G. Orlov 1.d4 Af6 2.c4 a\c6 The MEXICAN DEFENSE ("The Black Knights Tango") transpositions : ECO AS50 (main) Qp game, E33: Nimzo/ind.classical line, E04: catalan , E51: Nimzo/indian with 4.e3 published by ICE (int'l chess enterprises) 1997, ASIN 1879479036 ISBN 0 71348349 0, 128 p. 20 $ this issue: 4€20 released by : kingfischer Yucatan PressCarlos Torre (1905 - 1978), inventor of the Mexican DefenseTABLE OF CONTENTS Part One: A) 8.05 p.2 TheCenter Grab ‘Hore White plays far the all-out win, hoping fo refute the Black Knights [Tango at otice- Play is sharp, resem-| |Dling at times an Alckhine’s Defense, lwith Black squeczed for space but with| Al his pieces having good squates. ‘Part Two: 8) 3.93 p. 4 ‘The Solid Fianchetto Line ite cho the solid rf ieee an Mea atop tons but allowing 3.c5, Black's ke)| ‘central break. Part Three C) 3.Ne3 p. 6 The Fluid 3Ne3 White develops while keeping the itension high. The position is very fluid| jwkh both sides having the options of iirent plans. Original play igures very prominently here. Black chooaeg spy 3.25 ashis centerbreak. Part Four D) 3.NI3 p. 10) ‘The Main Line with 3.NB. ‘Whitetsiesto put astop (03.-cSwhi! planning the 445 center expansion. |Transpositions are likely here With) | Bladchaving the greater say in channell- ling the game into paths of bis choice. | Many opportunities abound for original play by both sis. Introduction purpose of this monograph is to itroduce ciessplayers fo the inter~ esting amd sharp opening play resulting fom the fine 184 NB 2.08 Nes. “The Black Knights Tango is among the few openings which give Black a chance to fight for initiative fom the vey besin- ning of the game and I feel it has been unfairiy neglected by theory. 1 have played this line for almost six ‘years in tournaments at normal time limits, game/30, and blitz, ‘The results have been very good. AsIrecall, Thave lost only three tournament games while ‘winning a couple of dozen. By any stand- ad this is 8 great result with the Black Pieces 1 was introduced to The Tango in 1985 ‘when cametoliveinthe city ofKishinev, the capital of the small republic af Ml davia (one of the 15 former Soviet republics), 1 was working fillsime as a ‘hess coach at aloca school and dd not have enough time tokeep up with modern theory. After having some opening troubles while facing 1.64 in several tour- ‘amen, I started locking for a solution. Fortunately, 1 meta rong player and reat chess coxch named Viacheslay Chedanenko (who mmbers several Grandmasters md International Masters among his former students), who cap- tured my attention with 1.d4 NI62.04 Nos, ‘Several of his students (mostly expert- evel players) had played the opening with respectable results but nobody took ittoo seriously had a very strong tournament coming up (the Semifinals of the (1986 USSR. Championship) and I theught this line would be a perfect opening surprise. When T got the chance, T played The Tango against Michael Krasenkov, @ strong Master (2450 FIDE back then, GM nowadays). After having & litle problem in the besimning of the same, 1 developed an attack but missed a winning move and the game was drawn, T made Soviet Master in that tournament! Thet experience convinced me that The Tango ‘would be a good opening choice for me and have played it ever since Here are some GMs have played 1. NW 2et Neb aguinst Yasser Seiravan (wo 30-minute games), Michael Rohde (hour game), Alexey Dreev, Lubomit Finenik, Elisbar Ubilava, Joe! Benjamin (Gevera blitz games and one tournament same which transposed into a Bogo-le ian Defense, one of the transpositional possiblities of The Tango), plus many International Masters, Masters, ete. ‘There are several reasons that I have ‘ome tobelieve in the line. Some ofthem ae sporting, and some are chess related. First ofall the ine is virtually unknown, to most players. “Your opponent ctten starts thinking fora long time after move two! Even ithe salves all the peablems of the opening, he may suffer fom a time shortage in the middlegame. With time controls getting faster and faster, this is very important. Secondly, original play starts right away, There are lols of undscovered possibilities and opportunities. for cxiginal play and that's one reason vty peoplelike to play chessin the frst place. ‘The Tango is rich in both tactical and positional play, as well as maneuvering and improvising Because a game may transpose into s many cifferent systems (Gom the Nimzo-lndian and Bogo-t ‘dan totheDutch andin one case even the ‘King’s Indian!), you never get bored by playing the same type of position every time you face 1.4. Also you don' have tomemorize lines25-30 moves deep asin other openings ‘Another benefit of this monograph is that a player can gain some under- standing