New Ideas ίn the

Sveshnikov Sicilian

Valery Neverov and Peter Marusenko

Trαnslαted by Sαrαh J. Young

Β. Τ. Batsford Ltd, London

First published 1 996
© Valery Neverov and Peter Marusenko

ISBN Ο 7134 7809 8

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of the publisher.

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and Ρήnted ίη Great Βήtain by
Redwood Books, Τrοwbήdge, Wilts
for the publishers,
Β. Τ. Batsford Ltd,
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London WIH ΟΑΗ

Α BATSFORD CHESS ΒΟΟΚ

Editorίal Pαnel:Mark Dvoretsky, John Νυηη, Ιοη Speelman
General Adviser: Raymond Keene ΟΒΕ
Commissioning Editor: Graham Burgess
Contents

List of symbols 4
Introduction 5

Parι One: Classical Sveshnikov with 9 tZ:Jd5

1 9... J.e7 10 J.xf6 12

2 9... J.e7 10 J.xf6: 12...:b8 29
3 9...J.e7 10 tZ:Jxe7 40
4 9...'iWa5+ 44

Parι Ί\νο: Classical Sveshnikov with 9 J.xf6 gf 10 tZ:Jd5

5 10 ... J.g7 11 J.d3 54

6 1O...J.g7 without 11 J.d3 (with fianchetto) 63
7 1O...J.g7 without 11 J.d3 (without fianchetto) 79
8 1O... f5 11 J.d3 85
9 10... f5 11 ~xb5 106

Parι Three: Other lines

10 C1assical Sveshnikov with 9 tZ:Jabl 111

11 Bird Larsen Variation: 8... J.e6 116
12 7 tZ:Jd5 122
13 7 a4 132
14 Deviatίons for White οη move 6 138

Index of Variatίons 142

Symbols

+ Check
++ Double Check
# Mate
Goodmoνe
!! Excellent moνe
1 Badmoνe
11 Seήοus blunder
!1 Interesting moνe
11 Dubious moνe
;t Small adνantage to White
:f Small adνantage to Black
± Big adνantage Ιο White
+ Big adνantage Ιο Black
+- Decisiνe adνantage to White
-+ Decisiνe adνantage to Black
= Eνen position
1-0 Whitewins
0-1 Black wins
1/2-1/2 Draw
Ch Championship
OL Olympiad
Ζ Zonal
ΙΖ InterzonaI
Ct Candidates eνent
(n) nth match game
(D) Diagram follows
Introduction
The Sicilian Sveshnikov is one of
the most popular defences ίη con-
temporary chess practice. Its the-
ory is developing rapidly. Since the
,publication of Sveshnikov's book
The Siciliαn Pelikαn, many hun-
dreds of games have been played,
greatly enriching the theory of this
variation. Our book is about these
games and the conclusions ιο be
drawn from them.
Before sending the reader forth
through the labyrinth of the many
variations of this system, we would
like ιο talk about the common
thread ίη them. Ί\vo factors appear
ιο be fundamental ιο the system:
Black's gaping hole οη d5 and
White's slight lack of develop-
ment. Ιι is ηο joke to say that the
white g l-knight makes four ΟΓ five
moves at the very outset - as if the
knight has promised his queen he
wi11 make as many moves as possi-
ble, and is ηοι allowed Ιο do other-
wise.
Thus the main battle takes shape.
Which, then, is stronger: White's
static SUΡeήοήtΥ ΟΓ Black's dy-
namic advantages?
This controversy has been going
οη for a 10ng time ίη chess history.
Tarrasch was clearly ίη favour of
White. His opponent was the great
chess player and philosopher Las-
ker. His use of what was ιο later
become known as the Pelikan Si-
cilian stemmed from his deep un-
derstanding of chess strategy. This
is what B.Weinstein, the author of
The Thinker, the bri11iant work οη
the second World Champion, said
of the conflict: "Pressure οη weak
points! Doesn't that remind you of
stress testing under a heavy 10ad?
Testing ιο destruction! Βυι if the
construction is solid ίι wi11 resist,
and the attack wi11 fail".
Another route - the dynamic
one - is also possible; gather a11
one's forces ίη the decisive area
(even at the cost of weaknesses ίη
other places) and then inflict a
blow, acting quickly and energeti-
ca11y, so that the opposition cannot
make use of these weaknesses.
Thus, Lasker's strategy was based
effectively οη ideas which were
much more wide-ranging and
fruitful than the basic ΡήηcίΡΙes of
pressure οη weak points, ideas of
superior mobility, space and am-
munition, and an advantage ίη
strength.
6 Introduction
Ιι has long been well known that
the basic strategy ίη chess lίes ίη
the struggle ΙΟ control the key
squares, and, ίη the first place, the
central squares. as the pieces which
are arranged οη them are the most
active. And although ίη the course
οί the game the objectives οί attack
might change more than once, the
fight for the e4-, d4-, e5- and d5-
squares carrίes οη practically per-
manently.
Το show the reader graphically
the essence οί the conflict, we have
chosen a basically old game, and ίη
the years that have passed since the
game was first played. the theoreti-
cal assessments ofindividual νarί­
ations have changed, butthe ideas
have remained. The game which
you will now examine has been
commented οη more than once, but
previously ηοΙ all the evaluations
have seemed justified Ιο us. So, the
reader will judge who is right.
Karpov - Dolιnatov
Amsterdam 1980
1 e4 c5
2 lbf3 lbc6
3 d4 cd
4 lbxd4 lbf6
5 lbc3 e5 (D)
Isn't ίι strange that this is one οί
the most popuIar continuations οί
the Sicilίan Defence? What attracts
W
Black Ιο leaving d5 so weak? The
fact is that from the very first
moves the conflicts οί the position
are heightened. and both sides face
difficult strategic problems. Indeed
the move ... e5 has clear positional
advantages: the d4-knight is driven
from its central position, and White
has less freedom οί movement ίη
the centre. and οη the kingside.
6 lbdb5 d6
7 J.g5 a6
8 lba3 b5
9 lbd5
So one white knight sits proudly
οη d5. but the other occupies a sad
position οη a3. This is another ad-
vantage οί ... e5. and at the same
time is a reference Ροίηι for Black
ίη similar situations; ίι is important
that at least one οί the knights is
hemmedin.
9 J.e7
10 J.xf6 J.xf6
11 c3

This move prepares lίk2 fol-
lowed by a4. The battle for d5 is
already ίη full swing: ηο sooner is
the f6-knight removed, than White
tήes Ιο eliminate the b5-pawn and
give the light-squared bishop an
active position οη c4. The most
pressing problems for Black are Ιο
finish his development, and find
better squares for his pieces, espe-
cially his bishops ( ... ~g5, ... ~e6),
and thanks Ιο his e5-pawn he need
ηοΙ fear an assault by the white
pawns.
11 ... ο-ο
12 lbc2 :b8
Directed against a4.
13 ~e2 ~g5
14 ο-ο ~e6 (D)
W ..th8 (with the idea of 20... lbe7) 20
Note that Black is already at full
strength ΙΟ fight for d5. The white
knight, placed οη this square, is
cut off from the remaining light
pieces (the g5 bishop controls e3,
Introduction 7
the b5-pawn prevents the enemy
bishop from landing οη c4, and
when the opportunity aήses, ...a5 is
possible, stopping lbc2-b4). After
Black has dealt a blow Ιο the e4
pawn with ... f5, the white centre
turns ουΙ Ιο be suποuηded from the
flanks.
15 'iVd3
Prepaήng a place for a rook
(which one depends οη the circum-
stances) οη dl Ιο support the cen-
tral knight. This means that Black
must distract ίι with other prob-
lems. Threats along the f-file, cre-
ated by doubling rooks, serve this
aim well. Such is the strategic out-
lίne of the battle, and moreover the
d5-square itself can be practically
ignored by Black, with his pieces
more or less flowing round ίι
Ιι remains for the game to be
shaped definitely. If 15•••f5 then 16
~f3 (threatening after ef and ~e4
ιο replace the pawn οη its battle
station, as the bishop οη e4 will be
more actively placed than οη c4)
16 ... g6 17 :fdl 'iVd7 18 lbcb4
lbxb4 19 lbxb4, and White is οη
top. Ιη the event of 15...a5 16 :fdl
'iWd717'iWg3h618h4~d819lbce3
:d2lbe7 21 1Iadl the black bishop
lags behind.
Βυι he does have at his disposal
the interesting idea 15•• J:ιb7!?
Then ίι is dangerous for White to
8 Introduction
play 16 :fd1 f5 17 J.f3 :bt7 18 ef
(it's already better for the rook Ιο
go ίηΙο reverse gear with 18 :f1)
18 ... J.xf5 19 _e2 J.h4! with pow-
erful threats (20 ......g5, 20 ... e4)
showing that f2 is insufficiently
defended. If White puts the other
rookondl-16':adl-thenBlack
maycontinue 16... a5,and 17lΩde3
is ηο good because of 17 ... J.xa2,
whilst ίη the event of 17 lDa3 b4
18 lDc4 bc 19 bc lΔe7 or 17 J.f3
'it'c8!? fol1owed by ... g6 and ... f5,
Black has good counterchances.
Besides, 15 ...:b7 frees b8 for the
knight, e.g. 16lΔcb4lΔb8!? with
the idea of ...lDd7-c5 and then ...f5
(although the simple 16 ... lΔxM is
also reasonable).
15 "iWd7
Α quite acceptable decision,
although it seems less significant
than 15••':b7.
16 'ifg3
Here the queen does not get ίη
the way of her own pieces, and
meanwhile is not susceptible to
any attack. Besides, she is attack-
ing the opposition's dark-squared
bishop, which is placed οη an im-
portant diagonal (exerting control
over e3!). 16•..J.h6 is impossible
here because of 17 lΔf6+.
16 Ι6!? (D)
Black is seeking the possibility
of leaving his bishop οη the cl-h6
diagonal, insofar as his next move
17 ... J.h6 followed by ... f6-f5 is
still possible. Βυι 16••...td8 doesn't
100k bad either (from this position
the bishop aims at both flanks).
16••• h6 is worse, as weakening g6
makes play Iinked with carrying
out ... f7-f5 more difficult.
W
17 :fd1 a5?
Why ηοΙ 17•••J.h6? Maybe Dol-
matov, when he played his 16th
move, calculated the following
varίation: 18lΔcb4lΔxb4 19lΔxM
a5 20 lΔa6 :c8 (20...:b6 21lDc5)
21 'it'd3 J.c4 22 'ifxd6 'ii"xd6, and
then, having discovered the inter-
vening check 23 J.xc4+, avoided
this line. Ιη νώη! ΒΥ continuing
23 ...:xc4 24 :xd6 :xe4, we can
see that only White will have diffi-
culties. If instead of 20 lΔa6 he had
chosen 20 lΔd5. then after 20 ... f5
Black has good counterplay (as
we will see later on, such a correla-
ιίοη of the Iight pieces, that is two
 lntroduction 9

bishops against koight aod bishop,
is quite favourable for Black). Dol-
matov's move exposes the seήοus
weakness of the light squares, es-
pecially ίο combinatioo with ... f7-
f6.
18 lDa3! lDa7
If 18 ...b4, then 19lDc4.
19 h3! (D)
• 8 •• 8
use aoy possibility ιο change the
character of the struggle, for exam-
ple, at this ροίοι a pawo sacήfice
was possible: 19•••g6 20 ..tg4 f5 21
..txf5 (ίη the eveot of 21 ef gf and
22 ..te2 then 22 ... 'ilg7 with the
idea of 23 ... f4, aod if 22 ..txf5 then
22 ... 1Σχf5 23lDe3 'ilg7 with a dou-
ble-edged game) 21 ... gf22 'ilxg5+
Φh8 with some compeosatioo.
Dolmatov missed this possibility.

-· -.---
19 ••• Φh8
11 8'iV8 •• 20 ..tg4 1Σfc8
• ~.t.~ •• 20•••g6 is better.
~ •••"'tΔ~ ~ ~
%::i
21 ..txe6 'ilxe6

8 ~8Δ8.:8 22 'ifd3 1ΣcS?

Now the rook cannot help defeod

" •• .
~
~ " ~ • ~Δ
Δ~~
Y,~ ~.~~"Δ.
~ U • tuously prevents all his attempts Ιο
~ ~:. ~
~ ~
Β 23 lDc2
After two precise moves the fol-
10wing part of the game takes 00
a technical character for Karpov.
White's plan coosists of the fol-
10wing elements:
1) exchanging the lesser pieces
(light-squared bishop and knight);
2) opeoiog a file 00 the queeo-
side and invadiog with the knight
ίηΙο the enemy camp;
3) prepariog aod carrying ουΙ
ao attack agaiost the king.
How can Black defeod himself?
Passive defeoce will spell his doom
quickest of all. Therefore he must
his king. From now 00 Karpov vir-
get ίοΙο the game. 22•••g6 would
have been more persisteot.
g6
24 b4! ab
25 lDcxb4
It is instructive Ιο observe the re-
alization of ao advaotage. Here
White also had at his disposal the
continuatioo 25 cb with the idea
after a2-a4 of gaioiog an 'extra'
passed pawn. Βυι this opens the c-
file, which Black controls at the
momeot. However, ίι does οοΙ give
the oppositioo aoy couoterplay;
one must open precisely the file
which can be seized.
25 1Σb7
26 a4! ba
10 lntroducti~n

27 ':xa4 bad dark-squared bishop, and the

Now Black has an unhappy insecure positίon of the king.
choice; patiently await his fate, or 38 ':fa1 ~Ι8
sharpen the game, and although at If 38 ... iif5, then 39 'ii'e2 ~h4
the risk of hastening a sorry de- 40 g3 ~xg3 (if 40 ... 'ίi'xh3, then ηοΙ
nouement, Dolmatov chooses the 41 gh 'it'xh4, and Black has suc-
second path. ceeded ίη sharpening the posi-
27 f5 ιίοη, but 41 ':a7! ~d8 42 ':xf7+
28 ':a6 ~c8 ΦΧf7 43 ':a7+ 'itf8/e8 44 'iff3
29 ':a8 Φg7 'ίi'f5 44 'ίi'b3 winning) 41 fg 'ifxh3
30 'ίi'e2 fe 42 ':1a3, and White is vίctοήοus.
Or 30 ... ~e7 31 ~xe7 ~xe7 32 39 'ίi'e2 ':c6
~d5. 40 ':6a3! ':c5
31 'ίi'xe4 'ίi'f5 41 ':f3
32 'iWe2 ':Ι7 ΒΥ exchanging this piece, which
33 c4 ~h4 is important for the opposition,
34 .:π ~e7 White again underlines the help-
35 ':a6 'iWd7 lessness of the rook οη c5.
36 'ίi'e4 ~xd5 41 ':ΧΙ3
37 ~xd5 ~e7 (D) 42 'ίi'xΙ3 ilf7
43 'ίi'g4!
The third part of the plan re-
mains; a direct attack οη the king.
The kingside pawns will move for-
ward for this. The black rook was
stopped beforehand, and ίη retum
for its freedom ίι must become the
next weakness.
43 000 h5
44 'ίi'e4 ':c8
44 ... Φh7 does ηοΙ save Black
because of 45 ':a3 ~g7 46 g4 hg
W 47 hg ':c8 48 ':h3+ Φg8 49 g5!.
Α picturesque position! Now ίι 45 ':a3 'ίi'Ι5
remains οηlΥ to prepare an attack 46 ':a7+ Φh6
οη Black's weaknesses, of which 47 'ίi'e3+ g5
there are plenty; the d6 pawn, the 48 'iWe2! ':b8
 Introduction 11

49 g4! hg Shirov, Vladimir Κramnik, John

50 hg 'ifbl+ Νυηη, ΜuπaΥ Chandler, Ketevan
51 Φg2 JIb7 Arakhamia as well as many other
52 JIxb7 'ii'xb7 prominent and rank and file chess-
53.f3 "'c8 players.
54 .f6+ Φh7 Ιη the book we will examine 31
55 .f7+ 1-0 main and hundreds of subsidiary
games. Insofar as the move order ίη
Of course, although the above the Sveshnikov can be either 1 e4
game is typical, ίι far from ex- c5 2lbf3lbc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4lbf6
hausts all of the many clashes of 5lbc3 e5 6lbb5 d67 .i.g5, or 1 e4
strategic ideas brought ουΙ by c5 2lbf3 e6 3 d4 cd 4 lbxd4 lbf6 5
players of the Sveshnikov. We lbc3 lbc6 6 lbb5 d6 7 .i.f4 e5 8
should add that this system wages .i.g5, then the move numbers ίη
war οη all new adherents. It forms both the main game and the sub-
part of the permanent opening sidiary games are taken from the
reperιoire of Grandmasters Alexei first move order given above.
1 9....i.e710 i..xf6
Ιη this system White actively fights
for control οί d5. He gives υρ his
light-squared bishop ίη retum for
his opponent's knight and fights
Ιο ρυι his own knight οη d5. Ιη the
event of an exchange White is pre-
pared Ιο replace ίι with other
pieces. Black's counterplay is most
often linked with the thematic
move ... f7-f5 and activity οη the
kingside and ίη the centre.
Game 1
Zapata - Shίrov
Mαnίlα 1992
1 e4 c5 2liJf3liJc6 3 d4 cd 4liJxd4
liJf6 5 liJc3 e5 6 liJdb5 d6 7 .i.g5
a6 8ltJa3 b5 9ltJd5 .i.e7 10 .i.xf6
.i.xf6
11 c3 (D)
One οί the standard positions
arising ίη the Sveshnikov. Ηυη­
dreds οί games have been played
ίη ίι ίη recent years. The continu-
ations 11 c4 and 11 g3 will be ex-
amined ίη the notes ιο Game 3.
11 .i.b7
Ιη this variation Black tries to
position his pieces more usefully
before he castles.
12 liJc2
Β
The game Ljubojevic-Illescas,
Linares 1992 featured the novelty
12 'ί!fg4, but after the continuation
12 ... 0-0 13liJc2liJb8! 14 t1dl (14
ο-ο-ο!?) 14 ... liJd7?! (14 ... .i.g5 =)
15 .i.e2?! (15 liJce3! ;1;) 15 ... .i.g5
Black had equalized .
Beliavsky-Shirov, Linares 1994,
developed otherwise: 12 .i.d3liJb8
13 liJc2 liJd7 14 a4 ba 15 t1xa4
.i.g5 16 ο-ο ο-ο 17 t1a2 a5 18 .i.c4
liJb6 19liJxb6 if'xb6 20 'i!t'd3 t1ac8
21 t1dl t1fd8 22 b3 g6 23 t1dal
t1c5 with an edge ιο White.
12 ••• liJb8!?
13 a4!
Three altematives deserve look-
ing at:
a) 13 c4 is certainly worth test-
ing: 13 ... 0-0 14 cb ab 15 .i.e2liJd7

16 ο-ο tDc5 17 ~f3 ~g5 with an
equal position, Brodsky-Rogozen-
ko, Nikolaev Ζ 1993.
b) 13 g3:
bl) 13••• ~g5!? 14 h4 ~h6 15
g4 ~f4 16 tDxf4 ef 17 [3 tDc6 18
'iί'd2 'iί'f6 19 0-0-0 ':d8 20 g5 'iί'e5
21 tDel? (21 tDd4!?;t) 21 ... d5 22
tDd3 de! with a very complex game
ίη which Black has the chances,
J.Polgar-Illescas, Dos Hermanas
1994.
b2) 13•••tDd7 14 h4 ο-ο 15 tDce3
g6, and then Zso.Polgar-Ochoa,
Las Palmas 1994 featured 16 h5.
After 16 ... ~g5 17 hg fg 18 ~g2
tDf6 19 'iί'd3 ~xe3 20 tDxe3 'iJJe7
21 ο-ο ~c6 22 a4 Wg7 23 ab ab 24
tDc2 White would have achieved
an advantage.
c) 13 tDce3 tDd7 (D) is another
possibility:
W ~g2 ':fd8 21 ο-ο ':c5 22 ':d3 ~h6
cl) 14 ~d3 ο-ο 15 ο-ο ~g5 16
~e2 ~xe3 17 tDxe3 tDc5 18 ':fdl
9... ~e710b.f6 13
g6 with an equal position, Ν.Fήed­
ήch-Κrasenkον, Berlin 1990.
c2) 14 tDf5 ο-ο 15 tDxd6 ~xd5
16 'iί'xd5 (or 16 ed tDb6 17 tDe4
tDxd5 =) 16 ... 'iί'c7 (16 ... 'iί'b6? 17
tDxf7!; 16 ... tDb6!? 17 'iί'd3 g6, and
unexpected problems with the
knight aήse for Whίte) 17 ':d 1 (17
tDxf7? tDb6) 17 ...tDb6 (17 ...tDc5!?
18 tDxf7 'iνxf7 19 'iί'xc5 ~h4! 20
'iνd5 ~xf2+ 21 We2 ~b6 with a
complex game) 18 'iί'b7 'iJJc5, and
Black receives an advantage ίη de-
velopment and more active pieces
for the sacrificed pawn, Μοπis­
Κrasenkov, Αndοπa 1991.
c3) 14 g3 ο-ο 15 h4! and now:
c31) 15•••tDcs 16 ~d3 g6 17
~c2 a5 18 a3 ~g7 19 h5 ~c8 20
hg fg 21 'iί'e2 ;t Anand-Kramnik,
Monaco 1994.
c32) 15•••g6, and two routes
have been tested:
c321) 16 ~h3 ~g7 17 h5 tDf6
18 hg hg 19 'iί'd3 tDxd5 20 tDxd5
~h6 21 ':dl Wg7 22 ~g2 ':c8 23
tDe3 ~xe3 24 'Wxe3 ':h8 25 ':xh8
Wxh8 26 ~h3 ':c4 27 f3 Φg7 =
Anand-Nunn, Monaco 1994.
c322) 16 'iWg4 ~g7 17 h5 tDf6
(17 ... f5 doesn't work because of
18 'iί'h3 tDf6 19 hg hg 20 ef! gf 21
'iί'xf5 tDxd5 22 'iie6+) 18 tDxf6+
'iJJxf6 19 ':dl ~c8 (19 ....:ac8 20
23 ':fd 1 ~xe3 24 ':xe3 ~c8 25
'iί'e2 ~e6 with equality in the game
14 9... J.e7 1(} J.xj6
Mortensen-Nunn, Vej1e 1994) 20
.e2 .te6 21 ~d5 (21 ':xd6 'ile7
and ....txa2) 21 .....g5 22 hg hg,
and now: 23 Vd3 ':a7 24 a3 f5 25
W'e3 W'xe3+ 26 ~xe3 ':d7 27 .tg2
(27 .th3 is a better move) 27 .. .'j;n
= Stήpunsky-Κrasenkov, Pardu-
bice ορ 1993, or 23 ια7!? J.c4 24
W'f3 ':a7 25 R.xc4 bc (25 ....:.xc7
26 .td5 ;1;;) 261l1d5 ':b7 27 ':d2 ;1;;.
13 ••• ba
14 ~ce3 ~d7
It is not expedient to support the
pawn by means ο! 14•••J.c6 be-
cause ο! 15 ~f5 ο-ο 16 .tc4!, and
seήοus difficulties arise for Black.
However, 14•••0-0 deserves atten-
tion, for example 15 ':xa4 ~d7 16
W'g4 ~c5 17 ':a2 .tg5 18 J.c4
.txe3 19 fe h5 20 W'xh5 ~xe4 21
ο-ο ':c8 22 .tb3 .txd5 23 .txd5
~f6 24 ':xf6 ; Klovans-Kalini-
chev, Mtinster 1993.
15 1Wxa4 0-0
16 ':dl .tg5
17 W'c2 ~σ
Another plan was also quite pos-
sib1e: 17•••.txe3 18 ~xe3 ~f6 (or
18 ... ~c5 19 .td3 a5 and the posi-
tion is unc1ear) 19 .td3 .c7 20 ο-ο
':fd8 with an approximate1y 1eve1
game.
18 lbf5!
Other continuations are worse:
a) 18~? .ιc6 19 b3 ':b8 +.
b) 18 J.d3 ic6 19 ':al J.xe3
20 ~xe3 W'h4 21 ο-ο .txe4 22
.txe4 1i'xe4 and White on1y has
sufficient compensation for equa1-
ity.
18 g6(D)
W
19 b4!
For the time being Zapata is
active1y fighting for an advan-
tage. The timid 19 ~g3 on1y 1eads
to equalίty, whi1st interesting com-
plications arise after 19 h4 gf (not
19 ....tf4? 20 Μ! ±) 20 hg J.xd5
(B1ack shou1d avoid 20 ... lbxe4
21 ~f6+! ~xf6 22 1i'xf5.te4 23
"xf6 ±) 21 ':xd5 lbxe4 22 .td3
1i'xg5 23 .txe4 fe 24 .xe4 f5, for
examp1e, 25 .c4 <iPh8 26 ':xd6
1i'xg2 27 ':xh7+! <iPxh7 28 .c7+
1Wg7 29 ':d7 W'xd7 30 W'xd7+, and
the chances are equal.
19 J.xd5
B1ack must be circumspecιo The
two lines 19•••~ 20 lbxd6 and
19•••gf20 bc ':c8 21 h4!.th6 22 cd
have unp1easant consequences.
 9... .i.e7 10.i.xj6 15

20 Iιxd5
White must be οη the alert. Ιη
the event of 20 bc? .i.c6 21 h4 (21
Iιxd6 'fic7 is also gόοd for Black)
21 ....i.f6 22lDxd6 Black seizes the
initiative.
20 lDb7
21 h4 .i.f6
22 lDh6+ <3;g7
23 lDg4 a5!
Shirov must not give his ορρο­
nent an opportunity to increase his W
advantage quietly. With the text 26 .i.dl?!
move he is activating the knight or Αη eποr which allows Shirov Ιο
rook. Although with exact play seize the initiative.
White will preserve a small advan- 26 ... 'fic8!
tage, all Black's resourceful coun- 27 lDe3?!
terplay presents Zapata with some It never rains but ίι pours! After
difficult problems. 27 'ii'xc8 :xc8 28 lDxf6 'it>xf6 29
24 .i.e2 ο-ο rJίie7 the endgame would have
Α less tense situation aήses af- been level. Now it is even more dif-
ter 24 b5 h5 25 lDxf6 (25 lDe3? ficult for White Ιο untangle the
.i.xh4 26 lDc4 'fif6 27 g3 .i.g5 ~) mess his pieces have got into.
25 ...'ii'xf6 26 .i.e2 a4 27 g31Dc5 28 27 1fxc2
ο-ο Iιab8, and White's position 28 lDxc2 :bl
moreover remains preferable. 29 rJίid2?!
24 ••• ab 29 :b5!? with the idea of cas-
2S cb 1ΣΒΙ+ (D) tlίng, would have been more accu-
This is the crucial moment ίη the rate.
game. Now after the cοπect move 29 ••• :c8
26 Iιdl Iιxdl+ 27 'ii'xdl h5 28 30 :h3 :c4!
lDe3! (28lDxf6 'ilxf6 29 g3lDd8! Black is gaining time to transfer
30 b5 lDe6 31 'ii'xd6 Iιa8 32 ο-ο the rook to c7. Naturally, 31 f3, to-
lDd4 33 'ifxf6+ <3;xf6 34 .i.d3 :a3 tally excluding the h3-rook from
35 :dl :b3 =) 28 ... 'ii'd7 29lDd5 the game, cannot satisfy White.
Zapata' s chances would have been 31 ~d3 :c7
better. 32 Wd2 lDd8!
16 9... i.e7 10 i.xf6

The knight returns Ιο the game ίι was one of the best games he had
with decisive effect. After the cap- ever played. This duel took place
ture 33 :Ιχd6. 33 ... ~e6 has many soon after he had suffered a sen-
threats. sational defeat at the hands of a
33 i.e2 computer ίη London. Ά computer
34 :Ιc3 :Ιχc3 could never have found the idea of
35 'itiιxc3 ~Ι4 the exchange sacrifice', the World
36 :Ιd2 ~xg2 Champion remarked.
37 i.dl!
37 b5 i.xh4 38 ~a3 :Ιcl+ 39 Game2
'itiιb2 :Ιc8 loses quickly. Kasparov - Shirov
37 i.xh4 Horgen 1994
38 ~a3 :ΙcΙ+
39 ~c2 i.g5 1 e4 c5 2 ~f3 ~c6 3 d4 cd 4 ~xd4
40 :Ιχd6 h5 ~Ι6 5 ~c3 e5 6 ~db5 d6 7 i.g5
41 b5 a6 8 ~ b5 9 ~5 i.e7 10 i.xf6
Playing 41 Φb2 would have sig- i.xf6 11 c3 i.b7 12 ~c2 ~b8 13
nίficantly prolonged White's resis- a4 ba
tance. However, ίη this case as 14 :Ιχa4 (D)
well, after 41 ... h4 42 i.g4 :ιn ! 43
b5 :Ιχf2 44 b6! ~e3 45 b7 :Ιχc2+
46 Φbl :Ιc4! 47 b8'i1i' ~xg4 48
'iνb3 :Ιχe4 the pawn will inevita-
bly queen. Now we have a rapid
denouement. ..
41 h4
42 b6 h3
43 b7 h2
44 b8'i' hl 'ii'
45 :Ιd7 'iWel+
46 'itiιb2 'i'xe4
0-1 Β
Α more precise move than we
The next game made a huge im- saw ίη Game Ι. Αι first glance ίι
pression οη the entire chess world. seems Ιο have lίttle Ροίηι. What
Ιη an interview at the end of the could be so interestίng about such a
Zurich toumament, Kasparov saίd natural pawn capture? True, the

slightly illogical nature of this
move draws attention Ιο itself. The
black knight can speed Ιο c5, and
will now arήve there with a tempo.
Οη b4 or c4 the rook is also ηοΙ
supported for long. What, then, can
Kasparov have ίη mind?
14 ••• tt)d7
15 :b4 tt)cS (D)
Bearing ίη mind the World
Champion's next move, 15..':a7
would have been better, with the
idea of 16 ... ~a8 (ίι stands Ιο rea-
son that ·the exchange sacrifice
doesn't have the same effect now:
16 :xb7?! :xb7 17 ~xa6 :xb2),
and ίη this situation the rook οη b4
could find itself under attack ίη
future. However, ίι was very hard
Ιο foresee Kasparov's next move.
W Sveshnikov ίη recent years.
16 :xb7!!
Α thunderbolt from a clear sky!
Played ίη the style of Nimzo-
witsch, Petrosian, and indeed of
9... ~e7 10 i.xf6 17
Kasparov himself, this represents a
typical positional exchange sacri-
fice. White does ηοΙ gain any kίnd
of profit immediately, a1though the
strategic superiority of his posi-
ιίοη more than makes υρ for the
materialloss. What advantages are
ίη question? Ιη the first place,
Black has lost his Iίght-squared
bishop, which would have played a
large role ίη organizing a counter-
attack. As a consequence of this,
the role of the blockading d5-
knight has grown, and, as ίι has
ηο opponents, ίι is more powerful
than the rook. Moreover, Black's
lίght-squared bishop was ίη full
control of his teπίtοry. Secondly,
the black knight is now (and, as ίι
tums ουΙ, υηΙil the end of the game)
excluded from play. Thus ίι is υη­
clear whether this is an exchange
sacrifice or winning two pieces for
arook.
So, White's plans have become
obvious, but ίι was ηοι easy ιο
come ΙΟ this paradoxical solution.
The abilίty ιο find such obscure
ideas marks ουΙ the outstanding
players from the merely good ones.
This novelty of Kasparov's is
one of the most important ίη the
16 ... tt)xb7
17 b4!
Αη important Iίnk ίη White's
plan. As we have already noted, ίι
18 9... ~e7 1() lLxf6
is οοΙ easy for the b7-knίght Ιο fiod
its way ίοto the game, as ίι can οοlΥ
do this via d8, but the queeo, whίch
occupies this square, does οοΙ have
another comfortable spot.
17 ••• ~ι5?!
If 17•••a5, theo 18 ~b5+ is very
uopleasaot. However, ίι was worth
thiolάng about 17...0-0, for exam-
ple, 18 ~a3 'ii'e8!? 19 ~c4 (19
~c7 'ii'c6!) 19 ... ~d8 20 ~d3 a5
21 ο-ο ab 22 cb 'ii'a4, and Black's
pieces are better placed than ίη the
game.
18 ~a3
White has ηο need Ιο castle
quickly, due Ιο hίs opponeot's lack
of counterplay, so he activates the
second knight.
18 ο-ο
19 ~c4 a5
20 ~d3
Naturally the b4-pawo, whίch is
fulfilling the role of a watchman,
is ηοΙ going anywhere.
20 ab
21 cb 'ii'b8
22 h4!
Before castling ίι is useful Ιο
drίve off the bishop.
22 ~h6?!
This gives the impression that
Shirov did realize the true daoger
of his position. The standard idea
22•• ~d8 is stronger. Of course, ίι
is ηοΙ easy Ιο decide upoo thj.s
move, whίch ίι the first place takes
a square away for the koight, and
ίο the secood place makes the ear-
lier move 17 ...~g5 look poiotless.
ΑΙΙ the same, he should have rec-
ogoized his mistake aod played ίι
aoyway.
23 ~cb6 :&2
24 ο-ο :d2?
The black rook encroaches οη
his oppooent's position, but the
misfortuoe is that there is 00 ob-
jective for attack there, whίlst the
maio thing is that Black himself
drίves the opposing queeo οη ιο the
offensive. 24••••a7 immediately
would have been better.
25 "f3
26 ~d7 (D)
.a7
Β
White begins to lay his cards
οη the table. Now if the attacked
rook retreats Ιο a8 or d8, theo 27
~e7+ ~h8 28 'ilxf7 (threateniog
29 ~f8) 28 ... g6 29 ~f6 ~g7 30
~e8 leads inevitably Ιο mate. If
 9... J.e7 10 bj6 19

26••JΣe8, then 27 J.b5 is very 31 'ii'xh7 ':xc4

strong, while 26•••'ii'83 is refuted 32 'ii'g8+ Φd7
by 27 tΔe7+ and 28 tΔxf8. There- 33 tΔb6+ Φe7
fore Black must return the ex- 34 tΔxc4 "ifc5
change. 35 ':al 'ii'd4
26 tΔd8 36 .:a3 J.cl
27 tΔxf8 ΦχΙ8 37 tΔe3 1-0
28 b5
The b-pawn, so fruitfully em- This little masterpiece will υη­
ployed οη Μ, now rushes forward. doubtedly end υρ ίη all the chess
28 'ii'a3 manuals. However ίι can ίη ηο way
Black's attempt Ιο exchange have any pretensions towards be-
queens is unsuccessful. ing a refutatίon of the opening νarί­
29 'ii'f5 atίon. The game is an illustratίon of
Kasparov leaves his bishop Ιο how important it is Ιο notice the
the mercy of fate, because ίη reply opening nuances and know how Ιο
Ιο a capture οη d3, there follows an make use of them. Shirov got away
interestίng double strike: 30 'ii'd7 with the knight's positίon οη b7
with the threat of 31 'ii'e7 + and 31 against Zapata, but Kasparov made
"ifxd8#. full use of the unhappy positίon of
29 ςt>e8 that piece.
30 J.c4 ':c2 (D) Α more prevalent continuatίon
for Black οη his 11 th move is Ιο
castle. However, Shirov nevertbe-
less retums Ιο his favοuήte bishop
move Ιο b7. ΑΙΙ his pieces interact
magnificently with each other.

