Table of Contents

Title Page
Key To Symbols
Preface

CHAPTER 1 - 3.G3 NF6 4.BG2 BG7 WHITE SETUPS WITHOUT C4 (Part 1)

CHAPTER 1 - 3.G3 NF6 4.BG2 BG7 WHITE SETUPS WITHOUT C4 (Part 2)
CHAPTER 1 - 3.G3 NF6 4.BG2 BG7 WHITE SETUPS WITHOUT C4 (Part 3)

CHAPTER 2 - WHITE PLAYS 2.G3 WITHOUT NF3 (Part1)

CHAPTER 2 - WHITE PLAYS 2.G3 WITHOUT NF3 (Part2)

CHAPTER 3 - WHITE PLAYS 2.C4 3.NC3 4.G3 WITH NH3(Part1)

CHAPTER 3 - WHITE PLAYS 2.C4 3.NC3 4.G3 WITH NH3(Part2)

CHAPTER 4 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE (SIDELINES)

CHAPTER 5 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.QB3

CHAPTER 6 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.RB1

CHAPTER 7 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.RE1

CHAPTER 8 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.QC2

CHAPTER 9 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.B3(Part 1)

CHAPTER 9 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.B3(Part 2)
CHAPTER 9 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.B3(Part 3)
CHAPTER 9 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.B3(Part 4)

CHAPTER 10 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.D5 E5 9.EXD5 BXE6 10.QD3

Epilogue

2
 Tibor Károlyi

PLAY THE DUTCH!

PART 2

Cover designer
Piotr Pielach
Chess pieces by Ingram Image

Typesetting
i-Press ‹www.i-press.pl›

First edition 2018 by Chess Evolution

Play the Dutch! Part 2

Copyright © 2018 Chess Evolution

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher.

ISBN 978-615-5793-09-7

3
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Printed in Hungary

4
KEY TO SYMBOLS

= Equality or equal chances

² White has a slight advantage
³ Black has a slight advantage
± White is better
µ Black is better
+– White has a decisive advantage
–+ Black has a decisive advantage
∞ unclear
© with compensation
„ with counterplay
ƒ with initiative
‚ with an attack
… with the idea
™ only move

N novelty
! a good move
!! an excellent move
? a weak move
?? a blunder
!? an interesing move
?! a dubious move
+ check
# mate

5
PREFACE

In the second volume we look at all the lines in which White plays g3 and develops the bishop to g2.
This setup means that White doesn’t plan to refute the Dutch defence, but is instead ready to play a slow
game.
The bishop stands well on the long diagonal as it fits in against all the main Black systems: the
Stonewall, the Ilyin-Zhenevsky, and it is also not at all bad against our Leningrad. The g2-square is the
most popular place for the bishop and it is not without reason. When we develop the bishop to g7, Black
usually tries to carry out ...e5 — and if possible reduce the g2-bishop’s power by pushing the e-pawn
again to e4.
But that is not the only pawn formation Black can choose. Black can also opt for the Leningrad
Stonewall with ...c6 and ...d5, or consider a Benoni-type pawn structure with ...c5. Black can also look to
gain space on the queenside with ...c6, ...Na6, ...Bd7 and ...b5. And these plans are not the whole story:
in some cases Black can also play ...a5 and ...Na6, while in addition some players like to act on the other
wing with ...h6 and ...g5.
The black queen may go to e8, but sometimes to a5, and can remain on the same diagonal on c7 or b6.
But the lady may also perform the role of putting pressure on d5 from f7, or to attack the king from h5.
Such versatility is rare and very fascinating. I believe that, just as in the first book, this tour in slower
lanes of the Leningrad Dutch waters will be very entertaining, and firmly believe that one can score well
with this marvellous opening.

6
CHAPTER 1.
3.G3 NF6 4.BG2 BG7 WHITE’S SETUPS WITHOUT C4

1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 and White plays an early b4
Game 1
Piotr Dobrowolski
Vladimir Malaniuk
Kochan Memorial, Koszalin 2013

1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3

The fianchettoed bishop might become strong on the diagonal and may also defend the king — and in
some cases help to carry out e4. But its fate can be a joy for Black also, for example if Black can bury it
by pushing the f-pawn all the way to the sixth rank. Also, if Black can gain control of the d4-square and
is able to use that square for the knight as an outpost, the knight on d4 can be a dream piece against the
g2-bishop.

3...g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0

White can hold back castling and begin with 5.b4 at once: White simply wants to gain space on the
queenside.However, it is more popular to do so after castling. White gives little as a target for Black to
attack. 5...0-0 6.Bb2 c6 Black gets ready to undermine the b4-pawn by ...a5. 7.Nbd2 (7.c4 a5 8.a3 [8.b5
d5 9.cxd5 cxb5∞] 8...d5 9.c5 Ne4 10.Nbd2 b6=) 7...d5 8.c4
a) 8...dxc4 White’s space is compensated by Black’s control over the white squares. 9.Nxc4 Be6
10.Qc2 Bd5 11.0-0 Na6 12.a3 Nc7 13.Rad1 Iotov,V-Van Oosterom,C, Enschede 2008 13...Be4 14.Qc1

7
 Qd5 15.Ncd2 (15.Ne3 Qb5=) 15...a5=
b) 8...Ne4 Black exerts pressure on the centre. 9.0-0 Be6 10.Qc2 Pelletier,Y-Miton,K, Reykjavik 2011
(10.c5 a5 11.a3 axb4 12.axb4 Rxa1 13.Qxa1 Na6 14.Qa3 Qd7=) 10...a5 11.b5 cxb5 12.cxb5 a4=
c) 8...a5 Black tries to undermine White’s queenside.
c1) 9.bxa5 After this capture, White’s pawn chain is no better than Black’s. 9...Qxa5 10.0-0 e6
(10...Qa4 11.cxd5 Qxd1 12.Rfxd1 Nxd5 13.Ne5 Nd7 14.a4 Nb4=) 11.Qc2 Nbd7 12.a4 Qd8 13.e3
Ne4 14.Rfc1 g5 15.Ba3 Rf7 16.cxd5 exd5 17.Bb4 Lastin,A-Kim,A, Moscow 2002 17...c5 18.dxc5
Bxa1 19.Rxa1 Qf6 20.Nd4 Ne5=
c2) 9.a3 axb4 10.axb4 Rxa1 11.Qxa1

11...dxc4 Black isolates the b4-pawn. 12.Nxc4 Na6 13.Qa5 Nd5 14.b5 Qxa5+ 15.Nxa5 cxb5 16.0-0
e6 (16...Nac7 17.Rc1 b4 18.Ne5 Bf6 19.e3 b6∞) 17.Ne5 Bxe5 18.dxe5 Nc5= Gallego Alcaraz,A-
Nijboer,F, Barcelona 2015.

5...0-0 6.b4 c6

6...d6 Black can also play for ...e5, as in many main lines.
a) 7.c4 e5 8.dxe5 (8.Bb2 e4 9.Nfd2 c6 10.Nb3 d5 11.Qc2 Ubiennykh,E-Muzychuk,A, Khanty-
Mansiysk 2014 11...Qe7³) 8...dxe5
a1) 9.Qb3 e4 10.Ng5 (10.Rd1 Qe8 11.Nd4 Nc6 12.Bb2 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Be6 and Black is a bit better
according to Malaniuk and Marusenko.) 10...h6 (10...a5 11.Rd1 [11.c5+?? Nd5–+] 11...Qe7³) 11.Rd1
Qe8 12.Nh3 g5 13.f4 g4 14.Nf2 Be6 15.Na3 a5 16.b5

8
 16...Nbd7 and Black was somewhat better in the game Korchnoi,V-Spassky,B, St. Petersburg 1999.
a2) 9.Bb2 e4 This is an accomplishment for Black. 10.Nd4 Ng4 Black devotes a tempo to exert
pressure on the long diagonal, although other moves are also playable.
a21) 11.Na3 a5 (11...Nc6!? 12.Nac2 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 a5³) 12.b5 c5 13.bxc6 bxc6 14.c5 Qd5 15.Qb3
Ba6 16.h3 Nh6= Milov,V-Lu,S, Dubai 2014.
a22) 11.c5 Rf7 (11...Qd5 12.Na3 Nc6³) 12.Na3 Nc6 13.Nxc6 Qxd1 14.Raxd1 Bxb2 15.Nc4
Lenic,L-Svidler,P, Dubai 2014 15...bxc6 16.Nxb2 a5³
b) 7.Bb2 Nc6
b1) 8.a3 e5 If this works Black usually equalises at least. 9.dxe5 Ng4
b11) 10.Nbd2 Ngxe5 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 (11...dxe5 12.Nb3 e4=)
b111) 12.Nc4 Qe7 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.Qd5+ Kh8 15.Rad1 Chekhov,V-Vyzmanavin,A, Palma de
Mallorca 1989 15...c6 16.Qa5 e4=
b112) 12.e3 Nf3+ 13.Nxf3 Bxb2 14.Rb1 Bg7= Goloshchapov,A-Malaniuk,V, Ordzhonikidze
2001.
b12) 10.c4 Ngxe5 (10...Ncxe5 11.Qc2 Qe7 12.Nbd2 Voloshin,L-Malaniuk,V, Pardubice 1998
12...f4=) 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Qb3

9
 12...c6 It often happens in the Leningrad Dutch that the relative weakness of d6 is compensated for
by the weakness of the c4-pawn. 13.Nd2 Be6 14.Rad1 Khlian,E-Malaniuk,V, Saratov 2006.
b2) 8.b5 Black will be able to exchange this pawn. 8...Na5 9.Nbd2 a6 (9...c6 10.bxc6 bxc6 11.c4
Kramnik,V-Reinderman,D, Wijk aan Zee 1999 11...Ne4=) 10.a4 (10.bxa6 Rxa6 11.c4 e6 12.Qc2
Bd7= 13.Rac1 Qe8 14.Rfe1 Gofshtein,L-Bosch,J, Hoogeveen 1998 14...Ba4 15.Qb1 h6=)
b21) 10...c6 can be tried as well.

11.bxc6 bxc6 12.c4 Rb8 (12...Ne4 13.Qc2 d5=) 13.Bc3 Ne4 14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.Nd2 Be6=
b22) 10...Bd7 11.c4 c6 12.bxc6 Bxc6 The position offers mutual chances.
b221) 13.Ng5 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 Qb6 15.Qc2 Rfc8 16.Rfc1 Qc6+ 17.Kg1 b5= Sakaev,K-

10
 Mastrovasilis,A, Rijeka 2010.
b222) 13.d5 Bd7 14.Qb1 (14.Qc2 Rc8 15.Qd3 Milov,V-Malaniuk,V, Ajaccio 2006 15...b6 16.Bd4
Nb7=) 14...Rc8 15.Rc1 Ng4 (15...Qb6! Black aims to swap queens. 16.e3 Ne4 17.Bxg7 Qxb1
18.Raxb1 Kxg7 19.Nxe4 fxe4 20.Nd2 Bxa4=) 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Qb2+ Kg8 18.e3 Rc5 19.h3 Nf6
Kasimdzhanov,R-Malaniuk,V, Ajaccio 2006 20.Ne1²

7.c4 Ne4

Black doesn’t show yet what he intends to do on the queenside. 7...a5?! I do not like this move here. 8.b5
d5 9.Nc3 dxc4 10.Qa4 Be6 11.Ng5 (11.bxc6 Nxc6 12.Ng5 Nxd4∞) 11...Bd5 12.bxc6 bxc6 13.Nxd5
cxd5 14.Ne6 Qe8 15.Qxe8 Rxe8 16.Nc7 Nc6²

8.Qb3

White may not want to develop the bishop to b2.

a) 8.Bb2 The bishop is somewhat passive here. 8...a5 9.a3 (9.b5 cxb5 10.cxb5 d5 11.Qb3 Be6 12.Nc3
Nd7 13.Nxe4 a4!=) 9...d5
a1) 10.Qb3 axb4 11.axb4 Rxa1 12.Bxa1 dxc4 (12...Be6 13.c5 b6=) 13.Qxc4+ Qd5=
a2) 10.Nbd2 Be6 (10...axb4 11.axb4 Rxa1 12.Qxa1 dxc4 13.Nxc4 Be6 14.Nce5 Qb6=) 11.Qc2 Nxd2
12.Nxd2 dxc4 13.Nxc4 axb4 14.axb4 Na6 15.Rfd1 Nxb4 16.Qb3 Rxa1 17.Bxa1 b5 18.Qxb4 Bxc4³
Savchenko,S-Firman,N, Dresden 2007.
b) 8.Qc2 d5
b1) 9.Nbd2 Be6 (9...a5 10.b5 cxb5 11.cxb5 Be6=) 10.c5 a5 11.bxa5 Qxa5 12.Nb3 Qa4 13.Bf4 Nd7
14.Be5 Jessel,S-Le,Q, Baku 2016 14...Qc4³

11
 b2) 9.e3 Be6 10.c5

10...a5! Black naturally breaks up White’s pawn chain. 11.bxa5 Qxa5 12.Bb2 Nd7 13.Nbd2 Qa4
(13...b6∞) 14.Nb3 Rfb8 15.Rfc1 Bf7 16.Ne1 b6 17.cxb6 Nxb6 18.Nd3 Nc4³ Dovzik,J-Deglmann,L,
Austria 2012.

8...a5 9.b5 a4

An ambitious move. After 9...d5 10.Nc3 Be6 11.cxd5 a4! 12.Qc2 cxd5 the position would be equal.

10.Qd3 d5 11.cxd5

11.Nc3 Be6 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Ng5 Bf7 14.Bf4 (14.h4 Nxg5 15.Bxg5 h6 16.Bf4 e6 17.Rac1 Nd7=)
14...Nxg5 15.Bxg5 h6 16.Bf4 e6 17.Rac1 g5 18.Bd2 Nd7=

12
11...Qxd5!

The queen is active here.

12.Nc3

The text move is not White’s only testing possibility: 12.Na3 Nd7 13.Be3 e5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5
Bxe5 16.Rac1
a) 16...Bb2 17.Rc2 Qxd3 18.exd3 Bxa3 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.dxe4 Ba6 21.Rd1 Rad8=
b) 16...Qxa2 17.Bh6 Bg7 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.Rxc6 Kg8 White’s advantage is symbolic.

12...Nxc3 13.Qxc3 Qxb5 14.Ba3 Bf6 1/2

Here the players agreed to a draw, but maybe White would be somewhat better after 15.Ne5 Nd7
16.Rab1 Qa6 17.Qe3, although I think 14...Re8!? would have been preferable, as after 15.Ne5 Nd7=
16.Rab1 Qa6 Black would not be worse, as now taking on e5 works better.
1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0
Game 2
Ruslan Ponomariov
Mika Karttunen
European Cup, Eilat 2012

1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0

13
6.d5

White pushes the pawn quickly. It can also be played on the previous move.

6...c6

Black naturally wants to undermine the centre. He can transpose to a main line, but can also avoid them.

7.c4 Na6 8.Nc3

8.Be3 Ng4 9.Bd4 e5=

8...Nc5

Black wants to play ...Ne4 quickly. After 8...Qe8!? Black may want to carry out ...e5 without ...d6,
taking back on e6 with the d-pawn. 9.Bf4 The bishop stops ...e5, but otherwise it doesn’t stand well.
(9.h3 e5 10.dxe6 Qxe6 11.b3 Nc5=) 9...d6 10.Nd4 Bd7 11.Qd2 Nc7 (11...Nc5 12.Rac1 a5=) 12.Nb3

14
12...cxd5 (12...Rc8!? or 12...Qf7 This queen move forces White to defend the d5-pawn. 13.Rac1 cxd5
14.cxd5 b6= Black stops Na5.) 13.cxd5 a5 14.Rac1 Qd8 (14...b5 15.Nb1!²) 15.Nd4 Kh8 16.Rfd1 Qe8
17.b3 Qf7 18.Nf3² Eingorn,V-Ragozin,E, Berlin 1992.

9.Be3

9.Rb1 Nfe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Qd3 e5=

9...Nce4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Qc2

White is a bit stronger in the centre and this gives him a small edge. 11.Bd4 c5 (11...Bxd4 12.Nxd4 e5
13.Nb3 Nf6 14.Rc1 e4=) 12.Bxg7 Kxg7 13.Nd2 Nf6 14.e4 d6 15.Re1 Rb8 16.e5 Hulak,K-Fauland,A,
Sibenik 2014; 11.Ng5 cxd5 12.cxd5 Nd6 13.Bd4²

11...Qc7

11...d6 12.dxc6 (12.Ng5 Nxg5 13.Bxg5 c5=) 12...bxc6 13.Nd2 d5 14.Nxe4 dxe4=

12.Rac1 c5 13.Ne1 d6 14.Nd3 Qa5

14...Rb8 15.a3 Bd7 16.b4 b6 17.Nf4²

15.a3 b5

15...Bd7 16.Nf4 (16.f3 Nf6) 16...b5 17.Bxe4 fxe4 18.Qxe4 Rf7°

16.cxb5 Qxb5

15
17.b4

White opens the position because Black is not yet fully developed.

17...cxb4 18.Nxb4² Nc3 19.Rfe1 Bb7 20.Qd2 Ne4 21.Qd3 Qxd3 22.exd3 Nc3 23.Bd2 a5 24.Nc6 Na4
25.Rxe7 Ba6 26.d4 Bb5 27.Rb1 Bd3 28.Rbb7 Bf6 29.Re6 Ba6 30.Rc7 Rf7 31.Bxa5 Bb5 32.Rxd6 Bxc6
33.dxc6 Rxa5 34.Rxf7 Kxf7 35.c7 Ke7 36.Rxf6 Kd7 37.Rc6 Kc8 38.Bf1 1–0

1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0 6.Nbd2

Game 3
Michael Richter
Vallejo Francisco Pons
Rapid World Championship, Berlin 2015

1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0

16
6.Nbd2

White wants to carry out e4.

6...e6

With this pawn move Black gets ready to go for the Stonewall formation, though he might still play ...d6
and ...e5.
a) 6...a5 When I was a player, I planned to try this idea; Black wants to gain space and considers ...b6.
The move allows ...Ra7 if White plays Ne5. 7.Re1 (7.c3 b6) 7...d5.
b) 6...Nc6 This move is flexible as Black can configure his pawns in several ways and the knight
undeniably affects the centre.
b1) 7.c3 d6 See 6.c3 d6 7.Nbd2
b2) 7.b3 e6 8.Bb2 d5 The Stonewall setup is nice here. 9.c4 b6 10.Rc1 Bb7 11.a3 Szekely,P-
Dzhumaev,M, Abu Dhabi 2001 11...a5 (11...Ne4 12.b4 Qe7∞) 12.Ne1 Ne4 13.e3 a4 14.b4 Nxd2
15.Qxd2 dxc4 16.Rxc4 Ne5=
b3) 7.Nc4 White wants to make sure that Black will not play ...e5.
b31) 7...d6
b311) 8.c3 Qe8 9.b4 a6 (9...Nd8 10.a4 Nf7=) 10.Qb3 Kh8 11.Rd1 e5=
b312) 8.b3
b3121) 8...Bd7 9.Bb2 b5∞
b3122) 8...e5 Players looking for original ideas might want to try this risky idea. 9.dxe5 Ne4
10.Ba3 (10.Qd5+ Kh8 11.Bb2 Re8 12.exd6 Bxb2 13.Nxb2 Qf6 Black has compensation for the

17
 pawn.) 10...Be6 (10...Re8 11.exd6 cxd6 12.Bb2 d5°) 11.Qd3 Re8 Black can choose between
sacrificing or winning an exchange. (11...dxe5 12.Bxf8°) 12.exd6 Bxa1 13.Rxa1 cxd6=
b3123) 8...b5 9.Nfe5 (9.Ne3 Ne4=) 9...dxe5 10.Bxc6

10...exd4 Black can sacrifice an exchange here as White’s rooks have no open files. 11.Bxa8 bxc4
12.Bc6 (12.bxc4 Ba6°) 12...Ne4 13.Bb5 Be6°
b313) 8.Bg5 Ne4 9.d5 Nxg5 It is nice to have the bishop pair. 10.Nxg5 Ne5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.c3
Bf6 13.Nf3 e5 14.dxe6 c6 15.Nd4 d5 16.e3 Qe7= Zvjaginsev,V-Vyzmanavin,A, Kazan 1995.
b32) 7...e6 8.c3 d6 9.b4 Neckar,L-Knezevic,M, Prague 1983 9...b5 (9...Ne4 10.Qc2 a6 11.a4 e5=)
10.Ne3 a5 11.Ne5 dxe5 12.Bxc6 Ra6 13.Bxb5 Rb6 14.dxe5 Rxb5=;
b4) 7.c4 The combination of c4 and the knight on d2 renders the steed somewhat passive. 7...d6 8.d5
Ne5 9.Rb1 Kh8 (9...e6=) 10.b3 Nxf3+ 11.Nxf3 Ne4 12.Bb2 e5 13.dxe6 Bxe6 14.Bxg7+ Kxg7
15.Qd4+ Qf6 16.Rbc1 a5 17.Qxf6+ Kxf6 18.Nd4 Rfe8 19.Rfd1 Bf7 20.Kf1 Re7 21.Nb5 Rc8 1/2
Tregubov,P-Malaniuk,V, Krasnodar 1999.
b5) 7.Re1 White wants to carry out e4.

18
 b51) 7...g5?! The number one Hungarian player comes up with an entertaining, but probably bad
idea. 8.Nxg5 Nxd4 9.c3 Nc6 10.e4 h6 Fedorovsky,M-Rapport,R, Germany 2016 11.Ngf3±
b52) 7...d5 8.c4

8...Kh8 Black gets ready to open the position and makes room for the bishop. (8...e6 9.b3 Ne4
10.Bb2 a5=) 9.cxd5 (9.a3 dxc4; 9.b3 Be6) 9...Nxd5 10.e3 (10.Nc4 Nb6 or 10.Nb3 f4∞) 10...a5
11.b3 Grigorov,G-Malaniuk,V, Galatzi 2007 11...a4 12.Ba3 Be6 13.Qb1 Nb6∞

7.Re1 d5

Black stops e4.

19
8.c4

8.Ne5 c5

8...Nc6

Black takes away the e5-square from the white knight.

9.e3

9.b3
a) 9...Ne4 10.Bb2 b6 11.a3 Bb7 12.Rc1 a5 13.e3 Qe7 14.Rc2 Rac8 15.Qc1 (15.Qe2 Ba6) 15...Nd8
Black improves the knight by transferring it to f7. 16.Rd1 g5 (16...Nf7 17.cxd5 exd5 18.Ne5 Nxe5
19.dxe5 Bxe5=) 17.b4 axb4 18.axb4 Nf7 19.b5 Rfd8 20.c5 Rosko,L-Plat,V, Trinec 2014 20...c6=
b) 9...a5 10.Ba3 Re8 11.e3 b6 12.Qc2 Bb7 (12...Nb4 Playing this at once would make it harder to bring
the a1-rook into the game. 13.Qb1 c5=) 13.Rac1 Rc8 (13...Nb4) 14.Red1 Ne4 15.Ne1 Nb4 16.Qb1
Qe7 17.Ndf3 c5 18.Bb2 Red8 19.a3 Na6= Juhasz,A-Kovacevic,B, Budapest 2017.

9...Ne4

This move opens the diagonal.

10.a3 a5 11.b3

20
11...g5

Black wants to knock the f3-knight off balance. Developing calmly with 11...Qe7!? or 11...b6!? also look
pleasant for Black.

12.Bb2 g4 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Nxd2

14...b6 15.Nxe4 dxe4=

15.Qxd2 c6?

This is passive and instead White should act at once. 15...dxc4 16.Qc3 Qd3=

16.b4?!

16.Qd4! This would render the c8-bishop passive. 16...b6 17.Rad1²

16...dxc4 17.Qc3 axb4 18.axb4

18.Qxc4=

18...Rxa1 19.Rxa1 b5³ 20.Qd4

20.Bxc6 Qb6³

21
20...Qxd4

Black kept the extra pawn for a while, then gave it back, and later he won a remarkable endgame.

21.Bxd4 Bd7 22.Ra7 Rf7 23.Rc7 Bf8 24.Bc3 Be8 25.Rc8 Bd7 26.Rc7 Be8 27.Rc8 Re7 28.Kf1 Kf7
29.Bxc6 Bxc6 30.Rxc6 Rd7 31.Ke2 Rd3 32.Bd2 Rb3 33.Rc7+ Ke8 34.Rb7 c3 35.Bc1 Rb1 36.Kd1 Ra1
37.Rxb5 Ra2 38.Rb8+ Kf7 39.Rb7+ Kg6 40.b5 Rxf2 41.Rc7 Bb4 42.b6 Ba5 43.Rc6 c2+ 44.Rxc2 Rxc2
45.Kxc2 Bxb6 46.Kd3 h5 47.Bd2 Bc7 48.Bc3 h4 49.Ke2 Bd8 50.Kd3 Kf7 51.Be1 Bc7 52.Bc3 h3
53.Kc4 Ke7 54.Kd4 Bb6+ 55.Kd3 Kd7 56.Bd2 Kc6 57.Kc4 Bc5 58.Bc1 Bb6 59.Bd2 Bc5 60.Bc1 f4
61.exf4 Bg1 0–1

22
1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.c3 and 5.0-0 with 6.c3
Game 4
Dmitry Andreikin
Hikaru Nakamura
FIDE Grand Prix, Baku 2014

1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0

White rarely holds back castling, and we look at this move according to the ensuing play.
5.c3 Placing the pawn on c3 now or on the next move is not very ambitious, but one should not take it
lightly as it strengthens the centre and might prepare pushing the b-pawn, as well as opening the way for
the queen. 5...0-0
a) 6.Bg5 c6 (6...Ne4 7.Bf4 d5 8.Nbd2 c5=) 7.Nbd2 d5 Black makes sure that White will not play e4.
It’s interesting that two world-class Grandmasters will make no pawn moves for a long time in a very
closed position. 8.Ne5 Nbd7 9.Bf4 (9.Ndf3 Ne4 10.Be3 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 c5 12.0-0 cxd4 13.Bxd4
Qd6=) 9...Nxe5 10.Bxe5 Bh6 11.Nf3 Qb6 12.Qc2

23
12...Be6
a1) 12...c5 13.dxc5 (13.0-0 Ne4 14.dxc5 Qxc5 15.Qd3 e6=) 13...Qxc5 14.0-0 e6 15.b4 Qe7 16.c4
Bd7=
a2) 13.0-0 Nd7 14.Bf4 Bg7 (14...Bxf4 15.gxf4 a5 16.e3 a4 17.Ng5 Bf7=) 15.Qd2 Bf7 16.b3 Rfe8
17.Rac1 (17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.dxe5 Rad8=) 17...e5 18.dxe5 Nxe5 19.Ng5 h6 (19...Rad8=)
20.Nxf7

20...Nxf7= Black has no weaknesses in his position and his pieces stand well, so White’s two bishops
give no advantage, as in Beliavsky, A-Gurevich,M, Moscow 1988.
b) 6.Qb3+

24
 This should not hurt with the knight on f3, when White’s pressure on b7 is not so strong. 6...e6 In case
Black plays ...d5 the king can remain on g8. 7.Nbd2 (7.h4 a5 8.a4 d5 9.0-0 b6=) 7...Nc6 8.0-0 (8.Nc4
Ne4 9.0-0 a5 10.a4 b6=) 8...Qe7 Black plays for ...e5. (8...d5= or 8...a5 9.a4 d5=) 9.Nc4 d6 (9...Ne4
and Black will develop the bishop to b7.) 10.a4 Kh8 11.Qa3 a5 (11...Re8 12.b4 a6=) 12.Ne1 Bd7
13.Nd3 b6 14.Bg5 Rae8 Black has nicely prepared ...e5. 15.Nf4 Qf7 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.d5 Nd8
(17...exd5 18.Nxd5 Bd8³) 18.dxe6 Nxe6 19.Nd5 Bg7 20.Nxc7!= Czerwonski,A-Bajarani,U, Warsaw
2015.

5...0-0 6.c3 d6

Black still plays for ...e5.

7.Qb3+

a) 7.a4 a5 8.Nbd2 Nc6 9.Qb3+ Vaganian,R-Georgiev,K, Saint John 1988 9...e6 10.Ne1 Kh8 11.Nd3
Qe8=
b) 7.Bg5 Qe8 8.Qc1 e5 9.Bh6 This plan is slow. 9...Nc6 10.Bxg7 Kxg7 11.e3 Bd7 12.Ne1 g5 13.Nd3
e4 14.Nb4 Ne7 15.f3 exf3 16.Bxf3 c6 17.c4 Ng6³ Negulescu,A-Marin,M, Iasi 1999.
c) 7.b4 e6 8.Qb3 Qe7 Black concentrates on the centre. 9.a4 Kh8 10.Ba3 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 e5 12.dxe5
Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Qxe5 14.Nf3 Qe7 15.e3 Ne4 16.Rac1= Zhu,C-Muzychuk,M, Moscow 2010.
d) 7.Nbd2

25
7...Nc6 Black plays for ...e5, and he has to act quickly.
d1) 8.Nc4 e6 Black stops d5 and prepares ...Qe7 and ...e5. 9.Bg5 (9.a4 a5=) 9...h6 10.Bxf6 Qxf6
11.Qb3 Kh8 12.Rad1 Rb8 13.Ne1 (13.Nfe5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Qa3 Ra8 16.Qa5 Rf7=) 13...Bd7
14.f4 b5 15.Nd2 e5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.e4 exf4µ Shure,G-Ivanov,A, Newark 1995.
d2) 8.Re1 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 (9...Nxe5 10.Nxe5 dxe5 11.e4 f4 12.gxf4 Nh5=) 10.e4 f4 11.b4 a6 12.a4
Cabrilo,G-Brenjo,S, Kladovo 1996 12...fxg3 13.hxg3 Ng4 14.Qb3+ Kh8 15.Nf1 Qf6=
d3) 8.b4 Qe8 9.Qb3+ (9.Re1 d5) 9...Kh8 10.b5 (10.d5 Nd8 11.Bb2 and Black can equalise with
11...e5= or 11...a5 12.a3 e5=) 10...Nd8 11.a4 e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Ba3 Rg8 14.e4 Nf7 15.exf5 gxf5
16.Rfe1

16...e4= Olafsson,F-Smyslov,V, Reykjavik 1995.

26
 d4) 8.Qb3+ e6 9.Re1 d5 White’s pieces do not stand well against the Stonewall pawn formation.
d41) 10.a4 a5 11.Qc2 Ne4 (11...b6!?) 12.e3 Bd7 13.b3 g5 14.Ba3 Rf7 15.Nxe4 fxe4 16.Nd2
Vaganian,R-Georgiev,K, Saint John 1988 16...g4³
d42) 10.Qc2 Qe7 Black can now play ...e5. (10...b6!?) 11.Nb3 Ne4 (11...e5=) 12.Nfd2 e5 13.Nxe4
fxe4 14.Be3 Qf7 (14...b6 15.Rad1 Bb7³) 15.Qd2 a5 16.a4 b6 17.f3 exf3 18.exf3= Sergejev,R-
Ehlvest,J, Jyvaskyla 1998.

7...e6 8.Bg5

8.Ng5 I do not like this move, but I guess the Indian grandmaster just wanted to get a fighting position in
this blitz game. 8...d5 9.Bf4 Nh5 10.Nh3 (10.Bd2 c5!?) 10...Nxf4 White can do little harm without the
bishop. 11.Nxf4 c6 12.Nd2 Qe7 13.c4 Nd7 (13...g5 14.Nd3 Bxd4 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Bxd5+ Kh8³)
14.Nf3 dxc4? A strange decision: Black gives up some space and opens the position when White has
more pieces in play. (14...g5!? 15.Nd3 g4 16.Nfe5 Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Bxe5 18.dxe5 b6=) 15.Qxc4 Re8
16.Rfe1± Harikrishna,P-Nakamura,H, blitz, Biel 2012.

8...Qe8

The queen steps aside from the pin.

9.Nbd2 Nh5!?

Nakamura finds an interesting way to get ready for e4. 9...Nc6 10.Bxf6 (10.Rfe1 Nh5 11.e4 h6=)
10...Bxf6 11.e4 Qf7 12.Rfe1 f4∞

10.Ne1

27
10.e4 h6 11.exf5 (11.Be3 f4=) 11...hxg5 12.fxe6 Qxe6 13.Qxe6+ Bxe6 14.Nxg5 Bc8=

10...h6!

Black sacrifices a pawn.

11.Be3

11.Bxb7 Bxb7 12.Qxb7 Nc6 13.Be3 g5° 14.Nb3 a5°

11...g5

11...Nc6 12.Nd3 b6 13.a4 Bb7=

12.f4

12.Bxb7 Taking the pawn is not worrisome for Black. 12...Bxb7 13.Qxb7 Nc6 14.f3 Rb8 15.Qa6
(15.Qxc7?? Rf7 16.Qxd6 Bf8–+) 15...f4 16.gxf4 gxf4= is equal according to Meulders.

12...gxf4 13.Bxf4 Kh8

Black doesn’t hurry with the capture, as after 13...Nxf4 14.Rxf4 Nc6 15.e4 White would have an edge.

14.Be3

14.Nd3 e5 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Be3 Nd7= or 14.e4 fxe4 15.Nxe4 d5=

14...Nc6 15.Nd3

28
15...b6!

Black prepares a good square for the bishop. 15...e5!? 16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.Bd4 c5 (17...Ng4=) 18.Bxe5
dxe5 19.Nxc5 e4°

16.g4?

This looks like a bluff. 16.Rae1 Bb7 17.Nf4 Nxf4 18.Bxf4 e5 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.Be3=

16...Nf6?!

16...fxg4! 17.Rxf8+ Bxf8 18.Rf1 Bd7³

17.gxf5 exf5 18.Bf2

29
18...Be6

The position is even, but later White gave up the two bishops and lost.

19.Qc2 Bd5 20.Nf3 Be4 21.Qd2 Ne7 22.Bh4?! Ng6 23.Bxf6 Rxf6 24.Rf2 c5 25.Raf1 Qe6 26.a3 Rg8
27.Kh1 Kh7 28.Qe3 Re8µ 29.Qd2 Rg8 30.Qe3 c4 31.Nf4 Nxf4 32.Qxf4 Rg6 33.h3 Bf6! 34.Kh2 Be7
35.Bh1 R8g7 36.Rg2 Bg5 37.Qg3 Bc1! 38.Rxc1 Rxg3 39.Rxg3 Bxf3 40.Rxg7+ Kxg7 41.Bxf3 Qe3
42.Rg1+ Kf6 43.Bh5 Qd2 44.Rg6+ Ke7 45.Rg7+ Kd8 46.Rg8+ Kc7 47.Rg7+ Kb8 48.Rg8+ Kb7 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0 6.c3 e6

Game 5
Viktor Bologan
Anton David Guijarro
Karpov Poikovsky 2017

1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0 6.c3

30
6...e6

Black closes the diagonal and gains a bit of space in the centre. The pawn move is flexible as Black can
play for ...d5, or for ...e5 as well.

7.c4

White plays c4 in two moves, and it is hard to imagine that Black can do poorly with the extra move with
the e-pawn.
7.Nbd2 White may play for e4. 7...Nc6

31
a) 8.Ne1 d6 Black’s aim is ...e5. (8...b6!?) 9.Nd3 Qe7 10.Nc4 (10.e4 e5 11.Re1 fxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4
13.Bxe4 Qf7=) 10...Bd7 11.Bg5 Nd8 12.Qb3 Rb8 13.Rae1 Nf7 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nd2 d5 16.e3 b6=
Karlsson,L-Pyhala,A, Slupsk 1987.
b) 8.b4 a6 9.a4 d6 10.Ba3 (10.Bb2 Bd7 11.Qc2 Qe8 12.b5 Nd8 13.c4 Nf7 14.Ne1 axb5 15.axb5 Rxa1
16.Bxa1 c6=)

10...Nd5! This is a good square for the knight. 11.Qb3 b5 12.e4 fxe4 13.Nxe4 Bd7 14.axb5 axb5
15.Bb2 Rxa1 16.Rxa1 Qe7 17.Re1 h6³ Rajkovic,D-Malaniuk,V, Nis 1996.
c) 8.Re1 d5 9.Nb3 Reimanis,R-Rychagov,A, playchess.com 2006 9...a5 (9...Ne4 10.h4 e5= or 10...a5
11.a4 b6=) 10.a4 Ne4 11.Bf4 g5!? 12.Be5

12...Bh6! 13.Rf1 g4 14.Ne1 Nxe5 15.dxe5 c5 (15...b6³) 16.Bxe4 dxe4 17.Nxc5 Qb6 18.b4 (18.Nb3

32
 Bg7 19.Qc2 Bxe5 20.Ng2 Bd7³) 18...Rd8!? 19.Qb3 Rd5µ Bologan,V- Nepomniachtchi,I, Poikovsky
2014.
d) 8.Qc2 d5 The Stonewall is a nice pawn formation for Black.
d1) 9.b4 a6 10.a4 Ne4 11.Ba3 Nikolac,J-Galdunts,S, Bad Wildbad 2000 11...Re8 12.e3 b6 13.c4 Bb7
14.cxd5 exd5 15.b5 Na5∞
d2) 9.Ne1 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 An important structure has arisen, one in which Black’s space
compensates for his somewhat passive white-squared bishop. 11.Ndf3 Nf7 12.Nd3 1/2 Tempone,M-
Rodriguez Vila,A, Villa Gesell 1996.
d3) 9.b3
d31) 9...Ne4 10.Ba3 Rf7 11.Rad1 a5 12.Bc1 Yermolinsky,A-Gurevich,D, Modesto 1995 12...b5=
d32) 9...a5 10.Ba3 Re8 11.Rac1 Ne4 12.Rfd1 b5 Black fights for space. 13.e3 Ba6 14.Ne1 b4
15.cxb4 Nxb4 16.Bxb4 axb4 17.Nxe4 Sergeev,V-Wojtaszek,R, Warsaw 2004 17...dxe4 18.Qxc7
Qd5°

7...d6 8.Nc3

8...Ne4

Black plays a move that would not be possible with the pawn on e7.

9.Qc2

9.Nxe4 fxe4 10.Ng5 d5=

9...Nxc3 10.bxc3

33
White strengthens the d4-pawn. 10.Qxc3 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Nxe5 (12.e4 f4³) 12...Nd7 13.f4 Qe7=

10...e5 11.Ba3

11.e4 Nc6 12.Rd1 exd4 13.cxd4 fxe4 14.Qxe4 Bf5=

11...e4 12.Nd2 Nd7

12...c5 Black can sacrifice a pawn. 13.dxc5 dxc5 14.Bxc5 Re8=

13.c5 dxc5 14.Rad1

14.dxc5 Re8 15.Rfd1 Qf6³

14...Re8

Black has strong enough pressure on White’s centre.

15.f3

White tries to open the position.

15...cxd4

15...exf3 16.Nxf3 c6 17.Qb3+ Kh8 18.Bc1 Bf6³

16.fxe4 dxc3 17.exf5?

This piece sacrifice is not correct. White should play instead 17.Nb1 Qf6 18.exf5 gxf5=

34
17...cxd2 18.fxg6 Ne5 19.gxh7+ Kh8 20.Rxd2

20...Qg5

Black has an extra piece, and in addition White’s king is weak, but it still took some time to win this,
Anton Guijarro eventually mating Bologan.

21.Rf4 c6 22.Rd6 Be6 23.Qc1 Nf7 24.Rd3 Rad8 25.h4 Qb5 26.Rb4 Qa5 27.Rxb7 Rxd3 28.exd3 Bd5
29.Be4 Bxe4 30.dxe4 Rxe4 31.Qxc6 Qe1+ 32.Kh2 Re2+ 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.b3 0-0 6.Bb2 d6 7.c4 c6
Game 6
Yuri Shulman
Viktor Laznicka
World Open, Arlington 2014

1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7

35
5.b3

As Black’s main idea is to carry out ...e5, White makes an early try to stop it.

5...0-0 6.Bb2 d6 7.c4

White firstly pushes the c-pawn and may follow quickly with castling, but he can also postpone it.
White’s knight can no longer have an effect on e5 from the c4-square, so White has to be careful to
prevent ...e5.

7...c6

Yes, Black could also play 7...Qe8 here, but if one plays ...c6 in the main line then this is the simplest.

8.0-0

a) 8.Qc2 a5
b) 8.d5?! This is premature here. 8...cxd5!? 9.cxd5 Qa5+ Black aims to win the d5-pawn. 10.Nbd2
(10.Nc3 Ne4 11.Rc1 Nxc3 12.Qd2 Qxd5³) 10...Nxd5 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.0-0 Nf6³
c) 8.Nbd2 This is a somewhat unfortunate combination of White’s moves.
c1) 8...Ne4 9.0-0 d5 Black did all right undertaking the Leningrad Stonewall despite being a tempo
down in the next game. 10.Ne5 Be6 11.Ndf3 Nd7 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Nd3 Rc8 14.e3 Qc7 15.Qe2 Qc2
16.Qxc2 Rxc2 17.Rfc1 Rfc8 18.Rxc2 Rxc2= Bekker Jensen,S-Semcesen,D, Runavik 2016.
c2) 8...e5! In this variation Black can’t always carry out this pawn push, so here it is an
accomplishment for him. 9.dxe5 Ng4 10.Qc2 Nxe5 11.Rd1 Qe7 12.0-0 a5 13.Rfe1

36
 13...Na6 Black’s pieces stand well. 14.e4? Nb4 15.Qb1 Nbd3³
d) 8.Nc3 Playing this move, which takes the bishop’s eye off e5, allows Black several useful options.
d1) 8...Qa5 9.0-0 e5
d11) 10.Qd2! White stops ...e4 and develops.

10...exd4 (10...Qc7 11.d5² or 10...Na6 11.Rad1 exd4 12.Nxd4 Nc5 13.Nc2 Ne6 White is a fraction
better.) 11.Nxd4 Re8 12.Rad1 Nbd7 13.Nf3 (13.Nc2 Re6) 13...Ne4 14.Nxe4 Qxd2 15.Nfxd2 Bxb2
16.Nxd6 Rxe2 17.Nf3 Nf6=
d12) 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.e4 f4 (11...Na6 12.a3 [12.Re1 f4 13.gxf4 Bg4=] 12...Qc7 13.b4 f4 14.c5 Bg4
15.h3 Be6 16.Qc2 Qe7 17.Rad1 fxg3 18.fxg3 Nd7=) 12.Qd6 Ne8 13.Qd2 Calugar,A-Grover,S,

37
 Dallas 2014 13...Na6 (13...Bg4 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Na6=) 14.h3 Nec7 15.Rad1 Nc5∞
d2) 8...Nbd7 Black, as usual, wants to carry out ...e5 quickly.
d21) 9.0-0 e5
d22) 9.Ng5 Nb6 10.0-0 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 Black can keep his position together. 12.Qxd8 (12.Ba3
Qxd1 13.Raxd1 Re8 14.e4 h6 15.Nf3 f4 16.gxf4 exf4 17.e5 Ng4 18.Ne4 Nxe5 19.Nd6 Bg4
20.Nxe8 Rxe8=) 12...Rxd8 13.Rad1 Bd7=
d23) 9.d5 Ne4 10.Rc1 Qa5 11.Nd4
d231) 11...cxd5 12.cxd5 (12.Bxe4 fxe4 13.Ne6 d4³) 12...Ndc5 (12...Ndf6 13.0-0 Nxd5 [13...Bd7
14.Ne6 Bxe6 15.dxe6 Rac8=] 14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.Bxe4 Bh3 16.Bg2 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Bh6=) 13.0-0
Bd7 14.e3 Qa6=
d232) 11...Ne5?! The knight doesn’t stand well on e5. 12.0-0 c5 13.Nxe4 fxe4 14.Bc3 Qa6 15.Nb5
Qb6 16.Qd2 Qd8 17.Bxe4± Navara,D-Miton,K, Czech Rep. 2015.

8...Na6

This knight move can be useful when Black wants to gain space on the queenside, but Black doesn’t
necessarily give up on the idea of ...e5.
8...Qc7 Black again prepares ...e5.
a) 9.d5 e5 (9...Na6 10.Nc3 Bd7 11.Rc1 Rae8∞) 10.dxc6 Nxc6 (10...bxc6 11.c5 Rd8 12.cxd6 Rxd6
13.Qc2 e4 14.Ne5 Nd5=) 11.Nc3 Vladimirov,Y-Tisdall,J, Gausdal 1990 11...e4 12.Ng5 h6 13.Nb5
Qe7 (13...Qd7 14.Nh3 Rd8 15.Nf4 a6 16.Nd4 Qf7=) 14.Nh3 a6 15.Nxd6 Rd8 16.Nxc8 Raxc8 17.Qe1
g5°
b) 9.Nbd2 Re8

38
 b1) 10.d5 e5 11.dxe6 Bxe6 12.Ng5 Bd7 13.h4 Na6 14.Ndf3 f4 15.gxf4 h6 16.Nh3 Bg4³
b2) 10.Qc2 e5
b21) 11.c5 e4 12.cxd6 Qxd6 13.Ne5 Be6 14.Ndc4 Qc7 15.a4 Nbd7 (15...Na6 16.Ba3 Rad8 17.e3
c5=) 16.Ba3 Bf8 17.Bxf8 Rxf8 18.a5 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Nd7= Javakhishvili,L-Muzychuk,A, Batumi
2012.
b22) 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.e4 Na6 (12...c5 13.Nh4 f4 14.gxf4 Nc6 15.Ndf3 Nh5³) 13.c5 Makoto,R-
Grover,S, Johannesburg 2017 13...Qe7 14.Rac1 Be6=
b3) 10.Re1 e5
b31) 11.e4 Malanuik and Marusenko mention this and their analysis goes thus: 11...Nxe4 12.Nxe4
fxe4 13.Rxe4 Bf5 14.Re1 (14.Re2 Na6) 14...Na6 15.Qd2 (15.Nh4 e4 16.Nxf5 gxf5 17.Qd2 Qf7
18.f3 d5=) 15...Rad8 (15...e4 16.Nh4 d5=) 16.Rad1 (16.Nh4!? e4) 16...e4 17.Ng5 d5=
b32) 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.e4 fxe4 (12...Na6 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Bxe5 Qb6 Black has compensation for the
pawn. 15.Bd4 c5 16.Bc3 Nb4) 13.Nxe4 (13.Ng5 Na6 14.Ndxe4²) 13...Nxe4 14.Rxe4

14...Bf5 Black plays fluently. 15.Re1 (15.Re3 Nd7 16.Nh4 Nc5 17.Qe2 e4=) 15...Na6 16.Nh4 Rad8
17.Qe2 Bd3 18.Qg4 Nb4³ Kovalyov,A-Nakamura,H, Montreal 2008.

9.Nbd2

For 9.Nc3 see the main line. Alternatively, 9.Qc2:

a) 9...Bd7 10.Nbd2 Nb4 (10...c5 11.d5 b5 12.Ng5 Nc7∞) 11.Qb1 a5 12.Re1 Ne4 13.a3 Nxd2
14.Nxd2 Na6∞
b) 9...Rb8 Black aims to gain space on the queenside. 10.Nbd2
b1) 10...b5 11.a3 Kh8 (11...Bd7!? is interesting and if 12.Rac1 Nc7 and on 12.Ng5 Qe8 can be

39
 played.) 12.Rac1 bxc4 13.Nxc4 Bd7 14.b4 Nd5 15.Na5 Rb6 16.Nd2² Rohan,A-Lu,S, Olongapo City
2015.
b2) 10...Bd7 11.a3 Nc7 12.e4 (12.a4 a5=) 12...fxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 b5=

9...e5

If White can’t exploit this quickly, Black’s future is bright.

10.dxe5 Nd7

Black can win back the pawn both ways:

10...Ng4
a) 11.a3 Nxe5 (11...Nc7!?) 12.Nxe5 dxe5 13.b4 (13.e4 Nc5) 13...Qe7 (13...e4) 14.e4 f4 15.c5
Schandorff,L-Espig,L, Thessaloniki 1988 15...Nc7 16.Nc4 Nb5=
b) 11.Qc2

11...Nxe5 In this structure the knight is not too active on d2. 12.Rad1 Qe7 13.Ba3
b1) 13...Nf7 14.Rfe1 Nc5 15.e3 (15.b4 Ne4=) 15...a5 16.Nd4 Ne5= Gerusel,M-Mueller,H,
Bundesliga 1985.
b2) 13...Nc5 14.b4 Ne6 15.Nb3 (15.b5 c5 16.Rfe1 Rb8 17.Bb2 b6∞) 15...f4 (15...a6 16.Bb2 Bd7
17.Rd2 Rad8=) 16.b5 c5 17.Qe4 Rb8 18.Qd5 b6 19.Bc1 Kh8 20.Bh3? (20.Nxe5=) 20...Nc7–+
Douriet Duany,A-Soto Hernandez,H, Matanzas 2017.

11.Ba3 Nxe5 12.Nxe5

12.Rc1 Nf7 Black defends the d6-pawn in advance. 13.b4 c5 (13...Nc7 14.Nb3 Qe7=) 14.b5 Nc7

40
(14...Nb8 15.Rb1 Nd7 16.Bb2 Bxb2 17.Rxb2 Nf6∞) 15.Qb3 a6 16.b6 Ne8 17.Rfd1 a5 18.Nf1 a4
19.Qb1 Bd7 20.Ne3 Nf6= Arsovic,Z-Vasiukov,E, Tivat 1995.

12...Bxe5

13.Qc2

White sacrifices the exchange as without this Black gets organised.

13.Nf3 This forces Black to take the exchange. 13...Bxa1 14.Qxa1 Nc5 15.Rd1 Qf6?! This is a bit naive.
(15...Qe7!? 16.Qc3 [16.Qc1 f4=] 16...h6 17.Bc1 Kh7 18.Qd2 f4 19.gxf4 Bf5=) 16.Qc1! Qe7 17.Bb2
Ne4 18.Qe3 Be6 19.Qd4² Shirov,A-Bareev,E, Lvov 1990.

13...Bxa1

Black grabs the exchange, although he could also do without it. White will have compensation, but Black
can live with White’s domination on the long diagonal. 13...Be6 14.Rad1 Qa5=

14.Rxa1 Qe7 15.Rd1 Be6 16.Bb2 h6!

Laznicka makes room for the king.

17.Qc3 Kh7 18.b4 Rad8 19.Nf3

19.e3³

19...c5 20.a3

41
20...d5µ

Black opens the position; this will allow his pieces to come alive. Laznicka converted his advantage
convincingly.

21.cxd5 Bxd5 22.b5 Nc7 23.Qa5 Be4 24.Rc1 Ne6 25.Qxa7 Ra8 26.Qb6 Rfd8 27.Be5 Rd5 28.Bf4 g5
29.Be3 Rd6 30.Bxc5 Nxc5 31.Qxc5 Rd1+ 32.Bf1 Qxc5 33.Rxc5 Rxa3 0–1

42
1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.b3 0-0 6.Bb2 d6 7.0-0
Game 7
Ki Georgiev
I. Cheparinov
Bulgarian Championship, Kozloduy 2018

1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.b3 0-0 6.Bb2 d6 7.0-0

White castles quickly.

7...c6 8.c4

8...a5

Black gains space on the queenside and in some cases may exert pressure there with ...a4.

9.Nbd2

The knight gets ready to carry out e4 without closing the diagonal of the b2-bishop.
9.Nc3
a) 9...Na6?! Black concentrates on developing the queenside.
a1) 10.Qd2 Bd7 11.Rad1 Rb8 12.Ne1 b5 13.cxb5 cxb5 14.Nd5 Ne4=
a2) 10.Rc1 Qc7 11.d5 Nc5 12.Ne1 e5 13.dxe6 Bxe6 14.Nd3 Nfd7 1/2 Adamski,J-Knezevic,M,
Vrnjacka Banja 1985.
a3) 10.Qc2 Qc7 11.Rad1 Re8 (11...e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Na4 e4=) 12.d5 (12.Qd2 e5 13.d5 Bf8= or

43
12.a3 e5 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.e4 Nc5= or 12.Rfe1 e5 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.e4 Nb4=) 12...Nc5 13.Nd4 Bd7
(13...e5 14.dxe6 Bxe6 15.Nxe6 Rxe6=) 14.Rfe1 e5 15.dxe6 Bxe6 16.Nxe6 Rxe6 17.e3 Ng4 18.Re2
Rae8= Pham,L-Cmilyte,V, Istanbul 2012.
a4) 10.d5 Bd7 11.Nd4 Qc7
a41) 12.e3 Nc5 13.Nce2 e5 (13...a4 14.b4 Nce4 15.Rc1 cxd5 16.cxd5 Qb6=) 14.dxe6 Nxe6
15.Nxe6 Bxe6 16.Qc2 Rad8 17.Rad1 Rd7 18.Nf4 Bf7² Kleschtschow,J-Horvath,J, Germany 1994.
a42) 12.e4 fxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Qb6 (14...a4 15.Bg2 axb3 16.axb3 Qb6 17.Bc3 Rf7=)
15.Rb1
a421) 15...Nc5 16.Bg2 cxd5 17.Bxd5+ Kh8 18.Qe2² Torre,E-Kovacevic,V, Novi Sad 1984.
a422) 15...Nc7 16.Qd2 Rf7
a4221) 17.Bg2 Raf8 18.Rbe1 Qb4 19.Bc3 Qc5 20.dxc6 bxc6 21.Re2 Bf6=
a4222) 17.Nf3 Bxb2 18.Rxb2 cxd5 19.cxd5 Lesiege,A-Vovk,A, chess.com 2017

19...Bf5=
a5) 10.Re1 Ne4 (10...Qc7 11.e4 fxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Rxe4 Bf5 14.Re3²)
a51) 11.Qd3
a511) 11...d5 12.Rac1 (12.e3²) 12...Nb4 (12...a4 13.Nxa4 Nb4 14.Qb1 f4 15.cxd5 cxd5 (15...b5
16.dxc6 Nxf2 leads to wild play.) 16.a3 Bf5 17.Qa1 Qd6 Black has some compensation for the
pawn.) 13.Qb1 f4 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Qxe4 Nxa2 16.Rcd1 Qb6∞
a512) 11...Qc7 12.Nxe4 Nb4 13.Qd2 fxe4 14.Ng5 d5 15.a3 Na6 16.Bc3 (16.f3²) 16...h6 17.Nh3
g5 18.Bxa5 Van Wely,L-Gazik,I, Novy Smokovec 1992 18...Qd6 19.Bc3 Bg4=
a52) 11.Qc2 d5 (11...Qc7 12.Nxe4 Nb4 13.Qc1!±)

44
 a521) 12.Rad1 Be6
a5211) 13.Ne5 Qc7 14.a3 Rfd8∞
a5212) 13.e3 a4 (13...b5 14.cxb5 cxb5) 14.Nxa4 Nb4 15.Qb1 dxc4 16.Nc5
a5213) 13.c5 Qe8 14.Na4 Moeldner,J-Junker,R, Germany 2003 14...f4=
a522) 12.e3 Kh8 (12...Be6 13.a3 [13.Rac1 a4=] 13...Kh8 14.c5²) 13.Rac1 Be6 14.Qe2 White is
somewhat better, as in Wojtkiewicz,A-Kaugars,A, Kona 1998. I tried to find an active continuation
for Black, but it does not equalise: 14...a4 15.cxd5 (15.Nxa4 dxc4 16.bxc4 Nb4 17.Nc3 Nxa2=)
15...Nxc3 16.Bxc3 Bxd5 17.bxa4²
b) 9...Qc7 Black hurries with ...e5.
b1) 10.d5 Na6
b2) 10.Qd2 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Na4 e4 13.Ng5 Rd8 14.Qf4 Qxf4 15.gxf4 Nh5=
b3) 10.Re1 e5 11.e4 fxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Rxe4 Bf5 14.Re1 e4 15.Ng5 d5 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.f3 Nc6=
b4) 10.Qc2 e5 (10...Na6 See 9...Na6) 11.c5 e4 12.cxd6 Qxd6 13.Ne5 Be6 14.Rad1 Na6 15.f3 Nb4
16.Qc1 exf3 17.exf3 Nfd5 18.a3 (18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.a3=) 18...Nxc3 19.Qxc3 Nd5 20.Qc1

20...f4µ Karjakin,S-Nepomniachtchi, I, Sochi 2014.

b5) 10.Rc1 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5
b51) 12.Na4 e4 (12...Ne4 13.c5 Rd8 14.Qc2 Na6=) 13.Be5 Qd8 14.Ng5 h6 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Nb6
Ra6 17.Bxb8 hxg5 18.Bc7 Re8 19.Rfd1 Be6=
b52) 12.e4
b521) 12...Bh6 13.Re1 Re8 14.Ra1 Na6=
b522) 12...Na6 13.Qe2 f4 14.gxf4 (14.Na4 Nh5=) 14...Nh5=

45
 b523) 12...fxe4 13.Ng5 Rd8 14.Qe2 Bg4=
b524) 12...f4 13.gxf4 (13.Na4 Nxe4 14.Qe2±) 13...Nh5 14.fxe5 Bg4 (14...Rd8 15.Qc2 Na6
16.Ne2 Nb4 17.Qb1 Nd3 18.Rcd1 Ndf4°) 15.Ba3 Nd7 16.Bd6± Mikhalevski,V-
Nepomniachtchi,I, Berlin 2015.

9...Na6 10.a3

White stops ...Nb4, but this gives Black some time.

a) 10.Ne1 Transferring the knight to d3 this time is slow. 10...e5 11.dxe5 Nd7
a1) 11...Ng4 12.Nd3 Nxe5 13.Qc2 Qe7 14.Bc3 Nxd3 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qxd3 Nc5 17.Qd4+ Qe5
18.e3 Qxd4 19.exd4 Na6= Stohl,I-Bernasek,J, Czech Rep. 2008.
a2) 12.Nd3 dxe5 13.e4 Re8 14.Qe2 Ndc5 15.Nxc5 Nxc5 16.exf5 Zhao,J-Wang,H, Beijing 2012

46
 16...Qd3 17.Rae1 Qxe2 18.Rxe2 gxf5=
b) 10.e3 A tricky move, and one should not underestimate it. 10...Bd7 (10...e5!? I prefer developing the
bishop to e6. 11.dxe5 Nd7 12.Ba3 Nxe5=) 11.Ne1 e5 12.dxe5 Ng4 13.Ba3 (13.Ndf3 Nxe5 14.Nxe5
dxe5 15.Nd3 e4=) 13...Bxe5 (13...Nxe5 14.Bxd6 Re8 15.Rc1 Nf7 16.Ba3 Nb4°) 14.Rc1 Nb4 15.h3
Nxf2 16.Rxf2 Bxg3 17.Rf3 Be5 18.Bxb4 axb4 19.Rc2 Erdos,V-Cheparinov,I, Bol 2013 19...Qe7²
c) 10.Qc2
c1) 10...Qe8 11.Rae1 Blanco Fernandez,A-Ortiz Suarez,I, Villahermosa 2014 (11.a3 Bd7) 11...b5
12.a3 Nc7 13.h3 Bd7=
c2) 10...Bd7 Black plans to play ...b5. 11.a3 (11.e4 Nb4 12.Qb1 fxe4 13.Nxe4 Bf5=)
c21) 11...Nc7
c211) 12.Rae1 b5 13.e4 What else can White play for? Black, however, is ready for it. 13...fxe4
14.Nxe4 Bf5 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Qe2 Rb8=
c212) 12.Ne1 Mastrovasilis,A-Anton Guijarro,D, Caleta 2017 12...Ne6 (12...b5 13.Nd3 Rb8 14.e3
Ne6 15.c5 Ng5∞) 13.Nd3 a4 14.b4 b5 15.cxb5 cxb5 16.Bxa8 Qxa8°
c22) 11...a4!?

47
 An interesting idea: Black occupies quite a lot of space on the queenside. 12.b4 (12.bxa4 c5 13.e3
e6∞) 12...b5 13.Rac1 Rc8 14.Nh4 d5 15.c5 f4 16.Qd3 (16.gxf4 Nh5) 16...Nc7=

10...Re8

Cheparinov prepares ...e5.

a) 10...Qc7 The pushing of the e-pawn can be prepared with the queen, and the other rook as well.
11.Qc2 Bd7 12.c5 (12.Rae1 Rae8 13.e4 fxe4 14.Nxe4 Bf5 15.Nfg5 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 e5=) 12...Kh8
13.Rac1 Rae8 14.Nc4 Be6 15.Rfd1 Ne4 16.Nfd2= Portisch-Uhlmann, Stockholm 1962.
b) 10...e5!? Perhaps the simplest is to carry it out at once. 11.dxe5 Nd7 12.Nd4

48
 12...Nxe5 Black is doing all right here. 13.Qc2 Bd7 14.Bc3 Nc7 15.e3 Qe7 (15...c5 16.N4f3 Bc6=)
16.Rfe1 Ng4 (16...Ne6=) 17.h3 Nf6 18.b4 (18.e4²) 18...axb4 19.axb4 d5= Andersson,U-Dolmatov,S,
Clermont Ferrand 1989.

11.Qc2 Qc7 12.e4

Otherwise Black would play ...e5.

12...fxe4 13.Nxe4

13...Nxe4

13...Bf5 equalises as well. 14.Nfd2 (14.Nxf6+ exf6 15.Qd2 Be4=) 14...Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Qd7 16.Rfe1 Nc7
17.Re3 d5=

14.Qxe4 Bf5

14...Nc5 15.Qe3 a4 16.b4 Nb3 An interesting outpost for the knight. 17.Rae1 Bf5 18.h3 Rad8 19.g4 Bc8
20.Nd2 Nxd2 21.Qxd2 d5=

15.Qe3 e5 16.dxe5

16.Rfe1 e4 17.Nh4 Qf7 18.Nxf5 gxf5 19.f3 Nc5=

49
16...dxe5

Black’s active pieces compensate for the isolated pawn.

17.Ng5

17.h3 e4 18.Nd4 Rad8 19.Rad1 Bc8=

17...Bh6 18.h4 Qe7 19.Rad1 Nc5 20.Rd2 Ne6 21.f4

21.Rdd1=

21...exf4 22.gxf4

50
22...Nxg5

22...Bf8!µ

23.Qxe7 Nf3+

Black was able to squeeze a win out of this somewhat better position.

24.Rxf3 Rxe7 25.Bc3 Re4 26.Rd4 Bf8 27.Rxe4 Bxe4 28.Rf2 Bf5 29.b4 axb4 30.Bxb4 Bg7 31.Kh2 Bf6
32.Kg3 Re8 33.Bc5 h5 34.Rd2 Bc3 35.Rd6 Be1+ 36.Bf2 Re3+ 37.Bf3 Be4 38.Bxe1 Rxf3+ 39.Kh2
Rxa3 40.Rd8+ Kf7 41.Rd7+ Ke6 42.Rxb7 Kf5 43.Rb2 Kg4 44.Kg1 Ra1 45.Re2 Bd3 46.Re7 Kf3
47.Kh2 Be4 48.Bc3 Rc1 49.Bf6 Rxc4 50.Ra7 Rc2+ 51.Kg1 Rg2+ 52.Kf1 Bd3+ 53.Ke1 Ke3 54.Re7+
Be4 55.Kf1 0–1

1.d4 g6 2.Nf3 f5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 d6 7.Bb2 c6 8.Nbd2 Na6 and 8...Qc7
Game 8
Danny Raznikov
Hikaru Nakamura
European Cup, Eilat 2012

1.d4 g6 2.Nf3 f5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 d6 7.Bb2 c6

51
8.Nbd2

This move prepares e4 and the knight has a chance to go to c4 to put pressure on the e5-pawn. Black has
to be careful not to run out of active play, otherwise he might face long and joyless suffering.

8...Qc7

Nakamura insists on playing for the thematic ...e5 push. With 8...Na6 instead, Black could concentrate
on the queenside.
a) 9.Ne1 e5 10.dxe5
a1) 10...Ng4 11.Nc4 d5
a11) 12.Nd2 Nxe5 13.Rb1 f4 14.Ndf3 Nxf3+ 15.Nxf3 Bxb2 16.Rxb2 Foisor,C-Muzychuk,A,
Tbilisi 2011 16...Qf6=
a12) 12.Nd6!? This is the more interesting continuation here. 12...Qe7 (12...Bxe5? 13.Bxd5+)
13.Nxc8 (13.f4 Ne3 14.Qc1 Nxf1 15.Kxf1 Be6 16.Ba3 Qd7∞) 13...Raxc8 14.Nd3 Rfd8 (14...Nxe5
15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.Bxd5+)

52
 15.e3 (15.f4!? Sacrificing an exchange is probably stronger than giving back the pawn. 15...Ne3
16.Qd2 Nxf1 17.Rxf1°) 15...Nxe5 16.Nxe5 Bxe5 17.Bxe5 Qxe5= Joie,S-Horvath,J, Vaujany 2014.
a2) 10...Nd7!? Though players tend not to win back the pawn this way, it looks simpler. 11.Nc4 dxe5
12.Nd6 (12.Qd6 e4) 12...Ndc5=
b) 9.e3
b1) 9...Bd7 10.Qe2 (10.Ne1 Nc7 11.c4 e5 12.dxe5 Ng4 13.Ba3 Bxe5 14.Rb1 Ne8 15.c5 d5=)
10...Nc7
b11) 11.e4 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 fxe4 13.Qxe4 Bf5 14.Qe2 Qd7 15.Rae1 Rae8 16.Nh4 Bg4 17.f3 Bh3=
b12) 11.c4 b5 12.Rab1 bxc4 (12...Rb8 13.Bc3 Qc8=) 13.bxc4 Rb8 14.Bc3 Qc8 Zpevak,P-
Bernasek,J, Zdar nad Sazavou 2007 15.Rxb8 Qxb8 16.Rb1²

53
 b2) 9....Nc7 Interestingly this knight might cover the e4-square.
b21) 10.Ne1 e5 11.dxe5 Ng4 12.exd6 (12.Nc4 d5 13.Nd6 Bxe5=) 12...Bxb2 13.dxc7 Qxc7 14.Rb1
Bg7=
b22) 10.Qe2 Schoppen,C-Pruijssers,R, Amsterdam 2015 10...Ne4 (10...a5 11.c4 a4 12.b4 a3 13.Bc3
b5=) 11.c4 Ne8 12.Nxe4 fxe4 13.Nd2 d5 14.f3 exf3 15.Nxf3 Nf6 16.Ne5 Be6 17.Ba3 Nd7=
c) 9.Re1
c1) 9...Nc7 Black allows e4. 10.c4 Velikov,P-Kuczynski,R Haifa 1989 (10.e4 f4= or 10.e3 Titov,G-
Kuczynski,R, Warsaw 1989 10...Ne4 11.c4 Ne8=) 10...a5 (10...b5 11.Qc2 Rb8 12.Bc3²) 11.e4 fxe4
(11...f4 12.Qc2 (12.e5 Ng4∞) 12...fxg3 13.hxg3 Ng4∞) 12.Nxe4 Nxe4

54
 13.Rxe4 White’s play on the e-file is not dangerous. 13...a4 14.Re1 Bg4 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 e5
17.dxe5 Bxe5=
c2) 9...Ne4
c21) 10.Nxe4 fxe4 11.Nd2 d5 12.f3 exf3 13.Nxf3 Bf5 14.Qd2 Nc5 15.Nh4 Ne4 16.Qe3 e6=
Vuilleumier,A-Bauer,C, Eilat 2012.
c22) 10.e3 Qc7 11.a3 Bd7 (11...Nac5 12.Rb1 Ne6 13.c4 a5 14.Rc1 N6g5 15.Nxg5 Nxg5 16.f4
Nf7²) 12.Qe2 Rae8 13.Rad1 Bc8 (13...Nac5 14.c4 Ne6∞) 14.Nb1 (14.c4 Nxd2 15.Qxd2 e5=)
14...e5 15.b4 Qf7 16.c4 Be6 (16...f4=) 17.Rc1 exd4 18.Bxd4 Nc7 1/2 Bodiroga,P-David,A, Loutraki
2015.