of several chess openings ftom ‘one source! ‘The only shortcoming Tknow about this Hine of play is that you have to bbe exible, and ready to play all of the above-mentioned systems ‘This does not ‘mea that you have to study all these openings if'you want to play The Tango, {or only certain transpositions are pos. sible andey will be coveredin this werk. For playerswholiketo play blitz chess, ‘The Tango gives amazing chances even against much stronger opponents, be- cause with five minutes on the dock itis 4 very tough opening to face, even for a Master. The same thing may also be sid about rapid chess (gane/30 etc). For those of you who will decide to include ‘The Tango in your repertoire, I recom -mend practising it in speed chess fer some time because some positions are very un usual and fake awhile to get used. Georgi Ovloy, Intemational MasterThe Black Knights Tango by IM Georgi Orlov Part One I The Black Knights Tango isan open ing which has thus far managed to evade the microscopic scrutiny of modem theoreticians. Even the B:- cyelopedia of Chess Openings fais to give it the smallest mention. ‘Most opening books these days do not explain to the average chessplayer why this orthat move has actually been played but give a lot of variations instead. The drawback of this kind of opening “knowledge” is simple: when the op- ponent plays @ move which has not been analyzed in the book many players get confused and have no idea what to do next. will try to explain why things are done according to my understanding, of chess. GM Joel Benjamin, in his July 1991 article in Chess 11fe, attributed this open- ing to the American player Alexander Kevitz (1902-1981) and to the Yugos- Javian Master Mihajlo Trajkovic, but no ‘games played by these players were given. In the tournament book of the Baden- ‘Baden 1925 Tournament, translated and published by Jimmy Adams, we ds covered the original name given this opening and the player who first played it ‘The Black Knights Tango was originally called The Mexican Defense! The first practitioner was none other than Carlos Torre, the most famous player Mexico has ever produced. Having played it, however, he soon dropped the line and entiched theory in other areas, most notably The Torre At- tack (1.d4 NW 2.NB €6 3.835). (Carlos Torre is most remembered for his bril- int Queen sacrifice which scored him a fine victory over then World Cham- pion Emanuel Lasker in Moscow, 1925,) Since other Mexican players haventt taken up the torch of the Mexican Defense, this no-name opening has lan- guished, rarely getting even an honorable mention. T hope to change that by first highlighting the defense with a catchy name. Thus The Black Knights Tango! “This opening, which hes given excel- lent resultsto its pioneering practitioners, can transpose into the Nimzo-Indian, ‘Bogo-Indian, the King’s Indian Defenses or lead into original middle-game posi- tions. Most ofthe time at Black's discre- tion, Whatis this opening that puts YOU. in the driver's seat? None other than the following: L.d4Nf6 2.c4Nc6!! "in our day, many strange things hap- pen," noted the German chess magazine Deutsche schachzertwig back in 1925! ‘This provocative idea by Black is in reality quite simple. Black develops his Knights and White is asked what he in- tends to do with his pawns, Will he try to “punish” Black by 3.45 or will White choose simple development? When con- fronted with the choice, White almost al- ‘ways tries the latter, asthe traps resulting ‘fom 3.d5 can lead White into immediate danger. Part One is devoted to the 3.45, center grab, One of the main ideas behind this opening, borrowed fiom Alekhine's Defense, is to provoke the White pawns forward and then attack them. ‘This can be seen clearly after 3.45, the most obvious attempt to punish the two Knight moves. But 3.45 neglects development. A) 3.45 ‘This move was played in the pioneer game Saemisch-Torre, Baden-Baden, 1925. 3.NeS ‘The position has already become a tac- tical land mine. White has to take careful 2 steps. T believe White has four choices a)ded!? DMCS 0)4.Qc2 4.037! a) aeate Continuing to grab as much space as possible. The text is White's most natural follow-up to his third move. The epawn is indirectly protected, for if 4..Nxet?, then 5.004 wins @ Knight. Nes ‘The move,..Na6 was criticized in the tournament bulletin of Baden-Baden 1925 by Toledo Velasco, who recom: mended 4..e6 as best. His comment was reinforced by Jacques Mieses (1865- 41954) in the Leipziger Newe Nachrichten based on the line: 4..NR6 Sf4 06 6Ba exdS 7x5 Net Bexds Qh4+ 9.g3 Nxgs 10.NB QhS? ILRgl NB 12.Rg5, wining a piece, But why 10..Qh5? Affer 10..Qh3!? ILRgl Nhs 12.BM Q&S Black is vay much alive, Furthermore Black has an excellent reply in 