Game3
Tiviakov - Shirov
Oαkham 1992

1 e4 c5 2 tΔf3 tΔc6 3 d4 cd 4 tΔxd4

tΔΙ6 5 tΔc3 e5 6 tΔdb5 d6 7 J.g5
a6 8 tΔB3 b5 9 tΔd5 J.e7 10 J.xf6
J.xf6
llc3
20 9... J.e7 10 J.xf6

The most popular continuation. making use of this factor is ηοΙ so

Otherwise: easy.
a) Froloν's attempt to breathe a) 12 fΔXΙ6+ gf (D) and now:
new life ίηΙο 11 c4 deserνes atten-
ιίοη. After 11 •••b4 12lbc2:
al) 12•••a5 13 lbxf6+ 'ii'xf6 14
J.e2 ο-ο 15 ο-ο 1:Σd8 16 'ii'd2 J.e6
17 b3 1:Σab8 (17 ... 'fIe7 is more pre-
cise) 18 1:Σfd 1 1:Σd7 19 'ii'e3 and
White has a small positional adνan­
tage. Frolov- Yakoνich, Moscow
1991.
a2) Things tumed out better for
Black ίη the game Froloν-Ikon­
nikov, Schwabisch Gmϋnd 1994:
12••• 1:Σb8 13 J.e2 ο-ο 14 ο-ο J.g5 W
15 J.g4 J.e6 16 b3 'ii'd7 17 h3 g6 al) 13 fΔc2:
18 a3 f5 19 ef gf 20 J.h5 ba 21 all) 13••• J.b7 14 J.d3 f5!? 15
1:Σχa3 'it>h8 22 'iVd3 a5 23 1:ΣdΙ 'fIg7 ef J.χg2161:ΣgΙ J.b717 a4, butnow
24 'ife2 1:Σg8. ίη Brodsky-Osipoν, USSR 1991,
b) Ljubojeνic's attempt Ιο de- White managed Ιο achieνe an ad-
νelop the bishop οη g2 was ηοΙ par- νantage after 17•••'δ'b6?! 18 ab ab
ticularly successful. After 11 g3 19 1:Σxa8+ J.xa8 20 fΔe3, but Black
ο-ο 12 J.g2 J.g5 13 ο-ο fΔe7 14 shonld haνe continued 17•••ba 18
fΔxe7 'Wixe7 15 c3 1:Σb8 16 fΔc2 a5 1:Σχa4 d5 with an unclear game.
17 1:ΣeΙ J.e6 18 fΔe3 J.xe3 19 a12) Black tested 13••• d5 ίη the
1:Σχe3 1:Σfc8 20 'iVd2 1:Σb6 21 J.f1 h6 game Berset-Shabaloν, Saint Mar-
22 a4 J.c4 23 ab J.xf1 24 1:Σχf1 ιίη 1993, but after 14 a4 ba 15 fΔe3
1:Σχb5 the game was leνel, Ljubo- de 16 'ii'xa4+ 'Wid7 17 J.b5 ab 18
jeνic-Illescas, Linares (3) 1993. 'ii'xa8+ he had ηο compensation
11 ••• ο-ο for the loss of the exchange.
The standard knight manoeuvre a2) The game Κriνets-Mikhe­
11••• fΔe7 is also possible, although vic. Bled 1994, deνeloped thus: 13
ίη this case one reaches a position 'ilf3 f5 14 ef J.xf5 15 J.d3 J.e6 16
from the νariation 10 fΔxe7 fΔxe7 ο-ο ο-ο 17 J.c2 f5 18 J.b3 'ili'd7 19
11 J.xf6 gf ίη which White has :Ladl J.xb3 20 ab and White had
gained a move (c2-c3). However, somewhat the better chances.
 9... i..e7 10.t.xf6 21

a3) The Latvian player Lanka ':c8 =Acharia-Ripatbin, Calcutta

uses the move 13 .t.e2 quite suc- 1994.
cessfully, for example, 13 ... .t.b7 b22) 13•••.t.e614 'it'c6+Φe715
14 .t.f3 f5 15 ef d5 16 g3 lbxf5 17 lbe3 'ίWc8 16 'tiib6 ':b8 17 'tiia5
lbc2 and now 17......d618 a4 ba 19 'ii'd7 18 1:tdl ± Lopez-Berset, Gen-
1:txa4 a5 20 ο-ο ο-ο 21 'ikd2 ;t eνa 1994.
Lanka-Chevalίer, France 1990, or 12 lbc2 i..b7 (D)
17••.0-018 ο-ο a5 19 .t.g2 'iWd6 20
1:tel .t.c6 21 'it'h5 ± Lanka-Muse,
Germany 1994.
b) Ιη some case White aνoids
exchanging οη f6, Ρrefeπίηg ίη­
stead 12lbc2 (D):

Ζ • .ιit].. •..
1..
wa.~
""?~
~-;;);
.
-
*~
. . .
.~.
~

•
-;'N"'~

. . ...
•_ .
.. J":\
t.z.J ~~
w~

W
• ;X:;JJ:fi; ΒΔ-
_ _ •f?f;m 13 i..e2
~ L.Levitt-Volodin, corr 1991/2

Δ"tΔ.
;\Q~ r:f~ "Δ"
~ Ώ2
~ii..kI
"~ ...~
Β 1:tad 1, and White' s pieces occupied
bl) 12••..t.b7 13lbce3 .t.g5 14
lbxe7 i..xe7 15 lbd5 ο-ο 16 i..e2
':c8 17 ο-ο ':c5 18 b4 1:tc8 19 a4
i..xd5 20 'ii'xd5 ':xc3 21 ab ab 22
1:ta7 ;t Kholmov-Horak, Pardubice
1994.
b2) 12••• lbxdS 13 "'xdS with
two possibilities for Black:
b21) 13•••1:tb8 14lbb4 i..b7 15
'ikd3 ο-ο 16 i..e2 .t.g5 17 lbd5 f5
18 .t.f3 g6 19 ο-ο Φh8 201:tadl
continued 13 g3!? lbb8 14 i..g2
lbd7 15 ο-ο .t.g5 16 f4!? ef 17 gf
.t.h6 18lbce3 g6 19 'ii'g4 i..g7 20
magnificent positions.
The continuation 13 a4 occuπed
ίnΜaliakin-Gagaήn, USSR 1991,
Ιο Black's adνantage: 13 ... ba 14
':xa4 lbb8! 15 i..c4 lbd7 16 ο-ο
lbc5 17 ':a2 lbxe4 18 'ikf3 lbd2
(theonlymoνe; 18 ... lbc5? 19b4e4
20 lbxf6+ loses) 19lbxf6+ 'Wxf6
20 'ikxb7 lbxc4 21 1:txa6? ':ab8.
Maliakin could haνe maintained
the balance by means of 21 b3!
22 9... j.e7 1 Ο j.xJ6
lbd2 (21 ...1:ιfb8 22 1:ιχa6! +-) 22
1:ιdl 1:ιab8 23 'ii'd5lbxb3 241:ιχa6.
(Typesetter'sNote: 24 ...1:ιfd8 keeps
the extra pawn, e.g. 25 1Ixd6 1:ιχd6
26 'Wxd6 1fxd6 27 1:ιχd6lbd4! 28
lbellbe2+, etc.).
13 1t'g4 deserves attention, for
example, 13 ..•~g5 141:ιdl j.c8 15
'ii'e2 f5 16 h4 ~h6 17 ef j.xf5 18 g4
j.xc2 19 "ii'xc2 g6 20 g5 ;!; Morten-
sen-Κharlov, Copenhagen 1993.
Αη original pawn sacrifice oc-
curred ίη Berelovich-Chemiaev,
Sochi 1993. After 13 h4 lbe7 14
lbxf6+ gf 15 j.d3 Wh8 16 lbe3
Black should have played 16 ... f5!,
and if 17 ef, then the cold-blooded
17 ... f6 with the idea of continuing
... d6-d5. Black is better despite his
small material deficit.
13 j.g5
14 ο-ο lbb8 (D)
c5, where ίι will have an active
influence over the centre.
15 "'d3
Attempts Ιο move play to the
queenside immediately will not be
successful for White: 15 a4 ba 16
1:ιχa4lbd7 17 b4lbb6 :f.
15 j.g41:ιa7 is also possible:
a) 16 a4 ba 17 :xa4 lbd7 18
j.xd7 'Wxd7 19lbcb4 a5! (l9 ... f5
20 ef 'Wxf5 21 'We2 a5 22 'Wxb5
j.xd5 23 lbxd5 +-) 20 'Wal 'Wb5
with chances for both sides (L.Lev-
itt).
b) 16"'d3lbd717 ~xd7'Wxd7
181:ιadl (18 c4?! bc 19 'Wxc4 :c8
with the idea of j.xd5) 18 ... a5
(18 ... g6!?) 19 'ii'g3 "'d8! 20 lbce3
g6 21lbf5 with an unclear game,
Ν ovik-Chekhov, Leningrad 1991.
However, 21 c4! would have given
White an advantage.
15 lbd7
16 1:ιfdΙ lbc5
17 "'f3 g6
18 lbce3 Wh8
Α necessary preparatory move.
The huπίed 18•.,f5? doesn't work
because of 19 ef gf 20 lbxf5 e4?
21 lbde7+! j.xe7 22 1IIg4+ Wf7
(22 ... j.g5 23 1:ιχd6 +-) 23 'Wg7+
Φe8 24 j.h5+ Wd7 25 1:ιχd6+ and
White is winning.
19 j.f1 1:ιθ7!?
Agaίn the premature 19.••f5?!
20 ef gf 21 lbxf5 ~c8 22 g4 gives
ηο compensation for the lost pawn.

Now this move already threatens,
for example, 20 g3 f5! 21 ef gf 22
tbxf5 e4 23 'iί'g4 ftxf5 24 'ilfxf5
R.c8, and the queen has unexpect-
edly fallen into a trap.
20 b4 (D)
Β 'ti'xd5 -+) 31 .. :.e4! -+.
20 ... tbe6?!
20... ltJa4 21 c4 tbb2 was better,
after whίch it would not be easy for
White to maίntaίn the ba1ance. He
gets a diffιcult ρositίon after:
a) 22 ZΙd2 tbxc4 23 tbxc4 bc 24
:Ιdd1 R.xd5 25 :Ιχd5 :Ιc7.
b) 22 ftdc1f5! 23 cb fe 24 'iWxe4
ab 25 R.xb5 R.xd5 26 'ilfxd5 ftaf7.
c) 22 :ΙdbΙ tbxc4 and now:
c 1) 23 tbxc4 R.xd5 24 tbxd6
'ilfxd6 25 ZΙd1.
c2) 23 R.xc4 bc 24 tbxc4 R.xd5
25 ed e4! 26 'ii'xe4 R.f6 27 ll1b2
':e8.
d) Therefore the οηlΥ accept-
able possibilίty was to continue
22 ':el!, after which 22 ... ll1xc4 23
9... R.e7 10 i.x.f6 23
R.xc4 bc 24 ll1xc4 R.xd5 25 ed f5
26 ll1a5 would have led to a com-
plex ρosition with roughly even
chances.
21 a4 ba
22 ':xa4 f5
23 ':a5
Αη interestίng variation arises
after 23 ':dal R.f4 24 ef gf 25
R.xa6? .:xa6 26 ':xa6 R.xe3 27 fe
ll1g5 28 'ilfdlll1h3+!! and now:
a) 29 gh ':g8+ 30 Φh1 (30 Φfl
will be examined below) 30 .. : .g5
31 'ii'f3 'ii'xe3!! -+.
b) 29 Φη 'fί'h4 30 gh (30 ft6a2
R.a6+ and 30 'ilfd2 R.xd5 win for
Black) 30 ....:g8 31 ':6a2 (31 'ii'f3
R.xa6+ 32 ':xa6 'iί'c4+ 33 'ii'e2
Instead of the text move, 23 R.c4
was also ρossible, strengthening
the important d5-square.
23 R.h4!
Shirov unambiguously demon-
strates his aggressive intentions
οη the kίngside.
24 ef gf
25 ll1xf5 tbf4 (D)
Α cήtica1 posίtion.
26 tbxh4?
Tίviakov has underestimated the
danger posed by Black's threats.
He should have continued 26
'ii'e3! ':xf5 27 'ilfxa7 tbh3+! (not
27 ... R.xd5? 28 g3 +-) 28 gh 'ilfg8+
(28 ... R.xf2+? 29 'ifxf2 ':xf2 30
ΦΧf2 +-) 29 R.g2 (29 Φh1 ? R.xf2)
24 9... i.e7 10 J.xj6

·&. ••
- ,. ~
,~ ~ ~
31 ••• Φχg7

-. - -
• .t.8 •
~
~};.
_. 32 %Σχe5 ifc8!
Shiroν νery accurately realizes
his material adνantage. From c8

......
~ ."'~~.
the queen poses threats ίη eνery
~~_ijr47~~ii~ direction.
Ώ;; • ,. ~ 33 %Σe7+

.. •
~
W'~_U~2

-~_
•
W
.~.
~Δ~
....
~~
~

29 ...%Σg5 30 'ii'xb7 %Σχg2+ 31 ΦhΙ

Nor can White be saνed by 33
%Σg5+ Φh6 34 tΔf3 'ilxc3, and now
he cannot aνoid fresh material
losses.
33
34 .J:.xf7+
%ΣΙ7
ΦχΙ7
i.xf2 32 'ίi'b8! "ίWxb8 33 <iiιxg2 35 i.d5+ 'it.i>f8
i.h4, although Black's chances are 36 tΔg2 'ii'g4
still somewhat preferable. 37 ':d2 'ίi'g5
26 ••• lbxd5! 0-1
27 'iWh5 The continuation 12 ... i.g5 also
If27 'ίi'g3, then 27 ... lbf4, and ηο allows White Ιο begin play imme-
defence is νisible Ιο 28 ... %Σg8. diately οη the queenside by means
27 lbf4 of 13 a4. Black, as a rule, prepares
28 'ifh6 %ΣΙ6 a counterattack οη the kingside.
29 'ii'g5 i.xg2!
The conclusiνe blow, based οη Game4
the fact that the a7-rook unexpect- Petrushin - Belίkov
edly comes ίηΙΟ the game from the Podolsk 1992
ambush.
30 i.xg2 %Σg7 1 e4 c5 2 tΔΙ3 tΔc6 3 d4 cd 4 tΔxd4
31 "iWxg7 tΔΙ6 5 tΔc3 e5 6 lbdb5 d6 7 i.g5
The white queen has neνerthe­ a6 8lba3 b5 9lbd5 i.e7 10 i.xf6
less fallen ίηΙο a trap. IfWhite now i.xf6 11 c3 ο-ο 12 tΔc2
tries 31 'iVxeS then Black replies 12 ••• i.g5 (D)
31 ...lbh3+ 32 ~fl (32 <ithllbxf2+ 13 a4
33 ..ttgl lbxdl and Black wins) Α principled ~tinuation, with
33.. .1ΣχΩ+ 34 ~el 'iVxh4, and there which White quickly begins play
is ηο defence ιο the deadly discoν­ against Black's weak pawns οη the
ered check. queenside.
 9... .te7 10 bj6 25

- -.-•
.~.?f.t~
~.~ ~ ~.~
~.p
~.~ Ι. ~ Ι.
lbe7 18 lbb4 [5 19 .txb5, and
Black's counterplay scarcely made

• - .-•
~ ~ ~ υρ for the 10ss of the pawn.

I..~..
~.~ Ι. ~.~ltJ~ ~ After the move 14•••1Σb8, Tivia-
~ ~.Δ.
~.~ ~ ~.~
~U~c:f~
ΔR J":\. • '{f1if: Δ ~ '/,",
~~. ~ ~ ~ ~
"u ~.% illlι~..t~.'~.:
.B~ ~
W at Sochi 1993, Ρrefeπed 15 b4, but
It's also worth looking at the line
13 h4 .th614 g4 .tf4! 15 'ii'f3 '::'e8
(15 ....te6 is possible) 16.te2lbe7
17 lbxf4 ef 18 0-0-0 .tb7 19 'ii'xf4
lbg6 20 'ii'g3 .txe4 21 .tf3 .txf3
22 'ii'xf3 with a small advantage ιο
White, Marusenko-Keehner, Nor-
wich 1994.
13 .te2 is rather toothless, for
instance, 13•• ..te6 14 ο-ο lbe7 15
a4 ba 16 '::'xa4 .txd5 17 ed a5 18
lba3 [5 19lbc4 e4 = Serper-Chek-
hov, Frunze 1988, or 13•.•.tb7 14
ο-ο lbb8 15 c4 (15 .tg4 was better)
15 ... bc 16 .txc4lbd7 17 lbce3 lbc5
18 f3 g6 19 'ii'ellbe6 20 'ίWf2lbd4
:j: Lukianov-Chemiaev, Arkhan-
gelsk 1993.
13 •.. ba
After 13•• .1Ib8 the weakness of
the b5-pawn makes itself felt. This
theoretical conclusion was once
more underlined ίη the duel Κri­
vets-Koglin, Bled 1994: 14 ab ab
15 .td3 .te6 16 'ίWe2 .txd5 17 ed
14 1Σχa4 a5
kov-Degraeve, Oakham 1992 saw
15 'ii'al a5 16 .tc4 ..tί>h8 17 ο-ο [5
18 ef .txf5 19 lbce3 .tg6 20 1Σd 1
e4 21 .tf1 lbe5 22 1Σd2 with a
small but solid advantage Ιο White,
while Shmuter, against Cherniaev
Black equalized easily: 15 ... a5 16
.tc4 .td7 17 '::'a3 .te6 18 1Σb3
..tί>h8 19 ο-ο 'ίWd7 20 'ίWd3 1/2-1/2.
After 14•••.tb7 15 .tc4lba5 16
.ta2 .tc6, Zagrebelny-Beshukov,
Alushta 1994, tested the continu-
ation 17 '::'a3 .tb5 18 lbde3 (the
preliminary 18 h4! is better, and
then 18 ... .th6 19 lbce3 .txe3 20
lbxe3 '::'c8 21 [3 ;t Ljubojevic-Sa-
lον, Barcelona 1989) 18 ... 1Σc8 19
b4 .txe3 20 lbxe3 lbc4 21 .txc4
.txc4 22lbxc4 1Σχc4 23 'ii'd5 'iνc8
1/2-1/2. Κiselev-Novik, St. Peters-
burg 1994, featured the interesting
17 '::'b4!? lbb7 18 h4! .th6 19 g4
.tf4 20 lbxf4 ef 21 f3lbc5 22 1Σd4
"i/e7 23 'iνd2 .ta4! 24 lbal 1Σab8
with an unclear game.
15 .tc4 1Σb8
16 b3
With this move White strength-
ens the position of his bishop as
well as defending his b-pawn.
16 ••• .te6 (D)
26 9 ... ~e7 Ι Ο J.xj6

Α tense struggle arose after worse, with an advantage Ιο Whίte.

16••• <;tιh8 17 ο-ο g6 18 b4 .td7 19 However,19••.:tb7 deserves atten-
%ta3 .th6 20 1Wal ab 21 cb .tg7 22 ιίοη.
%ta6 iVh4 23 b5 lDd4 24 lDxd4 ed 20 lDdc7
25 'iWbl ίη the game Zagrebelny- Αη unclear game follows 20
Rogozenko, Alushta 1994. Thanks 'iWe2 f5 21 ef gf 22 %tdl. Here from
Ιο hίs outside passed pawn White's the two possible knίght moves, one
chances are preferable. most lίkely should make the other
choice, 20 lDbc7.
20 .txc4
21 ':xc4 %tfd8
22 'iWd5 ':b6 (D)
Black should ηοΙ be seduced by
the tempting 22•••lDe7? ίη view of
23 'iί'xΠ ':xb5 24 lDe6 lDg8 25
lDxg5.

W
17 ο-ο ιJih8
18 lDa3!?
After 18 'ilί'e2 g6!? 19 %tfal .td7!
20 .tb5!? %txb5! 21 'iWxb5lDd4 22
'iWxa5 lDxc2 23 %t 1a2 'iί'b8 24 h4
.txh4 25 ':xc2 .txa4 26 'iί'xa4,
Semeniuk-Belίkov, Orel1992, the
situatίon οη the board is quite tense W
ίη spite of the lίmίted number of 23 Ι4!
pieces remaίning. White has a If White tries Ιο execute f2-f4
passed pawn, and Black has coun- under more favourable condίtίons,
terplay οη the kίngside. Black has time Ιο prepare, νίΖ. 23
18 ••• g6 g3 ~g8! 24 f4 .tf6 25 fe .txe5,
19 lDb5 'ilί'd7 and the f7-pawn is defended.
19•••lDe7 20 lDbc7! .td7 21 %ta2 23 .txf4
lDxd5 22lDxd5 f5 23 ef gf 24 f4! is 24 g3 .te3+
 9....i.e7 10.i.xjδ 27

25 ~g2 ~g8 30 :xc6 :xc6 31 1i'xc6 1i'dl!!.

26 :f6
White should have developed
the initiative by means of 26 'ild3
.i.g5 27 h4 .i.e7 28 ι[)d5! :xb5 29
:xc6 :b7 30 'ii'c4, for example,
30...:f8 31 b4 ab 32 cb 'l;g7 33 b5
.i.d8 34 b6 f5 35 :c8 f4361i'c6!,
aπd ίι is ηοΙ easy for Black Ιο de-
fend himself.
Now taking the bishop leads Ιο a
perpetual check: 32 lL!xc7 1i'd2+
33 'l;f3 1i'd3+ 34 'l;g4 'ii'dl+ 35
'l;g5 'ii'd8+, and ηοΙ 36 1i'f6 be-
cause of36 ... h6+. Petrushin should
have resigned himself Ιο a drawish
outcome and gone ίηΙο this vari-
ation or a repetition of moves with
29 'ii'd31i'c8 30 'ifd5 'ii'g4.

·•..- •••
26 .i.g5 (D) 29 ... bc7
After 29...1i'c8 30 1i'd5 "'g4 the

-.
position is repeated. But now Bel-

• •~ .... ι.ι ikov rejects a peaceful outcome.

..... -•
30 lL!xc7 (D)
•• Ri~.·

....
-"'~
8"l.J ~
'$;'9# .... _
~""~ _
Δ. *ff~ .Θ:

.- .
W$'# Δ B~
r*.;w,i
~~
~
~ ~
~, ,!?
~
~}'ij;'
,,,,Wfi~
/D~'~
~ ~
Ζ· η/!ί/'

•• W'~ .rδ-,~
• .WU
",
W
27 :xd6 'ii'g4
28 :xd8+
The iollowing line would have
led Ιο a draw: 28 'it'd3 :xd6 29
lL!xd6 :xb3 30 1i'c2! lL!d4! 31 30 lL!d4!
:xd4 (31 cd 1i'0+ 32 'l;h3 1i'h5+; Α spectacular piece sacήfice,
31 'ilf2 :b2! 32 'ilxb2 'ii'f3+) which, although ίι doesn't change
3I ... ed 32 'ii'xb3 'ile2+ 33 'l;h3 the assessment of the position, pre-
1i'h5+. sents White with several tricky
28 ... .i.xd8 problems.
29 'it'd2 31 cd 1i'xe4+
Black has aπ interesting defen- 32 ~gl :xb3
sive resource after 29 Φf2 .i.xc7 33 :c1!
28 9... J.e7 1 Ο J.xj6

33 lbe8 loses Ιο 33 ... ':bl + 34 44 <it>g2 'iIIa2+

<it>f2 'iWf5+ 35 <it>e3 ed+ 36 ':xd4 45 <it>gl 'iνe6
':b3+ 37 ':d3 'ii'e6+. 46 'iIId4+ 'iIIf6
33 ed 47 'iVd5 'iIIf5
34 ':et ':bl 48 'iνd4+ 'iIIf6
35 ':xbl 'iνxbl+ 49 'iVd5 'illb2
36 'iPf2 a4 50 h5! 'iIIbl+
37 'iνxd4 51 Φg2 'iIIc2+
White should perhaps ηοΙ have 52 ΦgΙ 'iIIc3
parted company with his knight. 1/"_1/,,
The continuation 37lba6! 'ii'hl 38
'ii'xd4 'ii'xh2+ 39 <it>f3, with a per- Conclusion
petual check, doesn't look so bad. Ιη the games ίη this first chapter,
37 'iνc2+ White's hopes are linked with play
38 <it>gl 'iIIxc7 οη the queenside (ίη many cases
39 'iIIxa4 'iIIcl + this is accounted for by the fact that
40 <it>g2 'iIId2+ Black does ηοΙ hinder a2-a4) and ίη
41 <it>f3 'iVb2 the centre. Black prepares an as-
Capturing οη h2 gives nothing, sault οη the kingside. But ίη gen-
as now White can give a perpetual eral this means that play is spread
check, for example 41 ... 'iVxh2 42 over the whole board. As we can
'iWe8+ <it>g7 43 'ii'e5+ [6 44 'iWc7+ see, the engagement turns ίηΙο a
<it>h6 45 'iWf4+. full-blooded battle, and he who is
42 'iνe4 <it>g7 the more inventive and resourceful
43 h4 'iIIal will be the victor.
2 9...~e710 .txf6; 12....:ϊb8
Quite often Black does ηοΙ allow
his opponent Ιο play the automatic
a2-a4 so easily, by adopting the pre-
cautionary ... .:ta8~b8. Ιη this case
White must devote more attention
Ιο the centre and kingside.
Ιη a tense battle Black's chances
aren't Ιοο bad (as Black's chances
go). The light-squared bishop does
ηοΙ play its previous role (as ίη
Game 3, for instance), which often
tums ουΙ better for his opponent.
Kamsky demonstrates this plan
by exchanging this bishop even at
the price of apparently strength-
ening Black's pawn cenιre. The
Αmeήcan Grandmaster's play is
more profound, ηοΙ using the par-
ticular weakness of d5, but of the
pawn centre as a whole.
Game5
Kaιnsky - Lputian
Biel ΙΖ 1993
1 e4 cS 2 ~f3 ~c6 3 d4 cd 4 ~xd4
eS 5 ~bS d6 6 ~1c3 a6 7 ~a3 bS
8 ~dS ~f6 9 ..tgS ..te.7 10 ..txf6
..txf6 11 c3 ο-ο 12 ~c2
12 ••• 1%b8 (D)
Α prophylactic move, directed
against 13 a4.
W
13 -*.e2
This plan, linked with immedi-
ate pressure οη the d6-pawn, was
conceived ίη A.Sokolov-Vaiser,
Reunion 1991: 13 'ifd3 ..tg5 14
l1dl f5 (if 14...-*.e6 then 15 ~cb4
~xb4 16 ~xb4 .:tb6 17 ..te2~) 15
~de3 f4 (ίι is a mistake to swap
prematurely οη e3: 15 ...-*.xe3 16
~xe3 f4 17 ~f5 ±) 16 ~f5 and
now 16.....txfS 17 ef 'ii'b6 18 ..te2
l1bd8 19 -*.f3l:Δe7 20 h4 ..th6 21
~b4l:Δf5 22 ~d5! 'ifa7 23 ..te4 g6
24 h5, and here 24 .. .ι~)g7 25 'iVh3
.:th8 26 -*.xf5 gf 27 1i'xf5 .:thf8
would have left Black with good
defensive possibilitίes.
With a different move order,
the position after 16 l:Δf5 arose ίη
the game Ioseliani-Cholushkina,
30 9... ~e7 !o~; 12... :b8
Manila wom OL 1992. Here the
Ukrainian player moved more en-
ergetica11y with 16•••d5. After 17
h4 de 18 'iνxe4 ~xf5 19 'iνxc6, she
could by means of 19 ... 'it'e8 have
seized the initiative.
White may try 13 ~d3, for ex-
ample 13••• ~g5 14 ο-ο ~e6 15 a4
ba 16 tlJdb4ll)e7 17 ~xa6 f5 18 ef
1Ixf5 19 ~d3 :f6 20 :xa4 d5 with
compensation for the pawn, Nik-
olenko-Dolmatov, Moscow 1992,
or 13•••~e6 14 tlJce3 ~g5 15 ο-ο
tlJe7 16 ~c2 ~xe3 17 tlJxe3 b4
with equality, Aseev-Yakovich,
St. Petersburg 1993.
13 ~g5 (D)
W
14 ο-ο
Ιη this situation ίι is again ηο!
necessary Ιο hurry ίηΙο castling, for
example, 14 'Wd3 a5 15 1Idl ~e6
16 tlJce3 ~xe3 17 tlJxe3 ~xa2 18
'ii'xd6 'ii'xd6 19 1Ixd6 tlJe7 20 ο-ο
Lanka- Κoivisto, Cappelle la Grande
1992. After 20 ... ~b3 21 1Id7! tlJg6
22 g3 White's chances are prefer-
able. Also 16 a3 tlJe7 17 tlJce3
tlJxd5 18 tlJxd5 g6 19 b4 f5 20 ~f3
'ltth8 ίη Brodsky-Beshukov, Hel-
sinki 1992, led only Ιο equality.
14 ••• a5
Taking the b4-square away from
the knight and preparing ...b5-b4.
15 tlJce3
15 'ii'd3 is sti11 an altemative.
Mikhalets- Τίιον, Alushta 1994, de-
veloped thus: 15 ... ~e6 16 tlJce3 g6
17 1Ifdl 'ii'd7 18 b4 f5 19 a4 ba 20
b5 fe 21 'iνxe4 'YJif7 22 ~c4 'YJixf2+
23 'ltth 1 tlJd8 24 :a2 'Wif7 and
Black gained a maΙeήal advantage,
although the position is quite tense.
15 ••• ~e6 (D)
15...tlJe7 16 'Wid3 ~xe3 17 tlJxe3
'iί'b6 18 :fd 1 :d8 19 a4 ba 20 tlJc4
is ηο! bad, and ίη this position from
011-Yakovich, Moscow 1992, the
players agreed a draw.

16 ~d3 .txe3
After 16...lL\e7 a position arises
from the game Κi.Georgieν- V.Spa-
soν, Sofia 1992. This continued 17
1:fdllL\xd5 18lL\xd5 'ifd7 19 'fIg3
.td8 20 b3! Φh8 (20 ...1:c8!?) 21
c4 bc 22 .txc4 g6 (22 ... a4!?) 23
f4!? ef 24 'ίi'xf4 f5! with chances
for both sides.
17 lL\xe3 "d7
Α more precise moνe ίη com-
parison with the quickplay game
Kamsky-Iνanchuk, Tilburg 1992,
where Black continued 17••:iWc7,
which was followed by 18 1:fdl
1:fd8 19 .tg4lL\e7 20 'ife2 d5 21
.txe6 fe 22 'ίWg4 1:b6 23 'iί'g3 1:c6
with a sharp game.
18 h3
Preparing to exchange the light-
squared bishop.
18 1:fd8
19 .tg4 liJe7
20 1:fdl (D)
Β Β
9... .te7 10.tx,{6; 12... :b8 31
Α position of dynamic equilib-
rium has arisen. Lputian should
now haνe continued 20•• :iνc7, for
example 21 ~xe6 fe 22 a4 b4 (bet-
ter than 22 ...ba 23 'ffc4 'ifxc4 24
liJxc4 d5 25 ed ed 26 lL\xe5 1:xb2
27 1:xa4, when the endgame is
somewhat better for White) 23 c4
'fIc5 24 ':'d2lL\c6, and eνerything
is ίη order for Black.
20 :bc8?!
This moνe allows White Ιο real-
ize his strategic plan with great en-
ergy.
21 .txe6 fe
22 a4!
Now if 22...b4, then 23 cb ab 24
lL\c4 and Black is ίη a truly sorry
state.
22 ••. ba
23 'ilc2(D)
Of course ηοΙ 23 lL\c4 'ifb5 24
liJxd6 'fIxb2, with a good game for
Black.
32 9... i.e7 10 i.xj6; 12.. :J:J.b8

23 000 ':b8? now ηοΙ 28 ...'ii'xc3 because of 29

Α terήble mistake, after which ':c2.
Black's game goes quickly down- 27 'Wxb5 ':xb5
hill. He should haνe continued 28 lΩxd6 (D)
23ooo'Wb5, and after 24 ':d2 d5 25
'iVxa4 'Wxa4 26 ':xa4 ':c5 he could
still haνe held οη.
24 lbc4 ~5
25 'iVxa4
There are ιοο many weaknesses
ίη Black's camp: οη a5, d6 and e5.
25 000 lΩc6
26 ':d2!
Α precise precautionary moνe.
Ιι would be easy Ιο let go of one's
adνantage after 26 lΩxd6 'ii'xa4 27
':xa4 ':xb2, or 26 'iWa2 d5 27 ed ed Β
281Ωxa5 lΩxa5 29 'iWxa5 'iWxb2 30 Besides the fact that White has
':xd5 'Wxal+ 31 'ίi'xal ':xd5. an extra pawn, the weaknesses ίη
26 ':d7 (D) Black's position are maintained.
Howeνer, ίη order ΙΟ win Kamsky
must oνercome definite technical
complications.
28 ':b8
29 ':adl 'ίti>Ι8
30 lΩc4
lη time trouble, Kamsky aims for
simplification. 30 'ίti>f1 was more
exact, moνing his king towards the
centre.
30 ':xd2
31 ':xd2 We7
W 32 h4
Ιι is ηοΙ possible ΙΟ
escape losses Again 32 Φf1 would haνe been
with other continuations either, better, because he could then meet
for example, 26oood5 27 lΩxa5, or the manoeuνre ....:b8-b5-c5 with
26oo:iνc5 27lUxa5 ':a8 28 b4!, and We2-d3, defending the knight.
 9... J.e7 10 J.x.f6: 12...1:tb8 33

32 1Ib5 44 1182
33 ~η 1IcS 44 g3 fol1owed by f3-f4 de-
34 lt!b6?! serves attention.
The knight is a little more com- 44 h6!
fortable οη e3. 45 1Ia4 g5
34 lt!b8 46 hg hg
35 f3 1Ic6 47 cS g4
36 lt!a4 lt!d7 Black's οηlΥ chance lies ίη re-
37 Φe2 lt!f6 sisting his opponent's attack οη
38 b3 lt!e8 the queenside. However, thίs too
39 c4 lt!c7 seems insufficient.
40 Φd3?! (D) 48 fg! ΦΙ6
As so often happens, a time-con- 49 b4 ab+
trol move is a mistake. He should It was worth trying for a happier
have continued with 40 1182, and if outcome with 49•••lt!xb4 50 1Ixa5
40 ... lt!a6, then 41 lt!b2 1Ib6 42 (50 lt!xb4 1Ixc5+ leads quickly to a
1:txa5 1:txb3 43lt!d3 lt!b4 44lt!xe5 draw) 50... lt!c6 51 1Ia6, although
winning. here as wel1 White preserves win-

•••,. - -•
••••
ning chances.
50 lt!xb4 lt!a7
51 lt!d3 lt!c8

-
~.κ ~ ~ ~ι
~ ι.
52 1Ia6
53 1Ia8
11g7
1Ic7
~
.~ .~~.~ 54 Φb4 Φg5
~ ~ 55 lt!xe5 Φf4
~~.~Δ.Δ~.~
"l..J~ _ ~ %'
56 lt!c4! Φχg4
7"

.Δ.~.Δ. Unfortunately for Black, the re-

•
α .Δ.

••••
ponse 56•••Φχe4 is impossible be-
cause Whίte would play 57 1Ixc8
1Ixc8 58lt!d6+.
Β 57 lt!d6 lt!e7
40 ... lt!a6 58 Φb5 ΦΙ4
41 Φc3 1Ic7 59 1Ia6 eS?
Of course not 41•••lt!c7, because The final eποr. ΟηΙΥ 59•••ΦeS
of 42 c5, followed by Φc3-c4. would have prolonged the contest.
42 lt!b2 lt!b4 60 11&3! lt!g6
43 lt!d3 lt!c6 61 Φb6 1-0
34 9... j.e7 10~; 12.. .'IJ.b8
Ιη the following battle the Lat-
νian Grandmaster Shiroν directs
the white pieces with great success.
Moreoνer, ίl1 contrast Ιο the 'black'
Shiroν, a scandalously composed
troublemaker, here he plays ίη
stήctΙΥ posίtional mode. Complex
prophylactic measures (13 a3 and
14 h4) lead quick1y Ιο success.
Game6
Shirov - Illescas
Linares 1994
1 e4 c5 2lbf3lbc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4
e5 5 lbb5 d6 6 lblc3 a6 7 lba3 b5
8 lbd5 lbf6 9 j.g5 j.e7 10 j.xf6
j.xf6 11 c3 ο-ο 12 lbc2 ':'b8
13 a3 (D)
Β (an unsuccessful m&Iloeuνre, but
Α logical new plan, restήctίηg
Black's activity οη both flanks.
13 a5
Ιη the game Lanka-Laduguie,
Cannes 1993, Black decided Ιο
moνe his bishop quickly Ιο the c 1-
h6 diagonal. This is how ίι tumed
ουΙ: 13••• j.g5 14 h4 j.h6 15 g3
j.e6 16 lbcb4 j.xd5 17 lbxd5 a5
18 b4 a4 19 j.h3 g6 20 ο-ο with a
big positional adνantage Ιο White.
14 h4
Νοι allowing the black bishop
the possibility of occupying an ac-
tiνe position οη g5. Naturally, the
pawn is unassailable: 14 ... j.xh4??
15 'ίWh5.
Bologan treated this position ίη
a different way against Redona,
France 1994: 14 j.d3 j.e6 15 'ίWe2
j.xd5 16 ed lbe7 170-0-0 and then
after 17•••'ifb6 18 'iPbl g6 19 h4!
j.g7 20 h5 f5 21 hg hg 22 g4!
White's threats οη the kingside
were νery seήοus indeed. ΑΙΙ this
draws attention Ιο some riskiness
ίη White's play. Why can Black ηοΙ
make use of this? Ιη our ορίηίοη,
the bold 17•••b4!? leads Ιο a sharp
game, where Black's prosρects are
by ηο means so bad.
14 ••• g6(D)
14•• ~e6 brings Black ηο joy.
The game Stripunsky-Kandybko,
Alushta 1994 continued: 15lbce3
b4 16 ab ab 17 g3 bc 18 bc lba5
Black's position inspires seήοus
fears) 19 j.g2 lbb3 20 ':'a6, and
White has a winning position.
Vladimir Κramnik defended the
black position more successfully
 9... if.e7 10 bf6; 12....:b8 35

ίη the PCA quickplay event agaίnst 17 hg hg

GaΠΥ Kasparov, Moscow 1994: 18 lί:\ce3 lί:\xd5
14••• lί:\e7 15 lί:\ce3lί:\xd5 16lί:\xd5 19 lί:\xd5 if.e6 (D)
if.e6 17 g3 'iWd7 18 if.g2 if.d8! (a
standard transfer of the bishop to
an actίve position) 19 ο-ο if.b6 20
'ifd2 ':fc8 21':fdl if.xd5 22 'ilxd5
b4 23 ab ab 24 'ifxd6 'ilg4 25 'iId3
bc 26 bc g6 27 ':abl ':d8 28 'iIf3
':xdl+ 29 ':xdl 'i!fxf3 30 if.xf3

- -
':c8 1/2-1/2.

~.t~ ~.~.
• • ~
:..ι_ι

.i.t2J •
••
~.~ ~?8h ••
ι W'~
@i
20 if.h3!
W

" "J":'\...
• • ·~Δ.
• ~~
i'~~_,!':
Now Black must decide whether
ιο exchange his bishop or leave ίι

~ ~'~ ?,Q'~ -
"
_, ,,,"U~ U
-
Δ ••
"
~
οη e6. If he swaps οη h3, the 'per-
manent' knight οη d5 will domi-
~
Μ ••
,~ .. ~.t._%%:
~ ~ ~
nate, as ίι has ηο opposition; if he
leaves the bishop, Black's pawn
W weaknesses (after if.xe6 fxe6) will
15 g3 if.g7 be too tangible. Most likely he
16 h5 should choose 20•••.:b7 21 if.xe6
Ιη this situation this move is fe 22 lί:\e3 :bf7, while 20...'iVd7
quite opportune. The h4-pawn's and 20•••'iWg5 are also possible. Af-
role as a watchman has been ful- ter taking οη d5, of the four minor
filled and he is now being used as pieces, Black's remain the most
a batteήηg ram. passive.
16 lί:\e7 20 if.xd5
1l1escas is trying Ιο defuse his 21 'iVxd5 'iVc7
opponent's pressure through ex- 22 ο-ο :fd8
changes, but his lack of any kind 23 :fdl (D)
of counterplay predeterinίnes Shi- Precisely this rook. The other
rov'!; stable advantage. one is excellently placed οη al.
36 9... i.e7 10 i.xj6; 12 ... :b8

Game7
Kasparov - Κramnik
Novgorod 1994

1 e4 c5 2lDc3 lDc6 3 lDge2lDf6 4

d4 cd 5 lDxd4 e5 6 lDdb5 d6 7
i.g5 a6 8lDa3 b5 9lDd5 i.e7 10
i.xf6 i.xf6 11 c3 ο-ο 12lDc2 :b8
13 h4
ludit Polgar's attempt ΙΟ resur-
rect the old continuation 13 b4 was
Β ηοΙ starred with success. Her game
23 .•0 i.h6 against Κramnik, New York Intel
24 .Jtn rpd 1994 continued thus: 13 ... lDe7
Beginning Ιο take a close look at 14lDce3 i.g5 15 lDxe7+ 'iWxe7 16
Black's weaknesses. lDd5 'i'b7 17 a4 i.e6 18 g3 :fc8
24 •.• 'i'b7?! 19 :a3 i.xd5 20 ed e4 21 i.e2 i.f6
24•••'i'b6 would haνe been more 22 ο-ο i.xc3, and White had got
exact; now Illescas's ρosition is nowhere.
coIlapsing like a house of cards. 13 ... lDe7 (D)
25 'iWxb7 :xb7 After 13... g6 Bereloνich-Kan-
26 :d5 b4 dybko, Alushta 1994, deνeloped
27 cb ab thus: 14 h5 (an illogical moνe al-
28 a4! lowing the black bishop Ιο occupy
White's a-pawn cannot be re- g5) 14...i.g5 15 'fIf3 i.e6 16 :dl
strained. :b7 17 i.e2 f5 with good counter-
28 Φt'8 chances for Black. Shmuter played
29 aS i.g5 more accurately against Beshukoν,
30 a6 :b6 Sochi 1993: 14 'i'd2 i.g7 15 h5
31 :b5 ι-ο i.e6 16lDce3lDe7 17 g3lDxd5 18
lDxd5 :c8 19 :dl ;1;.
Yet another magnificent chess After 13...i.e6 as well, ίη Yur-
masterpiece. Ιη the 13 h4 νariation taeν-Holsten, Helsinki 1992, White
the sharpest of struggles arose managed to seize the initiatiνe: 14
immediately, with sacrifices and lDce3 a5 15 'fί'f3 b4?! (15 ...i.g5!?)
counter-sacrifices, but also mis- 16 i.c4 bc 17 bc :b2 18 g3 a4 19
takes οη both sides ... ο-ο i.e7 20 :abl.

