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 About the Author
Andrew Martin is a FIDE Senior Trainer and International Master. He is the current Head
of the newly-formed ECF Academy, which provides elite training for strong, young
players. He teaches in twelve schools, is an experienced chess writer and has produced
numerous chess DVDs.

Also by the Author:

Starting Out: The Sicilian Dragon
Contents
About the Author
Bibliography
Introduction

1 Piece Deployment for White

2 Piece Deployment for Black
3 Exchange Systems
4 The Queen’s Gambit Accepted
5 The Queen’s Gambit Declined
6 The Slav
7 The Semi-Slav and Meran
8 The Tarrasch Defence
9 The Semi-Tarrasch Defence
10 Less Common Ideas for Black

Index of Complete Games

Bibliography
Electronic
Mega Database 2016
Correspondence Database 2015
ChessBase Opening Encyclopaedia 2016
ChessBase live update

Analysis engines
Deep Fritz 14
Komodo 10
 Introduction
1 d4 d5 2 c4

There are many chess openings to choose from, but few have the depth and interest of
the Queen’s Gambit. It is correct to say that the improving player should have a good
knowledge of the strategical and tactical ideas of the Queen’s Gambit if he or she wants to
improve.
I am pleased to author this basic guide to what is a fascinating opening. I’ve split the
book up into sections, written as I would like to read and learn the opening myself. First
we cover the wide range of common themes that occur in Queen’s Gambit positions and
then we go on to look at the wide range of variations available to Black after 2 c4.
Throughout, we will feature a large number of illustrative games. I am not biased
towards either White or Black. The lines will be presented to you and then you may make
your choice. The freedom to play chess as we wish is one of the strongest attractions of
our favourite game.
I do hope that this book will serve as a decent introduction and that you will be inspired to
try out some ideas mentioned here. After that you can start to do your own further research
on one of the most classical of all the major chess openings.

Andrew Martin. November 2016

Chapter One
Piece Deployment for White
1 d4 d5 2 c4

Let us begin by listing the various squares where the White pieces develop in the
Queen’s Gambit.
1) The knight on b1 almost always comes to c3, putting pressure on the d5 pawn. Only
rarely does it come to d2.
2) The bishop on c1 will be developed to either g5 or f4, both being good squares. After
this bishop is developed, White normally plays e2-e3.
3) The knight on g1 develops to f3 or e2, depending on White’s plan. If you do play Nge2,
make sure you have developed your bishop on f1 first!
4) The bishop on f1 almost always goes to d3, an excellent central square. It may be that
Black takes the pawn on c4, in which case this bishop recaptures the pawn and ends up on
c4, which is another good square.
5) White’s queen most often goes to c2, or occasionally to any of e2, b3, or a4, according
to the needs of the position.
6) White will then be ready to castle on either side. Castling short is most common.
Castling long usually prefaces a kingside pawn storm and is much more aggressive and
risky.
7) The rooks can easily come into the centre after the previous development plan.
This short discussion helps us to understand that the Queen’s Gambit is a very harmonious
opening for White. All the pieces can come to good squares in a logical order and White
enters the middlegame with a strong, safe position and a wide choice of plans. How does
this all work out in practice? Let us see.

Game 1
S.Mamedyarov-L.Dominguez Perez
Beijing 2013

A well-developed position usually gives you a wide choice of plans. Our first game
features two of the best players in the world, who decide to go at each other hammer and
tongs from a basic Queen’s Gambit position.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 d5

The is the Queen’s Gambit Declined, a very solid set-up for Black. We won’t concern
ourselves too much with names at present.
4 Bg5
White concentrates his opening fire on the d5-square. He tempts Black to take on c4,
after which White will have full control of the centre. After 4 Bg5, Black is in a pin, from
which he escapes immediately.
4 … Be7! 5 Nf3 Nbd7 6 Qc2 0-0 7 cxd5 exd5 8 e3 c6 9 Bd3
Mamedyarov brings out his pieces, much as has been described in our introductory
section. White now has to decide where to castle and so we are coming up to a key
moment in the game.
 9 … Re8 10 0-0-0!?