9..Bb4! +, which will be covered below. Nonetheless, 4..x61 siven by Toledo Velasco does seem to be more precise, ‘The game continued: Sf €571 6.5 Nxet? | te Re HOR weo 8 A piece sacrifice designed to confuse White, Instead ofthe sacrifice, Black has @ much superior choice in 6...Bb4+, when White has a space advantage but nothing concrete, 7.QD! The best. This move was doubilessly overlooked by Black. Less convincing is 76x96 Qh4+ 8g3 Neg 9gxt7+ Kx 1O.hxs3 Qxhl 11.Q3+ QxB 12Nxf, which gives White a smaller edge. 7..Bb4+ 8.Kdlt Qhd 993 Qa4 10.Qxg4 N@+ IKe2 Nxgt 1213 NB 1B.EKgS bigs 143‘White has reached « winning posi- tion but Saemisch was 2 notoriously slow player who once lost on time at move 13! White's time trouble im- parts a certain weirdness to the rest of the game. 14..BeS15BS d5 16.Bxe5 dkcS 17.NB BS 18Bg 0-0-0 19gf? Bet!? 20.Rd ‘BEB 21. Net b5 ‘Draw agreed!?? A arizy game that raises a Jot more questions than answers! In my view the Black €5-Knight is ideal so why should Black move the dancing horse if he isn’t forced to? It's important not to do White's work for him! Let White create pawn weaknesses! 1.dH NB 2x4 No63.05 NeS 404 06 S.f4 ‘Thismovebrings to mind the line in the Alekhine’s Defense: Let Nib 2.05 NS Sxd NOG 4d4 5 S.A and White fails as often as he succeeds in punishing Black {or his brave play. S..NQS 6B exis 7.exds As already noted, 7x5 Net 8xxd5 Qh4+ 9.93 Nxg3 10NB Qh3 Ral Nhs! is unclear, e.g. 12.Bf Qfs 13.BG leads to a draw. Even more crazy play arises after 12.Nc3 (instead of 12.843), Now White threatens 13.Nd4 or 13.Rg5 winning the Black Queen. Black his to play 12..Bb4 with the idea of having ...Qe4+ as an escape. Now 13,Qd4 renews the threat again, Here 13..Bxc3 + 14.bxe3 h6 saves the Queen but the Black pieces are not active, These ines convinced me that Black must have something better and after some searching I found 9.. Now White has to choose between a) JON, b) 10:Be2 oF c) 10.NCS because 10.Ke2(fh) is trashed by 10..Nxg5 +. 8) 10.Nd2. This eventually loses to 10..Nxg3 Il. Ngf3 QhS 12.Rgl Nx b) 10.Bd2 Nxg3 IND Nef! A problem-like situation! If 12.Nxh4, then 12..Nx@® mate! Also hopeless is Nxd3 + 13.Qxd3 Qxba + is the only move and after 12..Ng2+ 13Bxg? Qedt+ KR Nxhl+ 15:Bxhl Qxd5 the position is very sharp and interesting. 9) 10.NG Nx I.bxe3 BXCS+ 12.Bd2 Bxd2 + 13.Qxd2 Qe7 14.NE3 db and Black is fine. Back to the main continuation. b+ BBM Qe7+ OKA Bul 10.Qxe2 Net a ‘This final position is typical ofthe cen- ter grab lines, White has space, but Black hhas good piece play. T evaluate the posi- tion as dynamically equal. » 1.44 NIB 2.c4 Nob 3.48 Nes 4.Ne3 A positionally solid approach. Tis no secret that itis impossible to win a chess ‘game with pawns only so White wants to ‘sive some piece support to his advanced anny. 4.06 Capturing the c-pawm is very ridky for Black, For example: 4..Nxot 5x4 Nb6 6x5 NgB 7NB db 8 BbS+ Bd7 9x6! sives White a strong initiative. S.04 exd5 6.oxdS Be5 7 BO ‘White has to rein in his ambitions, If 7.41, then 7..Neg! invites Black to a party that White is unprepared for. And 7.13 6 814 Ng6 ONE Qe7 10.863 0-0 M1.Qe2 Nh5 counterattacking the f- pawn is good for Black. Tut BNB 0-0 9NxS Good for Block is 9.0-O Ref 10.92 Nf! with fine piece play. 9..d8e5 10.0-0 hot Black has emerged ffom the opening in fine shape. ° T.d4 Nf 2.04 Nos 3.45 NOS 4.Qe24.92 ‘This Queen move covers the important squares of and ef but neglects develop- ment and cannot be considered as a serious threat to Black's position, In Akhsharumova-Sheremetieva, USSR 1984, Black tried 4..Ng6?! but afler SNG €5 6.<3!, with the idea of h2- 4-5, White was clearly better. Once again the importance of waiting for White to kick Black's prancers is revealed. Sed bs!? An excellent gambit possibility which sives Black @ strong initiative with the purpose of destroying White's advanced center. There are strong positional ‘reasons in favor of 5..05!2 Black has al- ready developed two pieces and ..Bb4 + and ...0-0 is a matter of one second, 50 Black's development is much better. Ac- cording to basic principles of strategy the best way to take advantage of that is to open the game and so Black does. T am convinced 5.51? is best. Also possible isthe quiet 5..Bes 6N@ 46 7.Be2 0-0 with a reasonable game for Black, 6.dxe6 fix6 7.cxb5 Bb7 RNG Bhs 948 a5 lo,exds exaS 11.842 04 ‘The gambit has worked out well. Black thas good counterplay for the pawn. 4 Ld 4 NF62.041No6 3.05 Nes 4.63?! Probably the weakest move. The shortcoming of this try is that White's position becomes vulnerable to various tactics on the a5-el and al-h8 diagonals. ‘There are two games that have been played with this line, The first one was played between Frank Marshall and Car- los Torre on a ship while traveling from