IiI1 I1• L.

1
• 4•I _) i

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Chess Stars;1]
Openings;0]
Technical Editor: TM Sergei Soloviov

Translation by: GM Evgeny Ermenkov

Cover design by: Rustam Taichinov

Copyright © Alexei Kornev 2016

Printed in Bulgaria by “Chess Stars” Ltd. - Sofia

ISBN13: 978 619 7188 10-3
A PRACTICAL BLACK REPERTOIRE with f6, g6, d6
Volume 2

Alexei Kornev

The King’s Indian Defence

Chess Stars
 Bibliography

Books

F.BorjaHoBnq “CncTeMa CMbIcJloBa. CTapOHH1Hi1CKaJI 3aWHTa”,

MocKBa 2013
E.Feiviep “CTapoHHjncKa5i 3aWHTa”, MocKBa 1980

“1.d4”, vol. 2, by Avrukh Quality Chess 2010

Kill KID by Sernkov, Chess Stars 2009
Mar del Plata vol.1-2 by Kotronias, Quality Chess 2015
Playing 1.d4 The Indian defences by Schandorff, Quality Chess 2012
Sabotage the Grunfeld by Kaufman, New in Chess 2014
Strategic chess opening repertoire for white by Watson, Gambit 2012
The King’s Indian. A Complete Black Repertoire, Chess Stars 2009
The Ultimate Anti-Grunfeld by Svetushkin, Chess Stars 2013

Electronic/Periodicals

LIIaXMaTHbIH HHOMTO
New in chess Yearbook

Bestlogic Database
Chessbase online database
ChessOK Correspondence Database
Correspondence Database
FICGS DataBase
GarneKnot Database
ICCF Database
LSS Database
Mega Database

4
Contents
Preface 4

King’s Indian Defence

1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6
1 Various; 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 A) 5.c3 w/o f3; B) 5.f3 w/o c3. . .7
2 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.Zc3 d6 6.’Zf3 c6 7.0-0 a6
A) 81g5; B) 81f4; C) 8.e3; D) 8.e1; E) 8.e4; F) 8.V1d3 22

3 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6 8.b3 b8.. . .41

4 3.g3 g7 41g2 0-0 5.Zc3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6 8.h3 b8.. . .50
5 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.Zc3 d6 6.Zf3 ‘c6 7.0-0 a6 8.d5 a5. . . 59
6 3.f3 g7 A) 4.e3 0-0; B) 3.c3 g7 4.Zf3 0-0 5.e3; 51f4. . . 73
7 3.c3 g7 A) 41g5 d6; B) 4.f3 0-0 5.g5 d6 89
8 3.c3 g7 4.e4 d6 A) 5.g5; B) 5.ge2; C) 5.d3 99
9 3.Zc3 g7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 0-0 112

10 3.Zc3 g7 4.e4 d6 51e2 0-0 A) 6.e3 c5; B) 6.g5 c5 122

11 3.Zc3 g7 4.e4 d6 5.f4 0-0 6.f3 c5 A) 7.e2; B) 7.dc;

C) 7.d5 e6 8.de; 8.e2 ed w/o 9.cd 145
12 3.c3 g7 4.e4 d6 5.f4 0-0 6.Zf3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.e2 ed 9.cd. . .159
13 3.c3 g7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.g5 ‘c6 170
14 3.c3 g7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e3 c6 178
15 3.Zc3 g7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 A) 6.g5 h6; B) 6.e3 e5 201
16 3.c3 g7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.h3 e5 208

King’s Indian Defence. Classical Variation

1.d4 ‘Zf6 2.c4 g6 3.Zc3 g7 4.e4 d6 5.Zf3 0-0 61e2 e5
17 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.1xd8 xd8 230
18 7.e3 g4 240
19 7.d5 aS A) 8.d2; B) 8.e3; C) 8.h3; D) 8.0-0 253

20 7.d5 aS 8.g5 h6 264

21 7.0-0 Zc6 A) 8.dxe5; B) 8.e3 279
22 7.0-0 Zc6 8.d5 e7 w/o 9.d2; 9.b4; 9.Ze1 286
23 7.0-0 ‘fZc6 8.d5 e7 9.d2 aS 296
24 7.0-0 ‘fZc6 8.d5 e7 9.b4 h5 w/o 10.e1 304
25 7.0-0 Zc6 8.d5 e7 9.b4 Zh5 10.e1 f5 312
26 7.0-0 ‘c6 8.d5 e7 9.e1 d7 A) 10.f3 f5; B) 10.d3 f5 333
27 7.0-0 Zc6 8.d5 e7 9.e1 d7 10.e3 f5 11.f3 f4 121f2 g5 .349

Index of Variations 374

5
PREFACE

In the second volume of the book “A Practical Repertoire for Black

with 4f6, g6, d6” we will analyse variations in which White plays 1.d4,
2.c4.
As Black’s weapon we will study the King’s Indian Defence. This is
not by chance, though... The majority of our readers participate mainly
in tournaments played under the Swiss system. One of the important
features of these tournaments is that the draw is essentially a step
backward in your tournament situation and you must play for a win
irrelevant of the colour of your pieces. The King’s Indian Defence is the
right opening choice for this. There is some strategical risk involved
indeed (Black complies with a somewhat cramped position...), but in
all the variations of the King’s Indian Defence there arise in the middle
game very complicated positions in which Black thinks not only about
equality, but also about seizing the initiative. Meanwhile, as a rule,
contrary to White’s actions on the queenside, Black develops his initiative
on the kingside. This is always dangerousfor White, since his
king is the enemy target.
The opening was named like this, because back in the year 1875 a
game was published, played a bit earlier in India, between two Brahmins
— Saunchery Gottak and Moheshunder. Later, S. Tartakower
named the opening used in that game as the King’s Indian Defence. It
did not gain popularity right away and was considered to be incorrect
for a long time. Still, gradually the King’s Indian Defence began to be
used even at tournament at the top level. Several World champions
contributed greatly to its development like R. Fischer, G. Kasparov, as
well as D. Bronstein, E. Geller, I. Boleslavsky, L. Stein and many other
grandmasters.
The readers will notice that we have included in our analyses numerous
correspondence games and this is not surprising. It is allowed
to use computer programmes in the correspondence games. They have
become so strong lately that they can defeat easily even the leading
grandmasters in the world.

The author would like to express his gratitude towards Ekaterina

Smirnova for her invaluable help in the work over this book.

Alexei Kornev,
city of Vyazniki, September 2016

6
Chapter 1 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6

alternatives for White on

move 3.

About 3.g5 g7 4.c3 or 4.

Zf3 0—0 5.’Zc3 — see Chapter 7.

3.d2. White plays sometimes

like this, but as rule, only when he
is absolutely certain that the Black
player will choose the Gruenfeld
Defence, because in the King’s Indian
3.g3 Defence the knight on d2 is
In Chapters 1-5 we will analyse not so well placed as on the c3-
systems for White, connected square. 3..1g7 4.e4 d6 5.gf3
with the fianchetto of his light- 0—0 6.g3 c5. White has already
squared bishop. These systems problems with the protection of
are very reliable, because with a the d4-square. 71g2 cxd4 8.
bishop on g2, it is very difficult for xd4, Korchnoi — Grandelius,
Black to organise an attack on the Rogaska Slatina 2011, 8...b6!?
kingside. Meanwhile, White exploits 9.’Ze2 ‘Zc6 Black’s prospects
the advantage of the first are already preferable, because
move in the game and occupies White’s knights are not so well
space and controls reliably the placed on d2 and e2, while Black
centre. It is not by chance this system has a clear-cut plan for the improvement
was a favourite opening of his position:
weapon for White of the World f6-d7-e5(c5)-d3.
champions M. Botvinnik, V.
Smyslov and many other strong 3.d5. White occupies space,
grandmasters. Before beginning but weakens the dark squares in
the analysis of 3.g3, we will have a his camp. 3...c6. Black attacks immediately
look at some other, not so popular, the enemy pawn, which

7
Chapter 1

has crossed the demarcation line Black choosing the Gruenfeld Defence.
a bit too early. 4.c3 cxd5 5.cxd5 If he decides to play the
d6 King’s Indian Defence however,
the game transposes, as a rule, to
the Saemisch system (Chapters
13-14). There arise original variations
only if White postpones the
development of his knight on bi.
We will deal with them now. 3...
g74.e4d6

6.g3 g7 7.ig2 0—0 8.e4. This

move leads to the weakening of
the fl-a6 diagonal (8.Zf3 bd7 —
see variation A, 6.d5 c6 7.f3
cxd5 8.cxd5 bd7) 9.

ge2 b5!? 10.xb5 Zc5 11.bc3

a6 12.0—0 b6 13.b1 g4= —
Black has full compensation for 5.e2 0—0 6.ec3 (6.e3 —
his minimal material deficit. His see 5.e3) 6...Zfd7!? Black’s plans
pieces are very active and White include e7-e5, followed by h6,
will remain the defending side for exchanging in a tactical way the
a long time. dark-squared bishop, which is advantageous
6.e4 g7 7.f3 0—0 8.e2 for him in this pawnstructure.
bd7 9.e3 c5 10.d2 e6 11. 7.e3 e5 8.d5 h6 9.
dxe6 xe6. White cannot exploit V1d2 xe3 10.Vxe3 a5. He begins
the weakness of the d6-pawn, a fight for the c5-square, preventing
since his lag in development precludes b2-b4. 1Ld3 a6 12.d2
him from preventing the dc5 13.c2 f5oo Nabaty — Pavlidis,
pawn-advance d6-d5. 12.0—0 c8 Kavala 2013. There has arisen
13.c1, Alber — Gutman, Frankfurt a position with dynamic balance.
1990, 13.. .d5!? 14.exd5 xd5 White has more space, but the
15.xd5 xd5 16.f3 1d6= Black’s dark squares in his camp are
prospects are not worse at all, weakened. In addition, his lightsquared
since his bishops exert powerful bishop is severely restricted
pressure against White’s queen- by his own pawns.
side. 5.e3. This move seems more
reliable. White wishes to protect
3.f3. This move has become the strategically important d4-
popular lately and is aimed at square. 5...0—0 6.e2 (6.1d2 a6

8
 1.d4 tIf6 2.c4 g63.g3 g74.g2 0-0

7.c3 ‘c6 — see Chapter 14) 6...

a6!? This move looks more precise
than the immediate development
of the knight on c6, since
Black keeps the possibility to advance
c7-c5. 7.a3 (7.bc3 c6
or 7.ec3 c6 8.Za3 e5 9.c2
exd4 10.xd4 e5 — see Chapter
14) 7...c5 8.c2 (8.V41d2 Zc6 9.d5
e5 10.c3 h5 1L,e2, D.Gurevich
— Mazuchowski, USA 1990,
11...f5!?oo) 9.d5 e5 10. Therefore, in order to systematise
Zc3 e6 11.a4 exd5 12.cxd5 h5 all these lines, in the variation
13.e2 f5# and Black has good A) 5.c3 we will have a look
counterplay. White’s attempt to at the lines in which White does
oust the enemy knight away from not develop his knight to the f3-
the centre 14.f4?! g4 15.xg4 square, while we will deal with the
fxg4 16. 0—0 d7 17.V1d3 g3 18.h3 rest in the variation with B)
Vh4i: leads to a bad position for 5.m.
him in which he must be constantly
on the alert about the possible White has also tried in practice
sacrifice of the enemy bishop the move 5.e4. He occupies immediately
on h3 after which Black’s attack the centre with his
might become impossible to parry, pawn 5...d6 6.e2 (6.c3 c5 — see
Shimanov — Solovjov, St Petersburg 5.c3) 6...c5
2005.

3..1g741g2

4.d5 0—0 5.g2 d6 6.c3 c6 —

see variation Al.
4.c3 0—0 5.g2 d6 or 5.e4 d6
6.g2 c5 — see 4.g2.
4.f3 0—0 5.c3 (51g2 d6 —
see variation B) 5...d6 6.g2 c6
— see Chapters 2-5. 7.bc3 c6 — see Volume 1,
Chapter 3, variation B.
4...O—O Following 7.d5, Black can try
In this system White has numerous advantageously to continue in the
different possibilities and spirit of the Benko Gambit. 7...
they often lead to transposition of b5!? 8.cxb5 a6 9.bxa6 xa6. Now,
moves. contrary to the majority of the ba9
Chapter 1

sic positions of the Benko Gambit, Now, White has again a choice
White’s knight is not on f3, but on between: Al) 6.e4, orA2) 6.e3.
e2. In addition, he has advanced a
bit too early e2-e4 and that has After 6.h3, Black can create
led to the weakening of the d3- problems for his opponent to castle
square and Black’s knight will be with 6...c6 7.e3 (7.f3 a6 —
headed there in the future. 10.0—0 see Chapter 2) 7...d7 8.ge2
bd7 11.1c2 (11.bc3 e5 12.f4 V1c8 and this should provide him
d3t) 11...1b6 12.d1 fb8 13. with a good game. 9.b3 e5 10.b2
ec3 g4t — Black’s initiative is a5 11.V1d2 e8 12.a3, Tkachiev —
more than sufficient to compensate Nijboer, Wijk aan Zee 2011, 12...
his minimal material deficit, exd4!? 13.exd4 h5oo. The position
Agdestein — Ju.Polgar, Isle of is beginning to open and White
Lewis 1995. still cannot castle kingside. If he
White cannot harm his opponent castles queenside, his king will
with the line: 7.0—0 cxd4 hardly feel comfortable there.
8.xd4 c6 9.xc6 (We have already
told you how to refute the Black obtains very good counterplay
move 9.Ec3?!, in Volume 1, Chapter following 6.d5 c6 7.’Zf3
3, variation B: 9...xe4...) 9... cxd5 8.cxd5 bd7 9.0—0 Va5 10.
bxc6 10.e5 dxe5 1L&xc6 h3 12. d4 b6 11.b3 V1a6 12.h3 d7oo
Vfxd8 fxd8 13.g2 ixg2 14.c?xg2, — White has much more space,
Welz — Starnmberger, Germany but Black’s piece-activity (a(f)
1992, 14...Zd7!?oo, with the idea c8, a4(c4)) is quite sufficient for
f7-f5, e5-e4, e5. White’s slight him to maintain the balance,
lag in the development of his Fritzinger — D.Gurevich, Berkeley
queenside pieces precludes him 2011.
from the possibility to exploit the
advantages of his pawn-structure.
Al) 6.e4
A) 5.c3 d6 Now, just like after 5.e4, the
occupation of the centre cannot
provide White with an advantage,
since he fails to hold on to the key
d4-square.
6...c57.d5
This is at least a principled
move. White occupies space.
7.ge2 c6 — see Volume 1,
Chapter 3, variation B.
7.f3 c6 8.d5 (8.0—0 cxd4
9.xd4 xe4! — see Volume 1,

10
 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g74.g2 0-0 5.c3 d6

Chapter 3, variation B) 8...a5 15...g4 16.c1 d3 17. xc5,

9.d2 a6 10.0—0 b8 — see Chapter5. J.P.Gomez — So, Tagaytay City
2010, 17...d7!? 181f2 e5 — Black
has obtained more than sufficient
It seems just bad for White to compensation for the sacrificed
choose here 7.dxc5 dxc5, since he pawn, because his pieces are very
has no compensation for the active, while White has not completed
weakened d4-square and must already his development yet and
fight for equality. 8.V41xd8 his king is stranded in the centre.
xd8 9.e5 fd7 10.f4 b6
7...e6

11.b3 (11.Zd5 c6 12.e3, Anastasian

— Arizmendi, Ubeda 2000,
12...f6!? 13.xc6 bxc6 — White
lags in development and Black’s The position begins to resemble
bishops may prove to be very the Benoni Defence.
powerful.) 11...f6. The e5-pawn, 8.ge2
which restricts Black’s bishop on
g7 should better be exchanged Unfortunately for White, he
immediately. 12.exf6 xf6. This is cannot develop his knight to a
stronger than capturing with the more active position, since following
pawn. Black wishes to play actively, 8.’f3 exd5 9.cxd5, the unsufficient
while White will be incapable protection of his e4-
of exploiting the weakness of the pawn would enable Black to inflict
e7-pawn, due to his lag in development. a strike from the flank — 9...
13.ge2 c6 14.xc6 bxc6 b5!, seizing completely the initiative.
15.a3 (Following 15.b2, Graf — 10.4d2 b4 11.e2 bd7 12.
Loginov, Tashkent 1983, 15...f5!? 0—0 a5, developing later his bishop
16.d1 a5 17.a3 xd1+ 18.xd1 to thea6-square, Hamlaoui —
d7 19.dc3 e5, Black’s two powerful Bujdak, Lechenicher SchachServer
bishops in this open position 2014.
more than compensate the defects
of his queenside pawn-struchire.) It is bad for White to play 8.

11
Chapter 1

dxe6, because of and Reykjavik 2013) 12...b6 13.g5 h6

Black’s knight gains access to the 141e3 a6 15.V1d2 h7 16.fe1,
c6-square, while White will have Burmakin — Mojzis, Schwarzach
problems with the protection of 1997, 16...d7!?± In this complicated
his c4-pawn, which has suddenly position with mutual chances
become very weak. the activity of Black’s minor
pieces compensates his slight lack
8...exd59.cxd5 of space. Now, for example, he is
threatening e5, followed by
The position remains calmer penetration to d3, or to c4.
after the more prudent line: 9.
exd5 e8 10.0—0 bd7 11.b3 e5 10...a6 11.a4 bd7 12.h3
12.h3 f5oo Stefansson — Berg, White defends the g4-square
Khanty-Mansiysk 2010. from the penetration of the enemy
knight.
9...e8 12...b8

There begin manoeuvres typical 13.b1

for the Benoni Defence. Later,
Black plans to follow with a7-a6, Black’s queenside counterplay
bd7, b8 and will try to advance cannot be prevented with the line:
b7-b5. 13.a5 b5 14.axb6 Vxb6 15.ch2 c4
10.0—0 16.a4, Heemsoth — Brglez, Germany
1970, 16...Zc5!?oo Here, it
It seems a bit premature for would be very risky for White to
White to play 10.a4, because then accept the pawn-sacrifice — 17.
Black can change his plan and xc4?!, because of 17...a5 18.e3
transfer his knight to the weakened fd7i and the unfortunate
b4-square. 10...a6!? 11. 0—0 placement of the rook on c4 will
b4 12.h3 (12.g5?! h6 13.f4 g4 force White to part with the exchange.
14.h3 Ze5 Arngrimsson — Gin,

12
 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g741g2 0-0 5.c3 d6

13...b514.axb5 A2) 6.e3

It is less accurate for him to

choose now 14.b4 cxb4 15.xb4
Va5 Askarov — Mirzanurov, Kazan
2006.

14...axb5

With this seemingy logical

move White fortifies his centre
and prepares the development of
his knight on e2, where it would
not stand in the way of the action
of his bishop on g2. Still, it has a
serious drawback and it liquidates
15.b4. This is a standard move all the pluses of this move. Contrary
for similar positions. White is trying to the majority of the positions
to neutralise Black’s queen- of the variation with the development
side counterplay. 15...cxb4. It of the bishop on g2,
would be a grave positional mistake White may have serious problems
for Black to continue here with the defence of his king. In
with 15...c4?, because this would the middle game Black may attack
present White with an excellent the weakened h3 and f3-squares
strategical outpost for his knight and begin a dangerous attack. In
on d4. 16.Zd4 Black is incapable order to do this, as a rule, he advances
of parrying simultaneously both e5-e4 and transfers his
White’s threats — to penetrate knight to g5. It can go there via
with the knight on c6 and to capture two possible routes: b8-a6-c7-
the pawn on b5. 16.xb4 e6-g5 (Black will have to advance
a5 17S!b3 c5 18S!b1 d7= c7-c6 before that.), or 1b8-d7-f8-
— The activity of Black’s pieces h7-g5 (following the preliminary
compensates the weakness of his move h7-h5).
pawns on d6 and b5, moreover 6...e5
that White should not forget that Black has accomplished this
his e4-pawn needs protection as thematic pawn-advance not determining
well, Tupy — Svatos, Czech Republic yet the placement of
1995. his knight on b8.

13
Chapter 1

7.ge2 c6 Following 9.d5 cxd5 10.xd5

xd5 11.V1xd5, White cannot exploit
the vulnerability of the d5-
square due to his slight lag in development.
11...e4 12.Th1 c6 13.
0—0 g4 14.V1d2 d5! Black gets
rid of his weak pawn and solves
all his opening problems. 15.cxd5
xe2 16.V1xe2 xd5 17.d1 Vf5
18.b2, Hulak — Fedorov, Rabac
2004, 18...ac8!? 191xg7 ctxg7=
In this position Black’s knight is
not inferior to his opponent’s
8.0—0 bishop. White must be on the
alert for the enemy knight not to
8.h3 e8 9.dxe5. As a rule, the penetrate to the d3-square.
exchange on e5 and the transfer 9.b2 e4. Black occupies space
into an endgame does not promise and shows his aggressive intentions.
much to White in the King’s 10.h3 d5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.
Indian Defence. This position is V1d2 c6= Bischoff — Stohl, Brno
no exception. (9.b3 — see 8.b3) 1991.
9...dxe5 10.xd8 xd8 11.b3 a6 9.h3 e4 10.1c2 d5= Sergeev —
12.a3 f8 13.xf8 cxf8= Black’s Jedynak, Czech Republic 2006.
prospects are not worse and his He has managed to occupy additional
pawn on c6 covers reliably the space and has protected reliably
pressure of White’s bishop on g2 the e4-pawn, which cramps
against the b7-pawn, Kosten — considerably White’s bishop on
Vassallo Barroche, Andorra g2. His fianchetto has only weakened
2007. his kingside.

8.b3 e8 8...e8

9.0—0 e4 — see 8.0—0.

14
 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g74.ig2 0-0 5.c3 d6

9Sc2 vance h2-h3, so Black can exploit

This is White’s best move. He this immediately. 11...g4!? 12.
impedes his opponent’s pawn- V1xg4 xd4 13.d1 g7 14.V1xd6
advance e5-e4. e5 15.Vxd8 xd8 — White will
have great difficulties to protect
Following 9.d5, White cannot his c4-pawn and to complete the
even equalise. 9...e4 10.V1c2 cxd5. development of his queenside
After the opening of the c-file the pieces.
placement of his queen on c2 would
be unstable. 11.cxd5 ‘e7 12.b3 a6 9.dxe5. This trade seems harmless
131a3 d7 14.d4 ac8t Kurz — for Black. 9...dxe5 10.!xd8
Pfrommer, Mannheim 1990. (White should better refrain from
Black has an easy plan in this exchanging on d8, for example by
complicated position: c5, Ve5 playing 10.b3. But even then, after
and eventually V1h5, h3, ig4 10...e7 11.e4 d8 12.Vfc2
with an attack against the enemy a6# White’s weakness on d4
king. White should not forget that may hurt him in the future, Petran
his d5-pawn is also very weak. — Knaak, Zinnowitz 1974.)
10...xd8 11.b3 a6 12.a3 f8
9.h3. After this move, just like 13.xf8 cxf8 14.fd1, Fossum —
after 9.d5, Black can advance e5- Bakian, Calvi 2005, 14..1f5!?,
e4. 9...e4 10.f4 bd7 11.e1 f8 Black is eyeing the weakness on
12.d2 h5 13.b4 8h7! His knight d3. If White plays e3-e4, then he
is headed for the g5-square. 14. would weaken the d4-square.
b1 f5 15.b5 g5 16.b3 1d7t
Colon Romero — Spassky, Nice 9.b3 e4 101a3 &f5 11.c1 1d7
1974. White’s pieces are squeezed 12.b4 a6 13.a4 c7= If Black
with the protection of his kingside manages to accomplish the manoeuvre
(the h3-square), while on the e6-g5, his prospects
queenside he has not achieved would become preferable, Sznapik
anything meaningful. The set-up — Hug, Stockholm 1969.
of Black’s pieces is typical for similar
positions. After 9.b4, Black’s simplest reaction
would be 9...exd4!? 10.
9.e4. White occupies the centre xd4 bd7 111b2 b6. From this
with his pawn, but has lost a square his knight will support
tempo for e3-e4. 9...exd4 10.xd4 d6-d5 and what is even more important,
bd7 11.e1, Le — Topalov, Astana will exert pressure against
2012 (11.h3 Vb6±). There has the c4-pawn. 12.1b3 a5= Roizman
arisen a well known theoretical — Dydyshko, Minsk 1978.
position, but with an extra tempo
for Black. White has failed to ad- 9...a6!?

15
Chapter 1

Black’s rook pawn joins into

the attack.
141a3

Now, this move seems better

than the development of the
knight on d7, since it does not
close the diagonal of the bishop
on c8. In addition, White cannot 14...h4! 15.b5 (It would be
begin a pawn-offensive on the very risky for White to accept the
queenside with b2-b4 and is sacrifice, because this would weaken
forced to lose a tempo for the horribly his king’s shelter: 15.
move a2-a3. gxh4 g4) 15...h3 161h1 f5
1O.d1 e7 17.bxc6 bxc6 Grundherr — Kavalek,
Black is preparing e5-e4. Germany 1990. Black has
11.a3 good attacking prospects on the
weakened light squares on the
Following 11.b3 f5 12.V41d2 e4 kingside and the only defender of
131a3 ‘d7 14.b4 c7t (and then the f3-square — White’s bishop on
c7-e6-g5), Black seizes completely hi is miserably placed, because it
the initiative, Anic — Seret, is restricted by the pawns on h3
Chambery 1994. and e4 and has no moves at all.

B)5.m

11...e4 12.b4 c7 13.a4 h5

16
 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g74..g2 0-0 5.ff3 d6

White’s knight is more naturally square it would support Black’s

placed here than on e2. initiative on the queenside and
5...d6 6.0—0 will exert pressure against the
In this chapter we will analyse weak pawn on c4.
variations after 5.Zf3, in which After White’s alternatives, he
White refrains from the development can hardly fight for an advantage
of his knight to c3. If now, or in the opening.
in the next few moves, he plays For example: 7.bd2. Here,
6.c3, then there would arise positions White’s knight is not so well
which will be dealt with placed as on c3. 7...e5 8.d5 e7
Chapters 2-5. 9.e4 aS 10.e1 c6oo Ascic — Muse,
Sibenik 2010.
It would be premature for
White to play 6.b3, because of 6... White has tried sometimes in
e5!? 7.dxe5 (7.b2 e4 — see Volume practice 7.h3, preventing the sortie
1, Chapter 4, variation A) 7...dxe5= of the enemy knight to g4 and
preparing the development of the
6...c6 bishop to e3. 7...a6. We will analyse
This move seems more active in details this plan with the
than the classical development of preparation of b7-b5, with a white
the knight on d7, since the knight knight on c3, in Chapters 2-5.
on c6 exerts pressure against 8.e3 (8.c3 e8 — see Chapter
White’s centre. 3) 8...b5 9.c1 (9.b3 id7 10.c1
—see 9.c1)9...d7

101h6. White wishes to trade

7.d5 the dark squared bishops. (He
White occupies space with should better do this immediately,
tempo and ousts the enemy knight since following 10.b3 1c8!?
to the edge of the board. It would 11.ch2 e8 12.h6 h8oo, Black
be misplaced there as Z.Tarrasch would avoid the exchange and the
mentioned long ago... Still, things bishop on h8 would be better
are not so simple. From the aS- placed than the bishop on h6,

17
Chapter 1

since it not only protects the king, 12.f3 h5 13.c2 f5 14.ba3

but exerts powerful pressure on b2. White has practically no
the long dark diagonal.) 10...b8 moves, since all his pieces are
11.ixg7 s?xg7 paralysed. 15.b5 d8 16.b1
,xa1 17.Vxa1 jxc2—+) 9...V41e7 10.
c3 (Black should not be afraid of
10.a3 b4 11.e4, Abdulin —
Mamedyarov, Baku 2000, 11...
c6=, although that might be
White’s best reaction, since he at
least would not be worse.) 10...
d8 11.Vc1 e4 12.e1 d4. Black
has seized completely the initiative.
13.Zc2 Zxc2 14.Vxc2 e3! 15.
12.bd2, Gutman — Zapata, Zd5 xd5 16.cxd5 f5 17.V1c1
New York 1988, 12...bxc4!? 13. xb2 18.V41xb2 e4 Vogel — Ree,
xc4 V(c8= Leeuwarden 1975. After the trade
12.b3 c8!? Black exploits the of the light-squared bishops, the
temporary defencelessness of the position of White’s king will be
pawn on h3 and transfers with unreliable, moreover that he
tempo his bishop to the queenside. should not forget about the weakness
13.cth2 bxc4 14.bxc4 ‘b7 15. of his d5-pawn.
Ve3 Vfa7=, followed by the doubling
of the rooks on the b-file. 7...a5
After 12.d5 a7 13.cxb5, Gut-
man — Boehrner, Bad Woerishofen
2015, 13...axb5!? 14.e4
c6= Black has good counterplay
against the d5-pawn. After its exchange
on c6, his knight will be
activated.

It would not be good for White

to play 7.b3, since this move does
not prevent 7...e5 8.dxe5 (8.b2
e4 — see Volume 1, Chapter 4, variation
A) 8...dxe5 91b2 (But not 8.a4
9.a3?, because of 9...e4! 10.xf8 White not only protects his c4-
V1xf8 11.Ze1, Oratovsky — Garcia pawn, but also attacks the enemy
Luque, Mancha Real 2000. Here, knight.
Black could have postponed regaining
of the exchange: 11...e3! 8.a3. This development of

18
 1.d4 1if6 2.c4 g6 3.q3 g74.g2 0-0 5.f3 d6

the knight to the edge of the board 8.fd2. This move is not without
is not adequate at all. 8...c5 venom.

Or 9.1e1 b5 10.cxb5 a6 — Black should not be in a huriy

with good compensation for the to play 8...c5, because after that
pawn, Miralles — Heimann, Switzerland his knight might become isolated
2010. at the edge of the board. 9.a3!?
Following 9.cLxc6 xc6, Black’s White is preparing a2, b4. 9...
knight leaves the edge of the board Zd7 10.a2 e5 11.b3 a6 12.b2
and all his problems are over. 10. b5 13.f4 g4 14.ixg7 xg7 15.
d4, Miralles — Tkachiev, France c2 f6 16.d3 — His space advantage
1996, 10...xd4!? 11.1xd4 a6oo provides him with a slight
After 9.d2, Black can try to but stable edge, Husemann — Van
prepare b7-b5, or can undermine Bommel, Lechenicher SchachServer
White’s centre with e7-e6. 9...a6 2014.
1O.b1 e6 11.c2, Jussupow — 8...d7!? This is Black’s most
Graf, Osterburg 2006, 11...b5!? precise move. 9 .ic2 (Following
12.dxe6 ixe6oo In the arising position, 9.a3, Black obtains good counter-
it would be too risky for play after 9...b6!?, for example:
White to accept the exchange sacrifice. 10.c2 c6 11.a2 cxd5 12.cxd5
13.cxb5 axb5 14.ixa8 xa8 d7 13.d3 c8. Now, he should
15.f3 c6 16.a1 d8 He can not be afraid of b2-b4, since he
hardly introduce his rook into the could counter it with a5—c4.
actions. Black has a clear-cut plan 14.b3 e6oo. White’s pieces are not
to improve his position — advancing so well prepared for the opening
his pawns: d6-d5-d4, c5-c4. of the game in the centre.) 9...c6.
9.e1. White is preparing e2- Black will try to open the c-file,
e4. 9...f5 10.d2 id7 11.e4 e6 after which the placement of
12.b3 xb3 13.V1xb3 exd5 14. White’s queen on c2 may turn out
exd5 g4 15.h3 V1a5 16.f4 e5co to be disadvantageous. 10.c3
— the chances of both sides are (10.e4 cxd5 11.exd5 e5t) 10...
approximately equal in the arising cxd5 11.cxd5 1c7= Black parries
position. the threat b2-b4 and equalises,

19
Chapter 1

Sirotkina — Korniagina, St Petersburg Vc7 15.Vc2 b8 16.a3 g4 17.

2005. b1 xb1+ 18.Vxb1 V1b6 19.1xb6
axb6= — After the exchange of the
8.bd2 c5 queens, there has arisen an end-
game in which Black’s prospects
are not worse thanks to his superior
pawn-structure, Espinoza —
Bravo, ICCF 2008.

8...c59.d2

Giving up the centre with the

move 9.dxc6 would not create any
problems for Black: 9...xc6 10.
If White does not play 9.e4, c3 f5 1L,e3 e4= Kerrouche
then Black advances b7-b5, ending — Anderson, ICCF 2004.
up with a wonderful position.
For example: 9.a3 b5 10.cxb5 9...b6101c3
Zxd5 and the exchange of the
flank b-pawn, for the central dpawn Capturing of the knight does
is obviously in favour of not promise anything good to
Black. White. 10.,xa5 bxa5 11.c3 b8
Or 9.fc2 b5. He can exploit the 12.V1c2, Morselli — Perman, Arco
defencelessness of the d5-pawn 2015, 12...a4! Black sacrifices a
and accomplish this undermining pawn and seizes the initiative.
move without preparation. 10.e4 13.xa4 f5 14.Vc1 Va5
bxc4 11.xc4 xc4 12. V1xc4 b8oo
The pressure against the b2-pawn
provides Black with a good game.
Following 9.e1 b8 10.b1
b5 11.cxb5 xb5 12.c2 c7 13.b4
cxb4 14.xb4 f5 15.e4 g4 16.
e1 d7oo White has extra space,
but Black’s pieces are more harmoniously
deployed, Fric — Flores,
FICGS 2014.
9.e4 .d7. This move also prepares
b7-b5 and is more useful
that a6. 10.b1 (10.e1 b8 11.h3
e5cx, Tahirov — Inarkiev, Serpukhov
2002) 10...b5 11.b3 b8 12. Black exploits the circumstance
‘c2 bxc4 13.bxc4 xb1 14.Vxb1 that the d5-square is insuf1O...e6

20
 1.d4 Qf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 kg74.g2 0-0 5.ff3 d6

ficiently protected (White has not White’s attempt to capture on

developed his knight on c3 yet.) d6 would not promise anything
and exerts immediate pressure attractive to him. 13.V41d1 b8 14.
against it. xd6, Garcia Palermo — Avrukh,
11.dxe6 Turin 2006, 14...h6!? It is useful
White gives up the centre and for Black to oust the enemy knight
wishes to exploit the misplacement to the edge of the board. 15.h3
of Black’s knight on a8. xc4 16.Vd3 xh3 17.xh3 V1xd3
18.exd3 a5. The tactical complications
Following 11.fd2 exd5 12. have led to an endgame in
cxd5, Tadic — Brenjo, Petrovac which Black’s superior pawn-
2004, 12...e8!?oo Black has a structure is a more important factor
very active play in the spirit of the in the evaluation of the position
Modern Benoni system. than White’s bishop-pair. His
attempt to disrupt his opponent’s
11..Axe6 12.g5 queenside pawns — 19..xa5 bxa5
would lead to the loss of his b2-
It would be worse for White to pawn and a long and laborious
play 12.a3, since he does not fight for a draw.
prevent the enemy pawn-advance
12...d5, for example: 13.cxd5 xd5
14...xg7 cxg7 15.fd1 f6 Zhou
— Wen, Danzhou 2012. The position
has been simplified a bit.
White’s knight on a3 is misplaced.
After subsequent exchanges
Black’s pawn-majority
on the queenside may become
dangerous for White.

It is possible that White should

choose the calmer move 12.bd2, This position was reached in
although even than after 12...b8 the game Prokopchuk — Belyakov,
13.g5 g4 14.fe1 e8= he can Khanty-Mansiysk 2010. Black had
hardly rely on obtaining an advantage an interesting exchange sacrifice:
in the opening, V. Gaprindashvili 13...xc4!? 14.e4 xe4 15.
— Buckley, Baku 2002. .xg7 c?xg7 161xe4 e5 17.
.xa8 Vxa8 18.d1 d5, followed
12..1d7 by d5-d4, id7-h3. Black
Black avoids the trade of his has a pawn for the exchange and
bishop with tempo. good attacking prospects against
13.c2 the enemy king.

21
Chapter 2 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0—0
5.c3 d6 6.f3 c6

e4! 10.g5 e3! Black destroys his

opponent’s pawn-structure. 11.
fxe3 g4 12.V1xd8 xd8 13.c1
— His pieces are much
more harmoniously deployed and
the vulnerability of White’s isolated
pawn on e2 may tell in the
future, Uzhva — Andreikin, Dagomys
2010.

7.h3 a6 8.e3 (8.0—0 Th8 —

In Chapter 2 we begin the see Chapter 4; 8.g5 b8 9.c1,
analysis of the basic variations of Eingorn — Paehtz, Austria 1999,
the system with the development 9...b5 10.cxb5 axb5oo) 8...b8.
of the bishop on g2 in which Black prepares his active actions
White develops his knights to the on the queenside. 9.c1 b5 10.
best possible position (f3 and c3). d2 a5 11.b3 d7 12.0—0 bxc4
7.0—0 13.xc4 xc4 14.bxc4 c5= Stahl-
White will have to castle sooner berg — Uhlmann, Moscow 1956.
or later, so he should better do The b-file is in Black’s hands,
this immediately. while White is squeezed with the
protection of his d4-pawn. After
7.e4 g4 — see Chapter 15, 6.g3. its exchange on c5, or if it is advanced
after d4-d5, Black’s bishop
If White postpones his castling, on g7 will become tremendously
he may even end up in an active.
inferior position, for example: 7.
b3 e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.&a3. Here, 7.d5. As a rule, this pawn-advance
Black can put in doubt his opponent’s transposes to lines which
strategy — that is the weakening we will analyse in Chapter 5. 7...
of the al-h8 diagonal. 9... a5

22
 3.g3 g74.g2 0-0 5.c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6

of the delay of White’s

castling — in numerous variations
his f2-pawn would be handling.
1Lb2 cxb4 12.axb4 V1b6. White
must part with a pawn now; otherwise
he may get checkmated,
and he has no sufficient compensation
for it. 13.0—0 fxb4
Following 9.dxc6, White manages
8.Vd3 c5 9.0—0 a6 — see Chapter5. somehow to maintain the
balance. 9...xc6 10.0—0 1a5 11.
8.b3 a6 9.0—0 b8, or 9.b2 h3 &e6= June — Djukic, Bar 2005.
b8 10.0—0 b5 — see Chapter 5,
variation A. 7...a6
8.Zd2 c5

9.0—0 a6 — see Chapter 5, variation

B. Black prepares his counter-
9.Vfc2 a6 10.b3 (10.0—0 b8 — play on the queenside — b8, b7-
see Chapter 5, variation B2) 10... b5, attacking the enemy pawn on
b8 1Lb2 b5 12.b1 (12.0—0 e5 c4. We have to emphasize that
— see Chapter 5, variation B2b) one of the basic drawbacks of the
12...e5 13.0—0 h5 — see Chapter system with the development of
5, variation B2a. the bishop on g2 is the vulnerability
It would be too risky for White of the pawn on c4, because the
to begin a chase after Black’s bishop on g2 does not protect it.
knight with the move 9.a3, because Besides its merit however, the
of 9...a6!? It turns out that pawn-advance a7-a6 has a drawback
Black should not be afraid of the and this is the fact that Black
threat of his knight being trapped, does not exert pressure against
since he has a very powerful argument his opponent’s centre and this
after 10.b4 and this is 10... presents White with free hands
g4! Now, we see the consequences for actions. This is why he has a

23
Chapter 2

great choice of possibilities in this Martinez — De la Paz Perdomo,

position. Santa Clara 1999, This move is insufficient
to maintain the control
In this chapter we will deal over the strategically important
with the following alternatives for d4-square: iO...e5!? ii.d5 d4=)
White: A) 81g5, B) 8.f4, C) 10...d7 iLd2 e7 i2.d5 d8oo,
8.e3, D) 8.e1, E) 8.e4, F) followed by e6-e5, f7-f5, d8-f7,
8.d3. Galuska — Hostinsky, Czech Republic
i99i. The adherent of the
His more popular moves 8.b3, King’s Indian Defence should be
8.h3 and 8.d5 will be analysed in very happy with this position, because
the following chapters. Black has excellent prospects
with his kingside pawn-offensive.
8.a4 a5!? 9.d2 c5 i0.d5 e6
— see Chapter 5, variation B.
After 8.fc2, the simplest for
8.ei. Now, White’s bishop Black would be 8...f5 9.e4 g4.
eyes immediately Black’s knight, Having deprived his opponent of
but White’s knight does not control the possibility to protect his d4-
the important central e5- pawn with the move e2-e3, Black
square and Black may make use begins to exert pressure against it.
of this later. 8...b8 9.c2 (9.e3 10.e3 d7 ii.Ze2 (1i.V1d2 a5
a5 — see variation C) 9. ..e8 — see variation E) ii...Zb4!? 12.
i0.bi, X.Wang — J.Wang, China V1d2 c5= Now, it would not work
2013. Here, Black has an interesting for White to play here i3.d5?, in
pawn-sacrifice: i0...e5!? ii.d5 view of i3...xf3 i4.xf3 e5—+
d4=, which would be very risky and he would lose material.
for White to accept, because after
12.xd4?! exd4 i3.V1xd4 f5 Following 8.a3, it seems very
i4.ai Black’s pieces would good for Black to choose 8...’Za5!?
become very active. and his knight frees with tempo
the way forward of his c7-pawn.
White cannot create problems 9.d2 c5 iO.dxc5 (iO.d5 g4 —
for his opponent with the line: see Chapter 5, variation B) 10...
8.d5 e6 9.xf6+ 1xf6. As a rule, dxc5 11.a4 V41c7= — The chances
exchanging pieces in the opening are mutual for both sides in this
is usually in favour of Black, since position with a symmetrical
this diminishes White’s chances pawn-structure, Sulashvili — Sjugirov,
of obtaining an advantage. iO.e3. Rijeka 2010.
This move leads to some restriction
of the mobility of White’s The move 8.d2 is not so popular
bishop on ci. (i0.e3, Garcia as the main lines for White,

24
 3.g3 g74.g2 0-0 5.c3 d6 6.’ff3 c6 7.0-0 a6

but has some venom. 8...b8 9. 10.d5. White occupies space.

c1. White impedes his opponent’s 10...d4 11.Ze1 c5 12.dxc6 bxc6
pawn-advance b7-b5 making 13.b3 (13.e3, Blagojevic — Djukic,
use of the defencelessness of Herceg Novi 2001, 13...e6!? 14.
his knight on c6. Black is not xc6 xb2= White does not
obliged to play like this, however. achieve anything after the exchange
(9.d5 a5 10.b3 c5 — see Chapter of pawns.) 13....b7 14.d3
5, variation A) 9...e5 e7oo — If Black manages to advance
d6-d5, he can even rely on
seizing the initiative thanks to his
powerful centre, Kveinys — Markowski,
Koszalin 1999.

A) 8.ig5
White wishes to provoke the
move h7-h6, but he would be incapable
of exploiting this weakening
He exploits the defect of of Black’s king shelter.
White’s move 8 — the lack of control 8...h6
over the d4-square and inflicts
advantageously a strike
against his centre.
White cannot obtain any advantage
after an exchange on e5.
1O.dxe5 dxe5 1L,e3 (There arises
an approximately equal endgarne
after 1Lg5 h6 12.1xd8 xd8 13.
xf6 xf6 14.d5 g7= Black’s
bishop-pair compensates the
presence of his opponent’s knight
in the centre, while it would be
very dangerous for White to accept 91d2
the pawn-sacrifice, Tregubov
— Markowski, Saint Vincent The move 9.e3 is not so popular,
2000, 15.xc7?! e4 16.e1 d4t) because the bishop can come
11...e6 12.Va4 Vc8 13.fd1, Bochev under attack there by Black’s
— Vasilev, ICCF 2010, 13... knight: 9...g4 10.c1 e5 11.d5
e8!?= Black has no pawn-weaknesses e7 12.h3 f6 13.e4 h7 141d2
and his pieces are very well f5=Martin Fernandez — Stoll,
deployed. Forchheim 2011.

25
Chapter 2

The other retreat of the bishop

9J&f4 has the drawback that later
it can be attacked there after e7-
e5, or g6-g5. 9...b8 10.Vc1 (10.
h3 d7 11.e4 V1c8 12.ch2 g5 13.
c1 e5 14.d5, Kupsys — Kazoks,
ICCF 2005, 14...Zd4!?=) 10...ch7
11.d1 d7 12.d5 e4. Black’s
plan includes the pawn-advances
f7-f5 and e7-e5. 13.c2 f5 14.
e3 e6. Before advancing e5, it
would be useful for him to oust after an exchange on e5. 10.
White’s knight away from the dxe5 dxe5 11.V1c1 e4. Black ousts
centre of the board. 15.c3 xc3 the enemy knight away from the
16.V1xc3 e5 17.d5 e7 18.b3 g5oo centre. 12.Ze1 h7 13.’Zc2 (after
— Black’s kingside pawn-offensive 13.xe4 xe4 141xe4 followed
may turn out to be dangerous, by g4, or h3, Black’s
Baranowski — Efendiyev, ICCF piece-activity compensates fully
2012. his minimal material deficit, Loginov
— Vovk, St Petersburg
White should better refrain 2004) 13...e6 14.e3 d4 15.e1
from exchanging his powerful ‘e7 16.xe4. After this move,
dark-squared bishop for the enemy there arise tactical complications,
knight. 9.xf6 xf6 10.V1d2 which lead to almost complete annihilation
ig7 11.fd1 b8 12.ac1 g4 13.e3 of the material on the
1c8 14.e2, Praxmarer — Efimenko, board. 16...xe4 17.xe4 xc4
Deizisau 2003, 14...e5!?oo 18.xb7 xe2+ 19.xe2 xe2 20.
Black’s prospects are not worse at xa8 xa8 2Lc3 f3 22.xg7
all. If White closes later the centre cxg7 23.V1c3+ V1f6 24.f5+ gxfs
with d4-d5, this will free Black’s 25.V41xf3 V41xb2= Holscher — Rada,
hands for actions on the kingside. ICCF 2014.
After an eventual exchange in the
centre, the position will be opened 1O...d4 11.e1
and this would again be in favour
of Black, because of his two powerful Black would counter the immediate
bishops. move 11.e3 with 11...
xf3+ 12.xf3 h3 13.e1 Vd7
9...e5 14.e4 h7# and later f7-f5, h7-
(diagram) g5, creating very good counterplay
1O.d5 on the kingside, Relange —
Kasirndzhanov, playchess.com
White cannot obtain an advantage 2004.

26
Chapter 2

the c-pawn may turn out to be It would not be so active for

in favour of Black later. 11.d5 White to opt here for 10.b3 .d7
a5 12.d4, Komperda — Berkley, 11.d3 (11.d5, Yevseev — Bodnaruk,
IECC 2000. Here, he could St Petersburg 2013, 11...
have entered advantageous complications, xd5!? 12.cxd5 b4oo and his
connected with an attack pawns on a2 and d5 would be
against the weak white d5- hanging.) 11...e8 12.fd1 b4 13.
pawn. 12...b4!? 13.cb5 ib7 14. d5 xd5 14.cxd5 a7oo, preparing
xb4 xd5 15.xa5 (White loses the transfer of the knight to
after 15.xd5?, due to the intermediate the c3-square, Zhao — Ding, Xinghua
move 15...c5 16.d2 Jiangsu 2011. Black is ready
xd5—+) 15.. .xf4 16.gxf4 xg2 to sacrifice a pawn in order to accomplish
17.xg2 V!d7. The threat c7-c6, or this: 15.Vxa6 b5 16.
c7-c5, forces White to part with 1a5 c3
his extra piece. 18.V1xc7 1xc7 19.
Zxc7 .xd4 20.ab1 b7. Black is 10.cxb5 axb5 11.e4 (11.d5 b4
not in a hurry to regain his pawn 12.b1, Kurajica — Perez Barreto,
and wishes to do this under the Tenerife 2013, 12...a5!? 13.Va4
most favourable circumstances. b7 14.d4 c5 15.1d1 b7co
21.fc1 c8 22. d5 xc1 23.xc1 Black has managed to cover reliably
xb2 24.xe7+ cf8 25.c6 c5 the vulnerability of the c6-
26.f3 xa2= square.) 11...&g4 12.h3 &xf3 13.
ixf3 e5 — After this move he can
9...b5 be very optimistic about his future,
Kuljasevic — Cheparinov,
Plovdiv 2012.

1O...bxc4 11.xf6+

1O.d5
After the exchange on f6,
White is threatening to win a
pawn (c4xb5), making use of the
defencelessness of the enemy 11...exf6
knight on c6. This is more precise for Black

28
 3.g3 g74.g2 0-0 5.c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6

than the routine capturing with White has failed to exploit the
the bishop, because it is essential vulnerability of the enemy pawns
for him to free the e7-square for on a5 and c5, since his own queen-
the retreat of his knight. side pawns are also weak. For example:
12.xc4 e7 13.b3 30.b4 axb4 31.axb4
V!xc4 32.xc4 f8 33.bxc5
After 13.Vc1, Zoler — Kantsler, c’e7. Black’s king is in a hurry to
Beersheba 2014, Black has a very attack the pawn on c5. 34.f3 d7
interesting move 13..1e6!? and 35.c?f2 cc6 36.e4 fxe4 37.
the game becomes very sharp after fxe4 cb5=
it. 14.xc7 xa2 15.e4 f5 16.e5
d5 17.exd6 xf4 18.V41xf4. White
has an extra pawn, but Black has a C) 8.e3
powerful bishop-pair and excellent This plan seems to be a bit
counterplay against the weak slow; nevertheless, it is sensible.
enemy d6-pawn. 18...b6 19.d7 White wishes to play e2, protecting
ie6 20.fc1 xd7= — He has captured his c4-pawn. Now, if Black
White’s weak pawn, which advances b7-b5 and captures on
had been too far away from the c4, then White would be able to
rest of his forces and in this position take with his queen.
Black’s two powerful bishops 8...b8
compensate his doubled f-pawns.

13...e6 14.c1

After 14.a4 b6 15.Ze1, Black

succeeds in protecting reliably his
weakness on a6. 15...d5 16.V41d3
W1a8=

14...f5 151g5 .d5 16.e1

ixg2 17.xg2 d7 181xe7
xe7. The position has been simplified
and White’s slight edge, 9S!e2
connected with his superior
pawn-structure, gradually evaporates. 9.b3 b5 — see Chapter 3.
19.e3 c5 20.dxc5 dxc5
21.c2 bc8 22.f4 .e5 23. After 9.e1, Black will have
d3 fd8 24.fd1 a5 25S!c4 some difficulties, due to the defencelessness
d6 26.xe5 V!xe5 27.h4 h5 of his knight on c6,
28.xd6 Vxd6 29.a3 Ve6= but will manage to advance b7-b5.
Telepnev — Jones, ICCF 2013. 9...a5 10.b3 c5. You can see now

29
Chapter 2

the consequences of the removal e5oo Stud — Skoberne, Rogaska

of White’s knight from the f3- Slatina 2009.
square. Before advancing b7-b5,
Black wishes to force his opponent 9...b5
to protect his d4-pawn. 11.
d3 (11.c2, Dvoirys — Khairulun,
Kazan 2005, 11...b5!?±) 11...
,g4 12.1d2 b5 13.cxb5 axb5 14.
dxc5 dxc5 15.1xc5, Markus —
Jones, Tromso 2014. White has
succeeded in winning a pawn, but
the lag of development of his
queenside pieces precludes him
from obtaining an advantage in
the opening. 15...’c8! This is the
most precise move for Black. He
avoids the trade of the queens and d1
forces the pawn-advance b3-b4,
after which his knight, which was 10.b3 bxc4 — see Chapter 3.
isolated from the actions at the
edge of the board, gains access to 10.d2 g4 11.f3 d7 12.b3 e5
the wonderful c4-square. 16.b4 — see Chapter 3.
c4 17.c2 d7 — White should
better exchange immediately his 1O...bxc4 11.xc4 b4.
opponent’s powerful knight. Black Black begins his fight for the
has good compensation for the important d5-square. 12.a3 e6
sacrificed pawn. 13Se2 bd5 14.xd5 xd5
15.Vxa6. White has not achieved
9.’fZd2. White plans to transfer much by capturing his opponent’s
his knight to b3 after which he weak a6-pawn. 15..S!d7
will have so many pieces on the 16Se2, Houska — Gaehwiler,
queenside that Black’s chances of Caleta 2013, 16...fc8!? Black is
developing his initiative there preparing the pawn-advance c7-
would be minimal. It would seem c5. 17.b4 c5 18.dxc5 dxc5 19.
much more logical for him to seek b2 cxb4= He has regained his
his counter chances on the opposite pawn and the position is completely
side of the board. The shelter equal.
of White’s king, after the removal
of his knight from the f3-square,
does not look so reliable. 9...d7 D) 8.e1
10.b3 c8 11.e1 h5 12.a3 e8 White does not clarify his
13.d2 h3 14.ihl d7 15.c1 plans yet. Later, he may begin ac1O.

30
 3.g3 ig74.g2 0-0 5.c3 d6 6.tuif3 c6 7.0-0 a6

tive actions in the centre (e2-e4), hold on to the d4-square, while

or choose to apply some prophylactic following d4-d5, it becomes difficult
on the queenside against
b7-b5-b4 (b1, b2-b4).
8...b8
9.b1
9.h3 b5 — see Chapter 4.
to understand why he has
played e1 and e2-e3.
After 9.e4, there arise positions
which we will analyse in
variation E, but with the inclusion
of the moves e1 and b8.
This cannot change however
the evaluation of this position
as approximately equal. 9..1g4.
Black begins to exert immediate
pressure against the enemy
centre. His plans include d7,
e7-e5, followed by the deployment
of his knight to the d4-
square. 101e3 (10.h3 ixf3 11.
xf3 Zd7 12.ie3 e5 — see 1O.e3)
10...d7

It seems too straightforward

for White to opt here for 9.a4 —
he prevents radically the pawn-
advance b7-b5, but weakens seriously
the b4-square. 9...a5! 10.e4
g4 1Le3 d7 12.V1d2 e5 13.d5
xf3 14.,xf3 d4= Black will deploy
his knight on the c5-square
with his next move and White will
not be able to oust it from there I do not think White should
with the move b2-b4, Smailovic — play here 11.h3, because Black intends
Popovic, Bar 2005. to exchange on f3 anyway.
11...xf3 12.xf3 e5 13.d5 d4
The move 9.V1c2 has the drawback 14.g2 c5 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.b3 (16.
that weakens the control b1, Van Wely — Klein, Amstelveen
over the d4-square. The best way 2015, 16...1a5=) 16...c5 17.
for Black to exploit this circumstance Ze2 ce6= — Black’s powerful
is the move 9...g4, for example: centralised knight compensates
10.e3, Krasiewicz — Szymczuk, White’s two-bishop advantage,
Poland 2006, 10...e5!?= — It Jussupow — Korobov, Warsaw
would be difficult for White to 2010.

31
Chapter 2

11.e2. He fortifies the key

d4-square. Black can change
however his plans a bit. 11...1a5.
His knight frees the way forward
of his c-pawn. This plan may not
seem so energetic, but Black can
afford to play like this, since the
position is closed and the time
factor is not so important as in
opened positions. 12.b3 (12.c1 c5
13.b3 c6 Le Roux — Navrotescu,
Deauville 2010) 12. ..c5 13.h3 Following 10.b3 b5 11.cxb5
&xf3 14.xf3 c6 15.g2 cxd4 axb5, Black’s queenside initiative
16.xd4 V1a5. Black increases his provides him with at least equal
pressure on the dark squares. prospects. 12.b4. The threat b5-b5
White decides to sacrifice material is so unpleasant for White that he
in order to neutralise it and loses a tempo (advancing b4 in
wishes to open the position for his two moves) and weakens the c4-
powerful bishops. 17.xc6 bxc6 square. (After 12.e4 b4 13.a4
18.b1 1xa2 19.e5 xe5 20.f4 d7 14.b2 d5 15.e5 e4 161d2
d7 21.xc6 c5 22.b4 b6 23. c5 17.dxc5 c6 18.d3 f5oo,
d5 fb8 24.ixc5. White parts Black has good compensation for
with his bishop-pair, but regains the sacrificed pawn. His pieces
the e7-pawn. Later, in the game are actively deployed, while White
Salcedo Mederos — Tiemann, pawns on e5, c5, and a bit later on
ICCF 2008, the vulnerability of a2, are comfortable targets for attack,
his first rank was balanced by Gomez Esteban — Tkachiev,
White’s attack against the f7- Las Palmas 1997.) 12...c4 13.d5
square and it all ended with numerous (The move 13.a4 has the drawback
exchanges and a transfer that it leads to the appearance
into a drawish endgame with of the isolated b-pawn. 13...
bishops of opposite colours. 24... bxa4 14.V1xa4 d7 15.b5 db6co
dxc5 25.xe7 d4+ 26.s±?hl xb4 Salov — Tkachiev, Groningen
27.xb4 xb4 28Jxf7 b2 29. 1997.) 13...d7 14.d4 e6 15.e4
b7+ tf8 30.xb2 xb2 31.e1 e8oo — Later, White must play
1f2 32.Vxf2 kxf2= very carefully; otherwise, the vulnerability
of his backward a-pawn
9...a5 may tell, Kveinys — Renet, Saint
Black attacks the vulnerable Quentin 2014.
enemy c4-pawn.
1O.a4 White cannot prevent his opponent’s
White protects it with tempo. plans with 10.1d3 b5

32
 3.g3 g74.g2 0-0 5.c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6

11.cxb5 axb5 12.b4 ‘fZc4 13.d5 (13. White is fighting for the initiative
xb5?! d5 14.a3 White on the queenside.
loses the exchange, Aramil — Vigonto,
Las Vegas 2006) 13...g4. 11.d5 d7 12.fc2 c5 13.
Black prepares the transfer of his xf6+ xf6 14.dxc5 bxc5= Yet-
knight to the e5-square. 14.d4 man — Ward, ICCF 2007.
e6 15.d1 (15.e3 exd5 16.xd5
ge5 17.Ve2, Adly — Wang, Ningbo It does not seem so consistent
2011, 17...c6!?, ousting the enemy for White to play 11.e4, because
knight away from the centre) after 11...d7, his queen will be
15...exd5 16.xd5. Now, Black has forced to retreat to its initial position.
a very promising pawn-sacrifice. 12.1d1 g4!? This move
16...d7 17.xc4 Ze5 18.xf7+ looks more reliable than accepting
xf7 Yasakov — Morozov, ICCF the pawn-sacrifice (12...xc4
2014. Black had very good compensation 13.b3 a5 14.e5 ‘fZe8 15.f4 Janosi
for the sacrificed material — Hervet, ICCF 2002). 13.h3
— two powerful bishops and xf3 141xf3 d7 15.b3 c5 16.e2
good attacking prospects against Zc6. Now, just like in the variation
the enemy king, because its shelter with 9.e4, Black exerts
had become vulnerable after pressure against the d4-pawn.
the disappearance of the bishop 17.b2 ixd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.
on g2; nevertheless, White still xd4 cxd4 20.xd4. After the
had an extra pawn and following numerous exchanges, White
19. Vc2 c6 20.e4 c4 21.g5 has lost his main trump — his
e7 22.a4 Ve8 23.gf3 a8 24. bishop-pair. 20...e5 21.cg2 c6.
axb5 cxb5 25.b2 f7, the opponents Black is trying to obtain an advantage.
agreed to a draw. He wishes to advance e7-e5
and to deploy his knight on the
1O...b6 d4-outpost. White must react
precisely; otherwise, he may end
up in a bad position. 22.V1d5 c7
23.bd1 bd8 24.h4 e5 25.h1
d4 26.h5. Now, Black must exchange
the queens in order to
avoid being attacked on the h-file.
26...1c5 27. b7 1c6 28.xc6
xc6= Hunger — Glukhovtsev,
ICCF 2014.

11...e8
Black wishes either to exchange,
11.c5 or to oust the enemy

33
Chapter 2

queen, so that his knight may occupy ance of the enemy bishop on f5,
the c4-square. but unfortunately for him the
arising complications still maintain
the position within approximate
equality.
13..1f514.e4dxe4

12Sc2
The retreat of White’s queen
to this square enables Black to
have some tactical possibilities,
connected with the development White sacrifices a pawn and
of his bishop to f5. covers temporarily the diagonal
of the enemy bishop. 15.bxc7
12.cxd6 cxd6 13.V1d1 b5 14.a3 exf3 16.cxb8V! V!xb8 17S!a4
b7= Nyvlt — Alves, ICCF 2002. fxg2 18S!xa5 xb1 19.xb1
b7 2O.c3 e6 21S!e5 c8oo
There arise numerous exchanges Sogin — Cantelli, ICCF 2010.
after 12.V1xe8 xe8 13.b4 c4
14.d2 xd2 15.xd2 bxc5 16.bxc5
xb1 17.xb1 dxc5 18.dxc5 e6=, E) 8.e4
with an approximately equal endgame,
Sanz Velez — Booij, ICCF
2011. The point is that after 19.
Th7 d8 20.e1 e8, White cannot
attack the a6-pawn 21.a7?,
since Black will counter this with
21....xc3 22.&xc3 d1+ 23.ifl h3—+

12...d5
Naturally, before playing ff5,
Black must prevent e2-e4.
13.cxb6
This is an energetic move. This occupation of the centre
White is not afraid of the appear- is not so popular as the move 8.

34
 3.g3 g74.g2 0-0 5.c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6

h3, which will be analysed in the 11.c1 c5 12.b3 (12.h3 xf3 13.
next chapter, since it allows Black xf3 c6 14.d5 Dautov — Schoene,
to play g4. Germany 2009, 14...ce5!?
8..1g491e3 15.g2 b5 16.cxb5 axb5= White
has failed to hold on to the c4-
Following 9.h3 xf3 10.xf3 square and Black’s chances are
Qd7 11.d5 (1L,e3 e5 — see 9.,e3) not worse at all.) 12...c6 13.d5. It
11...d4 12.g2 c5 13.dxc6, Mathonia may seem White has achieved a
— Adler, Germany 2013, lot. He controls the key d4-square
13...xc6!?=, Black’s pressure on and ousts the enemy knight, but
the dark squares compensates Black enters advantageous tactical
White’s two-bishop advantage. complications. 13...b4 14.a3
d3 This is a temporary piecesacrifice.
9...d7 15.V1xd3 xf3 161xf3
Ze5. This is the point. Black regains
the material. 17.V1c2 (17.
Vd1 xf3+ 18.c?g2 e5= Tadic —
Popovic, Jahorina 2012) 17...
xf3+ 18.c?g2 e5 19.f4 d7 20.
d2 b5 2Lc3 xc3 22.Vfxc3, Ozturk
— Umudova, Ankara 2010,
22...b8= — The exchanges of the
minor pieces are in favour of
Black, because now, White’s space
advantage is not dangerous for
Black. In addition, after the trade
1O.V!d2 on c4, he has counterplay on the
b-file.
White can increase the protection Black should not be afraid of
of his d4-pawn, but this does 11.d2 c5 12.f3 cxd4 13.xd4 e5.
not provide him with an advantage He wishes to oust the enemy
either. 10.Ze2 ‘a5. Black is knight away from the centre in
preparing c7-c5. order to be able later to play .e6.
14.c6 (14.c2 e6 15.b3 c6=
Black has the possibility to organise
counterplay with f7-f5
and d4 and this compensates
the weakness of his d6-pawn,
Mikhalchishin — Manik, Leipzig
2002) 14...xc6 15.fxg4 b5 16.c1
d4= Heilala — Yloenen, ICCF
2012.

35
Chapter 2

Following 10.h3, Black may 12.ac1

forget about the plan with c6-c5
and choose instead e7-e5 and Zd4. 12.ab1 xf3 13.xf3 c6
10...xf3 11.,xf3 e5 12.d5 d4 13. 14.e2, Tunik — Motylev, Samara
g2 c5. His knight in the centre 2000. Here, Black has a plan,
has two pawns — c and e to support connected with the deployment
it reliably in the centre of the of his knight to the key d4-
board. 14.dxc6. White begins a fight square. 14...cxd4!? 15.xd4 xd4
against the enemy knight. 14... 16.xd4 de5 17.c?g2 xd4 18.
bxc6 15.b4 (15.f4 b8 16.V1d2 f5oo V1xd4 c6 19.V41e3 e5oo, followed
Becking — Klein, Dudweiler 1996). by d4 and White’s “bad” bishop
Naturally, Black cannot support may become a cause for great
later his knight with the move c6- worries for Black.
c5, because this will present White’s
knight with the d5-square. 15... 12...c6 13.e2, Mamedyarov
V1c7 16.b1 a5 17.b5 cxb5 18.xb5 — Al Modiahki, Dubai
1xc4 19.xd4. White has managed 2004 (13.dxc5 xf3 14.,xf3
to get rid of the enemy knight, but dxc5=).
the position is simplified rapidly.
19...exd4 20.xd6 Ve6 21.b5
WIxa2 22.f4 ab8 23.e5 fd8 24.
f2 Ve6 25.xd4 xb1 26.V1xb1
V1b6 27.Vxb6 xb6 28.c6 d1+
29.f1 xf1+ 30.cxf1 a4= — The
presence of bishops of opposite
colours on the board precludes
Black from utilising the power of
his outside passed pawn, Valderrama
— Bubir, 2007.

1O...a511.b3c5 Here, Black could have fought

for the d4-square with: 13...
xf3!? 141xE3 xd4 151xd4
cxd4 16.xd4 de5 17.cg2
(This is more precise than 17.g2
xd4 18.V1xd4 c6 19.Ve3 e5)
17...xd4 18Sxd4 c6 19.
Ve3 e5 20.h4 d4oo - White
has some counterplay on the hfile
and this may be sufficient for
him to maintain the equality, but
not more than that.

36
 3.g3 g74.g2 0-0 5.c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6

F) 8S!d3 9...dxe5 1O.Yxd8 xd8 11.

g5
It may seem that White can
obtain at least a slight edge
thanks to his more active pieces,
but his initiative gradually evaporates.

11...e8

The idea of this move is that

White prevents the pawn-advance
b7-b5 and if Black pushes e7-e5,
then White will enter an end-
game. Still, this plan cannot provide
him with an advantage in the
opening.
8...e59.dxe5 12.fd1

It seem less consistent for 12.h3 e6 13.d2 d7= Melkumyan

White to choose here 9.d5, because — Korobov, Konya 2015.
Black can win a tempo after
the transfer of his knight to the 12.ad1. This move seems less
c5-square thanks to the placement precise than 12.fd1, because in
of White’s queen on d3. 9... the closed openings White’s rooks
b4 10.V1d2 (10.V1d1 a5 11.e4 a6 are usually deployed on dl and ci.
12.Ve2 — see 10.1d2) 10...a5 11.e4 12...h6 13.e3 e6 14.b3 ad8
a6 12.V1e2 Zc5 13.V41c2. White is 15.xd8 (Following 15.d2, Black
preparing the development of has a very good plan, connected
his bishop to e3. 13...c6 14.e3 with the preparation of f7-f5, e5-
cxd5 151xc5 dxc5 16.xd5 a4 17. e4 and White must play very accurately
c3 V1a5 18.ad1 e8oo De Oliveira not to end up in an inferior
— Papenin, ICCF 2010. Black’s position. l5...d7 l6.dbl f5
two-bishop advantage compensates l7.d5 c8 l8.d2 e4 l9.f4 f8
the vulnerability of the d5- 20.h4 f7 2l.fdl e6= Soberano
square. If he succeeds in transferring — Petrolo, ICCF 2010) l5...xd8
his knight to d4 (e8-c7-e6- l6.dl xdl+ l7.xdl. After the
d4), then he will maintain an advantage. exchange of the rooks, neither
side can rely on obtaining an ad-

37
Chapter 2

vantage. 17...d7 18.’Ze1 Zd8 19. simplest road to equality for Black
d2 f6 20.d3 c6 21.cf1 f8 22. would be the line: 14...h6!? 15.e3
e3 cf7= — Black’s prospects are Zc2 16.a7 xa1 17.,xb8 Zxb3
not worse, Novak — Telepnev, 18.axb3 c6=) 14...’Ze6 15. xf6
ICCF 2014. ,xf6 16.c5. White has some
queenside initiative indeed, but
After the straightforward you should have in mind that
move 12.d5, numerous pieces Black has a bishop-pair. 16...c?g7
are exchanged and the position is 17.b4 d4 18.e3 c6 19.d5 d8
totally simplified. 12...Zxd5 13. 20.c4 e6 21.d2 f5oo Woodard
cxd5 b4 14.e4 c6 15.a3 d3 — Bellegotti, ICCF 2014. White’s
16.dxc6 bxc6. White cannot exploit pieces are more active, but you
the weakness of the enemy should not ignore the famous sentence
c6-pawn. 17.b4 c5 18.fd1. This is of Z.Tarrasch “ Future belongs
a double-edged move. White allows to the player with the bishops...,’.
the enemy pawn to the c4-
square and there it may become
very strong at any moment, instead 12...h6
of being a weakness. 18...c4
19.e1 b2 20.dc1 e6 2Lf1 f6
22.e3 ec8 23.ic5 f8 24.c2
xc5 25.bxc5 c3 26.xc3 a4= —
After Black has regained his c5-
pawn, it is only he who can play
for a win, because White’s bishop
on fl may turn out to be bad, since
his central e4-pawn is deployed
on a square with the same colour,
Grornark — Zemlyanov, ICCF
2011.
l3Jxf6
12.Zd2. This is a flexible move. After this move Black obtains
From here, the knight may go to the two-bishop advantage which
b3, to e4 and even to the c4- is particularly valuable in the end-
square after the preliminary move game.
c4-c5. 12...d4 13.fd1 (13.c5,
Meier — Mareco, Buenos Aires Still, even after 131e3, Black
2011, 13...b5!?=) 13...b8. Black has a good position. 13...e6 14.
protects his b7-pawn and prepares d2 d4 15.ac1 c6= Lovik — Talla,
the development of his Vila Nova de Gaia 2010.
bishop c8. 14.ac1 (after 14.b3,
Teterev — Nakar, Eilat 2012, the 13..$Lxf6 14.d2

38
 3.g3 g74.g2 0-0 5.c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6

The character of the fight remains them from there and later he may
the same following 14.d5 not only equalise, but even seize
.d8 15.c5 g7 16.’d2 e6oo Hoffmann the initiative. 15.de4 ie7 16.
— Talla, Vila Nova de Gaia d5 d8 17.c5. White’s knights
2010. are beautifully placed indeed, but
this is just temporary. 17...Zd4
14...cg7 18.c3 (It would be possibly better
This is a useful move for Black. for White to play here 18.e3,
He takes the important f6-square Sharafiev — Belyakov, Kazan 2013
under control to deprive his opponent 18...e6!?= and at least he would
of the possibility to play not be worse.) 18...c6 19.e3 e6
later e4(d5)-f6. 20.5e4 c7 21.d2 d8 22.ad1
xd2 23.xd2 b8 24.b4 f8 25.
c5 f5. With the advance of his e
and f-pawns, Black diminishes
the sphere of action of his opponent’s
bishop on g2. 26.f1 e4 27.
c2g2 f7 28.h3 e7 29.b3 d7
30.d4 e5 31.a4 b6 Evans —
Polezhaev, ICCF 2012. Black has
gradually restricted his opponent’s
minor pieces. He has an
advantage in this endgame
thanks to his two bishops and extra
15.a3 space in the centre and on the
kingside.
15.d5 d8 16.c5 g4 17.f3
(17.f1 d4= Donchenko — Feller, 15...h5
Montpellier 2015) 17...e6
18.c4 h5 19.de3 b8 20.d5
Qd4 21.,xe6 xe6 22.cf1 e7=
White has coped with his opponent’s
two-bishop advantage, but
Black has consolidated his position
and can be very optimistic
about his future, Sharpe —
Schmidt, ICCF 2011.

He should not be afraid of the

eventual penetration of White’s
knights to central positions, because White will have the possibility
Black will gradually oust to trade the bishop on c6 and to

39
Chczpter2

disrupt his opponent’s queenside nected with his two powerful

pawn-structure, so Black prepares bishops, Woodard — Zylla, ICCF
in advance counterplay on 2013.
the opposite side of the board. He
wishes to open the h-file and to 17...bxc6 18.ce4 e7 19.
exploit the compromised position b3 hxg3 20.hxg3 e6 21.
of White’s king. a5.
16.b4
The move h2-h4 would have
weakened the g4-square.
16...h4

It may seem that White has

achieved a lot. He has compromised
his opponent’s pawn-structure
and his knight are very active.
171xc6 Still, Black has his chances of
maintaining the balance. 21...c5
The position would be a bit 22.xc5 xc5 23.bxc5 h8
calmer after 17.ac1 hxg3 18.hxg3 24.c?g2 e4 25.h1 ad8 26.
g4 19.cf1 h8 20.de4 e7 21. xh8 xh8 27.c1 h3+. Groth
d5 d8 22.e3 c8 23.c5 f5oo — Chumanov, ICCF 2014. After
and there would have arisen again 28.cg1 b8 29.c6 b3=
a typical position for this end- White’s extra doubled pawn is not
game in which White’s pieces sufficient for him to obtain the
would be more actively placed, advantage, because Black’s rook
but Black’s hopes would be con- is very active.

40
Chapter 3 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 .g7 4..g2 0—0
5.c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0—0 a6 8.b3

11.e1 c6 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.b2

1b6. There arise numerous exchanges
of minor pieces following
14.d3 xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.
xb4 V1xb4 17.xc6 h3 181g2
xg2 19.cxg2 fc8= and Black’s
prospects are not worse in this
endgame with major pieces,
Landgren — Krupenski, Hallsberg
2000.) 11...a5!? This move is
forced but is not bad at all. 12.a3
White prepares the fianchetto a6 13.e5 (13.g5 c6 14.dxc6
of his second bishop. His last bxc6= Flores — Meier, Buenos
move may seem to be solid, but Aires 2011) 13...e6. Black undermines
has the defect that it does not prevent the enemy centre and
in any way Black’s plan connected wishes to remove White’s pawn
with the pawmadvance from the d4-square in order to
b7-b5. bring back his knight into the actions
8...b891b2 with c5. White is preventing
this in all possible ways. 14.
9.h3 b5 — see Chapter 4. Sg5 f6 15.exf6 xf6 16.h6 e8.
This is an interesting idea. White
9.d5 a5 — see Chapter 5. sacrifices a pawn hoping to make
use of the slightly compromised
After 9.d5 xd5 10.cxd5 shelter of the enemy king and also
b4, White fails to exploit the to exploit the circumstance that
somewhat exposed position of Black will need to lose several
Black’s knight on b4. 11.e4. White tempi in order to bring his knight
is threatening to win this knight on a6 back into the actions. Still,
with the move a3. (Black’s task all this proves to be insufficient
would be much simpler after for White to obtain an advantage.

41
Chapter 3

17.V1d2 exd5 18.ae1 xe1 19.xe1 10.b2 g4 11.h3 xf3 12.

c6 20.Vf4 c7 21.g5 f5 22.g4 xf3. Now, contrary to the variation
d7 23.h4 b5 24.Zf3 ‘Zc3. Black’s which we have just analysed
knight is coming to help. 25.f1 with 10.e4, the weakness of the
h8 26.1xd6 xg4 27.1f4. White’s d4-square is not so important,
initiative may seem threatening, since White can protect it with the
but Black can transfer into an move e2-e3. 12...Zd7 13.e3 e5 14.
equal endgarne after a precise b5 b4. Black dominates over
play. 27. ..xf3 28.e7 Vxe7 29. the b4-outpost and this compensates
xb8+ f7 30.V1xh8 e2= Whaley White’s two-bishop advantage.
— Ingersol, ICCF 2014. Black’s further plans include
the preparation of c7-c6, in order
White’s attempt to prevent b7- to oust the enemy knight from its
b5 with 9.a4 leads to the considerable active position. 15.c3 exd4 16.
weakening of the b4-square exd4 f6 17.1d2 c6 18.a3 d7
and Black can exploit this immediately 19.g2 fe8= Bucur — Schramm,
with the move 9...a5. ICCF 2010. In this approximately
equal position White cannot
maintain an advantage by winning
a pawn, because after 20.
xb4 axb4 21.V1xb4 Black’s
pieces are very active and he exerts
pressure against the d4-
pawn, so this is sufficient compensation
for his minimal material
deficit.

Black has no problems after 9.e3b5

10.a3 b4 11.Vd2, Appel —
Fruebing, Germany 2009, 11...
c6!?=

Following the too active move

10.e4, White even fails to equalise.
10.. .g4 1Le3 e5 12.d5 d4.
Black’s knight is very powerful
in the centre. Its exchange 13.
ixd4 exd4 14.V1xd4 xd5 15.
V1xd5 xc3t leads to a position in
which Black has two powerful Following 10.d2, Black can
bishops, while the dark squares in cause some disharmony in the
White’s position are vulnerable, set-up of White’s pieces with 10...
Zita — Filip, Bratislava 1957. g4. 11.f3 White covers the diago42
 3.g3 g74.g2 0-0 5.tIc3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6 8.b3 b8

nal of the enemy bishop. (It would protection of his c4-pawn, Hoff-
be too passive for him to retreat mann — Hernandez Fernandez,
his knight 11.’e2, Slipak — Milov, ICCF 2012.) 12...e4. Black opens
Buenos Aires 1996, 11...V1d7!?oo; the diagonal for his bishop on g7.
White can offer the exchange of 13.dxc6 exf3 14.ixf3, Cvitan — Al
the bishops with 1Lf3, but this Modiahki, Biel 2002, 14...e4
cannot cause any problems for 15.xe4 xc3 16.b1 xb1 17.xb1
Black. 11...xf3 12.1xf3 1d7= h3 18.d1 V1e8 19.V1f3 h5 — The
Makarov — Heinatz, Budapest tactical complications have ended
1996) 11...d7 12.V1e2 e5 13.d5 and the position has remained
Qe7 14.e4 c6 15.b2 h5 16.V41f2 very complicated. Black’s bishops
h4!? 17.gxh4 ‘Zh5 Orolin — are active and White is likely to
Mulder, ICCF 2014. Black sacrifices fail to hold on to his extra c6-
a pawn and seizes the pawn.
initiative on the kingside. His 11.Vxc4 b4 12.1e2 (12.d1
play would be much easier from a5 13.V1e2 — see 12.V1e2; 12.a3 e6
the practical point of view, because 13.V1e2 bd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.
his plans include an attack d2 xg2 16.c?xg2 c8=, followed
against the enemy king and this by ‘b7, fc8, c7-c5 and
is always unpleasant for the defending Black obtains a very good position,
side. Sapis — B.Socko, Glogow
10.V1e2 bxc4 2001) 12...a5. He changes the
route of his bishop and develops it
to the a6-fl diagonal. 13.d1 a6
14.V1d2 c5 15.a3 (After 15.ib2
c7 16.e1 cxd4 17.exd4 fc8oo,
Black’s pieces are actively deployed
and the vulnerability of
White’s isolated d4-pawn may tell
in the future, Noriega de la Sierra
— Bennborn, ICCF 2013.) 15...V1c7
16.ac1 (16.Ze1 cxd4 17.exd4,
After 11.bxc4, White will hardly Tkachiev — Paragua, Bastia 2003,
manage to exploit the vulnerability 17...fc8!?oo) Now, White must be
of Black’s pawns on a6 and constantly on the alert about the
c7. 11...e5 12.d5 (White cannot possible penetration of Black’s
create any problems for his opponent knight to the d3-square. If he
with the line: 12.dxe5 g4 solves radically this problem with
13.b1 xb1 14.xb1 gxe5 15. the move Ze1, then his knight
xe5 xe5= — The position has would be passive at the edge of
been simplified a bit and White the board. 16...fc8oo Zoler — B.
may have difficulties with the Socko, Biel 2007.

43
Chapter 3

9...b510.cxb5 tween the ambitious move A)

11.d5 and the more prudent B)
About 10.d5 a5 — see Chapter5. 11.c1.

The move 11.1c2 has the

Following 10.e1 a5, White drawback that Black can free the
cannot avoid the exchange on b5 way forward of his c-pawn with
anyway. 11.cxb5 axb5 12.d3. He tempo. 11...b4 12.1d2 (There
prevents the pawn-advance c7-c5. arises a complicated strategical
(It seems less precise here for fight after 12.V1c1 a6!? 13.d2
White to opt for 12.gcl c5 13.dxc5 d7 14.de4 h5 15.e3 c6oo
dxc5= Tatenhorst — Groselj, Bled Black’s knights are at the edge of
1997.) 12...b7 13.e4, Godes — the board indeed, but his chances
Gruenfeld, Jerusalem 1996. Now, are not worse, because his c-pawn
Black should follow a plan, connected is more important in the middle
with the preparation of c7- game than White’s rook pawn on
c5: 13...d7!? 14.e2 c5 15.dxc5 a2.) 12...c5 After this move Black
&xb2 16.xb2 dxc5= has no problems whatsoever.
13.fd1 Vb6 14.ac1 c4# Konovalov
1O...axb5 — Saitov, Moscow 2010.

It seems a bit passive for White

to opt for 11.’fZe1 d7 12.c1 e6
13.e3 (The position is simplified
considerably after 13.xb5 xb5
141xc6 &xc6 15.xc6 V1a8 16.xc7
xa2 17.d3 1xb3= Modr — Kupka,
Czech Republic 1990.) 13...b4
14.b1, Navrotescu — S.Atalik,
Romania 1993, 14...d5!?oo — The
pawn-advance e3-e4 leads to the
weakening of the important d4-
After the exchange of the a- square. If White refrains from it,
pawn for the c-pawn, Black has he may have difficulties with the
nothing to be afraid of, since his protection of his a2-pawn after
prospects are not worse at all. The a8 and c8-a6.
point is that White must be on the
alert about the possible pawn-advance
b5-b4, because after that A) 11.d5
one of Black’s pawns will hold two White prepares d4, hoping
of White’s pawns. to exploit the vulnerability of the
Now, White has a choice be- c6-square.

44
 3.g3 g74Jg2 0-0 5.c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6 8.b3 b8

11...a5 the edge of the board, to the focus

of the actions.

It may be interesting for White

to try here 12.a3. He prevents b5-
b4. 12...e6. Black should better
get rid immediately of his opponent’s
cramping pawn. 13.d4
exd5 14.xd5 xd5!? Exchanging
pieces is the simplest road to
equality for Black. 151xd5 ib7
161xb7 xb7= His prospects may
be even better in the future, because
12.d4 if White does not play precisely,
Black may advance quickly
12.1d3, Simagin — Bronstein, his queenside pawns (c5-c4) and
Moscow 1956, 12...f5!?oo create a passed pawn there.

After 12.V41d2 b4 13.d1 c5, 12...b413.a4

Black seizes the initiative. 14.dxc6
This move is practically forced,
xc6 15.e1, Kavalek — Adorjan, since the other retreats of this
Amsterdam 1977, 15...d5!? knight are less adequate.

The move 12.e1 seems a bit slow. The retreat 13.1b1 has the defect,
12...c5 13.dxc6 xc6 14.d4 xd4 in comparison to a4, that
15.V1xd4, Haas — Vallifuoco, Bern the knight would not cover the a2-
1979, 15...g4!? 16.V1d2 1b6 17.e3 pawn from the attack of Black’s
ib7= Black’s pieces are very acfive rook. 13...b7 14.e4 c5 15.dxc6
and he has no problems at all. xc6 16.xc6 ,xc6 17.d2, Shamkovich
— Sigurjonsson, Lone Pine
12.c1 b4 13.a4. There has 1981, 17...a8!?
arisen a very complicated position.
White exerts pressure against 13.cb5
the c7-pawn, but his knights are
misplaced at the edge of the
board. 13...d7 14.d4 e6 15.dxe6
fxe6 16.c6 xc6 17.xc6 e5 18.
ig2 b5oo Morley — Terreaux,
ICCF 2012. Black has coped with
his opponent’s positional pressure
and White must be careful to
bring back his knight, isolated at

45
Chapter 3

Now, Black has a very pleasant After 14.c6 xc6 15.dxc6,

choice. Teske — Roos, Muehlhausen
13..!xd5 14.xd5 xb5 15. 2003, the c-file will be closed and
xb5 ,xb2 16.b1 g7. He has White will not have the possibility
more than sufficient compensation to exert pressure against the c7-
for the exchange. 17.a3 c6 pawn. Black’s kingside attack after
18.axb4 cxd5 19.bxa5 Vxa5 20. 15...h5!?t, followed by h4, may
d4 b6 — Black’s powerful become very powerful.
bishops and his pawn, as well as
the possibility for him to advance After 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.c1 (It is
his central pawns and to attack preferable for White to choose
the enemy king on the light here 15.Zc6, preventing c7-c5.
squares make his position clearly 15...xc6 16.xc6 d7 17.c1 —
preferable, Hoang Canh — Shanava, see 12.c1) 15...c5 16.f3 V1e7.
Vietnam 2012. Black’s prospects are preferable,
13...e5!? This move is even since he has managed to get rid of
stronger for Black. 14.dxe6 c5 15. his backward pawn on the c-file
exf7+ xf7 16.c6 xc6 17.xc6 (having advanced c7-c5), while
V1b6, Toivonen — Levin, St Petersburg White’s knight on a4 is misplaced.
2011, 18.xd6 Vxc6 19.xf7 17.d2 d7 18.e4 e5 19.c4 xc4
cxf7 20.f3 d5 2L,xg7 c?xg7 20.xc4 b5 21.c2 xf1 22.V1xf1
22.V1d2 followed by Zc3. e8i, followed by c7-e6-d4,
White’s defence will be difficult. Romanishin — Ghinda, Buenos
Aires 1978. White’s compensation
13...e5 for the exchange is insufficient.

Black forces his opponent to
clarify his intentions. White must
either exchange on e6, or retreat
his knight from the centre.
14c2
14..1d7
Black prepares the exchange
of his powerful bishop for the
enemy knight, placed at the
edge of the board. By doing this
however, he will compromise
White’s queenside pawn-structure
and after the removal of his
pawn from b3, Black’s knight will
gain access to the wonderful c4-
square.
15Se1
It would not be good for White
to opt for 15ke3, because after
that Black can patiently improve

46
 3.g3 g74.g2 0-0 5.c3 d6 6.tIf3 ‘c6 7.0-0 a6 8.b3 b8

his position with 15...h5!? 16.c1

h6 Chiu — Chow, Sioux Falls
2001.

After 15.c1, Radjabov — Stryjecki,

Oropesa del Mar 1999, 15...
e8!?, the trade of the b-pawns is
very likely in the nearest future
and the position would be considerably
simplified. 16.d2 xa4 17.
bxa4 Vxa4 18.b1 c4 19.xb4
xd1 20.fxd1 xd2 21. xd2 e4 12.a4
22.d4 fe8= — The prospects of He should not worry about the
both sides are approximately fate of his a2-pawn now, but his
equal in this endgame after the knight, misplaced at the edge of
simplifications. the board, becomes a juicy target
for the enemy bishop.

After 12.b1, White might

have problems with the protection
of his a2-pawn. 12...a7

15...,xa4 16.bxa4 c4 17.

b1, Burmakin — Khalifman,
Elista 1995. Now, after Black’s
precise reaction 17...d7!? 18. Following 13.bd2 b5 14.e4,
kal xa4 19.xb4 d7oo, the Lin — Mestel, Luzern 1985, 14...
weakness of the pawns on c7 and a8!, Black exerts powerful pressure
a2 is practically balanced. against the weak enemy
pawn.
After 13.c2, he can sacrifice a
B) 11.c1 b4 pawn, obtaining an excellent position.
White has a choice where to 13...f5!? 14.Vxc7 xc7
retreat his knight. All the possibilities 15.xc7 b5 16.c4 a8 17.h4
have their merits and (17.xb4 xa2 18.xb5 xb2 19.
drawbacks too. bd2, Van der Put — Schoorl,

47
Chapter 3

Netherlands 2016, 19...h6 20.

d1 a8 — White has an extra
pawn, but his defence is difficult.
Black’s pieces are very active and
he is threatening to double his
rooks on the penultimate rank.)
17...e4 18.xe4 xe4 19.d5 Zxg3.
He regains his pawn thanks to
this simple tactical strike. 20.
hxg3 &xb2 21.xb4 d4 22.e3
‘e2+ 23.ctg2 xa2 Black has restored
the material balance and 13.V!c2
has a superior pawn-structure.
His pieces are active, so he creates About 13.d5 a5 — see variationA.
serious problems for his opponent.
In addition, White has no
counterplay and he can only The tactical strike 13.Ze5 leads
dream for a draw in this endgame. only to equality. 13...Zxe5 14.dxe5
13Je1. White prepares the g4 15.exd6 cxd6= Panno — Bentancor,
transfer of his knight to d3, followed Mar del Plata 2003.
by c4, in order to exert
pressure against the b4-pawn. 13.e1. The transfer of White’s
Still, this plan seems a bit slow. knight to d3 would not create any
13...b7 14.xb7 xb7 15.d3 problems for Black. 13...a5 14.
1d7. Black transfers his king’s d3 (After the too ambitious try
rook to the queenside in order to — 14.e4, Black seizes the initiative.
protect his b4-pawn. 16.c4 (After 14...xa4 15.bxa4 d7 16.d3 c5
16.e3 e6 17.V1f3 Zd5 18.e4 e7 17.dxc5. Now, White is deprived
19.c4, Black can seize the initiative of his main trump — the two-bishop
with the line: 19...f5! 20.xb4 advantage. 17...xb2 18.xb2
xb4 21.xb4 c5 22.d3 cxd4 dxc5t and he has no compensation
Price — Montgomery, ICCF 2012) for his compromised queen-
16...fb8 17.e1, Romanishin — side pawn-structure, Ju Wenjun
Erdogdu, Lvov 2006, 17...b6!?# — Gu Xiaobing, Xinghua 2012.)
White must play very carefully 14...e6 15.V1d2 xa4 16.bxa4, Nikolic
now, since if Black manages to — Nijboer, Rotterdam 1999,
protect his b4 once again (c6, or 16...d5!?oo — White’s two bishops
d5) and then to play a6, the compensate his weak queenside
vulnerability of the a2-pawn may pawns, but not more than
hurt White. that.