Full marks for aggression.

White’s king is more vulnerable on c1 than it would be on g1, but the chance for direct
attack would not be there. The plan now is to push the kingside pawns up as quickly as
possible and take a battering ram to the Black king.
10 0-0 is more common and somewhat safer. Grandmasters, club players and
improvers alike enjoy playing this line for White, as the plans tend to be clear-cut. This is
not to say that Black is without chances, as will see in the chapter on ‘Exchange
Variations’, a little later on. Play may now proceed 10 … Nf8 and White can choose from
any of 11 Rab1!, 11 Rae1, 11 Bxf6 Bxf6 12 b4 or 11 Ne5, dependent on taste.
10 … Nf8 11 Ne5 N6d7 12 h4!
The assault begins. White would love Black to take on g5, opening up all the lines
towards his king. Dominguez Perez tries to break the attack by exchanging off White’s
powerful central knight.
12 … Nxe5 13 dxe5 Qa5 14 Kb1!
 A small time-out to get the king to a safer place. As a bonus, the king also defends a2.
It will not take too long for Black to get a counterattack together and so White has to be
very precise.
14 … Bb4 15 Bf4 Bxc3 16 bxc3 c5 17 h5
Pressing on. This is an all or nothing line.
17 … Re6
There was a definite argument for simple development with 17 … Be6 inviting White
to show what he is up to. Black seems to be okay as after 18 h6 g6 19 Qd2 b5 he is
counterattacking strongly.
18 Ka1 Rb6 19 c4
 White’s king is now wide open and only someone who is fully confident of their
judgment could play such a position. Mamedyarov takes this game to the brink in an
attempt to win.
19 … dxc4 20 Bxc4 Be6 21 h6 g6 22 Rd6 Rb4 23 Bxe6 Nxe6 24 Rhd1
The pawn on h6 is important because it means that Black continually has to watch out
for back rank checkmates.
24 … Qa4?!
Black should cold-bloodedly play 24 … c4, inviting White to show his hand. For
example after 25 R6d5 b5 and how does White break through? White is facing a vicious
attack on his own king if he gets it wrong.
25 Qxa4 Rxa4 26 Bg5!
 Nice. If Black takes, he will get mated.
26 … c4
If 26 … Nxg5 then 27 Rd8+ Rxd8 28 Rxd8 mate.
27 Rxe6!!
Combinations often arise from a better position. White seizes the moment and closes
in on the Black king.
27 … fxe6 28 Rd7 c3
Too slow.
29 Rg7+ Kf8
29 … Kh8 was not possible, e.g. 30 Bf6 Rf8 31 Rxb7+ Kg8 (31 … Rxf6 32 Rb8+ Rf8
33 Rxf8 mate) 32 Rg7+ Kh8 33 Rxa7+ Kg8 34 Rxa4.
30 Rxh7 c2 31 Rc7 c1Q+ 32 Rxc1 Rg4 33 Bf6 1-0
For the Queen’s Gambit this was a very sharp game.

Note: The popular chess openings all lead to a variety of different types of position.

Game 2
I.Sokolov-M.Dutreeuw
San Bernardino 1989
Note: This game demonstrates that White can attack, even after castling short,
thanks to his effective and coordinated development.

1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Be7 4 Nf3 Nf6 5 Bg5 h6 6 Bh4 0-0 7 e3 b6!

The Tartakower Variation, very popular among grandmasters. Black often finds that he
is slow to develop his queenside pieces in the Queen’s Gambit and this is the quickest and
most logical way to set the development of those pieces in motion. So important is this
positional theme, that I will be devoting a whole chapter to it.

Tip: In the QGD Black must always have a plan to develop the queenside pieces.

