IDEAS BEHIND MODERN CHESS OPENINGS: BLACK GARY LANEIdeas Behind Modern Chess Openings: Black Gary Lane BATSFORDFirst published in 2005 © Gary Lane The right of Gary Lane to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, ISBN 0 7134 89502 ACIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission from the publisher. Printed in Great Britain by Creative Print and Design (Wales), Ebbw Vale for the publishers B.T. Batsford Ltd, The Chrysalis Building Bramley Road, London, W10 6SP. www.chrysalisbooks.co.uk Distributed in the United States and Canada by Sterling Publishing Co., 387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016, USA An imprint of chrysat Books Group plc A BATSFORD CHESS BOOK Batsford Chess Consultants: Daniel King, Malcolm Pein and Jimmy AdamsContents Introduction The Chigorin 3 DP Sg4 4 Ac3 and 4 Wad The Chigorin 3 DP Red 4 cxdS &xf3 The Chigorin 3 Ac3 dxe4 4 AB DM The Chigorin 3 43 dxed 4 d5 and 4 €3 The Chigorin 3 cxdS The Chigorin 1 d4 d5 2 23 %c6 The Chigorin 3 e3 and 3 e4 The English Flank Openings Unorthodox Openings The Scandinavian - Main Line ‘The Scandinavian - Various The Scandinavian - The Kurajica Variation 4...26 Index of Main Lines Index of Games Page 22 35 52 60 78 91 97 109 125 146 169 179 188 192To Ryan Lane With thanks to Francois Mertens for his help in providing inspiration for this book.Introduction The aim of this book is to give readers with limited time for study enough knowledge to play the ‘openings as Black with confidence. In providing a complete repertoire I have chosen variations that appear on the board at the earliest possible stage so as to minimise the amount of learning. Moroever my expecta tion here is that Black will be more familiar with the chosen openings than White, who will probably have encountered these lines only very infrequently. I have therefore decided to recommend the Chigorin as Black against 1 d4, when after 1...d5 2 c4 &c6 we have the desired position — while against 1 e4 the Scandinavian 1..d5 goes one better and gives Black his own opening on move one! There is a modem twist in that after 1 e4 d5 2 exdS Wxd5 3 Ac3 Black answers with 3...Wd6, which has only recently become fashion- able. I have also looked at various other first moves by White in order to provide a complete spread of openings for Black. 1 present both the most modem. ideas as well as ways to combat lines given in older sources — the prime concern being to achieve a decent position with the minimum of effort. It is customary for Black first to make a bid for equality in the opening before striving to goon the offensive but just choosing drawn games to demonstrate Black’s ability to hold the opening would be rather dull. Therefore I have selected games which illustrate how Black can take advantage of carelessness or lack of understanding by White to achieve a winnable position. The Chigorin and Scandinavian certainly do not lead to forced wins but they are quite straightforward and can be learnt in a short space of time. Moreover modern ideas have recently increased their stature. White plays 1 d4 My proposal is to meet 1 d4 with the Chigorin Defence. This position occurs after 1 d4 d5 2 4 Qc6 and has been known for over a century but only in recent years has it become acceptable at the highest level. The basic idea is to put pressure on the d4 pawnIntroduction which, if protected by Af3, is then further threatened by ...&g4. It is a sound choice and, in today’s fast time limit tournaments, a poorly prepared White player will find it hard going against an opening that Black plays regularly and knows inside out. There are certainly plenty of tactical possibilities in this opening: In the following position, taken from the game Gervais-Renet, White has tried to refute the opening by chasing the queen’s knight but the French grandmaster playing Black was fully prepared for this eventuality. Baa WM B 47 ae a tee, 9.6! An excellent move which releas- es the dark-squared bishop so that 10 Wxa5 can be met by 10...Wxa5 11 Bxa5 2b4 regaining the piece. 10 b4 Ded 11 dxe6 b5 12 c7 At first sight 12 AxbS? seems the tight choice, to take advantage of the pin on the a-file, but it backfires after 12...axb5 13 Wxa8 &.xb4+, the point being that the black queen stops the king taking flight while after 14 @d2 @xd2+ 15 Sdl Des White is lost. 12...Wd7 13 83 Wxe7 14 AxbS Whb7 15 Wxe4? axbS 16 Wd4 Rxb4t! 17 Rd2 Rxd2+ 18 Axd2 18... Was! Leaving White grasping for a good move because 19 Wrxd5 fails to 19...Hal+, 19 Wb2 and White resigned because after 19...Rxal+ 20 Wxal 0-0 Black is winning comfortably with his extra pawn and superior development. T have also taken into account those inconsiderate people who refrain from 2 c4 and prefer to play it safe with 2 0f3 — but even here I haye selected systems based on ..c6 and which lead to similar structures. However it was a difficult task coping with various other oddball openings, such as 1 b3, 1 b4 and even 1 g4. Neverthe- less I have covered them all and even though there may be only one or two games on each topic these will be enough to enable the reader to handle the arising situations. After all, the aim is to be economi-cal with study time and so, rather than spending a whole chapter extolling the virtues of the Grob 1 4, in my view it is far better to con- centrate on ways of squashing it. White plays 1 e4 1 am suggesting that the Scandinavian is the easiest opening to master for those who do not want to spend ages learning reams of variations. After 1 e4 the reply ..d5 forces entry into an opening that Black plays at every opportunity but which White seldom meets. The idea is that after 2 exd5 Wxd5 3 4\c3 Black can play something comparatively new with 3...Wd6. I first took note of this move at Hastings 1995 when former world title contender David Bronstein experimented with it. This highly imaginative grand- master is known for his extra- ordinary ideas in the openings so perhaps not surprisingly the offbeat queen move took a while to catch on. Various top players have adopted 3..Wd6 — generally referred to as Introduction the Modern Scandinavian — but perhaps the day it achieved cult sta~ tus was in the final round of the 2005 USA Championship. In the encounter Goldin-Stripunsky, Black had to win the final game of the tournament to come equal first and his choice was this very same variation. There was a happy ending for Black too as he created a kingside attack and won in style. The variation had in fact been known for some time but failed to capture the imagination because Black had been registering decent results with the usual 3...Wa5. The change in fashion came about due to faster time-limits which have encouraged the younger generation of masters to revive old or forgotten lines as a way of avoiding some nasty theoretical innovation on move 21 in the Sicilian or whatever. In this respect 3...Wd6 has the advantage of not only being relatively new but also perfectly reasonable with even a number of top players employing it. To be spe- cific I would recommend the Kurajica variation of the Modern Scandinavian for those who want to become operational in the fastest possible time because its basic plan of development by means of a kingside fianchetto can be quickly grasped. The Chigorin and the Scandinavian offer Black a safe way to start the game and with minimal study. And yet they also provide very teal possibilities of generating an attack right out of the opening.The Chigorin — 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Ac6 3 DB 2g4 4 Dc3 and 4 Wad 1d4.d52¢4 Ac6 The Chigorin is an attempt to play something out of the ordinary against the Queen’s Gambit. Containing fewer main fines than other openings, it has the merit of being relatively easy to remember and this makes it a perfect choice for busy club players History of the Opening The opening is named in honour of Mikhail Chigorin (1850-1908) who was one of the world’s best players between 1883 and 1898. In an era of gambits he pioneered defensive lines in the Slav and the Closed Ruy Lopez and introduced what we would recognise as the Chigorin Defence at the end of the 19% century, since which time it has fluctuated’ in popularity. It experienced a surge of popularity in the 1980s after the maverick grandmaster Tony Miles played it at the highest level and the top Russian player Alexander Moroz- evich was also inspired to adopt it ~ and with success. Nowadays the Indian Sashikiran is one player to watch for the latest ideas. Ideas Behind the Opening The immediate benefit of playing the Chigorin is that on move two your opening is already on the board so there is no need to worry about other Queen’s Gambit lines, Black immediately puts pressure on the d4 pawn and if it is reinforced by AB then ...2g4 pursues the plan. Generally speaking, Black’s emphasis is on using his knights in the centre so as to provide support for the pawn break ...e7-e5. In our first example the German champion gives a lesson on how to handle the opening as Black: Nenashev ~ Rabiega German Championship, Heringsdorf 2000 144 d5 2c4 Dc6 3 DB Led This is the most aggressive set-up available for Black as it threatens to exchange the defender of the d4 pawn. 423The Chigorin 3 Df3 Bg4 4 Bc3 and 4 Wad 4...06 Black supports the centre and makes way for the development of his king’s bishop. 5 2f4 Qb4 Black pins the knight: a reason- able line bearing some resemblance to a Nimzo-Indian but with the bonus that the light-squared bishop has been developed before ...e7-26 is played. 5...dxe4 is one of the main alternatives and leads to simi- lar play to a Queen’s Gambit Accepted. 6e3 The main move in this line, secur- ing the d4 pawn. White can also play aggressively with 6 @eS in an attempt to prove that the bishop on 24 is misplaced and then to apply pressure on the queenside, e.g. 6..AxeS 7 LxeS (the big threat now is 8 Wad+) 7...2x03+ 8 bxe3 £6 (8...Af6 is also possible) 9 2¢3 ®e7 10 Ebl (trying to exploit the fact that the queen’s bishop is absent from the queenside) 10...b6 11 Wad+ c6 12 €3 0-0 13 £d3 Wa7 14 Bol &£5 15 @e2 a6 16 Wh3 bs ‘Ash Doric-Fercec, Porec 2004. 6... D6 This is the best place for the knight to keep an eye on the e4 square. Instead 6...\ge72! 7 Hel 0-0(7...6 8 h3 &h5 9-243 dxc4 10 xed £d6 11 2xd6 exd6 12 0-0 with equal chances, J.Coleman-Ei Dubai 2003) 8 &d3 dxc4? ( offers equal chances) 9 xh’ 10 &b1 Ads 11 3 Ace? 12 0-0 c6 13 We2 BFS 14 e4 led to an advantage for White in Topalov- Rabiega, Frankfurt 2000. 