Contents

Preface

Part 1. Slav Defence. Exchange Variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Bf4
1) various; A) 4...Qb6; B) 4...e6; C) 4...Nf6
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
2) 4...Nc6 5.e3 A) 5...Bf5; B) 5...Qb6; C) 5...e6
3) 4...Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Nc3 A) 6...Ne4; B) 6...Bg4; C) 6...e6
4) 4...Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Nc3 a6
5) 4...Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bf5
Part 1 Part 2
Part 2. QGD. Petrosian Variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4
6) 5...Nf6 6.e3 various; 6...Bf5
7) 5...Nf6 6.e3 0-0
8) 5...c6 6.e3 various; 6...Bd6
9) 5...c6 6.e3 Bf5 7.g4 A) 7...Bg6; B) 7...Be6
Part 1 Part 2
Part 3. QGD. Classical Variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bf4
10) various; A) 5...a6; B) 5...c5; C) 5...dxc4
11) 5...0-0 6.e3 various; A) 6...a6; B) 6...c6
12) 5...0-0 6.e3 b6
Part 1 Part 2
13) 5...0-0 6.e3 c5
Part 1 Part 2
14) 5...0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Be2
Part 1 Part 2
15) 5...0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.c5
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Complete Games
Games 1-5 Games 6-10 Games 11-15 Games 16-19
Index of Variations

Swipe left for next chapter


Alexey Dreev
Bf4 in the Queen’s Gambit
and
the Exchange Slav
Chess Stars
Technical Editor: IM Sergei Soloviov
Translation by: GM Evgeny Ermenkov
Cover design by: Rustam Taichinov
Copyright © Alexey Dreev 2016
Printed in Bulgaria by “Chess Stars” Ltd.
- Sofia
ISBN13: 978 619 7188 08-0
PREFACE
In this book we analyse many different
ways for White to fight for the opening
advantage in two modern schemes, in the
Slav Defence and in the Queen’s Gambit
Deferred.
Our choice in the Slav Defence is the
exchange variation, which is becoming
more and more popular among the
average level chess players, as well as on
top level. It looked like Black could
equalise, not without efforts though...,
until recently, but lately, naturally with the
help of computer analyses, White often
managed to create problems for Black and
not only purely practical, but also
analytical.
By playing 3.cxd5, after the moves 1.d4
d5 2.c4 c6, White tries to obtain an
advantage, but also, as a minimum, avoids
the main lines of the Slav Defence, which
may arise following 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3
dxc4. We also avoid some other very
serious systems for Black like the Meran
variation, or if White is reluctant to enter
also the Moscow variation.
The fight in the exchange variation is
mostly in a positional key, without much
risk with the idea to obtain a minimal
edge. White is trying to make use of the
extra tempo in this symmetrical position
in different ways.
In another part of our book, a bit greater
in volume, we analyse a variation of the
Queen’s Gambit with the move 5.Bf4.
This solid and modern line is a serious
rival to the classical Queen’s Gambit with
the move 5.Bg5, in which White must
consider at least the Makogonov-
Bondarevsky system, which is considered
to be quite reliable for Black and
justifiably so. We have also dealt in
details with the very fashionable variation
3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4, in which,
if Black does not try to develop his bishop
to the f5-square, White obtains an
advantageous version of the Carlsbad
variation.
I have played so many times all these
variations with both colours; nevertheless,
during my work over this book I had a
new look at many modern positions,
making computer analyses, and I have
shared with you the results of my work in
this book.
Naturally, the development of the theory
in these variations would not end with this
book. I only hope that it will contribute to
it and will be a reliable guide to the
readers in their understanding of the fine
points of all these lines.
Alexey Dreev
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvlntr0
Part 1
9zpp+-zppzpp0
1.d4XIIIIIIIIY
d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 9-+-+-+-+0
9rsnlwqkvlntr0 9+-+p+-+-0
9zpp+-zppzpp0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+-+p+-+-0 9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9tRN+QmKLsNR0
9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9tRNvLQmKLsNR0 This is the right order of moves. White
xiiiiiiiiy plans the following set-up: e3, Nc3, Bd3,
postponing for a while the development of
The adherents to the exchange system in his knight on g1.
the Slav Defence are becoming more and Still, before we begin out analysis of the
more lately and even at the top level. variations after 4.Bf4, I would like to
There are numerous reasons for that, for explain to you in details why I have made
example: my choice on delaying the development
– White has the possibility to use the extra of the knight on g1.
tempo in a symmetrical position even The point is that after the early
without profound knowledge of theory. development of White’s knights after
He risks practically nothing, which is not 4.Nc3 Nc6
XIIIIIIIIY
the case in asymmetrical openings; 9r+lwqkvlntr0
– White avoids numerous complicated 9zpp+-zppzpp0
variations like the Meran and the Moscow 9-+n+-+-+0
variations of the Slav Defence and the 9+-+p+-+-0
Chebanenko variation... 9-+-zP-+-+0
In principle, there is nothing new here, 9+-sN-+-+-0
because the exchange variation has been 9PzP-+PzPPzP0
played for many years. Something else is 9tR-vLQmKLsNR0
very important, though... In the last xiiiiiiiiy
computer years of the development of
chess theory, White has begun to find new 5.Nf3 (following 5.Bf4, White must also
possibilities to continue the fight in consider Black’s counterstrike 5...e5, for
variations which were considered to be example: 6.dxe5 d4 7.Ne4 Bf5!?, or
well analysed and not so promising. It is 6.Bxe5 Nxe5 7.dxe5 d4 with a very
more or less the same situation in the complicated position) 5...Nf6 6.Bf4 and
other openings, so playing for a minimal Black has here the interesting possibility
edge without much of a risk to become 6...Nh5!?
worse seems to be quite practical...
4.Bf4
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0 4.Nf3
XIIIIIIIIY
9zpp+-zppzpp0 9rsnlwqkvlntr0
9-+n+-+-+0 9zpp+-zppzpp0
9+-+p+-+n0 9-+-+-+-+0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9+-+p+-+-0
9+-sN-+N+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0 9+-+-+N+-0
9tR-+QmKL+R0 9PzP-+PzPPzP0
xiiiiiiiiy 9tRNvLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
7.Bg3 Nxg3 8.hxg3 g6=
7.Be5 f6!? 8.Bg3 e6 9.e3 Be7 10.Bh4 and only then the bishop to the f4-square,
(10.Bd3 f5=; 10...g6!?∞) 10...g6 11.Bd3 keeping his knight on b1 – 4...Nf6 5.Bf4
0-0 12.0-0 Ng7∞ Nc6 (5...Qb6!?∞) 6.e3, then Black has
7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 (8.Bd2 e6 9.e3 Nf6=) the knight-sortie 6...Nh5 (It is also good
8...g5 9.Bg3 Nxg3 10.hxg3 g4!? for him to choose 6...Qb6 7.Nc3 Qxb2
(10...Bg7=) – Black has a powerful 8.Rc1 Bf5 9.Bb5 e6 10.0-0 Ba3³; 7.Nbd2
bishop-pair and his prospects are not Nh5 8.Bg3 Nxg3 9.hxg3 g6=; 7.Qb3
worse, to say the least. Qxb3 8.axb3 Bd7=)
XIIIIIIIIY
7.Bd2 e6 (7...Nf6!? 8.Bf4 Nh5).
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9r+lwqkvl-tr0 9zpp+-zppzpp0
9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+n+-+-+0
9-+n+p+-+0 9+-+p+-+n0
9+-+p+-+n0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-+-zPN+-0
9+-sN-+N+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9PzP-vLPzPPzP0 9tRN+QmKL+R0
9tR-+QmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
7.Bg3 Nxg3 8.hxg3 g6=
White can hardly fight here for an 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Nxg3 10.hxg3
opening advantage, because his dark- Bg7=
squared bishop has been ousted from its 7.Be5 f6 8.Bg3 e6 9.Bd3 g6 10.Nc3
active position (the f4-square). Be7∞
8.e3 Nf6 9.Rc1 Be7 10.Bd3 0-0 11.0-0 This is the reason we choose the move
b6!? 12.a3 Bb7 13.Qe2 Rc8 14.Ba6 Qc7= order 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Nc3 and here
Almagro Llamas – Giri, Linares 2013. Black does not have the knight-sortie
8.Bg5 f6 9.Bd2 (9.Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 g4 6...Nh5, which in the positions we have
11.Nd2 f5 12.e3 Nxg3 13.hxg3 h5=) already analysed seemed to be quite
9...f5= 10.Bg5 (10.e3 Nf6 11.Bd3 Bd6=) convincing.
10...Qb6 11.a3 h6 12.Bd2 Bd6 13.e3 Let us go back to 4.Bf4. If we have a look
Nf6= at the moves that have been played, then
If White develops at first his king’s knight you may have the feeling that there are so

many possible schemes to be studied.
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvlntr0
9zpp+-zppzpp0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9tRN+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
They are many indeed, particularly for
White. But if we deal seriously only with
those in which White’s knight remains
on the g1-square for a while, then our
main lines would only be 4...Nf6 5.Nc3
Qb6 (Chapter 1, variation C4); 4...Nc6
5.e3 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bg4 (Chapter 3,
variation B); 4...Nc6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.e3 a6
7.Be2!? (Chapter 4) and 4...Nc6 5.e3
Nf6 6.Nc3 Bf5 7.Qb3 Na5 8.Qa4 Bd7
9.Qc2 (Chapter 5).
Finally, I would like to mention another
plus of the delay of the development of
the knight on g1. It is the fact that it
would not be good for Black to exchange
immediately the dark-squared bishops
(Bf8-d6), because White will counter this
with Bf4xd6, f2-f4 and later Ng1-f3-e5
with an advantage.
Chapter 1
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Bf4
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvlntr0
9zpp+-zppzpp0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9tRN+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
In this chapter we will analyse in details
the moves A) 4...Qb6, B) 4...e6 and C)
4...Nf6.
Black’s main response 4...Nc6 will be
dealt with in Chapters 2-5.
About 4...a6 5.Nc3 Nc6 (5...e6 6.e3 – see
variation B; 5...Nf6 6.e3 – see variation
C3) 6.e3 – see Chapter 2.
4...Bf5 5.Qb3 Qb6 (Black cannot protect
comfortably his b7-pawn, for example:
5...Qd7? 6.e4! Bxe4 7.Bxb8+–; 6...dxe4
7.Bxb8+–; it is best for him to choose
5...Nc6 6.e3 – see Chapter 2, variation A)
6.Qxb6 axb6 7.Nc3² – White has a slight
positional advantage in the endgame due
to Black’s compromised queenside pawn-
structure. We analyse an analogous
position in variation C2.
A) 4...Qb6
The idea of this move is to force White to
protect his b2-pawn, or if he does not do
that, then Black will have to accept this
pawn-sacrifice; otherwise, the move
4...Qb6 would be illogical.
5.Nc3
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+kvlntr0 9r+l+kvl-tr0
9zpp+-zppzpp0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-wq-+-+-+0 9-wqn+psn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0 9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0 9+-sNLzP-+-0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 9+R+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
5...e6 8...Bd7
With this move Black covers the 8...Be7 9.Nf3 0-0 (9...Nh5 10.Bg5 f6
possibility to develop his light-squared 11.Nd2 g6 12.Bh6±; 10...Bxg5 11.Nxg5
bishop to an active position on the Nf6 12.f4!?²) 10.0-0 Bd7 11.a3 Rfc8
f5-square and obtains a passive position, 12.Na4 (12.Qe2!?²) 12...Qd8 13.Nc5
but solid enough... Bxc5 14.dxc5²
5...Qxb2? 6.Nxd5+– 9.a3
5...Nf6 6.e3 – see variation C4. 9.Nf3 Nh5 10.Be5 Be7 11.h3 0-0 12.Bh2
6.Rb1 Nf6 13.0-0 Rfc8 14.a3²
White plays a calm move, protecting his 9...Be7 10.Nf3 0-0 11.0-0 Rfc8 12.Qe2²
pawn with the idea to prove later that – White’s bishops on f4 and d3 are much
Black’s queen is misplaced on b6 and will more active than their black counterparts
be attacked with tempo after Nc3-a4. on e7 and d7. White’s future plan would
6.Rc1. This is a more ambitious move. look approximately like this: Rfc1, Qd1
White sacrifices his b2-pawn. This is not and then the manoeuvre Na4-c5 and
his best move, however. 6...Nc6! 7.e3 eventually b2-b4. Black’s position is
Qxb2 8.Bd3 a6 9.Nge2 (9.Na4 Qb4+ obviously cramped.
10.Kf1 Qa5 11.Qb3 b5 12.Rxc6 Bd7 B) 4...e6
13.Rb6 Nf6 14.Nf3 Be7=). White has This move is a bit passive. Black has
obtained a considerable lead in covered the way of development of his
development and this is good bishop to an active position – to f5, or g4.
compensation for the pawn, but not more 5.Nc3
XIIIIIIIIY
than that. 9...Qb6 (9...Nb4!? 10.Bb1∞) 9rsnlwqkvlntr0
10.0-0 Bb4 11.Na4 Qd8 12.Qb3© 9zpp+-+pzpp0
Chetverik – Guenthner, Bad Ems 2006. 9-+-+p+-+0
6...Nc6 7.e3 Nf6 8.Bd3 9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
5...Bd6
 XIIIIIIIIY
This is the only move after which there 9r+l+-trk+0
arise original positions. 9zpp+-snpzpp0
About 5...Nc6 6.e3 – see Chapter 2, 9-+nwqp+-+0
variation C. 9+-+p+-+-0
5...Bb4 6.e3 Nf6 7.Bd3, or 5...Nf6 6.e3 9-+-zP-+-+0
(6.Bxb8?! Rxb8 7.Qa4+?! Bd7 8.Qxa7? 9+-sNLzPN+-0
Bc6–+ with the idea Ra8) – see variation 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
C5. 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
5...a6 6.e3 Nc6 (6...Bd6 7.Bxd6 Qxd6
xiiiiiiiiy
8.Qg4 – see 5...Bd6; 6...Nf6 7.Bd3 – see White maintains a slight positional
variation C5) 7.Bd3 – see Chapter 2, advantage thanks to his light-squared
variation C. bishop, which is much more active than
6.Bxd6 Qxd6 7.e3 its counterpart. 10...Bd7 11.a3 (11.Nb5!?
White is not in a hurry to play 7.Nf3 and Qb8 12.Rc1²) 11...Rfc8 12.e4!? (12.Rc1
keeps the possibility to play f2-f4 and Be8 13.Qc2 h6 14.b4 f6 15.Qb1 e5
only then Ng1-f3, which seems obviously 16.dxe5 fxe5 17.Rfd1² and White’s pieces
stronger.
XIIIIIIIIY are better coordinated, Li – Kobalia,
9rsnl+k+ntr0 China 2013; 14...a5!? 15.Nb5 Qd8
9zpp+-+pzpp0 16.Qb3 axb4 17.axb4∞) 12...dxe4
9-+-wqp+-+0 13.Nxe4 Qd5 14.Re1!?² Nxd4? 15.Nxd4
9+-+p+-+-0 Qxd4 16.Nd6+–
9-+-zP-+-+0 8.Qg4!?
9+-sN-zP-+-0 8.Bd3 Nf6 9.f4 – see Chapter 3, variation
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 C1.
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 8...Kf8
xiiiiiiiiy 8...Qf8. This move looks a bit ugly. 9.a3
7...Nc6 Nf6 10.Qg3²
7...Nf6 8.f4 – see variation C5. 8...g6 9.Nf3 Nf6 10.Qh4² – The dark
7...Bd7 8.Qg4!?ƒ squares on Black’s kingside are
considerably weakened.
XIIIIIIIIY
7...a6 8.Qg4 g6 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.Bd3 Nf6
11.Qh4² 9r+l+-mkntr0
7...Ne7 8.Bd3 Nbc6 (8...0-0 9.Nf3 Nbc6
9zpp+-+pzpp0
10.0-0 – see 8...Nbc6) 9.Nf3 (It would be
9-+nwqp+-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
interesting for White to try the move
9-+-zP-+Q+0
9.Qh5N, preventing for a while Black’s
9+-sN-zP-+-0
castling kingside. 9...h6 10.Nf3 0-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
11.0-0²) 9...0-0 10.0-0
9tR-+-mKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
9.Bb5 (9.Nf3!?²) 9...Nf6 10.Qh4 Ne7
11.Bd3 Bd7 12.Rc1² b5?! 13.Nf3 b4
14.Ne2 Nc6 15.0-0 h6 16.Ne5 Nxe5 Qxd7 11.Qxa7 and he has no
17.dxe5 Qxe5 18.Qxb4+ Kg8 19.Nd4 compensation for the pawn.
g6?! 20.Nf3 Qb8 21.Qd4 Qd8 22.Ne5 6...Nc6
XIIIIIIIIY
Qe7 23.Rc7 Kh7 24.Nc6+– Romanov – 9r+lwqkvl-tr0
Tscharotschkin, Skopje 2014. 9zpp+-zpp+p0
C) 4...Nf6 5.Nc3
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+n+-snp+0
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 9+-+p+-+-0
9zpp+-zppzpp0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9-+-+-sn-+0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9+-+p+-+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
9+-sN-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 White can try to fight for the opening
xiiiiiiiiy advantage with the aggressive move
7.Nb5, but in this line after 7...e5
We will analyse now C1) 5...g6, C2) (7...Qa5+!? 8.Qd2 Qxd2+ 9.Kxd2
5...Bf5, C3) 5...a6, C4) 5...Qb6 and C5) Kd8∞) 8.Bxe5 (8.dxe5 Bb4+ 9.Nc3 Ne4
5...e6. 10.Nge2²) 8...Nxe5 9.dxe5 Ne4, he still
Black’s main reply 5...Nc6 will be maintains the initiative, but these types of
analysed in Chapters 3-5. positions remain very unstable.
C1) 5...g6 Following 7.Nf3, Black can complicate
This move is a bit in disharmony with the the situation with the manoeuvre 7...Nh5,
spirit of this position, because Black’s for example: 8.Bg5 (after 8.Bg3 Nxg3
dark-squared bishop will be passive on 9.hxg3 Bg7, Black has no problems at all)
the g7-square. White’s bishop on f4 seems 8...h6 9.Bh4 Bg7. Now, White would not
much more active exerting pressure achieve much with the seemingly
against his opponent’s queenside. attractive move 10.Bd3, because of
6.e3XIIIIIIIIY 10...g5 11.Bg3 (11.Nd2 Nf4=) 11...0-0
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 and the position is complicated, but
9zpp+-zpp+p0 approximately equal.
9-+-+-snp+0 White should better continue in a
9+-+p+-+-0 positional manner. 7.h3. This move
9-+-zP-vL-+0 prevents radically Black’s counterplay,
9+-sN-zP-+-0 connected with the manoeuvre Nf6-h5,
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 because White’s dark-squared bishop will
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 gain access to the h2-square to retreat to.
xiiiiiiiiy 7...Bg7 8.Bd3 0-0 9.Nf3 – see 6...Bg7.
7.Nf3 0-0
6...Bg7
About 7...Nc6 8.h3 0-0 9.Bd3, or 7...a6
It would be rather dubious for Black to
8.Bd3 0-0 9.0-0, or 8...Nc6 9.h3 0-0
play here 6...Nh5?! in view of 7.Bxb8
10.0-0 – see 7... 0-0.
Rxb8 8.Qa4+ Bd7 9.Bb5 e6 10.Bxd7+
8.Bd3
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0 9...Bf5?! 10.Bxf5 gxf5 11.g4!±
XIIIIIIIIY
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9-+-+-snp+0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9+-+p+-+-0 9-+n+-sn-+0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9+-+p+p+-0
9+-sNLzPN+-0 9-+-zP-vLP+0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9+-sN-zPN+P0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 9PzP-+-zP-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This is the main position of the variation
with 5...g6. White’s bishops are much 11...Qd7 12.Ne5 Qe6 13.Qc2± fxg4?!
more active than their black counterparts. 14.hxg4 Rfc8 15.f3+– Enchev – Stoinev,
Black will have a hard time in his fight Sunny Beach 2013.
for equality. 11...fxg4 12.hxg4 Nxg4 13.Ng5 Nf6
8...Nc6 14.Qc2 h6 15.Be5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Ne4
8...a6 9.0-0 Nc6 10.h3 – see 8...Nc6. 17.Ncxe4 dxe4 18.Qxe4 f5 19.Qc4+ Kh8
8...Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 Nc6 11.0-0² – 20.Qe6 Qb6 21.Ke2!? f4 22.Qxb6 axb6
White’s two bishops provide him with a 23.Rag1 fxe3 24.Kxe3 Bxe5 25.Rxh6+
long lasting advantage. Kg7 26.Rxb6 Bf4+ 27.Ke2+–
The move 8...Nh5 is senseless, since 11...Qb6 12.Rb1 (12.Qb1±) 12...e6
Black fails to exchange his knight for 13.gxf5± exf5 14.Bd6 Rfe8 15.Rg1 Ne4
White’s bishop. 9.Be5² with the idea 16.Nxe4 Rxe4 17.Ng5 Nxd4 18.Nxe4
9...f6? 10.Bxb8 Rxb8 11.Qb3 Be6 dxe4 19.Qxd4+– Shirov – Boidman,
12.Be4+– Bondarevsky – Kuzminykh, Rhodes 2013.
Leningrad 1952. 11...Ne4 12.Qb3 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Qd7
9.h3 14.gxf5 Qxf5 15.Rg1 Kh8 16.Rg5 Qxh3
This is a useful prophylactic move, 17.Ke2±
because Black was threatening Nf6-h5.
XIIIIIIIIY 9...b6 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Rc1 e6 12.Ne5²
9r+lwq-trk+0 The move 9...Qb6 would not be
9zpp+-zppvlp0 purposeful, because after 10.a3, capturing
9-+n+-snp+0 on b2 would be impossible, while
9+-+p+-+-0 following Nc3-a4, Black’s queen might
9-+-zP-vL-+0 come under attack with tempi. 10...Na5
9+-sNLzPN+P0 (10...Bf5 11.Na4 Qd8 12.0-0 Bxd3
9PzP-+-zPP+0 13.Qxd3 Na5 14.Rac1 Qe8 15.Nc5±
9tR-+QmK-+R0 Ibragimov – Blatny, Pulvermuehle 2000)
xiiiiiiiiy 11.b4 Nc4 12.Qb3 Be6 13.0-0 Rfc8,
Grischuk – Appel, Mainz 2007, 14.Rfc1²
9...a6
9...Nd7 10.Be2!? (If White accepts the
9...b6 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Rc1 Rc8 12.Qa4 a6
pawn-sacrifice, Black will have
13.Ne5² b5 14.Nxc6 Rxc6 15.Qb4±
compensation after 10.Nxd5 e5 11.dxe5
Pavlovic – Miljkovich, Kragujevac 2010.
Qa5+ 12.Nc3 Ndxe5©; 10.0-0 e5 11.dxe5
Ndxe5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.Be2 Be6=
Scekic – Almeida Saenz, Schaumburg
2006) 10...e5 (10...Nb6 11.0-0 f6
12.Qb3² Kluger – Szabo, Budapest 1958)
11.dxe5 Ndxe5 12.Qxd5 Be6 13.Qxd8
Nxf3+ (13...Raxd8 14.Bxe5 Nxe5
15.Nd4²) 14.Bxf3 Raxd8 15.0-0²
10.0-0
10.Rc1!?²
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+-zppvlp0
9p+n+-snp+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzPN+P0
9PzP-+-zPP+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...b5
10...Nh5 11.Bh2 f5 12.Rc1 e6 13.Na4±
10...Bf5 11.Bxf5 gxf5 12.Qb3 Na5
(12...b5 13.Rfc1 Rc8 14.Ne5± Donaldson
– Cross, USA 1986) 13.Qb4 Rc8,
Godinho – Hellwig, Caleta 2016, 14.Rac1
e6 15.b3²
10...e6 11.Rc1 Nd7, Wong Meng Kong –
Vescovi, Turin 2006 (11...Bd7 12.a3 Qa5,
Shchekachev – Schwalfanberg, France
2009, 13.Nd2 Rfc8 14.Nb3 Qd8
15.Nc5±). Black has difficulties and with
his last move he is trying to advance
e7-e5. 12.Qb3. White prevents e6-e5.
12...Nb6 (12...e5? 13.Bg5) 13.h4 Bd7
14.h5± – Black’s pieces are horribly
misplaced.
11.Ne5 Bb7
11...Ne5 12.Bxe5 Bb7 13.Qb3 Bc6
14.a4± Ilinsky – Reyes, Calvia 2004.
12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.Qb3² – Black’s
position is very passive. His queenside
has been compromised and he is faced
with a difficult defence, Nagel – Launert,
Wiesbaden 2012.
C2) 5...Bf5
This move is not so popular, since Black
must either sacrifice his b7-pawn, or
comply with a considerably inferior
endgame.
6.Qb3
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqkvl-tr0
9zpp+-zppzpp0
9-+-+-sn-+0
9+-+p+l+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+QsN-+-+-0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-+-mKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
6...Qb6
But not 6...Qd7?, due to 7.e4! Nxe4
(7...dxe4 8.Bxb8+–) 8.Bxb8+–
6...Nc6?! 7.Qxb7² Nxd4? (It is better for
Black to play here 7...Na5.) 8.0-0-0 Ne6
9.Rxd5 Nxd5 10.Qc6+–
7.Qxb6 axb6 8.e3
Black’s compromised queenside pawn-
structure makes his position not only very
passive, but vulnerable too (his b7 and
b6-pawns are weak). This may become a
telling factor in the future. He will have to
only defend without any chances of
organising any active counterplay.
8...e6
8...Nc6 9.f3!? e6 10.Bb5ƒ Be7 (10...Bb4
11.Nge2 – see 8...e6) 11.g4 Bg6 12.h4 h6
(12...h5?! 13.g5 Nd7 14.Nge2 Nb4?!
15.Kd2± Sandalakis – Peczely, Skopje
2013) 13.Nge2²
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-+kvl-tr0 enemy queen from the b6-square.
9+p+-+pzpp0 6...Bg4?! This move hardly deserves
9-zp-+psn-+0 serious attention. 7.Qb3 b5 (7...Qd7? 8.h3
9+-+p+l+-0 Be6 9.Na4+–; 8...Bf5 9.g4 Bg6 10.Bxb8
9-+-zP-vL-+0 Rxb8 11.Bxa6+–) 8.Rc1. White has an
9+-sN-zP-+-0 overwhelming advantage. 8...e6 (8...Nc6
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9.Nxb5 Na5 10.Nc7+ Qxc7 11.Bxc7
9tR-+-mKLsNR0 Nxb3 12.axb3±) 9.f3 Bf5 10.g4 Bg6
xiiiiiiiiy 11.g5 Nfd7 (11...Nh5?! 12.Nxb5 axb5?!
13.Bc7 Qc8 14.Bxb5+ Nd7 15.Ne2 Be7
9.Bb5+
16.Bb6+–; 12...Qa5+ 13.Rc3 Nxf4
9.f3!? Bb4 (9...Nc6 10.g4 Bg6 11.h4 h5?!
14.Nc7+ Kd8 15.Nxa8 Bb4 16.Kd1 Nd7
12.g5 Nd7 13.Nb5±; 11...h6 12.Kf2²)
17.exf4 Ke7 18.Nc7 Bxc3 19.Qxc3 Qxa2
10.Bb5+ Ke7 (10...Nc6 11.Nge2²)
20.Nxa6+–; 13...axb5 14.Bxb5+ Ke7
11.Nge2 Nc6 12.a3 Bxc3+ (12...Bd6
15.Bc7 Bc2 16.Bxa5 Bxb3 17.Bb4+ Kd8
13.Bxd6+ Kxd6 14.g4 Bc2 15.Rc1 Bb3
18.Bxf8 Rxf8 19.Rxb3 Rxa2 20.Kd2 Ra1
16.Kf2²) 13.Nxc3²
21.Ra3 Rb1 22.Ra2 f6 23.Bd3+–) 12.h4
9...Nc6 10.Nge2 (10.f3²) 10...Bb4 11.f3 h5 (12...f6?! 13.a4 b4 14.Nxd5!? exd5
Ke7 12.Kf2 Rhc8 13.a3 Bxc3 14.Nxc3² 15.Qxd5 Ra7 16.gxf6 gxf6 17.Bh3 Bf7
– White has a clear positional advantage 18.Be6 Bxe6 19.Qxe6+ Be7 20.Qg4+–;
thanks to his powerful bishop-pair and 12...Nc6 13.Nxb5 Na5 14.Nc7+ Qxc7
Black’s inferior queenside pawn-structure, 15.Rxc7 Nxb3 16.axb3 Bb4+ 17.Kf2 Ke7
Ni Hua – Yu, China 2013. 18.h5 Bf5 19.Ne2±) 13.gxh6 gxh6 14.a4±
C3)XIIIIIIIIY
5...a6 6.e3 7.Qb3!? b5
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 7...Qd7? 8.Bxb8 Rxb8 9.Bxa6+–
9+p+-zppzpp0 Danielian – Boyd, Saint Affrique 2014.
9p+-+-sn-+0 8.Rc1
9+-+p+-+-0 White has the initiative due to his lead in
9-+-zP-vL-+0 development.
9+-sN-zP-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9rsn-wqkvl-tr0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 9+-+-zppzpp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9p+-+-sn-+0
9+p+p+l+-0
6...Bf5 9-+-zP-vL-+0
6...e6 7.Bd3 – see variation C5. 9+QsN-zP-+-0
6...g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.h3 – see variation C1. 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9+-tR-mKLsNR0
6...Nc6 7.Be2 – see Chapter 4.
xiiiiiiiiy
6...Qb6. This move is not so good for
Black, since after 7.a3 (7.Bd3 – see 8...e6
variation C4), he cannot play 7...Qxb2?, 8...Nbd7 9.a4 e6 (9...bxa4 10.Qxa4±)
because of 8.Na4+–. White is threatening 10.axb5 Nh5 11.bxa6 Nxf4 12.exf4 Bd6
to continue with Na4 and to oust the 13.g3 0-0 14.Nf3±
 XIIIIIIIIY
8...Nc6 9.Nxb5 Na5 10.Qd1 axb5 9-sn-wqk+-tr0
11.Bxb5+ Bd7 12.Bc7± Qc8 (12...Bxb5 9tr-+-vlpzpp0
13.Bxd8 Kxd8 14.Ne2±) 13.Bxa5 Qb7 9p+-+psn-+0
14.Bxd7+ Nxd7 15.b4 e6 16.a3± 9+-+p+l+-0
9.a4 b4 10.Na2!? Ra7 11.Nf3 Be7 9Pzp-zP-vL-+0
11...a5?! 12.Bxb8 Qxb8 13.Bb5+ 9+Q+-zPN+-0
(13.Ne5!?+–) 13...Nd7 14.Ne5 Rb7 9NzP-+-zPPzP0
15.Nxd7+– Heuser – Reiche, Berlin 2012. 9+-tR-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
12.Bxb8 Qxb8 13.Ne5 Ra8 14.a5!? 0-0
15.Nc6 Qb7 16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.Nxb4
Rfb8 (17...Qb7?! 18.Rc6±) 18.Nc6 Rxb3
19.Nxe7+ Kf8 20.Nxf5 exf5 21.Rc2²
C4) 5...Qb6 11.Ne5©
This move was very popular about twenty 7...e6 8.Nf3 Qxb2 9.0-0©
years ago and Black obtained good 7...Qxb2 8.Rc1 Bd7 9.Nge2 (9.Nf3!? e6
practical results. Still, White gradually 10.0-0©) 9...Qa3 10.0-0 e6 – see variation
found a way of countering it in his fight C4a.
for the initiative and an opening
C4a) 6...e6 7.Bd3 Qxb2
advantage.
7...Bd7 8.Rc1 Qxb2 9.Nge2 – see
6.e3 7...Qxb2.
He is trying to obtain the maximum and
XIIIIIIIIY
goes for the most principled line,
9rsnl+kvl-tr0
sacrificing his b2-pawn.
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+-+psn-+0
It is also interesting for him to opt here 9+-+p+-+-0
for 6.Rc1 – see Shimanov – Nigalidze, 9-+-zP-vL-+0
Yerevan 2014, game 1.
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-sNLzP-+-0
9rsnl+kvl-tr0 9Pwq-+-zPPzP0
9zpp+-zppzpp0 9tR-+QmK-sNR0
9-wq-+-sn-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 8.Rc1
9+-sN-zP-+-0 This is the simplest way for White to fight
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 for the initiative.
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 It is also possible for him to opt for
xiiiiiiiiy 8.Nge2 a6 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.0-0 and his great
lead in development is more than
We will analyse in details now C4a) sufficient to compensate the sacrificed
6...e6, C4b) 6...Bf5 and C4c) 6...Qxb2. pawn.
6...Bd7 7.Bd3 e6 8.Rc1 – see variation 8...Bd7
C4a. 8...Nc6 9.Nb5!? Bb4+ 10.Kf1ƒ with
6...Nc6 – see Chapter 2, variation B1. good compensation for the pawn.
6...a6 7.Bd3!?
XIIIIIIIIY 10...Ba5, V.Georgiev – Nikologorsky,
9rsnl+kvl-tr0 Thessaloniki 2009, 11.Rc2 Qb4 12.Qc1!?
9+p+-zppzpp0 0-0 13.Bd6 Qa4 14.Bxf8 Kxf8 15.Nc3² –
9pwq-+-sn-+0 Black’s compensation for the exchange is
9+-+p+-+-0 not sufficient, but the position remains
9-+-zP-vL-+0 very complicated.
9+-sNLzP-+-0 9.Nge2 Qa3
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9...Bb4 10.0-0 0-0, Reinemer – Luett,
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 Leverkusen 1996, 11.Be5 Ng4 12.Rb1
xiiiiiiiiy Qa3 13.Rb3 Qa5 14.Bg3 Nc6 15.a3 Bxa3
16.Rxb7 Qd8 17.Qa4 Be7 18.Bb5 Rc8
7...Nc6 8.a3!? Bg4 (8...e6 9.Na4 Qd8 19.Rc1²
10.Rc1±) 9.Nge2 e6 10.Na4±
10.0-0 a6
7...Bd7 8.Nf3 e6 9.0-0 Qxb2 10.Rc1 Qa3
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-+kvl-tr0 11...dxe4
9+p+l+pzpp0 11...Nc6 12.exd5 Nxd5 (12...exd5
9p+-+psn-+0 13.Rb1± Bb4 14.Na4+–; 13...b5
9+-+p+-+-0 14.Bxb5+–) 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.Rb1 b5
9-+-zP-vL-+0 (14...Bb4 15.Bc1 Qa5 16.a3 Bd6
9wq-sNLzP-+-0 17.Rxb7±; 15...Qxa2 16.Nf4 0-0 17.Qf3
9P+-+NzPPzP0 Nxd4 18.Qh5 g6 19.Qxd5 Ne2+ 20.Bxe2
9+-tRQ+RmK-0 Qxb1 21.Qxd7±) 15.Re1 Be7 16.Bc7!
xiiiiiiiiy Be6 (16...Rc8? 17.Rb3 Qa4 18.Bb6 Nd8
19.Nf4+–) 17.Nf4±
11.e4
12.Bxe4 Nc6
The move 11.Rb1 also creates serious
12...Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Be7 (13...Nc6?!
problems for Black.
XIIIIIIIIY 14.N2c3 Bb4 15.d5±; 13...Bc6?! 14.N4c3
9rsn-+kvl-tr0 Be7 15.d5+–) 14.Rb1± b5?! 15.d5+–
9+p+l+pzpp0 13.Rb1
9p+-+psn-+0 13.Ng3!? Be7 14.d5 Na5 15.Nh5‚
9+-+p+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9r+-+kvl-tr0
9wq-sNLzP-+-0 9+p+l+pzpp0
9P+-+NzPPzP0 9p+n+psn-+0
9+R+Q+RmK-0 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-zPLvL-+0
9wq-sN-+-+-0
After 11...Bc6 12.Rb3!? Qa5 (12...Qe7?! 9P+-+NzPPzP0
13.Qb1² Nbd7?! 14.Rb4±) 13.Qb1!? 9+R+Q+RmK-0
White has the initiative and more than xiiiiiiiiy
sufficient compensation for the pawn.
13...Rc8
13...b5 14.e4 b4 15.Rc1 Nbd7, Finegold –
13...b5?! 14.d5 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Nd8
Bhat, USA 2012, 16.e5 Ng8 17.Bg5 bxc3
16.N2c3 Be7 17.Rb3 Qa5 18.Qg4 g6
(17...h6 18.Bd2ƒ) 18.Rbxc3 Ba3 19.R1c2
19.d6+–
Rb8 20.Qd1 Bc5 21.Qc1!? Ba4 22.Rxc5
Nxc5 23.Rxc5 Qb6 24.Nf4² h6? 25.Rc8+ 13...Bb4 14.d5 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 exd5
Kd7 26.Nxd5!+– 16.Rb3 Qxa2 (16...Qa5 17.Nd6+ Bxd6
18.Bxd6 0-0-0 19.Ra3 Qb6 20.Qc2©)
11...b5, M.Socko – Harika, Beijing 2011,
17.N4c3 Bxc3 18.Nxc3 Qa5 19.Nxd5
12.e4 b4 13.exd5 exd5 14.Be5 bxc3
0-0
15.Bxb8 Be7 16.Be5 0-0 17.Rb3 Qxa2
18.Rb7 Rfd8 19.Nxc3² Qa3 20.Bxf6
Bxf6 21.Nxd5 Qd6 22.Qf3 Bxd4 23.Qe4
Kf8 24.Bc4 Rac8 25.Qxd4 Be6 26.Rb6
Qc5 27.Qxc5+ Rxc5 28.Rxe6 fxe6
(28...Rxc4? 29.Ne3+–) 29.Ne3 Rd6
30.Rb1 (30.Ra1 a5 31.Kf1 Ke7 32.Ke2
Rd4 33.Bd3²) 30...a5 31.Kf1±
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0 must fight for a draw.
9+p+l+pzpp0 C4b) 6...Bf5 7.Bb5+!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9p+n+-+-+0 9rsn-+kvl-tr0
9wq-+N+-+-0 9zpp+-zppzpp0
9-+-+-vL-+0 9-wq-+-sn-+0
9+R+-+-+-0 9+L+p+l+-0
9-+-+-zPPzP0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-+Q+RmK-0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
20.Nf6+ gxf6 21.Qxd7 Ne5 22.Qd6 xiiiiiiiiy
Ng6! (22...Qd8? 23.Bxe5 fxe5
24.Qh6+–) 23.Bh6 Rfe8 24.Qxf6 Qe5 7...Nc6
25.Qb6 Qh5 (25...Rab8? 26.f4 Qf5 The moves 7...Bd7 and 7...Nbd7 have not
27.Rd3! Rec8 28.Qb2+–; 26...Qh5 27.Rh3 been tested in practice, but they are hardly
Qf5 28.Qd4 f6 29.Qc4+ Kh8 30.Qf7 Rg8 better for Black:
31.Rh5+–) 26.Rh3 Qb5 27.Qxb5 axb5 7...Nbd7 8.a4!? a6 9.a5 Qd8 10.Ba4!?
28.Rb3² (10.Be2²) 10...e6 11.Qb3²;
20.Nb6!? Be6 (20...Rfd8 21.Nxa8 Be6 7...Bd7 8.a4 e6 (8...Bxb5?! 9.Nxb5 Na6
22.Qb1 Bxb3 23.Bc7 Qa4 24.Bxd8 Nxd8 10.Rc1 Qa5+ 11.Ke2 e6 12.Nf3± Be7?!
25.Rc1ƒ) 21.Nxa8 Rd8 22.Qb1 Bxb3 13.Rc7+–) 9.a5 Qd8 10.Nf3² – White has
23.Bc7 Qa4 24.Bxd8 Nxd8 25.Rc1ƒ the initiative.
14.Rxb7 Bb4 15.Qb1 Bxc3 16.Rxd7!
XIIIIIIIIY 8.Nf3 e6
9-+r+k+-tr0 8...a6?! 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.0-0 Qxb2?!
9+-+R+pzpp0 (10...e6 11.Ne5 – see 8...e6) 11.Qa4!?
9p+n+psn-+0 White has a great lead in development
9+-+-+-+-0 and this is more than enough to
9-+-zPLvL-+0 compensate the sacrificed pawn. He is
9wq-vl-+-+-0 threatening Ne5 and Na4, so his
9P+-+NzPPzP0 prospects are clearly preferable. 11...Rc8
9+Q+-+RmK-0 12.Ne5± Qxc3? 13.Rac1 Qb2 14.Rxc6
xiiiiiiiiy Qb5 15.Rxc8+ Bxc8 16.Qc2+–
8...Bg4 9.Qb3!? (9.h3 Bh5? 10.g4 Bg6
16...0-0!?
11.g5+–; 9...Bxf3 10.Qxf3²) 9...Bxf3
16...Nxe4 17.Qb7 0-0 18.Rxf7±
10.gxf3 e6 11.Rc1² – It has become
16...Nxd7 17.Bxc6 Qb4 18.Qe4 Bb2 obvious that Black has played the opening
19.Rb1 Ke7 20.Bxd7 Kxd7 21.Nc1 Ke8 badly. White will soon follow with
22.Nb3 Bc3 23.h3± Nc3-a4 and Black will be incapable of
17.Bxc6 Rxc6 18.Qb7 Rc4 19.Bd6 Qa4 holding the c6-square, Botvinnik –
20.Rc7 Rxc7 21.Qxc7 Ba5 22.Qb7 Rd8 Ragozin, Moscow 1945.
23.Qxa6 Nd5 24.a3 h6 25.Bc5² – As a 9.Ne5
result of a very complicated play, there
has arisen a position in which Black
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+kvl-tr0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-wqn+psn-+0
9+L+psNl+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
9...Bb4
9...a6?! 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.0-0 Bd6, Barsov
– Natacheev, Moscow 2015, 12.Na4 Qb5
13.Rc1±
It is not better for Black to play 9...Be7 at
least because of 10.g4!? (or 10.0-0 0-0
11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.Na4² with a stable
positional advantage for White due to the
weakness on c6, Abramovic – Dudukovic,
Pozarevac 2014) 10...Bg6, Gorovets –
Kupreichik, Minsk 2005, 11.Qb3!?±
10.0-0 Bxc3
10...0-0?! 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.g4 Bg6
13.h4± Papadopulus – Lopez Rebert, Tres
de Febrero 2003.
11.Bxc6+ bxc6 12.bxc3
White has the initiative.
12...Qa6 (12...0-0?! 13.g4 Bg6 14.h4±;
12...h6 13.c4ƒ) 13.f3 Nh5, Ludgate –
Beyen, Haifa 1976, 14.g4 Nxf4 15.gxf5
f6 16.exf4 fxe5 17.Qe1!?ƒ
C4c) 6...Qxb2
This move focuses the attention of the
theoreticians at the moment, because the
queen-sortie 5...Qb6 can be justified only
if White is forced to protect his b2-pawn.
If he sacrifices it, then Black will have to
accept the offer; otherwise, attacking it
would be senseless. The move 5...Qb6
does not worsen Black’s position from the
positional point of view, but in similar
structures in the opening, it would be
preferable for him to develop at first his
minor pieces.
7.Bb5+!
White must mobilise his pieces as quickly
as possible.
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+kvl-tr0
9zpp+-zppzpp0
9-+-+-sn-+0
9+L+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0
9Pwq-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
We will analyse now C4c1) 7...Nc6?! and
C4c2) 7...Bd7.
7...Nbd7 8.Nge2. White has more than
sufficient compensation for the pawn and
initiative. 8...e6 (8...a6?! 9.a3 axb5 10.Ra2
Qxa2 11.Nxa2±; 8...Qa3 9.0-0²; 9.Ba4!?
a6 10.Rb1 b5? 11.Rb3+–; 10...e6 11.0-0ƒ
b5?! 12.Rb3 Qe7 13.Bxb5 axb5 14.Nxb5
Ra4 15.Rc3 Rc4 16.Rxc4 dxc4 17.Bd6
Qxd6 18.Nxd6+ Bxd6 19.Qa4±) 9.Rb1
Qa3 10.0-0 Qa5 11.Qc2 Be7 12.Bd3 0-0
(12...a6? 13.Na4! Bd8 14.Bd6+–; 13...0-0
14.Bc7+–) 13.Nb5 a6 14.Bc7 b6 15.Nd6
Ra7 16.a4±
C4c1) 7...Nc6?! 8.Nge2 Bf5
The alternatives for Black are not any
better.
8...Qa3 9.Ba4! a6 10.Rb1! e6, Seirawan –
Dreev, Reykjavik 1990, 11.Rb3
(11.Qc2±) 11...Qe7 12.Bxc6+ bxc6
13.Na4 Nd7 14.0-0 Qd8 15.Qc2±.
8...Qb4 9.0-0 e6, Gritsak – Filipenko,
Lvov 1995, 10.Ba4± Nh5 (10...a6
11.Qc2±) 11.Bc7 Qe7 (11...a6 12.e4+–)
12.Nb5 Qd7 13.Be5! f6 14.Nc7+ Kf7
15.Nxa8 fxe5 16.dxe5+–
8...e6 9.0-0 Qa3 10.Rb1 Qa5. The queen
must retreat. (10...Be7? 11.Na4). 11.Ba4!
White is threatening Nb5. 11...Nh5
(11...a6, Drexel – Eichinger, Bayern 2014,
12.Qc2 Be7 13.Bxc6+ bxc6 14.Na4 0-0
15.Nb6 Ra7 16.Bb8+–) 12.Be5!? (12.e4
Nxf4 13.Nxf4 Bd6 14.exd5 Bxf4 15.dxc6
0-0 16.Ne2 Bb8! 17.d5!? exd5 18.cxb7
Qc7 19.g3 Bxb7 20.Nf4ƒ) 12...Bb4
13.Qb3 Bxc3 14.Nxc3 0-0 15.Bxc6 bxc6
16.Rfc1 Ba6 17.Qa4²
9.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+kvl-tr0
9zpp+-zppzpp0
9-+n+-sn-+0
9+L+p+l+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0
9Pwq-+NzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
9...Rc8
9...Qb4?! Dimukhametov – S.Volkov,
Samara 2011, 10.e4!? Bxe4 11.Ba4 a6
(11...Bg6 12.Nb5+–) 12.Nxe4 Nxe4
13.Rb1 Qc4 14.Rxb7+–
9...Qa3?! 10.Ba4! Rc8, Wickstrom –
Grandelius, Sweden 2012 (10...e6
11.Nb5+–; 10...a6 11.Rb1!! Bxb1
12.Qxb1 b5 13.Nxb5 axb5 14.Bxb5 Nd7
15.Bxc6+–; 13...Qxa4 14.Nc7+ Kd8
15.Nxa8 Qb4 16.Qc2 Qc4 17.Bc7+ Ke8
18.Qxc4 dxc4 19.Nb6 Na5 20.Na4 Nc6
21.Rc1+–) 11.Rb1! Bxb1 12.Qxb1 b6
13.Bxc6+ Rxc6 14.Qb5 Kd7 15.Na4!+–
Black has no satisfactory defence against
the threat Rf1-c1.
9...e6?! 10.a3!? Ne4 (10...Qc2 11.Qe1!
Ne4 12.f3 Nxc3 13.Nxc3+–; 11...Be7
12.Ra2 Qb3 13.Nc1+–) 11.Qa4! Rc8
12.Bxc6+ bxc6 (12...Rxc6 13.Rfb1 Nxc3
14.Qxc6+ bxc6 15.Rxb2+–) 13.Qa6 e5
14.Rfb1 Qc2 15.Rc1 Qb2 16.Bxe5±
9...a6, Khademalsharieh – Nomin-Erdene,
Abu Dhabi 2016, 10.e4! Bxe4 (10...axb5?
11.Rb1 Qa3 12.Nxb5+–) 11.Bxc6+ bxc6
12.Qa4 Qb7 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Rfc1.
Black’s lag in development is almost
catastrophic. 14...Qd7 (14...Qb5
15.Qc2±) 15.Rab1±
10.f3!
It would not be so clear for White to
choose here 10.Bd3, because of 10...Bxd3
11.Qxd3 Qa3 12.Rab1 b6 13.Rfc1 e6
14.Rb3 Qa5 15.Nb5 Be7∞
10...a6
10...e6? 11.a3 Qc2 (11...Bxa3 12.e4 dxe4
13.Rb1+–) 12.Qe1 a6 13.Ra2 axb5
(13...Qb3 14.Nc1+–) 14.Rxc2 Bxc2
15.Qd2 Bb3 16.Nxb5+–
11.Ba4!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+kvl-tr0
9+p+-zppzpp0
9p+n+-sn-+0
9+-+p+l+-0
9L+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPP+-0
9Pwq-+N+PzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Qb6 (11...Qa3 12.e4! dxe4 13.Bc1
Qd6 14.fxe4±) 12.e4 dxe4 13.fxe4 Nxe4
(13...Bg4 14.Kh1 Qa5 15.d5 b5 16.dxc6
bxa4 17.e5+–) 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.Nc3
Bf5 (15...Bg6 16.Kh1 e6 17.d5 Bb4
18.dxc6 bxc6 19.Rc1±) 16.Kh1 e6
(16...Rd8?! 17.d5! e6 18.dxc6 Rxd1
19.c7+ Ke7 20.Raxd1+–) 17.d5. Black is
forced to sacrifice a piece in order to
complete his development. 17...Be7
18.dxc6 bxc6 19.Bc2 Rd8 20.Qe2 Bxc2
21.Qxc2 0-0 22.Ne4+–
C4c2) 7...Bd7
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-+kvl-tr0 9r+-+kvl-tr0
9zpp+lzppzpp0 9+-+nzppzpp0
9-+-+-sn-+0 9pzp-+-sn-+0
9+L+p+-+-0 9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0 9wq-sN-zP-+-0
9Pwq-+-zPPzP0 9P+-+NzPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 9+R+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
8.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 9.Nge2 Qa3 12.f3!
This is Black’s relatively best move. This is a very important resource for
His alternatives are clearly worse, for White. He plans to advance his e-pawn, to
example: occupy space and to create problems for
9...a6?! 10.Rb1 Qa3 11.Rxb7± Black’s knight on f6.
9...e6?! 10.Rb1 Qa3 11.0-0 a6 (11...b6? 12.Bc7?! e6 13.Bxb6 Bd6 14.Rb3 Bxh2+
12.Nb5+–) 12.Rxb7± 15.Kh1 Qe7 16.g3 Ng4 17.Bc5 Qf6
18.Nf4 Nxf2+ 19.Rxf2 Bxg3 – with a
9...Rc8?! 10.0-0± e6 11.Rb1 Qa3 12.Rxb7
very complicated position, Morozevich –
Rxc3 13.Nxc3 Qxc3 14.Qa4 Be7 15.Rc7
Mamedyarov, Tashkent 2012.
Qb2 16.Rc8+ Bd8 17.Bd6 Ne4 18.Bb4
Qe2 19.Qxa7 Qb5 20.Qc7 1-0 Vaisser – 12...Qa5
Kallai, France 2000. 12...e6 13.e4
XIIIIIIIIY
10.Rb1! 9r+-+kvl-tr0
The move 10.0-0 is not so precise, 9+-+n+pzpp0
because of the line: 10...a6! 11.Rb1 b5∞ 9pzp-+psn-+0
Iskusnyh – Volkov, Jurmala 1992. 9+-+p+-+-0
10...b6
9-+-zPPvL-+0
10...Ne4?! 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.0-0 Nb6
9wq-sN-+P+-0
13.Qc2 e6, Vojinovic – Stefanova,
9P+-+N+PzP0
9+R+Q+RmK-0
Dresden 2008, 14.Qe4 Qa6 15.Be5!
xiiiiiiiiy
Qxe2 16.Qxb7 Rd8 17.Qxa7+–
10...Rc8?! 11.0-0 e6 12.Rxb7± with the 13...Rc8? 14.Rb3 Qa5 15.e5 Ng8 16.Bd2
idea 12...Rxc3 13.Nxc3 Qxc3 14.Qa4 Nh6 (16...Rc6 17.Qc1 Ne7 18.Qb2 Ng6
Be7 15.Rc7 Qb2 16.Rc8+ Bd8 17.Bd6+– 19.Rc1+–) 17.Nb5 Qxa2 18.Nec3 Qa5
Vaisser – Kallai, France 2000. 19.Nxd5+– Berczes – Holt, Richardson
11.0-0 a6 2014.
13...Bb4 14.Rb3 Qa5 15.e5 Ng8 16.Qb1
Bxc3 17.Rxc3 Ne7 18.Rfc1 0-0 19.Rc7
Ng6 20.Be3 (20.Rxd7? Qa4-+) 20...Rad8
21.Qb2!?± Black has great problems to
find any active ideas. His pieces are
squeezed all over the entire board and he
 XIIIIIIIIY
must only wait for the worst to come. All 9r+-+kvl-tr0
this is obviously not worth his extra pawn. 9+-+-+pzpp0
13.e4 9pzp-+-sn-+0
13.a4!? This is an interesting alternative 9wq-+-sn-+-0
for White. 13...e6 14.Bg3 Rc8 (14...Be7 9-+-+PvL-+0
15.Be1!+–) 15.Be1 Rc4 16.e4 Bb4 17.e5 9+-sN-+-+-0
Ng8 18.Qb3 Ne7 19.Ne4 Bxe1 20.Nd6+ 9P+-+N+PzP0
Kf8 21.Rfxe1 Qxa4 22.Qe3 Qc6 23.Qf4 9+R+Q+RmK-0
Nf5 24.Nxf5 exf5 25.Ng3 g6 26.Qh6+ xiiiiiiiiy
Ke8 27.Qg7 Rf8 28.Qxh7 Rxd4 29.e6
fxe6 30.Qxg6+ Kd8 31.Rxe6 Qc5 16.Kh1!
32.Kh1± 16.Bxe5?! White does not need to force
the issue. 16...Qxe5 17.Qa4+ Nd7 18.Rf5
13...dxe4 14.fxe4 e5! 15.dxe5 Nxe5
Bc5+ 19.Kh1 Qc7 20.Rd1 Ra7 21.Rfd5
b5∞ Svidler – Dubov, Chita 2015.
16...Rd8 (16...Be7 17.Bxe5 Qxe5
18.Qa4+ Kf8 19.Rf5 Qe6 20.Rbf1±)
17.Qb3 Bd6 18.Bg5 Be7 19.Bxf6 Bxf6
20.Nd5 0-0 21.Nxf6+ gxf6 22.Nf4± –
Black’s king will be permanently
endangered and this provides White with
a considerable advantage.
C5)XIIIIIIIIY
5...e6 6.e3 he will have to prevent the exchange of
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 his dark-squared bishop for his
9zpp+-+pzpp0 opponent’s knight, because after 8.Nf3,
9-+-+psn-+0 Black can continue with 8...Nh5!? 9.Be5
9+-+p+-+-0 (9.Bg3 Nc6) 9...Nc6∞
9-+-zP-vL-+0 8...b6
9+-sN-zP-+-0 8...Nc6 9.a3 – see Chapter 3, variation
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 C2.
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 8...a6 9.Nf3 – see variation C5b.
xiiiiiiiiy 9.Nf3 Bb7
We will deal in details now with C5a) 9...Ba6 10.Nb5!? (10.Bxa6 Nxa6 11.0-0²
6...Be7, C5b) 6...a6 and C5c) 6...Bd6. – White’s pieces are better coordinated,
while Black’s knight is deployed
About 6...Qb6 7.Bd3 – see variation C4a.
somewhat awkwardly.) 10...Bxb5
6...Nc6 7.Bd3 – see Chapter 3, variation 11.Bxb5 Bd6 (11...Bb4+ 12.Nd2²)
C.
12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.0-0 a6 14.Qa4 Nbd7
6...Bb4. This move is somewhat not in the 15.Bd3² – Black must fight for equality
spirit of the position. Black’s light- without any chances of organizing active
squared bishop on c8 is very passive and counterplay, or reaching a complicated
the exchange in the future of his dark- double-edged position.
squared bishop for White’s knight on c3
10.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
will be hardly purposeful. 7.Bd3 0-0
9rsn-wq-trk+0
8.Nf3 Qa5?! (8...Nc6 9.0-0 – see Chapter
9zpl+-vlpzpp0
2, variation C) 9.0-0!? Bxc3 10.bxc3
9-zp-+psn-+0
Qxc3 11.Bd6 Re8 (11...Rd8? 12.Rc1 Qb2
9+-+p+-+-0
13.Rc2+–) 12.Ne5ƒ and White has
9-+-zP-vL-+0
excellent compensation for the pawn. 9+-sNLzPN+P0
C5a) 6...Be7 7.Bd3 0-0 9PzP-+-zPP+0
About 7...Nc6 8.h3 – see Chapter 3, 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
variation C2. xiiiiiiiiy
7...a6 8.h3 – see variation C5b.
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0 10...Nc6
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 10...a6 11.Rc1 Nc6 12.a3 b5 (12...Rc8,
9-+-+psn-+0 Tarjan – Henley, Berkeley 1984,
9+-+p+-+-0 13.Na4!? Ne4 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Nd2 b5
9-+-zP-vL-+0 16.Nc5²) 13.b4 Ne8 (13...Rc8 14.Nd2
9+-sNLzP-+-0 Nd7 15.Nb3 Nb6 16.Nc5 Bxc5 17.bxc5²
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 Balin – Buldrova, Plzen 1999; 13...a5
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 14.Nxb5 axb4 15.Bc7 Qd7 16.Ne5 Nxe5
xiiiiiiiiy 17.Bxe5 Ba6 18.Rc7 Qd8 19.a4²) 14.Nd2
Nd6 15.Nb3 Nc4 16.Ra1² – The pawn-
8.h3! structure is identical, but White’s bishop
If White wishes to fight for the advantage, is more active and this provides him with

an edge.
11.a3 Rc8 12.Qe2
White’s bishops are much more active
than their black counterparts. White’s
position is preferable. (12.Rc1²). 12...Na5
13.Nd2 (13.Rac1!?²) 13...Bd6 14.Bxd6
Qxd6 15.Rac1 Qe7 16.Rc2 Ne8 17.b4
Nc6 18.Rfc1² Andersson – Ansell,
Birmingham 2006.
C5b) 6...a6 7.Bd3
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9+p+-+pzpp0
9p+-+psn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzP-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
7...Be7
This looks like the most logical move for
Black. He wishes to develop at first his
kingside, to castle there and only then to
decide how to handle his queenside
pieces.
About 7...Nc6 8.a3 – see Chapter 3,
variation C.
7...Bd6 8.Bxd6 Qxd6. Here, White has
succeeded in advancing 9.f4 and this
provides him with better prospects,
irrelevant of how Black continues, for
example: 9...0-0 10.Nf3 – see variation
C5c.
7...b5. This move cannot be
recommended, since it compromises
Black’s queenside. Instead of this pseudo-
activity on the queenside, he had better
think about how to complete his
development. 8.Nf3 Bb7 (8...Nh5?
9.Bxb8 Rxb8 10.Ne5 Nf6 11.Nc6+–;
8...Be7 9.h3 – see 7...Be7) 9.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqkvl-tr0
9+l+-+pzpp0
9p+-+psn-+0
9+p+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
9...Nbd7?! 10.Rc1!? (10.a4 b4 11.Na2²)
10...Rc8 (10...Nh5?! 11.Bc7! Qxc7
12.Nxb5 Qb6 13.Nc7+ Ke7 14.Nxa8
Bxa8 15.Qa4 Bb7 16.Rc3+–; 12...Qxc1
13.Qxc1 axb5 14.Qc7 Ba6 15.a4 Nhf6
16.axb5 Bc8 17.Ne5+–) 11.a4 b4
12.Na2± Rxc1 13.Nxc1 Be7 14.Nb3 0-0
15.Qe2 a5 16.Rc1 Qa8 17.Bb5 Rc8
18.Rxc8+ Bxc8 19.Bc7+–
9...Nh5 10.Bg5!? Be7 (10...f6?! 11.Ne5!?
g6 12.Bh4±) 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Ne5 Nf6
13.Rc1 0-0 14.a4 b4 15.Nb1±
9...Be7 10.Rc1!? 0-0 (10...Nh5?! 11.Bc7!
Qc8 12.Nxb5 axb5 13.Bxb5+–; 11...Qxc7
12.Nxb5 Qxc1 13.Qxc1 axb5 14.Qc7
Ba6 15.Ne5 Nf6 16.a4 Nfd7 17.Nxd7
Nxd7 18.axb5 Bc8 19.b6+–) 11.Ne5
Nbd7 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 (12...Qxd7?!
13.Nxb5!±) 13.a4 b4 14.Nb1 Rc8
15.Rxc8 Qxc8 16.Nd2± – White is
threatening Nb3 and Qb1 with the idea
Rc1.
9...Bd6, Szmetan – Burmakin, Salou
2005, 10.Ne2 0-0 11.Rc1 Nc6 12.Bb1
Rc8 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Nf4 Na5 15.Nd3²
8.h3
White should better not allow 8.Nf3 Nh5,
because after 9.Bg3 Nc6, or 9.Be5 Nc6,
he would have to comply with the trade of
his dark-squared bishop for Black’s
knight, following which White will hardly
have the chance of fighting for any
opening edge whatsoever.
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 9rsn-wq-trk+0
9+p+-vlpzpp0 9+l+-vlpzpp0
9p+-+psn-+0 9p+-+psn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0 9+p+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzP-+P0 9+-sNLzPN+P0
9PzP-+-zPP+0 9PzP-+-zPP+0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
8...0-0 11.a4
About 8...Nc6 9.a3 – see Chapter 3, This is a standard pawn-break.
variation C2. 11...b4 12.Nb1
8...b5 9.Nf3 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 (10...0-0 White is planning the manoeuvre
11.a4 – see 8...0-0; 10...Nc6 11.a4 b4 Nbd2-b3.
12.Nb1 0-0 13.Nbd2 Qb6 14.Nb3 a5 12...Nc6 13.Nbd2 Na5 14.Qe2 Qb6
15.Qe2 Rfc8 16.Rfc1 Na7 17.Ne5± 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bh4 Rfc8 17.Ne5ƒ
Lenderman – Sevian, Greensboro 2014) Zvjaginsev – Bologan, New York 1997.
11.a4 b4 12.Nb1 0-0 13.a5 Ne4 14.Nbd2 6...Bd6 7.Bxd6 Qxd6
C5c)XIIIIIIIIY
Ndf6 15.Nb3² Riska – Medunova, Czech 9rsnl+k+-tr0
Republic 1999. 9zpp+-+pzpp0
8...Nbd7 9.Nf3 b5 (9...0-0 10.0-0 – see 9-+-wqpsn-+0
8...0-0) 10.0-0 Bb7 (10...0-0 11.Rc1 – see 9+-+p+-+-0
8...0-0) 11.a4 b4 12.Ne2² Geller – 9-+-zP-+-+0
Pfeiffer, Oberhausen 1961. 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9.Nf3 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
In this position, White has a slight 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
positional advantage, because his light- xiiiiiiiiy
squared bishop is considerably more
active than its white counterpart. 8.f4
This move, played with the idea Nf3-e5,
9...b5
is particularly effective when Black’s
9...Nc6 10.a3 – see Chapter 3, variation
knights are on f6 and c6, for example
C2.
after 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3
9...Nbd7 10.0-0 b5 11.Rc1 Bb7 12.a4. Bd6 8.Bxd6 Qxd6 9.f4, which will be
White accomplishes a standard pawn- analysed in Chapter 3, variation C1, but
break, followed by a transfer of his knight in this chapter, as we have already
from c3 to b3, which would help him to mentioned before, we analyse positions in
rely on better prospects in the middle which Black postpones the move Nb8-c6.
game. 12...b4 13.Nb1 Rc8 14.Rxc8 Qxc8
In this case, however, the move 8.f4,
15.Nbd2 Qc6 16.Qa1² Walther –
although not to the same degree, still
Schweitzer, Germany 2002.
enables White to fight for the initiative.
10.0-0 Bb7
It is also possible for White to play here
 XIIIIIIIIY
8.Bd3!?, with the idea to follow with 9rsnl+-trk+0
f2-f4 and Nf3-e5, but in this line after 9zpp+-+pzpp0
8...0-0 –
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-wqpsn-+0
9rsnl+-trk+0 9+-+p+-+-0
9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+-zP-zP-+0
9-+-wqpsn-+0 9+-sN-zPN+-0
9+-+p+-+-0 9PzP-+-+PzP0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9tR-+QmKL+R0
9+-sNLzP-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 9...b6
xiiiiiiiiy 9...Nc6 10.Bd3 – see Chapter 3, variation
C1.
The move 9.f4 would not be so effective 9...a6 10.Bd3 b5 11.0-0 Bb7 12.Ne5² In
in view of 9...b6!? with the idea for Black this position White exploits the outpost of
to exchange the light-squared bishops. his knight on e5 and obtains an advantage
10.Qe2 (10.Nf3 Ba6 11.0-0 Bxd3 with energetic actions. 12...Ne4
12.Qxd3 Nc6 13.Ne5 Rfc8=; 11.Bxa6 (12...Nbd7 13.Rc1 Rac8, Raetsky –
Nxa6 12.0-0 Rfc8=) 10...Bb7!? 11.Nf3 Burmakin Zurich 2002. Here, it would be
(11.Rc1 Rc8!? 12.Nf3 Ne4!? 13.0-0 Nxc3 very interesting for him to transfer his
14.bxc3 Nc6 15.Ne5 Rc7=) 11...Ne4!? queen to h3. 14.Qf3 Rc7 15.Ne2 Rfc8
12.0-0 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Nc6 14.Ne5 Rac8= 16.Qh3ƒ) 13.Qc2!? f5 (13...Rc8?!
(14...Rfc8? 15.Bxh7+! Kxh7 16.Qh5+ 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Rxc2? 16.Nxd6
Kg8 17.Qxf7+ Kh8 18.Rf3+–). Bc6 17.Rfc1 Rxg2+ 18.Kh1 Rc2+ 19.d5
Therefore, White should play 9.Rc1! Bxd5+ 20.e4+–; 15...Qc7 16.Nc5±) 14.a4
preserving the initiative and preventing b4 15.Nxe4 fxe4 16.Be2 Rc8 17.Qd2
the move 9...b6?! with 10.Nb5 Qb4+ Nc6 18.a5!? Rab8 19.Rfc1± Flores Rios –
11.Qd2±, while following 9...Nc6, he can Burmakin, Cappelle la Grande 2013. We
already play 10.f4!? – see Chapter 3, would like to point out to you how White
variation C1. should play in this type of positions – a
8...0-0 knight on e5 and a pawn on f4.
XIIIIIIIIY
8...Nc6 9.Bd3 – see Chapter 3, variation 9rsnl+-trk+0
C1. 9zp-+-+pzpp0
8...Ne4, Benko – Pomar Salamanca, 9-zp-wqpsn-+0
Palma de Mallorca 1968, 9.Rc1 0-0 9+-+p+-+-0
10.Nf3 Nc6 11.Bd3² 9-+-zP-zP-+0
9.Nf3
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
10.Rc1!?
It would be premature for him to play
 XIIIIIIIIY
here 10.Bd3, because of 10...Ba6!? 9rsn-+-trk+0
11.Bxa6 (11.0-0 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 Rc8=) 9zp-+-+pzpp0
11...Nxa6 12.0-0, Machelett – Gasthofer, 9lzp-wqpsn-+0
Germany 2015, 12...Rfc8= 9+-+p+-+-0
10...Ba6 9-+-zP-zP-+0
10...Bb7 11.Bd3² 9+-sN-zPN+-0
The move 11...Ne4 would not be effective 9PzP-+-+PzP0
in these circumstances. 12.0-0 Nxc3 9+-tRQmKL+R0
(12...Rc8? 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Rxc8+ Bxc8 xiiiiiiiiy
15.Bxe4+–) 13.Rxc3± – White has a
11.Bxa6 Nxa6 12.0-0 Rfc8 13.Ne5² –
superior development, while Black’s
Black has managed to solve the problem
light-squared bishop is very passive on
with the development of his light-
the b7-square.
squared bishop, but his knights are not
well placed and his queenside has been
weakened by the move b6, so all this
precludes him from equalising
completely.
 10.Kd1! (10.Kd2?! Bb4+ 11.Kd1 axb5
Chapter 2 12.Rc1 Kf8³) 10...Qc8 (10...Be7 11.Nc7+
d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Bf4 Nc6
1.d4XIIIIIIIIY Kf8 12.Rc1+–) 11.Nc7+ Kd7 12.Qxa8
Qxa8 13.Nxa8 Nxa1 14.Nf3 f6
9r+lwqkvlntr0
9zpp+-zppzpp0 15.Bxa6+–
9-+n+-+-+0 A) 5...Bf5 6.Qb3!?
9+-+p+-+-0 White forces his opponent to protect his
9-+-zP-vL-+0 b7-pawn with a somewhat strange move
9+-+-+-+-0 for positions of this type.
9PzP-+PzPPzP0 6...Qd7
9tRN+QmKLsNR0 6...Qb6?! 7.Qxb6 axb6 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.f3 –
xiiiiiiiiy see Chapter 1, variation C2.
6...e5?! 7.dxe5 Bxb1 8.Rxb1 Bb4+ 9.Kd1
5.e3 d4 10.Nf3!? This is the simplest move for
After 5.Nc3, White must consider White (10.e4²). 10...dxe3+ 11.Ke2 exf2
seriously Black’s possibility e7-e5. (11...Nge7 12.fxe3 0-0 13.Rd1 Qc8
We will deal now with A) 5...Bf5, B) 14.Kf2 Ng6 15.g3±) 12.a3 Be1 13.Qxb7
5...Qb6 and C) 5...e6. Nge7 14.Rd1 Qb8 15.Qxb8+ Rxb8 16.b4
Black’s main response 5...Nf6 will be Ng6 17.Bg3 0-0 18.e6 Rbe8 19.Nxe1
analysed in Chapters 3-5. fxe1=Q+ 20.Rxe1 Rxe6+ 21.Kd2 Rd8+
5...a6 6.Nc3
XIIIIIIIIY 22.Kc3. White’s prospects are obviously
9r+lwqkvlntr0 preferable thanks to his bishop-pair. Now,
9+p+-zppzpp0 Black should better avoid 22...Rxe1
9p+n+-+-+0 23.Bxe1 Rd1 24.Be2², because his rook
9+-+p+-+-0 cannot remain on the last rank. 24...Ra1?
9-+-zP-vL-+0 (24...Rb1? 25.Kc2+–) 25.Kb2+–
9+-sN-zP-+-0 7.Nc3 e6 8.Nf3
XIIIIIIIIY
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9r+-+kvlntr0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 9zpp+q+pzpp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+n+p+-+0
9+-+p+l+-0
Here, the best for Black would be to play 9-+-zP-vL-+0
6...Nf6 (6...e6 7.Bd3 – see variation C) 9+QsN-zPN+-0
7.Be2 and to transpose to positions from 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
Chapter 4. 9tR-+-mKL+R0
There may arise original positions only xiiiiiiiiy
after the move 6...Bf5, but it is rather
dubious in view of 7.Qb3, for example: 8...f6
7...e6 (7...Nf6?! 8.Qxb7 Na5 9.Qc7±; But not 8...Nf6?!, because after 9.Ne5,
7...Na5 8.Qxd5±) 8.Qxb7 Nb4 (8...Na5 Black’s queen will have to retreat 9...Qc8
9.Qc7± and Black has no compensation 10.Rc1± Terrieux – Polgnonnec,
for the pawn, Lazarev – Bespalov, Tula Fouesnant 2008.
2000) 9.Nb5!? (9.Kd2!?+–) 9...Nc2+ 8...Rc8 9.Bb5!? f6 10.0-0²
8...a6 9.Be2 Nf6 10.0-0 Be7?! 11.Rfc1± b2-pawn and Black cannot capture it
with the idea Na4. advantageously.
8...Bb4?! 9.Ne5 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3± 6.Nc3!
9.Bb5!? This is the only way for White to fight for
This move enables White to fight for a the opening advantage. Following 6.Qd2
slight edge. Nf6 7.Nc3 Bf5, Black’s chances are not
9...Nge7 worse at all. White’s queen is not so
9...a6 10.Bxc6 Qxc6 11.0-0 Ne7 12.Rfc1 active on d2 in similar structures and the
Rc8 13.Nh4ƒ with the idea 13...Bg4 14.f3 b3-square is much more appropriate for it.
XIIIIIIIIY
Bh5XIIIIIIIIY
15.e4!?± 9r+l+kvlntr0
9r+-+kvl-tr0 9zpp+-zppzpp0
9zpp+qsn-zpp0 9-wqn+-+-+0
9-+n+pzp-+0 9+-+p+-+-0
9+L+p+l+-0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9+QsN-zPN+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
9tR-+-mK-+R0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
We will analyse now B1) 6...Nf6, B2)
10.Na4!? Ng6 11.Bg3 (11.0-0!?²) 6...e6 and B3) 6...e5.
11...Bb4+ 12.Ke2 Be7 13.Rhc1 0-0 6...Qxb2?! 7.Nxd5 e5 (7...Bf5 8.e4!?
14.Kf1 Rac8 15.Rc3 h5 16.h3² Xiu – Bu, 0-0-0 9.Bd3 e5 10.Rb1 Qxa2 11.Bxe5
Zhongshan 2014. Nxe5 12.dxe5² Kb8 13.Nf3 Qa5+
B) 5...Qb6 14.Ke2 Qa2+ 15.Qd2 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2±)
XIIIIIIIIY
8.Rb1! Bb4+ 9.Nxb4 Qc3+ 10.Qd2
9r+l+kvlntr0
Qxd2+ 11.Kxd2 exf4 12.Nd5 (12.Nxc6
9zpp+-zppzpp0
9-wqn+-+-+0 fxe3+ 13.fxe3 bxc6 14.Nf3±) 12...fxe3+
9+-+p+-+-0 13.fxe3±
9-+-zP-vL-+0 B1) 6...Nf6 7.Bd3
9+-+-zP-+-0 White is playing in a gambit style,
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 because it would be very risky for Black
9tRN+QmKLsNR0 to accept the pawn-sacrifice.
xiiiiiiiiy White can also play 7.a3!? here.

This move is not so popular for Black. A

similar queen-sortie is sensible in some
pawn-structures typical for the Exchange
variation in the Slav Defence if White is
forced to protect his b2-pawn, or if Black
may capture that pawn under favourable
circumstances. Here, as you will see later,
White does not need to defend his
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+kvl-tr0 very passive.) 9.Nge2 e6 10.0-0 Be7
9zpp+-zppzpp0 11.Na4² Nogly - Voigt, Hamburg 1993.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-wqn+-sn-+0 9r+l+kvl-tr0
9+-+p+-+-0 9zpp+-zppzpp0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9-+n+-sn-+0
9zP-sN-zP-+-0 9+-+p+-+-0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 9+-sNLzP-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9Pwq-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
7...Qxb2? 8.Na4+– xiiiiiiiiy
7...e6?! 8.Nb5±
7...a6 8.Bd3 Bg4 9.Nge2 e6 10.0-0 Be7 8.Nb5!
11.Na4² This is White’s most dynamic move.
7...Bg4 8.f3 Bd7 (8...Bf5?! 9.g4 Bg6 He maintains the advantage too following
10.h4 h6 11.h5 Bh7 12.Na4 Qd8 8.Nge2 a6! (8...Qb6?! 9.Nb5 e5 10.dxe5
13.Qb3±; 8...Bh5?! 9.Na4 Qd8 10.Qb3 Bb4+ 11.Kf1 Ne4 12.a3 Ba5 13.Bxe4
Qc8 11.Nc5+–; 9...Qa5+ 10.b4 Qd8 Qxb5 14.Rb1 Qc5 15.Qxd5±) 9.0-0 Qb6
11.Nc5 Qb6 12.Qa4 e6 13.Nxb7 Qxb7 10.Na4ƒ
14.Ba6+–) 9.Na4!? (9.Bd3²) 9...Qd8 8...e5
10.Bd3² 8...Bg4 9.Nf3!?± e5 (9...0-0-0? 10.Rb1
7...Bf5 8.Na4 Qd8 9.Rc1² Qxa2 11.0-0 Bxf3 12.gxf3 Nh5 13.Ra1
7...Qxb2?! Qb2 14.Nxa7+ Nxa7 15.Rxa7 Nxf4
If Black refrains from capturing on b2, the 16.exf4 e6 17.Qa4+–) 10.0-0 exf4 11.Rb1
move 5...Qb6 becomes senseless, since Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Qd2 13.Nc7+ Kd8
his queen comes under attack after the 14.Nxa8 Qxd3 15.Qxf4+–
manoeuvre Nc3-a4. 7...e6?! 8.Nb5!? e5 9.Rb1XIIIIIIIIY
(8...Bb4+ 9.Kf1 e5 10.dxe5±) 9.Bxe5 9r+l+kvl-tr0
Nxe5 (9...Bb4+ 10.Kf1±) 10.dxe5 Ne4 9zpp+-+pzpp0
(10...Bb4+?! 11.Kf1 Ne4 12.Qa4+–) 9-+n+-sn-+0
11.Ne2 Bb4+ 12.Nec3 a6 13.0-0!?± 9+N+pzp-+-0
7...Bg4 8.Nge2!? (8.f3²) 8...e6 9.0-0 a6. 9-+-zP-vL-+0
Black prepares the a7-square for the 9+-+LzP-+-0
retreat of his queen. (9...Be7 10.Na4 Qd8 9Pwq-+-zPPzP0
11.Rc1 0-0 12.Nc5 Bxc5 13.Rxc5 Nd7 9+R+QmK-sNR0
14.Rc3² Aczel – I.Balog, Hungary 2014) xiiiiiiiiy
10.Na4 Qa7 11.Qb3 b5?! (11...Bxe2
9...Qxa2
12.Bxe2²) 12.Rfc1± Grischuk – Kamsky,
9...Bb4+ 10.Kf1 Qxa2 11.dxe5 Ng4
Moscow 2013.
12.Ne2 (12.Qe2 Qxe2+ 13.Kxe2±)
7...a6 8.a3!? This is White’s simplest 12...Qa5 (12...0-0 13.h3 Nh6 14.Ra1
move. 8...Bg4 (8...e6 9.Na4!? Qd8 Qd2? 15.Qb1+–; 14...Qb2 15.g4 Be6
10.Nf3 Be7 11.h3² – Black’s position is 16.Kg2±) 13.h3 Ngxe5 (13...Nh6 14.g4
 XIIIIIIIIY
0-0 15.Qb3 Be7 16.Kg2±) 14.Rxb4 Nxb4 9r+lwqkvl-tr0
15.Bxe5 0-0 16.Bc3± 9+p+-+pzpp0
10.dxe5 Ng4 11.Be2 Bb4+ 12.Kf1!? 0-0 9p+n+p+-+0
13.h3 Nh6 14.g4² White wishes to 9+-+p+-vLn0
improve his position with the natural 9N+-zP-+-+0
moves Nf3 and Kg2. Black’s pieces are 9zP-+LzPN+-0
discoordinated and his queen on a2 and 9-zP-+-zPPzP0
the knight on h6 are horribly misplaced. 9tR-+QmK-+R0
B2) 6...e6 xiiiiiiiiy
This move is no better than 6...Nf6 –
Black covers deliberately the way of 11...f6 (11...Be7 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.0-0±;
development of his bishop to the f5, or 11...Nf6 12.Rc1 h6 13.Bh4 Be7 14.0-0
g4-squares and is doomed to only passive Nd7 15.Bg3± Veress – Bencze, Hungary
defence. 2008) 12.Ne5!? g6 (12...Nxe5 13.dxe5 g6
14.exf6±) 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Bh4±
7.a3!?ƒ
This move emphasizes White’s B3) XIIIIIIIIY
6...e5
advantage. 9r+l+kvlntr0
XIIIIIIIIY
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9r+l+kvlntr0
9-wqn+-+-+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9+-+pzp-+-0
9-wqn+p+-+0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9+-sN-zP-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9zP-sN-zP-+-0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy This risky move seems quite logical in
connection with the plan connected with
7...a6
5...Qb6.
7...Bd7 8.Bd3 Nf6 9.Nf3 (9.Na4 Qa5+!?
10.b4?! Bxb4+ 11.axb4 Nxb4µ) 9...Be7 7.Bxe5!?
(9...Rc8 10.Na4± Spreng – Kulke, This is the only way for White to fight for
Germany 2014) 10.0-0 0-0 11.Na4 Qd8, an advantage in the opening.
Augustin – Hennings, Leipzig 1981, After 7.dxe5 Qxb2 8.Nxd5 Bb4+ 9.Nxb4
12.Nc5!? (12.Nd2²) 12...Bxc5 13.dxc5ƒ Qc3+ 10.Ke2, the position would remain
White has a positional advantage thanks very unclear. The game followed with
to his bishop-pair and the pawn-majority 10...Nxb4!? 11.Rc1 Qa3!? (11...Nxa2
on the queenside. 12.Kf3! Bg4+ 13.Kxg4 Qxc1 14.Bb5+
8.Bd3 Nf6 9.Na4!? Qd8 10.Nf3 Nh5!? Kf8 15.Ne2!?©) 12.Kf3, Moradiabadi –
10...Be7 11.h3± Black has no active Sambuev, Ottawa 2013, 12...Ne7!? with a
counterplay and is forced to defend very complicated situation, for example:
passively in this position. 13.Bb5+ (13.Rc7 Nbc6!? 14.Qd6 Qa4∞;
14...Qa5!? 15.Bc4 Bg4+ 16.Kxg4 h5+
11.Bg5
17.Kf3 Rd8∞) 13...Nbc6 14.Ne2 Qxa2∞
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+kvlntr0 13.Qc1+–) 13.Qxd3 Qc7 (13...Qxd3+
9zpp+-+pzpp0 14.Kxd3±) 14.Nf3±
9-wqn+-+-+0 8.Bg3 Qxb2
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+pvL-+-0 9r+l+kvlntr0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9zpp+-+-zpp0
9+-sN-zP-+-0 9-+n+-zp-+0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9+-+p+-+-0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 9-+-zP-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-sN-zP-vL-0
9Pwq-+-zPPzP0
7...f6!? 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
This is Black’s relatively best move, but it xiiiiiiiiy
has not been tested in the tournament
practice yet. 9.Nxd5!?
7...Qxb2 8.Nxd5
XIIIIIIIIY 9.Qc1 Qxc1+ 10.Rxc1 Bb4 11.Bd3 Nge7
9r+l+kvlntr0 12.Nge2²
9zpp+-+pzpp0 9...Bb4+ 10.Nxb4 Qc3+ 11.Ke2 Nxb4
9-+n+-+-+0 12.Rb1!
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+NvL-+-0 9r+l+k+ntr0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9zpp+-+-zpp0
9+-+-zP-+-0 9-+-+-zp-+0
9Pwq-+-zPPzP0 9+-+-+-+-0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 9-sn-zP-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-wq-zP-vL-0
9P+-+KzPPzP0
8...Bf5 9.Nf3!? Rc8 (9...0-0-0 10.Bc4 9+R+Q+LsNR0
Bb4+ 11.Kf1±) 10.Qc1! Qxc1+ xiiiiiiiiy
(10...Bb4+ 11.Nxb4 Qxb4+ 12.Qd2
Qxd2+ 13.Kxd2 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Rc2+ White is better in this position. He has an
15.Ke1 Nh6 16.Bb5+ Ke7 17.Ba4 Rb2 extra pawn and a pair of powerful
18.Nc4 Rb4 19.Bb3±) 11.Rxc1± bishops. Still, the game remains very
8...Nxe5, Jacimovic – Stanojoski, Skopje complicated.
2007, 9.Rb1! Qxa2 10.Nc7+ (10.dxe5 12...Bf5!?
Qa5+ 11.Qd2 Qxd2+ 12.Kxd2±) 12...Ne7 13.Qa4+ Nbc6 14.Qb3 Qxb3
10...Kd8 11.Nxa8 Ng4 12.Be2 N8f6 15.Rxb3±
13.Nf3 Ne4 14.Qc1 Qa5+ 15.Nd2² 13.Qa4+ Nc6 14.Rxb7
Ngxf2? (15...Ba3?! 16.Qc2+–; 15...Nxd2
16.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 17.Kxd2 Nxf2 18.Rhf1
Ne4+ 19.Kd3±) 16.0-0+–
8...Bb4+ 9.Nxb4 Qc3+ 10.Ke2 Nxe5
11.Rb1! a5, Narciso Dublan – Delchev,
Andorra 1999 (11...Ng6 12.Qc1 Qxc1
13.Rxc1±) 12.Nd3 Nxd3 (12...Ng6?!
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+k+ntr0 16.d5 Nge7 17.Nh3 Rd8 18.Rxf1 Rxd5
9zpR+-+-zpp0 19.Rb3²
9-+n+-zp-+0 16...Bxe2+ 17.Kxe2 Nge7 18.Bd6 0-0
9+-+-+l+-0 18...Nd5?! 19.Rhb1 Rd8 20.Ba3 Rd7
9Q+-zP-+-+0 21.Rb8+ Rd8 22.R1b7 Rg8 23.Kf3!+–
9+-wq-zP-vL-0 19.Rd1
XIIIIIIIIY
9P+-+KzPPzP0 9r+-+-trk+0
9+-+-+LsNR0 9zpR+-sn-zpp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+nvL-zp-+0
14...Bd3+
9+-+-+-+-0
14...Bc2 15.Rb3! Bxb3 16.Qxb3
9Q+-zP-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-wq-zP-+-0
9r+-+k+ntr0 9P+-+KzPPzP0
9zp-+-+-zpp0 9+-+R+-+-0
9-+n+-zp-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0 19...Nd5!?
9+Qwq-zP-vL-0 19...Rf7 20.Rd3 Nxd4+ (20...Qc1 21.d5
9P+-+KzPPzP0 Ne5 22.Rd1 Qc4+ 23.Qxc4 Nxc4
9+-+-+LsNR0 24.Bxe7+–) 21.Qxd4 Qxd4 22.exd4 Nf5
xiiiiiiiiy 23.Rxf7 Kxf7 24.Bc5+–
19...Rfe8 20.d5 Nf5 21.Qxc6 Nd4+
16...Qa5 17.Nf3 Nge7 18.Kd1±
22.Rxd4 Qxd4 23.Rb4 Qa1 24.Bc7
16...Qc1 17.Nf3± Rd8 (17...Rc8?! 18.Bd6
Qxa2+ 25.Kf3±
Nge7 19.Ba3 Qa1 20.Kd2+–) 18.d5 Na5
20.Bxf8 Kxf8 21.g3!?
19.Qb5+ Rd7 (19...Kf7 20.Nd4!? Nc4
White has a noticeable advantage, since
21.d6!?±; 20...Qc4+ 21.Qxc4 Nxc4
his pieces are much more active. Black’s
22.Kd3 Ne5+ 23.Kd2±) 20.Qxa5 Qc4+
knights are unstable. If White trades the
21.Kd2 Rxd5+ 22.Nd4 Qxd4+ 23.exd4
queens, even at the price of a pawn, he
Rxa5 24.Bc4±
would have an obvious advantage in the
16...Qxb3 17.axb3. The endgame is variation:
obviously better for White. He has two
21...Qxe3+
pawns for the exchange and his bishops
21...Nce7 22.Kf1!? a5 23.Kg2±
are tremendously strong. 17...Nge7
18.Kd2 0-0 (18...Na5 19.Bb5+ Kf7 20.b4 22.fxe3 Nc3+ 23.Kd3 Nxa4 24.Rc1±
a6 21.Bd3 Nac6 22.Bc4+ Ke8 23.Kc3±) C) 5...e6 6.Nc3
19.Bc4+ Kh8 20.Ne2 Nf5 21.Ra1 Nxg3
22.hxg3 a5 23.Bd5 Ra6 24.Nf4 Ne7
25.Bc4±
15.Kf3 Bxf1
15...Bc2?! 16.Rb3 Bxb3 17.axb3 Nge7
18.Bb5+–
16.Ne2!?
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvlntr0 senselessness of Black’s plan, connected
9zpp+-+pzpp0 with the queen-sortie Qa5.
9-+n+p+-+0 8.Nf3
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+p+-+-0 9r+lwqk+-tr0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
9+-sN-zP-+-0 9-+n+psn-+0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9+-+p+-+-0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 9-vl-zP-vL-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-sNLzPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
6...Bb4 9tR-+QmK-+R0
This move is not in the spirit of the xiiiiiiiiy
position. Black’s light-squared bishop on
c8 is very passive and his last active move 8...0-0
is hardly reasonable. It would be anti- Following 8...Qa5?!, White can ignore the
positional for him to exchange threat Bxc3 and reply with 9.0-0!
XIIIIIIIIY
deliberately his dark-squared bishop for
9r+l+k+-tr0
the enemy knight and his pressure against
9zpp+-+pzpp0
the c3-square would not bring him 9-+n+psn-+0
anything meaningful. As a result of his 9wq-+p+-+-0
last move his bishop will be attacked with 9-vl-zP-vL-+0
tempo after a3. White maintains a 9+-sNLzPN+-0
positional advantage with quite natural 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
moves. 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
About 6...Nf6 7.Bd3 – see Chapter 3, xiiiiiiiiy
variation C.
6...Qb6 7.a3 – see variation B2. 9...0-0 10.Nb5 (10.a3!? Bxc3 11.bxc3
6...Bd6 7.Bxd6 Qxd6 8.Qg4 – see Qxc3 12.Qb1 h6 13.Rc1 Qa5 14.h3©)
Chapter 1, variation B. 10...Ne8 11.a3ƒ
6...a6 7.Bd3 Bd6 (7...Nf6 8.a3 – see 9...Nh5 10.Be5!? Nxe5 (10...0-0?
Chapter 3, variation C) 8.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.Ng5+–, with the idea 11...g6
9.Qg4 g6 (9...Kf8 10.Nf3²) 10.Nf3² – 12.Qxh5!+–; 10...f6?! 11.Ng5 g6
White maintains an overwhelming 12.Nxh7 Nxe5 13.dxe5±) 11.dxe5 Bxc3
positional advantage. The readers can see 12.bxc3±
how similar positions are treated in details 9...Bxc3 10.bxc3 Qxc3 11.Bd6. In this
in Chapter 1, variation B. position White has dangerous initiative
7.Bd3 Nf6 for the pawn, because the enemy monarch
7...Qa5?! 8.Nge2 Nf6 9.a3± Black is is stranded in the centre. In the game
practically forced to lose a tempo and Gleizerov – Antoshin, Smolensk 1986,
retreat. 9...Be7 (9...Bxc3+?! 10.Nxc3±) there followed later 11...Qa5 12.Ne5 Qd8
10.h3!? 0-0 11.0-0ƒ White is threatening 13.Ba3 Ne7 14.Qa4+ Nd7 15.Rfc1 and
to play b2-b4 and to oust the enemy queen Black ended up in a hopeless position, for
to its initial position, emphasizing the example: 15...0-0 (15...f6 16.Bd6! 0-0
 XIIIIIIIIY
17.Qa3 Nf5 18.Bxf5 exf5 19.Be7 Qe8 9r+l+-trk+0
20.Bxf8 Nxf8 21.Nd3+–) 16.Rxc8 Rxc8 9zpp+n+pzpp0
17.Nxd7+– 9-wq-+p+-+0
9.0-0² 9+N+pzP-+-0
Black’s position is passive and his bishop 9-+-+-zP-+0
on b4 is misplaced in similar situations. 9+-+LzP-+-0
White is threatening to play Rc1, followed 9PzP-+-+PzP0
by a2-a3 and to force his opponent to 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
either exchange on c3, which seems anti- xiiiiiiiiy
positional, or to make him retreat with the
14...Nc5 (14...Qxe3+ 15.Kh1 g6 16.Rc1
bishop when the entire plan with the
Qb6 17.Qc2©) 15.Qc2 h6 16.Nd6 Bd7
move 6...Bb4 would turn out to be
17.Rac1²
senseless.
XIIIIIIIIY 14.Qd2 Nc5 (14...f6 15.Bc2 g6 16.Bb3ƒ
9r+lwq-trk+0 fxe5?! 17.fxe5± Rxf1+ 18.Rxf1 Nxe5
9zpp+-+pzpp0 19.Nxd5+–) 15.Bc2 Bd7 16.Rab1²
9-+n+psn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0 Following 9...Bd7, White’s simplest
9-vl-zP-vL-+0 reaction would be 10.Rc1 Rc8 (10...a6
9+-sNLzPN+-0 11.a3 Be7 12.Ne5²) 11.Qb3 Qb6 12.Na4
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 Qa5 13.a3 Be7 14.Nc5± Vachier Lagrave
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 – Stolfi, Quenza 2011.
xiiiiiiiiy 9...a6 10.Rc1 Bd6 (10...Bd7 11.a3 – see
9...Bd7) 11.Ne5!± Csavassy – Percze,
9...Nh5 Asztalos 2004.
The retreat 9...Be7 seems strange, because 9...Bxc3 10.bxc3 Na5, Donaldson –
after 10.h3² there arises a popular Awate, Seattle 1984 (10...b6, Fiorito –
theoretical position, except that with an Zarnicki, Buenos Aires 1998, 11.Ne5!
extra tempo for White, since Black’s Bb7 12.a4!?²) 11.Ne5± White’s position
bishop has ended up on the e7-square in is obviously preferable and all his minor
two moves Bb4-e7, and not in one. pieces are very active. In addition, he has
9...Bd6 10.Ne5!? Bxe5 11.Bxe5!? Nxe5 a powerful bishop-pair.
12.dxe5 Nd7 13.f4 and White’s prospects 10.Bg5
XIIIIIIIIY
are clearly better, for example: 13...Qb6 9r+lwq-trk+0
14.Nb5 9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+n+p+-+0
9+-+p+-vLn0
9-vl-zP-+-+0
9+-sNLzPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...f6 (10...Be7 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Ne5
Nf6 13.f4± Kaszynski – Walkusz, Gdansk 2009) 11.Bh4²
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
Chapter 3
9zpp+-zppzpp0
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Bf4 Nc6 9-+n+-+-+0
Nf6 6.Nc3
5.e3XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+p+-+-0
9r+lwqkvl-tr0 9-+-zPnvL-+0
9zpp+-zppzpp0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9-+n+-sn-+0 9PzP-+NzPPzP0
9+-+p+-+-0 9tR-+QmKL+R0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sN-zP-+-0 7...Nxc3
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
7...g6?! 8.Nxe4 dxe4 9.Nc3± Weber –
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
Feuerstack, Ratzeburg 2002.
xiiiiiiiiy
7...Bf5?!, Hauchard – Filippov, Shenyang
We will analyse now A) 6...Ne4, B) 1999, 8.Qb3!?
XIIIIIIIIY
6...Bg4 and C) 6...e6. 9r+-wqkvl-tr0
Black’s popular moves 6...a6 and 6...Bf5 9zpp+-zppzpp0
will be dealt with in the following 9-+n+-+-+0
chapters. 9+-+p+l+-0
About 6...Qb6?! 7.Bd3 (7.a3) – see 9-+-zPnvL-+0
Chapter 2, variation B1. 9+QsN-zP-+-0
6...g6 7.h3 – see Chapter 1, variation C1.
9PzP-+NzPPzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
A) 6...Ne4 xiiiiiiiiy
This move looks a bit awkwardly. Black
makes a second move with the same piece 8...Qb6 9.Qxb6 axb6 10.Nxd5!? (10.f3
without any particular necessity. This Nxc3 11.Nxc3 e6 12.Bc7±) 10...e6
manoeuvre would seem more purposeful 11.Nc7+ Kd7 12.Nxa8 Bb4+ 13.Nc3
with a white knight on the f3-square. The Rxa8 (13...Nxc3? 14.Nxb6+ Ke7 15.a3
main idea of 6...Ne4 is to exchange on c3 Ba5 16.Nc4+–) 14.d5!? Nxc3 (14...exd5
and to force White to capture with the 15.Bd3±) 15.dxc6+ bxc6 16.a3 Nd5+
pawn and then to fianchetto the dark- 17.Ke2 Nxf4+ 18.exf4 Bc5 19.g3±
squared bishop with g7-g6.
8...e5 9.Bxe5! f6 (9...Nxe5 10.Nxe4 Bxe4
7.Nge2!? 11.dxe5±; 10...a6 11.N2c3 dxe4
White counters radically his opponent’s 12.dxe5±) 10.Qxb7 Qc8 (10...Nb4?!
idea, which would have been realised 11.Nf4+–; 11.Ng3+–) 11.Qxc8+ Rxc8
following 7.Nf3 Nxc3 8.bxc3 g6!?, with a 12.Ng3± Bg6?! (12...Nb4 13.Rc1±)
complicated position. 9.Be2 Bg7 10.0-0 13.Ba6+–
0-0 11.c4 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Bf5 13.Rc1 Rc8
7...g5 8.Bg3 Nxg3 9.Nxg3² – White has
14.Qe2 a6∞ with a quite acceptable game
a considerable positional advantage, since
for Black, Portisch – Kramnik, Biel 1993.
the f5 and h5-squares are very weak in his
opponent’s camp.
8.Nxc3 e6 9.Bd3
Black’s position is passive. 8...Bxf3 (8...Bh5?! 9.g4 Bg6 10.Qb3!?²
9...Bd6 Nikolaidis – D.Pavlovic, Korinthos 2002)
White maintains the initiative following 9.Qxf3 e6. White has a bishop-pair
9...Be7, Stefanova – Zhukova, Dresden indeed, but this is hardly any real
2004, 10.0-0 0-0 11.a3 Bd7 12.b4² advantage in this position. Black is
XIIIIIIIIY
threatening to play Bd6 and to complete
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9zpp+-+pzpp0 quickly his development, offering the
9-+nvlp+-+0 trade of the bishops in the process.
9+-+p+-+-0 10.Bd3 (10.Be2 Bd6 11.Bg5, Dacalor –
9-+-zP-vL-+0 Sebag, Vichy 2000, 11...h6 12.Bh4 Be7
9+-sNLzP-+-0 13.0-0 0-0 14.Rac1 Rc8=) 10...Nb4
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 11.Qe2 (11.Bb1 Bd6 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bh4
9tR-+QmK-+R0 Rc8 14.0-0 0-0= Garbarino – Del Dotto,
xiiiiiiiiy Imperia 2009) 11...Bd6 12.Bxd6 Qxd6
13.0-0 0-0 14.Rac1 Rac8= Atalik –
10.Qg4!? g6 11.Qg3, Graf – Atalik, Karjakin, Moscow 2005.
XIIIIIIIIY
Istanbul 2003, 11...Bxf4 12.Qxf4² 9r+-wqkvl-tr0
B) 6...Bg4 9zpp+-zppzpp0
Black is trying to develop comfortably his 9-+n+-sn-+0
light-squared
XIIIIIIIIYbishop. 9+-+p+-+-0
9r+-wqkvl-tr0 9-+-zP-vLl+0
9zpp+-zppzpp0 9+QsN-zP-+-0
9-+n+-sn-+0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9+-+p+-+-0 9tR-+-mKLsNR0
9-+-zP-vLl+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sN-zP-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 7...Qc8?!
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 It would be correct for Black to opt here
xiiiiiiiiy for 7...Na5 8.Qa4+ Bd7 9.Qc2 – see
Chapter 5, variation B.
7.Qb3 The endgame arising after 7...Qb6?!
This is White’s most promising move. 8.Qxb6 axb6 9.f3! is very bad for Black
He would not achieve much with 7.f3 due to his horrible pawn-weaknesses
Bd7!? 8.Bd3 e6 9.g4 (9.Nge2 Nh5!?∞ (9.Bb5 e6 10.f3 Bf5 11.Nge2²). 9...Bd7
Vaarala – Blomqvist, Vaxjo 2015) 9...Be7 10.Nb5 Ra5 11.Kf2²
10.Nge2 0-0 11.h4 Ne8∞ Sichinava - 7...Qd7?! 8.h3 Bf5 (8...Bh5 9.g4 Bg6
Bazeev, St Petersburg 2014. 10.Nf3±) 9.Nf3± – White’s threat Nf3-e5
Following 7.Nf3, he has only minimal is very dangerous for Black, Chu –
chances of fighting for the advantage. Potluri, Al Ain 2013.
7...a6!? (7...e6 8.Qb3 Bb4 9.Ne5ƒ
Glodeanu – Bets, Bucharest 1993) 8.h3
(8.Qb3 Bxf3 9.gxf3 Na5 10.Qa4+ Nc6=
Seirawan – Kramnik, Monte Carlo 1994)
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+q+kvl-tr0
9zpp+-zppzpp0
9-+n+-sn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vLl+0
9+QsN-zP-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
8.a3!? (8.f3 Bd7 9.Nb5 Na5 10.Qd1 Bb5
11.Bb5 Nc6 12.Rc1±) 8...a6 9.h3 Be6
(9...Bf5?! 10.Nxd5±; 9...Bh5 10.Nxd5
Nxd5 11.Qxd5 e5 12.Bc4±; 12.Rc1±)
10.Nf3!? (10.Na4 Na5 11.Qd1±) 10...g6
11.Na4 Nd7 12.Rc1 Bg7 13.Ng5±
C) 6...e6
This move covers the possibility for Black
to develop his bishop to an active position
(to the f5, or g4-squares) and seems
passive, but only at first sight.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+n+psn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
Its idea can be seen in the variation 7.Nf3
Bd6 8.Bxd6 Qxd6 9.Bd3 0-0 10.0-0 Bd7
11.Rc1 Rac8! This is the rook, which
should be placed on c8, because after
White’s thematic move 12.Na4, Black has
the tactical resource 12...Nxd4!³. Instead
of this, in the game Nguen – Dreev,
Jakarta 2013, there followed 12.Qd2 Rfd8
13.Rfd1 Be8 14.h4 a6= It looks like
White’s bishop is better than its opponent,
but this is not enough to provide him with
an edge, because he cannot improve his
position due to Black’s powerful light-
squared bishop, which prevents the
important manoeuvre Nc3-a4. White can
obtain an advantage in similar structures
only if his pawn is on f4 and not on f2, so
that he controls the e5-square and has
additional possibilities to improve his
position.
Black’s second idea is to play 7...Be7,
avoiding the exchange of the dark-
squared bishops and trying to reach more
complicated positions. The basic classical
set-up for him in similar situations would
be 0-0, Bd7, Qb6, or Qa5, followed by
Rfc8 and Qd8, as well as the eventual
manoeuvre Nf6-h5, attacking White’s
dark-squared bishop in an attempt to
exchange it with the knight.
In his fight for the opening advantage
White must try to prevent all these ideas
and not to allow his opponent’s planned
set-up. If Black succeeds somehow to
realise his plans, White must at least try to
have the best possible version of the
developments.
7.Bd3
This is his best way to fight for the
initiative.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+n+psn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzP-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
We will analyse in details now the moves
C1) 7...Bd6 and C2) 7...Be7.
About 7...Qb6?! 8.Nb5± – see Chapter 2,
variation B1.
7...Bd7 8.a3 Be7 9.h3 0-0 10.Nf3 – see

