Update to

A Spanish Repertoire for Black

by grandmaster Mihail Marin
15th February 2008
Quality Chess
www.qualitychessbooks.com
Theory moves on whether we like it or not. When a book is published on a variation
the variation tends
to get more popular. This has happened with the closed Spanish over the last 12
months, in some cases
with a clear link to this book, including a game between a commending reviewer of
the book and the
publisher, in other cases by the author’s own practice.
For this reason we talked Mihail into doing an online update for his book. We hope
that this is
received in the correct spirit and will be a pleasant surprise to fans of the book.
John Shaw and Jacob Aagaard, Quality Chess
2 Spanish Update
The following can be read in connection with the
text on page 69 in the book.
Despite that ...¤e8 is entirely playable, as the
previous analysis has proven, abstract reasons
make me prefer ...¥d7. This developing move
involves a lesser commitment than the knight
retreat and allows recapturing with the queen in
some cases.
Op den Kelder-Marin, Banyoles 2007
15.axb5 axb5 16.b4 ¥d7
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4 T M Tl+5
4+ WvVoOo5
4 + O M +5
4+oOpO + 5
4 P +p+ +5
4+ P +n+p5
4 +bN Pp+5
4R BqR K 5
7888888889
17.bxc5
Again, this is the most concrete way of trying to
refute Black’s strategy.
The merits of Black’s last move become
obvious after the risky 17.c4 when Black
can rapidly complete his development with
17...cxb4 18.cxb5 ¤b7 19.¦b1 ¦fc8μ
17...£xc5
With the knights relatively far from the d6-
square, it makes little sense for Black to capture
with the pawn.
18.¦e3
White needs to spend a tempo on defending
this pawn. As indicated by Kortschnoj in his notes
to the game against Spassky, the straightforward
18.¥a3 £xc3 19.¦e3 £c7 20.¤xe5 leads
nowhere because of 20...¥xh3! It should be said
that Kortschnoj did not mention ...¥d7 as a
preparation to the continuation of Rubinstein’s
plan but just as a possible way to delay ...¤b7
with one move.
After 18.¦e3, the threat ¥a3 becomes serious.
18...£c7
This is my recommendation from the previous
edition. Black removes the queen from the
exposed position, enabling the knight’s transfer
to c5 at the same time.
Previously
18...¦e8?!
had been played. It certainly looks like a logical
move. Black parries the threat by developing a
piece. However, in doing so he slightly neglects
the queen side situation, which could have led
to some problems.
19.c4!?
This move would have ensured White some
initiative.
In the game, White missed his chance to take
advantage of the exposure of the black queen
and focused on his kingside plan with 19.g4 g6
20.¤f1 ¤b7 21.¤g3 ¦a8 22.¦b1 ¦ec8 23.¤e1
¤a5 24.¦f3 ¤c4³
Update to Chapter 2
The Rubinstien System
3Mihail Marin
1222222223
4t+t+ +l+5
4+ +vVo+o5
4 + O Mo+5
4+oWpO + 5
4 +m+p+p+5
4+ P +rNp5
4 +b+ P +5
4+rBqN K 5
7888888889
Black has managed to regroup in optimal way
and has a very enjoyable position, Kuzmin-
Krogius, Perm 1971.
19...¤b7
19...bxc4 leaves White with an active position
after 20.¦c3 ¥b5 21.¦b1².
20.cxb5 ¥xb5
20...¦ec8 would lose a tempo compared with a
similar line from the next comment, allowing
21.¥d3± since ...¤c5 is impossible.
21.¦b3²
Black is not fully coordinated yet.
19.¥a3
The opening of the queen side by means of ’
19.c4 is not dangerous because of 19...¤b7!
(Development above all! 19...b4 is bad because
of 20.¦b3 when the weakness of the b4-pawn
prevents the knight’s activation.) 20.cxb5 ¦fc8
for instance 21.¥a4 ¤c5 22.b6 £xb6 23.¥xd7
¤fxd7 24.¦ea3 £d8!? ......¥g5.
19...¦e8
Now, this move becomes necessary.
20.¥b4 ¤b7
1222222223
4 T +t+l+5
4+mWvVoOo5
4 + O M +5
4+o+pO + 5
4 B +p+ +5
4+ P Rn+p5
4 +bN Pp+5
4R +q+ K 5
7888888889
I played all these moves rather confidently,
because they were part of my analysis from the
first editions' main line. My opponent played
even quicker than me, though. I started fearing
that he had red the book and found a refutation
somewhere, although I trusted my analysis to
be correct. I had good reasons to take such a
possibility into account, since several opponents
from the previous rounds told me they had red at
least parts of my recent opening books.