7 Xcl 0-0 8h3 Nenashev wants to get rid of the pin by pushing away the bishop. a) In the game Mansout-Azahari, Teheran 1998, White tried 8 2.d3!? which gave Black no worries after 8...He8 9 cxd5 Axd5 10 &g3 5 11 dxe5 Axe5 12 Rxe5 Hxed 13 Ler Be8 with equal chances. b) 8 a3 Bxc3+ 9 Hxc3 dxed (Black takes on c4 in order to vacate the d5 square for his knight) 10 &xc4 Ads 11 Bxdd exdS (11... Wxd5 12 &xe7 Hac8 13 214 De7 and despite the pawn minus the game is roughly equal thanks toThe Chigorin 3 23 2g4 4 Bc3 and 4 Wad Black’s active play) 12 h3 &hS 13 0-0 Bc8 14 g4 2g6 15 Wad a6 16 Efel h5 with roughly equal chances in Cebalo-Kutuzovic, Croatian Team Championship 1996. ©) 8 Re2!7 dxe4 9 Sxc4 Dds is equal, 8...2x63 9 Wxf3 9...LxC3+1 An Black idea, exchanges both bishops in the hope that his knights will become active. Also possible is 9...We7 10 &g5 intriguing (10 2d3 eS! 11 dxeS Axes 12 2xe5 WxeS offers mutual chances) 10...@xe3+ 11 Exe3 (11 bxc3? Wa3 12 Hc2 4e4! gives Black the edge) 11...Wb4 12 Oxf Wrxb2 13 Bb3 Welt 14 Wdl Wxdl+ 15 &xdl dxc4 16 Sxb7 gxfo 17 &d2 (17 &c2_ might be an improvement) 17...Hab8! 18 Exc7 Ba5 19 c2 when the ending favours White, Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Linares 1998. 10 Exe3 Maybe 10 bxc3!? needs to be considered: 10...We7 11 Wdl (11 exd5 Axd5 12 &c4 is level) 11..e5 12 gS exd4 13 Bxf6 Wxf6 14 exd4 Ae7 15 Re2 c6 16 0-0 led to 10 equal chances in Moreno Ruiz - Moreno Carnero, Seville 2004. 10..Ae4 11 Hel eS! Rabiega is playing sharply to put his strong opponent under pressure in the opening. 12 dxe5 We7 13 Wal 13 a3!? is possible when after 13...Dxe5 14 WhS (14 SxeS Wxed 15 Hc2 dat gives Black an edge) 14.26 White has 15 WS! - but though this has the merit of stop- ping ...Wf6, 15...d4! is encouraging for Black. On the other hand White must not get careless with 13 £e2? which just loses after 13...Wb4+. 13...AxeS I suspect 13...8b4+?! is worth investigating when 14 de2 Wxb2+ (I think 14...dxe4 might be the best move, intending to meet 15 We2 with 15... fd8) 15 We2 (15 He22? BDc3+ 16 d2 ADxdl wins) 15..Wxe2+ 16 Exc2 d4 17 Bb2 cS leaves an equal ending. 14 a3 14 Bxe5 Wxes 15 Bd3 (15 Be2 4}, threatening ...WaS+, is good orThe Chigorin 3 2/3 Bed 4 Dc3 and 4 Was 18 Wd4 Wxd4 16 exd4 Hfe8 17 ho2 dxc4 18 Bxcd Ee7 aiming to double rooks on the e-file) 15...Wxb2_16 0-0 Rad8! 17 cxd5 Bxu5 18 Bxc7 Wa3 19 Bxed Bxdl 20 Exdi Wxa2 with the brighter prospects. 14,,.Dg6 15 WHS On 15 @h2 Black can produce his customary tramp card 15...d4! when after 16 WH3 (16 Wxd47? allows the queen to be trapped by 16...8fd8) 16...Rae8 he has the ndvantage. 5,..WE6 16 Be2 Dxfa 17...Bfe8! 18 Wixt4 Wxf4 19 exf4 Dg3+ 20 Rez Axhi 21 Ll I suspect some might be tempted to resign here but when you are rated 2642 you just think that if you walk the king to the corner and take the knight then it is game on. 21...c6!? A clever idea to get the black rooks active before White has time to take the knight. Also possible is 21..He7 22 &£3 Hac’ 23 Bol SB 24 g3 Dxgi+ 25 fxg3 favouring Black. 22 dxc6 Hac8 23 2£3 bxc6 17 exd5? Nenashev is trying to be clever by creating a situation where Black has two knights under attack ~ but it is misguided. 17 Wxf4 is necessary when 17...Wxf4 18 exf4 d4 (18...2fe8 would have been parried by 19 dedi! Bad8 20 exd5 [20 del 4 21 £d3 Dcs 22 Hdl b6 with the slightly better prospects} 20. Bxd5+ 21 Gel and 21...2\g3 does not work due to 22 c4) 19 243 Dc5 20 hd2 Hfes gives Black an edge in the ending. 24b4 Or 24 g3 Bed8 25 Exc6 (25 Aaxh! Badl+ 26 dg? Heel wins the piece) 25...n6!2 26 Bel (26 &xh! loses again to 26..hd1+ 27 &g2 Reel) 26...Dxf2 27 Sxt2 Bd2+ and White has a hopeless ending. 24..Hled8! 25 g4 Hd3 26 dg? Eel Black is winning. 27b5The Chigorin 3 D3 Sgd 4 Be3 and 4 Wat If27 &xc6 Exa3 28 Rd5 SFB 29 &h2 the simplest way is 29...xf2 30 Exf2 Hbl followed by ...Bb4. 27...05 28 a4 28 Excs is met by 28...h6 avoid- ing a back rank mate and intending -Rd2. 28...26 29 a5 Hb3 30 &c6 Hebi! 31 Exc5 23b2 32 &f3 Dxf2 It seems harsh but 32...Hel! is the ace move because it forces check- mate. 33 Ed5 Axh3 34 Bds+ g7 35 Ha7 Eb3+ 36 ded Xb4+ 37 Gd5 Exb5+ 38 &xb5S ExbS+ 0-1 After a look at 5 £4 in this vari- ation it is time to examine another main line with 5 2g5. Agrest - Brynell Swedish Team Championship 2004 1d4 d5 2 c4 Dcé 3 AB Qed 4 Dc3 €6 5 &g5 5.807 If Black wishes to avoid exchang- ing pieces then 5...f6 is the answer. For example: 6 cxd5 exd5 7 2f4 (or 7 Gh4 &b4 8 3 Dge7 is level) 7,..Lb4 8 €3 Dge7 9 &e2 Wa7 10 Hcl gS 11 2g3 hS 12 b3 Be6 13 ®Dd2 with a slight edge for White, Harikrishna-Morozevich, Hyder- abad 2002. 6 &xe7 Dgxe7 7 3 7 exdS Axd5!? 8 03 (8 04 Dfs gives Black an edge because he can target the white pawn centre) 8...0-0 9 Be2 Axc3 10 bxc3 Bas (Black makes room for the c-pawn to advance) 11 Wad b6 12 Edl Wa6 13 0-0 Hfd8 14 Bfel Hac8 with roughly equal chances, Hulak- Muse, Vinkovei 1993. 7..0-0 8 23 8..Dg6!? ‘The knight is well placed here to block the effectiveness of the bishop on 43. Alternatively, the knight can be kept on e7 to support the d5 pawn — with the idea of push- ing through ...e6-e5 and opening the sition. Or 8...h6 9 0-0 e5 10 cxd5 Byxd5 11 ded! (11 dxeS xed 12 bxc3 @xf3 13 gxf3 Axes with a slight plus) 11...2\xc3 12 bxc3 We7 13 h3 BhS 14 We2 (14 g4 2g6 15 Bxc6 bxc6 16 Axe5 also looks good for White) 14...exd4 15 exd4The Chigorin 3 Qf &ig4 4 Dc3 and 4 Wad Back 16 Biel with the superior gume, Delchev-Fercec, Zadar 2003. 9 exdS exd5 10 h3 10... 2x3 In the game V.Ivanov-Barsky, Moscow 1996, Black retreated with 10,,..£€6 when White stated his aim to attack with 11 h4, which might have been the inspiration behind the main game. There followed 11.,.e8 12 Dgs (12 bS ADB 13 h6 is also possible) 12...h6 13 Sxg6 Ixg6 14 Dxe6 Bxe6 15 We4 Bo 16 14 with a level position. 11 Wxf3 Abs Now it would be great to win every game with the black pieces but sometimes you have to be ic and first aim to stop White creating a strong attack. 12 Qb1 White removes his bishop from possible exchange and plans a2-a3 to oust the black knight. White has struggled to prove an adyantage in this position and 12 &xg6, for example, does not look critical: 12...hxg6 13 0-0-0 c6 (the d-pawn needs to be supported before White ets the chance to play a2-a3) 14 hd if 15 We2 Hfe8 16 8h3 Had8 17 hS g5 18 23 Dab 19 We4 Ac7 with a slight edge for White although the game was eventually drawn, Milov- Peek, Port Erin 2004. 12...c6 13 h4 13...De7 Maybe 13...£5 is worth a thought if only for the sneaky trap that occurs upon 14 &xf5 which is busted by 14...c2+. 14 h5S Wd6 15 g3 Aas Black decides to bring the knight back into the action by this slow manoeuvre. 16 Sf Dc? 17 Rd3 Hae8 18 Hal £5 The key move to reduce the effectiveness of White’s bishop and cancelling out most of the immediate tactics. 19 Wea Dc8 Brynell is not afraid of the ending but he wants it on his own terms and therefore adjusts his knight in the name of centralisation.The Chigorin 3 Df3 2g4 4 Dc3 and 4 Wad 20 De2 Wa7 21 Agt Ad6 22 bg2 Ded 23 AB Deb 24 Wha If 24 We5%, to try and make use of the queen, backfires upon 24..2f6! intending _ ...d6-f7 (24...2d6 25 h6 DE7? 26 Wri is good for White) 25 Sixed?! fxed 26 Qd2 Bef 27 Hat Es is embarrassing for White. 24...Wd6 25 DeS Wh4 26 b3 Wa3 Black has done well to contain White’s attack and is now ready to infiltrate with his queen. 27 Qbi Wh2 28 Dd3 Wad 29 Eel a5 30 Ehdl Ac7 31 £3 Dd6 32 Hel De6 33 bhi 33.07 33...a4!? is a good choice to maintain the pressure on the queen- side. 34 Wh2 We7 35 f4 Wad 35...WH6, aiming to double rooks on the e-file, is a possibility with a view to meeting 36 “e5 by 36...DxeS 37 dxeS (37 fxeS We5 gives Black the better chances) 14 37...e7 intending ...Wa3 followed by ...Ac5 with an edge. 36 We2 Dd6 37 DeS Act 38 We2 Ad6 39 gat Agrest is hoping to bring to life his light-squared bishop with this pawn advance which is designed to unlock the b1-h7 diagonal. 39...He7 40 gxfS AxfS 41 Wh3 Dh6 42 gi a4 43 £5 Dc7 44 Hell The threat now is £5-f6 so Black needs to defend. 44...De8 45 £61? Exf6 46 Dd7 Exfl 46...Hf7!? is probably the best choice to maintain the tension. 47 Exfl Ef7 48 Ext? Dxf7 49 5 White threatens mate but the text is effectively a way of offering a draw because Black can now go for a perpetual check. 49... Welt 50 Sg? Wad2+ 51 SFI Walt 52 12 Wa2+ 53 Sf Walt Yl Svetushkin — Rabiega European Championship 2003 1 d4 d5 2.c4 Acé 3 DB &g4 4 Dc3 6 5 cxd5 This has a reputation of being a sound if rather tame continuation. White deprives Black of the option ..dxe4 making room for his knight to occupy the d5 square. 5.0exdSThe Chigorin 3 Bf3 2g4 4 Dc3 and 4 Wat 6 kis Instead 6 €3 would be a passive renponse as it blocks his dark- wyunred bishop. Black can reply 1 AM6, ...5d6 and kingside castling with decent chances. Also possible is 6 £g5 al) 6...Wd7 7 e3 h6 8 &h4 b49 SbS Dge7 10 Bxe7 Wxe7 11 0-0 Euk 12 a3 &xc3 13 bxc3 0-0 led to equal chances in Urosevic-Vujic, Obrenovac 2004. b) 6..8e7 7 xe7 Dcxe7 (7... Dgxe7 8 €3 0-09 Le? Hes is level) 8 DeS Bc8 9 e3 Ato 10 43 c6 11 0-0 &£5 (Black cuts out the effectiveness of the bishop on d3 by offering to trade pieces) 12 b4 0-0 13 bS Was 14 Wel &xd3 15 Dxd3 b6 16 a4 Hfc8 17 De2 Wrel 18 Bixel De4 with an equal ending, Viadimirov-Arencibia, Istanbul 2000. 6...2x13 7 gxf3 White believes that if he can open the position then the two bishops will prove to be influential so he is prepared for his kingside pawns to be damaged. TSG 8 £93 Dge7 9 3 hS!? This is a calculated plan to disrupt White’s relatively solid set-up by urging him to exchange on d6. 10 243 a) 10 a3 hd 11 Bxd6 Wxd6 12 32h3 (White aims to make it awk- ward for Black to castle queenside) 12...26 13 £4 Dd8 (maybe 13...£5, to prepare queenside castling, is worth a try) 14 Wb3 Zo 15 Hel &s 16 0-0-0 Dde6 17 Hes Das 18 Wo Wxb4 19 axd4 Bacé 20 Dxds @®xd5 21 Exds Axb4 offering equal chances in the ending, Atalik- Jurkovic, Zenica 2004. b) 10 @h3 a6 11 Bgl h4 12 &xd6 Wexd6 13 £4 g6 14 Bel £6 (perhaps 14.51? is needed to curb the effectiveness of the light-squared bishop) 15 Wf3 def? 16 S11 Hhes 17 &d3 £5 18 defi Had8 19 Wg2 Dps 20 Abi Ad7 21 Ad2 Des 22 DEB Ded? (22...0h8 is necessary but 23 De5+ des 24 WA still gives White the better chances) 23 AeS+ 1-0 Safin-Toomanian, Abu Dhabi 2001. 10...n4 11 2xd6 Wxd6 12 £4 0-0-0The Chigorin 3 Bf3 &g4 4 De3 and 4 Wad Rabiega is true to his aggressive style and castles queenside in preparation for an attack. 13 Wgd+ White spots the chance to win and does not stop to wonder why his top class opponent has made it so easy for him. 13...22b8 14 Wxg72? Yes, it even happens to top international players! White cannot resist the lure of a free pawn because he fails to see how Black can benefit from the wayward queen. 14...2dg8 15 Wxt7 Das The grim reality for White is that the queen is trapped. The game concluded: 16 Wxg8 Sxg8 17 0-0-0 De6 18 Ehgl Axgi 19 Exgl a6 20 Eg4 h3 21 Eh4 c5 22 dxc5 Axc5 23 Be2 d4 24 exd4 Wadd 25 Bxh3 Wxf4+ 26 He3 ALS 27 Qxf5 WxfS 28 Ze2 Ad3+ 29 d2 Dxf2 30 hd Wear 31 ded Wrxh4 32 a3 Wh7+ 33 ob3 Wi7+ 34 Ged WI5S+ 35 Sb3 Dd3 36 Hd2 Decl+ 37 kha Wis 0-1 White would like to avoid having to learn all the tricks and traps asso~ ciated with the Chigorin and some say the solution lies in 4 Wa4. This might be irritating for Black if he has no knowledge of the line but I think he should be fine. Lauysnes - Gausel Norwegian Championship, Steinkjer 1986 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Ac6 3 Df3 Aged 4 Wad!? A popular reply at club level which has the virtue of skipping lots of variations. The immediate threat is Ded. 4...2.xf3 I think this is the best reply, threatening to exchange the knight which defends the d4 pawn and also to double the fpawns. The old, established move is 4...Af6 when play might continue 5 4c3 (5 Des &d7! 