W
14 lbxf6+
Typically. Kasparov chooses the
route which leads to a dramatic
aggravation of the game. Another
quieter possibilίty was 14lbce3. as
played ίη StήΡuηskΥ- Volke. Par-
dubice 1994. when White managed
Ιο gaίn victory without recourse
Ιο surgical methods: 14 ... lbxd5
15 lbxd5 i.b7 16 g3 i.xd5? (of
course. shooting oneself ίη the
foot by exchanging this important
bishop was not strictly necessary;
16...:c8 followed by ...:c8-c5. or
16 ... g6and ... i.f6-g7 deserved at-
tention) 17 'ίWxd5 b4 18 i.xa6 bc
19 bc 'ii'b6 20 i.c4 'ikb2 21 ο-ο
'iWxc3 22:ac 1 'ίWf3 23 :cel :b224
:e3 'jj'h5 25 a4 i.d8 26 a5 g5 27
hg 'ilxg5 28:f3 :d2 29 'ilb7 1-0.
14 gf
15 'ίi'd2 i.b7
16 i.d3 d5
Black begins active counterplay
ίη the centre. since otherwise his
9... i.e7 10 i,.xf6; 12 ... :b8 37
position might become cήtίcal.
However. 16•••Φh8 with the idea
of ...:f8-g8. was an alternatίve.
17 ed 'iWxd5
18 ο-ο-ο! (D)
Α very promίsing pawn sacrifice
for the initiative. The knight οη c2
is beautifully placed. He ηοΙ οηlΥ
relίably shields the king. but is a1so
ready ιο take part ίη an attack at
any moment.
18 ••• e4
18••:.xa2 19 'ίWh6 e4 changes
nothing.
19 i.e2 'ίWxa2
20 'iWh6 'ile6
21 ~d4 'i'b6 (D)
22 :h3?!
Α temptίng move. which never-
theless reduces the tempo of the
attack and gives Black the possibil-
ίΙΥ of seizing the initίatίve. 22 g4!
with the threats of ~d4-f5 and
g4-g5 was very strong. Ιη that case
38 9... J.e7 10 hf6; 12...'lZ.b8

ι
-. -
~
8~B._~8,~,
•
•
•
~.~8

_ ~ ~
8ιΒ • •
8 ~ι. %

8n • •
~8
~
~
u
~:~.~
~ ~
•
d .t"Δ~.~
u
8:
~
~

W Β
Κraιnnik would have faced some fatal text move, Κasparov conducts
very difficult problems. the concluding part of this battle
22 00. Φh8 with great strength.
23 .*.g4 :g8 26 :d6 ~d5 (D)
24 lDe6
Many publications have given
this move two exclaιnation marks.
Κasparov is carrying ουΙ hίs attack
very resourcefully, but the position
after his eπor οη move 22 gives
hίm ηο basis for relying even οη
equality, let alone an advantage.
24 0.0 :g6
25 'i'f4 (D)
25 :e8??
Ιη a sharp position the value of
every move is unbelievably high.
Α single mistake is capable of tum- 27 h5!!
ing the best position ίηΙο a 10st one. This sudden blow undoubtedly
If Κramnik had played 25o•.J.d5, deserves the hίghest praise. Ιη this
White would have had Ιο sound a position, where practically all the
retreat, as after 26 h5 Black has whίte pieces are under attack, and
26 ...:xg4 27 .xg4 J.xe6. The the pressure seems to have reached
only possibilίty that does ηοΙ 10se its lίmit, Κasparov finds a possibίl­
material is 26 ~d4. Αι Κraιnnik's ίΙΥ Ιο add more fuel to the fire.
 9... J.e7 10 J.x.ffi: 12... :b8 39

Now ίη just a few moves the h- for him to organize a conclusive as-
pawn's career reaches the dizzy- sault.
ing heights about which a rook's 32 J.fS+!
pawn can usually only dream - Αη important inιervening move.
queening ίη the centre. 32 ~ι7
27 ~XΙ4 33 'ifg6+ ~
28 hg 'ifxd6 34 1Ixf6+ ~e8
29 ~7+ ~ι8 3! J.xe6 1ΙΙ8?
30 g1+ ~h7 35 ...J.c6 would have prolonged

·•• •••-.••-
31 fe1i' ~e6 (D) the battle, but would ηοΙ have
saved the game. Νοι waiting for 36

.-*-.-..
J.d7+, Black resigned.
1-0

••• •-•i..-
·.• ••• ~a~ Conclusion
Ιη the 12 ...Jlb8 variation Black
eΧΡeήences definite diffιculties,
but they are fully surmountable ίη

. ..
_ U __
~ the future. However ίη the games
~
rQ% •@'~ ~Δ.
rQ% d we have examined, White has
~~ ~
~ d _ wielded the initiative. Moreover,
his arsenal is quite varied: play
W against the pawn centre, seizure of
Ιι is as though
a tomado has been d5, and a direct attack οη the king.
raging above the board for the last Black, meanwhile, has ηοΙ man-
fιve moves, but the little strength aged Ιο arrange any counterplay.
remaining ιο White is quite enough Good luck Ιο him!
3 9 ...iι..e7 10 ct:Jxe7

Ιη this vaήatiοn White weakens

x••-- - -
~ .t~.~.
~ ~

. •• •••
controlover d5, stressing the free
• • 8 •••
development ofhis pieces. Insofar
as the capture οη e7 enjoys rela-
tively less popularity than other
vaήations, choosing ίι leaves more
scope for creative play.
i ••

~
~
~
.ι ~ ~
• -
~ ~ -
~
8Δ8
~.:~
..~
~
:.
~ ~~
~.i%'%

8
~

Game8
Anand - Ivanchuk
Linares (4) 1992
1 e4 c5 2l2Jf3l2Jc6 3 d4 cd 4l2Jxd4
l2Jf6 5 l2Jc3 e5 6 l2Jdb5 d6 7 ~g5
a6 8 l2Ja3 b5 9 l2Jd5 ~e7
10 l2Jxe7
White's idea consists of freely
developing his pieces. Besides, ίη
some cases he preserves the ad-
vantage of the bishop pair. This is
thought to give Black sufficient
counterchances for equality.
10 ... l2Jxe7 (D)
11 ~d3
Other possibilities:
a) 11 ~xΙ6 gf and then:
al) 12 c4!? ~b7 13 cb ~xe4 14
ba! d5 (14 ...'I'a5+ 15 'iWd21i'xd2+
16 <it>xd2; 14...0-0 15 ~e2 ;t) 15
~b5+ <i>f8 16 ο-ο 'ilVb6 17 <it>h 1
l2Jf5 (17 ...d4!?) 18 f3!? l2Je3 19 'ilVd2
(19'ifb3!?) 19 ...~f5 (19 ... l2Jxf120
Δ~·~Δ
".!'-' ••
~% U"Δ'{f..·~
~,!,-,
α ••=~.: W
1Ixf1 ~f5 21 'i'xd5) 20 1Ifel d421
1Iacl ;t Nadanian-Zontakh, Κiev
1992.
a2) 12 'iWf3 f5 13 ef d5 14 f6
l2Jg6 15 1Idl ~e6 16 g3 ':c8 17 c3
e4 17 'ilVe3 'iWf6 18 ~g2 b4! 19
l2Jbll2Je5 20 ο-ο ο-ο 21 f3l2Jc4 22
'iί'e2 e3! 23 b3 bc!! 24 bc d4 25
l2Ja3 1Ifd8 + Unni-Prasad, Indian
Ch 1991.
b) 11 'ii'f3 and now:
bl) 11•.. ~g4?! 12 'iWg3 ~e6
(l2 ... d5!?) 13 ~d3l2Jg6 and now
140-0 ο-ο 15 c4! h6 16 ~xf6 'iί'xf6
17 cb ab 18l2Jxb5 ~xa2 19 1Ifcl
± was Kupreichik-Dreev, Podolsk
1990, while the game Yudasin-
Yagupov, Moscow 1992 quickly
moved into an ending: 14 'iί'Ι3!?
d5 15 c3! h6 16 ~xf6 'iί'xf6 17

'i!ixf6 gf 18 g3 de 19 ~xe4 1Ib8 20
~c2 f5 with an unclear game.
b2) 11 •••lDd712 b4! f6 (12 ... h6
is worse: 13 ~d2 ~b7 14 c4 bc 15
~xc4 ~f6! 16 ~d3 d5 17 ed ~xd5
18 'i!ig3! although rather than the
faulty 18 ...e4?! 19h20-020~3
~e6 21 ~c3 of Yudasin-Chekhov,
Moscow 1991, there is 18 ...~xc4!
19 ~xc4 ~e4 20 'i!ie3 'i!ixd2+, and
White' s advanιage is ηοΙ that great)
13 ~d2 ~b6 (l3 ... ~b7!? 14 c4
f5 15 cb ~xe4 16 "WWg3!? ο-ο 17 ba
f4 18 "'b3+; 13 ...0-014 c4 ~c6 15
~c2 1Ib8 16 'i!ic3 ~e7 17 ~e3
ι;tιh8 18 cb ab = Fishbein-Vaiser,
Tel Ανίν 1992) 14 c4 bc 15 ~xc4
~e616~a5! ο-ο 17 ~d3 "'d718
"'e2 ~c6 19 ~xc6 'it'xc6 20 ο-ο
'it'b7 21 1Ifcl f5!? 22 ef ii.xf5 23
~xf5 1Ixf5 24 b5 d5! 25 g4!? 1If6
26 ba "ίWd7 was unclear ίη Yudasin-
Chekhov, USSR Ch 1991.
c) 11 Ι3 d5?! (l1 ... ~g6!? or
11 ... h6!?) 12 ed 'it'xd5 13 c4 "'c5
14 cb e4 15 "ίWcl "ίWe5 16 ii.f4 "'f5
17 ~c4 ο-ο 18 ~d6 "'e6 19 ii.c4
~ed5 20 ο-ο e3 21 1Iel "ίWe722
~g3 1Id8 23 ~xd5 ~xd5 24 "ίWc6
~e6 25 b6 ± Galdunts-Jelen, Gron-
ingen 1993.
Ν ow we return Ιο the main line
after 11 ~d3 (D):
11 ii.b7
Black can also attempt Ιο make a
rapid breakthrough ίη the centre
with 11 •••d5 12 exd5 :
9... ~e7 10 lΔxe7 41
Β
a) Ιη the game Aseev-Vyzh-
manavin, USSR 1990 White man-
aged Ιο gain a small advantage
after 12•••"WWxd5 13 'i!id2 ~f5 (it's
dangerous Ιο accept the pawn sac-
rifice after 13 ......xg2 14 0-0-0;
White also gets the better chances
υροη 13 ... ~e4 14 'i!ie3 ~xg5 15
'i!ixg5) 14 ~xf5 'i!ixd2+ 15 ~xd2
~xf5 16 c4 ο-ο! 17 ο-ο 1Itb8 18
1Iael 1Ie8 19 ii.c3 ~d7 20 cb f6!
21 1Ial ~b6 22 ba ;t.
b) However, taking the pawn
with the knight ίη Yudasin-Yak-
ovich, Moscow 1992, led after
12•••~fxd513c4bc 14~xc4f615
~d2 ο-ο 16 ο-ο ~f5 17 ~xf5
~xf518~a5'i!id719"'g411a720
1Ifdl ~d4 21 "ίWxd7 1Ixd7 Ιο a
level ending.
12 "WWe2 ο-ο
Α new move. 12•.• ~g6 deserves
attention, for example 13 c4 (13
~xf6 gf! is also interestίng, with
an unclear game) and now (D):
42 9... j.,e7 10 lΔxe7
Β
a) 13oooh6! 14 j.,d2 (Black is
handed the initiative after 14 j.,xf6
"iWxf6 15 cb llJf4 16 "iWf3 ii'g6 with
pressure οη e4) 14 ... bc 15 lίJxc4
ο-ο 16 lίJa5?! (16 ο-ο would have
allowed White Ιο maintain the bal-
ance) 16...j.,c8170-0lίJf4! 18j.,xf4
ef! 19 lίJc4 :b8, and the pressure
οη e4 predetermines Black's supe-
riority, A.Bach-Gagarin, Turnu-
Seveήη 1992.
b) 13ooob4 was tested ίη Wolff-
Kuijf, Wijk aan Zee 1992: 14lίJc2
a5 (a pawn sacrifice for the initia-
tive deserves attention: 14... h6 15
j.,xf6 'iWxf6 16lίJxb4lίJf4 16 \i'f3
"iWg6) 15 f3 h6 16 j.,e3lίJd7 17 ο-ο
ο-ο 18 'iWd2 "fic7 19 :fdllίJc5 20
j.,f1 :ad8 21 \i'f2! lίJe7 22 g4
'iWc6 23 b3 .:tb8 24 .:td2, and Wolff
managed Ιο wrap υρ the victory
quickly.
13 ο-ο
13 .:tdl is also quite acceptable.
Wolff-Shaked, New York 1994,
continued 13 ... lίJg6 14 o~o h6 15
j.,cl.:te8 16 c4 bc 17lίJxc4lίJf4 18
j.,xf4 ef 19 "iWf3 j.,xe4 20 j.,xe4
lίJxe4 21 'iWxf4 d5 22lίJe3 lίJf6 23
lίJf5 with a clear plus for White.
13 000 lίJg6
If 13oood5, then 14 :adl is υη­
pleasant.
14 c4 h6! (D)
W
Α typical pawn sacήfice. Black
remains at the mercy of fate οη the
queenside, but manages ιο organ-
ize counterplay οη the kingside.
Besides this, after the file has been
opened, the a2- and b2-pawns are
constantly needed for defence.
15 j.,xf6
Ιι was perhaps worth figQting
for an advantage by refusing t~ex­
change: 15 j.,d2 (15 j.,e3 lίJxe4)
15 ... b4 16lίJc2 (16 j.,xb4lίJf4 17
"iWf3 lίJxd3 18 \i'xd3 lίJxe4 gives
nothing) 16 ... a5 17 .:tfd 1 \i'c7 18
f3.
 9... ~e7 10 tbxe7 43

IS ••• 'i'xf6 18 'iixd3 'iig6 19 1Ifel (if 19 f3,

16 cb then 19 ... d5 is very strong) 19 ... f5
Now White rnust think about (19 ... d5 is not very good yet be-
precautionary rneasures to prevent cause of 20 'iig3 "'xg3 21 hg de 22
the knight invading οη f4, for ex- ba 1Ixa6 23 tbc4, and White has a
ample, 16g3"'g517Whl f518f3, srnall advantage) 20 "'g3 (20 ~3+
and although the position rernains Φh8 21 ba ~xe4 22 f3 1Itb8 is
quite confused, White rnay pre- worse, as is 20 f3 fe 21 fe 1If4 ίη
serve sorne hopes for success. The both cases with initiative to Black)
text rnove quickly leads the garne 20 ......xg3 21 hg ~xe4 (21 ... fe is
ίηΙο calrner waters. also quite possible) 22 tbc4 1If6.
16 tbf4 18 tbxbS 'fig6
17 'fif3 (D) 19 1Ifdl
Anand rnust observe caution. 19
1Ifel d5 20 ~f1 de is dangerous for
White.
19 tbxd3
20 'ii'xd3 ~xe4
21 'ii'g3 1Itb8!
After this the position is total1y
level.
22 tbxd6 1Ixb2
23 tbc4 112·1/2
Α short garne, but one ήch ίη
content!
Β
17 ab Conclusion
Now Ivanchuk rnay ίη his tum Ιη this vaήation Black has ηο diffi-
try for an advantage: 17...tbxd3!? culties.
4 9..."iVa5+
Ιη this vaήation Black presents his
opponent with a cunning psycho-
logical problem. Indeed, it's as if
he is silently offering a draw. Ιη
fact, ίη reply to 10 ~d2 Black has
nothίng better to do than 10.....d8.
True, after 11 ~g5 he can rethink
and transpose into a 'normal' vari-
ation. Ιη the majority of instances
White prefers to play for the win,
and then ίη this variation as wel1,
an interesting and tense struggle,
characteristic of the system as a
whole, arises.
Game8
Kupreichik - N.Nikcevic
Cαttolicα 1992
1 e4 c5 2 lbf3lbc6 3lbc3lbf6 4 d4
cd 5 lbxd4 e5 6 lbdb5 d6 7 ~g5
a6 8 lba3 b5 9 lbd5
9 ••• "WWa5+
Black does not hide his peace-
loving intentions. He is prepared
for a repetition of moves. How-
ever, an unpleasant surpήse awaits
him ...
10 ~d2 1fd8 (D)
11 c4!
This is not the only important
move to avoid the repetition:
W
a) 11 ~d3 is a move that has
been played by Evgeny Sveshni-
kov, the main expert ίη this line:
al) 11 ••• ~e6 12 c4 and now:
all) The game Sveshnikov-
Lputian, Helsinki 1992 continued
12••• lbd4!? 13 ο-ο bc 14 lbxf6+
'iWxf6 15lbxc4 ~e7 16 f4 ο-ο! 17 f5
~xc4 18 ~xc4 "h4 19 ~d5 ':'ab8
20 ~e3 ~g5! 21 "ji'd3 and White
was forced to make do with a draw.
a12) Ιη the game Thompson-
Gulbis, cocr 1991, Black contin-
ued 12.•. bc, fol1owed by 13 "a4
~d7 14 lbxc4lbd4 15 "a3lbxd5
16 ed ~b5 (16 ... e4 17 ~xe4 ~b5
18 "ίWe3 ±) 17 ο-ο ~xc4 18 ~xc4
~e7 19 ~xa6 ο-ο 20 'iWd3 "b6 21
~c4 "xb2 22 ':'fc 1 e4 with an un-
clear game.

a2) ll..ie7 is worse. White
achieved a big advantage after 12
c4lbxd5 13 ed lbd4 14 cb ο-ο 15
ο-ο j.b7 16 ba j.xd5 17 j.e3!
lbe6 18 j.xh7+ ~xh7 19 "ίWxd5 ίη
Arakhamia-Jakob, Bem 1991.
a3) ll...lbxd5 12 ed lbe7 13 c4
g6 14 cb j.g7 15 j.c4 ο-ο 16 ο-ο
is aIso possible, e.g., 16... j.b7 17
j.g5 f6 18 j.e3lbf5 19 ba j.xa6 ±
as ίη Κudήn-Fίshbeίn, New York
1989, and here Kudrin had the ex-
cellent possibility 20 "ίWe2!, or
16••.e417 :bllbf518j.f4:e819
lbc2 'ikh4 20 g3 'iff6 ± Sanden-
Markovic, Stockholm 1990; 21
a4! would then have strengthened
White's advanιage.
b) White has one more possibil-
ίΙΥ, 11 lbxf6+. We will examine
this ίη detaίl:
bl) ll... gf had been discred-
ited, but was rehabilitated ίη Her-
rera-Barros, Havana 1990: 12 c4
b4 13lbc2 :b8 14 b3 f5 15 j.d3 f4
16 g3 'ίWf6 17 'iif3 j.h6 180-0-0
:g8 19 h3 j.e6 20 j.e2 Φe7 21
Wbl a5 with a very tense game ίη
which Black's chances are prob-
ably ηο worse.
b2) ll..:iixf6 (D) and then:
b21) 12 c4 and now:
b211) 12..•b4!? 13 lbc2 'iί'g6
14 'ii'f3 :b8 15 j.d3 j.e7 16 ο-ο
(16 lbe3 j.g5 17 'iί'g3 ο-ο 18 ο-ο
j.e6 19 :fcl ':fd8 20 j.f1 a5 21
b3 ~~ 22 h4 .i.h6 23 'ikxg6 hg
9... 'ii'α5+ 45
W
with a complex game, Stefansson-
Thorhallsson, Reykjavik 1992;
16 'ii'g3!?) 16... 0-0 17 b3 a5 ;!;
Yudasin-Dvoirys, USSRCh 1991;
18 'it'hl followed by 'ii'f3-e2 and
f2-f4 then deserved attentίon.
b212) 12•••'ikg6 13 f3 (13 cb?!
'ii'xe4+ 14 j.e3lbd4 15 'ii'd2 j.e7
16 ba ο-ο 17 'ii'd3 d5! 18 'ti'xe4 de
19 0-0-0 j.e6 20 lbc4 :fc8 21 b3
j.a3+ 22 Φd2 :xa6 =+= Meyers-Pol-
iakov, USSR 1990) 13••. j.e7 and
now:
b2121) 14 Φα ο-ο (14 ... f5 15
ef j.xf5 16 cb lbd4 17 j.e3 ο-ο and
Black has a dangerous inίtίatίve for
the sacrificed pawn, Magem-Espi-
nosa, Νονί Sad OL 1990) 15 cb
lbd4 16lbc2 d5 17 lbxd4 j.c5 18
.i.e3 ed 19 j.xd4 'ii'b6 20 We3 de
21 .i.xc5 'ikxc5+ 22 'iί'd4 'ii'e7 with
compensatίon for Black, Yudasin-
San Segundo, Madrid 1992.
b2122) 14 cb .i.h4+ 15 g3
j.xg3+ 16 hg 'ii'xg3+ 17 Φe2 j.g4
46 9... 'ii'α5+
18 We3 f5 19 bc fe 20 R.e2 ο-ο 21
ιjaιxe4! was played ίη Beikhardt-
Conquest, Baden-Baden 1993, and
ίη a complex position White has all
the chances.
b22) 12 R.d3 (D) and now:
Β
b221) 12•••dS 13 ed tiJb4 14
R.e4 (14 ο-ο tiJxd3 15 cd R.d6 16
'ii'b3 ο-ο 17 tiJc2 R.d7 18 R.b4 a5
19 R.xd6 'ifxd6 20 d4 e4 21 f3
%Σae8 with compensation for Black,
de Firmian-San Segundo, New
York 1990) 14 ... 'ifh415 'ii'f3 R.g4
(15 ... R.c5 16 ο-ο f51! 17 R.xf5 ο-ο
18 'ii'e4! 'ii'xe4 19 R.xe4 R.b7 20 c4
bc 21 tiJxc4 +- Κaiumov-Mechin­
sky, Gdynίa 1991) 16 'ii'b3 R.h5 17
R.f3 R.xf3 18 'ifxf3 'ii'd4 19 d6 e4
20 d7+! ιjaιxd7 21 'iWxf7+ ~c6 22
'ii'b3 'ii'd5 23 .ixb4 'ii'xb3 24 ab
R.xb4+ 25 c3 R.c5 26 b4 ± Wolff-
Mannίnen, Maringo 1991.
b222) 12...'ifg6 13 ο-ο (13 'iί'f3
R.e7 14 c3 ο-ο 15 tiJc2 %Σb8 16 Ο-Ο)
13 ... R.e7 14 c3 (14 tiJbl ο-ο 15
tiJc3 f5 16 ef R.xf5 17 R.xf5 1Ixf5
18 R.e3 1Ic8 19 a4 b4 20 tiJe4 'ii'e6
21 'iVd3 d5 22 tiJg3 11f7 23 'ifxa6
tiJd4 24 'iVxe6 tiJxe6 25 %ΣacΙ ;t
Shulman-Poliakov, USSR 1990;
14 f4 ef 15 e5 R.f5 16 "'f3 1Ic8 17
R.xf5 'ifxf5 18 ed R.xd6 19 1Iael+
=
R.e7 20 'iWxf4 I'Gurevich-Granda,
New York 1992) 14 ... 0-0 15 tiJc2
d5 16 'iWe2 R.g4 17 f3 de 18 'iί'xe4
1Iad8! 19 fg %:.xd3 20 'ikxg6 hg 21
R.e3 f5 22 gf gf + Miranovic-
Markovic, Νονί Sad 1989.
Ν ow we return to the maίn line
after 11 c4 (D):
Β
11 tiJxe4
Other continuations lead Ιο a
dίfficult game for Black:
a) 11..•bc 12 tiJxc4 tiJxe4 13
tiJcb6 %:.b8 (13 ... tiJxd2 14 tiJxa8
+-) 14 'iWa4 ±.
b) 11••. b4 12 tiJc2 tiJxe4 13
tiJcxb4 tiJxb4 14 R.xb4 a5 15 R.a3

lί)c5 16 'ife2lί)e6 17 :d 1 :b8 18
g3lί)c7 19 c5 +-.
c) 11 •••t2JxdS 12 ed lbd4!? (or
12 ... lί)e7 13 cb lί)xd5 14 'iff3! ±)
13 cb ~e7 14 ba ο-ο 15 b4! ~xa6
16 ~xa6 1ιχa6 17 lbc2 'iνa8 18
lί)xd4 ed 19 a4! 'iνxd5 20 ο-ο ~f6
21 b51ιaa8 22 'iνf3! ± Plachetka-
Kostic, Austήa 1990.
12 cb j.e6
White gains a clear advantage
afterboth 12 ...lί)e713j.e31ιb814
~c4, and f2 ... lί)d4 13 1ιcιlί)c5 14
b6 with a distinct White advantage
ίη the game Fernandez Casοήa­
Fernandez, Spanish Ch (Μadήd)
1992.
13 j.c4 (D)
13 lί)c3lί)xd2 14 'iνxd2lί)d4 15
ba d5 16lί)cb5lί)c6 17lί)c2 ~e7
18 ~e2 ο-ο 19 ο-ο 1ιχa6 20 lί)bd4
1ιb6 21 lί)xc6 1ιχc6 ~ Radovano-
vic-N.Nikcevic, Yugoslav Ch (Κla­
dovo) 1992.
Β W
9... 'ifα5+ 47
13 ..• lί)e7 (D)
As is well known, 13...ab? is an
error because of 14 lί)xb5.
However, 13...lί)aS!? is interest-
ing, for example:
a) 14 b6 lί)xc4 15 lί)c7+ Φe7
16lί)xc4 ~xc4 17 1ιcΙ ~e6 18 b7
1ιb8 19 j.a5 d5 20 b4 'iWd6 is un-
clear, or 14 'ifa4 lί)xc4 15 \Wxc4
~xd5 16 'iνxd5 lί)xd2 17 ΦΧd2
~e7 18 ..te2 ο-ο 19 ba 1ιχa6 20 lί)b5
'δ'b6 21 1ιhcΙ e4 22 a4 ~f6 23 1ιa2
;t Brodsky-Serper, Riga 1987.
b) 14 ~e3! is more promising
forWhite; after 14...lί)xc415lί)xc4
ab 16 j.b6 Black has three moves
at his disposal, but they all lose:
16...'ii'b8 17 lί)c7+ Φe7 18 lί)e3
1ιa4 19 lί)ed5+ ±; 16...'ifd7 17
lί)c7+ ..te7 18lί)e3 1ιc8 19lί)ed5+
~xd5 20 lί)xd5+ ±; 16...'iWgS 17
lί)ce3 1ιc8 18 ο-ο ~e7 19 'iWd3
lί)c5 20 1i'xb5+ ~d7 21 'iWe2 ο-ο
22~xc5±.
48 9... 'iWα5+
14 ο-ο!!
Α brilliant D()velty, fully ίη Vik-
tor Kupreichίk 's style as an inex-
haustibly inventive chess player.
After 14 .i.b3, 14 ....:.c8! would
have maintained the balance.
14 ••• lL!xd5
If 14•• bdS. then 15.i.a5 'iί'xa5
16 .i.xd5 ':'d8 17 .i.xe4 ab 18 .i.d3
':'b8 19 .i.xb5+ ':'xb5 20 lL!c4 'ίWa6
21 lL!xd6+ and Whίte wins.
15 .i.xdS .i.xd5
16 .i.a5 'iWxa5
17 'iί'xdS ':'c8 (D)
W tempt to improve Black's play was
18 'iί'xe4 .i.e7
The sequence of exchanges has
ended, and ίι has become clear that
Kupreichik's advantage is quite
sufficient for the win. Ιη partίcular,
Black does ηοΙ have time Ιο take
the pawn: 18•••ab 19 'iWb7 'iί'c7 20
'it'xb5+ 'iWc6 21.:tfc 1, and the end-
garne is hopeless.
19 'it'b7 'iί'c7
20 'ίWxc7!
Ιη this situation as well ex-
changing queens decides every-
thing quickest of al1.
20 ••• ':'xc7
21 ba Φd7
If 21 •••.:ta7, then White replίes
22lL!b5 !.
22 lL!b5 (D)
Β
22 ':'c2
It is interesting that ίη Feman-
dez Garcia-San Segundo, Spanish
Ch (Madrid) 1992, a seήοus at-
tήed: 22••..:tc6!?, but after 23 a7 d5
24 ':'fc 1 .i.g5! 25 ':'xc6 'ίPxc6 26 a4
d4 27 ':'dl ':'d8 28 g3 'ίPb7 29 h4
.i.h6 Whίte, by means of 30 f4 ef
31 g4!, could have presented his
opponent with insoluble problems.
23 ':'fcl!
The finale. If 23 ....:.hc8, then 24
':'xc2 ':'xc2 25 a7 ':'c8 26 ':'dl with
an easy win.
 9 ... 'i!fα5+ 49

23 :'xb2 10...~ε7?? is a teπίbΙe mistake

24 :'c7+ Φε6 because of 11 ~xf6 gf 12 lΔxf6+
25 :'b7 Φf6 and it's time for Black Ιο resign.
26 lΔc7 :'c8 10...lΔxe4 (D) is a sharp altema-
27 lΔd5+ Φε6 tive Ιο the text move:
28 :'xb2 1-0
Short but sweet!

Alongside 1Ο ~d2 there is an-

other way of fighting for the inίtia­
tive, 10 c3.

Game 10
Blodshtein - Savko
Vίlnius 1993

1 ε4 cS 2lΔf3lΔc6 3 d4 cd 4lΔxd4
lΔf6 5 lΔc3 ε5 6 lΔdb5 d6 7 ~g5
a6 8lΔa3 b5 9lΔd5 'i'a5+
10 c3!? (D)
Β 12lΔc2 'iVd8 13 a4lΔf6 14lΔxf6+
This move is rarely seen, al-
though ίι also presents Black with
some ιricky problems.
10 ... lΔxd5
W
a) 11 'i'f3? f5! 12 ~d3 (ίη /n-
Jormαtor 57 Blodshtein demon-
strates the following line: 12 Μ!
{Blodshtein's symbol} 12...'i!fxa3
13~cl1Wa414lΔc7+andWhiteis
winnίng; however, we may con-
tinue: 14 ... Φd8 15 lΔxa8lΔd4 16
cd 1Wb4+ 17 Φe2 'iί'xd4 with a very
strong initiative for the sacήficed
mateήaΙ) 12 ... lΔxg5 13lΔf6+ ~d8!
14 1Wxc6 :'b8 15 'ilfe8+ ~c7 16
lΔd5+ Φb7 17lΔe7 'iί'c7 18lΔxc8
e4=F.
b) Alternatively, 11 ~ε3 :'b8
gf 15 ab ab 16 iί'd5 ~d7 17 ~xb5!
:'xb~ 18 'iί'xb5 lΔd4 19 lΔxd4
~xb5 20 lΔxb5 ~e7 (20 ... ~d7 21
:'a7+ Φe6 22lΔc7+ ~f5 23 ο-ο is
50 9......a5+
unclear) 21 :a.8! 1i'xa8 22lt)c7+
Φd7 23 lt)xa8 1:xa8 24 ι;t>d2 d5 25
Φc2 ..t;>c6 =Akbn-Munos, Buenos
Aires 1992.
c) 11 b4 'ifxa3 12 ~cl 'iWa4 (or
12... lt)xc3 13 Wd2! lt)e4 14 'ifc2
lt)d415'ifxe4 Wa416~d3:a717
ο-ο ~f5 18 'ife3 ~xd3 19 'ifxd3
'iWc2 20 'ifxc2 etJxc2 21 ~e3! and
the position ·of the knight οη d5,
as well as the advantage ίη devel-
oprnent are more than enough
cornpensation for a single pawn,
although ίη Blodshtein-Al.Karpov,
Tashkent 1994, Black managed Ιο
save the ending) 13lt)c7+ Φd8 14
'ifxa4 ba 15 lt)xa8 lt)xc3 16 ~d2
lt)b5?! (16...lt)d5!? 17 b5 =) 17lt)b6
~f5 (Blodshtein-Marsalek, Ceske
Budejoνice 1993) 18:c llt)cd4 19
~c4!±.
11 ed (D)
11 'ifxd5 ~b7 12lt)c2 'iWc7 13
"'d3 =giνes nothing.
Β :a3;.
11 ... lt)e7
If 11•••lt)d4, then 12 ~d2 ±, and
if 11 ...lt)b8, then 12lt)c2lt)d7 13
a4 ba 14 b4;.
12 lt)c2 h6
12...~b7?! is worse: 13 a4 ba 14
lt)b4 with a better garne for White.
12...'ifc7!? and 12...f6 are rnore
promising moνes.
13 ~d2! 'iWc7
14 a4! ba
Ν aturally Black does ηοΙ want
Ιο leaνe hirnself with the perrna-
nent weakness οη b5 which would
arise after 14..':b8 15 ab ab 16
lt)b4.
15 lt)b4 ~d7
15...a5 is a rnistake due Ιο 16
'iVxa4+ ~d7 17 ~b5 ±.
16 ~xa6
Ιι would haνe been quite possi-
ble Ιο take the knight, for exarnple,
16lt)xa61i'c8 17 :xa4! lt)xd5 18
:a5 ~c6 19 ~c4 (19 'ifal is ηοΙ
bad either) 19 ... lt)b6 20 'ifb3 with
a νery complex position.
16 ... Ι5?!
Α premature thrust. He should
haνe continued his deνelopment
with 16...g6.
17 ο-ο g6
18 :a3 (D)
There was also a rnore actiνe
plan linked with exchanging the
bishop and playing agaίnst the a4-
pawn: 18 'iWe2 J.g7 19 ~b5 ο-ο 20
 9......α5+ 51

23 Jιd3
24 Jιe4
"'cS
f3
25 g3
Ιι would have been very danger-
ous Ιο accept the sacήfice, for ex-
ample, 25 Jιxf31txf3! 26 gf Jιb5
with numerous threats lίnked Ιο
....c5-c8, ... Jιb5-e2, ... liJe7-f5 and
an attack οη the kίng.
25 000 'iic4?
Απ unforgivable waste of time.
Β The swift 25...'ifc8 would have
18 Jιg7 given Black excellent possibilίtίes
19 Jιd3 0·0 for counterplay.
20 Jιc2 26 1tel "'c8
Ιι would have been worth return- 27 .dl Jιb5
ing Ιο the plan with 20 "'e2; now 28 JιXΙ3 1ί'Ι5
Black has an ingenious idea at his 29 1te3 h5 (D)
dίsposal ... Το actίvate Black's dark-squared
20 'iic4?! bishop .
... but he misses ίι. He should
have continued 20•••Jιb5! 211tel
'ίi'd7=.
21 "'81 ~h7
Black would have found him-
self ίη dίfficultίes had he taken the
pawn: 21 •.•liJxd5 22 Jιd3 "'c5 23
'ifa2! Jιe6 24 Jιc41ta5 25 Jιb3 ±.
22 :dl Ι4
22...liJxd5 was also possible: 23
liJxd5 (23 b3? liJxb4! 24 bc liJxc2
25 "'a2liJxa3 26 "'xa3 Jιe6 and
Black has sufficient compensatίon
for the queen) 23 ......xd5 24 Jιxh6 30 c4!
"'c6 25 Jιxg7 ~xg7 26 'iia2 with a ΒΥ returning the pawn, Whίte
minimal advantage Ιο White. But consolίdates his position. Thίs is
the text move is even stronger. better than 30 Jιel Jιh6 31 Jιe4
52 9.....a5+

ii'g4 32 'i'xg4 hg 33 1Σd3 .1.xd3

34 .itxd3 .1.cl with rough equality.
30 .1.xc4
31 .1.el .1.h6
32 .1.e4 'iWh3
33 .1.gZ 'i'd7
34 1Σec3 .1.b3
35 'ΙΜ3 lbf5
36 lbc6
White has determined a clear
advantage, linked with his better-
placed pieces, his opponent's lack W
of counterplay, and with Black's The rook, so long held ίη captiv-
pawn weaknesses, whίch sooner or ίΙΥ, enters the game with decisive
later will make theίr presence felt. effect.
36 lbd4 43 ... ab
Αη attempt Ιο create complίca- 43..•de loses Ιο 44 1Σb7+.
tions. 44 .txd5 .tg7
37 .1.e4 'i'f7 45 'ίixb3 d3
38 lbxd4 ed 46 'ίixd3 ifxb2
39 1Σc6 iff6 47 .1.e4 'i'f6
The natural 39....txd5 meets The rest is a matter of technique.
with a simple but elegant refuta- 48 'iWd5 'ίth8
ιίοη: 40 .txg6+ 1fxg6 41 'i'xg6+ 49 c7 'iWa6
~xg6 42 1Σχd6+. 50 'ifc6 'ifxc6
40 Ι4! 51 .1.xc6 1Σc8
Re-blockίng the h6-bishop's di- 52 .1.b6 'ίth7
agonal and simultaneously freeing 53 .tb7
hίs bishop from its unfortunate role And Black is forced ιο part with
as gIJard for the f2 pawn. hίs bishop.
40 1Σac8 53 .1.d4+
41 .1.12 1Σχc6 54 .1.xd4 1Σχc7
42 dc d5 (D) 55 .1.13 1Σc2
After 42•••.tg7 White can pre- 56 .tf2 '1th6
vent this thrust by means of 43 57 '1tg2 1Σθ2
'ίif3. 58 .1.d5 1Σd2
43 1Σxb3 59 .1.e4 1Σe2
 9.....α5+ 53