12..1d7!? 13...e614.e3

48
 3.g3 g74.g2 0-0 5.Zc3 d6 6.f3 tuic6 7.0-0 a6 8.b3 b8

be very powerful on this square

and White’s attempt to oust it
away from the centre with the
move 15.e4 would lead to the
weakening of the important d4-
square. 15...f6 16.e1,
Weizsaecker — Joao, ICCF 2012,
16...a5!? 17.d3 (17.’xc7?!
b5) 17...ixa4 18.bxa4 c6
19.e5 d5oo Black’s superior
pawn-structure provides him
14...d5. Black’s knight will with at least equal prospects.

49
Chapter 4 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 ,g7 4.g2 0—0
5.c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0—0 a6 8.h3

Following 9.g5, the simplest

road to equality for Black would
be 9...a5!? 10.d2 d7 1L,e3
b5. He attacks the c4-pawn and
prepares c7-c5. 12.cxb5 axb5 13.
b4 c5!= — Black’s prospects are
not worse, Smejkal — Kabisch,
Kirchheim 1990.

White would fail in his attempt

to prevent b7-b5 with 9.V1c2, because
This is a reliable prophylactic Black would advance 9.. .b5
move. White prevents the penetration anyway and White would not be
of the enemy minor pieces able to exploit the hanging position
to the g4-square, so that later he of Black’s knight on c6. 10.
should not be afraid of the pin of cxb5 axb5
his knight (after e2-e4), or of the
attack of the knight after e3.
8...b8

We will analyse now A) 9.e3

and B) 9.e4.

9.e1 b5 10.cxb5 axb5 11.e4 —

see 9.e4.

9.b3. The combination of the 11.,g5 d7 12.fc1 b4 13.d1,

moves h3 and b3 does not seem Weber — Pankratov, ICCF 2002,
so adequate 9. ..b5 10.cxb5 axb5 13...e6!?= with a reliable position.
lli.b2 id7 12.c1 W!c8= Husek — White cannot obtain an advantage
Pfeifer, Hungary 1995. by occupying the centre

50
 3.g3 g74.g2 0-0 5Jc3 d6 6.J3 c6 7.0-0 a6 8.h3 b8

11.e4 b4 12.e2 d7 13.b3 Vc8 A) 9.ie3

14.itb2, Szekely — Vazquez Igarza, After White has played h3, his
Varadero 2000, 14...e8!?oo with bishop will be stable on this
a complicated position. square.
11.xb5 b4. Black manages 9...b5
to avoid material losses in a tactical
way and the position is quickly
simplified. 12.V1c4 xa2 13.xc7
xc1 14.fxc1 xb2 15.a8 h6
16.e3 V1d7 17.e8 xe8 18.xc8
xc8 19.V1xc8+ V1xc8 20.xc8+
f8= G.Kuzmin — Tseshkovsky,
Tashkent 1980.
The move 9.a4 weakens the
b4-square. 9...a5 10.e4 e5 1Le3
(1L.g5 exd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.
Vxd4 h6 14.d2, Sehlstedt —
Lemoine, Budapest 1959. Here, 1O.d2
Black could have transferred his He protects the c4-pawn and
knight to c5. 14...Zd7!? 15.V1d3 opens the diagonal of his bishop.
c5 16.V41c2 c6oo, followed by V1b6.
He has a very comfortable position. White cannot obtain an advantage
If White’s pawn had been on after an exchange on b5.
a3, the he would have the possibility 10.cxb5 axb5
to oust the enemy knight
with the move b2-b4. The way it is
— this plan is impossible.) 11...
exd4 12.xd4, Sanchez — De
Greif, Bogota 1969, 12...d7!?
Black begins active actions on the
dark squares. 13.d5 xd4 14.
,xd4 c5 15.a3 c6 16.xg7 cxg7
17.f4 e8= This is a double
edged position. White has a slight
space advantage, but he may end He would be even worse after
up in an inferior endgame, because the careless move 11.Zd2, because
his pawns on e4, c4 and a4 Black can counter that with
are placed on squares of the same the energetic reaction 11...b4! 12.
colour as his bishop and he will a4 (12.xc6 bxc3 13.bxc3 xh3
hardly manage to redeploy them 14.g2 xg2 15.c?xg2 d5T) 12...
on dark squares. b7t

51
Chapter 4

11.c1 b4 12.a4 b7 — White’s 11.cxb5 axb5 12.de4 (12.

knight is misplaced at the edge c1?! b4 13.a4 a5 14.b3 V1c8
of the board, Glowinski — Gudok, 15.ch2 b5 16.f3 Vb8 Stephson
Lechenicher SchachServer — Milov, Suncoast 1999.
2013. White’s knight is misplaced on
11.d5. White ousts the enemy a4. If he plays b2, then Black
knight away from the centre. 11... will manage to occupy the c3-
a5 12.b4 (Unfortunately for square: f6-d5-c3.) 12...xe4 13.
White he cannot protect the d4- xe4 e5 14.dxe5 Zxe5 15.b3
square with his knight, because of e8!?oo, Black’s pieces are so active
the insufficient defence of the d5- that he has no problems at all.
pawn. 12.d4 b4 13.cb5 b7i:) 11...e6
12...c4 13.a7 b7 14.d4 e5. Black prepares the e7-square
Black gets rid of the strong white for his knight.
d5-pawn. 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.g5!?
d5 17.1f3 c6oo — The central c5
and e5-squares are a bit weak in
Black’s position, but this is compensated
by his powerful knight
on c4.

1O...id7 11.c1

Following 11.d5, it is only

White who may have problems.
11...e5 12.cxb5 (12.c5, Gorbatov
— Tseshkovsky, Cappelle la 12.b3
Grande 1994, 12...b4!? 13.a4
.b5oo — Black has not only ousted It is also possible for White to
his opponent’s knight to the edge play immediately 12.d5 e7 13.
of the board, but has also activated dxe6 (After 13.b3, Black seizes the
his light-squared bishop.) 12... initiative with 13...b4!? 14.ce4
axb5 13.c1 (White should possibly xe4 15.xe4 exd5 16.cxd5 b5t
think about equalising already: Now, White suddenly has problems
13.a4!? Vc8 14.axb5 xh3=) with the protection of his d5-
13...c8 14.ch2, Loginov — Afek, pawn.) 13...xe6 14.b3, Chetverik
Ajka 1992, 14...b4!? 15.cb1 e6 — Teterev, Wunsiedel 20012, 14...
16.dxe6 ixe6 — Black’s b4-pawn 1d7=
restricts severely White’s knight 12.cxb5 axb5 13.de4 xe4
on bi, which will have problems 14.xe4 ‘e7. Black’s knight is
entering the actions. In addition, perfectly placed here, since it can
his a2-pawn is hanging. go later to f5, or to d5.

52
 3.g3 g74.g2 0-0 5.c3 d6 6.’ZJ3 c6 7.0-0 a6 8.h3 b8

It would not be good for White

to choose 15.V1d3 d5 16.g5 f6
17.d2, Papin — Severiukhina, ixf6 xf6 16.e3 g7 17.c5 d5 18.
Voronezh 2010, 17...b4!?t and f3 f6 19.e1 e5 and later Black’s
Black fixes the weakness on a2. two bishop advantage may turn
15.c2, Greenfeld — Milov, into powerful force, Dubrov —
Haifa 1995, 15...Zd5!?oo Makarczuk, IECC 2000) 14...h6
Following 15.V1c2 d5 16.g5 15.ixf6 ixf6. Black’s bishop-pair
f6 17.d2 b4 18.g4, Black may exploit is very strong and White must
the weakening of White’s think about equality. 16.e3 g7
kingside with the move 18...f5 17.b2 (17.V1c2!? Adianto — Kengis,
Bjuhr — Jakobetz, ICCF 2002. Sydney 1991, 17...e5oo) 17...c5
15.V1d2 Zf5. Black begins a 18.f3 c6 19.a4 c7 20.dxc5
chase after the enemy dark- dxc5 — White’s knight on a4 is
squared bishop. 16.g5 f6 17.f4 obviously misplaced, Nogueiras —
b4 18.g4 e7 19.g3 d5= — Khalifman, Luzern 1997.
There has arisen a double-edged It seems unreliable for White
fight in which the vulnerability of to opt for 13.f4, because it weakens
White’s kingside might worry him the g3-square. 13...f5 141f2
later, Blattner — Terreaux, ICCF h5 15.de4 (15.ch2 xd4!?)
2011. 15...b4 16.e3 bxc3 17.g4 xd4!?
18.gxhs Zf5 — Black may rely on
12...e7 exploiting the weakened position
(diagram) of the enemy monarch, Spassov —
13.d5 Kovalev, Porz 1990.
13...exd5 14.xd5 fxd5
It seems illogical for White to Black must capture with this
retreat his knight 13.f3 b4 14. knight. He needs the other knight
b1, Savic — Zufic, Umag 2005, to chase the enemy bishop on e3.
14...c6!? 15.cxd5 f5 16.f4 g5 17.e4
Following 13.g5, it is only gxf4
White who may have problems. Black liquidates the important
13...b4 14.a4 (14.cb1?! h6 15. defender of the dark squares.

53
Chapter 4

18.exf5 xf5 e5 d7 1L,e3, Naumkin — Boscolo,

20.gxf4, Novikov — A.Zhigalko, Forni di Sopra 2013, 11...bxc4!?
Peniscola 2002, 20..1b2!? 21. 12.Vxc4 b4#, threatening c2
ce1 Vf6 22.e4 ,xe4 23. and a6-a5 and then a6.
xe4 ch8co — Black’s prospects It seems also interesting for
are not worse, because his bishop Black to try here 10.d5 b4 11.e2
looks much more active than its Za5 12.V41c2 c5
counterpart.

B) 9.e4

13.e3, P.Nielsen — Berg, Sweden

2016, 13...e8!?=
There arises a complicated position
with mutual chances after
13.f4 d7 14.e1 b3oo Khismatullin
— M.Krylov, Moscow
After this active move the position 2012.
is double-edged. White 13.g5 h6 14.f4. White has
wishes to advance e4-e5, while more space indeed, but Black’s
Black will be trying to push position has its pluses too. He can
b7-b5-b4. According to the classical organise active counterplay with
principles it may seem that e7-e6, or b4-b3. 14...d7 15.e3
playing in the centre should be V1b6 16.V1c1 h7 17.f4 Vc7 18.
more effective than the counter- e1 e8. After White’s queen has
play on the flank, but this is an been removed from the c2-square,
exceptional case. Black’s prospects he should not be afraid of b4-b3,
are at least equal. If White since he can counter that with a2-
goes too far in his desire to obtain a3. Therefore, Black goes after the
an advantage he may end up even pawn-advance e7-e6. 19.d2 e6
worse. 20.d3 exd5 21.exd5 e5 22.
9...b510.cxb5 xe5 xe5oo — The trade of a couple
of minor pieces has been in
Following 10.Vfe2, Black obtains favour of Black, since his position
quite sufficient counterplay was slightly cramped, Marez —
to maintain the equality with 10... Kappes, ICCF 2014.

54
 3.g3 g74.g2 0-0 5.c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6 8.h3 b8

White can also break immediately xd4 21.V1xd4 d7 22.a4 b7. He

in the centre, without the is preparing a transfer of his
preliminary exchange on b5. 10. knight to the c5-square. 23.f4 c5
e5 d7 11.e6 (11.cxb5 axb5 — see 24.fc1 f5 — White does not
10.cxb5) 11...fxe6 12.d5 have sufficient compensation for
the pawn, Pheby — Williams,
ICCF 2013.

1O...axb5

He has sacrificed a pawn and

wishes to exploit the vulnerability
of the a2-g8 diagonal. Black can
defend successfully, though... 12...
a5 13.cxb5 axb5 14.d4 e5
15.b4. This move is too hazardous.
Now, Black seizes the initiative. 11.e5
(It is more reliable here for White continues with his aggressive
White to continue with 15.xe6 treatment of the opening.
iLxe6 16.dxe6, Huebner — Belotti,
Switzerland 1998, 16...c6!?oo and 1Le3 b4 12.’Ze2 a5 13.d2
thanks to his pawn-majority in d7 14.c1, Doda — Dueball, Bath
the centre Black’s prospects are 1973, with a rather unpleasant
not worse.) 15...c5! With this energetic pressure on the fl-a6 diagonal.
strike he seizes the initiafive.
16.dxc6 exc6. Two of
Black’s knights are hanging, but White presents the initiative
White cannot win a piece, because to his opponent. 11.d5 b4! 12.
of the vulnerability of the al-h8 Ze2 Za5 13.fd4 c5! 14.dxc6 e5
diagonal. 17.e3 (17.xc6 xd4 15.b3 ‘xc6 16.g5, Hanel —
18.V1xd4 xc6i: Ippolito — Izoria, Atalik, Kranevo 1996, 16..1e6!?
Philadelphia 2013) 17...xb4 18. — Black’s pieces are more active
b1 xd4! This is a non-standard and his pawns on b4 and e5 deprive
decision. Black exchanges his the enemy knight on e2 of
powerful bishop, but now he has the c3 and f4-squares, from which
the excellent c6-outpost for his it can be transferred to the strategically
knight. 19.xd4 bc6 20.xb5 important d5-outpost.

55
Chapter 4

It would not be too ambitious queenside, Arkell — Hebden,

for White to opt for 11.V1c2 b4 Kilkenny 2012.
12.e2 b7 13.d5 a5 14.ed4, Black should not be afraid of
Calotescu — Gara, Szatmarnemeti 12.d2 b4 13.a4 d7= Gaprindashvili
1996. Here, Black could have — Strautins, ICCF 2010.
solved the problem with the weak 12.Vc2 b4 13.e2 b7 14.f4
c6-square in a tactical fashion a5 15.d2 c5. If Black manages
with the line: 14...c5! 15.dxc6 c8 in this variation to advance c7—c5,
16.e2 xc6 as a rule, he would have no problems
in the opening. 16.dxc5 dxc5
It would be a bit passive for 17.ad1 d7 18.d3 Vb6 19.f4
White to choose 11.a3 b4 12.axb4 bc8= — His pieces are harmoniously
xb4. His game is quite free and deployed.
compensates the weak b2-pawn
indeed, but not more... 13.e1 (13. 11...d7
e2 b7 14.d1 1c8= Gonzalez — Black’s plans include counter-
Williams, ICCF 2005) 13...d7 play against White’s pawns on e5
14.g5 h6 15.e3 c5 16.V1d2 ch7= andd4.
Kaczorowski — Camper, IECC 12.g5
1997.

White can try now the elastic

move 11.e1, concealing his further
plans. Even then however, he
cannot rely on obtaining an advantage
in the opening. 11...e6

12...dxe5!
This piece-sacrifice is Black’s
simplest road to equality.
131xc6 exd4 14.xb5

White would not achieve much If White refrains from capturing

with the straighiforward approach this pawn, Black’s two central
12.d5 e7 13.dxe6 xe6 14.d4 pawns would be sufficient compensation
id7 15.d5 c5 16.xf6+ xf6 17. for the piece, since
f3 e6= — Black’s bishops exert White’s knights would hardly find
powerful pressure against White’s suitable and reliable squares. 14.

56
 3.g3 g74.g2 0-0 54c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6 8.h3 b8

e2 h6 15.f3 e5 16.d2 (16.e1 15...b8

c5oo Heim — Helmers, Reykjavik Black wishes to remove the enemy
1981) 16...Zc5 17.g2 b4 18.g4 bishop from the a4—e8 diagonal
e6 19.e1 d3 20.g3 f4oo Raijmaekers and to continue after that
— Mroczek, ICCF 2010. with d7, beginning a chase after
14...b6 the knight on a7 (a6).
161e4

Following 16.g2, Black can

change his plan and choose 16...
b7 17.’Zf3 d5 18.e1 c6. Now,
White’s knight on a7 would be
practically lost, since Black’s c6-
pawn deprives it from the b5-
square and the knight would have
no other squares to retreat to.
19.g5 b7 20.Va4 h6 2Lxh6.
White gives back the piece trying
After this move White’s queen- to deflect his opponent from trapping
side minor pieces would remain the knight (1b6). Still, this
in disarray. would not solve his problem either.
15.a7 21...xh6 22.xd4 xg2 23.
He protects the bishop on c6, c?xg2 b6 24.dxc6 xc6 25.
but this knight will hardly manage xc6 V1d5+. The unfortunate
to survive unharmed from the knight finally perishes. 26.V1e4
a7-square. Vxc6 27.V1xc6 xc6 28.xe7 c2
29.b4 d8 30.a4 dd2 31.f1
If White restores the material a2—+ Deforel — Enricci, ICCF
balance, he would have no chances 2011. White has seemingly sufficient
of maintaining even a small material equivalent for
edge. 15.xd4 xd4 16.V1xd4 xc6 the bishop (three pawns), but
17.e4 (17.e3 d6 18.Vh4 f6 his position is absolutely hopeless,
19.fe1 d3=, followed by b7, because one of his rooks
Molina — Fier, Cappelle la Grande is stuck with the protection of
2012. Black’s counterplay on the the f2-pawn, while the other rook
weakened hl-a8 diagonal compensates is incapable of defending his
White’s passed pawn on queenside pawns against the attack
the queenside.) 17...b6 18.Vfxd8 of his opponent’s superior
xd8= — In this endgame the forces.
prospects of both sides are approximately
equal, Rawlings — 16..1d7 17.h4 h6
Sutton, ICCF 2014. a6

57
Chapter 4

19...xa7 2OS!c1 g4 21.

e5 e6 221xh6

White cannot save his knight,

so he is trying his chances on the
kingside.
19.if4 22..Sd6. Black ousts the enemy
He prepares an attack against knight away from his king
the h6-pawn (c1). reducing considerably his opponent’s
It seems less adequate for him attacking potential. (It
to opt for 19.h5, because after 19... would not work for him to play
g5 20.,c2, the attack on the bl-h7 22...xe5, because of 23.xf8, followed
diagonal is not so dangerous for by the double attack Vc5
Black as it looks at first sight. 20... and Black would suffer material
e5! 21.xe5 xe5 22.V41d3 f5 23. losses.) 23.d3 d7 24.h5 c5!
e1 g7 24.b5, Anhalt — Isigkeit, He sacrifices the g6-pawn and
ICCF 2013, 24...ch8!? tries to seize the initiative. 25.
White has saved his knight on a7 hxg6 f5 261 c4 271f4 V!b6
indeed, but he had to give his other 28.e1 c8 29.g2 f6 3O.e1
knight. In the arising complicated c5 31Sd2 d3cx — Black’s
middle game the weakened prospects are not worse in this
shelter of his king (The removal of complicated position, because the
his bishop on g2 to the other side activity of his pieces compensates
of the board is hurting him...) with an interest his minimal material
may turn into a very important deficit, Shetko — Panitevsky,
factor. ICCF 2015.

58
Chapter 5 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 ig7 4..g2 0-0
5.c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0—0 a6 8.d5

queen. It is not so well placed on

the c2-square either, since after
12...c8, the juxtaposition of his
queen and the enemy rook will be
rather unpleasant for White. 13.
g5, Rausis — Zozulia, Bejaia
2015, 13...a5!? 14.b3 b5t

9.d3 c5

It cannot be asserted this is the

strongest move for White, but for
sure it is his most principled in
this position and forces Black’s
knight to go to the edge of the
board.
8...a5
Now, White niust choose how
to protect his c4-pawn. His most It is bad for White to opt here
popular response is B) 9.d2, for 10.b3, since following 10...f5,
but before that we will deal with he cannot advance e2-e4, because
A)9.b3. of the defencelessness of the rook
on al. 11.!e3 b5
White’s attempts to defend his After 10.b1, Black can save a
pawn with the queen cannot create tempo for the move b8. 10...b5=
any problems for Black. 9.l1a4 and it would be very risky for
c5 10.dxc6 xc6 11.d1 d7 12. White to accept the pawn-sacrifice.
c2. You can see now the defect 11.cxb5 axb5 12.fxb5?! f5
of the move lfa4 — White must 13.a1 c7 14.a4 fb8 —
lose a tempo for the retreat of his Black’s pieces have created pow-

59
Chapter 5

erful pressure and White’s extra pieces. This material ratio

pawn is not felt at all, Frowall — may be acceptable for him in an
Eriksson, Sweden 1995. endgame, but in the middle game
Following 10.e4 b8 11.b1 Black’s rooks can hardly become
(11.e1 b5 12.e5 Zg4 Skatchkov active, since there is no open file
— Simonian, Yerevan 2004), on the board. Therefore, White
Black has the energetic move 11... has the advantage.
b5, seizing the initiative on the
queenside. 12.cxb5 c4 13.V41c2
axb5 14.a3 ‘Zb3 15.f4 d7oo, followed
by c5-d3, Morales — To-
bar, Puerto Boyaca 2012.
10.d2 b8 11.a4. White
solves radically the problem with
the enemy pawn-advance b7-b5,
but weakens the b4-square. 11...
e6. The move b7-b5 has become
impossible, so Black is trying to
open the position from the other
side. 12.b1 exd5 13.xd5, Kekki 101d2
— Matamoros Franco, Embalse He defends his knight on c3,
1981. Here, Black can equalise but now he will be incapable of
easily. 13...f5!? 14.e4 Zxd5 15. protecting his c4-pawn with the
1xd5 xc4 16.V1xc4 d5 17.V1xc5 move d2.
dxe4= — The position has been
simplified considerably after the 10.V41c2 c5 11.d2 — see 9.d2.
numerous exchanges.
10.b2 b5 11.cxb5 axb5 — see
Chapter 3, variation A.
A)9.b3
White is not afraid of the Following 10.g5 h6 1L,d2,
weakening of the long diagonal. there arises a position like in the
9...b8 main variation, but with the inclusion
of the move h7-h6. This
It does not work for Black to circumstance is not so important
play here 9...Zxd5?!, because of for the evaluation of the position.
10.xd5 xa1 11.d2±. Now, two 11...c5 12.dxc6 (or 12.a4 e6 13.
of his pieces are hanging. Naturally, dxe6 xe6= and Black has no
Black can give his knight for problems at all. After White’s imprecise
a pawn and there would arise a reaction 14.f4?! h5t, in
position in which he would have a the game Stohl — Kindermann,
rook and two pawns for two minor Germany 1996, Black seized the

60
 3.g3 g74.g2 0-0 54c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6 8.d5 a5

initiative.) 12...xc6 13.c1 f5 Unfortunately for White he

14.h4, Somogyi — Rabovszky, will have to give up the centre;
Budapest 1998. Here, he could otherwise, Black will advance b7-
have advanced d7-d5, equalising b5 and White will be incapable of
completely. 14...e6!? 15.d5 g5 holding the c4-outpost.
16.xf6+ exf6 17.Zf3 d5 18.cxd5
,xd5=, followed by f7-f5, opening He fails to exploit the defencelessness
the diagonal for his bishop on g7. of the enemy knight on
a5 with 11.V1e1 b5 12.d1 (Following
After 10.d4 c5 11.dxc6, Black 12.xb5, Black is saved by the
should better capture on c6 with tactical strike 12...xc4! Denker
his pawn and not with the knight, — Byrne, Chicago 1994.) 12...b4
so that later he could play c6-c5 13.c1 e6 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.e4 c6.
ousting his opponent’s knight Black’s knight comes back to the
from the centre. 11...bxc6 12.d2 centre of the board in order to begin
(12.Th1, Baramidze — Jones, Germany the fight for the key d4-square.
2011, 12...c5!?=) 12...c5 13. 16.f4, Aseev — Inarkiev, Elista
c2 b7 14.c1 xg2 15.c?xg2 2001, 16...h5!? 17.e3 e7
1c6= Kirov — Adorjan, Moscow
1977. In the future , if White removes The move 11.a4 weakens the
his knight from the c3- b4-square. 11...e6 12.dxe6 xe6
square, Black will have the possibility 13.g5 f5 14.h3 e8. All
to begin active actions on Black’s pieces are very active. 15.
the queenside (a6-a5-a4). If ‘f4 c6. Black transfers his
White advances e2-e4, then Black knight to b4 in order to neutralise
can fight for the d4-square (f6- White’s pressure against the important
e8-c7-e6-d4). d5-square. 16.c1 b4 17.
e1, Rausis — Tkachiev, Vandoeuvre
1O...c5 2005, 17...d7!?oo — The activity
of Black’s pieces compensates
the slight weakness of the d5-
square.

11...xc6
After Black has solved his
main problem in this variation —
to improve the placement of his
knight on aS — he can be very optimistic
about the future.
12.c1
White should better remove
11.dxc6 immediately his rook from the

61
Chapter 5

juxtaposition with the enemy ing move d6-d5. 18.fc1 d5=

bishop on g7. Maiorov — Belyakov, Voronezh
2013.
After 12.1c1, Markowski —
Szelag, Opole 2006, Black has a Following 13.d5, Black can
very promising pawn-sacrifice: occupy advantageously the e4-
12...b5!? 13.cxb5 axb5 14.xb5 square not with his knight, but
xb5 15.1xc6 d7 16.Vc1 c5 with the bishop. 13...e4 14.
17.Ve1 Vb8, with quite sufficient xf6+ (After 14.c3 xd5=, it
compensation for the minimal would be White who must play
material deficit. 18.e3 cc8 19. accurately, because after the imprecise
c1 e4 20.d4 h6 21.xc8 line: 15.cxd5?! xc3 16.
xc8 22.b2 Vb6 23.V1a1 g4 — dxc6 1a5 17.cxb7, Maletin — Inarkiev,
Black’s pieces are very active. Ulan Ude 2009, 17...
xb7!?, Black would even maintain
12...f5 an edge thanks to his two
bishops.) 14...xf6 15.c3 xc3
16.xc3 d5 — After this move
Black has no problems whatsoever,
draw, Martinovic — Pavlovic,
Cetinje 1992.

13..Sd7
He is preparing the trade of
the light-squared bishops.
14.d5

After 14.d3 h3 15.xh3

He plans to follow with e4. V1xh3 16.f4 d7 17.fd5 xd5
13.e1 18.xd5 e6 19.b6, Matamoros
White increases his control Franco — Bologan, Khanty-Mansiysk
over the e4-square. 2005, 19...V41e7!?=, White is
incapable of exploiting the vulnerability
After his alternatives Black of the enemy d6-pawn.
equalises easily.
14..1h3 151c3 xd5
13.g5 e4 14.xe4 xe4= 16.cxd5 e5
Drasko — Ager, Arco 2012. (diagram)
17.f4
13.h3 e4 14.xe4 xe4 15. White ousts the enemy knight
c3 xc3 16.xc3 Va5 17.V1d2 from the centre, but weakens a bit
fd8. Black is preparing the free- the shelter of his king.

62
 4.g2 0-0 5.c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6 8.d5 a5 9.d2 c5

There has arisen the basic position

of the Yugoslavian variation.
In his book “The King’s Indian
Defence” (Moscow 1980)
Efim Geller cited the words of
Mikhail Tal who commented on
this position in details: “The
placement of Black’s knight on aS
may turn out to be either active,
or bad. The outcome of the fight
depends largely whether Black
Still, even after the more reliable will manage to use his knight to
move 17.,xh3, White has no exert pressure against the c4-
chances of obtaining an advantage. pawn, or will succeed in transferring
17...V41xh3 18.f3 bc8 19. it via b7 and d8 to the king-
xe5 xe5 20.xe5 dxe5= — All the side. If neither of these two possibilities
minor pieces have disappeared happens, Black’s position
off the board and the most likely will become difficult.”
result of this game would be a draw,
Jonsson — Cloodt, ICCF 2012. White’s basic move here is
17...,xg2 18.xg2 g4 19. B2) 1OSc2, protecting reliably
.xg7 cxg7= Shankland — Nakamura, the knight on c3. Still, before
Baku 2015. White has some dealing with it, we will have a look
space advantage indeed, but it is at some other possibilities for
practically immaterial, since Black him: Bi) 1O.b1.
has no pawn-weaknesses in his
camp. In addition, White must be It is hardly advisable for White
careful about Black’s possibilities to try to prevent b7-b5 with the
on the kingside (f6, Wh3, g4). move 10.a4. 10...e6!? 11.Vc2 exd5
12.cxd5, Shamkovich — Fedorowicz,
B) 9.d2 c5 New York 1977. Here, Black
can play 12...c4, seizing the initiative.

Or 10.e4 b8 11.a4 e6 12.b1

exd5 13.cxd5 g4oo Stevanec —
Kralj, Otocec 2010.

Following 10.a3, Black can

prevent the pawn-advance b2-b4
with the energetic move 10...1g4!
His knight is going to the e5-

63
Chapter 5

square in order to increase the Black fixes the weakness on a2.

pressure against the c4-pawn. 16.e3 a6 17.e1 c4 18.bxc4 xc4
11.V1c2 Ze5 12.b3 b5! 13.cxb5 19.a1 1b6= — The position is
axb5 14.b2 V1b6 15.h3 a6oo still within equality, but White
must play very carefully in order
to maintain it, Brunner — Tkachiev,
Bi) 1O.b1 b8 11.b3 Biel 1995.

11.1c2 b5 — see variation B2. There arise numerous exchanges

and an approximately
11...b5121b2 equal position following 13.ce4
xe4 14.xe4 bxc4 15.xc4 xc4
12.V41c2 e5 — see variation B2a. 16.bxc4 h3 17.g2 xg2 18.c?xg2
1a5= Tunik — Anapolsky, Cheliabinsk
12..1h6 1991.

13.e3. This is a reliable move.

Now, White should not be afraid
of capturing on d2. 13...bxc4
14.xc4 xc4 15.bxc4 1a5. After
Black has got rid of his knight on
aS, his play has become considerably
simpler. 16.a1 (16.V1c2 d7
17.a1 g7 — see 16.a1) 16...d7
17.b3 (It is possible that White’s
most reliable move here is 17.1c2,
for example: 17...g7. After White
This move is not played with has played e2-e3, Black’s bishop
the idea to exchange on d2 and to has nothing to do on h6 and it
win a pawn. In fact, Black follows goes back. 18.h3 fc8 19.e2 Va4
the classical formula of Z.Tarrasch 20.Th3 b4= — The fight for the
— “The threat is more powerful b-file is likely to end up in the exchange
than its execution”. of the rooks and considerable
131a1 simplification, Sykora —
White avoids the possible Pravec, ICCF 2009) 17...g7=
knight-fork after capturing on d2 Black’s prospects are not worse.
and a pawn-exchange on c4. After White’s careless move 18.
a3?!, eliminating the base under
The trade 13.cxb5 axb5 cannot the rook on b3, Black seizes the
be good for White, because his a2- initiative with Ponomariov

pawn may become weak in the future. — Kasimdzhanov, Vitoria

14.de4 xe4 15.xe4 b4. Gasteiz 2007.

64
 4.g2 0-0 5.4c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6 8.d5 a5 9.d2 c5

13...f5 2O.V!xc4

Black wishes to provoke the

pawns moves e2-e4 and f2-f3, in
order to weaken the dark squares
in the enemy camp.
14.e4 g4 15.

15.1c2 xd2 16.V1xd2 bxc4

17.d1, Kursova — Umudova, Gaziantep
2012, 17...xd1!?= —
White’s two powerful bishops and
the misplacement of the enemy
knight on a5 compensates the loss
of a pawn for him, but not more White has managed to avoid
than that. the opening of the b-file, but
Black’s plan, connected with the
advance of his a-pawn (a6-a5-a4),
should provide him with counter-
play sufficient to maintain the
equality.
20..1h6
He wishes to transfer the bishop
to g7 in order to neutralise the
pressure of the bishop on al on
the long diagonal.
21S1c2 a5 22.f4 g7 23.f3
fc8 24.cg2 g4
15..1e3+ 16.ch1 ..d7 17. White plans an attack on the
e2 kingside, so the exchanges of the
minor pieces are in favour of
After 17.cxb5 axb5, Black’s Black, since they reduce White’s
prospects are not worse, because attacking potential.
in the middle game his pawns on 251xg4 xg4 261xg7
b5 and c5 seem stronger than cxg7 27.f5 xe2 28.1xe2 a4t
White’s pawns on a2 and b3. — There has arisen an endgarne
18.e2, Aronian — Nakamura, with major pieces and White must
Moscow 2010, 18...V1b6!?co still prove that his kingside activity
is sufficient to compensate his
17..Sc7 opponent’s initiative on the other
Black is already well prepared side of the board, Talmacsi —
for the fight for the b-file. Ramponelli, Lechenicher SchachServer
18S!c2 bxc4 19.xc4 xc4 2012.

65
Chapter 5

B2) 1O.V!c2 b8 T.Balogh, Sala 1994. In the arising

position the power of the
passed b and c-pawns is approximately
balanced. 16...g4!? Black
could have played immediately
d7, followed by b6, but it
would be useful for him to provoke
the advance of White’s
pawns on the kingside. 17.h3 e5
18.f4 d7 19.e3 ‘b6± Black’s
knight not only protects the pawn
on c4, but also prevents the advance
of the enemy b-pawn. The
11.b3 chances are mutual.
White prepares the development By playing 11.a4, White prevents
of his bishop on b2 and protects b7-b5 and Black is forced to
his c4-pawn. try his chances on the opposite
side of the board. 11...e5!? 12.b3
His plan to try to exploit the h5 13.e4 h4± L’Ami — Rapport,
vulnerability of Black’s b-pawn Aix-les-Bains 2011. We will see
would not work: 11.b1 b5 12.cxb5 Black advancing his h-pawn numerous
(White should better play here more times. Later, he can
12.b3 e5 — see variation B2a.) play h4-h3, restricting the enemy
12...axb5 13.b4 cxb4 14.xb4, because light-squared bishop, or can exchange
after 14..S1c7, White will on g3. After White captures
hardly find a good square for his hxg3 and advances f2-f4, he
queen. 15.V1d3 g4! Black sacrifices would be incapable of ousting the
a pawn and seizes the initiative. enemy knight from the g4-square.
16.xb5 V1c5 17.V1b1, Arkell 11...b5
— Ady, Lewisham 1984, 17...f5!? Black’s queenside initiative is
The activity of Black’s pieces developing effortlessly.
should provide him with material
gains in the nearest future. 18.
e4 (18.e4?! d7—+, followed by
c3) 18...xe4 19.1xe4 Zxf2!
White’s plan with the preparation
of the pawn-advance b2-b4 is
not good, because it helps Black
to solve the problem with his
knight on a5. 11.a3 b5 12.cxb5
axb5 13.b4 cxb4 14.axb4 c4
15.xc4 bxc4 16Jb1, Tibensky —

66
 4.g2 0-0 5.c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6 8.d5 a5 9.d2 c5

In this position White’s most Byrne, Monte Carlo 1968. Here,

popular move is B2b) 121b2. Black obtains a good game after
Before that however, we will analyse the well familiar advance of his hpawn:
B2a) 12.b1. 14...h5!? 15.e3 h4 16ie1
h6
Giving up the c4-square does
not look good for White: 12.cxb5 13.dxe6. Giving up the centre
axb5 13.b2 e8!?oo — Black’s cannot create any problems for
prospects are not inferior, Lauer Black. 13...jxe6 14.cxb5 (14.d5,
— Aymard, ICCF 2013. Tondivar — Adorjan, Groningen
1))O, 1.’LiX[Ot xtb 10.

e4 &e6= — Black’s counterplay

B2a) 12.b1 against the c4-pawn compensates
This is not White’s most flexible his weakness on d6.) 14...axb5.
move. He removes his rook Now, White would not need to
from the diagonal attacked by worry about the protection of his
Black’s bishop, but determines c4-pawn, but Black will have the
the placement of the rook a bit too chances of creating a passed pawn
early. on the queenside in the future.
12...e5 15.de4 xe4 16.xe4 f5 17.
b2 e8 18.xg7 cxg7. The position
has been simplified considerably
after the exchange of two
couples of minor pieces. 19.bd1
g8 20.g4. White weakens his
king, but eliminates the unpleasant
pin of his knight. 2O...&xe4
2L,xe4, Shumiakina — Janjgava,
Kishinev 1995, 21.. .c8!?oo — He
cannot make use of the weakness
of Black’s d6-pawn, because his
king is rather unsafe.
It would be difficult now for
Black to develop his initiative on Here, White’s play against the
the queenside, so he fortifies his weak enemy pawn seems more
position in the centre in order to promising than in the variations,
continue with active actions on we have analysed in our notes to
the kingside: h5, f7-f5. move 11, and he will not get worse;
nevertheless, he can hardly rely
13.b2 on obtaining an advantage in the
opening. 13.cxb5 axb5 14.b4 cxb4
13.e4 d7 14.’Zd1, Smyslov — 15.xb4 c7

67
Chapter 5

V1a8+ 31.f3 Vxa3 32.xd4 xd4

33.1xd4 Vxa2+ 34.f2 1e6= —
The tactical complications have
ended and almost all the pieces
have disappeared off the board,
so it looks like a dead draw,
Schwarte — Agrafenin, Lechenicher
SchachServer 2013.

The diagonal of the bishop on 13...h5 14.e3 f5 15.e2

g7 has been covered after the
move e7-e5 and the pin of the After 15.f4, Black obtains again
knight on c3 is not so unpleasant a good position. 15...exf4 16.exf4
for White. d4+ 17.ch1, Neckar — Vogt, Karlovy
There arises a complicated position Vary 1975, 17...Zf6 18.d1
with mutual chances after d7 19.xd4 cxd4. White cannot
16.ib2 if5 17.V1c1 fc8oo Civitillo exploit the weakness of the enemy
— Efendiyev, ICCF 2010. d4-pawn, since his pieces are totally
It seems less precise for White discoordinated. 20.’Zf2 1b6
to play here 16.V1d3, since following 21.fe1 fe8. Black wishes to penetrate
16..1f5 17.e4 d7 18.a3 h6t, to the e3-square with his
Black seizes the initiative, Paredes rook at an opportune moment.
Prats — Overton, England 2002. 22.cxb5 xb5oo — His knight is
16.ia3 f5 17.V1b2 e4. Black misplaced at the edge of the
prepares an exchange-sacrifice. board, but this is not dangerous
He would not obtain an edge after for Black, because his other pieces
it, but the activity of his pieces are very active.
would be sufficient to maintain
the equality. 18.xb5 xb5 19.
xb5 xd5 20.VTh1 c3 21.V1b4
c6 (This move seems to be more
precise than the immediate regaining
of the exchange after 21...
xb5 22.V1xb5.) 22.Th7 Vc8 23.
1b6 id4 24.V1a6 a5 25.b6 e3
26Jxd6. White is forced to seek
simplifications in order to try to
parry Black’s initiative, which increases
with every move. The further
developments are forced. 15...f6 16.a3 d7 17.fc1
26...exd2 27.V1xa5 Zxe2+ 28.ch1 Ve8 18.,c3 b4. He changes the
h3 29.1xd2 xg2+ 30.c?xg2 object of his attack. Instead of the

68
 4J.g2 0-0 5.Qc3 d6 6.f3 tc6 7.0-0 a6 8.d5 a5 9.d2 c5

c4-pawn, he increases his pressure 13.dxe6

against White’s b3-pawn. White opens the game in the
19.b2 b7 2O.a1 a5 21.e1 centre.

a4t Knobel — Haugen, ICCF

2009. There has arisen a complicated If he does not do that, he will
middle game position. have to face Black’s kingside
There have been made more than pawn-offensive.
twenty moves and not a single
piece, or a pawn, has disappeared 13iab1 h5 — see variation
off the board. Black’s queenside B2a.
counterplay provides him with at
least equal game. If pawns are exchanged Following 13.e4, Black obtains
on b4, Black’s knight will a good game after the plan, we
have the wonderful c5-square and have already shown you numerous
White’s situation would not be times — 13...h5!? 14.cxb5 axb5
improved even after a win of a 15.a3 b4oo Pantsulaia — Kovalev,
pawn, for example: 22.axb4 Saint Vincent 2005.
cxb4 23.bxa4 c5 24.a5 a8,
followed by a4 and White’s a5- After 13.d1, Black should advance
pawn, isolated from the rest of his again his rook-pawn 13...
forces, will become an easy prey h5!?
for Black’s pieces.

B2b) 12.b2
White develops his bishop to
an active position and later, he
will try to find a more active
square for his queen’s rook than
bi.
12...e5
It seems premature for White
to play 14.f4, since following 14...
exf4 15.gxf4 bxc4oo, he cannot
capture on c4 with his pawn.
16.bxc4? xb2! Black sacrifices
the exchange and begins an attack
against the enemy monarch. 17.
xb2 g4 18.f3 .d4+ 19.ihl
Vh4. White’s defence is very (hfficult,
because most of his pieces
are on the queenside and cannot

69
Chapter 5

come in time to assist in the protection

of his king. 20.h3 e3 21.
1d3 e8 22.g1 ff5. All Black’s
pieces,besides his knight on a5,
take part in the attack. 23.V41a3
xg2. He exchanges the important
defender of the enemy king.
24.xg2 1e1+ 25.f1, Kopylov —
Chevelevitch, Germany 2009.
25...xh3!? 26.xh3 V1xf1+ 27. 14...axb5 15.f4, Rogozenco — Souleidis,
h2 xe2—+ Hamburg 2009. 15...exf4!?
16.gxf4 e8 17.e4 b4. You can see
14.e4 h4 15.V1d3 d7. Black now the consequences of White’s
prepares the advance of his other imprecise move 14. Black develops
rook-pawn. He wishes to follow his light-squared bishop to a
with b5-b4, b7, a5-a4. 16.c3 very active position. 18.d1 a6t
‘b7 17.e3 b4 18.b2 ‘e7 19.V1e2 — White’s centre is likely to turn
a5 20.a4. White should better into an excellent target for Black’s
close the queenside, preventing pieces.
a5-a4. 20...h6 21.ae1 be8 22. The character of the position
c1 g7oo Kovac — Zakharov, remains the same after the immediate
ICCF 2014. The chances are mutual pawn-advance 14.e4 h4 15.
in this complicated middle e2 hxg3 16.hxg3 h6 17.c3
game position. White has more g4oo — White will hardly manage
space indeed, but Black can be to oust the enemy knight from the
very optimistic about the future, g4-square, Yakovich — Fedorov,
since he is well prepared for the St Petersburg 2009.
pawn-advance f2-f4 and White 14.d1 h4 15.e4 (After 15.c3,
has no other way of developing White succeeds in closing advantageously
initiative. the queenside indeed,
but this happens at the price of
There arises a complicated position losing two tempi. 15...b4 16.b2
after 13.ae1. White concentrates h5 17.Zf3 h3 18.h1 b7oo —
forces on the kingside. Black’s knight is coming to assist
His plan includes d1, e4, e3, in the kingside offensive. The
followed by f2-f4. Black must react chances are mutual, Spirin — Al
accurately and energetically. Modiahki, Calvi 2008.) 15...h5
13...h5 16.c3 b4 17.b2 d7 18.Vfd3
(diagram) b7 19.e3 e7oo Ballow — Bastos,
It seems illogical for White to ICCF 2010. In this complicated
choose 14.cxb5, since it is bad for position Black can organise
him to open “a second front”... counterplay with a6-a5-a4, or f’7-

70
 4.g2 0-0 54c3 d6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 a6 8.d5 a5 9.d2 c5

f5. White’s g3-square is not well 15.ce4

protected and he will hardly manage There begin exchanges of minor
to accomplish the thematic pieces, which would lead to a
pawn-advance f2-f4. material ratio with a bishop on g2
for White against a black knight
13...fxe6 on a5. Black will have problems
After the removal of White’s bringing back his knight into the
d5-pawn, Black’s game has become actions, since White’s bishop controls
much easier. the c6-square, but he should
14.cxb5 still manage to equalise thanks to
his pawn-majority in the centre.
Following 14.ad1, White’s c4-
pawn may turn out to be weak. It seems a bit less precise for
14...bxc4 15.bxc4 b7 16.xb7 White to play 15.1de4, since that
xb7= Rawicz — Zawadzka, Wroclaw move does not open the diagonal
2008. of his bishop on b2. 15...1e7 16.
ac1 &b7= Antunes — Bologan,
After 14.ab1 b7 15.xb7 Moscow 1994.
xb7, Black only needs to centralise
his knight on a5 in order to Following 15.ad1 b7 16.
solve all his problems in the opening. xb7 xb7 17.de4, P.Horvath —
He can do this in the next few Helie, Agneaux 1998, Black can
moves. 16.fd1 c6 17.ce4 d4 solve the problem with the protection
18.xd4 cxd4 19.Zf3 e5oo — of his d6-pawn with the
Black’s pawns dominate in the move

centre and this compensates the

slight defects of his pawn-structure, 15..1b716.ad1
Rawicz — P.Martynov, Krakow
2010. White is reluctant to exchange
his knight on f6, because this
14...axb5 would lead to the trade of the
light-squared bishops 16.’Zxf6+
xf6 17.xf6 1xf6 18.xb7, Caressa
— Piersig, ICCF 2011, 18...
xb7!?= — Black’s knight will enter
easily the actions via the c6-
square.

Capturing on f6 with the bishop

does not seem attractive to
White 16.xf6 xf6 17.ad1 g7
18.f3 d5oo and later, he should

71
Chapter 5

be on the alert, since Black’s bishop-pair Ve5 V1f6 21.V1c7 b7 22.g2 fc8
may turn into powerful 23.V1d7 c4 — Black sacrifices temporarily
force, Bronstein — Spassky, Amsterdarn/Leeuwarden a pawn, develops his
1956. knight to an active position and
16...xe4 equalises. 24.Vxb5 c5=
2O...c6

17.xe4
After 17.xg7, Black can win a 21.e4 (White must fight
pawn with the intermediate move. against his opponent’s pawn-centre;
17...xg3 18.fxg3, Pcola — Komora, otherwise, he may end up in
Slovakia 1999, 18...xf1+ 19. an inferior position, for example:
xf1 cxg7 20.xb7 xb7 21.e4 21.fe1, Schmidt — Sax, Budapest
e7 22.1c3+ e5= — White can attack 1977, 21...c4!?) 21...d4 22Sc2,
the weak e4 and d5-squares. Ftacnik — W.Schmidt, Prague
This, together with the misplacement 1985. White wishes to exploit the
of the enemy knight on b7, vulnerability of the enemy c5-
compensates his lack of a pawn, pawn. 22..S!d6 23.c1 c4. Black
but not more than that. sacrifices a pawn and seizes the
17...ixe4 initiative. 24.bxc4 d3 25.fd1
Black parts with his powerful bd8. The far-advanced d3-pawn
bishop, but solves the problem keeps Black safe from any unpleasant
with his knight on aS. developments. 26Sc3
181xe4 xb2 19.xb2 d5 b4 27.c5 (27.V1b3? xf2! 28.cxf2
201g2 Vc5+ 29.cf1 f8—+) 27..Sd4.
But not 20.Vc2, in view of The transfer into an endgame is
20...Vff6t Dieckmann — Preussner, Black’s simplest road to equality.
ICCF 2000. 28S!xd4 xd4 29.c4 e2+
The attempt to prevent the return 3O.c?f1 c3 31.d2 b1 32.d1
of Black’s knight to the c6- c3= White is incapable of avoiding
square would not bring any particular the repetition of moves, since
dividends to White. 20. he cannot hold on to his d-pawn.

72
Chapter 6 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6

4.g3 0—0 — see Chapter 2.

4.d5 d6 5.c3 0—0 6.e4 — see

Chapter 15.

4.f4 0—0 5.c3 d6, or 5.e3 d6

6.c3 c5, or 6.h3 c5 7.c3 cxd4,
or 6.e2 c5 7.Zc3 Zh5 — see variation
B2.

It seems premature for White

In this chapter we will analyse to choose a plan connected with
two not so popular systems for the immediate development of his
White. In one of them (variations bishop to b2. 4.b3 0—0 5.b2 c5!?
A and Bi), he refrains from the Black can exploit the fact that White’s
logical occupation of the centre kingside pieces are not developed
and chooses the rather passive yet and refrain from the plan including
move e2-e3. In the other system, the preparation of e7-e5
White develops his bishop to the in favour of more active ideas.
f4-square (variation B2).

A) g7 4.e3
Here, we will deal with the
lines in which White does not develop
his knight on c3 (about
4.c3 0—0 — see 3.Zc3). In all
these variations, as a rule, Black
obtains effortlessly a very good
position by preparing the pawn- 6.d5?! e6t Gloor — Spalir, Katowice
advance e7-e5. 2014.

73
Chapter 6
After 6.dxc5, at first Black regains 21.ad1 xd1 22.xd1 V1b6 23.
his pawn and then advances f3= Weber — Tomson, ICCF 2015.
d7-d5, equalising completely. 6...
a6 7.g3 xc5 8.g2 d5= Yao — It does not seem logical for
Cordara, Topusko 2014. White to prepare e2-e4 with the
6.e3 cxd4 7.exd4 (It does not help of the move 4.V1c2, because
seem so reliable for White to continue this would lead to the weakening
with 7.xd4, because Black of the d4-square. 4...0—0 5.e4 d6
can oust the enemy knight away 6.e2 c6 and Black begins to exert
from the centre with the move e7- immediate pressure against
e5, not only equalising, but even White’s centre. 7.d5. White attacks
trying to fight for the advantage. the enemy knight with tempo,
7...d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.c4 b6 10. but weakens the dark squares
d2 e5 11.4f3 e7 12.0—0 d8 with his last move. 7...b4 8.V1b3
13.1e2 Zc6 Shengelia — Hamdouchi, a6 9.c3 Zc5 10.V41c2 e6 1L,e3
Tiles Medes 2006.) 7...d5 g4 12.xc5 dxc5. After the disappearance
8.e2 c6 9.0—0 f5 off the board of
White’s important defender of the
dark squares, he loses the initiative
in the opening and is forced
to begin defending. 13.0—0 exd5
14.xd5 c6 15.c3 Vc7 16.h3 e5
17.Zxe5 ,xe5 — Black has a stable
advantage thanks to his powerful
bishop-pair, B.Socko — 01-
szewski, Warsaw 2011.

White’s bishop on b2 is a bit 4.bd2. In positions of this

passive and this precludes him type, White’s knight is not so well
from fighting for the advantage. placed on d2 as on c3. 4...0—0 5.
Black’s further plan is quite simple. b3 (5.e4 d6 — see Chapter 1, 3.
He should exchange on c4 at d2) 5...d6 6.g3, Burmakin — Eljanov,
an opportune moment and create Alushta 2000. Here, Black
pressure against White’s “hanging” could have emphasized the bad
pawns. 10.Zc3 c8 11.e5 dxc4 12. placement of the enemy knight on
xc6 xc6 13.bxc4 a6 14.h3 d6 b3 with the move 6...a5!?t, and
15.d5 b5 16.c5 d7 17.c6 d6 18. White would be forced either to
V1b3 Zxd5. Black has realised his allow a5-a4, or to play a2-a4,
plan and won a pawn. Still, White’s weakening the b4-square.
far-advanced passed c6-pawn enables
him to maintain the equality. 4.g5 0—0 5.e3. White would
19.xd5 xb2 20.1xb2 xd5 not obtain an edge in the opening

74
 34f3 ig74.e3 0-0

if he postpones the development with a rather unpleasant defence

of his queen’s knight. (5.c3 d6 — in this endgame, because of his
see Chapter 7, variation B) 5...d6 weakened queenside pawn-structure.)
6.e2 (6.c3 c5 — see Chapter 7, 6...c5 Black chooses this energetic
variation B) 6...e4 7.h4 c5 8. move instead of preparing
0—0 cxd4 9.exd4 h6!?oo — White the standard pawn-advance e7-
must be very careful about the advance e5. 7.a3 c6 8.bxc5 dxc5 9.d5
of the enemy pawns on the White has acquired plenty of space
kingside; otherwise, he may lose but lags in development. 9...a5
his dark-squared bishop. 104d2 e6 11.e4 exd5 12.cxd5,
Huebner — Lagno, Marianske
White can also play 4.b4 immediately, Lazne 2009, 12...e8!?± White’s
but then he will need seemingly powerful pawn-centre
to follow with e2-e3 anyway, so needs permanent protection.
there will arise transposition to
the main variation. 4...0—0 5.b2 4...O—O
(5.e3 — see 4.e3) 5...d6

6.c3 (6.e3 — see 4.e3. White

does not have time to fianchetto 5.b4
his other bishop too. 6.g3 c5 Black
opens the game in an attempt to About 5.c3 d6, or 5.e2 d6
exploit the lag of development of 6.c3 bd7, or 6.0—0 bd7 7.
White’s kingside. 7.bxc5 dxc5 8. c3 e5 — see variation Bi.
d5 e6 9.c3. Here, in the game
Dudley — Belanoff, ICCF 200, Following 5.b3 d6 6..b2,
Black could have started favourable Black may play immediately 6...
tactical complications with 9... e5, without losing time for the
exd5!? 10.xd5 xd5 11.ixg7 move bd7.
e3! He seizes the initiative with (diagram)
this intermediate move. 12.1c1 7.4c3 exd4 8.Vxd4 (8!xd4
xg7 13.V1xe3 V1a5+ 14.V1d2 c6 d5 9.cxd5 xd5 10.c1, Abel —
15.g2 e6t — White will be faced Dinstuhi, Germany 2014, 10...

75
Chapter 6

exchanging pieces.

5...d661b2

6.Zc3 e5 — see variation Bi.

c5!?= Black ousts the enemy

knight from the centre and obtains
a very good position.) 8...
bd7 9.e2 c5=. In the game
Ljubojevic — Stein, Las Palmas
1973, White underestimated his
opponent’s tactical threats and
ended up quickly in a hopeless
position: 10.d1?! g4 11.V1d2? 6...e5!
xf2!—+ This is the simplest for Black.
After 7.e2 exd4 8.xd4 d5, He sacrifices a pawn and seizes
Black is perfectly prepared for the the initiative.
opening of the game in the centre. 7.dxe5
9.0—0 (9.Vc1 c5 10.f3 dxc4 11.
bxc4 e4 12.xg7 cxg7 13.bd2 7.c3 exd4 — see variation Bi.
xd2 14.xd2 c6= Black’s prospects
are not worse thanks to his It seems rather slow for White
superior pawn-structure, Mamedyarov to opt for 7.b5 — he deprives the
— A.Zhigalko, Chalkidiki enemy knight of the c6-square,
2003.) 9...c5 10.f3, Nikolac — but lags in development. Black
Ree, Maribor 1980, 10...dxc4!?= advances d6-d5 and equalises
7.dxe5 dxe5!? Black sacrifices easily. 7...exd4 8.xd4 c5 9.b2
a pawn for the initiative. 8.V1xd8 d5 10.cxd5 xd5 1L,xg7 xg7
xd8 9.xe5 c6 10.c3 e4 11. 12.c4, Kaenel — Bischoff, Graechen
ixg7 cxg7 12.a3 a5 13.bd2 c5 1999, 12...b6!?=
14.e2 f5 15.0—0 g5 16.h3 h5t
Bu — Ding, China 2014. He has 7.e2 exd4 8.xd4 (8.exd4 d5
seized completely the initiative 9.c5 e4 10.0—0, Efimov — De Ia
and White’s defence will not be Villa Garcia, Saint Vincent 1999,
easy at all. It may be best for him 10...e8!?=) 8...c5 9.b5 Zc6 10.
to advance b3-b4, giving back the a3 (White should not play 10.
extra material in an attempt to bxc5, because after 10...dxc5
fight for a draw with the help of Black gets rid of his weak d6-

76
 3.f3 g74.e3 0-0 5.b4 d6

pawn.) 10...cxb4 11.0—0, Espig — (20.xd2? ‘c3) 20...xd2 21.

Savon, Odessa 1976. Here, Black xd2 xa3t — Black has regained
could have continued with 11... the sacrificed pawn and still
d5!? 12.axb4 dxc4=, eliminating maintains the initiative. White’s
his weak d6-pawn. defence will not be easy in this
endgame.
7...dxe5!?
This move is seldom played in Black obtains good compensation
practice, but it is Black’s most direct for the pawn after 9.xe5 f5
road to equality and may be 10.c3 c5.
even to seizing the initiative.
8S!xd8 xd8

It is essential for him to create

a target for attack on the queen-
side before White has completed
the development of his pieces.
9.c3 11.b5 a6 12.e2 e4 13. d5 axb5
14.f3 d6 15.cxb5 Zd7 164e7+
Black should not worry about cf8 17.xf5 ‘xf5. White has obtained
his e5-pawn, because after 9.xe5 the two-bishop advantage,
c6 10.c3 a5, his initiative compensates but this is just temporary, since
the minimal material the trade of the dark-squared
deficit with an interest. 11.bxa5 bishop is likely to happen soon.
e4 12.xg7 cxg7 13.a3 xa5. 18.xd7+ xd7 19.xg7+ xg7
White lags horribly in development Black has long lasting initiative
and his queenside pawns for the pawn. 20.cf2 a3 21.hd1
are excellent targets for attack. (It is worse for White to opt
14.e2 e6 15.0—0 g5! Black seizes here for 21.e4?!, because after
the initiative on the kingside as 21...Ze3 22.hc1 b6 23.ab1 d2
well. 16.h3 f5 17.a2 g4 18.hxg4 24.b3 xb3 25.axb3 xg2,
fxg4 19.fd2 xd2! Thanks to this Black regains the sacrificed pawn
tactical strike Black deflects his and White would have to fight
opponent’s pieces from the protection long and hard for a draw.) 21...
of the a3-pawn. 20.xd2 e7 22.e4 d4 23.c4 b6 —

77
Chapter 6

Black has sufficient compensation

for his minimal material deficit
thanks to this powerful knight•
at the centre of the board and his
active rooks.

9...c6 1O.a3 e4 11.d2,

Rush — Ustimenko, Internet 2012.
Black’s e4-pawn is hanging, but
he is not obliged to defend it.

4.g5 d6 — see Chapter 7, variation

A.

4.f3 d6 5.e4 0—0 — see Chapters

13-14.

4.f4 0—0 5.Zf3 d6, or 5.e3 d6

6.Zf3 c5, or 61e2 c5 7.Zf3 h5,
or 6.h3 c5 7.f3 cxd4 — see variation
B2.

11...g4!? 12.the4 f5 13. Following 4.e3, there may

h3 xe3 14.fxe3 fxe4 15.a2 arise original positions only in
e5 16.xe4. The tactical complications variations in which White refrains
have ended and White from the natural development of
has an extra pawn. It is an end- his knight on f3. 4...0—0 5.d3
game indeed, but Black’s superior (5.f3 d6 — see variation Bi) 5...
development is a very important d6 6.ge2 (6.f3 bd7 — see variation
factor in the evaluation of this position. Bi).
16.. Jkf5 17.d2 a5 18.b5
d3+ 191xd3 xd3 201xg7
c’xg7 — White’s pawns are weak,
while Black’s pieces are very active.

B) 3.c3 .g7
(diagram)
4.m
4.e4 d6 — see Chapters 8-27. In our later chapters we will
4.g3 0—0 — see Chapter 1. analyse a similar position, but

78
 3.c3 g74.f3 0-0

only with a white pawn on e4. The analysis of this opening however,
placement of the pawn on e3 is a is not a part of out plans.) 6.g5
part of White’s defensive strategy, (6.e4 — see Chapter 16; 6.f4 c5
but it is understandable that he — see variation B2) 6...h6 — see
cannot obtain an advantage by Chapter 7, variation B.
defending. 6...e5 7.d5 (There arises
a very complicated position after
7.0—0 e8 8.f3 exd4 9.exd4 c5 Bi) 5.e3
10.d5 fd7t, followed by e5, or This is a modest move. White
b8-a6-c7, b8, a7-a6, b7-b5.) does not occupy the centre with
7...fd7. Black frees the way forward his pawns and protects additionally
of his f-pawn. 8.h4 f5oo Gardarsson his d4-pawn.
— Balabaev, ICCF 2006. 5...d6
If Black advances later e7-e5,
4...O—O then the position would resemble
a variation from the French Defence
1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 (with colours
reversed). It is possible that
this is the reason the system with
5.e3 is used by players who prefer
the French Defence with Black
like Bareev, Dreev, Lysyj etc.

In this chapter we will analyse

Bi) 5.e3 and B2) 51f4.

5.g5 d6 — see Chapter 7.

5.g3 d6 — see Chapter 2.
5.e4 d6 — see Chapters 15-27.
5.d5 d6 6.e4 — see Chapter 15.
61e2
The move 5.h3 does not look White can hardly continue the
active at all. The simplest reaction game without this developing
for Black would be 5...d6 (It is move.
possible that the move 5...d5!?= is
even stronger, transposing to the It seems a bit premature for
Gruenfeld Defence in which the White to try to occupy immediately
move h2-h3 is not so useful. The more space on the queenside

79
Chapter 6

with 6.b4, because after 6...e5 7. dangerous. White’s prospects on

..b2 exd4 8.xd4, Black has the the queenside do not seem so convincing.
energetic resource 8...c5! 9.bxc5
dxc5 10.Zb3. White attacks the
enemy c5-pawn. (10.db5?! c6 6...bd7
11.e2 e6 — The vulnerability of
the c4-pawn may hurt White in
the future, Ledger — Hebden, Isle
of Man 1997.) 10...’c6!? White
lags in the development of his
kingside, so Black can afford to
sacrifice a pawn. He would not
mind a transfer to an endgame.
11.V1xd8 xd8 12.xc5 b4 13.
c1 b6 14.5a4 f5 15.e2 ac8
16.0—0 Ze4 — Black’s piece-activity
compensates fully his minimal
material deficit. White has 7.0—0
great difficulties protecting his
weak a2 and c4-pawns. White refrains sometimes
from an immediate castling.
It is not good for White to play
6.d3, because later the bishop 7.Vc2 e5 8.b3 (8.0—0 e8 —
may come under the threat of see 7.0—0) 8...e8 — see 7.b3.
a pawn-fork after e7-e5-e4. 6...
bd7 7.0—0 e5 8.d2. White develops 7.b4 e5 8.b2 (8.0—0 e8 —
his bishop and connects see 7.0—0) 8...e8
his rooks. 8...c6 9.V41c2. He increases
his control over the e4-
square. 9...e8 10.ae1 e7 11.
1g5. White takes some measures
against the threat e5-e4, Aung —
Khin, Yangon 1999. 11...h6!? This
is the simplest reaction. Black
provokes the enemy knight to occupy
the e4-square and there it
comes under attack after f7-f5.
12.ge4 xe4 13.xe4 f5 14.c3 9.0—0 exd4 — see 7.0—0.
f7 15.c1 e4 16.e2 f6= — If The position is simplified after
Black manages in the future to advance 9.1b3 exd4 10.xd4 a5 11.a3 axb4
g6—g5 and f5—f4, then his 12.axb4 xa1+ 13.xa1 e5= Mikhalchishin
kingside attack may become very — Tratar, Ptuj 1998.

80
 3.c3 g74.cf3 0-0

After 9.a4, Black can try to exploit 9.0—0 e4 — see 7.0—0.

the vulnerability of the pawn 9.V41c2. White has in mind to
on c4 with the line: 9...exd4 10. castle queenside in some variations.
exd4 a5 11.b5 b6 12.0—0 g4. 9...Ve7 10.0—0—0 (10.0—0
His prospects are not worse. 13. e4 11.d2 ‘fZf8 — see 7.0—0) 10...
V1b3, Mikhalchishin — Mazi, Bled c6 11.h3 a6 12.g4 exd4 13.exd4
1999. Here, Black had an attractive b5 Black’s chances seem preferable
pawn-sacrifice — 13...d5!? in this position with attacks
14.c5 c4 15.xc4 dxc4 16.1xc4 on opposite sides of the board, because
xf3 17.gxf3 h5-* and White his king is more reliably
would hardly manage to parry the protected, Lobron — Van den
attack of the enemy pieces. Doel, Amsterdam 1996.
9.dxe5 xe5. The exchange of 9.h3 c6 10.1c2 exd4 11.xd4
a couple of knights is Black’s simplest a5. Black is preparing c5. Now,
road to equality. 10.xe5 White cannot oust the enemy
dxe5 11.V1b3 f5 12.0—0 c6 It is knight from there with the move
useful for Black to cover the d5- b3-b4. 12.0—0 c5 13.f3 Vfb6.
square against the possible penetration Black’s pieces are harmoniously
of the enemy knight. 13. deployed and this compensates
fd1 V1c7 14.c5, Kempinski — the relative weakness of his d6-
Hunt, Bad Wiessee 2013. The pawn. 14.ab1 (14.ad1 h5 15.fe1
weakening of the d6-square a4oo — Black creates a weakness
would be important if White could on b3 for his opponent, Nitsche —
transfer his knight there. Here Golubev, Bad Wiessee 1999.) 14...
however, this would not be a simple fd7 15.fd1 e5= Svetushkin —
task at all. 14...e6!? 15.c4 Hicki, Chalkidiki 2002.
xc4 16.V1xc4 ad8=, followed by
the exchange of the rooks on the 7...e5
d-file. The drawish outcome of Black’s plan is very simple in
the game has become very likely. similar positions. He must prepare
e5-e4 after at first e8, e7
7.b3 e5 8.b2 (8.V1c2 e8 9. and later a transfer of the knight
,b2 e7 — see 8.b2) 8...e8 to the g5-square: h5-h4 (and
eventually h4-h3), f8-h7-g5. If
Black succeeds in realising all his
plans then his position would
be preferable, because White’s
queenside offensive would hardly
be so effective.
(diagram)
8Sc2
White prevents e5-e4.

81
Chapter 6

in the future, Artemiev — Ponkratoy,

Khanty-Mansiysk 2013.
12.b5 8h7 13.c1 (But not
13.Zd5?!, because of 13...xd5 14.
cxd5, Rakhmangulov — Golubev,
Kiev 1997, 14...V41g5fl: — White’s
d5-pawn is hanging and Black is
threatening to win the exchange
after h3.) 13...f5. It would always
be useful for Black to provide
additional protection of the
He has also tried in practice important e4-pawn. 14.a4 c6. Black
8.b3. This move has the defect deprives his opponent of the possibility
that in order for White to begin an d5. 15.a3 h4 16.b1
offensive on the queenside he ‘fZg5 17.ch1 h3 18.g3 f8 19.b3
must lose a tempo for the move followed by g4, exchanging
b3-b4. 8...e8 9.b2 (9.Vfc2 e4 — the important defender of the
see 8.1c2) 9...e4 10.d2 f8. light squares. Black realises the
Black’s play is tremendously simple plan we have explained already
and easy. 11.b4 (11.V1c2 ‘e7 — and maintains the advantage,
see 8.V1c2) 11...h5 Korchnoi — Kasparov, Paris 1990.

It seems preferable for White

to play here 8.b4, against which
Black can react in the same fashion
as against 8.b3, but in a less
favourable situation, since White
has saved a tempo and has played
b2-b4 at once. Black can also
choose a more reliable plan, connected
with an exchange on d4
12.Vb3 8h7 13.fc1 ‘fZg5 14. and the preparation of the pawnadvances
b5 g4± Bukavshin — Kokarev, a7-a5, or c7-c5. 8...e8
Toljatti 2014. The activity of
Black’s pieces increases with every
move. White cannot exchange
on g4, because this would lead to
the opening of the h-file.
12.a4 8h7 13.b5 h4 14.e1 h3
15.g3 g5oo and the vulnerability
of the light squares on the king-
side may become a telling factor

82
 3.c3 g74.4f3 0-0

9.V1c2 exd4 — see 8.V41c2.

Following 9.b5, it seems very
good for Black to choose 9...a6!?
10.a4 axb5. The rook on al is not
protected, so White cannot capture
with his a-pawn. 11.cxb5,
Spiridonov — Suba, Decin 1977,
11...c6!?=
After 9.a4, Black obtains a
good position with the line: 9...
exd4!? 10.exd4 a5 11.b5 c5 12.
bxc6 bxc6. White has some space The character of the position
advantage indeed, but this is not remains more or less the same
so important because Black has after 9.e1. Black continues with
counter chances connected with his standard plan, including the
an attack against the c4-pawn, as pawn-advance e5-e4, pushing forward
well as with the preparation of the h-pawn and the transfer
f6-e4. 13.f4 b6 14.b1 e6 of his knight to g5, ending up with
15.Vb3 b8 16.Va2 f5 17.b3 at least equality. 9...e4 10.’Zd2
e4 18.xe4 xe4= Black’s bishops e7 11.b4 f8 12.b2 f5 13.h3.
are tremendously active, Fehmers White does not wish to allow the
— Traut, Germany 2001. advance of the enemy pawn to the
9.b2 exd4 10.xd4 (After h3-square. This plan has the
1O.exd4, Black obtains very good drawback that after the transfer
counterplay following 10...a5 11. of Black’s knight to the g5-square,
b5 b6 12.e1 a4# Woschkat — White must be on the alert about
Allen, IECG 2000.) 10...a6!? He is the possible piece-sacrifice on h3.
threatening to play c7-c5 at an 13...h5 14.ed1 8h7 15.ac1 h4
opportune moment after which 16.b3 Zg5oo Rooijen — Alvar,
White would not have the move Lechenicher SchachServer 2012.
b5. 11.1c2 e5 12.ad1 g4.
Black’s position is a bit cramped Following 9.b4, the simplest
and the trade of a couple of minor for Black would be to organise
pieces may be very useful for him. counterplay against the enemy
13.xg4 fxg4 14.h3 Zf6 15.V1e2 c4-pawn 9...exd4!? 10.exd4 a5 11.
c6= Black’s d6-pawn is a bit weak, b5 b6= Nader — Chahrour, Abu
but this is not important at all, Dhabi 2015.
Kaenel — Sturua, Biel 1999.
The same plan works well too
8...e8 following 9.d1 e7 10.b4 a5 11.
(diagram) b5 exd4 12.xd4 b6= Bruzon
9.b3 Batista — Vidit, Baku 2015.

83
Chapter 6

9...e41O.d2Ve7 pawn on a2, he will be faced with

There has arisen a standard a very difficult fight for a draw in
position for this variation in this endgame.
which Black’s play is much easier.
After 1Lb2 f8 12.h3 h5 13.
d5, Black can change his plan a bit
and advance his g-pawn (g6-g5-
g4) with the idea to exploit the exposed
placement of the enemy
pawn on h3. 13...g5 14.b5 f5
15.d4 g6 16.ac1 8d7 17.b4
e5 18.V1b3 g4—* Kurajica — Popovic,
Sarajevo 2011.

11...c6
Black does not like to worry
a3 about the possible sorties of the
enemy knight (d5, or b5).
After 11.b4 f8 12.a3 h5 13. 12.ab1
b5 8h7, Black’s prospects seem
preferable. 14.c5 d5 15.V1a4 1d8 White maybe had to think
16.b6. White sacrifices a pawn about prophylactic. 12.ae1 ‘Zf8
with the idea to deflect his opponent 13.f3 exf3 141xf3 V41c7= After exchanging
from the attack on the kingside. the e4-pawn, he is not
16...cxb6 17.cxb6 d7 18. under the threat of a direct checkmating
Vb3 axb6 19.d6. White transfers attack, Ed.Lasker — Kupchik,
his bishop to the h2-b8 diagonal Chicago 1926.
in order to improve the defence of
his king. 19...c6 20.f4 Zf8 21.
ab1 e6 22.g3, Hoi — Moskalenko,
Copenhagen 1995. Here,
Black had a very promising piece-
sacrifice — 22...Zg4!? 23S1xb6
xd4! 24.exd4 Vxb6 25.xb6
xd4 26.b3 He has obtained two
pawns for the piece and powerful
initiative. 26...e3 27.’Zf3 exf2+ 28.
xf2 ixc3 29.xc3 xf2 30.cxf2
xa2 31.e3 e4 — White has
sacrificed the exchange and has 12...h5 13.fe1 f8 14.d5
managed to parry his opponent’s c5 15.b4 b6 16.bxc5 bxc5. It
initiative, but after the fall of his would be difficult for White to ob11.

84
 34c3 g74.f3 0-0

tam anything real out of his domination refrain from this move altogether.
over the b-file. 17.b3 He has at his disposal two other
8h7 18.eb1 g5 19.b8. The plans: ff5, followed by e4,
penetration of White’s rook to b8 achieving an advantageous trade
is not dangerous for Black, because of the knights and the move h5,
after 19...xb8 2O.xb8 beginning a chase after the enemy
d7, White’s rook cannot preserve bishop. Naturally, the second
its active position and is plan would be even more effective
forced to retreat. 21.b1 h4—* after the move e2-e3.
White has not achieved anything
on the queenside, while Black’s
kingside attack may become very
dangerous. Malakhov — Gabrielian,
Yerevan 2014.

B2) 51f4

6.e3

6.e4 — see Chapter 15.

Black should not be afraid of

the plan with the exchange of
the dark-squared bishops. 6.Vd2
ff5!? 7.h6 c5 8.d5 e6!? White
We have analysed a similar has not castled yet, so it would be
way of development for White in in favour of Black to open the
Volume 1, Chapter 7, except that game as quickly as possible. 9.
there he was not in a hurry to play xg7 (But not 9.’Zh4??, due to 9...
c2—c4 (1.d4 f6 2.f3 g6 3.f4). xh6 10.1xh6 g4—+) 9...cxg7
After White’s pawn has been 10.h4 e4 11.xf5+ exf5 12.
placed on c4, Black can attack the xe4 fxe4= — After the numerous
d4-square with the move c7-c5, exchanges of minor pieces the
without being afraid of c2-c3. position has been simplified considerably.
5...d6 White must already
This is a flexible move. Black think about maintaining the
does not advance c7-c5 yet, because equality because he lags in development.
in some variations he may

85
Chapter 6

White cannot create any problems better position, because White’s

for his opponent with the passed a4-pawn is not strength
rather modest line: 6.h3 c5 7.d5 but a weakness.
(7.e3 cxd4 — see 6.e3). 10.a4. White complies with the
exchange of his powerful bishop
but preserves his extra pawn. 10...
1xf4 11.exf4 V1a5 — Black has the
two-bishop advantage for the sacrificed
pawn (his dark-squared
bishop is particularly powerful,
since it has no opponent), as well
as the possibility to increase his
pressure on the queenside.

Now, Black can sacrifice a 6...c5

pawn in the spirit of the Benko
Gambit 7...b5!? and seize the initiative.
8.cxb5 (It would not be
better for White to choose here
8.xb5, because after 8...e4, his
knight will not manage to come
back to the c3-square. 9.Zd2 V1a5
10.1c2 f5t Stocek — Rasik, Ostrava
2010) 8...a6 9.e3 (9.bxa6
1b6!?) 9...’Zh5!? This is a very
energetic move.

7.h3
White must take care immediately
about the possible retreats
of his dark-squared bishop.

After 7.e2 h5 8.g5, Black

can advance his queenside pawns
with tempo. 8...h6 9.h4 g5 10.
g3 g4 11.d2 cxd4 12.exd4 f5
Now, White is faced with a 13.b3 Zc6 14.0—0 e5 15.dxe5
rather unpleasant choice. dxe5oo — The placement of White’s
After 10.h2 axb5 lllxb5 bishop on g3 may be the cause of
1a5 12.a4 xc3+ 13.bxc3 Vxc3+ great problems for him in the future,
14.d2 Black restores the Malmstroem — Benlloch
material balance and obtains a Guirau, ICCF 2007.

86
 34c3 g74.f3 0-0

7.d5 h5 8.g5 h6 9.ih4 g5 side pawn-structure in the process.

10.d2 (After 10.g3, there arise 9...€.e6 10.d5 d7 11.d4
positions from Chapter 7, variation a6 12.,e3 c8 13.c1 e6 14.dxe6
Bi, but with an extra tempo fxe6oo — In this complicated position
with Black, since White’s bishop with mutual pawn-weaknesses
has come to g3 not in three moves, both sides have chances in the
but in four.) 10...V41b6 11.b1 f5! forthcoming battle, Almarza Mato
Black transfers his bishop to the — Ribes Colorn, ICCF 2014.
kingside with tempo in order to
fortify his somewhat weakened Black has no problems at all
pawn-structure there. 12.e4 g6 after 9.e2 e4 10.xe4 xe4.
13..g3 d7 14.d3 V1a5 15.0—0 After the exchange of the knight
a6 16.b3 Vc7oo — Black’s prospects on f6, Black’s bishop on g7 exerts
are not worse. He can exchange very powerful pressure against
on g3 at any moment, the enemy pawn on d4. 11.0—0
ending up with the two-bishop c6 12.e3 d5 13.c5, Kargoll —
advantage, Le Roux — Ryska, Solomunovic, Germany 1994.
ICCF 2013. Here, Black’s simplest way to
equality is to advance immediate1y13...e5!?=
7...cxd4 8.exd4 if5
This is the simplest for Black.
He prepares the move e4. 9...e5!?N

91d3 This powerful move has not

White prevents his opponent’s been tested in practice yet. White
plans. has not castled, so Black accomplishes
immediately this pawn-
There arises a very interesting break in the seemingly well protected
situation after 9.g4!? White ousts point.
the enemy bishop from its active 1O.ixf5
position, but weakens his king- Playing in this way, White can

87
Chapter 6

at least avoid ending up in an inferior

position.

This cannot be said however

about the line: 10.dxe5?! dxe5 11.
ixf5 (after 11.Zxe5, it would be
interesting for Black to continue
with 11...h5 12.xf5 xf4i: and
two of White’s minor pieces are
hanging as well as his g2-pawn)
11...exf4 12.V1xd8 xd8 13.c2 c6
14.0—0 b4 15.b3 d7t, followed — Black exerts pressure
by c5. The queens have against the d4-square and this
been exchanged indeed, but Black’s compensates his doubled fpawns.
initiative is still very powerful. If White advances d4-d5,
(diagram) then the entire dark-squared
1O...exf4 111d3 e8+ 12. complex in his position would be
e2 c6 13.0—0 e4 14.e1 weakened.

88
Chapter 7 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 g7

knight B) Still, before

that, we will analyse A) 41g5.

A) 41g5
White wishes to play e2-e3
and Black will not have the possibility,
after h7-h6 and g6-g5, to
attack the enemy bishop on g3
with the move h5, since White’s
queen will control the h5-square
from dl.
This chapter will be devoted to 4...d6!?
the analysis of a system named after
World Champion number 7 It seems less precise for Black
Vasily Smyslov who has contributed to play 4...O—O, because after 5.
greatly to its development. V1d2 d6 6.e4, contrary to the variations,
What is the idea of this system? we will analyse in Chapter
The answer to this question 8, he fails to oust the enemy bishop
is very simple. Black is playing the from g5 with the move h7-h6,
King’s Indian Defence, while because of his premature castling.
White is playing...the Queens
Gambit: f3, g5, e3. The placement
of the pawn on e3 here is
more justified than in the previous
chapter, because he makes
this move only after his bishop
has been developed to an active
position and the pawn on e3 does
not restrict it.
As a rule, in the Smyslov system,
White develops at first his

89
Chapter 7

5.e3 White’s knight to the d6-square

(d2-e4-d6, or d2, c4-c5,
5.e4 h6 — see Chapter 8, variation d2-c4-d6).
A.
5...O—O
51f3 0—0 — see variation B.

5.h3 0—0 6.e4 (6.f3 h6 — see

variation B) 6...c5 — see Chapter
9, variation B.

After 5.1d2, Black must deprive

immediately his opponent
of the possibility h6. 5...h6 6.
h4 (Following 6.f4 h5 7.e3,
the placement of White’s bishop
in front of his e2-pawn is not good
at all. 7...c6 8.f3, Galinsky — 61d3
Kosikov, Kiev 2005. Here, Black’s This move has the defect that
simplest road to equality would White’s queen does not control
be to prepare the exchange of the the important d4-square any
knight. 8...f6!? 9.d1 f5=, followed more.
by e4.) 6...bd7 7.f3
0—0 8.e3 e5. In this chapter we 6.f3 c5 — see variation B.
will analyse Black’s plan to undermine
the enemy centre with the After 6.e2 c5 7.d5 (It looks
move c7-c5. Still, the pawn-advance more reliable for White to opt
e7-e5 would not be bad either. here for 7.f3 h6 — see variation
The point is that White B2.) 7...Va5, White fails to play
needs the d2-square for his knight Zd2, since his knight is still on gl
in the Smyslov system. Here, his and is forced to parry Black’s
queen has occupied it, so White threat ‘e4 in a less favourable
will have to lose a tempo for the fashion. 8.V1d2 a6 9.a4 White prevents
move c2. 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.d1 b7-b5, but weakens the b4-
e8 11.V1c2 c6 12.e2 Vc7 13.0—0 square. (It would not be logical
aS 14.a4, Troianescu — Hort, for him to play here 9.f4, because
Venice 1969. Now, it seems logical after 9...b5 10.f3 b4 11.d1
for Black to trade a couple of the important central e4-
knights 14...b6!? 15.xb6 square would remain in Black’s
1xb6= — The position is approximately hands, Unglaub — Busek, ICCF
equal and later, Black only 2000) 9...bd7 10.a3 Vb4 11.a5
needs to prevent the transfer of b5 — White lags in development,

90
 3.c3 g74.f3 0-0 5.g5d6

while Black’s queenside initiative

is running effortlessly, Sjoberg —
Schutz, Sweden 1993.

6...c57.d5

After 7.ge2, White loses his

control over the h5-square and
this enables Black to begin a chase
after his opponent’s dark-squared
bishop. 7...c6 8.0—0 h6 9.h4
cxd4 10.exd4 g5 111g3 h5oo, 12.cxb5 a6. Black is having a
followed by f7-f5-f4, or g3, obtaining favourable version of the Benko
at least the two-bishop advantage, Gambit, since he has managed to
Hill — Bergmanis, Melbourne exchange his knight for the enemy
1971. bishop. 13.a4. White must already
think about defending. (It is
7...a5 8.ge2 bd7 obviously worse for him to continue
with the straightforward
line: 13.e4?! axb5 14.e5, Berezjuk
— Sejkora, Tatranska Lomnica
1998, because after 14...b4 15.exf6
exf6 16.h4 a6 17.Vfd2 bxc3 18.
bxc3 f5—+, White’s material losses
would be unavoidable.) 13...
axb5 141xf6 ixf6 15.axb5
Vxa1 16.xa1 xa1+ 17.c?f2
a7!, followed by d7, b8,
ab7, xb5. White must already
think about survival, since after
Black’s plans include the the fall of the b5-pawn, his pawn
pawn-advance b7-b5, but before on b2 is unlikely to hold on for
that he wishes to trade his opponent’s long.
light-squared bishop.
9.0—0 e5 10.f4 xd3 11.
xd3 B) 0—0 5.ig5 d6
(diagram) (diagram)
11...b5! 6.e3
Black must be in a hurry. If he This is White’s most popular
plays too slow, White will advance move and it is in the spirit of the
e3—e4—e5 seizing completely the Smyslov system, which is not aggressive
initiative. at all. White does not oc91
Chapter 7

it (h7-h6, g6-g5, h5), it can always

go to h2. 6...h6 7.h4 (7.f4
c6 8.e3 d7 9.g3, Brooke —
Pleasants, Birmingham 2016, 9...
e5=) 7...c5 8.e3 (following 8.d5,
Lysyj — Gladyszev, Tula 2003,
Black obtains a comfortable position
after 8...g5 9.g3 f5=) 8...
cxd4 9.xd4 (There arises a more
complicated position if Black captures
with his pawn .9.exd4 c6
cupy the centre with e2-e4 and 10.d5, Rath — Berg, Esbjerg 1982,
wishes at first to control the dark 10...b4!? 11.a3 Za6±, followed
squares. by ‘fZc5 and eventually fe4.) 9...
c6 10.e2 xd4 11.exd4 d5.
6.e4 h6 — see Chapter 15, variation Black complies with entering a
A. position with an isolated pawn.
12.0—0 dxc4 13.xc4 Vb6 14.b3
6.V1d2 f5 7.h4. White wishes e6. The position is about equal
to remove the enemy bishop and Black only needs to develop
from the f5-square in order to deprive his bishop on c8. 15.g3 d7 16.
Black of the possibility to e5, Garcia Ilundain — Arizmendi,
play Ze4. The placement of Cala Mendia 2001, 16...c6!?=
White’s knight however, is not so — Black’s prospects are not worse
advantageous at the edge of the at all.
board. (7..h6 c5 — see Chapter 6,
variation B2) 7...d7 8.e4 e5= 6...c5
The position is approximately
equal. The point is that it would
be bad for White to play 9.d5?!,
because of 9...h6 and he would
have to present Black with the
two-bishop advantage exchanging
on f6. It would be a blunder
for White to opt for 10.xh6??
xe4! 11.xe4 V1xh4—+ and he
would lose a piece.

The move 6.h3!? has some

venom. White solves radically the Before advancing h6 and g5, it
problem with his bishop on g5. would be essential for Black to
Now, if Black begins a chase after stabilise the centre. Here, White

92
 3.c3 g74.4f3 0-0 5.g5 d6 6.e3 c5

must make a choice between the

ambitious move Bi) 7.d5 and the
more prudent B2) 71e2.

7.h3 h68.h4 cxd4 — see 6.h3.

Naturally, Black will have no

problems after a transfer into an
endgame. 7.dxc5 dxc5 8.1xd8
xd8 9.e2 c6= Inkiov — M.
Ivanov, Besancon 1998.
10.e2 f5. As a rule, Black
The move 7.d3 seems less reliable should not be in a hurry to exchange
than 7.e2, because on this on g3 before White has
square the bishop impedes his castled kingside; otherwise, his
queen to control the d4-square rook may take part in an attack
and following g4, it does not against Black’s king on the opened
prevent the pin of his knight. 7... h-file. 11.0—0, Speelman — Law-
h6 8.h4 cxd4 9.exd4 g4 10.0—0 ton, England 2014 (11.V1c2 V1e8 —
c6. Black’s pieces have created see 10.1c2; 11.d2 Zxg3 12.hxg3
pressure against the d4-square e6 — see 10.d2) 11...Zxg3. Now,
and he only needs to play d7. the exchange has become possible.
1L.e2. White must lose a tempo 12.hxg3 xc3!? This is a typical
in order to get rid of the pin. resource for the King’s Indian
11...d7t 12.V1d2?! ,xf3 13.xf3 Defence. Black exchanges his
xd4 14.&xb7 b8 15.e4 g5 16. powerful dark-squared bishop,
,g3, Askarov — Arnonatov, Kazan but doubles his opponent’s pawns
2007, 16...Zc5i: — Black’s pieces and what is even more important
are very active and White must be — now, White cannot develop any
constantly on the alert about the initiative on the queenside, since
threat f7-f5-f4. the move b2-b4 has become impossible.
13.bxc3 e5 14.dxe6 xe6
Bi) 7.d5 h6 81h4 g5 91g3 15.b1 ‘e7 16.d2 c6oo —
h5 Black’s king is a bit weakened, but
The position is double-edged. White’s queenside pawn-structure
Black controls the dark squares is not perfect either, so these
and White is dominant on the two defects balance each other.
light squares.
(diagram) 10.1c2. This is a flexible move
101d3 and here Black must consider
His bishop will be active on the possibility of his opponent’s
this square. castling on either side of the

93
Chapter 7

board. 10...f5 1Le2 (Following xg3 11.hxg3 f5. It is best for

1Ld3, Black may even try to Black to cover immediately the
seize the initiative. 11...e5 12.dxe6 weakened bl-h7 diagonal.
xe6 13. d1 c6 14.e2 f4 15.
exf4, Lysyj — Bragin, Tula 2003,
15...’Zxf4!± and Black’s piece-activity
compensates with an interest
the vulnerability of his d6-
pawn.) 11...e8. Black defends his
knight on h5. Now, he does not
need to be afraid of any tactical
threats connected with the move
xg5.
12.e2 e6 13.V41c2 a6 14.a3
c7 15.dxe6 ixe6oo — Black’s two-
bishop advantage may become a
telling factor in the future, Solomunovic
— Nenezic, Kragujevac 2015.
It would be too risky for White
to choose 12.f4, because this
would weaken his e3-pawn. 12...
e5 13.dxe6 ixe6 14.Vc2 Zc6 15.a3
a6 16.d3 g4 Furman — Sylvan,
12.d1 (The move 12.0—0—0 Pardubice 2014.
seems less reliable, because after After 12.V1c2 a6, Black would
12...a6 13.a3 c7 14.d2, Danielian be threatening to counter d3
— Hirneise, Cappelle la with b4, so he would win a tempo
Grande 2008, 14...d7!?t, Black for the transfer of his knight to
will be perfectly prepared to open c7. 13.a3 c7 14.d3, Petran —
the b-file with the move b7-b5.) Wittmann, Balatonlelle 2008,
12...a6 13.d2 d7 14.0—0, Tomashevsky 14...e6!?oo
— Ding, St Petersburg 12.d3 a6 13.e4. White begins
2012. Here, Black had the interesting active actions in the centre.
possibility 14...f4!? 15.exf4 His task is to open the bl-h7 diagonal.
xf4t, followed by e5. His pieces His last move weakens
are very active, while White considerably the dark squares in
will hardly be able to exploit the his camp, however. 13...e6 14.
vulnerability of the light squares dxe6 b4 15.b1 f4 16.gxf4 gxf4
in his opponent’s camp. 17.e5 xe6= Sargissian — Inarkiev,
Kemer 2007.
10.d2. White forces the immediate
exchange on g3. 10... 1O..S!a5!?