variation C2.
7...Bb4 8.Nf3 – see Chapter 2, variation
C.
7...Qa5?! Black’s queen has nothing to do
on this square. After 8.a3±, White will
play in the nearest future b4 and Black’s
queen will have to retreat to its initial
square, which would be in favour of
White, Nogueiras – Garcia Carey, Las
Tunas 1996.
7...h6, Esen – Karavade, Doha 2015. This
waiting move does not improve much
Black’s position, while the waiting moves
a3, or h3 improve White’s position
considerably, since the move a3 prepares
b2-b4 in the future, while h3, after White
plays Nf3, makes Black’s manoeuvre
Nf6-h5 harmless. 8.a3 Bd6 (8...Be7 9.h3
0-0 10.Rc1 – see variation C2) 9.Bxd6
Qxd6 10.f4!? 0-0 11.Nf3, planning
Nf3-e5, after which White has a
considerable positional advantage thanks
to his powerful outpost on the e5-square.
7...a6 8.a3. He makes a useful move (after
the natural reply 8.Nf3, Black can counter
with the line: 8...Bd6 9.Bxd6 Qxd6,
simplifying the position and preventing
the possibility for White’s knight to be
deployed on the e5-square) 8...Bd6
(8...Be7 9.h3 – see 7...Be7) 9.Bxd6 Qxd6
10.f4!? 0-0 11.Nf3² with the idea Nf3-e5.
C1) 7...Bd6 8.Bxd6 Qxd6 9.f4!
White plans to place his knight on e5 and
Black will have great problems to
exchange it under favourable
circumstances, or to oust it from there. In
addition, his light-squared bishop is
“bad”, so in general, he will be forced to
only a passive defence.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+-tr0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+nwqpsn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-zP-+0
9+-sNLzP-+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
9...Bd7
9...0-0 10.Nf3 b6 11.a3 Bb7 12.Ne5²
Qe7 13.0-0 Nxe5?! 14.fxe5± Zhukova –
Muzychuk, Kharkov 2012.
9...Ne7 10.Nf3 Ng4 11.Qe2 Nf5
12.Ne5!? Ngxe3 13.g4 Nh4 14.Bb5+
Kf8 15.Rg1 a6 16.Bd3² Nc4?! 17.Bxc4
dxc4 18.0-0-0± Razuvaev – Kupreichik,
Ashkhabad 1978.
9...a6 10.Nf3 b5 11.0-0 Bb7 12.Rc1І
Ne7?! 13.a4 (13.Bxb5+!? axb5 14.Nxb5
Qd8 15.Nc7+ Kf8 16.Nxa8 Bxa8,
Driessens – Schoorl, Netherlands 2013,
17.b4±) 13...b4 14.Na2 0-0 15.a5 Rfc8
16.Qa4 Ng4 17.Rce1 Nc6 18.h3 Nf6
19.Ne5 Rab8 20.Rc1 b3 21.Nc3² Li – Yu,
China 2013.
10.Nf3 a6
10...Nb4 11.Bb1 Qa6 12.a3 Ng4 13.Qd2²
f5?! 14.h3 Nf6 15.Ne5 Nc6 16.Bd3 Qb6
17.Na4 Qd8 18.Nc5 Bc8 19.Bb5 Qb6
20.Bxc6+ bxc6 21.Rc1 0-0 22.0-0 Re8
23.Rc3 a5 24.Rfc1+– Barsov – Ayyad,
Sharjah 2014.
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+k+-tr0 0-0 XIIIIIIIIY
13.Ne5 – see 8...0-0.
9+p+l+pzpp0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9p+nwqpsn-+0 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9+-+p+-+-0 9-+n+psn-+0
9-+-zP-zP-+0 9+-+p+-+-0
9+-sNLzPN+-0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9PzP-+-+PzP0 9+-sNLzP-+P0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 9PzP-+-zPP+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9tR-+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
11.0-0 b5 12.Rc1 0-0 13.Ne5ƒ Na5?!
14.Rf3 Nc4 15.Rh3 g6 16.Qe1 Kg7 9.a3!?
17.b3 Nb6 18.Qh4± Sorin – Fraschini, This is a rarely played move, but no
Buenos Aires 1994. doubt, it deserves serious attention. White
C2)XIIIIIIIIY
7...Be7 is waiting to see what plan his opponent
9r+lwqk+-tr0 will choose.
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 He plays in practice much more often
9-+n+psn-+0 9.Nf3, but then Black has the possibility
9+-+p+-+-0 to simplify the position with 9...Bd6
9-+-zP-vL-+0 (9...Bd7 10.a3 – see 9.a3) 10.Bxd6 Qxd6
9+-sNLzP-+-0 in somewhat more favourable
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 circumstances in comparison to 9.a3 a6
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 10.Nf3 Bd6, for example: 11.0-0 Bd7
xiiiiiiiiy 12.Qe2 Rfc8 13.Rfc1 Nb4!? 14.Ne5
Nxd3 15.Qxd3 Be8 16.Rc2 Nd7 17.Nxd7
Black wishes to complete his
Qxd7 18.Rac1 Rc6 19.Nb1 Rac8 20.Rxc6
development, without revealing for the
Rxc6 21.Rxc6 Qxc6= – Black has
moment his future plans. This move was
equalised after a precise play, Volkov –
preferred by famous chess players like
Malakhov, Yerevan 2014.
XIIIIIIIIY
Vasily Smyslov and Tigran Petrosian.
8.h3 9r+lwq-trk+0
Following 8.Nf3, Black has the
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
possibility to complicate the position with
9-+n+psn-+0
the move 8...Nh5!? obtaining very good
9+-+p+-+-0
counterplay. 9.Be5 0-0 (9...f6!? 10.Bg3
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9zP-sNLzP-+P0
f5= Komarov – Svetushkin, Le Port
9-zP-+-zPP+0
Marly 2009) 10.g4 Nf6 11.h4 Qb6
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
12.Bxf6 Qxb2 13.Bxe7 Qxc3+ 14.Kf1
xiiiiiiiiy
Nxe7= Safin – Dreev, Kramatorsk 1989.
8...0-0 9...Bd7
About 8...a6 9.a3 0-0 10.Nf3, or 8...Bd7 9...Bd6 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.f4² with the
9.Nf3 0-0 10.a3, or 9...Rc8 10.a3 0-0 idea Nf3-e5.
11.0-0, or 10...Na5 11.0-0 Nc4 12.Qe2 9...h6 10.Rc1. White is not in a hurry to
develop his knight and makes a useful
waiting move (after the immediate
10.Nf3, it would be possible for Black to
opt for 10...Bd6 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.0-0
Bd7, although even then White’s position
would be slightly preferable) 10...Bd7
11.Nf3² – White’s pieces are more active
and he has the initiative.
9...a6 10.Nf3. White’s bishops are
considerably more active than their black
counterparts.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+-vlpzpp0
9p+n+psn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9zP-sNLzPN+P0
9-zP-+-zPP+0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...b5 11.0-0 Bb7 (11...Na5 12.Ne5 Bb7,
Romashko – Grin, Kharkov 2001, 13.a4
Nc4 14.Qe2 b4 15.Nb1²; 12.a4!? b4
13.Nb1 Bb7 14.Nbd2² ) 12.a4!?
(12.b4!?²) 12...b4 13.Nb1²
10...Bd6 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.0-0, Balogh –
Vavra, Topolcianky 1994, 12...Bd7
13.Na4!?² – White maintains a slight
positional advantage thanks to the
vulnerability of the dark b6 and
c5-squares in Black’s camp.
10...Bd7 11.0-0 Na5 (11...Rc8 12.Qe2 –
see 9...Bd7; 11...b5 12.Ne5 Na5, Egorov
– Raheb, Quebec 2000, 13.a4±) 12.Ne5
Rc8 13.Rc1² Belozerov – Musakaev,
Pavlodar 2012.
10.Nf3
This is the right time for White to play
this move. He is already not afraid of the
possible trade of the dark-squared bishops
after Be7-d6.
He preserves a slight positional edge
thanks to his better piece-coordination
and more active bishops. This position
can be more often reached after the move-
order 9.Nf3 (instead of 9.a3) 9...Bd7 and
now 10.a3!? This is a seldom played
move and its idea is to impede the
coordination of Black’s pieces. After
White’s usual response 10.0-0, Black
succeeds following 10...Qb6, or 10...Qa5
in realising the classical set-up for this
type of positions with Rfc8 and Qd8,
which, as the tournament practice has
shown, enables him to hold a successful
defence.
10...Rc8
In this line however, the above mentioned
set-up cannot be realised, since after
10...Qb6?! White has the resource 11.Na4
Qa5+ 12.b4± and Black’s queen will have
to retreat to its initial position, Burkart –
Scholz, Germany 1986.
11.0-0²
This position is much more easily played
withXIIIIIIIIY
White.
9-+rwq-trk+0
9zpp+lvlpzpp0
9-+n+psn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9zP-sNLzPN+P0
9-zP-+-zPP+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Na5
11...a6 12.Qe2 Na5 13.Rac1² Qb6?!
14.Ne5 Rfd8?! 15.b4 Nc6 16.Na4 Qa7
17.Nc5± Hess – Hoeck, Bad Homburg
2010.
12.Ne5 Be8
12...Nc4, Moehring – Starck, Leipzig
1981, 13.Qe2 Nd6 (13...b5?! 14.Nxd7
Qxd7 15.b3 Nxa3 16.Nxb5 Nxb5
17.Bxb5±) 14.Rfc1² 14...a6
13.Qc2 b5 14.Rfc1
XIIIIIIIIY 14...Qb6?! Bernadskiy – Lewtak, Krakow
9-+rwqltrk+0 2012, 15.Nxd5! Rxc2 16.Nxe7+ Kh8
9zp-+-vlpzpp0 17.Rxc2 Qd8 18.Rc7!±
9-+-+psn-+0 15.b3²
9snp+psN-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9zP-sNLzP-+P0
9-zPQ+-zPP+0
9tR-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
Chapter 4
9+p+-zppzpp0
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Bf4 Nc6 9p+n+-sn-+0
Nf6 6.Nc3 a6
5.e3XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+p+-+-0
9r+lwqkvl-tr0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+p+-zppzpp0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9p+n+-sn-+0 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9+-+p+-+-0 9tR-+QmK-sNR0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sN-zP-+-0 We will deal in details now with A) 7...e6
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
and B) 7...Bf5.
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy Black should better not play passively,
since this would not solve his opening
This is a very sensible and popular line problems after 7...g6?! 8.Nf3 Bg7 9.h3
for Black. He makes a useful move and 0-0 10.0-0± (10.Rc1!? b6 11.Na4 Bd7
waits for his opponent to choose a plan 12.0-0 e6 13.Qb3±; 13.Ne5 Nxe5
for development. 14.Bxe5 Ra7 15.Qb3 Bxa4 16.Qxa4 Ne4
7.Be2!? 17.Bh2 Re8 18.Rc6± Vakhidov –
The main idea of this seemingly calm Sasikiran, Al Ain 2015).
XIIIIIIIIY
developing move is to fight against the 9r+lwq-trk+0
ideal placement of Black’s light-squared 9+p+-zppvlp0
bishop. After e7-e6, White will be happy 9p+n+-snp+0
with a slight but stable advantage making 9+-+p+-+-0
use of Black’s “bad bishop”. Following 9-+-zP-vL-+0
the natural and principled development of 9+-sN-zPN+P0
the bishop 7...Bf5, White will have the 9PzP-+LzPP+0
interesting possibility – 8.g4. 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
After 7.Bd3, Black would have played xiiiiiiiiy
7...Bg4, for example: 8.Nge2 (He should
White’s position is obviously better.
not be afraid of 8.f3 Bh5 9.Nge2 Bg6=,
Black’s bishop on g7 has no good
exchanging the light-squared bishops.)
prospects and his queenside and in
8...e6. There has been amassed plenty of
particular the b6-square are vulnerable.
theory in both schemes, but White can
All this is a consequence of the wrong
hardly prove that he has an edge in both
plan for the development of his kingside.
lines.
10...b5?! This seemingly active move
only weakens Black’s queenside. 11.Ne5
Bb7 12.Nd3± Kriebel – Meduna, Czech
Republic 2011.
10...Bf5 11.Qb3 b5 12.Rfc1! (12.Ne5
Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Ne4 14.Nxe4 dxe4
15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Rfc1² Li – Andriasian,
Kazan 2013) 12...Na5 13.Qa3 Nc4
14.Qb4 Ne4 15.a4±
10...b6 11.Rc1 Bb7 12.Na4 Nd7 13.Qb3
Na5 14.Qc3 Bc6 15.b3 Bxa4 16.bxa4 Re8
17.Qb2 e6 18.Rc2± Raznikov –
Steinberg, Douglas 2014.
10...Be6 11.Qb3 Ra7 12.Ng5± Moreno
Ruiz – Martin Rueda, Madrid 2013.
7...Qb6?! 8.a3! This is White’s best way
of protecting the b2-pawn. 8...e6
(8...Qxb2?? 9.Na4+–) 9.Nf3 Be7 10.0-0
0-0 11.Na4. Now, it has become evident
that Black’s queen is misplaced on b6 and
only helps White to realise his plan to
deploy his knight on the c5-square.
11...Qd8 12.Rc1 Nh5 13.Bg5! Bxg5
14.Nxg5± Lei – Teng, Zhongshan 2014.
7...h6. Black prepares the development of
his bishop to the f5-square, so that
White’s possibility g2-g4 would not be so
dangerous for him. The obvious drawback
of Black’s last move is that he loses time
for development. 8.Rc1!? Bf5 9.Nf3 e6
10.Qb3 Bd6 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Qxb7!?
(12.0-0 0-0 13.Na4² Krstulovic – Czupor,
Budapest 2015) 12...0-0 13.Na4
(13.Nxd5 Qxd5 14.Qxc6 Qxa2∞)
13...Nb4 14.0-0 Nxa2 15.Rc6 Qb4
16.Qxb4 Nxb4 17.Rb6 Rab8 18.Rxb8
Rxb8 19.Ne5 a5 20.Rc1²
7...Ne4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+p+-zppzpp0
9p+n+-+-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zPnvL-+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
8.Nxe4!? dxe4 9.a3! (9.f3?! exf3?
10.Nxf3±; 9...e5! 10.dxe5 Qa5+ 11.Kf2
Be6 12.Qc2 Rd8© Azmaiparashvili –
Anand, Las Palmas 1993) 9...Be6. The
f3-square is not available to White’s
knight, but he can develop it in another
way. 10.Nh3 g6 11.Bg3 Bxh3 (11...Bg7
12.Nf4²) 12.gxh3 Bg7 13.0-0 0-0 14.Qb3
Qd7 15.Rac1ƒ
8.Bd3!? Bf5 (8...Nxc3 9.bxc3²) 9.Bxe4
dxe4 10.Nge2 e6 11.h3² (11.0-0 g5!
12.Bg3 Bg7 13.Qb3 b5∞).
8.Nf3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+p+-zppzpp0
9p+n+-+-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zPnvL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
8...Nxc3?! This exchange does not
combine well with the move 6...a6, since
Black will be incapable of consolidating
his position with the move b7-b6 and will
have difficulties countering White’s
pressure on the b-file. 9.bxc3 g6 (9...e6
10.0-0 Bd6 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Rb1 0-0
13.Rb6±; 10...Be7 11.a4 0-0 12.Bd3!?±)
10.Ne5! Bg7 (10...Nxe5 11.Bxe5 f6
12.Bg3 Bg7 13.Qb3 0-0 14.0-0±)
11.Nxc6 bxc6, Azmaiparashvili –
Kasimdzhanov, Elista 1998, 12.0-0 0-0
13.c4 Qa5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Qb3±
8...Bf5 9.0-0 e6 10.Ne5 Nxe5 11.Bxe5
Bd6 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.Bxd6 Qxd6
14.Qb3 0-0 15.Rfc1 Qd7 16.Rc3 Rfc8
17.Rac1² Shomoev – Seliverstov,
Moscow 2014.
A) 7...e6 8.Rc1
White is not in a hurry to develop his
knight on f3 and makes another useful
move. The idea is that after 8...Bd6
9.Bxd6 Qxd6, he can play at first 10.f4! 16.Bxb5+! axb5 17.Nxb5 Qd8 (17...Qe7
and XIIIIIIIIY
develop the knight on f3 only later. 18.Qa5 Nfd7 19.Rxc8+ Nxc8 20.Rc1 0-0
9r+lwqkvl-tr0 21.Rc7 Qd8 22.b4+–; 19...Bxc8 20.Nc7+
9+p+-+pzpp0 Kf8 21.Rc1+–) 18.Qb4 Ne4 19.Ng5 Qe7
9p+n+psn-+0 20.Qa5 Nxg5 21.Qxb6 0-0 22.Nc7!?±
9+-+p+-+-0 10...0-0 11.Nf3. Black fails to make use
9-+-zP-vL-+0 of the absence of White’s bishop on d3.
9+-sN-zP-+-0 11...Ne4?! (11...Bd7 12.0-0²) 12.Nxe4
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 dxe4 13.Nd2 f5 14.0-0 Bd7 15.Nc4±
9+-tRQmK-sNR0 Perera – Gauna, Cuba 2012.
XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9r+lwqk+-tr0
9+p+-vlpzpp0
8...Be7
9p+n+psn-+0
8...Bd7 9.Nf3 Nh5, Azmaiparashvili –
9+-+p+-+-0
S.Volkov, Frankfurt 1999 (9...Be7 10.h3
9-+-zP-vL-+0
0-0 11.0-0 – see 8...Be7) 10.Bg5² f6?! 9+-sN-zP-+-0
11.Bh4 g6 12.Ne5± 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
8...Bd6 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.f4. We have 9+-tRQmK-sNR0
analysed an analogous position in Chapter xiiiiiiiiy
1 (variation B), but there White’s light-
squared bishop was placed on d3, which 9.h3
was naturally even more advantageous for 9.Nf3 Nh5 10.Be5 f6 11.Bg3 0-0∞
him. His position is preferable even with a Munkhgal – Ilincic, Kecskemet 2015.
bishop on e2, because he can play f2-f4 9.Bd3!? 0-0 10.h3 h6 11.Nf3 Bd6 12.0-0
and deploy his knight on f3 only later Bxf4 13.exf4 Qd6 14.Qd2 b6 15.Bb1 Bb7
with the idea to develop his initiative on 16.Rfe1 Rac8 17.Ne5ƒ Svidler – Le,
the kingside.
XIIIIIIIIY Tromsoe 2013.
9r+l+k+-tr0 9...0-0 10.Nf3 Bd7 11.0-0 Rc8
9+p+-+pzpp0 11...b5 12.Bd3 Qa5, Petersson –
9p+nwqpsn-+0 Nakamura, Dos Hermanas 2003, 13.Ne5!
9+-+p+-+-0 Rfc8 14.e4!² with the idea 14...b4
9-+-zP-zP-+0 15.Nxd7 Nxd7 16.Ne2 Nb6 17.e5 Qxa2
9+-sN-zP-+-0 18.b3 Na5 19.Rb1±
9PzP-+L+PzP0 12.Bd3!?²
9+-tRQmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...Ne4 11.Nf3 Nxc3 12.Rxc3 0-0
13.Bd3 Bd7 14.0-0 f5 15.Qd2 g6
16.Rfc1² Li – Ma, Kazan 2013.
10...b5 11.Bd3 Bb7 12.Nf3 Rc8 13.0-0²
Na5 14.Qe1! Nc4?! 15.b3 Nb6,
Raznikov – Biegel, Caleta 2014,
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0 9-+r+-trk+0
9+p+lvlpzpp0 9+-+-vlpzpp0
9p+n+psn-+0 9pwql+psn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0 9+p+psN-zP-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9-+nzP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzPN+P0 9+-sNLzP-+P0
9PzP-+-zPP+0 9PzP-+QzP-+0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0 9+-tRR+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
This position may be reached with White 17...Ne4 (17...Nd7 18.Nxf7! Kxf7
to move if Black has played the opening 19.Qh5+– Parker – Spence, Birmingham
badly. Now, White does not have an extra 2001; 18...Rxf7 19.Bxh7 Kf8 20.Bg6+–;
tempo, but Black’s position is cramped 19...Kxh7 20.Qh5+ Kg8 21.g6 Bd8
and he can hardly find a way of 22.gxf7 Kf8 23.b3+–) 18.Nxe4 dxe4
simplifying it. 19.Bxc4 bxc4 20.Qxc4 Bb7 21.Qe2±
12...b5 B) 7...Bf5 8.g4
12...Qb6 13.Qe2 Nb4 14.Bb1 Ne4?! This is the way for White to begin his
15.Ne5!± Benitah – Boudre, Besancon fight for the initiative and an advantage.
1999. Black’s bishop can retreat to many
13.Qe2 Qb6 14.Rfd1 Na5 15.Ne5 Bc6 different squares indeed, but after each
Black begins a regrouping of his forces.
XIIIIIIIIY one of them White hopes that his pawn on
9-+r+-trk+0 g4 would not turn out to be a weakness to
9+-+-vlpzpp0 say XIIIIIIIIY
the least.
9pwql+psn-+0 9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9snp+psN-+-0 9+p+-zppzpp0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9p+n+-sn-+0
9+-sNLzP-+P0 9+-+p+l+-0
9PzP-+QzPP+0 9-+-zP-vLP+0
9+-tRR+-mK-0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9PzP-+LzP-zP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
16.g4! xiiiiiiiiy
This is the right moment for White to
begin active actions on the kingside. 8...Bg6
16...Nc4 17.g5 8...Bd7 9.Bf3. He completes his
development and maintains the initiative
on the kingside. (9.f3 e6 10.Bd3 Bb4
11.Nge2 Qe7 12.a3 Bd6 13.g5 Nh5
14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.f4² Azmaiparashvili –
Almasi, Pula 1999) 9...e6 10.h4 Bb4
(10...Be7 11.g5±) 11.Nge2²
8...Be6 9.h4!? White continues to occupy
additional space. 9...Ne4 10.Rc1. Now,
Black will have problems to develop his
dark-squared bishop (His hopes were
based on the line; 10.Nxe4 dxe4,
followed by Be6-d5, e7-e6.). 10...g6,
Andreikin – Wang, Dortmund 2013
(10...Qb6 11.Na4 Qa5+ 12.Kf1±;
10...Rc8 11.h5²) 11.Nh3!? Bg7 12.Qb3
Na5 13.Qc2 Rc8 14.Ng5²
8...Bc8. Black’s bishop retreats to its
initial square. He hopes that White’s
kingside will be weakened by the advance
of his g-pawn, but this is rather naïve.
This weakening is just illusory. 9.Rc1
(White does not need to force
immediately the issue with 9.g5 Ne4
10.Nxe4 dxe4, for example: 11.d5? Graf
– Sriram, Dresden 2007, 11...Qa5+!
12.Kf1 Nb4 13.Qd2 Qxd5! 14.Qxb4 e5
15.Qa4+ Bd7 16.Bc4 Bxa4 17.Bxd5
exf4µ; or 11.Kf1 Nb4=) 9...e6 10.h4 Bd6
11.Bxd6 (11.Nh3!? 0-0 12.Kf1 e5
13.dxe5 Bxe5 14.Bxe5 Nxe5 15.g5 Ne4
16.Nf4 Nxc3 17.Rxc3 Be6 18.Kg2²)
11...Qxd6 12.Nh3 0-0 13.Nf4²
8...Be4 9.f3 Bg6 10.h4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9+p+-zppzpp0
9p+n+-snl+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vLPzP0
9+-sN-zPP+-0
9PzP-+L+-+0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...h6 11.Nh3 (11.Qb3 Ra7 12.Rc1 e6
13.Nh3 Be7 14.Bg3 Nd7 15.Nf4² Zhao –
Sebag, Cap d’Agde 2013; 11...Na5!
12.Qa4+ Nc6∞) 11...e6 12.Bg3 Rc8
13.Kf2ƒ
10...h5 11.g5 Nd7 12.Nh3 e6 13.Bg3.
White frees the f4-square for his knight.
(Following 13.Bh2, there may follow
13...Nb6 14.Nf4 Bf5 15.e4 Bh7 16.exd5
Nxd5 17.Ncxd5 exd5 18.Bd3 Bxd3
19.Qxd3 Bd6 20.Ng6 Bb4+ 21.Kf2 fxg6
22.Qxg6+ Kf8 23.Qf5+ Kg8 24.Qe6+
Kf8 25.Qf5=) 13...Nb6 14.0-0!? Bf5
15.Nf4 Bd6 16.Rc1 Rc8 17.Qd2!?ƒ;
17.Qe1!?ƒ – Black’s position is not
comfortable and he must consider all the
timeXIIIIIIIIY
the possibility e4.
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9+p+-zppzpp0
9p+n+-snl+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vLP+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0
9PzP-+LzP-zP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
We will deal now in details with B1)
9.Qb3 and B2) 9.h4!?
B1) 9.Qb3
This move seems attractive and logical,
but it looks like Black can equalise, by a
pawn-sacrifice, not without efforts
though...
9...e6!
9...b5? 10.Nxb5! axb5 11.Bxb5 Qa5+
12.Ke2 Rc8 13.Rc1 Qa8 14.Nf3 Nd7
15.Qa4+–
9...Na5 10.Qa4+ Nc6 11.Nf3. This is a
promising attempt by White to punish his
opponent, by a pawn-sacrifice (11.h4 h5
12.g5 Nd7∞).
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0 13.f3
9+p+-zppzpp0 This move creates maximum problems for
9p+n+-snl+0 Black indeed, but is still insufficient to
9+-+p+-+-0 obtain an advantage.
9Q+-zP-vLP+0 13.a3? Nb3! 14.Ra2 (14.Rd1? Bxc3+
9+-sN-zPN+-0 15.bxc3 Bc2-+) 14...Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Kd7
9PzP-+LzP-zP0 16.Bf4 Rhc8©
9tR-+-mK-+R0 13.Nf3 Nc4 (13...Nxg4?! 14.Nd2! Nf6
xiiiiiiiiy 15.a3 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Nc6 17.c4±) 14.a3
(14.Bxc4 dxc4 15.Nd2 Bd3©
11...Rc8 12.h4 (12.Ne5 Nd7 13.h4 Ndxe5
Azmaiparashvili – Akopian, Wijk aan Zee
14.dxe5 h5, Glavina – Trepat Herranz,
1993) 14...Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Rc8 16.Bg3
Linares 2013, 15.e6!? fxe6 16.gxh5 Bxh5
Ne4 (Black should avoid the positional
17.Bxh5+ Rxh5 18.Qd1 Rf5 19.Qg4©)
trap: 16...Nxg4?! 17.Nd2! Nxd2 18.Kxd2
12...Nxg4 13.h5 Be4 14.Nxe4 dxe4
Nf6 19.f3±) 17.Ne5 (17.Rc1 Ke7©)
15.Nd2 (The following interesting line
17...Nxe5! (17...Nxg3 18.hxg3 Nxe5
would lead only to a draw: 15.Ng5 Nf6
19.dxe5²) 18.Bxe5 f6 19.Bf4 a5=
16.Qb3 Qa5+ 17.Kd1 Nd8 18.Nxf7
Nxf7 19.Qxb7 Qa4+ 20.b3 Qc6 21.Bxa6 13...Rc8
Qc2+ 22.Ke1 Qc3+ 23.Kf1 Qxa1+ 13...Nc4?! 14.Bxc4 dxc4 15.Nge2 Nd5
24.Kg2 Qc3 25.Bb5+ Kd8 26.Qb6+ Rc7 16.Bf4 Bd3 17.Kf2 (17.0-0-0?!
27.Qb8+ Rc8=) 15...Nf6 16.Rc1ƒ Azmaiparashvili – Morovic, Las Palmas
1993; 17...Nxc3 18.Nxc3 Bxc3 19.bxc3
11...Nxg4 12.h3 (12.Rg1!? Nf6 13.Ne5
Be2=) 17...Bxc3 18.bxc3 (18.Nxc3 Nxf4
Qb6 14.Bb5 Rc8 15.Bxc6+ bxc6
19.exf4 Rb8 20.Nd1 h5 21.g5 Bc2=)
16.Qb3!©) 12...Nf6 13.Ne5 Qb6 14.0-0
18...Bxe2 19.Kxe2 h5 (19...Nxc3+
e6, Kobylkin – Panarin, Krasnodar 2005,
20.Kd2 Nd5 21.Bg3±) 20.g5 Nxc3+
15.Nxc6! bxc6 16.Rfc1 Nd7 17.Nd1!? c5
21.Kd2 Nd5 22.Rhc1!?²
18.dxc5 Bxc5 19.a3! e5 20.Bxe5 Bf5
21.Bg4² 14.Bxa5 Bxa5 15.Rc1
XIIIIIIIIY
10.Qxb7 Na5
9-+r+k+-tr0
10...Nb4? 11.Nb5+–
9+-+-+pzpp0
9p+-+psnl+0
11.Qc7 Qxc7 12.Bxc7 Bb4
9vl-+p+-+-0
12...Nc4 13.Bxc4 dxc4 14.f3²
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-zP-+P+0
9r+-+k+-tr0 9+-sN-zPP+-0
9+-vL-+pzpp0 9PzP-+L+-zP0
9p+-+psnl+0 9+-tR-mK-sNR0
9sn-+p+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-vl-zP-+P+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0 15...Rb8!
9PzP-+LzP-zP0 15...Ke7 16.Kf2 (16.a3!? Bxc3+ 17.bxc3
9tR-+-mK-sNR0 Rc6 18.h4 h6 19.Nh3, with the idea
xiiiiiiiiy 19...Rhc8 20.Nf4 Rxc3 21.Nxg6+ fxg6
22.Kd2±) 16...Rc7 17.Nh3²
 XIIIIIIIIY
16.b3 Ke7 17.Kd2
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9-tr-+-+-tr0 9+p+-zppzpp0
9+-+-mkpzpp0 9p+n+-snl+0
9p+-+psnl+0 9+-+p+-+-0
9vl-+p+-+-0 9-+-zP-vLPzP0
9-+-zP-+P+0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9+PsN-zPP+-0 9PzP-+LzP-+0
9P+-mKL+-zP0 9tR-+QmK-sNR0
9+-tR-+-sNR0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
9...h5
17...Rbc8! White can counter 9...h6 with the
This is the only move for Black. promising response 10.Qb3.
XIIIIIIIIY
17...Rhc8 18.Bxa6 Rxc3 19.Rxc3 Ne4+ 9r+-wqkvl-tr0
20.fxe4 Bxe4 21.Nf3 Bxf3 22.Ra1 Bxg4 9+p+-zppzp-0
23.Kc2 Bf5+ 24.Kb2 Bxc3+ 25.Kxc3± 9p+n+-snlzp0
18.Nh3 9+-+p+-+-0
18.Bxa6 Ra8 19.Bd3 Bxc3+ 20.Rxc3 9-+-zP-vLPzP0
Rxa2+ 21.Rc2 (21.Bc2?! h5 22.g5 Ng4³) 9+QsN-zP-+-0
21...Ra1 22.Bxg6 hxg6 23.Rc1 Ra2+ 9PzP-+LzP-+0
24.Rc2 Ra1= 9tR-+-mK-sNR0
18...Rxc3 19.Rxc3 Bxc3+ 20.Kxc3 Rc8+ xiiiiiiiiy
21.Kb4 Rc2 22.Bxa6 Rxa2 23.Bb5
XIIIIIIIIY 10...Ra7 11.h5 Bh7 12.Nf3 e6 13.g5 hxg5
9-+-+-+-+0 14.Bxg5²
9+-+-mkpzpp0
10...Qd7 11.Nf3ƒ e6 12.Na4±
9-+-+psnl+0
9+L+p+-+-0 10...Na5 11.Qa4+ Nc6 (11...b5?
9-mK-zP-+P+0 12.Bxb5+ axb5 13.Nxb5+–) 12.Nf3
9+P+-zPP+N0 Nxg4 13.h5 Bf5 14.Qb3 e6 15.Qxb7 Na5
9r+-+-+-zP0 16.Qc7 Qxc7 17.Bxc7 Bb4 18.Nh4 Rc8
9+-+-+-+R0 19.Bxa5 Bxa5 20.Nxf5 exf5 21.Bxa6
xiiiiiiiiy Rxc3 22.bxc3 Bxc3+ 23.Ke2 Bxa1
24.Rxa1 Nf6 25.a4± – White’s powerful
White has an extra passed pawn, but the passed pawn provides him with an
activity of Black’s rook compensates this. advantage in the endgame.
23...h6 (23...h5!? 24.g5 Nh7 25.Rc1 Bf5 10...e6 11.Qxb7 Na5 12.Qc7 Qxc7
26.Rc7+ Kf8 27.Nf4 Nxg5 28.Nxh5 13.Bxc7 Bb4
Nxf3 29.Rc8+ Ke7 30.Re8+ Kd6
31.Rd8+ Ke7=) 24.Nf4 Rf2 25.Rf1 Rxh2
26.Nxg6+ fxg6 27.Bd3 g5=
B2) 9.h4!?
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+k+-tr0 9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9+-vL-+pzp-0 9+p+-zppzp-0
9p+-+psnlzp0 9p+n+-+l+0
9sn-+p+-+-0 9+-+p+-zPp0
9-vl-zP-+PzP0 9-+-zPNvL-zP0
9+-sN-zP-+-0 9+-+-zP-+-0
9PzP-+LzP-+0 9PzP-+LzP-+0
9tR-+-mK-sNR0 9tR-+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
14.Nf3 Nc4 (14...Nxg4 15.Nd2 Nf6 11...Bxe4
16.a3±) 15.a3 Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 Be4 11...dxe4 12.Qb3 Na5 13.Qa4+ b5
(16...Rc8 17.Bf4 Nxg4 18.h5! Bh7 14.Qd1 e6 15.Kf1!?² Black’s h5-pawn is
19.Rg1 Nf6 20.Ne5±) 17.Rg1² weak and he cannot castle because of this.
14.f3!? 0-0 (14...Rc8 15.Bxa5 Bxa5 White has an idea to transfer his knight to
16.Rc1 Rb8 17.b3 0-0 18.Kd2 e5 19.dxe5 the f4-square.
Nd7 20.Nh3 Nxe5 21.Nf4 Rbd8 22.Nxg6 12.Bf3 Bxf3 13.Nxf3 e6 14.Qb3ƒ – It is
fxg6 23.Rh3 d4 24.exd4 Rxd4+ 25.Kc2 difficult to say how big White’s
Rc8 26.Kb1 Rxc3 27.Rxc3 Bxc3 28.f4²) advantage is in this position, but it is
15.Rc1 Rfc8 16.Bxa5 Bxa5 17.a3² quite obvious that Black has failed to
10.g5 Ne4 11.Nxe4 solve all his problems.
 8...e6?! 9.Ne5 Qc8 10.Rc1. This move
Chapter 5 emphasizes the misplacement of Black’s
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Bf4 Nc6 queen on the c8-square. 10...Nd7
Nf6 6.Nc3 Bf5 7.Qb3
5.e3XIIIIIIIIY (10...a6?! 11.Nxc6 Qxc6? 12.e4 dxe4
13.Nb5+–; 11...bxc6 12.Na4 Nd7 13.Nb6
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
Nxb6 14.Qxb6+–; 10...Nh5?! 11.g4
9zpp+-zppzpp0
9-+n+-sn-+0 Nxf4? 12.gxf5 Nh5 13.fxe6 fxe6
9+-+p+l+-0 14.Nxd5 exd5 15.Bb5 Nf6 16.Nxc6+–;
9-+-zP-vL-+0 11...Bxg4 12.Nxg4 Nxf4 13.exf4+–;
9+QsN-zP-+-0 10...Be7 11.Bb5 Nd7? 12.Nxc6 bxc6
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 13.Nxd5! exd5 14.Rxc6 Qb7 15.Rc7 Qb6
9tR-+-mKLsNR0 16.Qxd5 Qa5+ 17.Ke2+–; 11...0-0
xiiiiiiiiy 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Na4 c5 14.Nxc5± Rb8?!
15.Nc6!+–)
XIIIIIIIIY
This is the only way for White to fight for 9r+q+kvl-tr0
the opening advantage. 9zpp+n+pzpp0
We will analyse now A) 7...Qd7?! and B) 9-+n+p+-+0
7...Na5. 9+-+psNl+-0
7...Qb6 8.Qxb6!? axb6. This endgame is 9-+-zP-vL-+0
bad for Black due to his compromised 9+QsN-zP-+-0
queenside pawn-structure. 9.Bb5 (9.f3 e6 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
10.g4 Bg6 11.h4 h6 12.Bb5²) 9...e6 9+-tR-mKL+R0
10.Nge2² – see Chapter 1, variation C2. xiiiiiiiiy
A) 7...Qd7?! 8.Nf3
11.g4!? Bg6 (11...Ndxe5 12.gxf5 Nf3+
Black’s queen is not stable on the
13.Kd1 Be7 14.Bg2 Nh4 15.Bh3±)
d7-square and its position there is not in
12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Nb5 e5 14.dxe5 Nc5
the spirit of the position, because White
(14...Be4 15.e6!? Nc5 16.Rxc5 Bxc5
would be permanently threatening Ne5.
17.Nc7+ Kf8 18.Qc3 Be7 19.f3!? Bxf3
He has seized completely the initiative.
XIIIIIIIIY 20.Ba6 Qd8 21.0-0 Bxg4 22.Nxa8 Qxa8
9r+-+kvl-tr0 23.Bh6!+–) 15.Qd1±; 15.Qc3± – The
9zpp+qzppzpp0 game is very sharp and the value of every
9-+n+-sn-+0 move is very high for both sides.
9+-+p+l+-0 11.Bb5. This move enables White to
9-+-zP-vL-+0 obtain a clear positional advantage
9+QsN-zPN+-0
without any complications and entering
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
sharp variations. 11...Ndxe5 (11...Ncxe5?
9tR-+-mKL+R0
12.Bxe5 a6 13.0-0! Qd8 14.Bxd7+ Qxd7
xiiiiiiiiy
15.Na4+–; 11...f6? 12.Nxc6 bxc6
8...a6 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.Rxc6 Qd8 15.Qxd5
This is Black’s relatively best move, but it Bb4+ 16.Ke2+–; 11...Be7? 12.Nxc6 bxc6
is not sufficient to solve all his very 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.Rxc6 Qb7 15.Rc7 Qb6
serious problems. 16.Qxd5 Qa5+ 17.Ke2+–) 12.Bxe5±
White’s pieces are much more active, Rfb8 14.Qa3 Qxa3 15.bxa3 Rb2
while Black’s queen is misplaced on the 16.Rfd1. White has an extra pawn, despite
c8-square due to its unfavourable its being doubled, while Black’s rook on
juxtaposition with White’s rook on the c- b2 is practically harmless. 16...Ne4
file. 12...f6 13.Bg3 Kf7 14.0-0 a6 (16...a5 17.Rd2 Rab8 18.Rc1 Ne7 19.Na4
15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Na4 Ra7 17.Qb6 Qb7 Rb1 20.Rdd1²) 17.Nxe4 Bxe4 18.Rd2²
18.Qxb7+ Rxb7 19.Rxc6 Be7 20.Rfc1 B) 7...Na5
Ra8 21.Bd6 Bxd6 22.Rxd6 Raa7 23.b3+– This is no doubt Black’s best move.
Sarakauskas – Moss, High Wycombe 8.Qa4+ Bd7 9.Qc2
XIIIIIIIIY
2014.
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9.Be2 9zpp+lzppzpp0
This is the simplest way for White to 9-+-+-sn-+0
obtain a positional advantage without too 9sn-+p+-+-0
much of an effort. He simply develops his 9-+-zP-vL-+0
pieces and wishes to continue with 0-0, 9+-sN-zP-+-0
Rfc1 and Na4, emphasizing with this plan 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
the main drawback of Black’s position – 9tR-+-mKLsNR0
the vulnerability of the b6 and c5-squares xiiiiiiiiy
and the misplacement of his queen on d7.
White maintains the advantage even after This is a fashionable position of the
the practically forced line: 9.Ne5 Nxe5!? variation with 6...Bf5, as well as for the
10.dxe5 Ne4 11.Qxd5 Nxc3 12.Qxd7+ variation with 6...Bg4 7.Qb3 Na5 8.Qa4+
Bxd7 13.bxc3² – Black’s compensation Bd7 9.Qc2.
for the pawn is insufficient.
XIIIIIIIIY 9...e6
9r+-+kvl-tr0 9...Nc6 10.Nf3 e6 11.h3!? Be7 12.a3 0-0
9+p+qzppzpp0 13.Bd3² – White’s bishops are much
9p+n+-sn-+0 more active than their counterparts.
9+-+p+l+-0 Black’s position is solid enough, but very
9-+-zP-vL-+0 passive.
9+QsN-zPN+-0 About 9...a6 10.Bd3 e6 (10...Rc8 11.Nf3
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 – see 9...Rc8) 11.Nf3 – see 9...e6 10.Nf3
9tR-+-mK-+R0 a6 11.Bd3.
xiiiiiiiiy 9...Rc8 10.Nf3
XIIIIIIIIY
9...e6 10.0-0. Black lags in development,
9-+rwqkvl-tr0
while White is threatening Rfc1 with the
9zpp+lzppzpp0
idea Na4. He has a positional advantage
9-+-+-sn-+0
9sn-+p+-+-0
and the initiative. 10...Bd6 (10...Be7
9-+-zP-vL-+0
11.Rfc1 0-0 12.Na4± - Black has been
9+-sN-zPN+-0
incapable of countering his opponent’s
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
plan on the queenside and is faced now
9tR-+-mKL+R0
with a rather unpleasant defence.)
xiiiiiiiiy
11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Qxb7 0-0 13.Qb3
10...e6 11.Bd3 – see 9...e6.
After 10...Ne4?! 11.Bd3 Nxc3 12.bxc3,
Black lags in development. 12...g6
(12...e6 13.Rb1!? Be7 14.Ne5±; 13...b6
14.Ne5±) 13.h4!? (13.Be5±) 13...Nc6
14.Rb1 b6 15.h5 Rg8 16.hxg6 hxg6
17.Qe2 (17.Rh7!+–) 17...Na5 18.Ne5+–
Wang – Mamedyarov, Beijing 2013.
10...a6 11.Bd3. In similar pawn-
structures, White must be permanently on
the alert about the possibility Nf6-h5, so
that Black cannot accomplish it under
favourable circumstances. 11...Nc6
(11...e6 12.0-0 – see variation B3;
11...Nh5 12.Be5!? Nc6 13.a3²;
13.Bxh7²; 11...b5, Artemiev –
T.L.Petrosian, Lake Sevan 2015,
12.Ne5!? e6 13.Qe2²) 12.a3 e6 (12...Nh5
13.Be5² e6?! 14.Bxh7±) 13.0-0 – see
variation B3.
10...g6. The drawback of this move is that
later Black intends to deploy his bishop
on g7, but it will not have good prospects
on this square. 11.Bd3 Bg7 12.0-0 0-0
13.Qe2 Bg4 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Nc4
16.Qe2 e6 17.Rac1 a6 18.b3²
Khademalsharieh – Hamdouchi, Doha
2015.
10...Nc4. This move cannot promise
anything good to Black due to his
considerable lag in development.
11.Bxc4!? dxc4 (It would be hardly any
better for him to opt here for 11...Rxc4
12.Ne5 Rc8 13.Qb3²; 12.Qb3!? e6
13.Qxb7±) 12.0-0² g6 (12...Bc6?!
13.e4±) 13.Ne5 (13.b3!? cxb3 14.Qxb3
Bg7 15.Rfc1 Nh5 16.Be5 f6 17.Bg3
Nxg3 18.hxg3±; 13...b5 14.bxc4 bxc4
15.e4 Bg7 16.Rab1±) 13...Bg7 14.Qe2 b5
15.a4 a6 16.axb5 axb5 17.Ra7±
V.Georgiev – Vavra, Sibenik 2012.
10...b5 11.a3 g6 (11...e6 12.Bd3 – see
variation B3; following 11...Ne4 12.Bd3
Nxc3 13.bxc3 e6 14.0-0 Nc4, D.Kovalev
– Burdalev, Yuzhny 2009, 15.Ne5²,
White has the initiative, while Black lags
considerably in development) 12.Bd3
Bg7 13.Qe2. White removes his queen
from the pin and creates a threat against
the enemy pawn on b5 in the process,
defending against the possibility Nf6-e4.
13...Nc4 14.0-0 0-0 15.Rfc1²
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0
9zp-+lzppvlp0
9-+-+-snp+0
9+p+p+-+-0
9-+nzP-vL-+0
9zP-sNLzPN+-0
9-zP-+QzPPzP0
9tR-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
15...Nh5?! This is now the only
principled move for Black. After his
alternatives, White will simply play h3,
preserving his dark-squared bishop.
16.Bg5 h6 17.Bh4± and the move
17...g5? would not work in view of
18.Nxg5 hxg5 19.Qxh5+–
15...a5 16.Bg5 (White has an interesting
alternative here – 16.a4!? b4 17.Nb5²)
16...e6 17.Ne5 h6 18.Bh4 a4 19.f4² – He
has dangerous initiative on the kingside,
I.Sokolov – Bu, Moscow 2012.
15...a6 16.h3 Bf5, Zhou – Ma Qun,
Xinghua 2013, 17.Bxf5 gxf5 18.b3 Na5
19.Qb2 e6 20.Rc2± – The doubled f-
pawns do not beautify Black’s position at
all and their vulnerability will tell sooner
or later.
10.Nf3!?
This move seems more precise than
10.Bd3.
The prophylactic move 10.h3, with the
idea to defend against Nf6-h5, would be
 XIIIIIIIIY
too slow. After 10...Rc8, Black has no 9r+-wqk+-tr0
problems at all. 11.Bd3 (11.Nf3 Ne4³) 9zpp+l+-zpp0
11...Bb4 (11...Nc4 12.Nge2 b5= Fang – 9-+-+pzp-+0
Yu, China 2014 ) 12.a3 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 9sn-+p+-vLn0
Nc4 14.Ne2 0-0 15.0-0 Bb5 16.Rfb1 9-vl-zP-+-+0
Ba6= Boruchovsky – Dreev, Baku 2013.
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-sNLzPN+-0
9r+-wqkvl-tr0 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
9zpp+l+pzpp0 9tR-+-mK-+R0
9-+-+psn-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9sn-+p+-+-0
13.g4!?
9-+-zP-vL-+0
Or 13.Bh4 g5 14.Bg3 Rc8!? 15.0-0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 (15.Nd2 Qe7!? 16.a3 Bxc3 17.bxc3 0-0
9tR-+-mKL+R0 18.0-0 Nxg3 19.hxg3 Rc7= Ju –
xiiiiiiiiy Muzychuk, Chengdu 2015.) 15...g4!?
16.Nh4 Nxg3 17.fxg3 f5³ Nguyen –
We will deal now with B1) 10...Bb4, B2) Anand, Dubai 2014.
10...Nh5, B3) 10...Rc8 and B4) 10...Be7. 13...fxg5 14.gxh5 Qf6 15.Ne5 Nc6
10...Nc6 11.h3 Be7 12.a3 Rc8 13.Bd3, or 16.Nxd7!? (16.Nxc6 Bxc6= Vitiugov –
12...0-0 13.Bd3 Rc8 14.0-0 – see variation Aronian, Paris 2013) 16...Kxd7 17.a3!?²
B4. – Black’s king is not so reliably placed in
10...a6 11.Bd3 Rc8 12.0-0, or 11...Be7 the centre, contrary to his opponent’s
12.h3 0-0 13.0-0 Rc8 14.Qe2, or 11...Nc6 monarch. White’s king is more stable,
12.a3 Be7 13.h3 0-0 14.0-0 Rc8 15.Qe2 – moreover that it still has the possibility to
see variation B3. castle.
B1) 10...Bb4 11.Bd3 Nh5 B2) XIIIIIIIIY
10...Nh5
This move is only seldom played. 9r+-wqkvl-tr0
11...Rc8 12.0-0 – see variation B3. 9zpp+l+pzpp0
9-+-+p+-+0
12.Bg5
9sn-+p+-+n0
This is the only way for White to obtain a
9-+-zP-vL-+0
slight edge.
9+-sN-zPN+-0
Black would not have serious problems 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
after 12.Be5 f6, for example: 13.Bg3 9tR-+-mKL+R0
(13.Bxh7 Nc4= 14.Bg6+?! Kf8 15.Bxh5 xiiiiiiiiy
fxe5 16.Bg4 e4 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.dxe5
Qg5 19.Bh3 Qxe5µ Pelletier – Le, If Black succeeds in trading his knight for
Tromso 2014.) 13...Rc8!?= 14.Bxh7 White’s dark-squared bishop, he will not
Nc4!? 15.Bg6+ (15.Qg6+?! Kf8 16.Qxh5 have any problems in the opening.
Be8 17.Qh3 Nxb2µ) 15...Kf8 16.Bxh5 We will analyse now B2a) 11.Bg5 and
Nxb2 17.0-0 Bxc3³ B2b) 11.Be5.
12...f6 B2a) 11.Bg5 f6
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0 9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9zpp+l+-zpp0 9zpp+l+-zpp0
9-+-+pzp-+0 9-+-+pzp-+0
9sn-+p+-vLn0 9sn-+p+-vLn0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9-+-zP-+-zP0
9+-sN-zPN+-0 9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 9PzPQ+-zPP+0
9tR-+-mKL+R0 9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
12.g4!?N 12...fxg5?! 13.hxg5 g6 14.g4 Ng3
Here, White has a choice between (14...Ng7?! 15.Rxh7 Rxh7 16.Qxg6+
numerous interesting possibilities; Ke7 17.Qxh7±; 14...Nf6 15.gxf6 Qxf6
nevertheless, I have failed to find at the 16.Ne5 Nc6 17.Nxd7 Kxd7 18.f4±)
moment any advantage for him. 15.fxg3 Bd6 16.Bd3 0-0 (16...Bxg3+
His most promising move seems to be 17.Ke2+–) 17.0-0-0! Qe7 (17...Rxf3
12.g4, but we are going to analyse some 18.Rxh7! Bf8!? 19.Qh2 Qxg5 20.Rxd7
other possibilities as well. Bg7 21.Qh4±) 18.Bxg6!? hxg6 19.Rh6!
12.Bh4 g5 Rxf3 20.Rdh1 Qg7 21.Rxg6 Bf8
XIIIIIIIIY
22.Rxg7+ Bxg7 23.Qh7+ Kf7 (23...Kf8?!
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
24.Kd1 Nc4 25.Ke2 Rxe3+ 26.Kf2 Re8
9zpp+l+-+p0
9-+-+pzp-+0 27.Kg2 Re7 28.g6 Nd2 29.Rd1 Rd3
9sn-+p+-zpn0 30.Nb1 Nf3 31.Rf1+–) 24.Rh6 Rh8
9-+-zP-+-vL0 25.Qg6+ Kg8 26.Nb5±
9+-sN-zPN+-0 12...Nc6 13.g4 fxg5 14.hxg5 Nf6 15.gxf6
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 Qxf6, Nadanian – Ragger, Yerevan 2014,
9tR-+-mKL+R0 16.Be2²
xiiiiiiiiy 12...Bd6!? 13.g4 fxg5 14.hxg5. The
position is complicated but White has the
Following 13.Bg3 Nc6, there arises a initiative, so Black still has problems to
very complicated position in which Black worry about. 14...Ng3!? (14...Rf8 15.Be2
is not worse. 14.Be2 (14.a3 Be7 15.Bd3 Ng3, Smirnov – Harsha, Mumbai 2015,
Kf7∞) 14...g4 15.Nh4?! (15.Nd2 f5∞) 16.Rxh7 Ne4 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Qxe4²)
15...f5 16.0-0 Be7 17.Nxd5 Nxg3 15.fxg3 Bxg3+ (15...g6? 16.Bd3 – see
18.hxg3 Bxh4 19.Nf4 Bg5 – G.Sargissian 12...fxg5) 16.Kd1 Rf8! (16...Qe7?!
– Dreev, Dubai 2014. 17.Rh3 Bd6 18.Nb5 Rc8 19.Rxh7!±;
13.g4 gxh4 14.gxh5 Qc7!? 15.Bd3. White 18...Bb8 19.Rc1²) 17.Rxh7 Rxf3 18.Qg6+
is very likely to win a pawn soon. Black Ke7 19.Qxg7+ Kd6= We have seen that
will hardly have any compensation. Black has found a narrow path to equality,
12.h4!? but time will tell whether White has some
additional resources in this position in his
fight for the advantage.
12...fxg5 13.gxh5
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0 White’s king in the centre of the board.
9zpp+l+-zpp0 The point is that Black will hardly
9-+-+p+-+0 manage to exploit all this.
9sn-+p+-zpP0 It would be tremendously risky for him to
9-+-zP-+-+0 opt here for 14...h6?! 15.Qg6+ Ke7
9+-sN-zPN+-0 16.Qd3. White is ready to lose a tempo in
9PzPQ+-zP-zP0 order to keep the enemy king in the
9tR-+-mKL+R0 centre.
XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9r+-wq-vl-tr0
13...Bd6
9zpp+lmk-zp-0
13...Nc6. Black takes the important
9-+n+p+-zp0
9+-+p+-zpP0
e5-square under control. (13...Qf6 14.Ne5
9-+-zP-+-+0
Bd6?! 15.Nxd7 Kxd7 16.0-0-0±;
9+-sNQzPN+-0
14...Bc6 15.0-0-0 Bd6 16.Nxc6 Nxc6
9PzP-+-zP-zP0
17.Nb5ƒ; 14...Nc6 15.Nxd7!? Kxd7
9tR-+-mKLtR-0
16.a3²) 13...Nc6 14.Rg1
XIIIIIIIIY xiiiiiiiiy
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9zpp+l+-zpp0 16...Be8 17.e4 Bxh5!? (17...Nb4 18.Qe2!
9-+n+p+-+0 dxe4 19.Qxe4 Bc6 20.Qe2 Bxf3 21.Qxf3
9+-+p+-zpP0 Nc2+ 22.Kd1 Nxd4 23.Qxb7+ Ke8
9-+-zP-+-+0 24.Bd3 Be7 25.Bg6+ Kf8 26.Qe4±)
9+-sN-zPN+-0 18.exd5! exd5 19.Be2 – with powerful
9PzPQ+-zP-zP0 initiative for the sacrificed pawn.
9tR-+-mKLtR-0 16...Rc8! 17.h4 (17.e4 Qa5 18.exd5 exd5
xiiiiiiiiy 19.h4 g4 20.Ne5 Nxe5 21.dxe5 Kd8
22.Qxd5 Qxd5 23.Nxd5 Bc5=) 17...Be8
14...Be7 15.h4 Nb4! 16.Qe2!? (16.Qb1
18.hxg5 (18.Be2 Kd7) 18...Bxh5 19.gxh6
0-0 17.Nxg5 Bxg5 18.Rxg5 h6 19.Rxg7+
(19.Be2 Kd7 20.Ne5+ Nxe5 21.dxe5
Kxg7 20.Qg6+ Kh8 21.Qxh6=; 18.hxg5
Bxe2 22.Kxe2 Qb6=) 19...Rxh6 20.Ng5
e5!?∞) 16...gxh4 (16...0-0 17.h6 g6
Ke8 21.Rc1!ƒ This move is not forced,
18.Nxg5 e5 19.Rd1! Bf5 20.e4 exd4
but is quite possible. Both kings are
21.Rxd4 Qb6 22.Rxd5! Nxd5 23.Nxd5
stranded in the centre, but White’s
Qa5+ 24.Nc3 Rac8 25.Qd2ƒ) 17.Rxg7
monarch is more comfortable. Black has
Bf6 18.Rg4 Qe7 19.Rc1 Nc6 20.e4 0-0-0
pawn-weaknesses and White can exploit
(20...Rf8 21.e5 Bg7 22.Nb5 0-0-0
this in order to create practical difficulties
23.Nd6+ Kb8 24.Qb5 Be8 25.Qxb7²)
for his opponent. In general, all this line,
21.e5 Bg7 22.Qe3ƒ Black balances on the
with a king roaming in the centre, would
verge of the precipice. The arising
hardly be acceptable for Black from the
position still remains rather unclear. If he
practical point of view. It is really difficult
loses his h4-pawn, he may have some
to play positions of this type in a
compensation thanks to his bishop-pair
tournament game.
and the not so reliable placement of
We have already seen that all the
variations and possibilities that we have 12...Nc6 13.a3 Rc8!? (13...f5 14.Bd3 Be7
analysed are absolutely new. In some of 15.Be5, or 13...Be7 14.Bd3 f5 15.Be5 –
them our analyses have gone very far; see 12...Be7) 14.Bd3 g6!? (14...f5,
nevertheless, it would be too early to Demchenko – Mikaelyan, Jerusalem
make definite evaluations. Only plenty of 2015, 15.Be5 Be7 16.0-0 – see 12...Be7)
practical tests may do this. 15.Bh4 Be7 16.h3 (16.0-0 g5!? 17.Bg3
14.Rg1 Qf6 15.Be2
XIIIIIIIIY Kf8∞ with the idea Kg7) 16...0-0 17.0-0
9r+-+k+-tr0 Bd6 18.g4!? Ng7 19.Rac1 Na5 20.Qe2ƒ,
9zpp+l+-zpp0 White is preparing e3-e4.
9-+-vlpwq-+0 It is premature for Black to play here
9sn-+p+-zpP0 12...Nxg3?! Moves like this should better
9-+-zP-+-+0 be played after White has castled
9+-sN-zPN+-0 kingside. Here, Black helps voluntarily
9PzPQ+LzP-zP0 White’s rook to join in the actions on the
9tR-+-mK-tR-0 h-file. 13.hxg3 g6 14.Bd3 f5 15.g4 Nc6
xiiiiiiiiy 16.gxf5 gxf5 17.g4 Qf6 18.gxf5 Bb4
19.fxe6 Bxe6 20.Ne5 Nxe5 21.dxe5 Qf3
15...Rc8! 22.Rh6 Ke7 23.a3 Bc5 24.Ne4!+–
After 15...h6 16.0-0-0ƒ, White has Artemiev – Lei, Chongqing 2013.
dangerous initiative. His plans include the
13.Bd3
XIIIIIIIIY
pawn-advance h2-h4, either immediately,
or after the preliminary move Kb1.
9r+-wqk+-tr0
9zpp+lvl-zpp0
16.Nxg5 9-+-+pzp-+0
16.Rxg5 b5!? 17.a3 Nc4© 9sn-+p+-+n0
16...h6 17.Nf3 0-0 18.Rg2∞ – Black has 9-+-zP-+-+0
compensation for the pawn. 9+-sNLzPNvL-0
B2b) 11.Be5
XIIIIIIIIY 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
9r+-wqkvl-tr0 9tR-+-mK-+R0
9zpp+l+pzpp0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-+p+-+0
9sn-+pvL-+n0 13...f5
9-+-zP-+-+0 Following 13...g6, White can avoid the
9+-sN-zPN+-0 exchange of his bishop and preserve the
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 initiative with 14.Bh4ƒ
9tR-+-mKL+R0 14.Be5 Nc6 15.a3 0-0
xiiiiiiiiy 15...Rc8 16.0-0 0-0 17.Rfc1 – see 15...0-0.

It would be useful for White to provoke

here the move f7-f6, since Black will
hardly manage to continue the game
without it; otherwise, the manoeuvre
Nf6-h5 would become senseless.
11...f6 12.Bg3 Be7
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+lvl-zpp0
9-+n+p+-+0
9+-+pvLp+n0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9zP-sNLzPN+-0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
16.0-0
The move 16.h3 does not promise much
to White. 16...Nf6 17.g4 (About 17.Bf4 -
see Adams - Eljanov, Biel 2015, game 2)
17...Ne4 18.gxf5 Rxf5 19.Bxe4
(19.Nxe4?! Rxf3 20.Nd2 Nxe5 21.dxe5
Rf8 22.Bxh7+?! Kh8 23.Ke2 Rc8 24.Qb1
d4! 25.Bd3 dxe3 26.fxe3 Be8 27.Nf3
Bh5–+ Brunello – Eljanov, Legnica 2013;
25.exd4 Bb5+ 26.Bd3 Qxd4–+) 19...dxe4
20.Qxe4 Qb6© Sokolov – Navara, Saint-
Quentin 2014.
16...Nf6
16...Rc8 17.Rfc1 Be8 (17...Nf6,
Dzagnidze – Gunina, Batumi 2016,
18.Qb3!?ƒ) 18.h3 Bf7 19.Bh2 Nf6
20.Ne5 Nxe5 21.Bxe5 Nd7 22.Bg3²
Krush – Gunina, Huai’an 2016.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+lvl-zpp0
9-+n+psn-+0
9+-+pvLp+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9zP-sNLzPN+-0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
17.Rfc1
White has tested in practice too the line:
17.Rac1 Ne4 18.Qb3 Na5 19.Qc2 Nc6
20.Qb3 Na5 21.Qa2 Nc6 22.h3
(22.Rc2!?ƒ) 22...Nxe5 23.Nxe5 Bd6
24.Ne2 Qe7 25.f3 Bxe5 26.dxe5 Nc5=
Zhao Jun – Dreev, Jinan 2014.
17...Ne4 18.Qd1² – It is much simpler
for White to play in this situation,
because the moves with which he can
improve his positions are quite obvious.
They are: h2-h3, b2-b4, Nc3-e2 and then
doubling the rooks on the c-file, while
Black has real problems to find a suitable
plan for his actions.
B3) XIIIIIIIIY
10...Rc8 11.Bd3 14.0-0 0-0 15.Ne5± Hera – Seres,
9-+rwqkvl-tr0 Hungary 2006; 12...Be7 13.h3 – see
9zpp+l+pzpp0 variation B4) 13.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+psn-+0 9-+rwqkvl-tr0
9sn-+p+-+-0 9zp-+l+pzpp0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9-+-+psn-+0
9+-sNLzPN+-0 9+p+p+-+-0
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 9-+nzP-vL-+0
9tR-+-mK-+R0 9zP-sNLzPN+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
11...Bb4 xiiiiiiiiy
11...Be7 12.h3 – see variation B4.
11...a6. This move seems a bit slow. 13...a5?! 14.Qe2 b4 15.axb4 axb4
12.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY 16.Na4±
9-+rwqkvl-tr0 13...Be7 14.h3 – see variation B4.
9+p+l+pzpp0 13...a6 14.Qe2 Be7 15.Ne5 0-0 16.Rfc1²
9p+-+psn-+0 Jakovenko – Sjugirov, Yerevan 2014.
9sn-+p+-+-0 It seems too passive for him to choose
9-+-zP-vL-+0 here 11...Nc6. A move like this may be
9+-sNLzPN+-0 quite useful in similar structures if Black
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 manages later to play Nh5 under
9tR-+-+RmK-0 favourable circumstances and to attack
xiiiiiiiiy the enemy dark-squared bishop. In this
case however, this fails. 12.a3 (12.Qe2
12...b5 13.Qe2 Be7 14.Ne5² Naumkin –
Nh5∞ 13.Be5 Be7 14.0-0; 14.h3 Nxe5
Buturin, Moscow 1985.
15.dxe5 g6=) 12...Be7 13.h3 - see
12...Be7 13.h3 (13.Qe2?! Nh5 14.Be5 variation B4.
Nc6∞) – see variation B4.
It is a bit premature for Black to opt for
12...Nh5 13.Bg5!? Be7 (13...f6?! 11...Nc4, because White can save time for
14.Bxh7±; 14.Ne5!?±) 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 prophylactic moves of the type of h3, or
15.Rfc1² a3. 12.0-0ƒ
XIIIIIIIIY
12...Nc6 13.a3 Nh5?! (It is better for
9-+rwqkvl-tr0
Black to play here 13...Be7 14.h3 0-0
9zpp+l+pzpp0
15.Qe2² – see variation B4) 14.Bg5!?
9-+-+psn-+0
Be7 (14...Qc7 15.Bxh7±) 15.Bxe7 Qxe7
9+-+p+-+-0
16.Rfc1. White has an obvious positional 9-+nzP-vL-+0
advantage due to the threat Nc3-a4. The 9+-sNLzPN+-0
main drawback of Black’s position is that 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
his b6 and c5-squares are very weak on 9tR-+-+RmK-0
top of his considerable lag in xiiiiiiiiy
development.
11...b5 12.a3 Nc4 (12...b4? 13.axb4 Bxb4 12...Bb4 13.Bxc4 – see 11...Bb4.
12...Qb6 13.Rab1 Bb4 14.Qe2 (14.Ne5 bishops are more active than their black
Nxe5 15.Bxe5² Sumets – Areshchenko, counterparts.
Poltava 2006) 14...0-0 15.Rfc1² 12...Nc4
XIIIIIIIIY
12...b5 13.Qe2!? b4 (13...Be7?! Naiditsch 9-+rwqk+-tr0
– Dubov, Wijk aan Zee 2013, 14.b3 Nxe3 9zpp+l+pzpp0
15.Rfc1±; 13...Bb4 14.Rfc1 a6 15.Ne5² 9-+-+psn-+0
Murall Krishnan – Deviatkin, Chennai 9+-+p+-+-0
2013; 13...Qa5?! 14.a4 Nxb2 15.Qxb2 9-vlnzP-vL-+0
Qxc3 16.Qxc3 Rxc3 17.Bxb5 Bb4 9+-sNLzPN+-0
18.Ne5± Barsov – Yakubboev Tashkent 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
2015; 13...Nh5?! 14.Bg5 Nf6 15.Ne5±; 9tR-+-+RmK-0
14...f6 15.Ne5!?±) 14.Nb1 Be7 15.b3 xiiiiiiiiy
Nd6 16.Ne5²
12...Be7 13.Ne5!? (13.h3 – see variation 13.Rfc1 Nh5. Black attacks immediately
B4) 13...0-0 (13...b5, Zhou – Ni Hua, the enemy bishop. (After 13...0-0, White
Hefei 2011, 14.Qe2!? b4 15.Nb1 Nxe5 can continue with 14.Qb3 Qe7 15.Bg5²;
16.Bxe5 0-0 17.Nd2²; 13...Nxe5 14.Bxe5 13...Qa5 14.Bxc4!? Rxc4 15.Ne5 Rc8
Bc6 15.Rac1 a6 16.Na4² Kosic – 16.Qb3 0-0, Andersson – Ducarmon,
Johannessen, Porto Carras 2011) 14.Qe2² Utrecht 2011, 17.a4!ƒ with the idea
with the idea 14...b5?! 15.Nxd7!? Qxd7 Nc3-a2) 14.Bg5 f6!? 15.Bh4 (15.Bxh7
16.b3 b4 17.Nxd5± Bxc3 16.bxc3 Kf8 17.Bh4 g5 18.Bg3?
Nxg3 19.hxg3 f5–+; 18.g4 Ng7 19.Bg3
12.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY f5 20.Bg6 Rh6 21.Bh5 Nxh5 22.gxh5
9-+rwqk+-tr0
Qe8 23.Nxg5 Qxh5 24.f4 Nxe3³) 15...g5
9zpp+l+pzpp0
16.Bg3 Nxg3 17.hxg3 Nd6!∞ (17...Kf7
9-+-+psn-+0
18.e4ƒ).
9sn-+p+-+-0
9-vl-zP-vL-+0 13.Bxc4!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-sNLzPN+-0 9-+rwqk+-tr0
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 9zpp+l+pzpp0
9tR-+-+RmK-0 9-+-+psn-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+p+-+-0
9-vlLzP-vL-+0
12...0-0 9+-sN-zPN+-0
12...h6 13.Ne5 0-0 14.h3 a6 15.Rfc1 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
(15.a4?! Be8= Sasikiran – I.Kovalenko, 9tR-+-+RmK-0
Moscow 2015) 15...Qe7 16.Qe2ƒ xiiiiiiiiy
12...a6 13.a3!? (13.Rfc1 0-0 14.Qd1ƒ)
13...Be7 (13...Bxc3 14.bxc3 Bb5 13...dxc4 14.e4 0-0 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bh4
15.Bxb5+ axb5 16.Nd2² with the idea (16.Bxf6!? gxf6 17.a3²) 16...Qa5
Rf1-b1) 14.h3 (14.Qe2 Nh5 15.Be5 17.Ne5² Korchmar – Maletin, Voronezh
0-0∞) 14...0-0 15.Qe2ƒ There has arisen a 2015.
position from variation B4, except that 13...Rxc4 14.Ne5 Rc8 15.Qb3 Qa5
White’s pawn is on a3 and not on a2. His 16.Nxd7 (16.a4!? 0-0 17.Na2 Be7
18.Nxd7 Nxd7 19.Qxb7 Rfd8 20.Qb5²)
16...Nxd7 17.a3 Bxc3 18.Qxb7 0-0
19.bxc3 Qa4 (19...Nb6 20.Bc7± –
Black’s compensation for the pawn is
insufficient, Kramnik – Aronian,
Shanghai 2010) 20.Qb4 Qc6 21.Rfc1
Nb6XIIIIIIIIY
22.a4²
9-+rwq-trk+0
9zpp+l+pzpp0
9-+-+psn-+0
9sn-+p+-+-0
9-vl-zP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzPN+-0
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
13.Ne5!?
This is a fashionable move. This position
is well known in the theory of the
exchange variation of the Slav Defence.
White maintains a slight edge thanks to
his more active pieces, his powerful
knight on e5 and the pressure of his
battery Qc2+Bd3 against the h7-square.
13.Rfc1 a6!? 14.Ne5 (14.Qe2 Nh5!?
15.Be5 Nc6∞) 14...Bb5 15.Bxb5 axb5
16.Bg5 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Qe8!? 18.Bxf6
gxf6 19.Ng4 Qd8= (19...Qe7?! 20.e4
dxe4 21.Qxe4² and it would not work for
Black to play 21...f5?, because of
22.Nh6+ Kh8 23.Nxf5+–).
13.a3 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Ne4!? 15.Bxe4 dxe4
16.Qxe4 Bc6 17.Qd3 Bxf3 18.gxf3 Qd7
19.Rfb1 (19.e4 f5©) 19...b6 20.Kg2 Qc6
21.e4 Rfd8!?©
13...h6
This is not only a leeway for the king, but
also a defence against Bf4-g5.
13...a6 14.Bg5²
13...Be8 14.Rfc1²
13...Ne4 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Qxe4
(15.Rfc1!? f5 16.Qd1²) 15...Bxc3 16.bxc3
Rxc3 17.d5 Rc5!? (17...exd5? 18.Qb4+–;
17...Bc8?! 18.Rad1 exd5 19.Rxd5±
M.Socko – Gunina, Belgrade 2013.)
18.Nxd7 Qxd7 19.dxe6 fxe6 20.Rfd1²
13...Nc4
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0
9zpp+l+pzpp0
9-+-+psn-+0
9+-+psN-+-0
9-vlnzP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzP-+-0
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
It may be interesting for White to play
here 14.Bg5 h6!? (But not 14...Nxb2?!
Rausis – Neubauer, Bled 2002, because of
the forced line: 15.Bxh7+ Kh8 16.Qe2
Kxh7 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Qh5+ Kg7 19.f4
fxe5 20.Qg4+ Kh7 21.Rf3 Qf6 22.Rh3+
Qh6 23.Nxd5 exd5 24.Rxh6+ Kxh6
25.Qxd7 exd4 26.exd4 and White’s
position remains much better due to the
unreliable position of Black’s king.)
15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Nxc4 dxc4 17.Be2 f5
18.Bf3²
14.Bxc4!? dxc4 15.Bg5!? Qc7 (15...Be8
16.f4!?ƒ) 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Nxd7 Qxd7
18.Rad1² with the idea to break in the
centre with d4-d5, or its occupation after
e3-e4.
14.h3!?
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0 9-+rtrl+k+0
9zpp+l+pzp-0 9zpp+-wqpzp-0
9-+-+psn-zp0 9-+-+psn-zp0
9sn-+psN-+-0 9sn-+psN-+-0
9-vl-zP-vL-+0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzP-+P0 9+-zPLzP-+P0
9PzPQ+-zPP+0 9P+-+-zPP+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0 9tR-tRQ+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
With this move White defends against the 18.c4
possible knight-sortie Nf6-h5. 18.Qe1!? White is planning f3 with the
14...Qe7 idea h4, while following 18...Nd7, he can
14...Be8, P.Smirnov – Fedoseev, Loo continue with 19.Nxd7 Bxd7 20.e4²,
2014, 15.Rfc1 Nd7 16.Nf3!? Nb6 maintaining the initiative.
17.Qe2ƒ 18...dxc4 19.Nxc4 Nxc4 20.Bxc4 Bc6
14...Qe8, Jankovic – Vishnu, Metz 2013, 21.Be5 Nd7 22.Bg3 Nb6 23.Bf1² – with
with the idea to exchange the bishops a two-bishop advantage, Soffer – Postny,
with Bd7-b5. White can prevent this by Acre 2013.
playing 15.Qe2!? with the idea B4) XIIIIIIIIY
10...Be7
(15.Rab1!?ƒ) 15...Bxc3 16.bxc3 Rxc3 9r+-wqk+-tr0
17.Qd2 Qc8 18.Nxd7 Nxd7 19.Bd6 Re8 9zpp+lvlpzpp0
20.Bb4² 9-+-+psn-+0
14...Nc4 15.Bxc4!? dxc4 16.e4ƒ Bc6 9sn-+p+-+-0
17.Rfd1 Bxc3 18.Nxc6 Rxc6 19.bxc3² 9-+-zP-vL-+0
Ringoir – Kuipers, Amsterdam 2013. 9+-sN-zPN+-0
14...a6, Sasikiran – I.Kovalenko, Moscow
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
2015, 15.Rfc1 Bb5 (15...Bxc3 16.bxc3
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Bb5 17.Bxb5 axb5 18.Qb2²) 16.Bxb5
axb5 17.Qd3 Bxc3 18.Rxc3² Black continues with his development,
15.Rfc1 Rfd8 16.Qd1 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Be8 threatening in the process with the knight-
17...Qa3 18.Rab1² with the idea 18...b6 sortie Nf6-h5, which is standard for
19.Qf3!? Rxc3?! 20.Rxc3 Qxc3 similar types of positions.
21.Bxh6± 11.h3
White parries the threat Nh5, followed by
the exchange of the bishop, which is
advantageous for Black in such structures.
It is also possible for White to play here
11.Bd3, for example: 11...Rc8 – see
Navara – Matuszewski, Poland 2015,
game 3, or 11...Nc6 12.a3 Nh5 13.Be5 f6
14.Bg3 – see variation B2b (14.Bf4 – see
Navara – Tomashevsky, Hockenheim positional advantage thanks to his
2015, game 4).
XIIIIIIIIY superior piece-coordination and the
9r+-wqk+-tr0 vulnerability of the e5-square in Black’s
9zpp+lvlpzpp0 camp. White has succeeded in transferring
9-+-+psn-+0 his queen to d1, in placing his rook on c1
9sn-+p+-+-0 from f1 and not from the a1-square, as it
9-+-zP-vL-+0 happened in the game Smirnov –
9+-sN-zPN+P0 Mamedov, Khanty-Mansiysk 2014, which
9PzPQ+-zPP+0 has improved considerably the
9tR-+-mKL+R0 coordination of his pieces.
xiiiiiiiiy 14...Rc8 15.Qb3 Na5 16.Qd1²
12.Bd3
XIIIIIIIIY
11...Rc8
9-+rwqk+-tr0
About 11...0-0 12.Bd3 Rc8 13.0-0 – see
9zpp+lvlpzpp0
11...Rc8.
9-+-+psn-+0
11...Ne4 12.Bd3!? (12.Nxe4 dxe4 9sn-+p+-+-0
13.Qxe4 Bb4+ 14.Nd2 Bc6©) 12...f5 9-+-zP-vL-+0
13.0-0 Nc6 (13...0-0?! 14.Nxd5! exd5 9+-sNLzPN+P0
15.Bc7±; Black may need to test in 9PzPQ+-zPP+0
practice 13...Rc8 14.Rfc1!?ƒ) 14.Rfc1!? 9tR-+-mK-+R0
(14.Qb3 Na5 15.Qd1 0-0 16.Rc1 Rc8 xiiiiiiiiy
17.Ne5 Nc6 18.Nxd7 Qxd7= P.Smirnov
– Mamedov,
XIIIIIIIIYKhanty-Mansiysk 2014) 12...0-0
9r+-wqk+-tr0 12...Nc4 13.0-0 0-0 14.Ne5 – see
9zpp+lvl-zpp0 12...0-0.
9-+n+p+-+0 12...Nc6 13.a3 0-0 (The manoeuvre
9+-+p+p+-0 13...Nh5?! would be senseless here,
9-+-zPnvL-+0 because after 14.Bh2 and 14...f5?! White
9+-sNLzPN+P0 has the powerful resource 15.g4± Navara
9PzPQ+-zPP+0 – Li Chao, Huai’an 2016) 14.0-0 h6
9tR-tR-+-mK-0 15.Qe2 Be8 16.Rac1 Bd6 17.Bxd6 Qxd6
xiiiiiiiiy 18.Nd2 Bd7 19.f4 Ne7 20.Nf3 Rc7
21.Ne5± Goryachkina – Tarasova,
14...Nb4 15.Qd1 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 0-0 Yekaterinburg 2013.
17.Ne5² with the idea 17...Be8?! 12...a6 13.0-0 Bb5 (13...0-0 14.Qe2 – see
(17...Rc8 18.Nxe4!? fxe4 19.Qb3²; 12...0-0; 13...b5 14.Ne5 b4?! 15.Bxa6±;
17...Nd6 18.Rc2 Rc8 19.Rac1 Nc4 14...0-0 15.Qe2 Bc6 16.Rac1² Pham Le
20.Ne2²) 18.Nxe4 fxe4 (18...dxe4?! Thao Nguyen – Wang Doudou, China
19.Qb3±) 19.Qb3± 2015) 14.Bxb5+ axb5 15.Qd3 b4
14...0-0 15.Qb3 Na5 (15...b6?! 16.Nxd5! 16.Qb5+ Nd7 17.Na4² Stern – Pham Le
exd5 17.Qxd5+ Kh8 18.Rxc6 Bxc6 Thao Nguyen, Berlin 2015.
19.Qxc6±; 18...Nf6 19.Rxf6 Bxf6 20.Ne5 12...Ne4 13.Bxe4!? dxe4 14.Qxe4 Qb6,
Bxe5 21.Bxe5±) 16.Qd1± – White has a Basso – Thingstad, Forni di Sopra 2014
(14...Bc6 15.Qd3²) 15.Rb1² – Black’s 16.Rac1 Nxe5 17.dxe5 f5 18.exf6 Bxf6
compensation for the pawn is obviously 19.Qg4² P.Smirnov – Malakhatko, Baku
insufficient. 2014 (19.Bb1!?² e5?! 20.Bg3± e4?!
12...b5. This move often transposes to the 21.Nxd5!+–).
main line with 12...0-0 , since Black can 13...Nc4 14.Ne5
XIIIIIIIIY
hardly continue the game without castling 9-+rwq-trk+0
anyway. 13.a3
XIIIIIIIIY 9zpp+lvlpzpp0
9-+rwqk+-tr0 9-+-+psn-+0
9zp-+lvlpzpp0 9+-+psN-+-0
9-+-+psn-+0 9-+nzP-vL-+0
9snp+p+-+-0 9+-sNLzP-+P0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9PzPQ+-zPP+0
9zP-sNLzPN+P0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
9-zPQ+-zPP+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy 14...b5 15.a3 – see 13...b5.
14...Be8 15.Rfc1 b5, Khenkin – Rapport,
13...a6 14.0-0 0-0 15.Ne5, or 13...0-0 Helsingor 2011, 16.a4!? bxa4 (16...b4
14.0-0 Nc4 15.Ne5, or 14...Be8 15.Ne5 17.Bxc4 dxc4 18.Ne2²) 17.Bxc4 dxc4
a6 16.Rfc1 Nc4, or 14...h6 15.Ne5 Nc4 18.Bg5²
16.Qe2 – see 12...0-0. 14...Bc6 15.Rac1 Nd6 (15...b5 16.Nxc6
13...Nc4 14.0-0 a5 (14...Qb6 15.Ne5²; Rxc6 17.Bg5²; 16.b3!? Na3 17.Qe2 Qb6
14...0-0 15.Ne5, or 14...h6 15.Ne5 0-0 18.Bg5 h6 19.Bh4 b4 20.Na4 Bxa4
16.Qe2 – see 12...0-0) 15.Qe2 Nxa3 21.bxa4² Smirnov – Belous, Taganrog
16.Nxb5 Nxb5 17.Bxb5 Qb6 18.Bd3 0-0 2014) 16.Qb3 Qa5 17.Rc2 Rfd8 18.Nxc6
19.Ne5² Rxc6 19.Rfc1² Svidler – Le Quang Liem,
13.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY Tromse 2013.
9-+rwq-trk+0 13...a6 14.Qe2!? Black was planning to
9zpp+lvlpzpp0 trade his “bad” light-squared bishop with
9-+-+psn-+0 the move Bb5, but White prevented this.
9sn-+p+-+-0 (14.Ne5 Bb5!? 15.Bxb5 axb5 16.Qe2 b4=
9-+-zP-vL-+0 P.Smirnov – Girya, Khanty-Mansiysk
9+-sNLzPN+P0 2015; 14.Rfc1 Bb5 15.Bxb5 axb5 16.Qd3
9PzPQ+-zPP+0 b4= Volkov – Rublevsky, Cheboksary
9tR-+-+RmK-0 2016)
xiiiiiiiiy
13...b5
13...h6. This move is a bit slow, because
the leeway for his king does not improve
much his position. 14.Ne5 (14.Qe2!? a6
15.Rac1 Nc6 16.a3² Khenkin – Milov,
Wiesbaden 2013) 14...Be8 15.Qe2 Nd7
 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0
9+p+lvlpzpp0
9p+-+psn-+0
9sn-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzPN+P0
9PzP-+QzPP+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The move 14...Bb4 is senseless, because
exchanging on c3 is not in favour of
Black. 15.Rfc1 h6 16.Ne5² Xiang – Zhao,
Shijiazhuang 2015.
14...b5 15.Ne5 Bc6, Pham Le Thao
Nguyen – Wang Doudou, China 2015,
16.a4 b4 17.Na2 Bxa4 18.Nxb4²
14...Bc6 15.Rac1!? (15.Ne5 Nd7!?
16.Nxc6 Nxc6= with the idea Nd7-b6)
15...Nd7 16.b3²
14...Nc6 15.a3!?² Fidrilakis – Kalofonos,
Porto Rio 2014. This position is not so
simple to be played by Black, for
example: if he wishes to make use of
White’s last move and comes back with
the knight to the a5-square, then after
15...Na5 16.Rac1 Nc4 17.Ne5 b5
18.Bg3!? Qb6 19.f4², Black should be
very careful not to come to great
difficulties. White has advanced f2-f4 and
his bishop may become very useful on the
h4-square.
14.a3 Nc4
About 14...a6 15.Ne5 Nc4 16.Qe2, or
14...h6 15.Ne5 Nc4 16.Qe2 – see
14...Nc4.
14...Be8 15.Ne5 h6, Ju Wenjun –
A.Muzychuk, Beijing 2013 (15...Nc4
16.Rfc1 – see 14.Nc4) 16.Rfc1 a6
(16...Nd7 17.Nf3 a6 18.b3 – see 16...a6)
17.b3 Nd7 18.Nf3² f5 19.Qd1!? Bh5
20.a4! b4 21.Ne2 Qb6 22.Rc2!²
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0
9zp-+lvlpzpp0
9-+-+psn-+0
9+p+p+-+-0
9-+nzP-vL-+0
9zP-sNLzPN+P0
9-zPQ+-zPP+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This is a very modern position of the main
line. Black’s set-up is very solid, but
White has excellent possibilities to exert
positional pressure. Contrary to Black,
White has a clear-cut plan to improve his
position. He can play Ne5, remove his
queen to the e2-square and then place his
rook on f1 to the c1-square, threatening at
an opportune moment to accomplish the
undermining pawn-break a3-a4.
15.Ne5
This is not White’s only move, but is his
most active.
It may be interesting for him to try
15.Qe2. He has removed his queen away
from the c-file to a more favourable
position and has concealed his further
plans. White must consider however
Black’s possibility 15...Nxa3, Dushatskiy
– Kick, Germany 2014 (15...Qb6 16.Ne5
Be8 17.a4 b4 18.Nb1² – Black’s knight
on c4 has lost its base, Stem – Sumets,
Berlin 2015). Still, following 16.Ne5 b4!?
17.Nxd7 Nxd7 (17...Qxd7 18.Nb5 Nc4
19.Rxa7 Qxb5 20.Rxe7²) 18.Nd1 Nc4
19.Rxa7 Bd6 20.Bxd6!? Nxd6 21.Qd2!?
with the idea b2-b3 and Nb2, White
maintains a slight positional edge.
15.Rfc1. This is a logical move. The
knight on c4 will not remain there forever
and the c-file may become useful in the
future. 15...a5 (15...Qb6, Batchuluun –
Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy, Abu Dhabi
2016, 16.Ne5²; 15...h6 16.Qe2 Qb6 Be8 is quite logical.
17.Ne5 Bc6, Baginskaite – Gunina, Sochi 15...a5 16.Qe2 Be8 17.a4² Rasmussen –
2015, 18.a4!? b4 19.Nb5² a6? 20.Bxc4 T.Petrosyan, Sowme’eh Sara 2015.
dxc4XIIIIIIIIY
21.Nd6+–) 16.Qe2 15...a6 16.Qe2!? Qb6 17.a4² Sumets –
9-+rwq-trk+0 Svane, Berlin 2015.
9+-+lvlpzpp0 15...h6 16.Qe2 a6 (16...Be8 17.Rfc1 – see
9-+-+psn-+0 15...Be8; 16...a5?! Von Herman –
9zpp+p+-+-0 Bruedigam, Berlin 2014, 17.Nxd7 Qxd7
9-+nzP-vL-+0 18.a4 b4 19.Nb5±) 17.Rfc1 Bc6 18.a4²
9zP-sNLzPN+P0 Rakhmanov – Nyback Finland 2015.
9-zP-+QzPP+0 16.Rfc1 h6
9tR-tR-+-mK-0 16...a6 17.Qb1! White prevents Nf6-d7
xiiiiiiiiy (17.Qe2 Nd7 18.Nxd7 Bxd7 19.a4 b4
16...a4 17.Ne5 Be8 18.Rd1!? Qa5 20.Nd1 Qb6 21.Bxc4 dxc4 22.Rxc4 Rxc4
19.Rac1² Goryachkina – Mirzoeva, 23.Qxc4 Rc8 24.Qd3 Qc6 25.e4 Qc2
Moscow 2015. 26.Qf3 Bf6, Raznikov – Iordachesky,
Jerusalem 2015) 17...Qb6 18.Rc2ƒ Nd7?
16...Nh5?! 17.Bh2 f5 18.a4± Krush –
19.Bxh7! Kxh7 20.Nxd5 exd5 Rxc4+–
Stefanova, Huai’an 2016.
17.Qe2
XIIIIIIIIY
16...Qb6 17.Ne5 Rfd8 18.Nxd7 Nxd7
19.a4! (19.b3 Nxa3 20.Nxb5 Nxb5 9-+rwqltrk+0
21.Bxb5² Pham Chuong – Ton That Nhu,
9zp-+-vlpzp-0
Vietnam 2013) 19...b4 (19...bxa4
9-+-+psn-zp0
20.Nxa4 Qb4 21.Rc3±) 20.Nb5 Nd6
9+p+psN-+-0
21.Rc2² – The light squares are
9-+nzP-vL-+0
9zP-sNLzP-+P0
vulnerable in Black’s camp, while White
9-zP-+QzPP+0
has a powerful bishop-pair and this
9tR-tR-+-mK-0
provides him with a long lasting
xiiiiiiiiy
advantage.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0 17...Nd7
9zp-+lvlpzpp0 17...a5?! 18.a4! b4 19.Nb5± Ren –
9-+-+psn-+0 Gunina, China 2015.
9+p+psN-+-0 17...Qb6 18.a4 b4 (18...a6 19.axb5 – see
9-+nzP-vL-+0 17...a6) 19.Nd1 (19.Nb1!? Nd6 20.Rxc8
9zP-sNLzP-+P0 Nxc8±) 19...Nd6, Kosteniuk – Gunina,
9-zPQ+-zPP+0 Beijing 2014, 20.Rxc8 Nxc8 21.Qc2 Nd6
9tR-+-+RmK-0 22.a5 Qb8 23.f3±
xiiiiiiiiy
17...a6 18.a4 Qb6 (18...b4 19.Nd1± Kosic
15...Be8 – Grimm, Kecskemet 2014) 19.axb5 axb5
White may be reluctant to capture on d7 20.b3² Pantelic – Mikanovic, Paracin
immediately, but Black must consider 2015.
permanently this possibility, so the move
 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwqltrk+0 a6 21.Na2 Nc6 22.Nb4! Bxb4 23.axb4
9zp-+nvlpzp-0 Nxb4 24.Be2±
9-+-+p+-zp0 19.e4 Ndb6 20.exd5 Nxd5 21.Nxd5
9+p+psN-+-0 Qxd5 22.Be4 Qd7 23.a4²
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+nzP-vL-+0 9-+r+ltrk+0
9zP-sNLzP-+P0 9+-+qvlpzp-0
9-zP-+QzPP+0 9p+-+p+-zp0
9tR-tR-+-mK-0 9+p+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9P+nzPLvL-+0
9+-+-+N+P0
18.Nf3!? 9-zP-+QzPP+0
White avoids the exchange of his knight. 9tR-tR-+-mK-0
18...a6 xiiiiiiiiy
Following 18...Nf6?! 19.a4! White seizes
completely the initiative. 19...b4 20.Nb5 White has opened advantageously the
Qb6 21.b3 Bxb5 22.axb5 Na3 23.Ne5± P. centre and it has become evident that
Smirnov – Jakovenko, Khanty-Mansiysk Black’s pieces are not well prepared for
2013. similar developments. His rook on f8 and
18...Ndb6, Zhai – Gunina, China 2015, his bishop on e8 have remained isolated
19.b3 Na5 (19...Nxa3 20.Nxb5±) 20.Qb2 from the actions.
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+ntr0
Part 2
9zppzp-vlpzpp0
1.d4XIIIIIIIIY
d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 9-+-+-+-+0
9rsnlwqkvlntr0 9+-+p+-+-0
9zppzp-+pzpp0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9-+-+p+-+0 9+-sN-+-+-0
9+-+p+-+-0 9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9-+PzP-+-+0 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
9+-sN-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKLsNR0 to try to play in the Carlsbad pawn-
xiiiiiiiiy structure with a bishop on f4, which is
more favourable for White than with a
Black often begins with 3...Be7 and not bishop on g5.
with 3...Nf6, due to a simple, but After the natural moves 5...c6 6.e3,
XIIIIIIIIY
important reason. He does not wish to 9rsnlwqk+ntr0
play the Carlsbad variation, which may 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
arise after 3...Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5. We 9-+p+-+-+0
must also mention that sometimes the 9+-+p+-+-0
reluctance to enter this position may be 9-+-zP-vL-+0
typical for both sides...
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9rsnlwqk+ntr0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
9-+-+p+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+PzP-+-+0 Black may also try to exploit this order of
9+-sN-+-+-0 moves to his advantage by playing
9PzP-+PzPPzP0 6...Bd6 (Chapter 8). He wishes to trade
9tR-vLQmKLsNR0 the dark-squared bishops in order to
xiiiiiiiiy develop his knight on h6 in some lines.
From there it can support the important
Here, White can play 4.Nf3, followed by development of his bishop to the
5.Bf4 and enter positions, which have f5-square, which is one of Black’s main
been analysed in part 3. But if White ideas in this position.
plans to exchange cxd5, then he must do He can also develop his bishop
it right now. This line, as well as the other immediately – 6...Bf5 (Chapter 9). Now,
possibility after 3...Be7, we can consider if White wishes to fight for the advantage,
as our main lines. he must try the immediate 7.g4,
After 3...Be7, White can continue either occupying space on the kingside with the
4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bf4, or following 4.cxd5 help of his pawns. If Black does not
exd5 5.Bf4, defend carefully, this may lead to a direct
attack against his king. After 7.g4, there
are two logical retreats of Black’s bishop.
One of them is: 7...Be6 (variation B). If
we consider the results of the latest
Chapter 6
tournament practice at the top level, we 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5
can assume that Black solves his 5.Bf4 Nf6
XIIIIIIIIY
problems with it. Still, we are going to see
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
that White has up his sleeve numerous
9zppzp-vlpzpp0
ideas which have not been tested in
9-+-+-sn-+0
practice and can create serious problems 9+-+p+-+-0
for his opponent. This is what our Chapter 9-+-zP-vL-+0
8 is devoted to. The second retreat of the 9+-sN-+-+-0
bishop is: 9PzP-+PzPPzP0
7...Bg6 (variation A). This move has been 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
played even long ago and is quite logical, xiiiiiiiiy
but according to the theory, after 8.h4!
Black is faced with serious problems. This seemingly reasonable developing
In Chapters 6-7 we analyse the move move has a certain drawback. The point is
5...Nf6 and following 6.e3 that in one of the classical lines of the
XIIIIIIIIY
“Carlsbad variation”, which I have tried
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
in practice numerous times, after the
9zppzp-vlpzpp0
9-+-+-sn-+0 moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5
9+-+p+-+-0 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 0-0 7.Qc2 c6 8.Bd3
9-+-zP-vL-+0 Nbd7 9.Nf3 Re8, it is possible for White
9+-sN-zP-+-0 to continue with 10.h3 Nf8 11.Bf4 (aimed
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 against the move Nf6-e4).
XIIIIIIIIY
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 9r+lwqrsnk+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-+p+-sn-+0
6...Bf5 (Chapter 6) White does not have 9+-+p+-+-0
any more the move 7.g4. On the other 9-+-zP-vL-+0
hand, he has another promising possibility 9+-sNLzPN+P0
– 7.Qb3, attacking the b7-pawn. In 9PzPQ+-zPP+0
general, White’s prospects are better in 9tR-+-mK-+R0
this line. Meanwhile, Black has a quiet xiiiiiiiiy
developing move – 6...0-0 (Chapter 7),
but it has the drawback that after 7.Bd3, In the situation, we are going to analyse
Black cannot develop his bishop on f5 as our main line, White’s bishop comes to
and ends up in a not so good version of the f4-square at once, so he wins a tempo.
the Carlsbad variation, In out line White’s This does not necessarily lead to a great
bishop is on f4 and not on g5 which is advantage for White, since the position is
evidently in his favour. rather closed, but still an extra tempo in
the opening is quite an achievement.
Black however plays like this very often,
so we will need to analyse this position in
details. or transfer to the main line with 8.Bd3
6.e3 Bf5 Nc6 (8...d4 9.exd4 Bxd4? 10.Nb5+–;
We have mentioned numerous times how 9...Qxd4 10.Bb5+ Nc6 11.Qxd4 Bxd4
important it is for Black to develop his 12.Nge2²; 10.Qe2!?+ Be6 11.Be3 Qd6
bishop to f5, so if White wishes to fight 12.Nf3 0-0 13.0-0 Nbd7 14.Rfd1 Qe7
for an advantage in the opening, he must 15.h3 Rfe8 16.Nd4²) 9.Nge2 0-0 10.0-0 –
have serious arguments against this see Chapter 7, variation B.
bishop-move. 6...Nbd7. After this move Black in fact
About 6...0-0 7.Bd3 – see Chapter 7. complies with entering the “Carlsbad
6...c5 7.dxc5 variation” with a loss of a tempo. 7.Bd3.
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 9r+lwqk+-tr0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 9zppzpnvlpzpp0
9-+-+-sn-+0 9-+-+-sn-+0
9+-zPp+-+-0 9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-+-vL-+0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0 9+-sNLzP-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 9tR-+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy

About 7...0-0 8.Bd3 – see Chapter 7, About 7...c6 8.h3 – see 6...c6.
variation B. 7...0-0 8.Nf3 – see Chapter 7, variation A.
7...Nc6 8.Bd3 d4 (8...0-0 9.Nge2 – see 7...Nf8 8.Nf3 (It would be senseless for
Chapter 7, variation B) 9.exd4 (9.Nb5!ƒ) White to choose here 8.h3, since Black
9...Qxd4 10.Be3 Qb4 11.Nge2² would not achieve much with 8...Bg4, due
7...Bxc5 to 9.Qb3, or if he tries to trade his knight
XIIIIIIIIY
for the enemy bishop with 8...Nh5, then
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
after 9.Be5! – White provokes his
9zpp+-+pzpp0
opponent to weaken his position – 9...f6
9-+-+-sn-+0
10.Bg3 and Black succeeds in exchanging
9+-vlp+-+-0
9-+-+-vL-+0 indeed, but his kingside ends up
9+-sN-zP-+-0 considerably compromised.)
XIIIIIIIIY
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9r+lwqksn-tr0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 9zppzp-vlpzpp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+-sn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
White has two possibilities now: 9-+-zP-vL-+0
he must either exploit the fact that his 9+-sNLzPN+-0
opponent’s king has not castled yet and 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
play 8.Bb5+ Nc6 9.Nge2 (9.Nf3!? 0-0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
10.0-0 Bg4²) 9...0-0 10.0-0 a6 11.Bxc6 xiiiiiiiiy
bxc6 12.Na4² Gallego – Paramzina,
Barcelona 2015; 8...Ng6 9.Bxg6 (9.Bg3² Gromme –
Dovas, Mondariz 2003) 9...hxg6 10.Nb5 has a definite drawback however – White
Bb4+ 11.Ke2 Bd6 12.Bxd6 cxd6 succeeds in occupying the centre after
13.Qb3² e3-e4.
8...Ne6 (8...c6 h3 – see 6...c6 7.Bd3 8.f3XIIIIIIIIY
Nbd7 8.h3 Nf8 9.Nf3) 9.Be5! 0-0 10.Qc2 9rsn-wqk+-tr0
g6 11.h4ƒ c5 12.h5 c4 13.Bxg6! 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
(13.hxg6?! cxd3 14.gxh7 Kh8 15.Qxd3 9-+p+-sn-+0
Ng7∞ Mariano – Rombaldoni, Milan 9+-+p+-+-0
2004) 13...fxg6 14.hxg6 h5 15.Bxf6 Rxf6 9-+-zP-vLl+0
16.Rxh5± 9+-sNLzPP+-0
6...c6. This move has been played by 9PzP-+-+PzP0
great players like Kamsky, Wang, 9tR-+QmK-sNR0
Beliavsky, Vaganian, Elvest etc. It leads xiiiiiiiiy
to original positions only if Black follows
it with 7...Nd7, or 7...Bg4. His 8...Be6 9.Nge2 Nh5 (9...0-0 10.g4!? c5
alternatives transfer to positions analysed 11.0-0 Nc6 12.Rc1ƒ; 10.Qb3!? Qb6
in other chapters. 7.Bd3 11.Qc2 c5 12.dxc5 Bxc5 13.Na4 Qa5
XIIIIIIIIY 14.Kf2 Be7 15.Bc7 b6 16.a3!±; 15...Qb4
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
16.a3 Qh4 17.Bg3 Qh6 18.Qc7²) 10.Be5
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
Nd7 11.g4 f6 12.Nf4 Nxf4 13.Bxf4 Nf8
9-+p+-sn-+0
14.Qc2 Bd6 15.0-0-0! (15.Bxd6?! Qxd6
9+-+p+-+-0
16.0-0-0 0-0-0∞ Yakovich – Maric,
9-+-zP-vL-+0
Seville 1992) 15...Bf7 16.h4±
9+-sNLzP-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 8...Bh5 9.Nge2 (It is also possible for
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 White to occupy space on the kingside
xiiiiiiiiy here with the standard plan: 9.g4 Bg6
10.h4 Bd6 11.Nge2 Bxd3 12.Qxd3²
About 7...0-0 8.h3 – see Chapter 7, Ionov – Beliavsky, Azov 1991.) 9...Bg6
variation A. 10.e4
XIIIIIIIIY
7...Bd6 8.Bxd6 Qxd6 9.h3 – see Chapter 9rsn-wqk+-tr0
8. 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
7...Nbd7 8.h3 Nf8 (8...0-0 9.Nf3 – see 9-+p+-snl+0
Chapter 7, variation A) 9.Nf3 Ng6 9+-+p+-+-0
10.Bg3!? (After 10.Bh2 Bd6, it would not 9-+-zPPvL-+0
be so good for White to opt for 11.Ne5, in 9+-sNL+P+-0
view of 11...Bxe5 12.dxe5 Nd7, with the 9PzP-+N+PzP0
idea 13.f4 Qh4+!∞) 10...Bd6 (10...0-0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
11.0-0 Bd6 12.Ne5²) 11.Ne5 Qc7 12.f4 xiiiiiiiiy
Ne7 13.Qc2 Nh5 14.Bf2 g6 15.g4±
After 10...0-0, White has the following
Lputian – Petrosian, Yerevan 1986.
attractive possibility: 11.e5 (11.0-0!?²)
7...Bg4. Black plans to solve the problem
11...Ne8 12.Bxg6! (It would be a bit
with his light-squared bishop by
weaker for him to choose 12.Be3²
transferring it to the g6-square. This plan
Sethuraman – Ipatov, Kocaeli 2013.) Now, the developments become rather
12...fxg6 (12...hxg6 13.h4‚) 13.Be3 Nc7 non-standard.
14.0-0 Ne6 15.f4 Nd7 16.g4± 7...Qc8?! 8.Nb5 (8.Nf3!? 0-0 9.Be2 c6
10...dxe4 11.fxe4 0-0 12.0-0 (12.Qc2?! 10.Rc1² Jerabek – Krcmar, Karvina 1989)
Na6 13.a3 Nc7∞ Sethuraman – Payen, 8...Na6 9.Rc1 c5 (9...0-0 10.Nd6 Bd6
ParisXIIIIIIIIY
2015) 11.Bd6 Re8 12.Nf3±) 10.Bd6 (10.Nd6+
9rsn-wq-trk+0 Bxd6 11.Bxd6 c4 12.Qa3² Sariol –
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 Hernandez, Cerdanyola del Valles 2011)
9-+p+-snl+0 10...Qd8 11.dxc5 Qa5 12.Qc3 Qxc3+
9+-+-+-+-0 13.Nxc3 Nxc5 14.Bxc5 Bxc5 15.Nxd5±
9-+-zPPvL-+0 7...b6?! White can complete quietly his
9+-sNL+-+-0 development now with (Nf3, Be2, 0-0)
9PzP-+N+PzP0 and will have an edge. He can try
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 however, some promising sharp
xiiiiiiiiy variations, which will also provide him
with an advantage. 8.Nb5 0-0 (8...Na6?
12...Re8?! Mylnikova – Tsoi, Moscow 9.Qa4+–) 9.Nxc7 Nc6 10.Nxa8 Bb4
2015. This move is not so useful for 11.Kd1 Ne4 12.Bg3 Nd2 13.Qa4 Nxf1
Black, because his rook must protect the 14.Qxc6 Qe7 15.Qb5 Rc8 16.Nc7 Nxg3
f7-square. 13.e5 Nd5 14.Bxg6 hxg6 17.hxg3 Rxc7 18.Nf3 Rc2 19.a3 Rxf2
15.Bg3!? Na6 (15...Ne3 16.Qb3±) 16.e6, 20.Qxb4 Qc7 21.Rc1 Rc2 22.Rxc2 Qxc2
with the idea 16...fxe6 17.Qd3± 23.Ke1 Qc1 24.Kf2 Qxh1 25.Qd6±
XIIIIIIIIY
12...Qd7?! 13.Qb3 (13.Qd2 Bb4 14.e5 9r+-wqk+-tr0
Nd5 15.a3² Mylnikova – Tsoi, Moscow 9zppzp-vlpzpp0
2015) 13...b5 14.Rad1± 9-+n+-sn-+0
12...Na6, A.Smirnov – Vulfson, St 9+-+p+l+-0
Petersburg 2003, 13.Qd2!?, with the idea 9-+-zP-vL-+0
13...Nc7 14.Bxc7 Qxc7 15.e5² 9+QsN-zP-+-0
7.Qb3! 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
This is the only good move for White; 9tR-+-mKLsNR0
otherwise, Black’s position will be quite xiiiiiiiiy
acceptable.
XIIIIIIIIY 8.g4!
9rsn-wqk+-tr0
Here, White has numerous alternatives,
9zppzp-vlpzpp0
but it seems to me that only this sharp
9-+-+-sn-+0
move can provide him with chances of
9+-+p+l+-0
obtaining a real advantage.
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+QsN-zP-+-0 8.a3. This logical move can be countered
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 by Black in an interesting way. 8...Na5
9tR-+-mKLsNR0 9.Qa2 (9.Qd1 0-0 10.Nf3 c6!= Sedlak –
xiiiiiiiiy Colovic, Milan 2011) 9...0-0 (or 9...c6
10.Nf3 0-0) 10.Nf3 (10.b4 Nc4 11.Bxc4
7...Nc6! dxc4 12.Qxc4 c6! 13.Nf3 – see 10.Nf3)
 XIIIIIIIIY
10...c6 11.b4 (11.Be2 b5! Black provides 9r+-wqk+-tr0
the c4-square for his knight. 12.0-0 Nc4 9zpQzp-vlpzpp0
13.Rfc1 Nh5 14.Be5 f6 15.Bg3 Nxg3 9-+-+-sn-+0
16.hxg3 Rb8= Mamedyarov – Fridman, 9+-+p+l+-0
Khanty-Mansiysk 2011.) 11...Nc4 9-sn-zP-vL-+0
12.Bxc4 dxc4 13.Qxc4 a5 14.b5 (14.0-0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
axb4 15.axb4 Rxa1 16.Rxa1 Be6 17.Qd3 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
Bxb4∞) 14...Rc8 15.0-0 cxb5 (15...Be6!? 9tR-+-mKLsNR0
16.Qa4 cxb5 17.Nxb5 Qb6 18.Rfb1 Bf5! xiiiiiiiiy
19.Rb2 Nd5 20.Qb3 Be6 21.Qd3 Nxf4
22.exf4 Bc4©) 16.Qxb5 Rxc3 17.Qxf5 9.Rc1 0-0 10.a3 (10.Qxc7 Qxc7 11.Bxc7
Qd5 (17...Bxa3, Shipov – Marciano, Rac8© Kazantzidis – Mihopoulos,
fide.com 2001, 18.Bg5²) 18.Qxd5 Nxd5 Peristeri 2011) 10...Nc2 11.Rxc2 Bxc2
19.a4 Nxf4 20.exf4 f6= 12.Bxc7 Qc8 13.Ba6 Qxb7 14.Bxb7
Rab8 15.Bxb8 Rxb8 16.Bxd5 Rxb2
The simple developing move 8.Nf3
17.Bc4 Bxa3 (17...Ne4!? 18.Nge2 Nxc3
would not achieve much for White.
XIIIIIIIIY 19.Nxc3 Bxa3 20.0-0, Novikov –
9r+-wqk+-tr0 Ubilava, Kujbyshev 1986, 20...Bb4
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 21.Nd5 a5©) 18.Nge2 a5 19.0-0 a4
9-+n+-sn-+0 20.Ra1 Bf8 21.g3 a3 22.Nb5 Bb3
9+-+p+l+-0 23.Bxb3 Rxb3©
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+QsN-zPN+-0 9.Kd1 0-0 10.Qxc7 Qxc7 11.Bxc7 Rfc8
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 12.Bg3 Bc2! 13.Ke1 Bf5= 14.Rd1?
9tR-+-mKL+R0 (14.Kd1=) 14...Ne4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.a3
xiiiiiiiiy Rc2 17.Be2 Nd3–+ Lupulescu – Fridman,
Khanty-Mansiysk 2011.
8...0-0!? 9.Rc1 (9.Be2 Na5 10.Qd1 c6 9.Bb5 Kf8
XIIIIIIIIY
11.Nd2 b5∞; 9...Nb4?! 10.Rc1 Nd3 9r+-wq-mk-tr0
11.Bxd3 Bxd3 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd3 9zpQzp-vlpzpp0
Nxf4 14.exf4 Bb4 15.Kf1± Gelfand – 9-+-+-sn-+0
Zumsande, playchess.com 2004) 9...Na5 9+L+p+l+-0
(9...Nb4 10.Bg5!±) 10.Qa4 c6 11.Be2 b5 9-sn-zP-vL-+0
12.Qd1 Rc8 13.0-0 Nh5 14.Be5 f6 9+-sN-zP-+-0
15.Bg3 Nxg3 16.hxg3 Nc4= Andreikin – 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
Oparin, Sochi 2012. 9tR-+-mK-sNR0
8...Na5 9.Qd1 (9.Qa4 c6 10.Be2 0-0= xiiiiiiiiy
Timofeev – Kanep, Cappelle la Grande
2013) 9...0-0 10.Be2 c6!? 11.0-0 Nh5!= 10.Bc7? Qc8-+
(11...Nc4?! 12.Bxc4 dxc4 13.Ne5 Nd5 10.Rd1 Bd6!? 11.Bxd6 cxd6 12.Nf3 Rb8
14.Nxc4² Hort – Kotronias, Dortmund 13.Qxa7 Ra8 14.Qb7 Rb8=
1989). 10.Rc1 a6 (10...Bd6!? 11.Bxd6 cxd6
White cannot obtain an edge after 12.a3 Rb8 13.Qxa7 Nc2 14.Ke2 Ra8
8.Qxb7, because of 8...Nb4. 15.Qb7 Rb8 16.Qa7 Ra8= Parligras –
Feller, Aix–les–Bains 2011) 11.Be2 Ne8 Ba4 16.Rc1±
12.a3 Rb8 13.Qa7 Ra8= 9...Nb4 10.Rc1 Rb8 (10...Bf5,
10.Kd2 a6 11.Ba4 (11.Be2 Ne8!? 12.a3 Aleksandrov – Dobrowolski, Warsaw
Rb8 13.Qa7 Ra8=) 11...Rc8!?© 2008, 11.a3! Rb8 12.Qxa7 Nc2
(11...Nd3!? 12.Bxc7 Qc8 13.Qxc8 Rxc8 13.Rxc2±) 11.Qxc7 Qxc7 12.Bxc7 Rb7
14.Ba5 Nxf2 15.Rf1 N6e4 16.Nxe4 13.Be5²
Nxe4 17.Ke2, Salov – Timoscenko, 8...Bc8 9.h3!² (9.g5 Nh5∞)
XIIIIIIIIY
Irkutsk 1986, 17...g6©
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+lwqk+-tr0
9r+-wqk+-tr0 9zppzp-vlpzpp0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 9-+n+-sn-+0
9-+n+-sn-+0 9+-+p+-+-0
9+-+p+l+-0 9-+-zP-vLP+0
9-+-zP-vLP+0 9+QsN-zP-+P0
9+QsN-zP-+-0 9PzP-+-zP-+0
9PzP-+-zP-zP0 9tR-+-mKLsNR0
9tR-+-mKLsNR0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
9...Bd6?! 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 (About 10...cxd6
8...Nxg4 – see Morozevich – A.Onischuk, Reggio
Black’s alternatives here are considerably Emilia 2011, game 5) 11.g5 Ne4
weaker. 12.Qxd5±
8...Bg6? 9.g5 Nh5 10.Qxb7 Nb4 11.Bxc7 9...Na5 10.Qc2 c6 11.0-0-0!?² Be6
Qc8 12.Bb5+ Kf8 13.Bc6+– 12.Kb1 Rc8 (12...Nc4 13.Bxc4 dxc4
Lorparizangeneh – Javanbakht, Tehran 14.e4 0-0 15.Nge2±) 13.Bd3 b5 14.Nge2
2016. Nc4 15.Bg3 Qa5 16.Nf4 Bb4 17.Nce2±
8...Bxg4 9.Qxb7
XIIIIIIIIY Bocharov – Rychagov, Irkutsk 2010.
9r+-wqk+-tr0 9...0-0 10.Nf3²
9zpQzp-vlpzpp0 9.Qxd5
9-+n+-sn-+0 9.Nxd5?! 0-0 10.Bg2 Bh4µ Topalov –
9+-+p+-+-0 Kasparov, Linares 1997.
9-+-zP-vLl+0 The following line would be too risky for
9+-sN-zP-+-0 White and the maximum that he can rely
9PzP-+-zP-zP0 on is a draw: 9.Qxb7 Nb4 10.Bb5 Kf8„
9tR-+-mKLsNR0 11.Bxc7 Qc8 12.Bc6 Nxc6 13.Qxc6
xiiiiiiiiy Rb8!? 14.Nxd5 Rxb2 15.Nxe7 Nxf2
16.Nxc8 Nd3 17.Kd1 Nf2=
9...Bd7?! 10.Bxc7 Qc8 11.Qxc8!?
(11.Ba6?! Nb4 12.Qxc8+ Bxc8 13.Bb5+
Bd7© Fridman – Azarov, Jurmala 2012)
11...Rxc8 12.Bg3 Nb4 13.Kd2 Ne4
14.Ne4 dxe4 (14...Rc2+? 15.Kd1 dxe4
16.a3 Rxb2 17.axb4 0-0 18.Ba6 Bxb4
19.Kc1 Bc3 20.Rb1 Ra2 21.Bc4+–) 15.a3
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0 9r+q+-trk+0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 9zppzp-vlpzpp0
9-+n+-+-+0 9-+n+-+-+0
9+-+Q+l+-0 9+-+-+l+-0
9-+-zP-vLn+0 9-+-zP-vLn+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9PzP-+-zP-zP0 9PzP-+-zPQzP0
9tR-+-mKLsNR0 9tR-+-mKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Now, we will analyse in details: A) 11.0-0-0
9...Qc8 and B) 9...Qxd5. After the immediate move 11.e4, Black
A) 9...Qc8 can try a seemingly dangerous piece-
Black avoids the exchange in an attempt sacrifice, but White should not be afraid
to exploit the precarious position of the of that.
XIIIIIIIIY
enemy queen. 9r+q+-trk+0
White must make up his mind between 9zppzp-vlpzpp0
the alternatives: A1) 10.Qg2, or A2) 9-+n+-+-+0
10.a3. 9+-+-+l+-0
A1) 10.Qg2 9-+-zPPvLn+0
This move seems promising, but I have 9+-sN-+-+-0
failed to find a sure edge for White at this 9PzP-+-zPQzP0
moment. 9tR-+-mKLsNR0
XIIIIIIIIY xiiiiiiiiy
9r+q+k+-tr0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 11...Nxd4?! 12.0-0-0 Bc5 13.Nf3!! Rd8
9-+n+-+-+0 (13...Nxf3 14.exf5 Nfe5 15.Bxe5 Nxe5
9+-+-+l+-0 16.Rg1 g6 17.fxg6 hxg6 18.Rd5 Bd6
9-+-zP-vLn+0 19.f4 Nc6 20.f5 Ne7 21.Bd3+–) 14.Nxd4
9+-sN-zP-+-0 Bxd4 15.Be2 Be6 16.Bxg4 Bxg4 17.Rxd4
9PzP-+-zPQzP0 Rxd4 18.h3±
9tR-+-mKLsNR0
11...Bxe4 12.Nxe4 Bb4 13.Nc3 Qf5
xiiiiiiiiy
14.Be2 h5 (14...Rfe8 15.Kf1 h5 16.h3+–;
10...0-0 15...Qxf4 16.Qxg4 Qd2 17.Nd5±;
Or 10...Nb4?! 11.Rc1! (11.0-0-0 Qe6 15...Nf6 16.Bh6 g6 17.Qg5!?± Aronian –
12.e4 Na2+ 13.Nxa2 Bxe4 14.f3 Qxa2 Kramnik, Monte Carlo 2011) 15.Qg3!
15.fxe4 Qa1+ 16.Kc2 Qa4=; 12.d5 Qb6 Nxd4 16.Kf1 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Nxe2
13.a3 Na2+ 14.Nxa2 Qb3 15.e4 Bxe4 18.Nxe2 Rfe8 19.h3 Qe4 20.Kg1 Ne5
16.Qxe4 Qxd1+ 17.Kxd1 Nxf2+ 18.Kc2 21.Bxe5 (21.Nd4? h4!³) 21...Rxe5
Nxe4 19.Bb5+ Kf8 20.Nf3 Bd6∞) 22.Nd4 c5 23.Nf3 Rf5 24.Nh4 Rf4
11...Qe6 (11...0-0 12.a3 Nd3+ 13.Bxd3 25.Ng2 Rf3 26.Qg5 Rxc3 27.Re1 Qg6
Bxd3 14.Nge2±) 12.a3 Nc2+ 13.Rxc2 28.Qxg6 fxg6 29.Nf4 Kh7 30.Rh2±
Bxc2 14.Bb5+ c6 15.d5± Still, after 11...Bg6 12.0-0-0 Nf6, the
game transposes to the line: 11.0-0-0 Nf6 Qxg5 23.Qg4±).
12.e4 Bg6 anyway. A2)XIIIIIIIIY
10.a3!?
11...Nf6 12.e4 9r+q+k+-tr0
12.f3 Nh5!?∞ 9zppzp-vlpzpp0
12...Bg6 9-+n+-+-+0
12...Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Nb4 14.a3 Qe6 15.f3 9+-+Q+l+-0
Nd5 16.Bd2± 9-+-zP-vLn+0
13.f3 Rd8
XIIIIIIIIY 9zP-sN-zP-+-0
9r+qtr-+k+0 9-zP-+-zP-zP0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 9tR-+-mKLsNR0
9-+n+-snl+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+-+-0 White prevents the move Nb4 in a simple
9-+-zPPvL-+0 and reliable way.
9+-sN-+P+-0
10...0-0
9PzP-+-+QzP0
9+-mKR+LsNR0 It is more or less the same after 10...Nf6
xiiiiiiiiy 11.Qf3 0-0 12.Nge2.
11.Nge2 Nf6
14.d5 If Black is not in a hurry to retreat his
This looks like a principled move, but knight and chooses instead, for example:
Black has some hidden resources against 11...Re8, then after 12.Bg2 Nf6, White
it. can remove his queen to the c4-square,
14.Qf2 a6∞ maintaining powerful pressure.
14.Nge2?! b5! 15.Be3?! (15.h4∞) 15...b4 In general, after 10.a3, White will have
16.Na4, Fridman – Prusikin, Bad Wiessee some edge thanks to his pawn-majority in
2012, 16...Nxe4! 17.fxe4 Qe6! 18.d5 the centre and his pressure against the
Rxd5! 19.Rxd5 Bxe4 20.Nf4 Bxg2 enemy queenside and also on the semi-
21.Nxe6 Bxd5 22.Nxc7 Bxh1 23.Nxa8 open c-file. He can also hope that the
Bd6XIIIIIIIIY
24.h3 Ne5–+ absence of his g-pawn will not affect in
the future the safety of his own king.
9r+qtr-+k+0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 12.Qf3
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+n+-snl+0 9r+q+-trk+0
9+-+P+-+-0 9zppzp-vlpzpp0
9-+-+PvL-+0 9-+n+-sn-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0 9+-+-+l+-0
9PzP-+-+QzP0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-mKR+LsNR0 9zP-sN-zPQ+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zP-+NzP-zP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
14...Nb4! 15.Qh3 Qb8!?ƒ (15...Rd7?! xiiiiiiiiy
16.a3 a5 17.Nge2ƒ c6 18.d6 Qd8
19.dxe7?? Rxd1 20.Nxd1 Qd3–+; 19.e5 12...Re8
Nfd5 20.Rg1 Nxf4 21.Nxf4 Bg5 22.Rxg5 About 12...Bd8 13.Rg1 Re8 14.h4 – see
12...Re8. 24.Kd2 Bd7 25.Bf3² Krush – Zatonskih,
13.Rg1 Bd8!? Saint Louis 2011) 12...Nd5
XIIIIIIIIY
With this somewhat strange move Black 9-+ktr-+-tr0
prepares Nf6-e4 and frees the e7-square 9zppzp-+pzpp0
for his knight. 9-+-+-+-+0
14.h4 Ne4 15.h5ƒ
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+n+l+-0
9r+qvlr+k+0 9-+-zP-vLn+0
9zppzp-+pzpp0 9+-+-zP-+-0
9-+n+-+-+0 9PzP-+-zP-zP0
9+-+-+l+P0 9+-tR-mKLsNR0
9-+-zPnvL-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zP-sN-zPQ+-0
9-zP-+NzP-+0 13.Bg3!? Rhe8 14.Ne2 c6 15.Nc3 Ngf6
9tR-+-mKLtR-0 16.Be5 Ng4 17.Bg3 Ngf6 18.Bh4!?²
xiiiiiiiiy (18.Be2?! Najer – Azarov, Czech
Republic 2013, 18...Nxc3 19.Rxc3
White is very active on the kingside and Ne4=).
Black is in a precarious situation. 13.h3!? Nxf4 (13...Ngf6 14.Be5²)
B) 9...Qxd5
XIIIIIIIIY10.Nxd5 14.hxg4 Nd3 15.Bxd3 Bxd3 16.f3 h5
9r+-+k+-tr0 (16...f6 17.Nh3 Bg6 18.Nf4 Bf7 19.Kf2²;
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 16...Bg6 17.Ne2 h5 18.gxh5 Bxh5
9-+n+-+-+0 19.Kf2 f6 20.e4²) 17.gxh5 Rd5 18.h6
9+-+N+l+-0 Rxh6 19.Rxh6 gxh6 20.Nh3 Rh5 21.Nf2
9-+-zP-vLn+0 Bb5 22.e4², followed by a transfer of the
9+-+-zP-+-0 kingXIIIIIIIIY
to the e3-square.
9PzP-+-zP-zP0 9r+-+k+-tr0
9tR-+-mKLsNR0 9zppzp-+pzpp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+n+-+-+0
9+-+N+l+-0
10...Bb4+ 9-vl-zP-vLn+0
10...Bh4 11.Nxc7 (11.Bg3 Bxg3 12.hxg3 9+-+-zP-+-0
0-0-0 13.Bg2 Rxd5 14.Bxd5 Nb4 15.e4² 9PzP-+-zP-zP0
Brodowski – Dobrowolski, Wroclaw 9tR-+-mKLsNR0
2012; 11.Nf3 Bxf2 12.Ke2 0-0-0 13.h3 xiiiiiiiiy
Rxd5 14.hxg4 Bxe3 15.Kxe3 Bxg4
16.Ne5 Re8 17.Bg2 Rb5 18.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Nxb4
19.Kd2²) 11...Kd7 12.Nxa8 Be4 13.Bh3 11.Nc3!? – see Wojtaszek – Tarjan,
f5 14.Nc7 Bxh1 15.Nb5² Gibraltar 2016, game 6.
10...0-0-0 11.Nxe7 Nxe7 12.Rc1!? 11...Nxb4 12.Rc1
(12.Nf3!? Nd5 13.Bg3 Ngf6 14.Rc1 Ne4 White’s pawn-majority in the centre
15.Ne5 Rhf8 16.a3 f6 17.Nc4 Rfe8 provides him with a slight but stable edge.
18.Be2 Re7 19.Nd2 Nxg3 20.hxg3 Kb8 12...c6
21.Nb1 Rd6 22.Nc3 Nxc3 23.Rxc3 h6 12...Nd5 13.h3 Ngf6 14.Be5 0-0 15.Ne2²
Fridman – Svane, Osterburg 2012. 15.Be5 Nd7
XIIIIIIIIY
13.a3
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-+k+-tr0
9r+-+k+-tr0 9zpp+n+pzpp0
9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+p+-+-+0
9-+p+-+-+0 9+-+nvLl+-0
9+-+-+l+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9-sn-zP-vLn+0 9zP-+-zP-+P0
9zP-+-zP-+-0 9-zP-+-zP-+0
9-zP-+-zP-zP0 9+-tR-mKLsNR0
9+-tR-mKLsNR0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
16.Bd6
13...Nd5 16.Bh2? Nxe3! 17.fxe3 Be4µ
13...Nd3 14.Bxd3 Bxd3 15.f3 Nf6 16...Rd8 17.Nf3 N7b6 18.Bg3 0-0
16.Kd2 Bg6 17.Ne2!? (17.Be5² 19.Nd2 Rfe8 20.Be2² White has a
Wojtaszek – A.Onischuk, Poikovsky bishop-pair, a powerful centre and the
2012) 17...0-0 18.h4 Rfe8 19.Rhg1 possibility to begin an offensive on the
(19.e4?! Nh5 20.Rhg1 f5 21.e5 Rad8= queenside, so his position is obviously
Krush – Zatonskih, Saint Louis 2011) more promising. Black does not have
19...Nh5 20.Rc5² any active plan. He must only wait and
14.h3 Ngf6 choose his reaction against his
14...Nxf4 15.hxg4 Nd3+ 16.Bxd3 Bxd3 opponent’s plans. White’s prospects are
17.Kd2 Bg6 18.Ne2² Lorparizangeneh – clearly better.
Gavrilov, Moscow 2015.
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wq-trk+0
Chapter 7
9zppzp-vlpzpp0
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 9-+-+lsn-+0
5.Bf4 Nf6 6.e3 0-0 7.Bd3
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+p+-+-0
9rsnlwq-trk+0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 9+-sNLzPN+-0
9-+-+-sn-+0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9+-+p+-+-0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sNLzP-+-0 8...c6 9.h3 – see 7...c6 8.h3 Be6 9.Nf3.
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 8...Nh5 9.Qc2 h6 10.Be5 Nd7 11.0-0
xiiiiiiiiy Nhf6 12.h3 c5 13.Bf5²
8...Nbd7 9.h3 c5 10.0-0 a6 11.dxc5!?
We will analyse in details now A) 7...c6 (11.Rc1 Rc8 12.Ne5 Re8 13.Qf3ƒ
and B) 7...c5. Bobotsov – Zaitsev, Buesum 1969)
About 7...b6 8.Nf3 – see Chapter 12. 11...Nxc5, Z.Polgar – Karpov, Lindsborg
7...Nbd7 8.Nf3 c6 9.h3 – see 7...c6 8.h3 2004, 12.Bc2 Nfe4 13.Ne2²
Nbd7 9.Nf3. It would not be principled for Black to
7...Be6. It is not reasonable for Black to continue with 7...Bg4.
XIIIIIIIIY
be in a hurry to determine so early the 9rsn-wq-trk+0
placement of his light-squared bishop. 9zppzp-vlpzpp0
White can complete comfortably his 9-+-+-sn-+0
development in several different ways 9+-+p+-+-0
ending up in a very good position.
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-zP-vLl+0
9rsn-wq-trk+0 9+-sNLzP-+-0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9-+-+lsn-+0 9tR-+QmK-sNR0
9+-+p+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-zP-vL-+0 8.Qb3!? b6 9.h3 Be6 10.Nf3 c5 11.Be2
9+-sNLzP-+-0
Nc6 12.0-0²
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 8.Nge2!? Nbd7 9.0-0 (9.h3?! Bagirov –
xiiiiiiiiy Mukhin, Baku 1972, 9...Bh5∞) 9...c6
10.f3! Bh5 11.e4²
8.Nge2!? Nbd7 9.0-0 (or 9.h3!?², with 7...Re8
the idea 9...b6?! 10.Ba6!± Barsov –
Djuric, Vlissingen 1997) 9...a6 10.Rc1 c5
11.dxc5 Nxc5 12.Nd4 Nxd3 13.Qxd3²
Juptner – Vetrovsky, Prague 2012.
8.Nf3!?
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqr+k+0 Or 8...Be6 9.Nf3 Nbd7 10.0-0 Re8
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 11.Qc2 Nf8 12.Rab1², followed by the
9-+-+-sn-+0 standard pawn-minority attack on the
9+-+p+-+-0 queenside with the idea to create a pawn-
9-+-zP-vL-+0 weakness on c6, Doroshkievich –
9+-sNLzP-+-0 Varavin, Krasnodar 1991.
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9.Nf3
XIIIIIIIIY
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 9r+lwq-trk+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zpp+nvlpzpp0
9-+p+-sn-+0
8.h3 c5 9.dxc5 d4 (9...Bxc5 10.Nge2 Nc6
9+-+p+-+-0
11.0-0² with the idea 11...d4 12.Na4 Bd6 9-+-zP-vL-+0
13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Bb5!?²) 10.exd4 9+-sNLzPN+P0
Bxc5+ 11.Nge2 Bxd4 12.0-0² Bb6 9PzP-+-zPP+0
13.Qc2 Nc6 14.Rad1 Qe7 15.Bg5± 9tR-+QmK-+R0
It is also possible for White to try here xiiiiiiiiy
8.Nge2, not being afraid of the possible
exchange of his dark-squared bishop for 9...Re8
the enemy knight. 8...Nh5 9.Qc2 g6 Black plans to transfer his knight to the
(9...h6 10.Be5ƒ) 10.Bh6² g6-square with the idea to attack White’s
A) 7...c6 8.h3
XIIIIIIIIY dark-squared bishop on f4.
9rsnlwq-trk+0 Black’s alternatives do not provide him
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 with chances of equalising: 9...Nb6
9-+p+-sn-+0 10.Qc2² Kantor – Korley, Budapest 2014;
9+-+p+-+-0 or 9...b6 10.Qc2 Re8 11.g4 Nf8 12.0-0-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 Bb7 13.Kb1 Bd6 14.Be5± Belous –
9+-sNLzP-+P0 Petrov, Taganrog 2014.
9PzP-+-zPP+0 10.0-0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 If White is reluctant to castle queenside, it
xiiiiiiiiy would be logical for him to castle
kingside immediately, but he would
8...Nbd7 hardly manage to continue the game
About 8...Bd6 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.Nf3 – see without the move Qc2 anyway. Therefore,
Chapter 8, 8...Nf6. the order of moves (10.0-0, 11.Qc2, or
After 8...Re8 9.Nf3, Black should better 10.Qc2, 11.0-0) is not so critical if he
avoid 9...Bd6?! (It is better for him to chooses the plan with castling kingside.
choose instead 9...Nbd7 10.0-0 – see 10.Qc2 Nf8
8...Nbd7.) at least because of 10.0-0 Bxf4
11.exf4 Nbd7 12.Rc1 and White has an
obvious advantage thanks to the
possibility to occupy at an opportune
moment the important e5-outpost with his
knight.
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqrsnk+0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-+p+-sn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzPN+P0
9PzPQ+-zPP+0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This is the position we mentioned at the
beginning of this chapter. I have already
told you that I have usually reached it
with Black to move. He continues as a
rule with 10...Bd6. White usually played
11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.0-0-0!? Now, the trade
of the bishops has not happened yet, so
after 11.0-0-0, White must consider the
possibility for Black to fight for the
e4-square with the move 11...Bb4. He can
also try an immediate march with his a-
pawn. The plan for White, including
castling queenside has been tested in
practice even at the top level, but my
evaluation is the following: White should
better avoid castling queenside if the
dark-squared bishops have not been
exchanged yet. Having an extra tempo, he
should better prefer the quieter plan,
including castling kingside. 11.0-0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqrsnk+0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-+p+-sn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzPN+P0
9PzPQ+-zPP+0
9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
11....Bd6?! 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.g4 Be6
14.Kb1±
11...Ng6 12.Bh2 Bd6?! 13.Bxd6 Qxd6
14.g4 Be6 15.Kb1 b6, Khismatullin –
Gaifullin, Kazan 2015, 16.Nd2!? Nf8
(16...c5 17.dxc5 bxc5 18.f4!±) 17.g5
N6d7 18.f4±
11...Qa5 12.Kb1 Be6 13.Nd2² Pallisse –
Gomez, Barcelona 2011.
11...b5 12.Kb1 a5 13.Ne5 Bb7 14.Ne2
Qb6 15.Rc1 Bd6 16.Ng3 Bb8 17.Nf5 Re6
18.g4ƒ Adhiban – Snehal, Mummbai
2012.
11...Bb4 12.Kb1
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqrsnk+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+p+-sn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-vl-zP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzPN+P0
9PzPQ+-zPP+0
9+K+R+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...Ng6 13.Bh2 Qa5, Vishnu – Ni Hua,
Gibraltar 2016, 14.Nd2!² with the idea
14...Bxc3 15.Qxc3 Qxc3 16.bxc3 Nh4
17.Be5!²
12...Qe7 13.Bg5 Qe6 14.Bf4 Qe7 15.Ne5
Ne4 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Bxc4 (17.Bxe4!?
f6 18.Nxc6! bxc6 19.Bxc6 Bb7 20.Qc4+
Kh8 21.Bxe8 Rc8! 22.Qf7 Qe4+ 23.Ka1
Bd5 24.Bc6 Rxc6 25.f3 Bxf7 26.fxe4²;
25...Qf5 26.e4±) 17...Be6 18.Bxe6 Nxe6
19.Bh2² Korchnoi – Petrosian, Velden
1980.
11...a5 12.Kb1 a4!
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqrsnk+0 9r+l+rsnk+0
9+p+-vlpzpp0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+p+-sn-+0 9-+pwq-sn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0 9+-+p+-+-0
9p+-zP-vL-+0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sNLzPN+P0 9+-sNLzPN+P0
9PzPQ+-zPP+0 9PzPQ+-zPP+0
9+K+R+-+R0 9+R+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
13.Nxa4?! It would be too risky for Black In this position, White has an obvious
to accept the pawn-sacrifice. 13...Qa5 plan connected with the pawn-minority
14.b3 (14.Nc3?! b5µ) 14...Ne4 15.Bxe4 attack and it is practically applicable no
dxe4 16.Ne5 Be6 17.f3 Qb4 18.Nc5 matter what Black chooses.
Bxc5 19.Qxc5 Qxc5 20.dxc5 f6 21.Ng4 13...Be6 14.b3²
Bf5 22.Kb2 exf3 23.gxf3 h5µ 13...Ng6 14.b4 a6 15.a4 Bd7 16.Qb3 Qe7
13.g4 a3 14.b3, Guramishvili 17.b5 axb5 18.axb5 Ra3 19.Qb2 Rea8
–Javakhishvili, Sochi 2015, 14...Bb4∞ 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.Ra1± Rychagov –
13.a3 b5 14.Ne5 Qb6 15.Bg5 (15.Na2 Benza, Smolensk 2005.
Bb7∞) 15...Be6 (15...Bb7 16.Rc1²) 13...a5 14.a3 Be6 15.Na4 Ne4 16.b4 axb4
16.Rc1 h6 17.Bh4 Rec8∞ 17.axb4 b5 18.Nc5 Nxc5 19.dxc5 Qc7
10...Nf8 20.Ra1 Ra7 21.Nd4± Sutter – Stojanovic,
10...Nh5 11.Bh2 (11.Qc2?! Ndf6 12.Bh2 Switzerland 2005.
g6, with the idea Nh5-g7 and then 11...Ne6
XIIIIIIIIY
Nc8-f5) 11...g6 12.Rb1 Ng7 13.b4 a6, 9r+lwqr+k+0
Batchuluun – Kretov, Voronezh 2014, 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
14.a4 Nf6 15.b5² 9-+p+nsn-+0
11.Qc2
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+p+-+-0
9r+lwqrsnk+0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 9+-sNLzPN+P0
9-+p+-sn-+0 9PzPQ+-zPP+0
9+-+p+-+-0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sNLzPN+P0
9PzPQ+-zPP+0 12.Be5 g6. Black’s plan is evident – to
9tR-+-+RmK-0 transfer the knight to g7 and to follow this
xiiiiiiiiy with Bc8-f5. 13.Rab1 Ng7 (13...a5
14.Rbc1!? This is a very precise move.
11...Ng6 Now, after 14...Ng7, it is very good for
11...Bd6 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.Rab1 White to opt for 15.Qb3², impeding
Black’s plan. With a pawn on a7, Black
could have countered with the move Qb6;
14...b6 15.Rfd1 Bb7 16.Ne2ƒ) 14.b4 a6
15.a4 Bf5 16.b5 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 axb5
18.axb5 Ra3 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.Qc2²
Beliavsky – Afifi, Luzern 1989.
12.Bh2 g6 13.Rab1 a5 (13...Ng7 14.b4 a6
15.Na4 Bf5 16.Nc5 Qc8 17.Ne5 Bxd3
18.Ncxd3, Navara – Magalashvili,
Warsaw 2005, 18...Ne4=; 15.a4 Bf5
16.b5 axb5 17.axb5 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 Ra3
19.bxc6 bxc6 20.Qc2²) 14.a3! (14.Ne5?!
Ng7 15.Qb3 Bd6=; 15.g4 Nd7 16.f4
Nxe5 17.fxe5 Rf8 18.Qg2 f6 19.exf6
Bxf6 20.Rf3 Qe7= Sumets – Chilla,
Travemuende 2011) 14...Ng7 15.b4 (Or
15.Qb3!?², keeping the enemy bishop on
the c8-square.) 15...axb4 16.axb4 Bf5,
Szczepkowska – Niekras, Wroclaw 2014,
17.b5²
11...Nh5 12.Bh2 (12.Be5!? g6 13.Rab1
Ng7 14.b4 a6, Volkov – Belozerov,
Krasnoyarsk 2003, 15.a4 Bf5 16.b5 axb5
17.axb5 Bxd3 18.Qxd3²)
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqrsnk+0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-+p+-+-+0
9+-+p+-+n0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sNLzPN+P0
9PzPQ+-zPPvL0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...g6 13.Rab1 a5 14.Rfe1!? (14.a3 Ng7
15.b4 Bf5 16.bxa5! Qc8, Epishin –
Dorfman, Geneva 1996, 17.Bxf5 Nxf5
18.Qb3 Rxa5 19.Qxb7 Rxa3 20.Rfc1±;
15...axb4 16.axb4 Bf5 17.b5 Bxd3
18.Qxd3²) 14...Ng7 (14...Bd6 15.Bxd6
Qxd6 16.Na4!?²) 15.e4! dxe4 16.Bxe4
Bd6, Korotylev – Magomedov, Kazan
2005 (16...Bf5 17.Qb3±; 16...Be6
17.Rbd1±) 17.Bxd6! Qxd6 18.d5±
12...Bd6 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Rab1 Ng6
15.b4 Qf6 16.Qd1 a6, Kalinin – Aliev,
Polanica Zdroj 1998 (16...Nh4, Rotstein –
Haub, Germany 2000, 17.Be2! g6
18.Nxh4 Qxh4 19.Bxh5 gxh5 20.Ne2±)
17.a4² with the idea 17...Nh4 18.Be2!±
12.Bh2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqr+k+0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-+p+-snn+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sNLzPN+P0
9PzPQ+-zPPvL0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...Bd6
After this advantageous exchange for
White, from the positional point of view,
Black prepares an occupation of the
e4-square with the idea to exert pressure
on the kingside. White does not prevent
this and uses the tempi to try to create
weaknesses in Black’s camp on the
queenside. White hopes that his
opponent’s kingside initiative will hardly
become too dangerous.
It seems senseless for Black to play here
12...Bb4, since after 13.a3, his bishop will
need to go back.
It is also useless for him to play 12...Be6,
because following 13.Rab1, White begins
his pawn-minority attack anyway. It
becomes not so sensible for Black to trade
the dark-squared bishops, since his bishop
on e6 harms his chances of fighting
effectively for the important e4-square.
13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Rab1
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+r+k+0 16.Rfc1± Ivanchuk – Andersson, Amber
9zpp+-+pzpp0 1997.
9-+pwq-snn+0 15...Rec8?! 16.Rfc1± Antoshin – Forintos,
9+-+p+-+-0 Hungary 1956.
9-+-zP-+-+0 15...Rac8 16.Rfc1 Qe7 17.b5 c5 18.Qa4
9+-sNLzPN+P0 a6 19.dxc5 Rxc5 20.Qd4² Ivanchuk –
9PzPQ+-zPP+0 Vaganian, Moscow 1994.
9+R+-+RmK-0 15.b4 Ne4
xiiiiiiiiy It is more or less the same after: 15...a6
14...Qe7 16.a4² (White has an interesting
Black is after the e4-square. additional possibility here – 16.Na4²)
16...Ne4 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Nd2 f5,
But not 14...Nd7?! 15.b4 Ndf8 16.b5±
Kuthan – Singer, Austria 2015, 19.b5±
Varga – Vajda, Budapest 2013.
15...Bd7 16.b5 cxb5 (16...c5 17.dxc5
14...b6?! 15.b4 Bb7 16.a4 Nf8 17.a5
Qxc5 18.Rfd1 Rac8 19.Rbc1²) 17.Bxb5
Rab8 18.Rfc1± Dorfman – Bellini,
Rac8 18.Qb3 Bxb5 19.Nxb5 a6 20.Nc3
Mondariz 2000.
Qd6 21.Rfc1 b5 22.a4± Fier – De Nucci,
14...Be6 15.b4 Rac8 16.Rfc1±
Campinas 2010.
Khismatullin – Savchenko, Khanty-
16.b5XIIIIIIIIY
Mansiysk 2013.
9r+l+r+k+0
The inclusion of the moves 14...a5 15.a3
9zpp+-wqpzpp0
Qe7 enables White to follow with the
9-+p+-+n+0
manoeuvre 16.Na4 Ne4 17.Nb6² Genov
9+P+p+-+-0
– Fressinet, Lausanne 2001.
9-+-zPn+-+0
14...Bd7 15.b4
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-sNLzPN+P0
9r+-+r+k+0 9P+Q+-zPP+0
9zpp+l+pzpp0 9+R+-+RmK-0
9-+pwq-snn+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+p+-+-0
9-zP-zP-+-+0 16...Ng5
9+-sNLzPN+P0 16...Nh4 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Nxh4 Qxh4
9P+Q+-zPP+0 19.bxc6 (19.f3?! exf3 20.Rxf3 Be6∞
9+R+-+RmK-0 Huzman – Kromhout, Yerevan 1996)
xiiiiiiiiy 19...bxc6, Luckis – Puiggros, Mar del
Plata 1944, 20.Rfc1 Re6 21.Ne2±
15...a6?! 16.Na4 Rad8 17.Nc5 Bc8 17.Nxg5 Qxg5 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.f4!
18.a4± Dreev – Seirawan, Dorarecht This is an important defensive resource
2004. for White.
15...Re7?! The doubling of the rooks on 19...Qf6 (19...Qe7 20.Rbe1²) 20.f5 Nf8
the e-file is senseless. 16.Rfd1 Rae8 17.b5 21.Qf2 Rd8 22.Qg3² Sadler – Lputian,
Ne4 18.bxc6 Bxc6 19.Rdc1± Chuchelov Elista 1998.
– Clery, Touquet 2000.
15...b6?! This weakening is premature.
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ltr-snk+0 11.Rb1 Nce4 12.0-0 Nxc3 13.Nxc3 Bg4
9zp-+-+pzpp0 14.Qd3² Wojtaszek – Sandipan, Solingen
9-+p+-wq-+0 2014.
9+-+p+P+-0 9.Nge2
9-+-zP-+-+0 White’s knight is more flexibly placed
9+-sNLzP-wQP0 here, than on f3, moreover that Black’s
9P+-+-+P+0 possible bishop-sortie Bc8-g4 becomes
9+R+-+RmK-0 senseless.
xiiiiiiiiy 9...Bxc5 10.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
We have already seen that both sides have 9r+lwq-trk+0
followed their plans. White has created a
9zpp+-+pzpp0
weakness on c6 with a pawn-minority
9-+n+-sn-+0
attack. Black in his turn has developed
9+-vlp+-+-0
initiative on the kingside. It may seem his
9-+-+-vL-+0
plan has triumphed, but White has parried
9+-sNLzP-+-0
9PzP-+NzPPzP0
the immediate threats with the move
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
f2-f4, so his prospects should be termed
xiiiiiiiiy
as preferable.
B) 7...c5 8.dxc5
XIIIIIIIIY 10...d4
9rsnlwq-trk+0 This is Black’s most principled move. He
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 wishes to get rid of his isolated pawn.
9-+-+-sn-+0 10...Re8 11.Nb5!?² Ali – Garcia, Dubai
9+-zPp+-+-0 1986.
9-+-+-vL-+0 10...b6 11.a3 Bb7 12.Qc2 h6 13.Rad1²
9+-sNLzP-+-0 Fuchs – Flemming, Goerlitz 1997.
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
10...Be6 11.Rc1 (11.Na4!? Bd6 12.Rc1
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy Bxf4 13.Nxf4 Qe7 14.Nc5 Rfd8 15.Qb3²
Nepomniachtchi – Bocharov, Apatity
Naturally, this is not White’s only move, 2011)
XIIIIIIIIY
but seems to me to be his most principled 9r+-wq-trk+0
and promising. Now, Black must either 9zpp+-+pzpp0
comply with defending a slightly worse 9-+n+lsn-+0
position with an isolated pawn on d5, or 9+-vlp+-+-0
just try to exchange it after d5-d4 for 9-+-+-vL-+0
White’s “good”e3-pawn. Let us see what 9+-sNLzP-+-0
may happen later. 9PzP-+NzPPzP0
8...Nc6 9+-tRQ+RmK-0
8....Bxc5 9.Nge2 Bd6 (9...Nc6 10.0-0 – xiiiiiiiiy
see 8...Nc6) 10.0-0 Nc6 11.Bxd6 – see
11...Nh5? 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 13.Nc3 Qd7
8...Nc6.
14.Bxh7+ Kxh7 15.Qxh5+ Kg8
8...Nbd7 9.Nge2 Nxc5 10.Bc2 Qb6
16.Qxc5+– Szeberenyi – Pihlajasalo,
 XIIIIIIIIY
Budapest 1997. 9r+lwq-trk+0
11...Bb6 12.Na4² 9zpp+-+pzp-0
11...a6 12.Bb1 Bd6 13.h3 Rc8 14.Qa4 9-+n+-sn-zp0
Bxf4 15.Qxf4 Qe7 16.Rfd1² Rogozenco 9+-vlp+-+-0
– Grabarczyk, Germany 2013. 9-+-+-vL-+0
11...Rc8 12.Nb5 Nb4 (12...Be7 13.Ned4²
9+-sNLzP-+-0
Turov – Kotniukov, Krasnodar 2001)
9PzP-+NzPPzP0
13.Bb1 Qb6 14.Nbc3² Georgiev –
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
Kotronias, Balkaniad 1988.
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Bd6. Black is ready to play a solid, After this natural and purposeful move,
but passive position with an isolated pawn White exerts powerful pressure on the c-
and White can maintain a slight but stable file.
positional advantage in different ways. 11...a6 – see 10...a6 11.Rc1 h6.
12.Qa4!? (12.Bxd6!? Qxd6 13.Nb5 Qe5
11...Qe7?! 12.Bb5! Rd8 13.Na4 Bd6
14.Ned4² Bocharov – Zviagintsev,
14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Nd4±
Magnitogorsk 2011) 12...a6 (12...Ne5
13.Rfd1 Qb6 14.Qb5 Nxd3 15.Qxb6 11...Bg4?! 12.h3 Be6 (12...Bh5?! 13.g4!
axb6 16.Rxd3± Braun – Porat, Belfort Bg6 14.Bxg6 fxg6 15.Qb3±) 13.Nb5±
Kouatly – Bennis, Manila 1992.
2005) 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Rfd1² Neverov –
Polovodin, St Petersburg 2000. 11...Bd6 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.Nb5 Qe5
10...Bd6 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Nbd4 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Ng4 16.g3²
XIIIIIIIIY Benko – Yanofsky, Netanya 1969.
9r+l+-trk+0
10...a6
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+nwq-sn-+0 Now, White has two approximately
9+-+p+-+-0 equally strong possibilities.
9-+-+-+-+0 1) 11.Bg5!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-sNLzP-+-0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9PzP-+NzPPzP0 9+p+-+pzpp0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 9p+n+-sn-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-vlp+-vL-0
9-+-+-+-+0
12.h3 Qe5 13.Qa4 (13.Qb3!?²) 13...Bf5 9+-sNLzP-+-0
14.Bxf5 Qxf5 15.Rad1 Rfd8 16.Nd4² 9PzP-+NzPPzP0
Toivonen – Yaakkimainen, Petrozavodsk 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
2012. xiiiiiiiiy
12.Qa4!? Ng4 13.Qf4 Qxf4 14.Nxf4 d4
15.exd4 Nxd4, Narciso Dublan – 11...d4?! 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Ne4 Qe7
Thejkumar, Spain 2015, 16.Rfd1! Bf5 14.Nxc5 Qxc5 15.exd4± Guk –
17.Bb1!? Bxb1 18.Rxd4 Bf5 19.Nfd5 Khachatryan, Alushta 2010.
Kh8 20.f4 Rad8 21.Rad1 h5 22.h3± 11...Be6 12.Nf4 h6 13.Bxf6! (13.Bh4,
10...h6 11.Rc1 Fromm – Guindy, Farum 1993, 13...g5
14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Bg3 Bd6!?∞) 13...Qxf6
14.Ncxd5 Bxd5 15.Nxd5 Qxb2 16.Rb1
Qe5 17.Rxb7!±
11...h6 12.Bxf6! (12.Bh4?! g5 13.Bg3 d4
14.exd4 Nxd4 15.Rc1 Re8∞ Barsov –
Sadkowsky, Antwerp 1999) 12...Qxf6
13.Nxd5 Qxb2 14.Rc1 Bd6 15.Rb1 Qe5
16.f4 Qe6 17.Bc2± Rd8 18.Qd3 g6
19.Bb3 Bf8 20.Ng3‚
2) 11.Rc1
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+-+pzpp0
9p+n+-sn-+0
9+-vlp+-+-0
9-+-+-vL-+0
9+-sNLzP-+-0
9PzP-+NzPPzP0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Ba7 12.Bg5± Langier – Maggiolo,
Buenos Aires 1992.
11...Be7 12.Qb3!? This seems to be
White’s most active move, but Black can
get rid of his isolated pawn. Still, he
cannot equalise completely, because he
has great problems with the development
of his light-squared bishop. (12.Bb1!?
Giorgadze – Korneev, Elgoibar 1997)
12...d4 (12...Na5 13.Qc2 Nc6 14.Rfd1
Be6 15.Bg5 Nb4 16.Qb1±) 13.exd4
Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Qxd4 15.Ne2ƒ
11...Be6 12.Na4!? Bd6 (12...Ba7
13.Bxa6±; 12...Be7 13.Nd4 Nxd4 14.Bc7
Qe8 15.exd4± Sarkar – Dean, Las Vegas
2011) 13.Nc5 (13.a3!?²) 13...Bxc5
14.Rxc5² M.Ivanov – Meier, Prague
2012.
11...h6 12.Bb1!?² (12.Qb3!? d4 13.Ne4
Ba7 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.exd4 Nxe4
16.Bxe4 Qxd4 17.Rc4 Be6 18.Rxd4 Bxb3
19.Rd2²) 12...Ba7?! (12...Be6?
13.Nxd5!±) 13.Qb3! Qa5 14.Rfd1 Rd8
15.h3± Qb4?! 16.Qxb4 Nxb4 17.Bc7 Re8
18.a3+– Lindberg – Golubenko, Sweden
2014.
10...Bg4
After this bishop-sortie, White has two
very good and promising alternatives.
1) 11.Rc1!? This is no doubt a useful
move, but White must try to control the
possibility of the pawn-advance d5-d4.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+n+-sn-+0
9+-vlp+-+-0
9-+-+-vLl+0
9+-sNLzP-+-0
9PzP-+NzPPzP0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Be7 12.h3 Be6 13.a3² Flores – Struk,
Vlissingen 2007.
11...d4 12.Nb5 Bb6 13.Nbxd4! Bxd4
14.exd4 Nxd4, Swapnil – Corrales
Jimenez, Balaguer 2008, 15.f3 Bf5
16.Bxf5 Nxf5 17.Qxd8 Raxd8 18.Bg5!²
11...a6 12.Bg5 (12.h3!?²) 12...Be7
13.Bb1² Drasko – Costantini, Montecatini
Terme 1998.
11...Bd6 12.Qa4!? (12.Bg5?! Bischoff –
Seifart, Bad Zwesten 2006, 12...h6!
13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Qb3 Qe5 15.g3 Qh5∞;
13.Bh4 g5 14.Bg3 Bxg3 15.hxg3 d4=;
12.Qb3!?²) 12...Bxf4 (12...a6 13.Bg5!?)
13.Qxf4 Bxe2 14.Bxe2 Qb6 15.Na4 Qb4
16.Qxb4 Nxb4 17.a3 Nc6 18.Rfd1±
Bernasek – Talla, Kouty nad Desnou
2012.
2) 11.h3. White is trying to clarify
immediately the situation with Black’s
just developed light-squared bishop.
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0 23.Rd5+–; 22...Bd4 23.Be3! Bxe3
9zpp+-+pzpp0 24.Rxd8 Raxd8 25.Qh4 Kg7 26.Qg3+–)
9-+n+-sn-+0 15.exd4 (15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Rac1 Rad8=)
9+-vlp+-+-0 15...Nxd4 16.Qd3 g6 (16...Rad8=)
9-+-+-vLl+0 17.Rae1 Ne6 18.Be5 Rad8= Yakovich –
9+-sNLzP-+P0 Bezgodov, Perm 1997.
9PzP-+NzPP+0 12.Nxe2! Bd6 (12...Qb6 13.Rc1 Rfe8
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 14.Nc3 Bf8 15.Na4 Qa5 16.a3 d4 17.b4
xiiiiiiiiy Qh5 18.exd4 Nxd4 19.Qxh5 Nxh5
20.Be3 Red8 21.Rfd1± Thompson –
11...Be6. This is just a loss of a tempo.
Bjerke, Gausdal 2004) 13.Qb3 Bxf4
12.Rc1 Rc8 13.Na4± Navalgund –
14.Nxf4² Wojtaszek – Fressinet, Wijk aan
Karthikeyan, Dubai 2013; 13.Nb5!?±
Zee XIIIIIIIIY
2011.
11...Bh5?! 12.g4! (12.Bg5?! d4 13.Bxf6
9r+lwq-trk+0
Qxf6 14.Ne4 Qe7 15.g4 dxe3 16.gxh5
9zpp+-+pzpp0
exf2 17.Kg2 Rad8∞ Polugaevsky –
9-+n+-sn-+0
Bukhman, Moscow 1966) 12...Bg6
9+-vl-+-+-0
13.Bxg6 fxg6 (13...hxg6 14.g5 Nh5
9-+-zp-vL-+0
15.Qxd5± Barsov – Dancevski, 9+-sNLzP-+-0
Kecskemet 1991) 14.Rc1 (14.g5?! Nh5 9PzP-+NzPPzP0
15.Qxd5 Qxd5 16.Nxd5 Rf5! 17.Rfd1 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
Nxf4 18.exf4 Rd8 19.Ne3 Rff8 20.Kf1²) xiiiiiiiiy
14...d4 (14...Bb6 15.g5±) 15.Qb3+ Kh8
16.Rcd1± 11.exd4
11...Bxe2
XIIIIIIIIY White can win temporarily a pawn with
9r+-wq-trk+0 the move 11.Na4?!, but Black equalises
9zpp+-+pzpp0 easily after 11...Bd6!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+n+-sn-+0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-vlp+-+-0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+-+-vL-+0 9-+nvl-sn-+0
9+-sNLzP-+P0 9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+lzPP+0 9N+-zp-vL-+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 9+-+LzP-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9PzP-+NzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
12.Qxe2?! This move enables Black to xiiiiiiiiy
get rid of his isolated pawn. The two-
bishop advantage is not so important here, 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.Bb5 (13.exd4 Rd8=)
because Black is very active in the centre. 13...Ng4 14.Ng3 Nge5!= Groenn –
12...d4 13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Qe7 Ostenstad, Stavanger 1997.
(14...dxe3? 15.Qh5! exf2+ 16.Kh1 f5 12.Bb5 Bxf4 13.exf4 Re8 (13...Qc7
17.Bxf5 g6 18.Bxg6 hxg6 19.Qxg6 Kh8 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Qxd4±; 14...Qxc6
20.Qh5 Kg8 21.Qg4 Kh8 22.Rad1! Qf6 15.Nxd4 Qe4 16.Qd2±) 14.Rc1 Bg4
15.f3 Bd7 16.Bxc6 (16.Qd2 Na5 17.Bxd7 16...Nb4?! Anastasian – Kruppa, Minsk
Qxd7 18.Nc5 Qd5=) 16...d3! This is a 1990, 17.Rae1! This is a very promising
very powerful intermediate move. Black exchange-sacrifice for White. (17.a3
regains his bishop on the c6-square under Nc6=) 17...Be6 18.Rxe6 fxe6 19.Qxe6+
much more favourable circumstances. Rf7 (19...Kh8 20.Qxe7 Qxa4 21.Be5 Rg8
17.Qxd3 Bxc6 18.Qxd8 Raxd8 19.Nac3 22.Qh4+–) 20.Nc3±
Rd2= 16...Nb6 17.Rae1!? (17.Nxb6²; 17.Rfe1
11...Nxd4 12.Na4! Bf6 18.Nxb6² Dydyshko – Slobodjan,
This important resource enables White to Schoeneck 1996) 17...Bf6 18.Nc3 Be6
fight for the advantage. 19.Rxe6 fxe6 20.Bd6 Rfe8 21.Bxb7 Rad8
12...Nxe2+ 13.Bxe2
XIIIIIIIIY 22.Bb4 Qe5 23.Bc6±
9r+lwq-trk+0 16...Be6 17.Qxb7²
9zpp+-+pzpp0 16...Rd8 17.Rfe1 Be6 18.Qxb7 Qxa4
9-+-+-sn-+0 19.Bxd5 Bxd5 20.Qxe7 Re8 21.Qg5²
9+-vl-+-+-0 14.Bf3!
9N+-+-vL-+0 White impedes the harmonious
9+-+-+-+-0 development of his opponent’s queenside.
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 14...Qa5
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9r+l+-trk+0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
13...Be7 9-+-+-sn-+0
13...Bd4 14.Bf3² 9wq-+-+-+-0
13...Nd5. This is an interesting
9N+-+-vL-+0
intermediate move, but still, after a
9+-+-+L+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
precise reaction by White, Black fails to
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
obtain complete equality. 14.Bg3!?
xiiiiiiiiy
(14.Be5!? Be7 15.Bf3 Nb4, Kaidanov –
Gurevich, Philadelphia 2012, 16.Nc3 Nc6 The position remains just equal following
17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Qf3²) 14...Be7 15.Qb3 15.Re1 Be6 16.Nc3 Rad8 17.Qc2 Rd7
Qa5 16.Bf3 (16.Bc4 Be6 17.Qxb7 Ne3 18.Rad1 Rfd8 19.Rxd7 Rxd7 20.Rd1 Rxd1
18.fxe3 Bxc4 19.Rf4 Qxa4 20.Qxe7 Qa6 21.Qxd1= Hoang Thanh Trang –
21.Qb4 Rac8 22.b3²).
XIIIIIIIIY T.Kosintseva, Khanty-Mansiysk 2012.
9r+l+-trk+0 15.b3!² – He maintains very powerful
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 pressure on the queenside.
9-+-+-+-+0
9wq-+n+-+-0
9N+-+-+-+0
9+Q+-+LvL-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Chapter 8
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5
5.Bf4 c6
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+ntr0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-+p+-+-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
6.e3
After 6.Qc2?! g6=, Black’s light-squared
bishop occupies the f5-square without any
problems and he equalises.
6...Bd6
This move only seems to be a loss of
time. It is essential for Black to develop
his bishop to f5; otherwise, he would have
problems. The bishop has no other
suitable square, because it would stand in
the way of development of his other
pieces if it does not go to f5. If White’s
bishop occupies the d3-square, it would
be very powerful there.
Therefore, Black wishes to develop his
knight to e7 in order to ensure the support
of the development of his bishop to f5.
Meanwhile, White has some counter
argument against this plan.
About 6...Nf6 7.Bd3 – see Chapter 6,
6...c6.
6...Bf5 7.g4 – see Chapter 9.
Or 6...Qb6?! 7.Qc2², with the idea
7...Bf5?! 8.Qxf5 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qxc3+
10.Kd1 Nd7 11.Rxb7 Ngf6 12.Qc2! Qa3
13.Bd3 c5 14.Qb3 c4 15.Qxa3 Bxa3
16.Bf5±
6...Nd7 7.Bd3 Nf8 (7...Ngf6 8.h3 – see
Chapter 6, 6...c6) 8.Nf3 Ng6 (8...Ne6
9.Be5! Nf6 10.h3 0-0 11.Qc2² Graf –
Radulski, Batumi 2002) 9.Bg3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+ntr0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-+p+-+n+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sNLzPNvL-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
9...Nh6. This move looks awkward.
10.Qc2. White prevents Bf5. 10...Nh4
11.Nxh4 Bxh4 12.b4± Lputian –
Campora, Moscow 1989; 12.0-0!?±
9...Bd6. Here, after the non-forced
transfer of the knight from b8 to g6, this
trade of the bishops is not so fashionable.
We will see in the main line that Black is
trying to utilise his knight on some other
squares, since it is misplaced on g6.
10.Qc2 N8e7 11.0-0-0 (11.Ne5!?² Oliwa
– Weglarz, Warsaw 1995) 11...0-0
12.Kb1ƒ
9...Nf6 10.h3 0-0 11.0-0 Bd6 12.Bxd6
Qxd6 13.Qc2 Re8. Black will be forced to
play this useful move sooner or later, so
he should better do it immediately, before
determining the placement of his bishop.
As a result, there has arisen a position
from Chapter 7, variation A (7...c6 8.h3
Nbd7 9.Nf3 Re8 10.0-0 Nf8 11.Qc2 Ng6
12.Bh2 Bd6 13.Bxd6 Qxd6).
7.Bxd6 Qxd6 8.Bd3
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+k+ntr0 camp by a march forward with his b-
9zpp+-+pzpp0 pawn: 14.b4?! Nbd7 15.b5 Rfc8 16.Rac1
9-+pwq-+-+0 c5∞ Fier – Schroeder, Barcelona 2014.)
9+-+p+-+-0 14...Nbd7 15.Qa6 Nb8 16.Qd3 Nbd7
9-+-zP-+-+0 17.Rc2 and he has powerful pressure.
9+-sNLzP-+-0 9...0-0 10.Nf3 Nbd7 11.Qc2 Re8 12.0-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 (12.0-0-0?! b5∞; 12...c5!?∞)
XIIIIIIIIY
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 9r+l+r+k+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zpp+n+pzpp0
8...Ne7
9-+pwq-sn-+0
It would not be so principled for Black to
9+-+p+-+-0
choose here 8...Nf6, because he loses the
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sNLzPN+P0
immediate chance of exchanging the
9PzPQ+-zPP+0
bishops on the f5-square. White can
9tR-+-+RmK-0
obtain a slight but stable advantage in
xiiiiiiiiy
several different ways.
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+k+-tr0 12...Qe7 13.Rfc1 (13.Nd2!?² S.Matveeva
9zpp+-+pzpp0 – Gavasheli, Tbilisi 2011) 13...Ne4
9-+pwq-sn-+0 14.b4! a6 15.a4²
9+-+p+-+-0 12...Nf8 13.Rab1 Be6 14.b4 N8d7
9-+-zP-+-+0 15.Rfc1 Rac8 (15...Rec8 16.a4±
9+-sNLzP-+-0 Gustafsson – Baramidze, Pulvermuehle
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 2004; 16.Na4!? b6 17.Ba6 Rc7 18.Nc3
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 Nb8 19.Bd3±) 16.Na4 b6 17.Nc3 Kh8
xiiiiiiiiy 18.Ba6 Rcd8 19.Ne2± Stolberg –
Bondarevsky, Moscow 1940.
9.h3!? This move is played with the idea
to develop the knight on f3 (9.Nf3?! 9.Nge2!?
XIIIIIIIIY
Bg4=).
XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnl+k+-tr0
9rsnl+k+-tr0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+pwq-sn-+0
9-+pwq-sn-+0 9+-+p+-+-0
9+-+p+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-sNLzP-+-0
9+-sNLzP-+P0 9PzP-+NzPPzP0
9PzP-+-zPP+0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
9...b6 10.f3²
9...b6 10.Nf3 Ba6 11.Bxa6 Nxa6 12.Qa4 9...Be6 10.f3!? (10.Qb3!?²) 10...Nbd7
Nb8 13.0-0 0-0 14.Rac1!? (White would 11.e4 dxe4 12.fxe4 Qe7 13.0-0 Nb6
not achieve much if he tries to create 14.b3 Bg4 15.Qc2± Arbakov – Krug,
additional weaknesses in his opponent’s Germany 1995.
9...0-0 10.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY 12.0-0 0-0 13.Rc1²) 10.Qd2 Qe7!?
9rsnl+-trk+0 (10...Qh6!? 11.Bxf5 Bxf5 12.Nge2 Na6
9zpp+-+pzpp0 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.g4 Bd7 15.h4 Qd6=
9-+pwq-sn-+0 Kasparov – Karpov, Valencia 2009)
9+-+p+-+-0 11.0-0-0 0-0 12.Re1 a5!? 13.Nh3 Na6∞.
9-+-zP-+-+0 White would not achieve much after
9+-sNLzP-+-0 9.Qb1 g6! 10.b4 Bf5 11.b5 0-0 12.Bxf5
9PzP-+NzPPzP0 Nxf5 13.Nge2 Nd7 14.0-0 Rfd8 (14...Nf6
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 15.h3 c5?! 16.dxc5 Qxc5 17.Rd1 Rfd8
xiiiiiiiiy 18.Rd3² Bacrot – Fressinet, Germany
2011) 15.bxc6 bxc6. He cannot exploit
White has a very comfortable position. He the vulnerability of his opponent’s pawn
has avoided the trade of the light-squared on c6, since Black’s knight occupies the
bishops and besides the standard plan c4-outpost. Therefore, White’s natural
with the advance of his pawn-minority of plan, connected with the advance of the b-
the queenside, he can also try to occupy pawn, should be defined as ineffective,
the centre with f3 and e4. because it enables Black to exchange the
10...Bg4?! 11.f3! Bh5 12.e4 dxe4 13.fxe4 bishops. 16.Rc1 Nb6 17.Qd3 Qe7 18.a4
Ng4 14.e5 Qh6 15.Nf4 Nxe5 16.Bxh7 Nd6=
Qxh7 17.Nxh5 Nc4 18.Qe2+– 9.Qf3!?
XIIIIIIIIY
10...Re8 11.Ng3 Nbd7 12.f3 Nf8 13.Qd2 9rsnl+k+-tr0
h5 14.Qf2 Qe7 15.Rae1² Kushka – 9zpp+-snpzpp0
Tskhadadze, Rybinsk 2010.
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+pwq-+-+0
9rsnl+k+-tr0 9+-+p+-+-0
9zpp+-snpzpp0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9-+pwq-+-+0 9+-sNLzPQ+-0
9+-+p+-+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9tR-+-mK-sNR0
9+-sNLzP-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 This non-standard move is very
xiiiiiiiiy interesting. White prevents his opponent’s
main idea – to trade the light-squared
9.Qc2 bishops.
9.f3. The idea of this plan is easily 9...b6 10.Nge2 Ba6 11.Bc2 Nd7 12.0-0-0
understandable. White wishes to prevent 0-0 13.g4!? (13.Nf4 Ng6 14.Nh5ƒ
the trade of the bishops and to occupy the Vitiugov – Halkias, Rhodes 2013) 13...b5
centre with e3-e4. Still, I would not like to 14.Qg3 Qxg3 15.hxg3²
recommend it, since Black succeeds in
9...g6 10.g4!? (preventing Bc8-f5) 10...h5
regrouping his pieces and thwarting the
11.h3²
accomplishment of his opponent’s plan.
9...Nd7 10.Nge2 Nf6 11.h3 (White can
9...Nf5! (9...b6?! 10.Nge2 Ba6 11.e4 f6,
exchange the queens. His position would
Kasparov – Karpov, Valencia 2009,
be more pleasant after that, but not more...
11.Qg3 Qxg3 12.Nxg3 Be6 13.Ke2 0-0 16.Qg3 Qxg3 17.Nxg3²) 16.Ng3!?ƒ
14.Rhc1 Rfc8 15.Na4 Nd7 – 15...b6!? – 12.0-0-0 Bd7 13.g4! g6 14.Qg2 hxg4
16.Nc5 Nxc5 17.Rxc5 a5 18.Rac1= 15.hxg4 0-0-0 16.f3² Sandipan – Kovacs,
Gonda – Kovacs, Hungary 2008).
XIIIIIIIIY Bilbao 2014.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+-tr0 9rsnl+k+-tr0
9zpp+-snpzpp0 9zpp+-snpzpp0
9-+pwq-sn-+0 9-+pwq-+-+0
9+-+p+-+-0 9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sNLzPQ+P0 9+-sNLzP-+-0
9PzP-+NzPP+0 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0 9tR-+-mK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
11...0-0 12.0-0!? (12.g4!? Ng6, Now, we will analyse in details A)
A.Muzychuk – Magalashvili, Tbilisi 9...Nd7, B) 9...b6 and C) 9...g6.
2010, 13.0-0-0ƒ) 12...Re8 13.a3!? Ng6 Black has tried in practice some other
14.b4² possibilities as well.
11...Ng6 12.Qg3. The trade of the queens 9...Be6
XIIIIIIIIY
is more promising for White in this
9rsn-+k+-tr0
situation, because Black’s knight on g6 is
9zpp+-snpzpp0
not so well placed. It will probably need
9-+pwql+-+0
to go back to e7 losing time in the
9+-+p+-+-0
process. 12...Qxg3 13.Nxg3 0-0 14.b4²
9-+-zP-+-+0
Be6 15.a4 a5 16.Rb1 b6?! 17.bxa5±
9+-sNLzP-+-0
Nepomniachtchi – Fridman, Antalya 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
2013. 9tR-+-mK-sNR0
11...h5. This move cannot prevent xiiiiiiiiy
effectively White’s plan connected with
the pawn-advance
XIIIIIIIIY g2-g4. 10.Nf3!? Nd7 11.0-0 g6 12.e4ƒ dxe4
9r+l+k+-tr0 13.Nxe4 Qc7, Shishkin – Urban, Pozman
9zpp+-snpzp-0 2011, 14.Rfe1 Bd5 (14...0-0? 15.Neg5+–)
9-+pwq-sn-+0 15.Neg5. White provokes his opponent to
9+-+p+-+p0 weaken his position. 15...h6 16.Ne4 0-0
9-+-zP-+-+0 17.Nc3 Qd6 18.Ne5ƒ
9+-sNLzPQ+P0 10.Nge2 Nd7 11.f3!? (11.Nf4 g6
9PzP-+NzPP+0 12.Nxe6, Steingrimsson – Dambacher,
9tR-+-mK-+R0 Germany 2009, 12...fxe6!∞) 11...h6
xiiiiiiiiy 12.0-0 0-0 13.Rac1 Rac8 14.Nf4 c5
15.Qd2², with the idea 15...cxd4 16.Nb5
12.g4!? hxg4 13.hxg4 Rh2 (13...Rxh1+ Qb6 17.Nxd4²
14.Qxh1 Bxg4 15.Qh8+ Neg8 16.Qxg7²)
9...Qf6. Black wishes to develop his
14.Rxh2 Qxh2 15.g5 Ng4 (15...Bg4
bishop on f5. 10.Nf3 (10.Rc1 Nd7
11.Nge2 Nb6 12.e4 Qh6 13.e5 f6 14.0-0 is a very logical counter strike in the
fxe5 15.dxe5 0-0 16.f4 Bf5 17.Rf3 Rad8∞ centre for Black, but it is still insufficient
Aleksandrov – Kasimdzhanov, Germany to equalise. 16.h4! cxd4 (16...h5 17.e5±
2006; 10.f3!? Bf5 11.e4 Bg6 12.Nge2 Lerner – Lobron, Amsterdam 1988)
dxe4 13.fxe4² and White has occupied the 17.Bb5! Qe5 18.Rxd4 Nc5 19.h5 Bxe4
centre) 10...Bf5, Deze – Simic, Brezovica 20.Rxe4 Nxe4 21.Qxe4²
1988, 11.Qb3! b6 12.Bxf5 Nxf5 A) 9...Nd7
(12...Qxf5 13.Qa3²) 13.0-0 0-0 14.e4! Black is transferring his knight to the
dxe4 15.Nxe4 Qh6 16.Rad1 Nd7 17.Qc4 f6-square.
XIIIIIIIIY
Rfe8 18.Rfe1² 9r+l+k+-tr0
9...Bg4. Black is trying to transfer his 9zpp+nsnpzpp0
bishop to the g6-square via h5.
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+pwq-+-+0
9rsn-+k+-tr0 9+-+p+-+-0
9zpp+-snpzpp0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9-+pwq-+-+0 9+-sNLzP-+-0
9+-+p+-+-0 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
9-+-zP-+l+0 9tR-+-mK-sNR0
9+-sNLzP-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mK-sNR0 10.Nf3
xiiiiiiiiy 10.Nge2!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+-tr0
10.h3?! Bh5 11.f4 Qh6!? (11...f6 12.g4 9zpp+nsnpzpp0
Bf7 13.Nf3 Nd7 14.0-0-0 Nb6 15.Kb1 9-+pwq-+-+0
0-0-0 16.h4 Kb8 17.h5 h6∞ Sedlak – 9+-+p+-+-0
Neverov, Amsterdam 2011) 12.Qf2 Bg4 9-+-zP-+-+0
13.Nf3 Bf5∞ 9+-sNLzP-+-0
10.Nge2. This is a very solid move. 9PzPQ+NzPPzP0
10...Bxe2 (10...Bh5 11.b4!? Bg6 12.Nf4 9tR-+-mK-+R0
Nd7 13.b5²) 11.Qxe2 0-0 12.0-0 Nd7 xiiiiiiiiy
13.b4².
10...h6?! It is evident that Black had
10.f3!? This is a very precise counter
better prepare his castling with the move
argument against Black’s plan. Now, he
10...Nf6, since his knight is very well
fails to trade the bishops. 10...Bh5
placed on f6 and controls the pawn-break
11.Nge2 Bg6 12.e4 dxe4 (about 12...Nd7
e3-e4. 11.0-0 0-0 12.a3 a5 13.Rad1 b6
13.0-0-0 dxe4 14.fxe4 – see 12...dxe4)
14.e4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Qb8?! 16.N2c3 Ba6
13.fxe4 Nd7 14.0-0-0!? (14.0-0 0-0
17.Bxa6 Rxa6 18.d5± Kasparov –
15.Rad1 c5! 16.e5 Qa6!∞; 16...Bxd3?!
Karpov, Valencia 2009.
17.exd6 Bxc2 18.dxe7 Rfe8 19.Rd2 Bg6
20.Nd5 Rac8 21.dxc5 Rxc5 22.Re1²) 10...Qh6 11.Ng3 Nb6 12.a4!? (12.Nce2
14...0-0 (14...f6 15.g3!? Bf7 16.Kb1 Qc7 Bd7 13.Qb3 0-0 14.0-0 Rab8 15.Qa3
17.Nf4 0-0-0 18.Qe2² M.Muzychuk – Nbc8 16.Qa5 a6 17.Qc7 Qd6 18.Qxd6
Mkrtchian, Mardin 2011) 15.g4 c5. This Nxd6= Janjgava – Levin, Leningrad
 XIIIIIIIIY
1989; 12.b4!?²) 12...0-0 13.0-0 Be6 14.a5 9-+ktr-+-tr0
Nc4 15.Na4 Nd6 16.Nc5² 9zpp+-snp+-0
10...Nf6 11.f3 0-0 12.0-0-0! (White 9-+pwqlsnp+0
would achieve less if he castles kingside: 9+-+p+-sNp0
12.0-0 Bd7 13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 9-+-zP-+P+0
15.fxe4 Rad8 16.h3 Ng6 17.Rad1 Be6= 9+-sNLzPP+P0
Vaisser – Kharitonov, Novosibirsk 1989.) 9PzPQ+-+-+0
12...Re8 13.h3 (13.e4?! dxe4 14.fxe4? 9+K+R+-+R0
Ng4³) 13...Ng6 14.e4 dxe4 15.fxe4² xiiiiiiiiy
10...Nf6 11.h3!
17.Nb5!
White prepares castling queenside, which
17.Ne2?! Nh7 18.Nxh7?! Rxh7 19.Nf4
is quite appropriate now, after the
hxg4 20.hxg4 Rdh8= Guseinov –
exchange of the dark-squared bishops.
Burmakin, Dubai 2005.
Following the immediate move 11.0-0-0,
17...Qd7
Black would reply with 11...Bg4
17...Qb8 18.Qc5+–
equalising.
18.Rc1!
11...g6
XIIIIIIIIY 18.Nxa7?! Kb8 19.Qc5 Qd6 20.Qa5 Qc7
9r+l+k+-tr0 21.Qc5 Qd6=
9zpp+-snp+p0
18...a6 19.Nc3± – White has succeeded
9-+pwq-snp+0
in occupying additional space and
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0 squeezing his opponent’s forces on the
9+-sNLzPN+P0 kingside. Black’s queenside, where his
9PzPQ+-zPP+0 king is sheltered at the moment, will
9tR-+-mK-+R0 soon come under a dangerous attack.
xiiiiiiiiy B) 9...b6
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+k+-tr0
12.g4 Be6 9zp-+-snpzpp0
Or 12...h5 13.0-0-0! (13.g5 Nd7∞) 9-zppwq-+-+0
13...hxg4 (13...Be6 14.Kb1 0-0-0?! 9+-+p+-+-0
15.Nb5 Qb8 16.Qc5±) 14.hxg4 Rxh1 9-+-zP-+-+0
15.Rxh1 Nxg4 16.Rh8 Kd7 17.Rh7 Qf6 9+-sNLzP-+-0
18.Ne5 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Qxe5 20.Rxf7± 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
13.0-0-0 Nd7 9tR-+-mK-sNR0
13...0-0 14.Kb1 Nd7 15.Rhg1 Rac8 xiiiiiiiiy
16.Nh4!? (16.h4²) 16...c5 17.dxc5
This move is played with the idea to trade
(17.Nf5?! Bxf5 18.gxf5ƒ Knaak – Baier,
the light-squared bishops after the move
Germany 2008) 17...Nxc5 18.Nf5 Bxf5
Bc8-a6. White cannot prevent this
19.gxf5 Rfd8 20.h4²
without certain positional concessions,
14.Kb1 h5 15.Ng5 Nf6 16.f3 0-0-0 but as compensation for the trade of the
bishops, he succeeds in compromising
considerably his opponent’s queenside.
He will try to exploit this in the future.
10.Nf3
10.Nge2. This is hardly the most
promising line for White. 10...Ba6 11.0-0
Bxd3 12.Qxd3 0-0 13.f3 (13.Rad1 Nd7
14.f3 f5 15.e4 fxe4 16.fxe4 dxe4 17.Nxe4
Qh6 18.N2c3 Rxf1 19.Rxf1 Rf8= Maletin
– Goganov, Nizhny Tagil 2014) 13...Nd7
14.e4 dxe4 15.fxe4 Rad8 (15...c5
16.Nb5ƒ Sandipan – Collins, Tromsoe
2010) 16.Rad1 c5=
10.e4 dxe4 11.Nxe4 Qb4 (11...Qxd4?!
12.0-0-0 Qe5 13.Nf3 Qf4 14.Kb1 0-0
15.Nd6 g6 16.Nxc8 Rxc8 17.Rhe1 Qf6
18.Ne5±; 17...Nd5 18.Bxg6 hxg6
19.Rxd5 Na6 20.Rd4 Qf6 21.Ne5²)
12.Nd2 Ba6 (12...Qxd4 13.Ngf3©)
13.Ngf3 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Nd7 15.0-0 0-0
16.Ne4 Qa5 17.Rfe1 Qd5 18.Nc3 Qd6
19.Ne4 Qd5 20.Rad1 Rfe8= (20...Ng6?!
21.Nc3 Qd6 22.d5 Nf6, Svidler –
Jakovenko, Loo 2013, 23.dxc6 Qxc6
24.Nd4 Qd7 25.Qb5²).
10...Ba6 11.0-0 Bxd3 12.Qxd3
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-+k+-tr0
9zp-+-snpzpp0
9-zppwq-+-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sNQzPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...Nd7
After 12...Qg6, White seizes the
initiative. 13.e4 Nd7 14.Rae1 (14.Rfe1!?
0-0 15.Rac1²) 14...0-0 15.Nh4² Jovanic –
Somborski, Pula 2011.
12...0-0 13.Rac1!? (13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4
Qd5 15.Nc3 Qd6 16.Rfe1 Nd7 17.Ne4
Qd5 18.Rad1 Rfe8 19.Qa6 Nf8 20.Nc3
Qd6 21.Ne5 Ne6=) 13...Nd7 14.Rc2 Qg6
15.Qxg6 hxg6 16.Ne2 f6 17.h4 Kf7
18.Nf4 Rfd8 19.Rfc1 Nf8 20.Ne1²
Harikrishna – Kasimdzhanov, Mumbai
2003. White exerts pressure on the open
file and has fixed the potential enemy
weakness on g6. He has the possibility to
increase his pressure on the queenside, so
he can rely on maintaining a long term
edge in this endgame.
13.e4 0-0
It would be bad for Black to opt here for
13...dxe4? 14.Nxe4 Qd5, due to 15.Qa3!
14.e5
Or 14.Rfe1 Rfe8 15.Rac1 dxe4 16.Nxe4
Qd5 17.Nc3 Qd6 18.Qc4 Nf8 19.Ne4
Qe6= I. Sokolov – Roiz, Sibenik 2012.
14...Qe6
14...Qg6 15.Qxg6 (15.Qd2, Gretarsson –
Krivonosov, Riga 2015, 15...Rfd8 16.Rac1
Nf8∞) 15...Nxg6 16.g3 Rfd8. This
endgame is not so clear, but still, White
has XIIIIIIIIY
a slight edge. 17.Ne1!?²
9r+-+-trk+0
9zp-+nsnpzpp0
9-zpp+q+-+0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sNQ+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
15.Rae1 (15.Nh4?! f6 16.f4 fxe5 17.dxe5
Qg4 18.g3 g5!³ Wojtaszek – Kraemer,
Germany 2011) 15...Rfe8 (15...f6
16.exf6!? Qxf6 17.Qe3 Nf5 18.Qe6+
with some initiative for White in this
endgame; 15...Rfd8 16.Nh4ƒ) 16.Nh4
Ng6 17.Nxg6 Qxg6 18.Qd2 Nf8 19.f4²
Carlsen – Jakovenko, Nanjing 2009.
C) 9...g6
Black’s intentions are quite obvious. He
wishes to trade the bishops after Bc8-f5,
preparing to castle in the process.
XIIIIIIIIY any XIIIIIIIIY
more.
9rsnl+k+-tr0 9rsnl+k+-tr0
9zpp+-snp+p0 9zpp+-snp+p0
9-+pwq-+p+0 9-+pwq-+p+0
9+-+p+-+-0 9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sNLzP-+-0 9+-sNLzPP+-0
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 9PzPQ+-+PzP0
9tR-+-mK-sNR0 9tR-+-mK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
We will deal now with C1) 10.f3 and C2) 10...0-0
10.Nf3. 10...Bf5?! After this move, Black’s
It would be also interesting for White to position becomes very precarious. 11.e4
try here the move 10.e4. dxe4 (11...Be6 12.Nge2±) 12.fxe4 Bg4
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+k+-tr0 13.Qf2 (13.Nge2!? Bxe2 14.Nxe2 Nd7
9zpp+-snp+p0 15.0-0² Lupulescu – Singer, Bad Wiessee
9-+pwq-+p+0 2012) 13...Nd7 14.h3 Be6 15.Nge2±
9+-+p+-+-0 Necevski – Miljkovic, Nis 2009;
9-+-zPP+-+0 15.Nf3!?±
9+-sNL+-+-0 10...Nd7 11.Nge2 c5 (11...Nb6 12.e4²
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 Onischuk – Kovacs, Ohrid 2009. White
9tR-+-mK-sNR0 has occupied the centre and now, he only
xiiiiiiiiy needs to complete quietly his
development. He can play e5 at any
After 10...dxe4 11.Nxe4 Qb4+ (11...Qxd4 moment, occupying even more space with
12.Nf3 Qb4+ 13.Kf1 Nd5 14.h4©) the idea to organise an attack against he
12.Kf1 (12.Qc3!?²) 12...0-0 13.Nf3 Nd5 enemy king.) 12.Nb5 Qb6 13.dxc5 Nxc5
14.a3 Qb6 15.h4! – White’s kingside 14.Rc1 Nxd3 15.Qxd3² Vareille –
initiative may become very dangerous Delaunay, France 2003.
(15.Re1?! Bg4 16.Ne5 Bf5 17.Nc5 Bxd3 10...Nf5 11.Qf2! 0-0 (11...Qe7?! 12.e4
18.Qxd3 Qc7∞ Alvarez – Ordaz, Panama dxe4 13.fxe4 Nd6 14.Nge2± Kvetny –
2011). Zier, playchess.com 2012) 12.Nge2²
Still, following 10...0-0!? 11.e5 Qd8 12.f4 11.Nge2
f6 13.Nf3 fxe5 14.fxe5 Bg4∞, it would
not be so clear whether the move 10.e4
had been the correct decision for White.
C1) 10.f3
This logical move was played by
G.Kasparov. In response to 10...Bf5,
White plans to reply advantageously with
11.e4. The drawback of the move 10.f3 is
that White cannot develop his knight to f3
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+-trk+0 13.0-0-0 0-0 14.h4 Nd7 15.g4² Velichko
9zpp+-snp+p0 – Bakin, Izhevsk 2014.
9-+pwq-+p+0 11.Bxf5 Nxf5 12.0-0
9+-+p+-+-0 The seemingly aggressive move 12.0-0-0,
9-+-zP-+-+0 does not seem to me as stronger for
9+-sNLzPP+-0 White. 12...Nd7 (12...Na6!? 13.Kb1
9PzPQ+N+PzP0 0-0-0 14.Ne5 Qe6∞ Jobava – Lputian,
9tR-+-mK-+R0 Yerevan 2008) 13.e4 Qf4 14.Kb1 dxe4
xiiiiiiiiy 15.Nxe4 0-0 16.Nfg5 (16.h4 Nd6!?=)
16...Ne7! 17.g3 Qf5= Lalith – Rahman,
11...Nd7 Nagpur 2012.
11...Nf5 12.Qd2 Re8 13.e4! dxe4
12...0-0 13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4
XIIIIIIIIY
14.Nxe4 Qe7 15.h4! Be6 16.h5ƒ
9rsn-+-trk+0
11...Bf5 12.e4 dxe4 13.fxe4 Be6, Omar –
9zpp+-+p+p0
Jang, Jakarta 2011, 14.0-0 Nd7 15.Rad1
9-+pwq-+p+0
Rad8 16.Qc1!?±
9+-+-+n+-0
12.0-0 c5 13.Qd2 9-+-zPN+-+0
13.dxc5!? Qxc5 14.Qd2 Ne5 15.Rac1 9+-+-+N+-0
Qb6 16.b3 (16.Na4 Qd6 17.Rfd1²) 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
16...Be6 17.Nd4² Bocharov – Riazantsev, 9tR-+-+RmK-0
Belgorod 2008. xiiiiiiiiy
13...a6 14.Rad1 cxd4 (14...Nf6 15.dxc5
Qxc5 16.Bc2 Be6 17.Bb3²) 15.Nxd4!?² 14...Qd8
(15.exd4?! Kasparov – Karpov, Valencia 14...Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Qxd4 16.Rad1 Qg7
2009, 15...Nb6! with the idea 16.g4?! 17.a3!? This interesting prophylactic
f5!³). move takes the b4-square under control
C2)XIIIIIIIIY
10.Nf3 and this is important in the variation
17...Na6 18.Rd7 b6 19.b4!±
9rsnl+k+-tr0
9zpp+-snp+p0 14...Qf4, Nisipeanu – Landa, Bad
9-+pwq-+p+0 Wiessee 2012, 15.Rad1 Nd7 16.d5 cxd5
9+-+p+-+-0 17.Rxd5 Nb6 18.Rdd1 Rfd8 19.Rfe1² –
9-+-zP-+-+0 The f6-square is vulnerable in Black’s
9+-sNLzPN+-0 camp and his pieces are somewhat
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 discoordinated, so White’s position is
9tR-+-mK-+R0 obviously preferable.
xiiiiiiiiy 15.Qb3 Qb6
15...b6 16.Rfe1!? (16.Qc3± So –
10...Bf5 Tolentino, Tagaytay 2013) 16...Nd7
10...0-0 11.h4 (Or 11.Qb3!?², preventing 17.Rac1 Rc8 18.g4 Ng7 19.Ne5±
the development of the enemy bishop to 16.Qa3!? Nd7
the f5-square.) 11...Nd7 12.h5‚ Laznicka Or 16...Nxd4 17.Nxd4 Qxd4 18.Qe7 Na6
– Konopka, Czech Republic 2014. 19.Rfd1±, with the idea 19...Qxb2?!
10...Bg4 11.Ne5 Bf5 12.Bxf5 Nxf5 20.Rab1 Qc2 21.Qe5+–
17.Rad1±
XIIIIIIIIY Black has completed his development and
9r+-+-trk+0 has no bad pieces, but the weakness of the
9zpp+n+p+p0 f6-square will be the cause of numerous
9-wqp+-+p+0 problems for him in the future.
9+-+-+n+-0
9-+-zPN+-+0
9wQ-+-+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqk+ntr0
Chapter 9
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 9-+p+-+l+0
5.Bf4 c6 6.e3 Bf5
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+p+-+-0
9rsn-wqk+ntr0 9-+-zP-vLPzP0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9-+p+-+-+0 9PzP-+-zP-+0
9+-+p+l+-0 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sN-zP-+-0 We will analyse in details: A1) 8...h5 and
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 A2) 8...h6.
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy 8...Bxh4? 9.Qb3! b6 (9...Be7 10.Qxb7
Nd7 11.Ba6!? Ngf6 12.Bc7+–) 10.Rxh4!
White should try to emphasize Qxh4 11.Nxd5 cxd5 (11...Na6 12.Bxa6
immediately the drawback of Black’s cxd5 13.Qxd5 Rd8 14.Qe5+– De
early bishop-sortie to f5; otherwise, for Blecourt – Spanton, Copenhagen 2001)
example after the routine moves 7.Nf3 12.Bb5+ Kf8 13.Qxd5+–
Nf6, the position would be equal. 8...Qb6?! 9.h5 Be4 (9...Qxb2? 10.Qc1
7.g4 Ba3 11.hxg6 Qxc1+ 12.Rxc1 Bxc1
This move may seem risky, but is 13.Rxh7+–; 10...Qxc1+ 11.Rxc1 Be4
principled. White is not afraid to advance 12.f3 Ba3 13.Rd1 Bb4 14.Kd2 Nf6
pawns on the kingside and forces his 15.Bg2+–) 10.Nxe4 dxe4 11.Bg2 Nf6
opponent to clarify immediately his plans 12.Ne2±
concerning the future placement of his A1)XIIIIIIIIY
8...h5 9.g5
light-squared bishop. He hopes later to 9rsn-wqk+ntr0
exploit the pawn-advance g2-g4 in order 9zpp+-vlpzp-0
to organise an attack on the kingside. 9-+p+-+l+0
White’s king will find shelter on the 9+-+p+-zPp0
queenside. 9-+-zP-vL-zP0
Black has tried in practice two possible 9+-sN-zP-+-0
retreats of his bishop: A) 7...Bg6 and B) 9PzP-+-zP-+0
7...Be6. 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
A) 7...Bg6 xiiiiiiiiy
This move was considered to be quite
White has occupied space on the kingside.
acceptable for Black for a long time.
If he completes his development and
Presently, particular on top level, it is
succeeds in transferring his knight to g3,
practically forgotten.
then after Bf1-e2, he will manage to
8.h4!
gobble his opponent’s weak h5-pawn. It is
Black cannot accept the pawn sacrifice
even more important that Black is
and his alternatives lead to considerable
incapable of completing comfortably his
positional concessions.
development at the moment. In order to
 XIIIIIIIIY
develop his kingside he must at first 9r+-wqk+ntr0
remove his bishop from e7 in order to 9zpp+-+pzp-0
provide this square for his knight. 9n+pvl-+l+0
9...Bd6 9+-+p+-zPp0
This is no doubt Black’s best move. He 9-+-zP-vL-zP0
frees the e7-square for the knight. 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9...Qb6?! 10.Qd2 Nd7 11.Bh3 Qa6 9PzP-+NzP-+0
12.Nf3 Nb6 13.Ne5 Nc4 14.Bf1!?± 9tR-+QmKL+R0
Garcia Roman – Zapata, Valencia 2012. xiiiiiiiiy
9...Nd7?! 10.Nge2 Nb6 (10...f6?!
11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Nf4 Nc7 13.Be2 Qb4
11.Rg1± Vaschenko – Gordiyenko, Kiev
14.Qd2 (14.Kf1 Qxb2 15.Na4 Qc2
2003) 11.Be5!± Bd6 12.Bxg7 Rh7 13.Be5
16.Nc5 Qxd1+ 17.Rxd1 0-0-0 18.Nxg6
Nc4 14.Bxd6 Nxb2 15.Qb3 Nd3+
fxg6 19.a4 Ne7 20.Kg2 b6 21.Nd3©;
16.Kd2 Qxd6 17.Nd1! c5 18.Nec3 0-0-0
17...b6 18.Nxg6 fxg6 19.Nd3 Ne7
19.Nb5+–
20.Ne5©) 14...Ne7, Karpov – Portisch,
10.Nge2
XIIIIIIIIY Linares 1989, 15.Ne4!? Qxd2+ 16.Nxd2²
9rsn-wqk+ntr0 11.Ng3!? This is a more interesting idea.
9zpp+-+pzp-0 11...Nc7 (11...Nb4 12.Rc1±) 12.Bh3 Ne7
9-+pvl-+l+0 13.Nce2±
9+-+p+-zPp0
11.Qb3
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-zP-vL-zP0
9+-sN-zP-+-0 9rsn-wqk+-tr0
9PzP-+NzP-+0 9zpp+-snpzp-0
9tR-+QmKL+R0 9-+pvl-+l+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+p+-zPp0
9-+-zP-vL-zP0
10...Ne7 9+QsN-zP-+-0
10...Bf5 11.Qb3!? (11.Ng3!? Bg4 12.f3 9PzP-+NzP-+0
Be6 13.Bd3 g6 14.Nce2 Ne7 15.Qb3± 9tR-+-mKL+R0
Damljanovic – Wegerle, Arinsal 2009; xiiiiiiiiy
12.Be2 Bxe2 13.Qxe2 g6 14.0-0-0 Ne7
11...b6
15.Be5 Bxe5 16.dxe5 Qc7 17.f4 Na6
Black is forced to weaken his queenside.
18.e4 0-0-0 19.exd5 Nxd5 20.Nxd5
cxd5+ 21.Kb1 Nb4 22.Qb5± Harika – 11...Bxf4 12.Nxf4 Qb6 13.Qa3± with the
Babu, Atul 2006) 11...Bxf4 12.Nxf4 Qb6 idea 13...a5?? 14.Qxe7+– Meessen –
13.Qxb6 (13.Qa3!? Ne7 14.Rc1 Nd7 Vandersmissen, Belgium 2005.
15.Be2± Kurnosov – Yatsenko, Satka 11...b5 12.Bg2 0-0 13.Rc1 a5 14.Bxd6!?
2008) 13...axb6 14.Be2 g6 15.f3 Ne7 (14.Qd1 Re8 15.Bxd6 Qxd6 16.Ng3²
16.e4± De Blecourt – Mkrtchian, Batumi Hillarp Persson – Gasthofer, Kusadasi
1999. 2006; 14...Bf5∞) 14...Qxd6 15.Nf4 Nd7
10...Na6 16.Nce2²
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqk+-tr0 14.Bxd6, Deshpande – Eade, Las Vegas
9zp-+-snpzp-0 1996, 14...Nd3+! 15.Kf1 Qxd6 16.Rd1
9-zppvl-+l+0 a5!?∞) 13...Qxd6 14.Nf4 0-0-0 15.Bf1
9+-+p+-zPp0 Nc7XIIIIIIIIY
16.a4ƒ
9-+-zP-vL-zP0 9rsn-wqk+-tr0
9+QsN-zP-+-0 9zp-+-snpzp-0
9PzP-+NzP-+0 9-zppvl-+l+0
9tR-+-mKL+R0 9+-+p+-zPp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-zP-vL-zP0
9+QsN-zP-+-0
12.0-0-0! 9PzP-+NzP-+0
This is White’s best move. He does not 9+-mKR+L+R0
determine the future placement of his xiiiiiiiiy
bishop on f1 yet.
After the natural move 12.Bh3, Black has 12...Na6 (12...a5 13.Bxd6 Qxd6
his arguments 12...Na6 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Qxb6± Lempert – Lobzhanidze, Ano
14.Nb5 (14.Nf4 Nc7 15.Rc1 Bf5∞) Liosia 1996) 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Nf4 Nc7
14...Qd8 15.Qa3 0-0 16.Qxa6 Be4! 15.Nxg6!? fxg6 16.Bh3² with the idea
(16...Bd3 17.Nec3 cxb5 18.Rd1±) 17.Rg1 16...0-0 17.Ne4 Qd8 18.f4 Nf5 19.Bxf5
Bd3 18.Nec3 cxb5 19.Rd1 Bc4∞ gxf5 20.Nd2±
It seems promising for White to try here A2)XIIIIIIIIY
8...h6
12.Bg2!?, with the idea to support in the 9rsn-wqk+ntr0
future the central pawn-advance e3-e4.
XIIIIIIIIY 9zpp+-vlpzp-0
9rsn-wqk+-tr0 9-+p+-+lzp0
9zp-+-snpzp-0 9+-+p+-+-0
9-zppvl-+l+0 9-+-zP-vLPzP0
9+-+p+-zPp0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-zP0 9PzP-+-zP-+0
9+QsN-zP-+-0 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
9PzP-+NzPL+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy This is Black’s most solid move.
9.h5 Bh7
12...0-0 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Nf4± 9...Be4? 10.Nxe4 dxe4 11.Bc4± Meulner
12...Bf5 13.0-0-0 0-0 14.e4 dxe4 – Giessmann, Bayern 2000.
15.Nxe4!? (15.Bxe4 Bxf4+ 16.Nxf4 10.Bd3
Qd6, Gershon – Danilov, Tusnad 2004. White’s plan is quite simple, but very
Now, White can sacrifice the exchange effective. He wishes to trade the light-
with excellent attacking prospects. squared bishops (This is good for him
17.Nxh5! Bg4 18.Ng3 Bxd1 19.Qxd1 only in this particular case.) and then to
Nd7 20.Bc2!±) 15...Bc7 16.Bxc7 Qxc7 occupy with his knight the wonderful
17.N4g3!?± f5-square.
12...Na6 13.Bxd6!? (13.Rc1?! Nb4 10...Bxd3
10...Nf6 11.Bxh7 Nxh7 12.Qb3! It is trying to occupy the centre with f2-f3 and
essential to deflect Black’s queen from the e3-e4.
kingside and to deprive his knight of the 12.f3
route to the c4-square. (12.Nge2?! Nd7 Following 12.Nge2, White must consider
13.Ng3, Savina – Brunello, St Petersburg 12...Nxg4!? (12...Bd6?! Wells – Izsak,
2009, 13...Nb6 14.Nf5 0-0 15.Qc2 Nc4 Hungary 1999, 13.g5! hxg5 14.Bxg5
16.0-0-0 Bb4!?„) 12...Qb6 13.Qc2 Nd7 Nbd7 15.0-0-0 Qe7 16.f3±; 12...Nbd7
14.Nge2² 13.f3 – see 12.f3). His position is more
11.Qxd3
XIIIIIIIIY promising, although a bit unclear. 13.f3!?
9rsn-wqk+ntr0 Nf6 14.Ng3 Na6 15.Nf5 Bf8 16.0-0-0
9zpp+-vlpzp-0 Qd7XIIIIIIIIY
17.Rdg1 0-0-0 18.Nxg7 Rg8²
9-+p+-+-zp0 9rsn-wqk+-tr0
9+-+p+-+P0 9zpp+-vlpzp-0
9-+-zP-vLP+0 9-+p+-sn-zp0
9+-sNQzP-+-0 9+-+p+-+P0
9PzP-+-zP-+0 9-+-zP-vLP+0
9tR-+-mK-sNR0 9+-sNQzPP+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9PzP-+-+-+0
9tR-+-mK-sNR0
11...Nf6 xiiiiiiiiy
11...Nd7 12.Nge2 Nf8 (12...Nb6
13.0-0-0 Nc4 14.Ng3 Qa5 15.Rde1± 12...Bd6
followed by e3-e4, Pozanco – Ruhlmann, 12...Qb6?! 13.Nge2 Na6 14.0-0-0± c5?!
Barcelona 2014) 13.0-0-0 Nf6 14.f3 Ne6 15.Be5 cxd4 16.Bxd4 Qc6 17.Kb1 Nc7
15.Kb1!? 0-0 16.Rdg1ƒ 18.Qf5 Rd8 19.Nf4 0-0 20.g5 Nfe8
11...Bd6 12.Nge2 Ne7 13.0-0-0 Na6
XIIIIIIIIY 21.gxh6 Qxh6 22.Ncxd5 Bd6 23.Rdg1
9r+-wqk+-tr0 Ne6 24.Ng6+– Dreev – Miralles, France
9zpp+-snpzp-0 2008.
9n+pvl-+-zp0 12...Na6 13.Nge2 Nc7 (13...0-0?!
9+-+p+-+P0 14.g5‚; 13...Qd7 14.Ng3 Bd6 15.Nf5!?
9-+-zP-vLP+0 Bxf4 16.exf4ƒ Prasad – Wang Qibiao,
9+-sNQzP-+-0 Arlington 2015) 14.0-0-0 Ne6 15.Kb1!?
9PzP-+NzP-+0 0-0 16.Rdg1ƒ
9+-mKR+-+R0 12...Nbd7 13.Nge2 Nf8 14.Ng3 Ne6
xiiiiiiiiy 15.Nf5 (15.Be5!? 0-0 16.Nf5 Nd7
17.0-0-0ƒ) 15...Nxf4 (15...Qd7?! 16.Be5
14.e4 Bxf4+ 15.Nxf4 Nb4 16.Qd2
Kf8 17.0-0-0± Ronka – Korhonen,
(16.Qe3 dxe4 17.Qxe4 0-0 18.g5 Ned5=
Naantali 2011) 16.exf4 0-0 (16...Kf8
Deglmann – Luther, Austria 2012)
17.0-0-0 Bd6 18.Ne2 Qc7 19.Kb1 Re8
16....dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nbd5 18.Rde1ƒ
20.Qd2± Bosiocic – Rukavina, Zadar
In the previous variation White forced the 2011) 17.g5 hxg5 18.fxg5 Ne8 19.f4ƒ
issue, but this was not obligatory at all.
13.Nge2 Bxf4
He can make a useful move 14.Kb1²,
Or 13...Na6 14.0-0-0 Bxf4 15.Nxf4 Qd7
16.Nce2² and White’s knight goes to the 14...Nbd7 15.0-0-0 Qe7 16.Nce2 0-0-0
f5-square. 17.Ng3 Ne8 18.Nf5± Jojua –
14.Nxf4 Managadze, Ureki 2014.
14.exf4!? Na6 (14...Nbd7 15.0-0-0 Qc7 15.0-0-0 Nbd7 16.Nce2 0-0-0 17.Ng3
16.Qe3+ Kd8 17.Ng3± Stock – Rhe8 18.Nf5 Qf8 19.Kb1 Kb8, Vitiugov
Kashlinskaya,
XIIIIIIIIYUrgup 2004) 15.0-0-0ƒ – Zhou, Ningbo 2010, 20.Rhe1² Nh7
9rsn-wqk+-tr0 21.e4 dxe4 22.fxe4 Ng5 23.e5± – White
9zpp+-+pzp-0 has occupied space and ensured the
9-+p+-sn-zp0 d6-square for his knight. All this provides
9+-+p+-+P0 him with an obvious advantage.
9-+-zP-sNP+0
9+-sNQzPP+-0 It looks like the variation with 7...Bg6
9PzP-+-+-+0 can be considered, at this moment of the
9tR-+-mK-+R0 development of its theory, as second hand
xiiiiiiiiy for Black.