60 Φf3 :a2 ιο ίι.As regards 10 c3, Black must

61 h3 g5
62 .te3 1·0
Recently ίι has become difficult
for Black ιο maintain equality ίη
this vari~tion; Kupreichik's ηον­
elty has dealt quite a seήοus blow
be οη full alert Ιο maintain the bal-
ance. However, from the ροίηι of
view of the logic of chess, Black' s
difficulties are ηοΙ so surpήsίηg -
indeed he's giving his opponent a
whole tempo.
5 10... iιg7 11 i..d3
Ιη this chapter we will begin to ex-
amine the whole stratum of νari­
ations beginning with 9 ~xf6.
With this moνe White actively
starts the fight for d5, and more-
oνer doubles Black's pawns. How-
ever, ίη return Black gains the
bishop pair and the open g-file.
Even his doubled pawns actiνely
influence the centre. As a rule, this
preordains an extremely complex
strategic and tactical battle oνer the
whole of the board.
Game 11
Dolmatov - Topalov
Groningen 1993
1 e4 c5 2lbf3 ~ 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4
lbf6 5 lbc3 e5 6 lbdb5 d6 7 ~g5
a6 8 lba3 b5 9 ~xf6 gf 10 lbd5
~g7
11 ~d3
Castling long is too dangerous,
for example, 11 ifh5lbe7 12lbe3
f5 13 ef e4! 140-0-0 ο-ο 15 g4!? d5
16c3b4! 17cbd418'iitbl'ίid619
lbec4 'ίif4! 20~g2 ~b7 21':'hel
lbd5 22 lba5? lbf6 23 "i!t'h3 ~d5
24 ':'xd4 "i!t'xf2 25 ':'edl e3! + Τί­
moshenko-Ikonnikoν, USSR 1990.
The central tandem of black pawns
is always quite teπίfΥίηg, espe-
cially when the white king is shel-
tering οη the queenside, and ίη
reply to ... b5-b4, White must strike
οη b4, opening the way for the d-
pawn. As a counterbalance, Timo-
shenko should haνe tried to play
his trump card: 22 "i!t'h3! ':'ad8 23
g5! ':'fe8 24 f6 ~f8 25 "i!t'g3 ~xM
with an unclear position.
11 ... lbe7
Black's idea is to exchange or
driνe back the mighty d5-knight
without delay, before White has
supported his pieces.
12 lbxe7 "i!t'xe7
13 c3 (D)
Another idea, linked with c2-c4,
will be exarnined ίη the next game.
Β
 10... J.g7 11 J.d3 55

13 ... Ι5 23 h4 f6 25 h5 J.f7? 26 'iWg3+ ~h8

14 lΔc2
If 14 ο-ο ο-ο (D) is included, it' s
ηο surprise that a different type of
game arises. This is because after
castlίng, White has defended the
g2-pawn, and Black has to find an-
other possibilίty instead of ... Vie7-
b7. Ιη thίs positίon Whίte may try:
27 h6 :g8 28 'iWc7 +- Magem-San
Segundo, Madrίd 1994.
b2) 15•..J.b7 16 ef'iVg517 ω
h5 (17 ...d5? 18 f4! 'iVh6 {οι 18 ...ef
19 'ifg4! ±} 19 f6 'iVxf6 20 fe 'ifb6
21 :el! :fe8 22 ~hl 1:.xe5 23lΔf5
:ae8 24 1Ixe5 :xe5 25lΔxg7 ~g7
26 'ifg4+ ±, Mitrakanth-Prasad,
Indίa 1992) and now (D):

'8.• -8 -8
•.••• •
J.8 •• 8
μω.~
_.JL_
Χ8 8 • •••
8·8 •• ~_
8'8 . ' 8
8 .Δ8 8 •• ••
8'8 .Δ_'
~
~
Δ" ~~ •
~ • • 8:~
.~ ..•
"~~.'
~A~
"Δ"
Q~
~
rQ~

W
~.!;

a) 15 ef e4 16 J.e2 J.xf5 17
~

α
8 8 ••
~~"
•• &ζ,,!k
••• :=
Δ" •
U;
~ 8~
ΗΔ"
U • ~

liJc2 Vie5 18 a4 J.e6 19 'ii'd2 f5 20
ab ab 21lΔd4 b4 1/2-1/2 A.Sokolov-
Dolmatov, Moscow 1994.
q) 15liJc2:
bl) 15•••:b8 (a passive move,
but one which features ίη many
plans) 16efe417 :el J.xf518 ~4
and now, rather than 18••.J.g6? 19
J.xe4 J.xe4 20 f3 d5 21 fe de 22
'iWg4 Vic5 23 cιPh 1 :b6 24 lΔf5
:g6 26 Vixe4 ± Κramnik-Nunn,
Monaco 1994, 18•••J.xd4 is better:
19 cd d5 20 'iWd2 :b6 21 'iWf4?!
(21 J.fl ;1;;) 21 ... J.g6 22 J.e2 'iWb4
W
b21) 18 a4 d5 19 'iWb3 d4 20 cd
ed 21 f4 'ifh4 22 lΔd5 :ad8 23
J.e4 :fe8 24 J.f3 .i.xd5 25 J.xd5
'iWf6 26 ab 'ifxf5 is level.
b21) 18 J.e2 d5 19 J.f3 :ad8
20 'ifb3 with a smal1 advantage Ιο
White, although Black has definite
counterplay after 20 ... e4 with the
idea of ... J.g7 -e5 and ...:d8-d6,
threatening ... J.e5xh2, Topalov-
vaίser, Metz 1992.
b23) Nisipianu-Genescu, Ro-
manian Ch 1994, developed more
sharply with 18 'ii'e2!?, whίch was
56 10... ~g7 Ι! .fιd3
met by 18.•. d5! ? 19 f6! ~xf6 20
f4 ef 21l2)f5 (intending h2-h4 +-)
21 ... h4 (21 ...%Σfe8 22 '-f3 ~e5 23
h41Wf6 24 1Wxh5 ~c8 25l2)h6+!
rJ;g7 26 %ΣaeΙ! 'JIfxh6 27 %Σχe5 ±)
22 %ΣΧf4! 1i'xf4 23 "ii'h5 (intend-
ing 24 l2)e7+!) 23 ... %Σfe8 24 %Ση!
with a decisive attack. The sacή­
fice f5-f6 has many merits; ίι frees
f5 for the knight, and opens the
diagona1 for White's bishop; there-
fore the move 18•••~f6! deserves
attentίon.
b3) Chekhov's recommenda-
ιίοη 15•••f4!? deserves attention:
16a4~b717abableadstoacom­
plex but fairly standard type of ρο­
sitίon.
14 1i'b7!? (D)
W 18
The queen restrains the pawn, as
mentioned ίη the previous note.
Okhotnik's idea of giving υρ g2-
15 ef 1Wxg2 16:η ~b7 17 l2)e3
has ηοΙ yet found any takers.
The natural 14...~b7 is also
possible, for example, 15 l2)e3 fe
16l2)f5 "it'f6 17 ~xe4 d5! 18 ~d5
%Σd8 19 "it'g4 %Σχd5 20 "ilxg7 'ji'xg7
21 l2)xg7+ r3;e7 22 l2)f5+ 'itί>e6 23
l2)e3 %Σd7 24 Φe2 f5, and ίπ spite
of White's extra pawn ίπ the end-
game, Black has the advantage,
Anand-Κramnik, Moscow 1994.
15 "ilf3 ο-ο
15..•f4 16 g3 h5 17 gf ~g4 18
'ilg2 ~h6 19 f3 ~d7 20 fe de 21
1i'f2 ~e6 22 l2)b4 %Σg8 οccuπed ίη
Konguval-Antonio, Calcutta ορ
1994.
16 l2)e3
Puttίng a knight οη d5 again is
ηο good: 16l2)b4 a5 17 l2)d5 ~e6
18l2)e3 (forced) 18 ... f4 19l2)n f5
20 l2)d2 d5, and the centre sweeps
away a11 obstacles.
16 Ι4
17 l2)d5 ~e6
18 g4 (D)
18 ~e2?! is worse: 18 ... ~xd5
19 ed f5 20 g4 fg 21 hg e4 221i'h5
h6 23 ο-ο-ο? b4 24 c4 b3 25 ab a5
26 g4 a4 =F Qi-Vyzhmanavin, Bei-
jing 1991. Of course, he should
have continued 23 g4!? or 23 0-0 -
why castle ίηΙο the attack?
b4!
Ιπ the game Dolmatov-Ma.Tseit-
ιiη, Beersheba 1991, Black did ηοΙ
have time Ιο exρose the possibili-
ties of his pieces. He tried one of
the possible ideas but executed ίι
 •....._••
lO... .i.g711.td3 57

.Ι. After 20 ed e4!? 21 .i.xe4.i.xb2

22 :ΙbΙ .i.e5 23 c5! 'ifb5 24 c6
••
~ •••
~ ~ .Ι~Ι
• ~
83 .i.c3+ 25 ~d 1 :Ιfe8 the game ίη­
ι ••
~ .......

.,• -
~ ~ ~ tensifies, whίch Dolmatov was ap-
_Ι_lΩ8 • parently trying ιο avoid by makίng
the precautίonary move 18 g4.
~.~Δ.Δ.
~ n~.\Wι.
~ ",,"~
~
ΔU
R
~
w

. .:
u ......."
~.~ U
_
•
" ?-'1'~
~
~
Β
•
~~

weakly: 18•••:t'e8?! (18 ... :Ιae8!?

19 ~fl f5 20 gf :Ιχf5 is possible,
but 18 ... f5? immediately is wrong
due to 19 gf:Ιχf5 20 ~7+! +-) 19
~fl :Ιac8 20 a3! :Ιc5 21 :Ιd 1 ~f8
22.i.bl a5 23 g5 'ίi'd7? (23 ....i.xd5
24 ed b4 25 ab ab 28 .i.xh7 with a
complex game) 24 :ΙgΙ .i.xd5 25
ed e4 26 .i.xe4 b4 27 ab ab 28
.i.xh7 bc 29 bc :Ιχc3 30 :Ιd3 :Ιc4
31 h4 and now White has a clear
advantage.
19 c4
19 :ΙbΙ and 19 ~fl are interest-
ing, preserving the knight οη d5,
as ίη both cases its exchange
opens the route bl-h7 straίght Ιο
the black kίng. True, Black could
have gained counterplay οη the b-
file after 19... bc. 19 cb is wrong be-
cause of 19....i.xd5, as is 19lί)xb4
because of 19... a5.
19 .i.xd5!
Just ίη tίme!
20 cd (D)
Β
20
Otherwise, after g4-g5 the bishop
will be excluded from the game.
21 g5 .i.d8
22 .i.fi!? ~h8?!
It would have been better first 10
move the rook to c8.
23 h4?!
Dolmatov misses his chance ιο
play a pawn sacήfice: 23 .i.h3 :Ιg8
(of course, ίι is very dangerous 10
take ίι immediately: 23 ....i.xg5 24
.i.f5 followed by 'ίi'f3-h5, :thl-gl,
:ΙaΙ-cΙ and a decisive attack) 24
:ΙgΙ :Ιχg5 25 :Ιχg5 .i.xg5 26.i.f5
and the initίatίve is οη White's
side.
23 ••
0 :Ιc8
58 10... j,g711 j,d3

Topalov does not let such possi- It's already Ιοο late Ιο play
bilίties go by a second time. Now 27 ...1Σχb2 28 1Σc 1 1Σχa2 29 1Σc6!
the initiative pas ses to him. j,c5 30 'ifh5 b3 31 'ilh6 'ifg7 32
24 j,h3 1Σc2 1Σc7 'ilxh6 33 gh and White has at
25 j,f5 j,b6 least a perpetual check. (Typeset-
26 1Σh2(D) te r's note: ίη this lίne 31 ...1Σf7 ap-
pears Ιο win for Black.)
28 ~gl 1Σg8
29 ~hl 'fic7
30 :gl :cl
31 :hg2 1ΣχgΙ+
32 <it>xgl fg
33 'fih5 g4!
Of course, Black will ηοΙ allow
the h-file Ιο be opened up, and the
position is level.
1/1-111

Β 14 c4 quickly leads Ιο a lively

26 ... Ι6?!
Why not 26...:xb2? Black prob-
ably did ηοΙ want Ιο give υρ the c-
file, which, ίη combination with
'iff3-h5 and the opening of the g-
file after the unavoidable ... f7-f6,
could have had decisive signifi-
cance. But as regards the initiative,
Black οη the queenside tums ουΙ Ιο
be the more important, and his ρο­
sition is quite defensively sound.
After 27 1ΣcΙ 1Σχa2 the b-pawn be-
comes dangerous, threatening ίη
particular 28 ...b3, when 29 'ifxb3
fails ίη view of 29 ... j,xf2+. The
real threat οη the kingside after 28
'ifh5 f6 is ηοΙ visible.
27 ~η j,d8
game and a skirmish ίη the centre.
Immense complications frequently
arise οη the board. Ιη this encoun-
ter, White tumed ουΙ Ιο be very
well prepared from the opening,
but then 10st the thread of events
and suffered a defeat.
Game 12
Ι. Gurevich - Dlescas
BielIZ 1993
1 e4 c5 2 ffi 1Ωc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4
lbf6 5 1Ωc3 e5 6 lbdb5 d6 7 j,p
a6 8 lba3 b5 9 j,xf6 gf 10 lbd5
j,g7 11 j,d3lbe7 12lbxe7 'ilxe7
13 ο-ο ο-ο
14 c4 (D)

Β Gagarίn, Bucharest 1993.
Ιη Sveshnikov ρositions with
doubled f-pawns, White sooneror
later runs ίηto the problem οί the
c-pawn. Indeed the knight οη a3
most frequently enters the struggle
via c2. Therefore a choice arίses as
ιο whether Ιο move the c-pawn one
square or two. c2-c3 looks slίghtly
more solίd. Ιη the event οί c2-c4
White is gaίning time, but it also
has an essential disadvantage: ex-
changing the more central c-pawn
for its black colleague οη the b-file
ίη many cases opens the way for
the black infantryman οη d6. Ιη­
deed Black himselftrίes (when the
white pawn is οη c3) Ιο divert this
pawn from the centre with ... b5-b4.
Ιη this case, White, foregoing static
considerations, tήes Ιο bring the
knight ίηΙο the fray more quickly
and attack the lίght squares.
14 ••• Ι5
15 "'f3
Other continuations are:
1O... ~g 7 11.i..d3 59
a) 15 "'e2 ~b7 16 1ΣadΙ 1Σad8!
17 f3 fe 18 fe ί5 (this is Black's
fυndamental idea; clearίng the way
for the central pawns by exchang-
ing the ΡeήΡheral b- and f-pawns)
19 tΩc2 bc (a sound idea, but ίη­
exactly executed; 19... fe 20 ~xe4
1Σxfl 211Σxfl bc is better) 20 ~xc4
d5 21 ed 'iWc5+ 22 ΦhΙ Φh8 23
tΩe3 ί4 24 tΩg4 ~xd5 25 tΩxe5
~xg2+ 26 Φχg2 1/2-!J2 Tnnoshenko-
b) 15 ef?! e4 16 ί6 (iί 16 1Σfel,
then the simple 16... ~xί5 with the
idea οί 17 ...1Σfe8; ίη this situation
yet another disadvantage οί c2-c4
is evident - after ...e5-e4 the g7-
bishop gaίns additional strength)
16...~xί617 1ΣeΙ d5! 18cd~xb2
19 ~xe4 "'xa3 20 1Σe3 'ifd621
~xh7+ ΦΧh7 22 "'c2+ "'g6! 23
"'xb2 1Σg8 24 1Σg3 "'e4, and hav-
ing repulsed the attacks, Black re-
taίns his extra mateήal, Van der
Wiel-Nunn, Wijk aan Zee 1992;
17 ... d5! has a witty idea - ίι closes
the hl-a8 diagonal and opens υρ
another, a3-f8, for the queen.
c) 15 1ΣeΙ fe 16 ~xe4 1Σb8 17
cb ab 18 'iWd3 ί5 19 ~d5+ Φh8 20
tΩxb5 e4 21 "'b3 ~e5!? (21 ......e5
23 a4 ~d7 24 1Σe2 ± Nunn-Kosten,
Leeds 1990) 22 a4 ~d7 23 1ΣacΙ
"'e8 24 ~c4 1iΊι5 :j: Kosten-Chand-
ler, Hastings 1990/1. We will fol-
low this interesting game Ιο the
end: 25 h3? (25 g3) 25 ......g6 26
60 10... Ji.g711 .id3
Ji.d5 :g8! 27 g3 (27 Ji.xg8 :xg8
28 g3 f4 +) 27 ... t:.g7 28 :c7 ifh5
29 :ecl 'ίWxh3 30 :lc3 (nothing is
gained by 30 ttJxd6 :xg3+ 31 fg
Ji.d4+ -+) 30 ... f4 31 :xd7 fg 32
:f7 (D)
Β 'ίWxg7, seizing the initiative after
32...'ii'hl +! 33 Φxhι g2+ 34 ΦgΙ
JLh2+ 0-1. Chandler's bήΙΙίant on-
slaught shows the many ways of at-
tacking the king.
d) 15 'ii'h5 is quite a popular
continuation, e.g. 15...:b8 16 ef e4
17 :ael JLb7 and now:
dl) 18 b3 bc 19 bc Φh8 20
ttJbl?! (20 1Dc2!?) 20 ...:g8? (Black
should play 20 ... JLe5! 21 JLc2
:bc8 22 ttJd2 d5 23 :bl JLa8 with
an unclear game) 21 g3 :be8 22
ttJd2 JLc3 23 :xe4 JLxe4 24 ttJxe4
JLf6 25 'ii'h6 with good compensa-
ιίοη for the exchange, Dvoirys-
Ikonnikov, USSR 1991.
d2) 18 ttJc2 bc 19 JLxc4 d5 20
JLxd5 JLxd5 21 f6 ifxf6 22 'ί!kxd5
:xb2 23 lbe3 'ί!ke6 24 a4 ifxd5 25
ttJxd5 f5 26 g4 :b7 = Short-Illes-
cas, Linares 1992.
d3) 18 ifg4 :fe8 19 Ι3 h5 20
'iνxh5 JLd4+ 21 ΦhΙ ef 22 gf
'iνxel and then:
d31) 23 Ι6!? 'iνxf1+ 24 JLxf1
JLxf6 25 ttJc2 JLg7! 26 JLd3 :e5
27 'iνg4 :be8 28 cb ab 29 ttJd4
:e3 30 JLxb5? (30 <itιgl!? JLxf3 31
ttJxf3 :xd3 32 ttJg5 :d2 33 Φf1
=) 30 ... :8e4 -+ Howell-Y.Ivanov,
Le Touquet 1990.
d32) 23 'iνg4+ Φf8 24 ttJc2
JLxf3+ 25 'ί!kxf3 'ί!kh4 26 ttJxd4
'ίWxd4 27 f6 'ί!kh4 28 cb ab 29 ifg2
'ίWh6 30 :gl "ii'h8! 31 "ilί'f2 :e6 32
:g7 :c8 33 'tWf4 :xf6 34 'tWxf6
a difficult defence, Dvoirys-Yak-
ovich, Leeuwarden 1993.
15 ... bc (D)
15 "i!t'f3 forces Black Ιο fix his
position.
w
 10... ~g7 11 ~3 61

16 lL1xc4 d5 22 ~b3, then 22 ....:c5! 23 ':adl

17 ed e4 ':g5 24 ':d2 'ifg6 with initiative Ιο
18 'ilfe3!? Black.
18 'ife2 is worse: 18 ... ~b7 19 22 .. ο 'ii'g5
~c2 ~xd5 20 ~b6 .:tad8 21lL1xd5 Now 22"J:tc5 would be a mis-
.:txd5 22 .:tadl .:tb5! with a small take. After 23 :adl 1i'g6 24 d7
advantage to Black, Vlad-Gagarin, ':h5 25 'ifxh5 'ikxh5 26 d8'if ':xd8
Romania 1992. 27 ':xd8+ ~f8 28 lL1d6 Black falls
Giving back the d5-pawn is ηοΙ ίηΙο a diffιcult position.
the best solution, but after 19 d6 23 ':adl Ι5
'ike6 with the idea of ...f5-f4 Black 24 b4?!
again remains the more active. Οη White should have played the
the third rank the white queen has slightly more active 24 d7! ':cd8
greater freedom Ιο manoeuvre, and 25.:td6;!;.
for the time being hinders ... f5-f4. 24 c,iJh8
18 ,,0 ~b7 25 ~b3 ~c6
19 d6! 'iWf6 26 d7
19"0'ii'e6 does ηοΙ assist the ad- 26 ':fel would have been more
vance ... f5-f4, and after 20 ~e2

-
careful.
~d5 21lL1b6 .:tad8 22lL1xd5 'ii'xd5
23 ':fdl, ίι leads ιο a big advantage
forWhite.
20 ~c2
Obviously ηοΙ 20 ~e2?, which
.26

~..d%

8 8Δ8 ••
~
..'~,
__
~
':cd8(D)

would have given the black f-pawn

'."'8 8 8
the chance Ιο carry ουΙ a destruc-
8 • •_
••_
tive incursion ίηΙο the white camp
with ... f5-f4-f3. "~~ιι.~
U"l.J~
•
20 ..ο Ι4 8.t.8 • • ...
2O...%Σac8 deserves attention. Δ.
d •~ ~Δ~
u u
21 'ifh3 ':ac8
Attempting Ιο win the pawn • 8:8.:=
with 21 .. 0~d51eads Black Ιο disas- W
ter after 22lL1b6 ~e6 23 'ifh5. 27 .:td6?!
22 b3! Αη unclear game arises after the
Α precise move, after whίch continuation 27 lL1d6! 'ifg6! 28
White gains a small advantage. If lL1e8 ~xd7 (28 ... ~e5 29 ':d6!!
62 1O... ~g7 11 ~d3

hd6 30 1IIc3+ %f6 31lbxf6 ~xM 33 'ii'f3 Ioses Ιο 33 ...e2 34 ':el

32 'ίi'xc6 ~e7 33 1IIxa6 f3 34 g3 'iVxb4.
~xf6 35 'ii'e6) 29lbxg7 'ii'xg7. 33 Ιε
27 ~xd7 34 'ii'f3 ε2
28 ':fdl 'ii'e7! 35 ':'εΙ Wxb4
29 lbb6? It's still ηοΙ Ιοο late Ιο make
Gurevich probably overlooked mistakes. After 35.....td4+ 36 ~h 1
Black's next reply. Some chances 'ii'xb4 37 'ii'xe2 ':'xd5?? 38 'iί'e8+
for a successful defence remain rj;g7 39 ':'e7+ White would even
after 29 ':'xa6 ~b5 30 ':'ad6 ':'c8! havewon.
31 lbb6 ':'c3 32 'ifh5 e3 33 ':'e6 36 ':'xe2 ~d4+
'ίixM 34 fe ~c6 35 lbd5 ~xd5 36 0-1
~xd5 fe~. Or 37 rj;f1 'ii'bl+ 38 ':'el 'ii'b5+
29 ~ε6! 39 ':'e2 ':'xd5 and Black has an ex-
Unexpectedly showing υρ the tra bishop.
weakness of White's back rank.
30 ':'xd8 ':'xd8 Conclusion
31 lbd5 ~xd5 The continuatίon 11 ~d3lbe7 gives
32 ~xd5 Black the foundations Ιο rely οη
32 ':'xd5 ':'xd5 33 ~xd5 'ilxb4 gaining a position with good coun-
34 g3 f3 35 111f1 was more stub- terchances. If ίη the variation with
born, even though after 35 ... ~d4 13 c3, play is relatively quiet and
White's situation remains cήtica1. marked by manoeuvring, then 14
32 ε3 c4 frequently leads ΙΟ rapid con-
33 Ιε flict.
6 10...i.g7 without 11 σtd3 -
White fίanchettoes
Ιη general the Sνeshnikoν falls
quite easily into the classification
of νariations, but there is one bot-
tleneck, when White plays 9 .i.xf6,
and Black then plays ... f7-f5 and
... .i.f8-g7. He can do this ίη any or-
der. And most often of all White re-
acts Ιο this with a set of standard
moνes: c2-c3, lί)a3-c2, g2-g3,
.i.f1-g2, which can also be made at
any time. We haνe tήed Ιο clear υρ
the nuances of one or another moνe
order ίη the notes to actual games.
Therefore the next two chapters
(which are closely bound together)
are diνided under different head-
ings depending οη whether the
bishop is fianchettoes οη g2 or ηοΙ
Both are supposedly transposi-
tional, between the chapter οη
1O....i.g7 and the one οη 1O...f5.
Game 13
Adams - Salov
Dortmund 1992
1 e4 c5 2 lί)f3 lί)c6 3 d4 cd 4lί)xd4
lί)Ι6 5lί)c3 e5 6lί)db5 d6 7 .i.g5
β6 8 lί)β3 b5 9 .i.xf6 gf 10 lί)d5
.i.g7
11 c3
Ιη Belίavsky-Dolmatoν, Yugo-
slaνia 1992, White seized the ίη­
itiatiνe after 11 c4 f5 (11 ... b4 12
lί)c2 a5 13 .i.d3 is significantly
worse, after which ίι is difficult Ιο
carry out ... f6-f5) 12 cb lί)d4 13
.i.d3 ο-ο 14 lί)c2 lί)xc2 15 'iWxc2
.i.b7 16 ο-ο .i.xd5 17 ed.
Howeνer, ίη the game Ηeπera­
A.Diaz. Haνana 1993, Black found
a better reply: 14•••fe 15 .i.x~ %:ιb8
16 ο-ο (16 lί)d4 ed 17 'ifh5?f5 18
.i.f3 %:ιΧb5 +) 16... %:ιΧb5 (16 ... ab?!
17 lί)xd4 ed 18 %:ΙC 1 ;1;) 17 lί)xd4 ed
18 %:ιcΙ .i.b7 19 'iWf3 'ifg5 20 a4!
%:ιΧb2 (20 ... %:ιΧd5 21 %:ιc7 .i.a8 22
%:ιa7 .i.c6 23 %:ιχa6 .i.b7 24 %:ιa7
leads to a draw) 21 %:ιc7 .i.xd5 22
.i.xd5 ~f6 23 'ii'd3 %:ιb6 =.
11 ••• fS(D)
12 ef
Α dίstinctiνe idea ίη the sρίήt of
the Benko Gambit was used ίη
Trapl-Volke, Ustye 1994: 12 g4 fg
13 lί)c2 .i.e6 14lί)ce3 lί)e7 15 h3
g3 16 fg lί)xd5 17 ed 'ii'g5 18 ι;itf2
.i.d7 19 h4 'ii'f6+ 20 ι;itg2 .i.h6 21
lί)g4 'iWg7 22lί)xh6 'it'xh6 23 'iWcl!
'ifg6 24 'ife3 %:ιg8 25 .i.d3 f5 26
64 JO ... ~g7 without 11 ~d3 - Whitefiαnchettoes
W b2) 16g4~7! 17 ~d3 (17 ~g2
':'hf1 0-0-0 27 c4, and White held
οη Ιο the initίatίve.
12 ~xf5
13 ~c2 ο-ο
14 ~ce3 ~e6
14••• ~g6 also deserves serious
attention. After 15 h4 (D) the fol-
10wing variations are possible:
Β 32 ~d6+ 'it>g6 33 ~h3 ':'c6 would
a) 15•••f5!1 16 h5 ~e8 17 g4!
~d7! (l7 ... fg? 18h6+-; 17 ... f418
~f5 ±) 18 gfΦh8! 19 h6! ~f6 20
~g2 ':'b8 (20 ...:'c8!? 21 a3 ~g5
with counterplay for Black) 21 a3
~g5 22 ~e4 ~e7 with an unclear
game, Komeev-N.Nikcevic, Catto-
lica 1992.
b) 15••• h6 and now:
bl) 16 h5 ~h7 17 ~d3 f5 18 g4
e4 19 ~e2 (19 ~c2 fg 20 ~xg4
'iί"g5 =+= is worse) 19 ... f4 20 ~xf4
':'xf4 21 "ίIi'd5+ 'it>h8 22 'iWxc6 'iί"f8,
and Black has some initiative for
the sacήficed pawn.
':'a7 18 "ίIi'd2 f5 and the black
pieces are harmoniously placed)
17 ... ~xd5 18 ~xd5 e4 19 ~c2
':'b8 20 iVd2 b4!, and problems
could arise for the white king.
15 g3 ~e7
Αη attempt Ιο attack the c3-
pawn immediately was unsuccess-
ful ίη Geller-Arakhamia, Aruba
1992: 15••• b4 16 ~g2 bc 17 bc ':'c8
18 ο-ο f5 19 'iWh5 'it>h8 20 ':'adl
~e7 21 ':'d2 e4 (21 ... ~xd5 22
~xd5 ~xd5 23 ':'xd5 l1xc3 24
':'fdl l1c6 25 ':'xe5 ±) 22 l1fdl
~e5 23 ~f4!? ~f7 24 'iWh6 ':'c6 25
~e6 ~xe6 26 'iWxe6 'iί"e8 27 ~c4
':'f6! 28 ~xd6 ':'xe6 29 ~xe8
'it>g8! 30 l1d8 Φf7 31 111d7 ':'g6?
32 ~fl, and Geller achieved a per-
manent advantage. True, 31 ... ':'xc3
have allowed Arakhamia Ιο main-
tain the balance, but even after this
she would have had to defend with
a seήes of forced moves.
 1O... .i.g 7 without 11 .i.d3 - White jίanchettoes 65
The preliminary 15...:b8 was
seen ίη the game Shamkovich-
Maguiera, Las Vegas 1994, which
continued 16 .i.g2 f5 17 'iVh5! b4
18 ο-ο bc 19 bc 'iVd7 20 f4! 'iVa7
(20...1tb5!?) 21 ΦhΙ 'iVc5 221tadl
1tb2 23 fe! de 24 1txf5! .i.xf5 25
lDxf5 'iVf2 26 lbde7+ lDxe7 27
lDxe7+ ~h8 28 lDg6+ ~g8 29
.i.d5+, and White won.
16 .i.g2 :b8
17 ο-ο lDxd5
Salov would probably have been
better off allowing White the pos-
sibilίty of exchanging knights
himself: 17...f5 18 lDxe7+ 'ilxe7
19 lDd5 'ii'd7 (this continuation is
more exact than 19 ... 'iVf7 20 lDb4
':b6 21 a4 with a small advantage
to White) 20 'ii'd2 with chances for
both sides.
18 .i.xd5! (D)
Β
Α very ΡήηcίΡΙed move, the aim
of which is ιο maίntain a knight οη
d5 against Black's dark-squared
bishop.
18 ... ~h8
19 a4 .i.h6!
Black, of course, is betteroff ex-
changing his passive bishop.
20 ab ab?
Black's οηlΥ chance of ηοι fall-
ing ίηΙο a difficult situation was a
swift exchange οη e3, for example,
20....i.xe3 21 fe .i.xd5 (or 21 ... ab
22 ':a6 ':b6 23 ':a7 ;1;) 22 'iVxd5
':xb5 23 'iYd2 a5 With a defensible
position.
21 lDc2! (D)
We think the reader can under-
stand why Adams rapidly removes
his knίght from attack.
66 IO... ~g7 without 11 J.d3 - White fianchettoes

23 ... J.g5 win because of 27 ... J.g4) 27 ... fe

24 tLJb4 J.d8 28 ':'xb8 ':'xb8 29 ':'xe4 with an ex-
Salov wishes ιο play ....:.b8-b6, trapawn.
ίη order Ιο exchange the a6-rook or 26 ... Ι5
force ίι ίηΙο a less actίve positίon. The only move. If the bishop re-
Alas, his idea was ηοΙ fated Ιο be treats Ιο d8, then 27 'ifh5 is deci-
carrίed ουΙ sive, and if 26 ...J.a7 or 26 ...J.c5,
25 J.e4! (D) then 27 tLJf6!.
27 tLJxb6 'ilfd8 (D)

Β
Whίte's threats arise unexpect- W
edly from every quarter, and apart 28 tLJd7
from anything else, the black kίng Again Adams had a choice. The
could also be ίη danger. contίnuatίon 28 'iVh5 J.g4 29 'iVh6
25 J.b6! ':'f6 30 'i'h4 fe 31 'ii'xg4 (31 ':'a7 is
The planned 25•• ..:r.b6 does ηοΙ worse: 31 ... J.f5 32 tDd5 ':'e6 with
work because of 26 'ii'h5 f6 27 an unclear game) 30....:.xb6 31
'ii'h6 ':'f7 (27 ....:.g8 28 ':'xb6 J.xb6 ':'a7 would also have led Ιο a clear
29 'ii'xf6+) 28 ':'xb6 J.xb6 29 advantage for Whίte.
J.xh7!, and White wins. 28 'ilfxd7
26 tLJd5 29 ':'xd6 'ilfe7
Probably the most exact. Also 30 ':'d7 'ilfg5
possible: 26 'ffh5 f5 27 ':'xb6 (but 31 J.c2
ηοΙ 28 'ίWxh3?? J.xf2+ 28 ~xf2 There's absolutely ηο ροίηΙ ίη
fe+ 29 ~g2 JΣf2+, and Black is al- giving Black counterchances after
ready winnίng; 27 J.c6 does ηοΙ 31 J.g2 J.xg2 32 Φχg2 f4.
 10... ~g7 without 11 ~d3 - Whitefiαnchettoes 67

31 ••• e4? 18 ο-ο a5 (D)

Leading Ιο a forced loss, and al-
though 31 ...:be8 is better, after 32
f4 few chances for salvatίon re-
maίn for Black.
32 'tWd4+ -'Ι6
33 'tWa7 -'h6
34 :al b4
35 'tWd4+ _Ι6
36 :aa7 'tWxd4
37 cd 1-0

Ιη the next game Black quickly

manages Ιο exchange the knight,
and moreover, ίη distinctίon from
the previous game, Whίte is forced
Ιο stήke agaίnst the d5-knίght. This
is a model of how Black should
play agaίnst indecisive actίon by
hίs opponent.
Game 14
Arakhamia - Nunn
London 1993
1 e4 c5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4
lbf6 5 lbc3 e5 6 lbdb5 d6 7 ~g5
a6 8 lba3 b5 9 ~xΙ6 gf 10 lbd5
~g7 11 c3 Ι5 12 ef ~xΙ5 13 lbc2
~oo 14 lbce3 lbe7 15 g3
15 ..• lbxd5
Now White has the additίonal
possibilίty of hitting d5 with the
bishop, whίch is ίη ΡήηcίΡΙe desir-
able.
16 lbxd5 ο-ο
17 ~g2 :b8
W
Α distinctive picture of this
variation. White's problems are Ιο
bήηg pressure οη the d6-pawn and
create active play οη the kingside;
the black pieces are ready Ιο attack
the weak queenside pawns, but ίη
this case can also show aggression
against the white kίng. This preor-
daίns a tense struggle over the
whole board.
19 'ii'd2
Τοο indecisive. Ιη a way ίι as-
sists the attack οη the d6 pawn and
impedes the move ...b5-b4, but ίη
fact ίι tums ουΙ that there is ηο tίme
for an effectίve attack οη the pawn,
and indeed d2 is not a very happy
posίtίon for the queen.
a) 19 Wh5 is a much more ener-
getic continuation, e.g. 19... ~h8
20 :adl f5 21 :d2 (D) with the
possibίlitίes:
a1) 21 ••if7 (best) and now:
δll /0... 1.117 wiIhouIl1 j,43 - Whitefiαnchettoes
Β h3 'i'c5 29 g4 with an advantage
all) 22 'tWh3 'i'd7 (it's interest-
ing Ιο note that the game Arakh-
amia-Nunn, Hastings 1993/4, went
οη 22 ... ~g6, and here the players
agreed a draw) 23 ':fdl ':bd8 24
'ifh4 'ii'e6 25 tLJe3! (25 tLJc7 'iixa2
26lbxb5 d5 27 'iie7 ~h5 28 ~xd5
~xdl 29 ~xa2 ':xd2 30 ί4 =Do-
chev-Rogozenko, Plovdiv 1992)
25 ...1Wg6 (25 ... e4 26 ':d5 ±) 26
J.h3 f4. Here, ίη Szekely-Rogoz-
enko, Εfοήe 1993, Szekely naively
used his opponent's recommen-
dation, published ίη Informαtor
54, and played 27 J.f5, but after
27 .. :Wh5 he certainly could not
avoid a mateήaΙΙοss. Now Rogoz-
enko recommends 26 'ilie7, but who
knows whether or not the trusting
reader is awaiting a standard dirty
tήck? Ιη anycase, after 26 ... J.f6!?
(26...f4 27 Ixd6 ':xd6 28 ':xd6
'iWbl + 29 ':dl 'iWxb2 30 tLJf5 ±) 27
'iWb7 (27 'iWc7 ί4 28 tLJd5 J.xd5 29
':xd5 e4 gives Black a dangerous
initiative) 27 ...J.g5 28 'ifxb5 ί4 the
game is far from clear.
a12) Kotronias chose 22 'ifdl
against Illescas, Κhalkidhiki 1992.
After 22 .. :ίi'd7 23 a3?! e4! 24tLJf4?
(24 ':el =) 24 ... J.e5 Black seized
the initiative. White should have
continued 23 ί4 (a standard move
fixing Black's central pawns), for
example, 23 ... e4 24 'ithl b4 25 c4
a4 26 tLJe3 %:ιbd8 27 'iie2 'iVc8 28
to White, Schafer-Loew, Germany
1994. The manoeuvre 'i'dl-h5,
':al-dl-d2 and then 'iWh5-dl is
very interesting.
a13) The continuation 22 'ilie2
was tested ίη Kozakov-Rogoz-
enko, 1993, which went: 22 ... 'iie8
23 tLJe3?! (23 a3 e4! was better,
with the idea οί ... J.g7 -h6, ...J.f7-
h5) 23 ...J.xa2 24 ':al ~b3 25
':xa5? (25 ':xd6!? a4 +) 25 ... f4 26
tLJf1 +.
a2) Instead 21 ...'ilid7 is worse
after 22 :rdl. Here are two exam-
ples οη this theme:
a21) 22...'ilif7 23 'ilih4! e4 24
lbf4 J.e5 25 ':xd6 J.xd6 26 ':xd6
':fe8 27 g4, and White, at the Ρήce
οί a small mateήalΙοss, has ήΡped
apart his opponent's mighty pawn
centre, Geller-Fedorowicz, New
York 1990.
a22) 22...':g8 23 tLJe3 J.f8 24
~d5 f4 25 ~xe6 'iWxe6 26 tLJf5,
and by now White has seized the
 1O... i.g 7 without 11 i.d3 - White fiαnchettoes 69

commanding heights, Κroppa-Shu­ 22 "'g5 "'f7

raev, Alushta 1994. 23 1Id2 e4
b) We should add that 19 a3 is 24 1Iedl
too sluggish, forinstance 19 ... f5 20 Α tardy retum Ιο the cοπect
'iί'd2 ~h8 21 1Ifdl e4 22 f3 i.xd5 plan, but time has already slipped
23 'iί'xd5 ef 24 i.xf3 i.e5, and by, and Black has deployed his
Black's chances are somewhat bet- forces harmoniously. Now Arakh-
ter, Kova~evic-Κramnik, USSR- amia faces a diffιcult fight for
Yugoslavia 1991. equality.
19 Ι5 24 i.e5
20 1Iadl 'i1i'h8 (D) 25 'iWe3 "'g7
26 ~hl b4(D)

W
21 1Ifel W
Again a move which from gen- Preparations for the attack are
eral consideratίons seems to 10se a over. The tίme has aπίved for deci-
tempo; the real place for the rook is sive actίon.
οη the d-file. There's nothing more 27 Ι4?
dangerous ίη the Sveshnikov than Of course, ίι is ηοΙ easy Ιο cope
playing with general considera- with Black's pressure, but now the
tions ίη mind. Concrete thinking white king might be ίη danger. The
and purposefulness are demanded English Grandmaster's bishop pair
from the players, and Dr. Νυηη becomes quite savage.
demonstrates precisely these quali- 27 ef
tίes ίη this very game. 28 i.xf3 bc
21 000 "'d7 29 lΩxc3
70 10... Ag7 without 11 ~3 - White fiαnchettoes

%9 bc: ίι ηο good because of two knights, which led Ιο a more

29 ... AxdS 30 :xd5 Ι4 31 gf .i.xf4 tense situation. The similarity with
321Wd4 j,eS, winning. Game 14 lies ίη the fact that White
29000 Ι4! (D) here again plays somewhat indeci-
Α very telling blow, destroying sively, and Black makes excellent
White's bastions. use ofthis.