9.Qe1

a) 9.Ne1 This is somewhat slow. 9...Nbd7 10.Nd3 e5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 dxe5 13.e4 f4 (13...fxe4
14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Bh3 16.Bg2 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Qf7 18.Qe2 e4 19.Bxg7 Qf3+=) 14.Nc4 Ne8
15.Qe2 Be6 16.Rad1 b5 17.Nd2 g5 (17...Nd6=) 18.gxf4 Rxf4 19.Bc1 (19.Nf3 h6 20.Ne1 Rh4∞)
19...g4= Huerta,R-Gufeld,E, Havana 1985.
b) 9.a4 Re8 10.Nc4 Nbd7 11.a5 Ne4 12.Nfd2 White wants to get rid of the e4-knight, but Black can
preserve it in two ways:

12...d5 (12...Ndf6 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qd3 Nf6 15.Nd2 Be6 16.c4 Rad8 17.e3 Bf7=) 13.Nxe4 fxe4
14.Ne3 Nf6 15.c4 Be6 16.Qc2 Qd7 17.f3 Bh6 18.Nd1 Enkhbat,T-Leow,L, Manila 1992 18...b5=
c) 9.Re1!? I think this move is testing for Black. It is hard to carry out ...e5 and in addition it is hard to
create play if White carries out e4.
c1) 9...a5 10.c4 (10.e4!? I think this gives at least a small edge for White. 10...fxe4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4
12.Rxe4 a4 (12...Bf5 13.Re3 Bf6 14.h3²) 13.Qd2 Bf5 14.Ree1²) 10...a4 11.bxa4 Ne4 (11...Nbd7

55
 12.Qb3 Qa5=) 12.Nxe4 fxe4 13.Nd2 d5 14.Qb3 e6 15.f3 exf3 16.Nxf3 Bu,X-Lou,Y Reykjavik 2013
16...Qa5²
c2) 9...c5 Black tries to exert pressure on the d4-pawn.
c21) 10.e3 Bd7 11.Qe2 e6 (11...Na6 12.e4) 12.Rad1 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Na6 14.Nc4 d5=
c22) 10.c3 Nc6 11.e4 cxd4 12.cxd4 fxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Rxe4 d5 15.Re1 Bg4 16.h3 Bxf3
17.Bxf3 Rad8 18.Rc1 Qd6=
c23) 10.e4 Nxe4 11.Nxe4 fxe4 12.Rxe4 Nc6 13.Qd2 Bf5 14.Rh4
c231) 14.Ree1 Rad8 15.c3 (15.c4 e5) 15...e5 (15...d5 16.Nh4 Bc8 17.dxc5 and 17...Ne5 or 17...d4∞
is unclear.) 16.d5 Ne7 with a complex position.
c232) 14...Rae8 (14...Bf6 15.Ng5 cxd4 [15...e6] 16.Bd5+ e6 17.Nxe6²) 15.Re1 Bf6 16.Ng5 Bxg5
17.Qxg5 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 cxd4 19.Rxd4 e5 20.Rd2 b5=

9...a5

Nakamura hopes to create play on the queenside to compensate for White’s pressure on the e-file.
9...Ne4 Unlike when the rook is on e1, here the queen can’t get rid of the e4-knight. 10.c4 Na6 11.Rc1
Nxd2 12.Qxd2 e5 13.e4 fxe4 14.Ng5 exd4 15.Bxd4 Nc5 16.Bxg7 Qxg7 17.Rce1 Bf5=

10.e4 fxe4

10...a4 11.e5 White is stronger in the centre. 11...Nd5 12.Nc4 (12.c4 a3 13.exd6 exd6 14.Bxa3 Nf4
15.gxf4 Rxa3°) 12...axb3 (12...b5 13.Ne3²) 13.axb3 Rxa1 14.Bxa1²

11.Nxe4 a4?

56
11...Nxe4! This exchange was clearly better. 12.Qxe4 Bf5 13.Qe2 Na6 14.Rae1 Rae8 15.h3²

12.Nxf6+

Raznikov is not aggressive enough. He could and should have played 12.Neg5! Qa5 (12...Qd7 13.Bh3±)
13.Qe3 and White’s advantage would be pretty big.

12...Bxf6 13.Qd2

13.Qe3²

13...Qa5 14.Qxa5

14.Qe3 Qf5=

14...Rxa5 15.b4 Rf5 16.Rae1 Bg7 17.Nd2 R5f7 18.Nc4

57
18...b5

The position was equal, later Nakamura was able to create chances, but Raznikov held.

19.Ne3 g5 20.c3 h6 21.Re2 d5 22.Bc1 Nd7 23.Ng4 h5 24.Ne5 Nxe5 25.dxe5 g4 26.Bg5 Be6 27.Rfe1
Kh7 28.Be3 Bf5 29.e6 Rf6 30.Bd4 Rg6 31.a3 h4 32.Re3 Bh6 33.R3e2 h3 34.Bf1 Be4 35.Rxe4 dxe4
36.Rxe4 Bg7 37.Bd3 Kh8 38.f4 Rd8 39.Kf2 Rd6 40.f5 Rg5 41.Rf4 Bxd4+ 42.cxd4 Kg7 43.Be2 Kf6
44.Bxg4 Rd8 45.Ke3 Rdg8 46.Bf3 Rxf5 47.Bxc6 Rxf4 48.Kxf4 Kxe6 49.Bxb5 Kd5 50.Bxa4 Ra8
51.Bd7 Rxa3 52.Bxh3 Ra2 53.Bg4 Rxh2 54.Ke3 Rb2 55.Bf3+ Ke6 56.Be4 Rxb4 57.Bf3 Kf5 58.g4+
Kf6 59.Be2 Kg5 60.Ke4 Rb6 61.Ke3 Rf6 62.Ke4 Rc6 63.Ke3 Rc1 64.Kf3 Rc3+ 65.Ke4 Ra3 66.Bf3
Ra4 67.Be2 Ra1 68.Ke3 Kh4 69.Kf4 Ra2 70.Bf3 Ra6 71.g5 Ra5 72.g6 Rg5 73.Be4 Kh5 74.Bf5 Rg1
75.Ke5 Re1+ 76.Be4 Kh6 77.Kf5 Kg7 78.Ke5 Ra1 79.Ke6 Kf8 80.Ke5 Re1 81.Kf5 Ke8 82.Bd5 Rf1+
83.Ke5 Rg1 84.Be4 Re1 85.Kf5 Kd8 86.Bd5 Rg1 87.Be4 Kd7 88.Ke5 Re1 89.Kd5 Ra1 90.Ke5 Ke8
91.Ke6 Kf8 92.Ke5 Ra4 93.Bf5 Ra5+ 94.Ke6 Rb5 95.Be4 Rb2 96.Ke5 Re2 97.Kf5 e6+ 98.Ke5 Ke7
99.d5 exd5 100.Kxd5 Kf6 101.Kd4 Ra2 102.Bd3 Ra4+ 103.Kd5 Ra8 104.Kd4 Rd8+ 105.Kc3 Rd7
106.Kc4 Ke5 107.Kc3 Rc7+ 108.Kb2 Kd4 109.Bf5 Re7 110.Kb3 Re2 111.Bc2 Rf2 112.Kb2 Rd2
113.Kb3 Rg2 114.Bf5 Rg5 115.Bc2 Rg3+ 116.Kb4 Rg2 117.Kb3 Rg1 118.Kb4 Ke5 119.Kc3 Kf6
120.Kd4 Kg7 121.Be4 Rg5 122.Bd3 Rh5 123.Be4 Rg5 124.Bd3 Rh5 125.Be4 Rh4 126.Ke5 Rxe4+
127.Kxe4 Kxg6 1/2

1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 d6 7.Bb2 c6 8.Nbd2 a5!?
Game 9
B. Kurajica
Wang Hao
Istanbul Olympiad 2012

58
1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 d6 7.Bb2 c6 8.Nbd2

8...a5!?

Black gains space on the queenside quickly. Interestingly, the a-pawn may contribute to carrying out
...e5.

9.Ne1

White transfers the knight to d3.

a) 9.e3 This allows Black to get counterplay on the queenside. 9...a4
a1) 10.b4 a3 11.Bc1 Ne4=
a2) 10.Qe2 a3 (10...Ne4=) 11.Bc1 e5 and Black gets very active.
a3) 10.c4 Iturrizaga Bonelli,E-Filippov,A, Barcelona 2013 10...Nbd7 I prefer preparing to push the
pawn. (10...e5 11.dxe5 Ng4 [11...Nfd7 12.Ba3] 12.Ba3 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.Rb1 axb3 15.Rxb3
White is somewhat better because of his superior development.) 11.Qc2 (11.bxa4 Qa5= or 11.Ng5
Nb6 12.Qc2 e5 13.dxe5 Ng4 14.Ngf3 Nxe5=) 11...Re8 12.Rad1 (12.e4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 fxe4 14.Qxe4
e5=) 12...e5 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.e4 axb3 15.axb3 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 fxe4 17.Nd2 Nc5 18.Nxe4

59
 18...Qb6 19.Nxc5 Qxc5 20.Rfe1 Bg4=
b) 9.a4 White stops the pawn, but weakens the b4-square. 9...Na6
b1) 10.e3 Qc7 11.Nc4 Loginov,V-Kholmov,R, Volgodonsk 1983 11...Nb4 12.c3 Nbd5=
b2) 10.Nc4
b21) 10...Be6 11.Nfd2 h6 (11...Bf7 12.f3 f4 13.e4 (13.gxf4 Nd5) 13...b5³) 12.e3 g5 13.Qe2 Nb4
Miton,K-Bortnik,A, Wroclaw 2014 14.c3 Nbd5 15.f4²
b22) 10...Nb4 11.Ne1 Be6 12.Nd3 Bd5 13.f3 Qc7 14.Qd2 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 Bf7 16.e3 (16.e4 fxe4
17.fxe4 Nxe4=) 16...b5 17.Nd2 Nd5= Rakhmanov,A-Laznicka,V, Linares 2017.
b3) 10.Ne1 Qc7 (10...Be6 11.Nd3 Bd5 12.f3 Bf7 13.e4 Nb4=) 11.Nd3 Re8 (11...Nb4 12.c4 Nxd3
13.exd3 f4=) 12.e4 Naumann,A-Galyas,M, Eppingen 2014 12...Nb4 13.Re1 fxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4
15.Bxe4 d5 16.Bg2 Bf5=
b4) 10.Re1
b41) 10...Ne4!? is worth considering.
b42) 10...Qc7
b421) 11.e4 fxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Rxe4 Bf5 14.Re2 Nb4 15.h3 (15.c3 Nd5 16.h3 Rad8 17.Qe1
Qb6=)

60
 15...Rad8! Black prepares ...e5 in an interesting way; the rook will stand well on the d-file. 16.Rb1
b4211) 16...e5 17.g4 (17.dxe5 dxe5) 17...Be6 18.Ng5 Bf7 19.dxe5 Bxe5 20.Bxe5 dxe5 21.Qe1²
b4212) 16...b6 17.Ng5 (17.Qf1 d5=) 17...e5 18.dxe5 dxe5 19.Qf1 h6 20.Ne4 Kh7∞
b422) 11.c3 e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.e4 Nyzhnyk,I-Laznicka,V, Arlington 2014 13...Nc5 14.Ba3 Nfxe4
15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Bxf8 Bxf8=
b43) 10...Nb4
b431) 11.c3 Nbd5 12.e3 Qc7 13.Qc2 Bd7 14.Ba3 Alvarez Pedraza,A-Ortiz Suarez,I, Montreal
2017 14...Rac8 15.e4 (15.Rac1 b5=) 15...fxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Bf5=
b432) 11.h3 Ne4 12.Nxe4 fxe4 13.Nd2 d5 14.c3 Na6 15.f3 Qc7 16.Kh2 exf3 17.Nxf3 Bf5=
Ftacnik,L-Kholmov,R, Trencianske Teplice 1979.
c) 9.a3 White dissuades Black from ...a4.
c1) 9...Na6 10.c4
c11) 10.e3 Nc7 11.c4 Bd7 12.Qc2 b5∞
c12) 10.Rb1 Speelman,J-Garcia Ilundain,D, Pula 1997 10...Nc7 11.c4 b5 12.Ne1 Qd7 13.Qc2 Bb7
14.cxb5 Ncd5 15.bxc6 Bxc6 16.Nc4

61
16...Rfb8°
c13) 10.Re1 I think White should one way or another play for e4. 10...Ne4 (10...Nc7 11.c4 a4 12.b4
b5 13.Qc2 Bd7 14.Rac1 Rc8 15.e3 d5 16.c5 Ne6² Black’s position is solid, but somewhat passive.)
11.e3
c131) 11.c4 Ree,H-Ligterink,G, Amsterdam 1980 11...e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 (12...Nxd2 13.Qxd2 dxe5
14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.Bxe5 Nc5²) 13.Nxe4 fxe4 14.Nxe5 Nc5 15.b4 e3 16.f4 Qd2=
c132) 11...Nc7 12.c4

12...Ne8 I like Sax’s manoeuvre. 13.Qc2 N8f6 14.Rac1 Ng4 (14...Bd7) 15.Re2 Bd7 1/2 Kallai,G-
Sax,G, Hungary 1991.

62
 c14) 10...Qc7 11.Qc2 Re8 This helps ...e5 and gets ready for e4 as well. 12.e4 (12.Ng5 e5 13.dxe5
dxe5 14.c5 e4 15.Qc4+ Nd5=) 12...fxe4 13.Nxe4 Kantsler,B-Laznicka,V, Pardubice 2016 13...Bf5
14.Nfd2 (14.Nxf6+ exf6=) 14...Nxe4 15.Bxe4 (15.Nxe4 a4 16.b4 d5=) 15...e6 16.Rfe1 Qf7 17.Rac1
d5=
c2) 9...Qc7 10.Re1 Ne4 The world-class Russian player stops e4. 11.Nxe4
c21) 11.c4 Na6 12.Qc2 (12.e3 Nxd2 13.Qxd2 e5=) 12...Nxd2 13.Qxd2 e5=
c22) 11...fxe4 12.Nd2 d5 13.f3 Qb6 14.fxe4 Bxd4+ 15.Bxd4 Qxd4+ 16.e3 Qc5 17.exd5 cxd5 18.c4
dxc4 19.Nxc4 Bruzon Batista,L-Nepomniachtchi,I, Havana 2015

19...Nc6= Black is very close to equalising and should hold.

9...Na6

9...a4!? would be interesting:

a) 10.c4 e5 11.dxe5 Ng4 12.Qc2 dxe5 (12...Nxe5=) 13.b4 Be6 (13...e4!?) 14.Nd3 Nd7= according to
Malaniuk and Marusenko.
b) 10.Nd3 a3 11.Bc3 (11.Bc1 e5) 11...Nd5 Black’s position offers rich play.

63
10.Nd3 Nb4!?

Black eases the position with this exchange.

11.Nxb4

11.e4 fxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 Bf5=

11...axb4 12.a3

The experienced Grandmaster mainly concentrates on safety.

12...bxa3 13.Rxa3 Rxa3 14.Bxa3 Qa5

14...Be6 15.c4 Qb6 16.e3 Ra8=

15.Bb2 Be6 16.c4 Ra8 17.Qc2 Nd7?!

Instead 17...Qb6 or 17...Qc7 are equal.

18.e4 Qa2 19.exf5

19.Bh3 Bxd4 20.Ra1²

19...Bxf5 20.Qc3 Qa7 21.Ra1 Qb8 22.Rxa8

64
22...Qxa8

The position is even, although they played on for a long time.

23.Qe3 Qa2 24.Bc3 Qc2 25.h3 h5 26.Kh2 Kf8 27.Bf1 c5 28.Be2 cxd4 29.Bxd4 Bxd4 30.Qxd4 Ne5
31.Qe3 Nc6 32.g4 hxg4 33.hxg4 Bd7 34.Ne4 Qb2 35.Kg3 Kg8 36.Ng5 Nd4 37.Bd1 Nc6 38.f4 Kg7
39.Bf3 Qf6 40.Qd2 Nd4 41.b4 b6 42.Qe3 e5 43.Ne4 Qe7 44.fxe5 dxe5 45.Nd2 Qd6 46.c5 bxc5
47.Ne4 Qe7 48.Nxc5 Bb5 49.Bd1 Qd6 50.Kf2 Bc6 51.Nd3 e4 52.Qf4 Qd8 53.Ne5 Bd5 54.Ke3 Nb5
55.Kf2 Nc3 56.Ke1 Be6 57.Bc2 Qd4 58.Nc6 Qc4 59.Qe5+ Kh7 60.Qh2+ Kg8 61.Qb8+ Kg7
62.Qe5+ Kh7 63.Qh2+ Kg8 64.Qb8+ Kh7 65.Qh2+ 1/2

65
CHAPTER 2.
WHITE PLAYS 2.G3 WITHOUT NF3

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.e3 Bg7 5.c4 0-0 6.Nc3 d6 7.Nge2 c6 and 7...e5
Game 10
Branko Damljanovic
Mihail Kobalia
European Cup, Bugojno 1999

1.d4 f5 2.g3

White develops the bishop first, but here we will look at the variations where White deviates from the
main lines.

2...Nf6 3.Bg2 g6

4.e3

White intends to develop the knight to e2.

4...Bg7 5.c4

White starts gaining space and the position may transpose — or become very similar to — a 1.c4 e5
English opening.

5...0-0 6.Nc3 d6 7.Nge2

66
The knight on e2 leaves the long diagonal open, keeping the bishop strong and allowing White to defend
with f4 if Black were to attack too ferociously. But, it should be noted, the knight has no effect on e5.

7...c6

Black shows at once what to do with the c-pawn.

7...e5 Black can also push the e5-pawn immediately.
a) 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Qxd8 This exchange is harmless. 9...Rxd8 10.e4 This stops Black’s own ...e4, but
does no harm to Black’s centre. 10...Na6 11.0-0 c6 12.Bg5?! (12.Be3 Ng4 13.Bg5 Bf6=) 12...h6
13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Rad1 Be6µ Usikov,O-Rychagov,A, Orel 1997.
b) 8.0-0 Qe7 (Both 8...Na6 and 8...e4 are also fine for Black.) 9.Rb1 e4 10.b4 g5?! (10...Be6 11.d5
[11.Qc2 c6=] 11...Bf7³) 11.Qb3 (11.f3²) 11...Qf7 12.f3 exf3 13.Bxf3 Nc6 14.Nd5 Kh8 Dragicevic,D-
Swiercz,D, Gaziantep 2008 15.Bd2²
c) 8.b3 White wants to develop the bishop before castling. 8...Nbd7 (8...e4 9.f3 exf3 10.Bxf3 c6=)
9.Qc2 Re8 10.Bb2 a6 Black considers playing for ...b5. (10...e4=) 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.Bxd5+ Kh8
13.Bg2 Nf6 14.Rd1 e4 15.Nf4 b5 16.h4 bxc4 17.Qxc4 d5 18.Qc2 Bf8= Slobodjan,R-Conquest,S,
Varadero 2000.
d) 8.b4 White gains space on the queenside at once.
d1) 8...e4 Black can choose when to push the pawn, but at some point it should be done, so this is
probably the simplest, and Black can choose what to do with his pieces later. 9.Qb3 Be6 The c4-pawn
can become a target in this variation. 10.0-0 Bf7 (10...c6!?) 11.f3 d5 (11...exf3 12.Bxf3 c6³) 12.Qb1
Nc6 13.b5 Na5 (13...Ne7³) 14.cxd5 exf3 15.Bxf3 Nxd5 16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Qb4 Bxf3 18.Rxf3 Qd5
19.Rf2 Nc4= and Black’s position was healthy in Korchnoi,V-Timman,J, Leeuwarden 1976.
d2) 8...Re8 9.0-0 Nbd7 (9...e4 10.a4 Be6=) 10.Qb3 Kh8 11.a4 e4 (11...a5 12.b5 e4=)

67
 12.a5!? White space is becoming unpleasant. 12...Nf8 13.b5 (13.h4 h6) 13...Ne6 14.Nf4 Ng5 15.Qd1
I probably had too much respect for Vladimir. (15.h4 Nf3+ 16.Bxf3 exf3 17.Nb1 Ne4 18.Nd2±)
15...a6 16.Bd2 Qd7 17.h4 Ne6 18.Nfd5 Qf7 19.Nxf6 Bxf6 20.Nd5² Karolyi,T-Malaniuk,V, Lvov
1988.

8.b3 e5 9.0-0

9...e4

9...Na6 Ribli considers this move more flexible.

a) 10.Ba3 e4 11.b4 Nc7 12.d5 cxd5 13.cxd5 b5 (13...Ng4!?) 14.Nd4 Bb7 15.Ne6 Nxe6 16.dxe6 a6
17.Qb3 Qe7 18.Bb2 Nikolic,Z-Mozetic,D, Novi Sad 1995 18...Bc8³
b) 10.Bb2 Qe7 11.Qd2 Re8 12.Rfe1 e4 13.a3 Nc7 14.b4 (14.a4!?) 14...Qf7 Black attacks White’s soft
point. 15.c5 d5 (15...dxc5 16.bxc5 Be6³) 16.a4 g5 17.b5 Bh6 Black’s play is getting menacing. 18.Kh1
Qh5 19.Ng1?? (19.Kg1=)

68
 19...f4 0–1 Rice,C-Ehlvest,J, Port Erin 1998.
c) 10.dxe5 White plays directly for the draw. 10...dxe5 11.Ba3 Qxd1 12.Raxd1 Re8 13.e4 Bf8 14.Bxf8
Kxf8 15.Nc1 Nc5 16.Nd3 Nxd3 17.Rxd3 fxe4 18.Nxe4 Bf5 19.Re1 Bxe4 20.Bxe4 Rad8= Bakre,T-
Neverov,V, Rethymno 2009.

10.d5

a) 10.Ba3 a5 This holds back White’s ideas of gaining space. 11.Qd2 Na6 12.f3 exf3 13.Bxf3 Re8
14.Rae1 Nc7 (14...Nb4!?) 15.Nf4 Ne4 16.Nxe4 fxe4 17.Bg2 d5 18.cxd5= Kharlov,A-Dubinsky,R,
Moscow 1998.
b) 10.Bb2 Be6 11.Qc2 Bf7 12.Rad1?! Na6 13.f3 exf3 14.Bxf3 Qe7 15.Bc1?! d5 16.c5?

69
 16...Ng4 Resignation looks premature, but Black is already better, 0–1 Bjarnason,S-Watson,W,
Reykjavik 1989.
c) 10.f3 exf3 11.Bxf3 Re8 12.Qd3 Na6 13.Bd2 Nc7 14.Rae1 d5! This strengthens Black’s presence in
the centre, 15.Nf4 Be6 (15...b6 with ...Ba6 looks even stronger.) 16.Nxe6 Rxe6 17.Bg2 Qd7 18.Ne2
Rae8= Kovalyov,A-Felgaer,R, Berazategui 2007.

10...c5

Black closes the centre, but 10...Na6= would also be fine.

11.Qc2!?

70
11.Bb2 Qe7 12.Nf4 g5 13.Ne6 Bxe6 14.dxe6 Spraggett,G-Barbeau,S, Quebec 1989 14...Qxe6=

11...Nbd7 12.f3 exf3

12...Ne5 13.fxe4 (13.f4 Nd3³) 13...fxe4 14.Nf4 Qe7³

13.Bxf3

13...Ne5

The knight has a great outpost, the backward e3-pawn is vulnerable, and therefore Black has an edge.

14.Bg2 g5

14...Re8 15.h3 Nf7³

15.Bd2 Bd7 16.h3

16.Rae1!?

16...Qe8

16...Ne4 17.Nxe4 fxe4 18.Rxf8+ (18.Qxe4 Nf3+! 19.Bxf3 Bf5µ) 18...Qxf8 19.Rf1 Nf3+³

17.Rae1 Qg6

17...Qh5 18.Nb5 Bxb5 19.cxb5 Ne4³

18.a4 Ne4 19.Bc1

71
19...Rae8µ

Black is clearly better, but later he went wrong and lost.

20.Bb2 a6 21.Nxe4 fxe4 22.Bxe5 Bxe5 23.Bxe4 Qh5 24.Bf5 Bxf5 25.Rxf5 Qxh3 26.Rxg5+ Kh8
27.Nf4 Qd7 28.Qh2 Bxf4 29.gxf4 Rf6 30.Kf2 Qf7 31.Reg1 Qe7 32.Qg3 Rg6 33.Rxg6 hxg6 34.f5 Qh7
35.Qxg6 Qh2+ 36.Rg2 Qh4+ 37.Qg3 Qxg3+ 38.Rxg3 Re5 39.Rg5 b5 40.axb5 axb5 41.Kf3 bxc4
42.bxc4 1–0

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.h4 Bg7

Game 11
Oleg Romanishin
Andrei Volokitin
Baku 2014

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6

72
4.h4

This pawn may further the attack, but can also be used to help preserve the f4–outpost for his knight.

4...Bg7 5.Nh3

5.h5 Nxh5 6.e4 fxe4 7.Rxh5 The exchange sacrifice is dangerous, but if Black takes it seriously it gives
no more than equality. 7...gxh5 8.Qxh5+ Kf8 9.Bh6 e6 (9...d5 10.Bxg7+ Kxg7 11.Qg5+ Kf7 12.Qh5+
Kg7 13.Qg5+= White has a perpetual.) 10.Bxg7+ Kxg7 11.Qg4+ Kf8 12.Qf4+ Ke8= I think the
position is balanced.

5...d6

5...Nc6 Black can try to carry out ...e5 with the help of the knight.
a) 6.c3 e5 7.d5 Ne7 8.d6 (8.c4 d6 9.Ng5 h6 10.Ne6 Bxe6 11.dxe6 Qc8=) 8...cxd6 9.Qxd6 Ne4
10.Bxe4 fxe4 11.Ng5

73
 11...a5!= This prepares ...Ra6.
b) 6.Nf4 e5 7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.Nc3 c6 9.h5 d5 10.Be3 Porat,M-Caspi,I, Israel 2012 10...Ne4 (10...Neg4
11.Bd4 g5=) 11.Bd4 Qd6=

6.Nc3

a) 6.d5 c6 Black gets rid of the pawn quickly. 7.c4 e5 (7...Nbd7 8.0-0 [8.dxc6 bxc6 9.Bxc6 Rb8°]
8...Ne5∞) 8.dxe6 Bxe6 9.Nd2 Nbd7 10.Nf4 Bf7 11.Qc2 Ne5 12.b3 Nfg4 13.Bb2 Jardim,D-Molina,R,
Pocos de Caldas 2017 13...Qe7=
b) 6.c3
b1) 6...Nc6!
b11) 7.Qb3 e5
b12) 7.Na3 e5! 8.Bxc6+ (8.0-0 Qe7=) 8...bxc6 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.Nc4 Re8 Volokitin
considers this endgame even.
b13) 7.d5 Ne5 8.Nd2 c6 Black undermines White’s centre. 9.dxc6 bxc6!? (9...Nxc6 10.Nf4 d5=)
10.f4 Neg4 11.Bxc6+ Bd7 12.Bxa8

74
 12...Qxa8 Black has compensation for the exchange according to Volokitin.
b2) 6...c6
b21) 7.Nd2
b211) 7...Na6 8.Qb3 Knaak,R-Zysk,R, Germany 1993 8...Qb6 9.Nf4 Nc7=
b212) 7...e5 8.Nc4 (8.Qb3 e4 9.Nf1 d5= or 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.e4 Nxe4=) 8...Be6 9.dxe5 (9.b3 0-0=)
9...Bxc4 10.exf6 Bxf6 11.Bf4 d5 12.Qd2 Nd7 13.Bg5 Qe7 14.b3 Ba6 15.0-0 Knaak,R-Illner,A,
Germany 1993 15...0-0-0=
b213) 7...0-0 8.Qb3+ Kh8 9.Nf3 Qe8 10.Nhg5 Na6 11.Bf4 h6=

12.Ne6?? Bxe6 13.Qxe6 Nd5–+ Fradkin,B-Dautov,R, Sverdlovsk 1989.

75
 b22) 7.Qb3! e5 (7...Qb6 8.Nd2 Na6 9.Nc4 Qxb3 10.axb3 Nc7= Volokitin judges this slightly better
for White, but I think it is closer to equal.) 8.dxe5 (8.Na3 exd4! 9.cxd4 d5= Black can live with
White’s e5–outpost.) 8...dxe5 9.Be3 Qe7 10.Ng5 Kamsky,G-Potapov,P, Sochi 2015 (10.Nd2 Be6=)
10...Na6³

6...c6

6...Nc6
a) 7.Bg5
a1) 7...Ng4 8.f3 h6 (8...Nh6 9.Qd2 Nf7 10.Be3 e5 11.d5 Na5 12.b3 h6 13.0-0-0 c5²) 9.fxg4 hxg5
10.Nxg5 Nxd4∞
a2) 7...h6 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.Nf4 Kf7 10.h5 g5 11.Ng6 Re8 12.e3 e5=
b) 7.d5 Ne5 8.Nf4 Martinez Torres,F-Gual Pascual,A, Sant Boi 2000 8...c6 9.h5 Bd7=

7.d5

7.Ng5 Cifuentes Parada,R-Garza Marco,S, Zaragoza 2017 7...h6 8.Nh3 e5 9.d5 c5³

7...e5 8.dxe6 Bxe6 9.Ng5

9.e4?! fxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 Bxh3 12.Rxh3 0-0³ Volokitin.

9...Qe7?

9...Bc8! 10.e4 (10.Bf4 d5 or 10.Be3 d5 11.Qd2 Qe7 12.Bd4 Nbd7=) 10...h6!? 11.exf5 Qe7+
(11...Bxf5=) 12.Kd2 Ng4 13.Re1 Be5∞

76
10.0-0?

10.Nb5!! Bd5 11.Bf4! Bxg2 12.Nxd6+ Kf8 13.Nxf5! gxf5 14.Bd6± Black’s pieces are disconnected.

10...d5

Black’s firm pawn structure, which gives a small space advantage, compensates for the passive e6-
bishop and the bishop pair.

11.b3

11.Be3 Nbd7 12.Bd4 0-0=

11...Bd7!

11...Bg8 12.Re1!? Ng4 (12...Ne4 13.Ngxe4 fxe4 14.Bg5„ Volokitin) 13.Bb2

a) 13...Nxf2 14.Kxf2 Qc5+ 15.e3 Bxc3 16.Bxc3 Qxc3 17.Qd4 Qxd4 18.exd4+ Kd8=
b) 13...Qc5 14.e4 Qxf2+ 15.Kh1 Bxc3 16.Bxc3 Qxg3 17.exd5+ Kf8 18.Bb4+ Kg7 19.Qd4+ Kh6
20.Nf3 Bxd5=

12.Be3

12.Re1? Ng4! 13.Bb2 Qc5!–+

12...Na6 13.Bd4 h6

On 13...Nc5 14.e3 Ne6 or 14...Nce4 would be equal.

77
14.Nf3

14.Nh3 g5! 15.hxg5 hxg5 16.Nxg5 Ne4! 17.Ngxe4 fxe4 18.Nxd5! cxd5 19.Bxg7 Qxg7 20.Qxd5 0-0-0³

14...g5?

14...Ne4!µ 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Bxg7 Qxg7 17.Qd4 Qxd4 18.Nxd4 c5!–+ Volokitin.

15.Ne5! Rg8

15...Rh7 16.b4 Ne4 17.Nxe4 Bxe5 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.Nd2 Qe7=

16.hxg5

16.Nxd7! Qxd7 (16...Nxd7 17.Nxd5! cxd5 18.Bxd5) 17.hxg5 hxg5 18.Qd2 Ne4 19.Nxe4 dxe4=

16...hxg5 17.b4

17.Nxd7 Nxd7 18.Nxd5 cxd5 19.Bxd5 Rh8! 20.Bxb7 Rd8³ 21.Bxg7 Qxg7 22.Qd5 Nac5 23.Kg2 Qe5³

17...Ne4! 18.Nxe4 Bxe5 19.Bxe5 Qxe5

78
20.Nd2!

The position is balanced. Later the game became very exciting, although neither player was able to prove
an edge, but close to time-trouble a bad blunder decided the outcome of the game in Black’s favour.

20...f4 21.b5 cxb5 22.Nf3 Qd6 23.Qd4 0-0-0 24.Ne5 Be8 25.Rfd1 Nc7 26.c4 bxc4 27.Nxc4 Qa6
28.Rac1 Ba4 29.Rd2 fxg3 30.fxg3 dxc4 31.Bh3+ g4 32.Bxg4+ Bd7 33.Bxd7+ Kb8 34.g4 Qh6 35.Rxc4
Rh8 36.Qd6 Qe3+ 37.Kg2 Qh3+ 38.Kf2 Rxd7 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nc3 d5

Game 12
Alexander Beliavsky
Vassily Ivanchuk
Linares 1995

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6

79
4.Nc3 d5

Of course Black could allow White to play e4, but stopping it is the principled response. Some people
who start with an early ...d6 are even ready to play this in two moves.

5.Bg5

5.Bf4 c6 It is not clear whether White threatens Nb5 and c4 or not, but this move-order makes sure it
can’t be played. 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.0-0 0-0 (7...Nbd7 8.e3 Ne4=) 8.Na4 Ne4 9.Be5 Bf6 (9...Nd7 10.Bxg7
Kxg7 11.b3 Re8=) 10.b3 Be6 11.Rc1 b5 (11...Nd7=) 12.Nc5 Bf7 13.c4 dxc4 14.bxc4 Nxc5 15.dxc5
Bxc4 16.Qc2 Bd5= Enders,P-Yrjola,J, Eger 1987.

5...c6

5...e6 Black can play for ...c5 and gaining space on the queenside. 6.Qd2 (6.Nb5 Bg7 7.Bf4 Na6 8.Nf3
[8.c4 dxc4=] 8...Ne4 9.e3 c6=) 6...h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.f3 Bg7 9.Rd1 (9.0-0-0=) 9...Nc6 10.e3 Bd7
11.Nge2 0-0-0 12.Nf4 Kb8 13.0-0 h5 14.b4 h4 15.b5 Ne7 16.a4 g5µ Sahu,S-Vasiukov,E, New Delhi
1987.

6.f3?!

a) 6.Qd2 Nbd7 7.Nh3 (7.Bh6 Bxh6 8.Qxh6 e5∞) 7...Bg7 Black is ready to play ...e5. 8.Bh6 (8.Nf4
Nb6 9.b3 Ne4=) 8...Bxh6 9.Qxh6 e5 10.0-0-0 Ng4 11.Qd2 0-0 12.f3 Ngf6 13.e3 (13.e4?! exd4
14.Qxd4 c5=) 13...Qe7?! (13...e4!³) 14.e4! fxe4 15.fxe4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4! (16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.d5 Qc5!=)
16...dxe4 17.d5 Atalik,S-Onischuk,A, Las Vegas 2001

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17...Nb6 18.d6 Qf6 19.Ng5 (19.Nxe4 Qe6 20.Nhg5 Qxa2°) 19...e3 20.Qxe3 Nc4=
b) 6.Bxf6 exf6 7.e3 Bd6
b1) 7...Be6 8.Nge2 Nd7 9.Nb1 Bd6 (9...Nb6 The standard plan can be played here as well. 10.Nd2
Nc8 11.Nf4 Bf7 12.0-0 Bh6!? [12...Nd6 13.c4∞] 13.Rc1 Nd6=) 10.Nd2 Qe7 11.Rc1 Nb6 12.b3 Ba3
13.Rb1 a5 14.0-0 h5 15.c4 h4 16.Nf4 hxg3 17.fxg3 Bf7 18.Qe2 g5= Wessman,R-Gausel,E, Reykjavik
1990.
b2) 8.Nge2 0-0 9.0-0 Be6 10.f3 Na6 11.Qd2 Nc7 This is not the final destination of the knight.
12.Rae1 Qd7 13.Nd1 Rae8 14.Nf2 Bf7! 15.a3

15...Ne6! The knight still wants to get to e4. 16.c3 Ng5 17.h4 Ne6 18.e4 Nogueiras Santiago,J-
Gurevich,M, Madrid 1988 18...dxe4 19.fxe4 Ng7µ

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6...Qb6

Ivanchuk plays an ambitious idea. With 6...Bg7 Black could instead just develop. 7.Nh3 Nbd7 8.Nf4
Kf7 (8...Nb6 9.b3 Qd6=) 9.Nd3 Re8=

7.e4

7.Na4 Qa5+ 8.c3 Bg7=

7...fxe4

7...Qxb2 8.Nge2 fxe4 9.fxe4 Nxe4 10.Nxe4 dxe4 11.0-0°

8.fxe4 dxe4 9.Nge2

9.Bxf6? exf6 10.Nxe4 f5 11.Nf6+? Kf7–+ or 9.Nxe4 Nbd7 10.Qe2 (10.Nf2 Qxb2) 10...Nxe4 11.Qxe4
Qxb2³

9...Bf5

Black hangs on to the pawn.

10.h3

10.Qd2 Nbd7 11.0-0-0 h6=

10...Nbd7 11.Qd2

11.g4 Be6 12.Nxe4 0-0-0³

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11...0-0-0

The king is safe on the kingside and the rook may find play on the d-file. 11...Qxb2 Black can take the
pawn as well. 12.Rb1 Qa3 13.Rxb7 Qa6 14.Rb1 Bg7=

12.0-0-0

If 12.0-0 h5 13.Na4 Qc7 is equal, but I think 12.g4!? is the most testing move here, although Black can
still equalise with 12...Be6 13.0-0-0 Qa5 14.a3 Nb6

12...Ne5

Ivanchuk improves the knight immediately. Black can also stop White from pushing the g-pawn: 12...h5
13.Na4 (13.Rhf1 Ne5³) 13...Qa6 14.Nec3 Bg7 15.Kb1 Kb8 16.Rhe1 Ka8 17.b3 Nb6³

13.Na4 Qa6 14.Nec3

14.Nc5? Qxa2 15.Qb4 b6 16.Nc3 Qa1+ 17.Kd2 bxc5–+

14...Nf7

I suggest 14...h5!? trying to stop g4. 15.Qf2 (15.g4 hxg4 16.Qf4 Nf3³) 15...Nf7 16.Nc5 Qb6 17.N3a4
Qc7 18.Bf4 Nd6=

15.Nc5

15.g4!? Nxg5 16.Qxg5 h5 17.Qh4! g5 (17...Bd7²) 18.Qg3²

15...Qb6

83
15...Qc4 16.g4 Nxg5 17.Qxg5 Rxd4=

16.Kb1

Let’s see White’s other moves: If 16.Be3 Nd6³ or 16.N3xe4 Bxe4 17.Nxe4 (17.Bxe4? Qxc5 18.Bxf6
Qc4µ) 17...Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Nxg5 19.Qxg5 Rxd4³. I think White’s best is 16.g4! Nxg5 17.Qxg5 h5
18.Qh4 Bd7²

16...Nxg5

Obtaining the two bishops is an accomplishment.

17.Qxg5 h5 18.Bxe4

18.N3xe4 Bh6 19.Qh4 Be3–+ or 18.Qf4 Bg7 (18...Bh6 19.Qe5 Qc7³) 19.N3xe4 e5 20.dxe5 Nd5µ

18...Nxe4 19.N3xe4 Bh6

19...Qc7 20.Rhf1 Bh6³

20.Qxe7

On Ftacnik’s 20.Qh4!? Black equalises with 20...Be3.

84
20...Qc7

Black’s chances are better; he soon obtained a winning position and brought home the full point.

21.Qxc7+ Kxc7 22.Nc3 Be3 23.Rde1 Rde8! 24.Nb3 Bf2 25.Rxe8 Rxe8 26.g4 hxg4 27.hxg4 Bxg4
28.Rh7+ Kd6 29.a4 Re7 30.Rh2 Be3 31.a5 Bf5 32.Ne2 Kd5! 33.Nc3+ Kc4 34.Re2 Bg5 35.Rg2 Bf4
36.Ka2 g5 37.Rf2 b6 38.Ka3† 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nd2 Bg7 5.c3 and 5.Nh3

Game 13
Slavisa Peric
Vladimir Malaniuk
Cannes 2014

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6

85
4.Nd2

White gets ready to carry out e4, or he might take the knight to c4 to make it harder for Black to carry
out ...e5.

4...Bg7 5.c3

White keeps the e4-push in the air.

5.Nh3 Nc6 This move allows Black to play for ...e5 or choose the Stonewall setup. 6.Nf3
a) 6...d6 7.d5 Nb4 8.Nf4 c6
a1) 9.Nd4 Qb6 10.Nfe6 (10.Nde6 Bh6 11.c4 Bxe6 12.Nxe6 Bxc1 13.Rxc1 Nxa2=) 10...Kf7 11.c4
(11.Nxg7 Qxd4) 11...cxd5 12.cxd5 h6=
a2) 9.dxc6 This is the more testing continuation. 9...Nxc6 10.Ng5 Bh6 11.Nge6 (11.Nd5 Bg7
12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.Bd5 h6 14.Nf7 Qa5+=) 11...Bxe6 12.Nxe6 Qa5+ 13.c3 Bxc1 14.Rxc1 Rc8=
b) 6...d5 7.Nf4 e6 8.h4 (8.Nd3 a5 9.Bf4 b6 10.a4 Ba6 11.h4 Qe7=) 8...Ne4 9.c3 Qe7 10.Nd3
Bykhovsky,A-Caspi,I, Israel 2015 10...b6 11.Bg5 Nxg5 12.hxg5 Bb7=

5...Nc6

Black will be able to play ...d6 and ...e5, or ...e5, but also the Stonewall formation.
5...c6 This move neutralises the g2-bishop and allows him to take up a few different pawn formations.
a) 6.e4 fxe4 7.Nxe4 Nxe4 8.Bxe4 0-0!? 9.f4 This move renders White’s position static. (9.Qc2 d5
10.Bd3 Nd7 11.Be3 [11.f4 c5³] 11...e5³) 9...d5 10.Bg2 Nd7 (10...Qd6 11.Nf3 Bf5 12.0-0 Nd7 13.Qe2
c5=) 11.Nf3 Kozul,Z-Babu,N, Ubeda 1996 11...Nf6 12.0-0 Bf5 13.Re1 Ne4=

86
b) 6.Nh3 Na6 (6...d6! Playing for ...e5 looks simpler. 7.Nf3 h6 8.Nf4 g5=) 7.Nf4 d6 8.Nd3 0-0 9.0-0
Kh8 10.Re1 Nc7 11.e4 fxe4 12.Nxe4

12...Bg4 This bishop move makes it hard for White to play against the backward e-pawn. 13.Qb3 Nxe4
14.Bxe4 Rb8 15.Bg5 Eingorn,V-Malaniuk,V, Graz 1999 15...Ne6 16.Be3 Qd7=
c) 6.Qb3 Qb6
c1) 7.Nc4 Qxb3 A big question here is whether or not this exchange leads to complete equality: I
think Black should be ok. 8.axb3 Na6 9.Nf3 d6 10.0-0 Mack,W-Klamp,C, Hamburg 2005 10...Nc7
11.Ne1 Be6 12.f3 Nfd5 13.e4 Nb6 14.Na5 0-0-0=
c2) 7.Ngf3 d5 Black’s pawn chain is solid. 8.Ne5 Be6 9.Ndf3 Nbd7 10.Bf4

87
 10...Nxe5 In the next 8 moves a lot of pieces will be exchanged, all easing Black’s position. 11.Bxe5
h6 12.0-0 0-0 13.Rad1 Bf7 14.Ne1 Rfe8 15.Nd3 Nd7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.f4 a5 18.Qxb6 Nxb6=
Petran,P-Malaniuk,V, Rotterdam 1988.

6.Nh3

a) 6.b4 d5 7.Ngf3 Ne4 8.Qb3 a6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Ne5 1/2 Khenkin,I-Bartel,M, Germany 2008 10...Nxe5
11.dxe5 c6=
b) 6.Ngf3 0-0 7.0-0 d5 8.Nb3 Ne4 Black’s pieces have a strong enough grip on the centre. 9.Bf4 e6
10.Qc1 (10.Nc1 g5=) 10...a5 11.a4 Qe7 (11...b6!?) 12.Ne5 (12.Qe3 Nd8 13.Rfc1 Nf7 14.h4 c5=)
12...Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Bxe5 14.dxe5 b6 15.Nd2 Ba6 16.Re1 Rad8 17.Nb3 c5 Gruskovnjak,T-
Kovacevic,B, Ljubljana 2004.
c) 6.Qb3 a5 7.a4 d5
c1) 8.Ndf3 e6 9.Nh3 Ne4 Black postpones castling, preferring to develop the minor pieces quickly.
10.Nf4 Qe7 11.h4 b6 12.Ng5 Nxg5 13.hxg5 Ba6=
c2) 8.Nh3 e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.0-0 Qe7 11.Nf3 Nc4 12.Nf4 c6 13.h4 Ne4 14.Qc2 0-0 15.Nd4 Qf7
16.b3 Ne5 17.Ba3 Re8 18.Rad1 b6³ Marszalek,M-Malaniuk,V, Krakow 2006.
d) 6.Ndf3 e6 7.Nh3 d6 Black is about to carry out ...e5.
d1) 8.0-0 0-0 (8...e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Qb3 Qe7=) 9.Nf4 e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Qb3+ Kh8 12.Ne6 Bxe6
13.Qxe6 e4 14.Ng5 Qe8 15.Qb3 Na5 16.Qc2 h6 17.Nh3

17...g5³ Hebden,M-Tseitlin,M, Hastings 1995.

d2) 8.Nf4 Qe7 (8...e5=) 9.d5 exd5 10.Nxd5 Nxd5 11.Qxd5 Ne5 12.0-0 c6 13.Qd2 0-0 14.b3 d5
15.a4 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Qe5 17.Ba3 Re8 18.c4 dxc4 19.bxc4 Be6= Landa,K-Berelowitsch,A, Belgium
2012.

88
6...d6

6...0-0 A logical decision as well, since there is no queen on b3.

a) 7.0-0 Kh8 8.Nf3 Qe8 9.d5 (9.Nf4 d6 10.d5 Nd8 11.Nd4 c6 12.c4 e5=) 9...Nd8 10.Nd4 c6 11.c4 e5
12.Nc2 cxd5 13.cxd5 d6 14.f4 Nf7 15.Nf2 b6 16.Bd2 Bb7 17.Bc3 Rc8³ Hebden,M-Conquest,S,
London 1993.
b) 7.Nf3
b1) 7...d5 8.Nf4 Ne4 9.Nd3 a5 10.h4 e6 11.Bf4 b6=
b2) 7...Qe8!? 8.0-0 (8.d5 Nd8) 8...d6 9.d5 Nd8 10.Re1 e5=
b3) 7...d6 This move is suspicious, but I wanted to have a complicated game. 8.d5 Ne5 9.Nd4! c5!
10.dxc6 Nxc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Bxc6 Rb8 Black’s pieces have free play for the pawn. 13.Nf4 e5
14.Nd5 f4 Black hurries with his play.
b31) 15.Nxf6+ Qxf6 16.0-0 Bh3 17.Bg2 Bxg2 18.Kxg2

18...Qe6!° Khenkin,I-Bartel,M, Novi Sad 2009.

b32) 15.gxf4 Kh8 A nice prophylactic move. 16.h4 Nxd5 17.Bxd5 exf4 18.Kf1 Qe7 19.f3
Khenkin,I-Markgraf,A, Germany 2011 19...Be5³

7.d5

7.Qb3 e5 (7...d5 8.Nf4 e6 is also playable.) 8.0-0 exd4 (8...e4!?) 9.e4 dxe3 10.Re1 Ne7 11.Rxe3 d5=

7...Ne5 8.0-0

8.Nf4 c6

89
8...c6!?

This time Black can play it with no pawn sacrifice. Getting rid of the d5-pawn solves Black’s problem.

9.Nf4 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 cxd5 11.Bxd5 e6 12.Bg2 0-0

12...d5=

13.Nf3

13...Nf7

90
Malaniuk wants to preserve the knight, in order to keep the position more complex. Alternatively, he has
13...d5=

14.Qb3 Qe7 15.h4 h6

Black starts pushing his pawns.

16.a4 e5 17.Ne1 e4 18.Nc2

18...Be6

The position was even, but Black soon took over and went on to win.

19.Qa3 Ne5 20.b3 Rac8 21.c4 Qf7 22.Rb1 d5 23.cxd5 Rxc2 24.dxe6 Qxe6 25.Re1 Ng4 26.Bf4 Qb6
27.e3 Nxf2 28.b4 Qe6 29.Rf1 Nd3 30.b5 Rc3 31.Qd6 Qxd6 32.Bxd6 Rd8 33.Bb4 0–1

91
1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nd2 Bg7 5.e4 fxe4 6.Nxe4 Nxe4 7.Bxe4 d5 and 7...0-0
Game 14
O. Girya
S. Vidit
Tata Steel, Wijk aan Zee 2018

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nd2 Bg7

5.e4

White carries this move out quickly; it forces Black to act promptly.

5...fxe4 6.Nxe4 Nxe4 7.Bxe4 d5

Black wins the big tempo at once.

7...0-0 8.Ne2 d5 9.Bg2 c6
a) 10.h4 Bg4 11.Bf4 Nd7 12.f3 Dambrauskas,V-Cmilyte,V, Siauliai 2005 12...e5 13.Bg5 Qb6 14.fxg4
exd4°
b) 10.0-0 Bf5 Black doesn’t hurry with ...e5, but instead develops. 11.Re1 Nd7 12.Bg5 h6 13.Be3 e5
14.Rc1 Kh7 15.b3 Qa5 16.h3 Rae8 17.c3 g5= Strating,S-Reinderman,D, Netherlands 2004.

8.Bg2 Nc6

92
9.Ne2

White sometimes has to defend the d4-pawn, but whatever White chooses, Black can play very actively.
9.c3 e5!! Black sacrifices a pawn based on speedy development.
a) 10.Be3 exd4 11.cxd4 0-0 12.Ne2 Bg4 13.Qb3 Bxe2 14.Qxd5+ Kh8 15.Qxd8 Raxd8 16.Bxc6 Ba6
17.Be4 Bxd4³ Arkell,K-Pruijssers,R, chess.com 2017.
b) 10.dxe5 Nxe5
b1) 11.Qxd5 Qxd5 12.Bxd5 Nd3+ 13.Ke2 Belichev,N-Zakharov,V, Kharkov 1998 13...Bf5³
b2) 11.Nf3 Bg4 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3

93
13...c6 Black can afford to play against the bishop pair as well. (13...Nxf3+ 14.Qxf3 Qe7+ 15.Be3 0-
0-0=) 14.Bg2 0-0 15.0-0 Qb6 16.b3 Qc5 17.Bb2 Rf7 18.a4 a5= Summermatter,D-Vyzmanavin,A
Bern 1993.
b3) 11.f4 Bg4! Black continues with fluent chess.
b31) 12.Qa4+ Bd7 13.Qd1 Nc6 14.Bxd5 Qe7+ 15.Qe2 0-0-0 16.Qxe7 Nxe7 17.Bf3 Jiretorn,E-
Narciso Dublan,M, Barcelona 2011 17...Nf5°
b32) 12.Qd2 Nc4 13.Qxd5 Qe7+ 14.Kf2 (14.Qe4 Qxe4+ 15.Bxe4 0-0-0µ) 14...Be6 (14...Nd6!?
15.Nf3 Ne4+ 16.Kg1 Rd8³) 15.Qe4 (15.Qxb7 0-0 16.Qe4 Rfe8µ) 15...0-0 16.Nf3 Rae8 17.Re1
Qc5+ 18.Be3 Qb5! 19.Re2?? (19.Qc2 Nxe3 20.Rxe3 Bxa2=)

19...Nxe3! 0–1 Paehtz,T-Arkhipov,S, Budapest 1987. A nice example of how expensive a mistake

94
 can be in the Dutch defence.
b33) 12.Ne2
b331) 12...Nc6 This older move looks fine as well.
b3311) 13.Qxd5 Qxd5 14.Bxd5 0-0-0 15.h3 Bxe2 16.Bxc6 Bh5 17.g4 bxc6 18.gxh5 Rhe8+ 19.Kf2
Rd3= Agdestein,A-Santo Roman,M, Lyon 1988.
b3312) 13.h3 Be6 14.Be3 Qe7 15.Kf2 Qd7 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 0-0-0 18.Bxg7 Qxg7 19.Qd4
Qxd4+ Petkov,V-Malaniuk,V, Galatzi 2007.
b332) 12...Nd7
b3321) 13.Qxd5? Qe7 14.Qe4 Qxe4 15.Bxe4 Nc5 16.Bc2 0-0-0 17.Kf2 Rhe8 18.Re1 Nd3+µ
Bargan,S-Smirnov,A, Albena 2016.
b3322) 13.h3
b33221) 13...Be6 14.Nd4 (14.0-0 0-0 15.f5 Rxf5 16.Rxf5 gxf5 17.Bxd5²) 14...Bf7 15.Qe2+ Qe7
16.Qxe7+ Kxe7 17.0-0 Khenkin,I-Reinderman,D, Netherlands 2007 17...c6=
b33222) 13...Bf5! 14.Qxd5 (14.0-0 Qe7 15.Nd4 Be4=) 14...c6 15.Qf3 0-0 16.g4 Bc2 (16...Be6
17.0-0 Bc4 18.b3 Bd5=) 17.0-0 Ne5 18.Qg3 Nc4 19.Nd4 Bxd4+ 20.cxd4 Kozul,Z-Danielsen,H,
Yerevan 1996 20...Be4! 21.Bxe4 Qxd4+=

9...Bg4!

Black acts quickly.

10.f3

10.c3 e5 11.h3 Be6 12.dxe5 Nxe5=

95
10...Bf5 11.0-0 Qd6 12.c3 e5

Vidit frees the position at once, although perhaps it can be postponed a bit. 12...0-0-0!? 13.Bf4 (13.f4
h5³) 13...e5=

13.Be3?!

White underestimates Black’s attack. White should bring his knight into play: 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nd4 0-
0-0=

13...0-0-0

Castling long gives Black more of a free hand to attack on the kingside.

14.Qd2 h5! 15.Rae1 h4 16.g4

16...h3

Black has an advantage and went on to win.

17.Bh1 Bd7 18.Rd1 Rde8 19.dxe5 Qxe5 20.Bd4 Nxd4 21.Nxd4 Bxg4 22.Rde1 Qh5 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8
24.fxg4 Qxg4+ 25.Kf2 Qh4+ 26.Kg1 Bh6 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.c3 Nc6, 4...d6 and 4...Bg7

Game 15
Zhou Weiqi
Wang Hao

96
 Danzhou 2011

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6

4.c3

White opens the diagonal for the queen, in order to have play against the b7-pawn.

4...Bg7

a) 4...Nc6 This knight move can be useful for several plans.

a1) 5.Nf3 d6 6.d5 (6.0-0 e5 7.d5 Ne7=) 6...Ne5 7.Nd4 Bg7 (7...Bd7 Black immediately plays for ...c6
and ...Qc8.) 8.f4 Neg4 9.h3 Nh6 10.0-0 Bd7 11.Qd3 Qc8 12.Nd2 c6 13.c4 0-0 14.Rb1 Georgiev,K-
Nijboer,F, Warsaw 2005 14...e5 15.dxe6 Bxe6 16.b3 Rd8=
a2) 5.Nd2 d6 (5...e5 6.dxe5 Nxe5 7.Ndf3 d6=) 6.d5 Ne5 7.Ndf3 Bg7 (7...Nxf3+ 8.Nxf3 Bg7 9.Nd4
Bd7 10.0-0 Qc8=) 8.Nd4 Bd7 9.Nh3 c5 10.Ne6 Bxe6 11.dxe6 Khenkin,I-Nijboer,F, Amsterdam
2005

97
 11...Qc8 12.Qa4+ Nc6 13.Nf4 Rb8 14.h4 b5 15.Qc2 Nd8=
a3) 5.Qb3 d5 6.Nd2 e5 7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.Ngf3 Nf7 (8...Nxf3+ 9.Nxf3 Bg7=) 9.0-0 Bg7 10.c4 d4?!
(10...c6 11.cxd5 Nxd5=) 11.Qa3 Bf8 12.Qd3 (12.b4 a5 13.c5±) 12...c5 13.b4 cxb4 14.a3 (14.e3±)
14...bxa3 15.Bxa3 Bxa3 16.Rxa3 0-0 17.Qxd4² Riazantsev,A-Nepomniachtchi,I, Moscow 2015.
b) 4...d6 In Roiz’ opinion, this move deserves serious attention. Black wants to carry out ...e5 quickly.
5.Qb3 Nc6
b1) 6.Nf3 e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.0-0 Qe7 9.Bg5 Gagunashvili,M-Ernst,S, Groningen 2004 9...h6 10.Bxf6
Qxf6 11.e4 f4 is equal according to Roiz.
b2) 6.Nd2 e5 7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.Ngf3 Nf7 9.Nd4 c6 10.N2f3 d5 11.0-0 Bg7 12.c4 0-0 13.Bf4 dxc4
(13...Qb6°) 14.Qxc4 Nd5 15.Rad1 Qe7 16.Bc1 Bd7= Gabriel,C-Kindermannn,S, Germany 2001.
b3) 6.d5 Ne5 7.Nh3 Bg7 8.Ng5 0-0 9.f4

98
 9...Neg4 (9...Ned7! 10.Ne6 [10.Be3 Ng4!?] 10...Nc5 11.Nxc5 dxc5 12.Be3 e6 13.Bxc5 Re8
14.dxe6³) 10.h3 Nh6 Volokitin,A-Reinderman,D, Wijk aan Zee 2009 11.0-0 a5 12.a4²

5.Qb3

White attacks the b7-pawn without delay. We will look at 5.Nh3 together with 4.Nh3.
a) 5.Bg5 Skatchkov,P-Rychagov,A, St Petersburg 2001 5...Ne4 6.Be3 (6.Bf4 d6 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.d5 e5=)
6...d5 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.h4 e5=
b) 5.h4 White can wait, but can’t hope for an advantage. 5...d6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.b4 a6 8.Bf4 e6 9.Qb3 Qe7
10.Bg5 h6 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Nbd2 e5 13.d5 Nd8= Blackburn,J-Dzhumaev,M, Caerleon 2007.
c) 5.Nd2 Nc6
c1) 6.Nc4 e6 (6...d5 is simpler. 7.Ne5 Nxe5 8.dxe5 Ne4=) 7.Nf3 d6 8.Bf4 h6 9.Qb3 g5 10.Be3 Qe7
11.0-0-0 Hebden,M-Hodgson,J, London 1990 11...a5 12.h4 g4 13.Ne1 a4 14.Qc2 Bd7²
c2) 6.Nh3 d6 Playing for ...e5 also looks fine. 7.Nf3 e6 (7...e5 8.Qb3 Qe7=) 8.Qb3 Qe7 9.0-0 0-0
10.Ne1 Kh8 11.Nd3 e5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Nhf4 c6 14.h4 Ne4 15.Rd1 Ng4 16.Bd2 Nxd2 17.Rxd2
d5= Ruf,M-Kindermann,S, Germany 1994.
c3) 6.b4
c31) 6...a6 7.Qb3 d6 8.d5 Ne5 9.Ngf3 Nxf3+ 10.Nxf3

99
 10...Nxd5! 11.0-0 e6 12.Bb2 0-0 13.Nd4 c6 14.a4 Namgilov,S-Malaniuk,V, Polanica Zdroj 1998
14...Nc7³
c32) 6...d5 Black may follow up with ...Ne4 and ...e5. 7.b5 (7.Ngf3 Ne4 8.Qc2 a6 9.0-0 e5=)
7...Na5 8.a4?! Ne4 9.Nxe4 fxe4 10.f3 (10.Nh3 e5³)

10...e5! Black takes the initiative after this move. 11.Nh3 exd4 12.cxd4 0-0 13.0-0 exf3 14.Rxf3
Krasenkow,M-Zhang,Z, Shanghai 2000 14...Rxf3 15.exf3 Nb3 16.Bg5 Qd6µ Meulders.
c4) 6.Qb3
c41) 6...d5 Black gives White no opportunity to play e4. 7.Ndf3 e6 8.Nh3
c411) 8...Qe7 9.Nf4 0-0 10.Nd3 b6 11.Bf4 Bb7 12.0-0 Ne4 13.Nfe5 1/2 Sedlak,N-Markus,R,

100
 Subotica 2003.
c412) 8...Ne4 9.Nf4 0-0 10.h4 Na5 11.Qc2 b6 12.Ng5 Qe7 13.g4 c6 14.gxf5 exf5 15.Nd3
Hausrath,D-Markgraf,A, Germany 2016 15...Ba6 16.Bf4 c5³
c42) 6...e6 7.Nh3 (7.e4!?)
c421) 7...d5 8.Nf4 0-0 9.0-0 b6 10.Qa4 Qe8 11.Re1 Bd7 12.Qc2 Rc8 13.Nf3 (13.f3 e5) 13...Ne4
(13...Na5 14.Ne5 c5=) 14.b3 Na5 15.Ne5 c5= 16.f3?

16...Nxc3! This is pretty — and effective. 17.Qxc3 cxd4 18.Qxd4 Nc6 19.Nxc6 Rxc6 20.Qd3
Bxa1–+ Bromberger,S-Bartel,M, Warsaw 2007.
c422) 7...0-0 8.0-0 d5
c4221) 9.f4 b6 10.Nf2 Na5 11.Qc2 Ba6 12.Nd3 Ng4 13.Rf3 Qc8 14.h3 Nf6 15.b4 Nb7 16.a4 Nd6
17.Ba3 Ngo,N-Dao,T, Dalat City 2004 17...Nfe4³
c4222) 9.Nf3 b6 This opens the diagonal for the bishop, after moving the knight c6 as well. 10.Nf4
Qe7 11.Qc2 Ne4 12.h4 Bb7 13.b3 e5 14.Nxd5 Qf7 15.c4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 exd4 17.Bb2µ
Mirzoev,E-Bernadskiy,V, Lutsk 2015.

5...Nc6

Black closes the diagonal.

6.Nh3

a) 6.Nf3 d6 7.Ng5 d5 8.Nh3 a5 9.a4 0-0 10.Nf4 e6 11.Nd2 Qe7 12.Nf3 b6 13.Nd3 Ba6 14.Qc2 Ne4
(14...Nd8 15.Be3 Nf7=) 15.b3 Nb8 16.0-0 c5 17.Ba3 Rc8 18.Rac1 Qe8³ Gagunashvili,M-
Dzhumaev,M, Jakarta 2012.

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 b) 6.f4 e6 7.Nd2 0-0 8.Nh3 b6 9.Nf2 Bb7 10.e4 Na5 11.Qc2 c5 12.dxc5 bxc5 13.0-0 d5 14.exd5 exd5
15.Nd3 Ceteras,M-Onischuk,A, Sovata 1999 15...Qb6µ
c) 6.Bg5 Giving up the bishop for the knight doesn’t hurt Black. 6...e6 7.Nd2 d5 8.Nh3 0-0 9.Nf4 Qe8
10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.h4 Nd8 12.f3 c6 13.e4 e5!? Quite an exciting way to open the position. 14.Ne2
(14.dxe5 Bxe5 15.0-0-0³) 14...Be6 15.Qc2 exd4 16.cxd4 fxe4 17.fxe4 Bg4µ Gaehwiler,G-Bauer,C,
Zürich 2013.