8 Bd3 Bb7 9 Bxf6
White captures now, before Black plays … Nbd7, because he has a positional idea in
mind.
9 … Bxf6 10 cxd5
White expects that Black will recapture with the pawn and then the bishop on b7 is
blocked.
10 … exd5
Taking with the bishop, 10 … Bxd5, is surprisingly unpopular. It is hardly played at all
and yet I cannot find anything wrong with it.
 11 0-0 Nd7 12 Rc1 c5!

The classic pawn break in the Queen’s Gambit. By countering in the centre, Black
hopes to create some pressure and make it easy to develop his major pieces. For example,
Black can now think about playing … Ra8-c8.
13 Bf5 Rc8!?
Voluntarily going into a pin looks a bit odd.
Instead 13 … Qe7 is a reasonable alternative: 14 Bxd7 Qxd7 15 dxc5 bxc5 16 Na4 c4
17 Nd4 Rab8 18 Nc3 Ba8 19 Rc2 Rb6 20 Nce2 Rfb8 when Black has a nice advantage,
with two bishops, a pawn centre which cramps White and pressure on the b-file, Duessel-
Nabavi, Baden 2015.
14 Ne5! Bxe5 15 dxe5 Ra8 16 f4
Suddenly Black is feeling under pressure and the e5-pawn is denying his pieces the
use of good squares. White is suddenly thinking of an attack on the kingside, which can be
carried out by bringing his queen into the game via g4 or h5.
16 … Nb8 17 Bb1 Na6 18 Nb5!
Sokolov takes the opportunity to place his knight on a dominant square.
18 … Qe7 19 Nd6 Rad8 20 Nf5 Qe6 21 Qg4
 White has fashioned a winning attack from almost nothing,
21 … g6 22 Nxh6+ Kh7 23 Qh4 Rh8 24 f5 1-0

The two games we have seen paint a rosy picture of White’s chances in the classical
Queen’s Gambit. There is much more to it than that, but for the time being let us say that
Black must organize his response to 2 c4 with care.

Game 3
B.Spassky-A.Avtonomov
Leningrad 1950

Most Black players tend to prefer the declined variations as somewhat safer options to the
gambit accepted. To leave White with an uncontested central pawn can lead to tactical
difficulties. In this early game played by ex-World Champion Boris Spassky, Black is
oblivious to danger.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4
 The Queen’s Gambit Accepted is very reasonable, but not a variation that can be
played carelessly.
3 Nf3
More aggressive is 3 e4 which takes the centre immediately. Black then has a variety
of counterattacking responses such as 3 … e5, 3 … Nf6 or 3 … Nc6.
3 … Nf6 4 e3 e6 5 Bxc4 c5
It would be unwise to give White a completely free hand in the centre, so Black
challenges.
6 0-0 a6 7 Qe2 b5
Queenside expansion is part of Black’s plan.
8 Bb3 Nc6 9 Nc3 cxd4 10 Rd1! Bb7 11 exd4 Nb4
The scene is set for a strong, tactical blow.
 12 d5!
Very good! What gives White the inspiration to play this move?
1) White has castled while Black’s king is still in the middle.
2) White’s rook is on the same file as the Black queen.
3) White is ahead in development. He must open up the game.
Thinking systematically like this it is possible to arrive at the excellent move 12 d5!

Tip: Thinking in terms of a plan is always good.