6 Dxd7 Dxd7 7 cxds Dd6 & Wd1 Wxd5S 9 3 e5 is roughly equal) 5...dxc4 and now: a) 6 DeS B47 7 Wxcd B06 8 Wa3 Wrdd 9 Axc6 Wxd3 10 exd3 bxc6 11 @e2 g6 12 &e3 &g7 13 Hcl 0-0 14 0-0 Efds 15 b3 AdsThe Chigorin 3 23 Sg4 4 Qc3 and 4 Wad offers mutual chances in the ending, Onur Catan - Thorbjom, Dos Mermanas 2003. 6 ©3 Rxf3 7 gxf3 6 (7.06 8 Wxe4 5.9 dxeS Dxed is about equal) 8 Wxcd &e7 9 4 Db4 10 We2 c5 11 dxc5 Bxc5 12 a3 Deb 13 &g2 0-0 14 0-0 with a level position, King-Yeo, Brighton 1984. 5 exf3!? This has a poor practical record because there is no longer the option of €2-e3 to protect d4 and the queen is harmless on the a-file. 5 uxf3 is discussed in the next game. 5...06 6 exd5 exd5. 6...ixd5 can also be played. 7 &b5 Dge7 8 &e5 White is trying to apply pressure in the opening by pinning the knights but it is casily rebuffed. Lotfy-Eid, Cairo 1997, saw the quiet reply 8 0-0 when Black followed the usual formula of playing ...27-a6 and then focussing attention on the d4 pawn. That vame went 8...a6 9 @e2 DLS 10 3 Re7 11 Zc3 0-0 12 243 b5 13 Wo3 (3 Wal WaT? [13..Dtxdd 14 Sxd4 Dxdd 15 &xh7+ Sxh7 16 Wixd4 c6 is another option] 14 Kel when the middlegame is even) 13..Déxdd 14 Wxds b4 15 Sxd4 Axd4 16 Bfel_bxc3 17 Wed 26 18 Wrxe7 cxb2 19 abl Axf3+ 20 ext Wrxd3 21 Exb2 Wxf3 22 Wixc7 Bae8 23 Hebl Hed threatening _Ligd+ winning easily. 8.6 9 &e3 a6 10 243 Wa7 11 0-0 6 Black prepares to fianchetto on the kingside but it is a slow process. Or 11...D£5 12 Bel 0-0-0 with a double-edged position. 12 Da2 &g7 13 a3?! A cautious approach when White needs to speed things up by 13 b3 after which 13...b5? fails to 14 S&xb5 winning. 13...0-0 14 Hacl £5 15 £4 Hfds! “ Y Y yet acm si eS 2a Gausel spots a clever tactical idea. The intention is 16...Axd4, uncovering an attack on the queen, when 17 Wxd7 Bxd7 leaves Black a pawn up. Instead 15...b5 16 We2 xd4 17 Bfel would give White decent compensation for the pawn. 16 We2 White surrenders control of the d= pawn but in reality he has little choice in the matter. For example: 16 b3 bS wins and 16 2c2 bS 17 Wo3 xd is also good for Black. 16...Axd4 17 &xd4 Lxd4 18 D3 216 19 DeS 19 Wxc7 is a recipe for despair after 19...8xb2 when Black has an excellent position.The Chigorin 3 Df3 &g4 4 Dc3 and 4 Wad 19...Rxe5 20 fxeS Hac8 21 b4 Ee8 22 £4 c6 In order to minimise the chances of counterplay Gausel has under- standably closed the position. The plan now is to manoeuvre the knight to a superior square before advancing his pawns. 23 WeS Hed8 24 HOS De8 25 Wad Be6 26 h4 We7 27 Hg3 Ew 28 &f2 28...Dd6! The e-pawn is pinned by the queen allowing Black suddenly to get his knight into the action which will give him a clear advantage. 29 Eh1 Dedt 30 Sxed fxed 31 Se3 WET Maybe 31...f5 is more precise because then 32 Ef] would be met by 32...HexeS! and White can give up. 32 Hel Wg7 33 hS HPS 34 Bh1 gS 35 fxgS Exgs 36 Exgs Wxgs+ 37 12, Wrxe5 Black is two pawns ahead with a winning advantage. 38 We3 d4 39 Wh3 e3+ 40 der Wed 41 Hdl d3+ 0-1 The real test of this line is when White replies with 5 gxf3 which is considered the best chance. Etchegaray - Bukal Cannes 1997 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Acé 3 DM Hed 4 Wad Oxf3 5 gxf3 a ane age y White recaptures towards the centre which retains options of ¢2- e4 or just e2-e3 in order to defend the d-pawn. 5...e5!? This aggressive move has hardly been played but in every game I have tracked down Black achieves a decent position. 5...06 6 De3 &b4 and now: a) 7 €3 Dge7 8 Ba2 0-09 We2 Dg6 10 £4 Ab4 11 0-0-0 De7 12 Sb17! c6 13 Ad3 Gh8 14 Wb3 ad with promising play on the queen side, Georgiev-Morozevich, Tilburg 1993.The Chigorin 3 2/3 &g4 4 Qc3 and 4 Wad b) 7 cxdS exdS 8 a3 &xc3+ 9 bxe3 Age? (9...WA6 is not so accurate: 10 h4! h6?! 11 Wbs! 0-0-0 12 &g5! Axd4!? (12...xg5? 13 hxgS wins due to the threat ugainst the queen and rook on h8) 13 Qxt6 DxbS 14 ShI+1 Bd7 15 &ixg7 Zh7 16 Bgl is completely winning) 10 2b! Hb8 11 h4 0-0 (11..Wd6!, to stop the bishop coming to £4, is the correct move- order) 12 5?! (12 Sf4! gives White a slight edge) 12...Wd6! 13 h6 g6 14 e4!? (White may well have the pawn centre but a quick glance will indicate that some of his pieces remain rooted to their original squares) 14... We6 (a direct attempt since 14...dxe47! 15 fxed Dd5? is wrong because of 16 exdS Wxd5 17 hd! winning) 15 @h3 £5 16 0-0 Wro 17 exd5 AxdS 18 We4 Bods 19 Hb5 (19 Bxb7? allows the fork 19...2\a5) 19... Wd6 20 &g5 Bd7 21 Bel a6 22 Bxd5% (a misguided sacrifice but the position is already difficult for White, e.g. if 22 Bbbl Wxa3 23 Hxb7 Wxc3 is good news for Black) 22...Wxd5 with the advantage, Malaniuk-Morozevich, Alusta 1994. 6 dxe5 In this position no one has tested 6 De3 but 6...exd4 (6...Wd7 7 cxd5 7 Gxd5 exd4 is equal] 7...Axd4 8 xd7+ &xd7 9 Bb Df6 with a level ending) 7 Axds Age7 8 Axe7 (8 4 dxe3 9 &xe3 Axd5 10 0-0-0 Wha 11 HxdS 2d6 is roughly equal) 8...Wxe7, intending to castle queenside, is quite promising for Black. 6.84 I suspect this might come as a shock to White who was expecting his own early queen excursion to give Black problems in the opening. But now Black pins the c-pawn and has his own attacking ambitions on the kingside. 7 Agr White prepares to castle kingside and makes no attempt to refute Black’s ambitious play. Other moves: a) 7 De3 &c5 (7... Wxc4! 8 Wxed dxc4 9 £4 Hd8 10 Hel Age? is equal) 8 cxd5 Wxf2+ (8...2xf2+ 9 Sd1 Wxadt 10 Dxad Bd8 11 ef Axe5 12 B14 gives White an edge) 9 Bal 0-0-0 10 Wes Age? 11 242 @xd5 12 Dxd5 Hxd5 13 Wxd5 Ba8 14 &h3+ &b8 15 Sd7 Bb4 16 Hel? (16 &xb4 Dxb4 17 Wd2 Wes, intending ...c6, gives Black compensation) 16...2xd2 17 Wxd2 @xeS 18 c2 Hxd? with complica- tions offering equal opportunities, Kohler-Muse, Berlin 1995. b) 7 Bgl Wxh2 8 exds Wxgl 9 dxc6 b6 10 2e3 D6 (10...4d8 11 2c3 De7 12 Abs Ads 13 0-0-0, with the idea of Hxd5 and thenThe Chigorin 3 Bf &e4 4 Dc3 and 4 Wad Dxc7+, is troublesome for Black) IL Bc3 Ac5 12 Dds 0-0 13 0-0-0 Axe3+ 14 fxe3 Bad8 with level chances, Dubinka-Segal, Rotterdam 1998. 7...0-0-0 8 0-0 25 Bukal has a comfortable position because he has whisked his king away to safety and can now instigate tactics on the kingside. 9 £4 Dh6 10 €3 d4t A great way to disrupt White's pawn chain, 11 Wb3 If White takes on d4 with 11 exd4 then 11...@xd4 12 @c3 Dg4 13 b3 allows a brilliancy with the superb 13...Wg3!! when White cannot avoid mate after 14 hxg4 (14 fxg3 Be2+ 15 Bhl Axg3 mate) 14..O3+ 15 Sh1 Wh2 mate. There is also not much point playing 11 Qd2 due to 11..Ag4 12 h3 dxe3 winning. 11...Da5t 12 Wb Or 12 We2 dxe3 13 fxe3 Ags 14 h3 &xe3+ and Black is clearly on top. 20 12...dxe3 13 2xe3 It is too late to stem his losses with 13 WxcS because 13..2\g4 is very strong. For example: 14 h3 exi2+ 15 @h1 Wg3 16 hxgd Wh4s 17 2h3 Wxh3 mate. 13...2xe3 14 fxe3 Agd The twin threats of ..Wxh2+ and .Axe3 spell disaster for Etchegaray. 15 h3 Dxe3 16 5 Of course 16 Hcl allows a forced mate after 16...Wg3. 16... g3 17 We2 Dxfl 18 Weft Det Black is the exchange up and has the more active pieces, The rest of the game is misery for White who has no trace of counterplay. 19 Dc3 De3 20 Wi3 Wxg2+ 21 Wye? Gixg? 22 bxg? Ed2+ 23 $03 Bxb2 24 Hei Ha8 25 Se3 g6 26 5 He2 27 De2 ExeS 0-1 Summary In the game Nenashev-Rabiega White tries 5 £4 and Black comes up with an interesting plan of exchanging his bishops for the opponent’s knights which works wonders. White can also try 5 S¢gs which is regarded as a safe choice, aiming to secure a slight edge and make Black suffer in the long-term. Agrest-Brynell sees Black doing his best to contain White’s attack before trying to wrest an advantage. The game Svetushkin-Rabiega features 5 cxd5 after which Black later tries to put White underThe Chigorin 3 2/3 &e4 4 Bc3 and 4 Wad pressure with the sharp 9...h5. It has the desired effect because White grabs a poisoned pawn and pays the high price of losing his queen. 4 Wad is looked at in Lauvsnes- Gausel_ with Black _ replying 4,.2xf3 and White trying 5 exf3 which has an average record at 21 tournament level. Gausel plays solidly and then spots a neat tactic to win a pawn. Etchegaray-Bukal sees Black having to cope with the superior 5 gxf3. The traditional move 5...6 is fine but Etchegaray prefers to set immediate problems for White by 5...e5 followed by the star move 6...Wh4,The Chigorin — 1 d4 d5 2 c4 “c6 3 DAB Be4 4 exdd 2xf3 & This variation has the classic Chigorin trademark of exchanging bishop for knight in order to put pressure on the d4 pawn. Black is obliged to take on £3 because an immediate 4...Wxd5 is well met by 5 &c3 after which there is no pin available by ...b4, thus leaving White on top. This idea of under mining the white pawn centre was played more than a century ago by Chigorin and it is only natural that there is room for improvement so I have selected a modern twist when- ever possible. Svendsen — Reefschlaeger Gausdat 1995 1 d4 d5 2c4 Ac6 3 D3 Ags 4 cxd5 2xf3 5 exf3?! This is a rare continuation but still needs to be considered. It is regard- ed as inferior because Black can put pressure on the d4 pawn and has the option of quickly playing ...e7-e5. 2 Incidentally the alternatives 5 gxf3 and 5 dxc6 are discussed later in this chapter. 5...Wxd5 6 2e3 White protects the d4 pawn. An interesting but dubious gambit is possible with 6 @c3 when after 6... Wxd4 play might continue: a) 7 We2 Wd7 (7...0-0-0!? looks reasonable) 8 &bS a6 9 Ra4 e5 10 Re3 Bd6 11 Det Dge7 12 Acs ‘Wek 13 h4 0-0 14 94 Ad5 (14...b6! is an improvement when a possible line is 15 Ad3 Dd4 16 Bxd4 exd4) 15... Rb4+ 16 de2 Dd4+) 15 x6 bxc6 16 Ded £5 17 gxfS Wxf5 with the advantage, Moutousis-Atalik, Peristeri 1994, b) 7 2e3 Wxdl+ 8 Bxdl a6 9 Sc4 (9 Ads is well met by 9... 0-0-0) 9,..26 10 Ded Dt6 11 Axto+ gxf6 12 de? is a nice idea to co- ordinate the rooks in the ending buta pawn is a pawn and gives Black the winning chances, Popp- Lchmann, St Ingbert 1989. 6...0-0-0 A logical choice by Reefschlaeger to attack the d4- pawn. The standard move in the old reference books used to be 6...e5. For example: a) 7 dxeS WxeS 8 Wb3 Sb4+ (perhaps 80-040 when 9 D3?! cS leaves Black better) 9 c3 Dge7 10 0-0-0 0-0 11 Ads gives White a slight edge because he can gain time by harassing the black queen, Salazar-Arencibia, Merida 2000.) b) 7 Bc3 tb4 8 dxeS Wres 9 Eel Dge? (or 9...Af6 10 &c4 0-0 U1 0-0 2d6 12 f4 WES 13 Abs Ead8 with equal chances, Purdy- P-Thompson, Australian Champion- ship 1973) 10 &c4 0-0 11 £4? Wed 12 @f1 Dds 13 We2 We? 14 We2 Efe8 with a winning advantage, Fournarakos-Botsari, Athens 1997. 