94
 3.Qc3 ..g74.’f3 0-0 5.g5 d6 6.e3 c5

This move is seldom played, Black does not need to be in a

but is not bad at all. Black pins the hurry to play b7-b5.
enemy knight and deprives White 12.d2 xg3 13.hxg3 e5
of the possibility to play Zxb5, after 14.ie2 f5 15.f4 g4 16.ixg4
b7-b5. fxg4 17.fxg5 hxg5

11.c1 His kingside pawn-structure is

White will not be able to castle a bit weakened, but his bishops
queenside any more. are very powerful.
18.h5 f5 19.e4 e5
After 11.c2, Black obtains a White is incapable of exploiting
very good game if he sacrifices a the temporary isolation of the
pawn in he spirit of the Benko enemy rook in the centre of the
Gambit. 11...b5 12.cxb5 a6 13.0—0 board.
axb5 14.xb5 xg3. Now, at least 2O.ce2 V!b6 21S1c2
he has the two-bishop advantage
for the sacrificed pawn. 15.
hxg3 d7 16.fc1 a4 17.d2
ia6 18.c3 V1a5 19.a3 fb8. Black
has good compensation for the
pawn. 20.ab1 e5 21.xe5 xe5
22.f4 g7 23.xa6 V1xa6 24.fxg5
hxg5 25.V1c2 V41c8. His queen is
headed for the weakened kingside.
26.f1 V41g4= Black’s pieces
are very active, while White has
numerous pawn-weaknesses in
his camp, Mob — Civitillo, ICCF 21..1f5 22.xg5 .d7 23.
2014. xe5 &xe5
White’s doubled g-pawn seems
11...d7 a bit useless.

95
Chapter 7

24.f1 f7

his opponent’s dark-squared

bishop as soon as possible.
25.cd3 (25.e3 h8 26.cd3 81h4 g5 91g3 h5
ixg3 27.f1+ ce8 28.Ve2 g8
29.f5 e5= Black has regained
the sacrificed pawn and his position
is at least equal thanks to his
two powerful bishops, Hofstetter
— Rogetzer, ICCF 2007.) 25...f8
26.e2 a6 27.b3 b5. Black begins
active actions on the queenside.
28.e3 bxc4+ 29.xc4
b5 3O.f1+ cg8 31.xf8+
cxf8 32.cd2 ixc4 33.bxc4
Va5= — Both kings are vulnerable
and neither side can afford to play 10. dxc5
for a win in view of the possibility This is a logical continuation
of a perpetual check, Podvoysky of White’s opening treatment.
— V.Kuzrnin, ICCF 2014.
10.d5 f5 — see variation Bi.

B2) 71e2 It is bad for White to play 10.

(diagram) c2, because he weakens his control
This move leads to a calmer over the important d4-square
position. White is reluctant to with his last move. Black exploits
weaken the dark squares in his this immediately. 10...g4 11.Zh4
camp and plans later to play not cxd4 12.exd4 c6 13.d5 Zd4 14.
d4-d5, but dxc5. d2 e5 15.dxe6 &xe6 16.d1 g5
7...h6 — It would be quite sufficient to
Black’s plan is already well familiar compare the power of the knights
to us. He wishes to attack on d4 and h4 in order to evaluate

96
 34c3 g74.4f3 0-0 5.g5 d6 6.e3 c5

correctly this position, Smyslov —

Tal, Moscow 1973.

10.1d3. This move seems a bit

artificial. 10...g4. Before capturing
on d4, Black ousts the enemy
knight from the f3-square. 11.d2
cxd4 12.exd4 c6 13.b3 a5 14.a4
f5 White’s defence would not be
easy at all, since Black’s threats,
connected with e7-e5 and f5-f4,
would be very unpleasant, Kostin 12S!c2
— Sapunov, Tula 2004. White avoids quite correctly
the trade of the queens, since he
10.c1. This move leads to an would be incapable of exploiting
approximately equal and calm position. the weakened position of the enemy
10...cxd4 11.xd4 xg3 king in the endgame.
12.hxg3 c6= Black’s two-bishop 12...e6
advantage compensates the slight Black defends against the
weakening of his king’s shelter, threat xg5 and takes the d5-
Tomashevsky — Gin, Olginka square under control.
2011. 13.d1

White cannot create any serious White would only lose time
problems for his opponent with the move 13.h5, because
with the line: 10.0—0 xg3 11. Black would defend easily against
hxg3 cxd4 12.xd4 (The position the threat Zg5 with 13...f5, for example:
would be much more complicated 14.g4 c6 15.d1, Con
after 12.exd4 c6 13.d5 e5 14. Tello — Wang, Athens 2012, 15...
d4 Vb6 15.b3 d7oo and later
Black will place one of his rooks
on c8, exerting powerful pressure After 13.g4, Black equalises
against the c4-pawn, Diekmann — with a precise play. 13...Zc6 14.a3
Goeke, Frankfurt 2004.) 12...Zc6 ‘e7 15.d3 d8. After Black’s
13.V1d2 d7 14. fd1 c8 15.ac1, king has gained access to the f8-
Nikolishvili — Gagunashvili, Tbilisi square, he will not be afraid of his
2002, 15...’e5!?oo — Once again opponent’s threats on the kingside.
Black’s two powerful bishops 16.h7+ cf8 17.e4 d7
compensate the feeble shelter of 18.g3 e8= — It is now White who
his king. should play very carefully; otherwise,
Black’s two-bishop advantage
1O...xg3 11.hxg3 dxc5 would become a telling factor

97
Chapter 7

in the future, Orsag — Heinrich, coming fight thanks to his bishop-

Germany 2013. pair, Nielsen — Maliangkay, Denmark
1998.
13..S!e7
14...c615.a3
White prevents b4.

15.d2 b6 — see 14.d2.

15.Ze4 f5oo Camara — Trois,
Blumenau 1972.

15...b6 161d3

14.g4
White impedes the enemy
pawn-advance f7-f5.

His alternatives do not promise

him anything meaningful.
14.e4. White prepares penetration
to the d6-square, but this
manoeuvre would take too much 16...d8!
time. 14...f5 15.d6 c6 16.0—0 After a check on h7, it is important
d8 17.xc8 axc8= Luise — Tasic, for Black to have the possibility
LSS 2008. to go with his king to f8.
171h7+ cf8 18.xd8+
Black has no problems at all Vxd8
after 14.0—0 c6 15.d2 d8= White’s attacking potential diminishes
Balashov — Poluljahov, Krasnodar with the exchange of
1996. every rook.
191e4 b7 20.0—0 e7
14.d2. This move seems too 21.d1 d8 22.xd8+ Vxd8
academic. 14...c6 15.g4 b6 16.a3 23.d2 V!d7= Black has parried
b7 17.de4 ad8 18.0—0 e5= his opponent’s initiative, having
Black has defended against the traded the rooks, and has no difficulties
penetration of the enemy knight in the forthcoming battle,
to the d6-square and his prospects Lechtynsky — Znamenacek, Czech
are not worse in the forth- Republic 2002.

98
Chapter 8 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ig7 4.e4

5.g3 0—0 6.g2 c5 — see Chapter

1, variation Al.

5.ie3 0—0

Beginning with this chapter,

we will analyse White’s strongest
and most logical move — 4.e4. He
emphasizes the basic drawback of
the King’s Indian Defence and occupies
immediately the centre.
4...d6
Now, we will deal with the iation A.
moves A) 51g5, B) 5.ge2 and
C) 51d3, while White’s main
6.f3 Ec6 — see Chapter 14.
6.f4 g4 — see Chapter 11.
6.h3 e5 — see Chapter 9, variation
A.
6.,e2 c5 — see Chapter 10, var-
6.f3 e5 — see Chapter 15, variation
B.

lines will be analysed in the following

chapters of our book.
A) 5.ig5
His alternatives usually lead to This move is often played by I.
transpositions: Sokolov and V. Milov. It does not
5.d5 0—0 6.d3 (6.f3 a6 — promise an advantage to White,
see Chapter 15; 6.e2 a6 — because he reveals his plans a bit
Chapter 10) 6...bd7 — see variation too early.
C. 5...h6

99
Chapter 8

This is Black’s most precise Pine 1977, 11...g5!? 12.0—0 gxh4

move. He wishes to clarify immediately 13.c1 d4+ 14.ch1 e5i: —
the intentions of the enemy White’s dark squares are catastrophically
bishop on g5. weak in this position.)
8...bd7 9.e2 (9.f4 h5
Erlandsen — Csillik, Budapest
1993) Black’s knight is
headed for the a4-square in order
to trade the defender of the e4-
pawn. 10.f3 a4 11.xa4 V1xa4
12.d3, Kopta — Zelinka, Prague
1995. Here, it seems very good for
Black to enter an endgame with
the line: 12...V41b4!? 13.V1xb4 cxb4,
(followed by d7-c5) — Black’s
pieces exert powerful pressure
61e3 against White’s kingside.

Here, the bishop will come under 6...g4 71c1

attack after Zg4, but the other Naturally, White should better
retreats of the bishop look even not allow the exchange of his
worse. For example after 6.f4 powerful dark-squared bishop.
c6 7.d5 e5 8.e3, Cebalo — Bukic, 7...c5
Borovo 1981, Black has a very Black begins a fight for the d4-
promising pawn-sacrifice: 8... square.
d4!? 9.xd4 exd4 10.V1xd4
0—0. He has a lead in development
and two powerful bishops
for the pawn. White must be very
careful about the weak dark
squares in his camp.
After 6.h4, the bishop remains
isolated from the queen-
side. In addition, in some variations,
the insufficient protection
of the f4-square may hurt White
(h5-f4). For example: 6...c5 7.d5
Va5 8.V1d2 (8.d3 bd7 9.f4 8.d5
h5! 10.ge2 xf4. Black gains
access to the e5-square with Here, White should better forget
this temporary piece-sacrifice. his ambitious plans and try to
11.’Zxf4, Bisguier — Henley, Lone equalise transferring into an end-

100
 3.c3 g74.e4 d6

game with 8.dxc5 dxc5 9.xd8+

xd8 10.h3 .xc3+! Black exchanges
his powerful bishop, but
compromises his opponent’s
queenside pawn-structure. 11.
bxc3 f6 12.id3 c6 13.f4 cc7
14.f3 d8 15.b1 e6 16.f5.
White wishes to open the position
in order to exploit later the power
of his bishops. 16...gxf5 17.exf5
.xc4 18.ixh6 b5 19.cf2 a5oo —
His rook on al and the bishop on 14.df4
bl are misplaced, Van Schyndel — In his book about the King’s
Campant, ICCF 2010. Indian Defence Viorel Bologan
considered that White would obtain
8..1d4 an edge after 14.f4. This is
Before advancing e7-e5, Black not true however, because after
occupies with his bishop an active the simple response 14...ge5oo,
square in the centre of the board. followed by f7-f5, hf8 and de8,
9.h3 Black has the edge. We must also
White must place his knight at mention that he should not be
the edge of the board in order to tempted to capture the enemy
protect the f2-square. knight Lxh3, since he would lose
9...e5 1O.dxe6 his queen after g2-g3.
After this exchange of pawns, 14...ge5 15.xe6 fxe6 16.
Black obtains the c6-square for ch1 g5t — Black’s pieces have occupied
his knight and completes quickly the centre of the board,
the development of his queenside while White’s knight on h3 is misplaced,
pieces. I.Sokolov — Solleveld,
Netherlands 2001.
It is possible that White should
better not open the position in the
centre: 10.id3 f5 11.f3 f6 12.
b5, Cramling — Lokander, B) 5.ge2
Stockholm 2012, 12...a6!?= White prepares the transfer of
his knight to g3, but this plan
10...,xe6 111e2 1h4 12. seems a bit slow. He will need to
0—0 c6 13.d5 0—0—0waste two tempi for this (contrary
Black’s pieces are very active. to the development of his knight
White can hardly obtain anything to f3), moreover that the knight
meaningful out of his centralised on g3 can be attacked after h5-h4
knight on d5. in numerous variations.

101
Chapter 8

5...O—O

7.g2 c6 — see Volume 1,

Chapter 3, variation B.
After 7.d5, it seems very good
for Black to sacrifice a pawn: 7...
6.g3 b5!? 8.cxb5 a6 9.bxa6 ,xa6 10.
f4 V1a5 1Ld2 bd7 12.,xa6
6.h3 a6 — see Chapter 9. Vxa6 and he has obtained an excellent
version of the Benko Gambit,
6.f3 c6 — see Chapter 13. since White’s king is stranded
in the centre, Makarichev — Rashkovsky,
Following 6.g5, just like in Moscow 1982.
variation A, Black should better 7.clxc5 dxc5 8.e3 c6. Black
clarify immediately the intentions is reluctant to waste time for the
of the enemy bishop on g5. 6...h6, protection of his c5-pawn. 9.g2
for example: 7.f4 (7.ie3 g4 8. (Following 9.Vxd8 xd8 10.ixc5,
c1 c5 9.d5 e6 10.h3 e5 11.f4 his pieces become very active:
exd5, Larsen — Gligoric, Leningrad 10...d7 1La3 de5 12.g1 g4
1973, 12.fxd5 bd7 13.e2 13.e2 fZd4i: and White is beyond
— with good counterplay for salvation.) 10.V41xd8 (10.
Black) 7...c6 8.d5 (8.V1d2?! e5 ixc5 Va5 1La3 ge5 12.V41d5
9.xh6 xh6 10.V1xh6 xd4 11. Vb6 13.0—0 e6i Pomar Salamanca
V1d2 c5 — The exchange of a rook — Gligoric, Madrid 1960)
pawn for a central pawn is a serious 10...xd8 1Lxc5 ge5 12.0—0
positional achievement for ‘xc4 Black regains his pawn
Black, Jussupow — Shaked, Linares and preserves all the advantages
1997.) 8..Je5 9.d4 c6# of his position, Pomar Salamanca
Bolz — Morozov, ICCF 2013. — Reshevsky, Munich 1958.

The plan with the fianchetto of 6...h5

the bishop — 6.g3 used to be popular, (diagram)
but lost its adherents, since This is an energetic move.
it became clear that after 6.. .c5, Black wishes to advance this pawn
White should fight for equality. all the way forward to the h3-

102
 3.c3 g74.e4 d6

d5 Zc5 12.f3 a5 13.0—0 d7 14.

c2 h7 151e3 f5oo — White’s
king shelter is vulnerable and this
promises Black good counterplay,
Beecham — Robson, ICCF 2014.

square in order to deprive his opponent’s

king of a reliable shelter
on the kingside.
71e2

After 7.g5, Black can oust the

enemy bishop with and 9...b5!?
will advance h5-h4 anyway. 8.e3 Black sacrifices a pawn and
e5 9.d5 (The transfer into an end- opens files on the queenside depriving
game following 9.dxe5 dxe5 10. the enemy monarch of the
Vxd8 xd8, would not bring anything possibility to seek a shelter there
to White, due to the weakness in the future.
of the d4-square. 11.d5 1O.cxb5 a6 11.g5 fd7 12.
d7!? 12.0—0—0 f8 13.d3 e6 e3 axb5 13.xb5 b7. There
14.e2 a6 Biel — Levandovska, has arisen a complicated position
ICCF 2013) 9...h4 10.ge2 f5oo with mutual chances.
Vorobiov — Ashwin, Mumbai 14.g1 xe4 15.g3 a6
2010. 16.c3 g2 17.xg2 hxg2 18.
xg2 c5 191e3 V!a5co — Black
7.h4. White solves radically has powerful initiative for the sacrificed
the problem with h5-h4, but pawn, while White will
weakens the g4-square. 7...c6 hardly find a safe shelter for his
8.d5 e5 9.f4 c6 10.e2 d7!? king, Runting — Ciciotti, ICCF
1LVd2 c8oo 2013.

7...h48.fih39.g4
This is an ambitious move.
After the more modest try 9.
g3, Black solves easily his opening
problems. 9...bd7 10.e3 e5 11.
C) 51d3
This line has venom and is often
used by A. Dreev, A. Moiseenko,
I. Sokolov. After White’s bishop
has been developed to an ac103
Chapter 8

tive position, he wishes to play powerful in the centre of the

ge2 and his pieces will be harmoniously board.
deployed.
Still, the move 5.d3 has the White only weakens unnecessarily
drawback that in the future Black the dark squares after 6.d5
will have the possibility to attack bd7 7.f3 c5 8.c2, Archambault
this bishop with his knight and — Watson, ICCF 2007, 8...
will either exchange it, or will fd7!? 9.e3 e6oo
force White to retreat it losing
time for this. Following 6.g5 h6 7.h4
5...O—O c6, Black obtains good counter-
play organising pressure against
the enemy d4-pawn. 8.ge2 (8.
d5?! Ze5 9.e2 c6 10.f4 ed7 11.
ff3, Rudnev — Bliumberg, Minsk
1993, 11...V1b6!?t — The vulnerability
of the dark squares in
White’s camp has become quite
obvious, moreover that he lags in
development.) 8...h5!? This is
an energetic move. Black’s plans
include g6-g5, e7-e5, f7-f5 and
f4. 9.c2 g5 10.g3 e5!? 11.d5
6.ge2 d4 12.0—0 xc2 13.1xc2 f5 14.
This is White’s most natural exf5 ,xf5 15.e4 Zf4 — He has
move. realised his plans and can be quite
optimistic about the future.
6.h3 c6 — see Chapter 9.
6.f4 c5 — see Chapter 11. 6...c5
6.f3 c5 — see Chapter 13. Black undermines the enemy
6.’Zf3 g4 — see Chapter 15. centre and wishes to provoke
d4-d5, in order to prolong the diagonal
It is bad for White to play here of his bishop on g7 and
6.e3?!, because after his what is even more important to
bishop would not be able to retreat obtain the e5-square for his
from the e3-square in view knight.
of the defencelessness of the d4- 7.d5 e6
pawn. 7.Vd2 xe3 8.Vfxe3 c6 Black undermines immediately
9.ge2 e5 10.d5 d4t — Black’s the enemy centre. He wishes to
prospects seem already preferable, open the e-file for his rook and
since he has the two-bishop will decide only later which knight
advantage and his knight is very to deploy on e5.

104
 3.c3 ig74.e4d6

14.e5 f5. Black deprives White’s

knights of the e4-square. 15.exf6
xf6 16.f5 b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.1d2
(18.fxg6? g4!) 18...c4 191e2
,xf5 20.xf5 gxf5 21.xf5 1e7.
The position is very complicated
and is still within equality. Black’s
queenside counterplay balances
White’s initiative on the opposite
side of the board. 22.f3 b4 23.
e2 e4 24.xf8+ xf8 25.Vfxb4.
White has a great choice of In the game Schafer — Panitevsky,
moves here. As his main lines, we ICCF 2014, the opponents agreed
will analyse: Cl) 81g5 and C2) to a draw, since after 25...c3
8.0—0. 26.bxc3 V1xe3+ 27.cf1 Vd3 28.
V1xd6 xd5 29.cg1 xc3 30.
8.f3 exd5 — see Chapter 13. V1xd3 cxd3 31.xc3 xc3 32.a8
xa8 33.ixa8 d2=, there would
8.dxe6 fxe6 9.0—0 g4 — see arise a dead drawish endgame
variation C2. with bishops of opposite colour
on the board.
8.Zg3. This is a good move.
White provides additional protection It seems reliable, but somewhat
of his e4-pawn. His further slow for White to choose
plans include the preparation of 8.h3. He solves radically the problem
the pawn-advances f2-f4 and e4- with the manoeuvre f6-g4-
e5, seizing completely the initiative e5, but at the price of a tempo. 8...
in the centre, therefore Black exd5
must play very precisely. 8...exd5
9.cxd5 a6 10.a4 bd7 11.0—0 (following
11.f4, V.Georgiev — Nedev,
Plovdiv 2011, Black can try a very
promising pawn-sacrifice: 11...
c4!? 12.xc4 h5 13.h3 h4 14.ge2
c5oo) This knight is
headed for the c7-square from
where it will support b7-b5. In addition,
he will have the possibility
to push f7-f5, preventing the development 9.exd5 fd7 10.f4. White prevents
of his opponent’s initiative e5. (After his alternatives,
in the centre and on the Black equalises effortlessly. 10.b3
kingside. 12.f4 b8 13.e3 c7 ‘Ze5 1Lc2, Videki — Danailov,

105
Chapter 8

Vienna 1990, 11...b5!? Black is a6 11.a4 e5 12.c2 b8 13.f4

playing very actively. 12.cxb5 a6 ed7 14.a5 b5 15.axb6 xb6
13.b6 a5 14.0—0 a6 15.a3 16.g4. It looks like White would
!xb6oo; 10.0—0 e5 11.b3 b5!? triumph on the kingside, but
He seizes the initiative with a Black would have his trumps as
pawn-sacrifice. 12.cxb5 xd3 13. well. 16...b4 17.g3 e8. He
V1xd3 a6 14.b6, Garcia Alarcon — prepares the transfer of his knight
Ostos, Cali 2007. White gives to b5. 18.V41f3 c7 19.ge2 Zb5#
back the pawn and prevents the Toca — Gillar, ICCF 2015. White
appearance of the enemy bishop must be very careful about the
on the a6-square. Now however, possible penetration of the enemy
he would be incapable of fighting knight to the d4-outpost. In addition,
for the advantage in the opening. it is unclear how he can develop
14...d7!?oo) 10...1h4+ 11.g3 e7 his initiative on the king-
12.0—0 a6 13.±?g2 c7 14.a4. side, because the pawn-advance
White has more space and his f4-f5 would present the strategically
game is freer, but Black has no important eS-square to
pawn-weaknesses in his camp Black’s pieces.
and the position becomes gradually
equal. 14...f5 15.e1 f6 16.
g1 Vd7 17.d2 b6 18.f3 b8 Cl) 8.g5
19.Zb5 b7 20.g5 V1d8 21.xc7 White pins the enemy knight
xc7. The trade of a couple of and impedes the manoeuvre g4-
knights is in favour of Black, since e5.
his position is a bit cramped. Later, 8...h6
he must be on the alert about Black ousts his opponent’s
the possibility Ze6. 22.a5 e7 bishop from g5. If White manages
23.xe7 Vxe7 24.V41b3 c7 25.c3 to play V1d2, Black would have
h6. Black ousts the enemy knight great difficulties to do this.
from the g5-square and equalises
completely. 26.axb6 axb6 27.f3
h7 28.e1 V1d8 29.1c2 e8 30.
a1 e7 31.V1a4 e4= — After
Black has stabilised his knight in
the centre, his prospects are not
worse at all, Lednev — Telepnev,
ICCF 2011.
There arises a more complicated
fight if White captures with
his other pawn. The pawn-structure
become typical for the Modern
Benoni. 9.cxd5 bd7 10.0—0 91h4

106
 3.Qc3 g74.e4 d6

It seems less logical for White GM Moiseenko tried in some

to opt here for 9.f4, because of his games the move 10.xd5,
Black’s knight would not be but Black should not be afraid of
pinned any more. 9...exd5 10.cxd5 it if he plays precisely. 10...c6
h5 1L,e3, Krmelj — Stevanec, 11.0—0 (After 11.ec3, Moiseenko
Slovenia 1992, 11...Zd7!? coIn this — Bacrot, Tromsoe 2013, it seems
complicated position White cannot very good for Black to choose 11...
play 12.g4?, because of 12... g5!?co, getting rid of the pin of the
e5! and capturing of the knight knight and obtaining an excellent
would lead to a checkmate. 13. position.) 11...g5 12.g3 xd5 13.
gxh5?? f3+ 14.cf1 h3# exd5 (13.cxd5 e5co, with the idea
xd3, f7-f5. The activity of Black’s
9...exd5 pieces compensates the slight defects
of his pawn-structure.) 13...
b4 14.c3 f5 15.f4 xd3 16.
1xd3 a6co — Black’s chances are
not worse thanks to his two powerful
bishops, Moiseenko — Van
Kampen, Germany 2016.

1O...bd711.f4g5
Black sacrifices a pawn and
begins the fight for the eS-square.

1O.exd5

Black will hardly have any

problems if White captures with
the other pawn. 10.cxd5 a6 11.a4
bd7 12.0—0 Ze5 13.f4 (Following
13.c2, White may even fail to
equalise. 13...g5 14.g3 h5 15.
,xe5 ixe5 16.a3 b8 — The
dark squares in White’s camp
are horribly weak, A.Fominyh — 121g3
Khomyakov, Moscow 1994) 13...
xd3 14.V1xd3, Krysztofiak — Persowski, 12.fxg5. It would be too risky
Ustron 2003, 14...V1b6!?co for White to accept the pawn-sacrifice,
— Black’s two powerful bishops because after 12...g4 13.
compensate White’s extra Vd2 de5 14.h7+ Black may
space. pretend to fall into his opponent’s

107
Chapter 8

trap: 14...ctxh7! 15.g6+ fxg6 16. compensates his compromised

.,xd8 xc4. He has overwhelming kingside pawn-structure.
initiative for the sacrificed
queen. 17.V1c1 ge5 18.V1d1 xb2. 13...e3 14S!d2 xfl 15.
Black’s minor pieces annihilate all xf1, Moiseenko — Bacrot, Tromsoe
possible resistance in their way. 2013. Here, the simplest for
19.V1b3 bd3+ 20.cd2 xd8 21. Black would be 15..Se7!? 16.
ab1 a6 22.e4 b5. The advance fxg5 hxg5= White’s pieces are
of Black’s queenside pawns settles active and Black’s king is vulnerable.
the issue. 23.bf1 c4 24.V1b1 b4 All this compensates White’s
25.h3 a5 26.f6+ ch8. White has exchange sacrifice, but not more
no defence against a6 and c4-c3. than that.
0—1 Keber — Mondry, Schachserver
2010.
C2) 8.0—0
12...g4 One of the defects of this natural
Black has eliminated the pin of move is the fact that it does not
his knight and wishes to exploit prevent Black’s plans.
the weakness of the e3-square. 8...g4

13.0—0 91c2
This is an interesting exchange This is a prophylactic move.
sacrifice, but is still insufficient to White retreats his bishop in advance,
maintain an advantage for White. before it has been attacked
by the enemy knight.
13.V1d2, Moiseenko — Munoz
Pantoja, Berlin 2015, 13...d4!? His alternatives cannot promise
14.fxg5 e3 15.V1c2 xg5oo — In him an advantage in the opening
this complicated position the either.
threat of the penetration of
Black’s knight to the e3-square It is not good for White to play

108
 34c3 g74.e4 d6

here 9.h3, because Black’s knight exd5 bd7. Black’s knight is

is headed for the e5-square anyway. headed for the e5-square. 121c2
10.f4 xd3 11.Vxd3, a6 13.e1 ‘fZe5 14.b3 ig4. He provokes
Boensch — C.Ionescu, Stara Zagora a weakening of the enemy
1990, 11...f5!? Black prevents king shelter. 15.f3 .d7 16.a4 b5!?
f4-f5 and obtains a good position. This temporary pawn-sacrifice is
12.g3 ‘fZa6oo Black’s simplest road to equality.
17.axb5 axb5 18.cxb5 Vb6 19.d3
Following 9.dxe6 fxe6, White xa1 20.V1xa1 Lxb5 21.xe5 dxe5
is incapable of exploiting the 22.e4, Dessaules — Nogal, ICCF
weakness of the pawns on e6 and 2012, 22...d7= The vulnerability
d6 and therefore, it becomes unclear of the pawns on c5 and b3 is approximately
why he has given up the centre balanced.
in the first place. 10.f4 c6
11.h3 f6 12.e3 b6 13S1d2, Dumitrache Following 9.f4, White prevents
— Moldovan, Bucharest e5 indeed, but weakens the gla7
1995. Here, Black obtains a good diagonal. 9...exd5
position with the line: 13...b4!?
14.b1 a6 15.a3 Zc6 16.a2
e7oo and exerting pressure on
the fl-a6 diagonal, Black manages
to send his opponent’s bishop to a
disadvantageous position.

After 9.f4, Black’s simplest

reaction would be 9...f6!?, for
example: 10.d2 (Following 10.
b1 exd5 11.fxd5 xd5 12.xd5, It is bad for White to choose
White cannot achieve much, despite here 10.cxd5?, in view of 10...c4!
his powerful knight in the 1L.xc4 V1b6+ 12.ch1 f2+ 13.
centre of the board, because after xf2 V1xf2 and White’s compensation
Black has presented his opponent for the exchange is insufficient.
with the d5-square, he has gained
the control over the important The e-file is opened advantageously
d4-square. 12...Zc6 13.f4 e6 for Black after 10.exd5
14.V1d2 V1d7 15.fe1 fe8 16.b3 b6 e8 11.h3 (Following 11.f3, Black
17.c3 a6. White’s knight is deprived can force a draw by a perpetual
of the b5-square. 18.h6 check with the line: 11...d4+ 12.
.d4 19.bc1 ab8= — The prospects xd4 V1h4 13.de2 Vxh2+ 14.cf1
of both sides are approximately h1+ 15.g1 Zh2+ 16.±?f2 g4=)
equal, Glukhov — Trofimov, 11...’Ze3 121xe3 xe3. Black has
ICCF 2012) 10...exd5 11. exchanged the powerful enemy

109
Chapter 8

bishop. 13.1d2 e8 14.ch2 Za6

15.ae1 Zc7 16.Zg1, Seirawan —
Wojtkiewicz, Tilburg 1992, 16...
f5!?=. He impedes White’s active
play on the kingside. He would be
incapable of exploiting the weakness
of the e6-square, because
two of Black’s pieces are protectingit.

After 10.1xd5, White cannot

obtain anything much out of his
dominance over the d5-square. from where it would exert powerful
10...c6 11.h3 Zf6 12.dc3 (12.f5 pressure against the enemy
1xd5 13.cxd5 e5oo Dumitrache position. 12.Th1. White removes
— Nevednichy, La Fere 2002) 12... prudently his rook from the juxtaposition
b6. Black prepares the development with the enemy bishop
of his bishop to b7. 13.e3 on g7. (12.f4, Grigore — Mann,
ib7 14.a3 (White would not Bucharest 1994, 12...g4!? 13.b1
achieve anything by a transfer of b4 14.a4 d7oo) 12...b4 13.a4.
his bishop to h4: 14.f2 V1d7 15. The edge of the board is hardly
h4 ae8 16.g3 d4oo — Black’s the best place for his knight, but
knight is very powerful in the centre White has no choice. 13...bd7
and he exerts pressure against
the e4-pawn, so he has a very
good game, Chatalbashev — Markus,
Cetinje 2010.) 14...e8 15.
f2 d7 16.c1 h5± — White
can hardly exploit the vulnerability
of the d6-pawn, because Black’s
pieces are very active, Trembecki
— Grigoryev, ICCF 2011.
9...e51O.b3exd5
(diagram) 14.f4 (The character of the position
11.exd5 would remain more or less
This is a solid move. the same after 14.a3, E.Hansen —
Charbonneau, Lloydrninster 2010
The move 11.cxd5 leads to a and Black’s simplest reaction
more complicated fight. 11...b5. against that would be 14...a5!?)
Black begins immediate active actions 14...g4 15.h3 gf6 16.b2.
on the queenside. His plans White has ousted the enemy
include the quickest possible development knight from the centre and prepares
of his bishop to a6 the transfer of his knight to

110
 3.c3 g74.e4 d6

the c4-square. 16...a6 17.c4 Wijk aan Zee 2005.

e7 18.g3 b6. Black increases 13...f5
his pressure against the c4- Black restricts considerably
square. 19.d3. It may look like his opponent’s minor pieces with
White has consolidated his position, this move.
but Black’s active resources 14.fe1 b4
are not exhausted yet. 19...h5! This knight-sortie introduces
Black wished to displace the enemy disharmony in White’s set-up.
knight from its active position
by marching forward his rook
pawn. 20.e1 h4 21.f1 ae8 22.
Ld2 ‘Zh5 White will have great
difficulties to neutralise the initiative
of Black’s pieces, Papenin —
Strautins, ICCF 2011.
11...e8

151b1. Naturally, White is reluctant

to exchange his powerful
bishop for the enemy knight, but
after this retreat his rooks remain
disconnected. 15...b5!?
Black must play energetically;
otherwise, White will oust the enemy
knight with the move a2-a3,
121f4 obtaining better chances. 16.
12.d2 a6= Zubov — Tissir, cxb5 f7. This move opens the
Cappelle Ia Grande 2016. way for actions of Black’s rook
12.b1 a6 13.a3 f5= Olszewski and bishop. 17.a3 ‘xd5. This is
— Wojtaszek, Chotowa 2009. the point! Black exploits the insufficient
12...a6 protection of White’s
From this square Black’s knight rooks and inflicts a tactical strike.
may go to c7, or to the b4-square. 18.xd5 xa1 19 1x15 .g7 20.
13S!d2 ,xc8 xc8cx — White has sacrificed
White cannot obtain an advantage the exchange and has succeeded
after his alternatives either: in neutralising his opponent’s
13.c1, Romanishin — Gulko, initiative, but has hardly
Kiev 1984, 13...f5!?=, or 13.a3 f5 anything more than equality,
14.V1d2 d7= Sokolov — Topalov, Schafer — Ciciotti, ICCF 2014.

111
Chapter 9 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ig7 4.e4 d6
5.h3
Makogonov Variation

White’s pieces and later his lag in

development may tell.
In this chapter we will deal
only with the lines in which White
is not in a hurry to develop his
knight to the f3-square. The rest
of the variations will be analysed
in Chapter 16. Black should watch
carefully for the different transpositions
of moves, so that later,
when White plays f3, transposing
This seemingly modest move to Chapter 16, he may not do it
is in fact very unpleasant for under favourable circumstances.
Black. At first this variation was Therefore, I would recommend to
suggested by Richard Reti and the readers who get acquainted
then analysed by Vladimir Makogonov for the first time with the King’s
and Alexey Sokolsky. It Indian Defence, to study at first
is named the Makogonov variation Chapter 16 and to deal with this
in the contemporary theory chapter only later.
of the openings. With the move
5.h3 White prepares the development 5...O—O
of his bishop to e3 without
being afraid of Black’s knight-sortie
f6-g4. In addition, in numerous
lines, White can play g2-g4,
occupying space on the kingside
and depriving the enemy knight
of the h5-square and also impeding
Black’s counterplay, connected
with f7-f5. Still, the move h3
has a drawback — it does not contribute
to the development of

112
 3.tIc3 g74.e4 g75.h3 0-0

Now, White must decide

where he will develop his dark-
squared bishop: A) 61e3, or B)
61g5.

6.e2 e5 — see Chapter 10.

6.f3 e5 — see Chapter 16.

6.ge2. This move, in combination After the careless move 9.

with h2-h3, seems a bit Zxd4?!, White will even fail to
slow. 6...a6!? Black is preparing equalise. 9...exd4 10.e2 e8 11.
b7-b5. 7.g3. White increases his g5 (11.f3 c5 12.g5 h6 13.id2
control over the b5-square, but d7t, followed by e5. Black has
his knight would be very unstable seized the initiative.) 11...h6. Now,
on the g3-square. (7.e3 b5# White must comply with the unfavourable
Romero Holmes — Zelbel, Pula exchange of his powerful
2012) 7...h5 8.g5 bd7 9.V41d2 c5 dark-squared bishop; otherwise,
1O.d5 h7. Black ousts the enemy he would lose a pawn. 12.xf6
bishop from its active position. 1xf6 13.0—0 c5 — Black has two
1Lh4. The bishop will prevent powerful bishops and a protected
here the pawn-advance h5-h4, passed pawn in the centre of the
but White must remain constantly board, V.Georgiev — Sellitti, Campobasso
on the alert about the possibility 2010.

g6-g5. 11...e8oo Shishkov — Eschert, 9.0—0 h5oo - Black is perfectly

ICCF. 2014. prepared for the pawn-advance
f7-f5, Sahin Toth — Kovacs, Hungary
6.d3. This move does not 1999.
combine well either with h2-h3. 9.e3 h5 10.0—0, Redman —
6...c6. This is an energetic move. Markoja, Budva 2013, 10...Vfh4-
Black exploits his opponent’s — White’s king has become rather
somewhat slow play and creates unsafe and the sacrifice of Black’s
immediately counterplay against bishop on h3 is an imminent
the d4-square. 7.ge2 (7.d5 e5 threat.
8.f3, Stocek — Solovjov, St Petersburg
2013, 8...xf3+!? 9.xf3
d7 10.Ve2 Zc5±, with good
counterplay on the dark squares) A) 61e3
7...e5 8.d5 d4. Black’s powerful The bishop is not so active
centralised knight provides here as on g5, but later it will support
him with at least equal prospects. White’s queenside offensive
(the pawn-advance c4—c5).

113
Chapter 9

Zh5 9.Zc1 V1e8 1O.a3 f5# and exploiting

his opponent’s somewhat
slow play, he seizes completely
the initiative on the kingside, Van
Osmael — Markauss, Belgium 1992.

Al) 8.g4
This is a thematic move and it
is much rather prophylactic than
attacking.
8...c5
6...e57.d5
This is White’s most logical
and strongest move. He occupies
space.

About 7.f3 Zc6, or 7.dxe5

dxe5 8.Zf3 Zc6 — see Chapter 16.

7...a6
Black increases his control
over the important c5-square.

9Sc2
The lack of development of
White’s knight on gl has become
obvious. He does not have the
move d2.

9.f3, M.Gomez — Topalov, Seville

1992, 9...c6!? Black opens
the c-file in case his opponent castles
queenside. 1O.V41d2 cxd5 11.
cxd5 d7#
Now, we will analyse in details
Al) 8.g4 and A2) 81d3. 9.g2 a5 1O.ge2 (1O.Vd2
h5± Karpov — Korotylev, Moscow
8.f3 h5 — see Chapter 16, 2007) 10...h5. White is beginning
variation Bl. to have problems with the protection
of his g4-pawn. 11.g5 (White
Following 8.ge2, it seems interesting can try an interesting pawn-sacrifice,
for Black to opt for 8... but it is insufficient for him

114
 3.c3 g74.e4 g75.h3 0-0

to obtain an advantage in the

opening: 11.1d2 hxg4 12.g3 c6oo
— He has some compensation for
the pawn, but not more than that,
Zablotsky — Fedorov, Voronezh
2007.) 11...fd7. After White’s
pawn has reached the g5-square,
Black wishes to open the f-file
with f7-f6. 12.0—0 b6 13.b3 d7
14.V1c2 f6 15.gxf6 Vxf6 16.b5
ac8oo — There has arisen a complicated
double-edged position 12.g3 c8 13.g5 h5 14.xh5
with mutual chances. White’s gxh5 15.Vfd2, Grivas — Nunn, Athens
slight space-advantage compensates 1991, 15...f5!?t — Black has
Black’s counterplay against seized completely the initiative at
the h3-pawn. the price of some weakening of
9...c6 his kingside pawn-structure.
Black wishes to open the c-file
after which the placement of 12...a6 13.Yb3 h5 14.f3
White’s queen on c2 would become h7. Black’s plans include if6-
unstable. g5, exchanging the important defender
1O.ge2 of the dark squares in the
enemy camp. 15.a4 f6 16.gxh5
Following 10.b4 cxd5 11.cxd5, g5 171xg5 1xg5 18.b5
Lomaya — Liberzon, USSR 1963, xb5 19.axb5 h4+ 2O.c?d2
Black has an interesting piece- c7 21Se3 Vxh5co — White’s
sacrifice at his disposal: 11... king seems rather unsafe in the
cxe4!? 12.xe4 xe4 13.1xe4 centre of the board, Aykent — Kazoks,
f5 14.Vc2 f4 15.c1 e4 16.b2 ICCF 2013.
xb2 17.V1xb2 V1h4 — He has a
pawn for the sacrificed piece, an A2) 81d3
overwhelming lead in development
and excellent attacking
prospects against the enemy king,
stranded in the centre.

1O...cxd5 11.cxd5 .d7

(diagram)
12.b4
White should better oust immediately
his opponent’s knight
from its active position.

115
Chapter 9

White fortifies the strategically 101c2

important e4-square.
8...d7 The move 10.b1 has the defect
Black’s knight frees the way that White’s rook on al is
forward of his f-pawn, moreover temporarily isolated from the actions.
that he increases the control over 10...f5 11.exf5 (11.a3 fxe4
the c5-square. Later, depending 12.,xe4 xe4 — see 10.c2) 11...
on circumstances, he may occupy gxf5 12.ge2, Avshalumov — Kupreichik,
it with one of his knights. Blagoveshchensk 1988
9.g4 (12.V1d2?! e4t — Black has seized
White prevents f7-f5. the initiative, Iljin — Loskutov,
Moscow 2007) 12...e4!? cc — White
After the careless move 9. must lose plenty of tempi in order
ge2 f5co, Black has no problems to evacuate his king to the queen-
at all, Raznikov — Smirin, Acre side.
2013.
1O...f5 11.a3 fxe4 121xe4
9.a3 ac5 10.c2 f5 11.b4 xe4 13.xe4
xe4 12.xe4 fxe4 13.xe4, Barby
— Ki.Georgiev, Arandjelovac
1991, 13...f6!?co (followed by
ff5) — White’s lag in development
precludes him from establishing
firm piece-control over the key
e4-square.

9...dc5
This is the correct knight to go
to c5 with. Black’s knight on a6
will prevent the pawn-advance
b2-b4.
13...t2c5!
Black is not inclined to wait for
the pawn-advance b2-b4 and begins
a fight for the initiative with
an energetic pawn-sacrifice.
14.xc5 dxc5 151xc5
This move is at least principled.
15.’Ze2, Grishchenko — Shimanov,
Olginka 2011, 15...e7!?
16.V41c2 e4!cc — Black’s two power-

116
 3. c3 4.e4 g7 5.h3 0-0

ful bishops compensate the slight rificed material it has become evident
defects of his pawn-structure. that White must fight for a
draw.

B) 61g5

This position was reached in

the game Todorovic — Efimenko,
Vrnjacka Banja 2010. 15...f7!?
16.e2 V!h4. Black’s queen is
very well placed here, attacking With this move White impedes
the weak pawns on h3 and f2. the pawn-advance e7—e5, but undermining
17.Vd3 e4. It is essential for him the centre with the cpawn
to activate his bishop on g7. 18. is also very good for Black.
g3 (18.V1xe4?! f5!t — Black’s 6...c5
piece-activity increases with every Naturally, it is very bad for
move.) 18..S!xg3 19.xg3 b6 him to play here 6...e5?, because
201e3 xb2. The game has entered of 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Vxd8 xd8 9.
an endgame in which Black’s d5± and he suffers material
prospects are not inferior thanks losses.
to his two powerful bishops. 7.d5 e6 81d3
There may follow: 21.a2 .c3+
22.cd1 .g7 23.xe4. White Following 8.’fZf3 exd5 9.cxd5
has managed to win a pawn, but (9.exd5 e8+ 10.e2 h6 11.ie3
this is practically harmless for f5 — see Chapter 10, variation
Black. 23..1a6 24.c2 c6! He B2a2) 9...e8, White will have to
activates his rooks with the help transpose to the variation 8.id3
of a temporary sacrifice of a second (10.d3 c4 — see variation B2),
pawn. 25.dxc6 c7 26.cc1 because after the careless move
xc6. Black has regained one of 10.d2?, Black has the crushing
his pawns and White is unlikely to tactical strike: 10...xe4! 11.ixd8
hold on to his e4-pawn for long. xc3+ 12.e2 xd1—+
27.d1 xc4 28.xc4 xc4= —
After Black has regained the sac- 8...exd5

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Chapter 9

cxb5 axb5 14.ixb5, Suba —

Sznapik, Dortmund 1981. Here,
Black could have fought for the
advantage with the line: 14...
e4!? 15.xe4 V1xb5 16.e7 V1xb2
17.V1xb2 xb2 18.b1 e8 19.
xd6 xe7 20.xb2 a6 21.cf2
xe2+ 22.xe2 ,xe2 23.cxe2
xa2 — The tactical complications
have ended in a slightly better
endgame for Black due to the
Now, White must make up his vulnerability of White’s d5-pawn.
mind what pawn-structure to
choose: Bi) 9.exd5, or B2) 1O...e8+
9.cxd5.

Bi) 9.exd5 bd7

This is an essential fine point.
Black does not check with his
rook before White has developed
his knight to f3.
io.m
White covers the e5-square
from its occupation from Black’s
knight.
11.cf1
10.f4. This move looks a bit This is an ambitious move.
careless. 10...1a5 11.1d2 (After
11.ge2, Black has the energetic There arises a calmer position
resource 11.. .b5t Kunin — Yarmolenko, after 1L,e3 h5 12.0—0 e5 13.
Moscow 2010, while following xe5 xe5. The exchange of a
11.cf2 a6 12.a4 h5 cc the couple of minor pieces is in favour
unsafe position of White’s king of Black, since he has less space.
may become a telling factor in the 14.e1 d7 15.e4 f5 16.c3
future, Potapov — Yuffa, Pardubice d7 17.e4 f5 18.c3. White
2011.) 11...a6. Black is preparing would not mind already repetition
b7-b5. It is essential for of moves, but Black could be
him to begin a direct fight, before more ambitious... 18...,xd3 19.
White has completed his development V1xd3 V1h4 20.1f1 ae8= — All his
and evacuated his king away pieces are very active and White
from the centre. 12.ge2 b5 13. must play accurately, Fagerstrim

118
 3.c3 g74.e4 ig75.h3 0-0

— Robson, ICCF 2014. about his weak pawns on d5 and

b2.
11...e5 12.xe5 xe5 13.
d2 15...xg5 — Black’s two powerful
bishops are excellent compensation
After 13.f4 e8 14.g4, Black for his minimal material
has an interesting pawn-sacrifice: deficit, moreover that White
14...d7!? 15.xd6 ,xc3 16.bxc3 must lose a lot of time to improve
b5. White has not solved the the placement of his king, Movsesian
problem with his king yet, so — Ding, Antalya 2013.
Black reacts energetically and
attacks fiercely the pawns on c4
and d5 equalising completely. 17. B2) 9.cxd5
e2 bxc4 18.Th1. White prevents
the development of Black’s bishop
on b7. (18.f3, Teplyi —
Ochsner, Aarhus 2016, 18...b7oo)
18...f6 191xc5 e4 20.d4
V1xd5 2Lf3 d7 22.cg2 Lc6=

This is a more ambitious move

after which there arises a position
from the Modern Benoni Defence.
9...e8
White has not completed his
development yet, so Black must
13...b5!? try to advance his queenside
Black sacrifices a pawn, deflecting pawns (c5-c4 and b7-b5). With
White’s knight from the his last move he forces White’s
control over the e4-square. bishop to defend the e4-pawn, so
14.xb5 e4 151xe4 that later it cannot prevent Black’s
queenside pawn moves.
But not 15.,xd8, because of io.m
15...Zxd2+ 16.c?g1, Stankovic —
Dann, Basel 2015, 16...f5! 17. 10.ge2 bd7. Black exploits
xf5 xc4!T — Black regains the the fact that White’s knight on e2
piece and White is left to worry does not control the e5-square

119
Chapter 9

and sends his own knight there Black’s knight is headed for
immediately. 11.0—0 (11.V1c1, Er- the cS-square in order to increase
dos — Delemarre, Deizisau 2010, the pressure against the e4-pawn.
11..4e5#) 11...a6 12.a4 Ze5 13. 13.0—0 c5 14.e1
ic2 (After the move 13.f4, Black
obtains the two-bishop advantage. About 14.V1d2 V1b6 15.fe1
13...xd3 14.V1xd3 Vb6 15. fd7 — see 14.e1.
ch1, Olszewski — Vocaturo, Senigallia
2009, 15...d7!?oo) 13... The character of the position
b8. Black is preparing b7-b5. remains more or less the same after
14.b1 h6 15.c1 b5 16.axb5 axb5 14.d4 V1b6 15.e1 b7 16.e3
17.b4 a6 18.f3 fd7oo — The a6oo Rusev — Jianu, Belgrade 2010.
prospects are about equal in this
complicated position, Straka — 14..S!b6
Papenin, ICCF 2013.

1O...c4 11 1c2 b5

15.e5
This pawn-break in the centre
cannot promise much to White.
12.a3
White prevents b5-b4. He cannot rely on obtaining an
advantage in the opening even after
Following 12.0—0 b4 13.b5 his alternatives. For example:
h6 14.xf6 xf6, White has a 15.e3 fd7 16.d4 xd4 17.
very interesting exchange-sacrifice, V1xd4 aS. If Black succeeds in advancing
which leads to a very complicated b5-b4, then he will maintain
and rather unclear position. the advantage. 18.V41e3. White
15. V1d2 c3 16.bxc3 a6 17.c4 xa1 is preparing 1h6 and g5. 18...
18.xa1 xb5 19.cxb5 Vf6 20.Th1 a6 19.V1h6 V1d8. Black’s pieces
d7oo Sage — Sobry, ICCF 2013. must come quickly to assist in the
defence of his king. 20.g5 Zf8
12...bd7 21.e3 b4. He has seized corn-

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 3.Qc3 g74.e4 g75.h3 0-0

pletely the initiative on the queen- It seems less precise for White
side and White must try his to choose 18.h4 cd7 19.c6,
chances in an attack against the Volzhin — Poluljahov, Volgograd
enemy king. 22.f3 e7 23.e2 c3 1994 (19.g3 xe5 20.xe5
24.d4 cxb2 25.b1 bxa3 26.xa3 ad8 — All Black’s pieces are
b7oo — Black’s knight on f8 protects very active, while White’s passed
reliably the h7-square, so it d5-pawn is much rather a liability
is inconceivable how White can than strength, Rusev — Cvitan,
continue his initiative on the Zadar 2008.). Here, Black had
kingside, Biedermann — Gnutov, an interesting exchange sacrifice
ICCF 2012. at his disposal: 19...Zxd5!? 20.
xd5 V1xc6 21.xe8+ xe8 22.
There arises a complicated e7+ xe7 23.V41xc6 xc6 24.xe7
double-edged position following xb2 and he would have two
15.V1d2 fd7 16.e3 a5 17.d4 pawns for the exchange, while
xd4 18.V1xd4 a6oo Jones — White would need to fight long
Sturm, ICCF 2010. and hard for a draw.

15...the516.xe5b7 18...a5 19.ad1 ac8c’c

After the e4-pawn has disappeared
off the board, Black begins
an attack against the enemy d5-pawn.
17.Vm h6

Black’s counterplay, connected

with a pawn-offensive on the
queenside, promises him an excellent
position, Chernin — Hernandez,
181f4 Philadelphia 1998.

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Chapter 10 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ig7 4.e4 d6
5.e2 0—0

14.b3 fe4= M.Socko — Azarov,

Tromsoe 2010.

After 6.h3, Black can exploit

his opponent’s somewhat slow
play with the move 6...c6!?, creating
pressure against the d4-
square. 7.f3 e5 8.e3 (8.d5 ‘Zd4
9.xd4 exd4 10.V1xd4 e8 11.
V1d3, Bennett — Bisson, Canberra
2002, 11...Ve7 12.f3 ‘h5# with
The main part of this chapter initiative on the dark squares) 8...
will be devoted to the Averbach exd4 9.xd4 e8 10.xc6 bxc6
system B) 61g5. Before that 11.Vc2 b8= Devos — Prins, Dubrovnik
however, we will analyse the move 1950.
A) 61e3.
Black should not be afraid of
6.f4 c5 — see Chapter 11. the advance of White’s g and hpawns.
This infringes the classical
It seems premature for White principle not to begin flank attacks
to play 6.d5, because after this in positions with a volatile
Black’s knight obtains access to centre.
the c5-square. 7.e3 (7. For example: 6.h4 c5. Black
f3 ‘Zc5 8.Vc2 e6 9.e3 g4 must begin immediate actions in
10.xc5 dxc5 11.0—0 exd5 12. the centre, before White has the
xd5 c6 — White has no compensation possibility to organise something
for the vulnerability of on the possibly open h-file. 7.d5
the dark squares, B.Socko — 01- e6 8.h5 exd5 9.hxg6 fxg6 10.cxd5
szewski, Warsaw 2011.) 7...e6 8. e7 11.g5 bd7oo Black’s prospects
f3 exd5 9.exd5 c5 10.0—0 e8 are not worse in this complicated
1Ld4 a5 12.e1 d7 13.h3 b6 position. White must

122
 34c3 g74.e4d65.i.e2 0-0 6.e3c5

play very accurately. For example after an accurate play indeed, but
it would be bad for him to opt for he is not without certain problems.
12.g4?!, due to 12...e5 13.xc8
axc8 14.Zf3, Williams — Gallagher, 6...c5
Birmingham 2001, 14... This move seems to be the
b5!?i: and White’s centre is under most reliable.
tremendous pressure.
Black would not equalise so
Or 6.g4 c5 7.d5 (7.g5 e8 8.d5 easily after 6...e5 7.d5. The position
e6 — see 7.d5) 7...e6 8.g5 e8 9.h4 in the centre has been stabilised
(following 9.Zf3 exd5 10.cxd5, and White’s flank attacks after
Ulvestad — Toran Albero, Torremolinos h2-h4-h5, or g2-g4 would not
1962, 10...V1e7!? it has be so harmless for Black as in our
become quite obvious that White comments to move six.
has only weakened his kingside
with the premature advance of his
g-pawn.) 9...exd5 10.cxd5 (After
1O.exd5, it would be interesting
for Black to try 10..lxc3+!? 11.
bxc3 g7 12.h5 f5 — White’s
queenside pawn-structure has
been weakened and his bishops
are not active at all.) 10...V1e7
11.V1c2 f5 12.h5 fxe4 13.hxg6 hxg6
14.xe4 f5 15.f3 ‘Za6 — White’s
attack on the kingside had backfired,
moreover that his king is 7.d5
stranded in the centre and this
will tell very soon, Thurmer — 7.dxc5 Va5 8.d2 Vxc5 — see
Kovari, Hungary 2005. variation Bi.

It is bad for White to play 7.

A) 61e3 Zf3, because he will fail to hold
White’s bishop on e2 controls the d4-square anyway. 7...g4 8.
the g4-square, so he develops his g5 cxd4 9.xd4 V1b6! After this
other bishop to an active position, energetic move Black seizes the
without being afraid that Black initiative. 10.xg4 xg4 11.V1xg4
may attack it with the move g4. V1xb2 12.0—0 Vxc3 13.xe7 Vxd4
This line is beginning to attract 14.,xf8 xf8 15.Vfc8. Black’s two
followers lately. In the years 2 014- minor pieces seem obviously
2015 A.Ryazantsev played like stronger than White’s rook. Black
this rather often. Black equalises can solve the problem with the

123
Chapter 10

pin of his knight on b8 with the kiy, Volgodonsk 2007) 9...c6 10.
line: 15...V41c5 16.1xb7 Vc6i: Toth 0—0 g4 1L,g5 f6 12.h4 ge5
— Zaninotto, Milan 1985. 13.d2, Taimanov — Suetin, Leningrad
1967, 13...V1d7!?oo (followed
7.e5. This attempt by White to by f7-f5) — The activity of
open the position in the centre Black’s pieces compensates with
leads to a double-edged game an interest the slight weakness of
with mutual chances. 8. his d6-pawn.
dxc5 (It is not so precise for White
to opt here for 8.exd6, because after 8...exd5
8...xd6 9.dxc5 Zf5 10.V1xd8
xd8, he would hardly manage to
preserve his extra pawn. 11.Zd5
‘fZa6 12.0—0—0 e6 13.f3 xe3
14.fxe3 xd5 15.cxd5 Zxc5 —
Black has restored the material
balance and has better prospects
thanks to his superior pawn-
structure and a more active bishop,
Gyimesi — Manhardt, Medellin
1996.) 8...xe5 9.Zf3 ,xc3+
10.bxc3 d7 1L,h6, Lima —
Sanabria Rangel, Cali 2010. Black 9.cxd5
had here an interesting sacrifice: There has arisen a position
11...Zxc5!? 12.xf8 cxf8= and he from the Modern Benoni in which
would have a pawn for the exchange, White has played a bit prematurely
a better pawn-structure, e3.
while White would have difficulties
to activate his rooks, because Black should not be afraid of
there would be no open files on 9.exd5, since following 9...f5 10.
the board. 0—0 e4, he would exchange a
couple of minor pieces and then
7...e68.m White’s space advantage would
White is trying to develop his not be so important. 11.xe4
kingside pieces. xe4 12.d3 xf3 13.1xf3 d7
14.V1g3 e8= Mason — Hebden,
He has no chances of obtaining Birmingham 2015.
an advantage after 8.dxe6
xe6, because he would be incapable 9..1g4
later of exploiting the vulnerability Black’s position is a bit
of the enemy d6-pawn. cramped, so he should better
9.f3 (9.h3 Va5t Kiselev — Glad- trade a couple of minor pieces.

124
 3.c3 £kg74.e4d65ie2 0-0 6.e3c5

10.0—0 10...e8 11.h3 ,xf3 12.jxf3

White cannot achieve much if

he exchanges the light-squared
bishops. 10.d2 xe2 11.xe2
e8 12.0—0 a6 13.ch1 c7 14.a4
a6 15.a5 b8 16.f3 d7. The previous
moves were very typical for
the Modern Benoni. Black is trying
to advance b7-b5, in order to
organise counterplay on the queenside.
17.g4 b5 18.axb6 xb6±
Both sides must play precisely in
this double-edged position. For White has more space and the
example, after the careless move two-bishop advantage, but the
19.a2?!, in the game Duric — Antunac, dark squares in his camp are seriously
Bjelovar 1979, White could weakened. This enables
have had great problems if Black Black to obtain very good counter
had played 19...d4! Suddenly, chances.
the juxtaposition between the 12...bd7 13.a4 e5 14.,e2
queen and the enemy rook on the ed7 15.b1 e7 16.d3 a6
e-file would play a decisive role. 17.a5 h5
20.d1 cxd5! Black has seized He is perfectly prepared the
completely the initiative and trade after kd4 the important defender
White must defend accurately. of the enemy dark squares.
21.exd5 xd5 22.a3 xe3 23. 18Vc1
xe3 (23.xe3 d5 24.b1 c4 25.
df1 V1b6) 23...ixe3 24.xe3 d5
25.Vd3 b4 26.Vxd5 xb2 27.
e4 V1xd5 28.xd5 ctg7T After
the tactical complications there
has arisen an endgarne in which
Black’s rook and a couple of
pawns are stronger than White’s
two knights, because it is well
known that knights are nor very
capable of fighting against passed
rook pawns. In addition, White
must be constantly on the alert 18...d4! In this sharp position
about the possibility of Black doubling Black’s prospects are not
his rooks on the penultimate worse. 191c2 V1e5 2OS1d2 ab8
rank. 211a4 e7 221xd7 xd7 23.

125
Chapter 10

a4 xe3 24.xe3 V!f4 25.g4 prefer — the exchange Bi) 7.dxc5,

Vxe3 26.fxe3 g7 27.b4 cxb4 or the occupation of space with
28.xb4 c8 — Both sides have B2) 7.d5.
pawn-weaknesses and they practically
balance each other, Aguiar
Garcia — Tarrio Ocana, ICCF Bi) 7.dxc5
2013. This is a reliable move. White
does not attempt to obtain a big
advantage and tries to reach a
B) 61g5 calm position relying on his freer
game and slightly extra space.
7..S!a5

This scheme was named after

the Soviet grandmaster Yuri Aver-
bach, who contributed greatly to 81d2
its development. Nowadays the He must lose a tempo to retreat
move 6. g5 is not played so often his bishop.
in the tournament practice, but is
dangerous for Black and requires Following 8.V1d2 dxc5, the vulnerability
precise play by him. of the d4-square even
6...c5 precludes White from equalising.
White has prevented e7-e5 9.e5 (9.f3 c6 10.0—0 d8!?)
with his last move. 9...d8 10.1e3 g4. Black sacrifices
material and seizes the initiative.
6...e5? 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.V41xd8 11.ixg4 xg4 12.xe7 e8
xd8 9.d5± and Black suffers 13.1xc5 Vxc5 141xc5 d7 15.
material losses. Therefore, he inflicts d4 xe5i — He has regained
a strike against the enemy one of the pawns and thanks to
centre with his other pawn. his two powerful bishops and
considerable lead in development
Now, White must choose what will create great problems for
king of a pawn-structure he would White.

126
 3. c3 g7 4.e4 d6 5. e2 0-0 6. g5 c5

8...V!xc5

White is preparing to acquire

extra space on the queenside with
The arising position resembles the move b2-b4.
the Maroczy system in the Sicilian
Defence, but in a more favourable After 12.Zd2 xe2 13.1xe2
version for Black, because White V1h5 14.f3 d7 15.ac1 Zc5 16.
has lost tempi for moves with his b3 b6 17.d5, Serper — Hebden,
bishop. Dhaka 1995, 17...e6=, there arises
ig4 an approximately equal position
Black would not mind exchanging in which Black has his counter
later on f3. This would chances, connected with e5 and
present White with the two-bishop f7-f5.
advantage indeed, but his
knight on f3 controls important 12.c1 d7 13.a3 (13.d2
squares in the centre of the board xe2 14.V41xe2. Now, Black can
(d4 and e5), so its exchange is in capture bravely the pawn on a2.
favour of Black. 14...ixc3 15.xc3 1xa2 16.b3
101e3 Va4oo — White’s initiative is sufficient
only for maintaining the
10.0—0 c6 1L,e3 Va5 — see equality, Saint Amour — Lorentzen,
1O.e3. Chessfriend.com 2004.) 13...
c5. With this transfer of the
10..Sa5 11.0—0 knight Black increases his pressure
against the enemy centre and
11.Zd2 ,xe2 12.V1xe2 fd7 13. his queenside. 14.d2 xe2 15.
c1 ,xc3!? 14.xc3 V1xa2 15.0—0 V1xe2 a4 16.db1. Without this
c6 — see 11.0—0. move, after the trade of the
knights, Black’s bishop will exert
11...c6 powerful pressure against the b2-
(diagram) pawn. 16...d4. His pieces are
12.a3 very active and White is forced to

127
Chapter 10

exchange his important defender 2003. The weaknesses of the

of the dark squares. Naturally, after pawns on d6 and c4 practically
that he cannot even dream balance each other and the position
about maintaining an advantage. is approximately equal. 19...
17.xd4 xd4 18.fd1 g7 19. a5 20.b5 e5 21 1e2 xc4 22.
xa4 Vxa4 20.c3 V1b3± Moskalenko V!d4 e5 23.f4 d7 241g4
— Hazai, Budapest 1991. d8 251xd7 xd7 26S!xf6.
White has regained his pawn, but
12...fc8 he does not have more than equality.
26...d5 27S!d4 ad8 28.e5
c7 29.a4 c4 3OSb6 Vc5+
31S!xc5 xc5= — Black is not
worse in this endgame with four
rooks due to the weakness of
White’s pawn on a4.

B2) 7.d5 h6

Black is preparing V1d8-f8, followed

by h6, trading the important
enemy bishop. This manoeuvre
is often used in the Maroczy
system of the Sicilian Defence.
13.b4

Black should not be afraid of

13.d2 xe2 14.V1xe2 1h5!?=
Before undermining the enemy
13..Sfd8 14.’1Th3 ‘f8 15.h3 centre with the move e7-e6, it
is essential for Black to oust the
15iad1 h6 16.h3 xf3 17. enemy bishop from its active position,
xh6 1xh6 18.xf3, Sorin — Cativelli, because if White manages
Buenos Aires 1999, 18... to play Vd2, Black would not be
1h4!?#, with excellent counter- able to do this any more.
play for Black on the dark squares. Now, we will analyse in details
B2a) 81e3 and B2b) 81f4.
15...bf3 161xf3 h6 17.
d5 ,xe3 18.xf6+ exf6 19. It is not good for White to play
Vxe3, Jelic — Arsovic, Belgrade here 8.h4, because his bishop is

128
 3.tIc3 g74.e4 d6 5.e2 0-0 6Jg5 c5 7.d5 h6 8.ke3 e6

removed from the queenside and 14.f4 Vf6 15.a3 e8t, Black seizes
Black obtains effortlessly a very the initiative and his bishops
good position. 8...V41a5 9.1d2 a6. and queen are threateningly poised
Black is preparing b7-b5. 10.f3 against the enemy queenside,
b5 11.xf6. White is forced to exchange Lalith — Kovalev, Chennai 2011.
his bishop in order to 11.h4. White places his
eliminate the enemy attack knight at the edge of the board,
against his e4-pawn. 11...xf6 but ousts the enemy bishop from
12.0—0 b4 13.d1 g7oo — Black’s its active position. 11...d7 12.0—0
two powerful bishops are more a6 13.Zf3 (There arises a complicated
than sufficient compensation for position after the line:
White’s dominance in the centre, 13.g3 c7, for example: 14.a4.
Nyee — Khin, Yangon 1999. White prevents b7-b5, but weakens
the b4-square. 14...h3 15.e1
Meanwhile, it seems very good V1d7 16.V1c1, Kryakvin — Kotenko,
for White to try here the seldom Taganrog 2013. Here, Black had
played move 8.d2. His bishop to continue with 16...g5!? 17.g2
would not be so active here, than g4±) 13...e8 14.d3, Szabo —
on e3, but later it would not stand Larsen, Dallas 1957. Now, there
in the way of his pieces to fight for could have arisen very interesting
the e-file and would not come under complications in the line: 14...
an attack after the move g4. b4!? 15.b1 b5# After for example:
8...e6 9.f3 exd5 10.exd5 f5 16.a3 a6 17.V1c1 h7 18.
xb5 ixb5 19.cxb5 c7 20.a4
fxd5oo, there would arise a position
with mutual chances.
White can hardly achieve anything
meaningful out of his bishop-pair,
because after a7-a6,
Black exchanges the important
b5-pawn and can exert powerful
pressure on the b-file.

After 11.0—0, Black can accomplish

the thematic exchange B2a) 81e3
for similar positions — 11...Ze4 This is the most natural retreat
12.xe4 ,xe4 and after 13.V1c1 of White’s bishop.
h7, he would solve all his problems. 8...e6
In addition, later White (diagram)
must play very accurately in order We will deal now with B2a1)
to maintain the balance. For example, 9.dxe6, B2a2) 9.h3 and B2a3)
after the careless move 9.V!d2.

129
Chapter 10

provides Black with excellent

counterplay.

9.f3 exd5

White’s kingside is not developed,

so he should nod start active
actions in the centre with 9.e5
dxe5 10ixc5 e8 11.d6 c6 12. 10.exd5 f5 11.0—0 (White
f3 b6!? 13.ia3 a6. Naturally, must comply with Ze4, since his
Black should better not allow attempt to oust the enemy bishop
b5-c7. 14.c1 ib7 15.0—0 d7t from the f5-square can be countered
— White’s passed pawn has been by Black with a tactical
reliably blocked, while Black has strike: 11.Zh4 xd5! 12.xd5
an easy plan for actions: f7-f5, e5- V1xh4 13.c7, Murshed — Steel,
e4, after which he will seize completely Cape Town 2014, 13...xb2! 14.
the initiative. ‘Zxa8 c3+ 15.cf1 xa1 16.V1xa1
c8 17.V1d1 c6:F — White will fail
Following 9.f3 exd5 10.cxd5, to save his knight on a8. Black has
there arises a position, which may the advantage, because White
be reached in the Benoni Defence, cannot regain simultaneously his
as well as out of the Saemisch system, pawns on c5 and d6 and solve at
but not in a favourable version the same time the problem with
for White. His bishop has his king on fi and the rook on hi.)
been deployed to the e2-square a ii. i2.xe4 xe4. If Black
bit too early and he has difficulties manages to accomplish this exchange
with the development of his in the Averbach system,
knight on gl. 10...a6 11.a4 h7 he solves completely all his problems
12.Wd2 h5. Black is not in a hurry in the opening. i3.d3 xf3
to play Zd7, in order to prevent 14.1xf3 d7 i5.V1h3 e5= Kholmov
the development of White’s — Stein, Moscow 1964.
knight to h3. 131d1. He is preparing Following i0.cxd5, Black succeeds
ge2. 13...d7 14.ge2 in realising advantageously
b8 15.a5, Jussupow — Dolmatov, the typical tactical strike for similar
Wijk aan Zee 1991, 15...e5!? 16. positions i0...b5!, equalising
b3 f5oo — Black’s kingside initiative completely.

130
 34c3 g74.e4 d6 5.e2 0-0 6.g5 c5 7.d5 h6 8.ie3 e6

Black has two powerful bishops

and a clear-cut plan for actions
against the weak enemy d5-pawn.
20...ab8 21.b3 fd8 22.c6
b5! This is the last fine point.
23.xb5 xd5 24.bd4, Sciallero
— Soh, ICCF 2014. Following 24...
xb3 25.axb3 xd4 26.xd4
xd4 27.g3 b4=, the rook and
Black obtains very good compensation pawn ending is a dead draw.
for the pawn after 11.e5
g4 12.xb5, Khismatullin — Van
Foreest, Moscow 2016, 12...d7!? B2a1) 9.dxe6
13.e6 Zxe3 14.fxe3 Ze5 15.xe5 White gets rid of his d5-pawn
xe5 16.0—0 b8 — Black’s bishop in order to try to fight later against
on e5 is very powerful in the the weak enemy pawn on d6.
centre of the board exerting pressure 9..Axe6
on both flanks on the board.
1L,xb5. After this there arises
a combinational storm and almost
all the pieces disappear off
the board. 11...Zxe4

1OS!d2

Black should not be afraid of

Naturally, this piece-sacrifice 10.f3 g4 1Lf4 e5 12.xe5
is temporary, because Black regains dxe5. He gets rid of the weakness
the bishop on b5. 12.xe4 on d6. 13.e3 b6 14.Va4 id7 15.
a5+ 13.1d2 V1xb5 14.xd6 V1xb2 c2 c6 16.0—0—0 d4. Draw,
15.V1xb2 xb2 16.b1. There has Dzagnidze — Banikas, Athens
arisen an endgame and White’s 2008.
initiative gradually evaporates.
16...g7 17.0—0 d7 18.fc1 a6 It seems too slow for White to
191xc5 xc5 20.xc5. He has choose 10.h3 1a5 1Ld2?! Yakovich
won temporarily a pawn, but — Morozov, Voronezh 2008

131
Chapter 10

(11.V1d2 ‘Zc6 — see 10.V1d2) 11...

e8!? 12.f3 a6! Black removes
with tempo his queen to c6 in order
to attack the pawn on e4.
13.b3 Vc6 14.d3 f5T

1O...a5
Black would not mind the exchange
of the pawn on h6 for the
enemy e4-pawn.
llAxh6
13.c1 xc3 14.xc3
11.h3 ‘Zc6 12.Zf3 d4! After
this energetic move, Black obtains It would be worse for White to
an advantage. 13.xd4 cxd4 14. opt for 14.bxc3?! e8. Here, he
b5, Faizrakhmanov — Sattarov, loses after 15.cd2? c6 16.h4
Moscow 2015 (14.xd4 Zxe4 15. d4 17.h5 V1xa2+ 18.cd1 ,xc4
xe4 V1xd2+ 16.cxd2 xd4t — and Black would crush the enemy
Black’s prospects are preferable monarch. 0—1 Balcazar Novoa —
thanks to his two powerful bishops.) Lindsalu, LSS 2008. There might
14...V1xd2+ 15.xd2 d7 follow this exemplary variation:
16.xd6. White has even managed 19.xc4 V1a4+ 20.cd2 V1xc4 21.
to win a pawn, but the dark cxd4 V1b4+ 22.cd1 e1+ 23.cc2
squares in his camp are too weak. cxd4 24.xe1 V1xe1 25.1d2 c8+
16...e5 17.b5 a6 18.f4 (18.a3? 26.cd3 c3—+
d3 19.xd3 xb2—+) 18...axb5
19.fxe5 bxc4 20.xc4 fd8 21.a3 14..S!xa2
ac8. White’s lag in development
hurts him, despite the fact that it
is an endgarne. 22.b3 c7 23.Th1
sg7 24.f1 xc4 25.xc4 xe5i:
— Black has restored the material
balance and has preserved all the
advantages of his position.

11...,xh612.xh6
(diagram)
12...xe4
In this complicated position
White cannot exploit the vulnerability This is a sharp position with
of the enemy king, because mutual attacks, but material should
his own king needs protection. not be forgotten as a factor.

132
 3.c3 .g74.e4 d6 5.e2 0-0 6.g5 c5 7.d5 h6 8J.e3 e6

15.c1. White must bring his 11.d2 h7 — see variation

queen back to assist in the defence B2a3.
of his queenside. 15...Y1a5
16.h4 c6. Black wishes to centralise White’s attempt to prevent
his knight. 17.h5 ‘d4 e4 with 11.d3 would not be
18.cfl g7 19.hxg6 fxg6 20. good, since he would make a second
h6+ cf6 21Sf4+, Zawadski — move with an already developed
Polovnikov, ICCF 2005. Here, piece and would lag in development
Black had better comply with the anyway. 11...b5. Black
repetition of moves: 21...c?g7!?= sacrifices a pawn and deflects the
— White has nothing more than a enemy knight from the protection
perpetual check. of the e4-pawn. 12.xb5 (12.cxb5
bd7 13.ge2 b6oo — White has
problems with the protection of
B2a2) 9.h3 his d5-pawn, Kamenets — Efimenko,
Alushta 2000.) 12...e4
13.e2 .xb2. Black has regained
his pawn and can be very optimistic
about the future. 14.b1 g7
15.0—0 a6 16.a3. White’s knight
has been ousted to an unfavourable
position. 16. ..‘Zd7 17.&f4 f8
18.\1c2 f5 19.b3 g5 20id2
d7 21.g3 e5 22.ie2 gf7.
Black defends against the fork f2-
f4. 23.f4. White has succeeded in
ousting the enemy knight from
White solves radically the the centre, but his weakness on e4
problem with the enemy knight- may be the cause of worries for
sortie g4, but lags in development him in the future. 23. .Ad7 24.
a bit. fd3, Krouzel — Matousek, ICCF
9...exd510.exd5e8 2004, 24...h5!? 25.f3 followed
Black deploys his rook on the by h4, e4.
open file. In similar positions his
plan is connected with f5 and 11...if5
e4. The trade of a couple of minor (diagram)
pieces would be in his favour, 12.g4
because his position is a bit White is trying to enter a complicated
cramped. After this his bishops fight. Still, with his last
would exert powerful pressure move he risks too much, because
against the enemy queenside. it is well known that pawns cannot
ii.m go backward and the weaken-

133
Chapter 10

is reluctant to lose tempi for the

protection of his h6-pawn. 17.
xh6, Vovk — Ezat, Abu Dhabi
2015, 17...ixf3!? 18.xf3 1h4 19.
ixg7 cxg7i: — White’s extra pawn
is practically immaterial. His
pawn-structure on both sides of
the board is compromised, while
Black has excellent attacking
prospects against the enemy king.

ing of his kingside might hurt him 12..1e4

later.

12.Vfd2 ch7 — see variation

B2a3.

There arises a calmer position

after 12.&d3 e4 13.xe4 xe4
14.0—0 (14.&xe4 xe4 15.1c2 f5
16.0—0 d7= Dao — Fier, Jakarta
2011) 14. ..ixf3. Black exchanges
the defender of the e5-square.
The position is closed and White’s
two-bishop advantage is not so 13.0—0
important. 15.1xf3 d7 16.ab1
e5 17.fd1 VTh4 18.b3 f5± — 13.V4d2 bd7 14.0—0 xf3 —
Black’s centralised knight is very see 13.0—0
powerful and he has good prospects
for active actions on the Following 13.g1, White’s king
kingside, so this provides him will remain stranded in the centre
with excellent prospects in the of the board for long. 13...xf3
forthcoming battle, Tomecek — 14.ixf3 a6 15.cf1. He is preparing
Babula, Czech Republic 1996. an artificial castling, but loses too
much time for that. 15.. .bd7 16.
12.0—0 e4 13.g4. This move d2, Mikenas — Dydyshko, Gomel
only leads to unnecessary weakening 1973. Here, Black can try an interesting
of White’s position. (13. temporary pawn-sacrifice:
xe4 xe4 14.&d3 xf3 — see 16...h7!? 17.xh6 e5 181e2
12.&d3; 14.1d2 sh7 — see variation Vh4 19ixg7 V1xh3+ 20.g2 cxg7
B2a3). 13. ..xc3 14.bxc3 — He has regained the sacrificed
,e4 15.c1 ‘Ed7 16.1d2 f5. Black pawn, while White will have great

134
 34c3 g74.e4 d6 5.e2 0-0 6.g5 c5 7.d5 h6 8.e3 e6

difficulties to solve the problem B2a3) 9S1d2

with the safety of his king. In addition,
his kingside pawn-structure
is seriously weakened.

13...bd7 14Sd2 xf3

This move is forced, because
White was threatening to remove
his knight and to follow this with
f2-f3.
15.kxf3 h5 16.g5 h7

This is the best move for

White. He wishes to win a tempo
attacking the pawn on h6 and will
think what to do later.

9...exd5lO.exd5

Following 1O.cxd5 e8 11.f3

h7, White will have problems
with the development of his
If White’s g5-pawn had been knight on gl. 12.ib5 Now, he
on its initial placement, his position must lose another tempo for a
would have been preferable. move with his knight. (It seems
Now, Black has very good counterplay. too risky for White to begin a
17.ch1 xc3! Black exploits pawn-offensive on the kingside
the insufficient protection when his pieces are not developed:
of the g5-pawn and compromises 12.h4 h5 13.g4 hxg4 14.h5
his opponent’s queenside pawnstructure. d7 15.hxg6 fxg6oo Fedorowicz —
18.bxc3 e5 191e2 Watson, Hastings 1985.) 12...d7
d7 2O.ch2 f5t — Black’s two 13.h3. White has managed to
knights fight quite successfully activate his knight, but now Black
against White’s bishop-pair. Later, acquires space on the queenside
in the game Lputian — Gufeld, with tempo. 13...a6 14.e2 b5 15.
Moscow 1983, there followed 21. 0—0 h5 16.f2 b4 17.a4 a5 18.
f4, but Black found an interesting ac1 b6 19.xb6 xb6 20.ch1
tactical argument against that: a4oo — Black’s queenside initiative
21...e4! 22.ae1 xc4 23. provides him with excellent counter
xc4 xc44 — White’s compensation chances, Li Shilong — Ding
for the pawn is insufficient. Liren, Xinghua Jiangsu 2011.

135
Chapter 10

1O...cth7ll.h3
White defends against the
knight-sortie g4.

Black has no problems after

11.Zf3 f5 12.0—0 Ze4 13.xe4
ixe4 14.ae1 d7 15.h3 (15.f4
V1f6 16.b3 fe8 17.h3= Heimbrodt
— Weissleder, Email 2007) 15...
b5! He sacrifices material trying move. (White’s attempt to
to fight for the d5-square. 16.cxb5 regain the pawn would not provide
b6 17.b4, Galliamova — N. him even with equality: 16.
Kosintseva, Nalchik 2011. Here, Zc3 xc4 17.a3 d7 18.f3 a5 —
the most reliable route to equality White has no compensation for
for Black would be 17...xf3!? his opponent’s two-bishop advantage,
18.xf3 c4 19.1c2 xe3 20. Ponomariov — Grischuk,
xe3 cxb4= Beijing 2011.) 16...Zd7 17.f3,
Skare — Dziuba, Belgrade 2009,
11...e8 17...Ze5!? 18.xe5 ixe5 —
Black’s bishops are very active,
while White’s knight is misplaced
at the edge of the board.
Following 13.cxb5, Black has
also very good compensation for
his minimal material deficit. 13...
bd7 14.ge2 (After the careless
move 14.f3, White will have
problems with the protection of
his d5-pawn. 14...b6 15.0—0 b7
16.ad1 ‘d7 Hradeczky — Adorjan,
Hungary 1972. 14.d1, Hort
12.if3 — Sznapik, Deem 1979, 14...a6!?)
Black prevents his opponent
It seems too slow for White to from castling kingside. 15.
choose here 121d3, because of d1 (It would be bad for White to
12...b5! and Black seizes the initiative play here 15.0—0, in view of 15...
with a pawn-sacrifice. xh3!i; while after 15.Zg3 xd3+
(diagram) 16.Vxd3 a6 17.0—0 axb5 18.xb5
IxbS e4 I4.xe4 xe4. b7 19.i4 xd5 ZO.xd6, Gilimshin
— Konovalov, RCCA 1997,
Black has two powerful bishops Black can obtain excellent attacking
for the sacrificed pawn. 15.c1 a6
16.Za3. This is at least a principled prospects after a transfer of

136
 3. 4c3 g7 4.e4 d6 5. e2 0-0 6. g5 c5 7.d5 h6 8. e3 e6

his queen to the c6-square. 20... It is just bad for White to opt
d7!? 21.fd1 V1c6 22.V41xd5 e1+ for 15.e1, due to 15...b5!? 16.
23.ch2 V1xd5 24.xd5 xa1 25. cxb5 d7 17.c1 b6 181c4 a6
xc5 8xa2—+. He has all the 19.e2 axb5 20.xb5 e74 —
chances of realising his extra exchange.) Black’s pieces are more actively
15...a6 16.a4 xd3+ 17. placed and he will restore the
V1xd3 axb5 18.axb5 d7t — Black material balance on his next
is preparing the transfer of his move, Grivas — Gazis, Athens
knight to the eS-square, Berdichesky 1984.
— Copie, Email 1999. He
has two powerful bishops, while 15...d7
White’s queenside pawns are
weak.

12...f5

16.b3

After White’s alternatives,

Black will obtain a very good position
13.0—0 following the pawn-advance
b7-b5. For example: 16.d1 b5t
The position is simplified after Grachev — Adhiban, Biel 2012, or
13.d3 e4 14.xe4 xe4 15. 16.f4 b5! 17.xd6 bxc4 18.g3
.xe4 xe4. White cannot achieve Zb6 19.d6 d7 20.V1c1 d5= Ritsema
anything meaningful out of his — Bauer, ICCF 2014.
space advantage. 16.1c2 f5 17.
0—0 d7 18.d2 e7 19.ae1 Vc7 16...b5 17.h2
20.f4 ae8 21.xe7 xe7 22.b3
a6 23.V1b1 b5= — Black has good If White captures the pawn
counterplay on the queenside, 17.cxb5 f6 18.d1 Ve7oo, the
Kuhne — Flores, FICGS 2013. only way in which he can protect
his d5-pawn is to weaken his
13...e4 14.xe4 xe4 queenside pawn-structure, Mob
15.ae1 — Civitillo, ICCF 2013.

137
Chapter 10

8...e6
Black is playing like this despite
everything! He is ready to
sacrifice his d6-pawn in order to
obtain an active piece play after
this.

This position was reached in

the game Yermolinsky — Edelman,
New York 1993. Here, Black
could have obtained a very good
position with 17...b4!?t He is
threatening to win the exchange
with the move c3 and later he
will have good counter chances on 9.dxe6
the queenside (a7-a5-a4). White’s This is the logical continuation
prospects on the kingside seem of White’s plan.
quite problematic at the moment.
The move 9.V1d2 seems less
consistent. 9...exd5 10.exd5 h7
B2b) 81f4 11.Zf3 (White should better avoid
11.0—0—0, because of 11...b5! 12.
cxb5 a6 13.b6 V1xb6 and it is
rather unclear what his king is doing
on the queenside, Moehring
— Tal, Halle 1974.) 11...’Zh5. Black
exploits the unfavourable placement
of the enemy bishop on f4,
winning a tempo for the development
of his kingside initiative.
12.e3 f5 13.V1d1, Tan Zhongyi —
Ju Wenjun, China 2014, 13...
ixc3+!? 14.bxc3 f4 15.d2 f5oo
With this retreat of his bishop The position is closed and White
White wishes to impede the possibility cannot exploit his two-bishop advantage.
for the opponent to undermine Later however, the vulnerability
his centre with the move e7- of his queenside pawn-
e6. structure might hurt him.

138
 3. Qc3 g7 4.e4 d6 5.e2 0-0 6.g5 c5 7.d5 h6 8.f4 e6

The move 9.f3 leads to a 11.ixb5. If White wishes to

complicated fight with mutual capture on b5, he should better do
chances. 9...exd5 10.cxd5 (Black it with his bishop. 11...xe4 12.
should not be afraid of White’s xe4 Va5+ 13.1d2 Vxb5 14.
capturing with the other pawn Zxd6, Christiansen — Mar, Berkeley
10.exd5, since after that Black 1977. He has managed to win a
prepares effortlessly f6-e4 and pawn, but following 14...Va6!?, he
equalises completely. 10...e8 11. will have problems to castle kingside.
0—0 e4 12.Zxe4 xe4 13.e3 15.xc8 xc8 16.V41e2 V1a4
1f6 14.b1, Levin — Polzin, Germany 17.V1d2 b5 — White will hardly
2013, 14...e8 15.h3 f5 have anything better than the repetition
16.d3 d7=) 10...b5!? of moves.
11.’Zd2. White complies with
the occupation of space of his opponent
on the queenside. 11...a6.
Black is not in a hurry to push b5-
b4, because this would present
White’s knight with the important
c4-square. 12.0—0 (Following 12.
Vc2 e8 13.0—0, Black can already
play 13...b4± and White
cannot counter that with 14.
Black exploits the defencelessness Zd1?!, because of 14...xd5! 15.
of the e4-pawn and inflicts exd5 xe2 16.e3 a5 17.V1d3 a6
immediately a strike on the flank, 18.c4, Sorin — Marcussi, AcasusSO
which is typical for similar positions. 1991, 18...xe3!? 19.dxe3
xb2 — Black’s two bishops and
It is bad for White to play 11. two pawns are more than sufficient
xb5 xe4, because the trade of a compensation for the exchange.)
flank pawn for the central pawn is 12...e8 13.id3, Gligoric
obviously in favour of Black. — Malich, Munich 1958, 13...1c7!?
12.d2 e8 13.f3, Manolache — 14.h3 bd7oo This complicated
Schoorl, Vaujany 2013, 13...f6!? position is with double-edged
It turns out that the capturing on chances. White has more space,
d6 is harmless for Black. 14.xd6 but Black’s active counterplay on
xd5 15.xe8 V1xe8! Black has an the queenside should not be underestimated.
excellent piece-play for the sacrificed
exchange. White must defend
very precisely. For example, 9..Axe6
he loses after 16.xb8?, due to Here, White can gobble a pawn
16...e3 17.V1b3 Zxg2+ 18.cf1 with B2b2) 1O.ixd6, or can choose
kh3—+ with a crushing attack. the calmer move B2b1) 1Oid2.

139
Chapter 10

About 10.f3 Vb6 11.V1d2 c6 after this White will not have time
— see 10.V1d2. to open the h-file. 13.c1 c6 14.
h4 b4. Black will soon emphasize
that White’s king can hardly
B2b1) 1OS!d2 be safe in the centre of the board.

15.d1 (After the humble decision

15.V1d2 1xd2+ 16.cxd2, Bykhovsky
White refrains from capturing — Bagaturov, Moscow
the pawn on d6, relying on the classical 1991, 16...ae8!?t — Black’s pieces
principle that “The threat is are better mobilised, while White’s
more powerful than its execution”. pawns on a2 and c4 are weak.)
1O...Vb6 15...V41d4 16.’fZf3 (After 16.h5, Black
Black is eyeing the enemy b2- will succeed in ousting the enemy
pawn and increases his control queen from its active position.
over the d4-square. 16...g4 17.V1g5 V1xe4 18.hxg6
ii.m V1xg6oo — Black’s queen has come
White wishes at first to complete back to assist in the defence of his
the development of his king- king and White is unlikely to create
side. any serious threats on the
kingside. Later, Black’s extra pawn
It seems too risky for White to may become an important factor,
play here 11.0—0—0, because of C.Horvath — Zimmerman, Hungary
11...h5 12.h3 c6oo and the placement 1997.) 16...V41xe4 17.g5 V1e5
of his king on the queenside
might turn into a cause of worries
for him in the future, Kayser —
Bensiek, ICCF 1995.

The exchange of the h and bpawns

after 1Lxh6 xh6 12.
41xh6 V1xb2, is not dangerous for
Black, because in the variations

140
 3.Qc3 g74.e4 d6 5.e2 0-0 6.g5 c5 7.d5 h6 8.f4 e6

18.e3, Khalifrnan — Babula, 12.0—0 d4

Germany 2001, 18...Vfb2 19.d1
ae8. The position is very complicated It is possible that the simplest
and both kings are seriously decision of the opening problems
endangered. 20.h5 (The game for Black here is the move 12...
would end in a draw after 20.cf1 g5!?, for example: 13.g3 h5.
f5 21.h5 xe3! 22.fxe3 d3 23. He exchanges immediately his
xd3 xd3 24.jxd3 Va1+ 25.ce2 opponent’s key bishop. The weakening
xh1 26.ixg6 V41xg2=) 20...xc4! of his king here is not important
Black begins a counter attack with at all, since White cannot
the help of this tactical strike. exploit this. 14.ab1 xg3 15.hxg3
2Lxc4 (21.0—0 V1xe2 22.hxg6 1a6 16.b3 Va5 17.d5 Vxd2 18.
1h5=) 21...xe3+ 22.cf1. White xd2 xd5 19.cxd5 d4 20.d3
is reluctant to accept this sacrifice. b5= — Black’s knight is very powerful
(22.fxe3? V1c3+ 23.cf1 at the centre of the board
xc4+ 24.c?g1 Ve2—+) 22...xf2+! and if he manages to create a
Black simplifies the position with passed pawn on the queenside,
this temporary sacrifice of the White will be forced to defend,
queen and there arises an endgame. Cumming — Booij, ICCF 2014.
23.ctxf2 Zg4+ 24.cg1 xh6
25.hxg6 g7oo — The queens have 13.xd4
disappeared off the board, but the
position is still very sharp. Black’s After 13Jfd1, Slugin — Onoprienko,
prospects are not worse at all Zvenigorod 2008, the
thanks to his three passed pawns simplest reaction for Black would
on the queenside. be 13...xe2+!? 14.Vxe2 ad8=
and his two-bishop advantage
would compensate the slight
weakness of the d6-pawn.