Europe to America in 1925 and was pub- lished by a Latvian chess magazine, ‘Torre played here: 46 5.Bb2 Another try, SND, was played in Bal- mazi-Orlov, G30, World Open 1991. After 5..NXB+ 6.gx8 exdS 7xxd5 Bb +, White lost a pawn and eventually the game. The best here is 5.de6 fees 6NB Nx+ 7gxf3 but after 7..Bb4+ 8.Bd a5 Black stands better because White's pawn structure is quite com- promised S..Bb4+ 6.Nd2?? presume that the tactical genius Mar- shall was suffering fiom sea-sickness, otherwise he would have played 6.Ne3. However, after 6..Ned 7.Qd4 Nxe3 EBxcd Bred + 9.Qxe3 Qf Black has no reason to complain, 6..Net 8Bd Qf6 ‘White resigned Huge material losses are inevitable, For instance, the fallow- ing beautiful line was pointed out by NM Michael Franett. 9.0 Nf2! ‘The brave Knight jumps into the enemy's camp! 1K Ngt+ Il.K93, a desperate jour- ney but I1_Kel loses to Il...Ne3, winning the Queen, I..Bd6+ 12Kxed Qt + 1B.KIB Qh6+ M4.Ke4 £5 mate! Part Two: B) 3.93 The Solid Fianchetto Line lines in Part One showed thet after 3.45 Black has at least fhir ccounterplay and real chancesto ex- ploit White's extended center. But my experience has been that 3.48 is the most ‘unlikely choice from White. Faced with ‘an opening for the first time, most players are afraid of falling into s trap. They slance at few wild variations and quickly ‘move on to more solid continuations. ‘What could be more solid than fianchet- toing a Bishop? Part Two focuses on the line: L404 NI6 2.04 Nob 3.593 ‘This contimation hasn't been seriously tested in competition but nevertheless deserves attention. The main drawback cof White's solid approach is that it allows Black to strike with 3...e5, favorably resolving the center dispute. 3.05 4S Bo4+ Now White has two choices: A) 5 Ba and B) SN. A)S.Bd2 ‘This line is less ambitious than $N€2. ‘White just wants to finish developing his pieces the most natural and fastest way. 1 feel that by trading his dark-squaredBishop, White undereuts his chances for an opening advantage because of lack of prospects for his fianchettoed Bishop and Black's control of the dark squares. SuBXU2+ 6.0% In Pupols-Orlov, Oregon Open 1991, ‘White tried 6.Nxd2 and I replied 6...Nb8 preparing for dark-square play. (6..Ne7 deserves equal attention as the Knight on 7 supports .f7-8. Here isa sampletine: 7.BiD d6 8Nefs 0-0.9.0-0 ast? Always ‘n important move in these kinds of posi tions since it prevents b2-b4. 10.e4 Nd7!?-going to cS. Black has a reasonable game.) Back to Pupols-Orlov: 7.64 45 8Bg2 Na6 9.Ne2 NeS 10.0-0 a5. After siving away his King Bishop, Black tries to get a hold on some dark squares. White now Plays to exchange the cS-Knight: 11.Ne3 0-0 12ND3 16 IBNxcS bxcS 14.Q08 Bd. Now Black plans to double his Roaks on the bile and force White to play b2-b3 when by playing ..a5-a4 he will create a serious weakness in White's pawn structure. 15:8 Qe7 16.Racl RMS I7Re Rb4 18.43. White has no good active plan because an attack with f-5 can easily be stopped with ..N7-16, ..NI- W, and 27-15. 18..Rab8 19RD h6 20.Ndl?! This is only helping Black. 20..Ba4 21.53 Bd7 and Black was fine, 6.NE7 TBP d5 8NG 0-09NB Both sides are finishing their develop- ment and mow Black has to commit to some plan, Playing for the dark squares ‘seems quite logical and also important to stop White's queenside attack with b2-b4 and ot-e5, Therefore: 9..N€T!? 10.0-0 a5 1.04 Nes ‘The Knight has ascended to his perfect square, Nats Block has managed to achieve a King’s Indian pawn structure and the counterplay that goes with it minus the usual dark-squared Bishop liability. [like Black's postion. dd NB 2.04 NOS 3B 65 45 Bod + B)5.Nd2 £3) RR ft & RwWeaak With White wants to win the two ldo and wing fo spend vai xe foifbe tad) Tala neering than S.Bd2 but I think that Black's chan- GOEL eal gual is (351 oath Ie doa pudgy an ose than Bishops. ‘NET XB Grabbing the two Bishops at once with 6.03 Bx@ + 7.Bxd2 d6 BBg2 0-0 9.NB3 Ned! 10.0-0 £5 results in equality. cee Not filling into the transparent trap 6.4672 7.908 +, winning «plese 7 TM WoL covatreeeh wit we dubious iden 7h? ott BN CS Ned, when Black has a marvelous attack. ‘Wh the text, Whe pens is coveted two Bishops. 7 Bd tooo ‘Again both sides have Sidhe thee development and Black faces some dif ft dosniona, A tpi plon wih -47- oS aad -NOSd7<) wil ol work bere because ofbz-bt. it isimportat fr Black 5 BBu2 5 OBR 0-0 to play ..£7-£ expanding the £8-Rook’s horizons with some attacking chances in- volving ..15-f4 later on, but if now 10..Ne8? White plays 11.4 and if 11.85 then 12.85 NeT 13.h6 6 14.NgS and Black isin trouble on the kingside. 10... Not!? Attacking the Bishop and preparing ATA at the same time. ‘This also con- tains a drop of poison, If ILLNxes? to meet Il..NXe5? 