Game 15
Short - Kramnίk
Novgorod 1994

1 e4 c5 2lLJf3lLJc6 3 d4 cd 4lLJxd4
lLJf6 5 lLJc3 e5 6 lLJdb5 d6 7 .i.g5
a6 8 lLJa3 b5 9 .i.xf6 gf 10 lLJd5
.i.g7 11 c3 Ι5 12 ef .i.xf5 13 lLJc2

30 gf
31 1Wxe6
W
.i.xf4
.i.xd2
.*.
•••••
13

•
Ι.
• •••• _
.t.. •
illi1 •
.i.e6 (D)

32 .i.e4 .i.xc3
.'.l2J.~~.
33 bc
Black has aπ extra exchaπge as
-

• ••••
ηη!?)
-

Β • .~
_

well as aπ attack.
33
34 'ii'd5
35 1Wd3
36 .i.d5
37 :xel
:be8
:e5
'fIe7
:el+
'fIxel+
~
~
u •
. .
Δ~l2J. "Δ"
u
~
u
.'iV~~.:
W
Arriving ίη the world chess elite,
38 Φg2 :12+ Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik
39 ~h3 'fIeS is an ardent admirer ofthe Svesh-
40 .i.g2 :e2 nikov, aπd because of this, one can
0-1 judge the development of the sys-
tem as a whole from the variations
Ιη contrast Ιο the previous game, he chooses to use. Kramnik has
Black this time decides to keep the introduced many new ideas, often
 10... J.g7without 11 J.d3- Whitejianchettoes 71
eχpeήmentίng. Βυι along with thίs,
despite serious home analysis, he
has Ιο be ready for the unexpected,
and eνen for disappointment. And
ίη such (alas, unaνoidable) circum-
stances, one must use the aίd of
old, tested contίnuatίons.
So, ίη this νery toumament,
Iνanchuk managed Ιο demonstrate
the insufficiencies of 13 ... lDe7,
haνing placed the moνe ίη questίon
under some doubt (we hope this is
temporary - see Game 18). And
Κramnίk retums to the path of 'of-
ficial' theory. Precisely thίs unίνer­
sal approach ιο opening problems
distinguishes the strongest chess-
players ίη the world.
14 g3 0-0
If 14••.J.xd5 15 "xd5 lΔe7,
then after 16 "b7! ο-ο (16 .....c8
17 'ifxc8 :xc8 18 a4! ±) 17 J.g2
d5 18 :dl (180-01 'iid6) 18 ...:b8
19 "xa6 :a8 20 'tWb7! (20 1fxb5 1!
:b8 21 "c5 :xb2 22lDe3 d4 with
an unclear game) 20...:b8 21 W'a7
:a8 22 "c5 Whίte is a pawn up.
15 J.~ a5
Beshukoν-Vasilίeνich, Alushta
1994, ended ίη a dίsastrous attempt
by Black ιο begin to play oνer the
whole board (by ...b5-b4, ... f7-f5,
... e5-e4), without first preparing
himself: 15•••:b8 16 lΔce3 f5 17
ο-ο 'ifd7 18 f4 b41 19 "a4 e411 20
'ifxc6! 1-0.
16 ο-ο :b8 (D)
W
17 :el?!
Α stereotyped moνe, which
loses tίme. Ιη the future Short will
return to the normal plan of dou-
blίng rooks οη the d-file, but Black
manages Ιο bring about the posi-
tίoη he has ίη mind.
17 Ίi1ι5 was better: 17 .....d7
(17 ... b41 18lΔce3 with the idea of
:al-dl, lΔe3-c4 ±) 18 :adl f5 19
lΔce3 (19 :d2 e4 20 :fdllΔe5 21
lΔce3lΔg6 22 a4! 1 ba 23lΔc4 J.e5
and despite the extra tempo ίη
comparison with the game, the
position is dίfficult to assess ίη
anyone's faνour) 19... e4 (l9 ... f4?
20 J.e4) 20 lΔf4! with the idea of
J.g2-h3, attacking the f5-pawn,
after which definite difficultίes
might arise for Black.
17 "d7
18 "'h5 Ι5
19 :adl e4
Black carήes οη hίs fundamen-
tal role with the central pawns,
72 10... .i..g7 without 11 .i..d3 - Whitefiαnchettoes
whilst play with ....:ta8-b8 and
... a6-a5 serves precautionary aίms:
hίηdeήηg the breakthrough a2-a4
and the appearance of the white
knίght οη b4 _For a long tίme Black
did ηοΙ manage Ιο do this, but now
he usually manages Ιο prepare play
ίη the centre.
20 lLιce3 tLleS
21 .:te2 tLlg6!
22 .:ted2 .i..eS! (D)
W 24 tLlc4
Every move by Black is under-
lίned by one aim; the creation of a
mighty central grouping of pieces
and preparation of an attack. The
pressure of the struggle is intensi-
fying all the time. Αι this Ροίηι
White cannot find a use for his
beautifully distributed pieces; nor-
mal ideas are ηο longer sufficient,
and finding a way Ιο defuse the
situation is ηοι at all easy. Never-
theless, from common sense one
might come to the conclusion that
White has ηοι yet done anything
which might lead him Ιο defeat,
and that therefore there is still
enough ίη his position Ιο maίntaίn
the balance. White should possibly
have played 23 .i..h3!? or even 23
ΦhΙ!? and ... waίt!
As regards the assessment of the
position, the dynamic strength of
the black pieces counterbalances
White's structural supeήοήty.
23 a4?!
Maybe the former World Cham-
pionship contender Short realizes
that ίη the Sveshnίkov ίι is difficult
Ιο seek common sense, and there-
fore strives for the initiative ηο
matterwhat. Furthermore, waiting
passively is ηοι ίη Short's charac-
ter. Ιη any case, White's 23rd move
is ηοΙ so much interesting, but
ήsky.
23 ba
"fIf7! (D)
W
 1o. .. JLg7 without 11 iLd3 - White Jiαnchettoes 73

The d5-knight is rooted ΙΟ the have won. Therefore, Whίte's next

spot. move should be directed agaίnst
25 'i'gS 30... JLg4.
If ίι is consistent Ιο try Ιο ρυι 29 1:ιe8!
ίηιο practice the idea of the move Ιη spite of his time trouble,
23 a4, then one should contίnue 25 Kramnik still understands the
lbxe5 de 26 'iί'g5 ~h8 27 c4 with situatίon whίch has arίsen. Now he
some compensation for the pawn. once more creates the threat of
Another route, involving exerting ... f5-f4.
pressure οη the d6 pawn leads one 30 ~6
οη a wίld goose chase after 25 JLn If 30 lbdb6, then 30 ... JLxc4 31
Ψιfg7! 26lbde3 f4. JLxc4 (31 lbxc4) 31 ... f4 32 'iWxe4
25 ~h8 JLxc3.
26 ~hl :g8 30 ••• lbf4! (D)
27 'iί'e3 "'g7 With the move 30 'i'b6 White
28 JLn :bf8 (D) has averted Black's breakthrough
Black has completely seized the 30...f4, which would be met by 31
inίtίatίve. The attack is ηο! far over lbxe5 de 32 lbc7. Βυι the knίght
the hίlls. invades οη f4 with ηο less effect.

W W
29 JLe2 31 lbxf4?
Ιη the event of 29lbdb6 f4 30 31lbc7 is a more stubbom de-
'ifxe4 JLg4! 31 JLe2 JLf5 32 'ifc6 fence: 31..J:te7 (31 ...lbxe2 32lbxe8
fg 33 fg JLxg3! 34 hg 'ifh6+ 35 Φg1 'ii'g4 33 lbxe5 de 34 'ife3 doesn't
lbf4 36 'iff3 JLe4 Black would work) 32lbxe6 :xe6 33 lbxe5 de
74 1O... ~g? without 11 JLd3 - White ftαnchettoes

34 "'e3 (34 1Wxa5 lbxe2 35 1Σχe2 Game 16

"'g4 36 1ΣdeΙ f4 is dangerous for Savon - Agamanaliev
White). Moscow 1991
31 000 ~xI4
321Σd4 d5 1 e4 c5 200lLΊc6 3 d4 cd 4lLΊxd4
White gives back the exchange lLΊΙ6 5 lLΊc3 eS 6 lLΊdb5 d6 7 ~g5
ίη the hope of diminishing his ορ­ a6 8 lLΊa3 bS 9 .txf6 gf 10 lLΊd5
ponent's pressure. .tg7
33 1ΣΧ:d5 11 g3 (D)
If 33 lLΊe3, then 33 ....te5 (or
33 ... ~c7) wίth the idea of 34 ... f4
and 35 ... e3, and White faces insur-
mountable problems.
33 ~xd5
34 1ΣΧ:d5 ~c7
35 'ii'c6 Ι4
Κramnik persistently caπies ουΙ
his plan, which is typical of the
variation. Regrouping his forces at
the rear has brought him success.
36 lLΊd6 1Σe6
37 .tc4 'fie7 Β
38 1ΣeS The idea is to develop the bishop
Α fιnal stunt ίη time trouble. οηΙο the 10ng diagona1, as the
38 1ΣΧ:d6 knight οη a3 might be ουΙ of the
39 1Σχe7 1Σχc6 game for a 10ng time.
40 .txg8 'ίtxg8 11 000 fS
41 1Σχe4 a3 12 ef (D)
0-1 12 ~g2 is also possib1e, for ex-
amp1e, 12000fe 13 .txe4 .te6! and
Now we will examine the vari- now:
ation ίη which White prepares to a) 14 lLΊΙ6+ ~xf6 15 ~xc6+
fιanchetto his bishop οη move 11 'ίte7 16 .txa8 'fixa8 17 1Σgl! (17
(11 g3). The game often ίη this f31 h5! 18 "e2 h4 190-0-0 "c6!
case 1eads into vaήatiοns we have 20 'ild2 hg 21 hg 1ΣxhΙ 22 :xhl
a1ready examined, but sometimes 'ikxf3 =F Solomon-Spasov, Νονί Sad
has independent signifιcance. OL 1990) 17 ... h5 18 c3 ~g4 19
 1O... J.g 7 without 11 J.d3 - White fiαnchettoes 75
'ffd3 J.f3 20 llX2 and Black has
compensation for the sacrificed
exchange.
b) Romero, playing against Sa-
10ν at Wijk aan Zee 1992, did ηοΙ
accept the sacήfice: 14 1fh5 IΣc8
15 c3lbe7 16 IΣdl IΣc5!? 17lbb4
1fb6 18 1fg5! Φf8 19 1fe3 h5 20
lbd3 (20 lbxa6 is a tempting idea,
intending 20.. :fixa6 21 1Wxc5 dc
28 IΣd8#; however the mate does
ηοΙ work because of 20 ... J.h6, but
21 ο-ο deserves attention) 20 ...IΣc6
21 J.xc6 1fxc6 22 f3 J.h6 23 1ff2
a5 24 ο-ο Μ, and again Black's ac-
tivity is worth the exchange.
c) Matters turned ουΙ better for
White ίη Tolnai-Ikonnikov, Buda-
pest 1991: 14 c3 ο-ο 15 0-OIΣb8 16
lbc2 'ifd7 17 .tg2 f5 18 IΣel Φh8
19 'ifd2 e4 20 lbf4 d5 21lbd4 J.g8
22 IΣadl a5 23 J.f1 b4, and Tolnai
proved ΙΟ be the better prepared for
the ensuing comp1ications.
Β 15 lbc2
12 J.xf5
Here the pawn sacήfice is very
interesting: 12•••e4!? 13 c3lbe5 14
'ifh5 and now 14••.00+ 15 Φe2
J.b7 16 IΣdl ο-ο! 17 .th3 IΣb8
gave Black a good game ίη Alzate-
Ochoa, Bayamo 1984. Arakhamia' s
attempt ιο improve with 14••..tb7
did ηοι lead ιο any benefits: 15 IΣdl
b4 16 lbc4lbf3+ 17 Φe2 bc 18 f6
J.xf6 19 lbxf6+ 1fxf6 20 lbxd6+
Φf8 21 bc IΣb8 221fc5 Φg8 23
lbxb7 +- Madl-Arakhamia, Bel-
grade 1994.
13 .tg2 IΣc8?
Now Savon rea1izes his plan
without obstacle, by occupying d5.
13•••e4 14 c3 lbe5 15 ο-ο .tg4 16
1Wd2lbf3+ 17 J.xf3 .txf3 18lbc2
leads ιο a complex game.
Black demonstrated model play
ίη Savon-Kharlov, Alushta 1992:
13.•..te6 (allowing the exchange
sacrifice examined above) 14 c3
ο-ο 15lbc2 a5! 16 ο-ο Φh8 17 a4
IΣb8 18 lba3 ba 19 lbc4 IΣb5 20
IΣxa4 f5 21 'iWd2 .txd5 22 J.xd5
lbe7 23 .tg2 (if 23 lbe3, then the
reply 23 ....th6 is very unpleasant)
23 ... d5 24lba3 IΣb8 25 c4 d4 26
lbb5 e4 27 IΣa5 d3. Ιη the graphic
expression of Grandmaster Savon,
'the cart has begun rol1ing down-
hill'. Black has an undoubted ad-
vantage.
14 c3 lΔe7
lbxd5
76 1O... ~g7 without 11 ~d3 - White jianchettoes

16 ~:xd5 22 lΩxd5 ifb7

Black's biggest misfortune is his 23 I:1fdl Ι5 (D)
totallack of counterplay.
16 I:1c5 (D)
Β Β •••
Β..

-. -
•.
~
~
B,..tlJ."B
~
rμ
Β
8
.,.
•

•.~
'f~
. u:
Β
~
U
~??f~_~
"iν8
U

.:.
• ~
•
Β •

,~
~
U
~
D
~'~
/~~

w
Α typical position, ίη which the
W d5-knight is clearly SUΡeήοr to the
17 lΩe3 ~e6 g7-bishop.
18 ο-ο ο-ο 24 lΩb4
19 a4 24 lΩe3 is weaker: 24 ... f4 25
Α typical blow, which can be lΩf5 (25 ifxd6? fe 26 'iVxc5 ef+)
seen more than once ίη the pages of 25 ... e4 (or 25 ... d5) 26lΩxd6 ed 27
this book. lΩxb7 I:1d5 with compensation.
19 000 'it'b6 24 Ι:1Ι6
Aiming Ιο exchange the g7- 25 I:1a6 ~Ι8
bishop for the knight fails after 26 I:1c6
19ooo~h6? 20 ~xe6 fe 21 'ti'g4+. 26 I:1dal! is more exact.
20 ab ab 26 000 ifr7
21 ifd3 ~xd5 Or 26oo.I:1xc6 27 ifd5+ rj;g7 28
If Black had played 21ooo~h6, lΩxc6, again favοuήηg White.
then 22 b4 I:1c7 23 lΩf5 ~xf5 24 27 I:1xc5 dc
'it'xf5 would have made 24...I:1xc3 Black is saved from the weak-
impossible because of 25 ~e4. ness οη d6, but is ηοΙ far from dif-
Even the presence of opposite-col- ficulties. The knight οη d5 will
oured bishops would οηlΥ serve dominate.
ΙΟ strengthen White's attacking 28 lΩd5 I:1d6
possibilίties. 29 b3! (D)
 10... j.g7 without 11 j.d3 - Whitefiαnchettoes 77

Β W
Of course, the knight must be 37 1ΙΙ7
supported by the pawn from c4. Α generous reply. 37•••'ii'xb3
29 ••• e4 was a more stubborn defence: 38
30 Wd2 Wh5 'ii'xf5 1If7 (the endgame arising
Black would be glad Ιο play after 38 ..."f3+ 39 .xf3 ef+ 40
30...c4 himself, but ίι does not work: ~xf3 is 10st for Black) 39 'ilxe4
31 bc bc 32 'ii'd4 ':'c6 33 ':'a1, and b4, although after 40 ':'e5 things
White is winning. are nevertheless pretty bad for
31 c4 Wf3 Agamanalίev.
32 ':'81! h6 38 "'e5 "'h5
If 32••:"xb3, then White must 39 'iWd5+ ~g7
seek retribution against the black And here exchanging queens
kίng: 33 1IIg5+ ':'g6 34 lΔe7+ after 39•••'ii'f7 40 ':'b5 is hopeless
j.xe7 35111xe7. forBlack.
33 ':'88 'ifd3 40 ':'e5 .f3+
Once again taking the pawn, 41 Φg1 ~g6
33•••'ii'xb3, does ηοΙ work because 42 'δ'e6+ Φg5
of34lΔe7+. 43 h4+ ~g4
34 'ii'f4 'ii'd1+ 44 'ii'g6+ Φh3
35 ~g2 %Σxd5 45 1Wxf5+ 'iWxf5
36 cd 1i'xd5 (D) 46 .:.xr5 j.d6
37 ':'e8 47 ':'d5 j.f8
Α mistake ίη tίme trouble. 37 48 ':'eS b4
'iWb8 e3+ 38 f3 11f7 39 1Ixb5 was 49 ':'xe4 j.g7
simpler. 50 ~ 1-0
78 JO... J.~7without 11 J.d3 - White.fianchettoes

Conclυsion basis of so-called 'general consid-

Ιη the variations ίη which White
employs a lάng's fianchetto and
transfers the a3 knight to the cen-
tre, Black experiences ηο particu-
lar difficulties. Decisive and very
purposeful play is demanded from
both sides, and moves made οη the
erations' are often mistakes. Most
frequently of all White' s attenttion
moves Ιο the centre, and Black's
hopes lie οη the flanks (either as an
attack οη the king or as a blow Ιο
White's pawn chain by means of
... b5-b4).
 7 10.....tg7 without ll.i.d3-
White does not fίanchetto

The games ίη this chapter are

closely bound υρ with the duels οί
the previous chapter. However, at
some point White prefers not to
fianchetto hίs bishop.

Game17
Adaιns - Beliavsky
Debrecen Echt 1992

1 e4 cS 2 ffi tα6 3 d4 cd 4lhxd4

lhf6 5 l2Jc3 e5 6 lΩdb5 d6 7 .i.g5 Β
a6 8lha3 b5 9 .i.xf6 gf 10 ~5 threatens to play 19lhxe7+ 'ifxe7
.i.g7 20 lhxf5, and neither 18 ...'ifd7 nor
llc3 Ι5 18 ...:lc8 offers a defence to this
12 ef .i.xf5 threat.
13 l2Jc2 ο-ο 19 lhxd5
14 lhce3 .i.e6 19 .i.xd5!? .i.xd5 20 lhxd5 a5
15 .i.d3 Ι5 21 ο-ο b4 22 f3 bc 23 bc e3 24 ί4
16 'ifh5 e4 deserves attentίon, with good pros-
17 .i.c2 ~7 pects for Whίte.
18 .i.b3 (D) 19 ... a5
18 ••• lhxd5 20 lhf4 .i.xb3
Α novelty. Previously one saw 21 ab 'fie7
18...Cίth819lΩf4 .i.xb3 20 ab 1i'd7 22 ο-ο b4
21 :ld 1 :lf6 22 'ife2 :lb8 23 ο-ο Α standard plan. Black begins a
:lh6 24 f3! lhg6 25 lhxg6+ :lxg6 mίnority attack, which notίceably
26 ί4 .i.h6 27 b4 with a big advan- heightens hίs bishop's inf1uence.
tage to White, Ghίnda-Boersma, 23 cb 'fie5
Lucerne 1985. Note that White 24 'fig5
80 10... J.ι:7 without 11 J.d3 - White does notfiαnchetto

After 24 ~h3 the attempt Ιο 29 'it'xf5 :ΧΙ5

encroach οη the enemy camp by 30 ~xg7 ~g7
means of 24oooab? 25 ':'xa8 ':',xa8 Now White must apply his not
26 ~g5 h6 27 .f7+ ~h8 28 .b7 insignificant forces ίη order to
.e8 29 ~Ώ+ Φg8 30 ~xd6 +- is maintain the equίlίbήum.
ηοΙ successful, but sacήficίηg two 31 %tc4 d5
pawns with 24000f4! 25 .xe5 J.xe5 32 %txb4 ':'c7 (D)

••••••
•
26 ba ':'fb8 27 ~g5 e3 would gίve
Black better chances.
24 00. ab
.Ι

.·-.. -.-••
25 :adl ':'a2
••• Β

-. - .
26 tDh5 Ι4 (D)

• ~.ΙΒΖΒ
. -..
~ .Ι~ ~~
• • •~ ·ι ΒΔΒ Β •
u •
R u"Δ~
u •

----
•
">;
• - • •

~. ~//- 1Wi mϊi~

. .
-
•
~Ι~ •
••
_ B"l.J
• • Β:=
ΒΔΒ ~Β
W
• 33 ':'dl?!

• .:.:=
~'%
.D !?"

27 'iί'g4?
~~.~
~

W
~ ~Δ~"'ί:I<
,,~
, ~ ~!?~ Such passive tactίcs could have
led White into serious unpleas-
antness. He should have quickly
provoked a cήsίs: 33 g4! fg (or
33 ....:.g5 34 f3 ':'c2 35 h4 ':'g6 36
The desire Ιο achίeve victory ηο g5 h6 37 %tb7+ =) 34 hg %tc2 35
matter what the cost ίη thίs case dίd %td4 Φf6 36 f3! Φe5 (36...ef 37 g4!
Adams ηο favours. He should have =) 37 %tfdl %txf3 38 %txd5+ Φe6
resigned hίmself to the fact that the 39 ':'5d2 ':'xg3+ 40 Φfl, with good
positίon was level. After 27 'iί'xg7+ chances to save the game.
.xg7 28 ~xg7 Φχg7 29 ':'xd6 33 000 %tc2
%txb2 30 %td4 f3 31 g3 %txb3 32 34 %tbd4 ~Ι6
%txe4 %tb8 a drawn four rooks end- 35 h3 Φe6
ing would have aήsen. 36 ':'bl ~e5
27 ':'a7! 37 ':'bdl ~e6
28 %t(1 'it'f5 38 %tbl (D)
 1o. .. J.g7 without 11 J.d3 - White does notfiαnchetto 81

••_••• •-
Β • _ • 52 Φα Φd4

• _ • ΒΑ
53 Φe2
54 Φrι
.fl.b2+
1/2_1/2

.ι_l.. Ιη the next game (iη which we

sha11 discuss some move-order nu-
• ~A.
_ ~''',v • ances) Κramnik hoped to achieve a
_Δ_ • ΒΔ comfortable game by making use
u~Z.
• ~Δ.
u • of 13 ... lbe7, but a nasty surpήse

• .=!!.. -
~._".
Β
~d ~
~
awaited him...

Game 18
38 ... Φd6?! Ivanchuk - Kramnik
And Black lets slip a generous Novgorod 1994
reply. He should have played more
decisively: 38...f3! 39 gf (if 39 g4, 1 e4 c5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4
then 39....fl.g5 40 b4 h5, winning) lbf6 5 lbc3 e5 6 lbdb5 d6 7 J.g5
39 ....fl.xf3 40 .fl.bdl .fl.f5 41 .fl.4d2 a6 8lba3 b5 9 J.xf6 gf 10 lbd5 Ι5
.fl.xd2 42 .fl.xd2 .fl.f3 43 Φg2 .fl.xb3 11 ef J.xf5 12 c3
-+. 12 ... J.g7
39 b4 e3 13 lbc2 lbe7 (D)
Beliavsky's last chance for suc- As regards the nuances of the
cess lay ίη the move 39 ... f3. Now position, the most precise move ίη
with exact play Adams achieves a our ορίηίοη is 13...0-0, and if 14
peacefuloutcome. g3, then 14 ... J.e4. There remains
40 fe fe 14lbce3 and then g2-g3, and other
41 .fl.d3 .:.rn plans which are less popular at the
42 .fl.xe3 .fl.xg2+ present time.
43 ΦhΙ .fl.xb2 14 J.d3!
44 .fl.dl .fl.g5 White may try 14 lbxe7, for
45 .fl.d4 .fl.e5 example, 14...Φxe7 (14 ....xe7 15
46 .fl.g3! .fl.el+ .f3) 15 lbb4 Φf8 16 .f3 .c8 17
47 .fl.gl .fl.e4 .d5 'iWb8 18 J.d3 J.d7 19.f3 a5
48 .fl.xe4 de 20 J.e4 .fl.a7 21 J.d5 f5 22lbc6 1-0
49 .fl.g4 Φe5 Adams-SandstrDm, London 1993.
50 ΦgΙ .fl.xb4 Black played better ίη Adams-Shi-
51 .fl.h4 .fl.b7 rov, Khalkidhiki 1993: 14•..hc2
82 10... J.g 7 without 11 J.d3 - White does notfiαnchetto
W 16 'ifg4
15 'ifxc2 'ilxe7 16 J.e2 (16 a4
ο-ο!) 16...0-0 17 ο-ο d5 18 :fdl
:fd8 19 1fb3 'iIc5 20 a4 ba 21
:xa4 a5 22 g3, and White had οηlΥ
a ιninίmal advantage.
Before this game White usually
reacted to Black's transpositίon
(13 ... ~e7 instead of 13 ...J.e6) by
means of the standard 14 lLJce3,
which led to a normal poδίtίoη
from this varίatίon: 14...J.e6 15 g3
~xd5 16 ~xd5 ο-ο 17 J.g2. Of
course, this narrows down his pos-
sibilίtίes. After 13 ...J.e6 White can
for the tίme being manage without
14 ~3 and straίght away develop
his kίngside with g2-g3 and J.f1-
g2.
Ivanchuk finds a tactίcal route
and seeιninglyplaces Black's 14th
move ίη doubt.
14 ~xd5?!
Ofcourse,ifI4••.J.e6?!, then 15
J.e4, and white controls the central
lίght squares.
(Typesetter's note: It ίδ worth
mentioning that 14...e4 is bad af-
ter 15 ~e7 'ifxe7 16 J.xb5+ axb5
17 'ifd5 and White wins a pawn.)
15 J.xf5 ~e7
15...~f6 is ηοι proιnising, as it
allows White to consolidate con-
clusively his hold οη f5, which has
ηο less (if ηοΙ more) significance
than d5, as it ίδ closer Ιο the enemy
kίng.
ο-ο
17 :dl d5
18 ω
Αη unexpected questίon arίses:
how should Black caπy οη? There
is the simple threat of 19 J.e4, and
18..Jla7 solves not a single prob-
lem ίη view of 19 ο-ο followed by
:d l-d2 and :f1-dl. Therefore the
following queen sacrifice ίδ practί­
cally forced.
18 ... d4
19 J.e4
Threatenίng the terrible 20 ~f5.
19 de
20 :xd8 ef+
21 Wxf2 :axd8
22 1fe2 Ι5 (D)
Black seems to havecompensa-
ιίοη, but Ivanchuk precisely and
boldly plays to extίnguish the ίη­
itiatίve, and is left with a big
material advantage. Now for Κram­
nik there remaίns οηlΥ the hope of
a ιnistake by his opponent ίη the
complίcatίons, and if he hadn't
 lO... ~g7without 11 ~d3 - White does notfiαnchetto 83

decided upoo the sacήfice theo he

would have eoded υρ ίο a strategi-
cally worse positioo with 00 pros- ~.~
~
~.
...
•..• .•••
•
~
- 8)
pects.
ΒΥ cootiouiog iostead 22••Jιd6
23 ':dl ':fd8 24 ':xd6 ':xd6, he
could have saved the queeoside,
••• • ••
• ••• •
but oot the game.

. . . .:
~.~
~
Δ~ U
~'~
~,,"
~
_
~.~
~

W
m
~
~.~Δ?r:.':;;
~ ,!';

Why oot cootinue 27••..:8d3+?

White cao reply 28 \Wxd3! ed (or
28 ... ~e5+ 29 <ith3 +-) 29 ':xe7
':xb2 30 ~xd3, aod the eodgame,
despite the preseoce of opposite-
coloured bishops, is quite hopeless
for Black. StήctΙΥ speakiog, 28
1Iixd3 also maiotaios all White's
W defences, but this had Ιο be fore-
23 ~b7! ':d7 seen eight moves previously ίη or-
After 23•••lbg6 Black is de- der Ιο evaluate the consequeoces of
Ρήved of couoterplay 00 the d-file, the apparently threatening queeo
for example 24 ':d 1 lbf4 25 1Iic2 sacrifice!
aod his positioo becomes abso- 28 ':e2
lutely hopeless. Now all becomes clear.
24 ~xB6 ':fd8 28 ~e5+
25 'iVxb5 ':d2+ 29 Φf2 ':dl
26 ~g3 e4 (D) 30 ':el!
Black is oot helped by 26...lbg6 Α final precise move to a virtu-
27 ':f1, e.g. 27 •••lbf4 28 ':xf4 ef+ oso defence.
29 ~h3 with the idea of ~a6-b7- 30 ':8d2+
f3, or 27•••e4 28 1Iib3+! ~h8 29 31 Φf1 ':xel+
:Xf5 ~e5+ 30 ':xe5lbxe5 31 'iie6 32 <itxel hg2
+-. 33 ~c8
27 ':el! lbg6 It's time for White ιο attack...
84 10... !ιi..[:7 without 11 !ιi..d3 - White does notfiαnchetto

33 Ι4 game, which started with the ... e6

34 Jl..f5 !ιi..Ι6 move order).
35 Jl..xe4 :txh2
36 a4 l2Je5 Conclusion
37 a5 Ι3 Here as well, by choosing a precise
38 a6 ':hl+ move order, Black can look σρΙί­
39 ~d2 :th2+ mίstically Ισ the future. Ivanchuk's
ι-ο novelty is very interesting and ίη­
Ιη fact Kramnik lost ση time flicts a powerful blow ση one
(this was the 40th move ίη the branch of this varίation.
8 10... f5 11 i..d3
Game 19
Beliavsky - Shirov
Groningen 1993
1 e4 c5 2 ~f31Oc6 3 d4 cd 4 ~xd4
~Ι6 5 ~c3 e5 6 ~db5 d6 7 .i.g5
a6 8 ~θ3 b5 9 .i.xf6 gf 10 ~5 Ι5
11 .i.d3 .i.e6
12 'ii'h5 :tg8 (D)
The latest noνelty ίη this posi-
ιίοη, although the theory is deνel­
oping so quickly that this one is
beginning Ιο look quite old. Before
this, the continuation 12 ... .i.g7
underwent all-round tests. Ιη the
1980s 12 ... f4 was also reνiνed,
haνing preνiously been considered
unsuccessful because of 13 g3.
W ing 15 'ji'f3! .i.xd5 16 ed e4 17
13 g3
Other moνes will be exarnined
ίη subsequent games.
13 ~d4
Ιη this position, which is ήch
with chances for both sides, the
following νariatίons are possible:
a) 13...:tg5!? 14 'iί'xh7 .i.xd5
15 ed ~e7 (Timoshenko recom-
mends 15 ... 'ii'a5+ 16 c3 b4 17 dc!
'ii'd5 18 .i.c4 'i!ke4+ 19 Wd2 :tg7
20 'iί'h4;t) 160-0-0 'iib6!? (but ηοΙ
16 ... e4 ? ! 17 .i.e2 'iί'b6 18 'iί'h4!
:tg6 19 g4 f4 20 g5! f3 21 .i.n e3
22 :td3! e2 23 .i.h3 ± 'ii'a5 24 b4
'ii'a4 25 :txf3 a5 26 :tel ! ab 27 'ii'f4
f6 28 ~bl 'ii'xa2 29 .i.e6 with a de-
cisiνe adνantage Ιο White, Τί­
moshenko-Rogozenko, Bucharest
1993) 17 :thf1!? (17 f4 :tg6 18
'ίWh3 e4 19 .i.e2 'ii'e3+ 20 :td2 .i.g7
+ Pyda-Zeziulkίn, Poland 1993)
17 ...:tg6 18 'ί!kh3 e4 19 .i.e2 .i.g7
20 .i.h5 :th6 21 g4 'ii'c5 22 Wbl fg
23 'ii'xg4 .i.xb2 24 Wxb2 'ii'b4+ 25
Wal 'ίi'xa3 with a draw, ·according
Ιο Zeziulkin's analysis. (Typeset-
ter's note: 22 .... b4 wins a piece).
b) Ιη the game Otsyko-Skro-
bek, Polanica 1992, Black played
13...:tc8 14 c3 :tg6!?, and follow-
'ii'xf5 :tg5! 18 'ίi'f4! ed 19 dc :te5+
86 10.. .j511 ~
20 ~f1 'ii'~6 21 'ii'f3 achieved a
worse position. White found an-
other route ΙΟ the advantage ίη
Kasparov-Salov, Linares 1992,
which contίnued l!lbc2 ':h6 16
1fe2! .i.xd5 17 ed lΔe7 18 f3.i.g7
19lDe3 [4 20 gf lDg6 21 O-O-O?;t
(21 fe lLIf4 22 'iWd2 'iWh4+ 23 'it>dl
±).
But why should Black spend a
tempo οη the apparently superflu-
ous move 13 ...':c8?
c) After 13••.:g6!? (D) White
is at a cross-roads:
W
cl) 14 ef?? .i.xd5 15 fg hg aπd
16....i.xhl.
c2) 14 1fxh7:h6 15 'iWg8 :g6
with a perpetual attack οη Black's
queen.
c3) 140-0f4!?(thequeenonh5
tums ουΙ Ιο be unoccupied, all the
more so as Black can therefore
develop aπ attack with a tempo:
14...:h6!? 15 'iWdl f4).
c4) 140-0-0 lLId4 (this positίon
could have arisen by transposi-
ιίοη ίη Liong Zhinrang-Κinder­
mann, USA 1983, the moves of
which were 12...lDd4 130-0-0 ':c8
{if 13 ...':g6, then we find our-
selves ίη our positίon} 14 ΦbΙ fe
15 .i.xe4 b4! 161Dxb4':g517'ii'xh7
d5 18 .i.xd5 .i.xd5 191Dxd5 'ii'xd5
20 'iWd3 .i.xa3 21 'iWxa3 with aπ υη­
clear game) 15 ':d2 (Black threat-
ened 15 ...':h6), and Black has
some quite daπgerous contίnu­
atίons: 1!...bd! 16 ed and now
16...-th60r 16...'iWa5 with the idea
of ...b5-b4 and ....a5xd5; 15 .. ':c8
is also quite possible, ίη analogy
with the game above. Thus for the
time being moving the kίng to
either flank is quite dangerous; his
opponent' s knight is concentratίng
οη d4 with great effect.
c5) 14 c3 .i.g7!? (14...:a7 is
worse) and now (D):

c51) 15 lί)c2 :h6! 16 'iVe2 (16
'iVf3 J.xd5 17 ed e4 18 'iVxf5 ed
19 dc dc -+) 16... J.xd5 17 ed ια7
with a good game for Black.
c52) 15"f3 (forcing events, but
Black is prepared) 15 ... J.xd5 16
ed lΔe7 (16 ... e4 17 'iVxf5 ed 18 dc
'iί'e7+ 19 ~f1 'iί'e2+ 20 ~g2 :f6
21 'iί'd7+ +-) 17 J.xf5 :f6 (ίι is
precisely because of this variation
that 14... J.g7 is necessary; the
rook οη f6 must be defended from
the threat of J.f5-d7+ and 'ίWf3xf6
- otherwise, οη general considera-
tions one would prefer 14 ...:a7,
since ίι is unclear where the bishop
would be best placed) 18 g4lΔxf5
(18 ... ~f8!? 19 :gl J.h6 and οηlΥ
then ... lΔe7xf5 and ...'iί'd8-d7 a1so
deserves attention) 19 gf J.h6 20
:gl rl;e7 21 lΔc2 'ii'd7 22 lΔb4
'iί'xf5 23 lΔc6+ (23 'iί'xf5 :xf5 24
lΔc6+ ~f6) 23 ... Φf8! 24 'ii'xf5
:xf5 25 a4 :e8 with the idea of
... e5-e4-e3.
Ιη this way, here Black has won-
derful chances, while the white
knight remains οη a3. The assess-
ment of many lines ίη the Svesh-
nikov depends οη these factors: the
knight οη a3, the d5-square, and
the possibilίty of using the extra
centra1 pawn.
c53) 15 'ii'xh7 (there's ηο ροίηι
ίη 10sing two whole tempi for one
single pawn) 15 ... ~f8 16 'iWh5 :h6
17 'iί'e2 (17 'iVf3?? is ηο good:
lO...j5 11 J.d3 87
17 ...J.xd5 18 ed e4 19 'iί'xί5 ed 20
dc 'iί'e7+ 21 ~f1 'ii'e2+ 22 ~g2
:f6, and Black wins) 17 ... J.xd5 18
ed ια7 with the idea of ...e5-e4.
c54) 15 ο-ο f4!? (the standard
15 ...:h6 16 'ii'e2/dl J.xd5 17 ed
lΔe7 is also possible; this is distin-
guished from the simίlar position
with pawns οη f7, f5 and e5, which
arises after other continuations, for
example: 11 ...:g8 12 c3 J.xd5 13
ed lΔe7 14 g3 e4 15 J.e2 h6 16 f4!
with an active position for the rook,
and as a consequence, the possi-
bilίty of ηοΙ hurrying with ... e5-e4,
although ίη this case as well after
16 ... b4 17 cb 'ii'b6, Black has dίs­
tinct counterplay; besides this line,
16... ef is worth looking at) 16 'ii'e2
lΔe7!? (with the ideaof 17 ...J.xd5
18 edf5) 17lΔχe7Φχe7!, andafter
... 'ii'd8-b6 and ... h7-h5 Blackhas a
head start ίη developing an initia-
tive.
c55) 15 0-0-0 :h6 16 'iί'e2 (16
'ii'f3 J.xd5 17 ed 'iί'g5+!? 18 ~bl
can be met by 18 ... e4 19 'ίWe2 ιαs,
or alternatively 18 ... ια7; the black
knight is, of course, more active οη
e5, but from e7 ίι exerts pressure οη
theimportantd5-pawn) 16 ...J.xd5
(16 ... ~f8!?; 16...:c8!?) 17edια7,
and, as we a1ready know, Black has
an excellent game; ίη the same
manner, 13 ...:g6!? is an interest-
ing move, but unfortunately ίι has
yet Ιο undergo practica1 tests.
88 10.. .j5 11 .id3
d) 13ooJtg4 14 f4 (14 h3 fe 15
hg ed 16 ~3 d5 17 cd 'iWa5+ 18 Wt1
'iWd2 +; 14lOe3 fe 15lL\g4 ed 16 cd
lL\d4! +; 14 ί3 ':g6 15 'ifh4 'iWxh4
16 gh .ixd5 17 ed lL\e7 -+ Brust-
man- Κramnik, Groningen 1991)
14... ef (14 ... ..ig7 15 c3 b4 16lL\c2
bc 17 lL\xc3 ef 18 ef ':g5 was un-
clear ίη Magem Badals-I.Sok-
οlον, Barcelona 1992) 15 ο-ο-ο!?
(15 gf .ig7 160-0-0 .ixd5 17 ed
iί'f6 with initiatiνe Ιο Black; 15
lL\xf4 ':xf4!? 16 gf 'iWf6 17 c3 b4
18 lL\c2 bc 19 b3 with a slight plus
for White ίη Timoshenko-Κrasen­
koν, Voskresensk 1992) 15 ... fg?!
(15 ....ixd516edlL\e517.:hel.ig7
with an unclear game; 15 ... fe!? 16
.ixe4 fg 17 lbf6+ 'iWxf6 18 .ixc6+
Φd8 19 .ixa8 :b4 20 c3 .ih6+ 21
ΦbΙ 'iWxc3 with compensation for
the missing material) 16 ef':h4 17
ιbc7+Φd718fe+Wχc719'ifχf7+
Φb6! 20 hg 'iVg5+ 21 ~bl ':xhl?!
(21 ...'iWxg3;1;;) 22':xhl?! (22 'iWf2+
'iWc5 23 'iWxc5+ dc 24 ':xh 1 ;1;;)
22 ... d5!? 23 ':xh7 .ie7 24 .f2+
.ic5 25 'iVf1 .ixa3 26 ba Ζοη­=
takh-Manik, Bratislaνa 1994.
The continuation ίη the actual
game giνes evidence Ιο the fact that
Shiroν is trying Ιο make use of the
weakness ofWhite 's light squares.
Ιι is interesting that preνiously they
were thought weak for Black. As
subsequent events show, this was
the couect assumption. Beliaνsky,
as Black, simply could ηοι hold οη
Ιο the means of using the weakness
of the light squares.
Now we retum Ιο the position
after 13 ...lL\d4 (D):
W
14 c3 fe
15 .ixe4 .ig4
16 iVxh7
16 ii'h4? is certainly wrong af-
ter 16 ... lL\f3+ 17 .ixf3 iVxh4 18
gh .ixf3 19 lL\f6+ 'it>d8 20 lL\xg8
.ixh 1 and Β lack has the better end-
game.
16 0.0 ':g7
17 iVh6
17 'iWh8 lL\f3+ 18 'it>e2 lL\g5+ 19
f3 lL\xe4 20 fg is ηοΙ clear. Beliaν­
sky obviously paid attention Ιο the
paradoxical king move ίη this νaή­
ation giνen by Kloνans.
17 .. ο lL\f3+ (D)
18 'it>e2!
lη the event of the natural con-
tinuation 18 Φη ':g5 (18 ....:g6!?
 10. ..f5 11 J.d3 89

22.f3 'it'xf3+
23 rj;xf3 fS
24 lbc2
24 c4!? is a1so interesting.
24 Φf7
2S lbce3 (D)

W
.••.•.••••-•.•
Ι~.-
~
~.~
~
:.
~~.~.~
~.~
~

19 'ife3 ~h6 20 'ifd3 lbd2+ 21

<ϊt.>g2 lbxe4 22 "xe4, and Black
has compensation for the sacή­
ficed pawn ίη view of his bishop
;~

~.'
~ u
Δ"
U
• •••••• •
.ι.u:.