Following 13.b3 g5 14.ie3

xe2+ 15.Vxe2, Loeffler — Lanz
Calavia, ICCF 2013, 15...c6!?co,
Black will have not oniy the two-
bishop advantage, but will exert
powerful pressure against the e4-
pawn.

11...c6 13...cxd4
This knight is headed for the There have appeared doubled
d4-square in order to cover the isolated pawns in Black’s position,
weakness on d6. but his pieces are very active.

141
Chapter 10

11.f3
White is trying to diminish his
lag in development.

1L.xc5. He wins a second

pawn, but this is hardly an
achievement at the moment. 11...
Va5 12.b4 V1a6 13.d4 (13.c1
xc4 14.f3 bd7 15.xc4 V1xc4
Gerusel — Maeder, Amsterdam
1969) 13...,xc4. Black has regained
14.d5 xd5 15.exd5 e4. one of the two sacrificed
Black transfers his knight to c5 pawns, while White has not completed
with tempo. 16Sc2 c5 171d3 his development yet. 14.e5
(17.fe1 fe8 18.ad1 e4 19.V41d2 Zh5 15.b5 1e6 161xc4 1xc4
a5= — The activity of Black’s pieces 17.ge2 d7 18.0—0 ad8 19.
compensates the defects of his Vb3 xe5= — Black has restored
pawn-structure, Pawlowski — McCartney, the material balance and will have
ICCF 2011.) 17...a5# very good prospects in the future,
18.b3 a4 19.ab1 axb3 20. Garriga Nualart — Buerger, ICCF
axb3 a3 21.fd1 d8t — It 2012.
would be difficult for White to exploit
the vulnerability of the enemy Following 11.e5 fd7 12.f4 (12.
pawns on d4 and d6, because ‘Zf3?! c6) 12...c6 13.’fZf3, Black
they are reliably protected at the begins immediate actions against
moment. White’s b3-pawn however, White’s pawns on f4 and e5. The
is very weak, Fier — Kotronias, best way to do this is the undermining
Cappelle Ia Grande 2015. move 13.. .g5, for example:
14.g3 (14.V1c2, Krysa — Supi, Buenos
Aires 2014, 14...d4!?±) 14...
B2b2) lOlxd6 e8 f6 15.0—0 gxf4 16.gxf4 fxe5 17.
ch1, Zeihen — Hansen, ICCF
2015, 17...exf4!?=

11..Sb6
Black has protected his c5-
pawn and creates the threat d8,
followed by ‘Ze8.
(diagram)
121xb8
White solves radically the
problem with his bishop on d6.

142
 3.tIc3 g7 4.e4 d6 5.e2 0-0 6.g5 c5 7.d5 h6 8.f4 e6

Black should not be afraid of

12.e5 fd7

After this however, the vulnerability

of the dark squares in his After 13.0—0 c6 14.a4 Va5
camp might become horrible for 15.a3 dxe5, Black regains the
him. sacrificed pawn and his chances
are preferable thanks to his more
Following 12.0—0 d8 13.e5 harmoniously deployed pieces.
e8, Black will gradually regain 16.xe5 Zxe5 17.b4 cxb4 18.axb4
the pawn and his prospects in the Vd8 19.c1 c6 20.c5. White
forthcoming battle may become has managed to activate his pieces
even preferable. 14.Zd5 (White a bit, but is incapable of countering
would be even worse after 14.V1b3 the penetration of the enemy
xd6 15.ad1 c6 16.exd6, Ubilava knight to the d4-square. 20...
— Zaichik, Tbilisi 1980, 16... c8 211f3 d4 22.ig3 1b6 23.
xb3!? 17.axb3 d7 18.d2 ad8 e4, Alburt — Hebden, Hastings
19.fd1 Za5i: — White has temporary 1983, 23...g4!? 24.xg4 xe4 25.
an extra pawn indeed, but e1 ae8 26.xe4 xe4 — The
he would hardly manage to hold powerful centralisation of Black’s
on to his pawn-weaknesses on pieces is a more important factor
b3 and d6 and after their loss than White’s two-bishop advantage.
Black would have a material
advantage.) 14...ixd5 15.V1xd5 13.b5 c6 141c7 Va6.
xd6 16. ad1 c6 17.exd6, Aleksandrov White’s initiative is only temporary.
— Wojtaszek, Warsaw He is incapable of preserving
2009, 17...d7!? 18.b3 e8 19. the eS-pawn. 15.0—0 ec8
d2 e6 20. fe1 b4 21.a4 16.1b3 dxe5 17.xe5 xe5=
exd6t — The material balance Nejstadt — Nesis, ICCF 1984.
has been restored and White must
play very carefully later in order 12...axb8 13.c2 h5
to neutralise his opponent’s initiative. Black is preparing the transfer
of his knight to the f4-square.

143
Chapter 10

15.0—0 ,xc3 16.1xc3 xe4=

Selle — Grandt, DDR 1987.
15...,xc3+

14.g3
Naturally, White should not
allow Zf4.

After the careless reaction 14. 16S!xc3

Zd2 f4t, Black’s pieces become 16.bxc3, Schreiber — Gustafsson,
very active. White’s defence will ICCF 1981, 16...d7!? —
be very difficult. He loses after Black has very good compensation
15.f3?, in view of 15...V1xb2! 16. for the sacrificed pawn, because
V1xb2 d3+ 17.ce2 xb2 18.d5, White’s queenside pawn-
Farago — Sznapik, Helsinki 1981, structure has been compromised
18...xc4—+ and the insufficient protection of
the h3-pawn impedes his castling
After 14.0—0 f4, White must kingside.
already think about equality. 16...xf3 171xf3 f6 18.
15.fe1 xe2+ 16.Vxe2 (16.xe2 0—0 xe4
xc4 Ryskin — Sutovsky, Ljubljana Black has parted with his powerful
1994) 16...b4 17.d5 xb2 bishop-pair, but has regained
18.Vfxb2 xb2 19.ab1 g7 20. the sacrificed pawn.
e3 d7 — Black has regained 19.ixe4 xe4 2O.fe1 be8=
the sacrificed pawn and his prospects — Both sides lack pawn-weaknesses
seem preferable thanks to and there is just a few material
his powerful bishop-pair, Lputian left on the board. The most
— Petrushin, Krasnodar 1980. likely outcome of the game would
be a draw, Efremov — Polezhaev,
14..1g4 15.h3 ICCF 2008.

144
 11 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ,g7 4.e4 d6
5.f4
The Four Pawns Attack

White only worries.

5...O—O
Black can not continue the
game without this preparatory
move.

6.f3
This is White’s most natural
response. He develops his king-
side pieces. Additionally, the
placement of his knight on f3 may
help him in the pawn-advance e4-
With this seemingly threatening e5.
move White demonstrates his
aggressive intentions. It is not by 6.e2 c5 7.d5 (7.f3 cxd4 —
chance that this opening bears the see 6.’f3) 7...e6 8.dxe6 (8.f3
word attack in its name. White exd5 — see variation C2) 8...fxe6
has a powerful pawn-centre, but 9.g4. This pawn-attack seems not
lags a bit in development. Therefore, well prepared (White should better
Black must organise quickly play here 9.Ef3 Ec6 — see variation
counterplay against the enemy Cl). 9...c6 1O.h4 d4 11.
centre; otherwise, White will h5, Mariotti — Gligoric, Praia da
complete his development and his Rocha 1969, 11...g5!? Black sacrifices
central pawns will crush the opposition a pawn and impedes his opponent’s
on their way forward. attack and what is more
The contemporary tournament important obtains the important
practice has shown that the four e5-square for his pieces. 12.fxg5
pawns variation is not dangerous followed by ‘Ze5.
for Black. In addition, White’s
seemingly beautiful pawn-centre It is just bad for White to play
is an excellent target for an attack 6.e3, since following 6...g4, he
by Black’s pieces and brings must either lose time for the reChapter

145
Chapter 11

treat of his bishop, or comply with xe6 11.b5. Naturally, White

its exchange. can hardly put up with the enemy
bishop on d4 for long. 11...Zc6 12.
xd4 cxd4 13.Zg5 Ze3 14.xe3
dxe3 15.V1d3 1f6. Black would
not mind exchanging his e3-pawn
for his opponent’s two queen-
side pawns. 16.Vxe3 V1xb2 17.d1
V1xa2i — White is a pawn down
and lags in development too.

6.d3. At first White deploys

7.d2 xe3 8.V1xe3 c5!?t With his bishop and then he wishes to
this energetic pawn-sacrifice Black place his knight on e2. Still, as it is
seizes completely the initiative. well known, in the majority of the
9.dxc5 dxc5 1O.V41xc5. White tries openings the knight is better
to win material, but lags in development, placed on f3 than on e2. 6...c5
so this seems rather dubious. 7.d5 e6
Still, even after a calmer
play by him, he would have no
compensation for the vulnerability
of his d4-square and for
Black’s two bishops. 1O...d4 11.
Vb5 xc3+ 12.bxc3 ‘c7 13.Ve5
1xe5 14.fxe5 Zd7 15.f3 Zc5T —
White is worse, despite his material
advantage, since most of his
pawns are a sorry sight.
7.icl c5 8.d5 d4. Black has Now, White must choose the
managed to occupy the d4-square, pawn-structure in the middle
while White was just roaming game.
with his bishop here and there. 8.Zf3 exd5 — see variation C.
9.h3, J.Balogh — Szittar, Zalakaros He cannot create problems for
1993. White is defending his opponent with 8.dxe6, because
against f2, but as it is well after the removal of White’s
known the edge of the board is pawn from d5, Black’s knight
not the best place for a knight. 9... gains access to the c6-square and
e5!? Black wishes to open the position from there it controls the important
as quickly as possible so e5 and d4-squares. White is
that his other minor pieces can incapable of exploiting the vulnerability
come to assist his knight on g4 of the enemy d6-pawn.
and the bishop on d4. 1O.dxe6 8...fxe6 9.ge2 (9.f3 c6 — see

146
 3.Qc3 g74.e4 d6 5.f4 0-0 64f3 c5

variation Cl) 9...’Zc6 10.0—0 b6 strike against the enemy centre.

11.g3 e7oo Black’s prospects Naturally, he would not mind to
are not worse. After the risky trade his c-pawn for the enemy
move 12.f5, Ljubisavljevic — Grigore, central d-pawn. If White’s pawn is
Amantea 2010, he could have removed from d4, Black’s bishop
even obtained the advantage with on g7 will enjoy an enlarged scope
12...’Zd7!?, after which his minor of action.
pieces would have occupied firmly Here, the most logical continuation
the e5 and d4-squares. of White’s strategy in the
8.ge2 exd5 9.exd5. White is opening would be C) 7.d5, but
forced to capture with his e-pawn. before that we will analyse his less
(Following 9.cxd5, Black can exploit ambitious alternatives A) 71e2
the insufficient protection of and B) 7.dxc5.
the enemy e4-pawn and advance
quickly his queenside pawns seizing
completely the initiative. 9... A) 7.e2 cxd4 8.xd4
e8 10.0—0 c4 1L,c2 b5 12.a3, There has arisen a variation
Kubon — Sturdik, Slovakia 2009, from the Maroczy system of the
12...a5!? 13.e3 a6i:) 9...h5 10. Sicilian Defence, but in which
0—0 f5. After this move it would White has advanced prematurely
be difficult for White to organise f2-f4. This circumstance precludes
any active actions on the kingside. him from fighting for an
111d2, Keres — Panno, Los Angeles opening advantage.
1963, 11...d7!? 12.V1b3 df6oo 8...c6
— The weaknesses of the e4 and
e6-squares are nearly balancing
each other.

6...c5

Black continues to increase his

pressure against the enemy centre.
He is threatening xe4 winning
a pawn.
91e3
Black inflicts an immediate White parries this threat.

147
Chapter 11

The move 9.c2 may seem of minor pieces have disappeared

purposeful (White has extra space off the board and although White
and should avoid exchanges), but still has some extra space, Black
is a bit too slow. 9...’fZd7. Black has no problems at all, Hort —
prepares the transfer of his knight Vladimirov, Moscow 1963. Here,
to c5. 10.0—0 c5 1Lf3 xc3!? Black has an interesting idea —
He exchanges his powerful bishop 13...c5!? 14Ad4 e5 15.xc5 dxc5.
and weakens the position of his It becomes evident now that
king, but destroys his opponent’s White cannot achieve anything
queenside pawn-structure. 12. despite his dominance over the
bxc3 1a5 13.f5, Darga — Toran Albero, d5-square. 16.f5 gxfs 17.1xd8
Luxembourg 1955 (The character axd8 18.exf5 e4! Black opens the
of the position remains the scope of action of his bishop on
same after 13.d2, Mikhaletz - Onischuk, g7. 19.ce2 xc3 20.xc3 cg7=
Ukraine 2008, 13...e6!?) The prospects are about equal in
13...Ee5!?t — White does not have this endgame with four rooks. In
sufficient compensation for the addition, if White reacts too slow
defects of his pawn-structure. and allows his opponent to deploy
his king on e5 and to double his
9..1g4 rooks on the d-file, he will end up
in an inferior position.

1O...,xe2 11.xd8 ixdl

12.xd1
12.xb7?! c2 13.cd2 ,xe4:F
Noiroux — Beijerinck, Maastricht
2009.
12.’Zxf7 g4!? 13.g5 h6 14.
‘fZf3 h5t — White is incapable of
protecting his f4-pawn.
12...fxd8

This is the simplest for Black.

He exploits the insufficient protection
of the enemy knight on d4
and succeeds in simplifying advantageously
the position equalising
completely.
1O.xc6

10.ixg4 xg4 11.Vxg4 xd4

12.1d1 e6 13.c1. Two couples

148
 3.c3 2g74.e4d65.f4 0-0 6.f3c5

The position has been simplified The move 7...Va5 is much

considerably. more often played, but is less reliable,
13.ce2 d7 141d4 because Black loses too
With this move White neutralises much time to regain his pawn.
the pressure of the enemy
bishop on the long diagonal, but
must comply with another exchange.

Following 14Jd3 dc8 15.b3

c5 16.xc5 xc5 17.hd1, the simplest
road to equality for Black would
be 17...xc3 18.xc3 ac8= Uhimann
— Starck, Schkopau 1958.

14...a6 151xg7 c?xg7 16.

d5, Dozsa — W.Schmidt, Mananske !xd8
Lazne 1962. Black is still
not afraid from capturing on c7 Following &&d3, the play, as a
(He can counter that with e8.), rule, also enters an endgame,
so he can begin immediate active since later White’s bishop is removed
actions on the queenside. 16... from d3. 8...c6
b5!? 17.cxb5 axb5 18.a3 c5
19.cm e6 2O.c7 a7 21.xd6.
White has won a pawn thanks to
some tactical tricks, but he is incapable
of preserving it. 21...c8
22.xb5 b7 23.d4 xb2
24.e1 b3 25.xb3 xb3+
26.e3 cc3 27.xc3 xc3+
28.c?f2 xa3=

9.0—0 Zh5 10.e5 f6 11.ie4 1xd1

B) 7.dxc5 dxc5!? 12Jxd1 fxe5. The queens have
This is the simplest for Black, been exchanged, but the position
because he would not mind transferring remains very complicated. 13.
into an endgame. The ids+ ch8 14.xe5 xf4!? This
point is that the vulnerability of is a very promising exchange-sacrifice.
the d4-square may become a telling 15.f7+ xf7 16.ixf7 g4
factor in the future, since 17.f1 d4+ 18.h1 d3. Black
White would not be able to oust has a pawn for the sacrificed exchange
any enemy piece from there. and his pieces are very ac8.V

149
Chapter 11

tive. White’s defence is not easy at 17.gxf4 xf4 18.g5 xf1+ 19.
all. 19.h3 f5 20.d5 h5 21JZb5 cxf1 f8+ 20.cg2 f6 21.f2
f2+ 22.ch2 e5+ 23.cg1 ‘fZd3 d7! White’s knight and his b2-
24.sh1 cb4 25.c3 xd5 26. pawn are hanging. He is forced to
xd5 e6 27.e3 e4 28.d1 d4t part with his material gains. 22.
— Black’s minor pieces have occupied xh7 xh7 — Black’s bishop exerts
dominating positions and rather unpleasant pressure
White can hardly manage to against White’s b2-pawn, Karacsony
complete the development of his — Schoen, ICCF 2010.
queenside pieces without material
losses, Karacsony — Gnutov, 8...xd89.e5e8
ICCF 2012.
9.e5 b4 10.b1 V1xd1+ 11.
xd1 h5 12.e3 (It is possible
that White should already think
about equalising. 12.0—0 f6 13.
e4 fxe5 14.fxe5 f5 15.xf5 gxf5
16.f2 c6= — The vulnerability
of White’s e5-pawn is compensated
by the misplacement of Black’s
knight at the edge of the board,
Farkas — Strautins, ICCF 2009.)

Now, Black’s main task is to

prepare the undermining move
f7-f6, in order to exchange the enemy
e5-pawn, which restricts
considerably the bishop on g7 and
the knight on e8.
101e3 b6 111e2

White cannot obtain an advantage

12...f6! Black sacrifices a pawn, even if he fianchettoes his
but solves his basic problem — to bishop: 11.g3 c6 12.g2 Zb4 13.
activate his bishop on g7. In addition, ce2 b7 14.ad1 f6oo Alcaraz Soriano
his knight on h5, which was — Bolado Saez, Albacete
idle up to now, joins in the actions. 2003.
13.xc5 (13.0—0, Jianu —
Hagen, Legnica 2013, 13...fxe5!?oo) It is also possible for White to
13...c6 14.exf6 xf6 15.g3 g4 play here 11.d5, preparing castling
16.0—0 Zxf4! Black sacrifices a queenside. 11...Zc6 12.0—0—0
piece and seizes the initiative. b7 13.e2 (13.d3?! e6 14.c3

150
 3.tIc3 g74.e4 d6 5.f4 0-0 6.f3 c5

d4 151xd4 xf3 16.gxf3 cxd4 diagonal for his bishop on g7 with

— The vulnerability of the f4- f6-f5.
pawn will be the cause of constant
worries for White, Studen — 12...f6
Wang, Santa Clara 2014.) 13...f6 As the variations below will
14.exf6 xf6= — having exchanged show White cannot even equalise.
the cramping e5-pawn, 13.exf6
Black can be very optimistic about
the future, Kulcsar — Kiss, Budapest Following 13.hd1, Chytilek —
1998. Oral, Usti nad Labem 1996, it
seems very good for Black to opt
11...c6 for 13...b7!? 14.exf6 xf6

13.ad1 xd1 14.xd1 fxe5 15.

fxe5 xe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.f3.
White’s pieces are active, but
Black still has an extra pawn. 17...
b8 18.b5 a6 19.a7 b7 20.
d7, Vokac — Svatos, Luhacovice
1993. Here, the best way for Black
to neutralise the activity of his opponent’s
pieces is the line: 20...
Zd6!? 21.c6 xc6 221xc6 e6!?
— White has a bishop-pair indeed,
12.cf2 but this does not compensate the
loss of a pawn.
12.d1 xd1+ 13.,xd1, Meinert
— Stoppacher, Moers 2009, 13...xf6 14.h3 e8
13...f6!?oo

Following 12.0—0 f6 13.exf6

exf6, Black’s prospects are not
worse. 14.ad1 (It seems less reliable
for White to choose here 14.
d2, Jakab — Nanu, Harkany
2002. After 14...e6!?, his pieces
are in complete disarray.) 14...
.e6 15.b3, Martinsen — Kjolberg,
Drammen 2010, 15...’fZd6!?oo Later,
Black may either prepare the
transfer of his knight to the d4- Black prepares the transfer of
square (d6-f5-d4), or open the his knight to the d4-square.

151
Chapter 11

ad1 d6 16.g5 b8 cannot protect his e5-pawn, while

17.b5. This pawn-sacrifice can- if he sacrifices it 12.e2 dxe5
not promise a good position to 13.xe5 xe5 14.0—0, Williams —
White. His alternatives also lead Hendriks, London 2009, 14...
to an advantage for Black. 17... f5!?, his compensation would be
&xb2 18.xd6 xd6 19. xd6 insufficient.
exd6 2O.d1 d4 211xd4
xd4+ 22.cg3 .f5 23.f .e3 Following 8.d3 exd5 9.cxd5,
24.xd6 f8t — White has re- there arise positions which we
stored the material balance, but will analyse in the next chapter,
Black’s prospects are preferable but with a bishop on d3. This difthanks
to his two powerful bish- ference is much rather in favour
ops, Karacsonv — Hefka, ICCF of Black, since he will manage to
2010. advance c5-c4 with tempo. 9...
e8 10.0—0 c4 1L,c2 (But not
1L.xc4 xe4 12.xe4 xe4) 11...
C) 7.d5 a6. From here Black’s knight
This is the best. White occu15. may go to c5 in order to attack the
pies space. enemy e4-pawn, as well as to the
7...e6 c7-square for the sake of the preparation
of the pawn-advance b7-
b5. 12.h3 b5 13.a3 b7 14.e3,
Cox — Perez Conde, ICCF 2006.
Here, Black could have obtained a
very good position with 14...c7!?
15.e1 a5# and the threat b5-b4
would be very unpleasant for
White.

Cl) 8.dxe6
This move leads to a calmer
Now, we will deal in details position in comparison to 8..e2.
with Cl) 8.dxe6 and C2) 81e2. White decides not to defend his
pawn-centre and gets rid of his
It is not good for White to d5-pawn.
choose here 8.e5, because he lags 8...fxe6
in development and is not well This capturing seems more reprepared
for the opening of the liable than taking with the bishop,
game in the centre. 8.. .dxe5 9.fxe5 because the pawn on e6 will conZ
g4 1O.ig5 (10.f4? exd5 11.cxd5 trol the d5-square against the
d7) 10...V1b6 11.Vd2 d7. White penetration of the enemy knight.

152
 3.c3 ig74.e4 d65.f4 0-0 6.fl3 c57.d5e6

not close the e-file and will organise

easily pressure against the d6-
pawn, but his e4-pawn will not be
so reliably protected. 9...c6 10.
0—0 b6. Black is preparing the
development of his bishop on b7,
or on a6.

91d3

9.e5. Transferring into an end-

game would be harmless for Black.
9...dxe5 10.’xd8 xd8. White
lags in development and cannot
exploit the slight weakness of the Following 11.a3 ‘e7 12.VId3
e6-pawn. 11.fxe5 (11.xe5 fd7 a6, Black plans to organise the
12.1xd7 xd7 13.ie3, Martic — pawn-advance d6-d5 and to maintain
Jurkovic, Pula 1999, 13...c6!? an advantage. 13.d2 ad8
Black sacrifices a pawn and seizes 14.ae1 d5 Novak — Wunderlich,
the initiative. 14.xc5 a6 15.e3 ICCF 2010.
b4 16.c1 e5t — It is already an There arises a very complicated
endgame, but White’s defence is position after 11.g5 d4 12.
difficult, since he lags considerably id3 1e7 13.e1, Fridman — Conquest,
in development, while Black’s Liverpool 2008, 13...h5!?co,
pieces are very active.) 11...g4. or 11.d3 ib7 12.ig5 id4co
He is eyeing the weak e5-pawn. Kouatly — Minasian, Teheran
121g5 d7 13.e4 xe5 14.xc5 1992.
(14.xe5 ixe5 15. Ef6+ xf6 16. ii.±hl ,b7. From this square
xf6 f7 17.c3, El Gindy — Khairallah, the bishop will exert pressure
Cannes 2007, 17...e5!?, against the e4-pawn. 12ie3 V1e7.
followed by c6-d4. White has Black’s queen frees a square for
the two-bishop advantage indeed, his rook. 13.d2 ad8 14.ae1
but this is insufficient to compensate d4 15.d1 e5. This is an interesting
fully his lack of a pawn.) 14... move. Black would not mind
xf3+, G.Kuzrnin — Bilek, Reggio weakening the d5-square, since it
Emilia 1976, 15.gxf3 ixb2 is controlled by two of his minor
pieces. 16.d5 xd5 17.exd5 xf3
9.&e2. Now, contrary to the 18.xf3, Rahde — Lahdenrnaeki,
variation with 9.&d3, White does LSS 2008, 18...!h4!?±

153
Chapter 11

9...c6 10.0—0 a6 d2 xf3 14.V1xf3 e5= Marjanovic

— Ye, Subotica 1984.

11..Se7
Black’s plan includes d7,
ad8 after which his d6-pawn will
be reliably protected.

It would be useful to deprive

White of the possibility to play
b5 in the future. In addition, in
some variations he would have to
consider the possible pawn-advance
b7-b5.
11.g5 12.Ve1
White plans to deploy his
After the careless move 11.V1e1, queen on h4 from where it will exert
Black would seize the initiative powerful pressure against
with the line: 11...b5! 12.cxb5 b4 Black’s king position.
13.b1 axb5 14.e5 dxe5 15.xe5
bd5 Bonnmann — Zimmermann, 12.d2 d7 13.c1 ad8 14.
Porz 1989. V1e1 h6. Black ousts the enemy
knight from its active position.
The move 11.a4 leads to the The g6-square is weakened a bit,
weakening of the b4-square. 11... but this is immaterial, because he
b6 12.g5 a7!? Black wishes to will place his bishop on e8 on his
transfer his rook to e7 in order to next move. 15.h3 e8 16sh1
V.
protect his e6-pawn, after which E4 17 .eZ c6
his bishop may go to b7. 13.a3 e2 c6 20.c3= Eman — Obertin,
e7 141b1 d4 15.&e3 b7 Hjartarson ICCF 2015.
— Larsen, Reykjavik 1986.
12..1d7 13 Sh4 h5
1Ld2 b8 12.c1 e7 13.1e2 (diagram)
h5 14.g3 b6 15.V1g2 b7# Do- 141d2
than — Ponomarev, ICCF 2007.
After the hazardous line:
11.ch1 d4 12.e3 Zg4 13. 14.g4?! h6 15.gxh5 hxg5 16.g4

154
 3. tIc3 ig7 4.e4 d6 5.f4 0-0 6. f3 c5 7.d5 e6

This is a calm move. White

gets rid of his potentially weak e4-
pawn, which can be attacked by
Black on the semi-open e-file.
White’s later plans are based on
his space advantage.
His hanging f4-pawn is very
important for the subsequent development
of the fight. White will
try to prepare f4-f5, which would
open the f-file and would enlarge
gxf4 i7.xf4 e5, White’s attack the scope of action of his bishop
would reach its dead end and the on ci. Black will try to prevent f4-
vulnerability of his king will become f5 and will seek his counter chances
a telling factor in the future. in exploiting the vulnerability
18.V1g3 ‘Zxd3 19.xd3 Vg5+ 20. of the e4-square (e8, ff5).
g3 d4+ 21.cg2 xg3+ 22.hxg3
e5 23.xf8+ xf8 24.d1 c6—+ The basic move for White — 9.
Schiele — Schreiber, ICCF 1980. cxd5 will be analysed in the next
chapter.
14...id4+ 15.ckhl h6 16.
f3 xh4 17.xh4 e8= - After It would be too risky for White
the trade of the queens Black to play here 9.e5?!, since Black
will have nothing to be afraid of, may exploit the circumstance
Karacsony — Lohmann, ICCF that his d5-pawn controls the e4-
2008. square and centralise his knight
with the move 9...e4.

C2) 81e2 exd5

Now, no matter how White

continues, Black already has the
advantage.
Following i0.cxd5 xc3 11.
9.exd5 bxc3 id7, White will be incapable

155
Chapter 11

of holding the strategically important has the advantage, Varga — Lenic,

e5-square. 12.e6 (12.0—0 Novo Mesto 2000) 12...bd7 13.
dxe5 — His compensation for the fxg6, Dahm — Bartosik, Poland
sacrificed pawn is insufficient.) 2007, 13...hxg6!? 14.g5 V1b6oo
12...fxe6 13.dxe6 f6!?T White’s
e6-pawn is too far away from the 11...d7
rest of his forces and is likely to
become an easy prey for Black’s
pieces. 14.f5 gxf5 15.g5 e4 16.
xe4 fxe4 17.1d5 e7—+ Rozakis
— Nikolaidis, Aegina 1996.
After 10.xd5 dxe5 11.fxe5
c6 12.c2 f5 13.exf6 xf6,
Black’s prospects are preferable,
since he leads in development.
14.0—0 ff5. He develops his bishop
with tempo. 15.V1b3 e8.
Black’s pieces are better coordinated
and his advantage is obvious 12S!c2
even to the naked eye. White White would not mind losing a
tried to enter tactical complications tempo in order to force the exchange
in the game Zylla — Pintor, on d3.
ICCF 2008, but all that ended in a
catastrophe: 16.g5 xe2 17.V1xb7 After 12.h4 ixd3 13.Vfxd3
a5 18.b5 e4 19.gadi a6 20. ‘Za6 14.a3, Simmelink — Engbersen,
1xc5 b7 2L,xf6 ixf6 22.V41c6 corr. 1989, 14...g4!? 15.f3
ixd5 23.xd5 e7 24.b4 e6 25. h5oo, Black’s pieces become tremendously
Va4 d6—+, White’s two pawns active.
are evidenfly insufficient to compensate
the loss of his knight. Following 12.ixf5 1xf5 13.
1b3, he can ignore the threat
9...e8 10.0—0 ,f5 111d3 against his b7-pawn. 13...a6
14.a3. White will need to lose time
White wishes to eliminate the to prevent ‘Zb4. (14.Vxb7? b4
blockade of his f-pawn. 15.g5 h5 16.ch1 Zc2 Andersen
— Moza, ICCF 2011) 14...b6
It seems less adequate for him 15.b5 V1d7 16.f5 c7 17.xc7
to opt for 11.h4, because the 1xc7 18.fxg6 hxg6 19.f4 e4
edge of the board is not the best 2O.ae1 f5= — Black’s position is
place for his knight. 11...e4 12.f5 not worse thanks to his powerful
(12.xe4?! xe4 13.g3 f5 — Black knight at the centre of the board,
dominates over the e4-square and Baumgartner — Pugh, ICCF 2011.

156
 3.c3 g74.e4 d6 5.f4 0-0 6.J3 c5 7.d5 e6

There arises a complicated 12..Axd3 13.xd3 a6

fight, but advantageous for Black Black’s knight is headed for
following 12.h3. White wishes to the c7-square to support the
advance g2-g4, solving radically pawn-advance b7-b5.
the problem with the f5-square. 14.a3
His king is considerably weakened
after that, though... 12...’Za6 It is worse for White to play
13.a3 c7 14.g4 here 14.,d2 b4 15.1b1, Valvenv
— Verdes Nadal, Mollerusa 1997.
He has weakened his control over
the d5-square and now Black can
push advantageously 15...b5!? 16.
Zxb5 bxd5 and the exchange
of a flank pawn for a central pawn
is obviously in his favour.

14...c7

Now, Black has a very pleasant

choice.
14...xd3!? This is a calm
move. 15.Vfxd3 b5. Black sacrifices
a pawn and seizes the initiative
on the queenside. 16.cxb5, Heirnbrodt
— Berndt, DDR 1975, 16...
ac8!? He is preparing c5-c4. 17.
a4 c4 18.Vd1 e4 19.xe4 xe4
- Black’s play is much easier in
this complicated position. His
pieces are very active, while White 15.f5
must be constantly on the alert This is an energetic and
about his king, moreover that the straightforward move.
weakness of his d5-pawn may tell
in the future. There arises a calmer position
It also deserves attention for following 15.d2 ab8 16.ae1
Black to try here the piece-sacrifice: (16.b4 cxb4 17.axb4, Malesevic —
14...±xg4 15.hxg4 Wfxg4+ 16. Kauppila, Sweden 2006, 17...a6!?
h2 b5!?oo and he has two pawns 18.h3 bc8 — Black has good
for the piece, while the shelter of counterplay against his opponent’s
White’s monarch is not reliable at weak c4-pawn.) 16...b5. His
all, Conquest — Mestel, Hastings queenside activity provides him
1986. with an excellent position. 17.b3

157
Chapter 11

bxc4 18.bxc4 b3 19.V1c2 xa3 17.fxg6 hxg6 18.g5 b4

20.1b2 a6 21.1b7 b6 22.V1xa7 19S!g3 c2
eb8= — After the trade of the
weak pawns on the a-file, neither
side can rely on obtaining an advantage, be transferred to the centre of the
Caporali — Denisov, board.
ICCF 2014.
15...ab8 16.a4
White prevents b7-b5, but
weakens the b4-square.
He continues with the manoeuvre
of his knight. Now, it will
2O.b1 d4 21STh4 f5
Here already, White cannot
sacrifice the exchange on f6.
22STh3

There arises a much more

complicated position after 16.fxg6
hxg6 17.b3 b5# Glembek — Hildner,
ICCF 2000.

16...a6

22...e7. Black prepares the

doubling of his rooks on the e-file
and protects additionally his
f7-pawn. 231d2 be8 24.ch1
a6c — White can hardly achieve
anything meaningful on the kingside,
because Black’s pieces protect
reliably all the squares in the
Black’s knight is in a hurry to vicinity of his king, Mesquita —
occupy the weakened b4-square. Gorokhov, ICCF 2013.

158
Chapter 12 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.e4 d6
5.f4 0—0 6.f3 c5 7.d5 e6 81e2 exd5
9.cxd5
The Four Pawns Attack

10.0—0. This pawn-sacrifice is

obviously not well prepared. 10...
xe4 11.xe4 xe4 121d3 e8
13.f5 d7 14.g5 e5. Black’s
knight protects reliably the f7 and
g6-squares. In the game Kutliev
— Chernov, Voronezh 2011, White
decided to continue his attack
against the enemy king with a sacrifice
of his knight, but all this did
not end well for him at all: 15.
In the theory of the chess xf7 xf7 16.fxg6 Ze5 17.1h5
openings this position is classified hxg6 18.xg6 xg6 19.1xg6 e5
as belonging to the Modern Benoni 20.h6 e7 21.xg7 1xg7 22.
Defence. The adherents to the 1xd6 h3—+, Black neutralised
King’s Indian Defence should be the attack and was clearly winning.
ready for similar developments in
the opening...
9...e8 The move 10.c2 can be refuted
Black should better attack immediately by Black in a tactical fashion.
the enemy centre. 10...Zxe4! 11.Zxe4 if5 12.
Therefore, he develops his rook fd2 e7 13.f3 xe4 14.xe4 f5.
on the semi-open e-file and eyes The consequences of the delay of
the e4-pawn. White’s castling have become obvious.
Black exploits the pin of the
Here, White has a choice beA) enemy knight and regains the
tween two possibilities: piece and ends up with an advantage.
1O.’d2 and B) 1O.e5. 15.0—0 fxe4 16.e1 d4+
17.ch1, Artsukevich — Korchnoi,
He ends up even worse after Leningrad 1953, 17...d7 18.xe4
his alternatives. f7 19.xe8+ xe8 20.d2 f6

159
Chapter 12

21.V41b3 e4 — Black’s pieces are 12.xa6 bxa6 13.0—0 b8

evidently more active and White’s Orosi — Jozefek, Brezova pod Bradlom
defence will be difficult. 2009.

12...c8
A) 10.d2 d7!?

13.g4
This is not the most popular White begins active actions on
move for Black, but is interesting. the kingside and the position becomes
His bishop frees the way for his very sharp.
rook and creating the threat b7-
b5 forces White to play a2-a4, There arises a complicated
which leads to the weakening of position following 13.h3 ‘Zb4
the b4-square. Black’s subsequent Guerrero — Guevara, ICCF 2009.
plan includes: a6, c8, c5-c4,
b4(c5) with powerful initiative 13...h6
on the queenside. Black frees the h7-square for
11.a4 his knight.
Naturally, White should not 14.g5
allow b7-b5.
It seems less consistent for
11.0—0 b5 12.xb5 xe4 13. White to choose here 14.ch1, because
xe4 xe4 — The exchange of he will have to play g4-g5
the flank b-pawn for the central epawn anyway, while it would remain
is obviously in favour of unclear whether the move h1
Black, Geissler — Beckmann, would be useful later or not. 14...
Email 2007. The move 14.xd6 c4 15.g5 hxg5 16.fxg5 h7 17.
would not work, because of 14... xc4 xc3. This is a non-standard
ia4 decision. Black exchanges his
powerful bishop for the enemy
11...a6 12.0—0 knight, which protects the impor160
 5.f4 0-0 6.f3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Le2 ed 9.cd e8 10.e5 de 11.fe g4

tant e4-pawn. 18.bxc3 ih3 19.f3 261xf4 f8 27.xd6 f3+

xc4. Black exploits the misplacement 28.c?g1 gxf4= Now, White is
of the enemy rook on the forced to give a perpetual check in
h5-dl diagonal and sacrifices temporarily order to prevent the threat g4.
the exchange. 20.xc4 29.e5+ g8 3O.e6+, draw.
g4 2Lxa6 bxa6 22.1f1 xf3+ Junge — Sikorsky, ICCF 2014.
23.1xf3 xg5 24.ixg5. White
would lose his e4-pawn without
this move. 24. ..V1xg5t Thompson B) 1O.e5
— Babic, ICCF 2014. The tactical
complications are over. In the
arising endgame with major pieces
Black has the advantage, because
his king is well protected,
contrary to its counterpart.

14...hxg5 15.fxg5 h7 16.

c4 e7

This is Whites most ambitious

and principled move. Still, playing
like this he risks too much and
not only does not obtain an advantage
in the opening, but in numerous
variations he even fails to
equalise.
1O...dxe5 11.fxe5 g4

17S!d2. White prepares the

transfer of his queen to the f-file.
17...b4 18.Vff4 d4+ 19. ch1
ixc3. Black exploits in a tactical
way the insufficient protection of
the enemy bishop on e2. 20.bxc3
xd5 21.exd5 xe2 22.id2
d3 23.xf7+ ch8 . The loss of
the f7-pawn is not dangerous for
Black, since his king is still very
well protected.24.f4 f8. Black
cannot allow h4. 25Sxd7 xf4 No doubt, Whit&s pawn-cen161
Chapter 12

tre is very beautiful, but now xb5 24.xb5 1c4. This is the
what? How can he protect the e5- point! White cannot protect simultaneously
pawn? Besides all that, his king is his rook and knight.
stranded in the centre. Later, he 25.e1 1xb5= — He is two pawns
must lose a tempo for castling and down, so White must give a perpetual
also in many variations for the check.
move ch1 too, in order to remove
his king from the dangerous gl-a7 Bi) 12.0—0 xe5 131f4
diagonal. xf3+ 141xf3 d7 15.d6
As the main lines for White we
will analyse: Bi) 12.0—0, B2)
12.e6 and B3) 121g5.

It may be an interesting move

for him to try here 12.f4!?, after
which Black will have to play accurately.
12...Zxe5 13.xe5 (13.
0—0 — see 12.0—0) 13...xe5 14.
xe5 xe5 15.0—0. He has an extra
pawn, but lags in development
of his queenside pieces. 15...f5
16.1d2. From here White’s queen White has sacrificed a pawn
can go to h6 as well as to the f4- and has some initiative for it. Later,
square (16.d3 xd3 17.V1xd3 the fate of the d6-pawn would
‘d7 18.d6 V1b6oo — His powerful be crucial for the outcome of the
passed d-pawn compensates the game. It seems to be a powerful
loss of the pawn, but not more passed pawn, but Black can try to
than that, De Lagontrie — Dufraisse, isolate it from the rest of his opponent’s
France 1988.). 16...Zd7 forces and gobble it. If
17.g4. White ousts the enemy he manages to do this he will
bishop from the f-file, Van Seben maintain an advantage.
— Costanzo, IECG 2007, 17...e4 15...e5 16.b5
18.V1f4 f5. Black solves radically White is threatening to win the
the problem with the protection exchange after c7.
of his f7-pawn and the bishop on
e4. White will be incapable of exploiting There arises a calmer position
the slight weakening of after 16.d5 f5 17.g3 d7
the shelter of Black’s king. 19.ae1 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4, M.Socko -
V1h4 20.b5 d3!? After this concealed Cmilyte, Beijing 2012, 19...e6!?
tactical trick the position is 20.1d5 xd6 — Black has realised
simplified considerably. 21.xe5 his plan to capture the d6-
xe5 22.Vxe5 V1xg4+ 23.ch1 pawn.

162
 5.f4 0-0 6.f3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.e2 ed 9.cd e8 10.e5 de life tIg4

16..1d7!? d7 22.xa8, De Lagontrie —

This is an interesting exchange-sacrifice. Roos, Angers 1990, 22...xa8!?
23S!g3 e8 24.fe1 e4! -
17.c7 xf3+ White’s rooks will not be active,
Black exchanges the imporB2) because Black’s centralised bishop
tant enemy bishop. controls almost the entire
18S!xf3 c6 board.
His bishop will be very powerful
on this square.
19Sd3 12.e6 fxe6

It would be worse for White to

choose here 19.1b3, because of
19...e2 20.d5 d4+, Lapse —
Trzeciak, ICCF 2000, 21.ch1
e8—+ White is helpless against
the attack of Black’s pieces against
the g2-square. White cannot exchange
the bishop on c6, because
Black will counter 22.e7+ with
22...Vxe7! 23.dxe7xg2#

13.d6

It would be worse for White to

play here 13.0—0, since following
13...exd5, Black’s light-squared
bishop would not be restricted by
his e6-pawn. 14.xd5 ie6 15.f4
(15.c4 e5 16.g5 xf3+ 17.
1xf3 1xg5 18.ae1 c6 19.xe6,
Rogers — Van der Wiel, Wattignies
1976, 19...f8!? 20.f4 ch8
19...ixb2. This is the point. — White does not have compensation
Now, Black will have two pawns for the pawn.) 15...f7. From
for the exchange and this, in addition this square, the bishop will cover
to his powerful bishop-pair, reliably the a2-g8 diagonal. 16.
will be more than sufficient compensation. V1xd8 xd8 17.g5. White sacrifices
2O.ad1 d4+. This the exchange in an attempt
is the ideal square for Black’s to seize the initiative. 17...d4+
bishop. It cuts off White’s major 18.ch1 Zf2+ 19.xf2 xf2 20.
pieces from his d6-pawn. 21.ch1 xf7 cxf7 2L,c4+ ce8. Black’s

163
Chapter 12

king is not reliably placed, but there — Inarkiev, Dagomys 2008,

are no queens on the board and 19...d7!? 20.xe8+ xe8 2Lf7
White would be incapable of creating f8 22.Vxd7 xc3 23.bxc3 ce5
any threats with his active 24.Vd4 Vxd4 25.xd4 xf7= — In
pieces. 22.d5 d7 23.g5 f8 this endgame, in actions on both
24.f1 f5 25.f6+ cc6 26. xh7, sides of the board, the bishop is
Pena — Restrepo, Medellin 2014. stronger than the knight, but here
Winning the h7-pawn can be only White cannot exploit this, since
a small consolation for White, because his queenside pawn-structure has
after 26...d4!?, Black’s been compromised.
great advantage is doubtless.
13..1d7
Still, it is possible for White to Black is trying to develop his
opt here for 13.g5. He develops queenside pieces as quickly as
with tempo his bishop to an active possible. Meanwhile, his bishop
position. 13...V41b6 14.V1d2 c4 (It on d7 blocks reliably the enemy
would be too risky for Black to passed d6-pawn.
play here 14...xc3 15.bxc3 exd5
16.h3 f6 17.0—0 c4+ 18.ch1. He
will have two extra pawns, but the
dark squares in his camp would
be hopelessly weak. 18...bd7
19.ae1. White brings patiently
his pieces in an attack against the
enemy monarch. 19...1c5 20.d4
e4 21.f3!± — Black can hardly
bring into the actions his queen-
side pieces, Haugen — Sadowski,
ICCF 2012.) 15.0—0—0 exd5 16.
he1. White is trying to keep the 14.0—0
position complicated and is not in
a hurry to regain material. (After 14.g5. This knight-sortie is
16.’Zxd5, the position is simplified harmless for Black. 14...e5 15.
considerably. 16...V41xb2+ 17. 0—0 bc6 16.b5 (16.ge4 ‘Zf’7=
Vxb2 xb2+ 18.cxb2 xe2+ 19. MacDonald — Steadman, Auckland
cc3 c6 20.he1 xe1 21.xe1 h6 2014) 16...d4. He sacrifices
22.f4, Koval — Drenthen, ICCF the exchange and seizes the initiative.
2015. Following 22...f5 23.h3 17.c7 c6 18.xe8 V1xe8
f2 241xh6 ch7=, Black would 19.f4 V1d8t — After the fall of the
be incapable of preserving his extra d6-pawn, Black will have two
c4-pawn.) 16...c6 17.xc4 pawns for the exchange. His
,f5 18.xd5+ ch8 19.h4, I.Popov knights have occupied key-

164
 5.f4 0-0 6.f3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.e2 ed 9.cd e8 10.e5 de life g4

squares in the centre and his bishops

control important diagonals,
Karacsony — Rudenko, ICCF 2012.

14...b6 15.e1
White does not conceal his aggressive
intentions. He wishes to
transfer his queen to the h4-
square in order to begin an attack
against the enemy king.

It seems weaker for White vantage. 17...f8. Black transfers

to choose 15.e4. Following 15... his rook to the f5-square in order
c6 16.fg5 e5 17.g4 bd7 to defend his h5-pawn. 18.fxg6
18.Zc3, Barbosa — Nasanjargal, f5 19.h3. The placement of White’s
Tagaytay City 2011, Black could queen on g6 may turn out to be
have obtained an advantage with precarious, so he does not lose
18...c4+!? 19.ch1 The e6- time and tries to evacuate it from
square has been protected and there. 19...ce5 20.xe5 xe5
White’s compensation for the 21.Vg3 xf1+ 22.xf1 ‘f7 23.e4
pawn is insufficient. c4+ 241e3 1xb2 25.d1 1e5 26.
xe5 xe5co — There has arisen a
Still, it is quite possible for complicated endgarne in which
him to continue with 15.ch1 f8 White’s powerful passed pawn on
16.h3 f6 17.Ze5 c6 18.c4 d6 compensates the loss of his
‘(d8 19.e3 b6 20.a4 b8oo. There pawn, Jones — Larsen, ICCF 2011.
has arisen a complicated position.
Black has an extra pawn, but 17...ge5 18.xe5 xe5
White’s passed d6-pawn, supported 19.e4 f8 2O.f6+
by his knight on e4, is very
powerful.

15...c6 16Sh4 h5
This is the best defence for
Black.
(diagram)
17.h3
White ousts the enemy knight
from its active position.

After 17.1g5, he wins the g6-

pawn, but does not obtain an ad- 2O...xf6!?

165
Chapter 12

With this exchange-sacrifice

Black shows his aggressive intentions.

If he complies with the draw,

he can play 20...xf6 21.xf6 g7
22.&g5 Vxb2 23.af1 Vxe2 24.
xf8, draw, Brooks — Galytskyi,
ICCF 2015. Indeed, after 24...xf8
25.xf8 c?xf8 26.h6+ c?g8 27.
Vf6 V1d1+ 28.ch2 Zf3+ 29.gxf3
Ve2+ 30.ch1 V41e1=, the outcome The plan with White castling
of the game would be a draw. queenside 13.V1d2 seems too risky
for him, because after the fall of
21.xf6 V!xd6 the eS-pawn, Black’s bishop on g7
Black has two pawns for the will exert very powerful pressure
exchange and a solid position. against White’s queenside. 13...
221g5 Vd4+ 23.f2 Vxh4 24. xe5 14.0—0—0 (14.0—0 g4 —
,xh4 c6 251f6. White exchanges see 13.0—0) 14...Zxf3 15.xf3 d7
his opponent’s important 16.d6 e5 17.e2 e6 18.hf1
bishop. 25...ixf6 26.xf6 d5. Zd7 19.e7 Va5P
Black’s pieces and pawns are perfectly
coordinated. White’s rooks 13...xe5
can hardly be activated. 27.b3
g7 28.f2 d8 29.c1 b6 30.
cfi d7 311b5 c7 32.d1
c6 33.,xc6 xc6 34.h4 b5
35.c1 c4. Black wishes to create
a passed pawn on the c-file.
36.bxc4 bxc4t — Black’s bishop
is supported by his e6-pawn and
is very powerful at the centre of
the board, while White’s rooks are
squeezed in the fight against
Black’s passed c4-pawn, Anderson—Catt,ICCF
2012. Black has an extra pawn and
White will hardly manage to obtain
B3) 121g5 sufficient compensation for it.
(diagram) 14.xe5
After this active move, White’s
b2-pawn remains unprotected. White ends up in a bad position
12..Sb6 13.0—0 after 14.V1d2 g4 i5.hi

166
 5.f4 0-0 6.tf3 c5 7.d5 e6 8..e2 ed 9.cd e8 10.e5 de life tuig4

xf3 16.,xf3 ixf3 17.xf3. The advantage in the opening and is

exchange of two couples of minor trying to make a draw in an end-
pieces has diminished considerably game with bishops of opposite
White’s attacking potential colours and rooks present on the
and he remains a pawn down. 17... board. Still, it would not be easy
d7 18.af1 f6 19.f4 e5 20. for him to achieve that. 22...bxc6
.xe5. Black’s knight was very 23.c1 e6 24.xc5 ,d5 25.a5
powerful at the centre of the (It is worse for White to opt here
board, but now he would rely on for 25.ig5?!, because after this
the superiority of his bishop over move Black can sacrifice a pawn
the enemy knight. 20...xe5 21.d6 and win tempi for the activation
d8 22.d3, Ochkoos — Mihaljevic, of his king: 25...f6! 26.xf6 sf7
Toronto 1992, 22...f5!?, 27.g5 ce6) 25...c±?f8 26.a6
opening the scope of action of the e8 — The most likely outcome
bishop on g7. of this game is a draw indeed,
but Black has an extra pawn and
After the energetic move 14. can still try to torment his opponent
d6, White cannot even equalise. a bit, Rain — Larsen, ICCF
14...xf3+ 15.ixf3 xb2. White’s 2008.
passed d6-pawn is very powerful
indeed and Black lags in development, 14...,xe5
but he has already two
extra pawns after all. 16.Zd5
d4+ 17.ch1 V1xa1 18.V1xa1 ixal
19.xa1 e5. Black has a great
material advantage. Later, he will
part with some of it, but will neutralise
his opponent’s initiative.
201f4 (Following 20.e7+ g7
21.xc8 d7 22.ixb7 b8 23.c6
xg5 24.xd7 c4t, there would
arise an endgame in which Black’s
rook and a pawn would be stronger
than White’s two minor pieces. 151c4
He would not be able to play 25. White develops his bishop to
xa7?, because after 25...c3, an active position.
Black’s passed c-pawn would cost
a piece for White. 26.a4 c5! 15.1d2 f5
27.h3 c2 28.ixc2 xc2 Matisson (diagram)
— Bensiek, ICCF 2003.) 20...xd5 16.xf5. This exchange-sacrifice
2L.xd5 c6 22.xc6. White cannot seems premature. 16.. .gxf5
even dream about having an 17.f1 d7 18.xf5 c4+ 19.c±?hl

167
Chapter 12

His position would be preferable

too following 16.b5 d7 17.
Vf3 f6 Kahn — Pinter, Budapest
1996.

V1g6. This is the point — Black’s

queen comes back to assist in the
defence of his king and parries
White’s attack. 20.f3, Mariotti —
Biyiasas, Manila 1976, 20...

Even after the calmer line:

16.ae1 d7 17.ch1, Black succeeds 16...,xb2!? 17.b1 ,xb1 18.
in developing his knight V!xb1 d4+ 19.xd4 cxd4 20.
and maintains the advantage: 17... xb6 axb6
Zf6t Christiansen — Biyiasas, Columbus
1977.
16.b5 d4+ 17.ch1 d7 18.
a4. Black was threatening xc3,
winning a piece. 18...V41b4 19.xf5
xc3. He wishes to trade pieces
and to simplify the position. 20.
bxc3 1xa4 21.f4 V1a6 22.d6 Ve2
23.V41d5 Ve6t — Naturally, White’s
passed d6-pawn is powerful, but
there are just a few pieces left on
the board, so his compensation
for the sacrificed pawn is insufficient, There has arisen an endgame.
Tombette — Lebedev, ICCF Naturally, White can regain the
2012. exchange, but Black has some extra
pawns besides the extra exchange.
15..1f5 16.b5
This move seems to be too 21.d6 f8 221e7
risky, because Black can win the
exchange. White’s other possible attack
against the enemy rook is not any
Still, even after 16.d6 d7!?, better. 22.h6 b5 23.d5 c6
Black is better. 24.xf8 xf8 25.f4 g7 26.d7 g5

168
 5.f4 0-0 6.tIf3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.e2 ed 9.cd e8 10.e5 de life tIg4

27.e4 d8 28.,xc6 bxc6 29. 26...d3!

xd4 cf6 30.d6+ ce5 31.xc6 This is the point! Black ignores
xd7 i: — Black has all the chances the f7-pawn and advances his
of realising his extra pawn in this passed pawn.
rook and pawn ending, Schinke — 27.b1
Moll, ICCF 2003.
27.xf7+ White has no time
22...c6 231xf8 xf8 24. for this capturing. 27...cf8 28.
b1 d8 25.xb6 xd6 26. b3 d2 29.f7+ ce8 30.f1 d4
xb7 3L,d1. White’s rook and bishop
are squeezed with the protection
of the di-square. 31...e6 32.cf2
Zb5. Black is preparing to transfer
his knight to c3. 33.h1 c3
34.a4 cd8—+ Black’s king copes
easily with the enemy a-pawn.

27...e5 281b3 cg7 -

White will have to fight long and
hard for a draw, Benejam — Wilhelmi,
ICCF 2008.

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Chapter 13 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ig7 4.e4 d6
5.f3
The Saemisch System

against V.Bagirov (which he won

brilliantly...) he wrote “If you dear
readers do not share my opinion
concerning the evaluation of the
move 5.f3, which is fundamental
for the Saemisch system, then ask
what is the opinion about it of
White’s knight on gl!”.
5...O—061g5
The bishop will be more active
here than on e3, but the d4-square
After this move there arises on would not be protected so reliably.
the board a system which was
named after the Austrian chess The basic line 6.e3 will be
player Franz Saemisch. It appeared analysed in the next chapter.
during the 20ties of the
century. With his last move It seem less appropriate for
White fortifies the key e4-square. White to play here 6.d3, because
In addition, the move f2-f3 will be after 6...c5 7.d5, he will incapable
useful for the organisation of a of preventing the manoeuvre
pawn-offensive on the kingside d7-e5, which would lead either
(g2-g4, h2-h4-h5). Still, besides to the exchange of his bishop on
all the merits of the Saemisch system d3, or will force him to lose time
it has an obvious drawback. for its retreat. 7...e6 8.ge2 exd5
The pawn on f3 prevents the usual 9.cxd5 (9.exd5 bd7 10.0—0 e5
development of White’s king 1L,g5 h6 12.h4, Petrosian —
knight to the f3-square. Therefore, Suetin, Moscow 1959, 12...xd3
many chess players are sceptical 13.1xd3 e8oo — Black’s two-bishop
about the move 5.f3. E. advantage compensates his
Gufeld was one of them and in his slight lack of space.) 9...a6 10.a4
comments to one of his games bd7 11.0—0 e5 12.c2 b8.

170
 3.tIc3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.g5 Qc6

Black has active prospects on the

queenside, connected with the
preparation of the pawn-advances
b7-b5 and c5-c4. 13.f4 ‘fZc4 14.
b3 Za5. White has managed to
oust the enemy knight away from
the centre, but his pawn-structure
has become less reliable. 15.f5 c4
Black sacrifices a pawn and seizes
the imitative on the queenside. 16.
b4 Zb3 17.xb3 cxb3 18.Th1 e8oo
— His two powerful bishops and Black begins to exert immediate
the pressure against the e4-pawn pressure against the d4-square.
provide him with counterplay sufficient 7.ge2
to maintain the equality, White must be on the alert
Ramos — Ramirez, ICCF 2014. about his opponent’s possibility
e7-e5, after which Black’s knight
As a rule, the move 6.ge2 may be deployed on the d4-out-
does not lead to original positions, post.
because later White must
make up his mind anyway where It seems less precise for him to
to develop his bishop on ci. 6... choose 7.1d2, because after 7...e5
c6 7.d5. This move weakens the 8.d5 d4, White will hardly manage
dark squares. (It is better for to oust the enemy knight from
White to opt here for 7.g5 a6 — the centre. 9.ge2 c5! This pawn-
see 6.g5, or 7.e3 a6 — see Chapter sacrifice is typical for this variation.
14, variation B). 8.Zg3 10.0—0—0 (Meanwhile, it
(8.Zd4 c5 9.c2, Djukic — Eric, would be rather risky for White to
Kragujevac 2016, 9...e6= — The accept the pawn-sacrifice. 10.
time, White has lost on manoeuvres dxc6 bxc6 ii.xd4 exd4 i2.1xd4
with his knight, may tell h6 i3.xf6 xf6. After the disappearance
later.) 8...c6. Black undermines of White’s bishop on g5
the d5-pawn and prepares to develop off the board he will have chronic
his queen to b6, or a5. 9. problems with the protection of
e2, Arat — Koziol, Albena 2015, his dark squares. i4.1d2 b8 15.
9...V1a5!?oo — White has more ci, Azrnaiparashvili — Thorstems,
space, but lags in development Chicago 1983, i5...e8!?
and the dark squares in his camp — Black’s pieces are very active
are weakened. The chances of and White will have to lose plenty
both sides are about equal. of time to evacuate his king away
from the centre.) i0...a6 ii.cbi
6...c6 b5t — Black’s queenside pawn-of-

171
Chapter 13

fensive, supported by his knight b8

on d4, looks threatening, Zaichik
— G.Kuzmin, Kharkov 1985.

White should better avoid 7.

d5, since this weakens the al-h8
diagonal. 8.V1d2 c6 9.c1
(9.h6 ixh6 10.V1xh6, Strikovic
— Pancevski, Obrenovac 2011,
10...1b6!? — The vulnerability of
the dark squares in White’s camp
may become a telling factor in the
future.) 9...b5!? Black exploits his
lead in development and begins Now, as White’s main lines we
immediate active actions in the will analyse A) 9.d5 and B)
centre and on the queenside. 10. 9.c1.
cxb5 cxd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.exd5
a6 — White has an extra pawn, but About 9.h6 b5 — see Chapter
his kingside pieces are not developed 14, variation Bi.
and his king is vulnerable,
stranded at the centre of the board, Besides these two moves,
Raicevic — Brenjo, Nis 1997. White has many other possibilities.

7...a6
Black is preparing b7-b5. The move 9.d5 has the drawback
8Sd2 that it does not impede
This is the best square for Black’s plans. 9...b5= He has equalised
White’s queen in this variation. completely. White must play
Now, he will have the possibility very carefully not to end up in
to play h6, trading the important an inferior position, since he lags
enemy bishop. In the Saemisch in deve’opment and his king is
system the bishop on g7 stranded at the centre of the
exerts powerful pressure against board. For example, following
the d4-square and also protects 10.cxb5 axb5 11.Zxf6+ exf6 12.
reliably Black’s king. h6?! xh6 13.1xh6, Nestorova
— Choisy, Oropesa del Mar 2000,
Following 8.a3, Black obtains 13...d5!?T, the centre is opened
a good position after 8...a5!? and Black’s lead in development
and then c7-c5. becomes a very important factor
in the evaluation of the position.
8.c1 b8 9.V1d2 d7 — see
variation B. White cannot harm his oppo8...

172
 3.Eic3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.g5 4c6 74ge2 a6 8.Vd2 b8

nent with the line: 9.d1 h5 10.d5 Black seizes the initiative. 11.f4
4e5 11.d4 c5= Jussupow — Zueger, h6 12.xf6. This move is forced,
Altensteig 1993. since the retreat of the bishop
would have lost a piece for White,
After 9.b1, White’s plan, connected but now the vulnerability of the
with the advance of his bpawn dark squares in his camp would
would not promise him hurt him. 12...exf6 13.cxb5 axb5
much, because his undeveloped 14.xb5 c6 15.a3 f5. Black opens
kingside pieces cannot support the position for his bishops. 16.
his initiative on the opposite side exf5 xf5 17.g4 d7 — White’s
of the board. 9...d7 10.b4 b5 11. extra pawn is absolutely immaterial.
cxb5 axb5 12.d5 (After the move His knight is misplaced at the
12.Zg3, White loses his control edge of the board and his king will
over the important d4-square and soon come under attack by the enemy
Black can exploit this immediately forces, Ozmen — Samerdokas,
with: 12...e5 13.d5 d4oo Kuzubov ICCF 2014.
— Demchenko, Krasnodar
2004.) 12...Ze5 13.d4, Cmilyte Following 9.h4, Black should
— Chocenka, Siauliai 2005, 13... better prevent h4-h5, because after
e6!?oo this move White’s attack may
become dangerous. 9.. .h5
After the double-edged move
9.0—0—0, White risks at least as
much as his opponent. 9...b5

About 10.h6 ixh6 — see

Chapter 14, variation B2b.
10.d5 h7. Black plans to
10.h4. This is an aggressive advance e7-e6, but before that it
move, but is not the best for would be useful for him to oust
White. (He should better play the enemy bishop from the h4-d8
101h6 — see Chapter 14, variation diagonal. 1Lh6 ixh6 12.1xh6
Bi; 10.Ve3 bxc4 Schlette — e6. White’s knight is ousted from
Benner, Bochum 1990). 10... the centre. 13.e3 (13.df4 1f6=
a5!? With this timely counter S.Atalik — Istratescu, Peristeri
attack against the c4-square, 1994) 13...1f6. Black’s queen

173
Chapter 13

comes to help in the defence of pawn-sacrifice. 14.bxc3 a5 15.

his king. 14.0—0—0, Ghitescu — Zg3 c5 — Black’s attack is developing
Westerinen, Roskilde 1978, 14... obviously faster, Franco
(g7!? 15.xg7+ c±xg7= — White Alonso — San Emeterio Cabanes,
has some space advantage indeed, Madrid 1999.
but this is balanced by the vulnerability
of his dark squares in the
centre. A) 9.d5
10.0—0—0 b5 As a rule, this pawn-advance is
not good for White in the Saemisch
system, because Black’s
knight gains access to the e5-
square in the middle of the board.
9...e5

1Lh6 xh6 12.V1xh6 e5 — see

Chapter 14, variation B2b.
There arises a complicated position
with mutual chances after
11.V41e3 a5 12.g3 Zxc4 13.xc4
bxc4 14.e5 h7oo — White will not
have an easy task to organise an
attack on the kingside, while 1O.d4
Black has already an extra pawn, White’s knight will come under
the two-bishop advantage and an attack after c7-c5 on this
good attacking prospects against square, but its other possible retreats
the enemy king on the semi-open have also their drawbacks.
b-file, Mastrovasilis — Hagesaether,
Chania 1994. It would be too passive for
11.d5 bxc4oo In this complicated White to play here 10.’Zc1 c6 11.
position White must prepare e2 b5 12.cxb5 cxd5oo — Black has
the attack against the enemy more than sufficient compensation
monarch with accurate moves, for the sacrificed pawn, Botsari
because the straightforward attempt — KLGeorgiev, Katerini 1992.
12.g4?! would not work in
view of 12...Zxd5 13.exd5 c3! After 10.g3, Black will obtain
Black provokes disharmony in the a good position following the
enemy set-up with the help of his plan, connected with c7-c6 and

174
 3.c3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.g5 c6 7.ge2 a6 8.1d2 b8

b7-b5. 10...c6 11.ie2 (The move trade of central pawn for a flank
11.f4 would weaken the e4-square. pawn is evidently in favour of
11...1ed7 12.e2 cxd5 13.cxd5 b5 Black. 12.b1 c5 13.c2, Kliun —
14.c1 h6 15.h4, Hort — Thiede, Berezin, Kiev 2004, 13...e6!?
Germany 1999, 15...b7!?oo The
placement of White’s bishop on 11...h512.ie2
h4, with a knight on g3, does not
seem so aesthetic at all. If Black It seems less reliable for White
prepares g6-g5, White will end up to choose here 12.a4 f5 13.exf5
a piece down, because the knight .xf5 14.e2, Zhukova — Xie, New
cuts off the possible retreats of Delhi 2000, 14...h6!? 15.e3 g5
the bishop.) 11...b5 12.cxb5 cxd5 16.0—0 f4 — Black’s minor
13.exd5 (It does not seem good for pieces are considerably more active
White to play 13.xf6, Polugaevsky than their counterparts.
— Nunn, Plovdiv 1983, because
after 13...exf6!? 14.1xd5 It would bad for White to opt
axb5, the dark squares in White’s for 12.f4, Babu — Saravanan, Kolkata
position are horribly weak.) 13... 2000, because of 12...f6!?
axb5 14.xb5 b7 — White’s d5- 13.fxe5 fxg5 14.e6 b5 15.e3 d4T
pawn is weak, while Black’s pieces and the dark squares in his camp
are very active, so this is sufficient would be catastrophically weak.
compensation for his minimal
material deficit, Novikov — Smirin,
Las Vegas 1999.

10...c5

This position was reached in

the game Summermatter — Nijboer,
Luzern 1989. Here, Black
had to continue with 12...f6!?
131e3 f5 14.exf5 gxf5 15Ah6
11.c2 f4 161xg7 xg7 17.0—0 e8co
— White has more space indeed,
It is worse for White to play but Black’s kingside initiative increases
here 11.dxc6 bxc6, because the with every move.

175
Chapter 13

B) 9.gcl ing pawn-break 13...f6= equalising

This plan is much more popular completely.
for White with a dark-squared
bishop on e3. Following 10.d5 a5, Black
9...id7 advances effortlessly b7-b5. 11.
Black protects his knight and d4 (11.g3 b5#) 11...c5 12.c2
prepares b7-b5. b5 13.b3, Lemanczyk — Nowik,
Duesseldorf 1995, 13...e5!? He
stabilises the situation in the centre.
Black’s later plans include the
preparation of f7-f5. 14.d3 V1c7
15.0—0 h5oo

1O...b5

1O.b3
White plays another prophylactic
move on the queenside and
ignores the development of his
kingside pieces.

10.’Zd5 e6 114xf6+ xf6 12.

h6 e8 13.g3 e5. The vulnerability 11.cxb5
of the d4-square has become
quite obvious. 14.d5 d4 15.xd4 White’s position would not be
exd4 16.d3 c5 17.0—0 b5t Banikas any better after 11.d5 ‘Ze5.
— Golubev, ICC 2009.

10.d1. White plans to counter

b7-b5, with c4-c5, avoiding the
opening of the b-file; nevertheless,
this move is still possible.
10...b5 11.c5, Bykhovsky — Gelfer,
Israel 2007, 11...d5!? 12.e5 (12.
Zf2 e5!oo) 12...Ze8 13.g3. Now,
you can see the misplacement of
White’s bishop on g5. Black can 12.cxb5 axb5 — see 11.cxb5.
accomplish with tempo the free- 12.f4. White ousts the enemy

176
 3.c3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.g5 c6 7.ge2 a6 8.d2 b8

knight, but it is well known that 2002, Black can try a very promising
pawns do not come back, so later pawn-sacrifice — 15...g5!?oo
his centre will need additional
protection. 12...eg4 13.lg3 h6
14.h4, Dreev — Golubev, Alushta
1994, 14...b4 15.d1 e5! Black is
threatening to win a piece after
the exchange on f4 and g6-g5.
16.dxe6 fxe6 17.h3 g5 18.fxg5 h7
19.hxg4 hxg5 20.h5 gxh4 21.
xg7 c±?xg700 The complications
are over and there has arisen a
complex position with mutual
chances. Black’s king is vulnerable,
but all White’s pawns are 13..Se8
deployed on squares with the He is preparing c7-c5, in order
same colour as his bishop and this to get rid of his backward pawn on
does not beautify his position at the c-file.
all. 14.e2 b4 15.d1 c5 16.
dxc6 xc6 17.xc6 xc6= -
11...axb5 12.d5 e5 13.d4 Black’s b4-pawn holds two enemy
pawns on the queenside, Andersson
Following 13.g3 1te8 14.f4 — Hoehne, Lechenicher
h6 15.h4, Linna — Rohde, ICCF SchachServer 2014.

177
Chapter 14 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ig7 4.e4 d6
5.f3 0—0 6.ie3
The Saemisch System

It is not good for White to

choose here 7.d3, because after
7...e5 8.d5 (8.ge2 g4! 9.fxg4
exd4t) 8...d4, Black’s knight occupies
a powerful position in the
centre and White will have to do a
lot in order to oust it from there.
9.ge2 d7

This is White’s most popular

move in this position. The bishop
protects the strategically important
d4-square.
6...c6
This is an aggressive move.
Black wishes to attack the d4-
square with e7-e5. Besides this, Following 1O.b5 xb5 11.
his plans include the pawn-advance cxb5, White will have problems to
b7-b5 (after the preparatory develop his queenside initiative,
moves a7-a6 and b8), which because after the disappearance
would be very useful if White castles of his pawn from the c4-square,
queenside. he will not have the possibility c4-
Later, White can hardly continue c5. 11...Zc5!? 12.c2 h6. This is
the game without the move a typical resource in the King’s Indian
B) 7.’ge2, beginning the development Defence. Black trades favourably
of his kingside pieces and the dark-squared bishops
increasing his control over the d4- in a tactical fashion. 13.xh6
square. Before that however, we V1h4+ 14.g3 V1xh6=
will analyse A) 7Sd2. 10.0—0 c5 11.dxc6 (11.b1 f5

178
 3.tIc3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e3 4c6 7.Vd2 a6

12.exf5, Short — Cornette, Auckland while the move 1Lg5? Jeraj —

2016, 12...gxf5!?oo) 11...bxc6 Starc, Bled 1997, is just bad 11...
12.b4. White takes the c5-square f61:) 9...d4 10.ge2 d7 11.0—0
under control. Now however, he c5 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.b4 b7 14.
cannot fortify his b3-pawn with ab1 c7 15.ch1 fb8= Karpov —
the move b2-b3. 12...Zb6 13.c1 M.Gurevich, Reggio Emilia 1991.
e6 14.a4 Vd7oo Banhazi — Valis, The powerful placement of the
Hungary 2006. knight on d4 compensates the
weakness of Black’s a6-pawn.

A) 7Sd2 a6 8...b5!?

8.0—0—0 This is a promising pawn-sacrifice.

8.ge2 b8 — see variation B. 9.cxb5

8.c1 b8 9.ge2 d7 — see There arise complicated positions

variation B4. after 9.h4 h5 10.h6 e5 11.
ge2 bxc4oo Dolmatov — Thorstems,
White only weakens unnecessarily Polanica Zdroj 1987, as
the dark squares with the well as following 9.cb1 a5 10.g4
line: 8.d5 e5 9.h6 xh6 10. Zxc4 1Lxc4 bxc4 12.ge2 b8co
xh6 c6 11.V1d2, Szabo — Ree, Gavariev — Solovjov, St Petersburg
Wijk aan Zee 1973, 11...V1b6!?t 2006.

Following 8.d3 e5, White is The move 9.g4 can only create
forced to let the enemy knight to difficulties for White, because after
occupy a square at the centre of 9...e5 10.d5 d4, he cannot
the board 9.d5 (after 9.ge2 develop his knight on gl due to
g4!? 10.fxg4 exd4= Black obtains the vulnerability of his f3-pawn.
a quite acceptable position, Following 11.ce2, Black has an

179
Chapter 14

interesting piece-sacrifice. 11... 7...a6

xf3! 12.xf3 xg4 13.eg1 xe4
14.V1g2 f5T and he will have three
pawns for the knight and excellent
attacking prospects against
the enemy king, Petkov — Miciak,
ICCF 1999.

9...axb51OAxb5a5

8Sd2
This is his most popular move.
White prepares castling queen-
side and is ready to exchange his
opponent’s fianchettoed bishop.
If he does not play V1d2, he not
only does not obtain chances of
an advantage in the opening, but
111h6 (The character of the may end up even worse.
position remains more or less the
same after 11.cb1, Petursson — 8.b1 d7 9.V1d2 b8, or 9.b4
Gufeld, Hastings 1986, 11...c6!? b8 10.V1d2 e8 — see variation
12.d3 e6) 11...ixh6 12. B2.
xh6 c6 131d3 b6 14.ge2
.a6 151xa6 xa6c A.Fischer 8.g3 b8 9.a4. White prevents
— Leistner, freechess.de 2013. the pawn-advance b7-b5,
Black is a pawn down indeed, but but weakens the b4-square. (9.
has the initiative. White’s king- g2 b5 10.cxb5 axb5 11.c1 d7
side attack has backfired and he 12.b3 e5= Simagin — Boleslavsky,
will be soon forced to defend passively. Moscow 1964) 9...e5 10.d5, Korchnoi
— Efimenko, Ohrid 2001,
10...b4oo

B) 7.ge2 After 8.a3, it would be interesting

This is a logical and strong for Black to try 8...d7!? —
move. It has a drawback however, he wishes to follow with b6, attacking
because White’s knight on e2 impedes the enemy c4-pawn. In
the development of his addition, his plan includes a5
bishop on fl. and c7-c5.

180
 34c3 g74.e4d65.f3 0-0 6iLe3 c67.Qge2a6

and in the meantime Black succeeds

in advancing d6-d5, solving
all his opening problems. 14.d3
xd3+ 15.xd3 d5=

8.c1 d7

9.cf2?! Za5 10.b3 c5 11.dxc5

dxc5 12.V41c2 e6t Thys — Demchenko,
ICCF 2011. White lags in
development. Black has a clear-
cut plan for actions, connected
with the transfer of his knight to
the weakened d4-square (c6-
d4), as well as with the opening 9.Vd2 b8 — see variation B4.
the f-file (f7-f5) and the organisation After 9.d5 Ze5 10.g3, Korchnoi
of an attack against White’s — Wiersma, Rogaska Slatina
king. 2011, it seems very good for
9.b4 b6 10.c1, Rodriguez — Black to continue with 10...h5!?oo,
Lianos, Buenos Aires 1992, 10...f!?t emphasizing the unstable placement
of the enemy knight on g3.
8.1c2. This is an interesting 9.a3. White is preparing b2-
attempt by White to avoid the b4. 9...V41b8. This is an interesting
well trodden paths. He intends to idea. Black wishes to accomplish
play d1, exploiting the juxtaposition the thematic pawn-advance with
of his rook and Black’s queen the help of his queen and not his
on the d-file. 8...d7 9.d1 b8 rook. With the move 10.d5 White
10.’c1 e5. This is a standard reaction occupies space and frees the d4-
for this variation — the moment square for his knight (after the
White removes his knight straightforward approach 10.b4
from e2, Black inflicts a strike b5=, the chances of both sides
against the d4-square. 11.dxe5 would be approximately equal)
xe5 12.c5, S.Atalik — Bayram, 10...Ze5 11.d4 c5 12.dxc6 bxc6=
Ankara 1995 (12.e2, S.Atalik — — Black’s queen has joined in the
Foisor, Satu Mare 1994, 12... actions on the b-file, Jezek —
b5!?oo) 12...V1e7!? 13.cxd6 cxd6. Grodzensky, USSR 1987.
White lags in development and is
incapable of exploiting the vulnerability It would be too straighiforward
of the enemy d6-pawn. for White to opt for 8.d5
White prepares to castle kingside e5 9.g3 h5 10.e2 h4 11.f1,

181
Chapter 14

Rusternov — Korotylev, Nizhnij Dorfman, Lvov 1984. White will

Novgorod 1998. Here, Black has a hardly manage to prepare the
very promising pawn-sacrifice: pawn-break c4-c5 and without
11...b5!? 12.cxb5 axb5 13.xb5 c6 this his initiative on the queen-
14.dxc6 xc6 15.c1 b7 — he has side cannot succeed.
seized completely the initiative
and White will hardly manage to 8...b8
evacuate his king away from the
centre without material losses.

Following 8.h4 h5 9.Zc1 (9.

1d2 b8 — see variation B5) 9...
d7, White will have problems to
protect his d4-square. 10.b3 a5
11.a4. He cannot allow a5-a4, but
now Black’s knight gains access to
the wonderful b4-square. 11...
b4 12.e2 b6 13.g4. This attack
by White is doomed to failure.
13...hxg4 14.fxg4 c5 15.h5 cxd4 16. We will analyse now Bi)
xd4 (He should better play here 91h6, B2) 9.b1, B3) 9.c1,
16.,xd4 e5oo) 16...Zc5 17.d5 B4) 9.c1 and B5) 9.h4.
b7 — White is unlikely to manage
to organise an attack, because 9.0—0—0 b5 10.h4 (10.g4 bxc4
he will have difficulties to transfer — see 9.g4; 10.h6 bxc4 — see variation
his queen to the h-file and the Bi) 10...h5 — see variation
weaknesses of his pawn-structure B5c.
will hurt him, Spassky — Fischer,
Belgrade (m/30) 1992. The b3 and b4-squares are seriously
weakened in the line: 9.a4
8.c1 e5 9.d5. White lags in d7 10.c1 e5 11.d5 d4t Neumann
development and should avoid — Schmidl, DDR 1977.
opening of the game (following
9.b3 exd4 10.xd4 e5 11.,e2 9.Zd5 b5 10.cxb5 axb5 11.c1
c6 12.0—0 b5 13.cxb5 axb5 14.a3 d7= — After the exchange of the
d5, Black’s prospects seem preferable, a-pawn for the c-pawn, Black’s
O’Kelly de Galway — prospects are not worse, Nielsen
Geller, Havana 1963). 9...d4 — Pedersen, Copenhagen 1991.
10.b3 xb3 11.V1xb3 (11.axb3 c5
12.e2 h5oo Kuzubov — Areshchenko, 9.d1 d7 10.c1 e5 11.dxe5
Aarhus 2005) 11...d7 xe5 12.e2 b5 13.c5 b4= — Black
12.0—0—0 f5 13.e2 b6= Salov — has a very good position and in

182
 3.Qc3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e3 c6 7.ge2 a6 8.1d2 b8

fact, White must be very careful in 10.g5 h5 11.g3 e5 12.xh5

the further developments. For example, gxh5 13.e2 f5= — White has provoked
after 14!d5 1xd5 15.exd5 a weakening of the kingside
c4!t, Black would seize the initiative, pawn-structure of his opponent,
Ramos Isasi — Servert but this has taken too much time
Sanchez, Spain 1984. and Black has succeeded in advancing
his central pawns, Var-
The position would be approximately berg — Dauga, corr. 1991.
equal after 9.d5 Ze5 10. If 10.h4, the move 10...h5 prevents
g3 (10.d4 c5 11.c2 e6 12.e2 White’s thematic pawn-
b5oo Ibragimov — Fercec, Portoroz advance h4-h5. 11.g3. He increases
1996) 10...h5 1Lg5 c6 12.e2 b5= the pressure against the
Markotic — Petit, Toulouse 1993. h5-square, but reduces the protection
over the d4-square. Black
After 9.a3, Black can obtain a exploits this immediately. 11...e5!
good position by transferring his 12.dxe5 xe5 13.e2 hxg4 14.f4
knight to the b6-square. 9...d7!? Zf3+ 15.xf3 gxf3 16.h5 g4 17.
10.b4 b6 11.V1a2 e6. Black wishes 0—0—0 bxc4 18.df1 xe3 19.
to advance d6-d5. 12.c5 (12.d1 V1xe3 g4 20.h6 f6 21.d1 e8
d5oo) 12...Zd7 13.d1 dxc5 14. Koegeler — Booij, ICCF 2013. The
bxc5, Alterman — Sutovsky, Haifa tactical complications are over.
1996, 14...b6 15.cxb6 xb6oo — White has failed to achieve anything
White lags in development and is real on the kingside and
incapable of exploiting the slight Black’s prospects are preferable.
weakening of Black’s queenside He has two powerful bishops and
pawn-structure. extra material.
10.0—0—0 bxc4 11.h4 b4!?
There arises a complicated 12.g3 c5 13.h5, Hoi — Coudari,
double-edged position after 9.g4 Buenos Aires 1978, 13...&e6!?cx —
— White is preparing a pawn- In this complicated position with
offensive on the kingside. 9...b5. mutual attacks with castling on
Black should begin his queenside different sides, both opponents
counterplay immediately. have their chances.

Bi) 9.ih6
(diagram)
White deprives his opponent
of the possibility to counter h2-h4
with h7-h5.
9...b510.h4
10.0—0—0 bxc4 11.h4 b4 —
see 10.h4.

183
Chapter 14

to d3, or c2. 12.g3 xh6 13.V41xh6

c2+ 14.cd1 xa1 15.hxg6 fxg6
16.d5, Murey — Zhelin, USSR
1974, 16...c?f7!?T, Black has removed
his king away from the
danger zone and White has no
compensation for his material
deficit.

There arises a complicated

position, but advantageous for
It does not seem logical for Black after 11.0—0—0 b4 12.g3
White to refrain from attacking ,xh6!? 13.V1xh6 c5! He wishes to
10.xg7 c?xg7 11.cxb5 axb5 12.c1 join his queen into the attack as
d7 13.g3, Ivkov — Mestrovic, Sarajevo quickly as possible.14.xc4 V1b6
1968, 13...e5!?t — the exchange 15.V41d2. White must bring his
of the bishops has only led queen back to assist in the defence.
to the weakening of the dark 15...cxd4 16.V1xd4 c7t
squares in White’s camp and he
also lags in development. 11...cxg7 12.h5 b4 13.f4

1O...bxc4 13.g3 c5oo lailian — Gunawan,

Black not only wins a pawn, Sibenik 1989.
but opens the b-file for his rook.
13...e5 14.fd5

llAxg7
White wishes to trade the eneIt
seems less precise for White my knight on f6, the important
to choose here 11.h5 Zb4 and he defender of Black’s king, but this
would be incapable of preventing leads to considerable simplificathe
penetration of Black’s knight tions. 14...bxd5 15.xd5

184
 3.tIc3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e3 c6 7.ge2 a6 8.fd2 b8

xd5 16.exd5 e4! 17.fxe4 (17. break on the queenside, while

hxg6? e3!i:) 17...Ve8 18.hxg6 Black has the initiative on the other
Vxe4+ 19 1e2 Vxg6 20.0—0—0 side of the board, Dreev — Golubev,
jf5oo Lahlum — Cavajda, ICCF playchess.com 2004.
2011. Black’s queen and bishop
protect reliably the h7-pawn and White’s attempt to leave the
White can hardly continue effectively knight on e2 and to develop his
with his attack. There are bishop on g2 does not promise
just a few pieces left on the board him an advantage. For example:
and Black has good counterplay 11.g4 e5 12.d5 d4= Ribli — F.
on the semi-open b-file. Portisch, Hungary 1975, or 11.g3
b5 12.cxb5 axb5 13.g2 e5 14.d5
e7 15.0—0 c8 16.c1 b6# —
B2) 9.b1 Black’s knight is headed for the
weakened c4-square, Fahnenschmidt
— F.Portisch, Oberhausen
1980.

11...a5 12.’c1

12.f4?! axb5 13.cxb5 c6 14.

d5, Haba — Fahnenschmidt, Germany
1991, 14...g5!?

12...axb513.xb5

This is a quiet positional move.

White refrains from double-edge
plans, connected with castling
queenside.
9..1d7 10.b4 e8!?
According to Aron Nimzowitsch’s
terminology — this is “a
strange rook-move...”. Black prepares
the thematic pawn-advance
e7-e5.
11.b5
This position was reached in
The b4-square is weakened in the game Bodiroga — Dostan,
the line: 11.a4 a5 12.b5 b4 13. Gyula 2000. 13...c6!? The preparation
g3 e5 14.d5 b6 15.e2 h5oo — and of the pawn-advance b7-b5
it is rather unclear how White can is the simplest road to equality

185
Chapter 14

for Black. 14.a3 b5 15.cxb5 evacuate his king away from the
cxb5= It would be very risky for centre. In the meantime, Black
White to accept the pawn-sacrifice succeeds in creating pressure
16.xb5, because after 16... against the enemy c4-pawn (b7-
d5 17.e5 c4 181xc4 dxc4, b5, e6). 13.e2 b5 14.0—0 e6
Black would seize completely the 15.b3 Va5 16.cxb5. After the exchange
initiative. White’s try to win material of the pawn on c4, Black
would end in a disaster for has his hands free to prepare and
him. 19.exf6?! exf6 20.a4? advance d6-d5. 16...axb5 17.ac1
fd8 18.fd1, Valve — Pihlajinen,
Finland 1976, 18...d5!?=

B3) 9.c1 1O...d4 11.b3

11.Z1e2 c5 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.

xd4 exd4 — see 11.Zb3.

11...c5 12.dxc6

Now, contrary to variation B5,

White’s kingside has not been
weakened by the move h2-h4 and
therefore, he as a rule, does not
leave his king in the centre and
castles kingside. 12...bxc6
9...e510.d5 Black sacrifices a pawn for the
initiative.
It would be too slow for him to 13.xd4 exd4 141xd4 d5
continue with 104b3 exd4 11. Black must provoke a fight in
xd4. The exchange on d4 is in the centre, before White has castled.
favour of White, but in order to
provoke it he has lost two tempi
(cg1-e2-c1-b3xd4, instead of Zg1- It seems less precise for Black
e2xd4) 11...xd4 12.,xd4 c6. to opt for 14...e8, because then
Now, White must lose two more White will have the possibility to
tempi (e2 and 0—0), in order to fight for the advantage with 15.

186
 3.tIc3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e3 c6 7.ge2 a6 8.d2 b8

d3!? d5, Dreev — Motylev, Neum 16...e8 17.ie2

2000, 16.0—0—0 dxe4 17.,xe4 c5
18.xc5 V1xd2+ 19.xd2 h6 20. White’s king will not be safe on
hd1 — he has obtained two the queenside. 17.0—0—0 d7 18.
pawns for the exchange and Black f4 V1a5 19.1f2 ff8. Black is preparing
is doomed to a long and laborious Zc5-a4. 20.g4 c5 21.f5
defence in the endgame. a4 22.xa4 V1xa4 23.b3 Va3+
24.V1b2, Adelseck — Westera,
15.cxd5 cxd5 ICCF 2011. Now, the simplest way
for Black to equalise is to regain
the pawn: 24...gxf5!? 25.gxf5 xf5
26.d3 g6= — There have remained
just a few pawns on the
board and after the trade of the
queens the draw would be the
most likely outcome.

17...d7 18.f4 .h6

16.e5
White lags in development, so
he should better avoid opening of
files.

16.exd5 e8+ 17.e2 b4 18.

0—0 e4 19.fxe4 xd4+ 20.ch1
Black’s piece-activity and
his excellent prospects on the
weakened dark squares compensate Black is threatening to capture
fully his two sacrificed pawns. on e5.
21.f3 g4 22.e3 xe2 23.1xe2 19.e3
b8 24.f1 xb2 25.V1xa6 e7 It is bad for White to play here
26.V1d3 a7 27.ef3 ,xh2. Black 19.e3?!, in view of 19...xe5!
has gradually restored the material 20.fxe5 xe3 21.1xe3 d4 22.1f2
balance. 28.g3 V1e5 29.d1 dxc3 23.bxc3 xe5 24.0—0 c7
bxa2= White’s e4 and g3-pawns and his c3-pawn would be very
are weak, so he is incapable of weak, Panocki — Rozum, Herceg
capturing unpunished the trapped Novi 2008.
enemy bishop on g3, Voetter — White has no chances of obtaining
Nitsche, BdF 2010. an edge after 19.0—0 xe5

187
Chapter 14

20.ad1 c6= Wornath — Stets, for the exchange and his pieces
Germany 2010. are very active, while White’s
rooks are squeezed with the protection
19...f8!? of the knight on d5.
Black wishes to play e6 and
from this square his knight will
exert pressure against the bishop B4) 9.c1!?
on d4 and the pawn on f4.

19...f6?! 20.V1f3 fxe5 21.Vxd5+

ch8 22.fxe5 g7 23.e6 V1h4+ 24.
f2 ‘e7 25.0—0, Yang — Kiewra,
Richardson 2013, 25...e5 26.
— Black must still work hard
for equality.

20.b3 b4 21.0—0 e6 22.

ad1

This move was played as early

as during the 60ies of the past
century and it did not attract popularity
right away. It was only after
Black succeeded in proving
how solid his position was in attacks
on different sides of the
board (9.h4 and 9.0—0—0), as
well as after the positional move
9.c1, White began to turn his attention
to the prophylactic move
22...xd4! The exchange- 9.c1.
sacrifice is the simplest way for He wishes at first to prevent
Black to equalise. 23.xd4 Vb6 Black’s counterplay, connected
24.d3 Vxe3+ 25.xe3 xf4 with the pawn-advance b7-b5. If
26.d1. White is incapable of we have in mind that at least in
saving his rook from the attack of the next few moves White plans to
the enemy minor pieces without leave his knight on e2 and to keep
suffering material losses. 26... his control over he d4-square,
g7 27.cW2 xg2 28.g3 f4 Black’s second thematic pawnadvance
29.xd5 xe2 30.cxe2 xe5+ e7-e5, would be also
31.c?f2 .b7 32.gd3 f5+ senseless. He will have to fight
33.cg1 g5= — Black has a pawn against White’s centre in some

188
 3.tIc3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e3 4c6 7.ge2 a6 8.d2 b8

other way. We will have a look at for his knight. 11.d5 (11.g3 b5 12.
all that little by little... cxb5 axb5 13.g2 e5 14.dxe5
9..1d7 xe5oo Haba — Kozlitin, Pardubice
Black protects his knight and 2015) 11...’Ze5 12.h3. After this
is threatening again b7-b5. move Black’s knight cannot retreat
to g4 if White plays f3-f4.
12...b5! Now, Black is not afraid of
f3-f4 any more. 13.g3 (following
13.f4?!, Black has a very promising
piece-sacrifice: 13...Zxc4! 14.
bxc4 b4 15.d1 xe4 16.V1c2 c5
17.g4 e6T and he has obtained two
pawns for the knight. White’s
king is still stranded in the centre
and after the opening of the e-file,
the lag in development of his pieces
may hurt him.) 13...bxc4 14.
1O.d1 bxc4 c8 15.f4 ed7 16.d3 b7.
White continues to adhere to a White has more space, but Black
prophylactic approach. He plans has no pawn-weaknesses in his
to counter b7-b5 with c4-c5, preventing camp. With his last move he has
the opening of the b-file prepared the undermining of the
and occupying additional space d5-square with the move c7-c6.
on the queenside. 17.0—0 c6 18.ce2 c7 19.a7
bc8 20.d4 h6oo Bondars —
It is not good for him to play Ciciotti, ICCF 2014.
10.g3, because this weakens the
control over the d4-square. 10... 1O...b5
e511.d5d4oo

10.d5 a5 11.b3 c5 12.h6 xh6

13.V1xh6 b5± — Black’s counter-
play against the c4-pawn promises
him good prospects, Ljubojevic
- Nunn, Monte Carlo 1994.