7 Dc3 Was 8 2bS5?! seems natural threaten to double the c-pawns by Though it to The Chigorin 3 D3 2g4 4 cxds Bxf3 exchanging pieces, the idea is flawed. 8 Wb3 e6 9 0-0-0 Df6 10 ‘Bc4 Dc7, intending ...Ded5, would leave equal chances. 8...Dxd4! 9 Rxd4 5 The pin on the d-file allows Black to recover the piece. 10 We2 After 10 Wad Wxad 11 Dxa4 exd4 Black has a great ending thanks to the extra pawn. 10...exd4 11 W£5+ 2b8 12 0-0-0 Svendsen might have been hoping that his own pin on the d-file would put off Black but this is not the case. 1 h6 13 Wh4 2a3! Akiller move which connects the rooks, thereby making ...dxc3 a possibility. White is now lost. 14 bxa3 Wxa3+ 15 Sb1 dxc3 0-1 Ireckon if you ever attend a chess trivia quiz one of the questions will be “In what year was the 2005 USA Championship played?” It is a long story but the answer is 2004 and it was when one of the leading players employed the Chigorin to good effect. D.Gurevich - De Firmian USA Championship, San Diego 2004 1 d4 d5 2 Df3 Dc 3 c4 Sed 2The Chigorin 3 Of3 Led 4 cxd5 Lxf3 4 exd5 Qxf3 5 gxf3 This has a good practical record. White can now lend support to the d-pawn by €2-e3. 5...Wxd5 6 e3 eS This is the best try to pose White problems in the opening. I did seriously consider 6...e6, which is a solid reply and was played by Chigorin himself, but it invariably leads to safe but dull endings. Lalic- ‘Yu Wang, Seville 2003, saw 7 Dc3 WhS 8 Sg? 0-0-0 9 f4 (the key move for White which is needed to preempt any attack and is the reason why the line has such a solid reputation) 9...Wxd1+ 10 @xd1 ®Dge7 11 He2 g6 12 Ded h6 13 &d2 Bd5 with equal opportunities. 7 Dc3 Bb4 8 2d2 White blocks the pin. 8 a3 is examined later in the chapter. 8...&xc3 9 bxc3 Wd6 I like this continuation which keeps all options open. 9...exd4 is the main alternative but is less flexible as it releases the tension in the centre. 24 10 Ebi b6 1 Bg? White has a variety of moves available: a) 11 Bgl is rather direct, hoping to compromise the black kingside by targeting the g7 pawn. After 11...g6 12 Wa4 0-0-0 13 2bS Age7 14 Bcl!? exdd (14..6b8 15 Ra3 W6 16 e2 is roughly equal) 15 oxd4 Wxh2 16 Bg3 Hd6 17 a3 Be6 18 Rxe7 Hxe3+ (18...Wh1+ 19 &f1 Dxe7 20 Wxa7 gives White a slight edge) 19 fxe3 Wxg3+ 20 td Dxe7 21 WixaT Bd8 22 Wa8+ Dc8 23 #4 Wh2+ 24 Qe2 He8 Y-4 Ipek-Geenen, Haifa 1989. b) 11 Wad Dge7 (11...0-0-0 12 Zdl Age7 13 Re2 with a level position, as in Rubinetti-Perez Pietronave, Buenos Aires 1990) 12 Qe2 Wy6 13 Hdl Wye2 14 SA 0-0-0 15 &cl gave White little from the opening and led to equal chances in Rubinetti-Boey, Thessaloniki 1988. ©) 1] f4 is considered in the next game.11...Age? 12 £4 exf4 13 04 13...Bd8 The queen’s rook comes to the centre and in some situations oblig- es White to watch out for ...De5 if his king moves away from defend- ing the bishop on d2, Also possible is 13...0-0 14 0-0 Bad8 15 hl Ago 16 Bcl Aas 17 Kel Hfe8 18 We4 c5 with decent play against the white pawn centre, Gonzalez Velez- Narciso Dublan, Foment 1994. 14 0-0 Ag6 15 e5 Wa7 A steady reply —_ because 15...Acxe5 is rather wild. For instance: 16 dxeS Wxd2 17 Wa4+ e7 18 Wad+ web (18.05 19 Wxa7+ Ed7 20 Wxb6 favours White) 19 Wb3+ @e7 20 Wa3 with a rather strange draw by repetition. However White can probably improve somewhere. 16 WE3 Dce7 Now 16...DexeS invites compli- cations after 17 dxeS Dh4! 18 xg? 19 e6! (the key move to save White’s position since 19 2xg2 We6+ 20 Sgi xd? wins) 19... Wxe6 20 fel Dxel 21 Bxel The Chigorin 3 Qf3 &¢4 4 cxd$ Bxf3 seems to favour White but 21...0-0! 22 Bxe6 fxe6 23 We2 e5 is double- edged. 17 &xf4 Dh4 18 Wer Axg? 19 &xg2 5 De Firmian jumps at the chance to undermine the pawn centre although 19...2\d5, intending 07-05, looks good value. 20 dxe5 We6+ 21 dgl Wxe5 22 Wos+ Gurevich believes his best chance of holding the draw lies in the ending. 22 Wa6 allows Black to castle which then reveals White’s problems of having an exposed king and a poor pawn structure For instance: 22...0-0 23 Wxa7 Dds 24 2d2 Hfe8 25 Efe Wo6 threatening ..ma8 to trap the white queen) 26 Wa Bxe5! 27 ExeS Wg6+ 28 eh Wxbl+ wins. 22...Wxb5 23 HxbS 23.005 I prefer to keep the queen’s rook active by 23.43! when 24 Bb3 ®d5 is good for Black. 24 &d2 Hd7 25 a4 De7 25The Chigorin 3 Qf3 Bed 4 cxd5 Bxf3 Black does not want White to exchange off the a-pawn and seeks to cover the a5 square. 26 Re3 Deb 27 4 It is now obvious that the manoeuvre with the knight is not impressive since now White can shed the weak c-pawn. 27.24 28 Bxd4 Exd4 29 aS Exe4 30 axb6 axb6 31 Exb6 0-0 Yl A look in older sources indicates that 11 f4 was in vogue during the 1980s thanks to Kasparov's adoption of it in a world championship qualifying match against Smyslov. Therefore it is only right to be ready and able to play something a bit different against it. Daloz ~ Libiszewski Nice 2003 144 d52c4 Dcé 3 AB Aged 4 exdS 2x13 5 gxf3 Wxd5 6 3 057 De3 Abd 8 Rd2 Lxc3 9 dxe3 Wa6 10 Ebi bo 11 £4!? 26 A clever idea which allows White to create a pawn centre. It has the seal of approval of Garry Kasparov. L.wexf4 12 e4 Dge7 Black develops his knight and prepares kingside —_castling. Alternatively, Buytaert-Geenen, Charleroi 2000, saw 12...f5. That game went 13 &b5 (or 13 exf5 @f6 14 WB Ads 15 Bcd 0-0-0 with an edge for White) 13...0-0-0 14 Wf3 fxe4 15 Wxed Age7 16 Axia We6 17 Wxg6 Axgo 18 &e3 Ace7 19 sed2 with the superior chances. 13 Wes Wa3! An important idea which will most likely set White thinking as it varies from the famous Kasparov game that is usually quoted. The obvious threat is 14...2\xd4 when the c-pawn is pinned along the third rank. The old line continued 13... 0-0 14 &xf4 Wa3 15 Be2 £5!? (some years later 15...g6 was tried as _a possible improvement, then 16 223 Wxa2 17 0-0 Dce7 18 &xc7 We6 19 Bfel Hac8 20 2g3 f5! [Black has to challenge the centre otherwise White will make use of the bishop-pair] 21 exfS WexfS 22 WxfS AxfS 23 Hb3 withequal chances in the ending, Urday Caceres-Hertneck, Berlin 1998) 16 0-0 fxe4? (Kasparov suggested 16.,.Dg6! as a better course of action, giving the line 17 Sxc7 We7 18 exfS Wxc7 19 Wd5+ 2h8 20 fxg6 De7! 21 Wed when White's chances are to be preferred) 17 Weed Wxc3 18 3! Wa3 (the only move as Hcl was threatened while after 18...2£67! 19 Hfcl Wa3 20 d5 a5 21 d6 wins) 19 £43! (a blatant demonstration of intent to play Wxh7 but it is difficult for Black to defend) 19...Wd6!? (the alternatives lost quickly: 19...26 20 S.c4+ dg7 21 d5 Das 22 Bd4+; 19...De5 20 We6+ @h8 21 &xf5; and 19...£5 20 Ebs! HafS 21 BxfS ExfS 22 We6+ Ef7 23 Rcd Dds 24 Wd7 etc) 20 Wxh7+ gave White a clear advantage in Kasparov-Smyslov, Vilnius 1984, 14 Wxi4 White restores the balance. Other moves: a) 14 Wd3 Wxa2 15 x4 0-0 16 Re2 £5! (as usual in this variation Black tries to agitate White’s set-up by attacking the pawn centre) 17 exfS (17 e5 aS 18 0-0 Web is roughly equal) 17...Axf5 18 0-0 Dixd4 19 cxdd Ext 20 Wed+ Weed 21 Bxcd+ cef8 22 BdS Hf 23 Biel Axd4 24 &xa8 De2+ 25 Bl Axel 26 Hxcl 5 27 ed '% Jose Abril - Narciso Dublan, Tordera 1995. b) 14 Re2 Wra2 is irvitating for White who must for the time being postpone castling (instead 14...0-0 15 &xf4 transposes to the Kasparov game mentioned in the note to Black’s 13th move). Then 15 Hd! material The Chigorin 3 @yf3 &g4 4 cxd5 Sxf3 £5 offers equal chances as 16 exf5?! allows Black a slight initiative after 16...0-0 when the king’s rook becomes a menace on the f-file, 14...0-0 There is no rush to grab the a- pawn and so Black sensibly carries on developing. 15 Bgl Ag6 16 Wxe7 Hack 17 Wy3 Wxa2 ‘A quick count of material would indicate the position to be level but it is rather more complicated than that. The question is whether White can continue to make progress with his king in the centre as this means that his queen’s rook is cut off from the kingside attack. 18 Xd Hes 19 2d3 Was White intends to meet 19...f5 with 20 e5, keeping the position closed and leaving him with the superior chances. 20 Re3?! The altemative 20 $f1 Wb3 21 £2 Das, intending ... Ded, is com- plicated and offers approximately equal opportunities. 07The Chigorin 3 ®Y3 Bed 4 exd5 x3 20...\Wb3 21 2d2 £5 22 e5 22..Dexe5! White had been hoping to keep the position closed but this sacrifice blows it apart. 23 dxeS AxeS+ 24 2e3 1f24 Se2 then 24...Hce8 25 Le3 £4 wins, while 24 Sf Wxdl+ is crushing. 24...f4 Black wins the piece and has a vicious attack to boot. 25 Wh3 Wxe3+ 26 fl fxe3 27 Bxg6 e2+! 28 dg? hxg6 0-1 White also has the alternative 5 dxc6 as a ploy to avoiding doubled fpawns whilst retaining ambitions of creating a pawn centre: Degtiarev — Wisnewski Hoeckendorf 2004 1 d4 d5 2 Dt3 Acé 3 cd gd 4 exdS 2xf3 5 dxe6 WR 5...Sx06 6 Ded White’s idea is to create a pawn centre with e2-e4 which can, if necessary, be supported by £2-£3. 6...06 I like this move because it leads to tactical lines featuring ...Wh4+ after White advances the f-pawn. Instead 6...0f6 is the quiet response. 704 2b48 3 The standard way of defending the e4 pawn now that the queen’s knight has been pinned. 8 Wd3 is an interesting idea because White protects the pawn and speeds up queenside castling. _Joppien- Wisnewski, Kiel 2003, saw 8...Wh4! putting White under immediate pressure since he cannot maintain his pawn centre now that the fpawn is pinned, That game went 9 ¢5 0-0-0 10 £3 Ae7 (Black has developed smoothly and heads his knight towards f5 where it can target the d4 pawn) 11 0-0-0 Df5 12 g3 We7 13 Kgl 2f3 14 Be2 (14 Hd2 5 favours Black) 14... 2xc3 15 2x3 (or 15 bxc3 Wa3+ 16 Sb1ixe2 17 Wxe2 Wxc3 winning) 15...2xd4 16 Sxb7+? dexb7 17 Wed+ 06 18 Sxd4 Wh4! when White loses a piece. 8..h4+ 9 23 Whs!? Z eye If you have a library of chess books only going up the 1980s then you will struggle to find any mention of this move. The reason is that 9...W6 used to be invariably played in order to apply pressure on the © pawn, However modern thinking regards hS as a more prom- ising square for the queen because, although it no longer hits d4, it can still target the f-pawn and leaves open the possibility of ...f7-£5. 10 &e3 White supports the d4 pawn. Other moves: a) 10 Re2 0-0-0 11 Be3 £51? (11..Be7 12 Wo3 Bas 13 Wad Hhe8 14 b4 &b6 15 b5 &d7 16 4 Frochner-Titscher, German Team Championship 1995) 12 Wb3! xc3+ 13 bxc3 fred 14 Wxeb+ (14 fxe4 Wg6 is fine for Black) 14...8d7 15 Wxed and now, instead The Chigorin 3 D3 Lgd 4 exdS Lxf3 of 15.,.2e8%! 16 Wa3 with advan- tage to White, Granda Zuniga- Morozevich, Amsterdam 1995, Black should have _ preferred 15..2\f617 16 Wes Wf7 with compensation, as given by Hansen. b) 10 &c4 0-0-0 (as usual Black castles queenside to try and attack the d4 pawn) 11 23 Bc5 12 wf2 Df 13 Heol Bxd4 14 &xd4 05 15 De2 exd4 16 Dl4 Wh6 17 Rxf7 g5 18 Ad3 Agd+ (18...g4!, to under- mine the defence of the e-pawn, is strong) 19 de2 EBhf8?! 