~ ~Φ~
~ U~
• .~
~
~

~
% V
pair and strong central pawns) 19
lbf6+ rj;e7 (19 ... 'ίWxf6? 20 ~c6+! α Β • .:
Φe7 21 'ifxf6+ Wxf6 22 ~xa8 +- Β
Klovans-Taborov, Kaluga 1985) 2S ••• Φe6?
20 'ifh8 lbd2+ 21 Φg2 lbxe4 22 It is ηοΙ clear whether Black has
lbxe4 :g6 23 'ifh4+ <iStd7 24 sacrificed a pawn or simply missed
'iVxd8+ :xd8 25 f3 ~e6 26 :hdl thίs. Ιn any case 2s...lbf6! was
Wc7 Black's position is also quite more reliable, followed by 26 a4
satisfactory, Magem-Zsu.Polgar, lbxd5 27lbxd5 Φe6 28 :hdl :b8
Madήd 1992. 29 b4 a5! 30 ba ba 31 :xa4 :b2
18 ••• lbg5+ with the idea after 32 a6? of con-
18••':g6 19 1i'e3 ~h6 20 'ifb6 is tinuing 32...:xh2 33 a7 e4+ 34
ηοΙ the road to happiness. Φe3 Φe5! with unavoidable mat-
19 f3 lbxe4 ing threats, as analysed by Beli-
20 fg 'iνc8! avsky.
21 'it'e3! 26 lbxfS lbg5+
21 :&f1 1!fxg4+ 22 ΦeΙ is sus- 27 rj;g4 :f7
picious, as is 21 rj;d3 .xg4 22 28 :hfi
:ael lbf2+ 23 rj;d2 .f3 with a Another, perhaps better, possi-
mighty attack. bίlity was 28 lί)de3 lί)e4 29 :hfl.
21 ••• 28 ... lbe4
90 lO.. ,J5 1 1 .td3

29 IΣadl?! (D) 38 Wg2 ':'c7

Ιι would haνe been better Ιο Ιι would haνe been worth retum-
unleash the knight a lίttle more ing Ιο the b-fίle with 38....:.b7.

.· -..•••-
quickly fίrst: 29 ll)fe3 ':'aa7 30 39 ':'bl! (D)
ciιh3 .*.h6 3 Ι ciιg2 ±.

• ••
••
•• ••• 8
_~8
• • •8Δ~
Ρ R_
u ~•
•~
Δ8 • 8Φ8
.:8 8 8
Β
Β The rest is easy.
29 ••• ':'aa7? 39 ••• ':'b7
29••.:td8! would haνe been a 40 ':'b3 ll)d2
more stubborn defence, with the 41 ':'xb7 :txb7
idea after ll)dS-e3 of replying ...d6- 42 ':'e2 ll)bl
dS and ....*.f8-c5 - Shίroν. 43 ':'c2 ll)a3
30 ll)de3 :tad7 44 m ll)bl
31 ciιf3 d5 45 ρ?!
32 g4! 45 h5 is stronger; 45 ... ll)xc3 46
With the help of tactics White h6 d4 47ll)g7+ We7 48 h7 ':'b8 49
maintains the f5-knight ίη a νery ll)f5+ We6 50 g5 ~ 51 g6 +-.
strong position. 45 ••• ll)xc3
32 ••• .*.c5 46 g6 ':'d7?
33 h4 ll)f6 The fίna1 chance for sa1νation
Otherwise he cannot carry ουΙ lay ίη 46....:.b8 47 g7ll)e4 48:tf3
...dS-d4. ll)f6 49 ciιh3 ':'bl or 46... ll)e4 47
34 .:.ιeΙ b4 g7ll)f6! straight away.
35 ':'eZ bc 47 g7 ciιf7
36 bc .*.xe3 48 h5 ciιg8
37 :txe3 ll)e4 49 h6 Wh7

50 ω! 1-0
Αη important game for theory.
The following game became
fundamental to the reappraisal of
the νalue of the νariation with 13
0-0-0. Black braνely takes the g2-
pawn, and although White uses a
νery cleνer noνelty, its refutation
is indeed thunderous.
Game20
Brodsky - Kramnik
Kherson 1991
1 e4 c5 2 lΩf3 lΩc6 3 d4 cd 4
lΩxd4lΩf6 5 ω eS 6lΩdb5 d6 7
.*.g5 a6 8 lΩa3 b5 9 '*'xf6 gf 10
ιαt5 fS 11 .td3 .te6 12 'ifh5 1Ig8
(D)
13 0-0-0
W Yurtaeν, Hartberg 1991.
This moνe and 13 g3, examined
aboνe, are the main continuations.
13 Ι4 and 13 c4 haνe both gone ουΙ
10.. ./5 11 JA3 91
of fashion. The following altema-
tiνes haνe been tested:
a) 13 c3 1:txg2 14 "'f3 1Ig4 15
ef .txd5 16 "'xd5 lΩe7 17 'tWb7
-*.h6 (l7 ......c8!?) and then (D):
W
al) 18 Μ Wf8! 19 %:tdl (19
lΩe3! -*.xe3 20 fe lΩg8 21 f6!
lΩxf6 22 :'f1 1Ib8 23 "'f3 e4 24
"'xf6 "'xf6 25 1Ixf6 ed 26 0-0-0)
19 ...:'b8! 20 "'f3 1If4 21 "'h3
-*.g5 22 lΩe3 e4 :j: Luther-Shiroν,
Germany 1992.
a2) 18 f6lΩg6 19 1IdllΩh4 20
.te2 1Ig6 21 "'c6+ Φf8 22 :'xd6
"'e8 23 _xe8+ ~xe8 24 .td3 ±
Van der Wiel-Reinderman, Brus-
sels Ζ 1993.
b) 13 ο-ο f4! 14 c4? b4 151Ωc2
-*.g4 16 _xh7 1Ig6 17 h3 -*.f3 18
_xg6 fg 19 gf 1Ia7 -+ Smagin-
13 ••• 1:txg2!
Braνely taking υρ the challenge!
The less energetic 13•• JΣc8 led
92 10.. ./5' 1 .td3
after 14 ~~1 h6 15 'ilt'e2 lDd4 16
"'el fe 17 JLxe4 f5 18 ':xd4 fe 19
"'xe4':g4 20 f4':c5 21 g3 rJi;f7 22
:d2 \lfa8 23 ':hdl ef 24 :e2 :g6
25 'ilt'xf4+ to a winning position
for White ίη Dνoirys-Kalinicheν,
Berlin 1992.
Black could haνe gained rea-
sonable chances for success ίη
Morgado-Miloνanoνic, cοπ 1991,
where he employed 13...h6 with
the idea of capιuring the white
queen (14 ... fe and 15 ....tg4). The
encounter continued thus: 14 h3
':c8 15 f4 ':xg2 16 'ikf3 ':g8? 17 ef
lDd4 18 .txb5+! ab 19 ':xd4 ed 20
fe ':g6 (20 ... fe 21 'ifh5+ rJi;d7 22
'iWf7+ .te7 23lDf6+ rJi;c6 24lDxg8
+-) 21lDxb5 'it'a5 22 f5 ':g5 23 h4
d3 24lDdc3!, and White won. But
if Milovanovic had played instead
16 ... ':g7!, then White's combina-
ιίοη, had play proceeded ίη the
same way, would ηοΙ have worked
because of 20... fe, for example 21
'ilt'e2 rJi;f7 22 ':el ':g6 with a dis-
tinct advantage for Black.
14 Ι4
The capture οη g2 is considered
dangerous for Black precisely be-
cause of this continuation. After
14 '8'f3 ':g4! 15 ef .txd5 161i'xd5
(16 'ilt'xg4 .txh 1 17 ':xh 1 d5 is a1so
good for Black) 16... lDb4 18 'iWb7
':b8 White's affairs are ίη a sorry
state.
14 ... lDd4 (D)
W
15 lDe3
If15 :Jιgl, then 15 ...fe 16 ':xg2
ed, and White has a bad position,
while the game Κindermann-Skro­
bek, Warsaw 1983, continued 15
c31i'a5(15 ....txd516edb4! 17cb
'iWb6 allows White a strong initia-
tive) 16 rJi;bl .txd5 17 ed b4 18
lbc4 ':xb2+ 19 rJi;xb2 bc+ 20 rJi;al
'iWa4 and then 21 ':bl? 'iWxc4! led
Ιο a winning position for Black
(22 .txc4 walks ίηΙο 22 ... lDc2#).
However, by playing 21 fe!? lDb3+
22 rJi;bl ':b8 23 e6! lDd4+ and then
24 rJi;al White, according Ιο Κiη­
dermann's analysis, could have held
on, but ίη the eνent of 24 rJi;cl
.th6+! 25 'iWxh6? \lfc2+! 26.txc2
lDe2# he is mated ίη really beauti-
ful style.
The variation is ηοΙ totally con-
vincing, but the main thing is the
move ....tf8-h6. and the idea con-
nected with ίι of giνing smothered
mate had already been found!

There is one other interesting
ΡοίηΙ ίη Κindennann's analysis; he
also shows this variation: 15 lL\e3
:f2 16 ef .txa2 with the idea of
...:a8-c8 and ... lL\d4-b3#. Now ίι
only remains Ιο unite these two
ideas, which Κramnik does bήΙ­
liantly. Βυι why did Brodsky go
ίηΙο a vaήatίοn which ended (ac-
cording Ιο Κindermann' s analysis)
with the symbol -+? The factis
that he had prepared an interesting
tactical blow ... thus:
15 :f2
16 ef .txa2
17 fe
After 17 lL\g4 Black can carry
ουΙ hίs plan immedίately: 17 ...':'c8
and ... lL\b3#.
17 ••• de
17••..:.c8 is premature due Ιο 18
.txb5+ lL\xb5 19 lL\xb5 ab 20 ed
with an unclear game.
18 lL\xb5!? (D)
Β due Ιο 21 ....:.xc2+. 21 f6+:txf6 22
10.. .j5 11.td3 93
This is what Brodsky had pre-
pared. One gets the impression that
White, who is better mobilized,
has seized the initiative. After the
natural 18•••ab 19 .txb5 lL\xb5 20
:xd8+ :'xd8 21 f6 his position is
more promising.
18 ••• .th6!!
After White's noνelty comes a
mίghty counterblow, whίch de-
cides the outcome of the duel.
19 :'hel
We already know the theme of
theline 19 'ίWxh6? :Xc2+ 20 lL\xc2
lL\b3#, or 20.txc2lL\e2#.
19 ab (D)
W
20 .txb5+
Again, not 20 'ifxh6 because of
20 ... .tc4, and misfortune reaches
Whίte from the other side.
20 ••• rJi;e7
21 'ίWh4+
21 'ίWxh6 still does ηοΙ work
94 1O.. .j5 11 ~d3

"'xeS+ :e6 23 "'c5+ 'ild6 -+ is 2! ~bl 'ila5 (D)

ΠΟ good either.
21 ••• Ι6
22 'Vxn .if7
ΑΙΙ the black pieces are taking
part ίπ the attack, and moreover the
queen and rook are doing so with-
ουΙ moving from their places.
23 ii.d3 (D)
If 23 b3, then 23 ...'iί'a5 24.ia4
'iί'c3 25 :d3 lαιb3+ 26 ~dl W+!.
The mobility of this bishop, which
creates threats ίο every comer of
the board, is amaziog. W
26 lbdS+
The abuodance of pretty mating
finales which are possible ίη the
different variations ofthis game is
simply startling. Ιη particular, if 26
lbc2, then 26 ...:al + 27 lbxal
'ila2#.
27 .ixdS
28 'ilxd4 :al+
29 ι;ι;.c2 Jbdl
The prosaic 29•••ed 30 .ixd5+
'ilxel was also possible, but Κram­
Β nik prefers to continue the game to
23 ••• "iib6 mate.
24 .ie4 30 'ii'xdl 'ila4+
24 c3 :al+ 25 .ibl .ia2 also 31 ~c3
10ses. Ο-Ι
24
This is a more exact move thao Ιη general the Sveshnikov pro-
24••':al+ 25 ~d2 'iWb4+ 26 ~d3, duces a high percentage ofbeauti-
when a straightforward win is οοΙ ful games. We think that this is
ίη evidence. because conflicting play very often
24 c4 .ixc4 arises within it, and sometimes it is

only possible ιο gain a conclusion
ίη such sharp conflicts at the ex-
pense of tactical decisions. And if
one side does ηοι manage or allow
such possibilities, then retήbutiοn
will ηοΙ be slow ίη coming.
Now we will examine the moves
that were popular ίη the early days
of this vaήation - ... 0-0 and ... f5-
f4. These days they still cannot
complain of a lack of attention by
chess players.
Game21
Timoshenko - ZeziuIkin
Wαrsαw 1992
1 e4 c5 2 ~f3 ~c6 3 d4 cd 4 ~xd4
~Ι6 5 lLJc3 e5 6 lLJdb5 d6 7 ~g5
a6 8lLJa3 b5 9 ~XΙ6 gf 10 lLJd5 Ι5
11 ~d3~e6
12 "'h5
Α 1994 game, G.Kuzmin-Zezi-
υΙΙάη, tested the altemative 12 c3,
νίΖ. 12....tg7 13 lLJxb5 .txd5 14
ed lLJe7 15lLJa3 e4 16 .tc2lLJg6 17
"'h5 "'f6 18 h41:tb8 19 lα4 1:txb2
20 .ta4+ ~f8 21 ο-ο lLJf4 22 "'g5
"'xg5 23 hg and the game ended
peacefully.
12 ••• ~g7
13 ο-ο Ι4
After 13•• .1:tb8 14 c4 fe 15 ~xe4
lLJe7161:tadllLJg617f4efl8lLJxf4
'iVb6+ 19~hllLJxf4 201:txf4 White
has the advantage, Kruppa-Mura-
viev, Alushta 1994.
10.. .j5 11 .td3 95
14 c4 (D)
Β
The most ΡήncίΡΙed and danger-
ous move ίη this vaήation. ΒΥ ηοΙ
giving away any breathing space,
White immediately strengthens his
mastery of the light squares.
14 ••. bc
14••• b4 does ηοΙ change the as-
sessment of the position, which is
unpromising for Black, who lacks
counterplay. Thipsay-Chowdury,
Calcutta 1994, continued: 15lLJc2
1:tb8 16 b3 (16 1:tfdl straight away
is alSO good) 16... 0-0 17 1:tfdl "'d7
18 ~e2 f5 19 ~f3 fe 20 .txe4 .tf5
21 'ife2 f31 22 gf .txe4 23 fe 1:tf7
24 1:td3 1:tbf8 25 1:tn1:tf3 26 'ii'xf3
1:txf3 27 1:txf3 "'g4+ 28 1:tg3 +-.
15 ~xc4
It is important to keep the pieces
ίη control of d5, so moving the
knight Ιο c4 is best left for a more
aΡΡrΟΡήate moment. Furthermore,
after the invasion of the knight onto
96 10.. .j5 11 i.d3
d4, White"s knight route alters
(llJa3-c2).
IS ο-ο
Maintaining all the possibili-
ties for the knight here: ... llJd4,
... llJe7 or even ... llJa5. Is •••lDd4
has independent significance; 16
':acl ':c8!? (D) is an interesting
idea by Filipenko:
W
a) The game Osipov-Kozyrev,
Cheliabinsk 1991, continued 17
~xθ6 .:xc 1 18 ':xc 1 ο-ο 19l1Jb5!?
llJxb5 20 ~xb5 ~xd5 21 ed f5 22
~a6 'iί'f6 23 ':c8 e4 24 ':xf8+
~xf8 25 h3 e3 =. Α strong passed
pawn and opposite-coloured bish-
ops ensure that Black will escape
trouble.
b) 17llJb6!? is a stronger idea:
17 ....:xc4!? (17 ... ~xc4 is ηο good:
18 llJaxc4 ':b8 19 llJd5 ο-ο 20
~h 1 f5 21 f3 ± Arsenev-Filipenko,
Κharkov 1980) 18llJaxc4 ο-ο with
the idea of ... f7-f5, developing an
initiative οη the kingside; but Ιο
be honest, we, unlike Filipenko,
are ηοΙ yet convinced that Black
has enough compensation for the
exchange after 19 'iί'd 1.
16 ':acl (D)
Creating the threat of 17 llJxf4,
for example, 16....:&7 17 llJxf4 ef
18 ~xe6 tΔe7 19 ~c4llJg6 20 ':c2
':e7 21 ~d5 ':e5 and White has an
extra pawn, although Black does
have some counterplay, Dobsa-
Wefling, cοπ 1990-1.
Β
16
Black eΧΡeήences greater prob-
lems after 16 ... llJd4 17llJc2llJxc2
18 ':xc2 ~h8 19 ':fc 1 ':c8, e.g. 20
b4 a5 21 a3 ab 22 ab ':b8 23 ~d3
'iί'd7 24 b5 'iia7 25 b6 'iί'a5 26 g3
fg 27 hg h6 28 g4! ':g8 29 llJe7
'iί'xb6 30 llJxg8 ':xg8 31 ~c4 +-
Ulybin-Ju.Nun, Sochi 1988, or20
':c3 a5 21 ':d 1 h6 22 'iί'e2 ':c5 23
a3 f5 24 b4 ab 25 ab ':c6 26 b5 ':c5

27 i.a2 'ika5 28 :'xc5 dc 29 lΔe7
i.xa2 30 lΔg6+ Wg8 31 lΔxf8 +-
Pedzich-Wehmeier, Miedzybrod-
zie Zyw., 1991. It is obvious that
exchanging the strong d4-knight
for the knight οη a3 is ηο good for
Black, and goes against the spirit
of the variation.
17 b3 'iid7
Black has tried ιο avoid moving
his queen and exchange straight
away οη d5, but without success:
17•••i.xdS 18 i.xd5lΔb4 19 :'fdl
± lΔxa2 (otherwise White will play
the simple 20 :'d2) 20 :'c6 'ike7
21 lΔc4 lΔb4 22 :'xd6 lΔxd5 23
:'6xd5 :'xb3 24 lΔd6 h6 25 h4
:'fb8 26lΔf5 'ikf8 27 'iig4 :'bl 28
lΔxh6+ Φh7 29lΔf5 i.f6 30 :'xbl
:'xbl + 31 Φh2 :'b7 32 :'d6 i.g7
33 :'d8 1-0 Wolff-Bronstein, Wijk
aan Zee 1992.
Recently 17.....aS (D) has be-
come popular:
W 18 ... lΔd4 19 lΔc2 lΔb5 20 tΔe7+
10.. .j5 11 i.d3 97
a) 18 lΔbl 'i1i>h8 19 :'fdl! (19
a3?! 'iid8! 20lΔxf4?ef21 i.xe6fe
22 :'xc6 f3 23 g3 :'xb3 -+ Ernst-
Timoshchenko, Tbilisi 1988; 19
lΔbc3 f5 20 %:tfdl :'be8? 21 %:td3 fe
22lΔxe4 i.f5 23 lΔdf6! i.xf6 {or
23 ... i.g6 24 'ίWxg6 i.xf6 25 %:th3
+-} 24 'iί'xf5 lΔd4 25 'ίi'h5 'iί'd8
26 :'h3 %:te7 27 i.d3 ± Marecek-
Sturk, cοπ 1990) 19 ... lΔd4 (both
the planned 19 ... f5 20 lΔxf4! ef
21 i.xe6 lΔd4 22 i.xf5 lΔxf5 23
lΔd2!, and 19... 'ikxa2 20 lΔbc3
'ίi'b2 23 lΔa4 'ifa2 22lΔdc3 'iί'a3 23
lΔbl with the idea of 24 i.xe6 and
25 %:txc6 are bad; a question sug-
gests itself - why play 17 ... 'ika5,
since one cannot take the a2-
pawn, and ίt moves the knight
away more quickly from a31) 20
lΔbc3 f5?! (20 ... f3!? is a standard
blow with the knight οη d4) 21
tΔe7! i.xc4 22lΔg6+ Φg8 23 tΔe7+
Φh8 24 bc %:tf6 25 lΔxf5 lΔxf5 26
ef%:tg8? 27lΔe4:h6 28lΔxd6! 1-0
Vavarin-Cherniaev, Moscow 1992.
b) 18 lΔc2?! 'ikxa2!? 19 'ikdl
'it'a5 20 %:tal 'ίi'c5 21 %:txa6 Φh8 22
lΔellΔd4 23lΔd3 (White plays ιοο
many knight moves) 23 ... 'ifc8 24
%:txd6 f3! with a powerful attack for
Black, Todorovic-Timoshchenko,
Pula 1988.
c) 18 i.d3!? lΔb4 (ίη the amus-
ing Κoch-Κasparov, Evry sim 1988,
the World Champion continued
98 10...j5 11 J..d3
~h8 21l2Jc6 'ί'ixa2 22l2J2b4 'ii'xb3
23 l2Jxb8 :x.b8 24l2Jxa6 'iί'xd3 25
l2Jxb8 and after 26 ... l2Jd4 he later
confused his opponent and won,
but had Ιο give υρ Ιοο much
material for the initiative) 19l2Jc4
1t'd8 (19 ... W'xa2 20 l2Jxb4 :xb4
21 :al 'iWxb3 22 :a3 ±) 20 l2Jxb4
:xb4 21 :fdl :b7 (the interesting
brief skirmish after 21 ... a5!? 22
J..e2 a4 23lDxd6 ab 24 ab J..xb3 25
:d3 J..e6 26 l2Jxf7 J..xf7 27 :xd8
J..xh5 28 :xf8+ J..xf8 29 J..xh5
:xe41ed Ιο a complete exhaustion
of forces ίη Liss-Cesarsky, Tel
Ανίν 1991) 22 J..e2 :d7 23 J..g4
(23 g3!?) 23 ... f5 24 J..f3 with a
small advantage Ιο White, C.Hor-
vath-Nosko Koivisto, Haifa 1989.
Therefore, following 17 ... 'ii'a5,
White has the better prospects after
both 18l2Jbl and 18 J..d3!?
It is characteήstic for White, ηοΙ
paying any attention Ιο the small
10ss οη the queenside, ιο try Ιο cre-
ate threats against the king via the
centre. The appearance οη the
kingside of perhaps one piece Ιο
aid the queen is often enough for
an unstoppable attack - indeed the
lίght squares ίη the black camp are
ηοΙ adequately defended.
We return Ιο the main line after
17.....d7 (D):
18 'ifh4
Ιη this position as well, several
continuations have been tested:
.·••.,.•-••••
••••
~ .ί..
•• ••
• .,
••
.~.
."'l.J~.,,~ _\Ulι
..ι.Δ.
~Δ.
Δ&
•
&
• •
α •W
.:=
~(~ΔP!'~
/.!'< %!'<
a) 18 'it'g5 J..xd5!? (18 ... f6 has
gone ουΙ of fashion) 19 J..xd5 l2Jb4
20 :fdl l2Jxa2 21 :c6 ιιPh8 22
l2Jc4 l2Jc3 23 :xd6 'ii'b5 24 :f1
'it'xb3 and now White must avoid
25 l2Je3? 'i!i'bl! 26 h3 (there is ηο
time for 26 l2Jf5?? because of the
reply 26 ... 'ii'xf1 +! mating) 26 ... fe
27 :xbl :xbl+ 28 <tιh2 ef29 :d8
f1'it' 30 :xf8+ J..xf8 31 'iWxe5+
0-1 Koch-Podlesnik, Manila 1992.
White did ηοΙ fall ίηΙο that trap ίη
the game Prasad-Saveen, Calcutta
1994. However, after 25 l2Jxe5
l2Jxd5 (if 25 ... 'iWbl now, then 26
g3) 26 :xd5 f6 27 l2Jg6+ hg 28
'iWxg6 :b5 29 'iWh5+ ιιPg8 he also
achieved a 10st position.
b) 18 :fdl (a more popular
continuation) 18••• Φh8 19 'it'h4
(Black overlooked a typical tacti-
cal blow ίη this vaήatίοn after 19
h3l2Jd4 20 l2Jc2l2Jxc2 21 :xc2 f5
22 f3 :bc8?! 23 :dcl 'iWd8? 24
l2Jxf4! ef 25 J..xe6 :xc2 26 :xc2

'ii'a5 27 :e2 ~d4+ 28 Φh2 win-
ning ίη Pereida-Charushin, cοπ
Wch f 1989) 19....txd5 (19 ... f5!?
20 tbxf4!? ef 21 .i.xe6 'ii'xe6 22
:xc6 fe 23 :cxd6 'tWe8! 24 :d7
{24 tbc4 is possible} 24 ... e3 25
"ilie7 ef+ 26 ~xf2 'tWg6 with an ac-
tive position for the pawn, Blank-
Mrkvicka, cοπ 1990) 20 ~xd5 (D):
Β Rzepecki, cοπ 1993-4.
bl) 20...tbd4 21 :c4! f5 22
tbc2 :bc8 (22 ... fe) 23 tbxd4 ed 24
'tWxf4 fe 25 :xc8 'ii'xc8 26 "ii'xe4,
and Black could not solve his
problems, Emst-BergstrDm, 1989.
b2) 20...tbb4 21 :d2 f5 22 tbc4
(22 'ίih3 tbxd5 23 :xd5 "ilib7 24
"ilif3 fe 25 'ίWxe4 f3! + Markovic-
Nurkic, Pula 1990) 22 ... tbxd5 23
:xd5 fe 24 :xd6 "ilif5 25 h3 h5 26
We7 e3 28 fe fe 28 :d7 ~f6 29
tbxe3 'tWe4 30 'tWc5 .i.g5 31 tbd5!
'ii'f5 32 tbe7! Wxd7 33 1!Ixe5+ ~h7
34 'iVxg5 with an attack, Renet-
Korchnoi, Lugano ορ 1988.
10.. j5 11 .i.d3 99
c) 18 ~d3:
cl) 18...tbb4!? 19 tbxb4 :xb4
20 1!Ie2 f5 (20 ... d5!?) 21 tbc4 fe 22
'ίWxe4 ~f5? (22 ... .i.h6!? {with the
idea of 23 ...f3} 23 \i'f3 with an υη­
clear game) 23 "'d5+ Φh8 24 :fd 1
f3!? 25 'tWxd6 'ίWxd6 26 tbxd6 ±
Kovalev-Granik, USSR 1988.
c2) Insofar as 18 ~d3 contra-
dicts the idea of control1ing d5
with pieces, ίι is probably worth
inflicting a bΙόw οη ίι: 18... ιath8
19 :rdl Ι5!? (Black is already
threatening ιο play 19 ....i.xd5) 19
ef iιxd5 20 f6 ~xf6 21 ~f5 'ilg7
22 :d5 tbe7 23 :c7 (23 :xd6?
tbxf5 24 "ii'xf5 ~e7) 23 ...:g8! 24
g3 tbxd5 25 :xg7 :.xg7 ~.
d) 18 :c3!? ~xd5 19 ~xd5
tbb4?! 20:dl tbxa2?! 21 :h3 h6
22 tbc4 Φh7 23 g4! ± Rogalewicz-
Now we return ιο the main line
after 181Wh4 (D):
100 10.. β 11 ~d3

1800_ ~xd5 that 20 :Cdl allows the vaήatίon to

19 Jι.xd5 lL1b4 be determined ίη White's favour.
20 1tcdl!? 24 g3! f3
Ιί 20 :fdl, then White should Forced, as otherwise the open g-
make one more rook move after file is deadly for Black.
20 ... lL1xa2. His best bet is Ιο bring 25 lL1d2 :bc8
the knight ίηΙο the battle οη c4 26 lL1xf3 'ifb5 (D)
straίght away. After exchanging the enemy
20 lL1xa2 knight White clearly has the strate-
21 li)c4 lL1c3 gica11y won positίon for whίch he
22 :d3 (D) must strive ίη simίlar situatίons.

.... _••
Therefore Black decides to sacri-
fice the exchange.

-
• • .ι_ι
....- .-
ι ••
-~ ~ ••
~~ ••~
~-

••••••
••. -Δ •• ma
~ ~
.Δ.:.~D
~
~ ~"~
~ u u
Β
.:.φ
Threatening 23lL1xd6 when the
knight is hanging, and furthermore w
23 ... lL1xd5 is ηο good due Ιο 24 27 ~c4 :xc4
:xd5 :xb3 25lL1xd6 with the idea 28 bc 1i'xc4
of lL1d6-f5 (the game is remίniscent 29 :fdl lL1xf3
ofWolff-Bronstein), but Black has 30 :xf3
ηο alternatίve ... Whίte has a won positίon, but
22000 lL1e2+ now tίme trouble starts to interfere
23 ~hl lL1d4 with the battle. But a11 the same, it
Thus the bishop οη d5 remaίns is Black who will make the final
the lord and master of the lίght blunder.
squares. The lίvelίer knight does 30 d5
not threaten ίι One can establίsh 31 ed?!
 10. ..j5 11 Jid3 101

The cold-blooded 31 :el would The time scramble is over, and

have left Black ηο hope whatso- Timoshenko lets ηο more chances
ever. escape.
31 'ίi'e2 41 'ίi'dl+
32 :fd3 e4 42 Iitg2 'it'f3+
33 :3d2 'it'f3+ 43 Iith3 h5
34 <itgl Jic3 44 :c3! 'iWg4+
35 'it'g5+ <ith8 45 Φg2 'it'g6
36 d6 Jixd2 46 d7 1-0
37 'it'xd2
Black has won back the ex- If we look at the statίstίcs of thίs
change, but his position remains variation, then White has a big ad-
difficult, indeed the d-pawn has vantage. Ιη this very game all the
held ουΙ visible difficulties are for Black,
37 :d8 who must seek new routes. Good
38 'iWd4+ Iitg8 (D) luck Ιο him!
Another plan involves White
beginning by castling short. One
should note that ίη this game two
Sveshnikov experts met.

