 c3
d2) 9 d4
202
..
..
203
..
..
...
204
205
...
...
206
10
llJbS!?
The
strongest
continuation. Upon other replies
Black has sufficient counterplay:
10 i.g2 hg II 'iVxg4 llJh6 (there is
no need to go after pawns: l l ...llJxe5
12 'iVbS; l l .. . .i.xc2 12 'ilfe2 .i.f5
13 o-o-o) 12 'iVhs .i.f5;
10 .i.bS hg II 'ifxg4 .i.xc2 12 'ire2
(not for the first time, the
combination 12ll:lxe6? fails to work:
12...fe 13 'irxe6+ llJe7 14 .i.g5 'ireS)
12 ...i.f5 13 0-0-0 a6 (if he does not
like the fact that White can take on
c6, then he can play first l3 ...llJe7! ?,
and only then 14 . . .a6) 14 .i.a4
207
..
208
..
209
21 0
I e4 c6 2 d4 dS 3 eS .irs 4 c3 e6
5 g4 .i.g6 6 ge2
I. 6...1i'h4
128
II. 6...h6
129
III. 6...d7
130
7 h4
A. 7 . . . f6
130
B. 7...h5
130
c. 7.. . h6
131
132
IV. 6....i.e7
A. 7 .i.g2
132
132
B. 7 f4
132
C.7 .i.e3
v. 6 ....ib4
133
7 h4
A. 7....ie4
134
B. 7 . . ..ixc3+
134
c. 7...h6
135
VI. 6...f6
136
A. 7 h4
136
1 ) 7 . ..c5
136
a) 8 ef
136
b) 8 f4
136
c) 8 .i.g2
137
2)7...7
137
3) 7 . ..fe
138
8 h5 .if7 9 de
a) 9....ib4
138
139
b) 9 . . .c5
139
c)9 ...7
B. 7 f4
140
I) 7.. ..i.fl
140
a) 8 ef
140
b) 8 1We2
141
142
2) 7...fe
a) 8 de
142
2 11
b) 8 lDxg6
c) 8 lDxe6
VII. 6 ...lDe7
A. 7 ..i.e3
B. 7 lDg3
c. 7 g2
D. 7 h4
E. 7 f4
I ) 7 ...lDa6
2) 7 .. h5
8 f5 ..i.h7
a) 9 f6
b) 9 fe
c) 9 lDf4
d) 9 ..i.g5
3) 7 ...c5
a) 8 h4
b) 8 lDg3
F. 7 lDf4
7 . . . c5
I) 8 h4
8 . . . cd 9 lDb5 lDec6 I0 h5
e4 II f3
a) 11.....i.xf3
12 'irxf3 lDxe5
al) 13 'ife2
a2) 13 'iff2
a3) 13 'iVg3
b) l l . . .a6
bl) 12 fe
b2) 12 lDd6+
2) 8 de
a) 8 ...lDec6
9 h4
al) 9 . . .lbxe5
a2) 9...'ira5
a3) 9 . . .'irc7
a31) 10 ..i.g2
IO . ..'ifxe5+
x) I I lbce2
y) II Wfl
a32) 10 h5
.
142
143
145
146
146
147
147
148
148
149
150,
150
150
150
15 1
15 1
152
154
155
155
155
155
156
158
158
158
160
160
160
162
162
162
162
164
165
b) 8...lDd7
9 h4 lDxe5
bl)10 h5
b2) 10 ..i.b5+
b3) 10 ..i.g2
VIII. 6...c5
A. 7 h4
I) 7 ...lDc6
8 h5 ..i.e4
a) 9 lDxe4
b) 9 llh3
2) 7 . ..cd
8 lDxd4 h5 9 f4 hg 10 ..i.b5+
lDd7 11 f5 l:txh4 12 llfl ef
a) 13 f4
b) 13 e6
3) 7 ...h6
a) 8 f4
b) 8 lDf4
c) 8 ..i.e3
cl) 8...lDc6
c2) 8 ...cd
c3) 8...'itb6
4) 7 ... h5
8 lDf4
a) 8... cd
b) 8...lDc6
9 lDxg6 fg I0 lDe2
bl) 10 .. hg
b2) 10 ...cd
b3) 1o . . .'itb6
b4) 10 . . .lDge7
c) 8 .....i.h7
9 lbxh5
cl) 9...cd
ell) 10 'irxd4
c12) 10 lbb5
c2) 9 . . .lbc6
B. 7 ..i.e3
1) 7 . ..lbd7
2) 7 ...cd
3) 7 ...'itb6
.