12.Bxe4 Nxot by IBBxh7 + Kxh7 14.Qe2+ and Qxod, Black hasa nice reply in Il..Nxf2! Now if 12RxD, 12..Nxe5 gives Black » great position. The same holds after 12.Nxf Raf? BRXB RxP MKxP Q1+ 15.Kel ante, Bel White wants to keep his Bishop since having two of them is the main idea be- hind playing 5.Ne® in the first place. 11.h4 is not so powerfhl here: 1l..Nxd2 12.Qxe2 h6 (itis important not to let a pawn get to h6) 13.85 Ne7 14.Nb2 (stop ping ..Be4, as 14.Nhd Bgd 15.BB QdT is ‘good for Black) 14.5. Black wants to fix the queenside. 15.53 NB 16.3 Bd7. Play seems to be equal here. Black has adequate counterplay for the two Bishops. As you probably have noticed, Black sometimes achieves Dutch Defense-like pawn structure (pawn chain 5, €5, 15), but unlike the Dutch, here White does not have a serious initiative in the center or on the queenside. Basically, by playing 3.93 White shows that he does not want to be involved in a theoretical opening dispute.Part Three: White Allows 3...e5 The Fluid C) 3.Nc3 Three deals with White's fim- damental dilemma, which Knight to develop first, the Queen's Knight or the King’s? Pat Three examines 3.NG in detail, covering a lot of interesting ground Dont be too dismissive of this ‘reatment by White, as you might land in hhot water very quickly! Led NI62.04 Ne6 © 3Ne3 3.NG is undoubtedly much more ag- sressive than B) 3.83. White shows his readiness tojump into sharp lines against ‘The Tango. ‘This way of attack is better prepared than A) 3.45 and White captures a lot of space in all ines but there is something in Black’ favor. In @ King’s Indian type of pawn chain he does get to trade his often "bad" dark-squared Bishop tor White's Knight on 3 (which protects e4) and often with damage to White's pawn struc ture. Plus there are no lines here like those in the KID where White keeps un- pleasant tension in the center while main- faining a pawn on 4. I have had great practical success with the Black pieces in. this line. 3.5 Blad takes advantage of this oppor~ tunity to break in the center. Black can also take hiss share of the center in @ very sfferent way with 3..d5. which leads to a transposition into the Chigorio Variation of the Queen's Gambit. While this may may not be your cup oftea, it is a indication of the versatility of the Black Knights Tango. White has to be prepared for alot of different opening salvos, while Black gets to call the shots. 4s InSeirawan-Orlov, Seattle, G/30, 1991, ‘Yasser played: 4.dxeS_NxeS 5.3 Bb4 6Bd2 0-0 7.23 Be? 8NG 66 9.Bed Bes 1083 Ne3+ 11.Bxi3 ds 12.0xd5 Neds 13.Qe2 06 and the game is absolutely even, After 4.NP3, the game transposes into a variation of the English: 1.c4 ¢5 2.Nc3 NIé 3.NDS Nes 4.d4, which theory con- Siders equal Let's take @ look at the game Raptis Orlov, Portland, G/0, 1991: 4..exd4 S.Nxd Bb4 63 ds 7:Bg2 0-0! Black does not have to defend the d5- square! 8.0-ONxdH 9.Qxd4 5 10.Qh4 dt T decided to go for the endgame as 10,..cs04 is met by 11.BgS! INAS Neds 12.Qxd8 Red 13.Bxd5 BRB ‘Also a good move. Now if 14.Bxb7 then 14..Bxfl 15.Bx8 Bxe2 and the d- paven makes all the difference, 14 Rd] Bes 15.04 T was prepared to meet 15.Bxb7 with 15..RbB andnow if 16Ba6? then 16..RbS 17.BbS a6 18,Ba4 Bxot and Black is on top. 15..Bxd5 i6.exd5 bS and Black was fine, 0n4.63 ext S.ecd4 dS, oF 4.cxes Nees S.e4 BCS, in both cases Black has an easy game. 4_NeT ‘This is the key position for Part Three. ‘White has four major altematives: A) 5.3, B) S.NG, C)S.4, and the main line D) Sa Afler 593 oF SNB play could easily lead into the King’s Indian complex. ‘A) 5.93 Here Black has a choice between going {info o0¢ of the main lines of the KID or the independent line 5..Ng6!? 6 5..46 6832 96 7.NIB Bg7 8.0-00-0 Leads to a main tine Kings Indian. Importantly, this option of a KID is Black's choice. Available practice with 5.g3 contains two games played by IM Alex Yermolinsky in which he side: stepped the KID line cited above and continued 5..Ng6t? with original play. I introduced Alex to the Tango during some opening preparations at the 1991 World Open. He played it twice and won both games against strong Russian Masters! Savchenko-Yermolinsky, World Open 1991: Ld Nib 2x4 No6 3NCS €5 4.d5 Ne7 5.g3 Ng6!? 6.Bg2 B+ ‘One of the most important ideas of the ‘Tango is the fist development of all your pieces! 7.Bd2 0-0 8.e3 I don't understand this move since if White wants to achieve anything he has to play of. 8..d6 9Nge2a5 The move ...a7-a8 is important for Black. It prepares a way back for the Bishop in face of 22-23, expands a Rook, ‘and makes ..05-o4, fixing the queenside, a possbility 10.0-0Ndr! Another important reply. The Knight unlocks the fpawn and then goes to cS where it influences both the center and the queenside, Het NoS 12.883 Iwas too late to play 12.03 here. After 12..BXB 13NXGBa4! 