14...Qd6
B) 7...Be6 8.h4
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqk+ntr0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-+p+l+-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vLPzP0
9+-sN-zP-+-0
9PzP-+-zP-+0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
White is trying to occupy space and
creates the prerequisites to organise in the
future an attack against the enemy king.
In addition, he impedes the comfortable
development of Black’s kingside.
8...Nd7
Black does not have a suitable reaction
against 8.h4 at the moment, so he
develops his pieces, creating a threat
against the h4-pawn and forces White to
clarify his plans.
8...c5?! Flear – Beliavsky, Szirak 1987,
9.Nb5 Na6 10.dxc5 Nf6 11.a3 Bxc5
(11...Bxg4 12.f3 Bd7 13.Nd6+ Bxd6
14.Bxd6±) 12.b4 Be7 13.g5 Ne4 14.f3
Nd6 15.Nxd6 Bxd6 16.Bb5 Kf8
17.Ne2±
8...h5. This move impedes White’s pawn-
offensive on the kingside, but does not
solve all the problems for Black. 9.g5 Bd6
10.Nge2 Ne7 11.Qb3. Black cannot
protect comfortably his b7-pawn. If he
advances it, his queenside pawn-structure
would be weakened. 11...Bc8 (11...b6
12.0-0-0!?; 12.Rc1 Ng6 13.Bxd6 Qxd6
14.Ng3 Ne7 15.Bd3 Nd7 16.Nce2 c5
17.Qa3² Umetsubo – Sztokbant, Rio de
Janeiro 2013) 12.Bh3 Bxf4 13.Nxf4 Qb6
14.Bxc8! (14.Qc2 Bxh3 15.Rxh3 g6
16.0-0-0² Botvinnik – Balashov, Moscow
1970) 14...Qxb3 (14...Nxc8 15.Qc2 Nd6
16.g6±) 15.axb3 Nxc8 16.b4! Nd6
17.b5±
8...Nh6 9.g5 Nf5 10.Bd3 (10.Nf3?! This
is not the right square for White’s knight
in this variation. It would be much more
useful on e2 from where it can go to f4.
10...Bd6! 11.Ne5 Nd7= Smith – Jepson,
Borup 2014) 10...Nd7 11.Qc2 g6, Foisor
– Batsiashvili, Plovdiv 2008, 12.Nge2 0-0
13.0-0-0 c5 14.f3!±
Following 8...Qb6, it is good for White to
play 9.Rb1!? Nf6 10.g5 Ne4, Raznikov –
Al-Tamimi, Caleta 2015, 11.Bd3±, as
well as 9.a3!? Nd7 (9...Nf6 10.g5 Ne4
11.Qc2²; 10.f3!?² h6?! 11.Bd3 Nbd7
12.Nge2 Rc8 13.Kf2± Yakovich –
Azmaiparashvili, Kujbyshev 1986) 10.f3
(If White plays carelessly, Black has
interesting possibilities, which can be
illustrated by the variation 10.Na4?! Qd8
11.h5 Nh6 12.Bh3?! g5! 13.hxg6 hxg6
14.Bf1 Bh4µ Timman – Csom, Bad
Lauterberg 1977) 10...Qd8 11.h5 Bh4
12.Kd2²
8...h6 9.Bd3 (9.h5?! Nf6 10.Be2 Nbd7∞
Braun – Lobzhanidze, Germany 2003;
10.f3 c5!∞; 9.Qb3!? Qb6 10.f3 Qxb3
11.axb3 Nd7 12.Bd3²) 9...Nf6 (Black
should better refrain from accepting this
pawn-sacrifice: 9...Bxh4?! 10.Qb3 b6
11.Nf3 Be7 12.g5 Bd6 13.Ne5± h5 14.g6
f6 15.Nf7 Bxf7 16.gxf7 Kxf7
17.Nxd5!+–) 10.f3 c5 11.Nge2 Nc6
12.Qd2² – He can hardly find a safe
haven for his king.
8...Nf6 9.g5 (After the rather slow move
9.f3, Black can easily activate his pieces.
9...c5! 10.Bd3 Nc6 11.Nge2 a6!?∞
Chernin – Pigusov, Copenhagen 1986)
9...Ne4. He plays very provocatively,
allowing the exchange on e4 without
being afraid that he may fail to hold on to
his e4-pawn. White can try to refute this
concept, or simply continue in another
way. His position would be preferable in not create any problems for Black.
both cases.(9...Nfd7 10.Bd3!? c5 11.Nb5! 9...Qxd6 10.Qb3 Nd7!∞ Furman –
Na6 12.Ne2 Qb6 13.Nec3± Knaak – Myagmarsuren,
XIIIIIIIIY Tallinn 1971)
Johannsson, telex 1978)
XIIIIIIIIY 9rsn-wqk+ntr0
9rsn-wqk+-tr0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 9-+pvll+-+0
9-+p+l+-+0 9+-+p+-+-0
9+-+p+-zP-0 9-+-zP-vLPzP0
9-+-zPnvL-zP0 9+-sN-zP-+N0
9+-sN-zP-+-0 9PzP-+-zP-+0
9PzP-+-zP-+0 9tR-+QmKL+R0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
9...Qc7?! 10.Qf3 Ne7 11.Qg3±
10.Bd3!? Qa5 (10...Bf5 11.Qc2² Djukic – 9...h5 10.Bxd6 (It would not be so
Mijovic, Cetinje 2009) 11.Nge2² convincing for White to choose here
(11.Qc2?! Na6!∞) 11...Bf5 12.Qb3! 10.Qb3, Leitao – Molina, USA 2009,
(12.Kf1 Nxc3 13.Nxc3 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 10...b6 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.g5²) 10...Qxd6
Nd7=) 12...b6 13.Bb1 (13.0-0-0!?±) 11.gxh5 Bxh3 12.Bxh3 Nf6 13.Qb3 Qe7
13...g6 14.f3 Nxc3 15.Nxc3 Bxb1 (13...b6 14.Ne2 Nxh5 15.Rc1±) 14.Bc8!
16.Rxb1 Nd7 17.Kf2± b6 15.Ne2 Nxh5 16.Rc1±
10.Nxe4!? dxe4 11.Ne2 (11.Bg2!? Bf5 9...Ne7 10.Bd3 h6 (10...Na6 11.Bxa6
12.Ne2±; 11...Bd5 12.Ne2 Nd7 13.Nc3 bxa6 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.Nf4± Guthrie –
f5 14.gxf6 Nxf6 15.Nxd5!? Qxd5 Eggleston, Edinburgh 2003) 11.Qf3 Ng6
16.Qb3²)
XIIIIIIIIY 12.Bxd6 Qxd6
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqk+-tr0 9rsn-+k+-tr0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 9zpp+-+pzp-0
9-+p+l+-+0 9-+pwql+nzp0
9+-+-+-zP-0 9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zPpvL-zP0 9-+-zP-+PzP0
9+-+-zP-+-0 9+-sNLzPQ+N0
9PzP-+NzP-+0 9PzP-+-zP-+0
9tR-+QmKL+R0 9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
11...Nd7 12.Bh3 Bxh3 13.Rxh3ƒ Now, it seems very attractive for White to
11...Qb6 12.Bg2 (12.Qd2 Nd7 13.Nc3² opt for 13.Nf4 Nxf4 14.exf4, but after
Savina – Goczo, Germany 2015) 14...f5! (14...f6 15.0-0-0 Nd7 16.Bg6
12...Qxb2 13.Bxe4± Kd8 17.f5 Nf8 18.Bh5 Bd7 19.Rhe1+–
11...Bg4 12.Qb3 (12.Bg2 Bb4 13.Kf1 Yakovich – Arlandi, Saint Vincent 2000)
Qd5³) 12...Na6 13.a3² (13.Bg2 Nb4 15.gxf5 Bf7 16.0-0-0 Nd7 17.Rde1+ Kd8
14.Bxe4 Be6©). 18.Re5 Kc7 19.Rhe1 Rad8∞ the position
8...Bd6 9.Nh3! (The move 9.Bxd6 does would remain double-edged.
13.h5 Ne7 14.Nf4 Nd7 15.0-0-0² Kaminsky, Leningrad 1974, 12...Nfd7!
8...Bxh4. Black is practically forced to 13.Qc2 h6 14.0-0-0 a5 15.Kb1²)
accept the pawn-sacrifice (after 9.Qb3 g5) 12...Nfd7 (12...Ne4? 13.g6!+–) 13.g6!
and that would lead to a slightly worse Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bf6 (14...fxg6? 15.Bxg7
endgame for him. Rg8 16.Rxh7± Kantor – Hradeczky,
9.Qb3 Budapest 2011) 15.Rxh7 0-0! 16.Bg3!
XIIIIIIIIY
fxg6 (16...Bf5 17.Rh2 Bxg6 18.0-0-0‚)
9rsn-wqk+ntr0
17.Rh2± Gulko – Lputian, Glendale 1994.
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+p+l+-+0 9...g5! This is practically Black’s only
9+-+p+-+-0 move.XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-zP-vLPvl0 9rsn-wqk+ntr0
9+QsN-zP-+-0 9zpp+-+p+p0
9PzP-+-zP-+0 9-+p+l+-+0
9tR-+-mKLsNR0 9+-+p+-zp-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-zP-vLPvl0
9+QsN-zP-+-0
9...Bc8. Black falls too much behind in 9PzP-+-zP-+0
development. 10.Nf3 Be7 11.Rc1!? with 9tR-+-mKLsNR0
the idea 11...Nd7? 12.Nxd5!± xiiiiiiiiy
9...b6 10.Nf3 Be7 11.Ne5 (11.Qc2!? h6
12.g5 Bd6 13.Ne5 h5 14.Ng6±; 11...g6 With this interesting resource he is trying
12.Ne5 Nf6 13.f3 Nfd7 14.0-0-0 Nxe5 to free his queen with tempo from the
15.Bxe5 Bf6 16.Qh2±; 16.Be2!? Nd7 protection of his bishop on h4. It seemed
17.f4±) for a while this would lead to an
XIIIIIIIIY approximately equal position. Still, the
9rsn-wqk+ntr0 last games played in this line showed that
9zp-+-vlpzpp0 Black does not have equality after all.
9-zpp+l+-+0
10.Be5 f6 11.Bh2 (11.Qxb7?! fxe5
9+-+psN-+-0
12.Qxa8 exd4 13.exd4 Nh6∞) 11...Bxg4
9-+-zP-vLP+0
(11...Qb6 12.Qc2 Bxg4 13.Be2 Bxe2
9+QsN-zP-+-0
14.Qxe2‚)
XIIIIIIIIY
9PzP-+-zP-+0
9tR-+-mKL+R0 9rsn-wqk+ntr0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zpp+-+-+p0
9-+p+-zp-+0
11...Bd6 12.Qc2 h6 13.g5 h5 14.Ng6 9+-+p+-zp-0
Bxf4 15.exf4 fxg6 16.Qxg6+ Kd7 17.f5± 9-+-zP-+lvl0
11...g5 12.Bg3 Nf6 13.Be2 Qc8 14.Rc1 9+QsN-zP-+-0
(14.0-0-0?! Nxg4 15.Nxg4 Bxg4 9PzP-+-zP-vL0
16.Bxg4 Qxg4 17.e4 h5²) with the idea 9tR-+-mKLsNR0
14...Nbd7?! (14...Nxg4? 15.Nxg4 Bxg4 xiiiiiiiiy
16.Nxd5+–) 15.Nb5+– Jussupow –
The following seemingly attractive line
Lputian, Baden-Baden 1996.
for White would lead only to a draw:
11...Nf6 12.g5! (12.Be2, Vladimirov –
 XIIIIIIIIY
12.Qxb7 Qe7! 13.Qxa8 Qxe3 14.Be2 9r+-wqk+ntr0
Bxf2 15.Kf1 Bh4 16.Qxb8 Kf7 17.Nd1 9zpp+nvlpzpp0
Bxe2 18.Nxe2 Qf3 19.Kg1 Qxe2 20.Bg3 9-+p+l+-+0
Qg4= Ding Liren – So, Wijk aan Zee 9+-+p+-+-0
2015. 9-+-zP-+PzP0
12.Be2! Bxe2 13.Qxb7 Nd7 14.Kxe2 9+-sN-zP-vL-0
Qc8 (14...Ne7?! 15.Bd6 Qc8 16.Qxc8+ 9PzP-+-zP-+0
Nxc8 17.Ba3 Nf8 18.Bxf8 Kxf8 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
19.Nf3±) 15.Qxc8+ Rxc8 16.Nf3 Ne7 xiiiiiiiiy
17.Nxh4 gxh4 18.Rac1. It is evident that
9...Ngf6 10.f3 Nb6 11.Nh3!? (11.Bd3
Black’s extra doubled h-pawn is
Nc4 12.Qe2, Nakamura – Bacrot,
completely irrelevant and some other
factors are much more important. For Elancourt 2013, 12...0-0 13.Nh3 Re8∞)
example, the pawn-weaknesses on c6 and 11...Nc4 12.Bxc4 dxc4 13.e4 b5 14.Nf4
h4, the passivity of Black’s rooks and the 0-0 15.g5ƒ
obvious lack of good prospects of his 9...Ndf6 10.f3 Bd6 11.Nge2 Ne7 12.Qc2
knight. 18...Nb6 (18...Kf7 19.Bd6 Ng6 Qc7 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.0-0-0 0-0-0
20.Nb1 Ndf8 21.f4²; 19...Nf5 20.Ba3 15.Nf4 Kb8 16.Bd3² Mendonca –
Rhg8 21.Kf3²) 19.Bd6!? (19.Nb1 a5 Sztokbant, Sao Paulo 2015.
20.Nd2 a4 21.Nf3 Ng6 22.Ne1 Nc4 9...Nb6! Black is not in a hurry to
23.Nd3, Wojtaszek – Doettling, determine the future placement of his
Montpellier 2015; 23...Ra8!∞) 19...Nf5 knight on g8. 10.f3 (10.Bd3 Nc4!?
(19...Ng6 20.b3 Kd7 21.Bb4²) 20.Bc5 11.Bxc4 dxc4 12.f3 Nf6 13.e4 0-0∞;
Nd7XIIIIIIIIY
21.Ba3² 10...Bd6 11.Qf3, Santos – Molina, Cuiaba
9r+-wqk+ntr0 2011, 11...h5 12.g5 Ne7=) 10...Bd6
9zpp+nvlpzpp0 (10...f5!?∞) 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Qc2 Ne7
9-+p+l+-+0 13.Bd3 h5 14.g5 0-0!? (14...0-0-0
9+-+p+-+-0 15.Nge2 Kb8, Nakamura – Aronian,
9-+-zP-vLPzP0 Moscow 2011 16.0-0-0∞) 15.Nge2 Rac8
9+-sN-zP-+-0 16.Rd1 g6 17.Kf2 a6= 18.b4?! Bf5
9PzP-+-zP-+0 19.Bxf5?! Nxf5 20.e4 Ng7 21.Qb3 Nc4µ
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 Nakamura – Caruana, Baku 2014.
xiiiiiiiiy B1) XIIIIIIIIY
9.h5
9r+-wqk+ntr0
We will deal in details now with B1) 9.h5 9zpp+nvlpzpp0
and B2) 9.g5. 9-+p+l+-+0
9.Bg3. After this solid move, Black 9+-+p+-+P0
obtains easily a quite acceptable position. 9-+-zP-vLP+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0
9PzP-+-zP-+0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
9...Nh6!
This is considered to be Black’s best
move and quite justifiably so.
9...Ngf6 10.f3 0-0 11.Bd3 c5 12.Qc2 Kh8
13.Nge2 Rc8 14.0-0-0 h6 15.g5± Lopez
Martinez – Sargissian, Yerevan 1999.
9...Nb6 10.Bd3 Nc4 (10...Nh6 11.f3 Bh4
12.Kf1 g5 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.Be5 Bf6
15.Bg3² Ganguly – Barsov, Guangzhou
2010) 11.Qe2² Zivanic – Miranovic,
Yugoslavia 2000.
9...Qb6 10.Rb1 (10.a3? Bxg4µ) 10...Ngf6
11.f3 h6 (11...0-0 12.Bd3 c5 13.Nge2
Rac8 14.Kf1 cxd4 15.exd4 Bd6 16.Qd2
Ne8 17.Kg2± Beliavsky – Geller,
Moscow 1983) 12.Bd3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+k+-tr0
9zpp+nvlpzp-0
9-wqp+lsn-zp0
9+-+p+-+P0
9-+-zP-vLP+0
9+-sNLzPP+-0
9PzP-+-+-+0
9+R+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...0-0?! Furman – Geller, Yerevan 1975,
13.g5! hxg5 14.Bxg5 c5 15.Nge2±
12...Qa5?! 13.Nge2 b5 14.Kf2 (14.Rc1!?)
14...b4 15.Na4 Nb6 16.Nc5 Bxc5
17.dxc5 Qxc5 18.Nd4 Bd7 19.Rc1±
12...Qd8 13.Nge2 0-0, Kruppa –
Grigoriants, Elista 2000, 14.g5! hxg5
15.Bxg5 Nh7 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Nf4 Ng5
18.Kf2±
12...c5 13.Nge2 Rc8 (13...c4 14.Bc2 Qa5
15.Kf2 b5 16.a3 Qb6 17.b3! cxb3
18.Rxb3 a6, Riazantsev – Sanikidze,
Dresden 2007, 19.Bg3!? 0-0 20.Nf4ƒ;
13...cxd4 14.Nxd4!?±; 14.exd4 Rc8
15.Kf1 Nf8 16.Ng3 Bd6 17.Na4±
Kruppa – Kolesnik, Minsk 2000) 14.Kf1²
0-0 15.g5! hxg5 16.Bxg5 Rfe8 17.Bf4!
(17.Qe1, Knaak – Geller, Moscow 1982,
17...Ng4! 18.Bf4 cxd4 19.Nxd4 Nge5∞)
17...Bd6 18.Qd2±
9...h6. With this solid move, Black
impedes his opponent’s pawn-offensive.
Still, White has acquired sufficient extra
space on the kingside and simply
completes the development of his pieces.
10.Bd3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+ntr0
9zpp+nvlpzp-0
9-+p+l+-zp0
9+-+p+-+P0
9-+-zP-vLP+0
9+-sNLzP-+-0
9PzP-+-zP-+0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...Qb6 11.Rb1 a5 12.f3 Ngf6 13.Nge2²
Bernasek – Remes, Frydek Mistek 2012.
10...Nb6 11.f3 Bh4+ (11...Bd6 12.Nge2
Qe7 13.Kf2 Nf6 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.Qg1
0-0-0 16.Qg3 Ne8 17.Rab1!?² Potkin –
Oparin, Vladivostok 2014) 12.Kf1!?
(12.Kd2 Be7 13.Nge2, Osborne –
Hulmes, Hinckley Island 2009,
13...Nc4+!∞) 12...Bg5 13.Qe2 (White
should not be in a hurry to develop his
knight on e2. It may be handy later on the
h3-square. 13.Nge2 Ne7 14.Qc2 Rf8
15.Bxg5 hxg5 16.Ng3 Qd7∞) 13...Ne7
14.Nh3!²
10...Ngf6 11.f3
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0 16.Nf5!? Bxf5 17.Bxf5, with the idea
9zpp+nvlpzp-0 17...a5 18.e4!±
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+p+lsn-zp0 9r+-wqk+-tr0
9+-+p+-+P0 9zpp+nvlpzpp0
9-+-zP-vLP+0 9-+p+l+-sn0
9+-sNLzPP+-0 9+-+p+-+P0
9PzP-+-+-+0 9-+-zP-vLP+0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9PzP-+-zP-+0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
11...a6 12.Nge2 b6 13.Qc2 c5 14.Bf5 xiiiiiiiiy
(14.Rd1 Qc8 15.Ng3 Qc6 16.Bf5 cxd4
17.exd4 Rc8 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Qg6+ Kd8 10.Be2
20.Rc1 Nf8 21.Qb1 Bd6 22.Nce4+– 10.Bxh6?! gxh6 11.Bd3 Nb6!?³
Barreras – Diaz, Havana 1985) 14...Bxf5 10.f3?! f5! 11.Bxh6 gxh6 12.gxf5 Bxf5
15.Qxf5+– 13.Bd3 Bh4 14.Kd2 (14.Ke2?! Be6
11...Qb6, Akesson – Mejak, Pardubice 15.Kd2 Qe7³; 14...Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Qe7
2015, 12.Nge2 Qxb2 13.Rb1 Qa3 16.f4 Rg8³ Maksimenko – Talla, Legnica
14.Rxb7 Nb6 15.Qb3!?± 2010) 14...Bxd3 15.Kxd3 Be7∞
11...Nf8 12.Nge2 Bd6 13.Qb3 Rb8 10...Nb6 11.Nh3
14.0-0-0² Vaisser – Sharevich, 11.Rc1, Kasparov – Karpov, Moscow
playchess.com 2004. 1985, 11...f5!? 12.gxf5 Nxf5 13.h6 g6
11...Nb6 12.Nge2 Bd6 13.Qc2. White has 14.Nf3 0-0∞
a slight edge, but it is comfortable and 11.a4!? This is an interesting move. White
long lasting. 13...Qe7 14.0-0-0 Bxf4 wishes to include the moves a2-a4 a7-a5,
15.Nxf4 0-0-0 16.Kb1 Kb8 17.Rhg1 Ne8 with the idea to follow the basic plan,
18.Qh2 Nd6 19.Qg3² Wojtaszek – hoping that the inclusion of these pawn-
Oparin, Jurmala 2013. moves would be advantageous for him.
11...c5. We have to mention this move 11...a5 12.Nh3 Nc4!?∞ with a very
would lead to a good position for Black complicated position, which needs further
only if his knight would come to c6 via practical tests (12...g5 13.hxg6 hxg6
b8. Now, with a knight on d7, Black 14.Bg3 – see 11.Nh3 g5 12.hxg6 hxg6
would possibly fail to obtain equality. 13.a4 a5 14.Bg3).
XIIIIIIIIY
12.Nge2 (12.dxc5!? Nxc5 13.Nge2²) 9r+-wqk+-tr0
12...c4 (12...cxd4 13.Nxd4 Nc5 14.Bb5+ 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
Bd7 15.Bxd7+ Qxd7 16.Nf5+–) 13.Bc2 9-snp+l+-sn0
Qa5 14.Ng3 b5 15.a3. White should 9+-+p+-+P0
better not allow his opponent to play 9-+-zP-vLP+0
b5-b4 (Meanwhile, even after 15.0-0, 9+-sN-zP-+N0
White’s prospects are preferable: 15...b4 9PzP-+LzP-+0
16.Nce2 0-0 17.Nf5 Bxf5 18.Bxf5 Rfe8 9tR-+QmK-+R0
19.e4 Nf8 20.e5 N6d7 21.Be3² Pacher – xiiiiiiiiy
Leniart, Banska Stiavnica 2012) 15...Qb6
11...g5!
This counterplay is principled.
11...Nc4?! 12.Bxh6 gxh6 13.Bxc4 dxc4
14.Nf4² Bernasek – Sabuk, Prague 2015.
11...Bd6 12.Rg1² Neverov – Sandalakis,
Paleochora 2009.
12.hxg6
12.Be5 f6 13.Bg3 Qd7 14.f3 f5µ Iljin –
Amanov, Alushta 2009.
12...hxg6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0
9zpp+-vlp+-0
9-snp+l+psn0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vLP+0
9+-sN-zP-+N0
9PzP-+LzP-+0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
13.a4!?
This novelty may provide new impetus
for White in the analysis of this, no doubt,
fashionable variation. I have failed to find
a convincing advantage for White, but the
lines we deal with later, need a thorough
attention. I still think it is too early for any
definite evaluations.
13.Bg3? Nakamura – Aronian, Sao Paulo
2011, 13...Nxg4 (13...Bh4!?µ) 14.Bxg4
Qd7µ
13.f3?! Bh4 14.Kd2 (14.Nf2 g5 15.Bh2
Qe7³ Onischuk – Lputian, Poikovsky
2001) 14...g5 15.Bh2 f5 16.gxf5 Nxf5³
Vaisser – Timoscenko, Tashkent 1987.
13.Kd2. This artificial castling seems
sensible, but the position remains rather
unclear. 13...g5 (13...Nc4 14.Kc2!?∞;
14.Bxc4 dxc4 15.f3∞ Rowson –
Bartholomew, London 2012) 14.Bg3 Rf8
(14...Qd7 15.Nf4 gxf4 16.Bxf4 0-0-0
17.Bxh6 Bd6 18.Kc2 Rdg8 19.f3 f5 20.g5
f4 21.e4²) 15.f3 f5 16.Nf2 Nf7∞
13.Be5!? After this move there arise
interesting complications, which would
possibly lead to approximate equality.
13...f6 14.Nf4 (14.Bg3 Nf7 15.Qc2 g5³)
14...fxe5 (14...Bf7 15.Qc2 fxe5 16.dxe5
g5 17.Ng6 Bxg6 18.Qxg6+ Kd7 19.Rxh6
Rxh6 20.Qxh6 Qh8=; 16.Nxg6 Rg8
17.Nxe5! Bf8 18.f4±; 16...Bxg6 17.Qxg6
Kd7 18.Rxh6 Rxh6 19.Qxh6 exd4
20.exd4 Qh8 21.Qxh8 Rxh8 22.0-0-0 Bg5
23.Kc2 Rh2 24.Rf1 Bf6 25.Kd3 Rh3
26.f3 Nc4©) 15.Nxg6 (15.Nxe6? Qd6
16.g5 Qxe6 17.gxh6 e4³)
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0
9zpp+-vl-+-0
9-snp+l+Nsn0
9+-+pzp-+-0
9-+-zP-+P+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0
9PzP-+LzP-+0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
15...Rg8?! 16.Nxe7 Qxe7 17.Rxh6 e4
18.a4 Nd7, Mamedyarov – Nakamura,
Tashkent 2014, 19.Kd2! Nf6 (19...0-0-0
20.Qg1±) 20.Qh1! Bxg4 21.Bxg4 Rxg4
(21...Nxg4 22.Rh7+–) 22.Qh3±
15...Rh7! 16.dxe5 (16.Nxe5 Bh4 17.Qd3
Rg7 18.0-0-0 Nf7 19.f4 Nxe5 20.dxe5
Qe7 21.f5 0-0-0 22.fxe6 Bg3=; 21.g5
Bxg5 22.fxg5 Qxg5 23.Rh5 Qe7 24.Rh8
Rg8 25.Rh7 Rg7=) 16...Qd7 17.Qc2 0-0-0
18.0-0-0 Rg8 19.Nb5 (19.Nf4 Rhh8
20.Ng6 Rh7=) 19...Kb8 20.Nd4 Bxg4
21.Bxg4 Qxg4 22.Nxe7 Rxe7 23.Rxh6
Qg5 24.Nf5 Rf7 25.Nd6 Re7=
13...a5
13...g5 14.Bg3 a5 15.f3 – see 13...a5.
13...Nc4. Now, the h-file is opened and
this move is not so good as following
11.a4. 14.Bxc4 dxc4 15.f3 Bh4+ (15...g5
16.Bg3 f5 17.Qc2! fxg4 18.Nf2 Bf5 different ways, but he manages to create
19.e4 Bd7 20.fxg4±) 16.Nf2²
XIIIIIIIIY problems for his opponent in only one
9r+-wqk+-tr0 single line.
9+p+-vlp+-0 15.f4. There arises a complicated and
9-snp+l+psn0 non-standard position after this move.
9zp-+p+-+-0 15...Qd7 16.f5 (16.Nxg5?! 0-0-0 17.Nxe6
9P+-zP-vLP+0 Nxg4 18.Rxh8 Rxh8 19.Nc5 Rh1 20.Bf1
9+-sN-zP-+N0 Bxc5 21.Qf3 Rxf1 22.Kxf1 Nc4 23.Kg1
9-zP-+LzP-+0 Bb4 24.Re1 f5 25.Re2 Nxb2³) 16...Nxg4
9tR-+QmK-+R0 17.fxe6 (17.Bxg4 Bxf5 18.Bxf5 Qxf5
xiiiiiiiiy 19.Nf2 Rxh1 20.Nxh1 Nc4 21.Qe2 Qe6
22.Bf2 Bb4 23.Ng3 Kd7!?©) 17...Qxe6
14.Bg3 18.Bxg4 Qxe3 19.Kf1 Qxg3 20.Qe2 Nc4
With the inclusion of a2-a4 and a7-a5, 21.Re1 Nd2 22.Qxd2 Qxg4 23.Qe3 0-0-0
that move was impossible on move 13, 24.Qxe7 Qf3 25.Kg1 Qg3=
while now it would be quite playable.
15...f5 16.Qd3!?
14.Be5. This move once again does not 16.Be5 fxg4 (16...Rg8 17.Nf2 Nf7
provide White with an edge and it is only 18.gxf5 Bxf5 19.e4! Be6 20.Bg3²)
of a practical interest. 14...f6 15.Nf4 Bf7 17.Bxh8 gxh3 18.Be5 Nf7 19.Bh2 Bd6©
(15...fxe5!? 16.Nxg6 Rh7 17.dxe5 Qd7∞)
16.Qb3 Nf7 17.0-0-0 fxg4 18.fxg4 Bb4
16.Qc2 fxe5 17.Nxg6 Bxg6 18.Qxg6+
19.Nf2 Rxh1 20.Rxh1 Qe7 21.Rh3 Nc4
Kd7 19.Rxh6 Rxh6 20.Qxh6 exd4
(21...0-0-0 22.Na2!±) 22.e4 Rc8!?
21.exd4 Qh8=
23.Nfd1 Qf6 24.e5 Qe7 25.Bf2 c5
14...g5! 26.Bxc4 dxc4 27.Qc2 cxd4 28.Bxd4∞
14...Nxg4? This move was strong after
16.Nf2 Bd6 (16...fxg4 17.Qd3 – see
13.Bg3, while now, it would be a mistake.
16.Qd3) 17.Bxd6 (17.Be5?! Bxe5
15.Bxg4 Qd7 16.Bxe6 Qxe6 17.Bc7!
18.dxe5 Ke7³) 17...Qxd6 18.gxf5 Bxf5
Nc4XIIIIIIIIY
18.Qf3 Kd7 19.b3±
19.e4 Be6 20.Qb3 Qb4 21.Qxb4 axb4
9r+-wqk+-tr0 22.Ncd1 Rxa4 23.Rxa4 Nxa4 24.Nd3
9+p+-vlp+-0 dxe4 (24...b3 25.exd5 Bxd5 26.Ne3 Be6
9-snp+l+-sn0 27.f4 Nf7 28.Rxh8+ Nxh8 29.fxg5ƒ)
9zp-+p+-zp-0 25.fxe4 b3= 26.Kd2 Nf7 27.Rxh8+ Nxh8
9P+-zP-+P+0 28.Nc3 Nxc3 29.Kxc3 Ng6 30.Nc5 Nf4
9+-sN-zP-vLN0 31.Bd1 – White regains his pawn, but
9-zP-+LzP-+0 naturally, the outcome is likely to be a
9tR-+QmK-+R0 draw.
xiiiiiiiiy
15.f3!
After this move and later, Black must play
very precisely, but even then he can
hardly rely on obtaining equality. White
can try to maintain the advantage in many
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0 9r+-wqk+ntr0
9+p+-vl-+-0 9zpp+nvlpzpp0
9-snp+l+-sn0 9-+p+l+-+0
9zp-+p+pzp-0 9+-+p+-zP-0
9P+-zP-+P+0 9-+-zP-vL-zP0
9+-sNQzPPvLN0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9-zP-+L+-+0 9PzP-+-zP-+0
9tR-+-mK-+R0 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
16...Bd6 This is a promising move for White and it
16...Nc4 17.Nf2 Kd7 18.Bh2 fxg4 is gaining popularity. He has numerous
19.fxg4 Qb6 20.e4ƒ ideas in mind. He continues to occupy
16...Bf6 17.Nf2 fxg4 18.fxg4² space, protects his h4-pawn and prevents
16...fxg4 17.Nf2 gxf3 (17...Nf7 18.Rxh8 the development of Black’s king’s knight.
Nxh8 19.e4 gxf3 20.Bxf3 Bd6∞; 9...h6
19.0-0-0!ƒ with the idea 19...Nf7 9...Nb6 10.Bd3 (10.Be5?! h6 11.Bxg7
20.Qg6!±) 18.Bxf3 Bf6 19.e4© Rh7 12.gxh6 Nxh6 13.Be5 Ng4 14.Bg3
17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Nxg5 Bd7 19.0-0-0 Bxh4= Lokander – Talla, Pardubice 2012)
Nc4 20.e4 Qb4 10...Bd6 11.Nge2 Ne7 12.Qc2²
20...Qf4+ 21.Kb1 Qxg5 22.exd5 Nd6 9...Nf8!? This move is strange at first
23.dxc6 bxc6 (23...Bxc6? 24.d5 Bd7 sight. Black prepares h7-h6 and prevents
25.Qd4+–) 24.Rh5 Qg7 25.g5 Nhf7 g5-g6. 10.Be5 (10.Qb3 Qb6 11.Qc2 h6
26.Qe3+ Kf8 27.Rxh8 Nxh8 28.d5ƒ 12.gxh6 Nxh6 13.Bd3, Zhu Chen –
21.Qb1 Qe7 Mkrtchian, Batumi 2012, 13...Nf5!∞;
XIIIIIIIIY
13...Bf5!=) 10...f6 11.Bg3!? This is an
9r+-+k+-tr0
interesting and logical pawn-sacrifice,
9+p+lwq-+-0
which impedes the comfortable
9-+p+-+-sn0
9zp-+p+psN-0 development of Black’s kingside.
9P+nzPP+P+0 (11.gxf6 Nxf6 12.Bd3 Ng6 13.Bg3 Bd6
9+-sN-+P+-0 14.Qc2 Ne7 15.Nge2 Bxg3 16.Nxg3 Bg4
9-zP-+L+-+0 17.Be2 Bxe2= Mohota – Mkrtchian,
9+QmKR+-+R0 Bhubaneswar 2013) 11...fxg5 12.hxg5
xiiiiiiiiy Bxg5 13.Qb3!? Qe7 14.0-0-0 and White
has powerful initiative for the pawn.
22.f4 Ne3 (22...0-0-0 23.gxf5ƒ) 23.e5!? 10.g6!
Nxd1 24.Bxd1 0-0-0 25.e6© 10.Qf3?! hxg5 11.hxg5 Rxh1 12.Qxh1
B2) 9.g5!? Bxg5 13.Qh8 Kf8 14.Bd6 Be7 15.Bg3
(15.Bf4, Zacurdajev – Klimov, St
Petersburg 2008, 15...g5! 16.Bg3 Bb4
17.Nf3 g4 18.Ne5 Qf6 19.Qh2 Qh6³)
15...Ndf6 16.Bd3 g6 17.Nge2 Nh5³
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+ntr0 9r+-wqksnntr0
9zpp+nvlpzp-0 9zpp+-vl-zp-0
9-+p+l+Pzp0 9-+p+l+pzp0
9+-+p+-+-0 9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-zP0 9-+-zP-vL-zP0
9+-sN-zP-+-0 9+-sNLzP-+-0
9PzP-+-zP-+0 9PzPQ+-zP-+0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 9tR-+-mK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
We will analyse now B2a) 10...fxg6?! and 12...g5 13.hxg5 Bxg5 14.Bg3± Brodsky –
B2b) 10...Ngf6. Jojua, Cappelle la Grande 2012.
B2a)XIIIIIIIIY
10...fxg6?! 11.Bd3 12...Nf6 13.Nf3± Qc8?! 14.Ne5 Bf5
9r+-wqk+ntr0 15.Nxg6 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Nxg6 17.Qxg6
9zpp+nvl-zp-0 Kd8 18.0-0-0 Qe6 19.Be5 Kd7 20.f3
9-+p+l+pzp0 Raf8 21.Ne2 Kc8 22.Nf4 Qf7 23.Qc2
9+-+p+-+-0 Rhg8 24.Ng6 Re8 25.Qf5 Kd8 26.Bh2
9-+-zP-vL-zP0 Bb4 27.Qf4+– Artemiev – Oparin, Loo
9+-sNLzP-+-0 2013.
9PzP-+-zP-+0 12...Bf7 13.Nf3 Bd6 14.Ne5 Ne7
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 15.0-0-0 Ne6 16.Bxg6 Bxg6 17.Nxg6
xiiiiiiiiy Nxg6 18.Qxg6 Ke7 19.Bxd6 Qxd6
20.e4!± Hribar – Mejak, Slovenia 2014.
White has sacrificed a pawn and created
12...Bf6 13.0-0-0 Ne7 14.Nge2² Bf5
weaknesses on his opponent’s kingside.
15.e4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Bxe4 17.Bxe4 Nd5
Now, he is attacking them. Meanwhile,
(17...Qd7 18.Be5±) 18.Bg3 Qa5 19.Bxd5
his king may castle at any time on the
cxd5 20.Kb1 Kf7 21.Nf4 h5 22.Rhe1 Rh6
queenside, contrary to its counterpart, and
23.Qb3± Peralta – Barsov, Catalunya
is much safer. On top of all this, we will
2012.
see that Black can hardly manage to hold
on to his extra pawn. 12.Qc2
XIIIIIIIIY
11...Bf7 9r+-wqk+ntr0
11...Ngf6?! 12.Bxg6 Bf7 13.Bxf7 Kxf7 9zpp+nvllzp-0
14.Nf3 (14.Nge2!?±) 14...Rf8 15.Rg1± 9-+p+-+pzp0
h5? 16.Ng5 Ke8 17.Ne6+– Ponomariov – 9+-+p+-+-0
Sargissian, Khanty-Mansiysk 2013.
9-+-zP-vL-zP0
9+-sNLzP-+-0
11...Nf8 12.Qc2! (12.Nf3?! Caruana –
9PzPQ+-zP-+0
Melkumyan, Moscow 2012, 12...Bg4
9tR-+-mK-sNR0
13.Rg1 Bh5!? 14.Qc2 Bxh4 15.Nxh4 xiiiiiiiiy
Qxh4∞)
12...Ngf6
Black cannot keep his extra pawn without
positional concessions. 12...g5?! 13.hxg5
 XIIIIIIIIY
Bxg5 14.Bg3!± Ne7 15.Nf3 Bf6 16.0-0-0 9r+-wqk+-tr0
c5, Tomashevsky – Aghasaryan, Yerevan 9zpp+nvlpzp-0
2014 (16...0-0? 17.Bf4 h5 18.Rdg1+–) 9-+p+lsnPzp0
17.Nb5! 0-0 18.Rdg1 Kh8 (18...Rc8 9+-+p+-+-0
19.Rxh6!+–) 19.Bc7 Qc8 20.Bf4 cxd4 9-+-zP-vL-zP0
21.Nc7+– 9+-sN-zP-+-0
13.Nge2!? 9PzP-+-zP-+0
White plans to capture his opponent’s 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
g6-pawn at an opportune moment. xiiiiiiiiy
13.Bxg6 0-0 14.Nge2 Nh5 15.0-0-0,
11.gxf7+
Savina – Batsiashvili, Loo 2014,
This is probably White’s best move. Still,
15...Bxg6! 16.Qxg6 Qe8∞
the position is too complicated to give a
13...Nh5 final evaluation.
13...0-0 14.0-0-0ƒ
11.Bd3 0-0!∞ (11...Ne4?! 12.gxf7 Bxf7
14.0-0-0 0-0
XIIIIIIIIY 13.Bxe4 – see 11.gxf7+)
9r+-wq-trk+0 11...Bxf7 12.Bd3
9zpp+nvllzp-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+p+-+pzp0 9r+-wqk+-tr0
9+-+p+-+n0 9zpp+nvllzp-0
9-+-zP-vL-zP0 9-+p+-sn-zp0
9+-sNLzP-+-0 9+-+p+-+-0
9PzPQ+NzP-+0 9-+-zP-vL-zP0
9+-mKR+-+R0 9+-sNLzP-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9PzP-+-zP-+0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
15.Rdg1!? (15.Kb1 Bxh4 16.Bxg6 Nxf4 xiiiiiiiiy
17.Nxf4 Bxg6 18.Qxg6 Qg5 19.Qe6 Rf7
12...Nh5!
20.Rdg1 Qf6 21.Qh3 Bxf2 22.Rf1 Bxe3
This is an interesting attempt by Black to
23.Qxe3²) 15...Bxh4 16.Bxg6 Bxf2
change the character of the position.
17.Bxh5 Bxg1 18.Rxg1 Bxh5 19.Bxh6
12...Ne4 13.Bxe4 (13.Nxe4 dxe4
Qf6 (19...Rf7 20.Nf4±) 20.Bxg7 Qf1
14.Bxe4 Nf6 15.Bf3 0-0 16.Ne2,
(20...Qxg7? 21.Rxg7 Kxg7 22.Nf4+–)
Ponomariov – Riazantsev, Khanty-
21.Rxf1 Rxf1 22.Kd2 Kxg7 23.Nf4 Rf2
Mansiysk 2013, 16...Nd5 17.Be5 Bb4
(23...Nf6? 24.Qf5+–) 24.Nce2 Nf6
18.Kf1 Bd6©) 13...dxe4 14.Nge2 0-0
25.Qf5 Rh8 26.Qe5!±
15.Qc2 Nf6 16.Rg1 Kh8 17.Be5±
B2b) 10...Ngf6
Nepomniachtchi – Ponomariov, Riga
2013.
12...Qa5 13.Nge2 Ne4 14.Qb3 b5
15.Qc2 Ndf6 16.Rg1± Dzagnidze –
Kosteniuk, Geneva 2013.
12...0-0 13.Qf3! White transfers his queen
to the kingside and will follow this with a
 XIIIIIIIIY
development of the knight to the 9r+-wq-trk+0
e2-square.
XIIIIIIIIY 9zpp+-vl-zp-0
9r+-wq-trk+0 9-+p+lsn-zp0
9zpp+nvllzp-0 9+-+p+-+n0
9-+p+-sn-zp0 9-+-zP-+-zP0
9+-+p+-+-0 9+-sNLzP-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-zP0 9PzP-+-zPQvL0
9+-sNLzPQ+-0 9tR-+-mK-sNR0
9PzP-+-zP-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+-mK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy 16.Nge2
16.f3 Bd6=
13...Qb6, Nepomniachtchi – Aronian, 16.Bg6?! Ng4! (16...Ne4 17.Nf3²
Beijing 2013, 14.Nge2! Bh5 15.Qg2 Nxc3?! 18.bxc3 Qa5, Stefanova –
Bxe2 (15...Qxb2 16.Rb1 Qa3 17.Rb3 Qa5 Kosteniuk, Tashkent 2013, 19.0-0 Nf6
18.Bxh6+–) 16.Nxe2 Qb4+ 17.Kf1 Qxb2 20.Rab1 b6 21.Ne5 Rac8 22.Kh1+–;
18.Rb1 Qxa2 19.Qh3± 18...Nf6 19.Rg1 Ng4 20.Bh5 Rxf3
13...Nh5 14.Nge2 Nxf4 15.Nxf4 Bd6 21.Qxf3 Nxh2 22.Qg3±) 17.Nf3
16.Nce2² (17.Bxh5? Rxf2 18.Qh3 Qd7–+)
13...Kh8 14.Nge2² Ne4?! Rodshtein – 17...Bxh4 18.Nxh4 Qxh4 19.Nd1 Nxh2!?
Avrukh, Beer Sheva 2013, 15.0-0-0 Ndf6 (19...Qe7!? 20.Bxh5 Qb4+ 21.Ke2 Qb5
16.Rdg1± 22.Ke1 Qb4=) 20.Rxh2 Nf4 21.exf4
13.Bh2 Qxf4©
13.Be5?! Qb6³ 16.Nf3!? This move seems promising at
13...0-0 first sight, but Black can obtain good
13...Bxh4 14.Qe2!? (14.Nf3 0-0 15.Qe2 counter chances after an accurate play.
Be6 16.Bd6 Be7 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Nh4 16...Ng4! (16...Ne4 17.Be5ƒ) 17.0-0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
Qg5 19.Qc2 Bg4 20.Bh7+ Kf7 9r+-wq-trk+0
21.Kd2!±; 16...Bg4 17.Bxf8 Qf6 18.Bd6 9zpp+-vl-zp-0
Bxf3 19.Be7 Qf7 20.Bg6±) 14...Be7 9-+p+l+-zp0
15.0-0-0 Nhf6 16.Nf3± – with good 9+-+p+-+n0
compensation for the pawn for White, 9-+-zP-+nzP0
because Black’s king does not have a safe 9+-sNLzPN+-0
shelter. 9PzP-+-zPQvL0
14.Qg4
9+-mKR+-+R0
White transfers his queen to a more
xiiiiiiiiy
promising position at the right moment.
17...Bd6 18.Bxd6 Qxd6 19.Rd2! Bd7
From there, it can exert pressure against
(19...Rf6 20.Ng5 Raf8 21.Nxe6 Qxe6
his opponent’s weak g7-square.
22.Nd1 R6f7 23.Rg1 Ngf6 24.Qg6)
14...Ndf6 15.Qg2 Be6 20.Rg1 Rae8 21.Ne1 Rf7 22.Kb1 b6
23.Re2²
17...Bb4! 18.Ne2 c5! (18...Bd6 19.Be5²)
19.a3 (19.Kb1?! c4 20.Bg6 Qa5³ of view, that his game is much easier.
21.Bxh5? Bf5 22.Ka1 Rf6!–+; 19.dxc5 17...Ngf6 18.f3 b5 19.Bh2 Bd6 20.Bxd6
Bxc5 20.Kb1 Qf6 21.Ned4 Bxd4 Qxd6 21.0-0-0 Rae8 22.Rhg1²
22.Nxd4 Qxf2 23.Qxf2 Rxf2 24.Nxe6 18.Kd2!
Nxh2=; 19.Bg6 Qa5 20.Bxh5 Qxa2 It is high time, White evacuated his king!
21.Bxg4 Bxg4 22.Qxg4 cxd4 23.Rxd4 As the following variation shows, he has
Rac8 24.Nc3 Bxc3 25.bxc3 Rxc3 26.Kd1 nothing better: 18.0-0-0 Nxf2 19.Bxf2
Qb1 27.Ke2 Qb5 28.Ke1 Rc1 29.Rd1 Rxf2 20.Qg6 Qf6 21.Rxh4 Qxh4 22.Qxe6
Rxd1 30.Kxd1 Qb1 31.Ke2 Qb5=) Kf8! 23.e4 Rd8 24.exd5 cxd5 25.Kb1
19...Bxa3 20.bxa3 Qa5 21.Kb2 c4!? Qf6 26.Qe3³
22.Bc2 Rac8© 18...Rxf2
16...Ng4 17.Bg1ƒ
XIIIIIIIIY 18...Nxf2 19.Bxf2 Rxf2 20.Qg6 Qf6
9r+-wq-trk+0 21.Rag1±
9zpp+-vl-zp-0 19.Bxf2 Bxf2 20.Rxh5 Bxe3 21.Kc2
9-+p+l+-zp0 Bxd4 22.Nd1!±
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+p+-+n0 9r+-wq-+k+0
9-+-zP-+nzP0 9zpp+-+-zp-0
9+-sNLzP-+-0 9-+p+l+-zp0
9PzP-+NzPQ+0 9+-+p+-+R0
9tR-+-mK-vLR0 9-+-vl-+n+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+L+-+-0
17...Bxh4
9PzPK+N+Q+0
Black attacks the f2-pawn.
9tR-+N+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
If he does not capture the pawn, then it is
more than obvious that White maintains Black has achieved a lot and even
the initiative. Black’s king is rather sacrificed material for that. Still, White
unsafe. White can castle queenside and has parried the direct threats with a
his king is quite safe there. He can also precise play and his material advantage
exert pressure on the g-file and advancing cannot be compensated by Black’s ebbing
f3 and e4 is also a part of his plan. It is off initiative.
difficult to say how big White’s advantage
is, but it is clear, from the practical point
 top level as well, and this is 6...Nbd7.
XIIIIIIIIY
Part 3
9r+lwq-trk+0
d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7
1.d4XIIIIIIIIY 9zppzpnvlpzpp0
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 9-+-+psn-+0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-+psn-+0 9-+PzP-vL-+0
9+-+p+-+-0 9+-sN-zPN+-0
9-+PzP-+-+0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9+-sN-+N+-0 9tR-+QmKL+R0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy Black is waiting to see where White will
develop his light-squared bishop and
White prefers this way of development to plans to capture on c4 and to follow this
the other main line in the Queen’s Gambit with c7-c5 only later. If White makes
– 5.Bg5. It is obvious that the some useful move, for example 7.a3, then
development of the bishop to the Black changes his plan and plays
f4-square is not worse in comparison to immediately 7...c5, so that after 8.dxc5,
g5 and in many lines it is even better. he can capture on c5 with his knight
Still, there are some drawbacks too – it 8...Nxc5, hoping that after 9.cxd5, his
would be easier for Black to advance good development would compensate the
c7-c5 and most often he really does that. presence of the isolated d5-pawn in his
Therefore, the play in these lines and the position.
plans for both sides are entirely different Therefore, White should better either
than in the the other classical variation close the position with 7.c5 (Chapter 15),
with 5.Bg5. or play 7.Be2 dxc4 and only now 8.0-0!?
Following 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3,
XIIIIIIIIY (Chapter 14), hoping after 8...c5 and
9rsnlwq-trk+0 9.dxc5 Nxc5 10.Bxc4 Qxd1 11.Rfxd1, to
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 create problems for his opponent in the
9-+-+psn-+0 endgame.
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+PzP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 Chapter 10
9tR-+QmKL+R0 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7
xiiiiiiiiy 5.Bf4
Black used to play most often 6...c5
(Chapter13), or tried to complete the
development of his queenside with the
move 6...b6 (Chapter 12).
Lately however, another move is
becoming more and more popular, at the
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 the h-file, which would be obviously in
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 favour of White.
9-+-+psn-+0 6...Nc6 7.e3 dxc4 (7...0-0 8.h3 Nxe5?!
9+-+p+-+-0 9.dxe5±; 8...Nf6 9.Bf4²) 8.Bxc4 0-0.
9-+PzP-vL-+0 Following this, White maintains the
9+-sN-+N+-0 advantage practically after his every
9PzP-+PzPPzP0 reasonable move. 9.Qc2 (9.0-0!?) 9...Nf6
9tR-+QmKL+R0 10.Rd1 Nb4 11.Qb1± b6 12.Ng5 g6
xiiiiiiiiy 13.h4‚ Shulman – La Rota, ICC 2011.
5...Bd6?! Black’s bishop is misplaced
We will analyse now: A) 5...a6, B) 5...c5
here. 6.Bg5. Now, his knight, which is
and C) 5...dxc4.
very necessary in his fight for the centre,
5...Nc6?! This is not the right square for is pinned.
Black’s knight, because his main idea in XIIIIIIIIY
this variation is to advance c7-c5. 6.e3 9rsnlwqk+-tr0
Nh5 (About 6...0-0 7.Rc1 – see Chapter
9zppzp-+pzpp0
11; 6...a6 7.Rc1 – see variation A.) 7.Be5
9-+-vlpsn-+0
– see 5...Nh5 6.Be5 Nc6 7.e3.
9+-+p+-vL-0
9-+PzP-+-+0
5...Nh5?! Black’s purpose is obvious. He 9+-sN-+N+-0
wishes to exchange his knight for the 9PzP-+PzPPzP0
enemy bishop, but White should not be 9tR-+QmKL+R0
afraid of this. For example, in the xiiiiiiiiy
classical Queen’s Gambit with the move
Bg5 (and in many other openings too) 6...dxc4? 7.e4±
White is often ready to part with his dark- Black has also tried in practice the
squared bishop, winning, just like in our senseless transfer into positions from the
case, important tempi for his Queen’s Gambit with a white bishop on
development.
XIIIIIIIIY 6.Be5 g5 without a tempo for Black. 6...Be7?
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 7.e3± Nyback – Poom, Puhajarve 2012.
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 6...c6. This is Black’s relatively best
9-+-+p+-+0 move. 7.e3
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+pvL-+n0 9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9-+PzP-+-+0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
9+-sN-+N+-0 9-+pvlpsn-+0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0 9+-+p+-vL-0
9tR-+QmKL+R0 9-+PzP-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-sN-zPN+-0
6...0-0 7.e3 – see Chapter 11. 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
6...f6. This weakening of the pawn-
xiiiiiiiiy
structure cannot justify the exchange of
the bishops. In addition, after 7.Bg3, the 7...0-0 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.0-0²
trade on g3 would lead to the opening of
7...Nbd7. If we take a careful look at this
position, we will see that Black has not
played this opening well, to say the least.
It turns out that as if after the moves 1.d4
d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 c6 5.Bg5
Nbd7 6.e3, instead of the Cambridge
Springs variation with 6...Qa5, or another
not so good move 6...Be7, Black has
suddenly played 6...Bd6?! White can
simply complete his development, for
example with Bd3, 0-0, Qe2 and is ready
at an opportune moment to continue with
e3-e4, emphasizing the unfortunate
placement of the enemy bishop on d6.
5...Nbd7 6.e3 c6 (6...0-0 – see Chapters
14-15) 7.cxd5 (7.Rc1²)
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9zpp+nvlpzpp0
9-+p+psn-+0
9+-+P+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
7...exd5 8.h3 Ne4?! (About 8...0-0 9.Bd3,
or 8...Nf8 9.Bd3 Ng6 10.Bh2 0-0 11.0-0
Re8 12.Qc2 – see Chapter 7, variation A.)
9.Bd3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 c5 11.0-0 0-0
12.Qc2 Nf6 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Rfd1 Qe7
15.Be5 h6 16.c4± Polugaevsky –
Kamsky, Reggio Emilia 1991.
7...cxd5?! There has arisen a standard
position for the Exchange variation of the
Slav Defence, but with a black knight on
d7 and not on c6. This is definitely in
favour of White. 8.h3. This is
prophylactic against the move Nh5. 8...a6
9.Bd3 0-0 10.0-0² b5 11.a4 b4 12.Ne2
Bb7 13.a5 Ne4 14.Qa4± Kojic –
Bajramovic, Zenica 2013.
The move 7...Nxd5 loses the fight for the
centre. 8.Bg3 0-0 9.Bd3 Qa5 10.Qb3!? b6
11.Nd2 Ba6 12.Nc4 Qb4 13.0-0² Qxb3
14.axb3 Nb4 15.Be4 Nf6 16.Bf3 Nfd5±
Malakhatko – Dragiev, Kavala 2002.
5...b6. Black saves time for his castling,
trying to solve the problem with the
development of his light-squared bishop.
Bb7 (6...0-0 – see Chapter 12)
6.e3XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqk+-tr0
9zplzp-vlpzpp0
9-zp-+psn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+PzP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Nxd5 Qxd5 9.Bd3 (Here,
White cannot play 9.Be2, analogously to
Chapter 12, due to 9...Bb4+ and he cannot
interpose with his knight against that
check.) 9...0-0 (9...Bb4+ 10.Kf1 Bd6
11.e4 Qh5 12.e5! Be7 13.Rc1±; 10...0-0
11.Bxc7² – Black’s compensation for the
pawn is insufficient.) 10.Bxc7 (10.Qc2 h6
– see Chapter 12, variation B1) 10...Na6∞
Papin – Mousavi, Rasht 2015.
It is now very strong for White to
continue here with 7.Qa4+! Bc6 (7...c6
8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bd3²) 8.Qc2 0-0 (8...Bb4
9.Ne5± Salem – Kar, Doha 2011) 9.Be2
a6 10.0-0 Bb7 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Rac1
Nbd7 13.Rfd1 c5 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.Ne5
Rc8 16.Bf3± M.Gurevich – Sirin, Izmir
2002.
5...c6. This move is too passive and is not
in the spirit of the variation. 6.e3
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 position with a Carlsbad pawn-structure
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 with the move cxd5 under very favourable
9-+p+psn-+0 circumstances (This is what I would
9+-+p+-+-0 recommend...), or play e3, allowing Black
9-+PzP-vL-+0 to continue with Meran ideas: d5xc4
9+-sN-zPN+-0 Bxc4 b5, which will be analysed later.
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 Despite the fact that White obtains
9tR-+QmKL+R0 advantageously a Carlsbad pawn-
xiiiiiiiiy structure, Black’s position remains, no
doubt, solid enough, although a little
6...Nbd7 7.cxd5 – see 5...Nbd7. worse. So, White has two good
About 6...0-0 7.Bd3 – see Chapter 11, possibilities as a reaction against Black’s
variation B. attempts to avoid the trodden theoretical
6...Nh5 7.Bd3! Nxf4 8.exf4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 paths.
Nd7. We have analysed a similar type of 6.cxd5
positions (except that instead of c6, Black 6.e3!? White does not prevent one of his
has played 0-0) in Chapter 14, variation opponent’s main ideas in this position – to
A, and there White has an edge. Here, his exchange on c4, followed by b5, with the
advantage is even greater...So, the move purpose to create certain problems for
6...Nh5, after a detailed analysis, seems Black with precise play later.
XIIIIIIIIY
even less attractive. 10.0-0 0-0 11.Qe2 – 9rsnlwqk+-tr0
see Ding – Bwalya, Istanbul 2012, game 9+pzp-vlpzpp0
7. 9p+-+psn-+0
A) 5...a6
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+p+-+-0
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 9-+PzP-vL-+0
9+pzp-vlpzpp0 9+-sN-zPN+-0
9p+-+psn-+0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9+-+p+-+-0 9tR-+QmKL+R0
9-+PzP-vL-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0 6...0-0 7.cxd5 – see Chapter 11.
9tR-+QmKL+R0 6...Nc6 7.Rc1 Nh5 (7...0-0 8.Bd3 – see
xiiiiiiiiy Chapter 11) 8.Bg3²
6...Nbd7?! 7.c5 Nh5 (7...0-0 8.Bd3 Re8
This is a rarely played move. Black 9.b4 Nh5? 10.Bxh7+ Kxh7 11.Ne5;
postpones his natural development, for 9...c6 10.h3±) 8.Bd3 Nxf4 9.exf4 0-0
example by castling. Why is he doing 10.Qc2 h6 11.0-0² – There has arisen a
this? He makes some positional worsened version of Chapter 15 (variation
concessions indeed, but this variation B2), in which the move a6 is just a
does not require great theoretical senseless loss of an important tempo,
knowledge anyway... He prepares Ehlvest – Almeida Saenz, New York
capturing on c4 and creates a dilemma for 2003.
his opponent. White must either enter a
6...dxc4 7.Bxc4 (7.a4!?²) 7...b5 (7...0-0
 XIIIIIIIIY
8.Ne5 – see Chapter 11) 8.Bd3 Bb7
XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9rsn-wqk+-tr0 9+pzp-vlpzpp0
9+lzp-vlpzpp0 9p+-+p+-+0
9p+-+psn-+0 9+-+n+-+-0
9+p+-+-+-0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9+-sN-+N+-0
9+-sNLzPN+-0 9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9tR-+QmKL+R0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
7.Nxd5 exd5 (7...Qxd5 8.Bxc7 Bb4+
9.Qc2?! This is a standard reaction for 9.Nd2 Qxd4 10.a3 Bxd2+ 11.Qxd2²)
White in similar positions, but it is not 8.e3 Bf5 (8...c6 9.Bd3 Bb4+ 10.Nd2²
justified in this situation. 9...Nbd7 10.a4 Flermoen – Kristiansen, Gausdal 2008)
b4 (10...c5 11.axb5 axb5 12.Rxa8 Qxa8 9.Qb3 Nc6 10.a3 0-0 11.Be2²
13.Nxb5 Qa5+! 14.Qd2 Qa1+ 15.Qd1 7.Bd2!? This is an interesting alternative
Qa5=) 11.Ne4 c5! (11...Nd5?! 12.Bg3 f5 to the transfer to the Carlsbad pawn-
13.Nc5 Nxc5 14.dxc5 0-0 15.e4± structure. White retreats and hopes to
Pogorelov – Ivanovich, Zaragoza 2004) obtain a promising position after the move
12.Nd6+ Bxd6 13.Bxd6 Rc8 14.dxc5 e2-e4, since Black’s loss of a tempo for
Nxc5 15.Bxc5 Nd7= the move a6 will hurt him. 7...c5 8.dxc5
9.a3! White is ready to counter the Bxc5 9.g3! Nxc3 10.Bxc3 Qb6 11.e3 Bb4
unavoidable move c6-c5 and hopes after 12.Bg2 0-0 13.Bxb4 Qxb4 14.Qd2 Qe7
the exchange of the pawns to play b2-b4, 15.Ne5 Nd7 16.Nc4± Eljanov –
creating before his opponent rather Miladinovic, Banja Vrucica 2009.
unpleasant pressure, which would be 7.e3
annoying for Black, despite the fact that 7.Qc2. This move has been played with
his position seems reliable. 9...c5 10.dxc5 the idea to prevent Bf5, but since the
Bxc5 11.0-0 0-0, Szilagyi – Nemec, Stary move Bf5, as we will see later, is not so
Smokovec 1977, 12.b4 Be7 13.Rc1 Nbd7 good for Black anyway, so White’s last
14.Qe2 Rc8 15.Rfd1 Qb6 16.e4ƒ
XIIIIIIIIY move is hardly so sensible. 7...0-0 8.e3
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 Nh5 (8...Nbd7!? 9.h3 c5 10.a3 Re8
9+pzp-vlpzpp0 11.dxc5 Nxc5 12.Rd1 Be6 13.Be2 Rc8=
9p+-+psn-+0 Dreev – Miladinovic, Kragujevac 2015)
9+-+P+-+-0 9.Bd3 (9.Be5 Nc6 10.h3 Nxe5 11.dxe5
9-+-zP-vL-+0 g6=) 9...Nxf4 10.Bxh7+ Kh8 11.exf4 g6
9+-sN-+N+-0 12.Bxg6 fxg6 13.Qxg6 Bf5 (It is better
9PzP-+PzPPzP0 for Black to play here 13...Nc6 14.Qh6+
9tR-+QmKL+R0 Kg8 15.Qg6=) 14.Qh6+ (14.Qh5+?
xiiiiiiiiy Kg7µ Kebis – Sustak, Bratislava 1993)
14...Bh7 (14...Kg8 15.g4!± with the idea
6...exd5 15...Bh7 16.g5!+–) 15.Ne5 Nc6 16.Ng6+
6...Nxd5 Kg8 17.Nxf8 Qxf8 18.Qxf8+ Bxf8∞
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 early queen-sortie. 10.0-0 0-0 11.Rab1²
9+pzp-vlpzpp0 Capablanca – Matlsons, Karlsbad 1929.)
9p+-+-sn-+0 10.Bxc4 Bb4 11.0-0 Bxc3 12.bxc3 0-0
9+-+p+-+-0 13.Rfd1± e5 14.Bg5 Nd7 15.Bh4 h6
9-+-zP-vL-+0 16.Rd6 Kh8 17.Rad1 f5 18.Qe2 e4
9+-sN-zPN+-0 19.Ng5 1-0 Inarkiev – Koykka, Eilat
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 2012.
XIIIIIIIIY
9tR-+QmKL+R0 9r+lwqk+-tr0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9n+-+psn-+0
7...Bf5
9+-zPp+-+-0
About 7...0-0 8.h3 – see Chapter 11.
9-+P+-vL-+0
7...c6 8.h3! (8.Bd3 Nh5∞) 8...Bf5 9.Nh4 9+-sN-+N+-0
Be6 10.Bd3² 9PzP-+PzPPzP0
7...Nbd7 8.Bd3 c5 9.dxc5 Nxc5 10.0-0 9tR-+QmKL+R0
0-0 11.Rc1² Mecking – Vera, Rio de xiiiiiiiiy
Janeiro 2003.
7...Nh5 8.Be5 0-0 (8...Nc6 9.h3±; 8...f6 7.g3!?
9.Bg3²) 9.h3² I like this non-standard decision, since
White is following a very original idea.
8.Qb3 b5 9.Ne5 0-0 10.Be2² Troeger –
Marx, Luxembourg 1955. He has tried much more often in practice
B) 5...c5 6.dxc5 the line: 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Nxd5 exd5 9.e3,
XIIIIIIIIY
with only minimal chances of obtaining
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
an advantage.
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-+-+psn-+0 7...0-0 8.Bg2
9+-zPp+-+-0 The position is simplified considerably
9-+P+-vL-+0 after 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.Bg2
9+-sN-+N+-0 Nxc5 11.0-0 Bf5 12.Rc1 (12.Nd4 Be4
9PzP-+PzPPzP0 13.Bh3 Qb6 14.b3 Ne6= Krasenkow –
9tR-+QmKL+R0 Zontakh, Cutro 1999) 12...Be4 13.Be3
xiiiiiiiiy Ne6 14.Nd4 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 Bf6 16.Nxe6
fxe6= Epishin – Short, Germany 1998.
6...Na6!? 8...Nxc5 9.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
This seems to be a good move. Black 9r+lwq-trk+0
saves time for castling, with the idea to 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
recapture the pawn on c5 with his knight, 9-+-+psn-+0
hoping that his isolated pawn on d5 would 9+-snp+-+-0
not create great problems for him. 9-+P+-vL-+0
6...0-0 7.e3 – see Chapter 13. 9+-sN-+NzP-0
6...Bxc5 7.e3 Nc6 (7...0-0 8.Qc2 – see 9PzP-+PzPLzP0
Chapter 13) 8.Qc2 Qa5 (8...0-0 9.a3 – see 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
Chapter 13) 9.Be2 dxc4 (9...Bb4. With xiiiiiiiiy
this move Black is trying to justify his

9...dxc4
9...b6 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 exd5
12.Nd4² Graf – Boensch, Germany 2006.
10.Ne5 Qb6 11.Qc2! (White would
achieve less with 11.Qd4 Ncd7! 12.Qxc4
Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Bd7 14.Rfd1 Rfc8 15.Qf4
Bc6= Krasenkow – Bruzon Batista,
Merida 2005) 11...Bd7 12.Rfd1 Bc6
13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Nxc4²
C) 5...dxc4
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0
9-+-+psn-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+pzP-vL-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This move is quite logical and after it
White is faced with a choice. How should
he regain his pawn – with e2-e3, or with
e2-e4? We will see later that the
difference between these two moves is
considerable.
6.e3
6.e4!? This energetic move seems to be
very good in all its aspects, except that its
only drawback, rather serious at that, is
that after Black’s strongest move 6...Bb4,
in order to fight for the advantage White
must play 7.Bg5 and there arises the
Vienna variation. We do not plan its
analysis to be a part of our book.
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0
9-+-+psn-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+pzPPvL-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black’s indifferent response 6...0-0?!
leads to a clear advantage for White.
7.Bxc4± Cohn – Showalter, London 1899.
6...c6?! 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3± Volodin –
Miellet Bensan, Germany 2012.
6...c5?! 7.Bxc4! (7.d5, Johansen –
Smerdon, Canberra 1999 7...Nxe4!∞)
7...0-0 8.0-0 cxd4 (8...Nc6 9.dxc5 Bxc5
10.e5±) 9.Nxd4±
6...Nbd7?! 7.Bxc4 Nb6 8.Bd3 0-0 9.0-0
Nh5 10.Be3± Klundt – Schlueter,
Gerolhofen 2011.
6...b5?! 7.Nxb5 Bb4+ 8.Nc3 Bxc3+
9.bxc3 Nxe4 10.Qa4+! Qd7 11.Qc2 Nd6
12.Ne5± Borchgrevink – Hammerstad,
Moss 2005.
6...a6?! 7.Bxc4 (7.a4 Bb4∞) 7...b5
8.Bb3!? (8.Bd3 Bb7 9.Qe2!? Nbd7
10.0-0 0-0 11.Rfd1²; 10...c5, Ostojic –
Radulski, Stara Pazova 2001, 11.d5 Nh5
12.Be3 exd5 13.Nxd5 0-0 14.Rfd1²)
8...Bb7 (8...b4 9.e5 Nh5 10.Ne2±) 9.d5
exd5 10.e5 Ne4 11.Nxd5 (11.e6!?©)
11...Nc5 12.Rc1 Bxd5 13.Bxd5 c6 14.Be3
Qxd5 15.Bxc5²
6...Bb4! This is the only move which
provides Black with chances of a real
fight in the opening. White should better
enter the Vienna variation with 7.Bg5;
otherwise, the position would remain
unclear.
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zppzp-+pzpp0 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-+-+psn-+0 9-+-+psn-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-zp-+-+-0
9-vlpzPPvL-+0 9-+LzP-vL-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0 9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
7.Bxc4!? Nxe4 8.Qd3 Nf6 9.0-0 0-0 8...cxd4 9.Nxd4 (9...Nbd7 10.Bg3²)
10.Rad1© 9...Bd7 10.e4 (10.Qb3?! Nc6! 11.Nxc6
7.Qc2 b5! (7...Nc6?! 8.Bxc4+–) 8.a4 Bxc6= Ahlander – Vernersson, Sweden
(8.e5 Nd5 9.Bg5 Qd7 10.Be2 Bb7 11.0-0 2003) 10...Nc6 11.e5 Ne8 12.Nf3²
h6³ Solozhenkin – Kveinys, Katowice 8...a6 9.dxc5 (9.Be2!? Nc6 10.dxc5 Bxc5
1991) 8...Bb7 9.axb5 (9.e5 Nd5 10.Bd2 11.Rc1² Van Wely – Choukri, Rabat
a6! The position is very complicated and 2014) 9...Bxc5 (9...Qxd1 10.Rfxd1 Bxc5
White’s compensation for the pawn may 11.Rac1 Nc6 12.Be2±) 10.Qc2 b5 11.Bd3
turn out to be insufficient. 10...Bxc3 Bb7 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bh7+ Kh8 14.Bxf6
11.bxc3© Naumann – Willenberg, gxf6 15.Be4²
Germany 2000) 9...Bxe4 10.Qa4 Qe7 7.Bxc4 Nxf4
11.Bxc4 Bxf3 12.gxf3 Nbd7∞
XIIIIIIIIY 7...0-0 8.0-0 b6 (8...Nxf4 9.exf4 – see
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 7...Nxf4) 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.Bd3± Terry
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 Lujan – Murga, Lima 2012.
9-+-+psn-+0 8.exf4
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+-+-0 9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9-+pzP-vL-+0 9zppzp-vlpzpp0
9+-sN-zPN+-0 9-+-+p+-+0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9+-+-+-+-0
9tR-+QmKL+R0 9-+LzP-zP-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
6...Nd5 9tR-+QmK-+R0
About 6...a6 7.Bxc4 - see variation A, xiiiiiiiiy
6.e3 dxc4 7.Bxc4.
6...c6?! 7.Bxc4 Nbd7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Rc1² We have analysed in details this pawn-
6...0-0 7.Bxc4 – see Chapter 11. structure in Chapter 14 (variation A), in
6...Nc6 7.Bxc4 0-0 8.0-0 b6 9.a3 Bb7 which White’s bishop captures on c4 in
10.b4 a6 11.Rc1² Macias Rodriguez – two moves. Now, when it will occupy the
Guerrero Vacas, Spain 2008. c4-square at once, White will have in fact
an extra tempo. In connection with this,
6...c5 7.Bxc4 0-0 (7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 0-0
his prospects would be obviously
9.0-0 – see 7...0-0) 8.0-0
preferable.
8...0-0
8...Nd7 9.0-0 Nb6 (9...0-0 10.Qe2 – see
8...0-0) 10.Bb3± Bogoljubow – Kashdan,
Stockholm 1930.
9.0-0 c5
After 9...Nd7, there arises a position from
Chapter 14, but with White to move and
not Black. 10.Qe2 Nb6 11.Bb3² – White
has the initiative in the centre, as well as
on the queenside, while Black has failed
to solve the problem with the
development of his light-squared bishop,
Flohr – Milner Barry, Margate 1936.
10.dxc5 Qxd1 11.Rfxd1 Bxc5 12.Ne5
Be7 13.Rac1 Nc6 14.Ne4 Nxe5 15.fxe5±
Potkin – Meister, Germany 2007.