212
166
166
166
167
168
169
169
169
170
171
173
174
176
176
178
178
178
179
180
182
182
183
183
184
184
186
187
188
188
189
191
193
194
194
195
a) 9 ifd2
b) 9 f5
4) 7...lLlc6
8 de
a) 8...'ifh4
9 lLlb5
al) 9 ... e4
a2) 9...lLlh6
a3) 9...lLlxe5
b) 8...1lc8
c) 8 ...a6
d) 8 . . .lLlxe5
dl) 9 lLlf4
dll) 9.. .d4
dl2) 9...a6
dl3) 9...lLlc6
dl4) 9 . ..lLlf6
195
195
196
196
196
196
197
197
198
199
199
199
200
200
20 1
213
diS) 9. . .liJe7
d2) 9 lLld4
d21) 9 . . .lLlf6
x) 10 b5+
y) 10 f4
d22) 9 . ..lLlc6
d23) 9 . . .lLld7
10 b4 e7
x) I I .i.g2
l l ...h5 12 f4 h4+
13 fl hg 14 lLlcb5
lLlgf6
xl) 15 lLld6+
x2) 15 c6
x3) 15 a4
y) I I h4
e) 8.. . h5
201
202
202
202
203
203
204
205
205
205
205
206
207
Chapter Five
Advance Variation:
4lbt3
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 .i.fS 4 lDf3
5 c3
Most frequently this move is linked
to the idea of grabbing space on the
queen's flank by means of a2-a3 and
then b2-b4 . In reply Black usually
makes a choice between 5 ...lDd7 and
S ...cS.
214
A
16 h4 ...d8 17 hS lL!b6 18 lL!e3
s lL!d7!? The h4 square is under lL!c4 19 lL!g4 'it>h8! The subsequent
control, which means that the black point of the plan is the important
bishop at present does not threaten strategical manoeuvre 'iVg8-h7. After
seizing the h7-bl diagonal Black's
anything.
6 ..t-d3 This move has been advantage becomes unquestionable.
employed
by
the
Lithuanian
8
grandmaster Sarunas Sulskis, true,
S cS This is the most logical
without particular success . In our
view, more in accordance with the continuation.
1) 6 ..t-e3 Although it does not
demands of the position is 6 ..t-e2.
promise an advantage, the arising
6 lLle7 7 lL!aJ ..t-xd3 8 'iVxd3
variations are quite sharp and require
careful analysis:
6 cd!? After 6...'iVb6 he should not
defend the b2 pawn: 7 a4+ lL!c6
8 ..t-bS, since this gives Black a tempo
for development: 8 ...l:tc8 9 lL!bd2 a6
10 ..t-xc6+ xc6 11 'iVxc6+ l:txc6 12
de ..t-xcS (Torre - Lalic, Moscow
1994). It is necessary to play 7lL!a3!,
and the capture on b2 is attended by
In the game Sulskis - Dautov great danger, for example: 7...'iVxb2?!
(Eiista 1998) Black decided to shift 8lL!bS lLla6 9 de l:td8 I 0lL!d6+ ..t-xd6
the accent from the break c6-c5 to the 11 cd ..t-c2 12 ...c l etc.
break f7-f6: 8 ...lL!g6 9lL!c2 f6 10 0-0
In the game Tkachiev - Adianto
fe I I de ..t-e7 12 lL!cd4 lL!cS 13 'iVe2 (Jakarta 1994) after 6...6 7 lL!a3
'iVd7 14 g3 lL!e4 15 h4 cS 16 lL!b3 Black decided to close the position 0-0 17 lL!bd2 lL!xd2 18 lL!xd2 :rs, 7...c4, but he did not achieve
and after 19 f4 hS! it became clear equality: 8 ...a4+ lL!c6 9 b3 'iVaS
that his idea had been successful.
10 ...xaS lL!xaS 11 lL!bS 'it>d7 12 be
And yet more natural looks 8 c5
lL!xc4 13 j_xc4 de.