14 BG Nb3 15.RbL Bd7, Black has an easy game. 12,85 13.ex{S BxfS and Black has achieved excellent play. In Georgadze-Yermolinsky, World Open 1991, White tried to improve with 7.Qe2 instead of 7B but after 7,.0-0 BBLM Bad Bxd+ 9.Qx3 ds 10.ND [10.64 a5 11,b3 06 12.Ne2cxdS 13.0x¢5 a4! ‘ives Black a good game because he takes control ofthe c-file and his light-squered Bishop gets the good diagonal e8-a4, plus White falls behind in development] 10.85 I1b3 Ned 12.Qc2 5 with ‘counterplay for Black) $..d5 (B..05!? was mote aggressive) ¥.h4? (White does not develop his pieces! Better ts 9.03 Bx 10.Bx<3 Bd”, which leads to roughly equal Play) 9...Ne7! 10.43 Bxe3 IBxe3 b5!Analysis Diagram Lats stop for a moment to analyze what's going on, After 11 moves Black: has castled and built a strong position in the center, while by comparison White has made many pawn moves, won the two Bishops but neglected kingside develop- ment. Therefore Black has strong pos- tional reasons to open up the game. is necessary to mention that Blac also has the quieter 11.c6 12.4806 (12.64 exds 13,cadS Nat followedby .£7-85 gives Black strong kingside play) 12..Nxos T3NB Be6 14.3 6 leading to equal chances for both sides. ets 12.b3 creates a weak pawn after 12..bsot 13.bxet and an excellent square for Black's Knight. For instance, 13.-a8"? Lt (14.ND3 BB) 14..Nd7 15Ned Nes 160-08 and Black has e great game. 12.Nis 3.NO Now Black wants to get all pieces off the hl-a8 diagonal and open the b-fil for his Rook: 13.Nx@ 14.0% Of course, 14Ng5 ismetby 14..B55. 14..RDE 15.4 96! and Black has the better game. ‘Afler A) 5.3, Black has the option of choosing 1 main line KID or playing cuiginally, The move 5.3 isnt very fore- ing and is unlikely to case Black any rea trouble. 144 NW 2.04 NGING 6 A. NeT B)5. “This move is more troublesome. Now Black is obligated to go into one of the ‘main lines of the King’s Indian 5.06 Now this move seems mandatory. S_Ngo is vay risky because of 6. ‘when PhS is strongly met by 7 Bes tending S<& and 9 Be2, leaving the prancer severely limited. Black can still try to fight with 7..Bb4, when the out= come of the opening is unclear, but ia this line Thave to give White a small plus. For that reason, most players are advised to transpose to the KID by: ‘Even though you have been “tricked” into playing into the dlagrammed posi- tion, fake heart! Think of how many of the normal challenges to the KID that ‘you've been able fo avoid. Perhaps your ‘opponent doesn't even play the Classical line against the KID. Perhaps be'd prefer to play a Saemisch, a Four Pawns Attack, for an Averbakh System. Much like you, he has also been tricked into the disgrammed position. Use this to your advantage! “You can specialize in ‘one King’s Indian line and almost as- suredly be better prepared than your op- ponent. ‘White has another interesting alterna tive 1.4 NH 2.04 NoG 3.NCB 65 4.d5 Ne7 C) Sha? ‘This approach was played in Gorniak- Chebanenko, USSR 1984. The idea is to meet S..Ng6? with 6.65, forcing the Knight to dance once more. Now Black has to dramatically change his plans to make h2-hd less useful. This pawn push 7 has really only one idea behind it and ‘cannot promise White any advantage. ‘Beset with a new problem, Black rose to the occasion. 5..Negsit ‘This idea belongs to the Moldavian Master Viacheslav Chebanenko, as do ‘many other original opening ideas. Now the Bishop isunlocked andthe Knight has changed his route, killing the purpose of ‘h2-h4. How about development? Both sides have developed only one piece but the advanced White pawns will soon re= quire close attention. 6.03.06 Very original opening, play. Black prepares a way back for the King because 6..BCS is met by 7.Nad! also deserves consideration. White has ‘some choice here: a) 7.ND, or b) 7.¢3. a) 7.NG Naat Another move against all the “rules” but the Knight feels comfortable on st because there is no h2-pawn! Along with that, Black prepares .17-1 and ..Ngf6, plus he sets a little trap: 8.047? Bes! 8.6 5 9Be Na Black is okay because he has easy development and clear play. For in- stance: 10, c2 66 INS! Qe7 1253 Nhs 13.Be2 gs 14.0-0-0 Bg? 15.KbI Bd7 with dynamic equality. ‘p73, ‘This move lets Black's dark-squared Bishop out, so itis not as good as 7.NI3, JTnBeS BI BaT ING dé, intending 10..Ned, 11.f5 and 12..N8#5, Sedrakian- Sosonkin, USSR 1986. Black's postion is perfectly satisfactory. ‘This brines us to the main line of Part ‘Three: LGA NG 2x4 Nob 3ING €5 4.d5 Ne? D) 5.e4White has captured a lot ofspace with Se, taying to play by classical opening principles (Ifyou have a chance to estab- Tisha center—do it!) but he weakens his dark squares. Again, Black has a choice between playing a normal King’s Indian ‘with ..7-d6 and ..27-g6 or trying to play on the dark squares. I like the latter op- tion S.Na6 ‘Sunprisingly, my praxts i sll of games from this position. Let's look at: 1) 6Be3, TI) 6.a3, IIT) 6.Bd3, and the most dangerous move IY) 6.h4!? ‘White tries to prevent ...BeSand plans tobuikla strong Saemisch-like center but he gives Black a chance to damage his pawn structure. This was frst played against me in Remlinger-Orlov, San Francisco 1991. 