Chapter 11
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7
5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0
9-+-+psn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+PzP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Now, we will analyse in details A) 6...a6
and B) 6...c6.
Black’s more popular moves 6...b6, 6...c5
and 6...Nbd7 will be dealt with in the
following chapters.
6...Ne4?! This move contradicts the basic
principles of development in the opening.
7.Qc2 Nxc3 (7...f5? 8.cxd5 exd5
9.Nxd5+– Shomoev – Musin, Khanty-
Mansiysk 2011) 8.bxc3 c5 9.Bd3 h6
10.0-0± Fraczek – Pipala, Pszczyna 2007.
6...Nc6 7.Rc1 Nh5 (7...a6 8.Bd3 dxc4
9.Bxc4 Na5 10.Bd3 c5 11.dxc5 Bxc5
12.0-0 Nc6 13.Ne4± Capablanca – Fink,
San Francisco 1916.) 8.Bg3² – It is
obvious that Black’s knight on c6 is
misplaced and it is at least risky for him
to exchange on g3 and to open the h-file.
So, we must say that Black’s plan has
failed.
6...Nh5 7.Be5 Nc6 (7...f6 8.Bg3²) 8.h3²
Nxe5?! 9.dxe5± White is threatening
g2-g4 and cxd5, so Black ends up without
a pawn.
6...dxc4 7.Bxc4 a6 (7...b6 8.0-0 Bb7
9.Rc1²; 7...c5 8.0-0 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bd7,
Ahlander – Vermersson, Sweden 2003,
10.e4 Nc6 11.e5 Ne8 12.Nb3²) 8.Ne5.
White exploits the somewhat slow play by
the opponent. 8...b5 (8...c5 9.dxc5 Qxd1
10.Rxd1 Bxc5 11.Be2± – White transfers
his bishop to the f3-square, impedes the
development of his opponent’s queenside
and defends against Nh5 in the process.
Black will have serious problems in the
endgame, Schuh – Scherer, Germany
2006) 9.Qf3! This is an important
intermediate move. 9...Ra7 10.Bd3 Bb7
11.Qh3 Nbd7 12.Rd1 g6 13.0-0±
Kharitonov – Danielian, Voskresensk
1993.
A) 6...a6
Black waits for a move by White’s
bishop, so that to capture then on c4 and
after b7-b5, Bc8-b7 to solve the problems
with his development. Therefore, White’s
move thwarts these plans and seems quite
logical, since it devalues Black’s move a6.
7.cxd5
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9+pzp-vlpzpp0
9p+-+psn-+0
9+-+P+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
7...exd5
7...Nxd5 8.Nxd5 exd5 (8...Qxd5?!
Naturally, here the pawn-sacrifice seems
dubious. 9.Bxc7 Bb4+ 10.Nd2 Bd7 11.a3
Rc8, Agzamov – Cvetkovic, Belgrade
1982, 12.Rc1!±) 9.Bd3. It has become
evident that Black’s play in the opening
was not good at all. He has failed to place
his bishop on f5 and the move a6 has
turned out to be simply a loss of time.
9...Bb4+ 10.Nd2 Nc6 (10...g6 11.Rc1
Nc6 12.0-0 Bd6 13.Qf3 Ne7?! 14.Bg5±
Shirov – Khadzhiev, St Petersburg 2015) regrouped his forces in a very
11.a3 Bd6 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.Qc2 g6 advantageous way in order to fight against
14.Rc1 White prevents his opponent’s his opponent’s “hanging” pawns. The
important manoeuvre Nc6-e7. 14...Bd7 bishop is ready to go to the f3-square and
15.0-0 Rfc8 16.Nb3! (16.Qc5 Qxc5 to increase the pressure even more.
17.Rxc5 Ne7 18.Rfc1 c6 19.R5c3 a5= – 9.Bd3
XIIIIIIIIY
White’s play is a bit more pleasant indeed, 9r+lwq-trk+0
but objectively speaking the position is 9+pzpnvlpzpp0
equal, Wojtaszek – I.Sokolov, Montpellier 9p+-+-sn-+0
2015) 16...b6 17.e4² 9+-+p+-+-0
8.h3! 9-+-zP-vL-+0
This is a useful move. It is essential for 9+-sNLzPN+P0
White to prevent the exchange of his 9PzP-+-zPP+0
dark-squared bishop after Nf6-h5. 9tR-+QmK-+R0
8.Bd3?! Nh5 (8...Nbd7 9.0-0²) 9.Be5 xiiiiiiiiy
Nc6XIIIIIIIIY
10.Bg3 Re8∞
9...c5
9rsnlwq-trk+0 If Black continues to play as if nothing
9+pzp-vlpzpp0 has happened – 9...Re8, or 9...c6, then he
9p+-+-sn-+0 will enter a worsened version of the
9+-+p+-+-0 Carslbad variation without a tempo – see
9-+-zP-vL-+0 Chapter 7, variation A.
9+-sN-zPN+P0
10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.0-0 Be6, Z.Polgar –
9PzP-+-zPP+0
9tR-+QmKL+R0 Karpov, Lindsborg 2004, 12.Bc2 Nfe4
xiiiiiiiiy 13.Ne2²
B) 6...c6 7.Bd3
XIIIIIIIIY
8...Nbd7 9rsnlwq-trk+0
8...c5 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Bd3 Nc6 11.0-0 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
Be6 12.Rc1 Rc8 13.Bb1² Csrnko – 9-+p+psn-+0
Scheiblaier, Austria 2006. 9+-+p+-+-0
8...Bf5 9.g4 Be6 (9...Be4 10.g5 Nh5 9-+PzP-vL-+0
11.Bh2 Bb4 12.Rg1²) 10.Bg2² The 9+-sNLzPN+-0
advanced pawns on h3 and g4 are not 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
weak at all. On the contrary, White is 9tR-+QmK-+R0
planning Qb3 and eventually Ng5 and has xiiiiiiiiy
a clear advantage. 10...h6 (10...c6
7...dxc4
11.Qb3²; 10...Nfd7 11.Qc2 Nb6 12.0-0²)
7...Nbd7 8.cxd5!? Nxd5 (8...exd5 9.Qc2
11.Qb3!? Nc6 12.0-0 Na5 13.Qc2²
Re8 10.0-0 Nf8 11.h3 – see Chapter 7,
8...b6 9.Be2 (9.Bd3 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 variation A.) 9.Bg3²
11.a3!? c5 12.Ne5 c4∞) 9...Bb7 10.0-0²
7...b6?! This cannot be a serious move
with the idea 10...c5?! 11.dxc5! bxc5
and is not played by chess players of a
12.Qb3 Ra7 13.Rfd1 Nbd7 14.Ne5± It
good level. The reason is quite simple.
has become obvious that White has
This plan does not combine well with the 8...b5
necessary pawn-advance for Black – About 8...Nd5 – see Ding Liren –
c6-c5. White has numerous alternatives Bwalya, Istanbul 2012, game 7.
against it and maintains an obvious 8...Nbd7 9.0-0 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Ne5 a6
advantage in all the lines. 8.cxd5 (8.0-0!? 12.a4 – see 8...b5.
Bb7 9.h3 Nbd7 10.Qe2!? c5 11.cxd5 9.Bd3 a6
exd5, Jugelt – Bartel, Dortmund 2002, 9...Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 a6 12.a4 –
12.Rad1²)
XIIIIIIIIY see 9...a6.
9rsnlwq-trk+0 10.0-0 Bb7
9zp-+-vlpzpp0 10...Nbd7 11.a4 Bb7 12.Ne5 – see
9-zpp+psn-+0 10...Bb7.
9+-+P+-+-0 10...c5? 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Ne4 Be7
9-+-zP-vL-+0 (12...Nbd7 13.Nxc5 Nxc5 14.Bd6 Nxd3
9+-sNLzPN+-0 15.Bxf8+–) 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Be4+–
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 Ruprecht – Urban, Bad Woerishofen
9tR-+QmK-+R0 2015.
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wq-trk+0
8...Nxd5?! 9.Qc2 h6 10.Nxd5± 9+l+-vlpzpp0
8...cxd5 9.Rc1 Nc6 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Ne5 9p+p+psn-+0
Rc8 12.Nxc6 Rxc6 13.Qa4² 9+p+-+-+-0
8...exd5 9.Qc2. White has a clear
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzPN+-0
advantage, because Black will have to
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
play sooner or later c6-c5 with a loss of a
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
tempo.
xiiiiiiiiy
8.Bxc4
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0 11.a4 Nbd7, Veron – Gogitidze, Issy les
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 Moulineaux 2012, 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.Bxe5
9-+p+psn-+0 Nd7 14.Bg3 h6 (Black will hardly
9+-+-+-+-0 manage to advance here c6-c5, for
9-+LzP-vL-+0 example: 14...b4 15.Ne4 c5 16.dxc5
9+-sN-zPN+-0 Nxc5 17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.Bxh7 Kxh7
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 19.Qh5+ Kg8 20.Qxc5±) 15.Rc1!?²
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

Chapter 12
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7
5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 b6
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zp-zp-vlpzpp0
9-zp-+psn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+PzP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This is a logical alternative to the more
popular moves for Black 6...c5 and
6....Nbd7. He plans to advance c7-c5, but
only later, which may lead in many lines
to positions with “hanging pawns”.
We will analyse now: A) 7.Bd3, B) 7.Qc2
and C) 7.cxd5.
About 7.Be2 – see Goganov – Lobanov,
St Petersburg 2016, game 8.
A) 7.Bd3
We have to pay attention to this natural
developing move. It does not seem to me
to be the best for White at the moment,
but we will have a look at it in order to
improve your understanding of this
position. In this way, we will help you to
have an idea what Black wishes to
achieve and what the logic is behind his
actions. Meanwhile, I will not deal in
details with the possibilities for both sides
and will only analyse the main line.
7...c5!?
We must point out that Black is
sometimes reluctant to enter positions
with hanging pawns, because he may
have problems in them. In these cases,
White’s bishop on d3 is not placed on the
best square. It should be on e2, so that
White can exert pressure on the d-file
with his major pieces and if the f3-square
is free, then the bishop should be
transferred there. This is why Black
should enter positions with hanging
pawns, arising after 8.dxc5.
It would not be so principled for him to
play here 7...Bb7 – see Andreikin –
Johannessen, Skopje 2015, game 9.
8.cxd5
8.dxc5 bxc5 9.0-0 Nc6 10.cxd5 exd5
11.Rc1 (11.e4?! Bhat – D.Gurevich, Saint
Louis 2010, 11...d4 12.Ne2 Nb4 13.Ng3
Nxd3 14.Qxd3 a5³) 11...Be6 12.Qe2
(12.Ne2 Qb6 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Ng4
15.Bc3 Qd6 16.g3, Von Bardeleben –
Em.Lasker, Hastings 1895, 16...Ne5=)
12...Bd6 (12...c4!? 13.Bb1 Qb6 14.Rfd1
Rad8∞) 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Rfd1 Ne5=
8...Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zp-+-vlpzpp0
9-zp-+-+-+0
9+-zpp+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-+LzPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
10.b3
White prevents c5-c4.
10...Nc6 11.0-0 cxd4 12.Bb5
12.Bxh7+ Kxh7 13.Qc2+ d3 14.Qxc6
Bf5∞
12.Rc1 Bb7 13.exd4 (13.Nxd4 Nxd4
14.exd4 Rc8=) 13...Qd7=
12...Bb7 13.Bxc6
13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Bc5 15.Qb2 d4
16.Rfd1 Qh4! 17.exd4 Qxf4 18.dxc5
Bxg2! This position is rather drawish, for
example: 19.Kxg2 Qg4+ 20.Kf1 Qh3+
21.Ke1 Rfe8+ 22.Bxe8 Rxe8+ 23.Kd2
Qh6+ 24.Kd3 Qg6+ 25.Kc4 Qe6+
26.Kb5 bxc5! 27.b4 Rb8+ 28.Kxc5 Rc8+ White to keep the situation in the centre
29.Kb5 Qb6+ 30.Ka4 Qa6= under control. Still, it is essential to
13...Bxc6 14.Nxd4 Bb7
XIIIIIIIIY understand that after 6...b6, Black wishes
9r+-wq-trk+0 not only to develop his light-squared
9zpl+-vlpzpp0 bishop, but also to play c7-c5 at an
9-zp-+-+-+0 opportune moment and following d4xc5
9+-+p+-+-0 to capture on c5 with a pawn. White must
9-+-sN-vL-+0 react against this in a more promising way
9+P+-zP-+-0 than the move 7.Bd3.
9P+-+-zPPzP0 Unfortunately, in one of the rarely played
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 lines I have managed to find a way for
xiiiiiiiiy Black to equalise, despite its being rather
complicated. Still, it would not be
We can see that Black has ended up with reasonable to ignore the move 7.Qc2,
an isolated pawn, which has been reliably therefore, we are going to analyse it as
fixed. Is this sufficient for a serious well.
advantage for White? He is better indeed, We will deal in details now with the
but if Black defends accurately, White moves B1) 7...Bb7 and B2) 7...c5.
will have problems scoring a full point,
7...c6 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.0-0 Bb7 10.cxd5!
because in numerous lines, if Black
exd5 (10...cxd5 11.Nb5 a6 12.Nd6±)
exchanges his dark-squared bishop for
11.Rad1 Re8, Bisguier – Mikkelsen,
White’s knight, there may arise a position
Skopje 1972, 12.h3² c5 13.Nb5±
with opposite coloured bishops, which
will have considerable drawish 7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 Bb7, Banikas –
tendencies. Stubberud, Rethymnon 2011, 9.Rd1²
There will be for sure many players who 7...Nbd7
XIIIIIIIIY
will be willing to play this position with 9r+lwq-trk+0
minimal advantage for White, but I would 9zp-zpnvlpzpp0
not recommend this, since he has lines 9-zp-+psn-+0
with much better prospects in comparison 9+-+p+-+-0
to this variation. 9-+PzP-vL-+0
B) 7.Qc2
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-sN-zPN+-0
9rsnlwq-trk+0 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
9zp-zp-vlpzpp0 9tR-+-mKL+R0
9-zp-+psn-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+p+-+-0 The move 8.Nb5, Skomorokhin –
9-+PzP-vL-+0 Siliverstova, Kstovo 2012, cannot be
9+-sN-zPN+-0 recommended because of 8...c6! 9.Nc7
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 Rb8 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Qxc6 Bb4+
9tR-+-mKL+R0
12.Ke2! (12.Kd1 Nc5!µ) 12...Bb7
xiiiiiiiiy
(12...Nh5!? 13.Nxd5 Nxf4+ 14.Nxf4
This looks like a solid move and enables Nf6 15.Qa4 Bd6 16.Nd3 Bf5©) 13.Qa4
Be7 14.Rc1 Nh5©
8.cxd5 exd5 9.Nb5 (9.Bd3²) 9...Bb4+
10.Kd1±
7...Na6. In general, this is not the best
square for Black’s knight, but having in
mind that White must lose time in order to
parry the threat Na6-b4 – the last move
seems reasonable. 8.a3 c5 (8...Bb7 9.Rd1
c5 10.cxd5 exd5, Dreev – Timman,
Dortmund 1994, 11.Be2²; 9...c6 10.Bd3²
dxc4 11.Bxc4 b5 12.Bd3 b4 13.Ne4±
Batyrov – Komans, Recklinghausen
2000) 9.cxd5 Nxd5 (9...exd5 10.Be2 Bb7
11.0-0² Riska – Hladik, Moravia 2003)
10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Bd3 h6, Csiszar –
Kartsev, Senden 2003, 12.0-0 12...c4
13.Be2 Be6 14.Ne5²
7...Ba6. Black develops his bishop and
prevents the move cxd5 in some lines.
8.Ne5. With this active move White
protects his c4-pawn and impedes the
development of his opponent’s pieces,
since it is bad for Black to choose
8...Nbd7 in view of 9.Nc6± (8.cxd5
Nxd5 9.Bxa6 Nxa6 10.Rd1 Nab4 11.Qb3
a5 12.0-0 a4 13.Nxa4 Qd7 14.Nc3 Nxc3
15.bxc3 Nxa2 16.Ne5 Qa4 17.Rb1 Bd6=
L’Ami – Haslinger, Eppingen 2014)
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wq-trk+0
9zp-zp-vlpzpp0
9lzp-+psn-+0
9+-+psN-+-0
9-+PzP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
8...Nh5?! It is useless for Black to go
after White’s bishop in this position.
9.Bd3 h6 (9...g6 10.Bh6 Ng7 11.h4±
Przybylski – Wlodarczak, Poznan 2014)
10.cxd5 Nxf4 11.exf4 Bxd3 12.Qxd3
exd5 13.0-0. The placement of Black’s
king is very worrisome, moreover that
with a pawn on h6, he will hardly manage
to oust his opponent’s knight from the
e5-square. White plans to transfer his
other knight to f5 increasing even more
his pressure against Black’s kingside.
13...Bd6 14.Rac1 c6 15.Ne2±
8...dxc4. With this move Black practically
forces the trade of the light-squared
bishops. White must react very
accurately; otherwise, his slight edge may
evaporate. 9.Bxc4 Bxc4 10.Nxc4 Nd5
11.Bg3!? (11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.0-0 c5
13.dxc5 Qxc5 14.Rac1 Nc6 15.Qe4 Nb4
16.Nd6 Qa5 17.a3 Nd5 18.Bg3 Qa6
19.Rfd1 Bxd6 20.Bxd6 Rfc8= Khalifman
– Pigusov, Sochi 1989) 11...Nxc3
12.Qxc3 Na6 13.0-0 c5 14.Rad1 Qd5
15.Qb3 Rfd8 16.dxc5 Qxc5 17.Ne5²
8...c5 9.dxc5 Bxc5 (9...bxc5 10.cxd5 exd5
11.0-0-0!± – With the help of his castling
queenside White has created an
immediate threat against the d5-pawn,
while Black has not even completed his
development yet.) 10.0-0-0!? (10.Rd1
Bb4 11.Be2 Qc8 12.0-0 Bxc3, Deac –
Muthaiah, Pune 2014, 13.bxc3! dxc4
14.Rd2© White has sacrificed a pawn, but
his two powerful bishops and his pressure
on the d-file compensate this with an
interest. 14...Nbd7 15.Rfd1 Nxe5
16.Bxe5 Nd5 17.e4 Ne7 18.Bg3!?© with
strong pressure for White.) 10...Qe7
11.g4ƒ
B1) 7...Bb7 8.cxd5
It has become obvious that after Be2
Black can play dxc4, so this is the right
time for this exchange.
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wq-trk+0 9rsn-+-trk+0
9zplzp-vlpzpp0 9zpl+-vlpzpp0
9-zp-+psn-+0 9-zp-+p+-+0
9+-+P+-+-0 9+-zpq+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0 9+-+LzPN+-0
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0 9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
8...Nxd5 11.0-0 cxd4 12.Bxh7+ Kh8 13.Bd3 dxe3
8...Bxd5?! 9.Nxd5 Nxd5 10.Bg3 Bd6 14.fxe3 Na6 15.Rad1 Rac8 (15...Nb4
11.Bd3± Sipka – Heidrich, Eger 2008. 16.Qc7 Bf6 17.Bb1 Qc6 18.Qxc6 Nxc6
8...exd5 9.Rd1. Naturally, this move is not 19.Rd7² Dreev – Doroshkievich, Rostov
forced. It would be sufficient for White to on Don 1993) 16.Qf2 Qh5∞
play 9.Bd3 in order to obtain a slight 11.dxc5 Na6! (11...h6, Naumkin –
edge. He does not determine yet the Pushkov, Azov 1993, 12.b4! bxc5 13.Rd1
placement of his light-squared bishop, so Kh8 14.b5±) 12.0-0 Nxc5 13.Bxh7+ Kh8
that after for example: 9...c5, he would 14.Be5 – see 11.Bh7.
have the possibility to follow with 11.Bxh7+ Kh8
XIIIIIIIIY
10.dxc5 bxc5 11.Be2. This is the best
9rsn-+-tr-mk0
square for White’s bishop in positions of
9zpl+-vlpzpL0
this type. 9...Nbd7 10.Bd3 c5 11.0-0 c4 9-zp-+p+-+0
(11...Rc8, Zherebukh – Goldin, Fort 9+-zpq+-+-0
Myers 2016, 12.Ne5±) 12.Bf5 g6 13.Bh3 9-+-zP-vL-+0
a6 14.a4 Re8, Averkin – Klovans, 9+-+-zPN+-0
Daugavpils 1978, 15.b3!² 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
9.Nxd5 Qxd5 10.Bd3 9tR-+-mK-+R0
This is an important tempo for xiiiiiiiiy
development.
10...h6 The situation is rather unclear after
10...c5. This is an interesting attempt by 12.Bd3 cxd4 13.e4 (13.0-0 dxe3 14.fxe3
Black to change the character of the Nd7 15.Rad1 Rac8 16.Qf2 Qh5 17.Bg6
position. He sacrifices a pawn; otherwise, Qxg6 18.Rxd7 Rc2 19.Qg3 Qxg3
the developments would be clearly in 20.Bxg3 Bxf3=) 13...Qa5+ 14.Bd2
favour of White. Qc5!∞; (14...Bb4?! 15.0-0, Najer –
Doroshkievich, Krasnodar 1997,
15...Bxd2 16.Nxd2 Nc6 17.Qd1 g6
18.a3²)
12.dxc5 Na6 (12...Qxc5 13.Qxc5 Bxc5
14.Bd3±; 12...g6 13.Bxg6 fxg6 14.Qxg6
Qf5 15.Qh6+ Kg8 16.Nd4 Qf6 17.Qxf6
Rxf6 18.Bg5 Rf7 19.Nxe6²) 13.0-0 Nxc5
14.Be5! The access of Black’s queen to 14.Nxd4 Qxd4
XIIIIIIIIY
the h5-square has been cut off. 14...Rfd8 9r+-+-trk+0
15.a3!? Qb3 16.Rad1²
XIIIIIIIIY 9zplwQ-+pzp-0
9rsn-+-trk+0 9-zp-+p+-zp0
9zplzp-vlpzp-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-zp-+p+-zp0 9-vl-wqPvL-+0
9+-+q+-+-0 9+-+L+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9PzP-+KzPPzP0
9+-+LzPN+-0 9tR-+-+-+R0
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy 15.Be5
15.Qxb7 Qxb2+ 16.Kf3 Rad8! (16...g5
11.Qxc7 17.Rab1 Qf6, Hertneck – Singer, Bayern
White would not achieve much following 2011, 18.g3! Rad8 19.Rhd1 gxf4 20.e5
11.e4 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Bb4 13.Rc1 c5 Qxe5 21.Rxb4 Qh5+ 22.g4 Qxh2 23.Qe4
(13...Nc6 14.a3 Bxd2+ 15.Qxd2 Rfd8 Qh3+ 24.Ke2 Qxg4+ 25.Qf3±) 17.Rad1
16.Qxa5 bxa5 17.Rc4 Ba6 18.Rc3 Bxd3 Qc3 18.Ke2 (Naturally, White can protect
19.Rxd3 Rab8 20.Rd2 a4 21.Ke2 Na5=) his piece with the move 18.Qa6, but even
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-+-trk+0 then Black has sufficient resources to
9zpl+-+pzp-0 draw. 18...f5! 19.e5 g5 20.Qc4 Rd4
9-zp-+p+-zp0 21.Qxe6 Rf7 22.Qg6+ Rg7=) 18...Qb2=
9wq-zp-+-+-0 15...Qc5 16.Rhc1 Qxc7 17.Rxc7 f6
9-vl-zPP+-+0 18.Bxf6!? Rxf6 19.Rxb7±
9+-+L+N+-0 B2) XIIIIIIIIY
7...c5!
9PzPQvL-zPPzP0 9rsnlwq-trk+0
9+-tR-mK-+R0 9zp-+-vlpzpp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zp-+psn-+0
9+-zpp+-+-0
14.dxc5?! Nd7 15.c6, Nepomniachtchi – 9-+PzP-vL-+0
Nakamura, Baku 2015, 15...Bxc6!³ 9+-sN-zPN+-0
16.Qxc6 Ne5 17.Qc2 Bxd2+ 18.Nxd2 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
Rac8 19.Qxc8 Nxd3+ 20.Ke2 Nf4+ 9tR-+-mKL+R0
21.Kf3 Rxc8 22.Rxc8+ Kh7 23.Nc4 Qg5 xiiiiiiiiy
24.g3 Nd3µ
14.a3 Bxd2+ 15.Qxd2 Nc6!? 16.dxc5 8.dxc5
Rad8 17.Qxa5 Nxa5 18.Ke2 f5! 8.Rd1 Nc6 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.dxc5 bxc5
(18...Nb3 19.c6! Nxc1+ 20.Rxc1 Rc8 11.Qa4 – see 8.dxc5.
21.Ne5 Ba8 22.b4 f6 23.Ng6 Rfe8 8.cxd5 exd5?! (8...Nxd5! 9.Bd3!? Nb4
24.b5±) 19.exf5 exf5 20.Rhd1 Rfe8+ 10.Bxh7+ Kh8 11.Qb1 f5 12.Bg6 Ba6©;
21.Kf1 Rxd3 22.Rxd3 Ba6 23.Rcc3 bxc5 12.a3 cxd4 13.exd4 Nd5 14.Nxd5 Qxd5
24.g3 Rb8= 15.Bg6 Ba6©)
11...Bb4+ 12.Ke2 Nc6 13.e4 Nxd4+
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0 Nbxd5= Kostic – Nuessel, Bayern 2011)
9zp-+-vlpzpp0 11...Nxe5 12.Bxe5 Ba6 13.cxd5 Nxd5
9-zp-+-sn-+0 14.Qa4 Qxa4 15.Nxa4 Bxe2 16.Kxe2²
9+-zpp+-+-0 10...Nxd5!
9-+-zP-vL-+0 10...exd5 11.Be2. Here, without the
9+-sN-zPN+-0 exchange of the knights on c3 and f6,
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 White has better possibilities to exert
9tR-+-mKL+R0 pressure against his opponent’s “hanging
xiiiiiiiiy pawns”. 11...Be6 12.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9.Be2 Nc6 10.0-0!? (10.Rd1²) 10...Bb7 9r+-wq-trk+0
11.Rfd1 h6 12.Ne5² Segal – Jigjidsuren,
9zp-+-vlpzpp0
Luzern 1982.
9-+n+lsn-+0
9+-zpp+-+-0
9.Rd1 Nc6 10.Be2 Be6 11.Qa4!?
9-+-+-vL-+0
(11.0-0!? Nh5 12.Be5 f6 13.Bg3 c4 9+-sN-zPN+-0
14.e4ƒ; 11...Qc8 12.Ne5 cxd4 13.exd4² 9PzPQ+LzPPzP0
Pein – P.Short, Bunratty 2009) 11...cxd4 9+-+R+RmK-0
12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Bc5 14.Qd3² xiiiiiiiiy
8...bxc5
8...dxc4? 9.Rd1± 12...Nh5 13.Qa4 Nxf4 14.exf4 Na5
9.Rd1 Nc6 15.Bd3! d4 16.b4! cxb4 17.Nxd4 bxc3
9...Qa5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Bd3 g6 12.Be4 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Bxh7+ (19.Qe4!? g6
Nc6 13.0-0 Ncb4 14.Qb1 Ba6 15.Rfe1 20.Qxe6+ Kh8 21.Be4+–; 19...Kf7
Rad8 16.Ne5ƒ 20.Qxh7 Rh8 21.Qg6+ Kf8 22.Qxe6 Qb6
9...Bb7 10.Be2 Nbd7 11.0-0 Rc8 12.Rd2 23.Qf5+ Bf6 24.Bc2±) 19...Kxh7
(12.cxd5!? exd5 13.Ne5²) 12...Qa5 20.Rxd8 Rfxd8 21.Qc2+! (21.Qxa5? c2=)
13.Rfd1 Rfd8 14.h3² d4?! 15.exd4 Bxf3 21...Kg8 22.Qxc3 Rd5 23.Re1±
16.Bxf3 cxd4 17.Rxd4 e5 18.Nd5± 12...Qb6 13.Ng5 Rad8 14.Nxe6 fxe6
Malakhatko – Yogesh, Porto 2015. 15.b3 Kh8 16.Rc1 Rc8 17.Na4 (17.Rfd1?!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0 Nd4!=) 17...Qa5 18.a3!?²
XIIIIIIIIY
9zp-+-vlpzpp0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9-+n+psn-+0 9zp-+-vlpzpp0
9+-zpp+-+-0 9-+n+p+-+0
9-+P+-vL-+0 9+-zpn+-+-0
9+-sN-zPN+-0 9-+-+-vL-+0
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 9+-sN-zPN+-0
9+-+RmKL+R0 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+RmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
10.cxd5
10.Be2 Qa5?! (10...Qb6 11.cxd5 Nb4!=; It may seem at first sight that White is
11.0-0 Rd8∞) 11.Ne5!? (11.0-0 Ba6 better, but I have failed to find in my
12.cxd5 Nb4 13.Qd2 Bxe2 14.Qxe2 analysis any edge for White at all in this
rarely played line, which is absolutely
crucial for the evaluation of the entire
variation with 7.Qc2.
11.Qa4!?
11.a3 Qa5=
11.Bb5 Qb6=
11.Ne5?! Nd4! 12.exd4 Nxf4 13.Qe4
Nd5 14.Nc6 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Bb7 16.d5
Qc7³
11.Bd3 Ncb4 12.Bxh7+ Kh8 13.Qb1 f5
14.a3 (14.Bg6 Ba6µ) 14...Nxc3 15.Rxd8
(15.bxc3 Nd5 16.Bg6 Ba6µ) 15...Nxb1
16.Rxf8+ Bxf8 17.axb4 Kxh7 18.b5 Bd7
19.0-0 Bxb5=
11.Bc4 Qa5 12.Bxd5 Nb4 (12...exd5
13.0-0 Be6 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Rxd5 Nb4
16.Qd2²) 13.Qd2 (13.Qe4?! Nxd5 with
the idea 14.Rxd5 Bb7 15.Rxc5 Qb6µ)
13...Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Qxd2+ 15.Rxd2 exd5
16.Rxd5 Be6=
11...Qb6
11...Nd4!? 12.Nxd4 cxd4 13.Nxd5 exd5
14.Rxd4 Bc5 15.Rd1 d4 16.exd4 Bd7
17.Qc4 Qe7+ 18.Be2 Bb4+ 19.Kf1
Rfe8©
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9zp-+-vlpzpp0
9-wqn+p+-+0
9+-zpn+-+-0
9Q+-+-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9+-+RmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
12.Rxd5!? exd5 13.Nxd5 Qxb2 14.Bb5!
Qb1+ (14...Qa1+ 15.Qd1+–) 15.Ke2
Nd4+! (15...Qxh1 16.Bxc6+–) 16.Nxd4
(16.exd4? Qe4–+) 16...Bg4+! (16...Qxh1
17.Nxe7+ Kh8 18.Nxc8 cxd4 19.Nd6
dxe3 20.Qe4 Rad8 21.fxe3±) 17.Nf3
Qb2+ 18.Kf1 Bh4! 19.Bg3 (19.Be2 Rad8
20.e4 f5 21.h3 Bxf3 22.gxf3 fxe4
23.Qxe4 Rfe8 24.Qc4 Qxe2+ 25.Qxe2
Rxe2 26.Kxe2 Rxd5=) 19...Rad8 20.Bc6
Qc1+ 21.Ne1 Be6 22.e4 (22.Qb3 c4
23.Qc3 Qxc3 24.Nxc3 Bf6 25.Ne4
Rd1µ) 22...Bxg3 23.hxg3 Rb8 24.Bb5
Qd2 25.Nf3 Qc1+ 26.Ne1=
C) 7.cxd5 Queen’s Indian Defence 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6
ThisXIIIIIIIIY
is White’s most principled move. 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 d5 6.cxd5 exd5
9rsnlwq-trk+0 (It is more popular for Black to play here
9zp-zp-vlpzpp0 7...Nxd5.) 7.Bf4 Be7 (Black’s best move
9-zp-+psn-+0 is considered to be 7...Bd6.) 8.e3 0-0
9+-+P+-+-0 9.Bd3, there arises a similar type of
9-+-zP-vL-+0 position like here and White can transpose
9+-sN-zPN+-0 to itXIIIIIIIIY
by playing 9.a3.
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9rsn-wq-trk+0
9tR-+QmKL+R0 9zplzp-vlpzpp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zp-+-sn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
7...Nxd5 9-+-zP-vL-+0
It is essential for Black to exchange the 9zP-sNLzPN+-0
knights. 9-zP-+-zPPzP0
Following 7...exd5, the knight on c3 9tR-+QmK-+R0
exerts pressure against the d5-pawn and xiiiiiiiiy
alsoXIIIIIIIIY
eyes Black’s queenside. 8.Bd3
9rsnlwq-trk+0 This position is better for White and
9zp-zp-vlpzpp0 Black usually tries to avoid it, for
9-zp-+-sn-+0 example countering 7.Bf4 with the move
9+-+p+-+-0 7...Bd6. Still, the move a2-a3, in general
9-+-zP-vL-+0 is not so necessary and White can avoid
9+-sNLzPN+-0 playing it by simply completing his
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 development. This can be summed up like
9tR-+QmK-+R0 this: White plays a very good version of
xiiiiiiiiy the Petrosian system in the Queen’s
Indian Defence and has an extra tempo.
8...c5. Black does not determine yet the We can end it up here; nevertheless, I will
placement of his bishop, but will have to give you some examples illustrating how
do that sooner or later. 9.Ne5 Be6. This is the game may develop later. 9.0-0 c5.
not the right square for Black’s bishop. Black is not in a hurry to develop his
(9...Bb7 10.0-0 Nc6 – see 8...Bb7) 10.0-0. knight, planning to deploy it on c6. (It
Now, he cannot play 10...Nbd7, because would be too passive for him to opt for
of 11.Nc6, therefore Black would have to 9...Nbd7 10.Ne5 c5 11.Qf3 a6 12.Rad1
continue with 10...Qc8, Mikhalchishin – Ra7 13.Bf5± Fressinet – Gallant, Chalons
Zumtobel, Bern 1995 (10...Nfd7 11.e4!± en Champagne 2013.) 10.Ne5 Nc6
Shishkin – Karnaukh, Kiev 2007) and (10...Na6 11.Qf3 Nc7 12.Rad1 Ne6
White has here the powerful argument 13.dxc5 Nxc5, Bagirov – Lputian,
11.Bg5!? Nc6 12.Bb5 Na5 13.f4± Yerevan 1982, 14.Bf5!?² – White enjoys
Black plays most often here 8....Bb7. We a comfortable advantage thanks to Black’s
have to give you some explanations. The isolated pawn.) 11.Qf3 cxd4 12.Nxc6
point is that in the Petrosian system in the Bxc6 13.exd4 Qd7 14.Be5 Qg4 15.Qe3
Qe6?! (Black should better play here 15.g4 (15.0-0?! a5 16.Qb3 Nd7=
15...Qd7 16.h3²) 16.Rae1± Laznicka – Aleksandrov – Landa, Jurmala 1991)
Vaisser, Aix les Bains 2011. 15...Bg6 16.0-0 a5 17.Nf3 Qb4 18.Qa3 f6
8.Nxd5 19.Qc3²
It would be too slow and without good 9...c5 10.0-0 Nc6 11.b3 Bb7 12.Rc1 Rc8
prospects for White to choose 8.Bg3 c5 13.Qd3 (13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bd6
(8...Bb7!? 9.Bd3 c5=) 9.dxc5 (9.Bd3 cxd4 15.Bg3 Qf6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Bf3, Holt
10.exd4 Ba6= Genova – Cherednichenko, – Krishnan, Chicago 2015, 17...Rfd8=)
Vratsa 2011; 10...Bb7!? 11.0-0 Nc6! – 13...cxd4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.Qxd4 Bc5
Black has no problems at all.) 9...Nxc3 16.Qd3 d4 17.exd4 Bxd4 (17...Qxd4
10.bxc3 Qxd1+ 11.Rxd1 Bxc5=
XIIIIIIIIY 18.Qxd4 Bxd4 19.Rfd1ƒ) 18.Rxc8 Bxc8
9rsnlwq-trk+0 19.Rd1 Qe7=
9zp-zp-vlpzpp0 9...c5!?
9-zp-+p+-+0 This is the best move for Black, since
9+-+N+-+-0 White was threatening Qd1-c2, attacking
9-+-zP-vL-+0 simultaneously two pawns.
9+-+-zPN+-0 9...Bb4+ 10.Nd2 c5 (10...Bd6 11.Qh5 f5,
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 Martinovic – Nabaty, Urgup 2004,
9tR-+QmKL+R0 12.0-0²) 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.0-0² c4?
xiiiiiiiiy 13.Nxc4+– Porat – Arlinsky, Givariam
2007.
We will analyse now C1) 8...exd5 and
9...Ba6 10.0-0 c5, Savchenko –
C2) 8...Qxd5.
Managadze, Porto San Giorgio, 11.dxc5
C1) 8...exd5 9.Bd3 12.Rc1 Re8 13.Rc3²
bxc5XIIIIIIIIY
9.Be2
XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwq-trk+0
9rsnlwq-trk+0 9zp-+-vlpzpp0
9zp-zp-vlpzpp0 9-zp-+-+-+0
9-zp-+-+-+0 9+-zpp+-+-0
9+-+p+-+-0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9+-+LzPN+-0
9+-+-zPN+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
10.b3!?
9...Bb4+ 10.Nd2 Bd6 11.Bg3!? 10.0-0. Naturally, White should not allow
(11.Bxd6!? Qxd6 12.0-0 Bb7 13.Rc1 Nd7 c5-c4. 10...c4= 11.Bc2 (11.Be2 Nc6
14.b4 c6 15.Qb3 a5 16.b5 a4 17.Qb1 c5 12.b3 b5³ Savchenko – Ovsejevitsch,
18.Rfd1?! cxd4 19.exd4 Nf6 20.Bf3 Gerlingen 2007) 11...Bb7 (11...Nc6∞)
Rac8= Ibragimov – Sandipan, Bilbao 12.Rc1 Nd7 13.Bb1 Rc8 14.Qc2 Nf6∞
2014; 18.dxc5! bxc5 19.Rfd1² with the Pfaff – Braje, Siegburg 1997.
idea 19...Nb6? 20.Ne4+–) 11...Bf5
10.Qc2 h6 11.Ne5 (11.0-0 Nc6 12.Qa4
12.Rc1 Bxg3 13.hxg3 Qd6 14.Qa4 c6
Bb7 13.Bb5 Qc8 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.Rfd1
Rd8= Shengelia – Gentemann, Werther
2004) 11...cxd4 (11...c4 12.Bh7+ Kh8
13.0-0 Qe8 14.Be4 Be6∞) 12.exd4 Bb4+
13.Bd2 Bxd2+ 14.Qxd2 f6 15.Nf3 Re8+
16.Kf1 Ba6= A.Onischuk – Morrison,
Rockville 2012.
10.dxc5 bxc5 11.0-0. White’s set-up does
not seem so effective in his fight against
his opponent’s “hanging pawns”. Black
can deploy his pieces in numerous
adequate ways.
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zp-+-vlpzpp0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zpp+-+-0
9-+-+-vL-+0
9+-+LzPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Bg4?! 12.Qc2 Bxf3 (12...f5 13.Ne5
c4 14.Bxc4 dxc4 15.Qxc4+ Kh8 16.Nf7+
Rxf7 17.Qxf7± Brown – Smith, Cardiff
2014) 13.gxf3± g6 14.Bh6! Bd6 15.Bxf8
Bxh2+ 16.Kh1 (16.Kxh2? Qh4+ 17.Kg2
Qg5+ 18.Kh2 Qh4+ 19.Kg2 Qg5+
20.Kh2 Qh4= Goryachkina –
Kashlinskaya, Athens 2012) 16...Qh4
17.Rfd1 Bd6+ 18.Kg2 Bxf8 19.Bb5
Qg5+ 20.Kf1±
11...Qb6!? 12.Qc2 h6 13.Rfd1 Nc6 14.a3
Be6= Sachdev – Liu, Al-Ain 2015.
11...Nc6 12.Rc1 Be6 13.b3 (13.Qa4
Nb4?! 14.Bb1 Bd7?! 15.Qd1²
Malakhatko – Galinsky, Kiev 2004;
13...Qb6=) 13...a5!? 14.Qe2 h6 15.Rfd1
Qb6= Chistiakova – Guseva, Nojabrsk
2005.
11...Be6!? 12.Qc2 (12.Ne5 Qb6?!
13.Qh5! g6 14.Nxg6 fxg6 15.Bxg6 Rf7
16.Bxf7+ Bxf7 17.Qg4± Arakhamia-
Grant – Akhmilovskaya, Moscow 1987;
13...f5 14.g4 Nc6 15.gxf5 Nxe5 16.Bxe5
Bf7 17.Qg4 Bf6 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.b3±;
12...c4! 13.Bc2 Bf6 14.b3 Nd7 15.Nc6
Qb6 16.Nd4 Nc5=) 12...h6 13.Rfd1 Qb6
14.e4 d4! (14...Nc6 15.exd5 Nb4,
Ruderfer – Butnorius, Moscow 1979,
16.Bh7+! Kh8 17.Qe4 Bxd5 18.Rxd5
Nxd5 19.Qxd5 Kxh7 20.Qe4+ Kg8
21.Qxe7 Rfe8 22.Qc7 Qxb2 23.Be5²)
15.Nd2 Nc6 16.Bc4 Nb4 17.Qb3 Bxc4
18.Nxc4 Qe6∞
11...Nd7!? Black’s knight is headed for
the f6-square. 12.Qc2 (12.e4 d4 13.Rc1
Bb7 14.Re1 a5 15.Nd2 a4∞ Abdyjapar –
Li Ruofan, Istanbul 2012) 12...Nf6
13.Rfd1 Be6 14.Rac1 Qb6 (14...h6!?=)
15.Be5 h6 16.b3 Rac8 17.Qe2 Nd7
18.Ba1 Bf6= Wilson – Figueroa, Dresden
2008.
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zp-+-vlpzpp0
9-zp-+-+-+0
9+-zpp+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+P+LzPN+-0
9P+-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...Nc6
10...Ba6 11.0-0 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 Nc6
13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Rfd1²
10...Bg4 11.dxc5!? bxc5 12.0-0 Nc6
13.h3 Bh5 14.Bb5 Qb6 15.Bxc6
(15...Qxc6? 16.Ne5+–) 15...Bxf3
16.Qxf3 Qxc6 17.Rad1 Rfd8 18.Rd2 Rd7
19.Rfd1 Rad8 20.Be5²
10...cxd4 11.Nxd4 Bb4+ 12.Kf1² White
has lost his castling rights, but it is
obvious that he is not so unhappy about
this. It is much more important that Black
has an isolated pawn and White’s queen
has an access to the h5-square. He can
 XIIIIIIIIY
also follow a plan later, connected with 9rsnl+-trk+0
the pawn-advance h4-h5. 9zp-zp-vlpzpp0
11.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-zp-+p+-+0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9+-+q+-+-0
9zp-+-vlpzpp0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9-zpn+-+-+0 9+-+-zPN+-0
9+-zpp+-+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9tR-+QmKL+R0
9+P+LzPN+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9P+-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 We will deal now with C2a) 9.Bxc7 and
xiiiiiiiiy C2b) 9.Be2.
9.a3 c5! (9...Ba6 10.Bxa6 Nxa6 11.b4
11...Be6 Bd6 12.Bg3 Nb8 13.Qd3² Alexandrov –
11...Nb4 12.Be2 Ba6 13.Bxa6 Nxa6 Boensch, Saint Vincent 2005; 10...Qa5+
14.Ne5 Rc8 15.Qg4² 11.Nd2 Qxa6, Grujic – Iordachescu,
11...cxd4
XIIIIIIIIY Zlatibor 2007, 12.Bxc7 Rc8 13.Bg3 Nd7
9r+lwq-trk+0 14.Qe2²) 10.dxc5 Qxc5 11.Rc1 Qa5+
9zp-+-vlpzpp0 12.Qd2 Qxd2+ 13.Nxd2 Na6!? (13...Nd7
9-zpn+-+-+0 14.Bb5 e5 15.Bg3ƒ Nakhbayeva –
9+-+p+-+-0 Zatonskih, Astana 2013) 14.Be2 Bb7
9-+-zp-vL-+0 15.0-0 Rac8 16.b4 Rfd8 17.Nf3 Nb8=
9+P+LzPN+-0 9.Bd3 Qa5+! 10.Kf1 (10.Nd2 Ba6=)
9P+-+-zPPzP0 10...Ba6 11.Bxc7 Bxd3+ 12.Qxd3 Na6
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 13.Bg3 Nb4!? (13...Rac8 14.h3 Nb4
xiiiiiiiiy 15.Qb3 Rc2 16.Kg1, Levin – Beckhuis,
Germany 2005, 16...Qd5! 17.Kh2 Qxb3
12.Bb5 Bb7 13.Nxd4 (It is preferable for 18.axb3 a5©) 14.Qb3 (14.Qe2 Rac8©
White to play here 13.Bxc6 Bxc6 Shishkin – Thesing, Baia Sprie 2010)
14.Nxd4 Bb7 15.Qg4²) 13...Nxd4 14...Rfc8∞ Graf – Boensch, Germany
14.Qxd4 Bc5 15.Qb2 d4!? 16.Rfd1 Qh4! 2005.
(16...Qf6 17.b4²) 17.exd4 (17.b4?! Be7³ C2a) 9.Bxc7
18.Qxd4 Rad8 19.Qc4 Qg4 20.Qf1 This is a simple move, but no doubt
Bxg2–+) 17...Qxf4 18.dxc5 Bxg2 principled.
19.Kxg2 Qg4+ 20.Kf1 Qh3+ 21.Ke2
Qg4+ 22.Ke3 Qg5=
12.Rc1 Bb7 (12...Nb4 13.Nxd4 Nxd3
14.Qxd3²) 13.exd4²
12.Rc1 a5 13.Qe2 h6 14.Rfd1 Qc8
15.Bb5² Batsiashvili – Pogonina,
Plovdiv 2014.
C2) 8...Qxd5
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+-trk+0 Bxd2 14.Qxd2, Naumann – Randt,
9zp-vL-vlpzpp0 Leipzig 2002, 14...e5! 15.f3 Rfd8 16.Rd1
9-zp-+p+-+0 Rbc8 17.Kf2 Rc4=) 13...Rfc8 14.Qd3
9+-+q+-+-0 Qc6 15.Rb1 b5 16.Ke2 Qc2+ 17.Qxc2
9-+-zP-+-+0 Rxc2+ 18.Kf1 Rbc8 19.g4 Bd2! 20.d5
9+-+-zPN+-0 Bc1 21.dxe6 fxe6 22.Nd4 Rxb2 23.Rxb2
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 Bxb2 24.Nxb5 a6 25.Nd6 Rc6=
9tR-+QmKL+R0 11.f3 Bxf1 12.Rxf1 Nc6 13.a3 Rac8
xiiiiiiiiy 14.Bg3 Bxd2+ 15.Qxd2 Na5 16.Rd1,
Jorczik – Baramidze, Eppingen 2014,
9...Na6!?
16...Nb3! 17.Qb4 (17.Qd3 Nc1 18.Qe4
White does not have an edge here after
Qb5 19.Rf2 Qa5+ 20.Kf1 Qb5=) 17...a5
9...Bb4+ 10.Nd2.
XIIIIIIIIY 18.Qxb6 Rc6 (18...Qc4 19.d5! exd5
9rsnl+-trk+0 20.Kf2 Rc6 21.Qa7 h5 22.Qe7²) 19.Qb7
9zp-vL-+pzpp0 Nc1 20.Rf2 Nd3+ 21.Rxd3 Rc1+ 22.Kd2
9-zp-+p+-+0 Qxb7 23.Kxc1 Rc8+ 24.Rc2. It looks like
9+-+q+-+-0 White is better here, but Black’s queen is
9-vl-zP-+-+0 very active, while White’s king is rather
9+-+-zP-+-0 open, so he can hardly improve his
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 position. 24...f6 25.e4 Rxc2+ 26.Kxc2
9tR-+QmKL+R0 Qc6+ 27.Kd1 Qb5 28.Rd2 Qf1+ 29.Kc2
xiiiiiiiiy Qc4=
10...Nc6!? 11.a3 Bxd2+ 12.Qxd2 Bb7 10.Bf4
13.f3 Rac8 14.Bg3 Na5 15.Rd1 Qb3 10.Bg3 Bb4+ 11.Nd2 Nc5 12.f3 e5
16.Bd3 Nc4 17.Bxc4 Rxc4 18.Qd3 Qxd3 13.Bxe5 – see 10.Bf4.
19.Rxd3 Rc2 20.Rd2 Rc1+ (20...Rfc8 It mat be also interesting for White to try
21.Rf1 Rc1+, Thiel – Singer, Germany here 10.Be5 Bb4+ 11.Nd2 Nc5 12.f3 Rd8
2012, 22.Kf2 R1c2 23.Rfd1²) 21.Rd1 13.Be2. Still, Black’s position seems quite
Rc2= acceptable following 13...Ba6! (13...Bb7
10...Ba6 14.Bg3 Qg5 15.Kf2 e5 16.Bxe5 Bxd2
XIIIIIIIIY 17.Qxd2 Qxe5 18.Qc2²) 14.Bg3
9rsn-+-trk+0 (14.Bxa6 Nxa6 15.a3 Nc5! 16.axb4
9zp-vL-+pzpp0 Nd3+ 17.Kf1 Nxe5 18.Qe2 Rac8=)
9lzp-+p+-+0 14...Nd3+ 15.Bxd3 Bxd3 16.a3 Be7
9+-+q+-+-0
17.Rc1 Rac8 18.Kf2 h5!?©
9-vl-zP-+-+0
9+-+-zP-+-0 10...Bb4+ 11.Nd2 Nc5 12.f3
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 12.dxc5 Rd8 13.Bd6 bxc5 14.a3 Bxd2
9tR-+QmKL+R0 15.Qxd2 Rxd6=
xiiiiiiiiy
11.Bxb8 Bxf1 12.Kxf1 Raxb8 13.Nf3,
Dyballa – Kiese, Germany 2004 (13.a3
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9zp-+-+pzpp0
9-zp-+p+-+0
9+-snq+-+-0
9-vl-zP-vL-+0
9+-+-zPP+-0
9PzP-sN-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...e5!?
12...Rd8!? 13.Be2 Ba6 14.Bg3 Nd3 – see
10.Be5.
13.Bxe5 Re8 14.Rc1!
14.Kf2 Bxd2 (14...Rxe5 15.Nc4!
Novikov – Pigusov, Pavlodar 1987,
15...Ne4+ 16.fxe4 Rxe4 17.Qb3²)
15.Qxd2 Rxe5 16.Rd1 Ne4+ 17.fxe4
Rxe4 18.Be2 Bg4 19.Bf3 Qf5 20.Qe2
Rae8 21.Rhe1 Rxe3 (21...g6!? 22.h3 Bxf3
23.Qxf3 Qd5 24.a3 f5. White has an only
symbolic advantage here. It would be
practically impossible for him to realise
his extra pawn if Black defends correctly.)
22.Qxe3 Rxe3 23.Rxe3 Kf8 24.Kg1 Bxf3
25.Rxf3 Qd5 26.Re3 f6=
14...Rxe5 15.dxe5 Bf5 (15...Be6 16.Rc4
Qxe5 17.Kf2±) 16.Rc4! Qxe5 17.e4
Qxb2! 18.Qc2 Qxc2 19.Rxc2 Bd7
(19...Bxe4? 20.fxe4 Nxe4 21.Bd3+–)
20.Kf2 Ba4 21.Nb3 Nxb3 22.axb3 Bxb3
23.Rb2 Bc5+ 24.Kg3 Be6 25.Ba6 Rd8
26.Rbb1 Rd2 27.Rhd1 Bd6+ 28.f4 g5
29.Rxd2 Bxf4+ 30.Kf3 Bxd2 31.Rd1 g4+
32.Ke2 Bg5, with a possible draw.
C2b) 9.Be2
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+-trk+0
9zp-zp-vlpzpp0
9-zp-+p+-+0
9+-+q+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-+-zPN+-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
9...Bb4+
9...Bb7 10.0-0 Bd6 11.Bxd6 cxd6 12.Qa4
Nc6 13.Rfc1 Rfc8 14.Qa3 b5 15.Ne1² –
Black will have a hard time proving that
his compensation for the pawn is
sufficient, Korchmar – Lugovskoy,
Taganrog 2014.
9...Qa5 10.Nd2 Ba6 11.0-0 c5 12.Nc4
Bxc4 13.Bxc4 cxd4 14.a3!? Nd7
(14...dxe3 15.b4 Qf5 16.fxe3²) 15.exd4
Nf6 16.Be5²
9...Ba6. Black’s pawn-sacrifice leads
under the circumstances to a very
comfortable situation for White. He can
accept the sacrifice without much of a
risk, since now, the f1-square is free for
his king and he can easily castle
artificially. 10.Bxc7 (10.0-0 c5=)
10...Qa5+ 11.Kf1 Rc8 12.Bg3 Nd7 13.h3
Nf6 14.Kg1 Ne4 15.Kh2² – Black has
some compensation for the pawn indeed,
but it is likely to be insufficient.
10.Nd2
10.Kf1 Bd6 11.Ne5 Ba6= Kozul –
Babula, Jenbach 2013.
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+-trk+0 19.Rc1²
9zp-zp-+pzpp0 14.Kb1©
XIIIIIIIIY
9-zp-+p+-+0 9rsn-+-trk+0
9+-+q+-+-0 9zp-zp-+pzpp0
9-vl-zP-vL-+0 9lzpq+p+-+0
9+-+-zP-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-sNLzPPzP0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 9+-+-zP-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9PzP-wQLzP-zP0
9+K+R+-tR-0
10...Bxd2+ xiiiiiiiiy
10...Qxg2? 11.Bf3 Bxd2+ 12.Kxd2
Qxf2+ 13.Kc3 c6 14.h4!+– Kozul – White has very powerful pressure on the
Kuljasevic, Rijeka 2011. g-file and he dominates on the c-file too.
11.Qxd2 Qxg2 12.0-0-0 Ba6 It is obvious that Black’s having an extra
12...Qd5 13.Rhg1 g6 (13...Qxa2? pawn is only temporary and White will
14.Rxg7 Kxg7 15.Qb4!+–) 14.Kb1© soon regain it.
13.Rhg1 Qc6+ For example: 14...g6 15.f3. He covers the
13...Qxf2 14.Bxa6 Qxd2 15.Kxd2 Nxa6 e4-square. 15...Bxe2 16.Qxe2 Nd7
16.Bh6 g6 17.Bxf8 Kxf8 18.Ke2 Rd8 17.Rc1 Qd5 18.Bxc7²
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+-trk+0
Chapter 13
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 9-+-+psn-+0
5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-wq-+-+-0
9rsnlwq-trk+0 9-+L+-vL-+0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 9zP-sN-zPN+-0
9-+-+psn-+0 9-zP-+QzPPzP0
9+-zpp+-+-0 9tR-+-mK-+R0
9-+PzP-vL-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sN-zPN+-0 Black has failed to solve his problems
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 with development and his queen has no
9tR-+QmKL+R0
adequate square.
xiiiiiiiiy
10...Nbd7 11.e4!? Nb6 12.Bd3²
This is the beginning of a logical fight for Moiseenko – Kharitonov, Moscow 2008.
the centre by Black. 10...Nc6 11.b4 Qh5 12.0-0± Hoeksema –
7.dxc5 Bxc5 Konings, Enchede, with the idea 12...Bd7
The basic task of both sides in this 13.e4 e5?! 14.Nxe5+–
position is to complete the development, 10...a6 11.e4 (11.0-0 b5 12.Bd3 Bb7
but in most of the cases White manages to 13.e4 Nbd7 14.Rac1 Qb6 15.b4 Rfc8
accomplish this faster. Black has real 16.Rfd1 Qd8 17.Bb1 Qe8 18.h3 Nb6
problems to bring his light-squared bishop Ne5ƒ Krasenkow – Narciso, Barcelona
into the actions. In some variations he 2007) 11...b5, Portisch – Eliskases, Tel
succeeds in doing this, but ends up with Aviv 1964, 12.Ba2 Bb7 13.e5 Nfd7
an isolated pawn on d5. (13...Nd5 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Rc1±)
7...dxc4?! This move enables White to 14.Ne4 Qc6 15.Nd6 Bxd6 16.exd6²
complete his development quickly and 7...Nc6 8.Qc2. The idea of this move is to
comfortably. 8.Bxc4 Qxd1 (8...Bxc5 play Rd1 and to create rather unpleasant
9.Qc2 – see 7...Bxc5) 9.Rxd1 Bxc5 pressure for Black against his d5-pawn,
10.0-0 a6, Lechtynsky – Prandstetter, forcing him to take some actions.
XIIIIIIIIY
Czech Republic 2008, 11.Be2!? b5 9r+lwq-trk+0
12.Nd2 Bb7 13.Nb3 Bb6 14.a4 b4 15.a5² 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
7...Na6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 9-+n+psn-+0
10.Bxa6 Qa5+ 11.Qd2 Qxa6 12.b4!? 9+-zPp+-+-0
White must hold his c5-pawn if he can. 9-+P+-vL-+0
(12.Bd6 Bxd6 13.cxd6² Repka – 9+-sN-zPN+-0
Plachetka, Slovakia 2015) 12...Bf5 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
13.Nd4 Bd3 14.f3² 9tR-+-mKL+R0
7...Qa5?! This move does not promise xiiiiiiiiy
much to Black. 8.a3!? dxc4 9.Bxc4 Qxc5
10.Qe2 8...Bxc5 9.a3 – see 7...Bxc5.
8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 Bxc5 10.0-0 – see
7...dxc4.
8...Nb4?! Ribli – Gligoric, Bled 1979,
9.Qa4 Bxc5 10.a3 Nc6 11.Rd1²
8...Qa5 9.a3 dxc4?! (9...Bxc5 10.Rd1 –
see variation D) 10.Bxc4 Qxc5 11.Bd3 a6
12.0-0 h6 13.b4± Anand – Karpov,
Corsica 2009.
8.Qc2
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+-+psn-+0
9+-vlp+-+-0
9-+P+-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
White frees the d1-square for his rook.
He would achieve less if he chooses a line
which was popular some time ago: 8.cxd5
Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.a3 Nc6 11.Bd3.
8...Nc6
8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 a6 (9...Nc6 10.a3 – see
variation A; 10.0-0!? see – Fressinet –
Royset, Helsingor 2015, game 10)
10.Rd1!? Nbd7 11.Bd3 b5 12.Ne5± Miles
– Barua, Edinburgh 1985.
8...Qa5. The drawback of this move is
that White can continue his development
without the move a3 by playing 9.Be2, for
example: 9...dxc4 (9...Nc6 10.0-0 dxc4
11.Bxc4, followed by a3, b4, attacking the
enemy pieces with tempi) 10.Ne5² Black
cannot prevent his opponent from
regaining advantageously his pawn:
10...b5 11.Bf3 Nd5 12.0-0 Bb7 13.a4±
9.a3
This is one of the most important basic
positions of this variation.
White usually begins with 9.Rd1 (see
Kovalenko – Short, Tromso 2014, game
11). Now, after 9...Qa5 10.a3 – there
arises transposition to the main line,
which we analyse later. Still, after this
order of moves, Black can create
problems for his opponent by trying the
rarely played move 9...Qb6!, for example:
10.Be2 (10.a3 d4 11.exd4 Nxd4 12.Nxd4
Bxd4 13.Na4 Qd8 14.Qd2 Bd7=)
10...d4!? 11.exd4 (11.Na4 Qa5+ 12.Kf1
d3 13.Bxd3 Nb4 14.Qb3 Nxd3 15.Rxd3
Be7 16.Nc3 a6©) 11...Nxd4 12.Nxd4
Bxd4 13.0-0 Bd7 14.Qd2 e5 15.Bg5 h6=
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+n+psn-+0
9+-vlp+-+-0
9-+P+-vL-+0
9zP-sN-zPN+-0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
We will analyse in details now: A)
9...dxc4, B) 9...Qe7, C) 9...Re8 and D)
9...Qa5.
About 9...Be7 10.Rd1 Qa5 11.Be2 – see
variation D.
9...Bd6?! After this move, Black ends up
with an isolated pawn. 10.Bxd6 Qxd6
11.Rd1² Capablanca – Yates, Hastings
1929.
9...a5? This move is aimed against b2-b4,
but White has another idea. After
10.Rd1±, Black can hardly solve his
problems in the centre, Miles – Franco del
Valle, Seville 1993.
Black can try here a seemingly attractive
counter attack in the centre, connected
with a pawn-sacrifice, but it is not correct.
9...e5? 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 Ng4
12.Bf4 d4 (12...g5 13.Bg3 Bxe3 14.Nxd5
Re8 15.Be2+– Colpe – Koelsch, Germany
2009) 13.0-0-0! dxc3 14.Rxd8 cxb2
15.Kxb2 Rxd8 16.h3 Nf6 17.Bd3+–

Ghaem Maghami – Moradiabadi, Kish
2003.
9...Nh5?! Black is trying to change the
character of the fight by attacking the
enemy dark-squared bishop, but will have
great problems after this. 10.Bg5!? f6
11.cxd5 exd5 12.Bh4 d4 13.0-0-0 Bg4
14.Be2±
9...b6?! This move cannot solve Black’s
problems, since following 10.Rd1 Bb7
11.cxd5, he ends up with a weak isolated
pawn and a misplaced light-squared
bishop. It would have been much more
purposeful on the c8-h3 diagonal in this
position with an isolated pawn. 11...exd5
12.Bc4!? (12.Bd3±) 12...Rc8 13.0-0 Na5
14.Bd3 Bd6 15.Bf5± Gofshtein –
Anikaev, Rostov on Don 1976.
9...a6?! This move is seemingly useful,
but does not hamper White’s plans.
10.0-0-0 Be7 (10...Qa5 11.Nd2 Be7
12.g4ƒ e5 13.g5 exf4 14.gxf6 Bxf6
15.Nxd5± Hjartarson - Thorsteinsson,
Reykjavik 1997) 11.g4!?ƒ (11.Ng5 g6
12.h4 e5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Rxd5 Qc7
15.Bg3 Bf5 16.Bd3 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Rfd8
18.Kb1± Carlsen – Aarland, Oslo 2002;
11...d4 12.Nf3 b5 13.Nxd4 Nxd4
14.Rxd4 Qb6 15.Be2 Bb7 16.Rhd1 Bxg2!
17.Rg1 Bh3∞; 15.Rg1!? Bb7 16.g4²)
11...Qa5 12.g5± Fernandez Diaz –
Vidarte Morales, Barcelona 2015.
9...d4?! This attractive pawn-break in the
centre can be countered very convincingly
by White. 10.0-0-0!± Black fails to solve
the problems connected with his enemy
pressure against the d4-pawn.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+n+psn-+0
9+-vl-+-+-0
9-+Pzp-vL-+0
9zP-sN-zPN+-0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9+-mKR+L+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...dxc3 11.Rxd8 cxb2 12.Kxb2 Rxd8
13.Bd3± with the idea 13...Bd7 14.g4+–
Gheorghiu – Voiculescu, Sibiu 1977.
10...Re8 11.Nb5 e5 12.Nxe5 Nh5
(12...Nxe5 13.exd4+– Karolyi – Gobet,
Groningen 2000) 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Nxd4
Nxf4 15.Nb3±
10...Nh5 11.Bg3 Nxg3 12.hxg3±
Sharafuddin – Comp Milano Pro, USA
1996.
10...Qe7 11.Nxd4 e5 12.Nxc6 bxc6
13.Bg5±
10...e5, Mohandesi – Dutreeuw, Geel
1996, 11.Bxe5! Bg4 (11...Nxe5 12.Nxe5
Qe7 13.exd4 Bxd4 14.Rxd4 Qxe5
15.Qd2±) 12.Bxd4 Bxd4 13.Kb1! Bxf3
14.gxf3 Qb6 15.Na4 Qd8 16.exd4 Nxd4
17.Qc3 Qd7 18.Rxd4 Qxa4 19.Bd3±
9...h6. This move is too passive. 10.Rd1
Bd6 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Be2 Rd8 13.0-0
Qe7 14.cxd5² Khenkin – Miladinovic,
Frascati 2005.
9...Bd7. This move is a bit ugly, because
after the exchange on d5, Black will need
to lose another tempo for a move with his
bishop. This provides White with the
necessary time to consolidate his pieces
and to fix the enemy isolated d5-pawn.
10.Rd1 Rc8 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Be2
(12.Bd3!? h6 13.0-0 Bb6 14.Qb1 Qe7
15.h3 a6 16.Bh7+ Kh8 17.Nxd5 Nxd5
18.Rxd5 g6 19.Bxg6 fxg6 20.Nh4 Qxh4
21.Rxd7 Qf6 22.Rd6±; 15...Be6 16.Na4
Bc7 17.Bxc7 Rxc7 18.Nc3²) 12...Be6
13.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+n+lsn-+0
9+-vlp+-+-0
9-+-+-vL-+0
9zP-sN-zPN+-0
9-zPQ+LzPPzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
13...h6?! 14.Nxd5±
13...Qa5, Pelletier – Miralles, France
2007, 14.Ng5 Rfd8 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.g4!
Bb6 17.g5 Nd7 18.Bg4 Nf8 19.Qb3±
13...Be7 14.Ng5²
13...Bd6 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.Qa4 a6
16.Rd2² Swapnil – Grover, Kolkata 2012.
13...Bb6 14.Qa4!? (14.Ng5!?² with the
idea 14...Qe7? 15.Rxd5!+–) 14...Qe7
15.Ne5 Rfd8 16.Nxc6 Rxc6 17.Be5²
Sturua – Toth, Biel 1996.
13...Qe7 14.Na4!? (14.b4!? Bb6 15.Qb2
Rfd8 16.Na4²) 14...Bd6 15.Bxd6 Qxd6
16.Nc3 a6 (16...Qc5 17.Qa4 Qb6 18.Rd2
Na5 19.Nd4² Wagner – Miralles, France
2007) 17.Rd2 Qe7 18.Qa4 h6 19.Rfd1
Rc7 20.h3 Rfc8 21.Qf4 Nh5 22.Qh2 Nf6
23.Ne5!² (23.Qf4 Nh5 24.Qh2 Nf6
25.Nd4 Nxd4 26.Rxd4 Ne4, Ding –
Grachev, Moscow 2011, 27.Nxd5! Bxd5
28.Rxd5 Rc2 29.Bd3 Rxb2 30.Qf4 Nf6
31.Rd6²; 26...Rxc3!? 27.bxc3 Qxa3∞)
23...Na5 24.Ng4²
A) 9...dxc4?!
This move seems a bit slow...White
captures on c4 at once and this enables
him to complete his development quickly
and comfortably. Black must still solve
the problem with the development of his
light-squared bishop and has difficulties
to find an adequate square for his queen,
because its most natural place would be
the e7-square, but his dark-squared bishop
might need it too.
10.Bxc4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+n+psn-+0
9+-vl-+-+-0
9-+L+-vL-+0
9zP-sN-zPN+-0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...Qe7
The following variation illustrates
perfectly Black’s problems with his
development: 10...b6? 11.Rd1 Bd7
12.Ba6+– and he has no satisfactory
defence against the threat Ba6-b7,
Murugan – Srikar, Chennai 2004.
10...Bd7 11.Rd1 h6 (11...Qc8, Yrjola –
Kokkila, Finland 1988, 12.0-0 Ne7
13.Ne5 Bc6 14.Nxc6!? Nxc6 15.Be2±)
12.0-0 Qc8 13.Ba2 Nh5?! 14.Ne4 Be7
15.Bd6 Rd8 16.Bb1 f5 17.Nc5+–
Bajarany – Babaeva, Baku 1999.
10...h6 11.b4 Be7 12.0-0 a6 13.Rfd1±
Forintos – Tompa, Budapest 1967.
Black fails to exchange his bishop under
favourable circumstances after 10...Nh5
11.Rd1 (11.Bg5!? f6 12.Bh4 g5 13.Bg3±
Pelletier – Partos, Switzerland 1995;
11...Be7 12.Rd1 Bd7 13.h4!?± h6? 14.g4
Nf6 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.g5±) 11...Qb6
12.Bd3 Nxf4 13.Bxh7+ Kh8 14.exf4
Bxf2+ 15.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 16.Kxf2 Kxh7
17.Nb5±
10...a6. This move looks like preparation
for the pawn-advance b7-b5. In fact,
Black will hardly manage to accomplish
that due to the instability of his pieces on
the c-file. 11.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY 18.Be2± with the idea 18...Nxe5 19.Qxc7
9r+lwq-trk+0 Nxf3+ 20.Bxf3 Rxc7 21.Bb6 Rb7
9+p+-+pzpp0 22.Nc5+–
9p+n+psn-+0 12...Qe8 13.Ne4!? (13.Ng5± Nickoloff –
9+-vl-+-+-0 Findlay, Toronto 1997) 13...Nxe4
9-+L+-vL-+0 14.Qxe4 Be7 15.Qd3 Bc8 (15...Rd8?
9zP-sN-zPN+-0 16.Bc7+–) 16.Ba2±
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 11.0-0 a6
9tR-+-+RmK-0 11...Nh5 12.Rad1 Nxf4 13.exf4±
xiiiiiiiiy 11...h6 12.Rad1 Nh5 13.Ba2 Nxf4
14.exf4 Rd8 15.Rxd8+ Qxd8 16.Rd1 Qe7
11...h6 12.Rfd1 Qe7 13.b4 e5 14.Bxh6+–
17.Bb1 f5 18.b4 Bb6 19.Ba2 Kh7
Bronznik – Roos, Germany 2008.
20.Na4±
11...Nh5 12.Rad1 Qe7 13.Ne4 (13.Bg5!?
12.Rfd1 Rd8
f6 14.Bh4 g5, Takac – Muskardin, Zagreb
12...b5? 13.Bd3 Bb7, Moradiabadi –
2012, 15.Ne4! Ba7 16.Nfxg5 fxg5
Cotterill, Vienna 2009, 14.b4 Bb6
17.Bxg5 Qg7 18.Qe2 Qg6 19.Bd3 Rf5
15.Bd6+–
XIIIIIIIIY
20.h4+–) 13...Nxf4 14.exf4± Ba7 15.Rfe1
Rd8 16.Neg5 g6 17.Qc3+– Nogueiras 9r+ltr-+k+0
Santiago – Diaz, Santa Clara 1991. 9+p+-wqpzpp0
11...b5, Gromovs – Perissinotto, Lodi 9p+n+psn-+0
2005, 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.Ne4±
9+-vl-+-+-0
9-+L+-vL-+0
11...Be7 12.Rfd1 Bd7, Gellrich – Lange,
9zP-sN-zPN+-0
Germany 1988 (12...Qb6 13.e4± Nh5?
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
14.Na4+– Lunev – Grigoriants, Orel 9tR-+R+-mK-0
1999) 13.e4!? Nh5 14.Be3 Qc7 15.e5± xiiiiiiiiy
11...Bd7 12.Rad1
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0 13.Rxd8+ Nxd8 14.Rd1 b5, Van Dongen
9+p+l+pzpp0 – Boussaha, Montigny le Bretonneux
9p+n+psn-+0 2007, 15.Ba2 Bb7 16.Bb1! White creates
9+-vl-+-+-0 rather unpleasant pressure against the
9-+L+-vL-+0 h7-pawn with his last move and Black
9zP-sN-zPN+-0 will hardly manage to cope with this
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 without additional positional
9+-+R+RmK-0 concessions. 16...Rc8 17.Ne5±
xiiiiiiiiy B) 9...Qe7 10.Bg5