Game22
Dolmatov - Chekhov
Bundesligα 1992

1 e4 c5 2 lΩf3 lΩc6 3 d4 cd 4lΩxd4

lΩΙ6 5 lΩc3 e5 6 lΩdb5 d6 7 Jig5
a6 8 lΩa3 b5 9 Jixf6 gf 10 lΩd5 Ι5
11 Jid3Jie6
39 ':cl? 12 ο-ο (D)
Of course, White could win by 12 Jixd5
39 d7. 13 ed lΩe7
39 ..• 'ifd3 14 c3
40 'it'e5 'ίi'd2? The actίve 14 c4 gives Black
Ιι is Black's turn Ιο astonish. good counterchances, for example,
Why didn't he take the d6 pawn? 14.•.e4 15 Jie2 Jig7 161Wd2 bc 17
41 :c6! lΩxc4 ο-ο 18 :adl ':b8 19 'iff4
102 10...15 11 i.d3

15•••e4 16 i.c2 ο-ο (16 ......a5? 17

':ael! ':a7 18 ΦhΙ i.xc3 19 bc
'ίWxa3 20 i.b3 'i'b2, Zso.Polgar-
Κramnik, Guarapuava 1991, could
have led Ιο a large advantage for
White after 21 'iWh6!) 17 ':ael
':c8?! 18 i.b3! ':c5 19 ~c2 'tWd7
20 ο! a5 21 a3 ef22 'iWxf3 i.e5 23
g3! is clearly ίη Whίte's favour be-
cause of the chronic weakness of
Black's kingside, Koνalev-Palac,

--1.. •_.-_--_
Β New Isenburg 1992.
':b5! with equality, Novik-Κram­
nik, Leningrad 1991, or possibly
14•••i.g7 15 cb e4 16 i.c4 i.xb2
17 ba i.xal?! (it's obviously ηοΙ •~ 8\1Uι-.ι.-.ι.
~.-

"... -•-
worth accepting the sacrifice; the
quiet 17 ... 0-0 is better) 18 ~xal,
and Black fell foul to a dangerous
• .ι..Δ • .ι. ...
attack ίη Brustman-Arakhamia,
Debrecen wom Echt 1992. ~ ~iι.
fQ;: ~ ~;t;
The even more aggressive 14 ~~:{f;
ΔD
~~
/'~ ,,~
'f!~!{i>ii
-~~
~ ~B;:
':{f; Δ ~B':{f;
%;:
, ~ ~~
7, , ~
~xb5 is also totally harmless for
~
u ~ .:~
• ~
Black. After 14... i.g7 15 ~c3 e4
16 i.c4 Zsuzsa Polgar twice ίη the W
same toumament received a prom- 16 ':adl ':c8
ising position as Black against Ιη reply to 16...0-0 Dolmatov
prominentgrandmasters: 16.••'iWa5 had planned ιο continue 17 i.bl,
17 ~e2 ':c8! 18 i.b3 i.xb2 19 intending ~a3-c2-e3 and play οη
':bl i.e5! Anand-Zsu.Polgar,Mu- the light squares.
nich 1991; 16•••~g6! 17 'iWh5 i.xc3 17 ~c2 (D)
18 bc 'ίi'f6 19 f4 ο-ο 20 i.b3 ':fc8 Αι the moment the plan shown
+ Nunn-Zsu.Polgar, Munich 1991. ίη the previous note does ΩΟΙ work:
14 ••. i.g7 17 i.bl?! ':c5 18ltJc2 ~xd5!? 19
15 'i'h5 'iWd7 (D) ~e3 (or 19 b4lLJf4 20 1t'g5 f6 +)
Chekhoν's attempt ΙΟ improνe 19 ... lLJxe3 20 fe e4 +.
Therefore
the variation. The otherwise used 16...':c8 was very timely.
 10.. j5 11 ~d3 103

following development of events

would have been possible: 20 tDg4
1i'f5 (20 ...0-021 tDh6+ ~xh6 22
1i'xh6 ±) 21 1i'xf5 tDxf5 22 f3! (if
22 ~xe4, then 22 ... tDe7!, and ίι
unexpectedly becomes clear that
there is ηο defence from 23 ... f5 or
23 ...h5, and one ofthe white pieces
peήshes) 22...tDe3 (22...h5 23 ω!?
tDe3 24 tDxe4 ':'c7 25 tDxd6+~f8
26 tDf5 tDxdl 27 ':'xdl ±) 23 tDxe3
Β fe 24 :fel ~h6 25 ~xe4, and after
17 ':'c5 g2-g3 and f3-f4 White's large ad-
17•••e4 would have been rash: 18 vantage is ηοΙ ίη doubt.
~e2 ο-ο 19 f3 ±, and White breaks 20 g3!
υρ his opponent's pawn centre. White's fundamental idea is Ιο
18 tDe3 e4 play f2-f3 ίη order Ιο destroy
Of course 110Ι 18•••f4? 19 tDf5, Black's pawn centre. However, this
when White dominates the light does ηοΙ work immediately: 20 f3
squares. f4 21 ~xe4 f5 +.
19 ~bl (D) 20 b4?!
Α quite natural attempt by Black
ιο organize a counterattack οη the
queenside, but his forces are Ιοο far
withdrawn from his king. How-
ever, Chekhov was facing a diffi-
cult problem. After 2O•• JΣb8 White
could have replied 21 :d2!?, so
that after 21 ... b4 22 c4, the b2-
pawn would be defended.
21 cb ':'b5
22 a3 ~xb2
23 ~hl!
Dolmatov quite justifiably sug-
gests that ίι is better Ιο caΠΥ ουΙ
the advance f2-f3 when everything
else has been covered. If 23 f3?!,
104 10.. .j5 11 J.d3

then 23 ...1Wa7 gives ήse to complί­ 26 ιtlXΙ5 ιtlXΙ5

cations. 27 e5!
23 J:tc8 (D) Α beautiful refusal to take the
black knίght. Ιη the event of 27
:xrs Black would have contίnued
27 ... f6, and after ....tb2-e5 could
have strengthened his own posi-
tion.
27 000 ιtlxg3+
28 hg .txe5
29 1Wxh7+ ~f8
30 J:tcl! (D)

W
24 f3!
White has finίshed hίs prepara-
tions and has finally carήed out the
'programmed' continuation.
24 ••• J:tc3
25 fe :Xa3 (D)
The knight is indirectly de-
fended: 25oooJ:txe3 261Wg5+.
Β
Now all White's pieces are al-
ready takίng part ίη the attack. 31
J:tc8+ and 31 J:txf7+ are major
threats. Thίs continuatίon is sig-
nificantly stronger than winning
the queen for bishop and rook after
30.tg6 J:tb7 31 J:txf7+ 1Wxf7 32
.txf7 J:txf7, when Black is still
holding οη.
30 000 J:tb7
31 .tf5 1Wb5
32 .te6 1-0

Conclusion
Ιη this chapter we have examined
games from one of the most ag-
gressive variations of the Svesh-
nikov. If White plays 12 "h5, a
very sharp game arises, giving ήse
ΙΟ reasonable counterchances for
Black.
10.. .j5 11 ~d3 105
However, the plan 1inked with
12 ...:g8 seems more promising.
After 12... f4 and 13 ...~g7 he often
falls ίηΙο a difficult position. The
game goes οη ίη a more positional
mood after 12 ο-ο with a small ad-
vantage (as, strictly speaking, is
predetermined) Ιο Whiιe.
9 Classical Sveshnikov: 11 iιxb5
Nowadays it is quite rare to see
White sacrificing a piece οη b5 οη
move 11. Moreover, if the knight
sacήfice has gone completely out
of use, then taking with the bishop
is wrong, as this scene shows ...
Game 23
VitolinS - Cherniaev
Kherson 1990
1 e4 c5 2 ttJf3 ttJc6 3 d4 cd 4 ttJxd4
ttJf6 5 ttJc3 e5 6 ttJdb5 d6 7 iιg5
a6 8 ttJba3 bS 9 iιxΙ6 gf 10 ttJdS
fS
11 iιxbS ab
12 ttJxbS (D)
Β
The diagram position has never
been partίcularly popular, and is
rarely seen ίη contemporary tour-
nament practice. Black opposes
White's attack, led by his queen
and two knights, with harmonious
counterplay by al1 his pieces. Ιη
spite of the ίπatίοnal character of
the struggle, fewer patches of white
remain ίη this variation.
12 %1a4!
The very strongest continuation
- Govelov's idea. The black rook
ηοΙ οηlΥ comes ου! from behind
the lines, but also takes an active
part ίη the battle. There is a less
successful attempt Ιο pay White
off with the exchange, 12..•%1a7.
After 13 ttJxa7 ttJxa7 (D) White
has two promising possibilities at
his disposal:
W
 Clαssicαl Sveshnikov: 11 bb5 107

a) 14 ef! tDb5!? 15 a4 (a nov- initiative to White) 17 ....d7 18

elty) 15•••tDd4 (if 15 ... tDc7 then
one may continue 16 a5 ~b7 17 c4
lΩxd5 18 a6!? ~a8 19 cd, and the
white passed pawn is very danger-
ous) 16 c3 'i'a5 17 tDf6+ rJ;;e7 18
'iib3 tDa6 19 tDd5 tDc5 20 lΩf6+
'ίte7 21 tDd5+, and ίη this position,
having reρeated moves twice, Shi-
rov, against Mitkov, France 1994,
decided to take the white knight,

--
.... .-.-
ο-ο (D) and now: which, however, did not change the
assessment of the position as level.
B.t.. ~ ~ 13 b4
Vitolins had already used this
•• ~&8& continuation without any particu-
Β
~%_~3~@~ ~ Β lar success ίη a game against Κish­
~ •
8,:ff!/j .Δ8 nev, Jurma1a 1981.
ΔΒ
/",,,1'1 •
_ Β _ 13
14 tDbc7+
1Σχb4
'ίtd7
Β
%f~ ~'~
"Ι';: •• _,~
15 ο-ο (D)
O
~ '~
~
/~
~
;::::;%
~
1~
D~",Ζ Δ ~~~
~ ~~
~ ~
r.~
~ ~fl'\Wι.
~
r~ .o.':~
Β
a1) 18••• tDxf5? 19 b4 'i!ld8 20
lΩd5+ rJ;;e6 21 a5 ~b7 22 c4 win-
ning for White, M.Pavlovic-Todor-
ovic, Yugoslavia 1992.
a2) 18•••ΦΧΙ6 19 cd ~xf5 is
better, although here too White's
chances are somewhat preferable
because of the hopeless position of
the black king, and also thanks to Β
his advantage ίη development and Black here has various ρossibili­
passed pawns. ties. 15••.%tg8 featured ίη the afore-
b) 14 c3lΩb5 15 ef (15 a4 tDc7 mentioned game Vitolins-Κishnev,
16 a5! ± seems more promising) Jurmala 1981, when after 16lΩxb4
15 ... tDc716lΩe3~b7! 17'i!1a4+?! tDxb41700 tDxd5 18 'ifxd5 'ίte7,
(it would have been better to con- Black realized his advantage. Ob-
tinue 17 1Wb3! "'a8 18 0-0-0 ~xg2 viously, the authors of the idea
19 tDxg2 'ifxg2 20 'ίtbl with some have found an improvement for
108 Classi€:al Sveshnikov: 11 hb5

White. Ιι hasn't been ruled ουΙ that
ίι is linked with the continuation
16 'it'h5, which practically forces
Black Ιο give the queen back, for
example, 16 ... lDe7 17 'ii'xf7 'ilfxc7
18lDxc7 g;xc7, and a hugely com-
plicated position arises, which
fully cοπeSΡοnds with Vitolins's
creative outlook. Βυι Cherniaev re-
turns Ιο a well-trodden path.
15•• Jιxe4 deserves attention.
Another alternative is 15.••.:tb7
16 'ii'h5 .:txc7 17 'ifxf7+ (White
could announce a perpetual check
by 17 'iff5+ g;e8 18lDf6+ ι:j;e7 19
lDd5+) 17 ... tΔe7 (D):
the game Meister-Κharlov, USSR
1990, White shou1d play 18lDb6+
Wc6 19 %:tabl d5 20 'iVf6+ (20 c4!?
also deserves attention) 20 ...•d6
21 'ifxh8 lDg6 22 'ifg8 .:tg7 23
'ifxd5+, after which a complex
endgame arises.
15 'ifg5!
This move fu1fils several aims at
once. Ιι allows an attack Ιο begin,
thins ουΙ the area around the king,
and hinders an active thrust by the
white queen οηΙο h5. Besides, this
continuation allows Black Ιο avoid
the forced draw that can ensue after
15•...:tb7.
16 lDxb4 lDxb4
17 'ifbl .:tg8
18 g3 Q;xc7

.1.
19 "iixb4 (D)

Β"'Β •
••••••
•.
~~
.%%

~;•• - -
~
_

~
~Νι ~.Δ. •
8, ••
w~

~,~
%%, ~

W
... and now rather than 18 lDr6+
G;c619.:tabl (definitelythreaten-
ing mate - 20 'ii'c4#) 19...d5! 20 c4
d4! 21 c5 .:tb7 22 lDe8! .:tg8! 23
"'c4 'ifa5 24 .:tb6+ .:txb6 25 cb+
~
~ .
••• Ο
Δ~B.Δ
~
-.>%
••
~
%%

Β
~
U
-.;~" ~
.~~

Αη extraordinarily sharp and

~
U

G;xb6 26 .:tbl + q;a7 when Black tense situation has arisen. Black has
repulsed the attack, preserving a two bishops for a rook and pawn,
decisive material advantage ίη plus a possible future attack οη the
 Clαssicαl Sveshnikov: 11 bb5 109

king. White's hopes are also lίnked Losing a ternpo, which ίη this
with a direct attack οη the enerny situation tums ουΙ Ιο be fatal. He
king and a strong passed a-pawn. should haνe quickly set the a-pawn
Such a clash of plans prornises a off οη its way.
νery interesting struggle. 23 ~e6
19 ••• ~d7 24 a4 h5
First Cherniaeν wishes to ρυι his 25 a5 h4
own king ίηΙο safety. It's quite relί­ 26 :d3 'ii'h5
able, but probably ηοΙ the strongest 27 a6 (D)
plan. The sharp 19•••fe would haνe Both contestants are playing οη
opened υρ wide possibilities, ηοΙ 'their' flank, but all the sarne their
οηlΥ for the black lίght-squared forces will corne ίηΙο contact, and
bishop, but also for its colleagues. ίι will becorne clear that Black has
20 c4 Ι4 rnanoeuνred rnore successfully.
21 c5
νίΙοΙίη§ is trying Ιο destroy the
king's pawn shield. Natura1ly, Black
cannot take οη c5 because of 22
:fdl+.
21 ••• Φe6
22 cd ΦΙ6 (D)
Α νery cornfortable refuge for
Black's king.

Β
27 hg
28 fg "'e2
29 'ifc3 ~xd6
The bishop enters the garne with
great effect. 30 :ίxd6 is irnpossible
because of 30... f3 with an ineνita­
ble rnate (31 :d2 f2+).
30 :el ~c5+
W 31 'it>hl 'it'a
23 :fdl? 32 :ο ~d4
110 Clαssicαl Sveshnikov: 11 J.xb5

Now Chemiaev. who was ίη Black has reliably blocked the a-

time trouble. mίsses a chance to pawn from moving. and now tums
end the game straίght away by to decisive actίon.
32.....xh2+ 33 Φxh2 IIh8+ 34 Φg2 39 lIa5+ Φχe4
.th3+ 35 Φh2 .tf1# (D). 40 lIa4 .te2
41 IIxd4+
An attempt to tum the game into
a theoretically drawn ending leads
to a swift denouement.
41 Φχd4
42 ':xf4+ Φe3
43 ':xf7 .tf3+
44 <ifi>gl ':g8+
45 <ifi>f1 .te2+
0-1

Conclusion
W 12 ... .:a4 seems to be the best an-
33 IIxC2 .txc3 tidote to the bishop sacήfice οη b5.
Now Black must agaίn prove hίs The continuation 12 ....:a7 creates
SUΡeήοήtΥ· fewer pre-requisites for Black to
34 1Ib1 .td4 seize the inίtίative. although both
35 IΙΙ3 .tg4 lead to an extremely sharp battle
36 lIa3 lIa8 which demands exact knowledge
37 gf ef as well as iron nerves and a clear
3811n Φe5 sense of the fantastίc.
10 Classical Sveshnikov: 9liJab1
StήctlΥ speaking, play ίη this νaή­
ation begins οηlΥ οη move 11, be-
cause White most frequently plays
ίι with a transposition of moves: 9
lbd5 iLe7 10 .i.xf6 .i.xf6 Illbbl.
However, it's also possible for a
straίghtforward move order, whίch
begins with 9lbabl. We think the
virtues and drawbacks of the νaή­
atίon will soon become clear Ιο the
reader. White makes Ιοο many
moves with one knight, and lags
behind somewhat ίο development,
but if Black cannot use thίs circum-
stance energetίcally, White will de-
velop hίspieces ίη comfort.
Game24
CabήΙο - Beliavsky
Lvov 1993
1 e4 c5 2lbf3lbc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4
lbf6 5 lbc3 e5 6 lbdb5 d6 7 .i.g5
a68lba3b5
9 lbd5 .i.e7
10 .i.xf6 .i.xf6
11 lbb1 (D)
With a transposition of moves,
a positίon has aήsen whίch is char-
acteήstίc of the variatίon with 9
lbabl.
11 ••• ο-ο
Β
The move 11•••.:.b8 (with the
idea of preventing 12 a4) has been
tested:
a) Hoffman-Yakovich, Munich
1992 contίnued 12 g3 ο-ο 13 .i.g2
.i.e6 14 ο-ο .i.xd5 15 ed lba5 16
lbd2lbc4 17 lbxc4 bc 18 b3 'fic7
19 ':'el 'ila7 20 ':'e4 ':'fc8 21 .i.f1
c3 22 'Ιfd3 h5 =F.
b) Stefansson-Schandorff, Co-
penhagen 1994, developed differ-
ently: 12 lbd2 .i.g5 13 .i.d3 lbe7
14lbxe7 'fixe7 15 ο-ο ο-ο 16 'ii'e2
g6 17 a4 ba 18':'fb1 .i.d7 19 .i.xa6
f5 20 .i.c4+ Φh8 21 .i.d5 ':'fc8 22
'ild3 ':'b4 =F.
12 a4!
White does ηοΙ delay ίη begin-
ning Ιο worry his opponent οη the
queenside.
112 CΙαssicαl Sveshnikov: 9liJαb1

12 .... 14 ttJbc3 ttJd4

Another plan has been tήed:
12••• b4, for example, 13 tbd2 (D)
andnow:
It's ηοΙ worth ΡressuήΖίηg the
white knight, as ίι could occupy aπ
active position οη b5. After 14•••b4
15 ttJb5 ttJd4 16 ttJxd4 ed 17 J..c4
White has managed Ιο fioish his
development aπd his pieces are
very well placed.
15 J..d3 g6 (D)
Here 15••• b4 deserved attention,
for example, 16 ttJe2 J..g4 17 c3 bc
18 bc ttJxe2 19 J..xe2 J..e6 with
equality.

Β
a) 13•••J..e6 14 J..c4 J..g5 15
- - -
·•-tb.••••
•••• ~.i.~

-• ~ ~.~.
~.~.
~
~
ttJf3! J..h616 'ifd3! a5 17 ο-ο 'ιth8
18 %ladl %lb8 19 J..b5 ttJa7 20 c4
bc 21 bc f5 22 c4 fe 231i'xe4 J..f5
24 'ii'e2 ;!; Minasiaπ-Chaπdler, Ma-
nila OL 1992.
b) 13•••.ig5 was aπ interesting
• •
_~
•
~
8Δ.
~.t_
u~Δ~.~ u"Δ~'~
~.~\Wιm
~B~
",
~.~:
~
_

attempt Ιο improve οη this ίο

Koshi-Barua, Isfahaπ 1993. Now W
fascioating complications would 16 0-0 .ig7
have aήsen after 14 ttJc4!?, for ex- 17 ttJa2!
ample 14.. ..:b8 15 a5 %lb5! 16 ttJdb6 CabήΙο prepares Ιο evict the
(16 ttJcb6?! %lc5! +) 16...J..e6 17 black knight from d4, aπd at the
ttJxd6 (17 'l'xd6?! ttJd4 18 ..td3 b3 same time move his own Ιο the ex-
19 cb %lxb3 20 1i'xd8 %lxd8 21 J..bl cellent square b4.
%lb4! ~; White must fight just for 17 .•• 'ifg5
equality) 17...%lxa5 18 %lxa5 ttJxa5 18 <iPhl
19 ttJd5 ttJc6 with good counter- It was worth thinking about 18
play for Black. f3!?, preparing against Black's at-
13 ab ab tack before ίι happens.
 Clαssicαl Sνeshnikoν: 91Ωαbl 113

18 tlJe6

•.t.. ••
19 tlJab4 (D)

••• • .ι_ι

·• .i..---•-•-
• i.liJ~
~ ~~.Δ.
~
~~'%i Δ
.~.ι

8:
μm

~§1 Δ ~~~ W
t?,~ • U ~,~
α .~.:.φ 26 tlJc7?
CabήΙο misses a tactical blow.
Β The continuation 26 f3 would have
19 ... tlJf4! still allowed him Ιο preserve a
After 19•••f5 20 f3 tlJc5 21 'ife2 minimal advantage. Now the pic-
White is clearly better. ture of the battle changes sharply ίη
20 tlJxf4 ef Black's favour.
21 c3 ~e6 26 ••. :xa5
22 :a5 :fc8 27 :xa5 f3!
23 'i!t'e2 :c5! White can take the pawn neither
One of the moves which is often with the queen, due Ιο the back
seen ίη the Sveshnikov, transfer- rank mate, nor with the pawn ίη
ήng the rook Ιο the fifth rank Ιο at- view of ...~e6-h3. Απ intervening
tack the king. check changes nothing.
24 tlJa6 28 :a8+ ~f8
White had a more relίable plan: 29 'iί'f1 fg+
24 f3 and if 24 ... 'iWh6?!, then the Belίavsky energetically carήes
reply 25 'iff2 :h5 26 'iWgl! win- ουΙ the conclusive attack.
ning for White. 30 'iί'xg2 'iί'd2
24 ••• :a8 31 'ifg3 'iί'dl+
25 :fal 32 'ίt>g2 ~g4
25lbxc5 :xa5 26lΩxe6 fe 27 f3 33 tlJe8 ~f3+
was also possible, with a small ad- The finale. If 34 'ilt'xf3 then
vantage to White. 34...:g5+.
25 ο.. :e5 (D) 0-1
114 Classical Sveshnikov: 9l:Δab1
Black used an ioteresting ηον­
elty ίη the following duel, oamely
11. .. i.b7.
Game25
Shaked - Cherniaev
New York 1993
1 e4 c5 2l:Δf3l:Δc6 3 d4 cd 4l:Δxd4
l:ΔΙ6 5 l:Δc3 e5 6 l:Δdb5 d6 7 i.g5
a6 8l:Δa3 b5 9l:Δd5 i.e710 i.xf6
i.xf611l:Δbl
11 i.b7!?
12 a4 b4
13 lΩd2 i.g5
14 l:ΔΙ3 (D)
Β
White's knight has spent seven
moves Ιο get ιο its 'ήghtfuΙ' place.
This alone testίfies ιο the fact that
Black has already achίeved at least
a level game. However, he must act
energetίca1ly, otherwise the penna-
nent weaknesses ίη his position
mίght make their presence felt.
14 i.h6
15 i.c4 0-0
16 0·0
Αο attempt Ιο pressUΉze the d6-
pawo with 16 'iWd3 'ίtth8 17 .:Σ.dΙ is
parήed by meaos of 17 ... 'iνa5!? 18
ο-ο .:Σ.ad8 with a complex game.
16 'ίtth8
17 'ifd3 g6
18 c3 (D)
If 18 l:Δe3 then Cherniaev was
going ιο play 18 ... l:Δe7 19 .:Σ.fdΙ
i.xe3!? 20 'ifxe3 'ifc7 21 i.b3 f6!
22 .:Σ.d3 a5 23 ':ad 1 ':ad8 24 h4
l:Δc8 with the idea of organizίng
couoterplay after ...l:Δc8-b6. How-
ever, 18 .:Σ.fdl deserves attentίon.
Β
18 bc
This move was οοι forced. He
could have followed hίs plan more
consistently with 18••.f5. After thίs
ίι would be a mίstake ιο take οη b4:
19 cb fe 20 'ifxe4l:Δxb4 21 .:Σ.fdΙ
':f4 22 'ii'e2 ':xc4 23 'iνxc4l:Δxd5
 Clαssicαl Sveshnikov: 9lΔab1 115

24 ':xd5 "'g8 25 ':adl :Ιc8, and play overthe whole board. White's
White will peήsh because of the position is difficult, so he makes a
weakness of his back rank. deSΡaiήηg attempt to get stuck into
19 bc Ι5 complίcations.
20 ':abl 23 Ι4 ef
Shaked is trying to organize 24 lbxf4 ω
some counterplay οη the b-file, but 25 'iWh3 i.xf4
his opponent elegantly redistήb­ 26 ':ΧΙ4 lbxe4??
utes his pieces. Α fatal eποr ίη time trouble,
20 ω leading to a rapid 10ss. The cold-
21 J.a2 J.c6 blooded 26••:it'g5 27 ':h4 ':a7

... . -.
22 lbd2

.~. 8 8ι
i~
•• .t.~ ~.~ι.~'~
~ ~
lbb7 (D) would have led to a Black win.
27 lbxe4

cisive attack.
28 ':xe4!
i.xe4
Black cannot be saved by 27•••fe
28 ':xf8+ 'ilVxf8 29':f1 with a de-

fe

•
_ ,V

• .!Δ8Ι. 29 ':b7
30 'iWe3
h5
g5
Δ. .Δ. 31 'iWxe4 1-0
• B'ii'. •
.:. .:=
~~.%%
... ~ ~
~

W
~Δ~%
u

Black's pieces are very harmo-

niously placed and are ready to
Conclusion
This variation does not present
any real danger for Black. Further-
more, the continuations 11 ... ':b8
and 11 ...i.b7 allow him to count
οη seizing the initiative.
11 Bird-Larsen Variation: 8... i..e6
Thίs variatίon doesn't as a rule lead
ΙΟ such complex situations as the
Classical. Therefore, ίη order Ιο
play ίι, one needs Ιο know far
fewer forced variations. Βυι learn-
ing them, as is well known, is ηοΙ Ιο
everybody's taste.
Game26
Κί.Georgiev- Shirov
Biel1992
1 e4 cS 2lDf3lDc6 3 d4 cd 4lDxd4
lDf6S lDc3 eS 6lΩdbS d6 7 .i.gS
a68lΩa3
8 .i.e6 (D)
W tes, Νονί Sad 1990, continued 15
The idea οί this move is rapid
development and control over d5.
The serious disadvantage οί the
move is that White can swiftly
bήng the a3 knight ίηΙο the battle.
9 lΩc4
Georgiev quickly uses the ορ­
portunities he is afforded - indeed
Black should also think about do-
ing this!
9 .•• 1Ic8!
'Not only a mobilizing but a1so a
waiting move; when White re-
moves the knight from c4, ....i.f8-
e7 and ... 0-0 wil1 become possible'
- Sveshnikov.
10 .i.xf6
10 lΩe3 does ηο! win White any
laurels. After 1O ....i.e7 11 .i.xf6
.i.xf6 12lΩcd5 .i.g5 13 c3 (or 13
.i.d3 ο-ο 14 ο-ο g6 15 c3 'itiιh8 16
a4 ί5 = Mellado-Yakovich, Cor-
doba 1991) 13 ... 0-0 14 .i.e2 g6 15
ο-ο ~h8 16 ΦhΙ ί5 17 ef gf 18 ί4
.i.h6 19 .i.d3 e4 20 .i.c2 'ii'h4
Black equalized ίη Xie Jun-Κhar­
lον, Moscow 1992.
10 ••• gf(D)
Or 10.....xf6 11 lΩb6 1Ib8 12
lΩcd5 'ίWd8 and now 13 c3 .i.e7 14
.i.c4 ο-ο 15 a4 (Grϋnfeld-Cifuen­
ο-ο .i.g5 16 a4 Φh8 17 ~hl g6 18
1We2 .i.h6 19 1:tad 1 ί5 with fair
counterplay for Black) 15 ....i.g5
 Bird-Lαrsen Variation: 8 ... J.e6 117
16 'ίWe2 g6 17 ο-ο is οηlΥ margin-
ally better for White, Bologan-Ci-
fuentes, Las Palmas 1993, or 13
~e2 g6 14 ο-ο ~h6 15 c3 ο-ο 16 a4
~h8 17 'ίWd3 f5 with fair counter-
chances for Black, Reinderman-
Cifuentes, Wijk aan Zee 1994.
W
11 lbe3
The continuation 11 ~d3 (with
the idea of aνoiding the immediate
attack οη the knight which occurs
after 11 lbe3 J.h6) was seen ίη the
game Anand-Moroνic, Las Palmas
1993: 11 ...lbe7 12lbe3 J.h6 130-0
~xe3 14 fe 'ίWb6 15 'ίWcllbg8 16
ΦhΙ _c5 (16 ... h5 is interesting,
and if 17 lbd5, then 17 ...~xd5 18
ed lbe7 19 e4 f5!, destroying the
white pawn centre) 17 'ίWd2 h5 18
:r.adl h4 19 h3 ~f8 20 'ίWe2;1;;.
11 ••• J.h6
12 ~d3
Νοι hiηdeήηg Black's standard
idea of giving υρ one of his bishops
for White's strong knight. And al-
though he wil1 get doubled pawns,
the pressure οη the vital f-file is
stil1 a factor of greater imporιance.
12 ... ~xe3
13 fe 'ίWb6 (D)
After 13...:r.g8 14 ο-ο 'ίWb6 15
'ίi'f3 lbe7 16 lbd5 ~xd5 17 ed f5
18 J.xf5 lbxf5 19 'ίWxf5 'ίWxe3+ 20
~h 1 :r.c7 Black managed ιο hold
the position ίη Konguνel-Bhatta­
chaήa, Calcutta 1994.
W
14 'ίi'cl
Α strong and natural move, al-
though a pawn sacrifice was also
possible: 14 ο-ο 'iixe3+ 15 ~hl
with a sharp game.
14 ••• lbaS
After 14•••lbb4 White could haνe
continued 15 a3lbxd3+ 16 cd d5
17 ed ~xd5 18 ο-ο, for example,
18 ... J.b3 19'ίWd2 :r.g8 20 d4 :r.d8
21 d5 with a noticeable advantage.
IS ο-ο ~e7 (D)
118 Bird-Lαrsen Variation: 8... .t.e6
W ΦhΙ lL!c6 (D), although here as
16 W'el!
Α move which pursues two aίms
at once: moving the queen over ιο
the kingside, where Black has few
defenders, and a1so threatening Ιο
continue 17 b3, after which the a5-
knight's prosρects are altogether
miserable.
16 ••• h5
Shirov has ηοΙ decided οη an ac-
tive continuation, but if 16••:ii'xb2,
then White after 17 lL!d5+ .t.xd5
18 ed e4 19 he4 would have been
given a tangible advantage.
Thus 16...lL!c4 deserves atten-
ιίοη, for example, 17 .t.xc4 ':xc4
18 Wi'f2 ':g8 19 lL!d5+ .t.xd5 20
'it'xf6+ Φd7 21 ed "'xe3+ 22 ΦhΙ
':f4 23 ':xf4 'ifxf4 24 'ifxf4 ef 25
':f1 ':e8 26 ΦgΙ ':e4, and Black
holds οη. However, 17 lbdl h5
(17 ... lL!xb2 18 lL!xb2! "'xb2 19
':bl 'it'xa220':xb7+.t.d7 21 "'h4
'it'e6 22 ':xf6!) 18 b3lL!a3! 19 c4
'it'c5 20 1lX3 b5 21lL!d5+! would
have preserved the better chances
for Georgiev. Ιι is possible that
instead of 18 b3, the move 18 a4 is
even stronger, and agaίn the black
knight starts ιο become uncomfort-
able.
17 b3! "'cS?
Α decisive eποr. Ιι would have
been worth complicating White's
problems with an exchange sacή­
fice: 17...:xc3 18'it'xc3 'ifxe3+ 19
well White faces a happy choice:
W
a) 20 :f3 "'c5 (20 ......g5 21
.t.xa6!; 20......b6? 21 :afl :h622
"'d2 J:tg6 23 ':xf6!; 20...'ii'd4 21
"'el h4 22 c3) 21 "'xc5 dc 22 J:tafl
':h6 23 ':g3, and his chances are
clearly better.
b) 20':aelWi'c521 Wi'd2lL!b8!
22 ':f3 lL!d7 23 ':ef1 with a sma11
advantage.
Now Black loses by force.
18 lL!d5+!
 Bird-Lαrsen Variation: 8 ... .te6 119

Georglev is still not satisfied by 22 .tg6! ι-ο

a quiet continuation: 18lba4 'ilc7 Α beautiful final blow! After
19 c4, although it would also have 22 ... 'ikxdlWhite can insert the le-
offered wonderful prospects. thal check 23 'ilxf6+.
18 .txd5
19 ed 'ilxd5 (D) Game27
Smagίn - Κharlov
Moscow 1991

1 e4 c5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4

lbf6 5 lbc3 e5 6 lbdb5 d6 7 .tg5
a6 8lba3 .te6 9lbc4 Ac8
10 .txf6
If White wishes to continue οη
the next move with 11lbd5, then
it is more exact to do so iιnmedi­
ately: 10 lbd5 iLxd5 11 iLxf6 gf 12
'iixd5.
W 10 •.. gf
20 b4 was threatened, and if 11 lbd5 .txd5
19•••'ilc3, White could have con- 12 'iWxd5 (D)
tinued 20 'ίi'h4 Ah6 21 Aadl Ag8 12 ed?! lbe7 gives White ηο ad-
22 h3, after which he doubles vantage.
rooks οη the f-file, gaining a deci-
sive advantage.
20 Adl! Acg8
Νοι 20•••e4? 21 .tc4, and after
any departure by the queen from
the fifth rank, 21 Ad5 wins the
knight. If 2O•••lbc6, then 21 'ikh4
Ah6 22 .tf5 is decisive.
21 "'12 Ah6
Other moves cannot save him:
a) 21 •••'ίi'e6 22 .tf5, and Black's
queen is trapped.
b) 21 ••• ~ 22 .tc4 'ίi'e4 23 Β
Axd6. 12 ..• b5
120 Blrd-Lar.fen Variation: 8... .J.e6

ΑfΙer 12•••~4 l3 .J.d3 'ife7 14

h4 "c6! Ι S ~3 "xd5 16 lbxd5
ll)xc2+ 17 .J.~c2 ':xc2 18 ο-ο .J.h6,
19 84 ~d7 20 ':a3 ~e6 21 ':Β
.J.g5 would have Ied ιο a smal1
advantage f()r BIack ίη BeIikov-
KharIov, Moscow 1992, but after
19 ':fdl ~d7 20 ':d3 ~e6 21 ':Β
.J.g7 22 ':g3 ":hc8 23 ':f1 .J.h6 ίη
Leko-Morovic, Lyon 1993, a IeveI
positίon arose.
13 lbe3 .J.h6 W
Here ιοο 13...lbe7 deserves at- 18 ':dl!
tentίon. Α noveIty, which underlines the
14 lbfS! lbb4 shady side of earIy activity by the
15 lbxd6+ Φd7 king.
16 'iWxf7+ 18 lbxc2+
16 bb5+ ab 17 'ifxb5+ was also BIack has nothίng eIse. 18....:c7
possibIe, with an uncIear game. is ηο good due to 19 c3! ~c2+
Βυι Smagin had something eIse ίη (19 ....:xc7Ioses Ιο 20 lbxb7+ foI-
mίnd ... Iowed by 21 lbxd8) 20 'it>e2, and
16 ... Φc6 after 20 .. .'iixd6? White executes a
17 'iWb7+ ~c5 (D) beautifuI mate with the king: 21
IfI7...~xd6, then 18 ':dι+Φe6 ':d5+ ~c4 22 ~B - mate!
19 ':xd8 lbxc2+ 20 ~e2 ':hxd8 19 'it>e2 lbd4+
21 f4 and 22 Φο with a big advan- 20 ':xd4 ed
tage to White. 21 'iWd5+ Φb6
According ΙΟ the evidence of 22 lbxc8+ 'iWxc8
eyewitnesses, ΚharIov assessed thίs 23 'iWxd4+
position as fully acceptabIe for Smagin has two extra pawns,
BIack. He was ηοΙ afraid of the per- and he steers the game preciseIy ιο
petuaI check, as after 18 'iWa7+ victory.
~c6 19 .J.xb5+ ab 20 'ii'b7 + ~xd6 23 ~a5
21 ':dl + ~e6 22 ':xd8lbxc2+ 23 24 ~f3 Ι5
~e2 ':hxd8 24 ':dl ~d4+ BIack 25 g3 ':d8
repuIses his opponent's attack. Βυι 26 b4+ ~a4
a nasty surpήse awaited hίm. 27 'ii'b6 fe+
 Bird-Lαrsen Vαrίαtion: 8".~e6 121

28 Wg2 Wxb4 34 'ii'xa6 :xe2

Otherwise Black is mated, but 35 :b3+ Wc5
this loses the bishop. He could 36 :xbS+ 1-0
haνe taken his final bow by now.
29 'iWxh6 'iWc3 Conclusion
30 ~e2 :d2 Although the Bird-Larsen Variation
31 :bl+ WaS is ηοΙ considered defectiνe, all the
32 :b3 'ii'c2 same Black quite often runs ίηΙο
33 :a3+ Wb4 difficulties ίη practice.
12 711Jd5
In this varίatίon White avoids the
sharpest of contίnuatίons ίη favour
of a clearer strategic route. How-
ever thίs does ηοΙ by any means
signify avoiding a battle. Υου will
see the kίnd of storms that can rage
ίη this 'quiet' varίation by lookίng
at the following entertaining en-
counter.
Game28
Yudasin - Kramnίk
Wijk aan Zee Ct (1) 1994
1 e4 c5 2lbf3lbc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4
lbf6 5 ω e5 6lbdb5 d6
7 lbd5 lbxd5
8 ed lbe7 (D)
W 9,..lbg6 is more promising, but
9 a4
9 c3 is more exact, since after
9 ••.a6? White can reply 10 "'a4. If
9,..lbg6, then 10 _a4 .i.d7 11 .c4
.i.xb5 (11 ... ':c8 is answered by 12
"'b4!) 12 _xb5+ "'d7 13 a4! a6
14 "'xd7+ ~xd7, and by bypass-
ing the complex variations whίch
are characteήstίc of the Sveshnί­
kov, White gains a better endίng
(he has the bishop pair and a
queenside pawn majοήty). 9,..lbt5
keeps d6 defended, and after 10 a4
a positίon aήses from the game we
are investίgatίng.
ΒΥ using thίs move order, White
practically forces the knight Ιο
occupy f5, where ίι is ηοΙ very
comfortably placed, as ίι hinders
the advance ... f7-f5. Therefore the
knight contίnues Ιο follow the
route f5-h4-g6, but this loses time.
White may a1so try 9 c4, for ex-
ample, 9 ...lbf5 10 ~d3 .i.e7 11 ο-ο
ο-ο 12 ~hl a6 13 lbc3lbh4 14 (4
(5 15 'iνc2! e4 16 .i.e2 g5 17 fg?!
(17 g3!) 17 ....i.xg5 18 b4 .i.f6 19
.i.h6 ':f7 20 ':adllbg6 = Mainka-
Sakaev, Dortmund 1991.
9 lbf5
For the reasons shown above,
Κramnik has decided Ιο follow a

lίttle-used plan with ... g7-g6 and
....i.f8-g7.
10 c3 g6
10••..i.e7 is more prevalent, for
example,l1 .td30-0 12 ο-ο lillι4
13 Ι4 8614 ~ (D) and then:
Β a2) 17••••c7!? 18 b3 (l81rb3?!
a) 14•••ef (straightforward but
ηοΙ necessaήly best) 15 .txf'4 ~
16 .txg6! (White has gained noth-
ίηι after 16 .tg3 .th4! 17 .txh4
lDxh4 18 lDc4 aS 19 1fd2 b6 20
:f4lDg6 21.txg6 hg 221fe3 g5!
23 1Z.d4 .ta6 24 1Ig3 .txc4 25
:xc4, and Black is already some-
what better, Rodήgυez-Κramnik,
Guarapuava 1991) 16•••hg 17lDc4
(D)andnow:
al) 17•••.tf5 18 1%el 1%c8 19
1Irb3 .td3 20 lDb6 is unpIeasant
for Black: 2O••.:c7 21 1Z.adl .tf5
(ΜatυΙοvίό-Ν .Νίk(!evίό, YugosIa-
VΊa 1992) and here too 221fb4 WΊth
the idea of 23 :xe7 would have
given White a decisive advantage;
7lΔd5 123
Β
the clever 20•••.tc2 is met by an
interesting tactical refυtation: 21
lDxc8 .txb3 22 lDxe7+ Wh7 23
1Z.e3 1Ib6 24 aS 1Ic5 25 Whl 1Ixe3
26.txe3 1Z.e8 27.tg5 f6 28 1Z.el fg
291Z.e3 g4 30 Wgl ±.
1Irc5+ 19Whl11rxd5 2O:adl.c6
21 lDxd6 .th3! 22 1%d2 .txd6 23
.txd6 .te6, and the position of the
whίte king isn't hopefυl, Apicella-
Gagaήn, Bucharest 1993) 18....tf5
19 aS.te4 201Z.el f5 21 1Id21%ae8
22 Ldl 1fd8, and the threat of the
pawn storm by ... g6-g5-g4, ...1Z.f8-
f7, and ...h7-h5looks very danger-
ous, as ίη Ye Jiangchuan-Novik,
Moscow 1992. ΑΙΙ the same 23 h3
leads ιο an interestίng, double-
edgedgame.
b) 14...f5 15lDc4lDg6 16 g3!1
(16 aS is ηο good: 16...lDxf4! 17
.txf4 ef 18 Lf4 g6 19 1%n .td7
20 lDb61Z.b8 21 lDxd7 1fxd7 22
.a4 .c7 23 1%ael .tf6 24 1Z.e6
124 7lΔd5
:bc8 25 ~hl ~e5, and Black has
all the chances Ιο develop a strong
attack οη the enemy kίng, more-
over the presence of opposite-col-
oured bishops favours the attacker
ίη such situations) 16... ef (16 ... ~d7
17 ~e3 b5 18 ab ab 19 :xa8 'ii'xa8
20 lΔb6 'ii'b7 21 lΔxd7 1Wxd7 22
'it'b3 :b8 23 fe ± Ι. Kuznetsov-Tol-
stikh, Russia 1992) 17 gf ~d7 18
a5 ~b5 19 lΔb6 ~xd3 20 'it'xd3
:b8 21 ~d2 'ilc7 22 b4 :be8 23
:ael :f7 24 c4, and the pawn ma-
jority οη the queenside, as well as
his control over e6, predetermines
White's solid advantage.
Now we return Ιο the main line
after 1O ... g6 (D):
W cated game) 15 a5 ~d7 16 lΔa3
11 ~e2
Ιη the next chance he got, Υυ­
dasin-Κramnik, Wijk aan Zee Ct
(3) 1994, White significantly im-
proved his play: 11 ~d3! ~g7 12
ο-ο ο-ο 13 'it'b3!? :e8 14 :el and
then after 14."b6? 15 a5! (intend-
ing a5-a6) 15 ... a6 16 ab :b8?! 17
lΔa3! :xb6 18 'ii'a4! lΔe7 19l1)c4
:b5 20 lΔa5 :b6 21 'ifa2 ~f5 22
~f1 ~c8 23 ~d2 lΔf5 24 Μ, hav-
ing made all the moves which are
standard ίη similar positions, he
could count οη victory. Of course,
14... b6 is a terrible mistake. Κram­
nίk suggests 14_..i.d7 15 'ifb4. ~f8,
or even 14••. ~Ι8 immediately, but
Black's difficulties, ίη the first
place ίη organizing counterplay,
are striking. As a result of the un-
happy position of the knight οη f5
and the excellent placing of his
whitecounterparton b5 (if ... a7-a6,
then lΔb5-a3-c4-b6) Black will
have a passive, if stable, positίon
for a long time. Not without reason
has Kramnik's trainer, Tseshkov-
sky, called this variation a blind
alley.
11 ~g7
12 ο-ο ο-ο
13 1i'b3!? :e8
14 ifb4 e4
Ιι would have been possible Ιο
hold οη by waiting tactics: 14".h5
(14...~d7 15 g4leads Ιο a complί­
WΙc7 17 lΔc4 followed by :bl,
~d3, b3, ~a3, and the time for ac-
tion by Black might ηοΙ even come.
Therefore he uses his very first ορ­
portunity Ιο cross the line of de-
marcation.
 7lΔd5 125