The move 10.b3 has some venom.

White prepares d4-d5 and
protects before that his c4-pawn.
1O...e8. Black should better not
be in a hurry to advance e7-e5, Black plays this move despite
since the e5-square may be handy all! He is prepared against c4-c5.

189
Chapter 14

He bases his hopes on his lead in centre with f7-f5 and e7-e5.
development and wishes to open 12.d5
the game on the queenside as This is White’s most principled
quickly as possible. move. He wishes to occupy
11.c5 maximum space on the queenside
and to cramp completely his opponent’s
There arises a complicated, pieces.
but approximately equal position
after 11.b3, Khairullin — Levin, St After White’s alternatives,
Petersburg 2010, 11...bxc4!? 12. Black holds confidently his defence
bxc4 e6 13.Zf2 b7oo, followed by and may even begin a counter
Vb8 and the preparation of the attack under favourable circumstances.
penetration of the rook to the b2-
square.
12.g4, Karthikeyan — Ovcina,
It would not be good for White Parramatta 2012, 12...dxc5!? 13.
to trade his c-pawn for the enemy xc5 d6±
a-pawn: 11.cxb5 axb5 12.g3 e6 13.
g2, Gupta — Gislason, Reykjavik 12.h4 f5 13.exf5, Winkelmann
2010. Now, Black can squeeze his — Bielicki, Germany 2011, 13...
opponent’s pieces with the protection ixf5!?oo
of the a2-pawn: 13...a8!?
14.b3 a3 15.c2 V1a8± 12.g3 dxc5 13.xc5 e5 14.d5
e7 15.f2 d6. This is one more
11...e8!? plus of the move 11...e8. After
the exchange of the pawn on d6
on c5, Black’s knight may occupy
the excellent blocking d6-square.
16. b3 Naturally, White cannot allow
the move c4 and the subsequent
trade of his powerful dark-
squared bishop, so he will be
forced to lose a tempo for the prophylactic
move with his pawn.
16...b7 17.c1 c6 18.dxc6 xc6=
— Black has got rid of his backward
c-pawn and can be quite satisfied
This move is seldom played, with the results of the opening.
but is possibly the best for Black.
White has not developed his king-
side pieces yet, so Black wishes to 12.f2 f5 13.d5 (It would be
inflict a strike against his opponent’s interesting for White, but still in-

190
 3. c3 g7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e3 4c6 7. tIge2 a6 8.1d2 b8

sufficient to obtain an advantage, 151e2 f6 16.dxe6 fxe6

to try 13.exf5, Spassov — Bozovic, 17.b3 Ve8 18.Yc2 b4
Belgrade 2007, 13...xf5!? 14. He seizes some space on the
cxd6 Vxd6 15.g4 c8 16.f4 b4 queenside.
17.e4 V1e6 18.c5 1c6. Black 19.0—0 a5 20.f2 a8
has lost too many tempi on moves
with his queen, but has succeeded
in depriving his opponent of the
right to castle. 19.g1 d5 20.g2
d6oo — White’s king is in the centre
and the board is full of pieces,
so he has no chances of maintaining
an advantage, despite the
presence of some weaknesses in
Black’s pawn-structure.) 13...’e5
14.d4 dxc5 15.xc5 d6 16.b3
b6 17.e2 fxe4 18.f4 d3+ 19.
xd3 exd3 20.xd3 e8! Black’s Black is preparing the development
knight frees a square for his rook. of his bishop to the a6-
His plan is to attack the weak enemy square under favourable circumstances.
d5-pawn. 2Le4 f6 22.f3 Later, in the game AlekseiNK
d6= Gilbert — Jacobi, ICCF 2012. — Demchenko, www.bestlogic.ru
2016, there followed:
12...e5 13.c6 .c8 14.f4 21.4h3 f7 22.g5 xg5 23.
&xg5 h6 241e3 c’h7 25.fd1
.a6 26.,xa6 xa6 27.d3 e5.
The majority of Black’s pawns are
placed against the rules, i.e. on
squares with the same colour as
his bishop, but White can hardly
find an active plan for actions, because
he must be constantly on
the alert about his opponent’s
pawn-break in the centre — d6-d5.
28.V!c4 a8 29.a1 g5. Black’s
counterplay, connected with the
14...e6 preparation of g5-g4, is sufficient
Black must try by all means to to maintain the equality. 30.f2
undermine his opponent’s pawn- Vg6 31.h3 h5 32.d3 ae8
chain and to fight for space, which 33.ad1 e7 341c1 ef7. Draw.
is essential for the harmonious After 35S!b5, there would follow
action of his pieces. 35...g4 36.fxg4 hxg4 37.g3

191
Chapter 14

h5 38.xg4 V!f6 39.h1 h6 tack, he must sacrifice a pawn

40.jxh6 Vxh6. Black sacrifices with g2-g4.
a pawn, but solves the problem White has a choice between
with his “bad” bishop. 41.g3 numerous possibilities here. Three
f4 42.xh5 V!xh5 43S!xa5 of them are attacking: B5a)
xg4 44.hxg4 f7 45Sa7 10.d5, B5b) 101h6, B5c)
c?g6. Now, White cannot capture 10.0—0—0, while he can follow a
the c7-pawn with check. 46S!e3 positional route with B5d)
V!f4 47.Vxf4 xf4 48.d5 1O.c1.
xe4. The rook and pawn ending
is a draw. 49.b5 e1+ 5O.ch2
c1 51.xb4 xc6= After the fall B5a) 1O.d5
of White’s c6-pawn, Black is safe.Black’s knight on f6 is an important
It is White who must play precisely; defensive piece. It protects
otherwise, Black’s central the h5-pawn and prevents
passed pawns might become very the pawn-break g2-g4, therefore
dangerous. White’s desire to exchange it is
understandable.
10...b5
B5) 9.h4 Black must create counterplay
This is the most unpleasant on the queenside as quickly as
move for Black. White wishes to possible.
open the h-file and to begin a direct
attack against Black’s monarch.

9...h5

11.xf6+
This is the logical conclusion
of White’s plan.

This is a prudent decision. 11.cxb5 axb5 12.c1 d7 13.

Black should better not allow the Zxf6+xf6—see11.xf6.
pawn-break h4-h5. Now, if White
wishes to continue with his at- The move 11.0—0—0 leads to a

192
34c3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e3 c6 7.ge2 a6 8.41d2 b8 9.h4 h5

sharp play. 11...bxc4 12.xf6+ ixf6 transfer of his bishop to the b5-
square. 18.a3 b5 19.xb5 xb5.
This exchange-sacrifice is Black’s
simplest road to equality. 20.
ixb5 Za2+ 21.cb1 V1xb5 22.xa2
b8. White has already an extra
rook, but he fails to protect the
b2-square and the game ends in a
perpetual check. 23.c2 (23.b1?
Vb3+ 24.ca1 V1xa3#) 23...Vfxb2+
24.Vfxb2 xb2+ 25.ca1 b3=
The d4-square is weakened 15.xc4 cxd4 16.xd4 V1c7.
following 13.c3 e5 14.d5 d4 Black’s major pieces exert powerful
15.,xc4, Debiasi — Perruchoud, pressure on the b and c-files.
IECG 1999. Here, Black could 17.b3 xd4 18.V1xd4 e6. Black
have grabbed a pawn with 15... wishes to trade the powerful enemy
kxh4!?oo — and it would not be bishop on b3 even at the price
easy for White to continue his attack, of compromising his kingside
because Black’s centralised pawn-structure. 19.kxe6 (19.gxh5
knight eyes the f3-square and xb3 20.axb3 1a5. Black is
thus impedes the pawn-advance threatening to check on al and
g2-g4. thus wins an important tempo,
13.g4 b4. Black’s knight frees managing to capture on h5 with
the way forward of his cS-pawn. his queen. 21.cb1 Vxh5 22.f4
14.c3c5 c6oo De Zavalia — Diani, ICCF
2011) 19...fxe6 20.cb1 c6 21.
V1c4 V41b6. Black sacrifices a pawn
and begins a counter attack. 22.
Vxe6+ g7 23.h2 d4 24.Vd5
‘Zxf3. He restores the material
balance and after 25.g2, Tochacek
— Maliangkay, Switzerland
2002, could have even gobbled
another pawn with 25...hxg4!?

After 15.gxhs Va5 16.xc4 e6 11..lxf6 12.cxb5

17.d5, Krasik — Naroditsky, ICC White is reluctant to allow the
2008, Black must exchange as opening of the b-file.
quickly as possible one of the defenders
of White’s king — the 12.0—0—0 bxc4 — see 11.0—0—0
bishop on c4, or the knight on c3.
17...d7!? Black prepares the 12...axb513.c1d7

193
Chapter 14

19Sf4 e5 2OSm f6 211d2,

Gunawan — Ye Jiangchuan, Singapore
1987, 21..Sc8 221e2
e7 23.h5 g5c Black has succeeded
in avoiding the opening of
the h and g-files. Now, thanks to
his powerful bishop on e5, which
“cements” his pawn-structure, his
prospects in the forthcoming battle
are not worse.

14.g4
White begins an attack and B5b) 101h6
now, Black must react very precisely.

White would not achieve much

if he abstains from the pawn-advance
g2-g4. 14.g5 e6oo Shorokhov
— Gromov, ICCF 2008.

14...hxg4 15.fxg4 e5
Black acts in accordance with
the classical principles and counters
his opponent’s flank attack
with a strike in the centre. White trades the powerful enemy
16.d5 d4 17.xd4 exd4 bishop, but weakens his control
181g5 e8 over the strategically important
d4-square.
1O..Axh6 11Sxh6 e5 12.
0—0—0

It is not good for White to play

12.d1, Christiansen — Reschke,
Germany 1994, 12...b5!?oo — His
king is less safe in the centre than
on the queenside.

12...b5
Black inflicts counter strikes
Black reminds his opponent in the centre and on the queenside
that he has pawn-weaknesses too. trying to deflect his oppo194
3.Qc3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e3 tuic6 7.4ge2 a6 8.1d2 b8 9.h4 h5

nent’s pieces from the attack 17.xd4 f6, with a double attack
against his king. against the enemy rook and the
f3-pawn. White is forced to exchange
the queens. 18.Vf4 xf4+
19.xf4 hxg4 20.xc4 c6 21.fxg4
cxd5 22.xd5 e6= The position
has been simplified considerably.
23.d1, draw, Hansen — Jensen,
Denmark 1984.

Following 13.g4, Black has an

interesting piece — sacrifice. 13...
xg4 14.dxe5 xe5 15.fxg4 fxg4
16.V1f4, Van Beers — Maes, Belgium
13.d5 2000, 16...f5!? 17.g3 b4
18.d5 fxe4 — He has three pawns
The move 13.dxe5 cannot be for the piece and excellent squares
recommended, since following for his knights.
13...xe5, Black’s knight will be
very powerful at the centre of the 13...a5 14.g3
board. 14.f4 bxc4. Black has an White defends against xc4,
extra pawn and good attacking but now his knight stands in the
prospects on the b-file. 15.e2 way of his g2-pawn and his attack
(15.d5, Manolache — Fedorov, is slowed down.
Eforie Nord 2010, 15...e8!?t) 14...bxc415..e2b4
15.. .c6. He covers the d5-square
and prepares the development of
his queen to the b6-square. 16.
d2 1b6 17.g4, Nachev — Frolov,
Moscow 1996. White’s attack is
obviously too slow. 17...xg4!
Black sacrifices a piece and begins
a decisive offensive. 18.fxg4 fxg4
19.xg4 V1e3! 20.d1 Zd3+ 21.
c2 b4+ 22.cb1 V1xd2—+, followed
by d3 and eventually c4—
c3. White is unlikely to hold the
b2-square. Black’s plan is quite simple.
He is preparing the doubling (and
White’s attack will hardly succeed eventually tripling...!) of his major
after 13.1d5 bxc4 14.g4 pieces on the b-file.
1xd5 15.exd5 b4 164c3 exd4 16.f1

195
Chapter 14

After 16.d2 d7 17.f1, Neuman pawn-advance h7-h5, and also

— Houska, Kiatovy 2002, following g2-g4 h5xg4, will support
Black can change his plan a bit — h4-h5. On the other hand,
to double his rooks on the b-file Black will accomplish with tempo
and to send his queen to protect the thematic strike in the centre
his king. 17...1e7!? 18.g4 th8 19. — e7-e5.
e3 Vf8 20.V1xf8+ cxf8= After
the trade of the queens, Black’s 11.d5 bxc4 — see variation B5a.
king is completely safe. The arising
endgame seems to be approximately 1Lh6 xh6 12.V1xh6 e5 —
equal. Black’s a6 and c4- bxc4 — see variation B5b.
pawns are weak indeed, but you
should not forget that one of them 11...bxc4l2Axc4
is extra!
It would be premature for
16...d7 17.e3 b8oo, followed White to play here 12.g4?!, because
by Vb6 and b8, Muir — after 12...e5! 13.dxe5 Zxe5
Fedorov, Batumi 1999. The counterplay 14.gxh5, Black can sacrifice his
against the b2-pawn knight, capturing the enemy
should provide Black with a very pawns on f3 and e4 and his attack
good game. against the enemy king will be
victorious. 14...Zxf3 15.V1g2 xe4
16.V1xf3 xc3 17.bxc3, Zoldan —
B5c) 10.0—0—0 b5 Cazzaniga, Bratto 1994, 17...V1f6!
The inclusion of Black’s queen
into the attack is decisive. 18.d4
V1f5—+, White is helpless against
the penetration of the enemy
pieces on the b-file.

12...e5

11.f4
The placement of White’s
knight on f4 has some merits, but
some drawbacks as well. It exerts
pressure from there against the
g6-square, weakened after the

196
3tc3 g74.e4 d65.f3 0-0 6..e3 c6 7.tige2 a6 8.VJd2 b8 9.h4 h5

13.dxe5 171h6 e6 18.ixg7 xg7co -

White must play accurately in order
It would not work for White to to neutralise his opponent’s
play here 13.xg6?!, since following activity; otherwise, he may end up
13...exd4 14.xd4, Van Dam in a very bad position, Wiacek —
— Kiawitter, IECC 2001, Black Palsson, ICCF 2002.
would have the resource 14...
b4!?, emphasizing the unstable B5d) 1O.c1
position of White’s bishops at the
centre of the board. 15.xf6 V1xf6
16.1g5 xc4 17.Vxf6 ixf6 18.xf8
ixc3 19.bxc3 cxf8 In the arising
endgame Black’s two minor pieces
are stronger than White’s rook
and pawns. In addition, he will
hardly manage to protect his
weakened queenside pawns.

13...xe5141b3a5

White prepares the development

of his bishop on e2. Sometimes,
this plan is tried without
the inclusion of the moves h2-h4
— h7-h5 (variation B3).
1O...e5 11.d5 d4
White cannot put up for long
with the centralised enemy
knight. He has a choice from
which square to attack it (b3 or
e2).
15.d3
This is an attempt by White to
trade the powerful enemy knight.

He would lose after 15.cd5?

a4! 16..xa4 c4—+ I. Vorobiov —
Karpasiuk, Lvov 2008.

15...fd7. Black brings his

second knight as a replacement
for the other one. 16.’xe5 xe5

197
Chapter 14

12.b3 bxc4, Vayser — Kristensen, Russia

After this move White must be 2002. Here, Black could have exchanged
ready to have his pawns doubled his opponent’s powerful
on the b-file. bishop with the line: 19...c2+!?
20.cd2 xe3 21.cxe3 and activate
The move i2.ie2 has the his rook 21...b2 22.xa6.
drawback that the knight stands White has two extra pawns, but
in the way of development of the lags considerably in development
bishop on fl. 12...c5 13.dxc6 xc6 and the dark squares in his camp
are vulnerable. 22...h6+ 23.cf2
xd5 24.exd5 c8 25.a3 c2
26.c3. White cannot protect simultaneously
his pawns on a2
and c4. 26...xa2 27.cg1 b2 28.
a3 e4. Black sacrifices a pawn in
order to open files. 29.fxe4 e8
He not only attacks a pawn, but
also prepares the transfer of his
bishop to the c5-square. White
After the removal of the knight has a considerable material advantage,
from the d4-square, the weakness but his position is difficult.
of the pawn on d6 becomes quite His rook on hi and the bishop
obvious, but Black hopes to exploit are not developed yet and his
his lead in development, pawns are weak. Black’s pieces
while the d6-pawn might be even are active and very well coordinated.
sacrificed... His initiative increases
White would not achieve much with every move.
with 14.0—0—0 e6 15.V1xd6, Rogozenco 14.ci b5!? It is important for
— Guliev, Vejen 1993, Black to eliminate the enemy
15...1xd6!? 16.xd6 ixc4= — In pawn on c4 in order to accomplish
this endgame, after the exchange the centre pawn-break d6-
of the weak d6-pawn for the c4- d5. 15.cxb5 Ze7 i6.g5 axb5 17.
pawn, Black has nothing to be g3 b4 i8.b5 d5 19.Vfxb4 e6.
afraid of. He has advanced d6-d5 at the
14.d1 e6 15.b3 b5. He sacrifices price of a pawn. 20.a4 d7 211e2
a pawn and seizes the initiative. c6 22.V41d2 d4. Black has obtained
16.V1xd6 V1xd6 17.xd6 b4. a protected passed pawn.
The queens have been exchanged 23.0—0 a8 24.di fc8oo Fuzishawa
indeed, but White’s defence is not — Gilbert, ICCF 2014. He
easy at all. The lack of development has very good compensation for
of his kingside pieces hurts the minimal material deficit. His
him horribly. 18.d5 bxc4 19. pieces are deployed much more

198
3.c3 Lg74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e3 c6 7.tIge2 a6 8.id2 b8 9.h4 h5

harmoniously then their white f7 21.0—0 e4. With a black pawn

counterparts. Black’s d4-pawn restricts on c7, this move is often wrong,
considerably White’s possibilities. because it presents White’s pieces
with the excellent d4-square.
Here, Black has nothing to worry
12...xb313.axb3c5 about, since his pawn is on c5.
Before beginning active actions 22..e2 h7 23.V1d1 ‘d7 24.xh5.
on the kingside (the pawn- White has managed to win the h5-
advance f7-f5), it is useful for pawn, but has no advantage anyway.
Black to apply some prophylactic 24...d4+ 25.sh2 f6 26.
on the opposite side of the .e2 h8 27.g3 b7oo Nyberg —
board. Pallos Muico, ICCF 2014. The
protected passed pawn and his
powerful bishop on d4 as well as
the counterplay against the weak
enemy pawn on d5 are very good
compensation for B1acks minimal
material deficit.

14...d715.d1
The placement of the pawn on
h4 precludes White from castling
kingside. So, he should better
keep his king in the centre. With
141e2 his last move White prepares the
transfer of his knight to the f2-
After 14.b4, Black should better square, from where it will support
refrain from accepting the the pawn-advance g2-g4. He also
pawn-sacrifice and play instead prepares b3-b4.
the reliable move 14...b6. There 15...b6
might follow: 15.b5 axb5 16.cxb5 Black should not allow b3-b4.
e8 17.d3 f5 18.exf5. This is a
typical approach by White in the
King’s Indian Defence. At first he
exchanges on f5 and then undermines
the enemy pawn-centre
with the move f3-f4 (18.c2, Portisch
— Nunn, Szirak 1987, 18...
f4!? 19.f2 f6oo — White’s rook
and bishop are squeezed with the
protection of the weak pawn on
h4.). 18...gxf5 19.g5 f6 20.f4

199
Chapter 14

16.f2 23.b2 V1a6 24.cxd6 Ze8= This is

This is an interesting pawn- stronger for Black than capturing
sacrifice. with the queen. It is well known
that the queen is not a good blocking
Following 16.b4 V1xb4 17.xb4 piece. Instead, the knight on
cxb4 18.d2 b3 19.a3 fc8 20. d6 will occupy an excellent position.
xb3 f8 21.cf2 e8 22.Zc3 In addition, the queen on a6
Zd7=, there arises an endgame in will prevent White from castling.
which Black can hold his defence
successfully, Emanuelli Simoncini 18...a4 19.a3 V!b6 20.fa1
— Santorelli, ICCF 2009.

16...Vfxb3 17.d3 a5!?

Black wishes to open the a-file
for his rooks with another pawn-
sacrifice.

20..Sd8
The queen frees the way forward
of the b-pawn and also eyes
the weakness on h4.
211d1 b5 22.cxb5 xb5
231xa4 xd3 24.xd3 h7
18.0—0 251f2 f6 26.g3 g5 27.hxg5
White declines the gift. xg5cx Sakhabeev — Krzyzanowski,
ICCF 2014. White has managed
If 18.V1xa5, then 18...b5= to restore the material balance,
but cannot rely on obtaining
After 18.xa5 a8, White will an advantage. It is Black who is
be forced to give the a-file to his fighting for an edge. He has the
opponent, because he has not castled initiative on the kingside. White’s
yet. 19.d1 Vb6 20.xa8 weak and isolated b2-pawn
xa8 21.b4 a6 22.bxc5 V1xc4 should be considered too.

200
Chapter 15 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.e4 d6
5.f3

deliberately the dark-squared

complex. 6...a6 7..d3, Cicak —
Das, Barcelona 2015, 7...g4!?
8.0—0 d7oo

6.f4. This is not the best

square for his bishop, because it
would come under attack after e7-
e5. Black’s plan for his further
actions is quite simple. He must
create pressure against the d4-
This is White’s most popular square (ig4, c6 and e7-e5). 6...
move in this position. He has built g4 7.ie2 c6 8.d5 e5!? 9.&e3
a powerful pawn-centre with his xf3 10.xf3 d4 11.b5, I.
previous move and now he must Ivanov — Pushkedra, Guelph
think about the development of 2002. Black’s knight has occupied
his kingside pieces and his castling. a powerful position in the centre
and White’s desire to exchange
5...O—O it is understandable. 11...e8!?
White’s basic moves in this position This is Black’s simplest road to
are 6.h3 — the Makogonov’s equality. He is prepared in advance
variation and the classical system for the opening of the e-file.
6.e2 and they will be analysed in 12.0—0 a6 13.xd4 exd4 14.&xd4
the following chapters of our book xe4=
(25 and 26-36), while here we will
deal with the less popular moves: 6.&d3. This move leads to the
A) 6.ig5 and B) 6.e3. weakening of White’s control over
the d4-square. 6...ig4 7.e3 (7.h3
We will pay some attention in xf3 8.1xf3 c6 9.ie3 d7 — see
short to White’s alternatives. 7.ie3) 7..4c6 8.h3 (8.1,e2 xf3
6.d5. This move is not convincing, 9.ixf3 e5 10.d5 ‘Zd4 — see 6if4)
because White weakens 8...&xf3 9.xf3 d7 10.d5 (10.

201
Chapter 15

e2? de5—+) 10...ce5 11.Ve2 A) 61g5

c6 12.0—0 cxd5 13.cxd5 c8=, followed
by xd3 and Va5, Domonkos
— Galyas, Balatonalmadi
2008. Black can create powerful
pressure against the enemy
queenside with the support of his
strong bishop on g7.

6.g3. If White wishes to fianchetto

his bishop on fl, he should
better not play so early e2-e4. 6...
&g4. This is the point! After White
has pushed g2-g3, he cannot play This move was played by A.
e2, therefore, Black’s plan, connected Alekhine, but gradually the popularity
with exerting pressure of 6.g5 diminished and it
against the d4-square, becomes became a rare guest in the contemporary
very unpleasant for White. 7.g2 tournament practice.
(Following 7.h3 xf3 8.V1xf3, he This is not surprising at all. There
obtains the two-bishop advantage, is a serious drawback in the placement
but lags in development. 8... of White’s bishop on g5 and
c6 9.d5. White is incapable of the knight on f3, because he does
holding the d4-square and is not control the h5-square and
forced to allow the enemy knight Black can oust and trade the important
to occupy a square at the centre of enemy dark-squared
the board. 9...d4 10.V1d1 d7 bishop with h7-h6, g6-g6 and
11.e3 c5 12.f4 a6 13.g2 b5 — h5. If White insists on the development
The dominant placement of the of his bishop on g5, he
knight provides Black with a stable should better choose the Averbakh
advantage, Becking — Jobava, system, which does not have
Boeblingen 2000.) 7...c6 8.h3 the above mentioned defect.
ixf3 91xf3 e5 10.d5 d4 1L,g2 6...h6
c5 12.dxc6. White eliminates one Black wishes to clarify immediately
of the bases of the enemy centralised the further plans of
knight (12.0—0 a6 13.a4 1a5 White’s bishop on g5.
14.a3 d7 15.h4 b6# Morihama (diagram)
— Dullemond, ICCF 2013). 71h4
12...bxc6 13.0—0 d7oo — The Black obtains a very good position
powerful position of the knight on after the other retreats of the
d4 compensates White’s two- enemy bishop.
bishop advantage, Moses — Gentil, 7.e3 g4. His knight frees
Rio de Janeiro 1949. the way forward of his f-pawn

202
 3.c3 &g74.e4 d6 5.f:3 0-0

to equality. 10.xd4 exd4 1Lxd4

with tempo. 8.d2 e5 9.d5 f5 10. 11...xe4! This tactical strike

h3 Zf6 11.exf5. White must exchange, is the key of Black’s strategy. After
because he cannot hold a few moves, exploiting the pin on
the e4-square due to his lag in development. the e-file, he will restore the material
11...gxf5 12.e2 a6 balance. 12.xe4 (12.&xg7
13.0—0 c5 14.c1 a5 — Black’s e8 13.e2 cxg7 14.xe4 xe4=
pawns on e5 and f5 control important Khasin — Tal, Hastings 1963) 12...
central squares and White V1h4 13&xg7 1xe4+ 14.1e2 Vxe2+
has problems to find an effective 15.xe2 c?xg7= Lisitsin — Vasiukov,
plan for his further actions, Aupi Riga 1954. The chances of
Royo — Ingersol, ICCF 2013. both sides are approximately equal
in the arising endgame. White has
7.d2 e5 8.d5 a6 9.d3 h5oo more space, but his pawns on c4
Cicak — Das, Barcelona 2015. and d5 are placed against the
Black is perfectly prepared for the rules, i.e. on squares with the
thematic King’s Indian pawn-advance same colour as his bishop.
f7-f5 and he can do it either
immediately, or after the preliminary 7...g5 8.ig3 h5 9.ie2
inclusion of f4 and c5. 9.d5 c6= Bronstein — Boleslavsky,
Parnu 1947.
7.f4 c6. Black wishes to exploit
the misplacement of the enemy
bishop on f4 and to advance
e7-e5 with tempo. 8.d5 (After the
simplifications there arises an approximately
equal endgame following
8.h3 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.
xd8 xd8 11.xe5 xe4 12.
xc6 ixc3+ 13.bxc3 bxc6=) 8...e5
91e3 d4. This temporary pawn-
sacrifice is Black’s simplest road

203
Chapter 15

9...e6 B) 61e3
Black is not in a hurry to play
xg3. With his last move, he has
prepared f7-f5 and in order to
prevent the threat to have his
bishop trapped after f5-f4, White
will have to remove his knight
from f3.
1O.d5

After 10.0—0, Black has a very

interesting possibility: 10...c5!?
11.d5 ixc3 12.bxc3 e5oo White’s
queenside pawn-structure has This move was played by Sultan
been compromised and the position Khan in his game against Salo
is closed, so he will hardly Flohr back in the year 1931. Later,
manage to exploit the power of Bent Larsen used to play like this
his two bishops. for a while.
6...e5
1O...f 11.d4 xg3 12.hxg3 Black must react energetically.
fxe4 13.xe6 ,xe6 14.dxe6
After the careless approach 6...
bd7 7.d2 e5 8.d5, Black cannot
attack the enemy bishop on e3
with the move g4 and ends up in
a difficult situation. 91e2
f5 10.f3 f4 1Lf2 a5 12.a3. White
is not in a hurry to castle kingside
in order to avoid Black’s possible
attack there. 12...’Zef6 13.b4 b6.
This attempt by Black to prevent
c4-c5 is doomed to failure. 14.a4
e8 15.c5± Sultan Khan — Flohr,
14..Axc3+. With this move Prague 1931.
Black not only doubles his opponent’s (diagram)
pawns on the c-file, but 7.dxe5
also deprives him of the possibility White acts in the spirit of the
to win a pawn with the move exchange variation, which will be
xe4. 15.bxc3 ‘lfif6= — White analysed in Chapter 17. There is a
must play very precisely in order slight difference in the position
not to lose his pawns, Uhlmann — (instead of e2 White has played
Fischer, Havana 1966. a move with his other bishop -

204
 3.c3 g74.e4d65.f3 0-0

10...Zxe4! This is the point!

Black regains his pawn with a tactical
strike. 11.xe4 (1L,xg7 e8
12.e2 c?xg7 13.V1d4+ 1f6 14.
1xf6+ cxf6= — His chances are
not worse in this endgame, because
White’s pawns on c4 and d5
are placed on squares with the
same colour as his bishop on e2,
Gallego Alcaraz — Blandon, Medellin
2015) 11...V1h4 12.xg7
,e3), but it does not change the (White is incapable of preserving
evaluation of the position as approximately his material advantage 12.g4 e8
equal. 13.g2 f5 14.0—0 ixe4 15.ixg7
xg2 16.c?xg2 c?xg7 17.1d4+ 1f6
7.e2 — see 6.e2 e5 7.e3. 18.V1xf6+ cxf6= Borisenko —
Sazhin, Cherepovets 2005.) 12...
7.d5 g4 81g5 f6 9.h4 h5 V1xe4+ 13.V41e2 V1xe2+ 14.xe2
10.h3 h6 11.d2oo Florean — Rechel, c?xg7 15.cd2 d7 16.he1 fe8
Pardubice 2000. 17.ac1 f5 18.f4 c5 19.d3 f6
20.xe8 xe8 21.c3 b6= Jacobs
7.h3 c6 8.d5 d4! This — Pantazi, ICCF 2013.
pawn-sacrifice is Black’s simplest
way of equalising. 9.xd4 exd4 7...dxe5 8.xd8
10.xd4 (Following 10.Vxd4 g4
11.V41d2 xe3 12.V1xe3, the dark About 8h3 ‘Zc6 — see Chapter
squares in White’s camp have 16, variation A.
been weakened, while Black’s
bishops are very powerful. 12...c5 White would not achieve much
13.d3 d7 14.0—0 V1h4 15.e2 if he avoids the trade of the
ae8 — He has sufficient compensation queens. 8.V1c2 c6!? Black does not
for the sacrificed need to be in a hurry to play the
pawn.) move bd7, which may lead to
the delay of the development of
the bishop on c8, because White
would not achieve anything if he
captures the e5-pawn. 9.c5 (Following
9.xe5 e8, White cannot
preserve his material advantage.
10.f4 bd7. The knight on e5
should be better exchanged, because
it impedes the possibility of

205
Chapter 15

Black’s rook to exert pressure away from the centre with the
against White’s pawn on e4. move c7-c6.
11.xd7 ixd7 12.0—0—0 c7 13. 10.0—0—0
g3 xe4. Black restores the material It does not seem logical for
balance with this simple White to opt here for 10.Zxf6+
combination. 14.xe4 f5 15.d3 xf6. After the trade of the powerful
xe4 16.xe4 ‘e7 17.he1 Vxe4 knight on d5, he will have no
18.V1xe4 xe4= — The endgame is compensation for the vulnerability
a draw.) 9...e8 10.d1 bd7 11. of the d4-square. 11.a3 b6 12.b4
e2. It may look like White has c5 13.b5 followed by a7-a6
seized the initiative, but this is not and e6, Lindgren — Hillarp
true. Black gradually neutralises Persson, Skelleftea 1999. White
the pressure of his opponent’s will have a difficult defence in this
pieces. 11...if8 12.xf8 cxf8 13. endgame.
0—0 e7 14.h3 h5 15.g3 Zc5 Black should not be afraid of
16.ch2 a5t — White has no compensation the move 10.g5, since he can
for the weakness of the cope reliably with it. 10...d6 11.
d4-square and his “bad” bishop xf6 ,xf6 12.b4 c6. This is a multi-purpose
on e2, Korolcar — Laevich, www. move. Black not only
bestlogic.ru 2013. ousts the enemy knight from the
centre, but plans also to centralise
8...xd89.d5 his own knight — c7-e6-d4. 13.
xf6+. With this move White at
About 9.g5 e8 10.d5 xd5 least deprives his opponent of his
11.cxd5 c6 12.c4 cxd5 — see two-bishop advantage. 13...xf6
Chapter 17, variation B2. 14.a3 c5! Black prevents c4-c5
and fixes the enemy pawn on c4
9...a6 on a square with the same colour
as his bishop. 15.b5 c7, Efimov
— Matamoros Franco, Porto Mannu
2007, 16.xe5. Black will regain
easily his pawn, but White’s
position is already worse anyway.
16...e6 17.g4 xe4+ 18.e3
d4 — White is faced with a long
and laborious defence of an inferior
position in this endgame,
without any chances of creating
counterplay.
10.d1 e8. Black defends
Black defends the c7-square. against the threat e7 and removes
He plans to oust the enemy knight his rook from a possible

206
 34c3 .g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0
pin on the h4-d8 diagonal. 11. After 12.e2, Black can transfer
xf6+ (11.d3 c6 12.xf6+ &xf6= his knight from a6 to c6 obtaining
Candela Perez — Taboas Rodriguez, a very good position. 12...
Madrid 2014) 11...xf6 12. b4 13.sb1 c6= Dragomirescu
a3 b6= Mastrovasilis — Edouard, — Spasov, Golden Sands 2013.
Eretria 2011. 12...xd813.a3
1O...ie6 White plans to occupy space
Black develops his pieces. on the queenside with b2-b4 and
c4-c5 and to increase the scope of
action of his bishop on fl. His
plans will not be realised,
though...
13...b6 14.b4 c5 15.b5 c7
16.h4

11.xf6+
White’s initiative decreases
with the exchange of every piece
and the vulnerability of the d4-
square becomes more and more
important.
Black should not be afraid of This position was reached in
the pin of his knight 11.g5, Van the game Larsen — Mortensen,
Wely — Efimenko, Moscow 2002, Aaland 1989. Here, Black could
because in the tactical complications have abandoned the plan with the
arising after 11...’fZxe4!?, his transfer of his knight to d4 and
prospects would not be worse at send it on another route e8-d6.
all. 12.ixd8 Zxf2 13.h4 xh1 From the d6-square, it would exert
14.e2 c6 15.c3 h6+ 16.cb1 powerful pressure against
f5+ 17.ca1 b4 18.xh1 c2+ White’s pawns on c4 and e4 and
19.cb1 Ze1+ 20.ca1. Now, Black will also support the pawn-advance
has a very pleasant choice. He can f7-f5. 16...’e8!? 17.h5
play 20...xg2oo, obtaining a d6 18.d2 e7 19.hxg6 hxg6
third pawn for the piece, or can 2O.f f5t — The material is equal
end the game in a perpetual check indeed, but White will be faced
following 20...c2= with an unpleasant defence of a
11...,xf6 12.gxd8+ slightly inferior position.

207
 3.c3 g74.e4 d6 54f3 0-0 6.h3 e5 7.de de

cause the position is quickly simplified. quickly the position with 11...d4
12.xd4 exd4 13.ixd4 xe4 14.
7...dxe5 xg7 c?xg7 15.xe4 xe4 16.V1a4
e8= Janev — Spasov, Blagoevgrad
2010.
He can also equalise easily following
11.a3 e8 12.e1 d4 13.
xd4 exd4 141xd4 xe4= Loiseau
— Zhou, Paris 2012.
11.e1 Vxd1 12.xd1 b4.
Black’s knight is becoming very
active. White’s e4-pawn is hanging
and Black is threatening the
rather unpleasant penetration of
his knight to the d3-square. 13.
8.V!xd8 g5 h6 14.h4 d3 15.e3 ‘Zf4co
Sienkiewicz — Glukhovtsev, ICCF
8.g5 a6 9.1xd8 xd8 — see 2009. There has arisen a very
8.1xd8. complicated endgame on the board.
Black has some initiative and
White should better exchange White’s defence is not easy at all.
queens immediately; otherwise, For example, after the straightforward
after 8.e3 ‘Zc6!?, Black’s prospects capturing of the pawn 16.
are not worse at all. White xe5?!, he ends up in a worse position
should watch carefully about the following 16...g5 17.g3 ae8
vulnerability of the d4-square. 18.f3 xe4t. Black restores the
9.e2 b6. Black prepares the development material balance and his pieces
of his bishop to b7 and are obviously more active and
from there it will exert pressure more harmoniously deployed.
against the e4-square. 10.0—0
b7 8...xd8

After 11.c5, Black can simplify

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Chapter 16

9.ig5 his opponent’s two

White is threatening to win threats: f7-f6 and h7-h6, followed
material after xf6 and d5. by xf4.) 11.. .xe4 Grivas —
Ivanchuk, Heraklion 2004.
9.d5 Za6 10.g5 d6 — see
9.g5. After 10.e2, Andreikin —
Grischuk, Astana 2012, the simplest
9.e3 ‘fZc6 10.d1 xd1+ 11. road to equality for Black
cxd1 e6 12.d3 d8= Eisenbeis would be 10...Zc5!?= and again
— Rudolph, Germany 2001. capturing the pawn would only
bring negative emotions to White:
9.xe5. White should better 11.xe5?! h6 12.f4 e8 13.h2
refrain from capturing the central fxe4i. Black restores the material
pawn. 9...xe4 10.xe4 (10. balance and seizes firmly the
xf7?? xc3—+) 10...xe5 1L,g5, initiative. White’s king is still
Campa — Ragoso, Milan 2013 (11. stranded in the centre.
e2 f5) 11...d4!? — Black’s
pieces are very active. 1O...d611.,xf6

9...a6!? 11.Zxf6+ xf6 12.xf6 xf6 —

He protects the c7-pawn and see 1L,xf6.
parries White’s threat.
11..Axf6

1O.d5
12.c1
Now, just like on the previous White wishes to exploit the
move, capturing the pawn does misplacement of Black’s rook on
not promise White anything d6 and to advance with tempo c4-
meaningful. 10.xe5 e8 11.Zd3 c5.
(But not 11.f4, due to
and White cannot parry simultaneously After White’s alternatives he

210
 34c3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.h3 e5 7.de de

cannot even equalise. an advantage in this endgame,

12.d1 g7 13.b4 d7 14.a3 c6 since he has a superior pawn-
— After the removal of White’s structure and an active rook,
knight from d5, Black will play while White’s bishop is restricted
a6-c7-e6 and a7-a5, emphasizing by his own pawns on c4 and e4.
the weakness of the d4-square 13.d3, V.Georgiev — Lesiege,
and the vulnerability of White’s Mermaid Beach 1998, 13..1d8!?
queenside pawns, Ramirez — Gareev, Black avoids the exchange of his
Washington 2011. powerful bishop. 14.b4 (14.xe5
c6 15.Ze3 c7 16.c±c2 e6 17.f3
12.xf6+. This move at least xe4t — He has succeeded in
deprives Black of his two-bishop regaining his pawn and maintains
advantage. 12...xf6 13.0—0—0, a stable advantage thanks to his
Le — Grischuk, Astana 2012, 13... two powerful bishops.) 14...
c5 14.d3 b6 15.d2 b7 16. xd3+ 15.xd3 f6. Finally, Black
Zxe5. White cannot hold on to his has managed to protect reliably
extra pawn. 16...e6 17.g4 his e5-pawn! 16.hd1 f7 17.c5
xd3+ 18.xd3 xe4 — In this d7t Now, he only needs to oust
endgame, with actions on both the enemy knight away from the
sides of the board, Black’s bishop centre with the move c7-c6 and to
will be more powerful than activate his queenside pieces and
White’s knight. then Black can begin to realise his
two bishops in this endgame.
12.0—0—0 c5 White is doomed to a long and laborious
defence of this inferior
endgame.

12.b4 c6 13.’xf6+ xf6. One of

White’s pawns is hanging and he
is forced to lose a tempo to protect
it. 14.a3 c5! Black prevents the
move c4-c5 and now White will
have a “bad” bishop on fl. 15.b5
c7. Black’s knight has abandoned
13.xf6+ xf6 14.d8+. The the edge of the board. His
penetration of White’s rook to the plan includes undermining his
last rank seems dangerous for opponent’s pawn-structure on the
Black, but he manages to play b7- queenside with a7-a6. 16.e2 (16.
b6 and b7. 14...cg7 15.xe5 d3 d6) 16...e6 17.0—0—0 g7
xf2 16.Zd3 xd3+ 17.,xd3 b6, 18.a4 a6t Huebner — Ju.Polgar,
followed by b7, getting rid of the Biel 1993. White’s defence will be
pin of his bishop. Black will have difficult, because the majority of

211
Chapter 16

his pawns are placed against the move c7-c6.

rules, i.e. on squares with the 16...b8
same colour as his bishop, moreover Black’s rook, which was completely
that the d4-square would need idle on a8 for a long time,
permanent protection against the joins in the actions.
penetration of the enemy knight. 171c4
White maintains the balance
12...b6 with this move.
Black prevents c4-c5.
13.b4 He fails to do this with the
White is following his plan. line: 17.h4 b4 18.xb4 xb4
13..1d8 19.c4 e8t Can — Cheparinov,
Black not only removes his Albena 2014. Black has exchanged
bishop under the attack, but also his knight, which was passive at
frees his knight on a6 from the the edge of the board. His prospects
protection of the c7-pawn. are preferable, since he has
two powerful bishops, while
White’s far-advanced c6-pawn
may turn out to be weak in the future.

17...c5 18.c3 e8 19.0—0

g7oo — Black will have some difficulties
to develop his pieces and
to preserve his two-bishop advantage,
because White’s bishop on
c4 controls the a6 and e6-squares,
Kudr — Eldridge, ICCF 2012.
14.c5
White is very consistent. Now,
his bishop on fi will become much B) 7.d5
more active.

It would be too slow for him to

choose here 14.a3 c6 15.’Ze3 f6 —
Black has succeeded in protecting
his e5-pawn and ousted the enemy
knight on d5 from the centre,
Grivas — Ivanchuk, Iraklion 2004.

14...bxc5 15.bxc5 e6 16.c6

White prevents the undermining

212
 3.tIc3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.h3 e5 7.d5 Qh5

The position in the centre has Bi) 81e3, B2) 8.h2 and B3)
been stabilised. Now, Black must 8.g3.
prepare the pawn-advance f7-f5,
which is typical for the King’s Indian His alternatives are less popular
Defence in order to create and often lead to difficulties
counterplay. for him.
7...h5!?
The knight not only frees the 8.e2 Zjf4oo
way forward of his f-pawn, but is
also ready to go to f4, exerting unpleasant 8.Zg1 a6 9.e3 Ve8 — see
pressure against White’s 8.e3.
kingside.
8.g5 V1e8. Black’s queen is
He should better play immediately very well placed on this square.
Zh5, because if he slows After f7-f5 and the exchanges of
down, playing for example 7...a5, pawns on f5, it will protect the
then White would have the resource knight on h5. 9.Vfd2. White prevents
8.g4!?, making his opponent’s Zf4 (Following 9.e2 f4
knight-sortie at the edge of 10.xf4 exf4 11.V1d2, Kazhgaleyev
the board impossible. Then, Black — Barbero, Lisbon 2000, Black
will have to manoeuvre his knight can simply capture a pawn 11...
to the queenside — f6—d7— xc3!? 12.V1xc3 V1xe4t). 9...a6
c5(b6), but all this looks a bit 10.e2 f5 11.exf5. White must give
clumsy, moreover that his king up the centre, because Black was
will be deprived of an important threatening f5-f4 and h7-h6, trapping
defender and White will have an White’s bishop. 11...gxf5 12.
easy task to organise an offensive 0—0 f6 13.ae1 c5 14.e3
on the kingside. ce4 15.xe4 xe4 16.1c2 b6.
Black’s powerful pawns on e5 and
f5 promise him an advantage, but
he needs to prevent his opponent’s
queenside counterplay.
With his next few moves he impedes
the pawn-advance c4-c5.
17.d2 Zc5 18.’Zb3 V1g6 19.xc5
bxc5 Kireev — Demchenko, ICCF
2013.

It seems too slow for White to

choose 8.d2, moreover that he
Following 7...h5, White has a may have difficulties later with
choice between three main lines: the development of his bishop on

213
Chapter 16

ci. 8...fe8 9.g3 f5. White has This is White’s most principled
failed to prevent f7-f5. i0.e2 ‘Zf6 move. He wishes to play b2-
il.g4 ‘Za6. Black’s knight is headed b4 and c4-c5, after which Black’s
for c5 in order to increase the knight on a6 will be totally misplaced
pressure against the e4-square. and he will need to lose
i2.Zfi (It is preferable for White plenty of time to bring it back into
to opt for 12.f3 e7oo Sakaev — the actions (b8-d7).
Radjabov, Khanty-Mansiysk 2009, White’s plan has some drawbacks,
although even then, Black would however. His kingside
have no problems at all.) i2... pieces remain undeveloped and
xe4 i3.xe4 fxe4 i4.g3 c5 his king is stranded at the centre
i5.e3 b6 i6.b4 Zd3+ i7.xd3 of the board. It is well known, this
exd3 i8.e4. Black has the two- is not without risks...
bishop advantage and must strive
to open the position. i8...b5! — About 9.g3 f5 — see variation
White has great problems to find B3.
a safe haven for his king, because
both his flanks have been weakened After White’s alternatives
by moves with his knightpawns, there arise complicated double-
Istratescu — Can, Graz edged positions.
20i4. 9.e2. This is his worst decision.
9...f4 i0.,xf4. After this
exchange the dark squares in
Bi) 81e3 White’s camp are considerably
From this square White’s bishop weakened, while Black can even
will support the pawn-advance sacrifice his f4-pawn... In addition,
c4-c5. if White really wanted to
8...a6 trade his bishop for the enemy
Black prevents this plan. knight, he did not need to lose a
tempo for the move e3. iO...exf4.
Black’s bishop on g7 has become
considerably more active. 1i.V1d2
c5 i2.V1xf4 e8 i3.d2 ff5!
Black increases his pressure
against the e4-pawn and wishes
to provoke f2-f3, which will weaken
White’s position even more.
i4.f3. He cannot capture the enemy
bishop, because he would lose
his queen after that. 14..1e5
i5.V1h6 V41f6. The dark squares in
9.a3 White’s camp are horribly weak

2i4
 34c3 g74.e4 d6 5.if3 0-0 6.h3 e5 7.d5 cih5

and accepting the sacrifice of the 12.ixf4 exf4 13.fxg6 \1xg6 14.cff1
bishop would lead to the opening (141g4, Vescovi — Kotronias,
of the e-file for Black’s rook and Bursa 2010, 14...c5!?) 14...c5
rapid demise for White: 16.exf5? 15.f3 d7 16.sg1, Wegner —
d3+ 17.cd1 f4 18.de4 d4 Cramling, Hamburg 1991 (16.fd2
19.V1h4 Zb4+ 20.ce1 c2+ 21. ae8!?=) 16...ae8!? Black has
c±?fl e3—+ Hauswald — Voelker, sufficient compensation for his
www.remoteschach.de 2013. minimal material deficit. He has
the two-bishop advantage and
9.g1. The retreat of White’s actively deployed pieces, while
knight to gl, or h2 is encountered White has not even completed the
very often in similar positions. He development of his queenside
wishes to impede the pawn-advance pieces.
f’7-f5 by exerting pressure
against he knight on h5. The position 9.h2 e8 10.e2 (following
is closed so Black is incapable 10.g3, White does not prevent
of punishing his opponent for this the pawn-advance 10.. .f5, for example:
obvious loss of time. He equalises 11.exf5 gxf5 12.e2 f6
effortlessly, though... 9...1e8 10. 13.Id2 c5oo Ibragirnov — Schaefer,
e2 f5 Senden 2001) 10...f5. This is
an energetic move. In his fight
for the initiative Black is ready
not only to weaken his pawn-
structure, but even to sacrifice a
pawn.

Black should not be afraid of

11.,xh5, because his two-bishop
advantage would compensate the
defects of his pawn-structure. 11...
gxh5 12.f3 fxe4 13.g5 (following
13.d2 V1g6 14.Ve2 f5 15. It seems too risky for White to
0—0—0White cannot even play 11.0—0, Gheorghiu — Cooper,
equalise, Anastasian — Neverov, Novi Sad 1990. After 11...if4!?co,
Minsk 1990) 13...V41g6 14.gxe4 White’s king will be unsafe, since
f5= his castling position has been
11.exf5 1f4• Black sacrifices a considerably weakened by the
pawn and seizes the initiative. move h2-h3.

215
Chapter 16

1Lxh5. White weakens his positional pluses approximately

opponent’s pawn-structure, but is balance each other, Rodriguez —
deprived of his powerful light- Peng, Kuala Lumpur 1993.
squared bishop. 11...gxh5 12.g4
(12.Zf3, Anastasian — Neverov, 9.d2. This retreat of the
Minsk 1990, 12...f4!?oo) 12...f4 knight has the defect that White’s
13.d2 b4. Suddenly White has bishop on e3 has nowhere to retreat
problems with the protection of after f7-f5-f4. 9...V41e8
his d3-square. 14.b5, Grunberg
— Popescu, Calarasi 1995. Here,
Black had an interesting pawn-
sacrifice and eventually even a
rook-sacrifice. 14...Zd3+!? 15.
ce2 Zc5 16.xc7 f3+! Black begins
an attack against the enemy
king. Now, White cannot restrict
Black’s counterplay on the king-
side with the move f2-f3. 17.cf1
V1g6 White’s g4-pawn needs Or 10.a3 f5 11.b3 b6 12.Vc2,
protection and the attempt to win Bachmann — Istratescu, Graz
a rook — 18.xa8? would lead him 2014, 12...c6!?oo
to a rapid catastrophe, for example: White weakens the f4-square
18...hxg4 19.hxg4 xg4—+ after the careless move 10.g4 f4
20.xg4 V1xg4 21.g1 V1h3+ 22. 10.b3 f5 11.c5. This pawn-
ce1d3# sacrifice seems to be too optimistic.
11.exf5 Zf4 121xf4 (White 11...f4 12.d2 Zxc5 13.xc5
would not achieve much with dxc5 14.b4, Wang — Ding Liren,
12.0—0 xe2+ 13.Vxe2 gxfsoo China 2010, 14...f7!? Black does
V.Georgiev — Moingt, Le Mans not lose time to protect his c5-
1996.) 12...exf4 13.fxg6. He follows pawn. It is much more important
the well known chess wisdom for him to activate his bishop on
— if you have to suffer, do it g7, restricted by his own eS-pawn.
at least for a pawn! (The move 15.bxc5 f8 — The position has
13.0—0 does not even equalise. become sharper, while White has
13...xf5 14.f3, Flores — Vocaturo, not developed his kingside pieces
San Cristobal 2012, 14... yet and his king is still stranded in
xc3!? 15.bxc3 Zc5t — White has the centre...
no compensation for his weakened 10.e2 f4 11.ixf4 exf4 12.
queenside pawn-structure.) 0—0, Pogonina — Savina, Chita
13...1xg6 14.cf1 c5 15.c1 (15. 2015, 12...xc3!? 13.bxc3 Ve5 14.
Zf3 d7 — see 9.Zg1) 15...a5 — Vc2 c5 — White’s pawn-structure
White’s extra pawn and Black’s has been compromised and

216
 3.tIc3 g74.e4 d6 5.t1if3 0-0 6.h3 e5 7.d5 tIh5

Black’s knight has occupied an excellent because after 16.e3 xc3 17.
blocking square. bxc3 xc3+ 18.d2, Cifuentes
10.g3. White restricts the enemy Parada — Ye, Tilburg 1994, Black
knight. 10...f5 11.exf5 gxf5 12. can refuse the gift with 18...1e5!,
e2 f6. preserving his control over the
long diagonal.

9...f510.b4

13.f4 exf4. Black is evidently

better prepared for the opening of
the game. 14.xf4 h5 15.’Zf3
c5 Podzielny — Kummerow, 1O...ch8
Recklinghausen 2011. This is useful prophylactic.
13.g5 1g6 14.h4 h6 15.xf6 Black removes his king away from
Vxf6 — He has no compensation the a2-g8 diagonal and frees the
for Black’s bishop-pair, Umansky g8-square, which may be needed
— Wolfsteiner, Bayern 2007. for his rook after White castles
13.1b3 d7oo Sethuraman — kingside.
Shyam, New Delhi 2010. 11.c1 c5
13.g1 ch8 14.b3 V1g6oo Black must not allow c4-c5.
Akesson — Hellers, Naestved Now, White must decide
1988. whether he will open the game in
13.’fZf3 d7oo — Black’s play is the centre.
much simpler in this complicated 12.dxc6
position, since his king is much After this exchange, Black’s
more reliably placed, Lushenkov central pawns may become very
- Pervakov, Odessa 2008. dangerous.
Following 13.b3, Black has a
very promising pawn-sacrifice. White would not achieve much
13...f4! 14.gxf4 exf4 15.xf4 e4. if he continues the game with a
After the opening of the centre closed centre. 12.b1 id7 13.1c1
White will have problems with b6. Black completes at first some
providing a safe haven for his prophylactic on the queenside
king, while his attempt to sacrifice and then begins active actions on
the exchange would not work, the kingside. 14.d3 ‘e7 15.0—0

217
Chapter 16

f4 16.d2 g5 17.1c2 g4 18.hxg4 xc6. There begin interesting

xg4t, followed by g8, ff6, preparing tactical complications. 19...V41h4
an attack on the g-file, Myers 20.V1xe4 ,xc3 2Lf3 xh3! Black
— Blanco Gramajo, ICCF 2013. cannot capture immediately the
bishop on e3, because he would
12...bxc6l3.exf5 lose his queen. Therefore, he sacrifices
a piece on order to open
13.e2 fxe4 14.xe4 d5 15. the g-file and to remove his queen
cxd5 cxd5oo — Black’s central from the h4-square with tempo.
pawns have been moved forward, 22.gxh3 V1g5+ 23.g2 fxe3 24.
Flear — Cvitan, Bern 1993. V1xe3 11g7t — White’s compensation
for the piece is insufficient,
13...gxf5 141e2 Perez Fernandez — Benlloch
Guirau, ICCF 2009.
White loses a piece after 14.
Zxe5? Ve8 15.Zxc6 f4—+ Todorovic 15..Se8 16.0—0 f4 171d2
— Kr.Georgiev, Stara Pazova c7 18.ce1 a5 19S1c2 axb4
2009. 20.axb4 g8—*

14...f6

White’s defence against the attack

of Black’s pieces on the g-file
15Sa4 will be very difficult.
This move was recommended 21.ch1 Vh5
by John Watson in his book “Strategic It has already become evident
Chess Opening Repertoire that White will fail to hold the g3
for White”, Gambit 2012. and h3-squares, since his pieces
cannot come in time to help in the
Following 15.0—0 c7 16.V1c2, protection of his king.
Black succeeds in advancing 22.d4 V!g5 23.m VTh6
quickly his e and f-pawns. 16... 24.e4 xe4 25S!xe4 a3
fe8 17.cd1 e4 18.d4 f4 19. 26S!xc6

218
 3.Qc3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.h3 e5 7.d5 4h5

White gobbles material in 8...V!e8 91e2 f4 101f3

complete desperation. f5
26...e627S!xd6
His win of two pawns is absolutely
irrelevant, because White’s
king is beyond salvation.
27..1f628.g1g5
Black exchanges an important
defender of the enemy king.
29.xg5 xg5 3O.xf4
White must already pay and
he only prolongs his resistance for
a while sacrificing a piece.
30...exf4 311h5 g8 32.m
e3 0—1 Sage — Giannetto, ICCF 11.g3
2014. 33.xe3 fxe3 341g4 White sacrifices a pawn and
xg4 35.fxg4 V!h4 36S!e6 f2 ousts the enemy knight to the
37Sf5 xf5 38.gxf5 e2 39.e1 edge of the board.

After his alternatives he has no

B2) 8.h2
White’s knight frees a square
for his bishop. He plans to play f6 cd3 16.fxg7 xg7t — His pieces
e2-f3. The bishop will protect
reliably the g2-pawn on the f3-
square and will increase his control 1999.
over e4. What is even more
important is that Black will have
great difficulties to exchange it
there.
chances of obtaining an advantage
in the opening.
11.f1. White continues with
the clumsy manoeuvre of his
knight. Now, he wishes to transfer
it to g3, but still, this loss of three
tempi, to move the knight from f3
to g3, seems too lavish. 11...a6
12.g3 Zc5 13.0—0. White has
fortified reliably the strategically
important e4-square, but has lost
his control over the d3-square
and Black exploits this immediately.
13...Zcd3 14.exf5 Zxc1 15.
are much more actively deployed,
Bosch — Golubev, Dieren
1Le3a6
(diagram)
12.0—0 Zc5 — see 11.0—0.

219
Chapter 16

is not in a hurry to begin active actions

on the kingside and brings
prudently some reserves. 14.exf5
gxf5 15.xf4 Now, Black’s fianchettoed
bishop will become
much more active, without an opponent,
but White could not put
up for long with the enemy knight
on f4. 15...exf4 16.c1 e5 17.Vc2
12.a3 e7 13.b4, A.T.Kolev — 1Ig7oo Straka — Bescos Anzano,
Ermenkov, Sunny Beach 2012. ICCF 2012. Black’s prospects are
White has restricted the enemy not worse. He has the two-bishop
knight on a6, but has weakened advantage and good attacking
his queenside and his king would prospects on the g-file. White can
be rather unsafe if he castles hardly exploit effectively the defects
queenside. 13...b8!?oo, followed of his opponent’s pawn-
by d7-f6. Black’s knight has structure and his knight is very
nothing to do on a6 and he transfers passive at the edge of the board.
it to a more active position. 12.e3 Zc5. Black increases
12.h4. White is planning to his pressure against the e4-pawn.
push g2-g3, avoiding sacrifices.
12...V1e7 13.g3, Kavalek — Kasparov,
Bugojno 1982, 13...Zh3!?oo
— After the opening of the f-file,
Black’s knight on h3 will support
his attack against the f2-pawn.

11.0—0. White’s kingside has

been weakened by the move h2-
h3, so his castling kingside looks a
bit risky. 11...’Za6 Following 13.b4 xe4 14.xe4
fxe4 15.xe4 a5 16.a3, Kuzmin —
Gufeld, Baku 1972, Black can begin
active actions on the queen-
side with the move 16...b5!?#
13.xc5. White solves in a radical
fashion the problem with the
protection of the e4-square. 13...
dxc5 14.h4. He wishes to oust the
enemy knight with the move g2-
g3, but with his last move creates
12.e1 f7 13.e3 d7. Black a target for Black to organise

220
 3.c3 g74.e4 d65.tif3 0-0 6.h3e57.d5 h5

counterplay on the kingside. 14... compensation for the compromised

g5! He sacrifices temporarily a shelter of his king, Vorobiov
pawn in order to activate considerably — Guilleux, Lille 2012.) 13...
his queen. 15.hxg5 g6 16. f6 14.exf5 e4 15..g2 gxf5 16.g5
a4 V1xg5 17.ae1 a5. Black prepares g6 17.!d2 c5 18.ad1 d7
the transfer of his rook to 19.ch1 Zd34 — In order to evaluate
the kingside with a6-g6(h6). 18. correctly this position, it
exf5 .xf5 19.e4. White ousts the would be enough to compare the
enemy queen to the 6th rank and placement of the knights on d3
thus impedes the transfer of his and h2, Cannon — Limbert, ICCF
queen’s rook into the attack. 19... 2013.
Ig6 20.ch1 sh8 21.a3 c6!?
Black has the two-bishop advantage 11...xh3 12.1g2 fxe4
and should strive to open the Black must present his opponent’s
position. 22.g4 ic8 23.dxc6 1xc6 pieces with the wonderful
24.V1xc5 V1h6 25.d1 e6 26.Ve3 e4-square to avoid the loss of a
d4= — White has succeeded in piece.
winning a pawn, but the dominating
position of Black’s knight at
the middle of the board and the
vulnerability of White’s g4-pawn
balance the prospects, Brewer —
Nefedov, ICCF 2014.

11.h4. White wishes to play g2-

g3 quite comfortably, without
sacrificing material. Still, in a
sharp position like this, every
tempo counts and the time White
has lost for the move h3-h4, which 131e3
was hardly necessary, may tell White protects the f2-pawn.
later. 11...a6 12.g3 (It is preferable
for White to opt here for 12. The move 13.xe4 does not
.e3 e7 — see 11.e3.) 12...h5 seem so precise, because after
13.0—0 (After 13.exf5, Black has 13...&f5 White will have difficulties
at his disposal an energetic pawn- with the defence of his f2-
break in the centre — 13...e4! 14. pawn.
.e2 e3. His pieces will develop a (diagram)
crushing attack against White’s The natural move 14.e3 does
monarch, stranded in the centre. not work, because of 14...f4fl
15.g4 exf2+ 16.cxf2 Zf6 17.c±?g2 Moynihan — Jones, Kilkennv
gxf5 18.g5 Ee4 — White has no 2012. Black centralises his knight

221
Chapter 16

13...a6 14.xe4

White can postpone capturing

of the pawn for a few moves. 14.
V1d2 c5 15.,xc5 dxc5 16.xe4
f5 17.g4, Vachier Lagrave —
Habu, Villandry 2011. Here,
Black’s simplest road to equality
is 17...Ve7!? 18.xh3 xg4 19.h4
with the help of a tactical resource. — The powerful placement
White’s compensation for of White’s knight at the centre
the pawn is insufficient. compensates his sacrificed pawn,
14.f1 a6 15.1e2 (15.f3 h5T but not more than that.
Riazantsev — Sjugirov, Olginka
2011) 15...V1d7T Black is better 14...b8!?
and White is forced to defend. For White has fortified reliably his
example, the natural move 16. centre and kingside, therefore
e3?! leads immediately to a lost Black wishes to open a second
position for him following 16... front. He is even ready to part
f4! Black sacrifices a piece, with his a7-pawn in order to do
opens the e-file and begins an attack that.
against the enemy king. 17.
gxf4 exf4 18.d2 f3! 19.xf3 ae8
20.0—0—0. White’s king will not
be safe on the queenside, since after
20...V1a4, Black’s queen will
win the a2-pawn. 21.g4 ixe4
22.xe4 Vxa2—+ Stocek — Stellwagen,
Porto Carras 2011.
14.g4 White wishes to exchange
in a tactical way the enemy
bishop on f5, which protects
the knight on h3. 14...h5 15.ef6+
xf6 16.h6+ g7 17.xf5+ gxf5 15S!e2
18.xh3 h8 19.f3 h4 Semcesen
— Hillarp Persson, Gothenburg White’s capturing of the pawn
2011. The tactical complications would lead to simplifications
are over. The two-bishop advantage which would be rather difficult to
is not so valuable in closed evaluate. 15.xa7 f5 16.f3 (It
positions and White does not would not work for White to
have full compensation for the choose here 16.xb8, because of
pawn. 16...xe4 17.,xe4 xf2—+) 16...

222
 34c3 g74.e4 d6 5.tIf3 0-0 6.h3 e5 7.d5 h5

a8 17.e3 h5 18.a3 b5 19.V1e2 be8 22.a3 &xe4 23.fxe4 f3

bxc4 20.V1xc4 ‘c5. Black sacrifices 24S!d2 xe4+. Black has managed
another pawn in order to to win a third pawn for the
eliminate the blockade of the e4- piece. 25.e3 V!f4 26.ctfl d4.
square. 21.xc5 dxc5 22.xc5 Black’s attack seems to be very
f7oo — White has an extra pawn, powerful, but White still has some
but his king at the centre of the resources to maintain the balance.
board is an excellent target for 27.e1 ‘a2! This move is
Black’s pieces, Yalov — Robson, original indeed, but still insufficient
ICCF 2012. for Black to obtain an advantage.
281d7. White wishes to
Following 15.V1d2 b6 16.f3 c5 transfer his bishop to b3 in order
17.xc5 bxc5 18.Zf1, Black can try to trap the enemy knight on a2.
an excellent positional knight- 28...c?h7 291a4 &xe3 30.
sacrifice — 18...’f4! 19.gxf4 exf4. xe3, Draw, Blanco Gramajo —
He has obtained two pawns for Robson, ICCF 2013. After 30...f2
the piece, two powerful bishops 31.e2 32Th2 V!g3 33.
and a clear-cut plan, connected exf2 xf2+ 34Sxf2 xe3,
with a kingside pawn-offensive. Black regains his piece and
White can hardly coordinate his preserves his two extra pawns,
pieces and find a safe haven for but his king is incapable of
his king. 20.b1 f5 21.1e2 h5 avoiding the perpetual check.
22.fd2 g5oo von Wedel — Kuhne, 35.Vf7+ ch6 36.Vf8+ h7
BdF 2013. 37S!f7=

15..1f5 16. h5 17.f1

B3) 8.g3

17...f4! We have already

discussed this piece-sacrifice in White solves radically the
our previous notes. 18.gxf4 exf4 problem with the penetration of
191f2 b4 2O.b1 f7 211h3 the enemy knight to the f4-square.

223
Chapter 16

8...a6
Before advancing f7-f5, Black
brings into the actions his queen’s
knight. Later, it may go to c5, increasing
the pressure against the
e4-square.
9.h2
This is prophylactic against f7-
f5.
12.Vc2, Bachmann — Lokander,
9.d2 f5 10.exf5 gxf5 11.h4, Stockholm 2016, 12...
Lalith — Praneeth, New Delhi c6!?oo — After the opening of the
2016, 11...’Zf6!?= c-file, White’s queen on c2 may
turn out to be misplaced.
After White’s other responses 12.Zd2 Ve8. Black transfers
Black advances f7-f5 obtaining a his queen to g6 and White must
very good position. For example: already fight for equality. 13.b3
9.a3 f5 10.b4, Berkovich — Malisauskas, (It is possible that White’s best
Budapest 1992, 10... move here is 13.Vc2, Van Kemenade
c5!?oo — Bennett, Liverpool
2008, 13...1g6oo — Black has no
Or 9.g2 f5 10.0—0. This castling problems at all, but at least White
seems a bit risky, since is not worse.) 13...V41g6 14.1d2
White’s kingside has been weakened. b4 Black creates the threat f5-
10...f4 11.g4 f6 12.g5 h5 f4. 15.f4. White parries his opponent’s
13.a3 h6 14.gxh6 xh6 15.b4 threat, but weakens his
f6oo, followed by g6-g5 and the pawn-structure. 15...h6 16.ih4
transfer of Black’s knight to exf4 17.gxf4, Bachmann — Gin,
g6(h5), Laliga — Fonteneau, ICCF Tromso 2014. Here, Black could
2015. His prospects are not worse. have tried a very promising
If Black manages to advance g5- piece-sacrifice: 17...e4!? 18.xe4
g4, then White’s king may come fxe4 — He has good attacking
under a dangerous attack. prospects and if White accepts
the gift, his position would immediately
9.e2 f5 10.exf5 gxf5 1Lg5 become hopeless. 19.
(11.g5 f6 12.g4?! e7 13.g1 Vxb4 xf4 20.f2 1g2 21.fl
c6t — The position is opened and xh3—+, followed by af8, or e4-
White’s king is still at the centre e3. White will be forced to castle
of the board, Nalbandian — Manik, here in order not to be checkmated
Pardubice 1996; 12.e3, Grover at the middle of the board. He
— Ding, Athens 2012, 12... will lose however, his bishop on
Vfe7!?oo) 11...’Zf6 f 2.

224
 3.tIc3 g74.e4 d6 5.tIf3 0-0 6.h3 e5 7.d5 h5

9.e3. White plans to castle and b7-b5. 2Ld3 V1f6 22.hf1

queenside and his king will be a6oo, followed by b7-b5, Romm —
safer there than at the centre of Raijmaekers, ICCF 2015. Black’s
the board. 9...f5 10.exf5 gxf5 11. powerful bishop on g7 compensates
‘fZg5 (11.V1d2 f4oo Heimann — Andersen, the weakness of his isolated
Biel 2015; 11.Zxe5 xg3 f5-pawn.
12.fxg3 xe5 13.V41f3 Vf6oo Gibbs
— Asenov, Crawley 2016) 11...f6 Following 9.d2 c5 10.b4
d7, it will be a problem for
White to find a safe haven for his
king, because his pawn-structure
has been compromised on both
flanks and to leave his king in the
centre with a board full of pieces
will be too precarious. 1Le2 a5
12.bxa5 f5. Black sacrifices material
trying to open the position
and to organise a crushing attack
12.V1c2, Goganov — Belyakov, against the enemy king. 13.xh5
Khanty-Mansiysk 2015, 12... gxhs 14.Vxh5 c5 15.b3 d3+
c6!?oo 16.ce2 xc1+ 17.axc1 d7oo —
12.V41d2 1e7. Black covers the Black has good compensation for
e6-square against the penetration the sacrificed pawns, Bareev —
of the enemy knight. 13.0—0—0 h6 Krnan, Kitchener 2015.
14.f3 c5 15.,xc5. White exchanges
the powerful enemy 9...c5
knight and weakens the eS-pawn,
but presents his opponent with
the two-bishop advantage (There
arises a very complicated position
after 15.g1 fe4 16.xe4 xe4oo
Del Rio de Angelis — Perpinya Rofes,
Montcada 2015.) 15...dxc5 16.
e1 e4 17.h4 f7 181e2 e8
19.f3. White opens the f-file and
wishes to create pressure against
the weak enemy f5-pawn. 19...
exf3 20.xf3 d6. Black’s knight
has occupied a very good position. 1O.b4
It not only protects the weakness White ousts the enemy knight
on f5, but can also support his from its active position, but makes
queenside counterplay with a7-a6 castling queenside impossible.

225
Chapter 16

10.e3 a5 protection of the c4-square, Pashikian

— Nedev, Plovdiv 2012.

After 11.e2 aS 12.b5, White

will be incapable of breaking on
the queenside, because the c5-
square is reliably controlled by
Black. 12...f5!? This is an interesting
pawn-sacrifice for the initiative.
13.xh5 gxhs 14.V1xh5 Zf6
15.V1e2 xe4 16.xe4 fxe4 17.g4
After 11.h4, Black can crate Ve8oo Jakovenko — Amin, Baku
very good counterplay on the 2015.
queenside with a5-a4, c7-c6 and
Va5. 11...a4 12.e2 ‘Zf6 13.Vc2 c6 11...a512.a3axb4
14.g4 cxd5 15.cxd5 V1a5 16.0—0 It will be useful for Black to
d7oo Troia — Galliano, ICCF 2012. open the a-file for his rook.
1Le2 f6 12.f3 e8 13.g4. 13.axb4 f5oo
This only weakens White’s king-
side pawn-structure, while he
fails to prevent f7-f5 anyway. 13...
f5 14.gxf5 gxf5 15.Zf1 V1h4 16.
xc5 dxc5 17.Ve2, Morgan — ConIon,
Telford 2005, 17...a6!
Black’s rook joins into the attack.
18.g3 af6
1Lg2 b6 12.0—0 d7 13.g4
Ve8 14.f3 ch8 15.e1 a4 16.c1.
Black has managed to fortify his
position on the queenside and
now he begins active actions on The position is very complicated,
the opposite side of the board. but Black’s game is much
16...fsoo O’Hare — Barria, ICCF easier from the practical point of
2010. view. For example, White’s attempt
to win a pawn 14.exf5?!
1O...d7 iliThi (It is better for him to opt for
White plays this with the idea 14.g2, Milanovic — Pavlovic,
to counter a7-a5 with a2-a3. Kragujevac 2013, 14...Zdf6!?oo),
would lead to a difficult position
Following 1Ld2 aS 12.a3 f5 for him. 14...e4! Black opens the
13.g2?! b6T, White will have diagonal for his bishop and frees
permanent difficulties with the the eS-square for his knight.

226
 3.tIc3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.h3 e5 7.d5 h5

15.b5 e5 16.g4, Aronian — R. ful resource at his disposal 16...

Mamedov, Berlin 2015.
Here, Black had a very power-
e7! He sacrifices a piece and begins
a decisive attack. 17.gxh5
xf5 181e3 a2. This is where
the opening of the a-file proved to
be very useful. 19S1b3 fxf2!
Black sacrifices another rook on
the altar of the attack. 201xf2
d3+ 21.cd1 xf2 22.c3 V1g5
231e2 Vg2 24.f1 xc3—+,
White is incapable of avoiding
huge material losses. His discoordinated
forces are helpless against
the crushing offensive of his opponent’s
pieces.

227
 CLASSICAL SYSTEM

1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ig7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0—0 6.ie2

After this move there arises on His further plans include the
the board the Classical system, move c6, in order to exert pressure
which is the most popular and against the enemy pawn-
principled set-up for White in the centre and to provoke the move
King’s Indian Defence. d4-d5, after which there will begin
It was named like this, because active actions on the flanks.
White plays the opening according Then, Black will begin to prepare
to the classical principles. At the typical pawn-advance for the
first he occupies the centre with King’s Indian Defence — f7-f5.
his pawns and develops his In Chapter 18 we will analyse
knights to the most natural the Gligoric variation (7.e3) and
squares in the opening — f3 and c3 the move 7.d5 in Chapters 19 and
and then with his last move he 20. The chapters from 21 to 27
prepares castling kingside, so that will be devoted to White’s most
he can evacuate his king from the popular move in this position —
centre of the board as quickly as 7.0—0.
possible.
6...e5 It seems very bad for him to
Black finally begins to fight for opt for 7.h3, because after 7...
the centre. exd4 8.xd4, Black forces the

228
move f2-f3. 8...e8 9.f3. The combination
of f2-f3 and h2-h3 leads
to the weakening of the dark-
squares on White’s kingside.
Black can exploit this immediately
with 9...h5 10.0—0, Vark —
Stein, Parnu 1971, 10...c5!? 11.&c2

7.g5. This bishop-sortie target for attack for Black’s pieces.

should better be done after the 12.Vd3 Za6 13.f3, Hartikainen
preliminary move d4-d5 — see the — Ehrnrooth, Finland 1990. This
Petrosian system in Chapter 20. move is necessary; otherwise,
7...h6. This is the simplest for White cannot hold on to his e4-
Black. He ousts immediately the pawn, but now, after 13...Zh5!?,
enemy bishop. 8.h4 (Following Black seizes the initiative, forcing
8.,xf6?! V1xf6t, Black’s two-bishop his opponent to begin defending.
advantage provides him with a It is possibly best for White to
stable edge.) 8...g5 continue with 9.dxe5 gxh4 10.
(diagram) exf6 Vxf6 11.V1d2, Korchnoi — Kavalek,
9.g3 g4. Black ousts the enemy Buenos Aires 1978, 11...
knight to the edge of the a6oo — Black’s bishops are very
board. 10.h4 exd4 11.Vxd4 e8. powerful, but his kingside pawnstructure
White’s e4-pawn is an excellent has been weakened.

229
Chapter 17 1.d4 tf6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ig7 4.e4 d6
5•tf3 0—0 6.ie2 e5 7.dxe5
The Exchange Variation

Following 8.g5, there arises

an endgame again. 8...V1xd1+ 9.
xd1 Za6. Black protects his c7-
pawn and prepares the transfer
of his knight to the c5-square,
from where it will exert pressure
against the e4-square. 10.0—0
(Capturing of the pawn 10.xe5,
Mickevicius — Kotronias, Pardubice
2007, leads to simplifications:
10...xe4!? 11.xe4xe5=)
White cannot fight in this way 10...c5 11.,xf6 jxf6. White
for an advantage in the opening, parts with his powerful dark-
but this line is still often played in squared bishop and prepares the
the tournament practice and Black penetration of his knight to the
must be well prepared for it. d5-square. 12.b4 e6 13.d5,
As a rule, White uses this exchange Vospernik — Tratar, Ljubljana
in three cases: 1993, 13...g7 14.e7+ ch8 15.
1.When the rating of the Black ‘Zxc8. This is a very sensible decision.
player is much higher and White White deprives immediately
plays for a draw. his opponent of the two-bishop
2.When the draw is a quite advantage, which might tell in the
suitable result for the White player future. 15...fxc8!? 16.c5 a5= —
according to his tournament The position has been considerably
situation. simplified and the draw is the
3.When the White player considers most likely result.
that he plays endgames
better than his opponent. 8...xd8
7...dxe5 8Sxd8 (diagram)
About 8.0—0 c6 — see Chapter Now, White has a choice. He
21. can play immediately A) 9.d5,

230
 3. c3 g7 4.e4 d6 5. f3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.de de 8.Vxd8 xd8

pawn-structure and White’s temporary

piece-activity is gradually
neutralised. 14.0—0 g7 15.d6
d4 161d3 e6 17.a5 b6 18.e4
b8 19.b4, Pisacane — Scerbo, St
Eufemia d’Aspromonte 2011, 19...
d4!?) 12...e8 13.xb2 xe4
14.0—0. The two-bishop advantage
is an important factor for the
evaluation of an open position
and here, despite the absence of a
or can develop at first his bishop pawn, White manages to maintain
to an active position B) 91g5. the balance. 14...c6 15.c5,
Lunev — Gavritenkov, Tula 2000
9.xe5. This move is played (15.d1 cg7=) 15...d4!? 16.d3
with the idea to end the game in a e5 17.e3 e6=
quick draw. 9...xe4. Black regains
his pawn and the position is
quickly simplified. 10.xe4 (10. A) 9.d5
xf7? xc3—+) 10...xe5 1L,g5. This move leads to numerous
This is White’s most precise move. exchanges and quick simplifications.
(After the too peaceful approach It is used by White when he
11.0—0, White suddenly encounters wishes to draw as quickly as possible.
difficulties. 11...’Zc6 Black’s
knight is quickly centralised. 12. 9...xd51O.cxd5c6
e1 c?g7. This is necessary prophylactic.
Black covers the f6-
square and deprives his opponent
of the possibility to play g5 and
f6. 13.a3 f5 14.g3, Sanchez —
Geller, Saltsjobaden 1952, 14...
— Black’s bishop on e5 exerts
powerful pressure against the
b2-square and White can hardly
complete the development of his
queenside pieces without material
losses.) 11...&xb2 12.b1. This is
again the best move for White. Black should better get rid immediately
(After the straightforward move of his backward pawn.
12.xd8, Black may even try to 111c4
fight for the advantage. 12...xa1 White would not mind the exchange
13.ixc7 Zc6. He has a superior of the pawns, but wishes

231
Chapter 17

to deploy his bishop to a powerful 15.d5, Pham Chuong — Nguyen

position at the middle of the Duc Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City 2015.
board. Here, Black has an interesting
sacrifice: 15...xd5!? 16.exd5 b4
Following 1L,g5 f6 12.dxc6 17.0—0 e4 18.d2 xd5 — He has
xc6 13.c4+, Matjushin — Goganov, a pawn for the exchange and his
Samara 2014, the simplest minor pieces exert powerful pressure
way for Black to equalise is to play against White’s queenside.
13...c?f8!?=, centralising his king. In fact, he must already fight for
equality.
11...b5
Black plans to exchange on d5 White ends up with a weak isolated
only after his bishop has been developed pawn on d5 after the careless
to the b7-square. line: 14.0—0—0 cxd5 15.,xd5
121b3 xd5 16.xd5 (16.exd5? Herraiz
Hidalgo — Illescas Cordoba, Ayamonte
After 12.g5?! f6 13.b3 cxd5 2002, 16...a6!?) 16...
14.c1 e6t, White’s compensation xd5 17.exd5 d7 18.d1 c8+ 19.
for the pawn is insufficient, cb1 f6 20.e3 a6 21.d2 f5, followed
Haritakis — Kotronias, Poros 1998. by the centralisation of the
king and advancing the pawns in
12..1b7 13 1g5 d7 the centre and on the kingside,
Bustamante — Castro, San Carlos
2012.

14...a5

14.c1
After this move White is at
least not worse. His alternatives
should better be avoided.
15.ce2
For example: 14.dxc6 — this White connects his rooks. This

exchange only helps the development is better for him than castling, because
of Black’s pieces. 14...’Zxc6 the king is an important

232
 3. c3 g7 4.e4 d6 5. if3 0-0 6.ie2 e5 7.de de 8.xd8 xd8

battle unit in the endgame and

should better remain in the centre
than on the flank.

15.a3. This move seems less

precise for White 15...a4 16.ia2
b4!? Black sacrifices a pawn and
seizes the initiative. 17.axb4 cxd5
18.xd5 a6 19.xb7 xb7= — He
will restore the material balance
on his next move and White will
have to play very precisely in order 24.c8+ h7 25.b4 b3 26.
to neutralise his opponent’s iLd2 h5= Le Quang Liem — Ding
pressure against the b2-pawn, 01- Liren, Tabriz 2014. Black’s rook
her — Feryn, Troyes 2010. on b2 is an important defender
(protecting his d3-pawn), as well
15...a4 16.dxc6 xc6 17. as a good attacker (exerting pressure
d5 d4+ 18.xd4 exd4 19. against the b4-pawn). White
xb7 cannot exploit the vulnerability of
the enemy pawns on b5 and d3,
The character of the position because his own pawn on b4
remains more or less the same after needs protection.
19.c5 h6 20.d2 d3+! — this
is Black’s simplest road to equality.
He sacrifices temporarily a B) 91g5
pawn and activates considerably Now, Black must consider the
his bishop on g7, as well as creates threats d5 and &xf6.
a pin against the enemy king. 21. 9...e8
cxd3 ad8 22.cc2 xd5 23.exd5
xd5 24.xd5 xd5= and later, in
the game Chabanon — Bacrot,
Nirnes 2014, Black succeeded in
exploiting White’s imprecise play
and even scored a victory.
(diagram)
19...d3+. This is an important
intermediate check; otherwise,
White would have played c±?d3,
fixing the enemy pawn on a
square with the same colour as his
bishop. 2O.cm xb7 21.b3 h6 This is the simplest solution
221e3 axb3 23.axb3 a3 for him. He removes his rook

233
Chapter 17

from the pin and defends at the

same time his e5-pawn.
We will analyse now Bi)
10.0—0—0 and B2) 10.d5.

White’s attempt to win a pawn

would not work 10.xf6 ,xf6
11.d5, because Black has the resource
11...d8t, protecting his
pawn and removing his bishop
from the attack at the same time,
S.Ivanov — Bakalarz, Myslowice prepares f2-f3, after which he will
1985. White has no compensation be able to play e3, without being
for the vulnerability of his d4- afraid of the knight-sortie g4.
square and Black’s two powerful
bishops. It is not good for White to play
here 11.xe5. He fails to preserve
his extra pawn and this capturing
Bi) 10.0—0—0 only enhances the activation of
White wishes to exploit the lag the enemy pieces. 11...’Zc5 12.
of development of Black’s queen- xf6 ,xf6 13.f4 c6 14.b4 ixe5 15.
side pieces. Still, the move 10. fxe5 d7 16.e6 xe6. Black has a
0—0—0 is connected with a certain superior pawn-structure and if he
strategical risk. If Black manages manages to develop his queenside
to mobilise his still undeveloped pieces without positional concessions,
pieces and to trade the dark- he will maintain the advantage.
squared bishops,White will have 17.g4 e7 18.b5, Haik —
no compensation for the vulnerability Spassky, Montpellier 1991, 18...
of the d4-square and his b6!? 19.d8+ g7 20.xc8 xc8
“bad” bishop on e2. 21.xc8 Zxc8 — White’s isolated
10...a6 e4-pawn is weak, so Black maintains
From this square Black’s a slight but stable edge.
knight can join quickly in the fight
for the important d4-square with 11.h3 c5 12.d3. White protects
a6-c5-e6. his e4-pawn, but presents
(diagram) his opponent with the two-bishop
11.e1 advantage. 12...h6 13.e3 xd3+
This is a multi-purpose move. 14.xd3, Nguyen — Rzayev, Vung
White not only prepares the Tau 2008, 14...c6!? 15.hd1 e6
transfer of his knight to c2, from 16.b3 b5=
where it will control the important
b4 and d4-squares, but also 11.d2. This is a good alterna
 3. c3 g7 4.e4 d6 5. Qif3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.de de 8. Vxd8 xd8

tive to the move Ze1 — White prepares

the transfer of his knight to
b3, from where it will control the
weak d4-square and will contribute
to the occupation of additional
space on the queenside (c4-c5).
11...c6 12.Zb3 (12.f3 c5 13.e3
fd7 14.h4 a5 15.h5 f8= — If Black
succeeds in trading the bishop on
e3 (e6, ff8, c5), he will manage
to fight for the advantage,
Osipov — Matyukhin, ICCF 2007.) xd2 17.xd2 e8=, followed by
12...h6 13.h4 (13.e3 ‘Zg4 14. c7-c5 and d4 and eventually f’7-
xg4 xg4= Gerhards — Boger, f5. The weaknesses of the d4 and
ICCF 2003) White has d5-squares would approximately
taken the c5-square under control, balance each other.
but Black’s knight can go to
e6 via another route. 14.f3 e6 14..1b7 15.d3 ed8 16.
15.f2 f8 16. cb1 (following 16. d1 e8 17.c5 d4 181c2
c5 d7 17.Za4, Black has the freeing a6= Black’s perfectly centralised
pawn-advance 17...b5 18.cxb6 knight provides him with at
axb6 19.xb6 xb6 20.ixb6 least equal prospects, Oger —
xa2 21.cb1 a8= Dudukin — Nefedov, ICCF 2009.
Demin, Kaluga 2003) 16...Zd7
17.d2 b6 18.hd1 dc5= — Black
has succeeded in winning the B2) 1O.d5 xd5 11.cxd5
fight for the c5-square and his c6
prospects in the forthcoming fight
are at least not worse, Mosquera
— Contreras, Santa Rosa 2011.

11...c5 12.f e6 131e3

(diagram)
13...b6
Black prepares the development
of his bishop to b7.
14.d2

The character of the position

would not change after 14.c2 Black undermines his opponent’s
b7 15.d2, Toth — Kapengut, Kecskemet powerful pawn and obtains
1972, 15...ed8 16.hd1 a very good position.

235
Chapter 17

12.ic4 the development of Black’s pieces.

This is the best for White and 12...xc6 13.b5 e6 14.,xc6.
if he tries something else he may After this move Black’s two-bishop
even fail to equalise. advantage is a much more important
factor for the evaluation
12.0—0. This is a risky move of the position than the isolated
and White ends up with an isolated pawn on c6. 14...bxc6 15.0—0
pawn after it. 12...cxd5 13.exd5 eb8 16.b3 aS 17.d2 a4t Daeubler
d7 14.fd1 h6 15.e3 d8 16.d6 — Huber, Bayern 2005.
b6 17.ac1 e6 — His passed
d6-pawn is much rather a liability The position is simplified after
than strength, Posti — Krause, 12.d1 cxd5 13.b5 d7 14.xd5
ICCF 2008. ,xb5 15.xb5 b6 16.ce2 d7 17.
c1 ac8 18.xc8 xc8 19.d5
12.0—0—0. This move also c5 20.e3 xe4 21.xe5 f5=
leads to the formation of an isolated Gacnik — Cantelli, ICCF 2014.
pawn for White on d5. 12...
h6 13.e3 cxd5 14.b5 d8 15. 12...cxd5 13.,xd5 d7
xd5 xd5 16.exd5 d7 17.,xd7
xd7. Black’s plan is very simple
now. He must activate his king
(after the preliminary move f7-
f5). 18.cb1 f5 19.c1 b6 20.c7
Zf6 21.c6 xd5 22.xg6 f7
23.d6 xe3 24.d7+ ce6 25.
xg7 g4 26.g6+ d5 — Black’s
king and knight are much more
active than their counterparts in
this endgame, Michiels — Polyakov,
ICCF 2014.
From this square Black’s
Following 12.d6, White’s pawn knight may go to f6, from where it
is isolated from the rest of his will exert pressure against the d5
forces and might perish later. 12... and e4-squares, or may go to c5,
f6 13.e3 e6, Di Pasquale — Goldwaser, in order to trade the powerful enemy
Villa Ballester 2006, 14. bishop after e6.
0—0—0 and here, Black can simply 14.d2
capture on a2: 14...xa2!? 15. cc2 White protects his e4-pawn
White’s compensation for and prepares the retreat of his
the lost material is insufficient. bishop from d5 after ‘Zf6.

12.dxc6. This move only helps It is just bad for White to

236
 3.tIc3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.de de 8.Vxd8 xd8

choose here 14.0—0, because his ter which his bishop will become
king is removed away from the much more active. 21.b4 c6 22.
centre and this is not good in an 0—0 a5 23.a4 e4 24.d2 xb2
endgame. In addition, after 14... 25.xh6 c3 26.xe4 xe4 27.
h6 15.e3 f6, the e4-pawn is defenceless xe4 a4 28.e2 ixa3. The exchange
and the bishop cannot of the h-pawn for the a-
retreat from the d5-square, so pawn is evidently in favour of
Black obtains the two-bishop advantage. Black. White will have difficulties
16.fd1 xd5 17.xd5 b6 to fight against Black’s outside
18.d2 e6 19.d3 ac8 20.a4 passed pawn. 29.a2 b3 30.g3
f5 Kachar — Fedorov, Saratov b4 31.c1 a3 32.cc2 f6 Rumyantsev
2006. — Tsygankov, ICCF 2012.