12...Be7 13.e4. White occupies additional

space. (13.Ba2 Qa5 14.Nd2 Qf5²;
14...b5? 15.Nde4 Rfd8 16.Nxf6+ gxf6
17.Qe2+– E.Atalik – Khurtsidze, Dresden
2007) 13...b5 14.Bd3 Nh5 15.Be3 Qc7
16.e5 g6 (16...h6 17.g4±) 17.Ne4 Rac8
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 with the idea 14...e5 15.b4 Bb6 16.c5 Bc7
9zpp+-wqpzpp0 17.Bd3+– Cyborowski – Zwanzger,
9-+n+psn-+0 Berlin 2013.
9+-vlp+-vL-0 12.Rxd8+
9-+P+-+-+0 12.Bxc4!? Rxd1+ 13.Qxd1 h6 14.Bh4 a6
9zP-sN-zPN+-0 15.Bd3 Qd8 16.0-0 Be7 17.Qe2 Nd5
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Bb1 Be6
9tR-+-mKL+R0 21.Rd1² Petrosian – Yudovich, Moscow
xiiiiiiiiy 1967.
12...Qxd8 13.Bxc4
XIIIIIIIIY
Black is ready to counter the move Rd1,
but the pin of his knight is very 9r+lwq-+k+0
unpleasant for him. 9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+n+psn-+0
10...Rd8
9+-vl-+-vL-0
10...d4?! 11.Ne4 dxe3 12.fxe3± Brychta –
9-+L+-+-+0
Michalicka, Bratislava 1989.
9zP-sN-zPN+-0
11.Rd1
XIIIIIIIIY 9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9r+ltr-+k+0 9+-+-mK-+R0
9zpp+-wqpzpp0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+n+psn-+0
9+-vlp+-vL-0 13...h6
9-+P+-+-+0 13...Be7 14.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9zP-sN-zPN+-0 9r+lwq-+k+0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9+-+RmKL+R0 9-+n+psn-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-+-vL-0
9-+L+-+-+0
11...dxc4
9zP-sN-zPN+-0
White exerts pressure against the 9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
d5-square and it seems logical for Black 9+-+-+RmK-0
to reduce the tension. Now however, xiiiiiiiiy
either immediately, or after the
preliminary exchange of the rooks, White 14...a6 15.Rd1± Whiteley – Helmers,
captures on c4 at once and this is very Oslo 1978.
advantageous for him. 14...Bd7 15.Rd1 Qe8 (15...Qc8 16.Ba2
11...h6?! 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.cxd5 Ne5 Be8, Doroshkievich – Liberzon, Tbilisi
14.Be2± Ilgner – Grohde, Schleswig 1966, 17.Bb1 g6 18.b4 Qc7 19.Bf4±)
Holstein 1989. 16.e4!? (16.Bxf6?! Bxf6 17.Ne4 Be7=
11...d4?! 12.Ne4 dxe3 (12...e5, Goganov 18.Nfg5? h6³ Euwe – Taimanov, Zurich
– Minko, Rybinsk 2009, 13.Bd3±; 1953) 16...Rc8 17.Qe2²
12...Bb6 13.c5 Ba5+ 14.b4 Nxb4 15.axb4 14...h6 15.Bh4 (15.Rd1!? Bd7 16.Bf4²;
Bxb4+ 16.Nfd2± Chernin – Plachetka, 16.Bh4!?²) 15...Bd7 (15...a6 16.Rd1 Qa5
Prague 1989) 13.Rxd8+ Nxd8 14.fxe3±, 17.Ba2² Ne5?! 18.Nxe5 Qxe5 19.Bb1 g6
20.Ne4+– Timoscenko – Mancini, Avoine
1993) 16.Rd1 Qe8 17.e4!? Rc8 18.Ba2²
(White should not be in a hurry: 18.e5?!
Ng4 19.Bxe7 Ncxe5!³ Vescovi – Adly,
Bursa 2010).
14.Bxf6 gxf6
14...Qxf6 15.Ne4 Qe7 16.g4! Bb6
17.Rg1±
15.0-0± Staniszewski – Masternak,
Ustron 2003.
C) 9...Re8!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqr+k+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+n+psn-+0
9+-vlp+-+-0
9-+P+-vL-+0
9zP-sN-zPN+-0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This variation focused the attention of the
theoreticians after a game in the World
Championship was played in it. We will
be soon convinced that it would be very
difficult for White to achieve anything
meaningful, but still, he has chances of
obtaining an advantage in the opening.
10.0-0-0!?
About 10.Bg3!? – see Matlakov –
Kashlinskaya, Doha 2015, game 12.
10.cxd5 exd5 11.Be2 d4= Condie –
Bradbury, London 1984.
10.Rd1 e5 11.Bg5 d4 12.Nd5 (12.Bxf6
Qxf6 13.Nd5 Qh6 14.e4 Rb8 15.b4 Bf8
16.c5 Bg4= Vovk – Radulski, Dieren
2011) 12...Be7= Thomas – Marshall,
London 1927.
10.b4. There arise really fighting
positions after this move. 10...Bd6
11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.c5 Qe7 13.Rd1 Rd8
14.Be2 e5 15.0-0 Bg4 16.Nd2
(16.Rfe1!?∞) 16...Bxe2 17.Nxe2 Rac8
18.Qb2∞
10.Bg5 Be7! 11.Rd1 (11.Be2 h6 12.Bh4
a6 13.Rd1 Qa5 14.Nd2ƒ Batsiashvili –
Kuchava, Tbilisi 2015; 12...dxc4 13.Bxc4
a6 14.0-0 b5 15.Ba2 Bb7=) 11...Qa5
12.Bd3 (12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Bxe7 Ncxe7=)
12...h6 13.Bh4 dxc4 14.Bxc4 a6 15.0-0
b5 16.Ba2 Bb7 17.Bb1 Rad8 18.Bxf6
Bxf6 19.Ne4 Be7 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.Qxc5
b4= Anand – Carlsen, Sochi 2014.
10...e5
10...h6 11.Bg3! White prevents e6-e5.
11...Qa5, De Verdier – Radulski, Cappelle
la Grande 2012, 12.Kb1²; 12.Nb5!?²
10...Qa5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+r+k+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+n+psn-+0
9wq-vlp+-+-0
9-+P+-vL-+0
9zP-sN-zPN+-0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9+-mKR+L+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
The seemingly principled pine would not
lead to clear positions following: 11.cxd5
exd5 (11...Nxd5?! 12.Nxd5 exd5 13.Ng5!
g6 14.Rxd5 Rd8 15.Rxd8+ Nxd8
16.Bc4+–; 14...Nd4, Arlandi – Bellini,
Cesenatico 1986, 15.b4!! Qxa3+ 16.Qb2
Nb3+ 17.Kc2 Na1+ 18.Kb1+–) 12.Kb1
Be6 13.Bd3 Rac8 14.Ng5 g6 (14...h6
15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.g4ƒ) 15.Rc1 Bf8
16.Nxe6 Rxe6 (16...fxe6? 17.h4!±)
17.Qa4 Qd8 18.Rhd1 a6∞
11.Nd2! Be7, Doroshkievich – N.Popov,
Rostov on Don 1976, 12.Nb3 Qb6?!
(Black should better choose here 12...Qd8
13.Kb1²) 13.cxd5 (13.g4!?ƒ) 13...exd5
14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.Rxd5. Black does not
have fill compensation for the pawn after
15...Be6 16.Rb5 Qd8 17.Nc5 Bxc5
18.Rxc5 Rc8 (18...Na5 19.Bc7+–) 19.Bc4 15...Nxe5
XIIIIIIIIY
Nd4 20.exd4 Qxd4 21.Be3 Qxc4 22.Rxc4 9r+-+r+k+0
Rxc4 23.Qxc4 Bxc4 24.Bxa7±
XIIIIIIIIY 9zpp+-wqpzpp0
9r+lwqr+k+0 9-+-+-sn-+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0 9+-+-sn-vL-0
9-+n+-sn-+0 9-+P+-+l+0
9+-vlpzp-+-0 9zP-+-+N+-0
9-+P+-vL-+0 9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9zP-sN-zPN+-0 9+-mKR+L+R0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-mKR+L+R0
xiiiiiiiiy 16.Re1 (16.Be2!?ƒ) 16...Bxf3 17.gxf3
Qd6 18.Qf5! Nfd7 (18...Rac8?! 19.Bxf6
11.Bg5! gxf6 20.Kb1±) 19.Rd1 Qc6 20.Rg1
11.cxd5 exf4 12.dxc6, Murariu – Tomici, (20.Be3!? Nf6 21.Kb1 Nxf3 22.Bg2
Eforie Nord 2014, 12...Qc7!© Nd2+ 23.Bxd2 Qxg2 24.f3 Qg6 25.Qxg6
11...d4 12.Nd5 Be7 13.Nxe7+ Qxe7 fxg6 26.Rhe1 – The endgame is much
14.exd4 Bg4 more promising for White and he can play
14...Nxd4 15.Nxd4 exd4 16.Rxd4² Lalith for a win without any risk...) 20...Nf8
– Thejkumar, Jalgaon 2013. 21.Kb1 Nxc4 22.Rc1 b5 23.Bf6 Ng6
15.dxe5 24.Bc3 with the idea 24...Rad8 25.Bd3
15.d5!? Nd4 16.Nxd4 Bxd1 17.Nf5 Bxc2 Rd5 26.Be4 Rxf5 27.Bxc6 Rb8 28.Ka2
18.Nxe7+ Rxe7 19.Kxc2 Rc7 20.Bxf6 (28.Rcd1? Nxa3+! 29.bxa3 Rc5³)
gxf6 21.b4© 28...Rh5 29.Rcd1²
D) 9...Qa5 17.Qxe4 Qb6
XIIIIIIIIY
This is Black’s most popular move. White 9r+-+r+k+0
has numerous good alternatives however: 9zpp+-+pzpp0
10.0-0-0, 10.Nd2, 10.Ra2. We plan to 9-wq-+-+-+0
analyse his most promising. 9+-vl-zp-vL-0
10.Rd1
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+PsnQ+-+0
9r+l+-trk+0 9zP-+-zP-+-0
9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-zP-sN-zPPzP0
9-+n+psn-+0 9+-+RmK-+R0
9wq-vlp+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+P+-vL-+0
9zP-sN-zPN+-0 18.b4 Bf8 19.Qd3 Ne6 20.Bh4 a5 21.c5
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 Qc6 22.0-0 axb4 23.axb4 Ra4 24.Nc4
9+-+RmKL+R0 (24.Rb1 Nxc5! 25.bxc5 Rxh4=) 24...Rxb4
xiiiiiiiiy 25.Nxe5 Qc8 26.Bg3 Nxc5 27.Qd5
Qe6=
10...Be7 18.Qb1 Ne6! 19.Bh4 Bxe3 20.fxe3
10...dxc4 11.Bxc4 Be7 12.0-0 a6 13.Bd3± Qxe3+ 21.Kf1 Qf4+ 22.Bf2 Rad8 23.g3
with the idea Nc3-e4 Forintos – Petran, Qh6© Tarjan – Zumsande, Douglas 2015.
Budapest 1979. 18.Rb1 f6 19.0-0 Ne2+ (19...fxg5 20.exd4
10...Re8 11.Nd2 e5 12.Bg5 Nd4 13.Qb1 Bxd4 21.b4²) 20.Kh1 Rad8 (20...fxg5
(13.Qa4 Qxa4 14.Nxa4 Nc2+ 15.Ke2 21.Qd5+ Kh8 22.Ne4 Be7 23.Qd3²)
Nd4!=) 13...Bf5 (13...Bg4 14.Bxf6 Bxd1 21.Qc2 fxg5 22.Ne4 Qg6 23.Rfe1 Nd4
15.Qxd1 gxf6 16.Nxd5+– Leitao – 24.exd4 exd4 25.Qd3²
Mecking, Rio de Janeiro 2009) 14.Bd3
XIIIIIIIIY 10...Bd7. After the inclusion of the moves
9r+-+r+k+0 9...Qa5 10.Rd1, the development of
9zpp+-+pzpp0 Black’s light-squared bishop to the
9-+-+-sn-+0 d7-square is even less attractive and
9wq-vlpzplvL-0 White can obtain a very good position in
9-+Psn-+-+0 several different ways. 11.Be2 dxc4
9zP-sNLzP-+-0 (11...Rfc8 12.0-0 Be7 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bxf6
9-zP-sN-zPPzP0 Bxf6 15.cxd5± Baryshpolets – Omelja,
9+Q+RmK-+R0 Lutsk 2015; 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 exd5
xiiiiiiiiy 15.Qb3±) 12.Bxc4 Rfd8 13.0-0 Be7
14.Qb3 Qc5 15.Be2 Na5 16.Qa2 b5
14...Bxd3 (About 14...e4?! – see
17.Rc1 Qb6 18.b4 Nc6 19.Nxb5±
Korchnoi – Karpov, Baguio 1978, game
10...Ne4. This move seems quite
13) 15.Qxd3 Ne4! 16.Ncxe4 (16.cxd5
principled for Black, but White obtains a
Nxg5 17.b4!±; 16...Nxc3 17.bxc3 Nb5
clear advantage after it. 11.cxd5 (11.Bd3?
18.0-0 Nd6 19.Ra1 Rac8©; 16.Nxd5
Bxa3³)
Nxg5 17.b4 Qd8 18.bxc5 Nde6 19.Nb3
Nxc5 20.Nxc5 Qa5+ 21.Qc3 Qxc5
22.Qb4 Rac8 23.Qxb7 Qa5=) 16...dxe4
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 18.Nxh7±) 16...Nd8 (16...Nb4 17.cxb4
9zpp+-+pzpp0 Qxb4+ 18.Kd1 Bg4+ 19.f3+– Csonka –
9-+n+p+-+0 Szeberenyi, Budapest 2011) 17.0-0 Ne6
9wq-vlP+-+-0 18.Bc4±
9-+-+nvL-+0 10...Rd8 11.Nd2! Black’s position is very
9zP-sN-zPN+-0 cramped.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 9r+ltr-+k+0
9+-+RmKL+R0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+n+psn-+0
11...Nxc3 (11...exd5 12.Rxd5 Nxc3
9wq-vlp+-+-0
13.bxc3 Qxa3 14.Ng5 g6 15.Bc4 – see
9-+P+-vL-+0
9zP-sN-zP-+-0
11...Nxc3; 13...Ne7 14.Ng5 g6 15.Rd2±;
9-zPQsN-zPPzP0
13...Be6 14.Ng5 g6 15.Nxe6 fxe6
9+-+RmKL+R0
16.Rd2± Jaracz – Reuss, Germany 2007)
xiiiiiiiiy
12.bxc3 exd5 13.Ng5!? (13.Rxd5 – see
11...exd5) 13...g6 14.Rxd5 Qxa3 15.Bc4!
XIIIIIIIIY 11...e5? 12.Bg5 d4 13.Nb3 Qb6 14.Bxf6
9r+l+-trk+0 gxf6 15.Nd5+– Bates – Vergun,
9zpp+-+p+p0 Bratislava 1993.
9-+n+-+p+0 11...dxc4 12.Bxc4!? (12.Nxc4 Rxd1+
9+-vlR+-sN-0 13.Qxd1 Qd8, Gallego Jimenez – San
9-+L+-vL-+0 Segundo Carrillo, Cordoba 1995,
9wq-zP-zP-+-0 14.Qxd8+ Nxd8 15.Bd3 Bd7 16.Kd2 Be7
9-+Q+-zPPzP0 17.Rc1²) 12...Be7 13.0-0 Qh5?! (13...Qf5
9+-+-mK-+R0 14.Nde4 Nd5 15.Bg3 Nxc3 16.bxc3ƒ
xiiiiiiiiy Ne5 17.Rxd8+ Bxd8 18.Qd1 Bb6 19.Nd6
Qf6 20.Bb5± Graf – Dobrev, Leipzig
15...Nd8? 16.Nxh7 Kxh7 17.Rh5+ Kg7
2007) 14.Nde4 (14.Bc7 Rd7 15.Bg3±;
18.Be5+ f6 19.Rg5+– Portisch – Berger,
14...Rf8 15.Be2 Qg6 16.Qxg6 hxg6
Amsterdam.
17.Bf3± Forintos – Schneider, Esbjerg
15...Bf5? 16.Rxf5 gxf5 17.0-0 Ne7
1978) 14...Rxd1 15.Nxf6+ (15.Qxd1?!
18.Be5 Bd6 19.Qe2! (It is also good for
Qxd1 16.Rxd1 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 e5 18.Bg3
White to play here 19.Qd1!+–) 19...Bxe5
Kf8 19.f3² Roiz – Khamrakulov,
20.Qh5 Kg7 21.Qxh7+ Kf6, V.Chekhov
Tashkent 2011) 15...Bxf6 16.Rxd1 Bxc3
– Azmaiparashvili, USSR 1981,
17.Be2 Qa5 18.Qxc3 Qxc3 19.bxc3 f6
22.Nxf7+–
20.Bd6 Kf7 21.c4 Bd7 22.c5±
15...Bb4? 16.cxb4 Nxb4, Foisor – Adda,
11...d4!? After this move there arise
Grenoble 2004, 17.Qb3! Qxb3 18.Bxb3
interesting complications, but after a
Nxd5 19.Bxd5 Kg7 20.Ke2± precise play, White ends up with a
15...b6 16.0-0 Ba6 17.Rxc5 bxc5 18.Qe2 superior position. 12.Nb3 Qb6 13.Na4
Bxc4 19.Qxc4 Qa5 (19...Na5 20.Qa6±) Bb4+ 14.axb4 Qxb4+ 15.Nd2 e5
20.Bd6± (15...Qa5 16.Qb3 e5 17.Bg5 Nb4
15...b5 16.Bxb5 (16.Ba2!? Be7 17.0-0 b4 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Be2 – see 15...e5)
16.Bg5
XIIIIIIIIY a6 (12...dxc4 13.Rxd8+ Qxd8 14.Rd1 Bd7
9r+ltr-+k+0 15.Bxc4 a6 16.e4 b5 17.Be2±) 13.cxd5
9zpp+-+pzpp0 (13.Nd2!?±) 13...exd5, Simantsev –
9-+n+-sn-+0 Abramovic, Paracin 2010, 14.Qb3!±
9+-+-zp-vL-0 11...e5
XIIIIIIIIY
9NwqPzp-+-+0 9r+l+-trk+0
9+-+-zP-+-0 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-zPQsN-zPPzP0 9-+n+-sn-+0
9+-+RmKL+R0 9wq-+pzp-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+P+-vL-+0
9zP-sN-zPN+-0
16...Qa5! 17.Bxf6 (17.b3 Nb4 18.Qc1 9-zPQ+LzPPzP0
Bg4 19.Be2 b5 20.Nb2 Bxe2 21.Kxe2 9+-+RmK-+R0
Na2©) 17...gxf6 18.Qb3. White prevents xiiiiiiiiy
in advance the move Nb4. Now, his
e3-pawn is protected and he will have the This is an interesting pawn-sacrifice, but
possibility to advance f3 (18.b3, Ivkov – White should better refrain from
Musil, Maribor 1967, 18...Bg4!‚). accepting it: 12.Bxe5 Nxe5 (12...dxc4
18...Nb4 19.Be2 Bd7 20.Ra1 dxe3 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Bxc4 Bf5 15.Qb3²)
21.fxe3 b5 (21...Bc6? 22.Ra3+–) 22.Qc3 13.Nxe5 Be6 14.0-0 Rac8©
bxa4 23.0-0 f5 (23...Nc6 24.Ne4±) 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 dxc4 14.Bxf6
24.Nf3 f6. This forced line is very Bxf6 15.Bxc4 Bf5 16.Bd3 Bxd3 17.Rxd3
important and has led to a very promising Rfd8© Kozul – Rezan, Zadar 2012.
position for White. The pawn-shelter of
Now, it is better for White to simply
Black’s king has been compromised and
retreat with his bishop and to try to
White can exploit this immediately.
exploit the weaknesses, connected with
25.Nh4²
the advance of Black’s e-pawn. 12.Bg3!
11.Be2
XIIIIIIIIY e4 (12...dxc4 13.Bxc4 – see variation
9r+l+-trk+0 B2a; 12...Be6 13.0-0 dxc4 14.Ng5 b5
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 15.Bf3 Rac8 16.Nce4 g6 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6
9-+n+psn-+0 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Rd6 Nd8 20.h4±)
9wq-+p+-+-0 13.cxd5! exf3 14.Bxf3 Nb8 15.0-0±
9-+P+-vL-+0 11...a6. Black is ready to capture on c4
9zP-sN-zPN+-0 and to follow this with the pawn-advance
9-zPQ+LzPPzP0 b7-b5. White succeeds in preventing this,
9+-+RmK-+R0 however. 12.Nd2! (12.0-0, Khurtsidze –
xiiiiiiiiy Kuchava, Tbilisi 2015, 12...dxc4!
We will analyse now D1) 11...Ne4 and 13.Bxc4 b5 14.Ba2 Bb7∞) 12...Qc5
D2) 11...dxc4. 13.0-0 Qa7 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Nf3²
11...Rd8. This move is too slow and does D1) 11...Ne4
not solve the problems with the With this move Black changes radically
development of Black’s queenside. 12.0-0 the character of the fight, but his problems
remain to be solved.
12.cxd5 Nxc3 Bxe6 26.Bxe6 Bd6 27.Bd5± I.Sokolov –
White has two possibilities now and they Meier, Budva 2009.
are both quite promising.
XIIIIIIIIY 16...Be7 17.Kd2² Rd8?! 18.Bf3 Nxd4
9r+l+-trk+0 19.cxd4 Bb4+ 20.Kd3 Rxd5 21.Bxd5 Kf8
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 22.Rc1± Nyback – Dobrev, France 2009.
9-+n+p+-+0 16...Nxd4 17.exd4 b6 (17...Be7?! 18.Kd2
9wq-+P+-+-0 a6 19.Bf3 Be6 20.Ra5 Ra7 21.Rb1 Bd8
9-+-+-vL-+0 22.Raa1 b6 23.Bc6+– Guichard –
9zP-sn-zPN+-0 Maisuradze, Caen 2011) 18.Kd2
XIIIIIIIIY
9-zPQ+LzPPzP0 9r+l+-trk+0
9+-+RmK-+R0 9zp-+-+pzpp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zp-+-+-+0
13.bxc3
9+-+R+-+-0
Now, both captures on c3 are interesting,
9-+-zP-vL-+0
but in the first case, after the trade of the
9vl-zP-+-+-0
queens, there arises a very complicated
9-+-mKLzPPzP0
9+-+-+-+R0
endgame, while in the other variation,
xiiiiiiiiy
White continues his fight for the
advantage with queens present on the 18...Be6 19.Rb5 Bd7 20.Rb3 Be7 21.Bf3±
board. S.Atalik – Lekic, Vogosca 2007.
13.Qxc3 – 13...Qxc3+ 14.bxc3 exd5 18...a6 19.Ra1 Be6 (19...Be7 20.Rb5!?
15.Rxd5 Bxa3 16.Nd4! This endgame is Bd8 21.Bf3 Ra7 22.Rb2±; 20.Bf3 Be6
not so harmless for Black. White’s knight 21.Rh5 Ra7 22.Rb5 Bd8 23.Bc6±
exerts powerful pressure against the E.Atalik – Munguntuul, Olginka 2011)
enemy position and prevents the 20.Re5 Bd6 21.Re4 Bxf4+ 22.Rxf4 b5
development of Black’s light-squared 23.Bf3 Ra7 24.d5 (24.Bc6 Rb8 25.Re1!?
bishop. It is not in his favour to exchange g5! 26.Rfe4 Rc7 27.d5 Rd8= Moiseenko –
it, because White will obtain a powerful Akobian, Montreal 2009) 24...Bc8 25.c4±
passed pawn in the centre.
XIIIIIIIIY Bodiroga – Miranovic, Sombor 2009.
9r+l+-trk+0 13...exd5 14.0-0 Be6
9zpp+-+pzpp0 14...Qxa3?! 15.Rxd5± Be6 16.Ng5 g6
9-+n+-+-+0 (16...Bxg5 17.Bd6!+–) 17.Nxe6 fxe6
9+-+R+-+-0 18.Rd7+– Khenkin – Zumsande, Dresden
9-+-sN-vL-+0 2010.
9vl-zP-zP-+-0
14...Bf6 15.c4 Be6 16.Bg5 dxc4 17.Bxf6
9-+-+LzPPzP0
gxf6 18.Bxc4 Qc5 19.Rc1 Bxc4 (It would
9+-+-mK-+R0
be possibly better for Black to capture the
xiiiiiiiiy
pawn here: 19...Qxa3 20.Bd3 h6 21.Ra1
16...a5 17.Rb5 a4 18.Kd2 Be7 19.Ra1 Qe7 22.Ra4!? Nb4 23.Bh7 Kh8
Ra7 20.Bg5!? f6 21.Bf4² Rd8?! 22.Bc7 24.Qe4©) 20.Qxc4 Qxc4 21.Rxc4 Rfd8
Re8 23.Bb6 Ra8 24.Bc4+ Kf8 25.Ne6+ 22.Rb1 Rd7 23.g3 a6 24.Kg2 Rad8
25.a4± Giri – Kasimdzhanov, Rosmalen
2014. Nxc6 26.Rxd5²
15.a4
XIIIIIIIIY D2)XIIIIIIIIY
11...dxc4 12.Bxc4
9r+-+-trk+0 9r+l+-trk+0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-+n+l+-+0 9-+n+psn-+0
9wq-+p+-+-0 9wq-+-+-+-0
9P+-+-vL-+0 9-+L+-vL-+0
9+-zP-zPN+-0 9zP-sN-zPN+-0
9-+Q+LzPPzP0 9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0 9+-+RmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
15...Qc5 We will deal in details now with: D2a)
15...Rac8?! 16.Rb1 Bf6 (16...Nd8 12...e5, D2b) 12...a6 and D2c) 12...Nh5.
17.Rfc1²) 17.Rxb7 (White obtains only a 12...b6? 13.Bb5! Bb7 (13...Bd7 14.Rxd7)
symbolic advantage following: 17.Rb5 14.Nd2 – with the idea Nc4.
Qxc3 18.Qxc3 Bxc3 19.Rxb7 d4 20.Rc1 12...Qh5 13.Be2 Qg6 14.Qxg6 hxg6
Bd5 21.Rd7 Rfd8 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Bb5 15.Ne5±
Bxf3 24.gxf3 Nb4 25.Bc7 Rc8 26.Ba5
12...Bd7 13.0-0 Rfd8 (13...Rfc8 14.Bd3!?
Na2 27.Rc2 Ra8 28.Bxc3 Nxc3 29.Bd7
Be8 15.Nd2 b5 16.Qb1 b4 17.Nc4 Qc5
Rd8 30.exd4 Rxd7 31.Rxc3 g6=) 17...d4,
18.axb4 Nxb4, Parligras – Pavlovic,
Vorobiov – Mikhalevski, Pardubice 2007,
Kragujevac 2015, 19.Bd6! Bxd6
18.c4 Rfd8 (18...Qc3 19.Rc1²) 19.exd4
20.Nxd6±) 14.Qb3 (14.Ba2 Be8 15.Bb1
Nxd4 20.Nxd4 Bxd4 21.Rb5²
Rxd1 16.Rxd1 Rd8 17.Rc1 g6= Atalik –
15...Rfc8 16.Rb1 Bf6 (16...Nd8 17.Rfc1 Prandstetter, Praha 2014) 14...Qc5 15.Be2
Bf6 18.Nd4²; 17.Be5 Nc6 18.Bg3 Nd8 Na5 16.Qa2ƒ, with the idea 16...b5
19.Rfc1 Bf6 20.Nd4 Bd7 21.Qb3±) 17.Rc1 Qb6 18.b4²
17.Rxb7 Qxc3 18.Qxc3 Bxc3 19.Rc1 Bf6
D2a) 12...e5
20.h3² Conquest – Greenfeld, Hastings
This is a natural, but very important
1985.
decision for Black. He wishes to develop
16.Rb1 comfortably his light-squared bishop, but
16.Qb1!? b6 17.Nd4 Bf6 18.h3!? Ne5 his e-pawn will need permanent
19.e4 Rad8 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Qb3ƒ protection.
16...b6 17.Rfc1!? 13.Bg3
White would not achieve much with 13.Bg5?! e4=
17.Rfd1 Bf6 18.Nd4 (18.Ng5 Bxg5
19.Bxg5 d4 20.Bf4 Rad8= Khenkin –
Zumsande, Dresden 2010) 18...Nxd4
19.exd4 Qc8 20.Bd3 g6²
17...Bf6 18.Nd4 Na5 19.Bd3 g6
20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Bxg6 hxg6 22.Qxg6+
Bg7 (22...Kh8 23.Bh6 Nc4 24.e4!²)
23.Qxe6+ Rf7 24.Rb5 Qc6 25.Qxc6
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-+n+-sn-+0
9wq-+-zp-+-0
9-+L+-+-+0
9zP-sN-zPNvL-0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9+-+RmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
13...Bg4
This is Black’s most logical move.
The seemingly active move 13...e4?! will
only create additional problems for him:
14.Nd2 Bg4 15.Rc1 Bf5 (15...Ne5 16.b4
Nd3+ 17.Qxd3+– Nielsen – Ernst,
Sweden 2009) 16.0-0 Rac8 17.Bb5!? a6
18.Nc4 Qd8 19.Rfd1 Qe8 20.Bxc6 Qxc6
21.Nd6 Bxd6 22.Rxd6 Qc4 23.Rcd1±
Thejkumar – Karthikeyan, Dindigul 2014.
14.0-0 Rac8
This is Black’s best move. His
alternatives are clearly weaker.
14...Rfd8? 15.Qb3±
It would bee too slow for Black to choose
here 14...Bh5? 15.Nd5 Bxf3, Chabanon –
Dal Borgo, France 2010, 16.gxf3 Nxd5
17.Rxd5 Qb6 18.Rb5 Qc7 19.Rxe5!
14...a6 15.Nd5 (15.Bd5 Rac8 16.Qb3
Nxd5 17.Nxd5± San Diego – Jelsen, Hue
2012) 15...Nxd5 16.Bxd5 Rac8 17.Qe4±
14...Bxf3. The exchange of the bishop is
not good enough to equalise. 15.gxf3
Rad8 (15...Rac8 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.Rxd5±
Khenkin – Tischendorf, Germany 2010;
15...a6 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.Rxd5±
Kazimova – Sargsyan, Batumi 2010)
16.Rxd8± Bxd8 17.Rd1 Qc5 18.Ne4
Nxe4 19.Qxe4 Bf6 20.Rd7+–
Cyborowski – Hrabinska, Cappelle la
Grande 2008.
14...Rad8. Black prevents Nc3-d5, but
does not control the b5-square and after
the exchange of the rooks 15.Rxd8 Bxd8
(15...Rxd8? 16.Ng5 Bh5 17.Qb3+– Fier –
Pitra, Jakarta 2011), White plays
16.Nb5!?, creating a threat against the
enemy e5-pawn and provokes his
opponent to exchange unfavourably his
light-squared bishop for the enemy
knight. In addition, White prepares the
important pawn-advance b2-b4. 16...Bxf3
17.gxf3 a6 (17...Qb6 18.Rd1 Be7
19.Nc3±) 18.b4 Qb6 19.Nc3± Holm –
Saevareid, Norway 2015.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-trk+0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-+n+-sn-+0
9wq-+-zp-+-0
9-+L+-+l+0
9zP-sN-zPNvL-0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
15.Nd5!?
This is White’s most active move.
15.Rc1!? a6 16.Ng5 (16.Rfd1²) 16...Bh5
17.Bd3 (17.Nd5?! Bg6 18.Nxe7+ Nxe7
19.Qb3 b5= Rychagov – Aveskulov,
Saratov 2006) 17...Bg6 18.Bxg6 hxg6
19.Rfd1² – Black’s doubled pawns
provide White’s knight with the
comfortable g5-square and a clear
advantage.
15...Nxd5
15...e4? Kotanjian – Chigladze, Tbilisi
2009, 16.b4! Qxa3 17.Ra1+–
15...b5 16.Ng5! g6 17.Nxe7+ Nxe7
18.Bxf7+ Rxf7 19.Qb3 Rc4 20.f3 Bc8
21.Nxf7 Kxf7 22.Bxe5 Be6 23.Qd3±
Rasmussen – Rendboe, Silkeborg 2009.
16.Rxd5
16.Bxd5!? Bf6 17.Qb3 Qc7 18.h3²
16...Qc7
 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-trk+0 17.Be2± Bruzon Batista – Abdel Razik,
9zppwq-vlpzpp0 Khanty-Mansiysk 2010.
9-+n+-+-+0 14.Bd3
9+-+Rzp-+-0 14.Bb3!? Bb7 15.Ne4 Qb6 16.Nfg5
9-+L+-+l+0 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Bxg5 18.Bc2! (18.Bxg5?
9zP-+-zPNvL-0 Na5³) 18...g6 19.Bxg5 Na5 20.Qg4 f5
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 21.Qg3² Arsovic – Abramovic, Vrnjacka
9+-+-+RmK-0 Banja 2009.
xiiiiiiiiy 14...Bb7 15.Ne4
XIIIIIIIIY
17.Bd3! (17.Qe4?! Be6 18.Rd2 Bxc4 9r+-+-trk+0
19.Qxc4 Bf6 20.Rfd1 Rfd8= Werner –
9+l+-vlpzpp0
Porat, Budapest 2005) 17...Bxf3 (17...g6
9p+n+psn-+0
18.Nxe5) 18.gxf3 g6 19.Rc1 Rfd8
9wqp+-+-+-0
20.Rxd8+ Bxd8 21.Be4 Bf6 22.b4 a6
9-+-+NvL-+0
9zP-+LzPN+-0
23.Bd5 Kg7 24.Qe4±
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
D2b) 12...a6 13.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+R+RmK-0
9r+l+-trk+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+p+-vlpzpp0
9p+n+psn-+0 15...g6
9wq-+-+-+-0 15...Nd5? 16.Nd6+– M.Gurevich – Porat,
9-+L+-vL-+0 Hoogeveen 2004.
9zP-sN-zPN+-0 15...Rac8? 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Bxh7+ Kh8
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 18.Qb1± Biriukov – Vunder, St
9+-+R+RmK-0 Petersburg 2008.
xiiiiiiiiy 15...h6?! 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Bh7+ Kh8
13...b5 18.Rd7 Qb6 (18...e5 19.Bxh6 Nd8
13...e5?! 14.Bg5 Bg4 15.Bf6 Bxf3 20.Bg5+– Stohl – Cvitan, Polanica Zdroj
16.gxf3 Bxf6 17.Rd7± Stohl – 1985; 18...Bc8 19.Rc7 e5 20.Qxc6+–
Dobrovolsky, Rimavska Sobota 1990. Parligras – Chighladze, Yerevan 2014)
19.Bd6 Rfc8 20.Bc5 Nb8 21.Bxb6 Rxc2
13...Bd7 14.Ne4 Rfd8 15.Nfg5 Nxe4
22.Rxf7 Kxh7 23.Rxb7 Nc6 24.b3±
16.Qxe4! Bxg5 17.b4± Rojo Huerta –
Pastor Alonso de Prado, Madrid 2010. 16.Nd6 Qb6 17.Nxb7 Qxb7 18.Be2
Rac8 19.Qb1 Rfd8 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8
13...h6 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Qf5
21.Rc1 Nd5 22.Bg3 Bd6 23.Bxd6,
16.Bd3 Qxe4 17.Bxe4± Moradiabadi –
Debashish – Thejkumar, Bhopal 2013,
Ootes, Vienna 2009.
23...Rxd6 24.Qc2²
13...Nh5 14.Bd6 Bxd6 15.Rxd6 Nf6
D2c) 12...Nh5
(15...Ne5 16.Ng5 Nf6 17.Nce4 Nxe4
18.Qxe4 Ng6 19.f4±; 15...Rd8 16.Rxd8
Qxd8 17.Rd1 Qe7 18.Ne4 Nf6 19.Bd3 h6
20.Nd6 Nd5 21.Qc5± Kovalenko –
Short, Tromso 2014) 16.Rfd1 Ne5
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 9r+l+-trk+0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 9zppwq-vlpzpp0
9-+n+p+-+0 9-+n+p+-+0
9wq-+-+-+n0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+L+-vL-+0 9-+L+-zP-+0
9zP-sN-zPN+-0 9zP-sN-+N+-0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9+-+RmK-+R0 9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
13.0-0! 15.g3 a6 16.Rfe1 g6 (16...Bd7? 17.f5±
This is White’s most promising move, Kovacs – Schneider Zinner, Oberwart
while his alternatives are slightly inferior. 2009) 17.Bb3 Rd8 18.Ne4 Bd7 19.Qc3
13.Bd6 Bxd6 14.Rxd6 Nf6= Mecking – Qa5 20.Qe3²
Short, Wijk aan Zee 2009. and 15.f5 Qf4 16.Bd3 exf5 17.Nd5 Qh6
13.Bd3 Nxf4 (13...g6 14.Bh6 Rd8 15.0-0 18.Rfe1 Bd6 19.Bxf5 (19.h3 Rd8 20.Ne3
Bd7 16.Be2 a6, Vallejo Pons – Short, Ne7 21.Bc4 Bd7 22.Qb3, Chirila –
Wijk aan Zee 2009, 17.Ne4 Nf6 Ippolito, Rockville 2014, 22...Be8
18.Nd6²) 14.exf4 (14.Bxh7+? Kh8 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.Bxd5 Qf6 25.Qxb7
15.exf4 g6 16.Bxg6 fxg6 17.Qxg6 Qf5!µ) g6∞) 19...Rd8 20.Be4 (20.Re2ƒ) 20...Be6
14...g6∞ 21.g3 Rac8 22.h4!?²
XIIIIIIIIY
13...Nxf4 14.exf4
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+l+-trk+0
9r+l+-trk+0 9zpp+-vlp+p0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 9-+n+p+p+0
9-+n+p+-+0 9wq-+-+-+-0
9wq-+-+-+-0 9-+L+-zP-+0
9-+L+-zP-+0 9zP-sN-+N+-0
9zP-sN-+N+-0 9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 9+-+R+RmK-0
9+-+R+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
15.Bb5!
14...g6 This move is stronger than 15.g3, because
14...Rd8 15.Rxd8+ Qxd8 16.Rd1 Qc7 after 15...a6! Black will gradually
(16...Bd7 17.f5± Gupta – Kjartansson, equalise.
Reykjavik 2009) 17.Qd2!?² b6?! 18.Nb5
Qb8 19.f5+–
14...a6 15.Bd3 g6 16.Be4 Qc7 17.Bxc6
bxc6 (17...Qxc6 18.Ne5 Qc7 19.Rc1±)
18.Ne5²
14...Qc7. Now, White has two
approximately equal alternatives:
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 f6?! 19.b4 a5 20.Rc1 Ra6 21.Nc5±
9+p+-vlp+p0 Jakovenko – A.Onischuk, Poikovsky
9p+n+p+p+0 2012) 18.Rd7 Qb6 19.Qc3 Rac8 20.Nf6+
9wq-+-+-+-0 Bxf6 21.Qxf6 Nb8 22.Rd3 Qc6 23.Rfd1
9-+L+-zP-+0 Qe4 24.Re3 Qf5 25.Qe7 Bd5 26.Nd4
9zP-sN-+NzP-0 Qh3 27.Bf3 Nc6 28.Nxc6 Bxf3 29.Rxf3
9-zPQ+-zP-zP0 Rxc6 30.Qb7 Rc5 31.Rfd3 Rh5 32.Qg2
9+-+R+RmK-0 Qxg2+ 33.Kxg2 b4=
xiiiiiiiiy 15...Qc7 16.Bxc6 bxc6
16...Qxc6 17.Ne5±
16.Bd3 Rd8=
17.Ne5 c5 18.Rd2 Rb8 19.Rfd1 Rb7
16.Be2 Rd8 17.Rxd8+ Qxd8 18.Rd1
19...Bf6 20.Ne4 Bxe5 21.fxe5 Qxe5
Bd7=
22.Nxc5 a5 23.Qc1!?²
16.Ne4 b5! (16...e5 17.Rd5 Qc7 18.Nxe5
20.Qa4 Bf6 21.Nb5 Qb8 22.Nc6 Qa8
Be6 19.Rd2 Nxe5 20.Bxe6 Qxc2 21.Rxc2
23.Nd6± Pelletier – A.Sokolov,
Nf3+ 22.Kg2 Nd4? 23.Rc7 Bd8
Switzerland 2009.
24.Rc8!±; 22...Nh4+ 23.gxh4 fxe6
24.Rc7²) 17.Be2 Bb7 (17...Qb6 18.Qc3ƒ
 About 7.g4 – see Fedoseev – Rozum, St
Chapter 14 Petersburg 2012, game 14.
XIIIIIIIIY
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 9r+lwq-trk+0
5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7
XIIIIIIIIY 9zppzpnvlpzpp0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9-+-+psn-+0
9zppzpnvlpzpp0 9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-+psn-+0 9-+PzP-vL-+0
9+-+p+-+-0 9+-sN-zPN+-0
9-+PzP-vL-+0 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9+-sN-zPN+-0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy 7...dxc4
7...Re8?! 8.0-0² Nf8?! 9.Nb5± Brause –
This is Black’s most popular move. Lately Podak, Biedenkopf 1997.
it has become the main choice for him and 7...a6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.0-0²
all his alternatives have been almost 7...b6 8.cxd5! exd5 (8...Nxd5 9.Nxd5
forgotten. The idea is very simple. Black exd5 10.Rc1 c5 11.dxc5 Nxc5 12.Be5²
wishes to advance c7-c5 and if White will N.Maiorov – Ly, Aschach 2015) 9.0-0
try to fight for the advantage, he must Bb7 10.Rc1 (10.h3!? c5 11.Rc1²) 10...c5
react with dxc5. Then, Black will capture (10...Nh5 11.Be5²) 11.Ne5 Rc8 12.Qa4²
on c5 with his knight, reaching a position Zhou Jianhao – Nguyen Duc Hoa,
with an isolated pawn in the centre, but Guangzhou 2010.
after the exchange of the knights White has serious arguments against the
following cxd5 Nxd5 Nxd5 exd5. His line: 7...c5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 (8...exd5 9.0-0
bishop gains access to the important b6 10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.Nd4± Hejazipour –
f6-square after this and exerts powerful Gavasheli, Baku 2012; 9...a6 10.Ne5
pressure in the centre, while White’s cxd4 11.Nxd7 Bxd7 12.Qxd4 Be6
bishop on f4 is practically isolated from 13.Rfd1² Ibragimov – Shabalov, Bad
the actions, attacking nothing on the Wiessee 1999) 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.0-0
h2-b8 diagonal. All this compensates the
XIIIIIIIIY
presence of Black’s isolated pawn. The
9r+lwq-trk+0
following variation illustrates this: 7.a3 c5
9zpp+nvlpzpp0
9-+-+-+-+0
8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.dxc5 Nxc5
9+-zpp+-+-0
11.Be2 Bf6 with an approximately equal
9-+-zP-vL-+0
position.
9+-+-zPN+-0
7.Be2 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
This simple developing move has 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
attracted numerous followers. Its only xiiiiiiiiy
drawback is that Black can capture dxc4,
a move which was not so often played 10...Qb6?! 11.Qc2 cxd4 (11...Nf6,
before, and White will have to recapture Dlamant – Akobian, Bursa 2010, 12.dxc5
the pawn on c4 in two moves. Bxc5 Rfc1±) 12.Nxd4 Nc5 13.Be5 Re8
14.Nb5 Rf8 15.Bd4± Xiu – Ji, Golden
Sands 2012.
10...cxd4?! 11.Nxd4 Nc5 12.Rc1 Ne6
13.Be5± Aravindh – Visakh, Thrissur
2014.
10...Nf6?! 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Rc1 Bd6
13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Nd4± Gagunashvili –
Visakh, New Delhi 2014.
10...a6 11.b3!? (11.dxc5 Nxc5 12.Be5
Bf5 13.Rc1 Rc8 14.Nd4² Girya –
Khotenashvili, Belgrade 2013) 11...Nf6
12.dxc5 Bxc5 13.Rc1 Ba3 14.Rc2 Bf5
15.Bd3²
Now, it is not so good for Black to play
the principled move 10...c4, because of
11.b3 Nb6 12.bxc4 dxc4 13.Qc2 (13.a4!?
a5 14.Qb1 Bd7 15.Ne5 Be6 16.Rd1²)
13...Be6 14.Bg3! (14.e4 f5!∞; 14.Rab1
Rc8 15.a4 a5 16.Ng5 Bxg5 17.Bxg5 f6
18.Bh4 c3 19.Bd3 h6∞ Vitiugov –
Nakamura, Reggio Emilia 2011) 14...Rc8
15.e4²
7...c6. This move is solid and also clever,
since after it White must consider Nf6-h5,
as well as dxc4.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+nvlpzpp0
9-+p+psn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+PzP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
White’s attempt to preserve his dark-
squared bishop with the move 8.h3 can be
countered by Black with a reaction
resembling the Meran variation –
8...dxc4! (8...Ne8?! 9.0-0 f5 10.c5!? Bf6
11.b4± Wojtaszek – Radjabov, Beijing
2014; 8...b6 9.0-0 Bb7 10.cxd5 exd5
11.Qc2 Rc8 12.Rfd1 Re8 13.Rac1²
Cheparinov – Danov, Kozloduy 2014)
9.Bxc4 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.0-0 (11.Rc1 a6
12.0-0 c5= Helis – Flak, Polanica Zdroj
2000) 11...a6 12.a4 b4 13.Ne4 c5 14.Nd6
Bxf3 15.Qxf3 cxd4 16.exd4 Nb6 17.Qc6
Nfd5 18.Be5 Bxd6 19.Qxd6 Qxd6
20.Bxd6 Rfd8=
8.Nd2!? This is a flexible move. White
parries both his opponent’s ideas. 8...b6
(8...dxc4 9.Nxc4²) 9.0-0 c5 10.Bf3 Bb7
11.Rc1ƒ
8.0-0!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+nvlpzpp0
9-+p+psn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+PzP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
8...Re8?! 9.h3 Nf8 10.c5. This is not
White’s only reaction against Black’s
rather awkward plan, but it is very good.
10...Ng6 11.Bh2 Nd7 12.b4 Bf6 13.e4±
Wachinger – Kippel, Willingen 2009.
8...a6 9.c5!? Nh5 10.Be5² Tabatadze –
Shengelia, Tbilisi 1998.
8...b6 9.cxd5 Nxd5 (9...cxd5?! Holin –
Grandjean, Montigny le Bretonneux 2006,
10.Nb5 Ne8 11.Rc1±) 10.Nxd5 exd5
11.Qc2 Bb7 12.Rfd1²
8...Nh5. This is Black’s most principled
move.
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0 depending on Black’s responses, which
9zpp+nvlpzpp0 we plan to analyse later. He has the
9-+p+p+-+0 possibility to change the character of the
9+-+p+-+n0 fight with the move 8....Nd5 and after that
9-+PzP-vL-+0 White does not obtain a clear advantage
9+-sN-zPN+-0 indeed, but seizes the initiative for a long
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 time thanks to his extra space.
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 After 8.Bxc4, Black equalises
xiiiiiiiiy convincingly.
XIIIIIIIIY
About 9.Rc1!? – see Gelfand – Oparin,
9r+lwq-trk+0
Moscow 2015, game 15.
9zppzpnvlpzpp0
9-+-+psn-+0
9.Be5 f6 (9...g6 10.Rc1 Nxe5, Kempinski
9+-+-+-+-0
– Wojtkiewicz, ICC 2000, 11.dxe5! f6 9-+LzP-vL-+0
12.Qd3 fxe5 13.Nxe5 Ng7 14.f4 Bd6 9+-sN-zPN+-0
15.e4!?²) 10.Bg3 f5 11.Be5 Nhf6 12.Bf4 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
(12.h3?! Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Nd7 14.f4 Nxe5 9tR-+QmK-+R0
15.fxe5 Bg5 16.Qd2 Bd7∞ Gelfand – xiiiiiiiiy
Aronian, London 2013) 12...Nh5 13.Re1
Nxf4 14.exf4² 8...a6! He is planning b7-b5 (8...c5?!
9.Qc2!? Nxf4 10.exf4 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Nf6 9.dxc5 Nxc5 10.0-0²). 9.a4 c5 10.dxc5
(11...Nb6 12.Bd3 g6 13.g3 Nd5 14.a3 (10.d5? Nb6µ; 10.0-0 cxd4 11.Qxd4 b6∞;
Nxc3 15.Qxc3 Qd6 16.Rac1² Tari – 11...Nb6!? 12.Bb3 Qxd4 13.Nxd4 Bd7=)
Oparin, Pune 2014) 12.Rad1 Qc7 13.Ne5! 10...Bxc5!? (10...Nxc5!?= Roiz –
(13.g3 c5? Artemiev – Golubov, Baku Grigoriants, St Lorenzo 1995). The
2014, 14.d5! exd5 15.Ng5!! dxc4? inclusion of the moves a7-a6 and a2-a4
16.Nd5+–; 15...g6 16.Bxd5!±; 13...b6 leads to weakening of squares and
14.Ne5 Bb7 15.Rfe1 g6!?∞) 13...b6 White’s impossibility to acquire more
14.f5! exf5? 15.Nb5! Qb7 16.Nxc6+–
XIIIIIIIIY space with a2-a3 and then b2-b4, so it is
9r+lwq-trk+0 definitely in favour of Black. 11.0-0 b6
9zppzpnvlpzpp0 12.Qe2 Bb7 13.Rfd1 Qe7=
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+psn-+0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9zppzpnvlpzpp0
9-+pzP-vL-+0 9-+-+psn-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 9-+pzP-vL-+0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 9+-sN-zPN+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
8.0-0!? xiiiiiiiiy
White is not in a hurry to capture the
enemy pawn. He wishes to do this after We will analyse in details now A)
more favourable circumstances, 8...Nd5, B) 8...a6, C) 8...Nb6 and D)

8...c5.
8...b6 9.Bxc4 Bb7 10.Qe2 c5 11.dxc5
Bxc5 12.Rfd1 Qe7 13.a3! a5 14.e4 e5
15.Bg5± Khademalsharieh – Tohirjonova,
Incheon 2013.
8...Nh5 9.Be5!? f6 10.Bg3 Nxg3 11.hxg3
Nb6, Holt – Bryant, Orlando 2014,
12.Nd2²
A) 8...Nd5 9.Bxc4!
9.Bg3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 b5 11.a4 c6 12.Qc2
a5! (12...a6 13.Rfb1 Nb6 14.Ne5 Bd7
15.Bf3 Nxa4 16.Nxc4 f6 17.Be4²
Tregubov – Savchenko, Sochi 2012)
13.Rfb1 Ba6∞
9...Nxf4 10.exf4
This standard pawn-structure is
advantageous for White, if Black’s pawn
is on c6, so naturally, he would like to
advance c7-c5.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzpnvlpzpp0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+LzP-zP-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...c5
But not immediately 10...b6?, due to
11.d5! Nc5 12.Qc2±
10...Nb6 11.Bd3 (It is not so good for
White to choose here 11.Bb3. His bishop
is not so well placed on this square, as on
d3, and this enables Black to complete
comfortably his development. 11...Nd5
12.g3 Nxc3 13.bxc3 b6 14.d5 exd5
15.Bxd5 Bg4 16.Qb3 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Rb8
18.Rad1 Bd6= Holt – Rosen, Chicago
2015) 11...Nd5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+-+n+-+-0
9-+-zP-zP-+0
9+-sNL+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
12.g3 b6. Now, with a bishop on d3,
White can counter this way of
development of Black’s queenside in a
much more effective fashion. 13.Nxd5
exd5 14.Qc2 g6 15.Qc6! (15.Ne5,
Solomon – Weichelt, Caleta 2014, 15...c5!
16.Nc6 Qd6 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Rfe1
Qd6 19.Re5 Be6=) 15...Bd7 16.Qxd5
Bh3 17.Qxd8 Raxd8 18.Rfc1! (18.Rfe1
Bf6=) 18...c5 19.Bf1 Bxf1 20.Kxf1 Bf6
21.Rc4 cxd4 22.Rd1 Rc8 (22...d3 23.b3²)
23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Ne1² – Black will be
faced with a long and laborious defence in
this endgame.
12.Qd2!? Qd6 (12...b6 13.Nxd5 exd5
14.Ne5 Bb7 15.Qe3 c5 16.Qh3 g6 17.f5
Bf6 18.f4ƒ) 13.Rac1 c6 14.g3 Nxc3
15.Rxc3 Bd7 16.h4 Rfd8 17.Rd1 Be8
18.Qe3² Macieja – Cyborowski, Warsaw
2012.
11.dxc5
11.d5?! Nb6 12.b3 exd5 13.Nxd5 Nxc4
14.bxc4 Be6=
11...Qc7
11...Bxc5 12.Qc2!? Nf6 13.Rfd1 Qc7
14.Ne5 b6 15.a3²
11...Nxc5 12.Qe2 Bf6 (12...Bd7 13.Rfd1
Qb6 14.Ne5²) 13.Rfd1 (13.Rad1 Qc7
14.Ne5² Aronian – Markov, Tromsoe
2013) 13...Qb6 14.Ne5 Bxe5 15.Qxe5
Bd7 16.Rd2 Bc6 17.Rad1²
12.g3
12.f5!? Nxc5 13.Qe2 Bf6 14.fxe6
 XIIIIIIIIY
(14.Rac1, Cmilyte – Dorfman, Podebrady 9r+l+-trk+0
2013, 14...exf5 15.Nd5 Qd8 16.Nxf6+ 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
Qxf6 17.Bxf7+ Rxf7 18.Rxc5 b6=) 9-sn-+p+-+0
14...Bxe6 15.Bxe6 fxe6 (15...Nxe6 9+-+-+-+q0
16.Nd5²) 16.Rac1²
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-zP-+0
9r+l+-trk+0 9+-sNL+NzP-0
9zppwqnvlpzpp0 9PzP-+QzP-zP0
9-+-+p+-+0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
9+-zP-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+L+-zP-+0
15.Rfd1!?
9+-sN-+NzP-0
9PzP-+-zP-zP0 In the game Aronian – Anand, Moscow
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 2011, White obtained an advantage
xiiiiiiiiy following 15.Qe3 Bf6 16.Ng5! Bxc3
17.bxc3 h6 18.Be2 Qg6 19.Nf3 Qf6
12...Qxc5 20.Ne5±. It was stronger for Black to opt
12...Nxc5 13.Rc1 Qb6 14.Qe2 Bf6, for 15...Bc5 16.Qe4 Nd5, for example:
Shankland – Boruchovsky, Fagernes 17.Rac1 Nf6 18.Qe2 b6 19.Ne4 Bb7=
2014, 15.a3! a5 16.Qe3!? Nd7 17.Bb5 15...Bd7 16.Be4 Rab8
XIIIIIIIIY
Qxe3 18.fxe3² – White has slightly better 9-tr-+-trk+0
prospects in this endgame due to the 9zpp+lvlpzpp0
vulnerability of the b5-square. 9-sn-+p+-+0
13.Qe2ƒ Nb6 9+-+-+-+q0
13...a6. This way of development seems 9-+-+LzP-+0
quite logical for Black. He is preparing 9+-sN-+NzP-0
b7-b5. White has however tactical counter 9PzP-+QzP-zP0
arguments against it. 14.Rac1 b5 15.Bxe6! 9tR-+R+-mK-0
fxe6 16.Qxe6+ Rf7 17.Nd5 Qd6 xiiiiiiiiy
18.Nxe7+ Qxe7 19.Qc6 Rb8 20.Rfe1 Qf6
21.Re6 Qd8 22.Ng5 Bb7 23.Nxf7 Kxf7 17.Qe1. It may seem at first sight that
Black’s queen is well placed on h5, but it
24.Qd6 Nf8 25.Qxd8 Rxd8 26.Ree1! Rd7
is far from being comfortable there. If
27.Red1²
White plays Nf3-e5, then the enemy
14.Bd3 Qh5
queen will be cut off from his forces.
14...Bd7 15.Ne5 Bc6 16.Rac1±
This is the idea behind his last move.
17...Bf6 18.Ne5 Bxe5 19.fxe5²
B) 8...a6!?
Black plans to counter 9.Bxc4 with 9...b5
and then Bc8-b7, c7-c5 and will have no
problems whatsoever.
9.a4
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+pzpnvlpzpp0
9p+-+psn-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9P+pzP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9-zP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Naturally, White prevents his opponent’s
plan.
9...c5
Black relies on the advantageous
inclusion of the moves a6 – a4.
9...b6, Gupta – Vaibhav, Kolkata 2012,
10.d5! Nc5 11.Bxc4 Bb7 12.dxe6 Nxe6
13.Qxd8 Bxd8 14.Bg3 Rc8 15.Rfd1²
9...Bd6 10.Bxd6 cxd6 11.Bxc4 d5 (11...b6
12.d5 e5 13.Nd2 Bb7 14.e4² Bacrot –
Khismatullin, Berlin 2015) 12.Bd3 b6
13.Qb3 Qe7 14.Rac1 Bb7 15.Rc2 Rfc8
16.Rfc1 Qd6 17.Ne5² Kasimdzhanov –
Kramnik, Tromse 2014.
9...Nh5 10.Bxc4 (10.Be5!? Nhf6 11.Qc2
c5 12.Rfd1ƒ) 10...Nxf4 11.exf4 c6
12.Qe2 Qa5 13.Bb3 Rd8 14.Rfd1 g6
15.Ne4 Nf6 16.Neg5 Nd5 17.g3 Bd7
18.h4 h5 19.Ne5ƒ Wojtaszek – Granda
Zuniga, Baku 2015.
9...Nd5 10.Bg3!? (10.Bxc4 Nxf4 11.exf4
– see 9....Nh5 10.Bxc4 Nxf4 11.exf4)
10...b6 11.Bxc4 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Bb7
13.Bd3 Bd6 14.Qc2 h6 15.a5!? (White
would achieve less with 15.Bh7+ Kh8
16.Be4 Bxe4 17.Qxe4 Nf6 18.Qd3 Bxg3
19.hxg3 c5 20.Rfb1 Qc7= Navara –
Ivanchuk, Berlin 2015) 15...b5 16.c4 bxc4
17.Qxc4 Bxg3 18.hxg3 c5 19.Rfb1 Qc7
20.Rc1 Rfc8 21.Qb3² – Black’s pawn on
a6 has been fixed and may become a
cause of great worries for him in the
future.
10.d5
White has this resource now thanks to his
move eight.
10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.Bxc4 Qa5!=
10...exd5 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.Qxd5 Nf6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+-vlpzpp0
9p+-+-sn-+0
9+-zpQ+-+-0
9P+p+-vL-+0
9+-+-zPN+-0
9-zP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
13.Qe5!
This is not so obvious move and it is the
reason for the boost of interest towards
this line lately.
Black should not be afraid of 13.Qxd8
Rxd8 14.Bxc4 Nd5= Pashikian –
Kanmazalp, Plovdiv 2012,
or 13.Qxc4 – see Vachier Lagrave –
Jakovenko, Loo 2013, game 16.
13...Qe8
13...Be6 14.Ng5 Bd7 15.Bxc4 Ng4?!
(15...Qe8 16.a5 Bb5 17.b3 h6 18.Nf3 Rd8
19.Rac1!?ƒ) 16.Qd5 Bc6, Gonzalez
Garcia – Capo Vidal, Mexico City 2012,
17.Qxd8! Raxd8 18.Ne6! fxe6 19.Bxe6+
Kh8 20.Bxg4 Bf6 21.Rac1±
13...Re8 14.Bxc4 Bf8, Grandelius –
Kravtsiv, Abu Dhabi 2015, 15.Rfd1! Qa5
16.Qc7 Qxc7 17.Bxc7 Be6 18.Bxe6 Rxe6
19.a5²
13...Ng4 14.Qc3 Be6 15.Bxc4 Bf6
16.Qb3 Bxc4 17.Qxc4 Qe7 18.Rad1 Rfd8
19.Qb3!?² g5 20.Bg3 h5 21.h3 Nh6
(21...h4 22.Bxh4 Nxe3, Gupta – Neverov,
New Delhi 2014, 23.Rde1! c4 24.Qa2
gxh4 25.Rxe3 Qc5 26.Re4±) 22.Qc2²
14.Bxc4 Bd7 15.a5 Bc6 16.b3 Ne4
17.Qb2 Nd6 18.Bd3 Bb5 19.Rfd1 Bxd3 2014, 12...Bd7! Black does not postpone
20.Rxd3 Nb5 21.Rad1² Gelfand – the development of his light-squared
Kasimdzhanov, Baku 2014. bishop. 13.Qe2 Bc6=) 11...Nbd5 12.Rad1
C) 8...Nb6
XIIIIIIIIY Qe7 13.Bxc4 Nxf4 14.exf4 b6 15.Rfe1
9r+lwq-trk+0 Qc7 16.f5±
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 9...Nbd5 10.Bg3 c6 11.Bxc4² Cmilyte –
9-sn-+psn-+0 T.Kosintseva, Beijing 2013.
9+-+-+-+-0 9...Nfd5 10.Bg3 c5 (10...Bd7 11.Ne4 Bd6
9-+pzP-vL-+0 12.Nxd6 cxd6 13.Nxc4 Nxc4 14.Bxc4
9+-sN-zPN+-0 Bc6 15.Qd2!?²; 12.Nxc4 Nxc4 13.Bxc4
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 Bxg3 14.hxg3² Shirov – Oparin, Riga
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 2014)
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
This is a logical move. Black protects his 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
c4-pawn, hoping that if White regains it 9-sn-+p+-+0
immediately, Black will solve easily the 9+-zpnsN-+-0
problem with the development of his 9-+pzP-+-+0
queenside. If White is not in a hurry to 9+-sN-zP-vL-0
restore the material balance, Black will 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
have the chance of preserving his extra 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
pawn.
xiiiiiiiiy
9.a4!? 11.Rc1 Nxc3! (11...Bd7 12.dxc5 Bxc5,
This is a relatively new idea and I have Holt – So, Wheeling 2013, 13.Nxc4 Nxc4
tested it myself recently. White wishes to 14.Bxc4 Nf6 15.Bd3 Bc6 16.a3ƒ)
regain calmly the pawn and keeps the 12.bxc3 Bd7 13.Nxc4 Ba4 14.Qd2 Nxc4
pressure. 15.Bxc4 Bc6 16.Qe2 Bd6=
9.e4 c5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.a4 a5 12.Ne5 11.Nxc4 Nxc4 (11...cxd4?! 12.Qxd4 Bf6,
Bd7!?= Swapnil – Shyam, Varna 2013, 13.Ne5!²)
It is also interesting for White to try here 12.Bxc4 cxd4 13.exd4 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Bd7
immediately
XIIIIIIIIY9.Ne5!? 15.Bb3 Bc6 16.Qd3 b5 17.a4 a6= Sumets
9r+lwq-trk+0 – Narayanan, Abu Dhabi 2014.
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 9.Qc2. White completes his development
9-sn-+psn-+0 and presumes that the enemy c4-pawn
9+-+-sN-+-0 will not run away. It is obvious that
9-+pzP-vL-+0 Black’s light-squared bishop is not well
9+-sN-zP-+-0 placed at the moment and White relies on
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 obtaining an advantage because of that.
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 His hopes are not destined to be realised,
xiiiiiiiiy though... 9...Nh5! (9...Nfd5 10.Bg3 Bd6
11.Ne5ƒ) 10.Be5 f6 11.Ng5! (11.Bg3
9...c5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Qc2! (11.Nxc4
Nxg3 12.hxg3, Holt – Akobian, ICC
Nxc4 12.Bxc4, Homa – Tang, Wheeling
2013, 12...Qe8 13.Nd2 Qg6∞) 11...fxg5
12.Bxh5
XIIIIIIIIY Nc8!?© Khademalsharieh – Oparin,
9r+lwq-trk+0 Chongqing 2013) 17...cxd6 18.Ne4 h6
9zppzp-vl-zpp0 19.Qg3 d5 20.Nc3 Rf8© Giri – Aronian,
9-sn-+p+-+0 Wijk aan Zee 2012.
9+-+-vL-zpL0 13.a4!?N 13...a5 (13...Bd6 14.a5 Nd5
9-+pzP-+-+0 15.Ne4 Bb5 16.Bg4 Re8 17.Be2²) 14.b3
9+-sN-zP-+-0 Bd6 (14...cxb3 15.Qxb3 Bd6 16.Bxd6
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 cxd6 17.Be2 Rc8 18.Ne4©) 15.Bxd6
9tR-+-+RmK-0 (15.Bg3!?©) 15...cxd6 16.Ne4 d5
xiiiiiiiiy (16...cxb3 17.Qxb3 Nd5 18.Qxb7 Nb4
19.Rfc1 d5 20.Nd2²) 17.Nc5²
XIIIIIIIIY
12...Bd6!N 13.Qe4 (13.Ne4 Bxe5
9r+lwq-trk+0
14.dxe5 Bd7 15.Nc5 Qe7 16.b4ƒ) 13...a5.
9zppzp-vlpzpp0
This is not a senseless pawn-advance, but
9-sn-+psn-+0
a preparation for the move Bd7. 14.a4
9+-+-+-+-0
Bd7 15.Qxb7 Bxe5 16.dxe5 c6 17.Rfd1
9P+pzP-vL-+0
Rb8 18.Qa7 Ra8=
9+-sN-zPN+-0
12...Bd7. This move is weaker than 9-zP-+LzPPzP0
12...Bd6.
XIIIIIIIIY 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9r+-wq-trk+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zppzplvl-zpp0
9-sn-+p+-+0 9...Nbd5
9+-+-vL-zpL0 9...Nfd5 10.Bg3 a5 11.Ne5 Bd6
9-+pzP-+-+0 12.Nxc4!?ƒ (12.Ne4 Bxe5 13.Bxe5 Bd7
9+-sN-zP-+-0 14.Nc5 Bc6∞).
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 9...Nh5 10.Be5 f6 11.a5 Nd5 12.Bg3 Bb4
9tR-+-+RmK-0 13.Bxc4 Nxc3 14.Qb3 Nd5 15.Bxd5
xiiiiiiiiy exd5 16.Qxb4²
10.Be5 c5 11.Bxc4 b6 12.Qb3 Bb7
13.Bf3 Rxf3! 14.gxf3 Bd6 15.Qe4
13.Rfd1 Nxc3
(15.Bxd6 cxd6 16.Qe4 Qf6! 17.Qxb7
13...Qc8 14.dxc5!? bxc5 15.Nd2 Nb4
Rc8 18.Qxa7 Qxf3 19.Qxb6 Qg4+
16.Be2ƒ, White frees the c4-square for his
20.Kh1 Qf3=) 15...Bc6 16.Qg4 Qe7
knight.
17.Bxd6 (17.Bg3 Rf8 18.Ne4 h6©;
14.bxc3 Qc8 15.a5² Dreev – Oparin, Loo
17.Ne4 Bxe5 18.dxe5 h6∞; 17...h6
2014.
18.Qg3 Bxe5 19.Qxe5 Rf8 20.Qg3
 XIIIIIIIIY
D) 8...c5
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-wqltrk+0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9zpp+nvlpzpp0 9-+-+psn-+0
9-+-+psn-+0 9+-sn-sN-+-0
9+-zp-+-+-0 9-+-+-vL-+0
9-+pzP-vL-+0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9+-sN-zPN+-0 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
12...Qb6 13.Nc4 Qc6 14.Rc1²
This counter strike in the centre could be 12...Rc8 13.Rc1 Nce4 (13...h6 14.h3
expected. Qxd1 15.Rfxd1 g5 16.Bg3 Kg7 17.Bf3±
9.dxc5 Kasimdzhanov – Topalov, Istanbul 2012)
After 9.Bxc4 a6 10.a4 cxd4, Black solves 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Rxc8 Qxc8 16.Qb1!?²
his opening problems. Nd2 17.Rc1±
9...Nxc5 12...Nfe4!? 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qc2 Nd6
9...Bxc5. This move seems flexible, but 15.Bd3 h6 16.Rac1 Qb6 17.Qc7²
enables White to save time for the 10...b6 11.Qe2. Now, it has become
regaining of the c4-pawn and to seize the obvious that Black’s queen does not have
initiative. 10.Qc2 a6, Holt – Le Quang an adequate square. In addition, White
Liem, Las Vegas 2015, 11.Rfd1! b5 can follow a plan including the advance
(11...Qe7 12.Nd2! b5 13.Bf3 Ra7 14.a4 of his e-pawn, occupying extra space.
XIIIIIIIIY
b4 15.Nce4±) 12.a4±
9r+lwq-trk+0
10.Bxc4
XIIIIIIIIY 9zp-+-vlpzpp0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9-zp-+psn-+0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 9+-sn-+-+-0
9-+-+psn-+0 9-+L+-vL-+0
9+-sn-+-+-0 9+-sN-zPN+-0
9-+L+-vL-+0 9PzP-+QzPPzP0
9+-sN-zPN+-0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy 11...Bb7?! 12.Rfd1 Nd5 (12...Qc8
13.Rac1±) 13.Bxd5 exd5 (13...Bxd5
We will analyse in details now D1) 14.e4+-) 14.e4 Re8 15.Nxd5 Bd6 16.e5!±
10...a6 and D2) 10...Qxd1. 11...a6 12.Rfd1 Qe8 13.a4 Bb7
It does not seem good for Black to opt for
10...Bd7 11.Ne5 Be8 12.Be2!?
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+qtrk+0 Anand, London 2011.
9+l+-vlpzpp0 11...Ncd7
9pzp-+psn-+0 About 11...Qxd1 12.Rfxd1 – see variation
9+-sn-+-+-0 D2.
9P+L+-vL-+0 11...Qb6 12.Qc2! It is essential for White
9+-sN-zPN+-0 to preserve the e2-square for his bishop.
9-zP-+QzPPzP0 (12.Qe2?! Steingraeber – Hummel,
9tR-+R+-mK-0 Germany 2012, 12...Bd7 13.a3 Bc6
xiiiiiiiiy 14.Nxc6 Qxc6 15.Rac1 Rac8 16.Ba2
Rfd8∞) 12...Nh5 (12...Bd7 13.Rfd1 Bc6
White fails to obtain an edge here with
14.Nxc6 Qxc6 15.Be2!²) 13.Rad1 Nxf4
14.Ne5, due to 14...Rd8! (14...Ncd7
14.exf4 Qc7 15.a3 b5 16.Ba2² Bb7?
15.Nxd7 Nxd7 16.e4² Qc8 17.Rac1 Bc6
17.Bb1 g6 18.b4+–
XIIIIIIIIY
18.Bd5 Nc5 19.Bxc6 Qxc6 20.b4 Nb3
21.Nd5!± Tregubov – Gordon, Germany 9r+lwq-trk+0
2009) 15.b4 Ncd7 16.Bxa6 Bxa6 9+p+nvlpzpp0
17.Qxa6 Bxb4= 9p+-+psn-+0
Therefore, the correct line for White
9+-+-sN-+-0
would be: 14.Nd4! Ncd7 15.Bg3²
9-+L+-vL-+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0
D1)XIIIIIIIIY
10...a6 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9+p+-vlpzpp0 xiiiiiiiiy
9p+-+psn-+0
9+-sn-+-+-0 12.Be2!
9-+L+-vL-+0 This standard transfer of the bishop is
9+-sN-zPN+-0 very precise and effective. It will exert
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 powerful pressure against the enemy
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 queenside from the f3-square and will
xiiiiiiiiy provide White with real chances of
obtaining an advantage.
Black has the idea to play b7-b5 and to
12.Qf3 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Qa5 14.Bg3 Qb4
solve the problem with the development
15.Qe2 Bd7 16.a3 Qb6= Agdestein –
of his light-squared bishop.
Sargissian, Tromso 2014.
11.Ne5!
12...Nxe5
White prevents this idea. His plan
includes the bishop manoeuvre Be2-f3,
which will cause great problems for Black
to develop his queenside.
White would not achieve much with
11.Nd4 Bd7 (11...Qb6!? 12.Qc2 Nh5∞)
12.a3 Rc8 13.Rc1 Nce4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4
15.Bd3 Rxc1 16.Qxc1 Nf6 17.Rd1 Qb6
18.Bc2 Rc8 19.Qb1 h6= Aronian –
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0 is quite obvious that White’s pawn-
9+p+-vlpzpp0 structure is preferable. Black’s c6-pawn
9p+-+psn-+0 is weak and after White doubles his
9+-+-sn-+-0 rooks on the c-file, Black will have
9-+-+-vL-+0 difficulties with its protection.
9+-sN-zP-+-0 D2) 10...Qxd1
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 We have already seen that Black’s
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 prospects are not to be envied in a
xiiiiiiiiy position with queens present on the board.
After his last move he will be forced only
13.Qxd8! to defend, but objectively this is the least
It is essential for White to exchange at of evils for him.
first the queens, because after 13.Bxe5, 11.Rfxd1
XIIIIIIIIY
Black has the powerful argument
9r+l+-trk+0
13...Qa5! With the help of this tempo
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
move, he solves the problems with his
9-+-+psn-+0
development. 14.Bg3 b5 (14...Bd7!? 9+-sn-+-+-0
15.Bf3 Rad8!? 16.Qb3 b5 17.Rfc1 Rc8= 9-+L+-vL-+0
Fressinet – Matlakov, Plovdiv 2012) 9+-sN-zPN+-0
15.Bf3 Ra7 16.Ne2 Bb7 17.Bxb7 Rxb7 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
18.Nd4 Rd7 19.Qc2 Bd6 20.Nc6 9tR-+R+-mK-0
(20.Bxd6!? Rxd6 21.a4 bxa4 22.Rxa4 xiiiiiiiiy
Qb6 23.Rc1 Nd5 24.Nc6 Rd7=) 20...Qb6
21.Bxd6 Rxd6 22.Rac1 Kh8 23.Rfd1 11...b6
Rxd1+ 24.Qxd1 h6= Aronian – Gelfand, 11...a6?! This is a loss of time. 12.Ne5²
XIIIIIIIIY
Moscow 2011. 9r+l+-trk+0
13...Rxd8 14.Bxe5
XIIIIIIIIY 9+p+-vlpzpp0
9r+ltr-+k+0 9p+-+psn-+0
9+p+-vlpzpp0 9+-sn-sN-+-0
9p+-+psn-+0 9-+L+-vL-+0
9+-+-vL-+-0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9+-sN-zP-+-0 9tR-+R+-mK-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy 12...b5? 13.Nc6 bxc4 14.Nxe7+ Kh8
15.Bd6+–
14...Bd7 12...Nfd7 13.Be2! Black has serious
14...Nd5 15.Bf3 Nxc3 16.Bxc3 a5 problems with his development. (13.Rac1,
17.Rfd1± Wojtaszek – Mista, Warsaw Smirnov – Kravtsiv, Mumbai 2015,
2012. 13...Nxe5 14.Bxe5 b5 15.Bd5 Bb7!
14...b5 15.Bf3 Ra7 16.Rac1² 16.Bxb7 Nxb7 17.Rd7 Nc5 18.Rxe7
15.Bf3 Bc6 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Na4!?² It Nd3=; 15.Bf1²) 13...Nxe5 14.Bxe5 b5
 XIIIIIIIIY
15.Bf3 Ra7 16.Bd4 Rc7 (16...Rd7 9r+-+-trk+0
17.Rac1±; 17.b4!?±) 17.Rac1± 9zpl+-vlpzpp0
12...Re8 13.Be2! b5, Goryachkina – 9-zp-+psn-+0
Karpov, Cap d’Agde 2012, 14.Nc6! Bf8 9+-sn-+-+-0
15.Rac1 Bb7 16.Na5² 9-+LsN-vL-+0
12...Rd8 13.Be2!? (13.Rxd8+!? Bxd8 9+-sN-zP-+-0
14.Rd1 Be7 15.a3 b5 16.Nc6 Bf8 17.Bf1! 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
Bb7 18.Na5 Nd5 19.Nxb7 Nxc3 9tR-+R+-mK-0
20.bxc3?! Nxb7=; 20.Rc1! Nxb7 xiiiiiiiiy
21.Rxc3²) 13...Nd5 14.Nxd5 exd5
13.Rac1
15.Nf3² Mista – Grabarczyk, Warsaw
This is White’s most solid response. He
2012.
does not force the issue yet, since this
11...Bd7 12.Ne5 Rfd8 13.Nxd7. White would not provide him with an edge.
has a slight but stable advantage thanks to
The game enters an ending, but the
his bishop-pair.
XIIIIIIIIY tension remains. We will see that besides
9r+-tr-+k+0 the typical positional idea to build the
9zpp+Nvlpzpp0 pawn-wedge e4-f3, restricting the
9-+-+psn-+0 mobility of Black’s minor pieces, White
9+-sn-+-+-0 has a tactical idea, connected with the
9-+L+-vL-+0 attack against the e6-square. Black must
9+-sN-zP-+-0 play tremendously precisely and
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 accurately, otherwise, he may face great
9tR-+R+-mK-0 difficulties.
xiiiiiiiiy
13.Ndb5 a6 14.Nd6 Bc6=
13...Rxd7 14.Bb5 Rxd1 15.Rxd1 Nh5, 13.Be2 a6 14.Bf3 Bxf3 15.Nxf3 b5=
Swapnil – Aravindh, Hyderabad 2013, Grachev – Harikrishna, Germany 2012.
16.Be5! Bf6 17.f4!± 13.f3
XIIIIIIIIY
13...Ncxd7 14.Be2 Nb6 15.Bf3 Nbd5 9r+-+-trk+0
16.Be5 Rac8 17.Rac1 Nxc3 18.Rxd8+ 9zpl+-vlpzpp0
Bxd8 19.Bxc3!? (19.Rxc3 Rxc3 20.Bxc3 9-zp-+psn-+0
b6 21.Kf1² Nanu – Aravindh, Iasi 2014) 9+-sn-+-+-0
19...b6 20.Rd1 Be7 21.Kf1² 9-+LsN-vL-+0
12.Nd4 Bb7 9+-sN-zPP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
13...Rac8!? 14.Ncb5 Na4 15.b3 Nb2
16.Bxe6 fex6 17.Rd2∞
13...Rfc8. Black’s rooks are not so well
placed on a8 and c8, as on the c8 and
d8-squares, so I prefer the move 13...a6.
14.Rac1 a6 15.a3 Nh5 16.Be5 Nf6
17.Bg3 Kf8 18.e4² Anand – Kramnik,
London 2011.
13...a6! 14.a3 Rac8 15.Ba2 Rfd8 16.Rac1
h6!? 17.e4 Ncd7=
13.Ncb5!? White is fighting for the
d6-square. 13...Rfd8 14.b4! Na6? (Black
should better play here 14...Ncd7
15.Bd6!?ƒ) 15.a3± White has a great
advantage in this position, due to the
horrible placement of Black’s knight on
a6. 15...Rd7 16.Nf3 Rxd1 17.Rxd1 Nd5
18.Bg3 h6 19.Nfd4 Nf6 20.f3 Nd5
21.Kf2 Kf8 22.e4 Nf6 23.Nd6 Bxd6
24.Bxd6 Kg8 25.Nb5+– I.Kovalenko –
Debashis, Al-Ain 2015. I believe the
theory of this variation will develop in
this line in the future.
13...a6 14.b4!
This immediate activity enables White to
fight for the advantage.
14...Nce4 15.Nxe4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+l+-vlpzpp0
9pzp-+psn-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zPLsNNvL-+0
9+-+-zP-+-0
9P+-+-zPPzP0
9+-tRR+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
15...Bxe4
15...Nxe4? 16.Nxe6! fxe6 17.Bxe6 Kh8
18.Rd7+–
16.a3
It seems attractive for White to try here
16.f3 Bd5 (16...Bb7?? 17.Nxe6 fxe6
18.Bxe6+ Kh8 19.Rc7+–) 17.Be2, but
Black can equalise with a precise play.
17...Bxb4 18.e4 Ba3! (18...Bb7? 19.Rc7
Bc8 20.Nc6±; 19...Rfb8 20.Rc4±) 19.Rc2
(19.exd5 Nxd5 20.Bd2 Bxc1 21.Rxc1
Rfc8 22.Nc6 Rc7 23.Kf2 Kf8=)
19...Rfe8! 20.exd5 e5 21.Rd3 Bf8!?
(21...Bc5!? 22.Be3 exd4 23.Bxd4 Nxd5
24.Bxc5 Nf4 25.Re3 bxc5 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8
27.Bxa6 Ne6 28.Bc4 Ra8=; 25.Bxb6
Rxe2 26.Rxe2 Nxd3 27.Rd2 Ne5 28.Bc7
Ng6 29.Kf2 f6=) 22.Bg3 exd4 23.d6 Nh5
24.Rxd4 Nxg3 25.hxg3 Rec8 26.Rxc8
Rxc8 27.d7 Rd8 28.Kf1 b5=
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+-+-vlpzpp0
9pzp-+psn-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zPLsNlvL-+0
9zP-+-zP-+-0
9-+-+-zPPzP0
9+-tRR+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black has tried in practice here: D2a)
16...a5 and D2b) 16...Rfc8.
16...Nd5 17.Bg3ƒ
D2a) 16...a5!?
Black attacks immediately his opponent’s
queenside with the idea to provoke
favourable simplifications. Still, White
can create, not without efforts though,
some serious problems for his opponent.
17.f3 Bd5 18.Bxd5
18.e4 Bxc4 19.Rxc4 axb4 20.axb4 Rfc8
21.Rdc1 Rxc4 22.Rxc4 h6 23.Kf1 Kf8
24.Nc6 b5 25.Rd4 Ra6= Giri – Topalov,
London 2012.
18...Nxd5 19.Nc6 Bf6 20.Bd6
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0 9-+r+-+-mk0
9+-+-+pzpp0 9+-+-+pzpp0
9-zpNvLpvl-+0 9-+-vLp+-+0
9zp-+n+-+-0 9zp-+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-+-+0 9-+-+P+-+0
9zP-+-zPP+-0 9zP-vl-+P+-0
9-+-+-+PzP0 9-+-+-+PzP0
9+-tRR+-mK-0 9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
20...Rfc8 26.Kf1!?
20...Bb2 21.Bxf8 Bxc1 22.Rxc1 Kxf8 26.Rb1 h5 27.Rb8. Objectively speaking,
23.bxa5 bxa5 24.e4 Nb6 25.Kf2ƒ, with this endgame seems drawish, but Black
some pressure. must still play precisely in a practical
21.bxa5 game. (27.Kf1 Bd4?! 28.Rb8 Rxb8
21.e4 Nc3 22.Rxc3 Bxc3 23.Ne7+ Kh8 29.Bxb8±; 27...Rc6! 28.Bf4 Bd4!=)
24.Nxc8 Rxc8= 27...Rxb8 28.Bxb8 Kg8! 29.Bd6 f5!
21.Rd3 axb4 22.axb4 b5 23.Rc5 Nb6 30.Kf1 Kf7 31.Ke2 fxe4 32.fxe4 Ke8
24.Ne7+ Bxe7 25.Bxe7 Nd5 26.Rxc8+ 33.Kd3 Bb2 34.a4 Kd7 35.Bf4 Bf6
Rxc8 27.Bc5 Ra8 28.e4 Nf4 29.Rd2 e5 36.Bd2 Bd8=
30.g3 Ne6= 26...Bb2 27.Ke2 f6 28.Rd2 Bc1 29.Rd4
21...bxa5 Rc2+ 30.Kd1 Rc8 31.e5!?ƒ – This
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r+-+k+0 position may look simple, but Black
9+-+-+pzpp0 must be careful. His a-pawn is weak and
9-+NvLpvl-+0 White’s king is much better placed.
9zp-+n+-+-0 D2b) 16...Rfc8 17.f3
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0 9r+r+-+k+0
9zP-+-zPP+-0 9+-+-vlpzpp0
9-+-+-+PzP0 9pzp-+psn-+0
9+-tRR+-mK-0 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zPLsNlvL-+0
9zP-+-zPP+-0
22.e4 9-+-+-+PzP0
22.Kf2 h6 23.Rc5 (23.e4 Nc3 24.Rxc3 9+-tRR+-mK-0
Bxc3 25.Ne7+ Kh7 26.Nxc8 Rxc8 xiiiiiiiiy
27.Ke2 Bb2=) 23...Nc3 (23...Ra6 24.Nb8
Rxc5 25.Bxc5 Ra8 26.Nd7²) 24.Rxc3 17...Bb7
Bxc3 25.Ne7+ Kh7 26.Nxc8 Rxc8 17...Bd5. This move is weaker, because
27.Rc1 Rd8 28.Rxc3 Rxd6 29.Rc5 Rd2+ after Be2, Black’s light-squared bishop
30.Kg3 a4 31.Rc4 Rd3= will come under attack after the important
tempo e3-e4. 18.Be2 Bb7 19.e4 h6
22...Nc3 23.Rxc3 Bxc3 24.Ne7+ Kh8
20.Be3² a5 21.Rxc8+ Rxc8 22.bxa5 bxa5
25.Nxc8 Rxc8
23.Rb1 Ba8 24.a4 Bb4?! Gelfand –
Topalov, London 2012 (24...Nd7 27.Rxc8 Bxc8 28.Bxb4 Nxd6 29.Bxa5
25.Ba6²) 25.Ba6 Rd8 26.Bb5± Be6 30.Bc2² – White’s position still
18.e4 seems slightly better, but the most likely
18.Nxe6!? b5! 19.Nc7 bxc4 20.Nxa8 outcome would still be a draw.
Bxa8 21.e4² 20...b5!
XIIIIIIIIY
18...a5!? 9r+r+-+k+0
18...Kf8 19.Be2² 9+l+-vlpzpp0
19.Nxe6! axb4
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+Nsn-+0
9r+r+-+k+0 9+p+-+-+-0
9+l+-vlpzpp0 9-zPL+PvL-+0
9-zp-+Nsn-+0 9+-+-+P+-0
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-+PzP0
9-zpL+PvL-+0 9+-tRR+-mK-0
9zP-+-+P+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-+-+PzP0
21.Nc7
9+-tRR+-mK-0
After the move 21.Bb3, Black still
xiiiiiiiiy
equalises, but not without efforts.
20.axb4 21...Rxc1 22.Rxc1 fxe6 23.Rc7 Bxe4!
Black can still hold the balance after a 24.Bxe6+ Kf8 25.fxe4 Ra1 26.Kf2 Nxe4
tremendously precise play following the 27.Ke2! (27.Kf3 Rf1! 28.Kxe4 Rxf4=)
attractive resource for White 20.Nc7!?, 27...Bxb4 28.Rf7 Ke8 29.Rxg7 Re1
after which there arises a concrete play. 30.Kf3 Nd2 31.Bxd2 Bxd2 32.Bd7 Kf8
20...Rxa3 (20...Ra5? 21.Bd5! Bxd5 33.Rxh7 Re7 34.Rxe7 Kxe7 35.Bxb5
22.Nxd5 Bc5+ 23.Rxc5±) 21.Nb5 Bc5+ Kf6=
22.Kh1 Ra5! After all this introduction, it 21...bxc4 22.Nxa8 Bxa8
XIIIIIIIIY
has become obvious that White relies on 9l+r+-+k+0
his bishop-pair. If he succeeds in 9+-+-vlpzpp0
stabilising the position, he will obtain a 9-+-+-sn-+0
long lasting advantage. Black must play 9+-+-+-+-0
very energetically if he wishes to prevent 9-zPp+PvL-+0
this. 23.Nd6 Bxd6 24.Rxd6 (24.Bxd6 9+-+-+P+-0
Ne8 25.Be7 Ra7! 26.Kg1 b3! 27.Bxb3 9-+-+-+PzP0
Rxc1 28.Rxc1 Bxe4=) 24...g5 (24...Rac5?! 9+-tRR+-mK-0
25.Rxb6 Rxc4 26.Rxc4 Rxc4 27.Rxb7±) xiiiiiiiiy
25.Bd2 (25.Be3 Ba6?! 26.Bxa6 Rxc1+
27.Bxc1 Rxa6 28.Rd8+ Kg7 29.Bb2 b5 23.Bd6. After this move, Black can hold
30.Rd5±; 25...b5! 26.Bb3 Ra3 27.Rd3 the balance with the help of a positional
Nd7 28.h4 Rxc1+ 29.Bxc1 Ra1 30.Rxd7 piece-sacrifice. 23...Kf8! 24.Bxe7 Kxe7
Rxc1+ 31.Kh2 Bc6 32.Rxf7 Rc3 33.Be6 25.Rd4 c3 26.Rd3 c2 27.Rd2 Nxe4!
Be8 34.Rd7+ Kf8 35.Rd4ƒ; 27...Rc3 28.Rdxc2 (28.fxe4?! Bxe4³) 28...Rxc2
28.Rcxc3 bxc3 29.Rxc3 b4 30.Bc1 Ra1 29.Rxc2 Nd6 30.Kf2 Kd7 31.Ke3 Nb5
31.Rc7 Ne8!=) 25...b5 26.Bb3 Ne8 32.Rc5 Bc6= Gelfand – Kramnik,
Moscow 2011. he may still have some practical
23.b5!?² – Black is close to equality, but difficulties to cope with.