9 0-0 lL!c6 In the game Sulskis Butnorius (Vilnius 1999) White could
not find anything to oppose the
logical play of his opponent: 10 .i.gS
'iVb6 l l lLlc2 h6 12 ..t-f4 .i.e7 13 b4
cb 14 cb 0-0 15 a3 :res By
transferring the king's rook to c8,
Black prepares the retreat of his
queen to d8 for defence of the king's
flank. At the same time he frees the
b6 square for a knight manoeuvre.
...
..
..
..
215
216
5 a3!?
...
..
217
218
Ill
5 ..ie2
219
...
..
...
..
..
..
220
...
22 1
..
222
15 Jlh5) 14 6+ d7 15 Jlb5+
ttlc6 16ll:lxb7 with a decisive attack.
l l b4
223
224
225
Advance Variation: 4 /3
226
227
..
228
..
229
230
23 1
Advance Varialion: 4 {3
232
...
233
..
234
Nothing is given for free, and Black incidentally frees the f5 square
Black, by taking under control the d5 for his knight) 9 .i.xd7+ 'ifxd7 I 0 c3
square, loses contact with the lbf5 I I .i.d4 lbh4! (wrecking the
adjacent square - c5. And it is to there opponent's pawn structure) 12 l:tg l
that White transfers his play.
.i.e7. An extra pawn for White, but all
7 de!? li:)d7 Relatively best. The the play - for Black.
endgame is hopeless after 7 ...c6?!
8 lbc3 (the knight endeavours to
8 c4! (Black again ceases to land on d6) 8 ...lbc6 9 lbb5 lbxc5
control d5, and White immediately 10 lbfd4 .i.g6 (on I O ...te4 11 0-0 a6
emphasises this fact) 8...dc 9 'ifxd8+ White carries out a sympathetic
'i!?xd8 I 0 li:)c3 li:)d7 I I 0-0-0 'itc8 exchanging combination 12 lbd6+!
12 .i.xc4 li:)dxe5 13 li:)xe5 li:)xe5 .i.xd6 13 ed 'ifxd6 14 li:)xc6 be 15 f3
14 .i.e2 (Black's pieces are disunited, .i.g6 16 'ifd4 lbd7 17 1fxg7, leaving
and it is difficult to put right their him with a slight advantage, Ehlvest
interaction) 14....i.e7 15 h3 g5 (trying - Khalifman, Pamu 1996) I I 0-0
to secure the position of the knight on (lordachescu - Zlochevskij, Porto
e5, however White dashes these San Giorgio 1999), and here worth
hopes) 16 g4 .i.g6 17 h4! gh 18 f4 considering is l l ...a6! ? 12 lbxc6 be
li:)d7 19 l:thfl (by threatening to win 13 lbd4 ( 13 lbd6+ .i.xd6 14 ed does
the bishop g6, White forces a new not have its former strength in view
weakening in the opponent's camp) of 14 ...lL\e4! ; this is why it is so
19 ...f5 20 c4 with an obvious important for Black on the J Od move
advantage (Adams - Brunner, not to occupy the e4 square!) 13 ...
lba4!? with an acceptable position.
Garmisch Partiekirchen 1994).
After 7...li:)d7 White is faced with a
8 lbd4 The most concrete move
choice - not so much of the next again proves the most dangerous.
move but more of the plan a few
8 li:)xe5?! A case when principled
moves ahead.
play leads to a loss of quality in
position. It is better to reject the e5
pawn - 8...a6. A fter Black takes on
e5, White's attack swings into action
all by itself.
.
...
12 "l..ld6
forces Black into l l ..."l..l
f5,
but then he is saddled with weak
pawns in the centre: 1 2 cd ed
1 3 ll'l l c3 etc.
After 7 . ..li'Je7 White has a wide
choice; true, not all the moves arc
equal in quality.
236
..
..
237
238
Advance Variation: 4 j3
239
..
. .
Advance Variation: 4 {3
240
..
...
...
24 1
..
B
5 liJd7 Out of three continuations
- 5 ... c5, 5 ...liJd7 and 5 ...liJe7 - this is
the least independent. It will all
depend on what Black plays on the
..
242
...
243
...
...
244
...
..
245
246
Advance Variation: 4 j3
247
248
249
250
. .