6...e6

Black closes the diagonal and makes a small step towards ...e5, but it can also be played at once.
6...e5!?
a) 7.0-0 d5 8.Na3 e4=
b) 7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.dxe5 Ne4

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 Kindermannn calls this playable, and I agree with his opinion. 9.f3 (9.f4 d6°) 9...Nc5 10.Qc4 d6
11.Bg5 Qd7 12.Bf6 Ba6 13.Qd4 Ne6 and Black will take on f6, and the pawn afterwards.
c) 7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.0-0 c6 Black wants to play ...d5, and if he manages to do so his pawn structure will be
strong, with no weaknesses.
c1) 9.Bf4 Ne4 10.Rd1 d5 11.Nd2 Nxd2 (According to Rustemov, after 11...Qe7 Black would have
been a bit better.) 12.Rxd2 Nc4 13.Rd3 Qb6 14.Qxb6 axb6 15.b3 Na3 16.Re3+ Kd7 17.Rd1 Nc2
18.Red3 Rxa2 19.c4 d4³ Buhmann,R-Rustemov,A, Germany 2002.
c2) 9.Nd2 Qe7 10.Nf4 d6 (10...d5= or 10...Nf7 11.h4 0-0 12.Nf3 d5=) 11.Nf3 Ne4 Black’s pieces
stand well. 12.Be3 Qf7 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.Nd3 Nd6 15.Bc5 Ne4 16.Be3 Nd6 17.Bc5 Ne4 18.Be3
Nd6 1/2 Papaioannou,I-Muzychuk,A, Chalkida 2009.

7.Nf4 Qe7 8.Nd2 e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.0-0 c6 11.Nf3

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11...d6

Black’s pawns control a lot of squares in the centre.

12.h4

12.Rd1 Ne4 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.Bxe4 fxe4 15.Ng2 Be6 16.Qa4 0-0 17.Be3 Qf7 18.b3 Qf5 19.Rd6 Qg4=
Kiriakov,P-Rustemov,A, Orel 1997.

12...Ne4

The four knights are so strong that it is hard for either side to take over.

13.Be3 a5 14.Nxe5

This capture improves Black’s pawn chain a bit, while waiting moves like 14.Rad1 would be equal.

14...dxe5 15.Nd3 Be6

15...a4 16.Qc2 Nd6=

16.Qc2 Nd6 17.Rfd1

17.Bg5 Bf6 18.Nxe5 Bxg5 19.hxg5 Qxg5=

17...0-0 18.Bc5 Rfd8 19.e4 f4 20.gxf4

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20...Qxh4

The position was balanced and although Black soon obtained a pawn advantage, Wang Hao was unable
to convert it.

21.Bxd6 Rxd6 22.Nc5 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Bf7 24.f5 Qe7 25.Ne6 Bxe6 26.fxe6 Qxe6 27.Qb3 Qxb3
28.axb3 Bf8 29.Bh3 Bc5 30.Kg2 Rf8 31.f3 Re8 32.Rd7 Re7 33.Rd8+ Kg7 34.Ra8 Kf6 35.Rxa5 Be3
36.Ra1 Kg5 37.Rd1 Kf4 38.Rd7 Rxd7 39.Bxd7 Bc1 40.Bc8 b6 41.Bd7 c5 42.b4 Bxb2 43.bxc5 bxc5
44.c4 Bd4 45.Be8 g5 46.Bh5 Ke3 47.Kh3 Kd3 48.Bf7 h5 49.Kg2 h4 50.Be6 Be3 51.Kh3 Bf4 52.Bf7
Ke3 53.Bh5 Bg3 54.Bg4 Kf4 55.Bh5 Ke3 56.Bg4 Kd3 57.Be6 Ke2 58.Bg4 Kd3 59.Be6 Ke2 60.Bg4
1/2

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.c3 Bg7 5.Qb3 Nc6 6.Nd2

Game 16
Gata Kamsky
Hao Wang
SportAccord blitz, Beijing 2011

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.c3 Bg7 5.Qb3 Nc6

105
6.Nd2

White gets ready to play e4.

6...e5!?

This is a rare move, but it looks all right.

6...d5 The Stonewall formation also seems to work well when the queen stands on b3.
a) 7.Ngf3 This move stops ...e4 but makes the d2-knight hard to improve.
a1) 7...a5 8.a4 e6 9.Qa3 Qd6 (9...Bf8 10.Qb3 Bg7=) 10.Nb1 0-0 11.Bf4 Qd7 12.Qb3 b6 13.Na3 Ba6
14.Nb5 Rac8= Trichkov,V-Grabarczyk,B, Griesheim 2003.
a2) 7...e6
a21) 8.h4 0-0 9.Ng5!? e5! (9...b6 10.Ndf3 Na5 11.Qc2 c5=) 10.dxe5 Nxe5 Black has a stable pawn
centre.
a211) 11.h5! h6 (11...Re8 12.hxg6 hxg6 13.c4 a5 14.a4 Qe7 15.0-0 Ne4³) 12.Ngf3 Nxf3+
13.Nxf3 g5=
a212) 11.Ndf3? Neg4 12.Nd4 Re8 13.Bf4 c6 (13...h6 14.Nh3 a6 Black may follow up with ...c5.)
14.Rd1 Qb6 15.0-0 Bd7 16.e3 h6 17.Nh3 (17.Ngf3? c5 18.Ne2 Bb5µ) 17...Kh7 18.Qc2 (18.Rfe1
c5 19.Nc2 Bc6 20.Qxb6 axb6 21.a3³)

106
 18...Qa6 (18...c5!? 19.Ne2 Bc6³) 19.Rfe1 Rad8 Black has played imaginatively and his reward is a
fighting position, as in Nguyen,C-Sadler,M, Germany 2003.
a22) 8.0-0
a221) 8...a5 9.Qc2 0-0 10.b3 Ne4 11.Bb2 a4

White is under some small pressure on the queenside. 12.Rad1 Qe7 13.Qc1 axb3 14.axb3 e5 15.c4
Nxd2 16.Qxd2? (16.Nxd2 Nxd4=) 16...e4 17.Ne1 Ra2 18.e3 Be6µ Studnicka,T-Jakubiec,A, Czech
Rep. 2012.
a222) 8...0-0
a2221) 9.Ne1 a5 10.Nd3 b6 11.a4 Ba6 12.Nf3 Ne4 13.Qc2 Rc8 14.Be3 Qe7 1/2 Urban,K-

107
 Malaniuk,V, Koszalin 1996.
a2222) 9.c4 White weakens d4 a bit. 9...Ne4 10.Rd1 Kh8 (10...a5!?) 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Nf1 a5
13.Bf4 g5 14.Be5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 c6³ Gaehwiler,G-Bartel,M, Biel 2013.
b) 7.Ndf3 White aims to gain control over the e5-square.
b1) 7...e6 8.Nh3 0-0 9.Nf4 Ne4 10.h4 b6! Black prepares ...c5. 11.Nd3 (11.h5 g5 12.h6 Bh8 13.Nd3
Bd7³ Hansen,L-Danielsen,H, Denmark 1997)

11...Na5 12.Qd1 c5 13.Bf4 Nc6 14.Nde5 Nxe5 15.dxe5 Bb7 (15...h6 16.Qc1 Kh7=) 16.Qc1 Qc7
(16...h6) 17.h5 Rf7 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.Nh4 g5 20.Bxg5 Poluljahov,A-Vasiukov,E, Moscow 1991
20...Bxe5=
b2) 7...Ne4 8.Nh3 e6 9.Nf4 a5 10.a4 Qe7 11.h4 b6 12.Nd3 Ba6 13.Bf4 0-0
b21) 14.Qd1 Nd8 15.Be5 c5 16.Bxg7 Qxg7 17.Nf4 Re8 18.e3 Lehner,O-Beim,V, Austria 2002
18...Nf7=
b22) 14.Qa3 Qd8 15.Rd1 h6 16.Nfe5 Henrichs,T-Rotstein,A, Germany 2003 16...Nxe5 17.Bxe5
Rc8 18.Nf4 Bxe5 19.dxe5 Qe8=
b23) 14.Nfe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Nd6 (15...c5=) 16.Bf3 Nc4 17.Nxc4 Bxc4 18.Qa3 Rf7= Alonso
Garcia,R-Demuth,A, Barcelona 2015 (18...c5!?)
c) 7.Nh3
c1) 7...e6 8.Nf4 Toth,B-Bartel,M, Basel 2013 8...a5 9.a4 0-0 10.h4 b6=
c2) 7...a5 8.a4 e6 Black can keep the position very closed as well. (8...e5) 9.Nf4
c21) 9...b6 10.Nf3 Ne4 11.Nd3 g5 (11...Ba6!?) 12.Nfe5 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Ba6 14.f3 Nc5 15.Qd1
Bxe5 16.dxe5 Nd7 17.h4 gxh4 18.Rxh4 Van Wessel,R-Nijboer,F, Bunschoten 2012 18...Nxe5°
c22) 9...0-0 10.Nf3 Ne4 11.h4 (11.0-0 Qd7 12.Nd3 b6 13.Bf4 Ba6= Voloshin,L-Grabarczyk,B,

108
 Germany 2001) 11...Re8 12.Ng5 Qd6 13.Be3 Rb8 14.Nd3 b6 15.Bf4 Qe7 16.Nf3 Ba6= Marcelin,C-
Bauer,C, Montpellier 2003.

c3) 7...e5 This is ambitious, but looks perfectly justified. Why not obtain a small spatial advantage?
8.dxe5 Nxe5 9.Nf4 (9.Nf3 Nc4 10.Nf4 c6 11.Qc2 Ne4 12.Nd4 Qe7³ Czerwonski,A-Grabarczyk,B,
Plock 2000) 9...c6 10.0-0 (10.c4 d4 11.h4 Qe7 12.Nf3 Ne4 is equal according to Malaniuk and
Marusenko.) 10...0-0
c31) 11.e3 g5³
c32) 11.Nd3 Nxd3 (11...Nf7=) 12.exd3 f4 13.Nf3 Nh5 14.Bd2 Rubio Mejia,L-Beliavsky,A,
Vlissingen 2009 14...Bf5=
c33) 11.c4

109
 If White wants to create play, he has to play this risky move. 11...d4 (11...g5 12.Nd3 Nxd3 13.exd3
h6=) 12.c5+ Kh8 13.Nc4 Nf7 (13...Ne4=) 14.Bd2 g5 15.Nd3 Be6 16.Rac1 Ne4 17.Rfd1 Qe7
18.Be1 Hausrath,D-Jakubiec,A, Belgium 2017 18...b5³

7.dxe5

a) 7.Bxc6 Winning the pawn hands Black long-term compensation. 7...bxc6 8.dxe5 Ng4 9.f4 a5
10.Ngf3 a4 11.Qc4 Qe7° The bishop will be powerful on a6.
b) 7.d5 Ne7 (7...Na5 8.Qc2 b6=) 8.Nh3 h6 9.d6 cxd6 10.Nc4 Qc7 11.Qb4 d5 12.Nd6+ Kf8 13.Be3
a5=

110
7...Nxe5

Black is likely to play ...d5, which gives him a pleasant game.

8.Ngf3 Nf7

Wang Hao looks for complexity, but 8...Nxf3+ 9.Nxf3 d5 would be equal.

9.0-0 0-0

9...a5 10.a4 d5=

10.c4

The knight is passive on d2.

10...Rb8

Developing the bishop, which this move prepares, is a good idea, but the position will still be balanced.
10...Re8 is also fine, or on 10...c6 11.h4 when Black would stand well after either 11...d5 or 11...d6.

11.Qc2 b6 12.b3 Bb7 13.Bb2 Re8 14.e3

14...Qe7

14...c5 15.Rad1 Qe7 16.Ne1 Ne4 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Nd3 d5=

15.Rad1 c5

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15...Rbd8=

16.Nb1 Rbd8

16...d5 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.cxd5 Rbd8 19.Ne1 Ng5 20.Nd3 Bxd5=

17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Ne1 Be4 19.Qc1

19.Bxe4 fxe4 20.Rd5 Re7=

19...g5³

Black was somewhat better, but in the direct confrontation he soon went down.

20.Nd2 Bxg2 21.Nxg2 Ne5 22.Qc2 d5 23.cxd5 Rxd5 24.f4 Ng4 25.fxg5 Qxg5 26.Nf3 Qd8 27.Qc4
Nf6 28.Nf4 Re4 29.Rxd5 1–0

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nh3

Game 17
Thomas Koch
Friso Nijboer
Belgian Team Championship 2015

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6

112
4.Nh3

White develops the knight to h3, from where it is likely to go f4. Black can play for ...e5 or ...d5.

4...Nc6

Black doesn’t develop the bishop at once, but hurries instead to carry out ...e5.

5.c4

a) 5.c3 d6 6.Nf4 e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 (7...Nxe5=) 8.Bxc6+ Doubling the pawns doesn’t hurt Black. 8...bxc6
9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Nd3 Bd6 11.Bg5 Ke7 12.Nd2 h6 13.Bxf6+ Kxf6 14.e4 Fauland,A-Yrjola,J, Novi
Sad 1990 14...Ba6 15.c4 fxe4 16.Nc5 Bxc5 17.Nxe4+ Kf5 18.Nxc5 Bxc4=
b) 5.Nf4
b1) 5...d6
b11) 6.b3 Murshed,N-Dzhumaev,M, Dhaka 2003 6...e5 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8
10.Nd3 Bd6 11.Bb2 Re8=
b12) 6.h4 e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Nd3 Bd6 11.Bg5 Ke7 12.h5 Ba6
13.Nd2 Zaitsev,V-Malaniuk,V, Krasnoyarsk 1998 13...e4=
b2) 5...e5 6.dxe5 Nxe5 7.h4 c6

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 8.c4 White sacrifices a pawn to stop ...d5, but some might still choose ...d6. (8.0-0 d5 or 8...d6)
8...Nxc4 9.Qd4 d5 10.b3 (10.h5 g5µ) 10...Nd6 11.Bb2 Bg7 12.Nc3 0-0 13.Ncxd5 Nh5 14.Qd2 Bxb2
15.Qxb2 cxd5 16.Bxd5+ Nf7–+ Debray,C-Malaniuk,V, Malakoff 2010.
c) 5.d5 Ne5
c1) 6.f4 Tregubov,P-Malaniuk,V, Alushta 1994 6...Nf7 This is the safest square for the knight. 7.Nf2
c6 8.c4 Qb6 9.Nc3 Bg7 10.0-0 0-0 11.e3 e5=
c2) 6.b3 Bg7 7.Bb2 d6 (7...Nf7!? Black plays for ...e5. 8.0-0 0-0 9.c4 e5=) 8.0-0 0-0 9.c4 Bd7 10.Nc3
Rb8 11.Qd2 c5 Beliavsky,A-Vallejo Pons,F, Saint Vincent 2000 12.Ng5²
c3) 6.Nf4 c6 7.h4 Nf7 (7...cxd5 8.Nxd5 Bg7=) 8.c4 e5 9.dxe6 dxe6 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 The king is safe.
11.b3 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Bxd2+ 13.Nxd2 e5 14.Nd3 Kc7 15.0-0-0 Van der Heijden,T-Nijboer,F,
Netherlands 2013

114
 15...e4 16.Nf4 Ng4³

5...Bg7 6.f4

White wants to divert Black from playing ...e5. White might have played this to surprise his opponent.
6.Nc3 We will discuss this with the 2.c4 move order.

6...0-0 7.0-0

7...d6

115
Nijboer just treats the position in the spirit of the Leningrad Dutch, but other approaches can also be
tried: 7...e6 8.Nc3 d5∞ Black firmly holds the e4-square. Or 7...b6 8.d5 (8.Nc3 Bb7 [8...Ba6]) 8...Na5
9.Na3 c5 (9...Ba6 10.Qc2 Nb7 11.Rb1 Nd6∞) 10.Nf2 e6 (10...Nb7 11.Bd2 Nd6∞) 11.dxe6 Bb7°

8.Nc3

8.d5 Pushing the pawn also leads to complex positions. 8...Nb4 (8...Na5 9.Na3 c5 (9...c6 10.Rb1 b5∞)
10.Rb1 a6 11.b3 Rb8 12.Bb2 b5 13.Qd3 Bd7=) 9.Nc3 Ng4 (9...c6 10.a3 Na6∞) 10.a3 Na6 11.Ng5

11...h6 The position is unclear.

8...e5

I prefer 8...Ng4, postponing ...e5, and if 9.e3 e5 equalises.

9.fxe5

9.d5 Na5 10.b3 Qe7 11.Qd3 Ng4∞ Black is very much in the game.

9...dxe5 10.d5

This pawn has chances to become powerful.

10...Na5

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11.b3

After 11.c5 e4 12.Bf4 (12.Qa4 b6 13.Rd1 Ng4∞) 12...c6 13.d6 h6 (13...b6) 14.Qc1 (14.Be3 b6) 14...g5
15.Be5 Be6 the position would be complex.

11...e4 12.Bf4 c6 13.Qd2

13.Rc1 Ng4 14.Qd2²

13...b5 14.Rad1 bxc4 15.b4 Nb7 16.dxc6 Qb6+ 17.Qd4

17.Be3 Qxc6³

17...Qxc6 18.Be5

117
18...Qb6

18...Rd8! would have won. Black was still somewhat better, but White equalised and drew.

19.Nf4 Qxd4+ 20.Rxd4 Re8 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.Rxc4 Nd6 23.Ncd5 Bd8 24.Rc6 Nf7 25.Nf6+ Bxf6
26.Rxf6 Bb7 27.Ne6 Re7 28.g4 fxg4 29.Nc5 Ng5 30.R1f4 Kg7 31.Rd6 Nh3+ 32.Bxh3 gxh3 33.Nxb7
Rxb7 34.Rxe4 a5 35.a3 1/2

118
CHAPTER 3.
WHITE PLAYS 2.C4 3.NC3 4.G3 WITH NH3

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nh3 Bg7

Game 18
G. Nagy
V. Laznicka
Czech Open, Pardubice 2017

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nh3

4...Bg7

Black players usually just develop the bishop. It allows him to decide on a plan later, but sometimes the
tempo would be useful for carrying out ...e5.

5.Nf4

White brings the knight to the centre at once. It has a quicker effect, but Black can start playing against it
faster as well.
a) 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Nf4 Nc6
a1) 7.h4
a11) 7...Ng4 8.f3 (8.d5 Nce5 9.h5 c6∞) 8...Nh6 9.d5 Ne5 10.h5 g5 11.Nh3 g4 12.Nf2 c6∞
a12) 7...e5 8.dxe5 Nxe5 9.h5 c6 10.Be3 d6 11.Bd4 Gerber,R-Lutz,C Biel 1996 11...g5!? This leads

119
 to exciting positions.
a121) 11...Qe8 Playing conventionally does not guarantee an easy game for Black. 12.hxg6 hxg6
13.e3 (13.Qd2 Be6) 13...c5 14.Bxe5 dxe5 15.Nfd5 Qf7 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Bd5 Be6 18.e4²
a122) 12.h6 Bh8

13.Nh5 The position will become somewhat wild after this, and Black has some interesting
possibilities, for example. 13...Nxh5 (13...Be6 14.f4 c5∞) 14.Rxh5 Kf7 15.e3 Qe7 16.Qe2 f4∞
a2) 7.d5 Ne5 8.e4 d6 9.exf5 Bxf5 10.h3 c6 11.g4?! This weakens White’s kingside a bit. 11...Bd7
12.0-0 Kh8 13.a4 cxd5 14.Ncxd5 Nxd5 15.Bxd5 Qc8 16.Bg2 Bc6 17.Nd5 Qd7 18.f4 e6 19.Ne3
Bxg2 20.Nxg2 Nc4³ Korchnoi,V-Kindermannn,S, Hamburg 1995.
b) 5.b3 Though the knight doesn’t help to stop ...e5, White still wants to prevent it somehow. 5...0-0
6.Bb2 e6 (6...Ne4 7.f3 Nd6 8.c4 c5=)
b1) 7.0-0 d6 8.c4 Qe7 9.Nc3 Zlochevskij,A-Barbero,G, Switzerland 1992 9...c6 10.Qd2 e5 11.d5 c5=
b2) 7.Nd2 d6 8.Nf4 Qe7 9.e4 (9.Nd3 Nc6 10.0-0 Nd7 11.c3 e5=) 9...fxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 c5
12.0-0 Nc6 13.c3 cxd4 14.cxd4 d5 15.Bg2 Bd7 16.Ne2 Qb4 17.Bc3 Qb6 18.Qd2 a5 19.Rab1 Rf7
20.f4 Ne7 Zak,U-Lutz,C, Biel 1995.
c) 5.c3 Nc6 6.Nd2 Combining the moves like this is a bit slow. (6.Qb3 See 4.c3) 6...d6
c1) 7.d5 Ne5 8.Nf4 c6 9.Qb3 Richter,C-Jakubiec,A, Germany 2015 9...cxd5 10.Nxd5 e6 11.Nxf6+
Bxf6=
c2) 7.Qb3 e5 8.dxe5 Nxe5 This time the knight capture is surely the stronger one. (8...dxe5 9.e4²)
9.Nf4 c6 (9...Qe7 10.0-0 c6 11.Nf3 Nf7=) 10.Ne6 Bxe6 11.Qxe6+ Qe7 12.Qxe7+ Kxe7 13.Nb3
Nc4 14.Nd2 Ne5 15.Nf3 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Kf7 17.Be3 h5 18.Bd4 Ng4= Sjodahl,P-Agrest,E,
Harplinge 1998.

120
5...Nc6

Black wants to take back on e5 with the knight.

After 5...d6 Black wants to recapture on e5 with the pawn. White should stop it if he wants to have an
edge.
a) 6.c3 e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nd5 Nxd5 10.Bxd5 c6 11.Bb3 Nd7 12.Na3 Kc7 13.h4 Nf6
14.Nc4 Re8 15.Bg5 Be6 16.Nd2 Nd7 17.Be3 Bd5= Berend,F-Lutz,C, Ostend 1992.
b) 6.h4 e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nh3 (9.Nd3 Re8 10.Nc3 e4 11.Nf4 Krasenkow,M-Dao,T,
Las Palmas 1993 11...Na6 12.Bd2 c6 13.0-0-0 Ng4= or 9.Nd5 Nxd5 10.Bxd5 c6 11.Bb3 Nd7 12.h5
Mollov,E-Barua,D, Balaguer 1997 12...Kc7=) 9...c6 10.Nc3 Kc7 11.Bd2 Cifuentes Parada,R-
Vyzmanavin,A, Benidorm 1993 11...h6 12.0-0-0 Be6=
c) 6.d5 c6 7.c4 e5 8.dxe6

121
 8...Na6! I think Black’s best is to hurry to take back on e6 with the knight. 9.Nc3 Nc5 10.h4 (10.Be3
Nxe6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Qd2 Ng4 13.Nxe6 Bxe6 14.Bd4 Bh6³) 10...Nxe6 11.h5 Ng4! Black bases his play
on counterattack. 12.hxg6 (12.e4 Nc5 13.0-0 Ne5=) 12...hxg6 13.Rxh8+ Bxh8 14.Nxg6 Bd4 15.e3
Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 Qf6 17.f3 Qxg6 18.fxg4 Ke7=

6.d5

The pawn wins a big tempo, but the move also gives Black chances to swap the d5-pawn and get rid of
White advantage in the centre.
a) 6.Nc3 e5 Black is ready to sacrifice a pawn. 7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.dxe5 Ng4 9.e4? (9.e6 d6=) 9...Nxe5
10.exf5 Ba6 11.Nd3 Qf6 12.Bf4 Nxd3+ 13.cxd3 Qxf5 14.0-0 0-0 15.Ne4 d6 16.Qc2 Rab8 17.Rab1
Rb4 18.Rfe1 Qd5 0–1 Plischki,S-Laznicka,V, Pardubice 2015.
b) 6.c3 This is somewhat harmless as it allows Black to develop calmly. 6...e5 7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.0-0
b1) 8...Qe7 9.Nd2 c6 10.Qb3 d5 11.Nf3 (11.c4 g5 12.Nd3 Nxd3 13.exd3 0-0=) 11...Nc4 12.Nd2 g5
13.Nd3 Be6 14.Nf3 Ne4 15.Qc2 0-0-0 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.b3 Na3 18.Bxa3 Qxa3³ Slugin,S-
Rychagov,A, Voronezh 2004.
b2) 8...c6 9.Nd2 0-0 10.Nf3 Nf7 11.c4 Re8 12.e3 g5 13.Ne2 Ne4 14.h4 h6 15.Qc2 d6 16.hxg5 hxg5
17.Nd2 Nc5 18.Nb3 Ne5 Weiss,C-Antoniewski,R, Austria 2014.
c) 6.h4 This move secures the knight on f4 and may intend to exert pressure by pushing h5. 6...e5
7.dxe5 Nxe5
c1) 8.Nd2 c6 9.Nf3 Nfg4 (9...Neg4 10.c4 Ne4=) 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.0-0 d5 12.Be3 0-0 13.Bd4
Dragomirescu,C-Malaniuk,V, Timisoara 2006 13...Re8=
c2) 8.Bd2 Ne4 9.Bxe4 fxe4 10.Bc3 c6 11.Qd6 Qf6 12.Qxf6 Bxf6 13.Nd2 d5 14.f3 exf3 15.exf3 Kf7
16.0-0-0 Rd8 17.h5 g5³ Tolhuizen,L-Reinderman,D, Gausdal 2007.

122
c3) 8.Nc3 c6
c31) 9.e4 fxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 d5 12.Bg2? (12.Bd3 Nxd3+µ) 12...Bg4 13.f3 Bf5 14.Qe2
Qb6 15.Nd3 0-0 16.Kf1 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Rae8 18.Qd1 Qd4 0–1 Grobelny,A-Vaulin,A, Polanica
Zdroj 1997.
c32) 9.Nd3 Nxd3+ (9...d6=) 10.cxd3 d5 Black’s centre is strong here as well. 11.d4 0-0 12.Bg5 Qb6
13.Qd2 Ne4 14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.Be3 Bg4 16.Bh3 Bxh3 17.Rxh3 c5 18.dxc5 Qe6 19.Rh2 d4 20.Bxd4
Rad8 21.e3 Bxd4 22.exd4 Rf3= Dgebuadze,A-Ringoir,T, Charleroi 2014.
c4) 8.h5 The only way White can cause problems, as otherwise Black can just develop. 8...c6
c41) 9.h6 Bf8 10.Nd3 Nf7 11.c4

11...Ng8 Black decides to win the h6-pawn. With White’s pieces far away from Black’s camp, it can
be played. 12.Nc3 Ngxh6 13.Qc2 Bg7 14.Bd2 d6 15.0-0-0 Ng4 16.f3 Nge5 17.Nxe5 Lysyj,I-
Kotsur,P, Moscow 2011 17...Nxe5³
c42) 9.Nd2
c421) 9...d5 10.Nf3 Nfg4 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Nd3 Be6 13.c3 Nc4 14.Qc2 Qe7 15.b3 Nd6 16.Bb2
Ne4³ Villavicencio Martinez,A-Spraggett,K, Corte Ingles 1998.
c422) 9...Nfg4 The knight stops the h-pawn. 10.Nf3 Kharitonov,A-Wojtaszek,R, Urgup 2004
10...Qe7 11.hxg6 hxg6 12.Rxh8+ Bxh8 13.c3 d6=
c43) 9.Be3 d5 10.Bd4 Qd6 11.Nd2 Ne4 12.Nf3 g5 13.h6 Nxf3+ 14.exf3 Bxd4 15.Qxd4 Qf6
16.Qxf6 Nxf6 Exchanging queens makes sure that White can’t hurt Black. 17.Nd3 Bd7 18.Ne5 Be6
19.Kd2 Ke7= Noritsyn,N-Malaniuk,V, Montreal 2010.
c44) 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.Rxh8+ Bxh8
c441) 11.Nd3?! Nfg4 12.Nxe5 Bxe5³ 13.e4 Qe7 14.Qe2 Engqvist,T-Agrest,E, Stockholm 1995

123
 14...b6 15.f4 Bd4 16.Bf3 a5µ
c442) 11.Qd6 Qe7 12.Qxe7+ Kxe7 13.Nd2 (13.b3 Ne4 14.c3 d5 15.Bb2µ Abdul Moula,S-
Bartel,M, Turin 2006) 13...d5 14.Nf3 White plays for a draw. 14...Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Kf7 16.Nd3
Ne4 17.Be3 b6 18.0-0-0 Bb7 (18...Be6!?) 19.Rh1 Bg7 20.g4 Rh8 1/2 Varga,P-Kindermannn,S,
Austria 2003.
c45) 9.c4

c451) 9...d6 Black can look to castle long as well. 10.Qc2 Qe7 11.b3 Rg8 (11...Ne4 12.Bb2 Bd7
13.Nc3 0-0-0=) 12.hxg6 hxg6 13.Bb2 Bd7 14.Nc3 0-0-0 15.0-0-0 Kb8 16.e3 Bc8= Pedersen,N-
Conquest,S, Amsterdam 2002.
c452) 9...0-0 10.hxg6 hxg6 11.Qc2 (11.Qb3 d6 or 11.c5 Qa5+ 12.Nc3 Qxc5=) 11...d6 12.Nd2
Qe8! Black gets ready to chase away the f4-knight. 13.Nf3 (13.b3 g5 14.Nh3 Qg6 15.Bb2 a5=)
13...Ne4 14.Nxe5 (14.0-0!? Ng4 15.Rb1 g5³) 14...dxe5 15.Nd3 Nf6! 16.Bh6 (16.Bg5 e4=)
16...Bxh6 17.Rxh6 Kg7 18.Rh1 e4 19.Nf4 Qe5= Krasenkow,M-Malaniuk,V, Polanica Zdroj 1997.

6...Ne5 7.Nc3

7.Nd2 Berend,F-Bauer,C, Metz 1998 7...c6 8.e4 fxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Bxe4 cxd5 11.Bxd5 e6 12.Bg2
Qa5+ 13.Bd2 Qb5=

7...c6 8.h4

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8...0-0

Black believes in his position and is ready to develop, not being scared of White’s play.
a) 8...cxd5 Black acts in the centre immediately. 9.Ncxd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 (10.Qxd5 e6 11.Qb3 d5
12.h5 Georgiev,K-Bartel,M, Dubai 2014 12...a5 13.a4 Ra6=) 10...Nf7 11.c3 e6 12.Nf4 d5 13.Be3 0-0
14.Qb3 a5 15.a4 Piceu,T-Reinderman,D, Netherlands 2016 15...Qc7 16.0-0 Bd7=
b) 8...e6 Black virtually forces a queenless position. 9.dxe6 dxe6 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.h5 Ke7 (11...Kc7
12.h6 Bf8 13.e4 Nf7=) 12.h6 Bf8 13.e4 Nf7 14.Nd3 Ng4 15.f3 Ngxh6 16.Be3 Gupta,A-Filippov,A,
Tashkent 2014 16...b6=

9.e4?!

White opens the position, but Black is ahead in development. 9.h5 g5 10.h6 Bh8 11.Nh3 cxd5 12.Nxd5
(12.Bxg5 e6=) 12...e6 13.Nc3 g4=

9...fxe4 10.Nxe4

10.0-0 e6³

10...Nxd5! 11.Nxd5 cxd5 12.Qxd5+

125
12...e6

Black acts quickly, giving White little time.

13.Qd1 d5 14.Ng5 Qa5+ 15.Bd2

15.c3 Qa6 16.Bf1 Qc6µ

15...Qb6 16.0-0 Qxb2

Black takes the pawn; he has enough resources to defend.

17.Bf4

17.Rb1 Qxa2 18.Re1 Qc4 19.Bb4 Rd8 (19...Rxf2 20.Kxf2 Ng4+ 21.Kf3 Nh2+ 22.Ke3 a5 23.Bd6
Ng4+=) 20.Be7 Rd7= Brunello,S-Reinderman,D, Wijk aan Zee 2014.

17...Nf7!

Black gets rid of the g5-knight.

18.Rb1

18.Qd3 Qc3

18...Qxa2 19.Nxf7 Rxf7 20.h5

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20...Qc4µ

Black has won two pawns for very little, and Laznicka never let the Hungarian IM back into the game.

21.Re1 a5 22.hxg6 hxg6 23.Bf1 Qd4 24.Bd3 g5 25.Be3 Qf6 26.f4 gxf4 27.Bxf4 Bh6 28.Qh5 Bxf4
29.gxf4 Qh8 30.Qg5+ Qg7 31.Bg6 Rf6 32.f5 Rxf5 33.Qxf5 exf5 34.Re8+ Qf8 35.Rbe1 Bd7 36.Rxf8+
Kxf8 37.Re5 a4 38.Rxd5 a3 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.e4 and 6.Nh3 Nc6
Game 19
Pablo Ismael Acosta
A. Rodriguez Vila
Mar Del Plata 2017

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3

White develops the bishop to g2 without placing the knight on f3. It makes the g2-bishop quite effective
and the knight is destined for h3.

3...g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nc3 0-0

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6.Nh3

The knight aims to get to f4, from where it can be strong and give good control over the e6-square if
Black plays ...d6 and White d5. Also, White can play e4 if Black plays ...e5.
6.e4 This would be nice positionally, if it didn’t allow Black to attack the centre quickly and powerfully
enough to equalise: 6...fxe4 7.Nxe4 Nxe4 8.Bxe4 Nc6 9.Ne2 d6 10.0-0 Bh3
a) 11.Bg2 Bxg2 12.Kxg2

12...d5! Black is ahead in development so he is justified in provoking a direct confrontation. 13.c5 Qd7
14.f4 Qe6 (14...b6 15.cxb6 axb6 16.Be3 Na5 17.Bf2 Nc4 18.b3 Nd6³) 15.Rf3 g5 16.Qd3

128
 Garabedian,V-Pytel,K, Avoine 1994 (16.h3 Rad8³) 16...Nb4 17.Qd1 Qe4µ
b) 11.Re1 Bg4 12.Be3 Qd7 (12...e5!? Starting like this would decrease Black’s possibilities.) 13.Qd2
(13.f4!?) 13...e5 14.d5 Ne7 15.Qd3 Bf3 (15...Nf5 16.f3 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Bh3 18.Nc3 Rf6=) 16.Bxf3
Rxf3 17.Kg2 Raf8 18.Qe4 R3f7= Blatny,P-Pavasovic,D, Austria 2012.

6...Nc6

Black wants to have the knight on e5. If White started with 6.d5 Black could reach the e5-square with
...d6 and ...Nbd7.

7.Nf4

a) 7.d5!? White can push the d-pawn at once, and it usually transposes to the main lines, but we will
also look at White’s deviation possibilities. 7...Ne5
a1) 8.c5 c6 Black swaps the d-pawn and opens the way for ...Qa5. 9.Bf4 Nf7 (9...Nh5 10.Bxe5 Bxe5
11.Qb3 e6=) 10.0-0 e5 11.Be3 Kraemer,M-Kalinitschew,S, Berlin 2008 11...Ng4 12.Qc1 Qa5³
a2) 8.Qb3!?
a21) 8...Nf7 Black can play for ...e5 as well. 9.0-0 (9.Ng5 e5 10.dxe6 dxe6 11.c5 Nxg5 12.Bxg5
c6=)

9...Nh5?! (9...e5! 10.dxe6 dxe6 11.Ng5 Qe7=) 10.Rd1 d6 11.Be3 Bd7 12.c5! dxc5 13.Bxc5 b6
14.Bd4± Korchnoi,V-Kuzminyh,E, USSR 1951.
a22) 8...c5 Black goes for a Benoni formation. If he carries out ...b5, the knight on e5 will be
effective.
a221) 9.Bd2 d6!? (9...Ne8 Black can try the original idea of transferring the knight to d6, which
looks ok as well.) 10.Nf4 Rb8 11.h4 a6!? 12.a4 Bd7 13.h5 (13.a5 b6)

129
 13...b6∞ Black will be able to carry out ...Ne8–c7 and ...b5.
a222) 9.0-0 Ne8 10.Be3 d6 11.Rad1 Rb8 12.Ng5 Nc7 13.Nf3 Bd7 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Bh6 Re8
16.Qc2 b5= Kloss-Haag, Corr. 1959.
a3) 8.b3
a31) 8...d6 9.Bd2 Bd7 10.Qc1 c5 11.0-0 a6 12.a4 b6 13.Bh6 Vnukov,V-Kobalia,M, Yalta 1996
13...Bxh6 14.Qxh6 b5=
a32) 8...Nf7!? Black intends to recapture on e6 with the d-pawn.
a321) 9.Qc2 c6 10.0-0 cxd5 11.cxd5 Nd6!? Black wants to develop the c8-bishop to the queenside.
12.Bb2 b5 13.Ba3 (13.a4 b4 14.Nb5 Ba6=) 13...Qa5 14.Bc5 b4 15.Na4 Nfe4 16.Rac1 Ba6µ
Veingold,A-Yrjola,J, Vantaa 2003.
a322) 9.Rb1 c6 (9...e5!?) 10.0-0 e5 11.dxe6 dxe6 Black’s pawn chain is healthy. 12.Ng5 Nxg5
(12...Qc7 13.Qc2 e5= 14.e4? Nxg5 15.Bxg5 f4³) 13.Bxg5 h6 (13...e5 14.Qc1 e4=) 14.Bc1 e5
15.Ba3 Qxd1 16.Rfxd1 Re8 17.e4 f4 18.f3 g5 19.Bd6 Bf8= Boensch,U-Malaniuk,V, Brno 1993.
b) 7.Rb1 The rook on b1 steps out the diagonal, but he can’t really play a5 in any ensuing Benoni
structure. 7...d6 8.d5 Ne5 9.b3
b1) 9...a6 10.a4 c5 11.0-0 Rb8 12.Bd2 b6 13.Kh1 Ne8 14.Qc2 Nc7 15.f4 Ng4 16.Nf2 Nxf2+
17.Rxf2 b5 18.e4 Bd7 19.exf5 Bxf5 20.Be4 Qd7= Graf,A-Malaniuk,V, Tashkent 1987.
b2) 9...Bd7
b21) 10.Nf4 c5 11.0-0 Rb8 12.Bb2 a6 13.Nd3 b5 14.Nxe5 dxe5 15.d6 e4 16.f3 bxc4 17.fxe4 cxb3
18.axb3 Be6= Hebert,J-Santo Roman,M, Cannes 1995.
b22) 10.0-0 c5 11.Bd2 a6 12.a4 Rb8 13.Qc2 Ne8 (13...b5 14.axb5 axb5 15.Nxb5 Bxb5 16.cxb5
Rxb5 17.Ng5

130
 17...Qb6 Black does well without the white-squared bishop.)
b221) 14.Nf4 Suba,M-Ermenkov,E, Tunis 1985 14...b6 15.h3 Nc7 16.e4 b5 17.exf5 Bxf5 18.Ne4
Qd7 19.Rfe1 Rb7 20.Bc3 Rfb8 21.axb5 axb5=
b222) 14.Kh1 b6
b2221) 15.f4 Nf7 16.Nf2 Nh6 17.e3 Nc7 18.Ne2 Qe8 19.Bc3 Qf7 20.Bxg7 Qxg7 1/2
Kharitonov,A-Malaniuk,V, Moscow 1988.
b2222) 15.Rbe1 Nc7 16.f4 Nf7 (16...Ng4 17.Ng5 b5 18.h3 Nf6 19.Qd3 h6 20.Nf3 Qe8=) 17.e4
b5 18.Nf2 Shcherbakov,R-Kramnik,V, Kuibyshev 1990 18...bxc4 19.bxc4 Ne8=

7...e5

131
Black doesn’t build the position in the centre, but instead carries out ...e5 at once. Pushing the d-pawn
will be discussed later: 7...d6 8.d5 Ne5 9.b3 (9.Qb3 c5 10.0-0 Rb8 11.a4 See 7.0-0 d6 8.d5 Ne5 9.Qb3
c5 10.Nf4 Rb8 11.a4) 9...c5 10.Bd2 Rb8 11.Qc2 a6 12.a4 b6 13.0-0 See 7.0-0 d6 8.d5 Ne5 9.b3 c5
10.Bd2 Rb8 11.Qc2 a6 12.a4 b6 13.Nf4.

8.dxe5 Nxe5

Black plans to play ...c6 and ...d6.

9.Qb3

Such a move either obtains an edge quickly or else White’s queen gets slightly misplaced.
a) 9.Qc2 c6 10.b3 Qe7 11.h4
a1) 11...Ne4 12.Nxe4 fxe4 13.Rb1 (13.Qxe4 Nf3+=) 13...d5 14.cxd5 Bf5 15.Be3 cxd5 16.Nxd5
Qf7°
a2) 11...Neg4 12.Bb2 Ne4 13.Nxe4 (13.0-0 Nxg3–+) 13...Bxb2 14.Qxb2 fxe4=
a3) 11...Re8 12.Bb2 Nfg4

13.Nh3 White prepares an interesting idea. 13...d6 14.0-0-0 Be6 15.Rhe1 Taskovits,I-Szeberenyi, A,
Szekszard 1997 15...a5 16.e3 a4 17.Nxa4 Rxa4 18.bxa4 Nxc4=
b) 9.0-0
b1) 9...d6 10.Qc2 c6 11.b3 Qe7 12.Bb2 g5?! Black is optimistic. (With 12...Bd7 he could just finish
his development. 13.Rad1 Rad8 14.Rfe1 Rfe8=) 13.Nd3 Bd7 (13...h6 14.Rae1 Ng6∞) 14.Rad1
(14.Nxe5! dxe5 15.Qc1±) 14...Rad8 15.e3 Bc8 16.Rfe1 Nfg4 17.f3 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 Ne5= Lesiege,A-
Garbisu de Goni,U, Havana 1999.

132
 b2) 9...c6 Black can start with the d-pawn as well. 10.b3 d6 11.Bb2
b21) 11...Qc7 I would prefer to develop the queen to e7. 12.Qd2 Nf7 13.Rad1 Re8 14.h4 Be6
(14...Ng4 15.e3 Qa5 16.Qc2 Bd7 17.Na4 Bxb2 18.Nxb2 Nf6=) 15.Rfe1 Rad8 16.e4 fxe4 17.Nxe4
Nxe4 18.Rxe4² Godes,D-Grinshpun,E, Tel Aviv 1997.
b22) 11...Nf7 12.Qc2 Re8 13.Rad1 Bd7 14.Rfe1 Qc7 15.Qb1 a6 (15...Ne5 16.e3 Rad8=) 16.Qa1
Ne5 17.Ba3 (17.c5 d5 18.Na4²) 17...Nf7 18.Bb2 Ne5 19.Ba3 Nf7 1/2 Polak,T-Beim,V, Austria
2006.

9...c6 10.h4 Qe7 11.c5+ Rf7

Black is better developed so has no real need to worry about White’s play.

12.Na4 Ne4 13.Bxe4 fxe4 14.Be3 Ng4

Black goes after the bishop.

15.Rd1

15.0-0 Nxe3 16.Qxe3=

15...Nxe3 16.Qxe3 b6 17.b4 bxc5

17...Qe5µ

18.bxc5

18.Nxc5 Rb8°

18...Rb8

18...Ba6µ

19.Nc3 Bxc3+ 20.Qxc3

133
20...Rb5=

The position is even here, but later Black took over and went on to win.

21.Rc1 Rf5 22.Qc4+ Kh8 23.Qd4+ Qe5 24.e3 Qxd4 25.exd4 Rb4 26.Rd1 Ba6 27.Kd2 Bc4 28.Rb1
Ra4 29.Rb8+ Kg7 30.Rhb1 h6 31.R8b4 Rxa2+ 32.R1b2 Rxb2+ 33.Rxb2 g5 34.hxg5 hxg5 35.Kc3 Bf1
36.Nh5+ Kg6 37.g4 Rf3+ 38.Kb4 Rd3 39.Ng3 Rxd4+ 40.Kc3 Rd3+ 41.Kb4 Bg2 42.Re2 e3 43.Nf5
Bh3 44.Nxe3 Rd4+ 0–1

2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Nh3 Nc6 7.0-0 d6
Game 20
Rinat Jumabayev
Mateusz Bartel
Chigorin Memorial, St Petersburg 2012

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Nh3 Nc6 7.0-0

White castles, waiting for Black’s reaction.

7...d6

134
8.d5

White doesn’t let the black e-pawn reach its fourth rank.
a) 8.Rb1 Moves allowing ...e5 cause Black no headaches. 8...e5 9.d5 Ne7 10.b4 (10.Ng5 h6 11.Ne6
Bxe6 12.dxe6 c6 13.b4 Ne8=) 10...h6 11.a4 g5 12.f3 f4 13.Nf2 Bf5 (13...Nf5 14.Nce4 Nxe4 15.Nxe4
Nd4 16.g4 a5=) 14.Rb3 Alfaro Rojas,A-Gonzalez Acosta,B San Jose 2011 14...Bd7 15.Rb1 b6 16.g4
a5=
b) 8.Nf4 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5
b1) 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Qxd8 Rxd8 12.Nd3 Nd7 13.Nb4 Bb7 14.Bg5 Re8 15.Rad1 Nb6 16.c5 Nc4³
Dizdar,G-Malaniuk,V, Baku 1988.
b2) 10.Nfd5 Nd4 11.Bg5 (11.e3 Ne6 12.b3 Adla,D-Polgar,Z, Adelaide 1988 12...Nd7 13.Ba3 Re8³)
11...c6 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6=
b3) 10.Qxd8 Nxd8 (10...Rxd8!? 11.Nfd5 Rd7=) 11.Nfd5 c6 12.Ne7+ Kf7 13.Nxc8 Rxc8 14.e4
Kandyba,L-Rublevsky,S, USSR Voronezh 1991 14...Ne6 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Be3 Nd4=

8...Ne5 9.Qb3

The queen defends the pawn and he might have tactics with c5.
9.b3 It is more natural to defend the pawn with the smaller force.
a) 9...Bd7 10.Bd2 c5 11.a4 Rb8 12.a5 (12.Qc2 b6 (12...Nh5 13.Rae1 a6 14.Ng5 Qc8 15.f4 Ng4∞)

135
13.Rae1 I think this is White’s most testing setup. 13...a6 14.Ng5 Qc8 15.e4 b5 16.f4 bxc4 17.fxe5
cxb3 18.Qd1 Ng4 (18...dxe5 19.exf5±) 19.exd6 Bd4+ 20.Kh1 exd6 21.Ne6 Nf2+∞) 12...Ne8 13.f3
Nc7 14.Nf2 b5 15.axb6 axb6 16.e4 b5 17.f4 Nf7 18.Rc1 (18.Ra7 bxc4 19.bxc4 e5 20.dxe6 Bxe6=)
18...bxc4 19.bxc4 Gavrikov,V-Spraggett,K, Moscow 1990 19...e6=
b) 9...c5 In some cases Black manages to carry out ...c5 and ...b5 without the bishop move, but it is
rare, although Black can start like this as well.
b1) 10.Rb1 Bd7 11.Qc2 a6 12.a4 Ne8 13.Nf4 b6 14.Nd3

14...Rc8!? A very deep idea: Black takes the rook off the diagonal and plays for ...e6. 15.Bd2 Nf7
16.e4 Nc7 17.Rbe1 (17.h4 b5 18.h5 e5∞ or 17.Nf4 e5 18.dxe6 Nxe6 19.Nxe6 Bxe6 20.Rfe1 Qd7
21.Bf4 g5 22.Bd2 f4=) 17...e5 Black could also start the idea with ...b5. 18.f4 b5= Drozdovskij,Y-

136
Beim,V, Odessa 2005.
b2) 10.Nf4 Ne8 11.Qc2 Nc7 12.Bd2 a6 13.a4 b6 14.Nd3 (14.e4 Rb8 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Ne4 e6
(16...b5 17.Bc3) 17.dxe6 Nc6∞) 14...Rb8 15.Rae1 b5 16.Nxe5 Bxe5 17.f4 Bg7 18.e4 bxc4 19.bxc4 e5
20.a5 Bd7= Karpov,A-Malaniuk,V, Tallinn 2005.
b3) 10.Bd2 I think the bishop stands well here as it makes it easier to defend the b3-pawn. 10...Rb8
11.Qc2 a6 12.a4 b6
b31) 13.Nf4 Bd7 (13...Ne8 14.e4 Nc7 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Ne4 b5 17.Bc3 bxc4 18.bxc4 Qe8 19.Rab1
Qf7=) 14.e4 (14.Rad1 Qe8 15.Rfe1 Kh8 16.e4 g5=) 14...b5 15.axb5 axb5 16.cxb5 Nxe4 17.Nxe4
fxe4 18.Bxe4 Rxb5=
b32) 13.Rae1 Bd7 14.f4 Nf7 15.e4 fxe4 16.Nxe4 b5 (16...Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Bf5 18.Qe2 b5=) 17.axb5
axb5 18.Nhg5 bxc4 19.bxc4 Nxe4 20.Nxe4 Rb2= Kachiani Gersinska,K-Berg,E, Germany 2000.
b33) 13.Rab1 Ne8
b331) 14.Rbe1 Nc7 15.Kh1 b5 16.f4 Ng4 17.e4 bxc4 18.bxc4 e5= Kalinin,A-Kobalia,M, Moscow
1995.
b332) 14.Nf4 Nc7 15.Nd3 b5 (Black could delay this and just develop with 15...Bd7=) 16.Nxe5
Bxe5 17.cxb5 axb5 18.b4 cxb4 19.Rxb4 Bd7 20.Rfb1 Na6= Drozdovskij,Y-Malaniuk,V, Ajaccio
2006.
b34) 13.f4 Nf7 14.Nf2 Ne8 15.Rae1 Nc7 16.e4

b341) 16...b5 I prefer the move Malaniuk played first time round. 17.Nd3 (17.Bh3 b4 18.Ncd1 e6)
17...e5 18.exf5 Bxf5 19.h3 exf4= Yusupow,A-Malaniuk,V, Warsaw 2005.
b342) 16...e5 17.exf5 (17.dxe6!? Nxe6 18.Nd5 Nd4 19.Qd3 fxe4 20.Bxe4 b5 21.Bc3 Kh8²)
17...Bxf5 18.Be4 Banikas,H-Malaniuk,V, Warsaw 2007 18...exf4 19.Bxf5 fxg3! 20.hxg3 gxf5=

137
b4) 10.Bb2
b41) 10...Rb8 11.Nf4 a6 12.a4 Ne8 13.Nd3 Visser-Galdunts,S, Sueder 1996 13...Nxd3 14.Qxd3 f4
15.Qd2 Qb6=
b42) 10...Bd7 11.Qd2 Rb8 12.a4 a6 13.Rfe1 Aleksandrov,A-Maljutin,E, Jurmala 1991 13...b5=
b43) 10...a6
b431) 11.Qd2 Rb8 12.f4 Nf7 13.Nf2 b5 14.Rab1 Bd7 15.Rfe1 Qa5 16.Ba1 bxc4 17.bxc4 e5 18.e3
Rfe8= Martz,W-Spraggett,K, Vancouver 1976.
b432) 11.a4 b6 12.Qd2 Rb8 13.Ng5

13...Ne8 The knight aims to help the b-pawn. (13...h6 14.Ne6 Bxe6 15.dxe6 Qc8 16.Nd5 Nxd5
17.cxd5 Ng4=) 14.h3 (14.e4 h6 15.f4 Ng4 16.Nf3²) 14...Nc7 15.f4 Nf7 16.Nxf7 Rxf7 17.Nd1
Urban,K-Czakon,J, Chorzow 2013 17...Bxb2 18.Qxb2 b5=
b5) 10.Qc2
b51) 10...Bd7 11.a4 Rb8 12.Bd2 Qc8 (12...b6 13.Ng5 a6 14.Rae1 Qc8 15.e4 b5 16.f4 bxc4 17.fxe5
cxb3 18.Qb2 Ng4°) 13.Rae1 b6 14.Ng5 a6 15.e4 (15.f4 Nf7) 15...b5 16.f4 bxc4 17.fxe5 cxb3
18.Qb1 dxe5 19.Qb2 c4 20.Kh1 Qc5=
b52) 10...a6
b521) 11.Bb2 Rb8 12.a4 b6 13.Nf4 Ne8 14.h4 Nc7 15.Rfb1 Janjgava,L-Kramnik,V, Odessa 1989
15...b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Nxb5 Nxb5 18.cxb5 Rxb5 19.h5 g5 20.Ne6 Bxe6 21.dxe6 Qb6=
b522) 11.a4 b6 12.Bd2 Bd7 13.Nf4
b5221) 13.Rae1 Qe8 14.Ng5 Rb8 15.e4 fxe4 16.Ncxe4 b5=
b5222) 13.Ng5 Rb8 14.f4 Suba,M-Gual Pascual,A, Barcelona 1996 14...Nf7 15.Ne6 Bxe6

138
 16.dxe6 Nh6 Black can live with this pawn. 17.a5 Qc8 18.axb6 Rxb6 19.Ra3 Qxe6 20.Nd5 Rbb8
21.Rxa6 Ne4 22.Ra7 Rf7 23.Bc1 Ng4=
b5223) 13...Ne8 14.h4 Nc7 (14...Rb8 15.e4 Qc8 16.h5 g5 17.Nfe2 h6 18.f4 gxf4 19.Nxf4 Nf6=)
15.h5 (15.e4 b5 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.Ne4 Qd7 18.Bc3 Rab8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Qe2 bxc4 21.bxc4 Qc8=)
15...Qe8 16.hxg6 hxg6 17.Nd3 Pereyra Arcija,D-Shtanchaev,A, Roque Saenz Pena 1997 17...b5=

9...Nfd7

Black wants to improve the knight.

With 9...c5 Black is not worried about the queen on b3. 10.Nf4 (10.dxc6 bxc6 11.Bf4 Nfg4 12.f3 Nh6=)

139
10...Rb8 11.a4 Qa5 12.Nd3
a) 12...Bd7 13.Bd2 Qd8 14.Nxe5 dxe5 15.Qa3 b6 16.a5 Ne8 17.axb6 axb6 18.Qb3 Nd6= Uhlmann,-
Yrjola,J, Tallinn 1987.
b) 12...Nh5 13.Bg5 Rf7 14.Bd2 Nxd3 15.exd3 f4 16.Ne4 Qd8 17.Bc3 Qf8=
c) 12...Nf7 13.Bd2 Qd8 14.Qc2 This gives Black some time. 14...Bd7 15.Nf4 Ne5 (15...Qc8 16.Rfe1
Ng4 17.h3 Nge5∞) 16.b3 Qc8 17.Rae1 b6 18.Ne6 Bxe6 19.dxe6 Qxe6=

10.Be3 Nb6

Black finds a target.

10...Nc5 11.Bxc5 dxc5 I believe having doubled pawns is not a problem for Black. 12.Nf4 Qd6 (12...g5
13.Ne6 Bxe6 14.dxe6 c6=) 13.Rad1 Qa6 14.d6 exd6 15.Nb5 Qa5 16.Qa3 Qxa3 17.bxa3 c6 18.Nxd6 b6
19.Nd3 Be6= Schaefer,M-Rotstein,A, Bad Wörishofen 2003.

11.c5 Nbc4 12.Bf4 h6 13.cxd6

13.Rad1 a6 14.Rfe1 g5 15.Bxe5 Nxe5 16.f4 Ng4 17.fxg5 hxg5 18.Nxg5 Bh6=

13...exd6?!

Black undertakes a suspicious pawn structure, and instead 13...cxd6 14.Bc1 Kh7 would be equal.

14.Bc1 Nb6 15.Nf4 Qe7 16.a4 Kh7 17.a5 Nbd7

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18.Ne6

White’s opening play has prevailed, giving him a clear edge, but he later wasted it.

18...Re8 19.Qc2 Nf8 20.Nxg7 Qxg7 21.Nb5 Re7 22.Bd2 Bd7 23.Nd4 Rc8 24.Rad1 c5 25.dxc6 bxc6
26.Nf3 Nxf3+ 27.Bxf3 d5 28.Bb4 Ree8 29.Bc3 Qe7 30.e3 Ne6 31.h4 Rf8 32.Bg2 Be8 33.b3 g5
34.hxg5 Nxg5 35.Ba1 Bh5 36.Rd4 Nf3+ 37.Bxf3 Bxf3 38.Rf4 Be4 39.Qe2 Rg8 40.Kh2 Qg5 41.Rh4
Rce8 42.Rg1 Rb8 43.Be5 Rxb3 44.Bf4 Qf6 45.Rxh6+ Qxh6+ 46.Bxh6 Kxh6 47.g4 f4 48.Rc1 Rh8
49.f3 Kg5+ 50.Kg1 Bxf3 51.exf4+ Kxg4 52.Qe6+ Kg3 53.Qg6+ Bg4 54.f5 Kh3 55.Rxc6 d4 56.Qg7
Rg3+ 57.Kf2 Rg2+ 58.Ke1 Rg1+ 59.Kf2 Rg2+ 60.Ke1 Rg1+ 1/2

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2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Nh3
Game 21
J. Sarkar
E. Gasanov
Czech Rapid, Pardubice 2018

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Nh3

6...d6

Black would like to play ...e5 quickly.

7.d5

a) 7.Nf4 e5= is simple and 7...c6 also looks fine.

b) 7.0-0
b1) 7...Na6 Black prepares ...e5. 8.b3 (8.Qb3 c6 or 8.Ng5 h6) 8...c6 (8...e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Ba3 Qxd1
11.Raxd1 Re8 12.Nd5 e4) 9.Bb2 e5 10.d5 e4 or 10...c5 are equal.
b2) 7...e5 8.c5!? This keeps the position exciting. (8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Qxd8 Rxd8 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.Bxd5+
(11.cxd5 h6) 11...Kf8 12.b3 h6=) 8...Nc6 9.d5 Nb4 (9...Ne7) 10.a3 (10.Ng5 h6 11.Ne6 Bxe6 12.dxe6
dxc5∞) 10...Na6 11.b4 h6 12.c6 bxc6 13.dxc6 Be6∞
c) 7.Bg5 A rare move, but not without poison.
c1) 7...h6!? 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.Nf4 Kh7 In general the two bishops compensate for White’s space and
small development advantage. 10.h4 Nc6 11.h5 g5 12.Ng6 Re8 13.e3 e5=

142
 c2) 7...Na6 Again Black gets ready to play ...e5. 8.Qd2 (8.0-0 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Nd5 c6=) 8...e5 9.d5
(9.Rd1 exd4 10.Nd5 Nc5 11.Qxd4 Ne6 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6=) 9...Qe8 10.Bh6 Bd7 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.0-0
Qe7 13.e4

13...f4 14.f3 g5 15.Nf2 h5 16.gxf4 gxf4 17.Bh3 Nh7 18.Bxd7 Qxd7= Pelletier,Y-Lutz,C, Zürich
1999.

7...Na6

Black aims to get to c5.

8.Nf4

8.Be3
a) 8...Nc5 Black can fall in with White’s intentions. 9.Bxc5 (9.0-0 e6 10.Rc1 Qe7=) 9...dxc5 10.Nf4 a6
11.Qc2 Qd6 12.0-0 Rb8 13.a3 Bd7 14.Rfd1 Ng4= or 14...b5 would be fine.
b) 8...Bd7 Black can follow this move up in several ways, with ...c6 or ..c5 and in some cases ...Ng4.
b1) 9.Rc1 c6 10.0-0 Sokolov,S-Kalinitschew,S, Würzburg 1992 10...Ng4 11.Bd2 (11.Bd4 Bh6)
11...Ne5 12.b3 e6 (12...Nc7!?) 13.Bg5 (13.dxe6 Bxe6=) 13...Qe8 14.dxe6 Bxe6 15.Qxd6 h6 16.Be7
Rf7 17.Qxe6 Kh7°
b2) 9.Qd2!
b21) 9...c5 10.Bh6 Bxh6 11.Qxh6 Ng4 12.Qg5 Nc7 13.a4 e5 (13...Qe8 14.0-0 Qf7=) 14.dxe6 Nxe6
15.Qd2 Bc6 16.0-0 Nd4„
b22) 9...Ng4 10.Bd4 Bh6 (10...Ne5 11.b3 c5 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.0-0 Nf7=) 11.f4 (11.Nf4?! c5
12.dxc6 bxc6=) 11...c5 12.dxc6 bxc6 (12...Bxc6 13.Bd5+ Bxd5 14.cxd5 Nc5=) 13.Nf2 e5 14.Nxg4
fxg4 15.Be3± exf4 16.gxf4 Qh4+ 17.Bf2 Qe7 18.Bg3 Nc5 (18...Rad8 19.Rd1 Rxf4 20.Qxd6 Qxd6

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 21.Rxd6 Rxc4 22.Bh4 Bf4 23.Rd1 g5=) 19.0-0 Lautier,J-Bauer,C, France 1998 (19.Rd1! Nb7=)
19...Nb7 20.Rad1 Rae8 21.e4 Be6=
c) 8...e5 Perhaps this is the simplest. 9.dxe6

9...c6 Black is in no hurry to take back the pawn. 10.Ng5 (10.Qd2 Bxe6 11.b3 Nc7 12.Rd1 d5=)
c1) 10...Qe7 11.Bf4 Ne8 12.0-0 Nc5 13.Rc1 h6 14.Nf7 (14.Nf3 g5 15.Be3 Nxe6=) 14...Bxe6
15.Nxd6? (15.Nxh6+ Kh7 16.Qd2 Bxc4µ) 15...Rd8 16.Nd5 cxd5 17.cxd5 Nxd6–+ Belakovskaia,A-
Leow,L, New York 1992.
c2) 10...Ng4 11.Bf4 Ne5 (11...h6 12.Nf7 Qb6 13.0-0 Bxe6 14.Na4 Qc7 15.Nxd6 Rad8 16.Qc2 Ne5
17.c5 b5=) 12.Nf7 Qf6 13.Nh6+ Kh8 14.Nf7+ Nxf7 15.exf7 g5 16.Bd2 Be6 17.b3 f4³ Barnsley,A-
Gouw,C, ICCF email 2003.

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8...Nc5

It is safer to bring the knight in first.

On 8...e5 9.dxe6 c6 Black can live with the white pawn on e6. (9...Nc5 Black can also sacrifice a pawn.
10.h4 Nxe6 11.Nxe6 Bxe6 12.Bxb7 Rb8 13.Bd5 Qd7 14.0-0 c6 15.Bxe6+ Qxe6 16.Qa4 f4 17.Bxf4
Nh5=)
a) 10.0-0 Gligoric,S-Ilincic,Z, Arandjelovac 1991 10...Nc5 11.Be3 Nxe6 12.h3 Nc5 13.Rc1 Qe7
14.Qd2 Nce4=
b) 10.Be3
b1) 10...Qe7 11.Qd2 Nc7 12.Rd1 Hoffmann,M-Pruijssers,R, Germany 2012 12...Rd8 13.0-0 Bxe6
14.Nxe6 Qxe6 (14...Nxe6 15.h3 Nh5=) 15.b3 d5 or 15...Rd7 are fine.
b2) 10...g5 11.Nd3 Ng4 12.Bd2 Bxe6 13.h4? (13.Qc1 Bf6 14.b3 d5 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.0-0 Rc8=)
13...gxh4 14.Rxh4 Bxc4 15.Qc2 Qd7 16.Nd1 d5 17.Nf4 Rae8 18.Bf3 Perelman,H-Claverie,R,
Buenos Aires 2011 18...Ne5µ
c) 10.h4!? White tries to be aggressive, as other moves give Black time.
c1) 10...Ng4 11.e4 (11.h5 g5³) 11...Nc5 12.exf5 gxf5 13.0-0 Bxe6 14.Nxe6 Nxe6 15.Rb1 Qd7∞
c2) 10...Nc5 11.h5 gxh5 Black undertakes an extra pawn island in return for quick development.
(11...g5 12.h6 Bh8 13.Nh3²) 12.Nxh5 Nxh5 13.Rxh5 Bxe6
c21) 14.Rg5 Qe7 (14...Rf7 15.Bh3 f4°) 15.Rxg7+ Qxg7 (15...Kxg7 16.Qd4+ Kf7 17.Bf4 Rfd8=)
16.Qxd6 b6 17.Be3° Podzielny,K-Kindermannn,S, Germany 1992.
c22) 14.Bh6 Bxh6 15.Rxh6 Qg5 (15...f4 16.Qd2 Qg5 17.Rh4 Bxc4 18.Rd1 Rad8 19.Bf3 Be6=)
16.Rh4 f4 17.Qd2 Bxc4

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 18.Bf3 (18.0-0-0?? Bxa2–+ Spassky,B-Santo Roman,M, Montpellier 1991 or 18.Rxf4 Rxf4 19.Qxf4
Qxf4 20.gxf4 Rf8=) 18...Qe5 19.Kf1 d5= Williams,S-Nijboer,F, Amsterdam 2005.

9.h4

This move should not hurt.

9.Be3 e5 10.dxe6 Nxe6 Against this White can simplify, but it offers no advantage. (10...c6!?) 11.Nxe6
Bxe6 12.Bxb7 Rb8 13.Bd5 Bxd5 (13...Qd7 14.Qc2 c6 15.Bxe6+ Qxe6=) 14.cxd5 Rxb2 15.0-0
Uhlmann,W-Espig,L, Berlin East 1988 15...Ng4=

9...e5 10.dxe6 Nxe6 11.Nxe6 Bxe6 12.Bxb7

146
12...Bxc4

Gasanov plays riskily and imaginatively. The safer play works as well: 12...Rb8 13.Bd5 Qd7 14.0-0 c6
15.Bxe6+ Qxe6 16.Qd3 Ne4 and Black is active enough for the pawn.

13.h5?!

13.Bxa8!? White should take the exchange to have any chance for an advantage. After 13...Qxa8 14.0-0
Nh5 15.Qa4 (15.Be3 f4=) 15...Be6 16.Rd1 a5 it is hard to tell whether the compensation is enough or
not.

13...Rb8

13...Nxh5!? Why not take the pawn?

14.Bf3 d5

14...Nxh5µ

15.hxg6 hxg6 16.Bg5 Rxb2 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.Bxf6 Bxf6

19.Qxd5+

The position is even, but White soon made a horrible blunder and lost.

19...Qxd5 20.Bxd5+ Kg7 21.Rc1 Be5 22.Rh4 Rd8 23.Bc4 Rdd2 24.Rd1 Bc3 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Nh3 d6 7.d5 Na6 8.0-0 Bd7 and 8...Nc5

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 Game 22
Klaudiusz Urban
Peter Heine Nielsen
European Championship, Warsaw 2005

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Nh3 d6 7.d5 Na6 8.0-0

White castles, and this allows him to act according to what Black plays.

8...Nc5

Black brings the knight to the centre at once.