14.ce2 h6 15.e3 (15.h4?! g5 14...c5

16.g3. White’s bishop is very
passive on this square. 16...f6
17.ad1 xd5 18.xd5 e6 Hahn
— Traut, BdF 2003) 15...f6 16.
hd1 xd5 17.xd5 e6 18.c5 b6
19.cc1, Perez Mauricio — San
Emeterio Cabanes, Oropesa del
Mar 2001, 19...ac8!?t — Black’s
bishops are very powerful and
White is doomed to a long and laborious
defence of an inferior
endgame without any chances of
obtaining an active counterplay. 15.0—0—0

There arises an equal position 15.ce2 e6 16.e3 Zf4

after 14.0—0—0 h6 15.h4 b6 — see 15.e3.
161b3, Ki.Georgiev — Uhlmann,
Szirak 1985, 16...,d7= The move 15.0—0 leads to a
complicated position. 15...e6 16.
The move 14.c1 cannot be ac1 (16.xe6 Zxe6 17.e3 f5!?oo)
recommended, because following 16...xd5 17.exd5 b6 18.d6 f6 19.
14...h6 15.e3 f6 16.b3 xe4 e3 e6 20.fd1 ed8 21.c4
17.c7 e6 18.,xe6 xe6 19.xb7 ac8 22.d5 f8 23.b3 f7oo Just
a6, White regains his pawn indeed, — Nieuwland, ICCF 2014. White
but Black seizes firmly the can hardly obtain anything meaningful
initiative. 20.a3 Zd6. He ousts out of his passed d6-pawn.
the enemy rook from its active Meanwhile, Black may try to encircle
placement and prepares e5-e4, afAbout and gobble it after some

237
Chapter 17

time and this would provide him 23.cxf4 cxd5 24.xd5

with a clear advantage. xd5=, White must still play very
precisely, because Black’s bishop
15.c4. The threat of the may turn out to be more powerful
penetration of this knight to the than White’s knight in actions on
d6-square can be easily parried both sides of the board in this
by Black. 15...f8 16.0—0 (16.f3 position, Schuster — Nieuwland,
&e6=) 16...e6 17.fd1 xd5 18. ICCF 2005.) 23...b5. White’s
exd5 b6 19.d6 ac8 20.ac1 d7. knight was too powerful on the
Black blocks reliably his opponent’s c4-square. It protected the pawn
passed pawn. 21.a4 c6 on d6 and impeded the possibility
22.e3 ec8 23.b3 f6. He does for Black’s rook to occupy the c2-
not forget to centralise his king. square. 24.a5 c3+ 25.cxf4
24.f4 f7 25.fxe5 fxe5 26.d5 h6+ 26.ce5 c2. Black has activated
ce6 27.cd1 a6= Rassler — Sikorsky, considerably his forces
ICCF 2014. by sacrificing a pawn. 27.b4 d7
28.a4 g7+ 29.cd5 f8 30.axb5
Following 15.e3 Zd3+ 16. xd6+. White’s king is seriously
ce2 Zf4+ 17.xf4 exf4, Black’s endangered. Black cannot checkmate
two-bishop advantage will compensate immediately, but White will
his undeveloped queen- have to part with some material in
side and the powerful placement order to avoid this. 31.ce4 f5+
of White’s bishop on d5. 32.cf3 c3+ 33.cf4 e6 34.f3
d6+ 35.cg5 c2 36.hg1 h6+
37.ch4 xh2—+ Sindelar — Eldridge,
ICCF 2013.
18.ac1. This is not a sacrifice,
but an exchange of the b2 and b7-
pawns. 18...xb2 19.c7 e6 20.
xe6 xe6 21.xb7 (It seems less
precise for White to choose here
21.b1 e5 22.cxb7 a6t — He
will have great difficulties to protect
18.c4 e6 19.cf3 xd5 — see his a2-pawn, Yanin — Shchekachev,
18.cf3. Nizhnij Novgorod 1998.)
18.cf3. White attacks immediately 21...c3 22.c1 xd2 23.cxd2
his opponent’s weak d8+ 24.ce2 xe4+. Black has
pawn. 18..1e6 19.c4 xd5 20. managed to win a pawn, but he is
exd5. Black loses his two-bishop unlikely to realise it in this endgame
advantage, but trades White’s with four rooks. 25.cf3 e5
powerful bishop. 20...ed8 21. 26.c2 g5 27.c?g4 a6 28.cc7 f8
ad1 ac8 22.b3 c5 23.d6 (Following 29.e7 a5 30.a4 xa4 31.e5 f3+

238
 3. c3 g7 4.e4 d6 5. f3 0-0 6. e2 e5 7.de de 8. Vixd8 xd8

32sxf3 h6 33.g3 cg7= Jankowiak It would be too artificial for

— Krebs, ICCF 2010. Black’s White to try to transfer his bishop
material advantage is practically to the b2-square: 19.b3 f8 20.
irrelevant, because his rook on f8 c4 d4 2L,c1 f6 22.b2 e6
is too passive. 23.e3 c5= Kovacs — Piantedosi,
15...e6 161xe6 xe6 ICCF 2014.
171e3
After 19.f3, Black will gradually
equalise: 19...e7 20.c1
xc1+ 21.xc1 f6 22.c6, Falatowicz
— Tsygankov, ICCF 2014, 22...
cW7=, followed by c7, trading the
active enemy rook.

19..1f8 2O.xc8 xc8 21.

d1 f6 22.b3

17...b6
This move seems anti-positional,
because Black places a
pawn on a square with the same
colour as his bishop. There is a
concrete idea behind this however.
He wishes to exchange his
“bad” bishop with g7-f8-c5.
18.c?b1 ac8
22...c7
Black defends against the possible
penetration of White’s rook
to the d7-square.
23.c1 c5
Black has succeeded in transferring
his bishop to c5 and after
the exchange of the bishops he
will have no problems whatsoever.

241xc5 xc5 25.m e6

26.e2 f7 27.d2 h5= Raijmaekers
19.c1 — Papenin, ICCF 2011.

239
Chapter 18 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ig7 4.e4 d6
5.f3 0—0 61e2 e5 71e3
The Gligoric Variation

straightforward approach 7...c6

8.d5 e7 9.’Zd2 — White has deployed
quite harmoniously his
pieces. Now, Black cannot play
f6-g4, while his active attempts
on the kingside (e8 and f7-f5)
would not be so effective, because
White would not need to be in a
hurry to castle kingside.

81g5
With this move there arises a It is useful for White to provoke
variation, named after the Yugoslavian the pawn-advance f7-f6,
grandrnaster Svetozar Gligone, because the pawn will restrict
who contributed greatly to Black’s g7 on this square and his
its development. knight on g4 will not be able to go
White postpones for a while back to f6.
his castling and makes a useful 8...f6
move, fortifying the d4-pawn and
impedes the move c6, which is
standard for Black in the Classical
system.
7...g4
This is his most natural response.
He exploits the main
drawback of the Gligoric variation
— the unstable placement of the
bishop on e3 and begins an immediate
chase after it.

Black is clearly worse after the Now, White must choose

240
 34c3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.e3 tIg4 8.g5f6

where to retreat his bishop: A) The move 10.dxe5 has the defect
91c1, or B) 91h4. that Black does not need to
worry about his knight on g4. 10...
9.d2 exd4. White weakens gxe5 1Le3 f5 12.xe5 Zxe5
his control over the d4-square 13.exf5 ixf5 14.1d2 g4= — He
and Black exploits this immediately. has activated his knight on g4 and
10.xd4 f5 1L,xg4 fxg4 his bishop on g7, Tunik — Kantsler,
12.e3 c6 13.xc6 bxc6 14.d4 Israel 2002.
h6 15.0—0 b8 16.b3 c5 17.e3
g7 18.c1 V1h4oo Jastrzebska — 10.h3. This move is not so useful
Coleby, ICCF 2012. for White. 10...exd4. Naturally,
Black should better retreat his
knight in the centre and not at the
A) 91c1 edge of the board. 11.xd4 (It
The bishop goes back to its initial seems rather artificial for White
position. The moves Black has to play here 11.’Zb5, Boensch —
played “for free” — ‘g4 and f7-f6 Kindermann, Munich 1992, 11...
are not so useful for him. In addition, ge5!? 12.bxd4 f5) 11...ge5
there is some obvious disharmony 12.xc6 (12.e3 xd4 13..xd4 f5
in the deployment of his 14.exf5 xf5 15.0—0 &e6=, followed
pieces. by 1h4, Parker — Buckley,
9...c6 Guildford 1991. Black’s pieces are
Black exerts pressure against very actively placed.) 12...bxc6
his opponent’s centre. 13.f4 f7 14.0—0 f5 15.exf5 xf5
16.f3 1b8= El Debs — Mecking,
Caxias do Sul 2012. Black protects
his c6-pawn in a tactical way and
with his next move he will develop
his queen to an active position
with V1b6 and his prospects in the
forthcoming fight will not be
worse at all.

Al) 10.0—0 f5
Once again White has a choice: Now, you can see the main
he may close the centre A2) drawback of the move 9.c1, in
l0.d5, or play Al) 10.0—0. comparison to 9.h4. White’s
bishop does not pin the pawn on
After White’s alternatives f6 and Black advances easily f6-
Black has no problems at all. f5.

241
Chapter 18

White’s isolated pawn, but his

knight will occupy a powerful position
at the centre of the board
with the support of his eS-pawn.
14.f3, Cebalo — Nunn, Debrecen
1992, 14...V1xd1!? 15.xd1 d4.
This pawn-sacrifice is Black’s
simplest road to equality. 16.ixb7
ab8 17.d5+ ch8 18.e4 xe4
19.xe4 c2 20.Th1 a3= —
White can avoid the repetition of
111g5 moves only at the price of material
White attacks the enemy losses.
queen and wins a tempo for development.
He has no chances of It is not good for White to play
obtaining an advantage after his 11.d5 e7. Black obtains a position,
alternatives. which will be analysed, beginning
with Chapter 22, but
Or 11.exf5 exd4 12.Zb5 (12. with two extra moves — g4 and
g5 1d7 — see 1Lg5) 12...xf5 f7-f5. 12.g5 (12.exf5 gxfs 13.g5
13.fxd4 xd4 14.xd4, Perez f6 14.f4 e4 15.e3 h6 16.h3.
Lopez — Fernandez Gonzalez, Gijon White’s knight has been ousted to
2000. Now, Black counter attacks the edge of the board and Black
the h2-pawn and forces the can begin active actions in the
enemy knight to abandon the centre centre. 16...c6oo Rossiter — Howell,
of the board: 14...V1h4!? 15. Oakham 1994) 12...Zf6 13.f3
f3 and later, he increases his (13.exf5 gxfs — see 12.exf5) 13...f4
pressure on the long diagonal 15... 14.c5 (14.b4 Ze8oo — He retreats
VAf6=, impeding the development his knight to this square, analogously
of White’s queenside pieces. to Chapters 24-25, 9.b4)
14...h6. This is the simplest move
It would be too straightforward for him. Black refrains from capturing
for him to opt for 11.dxe5 the pawn in order to impede
gxe5 12.exf5 xf5. He has reduced the development of his opponent’s
the pawn-tension in the initiative on the queenside.
centre, while Black’s pieces have 15.e6 ,xe6 16.dxe6. White
been considerably activated. 13. has succeeded in trading his opponent’s
xe5 (13.e3 g4 14.g5 d7 important light-squared
15.V1d2 ae8= Portisch — Z.Polgar, bishop, but after 16...dxc5, his
Prague 1995) 13...dxe5. Black compensation for the sacrificed
will hardly manage to exploit effectively pawn is insufficient. 17.V1b3 V1d4+
the vulnerability of 18.ch1 V1b4 19.1c2 c6. Black

242
 3.4c3 g74.e4 d6 5.tIf3 0-0 6..e2 e5 7.iLe3 4g4 8..g5f6

prepares the transfer of his knight where it will not have any good
to the centre of the board. 20.e7 prospects, but to d8, followed by
f7 21.b5 d4 22.xd4 cxd4 ‘Zf7. 12...Zd8 13.exf5 (There arise
23.c4 Vxe7 24.d2 Ze8 — He interesting complications after
has two pawns for the exchange, 13.d2 f7 14.h4, Andersen —
while White will hardly manage to Kristiansen, Helsingor 2013, 14...
activate his rooks, since there are g5!? 15.exf5 Zxh2 16.cxh2 gxh4
no open files on the board, Kunze 17.g4 hxg3+ 18.fxg3 ‘fZg5oo —
— Hohlbein, freechess.de 2012. White’s king is rather unsafe and
that might tell in the future.) 13...
11..S!d7 gxf5 14.Vd2 (14.e1 if7oo) 14...
Black’s queen will impede the f7 15.h4 h6 16.Vfc2 h8!
development of his bishop on c8 Black continues to improve the
on this square, but the queen will placement of his knight. It is
go soon to f7 and he will coordinate headed now for the g6-square!
advantageously his pieces. 17.h3 f6 18.g5 ixg5 19.xg5
‘1g7 20.f3 g6 — White will
have great difficulties to parry his
opponent’s attack on the g-file,
Dimitrov — Vasilev, ICCF 2013.

12...fxe4
There arise simplifications after
the pawn exchanges in the
centre.

13.xe4 gxe5 14.xe5

xe5

12.dxe5

12.exf5 exd4 13.f6. After the

exchange of the f-pawn for the dpawn,
the position will become
approximately equal (13.b5
xf5= Saric — B.Smith, Zagreb
2012). 13...Zxf6 14.xd4 e4
15.xe4 xd4 16.d3 e6= Le
Quang Liem — Gharamian, Belfort
2012.
15Sc1
After 12.d5. Black should better White prepares the trade of
retreat his knight not to e7, the enemy bishop on g7.

243
Chapter 18

He could have played the move

15.d2 with the same purpose,
but after that Black would equalise
immediately by a double attack
against the knight on e4 and
the pawn on c4. 15...V1c6!? 16.c3
xc4 17.xc4+ V1xc4 18.d5 c6
19.e7+ ch8 20.1xd6 1b5= —
White’s pieces are active, but
Black has the two-bishop advantage,
moreover that White’s b2-
pawn is hanging... Following 11.h3 xe2 12.Vxe2
h6, the focus of the fight is
15..Sf7 161h6 ixh6 17. moved to the flanks. Black will
Vxh6 f5= It would be useful for prepare a pawn-offensive on the
Black to oust the enemy knight kingside and White will do that on
away from the centre of the the queenside.
board. Following 18.g5 g7
19.Vxg7+ c?xg7 Portisch — Hirneise,
Zurich 2009, there arises
an advantageous exchange of the
queens for Black. (White’s king
was safer, because it was protected
by three pawns, while Black’s
king was defended only by two
pawns. This circumstance is irrelevant
in the endgame, though...).
Black has a slight edge in this position, 13.d2 c5 14.g4 f7 15.0—0—0
because of his more active a6= Rychagov — Khotenashvili,
minor pieces. Rethymnon 2010.
The move 13.a4 leads to a
complicated position. 13...M’7 14.
A2) 1O.d5 d4 0—0 f5 15.a5 f4. Black’s attack on
This retreat of the knight in the kingside may turn out to be
the centre seems more active than very powerful, because White’s
e7. king shelter has been weakened
(diagram) by the move h2-h3. 16.d2 g5
11.xd4 17.fc1 xf3+ 18.V1xf3 V1h4 19.c5
White creates a pawn-weakness g5 20.b5 f6. Black’s achievements
for his opponent on d4, but seem to be much more real.
Black has sufficient compensation This is because his target is the
for it. enemy king! 21.g3 1xh3 22.xc7

244
 34c3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.e3 g4 8.g5f6

h6i: Schuster — Rada, FICGS

2010. White’s defence is not easy
at all. His attempt to gobble some
material with the move 23.xa8
would lead immediately to a
hopeless position for him: 23...
g4 24.V1g2 V1h5 25.f3 xf3 26.g4
xg4 27.a3 dxc5 28.f1 ff8!
29.e1 c4!—+
The move 13.g4 prevents
Black’s counterplay, connected
with f7-f5. 13...c5. After this move After its immediate capturing
White is deprived of the possibility 12.V1xd4, Black has an interesting
to develop his queenside initiative piece-sacrifice. 12...f5 13.V1d1 fxe4
with the move c4-c5, moreover
that Black may try to prepare
a pawn-sacrifice in the spirit of
the Benko Gambit — a7-a6 and
b7-b5. 14.g1 d7 15.g5 f7 16.h4
fxg5 17.hxg5 a6 18.a4 b5. After the
opening of the game on the
queenside, it has become clear
why White’s king will have to
remain at the centre of the
board. 19.axb5 axb5 20.xa8 White’s attempt to win only a
V1xa8 21.cxb5 b8 22.d2 f8 pawn will lead to great problems
23.db1 V1a1 24.V1d3 e7oo Kolcak for him. 14.’xe4 e7 15.f3 f5
— Hefka, ICCF 2010. White’s 16.h3, Luukkonen — Virtanen,
extra pawn is absolutely irrelevant. Finland 2009, 16...f6!? 17.g3
Black’s play is much easier ae8. Black is preparing the penetration
from the practical point of of his pieces on the e-file.
view, because White must be constantly 18.0—0 h5. He exchanges the
on the alert about his weak important enemy defender of
pawns on b5 and g5, as well as the e2-square. 19.xh5 gxh5 20.
about his opponent’s active pieces. d3 xd3 21.Vxd3 Ve2 22.Vfxe2
xe2t The activity of Black’s pieces
compensates with an interest
11...exd4 his minimal material deficit.
(diagram) 14.xg4 Vfh4= Here, White
12.b5 should better give back the piece
White wishes to gobble quite and be happy with an equal position,
comfortably the enemy pawn. because his attempt to pre245
Chapter 18

serve his material advantage possible. 16.xd4 ae8 17.e1

would end in a catastrophe for c5!? 18.dxc6 bxc6 — Black’s pieces
him. 15.e2? xc3+ 16.bxc3 are very actively and harmoniously
V1xf2+ 17.cd2 g4 18.c5 f5 19. deployed and he has full
V1e1 xd5+ 20.cc2 V1xg2 21.g1 compensation for the minimal
V1xe2+ 22.V41xe2 xe2 23.cxd6 material deficit.
d3+ 0—1 L’Arni — Nisipeanu,
Budva 2009. 13...e514.exf5
After this move White at least
12...f5 will have an extra pawn.

14.xd4?! fxe4 15.e3 V1h4.

Black has restored the material
balance and has preserved excellent
attacking prospects. 16.c1
g4 17.xg4 xg4 18.V1d2 e5.
He forces a weakening of the shelter
of White’s king and maintains
a stable positional advantage.
19.f4 exf3 20.xf3 xf3 21.gxf3
ae8i Rychagov — Vachier Lagrave,
Dagomys 2009.
13.0—0

After 13.exf5?, Black has a well

concealed tactical strike: 13...
xf2! 14.cxf2 xf5. White has an
extra piece, but is incapable of defending
this position. The activity
of Black’s pieces increases with
every move. 15.f3 a6. It would be
useful to oust the enemy knight to
the edge of the board. 16.a3 d3
17.e1, Kragelj — Callier, Forni di
Sopra 2012, 17...1h4+!? 18.cg1 14...d3!
ae8 19.d2 xb2—+ This is Black’s most precise
move! Now, he obtains the twobishop
13.xg4 fxg4. Black’s bishops advantage, while saving
are very powerful. 14.0—0 e7 15. the pawn would have been an impossible
d3, Tabernig — Lehner, Austria task anyway.
2015, 15...d7!? He is trying to 15.,xd3 xd3 16S!xd3
mobilise his pieces as quickly as xf5 17S!d1

246
 34c3 g74.e4 d6 5.t1f3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.iie3 4g4 81g5f6

Black would have obtained White completes the development

powerful initiative even after the of his pieces.
other possible retreats of White’s 21...b6 221d4 xd4 23.
queen and it would have compensated Vxd4 xc4
fully his sacrificed pawn. Black has restored the material
For example: 17.V1e2 a6 18. balance and his pieces are more
‘fZc3 V1h4 19.e3 ae8 20.ad1 active. All this compensates the
(20.ac1 g5!?) 20...e5 21.g3 vulnerability of his isolated d6-
V1h3t Fish — Rudolf, Germany pawn and the not so safe shelter
2011 or 17.V1g3 a6 18.c3 e5 19. of his king.
f4. On this square, White’s pawn
restricts his bishop on ci and the
defence of his king has been weakened
too. El Debs — Flores,
Campinas 2010.

24.d3

The character of the fight remains

more or less the same after
24.V1d2 e4 25.fei xe1+ 26.xei
17..Sf6 Vxa2 27.f3 d5 28.e7 f7= Black
Black increases the pressure has managed to win a pawn, but
against the enemy b2-pawn. he cannot put up with the enemy
White has problems to complete rook on the penultimate rank. He
the development of his queenside. cannot avoid the repetition of
18.xc7 moves. 29.e8+ f8 30.e7, Draw,
Gavrilov — Zontakh, Lipetsk 2009.
18.a4 f’7
24...e4 25.a3 e2 26.b4
18...ac819.e6 fxf2. Once again Black wins a
White wishes to decrease the pawn, but after 27.xf2 xf2 28.
pressure of the enemy pieces cxf2 Vf6+ 29.ce2 xa1 30.
against his position by exchanges. xd6 xa3 31.Ve6+, his king is
19...,xe6 20.dxe6 xe6 21. incapable of avoiding the perpetual
e3 check. 31...cg7 32.e7+

247
Chapter 18

c?g8 33.Ye8+ g7 34.Ve7= 12...’Zf7!? Black improves the

Rusev — Spasov, Pleven 2015. position of his knight. 13.1b3
g5 14.xg5. White presents the
two-bishop advantage to his opponent,
B) 9.h4 but preserves the important
This is a more natural retreat defender of the d4-square —
of White’s bishop and from this his knight on f3. 14...fxg5 15.c5
square it prevents Black’s pawn- ch8 16.0—0 d4 17.xd4 exd4oo
advance f6-f5. — Black’s powerful bishop-pair
9...c6 compensates fully the slight defects
of his pawn-structure.
10.dxe5. This move only improves
the position of the enemy
knight on g4. 10...gxe5 11.0—0
e6 12.d5 1d7. Black removes
his queen away from the h4-d8
diagonal and prepares the pawn-
advance f6-f5. 13.V41d2 ae8 14.
ae1 f5 15.xe5 dxe5. The pawn
will control an important square
at the centre of the board from
here. 16.exf5 xf5 17.g5 d4t
Now, just like in variation A, Zmokly — Mannermaa, ICCF
Black exerts immediate pressure 2008. Black’s powerful centralised
against White’s centre. knight provides him with a
1O.d5 stable advantage. White’s knight
White occupies space. The is also in the centre, but Black can
pawn-structure in the centre has always oust it from there with the
been stabilised and the focus of move c7-c6.
the fight is moved to the flanks.
About 10.0—0 g5 — see Chapter 1O...e7
21, variation B.
10.h3 Zh6 11.dxe5 (11.d5 e7
— see 10.d5) 11...dxe5 12.d5,
Williams — Hebden, Aberystwyth
2014. White’s pieces are more actively
placed, but his d4-square is
so weak that Black has very good
possibilities to organise active
counterplay. (12.Vb3, Azmaiparashvili
— Reyes Larena, Toledo
1991, 12...d4!? 13.xd4 exd4oo)

248
 3.c3 g74.e4 d6 5.tIf3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.e3 tIg4 8.g5f6

11.d2 g7 16.f1 d7 17.e3 a6= Savon

White wishes to force the enemy — Doroshkievich, Riga 1970.
knight away from the centre, 12.d2 g5 13.g3 Zg6 14.g4.
but this is not a part of Black’s White wishes to provoke an exchange
plans. on g4 and after hxg4,
there will arise a position in which
11.0—0 f5 12.d2 f6 — see Black will be incapable of advancing
11.d2. f6-f5 and his bishop on g7, restricted
by his own pawns, will be
There arises a complicated positional completely static to the end of the
battle after 11.h3 ‘Zh6. game. Naturally, developments of
this type are completely against
Black’s intentions. (It seems less
active for White to continue with
14.f3 f5 15.1c2 Zf4 16.f1, Dorfman
— Relange, Aubervilliers
2001, 16...c5!?oo) 14...f5 15.exf5
xf5. White’s knights have gained
access to the e4-square, but Black’s
cavalry can also occupy active positions
on d4 and f4. 16.de4 f4
It would be too straightforward 17.0—0 (17.g1?! Goormachtigh —
for White to play the prophylactic A. L’Ami, Vlissingen 2013, 17...
move 12.g4. He weakens ‘e7!? 18.V41d2 a6 — Following
his kingside, but shows his opponent g1, White cannot castle kingside
that he plans to castle queen- any more. With his last move
side, therefore, Black can begin Black prepares the pawn-sacrifice
the preparation of b7-b5 immediately. b7-b5, if the enemy monarch
12...M’7 13.V41c2 (13.d2 seeks its shelter on the queen-
d7=; 13S1d2 c5 — see 12.V1d2) side.) 17...h6= Saravanan — David,
13...d7 14.0—0—0 a6 15.cb1 b8 Cappelle la Grande 2008.
16.d2 b5t F. Gheorghiu — Forster, 12.1c2. White prepares castling
Bern 1994. queenside and increases his
12.V41d2. This is hardly the best control over the e4-square. 12.. .g5
square for White’s queen. Later, 13.g3 g6 14.0—0—0 f5 15.exf5
Black can win a tempo by attacking (15.d2 fxe4 16.dxe4 f5.
it with his bishop: f7 and White must be constantly on the
h6. 12...f7 13.g4 c5. This is a alert about the possible enemy
typical pawn-advance for similar penetration to the d4-square,
positions. Black prepares counterplay therefore, he makes a practical
on the queenside with a6, decision — to exchange the enemy
,d7 and b5. 14.h2 h6 15.V1c2 knight on f5. 17.g4 ‘f4 18.xf5

249
Chapter 18

.xf5 19.f3 a6= — The powerful ch8 17.a5 a6 18.c5 g8 19.cxd6

placement of White’s centralised Vxd6 20.ch1 f8t Figlio — Vasile,
knight compensates Black’s two- ICCF 2010.
bishop advantage, Matveeva — 14S1d2 ‘f7. Black protects
L’Ami,Istanbul 2003.) 15...Zxf5 his g5-pawn and makes again
16..d3, Groszpeter — Cvitan, Zenica possible the pawn-advance f6-f5.
1986, 16...h6!?=, Black removes 15.h2 f5 16.exf5 ixf5 17.d3
his pawn away from the xd3 18.1xd3. White has managed
dangerous diagonal. White’s task to trade the light-squared
to organise an attack on the king- bishops, which is considered to be
side will not be easy at all. Black’s a great achievement for him in the
plan is quite simple: this is the King’s Indian Defence. Meanwhile,
preparation of b7-b5 with c7-c5, Black’s counterplay, connected
a7-a6, d7, as well as the penetration with h6-f5 and f4, is
of his knight to the f4 and d4- sufficient to maintain the equality.
squares. 18...h6 19.ac1 Zf5 20.fe1
12.0—0. White’s kingside has b6 21.f3 h6 22.b3 Vd7 23.e4
been weakened by the move h2- f7 24.c3 a5. This is necessary
h3 and Black obtains effortlessly prophylactic against White’s
excellent counterplay. 12...g5 13. queenside activity. 25.cc1 ‘Zf4
ig3 g6 26.xf4 gxf4 27.a4 V1g6 28.c?h1
f6 29.g1 ch8 30.cd1 f7 31.
de1 g8= — Black’s pressure on
the g-file compensates his “bad”
bishop, Portych — Ljubicic, ICCF
2011.

11...f5!?

14.1b3?! White’s queen goes

away from his kingside.
Black’s knight exerts powerful
pressure against the enemy position
on this square and its exchange
15.xf4 would lead to the
opening of the g-file. 15...gxf4 16.
a4. White’s queenside activity
seems a bit too late. On the other
hand, Black’s attack on the g-file This is not the most popular
looks much more dangerous. 16... move for Black, but is not bad at

250
Chapter 18

15.a3 g5. Black is preparing 16..1e6

the transfer of his knight to f4. The preparation of the central
16.b4 b6 17.Zf1 (17.b1?! g6 18. pawn-break d6-d5 is Black’s simplest
bxc5 bxc5 19.Va4 f4t Akesson road to equality.
— Cvitan, Bela Crkva 1986) 17... 17.0—0 d5 18.exd5
g6 18.g3 f4 19.0—0 h5 20. 18.cxd5?! cxd5 19.c5 d4 20.
bxc5 bxc5 21.b1 V41f6=, followed Zb5 d7 — Black’s protected
by h5-h4, Skrondal — Torgersen, passed pawn in the centre provides
ICCF 2008. After this, White will him with better chances,
have to sacrifice a pawn (Zf5) and Tan — Zhang, Xinghua Jiangsu
later he will have to prove that his 2011.
compensation for it is sufficient. 18...cxd5
15.b1. This move looks more The position is being opened.
precise than 15.a3, because White Black’s two powerful bishops
can try to advance b2-b4 saving a compensate fully the defects of
tempo for this not so necessary his pawn-structure.
move. 15...g5 16.b4 b6 17.bxc5 191c5 dxc4 20.de4 f7
bxc5 18.0—0 (18.V1a4 d7 19.Va6 21. d6 f4 22.e1 d7 23S&2
c8 20.1a3 g6 21.0—0 f4oo a5 24.a3 c’h7 25.e2 d5!
Gefenas — McNab, Algeria 1993) This exchange-sacrifice is
18.. .g6 19.Va4 (19.b3 f4 20. Black’s simplest road to equality.
c2 h5 21.fb1 h4oo — Black’s 26.xf4 xf4 27.ad1 V1c6
prospects are not worse in the 28.Ve4, Draw, Nizky — Gorokhovsky,
forthcoming complicated fight, ICCF 2014.
Grabner — Krebs, ICCF 2008) There could have still followed:
19...f4 20.b3 d7 21.V1a3 f7= 28....d5. Black’s pressure
— His kingside activity balances on the long diagonal forces
the possible penetration of White to part with his material
White’s rooks on the b-file, Williams advantage. 29.xd5 Vxd5 30.
— Mamonovas, ICCF 2009. Vxd5 xd5 31.xc4 axb4 32.
15...bxc6 16.b4 axb4. In this endgame Black
should prevent by a precise play
the advance of the enemy b4-
pawn. 32...a4 33.b1 c3 34.
b6 a2 35.e1 e4. After this
“little” tactical strike, Black exploits
the lack of a leeway for the
enemy king and trades the important
enemy bishop. 36.h3
xc5 37.bxc5 c2 38.hxg4
.f8 39.d7 xc5 40.xc5
xc5=

252
Chapter 19 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ,g7 4.e4 d6
5.f3 0—0 6.ie2 e5

7.d5 We will deal in details with: A)

White clarifies immediately 8.d2, B) 8Ae3, C) 8.h3 and
the pawn-structure in the centre D) 8.0—0.
and the actions are focused on the The Petrosian system 8.g5,
flanks. Here, contrary to the variations will be analysed in the following
after 7.0—0 c6 8.d5 e7, chapter.
which will be analysed in Chapters About 8.h4 a6 9.d2 c5 —
22-27, the move 7.d5 seems a see 8.d2.
bit premature, because Black’s
knight will be very useful in the 8.g3. This is a good move when
fight for the c5-square and this Black’s knight is on h5, but here,
will complicate White’s task to it is not to be recommended. 8...
develop his initiative on the a6 9.Eth4 ‘c5 10.f3, I.Ivanov —
queenside. Gelfand, New York 1989, 10...
7...a5 j&.h3!?co — The weaknesses on
This move prevents the pawn- White’s kingside have become
advance b2-b4 and was analysed quite obvious.
by the Ukrainian grandmasters
Efim Geller and Leonid Stein. It would be too slow for White

253
Chapter 19

to choose here 8.a3 h5 9.g1 Palacios Perez — Zanoletty, Logrono

f4 10..f3, Zvjaginsev — Morozevich, 2002, 11...h5!? Black sacrifices
Pamplona 1994. Black a pawn and seizes the initiative.
obtains a good position after 10... 12.ixh5 Zd3+. This intermediate
check deprives White of
his castling rights. 13.cf1 V1h4.
Black is not in a hurry to capture
A)8.d2 on h5 and continues to create additional
This is the beginning of a threats. 14.V1f3 Zf4! 15.
straightforward plan. White will ixg6 fxg6—* — White is faced with
leave his king in the centre for a a difficult defence.
long time and impedes the development
of his queenside, but begins 9...c5
a pawn-offensive with h4-h5
andg4.
8...a6

1O.h5
White cannot continue the
game without this move; otherwise,
Black must try to organise Black will counter the pawn-
quickly counterplay. His further advance g2-g4 with the move h7-
plan includes c5, c7-c6 and the h5. For example: 10.g4 a4 11.f3
preparation of the occupation of (11.h5, Kouatly — Kasparov, Evry
space on the queenside with b5- 1989, 11...h6!?) 11...h5. White’s
b4. attack has backfired. 12.g5 (His
9.h4 situation would be even worse after
12.f1 hxg4 13.g3 gxf3 14.
9.0—0 c5 — see variation xf3 h7T, followed by f7-f5, Lyrberg
D.
— Olsson, Sweden 2004.
9.g4 c5 10.h4 a4 — see 9.h4. Black has an extra pawn and a
very good position.) 12...h7. He
White loses two tempi after is preparing to undermine the enemy
9.b3 a4 1O.d2 c5 11.b1, g5-pawn with the move f7-f6.

254
 34c3 g74.e4d65.’f3 0-0 6.e2e57.d5a5

13.f1 f6 14.g1 fxg5 15.hxg5 f4! The move 12.exd5 is obviously

This exchange-sacrifice is typical weaker. White breaks the classical
for similar positions. 16.ixf4 principle that flank attacks are
exf4 Sunye Neto — Hernandez, effective only in positions with a
Linares 1992. The dark squares in secure centre. 12...e4 13.g5 xh5
White’s camp have been weakened 14.xh5 gxh5 15.1cxe4 e8 16.
and his g5-pawn is doomed. 1xh5 ff5. Black’s bishop protects
Black’s bishop on g7 is not weaker reliably the h7-square and White
than any of White’s rooks. has no other targets to attack. 17.
f3, Shchukin — Inarkiev, St Petersburg
1O...c6 11.g4 2001, 17...V1b6—+ White’s
attack has reached its dead end.
After 11.Vc2, Dunnington — He lags considerably in development
Lanka, Paris 1990, the simplest and his king is an excellent
for Black would be to capture the target for Black’s well mobilised
pawn 11...xh5!? 12.,xh5 gxh5oo, and perfectly coordinated pieces.
followed by f7-f5, creating excellent
counterplay. 12...b5
He exploits the insufficient
It would be worse for White to protection of the e4-pawn and accomplishes
play here 11.h6, because after this this thematic pawn-
move he will have no chances of advance immediately.
attacking on the h-file and Black’s
defence would be facilitated considerably.
11...h8 12.f3, Bykhovsky
— Caspi, Herzliya 2006, 12...
cxd5!? 13.xd5 a4

11...cxd5

13.m
White fortifies his e4-pawn
and defends against the threat b5-
b4.

It is bad for White to play here

13.g5?! — his attack is evidently
12.cxd5 not well prepared. 13...xh5 14.

255
Chapter 19

xh5 b4! This is a powerful intermediate enemy bishop and frees the way
move. Black worsens the of his f-pawn.
placement of the enemy knight
and ousts it to the edge of the He must play g4 immediately;
board. 15.a4 d3+ 16.cf1 f4. otherwise, White will take the
This is the point. Black refrains g4-square under control and will
from capturing the bishop and begins obtain an advantage: 8...a6 9.
a direct attack. 17.f3 a6+
18.cg1 Vxg5—+ Kozlov — Gnusarev,
Astana 2007. 91g5 f6

13.h6 h8oo

13.a3 Vb6 14.f3 d7 15.b3 b4

16.xc5, Tsesarsky — Tseitlin, Givataim
2000, 16...V1xc5!? 17.a4
a7 18.h6 h8 19.ig5 fb8=

13...b4 14.a4 fd7 15.

xc5 xc5 16.b3 xb3 17.
Vxb3 .d7oo — Black’s queenside
counterplay (‘e7, ab8, fc8, a5-
a4) is sufficient to maintain the
balance, Wukits — Fasser, ICCF
2012.
B) 81e3 g4
101h4
This is the best for White. The
bishop will pin the pawn from this
square and will impede the pawn-
advance f6-f5.
After the other retreats of
White’s bishop, Black not only
equalises, but can also fight for an
advantage.
10.c1 f5 11.Zg5 Za6 12.exf5
gxf5

Black plays in the spirit of the

Gligoric variation. He attacks the

256
 3.c3 g74.e4d65.tIf3 0-0 6.e2e57.d5a5

13.xg4 fxg4 14.ge4 V1e8 Black is threatening to trap the

15.0—0 V1g6 16.Ve2 b6 — Black’s enemy bishop.
two powerful bishops and good 11.d2 a6
prospects for active play on the Black does not need to be in a
kingside (h7-h5-h4 and eventually hurry to remove his knight from
h4-h3) are a much more important g4.
factor for the evaluation of
the position than White’s dominance
over the e4-square,
Kljucharev — Shomoev, Kemerovo
2007.
13.h3 f6 14.f4, Kovalenko —
Shimanov, Dubai 2015, 14...h6!?
15.1e6 (It is bad for White to play
here 15.f3, in view of 15...e4.
Black’s knight is in a hurry to occupy
the weakened g3-square.
16.0—0 g3T) 15.. .ixe6 16.dxe6
e7 17.0—0 Vxe6t — White’s two 12.a3
bishops are insufficient to compensate White will try to exploit the
fully the sacrificed pawn. defencelessness of the enemy
rook on a8 and to advance b2-b4.
10.d2 f5 11.g5 (11.exf5 gxfs
12.h3 Zf6 13.0—0 bd7 14.c1 c5= 12.0—0 e8 13.a3 d7 — see
— Black’s prospects are not worse 12.a3.
thanks to his powerful pawns on
f5 and e5, Zlotnik — Vilar Lopez, White would not achieve much
Palma de Mallorca 1992) 11. ..‘Zf6 if he tries to advance g2-g4. 12.
12.exf5 (12.c5, Stocek — Pavlidis, f1 h6 13.h3 c5 14.g4 hxg4
Kalamaria 2008, 12...h6!? 13.e6 15.hxg4 f7=, followed by ih6,
i.xe6 14.dxe6 c6oo) 12...gxfs 13. Bandza — Schultz, Germany 1994,
f4. This pawn-advance is standard or 12.h3 h6 13.g4 (13.a3 d7 —
for similar positions. White see 12.a3) 13.. .hxg4 14.hxg4 Ef7.
wishes to provoke e5-e4, in order Now again, the plan with the activation
to use later the d4-square for his of the bishop on g7 promises
pieces. (13.1c2 a6 14.0—0 c5 Black at least an equal position.
15.f4 e4oo Murshed — Konguvel, 15.a3 d7 16.f3 &h6t, emphasizing
Sakthi 1996) 13.. .e4 14.ie3 1e7 the vulnerability of the
15.V1d2 a6 16.h3 g4# Simeonidis cl-h6 diagonal, Barbero — Belotti,
— Solak, Athens 2004. Switzerland 1999.

1O...h5 12...id7

257
Chapter 19

Black parries his opponent’s

threat.

axb4 Za4 18.xa4. The trade of

a couple of minor pieces is in favour
of Black, since he has less
space. 18..lxa4 19.Ve1 &h6=
Speelman — Strikovic, Oviedo
13.h3 1992.

White ousts immediately the

enemy knight from its active position. 13...h6 14.b1

Or 14.0—0 V1e8 15.b3, Petrosian

13.b1 Zc5 14.b3 g5. Black is — Geller, Sochi 1977, 15...
preparing f6-f5. 15.g3 f5 16.h3 M’7!?=, followed by e7 and h6
Zf6 17.f3?! (It is preferable for with a good position for Black.
White to accept the pawn-sacrifice:
17.xh5 xh5 18.V1xh5 14...c5 15.b4 axb4 16.
— Black has more than sufficient axb4 a4
compensation for the minimal
material deficit.) 17...V1e8 —
White’s king is forced to remain
in the middle of the board, since
castling kingside seems to be too
precarious, Loginov — Fedorov, St
Petersburg 1997.

Or 13.0—0 Ve8 14.b3 (14.h3

h6 — see 13.h3) 14...f5 15.b1
(diagram)
15...Zc5! This is an important
moment. Black must take care 17.xa4
about the future of his knight
on a6; otherwise, after White The move 17.V1c2 leads to an
plays b3-b4, it will not have any inferior position for White. 17...
good prospects. 16.b4 axb4 17. g5 18.g3 xc3 19.1xc3 h4 20.

258
 3.Qc3 g74.e4d65.f3 0-0 6.ie2e57.d5a5

h2 f5. Black begins active actions C) 8.h3 h5!?

on the kingside. 21.c5 (21.f3 This is the simplest move for
g4 21.a1 xa1+ 22.V1xa1 g4 Black. Now, White cannot restrict
Rogers — Piket, Groningen 1990) the enemy knight on f6 with the
21...g4 22.c6 c8t — White can move g2-g4.
hardly find a safe haven for his
king, because his kingside has
been weakened by the move h2-
h3, Bareev — Kasparov, Tilburg
1991.

17...ixa4 18S!c1 g5 191g3

h4 201h2 d7

9.g3
White prevents the penetration
of the knight to f4.

He has another plan, which is

less reliable. At first he allows f4
and then, he ousts it from its active
position with g2-g3. For this
Black’s bishop returns to the purpose he has tried in practice
h3-c8 diagonal from where it will the moves 9.h2, 9.g1 and 9.
support his pawn-offensive (f6-f5 d2.
and g5-g4).
21.c5 9.h2 Zf4 10.f3. Now, the
pawn-advance g2-g3 will be connected
21.f3 f5 22.g1 g4t Morovic with the sacrifice of the
Fernandez — Kamsky, Las Palmas pawn on h3. (It is better for
1994. White to choose 10.f1 a6 11.g3
h5 12.e2 Zf6 — see 9.g3 a6
21...f5oo It is far from clear 10.h2 Zf6.) 10...a6 1Le3
what White should do with his b6!? Black increases his control
king. It would be risky to leave it over the c5-square. His plan is
in the centre and castling would quite simple: Zc5 and f7-f5, while
be playing with fire. Black will White will have problems to utilise
have excellent attacking prospects his knight placed at the edge
after g5-g4. of the board. 12.0—0 c5 13.1c2

259
Chapter 19

f5 Odeeva — Magerramova, Russia

1991.

9.g1 f4 10.f3 f5 11.g3 fxe4

12.xe4 Zh5 13.xh5 gxh5 14.
V1xh5. Black has lost a pawn indeed,
but his prospects are not
worse at all. His play is in fact
much easier. 14...f5 15.V1e2 a6
16.f3 c6 — White is not well prepared with the protection of his e4-
for the opening of the game pawn. The point is that after 16.
in the centre, because his pieces Vc2, Black can exploit the fact
are not developed and his king is that the enemy queen and rook
unsafe, Andonov — Suaibi, Struga are deployed on the same diagonal
2002. and win a pawn by a tactical
strike. 16...xd2+ 17.xd2 fxe4!
9.d2 f4 10.f1 Za6 11.g3 18.xe4 xe4 19.h6 e8 20.h4
h5 Zc5i Morozevich — Jones, Dresden
2008.
13.g4 d7. Black’s knight frees
the way forward of his f-pawn.
14.b3, Damljanovic — Dragomirescu,
Rijeka 2010, 14...f5!?

9...a6

12.b3 b6. At first Black uses

some prophylactic against c4-c5
and then will oust the enemy
knight from the b3-square with
d7 and a5-a4, obtaining an edge.
13.e3 d7 14.e2 a4 15.c1 a3
16.b3, Cramling — Estrella VidielIa,
Maigrat del Mar 1991, 16...
f5!? He sacrifices a pawn and
seizes completely the initiative. 1O.h2
12.e2 ‘Zf6 White continues the process of
(diagram) ousting the enemy knight.
Following 13.a3 c5 14.b3 d7
15.b1 h6, White will have problems About 10.d2 Zf6 — see 9.d2

260
 3. c3 g7 4.e4 d6 5. f3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.d5 a5

f4 10.f1 a6 11.g3 h5 12.e2 11.h4 c5 12.f3 (12.g5?! h6

h5. 13.xf6 V1xf6 — Black’s two-bishop
advantage may become a telling
10.g5 f6 lLae3 f5 — see 10. factor in the future, Granda
e3. Zuniga — Matarnoros Franco,
Montevideo 2015) 12...c6co, followed
10.&e3 f5 11.exf5 gxf5 12..g5 by b6, Aronian — Van
f6 13.V1d2 c5oo — Black’s powerful Wely, Wijk aan Zee 2013. Black
e5 and f5-pawns enable him has created good counterplay on
not only to equalise, but also to the queenside, while White must
fight for the advantage in the middle still lose time to transfer his
game, De Souza — Cella, Praia knight on h2 to a more active position.
da Pipa 2014.

10.g1 f6 11.g4 c5 12.(c2 11...d7 12.h6+

c6= Martinovic — Spasov, Kastel
Kambelovac 2014.
10.a3 c5 11Je3 f5 12.exf5
gxf5oo Zvjaginsev — Pavlovic, Yugoslavia
1995.
1O...f6
This move seems more precise
than the immediate 12.h4, because
Black can play 12...h5, preventing
the pawn-advance h4-h5.
13!e3 Zf6 14.d2 c6= Khairullin
— Shomoev, Khanty-Mansiysk 2013.
12...ch8 13.h4 dc5

11.g4
White’s knight does not need 14.g4
to remain at the edge of the board. White continues with his
pawn-offensive on the kingside.
11.g4 d7 12.e3 dc5 13.g1
ch8 14S1d2 f5= Janda — Belyakov, The move 14.h5 looks a bit
Pardubice 2013. premature, since following 14...

261
Chapter 19

g5, Black can prevent the opening Black sacrifices a pawn and exchanges
of the h-file. 15.g4 f5 16.exf5 his opponent’s active
&xf5 17.h6 f6oo Yilmaz — Vocaturo, pieces neutralising completely his
Tromso 2014. initiative on the kingside. 16.
hxg6 ixh6 17.xh6 g7 18.
After 14.e3 f5 15.h5 f4 16. xh7+ c?xg6 19Th5 Th8 20.
gxf4 exf4 17.ixc5 ‘Zxc5 18.hxg6, cd2. It is not good for White to
the tactical complications end in exchange on h8, because Black’s
a repetition of moves. 18...V41f6 pieces will occupy the h-file. 20...
19.Zf7+ c?g8 20.h6+ ch8 21. xh5 21.gxh5+ c’h7 22Sg1
f7+ cg8 22.h6+, Draw, Khairullin V!f6 23.b3 d7 24S!g6+. White
— Kokarev, Khanty-Mansiysk gives back the pawn, but succeeds
2013. in trading the queens. (He can
also continue the game with a material
14...f5 advantage: 24.a3 g8 25.
V1h1 b4 26.f3 Vg5, followed
by c7-c6. Black’s pieces are obviously
more actively placed and
White’s extra pawn is not important
at all.) 24..Sxg6 25.hxg6+
c?xg6 261a3 Th8 27.g1+ c?f6
28. ,xc5 xc5 Ipatov — Bacrot,
Jerusalem 2015.

D) 8.0—0

After 15.gxf5 gxf5 16.g5, Peralta

— Quintin Navarro, Zaragoza
2014, 16...Ve8!? 17.h5 Vd7 18.
xf5 b4 19.g1, Black has an interesting
exchange-sacrifice: 19...
xf5! 20.exf5 1xf5. His pieces are
very active, while White’s king is
horribly misplaced at the centre
of the board. 21.cf1 V1h3+ 22.g2 This is a quiet move. White
h1+ 23.g1 VTh3=, Draw by a does not clarify his plans yet.
repetition of moves. 8...a6
This move is played with the
15...f4!? idea to follow with Zc5, increas15.h5

262
 3.Qc3 g74.e4 d6 54f3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.d5a5

ing the pressure against the e4- The move 10.Vc2 may lead to
pawn. an inferior position for White.
Now, White must decide how 10...h6!? 11.b3 xc1 12.axc1
to parry his opponent’s threats. xb3 13.V41xb3 (It is preferable for
him to choose 13.axb3 b6 14.a1
d7 15.V1d2 e8 16.d3, May —
Krause, Germany 1993, 16...
g7!?=, followed by f7-f5.) 13...
d7. White has a “bad” bishop
and Black only needs to prevent
the pawn-break c4-c5. 14.Vc2
c5 15.cd1 (15.a4 b6 16.xc5
bxc5 17.V1d2 f5t Richardson —
Cloodt, ICCF 2008) 15...f5 16.exf5
xf5 17.V1d2 (17.V1c1 g5 18.1e3
Vf6 Flohr — Petrosian, Moscow
91g5 1950) 17..1d7 18.1e3 e7 19.f3
b6 20.e4 f5 21.b3 xe4 22.
9.e1. He fortifies reliably the fxe4, Gelfer — Liberzon, Israel
e4-pawn with the help of his rook, 1974, 22...V1h4!? — White’s bishop
but this plan takes too much time is severely restricted by his
and Black succeeds in fortifying own pawns.
his queenside. 9...c5 10.f1 b6 10.b3. This move is necessary
11.h3, Balashov — Khalifman, Kiev if White wishes to advance a2-a3
1986, 11...d7!?= and b2-b4, because after the immediate
move a2-a3, Black has
9.Zd2. This move has the obvious the rather unpleasant resource
drawback that Black can activate a5-a4. 10...’Ze8. He is preparing
his bishop by playing h6. f7-f5. Black does not need to be in
a hurry to play h6. 11.a3 f5 12.
b1 Zf6 13.b4. White sacrifices a
pawn and seizes the initiative. (13.
f3 d7 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 a4
16.V41c2 xc3 17.1xc3 h6 18.c5,
Ruetten — Forgach, Bad Zwesten
2001, 18...f4!?t, followed by
h5 and V1h4 with excellent attacking
prospects for Black.) 13...
axb4 14.axb4 cxe4 15.dxe4
xe4 16.xe4 fxe4 17.e3 (17.c5
10.Th1 e8 11.b3 f5 12.a3 f6 V41h4= Karagiannis — Bologan,
—see 10.b3. Xanthi 1991) 17...1h4 18.Vd2 g4

263
Chapter 19

i9.xg4 1xg4= — White’s bishop

is obviously more active than its
counterpart, but he is still a pawn
down, Bacrot — Kritz, Mainz 2004.

9.V41c2 h5. Black plans to play

f4.

After i0.e3 f5, Black advances

f5-f4 with tempo. ii.f3 (ii.exf5
gxf5 i2.f4 exf4 i3.xf4 ac5= Murshed
— Szekely, Dhaka 1997) ii...
dc5!? i2.d3 f4 13.f2 d7oo
i0.d3 f5 ii.exf5 gxf5 i2.f4,
Huss — Nijboer, Luzern i989, i2...
‘e7!? Black should better not be
White can solve radically the in a hurry to advance e5-e4, because
problem with the enemy knight after it White’s minor pieces
on f4, by exchanging it with his would gain access to the strategically
bishop on ci, but this would important d4-square. 13.
weaken horribly his dark squares. fxe5 xe5= — The activity of
He not only would not obtain an Black’s pieces compensates fully
advantage in the opening, but the slight weakness of his isolated
might even fail to equalise. For f5-pawn.
example: iO.a3 ‘Zf4 1Lxf4 exf4
i2.1d2 g5 11km — Semenova, 9.e3. There has arisen a position
Sukhumi 2007, or i0.g5 Ve8 like in the main variation, but
ii.fei Zf4 i2.xf4 exf4= Kempinski without the move h7-h6. 9...h5
— Bacrot, Trzcianka 20i5. (following 9...g4, Black must
i0.Zei. White wishes to place consider the possibility i0.g5)
his bishop on f3. i0...f4 iLf3
(iLxf4 exf4 12.V41d2 g5 i3.Zd3,
Koneru — Sareen, Calicut 2003,
i3...f5!?t) ii...Zc5 i2.e3 b6oo,
followed by f7-f5, Danner — Wiedermann,
Linz 20 ii.

9.Zei. White is preparing d3

and f2-f3. 9...Zd7!? Black’s second
knight joins in the fight for
the c5-square. After i0.V1d2 c5 ii.ei, Black

264
 3.c3 g74.e4d65.f3 0-0 6.e2e57.d5a5

has an interesting pawn-sacrifice: positions analysed in the next

11...f4, Belchev — S.Vasilev, chapter.
ICCF 2010, 12.,xf4 exf4 13.V1xf4
a4 14.c1 f5 — He has two powerful After 10.id2 c5 11.1c2 h5
bishops and harmoniously deployed 12.e1 Zf4 13.xf4 exf4, the dark
pieces as compensation squares in White’s camp are seriously
for his minimal material deficit. It weakened. 14.d3 xd3
is in fact White who must think 15.xd3, Tribuiani — Rago, Nareto
about equality. 1999. Here, Black could have
10.g3. White prevents the appearance begun a dangerous attack with
of the enemy knight on the move 15...f3!?.
the f4-square. 10...’f6. Black has
provoked a weakening of his opponent’s 1O...g4
kingside and now, his Black’s knight frees the way
knight can go back, since it has forward of his f’7-pawn with tempo.
nothing to do on the h5-square
any more. 11.d2, Kuryshev —
Chechetko, St Petersburg 2015,
11...h5!? 12.f3 c5 13.V41c2 b6oo,
followed by Ve8, d7, h7 and
f7-f5. The weakening of White’s
king shelter (g2-g3) may hurt him
in the future if Black organises a
kingside attack.

9...h6

111d2

It does not seem any better if

White retreats his bishop to its
initial position. 11.c1 f5.

101e3
White’s more logical move
10.h4 (preserving the pin of the
knight) 10...Ve8, would lead to

265
Chapter 19

After 12.e1 f6 13.f3 f4 14. side pieces. 18.xf8+ V1xf8 19.V1f1

d3, Black may refrain from the V1xf1+ 20.cxf1 f5i: — White cannot
standard pawn-offensive on the develop his bishop on ci and
kingside and try instead to transfer his rook on al without material
his knight to g3. 14...h5!? 15. losses.) 16...,xf5 17.e3 d3 18.
d2 h4 16.a3 h5 17.f2 Zg3t xd3 exd3= — Black’s two powerful
Davidov — Vinchev, ICCF 2014. bishops compensate fully the
Accepting the knight-sacrifice would weakness of his d3-pawn, Nielsen
lead to a quick checkmate for — Mortensen, Taastrup 1998.
White. Later, Black may combine 15.xg4. This move leads to
his kingside attack g6-g5-g4, V1g5 the weakening of the light squares.
with some prophylactic on the opposite 15...fxg4 i6.e3 xc3!? Black exchanges
side of the board — c7-c5. his powerful bishop, but
12.exf5 gxfs 13.g3 (13.e1 Ve8 removes the threat against his e4-
14.f3 f6= Ovcharenko — Kazoks, pawn. 17.bxc3 d3. Black’s knight
ICCF 2012) 13...c5 14.h4. is headed for the f3-square. 18.
White is threatening xf5 and ,xh6. White wins a pawn, but this
xg4. 14...e4. is not important at all. i8...f7
i9.V1e2 e7 20.e3 h7-* Voveris
— Amico, ICCF 2013.

11...f5 12.exf5
Following 12.g3, the simplest
for Black would be to play 12...f4,
obtaining good attacking chances.
i3.h4 V1g5 i4.chi f7. He prepares
the doubling of his rooks
on the f-file. i5.f3 d7 i6.V1e2
15.f4 exf3 16.xf3 a4oo — Black’s af8oo Savchenko — Kokarev,
actively placed pieces compensate Khanty-Mansiysk 2013.
the vulnerability of his f5-pawn, 12...gxf5
Volzhin — Nataf, Koszalin 1999.
15.xf5. White fails to win a
pawn, because Black has an intermediate
move. 15...xf2 16.xf2
(White’s attempt to remain with
extra material 16.Zxh6+ ,xh6 17.
xf2, Volzhin — Balcerak, Senden
1999, would lead to a very difficult
position for him after 17...
e3!? — this pawn would impede
the development of White’s queen-

266
 3.Qc3 g74.e4 d6 5.tf3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.d5 a5

13.e1 Black prepares the development

of his bishop to f5.
The move 13.g3 does not create 15.d3
problems for Black. 13...f4 14.
Zh4 V1d7. He prepares the sacrifice White should possibly transfer
of his knight on h2. 15.f3 here his bishop to the bl-h7 diagonal
xh2! 16.cxh2 V1h3+ 17.cg1 fxg3 and later try to simplify the
18.fxg3 V1xg3+ 19.g2 e4. The position by exchanging pieces. He
bishop on g7 joins into the actions. will not manage to obtain an edge,
Black has a very powerful but at least will not be checkmated
attack for the piece. 20.e2 V1g6 on the g-file. 15.c1 f7 161d3
21.ef4 xf4 22.,xf4 exf3 23. f8 17.b1 c5 18.V1e2 g7 19.
1xf3 ‘Zc5 He has regained a part d3 xd3 20.V1xd3 h5 21.f2
of the sacrificed material. He has h3 22.e4 ch8 23.e2 b6 24.
a pawn for the exchange and the ch1 f5= Voiculescu — Pasko,
two-bishop advantage. 24.ae1 ICCF 2014.
1d3. The activity of Black’s pieces
increases with every move and 15..1f5 161e1 (16.c1 1e8
this circumstance forces White to 17.e1 V1g6oo Ortiz de Latierr —
part with the extra material. 25. Canamas Soler, ICCF 2010) 16...
e7 f6 26.,xd6 ,xe7 27.,xe7 ch8oo Black is preparing g8. He
— Both kings are relatively has very good attacking prospects.
unsafe and this approximately 171f2 Ve8 18.a3 g8
balances the chances, Zlatariu — 19.c?h1 Vg6 2O.e1 h5 21111
Terreaux, ICCF 2012. g3+! 221xg3. It would be too
risky for White to accept the sacrifice
13...f614.m of the knight, but now, the
vulnerability of the dark squares
Black has no problems at all in his camp would hurt him horribly.
after 14.b3 c5 15.d3 ce4 16. 22...fxg3 23.h3. White
xe4 xe4= Guzy — Staf, ICCF has managed to neutralise the
2006, as well as following 14.g3 first wave of the enemy attack. He
c5 15.f3 f4 16.d3 f5 17.xc5 has no counterplay at all however,
dxc5 18.e1 e4 19.fxe4 xe4 20. so Black can bring his reserves
xf4 g5 2L,g4 h3+ 22.jxh3 patiently. With his next moves he
xh3 23.xf8+, Draw, Voiculescu will prepare the transfer of his
— Dorner, ICCF 2014. White’s extra knight from the edge of the board
pawn is irrelevant, because after to the f4-square. 23..1f6 24.
23...V1xf8, his king is vulnerable cg1 b8 25.c1 V!h5 26.b3
and Black’s bishops are very active. d7 27.d2 h4 28.e2 f8
29.c5 g6 3O.de4 f4—+ Ermakov
14...f4 — Zemlyanov, ICCF 2011.

267
Chapter 20 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ig7 4.e4 d6
5.f3 0—0 6.ie2 e5 7.d5 a5 81g5
The Petrosian System

White refrains voluntarily from

the pin of the knight. Black exploits
this immediately. 9...g4
10.d2 (10.c1 f5 11.exf5 gxf5
12.g3 Za6 13.h4 Zc5 14.0—0 e4
— see Chapter 19, variation D)
10...f5 11.h3 (11.exf5 gxf5 12.h3
f6 — see 11.h3) 11...f6. White
fails to hold the important e4-
square. 12.exf5 gxf5 13.Vc1 f4.
Black prepares the development
With this move there arises an of his bishop to f5. 14.g3 e4
interesting system of development 15.h4 e3. Black begins an attack.
named after World Champion 16.fxe3 fxg3 17.g6 e8
number 9 — Tigran Petrosian.

White pins the enemy knight

and thus impedes his thematic
pawn-advance f7-f5.
8...h6
Black should better clarify immediately
the intentions of the
enemy bishop, because if he slows
down with this, White will play
d2 and his bishop will manage Now, White must defend very
to retreat to e3 without being precisely.
afraid of the move g4. It is obviously bad for him to
91h4 play 18.V1c2?! — his queen will be
attacked in the future by the enemy
9.e3. This move is not in the knight on this square. 18...
spirit of the Petrosian system. a6 19.0—0—0 (19.g1? b4 20.

268
 34c3 g74.e4 d6 5.tIf3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.d5 a5 8.g5 h6 9.h4 4a6

V1b1 e4 21.xe4 f5 22.ixb4 The other route of White’s

,xe4 23.d3, T.Hansen — Forcen knight e1-d3 has the drawback
Esteban, Sitges 2015, 23...V41g5 24. that in comparison to d2 he
f4 Vxf4! 25.exf4 xd3—+) 19... does not control sufficiently the
Zb4 Levin — Ozolin, Samara strategically important e4-square.
2015. 10.0—0 Ve8 11.e1 (11.d2 d7
It seems more reliable for — see variation B) 11...d7 12.d3
White to choose 18.g1, Flores — xe4!? This temporary piece-sacrifice
Morovic Fernandez, San Salvador is Black’s simplest road to
2016, 18...f5 19.xg3 bd7 20. equality. 13.xe4 f5 14.c3 g5
f4 c5t — Black has sufficient 15.g3 e4 16.f4 gxf4 17.xf4
compensation for his minimal V1g6 18.V1d2 c5= Zakharov —
material deficit. His pieces are Gromov, ICCF 2009. Black has
very active, while White’s king is restored the material balance. His
stranded in the centre. pieces are very actively deployed.
Later, he can organise an attack
9...a6 against White’s king on the semi-
open g-file.

1O...V!e8

Black increases his control

over the b4 and cS-squares and
thus impedes the development
of White’s queenside initiative. White has two basic plans for
Meanwhile, now Black can play action in this position.
V1e8, without being afraid of the He can evacuate his king away
knight-sortie Zb5. from the centre B) 11.0—0, or
1O.d2 can, without losing a tempo for
This is a thematic move. Now castling kingside, begin immediate
White’s bishop on e2 controls the active actions on the queenside
h5-square and he should not be with A) 11.a3. This way of
afraid of the transfer of the enemy saving a tempo seems very dubious,
knight from f6 to f4. though...

269
Chapter 20

11.b3 d7 12.0—0 (12.a3 h7 12.f3 f5 13.a3 fxg4 14.fxg4,

— see variation A) 12. ..1h7 — see Spassky — Arakhamia Grant, Copenhagen
variation B. 1997. Here, Black could
have obtained an advantage with
11.b1 d7 12.b3 (12.0—0 h7 the line: 14...f6!? 15.,xf6 xf6
— see variation B) 12...Zh7 13.f3 — White has no compensation for
(13.a3 h5 — see variation A) 13... the weakness of the f4-square.
h5 14.0—0 (14.a3 h6 — see variation
A) 14...h6 15.f2 (15.a3 e3 11.xf6. He exchanges the
— see variation B) 15...V1e7 16.ch1 defender of the g4-square and after
h4 17.a3 f4 — see variation Bi, 11...xf6 12.g4 (12.h4 g7
16.ch1. 13.h5, Cazzaniga — Robertsen,
Milan 2013, 13...g5!?±) manages
11.h3. This is hardly the most to trade his opponent’s light-
useful move for White. 11...Zh7 squared bishop, which is absolutely
12.a3 d7 13.b3 f5oo Semcesen — essential for Black in the
Radovanovic, Pardubice 2011. King’s Indian Defence. Still, White’s
plan seems to be too slow and Black
It looks too risky for White to organises good counterplay. 12...
choose 11.g4, because he fails the xg4 13.V1xg4 b4. This is the
prevent the enemy pawn-advance point. White is incapable of taking
f7-f5 anyway. The weakening of simultaneously control over the c2
the f4-square however, may hurt and d3-squares. So, he must comply
him in the future. 11...Zh7 with the transfer of the enemy
knight into the centre of the board.
14.0—0 c2 15.ad1 ‘Zd4 16.f3
h5 17.g3, Timman — Avrukh,
Amsterdam 2001, 17...c6!?= —
Black has a very good position.

A)11.a3d7

12.g3 f5
12.g1 d7 13.Zf1 g5 14.
xg5 hxg5. The dark squares in
White’s position are weakened
and his h2-pawn is vulnerable.
15.d2 f6 16.g3 g7 17.cf1
h8 Anastasian — Mariano,
Dubai 2004.

270
 34c3 g74.e4 d6 5.tIf3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.d5 a5 8.1.g5 h6 9.h4 4a6

12.b3 because he would be incapable of

castling after this move. 15.b4
12.0—0 Zh7 — see variation B. axb4 16.axb4 e3 17.f2 ,xf2+
18.cxf2 1e7= — Naturally, White
12...h713.m will accomplish an artificial castling
and will evacuate his king to
13.0—0 h5 — see variation B. a safe square, but of course it
would be Black who will fight for
13.b1 h5 14.f3 h6 — see 13.f3 the opening advantage, Laketic —
Lazic, Belgrade 1988.
13...h5
Black prepares the development 15..S!e7
of his bishop to h6.

16.b4
14.b1
16.0—0. This move is too careless.
14.0—0 h6 — see variation B. 16...V41g5. White’s knight on
d2 is hanging and Black is also
Following 14.f2 h6 15.a2 threatening h3. White must already
(15.b1 e7 — see 14.Th1), Black fight for equality. 17.b2
obtains good counterplay after a h3 18.g3 h4 19.f4, Grinev —
transfer of his queen to the g5- Yukhno, Dnipropetrovsk 2003,
square. 15...V41e7 16.V1b1 V1g5 17. 19...V1f6!? 20.f2 exf4 21.f3
g1, Bischoff — Clara, BadenBaden d7 — White’s compensation for
1990, 17...h4!?oo the pawn is insufficient.

14..1h6151f2 16.h4. This move is preventing

radically the queen-sortie Vg5,
15.0—0 e3 — see 11.0—0. but weakens the kingside. Later,
it would be too risky for White to
White should not allow e3, castle kingside. 16...c5 17.c2 f5

271
Chapter 20

18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 Za4 20.d1. 19.b5 would not promise White
He is preparing the transfer of his more than equality. 19...b4 20.
knight to the e3-square (20.b5 c4 h3 21.g3, Danner — Stanec,
xb5 21.cxb5 Zf6 22.a1 b6 Austria 1993, 21...b6!?oo
23ixa8 xa8= Patrici — De Souza,
ICCF 2008. After White’s c4- 18...V!g519.g4
pawn has gone to b5, he would White at least preserves his
not have the possibility c4-c5. castling rights with this move.
Without this move, he cannot
break Black’s defence on the 19.g1?! c5 Indjic — Brankovic,
queenside.) 20...Zf6 21.e3, Rossiter Vrnjacka Banja 2012.
— Ledger, Dundee 1993 (21.
,d3 c6oo) 21...b6!?= This is the
simplest for Black. Now, it would
be dangerous for White to accept
the pawn-sacrifice: 22.exf5?! gxf5
23.xf5 &xf5 24.Vxf5, because
after 24...’Zc3 25.b2 g7 26.V41c2
xe2 27.cxe2 e4, White’s king,
stranded in the centre, will come
under a crushing attack by Black’s
pieces.

16...axb4l7.axb4h4 19..Se7
This is a very useful pawn-advance. Black’s queen has provoked a
Now, White will not be weakening of his opponent’s king-
able to play h2-h4. side and now can go back to the
e7-square. His knight will be best
placed on g5.
20.c5 dxc5 21.bxc5 xc5
22.c4 fb8oo White has sacrificed
a pawn and has seized completely
the initiative on the queen-
side. His king however is not safe
at all, so Black’s prospects are not
worse. 23.d6 cxd6 24.d5 d8
25.xd6 e6 26.c4 c6 27.
b6. White’s pieces are very active,
but the dark squares in his
18.V!c2 camp are horribly compromised.
27...d4 28.V!b2 V!f8 29.0-0
The pawn-sacrifice 18.c5 dxc5 ..g7 301d1 g5 31.c7 e7.

272
 3.tIc3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.d5 a5 8.g5 h6 9.&h4 4a6

Black sacrifices the exchange and knight from f6. White loses his
seizes the initiative. 32.xa8 control over the h5-square. Black
xa8t Martynov — Tsygankov, transfers his knight to the f4-
ICCF 2014. Black has a pawn for square and obtains an excellent
the exchange and powerful initiative. position. 12...h5 13.b3, C.Hansen
The position of White’s king — Jensen, Aarhus 1994 (13.
is weakened and the dark squares e1 f4oo) 13...f4!?oo
in his camp are hopelessly weak.
12.a3 h7

B) 11.0—0 d7

13.b3 h5 — see 12.b3.

13.ch1 h5 — see 12.ch1.
Black has no problems after
13.b5 f6 14.xf6 xf6 15.b4
12.b3 e7 16.V41b3= Piskov — Stefansson,
White is preparing a2-a3. Copenhagen 1991.
Now, he should not be afraid of 13.b1 a4. Now, the pawn-advance
the pawn-advance a5-a4. b2-b4 would lead to the formation
of an isolated pawn in
12.b5 h7 13.a3 f6 — see 12.a3. White’s position on the a-file. 14.
Zb5 h5 Black not only prepares
12.b1 h7 13.ch1 (13.a3 a4 — h6, but also threatens to trap
see 12.a3) 13...h5 — see 12.ch1. the enemy bishop after g6-g5 and
h5-h4. 15.f3 h6 16.f2 (16.b4
12.xf6. After this move the axb3 17.xb3 e3+ 18.if2 xf2+
position is simplified considerably 19.xf2, Agdamus — Tukmakov,
and the position is balanced. Buenos Aires 1970, 19...V41e7!?=)
12...xf6 13.g4 ixg4 14.xg4, 16...V1e7 17.b4 axb3 18.xb3 h4co
Barata — Supi, Registro 2013, 14... — Black’s counterplay on the kingside
c5 15.V1e2 a4= seems at least as dangerous
as White’s initiative on the opposite
12.f3. This move is premature side of the board, Ostojic —
before the removal of Black’s Markovic, Cetinje 1990.

273
Chapter 20

White often plays here the los, Quito 2012, 14...f6!? 15.f2
prophylactic move 12.ch1, taking h4±
his king away from the gl-a7 diagonal. 14.b3 b6. It is not clear what
12...Zh7 White’s knight is doing on b3,
since he cannot advance c4-c5
without the support of his bpawn,
so sooner or later his knight
will have to abandon the b3-
square, freeing the way forward of
his b-pawn. 15.Zc1, Petrosian —
Hort, Lugano 1968, 15...f6!? 16.
,xf6 xf6= — White has lost too
much time on manoeuvres with
his knight and Black’s prospects
13.b3 h5 — see 12.b3. are not worse at all.
13.b1 h5 14.f3 h6 15.b3 e3
16.a3 c5 — see variation B2. 12...h7
13.c1, Limeres Guiance — Prieto
Aranguren, Mondragon 2007,
13...f6!? 14.xf6 xf6=
13.a3 h5 14.f3 f6 15.xf6
(White should better refrain from
the exchange of the dark-squared
bishops. 15.f2 h4 16.b3 g5 —
see 12.b3) 15...xf6 16.b3 e7t —
The dark squares in White’s camp
are weak, Gulko — Kasparov,
Novgorod 1995.
13.f3 h5
13.a3

13.f3 h5 14.a3 (14.c?h1 f6 —

see 13.ch1) 14...h6 — see 13.a3.

White would not achieve much

with the line: 13.ch1 h5 14.f3 ff6.
Now, he must either exchange the
bishops, which is doubtlessly in
favour of Black, or just retreat his
14.a3 f6 — see 13.a3. bishop from its active position.
14.b3 f6 — see 12.b3. 15.f2 h4 16.a3 g5 17.b1 e7
14.e1, Granda Zuniga — Mi- 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 f6. Black is

274
 3.c3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.d5 a5 8.ikg5 h6 9JLh4 a6

preparing the transfer of his Now, White can either prevent

knight to the h5-square. 20.c5. e3 with Bi) 15...f2, or play B2)
White sacrifices a pawn in an attempt 15.c?h1.
to deflect his opponent
from his kingside attack. (20..d3 15.a2 e3+ 16.ch1 V1b8, or
h5t Polak — Alekseev, Pardubice 15.1c2 e3+ 16.ch1 f5 — see
1999) 20...h3 21.g3 dxc5 22. 15.ch1.
bxc5 xc5 23.c4 fd8= — White
has sufficient compensation for There arises a complicated
the sacrificed pawn, but not more double-edged fight after 15.Vfe1
than that, Vaassen — Borisovs, c5 16.b1 f5co Auzins — Ponomarev,
LSS 2007. ICCF 2010.

13...h5 The move 15.b1 leads to an

Here, contrary to the other approximately equal position. 15...
variations in the King’s Indian defence, e3+ 16.,,f2 (16.ch1 ,c5 — see 15.
in the Petrosian system c±?hl) 16...,xf2+ 17.xf2 1e7. Black
Black, as a rule, cannot advance has exchanged his bishop on g7,
f7-f5 easily and is forced to prepare which was severely restricted by
for a long time this pawn- his own pawn on e5 and now, he
break. can be very optimistic about the
future. 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 c5. He
The point is that the straightforward prevents the pawn-advance c4-c5.
attempt 13...f5 will be 20.dxc6 (Following 20.bxc5 xc5,
countered by White with 14.exf5 the powerful placement of the
gxf5 15..±.h5, followed by ±e7 and knight on c5 compensates for
the chase of Black’s rooks by Black the slight weakness of his
White’s bishops would be very isolated b7-pawn. 21.b3 b6 22.
unpleasant for Black. d2 th8 23.V!c2 g7oo Khenkin
— Bokan, Moscow 1989) 20...bxc6
14. h6 21.a4 th8 22. c5, Zlotnik — A.
Kuzmin, Budapest 1989. White
has managed to advance c4-c5,
but Black was well prepared
against that. 22...e6!? 23.xa6
xa6 24.cxd6 1xd6 25.c5 ab6=
— The weaknesses of the pawns on
b4 and c6 balance each other.

Bi) 151f2 e7
Black is threatening V4!g5 and
.h3 at an opportune moment.

275
Chapter 20

16.Vc2 18.f1?! V1g5t Vickery — Ozanne,

White parries this threat. Now, Guernsey 2008.
after V1g5, he will have the resource
fd1 and after ih3 he will The position is equal following
simply play ff1. 18.f1 V1g5 19.d3, Malich —
Schmidt, Decin 1976, 19...c5!?=
16.ch1. This move is too
passive. 16...h4 17.b1 f4 18. 18..S!g519.c?h1
g1, Jimenez Villena — Danailov,
Seville 1992 (18.V1e1 VIg5oo Najdorf 19.f1 f6 20.e2 e3 — Alter
— R.Garcia, Mar del Plata the trade of the bishops, the
1968) 18...c?g7!?oo, followed by vulnerability of the dark squares
h8, 1f6-h5-g3. Black’s attack in White’s camp may hurt him in
may turn out to be very dangerous. the future, Tukmakov — Magerramov,
Moscow 1983.

Black obtains a very good position 19..1e3 2O.,xe3 Vxe3= —

in the variation 16.a2 h4 White must defend accurately;
17.b2 h3!?#, or 16.b1 V1g5 17. otherwise, he might get checkmated
b2 ih3 18.g3 h4 19.f4, Grinev following g7, h8,
— Yukhno, Dnipropetrovsk 2003, f6-h5-g3, Meier — Miles, Hamburg
19...V1f6!?oo 1995.

16...h4 B2) 15.ch1 e3

17.fd1 16Sc2
White’s plan includes d3, in17.
ab1 f4 18.fd1 V1g5 — see creasing the control over the bi17.
fd1. h7 diagonal.
16.a2. He protects his knight
17..1f4 18.ab1 and prepares V1b1. Still, all this

276
 3.tIc3 g74.e4 d6 5.tIf3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.d5 a5 8...g5 h6 9.ih4 tIa6

seems too slow. 16...V41b8. Black plicated positional battle. 19...e4

wishes to play a7 at an opportune 20.e1 e3 21.g3 f2 22.d1 f6
moment. A similar manoeuvre 23.b4 axb4 24.axb4 g4 25.ctg2
(in another opening, indeed...) b6oo Walczak — Habermehl,
has been encountered in the ICCF 2013.
games of Akiba Rubinstein. 17. V1b1 On the contrary, the move
g5. This is a defensive and not attacking 191f2 leads to simplifications
move. Black increases his 19...1g6 20.ixc5 xc5 21.b4 axb4
control over the f4-square. 18.e1 22.axb4 a4 23.a1 xc3 24.Vxc3
c5. From here the bishop will Zf6 25.f4 xa1 26.1xa1 e8=
prevent the pawn-advance b3-b4. Sharden — Cavajda, ICCF 2000.
19.d1 h4 20.f2. White must 19.a2 1g6. Black’s plans include
comply with the exchange of the the doubling (and eventually
bishops, because this is the only even tripling) of his major pieces
way for him to break on the on the g-file. 20.b4 axb4 21.axb4
queenside. Later however, the advantage e3 22.1c3 (He has no problems
of having a “good” bishop after 22.f2 xf2 23.xf2 f6 24.
against White’s “bad” bishop may c3 h4=, followed by h5-f4(g3),
become an important factor. 20... Douziech — Balabaev, Canada 2001)
ixf2 21.Thcf2, Bezold — Enders, 22...V41h6. Black must remove his
Binz 1994, 21...c6!?oo knight from the g-file in order to
protect his bishop. 23.b3 Zf6
16.b1. One of the defects of 24.a1 f4 25.id3 ch8 26.ac1
this natural move is the fact that g8oo, followed by a8-f8-f’7-g7,
White’s a3-pawn remains defenceless Vinot — Muneret, ICCF 2004.
and Black can transfer
his bishop to c5 with tempo. 16... 16...f517.exf5gxf5
c5 17.V1c1 f5 18.exf5. Naturally,
White should not allow his opponent’s
pawn-offensive on the
kingside (f5-f4, g6-g5-g4). 18...gxf5

18.ae1
Or 18.b5 1g6 19.fe1 f6
The move 19.f4 leads to a com277 20.d3 g5 21.xg5 Vfxg5= and
Chapter 20

then c±?h8, g8, forcing White to 191d3

begin defending, De Blois Figueredo
— Lakatos, ICCF 2013. 19.d1 1h6= Babula — Scholz,
He would not achieve much by Germany 2008.
exchanging the bishops 18.f2
xf2 19.xf2 ‘f6 20.g1 ch8. 19.Zd1 c5
Black’s king frees a square for his
rook. 21.V41b2 c5. Without this
move, after b3-b4, Black’s knight
will be misplaced at the edge of
the board. 22.b4 axb4 23.axb4
a4 24.xa4 xa4 25.d1 a8
26.f4 e4 (It is worse for Black to
opt here for 26...exf4, Kramnik —
Gelfand, Linares 1994, 27.Ef3!?
— His weak kingside pawns may
turn into an easy prey for White’s 20.V1b2, Narciso Dublan —
pieces.) 27.f1. White prepares Roa, Calvia 2007, 20...ch8!?oo
the transfer of his knight to the 20.f4 e4oo Laketic — Djukic,
blocking e3-square. 27...V41g6 28. Vrnjacka Banja 2005.
e3 ‘1g7 29.c5 g4 30.xg4 hxg4 20.b1, Sundararajan — Dab,
31.c1 Vxb2 32.xb2 a3= — Black Barbera del Valles 2015, 20...
has at least an equal position Zf6!?= White is unlikely to manage
thanks to his dominance over the to advance b3-b4, while
a-file and his protected passed e4- Black’s plan on the kingside is
pawn, Kalinin — Nitsche, ICCF 2007. quite simple — ch8, g8...

18..S!g6 19..STh6 2O.e2

20.db1 f7= Van Hoolandt —

Cazzaniga, Milan 2012.

2O...f’7 211f2 ixf2 22.

exf2 c5 23.b4 axb4 24.
axb4 xd3= — Black’s prospects
are not worse thanks to his powerful
pawn-tandem e5 and f5,
Rossetti — Tingander, Lechenicher
SchachServer 2010.

278
Chapter 21 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ig7 4.e4 d6
5.f3 0—0 6.ie2 e5 7.0—0

The move 8.d5 will be dealt

with in Chapters 22-27.

White ends up in an inferior

position after 8.e1?! exd4 9.
xd4 xe4!t, as well as following
8.g5?! xd4 9.xd4 exd4 10.
V1xd4 xe4! Black seizes the initiative
after this tactical strike.
1L,xd8 ixd4 12.xc7 ,xc3 13.
bxc3 e6 14.d3, Lys — Orzechowski,
This is White’s strongest and Czech Republic 2006,
most logical move. He does not 14...fc8!? 15.ia5 c5 161e2
determine the pawn-structure in a4T — White’s two-bishop advantage
the centre yet and just castles. does not compensate the
7...c6 weakness of his doubled c-pawns.
Black cannot begin his pawn-
offensive on the kingside before A) 8.dxe5
White has castled, since that White plays in the spirit of the
would contradict the well known exchange variation.
principle that flanks attacks are 8...dxe5
effective only in positions with a
secure centre.
With his last move Black increases
his pressure against the
d4-square and wishes to provoke
d4-d5. He is not afraid of the fact
that he will have to lose a tempo
for the retreat of his knight if
White really plays like this.
We will analyse now A)
8.dxe5 and B) .e3.

279
Chapter 21

9.g5 11.ad1 g4 — see 9.g5). 11...Zd4

12.xd4 exd4 13.xf6 xf6 14.
The move 9.h3 does not create b5 c6 15.d6, Inkiov — Cossin,
any problems for Black. 9...Zd4= Rosny sous Bois 2004, 15...e6!?
His prospects are not worse. — Black can continue to play for a
White’s attempt to trade the central win without any risk thanks to his
pawns with 10.’fZxe5, Schatz two-bishop advantage.
— Saathoff, Ansbach 2000, 10...
xe4! 11.Zxe4 xe5, would lead 9...V!xd1
to a worse position for him, because
Black’s minor pieces are
placed much more actively.

9.e3. White is trying to cover

the d4-square against the penetration
of the enemy knight. 9...
ig4 10.h3 ixf3. Black exchanges
an important defender of the central
squares. White’s two-bishop
advantage will not be so important
here, because the position is
of a closed type. 1Lxf3 d4 12. This is the simplest move.
b5 e6 13.1b3 c6 14.fd1 e7 Black trades the queens and gets
15.c3, Hajek — Skuja, Pardubice rid of the pin of his knight.
2001. Here, Black has an interesting 1O.fxd1
plan for actions: 15...h5!?,
followed by ch7 and h6, exchanging White would not achieve much
the dark-squared bishops, followed if he captures with his other rook.
by the penetration of his 10.axd1 g4 11.d2 (11.fe1 h6
knight to the d4-outpost. White 12..e3 fd8= Bu — Dyachkov,
must react very precisely not to end Moscow 2006) 11...xf3 12.xf3
up in a strategically hopeless position d4. He must play very precisely
with a “bad” bishop on f3. in order to neutralise the pressure
of Black’s centralised knight. 13.
9.1xd8. This move often leads fd1 (13.b5, Bacrot — Radjabov,
to transposition of moves. 9... Rishon Le Ziyyon 2006, 13...
xd8 10g5 f8 11.h3. This move e6!?=) 13...h5 14.e2 c6 15.f3
is too slow. White defends against d7 16.g3 b6 17.b3 fe8 18.sf2
g4, but does not prevent the f8 19.f1 b4 20.d3 a5= —
penetration of the enemy knight Black’s task is much simpler in
to d4 (it would be better for him this endgame, Goncharov —
to opt here for 11.fd1 g4, or Tsygankov, ICCF 2011.

280
 3.c3 1g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.&e2 e5 7.0-0 c6

1O...g4 White’s pawn-weaknesses are the

He is fighting for the d4- cause for Black’s advantage.) 14...
square.
11.h3
11.ac1 h6 12.e3 fd8 13.h3
xf3 14.xf3 d4 15.b5 e6
16.xd8+ xd8, Hladecek — Valak,
ICCF 2009, 17.xa7 a8 18.
b5 xa2= Black has succeeded
in activating his rook.
e4 15.b3 exf3 16.gxf3 f4 17.fxg4
fxe3 18.fxe3, Itkis — Golubev, Sovata
2000. White has an extra
pawn, but his pawn-structure
has been compromised and his
pieces are not so harmoniously
deployed. 18...Qa5!? 19.b5 ae8.
This temporary piece-sacrifice is
the simplest road to equality for
Black. 20.xa5 xe3 21.&f1 b6
22.xa7 bxc5 23.xc7 xb2 24.
b1 d4 25.h1 a3= — He regains
the pawn on a2 and there
arises complete equality on the
board.
ii..Axm 121xf3 d4

Following 11.d2 xf3 12.&xf3

d4, the chances of both sides are
approximately equal. 13.d5 (13.
ad1 h5 — see 10Jad1) 13...xd5
14.cxd5 f5 15.e3 ad8 16.cf1 f7
17.xd4 exd4= Siikaluoma — Ponomarev,
ICCF 2008.
13.d5
11.d3. White is preparing the
doubling of his rooks on the dfile. 13.d2 c6 14.e2, Grochowski
Still, the placement of his — Falatowicz, ICCF 2006, 14...
rook on d3 enables Black to simplify e6!?= White’s knight on e2 covers
the position with a tactical the d4-square, but is placed a
strike. 11...h6 12.e3 xe4! 13. bit passively.
xe4 f5 14.Zc5 (14.c3?! e4
15.d2 exf3 16.gxf3 f4 17.c5 13.b5 e6 14.e3, Sokolovs
,xc3 18.bxc3 f5, Perun — Pavlov, — Roca, Yerevan 1996, 14...a6 15.
Kiev 2004, 19.fxg4 xc5 — c3 fd8 16.xd8+ xd8= If

281
Chapter 21

Black manages to accomplish the 20.cf1 g7 21.ce2 a6 22.g1

manoeuvre .f8-c5, he may even d6= White has more space, but
obtain an edge in this endgame. his kingside pawn-structure has
been weakened, Roether — Trofimov,
13...xd514.cxd5 IECC 2011.
Now, White will be able to exert
pressure against the c7-pawn, 15...f7
but this would be insufficient for
an advantage.
14...f5

16.cf1

16.e3 fxe4 17.g4 f5=

15.ac1 Krush — Melekhina, Saint Louis
2009.
15.cf1 f7 16.d2, Gustafsson
— Golubev, playchess.com 2004 Black has no reasons to be
(16.ac1 ‘Zxf3 — see 15.ac1) 16... afraid of 16.exf5 xf3+ 17.gxf3
af8!? 17.b4 d8 18.ac1 f6 gxfs 18.d6 cxd6 19.xd6 e8=
19.a5 dd7= — The c7-pawn has White’s pieces are more actively
been reliably protected. Black placed, but his kingside pawn-
holds solidly his defence thanks structure has been compromised,
to his powerful centralised knight. Martinovic — Jovanovic, Sarajevo
2016.
15.e3 ae8 (His position is
quite acceptable after 15...f7 16. 16...xf3 17.gxf3 d7 18.
xd4 exd4 17.exf5 gxf5 18.e1 .e3 f4 191d2 .f8 2O.c4 f7
cf8= Li Chao — Ding Liren, 21.ce2 .d6 22.a3 cf6!? Black’s
Zaozhuang 2015.) 16.ab1 f7 17. king is headed for the h4-square
e1 xf3+ 18.gxf3 ff8. Black prepares in order to force White’s pieces to
the transfer of his bishop to protect the h3-pawn. 231b4
d6 from where it will protect reliably c?g5 24.g1+ ch4 25.g4+
his c7-pawn. 19.bc1 d8 ch5= White cannot play for a

282
 3.tIc3g74.e4d65.f3O-O6.e2e57.O-O c6

win, because of the vulnerability h6. In order to do this, as a rule,

of his h3-pawn. he advances f6-f5, so that after an
exchange on f5 to follow with
xf5.
B) 81e3 12.dxe5
White’s alternatives do not
provide him with anything meaningful.

12.h3. This is hardly the most

useful move for him. 12...f5 13.d5
d4= Mann — Ye, Thessaloniki
1988.