15 -'.f4
Here 15 a5!? aIso deserves at-
tention.
15 -'.e5
16 -'.xe5 1Σχe5
17 1ΣadΙ (D)

Β As before, it is ηο good to take
17 ••• lbh4?!
Α very boId, but suspect deci-
sion. 17...a5! 18 'ifa3 (18 'iVc4 -'.d7
and ... -'.xb5) 18 ...h5 followed by
.. :ile7 and ... -'.d7 was more reIi-
abIe.
18 ΦhΙ
18 'ii'xd6 is ηο good; 18 ...'iVg5
19 g3 -'.h3 20 1ΣfeΙ lbg2 21 1Ση
lbf4 22 1ΣfeΙlbχe2+ 23 1Σxe2 -'.g4
with materiaI gaίns. UncIear con-
sequences follow 18lbxd6 a5! 19
'ilc5 'ii'g5 (19 ... ~h3!?; 19... b6 20
'ilc6 ~d7 21 'ilb7 1Σb8 22 'ila7
1Σa8 =) 20 g3 ~g4 - White must
avoid 21 gh?? ~f3+ 22 hg 1Σχg5#.
18 'ii'g5
19 1ΣgΙ -'.g4 (D)
W
20 -'.xg4
20 1ΣdeΙ -'.xe2 21 1Σχe2 a5 22
'ilxd6 1Σd8 followed by ...1Σdχd5
was scarceIy any better.
20 ••• '6'xg4
21 1ΣdeΙ
οη d6: 21lbxd6lbf3!, or 21 '6'xd6
'ilh5!, threatening lbxg2 and hίη­
deήηg 22lbd4 - the pawn οη d5 is
hangίng.
21 '6'f4 (D)
Here good pIay by both sides
wouId have Ied fιttingIy to a peace-
fuI resuIt: 21 •••lbf3! 22 gf 'ilxf3+
231Σg2e3! 24 fe (24 '6'g4ef251Σf1
1Σel 26 'iVc4 1Σae8 27lbd4 1Σχη+
28 'ilxfl 1ΣeΙ 29lbxf3 1Σχη+, and
BIack wins) 24...1Σg5 25 1ΣgΙ :xg2
26 1Σχg2 'ildl+ with a perpetua1
check.
The text move is lίnked with a
fantastic idea, whίch, it is true, has
a refutation. AIas, Yudasin passed
it by.
126 7lJJd5

.8 • 8.8 H24fe, then 24 ...lLJg3+ 25 hxg3

%lh5#. Βυι now this idea is embod-
8'8 8'8. ied ίη another situation.
8 • • •• 24 •.• 'ilxe3!
8~8Δ_ • 25 lLJd6
~ ~. ~ Yudasin did ηοΙ wish Ιο allow
Δ_ ~' _ _
[8
Black Ιο fulfil his plan after 25 fe
8 Ο • 8 lLJg3+ 26 hg %lh5#. However, his
~
u ~ u
••
~ ~Δ~
u position is hopeless all the same.
••
• W')) ~'>~
~ , '&' .. 25
26 lLJxf5
%le7!
gf
W 27 1Wd6 'ileS
22 .xd6?? 28 1Wb4 %lae8
Perhaps one should also supply 29 'iVh4 Ι6
an exclamation mark for the co- 30 h3 'ilxdS
authorship of such a beautiful piece 0-1
of work. After 22lLJxd6, Κramnik One does ηοΙ often see at such a
had intended Ιο play 22••Jlh5, high level the incarnation of such
threatening 23 ...1Wxh2+, and if 23 grandiose ideas.
%lxe4, then 23 ... lLJf3. However,just
here a shattering blow awaits him: Game29
24 %le8+! %lxe8 25 'iVxf4 winning. Yυdasin - Κharlov
He would have been forced Ιο seek USSR Ch 1991
salvation after 22•••a5 23 'i'd4 (af-
ter 23 .xb7 %lf8 Black keeps the 1 e4 c5 2m lLJc6 3 d4 cd 4lLJxd4
initiative, but 23 %lxe4 %lxe4 24 lLJf6 5 lLJc3 e5 6 lLJdbS d6 7 lLJds
'ifxe4 'ifxd6 25 'ifxh4 'ifxd5 26 b4! lLJxdS 8 ed lLJb8
is quite possible, with a small ad- 9 c4
vantage for White) 23 ... %lh5 (with Estonian Grandmaster 011 had
the threat of 24... 'it'xh2+ fo11owed an interesting idea: 9 .te3!? This
by 25 ...lLJf5#) 24 %lxe4 .xd6 25 is how ίι worked ουΙ ίη his game
%lgel!? %lf8 26 %lxh4 %lxh4 27 against Chemiaev, London 1994:
'ifxh4 'ifxd5 28 'it'd4 'it'xd4 29 cd 9 ....te7 10 'ild2 a6 I1lLJa3lLJd7 12
%lc8. lLJc4 ο-ο 13 a4 b6 14 .te2 (14 f3 f5
22 lLJf5! 15 .tf2 a5 =F Oll-Κramnik, Mos-
23 'ilc1 e3! cow 1992) 14 ... f5 15 g3 .tb7!?
24 %lxe3 (15 ...%lb8!? 16 ο-ο lLJf61eads Ιο an

unclear game) 160-0 f4 17 gf .e8
18 fe de 19 ~hl :d8 20 f3 .h5 21
:adl ~h8 22 .txb6!! lCJxb6 23
lΩxb6 :d6 24 'tWe3 :f4 25 :f2
:h6 26lΩc4! 1-0.
9 .te7 (D)
W can't he carry it out immediately:
10 .te2
White may try two altemative
ideas:
a) 10 .te3 86 l1lίk3 ο-ο 12
'tWcU fS 13 f3lΩd7 (D):
w Β
7lΔd5 127
al) 14 .td3?! b6 15 ο-ο g5 16
b4 e4 (here is the problem with 14
.td3 - if the bishop is οη e2, such a
breakthrough can be met by the
standard f3-f4) 17 fe f4 18 .td4
.tf6 19 .txf6 'tWxf6 with good
compensation for the pawn, thanks
to Black's possession ofthe strong
e5 square, ι.ΚUΖnetsοv-Gοlodaev,
USSR 1991.
a2) 14.te2 .th4+ 15 g3 .tf6
16 ο-ο b6 17 b4 f4!1 18.tf2 fg 19
hg .tg5 20 .c2 is better, with the
idea of strengthening the centre af-
ter ~g2, .td3, and lΩe4.
b) White's plan consists of pre-
paring the advance c4-c5, and a
question therefore arises as to why
10 c5 ο-ο 11.te2 (11 cd is worse:
11. ...txd6 12lΩxd6 .xd6 13 .te2
.tfS 14 ο-ο .te4, and here the
passed pawn οη d5 becomes a
weakness) and now (D):
128 7lΔd5
bl) 11 .••a6?! 12 cd .txd6 13
lbxd6 'ii'xd6 14 ο-ο (I.Kuznetsoν­
Apostoikh, Russia 1992) and now,
thanks ιο the extra tempo, White
can seize the ίnitίatίνe: 14....tf5 15
'iί'b3 or 14...1Σd8 15 .tg5 f6 16
.te3 ±.
b2) 11 ....Lf5 12 ο-ο dc!? 13 d6
.tf6 14lbc7 lbc6 15 lbxa8 'ίWxa8
with good counterplay for the sac-
ήficed exchange.
b3) 11 ...lΔa6!? leaves White
behίnd ίη deνelopment.
Thus, 10 c5 looks premature.
10 a6
11 lbc3 ο-ο
12 ο-ο f5
Black is afraid of the auange-
ment .tcl-e3 and f2-f3, and there-
fore plays 12 ... f5 straight away, so
that if 13 .te3 he can reply 13 ...f4.
Ιη our ορίηίοη, the idea of ex-
changing the dark-squared bishop
doesn 't look bad: 12...lbd7 13 .te3
.tg5!? - exactly now, when White
has not had tίme to hίde the bishop
οη f2 after playjng f2-f3.
Whίte has two plans ίη the posi-
tίoη after 12... f5 (D):
1) pay ηο attention to Black's
counterplay, and try ρersistently to
develop a queenside initίatiνe, ίη­
volνing 13 a3. 13 1ΣbΙ Ι?, or 13 a4;
2) immediately take precau-
tions: 13 f40r 13 f3 followed by
.tcl-e3. SoonerorlaterWhίtemust
defend his king, and, as fans of
W
precautionary actίνity reason, isn't
ίι better to do this straight away?
13 a3
Let us examine the other possi-
bilities, the first two of which rep-
resent, like the text, the plan of
ίgηοήng Black's play:
a) 13 1ΣbΙ!? lbd7 14 b4 e4 15
.te3.tf6 16 .td4 .te5 17 c5 'iί'f6
18 .txe5lbxe5 (18 ...'ifxe5 19lba4)
19 c6! lbf3+ 20 gf 'ii'xc3 21 1Wc 1
(21 1Σb3 'ii'e5 22 fe fe 23 a4 with an
unclear game) 21 ...'ii'f6 22 f4 iί'h4
(22 ... bc 23 dc d5 24 1ΣfdΙ .te625
~e3 ± or 25 'iί'c5 ±) 23 ..thl?! (23
1Σb3!? 1Σf6 24 a4! 1Σh6 25 h3 1Σg6+
26 ~h2 ±) 23 ...1Σf6 24 'ii'e3 1Σh6 25
'iί'g3 'ii'xg3 26 fg bc 27 .tc4 c5 28
bc dc 29 1ΣfcΙ, and Whίte has good
compensatίon for the sacrificed
pawn, as ίη Ye Jiangchuan-Chek-
hoν, Beijing 1991.
b) 13a4lbd7(13 ... a5?! 14c5!?
dc 15lbb5 .td6 16 f4 e4 17 b3 with
the rough plan of .tb2, .tc4, ΦhΙ

and g4) 14 a5 i.f6 15 b4 (15 f3 Ι?)
15 ... e4 16 :a3 i.e5 17 f4 ef 18 gf?
(18 :xf3:j:) 18 ... i.xh2+! 19 'it>xh2
'iWh4+ 20 'it>gl (20 'it>g2? .:tf6 -+)
20...'it'g3+ (20...:f621 :f2+-) 21
'it>hl :f6! 22 'i'el 'ifh3+ 23 ΦgΙ
f4! 24 "ιd3lί)e5 with a decisive at-
tack. This variation shows the dan-
gers that lie ίη wait for White ίη the
event of thoughtless play.
c) 13 Ι4 "ιf6 (13 ... liJd7 14 'it>hl
"ιf6 15 'ifc2 ef 16 "ιΧf4 "ιe5 !? 17
.i.d3 g6 18 :ael "ιχf4 19 :xf4
liJe5 20 liJe2 'ilί'g5! 21 :ffι"ιd7 22
liJf4 :ae8, and thanks Ιο his strong
e5-knight Black is better, Inkiov-
Tzermiadianos, Κhania 1993) 14
g3!? liJd7 15 'iWc2 (or 15 'it>hl Ι?)
15 ... ef 16 gf i.d4+!? 17 'it>hlliJc5
18 "ιf3 "ιd7! 19 :bl! b5!? (also
19 ... a5!? deserves serious study)
20 b4liJe4 21liJxe4 fe 22 "ιχe4 bc
23 'iWxc4 'i'f6 24 :dl :ae8 25
'it'xd4 :xe4 26 'ifxe4 "ιf5 27 'iVd4
"ιΧbΙ 28 'ii'xf6, and very sharp
playin Yudasin-Κramnik, Wijkaan
Zee Ct (7) 1994 led Ιο a peaceful
conclusion.
13 liJd7
14 b4 e4
15 "ιe3 "ιΙ6
16 "ιd4 "ιe5
17 "ιχe5 liJxe5 (D)
The position recalls that ίη the
game given above, Ye Jiangchuan-
Chekhov, with the οηlΥ difference
that instead of the active 13 :bl,
7liJd5 129
W
the passive 13 a3 has been played,
which stops White from playing
c5-c6 ίη comfort. If one were Ιο de-
scribe the scheme of the battle ίη
the game ίι would look something
lίke this: White's play has led him
Ιο a dead end, and so as ηοΙ Ιο find
himself under the threat of a direct
attack οη his king, he decides with
the assistance of a pawn sacήfice
(c5-c6) ιο open υρ the queenside.
But nothing can stop the central
black pawns now, and behind them
Black's pieces will reach the king
a11 the same.
18 'iWd4 "ιd7
19 c5 'iVf6
20 :fdl :fc8!
The a6 pawn must be defended
ίη case of c5-c6.
21 :acl?!
White must already think about
saving the game. Το this end the
best chance was 21 c6, for exam-
ple, 21 ... bc 22 dc :xc6 23 liJd5
130 7lΔd5

• --
••••
-
'ilf7 24 llJb6 (24 b5 I:tc2) 24 ...l:te8
25lί)xd7 'ilxd7 26 b5 :tc2 27 'ild5+
.Ζ
~. •~ .t.~ ~Ι
~h8 28 l:ta2 :'xa2 29 'ilxa2 ab 30
• d5 with fair drawing chances. ~ ~~
ι ~.~.1. ~.~ ~
~ ~ ~
21 I:tc7
• • 8 ••
••.....-_••••-•
000

22 h3 'ile7!? (D) ~ ΩU • ~.W;! ~.W;!

I~~
~~ ~-
v- ~
~.W;! ~~.W;! ~
~ ~
Δ
• • .tΒΔ.
~.
~ ι ~ .Αι ~
ι.
~ι
• a:.φ.
~.~
~ ~Δ-Ι~.~
u ,.. ~ w
νΙ7

••
26 llJd5
u~ ~Ι~.
_ ~ ~.
~
27 I:txc6 llJxc6

-
~'~v-
%
~
~ ~.W;!
~ ~.~
~Δ 28'ii'b6 Ι4!
~~~Δ. 29~xa6
29 ~c4 gives nothing because
~.~ ~:~.~ ~
~ ~ ~ of 29 .. .'~h8 followed by 30...llJe5.
W 29 000 'ii'h5!
23 ~? Now Black's play resembles the
White is now utterly lost; losing work of a bulldozer, as he sweeps
time in this way was inadmissible, away everything ίη his path.
a11 the more so as the king is ίη a 30 I:tcl f3 (D)
worse position οη f1 than gl. He
should have played 23 c6.
True, the text move does con-
tain a trap, threatening 24 cd 'ilxd6
25 llJxe4 fe 26 I:txc7 'ilxc7 27 d6,
when Black cannot play 27 ....c2-
the bishop οη e2 is defended. But
Black is οη the alert.
23 000 l:te8!
24 c6
24llJbl does not work here - a
capture οη c5 was threatened.
24 000 bc
25 dc I:txc6 (D)
 7CΔd5 131

The decisive eποr. 31 :xc6 also 37 '1txg2 j.c6+

10ses: 31. .. fg+ 32 '1txg2 j.xh3+ 33 38 Ι3 :xe3
~h2 j.g4+ 34 ci>gl j.f3 with an 0-1
inevitable mate, but 31 'A'e3 would
have allowed more stubborn resis- Conclusion
tance. Ιη the vaήatίοη with 7 tZΊd5, ίη
31 fg+ spite of the externally tranqui1 can-
32 ~ιl "g5 vas, complications frequently aήse
33 :xc6 "'xf4 which are ηο less sharp than ίη
34 :c3 "'d2 other variations of the system. At
35 :g3 e3 present, it seems to us that 8 ...tZΊb8
The second pawn makes its is the more dependable continu-
presence felt. ation, although 8 ...tZΊe7 also allows
36 :xe3 "'cl+ hopes for a playable game.
137a4

This variation also leads Ιο a game
which is rich ίη content, and is
founded οη a solίd positional basis.
Game30
Rublevsky - Κharlov
Podolsk 1992
1 e4 cS 2lbf3 lbc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4
lbf6 5 lbc3 e5 6 lbdbS d6
7 a4 a6
8 lba3 (D)
a) Black has tried by the me-
chanical means of 8••• h6 Ιο hinder
a ρίη οη the knight, but after 9 iιc4
iιe6 10 ο-ο %:tc8 11 %:tellbb4 12 b3
iιe7 13 .ib2 ο-ο 14 'iWe2 'ii'c7 15
h3 %:tfe8 16 %:tad 1 'ii'c5 17 %:td2 Φh7
18 %:ted 1 (Radulov-Neckaf, Vratsa
1975) White firmly seized the ίο­
itiative.
b) 8....ie7 solves the problem
of developing the kίngside.

__ b1) Ιι would seem that Black

then also makes 9 .igS difficult,

•
•• A~tω.~
Α..... ~ although after 9 ...lbxe4 1Ο lbxe4
(10 .ixe7lbxc3 11 .ixd8lbxdl =)
Β'Β
_ _Β'.'
_
10... .ixg5 Illbxd6+ ~e7 12&4
ι.~~ ~ .ie6 13 'iWf3! lbd4 14 'iWxb7+ 'i/ί'd7
W~

.. • 15 'iWxd7+ (15 'i/ί'e4 f5 16 'i/ί'd3 .if6

Β Β Β with the initiative ίη return for the
ΔΒ ΒΔΒ Β sacrificed pawn) 15 ... Φχd7 16
~
~ ~
~ 8 •

- -
iιd3 iιe7 (Langier-Κramnik, Gua-
%''''''Δ-
~~ • uRΔ uR rapuava 1991) White can sacrifice
~ ~+~1i'~ j.8 .: his knight for the initiative: 17
"
Β
~ lbxf7 .ixf7 18 lbxe5+ Φe8 (or
18 .. .';tιe6 19 f4 ±) 19 0-0-0. Βυι
Ιη this situation there are two 8...iιe7 has a more profound idea,
ΡήηcίΡaΙΙΥ different possibilities. which the following variation after
With 8 ... J.e6, Black tries Ιο 9 .ig5 illustrates: 9._0-0!? 10 .ixf6
bring his pieces ίηΙο the battle (the capture is now necessary, ίη
quickly: ... %:tc8, ... lbd4, creating view of 10 ... lbxe4 being threat-
pressure 00 the c-file. Alternative ened ίη earnest) 1O...iιxf6 11 iιc4
cootinuations: .ig5 12 ο-ο Φh8 13lbd5 f5! (with

the bishop οη e6 and the king οη
g8 this move is ηο good because of
lΩb6!) 14 ef (14 f3 is answered by
14....*.e6, when 15 lΩb6?? is im-
possible because of 15 ... "i'xb6+)
14....*.xf5 followed by ...e4 and
... lΩe5. The bishop has landed οη
f5 ίη one move.
The fight for an extra tempo and
better distribution of pieces is ίη
general characteήstic ofthe minor
variations of the Sveshnikov, and
ίη this case the prophylactic move
7 a4 gives Black too much freedom
of movement and a large choice.
b2) Line 'a' demonstrated a
very promising arrangement of the
white pieces, which is probably
also possible after 8....*.e7, for ex-
ample, 9 .*.c4 ο-ο 10 ο-ο .*.e6 11
1Iel (11 b3lΩxe4) 11••..:c8 (D) and
now:
W 9 .*.c4
b21) 12 b3 .*.xc4! (it's surpris-
ing that until this ροίηι this simple
7 α4 133
move had ηοΙ been seen) 13lΩxc4
lΩa5! 14lΩxa5 'ifxa5 15 .*.d2 'ifc7!
(a queen sacήfice is also possible:
15 ...1Ixc3 16 1Ie3 1Ixe3 17 .*.xa5
1Ixe4 with some compensation),
and Black is ΟΚ. This means that
the plan with b3 is ηοι beneficial.
b22) White could try 12 lΩd5
.*.xd5!? 13 ed lΩb8 14.*.f1 (plan-
ning ΙΟ arrange the white forces
thus: .*.e3, lΩc4 and a5, 1Ia4-b4 or
lΩb6, c4, b4) 14...1Ic5! 15 c4 b6!
(15 ... a5!? 16.*.e3lΩfd7!? 17 .*.xc5
lΩxc5 with the idea of ... lΩba6.
... f5, ....*.f6) 16 b4 1Ic8 with a fur-
ther battle for the dark squares by
means of ... lΩfd7 and ... a5. From
this ίι is clear that Black's opportu-
nities are much richer without the
passive ... h6.
8 .*.e6 (D)
W
The continuation 9lΩc4? is ηοΙ
justified; ίη Korchnoi-Morovic,
134 7 α4
Santίago (5) 1991 Black contίnued
9 ...:c81O~e3lDd4?! (1O ... lDb4!
is stronger: 1 Ι lDb6 :c6 12lDbd5
.a5 13lDxf6+ gf 14 ~d3 d5 =1=) 11
~xd4 ~xc4 12 ~xc4 :Xc4 13
~e3 with equality.
9 ... :c8
Due Ιο the precarious position
of the king Black cannot immedi-
ately solve his problems and seize
the initiative by means of a stand-
ard tήck from simίlar positions:
9...~e710 ο-ο (D) and now:
Β tions, which as a whole are typical
a) 10••• ~xc4 11 lDxc4 lDxe4?
12lDxe4 d5 131!fg4! g614:dl f5
15 'Wg3 fe 16~e3 d4 (16... 0-017
lDb6 d4 18 lΩxa8 'δ'χa8 19 ~h6
:f5 20 'ikg4 :h5 21 ~d2 :h4 22
'ii'e6+ 'iPh8 23 :el and g3 ±) 17
lDxe5 ~d6 18 fuc6 ~xg3 19lDxd8
de 20 fg :xd8 21 :xd8+ ~xd8 22
:el Φd7 23 :xe3 with a winning
rook ending for White, Rublevsky-
Sveshnikov, USSR Ch 1991.
b) 10•••lDxe4 is also dangerous
straight away because of 11 ~xe6
lDxc3 12 ~xf7+ ~f7 13 bc d5 14
"'f3+ ~f6 15 :bl with a strong at-
tack, or gaining a better ending af-
ter 11 lDxe4 d5 12 ~b3 de 13
~xe6 _xdl (l3 ... fe 14 _h5+ g6
151!fg4) 14~xf7+~xf715:xdl.
c) 10...:cs 11 ~ι5 0-0 12 ~xf6
~xf6 13 lDd5 ~g5 14 c3 ;t Rub-
levsky-Chekhov, USSR Ch 1991.
10 ~ι5 ~e7
11 ~XΙ6 ~xΙ6
12 lDd5 ο-ο
13 ο-ο ~ι5
14 c3 ~h8 (D)
Ιη our ορίηίοη Black has ηοΙ
conducted the opening very accu-
rately. Some doubt exists as Ιο the
expediency of the plan with ... ~e6
and ...:c8.
Nevertheless, one of the key ρο­
sitions of the entire variatίon has
arisen, and understanding ίι is very
important for playing simίlar posi-
of the Sveshnikov.
After 14•••lDe7 15 _b3 ~xd5
(15 ...lDxd516edand 17_xb7) 16
~xdS lDxdS 171!fxdS 1!fc7 18 :fdl
:fd8 19 lDc2 an ideal cοπelatίοn
of pieces, with possession of dS,
arises for White, which gives him a
big advantage; furthermore, Black
is forced ιο watch passively as
Whiιe reinforces, and counterplay
with ... f5 is at this Ροίηι Ιοο laιe.

Clearly Black should avoid such
positions by every means possible.
W not be carried out, but it does not
15 ~B2
If 15 'ife2, then 15•••~b8!? is
not bad, with the plan of transfer-
ήng the knight to c5, whilst also
keeping an eye οη the a4-pawn and
preparing ... f5. Recently thίs ma-
noeuvre ίη the Sicilίan Defence
(the Boleslavsky System, for ίη­
stance) has become very popular,
and is longer called into doubt (for
losing time?), as moving the knίght
Ιο c5 and ΡressuήΖίng e4 is Ιοο
good an idea.
Οη the other hand, 15•••~e7
scarcely allows Black Ιο hope for
equality after 16 ~xe7 'ifxe7 17
1ΣadΙ 1Σfd8 (the moves ... Φh8 and
... 1Σfd8 don't fit together well) 18
~xe6 fe 19 c4, with a slίght advan-
tage for White, although Black has
quite a solίd position.
15 ••• ~e7
7α4 135
Here, 15•••~b8 is ηο good be-
cause of 16 ~c4, but the continu-
ation ίη the game is quite sufficient
for equalίty, as the bishop οη a2 is
not best placed. In general Black
has to follow the nuances con-
stantly, and, depending οη White's
continuation, vary his game. For
example, why exactly did Black
play 14...Φh8? Evidently to pre-
pare ... f5. But the time for this plan
has not yet arrived, ίη that 15••.f5 is
met by 16 ~b6! gaίnίng mateήal.
It is possible that this blow will
mean that we should hurry to con-
demn the king move as an eποr.
The threat was created all the
same, and White was forced to deal
with it somehow. True, alongside
14 ... Φh8, 14•••~b8, with the idea
of bήngίng the knight to c5, de-
served attention.
16 ~xe7 "'xe7
17 ~α Ι5?!
Everything is already prepared
for the blow, but it was possible to
play the stronger 17••• ~xa2 18
1Σχa2 f5 19 ef 1Σχf5 20 ~b4 e4 :ι:.
From thίs we can conclude that 15
~a2 is weaker than the previously
seen 15 'ifb2.
18 ~xe6 "'xe6
19 ef Jbf5
20 .e~ "'f71! (D)
20••.1Σff8 is more precise, with
the idea of ...d5.
136 7 α4
W Β
21 lbe3! ~xe3
Νοι 21 •••:'f6?? losing a piece ιο
22 'i!ί'g4, whίle after 21 ••':f4 22
:'adl :'xa4 23 :'xd6 White main-
tains a small advantage.
22 fe! h6?!
.:.xn
22•• + is better: 23 :'xf1 "d7
24 'i!ί'f3 h6 with defensive chances.
23 1i'g4! :'f8??
Black's previous move was ίη­
exact, but did ηοΙ yet have grave
consequences, but just created ad-
ditional defensive complications.
Therefore, after 23...:.xn + 24 :Xf1
'iWe8 White would be left with οηlΥ
a slightly more pleasant position.
The text, allowing a transfer Ιο a
pawn ending via a rook ending,
gives Whίte a decisive advantage.
24 :'xf5 1i'xf5
25 'ii'xf5 :'ΧΙ5
26 :'f1! (D)
26 ... :'f6
Clearly, Black cannot leave the
f-file for an invasion by the white
rook. There remain two possibilί­
ties of moving ίηΙο a pawn ending.
Let us examine them:
a) 26.. J:ιxf1+ 27 ι;t>xf1 ι;t>g8
(moving Ιο the left does ηοΙ help
the king either: 27 .. .rJ;;h7 28 ι;t>e2
ι;t>g6 {or 28 ... b4 29 c4 ι;t>g6 30 'iti>d2
ι;t>f5 31 ι;t>c3 ι;t>e5 32 a5 and Black
is ίη zugzwang} 29 ι;t>d3 ιj;;f5 30 a5
+-) 28 ι;t>e2 ι;t>f7 29 ι;t>d3 d5 (after
29 ... ι;t>e6 30 Φc4 both 30 ... d5+ 31
<lί>c5 and 30... b6 31 e410se) 30 e4
ι;t>e6 31 a5! <lί>d6 32 b4 ιj;;e6 33 ed+
ι;t>xd5 34 c4+ ι;t>d6 35 ι;t>e4 ι;t>e6 36
b5 <ittd6 37 b6! winning.
b) 26...g6 27 e4 (27 :'xf5? gf=;
27 g4 :'xf1+ 28 Φχf1 Φg7, and
White has ηο win because of the
weakness ofthe kίngside) 27 ...:'f4
28 :'xf4 ef 29 ι;t>f2 ι;t>g7 30 ι;t>f3 g5
31 a5! <lί>f6 (31 ... Φg6 32 ι;t>g4 and
then h2-h4) 32 h4 ι;t>e5 33 hg hg 34
ι;t>g4 ι;t>xe4 35 ~xg5 <itte5 36 c4
ι;t>e4 37 'i1i>f6 <ittd3 38 ι;t>f5 and
Whίte wins.
 7α4 137

27 :xf6 gf Conclusion
28 e4! b5 The move 7 a4 does ηοι cause
29 ab ab Black any special trouble; thanks
30 ~f2 ~ι' ιο the extra tempo he has good de-
31 ~e2 h5 velopment and a large choice of
31 ...~g6 32 g4 +-. plans, and he simply does ηοι need
32 ςpf3! ~g6 to force events ( ...ιt1f6xe4 is very
33 g4! h4 often premature and fails to equal-
34 ~e3 h3 ise). But adherents of quiet posi-
35 lίPf3 lίPf7 tional play (whilst indeed many
36 ~g3 ~e6 variatίons ίη the Sveshnikov are
37 Φxh3 d5 quite sharp) can boldly be advised
38 ~g3 de to play ίι as White; the precautίon­
39 ~ 1·0 ary move a2-a4 deprives Black of
Α very tense game, ίη which his actίvity οη the queenside ( ...b7-
Black did not use all his opportuni- b5), and if he succeeds ίη holding
ties, while White shone ίη techni- onto d5 with little 10ss of blood,
cal accomplίshments and played then he can expect a definite ad-
the endgame virtuously. vantage.
14 White plays 6 ~f5
Ιη this final chapter we will exam-
ine a deviation for White from the
maίn vaήatίοn ίη the very early
stages of the battle. 6 lLIf5 is the
one that deserves most attention.
Game 31
Akopian - YakoVΊch
Rostov on Don 1992
1 e4 c5 2lL1f3lLJc6 3 d4 cd 4lL1xd4
lDf6 5 lL!c3 e5
6 lLIfS (D)
Β 10 ~a6! 'ίWxa6 11 'ίWxf5 ~d6 12
6 lLIf5 is Bronstein's move,
which ίη all theoretical reference
works is saίd ηοΙ Ιο lead Ιο an ad-
vantage. The questίon then is why
did a grandmaster who is experi-
enced ίη the finer points of the
variation choose this move? Ιη the
first place, he could have seen the
unnecessarily extravagant waste
of four tempi only to transfer the
knight Ιο a3. But ίη the second
place, Akopian may have prepared
something new...
6 dS!
ΟηΙΥ this advance allows Black
Ιο gaίn a level game.
7 ed ~xΙS
8 dc bc
Exchanging queens is somewhat
weaker: 8ooo'ifxdl+ 9 lLIxdl bc 10
lLIe3 ~e6 11 lLIc4lL1d7 12 ~e3 f6
13 0-0-0 ~c5 14lL1a5 with a mini-
mal advantage to White.
9 'iff3
9 'ifxd8+ ]hd8 is ηοΙ dangerous
for Black, for example, 10 ~e3
:'b8 11 0-0-0 ~b4 12 ~c4 a5 13 f3
ο-ο 14lL1a4 e4! with a level game.
9
000 'ίWd7
9ooo'ifc8 is ηο good, as ίι allows
White to seize the initίative firm1y:
~h6! lLId5 13lDe4 Jl.e7 14 Jl.xg7.
10 ~gS e4 (D)
After 10ooo~b4 11 ~xf6 gf 12
Jl.d3 ~xc3+ 13 bc Jl.xd3 14 cd
'ίWe6 15 ο-ο ο-ο 16 :'ael 'itth8 17
:'e4 f5 (Sax-Fedorowicz, Dubai OL

1986), 18 :c4 would give White
the better chances.
Besides that, ίη this situation
10••ie7 suggests itself.
W And here is a surpήse, but ίι is
11 'ii'e2 J.e7
12 :dl
Winning a pawn by means of 12
J.x:f6 J.xf6 13 lΩxe4 ο-ο! 14
lΩxf6+ gf 15 'ii'd2 :fe8+ 16 Wdl
'fie7 led to a long-term initiative
for Black ίη Τsatuήan-Μarkauss,
cοπ 1988-9.
12 ... 'ii'e6!?
13 .c4 :b8!
13...0-014 'W'xe6 i.xe6 15lLJxe4
lLJxe4 16 J.xe7 :fe8 17 f3! :xe7
18 fe i.d5 19 i.d3 i.xe4 20 Φf2
leads ΙΟ an ending that is somewhat
worse for Black.
14 'ii'xe6? (D)
Akopian, evidently, had ηοι
foreseen Yakovich's reply. Other-
wise he would have chosen 14 b3,
which may lead after 14 ...J.b4 15
White plαys 6lLJj5 139
'W'xe6+ J.xe6 16 J.d2 to a position
from the next note.
Β
14 fe
not White who has sprung ίι, but
Black! Possibly Akopian was bas-
ing his play οη the game Paruten-
ko-Markauss, COΠ. 1988-9, which
continued 14••ixe6 15 b3 i.b416
i.d2 ο-ο 17 i.e2 :fd8 ;. One
might suggest that the Armenian
Grandmaster wished Ιο fight for an
advantage by means of 17lLJa4.
15 b3
15lΩa4? loses ιο 15 ... e3.
15 lLJd5
16 i.xe7 Φχe7
17 lLJa4
Of course, White's idea was ηοΙ
Ιο improve Black's pawn structure.
After 17 lLJxd5, 17 ... ed or even
17 ... cd would give Black an un-
questionable advantage.
17 ••• e3(D)
140 White plays 6liJj5

Black is promised ηο real advan- advantage either: 22 J.f3 liJb4 23

tage after 17...lUb4 18 c3! liJc2+ 19 liJc5 a6 24 :hdl (24liJxa6? liJd3+)
~d2 e3+ 20 ~c 1 :hd8 (20 ...ef 21 24...e5 25 'iPg3.
:d2) 21 J.e2!.

W
W 22 liJc5 a6
18 c4! 23 :hdl!
White must defend very care- White falls into a dangerous ρο­
fully. Trying ιο bring the bishop sition after 23liJxa6 liJxa6 24 %Σxa6
into the struggle would have had :xb3 25 :xc6 :b2 26 <ite3 :a8.
unpleasantconsequences: 18 J.d3 23 ... :hd8
ef+ 19 'iPxf2 :hf8 20 'iPg3liJe3 21 24 :xd8 :xd8 (D)
:d2J.xd3. If 24...'iPxd8, then 25 g4.
18 ... ef+
19 'iPxf2 liJb4
20 J.e2!
Again Akopian defends clev-
erly. Neither 20 liJc5 :hd8 21 J.e2
liJxa2 22 %Σal :d2 23 :hdl :xe2+
24 'iPxe2liJc3+ 25 'iPelliJxdl, nor
20 liJc3 :hf8 21 ~e3 liJxa2! was
any good.
20 ... liJxa2
21 :al liJb4 (D)
21 ...:hf8 was also possible, but
ίι would not have led ιο a decisive

25 1Ia4 1/2·1/2
Attempting to play actίvely by
means of 25••• tiJc2 26 g4! J.g6 27
1Ixa6 1Id2 28 ':'a7+ Φf6 29 h4
tDd4 30 tDd7+ Φe7 31 Φe3 would
have placed Black ίη a dίfficult ρο­
sitίon, whilst 25...1Σb8 would have
led Ιο many exchanges and a draw.
White plαys 6 tDf5 141
Conclusion
Although the author of the system,
Evgeny Sveshnikov himself, sug-
gested that Black might awaίt dίffi­
cultίes after 6 tDf5, this has not yet
been confirmed ίη practίce. Black
gaίns equality without any partίcu­
lar difficultίes.
Index of Vaήatίοns

1 e4 cS 11 c4 20
2 lL)f3 lL)c6 11 g3 20
3 d4 cxd4 11lL)bl:
4 lL)xd4 lL)f6 11 ...0-0111
5 lL)c3 eS 11 ....:.b8 111
11 ...~b7 114
Α: 6lL)db5 d6 7 ..tg5 a6 8 lL)a3 11 ••• ~b7
b59lL)ds 11 ...lDe720
Β: 6lL)db5 d6 7 ..tg5 a6 8lL)a3 11•••0-0 12ltJc2:
b5 9 ~xf6 gxf6 10 lL)d5 ..tg7 12.....tg524
C: 6 lL)db5 d6 7 ..tg5 a6 8 ·lL)a3 12.....tb721
b5 9 ~xf6 gxf6 10 lL)d5 f5 12 lL)c2 lL)b8
Ο: Other lines 12••..:.b8:
13 a3 34
Α 13 'iί'd3 29
6 lL)db5 d6 13 ..td3 30
7 ~g5 a6 13 ~e229
8 lL)a3 b5 13 b4 36
9 lL)d5 13 h4 36
9lL)abl ..te7 10 ~xf6 ..txf6 11 13 a4 bxa4
l2)d5 111 14fu314
9 ... ~e7 14 ':'xa4 16
9 •• :ii'a5+ 10 ~d2 (10 c3 49)
10••:ifd8: Β
11 ~g5 - see move 9! 6 lL)db5 d6
11c444 7 ~g5 a6
11 ~d3 44 8 lL)a3 b5
11 lL)xf6+ 45 9 ..txf6 gxf6
10 ..txf6 10 lL)d5 ..tg7
10 lL)xe7 40 11 c3
10 ••• ~XΙ6 11 c463
11 c3 11 g3 74
144 lndex ο/ Variations

11 ~d3 0e7 12 tiJxe7 'ifxe7: 12 c3 95

13 c3 54 12 ο-ο 101
13 ο-ο ο-ο 14 c4 59 12 ••• :g8
11 Ι5 12... ~g7 95
12 exf5 After 12...:g8:
12 g4 63 13 g3 90
12 ~xΙ5 13 c3 91
13 tiJc2 ο-ο 13 ο-ο 91
13 ... ~e6 70 130-0-091
13 ... tiJe781
14 tiJce3 ~e6 D
14...~g6 64 6 tiJdb5
15 g3 6 tiJf5 138
15 ~d3 79 6 ... d6
After 15 g3: 7 ~g5
15 ... &Δe764 7 a4 132
15 ...b464 7 &Δd5 tiJxd5 8 exd5:
15 ....:tb865 8... &Δe7122
15 ... ~xd5 67 8... tiJb8126
7 ... a6
C 8tiJa3~e6
6 tiJdb5 d6 9 liJc4 ':'c8
7 ~g5 a6 10~xΙ6
8 tiJa3 b5 10 tiJd5 116
9 ~XΙ6 μΙ6 10 ••• μΙ6
10 tiJd5 fS 1O...'iWxf6 117
11 ~d3 After 1O... gxf6:
11 ~xb5 axb5 12 tiJxb5 106 11 tiJe3 117
11 ... ~e6 11 ~d3 117
12 'iί'hS 11 tiJd5 119