6.-BbA?7.Bd3 Bic3+ S.bucd 469.8 ‘The position that has resulted relates to both the KID and the Nimzo-Indian, Black’ plan is tocastle, play ..Nf6-d7-c5, ort with ..b7-b6 and then break with ATS. If White plays c4-c5, Black con- centrates his pressure on the e-file Saemisch-like play with h2-b4 and 22-24 bb mot by .Ng6-[4. 9-0-0 10.Ne2 Na7 11 Qa? b6 12.93 Larry prepares aggression with h2- hM-hS, but I don't have weaknesses there! 12.NGS 13.b6 ‘This move is out of contact with reality as White as no chance to sneceed with this plan, 13.18 14.BucS bwc5 ISBSNe7 16.N6 26 17.985 Continuing his “attacking” strategy. Here 17.0-0-0 was necessary. 17 fred 18.fxe4Nc6! Forcing White into an endgame be- cause if 19.042, then 19...NaS with threats lke ..Ba6 and ...RB. 19.8 Nocl8 20.RbI NIT Black has @ large advantage and won handy. ‘As we stw, 7.B43 didn't work out so ‘well, 7.B was payed in Spiller-Orlov, US.Open 1991. 1.44 NB 2.c4 Ne6 3.Nc3 eS 4.45 Ne7 Sed No6 6.Be3 Bot 7.0 This pawn move is a bit better than 7.BdB as after ...i7-d6 White has to play 22-03 anyway in orderto prevent ..NiG-#4, plus it gives White a chance to get tid of the weake-pawa. But then Black benefits from the open ¢-fik. TBuc3 + 8.bxe3 46 9x5 White rids himselfofthe weak pawn on 4, 9..0-0 1043: Acdangerous mistake. The developing ‘moves 10.203 and Ne2 were necessary. 10_NG7!? ‘As usual, the {6-Knight fices the f pawn and goes toe! ‘Urcxd6oxd6 Black's game iseasy: his7-Knight gets his perfect square, the Queen Rook gets play on the c-fle and the other Rook will have the File after ..7-6 is played. 12 Ba3 QaS 13.Ne2NeS 14.Be2 He should castle instead. 8 HIS 15.0-0 fet 16.e4 Bh3. TRB + Falling into a little trap but the game ‘was already difficult for White. 17-RxfB 18.QD? Quad! Qu o1 White's plan with o4-c5 takes too much time and Black has an easy game. Mh) 6.3 In the two examples cited above White's doubled queenside pawns were terrible. Let’s sce someone stop the plan of 6..Bb4 and ..Bbisc3. In Shahade- Orlov, World Open G/30, White prevented ..Bb4: dd NIG 2.04 Sed Ng66.a3 19RbI?? ic6 3.Ne3 5 45 NeT ‘Typical. White prevents ..Bb4 but now Black can take over the a7-gl- diagona 608"! Not the best. The text prevents b2-b4 butthea7-21- Bgl 13x3 Ned 1.Q2 NeS 15.0-0 a5 16NA2 QU 17.BH2 BE het BAT 19.66 (Qh 20.Rae! Rac 21.83 Bh3 22-65 Bry? 2Bilog? Nil 24Bwi exdd 2514 axbd a 26*xb4 NAT 27.003 NeS 28.QxiM4 Ra8 293 x2 3ORI2 Ra3 31.Ree? Ri 32.Qal ReB 3205 Qes M.NG Naw 3S.RAO RG 36.KRD QhS+ 37. dacs BiwwS Qech3 39.QM WS 40.2 Ras 41.Qe3 Ral 42.Qe2 Kh7 43.6 gat 44x5 Qh2+ ASK Rad+ 46RIS Qred+ 47.Bxe2 Rei3 48Kui3 65 49.Ked £6 ‘S0.KES Kg? #10 GM Yasser Seirsran-IM Georgi Otfov, Tacoma (G/30) 1991 Ld Nf 2x No6 3.NE 06 4 Bhs + SNM? 46 608 €5 7.255 b6 8BNG Qo 945 Bri2+- 10.Nal2 Nb6 1LBA3 0-0 12,0-0 Na6 13*3 of Niwot Qui IS.ROL Qe5 1664 Qe7 17156 IER NES 194 BAT 20.02 B6 21.Ng3 Rac 22.Rel Qe5 23.8 AG 24x4 BS 255 BS 26.Bx05 ab 27. RL Ra8 28.RES Nos 29.Qb2 Qu 30.QxbS Qu + 3L.Kg2NgS RAB Qual 33.QU5 + KH MLRe3 Ra 35. Rbol Re 36.Qe6 K7 37,Qxe7 Qh3-+ 38.KhL NO 0-1 1) Richard Gutman (20) Georgh ‘Oriow, Portland 1991 Ld4 NIG 2x4 Neb 3.NG e6 4*3 45 ‘S.NC3 Be7 6.Bg5 bb 7.BMf6 Bf 8.63 0-0 9.BA3 26 10,00 dscd U.Bxedo8 12abee5 ‘NeeS 13.Nwe5 BxeS 14. QhS Qg5 15.002 Qhé [6.4 Bw 17hw3 Bet 14.90 QuE+ 19.Kxi2 Rad8 20.43 BES 21. 5 22-Be? Be? 23. Roal8 Rul8 24.Rel Bed 25x 06 26.1563 BoE 27.KXD RAB 28exbS cexbS 29.Ral (5 30,Raz KIT 31.Ke2 Rb3 2 gtKeb Wadbd MexlS + KXIS3S.Re2 ‘Kot 36.Red- Ka 37.Re7 Ra3 38.Rxg7 ‘Roont 39.RA7+ Keb 40, RT aS 41 Raho KaS 42KA3 Ra3+ 43.Ke? ad 44.Ra6 Re3+ 45.Kl2 a3 46.55 Kos 47.66 Ri3-+ 48.Kel Rua3 49.7 RES 50.Ra7 KS SLi 3252.85 RAT Ol #12 Yori Repkin (2143)-IM Georgi itor, Sax Diego Open 1992 Lad NG 2x4 Ne6 3.NDS 06 41Ne3 Bhd 5436 6.Qe2.0-0 793 Buc3 + 8. Que3 a5 93 €5 10.Bh2 Ra8 11, Uk Qo7 12.802 Net 13.Qe2 BOS L4.Rd3 eld IS.Nutd [Nuld 16.Boa 5 17.Bh2 Qu5 1§,0-0 Bg6 19.Rlet QT 20.3 NeS 2x4 2.00 (Qe7 23.Be? Ral8 24.64NNFT 254 96 26.04 16 27.Qa? Re 28RAS de 29.06 Qe8 MO.KA2 BLT 3L.Kg3 Res 32°5 tes ‘3BhxgS fy 34.Qe3 pxft + 35.Kasd Nes 136.Ke3 Bi 37.Bal Bod 38 Kens Qes + 39.Ke3 Nued mate#13 GM Alec Khalifman-GM M. ‘Adams, Groningen 1991 LAE NI 2.406 3.NG Bos + 4.84207 S.g3 Nes (NGS Bxc3 7.Buc3 Ned 8.Rei d6 Bg? NxeS 10.R0c3 65 11.ASNbB 12.0-0 0-0 13Nd2 aS 14x5 Nas 154106 exds AGNof