8...Bd7 Black can also play this reasonable bishop move; it allows him to decide between ...c5 and ...c6,
and he might even consider ...e6.
a) 9.e4 Nxe4 10.Nxe4 fxe4 11.Ng5 Nc5 12.Nxe4 (12.Qe2 e6=) 12...Nxe4 13.Bxe4 c5=
b) 9.Nf4 c5 The Benoni setup should work as Black can eventually carry out ...b5. 10.Bd2 Rb8 11.Rb1
(11.Nb5 Ne4 12.Bc1 Nc7 13.a4 a6 14.Nxc7 Qxc7 15.Qc2 b5=) 11...Nc7 12.a4 b6 13.Qc2 a6 14.b4
cxb4 15.Rxb4 a5 16.Rbb1 Qc8 17.Nd3 Na6=
c) 9.Be3 White might play to exchange off the g7-bishop.
c1) 9...c5 10.Qc1 Ng4 11.Bd2 Nc7 12.a4 Rb8 13.b3

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 13...a6?! (13...b6! A typical preparatory move. 14.f3 Ne5 15.Bh6 Bxh6 16.Qxh6 Nf7 17.Qd2 a6
18.f4 b5=) 14.a5 b5 15.axb6 Rxb6 16.Ra3² Kozul,Z-Renner,C, Fuerstenfeld 2013.
c2) 9...c6 10.Nf4 (10.Qd2 Ng4!? 11.Bf4 h6 12.f3 Ne5 13.b3 g5 14.Be3 c5∞) 10...Ng4 11.Bd4 Bh6
12.Nb1 Nc7 13.Bc3 Qe8 (13...e6 14.dxe6 Bxe6=) 14.e3 Nf6=
d) 9.Rb1!? c6 10.b3 Nc7 Black prepares ...e6, which can also be played at once. (10...e6 11.dxe6
(11.dxc6 Bxc6 12.Ba3 Nc5=) 11...Bxe6 12.Bf4 Nh5 13.Bg5 Nf6 14.Qd2 Qe7 15.Rfe1 Nc5 16.Nf4
Bf7=) 11.Bb2 Drozdovskij,Y-Rogovski,V, Alushta 2003. Black has several reasonable options here:
d1) 11...c5 12.a4 b6 13.Qd2 a6 14.e4 Rb8 (14...b5 15.e5 dxe5 16.d6²) 15.Nf4 b5∞
d2) 11...h6 Black can transfer the queen to f7. 12.Nf4 g5 13.Nd3 cxd5 14.cxd5 Qe8=
d3) 11...e6 12.dxe6 Bxe6 13.Nf4 Bf7 14.Qd3 (14.e4 Ne6=) 14...Qe7 15.Rbd1 Rad8 16.Ba3 Nfe8
17.Rfe1 g5 18.Nh3 Bh5=

149
9.Be3

a) On 9.Rb1 e5 or 9...a5 is playable.

b) 9.Qc2
b1) 9...a5 Black secures the knight on c5 and might push the pawn further.
b11) 10.Rd1 e5 (10...a4!?) 11.dxe6 c6 12.Bf4 (12.Ng5 Qe7) 12...Ne8 13.Bg5 Bf6 14.Bh6 Bg7
15.Bxg7 Nxg7 16.Qd2 Bxe6 17.b3 Ne8 18.Nf4 Bf7=
b12) 10.Nf4 e5 11.dxe6 c6 12.b3 (12.e4 Nxe6= Vokac, M-Gazik, I, 1991) 12...Qe7 13.Ba3 g5
(13...Nxe6 14.Rad1²) 14.Nd3 Nce4 15.Rad1

150
 15...Bxe6 (15...Nxc3! This simplification would solve Black’s problem. 16.Qxc3 a4 17.Qc1 axb3
18.axb3 Bxe6=) 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 fxe4 18.Ne1 Timoscenko,G-Chernin,A, Volgodonsk 1981
18...Rfd8 (18...c5 19.Qxe4²) 19.Qxe4 a4 20.Nf3²
b13) 10.b3 White can’t stop Black from pushing the e-pawn. 10...e5 11.dxe6 c6 12.Bb2 Qe7
13.Rad1 Bxe6 14.Ng5 Van der Linden,L-Koch,J, Breda 1994 14...Bd7 15.e3 Rad8=
b2) 9...e5 10.dxe6 c6 White can do nothing other than watch Black finishing his development.
b21) 11.Nf4 See 9.Nf4 e5 10.dxe6 c6 11.Qc2
b22) 11.Rd1 Qe7 12.b3 (12.Bf4 Ne8) 12...Bxe6
b221) 13.Ng5 Bd7 14.Bb2 Rad8 15.e3?! (15.b4 Nce4) 15...Ng4 16.Nh3 (16.Nf3? Ne4µ)

16...g5 Cutting the h3-knight off is an ambitious idea. (16...f4!? An unpleasant pawn sacrifice.
17.exf4 [17.Nxf4 g5 18.Nh3 Ne5°] 17...Bf5 18.Qd2 Nd3°) 17.Re1 h6 18.Rad1 Bc8 (Kindermann
mentions 18...a5 and attaches an !? mark to it and evaluates the position as unclear.) 19.b4
Pelletier,Y-Lutz,C, Biel 1996 19...Ne4=
b222) 13.Bb2 Rad8 14.e3 Rfe8 15.Ne2 Nce4 16.Rd3 Bf7 Black has obtained a very pleasant game.
17.Nc3 Hoffmann,M-Markgraf,A, Germany 2013 17...Ng4³
b23) 11.b3 Qe7 12.Ba3 Bxe6
b231) 13.Rad1 Rad8 14.Ng5 Bc8 I like keeping the bishop. (14...Rfe8 should be fine as well.)
15.b4 Ne6 16.Nxe6 Qxe6 17.Qb3 Ne4 18.Nxe4 fxe4 19.b5 Rfe8 20.e3 c5= Christiansen,L-
Reinderman,D, Wijk aan Zee 1993.
b232) 13.Ng5 Rad8 (13...Bd7 14.Rad1 Rad8 15.Na4 Rfe8=) 14.Nxe6 Qxe6 15.Rad1 Rfe8 16.e3
Nce4 Black’s pieces have a strong enough grip on the centre. 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Rd3 Rd7 19.Rfd1
Red8= Gleizerov,E-Czakon,J, Bratto 2014.

151
9...Nce4

Black wants to reduce the number of minor pieces.

He can also try 9...e5
a) 10.b4!? I have not found a game with this move; it is not clear what Black’s best reaction to it is.
10...Na6 11.a3 Qe7 (11...Ng4 12.Bg5 Bf6 13.Qd2 e4 14.f3²) 12.Rc1 (12.f3 c6∞) 12...h6 13.f3 c6∞
b) 10.dxe6 Nxe6 Black will have time to get organised. 11.Nf4 (11.Rc1 Fang,Y-Liu Guanchu,
Shenzhen 2017 11...Ng4 12.Bd2 c6=) 11...c6
b1) 12.h3 White secures the bishop on e3. 12...Qe7 13.Qd2 Nc5 14.Rad1 Nfe4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4
16.Qc1 Gleizerov,E-Mahjoob,M, Teheran 2005 16...b6 17.Rd3 Bb7 18.Rfd1 Be5 19.h4 Rad8=
b2) 12.Rc1 Ng4 13.Bd2 Nxf4 (13...Re8!?) 14.Bxf4 Ne5 15.Qd2 Be6 16.b3 Qc7 (16...Re8 17.Rfd1
Nf7 18.Bxd6 Qxd6 19.Qxd6 Nxd6 20.Rxd6 Rad8°) 17.Rfd1 Rad8 18.Bg5 Rd7 19.Nd5 (19.Qe3 Qa5
20.f4 h6 21.Bh4 Qc5=) 19...Bxd5 (19...Qb8 20.Nf4 Bf7=) 20.cxd5

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 20...c5= Black can be content as the position was a fighting one with mutual chances in Urban,K-
Bartel,M, Warsaw 2009.
b3) 12.Qd2 Ng4
b31) 13.Rad1 Nxe3 14.Qxe3 Re8 15.Na4 Nxf4 16.Qxf4 Brunello,S-Ortega,L, Arvier 2008
16...Rxe2³
b32) 13.Nxe6 Bxe6 14.Bg5 Qa5 15.Qxd6 Bxc4 16.Qf4 Bf7 17.h3 Nf6= With no weaknesses, Black
did all right in the game Schlosser,P-Markgraf,A, Germany 2015.

10.Nxe4

10.Rc1 c5 Black is ready to sacrifice a pawn and has good chances to obtain full compensation.
(10...Nxc3 11.Rxc3 Bd7 12.c5 Ne4 13.Rc2 Nxc5 [13...b5] 14.Bxc5 dxc5 15.Rxc5²) 11.Nxe4 Nxe4
a) 12.f3 Nf6 13.Nf4 a6 14.a3 (14.b4 cxb4 15.Qb3 a5 16.c5 Qe8∞) 14...b5 15.b4 cxb4 16.axb4 bxc4
17.Rxc4 Bd7=
b) 12.b3 a6 (12...b5 13.cxb5 a6°) 13.Bxe4 fxe4 14.Ng5 Bf5 15.Qc2

153
 15...Qd7! A surprising idea! 16.Nxe4 (16.Rcd1 Rae8) 16...e6°
c) 12.Qc2 b5 13.cxb5 Rb8 14.Bxe4 fxe4 15.Ng5 Rxb5 16.b3 Bf5 17.Nxe4 Rb4°

10...Nxe4 11.Bd4

11.Qc2 c6 12.Nf4 Re8 13.Qb3 (13.Rad1 e5 14.dxe6 Bxe6 15.Qb3 Qc7=) 13...e5 14.dxe6 Qc7 15.Rfd1
Bxe6 16.Nxe6 Rxe6 17.Rd3 a6 18.Rad1 Rae8=

11...Bh6

Black keeps the position complicated and plans to play ...c5. He had a calmer way as well: 11...Bxd4

154
12.Qxd4 If White has any advantage it is quite small. 12...c5 (12...e5 13.dxe6 Bxe6 14.Rad1²) 13.Qe3
Nf6 14.Nf4 Ng4 15.Qc3 Rb8 16.a4 (16.a3 b5 17.cxb5 Rxb5 18.Nd3 Qb6=) 16...b6 17.Rae1 (17.f3 Ne5
18.Nh3 a6=) 17...a6 18.e4 Ne5=

12.b3 c5 13.Bb2 b5

13...Bd7 14.Qd3 Nf6 15.a4 b6 16.Nf4 a6 17.Rfd1 Rb8 18.Bc3 Bg7 19.h3 Qe8=

14.cxb5 Rb8

14...Qa5 15.f3 Nf6 16.a4 Be3+ 17.Kh1 Rb8°

15.Qd3

15...Qb6?

Attacking the pawn like this is inaccurate. 15...Qa5! 16.a4 a6 and now on 17.g4 Black has the subtle
17...Qd2³

16.Nf4?

16.a4! a6 17.g4±

16...Nf6?

The fact that very good players keep failing to find the best moves underlines that the variation is
complex and not at all easy to play. Black should have played 16...Qxb5 17.Bxe4 fxe4 18.Qxe4 Bxf4
19.gxf4 Qd7 20.f3 Rb4=

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17.a4 a6 18.b4

White has a very clear advantage.

18...cxb4

19.Ne6

19.Rfc1 would have won, but after the text move Black defended stubbornly and got away with it.
19...axb5 20.a5+–

19...Bxe6 20.dxe6 axb5 21.a5 Qa6 22.Rfb1 Bg7 23.Bd4 Rfc8 24.Rxb4 Ng4 25.e3 Ne5 26.Qb3 Nc6
27.Bxc6 Rxc6 28.Qb2 Bxd4 29.exd4 Rbc8 30.Rxb5 Rc2 31.Qb3 Kg7 32.Qd5 R8c7 33.h4 h5 34.Rf1
Kf6 35.Qb3 R2c3 36.Qd5 Rc8 37.Rb3 1/2

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Nh3 d6 7.d5 Na6 8.0-0 Nc5 9.Nf4 e5 10.dxe6 c6
Game 23
Evgeny Gleizerov
Herraiz Hermini Hidalgo
La Laguna 2010

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Nh3 d6 7.d5 Na6 8.0-0 Nc5 9.Nf4

White brings the knight in at once.

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9...e5 10.dxe6 c6

Black wants to take back on e6 with the knight. After that, a typical Leningrad Dutch middlegame
occurs.

11.Qc2

Some play this queen move first, before bringing the knight to f4, while some do it the other way around.
a) 11.Re1 Nxe6 12.Nxe6 Bxe6 13.Bf4 Bxc4 This eases Black’s position. 14.Bxd6 Rf7 15.Bf4 Qa5
16.Qc2 Nd5 17.Nxd5 Bxd5= Corvi,M-Cabrera,A, Bergamo 2009.
b) 11.Rb1 Nxe6 12.b3 Nxf4 Black decides to force matters. (12...Qe7 and 12...Re8 were both
reasonable alternatives.) 13.Bxf4 Nh5 14.Bd2

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14...f4 (14...Be6 15.Bf3 Nf6 16.Bf4 Ng4=) 15.Rc1 Qe7 16.e3 fxg3 17.hxg3 Nf6 Developing the c8-
bishop should be fine as well. 18.Ne2 Ng4 19.Nf4 Huebner,R-Kindermann,S, Germany 1995 19...g5
20.Nh5 Bh8³
c) 11.Be3
c1) 11...Qe7
c11) 12.h3 g5 13.Nd3 Nxe6 14.Qd2 h6 15.f4 Nh5 16.Bf2= Van der Sterren,P-Van Mil,J, Dutch
Championship 1991.
c12) 12.Qd2 Bxe6 13.Nxe6 White gets the bishop, but the black pieces can move quite freely.
13...Qxe6 (13...Nxe6 14.Bh6 [14.h3?! Nh5³ or 14.Rfd1 Ng4=] 14...Bxh6 15.Qxh6 g5 16.e4 f4=)
14.Rad1 Zueger,B-Kindermannn,S, Horgen 1995 14...Ng4=
c2) 11...Nxe6 It is a matter of taste whether Black gives up the bishop or not, though probably neither
plan is noticeably better than the other.
c21) 12.Rc1 Qe7 13.Qa4? The queen finds herself out of play here. 13...Ng4 14.Bd2 Nxf4 15.Bxf4

158
 15...g5! Black’s aggression is justified here. 16.Bd2 f4 17.Qd1 (17.Ne4 Bf5³) 17...fxg3 18.hxg3 Qf6
19.Bf3 Qh6µ Sher,M-Beim,V, Biel 1990.
c22) 12.Nxe6 Bxe6 13.Qd3?! (13.b3 Qe7=) 13...Ng4! Black exploits White’s inaccuracy and gets
the bishop. 14.b3 Nxe3 15.Qxe3 Re8 (15...Bf7 16.Rfd1 Qf6=) 16.Qd2 Bf7 17.Rac1 Qa5 18.Rfd1
Rad8 19.e3 Qe5= Sarfati,J-Garbett,P, Auckland 1992.

11...Nxe6 12.Rd1

I prefer bringing the rook into play rather than developing Black’s bishop, though neither of them should
hurt Black.
12.Nxe6 Bxe6 13.b3

159
 a) 13...d5!? Black can free the position at once. 14.Rd1 Ne4 15.Bb2 Nxc3 16.Bxc3 d4= 17.e3? (17.Bb2
f4=) 17...dxc3! and Black takes over.
b) 13...Rf7 14.Bb2
b1) 14...Qf8 15.Rad1 Rd8 16.e3 Rfd7 17.Rd2 1/2 Tempone,M-Rodriguez Vila,A, Villa Ballester 1996.
If White had played 17.Ne2 Bf7 18.Bd4 a6 the position would be equal.
b2) 14...Rd7 15.Rad1 Qe7 16.e3 Black has equality after 16...Bf7 or 16...Rad8.
b3) 14...Rc8 Black wants to play ...d5 — that’s why he puts the rook behind the c-pawn. 15.Rad1 d5
Black frees the position. 16.e3 Rd7 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.Qb1 Fingerov,D-Tukhaev,A, Alushta 2006
18...Ne4 19.Ne2 Bxb2 20.Qxb2 Qf6=

12...Qe7

160
13.b3

Against this Black has time to choose from several plans, but White has nothing better.
13.Nxe6 Bxe6 14.b3 Rfd8 (14...Ne4 15.Bb2 d5 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.Nxd5 (17.Nxe4 dxe4=) 17...Bxd5
18.Rxd5 Rac8 19.Qb1 Nc3³) 15.Bb2 Qf7 16.Rd2 Rd7 17.Rad1 Rad8 18.e3 Shishkov,A-Gavrikov,V,
Tallinn 1998 18...d5=

13...Ng4

a) 13...Nc5 14.Bb2 g5 (14...Be6=) 15.Nd3 Nce4 16.e3 Be6 1/2 Veingold,A-Malaniuk,V, Tallinn 1999.
b) 13...Ne4!? Black can force matters. 14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.Rb1
b1) 15...Nxf4 16.Bxf4 e3 17.Bxd6 (17.Bxe3 Bf5=) 17...Qe8 18.Bxf8 Bf5 19.Qc1 exf2+ 20.Kxf2
Qxf8°
b2) 15...Nd4 16.Qxe4 Qf7 17.Qd3 g5 18.Bb2 gxf4 19.Bxd4 Bf5 20.Be4 Bxe4 21.Qxe4 Rae8
22.Qxf4 Qxf4 23.gxf4 Rxe2=

14.Nxe6

On 14.e3 Black can play as in the game with 14...g5, or try 14...Rd8 or 14...Nc5 15.Bb2 a5

14...Bxe6 15.e3 g5

Black wants more than to just hold the position. He could play 15...Rad8 16.Bb2 Ne5=

16.h3

161
16.Bb2?! f4³

16...Ne5

16...Nh6!? is perhaps stronger as Black has chances to play ...f4. 17.Rd3 (17.Re1 Bf7 18.Bb2 Bh5=)
17...Rad8 (17...f4!?=) 18.f4 Rfe8=

17.Ba3 Rad8 18.f4 Nf7 19.Bb2

After 19.Rd3 Rfe8 20.Rad1 perhaps White has a small edge.

162
19...Bc8

19...Rfe8!? was equal. In the game White was somewhat better for a long time, then Black equalised, but
a big mistake crept in and he eventually lost.

20.Rd3 Qf6 21.Rb1 Qg6 22.Ne2 Rde8 23.Bxg7 Qxg7 24.Qc3 gxf4 25.gxf4 Qxc3 26.Nxc3 Re6 27.Bf3
Rfe8 28.Kf2 Rh6 29.Rg1+ Kf8 30.Rg3 Ke7 31.Ne2 Rf8 32.b4 Be6 33.Rc3 Rg6 34.b5 Rc8 35.Ra3 Bxc4
36.bxc6 bxc6 37.Nd4 c5 38.Nxf5+ Kf6 39.e4 Rb8 40.Rxg6+ hxg6 41.Ne3 Rb2+ 42.Kg3 Bxa2
43.Rxa7 Be6 44.f5 gxf5 45.exf5 Ba2 46.Kf4 Kg7 47.Ng4 Kf8 48.f6 Ke8 49.Be4 Bc4 50.Ne3 Rb4
51.Bc6+ Kd8 52.Nxc4 Rxc4+ 53.Kf5 Ne5 54.Bd5 Rd4 55.Ke6 Rd1 56.Kxd6 Nc4+ 57.Kxc5 Ne5
58.f7 Rf1 59.Kd6 1–0

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CHAPTER 4.
7...C6 MAIN LINE (SIDELINES)

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6
Game 24
Ivajlo Enchev
Mateusz Bartel
European Championship, Plovdiv 2012

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6

7.0-0

White players rarely play anything other than heading for the main line with castling. There are many
move orders to reach this position, so I have chosen the most common one.
a) 7.Bg5 Ne4 8.Nxe4 fxe4 9.Nd2 Bxd4 10.Nxe4 Bxb2=
b) 7.Bf4 Nh5 Black looks for complications, but simpler is 7...c6 8.Qc2 Nh5 9.Bg5 h6=. 8.Bg5 h6
9.Be3 Nc6 (9...c6 10.Qd2 g5 11.h4 g4 12.Nh2 Kh7∞) 10.Qd2 g5= 11.d5 Na5 12.b3 c5∞
c) 7.Qc2 c6 8.Bg5 Be6 (8...h6 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.e4 (10.Rd1 Be6) 10...fxe4 11.Nxe4 Qa5+=) 9.b3 Nbd7
10.Rd1 h6 11.Be3 Bf7 12.0-0 Qc7=
d) 7.d5 c6
d1) 8.Be3 e5
d2) 8.Bg5 Qb6 9.Rb1 Ne4!? Black starts a confrontation. 10.0-0 Nxg5 11.Nxg5 h6 12.Nh3 g5

164
 13.Qd2 Na6 14.Kh1 Bd7 15.f4 g4 16.Nf2 Qd4= Leutwyler,M-Gavrikov,V, Lenk 1995.
d3) 8.Nd4 Against most moves Black can treat the position like the main line, but against this knight
move ...e5 can’t be carried out. 8...Qb6 (8...c5 9.Ne6 Bxe6 10.dxe6 Nc6∞) 9.0-0
d31) 9...Re8 Black gets ready to move the f6-knight. 10.h3 Ne4 11.Nxe4 Qxd4 12.Nc3 Qxd1
13.Rxd1 Bd7 14.Bf4 Na6=
d32) 9...Bd7 10.Rb1 (10.h3 Ne4) 10...Ng4 11.dxc6 (11.e3 c5 12.Nde2 Na6∞) 11...bxc6 12.e3 a5=
d33) 9...e5?! This thematic move is not fully satisfactory here. 10.dxe6 Re8 11.Rb1 Bxe6 12.Nxe6
Rxe6 Palatnik,S-Lerner,K, Kiev 1978 13.e4 fxe4 14.Bh3 Re8 15.Qxd6±

7...c6!?

Interestingly, according to the database this move was first played in 1956 by the East German Liebert,
while 7...Qe8 was first seen in 1959 from the Argentine Pelikan. In the late eighties and the nineties the
queen move was clearly more popular, however recently thanks to many great players the text move has
become the norm. Caruana employed it in three regular and two blitz games, while Mamedyarov played
it in four rapid games and one regular game. Additionally, Nakamura has employed it 14 times in
different time-controls while Nepomniachtchi has mainly played it in events with faster time-controls,
his score the best of all these champions; he won 7, drew 5 and lost only 2 out of 14 games.
I think that in the 7...Qe8 line, the pawn sacrifice 8.Re1 Qf7 9.e4 and also the 8.Nd5 lines became
somewhat unpleasant for Black. By pushing the c-pawn instead, Black has fewer chances to cause
problems by playing against the d4-pawn, but the pawn move limits the power of the g2-bishop and takes
the d5-square away from White. What will Black’s next move be? Well, he can play for ...e5 with ...Qc7
or ...Qe8 or ...Nbd7, and can also develop with ...Na6 followed by ...Bd7.

8.Qd3

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The queen move vacates d1 and prepares e4.
a) 8.Be3 White may want to exchange the bishop on h6 or push the d-pawn. 8...Na6 Black just brings
his pieces into play. (8...Ng4 9.Bf4 [9.Bd2 e5] 9...e5 10.Bg5 Qc7=) 9.d5 (9.Qc1 Qc7 10.Bf4 Nh5
11.Bh6 e5∞)
a1) 9...Bd7 10.a3 cxd5 (10...Nc5 11.Bxc5 dxc5 12.Ne5²) 11.Nxd5 Nc7 12.Qb3 Ncxd5 13.cxd5
Qa5=
a2) 9...e5 10.dxe6 (10.Ng5 e4 (10...c5 11.Ne6) 11.f3 cxd5 12.cxd5 exf3 13.exf3²) 10...Bxe6 11.Qa4
Nc5 12.Bxc5 dxc5 13.Ng5 Bc8 14.Rad1 Qb6 15.Qc2 Qc7 16.b3 f4 17.Nce4 Bf5 18.Qc1 Conde,A-
Real de Azua,E, Buenos Aires 2018 18...Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Rae8µ
b) 8.c5 White gains space, but it is premature to gain any advantage. 8...dxc5 (8...Na6 9.cxd6 exd6
10.Qb3+ Kh8=) 9.Qb3+ Kh8 10.dxc5 Na6 11.Qc4 Qe8 (11...Qa5 12.Ne5 Qxc5 13.Nf7+ Kg8
14.Nh6+=) 12.Ne5 Nd7 13.Nxd7 Bxd7 14.Rd1 e5 15.Be3 Be6 16.Qa4 Qe7 17.Rd6

17...Nc7 Black gets closer to kicking out the d6-rook. 18.Rad1 a6 19.Qc2 Ne8= Rietze,C-
Stremavicius,T, Berlin 2015.
c) 8.Bf4 Nh5 The knight move goes after the bishop and helps to play ...e5. (8...Na6 Black can also just
develop like this.)
c1) 9.Bd2 e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.e4 f4 12.Ne2 Qe7 (12...c5=) 13.b4 Be6 14.Qc2 Nd7 15.c5 g5 16.h3 g4
17.hxg4 Bxg4= Ochkoos,J-Spraggett,K, Toronto 2000.
c2) 9.Qd2 Nxf4 10.gxf4

166
 10...a5 (10...e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Qxd8 Rxd8 13.Nxe5 Be6 14.Na4 Na6=) 11.b3 Na6 12.Rac1 Bd7
13.Rfd1 Qc7 14.Qe3 Rae8 15.c5 Bh6 16.cxd6 exd6 17.Qd2 Qd8= Plachetka,J-Kovacevic,V, Maribor
1980.
c3) 9.d5 Nxf4 10.gxf4 e5 11.dxc6 Nxc6 12.Qd2 e4 13.Ng5 Kh8 14.Rfd1 h6 15.Nh3 Be6 16.Rac1
Liu,C-Potapov,P, Moscow 2015 (16.b3 Qb6³) 16...Bxc4 17.Nxe4 Bxa2µ
d) 8.Bg5
d1) 8...Ne4 This simplification works as well. 9.Nxe4 (9.Bf4 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Qe8 11.d5 Na6=)
9...fxe4 10.Ne1 (10.Nd2 Bxd4=) 10...d5 11.Nc2 h6 12.Be3 Bf5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Qd2 Kh7 15.Rac1
1/2 Vajda,L-Grunberg,M, Bucharest 2001.
d2) 8...Qc7 Black gets ready to carry out ...e5. 9.Qd2 (9.Rc1 e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.e4 Na6= or 9.Re1
Na6 10.e4 Nxe4 11.Nxe4 fxe4 12.Rxe4 e5=) 9...e5 10.c5 e4 (10...exd4 11.Qxd4 Ne4 12.cxd6 Nxg5
13.Nxg5 Bxd4 14.dxc7 Na6=) 11.cxd6 Qxd6 12.Ne5 Be6 13.Bf4 Qe7 14.b3 Adhiban,B-Potapov,P,
Doha 2016 14...Rd8 15.Bg5 Nbd7³

167
8...Na6

Black brings the knight into play; later it might win a tempo on the queen.

9.a3

a) 9.b3?! It is not a fortunate moment for this move. 9...Qc7 (9...e5!? 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Nxe5 Qa5 12.c5
Nxc5 13.Qc2 Ne6 14.Nc4 Qc7=) 10.Ba3 Qa5 11.Bb2 e5 12.dxe5 (12.Qd2 Qc7=) 12...dxe5 13.Ng5 h6
14.Nh3 e4 (14...Be6³) 15.Qc2 Nb4 16.Qb1 Be6 17.a3 Na6 18.f3?? (18.Nf4 Bf7 19.h4 Ng4³)
18...Qb6+–+ Paehtz,E-Cmilyte,V, Beijing 2013.
b) 9.Rd1 Qe8 Black steps out of the pin and hopes to play ...e5. 10.d5 (10.b3 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Qd2
e4=) 10...e5 (10...Nc5 11.Qc2 cxd5 12.cxd5 Bd7=) 11.dxe6 Bxe6
b1) 12.Bf4 Rd8 13.Bxd6 Rf7 14.Qe3 (14.Qc2 Bxc4 15.Qa4 Bd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5=) 14...Bxc4
15.Qxe8+ Nxe8 16.Bf4 Rxd1+ 17.Rxd1 Re7=
b2) 12.Ng5 Rd8 13.Nxe6 Qxe6 14.Be3 Ng4 15.Bxa7 Ne5 16.Qe3 Qxc4 17.Nd5 Le,Q-Cori Tello,D,
Moscow 2012 17...Rde8 18.Qd2 Nf7=

9...Qe8 10.e4 e5

This arrives in time.

11.Re1?!

11.dxe5 White has to play accurately to keep equality. 11...dxe5 12.c5 (12.Be3 Ng4 13.Bd2 Nc5 14.Qc2
Nf6³) 12...fxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Bf5 15.Qc4+ Qf7=

168
11...fxe4?!

This is not the best. 11...exd4! 12.Nxd4 Nc5 13.Qc2 fxe4 14.Bf4 Qd8 15.Red1 Bg4³

12.Nxe4 Bf5 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Qb3

14.Qd1 Qf7 (14...Bg7 15.h3 Rd8 16.g4²) 15.Bh6 Rfe8 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Ng5 Qe7 18.Ne4 Nc5=

14...e4

14...Qf7 15.Ng5 Qe7 16.Be3²

15.Bh6

15.Qxb7 White should take the pawn. 15...Qc8 16.Qxc8 Raxc8 17.Nd2 d5 18.Bf1²

169
15...Qd7!

Black is ready to give up an exchange.

16.Ng5

16.Bxf8 Rxf8 17.Nd2 Bxd4µ

16...Bxd4

Black is able to take White’s key pawn.

17.Bxf8

17.Re2 e3 18.fxe3 Nc5³

17...Rxf8 18.Re2

18.Nxe4 Bxe4 19.Rxe4 Nc5µ

18...Nc5 19.Qd1 Qg7 20.h3 d5

20...e3–+

21.g4??

21.cxd5 cxd5 22.Rd2=

170
21...Bd7–+

Black is winning and never let his opponent back into the game.

22.cxd5 cxd5 23.Rd2 Ba4 24.Qe1 Nd3 25.Ne6 Qe5 26.Nxd4 Nxe1 27.Rxe1 Qf4 28.Re3 Rc8 29.b3
Bd7 30.Ne2 Qf7 31.f3 Bb5 32.fxe4 Bxe2 33.Rdxe2 Rc1+ 34.Re1 Qf4 35.R3e2 d4 0–1

2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.b4
Game 25
Boris Gelfand
Fabiano Caruana
Chess Challenge, Zurich 2014

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6

171
8.b4

White immediately gains space on the queenside: this is testing for Black.

8...e5

Black wastes no time in freeing his position. White is slightly better developed, so Black has to follow up
with some precision.
8...Ne4 Black can also try to play against White’s pawns. 9.Bb2 (9.Qc2 Nxc3 10.Qxc3 e5 [10...Nd7
11.c5 h6=] 11.dxe5 dxe5=) 9...a5 (9...Be6 Playing against c4 leads to a somewhat unusual position.
10.Nxe4 fxe4 11.Ng5 Bxc4 12.Qc2 Bd5 13.Bxe4 Bxe4 14.Qxe4 Qd7 Black gives up the dark-squared
bishop. 15.Ne6 Rf6 16.Nxg7 d5∞) 10.b5 Yuffa,D-Laznicka,V, Pardubice 2016 (10.a3 axb4 11.axb4
Rxa1 12.Qxa1 Na6 13.b5 Nc7=) 10...Be6 I recommend here that Black opt for the Stonewall formation.
a) 11.Qc1 d5 12.Ng5 Nxg5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Qxg5 Bf7=
b) 11.Qd3 cxb5 12.cxb5 d5 13.Na4 Nd7 14.Rac1 Nb6 15.Nc5 Qc8=
c) 11.bxc6 Nxc6 12.Rc1 d5 13.Nxd5 (13.Ng5 Nxg5 14.cxd5 Nxd4 15.dxe6 f4=) 13...Bxd5 14.cxd5
Qxd5 15.a3 Qa2 16.Rc2

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 16...Rac8 Black’s pieces have nice play after 17.Bc1 Qb3 18.e3 e5.
d) 11.Rc1 d5 (11...cxb5 12.Nxb5 Nd7 13.Nc3 Nxc3 14.Rxc3 Nf6) 12.Qc2 (12.Nxe4 fxe4 13.Ng5 Bf5
14.f3 exf3=) 12...cxb5 13.cxd5 Bxd5 14.Nxd5 Qxd5 15.Nd2 Nc6 16.Nxe4 fxe4 17.Bxe4 Qxa2=

9.dxe5

This is White’s best option.

a) 9.Qb3 e4 10.c5+ Kh8 11.Ng5
a1) 11...a5 Black can soften up White’s queenside. 12.b5 dxc5 13.dxc5 Qe7 14.Na4 Nd5 15.Rb1 Nd7
16.Rd1 h6 17.Nh3 g5 18.Bb2 Nxc5=
a2) 11...d5 12.Nh3 Nbd7 13.b5 Nh5 Black is fast enough on the kingside. 14.Rd1 Ndf6 15.bxc6 bxc6
16.Qa4 Qe8 17.Rb1 h6 18.f4 Ng4 19.Nf2 Nxf2 20.Kxf2 g5³ Krupenski,J-Gavrikov,V, Parnu/Tallinn
2001.
b) 9.b5 e4 Black gains the upper hand in the centre. 10.Nd2 Be6 11.Qb3?! (11.Ba3 Qc7 12.bxc6 bxc6
13.Rb1 Nbd7=) 11...Nbd7 12.Ba3 c5 13.e3 Ng4 (13...cxd4 14.exd4 Nb6 15.Ne2 Rc8 16.Rfc1 Bf7
17.Rc2 Bh6µ) 14.Ne2 Qa5 15.Rfd1 a6 16.bxa6 Haast,M-Klein,D, Netherlands 2012 (16.h3 axb5³)
16...b5µ

9...dxe5 10.e4!?

White stops ...e4 and tries to weaken Black’s central pawns.

a) 10.Nxe5? Qxd1 11.Nxd1 (11.Rxd1 Ne4 12.Nxe4 Bxe5µ) 11...Ng4 12.f4 Nxe5³
b) 10.Bb2 Simple development doesn’t hurt Black 10...Qe7 (10...e4 11.Nd4 Ng4³) 11.Qb3 Na6 12.b5
Nc5 13.Qb4 a5 14.Qa3 Nfd7 15.Na4 Re8 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.Nd2 e4= Stukopin,A-Ernst,S, Groningen
2013.

173
 c) 10.Qb3 e4 Playing this move is an accomplishment for Black.
c1) 11.Ng5 h6 12.Nh3 Be6 13.Rd1 Qe8 (13...Qc7 14.Qc2 Nbd7 15.c5 Ne5µ) 14.b5 Qf7 15.bxc6
Nxc6 16.Rb1 Rab8 17.Nd5 b5µ Mojzis,J-Milov,L, Bregenz 2016.
c2) 11.Rd1 Qe7 12.Nd4 Dubinski,M-Bernadskiy,V, Krakow 2014 12...Ng4 Black has fewer pieces in
play, but they work better. 13.b5 Rd8 (13...c5 14.Nc2 Be6=) 14.Ba3 Qe8 15.e3 Ne5=

10...Be6

10...Qxd1!? Exchanging queens is more popular, and perhaps there is a reason for it. Black still has to
play with care. 11.Rxd1 f4 12.Bb2
a) 12.gxf4 exf4 13.Bxf4 Chigaev,M-Potapov,P, Pardubice 2017 13...Nfd7 14.Ne2 Bxa1 15.Rxa1 a5
16.b5 Nb6=
b) 12.Rb1 White now threatens to take on f4. 12...fxg3 (12...Nh5?! 13.b5²) 13.fxg3 Gordievsky,D-
Potapov,P, Moscow 2016 13...Be6 14.Bf1 Nbd7 15.Ng5 (15.Be2 h6=) 15...Bg4 16.Rd2 a5 17.b5 h6=
c) 12.b5 fxg3 13.hxg3 (13.fxg3 Meshkov,Y-Potapov,P, Sochi 2017 13...Bg4 14.h3 Be6=) 13...Bg4
(13...Re8 14.Rb1 Bf8=) 14.Ba3 Rc8 15.Rab1

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 15...Nbd7 Black has managed to develop his camp well. 16.bxc6 bxc6 (16...Rxc6 17.Nd5 Rxc4
18.Rxb7 Ra4 19.Be7 Nxd5 20.Rxd5 Nb6=) 17.Bd6 Miroshnichenko,E-Filippov,A, Kocaeli 2014
17...Ne8 18.Be7 Rab8=
12...fxg3 13.hxg3 Bg4 14.Re1 Nbd7 15.Nd2 a5 16.a3 Rfd8= Leko,P-Ponomariov,R, Dortmund 2014.

11.exf5?!

This doesn’t hurt Black.

11.Qb3!? A lot depends on this move. 11...b5!? Otherwise Ng5 would be rather unpleasant for Black.
12.Rd1
a) 12...Qe7 13.Bf1 a5 14.exf5 gxf5 15.Ba3 (15.bxa5 b4∞) 15...e4 (15...c5 16.bxa5²) 16.Nd4 Ng4
17.Nxe6 a4² 18.Qc2²
b) 12...Nfd7 Black wins back the pawn, but his position is somewhat loose. 13.Qc2 (13.Bf1 f4; 13.Qb2
Bxc4 14.Nd2 Be6 15.a4 bxa4 16.Nxa4 Qe7 17.Nf3 f4 18.Qc3 h6 19.Bb2 Kh7 20.Rd2 Bg4=)
13...Bxc4 14.a4 f4 Black has no other reasonable move. 15.Nd2 (15.Bb2 Na6) 15...Be6 16.axb5 cxb5
17.Nd5²
12...Qe8? 13.Bf1 h6 14.exf5 gxf5 15.Nxe5± Stocek,J-Agrest,E, Budapest 1997.

11...gxf5

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12.Nxe5

White only temporarily wins a pawn.

a) 12.Qe2 Qe7 13.Ng5 Bc8 14.Bd2 e4 15.c5 h6 16.Nh3 Nbd7 17.Nf4 Ne5=
b) 12.Qb3 e4 13.Ng5 Qe7 14.Nxe6 (14.b5 Ng4) 14...Qxe6 Black does without his white-squared
bishop. 15.Ne2 (15.f3 Nbd7 16.Bf4 exf3 17.Bxf3 Ne5=) 15...Ng4 16.Rb1 (16.Nf4 Qf7=) 16...Nd7
17.Nf4 Qf7 18.c5 Qxb3 19.Rxb3 Rfe8=

12...Qxd1 13.Rxd1 Nfd7 14.Nxd7 Nxd7 15.Bb2 Nb6 16.Rac1 Bxc4 17.Ba1

176
17...Rad8=

Black pressed for a while, but went wrong and in the end had to work for the draw.

18.Rxd8 Rxd8 19.Bh3 Bd3 20.Nd1 Nc4 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Bf1 Bxf1 23.Kxf1 Rd4 24.Ke2 Kf6 25.f3
Na3 26.Rc3 Nb5 27.Rb3 Rc4 28.Kd3 Rc1 29.Nc3 Rf1 30.Ke3 Re1+ 31.Kd3 Rf1 32.Ke3 Re1+ 33.Kd3
a6 34.a4 Nd6 35.Rb1 Rxb1 36.Nxb1 b5 37.axb5 axb5 38.Kd4 Nc4 39.Kc5 Ne5 40.Nd2 h5 41.f4
Nd3+ 42.Kxc6 Nxb4+ 43.Kxb5 Nd3 44.Nf3 Nf2 45.Kc6 Ng4 46.Kd6 h4 47.gxh4 Ne3 48.Ne5 Ng2
49.Nd7+ Kg7 50.Ke5 Nxh4 51.h3 Kf7 52.Nb8 Kg6 53.Nc6 Nf3+ 54.Ke6 Ng1 55.Ne5+ Kh5
56.Kxf5 1/2

177
CHAPTER 5.
7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.QB3

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Qb3 Na6
Game 26
Pavel Bublei
Ian Nepomniachtchi
Moscow Open 2015

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6

8.Qb3

The queen on b3 pins the bishop to c8 defending the b7-pawn. It can also have an effect on the king on
g8. The d1-square may come in handy for a rook and from this square the queen will protect d5. On the
other hand, White has no direct threat so Black has time to develop.

8...Na6

Black develops the knight, not worrying about the diagonal. If White plays d5 then ...Nc5 will come with
tempo.

9.Be3

White just brings out the bishop; Bublei probably focused more on Nepo’s play than on his own.

178
a) 9.Bg5 Gabuzyan,H-Lu,S, Albena 2012 9...Nc7 10.Rad1 Ne6 11.Bc1 Rb8 12.Rfe1 Ne4=
b) 9.Re1 White wants to carry out e4, so Black has to act correctly
b1) 9...Ne4 10.Be3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 White’s centre is strong. (11.Qxc3 Nc5 12.Rac1 Ne4 13.Qc2
(13.Qa3 e5=) 13...e5=) 11...Qb6 12.Qc2 Nc7 13.Bg5 Re8 14.e4 fxe4 15.Qxe4 Qa6 16.Bf1 Qa3²
b2) 9...Qb6!? This is my idea; Black wants to exchange queens or develop quickly. 10.Qc2 Be6 11.b3
(11.d5 Nb4 12.Qb3 cxd5 13.cxd5 Bxd5=) 11...Nb4 12.Qd1 Ne4
b21) 13.Bb2

13...d5 The Stonewall formation looks nice here. 14.a3 Na6 15.c5 Qc7 16.Qc2 b6 17.b4 Nb8
18.Rad1 Nd7 19.Bc1 a5=
b22) 13.Na4 Qc7 14.a3 Na6 15.Ng5 Nxg5 16.Bxg5 d5 (16...h6 17.Be3 Bf7 18.Rc1 e5=) 17.cxd5
Bxd5 18.Bxd5+ cxd5=
b3) 9...Kh8 10.e4 fxe4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Rxe4 e5
b31) 13.Be3! The bishop does better on e3 this time. 13...exd4 (13...Bf5 14.Rh4 exd4 15.Bxd4²)
14.Bxd4 Nc5 15.Bxg7+ Kxg7 16.Qc3+ Qf6 (16...Kg8 17.Rd4±) 17.Re7+ Rf7 18.Qxf6+ Kxf6
19.Re8²
b32) 13.Bg5 Qc7 14.Rae1 Bf5 15.Rh4 exd4? Klekowski,M-Bernadskiy,V, Krakow 2013 (15...e4!
16.g4 exf3 17.gxf5 Rxf5 18.Re7 Rxg5=) 16.Re7 Qb6 17.Bh6+–
c) 9.Qa3 Against ...Kh8 this is more effective, but here Black has more time to take care of the
queenside.
c1) 9...Be6 10.d5 Bd7 11.dxc6 (11.Be3 Nc7= [11...c5]) 11...Bxc6 12.b4 Ne4 13.Bb2 Qb6 14.b5
Nxc3=
c2) 9...Nc7 10.Rd1 (10.b4 Be6) 10...h6 11.d5 (11.b4 Qe8 [11...Be6 12.Nd2 d5 13.c5 Bf7=] 12.b5

179
 cxb5 13.cxb5 Be6=) 11...Bd7 12.dxc6 (12.Be3 c5 13.Qb3 b5 14.cxb5 Nxb5 15.Nxb5 Rb8=) 12...bxc6
13.b4 (13.Rb1 Ne6 14.b4 Qe8 15.Ne1 Qf7 16.Nd3 Ne4=)

13...a5 Reducing the number of pawns on the queenside makes it easier to play as Black. 14.b5 Ne4
(14...cxb5 15.Nxb5 Ne4=) 15.Bb2 Bxc3 16.Bxc3 cxb5 17.Bxa5 Piorun,K-Vovk,A, Cappelle-la-
Grande 2014 17...Qc8 18.Nh4 Kh7=
d) 9.Rd1 The main line: White stops ...e5. Now 9...Qe8
d1) 10.c5+ Kh8 11.cxd6 exd6 12.Bf4 Qe7 13.Qa3 Rd8 14.Rac1 Nc7=
d2) 10.Qa3 Jankovic,A-Kovacevic,V, Sibenik 2012 10...Nc7 11.Qb3 (11.c5 Ne4=) 11...Rb8 12.Be3
Kh8 (12...Nh5 13.d5 c5=) 13.a4 Ng4 14.Bc1 Bd7=
d3) 10.Rb1 h6 Black switches to the kingside. (10...e5 is simpler. 11.c5+ [11.d5 c5] 11...d5 12.Nxe5
Nxc5 13.Qc2 Ncd7 14.f4 a5 15.b3 Qe7=) 11.Qa3 g5 12.b4 Nc7 13.b5 Ne4 14.bxc6 bxc6 Panelo
Munoz,M-Rodriguez Vila,A, Barcelona 2006 15.h4 g4 16.Nd2² White is better developed.

180
9...Ng4!?

Attacking the bishop suits this game strategically.

10.Bg5 h6 11.Bc1 Nf6

Black just puts the ball back in White’s court; White will run out of useful moves first. 11...e5!? This is
natural and solves Black’s opening problems. 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.c5+ Kh7 14.cxd6 Qxd6=

12.Rd1 Kh7 13.Be3 Qe8 14.Qa3 Nc7

181
15.Ne1

This move might mean that White doesn’t really know what to do. On 15.Rac1 Bd7 is fine, but 15...a5 is
ok as well.

15...Be6 16.d5 Bd7

16...cxd5 17.cxd5 Bd7 18.Bd4 a5 19.Rac1 b5=

17.Rab1 b6 18.h3 g5 19.dxc6 Bxc6 20.Nd5 Ncxd5 21.cxd5

21...Bb5

Black has a nice, playable game, and although the position remained balanced for quite some time,
White made a blunder. Nepomniachtchi found the lovely exploit and won.

22.Rd2 Qg6 23.Rc1 Rac8 24.Rdc2 Rxc2 25.Rxc2 f4 26.Bd4 fxg3 27.Qxg3 Bd7 28.Qe3 Rf7 29.Nd3 Bf5
30.Rc7 e5 31.Nxe5 dxe5 32.Bxe5 Rxc7 33.Bxc7 Qf7 34.d6 Qxa2 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Qb3 Kh8
Game 27
Pavel Bublei
Ildar Khairullin
Chigorin Memorial, St Petersburg 2014

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Qb3

182
8...Kh8

Black spends a tempo to get out of the diagonal of the queen.

9.Be3

White intends to bring his pieces out and only after that does he plan to gain space.
a) 9.Bd2 This is not a fortunate square for the bishop. 9...Na6 (9...e5!? 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Rad1 e4 12.Bf4
Qb6=) 10.Rad1 Qc7 11.e3 (11.Qc2 e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.e4 fxe4 14.Nxe4 Bf5=) 11...e5 12.d5 (12.c5 e4
13.cxd6 Qxd6 14.Ne5 Rb8=) 12...Nc5 13.Qc2 a5 14.Ne1 Stanzl,M-Kalinitschew,S, Passau 1995
14...e4³
b) 9.Re1 Ne4 Black wants to keep the e-file closed. 10.Bf4 (10.Be3 Nxc3 11.Qxc3 (11.bxc3 e5
12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Bc5 Re8 14.e4 Na6=) 11...Nd7 12.a4 e5 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Qa3 e4 15.Ng5 Qf6=)

183
10...Nd7 One may think that Black only insists on carrying out ...e5, but he has another idea as well.
11.Rad1 (11.Nxe4 fxe4 12.Ng5 Bxd4 13.Ne6 Nc5=) 11...Ndf6 Black looks for strong control over the
e4-square. 12.Nxe4 (12.c5 b6 13.cxd6 exd6 14.d5 c5=) 12...Nxe4 13.Qe3 Qe8 14.Nh4 e5 15.dxe5
dxe5 16.Bh6 Nf6=
c) 9.d5 This standard pawn push in the centre contains some power.
c1) 9...Qe8 10.Be3 Na6 11.Rad1 h6

12.c5 White is better developed and therefore opening the position works. (12.a3 Nc7 13.dxc6 bxc6
14.Nd4 c5 [14...Bd7 15.Qb7±] 15.Nc2 Be6 16.Bxa8 Qxa8 17.f3 Rb8²) 12...Ng4 13.Bd4 Bxd4
14.Nxd4 Nxc5 15.Qa3 Pap,G-Galyas,M, Hungary 2015 15...Bd7 16.b4 Ne4 17.Nxe4 fxe4 18.Bxe4
Nf6 19.dxc6 bxc6 20.Bg2²

184
 c2) 9...Nbd7!? The knight aims to get to c5. 10.Be3 (10.dxc6 bxc6 11.Nd4 Nc5 12.Qc2 Nce4∞)
10...Ng4 11.Bd4 e5 12.dxe6 Nc5 13.Qd1 Nxe6 14.Bxg7+ Kxg7 15.Qd2 Ne5 16.b3 Qf6 Black has
time to get organised. 17.e3 Nf7 18.Rad1=
c3) 9...cxd5
c31) 10.cxd5 Na6 11.Be3 Ng4 12.Bd4 Bxd4 13.Nxd4 Nc5 14.Qd1 (14.Qa3 Qb6 15.b4 Ne4=)
14...a5 15.b3 Bd7 16.a3 Qb6 17.Rb1 Nf6=
c32) 10.Nxd5
c321) 10...Nxd5 11.cxd5 Na6 12.Be3 Nc5 The knight can be harassed. 13.Qa3 Qb6 14.Nd4
(14.Bd4²) 14...Bd7 15.Nb3²
c322) 10...Nc6 11.Nxf6 (11.Be3 e5 12.Bg5 e4= or 11.Rd1 Against this move it is hard for Black to
be active. 11...Ne4 12.Be3 e6 13.Nf4²) 11...Rxf6 12.Rd1 Qc7 13.Bg5 (13.Be3 e5=) 13...Rf8
14.Be3 b6! (14...e5 15.c5) 15.Rac1 Bb7 16.Ng5 Nd8 17.Bd5 h6 18.Nf3 g5=
d) 9.Bf4
d1) 9...Nbd7!

Starting with this move is a finesse; Black waits and will place the queen according to which rook
goes to d1. 10.Rfd1 (10.Rae1 Ne4; 10.Rad1 Qa5 See 9...Qa5) 10...Qe8 11.d5 Nc5 12.Qa3 Bd7=
d2) 9...Qa5
d21) 10.Qa4 Casaschi,P-McDonald,N, London 2010 10...Qxa4 11.Nxa4 Be6 12.b3 Na6=
d22) 10.Rfd1!?

185
 Placing this rook on d1 makes a tactical difference. 10...Nbd7 11.Ng5 Nb6 12.c5 dxc5 13.dxc5
Qxc5 14.Be3 Qa5 (14...Qc4? 15.Bxb6 Here is the difference, as now White wins a piece.) 15.Rd8
Nbd5 16.Rxf8+ Bxf8 17.Nxd5 (17.Bd4 Bg7) 17...Nxd5 18.Rd1 e6 19.Bd4+ Kg8 20.e4 fxe4
21.Bxe4 Qc7 Black has chances to get away with this, but White’s chances are clearly preferable.
d23) 10.Rad1 Nbd7 (10...h6 11.c5±) 11.Ng5 Nb6 (11...e5 12.Bd2 exd4 13.Nb5 Nc5 14.Bxa5 Nxb3
15.axb3 cxb5 16.cxb5²) 12.Bd2 (12.c5 dxc5 13.dxc5 (13.Nf7+ Kg8 14.Nh6+ Kh8=) 13...Qxc5
Black gets away with this one. 14.Be3 (14.Nf7+ Kg8 15.Nd6+ Kh8 White has no win.) 14...Qc4
15.Qa3 h6 16.Nf3 Nfd5=) 12...Qa6 13.c5 Nc4 14.Bc1 d5 (14...h6 15.Nf3 Be6 16.Qc2 Kh7 17.Rfe1
dxc5 18.dxc5 Rad8²) 15.Qc2 Ne4 (15...b6 can be tried as well.) 16.b3 Na3 17.Qb2 Nb5²

9...Na6

Black develops the knight and intends to gain ground on the queenside.

10.Rad1 Nc7 11.h3 Rb8 12.a4 b6

Black gets ready for a Benoni setup. It can be achieved via 12...Bd7 as well. 13.d5 (13.Qc2 b5) 13...c5∞

186
13.Rfe1

White can do little against Black’s expansion on the queenside.

If 13.d5 c5 or if 13.Qc2 a6 14.b4 b5 15.axb5 axb5 16.c5 Be6 (16...Bd7 17.Nh4 Ra8=) 17.Ng5 Bc4
(17...Bd7 18.cxd6 exd6 19.Qb3 Qe7=) 18.Bxc6 h6 19.Nf3 Ncd5°

13...a6!?

Black improves his position patiently, step-by-step.

14.d5

14.Kh2 b5

14...c5 15.Bg5 b5

Black’s counterplay has arrived.

16.e4 fxe4 17.Nxe4 Bf5 18.Nxf6 exf6 19.Bc1

19.Bd2 bxc4 (19...g5= or 19...Rf7=) 20.Qxc4 Rxb2 21.Ba5 Rf7 The position is balanced.

19...bxc4 20.Qxc4

187
20...Rb4³

Black has obtained an advantage and kept it all the way, but later repeated moves.

21.Qc3 Rxa4 22.Nh4 Nb5 23.Qd2 Bd7 24.Nf3 Re8 25.Rxe8+ Bxe8 26.Re1 Bf7 27.Qc2 Ra1 28.Nd2
Nd4 29.Qc4 Be8 30.Nb3 Bb5 31.Qc3 f5 32.Nxd4 Bxd4 33.Qd2 Kg8 34.Kh2 Be5 35.Qh6 Qd7
36.Qg5 Kf7 37.Qh6 Kg8 38.Qg5 Kf7 39.Qh6 Kg8 40.Qg5 Kf7 41.Qh6 Kg8 1/2

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Qb3 Kh8 9.Rd1 Na6 and 9...Qc7
Game 28
Peter Svidler
Teimour Radjabov
World Cup, Riga 2013

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Qb3 Kh8

188
9.Rd1

White wants to stop ...e5.

9...Na6

Black develops the knight; this allows several follow ups, such as ...Rb8 or ...Qe8.
9...Qc7 Black wants to carry out ...e5 and the queen defends the d6-pawn from c7.
a) 10.Qa3 Be6 11.b3 Bg8 (11...Bf7!?) 12.Bf4 (12.Bb2 Nbd7) 12...Nh5 13.Bd2 Nd7 14.Rac1 Nhf6
15.h3 e5 (Black can also make some more preparatory moves, such as 15...a6 16.d5 or 15...h6) 16.dxe5
(16.d5 e4=) 16...dxe5 17.e4 f4=
b) 10.d5 Na6 White has stopped ...e5, but now Black can develop his pieces. 11.Nd4 Bd7 12.Qa3 Nc5
13.f3 (13.Bf4 Qc8 14.Rac1 a5=) 13...a5 14.Be3 Nh5 15.Bf2 f4 16.g4 Nf6 17.h3 (17.Rac1 cxd5 18.cxd5
Rfb8=) 17...Rae8 18.Nc2 Bc8 19.e4 fxe3 20.Bxe3 Nfd7³ Jovanovski,V-Pancevski,F, Struga 2015.
c) 10.c5 White wants to open the position a bit. 10...dxc5
c1) 11.Ne5? cxd4 12.Bf4 Qb6 13.Nf7+ Rxf7 14.Qxf7 dxc3 15.Be5 Nbd7 16.Bxc3 Qd8 17.e4 Qe8
18.Qc4 fxe4–+ Garcia Trobat,F-Pardo Simon,D, Linares 2016.

189
 c2) 11.Bf4 White’s play is fast, which forces Black to be accurate. 11...Qa5
c21) 12.d5 Qb6 13.Ne5 Nh5 14.dxc6 (14.Na4 Qxb3 15.axb3 g5 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.Nxc6 Nxf4=)
14...Qxb3 15.axb3 Nxc6 16.Nxc6 Nxf4 17.gxf4 bxc6=
c22) 12.Ne5 Qb4 13.d5 Nh5 14.dxc6 Qxb3 15.axb3 Nxc6 16.Nxc6 Nxf4 17.gxf4 bxc6 18.Bxc6
Rb8 19.Bd5 a6=

10.Rb1

White plans to move the queen and push the b-pawn.

a) 10.d5 Alternative moves do not cause problems. 10...Nc5 11.Qc2 cxd5 12.Be3 Nce4 13.Nxd5 Ng4
14.Nd2 Nxe3 15.Nxe3 Nf6 16.Nb3 f4 17.Nd5 Marovic,D-Lombardy,W, Banja Luka 1976 17...Nxd5
18.Bxd5 Qb6 19.c5 dxc5 20.Qxc5 Bxb2³
b) 10.Bd2 Rb8

190
Black wants to gain space on the queenside. 11.Rac1 Nc7 12.d5 c5 13.a4 Bd7 14.e4 fxe4 15.Ng5 Qe8
(15...e3 16.Bxe3 a6 17.a5 Ng4=) 16.Ra1 a6 17.a5 Faizrakhmanov,R-Paravyan,D, Loo 2017 17...e3
18.Bxe3 Ng4=
c) 10.Bg5 Qe8 11.Qa3 Qf7 12.b3 Ne4 13.Rac1 e5 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Be7 Nxc3 16.Ng5 (16.Rxc3 Re8
17.Bd6 e4=)

16...Qg8 (16...Nxe2+! 17.Kf1 Qg8 18.Kxe2 h6µ) 17.Rxc3 Re8 18.Rcd3² Bravo,W-De la Riva
Aguado,O, Quito 2012.
d) 10.Be3 Qe8 (10...Ng4!? Black wins a big tempo. 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bd2 Qe8 13.h3 Nf6 14.a4 e5=)
11.d5 c5 This time the Benoni structure gives a fighting game as well.
d1) 12.Ng5 Nc7 13.h4 (13.Nb5 Nxb5 14.cxb5 Rb8 15.Ne6 Bxe6 16.dxe6 h6 17.a4 g5=) 13...h6

191
 14.Nh3 Ng4 15.Bf4 (15.Bd2 Rb8 16.a4 Bd7 17.Nb5 Nxb5 18.axb5 a6=) 15...Rb8 16.a4 Johansson,P-
Djurhuus,R, Gausdal 2001 16...Bd7 17.Re1 b6 18.Nb5 Rb7 19.Bd2 Qf7=
d2) 12.Nb5 h6 13.Bd2 Ne4 14.Be1 Bd7 15.a4 g5 16.Nc3 Nf6 (16...Nb4 17.e3 Qg6=) 17.e3
Melkumyan,H-Swiercz,D, Plovdiv 2012 17...Qg6=
e) 10.a4 White stops ...b5, but this is somewhat slow.
e1) 10...Qc7 The queen has an additional function, allowing Black to develop the bishop. 11.Qa3
(11.a5 e5 12.Qa3 e4 13.Ne1 Be6 14.d5 Bf7 15.Bf4 Rfd8=) 11...e5 (11...Be6 12.Qb3 Bg8=) 12.dxe5
dxe5 13.b4 Re8 14.c5² Li,S-Reinderman,D, Groningen 2007.
e2) 10...Rb8 11.Qa3 Be6 12.d5 Bg8 (12...Bd7 13.Bd2 Qb6 14.Be3 c5 15.a5 Qd8 16.Ne1 Nb4=)
13.b4 cxd5 14.cxd5 Peng,Z-Nijboer,F, Wijk aan Zee 2008 14...Rc8 15.Bb2 Qb6 16.b5 Nc5=
f) 10.a3 White takes away the b4-square from the knight. 10...Qe8 11.e4 (11.d5 Nc5 12.Qa2 a5 13.a4
Nfe4=) 11...fxe4 12.Ng5

f1) 12...e5!? This pawn move provides a route for the a6-knight to come into play quickly. 13.dxe5
Nc5 14.Qa2 Qxe5 15.Bf4 Qf5 16.b4 Nd3 17.Bxd6 Qxg5 18.Bxf8 Bxf8 19.Nxe4 Nxe4 20.Rxd3
Bf5=
f2) 12...c5 13.d5 Nc7 14.Re1 h6 15.Ngxe4 Qf7 16.Nxf6 Qxf6 17.Ne4² Klekowski,M-Jakubiec,A,
Czech Republic 2016.

10...Qe8

10...Qa5 11.a3 (11.Bd2 Paunovic,D- Drazic,S, Kragujevac 2009 11...Qb4=) 11...e5 12.Qc2 e4²

11.Qa3

White understandably stops ...e5. If 11.h3 e5 12.d5 cxd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Rxd5 Nc5 15.Qe3 Qe7=

192
11...Nc7

11...Bd7 Black can start by developing the bishop as well, but Radjabov’s move is more flexible as the
bishop may develop to e6. 12.h3 (12.b4 Nc7 13.Bb2 Ne4=) 12...Ne4 13.Be3 Nc7 14.Nxe4 (14.Rbc1
Nxc3 [Black can also choose 14...Qc8 15.Kh2 Nxc3 16.Qxc3 Ne8∞] 15.Qxc3 h6 (15...e5? 16.dxe5
dxe5

17.Nxe5!) 16.Qb4 b6 17.h4 Kh7=) 14...fxe4 15.Ng5 (15.Nd2 b5=) 15...d5=

12.d5

12.c5 Qd8 13.Bf4 Ne4∞ or 12.h3 Be6 13.b3 Bg8 14.Nh4 a5=

12...Bd7

Black has developed all of his minor pieces.

13.Be3

13.dxc6 bxc6 14.b4 Paunovic,D-Viterbo Ferreira,J, Vila Nova de Gaia 2015 14...Ne6 15.Bb2 a5 16.b5
cxb5 17.cxb5 Rb8=

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13...b6

Advancing the queenside pawn chain takes space from White. 13...a5 14.Bb6 Qc8 is also reasonable.

14.b4

If 14.dxc6 Bxc6 15.Rbc1 Bb7 would be equal.

14...Ng4

14...cxd5 looks simpler. 15.cxd5 h6 16.Rbc1 Qf7 17.Bd4 Rfc8 18.h3 Kh7=

15.Bd4 Nf6

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16.c5

This is a witty move, but Black can handle it. If 16.e3 c5 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Rb7 Qc8= or if
16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nd4 cxd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Bxd5 Rc8 20.Ne6 Bxe6 21.Bxe6=

16...dxc5

Black reduces the number of pawns on the queenside. 16...Ncxd5 17.cxd6 exd6 18.Nxd5 cxd5 19.Bxf6
Bxf6 20.Rxd5 f4=

17.dxc6 Bxc6 18.bxc5 Ne6 19.cxb6 axb6 20.Qb3 Nxd4 21.Nxd4 Bxg2 1/2

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Qb3 Na6 9.Rd1 Kh8 10.Qa3 Qe8
and 10...Nc7
Game 29
Etienne Bacrot
Peter Svidler
Porto Vecchio 2016

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Qb3 Na6 9.Rd1 Kh8

195
10.Qa3

I cite Korchnoi: “He is going to start an assault on the queen side by b2–b4–b5”. According to Tyomkin
this move is very logical.

10...Nc7

10...Qe8 This time the queen moves to this square not to carry out ...e5, but rather to affect the b5-
square. The move has not performed well so far, but nevertheless it looks all right for Black. 11.b4 Nc7
a) 12.Rb1 Be6!? It is more active to attack c4 than just develop the bishop. 13.d5 (On 13.Nd2 d5 or
13...a6 would be equal.) 13...cxd5 14.Ng5 dxc4 (14...Bg8 15.cxd5 h6 16.Nh3 a6=) 15.Bxb7 Rb8
16.Nxe6 Nxe6 17.Bg2 Qd7=
b) 12.Bb2 Be6 Tyomkin mentioned this move and later it was tested in practice. (12...e5? 13.dxe5 dxe5
14.Qa5 Na6 15.b5± Neelotpal,D-Bartel,M, Caleta 2015) 13.d5 Sliwerski,R-Moskwinski,T Milanowek
2007 (13.Nd2 Qf7=) 13...cxd5 14.Nd4 (14.Ng5 dxc4! 15.Bxb7 Rb8 16.Qxa7 h6³)
b1) 14...dxc4 15.Bxb7

196
 15...Bd7 (Here it is a matter of taste whether one sacrifices the exchange or not: 15...Rb8 16.Qxa7
Bd5=) 16.Qa5 Qb8 17.Bxa8 Nxa8°
b2) 14...Bg8 15.cxd5 Rc8 16.Nb3 a6 17.Rac1 g5 18.Nd2 Qh5 19.Nc4 Na8= The position is double-
edged.