Right after the game, when I asked my
opponent why he played so quickly he answered
rather vaguely, mentioning an older game he had
seen in the database. I was slightly disappointed:
no he did not read the book!
Now that I am writing these lines, the frustration
becomes even stronger. As can be seen below,
among the main actors of the modern phase from
the Rubinstein system's evolution we find the
author (kindly yours), one of the editors, without
whose permanent support the whole project
would have been impossible to accomplish (Jacob
Aagaard), and a famous reviewer, who had been
kind enough to write positively about the first
edition (Jonathan Rowson). The only missing
part is a reader...
21.¤b3
This is the new move compared to my analysis,
but during the game I could not remember
the variations very clearly. My initial line goes
21.¦a7 £b6 22.£a1 ¤c5 eventually followed by
...¤a4.
21...¥f8
A necessary move. Black places the bishop
on a very stable square, offering to the e8-rook
freedom of action. I was worried that after
21...¤c5 22.¥a5 £c8 23.¤xc5 £xc5 24.¥d3 I
would not be able to regroup properly.
22.¦a7 £b6
I did not feel prepared to fight for the a-file yet,
noticing that after 22...¦a8 23.£a1 £b8 24.¦xa8
£xa8 25.¦e1 the occupation of the c5-square is
not possible without giving up the control of
the a-file. However, 25...¤h5 might offer Black
sufficient counterplay.
23.£a1
4 Spanish Update
1222222223
4 T +tVl+5
4Rm+v+oOo5
4 W O M +5
4+o+pO + 5
4 B +p+ +5
4+nP Rn+p5
4 +b+ Pp+5
4Q + + K 5
7888888889
23...¤c5
Now, everything is ready for this long awaited
move.
24.¦e1
Avoiding the trap 24.¤xc5? dxc5 25.¦a6 £b7
26.¦a7 ¦a8!, winning material for Black.
24...¤a4
Black has neutralized White’s initiative,
achieving stability on the queenside. From the
opening’s point of view, he can be satisfied, but the
whole middlegame lies ahead. While writing the
first edition, I might have failed to emphasize how
difficult (for both sizes!) this phase of the game can
be, maybe because I was not completely aware of
it myself. In other words, in the long variations of
the Ruy Lopez it is not enough to equalize with
Black (or, similarly, get an advantage with White)
out of the opening. You also need to deal with the
strategic and tactical subtleties of these complex
positions properly.
I understood this truth with the occasion of my
recent win against Jakovenko, which can be found
in the 10.d5 Yates variation. Chess is enormously
complicated and the Ruy Lopez offers us a good
proof about it.
During the next phase of the game, Black had
tempting alternatives in several moments and even
now I am not sure whether my choices have always
been best. Maybe in this type of position there is no
such thing as the best move and it largely depends
on styles of play and taste. Since there is very little
practical material available in this variation, I have
taken myself the liberty to insert the whole game,
highlighting most of the critical moments and the
main alternatives in both sides’ play.
25.¦a5 ¤h5
Black’s other knight goes to the edge of the
board, aiming to set up play on both wings. The
more cautious 25...¦a8, exchanging White’s most
active piece, was entirely possible.
26.¤bd2
I considered 26.¥d3 ¤f4 27.¥f1 to be safer.
26...¤f4
1222222223
4 T +tVl+5
4+ +v+oOo5
4 W O + +5
4Ro+pO + 5
4mB +pM +5
4+ P +n+p5
4 +bN Pp+5
4Q + R K 5
7888888889
The pressure exerted by this knights is quite
annoying, but Black does not threaten anything
concrete yet.
27.c4
In the meantime, the other wing is under fire.
27...¤c5!
The knight had become unstable on a4. After
retreating to c5, it threatens to join his actions with
his colleague from the other wing for invading the
d3-square.
28.£a3 ¦ec8
Black brings another piece into play, refraining
from an early release of the tension. I saw that
Black could get a good position with the logical
and consequent 28...¤cd3 for instance 29.¥xd3
¤xd3 30.£xd3 bxc4 31.£xc4 (31.¤xc4 £xb4³
is a better version for Black because his queen
is more active.) 31...£xb4 32.£xb4 ¦xb4=
However, I did not see an active plan in the final
position and decided not to part with my active
knights so easily.
29.¦b1
In order to maintain the balance even on the
queenside, White has to leave the e2-square
undefended.
29...£d8
5Mihail Marin
Once again, it was not easy to refrain from the
knight jump forward, but things are not entirely
clear after 29...¤e2† 30.¢f1 ¤d4 31.¤xd4 exd4.