12.d5 e7. The position in the

centre has been stabilised and the
actions are focused on the flanks.
There has arisen a position 13.d2 (13.e1. The transfer of
similar to the Gligoric variation. the knight to d3 seems to be a bit
The difference is the inclusion of too slow. 13...g6 14.f3 Zf4 15.
the moves 0—0 and c6. d3 f5 16.exf5 xf5= Banikas —
8...g4 91g5 f6 101h4 Smirin, Athens 2008; 13.c1 Zg6
14.e1 f5 15. exf5 ‘Zxf5. One of
About 10.c1 f5 — see the Gligoric Black’s knights is headed for d4
variation (Chapter 18, variation and the other for the f4-square.
Al). This should compensate for him
the fact that White dominates
lO...g5ll1g3h6 over the strategically important
e4-square. 16.Zd2 Zf4 17.f1
d4= Kuzubov — Mutschnik,
Neuhausen 2007.) 13...g6

Black’s main task in this variation

is to activate his knight on In this complicated position

283
Chapter 21

White has numerous alternatives, White prevents g5-g4, followed

but neither of then promises him by the penetration of
any advantage. Black’s knight to the d4-square.
14.b4 Zf4 15.c5 f5 16.exf5 txf5
17.de4 d4oo Rodriguez — Ye, 13.Zd5 M7 14.h3 d4 — see
Greenhills 1989. 13.h3.
14.e1. White is preparing
1d2-f1-e3. 14...f4 15.Zf1 (15.f1 13.c1 g4 14.e1 d4= Speelman
f5 16.exf5 ‘Zxf5 17.de4 b6=, followed — Lane, London 1989.
by d4, Gutman — Koroboy,
Evpatoria 2007) 15...f5 16. 13.e1 d4 14.c2 c6 15.e3,
exf5 xe2+ 17.V1xe2 xf5= Zak — Titov — Gleizerov, Katowice 1991,
Portisch, Budapest 1993. 15...ch8!? 16.d3 g8= — Black’s
14.c1 f5 15.exf5 ‘Zxf5 16.de4 knight is headed for the f4-square:
1f4 17.c5 d4= Vescovi — De Carvalho, g8-e7-g6-f4.
Belo Horizonte 2010. The
dominating position of Black’s 13.c5.After this pawn-sacrifice,
knights on d4 and f4 compensates White must fight for equality.
White’s powerful knight at the 13...g4
centre of the board.

12...fxe5
Now, Black will not have the
possibility to play f6-f5, but he
has gained access to the semi-
open file for his rook and the
trade of the flank f-pawn for the
central d-pawn may also turn out
to be in his favour.
it is bad for White to choose
14.h4 dxc5 15.V1d5+ V1xd5 16.
xd5 d4t Acs — Ganguly, Paks
2 009, or 14.c4+ ch8 15.h4 &f6
16.xf6+ V1xf6 17.Ze1 dxc5 Chekhov
— Glek, Tashkent 1987 and
in both variations White’s compensation
for the material deficit
is insufficient.
14.d2 dxc5 15.b3 b6 16.
V1d5+ V1xd5 17.xd5 f7= — The
vulnerability of the a2-g8 diagonal
13.h3 precludes Black from fighting

284
 3.c3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.±.e2 e5 7.0-0 c6

for the advantage, Butrimenko — with a very strong attack for

Korolev, corr. 1991. Black, Vera Gonzalez Quevedo —
Paneque, Holguin 1989.
13...f7
Black improves the position of White would not achieve much
his knight. with a transfer into an endgame:
16.Vxd8 xd8 174b5 d7 18.fd1
e7= Durnitrache — Paunovic, Istanbul
1988.

16...ch7 171d5 V1f6 18.

b5 e7 19.,xc6 bxc6

14.c5
White activates his bishop on
e2 with a pawn-sacrifice. After his
alternatives, Black plays d4 and
c7—c6 obtaining a very good position.

Black’s tripled pawns are

14.h2 d4 15.g4 c6!?= weak, but one of them is extra after
all...
14.d5 d4 15.e3 c6 16.b4 2O.a3 d6
e6oo Portych — Borges, ICCF Black prepares a transfer of
2011. his knight into the centre of the
board.
14.d2 d4 15.g4 c6 16.xc8 21.d2 b8 22.b3 b5 23.
xc8= Aalderink — Orsolic, IECG ac4 d4oo Savegren — Amico,
2004. ICCF 2009. There has arisen a position
with dynamic balance.
14...dxc5 151c4 h6 16.c1 Black’s queenside pawn-structure
has been weakened, but he has an
It is obviously bad for White to extra pawn, the two-bishop advantage
choose here 16.xf7+ cxf7 17. and his knight has occupied
V1d5+ g6! 18.V1xc5 xf3! 19.gxf3 a dominating position at the
,xh3i:, followed by d4, V1f6, centre of the board.

285
Chapter 22 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ig7 4.e4 d6
5.f3 0—0 6.ie2 e5 7.0—0 c6 8.d5
e7

About 9.e1 h5 10.b4 f5 —

see Chapter 25.

9.d3 h5 10.e1 f5 11.exf5

Zxf5 12.e4 ‘fZf4 13.xf4 exf4= —
Black’s bishops are very powerful,
Gelfand — T.L.Petrosian, Berlin
2015.

9.h3. This plan is not impressive

at all. Instead of organising
There has arisen the basic position an offensive on the queenside,
not only of the classical system, White simply centralises his
but of the entire King’s Indian pieces — e1, d3. Black advances
Defence in general. effortlessly f7-f5 and obtains
The pawn-structure has been at least an equal position. 9...
defined. Later, Black will try to Zh5 10.e1 f5 1Ld3 f6 12.exf5
organise an attack on the kingside gxfs 13.c2 g6 14.g5 f7 15.c1
and he will have to prepare f7-f5 a6oo
for this purpose. White, as a rule,
will try to advance c4-c5 and to It is not good for White to play
open the c-file. 9.h4, because he would be incapable
It should be noted that Black’s of preventing f7-f5 anyway.
knight on e7 is misplaced at the 9...e8 10.g3 f5 11.exf5 xf5 12.
moment and has no moves. He xf5 (12.f3 f6= Bauer — Libiszewski,
will need to lose several tempi to Montpellier 2004) 12...
activate it. xf5 13.e3 e7 14.c1 b6 151g4
Now, we will analyse: A) f6 16.xf5 gxfs 17.f3 ae8= —
9.cthl, B) .e3, C) 91d2, D) Black can even fight for the advantage
9.a4, E) 91g5. later thanks to his powerful
White’s basic lines will be dealt pawn-tandem f5 and e5,
with in Chapters 23-27. Jacobs — Ulasevich, ICCF 2012.

286
 3.c3 g74.e4 d6 5.Qf3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 Qe7

9.b1. This move may turn out if Black plays h5. This plan
to be a loss of a tempo later. If seems too slow, though...
White wishes to play b2-b4, he 9...e8
should better do this immediately Black is preparing f7-f5.
(see Chapters 24-25). 9..4h5 10.
e1 (After 10.e1, Black obtains a It is less precise for him to
very good position by playing 10... choose instead 9...h5, because
h6!?=. Now, the move g5 has of 10.g1 f4 11.f3
become impossible and Black can
play f7-f5 quite comfortably without
being afraid of the exchange
of his light-squared bishop after
g5-e6.) 10...f4 11.d3 xe2+
12.Vxe2 f5= — Black has two powerful
bishops and good attacking
prospects on the kingside, Lobron
— Brunner, Germany 1990.

9.’c2. White increases his

control over the f5-square and his
further plans include the moves 1O.e1
g3 and h4. 9...h5 10.d1 (10. There has arisen a position
b4 aS — see Chapter 24; 10.g3, Eljanov like in Chapters 26-27, but with
— Al Sayed, Khanty-Mansiysk the inclusion of the moves ch1
2009, 10...h6!?oo) 10...h6 11. and 1e8. This is in favour of
g3 f5 12.h4 f6 13.exf5, Koumtzis Black, since White’s move h1
— Dimic, Belgrade 2013. Here. may turn out to be not so useful in
Black could have obtained an excellent numerous variations.
counterplay after the nonstandard There arises a double-edged
move 13...xf5!? As a fight if White tries to advance g2-
rule, he should avoid the trade of g4. 10.g1 f5 11.exf5, Sulava —
his light-squared bishop in a similar Ponomariov, Ohrid 2001, 11...
pawn-structure, but here, it xf5!? 12.g4 d4oo
would be more important for him
to preserve his knight, which may 10.a4 aS. The inclusion of the
occupy later the d4-square. 14. moves with the rook pawns would
xf5 1xf5± not provide White with much. 11.
e1 f5 12.d3, Cvitan — B.Socko,
Biel 2007, 12...fxe4!? This is
A) 9.ch1 Black’s simplest road to equality
White frees the gi-square for — his knight is headed for the d4-
his knight, which may be necessary square. 13.xe4 f5 14.f3 c6 15.

287
Chapter 22

g5 1c7oo — Black’s knight are h5!? 161g5 d7 171e3

very powerful at the centre of the if4± — Black’s prospects are not
board and this balances the prospects. worse at all. He has two excellent
squares for his knights — d4 and
f4, while White has only one — e4.
1O...f5 11.exf5 xf5 121d3

There arises a repetition of B) 91e3 g4

moves after 12.f3 ‘fZf6 13.d3
d4, or 13.g5 d4 14.d3 e7
— see 12.d3.

12...f613.m

It would not be so active for

White to continue here with 13.
c2 d7oo Nakamura — Radjabov,
Beijing 2012.

13...d4
Black cannot slow down with
this move; otherwise, White will
play d2 and it will become impossible
for Black to remove the
enemy bishop from the e3-square.
101d2

It would not be so precise for

White to choose here 10.g5, because
then Black can win a tempo
by attacking the enemy bishop
with the move Zth6-f7. 10...f5 11.
14.g5 exf5 gxf5 12.h3 h6 13.c5 f7
14.h4 a6 15.e1 V1e8 16.cxd6
The trade of the knights cxd6 17.a4 g6. White’s bishop
14.xd4 exd4 enables Black to continues to come under attack
seize the initiative 15.e4 xe4 with tempi. 18.g3 d7 19.d2
16.xe4, Miles — Beliavsky, Nova b5. Black prevents Zc4. 20.axb5
Gorica 1999, 16...V1f6!?t axb5 21.V1b3 e4 22.h2 d4 Urban
— Ergenekon, ICCF 2014.
14..Se7 15.ge4, Melkumyan
— Zhou, London 2012, 15... 1O...f5 11.g5

288
 3.tIc3 g74.e4 d6 5.tIf3 0-0 6.ie2 e5 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e7

There arises an approximately He sends there immediately his

equal position following 11.exf5 knight: e7-c6. 17...f6 18.1c2
xf5 12.e4 Zf6 13.g5, Lomineishvili ‘Zc6 19.ad1 d4 20.&xd4. White
— Topel, Kusadasi 2006, could not put up with the enemy
13...h6 14.,xf6 ,xf6 15.V1c2 b6 knight for long. 20...exd4 21.exf5
16.fe1 ,g7= — Black has a bishop-pair c6oo, followed by b6-b5, c5-c4, d4-
and a solid position. d3, Galanov — Cavajda, ICCF
2010. Black advances his pawns
11...f612.m in the centre and on the queen-
White fortifies the e4-square, side and obtains at least an equal
but allows h5. position.

12.exf5 Zxf5 13.d3 c6 14. 14...ch8 15.ad1 b6 161c1

ce4 xe4 15.xe4, Sanikidze — f4
Fedorov, Dubai 2010, 15...d4!?
16.g5 c7oo — The dominance
over the d4 and e4-squares balances
the chances.

12...h5

17.d6. White wins the exchange,

but Black will have two
pawns for it. It is also very important
that there are no open files
on the board and White will hardly
manage to activate his rooks.
13.c5 17...cxd6 18.f7+ xf7 19.
White sacrifices a pawn and xf7 f6 2O.b5 e8 21.a4
seizes the initiative, but this is still d5. Black sacrifices a pawn, but
insufficient for an advantage. obtains the f5-square for his
13...thc514S!b3 knight and it will soon go to d4
from there. 22.exd5 f5 23.d6
14.c4 ch8 15.e3 b6 16.Qe6 d7 241c4 xf7 251xf7 .d7
xe6 17.dxe6. Black has not only 26.fe1 d8 271xe8 .xe8
an extra pawn, but also a powerful 28.b3 f7 29.b4 cxb4 3O.xa7
outpost at the centre of the board. d4. Now, White will fail to hold

289
Chapter 22

on to his d6-pawn. 31 1b2 xd6 10.a4. White’s pawn-offensive

32.c1 c?g8 33.c8+ .f8 34. on the queenside would not bring
xe5 b3. Black prepares the him much. 10...f5 11.a5 Zf6 12.
transfer of his knight to c5, after g5 ch8 13.b4 eg8 14.c5 h6 15.
which White will lose his only xf6 xf6oo — Black has the two-
pawn on the queenside. 35.e1 bishop advantage and what is
c5 36.b5 e6 37.xe6 ixe6 even more important — his knight
38.b8 xa4 391e5 cfV= - on e7 has been activated, Berkes
Black’s powerful passed b4-pawn — Lewis, Southend 2015.
is quite sufficient to compensate
the sacrificed exchange, Galanov 10.b4 f5 11S1b3 Zf6. Now,
— Pugh, ICCF 2013. after an exchange on f5, Black
will manage to attack the enemy
C) 91d2 queen with e7xf5-d4. 12.exf5
White is not in a hurry to organise xf5 13.g5 h6 14.xf6 V1xf6 15.
his pawn-offensive on the e4 1e7= Wotulo — Kavalek, Manila
queenside. He simply completes 1973.
the development of his pieces and
waits for his opponent to advance 1O...f5
f7-f5. After this he will play g5-
e6 and will begin actions on the
light squares.
9...e8

11.g5
This is the logical continuation
of White’s plan.

1O.c1 Giving up the centre with

About 10.Ze1 f5 11.d3 f6, 11.exf5 seems too risky for White.
or 11.f3 f6 — see Chapter 26, 11...gxfs 12.g5 (12.V1b3 b6 13.
9.e1 d7 10.d2 f5 11.Zd3 Zf6, g5 h6 — see 11.V1b3) 12...h6 13.
or11.f3f6. e6 xe6 14.dxe6 V1c8. White’s
10.Vfb3 b6!?oo Ftacnik — Meinsohn, e6-pawn has been isolated from
Groningen 1974. the rest of his forces and will be-

290
 3.Qc3 g74.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e7

come an easy prey for Black’s 16Sb3 c7 17Sxb7 b8 18.

pieces. 15.V1b3 c6 16.h5 V1xe6 Vxa7 xb2 19.fd1 c6 20.
17.V1xb7 f6 18.e2 fb8 19.V1a6 Va3 b8 21.b1 e7oo — White
xb2 — White’s compensation loses one of his pawns, Starace —
for the lost material is insufficient, Chorfi, LSS 2007.
Taimanov — Fischer, Vancouver
(mu) 1971.
D)9.a4a5
11.V1b3 b6. Black prevents c4-
c5. 12.exf5 gxf5 13.g5 h6 14.e6
xe6 15.dxe6 Vc8 16.d5 V1xe6
17.xe7+ Vxe7 18.c5+. The position
is opened and White’s bishops
become very active, but he is
still a pawn down and has no
more than equality. 18...ch8 19.
cxd6, Taimanov — Tseitlin, USSR
1973, 19...cxd6 20.fd1 d8oo

11...h6 12.e6 .xe6 13.

dxe6 c6 10.e1
Black prevents the appearance There has arisen a position,
of the enemy knight to the d5- which will be analysed in Chapters
square. 26-27, but with the inclusion
14.c5 d5 of the moves a4 — a5. This is much
rather in favour of Black. After he
plays b7-b6, White will have great
difficulties to break his opponent’s
defence on the queenside.

10.b3. White is preparing a3

and b3-b4. This plan seems a bit
slow, though... 10...’h5 1La3
(11.g3 f5 12.g5 f6 13.f3 fxe4
14.cxe4, Vorobiov — Lubbe,
Lueneburg 2016, 14...f5!?=) 11...
b6 12.g3. White prevents Zf4 (following
The position is becoming complicated. 12.b4 axb4 13.ixb4 f4=
Now, Black will have a Iturrizaga Bonelli — Bachmann,
powerful pawn-centre, but White Linares 2008, or 12.’e1 Zf4 13.
succeeds in capturing the enemy a 4d3 f5= Stern — Stets, Guben
and b-pawns. 15.exd5 cxd5 2011, Black has a very good game).

291
Chapter 22

12...h6!? He takes the g5-square 16...ch8 17.V1b3 g8 18.Vxb4,

under control. Now, Black is perfectly Korchnoi — Kasparov, Barcelona
prepared for the thematic 1989. White has restored the
pawn-advance f7-f5. 13.Vc2 f5 14. material balance, but has lost
h4 f4 15.xg6 xg6 16.xh5 two tempi for that. 18...fxe4!?
lg5:F — He has a powerful attack This is the simplest for Black.
for the sacrificed pawn. His bishop 19.fxe4 &h6! He exchanges his
is ready to go to h3 and after “bad” bishop and obtains a quite
the preliminary exchange on g3, acceptable position. 20.xh6
Black’s knight will go to f4, Vetter xf1+ 21.xf1 xh6=
— Ojeda, ICCF 2013.
11...f512.m
1O...d7
Black not only frees the way After White’s alternatives,
forward of his f7-pawn, but also Black’s knight on e7 will go to the
increases his control over the c5- d4-square: 12.d2, A.Gavrilov —
square. Duncker, Schwaebisch Gmuend
2016, 12...fxe4!? 13.xe4 f5=,
or 12.exf5 xf5 13.e4 (13.a3,
Ftacnik — Nijboer, Hamburg 2005,
13...c6!?oo) i3...Zf6 14.g5 d4=
Grosso — Humer, ICCF 2001.

12...ch8
This is a very useful move. The
g8-square may be necessary for
Black’s rook (after a pawn-offensive
on the kingside), as well as
for his knight g8, preparing the
11.d3 trade of the dark-squared bishops
with h6.
Or 11.e3 f5 12.f3 b6 13.d3
c5 14.b4 (It is not so active for
White to choose here 14.a3, Evdokimov
— Jakovenko, Dagomys
2010, 14...f4!?oo, followed by g6-
g5, h7-h5, e7-g6 and Black’s
kingside attack may become very
powerful.) 14...xd3 15.Vfxd3
axb4 16.b5. White has seized
the initiative on the queenside
with a temporary pawn-sacrifice.

292
 3. 4c3 g7 4.e4 d6 5. tIJ3 0-0 6. e2 e5 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e7

131d2 cause it supports his pawn-offensive.

Here however, the move ib7
Following 13.b5 g8 14.a3, has a concrete tactical justification.
Kozul — Can, Jerusalem 2015, After an exchange on c5 Black
Black must at first stabilise the wishes to capture with his d-pawn
situation in the centre 14...fxe4!? and then would like to transfer his
15.fxe4, and then trade the dark- knight to the blocking d6-square
squared bishops under favourable via c8. 16.xc5 dxc5 17.f2 f4
circumstances 15...xf1+ 16.xf1 18.ff1 c8 19.d1 d6 20.g4
b6 17.g3 h6 18.xh6 xh6= White is forced to apply some
After 13.e3, Black must prevent prophylactic against his opponent’s
the enemy pawn-break c4-c5 pawn-offensive on the
with the move 13...b6, for example: kingside; otherwise, Black’s attack
14.V1b1, Ziegler — Matthias, may become very powerful.
Germany 1994 (14.b4 axb4 15. 2O..S!e7= — After this move neither
xb4, Sekulovska — Velikhanli, side can break through the
Moscow 1994, 15...c5!?=) 14... pawn-chains, Zidu — Franken,
f4!? 15.f2 g5oo. There has arisen www.remoteschach.de 2014.
a very complicated position. It
is worth mentioning here that E) 91g5
White’s straightforward actions This move does not create any
on the queenside may be punished problems for Black. The placement
by Black with a concealed of White’s bishop on g5 is
tactical strike: 16.b4 axb4 17.V1xb4 not so good, because Black may
Zf6 18.a5 bxa5 19.xa5? c5fl: win a tempo (h7-h6) for the organisation
of his pawn-offensive
13...b6 14.b3 c5 15S!c2 on the kingside.
9...h5

15..1b7!? Black’s bishop is

only seldom removed away from His knight is headed for the f4-
the c8-h3 in similar positions, be- square.

293
Chapter 22

1O.e1 Black has the two-bishop advantage.

He only needs to solve
Following l0.el h6 lLd2 the problem with his knight on e7,
Zf4 l2Axf4, it becomes unclear which has no moves at the moment,
why White has lost two tempi for in order to obtain an excellent
moves with his bishop, since it position.
could have captured on f4 from 12...h6131d2
the cl-square as well... 12...exf4
l3.d2 g5 14.h3 g6oo Gonzalez l3.e3. This retreat of the
Zarnora — Bologan, Turin 2006. bishop seems less precise, since
l0.g3. White prevents the appearance now Black can win a tempo for the
of the enemy knight on organisation of his pawn-onslaught
the f4-square, but weakens the on the kingside (f5-f4).
shelter of his king. l0...h6 lL,d2 13...f5 14.f3 g5 15.c5 g6 16.V41c2
h3 l2.el f5 l3.h4 (13.exf5 (l6.fc1, Pelletier — Fedorov,
xf5 l4.e4 V1d7 l5.c3 f6= Plovdiv 2003, 16...f4!?=) 16...f4
Nikcevic — Brustman, Koszalin l7.f2 g4oo Dhanish — Sadowski,
1998) l3...f6 14.exf5 g5 l5.g6 ICCF 2008.
xg6 16.fxg6 f5 l7.e3 (After
17.Lf3, 011 — Piesina, Vilnius l3.,xe7. White is reluctant to
1993, Black can prepare capturing lose time for the retreat of his
on g6 with his queen, increasing bishop, but its exchange for the
his control over the e4-square in misplaced black knight does not
the process. l7...Ve8!? l8.e3 seem reasonable. 13...V1xe7 14.b4
Wxg6=) l7...xg6 18.f3, Nikcevic f5 15.c5 h5 16.a4 h6oo Sedlak —
— Berthelot, Gonfreville 1999, Popovic, Vrnjacka Banja 2013.
l8...41d7!?= — White’s king shelter
has been weakened. 13...g5
Black weakens his control over
1O...f4 11.d3 xe2+ the f5-square, but activates considerably
12S!xe2 his knight.

294
 3. c3 g7 4.e4 d6 5. tIf3 0-0 6. e2 e5 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e7

14.g4 After the careless move 17.

This seems to be the most reliable fd1, Pelletier — Radjabov, Biel
move for White. 2006, 17...e5!?, Black obtains
an edge.
After his alternatives, his king
may come under a dangerous attack. 17...c6 18 1c3 cxd5
He opens the c-file for his major
14.f3 f5 15.b4 g6 16.g3 f4t pieces.
Smith — Gatto, ICCF 2003. 19.cxd5
14.c5 f5 15.f3, Prohaszka —
Huschenbeth, Pardubice 2009, 19.xg7 c±?xg7 20.cxd5 &d7=
15...g6!?oo, followed by f4, or 011 — Dolmatov, Rostov on Don
f5-f4, h6-h5, g5-g4. 1993.

14.h4. White’s attempt to open

the position on the kingside seems 19..1d72O.V!f2
anti-positional. 14...g4 15.f4 gxf3
16.V41xf3 f5 17.V1h5, 011 — Shirov,
Tilburg 1992, 17...f4 18.c5 f6 19.
V1d1 g6

14...g6 15.f f4 16.xf4

exf4

2O..Sb6

Black forces the exchange of

the queens after which there arises
an approximately equal end-
game on the board.
21.V!xb6 axb6 22.a3

White has more space, but 22.xg7 ctxg7= Soffer — SoIn,

Black has the two-bishop advantage. Bled 1995.

17.d1 22...fc8 23.cg2 c4 24.

White prepares the trade of his xg7 c?xg7 25.c3 h5 26.h3
opponent’s powerful fianchettoed h4 27.a2 ac8= Moise — Jonckheere,
bishop. ICCF 2014.

295
Chapter 23 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.e4 d6
5.f3 0—0 6.ie2 e5 7.0—0 c6 8.d5
e7 9.d2
The Modern System

avoid pushing pawns on the side

the opponent will attack, but this
is an exceptional case. The point
is that Black loses one tempo for
the move a7-a5, while White will
need two preparatory moves a2-
a3 and b1 in order to advance
b2-b4.
1O.a3

The move 10.b1 usually leads

This move was popular at the to transposition of moves. 10...
beginning of the 90ies of the past d7 11.b3 (11.a3 a4 — see 10.a3)
century. White’s knight can go to 11...c6 12.a3 (12.a3 b5 — see variation
the c4-square, from d2 (after b2- Bi; 12.b2 h6 13.a3 c8
b4 and c4-c5) and from there it — see variation B2) 12...c5. Now,
will exert pressure against the d6- in order to push b3-b4, White
square. must lose time to retreat his bishop.
Before the beginning of his 13.c1 h6. Black’s bishop is
pawn-offensive on the queenside much more active here than on
White prevents the activation of the g7-square. 14.a3 Ze8. Black is
Black’s knight (h5-f4). Later preparing f7-f5. 15.b4 b6 16.1b3
however, the players with White axb4 17.axb4 f5 18.bxc5 bxc5=
came to the conclusion that the Ftacnik — Aramil, Philadelphia
knight manoeuvre is not so dangerous 2007. After the exchange of the a
for Black and began playing and b-pawns, White will have
immediately b2-b4 (see Chapters problems to finds targets for attack.
24-25). Black’s only weakness has
9...a5 been protected reliably by his
It is usually recommended to knight on e8.

296
 5.4f3Q-Q 6.e2e57.O-O c68.d5e79.d2a51O.a3d7

10.b3. This plan seems too Vd7 16.h3 h5 17.c2 xb3 18.
slow. In general, in order to provoke ,xb3 ‘fZf4± Black’s superior pawn-
the move b2-b3, in this variation structure and his actively deployed
Black loses a tempo for d7. knight compensate White’s
Now, he can continue without this two-bishop advantage. 19.ia4
move. 10...d7 11.,a3 f5 12.b4 Vc8 20.c6 xc6 21.dxc6, Tamur
axb4 13.,xb4 fxe4!? This is his — Spasov, Izrnir 2003, 21...Ve8!?
simplest road to equality. Black 22.xf4 exf4 23.d5 a7 24.V1g4
presents his opponent with the ch8 25.1xf4 1xc6 — White’s
e4-square, but obtains the d4- centralised knight is powerful,
outpost for his knight. 14.dxe4 but still insufficient to compensate
‘Zf5 15.a4 d4 16.b5 ‘Zf6 17. the vulnerability of his pawns
Zxf6+ xf6 18.xd4 exd4 19.d3 on a3 and c4.
f5 20.a5 V41d7= Nitz — Vasile,
ICCF 2012.
A) 11.b1 a4 12.b4
1O..1d7 White must comply with the
Black is preparing a5-a4. appearance of an isolated pawn;
otherwise, he cannot continue
with his offensive on the queen-
side.

12.b3 axb3 — see 12.b4.

12...axb3

Now, White can prevent his

opponent’s positional threat B)
11.b3, or can ignore it — A)
11.b1.

He plays sometimes 11.a2 a4

12.b4 axb3 13.xb3 a4. Black is
ready to part with his powerful 13.xb3
light-squared bishop in order to White’s knight will support the
impede his opponent’s pawn-advance pawn-advances c4-c5 and a3-a4-
a3-a4. 14.e3 b6 15.d3 a5 from this square.

297
Chapter 23

13.xb3 b6 14.a4 ‘fZe8 15.a3

f5 16.f3 h6 17.b3 xc1 18.1xc1,
Lexa — Pletanek, corr. 1996. Black
has got rid of his “bad” bishop and
his most precise way of equalising
is 18...fxe4!? 19.fxe4 xf1+ 20.
1xf1 g7 21.1f2 f6=

13...b6
Now, the move c4-c5 has become
impossible and White must Following 18.g5, Ulibin —
advance his a-pawn in order to Nithander, Stockholm 2009,
break his opponent’s defence on Black can simply play 18...xe4!?
the queenside. 19.xe4 fxe4 and his extra pawn
14.a1 e8 15.a4 in the centre would compensate
the activity of White’s pieces. 20.
About 15.d2 f5 16.f3 f6 17. b7 xa1 21.V1xa1 Ve8 22.V1a5
a4 Zh5, or 15.e3 f5 16.f3 Zf6 Zf5 23.V41xc7. White regains his
17.a4 Zh5 — see 15.a4. material, but after 23..S41c8 24.
Vxc8 ,xc8, there arises an approximately
15...f5 equal endgame. 25.
b1 ,xb7 26.xb7 a8 27.Th1 h6
28.c1 f6 29.f1 d4 30.xh6
g5 31.h4 gxh4= — The powerful
position of Black’s knight in the
centre, compensates White’s two-
bishop advantage, moreover that
there are just a few pawns left on
the board.
18.c5 xe4 19.xe4 fxe4 20.
b7. This position was reached in
the game Ulibin — Smirin, Vienna
1998 and the opponents agreed to
16.f3 a draw. White can try here an interesting
plan, connected with a
The move 16.a5 leads to a piece-sacrifice, but Black can hold
complicated position. 16...bxa5 the defence with a precise play:
17.xa5 (After 17.xa5, Black has 20...1e8 21.xa8 Vxa8 22.cxd6
no problems at all. 17...xa5 a4 23.V1d2 f5 24.dxc7 xb7
18.xa5 a8 19.b3 f6 2O.d3 25.d6. White has only two pawns
b8= Brunner — Nunn, Nuremberg for the piece, but his passed
1990) pawns are very powerful. 25..1d7

298
 5.tIf3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e7 9.d2 a5 10.a3 d7

26.a3 f6 27.V1b4 V1xb4 28. knight on f4 compensates the

xb4 g5 29.c5 d4 30.a6 e3 slight defect of his pawn-structure.
31.b1 g7 32.fxe3 xe3+ 33.ch1
a8 34.b7 f8= — White can 21.c2 h6
hardly improve his position.

16...f6

22.f2

The move 22.e1 leads to a

After White has played f2-f3 calmer position. 22...Zxe2+ 23.
and his bishop does not control Vxe2 xe3+ 24.Vxe3 c7 25.a3
the h5-square any more, Black a8 26.ab5 Vxc4. After the
can go back to the plan with the trade of the pawns on b6 and c4,
transfer of his knight to the f4- Black has equalised completely.
square. 27.V1xb6 fxe4 28.fxe4 e8 29.b1
171e3 c8 30.1e3 g7 31.a3 V1a6 32.
‘Za2 e7= Lambert — Jordan, LSS
17.d2 h5 18.a5 bxa5 19. 2009.
Zxa5 ‘Zf4 20.ch1, Pekarek — Voller,
Pribram 1996, 20...fxe4!? 21. 22...V!a8
fxe4 xe2 22.V41xe2 xf1+ 23.V4Ixfl Black sacrifices a pawn and
c6 24.dxc6 xc6 25.xc6 xa1 seizes the initiative.
26.1xa1 Lxc6= The position has 23.,xb6 b8 241e3 b3,
been simplified considerably. The Draw, Vodicka — Herzog, Lechenicher
pawns on c4 and d6 are equally SchachServer 2013. After
vulnerable. 25.jxf4 jxf4, Black’s pieces
are very active, while the dark
17...h5 18.a5 f4 19.axb6 squares in White’s camp are very
xa1 2O.xa1 cxb6 weak. All this is sufficient to compensate
Black has a weakness on b6, Black’s minimal material
but the powerful position of the deficit.

299
 Chapter 23

B) 11.b3 c6 with his pawns, but will hardly

manage to hold it. 17.c4! This is
a surprising tactical strike. 17...
e6 (It would be too risky for
Black to accept the piece-sacrifice:
17...dxc4 181xc4+ h8 19.
g5±, followed by d2.) 18.b6
b8 19.cxd5 xd5 20.d2 ec7
21.,c4 xb6 22.cxb6 d5 23.b7,
Draw, Terekhov — Terreaux, ICCF
2014. After 23...V1c7 24.xd5 xd5
25.xd5 V1xb7 261b2 1xb3=, the
position looks like a dead draw.
We will analyse now: Bi)
12.b1 and B2) 121b2.
Bi) 12.b1
12.dxc6 bxc6= Nemet — Gallagher, White is preparing b3-b4, but
Switzerland 1991. Black can inflict a pawn-strike before
his opponent.
12.Vfc2 c8 13.dxc6. Giving up
the centre seems strategically
risky. 13...bxc6 14.b4 d5 15.Zb3
xe4 16.xe4 dxe4 17.g4. White
prevents f5-d4, but weakens the
position of his king. 17...c5 18.
xa5 cxb4 19.axb4 d5oo, followed
by f4, Brunsteins —
Hadet, LSS 2008.

12.a2 e8!? With a white

rook on a2, Black’s plan, connected
with b7-b5-b4, would not be so 12...b5!

effective, because he would be incapable He sacrifices a pawn and seizes

of seizing the a-file. 13. the initiative.
13.dxc6
e1 (It is too artificial for White to
choose 13.db1, L.Portisch — Nijboer,
It is bad for White to opt for
Istanbul 2000, 13...f5!?oo; 13.cxb5 cxd5t — the exchange of a
13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 xa2 15.xa2 central pawn for a flank pawn is
cxd5 16.cxd5
Babula, f5= 2000.)
Germany M.Gurevich
13...f5— obviously in favour of Black.
14.dxc6 bxc6 15.c5 d5 16.exd5
cxd5. Black has occupied the centre After 13.b4, there arises a

300
5. tIf3 0-0 6. e2 e5 7.0-0 4c6 8.d5 e7 9. d2 a5 10 .a3 d7 11.b3 c6

complicated positional battle. 14.b5 ,xc6 151f3, Grigore —

13...axb4 14.axb4 bxc4 15.xc4 Baron Rodriguez, Benasque 1999,
cxd5 16.exd5 f5 17.b3 e4 18. 15...Zd7!?oo It would be too precarious
b5 (18.a5, Chuchelov — Jens, for White to accept the
Netherlands 2000, 18...Vfb6!?oo) pawn-sacrifice 16.xd6, because
18...Zxc3 19.xc3 c8!? Black after 16...1c5 17.’Zb5 ib7 (followed
transfers his bishop to b7 and by c6), Black would have
from there it will not only exert more than sufficient compensation
pressure against the d5-pawn, but for the minimal material deficit.
will also block the enemy passed
pawn. 20.a3 b7±
After 14.c7 1xc7 15.’Zd5 Zexd5
13...b4 16.cxd5 a4!t, White must play
very precisely not to end up in an
inferior position, Grigore — Nevednichy,
Calarasi 1995.

The move 14.’Zd5 leads to an

approximately equal position.
14...xc6 15.xf6+ (15.b2 e6
16.a1 d7= Ftacnik — Gadjily,
Moscow 1994) 15...1xf6 16.f3
V41e7= — White is incapable of exploiting
the weakness of the d5-
square, because the transfer of his
14.cxd7 knight there would take too much
time, Fordan — Tancsa, Hungary
White should better refrain 2003.
from opening the a-file, because
he may even fail to equalise. 14. 14...bxc3 xe4 16.
axb4 axb4 15.d5 (It is preferable V!d3 c5 17S!xd6 xd7
for White to opt here for 15.c7
V1xc7 16.d5 exd5 17.cxd5 a2
18.d3, Gokhale — Mahmoud,
Kolkata 1996, 18...h5!?=) 15...
xc6 161b2 (16.xf6+ xf6=
Volzhin — Hillarp Persson, Budapest
1996) 16...a2t — The active
placement of Black’s rook provides
him with better prospects,
Gomez Esteban — Porras Campo,
Erandio 2014.

301
Chapter 23

Black’s seemingly weak c3- 13...dxc5 14.c4 cxd5 15.exd5 e4

pawn may become the cause if 16.d6, Atakisi — Remmel, Switzerland
great worries for White. This 2003 (16.a4?! exd5
would be particularly true if Black 17.xc5 c6 Janssen — Nijboer,
succeeds in protecting it with his Rotterdam 1999) 16...f5!?
bishop by playing e5-e4.
181g5 e8 19.bd1 h6 20. It is too early for White to play
xe7 xe7 21.c5 e4 22.e1 13.b4, because of 13...axb4 14.
f8 axb4, Arlandi — Gelfand, Leon
Black removes his queen from 2001, 14...1b6!?= and he will
the pin. have problems to protect his b4-
23.b4 axb4 24.axb4 e5 pawn. Advancing b4-b5 would
25.d5 c’h7 26.c2 f5t - weaken the a5 and c5-squares.
White will have problems to advance
his passed pawns, while The move 13.b1 leads to a
Black has good prospects of attacking complicated manoeuvring battle.
on the kingside, Goncharov 13...’c8. Black prepares the
— Tyutyunnik, ICCF 2011. transfer of his knight to b6. 14.
Vc2 (After 14.dxc6 xc6, White
can hardly exploit the vulnerability
B2) 12..b2 of the enemy d6-pawn. For example:
White develops his pieces and 15.d3 b6 16.b4 axb4
prepares b2-b4. 17.axb4 h5 18.g3, Ftacnik — Topalov,
12..1h6 Polanica Zdroj 1995, 18...
a4= — Black’s piece-activity
compensates the slight weakness
of Black’s d6-pawn.) 14...b6 15.
dxc6 xc6 16.fd1 e7 17.4f1
fd7 18.1d3. White attacks the
d6-pawn, but Black can simply
sacrifice it. 18...Zc5 19.1xd6
V1xd6 20.xd6 g5 21.dd1 Zxb3.
He restores the material balance.
22.d5 d7 23.fe3 xe3 24.
fxe3 bc5 25.f3 cg7= — White
has the two-bishop advantage,
13.dxc6 but his pawn-structure has been
weakened, Kiemettinen — Ould
13.c5. This pawn-sacrifice, for Ahmed, ICCF 2011.
the sake of activating the pieces,
seems premature and cannot provide 13.t?h1. White adheres to a
White even with equality. waiting tactic. The removal of his

302
5.f3O-O6.e2e57.O-O c68.d5e79.d2a51O.a3id711.b3c6

king away from the gl-a7 diagonal

would be useful for him if he advances
f2-f4. 13...c5. Black closes
the game on the queenside. His
later plans are connected with the
preparation of the pawn-advance
f7-f5.

Black’s bishop was restricted

by his e4-pawn and it would have
better prospects on the c8-h3 diagonal.

18.ad1 .e6 19.b5 g4

14.V1c2 e8 15.b5 f5 16.d3

fxe4= Sakaev — Amonatov, Dagomys
2009.
14.f3 e8 15.c1, Beliavsky
— Erdogdu, Budva 2009. Black
should better refrain from trading
the bishops — 15..1g7!?oo, followed
by f7-f5.
14.d3 h5 15.g3. White prevents
the appearance of the enemy
knight on f4, but weakens the
shelter of his king. 15...ih3 16.e1 His counterplay is sufficient to
f5 17.exf5 1xf5= — Both sides maintain the equality. 2O..c1
have excellent outposts for their ixE3 21.gxf3 xc1 22.xc1 d5!
knights. White has the e4-square Black sacrifices a pawn and seizes
and Black has d4, Kramnik — Van the initiative. 23.exd5 fxd5
Wely, Nice 2008. 24.xe5 f6 25.e4 c7 26.
xc7 xc7 271c2 c6 28.
13...ixc6 14 1d3 Vb6 xd8+ xd8 29.V!d2 e6
(diagram) 3OSxa5 c5 31Sd2 xf3= —
Black’s counterplay on the White’s king shelter has been
dark squares compensates the weakened and Black’s attack
slight weakness of his d6-pawn. should be sufficient at least for a
fd8 16.e1 ac8 draw by a perpetual check, Carbajal
17S1c2 id7 — Souza, ICCF 2008.

303
Chapter 24 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ig7 4.e4 d6
5.f3 0—0 6.ie2 e5 7.0—0 c6 8.d5
e79.b4
The Bayonet Attack

— Afonin, ICCF 2009, 12...xd3!?

13.Vxd3 h6oo

Following 10.Vb3, Black should

better not be in a hurry to advance
f7-f5 and should play at first 10...
h6, preventing g5-e6. 11.c5 (11.
a4 ‘f4oo) 11...f5 12.a4 (after 12.
d2, Black can obtain a very good
position with 12...fxe4 13.xe4
f4#) 12...fxe4 13.xe4 f5 14.
White does not lose time to d3, Skembris — Kotronias, Wijk
prevent h5-f4 and begins immediate aan Zee 1995, 14...ch7!?= Black
active actions on the queen- protects prudently in advance the
side. The system, beginning with g6-square, which may become
the move 9.b4, is named “The weak after the move h4, and obtains
Bayonet Attack” in the English a quite acceptable game.
speaking chess literature. White must be constantly on the
9...h5 alert about Black’s active possibilities
Black exploits immediately the f4, or g4.
possibility to deploy his knight on
h5, presented so gallantly by his 10.V41c2. This is a quiet move.
opponent. 10...a5. After the exchange of the
We will analyse now: A) b-pawn, White will have difficulties
1O.d2, B) 1O.c5 and C) 1O.g3. to advance c4-c5. 11.bxa5
The basic move for White xa5 12.e1 (12.d1 f4 13.xf4
10.e1 will be dealt with in the exf4oo — The vulnerability of the
next chapter. dark squares in White’s camp
may hurt him in the future, Gyimesi
10.a4 Ef4 11.a5 (11.c5 c6 — see — Sikula, Hungary 2008)
variation B) 11...f5 12.d3, Volkov 12...f5.

304
 5.f3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 tuie7 9.b4 h5

much better prepared for the

opening of the game in the centre,
Tsakhaev — Szapunov, Briansk
1995.

11.Zb3 f5 12.a4, Tosic — Antic,

Belgrade 1999, 12...c6!?=

11...f5
13.d2 Zf4=
13.a4 f4 14.,xf4 exf4 15.ab1
b6 16.d3 fxe4 17.xe4 Lg4= —
Black has two powerful bishops,
Hoffmann — Nogga, ICCF 2008.
13.exf5 xf5 14.d2 (14.g5
V1d7 15.ad1, Epishin — Shchekachev,
Amsterdam 2000, 15...
V41f7!?=, followed by h7-h6, g6-g5,
f4) 14...h6. Black exchanges
his passive bishop and obtains at
least an equal position. 15.e4
,xd2 16.V41xd2 b6 17.c5 f4t — He 12.a4
has very good chances of organising
a dangerous attack against the 12.c5 g5 13.exf5. Naturally,
enemy king thanks to his powerful White should not allow g5-g4.
knight on f4, Mraz — Cavajda, 13...xf5 14.g3 — He ousts the enemy
ICCF 2007. knight from its active position,
but weakens the shelter of
his king (14.e4 V1f6 15.a4 d4co
A) 1O.d2 — Black’s prospects are not worse
This is not White’s most reliable thanks to his control over the d4
move. His knight frees a and f4-squares.) 14...h3+ 15.
square for his bishop, but it will g2, Manion — Sherzer, New
not be stable on f3, because Black York 1994, 15...1d7!?
may attack it later with g6-g5-g4.
1O...f4 iiim 12...g5 13.exf5 xf5 14.g3
h3+ 15.c?g2 d7 16.b3
11.a4 f5 12.f3 g5 — see 11.f3.
White cannot solve all his defensive
It would be premature for problems with 16.e4 g4
White to opt here for 11.c5, since 17.b3, Zagorskis — Gross, Pardubice
following 11...c6!t, Black will be 1995, 17...V1f7!?

305
Chapter 24

16...d4 17.xd4 exd4 dark squares and activates considerably

18.b5 the bishop on g7.

After 11.a4, Black’s simplest

road to equality would be 11...
c6!?, after which there follow
quick simplifications. 12.dxc6
xe2+ 13.1xe2 xc6 14.g5 f6
15.e3 dxc5 16.,xc5 f7 17.fd1.
White has some slight initiative,
but it is harmless, because Black’s
position has no pawn-weaknesses
and he can gradually neutralise
the activity of his opponent’s pieces
Here, in the game Keene — Kavalek, with an accurate play. 17...V1e8
Teeside 1975, Black could 18.a5 f8 19.xf8 V1xf8 20.b5
have tried an interesting exchange-sacrifice: xa5! 21.xa5, Draw, Blank —
18...xf3! 19. Holroyd, ICCF 2015. After 21...
xf3 a6 2O.a3 g4 21S!d1 f7 VTh4 22.d8+ g7 23.xa7 xa7
22.a2 if5 23.f. White will fail 24.xc8 a1+ 25.e1 f8 26.c7+
to avoid the catastrophe on the f7=, the vulnerability of the first
light squares, despite his tenacious rank would not allow White to
resistance. 23..Sg6 24. play for a win and he must comply
e2 h5 25.c5 f8—+ with the repetition of moves.

The move 11.,c4 leads to the

B) 1O.c5 f4 weakening of the dl-h5 diagonal.
11...g4. White will have great
problems to get rid of this pin.
12.h3 (12.e1, Nepomniachtchi —
Nakamura, playchess.com 2007,
12...f5!?=) 12...h5 13.e1 h8
14.f1 f5 15.xf4 exf4 16.c1 a5=
Bykhovsky — Avrukh, Beersheba
1996.

11...exf4
Now, the outcome of the opening
battle will depend on whether
lllxf4 Black will manage to activate his
White exchanges the powerful knight on e7, which has no moves
enemy knight, but weakens the at the moment. If he succeeds in

306
 5. tIf3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e7 9.b4 h5

doing this, his prospects will be at vulnerability of his dark squares,

least equal. If he fails, he may face Baldomero Garcia — Muneret,
difficulties. ICCF 2003) 13...g5. White has an
interesting pawn-sacrifice here —
14.e5, but he cannot rely on obtaining
an advantage at all. 14...
dxe5 15.d6 cxd6 16.xd6 1e8=,
followed by f5(c6) — d4 and
Black has a very good position,
Najer — Kotsur, Elista 2000.

12...h6
This is a standard plan for
Black in similar positions. It is essential
for him to play g6-g5, in
12.c1 order not only to protect reliably
This is White’s most logical his f4-pawn, but also to free the
move. He not only protects his g6-square for his knight.
knight, but also removes his rook
from the dangerous diagonal.

White would not achieve much

with 12.V1d2, since he would fail
to capture the pawn on f4, because
of the insufficient protection
of his knight on c3. 12...h6
13.ad1 (13.ac1 g5 — see 12.c1)
13...d7 14.d4 g5 15.fe1 g6
16.c6, Welin — Mortensen, Winterthur
1986. Now, Black can simply
capture the pawn 16...xd4!? 13.d4
17.V1xd4 bxc6 18.dxc6 ,xc6oo and White centralises his knight.
White must still prove that the activity
of his pieces is sufficient to 13.a4 g5 14.h3 — see 13.h3.
compensate the lost material.
It seems less reliable for him
12.1b3 h6 13.ad1 (The move to transfer to the d4-square his
13.h4 looks anti-positional. White other knight 13!b5 a6 14.bd4,
prevents g6-g5 indeed, but weakens Dubov — Fedoseev, Berlin 2015,
considerably his kingside. since following 14...g5, the threat
13...g4 14.fe1 xf3 15.xf3 h5t g5-g4 would force White to weaken
— He has no compensation for the his kingside. 15.h3 g6oo

307
Chapter 24

13.V1d2 g5 14.cxd6 cxd6 15. and White loses his knight.) 17...
b5 g6 16.fd4 V1f6 17.fd1, e8 18.Zf5 ,xf5 19.exf5 Ze5 —
Cheparinov — Fier, Dubai 2014, Black’s bishop is more active,
17...g4!?t while White’s f5-pawn would
need permanent protection, Czerwonski
The move 13.e1 is too slow. — Siwiec, Guben 2008.
13...g5 14.d4 g6 15.Zf5 (Black
has very good attacking prospects
after 15.Zcb5 a6 16.a3, Megaranto
— Nguyen, Tagaytay City
2013, 16...g4!?t) 15..iLxf5 16.exf5
xc3!? This is the simplest solution
for Black. He wins a pawn in
a tactical fashion. 17.xc3 1f6
18.V41c2 Ze7 — White is incapable
of protecting simultaneously his
pawns on f5 and d5, Teske — Ragger,
St Veit 2002.
13...c6!?
13.h3. This is prophylactic Black refrains from the standard
against g6-g5-g4. 13...g5 14.a4 g6 plan with the transfer of his
15.cxd6 (15.a5 e8 16.d2 d7!?oo) knight to the g6-square. Instead,
15...cxd6 16.b5 White would not he wishes to open the game in order
achieve much after the penetration to exploit the power of his
to the c7-square. 16...a6 17. bishops.
c7 b8 18.1b3 e7oo Veingold
— Reyes Larena, Zaragoza 1991. It would be less precise for
Black to opt for 13...a6 14.h3 ch8
13.Zd2. White prepares the 15.Vd2 Ivanchuk — Grischuk,
transfer of his knight to c4 from Nalchik 2009.
where it will exert pressure
against the d6-square. 13...g5 14. 14.b3 dxc5 15.bxc5
c4 Zg6 15.cxd6 (15.g4 xg4
16.V1xg4, Holst — Borge, Copenhagen It is worse for White to continue
1992, 16...V41e7!?=) 15... with 15.d6 cxb4 — Black
cxd6 16.b5 (After 16.a4, Black will have three pawns for the
can simply play 16...d7!?= and piece and the two-bishop advantage.
the d6-pawn is untouchable. 17. In addition, his pawn-mass
xd6? ixc3! 18.xc3 V1f6—+) 16... on the queenside will be very
a6. Black ousts the enemy knight powerful.
from its active position. 17.d4
(17.bxd6? b5 18.xc8 bxc4i: 15...cxd5 16.xd5 e5 17.

308
 5.tIf3 0-0 6.,e2 e5 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e79.b4 Ii5

Vd3 .e6 18.fd1 c6. Black 11.d2 Zf6 12.f3 (12.c5 a5!?=)
has an excellent position. 19.d2 12...c6 13.c±?g2, Altinok — Lindenmair,
d4 201m b6 21.c6. White Katerini 2014, 13...d7!?oo
bases his hopes on his passed — White has more space, but his
pawn. 21...c8 22.c4 .g7 23. king is not so safe as its counterpart.
1a3 xf3+ 24.gxf3 V!h4cx
Black’s attack would be sufficient
at least for a perpetual check. 11...f6
25.e7 h5 26.d2 g5 27. After White has played g2-g3,
Vxa7 .d4 28S!a4 .xf2+. Black Black’s knight has nothing to do
sacrifices his bishop and ends the on h5 and must come back urgently.
game in a draw. 29.cxf2 Vxh2+
30.cW1 ,xd5 31.exd5 ce8 12.m
32.e4 Vh1+, Draw, Auzins — White protects reliably the e4-
Cohn, ICCF 2013. square.

After his alternatives both

sides gain access to the d4 and e4-
C) 1O.g3 squares and deploy there comfortably
White solves radically the their knights.
problem with the penetration of
the enemy knight to the f4-square, 12.exf5 xf5 13.ge4 a5 14.b5
but weakens the shelter of his 4xe4 15.xe4 d4 16.f3 f5= G.
king. Kuzmin — Taimanov, Kharkov 1967.
1O...f5
12.f3 fxe4 13.Zcxe4 (13.
gxe4 ‘f5 14.xf6+ fxf6 15.1e4
e7 16.g2 d4= Drugda — Pospisil,
ICCF 2012) 13...f5 141g2
d4 15.b2 (There arise simplifications
after 15.ie3 xe4 16.&xe4
f5 17.xd4 1xg5 18.ie3 1f6 19.
f3 a5 20.bxa5 xa5 21.a4 b6= —
Black’s position is super solid,
Linna — Hefka, ICCF 2012) 15...
xe4 16.1xe4 g5 17.f3. White
prevents g5-g4. (17.1d2, Girya —
11.g5 Ju Wenjun, St Petersburg 2012,
This knight is headed for the 17...g4!?=) 17...if5 18.1d2 Lxe4
e6-square in order to force the exchange 19.fxe4 e7= — The powerful
of the powerful enemy placement of Black’s knight at the
light-squared bishop. centre of the board compensates

309
Chapter 24

his “bad” bishop on g7, Salgado

Allaria — Los, ICCF 2014.

12...c6
This is the most reliable move
for Black. He takes in advance the
d5-square under control.

19.ch1 dxe4 20.fxe4 fd8. Black

removes his rook with tempo
from the X-ray juxtaposition with
the enemy bishop on a3. 21.1f3
V1xe6 22.ac1 ch8t — White must
still prove that his bishop-pair is
sufficient to compensate the missing
pawn, Zlatilov — Kir.Georgiev,
Sofia 1988.
17.V1b3 V1b6+ 18.c?g2 fxe4 19.
131e3 fxe4 V1d4 20.b2 Zxe4 — White’s
compensation for the sacrificed
13.c?g2 cxd5 14.cxd5 h6 15. pawn is insufficient, Blees — Kr.
e6 xe6 16.dxe6. This position Georgiev, Athens 1992.
is typical for variation C. White 17.b2 h5oo Podzielny — Sutkus,
has the two-bishop advantage, Germany 1996. Black not only
but his pawn on e6 is too far away prepares the development of his
from the rest of his forces and is bishop to an active position (h6),
very likely to perish later. 16...c8 but also counterplay on the king-
17.V1b3, Murugan — Saunders, side with h5-h4, f6-h5. He must
London 1993, 17...fxe4 18.fxe4 d5. also have in mind the standard
This central pawn-break is Black’s plan with the move d6-d5.
simplest road to equality. He not
only gets rid of his backward d6- 13...h6 14.e6 ,xe6 15.
pawn, but may win the enemy e6- dxe6 c7
pawn in some lines: Vb6xe6. Black wishes to play Vc8 in
19.exd5 fxd5= some lines, but right now this
move is impossible due to the defencelessness
13.b5 cxd5 14.cxd5 h6 15.e6 of the d6-pawn.
xe6 16.dxe6 c8 16.b5
(diagram)
Following 17.V1d3 d5!, Black 16.1b3 Vc8 17.fd1 d8co
seizes the initiative. 18.a3 V1b6+ Vovk — Kukk, Tallinn 2009.

310
 5.f3 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.0-0 4c6 8.d5 tuie7 9.b4 /5

16...fd8 axb6 26.ixb6 e8 27.a4. White’s

passed pawn looks dangerous,
but after 27...c5, his bishop cannot
come back to assist in the defence
of his king. 28.a5 ‘Zf5oo

17...bxc6 18S!a4 V1c8 19.

ab1 Vxe6 2O.b7
White’s pieces are active, but
Black is still a pawn up and his
prospects are not worse.
20...a5 21.fb1 f8 22.c5
d5 23.exd5 exd5 241c4
17.bxc6 ch8 25.xd5 xd5 261f2
ac8 27.a7 b8 28.d1 fd8
The move 17.V1d2 leads to a 291b3 h5 3O.xa5 e4 31.fxe4
complicated double-edged fight. fxe4= — White has succeeded in
17...ch7 18.fc1 fxe4 19.fxe4 Vc8 regaining the sacrificed pawn, but
20.bxc6 bxc6 21.d5, Garcia Palermo in the meantime Black has created
— Gallagher, Aosta 1990, a passed pawn in the centre
21...V1xe6!? This is an interesting and activated considerably his
exchange-sacrifice. 22.c7 Vd7 23. bishop on g7, Hertel — Hefka,
xa8 xe4 24.1c2 ‘fZf6 25.b6 ICCF 2012.

311
Chapter 25 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ig7 4.e4 d6
5.f3 0—0 6.e2 e5 7.0—0 c6 8.d5
e7 9.b4 h5 10.e1
The Bayonet Attack

11.b1. This is a very prudent

move. White defends against a7-
a5, because he can simply counter
it with a2-a3, but in general the
move b1 is not so useful for
him. 11...f6 12.d3. White increases
his control over the strategically
important e4-square.
(12.exf5 Zxf5 13.g5, Ehlvest —
Shomoev, Moscow 2010, 13...h6!?
14.xf6 V1xf6 15.e4 f7oo and
This is a prophylactic move. Black’s two-bishop advantage
Now, White is not afraid of the compensates the powerful placement
enemy knight-sortie to the f4- of White’s knight at the
square, since he will simply remove middle of the board.).
his bishop to fl.
1O...f5 11.g5
This is a thematic move for
him in this variation.

11.V1d3. White’s queen is not

so reliably placed on this square.
It can come under attack by
the enemy knight after f4,
moreover that the pin of the
knight after fxe4 and f5 would 12...a6!? This is a non-standard
be rather unpleasant for White. plan for similar positions.
11...h6. Now, he cannot play g5. White usually attacks on the
12.c5, Ehlvest — Arnonatov, Moscow queenside with a pawn-structure
2010, 12...fxe4!? 13.xe4 of this type, but here, we have an
jf5oo exception to the rules. Black wish-

312
 7.0-0 tIc68d5je79b4 h510.e1f5

es to advance b7-b5, followed by ch8 16.xe4 d5. Now, in order to

bxc4, in order to deflect his opponent’s avoid material losses, White must
bishop from the protection comply with simplifications and a
of his e4-pawn. 13.V41c2 b5 14.g5. transfer into an endgame. 17.xf4
White prepares the exchange on dxc4 18.g5 1xd1 19.axd1 h6
f6 so that he can reduce the pressure 20.e3 d4 21.e7 fe8 22.c1 b5
against the e4-square, but 23.cxb6 axb6 24.xc4 xe7= —
presents Black with the two- The powerful placement of Black’s
bishop advantage. 14...h6 15.xf6 knight at the middle of the board
bxc4 16.xc4 xf6 17.a4 fxe4 18. compensates the weakness of his
xe4 g7 19.Vfd3 V1e8. This move isolated e5-pawn, as well as his
is played with the idea to transfer “bad” bishop on g7, Raijmaekers
the queen to f7, from where it will — Sirotkin, ICCF 2009.
not only exert pressure on the 12.xe4 f4 13.xf4. White
semi-open f-file, but will also eye exchanges the powerful enemy
the weak enemy d5-pawn. 20.1b3 knight, but presents Black with
ch8 21.bc1 f7oo Molzahn — Peterc, the two-bishop advantage. 13...
ICCF 2014. xf4

11.a4 f6 12.d3, Zhou Jianchao

— Ding Liren, Xinghua 2014
(12.Zd2 a5 — see 11.Zd2; 12.a5,
Zhou Jianchao — Wang Jue, Shenzhen
2016, 12...c6oo) 12...fxe4
13.xe4 g4=

11.c5 fxe4. Black frees the f5-

square for his knight.
14.cxd6 cxd6 15.fd2, P.Nielsen
— Brustman, Koszalin 1997.
Here, Black could have obtained a
very good position with the move
15...f7!?oo, followed by a transfer
of the knight to the centre of the
board f5-d4.
14.V1c2 f5 15.fd2 xe4 16.
xe4 f5 17.V1d3 d4= — Both
sides have powerful knights at the
12.Zg5 ‘fZf4 13.c4 f5 14.e6 middle of the board, Berti — Enricci,
xe6 15.dxe6. Black will gradually ICCF 2010.
neutralise his opponent’s initiative After 14.fd2, Black can try to
with an accurate play. 15... exploit the insufficient protection

313
Chapter 25

of the enemy d5-pawn. 14...dxc5 desire to activate it is easily understandable.

15.c4 b5!? (It seems less reliable 13.f3 eg8 14.c4
for Black to choose here 15...xd5 h6 15.a4 fxe4 16.fxe4 fg4 17.
16.b3 c6 17.bxc5 ch8 18.b5 xh6. This move is necessary;
f8 19.b1oo Kramnik — Gelfand, otherwise, Black’s attack against
Novgorod 1996. The position is the enemy king might become
objectively equal, but White’s play very dangerous. 17...xh6 18.1d3
is much easier from the practical (18.c1, Smirin — Ye Jiangchuan,
point of view. He has very powerful Yerevan 1996, 18...V41e7!?=) 18...
pressure for the pawn.) 16. f7 19.c6 bxc6 20.dxc6 g5#,
ixb5 cxb4 17.V1b3 ch8 18.V1xb4 followed by e6-f4(d4), V1g5(h4),
b8 19.V1c5 xd5 20.c4 e6 21. h6 with good attacking possibilities,
Vxa7 f8 22.ab1 b4= — White Zhu Chen — Xie Jun, Beijing
was busy regaining his material 1997.
and in the meantime Black managed
to activate his passive bishop 11...f6
on g7 and to equalise, Gataullin —
Tarrio Ocana, ICCF 2009.

11.Zd2. Now, just like after

11.g5, White will oust the enemy
knight, but his own knight on d2
is deployed a bit more passively.

Now, White may protect his

e4-pawn with the bishop A)
121f, or with his pawn B)
12.f3.

12.f3 c6# Simutowe — Smirin, A) 121 c6

Moscow 2001. This is a useful move. Black
Or 12.a4 a5 13.bxa5 c5 14.b3 takes immediately the control
f4oo, followed by a pawn-offensive over an important square at the
on the kingside, Brodsky — Degraeve, middle of the board. After White’s
Cappelle la Grande 2009. pawn is removed from the d5-
12.c5 cih8. Black’s knight on square (following e6 and xe6),
e7 has no moves, therefore, his Black can advance d6-d5 (after

314
 7.0-0 4c6 8.d5 tIe79.b4 h5 10.e1f5 11.g5 f6 12.f3 c6

the preliminary exchange on e4). a6= — White’s passed pawn has

been reliably blocked and there is
We will analyse now: Al) just a few material left on the
13.dxc6, A2) 13S!b3, A3) board, Muttoni — Rodes, LSS
13.b5, A4) 131b2 and A5) 2009.
131e3. 14.cxd5 h6 15.e6 xe6 16.
dxe6 fxe4 17.,xe4 (17.xe4,
13.b1. This is not the most active Flumbort — Schachinger, Austria
plan for White. 13...cxd5 14. 2015, 17...d5!?=) 17...c8 18. c1
cxd5 h6 15.e6 ,xe6 16.dxe6 fxe4 d5. Now, the position is considerably
17.xe4 xe4 18.,xe4 d5 19.c2 simplified. 19.xd5 fxd5
1b6= Evdokimov — Kuznetsov, 20.xc8 Vxc8 2L,xd5 d8 22.
Alushta 2004. Black has realised Vb3 xd5 23.b5 Vxe6 24.ixe7.
a typical plan for this position. White has restored the material
Now, White cannot protect his balance, but cannot fight for the
e6-pawn. His bishops are very advantage, because after 24...ch7
powerful, but his activity is only 25.h4 e4=, Black succeeds in activating
sufficient to maintain the equality. his bishop on g7, which is
not restricted any more by his
pawn on e5, Bailey — Lindsalu,
13.a3. On this diagonal (after ICCF 2005.
White plays b4-b5) his bishop will
be very well placed. 13...cxd5

Al) 13.dxc6

14.exd5 e4 15.e2 h6 16.e6

xe6 17.dxe6 d5 18.cxd5 fxd5
19. xd5 V1xd5 20.1xd5 xd5.
Black maintains equality effortlessly
in this endgame. 21.ad1 This move seems to be too
c3 22.e7 xe2+. Black deprives straightforward. White opens the
his opponent of his two-bishop position for his pieces, but Black’s
advantage. 23.xe2 fe8 24.b5 centre may become very power-
f7 25.d7 b6 26.f3 exf3 27.gxf3 ful.

315
Chapter 25

13...bxc6 14.exf5 gxf5 15. e8 201e2 d4 21.b3+ c’h7

b5 h6 22.ad1 g6. Black trades the
It would be useful for Black to powerful enemy knight. 23.xg6
oust the enemy knight to the edge cxg6 241c4 h7 251f7 d3.
of the board. Black sacrifices the exchange and
16.h3 d5 relies on his far-advanced central
pawns. 26.h3 d7 271c5
(White should better refrain from
accepting the gift, because after
27.xe8 xe8 28.b2 his
pieces would be restricted considerably
by Black’s e and d-pawns,
Aykent — Arounopoulos, ICCF
2013) 27...c8 281xa7. Now,
White will also create a powerful
passed pawn. 28...f8 29.b6
e7 30.b7 xf7 31.bxc8V xc8
32.e3. The position might
17.cxd5 seem very complicated and non-
balanced, but the prospects of
17.a3 e4 18.cxd5 cxd5 — see both sides remain approximately
17.cxd5. equal. There might follow: 32...
e6 33Sb5 e8 34.c1 d6
The move 17.bxc6 leads to very 35S!c6 e5. Black’s pieces are
complicated game. 17...e4 18.a3 perfectly coordinated. 36S!c5
d4 19.c7 V1xc7 20.b5 Vxc4 21. Vf6 37.d5 VTh4 38.c7 f4.
xe7 V1xb5 22.ixf8 cxf8 23. Both Black’s bishops are hanging,
Vxd4. White must part with his but his attack seems very powerful.
bishop; otherwise Black’s central 39.xe6 fxe3 4OSxe3 e7
pawns may become very dangerous. 41.f4 b2 42.cd1 c3, Draw,
(23.f4 exf3oo) 23...Zd5 Neubauer — Sanner, ICCF 2012.
24.Vd1 exf3 25.b1 Vc6 26.V41xf3 After 43.xd3 xe1 44.xd6
d7 27.bd1 Zf6 28.V41xc6 xc6. xd6 45Sxe4+ ch8 46Sa8+
White must be very careful in c’h7 47Se4= Black’s king cannot
the arising complicated endgame, avoid the perpetual check.
because Black’s two bishops may
turn out to be stronger than
White’s rook and pawns. 29.f4 A2) 13Sb3
c?g8 30.e6 h8 31.d6 a4= White’s queen will be very active
Ciciotti — Panitevsky, ICCF 2014. on the a2-g8 diagonal, moreover
that he frees the dl-square
17...cxd5 181a3 e4 19.f4 for his rook and from there it can

316
 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e7 9.b4 Qh5 10.e1f5 11.g5 f6 12.f3 c6

exert pressure against the enemy 16.b5 Vxe6 17.,,a3 c5 18.ad1

d6-pawn if the d-file is opened.
(White should better not regain
the pawn 18.exf5 gxfs 19.xb7,
because after 19...ab8 20.d5
fxd5 21.cxd5 Black seizes
completely the initiative, Korobov
— Yevseev, Sochi 2008. liiter, he may
prepare an attack on the g-file: e5-
e4, e5, h7, g8, forcing White
to begin defending.) 18...f4oo Nenezic
— Djokic, Pozarevac 2012.

16.c5. If both sides play correctly,

the position would be
13...h6 14.e6 ,xe6 15. considerably simplified. 16...fxe4
dxe6 Yfc8 17.cxd6 exf3 18.dxe7 e8 19.e3
Now, White must play very (19.b2? xe7 20.xe5 ‘c7 21.
precisely; otherwise, he may simply ee1 fxg2 22.h3 followed by
lose his e6-pawn without obtaining 1f4-h4, h5-f4, Pelletier — Inarkiev,
sufficient compensation Istanbul 2003. Black’s
for it. king position has been considerably
weakened and Black’s attack
is very powerful.) 19...xe7 20.
ic5 xe6 21.xe5 Zd5 22.xd5
cxd5 23.xe6 1xe6 24.d1 b6,
draw, Kopta — Maxirnov, Pardubice
2010. The agreement to a
draw might seem a bit premature,
because after 25.e3 d8 26.gxf3
ff5=, the position might still be
approximately equal, but Black’s
play would be much simpler from
the practical point of view. His
16.d1 king is much more reliably protected
than its counterpart.
16.a3 Vxe6 17.ad1, Eljanov
— Radjabov, Moscow 2005, 17... 16...d8
ad8!?= White’s pieces are harmoniously
deployed and he has Of course not 16.. .xe6, due to
the two-bishop advantage. All this 17.xd6.
compensates his missing pawn,
but not more than that. 17.b5

317
Chapter 25

It would be less precise for xd4 exd4 251xa8 xa8

White to opt for 17.c5 fxe4 18. 26.e1 c8= Kherubim — Infinity,
cxd6 exf3 19.dxe7 xd1+ 20.V4Ixdl www.playchess.de 2004.
‘1xe6! Black sacrifices a rook, having
in mind quite justifiably so,
that after accepting the sacrifice A3) 13.b5
White would come under a crushing
attack. 21.Vd8+ h7 22.gxf3.
White complies with an inferior
position, but at least he would not
lose immediately (22.1xa8?? V1g4
23.cf1 1xg2+ 24.ce1 V1g1+ 25.
cd2 Vxf2+ 26.cd3 e4+ 27.cc4
V1c2—+) 22...V41g8 Kallio — Kotronias,
Batumi 2002.

17...V!xe6

White’s plan includes the development

of his bishop to a3,
therefore he opens the a3-f8 diagonal
in advance.
13...cxd5 14.cxd5 h6 15.
e6 ,xe6 16.dxe6 fxe4

181a3

18.bxc6. Opening of the b-file

is in favour of Black. 18...bxc6
19.a3 h7 20.Va4 ab8 21.1a6
fxe4 22.xe4 followed by a
transfer of the knight to the centre
of the board (d4), Pelletier — 17.xe4
David, La Roche sur Yon 2007.
17.xe4 c8 18.d5 fxd5 19.
18...c?h7 19.ab1 fxe4 20. xd5 Vb6 20.f3 d5 2L,a3 ce8
xe4 f5 21.xf6+ V!xf6 22. 22.xe7 xe7 23.xd5. White has
bxc6 bxc6 23.,xc6 d4 24. succeeded in protecting reliably

318
 7.0-0 4c6 8.d5 e7 9.b4 h5 10.e1f5 11.tIg5 4f6 121f3 c6

his pawn on e6, but this is insufficient 28...b3 29.d4 b4, White will
to provide him with an advantage, be incapable of holding on to his
because after 23.. .xf2 extra pawn: 30.cf2 xd4 31.xd4
24.c?h1, Black will advance his xe5 32.ad1 xd4+ 33.xd4 e6=
pawn up to the e3-square. 24...e4
25.c1 e3 26.1d3 d2 27.V1e4 h7 22...xe623.e3
28.b3 d4 29. f1 f2 30.a4 Vc5
3L,c2 1g5= — Both sides have The immediate capturing on e4
powerful pawns on e6 and e3 and would not promise much to White:
this balances the chances, Novoa 23.xe4 a6 24.bxa6 (24.b6 c8
— Kolehmainen, ICCF 2006. 25.e3 d6 26.g3 h5 27.b1 c2
28.a4 f7 29.c?g2 ce6= Brodsky
17...xe4 181xe4 d5 19. — Shimanov, St Petersburg
a3 2008) 24...exa6 25.a3 f8 26.
Now, there arises an approximately ,xf8 cxf8 27.e3 b5 28.b3 b4
equal endgame. 29.xb4 xa3 30.xa3 xa3= Shen
19...dxe4 2OS!xd8 fxd8 Yang — Ju Wenjun, China 2015.
211xe7 e8
23...a6

24.b6
22.b4 xe6 23.xe4. There is White prevents further simplifications,
just a few material left on the but his b6-pawn, which
board and White cannot exploit is placed against the rules, (on a
the slight weakness of the isolated square with the same colour as his
enemy e-pawn. 23...c8 24.a4 a6. bishop), might become weak later.
The trade of another couple of (24.eb1 axb5 25.xb5 ea6
pawns is Black’s simplest road to 26.xb7 xa2= Gordon — Bacrot,
equality. 25.bxa6 bxa6 26.f4 b6 Germany 2013; 24.a4 axb5 25.
27.fxe5 e8 28.c3, Draw, Morley axb5 xa1 26.xa1 d6 27.h4 h5
— Burger, ICCF 2011. In fact, after 28.a8+ f7 29.ch2 f6= Pelle221c5

319
Chapter 25

tier — Gallagher, Germany 2002.) h7 22.e4 V1xd2 23.xd2 c6

24..1f6 25.g3 (25.a4, Malakhatko 24.xe5 xe6= Voll — Mrazik,
— Moradiabadi, Paris 2008, ICCF 2007.
25...c6=) 25.. 1d8. Black forces
his opponent’s pieces to protect 16...xe4
the b6-pawn. 26.ab1 f7 27.
h4 c8 28.a4 h5 29.ed1
c?e8= Mozharov — Matinian, Kazan
2014. It is not easy to see how
White can improve his position,
moreover that it should not be
forgotten that Black still has an
extra pawn.

A4) 131b2

17.xe4
White is preparing to sacrifice
the exchange on e5.

The move 17.xe4 would lead

to a position, which would not
be so interesting. 17...d5 18.cxd5
cxd5 19.f3 e4 20.xg7 cxg7 21.
g4 Vb6 22.1d2 h5 23.h3 f6
24.a3 af8= Krutous — L.Hansen,
ICCF 2015. White has succeeded
This is a good square for in protecting his e6-pawn, but the
White’s bishop. It will exert pressure placement of his bishop is not so
against the e5-square from adequate. Black’s major pieces
this position. exert powerful pressure against
13...h6 14.e6 ,xe6 15. the f2-square.
dxe6 fxe4 16.xe4
17...d5 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.
16.xe4 d5 17.cxd5 (17.d3 e4 xe5!? ,xe5 201xe5
18.f1 V1b6 19.b1 Zh5 — White White has a pawn for the exchange,
will have problems with the protection two powerful bishops and
of the f2-square, Bareev — good attacking prospects on the
Radjabov, Enghien les Bains al-h8 diagonal. Still, after a precise
2003) 17...cxd5 18.c2 c8 19. play Black will hold convincingly
b3 Vb6 20.1d2 V1xb4 21.ad1 the defence.

320
 7.0-0 4c6 8.d5 4e7 9.b4 4h5 10.e1f5 11.Qg5 f6 12.f3 c6

2O..Sb6 queen has been deflected away

His queen attacks simultaneously from the attack, Black’s king may
the pawns on e6 and b4. go back to g8. 28.d1 (28.V1d3
211b2 h4 29.e2 d4 30.d1 g8 31.g3
f5 32.Va6 Vxa6 331xa6 c7
Following 21.V1d2, Black can 34.d3 f7 35.h4 cf6= Norrelykke
give back the exchange and destroy — Manzo, ICCF 2014. White
the shelter of his opponent’s cannot improve his position in
monarch. 21...xf3!? 22.gxf3 V1xe6 this endgame. Naturally, he can
23.e1 ‘fZf5 24.g3 (24.f4 f7 exchange on d4 and capture the
25.d1 g5 26.g3, Tan — Djurhuus, d4-pawn, but will lose his two-
Oslo 2014, 26...d4=) 24... bishop advantage and Black’s
f7 25.c1 d4 26.c7 V1d5= Ny- rook will easily make a draw
back — Matthiesen, Copenhagen against White’s bishop and two
2003. pawns.) 28...d4 29.1d3 e7 30.g3
c±g8 31.d2 (31.b5 ch7=) 31...
21...ad8 de8 32.cg2 h7 33.b5 f7 34.
c6 f8 35.ixd4 d8 36.V1c3
xd4 37.xd4 ‘1g7 38.d3 V1xc3
39.xc3 d2 40.f3 b2 41.a4
g7 42.c6 h5 43.a6 f7= Akdag
— Dorner, ICCF 2010.

22.V1e1. White protects his attacked

pawns, but his offensive is
slowed down. 22...d4 23.d1.
White prepares the transfer of his
bishop to b3 from where it will
protect reliably the e6-pawn. (23.
Black plans to play d5-d4 at d1 h5=) 23...a5 24.a3 f5 25.ib3
some moment, covering the diagonal h7 26.1d2 axb4 27.axb4 V1d6
of the bishop on b2. 28.d1 (28.icl g8!?=) 28...c6
22Sd2 29.c1 h5 30.h3 Vxb4 31.Vfxb4
xb4. There has arisen an end-
22.a3 Vfxe6 23.Vfd4. The game. This is in favour of Black,
queen+bishop tandem seems really because he does not need to be
threatening; nevertheless, afraid any more of the possible
White does not have anything checkmating attacks against his
concrete. 23...f5 24S1h8+ f7 king. 32.e7 c8 33.g4 e5 34.f4
Black’s monarch is leaving the xe7 35.d6. White regains the
kingside. 25.Vh7+ ce8 26.V1xb7 exchange and the position becomes
f7 27.V1b5+ cf8. After White’s absolutely equal. 35...1c6

321
Chapter 25

36.xe7 xe7 37.xd4 c7= Micic 24...d425S!d2

— Colucci, ICCF 2007.
The game will end in a perpetual
22..S!xe6 check after 25.xe7 V1xe7
26.V1xg6+ V1g7 27.Ve6+ f7 28.
V1g4+ Gilbert — Jensen, ICCF
2012.

25...f5

23.e1

23.1xh6? d4t Rey — Watson,

Email 2008.

23.V1d4 ‘fZf5 24.V1h8+ f7 25. 261e4

Vh7+ ce8 26.Vxb7 f7 27.V1b5+
cf8 28.Vfd3 (28.cf1. It would be White should not give up his
still too early for White’s king to a2-pawn: 26.d1 Vfxa2t Fier —
go to the centre, because there are Sai, Bhubaneswar 2010.
still too many pieces on the board.
28...d4 Pileckis — Kenneskog, 26.a4 fe8= Malakhatko
Vaxjo 2013.) 28...ctg8 29.b5 h7 Stokke, Tromsoe 2010.
30.h3 c7= — White’s two powerful
bishops and a pawn compensate 26...fe8 27.a3
the sacrificed exchange, but
not more than that, Balabaev — 27.a4 e5 28.f3 V1b3 29.c1
Lutzenberger, Chessfriend.com d3. Black’s pieces are very active,
2004. but his king is vulnerable, so he
cannot play for a win. 30.b2 e6
23...W1f724.xh6 31.c1 d6 32.xd3 Ze4 33.fxe4
Now, White will have two xd3 34.c8+ e8 35.xe8+ f7
pawns for the exchange, but Black 36.Vf4+ cxe8 37.V1e5+ d7 38.
succeeds in activating considerably 1b5= — Black’s king cannot avoid
his pieces by playing d5-d4 the perpetual check, Wuerzebesser
and f5. — Petrillo, ICCF 2010.

322
 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e7 9.b4 h5 10.e1f5 11.g5 f6 12..f3 c6

27...b5 28.m a6 29.V!g5 The move 19.c5 leads to an

d6 30.h4 f6 31.Vxf6, Gibney equal endgame. 19...dxe4 20.
— Ponomarev, ICCF 2010, 31... V1xd8 fxd8 21.ixe7 e8 22..c5.
xf6= — The chances of both There has arisen the same position
sides are approximately equal in as in variation A3, but only
this complicated endgame. with a pawn on b4 and not on b5.
This would not have any effect on
the evaluation of the position.
A5) 131e3 22...b6 231e3 f8 24.b5 g7 25.
ac1 (251c1 c5. Black has transferred
his bishop on g7 to a more
active position and has created
counterplay against the enemy f2-
pawn. 261b2 xe6 27.xe4 f8=
Satici — Civitillo, ICCF 2010) 25...
ac8 26.xc8 xc8 27.d1 c±f6
28.d7 cxe6 29.xa7 c5 30.
xh6 d8. Black’s pieces are so
active that White cannot hold on
to his extra pawn. 31.g4 d1+
32.c?g2 b1 33.e3 xb5 34.cg3
This is White’s most popular b2 35.g7 cf6 36.b7 xa2=
move in this position, but he cannot Lloyd — Cumming, ICCF 2015.
rely on obtaining an advantage
after it either. 19...b6
13...h6 14.e6 ,xe6 15. Black defends against .,c5.
dxe6 fxe4 16.xe4 xe4 17. 2OSg4
,xe4 d5 18.cxd5 cxd5
White cannot achieve much
with a transfer of his bishop to d7,
since this would take too much
time. 20.a4 Vd6 2L.d7 e4 22.
c1 Vxb4 23.h3 V1d6oo Gardarsson
— Tarrio Ocana, ICCF 2010.

20...e4 21.ad1 c7 221b3

White is trying to squeeze his
opponent’s pieces with the protection
of the d5-pawn.

191c2 22.a4 f5 23.d7 h5 24.e2,

323
Chapter 25

Martinez — James, FICGS 2011, 23.b5 h5 24.V1h4 f6 25.V1g3

24...af8!?oo e5= O’Hare — Morozov, ICCF
2007.
22...f5
23.c1 V1d6 24.ed1 d8 25.
c4 V1b8 26.c2 h5 27.V1h4 ff6.
Black begins a permanent chase
after White’s queen. 28.1g3 e5
29.1h4 f6= Braziulis — Sudnitsyn,
ICCF 2008.

23.1h4 af8 24.g4. Now,

23.e2
23.d4 ,xd4 24.xd4, Iskusnyh Larsson, Lechenicher SchachServer
— Motylev, Moscow 1999,
24...af8!?t — Black’s pressure
against the f2-pawn provides him
with an edge.
Black will not be able to play h5
and White will manage to capture
on h6, but the shelter of his king is
compromised. 24...e5 25.xh6
xh6 26.1xh6 Vd6 27.V1d2 V1xe6
28.h3 f3 29.e3 f4= Starke —
2009.
23...h524STh4f6

23.d2 h5 24.Ve2 c3 25.c2

V1e5 26.d2 d4. Black has exploited
his opponent’s imprecise
play and has transferred his
bishop to a powerful position at
the middle of the board. 27.e3.
White neutralises the pressure
against the f2-pawn, but loses his
two-bishop advantage. 27...af8
28.d1 xe3 29.1xe3 g7 30.h3
8f6 — White will fail to preserve 25S!g3 .e5 26STh4
his e6-pawn, Ruggieri — Borroni,
ICCF 2009. 26.1h3 d8=

23.Ve2, Radjabov — Moreno 26...f6 27S!g3 .e5 28.

Carnero, Pamplona 2002, 23... V!h4 kf6= Xu Jun — Ponomariov,
c3= Shenyang 2000

324
 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 tIe79.b4 tIh510.e1f511.g5 f6 12.f3 ch8

B)12.m but weakens his control over the

d5-square. 13...h6 14.e6 xe6 15.
dxe6 d5. After this pawn-break the
position is simplified considerably.
16.exd5 fxd5 17.xd5 Vxd5

This move leads to a more

complicated game than 12.f3,
because Black will have greater Now, White is faced with a
problems to simplify the position. choice. He can trade the queens
12...ch8 himself, or can offer his opponent
Black removes prudently his to do that.
king away from the dangerous diagonal 18.V1xd5 xd5 19.c4 xb4 20.
and frees the g8-square for b1 c6 21..e3. The activity of
his knight. White’s pieces compensate his
We will analyse now: Bi) 13. material losses, but not more than
e6, B2) 131e3, B3) 13.b1. that. (2L,d5 ab8 22.xb7 xb7
23.xc6 bb8 24.d7 h7 25.c6
13.b5. This is an important decision, f6= Korzans — Gerhards, ICCF
but it weakens even more 2010) 21...ab8 22.bd1 fd8 23.
the dark squares in White’s camp. d7 xd7 24.exd7 .f8= Korobov
13...h5 14.e6 (14.f1, Abbasov — Huschenbeth, Pardubice 2008.
— N.Mamedov, Baku 2009, 14... 18.Vb3 Vxb3 19.axb3 c6.
f4!?oo) 14...xe6 15.dxe6 f4 16. Black prepares the transfer of his
ixf4 exf4 17.c1, Ricardi — Lemos, knight to the centre of the board.
Berazategui 2007, 17...fxe4 18. 20.a4 fe8 2L.c4 (Following
fxe4 e5 19.1d3 g8!? 20.1h3 c6 2L,e3 xe6 22.b5 d4 23.id3
21.ed1 V1f6i: — Black’s initiative ee8, White can regain his pawn,
increases with every move. In addition, but will be deprived of his twobishop
White is likely to lose his advantage. 24.xd4 exd4
e6-pawn, which is too far away 25.xe8+ xe8 26.xa7 e3 27.
from the rest of his forces. c4 f8 28.a8 cg7= Zubov —
Lyukmanov, ICCF 2010) 21...a6
13.c5. White begins immediate 22.b5. This move leads to additional
active actions on the queenside, simplifications. 22...axbs 23.

325
Chapter 25

xa8 xa8 24.xb5 e8 25.d1

xe6 26.d7 f8 27.xc7 ,xc5+
28.cf1 e7 29.xe7 xe7= Grischuk
— Radjabov, Linares 2009.

Bi) 13.e6
This is a straightforward move.
White’s knight penetrates immediately
to the e6-square, without
waiting for the move h7-h6. — H.Ivanov, IECG 2001) 19...
13..Axe6 14.dxe6 h5 fxe6 20.xe6 xe6 21.cxd6
cxd6 22.b5 a6 23.xd6 d4t —
The shelter of White’s king has
been weakened, while Black’s
knight is very powerful at the
middle of the board, Nakamura —
Al Modiahki, Southampton 2003.
17.xe4!? This is an interesting
exchange-sacrifice. 17...d5 18.
,xf4 dxe4 19.g5 f6 20.xf6+
Thcf6 21.fxe4 g7 22.d5 f8 23.
V1e2 c6 24.d1. Now, in addition,
White sacrifices a knight! 24...
Black wishes to deploy his cxd5 25.exd5 ‘Zf5 26.d6 V41f6= —
knight on f4. In addition, the His far-advanced passed pawns
knight may change its route and are very powerful, but this would
after ff6, g7, may attack the be sufficient only to maintain the
weak enemy e6-pawn. equality, Primakov — Malashenkov,
15.g3 ICCF 2014.
White parries his opponent’s
threat. 15..1f6

15.c5 f4. Now, White must

play precisely in order to maintain
the balance. 16.c4 fxe4
(diagram)
He would not equalise with
17.fxe4 c6 18.e3 (18.cxd6 cxd6
19.e3 d4 20.c1 c8 2Ld5
dxe6 Fleetwood — Williams,
ICCF 2006) 18...Zd4 19.g3 (19.
c1?! dxc5 20.bxc5 c6T Muttoni

326
 7.0-0 4c6 8.d5 4e79.b4 h510.e1f511.g5 f612.f3 sh8

16.exf5 ch1 cd4 23.g1. White has managed

to open the g-file, but Black
16.h6 e8 17.d5 g8. neutralises his opponent’s initiative
White is incapable of preserving on the kingside with a precise
his e6-pawn, but after 18.e3 g7 play. 23...f6. He fortifies the e5-
19.c5 xe6 20.xf6 xf6 21.cxd6 square. 24.f5 (24.b1 g7 25.f5
cxd6=, his two powerful bishops gxf5 26.d3 V1h4 27.exf5 4xf5 28.
and the vulnerability of Black’s e4 f7= Van Unen — Ollmann,
d6-pawn compensate White’s ICCF 2007) 24...gxf5 25.exf5 ‘Zxf5
missing pawn, Cottegnie — Tiemann, 26.d3 g7 27.e4, Van Unen —
ICCF 2012. Poli, ICCF 2008, 27...Vfe8!?= —
White’s pieces are very actively
16.c5. He is preparing c4. deployed, but Black has an extra
16...f4 17.cg2 (17.g4?! g7 18. pawn and a solid position.
c4 c6 19.cxd6 cxd6 Van Wely
— Radjabov, Wijk aan Zee 2007) 16...gxf5
17...Zc6 18.cxd6 (There arises a
complicated double-edged position
after 18.c4 g7 19.cxd6
cxd6 20.b5 e7 2Lb2 a6 22.
a3 xb4oo Keuter — Chocenka,
ICCF 2007.) 18...cxd6 19.d5

17.f4
White is trying to oust the enemy
knight from its active position,
but Black does not intend to
19...g7 (It is also possible for retreat it at all!
Black to continue here with 19...
d4 20.b2 xe6 21.g4 hg7 22. Following 17.ch1 f4, the g3-
xf6 xf6 23.V1d5 — White has square would need permanent
two very strong bishops and exerts protection. 18.e4 fxg3 19.hxg3
pressure against the weak enemy ‘Zf5 20.g4 hg3+ 21.xg3 xg3+
d6-pawn, so this compensates 22.c?g2 h4 23.d3 Vf6# with
his minimal material deficit, excellent counterplay on the dark
Shirov — Radjabov, Wijk aan Zee squares, Unen — Sarnerdokas,
2007) 20.e7 xe7 21.gxf4 e6 22. ICCF 2013.

327
Chapter 25

17...xg3!? sacrifices the exchange in an attempt

This is an interesting piece- to seize the initiative. 25...
sacrifice. Black begins an attack xe5 26.e4 VTh4 27.Vf4 c?g8.
and White must defend very accurately. Black removes his king away from
the dangerous al-h8 diagonal.
18.hxg3 g8 19.g4 exf4 28.f6+ c?h8 29.e4 c?g8=
201b2 Neither side can avoid now the
repetition of the position. 30.
About 20.V1d2 fxg4 2Lb2 g7 f6+, Draw, Ciciotti — V.Kuzmin,
— see 20.b2. ICCF 2013.

20...fxg4
B2) 131e3
This is a seemingly active
move, but has the drawback that
Black may exploit the defencelessness
of the bishop on e3.
13..1h6

White has avoided the attack

on the g-file, but Black has already
three pawns for the piece.
21.d2 g7 22.ad1 (The move
22.f1 would lead to a very complicated
position. 22...f3 23.e4
e5 24.d5 xb2 25.1xb2 xd5 14.f7+
26.cxd5 V1h4 27.Vf2 V1h5 28.1g3. White gets rid of the unpleasant
White has managed to block his pin of his knight.
opponent’s passed pawns, but
loses additionally his d5-pawn. Following 14.h4, the weakened
28...1xd5 29.ae1 e8 30.f4 shelter of his king may hurt White
1g5 3Ld3 c6= Garnica — Hablizel, in the future. 14...h5 15.c5 f4 16.
ICCF 2013.) 22...g6. Black’s f2 ixg5 17.hxg5 g8 18.cxd6 cxd6
knight joins into the attack. 23. — He will fail to hold on to his g5-
f1 f 24.e4 e5. The shelter pawn, after which Black will not
of White’s monarch is already seriously only have an extra pawn, but also
endangered. 25.xe5! He excellent attacking prospects,

328
 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e7 9.b4 h5 10.e1j5 11.Qg5 f6 12.f3 cfIi8

Fier — Al Sayed, Caleta 2014.