Qas 1793 b5 IR.NE2 BA? 19.001 4 20*xD4 axb4 21.Redl Nes 22.Ned BS 23Ret b3 24.Qel Bred 25.Baod (S 26BQ2 (Qa527 4 QbS28.Qe3 Nat29.Qh4 Qxb4 30.Rated RIDE 31.RxbS RAbS 32.RDI RS SBBAS g6 34x4 Re 35.Ral NeS 36.045, ee 39.Ra8+ Ke? 01 #14 GM Elshar Ubilavn-IM Georgi Orlov, Belgrade 1988 144 NIG 2x4 Ne63.NB 6 4.NeS BOS ‘SBgS 6 6.Bh4 gS 7.Bg3 Net 82 Negs Dhogs g4 1045 ge L.dees fred $2xx07+ Bxd? BBxe2 Bos 143 Bes ASRAS BA4 16NDS a6 17Neds Quad 18Rdl QO 19.KN Ras 20.b4 Rud + 21.Qudl ‘Qcs 225 abs 23xxbS. BAS 24RD BS 25.QH1 Be2 26Q92 Bes 27.Rld Qet + 28Ke2 0-0 29,002 Qxas Bx QcS 31.806 5 32.KN1 eS 3.Ksh QF A.B Ras 35.063 RAB 36.Qe4 Raz 37-Babs (16 38.QcS BahS 39-RahS Ral + .Kh2 RAZ 41.927 10 #15 GM L. Drandsgave-GM A. Goldin, Werld Open 1991 Lad Ni6 2x4 Nc6 3.NG 6 41Bg5 6 Sal Cul 6Ne3 5 743 Be 843 a6 9.040 Ba7 103 0-0 11.Rel Qas 12a Ne] 1RAxe6 fs 14.BO1 Bed 15.44 QA? Y6Nce2 Bes 17.Bxg6 Nags 18x5 axes 19RacS 06 W0.Reb NeS21Re2 522.NS (Qet 23.Necl Rad 24.02 g425Ral hs 26Rd8 Rud827-RA2 RAS 28x05 ex 29.Qdl Qct W.NE2 QhS 31.Qc2 Qa7 ‘S2.Ne2 QIT33.Ng3e4 MM. NISNG Meds 36.NIL dxe4 37.NIe3 Qf6 38nd a6 39.Ng3 Quh2 40.Qub2 Nxb? 41*xbS axbS Nes D4G.KM a6 44.NASNAS 45.65 KIT 46.Ke2 Kes ¢7.ND6 ND? 48.NeS Ku 49Ne4+ KG SONCB €3 SLNC7+ Ke? SL.NIS ¢2 S3.NcS+ Ke6 S4.Nb3 cl=N+ S8Ncd Bech 0 #16 GM Labomir PincniiIM Georgi ‘Ontox, Washingion Open 1991 Ld NU 2ND €6 3x4 Nes 4*3 46 SNC Be? 6x4 0-0 TBAB eS 8S No ‘9NGZ aS JORDI Nab £LO-O 96 12.04 ‘abd [Sambd NhS 14.g3 BMS 15Rel QeS 16Be2 NE7 1735 dxeS TLDS NDS 19.Not 6 20.NeeS t6 2144 Bxes 22Ixe5 Ques 23.942 Ne8 24Rn3 Ral 2SRal N06 26.002 Rial 27.BM1 QDS 28.Buh3 Qukd 29.92 Ne 3Nel Raw 3152 Rud f 32.Qxdl Newt 33.0e2 OFS 34.Re3 Rad 38.9¢2Ret 36.Ra3RU4 37 Bold ext SSRAS NS I9RA2 Qud5 W.Rel Key AL.QD2 NAS 42.Qe2 NeS 43.Qn2 Nat MEQDE NG 4SRA2 NaBS 46.007 cS A7RO 43 40+ KeS 39.914 Nas SO.Qb8+ KigT SL.Qxb6 Ned + 01 ‘#17 F. Inumerable (2194)-IM Georgi Orlov, National Open 1991 Ld NIG 2x4 No6 3ND €6 4*3 46 SNCS Be7 6x4 0-0 73Be2 $ 845 NDS 93 €6 10.Be a8 11.0-0 Nab 124 exd5s A3xxd5 B47 145 RO 1SNat_Nc7 16.Qb1 NaS 17.Nd2 NeS 18Nct Bgs 19.856 QIG 20.Bxa$ Reed 21Bxe4 Qe6 2L.KAI 5 23.843 4 24.0 Qn625.Qb2 NIG ‘26KR2 Bhd 27.Ba Bgs+ 28.Kal gS 29.Ne3 Qh4 3.Qd2 Rell 3LNe2 KIT 2B Og 34 aft MN ptt 3SRxf4 QeS 36.Rxf6+ Qufb JTRS Qel+ 38.Kxfl NBG 39.QM+ Ke7 40.05 + KIT 41.0ng3 Ke7 42.095 + KI 43.QhS + KI6 44.Qh6+ Ke5 45.0¢7+ KM 46.KD 10 #18 IM Jeremy Silma-IM Georgi ‘Ortov, Western States Open, Reno 1991 Ld NI 2x4 €6 3°3 Bh4-+ 4.842 Qe? SBg2 No6 6.ND Bxd2 + 7.Nbxd2 06 8x4 659.45 NDS 104 0-0 1LO-De6 2.Nel aS 1383 exdS L4xxd5 BAT 1SN03 BOS 16Qb3 af 17.02 Nbd7 IBRicl Qos 19.801 Qb6 WNb2 Ball 2.KxN Qd4 22.8 Ras 23.Qx08 Ree8 24.Rxe8+ NIB 2S.Re2 WS 26Rel g5 7.Kg? hS 28.NAL (43 29.Rad 94 MONI Qcs 31 fap Net ‘S2.Nage ng 33.3 poh + 34.Kxh3 NBT 3SKQ2 Nes 36.KO Qc8 37.NG Ni3+ BAKE Qus 39RA2 N+ 40.KO Nhs Re Qagh+ 42Ke3 NIG ASR GI Nght of #19 IMS. SavchenkoIM Alex ‘Yermolinsky, Wortd Open 1991 14d Ni 2x4 Nob BNCB e8 4.5 Ne7 S*3 Nob 6:2 Bht 7B3d2 0-0 x3 46 9.Ngel aS 10.0-0 NG? 1x4 Nes BBS 15 LS.eafS BafS 1¢NBS Nag 1SNecS Bes 16.QM2 Bred 17.Qxe3 NeS I.Net Bred 19.Bxet Nxed 20.Qued b6 21.Ract RIT 22M Q47 23,02 Rall 14Ne3 b6 2503 Ne? 26.RRed RED 27.Re3 ROE 28.Red RIG 22 2924 RO WRes Qat LNAI RG $2.Redl Oud 38 Ret Qd3 34.Réed Oz6 3544 REY S6RGS RAM S7AE Qe2 38.903 KS 39.NeS Quh3 40°S Quad dl.gh6 BXh6 AN RUG 45.Q24 Qed 44ND4 (Qe 45.007 Raf 46.R0B7 Qua) + 47K NgS 48.048 Qut 49.Ng6+ Kar S0.Rel Qh3 mate #20 IM Gia Georgadze-IM_ Alex ‘Yermolinsky, World Open 1991 Lal NI6 2x4 Ne6 3NCS €5 4.05 Ne7 543 Ng6 OBE Bh4 7.002 0-0 SBA2 46 Qik Ne? 10°3 HKCS LEKCS BS. 12aabS NikdS 13.NG NxcS 14.xc3 RDS 15.04 6 16.Rel axbS 17.Qxc7 Bab 18.Qx08 Rind A9RE7 RY7 20Rah7 BT 21%xDS RS 22.0-0 Bx BAO Raps 24.Ral os 28.¢3 £5 26Rd2 KET 27.0 Ke628-Kel ef 29-Be2 RT MLREE KA6 31.03 Ne6 32.KZ (NeS 33.RG2 Rb4 34fsed fied 35*4 6 36Re2 Rb3 “7.Rd2 g6 SRR 25 39.Hxg5 IhxgS 40.Ri2 KeS 41.Re2+ Not 42.Bxet axed 43.K2 KS OL #21 SM Lary Remlinger-IM Georgi Ortov Lat NEG 244 Nes SNS eS 4.45 Ne7 Sx4 Nos 6BeS Bh 748 BucS + Sxe3 46 9.6 0-0 10Ne2 Na? 1.Q42 b6 123 Ne§ 13.0415 14.BseSbrcS1SSNe7 166 19617. QyStved 1ntxes Nes 19.Qxd8 Nas 20.KbI-NO 21.Ki2 Bas 22Rb3 RDS 23.NA_Rh6 24Ke3 Bell 25Be2 BA7 26KA2 Nos 27KeS KIB 28.NUS Ke7 29.NO RO 30.NA3 RGB 31.Ra 06 32. Ras Be¥38.Rh4 RI H4.BgARM 3SBxcS Res 36g Nh3 37.Ke2 RAB S8RIAG gS 39Ra7 Ka7 Wad Ryl 41S RO+ 42.Kel RE 01 #22 Nidk Raptis (1900)IM_ Georgi Orlov, G30, Portland 1991 Lx NI6 2.Ne3 No6 3.44 eS 4.ND exit S.Nadd Bb4 6*3 45 7Bg2 0-0 8.0.0 Nxd4 9.Qxa4 cS 10,(Qhe dd I1.NdS Nats W.Qxas RelS IRBSAS BRS 14RAI Bes 15x4 BudS 16xxd5 DS 173 Bas 18h4 BHE 19D xCS Bucs evs RxAS 21.843 ‘Be? 22.BeS RxbS 23.Bxi4 RdS 24Radl Rad 2342 Bra3 26Ral Bod 27.83 Bxe3 28.RxdS RadS 29Rxa7 hS 30K yg? Rez 31Rad Bot 32.RaB+ Kh7 32RAS Riat2+ OL