11.d5

Bacrot plays d5 as the knight has no quick access to the c5-square.

a) 11.c5 The pressure on d6 is not strong enough to give up control over the d5-square for it. 11...Ncd5
12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.cxd6 exd6 14.Bg5 Qc7 15.Bf4 Rd8 16.Rac1 Be6 17.Bd2 a5 18.Ng5 Bg8 19.e4 fxe4
20.Nxe4 Nb4= Vassallo Barroche,M-Rasmussen,A, Llucmajor 2016.
b) 11.Rb1 Zhu,C-Ju,W, Huashan City 2013 11...Be6 Black keeps White busy defending the pawn.
12.b3 a6 (12...a5=) 13.Be3 b5 14.Ne1
b1) 14...bxc4 15.bxc4 (15.Bxc6 Nb5 16.Nxb5 axb5 17.Bxa8 Qxa8 18.Qxa8 Rxa8 19.Ra1²) 15...Bxc4
16.Bxc6 Rb8 17.Rxb8 Qxb8=
b2) 14...a5 15.cxb5 cxb5 16.Bxa8 Qxa8 17.b4

197
 17...a4 The bishop on c4 will provide reasonably good compensation for the pawn.
b3) 14...Rb8 15.Nd3 Nh5

Black can switch to the kingside. (15...Ng4 16.Nb4 Bd7 17.Bxc6 Nxe3 18.fxe3 Bh6°) 16.Bxc6
(16.Nb4 Bd7 17.Qc1 bxc4 18.bxc4 f4 19.gxf4 Ne6°) 16...f4 17.gxf4 bxc4 18.bxc4 Rxb1 19.Nxb1
Bxc4=
c) 11.b4 Be6
c1) 12.c5 Nfd5 13.Nxd5?! (13.Bd2 Qd7=) 13...Bxd5 14.Bg5?! Ne6 15.Qe3 a5 16.cxd6 Qxd6
17.bxa5 Rxa5 18.Bh6 Rxa2µ Prasanna Raghuram,R-Pap,M, Paleochora 2014.
c2) 12.Nd2

198
 c21) 12...Nd7 Taking up the Stonewall formation is fine, and although Malaniuk preferred to exert
more pressure on the c4-pawn, both look ok. 13.e3 Nb6 14.Bf1 (14.b5 cxb5 15.cxb5 Ncd5 16.Nxd5
Bxd5 17.Bxd5 Nxd5 18.Qb3 Nf6=) 14...Qe8 15.c5 (15.Rb1 Qf7) 15...Nbd5 16.Nc4 Qd7 17.Bd2
Nxc3 18.Qxc3 Bets,A-Malaniuk,V, Tula 2001 18...f4 19.exf4 Nb5³
c22) 12...d5 13.cxd5 Nfxd5 14.Nf3 Nxc3 15.Qxc3 Bd5 16.Bb2 Be4 (16...f4³) 17.Ne5 Nd5 18.Qb3
Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Neelotpal,D-Potapov,P, Moscow 2015 19...a5 20.a3 (20.b5 a4³) 20...axb4 21.axb4
Rxa1 22.Rxa1 f4=

11...Bd7

11...c5 The queen is interesting on a3 in the Benoni setup.

a) 12.Rb1 b5 13.cxb5 Rb8 14.Ng5 (14.Qxa7 Ra8 15.Qb6 Nd7 16.Qc6 Rb8µ) 14...Nxb5 15.Nxb5 Rxb5
16.Qd3 Qb6=
b) 12.b4 White doesn’t allow ...b5. 12...cxb4 13.Qxb4 Na6 The knight aims to get to c5.
b1) 14.Qa3 Bd7 15.Rb1
b11) 15...Qc8 The queen defends the a6-knight, so that he can play ...b6. 16.Be3 b6 17.Nd4 Nc5
(17...Ng4 18.Bg5²) 18.Nc6 Ng4 19.Bxc5 (19.Bg5 Rf7 20.Nxe7 Qf8 21.Nc6 f4 22.Nb5 a6 23.Nbd4
fxg3∞) 19...bxc5 20.h3 Ne5 21.Nxe7 Qc7²
b12) 15...Qc7 I would prefer to keep c8 vacant for the rook. 16.Nd2 Nc5 17.Nb3 Spoelman,W-
Anton Guijarro,D, Germany 2015 17...Rfc8 18.Be3 b6 19.Nxc5 bxc5=
b2) 14.Qb1 Bd7 15.Nb5?! (15.Be3 Qc7=) 15...Rc8 16.Nd2 Qb6 (16...Nc5 17.Bb2 Bxb5 18.cxb5
Na4³) 17.e3

199
 17...Nc5 Black has good enough outposts to keep the balance. 18.a4 Qa5 (18...Nce4=) 19.Ba3 a6
20.Bb4 Qd8= Aronian,L-Nakamura,H, Wijk aan Zee 2012.
b) 11...cxd5
b1) 12.Nxd5! Taking with the knight is in my opinion more unpleasant for Black, as it is harder to
create play. 12...Ncxd5 13.cxd5 Bd7 (13...b5 With no knight on c3 this is not effective. 14.Be3±)
14.h3 Kg8 15.Nd4 a6 16.Qd3 Rc8²
b2) 12.cxd5

12...a5! Pushing the pawns at once looks more accurate. (12...Bd7 13.Be3² Bacrot,E-
Nepomniachtchi,I, Beijing 2014) 13.Be3 (13.Qb3 b5 14.Nxb5 a4 15.Qc4 Nxb5 16.Qxb5 Ba6 17.Qb4
Bxe2=) 13...b5! 14.Qb3 Bd7 15.a4 bxa4 16.Qc2 Qc8 17.Nd4 Ng4 18.Qd2 Nxe3 19.Qxe3 Bf6=

200
12.dxc6

a) 12.c5 Ncxd5 13.cxd6 exd6 14.Qxd6 Qe8 (14...Ne4 15.Nxe4 fxe4 16.Ng5 Qe8 17.Nxe4 Bf5 18.f3
Bxe4 19.fxe4 Rd8= 20.Qa3 Nc3=) 15.Bg5 Ne4 16.Nxe4 fxe4 17.Nh4 Bxb2 18.Be7 Bxa1µ
Sliwerski,R-Dziuba,M, Poland 2016.
b) 12.Be3 Bacrot deviated with this move from his game against the multiple Russian champion.
12...c5 13.b4
b1) 13...Ng4 14.Bd2 cxb4 15.Qxb4 Na6 16.Qxb7 Nc5 17.Qb1 Rb8 18.Qc1 Ne4 19.Nxe4 fxe4
20.Ng5 Nxf2 21.Rf1 Qb6 Black is very active.
b2) 13...cxb4 14.Qxb4 b6 15.a4 Na6 16.Qa3

b21) 16...Qc7!? Black can try to take c4 and then defend; it seems he can hold the position. 17.Ng5
(On 17.a5 Qxc4 and on 17.Rdc1 Qxc4 18.Nb5 Qxd5=) 17...Qxc4 18.Nb5 Qc8=
b22) 16...Nc5 17.a5 Bacrot,E-Klein,D, chess.com 2017 17...Ng4 18.Bd4 f4 19.gxf4 Bxd4 20.Rxd4²

201
12...Bxc6

Svidler settles for a very slight disadvantage.

12...bxc6!? After this capture the position would become more exciting and it would be objectively
better, as White should quickly do something constructive otherwise Black would be able to play ...c5.
a) 13.c5 Ne4 14.cxd6 exd6=
b) 13.Rb1 c5 (13...Ne6 14.b4 a6 15.c5 (15.Ng5 Ng4 16.Nxe6 Bxe6 17.c5 Ne5=) 15...Ne4 16.Bb2
Rb8=) 14.b4 cxb4 15.Rxb4 Ne6 16.Nd5 Rc8=
c) 13.Nd4 Qe8 14.Qa5 (14.b4 Qf7 [14...e5] 15.Nxc6 Ne4∞) 14...Ne6 15.Nxe6 (15.Bxc6 Nxd4
16.Bxa8 Nc2∞) 15...Bxe6 16.b3 Ne4 17.Bb2 Qd8=

13.Be3

13.b4 Ne6 14.Bb2²

13...b6

Black is unable to get rid of White’s small space advantage or create full piece play for it. For example
on 13...Ne6 14.Nd5, on 13...Ng4 14.Bd4 and on 13...a6 14.c5 (14.Rac1²) 14...d5 15.Bf4 Nb5 16.Nxb5
axb5 All would keep the edge for White.

14.Rac1 Qe8 15.b4

15.Bd4 Ne6 (15...Bh6 16.Rc2 e5 17.Be3 Bxe3 18.fxe3 Ng4 19.Qxd6 Rc8 20.h3²) 16.Nd5 Qf7 17.b4
Bb7 18.Bb2 Ne4 19.Bxg7+ Nxg7 20.Nd4 e6 21.Nc3²

202
15...Ng4 16.Bd2

16.Nd5 Rc8 17.Bd4 e5 18.Bb2 Nxd5 19.cxd5 Bb5±

16...Ne5 17.Nxe5 Bxe5

17...dxe5 18.Nd5²

18.Nd5

White was somewhat better, and he pressed, but Black was able to hold.

18...Nxd5 19.cxd5 Ba4 20.Re1 Qd7 21.Bc3± Bxc3 22.Rxc3 Rac8 23.Rec1 Bb5 24.e3 Kg8 25.h4 a6
26.Qb2 Rxc3 27.Qxc3 Ra8 28.e4 fxe4 29.Bxe4 Qg4 30.Qe3 Rc8 31.Rxc8+ Qxc8 32.Bf3 Qc4 33.a3
Qd3 34.Qxd3 Bxd3 35.Bg4 h6 36.f4 Kg7 37.Kf2 Kf6 38.Ke3 Bc2 39.Kd4 Bf5 40.Be2 Bc8 41.g4 g5
42.fxg5+ hxg5 43.h5 Kg7 44.Bf3 Bd7 45.Be2 Bc8 46.Bd1 Bd7 47.Be2 Bc8 48.Ke4 a5 49.bxa5 bxa5
50.Kd4 Bd7 51.Kc4 Kh6 52.Bd1 Kg7 53.Kd4 Kh6 54.Ke4 Kg7 55.Be2 Kh6 56.Bd1 Kg7 57.Be2
Kh6 1/2

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CHAPTER 6.
7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.RB1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Rb1 Na6
Game 30
Das Neelotpal
Erwin L’Ami
PokerStars Open, Douglas 2015

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6

8.Rb1

The rook wants to help the b-pawn when it advances, and it also steps aside from the diagonal of the g7-
bishop, so d5 can come while giving less counterchances. However, if the White queen finds herself on
e4 at some point Black may have tactical chances on the b1–b7 diagonal.

8...Na6

Black shows that he wants to match White on the queenside.

9.Qc2

White takes away ...Ne4, but doesn’t build his position much.
a) 9.d5 e5 This is quite rare, but has not yet been refuted. 10.dxe6 This should be fine for Black as

204
...Na6 is more beneficial than Rb1. It is, however, still a playable position for White. 10...Bxe6 11.b3
Qe7 12.Ng5
a1) 12...Nc5 13.Qc2 Rad8 14.Nxe6 Qxe6 15.Bb2 Rfe8= Burmakin,V-Beim,V, Schwarzach 1997.
a2) 12...Bd7 It’s a matter of taste whether one wants to keep the bishop or not. 13.Bb2 Rad8 14.Nh3
Nc5 15.e3 Be6 16.Ng5 Bc8= Gomez Esteban,J-Anguix Garrido,J, Spain 1993.
b) 9.Qb3 Combining the rook and queen moves doesn’t appear logical.
b1) 9...Kh8 10.Be3 (10.Rd1 Rb8 11.Qa3 Nc7 12.Qxa7 Be6 13.c5 Ne4 14.Bf4 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Nb5=)
10...Ng4 11.Bd2 e5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Na4 Qe7 14.Qc2 Be6 15.b3 Rac8 16.Nb2 Nc5 17.Nxe5
Arnaudov,P-Bernadskiy,V, Golden Sands 2014 17...Bxe5=
b2) 9...Qe8 10.c5+ (10.Rd1 e5 11.d5 Qe7=) 10...d5 (10...Kh8 11.cxd6 exd6 12.Bf4 Qe7 13.Qa3 Rd8
If White has an edge, it should be small.) 11.Bf4 Nd7 12.e4

12...Naxc5 Black gets three connected pawns for the piece. 13.dxc5 Nxc5 14.Qa3 fxe4=
c) 9.b3 This is too slow to really hurt Black.
c1) 9...Qe8 Black can try to play for ...e5 as well. 10.d5 Bd7
c11) 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.b4 Nc7 13.b5 Ne6 14.Ng5 Nc5 1/2 Barsov,A-Cherniaev,A, Wijk aan Zee
1997.
c12) 11.Bb2 Rc8 (11...Nc7 12.Qd3 Rc8 13.Rfd1 cxd5 14.cxd5 Ne4=) 12.Nd4 Qf7= Damljanovic,B-
Vasiukov,E, Vrsac 1989.
c13) 11.Be3 Nc7 12.Qd2
c131) 12...Ng4 13.Bf4 Bxc3 (13...Rc8 14.Rbc1² Schoehuys,E-Pruijssers,R, Hilversum 2017)
14.Qxc3 cxd5 15.h3 e5 16.Bg5 Nf6=
c132) 12...a6 13.a4 b5 14.axb5 axb5 15.Nd4 c5 16.Nc6 b4 (16...bxc4 17.bxc4) 17.Nb5 Nxb5

205
 18.cxb5 Ne4 19.Bxe4 fxe4 20.Bg5 e6=
c2) 9...Ne4 Black wants to work out of the e4-square.
c21) 10.Nxe4 fxe4 11.Ng5 Vazquez Igarza,R-Bartel,M, Warsaw 2013 (11.Nd2 d5) 11...d5=
c22) 10.Bb2

10...Nac5!? 11.Qc2 Nxc3 12.Bxc3 Ne4 13.Ba1

c221) 13...a5 14.a4 Re8 15.Rfd1 Qc7 16.Nd2 Nf6 17.e4 fxe4 18.Nxe4 Bf5=
c222) 13...Qc7 It is usually pleasant to carry out ...e5. 14.Rfd1 (14.Ne1 e5 15.Rd1 Ng5=) 14...e5
15.c5!? exd4 16.cxd6 Qxd6 17.Bxd4 Qe7 18.Bxg7 Qxg7 19.Nd4 Re8=

9...Nc7 10.Rd1 h6

206
11.b4

Otherwise Black may play ...Be6. For example, if 11.Ne1 Be6 12.b3 Qe8 13.e3 g5 14.Bb2 Bf7 15.Nd3
Bg6∞

11...Qe8

The queen affects the e5– and b5-squares from here. 11...Be6 12.Nd2 Qd7 would be unclear.

12.b5

12.a4 e5=

12...cxb5 13.Nxb5 Nxb5 14.Rxb5 Bd7 15.Rxb7

White sacrifices an exchange to avoid a somewhat worse position with 14.cxb5 Be6.

15...Ba4 16.Qd3 Bxd1 17.Qxd1

207
17...Ne4

The position is slightly better for Black; L’Ami nicely increased the pressure and won the game.

18.Qd3 Rb8 19.Rxa7 Ra8 20.Rxa8 Qxa8 21.Qc2 Qa5 22.Bf1 Ra8 23.a3 Qc3 24.Qxc3 Nxc3 25.e3 e5
26.Bd2 Rxa3 27.c5 dxc5 28.dxc5 Ne4 29.c6 Nxd2 30.Nxd2 Ra7 31.e4 Kf7 32.Bc4+ Kf6 33.Nf1 f4
34.Nd2 Bf8 35.Kg2 Bd6 36.Bd5 g5 37.h3 Bc7 38.Nb3 Ra2 39.Nc5 Rc2 40.Nd7+ Ke7 41.Kf3 h5
42.gxf4 Rc3+ 43.Kg2 exf4 44.f3 Rc2+ 45.Kg1 Kd6 46.Nf6 Bb6+ 47.Kf1 Bd4 48.Nxh5 Rh2 49.Bf7
Kxc6 50.h4 Rxh4 51.Kg2 Kd7 52.Bg6 Ke7 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Rb1 Na6 9.b4
Game 31
Vladimir Kramnik
Fabiano Caruana
Chess Challenge Blitz, Zürich 2015

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Rb1 Na6

208
9.b4

White naturally pushes the b-pawn to push Black back.

9...Ne4

Black wants to ease the position, but the direct confrontation starts earlier than he would like.
9...Nc7!?
a) 10.d5 e5 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.Qa4 Bd7 13.Rd1 e4 14.Nd4 Ng4 15.Qb3 Ne6 16.Nc2 Qe7= Barbosa,O-
Lu,S, Ho Chi Minh City 2012.
b) 10.Bb2 h6 (I prefer attacking the pawn with 10...Be6.) 11.a4 g5 12.d5 (12.b5²) 12...cxd5 13.cxd5
Qe8 14.e3 Bd7 15.b5 Rc8 16.Nd4² Van der Stricht,G-L’Ami,E, Netherlands 2015.
c) 10.Qb3
c1) 10...Ne4 11.Nxe4 (11.Bb2 a5=) 11...fxe4 12.Ng5 Bxd4 13.Nxe4 Bf5 14.Bh6 Bg7 15.Bxg7 Kxg7
16.Rbd1 Bitalzadeh,A-Pruijssers,R, chess.com 2017 16...Qc8 17.Nd2 Bh3 18.f4 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Kg8²
c2) 10...Kh8 Black steps away from the diagonal and possibly makes room for his bishop.
c21) 11.a4 Ne4 (11...Be6 12.b5 Rc8 13.Ng5 Bd7 14.d5 Qe8 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.Be3 h6 17.Nf3 c5
18.a5 g5∞) 12.Rd1 Garriga Cazorla,P-Collins,S, Barcelona 2014

209
12...d5 (12...a6 13.a5 Be6 14.Ng5 Nxc3 15.Qxc3 Bg8 16.h4 Qe8 17.Bd2 e5∞) 13.cxd5 Nxc3
14.Qxc3 Nxd5 15.Qb2 f4 16.Ne5 Bf5 17.Ra1 g5∞
c22) 11.d5 e5 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.Rd1 Qe7 14.Qa3 Bb7 15.Bb2 Sorokin,A-Potapov,P, Moscow 2016

15...Rfb8 (15...a6 16.Nd2 Rab8 17.Nb3 Ba8∞) 16.Nd2 a5 17.bxa5 e4=

c23) 11.Rd1 Be6
c231) 12.d5 cxd5 13.cxd5 Bg8 14.Bb2 (14.Be3 Qd7 15.b5 Rfc8 16.h3 e5 17.dxe6 Bxe6=) 14...Qd7
15.e3
c2311) 15.b5 Rac8 16.Nd4 f4 17.gxf4 Qg4 18.e4 (18.e3 Ncxd5) 18...Nh5 19.Nce2 Nxf4 20.Nxf4
Qxf4 21.Qg3 e5 (21...Qxg3 22.hxg3 Na8= or 21...Na8 22.Nf5+–) 22.dxe6²

210
 c2312) 15...Rac8 16.a4 Rubio Mejia,L-Arribas Lopez,A, Linares 2015 16...b5 17.axb5 Nxb5
18.Nxb5 Qxb5 19.Nd4 Qc4 20.Qxc4 Rxc4 21.Nc6 Nxd5 Black is about to sacrifice an exchange,
after which he should be able to hold.
c232) 12.b5
c2321) 12...cxb5 13.Nxb5 Nxb5 14.Qxb5 Rb8 15.Qa4 Vazquez Igarza,R-Vaisser,A, Saint-Quentin
2014 15...Qe8=

c2322) 12...Nxb5 This is somewhat surprising. 13.Ng5 Bg8 14.Nxb5 cxb5 15.Qxb5 h6 16.Nf3
Rc8 17.Nd2 b6= Girya,O-Muzychuk,A, Belgrade 2013.
d) 10.b5 This pawn push is testing. 10...Ne4
d1) 11.Nxe4 fxe4 12.Nd2 cxb5 13.cxb5 d5 14.e3 b6 15.a4 Mensch,E-Milov,L, Selestat 2006 15...a6³
d2) 11.Qc2 cxb5 12.cxb5 (12.Nxb5 Nxb5 13.Rxb5 Qc7=) 12...Kh8 (12...b6 13.Ng5 d5=) 13.Nxe4
(13.a4 b6 14.Nd2 d5=) 13...fxe4 14.Ng5 d5 15.Bf4 Ne6 (15...Ne8 16.h4 Bf5³) 16.Nxe6 Bxe6=
Bukal,V-Siebrecht,S, Bad Wörishofen 2011.
d3) 11.Bb2 Nxc3 (11...cxb5 12.cxb5 Be6=) 12.Bxc3 cxb5 13.cxb5 Be6 Black blockades the white
squares in timely fashion.
d31) 14.Qa4 Bd5 15.Rfc1 Qd7 16.Ng5 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Nd5= Rohrmueller,U-Milov,L, Bayern 2007.
d32) 14.a4
d321) 14...Qd7 15.Qd3 Rac8 16.Rbc1 Bd5 17.Bb2 Farago,I-Grafl,F, Budapest 2008 17...a6³
d322) 14...Bd5 15.Rc1 Qd7 16.Ba5 b6 17.Bb4 Ne6= Uwira,O-Milov,L, Frankfurt 2007.
d4) 11.Qd3!? This is the best way to defend the knight. Black can get close to equalising, but I see no
way to get rid of all White’s pressure.

211
 d41) 11...cxb5 12.Nxb5 (12.cxb5 b6) 12...Nxb5 13.Rxb5 e6 14.Nd2 a6 15.Rb3²
d42) 11...c5 Maybe this is Black’s best as he gets close to equalising. 12.Bb2 (12.Rd1 b6) 12...cxd4
13.Nxd4 Nxc3 14.Bxc3 e5 15.Nb3 e4 16.Qd2 Bxc3 17.Qxc3 Be6 18.f3 d5 19.Nd4 dxc4=
d43) 11...Nxc3 12.Qxc3 cxb5 13.cxb5 Kh8 14.a4² Sammalvuo,T-Koykka,P, Helsinki 2018.
e) 10.a4 Black will have to live with White’s space advantage on the queenside.
e1) 10...Ne4 Swapping the knight is also not fully satisfactory here. 11.Qd3 (11.Qc2 Qe8 12.b5²)
11...Qe8 (11...e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Qxd8 Rxd8 14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.Nd2²)
e11) 12.Bb2 Zhou,J-Lu,S, Beijing 2012 12...Be6 13.b5 Qf7 14.Qc2 Bxc4=
e12) 12.b5

212
 I do not see a way for Black to fully neutralise White’s space. 12...Nxc3 13.Qxc3 c5 14.e3 b6
15.Nd2 Rb8 16.Bb2 Bb7²
e2) 10...Be6 11.Qd3 Kh8 12.b5 Bg8 13.Ba3 Qd7 14.Rfc1 Rfc8 15.e4 fxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4²
White had some space advantage in the game Gelfand,B-Van Wely,L, ECC Eilat 2012.

10.Nxe4!?

White correctly forces matters, other moves are not harmful.

a) 10.Qb3 Nxc3 11.Qxc3 Nc7 12.b5 Bitalzadeh,A-Nijboer,F, Netherlands 2009 12...c5 13.Bb2 b6
14.Qe3 Bb7 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.Rfd1=
b) 10.Bb2 Be6
b1) 11.Qb3? b5?! 12.Nxe4 Bxc4 13.Qe3 fxe4 14.Qxe4 Nxb4 15.Bh3 (15.a3 Nd5=) 15...Kh8³
Kramnik,V-Ivanchuk,V, Monte Carlo 1995.
b2) 11.b5 This was recommended by Beliavsky. 11...cxb5!? 12.cxb5 Nc7 13.Nxe4 fxe4 14.Ng5 Bxa2
15.Rc1 Bh6 16.h4 Bd5=

10...fxe4 11.Nd2

11.Ng5 The knight may become vulnerable on the kingside this time. 11...d5
a) 12.Nh3 Bf5 13.Nf4 Nc7 14.e3 Qd7 15.b5 g5 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.Ne2 Bg4 18.Qc2 Rab8 Banusz,T-
Bartel,M, Warsaw 2011 (18...Ne8=; 18...Rf7)
b) 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.f3 h6 14.Nh3 exf3 15.exf3 Bf5 16.Rb2 Qb6 17.Be3 Qe6 18.Re2 Bxh3 19.Bxh6
Qd7µ Kanter,E-Petrosian,T, Minsk 2015.

11...d5 12.b5!?

213
White hurries on the queenside.

12...Nc7 13.e3 Bf5

13...Rf7 14.Ba3 Bd7 15.bxc6 bxc6 16.Qb3²

14.bxc6 bxc6 15.Qa4 Rf6

16.Ba3

White is faster on the queenside and Black’s position is difficult. Kramnik not only missed a win, but he
even made a losing move, then had a fortress to hold for the draw, but ended up losing.

16...Bd7 17.Qa5 Bf8 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Rb7 Rc6 20.Rc1 e6 21.Nb3 Bxa3 22.Qxa3 Nb5 23.Rxc6 Bxc6
24.Rxb5 Bxb5 25.Nc5 Qd6 26.Bh3 Bd7 27.Qa5 Bc8 28.Qb5 Kf7 29.Bxe6+ Ke7 30.Bxc8 Rxc8
31.Qb7+ Rc7 32.Qb3 Rc6 33.Qa4 Qc7 34.Kg2 Qb6 35.h4 Rc7 36.Qd1 Qf6 37.Qb3 Qc6 38.Qb8 Rc8
39.Qxa7+ Qc7 40.Qa4 Qc6 41.Qa7+ Qc7 42.Qa6 Qc6 43.Qe2 Ra8 44.h5 Kf7 45.a4 Qf6 46.Qg4 Kg8
47.hxg6 hxg6 48.Nd7 Qf5 49.Qxf5 gxf5 50.Nb6 Ra5 51.g4 Kf7 52.gxf5 Kf6 53.Nd7+ Kxf5 54.Nc5
Kg4 55.Kf1 Kf3 56.Ke1 Ra8 57.Kf1 Rb8 58.Ke1 Rb1+ 59.Kd2 Kxf2 60.a5 Ra1 61.a6 Ra2+ 62.Kc3
Kxe3 63.Kb3 Ra1 64.Kb2 Ra5 65.Kc3 Kf2 66.Kb4 Ra1 67.Kb5 e3 68.Nd3+ Ke2 69.Nf4+ Kf3
70.Nd3 e2 71.Kb6 Ke3 72.Nb4 Rb1 73.Kc5 Rxb4 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Rb1 Nbd7 and 8...Kh8
Game 32
Lucas Brunner
Viktor Laznicka
European Cup, Skopje 2015

214
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Rb1

8...Nbd7

Laznicka has had some success with this move, which prepares ...e5.
8...Kh8 Black prepares a square for the bishop.
a) 9.d5 e5 10.dxe6 Bxe6 11.b3 Na6 1/2 Berczes,D-Chernyshov,K, Budapest 2013.
b) 9.b3 Na6 10.Bb2 Bd7 11.Re1 Guichard,P-Zubarev,A, Malakoff 2010 11...Qc7 (11...b5 12.cxb5 cxb5
13.Ng5² or 11...Nc7 12.e3 b5 13.Ne2 Perhaps White has a small edge.) 12.Rc1!? (12.Qd2 e5 13.dxe5
dxe5 14.Ba3 c5 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.cxd5 e4 17.Ng5 Qd6=) 12...Bh6 (12...e5? 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Nb5±)
13.e3 Rae8 14.d5 Bg7 15.Ne2 Nc5∞
c) 9.b4
c1) 9...Be6 Black provokes d5. 10.d5
c11) 10...Bg8!? Not inserting the exchange cuts White’s options down. 11.Nd4 (11.Be3 Nbd7
12.dxc6 bxc6 13.Nd4 Ne5=) 11...a5 12.dxc6 Nxc6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.b5 Bxc4 15.bxc6

215
 15...d5 The position is rather complex.
c12) 10...cxd5 11.Nxd5 (11.cxd5 Bg8 12.Be3 Nbd7 (12...Na6 13.Qd3 Nc7²) 13.Ng5 Rc8 14.Rc1
Nb6 15.Ne6 Bxe6 16.dxe6²) 11...Nc6 12.Bb2 Rc8 13.a3 Bg8 14.Nxf6 Bxf6 15.Bxf6+ Rxf6 16.c5
e5= Jakovenko,D-Nepomniachtchi,I, Yaroslavl 2014.
c2) 9...Nbd7 Black wants to carry out his thematic ...e5 break.
c21) 10.b5 Nb6 11.bxc6 bxc6 12.Ng5 d5=
c22) 10.d5 cxd5 11.Nxd5 (11.cxd5 Nb6 12.Ng5 Qc7 13.Qb3 Qc4=) 11...e5 12.Ng5 (12.Bg5 h6
13.Nxf6 Nxf6=) 12...Nb6
c221) 13.c5 Nbxd5 14.Bxd5 f4 (14...dxc5 15.Nf7+ Rxf7 16.Bxf7²) 15.gxf4 exf4 16.Nf7+ Rxf7
17.Bxf7 d5=
c222) 13.Nxf6 Bxf6 14.c5 Bxg5 15.Bxg5 Qxg5 16.Qxd6 Qf6 17.Qxf6+ Rxf6 18.cxb6 Rxb6=
c23) 10.Ng5 Nb6 11.c5 (11.b5 d5) 11...Nbd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Bxd5 cxd5 14.f4 Tarasova,V-
Cmilyte,V, Rijeka 2010

216
 14...h6 15.Nh3 (15.Nf3 Bd7=) 15...a5=

9.d5

White stops ...e5.

a) 9.b4 Sticking to the original plan can also be tried: 9...e5 (9...Nb6 10.c5 Nbd5 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.b5
dxc5 13.Bb2 cxb5=) 10.c5 dxc5 11.dxe5 Ng4 12.Bg5 Qe8 13.Qb3+ c4 14.Qxc4+ Kh8 15.b5 Ngxe5
16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.Qc5 b6 18.Qe3

18...Bd7 Black gets organised.

b) 9.Ng5 The knight move doesn’t really confuse Black’s pieces. 9...Nb6 10.Qb3 h6 11.Nh3 (11.c5+

217
 d5 12.Nf3 Nbd7 13.Bf4 g5=) 11...Be6 12.d5 Bf7 13.Be3 Qc7 An innocent-looking move which does,
however, contain some poison. (13...Rc8 14.Nf4 Ng4 15.Bxb6 Qxb6 16.Qxb6 axb6=) 14.Bd4?!
(14.Nf4 Qc8 [14...Ng4 15.c5 Nd7∞] 15.Rbc1 g5 16.Nd3 e5=) 14...e5! 15.dxe6 Bxe6 16.Nf4 Bxc4
17.Bxb6 Qf7µ Pap,G-Laznicka,V, Pardubice 2015.

9...c5

This is a risky idea, but worked well in this game.

9...cxd5 Taking is more conventional.
a) 10.Nxd5 e6 Black plays like in the hedgehog. 11.Nxf6+ Nxf6 12.b3 (12.Be3 Ng4 13.Bd4 e5= or
12.Qb3 Qe7 13.Be3 Ne4∞) 12...Qc7 13.Nd4 Bd7 14.Bb2 Rad8 15.e3 e5 16.Nb5 Bxb5 17.cxb5 d5
18.Rc1 Qe7= Maletin,P-Malaniuk,V, Olginka 2011.
b) 10.cxd5 Nc5 Black’s pieces have a decent grip on the centre.
b1) 11.Nd2 Bd7 (11...a5 12.Nc4 Bd7 13.Na3 [13.a4 Rc8=] 13...Qe8=) 12.b4 Na6 13.Qb3 Rc8
14.Bb2 Qe8 (14...Qb6 15.a3 Ng4=) 15.Nc4 g5 16.Na5 f4= Wielosz,J-Malaniuk,V, Gora Sw. Anny
2012.
b2) 11.Be3 Bd7 12.Bd4

12...a5 Black can act on the queenside in one way or another. (12...Rc8 13.a3 b5 14.b4 Nce4=) 13.e3
(13.Bxc5 dxc5 14.Ne5 Ne8=) 13...Rc8 14.h4 h6 15.Rc1 Qb6 16.Nd2 Qa6 17.Re1 b5 18.Ne2 Nd3 1/2
Miton,K-Malaniuk,V, Trzcianka 2012.

10.b3

10.Ng5 Ne5 11.b3 Rb8 The position reminds one of the Nh3 lines.

218
10...Rb8 11.Bb2 a6

12.e4?!

White opens the centre a bit too early. 12.a4 b6 13.Re1 Ne5 14.Ng5 Nf7 15.h4²

12...Nxe4 13.Nxe4 fxe4 14.Ng5 Nf6

Black is about to carry out ...b5.

15.Nxe4 Bf5 16.Qe2 b5 17.Nxf6+

17.Ba1 Qd7=

17...Bxf6 18.Be4

219
18...Bd7=

The position remained equal for a long time, but White made a huge mistake and lost.

19.Qd2 a5 20.h4 Rf7 21.Rfe1 Qc7 22.Bxf6 exf6 23.cxb5 Rxb5 24.Bd3 Rb8 25.Bc4 Kg7 26.Re3 Re8
27.Re6 Bxe6 28.dxe6 Rfe7 29.Re1 d5 30.Qxd5 Rd8 31.Qf3 Qb7 32.Qe2 Rd4 33.a4 Qb4 34.Rf1 Qc3
35.Kg2 h5 36.Kg1 Kf8 37.Kg2 Kg7 38.Kg1 Kg8 39.Kg2 Kf8 40.Kg1 Kg7 41.Kg2 Rd2 42.Qe4 Qd4
43.Qf3 Qe5 44.Rd1 Rd4 45.Rd3 f5 46.Re3 Re4 47.Rd3 Rd4 48.Re3 Qc7 49.Qa8 Rd8 50.Qf3 Qb7
51.Qxb7 Rxb7 52.Re5 Rc7 53.f4 Rd2+ 54.Kf3 Kf6 55.Rd5 Rd4 56.Rxd4 cxd4 57.Ke2 Rc8 58.Kd3
Rd8 59.Kd2 Rd6 60.Kd3 Ke7 61.Kd2 Rxe6 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Rb1 Qc7!?
Game 33
Wang Yue
S. Mamedyarov
SportAccord, Basque/Beijing 2014

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Rb1

220
8...Qc7!?

The Azeri number one player wants to carry out ...e5 as quickly as possible. I also prefer playing for the
central pawn push than trying to hold White on the queenside.

9.d5

a) 9.b4 e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Qb3 e4 12.Bf4 Qe7 13.Nd4 Qf7=

b) 9.c5 Mareco,S-Rodriguez Vila,A, Campinas 2011 9...dxc5 Black takes the pawn, after which White
will have compensation, but Black can live with it. 10.Bf4 (10.dxc5 e5 11.b4 e4=) 10...Qa5 11.dxc5
Qxc5 12.Qb3+ e6 13.e4 fxe4 14.Ng5 Nd5=
c) 9.Qb3 This move makes placing the rook on b1 less than beneficial. 9...Kh8 10.Rd1 e5 11.c5 e4
12.cxd6 Qxd6 13.Bf4 (13.Ne5 Qe6=) 13...Qe6 14.Ne5 Qxb3 15.axb3 Be6 16.b4= Antonenko,V-
Potapov,P, Sochi 2017.
d) 9.b3 e5 This move equalises. 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.e4 f4 (11...Qe7 Black stops Ba3. 12.Re1 Na6 13.exf5
Bxf5=) 12.Ba3 (12.gxf4 exf4 13.e5 Rd8! 14.Qe2 Re8=) 12...Rd8 13.Qc2 (13.Qe2 Bg4) 13...Bg4
14.Ne2

221
 14...Bxf3 (14...Nxe4³ This is a lovely tactic!) 15.Bxf3 g5 16.Rbd1 g4 17.Rxd8+ Qxd8 18.Rd1
Mareco,S-Potapov,P, Doha 2016 (18.Bh1 f3=) 18...Qa5µ

9...e5

9...a5 Black wants to ensure that the knight will have an outpost on c5. It is somewhat slow, but Black
can probably afford the time to push the a-pawn.
a) 10.Nd4 Bd7 11.c5 dxc5=
b) 10.c5 dxc5 11.Bf4 Qb6∞
c) 10.Be3 Na6 11.Na4 (11.dxc6 bxc6) 11...e5 12.Nb6 Rb8 13.Nxc8 Rfxc8 14.Ng5 Qe7=
d) 10.b3 Na6 11.Bb2 Nc5
d1) 11...e5 12.dxe6 Bxe6 (12...Nc5) 13.Ng5 Bd7 Again Black can choose between keeping the
bishop or the knight, and both should be fine. (13...Rae8 14.Na4 Bc8=) 14.Qd2 Rad8 15.Rbd1 Bc8
16.Rfe1 Nc5 17.Qc2 h6 (17...Ng4 18.Nh3 Rfe8=) 18.Nf3 Simantsev,M-Samolins,V, Pardubice 2011
18...Qf7 19.e3

222
 19...Nfe4=
d2) 12.Nd4 e5 Black frees the bishop. 13.dxe6 Bxe6 (13...Nxe6 14.Nxe6 Bxe6 15.Qc2 Rad8=)
14.Nxe6 Nxe6 15.e3 Rfe8 16.Qc2 Rad8 17.Rfd1 Nc5 18.Rbc1 Nfe4 19.Nxe4 Nxe4 20.Bxg7 Qxg7
21.Rd4 Qe5 22.Rcd1 Nf6 1/2 Neiksans,A-Samolins,V, Riga 2009.
e) 10.a3
e1) 10...Bd7?! 11.Be3 (11.c5!±) 11...Na6 12.Na4 c5 13.Ng5 (13.Nc3 Qb8 14.a4 Nb4 15.Qd2 Qe8
16.Bf4 Rd8=) 13...Rab8 14.Nc3 Qc8 15.Qd2 Nc7 16.h3 h6 17.Nf3 Kh7 (17...f4 18.Bxf4 g5 19.Be3
Bxh3=) 18.Kh2 b5 19.b4 axb4 20.axb4 Lucena,L-Resende,A, Brasilia 1982 20...Na6 21.bxc5 b4=
e2) 10...Na6! Black should hurry with improving the knight. 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 This plan is shown
to be premature.
e21) 12...c5! Perhaps the simplest. 13.bxc5 (13.b5 Nb4=) 13...Nxc5 14.Nb5 Qd8 15.Be3 Nce4=
e23) 12...e5 Black narrowly holds with this too.
e231) 13.c5 e4=
e232) 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.b5 e4∞
e233) 13.dxe6 Bxe6 14.Bf4 Ne8 (14...Rad8 15.c5 Ne8 16.cxd6 Nxd6 17.b5 cxb5 18.Ng5 Bf7 and
Black holds again.) 15.Nd4 Bxc4 16.b5 Nb8 17.bxc6 bxc6 As White has no queenside pawns,
Black should be able to live with this.
12...cxd5?! 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Qxd5+ e6 15.Qd3 Bd7 Jarmula,L-Potapov,A, Pardubice 2018
16.Bg5±

10.dxe6

223
10...Bxe6?

10...Na6!
a) 11.Bf4 Ne8 12.Qd2 Nc5 13.Rfd1 Nxe6 Black can sacrifice a pawn. 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.Qxd6 Nxd6
16.Rxd6 Nc5 17.b4 Bxc3 18.bxc5 a5=
b) 11.b4 Bxe6 12.Bf4 Rad8

13.c5! White has to act quickly to cause problems. 13...Ne8 14.Nd4 Qf7 (14...Bf7 15.e3 (15.b5 Nxc5
16.bxc6 bxc6 17.Bxc6 Qa5 18.Rc1²) 15...Qc8 (15...Qe7 16.b5) 16.b5 cxb5 17.Nd5 Kh8 18.Bg5 Nf6
19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.c6²) 15.Nxe6 Qxe6 16.b5 Nxc5 (16...Nac7 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.Bg5²) 17.bxc6 bxc6

224
 18.Bxc6 and after 18...Nf6² or 18...Kh8² Black only has to take the a-pawn to hold this slightly worse
position.

11.b3?!

Defending the pawn is slow.

11.Bf4! White can attack d6 at once, and it is very powerful. 11...Rd8 (11...Qd7 12.Bxd6 Rd8 13.c5
Ne8±) 12.c5 Ne8 13.Ng5 Bf7
a) 14.Nxf7 Qxf7 15.cxd6 Nd7 16.e4 Ne5 17.exf5 gxf5 18.Qc2 Ng6 19.Bg5± Capek,I-Kholmov,R,
Decin 1995
b) 14.Nb5 Qd7 15.cxd6 Na6 Paikidze,N-Ali Marandi,C, Saint Louis 2017 16.e4 and White would have
stood better here.

11...Na6 12.Qc2

12.Bb2 Rad8 13.Qc2 Kh8 14.Rbd1 d5 After getting organised, Black frees his position. 15.Nd4 Bg8
16.cxd5 Nb4 17.Qb1 Nbxd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.e4 fxe4

225
20.Bxe4= David,R-Heidrich,M, Germany 1997, Black is safe and endgames might be unpleasant for
White.

12...Nc5 13.Rd1 Rad8

14.Ng5

14.b4 Black is ready for this. 14...Nce4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 (15...fxe4 16.Nd4 Bc8 17.Bg5 Qf7 18.e3 d5=)
16.Ng5 Nxg5 17.Bxg5 Rd7=

14...Bc8 15.b4

226
This causes few problems for Black.

15...Ne6 16.b5 Nc5

16...Ng4 17.Nxe6 Bxe6 18.Bf4 Ne5=

17.bxc6

17...bxc6

Later White achieved a small edge, but the advantage shifted to Mamedyarov, who was, however, unable
to win with the extra exchange.

18.Na4 Nxa4 19.Qxa4 h6 20.Nf3 Ne4 21.Bd2 Nxd2 22.Rxd2 Bd7 23.Rbd1 c5 24.Qc2 Kh7 25.h4
Qa5 26.h5 Ba4 27.hxg6+ Kh8 28.Qc1 Bxd1 29.Qxd1 f4 30.gxf4 Rxf4 31.Rxd6 Rdf8 32.Rd7 Qc3
33.Rxa7 Rxc4 34.Rf7 Qc1 35.Qxc1 Rxc1+ 36.Kh2 c4 37.Nd4 c3 38.Be4 Be5+ 39.f4 Rxf7 40.gxf7
Bxf4+ 41.Kg2 Bd6 42.a4 Be7 43.a5 Ra1 44.Nb5 Rxa5 45.Nxc3 Kg7 46.Nd5 Bf8 47.Bf3 Kxf7 48.Nf4
Bd6 49.Nh3 Kf6 50.Nf2 Rg5+ 51.Kf1 Ke7 52.Ne4 Ra5 53.Kg2 Bc7 54.Kh3 Kf7 55.Nf2 Kf6
56.Ng4+ Kg5 57.Nf2 Kf4 58.Ng4 Rh5+ 59.Kg2 Rg5 60.Kh3 Rh5+ 61.Kg2 Rg5 62.Kh3 Rg7 63.Kh4
Rg5 1/2

227
CHAPTER 7.
7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.RE1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Re1 Ne4
Game 34
Maxime Vachier Lagrave
Ruslan Ponomariov
SportAccord, Basque/Beijing 2013

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6

8.Re1

White gets ready to play e4. Against certain moves he will not want to carry it out at once, but it may
come in handy later on.

8...Ne4

Black stops e4 and opens the diagonal of the bishop. White will usually — sooner or later — try to get
rid of the knight.

9.Qc2

By far the most popular move. It aims to get rid of the knight. The difference with 9.Qd3 is that after this
move players tend to take back on c3 with the pawn.

228
a) 9.Qd3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 e5 11.e4 fxe4 See 9.Qc2
b) 9.Ng5 Haritopoulou,M-Cmilyte,V, Eretria 2011 9...Nxg5 10.Bxg5 h6 11.Be3 e5 Black has freed his
position. 12.Qd2 Kh7 (12...g5 13.f3 Nd7∞) 13.Rad1 Qe7 14.f3 Nd7=
c) 9.Nxe4 fxe4 The black pawn is strong enough on e4 and it wins an important tempo. 10.Ng5 d5
c1) 11.f3 dxc4 12.Be3 exf3=
c2) 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.f4? Nc6 13.e3 h6 14.Nh3 Be6 15.Nf2 Qb6 16.Rb1 Rac8 17.Bd2 Hladik,J-
Mlynek,P, Czech Rep. 2003 17...Nxd4µ
c3) 11.Be3 White prepares f3 by defending the d4-pawn. 11...h6 12.Nh3 g5 (12...Bf5=) 13.f3 exf3
(13...dxc4!? Black wants to get closer to the d4-pawn. 14.Nf2 [14.fxe4 c5!?³] 14...exf3 15.exf3 Bf5=)
14.exf3 dxc4 15.f4 Shabalov,A-Palatnik,S, Chicago 1995 15...Bxh3 16.Bxh3 gxf4 17.Bxf4 Qxd4+²
d) 9.Qb3 This move doesn’t attack e4, but it works well if Black voluntarily takes on c3. It also vacates
d1 or a rook.
d1) 9...Nd7 Black aims to defend the e4-knight.
d11) 10.c5+ d5 11.Bf4 e6 (11...Re8 12.e3 e5=) 12.Qa3

12...Qe7 (Black sacrifices an exchange, although he could play 12...b6 instead.) 13.Nxe4 fxe4
14.Bd6 Qf7 15.Bxf8 Qxf8 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 Bxe5=
d12) 10.Be3 Ndf6 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Rad1 (12.c5+ Kh8 13.Rad1 b6∞) 12...Qc7 (12...Qb6 13.Qc2
Qc7) 13.Nd2 (13.c5+ Kh8 14.Bf4 b6 15.cxd6 exd6 16.Nd2²) 13...Nf6 14.Nb1 (14.c5+ Kh8 15.Bf4
Nh5∞) 14...Be6 (14...Nh5 15.Bc1 f4=) 15.Nc3 (15.d5 cxd5 16.cxd5 Bd7 17.Rc1 Qa5=) 15...Bf7
(15...Qb6=) 16.d5 e5 17.dxe6 Bxe6 18.Bf4 Kryzius,K-Sarakauskas,G, Vilnius 1995 18...Qf7
19.Bxd6 Bxc4=
d2) 9...Kh8

229
 d21) 10.Bf4 Ghaem Maghami,E- Potapov,P, Doha 2016 10...Nd7 11.Red1 Nxc3 12.Qxc3 h6
(12...Nf6) 13.Rac1 Qe8=
d22) 10.Be3 This move means White is threatening to take the knight.

10...Nxc3 It is a bit paradoxical, but giving up the knight temporarily helps Black to have a knight
on e4. (10...Nd7? 11.Nxe4) 11.Qxc3 (11.bxc3 e5=) 11...Nd7 White is better developed, but can do
little against the standard ...e5.
d221) 12.Rad1 This makes it more difficult for Black to play ...e5.
d2211) 12...e5 13.Bg5 (13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Qa3 Qe8 15.Qd6 h6=) 13...exd4 (13...Qc7 14.dxe5 dxe5
[14...Nxe5 15.Bf4²] 15.e4²) 14.Qa3 Nf6 15.Rxd4²
d2212) 12...Nf6 13.Qc1 Qc7 14.Bh6 e5=
d222) 12.Qd2 e5 13.dxe5 (13.Bg5 Qe8 14.e4 fxe4 15.Rxe4 d5 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.Ree1 e4 18.Rac1
Qf7=) 13...dxe5 14.Bh6 (14.Rad1 Qe7 15.Bg5 Qf7=) 14...e4 This equalises here as well. 15.Bxg7+
Kxg7 16.Qc3+ Qf6 17.Nd4 Nc5 18.Rad1 Rivera,A-Almeida Quintana,O, Bogota 2012 18...Ne6=

9...Nxc3

230
10.bxc3

Taking back like this strengthens the d4-square and opens the way for the bishop to a3.
10.Qxc3 Against this capture Black can carry out ...e5 easily.
a) 10...Nd7 Pushing the pawn can also be prepared.
a1) 11.Ng5 Nf6 12.c5 Kh8 13.Qb3 dxc5 (13...Qe8 14.Ne6 Bxe6 15.Qxe6 d5=) 14.dxc5 Qa5 15.Bf4
Qxc5 16.Nf7+ Kg8=
a2) 11.e4!

I think this is the critical move. 11...e5 12.Bg5 exd4 13.Qd2 Bf6 14.exf5 Ne5 15.Bh6 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3

231
 Bxf5∞ It is hard to tell how much compensation Black has.
a3) 11.Qc2 e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Ng5 (13.e4 Nc5³; 13.Bg5 Qe8=) 13...Qe7 14.Nh3 e4 (14...f4µ)
15.Be3 Ne5 16.Rad1 Zupe,M-Borisek,J, Slovenia 2012 16...Be6 17.b3 Ng4=
b) 10...e5 Black players usually carry this out immediately.
b1) 11.Bg5 Qe8 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.e4 f4 14.Rad1 Manukyan,A-Petrosian,T, Yerevan 2016 14...h6
15.Bd8 Na6³
b2) 11.dxe5

11...dxe5 As so often in the main Leningrad variations, the question is whether or not Black has
enough time to bring the queenside pieces into play.
b21) 12.Qb3 Na6 (12...e4³) 13.Rd1 Qe7 14.Bg5 Qf7 15.Be3 h6 16.Rd6 Re8 17.Rad1 e4³
Vesterli,M-Semcesen,D, Ballerup 2014.
b22) 12.e4 f4 13.b3

232
 b221) 13...c5!? Black wants to place his knight on d4 with this somewhat surprising move. 14.Ba3
(14.gxf4 Nc6 15.f5=) 14...Qe7 15.Rad1 Nc6 16.Rd5 b6 17.Qd2 Bg4µ Povill Claros,X-
Moskalenko,V, Barcelona 2018.
b222) 13...Qe7 14.b4
b2221) 14.Bb2? c5 15.Rad1 Nc6 16.Qd3 Bg4 Black’s plan is about to prevail. 17.h3 Rad8 18.Qe2
Bxf3µ Jensson,E-Gretarsson,H, Reykjavik 2017.
b2222) 14...Bg4 15.Bb2 Na6 16.b5 Konaplev,A-Khairullin,I, Sochi 2015 16...Nc5 17.bxc6 b6=

10...e5

Black has to hurry as otherwise White would carry out e4 quickly, with an advantage.

233
11.e4

White plays e4 himself to stop Black from playing ...e4, which would equalise.
a) 11.Qb3 e4 12.Nd2 c5 13.dxc5 dxc5 14.f3 Donchenko,A-Sandipan,C, Moscow 2017 14...Nc6
15.fxe4 f4³
b) 11.e3 e4 12.Nd2 d5 (12...Nd7=) 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.c4 Be6 15.Ba3 Rf7 16.cxd5 Bxd5 17.Rec1 Nc6=
18.Bf1? Demina,J-Cmilyte,V, Minsk 2001 18...f4 19.gxf4 Nxd4 20.exd4 Rxf4µ
c) 11.dxe5 dxe5 Can White exploit his clear development advantage? The stakes are high because, if
not, then Black has chances of taking over because he has the better pawn structure.
c1) 12.e4 In the game Epishin,V-Beim,V Frankfurt 1998 White wanted to open the position
immediately. 12...Qa5 (12...Na6 13.Ba3 transposes to 12.Ba3.) 13.a4 (13.Qb3 f4=) 13...f4 14.gxf4
(14.Ba3 c5=) 14...exf4 15.Ba3 Qxc3= or 15...Re8 16.e5 Bg4 are both equal.
c2) 12.Ba3

234
12...Re8 (12...Nd7 An adventurous sacrifice. 13.Bxf8 [13.e4!? looks unpleasant for Black.] 13...Qxf8
14.e4 f4°)
c21) 13.e4 Na6 (13...f4 - transposes to the 12.e4 line) 14.Rad1 White develops his last piece: Black
must be alert. (14.exf5 Bxf5 15.Qb3 e4 16.Nd4 Qb6 17.Nxf5 gxf5=) 14...Qa5 15.Bd6 Nc5 16.Nd2
Qa4 (16...Bf8! Black should keep the control over the c5-square. 17.Nb3 Qa3 18.Bxc5 Bxc5=)
17.Qb1
c211) 17...b6 18.Qb4 Qxa2 19.Bxc5 bxc5 20.Qxc5²
c212) 17...Bf8 was better, but no longer equalises. 18.Bxc5 Bxc5 19.exf5²
c213) 17...Nxe4? 18.Nxe4 fxe4 19.c5± Georgiev,V-Agrest,E, Ohrid 2001.
c22) 13.Rad1 Qa5! Black has to play accurately 14.Bb4 Qb6
c221) 15.Bd6 e4 16.c5 Qb5 17.Nd4 Qc4 18.Bf1 Nd7=
c222) 15.Ng5

235
 15...Bf6 Black vacates the g7-square. Without this bishop move, White’s c5 may become lethal.
16.c5 (16.h4 h6) 16...Qc7 17.Qb3+ Kf8 (17...Kg7 18.Ba5 b6 [18...Qe7 19.Bd8 Qf8=] 19.cxb6
Qb7=) 18.h4 (18.Ba5 Qg7) 18...a5 19.Ba3 h6 20.Rd6 Kg7 21.Nf3 e4 Razin,V-Zherebukh,Y,
Alushta 2011 22.Nd4 Be5=
c223) 15.e4 It is logical to open the centre. 15...Na6 16.Bd6 Nc5 Black attacks the e4-pawn,
limiting White’s possibilities.
c2231) 17.Nh4 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 fxe4 19.Rxe4 Qa5 20.f4 Be6 21.Bxe5 Qc5+ 22.Qf2 Qxf2+
(22...Bf8=) 23.Kxf2 Bxe5 24.fxe5 a6 25.Nf3 b5=
c2232) 17.Ng5 f4 18.gxf4 exf4 19.Bxf4 Bg4 (19...Qa5 20.Bd6 Ne6 21.Nf3 Qxc3=) 20.f3 Bh5
21.Be3 Qa5 22.Bd4 h6=
c2233) 17.Nd2 Bf8 18.Nb3 1/2 Ipatov,A-Kuzubov,Y, Jerusalem 2015 18...Bxd6 19.Rxd6 a5=

11...fxe4 12.Qxe4 Bf5

236
13.Qe3

The queen doesn’t defend the c4-pawn from here.

13.Qe2!? Bg4 Black can afford no mistakes. 14.dxe5 (14.c5 Qf6 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Qc4+ Be6 17.Qf1
Nd7= or 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 exd4 16.Rb1 Nd7 17.Rxb7 Ne5=)

14...Nd7! Black plays fluently. Now some quite long variations will come, in which Black holds, but it is
dangerous and difficult to enter them without deep preparation. (14...Bxe5? 15.c5 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Qf6
17.Bg4 Bxc3 18.Rb1±) 15.exd6
a) 15.e6 Ne5 16.Bf4 Qa5 17.Rab1 Rae8 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.h3 Bxf3 20.Bxf3 Rxe6 21.Rxb7 Ref6

237
 22.Bxc6 Rxf2=
b) 15...Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Bxc3 17.Bf4 Bxa1 18.Rxa1 Qf6 19.Re1 g5 20.Bg4 gxf4 21.Bxd7 Kg7=

13...Nd7 14.Ba3

14.Nh4 exd4 15.cxd4 Re8 16.Qd2 Genov,P-Grunberg,M, Nis 2008 16...Be6=

14...Nb6!

This forces White to defend the c-pawn.

15.Qe2

a) 15.Bf1 Bg4 16.Nd2 exd4 17.cxd4 Qd7 18.c5 Nd5³;

b) 15.Nd2 exd4 16.cxd4 Qd7 17.Rac1 Rae8=

15...Re8

The rook keeps the centre together and Black can still play on the f-file. 15...Bg4! 16.c5 Bachmann,A-
Rodriguez Vila,A, Florianopolis 2018 16...exd4 17.cxd4 (17.cxb6 axb6°) 17...dxc5 18.Bxc5 Qf6 19.Be7
Bxf3=

16.dxe5 dxe5

16...Bxe5 17.Nxe5 Rxe5 18.Qf1 Be6= Black can do well without the dark-squared bishop.

17.Rad1 Qc8 18.Ng5 Bg4?!

238
18...e4! 19.Nxe4 Bxe4 20.Bxe4 Na4 21.Rd3 Nxc3 22.Qf3 Nxe4 23.Rxe4 Qf5 Black can get away with
this.

19.f3 Be6

19...Bf5 20.c5 Nd5 21.Qb2²

20.Rd6

20.Bf1! Bh6 (20...Bxc4 21.Qxc4+) 21.Nxe6 Qxe6 22.Bd6²

20...Bxc4

Black has an edge, soon increased it significantly and went on to win.

21.Qe4 Qf5 22.Qh4 h6 23.Ne4 g5 24.Qh3 Qxh3 25.Bxh3 Bd5 26.Bc5 Bxe4 27.fxe4 Bf8 28.Rg6+ Kf7
29.Bxf8 Kxg6 30.Bf5+ Kf6 31.Bc5 Na4 32.Ba3 Nxc3 33.Rf1 Kg7 34.Bg4

0–1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Re1 Na6
Game 35
J. Stopa
S. Mamedyarov
Pro League Group Stage, chess.com 2018

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Re1

239
8...Na6

As 9.e4 is not dangerous against this move, Black just develops on the queenside. Black may still follow
up with ...Ne4 or instead build his queenside with ...Nc7 and ...b5.

9.Rb1

White changes his mind and more or less forgets about e4, as the rooks would find themselves on the
same diagonal and Black’s bishop would get one of them.
a) 9.Qb3
a1) 9...Qb6 If Black only wants to equalise then this move is the simplest. 10.Qc2 Qc7 11.e4 Nb4
12.Qd2 (12.Qb3 Nd3) 12...e5=
a2) 9...Ne4 10.Be3 Nxc3 11.Qxc3 (11.bxc3 h6 or 11...Kh8) 11...Qe8
a21) 12.Rad1 e5 13.dxe5 dxe5=
a22) 12.Qa3 The queen only temporarily stops ...e5. 12...Nc7 13.Rad1 b6 (13...h6!?) 14.b3

240
 14...Bb7 Black gets ready to carry out ...c5. 15.Qc1 (15.h4 c5 16.d5 e6=) 15...Qf7 or 15...e5=
a23) 12.Qc1 e5 13.Bh6 e4 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Nd2 Be6 16.Qc3 d5 17.f4 Nc7 18.e3 h6= Pakleza,Z-
Kuzubov,Y, Abu Dhabi 2015.
b) 9.h3 This is somewhat pointless.
b1) 9...Nc7 10.Kh2 Rb8 11.e4 fxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Rxe4 b5 14.Bg5 Solodovnichenko,Y-
Zakharevich,I, Belgorod 2008 14...Ne6³
b2) 9...Ne4 Black can play for ...b5 and ...e5 as well. 10.Qc2 Nxc3 11.bxc3 e5 12.Bg5 Qe8 13.e4 Qf7
14.Qd2 f4 15.gxf4 exf4 16.e5 h6 17.exd6 (17.e6 Bxe6 18.d5 cxd5 19.Nd4 hxg5=) 17...hxg5 18.c5
Bf6 19.Ne5 Qh7³ Abdyjapar,A-Borisek,J, Tromsø 2014.
c) 9.a3 Nc7 (9...Ne4!?)
c1) 10.e4 fxe4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Rxe4 Bf5 13.Re1

241
 13...Qd7 Black stands well because his pieces are excellently-developed. 14.Qb3 Kh8 15.Be3 Rab8
(15...b5=) 16.Qc3 b5 17.Nh4 Babar,M-Mainka,R, Bad Wörishofen 1999 17...c5 18.Rad1 Ne6∞
c2) 10.Qc2 Nh5 After this Black can consider the moves 11...e5 and 11...f4. (10...Be6 11.b3 b5
12.cxb5 [12.Qd3 Rb8=] 12...Nxb5=) 11.e3 (11.h3 e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Bg5 Qe8 14.e4 Ne6 15.exf5
gxf5=) 11...e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.b4 Be6 (13...e4 14.Nd4 Nf6 15.Bb2 Qe7=) 14.Nd2 Qe7 15.Bb2 a5
16.b5 cxb5 17.cxb5 e4= Van Oosterom,C-Nijboer,F, Netherlands 2014.
d) 9.e4 This is the principled move, but Black has resources for facing it. 9...Nxe4 10.Nxe4 fxe4
11.Rxe4
d1) 11...e5 Black’s active piece-play will compensate for the isolated pawn.
d11) 12.Bg5 Qc7 13.Re1 (13.g4 d5 14.Rxe5 Bxg4³ or 13.Qd2 Bf5 14.Ree1 Rae8 15.Be3 e4=)
13...Bg4 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Qe2? (15.h3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Qf7=) 15...Rf5 16.Qe3 Raf8 17.Nh4 Rxf2
18.Bh6 Bxh6 19.Qxh6 Nb4–+ Halay,T-Nijboer,F, Dieren 2005.
d12) 12.dxe5 dxe5

242
 13.Qxd8 Exchanging queens makes it hard for either side to obtain an advantage. 13...Rxd8 14.Bg5
Re8 15.Re2 Bf5 (15...h6 16.Be3 e4 17.Nd4 Nb4=) 16.Rd2 Nc5 Draw Yakovich,Y-Spraggett,K,
Santo Antonio 2000.
d2) 11...Bf5 It looks more natural to win the tempo early on.
d21) 12.Rh4

White doesn’t have enough pieces on the kingside to attack. 12...e5 13.c5 Dimukhametov,A-
Ivanov,A, Belgorod 2009 13...e4 (13...d5 14.Nxe5 Nxc5=) 14.Ng5 h6 15.Nxe4 g5³
d22) 12.Re2 Bg4 13.Re3 e5 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Qe1 e4 (15...Nc5 16.h3 Bf5 17.g4 Bc2³) 16.Nd2 Nb4
(16...Nc5 17.Nxe4 Bd4=) 17.Rxe4 Parligras,M-Lu Shanglei, Bazna 2014 (17.Bxe4 Bd4 18.Nb3=)
17...Nc2–+

243
d23) 12.Re3 e5 13.h3 e4 (13...Nb4 14.g4 exd4 15.Nxd4 Bxd4 16.Qxd4 Nc2=) 14.Ne1 d5 15.cxd5
cxd5 16.Re2 Nb4 17.Be3 Qd7 18.Kh2 Hevia Alejano,C-Ortiz Suarez,I, Havana 2014 18...Rac8³
d24) 12.Re1
d241) 12...e5 Playing it quickly is safe as well. 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Bd2? (14.Ng5 Qxd1 15.Rxd1
Nb4=) 14...Bg4 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Rxf3 17.Qxf3 Qxd2 18.Red1 Qg5–+ Lapidus,M-Ehlvest,J,
Vaksali 2012.

d242) 12...Qd7 Black develops a few pieces before carrying out ...e5. He ensures that the bishop
can remain on the diagonal.
d2421) 13.Nh4 Bg4 14.f3 Be6 15.d5 cxd5 16.f4 Nc7 17.cxd5 Bf7 18.Be4 e6 1/2 Palus,R-
Kuczynski,R, Ksiaz 1998.
d2422) 13.Bf4 Nb4 14.Nh4 (14.Re2=) 14...Nc2 15.Nxf5 Nxe1 16.Nxg7 Nxg2 17.Kxg2 Kxg7
18.Qd2 Rf7µ Mager,T-Kalinitschew,S, Berlin 2008.
d2423) 13.Bg5 Rae8 14.Qd2 Bg4 (14...e5 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Qxd7 Bxd7 17.Be3 Jasnikowski,Z-
Kuczynski,R, Slupsk 1989 17...Nb4 18.Bc5 Nd3 19.Bxf8 Nxe1 20.Bxg7 Nxf3+=) 15.Nh4 e5
(15...Rf7 16.d5 Bh3=) 16.dxe5 (16.d5 Nc7 17.a4 cxd5 18.cxd5 Bh3=) 16...Bxe5?! (16...dxe5!
Undertaking the isolated pawn is simpler. 17.Rad1 Rf7 18.Qxd7 Rxd7 19.Rxd7 Bxd7=) 17.Bh6
(17.Rac1 Nc5 18.Bh6 Bg7²) 17...Bg7 18.Bxg7 Qxg7 19.h3² Yakovich,Y-Kuczynski,R, Saint
Vincent 2000.

244
9...Ne4

Mamedyarov stops e4 and gets closer to carrying out ...e5.

9...Nc7 Developing the queenside is all right as well. 10.b4 Be6 11.Qd3
a) 11...b5!? Black can gain space without giving up any squares. 12.cxb5 cxb5 13.Nxb5 Nxb5 14.Qxb5
Bxa2=
b) 11...d5 12.c5 Ne4 13.Bf4 Bf7 14.a4 Ne6 15.Be5 Bf6 16.Bxf6 exf6 17.Nd2 g5= De Jong,J-
Nijboer,F, Netherlands 2007.

10.Qc2

White gets rid of the knight, but it does little against ...e5. If 10.Nd2 Nxc3 11.bxc3 e5 12.e3 Rf7 13.Qa4
Nc7 14.Ba3 e4 15.f3 d5 16.cxd5 Shankovsky,A-Dziuba,M. Lublin 2015 16...cxd5 17.c4 dxc4=

10...Qa5

The world-class Azeri player complicates matters. The 10...Nxc3 simplification is safe as well. 11.bxc3
(11.Qxc3 Nc5 12.Qc2 Ne4=) 11...e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Ba3 c5 (13...Re8=) 14.e4 f4 15.Red1 Qe7 16.gxf4
exf4 17.Rd5 Be6 18.Nd4 Bxd4 19.cxd4 f3∞ Baules,J-Anton Guijarro,D, Linares 2014.

11.a3 Nxc3 12.Bd2

12.b4 Qc7 13.Qxc3 e5 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.e4 f4 Though the knight is somewhat out of play on a6, Black
does well. 16.Bb2 Bg4=

12...f4

245
Mamedyarov keeps the position complex. Instead 12...e5 13.Bxc3 Qc7 would be equal.

13.Qxc3

Stopa forces the exchange of queens.

a) 13.bxc3!? Bf5 14.Qa2 The computer likes this exchange sacrifice, but Black should be all right.
b) 13.Bxc3 Qh5 14.Rbd1 The position is roughly even, but likely to give attacking hopes to a superb
attacker such as Mamedyarov.

13...Qxc3 14.Bxc3 Nc7 15.gxf4 Rxf4 16.e3

246
16...Rf8

The position is even; Mamedyarov took over around the time control, although later he let the advantage
slip, but he eventually won this rapid game.