8 c3 c5 9 a3 c6 1 0 b4 cd I I cd
e7 1 2 lle l (White transfers the
knight d2 to a more active position he e3 square) 1 2...0-0 1 3 lDfl lDb6
1 4 e3 g6 1 5 b2 llc8 1 6 l:lc l
11t'd7 1 7 11t'b3 a6! (Black lets it be
known that he too is no stranger to
manoeuvring - the knight a6 sets otT
for b5, while the queen goes to
exchange on a4) 1 8 d2 a7 with a
complicated but fresh struggle (Am.
Rodriguez - Asrian, Las Vegas 1 999).
8 b3 c5 9 b2 c6 I 0 c4 (after
B lack loses control over the d5
square, this thrust is quite logical)
I O ..e7 1 1 cd ed 1 2 lle l b4!? (if
you want to play solidly - follow the
game Sakaev - Bareev, Elista 1 998:
12 ...0-0 1 3 lDn e6 14 d3 cd
1 5 xd4 xd4 1 6 xd4 c5)
13 de !? (it is impossible to resist the
pleasure of sacrificing the exchange
in such a position) 1 3 ...xc5 (on the
immediate 1 3 . . . lDc2?! strong is
25 1
252
..
..
253
254
255
256
257
1 8 d2 ! a5 1 9 a3 - Shirov) 1 8 .i.xd3
li:lcxd3 1 9 f4! (Shirov - Teske,
Budapest 1 996).
On the other hand, still none of the
active players has applied in practice
the interesting queen sacri fice:
1 3 ... .i.d3 !? 14 l:td l .i.xe2 1 5 l:lxd8
l:lfxd8.
258
259
260
Advance Variation: 4 /3
26 1
262
..
...
263
264
265
7 . . ./C,e7 8 c4 de 9 /C,a3
b l l ) 9.../C,d5
b 1 2) 9 ...c3
b2) 7 /C,bd2
7 . ..l'iJe7 8 de /C,c6 9 /C,b3
b2 1 ) 9 . . ...ig4
b22) 9 .....ie4
b3) 7 c4
b31 ) 7 .../C,e7
b32) 7 ... cd
b33) 7 . . . dc
x) 8 0-0
y) 8 /C,c3
c) 6.../C,e7
d) 6. . .cd
7 /C,xd4 /C,e7
d 1 ) 8 lL!c3
d2) 8 g4
d3) 8 f4
d4) 8 ..ig5
d5) 8 0-0
d6) 8 c4
8...lL!bc6 9 1Wa4
d61) 9 ... dc
d62) 9 ... a6
x) 1 0 cd
y) 1 0 lL!c3
B. 5 ...lL!d7
6 0-0
l) 6...c5
2) 6.....ig6
a) 7 lL!bd2
b) 7 b3
3) 6... h6
7 c3 lL!e7
a) 8 lL!a3
266
228
228
229
230
230
23 1
23 1
23 1
232
232
233
234
236
236
236
237
237
238
239
239
240
24 1
24 1
242
242
242
243
243
243
244
b) 8 liJh4
4) 6 . . .lJe7
a) 7 ..i.e3
b) 7 e3
c) 7 ltJbd2
d) 7 a3
e) 7 ltJh4
el) 7 ... ..i.e4
e2) 7 ... ..i.g6
8 ltJd2 e5 9 e3
e21 ) 9...ed
e22) 9. . .l:le8
e23) 9...ltJf5
e24) 9...ltJe6
e3) 7 ... e5
C.5 ... ltJe7
6 0-0
1 ) 6 ...h6
a) 7 ltJh4
b) 7 lbbd2
c) 7 b3
cl) 7 ... e5
e l l ) 8 de
c l 2) 8 liJa3
c 1 3) 8 e4
c2) 7 ... lJd7
8 e4
c21 ) 8 ...ltJg6
c22) 8 ...g5
2) 6... e5
a) 7 de
7 . . .ltJee6 8 ..i.e3 ltJd7
9 e4 de
1 0 lba3
a t ) I O ... e3
a2) I O ... ..i.xe5
b) 7 e4
bl) 7 ...de
b2) 7 ...lbbe6
b21 ) 8 de
b22) 8 lbe3
b23) 8 lba3
x) 8 ...ltJg6
y) 8 ...a6
z) 8 ... de
244
244
244
245
245
246
246
246
247
247
247
247
248
249
249
25 1
25 1
25 1
252
252
252
267
252
253
253
253
254
255
256
256
257
259
259
260
260
26 1
26 1
26 1
262
263
Illustrative Games
No. I
A.MOROZEVICH - E.BAREEV
Monaco 2004
l e4 c6 2 d4 dS 3 f3 de. It is worth
mentioning an idea, hitherto not seen
at the highest level: 3 ...'ifb6!? This
was played by world champion Maya
Chiburdanidze. Whether this kind of
move has value, apart from the factor
of surprise, only the future will tell.