12 … Nbxd5 13 Bg5!
Both Black knights are now pinned.
13 … Be7 14 Bxf6!
The point. Black must take with the pawn or captures on d5 will simply win material.
14 … gxf6
Not 14 … Bxf6? 15 Nxd5 Bxd5 16 Bxd5 winning at once.
15 Nxd5 Bxd5 16 Bxd5 exd5 17 Nd4
This position was foreseen by Spassky when he embarked on his combination. Now
Nf5 or Nc6 are both serious threats.
 17 … Kf8
After 17 … Qd7 White can continue with 18 Re1 Kf8 19 Qh5 h6 20 Nf5 Bd6 21 Rad1
Be5 22 Qf3 Rd8 23 Rxe5!, demonstrating an idea that springs naturally from the position.
Black is cut in half thanks to the poor location of his king and he is unable to defend
against the White attack, for example 23 … fxe5 24 Qa3+ Kg8 (24 … Ke8 25 Ng7 mate)
25 Qg3+ Kf8 26 Qg7+ Ke8 27 Qxh8 mate.
18 Nf5 h5 19 Rxd5 Qxd5 20 Qxe7+ Kg8 21 Qxf6 1-0
Chapter Two
Piece Deployment for Black
1 d4 d5 2 c4

Black has a variety of responses to 2 c4. Examining the different themes is the easiest
way to understand them.

1) In the Queen’s Gambit Declined (QGD) and the Slav variations Black uses the
moves … e6 and … c6 to set up a solid formation and patiently complete development. He
usually castles short and is looking for pawn breaks such as … e6-e5! or … c7 (or
sometimes c6)-c5! to completely free his game. Black aims for counterattacking chances
in the middle game, proceeding from a sound base.
2) Several variations see Black trying to attack or play around White’s centre with
pieces. There is the Chigorin Variation (2 … Nc6), the Baltic Variation (2 … Bf5) and
Marshall’s Variation (2 … Nf6). These are less popular than the normal QGD lines and are
quite difficult to handle. If Black gets these lines even slightly wrong, he loses control of
the centre. Nevertheless, they are playable.
3) Black may try to free himself immediately with aggressive lines such as the
Tarrasch variation (2 … e6 3 Nc3 c5!?), which may lead to gambit play, the Double
Queen’s Gambit (2 … c5!?) or even the Albin Counter-Gambit (2 … e5!?). These can be
unsettling for White and, at club level, may score well. Grandmasters tend to use them
only sparingly as surprise weapons.

Warning: You can see that White needs to know a lot as Black can hit him from
a number of different angles!

Game 4
A.Hamdan-S.Savchenko
Algiers 2016

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6!
This is our first introduction to the Slav variation, perhaps the most popular line of all
for Black in 2016. Black combines solidity with the ease of development afforded to him
by not blocking in the bishop on c8. Perhaps the only slight drawback to the Slav has to do
with the freeing break … c6-c5, which now takes one move longer to achieve, but this is a
small price to pay.
3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 dxc4 5 a4
5 e4 gives Black the chance to protect his extra pawn with 5 … b5!
5 … Bf5!
Black may play 5 … Bg4 or 5 … Na6 here, but 5 … Bf5 is very respectable and holds
up the white advance e2-e4.
6 e3 e6
Black cannot prevent White from getting his pawn back and concentrates on
development.
7 Bxc4 Bb4 8 0-0 0-0 9 Qe2 Nbd7 10 e4 Bg4!
A typical position for this line. Black has encountered no problems getting his minor
pieces out and his king is safe. He is looking now at pawn breaks such as … e6-e5 or …
c6-c5 and for squares that his rooks and queen can go to.
Is the White centre strong or weak? Does it cramp Black or is it just a target? These
are the questions that arise.