17.b4 Bf5 18.Rb2 Be4 19.Nd2 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Rf5 21.Ne4 a6 22.Rc2 d5 23.cxd5 cxd5 24.Bb2 Nb5
25.Ng3 Rf7 26.e4 dxe4 27.Rxe4 Rd8 28.Ne2 Rdf8 29.f4 Rd8 30.a4 Nd6 31.Re3 Rd7 32.Rd3 b5 33.Rc6
Nc4 34.Bc1 Rf6 35.axb5 axb5 36.Rc5 Rf5 37.Rxf5 gxf5 38.Nc3 Nd6 39.Kf3 Kf7 40.Bd2 Rc7 41.Ne2
Rc2 42.d5 Ne4 43.Be3 Rb2 44.Bd4 Rxb4 45.Bxg7 Kxg7 46.Nd4 Kf6 47.h4 Rb2 48.Ne6 b4 49.Ng5 b3
50.Nxe4+ fxe4+ 51.Kxe4 Rb1 52.Kd4 Kf5 53.Re3 Kf6 54.Re6+ Kf7 55.Rb6 b2 56.Kc3 Rd1 57.Rxb2
Rxd5 58.Kc4 Rd6 59.Re2 Rf6 60.Re4 Rh6 61.f5 Rh5 62.Rf4 Kf6 63.Kd3 Rxf5 64.Ra4 Re5 65.Kd4 Kf5
66.Ra1 Re4+ 67.Kd5 e6+ 68.Kd6 Rxh4 69.Rf1+ Rf4 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Re1 Na6 9.b3
Game 36
Radoslaw Wojtaszek
Fabiano Caruana
Tata Steel-A, Wijk aan Zee 2015

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Re1 Na6

9.b3

White just wants to develop the c1-bishop.

9...Ne4

247
Caruana plays this standard move, but Black has many reasonable options:
a) 9...Qa5 The queen attacks the knight and helps to carry out ...e5. 10.Bb2 e5
a1) 11.e4 fxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Rxe4 Bf5 14.Re1 e4 15.Ng5 d5 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.f3

17...Nc5 Black sacrifices a pawn, although 17.exf3 is simpler. 18.fxe4 dxe4 19.Nxe4 Nxe4 20.Bxe4
Bogner,S-Grover,S, Dubai 2014 20...Rae8 21.Bxf5 Qxf5 22.Qd2 Qf3=
a2) 11.Qd2 White stops ...e4.
a21) 11...Qc7 12.e4 Otherwise Black would play ...e4. It opens the position but Black has nothing to
worry about. 12...fxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Rxe4 Bf5 15.Ree1 Rae8
a211) 16.b4 e4 17.Nh4 Be6 18.b5 Nb8 19.Rac1 (19.bxc6 Kunin,V-Ortiz Suarez,I, Havana 2015
19...Bxc4=) 19...d5 20.bxc6 Nxc6=
a212) 16.Nh4 Bc8 17.Re2 (17.dxe5 dxe5 18.Rad1 Bg4 19.Rb1 Qb6= or 17.b4 exd4 18.b5 Nc5
19.Bxd4=) 17...exd4 18.Rxe8 Rxe8 19.Bxd4 Bxd4 20.Qxd4 Qg7= Xu,Y-Yu,Y, Shenzhen 2016.
a22) 11...exd4 12.Nxd4 Nc5 13.Rad1

248
 13...Qc7 Black still has to catch up with development, but can do so. 14.b4 (14.e3 a5 15.Nf3
Parligras,M-Bajarani,U, Konya 2015 15...Nfe4=) 14...Nce4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Qc2 Sadzikowski,D-
Vovk,A, Gallipoli 2016 16...Re8=
b) 9...e5 This is very ambitious; Black may sacrifice an exchange soon. 10.dxe5 dxe5
b1) 11.e4 Nc5 12.Ba3 Qa5 13.Bxc5 Qxc5 14.Qd2 f4 15.Rad1 fxg3 16.hxg3 Ng4 17.Re2³
Petrosian,T-Anton Guijarro,D, Moscow 2015.
b2) 11.Ba3
b21) 11...Qxd1 12.Raxd1 Re8 13.e4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.Ng5 Bg4 16.Ra1 Bf5 17.Nxe4 Bxe4
18.Bxe4 Bf8 19.Bb2 Bc5²
b22) 11...e4!? 12.Bxf8 Qxf8 13.Nd4

249
 13...Ng4 (13...e3!? Black sacrifices an additional pawn to the exchange. 14.fxe3 Qe7 15.Qd2 Bh6
16.Nd1 Nc5°) 14.Qd2 Ipatov,A-Petrosian,T, Dubai 2015 14...Qe7° Black seems to have enough for
the exchange.
c) 9...Qc7 Black wants to play ...e5.
c1) 10.Bb2 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Na4 e4 13.Be5 Qd7 14.Ng5 h6 (14...Re8³) 15.Nh3 Qe6 16.Qd6 Re8
17.Qxe6+ Bxe6 18.Rad1 Rad8³ Burmakin,V-Berkovich,D, Kobanya 1992.
c2) 10.Ba3
c21) 10...Ne4!? 11.Qc2 (11.Bb2 Nxc3 12.Bxc3 e5=) 11...Nxc3 12.Qxc3 Nc5!? 13.Rad1 Ne4
14.Qc2=
c22) 10...Re8?! The rook is a bit passive here. 11.e4 Qa5 12.Bb2 fxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Rxe4 Bf5
Xu,Y-Sethuraman,S, Doha 2015 15.Re3±

10.Bb2 Nxc3

10...d5 11.Rc1 Be6 12.e3 Rc8 13.a3 Qd6²

11.Bxc3

250
11...Nc5!

The knight will do enough on e4 to keep the balance.

12.Ng5

12.Nd2 d5! Switching to a Stonewall Leningrad allows the knight to still get to e4. 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Rc1
Ne4 15.Nxe4 (15.e3 Be6 16.f3 Nxc3 17.Rxc3 Qa5 18.Qc2 Rfc8=) 15...fxe4 16.f3 Bf5 17.Qd2 Qb6
18.Bb2 Rac8= Jianu,V-Bartel,M, Yerevan 2014.

12...d5

Black does all right regarding space, which compensates for the e5 soft-point. 12...Ne6 13.Nxe6 Bxe6
14.e3 Bf7 15.Qc2 e5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Qb2 Qe7 18.e4²

13.Nh3

13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Bb2 (14.dxc5 Bxc3 15.Bxd5+ Kg7 16.Bxb7 Qxd1 17.Rexd1 Bxb7 18.Rac1 Bb2
19.Rc2 Ba3=) 14...Ne4 15.Nh3 Parligras,M-Moreno Tejera,E, Germany 2017 15...e6 16.Nf4 Rf7
(16...Re8 17.e3 b6∞) 17.Rc1 Rc7 If White is better, the advantage is rather small.

13...Ne4 14.Bb2 Be6

Black’s pieces are quite free.

15.Nf4 Bf7 16.cxd5

251
16...cxd5

It is hard to judge this position. Some may think that it is equal, others that White has an edge. Perhaps
both views are reasonable, although Caruana was unable to hold.

17.Nd3 a5

17...Qa5 18.Rc1 Rfc8=

18.a4

252
18...b5

After 18...Rc8 19.e3 Qb6 Black is doing well. In the game Caruana soon went wrong and faced
difficulties, later got back into it, but before the time control went wrong and lost.

19.axb5 Qb6 20.e3 Rfb8 21.Bf1 Qxb5 22.Ra3 Qe8 23.f3 Nd6 24.Qa1 g5 25.Bc3 g4 26.f4 Ne4
27.Bxa5 h5 28.Rc1 h4 29.Be1 Bf6 30.Nc5 hxg3 31.hxg3 Nxc5 32.Rxc5 e5 33.Rxa8 Rxa8 34.Qb1 exd4
35.Qxf5 Qxe3+ 36.Bf2 Qe6 37.Bd3 Qxf5 38.Bxf5 Ra1+ 39.Kg2 d3 40.Bxd3 d4 41.b4 Bb3 42.b5 Be7
43.Rh5 Rd1 44.Be2 Rd2 45.Bxg4 Rb2 46.Bf3 Bb4 47.b6 1–0

253
CHAPTER 8.
7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.QC2

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Qc2 Qc7
Game 37
Lelys Stanley Martinez Duany
Isan Reynaldo Ortiz Suarez
Villahermosa 2014

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6

8.Qc2

White prepares e4 and prevents Black from playing ...Ne4.

8...Qc7

Black gets ready to carry out ...e5. This move is the second most popular.

9.e4

White carries out e4 to exert pressure on the e-file.

a) 9.d5 White occupies too much space. 9...cxd5 10.cxd5 Ne4! Black at least gets the two bishops.
11.Bd2 Na6 12.Rac1 Nxd2 13.Qxd2 Qb6 14.e3 Bd7 15.Nd4 Nc5 16.Rb1 a5 17.Rfd1 Rfc8 18.Qe2 a4=
Masic,L-Benko,P, Sombor 1976.

254
b) 9.c5 This is too premature to fight for an advantage. 9...dxc5 10.Bf4 (10.dxc5 Nbd7 11.Qb3+ Kh8
12.Qc4 Ne5 13.Nxe5 Qxe5 14.Bf4 Qe6=) 10...Qa5 11.Qb3+ Kh8 12.dxc5 Nbd7 13.Ng5 h6 14.Ne6
Nxc5 15.Nxc5 Qxc5 16.Rac1 e5 17.Be3 Qe7 18.Qa4 Ng4µ Seliverstov,V-Pap,G, Pardubice 2015.
c) 9.Rd1 The rook does little on d1. 9...e5 10.dxe5 (10.d5 cxd5 11.cxd5 Na6=) 10...dxe5 11.c5 (11.e4
Na6) 11...Na6 12.b4 Nxb4 (12...e4 13.Bf4 Qf7³) 13.Qb3+ Nbd5 14.Ng5 Rigolot,M-Yagupov,I,
Cappelle-la-Grande 2004 14...e4 15.Bf4 Qd7 16.f3 exf3 17.Bxf3 Kh8³
d) 9.b3 White opens the diagonal for the bishop to get to a3.
d1) 9...e5 This can be played, but Black must know it well. 10.dxe5 dxe5
d11) 11.e4 Harutyunian,T-Paravyan, D, Kirishi 2014

11...Qe7 The queen sacrifices a tempo so as not to allow the bishop to a3. 12.Bg5 (12.Re1 Na6)
12...Na6 13.Rad1 Nc5 14.Rfe1 Qc7 (14...f4 15.gxf4 Ne6 16.Bxf6 Qxf6°) 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Qe2 e4³
d12) 11.Ba3 Re8 12.Rad1!? The bishop aims to get to d6. (12.e4 Na6 13.Rae1 Qa5 14.Bd6 Nc5
15.Qd2 fxe4 (15...Be6 16.Ng5 Rad8=) 16.Nxe4 Qxd2=) 12...Bf8 13.Bxf8 Rxf8 14.e4 White has to
act quickly, before Black finishes development. (14.Qd2 e4 15.Nd4 Na6=) 14...Na6
d121) 15.h3 Nc5 Black undertakes an isolated pawn. (15...f4 16.Qd2 fxg3 17.fxg3 Nc5 18.Rfe1
Be6 (18...a5 19.Qg5) 19.Qe3 b6 20.Qg5 Nfd7=) 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.Qd2 (17.Qc1 Rae8) 17...Rae8
18.Qe3 e4 19.Nd4 Nd3=
d122) 15.Rfe1 Nc5 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.Qe2 e4 18.Nh4 Bg4 19.f3 exf3= Wolfsteiner,H-Milov,L,
Germany 2015.
d2) 9...a5 Black wants to play ...Na6 to block the a3-f8-diagonal. 10.Bb2 Na6
d21) 11.a3 e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Rad1 (13.e4 Nc5) 13...f4 (13...e4 14.Nd4 Nc5 15.b4 axb4 16.axb4
Ne6=) 14.Ng5 Bf5 15.Nge4 Kh8 16.Qc1 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 Qb6 18.Nd6 Bg4 1/2 Guevara Cano,M-
Bhend,E, Corr. 1992.

255
d22) 11.Rad1

11...e5 This is an accomplishment. 12.dxe5 dxe5

d221) 13.e4 Nb4 14.Qe2 fxe4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Bf5 17.Qe3 Rae8 18.a3 (18.Ng5 Nxa2=)
18...Nc2 19.Qe2 Nd4³ Paciencia,E-Garma,C, Greenhills 1997.
d222) 13.Na4 Ne4
d2221) 14.Ne1
d22211) 14...Nb4 15.Qb1 b5 16.cxb5

16...cxb5 Black’s gain of space is impressive, but it has to be kept together. 17.Nc3 Nxc3 18.Bxc3
e4 (18...Bb7=) 19.Bxg7 Qxg7 Sayson,A-Garma,C, Philippines 1997.

256
 d22212) 14...Ng5 15.Ba3 (15.f4 exf4 16.Bxg7 Qxg7 17.gxf4 Nb4 18.Qb1 Ne4= Nemet,I-
Kaiszauri,K, Malmo 1979) 15...Nb4 16.Bxb4 axb4 17.Qd2 f4 18.Qxb4 e4 19.Qb6 Wessman,R-
Nicklasson,C, Sweden 2004 19...Qe7µ
d2222) 14.Nd2 Nec5 15.Nxc5 Nxc5 16.a3 e4 Black is safe. 17.Bxg7 Qxg7 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4
Na6 20.Rb1 Be6= Beradze,I-Bortnyk,O, Ureki 2015.

9...fxe4 10.Nxe4

10...Bf5

10...Nxe4 11.Qxe4 Bf5 Black’s active piece-play compensates for the backward pawn.
a) 12.Qe3 Nd7 13.c5 Nf6=
b) 12.Qe2 Bg4 or 12...Na6=
c) 12.Qh4 Nd7 13.Re1 (13.Qxe7 Rae8 14.Qh4 Bd3³ or 13.g4 Bd3 14.Ng5 Nf6 15.Ne6 Qa5=)
13...Nf6 14.Bh6 Rae8 15.h3 e5=

11.Nxf6+ Bxf6

11...exf6!? After capturing like this Black undertakes a bit of a space disadvantage, but with patient play
he can gradually equalise it. 12.Qb3
a) 12...g5
b) 12...Re8 13.Bf4 Na6 14.h4 (14.c5+ Qf7 15.Qxf7+ Kxf7 16.Bxd6 Bf8=) 14...Bf8 15.a3 Qf7 16.Rfe1
h6 17.Rxe8 Rxe8=
c) 12...Be4 13.Bf4

257
 c1) 13.Re1 d5 14.Bf4 Qd7 15.Bf1 dxc4 16.Bxc4+ Bd5 17.Rac1 Na6 18.Bxd5+ cxd5 19.h4 Rac8 20.a3
h6²
c2) 13...Qd7 14.Rfe1 d5 15.c5 (15.Bf1 dxc4 16.Bxc4+ Bd5=) 15...Rf7 16.Nd2 (16.Re2 Na6=)
16...Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Na6 18.a3 Bf8=

12.Qe2 Na6

12...e5 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.h3 (14.Nd2 Nd7 15.g4 Be6 16.Ne4 Be7²) 14...Rd8 15.Re1 Bd3 16.Qe3 Bxc4
17.Qc3 Bd5 18.Bg5²

13.Bh6 Rfe8

Black will face a squeeze.

14.Rad1

14.h3 e5 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.g4 Be6 17.Rad1²

14...e5

Undertaking the isolated pawn gives White a small advantage.

15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Rfe1?!

This move is a bit too automatic. 16.h3 Nc5 17.Qe3 Nd3 18.g4²; 16.Ng5 Qe7 17.Ne4²

16...Nc5

258
16...Nb4 17.Nd4 Bd3 18.Qd2 exd4=

17.Qe3 Qb6

17...Qe7 18.Ng5 e4 19.b4 Nd3=

18.Nh4 Be6 19.Rd6

19.Qf3 Bh8 20.Qa3²

19...e4 20.b3 Be5??

20...Qb4=

21.Qg5 Bf7

22.Nxg6+–

White is winning and confidently went on to secure the full point.

22...hxg6 23.Rxg6+ Bxg6 24.Qxg6+ Kh8 25.Bxe4 Qc7 26.Bf5 Re7 27.Bg5 Rg7 28.Bf6 Kg8 29.Bxg7
Bxg7 30.b4 Qf7 31.Qh7+ Kf8 32.bxc5 Re8 33.Rxe8+ Qxe8 34.Qg6 Qxg6 35.Bxg6 Bd4 36.Kg2 Bxc5
37.f4 Ke7 38.Kf3 Kd6 39.h4 Bd4 40.g4 1–0

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Qc2 Na6
Game 38
Roland Voigt

259
 Stefan Kindermann
Germany 2016

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Qc2

8...Na6

Black develops the knight, keeping several plans open. He can follow up with ...Qc7 and ...e5, or bring
the knight back to c7 and carry out ...b5.

9.Rd1

The rook only temporarily stops ...e5.

a) 9.e3 Qc7 10.b3 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Ba3 Re8 13.Rac1 Qa5 14.Bd6 e4 15.Nd4 Ellerbrock,M-Beim,V,
Schwäbisch Gmünd 1995

260
15...Rd8 16.c5 Ne8µ
b) 9.Bd2 Qc7 (9...Qe8!?)
b1) 10.Rad1 e5 11.d5 Wolfsteiner, H-Milov,L, Bayern 2012 11...cxd5 12.cxd5 Qe7 13.Ng5 e4=
b2) 10.e4 e5 (10...fxe4 11.Nxe4 Bf5 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 [12...exf6=] 13.Qb3 e5=) 11.c5!
b21) 11...dxc5?! 12.dxe5 Ng4 13.Qb3+± Kh8 14.e6² Quintin Navarro,A-Arribas Lopez,A, Linares
2015.
b22) 11...exd4 12.cxd6 Edouard,R-Vaisser,A, Haguenau 2013 12...Qd7 13.e5 dxc3 14.exf6 cxd2
15.fxg7

15...Rf6! Black should be able to get away with this.

261
c) 9.Rb1 Qe8 From here the queen helps ...e5 without taking the c7-square away from the knight.
c1) 9...Nc7 10.b4 (10.Rd1 Be6) 10...Be6 11.Nd2 Rc8 12.Bb2 Qd7 13.Qd3 d5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Rbc1
Ne4 16.Nf3 Zhou,J-Nguyen,N, Ningbo 2011 16...Na8=
c2) 10.b4 Nc7 11.b5 Berend,F-Borisek,J, Luxembourg 2014 11...cxb5 12.cxb5 Bd7 13.Qd3 Rc8
14.Nh4

14...Ne4 15.Nxe4 fxe4 16.Qxe4 Nxb5=

d) 9.Bg5 Qe8
d1) 10.a3 e5 11.Bxf6 Rxf6 12.e3 Nc7 13.b4 De las Heras,J-Rodriguez Vila,A, Villa Ballester 1996
13...e4 14.Nd2 Be6³
d2) 10.Rfe1 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.e4 Nc5 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.b4 fxe4 15.Nd2 Nd3 16.Reb1 Be7
(16...Nxf2 17.Kxf2 e3+ 18.Kxe3 Qd8=) 17.Ndxe4 Nxb4 18.Qe2 Na6= Gholami,A-Stopa,J, Rasht
2015.
e) 9.Re1 Whites switches to e4.
e1) 9...Re8 10.Bg5 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Rad1 Adly,A-Anton Guijarro,D, Sharjah 2017 12...Qb6
(12...Qc7 13.e4 Nc5 14.Bxf6 Bxf6=) 13.e4 Nc5 14.Be3 Ng4=
e2) 9...Qc7 10.b3 (10.e4 Nb4 11.Qd2 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 fxe4 13.Rxe4 Bf5= or 10.Bg5 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5
12.Bxf6? Rxf6 13.e4 f4 14.Nd2 Be6 15.gxf4 Rxf4 16.Re3 Bh6–+ Beerdsen,T-Dambacher,M,
Germany 2016) 10...e5 11.dxe5 Nb4 12.Qb1 dxe5 13.e4 fxe4 14.Ng5 Nd3 15.Rf1 Nxc1 16.Qxc1
Bh6 17.h4 Bf5 18.Qe1 Rad8³ Zubkov,V-Demidov,M, Voronezh 2015.
f) 9.b3 The bishop may go to a3.
f1) 9...Qc7!? 10.Ba3 Salem,M-Borisek,J, Baku 2016 (10.Rd1 e5 11.dxe5 Nb4! Black blocks the
diagonal. 12.Qb2 dxe5 13.a3 Na6=)

262
10...b5 Black exploits the pin. 11.Nd1 Rb8=
f2) 9...e5!? The pawn is not defended, but it can be sacrificed. 10.dxe5 dxe5
f21) 11.a3 e4 12.Ng5 Ballon,G-Pruijssers,R, Bregenz 2018 12...Qe7 13.Nh3 (13.Bb2 Ng4³)
13...Be6³
f22) 11.Ba3 Re8 12.Rad1 Qa5 13.Bb2 (13.Bd6 e4 14.Nd4 Ng4=) 13...e4 14.Nd4 1/2 Jezidzic,G-
Suta,A, Hum na Sutli 2015 14...Nc5=
f23) 11.Nxe5 Qa5 12.Nf3 (12.Nd3 Ne4 13.Nxe4 fxe4 14.Nb2 Bf5 15.Be3 Nb4=) 12...Nb4 13.Qb1
Ne4 14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.Ng5 e3 16.Bxe3 Bf5 17.Be4 Bxa1 18.Qxa1 Rae8=
f3) 9...Nb4
f31) 10.Qb1 e5 11.Rd1 e4 12.Ne1 d5 13.Ba3 Qa5 14.Qc1 Re8 15.Na4 Na6 (15...dxc4 16.Qd2 c3
17.Qxc3 Nfd5³) 16.Qc3 Qc7 17.Nc2 (17.e3 b6) 17...Be6 18.Nb4 Nxb4 19.Bxb4 Romanov,E-
Filippov,A, Tromsø 2013 19...f4µ
f32) 10.Qd2 a5 11.Bb2 Ne4?! This is somewhat premature. (11...Bd7 12.Rfe1 Ne4∞) 12.Nxe4 fxe4
13.Ng5 d5 14.a3 Na6 15.f3 (15.cxd5! cxd5 16.f3 h6 17.Nh3 exf3 18.exf3²) 15...h6 16.Nh3 exf3
17.exf3 dxc4 18.bxc4 Cheparinov,I-Bartel,M, Dubai 2014 18...e5∞

263
9...Qc7

Black still aims for ...e5.

9...Qe8 The queen stands fine here as well.
a) 10.b3 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Ba3 c5 13.e4 Nb4 14.Qd2 Bd7∞
b) 10.e4 fxe4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Qxe4 Dumpor,A-Kovacevic,V, Bol 2014 12...Qf7 13.Re1 Qxc4
14.Qxe7 Nb4=
c) 10.d5
c1) 10...Bd7 11.Nd4 Nc7 12.Qb3 c5 13.Ndb5 Nxb5 14.Nxb5 Bxb5 15.cxb5 a6 16.bxa6 b5 17.Bd2
Rxa6= Lukenda,T-Kovacevic,B, Sibenik 2006.
c2) 10...cxd5 11.cxd5 Bd7 12.Be3 Rc8 13.Qb3 Nc5 14.Qa3 a6 15.Bd4 Lahaye,R-Rychagov,A,
Ottawa 2007 15...Nce4=

10.a3

10.Rb1 Gabuzyan,H-Kuzubov,Y, Martuni 2014 10...e5 11.b4 e4 12.Ng5 Qe7 13.h4 Nc7 14.c5 dxc5
15.bxc5 Ncd5=

10...e5 11.dxe5

White has several moves here, none of which create problems.

a) 11.d5 cxd5 12.cxd5 h6 13.Ne1 Bd7 14.b4 Rac8 15.Bb2 Qb6= Dzagnidze,N-Cmilyte,V, Beijing
2013.
b) 11.b4 e4 12.Ne1 Qf7 13.c5 Be6 (13...dxc5 14.bxc5 b6=) 14.Rb1 Zablotsky,S- Potapov,P, Sochi

264
 2016 14...Nc7 15.cxd6 Ncd5³

11...dxe5 12.b4 e4

12...Qe7=

13.Nd4 Qf7

The queen not only attacks the pawn, but vacates the c7-square for the knight.

14.c5 Nc7 15.Bf4 Ne6 16.Be5 Nxd4 17.Bxd4

265
17...Be6

The position is equal and the game ended peacefully.

18.Rab1 Rfd8 19.Be5 Ng4 20.Bxg7 Qxg7 21.Bh3 Nf6 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Rd1 Rxd1+ 24.Qxd1 Qd7
1/2

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Qc2 Na6 9.a3
Game 39
Namaiti Abudureheman
Yangyi Yu
Xinjiang rapid, Huocheng County 2017

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.Qc2 Na6

9.a3

This is the main move here: White stops ...Nb4.

9...Qe8

a) 9...Qc7
a1) 10.e4 fxe4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Qxe4 Bf5 13.Qe3 e5 (13...Rae8 looks fine as well.) 14.dxe5 dxe5
15.Nd2 Rad8 (15...e4 16.Nxe4 Rae8 17.Bd2 Bxe4 18.Bxe4 Qe5 19.Rae1 Qxb2=) 16.Ne4 Rd4
(16...b6 17.b4 Qd7 18.Bb2 Qd3 19.Rfe1²) 17.Qe2 (17.b4 Rxc4 18.Qb3 Be6 19.Ng5 Bf7 20.Nxf7
Qxf7 21.Be3 Nc7=) 17...b6 18.Bd2 Nc5 19.Nxc5 bxc5 20.Rfc1 Bd3= Uksini,B-Ringoir,T, Hamburg

266
 2014.
a2) 10.b4!? e5 11.b5 I found no game for this testing move. 11...Nb8 12.bxc6 Nxc6 (12...bxc6 13.c5
e4 14.cxd6 Qxd6 15.Bf4 Qe7 16.Ne5 Be6² or 16...Nfd7 17.Nxc6 Nxc6 18.Nd5±) 13.Nd5 Qd8
14.dxe5 Nxd5 (14...dxe5 15.Rd1) 15.cxd5 Nxe5 16.Nd4

16...Nf3 is close to equal.

a3) 10.Bd2?! e5 11.b4 e4 12.Ng5 h6 13.Nh3 (13.b5 Nb8 14.Nh3 Qf7 15.Rac1 g5=) 13...Qf7 14.b5
Nc7 15.bxc6 bxc6 16.Na4 Haubro,S-Cmilyte,V, Helsingor 2008 16...Ng4³
b) 9...Nc7 Black improves the knight a bit.
b1) 10.e4 This is not dangerous here. 10...fxe4 11.Nxe4 Bf5 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 (12...exf6 13.Qb3 Rb8
14.Re1 g5 [14...Be6=] 15.Bd2 Qd7=) 13.Qb3 Ne6 Black quite heavily attacks White’s centre. 14.Bh6
Rf7 15.Qe3 Qb6 16.d5 (16.Rad1 Bg4 17.b4³) 16...Qxe3 17.Bxe3 cxd5 18.cxd5 Nc5 19.Nd4 Bxd4
20.Bxd4 Nb3 21.Rad1 Bc2µ Quenette,R-Nijboer,F, Metz 2010.
b2) 10.Rd1
b21) 10...Be6 I like the bishop on e6 as it exerts pressure on the centre. 11.b3 Qe8 (11...h6 12.Bb2
Qe8 13.Ne1 b5 14.d5 Bf7 15.dxc6 bxc4 16.bxc4 Bxc4∞) 12.Be3 Rc8 13.Rac1 b5 14.Qd3 bxc4
15.bxc4 h6=
b22) 10...h6 11.e4 fxe4 12.Nxe4 Qe8 (12...Bf5 13.Nh4²) 13.Re1 (13.Nxf6+ Rxf6=) 13...Qf7
14.Nxf6+ Qxf6 15.Be3 Bg4 16.Nd2 Ne6 17.Ne4 (17.h3 Bf5 18.Ne4 Bxe4 19.Bxe4 Nxd4=)
17...Qf5 18.Qd2 Posedaru,B-Piorun,K, Arad 2014

267
 18...Bf3=
b3) 10.b3
b31) 10...Qe8 11.e4 (11.Bb2 e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.e4 f4=) 11...fxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 (12...Bf5
13.Nxf6+ exf6 14.Qc3 Qd7 15.Re1 Rae8=) 13.Qxe4 Bf5 14.Qe3 b5 15.Bd2 bxc4 16.bxc4
Loiterstein,M-Rodriguez Vila,A, Mar del Plata 1996 16...Qf7 17.Rfe1 Bf6 18.Rac1²
b32) 10...Rb8 Black aims to gain space on the queenside. 11.Bb2 (11.Be3 Ng4) 11...b5 12.Nd2
(12.cxb5 cxb5 13.d5 Bb7 14.Nd4 Nfxd5 15.Nxd5 Bxd4 16.Bxd4 Bxd5 17.Bxa7 Rb7=) 12...Bd7
13.cxb5 cxb5 Black is looking for complexity. (13...Nxb5 14.Nxb5 cxb5 15.Rac1 Qb6=) 14.d5 Rc8
15.Qd3 Ng4 16.Nf3 Haugli,P-Pap,M, Rethymno 2014 16...Na6 (16...f4 17.Nd4 Qe8∞) 17.b4 Qb6∞
or 17...f4=

268
10.b4

a) 10.d5 Here pushing the d-pawn is not particularly beneficial to White.

a1) 10...Bd7 11.Be3 Kh8 (11...Nc5 12.Bxc5 dxc5 13.Ne5 cxd5 14.cxd5 Ng4=) 12.Rad1 h6 13.h3
Nc7
a11) 14.Qd2 Kh7 15.b4 cxd5 (15...Rc8 16.Rc1 cxd5 17.cxd5 a6=) 16.cxd5 a5 Black gets ready for
an interesting exchange sacrifice. (16...Qf7=) 17.bxa5 Rxa5 18.Bb6 Rxd5 19.Nxd5 Ncxd5°
a12) 14.Ne1 Qf7 15.Qb3 Rfb8 16.Qc2 Rc8 17.Qd2 Kh7 18.Kh2 cxd5 19.cxd5 Nb5³ Saeed,I-
Aleksandrov,A, Abu Dhabi 2009.
a2) 10...e5
a21) 11.dxe6 Bxe6 12.b3 d5 Black can free the position. (12...Nc5=) 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Bb2 Qe7
15.Nd4 Nxc3 16.Nxe6 Qxe6 17.Bxc3 Bxc3 18.Qxc3 Guimaraes,J-Strikovic,A, Porto 2015
18...Nc7=
a22) 11.Rd1 Umarov,R-Kazhgaleyev,M, Tashkent 2016 11...cxd5 (11...Qe7!?) 12.Nxd5 Nxd5
13.Rxd5 e4 14.Nd4 Nc7 15.Rxd6 Qe7 16.c5 Ne8 17.Qb3+ Rf7 18.Rd5

18...Nc7 A unique repetition. 19.Rd6 Ne8=

b) 10.Re1 e5
b1) 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.e4 Nc5 13.Nd2? (13.b4 Ncxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bb2=) 13...f4 14.b4 Ne6
15.c5 Nd4 16.Qd1 0–1 Parvanova,D-Cmilyte,V, Albena 2010.
b2) 11.e4 Black is ready for the direct confrontation. 11...exd4 12.exf5 (12.Nxd4 Nh5 13.Nde2
Nc5=) 12...Bxf5 13.Rxe8 Jimenez Garcia,E-Firat,B, Barcelona 2017 13...Raxe8µ

10...e5

269
This starts the action in the centre.
10...Nc7 Black can also postpone pushing the e-pawn. 11.Bb2 e5 (11...Be6!?) 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Na4
(13.e4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.Qxe4 Bf5 16.Qe3 e4 17.Nd4 Rd8=) 13...e4 14.Nd4 Pantzar,M-Dobrov,V,
Barcelona 2017 (14.Ne5 Nh5 15.Qc3 Qe7 16.f4 Rd8=) 14...Qf7 15.Rad1 Ng4=

11.dxe5

11.b5?! Nc7 12.bxc6 bxc6 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Rb1 Ne6 (14...e4 15.Nd4) 15.e3 (15.e4 f4=) 15...e4 16.Nd4
Ng4 17.Nce2 Ne5 18.Bb2 Nc5³ Skreno,V-Kociscak,J, Slovakia 2016.

11...dxe5 12.e4

White has to play this to have any chance of obtaining something.

12...f4

12...Nxe4 13.Nxe4 fxe4 14.Ng5 Nc7 15.Bxe4 Ne6 16.Nxe6 Bxe6 17.Be3 Qf7 18.Rac1 Bf5 19.Rfe1
White felt that his small advantage was only symbolic and agreed to a draw, 1/2 Safarli,E-Kuzubov,Y,
Nakhchivan 2016.

13.gxf4

13.Bb2 Bg4
a) 14.Ne2 Ushenina,A-Ju,W, Beijing 2013

14...Nxe4! This is pretty and effective, but the simpler route works as well. (14...fxg3 15.fxg3 Nd7=)
15.gxf4 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Ng5 17.Bg4 exf4=
b) 14.c5 Nc7 The knight is getting closer to d4. 15.Nb1 (15.Nxe5 Qxe5 16.Nd5 Qxb2 17.Ne7+ Kh8

270
 18.Qxb2 f3³) 15...Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Kozul,Z-Volokitin,A, Novi Sad 2009 16...Nb5 17.Qc4+ (17.Nd2 Nd4
18.Bxd4 exd4 19.Nc4 Nd7 is nice for Black according to McDonald) 17...Kh8 18.Nd2 Nd4=

13...exf4 14.Re1?!

14.Bxf4 Nxe4 15.Be5 Bxe5 16.Nxe5 Qxe5=

14...Bg4

White hopes that the e-pawn will become strong, but White’s kingside weaknesses will play a role too.

15.Bb2 Nd7 16.Ne2 Bxb2 17.Qxb2

17...Bxf3µ

Black had a clear edge and went on to win smoothly.

18.Bxf3 Ne5 19.Qc3 Qe6 20.c5 Rae8 21.Red1 Nc7 22.Rd6 Qh3 23.Bg2 Qxc3 24.Nxc3 f3 25.Bf1 Ne6
26.Rad1 Kf7 27.Bh3 Nf4 28.Bf1 Ke7 29.b5 Rd8 30.bxc6 bxc6 31.Rxd8 Rxd8 32.Rxd8 Kxd8 33.h4
Ng4 34.Na2 Ne2+ 35.Kh1 Nxf2+ 36.Kh2 Ng4+ 0–1

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CHAPTER 9.
7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.B3

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nf3 d6 5.0-0 Bg7 6.c4 c6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.b3 Qa5
Game 40
Romain Edouard
Hikaru Nakamura
Genève Masters 2013

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6

8.b3

This move is the second most-common reply: White wants to develop the bishop to b2, or in some cases
a3. In addition, White defends the c-pawn.

8...Qa5

Black wins a tempo attacking the knight, but on the other hand White can surprisingly have some small
tactics available against the queen.

9.Qd2

The queen defends the knight and allows ...e5, but e4 will not be easy to play.
a) 9.Qc2 The queen defends the knight and gets closer to carrying out e4. 9...e5 10.dxe5 dxe5

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 a1) 11.e3 e4 12.Nd4 c5 13.Nde2 Nc6 14.a3 Be6 (14...Ne5 15.Nf4 Rd8 16.Rb1 Qc7=) 15.Bb2 Bf7
16.Rfd1 Ne5 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.cxd5 Rad8= Ypma,P-Nijboer,F, Wolvega 2012.
a2) 11.e4 White naturally doesn’t allow ...e4, so this has to be played if White wants to have an edge.
11...Na6 12.a3 f4 13.Bb2
a211) 13...fxg3!? After this capture the black pieces do not have to keep an eye on f4, but can move
fairly freely. 14.fxg3 (14.hxg3 Ng4 15.b4 Qd8=) 14...Qc5+ 15.Kh1 Ng4 16.Nd1 Qe7=
a212) 13...Nh5 14.Rad1 (14.Ne2 Nc5 15.Rac1 Qd8²) 14...Qc7 15.b4 Qe7 Baenziger,F-Milov,L,
Karlsruhe 2018 16.Ne2²
b) 9.Qe1 e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.e4 f4 (11...Na6 12.Bd2 Qc7 13.Rd1 f4=)

12.Nd5 This is somewhat fancy, but doesn’t really hurt Black. (12.Bb2 fxg3 13.hxg3 Bg4=) 12...Qxe1
13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Rxe1 fxg3 (14...Bg4 15.gxf4 Nd7=) 15.hxg3 Bg4 16.Nh2 Be6 17.Bf3 Nd7 18.Ba3
Rfd8= Moreno Trujillo,A-Miton,K, Linares 2013.
c) 9.Rb1
c1) 9...Ne4 10.Nxe4 fxe4 The pawn is strong on e4. 11.Ne1 d5 12.Nc2 Be6 (12...Nd7 13.a4 Nf6
14.Ba3 Rf7=) 13.Bd2 Qd8 14.Qc1 Nd7 15.Bh6 Bxh6 16.Qxh6 Nf6 17.Qd2 Qd7 18.Ne3 Bh3
19.cxd5 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 cxd5= Tukmakov,V-Palatnik,S, Chania 1992.
c2) 9...e5 Black gains ground in the centre; it provides at least equal chances. 10.b4 Qc7
c21) 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Qb3 (12.e4 f4 13.Qb3 Bg4 14.Ba3 Nbd7 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Kh8 17.c5
Rfe8=) 12...e4 13.Bf4 Qe7 14.Nd4 Qf7 15.Rfd1 Nfd7 16.f3 a5 17.a3 axb4 18.axb4 exf3 19.exf3
Nb6=
c22) 11.c5

273
 11...e4 This is an accomplishment for Black, as we have seen many times. 12.cxd6 Qxd6 13.Ne5
(13.Bf4 Qe7 14.Ne5 Damaso,R-Spraggett,K, Porto 2000 14...Be6 15.Bg5 Qd6=) 13...Be6 14.f3 Rd8
15.fxe4 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 fxe4 17.Bf4 Qxd4+ 18.Qxd4 Rxd4 19.e3 Rd8µ Fedorovsky,M- Laznicka,V,
Deizisau 2014.
d) 9.Bd2
d1) 9...e5 This can be played, but Black has to follow it up accurately.
d11) 10.e4 Qc7 11.exf5 Bxf5 12.dxe5 dxe5 Black can live with the isolated pawn. 13.Ng5 Nbd7
(13...Na6 14.Nce4) 14.Nge4 Rfd8 Black vacates the f8-square for the knight. (14...Nxe4 15.Nxe4
Bxe4 16.Bxe4 Nc5 17.Qe2! [17.Bg2 e4 18.Rb1 Rad8 19.Qe2 Bd4∞] 17...Nxe4 18.Qxe4 Qd7
19.Bc3 Qf5=) 15.Qe2 Nf8 16.Bg5 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 Nikolaidis,I-Bologan,V, Yerevan 1996 17...Rd4=
d12) 10.c5 exd4 11.Ne4 Qd8 (11...Qa3 12.Nxd6 Qxc5 13.Bf4 Nd5=) 12.Nxd6 Ne4 13.Bf4 Na6
14.Rc1

274
 14...Naxc5 Black is active. 15.Nxd4 Bxd4 16.Qxd4?? (16.Bxe4 Ne6=) 16...Ne6 17.Qe5 Nxf4
18.Bxe4 Nxe2+ 19.Kg2 fxe4 20.Rcd1 Bg4 21.Nf7 Bf3+ 0–1 Franke,T-Graf,A, Bad Zwesten 2006.
d2) 9...Qc7
d21) 10.Qc1 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Bh6 Exchanging the bishop gives Black time to develop smoothly.
12...e4 13.Nd4 Na6 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Rd1 Re8 16.Qf4 Qe7 17.Nc2 Be6 18.Rd2 Rad8 19.Rad1
Rxd2 20.Rxd2 Bf7= Barros Rivadeneira,C-De la Riva Aguado,O, Baku 2016.
d22) 10.Qc2 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.e4
d221) 12...f4 13.Rae1 Bg4 14.gxf4 exf4 15.e5 Nh5 (15...Nfd7 16.e6 Bxf3³) 16.Ne4 Nd7
17.Neg5µ Wang,Y-Reinderman,D, Beijing 2008.
d222) 12...Na6 This offers more if White is imprecise. 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Qc1 Nc5 15.Qa3 Ne6
16.Rad1 Nd4 17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Bf4 Qd7 19.Be5 d3³ Margana,A-Hoang Thanh Trang, Jakarta
2013.
d23) 10.d5 This stops Black having a pawn on e5.
d231) 10...e5 11.dxe6 Na6 Black wants to have the option to take with several minor pieces.
12.Bf4 Ne8 13.Rc1 Nc5 14.Nd4 Damljanovic,B-Narciso Dublan,M, Arinsal 2011

275
14...Bxd4 15.Qxd4 Nxe6 16.Qd2 Nxf4 17.Qxf4 Qe7 18.Rfd1 Qe5 19.Qh6 Be6=
d232) 10...Na6
d2321) 11.Nd4 Bd7 Black develops the queenside, not worrying about d5. 12.Rc1 (12.e3 Nc5
13.Nce2 Quinteros Miguel A-Rodriguez Andres,I, ‘Clarin’ San Luis, Argentina 1995 13...Rfc8=)
12...Rac8 13.Bf4 Cruz,J-Ringoir,T, Ibiza 2013 13...Nh5 14.Be3 f4=
d2322) 11.Rc1 e5 (11...Bd7!?) 12.dxe6 Bxe6 (12...Nc5 13.Bf4 Ne8 14.Qd2 Nxe6 15.Be3 Nf6²)
13.Ng5 Qe7 (13...Bc8!? I would rather keep the bishop. 14.Bf4 Rd8 15.Qd2 h6 16.Nf3 g5 17.Be3
Nc5 18.Rfd1 Nce4=) 14.e4 fxe4 15.Ncxe4 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Qd7 Akesson,R-Reinderman,D, Wijk
aan Zee 2007 17.Bf4²

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9...e5

This time the move doesn’t immediately solve Black’s problems, as he can’t easily advance it further.

10.Rd1

10.Rb1 Ruf,S-Nikolaev,S, Leningrad 1991 10...Qc7 Black insists on playing ...e4. (10...e4? 11.Nxe4)
11.dxe5 (11.d5 e4 12.Nd4 Ng4∞) 11...dxe5 12.e4 Na6 is equal or 12...Qe7 13.Qg5 Re8 14.Re1 Qf8 is
equal as well.

10...Re8

10...Nbd7 11.e3 Re8 (11...exd4 12.exd4 Re8 13.d5²) 12.d5 cxd5 13.Nxd5 Qxd2 14.Nxd2 Nxd5
(14...Rb8 15.Nc7 Re7 16.Nb5 e4) 15.Bxd5+ Kf8 16.Ba3 Nc5 17.e4²

11.a4

a) 11.d5 e4 12.Nxe4 Qxd2 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Bxd2 Bxa1=

b) 11.Rb1!? This is the testing move.
b1) 11...Na6 12.d5!? cxd5 (12...c5 13.e4 h6 (13...Qd8∞) 14.Nh4 Kh7²) 13.Nxd5 Qxd2 14.Nxd2 e4
15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Bb2 Be5 17.f4²
b2) 11...Qc7 12.d5 The pawn on d5 gains space in the centre. 12...c5 13.e4 (13.Ng5 e4 14.f3 Qe7=)
13...Nxe4 14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.Ng5 Bh6 16.Qe2 Qe7 17.h4 Nd7 18.Bxe4 (18.Nxe4 Bxc1 19.Rbxc1
Nf6=) 18...Nf6 19.Bc2 Bd7= Black is close to equality.

11...Qc7 12.dxe5

12.d5 e4

12...dxe5 13.Ba3

The bishop will not do enough on d6. If 13.e4 Na6 14.Ba3 Bf8 15.Bxf8 Rxf8=

13...e4 14.Bd6 Qd8 15.Ne5

15.Ne1 Nd5=

15...Nbd7

15...Bf8= or 15...Na6 16.f4 exf3 17.exf3 Nd7=

16.Nxd7 Qxd7 17.c5 e3

17...Qf7 18.Qc2 Be6 19.Rab1 Rad8=

277
18.fxe3

18...a5

The position is even. Instead after 18...Bh6 19.Bf4 Qxd2 20.Rxd2 g5 21.Bd6 Rxe3³ Black would have
been a bit better. Later Nakamura was able to outplay his opponent and won the game anyway.

19.Rab1 Qe6 20.Bf4 Bf8 21.Bd6 Bh6 22.Bf4 Bf8 23.Qd4 Bg7 24.Qc4 Qxc4 25.bxc4 Bf8 26.Bd6 Rxe3
27.Rd3 Re8 28.Bf3 Nd7 29.Bxf8 Kxf8 30.Kf2 Nxc5 31.Rdd1 Be6 32.Ke3 Rad8 33.Rxd8 Rxd8 34.Kf4
Bxc4 35.e4 Rd3 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.b3 Qa5 9.Bb2
Game 41
Alina L’Ami
Jan Michael Sprenger
Salento Open, Gallipoli 2016

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.b3 Qa5

278
9.Bb2

White defends the knight and although ...e5 comes easily for Black, pushing the pawn further is not so
simple.

9...e5 10.dxe5

White opens the centre, hoping to do something with having more pieces in play.
a) 10.d5 e4 The pawn on e4 gives Black good play. 11.Ng5 h6 12.Ne6 Bxe6 13.dxe6 Qe5 14.Qd2
Qxe6 15.Rad1 Rd8 16.f3 e3 17.Qd3 Na6 18.Bc1 Tregubov,P-Gurevich,M, Corsica 2005 18...Ne8³
b) 10.e3 e4
b1) 11.Ng5 h6 12.Nh3 g5 13.a3 d5 14.b4 Qd8 15.Qb3 Be6 16.cxd5 Nxd5 17.Qc2 Qd7 18.Rae1
Na6³ Kosek,J-Potapov,P, Pardubice 2018.
b2) 11.Nd2 Be6 12.Qc1 Na6 13.a3 Qd8 14.Qc2 d5 15.Na4 g5 16.f4 Aparicio,A-Vaisser,A, Acqui
Terme 2015 16...gxf4 17.gxf4 Kh8³

279
c) 10.Qd2! This poses more problems than it appears at first sight; White’s play on the d-file can
become strong. 10...Na6
c1) 11.Rfd1
c11) 11...exd4 12.Nxd4 Nc5 13.Nc2 Nfe4 14.Bxe4 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Qxd2 16.Rxd2 Bxb2 Now a1
hangs. This is why it is better to place the other rook on d1.
c12) 11...Re8
c121) 12.Rac1 Qb4 13.e3 e4 14.Ne1 Qb6 15.c5 dxc5 16.Na4 Qd8 17.Bf1 Nc7 18.dxc5 Qxd2
19.Rxd2 Be6= Miezis,N-Gurevich,M, Echternach 1997.
c122) 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Ne4 Qxd2 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.Rxd2 Kf7 16.h4 h6 17.Rd6 Re6 18.Rxe6
Kxe6 19.e4 Nc5 20.exf5+ gxf5= Fridman,D-Gorovets,A, Warsaw 2012.
c123) 12.d5!? This move is unpleasant for Black. 12...c5 (12...Bd7 13.dxc6 Bxc6 14.e4²) 13.e4
fxe4 14.Nxe4²
c13) 11...Qc7 12.dxe5 (12.d5 e4 13.Nd4 Ng4=) 12...dxe5 13.Ba3 (13.e4 fxe4 14.Ng5 e3!=)

280
 13...c5 Black can afford to give up the d5-square. 14.Nd5 (14.e4 Nb4 15.Nd5 Nbxd5 16.exd5 e4=
or 14.Ng5 h6 15.Nd5 Qd6 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.Bd5+ Kh8 18.Nf3 Qe7=) 14...Nxd5 15.Qxd5+ Kh8
16.Bb2 Markos,J-Ehlvest,J Riga 2012 16...e4=
c2) 11.Rad1!? I think, because of a tactical reason, this is the better rook move. 11...exd4 12.Nxd4
c21) 12...Nc5 13.Nc2 Airapetian,G-Matinian,N, Elets 2014 13...Ne6 14.Qxd6 Ne4 15.Bxe4 fxe4
16.Qd2 Ng5 17.h4±
c22) 12...Qc7 13.Nc2 Ne8 (13...Rd8 14.Ba3)

c221) 14.b4!? Black has not finished development, so exchanging should not help White. 14...Rb8
(14...Be6 15.b5 Nc5 16.Nd4 Rb8 17.Rb1²) 15.e4 f4 16.gxf4 Qf7 17.Ne3 Nxb4 18.Ne2²

281
 c222) 14.e4 fxe4 15.Ne3 Nc5 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Bh3 18.Bg2 Bxg2 19.Nxg2 Rd8=

10...dxe5 11.e4

White stops ...e4.

a) 11.Na4 e4 White rightly doesn’t want to receive ...e4, as we will see. 12.Nd4 Re8 13.a3 Nbd7 14.b4
Qc7 15.Rc1 Ne5 16.Qb3 Denishev,M-Bartel,M, St Petersburg 2012 16...Nf7 17.c5 Qe7 18.Rfd1 Bd7=
b) 11.Qc2 e4 12.Nd4 c5 13.Ndb5 Nc6 14.Na4 a6 15.Bc3 Nb4 16.Bxb4 cxb4 17.Nd6 b5³ Nabavi,P-
Pavasovic,D, Deizisau 2006.

11...f4

Black’s f- and e- pawns may prove to be strong, but can become weak as well.
a) 11...fxe4 12.Nd2 (12.Ng5 Bf5 13.Ncxe4 Bxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Na6 16.a3 Rad8²) 12...e3
13.fxe3 Bg4 14.Qe1 Nbd7 15.Nde4 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Rxf1+ 17.Bxf1= Olafsson,H-Dolmatov,S, Moscow
1989 17...Qxe1 18.Rxe1 Rd8=
b) 11...Na6 The knight is developed quickly.
b1) 12.a3 fxe4 13.Ng5 e3 14.b4 Gupta,A-Dzhumaev,M, New Delhi 2008 14...exf2+ 15.Rxf2 Qc7
16.Nce4 Nxe4 17.Rxf8+ Bxf8 18.Nxe4 Qe7 19.c5 Nc7²
b2) 12.Qe2

282
 12...f4 Black plays with ambition.
b21) 13.a3 Nh5 14.b4 Qc7 15.Nd2 Qf7 16.c5 Nc7 17.Rfd1 Be6 18.Bf3 h6³ Noe,C-Milov,L,
Böblingen 2013.
b22) 13.Na4 Bg4 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Nd7 16.Rad1 Nac5=
b23) 13.Rad1 Krivonosov,O- Gavrikov,V, Kalev 1997 13...Nc5 14.h3 Be6 15.g4 Nfd7=

12.Qd6

This queen move is testing, although White has other moves as well;
a) 12.Qc2 Bg4 13.Na4 Nbd7 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 b5 16.Nc3 bxc4 17.Na4 cxb3 18.axb3 fxg3 19.fxg3

283
 Bh6 and Black should do all right. 20.b4 Qb5 21.Kg2 a5=
b) 12.gxf4 Nh5 A standard move in this line. (12...exf4∞) 13.Ne2 Bg4 (13...exf4 14.e5 Re8=) 14.h3
(14.f5 gxf5 15.Bc3 Qc7 16.h3 fxe4 17.Ng5 Bxe2 18.Qxe2 Nf4 19.Qxe4 Bf6=) 14...Nxf4 (14...Bxf3
15.Bxf3 exf4=) 15.Nxf4 (15.hxg4!+–) 15...Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Rxf4 17.Bg4 Na6 18.Qd6 Raf8 19.Rad1=
Jakovenko,D-Gurevich,M, Odessa 2010.
c) 12.Na4 White immediately attacks the e5-pawn. 12...Re8 This is the mainline and perhaps most
testing. (12...Bg4 13.Bc3² or 12...Nbd7 13.Re1) 13.Re1 (13.a3 Qc7 14.Qc2 Bg4 15.Rad1 Na6 16.b4
Qe7 17.h3 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Nd7= or 13.gxf4 exf4 14.Re1 Nh5 15.Bxg7 Nxg7 16.Qd6 Bg4 17.Qxf4)
13...Bg4 (13...fxg3 14.hxg3 Bg4 15.Qc2 Nbd7 16.Bc3 Qc7 17.Nb2 Re7 18.Nd3 Rf8∞) 14.Qd6 Nbd7
15.Bc3 Qd8 16.Rad1= Black can keep the balance.

12...Ne8!

According to Sprenger: ‘It looks a bit artificial, but it is important to disturb the white queen, which is
strongly placed on d6’. I think 12...Na6 can be played as well: 13.gxf4 exf4 14.e5 Rd8 15.Qa3 Qxa3
16.Bxa3 Ng4=

13.Qa3

White wins a tempo by offering the queen swap.

a) 13.Qd3 Na6 14.a3 (14.Na4 Bg4 15.h3 Rd8 16.Qe2 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Qc7∞) 14...Nc5 15.Qc2 Qc7
16.b4 Ne6 17.Qb3 Gurevich,D-Dolmatov,S, Palma de Mallorca 1989 17...g5µ
b) 13.Qd2 Bg4 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Na6 16.Rad1 Nac7 17.Na4 Qxd2 18.Rxd2 Ne6= Korobov,A-
Bartel,M, Lublin 2012.

13...Qc7 14.Ne2

14.h3 Berg,M-Reinderman,D, Germany 2007 14...fxg3 15.fxg3 Nd6 16.Rad1 Nf7 17.Rf2 Be6=

284
14...Bg4!?

Black is ready to give up the bishop pair to improve his control of the black squares.

15.h3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Na6 17.gxf4!? exf4 18.Nd4

18...Qe5

The position is balanced. Black obtained a small edge, and approaching time-trouble his advantage grew
and he went on to win.

285
19.Rab1 Qg5+ 20.Kh2 Nac7 21.Rg1 Qh4 22.Rg2 Rf7 23.b4?! Qe7 24.e5 a5 25.e6 Rf8 26.bxa5 Qxa3
27.Bxa3 Bxd4 28.Bxf8 Kxf8 29.Rxb7 Ra6 30.h4 Ke7 31.h5 Kf6 32.Be4 gxh5 33.Bxh7 Rxa5 34.Be4
c5 35.Rg6+ Ke5 36.Bc6 Ra6 37.e7 Rxa2 38.Rg8 Rxf2+ 39.Kh3 Kd6 40.Bxe8 Rf3+ 41.Kh4 Bf6+
42.Kxh5 Bxe7 43.Kg4 Rc3 44.Kf5 Nxe8 45.Rxe8 Re3 46.Rg8 Kc6 47.Kxf4 Re1 48.Ra7 Bd6+ 49.Kf3
Kb6 50.Ra2 Re6 51.Rag2 Rf6+ 52.Ke3 Be5 53.R8g6 Bd4+ 54.Ke4 Rxg6 55.Rxg6+ Kc7 56.Kd5 Kd7
57.Rh6 Kc7 58.Rh7+ Kd8 59.Kc6 Kc8 60.Rf7 Kd8 61.Rf8+ Ke7 62.Ra8 Be3 63.Ra7+ Ke8 64.Rd7
Bd4 65.Rd5 Ke7 66.Rxc5 1–0

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.b3 Qc7
Game 42
Anh Khoi Nguyen
V. Laznicka
HD Bank Cup, Ho Chi Minh City 2016

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.b3

8...Qc7

Black wants to have the possibility of carrying out ...e5 immediately.

9.Bb2

White just develops the bishop, not minding ...e5.

a) 9.Qc2 a5 Black postpones ...e5. 10.Bb2 Na6 11.Rad1 e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Na4 Ne4 14.Ne1 Nb4
15.Qb1 b5 16.cxb5 cxb5 17.Nc3 Nxc3 18.Bxc3 e4= Sayson,A-Garma,C, Philippines 1997.
b) 9.Ba3 The bishop on the edge makes it hard for Black to push the e-pawn two squares.

286
b1) 9...Re8 Though some great players have tried this move, I think it is a bit slow.
b11) 10.Rc1 Nbd7 11.d5 (On 11.Re1 Ne4 and on 11.Qd2 Qa5 12.Bb2 e5 can be played.) 11...Nc5
Black aims to place the knight on e4. 12.Nd4 (12.Ng5 a5 (12...h6 13.b4) 13.Bxc5 dxc5 14.e4 f4
15.Qf3 fxg3 16.Qxg3 e5=) 12...Nce4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qd3 Grischuk,A-Nepomniachtchi,I,
chess.com 2018

14...c5 15.Nc2 Nc3 (15...a6 16.b4 cxb4 17.Bxb4 Nc5=) 16.Ra1 b5 17.Ne3 b4 18.Bb2 a5 19.a4
Bd7²
b12) 10.Qd2
b121) 10...Na6 11.Rac1 (11.Rfe1 Bd7 12.e4 Qa5=) 11...Bd7 12.Rfd1 Rac8 Both sides have
developed all their pieces. 13.Ne1 Qa5 14.Bb2 e5 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Ne4 Qxd2 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6
18.Rxd2 Be6 19.f4 Kg7 20.Bxe5 Bxe5 21.fxe5 Nc5=
b122) 10...a5 11.Rac1 Na6 12.Rfd1 Bd7 (12...Nb4 13.d5) 13.d5 (13.Ne1 Nb4 14.Bb2 e5 15.a3
Na6 16.Nb5 cxb5 17.cxb5 Qb6 18.dxe5 Ng4∞) 13...Rad8 (13...Nc5 14.Ng5 h6 15.Nh3 Rad8∞)
14.Nd4 (14.e4!? Opening the centre would give a small edge. 14...fxe4 15.Ng5²) 14...Nc5 15.e3
Nce4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Qc2 cxd5 18.cxd5 Qxc2 19.Rxc2 Rc8= Brynell,S-Laznicka,V, Germany
2014.
b13) 10.Qc1 The queen on c1 takes the sting out of ...Qa5, but otherwise it doesn’t stand well
enough there. 10...a5 11.Rd1 Na6 12.Ne1 Nb4 (12...Be6 13.Qd2 Rad8 14.d5 Bf7 15.Rac1 Nb4
16.Nd3 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 cxd5 18.cxd5 Qd7 19.h3 Rb8=) 13.Nc2 Nxc2 14.Qxc2 e5 15.dxe5 dxe5
16.Bd6 Qf7 17.Na4 (17.e4 Be6 18.c5 Nd7 19.Rd3 Bf8²) 17...Nd7 18.e4 f4

287
 19.c5² Aronian,L-Nakamura,H, Moscow 2012.
b2) 9...a5 Black prepares the b4-square for the knight.
b21) 10.Qd3?! This allows ...Nb4 with a tempo. 10...Na6 11.Rad1 Nb4 12.Qb1 e5 13.dxe5 dxe5
b211) 14.e4 f4 15.gxf4 Nh5 16.Ne2 Nxf4 17.Nxf4 Rxf4 18.Bc1 Rf8³ Kursova,H-Hoang Thanh
Trang, Vysoke Tatry 2018.
b212) 14.Bc1 f4 15.Ng5 Bf5 16.Nge4 Rad8 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Ne4 Bg7 19.Bb2 c5 20.Rxd8 Rxd8
21.Rd1 b6 1/2 Leveille,F-Bhend,E, ICCF Corr. 1992.
b22) 10.Rc1 Na6 11.d5
b221) 11...Nc5 12.Nd4 e5 13.dxe6 Re8

288
 14.Ndb5 cxb5 15.Nxb5 Gulko,B-Kaiszauri,K, Vilnius 1978 15...Qb8 16.Nxd6 Rxe6 17.Bxc5 Bf8
18.e4 Bxd6 19.exf5 Bxc5=
b222) 11...Bd7 12.Nd4 Nc5 13.Qd2 Langeweg,K-Van Wijgerden,C, Hilversum 1983 13...Nfe4
14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 fxe4 16.Qe3 c5 17.Nb5 Qb6 18.Nc3 a4=
b23) 10.Qd2 Na6 11.Rac1 Nb4 12.d5 (12.Bb2 e5) 12...e5 13.dxe6 Bxe6 14.Nd4 (14.Ng5 Bc8
15.Bb2 h6 16.Nh3 Re8 17.Nf4 g5 18.Nd3 Be6=) 14...Bf7 15.Nc2 Nxc2 (15...Qe7! 16.Rfe1
(16.Nxb4 axb4 17.Bxb4 c5 or 16.Na4 Nxa2 17.Bxd6 Rfd8 18.Rcd1 Qe6∞)
b231) 16...Rfd8 17.e4
b232) 16...Qd8 This is directed against e4. 17.Red1 (17.e4 fxe4=) 17...Nd7 18.Qxd6 Bxc3
19.Qxd7 Qxd7 20.Rxd7 Nxa2=
b233) 16...d5 17.cxd5 Rfd8 18.Qf4 Bxd5 19.Nxd5 Nfxd5=) 16.Rxc2 Rfd8 17.Rd1 Bf8
(17...Ne8!?) 18.Bb2 (18.Qf4 Nh5 19.Qd4²) 18...Qe7 19.Qf4 Ng4 20.Na4² Tomashevsky,E-
Wang,H, St Petersburg 2012.
b3) 9...Ne4 Black goes for simplification, after which he can play for ...e5 or to control the e4-square.
b31) 10.Qd3 Nxc3 11.Qxc3 Nd7 12.Rfe1 Nf6 13.Nd2 Pantsulaia, L-Kuzubov,Y, Al Ain 2015
13...a5 14.Bb2 a4 15.b4 Be6 16.e4 fxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Rxe4

18...Bxc4=
b32) 10.Bb2 Nxc3 11.Bxc3 e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.e4 f4 14.c5 Bg4 15.b4 Karjakin,S-Caruana,F,
Zürich 2015 15...a5 16.a3 Na6 17.h3 Bxf3 Giving up the bishop pair is safe here. 18.Qb3+ (18.Bxf3
Qf7 19.Be2 Nc7=) 18...Qf7 19.Qxf7+ Kxf7 20.Bxf3 axb4 21.axb4 Nc7=

289
9...Na6

Black could play ...e5 at once, but decides to postpone it for a bit.
9...e5
a) 10.d5 This is dangerous only if White has heavy pieces on the d-file. 10...Na6 11.Rc1 Qe7 (11...e4
12.Nd4 Bd7 13.Qd2 Ng4 14.Rcd1 Bh6 15.Qe1 Rae8=) 12.Qd2 c5 13.Ng5 Nc7 14.e4 f4 15.gxf4 Nh5
16.f5 Nf4 17.h4 (17.Nh3 Nxg2 18.Kxg2 gxf5³) 17...gxf5 18.f3 Bh6µ Sachdev,T-Moskalenko,V,
Hoogeveen 2013.
b) 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.e4 Na6
b1) 12.Ba3 Rd8 (12...Re8 13.Bd6 Qd8 14.c5 Bf8=)
b11) 13.Qc2 f4
b12) 13.Qe1 Qb6 (13...f4 14.gxf4 Nh5°) 14.Nxe5 Nc5°
b13) 13.Qe2 13...Qa5 14.Bb2 Nc5 15.Nxe5 (15.exf5 Bxf5µ) 15...fxe4 16.Bxe4 Ncxe4 17.Nxe4
Nxe4 18.Qxe4 Bf5 19.Qe3

290
 19...Qd2= Black has nothing to worry about.
b2) 12.Qe2
b21) 12...Nc5! Bringing the knight in is natural and good enough. 13.exf5 (13.Ba3 Qa5=)
13...Bxf5=
b22) 12...fxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Bf5 15.Qe3 e4 (15...Nb4 16.Bxe5 Bxe5 17.Qxe5 Qxe5
18.Nxe5 Rae8 19.f4 g5² Black may hold it.) 16.Bxg7 Qxg7 17.Ng5 Rae8 18.Rae1 Dzhumaev,M-
Ortiz Suarez,I, Baku 2016 (18.Qxa7 h6 19.Nh3 Nb4³) 18...b6 19.a3 (19.Nxe4 Nc5 20.f3 Bxe4
21.fxe4 Rxf1+ 22.Rxf1 Nd7 23.Bh3 Ne5°) 19...Nc5 20.b4 Nd3 21.Re2 Bg4 22.Rc2²

10.Re1

10.Rc1 e5 Why wait with this? 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Nb5 (12.e4 Nc5³) 12...Qe7 13.Qd6 Qe8=

10...e5 11.dxe5

11.e4 Black is ready for this move. 11...fxe4 (11...f4 12.c5 [12.gxf4 Bg4°] 12...dxc5 13.d5∞) 12.Nxe4
Nxe4 13.Rxe4 Bf5 14.Re3 e4 (14...Nb4 15.dxe5 Nc2 (15...dxe5=) 16.exd6 Nxe3 17.fxe3 Qd7∞)
15.Nh4 d5=

11...dxe5 12.e4

12.Qc1 e4 13.Ng5 Re8=

291
12...Rd8

Black is already very active. 12...f4=

13.Qb1 Re8

13...Nc5!? Bringing the knight in at once threatens ...Nd3 and may even be more precise than the game
continuation. 14.Nxe5 (14.Nh4 f4³) 14...Rd2 15.Nd1 Rxb2 16.Nxb2 Qxe5³

14.Rd1 Nc5 15.Nh4

15.Nd2 Rd8³

292
15...f4

The strong Czech grandmaster gains space and keeps the position complex, although opening the centre
was nice as well: 15...fxe4 16.Nxe4 Nfxe4 17.Bxe4 Bg4 18.Re1 Rad8³

16.Ba3

16.Qc2 Bg4 17.f3 Be6 18.Ne2 Nh5°

16...Bf8 17.Qb2 Qf7

17...Bg4 18.f3 Be6 19.g4 Be7³

18.b4

18.Nf3 Bg4³

18...Ncd7

18...Ne6³

19.Bf1

19.Nf3 Nb6³

293
19...Nb6!

Black is already better, soon the advantage grew and he won the game. We love the Leningrad Dutch
because of such games.

20.c5 Nc4 21.Qc1 Bg4 22.f3 Be6 23.gxf4 Bh6 24.Ng2 Nh5 25.Ne2 Rad8 26.Qc3 Bg7 27.f5 gxf5
28.Ne3 Nxa3 29.Qxa3 fxe4 30.fxe4 Qf3 31.Rxd8 Rxd8 32.Qc3 Nf4 33.Ng3 Rd3 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.b3 Na6
Game 43
Alexander Huzman
Ivan Cheparinov
Gibraltar Masters 2017

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.b3

294
8...Na6

Black develops the knight first and will only later show in which way ...e5 will be prepared.