But Maya Grigorievna obtained quite
an acceptable position: 4 ltJc3 de 5 fe
e5 !? 6 liJf3 ed 7 'ifxd4 'ifxd4 8 liJxd4
.ic5 9 liJb3 .id6 I 0 .ig5 liJd7
I I 0-0-0 .ie5 1 2 liJd4 liJgf6 1 3 .ic4
0-0 and subsequently won (Yatskova
- Chiburdanidze, Elista 2004).
4 fe eS S liJO .ie6 6 c3 liJf6 7 .id3
liJbd7 8 0-0 .id6 9 Wh 1 0-0 This
natural move is in fact a theoretical
novelty. We looked at the sharp
9 ...'ifc7 10 .ie3 c5!? (as in the game
Movsesian - Stohl) on page 1 2.
1 0 .igS 'flc7 1 1 liJbd2 llae8
12 'it'et h6 13 .ie3 ltJg4 14 .ig1 r5
1 5 er .ix5 16 .ix5 :xrs 1 7 'iVe2
ltJgf6 1 8 l1ae1 ed 19 'iVc4+ lld5
20 llxe8+ ltJxe8 2 1 liJxd4 liJdf6
22 liJfS b5 23 'ife2 'ifd7 24 liJxd6
liJxd6 25 liJO liJde4 26 .id4 a6
27 g 1 c5 28 .ixf6 liJxf6 29 .Ue1
lld6 30 b3 'it'f5
268
lllustrative Games
1 8 'ifd3 b4 1 9 gS .i.a6?!
No.2
R.FELGAER - A.DREEV
Tripoli 2004
I e4 c:6 2 d4 dS 3 f3 e6 Theory
promises Black a comfortable game
both on 3 ... g6, and 3 ... e5 !? However
in grandmaster practice why does the
modest advance o f the e-pawn
prevail?
4 .i.e3 b6!? In gambit variations
4. . . de 5 ll'ld2 ef 6 ll'lgxt3 ll'lf6 7 ll'lc4
('a Ia Smyslov ' ! - see page 1 9)
worthy of consideration is the game
Turov - Galkin (I nternet 2004):
7 ... ll'lbd7 8 .i.d3 .i.e7 9 'ild2 ll'ld5
I 0 g5 0-0 I I 0-0-0 b5 1 2 lbce5
lbxe5 1 3 de a6 1 4 i.xe7 'ifxe7
1 5 lbg5 h6 1 6 lbe4 c5 1 7 ibd6 with
some compensation for the material.
5 ibd2 It is possible that White
connects the move 4 ... b6 only to the
idea of exchanging the light-squared
bishops and prepares to avoid it:
5 ....i.a6 6 c4. But Dreev's plan is on a
broader scale... Stronger therefore is
the usual 5 lbc3.
S c:S!? 6 e3 'ifd7 7 ll'lh3 ed
8 xd4 lbe7 9 ibf4 lbbc:6 I 0 i.bS a6
I I ed ab 12 de 'ifxe6 13 lbe4 lbrs
14 ibhS i.b7 Black's central strategy
bears its fruit; his position is better.
Realising this, White rushes into a
desperate counterattack which is
hardly crowned with success.
1 5 g4! ? lbxd4 1 6 'ihd4 f6
1 7 0-0-0 (already now it was possible
to sacrifice a piece on f6) 17 ...e5
.
269
Jllustrative Games
270
..