14...xf7151xh6f4

g4. (20.f1 g4t Eljanov —

Grischuk, Moscow 2008) 20...h5
21.h3 e7 22.cg2 g6 23.ghl
h7 24.a4 ..d7 25.V1c2 hxg4
16.c5 26.hxg4 h4+ 27.ixh4 gxh4
28.d1 V1g8 29.cfl h3oo Antonov
16.g5 Zeg8 17.g4 (17.c5 h6 — — Hauff, ICCF 2011. The
see 16.c5) 17.. .h6 18.h4 g5 19. vulnerability of the dark squares
f2 h5 20.h3 h7 21.c5 Ze7 22. in White’s cam may turn out to be
c?g2 ‘fZg6 Gelfand — Radjabov, an important factor in the future.
Sochi 2008. In addition, he must consider all
the time Black’s possible piece-
Black obtains a very good position sacrifice on g4.
after 16.g4 a5 17.bxa5 eg8
18.g5 h6 19.h4 xa5 20.f2 g5
21.b5 h5 22.h3 b6= Knoll — B3) 13.b1
Boger, ICCF 2006. White will
hardly manage to break on the
queenside, while on the opposite
side of the board Black has very
good counterplay, connected with
the doubling of his rooks on the hfile,
as well as with the transfer of
his knight to the h4-square
(e7-g6-h4).

16...eg8 17.,g5 h6 18.

h4 g5 191f2 g7
(diagram) This is a useful move. Now,
20.g4. This is a prophylactic White can always counter a7-a5
move. White must not allow g5- with a2-a3. His rook has also left

329
Chapter 25

the dangerous diagonal on the centre of the board. 20.b4 b8

process. 2L,e3 a5 22.bxa6 bxa6 23.V41d2
13...h6 14.e6 ,xe6 15. 1a5= Even — Moll, ICCF 2012.
dxe6 fxe4
Before transferring his knight 18...d419.V!g4g5
to d4, Black stabilises the pawn-
structure in the centre.
16.fxe4 c6 17.d5 g8

20.h4
White is trying to organise an
attack against the enemy king.
Black must play like this in order
to follow that with d4; otherwise, 20.c5 c6 21.e7 xe7 22.xg5.
White will have the move He sacrifices a piece and begins
e6-e7. an attack on the light squares.
181d3
He is preparing the queen-sortie
V1g4.

18.g4 d4 19.b5 c6 — see 18.

b5.

Following 18.V1d3 ‘Zd4 19.1h3

e8, White will have difficulties
with the protection of his e6-
pawn. 20.g4 c6 21.c3 e7 22. 22...cxd5? 23.exd5 Vc8 24.
b5 h7 23.bxc6 bxc6 24.e2 1e4 ef5 25.e7 — White has
xe6 25.xe6 Vxe6 26.V41xe6 seized completely the initiative
xe6 Riedener — Rogetzer, ICCF and Black will be faced with a difficult
2009. defence, Gelfand — Gin,
London 2012.
18.b5 d4 19.g4 c6. Black 22...hxg5 23.V1h3+ c?g8 24.
ousts the enemy knight from the xe7+ Vxe7 25.c4+ f7 26.cxd6

330
 7.0-0 4c6 8.d5 e79.b4 th510.e1f511.g5 f6 12.f3 cth8

V1xd6 27.f1. The pin on the a2-g8 2O...f6

diagonal seems quite threatening, With a knight on d5 and a
but Black can hold the balance queen on g4, White’s e6-pawn
with a precise play. 27...af8 28. may turn out to be very powerful.
xf7 xf7 29.V1c8+ f8 30.1e8 Vf6 With his last move Black wishes
31.f1 e2+! Black deflects the to oust the enemy queen from the
enemy bishop and gets rid of the g4-square and play later xe6.
pin. He forces a transition into a 21S!g3
drawish endgame with bishops White would not object to the
of opposite colours. 32.xe2 e7 trade of the e6-pawn for the g5-
33.Vxe7 xf1+ 34.cxf1 xe7= pawn.
Dothan — Jorgensen, ICCF 2009. 21...xe6 22.hxg5 h5

White fails to develop his attack

after 20.V41h3 c6 21.e3 V1f6
22.g4, Ponomariov — Radjabov,
Wijk aan Zee 2003, 22...V41xe6!?
23.xg5 V1g6oo, Black has fortified
reliably his h6-square and thanks
to the powerful position of his
knight at the centre of the board
his prospects in the forthcoming
battle are at least not worse.

The move 20.e3 leads to great 23STh2

complications. 20...c6. Black attacks White’s target is the h6-
the enemy knight, but White square.
does not even think about retreating
it! 21.f1 (He can also sacrifice He would not obtain much
his knight with the line: 21.h4 with 23.V1g4, because after 23...
cxd5 22.exd5 f4 23.xf4 gxf4 24. Zhf4, he would have to lose a
V1g6 f6 25.c5 ‘e7 26.bc1 g8oo tempo for the retreat of his bishop.
Ray — Dunlop, ICCF 2010.) 21... 24.xf4 xf4 25.e2 V41xg5=
cxd5 22.exd5 f4. Black sacrifices — Black has an extra pawn indeed,
the exchange and prevents Ve4. but his bishop on g7 is so “bad”
23.xf4 gxf4 24.V1g6 ‘fZf6oo Shpakovsky that his material advantage is
— Gullotto, ICCF 2009. practically irrelevant, Florea —
Black has parried the checkmating Bancevich, ICCF 2011.
threats against his king. In the
middle game his knights may 23...hf424.gxh6f6
even prove to be stronger than White has an extra pawn, but
White’s rook and pawns. Black’s prospects are at least

331
Chapter 25

equal. He plans to play g5, developing 25...exf4 26.e5

powerful initiative on the White sacrifices a pawn and
dark squares. White’s material opens the diagonal for his bishop.
advantage is not felt at all, moreover 26..Axe5 27STh5 g5 28.
that the pawn on h6 impedes V!g6 g8 29S!f5 f8
his attack against the enemy king.

After the exchange of the

251xf4 queens, Black’s king will be safe.
3OS!xf8 axf8 31.e7
After White’s alternatives White sacrifices the exchange
Black ends up with an even more and wishes to simplify the position,
pleasant game. neutralising his opponent’s
25.f1 g5 26.b3 c6 Stephan initiative.
— Baiocchi, ICCF 2009. 32.cf2 xe1 33.
xe1 f6 34.e6 h4+ 35.cf1
Or 25.e3 d4 26.xf4 exf4 ixe7 36.xe7 g3 371e4 f6
27.h3 e5t and Black dominates 38Th7+ c?g8 39.xc7 xh6
on the dark squares, Grornark — 4O.xb7 a3 41.c?g1 cf8 42.
Sikorsky, ICCF 2010. d7 xa2 Zlotkowski — Menlo,
ICCF 2012. White has a pawn for
25.d1 g8 26.f1 g5 — the exchange and his pieces are
White will hardly activate his very active. Still, he would need to
“bad” bishop on fl, Jacobs — Lux, find numerous accurate moves in
Email 2008. order to save the draw.

332
Chapter 26 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ig7 4.e4 d6
5.f3 0—0 6.e2 e5 7.0—0 c6 8.d5
e7 9.e1
The Traditional Line

The move 10.e3 will be dealt

with in the next chapter.

10.g5 f5 ll.exf5 (1l.f3 — see

l0.f3 f5 lL,g5) 1l...gxf5 12.f4,
Cvetkovic — Nikolaidis, Korinthos
1997, 12...h6!? 13.h4 f6 14.fxe5
dxe5oo

l0.chl f5 ll.exf5 4xf5 l2.c2,

Miles — Ziegler, Malmo 1996, 12...
With this move, just like after h4!?oo
9.d2, White does not allow h5.
From the el-square his knight l0.d2 f5 ll.cl (ll.d3 f6,
may go to d3 and from there it will or ll.f3 Zf6 l2.’Zd3 f4 — see variation
support his queenside offensive B) 11...’Zf6 12.f3 f4 13.c5,
(c4-c5) and also may help in an Miles — Lind, Gausdal 1980.
eventual strike against the enemy Without the preliminary move
centre with f2-f4. d3 this pawn-break seems a bit
9...d7 premature (it is preferable for
Black prepares immediately White to opt for 13.d3 g5 — see
the thematic pawn-advance f7-f5. variation B) 13...c6!? This is the
This retreat of the knight to d7 simplest. Black should not accept
seems more precise than e8, because the pawn-sacrifice. 14.cxd6 1xd6
from d7 the knight controls 15.dxc6 xc6= — He has turned
the c5-square and prevents the out to be very well prepared for
development of White’s initiative the opening of the game in the
on the queenside. centre.

We will analyse now A) 1O.

and B) 1O.d3.
l0.g4 f5 ll.f3 ch8 — see l0.f3. A)1O.f3f5

333
Chapter 26

This move has some merits,

but also some drawbacks too. On the
one hand the bishop will be very
active on the gl-a7 diagonal, but on
the other hand the bishop will be
attacked with tempo after f5-f4.

The move 12.g5 looks premature.

12...f4. White’s g5-pawn has
been isolated from the rest of his
main forces and may cause plenty
11.g4 of troubles for him. 13.h4 h6 14.
White wishes to build a formidable cf2, V.Belov — Ulko, Moscow 2010
fortress on the kingside. (14.f2 cg8± Levin — Shomoev,
St Petersburg 2009) 14...f7!?t,
11.Zd3 f4 — see variation B. followed by Zg8, ff8, h7, e7.

1Le3 f4 — see Chapter 36. The move 12.ch1 would lead

to a complicated positional fight.
1Lg5 h6 12.e3 g5 13.a4 a5oo 12...f4 13.d2, Jpsingh — Pineapple,
Agdestein — I.Sokolov, Novi Sad playchess.com 2006. Here,
1990. Black could have transferred his
rook to the h-file obtaining very
11...ch8 good counterplay: 13...g5!? 14.
This is a very flexible move. At d3 f6 15.1c2 h5 16.g1 h6±
first Black wishes to improve the
placement of his knight on e7 and Following 12.g2, the knight
only then to determine the pawn- will cement reliably White’s kingside,
structure on the kingside. but Black will manage to create
a barrier on the opposite side
of the board, which would be very
difficult for White to break: a7-a5,
b7-b6, c5. 12...a5

121e3

334
 7.0-0 4c6 8.d5 4e79.4e1 d710.f3f511.g4 ch82.e3 4g8

13.e3 c5 14.h3 (14.h4 b6 — 12.d3 g8 13.ch1 (131e3

see 13.h4) 14...b6 15.b3 d7= Miladinovic h6 — see 12.e3; 13.c?g2 a6 14.
— Istratescu, Elista e3 h6= Pinter — Uhlmann,
1998. Szirak 1985) 13...f4 14.g1 g5.
13.h4 c5 14.e3 b6 15.ch2, Black’s plan is very simple: h7-h5,
Petkov — Hebden, La Pobla de Lii- f6-h6. 15.d2 h5 16.h3 f6 17.
let 2005, 15...h5!? 16.g5 Vd7# — c1 h6 18.c?g2, Cheparinov —
and in both cases Black holds Fedorov, Khanty-Mansiysk 2005,
quite confidently his defence on 18...’Ze7±, preparing the transfer
the queenside and counter attacks of the knight to the h4-square.
on the kingside.
12...g8
After 12.h4, Black can open
a second front. 12...c6 13.e3
(White would not achieve much
with 13. ‘fZg2 f4 14.ch2 a5 15.d2
c5=, while following 13.c?g2 f6
14. d3 b5 15.b3 ‘a5!, Black
would seize the initiative: 16.d2
fxg4 17.fxg4 b41: Volkov — Chumanov,
Lechenicher SchachServer
2014.) 13...Zf6 14.d3
b5!? With this energetic strike
Black liquidates the base under
the central enemy d5-pawn. 15.c5 13S!d2
(There arises a calmer position after
15.b4 cxd5 16.cxd5 d7= Rumiancevas Following 13.g2 f4 14.tf2,
— Winkler, ICCF Black should not be in a hurry to
2009.) 15...cxd5 16.cxd6 Vxd6 advance h7-h5. 14...h6 (after
17.c5 Vd8 18.g5 d7 19.xe7 14...h5, White has an interesting
Vxe7 20.xd5. White’s knight is pawn-sacrifice: 15.g5! 1xg5 16.
very powerful, but Black has the h4 V1h6 17.b5t) 15.b4 a5oo Pavlov
two-bishop advantage, moreover — Shianovsky, Bucharest 1962.
that White’s king is not safe. His h
and g-pawns have been advanced 13.d3 h6 14.f2. White
too early too far. 20...V41e6 21.Zf2 avoids prudently the trade of the
Th8 22.c7 V1b6 23.c1 c5 bishops (14.V1d2?! ixe3+ 15.1xe3
24.d5, Petrigin — Panov, ICCF f4 16.V41f2 g5 17.c5, K.Petrosian —
2013, 24...V41d6 25.f6 1b6 26. Lomineishvili, Schwaebisch Gmuend
d5 1d6= — White would risk 1994, 17...f7!? 18.h3 h5t —
much if he avoids the repetition of The vulnerability of the dark
moves. squares in White’s camp may hurt

335
Chapter 26

him in the future.) 14...fxg4 15.

fxg4, Enchev — Michelakos, Kavala
2016, 15...b6 16.b1 a5= —
White has more space, but the
shelter of his king has been weakened
by the move g2-g4.

13...f4 14 1f2 h5 15.h3 f6

seem so useful for White. 11...

fxe4!? 12.xe4 Zf6 13.f3 ‘Zf5 14.
df2 d4 15.d3 f5= — The
dominance over the e4 and d4-
squares balances the prospects of
both sides.

11.exf5. White has no chances

of obtaining an advantage after
16.d3 (It would not be so the reduction of the pawn-tension
precise for White to play 16.g2, in the centre. 11...xf5 This knight
Passerotti — Gianfelici, Porto San is headed for the d4-square. 12.f3.
Giorgio 2009, followed White is preparing f2-e4 (12.
by the transfer of Black’s rook to Ze4 ‘fZf6 13.f3, L.Schmid — Gligoric,
the h-file.) 16..1h4. Black succeeds Hamburg 1965, 13...xe4!?
in trading advantageously 14.fxe4 d4=) 12...f6 13.f2 c6
the bishops. 17Se1 ,xf2+ 18. 14.fe4 ‘d4 15.e3, Traut —
xf2, Bordas — Pirisi, Budapest Gundrum, Germany 2001, 15...
1989, 18...f7 19.h2 h7= White ff5!? 16.d3 ‘fZh5# (followed
has more space, but his bishop is f4) — Black’s cavalry is very active.
restricted by his own pawns.

11.f4. This strike in the centre

B) 1O.d3 f5 is not good for White. It would
(diagram) have been justified if Black’s
111d2 knight had been on e8 and not on
White’s bishop frees the d7. Here, he controls reliably the
square for his rook. eS-square and it would be only
White who might have problems.
The move 11.a4, Larsen — 11...exf4 12.xf4 (Following 12.
P.H.Nielsen, Valby 1991, does not ixf4, Black can simply capture

336
 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e79.e1 d710.d3f5

his opponent’s central pawn: 12...

xc3!? 13.bxc3 fxe4 14.b4 f5oo
— White must still prove that he
has sufficient compensation for
the material deficit, Jovanovic —
Dimic, Belgrade 2016.) 12...1c5=
Black’s prospects are not worse at
all. In addition, White must play
very carefully. For example, after
the straightforward move 13. 16...f7. This is a multi-purpose
exf5?!, Black seizes the initiative move and we will encounter
13...xf5i: Rellstab — Castagna, it numerous more times. The rook
Hoogovens 1962. is not only ready to go to g7 (after
the preliminary move ff8) in order
11.f3f4 to support the pawn-break
g5-g4, but will also protect the c7-
square against the possible penetration
of the enemy pieces.
Meanwhile, the bishop on f8 will
protect the d6-pawn. 17.a6 (There
arises a complicated position with
mutual chances after 17.c6 f8
18.cxb7 &xb7 19.a3 g7 20.h3
c8oo — Black’s queenside pawn-
structure has been weakened, but
12.d2 Zf6 — see 1Ld2. his kingside attack may become
The prophylactic move 12.g4 very powerful, Vescovi — Krylov,
does not seem appropriate. 12... Moscow 2010.) 17...bxa6 18.kd2
f6 13.d2 cg7. Black prepares f8 19.c6 b8. Black must bring
the transfer of his rook to the hfile. into the actions his rook an a8 as
14.e1 h8 15.ctg2 h5 16.h3 quickly as possible. The point is
Zg8 17.h1 h6 18.b4 a5 19.a3 that after White has played c5-c6,
f7 20.c5 h4 2Lxh4 Vxh4 — Black’s bishop on c8 has no moves
The dark squares in White’s camp and this isolates the rook on a8,
have been weakened, Tombette — which may hurt very much Black
De Bar ICCF 2014. later. 201xa6 xb4 21.,e2 a6 22.
12.b4. White occupies space xa6 b8 23.h3 xh3 24.gxh3.
on the queenside and prepares White has prevented for a while
c4-c5. 12...g5. This is the beginning the enemy pawn-advance g5-g4,
of Black’s standard kingside but has weakened the shelter of
pawn-offensive. 13.c5 f6 14.a4 his king. 24...g7 25.h1 h8.
h5 15.Zf2 Zg6 16.a5 Black is perfectly prepared for the

337
Chapter 26

pawn-break g5-g4. 26.b5 g4 27. with his usual plan, connected

V1e2 g3 28.g1 h4 29.b7 ‘fZe8 with the advance of his g-pawn
30.a3 ‘Zf7. He is preparing Zg5. and must prepare the opening of
Black’s knight will exert powerful the h-file. Naturally, the h-file
pressure from this square against would not be sufficient to checkmate
the enemy pawns on f3 and h3. the opponent, but it would
3La5 g5 32.V1g2 V1f6 33.e1 be good enough to deflect White’s
V1g6oo Saglione — Dorner, ICCF pieces from the massive offensive
2013. on the queenside.
13...g5
11...f612.mf4

141e1
Now, White must make a White prepares the transfer of
choice about his further plans in his bishop to the f2-square.
this position. He may try the prophylactic
move Bi) 13.g4, in order About 14.b4 h5 15.h3 g6
to prevent his opponent’s possible 16.e1 f7, or 14.c5 h5 15.h3 g6
attack on the kingside. He 16.e1 f7 — see 14.e1.
can also choose the more ambitious
move B2) 13.c5. 14...h5 15.h3 g6
Black’s knight is trying to
13.c1 g5 14.c5 g6 — see variation occupy the weakened h4-
B2b. square.
16.c?g2
13.b4 g5 14.c5 c6 15.cxd6 V1xd6
16.dxc6 1xc6= Tologontegin — 16.b4 f7 17.c?g2 f8 or 16.f2
Yurtaev, Bishkek 2009. f7 17.c?g2 f8 — see 16.c?g2.

16.c5 f7
Bi) 13.g4 (diagram)
Now, Black cannot continue 17.c?g2 f8 — see 16.c?g2.

338
 7.0-0 4c6 8.d5 4e7 9.tIe1 td7104d3f5 11.d2 f6 12.f3f4

17.c1 f8 18.cxd6 cxd6 — see

17.cxd6.
It seems imprecise for White 171f2
to choose 17.b4, since following This logical move is the natural
17...f8 18.f2, Gyimesi — Szuk, continuation of the plan, connected
Budapest 1994 (18.c?g2, Gyimesi with the transfer of the
— Cvitan, Ticino 1994, 18...a5!?t), bishop to the gl-a7 diagonal from
Black may deflect his opponent’s where it will exert powerful pressure
queen from the protection of the against Black’s queenside.
g4-pawn: 18...a5!? 19.a3 axb4
20.axb4 xa1 21.V1xa1 hxg4 22. 17.b4 f8 18.h1 h7 — see
hxg4 xg4! He sacrifices a piece 17.h1.
and develops a powerful attack
23.fxg4 f3 24.d1? 1d7!—+ 17.h1 f8 18.b4 (18.f2 h4
17.cxd6 cxd6 18.c1 ff8. — see 17.f2; 18.c1, Storm Her-
Black’s position is very solid, despite seth — Sharavdorj, Duisburg 1992,
his opponent’s space advantage, 18...a5!? 191f2 c5=) 18...h7 19.
while the vulnerability of f2 e7 20.V1b3 cg7 Lukacs —
White’s kingside may hurt him in Grivas, Budapest 1993.
the future. 19.V1b3 (19.f2 h7
20.1b3 hxg4 21.hxg4 h4 22. It is also possible for White to
,xh4 xh4 23.f2 a6 24.a4, Khalifman play immediately 17.c5 f8 18.
— Spasov, Manila 1990, cxd6 (18.f2 Zh4 — see 17.f2)
24...b8!?oo — Black is quite safe 18...cxd6 19.a4 h7 20.h1 d7oo,
in this position thanks to his pair although even then Black’s prospects
of bishops.) 19...h7 20.cg2 a6 should not be worse, Baumegger
21.a4 d7 22.f2, Lobron — Renet, — Anagnostopoulos,
Novi Sad 1990, 22...h4+!? Oberwart 1997.
23.xh4 gxh4 — The dark
squares in White’s camp have 17..1f8 18.b4
been weakened.
18.h1 h4+ 19.Lxh4 gxh4
16...f7 20.f2 (20.b4 h7 — see 18.b4)

339
Chapter 26

20...g7 21.cf1 d7 Milanovic — against his king. Black’s play is

Runic, Zupanja 2008. not easy either, because in the
majority of the cases White
18.c5 Zh4+ 19.xh4 gxh4 20. will prevent the immediate attack
c1 (20.h1 g7!?t) on the kingside and Black
Hagstroem — Kristinsson, Denmark will have to combine his attacking
1997. moves on the kingside with accurate
defence against the penetration
18...h4+ of White’s pieces on the cfile.

19.,xh4. White cannot put

up with Black’s knight on h4, so It seems his most natural
he must part with his powerful move here is — B2b) 14.c1, but
bishop, reluctantly though... 19... at first we will have a look at a
gxh4 20Th1 h7 21.f2 g5 plan for White in which he refrains
22.a4, L.Hansen — S.Hansen, from this on move 14, as
Lyngby 1989, (22.c1 h7oo Moy well as later: B2a) 14.cxd6.
— Lin, Los Angeles 2013) 22...
a5!?= Black has the initiative.
The position is closed indeed, so B2a) 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.f2
White is likely to manage to hold h5 16.h3
the balance, because Black can
hardly break on either side of the 16.a4 g6 17.h3 f7 — see 16.
board. h3.

The careless move 16.1c2?!

B2)13.c5g5 weakens the control over the g4-
Positions of this type are very square and enables Black to begin
difficult to play for both sides. an immediate attack. 16...g4 17.
Even small imprecision by White fc1 g6T Romanov — Lohmann,
may lead to a crushing attack ICCF 2010.

340
 8.d5 4e79.4e1 d71O.tId3f511.d2 4f6 12.f3f4 13.c5g5

16...g6 19...g4. Black sacrifices a pawn

From this square Black’s and begins an attack against the
knight may go later to h4. enemy king. 20.fxg4 hxg4 21.hxg4
17S!c2 f8 22.fcl g7 23.dl a6 24.
a3. White’s pawn on g4 is presently
Following 17.a4 f7 18.b5 f8 untouchable, but Black can
19.1c2, Black obtains excellent transfer his knight to g3 in a tactical
attacking possibilities after the fashion and the position of
pawn-sacrifice: 19...g4! 20.fxg4 White’s king becomes seriously
hxg4 21.hxg4 g7 22.aci h4 endangered. 24...h5! 25.c4
23.Vfdi a6 24.a3, Luehrig — (25.gxh5? Accepting the knight-
Noack, DESC 2004, 24...h5!?-* sacrifice would lead to an immediate
loss for White: 25...xg2+
17...f7 and he cannot play 26.fi, because
Black covers the c7-square and of 26...xf2+! 27s?xf2
prepares the transfer of his rook V1b6+ with a checkmate in four
to g7 in order to support the moves.) 25...g3 26.a3 h7 27.
pawn-break g5-g4. a5 V1f6 28.fi Vh6 29.h3.
White has managed to cover the
h-file just in time. 29...1g7 30.f2
V41h6= Learte Pastor — Olano
Aizpurua, ICCF 2010.

18...g419.fxg4

19.hxg4 hxg4 20.fxg4 h4 —

see 19.fxg4.

19...hxg4 20.hxg4 h4

18.fc1
This is the essence of White’s
plan. In fact, it is not clear which
of his rooks is better placed on ci.
Now, his king may try to abandon
the kingside via the fl-square,
but on the other hand the rook on
fl may be necessary for the defence.

The line: 18.a4 h4 19.b5

leads to an interesting position. 21.b5

341
Chapter 26

It would be too passive for 22...m! 23.h6+ ,xh6 24.

White to opt here for 21.V1d1 — he xh6 g4. He continues to increase
abandons the plan, connected the pressure. 25Sd2
with the penetration of the knight xg2 26Sg5+. White forces a
to the c7-square and begins to defend transfer into an endgame. 26...
passively. 21...f8 22.c2 g7t V!xg5 271xg5 fxe2 28.c?xg2
Soltau — Maeder, Germany 1975. g7. He cannot preserve his extra
piece, because after a retreat of
White has no time for 21.a4, his bishop, Black can play d7
Kozul — Jovanovic, Otocac 2010, and xb5. 29.xd6 xg5
because then Black will have an 3O.cf2 f8+ 31.f5 ixf5
interesting piece-sacrifice: 21... 32.exf5 fycf5= — The tactical
xg4!? 22.xg4 f3 23.h6+. complications are over and the
White must give back the piece. position has been simplified considerably,
23...ixh6 24.ixh6 V1b6+ 25.ch2 Oortwijn — Volkov,
fxe2 26.1xe2 f2 27.Ve3 xg2+ Lechenicher SchachServer 2012.
28.ch1 h7!?t, followed by the
exchange of the queens. It is an
endgame indeed, but White must B2b) 14.c1 g6
play very accurately in order to
neutralise the pressure of Black’s
pieces.

21...xg4!
Black cannot wait any more,
because White was threatening to
play c7, followed by e6, covering
the diagonal of the bishop on
c8. After this Black’s kingside attack
would reach its dead end.
22.xg4
We will deal now with B2b1)
15.b5 and B2b2) 15.cxd6.

B2b1) 15.b5
White is not in a hurry to exchange
on d6, because he plans to
provoke a weakening on his opponent’s
queenside with the move
a5. This manoeuvre seems a bit
slow, though...

342
 9.e1 Qd71O4d3f511.d2 4f6 12.f3f4 13.c5g514.c1 g6

15...f7161a5 19.fxg4

16.cxd6 cxd6 — see 15.cxd6. 19.Vfc2 b7 20.fxg4 xe4co

Thorsteinsson — Nefedov, ICCF
16...b617.cxd6 2014.

17.cxb6 cxb6 — see 17.cxd6. 19.b4. The transfer of

White’s knight to the c6-square is
not effective at all. 19...a6 20.c6
Vf8 21.V1a4 xe4!? Black sacrifices
a piece and begins decisive
actions. 22.fxe4 f3 231d1 d7
24.xd6. White must give back
the piece (24.c3? h6—+) 24...
V1xd6 25.V1b4 Vf6oo Denisov —
Verst, ICCF 2014.

19...xe4

17...cxd6

Black should not accept the

ishop-sacrifice 17...bxa5?! 18.
xc7± — White’s passed pawns are
ery dangerous.

181e1

18.b4. He would not obtain

iuch if he tries to create pressure
gainst Black’s d6-pawn. 18...f8 The exchange of a flank pawn
9.c6 ‘Ze8 20.a4 a6 21.a3 d7 for a central pawn is a certain
2.c1 a5 23.e1 f6 24.f2 h5 achievement for Black.
5.c4 g7oo Dorner — Arancibia
uzman, ICCF 2011. 2O.b4

18...g4 20.f3 g5oo Ragger — Joshua,

Black exploits the insufficient New Delhi 2011.
rotection of the enemy pawn
n e4 and accomplishes the 20...a6 211m g3! 22.
awn-break g5-g4 without prepation. xd6 V!xd6 23.c6 f8 24.
hxg3 fxg3 25.d6 e4

343
Chapter 26

Black exploits the circumstance with White’s three

that capturing on e4 is pawns. 45.d7 a5 46.b4 c7+
impossible and enlarges the scope 47.ch3 cf6 48.c?g4 ce7= —
of action of his fianchettoed bishop. White will lose his d7-pawn, Knoll
— Palsson, ICCF 2014.
261e2 xf1+ 271xf1 .xg4
28S!d5+ ch8 29..1e6 3OS!xe4 .f5 31.
V!d5 e4 32S!d2 e5

29.c7
White’s passed pawn seems Black’s pieces will gradually
very dangerous, but his king is too encircle and gobble White’s
vulnerable. passed pawn. 33.c4 .b7 34.d7
d8 35.c6 ,xc6 36.xc6 f5
29.xg3. He has managed to 37.c8 xc8 38Sd3 f8
capture the g3-pawn, but now 39.thc8V! V!xc8= - There is almost
Black’s e-pawn goes forward. 29... no material left on the
e3 30.xa6 xa6. This exchange- board, Draw, Ragger — Nakamura,
sacrifice is Black’s simplest road Gibraltar 2016.
to equality. 31.xa6 ‘fZf4 32.Ve4
e2+ 33.ch2 xg3 34.c?xg3 d7. B2b2) 15.cxd6 cxd6
White’s king is too bare and he
cannot avoid the perpetual check
without material losses. 35.xb6
V1f2+ 36.ch2 f6 37.c5 f5 38.
e6 xe6 39.Vxe6 V1h4+ 40.Vh3
e2. White will have to give up a
rook for this pawn. 41.Th8+ g7
42.V1xh4 ixh4 43.e8 e1V 44.
xe1 ixel. The tactical complications
are over. In the arising end-
game Black’s bishop copes successfully

344
 9tIe1 4d71O.tId3f5 11.d2 f6 12.f3f4 13.c5 g5 14.c1 g6

16.b5 b6 23.e1 d7 24.d2 b5. Black

This is White’s most logical restricts again the enemy knight.
move. White is threatening to 25.ch1 e7 26.c3 a5. Before advancing
penetrate to the c7-square. Black’s g5-g4, Black wishes to
knight is forced to retreat to e8, oust White’s rook from the third
so his pawn-break g5-g4 is impeded. rank. 27.Vb3 b4 28.c1 g4! This is
the beginning of the attack. 29.
fxg4 hxg4 30.xg4 xg4 311xg4
As a rule, slowing down with xg4 32.hxg4 Vd7 33.1h3 h7
the move b5, would not promise 34.cg1 f8i, followed by f4-f3, or
White anything. g7, fh8, g6, with an attack on
16.f2 f7 the h-file, Popov — Panitevsky,
ICCF 2014.

16...f’7 17S!c2

17.f2 h5 18.V1c2 Ze8 19.a4

f8 — see 17.V1c2.

17...e8 18.a4

18.f2 h5 19.a4 f8 — see 18.

17.b5 h5 — see 16.b5. a4.
17.a4 f8 18.b5 h5 19.h3 (19.
Vc2 e8 — see 16.b5) 19...g7 18...h5 19.f2 .f8
20.V1c2 (It is better for White to
opt here for 20.c3 a6 21.a3
h4oo Maksimovic — Solak, Nis
1995.) 20...g4!?t This is the point.
Black does not need to waste time
for the retreat of his knight. 21.
c7 gxf3i: His attack is very powerful
and White would lose immediately
if he captures the rook:
22.xa8? Gasik — M. Socko, Warsaw
2012, 22...fxe2! 23.fe1 h4
24.V1xc8 xg2+ 25.ch1 Vxc8 26.
xc8 xf2 27.c3 xe4—+ 20.h3
17.V1b3 h5 18.h3 a6!? Black White has fortified his position
prevents b5. 19.b1. This plan on the kingside, but Black
seems too slow for White. 19...f8 has his resources to improve his
20.c2 g7 21.Va3 h4 22.a5 position.

345
Chapter 26

20.V1b3 g7 21.h3 h4 — see This is the best square for

20.h3. White’s queen. From here it
can help in the defence of his
Following 20.xa7, there arises king against the enemy pawn-
a transfer into an endgame. break g5-g4 and also after a7-a6
20...c7 2L,a5 xc2 22.xd8 will support the transfer of his
xe2 23.xc8 xa4 24.xg5 (24. knight to the b6-square (a3-c4-
d3 g4 25.f2 e3 26.e1 b3. b6).
Black’s rooks are active and this
compensates the passivity of his Now, just like on the previous
minor pieces. 27.fc2 a2 28.b1 move, 21.Zxa7 transfers into an
cf7= Soltau — Mahler, Germany approximately equal endgame.
1977) 24...xb2 25.b1 ab4 26. 21...c7 22.a5 xc2 23.xd8
xb2 xb2. The position has xe2 24.xc8 xa4 25.d3 (25.
been simplified considerably. xg5 xb2 26.b1 c2 27.b6
White can hardly find any aa2 28.d7 ab2 29.xb2 xb2
squares to penetrate into the 30.a1 f7 3Ld8 e7 32.a5
enemy camp. 27.c1 f7 28.d1 b3 33.cf1 h4 34.d1 g5=)
b5 29.c3 b3 30.e2 Th5= Jurado 25...g4 26.f2 e3 27.e1 g3 28.
Perez — Maldonado Pacheco, fc2 b3= — Black’s prospects are
ICCF 2007. not worse thanks to his space advantage
on the kingside and his
2O...g7 active rooks, Averkin — Kasparov,
Black’s plan is quite simple. At Moscow 1979.
first he will play h4 and then he
will weaken his queenside with The move 21.a5 leads to a complicated
the move a7-a6, but will oust the double-edged position.
enemy knight from its active position, 21...d7 22.Vb3 h4 23.e1 a6
followed by Zf6 and g5-g4. 24.a3 f6 25.V1b6 V1e8!? Black
must avoid the trade of the
queens; otherwise, his kingside
attack would become senseless.
26.c7, Gatot — Petrillo, corr.
1990. Here, Black could have
played 26...e7!?oo, threatening
d8. White cannot counter this
with 27.xb7?, because of 27...
g4—+ with a decisive attack for
Black.

21...h4 22.c2 a6 23.a3

21S!b3 f6

346
 9.e1 d71O.d3f511.id2 f6 12.f3f4 13.c5g514.c1 g6

Here, he can try an interesting 25.hxg4 d7 26.a5 c8 27.

trap — 23...g4!? and now White c4 V1e8 28.1c3 xc4 29.xc4
must decide how to capture on
g4. 24.hxg4?! This move is imprecise.
(White should better choose
24.fxg4 Zf6 25.e1 hxg4 — see
23...f6.). 24...f6 251e1 d7 —
see 23...Zf6 24.e1 g4 25.hxg4
d7.

29...xf3+!! This knight-sacrifice

is very powerful and is not
obvious at all. 30.gxf3 VVg6 31.b6
hxg4. The g-file is opened and
White’s king is seriously endangered.
32.fxg4 xg4 33.xg4
xg4 34.f2 f3 35.d1 xe4.
Black has already two pawns for
the piece and his attack continues.
241e1! 36.g1 V1f5 37. d2 e4 38.1e3
This is the most accurate move g6 39.ce1 e7. His dark-squared
for White. He can exchange later bishop joins into the attack with a
the enemy knight on h4 with his great effect. 40.1f2 V1h5T Nitsche
bishop. — Papenin, ICCF 2010.

The routine move 24.fc1 25...hxg4

would lead to difficulties for
White. 24...g4 25.fxg4 hxg4 26.
hxg4 ixg4 271xg4 xg4 28.
xg4 xg4 29.e1 g5 30.xh4
V1xh4. Here, contrary to the main
variation, White has failed to play
1h3. 31.f2 h7—+ and he cannot
defend simultaneously against
the two threats Vxe4 and h4,
Radzikowska Holuj — Belavenets,
ICCF 1987.

24...g425.fxg4 26.xg4

347
Chapter 26

26.xg4 xg4 27.xg4 xg4 — Lechtynsky, Sumperk 1984,

28.hxg4 xg4, or 26.hxg4 xg4 32...h6 33.V1f5 Vxf5 34.exf5
27.xg4 (27.xc8? xf2!—+ Talla cg7= and it would be only him
— Szelag, Ustron 2008) 27...,xg4 who might have problems in this
28.xg4 xg4 — see 26.xg4. endgame, because his f5-pawn

26...xg4 27J,xg4 xg4 might be attacked by Black’s king

and rook.
28.hxg4 xg4 29.VTh3 g5
301xh4 xh4 31Se6+ 32..1e7 33Th3 g8 34.
xh4+ xh4 35.c3 Ve1+
Now, it turns out that Black’s 36.ch2
king is not safe either.

31...ch8

36...xg2+. This rook-sacrifice

leads to a draw by force.
37.cxg2 Ve2+. White’s king is
32.m incapable of avoiding the perpetual
It would be too optimistic for check, Draw, Gilbert — Kiselev,
White to opt for 32.c4, Ftacnik ICCF 2011.

348
Chapter 27 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ig7 4.e4 d6
5.f3 0—0 6.ie2 e5 7.0—0 c6 8.d5
e7 9.e1 d7 10.ie3
The Neoclassical Line

This is a double-edged move. 13.b5. White forces b7-b6,

The bishop is very active on the but loses too much time for manoeuvres
gl-a7 diagonal, because it will of his knight. 13...b6
support White’s pawn-offensive 14.b4 a6 15.c3 h5 16.ch1 (Following
on the queenside (c4-c5) and the 16.c5, Black can accept the
attack against the a7-pawn (‘fZb5). pawn-sacrifice: 16...bxc5 17.bxc5,
On the other hand it will be attacked D.Gurevich — Jones, Las Vegas
with tempi. At first White 1994, 17...xc5!? 18.xc5 dxc5co
will have to lose a tempo for the and later, the vulnerability of the
retreat of his bishop after f7-f5-f4 dark squares in White’s camp
and after that Black will manage may hurt him badly.) 16...fZf6 17.
to exploit the placement of the c5 g4 18.cxb6 cxb6oo Korchnoi —
bishop on f2 in order to open files Ye, Novi Sad 1990.
on the kingside (g5-g4-g3).
13.g4. This is a solid move. At
1O...f511.mf4121f2g5 first White wishes to prevent his
(diagram) opponent’s attack against his
We will analyse now: A) king. 13...h5. Now, the move g5-
13.b4, B) 13.a4, C) 13.c1, D) g4 is impossible, so Black plans to
13.d3. transfer his rook to h6. Later, his

349
Chapter 27

queen may come to help it and he b-pawn, but his king’s shelter has
will prepare penetration into the been compromised. There is just
enemy camp on the h-file. 14.h3 a few material left on the board,
f6 15.’Zd3 h6 though... Gilbert — Kazoks, ICCF
2014.) 24...1h7 25. c3, So — Van
Wely, Wijk aan Zee 2014, 25...
Thca7!? 26.xc8+ ‘Zf8 27.V1b6 xh3.
Black’s attack on the h-file forces
White to sacrifice the exchange
and be happy with a perpetual
check. 28.xf8+ cxf8 29.V1xd6+
cg8 30.V1b8+ f7 31. V1c7+ cg8=

16.c5 (The position will be approximately A) 13.b4

equal after 16.cg2
g6 17.h1 f8 18.b4 Zf6 19.c5
— White holds reliably his
defence on the h-file, but will
hardly manage to break on the
queenside, because Black has no
weaknesses in his position, Doettling
— Uhlmann, Schwerin 1999.)
16...’Zxc5 17.xc5 dxc5 18.xc5
Zg6 19.c1 ff8. Black wishes either
to trade his passive bishop,
or to transfer it to the d6-square,
from where it will protect the White occupies space on the
weak c7-pawn. 20.b5 d6 21. queenside and prepares c4-c5.
Vb3 hxg4 22.fxg4 V1e7. He prepares 13...f6
a transfer of his queen to In the variation with 10.e3,
h7. 23.xd6 cxd6 24.xa7 (The as a rule, Black is not in a hurry to
penetration to c7 is harmless for play this move, because his knight
Black. 24.c7 d7 25.xb7 V1h7 on d7 impedes White’s pawn-advance
26.ch2 f8 27.V1f3 f6 28.xa7 c4-c5. Still, after he has
xa7 29.xa7 xg4 30.V1xg4 V1xa7. played b2-b4, Black’s knight has
White has an extra pawn, but his nothing to do on d7 any more.
king has been considerably weakened. 14.c5 g6
31.1g2 1xa2. Black regains (diagram)
his pawn and obtains a very good 15.cxd6
position. 32.g4 f7 33.ch1 g7 White opens immediately the
34.f5 Vb3# — White has a passed c-file.

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 7.0-0 c68.d5e794e1 d710..±.e3f511f3f412..f2g5

attack. We will encounter this

pawn-sacrifice numerous more
times in this chapter. 23.hxg3
fxg3 24.xg3 h4 25.h2 h5 26.
d3 g3-* Pospelov — Degtiarev,
Internet 2011.
17.d3 h5 18.c6. This is an interesting
idea. White refrains
from opening of the c-file and
exploits the pawn on c5 as a
wedge against his opponent’s
15.a4 h5 16.c6 bxc6 17.dxc6 g4 queenside. 18...bxc6 19.dxc6 e6
18.d5 xd5oo Black has good
attacking prospects on the king-
side. For example, after the imprecise
move 19.exd5?! Branch —
Steinmeyer, corr. 1961, he can
develop immediately his queen to
an active position: 19...V41g5—* and
White will have no satisfactory
defence against g4-g3.
15.c1. He refrains from the
exchange on d6 for the moment. 20.Zb2. White prepares the
15...f7 16.a4 (16.cxd6 cxd6 — see trade of the light-squared bishops.
15.cxd6) 16...f8 20...g4 2Lc4 1e8 22.b5 g3
23.e1 ch8. Black removes his
king from the dangerous diagonal.
24.V1b3 xc4 25.Vxc4 g7
26.Zd3 h4 27.h3. It may look like
White has succeeded in closing
the position on the kingside and
has deprived his opponent of his
attacking possibilities. Still, after
the transfer of the knight to g5,
followed by the sacrifice on h3,
17.cxd6 cxd6 — see 15.cxd6. Black will break his opponent’s
17.a5?! h5 18.cxd6 xd6. Black defensive fortress. His attack
has managed to activate his bishop however, will be only sufficient to
on g7. 19.d3 g4 20.b5 d7 maintain the equality. 27...1f’7
21.xd6 cxd6 22.b2. White’s 28.1b4 e7 29.1b2 h7 30.a2
manoeuvres seem too slow. 22... g5 31.ab4 Ve6 32.c2 xh3+!
g3! This is the beginning of Black’s 33.gxh3 V1xh3 34.a6 f5! Black

351
Chapter 27

sacrifices another knight on the After the ambitious line: 20.

altar of the attack. 35.xf4 exf4 b5 g4 21.xa7 g3 22.b6 V1e8
36.exf5 Vxf5 37.c3 h3 38.e2 23.c7, Burgess — Badea, Prestwich
g2. After this move White will be 1990, 23...h4!?-*, Black’s
forced to part with his extra material attack is very powerful and White
and the position becomes must defend very precisely. For
equal. 39.xg2 hxg2 40.f2 e8 example, his attempt to gobble a
41.xg2 e5 42.xg7 xg7 43. second pawn 24.xb7?! would
ixe5 xe5 44.V1g2 d5 45.V1g4 lead to an immediate catastrophe:
V1b1+ 46.cg2 V1c2+, Draw, Primakov 24...V41h5 25.xd7 g6! 26.g1
— Tsygankov, ICCF 2013. xg2!! This knight-sacrifice decides
the issue 27.xg2 V1h3 28.
15...cxd6 16.c1 f’7 17.a4 c4 gxh2 29.Vfc2 hxg1V1+ 30.
.f8 18.a5 .d7 cxg1 xd7 31.c6 ch8 32.f2
f6 33.b5 h5 34.b6 g3 35.f1
h6 36.b7 ag8 37. b8V1 Ze2+
38.cf2 xb8 39.ce1 d4 40.
xd4 exd4 41.f2 c8! 42.a6
V1h1—+ White has managed to
parry the checkmating threats,
but this is just small consolation
for him. He is incapable of avoiding
huge material losses.
20.b5. White should better
trade his opponent’s powerful
bishop. 20...g4 21.xd7 V1xd7.
19.b5 Black’s attacking prospects are
not so promising without his
19.ch1 g7 light-squared bishop. 22.fxg4 xg4
23.f3 e7 24.g1 h4 25.Va4,
D.Gurevich — Gruenberg, New
York 1991. Here, Black had to enter
an approximately equal end-
game: 25...Vxa4!? 26.xa4 ‘Zxf3
27.gxf3 e3=

19...g4 2O.c7
White has succeeded in realising
his plan and has penetrated to
20.d3 h5 21.b2 g4 221b5 the c7-square with his knight, but
h7 23.g1 g5-* Kioster — Dunlop, after
ICCF 2014. 20...g3!

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 7.0-0 c68.d5tIe79.tIe1 tId710.e3f511f3f412.f2g5

It turns out that Black has 26S!d3 a7—+ 27.b5 axb5

seized completely the initiative. 28.,xb5 h1! After this simple,
but elegant tactical strike Black
remains with an extra piece. 0—1
Piket — Kasparov, Tilburg 1989.

B) 13.a4 a5

21.xa8?!
Capturing of the rook would
lead immediately to a bad position
for White.

It seems better for him to

choose 21.hxg3, although even This is the simplest for Black.
then after 21...fxg3 22.xg3 h5 He prevents immediately the
23.f2 gf4 24.e6 V1f6 25.d3 further advance of White’s a-
xe6 26.dxe6 g7 27.g4 e7 28. pawn.
Zxf4 ‘Zxf4 29.g3 h5t, Black’s 14.d3
chances would not be worse, Bobel
— Le Page, ICCF 2009. About 14.b5 b6 15.d3 f6,
or 15.b4 axb4 16.d3 f6 — see
21...h5! 14.d3.
Black does not lose a tempo
for capturing the knight and prepares 14...b6
the transfer of his queen to Now, White will have problems
h4. to advance c4-c5. At first he
22.ch1 will have to trade the enemy a5-
White parries his opponent’s pawn (b2—b4) and then the b6-
threat. pawn (a4—a5), but all this would
22...gxf’2 23.xf2 g3+! take too much time.
This knight is untouchable, 15.b4
because its capturing would lead
to a checkmating attack on the hfile. About 15.b5 f6 16.b4 (16.
e1 — see 15.e1) 16...axb4 — see
24.c?g1 V!xa8 251c4 a6 15.b4.

353
Chapter 27

15.e1. This move is played xg4 xg4= — The pawn-break

with the idea after d3-f2 to impede g5-g4 has led to numerous exchanges,
the pawn-advance g5-g4. Weiss — Sanchez de Tharguen
Gutierrez, ICCF 2014.

15...axb4

16.b4 axb4 17.b5 g4 — see

15.b4.
It would not be consistent for
White to choose here 16.b5 g4
17.fxg4 xe4. The trade of a flank xb4
pawn for a central pawn is advantageous
for Black. 18.1c2 g6 It seems imprecise for White
19.xe5 xe5 20.V1xe4 ,xb2 21. to opt for 16.b5 f6 17.e1 (17.
a2 g7 22.h3 d7 23.1c2 Ze5 xb4 g4 — see 16.xb4), because
24.Vc1 h6oo Baranowski — Balabanov, after 17...g4!
ICCF 2011.
16.f2 h5 17.h3 ch8 18.b5
(18.b4 f7 19.b5 eg8 — see 18.
b5) 18...Zeg8, Black prepares
the transfer of his knight to h6,
from where it will support the
pawn-advance g5-g4. 19.b4 f7
20.bxa5 (20.c5 f8 21.cxb6 cxb6
22.V1c2, Hell — Stephan, Saarlouis
2004, 22...g7!?oo) 20...bxa5 21.
c5 f8 22.cxd6 cxd6 23.c1 g7 Black can exploit the lack of
24.1c2 g4 25.hxg4 hxg4 26.fxg4 protection of the enemy e4-pawn
(26.Zc7?! b8 27.xg4 and save a tempo for the move h7-
followed by ‘fZg3 and V1h4, Da h5. 18.,xb4 (White cannot solve
Lirna Neto — Binas, ICCF 2009. his defensive problems with 18.
Black has a powerful attack.) 26... fxg4 xe4 19.xb4 Zg6 20.a5 bxa5
h6 27.c7 b8 28.e6 ,xe6 21.xa5 d7 Stork — Lauzeningks,
29.dxe6 fxg4 30.xg4 xg4 31. Germany 2003, the ex16.

354
 7.0-0

change of the g-pawn for the epawn 25.xa8 g2 26.xg2 g3—+ 0—1
has turned out to be clearly Dziuba — Czakon, Koszalin 2005)
in favour of Black and White’s attempt 22...h4 23.a3 gxf2+ 24.xf2
to win a pawn with 22.xa8 h5 25.cf1 V1xh3+ 26.ce1. White
Vxa8 23.xc7? loses immediately has succeeded in evacuating his
due to V1a7—+) 18...g3 19.h3 (White king from the danger zone, but
has no time to organise active actions Black has already a material advantage.
on the queenside: 19.a5 bxa5 26...g2+ 27.cd2 e3
20.Vfd2 h5 21.h3 xh3!—+ Kuehne 28.1b1 Vg3 29.V1e1 f7 30.d3
— Oren, ICCF 2011.) 19... f6 31.cc1 g7 32.fa2 V1xf3—+
xh3! Black sacrifices a piece and Persson — Boger, ICCF 2005.
destroys his opponent’s king shelter
after which White will hardly 16...f6
manage to parry his opponent’s
crushing attack. 20.gxh3 V1d7

21.V1d2 g6 22.d1, Krivoshey 17.d3

— Xie, Linares 1997, 22...h4!?—+
Following 21.f2 g6, Black 17.e1 h5 18.h3, Lauber —
does not need to be in a hurry to Gorovykh, Stockholm 2010, 18...
regain the sacrificed material: g4 19.fxg4 hxg4 20.hxg4 d7!?oo
22.1d3 h5 23.fb1 h7 24.cf1
g5i: Velilla Velasco — Rizzo, It seems too slow for White to
ICCF 2009. continue with 17.a3 d7 18.b5
If 21.c?g2, then after 21...Zg6 g4!? (It would not be so energetic
22.h1 h4+ 23.c?g1, Black may for Black to choose 18...ch8oc
sacrifice advantageously his second Jussupow — Kasparov, Yerevan
knight: 23...xe4! 24.fxe4 f3 1996.) 19.ch1 (19.fxg4 xe4 20.
25.d2 f2+ 26.xf2 xf2—+ Pogorelov h4 f6 2L,xf6 xf6 22.g5 e4
— Matamoros Franco, Dos 23.d3 f5 Abramov — Krebs,
Hermanas 2003. ICCF 2008) 19...g3! Black sacrifices
21.Vc2 Zg6 22.f2 (22.d1 a pawn and seizes the initiative.
h4 23.e1 V1xh3 24.xc7 h5 20.hxg3 h5 21.1e1 xg3+

355
 7.0-0 c68.d5e79.4e1 d710.e3f511.f3f412.if2g5

18.b5 Following 19.V1d2, it is only

White who might have problems.
After the pawn-sacrifice 18.a5, 19...Zg6 20.a5 xa5 21.xa5 bxa5
White cannot even equalise. 18... 22.Vxa5 g3! 23.hxg3 fxg3 24.
bxa5 19.c5 g4 20.ch1 Zg6 21.b1 xg3 h4 25.f2 (It is more reliable
g3! 22.hxg3 fxg3 23.xg3 h4 24. for him to opt for 25.h2,
f2 h5 25.1e1 a41: — Black not since White will at least not be
only has a powerful attack, but worse. 25...h6 26.1xc7 e3+ 27.
also a passed pawn on the a-file, ch1 V1xc7 28.xc7 h5 29.f4
which will deflect White’s pieces hxf4 30.ixf4 xf4 31.xf4 xf4
from the protection of his kingside, 32.xf4 exf4 33.e8 c5= Leimgruber
Thomsen — Kristjansson, — Holroyd, ICCF 2015)
ICCF 2011. 25...h5 26.V1d2 ch7. Black prepares
h6. 27.a1 h6 28.1e1
18...g4 V1g5 29.a7 ch8 30.ch1 Zg3+
31.c?g1 h3 32.f1 xf3t Donnenfeld
— Cavajda, ICCF 2009.

19...g6 20.a5 bxa5 21.

xa5 ..d7 22Sa4, Boyd — Lybin,
ICCF 2009. Here, Black had
to refrain from the exchange of
the rooks. 22...b8!?cx

19..e1
White is preparing a4-a5. His
alternatives are not satisfactory at
all.

19.h4 Vd7 20.fxg4 xe4oo

Noomen — Hotting, IECG 2004.

19.a5 xa5 20.xa5 bxa5 21. There might follow: 23.c5 g3

V1a4 c6 22.dxc6 xc6 23.d1 24.c6 .c8 25.a7. Here, Black
1e7= Boyd — Brodda, ICCF 2009. had at his disposal a concealed
tactical trick. 25...g4! It turns
19.Ve1 gxf3 20.xf3 g4 21.a5 out now that White’s defence is
xf2 22.xf2 c6= Onofre Lima — very difficult. 26.hxg3 fxg3 27.
Enin, ICCF 2013. ,xg3 e3 28S!a5 xb5! 29.

357
Chapter 27

V!xb5 V!g5 3O.f2 xg3 31S!a5 The move 14.b5 leads to a

g4! 32.fxg4 xf2 33.xf2 complicated double-edged fight.
h4. The g2-pawn is defenceless, 14...b6 15.b4 a6 16.Zc3 f7 17.
so White’s king is forced to go to Zd3 (It is also possible for White
the centre of the board and that to play immediately 17.c5 bxc5
place is not less dangerous... 18.bxc5 f8 19.d3 ‘fZf6 20.cxd6
34.cW1 Vxg2+ 35.ce1 h6. xd6 21.a4 h5 22.ac5 g4
Black’s bishop joins into the attack. 23.V1a4 g3! This is a standard
36.a8 Vg1+ 371f1 f+ pawn-sacrifice in similar positions
38.c?e2 d4+ 39.ce1 .d2+!!T with which Black obtains
Black deflects his opponent’s sufficient counterplay to maintain
pieces under a knight-fork. White the equality. 24.hxg3 fxg3 25.
suffers material losses and later xg3 h4 26.h2 h5 27.f2 g7
his only chance is building a fortress. Neto — Hefka, ICCF 2013) 17...f8
18.c5 h5

C) 13.c1 g6

19.ch1 g7 20.cxb6 cxb6 — see

19.cxb6.
19.cxb6 cxb6 20.b5 (20.c?h1
g7 21.b2 b8 22.c4 f6 23.
V1a4 g4 24.xb6 g3! 25.xc8 gxf2
14.c5 26.xa6 g4! 27.fxg4 hxg4 28.
This is an interesting idea. d1 g3—* — White has a great material
White is reluctant to lose time for advantage, but his knight is
the preparatory moves (d3, or isolated on the c8-square, while
b4) and advances immediately Black’s attack seems very dangerous,
c4-c5, sacrificing a pawn for the Stephan — Fier, ICCF 2013.
initiative. Meanwhile, after a correct play
from both sides the outcome of
About 14.b4 f6 15.c5 f7 — this game should be a draw.) 20...
see variation A. axbs. This is the simplest for
Black (It seems less reliable for
14.d3 Zf6 — see variation B. him to opt for 20...a5 21.a4 c5,

358
 7.0-0 c68.d5e794e1 d710.e3f511f3f412.f2g5

Gin — Nakamura, Reggio Emilia

2011, 22.db2t) 21.Zb4 V1f6 22.
a4 bxa4 23.xa4 g4! This pawn-
break leads to simplifications
and complete equality. 24.fxg4
hxg4 25.xg4 ‘fZc5 26.xc8 xc8
27.V1g4 a8 28.xc5 bxc5 29.
c6 g7= Stephan — Zhak, ICCF
2014.

14...xc5 15.b4 a6
White prepares the transfer of
his knight to f2 and there it will
impede the enemy pawn-break
g5-g4.

Following 18.c3 h5 19.e1

f6 20.a3 d7 21.f2, Black has
the possibility to get rid of his
“bad” knight in a tactical way. 21...
xb4 22.xb4 a6 23.xd6 (23.
Zc3 a5) 23...cxd6 24.jxd6 e8
25.b4 a5 26..d2 b5 27.c3 b4
White has a choice now. He 28.c1 cg7= Stull — Bokar, ICCF
can play immediately C2) 16. 2012.
b5, or can play at first Cl)
16.d3. 18...h5
He is trying to organise active
counterplay.
Cl) 16.d3 f7
Black protects the weak c7- 18...f6. This is a passive plan,
square. connected with the transfer of the
17.b5 bishop to d8, for the sake of protection
of the pawn on c7, but it
17.a4, Wang — Lin, Suzhou cannot solve Black’s defensive
2001, 17...h5!?oo problems. 19.f2 h5 20.h3 b7
21.c2 d7 22.d3 d8 23.d2
17...b6 ‘b8 24.fc1 — White maintains
Black is reluctant to give back long lasting pressure, Topalov —
the pawn. Radjabov, Nanjing 2009.
(diagram) (diagram)
181e1 19.f2

359
Chapter 27

20.ch1 h7 21.g1 (21.1a4

Zf6 22.xd6 cxd6 23.xa6 c7
24.c6!? d7 25.b5 xc6 26.bxc6
b8= — White has sufficient compensation
for the sacrificed exchange,
but Black’s position is
very difficult to break, Habermehl
— Serazeev, ICCF 2013.) 21...ch8
22.V41c2 Ve8 23.V41c6 V1xc6 24.
xc6 f6 25.c3 g4= — The activity
of White’s pieces compensates
19.d2 h6 (Once again the the sacrificed pawn by him, but
transfer of the bishop to d8 leads not more than that, Joppich —
to a passive position for Black and Serazeev, ICCF 2012.
prevents him from equalising
completely. 19....f6 20.f2 Ve8 20.d2 h7 21.V1a4 f8 22.h3
21.V1a4 d8 22.Va3± So — Ding, g7 23.c3 f6 24.fc1 Ve8 25.
Bilbao 2015) 20.f2 g7 21.h3 V1d1 d7. Black would not mind to
f8! He is preparing the transfer give back his extra pawn, but
of his knight to the f6-square. wishes to trade his knight on a6.
22.Va4 h7# Munoz Moreno — 26.V41f1 e7 27.xc7 xc7 28.xc7
Winkler, ICCF 2007. Vf8 29.xa8 Vxa8 30.b5 Ve8
3Lxd7 Vxd7 32.V1c4 g4± 33.
19.Jf8 hxg4 hxg4 34.cf1 gxf3 35.gxf3
g3 36.ce2 g2= — Black’s active
rook compensates his “bad” bishop,
Schroeder — Blanco Gramajo,
ICCF 2015.

2O..S1e8 21.a4 (21.1d3

.f6=) 21..1b7 22.h3 .f6 23.
a1 d7. Black’s position is super
solid and White has no
squares to penetrate into the
enemy camp. 24.a5 b8 25.
axb6 axb6 26.xa8 xa8 27.
2OSc2 c4 g6 28.c3 h8 29.a1
White’s alternatives would not .b7 3O.a7 c8= Betker — Pantazi,
create any problems for Black. ICCF 2016.

360
 7.0-0 c68.d5tIe794e1 d710.e3f511.f3f412.f2g5

C2)16.b5d7

18.xa6
White weakens his opponent’s
17.xa7 pawn-structure on the queenside,
but without his light-squared
White should better regain his bishop he cannot prevent the
pawn immediately; otherwise, he pawn-break g5-g4.
would not reap any dividends.
There arises a calmer position
17.a3 V1b8 18.V1b3 h5oo Ruemmele after 18.1c2 Vb8 19.,xa6 xa7
— Morozov, ICCF 2007. 20.e2 b6 21.a1 Va8 22.V1c3 f6
23.a4 xa4 24.xa4 V1xa4 25.
17.Va4 h5 18.h3 f6 19.Va5, 1xc7. The exchange of the a-pawn
Chernuschevich — Oral, Bratislava for the enemy c-pawn would not
1993, 19...V1e8!? — Black’s promise much to White. Sooner
prospects seem already preferable, or later the weak pawns on the bfile
since White cannot play 20. will be traded and the position
xc7? xc7—+ and now, no matter will become completely equal.
how he captures on c7, his material 25...1xb4 26.d3 V1d2 27.e1
losses would be unavoidable. b5 28.1c1 Va5 29.Vb2 ixd3
30.xd3 a7 31.Vfxb6 V1xb6 32.
xb6 a3 33.e2 h5 34.cf1 h8!
Following 17.a4, Black can activate This is the last fine point. Black’s
his knight on a6 and obtain knight is transferred to the f7-
a quite acceptable position. 17... square in order to protect his d6-
xb4!? 18.xc7 c8 19.b5 xb5 pawn. 35.b1 f7= Telepnev —
20.axb5, Haumann — Koch, Email Nefedov, ICCF 2012.
2007, 20...a2!? 21.xc8 V1xc8
22.V1a1 ‘fZc1 23.d1 1c4= 18.a4 xb4 19.a5 b8 20.d2
a6 21.1b5 h5oo Tinture — Schoen,
17...f’7 ICCF 2008.

361
Chapter 27

18...bxa6 are weak and this approximately

balances the chances, D.Gurevich
— Becerra Rivero, Las Vegas 2007.
It is worse for White to opt
here for 21.c6 V1d7 22.a4 g4 23.
b5 axb5 24.axb5 f6 25.ch1 g7
Sigurdsson — Sanchez de Thargueen
Guti, ICCF 2012, as well as
21.ch1 g4 22.fxg4 xa7! 23.xa7
b5 24.d3 hxg4 Muneret —
Gerasimchuk, ICCF 2009 and in
both cases Black has very good attacking
possibilities.
!d3
19...h5
19.V1e2 h5 20.V1xa6 g4 — see
19.Vd3. Black sacrifices a pawn and
begins a direct attack against the
19.ch1 h5oo Soltau — Blanco enemy king.
Gramajo, ICCF 2012.
2OS!xa6
19.Vc2 e8 20.1e2 (20.c6
1d7=)20...h5 20.c6 1f6 21.1a3 g4 Pauwels
— Boukal, ICCF 2008.

20...g4

21.V41xa6. Now, there arises a

position similar to the main line,
except that Black’s bishop is not
on d7, but on e8. This circumstance
does not provide White
with any advantage. 21...g4 22. 21.ch1
c6 xc6 23.V41xc6 xa2 24.c2
(24.Vc4 a8=) 24...a3 25.b5 The character of the position
f8= — Both pawns on b5 and c7 remains more or less the same af19S

362
 9.4e1 4d71O.e3f5 11.f3f4 12.f2 g5 13.d3 g6 14.c5 f6

ter 21.c2 f6 22.V1b7 (22.b5 14...f6

h4oo) 22...h4 23.,xh4 xh4
24.c6 V1f8 25.ch1 g7oo — Black
has excellent attacking prospects,
which compensate with an interest
the sacrificed pawn.

21...g3 221g1 f6 23S!b7

gxh2 241f2 e8 25.d3 h4!
Another black pawn joins into the
attack. 26.c6 xc6 27.dxc6
h3 28.gxh3 a3 29.e1 (29.
cd1? ‘e8) 29...xa2 30.b5
ih4 31. ixh4 xh4 32.b6 c’h7 Now, White can choose between
33.bxc7 xc7 34Sb3 Vg8 35. the simple and logical move
Vxg8+ cxg8c’o — Black’s chances D2) 15.c1 and the somewhat artificial
are not worse in this endgame, attempt Dl) 15.a4.
Lakatos — Sudnitsyn, ICCF 2012.
15.cxd6 cxd6 16.a4 (16.c1 f’7
— see variation D2) 16...h5 — see
D) 13.d3 variation Dl.

Following 15.ch1 f7 16.a4

(16.c1 f8 — see variation D2b)
16...h5 17.a5 g4 18.a6, the standard
pawn-sacrifice 18...g3! promises
Black a very good game. 19.
axb7 ,xb7 20.e1 c8 21.a4
h6oo Meiners — Novak, ICCF
2015.

Dl) 15.a4
White prepares immediately This move seems a bit dubious.
the pawn-break c4-c5. Black is preparing a direct attack
13...g614.c5 against the enemy king and
the tempi White has lost on moves
About 14.c1 ‘fZf6 15.c5 f7 — with his rook-pawn might cost
see variation D2. him dearly later.
15...h5
14.a4 Zf6 15.c5 h5, or 15.a5 h5 (diagram)
16.c5 g4 — see variation Dl. 16.a5

363
Chapter 27

16.c1 f7 — see variation D2a. After 17.c6, Korchnoi — Xie,

Amsterdam 2001, 17...bxc6!? 18.
16.cxd6 cxd6 17.a5 g4 — see dxc6 h6 19.b4, White fails to
16.a5. deploy his bishop to the a2-g8 diagonal.
19...e6 20.b3. He is preparing
16.h3. This attempt to impede c4, but Black’s attack has
the pawn-break g5-g4 is not good already begun. 20...g3 21.hxg3
for White at all. 16...f7 17.c6 a5 fxg3 22.xg3 h4 23.e1 h5-*
18.cxb7 xb7 19.b4 c8 20.bxa5 White ends up in a worse position
h6 21.b4 g4 22.c6 V1f8-÷ after 17.cxd6 cxd6 18.b5
Black’s attack is very powerful. (18.V1e1 V1d7!?oo)
White’s try to win a pawn with
23.fxg4? hxg4 24.hxg4, led him to
a hopeless position. 24...g5—+
Black’s attack is developing effortlessly.
25.f3 h6 26.e1 Zh4
27.xh4 ixh4 28.g5. This pawn-
sacrifice postpones White’s catastrophe
only for a few moves. 28...
V1xg5 29.e2 g4 30.b1 g3 31.
d3 h4 0—1 Korchnoi — Kasparov,
Amsterdam 1991. 18...g3 19.hxg3 (19.xa7?
xd5!—+ Sanka — Negi, Teheran
16...g4 2002) 19...fxg3 20.xg3 a6 21.
c3 h4 22.h2 h5 23.1d2 g3
17.a6 24.fe1 h7 25.d1 h6T — Black
has more than sufficient compensation
17.a3 g3 18.hxg3 fxg3 19. for the sacrificed pawn,
ixg3 h4 20.h2 h5oo Muck — Franco Ocampos — Paunovic,
Moll, ICCF 2005. Zaragoza 1991.

364
 9.4e1 d71O.e3f5 11.f3f4 12.f2 g5 13.d3 g6 14.c5 f6

It also seems good for Black to White should possibly forget

bring his h-pawn into the attack: about any ambitious plans and
18...h4!? 19.xa7 d7 20.1b3 turn to defence by playing 19.
h3-* Cunha — Dzenis, ICCF 2013. e1!?, impeding the opening of
files on the kingside. 19...e8
17...bxa6 18.b4 20.hxg3. Now, he can play like
White wishes to deploy his this, because Black’s knight has
knight to the c6-square. retreated to the e8-square. It will
not come back easily to h5 (after
The move 18.V1e1, preventing the preliminary move h5-h4).
g4-g3, looks too slow. 18...h6 20...fxg3 21.xg3 V1g5 22.h2
19.b4 f7 20.c6 Vf8 21.d1 b8 23.c6 xb2
g7—* White will be incapable of
preventing the pawn-break g4-
g3 anyway. 22.V41c3 g3! 23.e1
h4 24.hxg3 fxg3 25.e3 h7
26.cxd6 cxd6 27.id2 f4—+ He is
completely helpless against the
transfer of Black’s queen to the
h4-square. 28.fd1 Vf6 29.c4
xg2! This sacrifice of two pieces
is Black’s fastest road to victory.
30.c?xg2 h3+! 31.c?g1 (31.cxh3 24.V1c1! Now, there arises an
g2—+) 31...1h4 32.e7+ xe7 endgarne in which White cannot
33.xf4 g4 34.e3 g5 35.d2 rely on obtaining an advantage,
V1h2+ 36.cf1 g2+ 0—1 Genga — but at least he will not come
Dijon, ICCF 2016. under a crushing attack (This
would be very likely to happen
18...g3! to him in the variation 24.ch1
h4 25.xa7 — It is still not too
late to trade the queens with 25.
1c1!? 1xc1 26.fxc1 ih6= — 25...
Ef4 26.f2 f6 27.c1 b3 28.
c4 6h5!! Black sacrifices a rook
and begins a crushing attack,
Bensiek — Terreaux, ICCF 2012.)
24...1xc1 25.fxc1 ih6 26.cb1
c2= Vassiliev — Manzo, ICCF
2013.

19...fxg3 20.ixg3 h4 21.

19.hxg3 c6

365
Chapter 27

2L,h2 h6t

21...d7

23..S!g7!
He breaks quickly his opponent’s
defensive fortifications
with an energetic play.
22.f2 24.e7+ xe7 25.dxe7
.h3!! 0—1 Slivko — Yartsev, ICCF
White will not save the game 2012. White’s position is hopeless
even after the other retreat of his and later, there may arise the following
bishop. 22.h2 h6 23.cxd6 e3+ variation: 26.exf8V!+
24.ch1 h5! Black does not lose xf8 27.g4 hxg3 281c5 .f4
time for capturing the pawn. His 29.e1 g2 301f2 (30.xf8 ‘g3
main task is to checkmate his opponent 3Lxa6 V1h2+ 32.cf2 g1V1#)
on the h-file as quickly as 30..STh6—+
possible. 25.Ze7+ xe7 26.dxe7
g3+! 27.xg3 hxg3 28.exf8V1+
c±xf8. White has an extra rook, D2) 15.c1 f’7
but his position is absolutely
hopeless. 29.f4 exf4—+ Boychuk
— Mercky, ICCF 2006.

22..1h623.cxd6

23.sh2 g7!?-*

Black’s attack is very powerful

after 23.xa6 xa6 24.xa6 1g7-*
25.ch2 Zh5 26.cxd6 cxd6 27.Vc2
f4+ 28.cg1 ‘fZg3 29.a3 Zxf1
30.c?xf1 Vh6—+ Persson — Dothan, We will analyse now: D2a)
ICCF 2008. 16.a4 and D2b) 16.ch1.

366
 9.e1 4d71O.e3f5 11.f3f4 12.f2 g5 13.d3 Qg6 14.c5 Qf6

16.b4. This loss of time is not — Lukic, Novi Sad 1955) 22...
forced. 16...h5 17.cxd6 (17.1c2 g4 e7 23.b1 d7 24.V1e1, Taimanov
18.cxd6 cxd6 19.b5 e8 20. — Najdorf, Zuerich 1953,
xa7 d7 21.Zc6 V1g5! 22.a5 24...h4—+
g3—+ Sorensen — Larsen, ICCF
2011) 17...cxd6 18.Zb2 g4 19.c4 16.cxd6 cxd6
f8 20.b5, Svoboda — Zdenek,
Czech Republic 1995, 20...g3!?—*

The move 16.V1b3 enables

Black to play g5-g4. 16...g4!? 17.
fxg4 (17.fd1? g3! 18.hxg3 fxg3
19.xg3 h5T Guzy — Winkler,
ICCF 2007; 17.c2 g3 18.hxg3,
Lieb — Aagaard, Germany 2000,
18...h5! 19.gxf4 exf4t) 17...xg4
18.xg4 xg4 19.V1xb7 f3 20.g3, h1 f8 — see variation
Spiess — Ohme, Leipzig 2009, D2b.
20...h3-* 17.a4 h5 — see variation D2a.
171e1. White is preparing the
After 16.b5. White weakens transfer of his knight to f2 in order
his control over the e4-square. to increase his control over
16...g4 17.fxg4 (17.cxd6 cxd6 — see the g4-square. 17...h5 18.Zf2 if8
15.cxd6) 17...xe4oo Del Rio de 19.h3 g7 20.b5 a6 21.a3 b5.
Angelis — Stets, Fagernes 2012. Black prevents Zc4, followed by
a5 and ‘Zb6. 22.c2, Nigalidze
16.c2. White is preparing the — Balogun, Tromso 2014, 22...
doubling of his rooks on the c-file,
but in the meantime Black develops 17.b5. The plan with the
powerful initiative on the penetration to the b6-square does
kingside. 16...f8 17.cxd6 cxd6 not promise much to White,
18.V41d2. This is the only way for because Black’s attack on the
White to play fc1, but now Black kingside would be much more
can advance g5-g4, without losing dangerous than White’s achievements
a tempo for h7-h5. 18...g4 19.fc1 on the queenside. 17...g4
g3 20.hxg3 fxg3 2Lxg3 h5 22. 18.Vc2 (18.c?h1 a6 Gorusa —
h2 (It seems more resilient for Nayhebaver, Slovakia 2012) 18...
White to try another retreat of his g3 19.hxg3 h5 20.gxf4 hxf4
bishop 22.f2 gf4 23.b5 a6 21.fe1 h6-÷ Jurado Parez — Kozlov,
24.c7 V1g5—* — Black has seized ICCF 2015. Black’s attack is
completely the initiative, but very powerful. White should possibly
White still holds the defence, Gligoric try to diminish his oppo17.c

367
Chapter 27

nent’s attacking potential by giving If White refrains from capturing

back his extra pawn: 22.c7 the a7-pawn: 19.1c2 e8 20.
b8 23.e6 xe6 24.dxe6 xe6, ch1, then Black at first ousts the
but even then Black’s advantage is enemy knight from b5 with 20...
doubtless. d7 21.V1d1 a6 22.a3 and then
begins an attack. 22...g3! 23.hxg3
h6 24.gxf4 xf4 25.c3 h4 26.
D2a) 16.a4 h5 ‘e1 h7 27.c4 f6. He prepares
the transfer of his knight to h5.
White’s king is already seriously
endangered. 28.xf4 xf4 29.
cg1 h5 30.xh4 g5 3Lxg5
V1xg5T White has two extra
pawns, but he can defend against
the penetration of the enemy
knight to g3 only by sacrificing
the exchange. 32.f4 xf4 33.xf4
exf4—+ Scherer — Nefedov, ICCF
2013.
19.xa7 g3
17.a5

About 17.cxd6 cxd6 18.b5 g4

— see 17.b5.

Following 17.b5 g4 18.cxd6

(18.a5 — see 17.a5) 18...cxd6,
Black is perfectly prepared for g4-
g3, while White cannot make a
good use the defencelessness of
the enemy a7-pawn. 2O.ch1 f8 21.a5 e8 22.b6
Vh4 23.g1 d7. Black has more
than sufficient compensation for
the pawn. 24.a3 Vg5 25.e1
gxh2 26.xh2 xa5. He regains
the material and preserves all the
pluses of his position. 27.V1b3 (27.
d3 h4) 27...b5t Van Seben —
Percze, LSS 2013.
20.V1e1 h6. Black prepares
the transfer of his rook to the gfile.
19.a5 g3 — see 17.a5. 21.hxg3 g7! 22.b4 e8 23.

368
 9tIe1 4d71O.e3f5 11.f3f4 12.f2 g5 13.d3 g6 14.c5 tf6

g4 hxg4 24.fxg4 h4 25.f2 (25. 18.c6, Kigel — Cheparinov,

xc8 xc8) Golden Sands 2012, 18...bxc6!?
19.dxc6 e6 — The exchange of
the b-pawn for the d-pawn is obviously
in favour of Black.

18.b5. This move is too slow.

18...a6 19.a3 g3 20.hxg3 fxg3
21.,xg3 h4 22.h2 h6 23.c4
(23.c3 e3 Alarcon Casellas —
Oliva Castaneda, Sitges 2014)
23...g7 24.f2 Zh5 25.f1 gf4-*
25...Zxg2! He sacrifices a Haugen — De Bar ICCF 2013.
knight and deprives his opponent’s
king of any pawn-shelter. 18...cxd619.b5g3
26.xc8 xc8 27.c?xg2 c2 28.
Ze1 xe2 29.cf3 c2! Black forces Black sacrifices a pawn and
the enemy knight under a double deflects White’s bishop from the
attack. 30.xc2 V1c8 31. g1 attack against the a7-pawn.
Vxc2 32.1c3 V1xa4 — The material
on the board is equal, but 20.hxg3 fxg3 211xg3 h4
Black’s great positional advantage
is doubtless, because White’s king
is vulnerable and his g4 and e4-
pawns are very weak, Aksenov —
Nefedov, ICCF 2011.

17...g4

221e1
After this retreat of the bishop
White may even fail to equalise.

It seems more reliable for

him to choose 22.f2!? h6 23.
c3 g7 24.1c2 h3! 25.f4 xe4
18.cxd6 26. gxh3 Zxf4+ 27.ch2. Black’s

369
Chapter 27

attack looks very dangerous, f1+ 34.cm xd3 35.xd6

but White has an extra piece h3t Black has the two-bishop advantage
and can hold confidently this position. and a passed h-pawn and
27...a6! 28.xf4 (28.a3? has the initiative. White must defend
xc3—+) 28...hf4+ 29.ch1 ‘Zxf2+ very precisely.
30.xf2 axb5= — The position has
been simplified considerably,
Moreno Carretero — Lanz Calavia, D2b) 16.ch1
ICCF 2014. White removes immediately
his king away from the dangerous
22...h5 gl-a7 diagonal and can use the
freed gi-square later either for his
It seems also very good for rook, or for the retreat of his bishop.
Black to choose here 22...a6!?
23.a3 h5t 16...f8

23.f4 hxf4 241h5

17.a4

This position was reached in Or 17.e1 h5 18.c2 g4 19.c6

the game Volokitin — Cheparinov, b6 20.a3 g3 21.hxg3 fxg3 22.xg3
Dubai 2014. Here, Black has an h4 23.h2 h5T Keuter — Ivanov,
interesting piece-sacrifice. 24... ICCF 2012.
h3+!? 25.gxh3 xf1+ 26.
cxf1 xh3+ 27.ce2 V!g5 28. White would lose valuable
f’3 f8 291d2 Vg3. White’s time with 17.a3 h5 18.cxd6 cxd6
pieces are not well coordinated, 19.’Zb5 g4 20.1b3 g3 2Lxa7 b6
therefore he should better give 22.xd6 xd6 23.xb6 e7 and
back the piece with the idea to in this complicated middle game,
simplify the position and to enter Black’s piece seems stronger than
an endgame. 3O.h1 xf3 31. White’s three pawns, Wojnar —
g1 f1! 32.xg3 xh1 33.xg6 Rubio Doblas, ICCF 2012.

370
 9.tIe1 d71O.e3f511f3f4 12.f2 g513.d3 4g6 14.c5 4f6

17.cxd6 cxd6

xc1 26.1xc1 h4 27.h2 xh2

28.cxh2 f6 Furashev — Nefedov,
18.a4 g7 19.b3 h5 20.Zb1. ICCF 2012.
The plan with the transfer of the 18.b5?! g4 19.cxd6 cxd6 20.
knight to the c4-square looks Vc2 d7 21.V41b3 g3 22.hxg3 fxg3
rather slow. 20...g4 21.d2 g3 23.xg3 h4 24.f2 h5P Romm
22.hxg3 fxg3 23.,xg3 h4 24.h2 — Burr ICCF 2006.
h5i: Trembecki — Telepnev, 18.a4?! g4 19.c2 h7 20.cxd6
ICCF 2011. cxd6 21.b5 g3 22.hxg3 fxg3
The move 18.g1 leads to a 23.,xg3 a6 24.c3 h4 25.iel
complicated fight. 18...h5 19.g3 ‘Zh5 Oates — Dauga, ICCF 2013.
fxg3 20.xg3 h6 2Le3 h4 22. 18.c2?! g4 19.b4 h7 20.e1
xg5. This exchange sacrifice h6 21.a4 g3 22.hxg3 fxg3 23.
seems very promising, but things xg3 h4 24.h2 h5 251f1 g3+
are far from simple. 22...xg5 26.cg1 g7 Zhak — Cavajda,
23.xg5 V1f8 24.V1g1 h7 25.e3 ICCF 2013.
d7 26.V1g5 g7 27.V1h6+ cg8 28. 18.g3 fxg3 (It seems less reliable
g1 f7oo — Black has succeeded for Black to opt here for 18...
in evacuating his king away from g4, because after 19.gxf4 exf4,
the danger zone and has coordinated White obtains an excellent square
his pieces, Rogos — Panitevsky, for his knight at the middle of the
ICCF 2014. board. 20.cxd6 cxd6 21.4b5 h4
22.d4 Lysyj — Wan, China
Lately, the seemingly paradoxical 2015) 19.xg3.
move 17.g1!? is beginning to
gain popularity. White does not
wait for his opponent’s kingside
attack and wishes to push g2-g3
himself, opening the g-file. 17...h5
(diagram)
18.V1a4?! g4 19.cxd6 cxd6 20.
d1 g3 21.hxg3 g4! 22.e1 h6
23.V41c2 fxg3 24.xg3 e3 25.e1

371
Chapter 27

19...h6 20.ke3 h4 21.g1

(White would not achieve much
with the exchange-sacrifice 21.
xg5 xg5 22.xg5 V1f8 23.V41d2
h7 24.g1 h5 25.b5 h3 26.
f4 hxf4 27.xf4 exf4 28.h5
e5 29.1f2 f3 30.xf7 g2+ 31.
xg2 fxg2+ 32.c?xg2 h3+ 33.cxh3
1xf7 34.Vxf7+ xf7= — In this
endgame Black’s rook can easily
hold the defence against White’s
bishop and two pawns.) 21...Zh5 h4!? Black refrains from the typical
22.b5 a6 23.Za3 gf4 24.cxd6 pawn-break in similar positions
cxd6 25.Zc4 h3 26.e1 3f4 g4-g3 and prefers to advance
27.b6 b8oo — Both sides have his h-pawn. 22.b6 Vb8
powerful knights on b6 and f4 23.b5 h3 24.gxh3 g3 25.hxg3
and this balances the prospects, (25.c7? ixh3 26.g1 h7 27.
Serner — Rydhoim, ICCF 2016. xa8 Vxa8 28.d1 V1e8i — White
It also seems good for Black to has an exchange and a pawn
try here 19...g7!? 20.V41d2 (He more, but his defence would be
obtains good compensation for very difficult, because Black’s attack
the pawn after 20.xg5 g4 21. seems very powerful, Bucur
h4 xh4 22.xg7+ xg7 23.fxg4 — Tsygankov, ICCF 2015) 25...
h6) 20...h7 21.b4 d7 22.a4 h5 26.g1 xg3+ 27.xg3 fxg3
a6 23.1a2 ch8 24.gg1 e7oo Kozlov 28.g1 e7 29.xg3 h7 30.c7
— Telepnev, ICCF 2015. xa4 31.Vd1 V1f8 32.e6 V1h6t
Black’s chances are not worse in Haugen — Petrovic, ICCF 2013.
this complicated position. He has
less space indeed, but White’s 18...g4
kingside pawn-structure has been
weakened.

17...h5
(diagram)
18.a5

After 18.cxd6 cxd6 19.b5 g4

20.xa7, White wins a pawn, but
this takes too much time. 20...d7
21.1b3 (21.b5 g3 22.g1 gxh2
23.f2 h4 24.c7 h5oo Shmeliov
— Preotu, Manchester 2016) 21... 19.cxd6

372
 9.e1 d71O.e3f5 11.f3f4 12.f2 g5 13.d3 g6 14.c5 f6

The pawn-sacrifice 19.a6 would It also seems good for Black to

not provide White even with continue in the standard way 20...
equality. 19...bxa6 20.b4 (20. g3 21.xa7 h7 22.b6 V1h4 23.
cxd6 cxd6 21.V1a4 g3 Haugen — g1 g5oo and he has good attacking
Jorgensen, ICCF 2011) 20...g3 prospects for the sacrificed
21.c6. He cannot obtain anything pawn, Shirov — Radjabov, Baku
meaningful out of the 2009.
“beautiful”, but ineffective placement
of his knight on c6. 21...V41d7 21.xa7 d7 22.a6 bxa6
22.hxg3 (22.e1 gxh2 23.cxh2 23.c6 V!e8 241e1
h41: Kazantsev — Sekretaryov, 24.g1 Zh5 25.fxg4 g3+ 26.
ICCF 2010) 22...fxg3 23.xg3 h4 xg3 hxg3oo Zautzig — Emelyanov,
24.h2 h5 25.f4 g3+ 26.xg3 ICCF 2014.
hxg3. Black has very good prospects 24...g3 25.h3 h7 26.g1
to organise a checkmating g5 271f1 g7oo Shirov — Vocaturo,
attack on the h-file. 27.f5 h7+ Reykjavik 2015.
28.c?g1 f4 29.g4 ‘1g7 30.Vff3
h4 Baranowski — Serazeev,
ICCF 2011.

19...cxd62O.b5

White has succeeded in fortifying

reliably his kingside. Still,
Black’s idea to sacrifice a piece on
h3 will be constantly hanging in
the air, so this provides him with
20...h4!? excellent counterplay.

373
Index of Variations

Chapter 1 l.d4 f6 2.c4 g6

various 7
3.g3 g7 4.ig2 0-0 5.e4 9
A) 5.c3 d6 various 10
Al) 6.e4c5 10
A2) 6.e3e5 13
B) 5.f3d6 17

Chapter 2 l.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 ..g7 4...g2 0-0 5.c3 d6

c6
various 22
7.0-0 a6 various 24
A) 8..,g5 h6 25
B) 8..,f4 b8 27
C) 8.e3 b8 29
D) 8.e1 b8 31
E) 8.e4 .,g4 35
F) 8.1d3 e5 37

Chapter 3 l.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 ..g7 41g2 0-0 5.c3 d6

c6 7.0-0 a6 8.b3 b8
various 41
9.b2 b5 10.cb ab various 44
A) 11.d5 Za5 45
B) 11.c1 b4 47

Chapter 4 l.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 ..g7 4...g2 0-0 5.c3 d6

c6 7.0-0 a6 8.h3 b8

various 50
A) 9.e3 b5 51
B) 9.e4 b5 54

Chapter 5 l.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 ..g7 41g2 0-0 5.c3 d6

c6 7.0-0 a6 8.d5 a5
various 59
A) 9.b3 b8 60

374
 Index of Variations

B) 9.d2 c5 various 63
B1) 10.b1 Th8 64
B2) 10.V41c2 Th8 various 66
B2a) 11.b3 b5 12.b1 e5 67
B2b) 12..b2 e5 69

Chapter 6 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6

A) 3.Zf3 .,g7 various; 4.e3 0-0 73
B) 3.c3 .,g7 various 78
B1) 4.f3 0-0 5.e3 d6 79
B2) 5..f4 d6 85

Chapter 7 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ..g7

A) 4..g5 d6 89

B) 4.f3 0-0 5..,g5 d6 various 92

B1) 6.e3 c5 7.d5 h6 93
B2) 7.e2 h6 96

Chapter 8 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ..g7 4.e4 d6

various 99
A) 5..,g5 h6 99
B) 5.Zge2 0-0 102
C) 5...d3 0-0 various 104
6.ge2 c5 7.d5 e6 various 105
Cl) 8...g5 h6 106
C2) 8.0-0 g5 108

Chapter 9 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ..g7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 0-0

various 113
Al) 6..,e3 e5 7.d5 a6 8.g4 Zc5 114
A2) 8.d3 d7 116

Bl) 6...g5 c5 7.d5 e6 8..d3 ed 9.ed bd7 118

B2) 9.cd e8 119

Chapter 10 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ..g7 4.e4 d6 5..&e2 0-0

various 122
A) 6.e3 c5 123
Bi) 6..,g5 c5 7.dc Va5 126
B2) 7.d5 h6 various 128
B2a) 8..,e3 e6 129
B2b) 8.f4 e6 138

375
 Index of Variations

B) 6..,e3 e5. 204

Chapter 16 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ..g7 4.e4 d6 0-0 6.h3

e5
A) 7.de de 208
B) 7.d5 Zh5 various 213
Bl) 8..e3 a6 214
B2) 8.Zh2 Ve8 219
B3) 8.g3 ‘fZa6 224

Chapter 17 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ..g7 4.e4 d6 0-0 6...e2

e5 7.de de 8S!xd8 xd8
9.xe5 xe4 231
A) 9.d5 xd5 231
Bl) 9..g5 e8 10.0-0-0 a6 234
B2) 10.d5 xd5 235

Chapter 18 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ..g7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.

..e2 e5 7...e3 g4 8...g5 f6
A) 9..,c1 c6 various 241
Al) 10.0-0 f5 241
A2) l0.d5d4 244
B) 9...h4 c6 248

Chapter 19 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ..g7 4.e4 d6 0-0 61e2

e5 7.d5 a5
various 253
A) 8.d2 a6 254
B) 8...e3 Zg4 256
C) 8.h3 h5 259
D) 8.0-0 Za6 262

Chapter 20 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ..g7 4.e4 d6 0-0 6.e2

e5 7.d5 a5 8...g5 h6
9...e3 g4 268
9..,h4 a6 l0.d2 Ve8 various 270
A) ll.a3 .,d7 270
B) 11.0-0 .,d7 273

Chapter 21 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ..g7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6Ae2

e5 7.0-0 c6
A) 8.de de 279

377
 Index of Variations

Chapter 26 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ig7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.e2

e5 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e7 9.e1 d7
various 333
A) 10.f3 f5 333
B) 10.d3 f5 various 336
Bi) 11..d2 f6 12.f3 f4 13.g4 g5 338
B2a) 13.c5 g5 14.cd cd 340
B2b) 14.c1 g6 342

Chapter 27 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 ..g7 4.e4 d6 0-0 6.

ie2 e5 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e7 9.e1 d7 10...e3 f5 11.f f4 12.if2
g5
various 349
A) 13.b4 f6 350
B) 13.a4 a5 353
C) 13.c1 g6 various 358
Cl) l4.c5 xc5 l5.b4 a6 l6.d3 f7 359
C2) l6.b5 ..d7 361
D) 13.d3 g6 14.c5 f6 various 363
Dl) 15.a4 h5 363
D2) 15.c1 f7 various 367
D2a) 16.a4 h5 368
D2b) 16.ch1 .kf8 370

379
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