9.Bb2

a) 9.Re1 Ne4 10.Bb2 Nxc3 See 8.Re1 Na6 9.b3 Ne4 Wojtaszek-Caruana.
b) 9.a4 This is slow and does nothing to dissuade ...e5. 9...e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Ba3 Qxd1 (11...e4
12.Bxf8 Qxf8 13.Nd4 Qe7 14.e3°) 12.Raxd1 Re8 13.e4 Bf8 14.Bxf8 Kxf8 15.Rd6 Kg7 16.a5 f4
17.gxf4 exf4 18.e5 White will have problems keeping his position together. 18...Nd7 19.Re1 Ndc5
20.Nd4 Nd3= Basin,L-Vasiukov,E, Bela Crkva 1987.
c) 9.Ba3 White wants to stop ...e5.
c1) 9...Bd7 This is a smart waiting move. 10.Rc1 Qa5 11.Bb2 e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.e4 Rad8 14.a3
Nguyen,T- Dao,T, Ho Chi Minh City 2017 14...fxe4 15.Ng5 e3 16.b4 Qb6=
c2) 9...Rb8 Black can try to play for ...b5. 10.Qd3 Bd7 11.Rac1 Qa5 (11...b5=) 12.Bb2 Korobov,A-
Bartel,M, Dubai 2014

295
12...b5 13.cxb5 cxb5 14.Nd2 Nb4 15.Qe3 e6 16.a3 Nbd5=
c3) 9...Qa5
c31) 10.Bb2 e5 11.Qd2 Qc7 12.d5 (12.Rad1 e4 13.Ng5 d5=) 12...Nc5 Black has enough effect in
the centre. 13.dxc6 bxc6
c311) 14.Rfd1 Nce4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Qc2 Be6 17.Nd2 Ng5 18.Nf3 Nf7 19.Rd2 a5 20.h4 a4=
Leenhouts,K-Pruijssers,R, Maastricht 2017.
c312) 14.Rad1 Nfe4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Qc2 a5 17.Ne1 Nc5 18.Nd3 Ne6 19.e3 Bb7 20.f4 e4
21.Nc1 Rfd8= Hera,I-Dziuba,M, Germany 2014.
c32) 10.Qc1
c321) 10...Rb8 Black plays for ...b5, which can be prepared with the help of the rook or the bishop.
11.Bb2 b5 12.cxb5 cxb5 13.a4 bxa4 14.Rxa4 Qb6 15.Nd2 Megaranto,S-Lu,S, Mashhad 2011
15...Bb7=
c322) 10...Bd7 11.Rb1 b5 12.b4 Qd8 13.d5 Ivanisevic,I-Danielsen,H, Reykjavik 2006

296
 13...Ne4 14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.Ng5 cxd5 16.cxd5 Rc8= 17.Qd2 e3 Black’s activity gives him an equal
game.

9...Qc7

Black decides to play for ...e5.

10.Rc1

White bases his play on a tactical idea.

a) 10.Qd2 e5 11.d5 See 9.Ba3 Qa5 10.Bb2 e5 11.Qd2 Qc7 12.d5

297
 b) 10.Re1 e5 11.e4 fxe4 12.dxe5 Cvitan, O-Kovacevic,B, Porec 2016 12...exf3 13.exf6 Bxf6 14.Bxf3
Qf7 15.Qd2 Nc5 16.Re3 Bh3 17.Ne4 (17.Qxd6 Ne6–+) 17...Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Bxb2 19.Qxb2 Rae8=

10...e5

Black carries out the plan regardless.

a) 10...Rd8 Black can also prepare the standard pawn push. 11.d5 (11.Re1 e5 12.e4 fxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4
14.Rxe4 Bf5=) 11...e5 12.dxe6 Bxe6 This is a good version of the main line.
a1) 13.Ng5 Bc8 14.Qc2 Faizulaev,A-Kazhgaleyev,M, Tashkent 2017 14...Nc5 15.Rcd1 Qe7=
a2) 13.Qd2 Kh8 (13...d5 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Bxd5=) 14.Rfd1 Bg8 15.Qf4 Rios,C-Tkachiev,V,
La Massana 2014 15...d5=
b) 10...Bd7 11.Qd2 Rad8 12.Rfd1 Qb8 Black gets out of the way of Nb5. 13.d5 (13.Ne1 e5=) 13...Nc5
14.b4 (14.Nd4 Nce4=) 14...Nce4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Qc2 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 cxd5 18.Rxd5 Be6 19.Rd4
Bf7= Ragger,M-Vovk,A, Germany 2015.

11.Nb5

Pretty, but not effective. 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.e4 Nc5³

11...Qe7 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Qd6 Qxd6

14.Nxd6

The knight can’t hurt Black all on its own.

14...e4 15.Nd4

298
15.Ng5 Ng4 16.Bxg7 Kxg7=

15...Ne8

Black gets rid of the d6-knight.

16.Nxc8 Rxc8 17.Ba1 Nec7 18.f3

18...Rcd8

Black’s play on the d-file is strong, equalising the position.

19.Rcd1 exf3 20.exf3 Rd7 21.Nc2 Rfd8 22.Rxd7 Rxd7 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.f4 Nc5 25.b4 Na4 26.Rf3
Nb2 27.Bf1 Rd1 28.Ne3 Re1 29.Rf2 Nd1 30.Nxd1 Rxd1 31.Rf3 Kf6 32.Rd3 Rxd3 33.Bxd3 c5 34.b5
1/2

299
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.b3 Na6 9.Bb2 Qc7 10.d5
Game 44
Rustam Kasimdzhanov
Hikaru Nakamura
FIDE GP, Tashkent 2014

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.b3 Na6 9.Bb2 Qc7

10.d5

White prevents Black from getting his e-pawn to the fourth rank.

10...e5

Black is ready to undertake a position that resembles the main line with the backward pawn on d6. In
exchange for this Black gets free piece-play.
10...Bd7 Black can develop the queenside and try to place a knight on e4. 11.Rc1 Nc5 12.b4 Nce4 The
knight stands well on e4.
a) 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Qd3 cxd5 16.cxd5 Qb6 17.Nd4 Nf6 18.Rfd1 Rfc8=;
b) 13.Nd4 Nxc3 14.Bxc3 Ne4 15.Ba1

300
 15...c5 Black changes the structure, which could also be done by taking on d5, or instead he could just
place a rook to the c-file. All three look playable. 16.bxc5 Nxc5 (16...dxc5 17.Nb3 Bxa1 18.Nxa1
Nd6=) 17.Qd2 Rac8 18.Nb5 Bxb5 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.cxb5 Qb6=
c) 13.Qb3 cxd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.cxd5 Qb6 The queen stands well on b6 and Black has a good grip
on the centre. 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.a4 a5 18.b5 Rac8= Kavutskiy,K-Vovk,A, Cappelle-la-Grande 2016.

11.dxe6 Bxe6

Black immediately captures the pawn.

11...Nc5 Black can also take it with the knight.
a) 12.Nd4 Nxe6 13.Rc1 Nxd4 Black would do all right after 13...Re8 14.e3 Nc5= as well. 14.Qxd4
Ne4 (14...Be6=) 15.Qd3 (15.Qe3 Be5 16.Rcd1 Nxc3 17.Bxc3 f4=)
a1) 15...Nc5 16.Qd2 a5 17.Rfd1 Rd8 18.Qe3 Be6 19.Na4 Bxb2 20.Nxb2 Bf7=
a2) 15...Be6 16.Rc2 (16.Bxe4 fxe4 17.Qxe4 Rae8 18.Qd3 Qa5) 16...Nc5 17.Qd2 a5 18.Rd1 Rad8
19.e3 Snehal,B-Ortiz Suarez,I, Badalona 2016 19...Qe7=
b) 12.b4 This gains space, but also means that the c4-pawn is no longer protected. 12...Nxe6 13.Qd2

301
 13...Nd7 (On 13...Rd8 14.Rfd1 Qf7 Black can find play against the c4-pawn. (14...Ng4 15.Na4 Ne5=)
15.Rac1 Bd7 16.h3 Be8=) 14.Rac1 Ne5 15.Na4 f4 The e5-square will be Black’s. 16.Rfd1 Nxf3+
17.Bxf3 Be5 18.Bg2 Ng5= Pardo Simon,D-Anton Guijarro,D, Linares 2015.

12.e3

White has many ways to get closer to Black’s position. This one vacates e2 for the knight.
a) 12.Nd4 Rfe8 (12...Bf7!?) 13.e3 Bf7 14.Rc1 Rad8 15.Qc2 Sermier,G-Demuth,A, Asnieres-sur-Seine
2017

15...d5! If White manoeuvres too long without some powerful aim in mind, Black can set the position
like this. If 16.cxd5 Nb4 or 16...Nxd5 at least equalises.

302
b) 12.Qc2
b1) 12...Rae8 Black plays to land a knight on e4. 13.Rad1 Nc5 14.e3 Qe7 (14...Nfe4 15.Nd4 Nxc3
16.Bxc3 Ne4=) 15.Ne2 Nfe4 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Nd2 Nf6 18.b4 Nce4= Postny,E-Cheparinov,I, Mali
Losinj 2017.
b2) 12...Nc5 13.Rad1 Rad8 14.Ng5 Bc8 15.b4 Ne6 16.Nf3 Ng4 17.e3 Ne5 18.Ne2 a6 19.a3 Qf7=
Tari,A-Anton Guijarro,D, Caleta 2015.
c) 12.Rc1 Rae8 13.Ng5 Bc8 14.Nf3 Ne4 15.e3 Kovalenko,I-L’Ami,E, Reykjavik 2015 15...Nac5
16.Qc2 Nxc3 (With 16...Qe7 Black could hold the knight on e4.) 17.Bxc3 Bxc3 18.Qxc3 Qg7=
d) 12.Ng5
d1) 12...Rae8 Black is ready to play without the bishop. 13.Nxe6 Rxe6 14.Qc2 Nc5 The knight is
looking to get to e4 again.
d11) 15.e3 Nfe4 16.Ne2 Ree8 17.b4 Bxb2 18.Qxb2 Nd3 19.Qa3 Ne5³ Jensson,E-Gretarsson,H,
Reykjavik 2015.
d12) 15.b4 Nce4 16.e3 Nxc3 17.Bxc3 Ne4 18.Bxg7 Qxg7 19.Rad1

19...Rfe8= L’Ami,E-Reinderman,D, Dieren 2016.

d2) 12...Bd7
d21) 13.Qc2 Rad8 14.Rad1 Nc5 15.e3 a5
d211) 16.Ne2 Bc8 17.Bd4 Fridman,D-Laznicka,V, Reykjavik 2015 17...Rfe8 18.Nf4 Ng4=
d212) 16.Rfe1 Bc8

303
 17.Qb1 It looks like even the world-class grandmaster Giri is unable to find a powerful plan.
17...Rfe8 18.Qc2 Qe7 19.Nf3 Ng4 (19...Nfe4) 20.h3 Ne5 21.Nd4 Nf7 22.f4 Qc7= Black did all
right in the game Giri,A-Ponomariov,R, Beijing 2013.
d22) 13.Rc1 h6 14.Nf3 Kh7 15.Ba3 Nc5 16.Ne5 Be6 17.Nd3 Rad8 18.Nxc5 dxc5 19.Qc2
Hernando Rodrigo,J-Pardo Simon,D, Badalona 2015 19...f4³
d23) 13.Qd2

13...Rad8 The rook defends d6 and from now on the bishop will stand fine on c8.
d231) 14.Rad1 Bc8 15.Rfe1 Nc5 16.Qc2 a5 17.Nf3 Rfe8 18.Nd4 Qf7 19.Bc1 Gelfand,B-
Ponomariov,R, Elancourt 2013 19...Nfe4=

304
 d232) 14.Rac1 Bc8 15.b4 h6 16.Nh3 g5 17.a3 f4 18.Kh1 fxg3 19.fxg3 Qe7= Kovalenko,I-
Dastan,B, Lisbon 2017.
d233) 14.Rfd1 Bc8 15.Rac1
d2331) 15...Nc5 Bringing the knight in was also possible. 16.b4 h6 17.Nf3 (17.bxc5 dxc5 18.Qe3
hxg5 19.Qxc5 Qf7 20.Qxa7 Rxd1+ [20...Qxc4? 21.Nd5±] 21.Nxd1 Re8°) 17...Nce4 18.Nxe4
Nxe4 19.Qc2 Kh7=
d2332) 15...Qe7 Black first improves the queen.
d23321) 16.Re1 White has several ways to try to progress, but none of them should be really
dangerous. 16...Nc5 17.b4 Ncd7 (17...Nce4=) 18.Nd1 Nb6 19.Qe3 Rfe8 20.Qxe7 Rxe7=
Neiksans,A-Vovk,A, Fagernes 2016.
d23322) 16.Ba3 Nc5 17.b4 Nce4 (17...Ne6 18.b5 Nxg5 19.Qxg5 c5=) 18.Ncxe4 fxe4 19.b5 Rfe8
Black can create enough counterplay. (19...c5 20.Nxe4) 20.bxc6 (20.Bxd6?

20...e3! 21.fxe3 Rxd6 22.Qxd6 Qxe3+ 23.Kh1 Qxg5µ) 20...bxc6 21.f4 h6 (21...e3!?) 22.Bxd6
Qd7∞ 23.Nh3 e3=
d23323) 16.e3 Nc5 17.Qc2 This move obviously contains little venom. (17.b4 h6 [17...Nce4=]
18.Nh3 Nce4 19.Nxe4 fxe4 20.Nf4 Bf5= Yilmaz,M-Moty-lev,A, Yerevan 2014) 17...Ng4 18.Nf3
Ne4 19.Rf1 Ngf6 20.Rcd1 Be6= Black’s pieces stand well, as in Georgiev,K-Vovk,A, Skopje
2014.

12...Rad8 13.Ne2

305
13...Rfe8

Black improves the rook, although 13...Ne4 and 13...d5 14.Ng5 dxc4= are also reasonable.

14.Nf4 Bc8

14...Bf7 15.Ng5 (15.Qc2 Ne4=) 15...Nc5∞

15.Rc1 Nc5 16.b4 Nce4

16...Ne6 17.Qc2 Nxf4 18.exf4 Ne4=

17.b5

306
17...Nc5

17...Qf7 would be equal as well. Both sides have well-placed pieces with a lack of easily attackable
weaknesses. In the game neither side had real chances to take over.

18.Qc2 Nfe4 19.Bd4 Qf7 20.Rfd1 Bd7 21.Qb2 Bf8 22.h4 h6 23.Bxc5 Nxc5 24.Qa3 Ne4 25.Qa5 g5
26.bxc6 Bxc6 27.Nd5 b6 28.Qa3 Bg7 29.hxg5 hxg5 30.Nd4 Bxd5 31.cxd5 Bxd4 32.exd4 f4 33.Rc2
Re7 34.Re2 Nf6 35.Rxe7 Qxe7 36.gxf4 Nh5 1/2

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 Qc7
Game 45
Viacheslav Zakhartsov
Vitalijs Samolins
Synthesia Rapid Open, Pardubice 2009

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6

307
8.d5

This is the very main line: White gains space in the centre. Of course the d-pawn is a stronghold and a
target at the same time. In the last two to three years the popularity of this line has increased.

8...Qc7

Perhaps this sideline is not the strongest, but it can be employed to surprise the opponent. Black can
follow up with ...Bd7, ...a5, and ...Na6.

9.Nd4

a) 9.Qd3 White probably gets ready for Black playing ...e5. 9...Nbd7 10.dxc6 (10.Be3 Ng4) 10...bxc6
11.Nd4 Ne5 12.Qc2 Bd7 13.b3 Rac8 14.Bb2

308
14...Nf7 Black gets ready for ...e5; defending d6 will be useful. 15.e3 e5 16.Nde2 Rfe8 17.Rad1 Qa5
18.Qb1 Krallmann,M-Muehlbach,P, Bad Wiessee 1998 18...Be6=
b) 9.Rb1 a5 10.b3 (10.Nd4 Bd7 11.Re1 Ng4 12.dxc6 bxc6∞ or 10.c5 dxc5 11.Bf4 Qb6 12.Rc1 Nxd5
13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Qxd5+ Be6 15.Qxc5 Qxc5 16.Rxc5 Bxa2=) 10...Na6 11.Bb2 This is solid, but holds
little poison. (11.Na4 cxd5 12.Be3 [12.cxd5 b5] 12...dxc4 13.bxc4 Nc5=) 11...Nc5
b1) 12.Ne1 Nce4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Bxe4 fxe4 16.Qd4+ Kg8 17.Rc1 Bf5=
b2) 12.Nd4 e5 13.dxe6 Here the rook is not doing a great job on b1. 13...Bxe6 (13...Nxe6) 14.Nxe6
Nxe6 15.e3 Rfe8 16.Qc2 Rad8 17.Rfd1 Nc5 18.Rbc1 Nfe4= Neiksans,A-Samolins,V, Riga 2009.
c) 9.Be3!? I think this bishop move is unpleasant, but for players who do not play this move against the
...Qe8–line this may not come easily to mind.
c1) 9...Na6 10.Rc1 e5 (10...Nc5 11.b4 or 10...Ng4 11.Bf4²) 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.Nb5²
c2) 9...a5 10.Rc1 (10.c5 dxc5 11.dxc6 Nxc6 12.Rc1 a4 13.Nxa4 Qa5 14.b3 Rd8 15.Qe1 e5=)
10...Na6

309
11.Na4!? c5 (11...Ne4 12.Bb6 Qb8 13.Bd4²) 12.Nc3 Qd8 13.Qd2²
c3) 9...e6 10.h3 (10.Qd2) 10...Re8 (10...h6 11.Qd2) 11.Rc1 Nbd7 (11...exd5 12.cxd5 Rxe3 13.fxe3
c5²) 12.Ng5 Ne5 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.Nb5 cxb5 15.Bxa8 bxc4 16.Bg2 a5 17.b3 Ba6²
c4) 9...c5 Going for the Benoni pawn structure leads to exciting play. 10.Qd2 Nbd7 (10...Re8 11.Bh6
Bh8 12.Rae1²) 11.Bh6 Ne4 12.Nxe4 fxe4
c41) 13.Nh4 Nf6 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.f3 Rb8 16.fxe4 b5 17.b3 bxc4 18.bxc4 Rb4 19.Qd3 e5²
c42) 13.Ne1 Nf6 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Nc2 Rb8 16.a4 a6 17.Ne3 b5 18.axb5 axb5= McCambridge,V-
Savage,A, New York, 1984.

310
9...Bd7

Black wants to strengthen his presence in the centre.

9...c5 Going for the Benoni again leads to fighting positions.
a) 10.Ndb5 Qd8 11.Bg5 Nbd7 12.a4 h6 13.Bd2 Ne5 14.Na3 Nh5 15.f4 Ng4 16.Nc2 Bd7 17.Bf3 Rb8
18.Kg2 Cecilia Ortiz,J-Palacios de la Prida,E, Spain 1998 18...e5 19.dxe6 Bxe6 20.h3 Ngf6 21.Ne3
Qd7 22.Kh2 Rbe8 23.Qc2 g5=
b) 10.Nc2 Nbd7 11.Rb1 Ne5
b1) 11...a6 12.a4 Rb8 13.Na3 Ne5 14.Bd2 Bd7 15.Qc1 Rfe8 16.b3 b6 17.h3 Qc8 18.Kh2 Nf7 19.Qc2
Lisko,F-Durnik,S, Slovakia 2006

19...e5 20.dxe6 Bxe6 21.Rbd1 Qd7 22.Bf4 Rbd8=

b2) 12.b3
b21) 12...Bd7 13.f4 Neg4 14.Qd3 a6 15.a4 Rab8 16.Na3 Krutyanski,A-Antoshin,V, Erevan 1984
16...b6 17.e3 Qb7 18.Bb2 Ne8 19.Rfe1 Nc7=
b22) 12...a6 13.Bb2 Bd7 14.f4 Neg4 15.e4 Vyzmanavin,A-Antoshin,V, Moscow 1984 15...Nxe4
16.Nxe4 Bxb2 17.Rxb2 fxe4 18.Bxe4 b5 19.Bf3 Nh6=

10.Rb1

a) 10.h3 Na6 11.b3 Nc5 1/2 Trois,F-Resende,A, Sao Luis 1981.

b) 10.Bf4 Na6 11.Nb3 Nh5 12.Be3 Anelli,A-Giardelli,S, Buenos Aires 1993 12...f4 13.Bd4 e5=
c) 10.e4 fxe4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Bxe4
c1) 12...Qb6 13.Be3 c5 14.Ne6 Bxe6 15.dxe6 Nc6 16.a3 Rab8 17.b4 Bd4=

311
 c2) 12...Na6 Black’s pieces work quite well. 13.Bg2 Janzelj,T-Mazi,L, Sentjur 2013 13...Rab8
(13...Nb4 14.Be3 c5 15.Nb5²) 14.Rb1 c5 15.Ne6 Bxe6 16.dxe6 b5∞

10...a5 11.b3 Na6 12.Bb2

12...Nc5

Black has obtained what he wanted.

13.Qc2

13.Na4 cxd5 (13...Nfe4 14.Nxc5 dxc5 15.dxc6 cxd4 16.cxd7=) 14.cxd5 Altukhov,S-Nickl,K, St Veit
1999 14...Nxa4 15.bxa4 Rfc8=

13...Rac8 14.Rbd1 cxd5

Black is well-enough developed to act in the centre. 14...Qb6 is also fine for Black.

15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Bxd5+ e6 17.Bg2 Bc6

17...a4=

18.Qd2 Rcd8 19.Qe3

312
19...Rfe8

Black could have equalised with 19...Bxg2!? 20.Kxg2 e5 21.Nc2 a4, but in the game White got a small
edge, which shifted to Black. Later Black was winning, but before the time-control the advantage was
wasted.

20.Ba3 Ne4 21.Nxc6 Qxc6 22.Rd3 d5 23.Qc1 d4 24.e3 Qb6 25.c5 Qb5 26.Qc4 Qxc4 27.bxc4 dxe3
28.Rxe3 Rd2 29.Bxe4 fxe4 30.Rb3 Rxa2 31.Bc1 Re7 32.Bg5 Rd7 33.Rfb1 Bd4 34.Be3 Bxe3 35.Rxe3
Rdd2 36.Rxb7 Rxf2 37.c6 Rg2+ 38.Kf1 Rxh2 39.Kg1 Rhc2 40.Re1 Rxc4 41.Rd1 Rcc2 1/2

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5
Game 46
Igor Kovalenko
Anton David Guijarro
European Team Championship, Reykjavik 2015

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5

313
8...e5

Black undertakes a backward pawn on d6. Alekhine wrote that in the Scheveningen variation the d6-
pawn is weak; in this case one of the greatest geniuses of chess was wrong. Perhaps the problem of the
d6-pawn has been overestimated and Black’s piece play compensates for it.
When I was a young player I was impressed by grandmaster Knezevic and how well he defended the
position. But when I found problems with the 7...Qe8 variation I looked into it deeply and changed my
mind. I no longer thought that the charming grandmaster knew the line in great depth, but in fact the line
seems fine for Black. By the way, in the 7...Qe8 variation I was not really satisfied facing 8.Re1 Qf7
9.e4, and also the 8.Nd5 line of the chess engines causes more problems than I expected and on top of
that I noticed some inconveniences in the Rb1, b4 followed by dxc6 lines.

9.e4

White creates a King’s Indian-like position, which is probably more dangerous than the number of games
suggest. For example Mamedyarov, in my opinion, obtained an unpleasant position.
a) 9.Rb1 Na6 10.b4 Cu Hor,W-Ortiz Suarez,I, Duran 2014

314
10...e4 11.Nd4 cxd5 (11...c5 12.bxc5 Nxc5=) 12.cxd5 Nc7 13.Qb3 Qe7=
b) 9.Qb3 cxd5 It is safer to close the diagonal. 10.cxd5 Na6 11.Qa3 h6 (11...Nc7 12.Bg5 [12.Rd1 Qe7
13.Nd2 b6=] 12...h6 13.Bxf6 Qxf6=) 12.Nb5 Ne8 13.Be3

13...Nac7 Black takes a good part of the sting from White’s play and may get play of his own against
d5. 14.Nxc7 Nxc7 15.Rac1 Rf7 16.Rfd1 b6 17.Rc6 Bd7 18.Rc2 (18.Qxd6 Bxc6 19.Qxc6 Qf6=)
18...Be8 19.Ne1 g5= Belous,V-Nepomniachtchi,I, Moscow 2012.
c) 9.b4 e4!? The value of Black’s gain is more than the disadvantage. 10.Nd4 a5 11.dxc6?! (11.b5!? c5
12.Ne6!? Bxe6 13.dxe6 Qe7 14.Bf4 Ne8 15.Rc1=) 11...Nxc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.b5 Be6 14.Ba3 Rc8
(14...c5 15.Rc1) 15.Rc1 Rc7 16.bxc6 Rxc6 17.c5 (17.Nb5 Rxc4=) 17...Nd7!³ Lima,D-Vallejo Pons,F,
Elgoibar 1997. Black could also play 17...dxc5 18.Qa4 (18.Na4 Bxa2µ) 18...Qa8³

315
d) 9.dxc6 White gives up the centre, hoping to get play against the d6-pawn.
d1) 9...Nxc6 Many would be worried to give up the d5-square and have a backward pawn, but just as
in the Sveshnikov, Black can easily live with it.
d11) 10.b3 e4 11.Nd4 d5 12.Ba3 Re8 13.Rc1 dxc4 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.bxc4 Blagojevic,D-Hadzovic,I,
Belgrade 1989 15...Be6³
d12) 10.Bg5 Be6 11.b3 e4 12.Nd4 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 d5 It works. 14.Nxd5 Nxd5=
d13) 10.Nb5
d131) 10...Qe7 Black can sacrifice the d6-pawn as well. 11.Qxd6 (11.Nxd6 e4 12.Nxc8 Raxc8
13.Nd4 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 b6°) 11...Qxd6 12.Nxd6 e4 13.Ng5 Nd4=
d132) 10...e4 11.Nfd4 d5 12.c5

12...Ne8 Black wants to stabilise the queenside and exert pressure on the kingside. 13.Rb1 (13.Bf4
g5) 13...a6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Nd4 Qf6 16.e3 a5 (16...Nc7 17.b4 a5=) 17.Qa4 Glek,I-Palatnik,S,
Tallinn 1986 17...Bd7 18.b4 Qd8=
d2) 9...bxc6
d21) 10.e4 Zhavoronkov,E-Yagupov,I, Tula 2004 10...Na6 11.exf5 Bxf5 12.Nh4 Bg4=
d22) 10.b3 e4 11.Nd4 Qe7 12.Ba3 Bb7 13.Qd2 Na6 14.Rad1 Rad8 15.Na4 Rfe8 16.Qa5 Qc7 Black
neutralises White’s play on the queenside. 17.Qxc7 Nxc7 18.Nc2 c5= Eingorn,V-Dolmatov,S,
Odessa 1989.
d23) 10.Qa4 e4 11.Nd4 Qb6 12.Nb3 Ng4 (12...c5 13.f3 Bd7 14.Qa5 Qxa5 15.Nxa5 Nc6 16.Nb7
Ne8=) 13.Bf4 Ne5 14.c5 dxc5 15.Bxe5 Bxe5 16.Qc4+ Kg7 17.Nxc5 Andriasian,Z-Minasian,A,
Yerevan 2009

316
 17...Na6³
d24) 10.c5 e4 11.Nd4 (11.Qb3+ Kh8 12.Ng5 d5³) 11...dxc5 12.Nb3 Nd5 (12...Na6 Black can try to
defend the extra pawn. 13.Na4 Qd5 14.Qc2 c4µ) 13.Nxc5 Na6 14.N3a4 Nxc5 15.Nxc5 Rb8
16.Qc2 Qa5 17.Rd1?! (17.a3=) 17...Rb5 18.Na4 Hultin,J-Rasmussen,A, Sweden 2016 18...Be6
19.Qxc6 Bf7µ

9...cxd5

Mamedyarov did not take on d5, and I don’t like the position he obtained against Harikrishna.

10.cxd5 Na6 11.exf5

317
White opens the diagonal of the bishop and later hopes to exert pressure on Black’s central pawns. Other
moves have been tried as well, so let’s look at them;
a) 11.Be3 Chalmeta Torredemer,E-Garcia Ilundain,D, Sant Boi 1997 11...f4 Black doesn’t wait till
White’s play grows strong on the queenside. 12.gxf4 Bg4 (12...exf4 13.Bd4 Ng4∞) 13.fxe5 Nd7°
b) 11.Nd2 Nc5 12.Qc2 a5 13.Rb1 b6 (13...Bd7³) 14.Re1 Ba6 15.Bf1 Qc8 16.Bxa6 Rxa6 17.Re2
Bratus,P-Sivuk,V, St Petersburg 2014 17...f4³
c) 11.Bg5 Bd7 (11...Nc5!? looks more natural.) 12.Nd2 (12.exf5 Bxf5) 12...Rc8 13.Qe2 h6 14.Bxf6
Qxf6 15.Rac1 f4 16.a3

16...h5! 17.b4 Bh6µ Gerzhoy,L-Wojtaszek,R, Heraklion 2004.

d) 11.Ng5!? White makes Ne6 a reality. 11...Nc7
d1) 12.f3 Qe8 1/2 Khalifman,A-Bajarani,U, Nakhchivan 2015. Black could also play 12...f4 13.Qb3
Qe7 14.Nh3 Nh5³
d2) 12.f4 Mik,A-Grunberg,M, Eforie Nord 1999 12...exf4 13.Bxf4

318
13...h6 14.Nh3 g5 15.Be3 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 fxe4 17.Nf2 Qe7∞
d3) 12.Qb3 The queen stands well on this square, keeping an eye on b7, defending d5 and she might
also give a check with d6. 12...Qe7 13.f4
d31) 13...Nxe4 14.Ncxe4 fxe4 15.Nxe4 Bf5 16.Re1 Na6=
d32) 13...h6 14.fxe5 (14.Nf3 fxe4 15.Nh4 Bf5=) 14...hxg5 15.exf6 Bxf6=
d33) 13...exf4

d331) 14.e5! A beautiful and strong move! 14...fxg3 15.exd6 Qxd6 16.Bf4 Qc5+ 17.Kh1 Kh8
18.d6² Nce8 19.Bxg3 Black has serious problems.
d332) 14.Bxf4 h6 15.Ne6 Nxe6 16.dxe6 Ehlvest,J-Neiksans,A, Liepaja 2005 16...Bxe6 17.Qb4

319
 Nxe4 18.Nxe4 fxe4³
d4) 12.exf5 gxf5 White opens the diagonal of the bishop. It is difficult for Black to find a target.
13.Qb3 Qe7 14.Rd1
d41) 14...b6 Black wants to develop the bishop.
d411) 15.Bd2 e4 16.Nh3 Ba6 17.Bg5=
d412) 15.a4!? I find this move unpleasant. 15...e4 16.Nb5 (16.Nh3) 16...Nxb5 17.axb5 White is a
bit better.
d413) 15.Qa3?! Bb7 16.Ne6!? Nxe6 17.dxe6 Bxg2! 18.Kxg2 Rad8= Czarnota,P-Bartel,M,
Katowice 2010.
d42) 14...e4 15.Nh3 Ng4 (15...Na6= As Ne6 is no longer a threat, Black can improve the knight.)
16.Nf4 (16.Bg5²) 16...Na6 17.Bf1 Nc5 18.Qa3 Bd7 19.h3 Ne5 20.Be3 Rfc8 21.Nb5 1/2 Yilmaz,M-
L’Ami,E, Germany 2015.

11...gxf5

A typical King’s Indian-type position has arisen.

12.Nh4

The position is not easy to handle as both sides can play in many ways.
a) 12.Ng5 Qe7 13.Be3 Nc7 14.Qb3 Ng4= 1/2 Santos,C-Spraggett,K, Maia 2003.
b) 12.Nd2 Bd7 13.Qb3 (13.Nb3 Rc8 14.Be3 f4=) 13...Nc5 14.Qc2 Rc8 15.Nc4 Maletin,P-Gurevich,D,
Moscow 2005 15...Ne8 16.a4 f4³
c) 12.Be3 Pankratov,V-Lohmann, F, Corr. 1996 12...Ng4 13.Bg5 Qb6 14.Qb3 Qxb3 (14...Bd7 15.Be7

320
 Rfe8 16.Qxb6 axb6 17.Bxd6 e4 18.Nd2 e3°) 15.axb3 Nc5 16.h3 Nf6=

12...f4

Black wants to develop the bishop, but he could have improved the knight as well.
12...Nc5 13.b4 Poluljahov,A-Bologan,V, Moscow 2002 (13.Be3 e4 14.Bh3 f4∞ or 13.Qc2 Haba,P-
Berg,E, playchess.com 2004 13...Nh5 14.Be3 Nf4=) 13...Nce4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 fxe4 16.Re1
Qb6=

13.a3

13.Qc2 Bg4 14.h3 Bd7 15.Nf5 Nb4 16.Qb1 Bxf5 17.Qxf5 Kh8=

13...Bg4 14.Qc2 Rc8 15.Bd2 b5 16.b4 Rc4

The rook is rather active on c4. Black can play dynamically as well: 16...e4 17.Rfe1 Qd7 18.Bxf4 Rxc3∞

17.h3 Bd7 18.Nf5

18.Rac1 Nc7=

18...Bxf5 19.Qxf5 Nc7

Out of the blue, Black has pressure on the d5-pawn.

20.Qg5

20.Rac1 Ne4³ or 20.Qd3 e4³ or 20.Qb1 e4³

321
20...Qe8³

Black is somewhat better here, but White immediately went wrong and gave up the queen, but never got
a chance to hold.

21.g4 h6 22.Qf5 Nfxd5 23.Nxd5 Rxf5 24.gxf5 Qf7 25.Nxc7 Rxc7 26.Rac1 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Qxf5
28.Bd5+ Kf8 29.Bb7 Qxh3 30.Rc8+ Ke7 31.Rc7+ Kf6 32.f3 Qg3+ 33.Kf1 h5 34.Be1 Qg5 35.Bf2 h4
36.Rd7 h3 37.Rxd6+ Ke7 38.Bc5 Qg2+ 39.Ke1 Qg3+ 40.Ke2 Qg2+ 41.Ke1 Qg3+ 42.Ke2 Bf6
43.Rd1+ Ke6 44.Bd5+ Kd7 45.Be4+ Kc7 46.Bd6+ Kc8 47.Bf5+ Kd8 48.Bxe5+ Ke7 49.Rd7+ Ke8
50.Bxf6 Qg2+ 51.Kd3 h2 52.Rh7 h1=Q 53.Rxh1 Qxf3+ 54.Kd2 Qxh1 55.Bd3 Qg2+ 56.Ke1 Qd5
57.Kd2 a6 0–1

322
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6
Game 47
Parham Maghsoodloo
P. Potapov
World Rapid, Doha 2016

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6

This capture is by far the most popular line. White takes the pawn and creates a vulnerable pawn on d6.
On the other hand, the move gives Black something to be happy about as well, because the pieces can
come into play fluently and White has given up his or her space advantage.

9...Bxe6 10.Qb3

White’s sideline moves are not dangerous for Black. White has to make a decision, to defend or sacrifice
the c4-pawn?
a) 10.Qa4 Nbd7 11.Ng5 Qe7 12.Nxe6 Qxe6 13.Qb4 Nc5 14.Bf4 (14.Be3 a5 15.Qa3 Qxc4³) 14...a5
15.Qa3 Nh5 16.Nb5?? (16.Be3 Qxc4 17.Rad1=) 16...Nxf4 17.gxf4 Qxe2 18.Nxd6 Peredy,F-Gara,A,
Harkany 2004 18...Bd4–+
b) 10.Nd2?! Na6!? Black rightly doesn’t simplify, but looks for complexity. (10...d5=)
b1) 11.Rb1 d5 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Bxd5+ Qxd5 15.Qb3 Qxb3 16.Nxb3 Rfe8³
Sutkovic,D-Kadric,D, Neum 2014.
b2) 11.a3 Nc5 12.Qc2 a5 13.b3

323
 13...f4 14.Bb2 Bf5 15.Qd1 fxg3 16.hxg3 Qb6 17.Na2 Rae8³ Minev,N-Orlov,G, Seattle 1990.
c) 10.Ng5 Sacrificing like this gives no advantage. 10...Bxc4
c1) 11.Qa4 King,D-Bhend,E, Brocco 1991 11...b5 12.Qc2 Qe7 13.b3 b4 14.bxc4 bxc3 15.Rb1 h6
16.Nh3 Ne4³
c2) 11.b3 Bf7 12.Ba3 Ne8 13.Nxf7 Rxf7 14.Rc1 Ribli,Z-Sax,G, Budapest 1971 14...Qa5 15.Bb2
Nd7µ

10...b5

Black can go for the complications.

324
11.Nd2

This is passive.
11.Nd4 The sacrifice contains more danger for White. 11...Bxc4 12.Qc2
a) 12...b4 This works as well.
a1) 13.Ne4? Nxe4 14.Nxc6?? (14.Qxc4+ d5! 15.Qxb4 c5! 16.Qb7 cxd4–+)

14...Qc7! 15.Qxc4+ Rf7–+ Yakovich,Y-Malaniuk,V, Sochi 1997.

a2) 13.Na4 Bf7 14.Bg5 Qd7 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Nxc6 Nxc6 17.Bxc6 Rac8=
b) 12...a6 13.Nxc6 White wins the pawn, but this hands some tempi to Black. 13...Nxc6 14.Bxc6 Rc8
15.Bb7 Rc7 16.Bxa6 Qa8 17.Nxb5 Rc5 18.Be3 Qxa6 19.Bxc5 Bxb5³ Ma,Z-Zhou,W, Beijing 2012.

11...bxc4

11...a6 12.a4 Qa5 Black’s pressure on the queenside is annoying.

a) 13.Na2 Ne4 (13...bxc4 14.Qb7 Nbd7³) 14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.Qb4 (15.Nc3 Bxc4 16.Qc2 d5=)
15...Qxb4 16.Nxb4 bxc4 17.Bxe4 d5 18.Bg2 a5µ Boehnke,M-Jahr,U, Porz 1989.
b) 13.Ncb1 Nbd7 14.Qd3 d5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Nb3 Stupak,K-Khairullin,I, Moscow 2013 16...Qb4
17.Bd2 Qe7³

12.Nxc4?!

12.Qb7 Taking on c6 is stronger. 12...Nbd7 13.Qxc6 Nb6 14.Nf3 (14.Rd1 Rc8 15.Qb7 Rc7 16.Qa6 Bc8
17.Qa5 Qe7 18.Nf3 Bb7=) 14...Rc8 15.Qb5 Ne4 16.Qa5 d5 (16...Re8³) 17.Rd1 Brzezinski,A-
Semcesen,D, Copenhagen 2014 17...d4 18.Nb5 Rc5³

325
12...Nbd7 13.Nb1

White saves material, but this is an anti-developing move.

13...Ne5

13...d5 14.Ncd2 Qe7µ

14.Nbd2 Ne4 15.Qc2 Nxc4 16.Nxc4 d5 17.Nd2

17...Qb6³

326
Thanks to his strong pieces, Black has an advantage, but he soon allowed White to make an exchange
sacrifice and hold.

18.Rb1 a5 19.Nxe4 fxe4 20.Be3 d4 21.Bf4 Bxa2 22.Bxe4 Bxb1 23.Rxb1 Rac8 24.h4 c5 25.b3 Rxf4
26.gxf4 Qf6 27.f5 Qxh4 28.fxg6 hxg6 29.Bd5+ Kh7 30.Qe4 Qxe4 31.Bxe4 Bh6 32.Rb2 Re8 33.f3 Re5
34.Ra2 Be3+ 35.Kg2 Rg5+ 36.Kh3 Bf4 37.Rxa5 Kh6 38.Ra6 Kh5 39.Rc6 Rg3+ 40.Kh2 Rxf3+
41.Kg2 Rg3+ 42.Kf2 Rxb3 43.Bxg6+ Kg5 44.Bd3 Rc3 45.Kf3 Bd2 46.Ke4 Rc1 47.Ke5 Bf4+ 48.Kd5
Be3 49.Rxc5 1/2

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.Bf4
Game 48
Dagur Ragnarsson
S. Mamedyarov
Reykjavik Open 2015

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6

10.Bf4

White attacks the pawn, giving up c4 for d6.

10...Bxc4

Black gets rid of the important pawn, but it is possible to defend d6 and play a complex middlegame
instead.
10...Ne8

327
 a) 11.Qd3 Na6 12.Ng5 Nc5

Black’s knight arrives in time. 13.Nxe6 Nxe6 14.Rad1 Nxf4 15.gxf4 Qf6 16.Rd2 Rd8= Baraeva,M-
Bodnaruk,A, Sochi 2016.
b) 11.c5 d5 Black has a healthy game, the only problem being his white-squared bishop, but he can live
with this. 12.Ng5 Bc8 13.Nf3 Na6 14.Na4 Qe7 15.Rc1 h6 16.h4 Nac7 17.Qd2 Kh7 18.b4 Rf7 19.Nb2
Nf6 20.Nd3 Ne4= Mira,H-Milov,L, Bregenz 2016.

11.Bxd6

11.Qxd6?! The positions without queens are harmless, and actually it is easier to play them as Black
because of the pawn majority on the queenside. 11...Qxd6 12.Bxd6 Re8 13.Ne5
a) 13.Rfd1 Ne4 (13...Nbd7 14.Nd4 Nb6 15.e3 Nbd5³) 14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.Nd2 Bd5= Hnydiuk,A-
Aczel,G, Zalakaros 2016.
b) 13...Ba6 (13...Be6=) 14.Rfd1 Nbd7 15.f4 Nb6 (15...Nxe5 16.Bxe5 Rad8=) 16.Bf3 Nfd7 17.Nxd7
Nxd7 18.Kf2 (18.Rab1 Nb6 19.Bc5 Nc4= Gareyev,T-Malaniuk,V, St Petersburg 2003) 18...Nb6
19.Rac1 Nc4 20.b3

328
 20...Nb2 A lovely move. 21.Rd2 Rad8µ Xu,Z-Lu,S, China 2014.

11...Re8 12.Qd4

White has a considerable development advantage, but Black has no weaknesses at all, and this is the
reason he does all right here.
a) 12.Ba3 Qa5
a1) 12...Qxd1 is simpler. 13.Rfxd1 Na6 14.Nd4 Rad8 15.e3 Ne4 16.Nxe4 fxe4= Luckans,A-
Cmilyte,V, Mezezers 2000.
a2) 13.Nd2 Bf7 14.Nb3 (14.e4 Nbd7 [14...Na6 15.Nb3 Qe5 16.f4 Qc7 17.e5 Ng4=] 15.Nb3 Qe5
16.f4 Qc7 17.exf5 gxf5=) 14...Qb6 15.Bc5

329
 15...Qa6 Like in some Catalans, the queen stands well on a6 against the Catalan bishop. 16.Qc2 Nbd7
17.Bd4 Rac8 18.e4 fxe4 19.Nxe4 Nxe4= Lipka,J-Bartel,M, Czech Rep. 2012.
b) 12.Be5 White should keep the queens on to have chance of getting something. 12...Qxd1 (12...Nbd7
13.Bd4 Polnarieva,L-Legky,N, St Ingbert 1990 13...c5 14.Bxf6=) 13.Rfxd1 Nbd7 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.e3
Nd5 16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Rd2 Bf6 18.Nd4 Rad8³ Moaataz,A-Muzychuk,A, Chengdu 2015.
c) 12.Re1 Ne4 (12...Nd5 13.Be5 Nxc3 14.Bxc3 Qxd1 15.Raxd1 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Na6³) 13.Nxe4 fxe4
14.Nd2 Bd5 15.Ba3 (15.Bf4 Qf6=) 15...e3 (15...Na6 16.e3 [16.Qa4 e3µ] 16...b5µ) 16.fxe3 Kozul,Z-
Potapov,P, Doha 2016 16...Qb6=
d) 12.Ne5 The knight wins a big tempo, but soon it will be swapped. 12...Be6
d1) 13.Qd2 Schwarz,D-Cmilyte,V, Warsaw 2006 13...Ne4³
d2) 13.Nf3 Nbd7
d21) 13...Kh8 14.Ba3?! Nbd7 15.Qc2 Nd5 16.Nxd5 (16.Rad1!? Nxc3³) 16...Bxd5 17.Rad1 Qf6=
Erdos,V-Antal,G, Nagykanizsa 2003.
d22) 14.Qc2 (14.Ng5 Bc4 15.Re1 Nb6³) 14...Nd5 15.Nxd5 (15.Rad1 Nxc3 16.bxc3∞ Qa5?!
17.Bb4! Qa6 18.Ng5) 15...Bxd5 16.Nh4 Nf6 17.Bxd5+ Nxd5 18.Bc5 Qf6 Black had a pleasant
position in the game Touzane,O-Bologan,V, Biel 1995.
d3) 13.Ba3 Nbd7 14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.Qc2 Rad8 16.Rfd1 Qf7 17.Rxd8 Rxd8 18.Rd1 Rxd1+ 19.Qxd1
Qd7= Adianto,U-Reinderman,D, Beijing 2008.
d4) 13.Rc1

330
 13...Nbd7 Exchanging eases Black’s development.
d41) 14.Nd3 Bf7 15.b3 Nb6 16.Ba3 Nbd5 17.Bb2 Nxc3 18.Bxc3 Bd5 1/2 Piket,J-De la Riva
Aguado,O, Escaldes 1998.
d42) 14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.Ba3 Qf7 16.b3 Rad8 17.Qc2 Kosmas Lekkas,D-Mastrovasilis,A, Katakolo
2009 17...Nd5=

12...Ba6

Black has several good squares for the bishop.

a) 12...Bd5 Black forces exchanges. 13.Bxb8 (13.Nxd5 Qxd6) 13...Bxf3 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.Bxf3

331
 Raxb8= 16.Rad1 Rd7 17.e3 Rbd8 Larsen,B-Palatnik,S, Palma de Mallorca 1989.
b) 12...Be6
b1) 13.Qb4 Qb6 14.Qa3 Ne4 15.Be5 Bf8 16.Qa4 Nd7 17.Bd4³ Dorfanis,I-Kapnisis,S, Paleochora
2014.
b2) 13.Rfd1 Ne4 Black again swaps quite a lot of material. 14.Be5 Qxd4 15.Rxd4 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Nd7
17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Ng5 Nc5 19.Nxe6+ Rxe6 20.e3 Rc8= Martyn,R-Nijboer,F, Amsterdam 2005.

13.Qb4

13.Rad1 Ne4 14.Be5 Qxd4 15.Bxd4 Nxc3³

13...Qb6

Winning a tempo or playing without queens are both nice for Black.

14.Rfd1

a) 14.Qxb6 axb6 15.Rfe1 Nbd7 16.Rad1 Bc4 17.a3 Ne4 18.Nxe4 fxe4³ Tsiganova,M-Gavrikov,V,
Tallinn 1998.
b) 14.Qa3 Ne4 15.Bb4 Nxc3 16.Bxc3 Nd7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Qc3+ (18.Rfd1 Nf6 19.e3 Qc7=)
18...Nf6 19.Rad1 Qc7= Szotkowski,J-Malaniuk,V, Ceske Budejovice 2015.

14...Nbd7 15.e3

15...Ne4 16.Na4?

332
This knight move leads to a very difficult endgame. He should play instead: 16.Nxe4 fxe4 (16...Rxe4
17.Nd4 Ree8 18.Qb3+²) 17.Ng5 Nf6 18.Qa3=

16...Qxb4 17.Bxb4 Nb6 18.Nxb6

18.Nc5 Bxb2 19.Rab1 Nxc5 20.Bxc5 Na4µ

18...axb6

Mamedyarov was already much better, and won the game convincingly.

19.Ba3 Be2 20.Re1 Bc4 21.Rad1 b5 22.Rd7 c5 23.Rc1 b6 24.Rb7 Bxa2 25.Rxb6 b4 26.Bxb4 cxb4
27.Rxb4 Reb8 28.Rxb8+ Rxb8 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.b3 Re8
Game 49
Boris Gelfand
Hikaru Nakamura
Tata Steel-A, Wijk aan Zee 2012

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6

333
10.b3

White defends the c-pawn. It is important to note that trying to act on the diagonal at once would
backfire for Black.

10...Re8!?

This is a rare move but I still like it a lot.

11.Bb2

a) 11.Ng5
a1) 11...d5?! Black might get away with this, but it is risky.

334
12.Be3! Not an easy move to find. (12.Nxe6 Rxe6 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Bxa1 15.Ba3 Bf6=)
12...Ng4 13.Nxe6 Rxe6 14.Bd4 dxc4 15.Bxg7 Qxd1 (15...Rd6 16.Qc1 Kxg7 17.e4°) 16.Rfxd1 Kxg7
17.Rd8 cxb3 18.axb3 It is hard to tell whether after 18...Nf6 or 18...a5 Black can get away with it or
not.
a2) 11...Bc8 I found no game involving this interesting move. 12.Ba3 (12.Qd2 h6 13.Nh3 Qa5
14.Bb2 Ne4=) 12...h6 13.Nh3 g5 14.Bxd6 (14.Rc1 Na6) 14...Ne4 15.Nxe4 fxe4 16.Rc1 Na6°
a3) 11...Na6
a31) 12.Bb2 d5! This liberates the position. (12...Nc5=) 13.Nxe6 Rxe6 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Bxd5 cxd5
16.e3 d4=
a32) 12.Bf4 h6 (12...Nh5!? is simpler. 13.Bd2 Bxc3 14.Nxe6 Qa5=) 13.Nxe6 Rxe6 14.Rc1 Nc5
15.Qd2 (15.b4 Nfe4!) 15...g5 16.Be3 Nfe4= Prudnikova,S-Suslova,A, Chelyabinsk 2017.
a33) 12.Nxe6!? I think this is the most testing move. 12...Rxe6

335
 13.b4! White gives no time for ...Nc5. 13...Ng4 (13...Qe8 14.Qb3 Ne4 15.Bxe4 fxe4 16.Bf4 Qf7
17.Rad1 Rd8 Perhaps White is somewhat better.) 14.Bd2 Ne5 15.Qb3 Qe7 If White has an edge it is
small.
a34) 12.Rb1 Bc8 (12...Qe7 13.e3 Bd7= or 12...Nc5 13.b4 Nce4 14.Ncxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 fxe4
16.Nxe6 Rxe6=) 13.b4 White cuts the a6-knight off from c5. 13...Nc7 14.b5 Babula,V-
Schwekendiek,U, Germany 1997 14...cxb5 15.Nxb5²
b) 11.Ba3
b1) 11...d5 White can do little against this. 12.Ng5 d4 13.Na4 Nbd7 14.Rc1 Ne4 15.Nxe4 fxe4
16.Bxe4 Bxc4 17.Qc2 Bf7=
b2) 11...Ne4 12.Nxe4 fxe4 13.Nd4 Bf7 14.Rc1 Qf6 (14...d5 15.cxd5 Qxd5 16.Nc2 a5=) 15.e3 Nd7
(15...Na6 16.Ne2 Rad8=) 16.Ne2 Gyimesi,Z-Reinderman,D, Beijing 2008 16...Ne5 This can lead to a
long line. 17.Nc3 (17.Qxd6 Nf3+ 18.Kh1 Be6°) 17...Nf3+ 18.Kh1 d5 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.Nxd5 Qa6
21.Ne7+ Kh8 22.Qd6 Qxd6 23.Bxd6 Rad8 24.Bb4 Be6 25.Rc7 a5 26.Bxa5 Ra8=

336
11...Na6

11...d5!? Strangely, so far nobody has come up with this simple move. 12.Ng5 Na6 13.Nxe6 Rxe6
14.cxd5 Nxd5=

12.Ng5

The critical continuation; by exchanging the e6-bishop, White hopes to add force to his thematic
queenside attack b4–b5.
a) 12.Nd4 Gheorghiu,F-Zimmer, Baden-Baden 1987 12...Bf7=
b) 12.Qc2
b1) 12...d5 13.Rfd1 Nb4 (13...Qe7 14.cxd5 Nb4 15.Qc1 Nbxd5=) 14.Qc1 Qe7 15.a3 Na6 16.cxd5
Nxd5 17.Nd4 Nb6 (17...Nxc3 18.Bxc3 Bf7=) 18.Rb1 (18.Nxe6 Qxe6 19.Rb1=) 18...Bf7 19.Qc2
Rad8³ Bonnmann,R-Reinderman,D Germany 2012.
b2) 12...Qe7 13.Rad1 Rad8
b21) 14.Nd4 Bf7 15.Rfe1 Nc5 (15...d5 16.cxd5 Nxd5³) 16.e3 Nce4 17.Nxe4 fxe4 (17...Nxe4=)
18.Ne2 g5 19.h3 Bg6= Siekanski,J-Kuczynski,R, Polanica Zdroj 1989.
b22) 14.e3
b221) 14...d5 15.cxd5 Nb4 16.Qb1 Nbxd5 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.Rfe1 Kozak,M-Kalinitschew,S,
Muenster 1990 18...Ne4=
b222) 14...Nb4 15.Qb1

337
 15...a5 (15...d5=) 16.Ng5 Bc8 17.Ne2 Ng4= Ponomariov,R-Nakamura,H, Saint Louis 2011.

12...Qe7

12...Nc5 13.Qc2 Qe7 14.Rad1 Rad8 15.e3 Bc8 With the rook on d8 this move doesn’t cut out anything.
16.Rfe1 Ng4 17.Nf3 Ne4 18.Nxe4 fxe4 19.Nd4 Rf8= Parligras,M-Gurevich,M, Konya 2011.

13.Nxe6 Qxe6

The queen stands fine on e6.

14.Qc2 Nc5 15.Rad1

338
15...Rad8

All Black’s pieces are in play.

16.e3

White basically puts the ball back in Black’s court. It opens e2 for the knight as well.
a) 16.Qb1 Qf7 17.Qa1 a5 18.Rd2 Nfe4 19.Nxe4 Nxe4= Komarov,D-Dolmatov,S, Dortmund 1992.
b) 16.b4 Nce4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.e3 Korobkov,P-Malaniuk,V, Odessa 2007 19...Re7=

16...Nce4

Nakamura wants to clarify the situation in the centre. Black has many ideas, none of which are magical,
but they can still be tried.
a) 16...Ng4 is likely to lead to a loss of time. 17.Rfe1 Qf7 (17...Ne4 18.Nxe4 fxe4 19.Bxg7 Kxg7=)
18.h3 Nf6 19.b4 Nce4 (19...Ne6) 20.Nxe4 Nxe4 21.Bxg7 Qxg7 22.b5² Carlsen,M-Cmilyte,V, Oslo
2009.
b) 16...Nfe4 17.Nxe4 (17.Ne2 Bxb2 18.Qxb2 Qe5 19.Qc2 Lukacs,P-Agrest,E, Gyula 1997 19...a5=)
17...Nxe4 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 Black is a fraction worse, but Sosonko did not even try and agreed to a draw,
1/2 Sosonko,G-Dolmatov,S, Polanica Zdroj 1993. 19.Rd4 Ng5 20.Rfd1 Nf7 21.b4 a6 22.a4 Rc8
23.Qb2 Qf6 24.b5 axb5 25.axb5 Re7 1/2 Farago,I-Beim,V, Bad Wiessee 2002.
c) 16...Qe7 17.Ne2 Nce4 18.Nf4 Qf7 19.b4

339
 19...Ng4 Black’s knights have a reasonable grip. 20.Bxg7 Qxg7 21.Bxe4 (21.b5 Qc7) 21...fxe4 22.h3
Ne5 23.Qxe4 Qf7 24.Qc2 Nxc4= Johnsen,G-Kindermann,S, Ortisei 2016.
d) 16...a5 Black wants to stop White on the queenside, or at least exchange some pawns. 17.Ne2 Qe7
d1) 18.Nf4 Qc7 19.Bd4 Ne6 20.Nxe6 Rxe6 21.Rd3 Biliskov,V-Kovacevic,V, Sibenik 2006
21...Ne4=
d2) 18.a3 Nce4 19.h3 Del Rio de Angelis,S-Moskalenko,V, Linares 2017 19...Nh5 20.Bxg7 Nxg7=

17.Nxe4 fxe4

The g2-bishop has little effect on the position.

340
18.Rd2

Gelfand tries to improve on his second’s game. 18.Rd4 d5 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.Qd2 Rd7 21.Rd1 Nh5
22.Ra4 Bxb2 23.Qxb2 a6 24.Rad4 Nf6 Huzman,A-Neiksans,A, Batumi 1999.

18...d5

Black preserves the centre.

19.cxd5

19.Bd4 b6 20.cxd5 cxd5 21.Rc1 Re7 22.Qb2 Ne8=

19...cxd5 20.Qc5 b6 21.Qb5 Nh5 22.Ba3 Bf8

22...d4!? 23.exd4 Bxd4 24.Bb2=

23.Bb2 Bg7 24.Ba3

24...Be5!?

Nakamura did not want a repetition. He was somewhat worse, but nevertheless managed to outplay his
very experienced opponent.

25.Rc1 Nf6 26.Rdc2 d4 27.Rc6 Qf5 28.exd4 Bxd4 29.Qxf5 gxf5 30.Bh3 e3 31.Bxf5 exf2+ 32.Kf1 Be3
33.Rb1 Ne4 34.Bxe4 Rxe4 35.Rc2 Red4 36.Ke2 Rd1 37.Rxd1 Rxd1 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.b3 Na6

341
 Game 50
Romain Edouard
Allan Stig Rasmussen
Politiken Cup, Helsingor 2014

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.b3

10...Na6

Black quickly brings the knight to the centre. This is the main line.

11.Be3

a) 11.Nd4 White wins a tempo, but loses sight of d5. 11...Bf7 12.Rb1 d5 Black equalises at once.
13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Bb2 Re8 16.e3 Nb4 17.Bxd5+ Nxd5 18.b4 Qd6 19.Ne2 Bxb2
20.Rxb2 Rad8= Karasev,V-Vasiukov,E, Lignano Sabbiadoro 2005.
b) 11.Rb1 Qe7 (11...Nc5 12.Ng5 Re8 13.b4 Nfe4=) 12.Ng5 Nc5 13.Qc2 Rad8 14.Nxe6 Qxe6 15.Bb2
Rfe8 16.Rbd1 Nfe4 (16...a5 17.e3 Qf7 18.a3 Ng4=) 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Rd4
Burmakin,V-Beim,V, Schwarzach 1997 19...Ng5 20.e3 Nf7 (20...Rd7!?) 21.b4 a6 22.a4 Re7 23.b5
axb5 24.axb5²
c) 11.Bf4 White immediately attacks the d6-pawn. 11...Nh5 Black indirectly defends the backward
pawn.
c1) 12.Rc1 Nxf4 13.gxf4 Kh8 14.Qd2 Qe7 15.Rfd1 Rfd8 16.Qe3 Qf6³ Schirm,F-Kuczynski,R, Biel
1988.
c2) 12.Qd2 Nxf4 13.gxf4 Qf6 (13...d5 14.Ng5 Nc7=) 14.Rac1 Bf7 15.Rfd1 Rad8 16.Ng5 Rfe8

342
 17.Na4 Qe7 18.Nxf7 Kxf7= Brown,M-Petrosian,T, Chicago 2016.
c3) 12.Bd2 White must preserve the bishop to have a chance of gaining anything.
c31) 12...Nc5 13.Qc2 a5 14.Rad1 f4 15.Bc1 Qe7 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.a3 Rf7 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 Ne6
20.Nf3= Uhlmann,W-Vaisser,A, Szirak 1985.
c32) 12...f4 Black takes some space away from White, but can improve the knight first as well.
13.Rc1
c321) 13...Nc5 14.b4 Nd7 15.Ne4 Qe7 16.Bc3 d5 17.cxd5 Bxd5 18.Bxg7 Nxg7 19.Nc3 Bxf3
20.Bxf3 Ne5= Solozhenkin,E-Grover,S, Durban 2014.
c322) 13...Qe7 14.Na4 (14.Ne1 Nc5 15.Bf3 Ibragimov,I-Berkovich,D, Ufa 1993 15...Bh3 16.Ng2
Be5³)

14...d5 Black frees his position. 15.cxd5 Bxd5 16.Bc3 (16.g4 Nf6 17.h3 Bielmeier,L-Renner,C,
Passau 1997 17...Ne4µ) 16...fxg3 17.hxg3 Nf6 18.Bd4 Rad8 19.e3 Ne4= Ahlander,B-Gavrikov,V,
Gothenburg 2001.
d) 11.Ba3
d1) 11...Re8 12.Nd4 Bf7 13.Qc1 Qb6 14.e3 Nc5 15.Qc2 a5 16.Rfd1 Rad8 17.Rab1 Shestoperov,A-
Vasiukov,E, Satka 2004 17...Qc7=
d2) 11...Nc5 12.Qc2 Qe7 13.Rad1 Rad8 14.e3 Rfe8 15.Rfe1 Qc7 16.Ng5 Bc8 17.b4 Ne6 18.Nf3 a6
19.Bb2 Qf7 (19...b5= or 19...Ng4 20.a3 Ne5=) 20.Na4 Ne4= Grigoryan,A-Malaniuk,V, Urmia 2008.

11...Qe7

Black defends the bishop and vacates the d8-square for a rook. 11...Kh8 Black makes room for the
bishop. 12.Rc1 (12.Qd2 Qe7 13.Rad1 d5=) 12...Qe7 13.Bd4 d5 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.cxd5 Rad8 16.e4 1/2
Marin,M-Vallejo Pons,F, Andorra 1999.

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12.Nd4

12.Rc1 Nc5 13.Bd4

a) 13...Bd7 14.Qd2 Ne6 15.Bxf6 Rxf6 16.b4 Vaganian,R-Knezevic,M, Leningrad 1977 16...Rff8
17.Rfd1

17...Rfd8 Black’s rook arrives in time. 18.Qxd6 Qxd6 19.Rxd6 Bf8=

b) 13...a5 14.Qd2 Rad8
b1) 14...Rfe8 15.Rfd1 Rad8 16.Qb2 Nfe4 17.Bxg7 Petrosian,A-Kuczynski,R, Polanica Zdroj 1989
17...Qxg7=
b2) 15.Qb2 Bh6 16.Rcd1 f4 17.Qa3 Ra8 18.Na4 Nce4 19.Nc3 Nc5 20.Na4 Nxa4 21.Qxa4 Nowak,I-
Kuczynski,R, Leba 1989 21...Ne4³

12...Bf7 13.Qd2

344
13...Rad8

After 13...Nc7 14.Bg5 Rfd8 15.Rad1 d5 Black equalises.

14.Bg5 Nc5 15.Rad1 Rfe8 16.Rfe1 Qf8

Black wants to chase the bishop away. Instead 16...d5 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.h4 Nce4 equalises.

17.b4

17...h6!

345
A witty move.

18.Bxf6

Black’s two bishops keep the position balanced.

18...Bxf6 19.Nxc6

19.Nxf5 gxf5 20.bxc5 dxc5 21.Qc2 Bxc4=

19...bxc6 20.bxc5

20...dxc5=

Black soon simplified the position considerably and drew confidently.

21.Qc1 Bxc3 22.Qxc3 Rxe2 23.Bxc6 Rd4 24.Rxe2 Rxd1+ 25.Kg2 Rd4 26.Qa3 Qd6 27.Bf3 a6 28.Qe3
1/2

346
1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.c4 Bg7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Nf3 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.b3 Na6
11.Ng5
Game 51
Dragisa Blagojevic
Viktor Laznicka
European Team Championship, Reykjavik 2015

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.c4 Bg7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Nf3 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.b3 Na6

11.Ng5

White goes after the bishop; it forces Black to make a big decision. The move is quite popular.

11...Bc8

Black scores better by keeping the bishop.

11...Qe7 Black defends the bishop, getting ready to play against the bishop pair.
a) 12.Nxe6 Qxe6 13.Bb2 Ne4 Black has a healthy position. 14.Rc1 Nb4 15.Nxe4 Bxb2 16.Rb1 Be5
17.a3 fxe4= 1/2 Tiller,B-Benko,P, Gausdal 1984.
b) 12.Ba3
b1) 12...Nc5
b11) 13.Nxe6 Qxe6 14.Rc1 Rfe8 15.e3 Rad8 16.Qc2 Nce4 17.Ne2 Gyimesi keeps his knight, but I
would like to know how Malaniuk intended to recapture on e4. Taking back with the pawn seems a
bit more ambitious. 17...d5 18.Nf4 Qf7 19.Rcd1 Gyimesi,Z-Malaniuk,V, Warsaw 2006

347
 19...dxc4 20.bxc4 Nd7=
b12) 13.Qd2 Rad8 14.Rad1 Bc8 15.b4 1/2 Riemersma,L-Reinderman,D, Bussum 2013 15...Nce4=
b2) 12...Rad8
b21) 13.Qc2
b211) 13...Ng4 14.Nxe6 Qxe6 15.Bb2 Nc5 16.Rad1 a5 White can’t go after the a-pawn. 17.e3
(17.Qd2 Bh6) 17...Rfe8 18.h3 Nf6 19.Ne2 Nfe4 20.Bxg7 Kxg7= Dlugy,M-Kovacevic,V, Toronto
1989.
b212) 13...Bc8 After bringing the rook to d8 it is more appetizing to safeguard the bishop. 14.Rad1
h6 15.Nf3 Nc5 16.e3 Ng4= Psakhis,L-Garcia Ilundain,D, Terres Catalanes 1996.
b22) 13.Nxe6 Qxe6 It is a matter of taste who likes the bishop pair, who the healthy position. White
scores a small plus with this and Black’s winning chances are limited.
b221) 14.Rc1
b2211) 14...Rfe8 15.Qc2

348
b22111) 15...Nc7!? Black plays for pushing the d-pawn. 16.Rfd1 d5 17.cxd5 Nfxd5 18.Nxd5
Nxd5 19.Bxd5 (19.e3 Rd7) 19...Rxd5 20.Rxd5 Qxd5 21.Rd1 Qf7= Gurevich,M-De la Riva
Aguado,O, Escaldes 1998.
b22112) 15...Nc5 16.Rfd1 Nce4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Rd3

18...d5 Black can accept the isolated pawn. (18...Nc5=) 19.cxd5 cxd5=
b2212) 14...Nc5 1/2 Vaganian,R- Dolmatov,S, Reykjavik 1990 15.e3 Nce4 16.Ne2 Rfe8 17.Bb2
Qf7 (17...d5 18.Nf4 Qf7=) 18.Nf4 d5 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.cxd5 cxd5 1/2 Tella,J-Agrest,E, Stockholm
1999.
b222) 14.e3 Rfe8 15.Qc2 Nc5 (15...d5 16.cxd5 Nxd5= or 15...Nc7 16.Rad1 d5 17.cxd5) 16.Rad1
Nce4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Rd3 (18.Bb2 Bxb2 19.Qxb2 d5=) 18...Rd7 19.Rfd1 Red8 20.Bb2 Nc5

349
 (20...d5= or 20...Bxb2 21.Qxb2 d5 22.cxd5 Rxd5=) 21.Rd4?! Qe7 (21...Bxd4 22.exd4 Ne4 23.d5
cxd5 24.cxd5 Qf7=) 22.R4d2 Ne4 1/2 Bareev,E-Agrest,E, New York 1998.
b223) 14.Qc2 Nc5
b2231) 15.Rad1 Nfe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bb2 Bxb2 1/2 Thorsteins,K-Dolmatov,S, Reykjavik 1990
18.Qxb2 d5=
b2232) 15.Bxc5 dxc5 16.Rad1 Ng4 17.Rxd8 Rxd8 18.Rd1 Re8 19.Bf3

19...Nxf2= This pretty move wins a pawn, but the position remained equal in the game Van der
Sterren,P-Beim,V, Germany 2000.