20 Wb3 and White can fend off the attack, main- taining the slightly better chances, Eisenbeis-Pirrot, Bad Woerishofen 2001 10...0-0-0 11 2.g2 White is ready to castle kingside if he wants and also play 3-f4 when the light-squared bishop will support the ¢4 pawn. 11...£5 This advance of the f-pawn, challenging the centre, is the logical follow up to 9...Wh5. 12 Wb3 White targets the bishop and the pawn on e6. The alternative 12 0-0 is considered in the next game. 12...fxe4 Or 12...8xc3+ 13 bxc3 fred 14 fxe4 Df6, transposing to the note after the 14th move, while 13 Wxce3 fxe4 14 fxed enters into the main game. 13 fxe4 &xe3+ 29The Chigorin 3 Bf3 Red 4 cxd5 Bxf3 14 Wxe3 White hopes to preserve his e- pawn by piling up on the c-file, thus preventing the opponents light- squared bishop coming to c6. After 14 bxc3 f6 play might continue: a) 15 Wxe6+ &b8 16 Eb! Bas (16...2b5? allows 17 g4 when 17... Wxgd 18 Wxgd Dxgd 19 gs wins) 17 Wes Wg6 18 0-0 He8 19 WaS &xe4 is roughly equal. b) 15 Rf4 Sb8 16 0-0 Rxe4 17 Wrxe6? (a blunder because it allows Black to unleash a formidable attack) 17...2xg2 18 dxg2 Bhe& 19 We4 He2+ 20 Hf2 Bxf2+ 2t &xf2 Weh2+ 22 213 Ads! (The removal of the bishop will strip the white king of defensive cover) 23 Hb1 Wh5+ 24 £2 Axf4 25 oxft HS 26 Ws Wie 27 shea Wet 28 d2 H8 0-1 Stantic-Kovacevic, Nova Gorica 2002. 14.216 Black’s middlegame plan is easy to follow because it revolves around undermining the central pawns. 15 Rel Hd7 30 Black protects the ¢7 pawn so that he can threaten to take the pawn on 4, 16 Wa3 2bs! The big threat is mate and there is little likelihood that White will be able to castle kingside. 17 He2 2a6 18 &d2? White is right to be wary of having his king stuck in the centre and seeks shelter on the queenside. But perhaps 18 &f4 would be a sterner test when, for example, 18...Wg6 (18..€b8 is roughly equal) 19 WeS b6 20 Wa3 actually leaves White better. 18...Wg6 19 Set Axes Wisnewski wins a pawn, justify- ing his whole opening strategy of probing White’s central pawns for weaknesses. 20 2f1 &xfl 21 Wxa7 Tf 21 Hxfl then 21...a6 stops White from infiltrating on the a-file. 21...2f7!Black makes room for his king und preserves his bishop. 22 Wa8+ &a7 23 Wxb7 White would like to grab the rook with 23 Wxh8 but after 23...d3 24 Hp? WS! the double threats of ..WE3 and the spectacular ...Wfl+ are very strong. After 25 2f4 g5 Black is winning. 23.08 Black defends the c-pawn and remains a piece up with victory in sight. 24 d5 eS 25 Wh3 Dd6 26 Wad+ bs 27 Wa7 Was Now the black queen is left to wreak havoc in the heart of White’s position 28 b3 Wxd5 29 Hdl 29...Wxd1+! 0-1 White resigned in view of 30 Sxdl Bfl+ 31 bd2 Ded mate. There is one game credited with 9..,Wh5 where a top ranked player could not cope with the situation and here it is... The Chigorin 3 Df3 Bed 4 cxdS Rxf3 Akopian — Reprintsey USSR Team Championship, Podolsk 1990 1 d4 d5 2 D3 Ac 3 c4 Ags 4 exd5 2xf3 5 dxe6 2xc6 6 De3 e6 7 e4 Sb4 8 £3 Wh4+ 9 g3 Whs 10 203 0-0-0 11 2g? £5 120-0 Akopian whisks his king to safety. a) 12 We2 fxed 13 fked Df (as usual Black plugs away at the centre pawns, making his middle- game plan rather obvious) 14 e5 (14 Hel looks odd but it preserves the pawn since 14...xc3+ 15 Wxc3 is fine for White who is threatening mate on c7 if the bishop on 6 moves) 14...2ig4 15 Xxc6 Dxe3 16 2xb7+? (16 Wed bxo6 17 Wxe3 oS slightly favours Black) 16...2xb7 17 Wea+ Ad5 with a winning advantage, as in Waffenschmidt- Gospodinow, Neumuenster 2000. b) 12 &5 g5 (12...8c5!? is worth considering to take advantage of the pin on the d-file) 13 a3 &c5 14 b4 6 15 a4 £47! (or 15...24 16 faxed We8! 17 Ha? &xg2 18 Exe2 Wes 19 Wa2 fixd4 recovers the pawnThe Chigorin 3 O83 Sgd 4 cxdS Rxf3 and ensures a sharp position) 16 a5 fxe3 17 axb6 axb6 18 Ba8+ 7 19 Exd8+ Sxd8 20 bS gave White the superior game in Musende-Poulsen, Bled 2002. 12... B16 Reprintsev applies pressure to the e-pawn. Instead Shulman-Savage, Philadelphia 2002, saw 12...2xe3 after which play continued 13 bxc3 D6 14 exfS Wxf5?! (I think 14..d5! is a clear improvement with equal chances after 15 Sd2 exf5) 15 c4 g5 16 Wd2 h6 17 Zael with an edge for White. 13 e5 &xe3 14 bxc3 White maintains the pawn chain and bolsters the d-pawn. Also ssible is 14 exf6 @xb2 15 fxg7 fhg8 16 Hbl £4 (16...axd4!? makes use of the rook on the d-file, e.g. 17 &xd4 e5 18 Wh3 exd4 with equal chances) 17 Bxb2 fxe3 18 £4 Wad 19 Bxdl led to a level ending in Namini-Logdahl, Hallstahammar 2003. 14..Dd5 15 2d2 32 A positional trick. Black frustrates the opponent by hemming, in his light-squared bishop. 16 We2 If 16 gxf4 then 16...2hf8 17 Wel Wh4 recovers the pawn with a slight plus. 16...Wg6 17 Wt2 fxg3 18 bxg3 ns! Black probes the kingside and waits for an opportunity to play a timely ...n5-h4, 19 Efel Mdf8 20 c4 Db6 21 Rb4 ha ‘An aggressive response which involves sacrificing the exchange in pursuit of the attack. I would be tempted just to preserve the rook with 21...2f7 when 22 d5 exd5 23 e6 Ef6 is fine for Black. Also 21...Bf5 22 dS exdS 23 £h3 is roughly equal. 22 &xf8 hxg3 23 We3 Ext8 Now things have become a little clearer. In retum for the invested material Black has installed a pawn on g3 and now just needs to get his queen on the h-file and he can chase the white king. 24 dS exdS 25 cxdS 2xd5 26 e6 Akobian was banking on this pawn advance to divert Black from his attack. 26...WhS! Here comes the attack. Black finally gets his queen to the hfile.27 e7 Wh2+ 28 Sfl &cd+ 29 Be2 es There is no rush to take the rook x0 Black first pays attention to the pawn on e7. 30 Rd Wh4 31 2d8+ Exd8 32 8-6 32...d2b8! A remarkable move to maintain the attack on the queen and threaten «Ed mate. Instead 32...8xe8?? is awful due to 33 Wxe8+ Wd8 34 &h3+ leading to mate. 33 Hel Hxe8 34 Wxe8+ eB 35 Wed Wred 36 Eyed Da The ending gives Black all the winning chances because he can quickly advance his passed pawns ‘on the queenside. 37 Hed Axa? 38 Sixg3 De8 Maybe 38...a5 is the critical test when 39 Bxg7 a4 40 f4 b5 seems to be good for Black. 39 &h3 a5 40 247 D6 41 Hxg7 Dxd7 42 Hxd7 b5 43 £4 eB 44 Bg7 b4 45 dd2 a4 46 £5 b3 47 £6 The Chigorin 3 ®/3 Bed 4 cxdS &xf3 White has to keep pushing the pawn in view of 47 @c3 a3 48 #6 b2 49 £7 &xf7 when Black wins. 4 2 48 £7! b= It is worth noting that 48...2.xf7 is met by 49 dc? with a draw. 49 18=W+ 2b7 50 Wt3+ Sb6 51 We3 24 52 Wd4+ &b7 53 Hxe7+ White is rightly satisfied with forcing a draw. 53...dexe7 54 Wrxed+ d6 55 Wxad 4.14 Summary 1 know how infuriating it can be when weaker moves are not mentioned in opening books. The theory here is that if professional players don’t play such and such a move then it cannot be good. However this is all very well until you find yourself having to face one of these moves! I have therefore included the game Svendsen- Reefschlaeger to demonstrate the weakness of 5 exf3. A top class example is D.Gurevich-De Firmian from the battleground of the US Championship. Here White prefers 5 gxf3 which leaves him the option of e2-e3, bolstering the d-pawn. Black manages to create a slight initiative before honours are shared. The game Daloz-Libiszewski features 11 f4 which has been employed in the past by Kasparov so needs to be respected. I think the improvement 13...Wa3 is worth remembering in order to baffle those who have done their homework on the old Kasparov encounter. Degtiarev-Wisnewski 33The Chigorin 3 B3 Red 4 cxd5 Lxf3 sees 5 dxc6 which allows White build up a pawn centre after 5..2xc6 6 De3. I then propose ...26 and the game is a good test of this line. Akopian-Reprintsev is a remarkable encounter with three 34 white queens appearing on the board at different times. It is another example of 9...WhS and of Black’s endeavours to chip away at the white pawn centre in the middlegame.The Chigorin — 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Ac6 3 Ac3 dxc4 4 AB Af6 This is a well known position in the Chigorin and debate is still rag- ing how White should continue. I have concentrated on the main replies which are 5 e4, 5 d5, 5 2g5 and 5 Wad. There are various defen- sive variations for White to contend with but, whenever possible, I have endeavoured to select options which present winning opportuni- ties for Black. These might not be rock solid but do at least promise interesting middlegames. Anand — Morozevich Wijk aan Zee 2001 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Ac6 3 Dc3 dxet This is the best and most ener- getic way of dealing with the threat fo the d5 pawn. The drawback is that it allows White to create a pawn centre albeit one which can also provide Black with a middlegame plan of undermining it. 35 43 White supports the d4 pawn by developing another piece. The alter- natives 4 d5 and 4 3 are discussed in the next chapter. 4...D16 5 e4 White is content to construct an impressive-looking pawn centre and is ready to take back on c4 with the light-squared bishop. 5.824 It is worth knowing that this posi- tion can be reached from the Queen’s Gambit Accepted: 1 d4 d5 2 d4 dxc4 3 04 Acé 4 AG Ale 5 Ac3 2g or 1 d4 d5 2 4 dxe4 3 DB Als 4 Dc3 Ac6 5 ed Lp4. 6 23 White supports the d4 pawn,The Chigorin 3 De3 dxcd 4 D3 DE 6. BX I am inclined to favour the reliable alternative 6...e6 which is examined in the next game. However the idea of taking on [3 has the merit of sidestepping other heavily analysed variations and, anyway, if Anand cannot refute it then it must command some respect. 7 exf3 05 8 d5 8...Qb8! The knight retreats, intending ..Abd7 where it can cover or even occupy the c5 square thanks to White's advance of the d-pawn. Other replies: a) 8...De7 does not a have a good practical record: 9 Wad+ 2d7 (9...Wa7 10 Wxc4 with an edge) 10 d6! and now: al) 10...Qc6 11 dxc7 Wxe7 12 &h3 2b4 13 0-0-0 (White already has a strong initiative and crucially Black’s king is stili marooned in the centre) 13...f6 14 Dds Was 15 ADxfo+ exf6 16 Rd7+ be7 17 &xc6 bxc6 18 Wxc6 Bhd8? 19 36 Wo7+ eb 20 Hd5! Bxd5 21 exdd+ 1-0 Flear-Bell, British Champion- ship 1988. a2) 10...cxd6 11 Sxcd d5_12 Axd5 Dcé 13 Bgl Bc8 14 Bal Wa5+?! (14,,,Wh4 should be con- sidered) 15 Wxa5 @xa5 16 Sl led to a superior ending in Ligterink- Haildarsson, Reykjavik 1986. b) 8..Da5 9 Wad+ 06 10 dxc6 Axc6 (or 10...bxc6 11 b4! cxb3 12 axb3 d7! just about holds the position in view of 13 WxaS WxaS 14 BxaS &b4 and Black recovers the piece) 11 2x4 Wa5? (LI...Sb4 is equal) and instead of 12 Wb3?, as played in Velli-Urrels, Escobar 2004, White can pick up an easy point with the improvement 12 Sxf7+! Gxi7 13 Wo3+ Ses 14 Wxb7 after which it is time for Black to put the pieces back in the box. 9 xed If 9 £4, Black should support the central | pawn with 9...8d6 (9... Abd7!? is also possible) when play might continue 10 fxeS &xe5 iL @e2 Wad6 12 Wad+ Abd7 13 2 b5 Was! 14 Wo4 (14 Wrad bxad 15 @c3 gd is equal) 14..g4 with an edge for Black. 9...\bd7 In the game Markus-Antal, Budapest 2002. Black tested 9...&d6, when play continued 10 Wh3 b6 11 2b5+ Afd7 12 Bgl 8 (a compromise, suggesting that the opening has gone wrong) 3 0-0-0 with a comfortable advantage. 