Illustrative Games
I e4 c6 2 d4 dS 3 eS eS 4 de. The
success o f the earlier c2-c4 in
the game Rublevsky - Asrian
predetermined interest in this move
and in other variations. Thus, in ' new
history' the variation 4 .!Llf.3 g4
5 c4!?, was formulated and then:
S ... cd 6 'ii'a4+ d7 7 'ii'b3 de
8 xc4 e6 9 .!Llxd4 .!Llc6 I 0 .!Llxc6
.txc6 I I 0-0 .!Lle7 (Nisipeanu Zelcic, Naum 2004);
s ... dc 6 xc4 e6 7 'ii'b3 .txf3
8 1fxf3 .!Llc6 9 .tbS 'ii'h6 10 xc6+
'iWxc6 I I 'iWxc6+ be (Baklan Speelman, Internet 2004);
5 ....!Llc6 6 de de 7 1fxd8+ llxd8
8 xc4 xf3 9 gf e6 1 0 e3 .!Llge7
I I b5 a6 1 2 a4 tbdS (Parligras Svetushkin, Agios 2004).
4 tbe6 S bS e6 6 e3 tbge7
1 9 llxf4! 'iWxf4 20 :n 'irh6 (or 7 e3 d7 8 xe6 xe6?! In the
20... jfc7 2 1 llxf5 ef 22 lbd6+ 'it>d8 theoretical section (pages 48-49) we
23 xfS) 2 1 %1xf5! 'iix hS The second established in detail the basis for this
sacrifice cannot be accepted: 21 ... ef move being considered insufficient
22 lld6+ 'it>d7 (22 ...d8 23 .!Llxf7+) and experimental. The main line is
.
27 1
Illustrative Games
No.6
S.MOVSESIAN - I.KHENKIN
France 2004
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 cS 4 de e6
5 e3 As always, Vasily lvanchuk
plays the opening in a non-standard
way and with great inventiveness:
5 a3 !? S..xc5 6 'ifg4!? g6 7 ..i.d3 llc6
8 lbf3 'ilc7 9 .tf4 d7 I 0 0-0 h5
I I 'iVg3 0-0-0 1 2 llc3 h4 1 3 llxh4 g5
1 4 ..i.xg5 llge7 1 5 b4 ..i.d4 1 6 lbb5
'ifb6 1 7 lJxd4 'ifxd4 1 8 lJ f3 .
Black has not managed to obtain
compensation for the two pawns and
he resigned (lvanchuk - Akopian,
Warsaw 2003). It is not excluded
that the best reaction to 5 a3 xc5
6 1lg4 is 6 .. .'.tf8 ! '? 7 ..i.d3 f5 !?
(Shaposhnikov - Komev, Kaluga
2003).
All this increased interest in Igor
Khenkin's idea: 5 .tf4 xc5 6 d3
lbc6 7 llf3 f6!? It will be recalled,
that on the simple-minded 8 0-0'?!
Black had prepared 8 . . . g5! (see page
54), while the defect of the move
8 lbbd2 we analysed in detail in
connection with the game Shirov Kramnik (pages 55-56). The more
interesting discovery of Arkady
Naiditsch is 8 g3 (prophylaxis!).
After 8 ...llh6 9 0-0 0-0 10 lbbd2 fe
1 1 lbxe5 e5 1 2 xe5 d7 1 3 'ifh5
lJf5 1 4 llb3 (Naiditsch - Ubilava,
Spain 2004) White obtained the
better chances.
5 llh6 6 c3 lbrs 7 .td4 lJxd4 8
cd b6
272
Illustrative Games
bishops,
which,
alas,
proves
unachievable.
16 ._...4 11h6 17 'ifg3 ..te8 18 0-0
.tg6 1 9 .tb5! lbe7 20 lbe5 ibfS
2 1 'iVg4 .ih5 22 'iff4 lbd6 23 .td3
llc8 24 llacl lbl7 25 c4 lbxe5 26 de
d4 27 l:tc2 .te8 28 l:ld2 %th4 29 'iVg3
'ile7 30 f4 .tc6? Black's difficulties
are visibly growing, but by means
of 30 ... l:lh6 he would still be able to
put up stubborn resistance. However
an uncomplicated combination by
White breaks down the opponent's
defence.
3 1 fS! ef 32 .txf5 lle8 33 e6+!
'ifxe6 (in no way better is 33 .. .'t>h8
34 11n) 34 'ilxh4 'ifxc4 35 lle1 .td5
36 'ifxd4 'iVxd4+ 37 llxd4 .ixa2
38 lla l ..te6 39 l:lxa7, and soon
Black resigned.