Chapter 15
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7
5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.c5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzpnvlpzpp0
9-+-+psn-+0
9+-zPp+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This is White’s most principled move. He
prevents radically his opponent’s freeing
pawn-advance c7-c5. The position is
closed and the plans of both sides change.
White will try to exploit the circumstance
that the enemy position is a bit cramped.
Black will try to free his position
somehow, or at least to find a way to
develop his light-squared bishop.
We will deal in details now with A)
7...Ne4, B) 7...Nh5 and C) 7...c6.
7...Re8?! 8.Nb5!? (8.Bd3²) 8...e5 9.dxe5
Nh5 10.b4 Nxf4 11.exf4² Pogorelov –
Amella, Salou 2006.
7...b6?! 8.c6 Nb8 9.Qa4. It has become
evident now that Black will hardly
manage to capture his opponent’s
c6-pawn, so the entire idea with the move
7...b6 has turned out to be a failure.
9...Bd6 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.Ne5 (11.Bb5²)
11...a5 12.a3² Ladron de Guevara –
Izquierdo Arruferia, San Sebastian 2011.
A) 7...Ne4!?
This move has become popular lately for
Black. He avoids the difficulties in the
main lines and hopes to obtain an
acceptable position by changing radically
the character of the fight.
White can react to this knight-sortie in
many different ways. Some of them are
practically equally strong and it is mostly
a matter of style, or even predisposition.
In all the variations however, Black must
work hard to equalise, if at all, and White
keeps the possibility to fight for an
advantage in the opening.
We will analyse now A1) 8.Nxe4 and A2)
8.Rc1.
8.Bd3 f5! 9.Ne5 (9.h3 c6=) 9...Bf6
10.Nxd7 Bxd7= 11.Qc2 (11.0-0?! g5
12.Bxe4 gxf4³ Amanov – Topalov,
Istanbul 2012) 11...g5 12.Bg3 h5 13.f3
Nxg3 14.hxg3 Be8∞
8.Qc2 f5! 9.h3 c6 (9...b6?! 10.c6 Ndf6
11.Bd3²) 10.Bd3 (10.Be2 b6 11.cxb6
axb6 12.0-0 Ba6 13.Rfc1 Nxc3 14.Bxa6
Rxa6 15.Qxc3 c5= Khismatullin –
Matlakov, Loo 2013) 10...b6 11.cxb6
axb6 12.0-0 Bb7= Nakamura – Le Quang
Liem, Las Vegas 2015.
8.a3. A mysterious move like this may
impress the opponent sometimes, but I am
not inclined to recommend it to my
readers. 8...Nxc3 9.bxc3 c6! (Black is
preparing the undermining move b7-b6.
After the immediate 9...b6, White has the
promising possibility 10.c6.) 10.Qa4 g5!
11.Bg3 (11.Bd6 Bxd6 12.cxd6 Qf6
13.Be2 e5 14.h4 g4 15.Nxe5 Nxe5
16.dxe5 Qxe5³) 11...f5 12.h3 f4 13.Bh2
e5 14.Be2 e4 15.Nd2 Nxc5! 16.dxc5
Bxc5© Grischuk – Caruana, Saint Louis
2015.
A1) 8.Nxe4
This is no doubt White’s most natural
reaction against Black’s knight-sortie.
White obtains a seemingly more pleasant
position, but he must have in mind that
this is still not a real advantage and Black
can reach a quite acceptable position if he
plays precisely. I would also like to
 XIIIIIIIIY
mention – this position is solid, but 9r+lwq-trk+0
somewhat passive for Black and would 9zp-zp-vlpzpp0
not be to everybody’s liking. Therefore it 9-zp-+p+-+0
is quite possible that the entire variation 9+-zP-vL-+-0
with 7....Ne4 would not be played so 9-+-zPp+-+0
often, mostly because White can counter 9+-+-zP-+-0
it with 8.Nxe4 dxe4 9.Ne5.
XIIIIIIIIY 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9tR-+QmKL+R0
9zppzpnvlpzpp0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-+p+-+0
11.b4 f6 12.Bg3 a5 13.a3 axb4 (It is a bit
9+-zPp+-+-0
9-+-zPNvL-+0 weaker for Black to play here 13...Bb7
9+-+-zPN+-0 14.Be2 Bd5 15.0-0 c6 16.Qd2 Rf7
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 17.Rfc1² Kazimova – Gevorgyan,
9tR-+QmKL+R0 Moscow 2015.) 14.axb4 Rxa1 15.Qxa1
xiiiiiiiiy Qd5 16.Be2 bxc5 17.bxc5 e5 18.dxe5 f5
19.0-0 Be6 20.Rc1 Ra8 21.Qb1 (21.Qc3
8...dxe4 9.Ne5 Ra2=) 21...Qd2 22.Bc4 Bxc4 23.Rxc4
9.Nd2?! e5! 10.Bxe5 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Qd5³ Qd3 24.Rc1 Qxb1 25.Rxb1 Bxc5= Lenic
M.Socko – Halkias, Kavala. – Grachev, Muelheim 2012.
9...Nxe5 10.Bxe5
XIIIIIIIIY 11.Qc2 bxc5 12.dxc5 Qd5 13.Qc3 Qxc5
9r+lwq-trk+0 14.Bxg7 Qxc3+ 15.Bxc3²
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 11.Bc4
9-+-+p+-+0 11.Be2 Bc6 12.0-0 Bf6 13.Bg3 Bh4
9+-zP-vL-+-0 14.Be5 Bf6 15.b4 Bxe5 16.dxe5 a6= Giri
9-+-zPp+-+0 – Kasimdzhanov, Tromso 2014.
9+-+-zP-+-0 11...Bc6!?
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 11...Bf6 12.Bxf6!? (12.Bg3 Bc6 13.Qe2 –
9tR-+QmKL+R0 see 11...Bc6; 13.b4 b5 14.cxb6 cxb6
xiiiiiiiiy 15.Qe2 Be7 16.0-0 Bd5= So – Le, Baku
2015; 13.0-0 b5!? 14.Bb3 a5=; 13...Bh4
10...Bd7
14.Qh5 Bxg3 15.fxg3 Bd5 16.Bxd5 Qxd5
10...f6 11.Bg3 b6 12.b4 – see 10...b6.
17.Qxd5 exd5 18.g4 f6 19.b4 a6 20.a4
10...b6 Kf7= Salem – Harika, Abu Dhabi 2015.)
12...Qxf6 13.0-0 Bc6 14.Qc2 Rfd8
15.Qc3 Bd5 16.Be2²
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 9zppzpnvlpzpp0
9-+l+p+-+0 9-+-+p+-+0
9+-zP-vL-+-0 9+-zPp+-+-0
9-+LzPp+-+0 9-+-zPnvL-+0
9+-+-zP-+-0 9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 9+-tRQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
12.0-0 This is a solid and useful move. White is
12.Qe2. This move is aimed at countering ready to capture on c3 with his pawn,
Black’s pawn-advance b7-b5. 12...Bf6 after Nxc3, and plans later to advance
13.Bg3
XIIIIIIIIY c3-c4.
9r+-wq-trk+0 We will analyse in details now A2a) 8...f5
9zppzp-+pzpp0 and A2b) 8...Nxc3.
9-+l+pvl-+0 8...Ndf6 9.Bd3 b6 (9...Re8? 10.Nb5+–)
9+-zP-+-+-0 10.cxb6 cxb6 11.0-0²
9-+LzPp+-+0 8...c6 9.Nxe4 (9.Bd3 f5∞ Kozul – Lalic,
9+-+-zP-vL-0 Bol 2013) 9...dxe4 10.Ne5. Now, after
9PzP-+QzPPzP0 Black’s light-squared bishop has been
9tR-+-mK-+R0 restricted by his pawn on c6, the exchange
xiiiiiiiiy of the knights is more reasonable in
comparison with the situation on move
13...Qd7 14.Rc1 b5 15.cxb6 axb6 16.0-0²
eight. 10...Nxe5 11.Bxe5 b6 12.Qa4 bxc5
13...Rc8 14.b4 Qd7?! 15.a4!² Eljanov – 13.dxc5 Qd5 14.Bd4 Bd7 15.Be2 Qf5
Andreikin, Havana 2015. 16.Rd1!? (16.0-0 e5 17.Bc3 Bxc5 18.Qa5
13...Bh4!? The exchange of the dark- Bb6 19.Qxe5 Qxe5 20.Bxe5² Ding – So,
squared bishops makes this position Saint Louis 2012) 16...Rfd8 17.Bc3 Be8
slightly preferable for White, at least (17...Bxc5 18.g4 Qg5 19.h4 Qe7 20.Qxe4
optically, but he has no real edge. Plenty Be8 21.h5+–) 18.Rxd8 Rxd8 19.Qxa7
of pieces have been exchanged and he is Bxc5 20.Qc7±
practically incapable of exploiting his
8...g5 9.Bg3! (9.Nxe4?! Addison –
space advantage on the queenside...
Eggleston, Durham 2003, 9...dxe4
12...b5 13.cxb6 cxb6 14.Qg4 Bf6 10.Nxg5 Bxg5 11.Qg4 h6 12.h4 Nf6
15.Bxe6!? Bb5 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Bd5 13.Qg3 Nh5 14.Qg4 Nxf4 15.hxg5 Ng6
Rad8 18.Bxe4 Bxf1 19.Rxf1 g6 20.Bd3² 16.Rxh6 Kg7∞. Here, Black could have
A2) 8.Rc1!? forced a draw with 14...Nf6.) 9...f5
10.Nxe4 fxe4 11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 Bd7
13.Be2 Bf6 14.Bg3²
A2a) 8...f5 9.h3 c6
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0 9r+l+qtrk+0
9zpp+nvl-zpp0 9zpp+n+-zpp0
9-+p+p+-+0 9-+p+pvl-+0
9+-zPp+p+-0 9+-zPp+p+-0
9-+-zPnvL-+0 9-+-zPnvL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+P0 9+-sN-zPN+P0
9PzP-+-zPP+0 9PzP-+LzPP+0
9+-tRQmKL+R0 9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
There has arisen a complicated position 12.Bh2!?
resembling the Stonewall variation in the 12.Nxe4?! fxe4 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5
Dutch Defence, but with some Bxe5 15.dxe5 Bd7 16.Qd4 Qe7 17.f4
peculiarities. White’s bishop is well exf3 18.gxf3 Be8= Vitiugov – Le, Baku
placed on f4, but the tension in the centre 2015.
has been reduced. His plan is to prepare 12...b6
the pawn-advance b4-b5, while Black will 12...e5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bxe5
try to push e6-e5. 15.Nxd5!±
10.Be2 13.Qa4
It is not so good for White to continue 13.Nxe4?! fxe4 14.Ne5 Bxe5 15.Bxe5
here with 10.b4 Bf6 11.Bd3 (About Nxe5 16.dxe5 Bd7= Ding – Moiseenko,
11.Be2 – see Istratescu – A.David, Alba Biel 2013.
Iulia 2016, game 17) 11...a5 12.a3 axb4 13.b4!? bxc5 14.bxc5 Ndxc5 15.Ne5
13.axb4 b6! (13...b5 14.0-0 Re8 15.Ne2 Nxc3 16.Rxc3 Ne4 17.Rc2 Bd7 18.Qc1²
Bb7 16.Ra1² Carlsen – Tang, Norway
XIIIIIIIIY
(simultaneous) 2014) 14.0-0 bxc5 15.bxc5
9r+l+qtrk+0
Ndxc5 16.Nxe4 fxe4 17.Rxc5 exd3
9zp-+n+-zpp0
9-zpp+pvl-+0
18.Rxc6 Qe8∞
9+-zPp+p+-0
10...Bf6 9Q+-zPn+-+0
10...g5 11.Bh2 g4 12.Ne5!? (12.hxg4 9+-sN-zPN+P0
fxg4 13.Nxe4 gxf3 14.gxf3 dxe4 9PzP-+LzPPvL0
15.fxe4ƒ) 12...g3 13.Nxe4 gxh2 14.Nd6 9+-tR-+RmK-0
Nxe5 15.dxe5 b6 16.Qd4 (16.b4? a5 xiiiiiiiiy
17.a3 axb4 18.axb4 f4µ) 16...bxc5
17.Qxc5 Rb8 18.b3² 13...b5 (13...Bb7 14.Nb5!±) 14.Nxb5
11.0-0 Qe8 cxb5 15.Bxb5±
A2b) 8...Nxc3
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0 11...Ne4
9zppzpnvlpzpp0 11...a5 12.Rc2 Ba6?! (12...Ne4 13.Bd3 –
9-+-+p+-+0 see 11...Ne4) 13.Bxa6 Rxa6 14.Ne5 a4
9+-zPp+-+-0 15.g4!? (15.f3!? Nh5 16.Bg3²) 15...Ne4
9-+-zP-vL-+0 16.Nd7 Re8 17.Qd3 Ra5 18.0-0 Nd6
9+-sn-zPN+-0 19.Bxd6 Bxd6 20.f4ƒ Vitiugov –
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 Raznikov, Caleta 2015.
9+-tRQmKL+R0 12.Rc2
XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9r+lwq-trk+0
9zp-zp-vlpzpp0
9.Rxc3
9-zpP+p+-+0
White has an interesting alternative here –
9+-+p+-+-0
9.bxc3!?, which leads to fighting
9-+-zPnvL-+0
positions. 9...b6 10.c6 Nf6 11.Bd3 a5
9zP-+-zPN+-0
12.Qe2ƒ – It is only the further practical 9-zPR+-zPPzP0
tests which would show whether Black 9+-+QmKL+R0
can solve his problems in the opening in xiiiiiiiiy
this line.
9...b6 10.c6 12...Bd6
10.cxb6 c5!© 12...a5 13.Bd3 Ba6 (13...f6 14.0-0 Bd6
10.b4 a5 11.a3 axb4 12.axb4 bxc5 15.Qe2 – see 12...Bd6) 14.Bxa6 Rxa6
13.bxc5 Nf6 (13...g5!? 14.Bg3 f5∞) 15.Ne5 Bd6 16.Nd7 Bxf4!? (16...Re8
14.Nd2 Nd7 15.Nf3 Nf6 16.Nd2 Nd7 17.Be5ƒ) 17.Nxf8 Bxe3 18.Nd7 Bg5
17.Nf3= Anand – Caruana, London 2014. 19.Qd3 Ra8 20.a4 h5!? (Black will still
10...Nf6 have some problems to solve following
Black is threatening Bb4. 20...Nf6 21.h4 Bh6 22.Nxf6+ Qxf6
11.a3 23.h5² Giri – Caruana, Wijk aan Zee
XIIIIIIIIY
2015) 21.0-0 g6© – He has compensation
9r+lwq-trk+0
for the exchange and the position is
9zp-zp-vlpzpp0
double-edged.
9-zpP+psn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0 13.Bd3 f6 14.0-0 a5 15.Qe2
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9zP-tR-zPN+-0 9+-zp-+-zpp0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0 9-zpPvlpzp-+0
9+-+QmKL+R0 9zp-+p+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-zPnvL-+0
9zP-+LzPN+-0
White has placed a wedge inside the 9-zPR+QzPPzP0
enemy position with his c-pawn, but lags 9+-+-+RmK-0
a bit in development. The evaluation of xiiiiiiiiy
this position depends on whether Black
will manage to create some counterplay, 15...g5!?
while White completes his development. With the help of this pawn-advance, in
 XIIIIIIIIY
front of his king, Black forces the trade of 9r+lwq-trk+0
the bishops on the d6-square. 9+-zp-+-+p0
15...Qe7 16.Nd2 (16.Bxd6?! Nxd6 17.e4 9-zpPsnpzp-+0
dxe4 18.Bxe4 Nxe4 19.Qxe4 Rd8³ 9zp-+p+-zp-0
T.S.Petrosyan – Johannessen, Sitges 9-+-zP-+-+0
2015) 16...Nxd2 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Rxd2! 9zP-+LzPN+-0
(18.Qxd2?! e5!?³) 18...Qxc6 19.Rc2 Qd7 9-zPR+QzPPzP0
20.Rfc1 Ra7 21.Rc6² 9+-+-+RmK-0
16.Bxd6 xiiiiiiiiy
16.Bg3 Nxg3 (16...e5!? 17.Bxe4 dxe4
17.Nd2!? (17.Re1 a4 18.Nd2 e5 19.e4ƒ
18.Qc4+ Rf7 19.dxe5 fxe5 20.Nd2 Ba6
Aronian – Caruana, Saint Louis 2015;
21.Qxe4©) 17.fxg3!? g4!? (17...f5!? 18.g4
17...Re8!? 18.Rcc1 e5 19.dxe5 fxe5
Qf6∞) 18.Ne1 f5 19.Bb5 h5 20.Nd3 h4
20.Bb1∞; 17...g4!? 18.Nd2 e5 19.e4 f5
21.Nf4 hxg3 22.hxg3 Qf6 23.Rd2 Kf7
20.dxe5∞) 17...e5. White was threatening
24.Kf2 Rh8 25.Rdd1 Qh6 – White’s
18.f4. 18.dxe5 fxe5 19.e4 d4 20.Qh5 Qf6
position is a bit more pleasant, but he can
21.Nf3 h6 22.h4ƒ
hardly improve it.
16...Nxd6
B) 7...Nh5
XIIIIIIIIY variation B1a.
9r+lwq-trk+0 10.0-0
9zppzpnvlpzpp0 Still, when White develops his bishop on
9-+-+p+-+0 e2, Black can change his main plan,
9+-zPp+-+n0 connected with the trade of the light-
9-+-zP-vL-+0 squared bishops on the a6-square and try
9+-sN-zPN+-0 to advance e6-e5. All this leads to some
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 interesting complications and we will try
9tR-+QmKL+R0 to deal with them.
XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9r+lwq-trk+0
We will analyse now: B1) 8.Be2 and B2)
9zpp+nvlpzpp0
9-+p+p+-+0
8.Bd3.
9+-zPp+-+-0
8.Be5 Nxe5 (8...f6 9.Bg3 Nxg3 10.hxg3 9-+-zP-zP-+0
f5 11.Bd3 g6∞ Belous – Predke, Sochi 9+-sN-+N+-0
2012) 9.Nxe5 (9.dxe5?! g6³) 9...Nf6 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
10.Bd3 Nd7 11.Nf3 (11.f4?! Nxe5 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
12.fxe5, Can – Bulmaga, Skopje 2014, xiiiiiiiiy
12...Bd7 13.0-0 b6 14.b4 a5 15.a3 axb4
16.axb4 Rxa1 17.Qxa1 f6³) 11...b6 12.b4 We will analyse B1a) 10...b6 and B1b)
a5 13.a3 c6 14.0-0 Ba6= Kazhgaleyev – 10...f6.
Strugnell, St Petersburg 2014. About 10...Qc7 11.g3 b6 12.b4 a5 13.a3 –
B1) XIIIIIIIIY
8.Be2!? see 10...b6.
9r+lwq-trk+0 10...b6 11.b4 a5 12.a3 Qc7 13.g3
B1a)XIIIIIIIIY
9zppzpnvlpzpp0 9r+l+-trk+0
9-+-+p+-+0 9+-wqnvlpzpp0
9+-zPp+-+n0 9-zpp+p+-+0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9zp-zPp+-+-0
9+-sN-zPN+-0 9-zP-zP-zP-+0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 9zP-sN-+NzP-0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 9-+-+LzP-zP0
xiiiiiiiiy 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The idea of this move is that after
8...Nxf4 (or 8...c6 9.0-0 Nxf4 10.exf4) There has arisen a pawn-structure, which
9.exf4 c6 10.0-0 b6 11.b4 a5 12.a3 Ba6, is typical for this variation. This position
the light-squared bishops would be can be evaluated as approximately equal,
exchanged not on d3, but on the e2-square but from purely practical point of view
and this provides White with some White’s chances should be considered as
additional possibilities, which would be slightly preferable thanks to his space
analysed by us later. advantage. It would not be so easy to play
8...Nxf4 9.exf4 c6 this position with Black and not only
About 9...b6 10.b4 a5 11.a3 c6 – see because of style (Not everybody likes to
defend nearly equal, but passive 23.Qxb2 Ra4 24.Ra1ƒ Bxe5?! This is
positions...), but also due to some probably not the best moment for this
objective reasons. This is the reason the exchange, since White manages to occupy
line is becoming popular even at top level. the d4-square. 25.dxe5 Qa7 26.Rb1 Ra2
13...Ba6 27.Qc3 Ra3 28.Qc1 Ra2 29.Nd4± Van
13...Bf6. Black is waiting for the move Wely – Zhao, Sydney 2013.
Nf3-e5 in order to exchange his bishop The following game developed in a
for the enemy knight.
XIIIIIIIIY typical fashion for this variation –
9r+l+-trk+0 Grischuk – Radjabov, London 2013:
9+-wqn+pzpp0 14.Re1!? Ba6 15.Qc2 Bxe2 16.Nxe2 Ra7
9-zpp+pvl-+0 17.Rab1 axb4 18.axb4 Rfa8 19.Nc1 Ra3
9zp-zPp+-+-0 20.Nd3 Bf6 21.Kg2 Qb7 22.Rec1 Kg7?!
9-zP-zP-zP-+0 (22...Ra2 23.Qd1ƒ). Here, White
9zP-sN-+NzP-0 overlooked a way to obtain a real (and not
9-+-+LzP-zP0 only “practical”...) advantage. 23.b5!±
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 (The game continued with 23.Qd1 b5
xiiiiiiiiy 24.Nde5 R8a4 25.Rc2 Bd8 26.Qe2ƒ).
13...axb4. Black forces an exchange on
14.Ne5 Bxe5 15.fxe5 Ba6 16.Bxa6 Rxa6 the a-file with the idea to simplify the
17.Qd3 Ra7 18.f4 Rfa8 19.Rac1 axb4 accomplishment of the pawn-break in the
20.axb4 bxc5 21.bxc5 f5 (21...Ra3 centre f7-f6, e6-e5. 14.axb4 Rxa1
22.Kg2ƒ) 22.exf6 Nxf6 23.Qe2 Qd7 15.Qxa1 bxc5 16.bxc5 f6 17.Re1 e5
24.Rfe1² H.Wang – Matlakov, St 18.Ba6. Now, the play is becoming quite
Petersburg 2012. concrete. 18...Rf7 19.Ne2 exd4 20.Nexd4
White can postpone Ne5 a bit. 14.Qc2!? Nxc5 21.Bxc8 Qxc8 22.Rc1 Bd6 23.Qa5
Ba6 15.Rfc1 Rfb8 16.Kg2 Bxe2 Nb7 24.Qxd5 cxd5 25.Rxc8+ Rf8 26.Rc6
17.Nxe2ƒ Rd8 27.Ne6 Rd7 28.Nfd4 Kf7 29.Rb6
13...g6. Black delays the trade of the Be7 30.Rb5! with the idea to prevent the
bishop for a while and makes a quite placement of Black’s knight on the
useful move.
XIIIIIIIIY d6-square. (30.f5?! Leko – Inarkiev,
9r+l+-trk+0 Moscow 2014, 30...Nd6=) 30...g6 31.f5
9+-wqnvlp+p0 gxf5XIIIIIIIIY
32.Kg2±
9-zpp+p+p+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9zp-zPp+-+-0 9+-wqnvlpzpp0
9-zP-zP-zP-+0 9lzpp+p+-+0
9zP-sN-+NzP-0 9zp-zPp+-+-0
9-+-+LzP-zP0 9-zP-zP-zP-+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 9zP-sN-+NzP-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+LzP-zP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
14.Qc2 Ba6 15.Rab1 axb4 16.axb4 Bxe2 xiiiiiiiiy
17.Nxe2 Ra3 18.Kg2 Rfa8 19.Nc1 b5
20.Nd3 Bf6 21.Nde5 Ra2 22.Rb2 Rxb2 14.Re1!?
Here, it is difficult to say which is the best
move. White has numerous possibilities
and the character of the position is
unlikely to be changed. I think he can also
play 14.Kg2.
Later, the readers may see different
examples of what the best way of
exploiting the space advantage is. If you
only have a look at the names of the
players – you will be easily convinced
that the position is very fashionable even
at top level.
It seems to me that White would achieve
less with 14.Qc2 Bxe2 (14...Bf6 15.Rfe1
– see 14.Re1) 15.Nxe2 Ra7 16.Rab1 axb4
17.axb4 Rfa8 18.Nc1 Bf6 19.Nd3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+k+0
9tr-wqn+pzpp0
9-zpp+pvl-+0
9+-zPp+-+-0
9-zP-zP-zP-+0
9+-+N+NzP-0
9-+Q+-zP-zP0
9+R+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
19...bxc5 20.bxc5 Ra4 21.Rb4² – After
the early exchange on c5, White has
gained access to the b4-square and his
rook is headed there in order to protect the
d4-pawn, Grischuk – Nakamura, Bilbao
2014.
19...Ra4! This is an important fine point.
Black wishes, after capturing on c5, to
eliminate the possibility for White to
capture on c5 with the b-pawn, so he
attacks indirectly the d4-pawn. 20.Rfc1
bxc5 21.Nxc5 Nxc5 22.Qxc5 Be7
23.Qxc6 Qxc6 24.Rxc6 Rxb4 25.Rxb4
Bxb4 26.Kf1 Be7 27.Ke2 g6 28.h4 h5
29.Rc7 Bf6 30.Ke3 Ra3+ 31.Ke2, draw,
Gelfand – Jakovenko, Tashkent 2014.
14...Bf6
14...axb4 15.axb4 Bxe2 16.Nxe2
(16.Rxe2!? Qb7 17.Kg2 Rxa1 18.Qxa1
Ra8 19.Ra2 Rxa2 20.Qxa2²) 16...Bf6
17.Qc2 Qb7 18.Kg2² Pashikian –
Bolourchifard,
XIIIIIIIIY Teheran 2015.
9r+-+-trk+0
9+-wqn+pzpp0
9lzpp+pvl-+0
9zp-zPp+-+-0
9-zP-zP-zP-+0
9zP-sN-+NzP-0
9-+-+LzP-zP0
9tR-+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
15.Qc2
15.Ne5 Bxe5 16.fxe5 Qb7 17.Bxa6 Rxa6
18.Qe2 axb4 19.axb4 Rfa8 20.Rab1 Ra3.
White has occupied space and plans to
develop his initiative on the kingside.
Black will be trying to exploit the activity
of his rooks in an attempt to deflect his
opponent from this plan. 21.Rec1 bxc5
22.bxc5 Qa7 23.Kg2 h6 24.h4 Rb8
25.Rxb8+ Qxb8 26.Rb1 Qa7 27.Qc2 Qa6
28.Ne2 Ra2 29.Rb2 Ra1 30.h5 Qa5
31.Qd2 Qa6 32.g4! (32.Qc2 Qa5 33.Qd2
Qa6 34.Qc2, draw, Nakamura – Gelfand,
Moscow 2011) 32...Ra3 33.Nc1²
15...Qb7 16.Kg2 Rfb8 17.Rab1 Bxe2
18.Nxe2 axb4 19.axb4 Qa6
Black was obviously reluctant to block
the position completely with 19...Ra3
20.Rec1!? b5 21.Ra1 Rba8 22.Rxa3 Rxa3
23.Ne5ƒ
20.b5
20.f5!? This is a very appropriate moment
for White to begin more concrete actions.
20...exf5 21.b5 Qc8 22.cxb6 Rxb6
23.Rec1 Rab8 24.Qd3! Qc7 25.Nf4 Qd6
26.bxc6 Rxb1 27.Rxb1 Rxb1 28.Qxb1
Qxc6 29.Qxf5 Nb6 30.Nh5 Qe6
31.Nxf6+ gxf6 32.Qf4²
20...Qc8 obtained a slight but stable advantage.
XIIIIIIIIY
20...Qb7 21.f5 bxc5 22.fxe6 fxe6 9r+l+-+k+0
23.Nf4ƒ
XIIIIIIIIY 9zppwqnvlrzpp0
9rtrq+-+k+0 9-+p+pzp-+0
9+-+n+pzpp0 9+-zPp+-+-0
9-zpp+pvl-+0 9-zP-zP-zP-+0
9+PzPp+-+-0 9+-sN-+N+-0
9-+-zP-zP-+0 9P+-wQLzPPzP0
9+-+-+NzP-0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
9-+Q+NzPKzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+R+-tR-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 13.Rae1. This is a simple and effective
move. 13...Nf8 (13...e5 14.dxe5 fxe5
21.cxb6 Rxb6 22.Rec1 Rab8 23.Qd3ƒ 15.Nxd5! cxd5 16.Qxd5 Nf8 17.Nxe5
23.f5!?² Be6 18.Qe4 Rf6 19.Bc4 Kh8 20.Bxe6
23...R8b7?! Rxe6 21.f5 Rf6 22.g4± Black’s position is
It was better for Black to have chosen very cramped, so in this case White’s
here 23...g6 24.h4 R8b7 25.bxc6 Rxc6 three pawns for the piece are more than
26.Rxc6 Qxc6 27.Rc1ƒ sufficient compensation.) 14.Bd3 Bd7
24.f5! Qb8 (24...e5? 25.dxe5 Nxe5 15.g3 (15.Re2!?±) 15...Re8 (15...e5
26.Nxe5 Bxe5 27.Qxd5+–) 25.fxe6 fxe6 16.dxe5 Bh3 17.f5 fxe5 18.Nxe5 Bxf1
26.bxc6 Rxb1 27.c7 Qc8 28.Rxb1 Rxb1 19.Kxf1 Rf6 20.Bc2±) 16.Re3 Bd8
29.Qxb1 Qxc7 30.Nf4 Qc6 31.h4² Ding 17.Rfe1± Grischuk – Gelfand, Kazan
– Fridman, Antalya 2013. 2011.
B1b) 10...f6!? 13.Rac1!? This is not just an abstract
XIIIIIIIIY
move, but prophylactic, 13...e5, and
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+nvl-zpp0 White can counter this with the not so
9-+p+pzp-+0 obvious variation. 14.dxe5 fxe5 15.Nxd5
9+-zPp+-+-0 cxd5 16.Qxd5 Qc6 (16...Nf8 17.Nxe5
9-+-zP-zP-+0 Be6 18.Qe4 Rf6 19.Rfe1 Rd8 20.Bc4±)
9+-sN-+N+-0 17.Qb3 Qe4 18.Bc4 Qxf4 19.g3 Qf5
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 (19...Qf6 20.Ng5 Qxg5 21.Bxf7+ Kh8
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 22.Rfe1 Nf6 23.f4±) 20.Be6 Qh5 21.c6!?
xiiiiiiiiy (21.Qd5 Nf6 22.Bxf7+ Qxf7 23.Qxf7+
Kxf7 24.Nxe5+ Kf8 25.Rfe1±) 21...bxc6
Black plans to advance e6-e5. 22.Rxc6 Bb7. It looks like Black has an
11.b4 Qc7 12.Qd2 e5! excellent position at first sight. White has
This is a principled decision. however a surprising problem-like
12...Rf7?! Black was possibly reluctant to combination. (22...Kf8 23.g4 Qh3
enter a theoretical discussion and he was 24.Bxf7 Qxg4+ 25.Kh1 Bb7 26.Bd5
probably right to avoid his opponent’s Bxc6 27.Bxc6±) 23.Ng5!! Bxg5 24.Rc7
computer analyses. Still, his reaction was Bc8 25.Qd5! Rb8 26.h4! Bxh4 27.Rfc1+–
obviously very passive and White
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 14.Bf1!?
9zppwqnvl-zpp0 14.Bd3. This move leads to equality if
9-+p+-zp-+0 Black plays correctly.
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-zPpzp-+-0 9r+l+-tr-mk0
9-zP-zP-zP-+0 9zppwqnvl-zpp0
9+-sN-+N+-0 9-+p+-zp-+0
9P+-wQLzPPzP0 9+-zPpzp-+-0
9tR-+-+RmK-0 9-zP-zP-zP-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-sNL+N+-0
9P+-wQ-zPPzP0
We will deal now in details with B1b1) 9tR-+-tR-mK-0
13.Rfe1 and B1b2) 13.Rae1! xiiiiiiiiy
B1b1) 13.Rfe1 Kh8!
The effect of White’s idea can be best 14...e4?! 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Rxe4 Nb6
seen following: 13...e4? 14.Nxe4 dxe4 (16...Bd8? 17.Rae1± a5 18.Re8! axb4
15.Bc4+ Kh8 16.Rxe4 Bd8 17.Rae1. 19.Bc4+–) 17.cxb6 axb6 18.d5!? White
Black’s position is so cramped that he has does not insist on holding on to the pawn
no moves. 17...b6 18.Re8 Bb7 19.Qe3+– and frees space for his pieces. 18...Rd8
13...exf4 14.Bc4! Qd8 (14...Bd8 (18...cxd5 19.Ree1±) 19.Bc2 cxd5 20.Rd4
15.Bxd5+ cxd5 16.Nxd5 Qc6 17.Nxf4 a5 Bg4 21.Qd3 g6 22.Bb3±
18.d5 Qb5 19.Ne6 axb4 20.Nfd4 Qc4 14...a5! 15.b5 e4 16.bxc6 (16.Rac1 Qd8
21.Nxd8! Rxd8 22.Ne6 Re8? 23.Nc7 17.Qe2 f5³; 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Rxe4
Rxe1+ 24.Qxe1 Rxa2 25.Qe6+–; 22...Rf8 Nxc5! Thanks to the inclusion of the
23.Nxf8 Nxf8 24.Rec1±) 15.Bb3 Re8 moves 14...a5 15.b5, this important
16.Qxf4 Nf8 17.b5!?² resource for Black has become possible.
13...Bd8 14.f5!?ƒ Black’s pieces do not 18.dxc5 cxb5³) 16...bxc6 17.Nxe4 dxe4
have sufficient squares in the arising 18.Rxe4 Bxc5! 19.dxc5 Nxc5=
pawn-structure, because it is not good for 14...a5!
him to exchange on d4. White’s plan to 14...e4? 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Rxe4 Bd8
improve his position later can be 17.Rae1ƒ
connected with the advance of his pawns 15.b5 e4 16.bxc6!
on the g-file and a preparation of an attack 16.Nxe4?! dxe4 17.Rxe4 Nxc5! 18.dxc5
against the enemy king.
XIIIIIIIIY Bxc5³
9r+l+-tr-mk0 16.Qe3 Re8 (16...Bd8 17.b6 Qb8
9zppwqnvl-zpp0 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Qxe4 f5 20.Qe3 Nf6
9-+p+-zp-+0 21.Ne5©) 17.Nd2 f5∞
9+-zPpzp-+-0 16...bxc6 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Rxe4
9-zP-zP-zP-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9P+-wQLzPPzP0
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-tr-mk0 move, fortifying the c5-square, would
9+-wqnvl-zpp0 have been impossible. (15.b5?! e4
9-+p+-zp-+0 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Rxe4 Nxc5³) 15...axb4
9zp-zP-+-+-0 16.axb4 e4 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Rxe4 Bd8
9-+-zPRzP-+0 19.Rfe1. White’s initiative is
9+-+-+N+-0 tremendously dangerous. 19...Nb8 20.Bc4
9P+-wQ-zPPzP0 g6 (20...Qd7 21.f5! Qxf5? 22.Re8+–;
9tR-+-+LmK-0 21...Na6 22.Be6 Qc7 23.d5 cxd5
xiiiiiiiiy 24.Bxd5 Nxc5 25.Re8+–) 21.Re8 Qg7
22.d5 Bd7 23.Rxf8+ Qxf8 24.d6±
XIIIIIIIIY
18...Nxc5
9r+lvl-trk+0
With a white bishop on f1 and not on d3,
9zppwqn+-zpp0
capturing with the bishop on c5 is not
9-+p+-zp-+0
attractive for Black at all: 18...Bxc5?!
9+-zPpzp-+-0
19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Rc4±
9-zP-zP-zP-+0
18...Bd8 19.Rae1 f5 20.Re8 Bb7 21.d5! 9+-sN-+N+-0
cxd5 22.Nd4 Bc6 23.R1e6! Ba4 24.c6 9P+-wQLzPPzP0
Bf6 25.cxd7 Bxd7 26.Rxf8+ Rxf8 9+-+-tRRmK-0
27.Ra6± xiiiiiiiiy
19.dxc5 Bxc5 20.Rc4
Black still has to solve some problems White has numerous interesting
here. possibilities here. He can play, for
20...Bb6 21.Qc2 c5 22.Re1ƒ example 14.f5!?ƒ, analogously to
B1b2) 13.Rae1! 13.Rfe1, reducing Black’s available space.
This move does not seem so natural, but White can also try a more direct approach
the difference between it and 13.Rfe1 is 14.dxe5 fxe5 15.Nxd5 cxd5 16.Qxd5+
that after Kh8, the move Bd3 becomes Kh8 17.fxe5ƒ.
much stronger. At the end, we can make the assumption
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 that the move 8.Be2 is not less interesting
9zppwqnvl-zpp0 than our main line – 8.Bd3.
9-+p+-zp-+0 B2) XIIIIIIIIY
8.Bd3
9+-zPpzp-+-0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9-zP-zP-zP-+0 9zppzpnvlpzpp0
9+-sN-+N+-0 9-+-+p+-+0
9P+-wQLzPPzP0 9+-zPp+-+n0
9+-+-tRRmK-0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-sNLzPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
13...Bd8 9tR-+QmK-+R0
13...e4? 14.Nxe4! dxe4 15.Bc4+ Kh8 xiiiiiiiiy
16.Rxe4±
13...Kh8 14.Bd3! a5! (14...e4?! 15.Nxe4 White develops his pieces in the most
dxe4 16.Rxe4±) 15.a3! After 13.Rfe1, this natural way.
8...Nxf4
This is the logical continuation of Black’s
idea. He trades on f4 and changes the
pawn-structure. Now, his main task is to
trade his light-squared bishop. If he fails
to do this in time, then his bishop will
remain very passive and will impede the
coordination of his major pieces.
8...c6 9.0-0 – see variation C.
8...g6?! Portisch – Donner, Halle 1963,
9.Bh6 Re8 10.b4±
It is bad for Black to opt here for 8...f5?!,
because after White’s simple reply 9.0-0,
he will have a clear advantage. 9...h6
(9...Nxf4 10.exf4 Bf6 11.Re1±; 10...Nf6
11.Ne5 Nd7 12.Nf3 Nf6 13.b4 Ne4
14.Ne2± Shinkevich – Nikitinyh, St
Petersburg 2005) 10.Be5! (10.Ne5 Nxf4
11.exf4 Nxe5 12.fxe5 Bd7 13.b4² Galego
– Rocha, Lisbon 2003) 10...Nhf6 11.Ne2
g5 12.b4±
9.exf4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzpnvlpzpp0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+-zPp+-+-0
9-+-zP-zP-+0
9+-sNL+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
We will deal in details now with B2a)
9...c6 and B2b) 9...b6.
9...Bf6?! 10.Qc2 g6 11.h4 Bg7 12.h5±
Steinbacher – Shmirina, Germany 2005.
9...Re8?! 10.0-0 c6 (10...Nf8 11.b4±;
10...Bf8 11.b4±) 11.Qc2 Nf8 12.b4 Qc7
13.g3± Zatonskih – Dranov, Germany
2013.
B2a) 9...c6 10.Qc2!?
Black’s pawn on h6 may turn out to be
not so well placed later in comparison to
the h7-square.
10.0-0 – see variation C1.
10...h6
10...f5?! 11.0-0 b5 12.Rfe1 Nf6 13.b4±
Marques – Garcia Palermo, Pinamar
2004.
10...g6?! 11.h4! b6 12.h5±
11.0-0 b6
11...Qc7 12.g3 g5?! (12...b6 13.b4 a5
14.a3 – see 11...b6) 13.fxg5 (13.Ne2,
Malaniuk – Govedarica, Belgrade 2009,
13...b6 14.b4 a5 15.a3²) 13...hxg5 14.Qe2
Kg7 15.Nxg5 Bxg5 16.Qg4±
12.b4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zp-+nvlpzp-0
9-zpp+p+-zp0
9+-zPp+-+-0
9-zP-zP-zP-+0
9+-sNL+N+-0
9P+Q+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...a5
It is not advantageous for Black to
exchange on c5, without the trade of the
a-pawns, from a positional point of view,
so naturally, Black must play a5.
12...Bb7?! 13.Qe2!? a5 14.a3 Bf6
15.Ne5± Fernandez Perez – Rudolf,
Figueres 2013.
12...Qc7 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.fxe5 a5
15.Na4!² R.Kempinski – Zeberski,
Poronin 2013.
13.a3 Qc7 14.g3 Ba6
14...axb4?! 15.axb4 Bb7 16.Qe2±
Kempinski – Rau, Neustadt an der
Weinstrasse 2009.
14...Bb7?! 15.Rab1 (The move 15.Qe2!²
would prevent for a long time the
exchange of the light-squared bishops.) 25.Ne2 f5 26.Nd4 Nf8 27.Rb3 Ra2
15...axb4 16.axb4 Ra3 17.Rfe1 bxc5 28.Rb2 R2a3 29.Rb3 Ra2 30.Qd1 Qe8
18.bxc5² Arnold – Hess, Philadelphia 31.Qf3 Qf7 32.Ree3 R2a4 33.g4 fxg4
2012.
XIIIIIIIIY 34.Qxg4 Ra2 35.f5+–
9r+-+-trk+0 B2b) 9...b6 10.b4
9+-wqnvlpzp-0 Following 10.c6?! Nb8 11.Qc2, Adhiban
9lzpp+p+-zp0 – Fridman, Biel 2015, it is still an enigma
9zp-zPp+-+-0 what White had up his sleeve following
9-zP-zP-zP-+0 11...Nxc6! 12.Bxh7+ Kh8 13.Bd3 Nb4
9zP-sNL+NzP-0 14.Qe2 c5³
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+Q+-zP-zP0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0 9zp-zpnvlpzpp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zp-+p+-+0
9+-zPp+-+-0
15.Rfe1!?
9-zP-zP-zP-+0
White should better not force the issue
9+-sNL+N+-0
with 15.Bxa6 Rxa6 16.Qe2 Rfa8 17.b5 9P+-+-zPPzP0
cxb5 18.Nxb5 Qc6 19.cxb6 Rxb6 20.a4 9tR-+QmK-+R0
Rc8= Miton – Collas, Plovdiv 2008. xiiiiiiiiy
15...Bxd3
15...Rfe8, Mchedlishvili – Warakomski, 10...a5
Polanica Zdroj 2008, 16.Bxa6 Rxa6 10...Bb7 11.0-0 c6 12.Qc2 g6 13.Rab1
17.Kg2ƒ (13.Rfb1 Qc7 14.g3 Rfb8 15.h4 a5 16.a3
16.Qxd3 Ra7
XIIIIIIIIY Ba6 17.Kg2ƒ Vescovi – Molina, USA
9-+-+-trk+0 2009) 13...Qc7 14.Ne5²
9tr-wqnvlpzp-0 10...c6 11.0-0 bxc5. Black can exchange
9-zpp+p+-zp0 on c5, without trading at first the a-pawns,
9zp-zPp+-+-0 and this is possible but hardly sufficient
9-zP-zP-zP-+0 for equality. (11...a5 12.a3 – see 10...a5;
9zP-sNQ+NzP-0 11...Qc7 12.g3 a5 13.a3 – see 10...a5;
9-+-+-zP-zP0 12...bxc5?! 13.bxc5²; 12...Re8 13.Qc2
9tR-+-tR-mK-0 Nf8 14.Kg2 a5 15.Na4± Sharavdorj –
xiiiiiiiiy A.Onischuk, Philadelphia 2004) 12.bxc5
Qa5 13.Qc2 g6 (13...h6 14.Rfb1 Ba6
Black’s position is solid and probably 15.Bxa6 Qxa6 16.Nd1!? Rab8 17.Ne3²;
almost equal, but as I have mentioned 16.Ne2 Rfb8 17.Ne1 Bf6 18.Nd3 Qa5
before, it is far from easy to be played 19.g3 Bd8 20.Kg2 Bc7 21.Ng1 Rxb1
with his pieces. This can be well 22.Rxb1 Rb8 23.Rxb8+ Nxb8 24.Nf3
illustrated by the game Vallejo Pons – Nd7 25.h4² Sargissian – Ehlvest,
Delchev, Pamplona 2008: 17.Qc2 Rfa8 Moscow 2009)
18.Rab1 axb4 19.axb4 Bf6 20.h4 Ra3
21.Ne5 b5 22.Kg2 R8a6 23.h5 Bxe5?!
(23...Ra8!? 24.Ne2!?ƒ) 24.dxe5! Qd8
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9zp-+nvlp+p0 9+-+nvlpzpp0
9-+p+p+p+0 9-zpp+p+-+0
9wq-zPp+-+-0 9zp-zPp+-+-0
9-+-zP-zP-+0 9-zP-zP-zP-+0
9+-sNL+N+-0 9zP-sNL+N+-0
9P+Q+-zPPzP0 9-+-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
14.Rab1. Now, with the a-pawns present 12...Qc7
on the board, White can fight successfully 12...axb4 13.axb4 Rxa1 14.Qxa1 Qc7
for the b-file. 14...Ba6 15.Bxa6 (15.Rb3?! 15.g3 – see 12...Qc7.
Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Bxc5! 17.dxc5 Nxc5 12...Bb7 13.Qe2 axb4 14.axb4 bxc5
18.Qe3 Nxb3 19.axb3 Rfc8∞ Lauber – 15.bxc5 Qc7, Nakamura – SebFeller,
Goloshchapov, Germany 2011) 15...Qxa6 playchess.com 2004, 16.g3 g6 17.Kg2²
16.Rb4!? Rfb8 17.Rfb1 Rxb4 18.Rxb4 12...Ba6
Rb8 19.Ra4 Qb7 20.g3² Djukic – Leskur,
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
Novi Sad 2000.
9+-+nvlpzpp0
White can play 14.a3!? with the idea to 9lzpp+p+-+0
follow this with Na2 at an opportune 9zp-zPp+-+-0
moment. 14...Ba6 15.Bxa6 Qxa6 16.Na2 9-zP-zP-zP-+0
Rfb8 17.Nb4 Qc8 18.Rfb1² 9zP-sNL+N+-0
11.a3
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-zPPzP0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9+-zpnvlpzpp0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-zp-+p+-+0
9zp-zPp+-+-0 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.fxe5 Bc4!? (14...Qc8?
9-zP-zP-zP-+0 Batkovskyte – Bieliauskas, Panevezys
9zP-sNL+N+-0 2013, 15.cxb6 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 axb4
9-+-+-zPPzP0 17.axb4 Bxb4 18.Na4+–; 14...Bxd3
9tR-+QmK-+R0 15.Qxd3 axb4 16.axb4 bxc5 17.bxc5 f6
xiiiiiiiiy 18.Qh3² Edouard – A.Mirzoev, Pamplona
2009) 15.Bxc4 dxc4 16.Ne4 b5 17.Nd6
11...c6 Ra7∞
11...bxc5?! 12.bxc5 Ba6 13.Bxa6 Rxa6 13.Bxa6 Rxa6 14.Qe2 Ra8 15.Ne5!?
14.0-0 g6 15.Qe2 Ra8 16.Rab1 Bf6 Nxe5 16.fxe5 b5 17.Rab1! axb4 (17...Qc7
17.Ne5 Bxe5 18.fxe5± Forintos – 18.a4! axb4 19.Rxb4 bxa4 20.Nxa4²)
Kristiansen, Havana 1966. 18.axb4 Qd7 19.Ra1 Ra7 20.Ra2 Rfa8
11...axb4?! 12.axb4 Rxa1 13.Qxa1 bxc5 21.Rfa1 Qb7 22.Qb2 Ra6 23.g3² Ding –
14.bxc5² Kazimova – Ivanova-Skripova, Shankland, Tsaghkadzor 2015.
Chakvi 2015. 13.g3
12.0-0 13.Ne5?! axb4 14.axb4 Rxa1 15.Qxa1
bxc5 16.bxc5 f6³ Moiseenko – Kravtsiv, after 14...Bf6, Black should not be afraid
Kharkov 2010. of 15.Ne5 (15.Bc2?! Bc4!∞ Nakamura –
13...Ba6 Nielsen, Amsterdam 2010; About
This is no doubt Black’s most logical 15.Kg2!? – see Anand – Nakamura,
move. Zurich 2015, game 18) 15...Bxe5 16.fxe5
13...Bb7 14.Re1 Rfe8 15.Qc2 g6 16.h4² Bxd3 17.Qxd3
XIIIIIIIIY
Shchekachev – Feller, Bethune 2006. 9r+-+-trk+0
13...axb4 14.axb4 Rxa1 (14...Bb7 15.Qe2 9+-wqn+pzpp0
Rfb8 16.h4² Bf6 17.Ne5 Bxe5 18.fxe5± 9-zpp+p+-+0
Kotyk – Skopec, Rakovnik 2015) 9zp-zPpzP-+-0
15.Qxa1 Bb7, Foisor – Baratosi, Mamaia 9-zP-zP-+-+0
2012, 16.Kg2 Ra8 17.Qb2² 9zP-sNQ+-zP-0
13...Bf6 14.Qb1 (14.Rb1 axb4 15.axb4
9-+-+-zP-zP0
Ba6∞ Palozi – Pires, Curitiba 2015)
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
14...g6 15.Rc1!?ƒ (15.Na4 Ba6 16.Bxa6
xiiiiiiiiy
Rxa6 17.b5 Raa8 18.Rc1 bxc5 19.Nxc5 17...Ra7!?∞ Krasenkow – Riazantsev,
Rfc8∞). France 2009.
White has here different ways of 17...Qb7 18.Reb1 (18.cxb6 axb4 19.axb4
positional fight for an advantage and one Nxb6 20.b5 Nc4= Getz – Azarov,
tactical way. I have decided it to be our Rogaska Slatina 2011) 18...axb4 19.axb4
main line, but his alternatives also deserve
Rxa1 20.Rxa1 Ra8= Michalik – Azarov,
attention.
XIIIIIIIIY Czech Republic 2012. White still
9r+-+-trk+0 maintains a space advantage, but only a
9+-wqnvlpzpp0 few pieces are left on the board, so this is
9lzpp+p+-+0 hardly important any more...
9zp-zPp+-+-0 17...axb4 18.axb4 Qb7 19.Ne2 Rxa1
9-zP-zP-zP-+0 20.Rxa1 Ra8= Tomazini – Muter,
9zP-sNL+NzP-0 Pardubice 2014.
9-+-+-zP-zP0
B2b1) 14.Kg2!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9r+-+-trk+0
9+-wqnvlpzpp0
We will analyse here thoroughly B2b1) 9lzpp+p+-+0
14.Kg2 and B2b2) 14.Bxa6!? 9zp-zPp+-+-0
14.h4!? Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Rfb8 16.Kg2 Bf6 9-zP-zP-zP-+0
17.h5 bxc5 18.bxc5² a4 19.Qc2 Rb7
9zP-sNL+NzP-0
20.Rab1 Rb3 21.Rxb3 axb3 22.Qxb3±
9-+-+-zPKzP0
Batsiashvili – Admiraal, Wijk aan Zee
9tR-+Q+R+-0
2016.
xiiiiiiiiy
White has played here many times After this useful move, Black is faced
14.Re1, but it is rather unclear to me with a long and laborious defence in
whether this move is reasonable, since positions of this type. I have already
mentioned – this can hardly be to 21.bxc5 Rxf3! 22.Kxf3 Bxd4³) 20...b5
everybody’s liking. 21.Rxa3 Rxa3 22.Qb2 Qa7 23.Re1 Qa8
14...Bf6 24.h4 h5, Goryachkina – Oparin,
14...Qb7 15.Rb1 (15.h4!? Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Jerusalem 2015, 25.Ne5!?ƒ Bxe5 26.dxe5
axb4 17.axb4 Rxa1 18.Rxa1 Ra8 19.Qd1 Nf8 27.Ne2²
Bd8 20.Ne2 Rxa1 21.Qxa1² Zhao – 15.Ne5!?
Landa, Vlissingen 2013) 15...axb4 15.Bxa6 Rxa6 16.Qc2 Rfa8 17.Rab1 axb4
16.axb4 Bf6 17.Bxa6 Qxa6 18.Qd2 Qb7 18.axb4 Ra3 19.Rb3 Rxb3 20.Qxb3 Qb7
19.Rfc1 Ra3 20.Nd1 bxc5?! After this 21.Rb1 h6 22.h4 h5 23.Ne5∞ Radjabov –
move, White’s knight gains access to the Kramnik, Kazan 2011.
b4-square and it can attack from there 15...Nxe5 16.fxe5 Be7
XIIIIIIIIY
Black’s potential weakness – the pawn on 9r+-+-trk+0
c6. (It is preferable for Black to choose 9+-wq-vlpzpp0
here 20...Rfa8 21.Ne3ƒ). 21.bxc5 Qa8 9lzpp+p+-+0
22.Ne3 Rc8 23.Nc2 Ra7 24.Ra1 Rcc7 9zp-zPpzP-+-0
25.Rcb1 Bd8 26.Qd1 Qc8 27.Nb4 Rcb7 9-zP-zP-+-+0
28.Rxa7 Rxa7 29.Ra1² Bologan – Predke, 9zP-sNL+-zP-0
Loo 2014. 9-+-+-zPKzP0
14...Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Ra7 (15...Rfb8 9tR-+Q+R+-0
16.Rfc1 axb4 17.axb4 bxc5 18.bxc5 h6 xiiiiiiiiy
19.Ra6 Qb7 20.Rca1 Bf6 21.Rxa8 Rxa8
22.Rb1ƒ Bologan – Pourkashiyan, Doha 17.Na4!
2014) 16.Rfc1 Rfa8 17.Rab1 axb4 17.Qe2 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 axb4 19.axb4ƒ
18.axb4 Ra3 19.Qc2 Ding – Zhou, Danzhou 2012.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+k+0 17...Bxd3 18.Qxd3 bxc5 19.bxc5 f6
9+-wqnvlpzpp0 20.f4²
9-zpp+p+-+0 B2b2) 14.Bxa6!?
9+-zPp+-+-0 This position is basically of a
9-zP-zP-zP-+0 manoeuvring type and White is trying to
9tr-sN-+NzP-0 exploit his space advantage. Now
9-+Q+-zPKzP0 however, he has an interesting possibility
9+RtR-+-+-0 to change the character of the fight and
xiiiiiiiiy make it more concrete.
14...Rxa6 15.Qe2
19...h6 20.h4 (20.cxb6!? Qxb6 21.f5 Bf6
22.b5 Nf8 23.bxc6!? Qxc6 24.Ne4 Qxc2
25.Nxf6+ gxf6 26.Rxc2²) 20...Qb7
21.Nd1 Ra2 22.Rb2 Rxb2 23.Qxb2 Bf6
24.Qc2 bxc5 25.bxc5 Ra3 26.Rb1 Qa6
27.Ne3² A.Onischuk – Jakovenko,
Poikovsky 2013.
19...Bf6 20.Rb3 (20.Nd1? Jakovenko –
Andreikin, Tashkent 2014, 20...bxc5
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0 9-+r+-+k+0
9+-wqnvlpzpp0 9+-wqnwQpzpp0
9rzpp+p+-+0 9rzp-+-+-+0
9zp-zPp+-+-0 9zppzPp+-+-0
9-zP-zP-zP-+0 9-+-zP-zP-+0
9zP-sN-+NzP-0 9zP-+-+NzP-0
9-+-+QzP-zP0 9-+-+-zP-zP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
15...Ra7 19.c6 Nf6= Rychagov – Azarov,
15...Raa8 16.Ra2!? (16.Kg2!? Bf6 Serpukhov 2007.
17.Qc2 Ra7 18.Rab1. This move is 19.Rab1!? bxc5 20.Rxb5 Re6 21.Qg5 h6
possible, but naturally not obligatory. 22.Qxd5 Rd6, Ivanchuk – Kramnik,
White avoids the juxtaposition of the Tromsoe 2013, 23.Qc4 Qc6 24.d5²
rooks on the a-file. 18...axb4 19.axb4 Ra3 19.Rfb1!? bxc5 20.Rxb5² Re6 21.Qg5
20.Ne2 Rfa8 21.Rb2 R3a4 22.Rd1 Nf8 Rb6 (21...h6 22.Qxd5 Rd6 23.Qc4 Qc6,
23.h4 h5 24.Rc1 b5 25.Rd1 Ng6 26.f5 Quintiliano Pinto – Umetsubo,
exf5 27.Qxf5ƒ Meier – Pavlovic, Biel Florianopolis 2016, 24.d5! Rxd5
2012) 16...Bf6 17.Qc2 axb4 18.axb4 25.Rxa5²) 22.a4!? Rxb5 23.axb5 Nf6
Rxa2 19.Nxa2 Ra8 20.Rb1 g6 21.Kg2 24.Qf5 Ra8 25.Qb1 Qb6 26.dxc5 Qxc5
Ra3 22.Rb3 Qa7?! (22...Ra6 23.Nc1ƒ) 27.Qb2 Qb6 28.Nd4² Aronian – Giri,
23.Rxa3 Qxa3 24.b5 Qa8, Ragger – Porto Carras 2011.
Kravtsiv, Legnica 2013, 25.Nb4! bxc5 16.f5 e5!
26.dxc5 Be7 27.Nxc6± 16...axb4?! 17.axb4 Rxa1 18.Rxa1 e5
15...Rfa8 16.b5! (16.Rab1 axb4 17.axb4 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.dxe5 bxc5 21.b5 d4
Bf6 18.Rfc1 Ra3= Radjabov – Kramnik, 22.b6! Qxb6 23.Ne4 Qd8 24.f6 gxf6
Kazan 2011) 16...cxb5 (16...R6a7? 17.f5 25.Qg4+ Kh8 26.Ra7 fxe5 27.Qf5 f6
Nf8 18.Na4+– N.Nguyen – Pham, Bac 28.Rd7 Qe8, Ding – Matlakov, St
Giang 2014) 17.Nxd5 (17.c6 Qxc6 Petersburg 2012, 29.Nd6! Qg6 30.Qxg6
18.Nxb5 Rc8 19.Nd6 Rca8 20.Nb5= hxg6 31.Rxe7+–
Miton – Doettling, Evry 2008) 17...exd5 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.dxe5
XIIIIIIIIY
18.Qxe7 Rc8 (18...R6a7?! 19.Rfc1!? Nf6
9-+-+-trk+0
20.Qxc7 Rxc7 21.Rab1±; 19.Rfb1!? bxc5
9tr-wq-vlpzpp0
20.Rxb5 cxd4 21.Nxd4 Nf6 22.Qe5 h6
9-zpp+-+-+0
23.Nf5± Ragger – Rustemov, Germany
9zp-zPpzPP+-0
2014)
9-zP-+-+-+0
9zP-sN-+-zP-0
9-+-+QzP-zP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
18...bxc5
18...axb4?! 19.axb4 bxc5, Sanzhaev – This is a non-standard position and it
Oparin, Kolomna 2014 (19...Rxa1 must be tested in practice. See how the
20.Rxa1 – see 16...axb4) 20.Rxa7 Qxa7 game may develop: 21...Bf8 (21...dxc3
21.b5 cxb5 22.Nxd5± 22.fxe7 Qxe7 23.b6!±; 21...gxf6 22.Rab1!
19.b5 Rd8 Rb7 23.Qg4+ Kh8 24.exf6 Bxf6
19...d4 20.b6! Qxb6 21.Ne4ƒ 25.Ne4ƒ) 22.fxg7 Bxg7 23.b6 Qxb6
20.Rfe1!? d4 21.f6ƒ 24.Ne4‚
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+k+0
9tr-wq-vlpzpp0
9-+p+-zP-+0
9zpPzp-zP-+-0
9-+-zp-+-+0
9zP-sN-+-zP-0
9-+-+QzP-zP0
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

C) 7...c6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+nvlpzpp0
9-+p+psn-+0
9+-zPp+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
8.Bd3
I do not think that White should begin
here with the move 8.b4. Following
8...Nh5 9.Bd3, the game may transpose to
the variation with 8.Bd3 Nh5. Still, Black
has an interesting additional possibility:
8...Ne4!? After the principled line:
9.Nxe4 dxe4 10.Nd2, it would be
interesting for Black to try 10...e5!?
(10...f5 11.Nc4² Golod – Olivares, San
Salvador 2003) 11.dxe5 a5 12.e6 (12.a3
b6 13.Nxe4 axb4 14.axb4 Rxa1 15.Qxa1
bxc5 16.b5 Bb7©) 12...fxe6 13.a3 b6
14.Bc4 axb4 15.axb4 Rxa1 16.Qxa1 bxc5
17.Bxe6+ Kh8 18.0-0 cxb4 19.Nxe4 Nf6
20.Ng5 Qe8∞
White has played in numerous games the
move 8.h3, with the idea to prevent the
exchange of his bishop. There has been
amassed some theory after this move and
it seems to me that if Black plays 8...b6
9.b4 a5 10.a3 Ne4! he would solve easily
his opening problems. 11.Nxe4 dxe4
12.Ne5 (12.Nd2?! e5! 13.dxe5 axb4
14.axb4 Rxa1 15.Qxa1 bxc5³ Ilic – Ozen,
Skopje 2015) 12...Nxe5 13.Bxe5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-+-vlpzpp0
9-zpp+p+-+0
9zp-zP-vL-+-0
9-zP-zPp+-+0
9zP-+-zP-+P0
9-+-+-zPP+0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black has good chances of equalising
after the immediate reaction 13...Qd5!?
14.Qc1 (14.Be2 f6?! 15.Bc7!²; 14...bxc5
15.bxc5 Bxc5 16.Qc2 Be7 17.Bc4 Qd7
18.Qxe4 Ba6=) 14...b5 (14...Ba6 15.Bxa6
Rxa6 16.0-0 Rc8²; 16...Rfa8?! 17.cxb6!
Rxb6 18.Bc7± Magalashvili – Mkrtchian,
Jermuk 2012) 15.Be2 axb4 16.axb4 Rxa1
17.Qxa1 Bb7 18.0-0 Ra8 19.Qc3 Qa2
20.Bd1 Ra3 21.Qc2 Qxc2 22.Bxc2 f5=,
as well as following 13...f6 14.Bg3
(14.Bh2 Qd5! 15.Be2 e5!?∞; 15...Ba6
16.0-0 axb4 17.axb4 Bxe2 18.Qxe2 b5=;
18...bxc5?! 19.bxc5 e5 20.dxe5² David –
Vuilleumier, Paleochora 2010) 14...Qd5!
15.Be2 Ba6 16.0-0 axb4 17.axb4 Bxe2
18.Qxe2 b5= Palo – Iordachescu,
Copenhagen 2005.
8...b6
About 8...Nh5 9.Qc2 Nxf4 10.exf4 – see
variation B2a.
8...Re8?! The only reasonable idea behind
this move is for Black to create the threat
9...Bc5. White can counter comfortably
this however with the thematic reaction
9.b4 (9.h3? Bxc5! 10.dxc5 e5³ Myller –
Marjamaki, Finland 2004; 9.0-0?! Bxc5
10.dxc5 e5= Rapouso – Menna Barreto,
Piratuba 2012) 9...Nf8 10.h3± Saucey –
Desboeufs, St Chely d’Aubrac 2006.
9.b4 a5
About 9...Bb7 10.0-0 a5 11.a3 – see
9...a5.
 XIIIIIIIIY
9...bxc5?! 10.bxc5 Qa5 11.Rc1 Nh5 9r+-wq-trk+0
(11...Ba6 12.0-0 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Nh5, 9+-+nvlpzpp0
Santiago – Stamenkovic, Santos 2011, 9-zPl+psn-+0
14.Be5!±) 12.Be5 f6 13.Bd6 Bxd6 9zp-+p+-+-0
14.cxd6 g6 15.Qa4± 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9...Re8?! The only idea of this move is to 9+-sNLzPN+-0
sacrifice temporarily the bishop on c5, but 9P+-+-zPPzP0
we will see this to be wrong. 10.0-0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
(10.Qc2?! Nf8? 11.Ne5±; 10...bxc5 xiiiiiiiiy
11.bxc5 Bxc5 12.dxc5 e5=) 10...bxc5?!
12...Bb4!? 13.0-0 Nxb6 14.Ne5 (14.Qb3
11.bxc5 Bxc5? 12.dxc5 e5 13.Bg3 e4
Ne4 15.Nb5 Bxb5 16.Bxb5 Bd6=
14.Nd4 Qa5 15.Be2 Qxc3 16.Rc1 Qa3
Rasmussen – Vaganian, Copenhagen
17.Nxc6+–
XIIIIIIIIY 2006) 14...Rc8 15.Rc1 Be8=
9r+lwq-trk+0
12...Nxb6 13.0-0 Rc8 (13...Nfd7? 14.Qc2
9+-+nvlpzpp0
h6 15.Nb5 Bxb5 16.Bxb5² Dreev –
9-zpp+psn-+0
Georgiev, Dubai 2002) 14.Ne5 (14.Ba6
9zp-zPp+-+-0
Bb7! 15.Bxb7 Rxc3 16.Rc1 Rxc1
9-zP-zP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzPN+-0 17.Qxc1 Nc4 18.Ne5 Qc7 19.Ba6 Bd6=;
9P+-+-zPPzP0 19...Qb6 20.Bxc4 Rc8ƒ) 14...Be8 15.Rc1
9tR-+QmK-+R0 Ba3 16.Rc2 Bb4 17.Nb5 Ne4 (17...Nc4?!
xiiiiiiiiy 18.a4² Koneru – L.Mkrtchan, Turin 2006)
18.a3 Bxb5 19.Bxb5 Bxa3 20.Nc6 Qd7
10.a3 21.Qd3 Nd6 22.Qxa3 Nxb5 23.Ne7+
10.b5. This looks like a natural move, and Kh8 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.Qxa5 Nc4 26.Qa6
I have also tried it in practice, but White Re8 27.Nc6 Rc8=
fails to obtain an advantage. 10...Bb7 12...Qxb6
XIIIIIIIIY
(10...cxb5 11.c6 Bb4 12.Rc1 Ne4 9r+-+-trk+0
13.Bxe4 dxe4 14.Nd2 Nf6∞; 11.Nxb5 9+-+nvlpzpp0
bxc5 12.Bc7 Qe8 13.Nd6 Bxd6 14.Bxd6 9-wql+psn-+0
c4 15.Bc2²) 11.bxc6 (11.cxb6 Qxb6 9zp-+p+-+-0
12.0-0 Rfc8 13.bxc6 Bxc6 14.Rb1 Qd8 9-+-zP-vL-+0
15.Qe2 Ne4 16.Rfc1 Ndf6 – 16...Bb4!?= 9+-sNLzPN+-0
– 17.Ba6 Ba3 18.Rc2 Rxa6 19.Qxa6 Ba4 9P+-+-zPPzP0
20.Nxa4 Rxc2= Gelfand – Carlsen, 9tR-+QmK-+R0
Medias 2010) 11...Bxc6 12.cxb6 xiiiiiiiiy
13.Rb1 Bb4 (13...Qa7 14.0-0 Rac8
15.Nb5 Bxb5 16.Rxb5² Dreev –
Vaganian, Calatrava 2006) 14.0-0 Qa7
15.Nb5 Bxb5 16.Bxb5 Ne4 17.Qd3 Rfc8
18.Rbc1 Bd6= Gelfand – Ivanchuk,
Khanty-Mansiysk 2010.
13.0-0 Ne4 14.Rb1 Qa7 15.Qc2 Rac8
(15...Nxc3? 16.Bxh7+ Kh8 17.Qxc3 Rfc8
18.Bd3±) 16.Qb2 (16.Nxe4 dxe4
17.Bxe4 Bd5! 18.Qd3 Bc4³) 16...Nxc3
17.Qxc3 Bb5=
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-+nvlpzpp0
9-zpp+psn-+0
9zp-zPp+-+-0
9-zP-zP-vL-+0
9zP-sNLzPN+-0
9-+-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...Ba6
We will see that Black is trying to solve
his problems in the opening without the
manoeuvre Nf6-h5 and this approach is
often justified in practice. With this
however, he enables his opponent to try
an interesting possibility, which was
tested in a World Championship match.
10...Nh5 11.0-0 Nxf4 12.exf4 – see
variation B2b.
10...b5?! 11.0-0 (11.h3±) 11...a4 12.Qc2
h6 13.h3± (13.Ne2 Nh5 14.Ng3 Nxf4
15.exf4² Margenstern – Viville, Clichy
2003.
10...bxc5?! Naturally, Black should not
leave the a-pawns on the board, moreover
that the a5-square is not available to his
queen. 11.bxc5 Ba6 12.Bxa6 (12.0-0
Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Nh5 14.Rfb1 Nxf4
15.exf4 Qc7 16.g3 Rfb8 17.Kg2² Brown
– Bailey, Uxbridge 2009) 12...Rxa6
13.Rb1 Nh5 14.Be5±
10...Re8?! This is just a senseless loss of
time. 11.0-0± Nf8 (11...Ba6? Navrotescu
– Le Goff, Avoine 2012, 12.Bxa6 Rxa6
13.b5 cxb5 14.c6 Nf8 15.Nxb5+–)
12.Ne5 Bb7 13.Na4± Gomez Morales –
Velasco, Cali 2015.
10...axb4?! I have already mentioned
numerous times that Black’s position is
cramped, so it is absolutely essential for
him to trade the light-squared bishops. At
first, he should not be left with a
potentially “bad” bishop and secondly, he
must try to coordinate his major pieces;
otherwise, his light-squared bishop would
hamper this. Therefore, his last move is
not good, to say the least... 11.axb4 Rxa1
12.Qxa1 Nh5 13.Be5! (13.0-0 Nxf4
14.exf4 Qc7 15.g3 Bb7 16.Qb1 g6 17.h4
Ra8 18.Re1 bxc5 19.bxc5 Ba6 20.Kg2
Rb8 21.Qc2 Qa5 22.Bxa6 Qxa6 23.Rb1
Rxb1 24.Qxb1 Kg7 25.Nd1 h5= Nguyen
– Wang, Jakarta 2012) 13...bxc5 14.bxc5
Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Qc7 16.0-0² Bxc5?!
17.Rc1±
10...Bb7?! This move is too slow. 11.0-0
Qc8 (11...Nh5 12.Qc2 h6 13.Be5 f6
14.Bf4² Vanagaite – Buterlevicius,
Palanga 2014)
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+q+-trk+0
9+l+nvlpzpp0
9-zpp+psn-+0
9zp-zPp+-+-0
9-zP-zP-vL-+0
9zP-sNLzPN+-0
9-+-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
12.Re1!? Ba6 13.Bc2. White played his
last move just to enable this retreat of his
bishop. 13...Bc4 14.Nd2 axb4 15.axb4
Rxa1 16.Qxa1 Nh5 (16...Qb7? 17.Nxc4
dxc4 18.Qa2 b5 19.Ra1 Rc8 20.Qa7+–
Ragger – Stefansson, Istanbul 2012)
17.Bd6!? Bxd6 18.cxd6ƒ
12.Na4! b5 (12...Ba6 13.cxb6 axb4
14.axb4 Bb5 15.Ne5 Nxe5 16.Bxe5 Nd7
17.Bxb5 cxb5 18.Rc1 Qe8 19.Nc5±
Agamaliev – Khudiakov, Alushta 2002)
13.Nc3. Black’s position is solid indeed, The game has developed until now in a
but it would be difficult to believe that it calm positional fashion, but now, it enters
might attract followers with a light- suddenly absolutely irrational
squared bishop of this type... 13...Nh5 complications.
14.Bg5 Bd8 15.Bxd8 Qxd8, Edouard – This variation became very popular after a
Karpov, Cap d’Agde 2010, 16.Qb1! axb4 game played between Carlsen and Anand
(16...Nhf6 17.a4 bxa4 18.b5+–) 17.Qxb4 in a match for the World Championship.
Ba6 18.a4 bxa4 19.Bxa6 Rxa6 20.Rxa4 Still, it seems to me that it was just a
Rxa4 21.Qxa4 Qc7 22.Na2±
XIIIIIIIIY matter of surprise for the opponent in a
9r+-wq-trk+0 single game. The variation however, looks
9+-+nvlpzpp0 very dangerous and of course, not
9lzpp+psn-+0 everybody would like to take his chances
9zp-zPp+-+-0 with Black. After this game, its adherents
9-zP-zP-vL-+0 diminished considerably...I have failed to
9zP-sNLzPN+-0 find a clear advantage for White, but it is
9-+-+-zPPzP0 still too early for a definite evaluation. It
9tR-+QmK-+R0 is quite evident however, that from a
xiiiiiiiiy practical point of view, contrary to some
other positional variations, both sides
We will analyse now C1) 11.Bxa6 and should play very precisely, since even a
C2) 11.0-0. small mistake may turn out to be fatal.
11.b5. White cannot obtain an edge with It would not be principled for White to
this move. 11...cxb5!? (11...Bb7!? play here 12.0-0 Qa8= Munkhgal –
12.cxb6 Nxb6 13.bxc6 Bxc6 14.0-0 Enkhnar, Govi Altai 2014.
Rc8=; 12...Qxb6 13.0-0∞ Jobava – 12...cxb5 13.c6 Qc8
Lputian, Abu Dhabi 2003) 12.c6 Qc8 13...b4? 14.Nb5 bxa3 15.0-0! (15.cxd7
13.Rc1 (13.Nxb5 Qxc6 14.Rc1 Bxb5 Bb4+ 16.Ke2 Qxd7 17.Qd3± Olafsson –
15.Rxc6 Bxc6= Zschaebitz – Stark, Berlin Al Tamimi, Turin 2006) 15...Ne4 16.cxd7
2000) 13...Qxc6 14.Nxb5 (14.Ne2?! Nc5 Qxd7 17.Qd3+–
XIIIIIIIIY
15.dxc5 bxc5µ I.Sokolov – Spassky,
9-+q+-trk+0
Malmo 1998) 14...Bxb5=
9+-+nvlpzpp0
11.Bxa6 Rxa6
C1)XIIIIIIIIY 9rzpP+psn-+0
9-+-wq-trk+0 9zpp+p+-+-0
9+-+nvlpzpp0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9rzpp+psn-+0 9zP-sN-zPN+-0
9zp-zPp+-+-0 9-+-+-zPPzP0
9-zP-zP-vL-+0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
9zP-sN-zPN+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 14.c7
xiiiiiiiiy 14.Nxb5? Qxc6 15.Nc7 Ra7 16.Rc1
Qb7µ Efimov – Costantini, Reggio
12.b5!? Emilia 2000.
14...b4 16.0-0 (16.a4?! Nc3 17.Qd3 Ra8
14...Bxa3 15.Nxb5 Bb4+ 16.Ke2 Nc5 18.Nxc3 bxc3 19.0-0 Bb4µ Rusev –
(16...Ne4 17.Qc2 Ra8 18.Rhb1 Ndc5 Stoinev, Albena 2010) 16...bxa3 17.Qc2
19.dxc5 bxc5 20.Kf1 f6 21.Qd3∞; (17.Qa4? g5 18.Bg3 g4!? 19.Ne1 Nd2
17.Qa4 Ra8 18.Rhc1©) 17.Ne5! (17.dxc5 20.Qd1 Nxf1 21.Qxg4+ Kh8³ Karpov –
bxc5 18.Qa4 Rb6©) 17...Nh5 18.Bg3 Ne4 Ki.Georgiev, Dubai 2002) 17...Qb7
19.Qa4± (17...a4?! 18.Rfc1 Ra5 19.Qc6±) 18.Ng5
15.Nb5
XIIIIIIIIY Rc8 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Rfc1© – White’s
9-+q+-trk+0 powerful passed pawn compensates his
9+-zPnvlpzpp0 minimal material deficit. (20.Qa4!? Nf6
9rzp-+psn-+0 21.Bd6 Bxd6 22.Nxd6 Qxc7 23.Nxc8
9zpN+p+-+-0 Qxc8 24.Rfc1∞).
9-zp-zP-vL-+0 16.Rc1
XIIIIIIIIY
9zP-+-zPN+-0 9-+q+-trk+0
9-+-+-zPPzP0 9+-zPnvlpzpp0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 9rzp-+psn-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+N+p+-+-0
9pzp-zP-vL-+0
15...a4!? 9zP-+-zPN+-0
15...bxa3 16.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-zPPzP0
9-+q+-trk+0 9+-tRQmK-+R0
9+-zPnvlpzpp0 xiiiiiiiiy
9rzp-+psn-+0
9zpN+p+-+-0 16...Ra8!
9-+-zP-vL-+0 16...bxa3? 17.Bd6+–
9zp-+-zPN+-0 16...b3? 17.Bd6 Ra5 18.Bxe7 Rxb5
9-+-+-zPPzP0 19.Bxf8+–
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 16...Ne8?! 17.axb4 Bxb4 18.Ke2 Ra5
xiiiiiiiiy 19.Qd3 a3 20.Rc6±
16...Ne4 17.Ng5
XIIIIIIIIY
16...Nh5?! 17.Qc2! Nxf4 18.exf4 Ra8
(18...Qb7 19.Ne5+– Sedlak – Pavlovic, 9-+q+-trk+0
Vrnjacka Banja 2010) 19.Qc6± 9+-zPnvlpzpp0
16...a4 17.Qc2 Ra5, Kveinys – Halkias,
9rzp-+p+-+0
Gothenburg 2005, 18.Bd6! Rxb5 19.Bxe7
9+N+p+-sN-0
Re8 20.Qc6 Ra5 21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.Rfc1±
9pzp-zPnvL-+0
b5 23.Rxa3 Ra7 24.e4 dxe4 25.Nd2 f5
9zP-+-zP-+-0
9-+-+-zPPzP0
26.d5‚
9+-tRQmK-+R0
15...Ne4. He defends against the threat xiiiiiiiiy
Bf4-d6 and frees the best possible square
for his knight, from where it would 17...Nxg5?! 18.Bd6! Ra5 19.Bxe7 Rxb5
support the possible attack against 20.axb4 Re8 21.Qxa4+–
White’s bishop with the move g7-g5. 17...e5?! 18.dxe5±
17...Bxg5?! 18.Bxg5 Ra5 19.axb4! Rxb5 11...Qc8 12.h3 Qb7 (12...Bxd3 13.Qxd3
20.Qxa4 Rxb4 21.Qxb4 Nxg5 22.0-0 – see 11...Bxd3; About 12...h6 – see Giri
Ne4 23.Rc2± – Aronian, Moscow 2016, game 19)
17...Ndf6 18.Nxe4 dxe4 (18...Nxe4?! 13.Bxa6 Qxa6 (13...Rxa6 14.Qd3!? Rfa8
19.f3 Ra5 20.fxe4! Rxb5 21.Qxa4 Ra5 15.Rab1ƒ; 15.b5!? R6a7 16.cxb6 Qxb6
22.Qc6± – White’s powerful passed 17.a4ƒ) 14.Rb1 axb4 (14...Rfc8 15.Qc2
c7-pawn provides him with a clear Bd8 16.Rfc1 axb4 17.axb4 Qb7 – see
advantage, Anand – Carlsen, Sochi 2014.) 14...axb4) 15.axb4 Rfc8 16.Qc2 Bd8
19.Nd6 Bxd6 20.Bxd6 b3 21.Bxf8 Kxf8 17.Rfc1 Qb7 18.Ne1 (18.Nd2!? Bc7
22.Qd2 Nd5 23.f3 exf3 24.gxf3ƒ 19.Bxc7 Qxc7. Black has followed a plan
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+q+-trk+0 with an exchange of the bishops, but still
9+-zPnvlpzpp0 has some problems to solve. 20.cxb6
9-zp-+psn-+0 Nxb6 21.Ne2 Ne8 22.Ra1 Rxa1 23.Rxa1
9+N+p+-+-0 Nd6 24.Nc1 Nbc4 25.Nd3² Delchev –
9pzp-zP-vL-+0 Svetushkin, Rijeka 2010; 20.e4!?ƒ)
9zP-+-zPN+-0 18...Bc7 19.Nd3² Cheparinov –
9-+-+-zPPzP0 Ki.Georgiev, Plovdiv 2012. White
9+-tRQmK-+R0 suggests to his opponent to exchange the
xiiiiiiiiy bishops on the f4-square, after which his
e-pawn will occupy the place of the
17.Bd6 (17.axb4? Bxb4+ 18.Ke2 Ne4–+ bishop. Then, moves like f4-f5, or
Chigaev – Harutyunian, Moscow 2016) Nd3-e5 will become possible. If Black
17...Bxd6 18.Nxd6 Qa6 19.Ne5!? does not exchange on f4, then White’s
(19.axb4 b5 20.c8=Q Rfxc8 21.Nxc8 plans include f3, e4, occupying space on
Rxc8 22.Rxc8+ Qxc8©) 19...Ne4 the kingside. His hopes in this situation,
20.Nxe4!? Nxe5 21.dxe5 dxe4 22.axb4 just like in the entire variation, are based
a3 23.Qd6 a2 24.Kd2= – There has on the fact that Black’s position is
arisen a non-standard position, which is permanently cramped and he is deprived
approximately equal. of the possibility to take any concrete
C2)XIIIIIIIIY
11.0-0 active actions. In a practical game all this
9r+-wq-trk+0 may lead (and very often does lead...) to
9+-+nvlpzpp0 mistakes. It is far from easy to play
9lzpp+psn-+0 positions of this type with Black.
9zp-zPp+-+-0 12.Qxd3
9-zP-zP-vL-+0
9zP-sNLzPN+-0
9-+-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This is a solid move and I have tried it in
practice numerous times.
11...Bxd3
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-+nvlpzpp0
9-zpp+psn-+0
9zp-zPp+-+-0
9-zP-zP-vL-+0
9zP-sNQzPN+-0
9-+-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...Qc8
12...Ra7?! 13.b5! (13.h3?! Qa8 14.Rab1ƒ
Lerner – Mikhalevski, Tel Aviv 2001)
13...Qa8 (13...bxc5?! 14.bxc6 c4
15.Qb1±) 14.bxc6 Qxc6 15.Bd6! Bxd6
16.cxd6 Raa8 17.Nb5±
12...Nh5 13.Be5 f6 14.Bg3 (14.Bf4 bxc5
15.bxc5 e5 16.Qf5∞ Cyborowski –
E.Jussupow, Krakow 2009) 14...Nxg3
15.hxg3 f5 16.Rfb1!?ƒ Black’s pawn-
advance f7-f5 may turn out to be a
weakening in the future.
13.h3
This is a useful move and prophylactic
against Nf6-h5.
13.Rfc1 Qb7 14.Qc2 (14.h3 h6 15.Qc2
Rfc8 16.Rab1 axb4 17.axb4 Ra7 18.Na4
b5 19.Nc3 Rca8 20.Nd2 Bd8! 21.Nb3
Bc7= Dautov – Kasimdzhanov, Essen
2001.) 14...axb4 15.axb4 b5 16.Rxa8
Rxa8 17.Rb1 Bd8 18.Ne1 Bc7 19.Nd3,
Cheparinov – Mamedyarov, Bastia 2011,
19...Bxf4 20.exf4 (20.Nxf4 e5=)
20...Nf8=
13...Qb7
About 13...axb4 14.axb4 Qb7 15.Rfb1 –
see 13...Qb7.
14.Rfb1!?
White is not afraid of the exchange of the
rooks on the a-file and brings his rook
closer to the field of actions.
He tried to preserve the rooks in several
games with 14.Rab1. This move is
possible in principle, but I am reluctant to
recommend it in this particular moment.
14...axb4 15.axb4 Ra3 16.Qc2 Rfa8
17.Rfc1 h6!? (17...Bd8 18.b5! R3a5,
Dreev – Malakhov, New Delhi/Theran
2000, 19.Qd1! bxc5 20.dxc5 Nxc5
21.Nd4 cxb5 22.Ncxb5 Qb6 23.Nc7
Bxc7 24.Rxb6 Bxb6 25.Nc6²) 18.Ne1
Bd8! 19.Nd3 b5 20.f3 Bc7= Dreev –
Balashov, Smolensk 2000.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+q+nvlpzpp0
9-zpp+psn-+0
9zp-zPp+-+-0
9-zP-zP-vL-+0
9zP-sNQzPN+P0
9-+-+-zPP+0
9tRR+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
14...axb4
14...Ra7 15.Qc2!?ƒ with the idea 16.cxb6
Qxb6 17.b5 (It would not be so good for
White to play here immediately 15.cxb6
Qxb6 16.b5, because of 16...a4; 15.Nd2
Rfa8 16.Qf1 h6= Riazantsev – Jakovenko,
Moscow 2009). 15...Rfa8 (15...axb4
16.axb4 Rfa8? 17.Rxa7 Rxa7 18.b5! bxc5
19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Nd4 cxb5 21.Ncxb5
Ra6 22.Nd6 Qc7 23.Ne8! Qd7 24.Nxf6+
gxf6 25.Rb8 Kg7 26.Qd1+–) 16.b5!?ƒ
bxc5 17.dxc5 Bxc5 18.Na4 cxb5 19.Nxc5
Qc6 20.Rc1 Rc8 21.Nxd7 Qxc2 22.Rxc2
Rxc2 23.Nd4±
15.axb4 Rxa1
15...b5 16.Nd2. This knight is eyeing the
a5-square. 16...Rxa1 17.Rxa1 Ra8 18.Qb1
Ne8 19.Nb3² Tregubov – Haznedaroglu,
Aix-les-Bains 2011.
16.Rxa1 Ra8 17.Qb1 Bd8
Black plans to trade the bishops at an
opportune moment.
About 17...Ra7 18.Rxa7!? Qxa7 19.Qa2 –
 XIIIIIIIIY
see 17...Ra6. 9r+-vl-+k+0
17...Ra6 18.Rxa6!? Qxa6 19.Qa2 Qb7 9+q+n+pzpp0
(19...Qxa2 20.Nxa2 b5? 21.Nc1 with the 9-zpp+psn-+0
idea Nb3-a5) 20.Qa4² Solozhenkin – 9+-zPp+-+-0
Blauert, Helsinki 2001. 9-zP-zP-vL-+0
17...Rxa1 18.Qxa1 Bd8 19.Qa4 b5 9+-sN-zPN+P0
20.Qa2 Ne8 21.Ne1² Kasimdzhanov – 9-+-+-zPP+0
Jakovenko, Jermuk 2009. 9tRQ+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This position was reached in the game
Khalifman – Karpov, Zurich 2009. Here,
White had to continue with 18.g4,
occupying additional space on the
kingside, for example: 18...h6 19.Kg2
Ne8 20.Ne1 Bc7 21.Bxc7 Nxc7 22.Nd3²
 9...Bd7 10.Bxd7+ Nxd7 11.Nge2 Nxa2!
COMPLETE GAMES 12.Nxa2 Qxa2 13.0-0 e6 14.Rc7 Qa6
15.Qb3 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Qxb7
Ke7
1. Shimanov – Nigalidze Black’s king is forced to remain in the
Yerevan 2014
centre.
XIIIIIIIIY
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Bf4 Nf6 9r+-+-+-tr0
5.Nc3 Qb6 6.Rc1 9zpQtRnmkpzpp0
We analyse as the main line for White 9-+-wqp+-+0
6.e3, but the move in the text is also 9+-+p+-+-0
possible. 9-+-zP-+-+0
6...Nc6 7.e3 Qxb2 8.Bd3 Nb4 9+-+-zP-+-0
This looks like a principled move, but it 9-+-+NzPPzP0
deserved attention for Black to choose the 9+-+-+RmK-0
more prudent line: 8...Bd7 9.Nge2 Qb6 xiiiiiiiiy
10.0-0 and only now 10...Nb4∞
XIIIIIIIIY 18.e4! dxe4?!
9r+l+kvl-tr0 Now, White has chances of obtaining an
9zpp+-zppzpp0 advantage, since his queen may avoid
9-+-+-sn-+0 being exchanged via the e4-square.
9+-+p+-+-0
Therefore, it was correct for Black to
9-sn-zP-vL-+0
continue with 18...Rhd8 19.Rfc1 Rab8
9+-sNLzP-+-0
9Pwq-+-zPPzP0 20.e5 Qb6 21.Qxa7 Qxa7 22.Rxa7 Rbc8=
9+-tRQmK-sNR0 19.Rfc1 Rhb8
xiiiiiiiiy 19...Rhd8? 20.Rxd7+–
20.Qxe4
XIIIIIIIIY
9.Bb5+ 9rtr-+-+-+0
This move leads practically by force to an 9zp-tRnmkpzpp0
approximately equal position, although 9-+-wqp+-+0
Black must play very precisely to 9+-+-+-+-0
maintain the balance. It was interesting 9-+-zPQ+-+0
for White to test here 9.Nge2!? a6 9+-+-+-+-0
(9...Nxd3+ 10.Qxd3 a6 11.Rb1 Qa3 9-+-+NzPPzP0
12.Qc2!ƒ, with the idea 12...e6 13.0-0 9+-tR-+-mK-0
Be7 14.Na4 Nd7 15.Rfd1 Bf6 16.Rb6 xiiiiiiiiy
Qe7 17.Bd6 Qd8 18.Rb3 b5 19.Bc7 Qe7
20.Qc6 Ra7 21.Nc5±) 10.Bb1, but it 20...Qd5?
looked like Black could hold after Black had better exploit the pluses of his
10...Bd7! (10...b5 11.0-0 e6 12.e4°) position at the moment and not to place
11.Na4 Bxa4 12.Qxa4+ Nc6 13.Rxc6 his queen under attack by White’s knight:
(13.0-0 Qb5 14.Nc3 Qxa4 15.Nxa4 20...a5! 21.h3! (21.Qxh7 Rh8! 22.Qe4
Nd7=) 13...Qxb1+ 14.Rc1+ Qb5 Qxh2+ 23.Kf1 Qd6 24.Kg1 Qh2=)
15.Qxb5+ axb5 16.0-0 e6= 21...h6 22.Nf4 g5 23.Nd3ƒ
21.Qh4+ Bd7XIIIIIIIIY
9.Qc2 e6 10.Nf3 Be7
21.Qxh7!? Rb2 22.Qd3± 9r+-wqk+-tr0
21...g5 22.Qxh7?! 9zpp+lvlpzpp0
This move allows Black to trade the 9-+-+psn-+0
queens, but he overlooks this possibility. 9sn-+p+-+-0
22.Qh5!? Rb2 23.Ng3 Rd8 24.h4ƒ 9-+-zP-vL-+0
22...Rb2?! 9+-sN-zPN+-0
22...Qf5! 23.Qxf5 exf5= 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
23.Qd3± Qb5?
9tR-+-mKL+R0
This move loses immediately. Black could
xiiiiiiiiy
have preserved chances of survival only 11.Bd3
after 23...Rab8 24.Nc3 (24.h3!?±) It is preferable for White to play here
24...Qf5 25.Qxf5 exf5 26.Rxa7± 11.h3.
24.Qa3+ Qb4 25.Qf3 11...Nc6 12.a3
It was even stronger for White to have White defends against Nb4. He would
played 25.Qg3 Qd2 26.Nf4!+–
XIIIIIIIIY have no advantage after 12.Qe2 Nh5!
9r+-+-+-+0 13.Be5 f6 14.Bg3 f5 15.Bb5 0-0 16.Bxc6
9zp-tRnmkp+-0 Bxc6 17.Ne5 Be8 18.Rc1 Rc8 19.0-0
9-+-+p+-+0 Bd6= Vachier Lagrave – Motylev, Biel
9+-+-+-zp-0 2014.XIIIIIIIIY
9-wq-zP-+-+0 9r+-wqk+-tr0
9+-+-+Q+-0 9zpp+lvlpzpp0
9-tr-+NzPPzP0 9-+n+psn-+0
9+-tR-+-mK-0 9+-+p+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-zP-vL-+0
25...Rd8
9zP-sNLzPN+-0
25...Rb8! 26.Qh5! (26.d5 Rb1 27.Rxb1
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
Qxb1+ 28.Rc1 exd5 29.Qe3+ Qe4
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
30.Qxg5±) 26...Qb5 27.R1c5!! Rb1+
28.Nc1 Qxc5 29.Rxc5 Nxc5 30.Qxg5+ 12...Nh5!
Ke8 31.Qxc5 Ra1 32.h4 Rbb1 33.Kh2 It is now obvious that White cannot avoid
Rxc1 34.Qb5+ Kf8 35.h5+– the exchange of his bishop for the enemy
26.Nc3 Qxd4 27.Ne4+– f5 knight. Therefore, he wishes to do this at
27...Ra2 28.Nxg5 Qf6 29.Qe3+– least for a price...
28.Nxg5 Rb6 29.Qh5 Qg7 30.Qh4 Rh8 13.Be5 f6
31.Nh7+ 1–0 Of course not 13...Nxe5? 14.Nxe5 Nf6
15.Nxd7 Nxd7 16.Bxh7±
2. Adams – Eljanov 14.Bg3
Biel 2015
It would be too optimistic for White to opt
1.c4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 here for 14.Bxh7?! fxe5 15.dxe5
5.Bf4 Nc6 6.e3 Bg4 7.Qb3 Na5 8.Qa4+ (15.Qg6+? Kf8 16.Qxh5 e4 17.Nd2 Be8
18.Qh3 Qd7 19.0-0 Bg6–+; 15.Bg6+!? Ne4 (17...fxg4? 18.hxg4+–) 18.gxf5 Rxf5
Kf8 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 d4! 18.exd4 19.Bxe4 (19.Nxe4? Rxf3 20.Nd2 Nxe5
Nf4µ). 21.dxe5 Rf8³ 22.Bxh7+? Brunello –
14.Bf4 Rc8 15.h3 Nxf4 16.exf4 Qb6 Eljanov, Legnica 2013, 22...Kh8 23.Bd3
17.Rd1 f5= Aronian – Navara, Tromso Bh4 24.Rh2 Qg5–+) 19...dxe4 20.Qxe4
2014. Qb6° I.Sokolov – Navara, Saint Quentin
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0 2014.
9zpp+lvl-zpp0 17...Ne4 18.0-0
9-+n+pzp-+0 But not 18.Bxe4? fxe4 19.Ne5, in view of
9+-+p+-+n0 19...Nxd4!µ
9-+-zP-+-+0 18...Rc8 19.Rfc1
XIIIIIIIIY
9zP-sNLzPNvL-0 9-+rwq-trk+0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 9zpp+lvl-zpp0
9tR-+-mK-+R0 9-+n+p+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+p+p+-0
9-+-zPnvL-+0
14...f5 9zP-sNLzPN+P0
This is a standard move and strong too. 9-zPQ+-zPP+0
Black neutralises his opponent’s pressure 9tR-tR-+-mK-0
on the b1-h7 diagonal and although he xiiiiiiiiy
weakens the e5-square, White will hardly
manage to exploit this. 19...Bf6
15.Be5 Black has completed successfully his
15.0-0 Nxg3 16.hxg3 0-0= development and improves his position
15...0-0 even more with his last move, taking
Black could have postponed his castling a control over the e5-square and freeing the
bit, until his opponent castled in order to e7-square for his queen. He also plans to
avoid the plan h2-h3 and then g2-g4. begin active actions on the kingside at an
15...Nf6!? 16.0-0 0-0 17.Rac1 Rc8∞ opportune moment with the move g7-g5.
16.h3 Nf6 Therefore, White should better create
XIIIIIIIIY
some active counterplay on the queenside
9r+-wq-trk+0
right now.
9zpp+lvl-zpp0
9-+n+psn-+0 20.Qb3 Na5 21.Qa2 Nxc3
9+-+pvLp+-0 21...Nc6!?=
9-+-zP-+-+0 22.bxc3
9zP-sNLzPN+P0 22.Rxc3 Rxc3 23.bxc3 Ba4∞
9-zPQ+-zPP+0 22...b5 23.Nd2
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
17.Bf4
It would be principled, but also rather
risky for White to have opted for 17.g4!?
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0 9-+rwq-trk+0
9zp-+l+-zpp0 9+-+-+-zpp0
9-+-+pvl-+0 9-+l+pvl-+0
9snp+p+p+-0 9+p+-+p+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9-+pzP-vL-+0
9zP-zPLzP-+P0 9+-zP-zPN+P0
9Q+-sN-zPP+0 9Q+-+-zPP+0
9tR-tR-+-mK-0 9tR-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
23...Nc4 28.Qe2
Black did not need to force the issue and 28.Ne5 Bxe5 29.Bxe5 Qg5 30.Bg3 h5
could have played instead 23...Be7∞ 31.h4 Qg4 32.Kh2 Qe4 33.f3 Qxe3
24.a4 a6 34.Be5 Ra8 35.Qb2 Ra4=
24...Nxd2 25.Qxd2 bxa4 26.Ba6ƒ 28...Qd5 29.Qf1 Ra8 30.Ne5 Bb7
25.axb5 axb5
XIIIIIIIIY 30...Ra4!? 31.Rab1=
9-+rwq-trk+0 31.f3 Be7 32.Bg3 Bg5 33.Qe1 Ra4
9+-+l+-zpp0 Black could have continued to defend
9-+-+pvl-+0 passively with 33...Be7=
9+p+p+p+-0 34.Rxa4 bxa4 35.Ra1 Ra8?!
9-+nzP-vL-+0 Black still had the chance of holding
9+-zPLzP-+P0 everything in order with the line:
9Q+-sN-zPP+0 35...Bc6! 36.Bh4 Bf6 37.Bxf6 gxf6
9tR-tR-+-mK-0 38.Qg3+ Kh8 39.Nxc6 Qxc6 40.Qf4
xiiiiiiiiy Kg7 41.e4 fxe4 42.fxe4 Ra8=
36.Bh4!
XIIIIIIIIY
26.Bxc4
This decision is a bit risky, but the 9r+-+-+k+0
position still remains within equality 9+l+-+-zpp0
anyway... 9-+-+p+-+0
9+-+qsNpvl-0
26.Nb3 Be7 27.Qe2 Qb6 28.Nd2 Ra8=
9p+pzP-+-vL0
26...dxc4 9+-zP-zPP+P0
It would be weaker for Black to opt here 9-+-+-+P+0
for 26...bxc4 27.Rcb1² 9tR-+-wQ-mK-0
27.Nf3 Bc6 xiiiiiiiiy
36...Bh6?!
Black’s last move shows lack of
concentration. It was relatively best for
him to trade the bishops, hoping that the
passed pawn would restrict White’s active
possibilities and would somehow
compensate his powerful “eternal”
 XIIIIIIIIY
knight”. 36...Bxh4 37.Qxh4 Qd6 38.Qe1² 9r+-+l+k+0
36...Bf6?! 37.Bxf6 gxf6 38.e4! fxe4 9+-+-vL-zpp0
39.Qg3+ Kf8 (Black’s rook does not 9-+-+-+-vl0
control the f7-square 39...Kh8?? 40.Nf7) 9wq-+-sNp+-0
40.Ng4‚ 9-+pzP-+-zP0
37.Be7!± 9+-zP-+P+-0
Black is suddenly in a great trouble. 9p+-+-+P+0
37...Bc6 38.h4?!
9tR-+-wQ-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
It was correct for White to play here
38.Rb1! Qa5 (38...a3? 39.Bxa3; 43.Nxc4?
38...Be8?! 39.e4+–) 39.Ba3± It was essential for White to exchange the
38...Be8 39.Rb1?! bishops 43.Bg5! Bxg5 44.hxg5=
In this particular case, the proverb “Better It was weaker for him to choose 43.Bb4
late than never...” is obviously not Qa4 44.Nxc4 Qb3 45.Nb6 Rb8 46.Bd6
applicable... It was better for White to Qxb6 47.Bxb8 Qxb8 48.Rxa2 Bf7³
haveXIIIIIIIIY
played 39.Bc5²
43...Qb5!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+l+k+0 9r+-+l+k+0
9+-+-vL-zpp0 9+-+-vL-zpp0
9-+-+p+-vl0 9-+-+-+-vl0
9+-+qsNp+-0 9+q+-+p+-0
9p+pzP-+-zP0 9-+NzP-+-zP0
9+-zP-zPP+-0 9+-zP-+P+-0
9-+-+-+P+0 9p+-+-+P+0
9+R+-wQ-mK-0 9tR-+-wQ-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
39...a3! 44.Nd6?
This is an excellent resource for Black! White would have still preserves chances
40.e4 Qa5 41.exf5 of survival after 44.Qe6+ Bf7 45.Qxf7+
White could have maintained the dynamic Kxf7 46.Nd6+ Kxe7 47.Nxb5 Bc1
balance with the line: 41.Nxc4 Qc7 48.Rxc1 a1=Q 49.Rxa1 Rxa1+ 50.Kf2, as
42.Bc5 a2 43.Ra1 Bf4 44.e5 Qb7 45.Nb6 well as following 44.Ne5!? Qb3µ
Ra5 46.Nc4 Ra8=
44...Qd5–+ 45.Qe2 Bf4 46.Nxe8 Rxe8
41...a2 42.Ra1 exf5 47.Rxa2 Kf7 48.Ra7 Bb8 49.Qa2 Qxa2
50.Rxa2 Bg3! This very technical move
is accurate and effective. 0–1

3. Navara – Matuszewski
Poland 2015

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 Nf6

5.Bf4 Nc6 6.e3 Bg4 7.Qb3 Na5 8.Qa4+
Bd7 9.Qc2 Rc8 10.Bd3 e6 11.Nf3 Be7
12.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY least.
9-+rwqk+-tr0 18.Rfe1 Nxe5 19.fxe5 Rc4
9zpp+lvlpzpp0 This was not necessary at all.
9-+-+psn-+0 Black had to play 19...0-0 20.Re3 Qg5³
9sn-+p+-+-0 20.Re3 0-0 21.a3
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9-+-wq-trk+0
9+-sNLzPN+-0
9+p+l+p+p0
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
9p+-+p+p+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
9+-+pzP-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
9-vlrzP-+-+0
12...a6 9zP-sN-tR-+-0
Black could have postponed this move for 9-zP-wQ-zPPzP0
a while.
9+L+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
It was better for him to play 12...Nh5.
13.Ne5 21...Be7?!
White is trying to exploit his opponent’s Black has already lost his advantage and
rather slow play and chooses the most he had better force an equal position after
active move. He overlooks however 21...Bxc3!? 22.Rxc3 (22.bxc3 Qe7³)
Black’s possible counter actions. It was 22...Rxc3 23.Qxc3 Qb6 24.Rd3 Rc8
better for White to play simply 13.h3² 25.Qd2 Qa5 26.Rc3 Rxc3 27.Qxc3 Qxc3
13...Nh5! 14.Rad1 28.bxc3=
Black exchanges effortlessly his knight 22.Ba2 Rc8 23.Rh3 Bg5
for White’s dark-squared bishop. It may 23...h5!?∞
look like this is impossible due to the 24.f4 Be7 25.g4 b5
capturing on h7, but this impression is 25...f5 26.gxf5 Rxf5 27.Bb1 Rf7 28.Kh1ƒ
illusory 14.Bxh7? Nxf4 15.exf4 Bd6!
26.Kh1
XIIIIIIIIY
16.Bd3 Qh4±
9-+rwq-trk+0
14...Nxf4 15.exf4 g6 16.Qd2 Nc6
9+-+lvlp+p0
17.Bb1
XIIIIIIIIY 9p+-+p+p+0
9-+rwqk+-tr0 9+p+pzP-+-0
9+p+lvlp+p0 9-+-zP-zPP+0
9p+n+p+p+0 9zP-sN-+-+R0
9+-+psN-+-0 9LzP-wQ-+-zP0
9-+-zP-zP-+0 9+-+R+-+K0
9+-sN-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzP-wQ-zPPzP0
9+L+R+RmK-0 26...f5?!
xiiiiiiiiy 26...a5!? 27.Bb1 b4 28.axb4 axb4 29.Ne2
f5∞
17...Bb4!?
27.Rg1 Kh8?
Here, even after the simple move 17...0-0,
Black’s position would not be so bad after
Black’s position is not worse to say the
his only playable possibility 27...fxg4!
28.Rxg4 Rf5 29.Bb1 Qf8± This is an interesting and somewhat
28.gxf5 gxf5 29.Qe2
XIIIIIIIIY provocative move.
9-+rwq-tr-mk0 We have analysed in the book 14.Bg3.
9+-+lvl-+p0 14...Rc8
9p+-+p+-+0 Following 14...f5 15.Be5, the game would
9+p+pzPp+-0 have transposed to situations we had
9-+-zP-zP-+0 analysed before.
9zP-sN-+-+R0 15.0-0
9LzP-+Q+-zP0 15.Bxh7?! Nxf4 16.exf4 f5 17.Bg6+ Kf8
9+-+-+-tRK0 18.h4 Bd6³
xiiiiiiiiy 15...a6!? 16.Rac1
XIIIIIIIIY
29...Qe8? 9-+rwqk+-tr0
Now, Black simply gets checkmated. 9+p+lvl-zpp0
He would have some practical chances of
9p+n+pzp-+0
survival only following 29...Rf7 30.Bxd5
9+-+p+-+n0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
exd5 31.e6 Bxe6 32.Qxe6 Rf6 33.Qxd5
9zP-sNLzPN+-0
Qxd5+ 34.Nxd5 Re6 35.Re3 Rxe3
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
36.Nxe3 Rf8.
9+-tR-+RmK-0
30.Rxh7+ Kxh7 31.Qg2 1–0 xiiiiiiiiy
Black played the opening quite well, but
then failed to exploit maximally White’s 16...Nxf4
imprecise moves. Later, Black made White keeps the enemy king in the centre
numerous mistakes and deservedly lost at the moment. Instead of the solving the
the game. problem with his king, Black could have
thought about some possible activity on
4. Navara – Tomashevsky the queenside with 16...b5!? It often
Hockenheim 2015 happens that White can exploit similar
active, but weakening moves,
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 Nf6
advantageously, but it would not be easy
5.Bf4 Nc6 6.e3 Bg4 7.Qb3 Na5 8.Qa4+
to do this here. It is also essential that
Bd7 9.Qc2 e6 10.Bd3 Be7 11.Nf3 Nc6
following b7-b5, White does not have the
12.a3 Nh5 13.Be5 f6
XIIIIIIIIY manoeuvre Nc3-a4-c5, as it happened in
9r+-wqk+-tr0 the game 17.Qb1 (17.Qe2 0-0∞)
9zpp+lvl-zpp0 17...Nxf4 18.exf4 g6∞
9-+n+pzp-+0
17.exf4 f5?!
9+-+pvL-+n0
9-+-zP-+-+0 This move is strategically justified when
9zP-sNLzPN+-0 White does not have the plan with
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 Nc3-a4-c5.
9tR-+-mK-+R0 It was correct for Black to play 17...g6,
xiiiiiiiiy with the idea 18.Qe2 0-0 19.Na4 b5
20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.dxc5 (21.Rxc5? Nxd4µ)
14.Bf4 21...Re8∞
 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwqk+-tr0 improve his chances, for example with:
9+p+lvl-zpp0 23.Rfe1 Nd8 24.g3 g6 (24...Nf7?
9p+n+p+-+0 25.Nxd7+–) 25.a4! with the idea to
9+-+p+p+-0 squeeze his opponent with the move
9-+-zP-zP-+0 a4-a5. The desperate attempt to free the
9zP-sNL+N+-0 position, as it often happens in life, only
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 makes things worse in chess as well:
9+-tR-+RmK-0 25...b6 26.Nxa6 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Rxc1+
xiiiiiiiiy 28.Qxc1 Bxa4 29.b5!± and everything is
OK for Black except his light-squared
18.Qe2! bishop.
White prepares the important manoeuvre 23...Be8 24.Nxb7
Nc3-a4-c5. White is trying to justify his previous
18...0-0 19.Na4± Rc7 20.Qe3 actions and wishes to enter a position with
The immediate move 20.Nc5?! would a non-standard material ratio.
XIIIIIIIIY
have been countered by Black with
9-+r+l+k+0
20...Nxd4! 21.Nxd4 Bxc5 22.Nxe6 Bxe6
9+Ntr-wq-zpp0
23.Qxe6+ Kh8=
9p+n+pvl-+0
20...Bf6 21.Nc5 Qe7 22.b4 9+-+psNp+-0
It was much more important for White 9-zP-zP-zP-+0
here to double the rooks on the c-file 9zP-+LwQ-+-0
22.Rc3 Rfc8 (22...Nd8 23.Re1!?±) 9-+-+-zPPzP0
23.Rfc1, preventing the opponent from 9+-tR-+RmK-0
regrouping of his forces. 23...Nd8?! xiiiiiiiiy
24.Nxd7 Qxd7 25.Rxc7 Rxc7 26.Rxc7
Qxc7 27.Bxf5!+– 24...Nxb4!
22...Rfc8
XIIIIIIIIY This is an excellent response! Black
9-+r+-+k+0 obviously does not wish to comply with
9+ptrlwq-zpp0 his opponent’s intentions. White probably
9p+n+pvl-+0 relied on 24...Bxe5 25.fxe5 Rxb7 26.Bxa6
9+-sNp+p+-0 Ra8 27.Bxb7 Qxb7 28.Rc5², hoping,
9-zP-zP-zP-+0 quite understandably, that his major
9zP-+LwQN+-0 pieces and powerful passed pawns would
9-+-+-zPPzP0 prevail.
9+-tR-+RmK-0 25.Rxc7 Rxc7 26.Nc5 Nxd3 27.Nexd3
xiiiiiiiiy Bb5 28.Re1 Bxd3 29.Qxd3 Rc6