10 Wh3 2c5!?A sharp continuation offering White the b-pawn in return for active play. 11 0-0-07! He should have challenged Black's idea with the direct 11 Wkxb7! when an analysis by Morozevich continued 11...b8 12 Wa6 &xe3 (12...Hxb2? is met by 13 kxc5 DxeS 14 Wa3 and Black is in big trouble) 13 fxe3 Hxb2 14 Wa3 (14 Wxa7 0-0 offers some compen- sation) 14...Wb8 15 0-0 Wb4 16 Wxb4 Hxb4 17 Se2 with a favourable ending. When playing against Anand and his world class technique 1 suppose one should be worried about the isolated queen- side pawns — but against lesser mortals I suspect that 17...%e7 offers decent drawing chances. 11...2xe3+ 12 fxe3 Bb8 The time has come for Black to defend the b-pawn. 13 d6 Instead 13 Hhg] 0-0 and 13 Wa3 a6, intending ...WWe7, are fine for Black The Chigorin 3 Qo3 duced 4 D3 BY6 13...0-0 14 AbS At first glance White’s active pieces look threatening but Black manages to ease the tension. Or 14 dxc7 Wxc7 15 Dbs Wes 16 eb1 (16 ®d6? is tempting but fails upon 16...05! 17 @xbS a6 winning) 16..Qb6 17 Be2 Dc8, intending ...a7-a6, offers equal opportunities. 14...c6! Instead 14...cxd6 gives White more active possibilities: 15 @xd6 We7 16 Sb (16 We3 Dbo 17 Ab3 Wxe3+ 18 bxc3) 16...Db6 17 Re? Kbd8 18 Dds Ws 19 Wa3 a6 20 Bd6 We7 21 Dfs and, according to Morozevich, White maintains the initiative. 15 Ac7 bS 16 &e2 Maybe 16 &f1!9, with the idea of transferring to the h3 square, is worth a thought. 16...2b6!? 17 Ed2 a6 18 Bhd 519 bl A waiting move since it is not clear how White can make progress. 19... Wb8! aqThe Chigorin 3 c3 dred 4 Bf3 Oo The queen gets out the way so Black can advance the queenside pawns. 20 Wa3 Or 20 We3 c4 21 b3 cxb3 22 axb3 c8 with roughly equal chances. 20...Wb7 21 2.61 04 22 Wh4 Keo The rook makes way to allow the queen to come to b6 in order to promote the advance of the a-pawn. 23 DS?! White is concerned that the knight is wasted on c7 and decides to exchange it. 23...Dxd5 24 Uxd5 Hfc8 25 We3 ‘b4 26 We2 b3!? Black seizes the opportunity to accelerate the attack. 26... Wa7 also seems promising but after 27 2h3 White can just about contain the threats. 27 We3 It would be unwise to voluntarily open the c-file for the enemy rooks by 27 axb3, after which 27...cxb3 28 Wa3 Wo4 offers Black good prospects. 27..bxa2+ 28 Bal The king hides behind the pawn in an attempt to stem the onslaught. 28 &xa2 looks dubious due to 28...Bb6 29 We2 Zb8 30 B5d2 c3! 31 Wxc3 (or 31 bxc3 Ae5 32 Lcd Hbs! winning) 31..8b3 32 We2 Exe3 with the better position 28...2b8 29 2h3 h6 38 29...Bb6 does not quite work because of 30 &xd7 Wxd7 (30...8xb2? is no good due to 31 Bad) 31 Bid? (but not 31 Wxes? Exb2! 32 Wxb2 Exb2 33 &xb2 Wb7+ and Black is winning) 31...c6 with an edge. 30 &xd7 Wxd7 31 85d27! A better choice is 31 Zxe5 Bxd6 32 Hd4 Bxd4 33 exd4 Wh3 with unclear play according __ to Morozevich. However 33...Wa4 looks useful when a sample line could run 34 HaS Wdl+ 35 @xa2 We2 intending ...8b3 with advan- tage. Alternatively 31 WxeS c3 32 bxc3? Wb7 wins. 31.805 Black is in time-trouble otherwise he might have tried 31...06!? 32 £4 Bb3 33 Was Hh7! with the brighter prospects. 32 Bd5 Keb 33 ESd2 He5 4-4 I think it might a good practical idea to play the main line with 6...06 and then think about taking the knight on £3Latzke - Breutigam Hoeckendorf 2004 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Dc6 3 Dc3 AG 4 DB dxc4 5 ef Rpd 6 Le3 6 A decent line that makes room for the dark-squared bishop to be developed usually to b4 to apply pressure on the white pawn centre, 7 &xe4 R48 We2 White lends support to the e4 pawn. Other moves: a) 8 eS is rarely seen because it concedes the d5 square for the knight and Black soon achieves equality: 8...2d5 and now: al) 9 Hel? Axe3 10 fxe3 xt3 11 gxf3 (11 Wxf3 @xeS 12 Wxb7 bs 13 b5+ [13 Was Wh4+ 14 93 Wed gives Black the advantage] 13.61 14 Sxc6+ sf8. 15, Wao Eb6 wins) 11..Dxe5 12 Wad+t Acé6 13 Ab5 is equal. a2) 9 Wd3 Das! 10 £g5 (10 RbS+? 06 11 Rad RAS 12 Wa2 ®c4 13 Wel Axb2 and Black wins) 10...Wd7 11 &xd5 Wxds 12 0-0 &xc3 13 bxc3 with roughly equal chances, Gulko-Miladinovic, Elenite 1995. The Chigorin 3 De3 decd 4 BY3 BY6 b) 8 Wd3 0-0 9 a3 &aS 10 Dd2 RbE 11 Db3 BhS (11...e5 12 ds Db8, intending ...Nbd7, is interest- ing) 12 Dad Rg6 13 13 Dds 14 @xb6 axb6 15 2d2 Wi with a slight edge to White thanks to his space advantage, Jankovic-Fercec, Rabac 2004. 8...0-0 Black cannot safely grab a pawn with 8...2xf3 9 exf3 Dxd4? in view of 10 &xd4 Wxd4 11 Wa4+ c6 12 Wxb4 b5 13 DxbS winning. 9 Hai Dour RXE3 ‘A good practical choice because White has to be a strong player to understand the subtle compensation gained in return for being saddled with doubled f-pawns and an exposed kingside. 9...We7 is the main alternative and is discussed in the next game, 10 gxf3 DhS 11 eS Latzke advances the pawn to ensure there is no chance of ...c6- 5, attempting to secure the f4 square. Other moves: 39The Chigorin 3 De3 dsc 4 D3 26 a) IL a3 aS (1...&xc3+ 12 bxc3 Wi6 is equal) 12 e5 @h8 13 b4 Qb6 14 ed a5?! 15 52! Axd4! 16 &xd4 Sxd4 with the better prospects, Safaryan-Spanton, Internet 2004. b) 11 0-0 Wh4 12 De? eS 13 dd ®d4 (13...He7, heading for 26, seems fine) 14 &xd4 exd4 15 g3 (15 @xd4 &d6 and the h2 pawn is a target or 15 Hxd4 206 16 e5 Wgs+ 17 Dg3 Wres with the advantage) 15...8d6 16 Hxd4 &c5 17 Bfdl (17 Edd] ®xg3 18 hxg3 Wxg3+ 19 @hl Wxf3+ and White’s position collapses) 17...2xd4 18 Exdd Ded with the better position thanks to the gain of the exchange and control of the dark squares on the kingside, Latzke-Bronznik, German Team Championship 2001. ¢) 11 45! exd5 (11...e5!? also looks good after 12 dxeé Wf6 13 exf7+ @h8 14 2b3 Df4 when the threatened ...Wa6 is tough to meet) 12 Bxds Wf6! and the idea 13 HxhS is met by Wxf3 hitting both rooks. 11...De7 Instead 11...Wh4 runs into 12 Wed! when White is happy to enter 40 the ending with a space advantage and an influential bishop-pair. 12 We In the past 12 0-0 has been tested when play might continue: a) 12..0f5 13 ght Wh (13...8xe3 14 bxc3 Dxe3 15 fxe3 c6 with an edge for White) 14 Kgl Rad8 15 ed (15 £957! Ahg3+ 16 fxg3 Wxg5 is equal) 15....te7 (15...h6! is necessary) 16 Bg4 Wh3 17 @d2! 5 18 Sf1 with a winning advantage, Van der Sterren-Lobron, Munich 1994 b) 12..Ad57!_ at once fails tactically due to 13 Dxd5 exd5 14 £43 g6 15 Wo3 with the advantage. ©) 12...06 is the best choice, aiming to put a knight on d5, and this modern idea gives the line for Black more credibility: 13 @g5 h6 14 Bcl (14 &h4 DE 15 &h1 Wa7 is roughly equal) 14..d5 15 De2 f5 led to equal chances in Zpevakova-Kroll, Internet 2002. 12.205 Installing a knight on the d5 square is almost always a good idea after White has played e4-e5 because this centralised piece cannot be forced away by @ pawn. 13 2d2 c6 14 Bgl Qxc3 15 bxe3 £5 16 exf6 16 We2 Wh4 with the superior position because he can plant a knight on £4 whereas White’s pieces lack harmony. 16..Wxf6 17 &d3 g6 18 Wet xf+ 18..Qhf looks good so as to maintain attacking options against the poorly placed white king. Then 10 hed 5 20 &xdS+ oxdS 21 xfs ox(4 is better for Black. 19 Wxf3 Bxf3 20 2e2 Bh3 ‘The ending favours Breutigam who has the extra pawn. 21 Sg4 Bxh2 22 Bbi b6 23 Eg7 24 a7 ALxe6+ 24...Ef8! The key to a successful ending is to have active pieces, so rather than seek to defend the c-pawn Black goes on the offensive. 25 Hfl De7 Maybe 25...2if6 is even better to keep the knight on d5. 26 LpS DG 27 Qxf6+ Exf6 28 Hb2h5 Black can advance the h-pawn without fear because White has no sign of counterplay. 29 He2 2f7 30 13 Hxe2+ 31 Sxe2 Hd6 32 2h3 Ads 33 Ga2 c5 34 dxe5S The Chigorin 3 Dc3 dxc4 4 Dy3 D6 34 £4 oxdd 35 cxd4 b5 is very good because passed pawns on both sides of the board make White’s defensive task rather bleak. 34...bxe5 35 Ehi Ha6 36 &d3 Exa2 37 Sc4 Ab6+ 38 Sxc5 Bed 39 &d4 Bd2+ 40 Le3 Acd+ 41 Sed a5 Around this point White can only hope that Black will go wrong in time pressure. 42 Hal Eh2 43 2d7 Hh4+ 44 £4 Fs It looks obvious to advance the pawn but it needs preparation: 44...e7! 45 Bc6 (45 &bS? Ado+ forks the king and bishop) 45...5 46 &f5 gxf4 wins comfortably. 45 5! Ext4t The reason why Black should make the king walk on the 44‘ move is revealed upon 45...xf4 when 46 e6+ actually leads to a victory for White. 46 Sxg5 Ef3 47 2c6 47 &b5 gives White the draw! 47...Hig3+ 48 &xh5 Sf6 49 Epl+ eS 50 Hdl De3 51 Hal df6 52 bh? DS+ 0-1 A grandmaster encounter now gives us a chance to chart the progress of 9...De7. Van Wely — Morozevich ‘Amsterdam 1995 1d4 d5 2 c4 Dc6 3 De3 dxed 4 D3 D6 5 e4 2g4 6 2e3 06 7 41The Chigorin 3 De3 duod 4 Df3 Do xed Bb4 8 We2 0-0 9 Edi De7 12...We7 13 Wht b6 14 b3 2hS 15 94 The knight makes way for the advance of the c-pawn to strike White’s pawn centre. 10 Re2 Or 10 0-0 x13 11 gxf3 Dg6 12 hi 06 13 Bgl Bh8 14 Be? Ans “15 Wel £5 which led to equal chances in Lacrosse-Augustin, Voelklingen 2000. 10...2x¢3+ 11 bxe3 5 Black adopts the usual strategy of challenging the centre, 120-0 12 dxcS!? used to be considered an error because it just concedes the centre — but White does have an extra pawn: 12...We7 13 0-0 &h5 (the bishop retreats so it can come to g6 to attack the e4 pawn) 14 Wa4 We6 15 Qb5 (15 Wxc6 Axc6 16 2d3 Has with compensation for the pawn) 15...We7 16 Bd6 a6 17 Le2 b5 18 We2 g6 19 2d3 Acs 20 Bd4 Ag4 21 Bcl e5 22 Eb4 Wxc5 with a slight edge for White, Horvath-Antal, Budapest 2002 42 Van Wely is assuming that the space advantage gained from push- ing back the bishop will compen- sate for his slightly exposed king. 15...2.26 16 2d3 Bfds Black adds another piece to the centre in order to apply pressure to the d4 pawn. 17 Des W7! Morozevich spots a chance to target the e4 pawn and encourage White to defend it with the f-pawn after which there will be no danger of a pawn storm with a quick f2-f4. 17...2c6 18 £4 cxd4 19 exd4 Dxd4 20 cl! (20 Wh2 is less impressive upon 20...Ac6 21 Bel Wb7! with an edge) 20...Wb7 21 Hod Axed 22 @xg6 and White wins; 17...Ad7 18 f4 @xeS 19 dxe5S is good because the kingside pawns are poised to advance further and harass the light-squared bishop. 18 £3 exd4?! This releases the tension too early so Black should consider 18...Bac8when a sample line runs 19 dxc5 We7! 20 £4 bxc5 21 c4 Eb8 with roughly equal chances. 19 exd4 Zac8 20 Eel Excl 21 Bxct Ad7 22 DAxd7?! Van Wely suggested that he would have stood better after 22 \xg6 Dx (22...hxg6 is met by 23 Wb5 with advantage) 23 We2 but 23...e5! offers some chances in view of 24 d5 AcS 25 &xc5 bxcS 26 WxeS Df4 27 Sf Wh2 with good compensation for the pawn. 22...Wxd7 23 Wbs Wade! Black would be happy to land the queen on the g3 square. 24 dg? h6 25 hd £5 ys gfe w a Se ae Be Finally, Morozevich finds a way to break out and strives to open the position and lay chase to the white king. 26 gxf5 exf5 27 Wed+ fh7 28 d5 Me8 29 Hel fxed 30 fxed Wa7 31 bg3 hS 32 tz Or 32 &h2 We4 33 05 WA! (33...2xd3 34 Wxd3+ Ags 35 Be5 HfS 36 Hel! B+ 37 Hhi slightly favours White) 34 &xg6+ Dxg6 35 The Chigorin 3 De3 dxod 4 By3 BY6 06 BiB 36 d6? DeS 37 We2+ bgs 38 We2 Wo winning. 