No.7
A.MOROZEVICH - E.BAREEV
Dagomis 2004
I e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 .tfS 4 ..te3
One cannot ignore the game
Morozevich - lvanchuk (Calvia
2004): 4 f4 !? (the sharpest if rather a
questionable move, real ly too
prepossessing to obtain play) 4 ... e6
S lbf3 c5 6 .ie3 cd 7 lbxd4 lbe7
8 .tbS+ lbd7 9 0-0 a6 1 0 .ie2 gS
I I g4 gf 1 2 gf lbxfS 1 3 lbxfS fe
1 4 lbc3 %tg8+ I S h I 'iVgS Such a
position does not yield to calculation.
In the variation 4 lbd2 we tum our
attention to the game Rublevsky Dreev (Dagomis 2004). Here, after
4 ... e6 S ltJb3, Black surprisingly early
273
Jllustrative Games
274
Illustrative Games
..
275
lllustrative Games
32 l:xe8+ d7 33 l:d8+ e6
34 1:txd5 i.xd5.
30...il.xe1 3 1 'ifxe1 'ifgS 32 'ii'd 2
'it'xd2 33 llxd2 il.dS 34 il.e3 il.n
3S i.xh6 il.xhS 36 il.e3 .i.t3 37 h2
il.dS Agreed a draw.
No.9
V.KRAMN I K - P.LEKO
Brissago 2004
1 e4 c6 2 d4 dS 3 eS Jus 4 h4 h6
S g4 il.d7 6 liJd2!? A fresh idea! On
the one hand, undoubted proof of the
crisis in the theoretical variation 6 h5
(page 98), and on the other con firmation of the fact that the
search for new ideas in chess is
practically never-ending.
6...cS 7 de e6 8 ltJb3 .i.xcS 9 lt::!xcS
'iVaS+ 10 c3 'it'xcS 1 1 lL\13 ( I I f4
il.b5) l l ...lbe7 Avoiding the trap:
I I . . .il.bS'! 1 2 i.e3 'ifc6 1 3 liJd4
winning a piece. It is interesting that
both players did not consider the idea
h6-h5 as a positional threat. In this
case, of course, it is no good spending
time on 6 h5 ...
12 i.d3 lLlbc6 1 3 i.e3 'ifaS
14 'ifd2 tt'lg6 Also directly bad is
1 4 . . . h5 1 5 gh l:.xh5 1 6 ltg I , but,
in the opinion of grandmaster
Zvjaginsev, Black should decide on
the pawn sacrifice d5-d4 - at once or
after a prel iminary 14 . . .l:tc8. In the
last variation it is useless to blockade
the pawn by 1 5 il.d4 in view of
1 5 ... lLlxd4 1 6 lLlxd4 tt'lc6.
1 5 il.d4 lLlxd4 1 6 cd 'it'xd2+
17 xd2 liJr4 18 llacl hS 19 l:thgl
il.c6 20 gh tt'lxh5 21 b4 a6 22 a4!?
276
lllustrative Games
No. I O
J.WEGERLE - D.YEVSEEV
Cappelle le Grande 2004
I e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 i.f5 4 liJe3 e6
In 'the most interesting sideline'
4 ... a6 ! ? worth considering is the
game Delchev - Dautov (Calvia
277
lllustrative Games
deviations from past equalising Fedorov - Naer (page 1 44), does not
continuations such as 1 3 . . . liJbd7 convince us that White even has an
(page 1 44 ). The latest word is the equal game!
game Bromberger - Erenburg
1 8 liJe4! 19 g5 ( 1 9 xc4 liJxc3+)
(more
accurate
is
(Budapest 2004): 1 3 . . .0-0! ? 1 4 e3 1 9 .liJed2
liJe4 1 5 'iVb3 liJa6 1 6 l:.d I liJxf2 ! 1 9. . .l:lf8) 20 l:lb4? White misses his
1 7 x f2 l:lae8 1 8 lld2 .lltx f2 ! last chance: 20 c5 ! , and not
1 9 'it>xf2 liJc5 2 0 'iVa3 liJe4+ with possible is 20 ... 'ifxc5? because of
decisive threats. Black's attack makes 2 1 'ife6+ <li>h7 (2 I .. .f8 22 l:r.xb7)
a strong impression but the most 22 g6+ 'iii'h6 23 'iff5!
strik ing thing is that instead of
20 l:le8 21 e3 liJxe3 22 fe 'ifxe3
16 ...liJxf2 ! , there is another, no less 23 'iff2 'iVxe3 24 'ifd4 Without
beautiful solution: 1 6 ...ltJac5 1 7 'ifa3 waiting for 24 ... liJf3+, White
'iVh4 1 8 0-0 ( 1 8 xeS llxf2 ! ) resigned.