12.Bb2

12.Rb1 White may push the b-pawn or place the bishop to another square instead of b2.
a) 12...Ng4 13.Na4 Qe7 (13...h6 14.Nh3 Be6 15.Nf4 Bf7 16.e4²) 14.b4 Nc7 (14...h6 15.Nh3 g5 16.b5
cxb5 17.Rxb5 Re8∞) 15.b5 c5 (15...Ne5=) 16.Bf4 1/2 Adorjan,A-Vaisser,A, Szirak 1985 (16.h3 Nf6
17.b6²) 16...Be5=
b) 12...Qe7 13.Qc2 h6 14.Nf3 Nc5 15.Ba3 Be6 16.Rbd1 Rad8 17.e3

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 17...Bf7 I like Black’s setup. All his pieces will stand well after ...Re8 and g6 is not weak. 18.Ne2 Qe4
19.Qc1 Qe7 20.Bb2 Petrosian,T-Knezevic,M, Banja Luka 1979 20...Rfe8 21.Nf4 Nfe4=

12...h6

Black is ready to weaken the pawn chain a bit in exchange for having a well-placed bishop.
a) 12...Nc5 13.Qc2 Qe7 14.Rad1 a5 15.Rfe1 Bd7 16.e3 Rad8 17.f4 Rfe8 18.Qd2 h6 19.Nh3 Be6= Van
der Sterren,P-Klip,H, Netherlands 1993. Black is not far from freeing the position with ...d5 and can
think of pushing the a-pawn as well.
b) 12...Qe7 After this queen move Black can keep the knight on a6 for a while.
b1) 13.Qd2 h6 14.Nf3 Be6 15.Rad1 Rad8
b11) 16.Qc1 Bf7 17.e3 Rfe8 18.Ne2 Nc5 19.Nfd4 Nce4 20.Nf4 1/2 Stempin,P-Kuczynski,R,
Slupsk 1989.
b12) 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.Qc2 Rfe8 18.e3 Kh7 19.Rfe1 Nc5 20.Nce2 Dokutchaev,A-Neiksans,A,
Finland 2014 20...Ng4=
b2) 13.Qc2 Bd7 14.Rad1 Rad8
b21) 15.Rfe1 Bc8 16.Ba3?! Ng4! 17.Bc1 (17.Nh3

351
 17...Ne3 This pretty move looks to be winning, but White has a beautiful counter. 18.Nd5!!=)
17...Nb4! Black wins a pawn. 18.Qd2 Bxc3 19.Qxc3 Nxa2 20.Qd2 Nxc1 21.Qxc1 f4³ Richter,C-
Nijboer,F, Netherlands 2005.
b22) 15.e3
b221) 15...Bc8 16.Nf3
b2211) 16...Rfe8 17.Qc1 Kh8 18.Ba1 Paehtz,T-Kuczynski,R, Dresden 1988 18...Nc5 19.Ne2
Ng4=
b2212) 16...Nc5 17.Rfe1 a5 18.a3 Spiridonov,N-Knezevic,M, Prague 1985 18...Rfe8 19.Nd4
Nfe4=
b222) 15...Nc5 16.b4 Ne6 17.Nf3 Be8! I like the idea of exerting pressure on c4 like this. 18.Nd4
Bf7 19.Nb3 Ng4 20.b5 Qc7 21.bxc6 bxc6 22.Ne2 Bxb2 23.Qxb2 Ne5= Hammes,M-Nijboer,F,
Germany 2013.

13.Nf3

352
13...Be6

Black not only develops, but also threatens to carry out ...d5.
13...Re8 14.Qc2 Be6 15.Rad1 Bf7 16.Nd4 Qe7 17.Rfe1 Nc5 18.h4 a5 With the bishop on f7 Black
doesn’t place the rook on d8 because of Bxc6. 19.a3 Nce4 20.Nxe4 fxe4 21.e3 d5= Navrotescu,A-
Haub,T, Cappelle-la-Grande 2014.

14.Qc2

14.Qd2 d5! 15.cxd5 Nxd5 16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Rad1 Qf6 19.Nd4 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Rad8
21.Qc3 Kh7= Mishra,N-Babu,N, Kasaragod 1996.

14...d5?!

I think this is somewhat premature.

a) 14...Qe7!? I prefer to prepare ...d5. Black holds the knight on a6, as it helps ...d5 more from that
square. 15.Rad1 Bf7 Black defends g6. (15...d5 16.Nh4 Qf7 17.cxd5 cxd5²) 16.Rfe1 (16.e3 d5=)
16...d5 (16...Rfe8 17.a3 Rad8= or 17...Nc7 18.e3 d5=) 17.cxd5 Nb4 18.Qc1 cxd5=
b) 14...Nb4 15.Qd2 (On 15.Qb1 Bf7 should be played as 15...d5 16.Nh4²) 15...d5 16.Nd1 (16.a3 Na6
17.Ne5 dxc4³) 16...c5 17.Ne5 Kh7=

15.Rad1

15.Ne5 Kh7 16.cxd5 Nb4=

15...Qe8

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The excellent Czech grandmaster defends the g6-pawn. 15...Qe7 16.Nh4 Qf7 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.Nb5²

16.cxd5?!

This solves Black’s problems for him. White has more promising moves here:
a) 16.Ne5!? Kh7 (16...Rd8? 17.Ba3 or 16...dxc4 17.bxc4 Bf7 18.f4²) 17.e3
a1) 17...dxc4 18.bxc4 (18.Nxc4 Qe7 19.Ne2 Nb4 20.Qb1 Bd5=) 18...Qe7 19.h4 This complex
position is perhaps a little better for White, but maybe it is just balanced. (19.Ne2 Ng4) 19...Nb4
20.Qb3 a5∞
a2) 17...Ne4 18.f4 Qe7 19.cxd5 cxd5 Black is well in the game.
b) 16.Ba3!? The bishop confuses Black a bit. 16...Rf7 (16...dxc4 17.bxc4±, but 17.Bxf8 is weaker
because of 17...cxb3=) 17.Nd4 (17.Ne5 Rc7 18.Bd6 [18.f4= Rd8] 18...Rcc8=) 17...Nc7 18.Rfe1²
(18.Nxe6 Qxe6 19.cxd5 Ncxd5 20.Nxd5 cxd5 21.Qd3² Black should hold after some small suffering.)
18...dxc4? is risky as 19.e4 is strong.

16...Nb4

Black solves his problems as he can take back on d5 with a piece.

17.Qb1

17.Qc1 Nbxd5 18.Ne5 Nxc3 19.Bxc3 Kh7=

17...Nbxd5 18.e3

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18...Rd8

Black has equalised, and later got an edge that sometimes grew bigger, sometimes smaller, but
Blagojevic was able to hold.

19.Nh4 Qf7 20.Ne2 Bc8= 21.Nc3 Be6 22.Ne2 c5 23.Nf3 g5 24.Ne5 Qc7 25.Nc3 Nxc3 26.Bxc3 Nd5
27.Bxd5 Bxd5 28.f4 b5 29.Qc2 gxf4 30.exf4 Be4 31.Qe2 c4 32.bxc4 bxc4 33.Qf2 Rfe8 34.h3 Rxd1
35.Rxd1 Rd8 36.Rc1 Bf8 37.Kh2 Ba3 38.Re1 Bc5 39.Qe2 Bd4 40.Bxd4 Rxd4 41.Nf3 Rd8 42.Nd2
Bd5 43.Rc1 Qc6 44.Nb1 Re8 45.Qd2 Qe6 46.Nc3 Bc6 47.g4 Re7 48.Rg1 Kf7 49.g5 Qe3 50.Qxe3
Rxe3 51.gxh6 Rxc3 52.Rg7+ Kf8 53.Rc7 Rc2+ 54.Kg3 Kg8 55.Rxc6 Rxa2 56.Rxc4 Ra6 57.Rc5 Rg6+
58.Kh2 Rf6 59.Rc7 a5 60.h7+ Kh8 61.Ra7 a4 62.Kg3 Rg6+ 63.Kh4 Rh6+ 64.Kg5 Rxh3 65.Rxa4
Kxh7 66.Ra7+ Kg8 67.Kg6 Rg3+ 68.Kxf5 Rb3 69.Kg5 1/2

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.b3 Na6
11.Bb2
Game 52
Aleksander Czerwonski
Aleksandr Shimanov
Najdorf Memorial Open, Warsaw 2014

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.b3 Na6

355
11.Bb2

White just develops calmly, and because Black is not under instant pressure he has time to develop in
several ways.

11...Qe7

Black starts setting up the pieces thus: ...Qe7, ...Nc5 and ...Rad8. He starts with the queen move as it
may also allow a freeing ...d5 break.
a) 11...Nc7 Black plays for ...d5.
a1) 12.Ng5 Qe7 13.Qd2 Rad8 14.Rad1 d5 15.Nxe6 Qxe6 16.cxd5 Nfxd5 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Bxg7
Kxg7 19.Rfe1 a6 (19...Qf6 20.Qa5) 20.e4 fxe4 21.Rxe4 Qf6 22.Qe1 Rf7² White has a small edge, but
Black should be able to hold.
a2) 12.Qc2 d5 13.Ng5 Cvetkovic,S-Nikolic,Z, Kladovo 1990

356
 13...dxc4 14.Nxe6 Nxe6 15.bxc4 Qa5= Black is doing all right here.
b) 11...Nc5 12.Qc2 Qe7 13.Rad1
b1) 13...Rad8 14.Ng5 White gets ready to play b4. 14...Bc8 15.b4 Ne6 16.Nxe6 Bxe6 17.Nb1 d5
18.c5 Ne4 19.Nd2 a5 20.a3 Ra8= Andrejic,V-Georgiev,K, Kragujevac 2015.
b2) 13...Ng4
b21) 14.b4 Nd7 15.b5 White quickly attacks c6, but it allows counterplay against the c4-pawn.
15...Rac8 (15...Nb6! This is simpler. 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.Nd4 Bxd4 18.Rxd4 Ne5=) 16.bxc6 bxc6
17.Nd4 Nge5? (17...Bxd4! Black should give up the bishop. 18.Rxd4 Nde5 19.Qa4 Nf6 20.Rfd1
Qf7∞) 18.Nxe6 Qxe6

357
 19.Nb5! This nice move destroys Black’s position. 19...Rb8 20.Bxc6!+– Karolyi,T-De la Riva
Aguado,O, Benasque 1998.
b22) 14.e3 Rad8 15.Ne2 (15.b4 Nd7) 15...Ne5 16.Nfd4 Bc8 (16...Bf7=) 17.Rfe1 Rfe8 18.Nf4
Cheparinov,I-Lu,S, Dubai 2014 18...Ne4= The position is even as it is too risky to take the pawn.
19.Bxe4 fxe4 20.Qxe4 Qf7µ

12.Qd2

a) 12.Re1 This is a bit slow. 12...Ne4 (12...d5 13.Nd4 dxc4 14.e4 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 fxe4 16.Rxe4 Qc5=)
13.Qc1 Nac5 14.Nxe4 Bxb2 15.Qxb2 fxe4 16.Nd4 Tan,Z-Cmilyte,V, Shenzhen 2011 16...Qf6 17.Rf1
d5=
b) 12.Rc1 Rad8 (12...d5=)
b1) 13.Na4 Rde8 14.Re1 Bc8 15.a3 Nc7 16.b4 Ne6 17.Nc3 f4= Hellsten,J-Agrest,E, Gothenburg
1996.
b2) 13.Nd4 Bc8 (13...Bf7=) 14.a3

14...Ng4 Black is looking for complications. 15.Nf3 f4 16.Rc2 Bf5 17.Rd2 fxg3 18.hxg3 Ne3 19.fxe3
Bxc3³ Miedema,D-Nijboer,F, Dieren 2008.
c) 12.Nd4 Bf7
c1) 13.Ba3 Nc5 Black goes for placing a knight on e4. 14.Rc1 Rad8 15.e3 Rfe8 16.Nce2 Qc7
(16...Nce4 17.Nc3 c5 18.Nde2 d5³) 17.Qc2 a6 18.Nf4 Nce4 1/2 Pinter,J-Dolmatov,S, Beersheba
1991.
c2) 13.Qd2
c21) 13...Rfe8 14.e3 Rad8 15.Rfd1 d5 16.cxd5 Nxd5 17.Qe1 Nab4 18.Ba3 a5³

358
 c22) 13...Rad8 14.Rad1 d5 Black sets the position free. 15.cxd5 Nxd5 16.Qc1 Nab4 1/2
Cvetkovic,S-Ivkov,B, Sibenik 1986.
c23) 13...Rac8 Black looks for complications. 14.e3 Nc5 15.Rac1 a6 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Qc2

17...Qe8 Black goes for a complex and unusual plan. 18.Ba3 (18.b4 Ncd7 19.Na4 Ne4=) 18...b5
19.Bb4 (19.cxb5 axb5 20.Bb4 Nb7=) 19...bxc4 20.bxc4 Jepson,C-Nijboer,F, Rhodes 2013
20...Ng4=
c3) 13.e3
c31) 13...Nc5 14.Qc2 Rac8 15.Rad1
c311) 15...Rfd8 16.Nde2 a6 (16...d5 17.cxd5 [17.Ba3 dxc4=] 17...cxd5=) 17.Nd4 Dizdarevic,E-
Kovacevic,V, Zenica 1987 17...d5 18.cxd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.Ba3 Bxg2=
c312) 15...a6 16.Rfe1 Rfe8 17.h3 Nfe4 18.Nde2 Nf6 19.Nd4 Qc7 20.Bf3 Qa5 21.Kh2 h5 22.h4
Nce4 23.Kg2 d5³ Norri,J-Gavrikov,V, Helsinki 2000.
c32) 13...Rad8 14.Qe2 (14.Bxc6 White’s rook would not do well without open files in the ensuing
positions.)

359
 14...Nc5 (14...d5? 15.cxd5 Nxd5 16.Nxc6!) 15.Rfd1 Nce4 Black’s pieces perform well. 16.Rac1
Rfe8 (16...d5 17.cxd5 Nxc3 18.Bxc3 Bxd5=) 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Nf3 c5 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Nd2 b6
21.Nb1 d5= Gormally,D-Reinderman,D, Amsterdam 2015.
d) 12.Qc2
d1) 12...Rae8 Black does ok without pushing the d-pawn. 13.Rad1 d5 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Nd4
Grochal,J-Lagarde,M, Cappelle-la-Grande 2014 15...Nab4=
d2) 12...Rad8 13.Rad1
d21) 13...Ng4 14.e3 Bc8 (14...Bf7 15.h3 Ne5 16.Nd4 Nb4 17.Qb1 Rfe8∞) 15.Rfe1 Hodysh,Y-
Antal,G, Austria 2005 15...Rfe8 16.h3 Ne5=
d22) 13...Nb4 14.Qc1 Ng4 (14...d5 15.a3 Na6 16.cxd5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 Bxd5=) 15.Nd4 Bf7 16.h3
Nf6 (16...Ne5∞) 17.Rfe1 d5?! The future World Champion doesn’t choose the best moment for this.
18.a3 Na6 19.cxd5 Nxd5 20.e4² Horvath,P-Carlsen,M, Budapest 2003.

360
 d3) 12...d5 Black can free the position again. 13.cxd5
d31) 13...Nb4 14.Qc1 Nfxd5 15.Na4 Rad8 16.Bxg7 Qxg7 17.a3 Na6 18.e3 Scheeren,P-
Kovacevic,V, Thessaloniki 1984 18...Ndc7=
d32) 13...Nxd5 14.Na4 Nf6 15.Rad1 Rad8 16.Nc3 Nd5 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Qc3+
Qf6 20.Qe3 b6= Georgiev,K-Ivkov,B, Sarajevo 1986.

12...Nc5

12...d5 13.cxd5 Nxd5=

13.Rad1 Rad8

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13...Nfe4 Black can also simplify in the centre. 14.Qc2 Nxc3 15.Bxc3 Bxc3 16.Qxc3 Ne4 17.Qc2 d5
18.cxd5 (18.Nd4 Bf7=) 18...Bxd5 19.Nd4 Rad8= Moranda,W-Malaniuk,V, Warsaw 2007.

14.Nd4

14.Qc1 Rfe8 15.Nd4 (15.Rfe1 Bf7 (15...h6 looks reasonable, while on 15...d5 16.Ba3 is unpleasant.)
15...Bd7 16.e3 Nce4 17.Nde2 Bruno,F-Stopa,J, Tortoreto 2015 17...Nc5=

14...Bf7 15.e3 Rfe8

15...a5

16.Qc2 a5 17.Rfe1

17....Qc7

Black transfers the queen to the queenside; it is a nice idea. 17...Nfe4 would be equal.

18.h3 Qb6 19.Rb1 d5 20.cxd5 Nxd5 21.Nxd5

362
21...Bxd5=

Black has somewhat better prospects as it is easier to play the position, and later White blundered and
lost.

22.Rbc1 Na6 23.Bxd5+ Rxd5 24.a3 Nc5 25.Rb1 Ne4 26.Nf3 Bxb2 27.Qxb2 Red8 28.b4 axb4 29.axb4
Qc7 30.Kg2 Rd2 31.Nxd2 Rxd2 32.Qb3+ Kf8 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.b3 Na6
11.Bb2 Qe7 12.Ng5
Game 53
Boris Gelfand
Gata Kamsky
FIDE Grand Prix, Tashkent 2012

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.b3 Na6
11.Bb2 Qe7

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12.Ng5

White goes after the bishop, but this time Black can save it.

12...Bd7

Black saves the bishop, and scores best with this.

a) 12...Nc5 13.Nxe6 Nxe6 They rarely take back with the knight: White has a small plus score against
it. 14.e3 Rad8 15.Qc2 Rfe8 16.Rad1 Chuchelov,V-Kindermann,S, Cuxhaven 1993 16...Ng5 17.Ne2
Nfe4=
b) 12...Rad8 And here they rarely allow Black to save the bishop.
b1) 13.Qc2 Not taking the bishop is not dangerous for Black. 13...Bc8 14.Rad1 Ng4 15.Nf3 f4
16.Na4 Bf5 17.Qd2 Bxb2 18.Qxb2 g5 19.b4 fxg3 20.hxg3 Be4= Smejkal,J-Kholmov,R, Trencianske
Teplice 1979.
b2) 13.Qd2 Bc8 14.Rad1 Nc5 15.b4 h6 16.Nf3 Nce4 17.Qc2 d5 18.Ne5 Dorfman,J-Legky,N, Cannes
1992 18...Kh7=
b3) 13.Nxe6 Qxe6
b31) 14.Rc1

364
14...Rfe8 (14...d5!? Black can also accept the isolated pawn. 15.cxd5 Nxd5 16.Bxd5 cxd5=) 15.e3
Qf7 16.Rc2 Rd7 17.Rd2 Red8 18.Qe2 d5 19.cxd5 Nc7 20.d6 Rxd6= Alterman,B-Oratovsky,M,
Israel 1996.
b32) 14.e3 Nc7!? Black gets ready to carry out ...d5. 15.Qc2 d5 16.cxd5 Ncxd5 17.Nxd5 Nxd5
18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Rad1 Nf6= Black stops Bxd5 which would gain control over the d-file or create
an isolated pawn, as in Hansen,C-Lobron,E, Hamburg 1991.
b33) 14.Qd2 Rfe8 15.Rad1 Nc5
b331) 16.e3 Nfe4 17.Qc2 Nxc3 18.Bxc3 Bxc3 19.Qxc3 Qe5 1/2 Serper,G-Dolmatov,S,
Novosibirsk 1993.
b332) 16.Rfe1 Qf7 17.Qc2

365
 17...h5 Black doesn’t want to just hold the position. 18.b4 Nce4 19.Nxe4 Nxe4 20.Bxg7 Qxg7=
Hort,V-Swiercz,D, Potsdam 2012.
b34) 14.Qc2 Nc5 (14...Rfe8 15.e3 Nc5 16.Ne2 Nce4 1/2 Horvath,C-Barbero,G, Austria 1994)
15.Rad1 a5 It is hard to tell whether it makes life easier to play with the pawn on a5. 16.e3 Qe7
17.a3 (17.Ne2 Rfe8 18.Bd4 Ng4= or 18...Nfe4=) 17...Qc7 18.Ba1 Schenk,A-Bartel,M, Germany
2016 (18.b4 Ne6=) 18...Rfe8 19.b4 axb4 20.axb4 Ncd7 21.Bb2 Ne5= or 21...Ra8=

13.Qd2

a) 13.e3
a1) 13...Ne4 Black can sacrifice a pawn. 14.Bxe4 fxe4 15.Ngxe4 Bf5 16.Qxd6 Qe8 17.f3 Bxe4
18.fxe4 Rxf1+ 19.Rxf1 Rd8 20.Qa3 Rd2=
a2) 13...Rad8 14.Qc2 h6 15.Nf3 Be6 16.Rad1 Bf7 17.Nh4 Gonzalez Garcia,J-Moskalenko,V,
Barcelona 2017 17...Kh7 18.Ne2 (18.Rfe1 d5=) 18...d5=
b) 13.Qc2 Rad8 14.Rad1
b1) 14...Rfe8
b11) 15.a3 h6 Black prepares for ...d5. 16.Nf3 Be6 17.Rfe1

366
 17...Bf7 18.Nd2 Ivanov,S-Yagupov,I, Podolsk 1992 18...d5 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.b4 Nc7 21.Nb3 Ne4∞
b12) 15.e3 Bc8 (15...h6 16.Nf3 Be6 17.Ne2 Bf7 18.Nf4 Ne4= or 18...g5 19.Ne2 Bg6∞) 16.Rfe1

16...Nc5 Black strengthens the centre, but this makes it harder to play ...d5. 17.b4 Ne6 18.Nf3
Berczes,D-Pavasovic,D, Hungary 2006 18...b6 19.e4 fxe4 20.Nxe4 Nxe4 21.Rxe4 d5∞
b2) 14...Nc5
b21) 15.b4 Ne6 16.Nf3 Bc8 17.e3 Uhlmann,W-Lutikov,A, Leipzig 1977 17...Ng4=
b22) 15.e3 Mikhalevski,V-Vovk,A, Hoogeveen 2014. 15...Ng4 16.Nf3 Be6=
b3) 14...Bc8 This is not a bad place for the bishop.
b31) 15.Rfe1

367
 b311) 15...h6 16.Nf3 Ng4 (16...Nc5 17.e3 Nfe4=) 17.e3 Bensdorp,M-Nijboer,F, Amsterdam 2006
17...Rfe8 18.Nd4 Nc5 19.e4 (19.h3 Ne5) 19...fxe4 20.Nxe4 Qf7²
b312) 15...Nc5 16.e3 Velikov,P-Knezevic,M, Vrnjacka Banja 1985 16...Ng4=
b32) 15.Nf3
b321) 15...Nc5 16.Nd4 Qc7 17.Rfe1 a5 18.e3 1/2 Ortega,L-Knezevic,M, Havana 1985.
b322) 15...Rfe8 16.e3

16...d5 Black sets himself free with this move. 17.cxd5 Nb4 18.Qc1 Nfxd5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5
20.Bxg7 Kxg7= Torre,E-Kovacevic,V, Jakarta 1983.

13...h6

Black decides to send the knight away, but it is possible to play without this, or otherwise postpone it.
13...Rad8
a) 14.Rfe1 h6 15.Nh3 Nc5 16.Rad1 (16.Nf4 Be8 17.Rad1 g5 18.Nd3 Nce4=) 16...Be6 17.Qc2 (17.Nf4
Bf7 18.h4 Rfe8=) 17...g5 18.f4 Nfe4 19.e3

368
19...Bf7 According to Roiz, Black has completely consolidated. Now 20...Bh5 is an unpleasant threat.
20.Nxe4 Nxe4= Krivoshey,S-Kalinitschew,S, Germany 2005.
b) 14.Rad1 Bc8
b1) 15.Na4 h6 16.Nf3 Ne4 17.Qc1 Fominyh,A-Yilmaz,T, Alushta 1992 17...Nac5 18.Nxc5 Bxb2
19.Qxb2 Nxc5=
b2) 15.h4 Nh5 (15...Nc5 16.Rfe1 f4 Black sacrifices a pawn. [16...Ng4=] 17.gxf4 h6= 18.Nf3 Nfe4
19.Qe3 Rde8=) 16.e3 h6 17.Nh3 g5 18.hxg5 hxg5 19.f4 Gonzales,G-Agrest,E, Gyula 1997
19...Nxg3=
b3) 15.Rfe1
b31) 15...h6 16.Nf3 Dorfman,J-Dolmatov,S, Moscow 1990 16...Nc5 17.e3 Rfe8=
b32) 15...Nc5
b321) 16.e4 f4 17.gxf4 Nh5 18.f5 Nd3 (18...h6 19.Nf3 gxf5 20.exf5 Qf7=) 19.Qxd3 Qxg5=
b322) 16.Qc2 Ng4 17.Nh3

369
 17...f4 A surprising sacrifice. 18.Nxf4 (18.Qd2 g5³) 18...Rxf4 19.gxf4 Qh4 20.e3 Qxh2+ 21.Kf1
Bellahcene,B-Shankland,S, Biel 2016 21...Bf5 22.e4 Bc8°

14.Nh3

14...Be6

Black can choose between several plans. The bishop stands well on e6. 14...Rad8 15.Rad1 Bc8 16.Rfe1
Nc5 (16...Ne4²) 17.f4 Nfe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Qc2 Rfe8 20.e3 Panzer,P-Kalinitschew,S, Germany 1995
20...d5=

370
15.Rad1

15.Rfe1 Black can simplify here. 15...Ne4 16.Nxe4 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 fxe4 18.Qd4 Bf5 19.f4? (19.Rad1
Rad8 20.Qxa7 [20.Nf4 g5=] 20...Nc5=) 19...e3 20.Kh1 Nb4µ Riemersma,L-Nijboer,F, Hoogeveen
2012.

15...Rad8 16.Ba3

Gelfand plays against the d6-pawn.

a) 16.Nf4 Bf7 17.Nd3 Rfe8 (17...Nc5 18.Nxc5 dxc5 19.Qc2=) 18.Rfe1 Schubert,D-Renner,C,
Nuremberg 2012 18...d5=
b) 16.e3

16...Nc5 (16...d5 Undertaking an isolated pawn is safe here. 17.cxd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Bxg7
Kxg7 20.Qb2+ Qf6=) 17.Nf4 Bf7 18.Nd3 Nce4= Dale,A-Neiksans,A, Melbourne 2015.

16...Nc5 17.f4 Qc7

17...Ng4 18.Nf2 Nxf2 19.Rxf2 Rfe8=

18.Nf2 Rfe8 19.Kh1?!

19.e3 Bf7 20.Rfe1=

19...Qb6 20.Qc2?!

20.e3 d5 21.cxd5 cxd5³

371
20...d5!

Black was already better, soon won an exchange and converted it firmly.

21.cxd5 cxd5 22.Nxd5 Nxd5 23.Bxc5 Qc7 24.Rd2 Bc3 25.Nd3 b6! 26.Bf2 Bxd2 27.Qxd2 Qc3
28.Qc1 Qxc1 29.Rxc1 Rc8 30.Ra1 Nc3 31.Bf3 Nxe2! 32.Re1 Nc3 33.Nb4 Ne4 0–1

372
CHAPTER 10.
7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.D5 E5 9.EXD5 BXE6 10.QD3

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.Qd3 Ng4
Game 54
Dragisa Blagojevic
S. P. Sethuraman
Chess Olympiad, Tromsø 2014

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6

10.Qd3

White defends the c4-pawn and gets closer to the d6-pawn, but Black may win a tempo on the queen.

10...Ng4

Black immediately goes after the c4-pawn.

11.b3

White defends the c4-pawn.

a) 11.Rd1 Qb6! 12.e3 Na6 13.Qxd6 Bxc4=
b) 11.Bg5 Qc7 (11...Ne5 12.Nxe5 Qxg5 13.Qxd6 Qf6 14.f4 Rd8 15.Qc7 Nd7=) 12.Nd4 White
defends c4 but loses sight of the backward pawn, so Black can develop. 12...Bf7 13.b3 Na6 14.Rad1

373
Nc5
b1) 15.Qc2 Wiedenkeller,M-Gretarsson,H, Rilton Cup 1991 15...Rfe8 16.h3 Nf6 17.Bf4 Nh5=
b2) 15.Qd2 Rfe8 16.Bf4 Rad8 17.f3 Ne5 18.Kh1 Qa5 19.Qc2 Ne6= Calvo Sanchez,J-Ochoa de
Echaguen,F, Spain 1995.
c) 11.Ng5 White tries to confuse Black’s pieces by attacking the bishop. 11...Bc8
c1) 12.Rd1 Ne5 13.Qc2 Qe7 14.b3 Na6 15.Nh3 This shows that White can do Black no harm.
15...Nc5 16.Bg5 Qc7 17.Be3 Nf7 (17...Ne6 18.Nf4 (18.Rd2 Ng4=) 18...Ng4 19.Nxe6 Bxe6 20.Bf4
Rad8 21.h3 Ne5=) 18.Bd4 Bxd4 19.Rxd4² Ozmen,H-Azar,P, email 2005.
c2) 12.f4 White defends the knight, but creates a backward pawn of his own. 12...Na6 13.h3 Nc5
14.Qc2 Nf6 15.Be3 Qe7 16.Bd4 h6 (16...Nh5 17.Bxc5 dxc5 18.Kh2 h6 19.Nf3 g5=) 17.Nf3 Be6
18.b3 Bf7 19.Nd2 Svetlov,D-Vysochin,S, St Petersburg 2009 (19.Kh2 Rfe8=) 19...Ne6 20.Bf2

20...d5³ Black frees his position.

c3) 12.e4 White opens the position, but Black is well-enough developed to deal with it. 12...Na6
13.Qe2 (13.h3 Ne5 14.Qe2 h6 15.Nf3 Nxf3+ 16.Qxf3 Nc5=) 13...Nc5 (13...Re8 14.Rd1 h6 15.Nh3
Nc5³) 14.h3 Nf6 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Rd1
c31) 16...Re8 17.Be3 Nfe4 (17...Nfd7 18.Rd2 Bf6 19.Nf3 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Ne4=) 18.Ngxe4 Nxe4
19.Nxe4 Bxe4 20.Rd2 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Re6= Spraggett,K-Mellado Trivino,J, Barcelona 1993.
c32) 16...h6 17.Nf3 Re8 18.Be3 g5 1/2 Dias,P-Spraggett,K, Lisbon 2003.
c4) 12.Qc2 Na6
c41) 13.Nf3?! Nc5 14.b3 (14.b4 Ne4 15.Bb2 Qe7 16.Nxe4 [16.Nd1 f4!] 16...Bxb2 17.Qxb2 fxe4
18.Nd4 a5=) 14...Qe7 15.Bb2

374
 15...f4! Black vacates the f5-square for the bishop. (15...Ne4 16.Rad1 [16.Nxe4 fxe4=] 16...Nxc3
17.Bxc3 Ne3³) 16.Rad1 Bf5 17.Qd2 fxg3 18.hxg3 Rad8 19.b4 White starts playing sharply, where
mistakes are expensive. (After 19.Nd4 Be4 is equal, but 19...h5 is even stronger.) 19...Bh6
(19...Ne4=) 20.Qe1 (20.Qd4 Ne6µ) 20...Nd7 21.e4 (21.Nd4 Nde5µ) 21...Be6 22.Qe2? (22.Nd5!
Qf7 23.Nd4∞) 22...Nde5µ Siegel,G-De la Riva Aguado,O, Havana 1998.
c42) 13.a3 Qf6 (13...Nc5 14.Bd2 Ne6=) 14.Bd2 h6 15.Nh3 Be6 16.b3 Rad8 17.Nf4

17...Bf7 Black’s pieces stand actively. 18.Rad1 Pham,M-Spraggett,K, France 2008 18...g5 19.Nd3 Bg6
20.Na4 f4=

11...Na6 12.Bb2

375
 a) 12.Bg5 Ne5 Espig,L-Kalinitschew,S, Muenster 1993 13.Qe3 Qa5 14.Rac1 Rfe8=
b) 12.Ba3 Qa5 Black brings his pieces out fluently. 13.Bb2 Rad8 Black just develops, but could also
force matters: 13...Nc5 14.Qc2 Ne4 15.Nxe4 Bxb2 16.Qxb2 fxe4 17.Nd4 Qe5=. 14.Rad1 Rfe8 15.Qc2
d5 It is nice this time as well. 16.Ng5 (16.cxd5 Nb4) 16...Nb4 (16...dxc4 17.Nxe6 Rxe6 18.b4 Qc7=)
17.Qb1 d4 18.Na4 Izeta Txabarri,F-Magem Badals,J, Las Palmas 1993 18...f4 19.Nxe6 Rxe6 20.gxf4
Rxe2=

12...Nc5

12...Qe7
a) 13.e3 d5 14.cxd5 Nb4 15.Qe2 Nxd5 16.Na4 (16.Nd4 Nxc3 17.Bxc3 Bf7=) 16...Nb6 17.Bxg7 Kxg7
18.Nd4 Bacrot,E-Ochoa de Echaguen,F, France 1997 18...Bf7=
b) 13.Rad1 White stops ...d5. 13...Rad8
b1) 14.Nd4 Nc5 15.Qc2 Bd7 Black prefers to strengthens c6 rather than try to play against c4 or push
...d5. (15...Bf7!?) 16.e3 Rfe8 17.h3 Nf6 18.b4 Nce4 19.b5 Baburin,A-De la Riva Aguado,O, Andorra
1998 19...Nxc3 20.Bxc3 Ne4=
b2) 14.e3 Rfe8 15.h3 Ne5 16.Qb1 Nc5
b21) 16...Nc7 Black plays for advancing the d-pawn. 17.Rd2 Nxf3+ 18.Bxf3 d5 19.cxd5 Bxc3
20.Bxc3 Bxd5 21.Bxd5+

21...Rxd5 Though Black misses the dark-squared bishop he still has an equal position.
b22) 17.Nxe5 Bxe5 (17...dxe5 18.Ba3 e4 19.Na4 b6²) 18.Ne2 Bxb2 19.Qxb2 Ne4 20.Nf4 Bf7=
Mirzoev,A-Spraggett,K, Seville 2008.

376
13.Qc2

13.Qd2 Qe7 14.Rad1 Rad8 15.h3 Nf6 16.Nd4 Bf7 17.e3 Rd7 (17...d5? 18.Ba3) 18.Qc2 Rfd8 19.Nce2
Nce4= Black’s pieces had a strong grip on the centre in the game Hausrath,D-Kalinitschew,S Muenster
1993.

13...a5 14.Rad1

14.h3 Nf6 (14...Ne5!?) 15.Rfd1 Qe7 16.e3 Rad8 17.Nd4 Bf7 18.Nde2 Nfd7 (18...Rfe8 19.Rd2 Nfd7
20.Rad1 Ne5=) 19.Rd2

377
19...Nb6 Black plans to play ...a4. (19...g5!? Black vacates the g6 for the bishop. 20.Rad1 Bg6 21.Rxd6
Be5=) 20.Rad1 Recoulat,E-Ibanez,F, Buenos Aires 2004 20...a4=

14...Qe7 15.e3 Rad8 16.h3 Nf6

16...Ne5 17.Nxe5 Bxe5=

17.Ne1

17...g5

Black is optimistic, although it is also possible to build the position with 17...Nfe4 or 17...Bf7.

18.Nf3 h6?

This mistake gives time for White to take over. Instead 18...Nfe4 19.Nd4 Bd7 would still be equal.

19.Nd4 Nfd7 20.Nce2

20.Nd5 Qf7 21.Nc7±

378
20...Ne5

White has an advantage. He soon gave it away, however, and not much later fell apart and lost.

21.Nxe6 Nxe6 22.f4 Nd7 23.Bxg7 Nxg7 24.fxg5 Qxe3+ 25.Kh2 hxg5 26.Rxd6 Ne5 27.c5 Rde8
28.Nd4 f4 29.gxf4 Rxf4 30.Rxf4 Qxf4+ 31.Kh1 Ng4 32.Qc4+ Kh8 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.Qd3 Re8
Game 55
Valdes Leonardo Romero
Erwin L’Ami
Unive Open, Hoogeveen 2015

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.Qd3

379
10...Re8

This is a ‘side’ move, but it scores a clear plus. The advantage of it is that Black may quickly play ...Ne4.

11.Ng5

White wants to ease the pressure on c4.

a) 11.b3?! This weakens the long diagonal. 11...Ne4 (11...d5 12.Ng5 Ne4 13.Nxe6 Rxe6 14.Bb2 Na6
15.Qc2 Nxc3 16.Bxc3 d4=) 12.Bb2 Na6 13.Qc2 d5 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Rfd1 Nb4 16.Qc1 Qxd1+
17.Qxd1 Bxb2 18.Rb1 Rad8³ Gisbrecht,E-Renner,C, Germany 2000.
b) 11.Bf4 Ne4 The knight is powerful on e4.
b1) 12.Rfd1 Na6 13.Qc2 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Bxc4 15.Rxd6 Qa5 16.Nd4 (16.Nd2 Bf7=) 16...Nc5µ 17.g4?
fxg4 18.h3 gxh3 19.Bf3 Bf7–+ Andersson,T-Gavrikov,V, Hallsberg 1996.
b2) 12.Nd4 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Na6 14.Nxe6 Rxe6 15.Be3 Nc5 16.Bxc5 dxc5= Dubov,D-Potapov,P, St
Petersburg 2017.
c) 11.Rd1 The point of this is not to take on d6, but rather to exchange the e6-bishop to ease the
pressure on the c4-pawn. 11...Na6

380
12.Ng5! Nc5 13.Nxe6 Rxe6 (13...Nxd3 14.Nxd8 Nxc1 15.Nxb7 Nxe2+ 16.Nxe2 Rxe2 17.Bxc6 Rxb2
Though Black is active, White should be a little better. 18.Nxd6 Rab8 19.c5 Ng4 20.Nc4²) 14.Qc2
c1) 14...Nfe4 Black creates a strong knight. 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Be3 Qe7 17.Bd4 Grivas,E-Palatnik,S,
Heraklion 1992 17...Bxd4 18.Rxd4 h5 19.h4 Re8 20.e3 g5=
c2) 14...Qe7 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.e3 a5 18.Rab1 h5 19.Ne2 Bh6 20.Qc3 Qe7= Saravanan,V-
Pruijssers,R, Leiden 2018.
c3) 14...a5 Black stabilizes the knight and might exert pressure on the queenside. 15.b3 Qb6 16.Rb1
Rae8 17.e3 Ng4 (17...Nce4!? 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Bb2 Bxb2 20.Qxb2 Qd8=) 18.Bb2 (18.Ne2 Qc7
19.Nf4 R6e7 Perhaps White has a small edge.) 18...Rxe3 19.fxe3 Nxe3
c31) 20.Nd5 cxd5 21.Bxd5+ Nxd5 22.Rxd5 Bxb2 23.Rxb2 Re1+ 24.Kg2 Ne4=
c32) 20.Qe2 De Verdier,M-Lauber,A, Stockholm 2010 20...Re6 21.Kh1 Ng4 22.Qf3 Nd3³

381
11...Nbd7

11...Na6
a) 12.Nxe6 Rxe6 13.Rb1 Nc5 14.Qc2 a5 (14...Nfe4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Bf4 Qe7=) 15.Bg5 Qf8 16.Bxf6
Qxf6 17.e3 Rae8 18.Ne2 Ne4= Malikentzos,S-Pavlidis,A, Athens 2012.
b) 12.Bf4 Ivanova,K-Potapov,P, Moscow 2018
b1) 12...Ng4
b11) 13.Nxe6 Rxe6 14.Rad1 Ne5 15.Qc2 Bany,J-Kuczynski,R, Polanica Zdroj 1987

15...Qf6 16.e4 Rf8 17.Be3 (17.exf5 Qxf5=) 17...Nxc4 18.Bd4 Qf7=

382
 b12) 13.Rad1 Ne5 14.Bxe5 Bxe5 15.Nxe6 Rxe6 16.Na4 Qe7 17.e3 Kh8 18.a3 Nc5= Piesik,P-
Stopa,J, Poronin 2016.
b2) 12...Nh5 Black diverts the bishop. 13.Nxe6 Rxe6
b21) 14.Bd2 Nc5 15.Qc2 Nf6 16.Rad1 Qe7 17.e3 Nfe4 18.b4 Nxd2 19.Qxd2 Ne4 20.Nxe4 fxe4
21.b5 1/2 Stohl,I-Yusupov,A, Germany 1994.
b22) 14.Be3

b221) 14...Qa5 Playing on the queenside is interesting. 15.Rac1 Nc5 16.Qd2 Qb4 17.b3 a5
18.Rfd1 Curtin,E-Gazik,I, Groningen 1979 18...Rae8 19.Rc2 Rxe3 (19...Be5=) 20.fxe3 Be5=
b222) 14...Nc5 15.Qd2 a5 16.Rad1 Kotanjian,T-Miroshnichenko,E, Al Ain 2012 16...Qe7=
b3) 12...Nc5 13.Qxd6 (13.Nxe6 Nxd3 14.Nxd8 Nxf4 15.Nxb7 Nxg2 16.Kxg2 d5°) 13...Qxd6
14.Bxd6 Nfd7 15.Nxe6 Rxe6 16.Bf4 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Rxe2 18.Be3= Though White has the bishop pair,
the position is even because of the pawn structure.

12.Nxe6

a) 12.Qxd6 Bxc4 With no weaknesses, Black is doing fine. 13.b3 Bf8 14.Qd2 Ba6 15.Bb2 Ne5 16.Qc2
Qe7 17.Nf3 Nxf3+ 18.Bxf3 Rad8 19.Rfd1 Bg7= L’Ami,E-Reinderman,D, Wijk aan Zee 2009.
b) 12.b3
b1) 12...Ne4 13.Ngxe4 fxe4 14.Qd2 Gerzina,M-Rubinas,P, ICCF email 2006

383
14...e3 15.fxe3 Be5 16.Bb2 Qa5 17.Rfd1 Nc5=
b2) 12...Nc5 13.Qc2 Bd7 (13...Qe7!? 14.Bb2 Rad8∞)
b21) 14.Bf4 White tries to exploit the weakness at once. 14...Nh5! 15.Bxd6 Na6 16.Bf4 Nxf4
17.gxf4 Qa5
b211) 18.Rad1 Qxc3 19.Qxc3 Bxc3 20.Rxd7 Nc5 21.Rxh7 Rxe2 22.Rh6 Kg7 23.Rh7+ Kg8
24.Rh6=
b212) 18.Rac1 Nb4 (18...Rad8 19.Rfd1 Nb4 20.Qb1 Bc8=) 19.Qd2 (19.Qb2?! Nxa2)

19...Rad8 (19...Nxa2? 20.b4+–) 20.Rfd1 Chuchelov,V-Renner,C, Berlin 1997 20...h6 21.Nd5 hxg5
22.Qxb4 Qxb4 23.Nxb4 gxf4³

384
 b22) 14.Bb2
b221) 14...Ng4 15.Nf3 Qe7 16.h3 Nf6 17.Rad1 Rad8 18.e3 a5 19.a3 Nfe4 20.Nd2 Hoebel,H-
Shablinsky,M, ICCF email 2007 20...Nxd2 21.Rxd2 Be6=
b222) 14...Qe7 15.Rad1 h6 16.Nf3 Be6 17.e3 a5 18.Ne1 Rad8 19.Nd3 Nxd3 20.Qxd3 d5 21.cxd5
Sapundjiev,G-Shablinsky,M, ICCF email 2006 21...Nxd5 22.Nxd5 Bxd5=

12...Rxe6

13.e3

a) 13.b3 Nc5 14.Qc2 Nfe4 15.Nxe4 (15.Bb2 Nxc3 16.Bxc3 Bxc3 17.Qxc3 Rxe2 18.Rfe1 Rxe1+
19.Rxe1 a5=) 15...Nxe4 16.Bb2 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 Qe7 18.Rad1

385
18...h5 Black could just wait, but the Dutch grandmaster does something active instead. 19.Rfe1 h4=
Richter,C-Renner,C, playchess.com 2004
b) 13.Qc2
b1) 13...Nb6
b11) 14.b3 d5 15.Bb2 dxc4 16.bxc4 Vasilev,M-Reinderman,D, Wijk aan Zee 2007 16...Qe7 17.Qb3
Nfd7³
b12) 14.Nd1 Qe7 15.e3 Rd8 16.Rb1 d5 17.c5 Nc4 18.b3 Ne5 19.Bb2 Rf8 (19...Ne4 20.Bd4 Nf7=)
20.Bxe5 Rxe5= Aleshnia,V-Timmerman,G, ICCF email 2006.
b13) 14.Qb3 Nfd7 1/2 Van der Sterren,P-Gavrikov,V, Germany 1995 15.Be3
b131) 15...Qe7 16.Bxb6 axb6 17.e3 Nc5 18.Qc2 Be5 19.a3 Qg7 Cuno,T-Echeguren,G, ICCF Corr.
1999.

386
 b132) 15...Rxe3 16.fxe3 Nc5 17.Qd1 Qe7 18.e4 Nxc4 19.exf5 Ne3³
b2) 13...Qe7
b21) 14.Rb1 a5 15.b3 Nc5 16.e3
b211) 16...Ng4 17.Ne2 Qf7 18.a3 Ne5 19.b4 axb4 20.axb4 Ne4= Eriksson,M-Cmilyte,V, Sweden
2008.
b212) 16...Nfe4 17.Ne2 Qc7 18.Nd4 Ree8 19.Bb2 Ne6 20.Rbd1 Nxd4 21.Bxd4 Re6=
Shestoperov,A-Malaniuk,V, Swidnica 1997.
b22) 14.e3 a5 15.b3 Ne4 16.Bb2 Nxc3 17.Bxc3 Bxc3 18.Qxc3 Qg7 19.Qxg7+ Kxg7= Vovsha,E-
Malaniuk,V, Linz 1997.

13...Ne5

13...Ne4 This move works here as well. 14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.Qc2 Qe7 16.Bd2 g5 (16...Nc5 17.Rad1 Nd3
18.b3 d5=) 17.h3 Re8 18.Rad1 g4 Straub,N-Bologan,V, Kstovo 1997 19.hxg4 Rg6 20.Bc3²

14.Qe2 Qe8

14...a5 15.b3 (15.Rb1 a4=) 15...Ne4=

15.Rb1

387
15...g5

This is somewhat optimistic. Instead 15...h5 16.h3 h4 17.gxh4 Nh5 18.b3 Qe7 would be equal.

16.f4

16.Qc2 Qg6 (16...g4 17.Qxf5 Nxc4 18.b3 Ne5 19.Ba3²) 17.Ne2 Ree8 18.b4²

16...gxf4 17.Rxf4 Neg4 18.Rxf5

This simplification leads to equality. 18.e4 Re5

18...Nxe3 19.Bxe3 Rxe3 20.Qd2

388
20...Qe7=

The position is even and remained that way for a while, although White lost because of a bad blunder.

21.Rbf1 Re8 22.Bf3 Re1 23.Nd1 Rxf1+ 24.Kxf1 Qe6 25.Qd3 Nd7 26.b3 Ne5 27.Qe4 Kh8 28.Bh5 Re7
29.Be2 Bh6 30.Rf2 a6 31.Qh4 Bg7 32.a4 d5 33.cxd5 Qxd5 34.Kg1 Ng6 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.Qd3 Na6
11.Bf4
Game 56
Sipke Ernst
Tigran Petrosian
Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2015

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.Qd3

389
10...Na6

This is the main move: Black quickly wants to collect the tempo on the queen.

11.Bf4

As the knight move come with a lot of force, White has virtually only two moves.

11...Ne8

Black defends d6, and for a while is reactive.

a) 11...Qa5 A fluent move, but it contains risk for Black.
a1) 12.Rab1 Rad8 13.b3 d5! Black takes over. 14.Ng5 dxc4 15.Qe3 Bc8 16.Qc1 Nh5 17.b4 Nxb4
18.Bd2 Nxa2 0–1 Donchenko,A-Lutikov,A, Erevan 1977.
a2) 12.a3 Nc5 13.Qc2 Nce4 (13...Qb6!? 14.Bxd6 Rfd8°) 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Ng5 Nxg5 16.Bxg5 d5
Black is active, but it is not easy for him. (16...Qe5= is simpler.) 17.cxd5
a21) 17...Bxd5 18.Bd2 (18.Bxd5+! Qxd5 19.Rfd1 Qe6

390
 20.Rd3² It is hard to form an opinion on this position. Black has no weaknesses, but White firmly
controls the only open file.) 18...Qb5 19.Bc3 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Bxc3= Vezzosi,P-Vaisser,A, Forli
1989.
a22) 17...cxd5 18.Qb3 Rfe8 19.Rad1 (19.Rfc1 h6 20.Bf4 Qb6 21.Qxb6

21...axb6 Black should hold or 19.Rac1 Qb6 20.Qxb6 axb6 21.Rc7 Bxb2 22.Rb1 Be5=) 19...d4
20.Qxb7 Rab8= Bottema,M-Nijboer,F, Haarlem 2007.
a3) 12.Bxd6
a31) 12...Rad8 13.Rad1 Ne8 14.Qe3 Nxd6 15.Qxe6+ Kh8 16.Rxd6³ (16.Qe7 Bf6) 16...Rde8³
a32) 12...Rfd8 13.Rad1 Shneider,A- Palatnik,S, Kherson 1989 13...Nc5 14.Qc2 (14.Qe3 Nce4=)

391
 14...Nfe4 15.b4 Qa3 (15...Qxb4 16.Nxe4 fxe4 17.Ng5²) 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Be5 Qxb4 18.Bxg7
Kxg7 19.Rb1 (19.Nd4 Bf7 20.Bxe4 fxe4 21.Qxe4 Re8=) 19...Qe7 20.Qb2+ Kg8=
a4) 12.Ng5 Rfe8
a41) 13.Rfd1 Siegel,G-Clemens,C, Germany 1985 13...Ng4°
a42) 13.a3 Nc5 14.Qc2 Qa6=
a43) 13.Nxe6 Rxe6 14.Rad1 Rd8 (14...Ng4=) 15.Qc2 Nc5 16.a3 Nce4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4
Groenegress,W-Borngaesser,R, Brilon 1980 18.Rd3 Nc5 19.b4 Qa4=
a44) 13.Rad1 Rad8 (13...Nb4 14.Qxd6 Bxc4 15.Qd4 and after 15...Ba6 Black is doing fine, 15...b5
is also possible.) 14.a3 Ng4 15.Nxe6 Rxe6 16.h3 Ne5 17.Qc2 Rde8 18.e4 Adianto,U-Yilmaz,T,
Novi Sad 1990 18...Nxc4=
b) 11...d5 Another perhaps optimistic move. 12.Ng5 Nc5
b1) 13.Qc2 d4
b11) 14.Rad1 Qa5 (14...Nfd7) 15.Rxd4 Nh5°
b12) 14.Na4 Nfd7 15.Rad1 (15.b4? h6)

b121) 15...Bf7! A lot depends on this move; Black seems to be able to keep the balance. 16.Nxc5
Nxc5 17.b4 (17.Rfe1 Qb6 18.h4 Rad8=) 17...Ne6 18.Nxf7 Rxf7 19.Bc1 Qe7 20.b5 Rc8=
b122) 15...Qe7 16.Nxc5 Nxc5 17.b4 Nd7 18.e3± Andersson,U-Marovic,D, Banja Luka 1979.
b2) 13.Nxe6 Nxd3 14.Nxd8 Nxf4 15.gxf4 (15.Nxc6 Nxe2+ 16.Nxe2 bxc6=) 15...Rfxd8 16.cxd5
cxd5 17.Nb5 Ne4 18.Rfd1 Rac8 19.Nd4 Sroczynski,M-Stopa,J, Wroclaw 2014 19...Kf7³

12.b3

392
a) 12.Rad1 Nb4 13.Qe3 Bxc4 Taking the pawn is a relief for Black. 14.Ne5 Bf7 15.Nxf7 Rxf7
16.Bxd6 Nxd6 17.Qf4 Anic,D-Bricard,E, Strasbourg 1992 17...Nxa2 18.Nxa2³
b) 12.Ng5 Nc5 (12...Nb4!?

Black can go for the endgame like this. 13.Qd1 Bxc4=) 13.Nxe6 (13.Qc2 Bd7 [13...Qe7] 14.Rad1 h6
15.Nf3 Qe7=)
b1) 13...Nxe6 14.Be3 Nf6 15.Rad1 Ng4 16.Bc1 Ne5 17.Qxd6 (17.Qc2 Qe7) 17...Qxd6 18.Rxd6
Rae8=
b2) 13...Nxd3 14.Nxd8 Oganian,M-Potapov,P, Moscow 2017 14...Nxf4 15.Nxc6 Nxg2 16.Ne7+
Kf7 17.Ned5 Rc8 18.b3 (18.Kxg2 Rxc4 19.Rad1 Nc7=)

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 18...b5! 19.Kxg2 bxc4 20.Rac1 cxb3 21.axb3 Nf6= Thanks to Black’s active king, the position should
be equal.

12...Qf6?!

Black basically sacrifices the d6-pawn, but if White plays well Black should not get sufficient
compensation.
12...Nec7!? A new idea. Black gets ready for ...d5 in a somewhat surprising way.
a) 13.Bg5 Qd7 14.Rad1 d5=
b) 13.Rfd1 d5 14.Be5 Qe7 15.cxd5 Bxd5 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Qd4+ Kg8 18.e3 Nb4=
c) 13.Rad1 d5 14.cxd5 (14.Be5 Bxe5 15.Nxe5 dxc4 16.bxc4 Qe7=) 14...Nxd5 15.Be5 Nab4 16.Qd2
Bxe5 17.Nxe5 Nxc3 18.Qxc3 Qe7=

13.Rac1

13.Na4 d5

13...h6

Black wants to use the d8-square.

13...d5? 14.cxd5 Nb4
a) 15.Qd2 Nxd5 16.Be5 Qe7 17.Bxg7 Nxg7
a1) 18.Ng5 Nxc3 19.Rxc3 Rad8 20.Qf4 Qf6 21.Qh4 h5 Galliamova,A-Sofieva,A, Manila 1992.
a2) 18.Nd4 Nxc3 19.Rxc3 Bf7= Neverov,V-Malaniuk,V, Kherson 1989.

394
 b) 15.Qe3!

This is a strong improvement. 15...Nxd5 16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Rfd1±

14.h4 Kh7

14...Rd8? 15.Qe3 White wins a pawn with a double attack.

15.Rfd1

15.e4²

395
15...Nc5 16.Qe3

16.Qd2 Bf7 Black vacates the e6-square. 17.Be3 Ne6=

16...Bg8

16...Bf7 Perhaps this retreat is somewhat preferable. 17.Bxd6 Nxd6 18.Qxc5 Rfd8 19.e3

17.Bxd6

White wins a pawn.

17...Nxd6 18.Qxc5 Rfd8 19.e3 a5

20.Qa3

20.Rd3± would have given a big edge. In the game White soon gave away any advantage he held and
was later unable to hold.

20...b5 21.cxb5 cxb5 22.Rxd6 Qxd6 23.Qxd6 Rxd6 24.Nxb5 Rdd8 25.Nfd4 Rac8 26.Rxc8 Rxc8
27.Nc6 Be6 28.Nd6 Rc7 29.Ne8 Rd7 30.Nxg7 Rd1+ 31.Kh2 Kxg7 32.Nxa5 Rd2 33.Kg1 Rxa2 34.b4
Rb2 35.Nc6 Kf6 36.Bf3 Bc4 37.Kg2 Bd3 38.Bd5 g5 39.hxg5+ hxg5 40.Kg1 g4 41.Kg2 Ba6 42.e4
Rd2 43.e5+ Kg6 44.Ne7+ Kg5 45.Bc6 Be2 46.b5 Rb2 47.e6 Bxb5 48.Bxb5 Rxb5 49.Nc6 Kf6 50.e7
Kf7 51.f3 Rc5 52.Nb4 Kxe7 53.fxg4 fxg4 54.Nd3 Rc2+ 55.Nf2 Ke6 56.Kf1 Kf5 57.Kg1 Rc3 58.Kg2
Ra3 59.Kh2 Ra4 60.Kg2 Ke5 0–1

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.Qd3 Na6
11.Ng5

396
 Game 57
Julian Marcel Jorczik
Kacper Piorun
Bundesliga, Germany 2015

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.Qd3 Na6

11.Ng5

This is the most-often played move. White wants to either chase the bishop away or exchange it.

11...Bc8

Black devotes a tempo to keeping the bishop, and this move is somewhat less-frequently played than
defending it with the queen.
11...Qe7 12.Bf4
a) 12.Rd1 Rad8 13.Qe3 Nc5 14.Nxe6 Ng4 (14...Qxe6 is reasonable as well.) 15.Nxd8 Nxe3 16.Nxc6
bxc6 17.Bxe3 1/2 They agreed to a draw in this even position in the game Hort,V-Kholmov,R,
Halle/Saale 1978.
b) 12...Rad8
b1) 13.Rac1?! Ng4 (13...Nc5!? 14.Qe3 Ng4 15.Qd2 Bxc4³) 14.Nxe6 Qxe6 15.b3 Nc5 16.Qc2 Qf6
17.Bd2 a6 18.e3 Ubilava,E-Knezevic,M, Trencianske Teplice 1985 18...Qe7 19.b4 Ne6 20.b5

397
20...axb5 21.cxb5 d5=
b2) 13.Qe3 Nc5 14.b4 Ng4 15.Qc1 Nd7 16.h3 Southam,D-Palatnik,S, Philadelphia 1992 16...Ngf6
17.Qe3 Rfe8=
b3) 13.Rad1 Nh5 This is a common move when the bishop is on f4 and the knight on g5. Taking the
bishop is an accomplishment for Black. 14.Nxe6 (14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.cxd5 Nxf4 16.gxf4 h6 17.Ne6
Nc5=) 14...Qxe6
b31) 15.Qe3 Nxf4 16.Qxf4 Be5 17.Qh4 Bitelmajer,M-Vaisser,A, Jerusalem 2013 17...Nc5µ
b32) 15.Bg5 Iskandarov,M-Bajarani,U, Konya 2015 15...Bf6 This is not common, however, and
gives Black almost no winning chances, although he has a solid, holdable position. 16.Bxf6 (16.Bh6
Rfe8 [16...Nc5 17.Qc2] 17.b3 Nc5 18.Qc2 Bg7=) 16...Nc5 17.Qd4 Nxf6 18.Rfe1 (18.b4 Nce4=)

398
 18...a5 19.e4 fxe4 20.Bxe4 Ncxe4 21.Nxe4 Nxe4 22.Rxe4 Qf6 23.Qd2 Rde8=

12.Bf4

What way to attack d6? They more often do it with the bishop, but the bishop can itself be attacked later
on.
12.Rd1
a) 12...Ng4!? I found no game for sacrificing the pawn in this way. 13.Qxd6 Qxd6 14.Rxd6 Re8 Black
has some compensation, and the computer thinks it is sufficient.
b) 12...h6 13.Nf3 Nc5 Black sacrifices a pawn. 14.Qxd6 Qxd6 15.Rxd6 g5 16.h4 (16.Rd1 Nfe4 1/2
Pierrot,J-Mekhitarian,K, Buenos Aires 2015) 16...Nce4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4

399
 b1) 18.Rd3 Be6 (18...Bf6 19.Rb1 Be6 20.b3 Rad8²) 19.hxg5 hxg5 20.Bxg5 Bxc4 21.Rd7 b5°
b2) 18.Rg6 Kh7 19.Rxg7+ Kxg7 20.hxg5 hxg5 21.Nxg5 Nxg5 22.Bxg5 Be6= I think Black can hold
fairly easily.

12...Nh5

Black goes after the bishop.

12...h6 Black can sacrifice a pawn.
a) 13.Nf3 Ne4 14.Qc2 Nxc3 15.bxc3 g5 16.Be3 Nc5 17.Rad1 Qe7 18.Bd4 f4 (18...Be6³) 19.Qg6 Be6
20.h4 g4 21.Nd2 Qf7³ Barnaure,V-Petrosian,T, Abu Dhabi 2014.
b) 13.Nh3
b1) 13...Ne8 14.Rad1 g5 15.Bxd6 Qxd6 16.Qxd6 Nxd6 17.Rxd6 Re8 18.f4 (18.e3 f4) 18...Bf8°
b2) 13...Ne4 Black opens the long diagonal. 14.Nxe4 (14.Rad1 g5) 14...fxe4 15.Qd2 (15.Qxe4 g5µ)
15...g5 16.Bxd6 Rf7 17.Rad1 Be6 18.Qc2 (18.f4 exf3=) 18...Qc8∞

13.Qxd6

a) 13.Bd2 Nc5 14.Qc2 f4 15.Nf3 Bf5 16.Qc1 Hoeksema,H-Nijboer,F, Dieren 2009 16...Be6³
b) 13.Rad1 Nxf4 It is an accomplishment for Black to take the pawn. 14.gxf4 h6 15.Nf3 Rf6 16.Rd2
Nc5 17.Qc2 Qe7 18.Nd4 Bd7 (18...g5=) 19.e3 a5 20.Nb3 Ne6= Garcia Palermo,C-Ivkov,B, Havana
1986.

13...Nxf4

400
14.Qxf4

The strong bishop gives enough play for the pawn.

14...h6 15.Nf3 g5

15...Be6 16.Rfd1 Qb6 17.Nd4 g5 18.Qd2 Bxc4=

16.Qc1 Be6

16...Qf6 17.Qc2 Be6 18.Rac1 1/2 Vegh,E-Knezevic,M, Budapest 1983.

17.Nd2 Qa5 18.Qc2 Rad8 19.Rad1

401
19...Nb4

Black plays actively, but just waiting would also be fine. For example, 19...Qe5 is good enough to hold.

20.Qb3 Nxa2

The position here is equal, and it remained that way for a long time, but one mistake saw Black find a
remarkable win in a bishop ending.

21.Nxa2 Rxd2 22.Rxd2 Qxd2 23.Qxb7 Qxe2 24.Nc3 Qxc4 25.Bxc6 f4 26.Re1 fxg3 27.hxg3 Kh8
28.Re3 Bc8 29.Qb5 Ba6 30.Qxc4 Bxc4 31.Re4 Bd3 32.Re8 Rxe8 33.Bxe8 Bxc3 34.bxc3 g4 35.Ba4
Be2 36.Kg2 Kg7 37.c4 Kf6 38.c5 Ke5 39.f4+ gxf3+ 40.Kf2 Kd5 41.c6 Kd6 42.g4 a6 0–1

402
EPILOGUE

Dear Reader, I hope you get infected by a love for the Dutch. In chess it is hard to join a club packed
with world class players. If you decide to play the Leningrad Dutch you can join Carlsen, Caruana,
Mamedyarov, and many other great players, and share the fun with them !

403
Table of Contents
Title Page 3
Key To Symbols 5
Preface 6
CHAPTER 1 - 3.G3 NF6 4.BG2 BG7 WHITE SETUPS WITHOUT C4 (Part 1) 7
CHAPTER 1 - 3.G3 NF6 4.BG2 BG7 WHITE SETUPS WITHOUT C4 (Part 2) 23
CHAPTER 1 - 3.G3 NF6 4.BG2 BG7 WHITE SETUPS WITHOUT C4 (Part 3) 43
CHAPTER 2 - WHITE PLAYS 2.G3 WITHOUT NF3 (Part1) 66
CHAPTER 2 - WHITE PLAYS 2.G3 WITHOUT NF3 (Part2) 92
CHAPTER 3 - WHITE PLAYS 2.C4 3.NC3 4.G3 WITH NH3(Part1) 119
CHAPTER 3 - WHITE PLAYS 2.C4 3.NC3 4.G3 WITH NH3(Part2) 142
CHAPTER 4 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE (SIDELINES) 164
CHAPTER 5 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.QB3 178
CHAPTER 6 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.RB1 204
CHAPTER 7 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.RE1 228
CHAPTER 8 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.QC2 254
CHAPTER 9 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.B3(Part 1) 272
CHAPTER 9 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.B3(Part 2) 300
CHAPTER 9 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.B3(Part 3) 323
CHAPTER 9 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.B3(Part 4) 347
CHAPTER 10 - 7...C6 MAIN LINE 8.D5 E5 9.EXD5 BXE6 10.QD3 373
Epilogue 403

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