32...Wh3 The black queen is well placed to irritate the exposed white king. 33 Be2 DS! A wonderful move to bring the knight decisively into the attack. 34 Bd2 Dd6 35 Web Dxest 36 axed Exed White’s king is under direct attack and his defence is flounder- ing because he cannot adequately defend the light squares. 37 d6 Wg2+ 38 Sel Wxa2 39 dl Bed 0-1 A direct approach is to attack the Chigorin knight with 5 d5. This should not be critical and the line is fairly rare. Angskog - Brynell Stockholm 1999 1 Df3 d5 2 d4 Df6 3 04 dxed 4 De3 Dcé 5 d5 43The Chigorin 3 Dc3 dred 4 Dy3 Do ‘The advance of the pawn is a rare guest at international tournament level. This is because the pawn on d5 can easily be exchanged by means of a future ...e7-e6, thereby ensuring equality. 5...a5! 6 Wad+ The critical test which has withstood Black's ambitions for decades. If Black wants to steer the game towards equality and a probable draw then 6...06, seen in the grand- master encounter —_Adianto- Arencibia, Cap d’Agde 1998, is the way to go. The continuation was 7 De5 e6 8 dxc6 Wxdl+ 9 Sxdl Dxc6 10 Axc6 bxe6 11 &xc4 Ags 12 Bel (12 Re3 Dxe3+ 13 fxe3 Hb8 favours Black) 12...2c5 13 Me2 eS 14 Axed Qxgd 15 Le3 Sixe3 16 fxe3 0-0-0 with a slight edge for Black. Instead 6...06 7 &g5 (7 dxe6?! is dubious because 7...Wxd1+ 8 Sxd1 xe6 leaves Black a pawn up) 7...a6!? (or 7...exd5 8 AxdS Le7 9 Wad+ Ac6 is level) 8 We2 (White could have gained a clear advantage with 8 e5! h6 9 &h4 g5 10 Axgs hxgs 1] &xgs Re7 12 exf Lxf6 13 &xf6 Wxf6 14 Wad4+ winning) 8...h6 Devcic-Dos Santos, Buenos Aires 2001. Incidentally 6 £4 has barely been tested at tournament level but 6...e6 will secure equality. 6...06 7 dxc6 The alternative 7 bd is examined in the next game. 7X06 8 04 069 Axed 06 Of course 9...b5? is useless due to 10 &xb3 when the queen pins the pawn. 100-0 247 11 Wal A casual move such as 1] Bel? runs into 11..Qa5 with a discovered attack on the queen which wins a piece. 11...bS 12 2d3 We7 13 h3 Lcd 14 We2 Dns A crafty idea because Black is now threatening the surprising ..Dg3 fork as the pawn is pinned by the bishop on c5. 15 Qe3 Df4 16 Wd2 Axd3 17 was Db4 18 Wd2 Lxe3 19 fxe3 16 Brynell would argue that he has achieved a concession from his opponent in that the doubled e~ pawns are a long-term worry. 20 Bfd1 Has 21 Wd Angskog is hoping to steer the game towards a draw by exchang- ing queens. In fact this just meansthat the grandmaster playing Black haw plenty of time to grind out a win, 21...Wxd6 22 EBxd6 Ge7 23 Hadl £6 24 e5!? A legitimate positional idea. White is happy to discard his doubled pawn so as to get his knights into the action. 24,..fxe5 25 Ded Rc8 26 a3 Exd6 27 Hxd6 2b7 28 Ha2 Maybe 28 Afgs! is the correct way to maintain the pressure. Then, after 28...d8 29 Eb6, the active rook promises equal chances. 28...Db8 29 DeS xf3 30 gxf3 eS 31 b4 a5 32 Bg? g6 33 Egs?! White is keen to get his pawn back but it is wrong. This is because the doubled pawn on e5 is not as important as the one on b4 — and the rook should be used to defend it. 33...axb4 34 axb4 Dc6 35 Ad3 Ed8 36 Dxe5 Axb4 The position has clarified and the outside passed pawn presents Black with a winning advantage. The Chigorin 3 Qe3 dxod 4 D3 BY6 The game concluded: 37 Eg4 Hdl+ 38 Gf Ads 39 Bhd fo 40 DdT+ &g7 41 DeS Dc7 42 Bes £16 43 Eh4 hS 44 bs Has 45 Dest Se7 46 ke2 Eds 47 Sb1 Sb8 48 2g1 Sf7 49 Hal we7 50 Bgl Kgs 51 #d3 Dd5 52 Bal Has 53 Ba7+ Bd7 54 Exd7+ &xd7 55 hdd Se6 56 Da? b4 57 Les Axe3 58 &xe6 Ads 59 Db3 Af4+ 60 &f6 &d5 61 Ses Axh3+ 62 xgo gi 63 Sxbs ‘Dx 64 ded ed 65 De5+ ke3 66 LAS Sd4 67 Db3+ &c3 68 Das Ad2 69 wet Act 10 Db7 &d4 71 Dds ds 0-1 White can win the knight on a5 but at the cost of having to defend a tough ending. Top players tend to shy away from the line as White, so Black has every reason to be confident of his chances. Meins — Rabiega Heringsdorf 2000 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Ac6 3 Ac3 dxed 4 203 Dt6 5 d5 DaS! 6 Wad+ c6 7 b4 Akey line because the knight has no escape squares. 45The Chigorin 3 D3 dxed 4 Df3 Df 7.5 Not 7...cxb3 8 axb3 e6 because then 9 b4 wins. 8 Wxa5 Wxa5 9 bxaS bd 10 dxc6 This is the popular way for White ~ to endure @ tough defensive task in the ending where Black has more space and a couple of pawns for his piece. The alternative is 10 Dd1 cxdS when the knight on f6 prevents the advance ¢2-e4. So White must instead develop slowly: a) 11 Bf Bea 12 Ad2 g5 13 eS £6 14 Axed fKeS (14...dxed! 15 &g3 ¢5 gives Black an edge) 15 xgs e4 16 €3 d7 17 Bel c3 18 £267! (18 a3!? is annoying for Black because it breaks up the pawns) 18...4b8 19 a3 eS 20 axb4 Sixb4 21 de2 Hes 22 Axh7 Bes 23 Sicd dxcd 24 Dxe3 Bxc3 25 Hixc3 Hb2+ 26 ddl Exf2 27 Bxcd Ka? 28 Hcl Baxg? 29 Hf 24+ 0-1 Schallenmueller - Dutschak, German Team Championship 1989. b) MM g3 6 12 &g2 Bbs (12...@a6 has been suggested) 13 Be3 EbS 14 Bxa7 Bxad 15 dd d7 16 De5 &b5 17 0-0 Le7 18.03 b3 (18...bxa3 19 Ac3 0-0 20 Efbl Bad with roughly equal chances) 19 Dc3 SLd7 20 e4 gave White the advantage in Ward - Fries Nielsen, Copenhagen 1998. c) 11 a3 b3 12 &b2 B5 13 23 e6 14 Dh4 Bed 15 13 Bc2 16 Aes g6 17 Dxg6 bxg6 18 Axcd (Under pressure White gives back the piece ~ instead 18 &d2 &d6 19 Bg2 Re7 20 a6 Eds is better for 46 Black) 18...dxc4 19 e4 Ze8 20 Hel 3! 21 SbS+ (21 Bxc3 Hxc3 22 2xc3 &xa3 gives Black the superi- or chances) 21...2d8 22 Hxe3 Hxe3 23 Bxc3 #xa3 24 0-0 BhS and Black has winning _ chances, HegelerSowray, Dieren 1989. 10...bxe3 The material count is equal so now the task for both players is to round up the weakened pawns on the queenside. 11 Ebi 11 €3 @a6 12 BeS Dd5 13 Bb1 06 14 &xc4 Bxc4 15 Axcd Abs with equal chances, Schneider- Peek, Internet 2003. 11...2.a6 12 DeS 0-0-0 13 Axt7? Who could resist forking the tooks? It seems that the German international master underestimated Black’s sneaky reply! 13...c2 14 Bb8+ The only move because if the rook moves anywhere else then 15,..28d1 mate is embarrassing. 14,..2xb8 15 Axd8 eS 16 7+It is now clear that White is in cep trouble because if 16 @f7 then 16..d0b4+ 17 242 c1=W mate, 16...de8?! I prefer 16...xc7 when 17 Ae6+ ‘hic 18 Dxf8 HxfB gives Black the aulvantage. 17 bd2 4+ 18 Sx2 Sxe7 19 \e6+ Sd6 20 Axg7 &bS Banking on advancing the c- pawn and introducing the option of dtd, 21 4 Eb8 22 Dfs+ Leo Maybe 22...8c7,__ intending -dta4+, is the right way to continue and is better for Black, 23 £3 &xaS Or 23...Ra4+ 24 Hb2 c3+ 25 seal xaS 26 2c4+ when White has managed to stall Black’s ambitions to promote the c-pawn. 24 Gb2 Dd7 25 De3 Badt 26 Bel Db6 27 g3 27 Axc4? is met by 27...He8 pin- ning the knight. 27...03 28 a3 Hd8 29 2cd+? The Chigorin 3 c3 dxcd 4 Df3 Df A terrible blunder, just when the game was heading towards a draw, but it seems that the constant pressure has finally had an effect. 29...\xe4 30 Axed c2 0-1 Another major alternative is 5 igs and the first game sees a French grandmaster using the Chigorin to win swiftly. Gervais - Renet French Team Championship 2001 1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxe4 3 Ac3 Acé 4 23 D6 5 eS 5...06 Black would like to keep his extra pawn and intends to defend it with b7-b5. 6 d5 Das 7 Was+ An idea inspired by the lines revolving around 5 d5 explored earlier in this chapter but there is a crucial difference. Alternativel; 4 h6 8 RE4 (8 Rh4 g5 9.293 hs 10 Wa4+ 6 11 dxc6 Dxc6 offers equal chances) 8...b5 9 eS DhS 10 £3 g6 11 e6 &g7 12 g4 D6 (12... 47The Chigorin 3 Dc3 dxe4 4 By3 De Bxc3+ 13 bxe3 D6 14 ext7+ bext7 15 Des+ &g7 16 Lg2 gives White an edge) 13 exf7+ @xt7 14 Des+ &g8 15 Bg2 and now 15.,.We8 would have to led to equal chances in Khenkin - Ferron Garcia, Alcobendas 1994. 7.06 8 b4 cxb3 9 axb3 e6! 10...De4 11 dxc6 By grabbing this pawn White shows that he is still trying to beat the French grandmaster in the opening. 11...b5, ‘An excellent move which releas- es the dark-squared bishop so that 10 Wxa5 can be met by 10...WxaS 11 BxaS £64 regaining the piece 10 b4 White chases the knight away so the c6 pawn can be taken. 10 £d2 is an interesting alternative, invoking complications: 10...b6 11 b4 &xb4 12 Wixb4 exd5 13 e3 c5 (Black has three passed pawns as compensa- tion for the piece and the plan is simply to advance them) 14 Wa3 0-0 15 &e2 Dc4 16 Wa2 Leb 17 0-0 bS 18 &xc4 dxc4 19 Ags Ld7 20 e4 b4 21 DdS SbS (the threat is ..c4-c3 with a hidden attack) 22 Axf6+ Wxf6 23 Le3 03 24 Efel o4 25 DF3 b3 26 Wa3 Hfd8 27 gs Wd6 when the cluster of pawns heads for promotion, giving Black the advantage, Horvath-Antal, Budapest 2003. 48 12 ¢7 At first sight 12 xb5? seems the right choice, so as to take advantage of the pin on the a-file, but it backfires after 12...axb5 13 Wxa8 xb4+ (the point is that the black queen stops the king fleeing via the d-file) 14 242 Sxd2+ 15 Bdl Ded etc. 12...d7 Black has to be accurate because 12..W#xc7 allows 13 @xbS! axbS 14 Wxb5+ @d7 15 Hxa8 and White wins. 13 Wb3 Wxe7 14 AxbS Cervais restores the material balance but Black still has the initiative. 14...Wb7 15 Wxe4?The obvious continuation but it loses. The best chance in an awkward situation is 15 @c7+ when 15...Wxe7 16 Hcl Eb8 17 Exc4 Wb7 18 &d2 Ded favours Black who will win the b-pawn. 15...axb5 16 Wd4 16...2xb4+! It now becomes abundantly clear that the white queen is tied to the defence of the rook which means Black can merrily try to deflect it. 17 2d2 Qxd2+ 18 DAxd2 Was! Once again White is grasping for a good move because 19 Wxd5 fails to 19...Bxal+. 19 Wb2 0-1 White resigned because after 19..Exal 20 Wxal 0-0 Black is winning comfortably with an extra pawn and superior development. In the following heavyweight encounter White tries to use his traditional pawn centre to contain Black’s pieces. The Chigorin 3 Bc3 decd 4 Bf3 26 C.Hansen — Sune Berg Hansen Esbjerg 2002 1 dd d5 2 ¢4 Dc6 3 Dc3 due 4 D3 EG 5 Kgs a6 6 e4!? White grabs space in the centre, preparing to advance the ¢ and d pawns further to harass the knights. 6.6 6...b5 is also possible. Then 7 d5 Do8 8 eS Dfd7 9 a4 gives White the advantage because of Black’s passive pieces. 7 Bxf6 exf6 8 2xc4 2d6 The pin 8....2.24? is shown to be wrong after 9 Wb3! when White is better. 9h3 0-0 10 a3 10 0-0 He8 11 Hel Hb8, intend- ing ...b7-b5, with play similar to the game. 10...Hb8 11 0-0 b5 12 &b3 b4! 13 axb4 Dxb4 14 Hel c5! As usual in the Chigorin Black challenges the pawn centre. 15 €5 fxeS 16 dxe5S 2e7 49The Chigorin 3 ®c3 dxcd 4 By3 DY The bishop retreats with the bonus of preparing the option of .-Ad3. 17 Deas? White is not worried about the knight coming to d3 and prefers to centralise his own knight. Or: a) 17 £67! £xe6 18 Lxe6 fxe6 19 Exeé Wxdl+ 20 Bxdl £6 gives Black the slightly better chances. b) 17 Sc4!? has the merit of covering the d3 square when 17.885 18 We2 £d3 19 &xd3 Wxd3 20 Bad) WES offers equal opportunities. 