In no time the mighty variation
1 8 . . .liJe6 1 9 f3 liJg3 ! 20 hg 'iVxg3+
7 liJf4 will require urgent repairs!
2 I <li>h I <li>t7!
In general 1 3 'ifxc3 is probably
unplayable!
No. I I
13 'iVxg6+ <li>fB Petersburger Denis
S.MAMEDYAROV
Yevseev - acknowledged legislator of
L.JOHANNESSEN
fashion in this variation - has always
Izmir 2004
preferred this retreat to the 'main'
I e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 f5 4 liJe3 e6
1 3 ...d8 (we recall his games against
Kumosov and Kobalia - page 1 44), a 5 g4 g6 6 liJge2 e5 7 h4 h5 8 liJf4
fact that leads us to a definite h7 9 liJxhS liJe6 1 0 de xeS
I I b5!? 'iVe7 12 xe6+ 'ifxe6
conclusion ...
13 'iffJ Hardly a very 'hot' position
1 4 be liJbd7 1 5 e3 liJe4 1 6 l:.b 1
in the 7 ... h5 variation.
liJeS 1 7 'iVfS+ <li>g8
13 ...<itf8 (in the theoretical section
more attention was given to
1 3 ...0-0-0 - see the game Topalov Gelfand on pages 1 92- 1 93) 14 g5!?
A novelty. In the game Sakaev Bareev (an analysis of which is on
pages 1 92- 1 93) White was in the
mood for a better endgame and
therefore played the ' retreat' 1 4 liJg3. But Shakhryar Mamedyarov
- one of the brightest contemporary
1 8 d4?! A novelty and one of grandmasters - always plays for
very poor quality. However, also mate!
1 4 ... b4 There is no doubt
1 8 llxb7 !? 'iVxb7 19 'ifxe5 'iff7 20 c4
l:te8, encountered in the game that Mamedyarov studied the
..
..
..
278
Illustrative Games
No. l 2
A.SHABALOV - B.MACIEJA
lntemet 2004
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 .irs 4 .!Dc3 e6
5 g4 .ig6 6 .!Dge2 c5 7 .ie3 cd
8 .!Dxd4 .ib4
.ig6.
279
Illustrative Games
280
Jllustrative Games
No. l 4
A.VOLOKITIN - R.RUCK
Zele 2004
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 .i.rs 4 tLltJ e6
5 .i.e2 c5 6 i.e3 cd 7 lL!xd4 lL!e7
8 i.g5!? In our theoretical analysis
we predicted good prospects for this
move. But no one would have
guessed that the prospects would
have been quite so good: in 2004 at
grandmaster level White won every
game in which this thmst of the
bishop was encountered!
8 1Wa5+ 9 lL!c3 i.g6 The
alternative - 9 ...lL!bc6 1 0 .i.b5 1Wc7
I I 0-0 .i.g6 1 2 'ifg4 a6 ( 1 2 .. .'ifxe5'!
1 3 .i.xe7) 1 3 .i.a4 1Wd7 (dangerous is
1 3 . . . b5 1 4 lL!cxb5 ! ab 1 5 .i.xb5)
14 .:.ad I lLlf5 1 5 lL!xc6 be 1 6 'iVf3.
.
28 1
Illustrative Games
282
Illustrative Games
283
Index to Games
(numbers refer to pages)
A.Morozevich - E.Bareev
268
R.Felgaer - A.Dreev
269
A.Morozevich - V.Bologan
269
S.Rublevsky - K.Asrian
270
S.Movsesian - D.Svetushkin
27 1
S.Movsesian - l . Khenkin
272
A.Morozevich - E.Bareev
273
E.Sutovsky - l .Rogers
275
V.Kramnik - P.Leko
276
1 0 J.Wegerle - D.Yevseev
277
II
278
S.Mamedyarov - L.Johannessen
1 2 A.Shabalov - B.Macieja
279
M .Tseitlin - S.Erenburg
280
13
1 4 A.Volokitin - R.Ruck
28 1
1 5 A.Volokitin - K.Rasmussen
282
284