23.Ne5?!
White does not know how to improve his
position, so he begins a close fight if we
use the boxing language... Meanwhile, he
could have considered Black’s planned
manoeuvre Nc6-d8-f7-d6 and still
 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0 the game, not without some emotions,
9+-+-wq-zpp0 though...
9p+r+pvl-+0 34.Qxe6+ Qxe6 35.Rxe6 Bb2 36.Nxd5
9+-sNp+p+-0 Bxa3 37.Kg2±
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-zP-zP-+0 9-+-+-+k+0
9zP-+Q+-+-0 9+-+-+-zpp0
9-+-+-zPPzP0 9-+-+R+-+0
9+-+-tR-mK-0 9+-+N+p+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+r+-zP-+0
9vl-+-+-zP-0
After an almost forced play, there has 9-+-+-zPKzP0
arisen an approximately equal position. 9+-+-+-+-0
The semi-weakness on e6 is obviously xiiiiiiiiy
insufficient for White to claim an
advantage. It is usually accepted to evaluate similar
30.Nxa6 positions as fifty – fifty and it would be
This is in fact something like an offer of a interesting to see how fifty was turned
draw. into one hundred.
30...Qa7?! 37...Rd4 38.Ne3 g6 39.Rc6 Bf8 40.Nc4
Black does not accept the offer, although Rd5 41.Ne5 Rc5 42.Rb6 Rc2 43.Rb8
he does not have enough reasons to do so. Kg7 44.Rb7+ Kg8 45.Nd7
He could have accepted the invitation 45.h4!?±
with 30...Bxd4 31.Qxd4 (31.Nb4 Qc5=) 45...Bg7 46.Ne5 Bf6 47.h4 Re2 48.h5
31...Rxa6 32.Qxd5 exd5 33.Rxe7 Rxa3= gxh5
31.Nb4 Rc4 32.g3 Qd7 33.Qe2
XIIIIIIIIY 48...Bxe5 49.Re7!±
9-+-+-+k+0 49.Nf3
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+q+-zpp0 9-+-+-+k+0
9-+-+pvl-+0 9+R+-+-+p0
9+-+p+p+-0 9-+-+-vl-+0
9-sNrzP-zP-+0 9+-+-+p+p0
9zP-+-+-zP-0 9-+-+-zP-+0
9-+-+QzP-zP0 9+-+-+NzP-0
9+-+-tR-mK-0 9-+-+rzPK+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
33...Bxd4?!
Black enters an endgame trying to correct 49...Re4?
the mistake he made on his move 30, but Black was probably tired with defending
this only worsens his situation. and makes another mistake. It is obvious
Meanwhile, after the cold-blooded that his f5-pawn is doomed, but he could
reaction 33...Kf7 34.Qh5+ Kg8 35.Nxd5 have parted with it after trading the rooks
Bxd4 36.Nb4 Bc5 37.Rd1 Qc8 38.Qh4 with 49...Rb2! 50.Rxb2 Bxb2 51.Nh4 Kf7
Bf8 39.Qd8 h6, Black could have drawn 52.Nxf5 Ke6 53.Ne3 Bf6 – The h-pawns
are very ugly, but still not so weak and Black was not well prepared for a
cannot be attacked so easily. There is just theoretical discussion and preferred
a few material left on the board, so the simply to retreat his bishop. His loss of
most likely outcome of the game would time is not compensated by a
still be a draw. “weakening” of White’s kingside and the
50.Rb5 Kg7 51.Rxf5 Kg6 52.Rb5 reason for this is simple. There is no
It is very difficult for Black to defend a weakening at all!
position a pawn down with this particular 9.h3²
XIIIIIIIIY
material ratio. White plans to deploy his 9r+lwqk+-tr0
knight on e5. So, Black decides to use the 9zppzp-vlpzpp0
opportunity to transfer into a rook and 9-+n+-sn-+0
pawn ending, but loses surprisingly 9+-+p+-+-0
quickly.
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-zP-vLP+0
9-+-+-+-+0 9+QsN-zP-+P0
9+-+-+-+p0 9PzP-+-zP-+0
9-+-+-vlk+0 9tR-+-mKLsNR0
9+R+-+-+p0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-+rzP-+0
9+-+-+NzP-0 9...Bd6?!
9-+-+-zPK+0 Black makes a mistake and this time a
9+-+-+-+-0 serious one. It often happens that errors of
xiiiiiiiiy this type decide the issue. Don’t trouble
trouble until trouble troubles you!
52...h4 53.Nxh4+ Bxh4 54.Kf3! Re1 Meanwhile, all this has nothing to do with
55.gxh4 Rh1 56.f5+ Kf6 57.Kg4 Rg1+ the objective evaluation of the position.
58.Kf4 Rh1 59.Rb6+ Kf7 60.Rb7+ 1–0 It was possibly relatively best for Black to
choose 9...0-0 10.Nf3 b6 11.Bg2 Bb7²
5. Morozevich – Onischuk 10.Bxd6 cxd6
Reggio Emilia 2011 Following 10...Qxd6 11.g5! – Black ends
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 up a pawn down. 11...Ne4 12.Qxd5±
5.Bf4 Nf6 6.e3 Bf5 7.Qb3 Nc6 8.g4!?
XIIIIIIIIY 11.Nge2
9r+-wqk+-tr0 Black has obvious problems with the
9zppzp-vlpzpp0 protection of his doubled d5-pawn.
9-+n+-sn-+0 11...h5 12.g5 Ne4 13.h4! 0-0 14.Bg2 Bg4
9+-+p+l+-0 15.Nf4 Rc8 16.Qxd5±
9-+-zP-vLP+0
9+QsN-zP-+-0
9PzP-+-zP-zP0
9tR-+-mKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
8...Bc8?!
I am going to venture a guess here, that
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0 9-+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pzp-0 9zpp+-+pzp-0
9-+nzp-+-+0 9-+rzp-+P+0
9+-+Q+-zPp0 9+-+-+-+p0
9-+-zPnsNlzP0 9-+-zP-sNl+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0 9+QzP-zP-tR-0
9PzP-+-zPL+0 9P+-+-zP-+0
9tR-+-mK-+R0 9tR-+-mK-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Black has now one problem less... 24.Rc1
16...Nxc3 17.bxc3 Ne7 18.Qb3 Nf5
XIIIIIIIIY It was preferable for White to opt here for
9-+rwq-trk+0 24.a4! Rb6 25.Qa2²
9zpp+-+pzp-0 24...d5?!
9-+-zp-+-+0 Black obviously underestimated his
9+-+-+nzPp0 prospects and overlooked the possibility
9-+-zP-sNlzP0 24...Rb6! 25.Qd5 Qh4 26.Kd2 Rb2+
9+QzP-zP-+-0 27.Rc2 Qh2 28.Nd3 Rb1 29.Rc1 Rb2=
9P+-+-zPL+0 25.Qxd5 Rd6 26.Qxb7
9tR-+-mK-+R0 26.gxf7+ Rxf7 27.Qg2 Rb6∞
xiiiiiiiiy 26...fxg6 27.Qb3+ Rf7
27...Kh7!?∞
XIIIIIIIIY
19.g6?
White obviously decided that the issue 9-+-wq-+k+0
has been settled and begins an immediate 9zp-+-+rzp-0
offensive against his opponent’s king 9-+-tr-+p+0
shelter, but Black finds sufficient 9+-+-+-+p0
defensive resources. 9-+-zP-sNl+0
It was even worse for White to try the
9+QzP-zP-tR-0
9P+-+-zP-+0
seemingly attractive line: 19.f3 Nxe3
9+-tR-mK-+-0
20.fxg4 Qd7!! (20...Qe8? 21.Kd2 Nc4+
xiiiiiiiiy
22.Kc2 Qe3 23.Raf1+–) 21.Kd2 Nc4+
22.Kc2 Ne3+ 23.Kd2 Nc4= (23...Qxg4? 28.c4?!
24.Raf1! Nxg2 25.Rhg1+–). White follows the inertia and continues to
After the simple and powerful move play for a win. It was more prudent for
19.Kd2+–, the game would have been him to continue with 28.Rxg4 (28.Nd3!?
almost over. Rb6 29.Qa4 Qa8!ƒ) 28...hxg4 29.Nd3,
19...Nxh4 20.Bd5 Nf3+! 21.Bxf3 Bxf3 with a probable draw, for example:
22.Rh3 Bg4 23.Rg3 Rc6 29...Qh4 30.Kd2 Rdf6 31.Qd5 Rxf2+
32.Nxf2 Qxf2+ 33.Kd3 g3 34.Rh1 g2
35.Qd8+ Rf8 36.Qd5+ Rf7=
28...Rxf4!? 29.exf4
White was not winning with 29.c5+ Be6
 XIIIIIIIIY
30.Qc3 Rdxd4 31.exf4 (31.exd4 Qh4 9-+l+-+-+0
32.c6 Bc8 33.Qc4+ Kh7µ; 32.Kf1 Qh1+ 9zp-+-+-zpk0
33.Ke2 Qh4 34.Kf1=) 31...Kh7 32.c6 9-+P+q+p+0
Qd5 33.c7 Qe4+ 34.Re3 Qh1+ 35.Ke2 9+-+-+-+-0
Bg4+ 36.f3 Qg2+ 37.Ke1 Qg1+ 38.Ke2 9-+-+-tr-zp0
Qg2= 9+-+-+-+-0
29...Rxd4 30.c5+ Kh7 31.Kf1 Rxf4 9P+Q+-zPR+0
32.Qe3
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+R+-mK-0
9-+-wq-+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zp-+-+-zpk0
39.Qc3?
9-+-+-+p+0
This is a blunder.
9+-zP-+-+p0
9-+-+-trl+0 White would have still had winning
9+-+-wQ-tR-0 chances after 39.Rc1±
9P+-+-zP-+0 39...Rc4 40.Qa5?
9+-tR-+K+-0 40.Qf3 Rxc6 41.Rd4! Rc4 42.Qe3
xiiiiiiiiy (42.Qf4=) 42...Rxd4 43.Qxd4=
40...Qxc6
XIIIIIIIIY
The position is non-standard and very 9-+l+-+-+0
complicated, so it is not surprising that 9zp-+-+-zpk0
both opponents continue to make serious 9-+q+-+p+0
mistakes. 9wQ-+-+-+-0
32...Qf6? 9-+r+-+-zp0
32...Rd4!?° 33.c6 Rd1+ 34.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 9+-+-+-+-0
35.Kg2 h4 36.Rxg4 Qxg4+ 37.Kh2 Qc4 9P+-+-zPR+0
38.Qf3= 9+-+R+-mK-0
33.c6 Bc8 34.Kg1 h4 35.Rg2± Qd6 xiiiiiiiiy
36.Qc5 Qd2 37.Qc2
37.f3!? Qd3 38.Qg5 Qd6 39.Kh1 Rf5 41.Qg5?
40.Qe3± White’s last chance was to exchange the
queens and to enter a rook and pawn
37...Qd6 38.Rd1
ending with an active rook following
38.Qc3±
41.Qd5 Qxd5 42.Rxd5 Bb7 43.Ra5 Bxg2
38...Qe6
44.Kxg2.
41...Bh3–+
41...h3 42.Rg3 Rc5–+
42.Qd5 Qxd5 43.Rxd5 Bxg2 44.Kxg2
Ra4! 45.Kh3 Kh6 46.f3 g5 47.Rd2 Kh5
0–1
 XIIIIIIIIY
6. Wojtaszek – Tarjan 9-+ktr-+-tr0
Caleta 2016 9zppzp-+pzpp0
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 9-+nvl-+-+0
5.Bf4 Nf6 6.e3 Bf5 7.Qb3 Nc6 8.g4
9+-+-+l+-0
Nxg4 9.Qxd5 Qxd5 10.Nxd5 Bb4+
9-+-zP-vLn+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9r+-+k+-tr0 9PzP-+-zPLzP0
9zppzp-+pzpp0 9tR-+-mK-sNR0
9-+n+-+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+N+l+-0
9-vl-zP-vLn+0 13.Bxd6
9+-+-zP-+-0 It seemed more natural for White to
9PzP-+-zP-zP0 choose here 13.Nge2!? He obviously
9tR-+-mKLsNR0 presumed that the enemy rook on d6 may
xiiiiiiiiy be attacked with tempi, so he exchanges
beforehand on d6.
11.Nc3!?
This is an interesting alternative to the 13...Rxd6 14.Nge2 Re8
move we have analysed – 11.Nb4. There could have arisen interesting
changes in the position following
White gives up voluntarily the idea to
14...Nb4!? 15.0-0 Rh6 16.e4 Bd7 17.h3
have a bishop-pair and tries as his main
Nf6 18.a3 Nc6 (18...Nd3? 19.Rfd1 Nxb2
task at the moment to parry the activity of
20.Rdb1 Nc4 21.e5±) 19.d5 (19.Kh2!?ƒ)
the enemy pieces. Later, under the cover
19...Ne5 20.f4 Nc4 21.Rf3!?ƒ If Black
of his powerful pawn-centre, he plans to
tries to be greedy, then following
develop comfortably his pieces and to use
21...Nxb2 22.e5 Ne8 23.Nd4 Nc4
the semi-open c and g-files to increase his
24.Ne4 Nb6 25.Rb3±, White would have
positional pressure.
a clear advantage.
XIIIIIIIIY
11...0-0-0 12.Bg2 Bd6
Black could have postponed this move for 9-+k+r+-+0
a while. The bishop on b4 could have still 9zppzp-+pzpp0
done some useful job... It deserved 9-+ntr-+-+0
attention for him to try instead 9+-+-+l+-0
12...Rhe8!? 13.Nge2 Nf6 14.0-0 Nh5
9-+-zP-+n+0
15.Bg3 Nxg3 16.hxg3 h5!? 17.Rac1 g5,
9+-sN-zP-+-0
with an interesting double-edged fight
9PzP-+NzPLzP0
ahead.
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 Nf6 14.Bg5 Rd6
15.Ne2 h6 16.Bxf6 Rxf6 17.e4² 15.h3
I am not sure that White needed to oust
the enemy knight. He could have
improved his position by playing
15.Rc1!?, with the idea 15...Nb4 16.0-0
Kb8 17.e4 Be6 18.Nb5 Rc6 19.Rxc6
 XIIIIIIIIY
bxc6 20.Nbc3² 9-+k+-+r+0
15...Nh6?! 9zppzpl+p+p0
Meanwhile, Black immediately justifies 9-+ntr-+-sn0
his opponent’s previous move. It was 9+-+-+-+-0
correct for him to reply 15...Nf6∞
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-zPP+-tR0
9-+k+r+-+0 9+-sN-+-+-0
9zppzp-+pzpp0 9PzP-+NzPL+0
9-+ntr-+-sn0 9+-+RmK-+-0
9+-+-+l+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-zP-+-+0 20.Bh1
9+-sN-zP-+P0
It was not so necessary for White to
9PzP-+NzPL+0
preserve this bishop. It was even stronger
9tR-+-mK-+R0
for him to continue with 20.Bh3 Bxh3
xiiiiiiiiy
21.Rxh3±
16.Rd1 20...Rg4 21.Rh2 Rg7 22.f3 Ng8
XIIIIIIIIY
This move is somewhat slow. White’s 9-+k+-+n+0
king has nothing to do in the centre. It 9zppzpl+ptrp0
only impedes the advance of his pawn- 9-+ntr-+-+0
centre and the coordination of his rooks. 9+-+-+-+-0
Well, we do not need to be so critical, 9-+-zPP+-+0
since after the inadequate retreat of the 9+-sN-+P+-0
enemy knight White still maintains a 9PzP-+N+-tR0
stable advantage and he will manage to 9+-+RmK-+L0
castle some day... xiiiiiiiiy
16.0-0-0!±
Black’s knight continues his roaming all
16...g5?!
over the board and with disastrous
After this unnecessary pseudo-activity,
consequences. White’s powerful pawn-
White’s advantage becomes
centre, just like the Roman infantry,
overwhelming.
paralyses the enemy pieces and makes
It was better for Black to choose here their manoeuvres senseless.
16...Ne7 17.e4 Bd7 18.0-0²
23.Kf2 Rh6 24.Rxh6 Nxh6 25.Bg2 Ne7
17.e4 Bd7 18.h4! 26.Nf4 c6 27.Nce2 f6 28.Nh5 Rf7
This move emphasizes Black’s mistake on 29.Rh1 Nhg8
move 16. White evidently decided that he was
18...gxh4?! perfectly prepared for decisive actions
The opening of the h-file only makes and began an offensive.
Black’s situation worse. He had to prefer
18...g4 19.e5 Rg6 20.h5!? Rg7 21.Ne4±
19.Rxh4 Rg8
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+k+-+n+0 9-+-+-trl+0
9zpp+lsnr+p0 9zppmk-sn-sNp0
9-+p+-zp-+0 9-+p+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+N0 9+-+-zPp+-0
9-+-zPP+-+0 9-+-zP-zPn+0
9+-+-+P+-0 9+PsN-+L+-0
9PzP-+NmKL+0 9P+-+K+-+0
9+-+-+-+R0 9+-+-+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
30.f4 37.d5
Meanwhile, it seemed even more effective It was also very effective for White to
for him to transfer the bishop to the a2-g8 continue with 37.Rxh7! Bxh7 38.Ne6+
diagonal. 30.Nef4 Ng6 31.Bf1+– Kc8 39.Nxf8 Bg8 40.Ne4+–
30...f5 31.e5 Be6 32.Nc3
XIIIIIIIIY 37...cxd5 38.Nb5+ Kb6 39.Nd4 Ng6
9-+k+-+n+0 40.Nh5
9zpp+-snr+p0 Black’s position is tremendously difficult
9-+p+l+-+0 and he makes a desperate piece-sacrifice.
9+-+-zPp+N0 40...N4xe5 41.fxe5 Nxe5 42.Nf4 Nxf3
9-+-zP-zP-+0 43.Kxf3 Ka5 44.Rc1 Kb4 45.Nd3+ Ka3
9+-sN-+-+-0 46.Ra1. The checkmate is unavoidable.
9PzP-+-mKL+0 1–0
9+-+-+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy 7. Ding – Bwalya
Istanbul 2012
Black has parried the initial onslaught, but
his situation remains critical just like 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.d4 d5 4.Nc3 Be7
before. His pieces are too passive and his 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c6 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4
pawn-weaknesses are hurting him. Nd5XIIIIIIIIY
9.0-0 Nxf4 10.exf4 Nd7
32...Nh6 33.b3 9r+lwq-trk+0
Or 33.Bf3!? with the idea 33...Ng4+ 9zpp+nvlpzpp0
34.Bxg4 fxg4 35.Ne4+– 9-+p+p+-+0
33...Ng4+ 34.Ke2 Rf8 35.Bf3 Kc7?!
9+-+-+-+-0
This is a mistake in a very difficult
9-+LzP-zP-+0
situation.
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
36.Ng7 Bg8 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
11.Qe2
This is just one of the possible set-ups of
White’s major pieces. His task is to make
use of his control over the centre in order
to create pressure on the kingside. Black’s
position is cramped and he will have a Black plays too slow and White has his
hard time to accomplish the freeing pawn- hands free to complete the plan with the
break c6-c5. transfer of the knight to the g5-square.
11...Nf6 20...h5!?∞; 20...b5!? 21.Bb3 Qc7, with
11...a6 12.Rfd1 b5. Black’s desperate the idea 22.h5 c5∞
XIIIIIIIIY
attempt to free himself from the positional 9-+ltr-trk+0
bind has not been justified. 13.Bb3 Bb7 9+p+-+p+p0
14.Rac1 a5 15.a4! bxa4 16.Nxa4 Bb4 9p+p+pvlp+0
17.Ng5 Qe7 18.Qe3 Rad8 19.Ne4± Le 9wq-+-+-sN-0
Quang Liem – Salgado Lopez, Gibraltar 9-+LzP-zP-zP0
2013. 9+-zP-tRQzP-0
12.Rad1 Nd5 13.g3 Nxc3 9P+-+-zP-+0
This exchange does not facilitate Black’s 9+R+-+-mK-0
defence. He probably should have delayed xiiiiiiiiy
it for a while by playing 13...b6 14.Ne5
Bb7 15.Rfe1² 21.h5! b5
21...Bxg5 22.Re5 Rd5 (22...Qa3 23.fxg5
14.bxc3 Bf6
Qe7 24.Rb6+–) 23.Bxd5 Bf6 24.Bb3
14...Qa5!? 15.Qc2 b5 16.Bd3 g6 17.Ne5
Bxe5 25.fxe5±
Bb7XIIIIIIIIY
18.Be4 Qc7 19.h4²
It was better for Black to opt here for
9r+lwq-trk+0
21...Kg7 22.Kg2 c5 23.Re5±
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+p+pvl-+0 22.Bb3 Qc7 23.hxg6 hxg6 24.Qh1!+–
9+-+-+-+-0 Rfe8
9-+LzP-zP-+0 24...Bxg5 25.fxg5 Qe7 26.Qh6 Rfe8
9+-zP-+NzP-0 27.g4 Qf8 28.Qh2 Qg7 29.Rh3 c5
9P+-+QzP-zP0 30.Kg2 Bb7+ 31.f3 cxd4 32.Rh1 Kf8
9+-+R+RmK-0 33.Rh7+–
xiiiiiiiiy 25.Qh7+ Kf8 26.Rbe1
26.Bxe6!? Re7 27.Rbe1+–
15.h4 26...Bg7 27.Re5 b4
It is good for White to play the standard Black’s counterplay is obviously too late
move 15.Ne5!?, but he has another route to change anything...
in mind for his knight.
28.cxb4 Rxd4 29.f5! Bxe5 30.Rxe5 gxf5
15...Qa5 16.Ng5 31.Bxe6 Bxe6 32.Rxe6 1–0
16.Qc2²
16...g6 8. Goganov – Lobanov
It is far from clear whether White could St Petersburg 2016
have punished severely his opponent for
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7
grabbing a pawn here – 16...Qxc3.
5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 b6
17.Rd3 Bd7 18.Re3 Rad8 19.Rb1 Bc8
19...b6∞
20.Qf3 a6?
 XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0 mentioned game 12...Qxb3 13.axb3 Nb4
9zp-zp-vlpzpp0 and following 14.Ra5! White seized the
9-zp-+psn-+0 initiative.) 13.Be5 Ba6! White may have a
9+-+p+-+-0 slight edge, if at all, but nothing more.
9-+PzP-vL-+0 10.cxd5!
9+-sN-zPN+-0 Black solves all his opening problems
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 after the quiet line: 10.Qc2 dxc4 11.Bxc4
9tR-+QmKL+R0 Qe7 12.a3 Rc8 13.Be2 Bd6=
xiiiiiiii 10...Nxd5 11.Nxd5
XIIIIIIIIY
7.Be2 9rsn-wq-trk+0
We have analysed and recommended
9zpl+-+pzpp0
here 7.cxd5, but naturally, the move in
9-zp-+p+-+0
this game is also quite logical.
9+-vlN+-+-0
9-+-+-vL-+0
7...Bb7 8.0-0 c5
9+-+-zPN+-0
Black has an alternative here – 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
8...Nbd7 9.Rc1 (9.cxd5 Nxd5 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
10.Nxd5 Bxd5) 9...c5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 xiiiiiiiiy
11.Nxd5 Bxd5, with good chances of
equalising in both lines. As a result of the exchange operation in
9.dxc5
XIIIIIIIIY the centre Black is faced with a very
9rsn-wq-trk+0 difficult choice:
9zpl+-vlpzpp0 11...Qxd5
9-zp-+psn-+0 Naturally, it would be wrong to
9+-zPp+-+-0 recommend to him to play a position with
9-+P+-vL-+0 an isolated pawn after 11...exd5.
9+-sN-zPN+-0 It was correct for Black to choose here
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 11...Bxd5! 12.Rc1!? Nd7 13.b4 Be7! –
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 He has avoided the trap and can look into
xiiiiiiiiy the future with some optimism
(13...Bxb4? 14.e4 Bxe4 15.Rc4!+–;
9...Bxc5
14...Bb7 15.Qa4! a5 16.Rfd1±).
It seems to me that capturing on c5 with
the bishop provides White with more 12.Qc2
XIIIIIIIIY
chances of obtaining an advantage than 9rsn-+-trk+0
capturing with the pawn. 9zpl+-+pzpp0
It would be interesting to see what White
9-zp-+p+-+0
had up his sleeve after the move
9+-vlq+-+-0
9...bxc5!?. If he intended to follow the
9-+-+-vL-+0
game Ding – A.Onischuk, Istanbul 2012
9+-+-zPN+-0
and continue with 10.Qb3 Qb6 11.Ne5
9PzPQ+LzPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
Nc6 12.Bf3, then after 12...Ne5 (Black
xiiiiiiiiy
did not play so well in the above
 XIIIIIIIIY
12...Nd7? 9rsn-wq-trk+0
This natural move is a decisive mistake at 9zpl+-vlpzpp0
the same time. 9-zp-+-sn-+0
After the correct response 12...Nc6!, 9+-zpp+-+-0
White would have only a slight edge. 9-+-zP-vL-+0
13.a3 Qf5 14.Bd3 (14.Qxf5 exf5 15.b4 9+-sNLzPN+-0
Be7 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Bc7²) 14...Qh5 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
15.Rfd1² 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
13.Rad1 Qc6 14.b4! xiiiiiiiiy
White plans to gobble the enemy knight
Our more attentive readers may have
with the help of a pawn-sacrifice.
noticed that we have compared numerous
14...Bxb4 times this position with a good version for
14...Be7 15.Qxc6 Bxc6 16.b5 Bxf3 White of the Petrosian system in the
17.Bxf3 Rad8 18.Bc7+–
XIIIIIIIIY Queen’s Indian Defence. This comparison
9r+-+-trk+0 was not in favour of Black. Still, we will
9zpl+n+pzpp0 remind you once against that White has
9-zpq+p+-+0 an extra tempo in comparison to that line,
9+-+-+-+-0 since he has not played the unnecessary
9-vl-+-vL-+0 move a2-a3. The following game
9+-+-zPN+-0 illustrates very well what consequences
9P+Q+LzPPzP0 this may have.
9+-+R+RmK-0 10.Ne5
xiiiiiiiiy Black has obviously understood the
gravity of his situation and decides not to
15.Qb1! e5
play the standard move 10...Nbd7.
15...a5 16.a3 Bxa3 17.Bb5+–
10...Na6
XIIIIIIIIY
16.Bg3!
White is merciless. 9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpl+-vlpzpp0
16...a5 17.a3+– Bxa3 18.Bb5 Qf6
9nzp-+-sn-+0
19.Bxd7 e4 20.Ne5 Bb4 21.Bb5 Qf5
9+-zppsN-+-0
22.Bc4 Ba6 23.Bxa6 Rxa6 24.Nc6 1–0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzP-+-0
9. Andreikin – Johannessen
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
Skopje 2015
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 Be7 xiiiiiiiiy
5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 b6 7.Bd3 Bb7 8.cxd5
exd5 9.0-0 c5 11.Bb5!?
White had another attractive active
possibility – 11.Qf3!? Nc7 12.Rad1 Ne6
(12...cxd4 13.exd4 Ne6 14.Be3 Rc8
15.Qh3²) 13.dxc5²
11...Qc8
 XIIIIIIIIY
11...Nc7 12.Nc6 Qd7 13.Nxa7 Nxb5 9r+-tr-+k+0
14.Naxb5² 9+lwqn+pzpp0
12.Bg5 Rd8 13.Qa4 9p+-+-+-+0
It was stronger for White to play here 9+p+psN-zP-0
13.f4 Nc7 14.Bd3± increasing his rather 9-+pzPn+-+0
unpleasant pressure against the enemy 9+-sN-zP-+R0
king’s position. 9PzPL+-+PzP0
13...Nb8! 14.f4
XIIIIIIIIY 9tR-+Q+-mK-0
9rsnqtr-+k+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zpl+-vlpzpp0 21.Nxd7
9-zp-+-sn-+0 White overlooks a very simple win here,
9+LzppsN-vL-0 but is winning anyway. 21.Nxe4 dxe4
9Q+-zP-zP-+0 (21...Nxe5 22.Nf6+ gxf6 23.Rxh7+–)
9+-sN-zP-+-0
22.Qh5 Nxe5 23.Qxh7+ Kf8 24.Rf1+–;
9PzP-+-+PzP0
24.Qh8+ Ke7 25.Qxg7+–
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy 21...Qxd7 22.Qh5 Qf5 23.Nxe4 dxe4
24.Rf1 Qg6 25.Qh4 Ra7 26.Bd1 Bc8
14...c4?! 27.Bh5 Qd6 28.Bxf7+ Rxf7 29.Qxh7+
This is a very risky decision. Black Kf8 30.Rxf7+ Kxf7 31.Rh6! Be6
liquidates the tension in the centre, so 32.Rf6+ Ke8 33.Qxg7 b4 34.d5 1–0
White has his hands free to concentrate on
the attack against the enemy monarch. 10. Fressinet – Royset
14...a6!? 15.Bd3 Nc6 16.Rac1² Helsingor 2015
15.Qd1 a6 16.Ba4 b5 17.Bc2 Qc7 18.Rf3
XIIIIIIIIY 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 d5 4.Nc3 Be7
9rsn-tr-+k+0 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qc2
XIIIIIIIIY
9+lwq-vlpzpp0 9rsnlwq-trk+0
9p+-+-sn-+0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
9+p+psN-vL-0 9-+-+psn-+0
9-+pzP-zP-+0 9+-vlp+-+-0
9+-sN-zPR+-0 9-+P+-vL-+0
9PzPL+-+PzP0 9+-sN-zPN+-0
9tR-+Q+-mK-0 9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
xiiiiiiiiy 9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
18...Ne4?
This move loses immediately. Black could 8...dxc4
have continued to fight, without too many This is not the best decision for Black,
chances though..., only after 18...b4 because it only helps White’s rapid
19.Na4 Nbd7 20.Qe1± development. We can assume that Black
19.Rh3+– Bxg5 was not well acquainted with the fine
19...g6 20.Nxf7+– points of this variation and being afraid of
20.fxg5 Nd7 the appearance of White’s rook on d1,
 XIIIIIIIIY
decided to exchange immediately on c4. 9-snrwq-trk+0
The position may look rather simple, but 9+p+l+pzp-0
Black is going to have serious problems. 9p+-+psn-zp0
The main reason is that he does not have 9+-+-+-+-0
sufficient space for his queen and minor 9-+-+-+-+0
pieces. 9zP-sN-zPN+-0
9.Bxc4 Nc6 10.0-0 h6 11.Rfd1 Bd7 9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
The following variation illustrates this 9+LtRR+-mK-0
quiteXIIIIIIIIY
well too: 11...Qe7 12.Na4!± xiiiiiiiiy
9r+-wq-trk+0 17.e4!
9zpp+l+pzp-0 Now, Black cannot hold without material
9-+n+psn-zp0 losses.
9+-vl-+-+-0
9-+L+-vL-+0 17...g6 18.Qd2 Kg7 19.e5
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-sN-zPN+-0 9-snrwq-tr-+0
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 9+p+l+pmk-0
9tR-+R+-mK-0 9p+-+psnpzp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-zP-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
12.a3 9zP-sN-+N+-0
This standard move is very good. White 9-zP-wQ-zPPzP0
not only takes the b4-square under control 9+LtRR+-mK-0
and prepares b2-b4, but in the future, with xiiiiiiiiy
the manoeuvre Bc4-a2-b1, plans to
organise an attack against the enemy king. 19...Ng8?
He did not need to be so stingy about
12...a6 13.Ba2 Rc8 14.Rac1
material...
It is also good for White to play here
14.Ne4 Be7 15.Bb1 g6 16.Qe2± Black would have some chances of
survival after the pawn-sacrifice
14...Ba7 15.Bb1
19...Nd5! 20.Nxd5 exd5 21.Rxc8 Qxc8
He is threatening 16.Ne5.
22.Qxd5 Nc6 23.Qc4 Bf5!?±
15...Bb8 16.Bxb8 Nxb8?!
20.h4 h5 21.Ne4 Qe7 22.Rxc8 Rxc8
Black would still have great problems, but
23.Nd6! Rc7 24.Ng5
his situation would not have been
White’s cavalry has penetrated the enemy
hopeless after his correct defence
position and Black is beyond survival.
16...Rxb8 17.Rd2 Qe7 18.Rcd1 Rfd8
19.Ne4± 24...Be8 25.Qf4 Nd7 26.Be4 Nc5
27.Rc1!+– a5 28.b4 axb4 29.axb4 Na6
30.b5 Rxc1+ 31.Qxc1 Nb4
 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+l+n+0 This move is not obligatory, but is
9+p+-wqpmk-0 beautiful. This was a very instructive
9-+-sNp+p+0 game. The lesson is never to delay solving
9+P+-zP-sNp0 problems, which you will need to solve
9-sn-+L+-zP0 anyway. In other words, if somebody
9+-+-+-+-0 thinks that in a chess game you can find a
9-+-+-zPP+0 way out of your difficulties by burying
9+-wQ-+-mK-0 your head in the sand – this game is a
xiiiiiiiiy clear proof of the opposite.

32.Qc7! 1–0
 11. Kovalenko – Short immediately all the resources of his
Tromso 2014 position and choose 11...Nb4! 12.Qd2
(12.Qb3 Nbd5 13.Be5 Qb4!? 14.0-0
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Be7
Qxb3 15.Bxb3 Nxc3 16.Bxc3 b6=;
5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qc2
13...Bb4 14.0-0 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Be7∞ and
Nc6XIIIIIIIIY
only now, when White’s pawn-structure
9r+lwq-trk+0 had been compromised to retreat the
9zpp+-+pzpp0 bishop...) and here, Black had to prefer
9-+n+psn-+0 12...Nbd5! (The interesting pawn-
9+-vlp+-+-0
sacrifice was still weaker – 12...b5
9-+P+-vL-+0
13.Bxb5 Nfd5 14.Nxd5 exd5 15.Be2
9+-sN-zPN+-0
Nd3+ 16.Bxd3? Bb4–+; 16.Kf1 Qxd2
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
17.Rxd2 Nxf4 18.exf4 Bb4 19.Rd1²)
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy 13.Bxd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Qxd2+ 15.Rxd2
exd5 16.Rxd5 Bb4+ 17.Kd1 b6°
9.Rd1 12.0-0 a6 13.a3
I will remind you that we have decided to White restricts the possibilities of his
suggest as our main line the move 9.a3, opponent and takes the b4-square under
since we are worried about Black’s rarely control.
played move 9...Qb6. 13...Nh5?!
9...Qa5 10.Be2 Black had to prefer the principled move
This is a very clever order of moves and 13...b5, although even then after 14.Bb3!
even a renowned expert of the Queen’s (14.Bd3 Bb7 15.Ne4 g6 16.Nc5 Qb6
Gambit for Black like Nigel Short was 17.Nxb7 Qxb7²) 14...Bb7 15.Ne4 g6
forced to make a mistake. (15...Qb6 16.Nfg5 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Bxg5
10...dxc4 11.Bxc4
XIIIIIIIIY 18.Bc2! – 18.Bxg5? Na5³ – 18...g6
9r+l+-trk+0 19.Bxg5²) 16.Nd6 Qb6 17.e4! (17.Bh6?!
9zpp+-+pzpp0 Rfb8 18.Nxf7 Na5!∞) White would
9-+n+psn-+0 maintain his advantage, for example:
9wq-vl-+-+-0 17...Na5 18.Ba2 Qc6 19.Qd2 Nc4
9-+L+-vL-+0 (19...Nxe4? 20.Nxe4 Qxe4 21.Bh6+–)
9+-sN-zPN+-0 20.Bxc4 bxc4 21.Qc1 Bxd6 22.Rxd6 Qc8
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 (22...Qxe4? 23.Re1 Qf5 24.Re5+–)
9+-+RmK-+R0 23.Re1 Nxe4 24.Rd4 f5 25.Rxc4±
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Be7?!
This was a very special moment in this
game. Black failed to grasp the critical
importance of the moment and retreated
carelessly his bishop presenting
completely the initiative to his opponent.
It was correct for him to activate
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 preserved his serious advantage.
9+p+-vlpzpp0 23.Qc2 Qxd6 24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.Qh8+!
9p+n+p+-+0 White would not have achieved much
9wq-+-+-+n0 with 25.e4 Ne5 26.exd5 Nxf3+ 27.gxf3
9-+L+-vL-+0 Bb7 28.Qh8+ Ke7 29.Qxg7 Bxd5
9zP-sN-zPN+-0 30.Be4²
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 25...Ke7 26.Qxg7
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+R+RmK-0 9r+l+-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-mkpwQ-0
14.Bd6! Bxd6 15.Rxd6
9pzpnwqp+-zp0
The trade of the dark-squared bishops has
9+-+n+-+-0
not facilitated Black’s defence at all,
9-+-+-+-+0
9zP-+-zPN+-0
because he would hardly manage to
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
complete the development of his
9+L+R+-mK-0
queenside.
xiiiiiiiiy
15...Rd8 16.Rxd8+ Qxd8 17.Rd1 Qe7
18.Ne4 Nf6 19.Bd3 26...Bb7?
19.Nd6!? Ne8 (19...h6 20.Bxa6!+–) It was relatively best for Black to play
20.Ng5 Qxg5 21.Nxe8 Qe7 22.Nd6 Qc7 here 26...Qc5 27.Bg6 Kd8 (27...Nd8?
23.Qd2± 28.Ne5!+–) 28.Bxf7 Qc2 29.Re1 Ra7
19...h6 20.Nd6 30.e4 Nde7 31.h4±
It was simpler for White and not less 27.e4+– Qf4 28.exd5 Rd8 29.Ba2 exd5
strong to continue here with 20.Nxf6+ 30.h3 Rd7 31.Rxd5
gxf6 (20...Qxf6 21.Bh7+ Kf8 22.Be4+–) It was simpler for White to play
21.Qc4 f5 22.e4 fxe4 23.Bxe4 Bd7 31.Bxd5!? Kd8 32.Qc3+–
24.Qc1± 31...Rxd5 32.Bxd5 Nd8 33.Bxb7 Nxb7
20...Nd5 21.Qc5 Qc7! 22.Bb1 b6
XIIIIIIIIY 34.Qc3 Nc5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-+k+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-wq-+pzp-0 9+-+-mkp+-0
9pzpnsNp+-zp0 9pzp-+-+-zp0
9+-wQn+-+-0 9+-sn-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-wq-+0
9zP-+-zPN+-0 9zP-wQ-+N+P0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0 9-zP-+-zPP+0
9+L+R+-mK-0 9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
With his last excellent move Black forces Beginning at this moment, White loses
his opponent to fight for the advantage somehow his confidence and almost
with other methods and not the positional misses the victory as a result.
ones, which were so effective up to move 35.Nd2?!
twenty. White proved up to the task and Or 35.Ne5!, with the idea 35...h5 36.g3

Qf6 37.Qe3 Qe6 38.Qd4+–
35...Qf6 36.Qb4 a5 37.Qb5 Kf8 38.Nc4
Qd4 39.Ne3 Ne6 40.Qe2 a4 41.Nf5 Qf4
42.Ne3 Qe5 43.Qd2 b5 44.Ng4 Qf4
45.Qc3 h5 46.Nf6 Qf5 47.g4 hxg4
48.hxg4 Qb1+ 49.Kg2 Qd3 50.Qe5 Qc4
51.g5 Ke7 52.Ne4 Kd7 53.Kg3 Nd4
54.f3 Qc7 55.Nf6+ Kc6 56.Ng4 Qd6
57.f4 Qd5 58.Qf6+ Kc5
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+p+-0
9-+-+-wQ-+0
9+pmkq+-zP-0
9p+-sn-zPN+0
9zP-+-+-mK-0
9-zP-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
59.Ne5?
This move allows Black to draw. White
was winning with 59.Qe7+ Kb6 60.Qe3
Ka6 61.Nh6+–
59...Qe4??
Black was possibly in a time-trouble and
overlooked the possibility to end the game
with a perpetual check: 59...Qb3+ 60.Kh4
Qd5! (60...Qd1? 61.Qe7+ Kd5 62.Qb7+
Kc5 63.Qc8+ Kd5 64.Nxf7 Qh1+
65.Qh3+–) 61.Qxf7 (61.Qe7+ Kb6
62.Qd7 Qe4 63.Nxf7 Qh1+ 64.Qh3
Nf5+ 65.Kg4 Qd1+ 66.Qf3 Ne3+
67.Kg3 Nf5=) 61...Qh1+ 62.Kg4 Qd1=
60.Qe7+ Kb6 61.Nd7+ 1–0
12. Matlakov – Kashlinskaya
Doha 2015
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7
5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qc2
Nc6 9.a3 Re8
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqr+k+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+n+psn-+0
9+-vlp+-+-0
9-+P+-vL-+0
9zP-sN-zPN+-0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
10.Bg3!?
In the theoretical part of our book I have
recommended here the principled reply
10.0-0-0, but Black must also consider
this flexible prophylactic move.
10...d4
This is an important and logical response.
10...Qe7?! 11.Rd1 Rd8 12.Bh4 d4
13.Ne4±
It seems more reliable for Black to choose
here 10...Qa5!?, for example: 11.Ra2.
White is threatening b2-b4. 11...d4
(11...Ne4 12.Bd3 Nxc3 13.Bxh7+ Kh8
14.bxc3 g6 15.h4 Kxh7 16.h5 f5
17.hxg6+ Kg8∞) 12.b4 Qd8 13.bxc5
(13.Nb5 Bxb4+ 14.axb4 Nxb4 15.Qd2
Nxa2 16.Qxa2 e5∞) 13...dxc3 14.Bd6
b6∞;
or 11.Nd2 Bb4! (11...Bf8?! 12.Be2 Qb6
13.Nf3 Bd7 14.0-0 dxc4 15.Bxc4 Rac8
16.Rfd1 Red8 17.Bd3² Lalic – Vrana,
Pardubice 2010) 12.Rc1 Bxc3 13.Qxc3
Qxc3 14.Rxc3 d4 (14...Bd7 15.Bd3 Rac8
16.0-0 Ne7 17.Rfc1²) 15.exd4 Nxd4
16.Be5 Nf5 17.Bxf6 gxf6 – with good
chances of equalising for Black.
11.exd4
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqr+k+0 It was even stronger for White to play
9zpp+-+pzpp0 17.Kc2±
9-+n+psn-+0 17...Qxd3+ 18.Bxd3 Rad8 19.Ne4?!
9+-vl-+-+-0 19.Nb5!? a6 20.Kc2 Nc5 21.Nc3±
9-+PzP-+-+0 19...Nxe4 20.fxe4 Kf8 21.Kc2 Nc5
9zP-sN-+NvL-0 Following 21...Nd4+ Black would have
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 some chances of survival, for example:
9tR-+-mKL+R0 22.Kc3 Re6 23.f4 Rh6 24.h4 Ne6 25.f5
xiiiiiiiiy Nc5 26.e5 Nxd3 27.Rxd3 Rxd3+
28.Kxd3 Rh5! 29.Ke4 Ke7 30.Rh3 g6²
11...Bxd4?!
It is preferable for him to opt for 22.f3 Ne6
11...Nxd4 12.Nxd4 Bxd4 (12...Qxd4? 22...f5!? 23.Rhe1 fxe4 24.Bxe4 Rxd1
13.Nb5!?±; 13.Be2 Bf8 14.Nb5 Qe4 25.Kxd1±
15.Qxe4 Nxe4 16.Nc7+– Lalic – 23.Kc3 Nf4?!
Rjabzev, Pardubice 2014). There may Black’s knight has nothing to do on this
follow further: 13.0-0-0 e5 14.Nb5 g6! square.
XIIIIIIIIY
15.Kb1 Ne4 16.Ka2 Bg4 17.f3 Nxg3 9-+-trrmk-+0
18.hxg3 Be6 19.Qc1 Qd7 20.Nxd4 exd4 9zpp+-+pzpp0
21.b3 Rad8 with approximate equality. 9-+-+-+-+0
12.0-0-0 e5 13.Bxe5! Bg4 14.Bxd4 Bxf3 9+-+-+-+-0
15.gxf3 Nxd4 16.Qd3
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+P+Psn-+0
9r+-wqr+k+0 9zP-mKL+P+-0
9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-zP-+-+-zP0
9-+-+-sn-+0 9+-+R+-+R0
9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+Psn-+-+0
24.c5! Re5 25.Bc4 Rc8?!
9zP-sNQ+P+-0
Now, he is beyond survival. Black’s last
9-zP-+-zP-zP0
chance was to enter a rook and pawn
9+-mKR+L+R0
ending. 25...Rxd1 26.Rxd1 Rxc5 27.Rd7
xiiiiiiiiy
b5 28.Rxf7+ Ke8 29.Rxf4 Rxc4+ 30.Kd2
Black had probably begun this tactical Rd4+ 31.Ke3 Rd1 32.Rf5 a6±
skirmish relying on some positional 26.b4 Ke7
compensation. 26...b6 27.Rd7 Re7 28.Rhd1 bxc5
16...Nb3+?! 29.Rd8+ Re8 30.Rxc8 Rxc8 31.Rd7+–
After this move however, it turned out to 27.Rd2 b6 28.Rhd1 Rc7 29.c6 Rxc6
be obviously insufficient. 30.Rd7+ Kf6 31.Rxf7+ Kg5 32.Rg1+
It was correct for Black to continue here Kh6 33.Rxf4 b5 34.Kd4 Rg5 35.Rh4+
with 16...Nc6 17.Qxd8 Raxd8², with the 1–0
idea 18.Bd3?! Kf8 19.Ne4 Nxe4 20.Bxe4
Na5=
17.Kb1
 13. Korchnoi – Karpov 17.exd4 Nf3+ 18.gxf3 exf3+ 19.Nde4
World Championship, Game 21 Bxe4 20.Qc1+–
Baguio City 1978 15...Nxc2+ 16.Qxc2 Qa6?!
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.d4 Be7 It was correct for Black to play here
5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qc2 16...dxc4 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.0-0 Bf8
Nc6XIIIIIIIIY
9.Rd1 Qa5 10.a3 19.Ndxe4²
9r+l+-trk+0 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Nb3 Bd6 19.Rxd5 Re5
9zpp+-+pzpp0 20.Nd4 Rc8
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+n+psn-+0 9-+r+-+k+0
9wq-vlp+-+-0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+P+-vL-+0 9-+-vl-wq-+0
9zP-sN-zPN+-0 9+-+Rtrl+-0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 9-+PsNp+-+0
9+-+RmKL+R0 9zP-sN-zP-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9+-+-mK-+R0
10...Re8 xiiiiiiiiy
This is the beginning of an interesting and
principled line. 21.Rxe5
11.Nd2 e5 12.Bg5 Nd4! 13.Qb1 Bf5 21.Qb3 Rxd5 22.Nxd5 Qg5 23.Nxf5
14.Bd3 e4?! Qxf5 24.0-0±
It was correct for Black to choose here a 21...Qxe5
line, which would lead to only a slight White has a serious advantage, but
edge for White and we had analysed it in naturally, he needed to play very
details in our book: 14...Bxd3 15.Qxd3 precisely.
Ne4.XIIIIIIIIY 22.Nxf5
9r+-+r+k+0 White had probably to opt here for 22.f4
9zpp+-+pzpp0 Qf6 23.Nxe4!? Bxe4 24.Qxe4 Rxc4
9-+-+-sn-+0 25.Kd2 Qd8 26.Rc1, with good chances
9wq-vlp+lvL-0 of realising the extra pawn.
9-+Psnp+-+0 22...Qxf5
XIIIIIIIIY
9zP-sNLzP-+-0 9-+r+-+k+0
9-zP-sN-zPPzP0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
9+Q+RmK-+R0 9-+-vl-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-+q+-0
9-+P+p+-+0
15.Bc2 9zP-sN-zP-+-0
Naturally, it was far from easy for White 9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
to choose here the move 15.Bf1! in a 9+-+-mK-+R0
practical game; nevertheless, he would xiiiiiiiiy
have achieved much more than what he
had obtained in the game. The idea would 23.0-0!?
have been – 15...Ng4 16.cxd5 Ne5 White gives back the pawn, but preserves
a considerable positional advantage. He here 27.Rd5! Qe6 28.Qd1 Bf8 29.Rd8 h6
could have kept the extra pawn with the (29...g6 30.Nd5! Kg7 31.b3 Rc6 32.Qd4+
line: 23.Nxe4 b5 24.0-0 Rxc4 25.Qd2± Kh6 33.Nf4!+–) 30.Rb8 Rc8 31.Rxc8
23...Rxc4 24.Rd1
XIIIIIIIIY Qxc8 32.Nxe4±
9-+-+-+k+0 27...Rb4 28.Qd5
9zpp+-+pzpp0 This move forces a transition to an
9-+-vl-+-+0 endgame with an extra pawn.
9+-+-+q+-0 28...Qxd5 29.Rxd5 Bf8
9-+r+p+-+0 29...Be7!?²
9zP-sN-zP-+-0 30.axb5 a5!?
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0 It is far from clear whether White would
9+-+R+-mK-0 have realised his extra pawn if Black
xiiiiiiiiy defended accurately following: 30...axb5
31.Rxb5 Rxb5 32.Nxb5 f5 33.f3 exf3
24...Qe5?!
34.Kf2 Kf7 35.Kxf3 Ke6.
XIIIIIIIIY
Black overlooked here an excellent
defensive resource: 24...Be7! 25.Rd4 9-+-+-vlk+0
Rxd4 26.exd4 g6 27.Nxe4! (White’s 9+-+-+pzpp0
attempt to play for a win in a simpler 9-+-+-+-+0
fashion would not have worked: 9zpP+R+-+-0
27.Qxe4?! Qxe4 28.Nxe4 f5! 29.Nc5 b6 9-tr-+p+-+0
30.Nd3 Kf7 31.f4 Ke6 32.Kf2 Kd5 9+-sN-zP-zP-0
33.Ke3 b5 34.Ne5 Bd8=) 27...Qd5 28.g3
9-zP-+-zP-zP0
a5², with the idea 29.Qd3 Qa2!∞
9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
25.g3
White is again clearly better. 31.Rd8
25...a6 This decision was far from obvious.
Black is preparing to counter his White keeps his b-pawn on the board.
opponent’s next move. 31.b6!? Rxb6 32.Rxa5 Rxb2 33.Nxe4±
26.Qb3 b5
XIIIIIIIIY 31...Rxb2 32.Ra8 f5 33.Rxa5 Bb4
9-+-+-+k+0 34.Ra8+ Kf7 35.Na4 Rb1+ 36.Kg2 Bd6
9+-+-+pzpp0 37.Ra7+ Kf6 38.b6 Bb8
9p+-vl-+-+0 Black would have more chances of
9+p+-wq-+-0 survival after a move restricting White’s
9-+r+p+-+0 knight – 38...Rb5±
9zPQsN-zP-zP-0 39.Ra8
9-zP-+-zP-zP0 Or 39.Rd7!, with the idea 39...Rb4 40.Rd8
9+-+R+-mK-0 Be5 41.Nc5 Rxb6 42.Rd5! Rd6 43.Nd7+
xiiiiiiiiy
Ke6 44.Rxe5+ Kxd7 45.Rxf5+–
27.a4!?
This move is somewhat imprecise.
It was much stronger for White to choose
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9Rvl-+-+-+0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-+-+-zpp0 9zppzpnvlpzpp0
9-zP-+-mk-+0 9-+-+psn-+0
9+-+-+p+-0 9+-+p+-+-0
9N+-+p+-+0 9-+PzP-vLP+0
9+-+-zP-zP-0 9+-sN-zPN+-0
9-+-+-zPKzP0 9PzP-+-zP-zP0
9+r+-+-+-0 9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
39...Be5? 7...c5
This move allows White’s pawn to reach 7...dxc4!? 8.Bxc4 c5 9.g5!? (9.dxc5 Nxc5
the penultimate rank after which Black 10.g5 Nfe4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4= Mamedyarov
has no more chances of saving the game. – Ponomariov, Huai’an 2016; 10...Nd5!?
39...Bd6± 11.Bxd5 exd5 12.Nxd5 Bg4 13.Rg1 Bh5
40.Nc5 Bd6 41.b7 Ke7 42.Rg8 Be5 14.Bc7 Qe8 15.Nf4 Bg6!?°) 9...Nh5
43.f4!+– This is an important resource 10.Be5 a6 11.dxc5!? (11.Bd3 g6 12.h4
bringing White’s king into the realisation Nxe5 13.dxe5 b5∞ Mamedyarov –
of the advantage. 43...exf3+ 44.Kxf3 Kf7 Anand, Bastia 2011) 11...Nxc5 12.Be2!?ƒ
45.Rc8 Ke7 46.h3 h5 47.Rg8 Kf7 48.Rd8 8.g5 Nh5 9.Be5 Nxe5
g5 49.g4 hxg4+ 50.hxg4 Ke7 51.Rg8 9...dxc4!?∞
fxg4+ 52.Kxg4 Kf7 53.Rc8 Bd6 54.e4 10.dxe5!?
Rg1+ 55.Kf5 g4 56.e5 Rf1+ 57.Ke4 Re1+ It seemed more natural for White to
58.Kd5 Rd1+ 59.Nd3! Rxd3+ 60.Kc4 choose here 10.Nxe5 g6 11.Be2 cxd4
1–0 12.Qxd4 Ng7 13.h4 Nf5 14.Qd2 dxc4
15.0-0-0∞, but he had some other ideas
14. Fedoseev – Rozum for the future. With his last move, he
St Petersburg 2012 creates serious practical problems for his
opponent, to say the least. As we know,
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6
computers in general, underestimate the
5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.g4
degree of danger over Black’s monarch.
XIIIIIIIIY
This move was introduced into the serious
tournament practice in the year 2011 due 9r+lwq-trk+0
to some games played by the rising chess 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
star Shahriar Mamedyarov, but I would 9-+-+p+-+0
not recommend it. It is extravagant 9+-zppzP-zPn0
indeed, but has an idea and could have 9-+P+-+-+0
attracted numerous followers in the pre- 9+-sN-zPN+-0
computer age. Nowadays however, in 9PzP-+-zP-zP0
these pragmatic computer days, it would 9tR-+QmKL+R0
be hard to prove its purposefulness and xiiiiiiiiy
White can mostly rely on the effect of
10...Bxg5?!
surprise and not on analytical advantage.
10...d4 11.Ne4 Bd7 (11...dxe3 12.fxe3
Qxd1+ 13.Rxd1 b6 14.Be2 Bb7 15.Nfd2 24.Rxg6±
XIIIIIIIIY
– Black’s knight is misplaced and this 9-+rtrnmk-+0
provides White with an advantage in the 9zpp+-+-vl-0
endgame; 12...Bd7 13.Rg1 Qc7 14.Nf6+ 9-+-+-+R+0
Bxf6 15.gxf6 Bc6 16.Rg5‚) 12.Rg1ƒ 9+-zp-zp-+-0
It was probably most reasonable for Black 9P+N+-+-+0
to try to trade the queen: 10...dxc4!? 9+-+-zP-+-0
11.Qxd8!? Rxd8 12.Bxc4 b6 13.Ke2 Bb7 9-zP-+LzP-+0
14.Rhd1 g6∞ 9tR-+-mK-+-0
11.Rg1 Bh6 xiiiiiiiiy
11...Be7 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Nxd5 g6
Black made numerous imprecise moves
14.Qb3 Be6 15.0-0-0±
and his king, as well as his e-pawn, were
12.cxd5 exd5 13.Qxd5 Qxd5 14.Nxd5 endangered.
Rd8XIIIIIIIIY
15.Ne7+ Kf8 16.Nxc8 Raxc8
24...Rc7 25.a5 e4 26.Bd1 Bf6 27.Ba4
9-+rtr-mk-+0 27.Bc2!?±
9zpp+-+pzpp0
27...Rg7 28.Bxe8 Kxe8 29.Rxg7 Bxg7
9-+-+-+-vl0
30.Ke2 Rd3
9+-zp-zP-+n0
30...Kd7!? 31.Rd1+ Kc7 32.Rg1 Rd7
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-zPN+-0 33.Rg6 Re7±
9PzP-+-zP-zP0 31.Rg1 Kf8 32.Nd2 b5
9tR-+-mKLtR-0 32...Rd5 33.a6!?±
xiiiiiiiiy 33.Rg5 Bxb2 34.Rxc5 a6 35.Rc2 Be5
36.Nxe4 Ra3 37.Nc5 Bd6 38.Nxa6 Rxa5
17.Nd2 39.Nc5
XIIIIIIIIY
We can assume that White’s computer 9-+-+-mk-+0
preparation had already finished; 9+-+-+-+-0
otherwise, he could have continued with 9-+-vl-+-+0
17.Bh3!, with the idea 17...Rc6 18.Ke2 9trpsN-+-+-0
g6 19.Rgd1 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Rc7 21.Rd8+ 9-+-+-+-+0
Ke7 22.Ra8 b5 23.Bg4 Ng7 24.Rh8± 9+-+-zP-+-0
17...g6 18.Be2 Ng7 19.a4 9-+R+KzP-+0
White provides the excellent c4-square 9+-+-+-+-0
for his knight. xiiiiiiiiy
19...Ne8
Black could have tried here 19...Nf5 39...b4?
20.Nc4 f6!? 21.exf6 Kf7 22.Bg4 Kxf6, Black could have offered much tougher
with some edge for White. resistance after 39...Ra7 40.Ne6+ Kf7
41.Nd4 Rb7.
20.Nc4 Bg7 21.h4 f6 22.h5 fxe5
22...g5!?² 40.Nb7!+– Ra6 41.Nxd6 Rxd6 42.Rc8+
Ke7 43.Rb8 1–0
23.hxg6 hxg6?!
23...h6²
 15. Gelfand – Oparin in the future. Still, it seems to me that the
Moscow 2015 move 16.Bd3!? would have been more
promising to him, eyeing Black’s
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7
kingside. 16...Qe7 17.Ne4 Nxe4 18.Bxe4
5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Be2 c6 8.0-0 Nh5
c5 (18...Rfd8 19.b4!?²) 19.Bxb7 Qxb7
9.Rc1!?
20.dxc5 Bxe5 21.Qxe5 bxc5 22.Rxc5
This move and also 9.Qc2 are quite
Rxc5 23.Qxc5 Qxb2 24.Qxa7 Qc2
logical possibilities for White. He wishes
25.Ra1 Qc3 26.Rf1²
to exploit advantageously the change of
the pawn-structure after the trade on f4. 16...Bxa6 17.Qxa6 Rc7 18.g3 Qc8
XIIIIIIIIY 19.Qe2 Rd8 20.Rc2 Nd5
9r+lwq-trk+0 20...a5!? 21.Rdc1 Qb7 22.h4 b5 23.Qf3ƒ
9zpp+nvlpzpp0
9-+p+p+-+0 21.Ne4 f6 22.Nf3
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+p+-+n0 9-+qtr-+k+0
9-+PzP-vL-+0 9zp-tr-+-zpp0
9+-sN-zPN+-0 9-zppvlpzp-+0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 9+-+n+-+-0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0 9-+-zPNzP-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zP-+-+NzP-0
9-zPR+QzP-zP0
9...Nxf4 10.exf4 dxc4 11.Bxc4 b6 9+-+R+-mK-0
12.Qe2 Bb7 13.Rfd1 Rc8 14.Ne5 Nf6 xiiiiiiiiy
15.a3
XIIIIIIIIY
Black has succeeded in ousting the enemy
9-+rwq-trk+0
knight from the e5-square, but has
9zpl+-vlpzpp0
9-zpp+psn-+0 weakened slightly his kingside pawn-
9+-+-sN-+-0 structure. Meanwhile, White can hardly
9-+LzP-zP-+0 exploit at the moment the weaknesses on
9zP-sN-+-+-0 c6 and e6, so he keeps the pressure with
9-zP-+QzPPzP0 the idea that Black may succumb to it at
9+-tRR+-mK-0 some moment and make a crucial
xiiiiiiiiy mistake.
22...Bf8 23.Re1 Re8 24.Qc4 Qd7 25.Rce2
15...Bd6 Rcc8XIIIIIIIIY
26.Ned2
Black has completed comfortably the 9-+r+rvlk+0
development of his minor pieces, but his 9zp-+q+-zpp0
major pieces remain passive for the 9-zpp+pzp-+0
moment. He could have tried the 9+-+n+-+-0
manoeuvre 15...Rc7, followed by Qd8-a8, 9-+QzP-zP-+0
with the idea to advance c6-c5. 9zP-+-+NzP-0
16.Ba6 9-zP-sNRzP-zP0
White exchanges the bishops and 9+-+-tR-mK-0
complies with the fact that he will not xiiiiiiiiy
have the possibility to have a bishop-pair
26...g6 Black’s only correct decision here was
Black did not need to push his g-pawn. 40...Qe7! 41.Nxd6 (41.Rxc6?! Bxa3
It was worth for him to consider 26...a5!? 42.Qc4 Rxc6 43.Qxc6 Bb4³) 41...Qxd6
with approximate equality. 42.bxc6 Ne7 43.d5 Qxd5 44.Qe3 Nxc6
27.Ne4 Kg7 28.h4 h5 29.Qc2 Bd6 45.Rec1 Qd7 46.Rd2 Qe7 47.Rdc2 Qd7=
30.Qc1 Bb8 31.Rc2 Bd6 32.Kh2 Bb8 41.Qb2!
XIIIIIIIIY
33.b4 Bd6 34.Nc3 Kf7 35.Rce2 Kg7 9-+r+r+-+0
36.Qd2 Re7 37.Ne4
XIIIIIIIIY 9zp-+qsn-mk-0
9-+r+-+-+0 9-zppvlpzpp+0
9zp-+qtr-mk-0 9+P+-+-+p0
9-zppvlpzpp+0 9-+-zPNzP-zP0
9+-+n+-+p0 9zP-+-+NzP-0
9-zP-zPNzP-zP0 9-wQR+-zP-mK0
9zP-+-+NzP-0 9+-+-tR-+-0
9-+-wQRzP-mK0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-tR-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy White focuses on a weakness in his
enemy camp – the f6-pawn and wins a
37...Ree8 pawn combining his threats.
Black continues successfully with his 41...Nd5
waiting strategy at the moment, but could 41...cxb5?? 42.Nxf6! Kxf6 43.d5+–
have tried to clarify the situation with the 42.Rec1 Qe7 43.Nxd6 Qxd6 44.Rxc6
help of his a-pawn: 37...Ra8 38.Qc2 a5 44.bxc6? Nxf4!∞
XIIIIIIIIY
39.bxa5 Rxa5 40.Nxd6 Qxd6 41.Nd2
9-+r+r+-+0
Raa7= 9zp-+-+-mk-0
38.Qc1 Re7 39.Rc2 Ree8
XIIIIIIIIY 9-zpRwqpzpp+0
9-+r+r+-+0 9+P+n+-+p0
9zp-+q+-mk-0 9-+-zP-zP-zP0
9-zppvlpzpp+0 9zP-+-+NzP-0
9+-+n+-+p0 9-wQ-+-zP-mK0
9-zP-zPNzP-zP0 9+-tR-+-+-0
9zP-+-+NzP-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+R+-zP-mK0
9+-wQ-tR-+-0 44...Rxc6
xiiiiiiiiy This move enables White to place
advantageously his queen behind his rook
40.b5!? in the fight for the c-file. Black could
Finally, White begins active actions and have offered much tougher resistance
Black makes immediately a mistake. He after 44...Qd7 45.Qc2 (45.a4 Ne7²)
had obviously lost his concentration due 45...Rxc6 46.Qxc6 Qxc6!? 47.Rxc6 a6
to the long waiting for something 48.bxa6 Kf7, preserving chances of
meaningful to happen. survival.
40...Ne7?! 45.Rxc6 Qd7 46.Qc2
46.Qc1!? Ne7 47.Rc7 Qxb5 48.Rxa7 Kf8 with the idea 49.Nd2 Qa1±
49.a4± 49.Nd2 Ra7
46...a6?! 49...Nb4 50.Rc7+–
After this move Black will have to defend 50.Qc4
passively. White defends against the fork on b4 and
It was correct for him to continue with squeezes maximally his opponent’s
46...Ne7 47.Rc7 Qxb5 48.Rxa7 Kf8± pieces.
47.a4 axb5 48.axb5
XIIIIIIIIY 50...Rc7 51.Nb1! Ra7 52.Nc3+–
9-+-+r+-+0 The unavoidable has happened. Without
9+-+q+-mk-0 the knight Black’s position crumbles like
9-zpR+pzpp+0 an old hut in a storm.
9+P+n+-+p0 52...Nxc3 53.Qxc3 Rb7 54.d5
9-+-zP-zP-zP0 It was much more convincing for White
9+-+-+NzP-0 to choose here 54.Qe3 Kf7 55.f5! gxf5
9-+Q+-zP-mK0 56.Qh6+–
9+-+-+-+-0 54...Qxd5 55.Rc7+ Kh6?!
xiiiiiiiiy Black would have preserved some minute
chances of survival following 55...Rxc7
48...Ra8?!
56.Qxc7+ Kf8 57.Qxb6 Ke8.
This was in fact Black’s final mistake. His
rook has nothing to do on the a-file. 56.Rxb7 Qxb7 57.Qxf6 Qc8 58.Qd4
Qb8 59.Qd7 e5 60.fxe5 Qxe5 61.Qd8
Instead, he had to try to impede his
1–0
opponent’s plan to transfer the knight to
the c3-square with the move 48...Qa7,
 XIIIIIIIIY
16. Vachier Lagrave – Jakovenko 9r+-+-trk+0
Loo 2013 9+p+-vlpzpp0
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 9p+-+lsn-+0
5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Be2 dxc4 8.0-0 a6
9zP-zp-+-+-0
9.a4 c5 10.d5 exd5 11.Nxd5 Nxd5
9-+-+-vL-+0
12.Qxd5 Nf6
9+-+-zP-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-zP-sNLzPPzP0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
9+p+-vlpzpp0 xiiiiiiiiy
9p+-+-sn-+0
9+-zpQ+-+-0 18.e4
9P+p+-vL-+0 This is a correct move from the positional
9+-+-zPN+-0 point of view, because it deprives the
9-zP-+LzPPzP0 enemy knight of the d5-square, but the
9tR-+-+RmK-0 position is still rather unstable and Black
xiiiiiiiiy will find counter arguments.
13.Qxc4 18.Nc4!? Rad8 19.Rac1 Nd5 20.Bg3
We recommend in the theoretical part of Nb4∞
our book the move 13.Qe5. 18...Rad8 19.Rfc1 Ne8?!
White’s last natural move leads to an This is not the right place for this knight...
approximately equal multi-piece There would have arisen a very
endgame. Still, Black must play it very complicated situation after the correct
accurately, since the computer evaluation line: 19...Ng4 20.Nc4 g5!? 21.Bg3 Nf6
is one thing, but solving problems over 22.f3 Nh5∞
the board is something else... In this 20.Be3 f5?!
game, Black did not prove to be up to the Black had better admit his mistake and
task. retreat with the knight: 20...Nf6 21.f3
13...Be6 14.Qc2 Qb6 15.a5 Nd7 22.Nc4 Nb8!?²
White not only attacks the enemy queen, 21.exf5 Rxf5
XIIIIIIIIY
but fixes advantageously his opponent’s 9-+-trn+k+0
queenside pawn-structure. 9+p+-vl-zpp0
15...Qb3 9p+-+l+-+0
15...Qb4 16.Nd2 Rfd8 17.Rfd1 c4. White 9zP-zp-+r+-0
was threatening to trap the enemy queen 9-+-+-+-+0
with Ra1-a4. 18.Nxc4 Rac8 19.b3 Rxd1+ 9+-+-vL-+-0
20.Rxd1 Qxa5 21.Qxh7+ Kxh7 9-zP-sNLzPPzP0
22.Nxa5² 9tR-tR-+-mK-0
16.Qxb3 Bxb3 17.Nd2 Be6
xiiiiiiiiy
22.Ne4
It was interesting and stronger for White
to choose here 22.g4!, for example:
22...Rf8 23.Ne4±; 22...Rfd5 23.Bc4±;
22...Re5 23.Nc4 Bxc4 (23...Red5 24.Nb6 Black not only exchanges pawns, but also
Re5 25.Bf3!+–) 24.Bxc4+ Kf8 25.Be2± worsens his opponent’s pawn-structure,
22...c4 because White cannot support his
22...Re5!? 23.Nxc5 Bxc5 24.Rxc5 Rxc5 g4-pawn with the move 32.h3, due to
25.Bxc5 Rd2 26.Re1 Rxb2 27.Bd3 Bf7² – 32...Rd3.
with a quite defensible position for Black. 32.gxh5 Rd5 33.Rc4 Rxh5 34.b4 Kf7
XIIIIIIIIY
23.Bg4 Re5 24.Bxe6+ Rxe6 25.Rxc4 Nd6 9-+-+-+-+0
25...Nf6!? 26.Nc3 Nd5 27.Nxd5 Rxd5 9+p+-+kzp-0
28.g3 Rb5± 9p+-+-vl-+0
26.Nxd6 Rexd6 27.g4 9zP-vL-+-+r0
As a result of Black’s indifferent play, 9-zPR+-+-+0
White has won a pawn. It is obvious 9+-+-+-+-0
however, he needs to show excellent 9-+-+-zP-zP0
technique in order to turn it into a full 9+-+-+-mK-0
point. There is just a few material left on xiiiiiiiiy
the board, moreover that White needs to
White did not play well this last stage of
take care of his vulnerable queenside
the game and lost a great deal of his
pawns.
advantage. Now, he can hardly win this
27...Bf6 28.Raa4 position if Black plays correctly.
This is a somewhat strange move.
35.Bb6 Be5 36.Bc7 Bf6 37.Bb6 Be5
It was better for White to opt for 28.Kg2. 38.f4?!
XIIIIIIIIY
28...Rd5 29.b3 9-+-+-+-+0
He had to place his pawn immediately on 9+p+-+kzp-0
b4 in order to free his rook from the 9pvL-+-+-+0
protection of the a5-pawn – 29.b4± 9zP-+-vl-+r0
29...R8d7
XIIIIIIIIY 9-zPR+-zP-+0
9-+-+-+k+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+p+r+-zpp0 9-+-+-+-zP0
9p+-+-vl-+0 9+-+-+-mK-0
9zP-+r+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9R+R+-+P+0
9+P+-vL-+-0 38...Rh4!
9-+-+-zP-zP0 Black forces a transition into a drawish
9+-+-+-mK-0 rook and pawn ending.
xiiiiiiiiy 39.Bc7
39.Be3 g5=
30.Rc5?! 39...Bxc7!
The exchange of the rooks only facilitates Black has no illusions!
Black’s defence.
40.Rxc7+ Kf6 41.Rxb7 Rxf4 42.Kg2 g5
It was better for White to play here 43.Rb6+ Kf5 44.Kg3 Rh4 45.h3 Rf4
30.Ra2± 46.Kg2 Ke5 47.Kh2 Kf5 48.Kg3 Ke5
30...Rxc5 31.Bxc5 h5! 49.Rxa6 Rxb4 50.Ra8 Ra4= 51.a6 Kf6
52.Kf3 Kg7 53.Ke3 Ra3+ 54.Kd4 Rxh3 and his position would not be worse to
55.Kc5 Ra3 56.Kb6. Draw. say the least.
15.Bxe5 Nd7
17. Istratescu – A.David 15...Nxc3 16.Rxc3 Nd7 17.Bd6²
Alba Iulia 2016
16.Nxe4
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 16.Bf4!?°
5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.c5 Ne4 8.Rc1 f5 16...Nxe5 17.Nd2 Ng6 18.Rxc6 f4 19.0-0
9.h3 c6 10.b4 Bf6 11.Be2 a5 12.b5 fxe3?!
Ndxc5!
XIIIIIIIIY 19...e5!?∞
9r+lwq-trk+0 20.fxe3 Rxf1+ 21.Bxf1 Bd7 22.Rc3 e5
XIIIIIIIIY
9+p+-+-zpp0 9r+-wq-+k+0
9-+p+pvl-+0 9+-+l+-zpp0
9zpPsnp+p+-0 9-+-+-+n+0
9-+-zPnvL-+0 9zp-+pzp-+-0
9+-sN-zPN+P0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9P+-+LzPP+0 9+-tR-zP-+P0
9+-tRQmK-+R0 9P+-sN-+P+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+Q+LmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
13.bxc6
It has become clear now why White has 23.Qh5!
not played 11.Bd3. His light-squared This is the right square for White’s queen.
bishop is not under attack and he has 23...Rc8 24.Rxc8 Qxc8
enough time for other possibilities. 24...Bxc8 25.dxe5 Qb6 26.Qg5 h6
13...bxc6 14.Ne5 27.Qg3 Ne7 28.Qf2²
The position would be approximately 25.Nb3?!
equal after 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Rxc6 Bd7 25.Nf3 Bf5 26.dxe5 Bb1 27.Nd4 Bxa2
16.Rc1 Qb6 17.0-0 Rfc8 18.Ne5 Be8.
XIIIIIIIIY 28.e6± a4 29.Qd1 Bc4 (29...a3?
9r+lwq-trk+0 30.Qa1+–) 30.Qxa4 Bxf1 31.Kxf1 Qc4+
9+-+-+-zpp0 32.Qxc4 dxc4 33.Ke2 Kf8 34.Kd2 Ke7
9-+p+pvl-+0 35.Kc3 Ne5 36.Nf3 Kxe6 37.Kd4 Nc6+
9zp-snpsNp+-0 38.Kxc4±
9-+-zPnvL-+0 25...Qc3 26.Qf3 Be6
9+-sN-zP-+P0 26...Bc6!?=
9P+-+LzPP+0 27.dxe5
9+-tRQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
14...Bxe5
This move presents White with the
initiative. Black could have fought for it
with the line: 14...g5!? 15.Bh2 f4!
16.Nxc6 Qb6 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.f3 Ng3
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0 9-+-+-wqk+0
9+-+-+-zpp0 9+-+-+-zp-0
9-+-+l+n+0 9-+-+-+l+0
9zp-+pzP-+-0 9wQ-+p+-zp-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+Nwq-zPQ+P0 9zp-+-zPN+P0
9P+-+-+P+0 9P+-+-+P+0
9+-+-+LmK-0 9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
27...Qxe5? 37...Bf7??
27...Nxe5 28.Qg3 Nc6 This horrible mistake was possibly due to
28.Bd3? the tension in the time trouble.
It is not easy to understand why Black 37...Qe7 38.Qxd5+. The extra pawn
sacrificed a pawn and why White did not means nothing here. 38...Bf7 39.Qd2
take it. Kh8!? – The vulnerability of the a2-pawn
28.Nxa5 d4 29.Nc6!? Qxe3+ 30.Qxe3 enables White to rely on an advantage.
dxe3 31.a4 Bd7 32.Bb5± 38.Nxg5 d4 39.Qf5 1–0
28...Qc3
Black should have preserved his knight 18. Anand – Nakamura
28...Nf8!? 29.Qe2 (29.Nxa5?? Qc3–+) Zurich 2015
29...Qc3= 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6
29.Bxg6 hxg6 30.Nd4
XIIIIIIIIY 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.c5 Nh5 8.Bd3
9-+-+-+k+0 Nxf4 9.exf4 b6 10.b4 a5 11.a3 c6 12.0-0
9+-+-+-zp-0 Qc7XIIIIIIIIY
13.g3 Ba6 14.Re1 Bf6 15.Kg2!?
9-+-+l+p+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9zp-+p+-+-0 9+-wqn+pzpp0
9-+-sN-+-+0 9lzpp+pvl-+0
9+-wq-zPQ+P0 9zp-zPp+-+-0
9P+-+-+P+0 9-zP-zP-zP-+0
9+-+-+-mK-0 9zP-sNL+NzP-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+-zPKzP0
9tR-+QtR-+-0
White’s position is a bit more pleasant, xiiiiiiiiy
but not more than that. He can hardly
improve it... 15...Bxd3
30...Bf7 31.Qf4 Qb4 32.Kh2 a4 33.Qc7 Black’s attempt to change the character of
Qf8 34.Kg1 the fight in a tactical way would not be
34.Kg3 a3= successful after 15...bxc5?! 16.bxc5 Nxc5
34...a3 17.dxc5 Bxc3 18.Bxh7+! Kh8 (18...Kxh7
34...Qa3!?= 19.Qc2+ Kg8 20.Ng5 Rfe8 21.Qxc3±;
35.Qa7 g5 36.Qa5 Bg6!? 37.Nf3 20...g6 21.Qxc3±) 19.Nh4! g6 (19...Kxh7
20.Qc2+ Kg8 21.Qxc3²) 20.Bxg6 fxg6
21.Nxg6+ Kg8 22.Nxf8 Rxf8 23.Rxe6
Bxa1 24.Qxa1± – White’s pieces are very
active and his three pawns more than
compensate the missing bishop.
16.Qxd3 Rfb8 17.h4 Qa7
XIIIIIIIIY
9rtr-+-+k+0
9wq-+n+pzpp0
9-zpp+pvl-+0
9zp-zPp+-+-0
9-zP-zP-zP-zP0
9zP-sNQ+NzP-0
9-+-+-zPK+0
9tR-+-tR-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
There has arisen a typical situation for
this modern variation. White relies on
some purely practical factors while
playing it. The position is approximately
equal, but Black has not enough space and
his pieces are rather passive, so his
defence would not be so easy at all.
18.Ne2!?
White could have tried to change the
character of the fight with 18.f5!? Nf8
19.Na4 bxc5 20.bxc5 Re8 21.Rab1, with
some pressure, but Anand had obviously a
different opinion on the subject. He
preferred to continue with positional
manoeuvring.
18...g6?!
It seemed interesting for Black to try
18...axb4 19.axb4 Qxa1 20.Rxa1 Rxa1,
but after White’s important resource
21.b5!, Black would be faced with great
practical problems. Meanwhile, after the
correct defence 21...bxc5! (21...cxb5?!
22.Qxb5 Ra7 23.c6 Nf8 24.Ne5 Rc7
25.f5! Rbc8 26.Nd7±), he could have
solved them: 22.bxc6 Nf8 23.dxc5 Ra5!
24.Qe3 Rc8 25.Ne5 Bxe5 26.Qxe5 Rxc6
27.Nd4 Rcxc5 28.Nb3 h6 and Black
should not lose this position.
19.Rab1 axb4 20.axb4 Qa2 21.Rec1
bxc5XIIIIIIIIY
22.bxc5
9rtr-+-+k+0
9+-+n+p+p0
9-+p+pvlp+0
9+-zPp+-+-0
9-+-zP-zP-zP0
9+-+Q+NzP-0
9q+-+NzPK+0
9+RtR-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
22...h5
This position may seem safe for Black,
but the following variations illustrate
what problems he must face:
22...Rxb1 23.Rxb1 Rb8 24.Rxb8+ Nxb8
25.Qe3 Nd7 26.h5±;
22...Ra3 23.Rxb8+ (23.Qd1!? Rxb1
24.Rxb1 Qc4 25.g4ƒ) 23...Nxb8 24.Qd1
Na6 (24...Qb3?! 25.Qxb3 Rxb3 26.Ra1±)
25.Rb1 Qc4 26.f5! It is essential to free
the f4-square for the knight before
penetrating with the rook to the
b6-square. (26.Rb6?! Ra2∞) 26...exf5
27.Rb6 Ra2 (27...Nb4 28.h5‚ 28...Ra8
29.h6±) 28.Nf4±
23.Ne5
Now, Black has a difficult choice – what
piece to exchange on e5.
23...Nxe5
This is the correct decision.
23...Bxe5 24.fxe5 Rxb1 25.Rxb1 Rb8
26.Rxb8+ Nxb8 27.Nf4ƒ with the idea
27...Kg7? 28.g4 hxg4 29.h5 Qc4
30.Qd1+–
24.fxe5
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9rtr-+-+k+0 9-+rwq-+-+0
9+-+-+p+-0 9+R+-+pmk-0
9-+p+pvlp+0 9Q+p+p+-vl0
9+-zPpzP-+p0 9+-zPpzP-zpp0
9-+-zP-+-zP0 9N+-zP-+-zP0
9+-+Q+-zP-0 9+-+-+-zP-0
9q+-+NzPK+0 9-+-+-zPK+0
9+RtR-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
24...Bg7? 33.Qe2
24...Bd8. It is important for Black to It was also quite convincing for White to
control the b6-square. 25.Nf4 Kg7 choose 33.Qa7 Qe8 34.Nb6 Rd8 35.Nd7!
26.Qd1 Rxb1 (He must play very gxh4 36.Nf6 Qf8 37.Nxh5+ Kg6
carefully. For example, it would be bad 38.Qa3!+–
for him to choose 26...Kf8? In view of 33...g4 34.Qa6 Qg8
27.Ra1 Qb2 28.Rxa8 Rxa8 29.Rb1 Qa2 34...Rc7 35.Qb6 Rc8 36.Qa7 Ra8
30.Rb7 Ra7 31.Nxe6+ fxe6 32.Qf3+–) (36...Qg8 37.Qa6!+–) 37.Rxf7+ Kg6
27.Rxb1² 38.Qb7 Rb8 39.Qe7 Qxe7 40.Rxe7 Kf5
25.Rb6!± Rc8 26.Nc3 Qa7 27.Rcb1 Qd7 41.Nc3! Rb3 42.Rf7+ Kg6 43.Rf6+ Kg7
28.R1b4 Bh6 29.Na4 Qd8 30.Ra6
XIIIIIIIIY 44.Ne2+–
9r+rwq-+k+0 35.Nb6 Rf8 36.Nd7
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+p+-0 9-+-+-trq+0
9R+p+p+pvl0 9+R+N+pmk-0
9+-zPpzP-+p0 9Q+p+p+-vl0
9NtR-zP-+-zP0 9+-zPpzP-+p0
9+-+Q+-zP-0 9-+-zP-+pzP0
9-+-+-zPK+0 9+-+-+-zP-0
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-zPK+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
30...Kg7?!
Black had better defend here with 36...Qh7
30...Rc7± 36...Ra8 37.Ra7!+– White is on the alert.
31.Rb7 Rxa6 32.Qxa6 g5 It was still not too late for him to have lost
His counterplay is obviously too late... his entire advantage by playing
37.Qxc6?? Ra2! 38.Nf6 Be3=
37.Nxf8 Qe4+ 38.Kh2 Kxf8 39.Rb8+
Kg7 40.Qc8 Kg6 41.Qh8 1–0

19. Giri – Aronian

Moscow 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7

 XIIIIIIIIY
5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.c5 c6 8.h3 b6 9r+rvl-+k+0
9.b4XIIIIIIIIY
a5 10.a3 9+q+n+pzp-0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9-zpp+psn-zp0
9+-+nvlpzpp0 9+-zPp+-+-0
9-zpp+psn-+0 9-zP-zP-vL-+0
9zp-zPp+-+-0 9+-sNQzP-+P0
9-zP-zP-vL-+0 9-+-+-zPP+0
9zP-sN-zPN+P0 9+RtR-sN-mK-0
9-+-+-zPP+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy 18.Qd1
White in his turn transfers his knight to
10...h6 d3, where is is obviously much better
Black makes a supposedly useful move, placed. After an eventual exchange of the
waiting for the development of the enemy bishops, White plans to capture on f4 with
bishop. his pawn and to continue to exert
11.Bd3 Ba6 “territorial pressure” against the enemy
He exchanges the bishops only now. position.
12.0-0 Qc8 13.Rb1 axb4 14.axb4 Bxd3 18...Bc7 19.Nd3 Bxf4 20.exf4
XIIIIIIIIY
15.Qxd3 Qb7 16.Rfc1
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+r+-+k+0
9r+-+-trk+0 9+q+n+pzp-0
9+q+nvlpzp-0 9-zpp+psn-zp0
9-zpp+psn-zp0 9+-zPp+-+-0
9+-zPp+-+-0 9-zP-zP-zP-+0
9-zP-zP-vL-+0 9+-sNN+-+P0
9+-sNQzPN+P0 9-+-+-zPP+0
9-+-+-zPP+0 9+RtRQ+-mK-0
9+RtR-+-mK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
20...Ne4
16...Rfc8 Black is trying to play actively and offers
This is the beginning of a typical transfer to trade the knights. Naturally, White
for this type of positions of Black’s avoids that.
bishop to the c7-square. 21.Ne2! Ra2 22.Rc2 Rca8?!
17.Ne1 Bd8 After this natural move, White breaks
through on the queenside. It was more
prudent for Black to play here 22...Rxc2
23.Qxc2 Nef6²
23.f3 Rxc2
Or 23...Nef6 24.b5 Rxc2 25.Qxc2.
24.Qxc2 Nef6 25.b5! Rc8
25...cxb5 26.c6 Qc7 27.Nb4!±
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-+k+0 9-+-+-+k+0
9+q+n+pzp-0 9+-trn+pzp-0
9-zpp+psn-zp0 9-+-+psn-zp0
9+PzPp+-+-0 9+-zPp+-+-0
9-+-zP-zP-+0 9-+-+-zP-+0
9+-+N+P+P0 9+-sNN+P+P0
9-+Q+N+P+0 9-+-+-+P+0
9+R+-+-mK-0 9+-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
26.Qa4! 31...Ne8?!
Now, Black is suddenly faced with great 31...Nxc5 32.Nb5 Nfd7!! (32...Nxd3
difficulties. White is threatening to 33.Rxc7 Nxf4 34.Nd6±) 33.Nxc7 Nxd3
exchange on c6 and to follow with 34.Ra1 Nxf4=
Nd3-b4 and c5-c6. 32.Nb5
26...Qc7 After Black’s last mistake, White has
26...bxc5 27.dxc5 Ra8 28.Qb4 cxb5 again some edge.
29.Nd4± 32...Rc8 33.Kf2
Black’s relatively best line here was: 33.f5!? Nc7 34.Nd4 Kf8 35.Rb1±
26...cxb5 27.Qxb5 Rc7!² 33...Nc7
27.bxc6 Qxc6 28.Qxc6 Rxc6 29.Rc1 The position is simplified too much after
29.Nb4!? Rc8 30.c6 Nb8 31.Rc1 Ne8 this XIIIIIIIIY
move.
32.f5 Nc7 33.Nf4± 9-+r+-+k+0
29...Rc7
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-snn+pzp-0
9-+-+-+k+0 9-+-+p+-zp0
9+-trn+pzp-0 9+NzPp+-+-0
9-zp-+psn-zp0 9-+-+-zP-+0
9+-zPp+-+-0 9+-+N+P+P0
9-+-zP-zP-+0 9-+-+-mKP+0
9+-+N+P+P0 9+-tR-+-+-0
9-+-+N+P+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy 34.Nxc7?!
It was better for White to opt here for
30.Nc3?! 34.Nd4 Kf8 35.Ra1 Ra8 36.Rxa8+ Nxa8
White loses his advantage. 37.Nb5 Ke7 38.f5!±
After the correct response 30.f5!, Black 34...Rxc7 35.Ke3 Kf8 36.Kd4 Nb8=
will have great difficulties, for example; 37.Nb4 Rb7 38.Kc3 Ke7 39.Ra1 Kd7
30...bxc5 (30...exf5 31.c6 Nb8 32.Nb4 40.Nd3 f6 41.Ra8 Kc6 42.h4 Kb5
Kf8 33.Nc3+–) 31.fxe6 fxe6 32.dxc5 43.Ra1 Nc6 44.Rb1+ Ka6 45.Re1 Re7
Nb8 33.Nb4 Kf7 34.Nd4 Ne8 46.Ra1+ Kb7 47.Nb4
35.Nd3!?±
30...bxc5 31.dxc5
 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0 50.Kxb4 Rb8 51.Kb5 Rxb6+ 52.cxb6+
9+k+-tr-zp-0 Kb7 53.Kc5 d4 54.Kxd4 Kxb6=
9-+n+pzp-zp0 48.fxg5 fxg5 49.h5 Rf7
9+-zPp+-+-0 49...Re8 50.Nd3 e5 51.Nf2 Nd4=
9-sN-+-zP-zP0 50.Ra6 Nxb4 51.Rb6+ Kc8 52.Rxb4 Rf4
9+-mK-+P+-0 53.Rxf4 gxf4 54.Kd4 Kd7 55.Ke5 Kc6
9-+-+-+P+0 56.Kxf4 Kxc5
9tR-+-+-+-0 The king and pawn ending turns out to be
xiiiiiiiiy a draw.
47...g5 57.g4 Kd6 58.Ke3 e5 59.g5 Ke7 60.g6
This move gives some hopes to White. Kf6 61.Kd3 e4+ 62.fxe4 dxe4+ 63.Kxe4
Kg7 64.Kf5 Kg8 65.Kf6 Kf8. Draw.
It was simpler for Black to defend with
47...Re8!? 48.Ra6 Nxb4 49.Rb6+ Kc7
 B) 7...Na5 8.Qa4+ Bd7 9.Qc2 various
Index of Variations
B1) 9.Qc2 e6 10.Nf3 Bb4
Chapter 1: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cd cd 4.Bf4 B2a) 10.Nf3 Nh5 11.Bg5
A) 4...Qb6 B2b) 10.Nf3 Nh5 11.Be5
B) 4...e6 B3) 10.Nf3 Rc8
C1) 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 B4) 10.Nf3 Be7
C2) 5.Nc3 Bf5
Part 2: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7
C3) 5.Nc3 a6 Chapter 6: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7
C4a) 5.Nc3 Qb6 6.e3 e6 4.cd ed 5.Bf4 Nf6 6.e3
C4b) 6.e3 Bf5 various
C4c) 6.e3 Qxb2 6...Bf5 7.Qb3 various
C5a) 5.Nc3 e6 6.e3 Be7 7.Qb3 Nc6 8.g4 various
C5b) 6.e3 a6 A) 8.g4 Nxg4 9.Qxd5 Qc8
C5c) 6.e3 Bd6 B) 9.Qxd5 Qxd5
Chapter 2: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cd cd 4.Bf4 Chapter 7: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7
Nc6 5.e3 4.cd ed 5.Bf4 Nf6 6.e3 0-0 7.Bd3
5...a6 various
A) 5...Bf5 A) 7...c6
B1) 5...Qb6 6.Nc3 Nf6 B) 7...c5
B2) 6.Nc3 e6 Chapter 8: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7
B3) 6.Nc3 e5 4.cd ed 5.Bf4 c6 6.e3
C) 5...e6 various
Chapter 3: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cd cd 4.Bf4 6...Bd6 7.Bxd6 Qxd6 8.Bd3 Nf6
Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Nc3 8.Bd3 Ne7 9.Qc2 various
A) 6...Ne4 A) 9.Qc2 Nd7
B) 6...Bg4 B) 9.Qc2 b6
C) 6...e6 7.Bd3 various C1) 9.Qc2 g6 10.f3
C1) 7.Bd3 Bd6 C2) 10.Nf3
C2) 7.Bd3 Be7 Chapter 9: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7
Chapter 4: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cd cd 4.Bf4 4.cd ed 5.Bf4 c6 6.e3 Bf5 7.g4
Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Nc3 a6 7.Be2 A) 7...Bg6 8.h4 various
various A1) 8.h4 h5
A) 7...e6 A2) 8.h4 h6
B) 7...Bf5 8.g4 various B) 7...Be6 8.h4 various
B1) 8.g4 Bg6 9.Qb3 B1) 8.h4 Nd7 9.h5
B2) 9.h4 B2) 9.g5
Chapter 5: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cd cd 4.Bf4 Part 3: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6
Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bf5 7.Qb3 4.Nf3 Be7
A) 7...Qd7
Chapter 10: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6
4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bf4 C) 8.0-0 Nb6
various D) 8.0-0 c5 9.dc Nxc5 10.Bxc4 various
A) 5...a6 D1) 10.Bxc4 a6
B) 5...c5 D2) 10.Bxc4 Qxd1
C) 5...dxc4 Chapter 15: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6
Chapter 11: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.c5
4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 various
various A) 7...Ne4 various
A) 6...a6 A1) 8.Nxe4
B) 6...c6 A2) 8.Rc1 various
Chapter 12: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 A2a) 8.Rc1 f5
4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 b6 A2b) 8.Rc1 Nxc3
A) 7.Bd3
B1a) 7...Nh5 8.Be2 Nxf4 9.ef c6
B) 7.Qc2 various 10.0-0 b6
B1) 7.Qc2 Bb7 B1b) 10.0-0 f6
B2) 7.Qc2 c5 B2) 8.Bd3 Nxf4 9.ef various
C) 7.cd ed B2a) 9.ef c6
C1) 7.cd Nxd5 8.Nxd5 ed B2b) 9.ef b6
C2a) 8.Nxd5 Qxd5 9.Bxc7 C) 7...c6 8.b4
C2b) 9.Be2 8.Bd3 b6 9.b4 various
Chapter 13: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 9.b4 a5 10.a3 various
4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dc
C1) 10.a3 Ba6 11.Bxa6
various
C2) 11.0-0
7...Bxc5 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.a3 various
A) 9.a3 dc COMPLETE GAMES
B) 9.a3 Qe7 1. Shimanov – Nigalidze, Yerevan
C) 9.a3 Re8 2014
D) 9.a3 Qa5 10.Rd1 various 2. Adams – Eljanov, Biel 2015
10.Rd1 Be7 11.Be2 various 3. Navara – Matuszewski, Poland
D1) 11.Be2 Ne4 2015
4. Navara – Tomashevsky,
D2a) 11.Be2 dc 12.Bxc4 e5
Hockenheim 2015
D2b) 12.Bxc4 a6 5. Morozevich – Onischuk, Reggio
D2c) 12.Bxc4 Nh5 Emilia 2011
Chapter 14: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 6. Wojtaszek – Tarjan, Caleta 2016
4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Be2 7. Ding – Bwalya, Istanbul 2012
various 8. Goganov – Lobanov, St Petersburg
7...dc 8.0-0 various 2016
A) 8.0-0 Nxd5 9. Andreikin – Johannessen, Skopje
B) 8.0-0 a6 2015
10. Fressinet – Royset, Helsingor
2015 15. Gelfand – Oparin, Moscow 2015
11. I.Kovalenko – Short, Tromso 2014 16. Vachier Lagrave – Jakovenko,
12. Matlakov – Kashlinskaya, Doha Loo 2013
2015 17. Istratescu – A.David, Alba Iulia
13. Korchnoi – Karpov, Baguio City 2016
1978 18. Anand – Nakamura, Zurich 2015
14. Fedoseev – Rozum, St Petersburg 19. Giri – Aronian, Moscow 2016
2012