For instance 32.£a1 (The alternate way to attack
the d4-pawn would be 32.¤f3, but this allows
Black generate incontrollable complications with
32...bxc4 33.¥xc5 £xb1† 34.¥xb1 ¦xb1† 35.¢e2
dxc5÷, when Black’s pawns look scary.) 32...¥e7
33.£xd4 ¥f6 34.£e3 ¤a6!? and Black’s better
coordination offers him adequate compensation
for the pawn. From my choices in these two
critical moments we can define my general
approach in this phase: maintain the tension for
as long as possible, even though concrete action
seemed entirely viable, too.
30.¢h2 £f6
I briefly considered 30...¤b7 31.¦a7 bxc4 but
did not like the idea of playing with a passive
knight on b7.
31.£e3
1222222223
4 Tt+ Vl+5
4+ +v+oOo5
4 + O W +5
4RoMpO + 5
4 Bp+pM +5
4+ + Qn+p5
4 +bN PpK5
4+r+ + + 5
7888888889
31...¥e7!?
Again a quiet move, bearing in mind to transfer
the bishop to b6, which must be a familiar scenario
to the reader already. Instead of this somewhat
slow manoeuvre, Black had none less than two
worthy alternatives. I calculated 31...h5!? 32.h4
¤b7 33.¦a7 £g6 34.g3 ¤xd5 35.cxd5 ¦xc2
36.£b6 and considered it too risky. Maybe Black
has adequate counterplay after 36...¥g4 37.¤e1
¦xd2 38.¥xd2 £xe4 but I was not sure at all.
31...¤b7 32.¦a7 bxc4 was possible, with the
possible continuation 33.¥xd6 ¥xd6 34.¦axb7
¦xb7 35.¦xb7 ¥c5 when Black’s dark squared
bishop gets into play faster than in the game.
32.¦a7
Immediately taking advantage of the temporary
vulnerability of the bishops.
32...¤b7
A necessary retreat already. However, the
passivity of the knight is temporary, because
Black has in mind the following plan: ...¥d8,
...¤g6-f8, ...¤c5 and ...¥b6. Quite slow, but the
vulnerability of White’s queen and queen’s rook
will eventually cause him some loss of time as well.
33.¤g1
Threatening with g3.
33...¥d8?!
This consequent move might not be best. Black
had an alternate way of activating his bishop with
33...£g6 34.g3 ¥g5 (I saw that 34...¤xd5 is
dangerous because of 35.cxd5 ¦xc2 36.£b6, when
36...¥d8? is insufficient in view of 37.¦xb7 ¥xb6
38.¦xb8† ¦c8 39.¦xb6†- with decisive material
advantage for White.) 35.h4 ¥h6 36.£c3. For
some reason, I disliked this position, failing to
notice that Black can increase his pressure with
36...¤h5! (Threatening ... ¥xd2.) 37.¤gf3 ¥g4³
when White would face problems keeping his
position together.
34.g3 ¤g6 35.¥d3 ¤f8 36.cxb5 ¤c5
1222222223
4 TtV Ml+5
4R +v+oOo5
4 + O W +5
4+pMpO + 5
4 B +p+ +5
4+ +bQ Pp5
4 + N P K5
4+r+ + N 5
7888888889
White has won a pawn, but Black is just one
step away from crowning his previous play with
...¥b6.
37.¥xc5 ¦xc5 38.¦a6
By this moment, my young opponent had
entered the phase of eternal time-trouble already
(with the 30 seconds increment), while I had
some spare minutes still.
6 Spanish Update
38...¦c3
Increasing the force of the threat ...¥xb5
and avoiding the trap 38...¥b6? creates an
unfavourable pin and can be answered with
39.¤c4! ¦xc4 40.¦xb6±
38...¥xb5!? was possible, though.
39.b6?!
39.¦b3 ¦xb3 40.¤xb3 ¥xb5 41.¥xb5 ¦xb5=
looks safe for White because the bishop cannot
be activated easily.
39...¥xb6
I could not find adequate compensation for
the exchange after 39...¦xd3 40.£xd3 £xf2†
41.¢h1 ¥xb6 42.¦f1² and had no time left to
notice the simple 39...¥c8!?
40.¦axb6 ¦xd3 41.£e2 ¦xb6 42.¦xb6 ¦c3
1222222223
4 + + Ml+5
4+ +v+oOo5
4 R O W +5
4+ +pO + 5
4 + +p+ +5
4+ T + Pp5
4 + NqP K5
4+ + + N 5
7888888889
After a long tense phase, play has calmed down
somewhat. Black's position is more compact and
his king safe. The e4-pawn is more vulnerable
than the d6-pawn, because f3 would weaken the
king even more.