17.43 18 Be3 Dxb2 19 We2 4 20 Bxed If 20 Wxb2 then 20...Wb6 21 @fd2 Leb gives Black the edge. 20...Axc4 21 Wxed Hb4 22 We2 Wh6 23 Bal Le6 23...2f5, to pin the knight, is worth considering because 24 Afo+ falls for 24...Wxf6! when White suffers. 24 Dd6 Hs 25 Wd3 Axd6 26 exd6 a5 27 Exe6? 50 Maybe 27 Jet is the best chance when play might continue 27...04 28 d? 16? (28.63 offers equal chances) 29 W6! fxe5 30 Zp3 Sag 31 We8+ Gh7 32 Hxed Bxgd 33 bxg4 a3 34 95 favouring White. 27...fxe6 28 DeS Bb2? Black can seal his advantage by 28...Hb5!. 29 Ded? 29 W3!, aiming to sneak into the heart of Black’s position, works well because 29...b7 30 Wrxb7 Exb7 31 Dcb Edd7 32 Des Bd8 33 ®c6 leads to a draw. 29...Wb3?! 30 Axh6+ Sf8 31 Wad e5 32 Wed? 32 Wa7!! is like a miracle move and secures a draw. For example: 32... Wxd1+ 33 @h2 gxh6 34 We7+ gS 3S Wxd8+ with perpetual check. 32...gxh6 33 Bel W7 34 Wha Hxd6 35 He8+ &g7 36 We3+ Gh7 0-1Summary Anand-Morozevich represents a high level examination of the Chigorin with the game concluding in an honourable draw. White employs the obvious continuation 5 e4 and Black tries his luck with 6...Rxf3 to break up the kingside pawns. White resists the superior 11 /xb7 fearing that his queen will be misplaced and is soon under pressure from the advance of the black queenside pawns. The game Latzke-Breutigam looks at the reliable main line 6...e6, in particular the variation with 9.,,&xf3. I suspect that the average player will have difficulties in handling a position in which his king is confined to the centre and his kingside weakened by the doubling of the f-pawns. If Black is looking for another course of action then Van Wely-Morozevich is a perfect model since 9...4e7 introduces the idea of challenging the white pawn centre with ...c7-c5. The advance 5 d5, where White dislodges the Chigorin knight and The Chigorin 3 Dc3 dred 4 DY3 Ob aims for a rapid development, is examined in the game Angskog- Brynell. However Black equalises comfortably and then exploits his opponent’s problems with his pawn structure to go for a win in the ending. Meins-Rabiega sees the critical approach 7 b4, attacking the knight at the earliest opportunity. The note to move 10 examines a tricky ending that Black needs to know how to handle, even though White tends to steer clear of it in practice. The startling move 13 \xf7 is shown to be a mistake after which Black should have done even better in the opening. 5 BS is looked at in the game Gervais-Renet where the French- ‘man tries 5...26 in an obvious bid to play an opportune ...b7-b5. White thinks 6 d5 might be a good trans- position but the stunning 9...e6 throws the whole strategy into confusion and Black manages to wrap the game up in style. C-Hansen-Sune Berg Hansen sees White trying to wrest an advantage with 6 e4 but Black emerges from the opening with no worries and the middlegame is keenly contested. SsThe Chigorin — 1 d4 d5 2 ¢4 Ac6 3 Dc3 dxe4 4 d5 and 4 3 1 d4 d5 2 ¢4 De6 3 Dc3 dxe4 4d5 This has to be considered one of the most direct attempts to prove that the early development of Black's queen's knight is prema- ture. However in tournament play it only has an average record since Black has ways of achieving comfortable equality. Only if Black is unprepared does the chase of his knight reap dividends for White, Herndl — Kett Rethymnon 2003 1 dd d5 2 cd Acé 3 Dc3 dxed 4 d5 Des 5 244 The bishop attacks the knight in an attempt to gain time in White’s development, 52 a) 5 4 is quite popular when 5...€6 is the best line for e: uality. For instance: 6 &xc4 (6 Bt 296 7 2g3 DI 8 Bxcd exd5 9 exds Bd6 with equal opportunities) 6...2\xc4 7 Wad+ £478 Wed exd5 9 Dxds 2.46 10 AP3 6 led to equal chances in Kull-Sbierski, Griesheim 2003, b) 5 DB AxB+ 6 ext e5 7 Rxc4 £d6 8 0-0 De7 9 De 0-0 10 b3 Dg6 intending ...£7-£5 is equal, Akobian-Tishin, Tula 2000. 5..2g6 6 283 a6 Black is wary of allowing Abs and also wants to introduce the idea of ...b7-b5 to protect the awn. Nevertheless 6...e5 7 e4 @\f6 8 xed a6 9 F3 B46 10 0-0 DhS 11 Hcl Wf6 (this position is similar to the main game Montero-Soppe discussed later in the chapter in connection with 4 3) 12 el DnfaThe Chigorin 3 Dc3 dxc4 4 d5 and 4 e3 13 d3 0-0 led to a balanced position in Issing-Peek, Trave- munde 2001. Tha White decides to try and refute Black’s opening variation by charging the h-pawn up the board und dislodging the knight. 7.06 8 04 If 8 hS then 8..A6e7 9 dxeb Sexe6 10 Wxd8+ Exd8 11 2xc7 Bu7 12 &f4 Dds gives Black the initiative. 8...b5 9 hS D6e7 Black is being forced into making good moves. The knight is now well placed to undermine the d5 pawn. 10 WS Ate HH d6? Herd is trying to lure Black into a discovered attack after a subse~ quent e4-e5. The less ambitious 11 dxe6 should be preferred when V..Bxe6 12 Hdl We8 13 22 gives White some compensation because Black still has to unravel his pieces. 353 11...cxd6 12 e5 DfdS 13 exd6 Kett has managed to avoid an immediate calamity and retained his extra pawn but White intends to go all out for the win. 14 Axd5 exdS 15 Wxd5 This might well have been where White’s analysis ended. If so, it is a costly error of judgement. 15...2\xg3 16 fxg3 WaS+! 17 edi The problem for White is that 17 Wad? allows 17..Wxd2+ 18 dxd2 &xd6 with a completely winning endgame thanks to the extra pawn and formidable pair of bishops. 17....g4+ 18 2, Wad+ 19 b3? A terrible position for White with only the queen developed — so he can be excused for committing another error. Maybe 19 #cl is the one remaining hope although 19...H4c8, threatening c4-c3, leaves Black on top. 19...exb3+ 20 @b2 HesThe Chigorin 3 Bc3 dxe4 4 d5 and 4 e3 The rook is poised to land on the 2 square so White must make farther concessions. 21 axb3 Wb4 22 We5+ 26 23 d7+ Sxd7 24 We3 2e7 Black develops another piece and White is defenceless. 25 DB &f6+ 26 Bb 215+ 0-1 It is also possible to hassle the queen’s knight with 5 Wd4 so it is worthwhile seeing a demonstration of how to handle the position from one of the Chigorin’s greatest fans: Ljubojevic - Morozevich Monaco 2002 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Ac6 3 Ac3 dxe4 4 d5 Ae5 5 Wd The queen chases the knight away from the centre. Alternatively the pawn rush starting with 5 £4 allows Black to chip away at the centre, ensuring equality: 5..2d7 6 e4 @Db6 and now: a) 7 &xc4 Dxc4 8 Wad+ 2d7 9 Wicd c6 10 AL e6 11 0-0 cxd5 12 exdS Hc8 13 Wb3 2cS+ 14 Gh 34 @®f6 led to equal chances in Siebrecht-Wisnewski, Heringsdorf 2000. b) 7 ad a5 8 Be3 £6 9 Axb6 exb6 10 &xe4 Lb4 11 Dl exd5 12 exdS (or 12 @xd5 Af 13 0-0 0-0 14 Wa3 We7 is equal) 12...De7 13 0-0 0-0 14 Des DES 15 Wd2 Dd6 16 243 215 4-4 Petran-Bukal, Austrian Team Championship 2000; ©) 7 e5 €6 8 dxeb6 Lxe6 9 Le3 £6 10 We2 fxeS 11 fxeS c6 with an edge thanks to the extra pawn, Culafic-Stojkovic, Belgrade 2003. 5...Ag6 6 e4 e5 7 Wxe4 26 Black cuts out the possibility of @®bS and introduces the option of wb7-b5. 8 Be3 In the game Vasilev-Karpatchey, Calvi 2004, White tried 8 AB and, after 8...2246, prevented Black from achieving a standard position by heading for complications with 9 hdl? h6 10 h5 AD6e7 11 Be? D6 12 3 0-0 13 @b2 c6 14 dxcb Axe6 15 Hal We7 (15...2b4! threatening ..b7-b5 gives Black the superior chances) 16 @d5 @xd5 17 exdS a5 with a slight edge for White. 8...2d6 9 AL h6 Black wants to develop his king’s knight and castle kingside but first prevents any pin by Sigs. 10 h3 Dfo 11 Dd? 0-0 12 b4 Black is busy containing the pawn advance on the queenside.The Chigorin 3 Qc3 dxc4 4 d5 and 4 3 13 Wb3 13 a4 is met by 13...c6 with equal chances. 13...We7 14 Bbl bS 15 a3 06 16 dxe6 2x6 17 23 Wb7 Morozevich pinpoints the e-pawn as a target, although 17...2d7, intending ...a6-a5, looks like a decent idea. 18 292 De7 19 0-0 Had 20 Bd Bfe8 21 Ebel ALS! A neat way to include the knight in the action. Black attempts to exchange pieces on €3. 22 Ads Axd5 23 exd5 e4 The light-squared bishop is cut off from defending the d5 pawn, thereby tipping the scales in favour of Black. 24 DM 28 25 Wer Bxd5 26 Exd5 Wxd5 27 We6 White is a pawn down so the end- ing holds little hope. However if Black now trades queens White will have an active rook on the 6th rank. The game concluded: 55 27.806 28 WxdS Dxds 29 g4 Bfxe3 30 Dxe3 fs 31 He8 26 32 Bas g7 Black has easily survived White’s initial flurry of activity and now proceeds on the path to victory. 33 Dds Dxg2 34 De7 De 35 Dxeb+ Dreb6 The two pieces for a rook give Black a winning endgame. 36 Hd7 Df4 37 Ba7 DAxh3+ 38 &f1 Dfd 39 Hxa6 h5 40 exhS gxhS 41 Mb6 hd 42 LixbS dg6 43 a4 h3 44 gl 297 45 Bb6+ SS 46 Bb7 Bd4 47 Bxt7+ Sed 48 a5 Da3 49 a6 Dxt2 50 Be7+ Bxp7 51 a7 sg3 52 a8-W h2+ 0-1 In 4 €3 lines the best chance for Black is to respond actively by 4...€5. Montero ~ Soppe Buenos Aires 1998 1d4 d5 2 c4 Ac6 3 Dc3 dxed 4 e3 Yi, x “a an Va yeu) Be w \ Wy Ly 9, yes A quiet move which makes way for the bishop to capture the pawn on c4, ee BeThe Chigorin 3 Dc3 dxe4 4 d5 and 4 e3 4.05 This is the most energetic way to meet White’s modest opening variation. 5d5 White avoids the threat to his pawn by advancing it to attack the knight. On the other hand 5 dxe5?! is an error which leaves White a pawn down in the ending after 5... Wxd1+ 6 @xd1 AxeS. Instead, 5 Df3 is examined in the next main game. 5...Dce7 ‘Now that Black has advanced the e-pawn it makes sense to retreat the knight to e7 where it keeps an eye on the d5 pawn and can be activat- ed via the g6 square. However in many lines the advance of the d- pawn is met by 5...4)a5 and that is also possible here: a) 6 DB Rd6 (6...f6 7 Dd2 06 8 Dxed Rb4 9 ed De7 10 ADe3 0-0 led to equal chances in Queree-Yeo, St Helier 1999) 7 Wad+ 6 8 b4 cxb3 9 axb3 2c7 10 b4 bS II RxbS! cxbS 12 Dxbs Rds 13 \d6+ GAB 14 Dxc8 Db7 15 Wes We7 16 Db6 1-0 Mikoleizig- Schausten, Baunatal 1997. b) 6 Wad+ 06 7 dxc6 (7 b4 is met 7...0x03 8 axb3 b5 9 DxbS [9 xaS Wxa5 10 ExaS Xb4 is better for Black] 9...2f6! leads to equal opportunities) 7...xc6 8 AE &d6 9 &xc4 Df 10 0-0 0-0 11 Ed ‘We7 12 e4h6 13 h3 2d7 with level chances, Wiesbeck-Reefschlaeger, Seefeld 2003. 56 6 2xc4 261? Rather unusual but with a good track record because it ofien baffles White. 6...2)g6 used to be played when White was happy to exchange off his light-squared bishop by 7 S.bS+ as it had only a limited role in defending the 45 pawn. 7 DB Age Black makes way for the develop- ment of his dark-squared bishop so he can castle kingside. 8 0-0 Af 9 ed Or 9 We2 246 10 e4 (White tends to make this pawn advance otherwise ...e5-e4 would allow the bishop to target the h2 pawn) 10... 0-0 11 3 @bS (as usual the knights in the Chigorin dominate and the now the £4 square beckons) 12 £&b2 Dhf4 13 De2 Wie 14 Axhs (14 Had! allows 14..Dh3+! 15 Shi Sed with an edge) 14..2xf4 15 Dei Vd7 16 £3 Back (16..b5! 17 &d3° Hac8, intending ...c7-c6, favours Black) 17 e271 (17 0d3!? is equal) 17...Wg6 18 @hl £5 gave Black a tremendous _ attack, Hellwig-Ortmann, German Team Championship 2003.