43.¢g2
Preparing ¤c4, which was impossible now
because of 43.¤c4 ¦xc4 44.£xc4 £xf2† 45.¢h1
£xg3 with two pawns for the exchange and
threats against the enemy king.
43...h6
Slightly careless. I had practically no time left
either and played a generally useful move, failing
to notice White’s reply. A safer way to reach a
similar position as in the game was 43...£d8!
44.£a6 (44.¦xd6? loses to 44...¥xh3† while after;
44.¦b4 Black can play 44...h6 already.) 44...¦c2
45.¤gf3 ¦a2!. Releasing the pressure against the
d6-pawn. 46.£xa2 £xb6³
44.¤c4 £d8!
Fortunately, this still works out well.
45.¦b4
45.¦xd6 loses the exchange to 45...£c7μ
45...£c7 46.¤e3 ¤h7
The wandering knight returns to its previous
location, in order to put the e4-pawn under
pressure.
47.¦c4
Hoping to ease his defence by exchanges.
47...¦xc4 48.£xc4 £b6 49.¤e2 ¤f6 50.¤c3
£d4³
1222222223
4 + + +l+5
4+ +v+oO 5
4 + O M O5
4+ +pO + 5
4 +qWp+ +5
4+ N N Pp5
4 + + Pk+5
4+ + + + 5
7888888889
Black has completed his regrouping, and his
pieces dominate the position. Although it is
early to speaker about a concrete advantage yet,
White's defence in time trouble is not easy.
51.£c7 ¢h7
A prophylactic move, passing to the opponent
the responsibility of concrete action.
52.¤c2?
1222222223
4 + + + +5
4+ Qv+oOl5
4 + O M O5
4+ +pO + 5
4 + Wp+ +5
4+ N + Pp5
4 +n+ Pk+5
4+ + + + 5
7888888889
7Mihail Marin
An understandable blunder. The queen's
presence in the centre was irritating...
52...¥xh3†!
A decisive little combination.
53.¢xh3 £xf2 54.¤b4?!
Saving the knight, but allowing a forced mate.
54...£f1† 1–0
We have enough elements to conclude that, against
both ...¤e8 and ...¥d7, White gets very little by
opening the queenside immediately. Therefore,
we should investigate the plan consisting of the
standard knight transfer to the kingside.
Berescu-Marin
Romanian Championship, Predeal 2006
15.axb5 axb5 16.b4 ¥d7
This position can be reached via the move order
16...¤e8 17.¤f1 ¥d7, too. In this latter variation,
17...g6 is slightly premature. In order to maintain
the re-capture on c5 with the pawn viable, Black
should delay the moment of weakening of the f6-
and h6-squares for as long as he has other useful
moves available. Now, or on the next move,
White could switch back to the plan 18.bxc5
dxc5 19.c4. A later comment will reveal the fact
that against Black’s correct move order this plan
is harmless.
17.¤f1
1222222223
4 T M Tl+5
4+ WvVoOo5
4 + O M +5
4+oOpO + 5
4 P +p+ +5
4+ P +n+p5
4 +b+ Pp+5
4R BqRnK 5
7888888889
17...¤e8
Black continues regrouping in the spirit of the
Rubinstein system.
18.¥e3 f6
Intending ...¤f7 and only later ...g6 and
...¤g7.
19.¤3h2
Now, the opening of the queen side by means
of 19.bxc5 dxc5 20.c4 would be less effective
because of the simple 20...bxc4 when the time
needed by White to win the pawn back could
be used by Black to transfer one of his knights
to d4. Here is a possible continuation: 21.¥a4.
This move carries out a strategically favourable
exchange but loses even more time. 21...¥xa4
22.¦xa4 ¤d6. Please notice that this move is
enabled by the fact that the e5-pawn is safely
defended by his colleague. 23.£c2 ¦b4= and
Black has little to complain about. After the
careless 24.¤3d2? Black’s activity would become
threatening starting with 24...c3!μ
19...¤f7 20.¤g3 g6 21.£d2 ¤g7
Both sides have completed the first phase of
piece mobilization. The exchange on c5 does not
offer White anything because after ...dxc5 Black
would get the excellent d6-square for his minor
pieces.
22.f4
Otherwise, Black could start active kingside
operations himself.
22...exf4 23.¥xf4
1222222223
4 T + Tl+5
4+ WvVmMo5
4 + O Oo+5
4+oOp+ + 5
4 P +pB +5
4+ P + Np5
4 +bQ +pN5
4R + R K 5
7888888889
23...¦a8
Black prevents his opponent from taking
over the control of the a-file, but makes a slight
structural concession. 23...¤e5 would have
been more ambitious from strategic point of
view, although chances would have remained
roughly equal after 24.¦a2 ¦a8 25.¦ea1 ¦xa2