 11 h3?
11 Rd1! is much better, preventing the trick that now occurs.
11 … Bxf3 12 Qxf3
12 gxf3 does not lose a pawn, but in every other respect is an ugly move. Black holds
the advantage after 12 … Qa5!
12 … Nb6
Suddenly, there are two White units under attack.
 13 Bb3
Maybe White thought he was defending after 13 Qd3 but not so. After 13 … Nxc4 14
Qxc4 Bxc3 15 bxc3 Nxe4 Black wins a pawn.
13 … Qxd4 14 Rd1 Qc5 15 Be3 Qa5 16 Ne2
White has been able to push his grandmaster opponent around for a couple of moves,
but he hasn’t got enough for a pawn. Consolidating this extra pawn takes a long time and
care, but Savchenko is up to the job. All part of being a GM!
16 … Rfd8 17 Bd4 Nbd7 18 Ng3 Bd6!
 The bishop is unprotected for a moment, but there are no tactics to exploit this.
19 Bc3 Qc7 20 Ne2 Be5 21 Nd4 Nc5 22 Bc2 a5!
Preventing b2-b4 and thus keeping the knight on c5, a very influential square.
23 Qe3 Nfd7 24 g3 Bf6 25 f4 e5! 26 Nf5 Ne6 27 Rf1 Ndc5 28 fxe5
There is nothing for White after 28 fxe5, but a quiet alternative such as 28 Kg2 does
not help either. Black continues to improve his position with, say, 28 … Rd7 29 Rf2 Rad8
and is just a pawn up for nothing.
28 … Bxe5 29 Rf3 Rd7 30 Rd1 Rad8 31 h4? Bxc3 32 Qxc3 0-1
Not waiting for 32 … Rxd1+.

Game 5
Y.Kuzubov-A.Moiseenko
FIDE World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk 2005

We now enter the realm of ‘difficult defences’ to the Queen’s Gambit. Difficult for both
sides, that is.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6!?
 This is Chigorin’s Defence. Black plays actively at the cost of blocking his c-pawn. To
free his game totally he hopes to play … e7-e5 sooner rather than later. Omitting … e5
altogether tends to leave Black with a cramped position.
3 Nf3 Bg4 4 cxd5 Bxf3 5 gxf3 Qxd5 6 e3 e5!
The position is already quite sharp. White has two bishops, but Black is speeding
ahead with development and opens up the game immediately in an attempt to exploit this.
7 Nc3 Bb4 8 Bd2 Bxc3
There is no going back. Black must give up the second bishop, as retreating the queen
would be very passive.
9 bxc3
 9 … Qd6!?
There is a very wide choice here. Black can play any of 9 … Nge7, 9 … Nf6, 9 …
exd4 or 9 … 0-0-0. 9 … Qd6 waits to see what White is going to do, before committing
Black to a plan.
10 Rg1 g6
Not exactly a move Black wants to make, but I suppose he feels that it is forced.
11 Qb3 Nge7!?
 As I said, this is not a line for beginners. Now we see that Black is sacrificing his b-
pawn and for what exactly?
12 0-0-0
Yet White, a strong grandmaster, does not take.
To my mind, 12 Qxb7 is critical, with Black getting compensation after 12 … Rb8 13
Qa6 0-0! 14 Qc4 Rfd8 15 h4 Rb2. White lacks a safe haven for his king, but this position
is most unclear. It is all a question of instinct.
Kuzubov probably felt this too risky. I cannot say I blame him for that judgement call.
12 … 0-0-0 13 f4 f6
Black does not want to open the game too quickly or the bishop pair might gun him
down.
 14 Kb1
White is trying too hard to avoid risk but should open the game up with 14 fxe5 fxe5
15 dxe5 Nxe5 16 c4 and hope that he can use at least one of his bishops to do some
damage. As it is, he uses up a couple of moves to park his king in the corner, which is an
ineffective and slow idea.
14 … Kb8 15 Ka1 Nc8 16 Bc1 Nb6 17 Ba3 Na5 18 Qb2 Qe6
Well played! Black plans to occupy c4 with a knight. White can take once, but not
twice.
19 Qb5 Nac4 20 Bc5 Nd6 21 Bxd6
21 Qb3 Qxb3 22 axb3 Ne4 looks very good for Black.
21 … cxd6 22 fxe5 fxe5 23 Be2 Rhf8
 White’s pawns are now a target.
24 c4
24 Rg2 Rc8 25 Bg4 Qc4 26 Qxc4 Rxc4 27 Kb2 Na4+ 28 Kb3 b5 is the type of line
White is trying to avoid. White is pinned down to his pawn weaknesses and remains
passive.
24 … exd4 25 Rxd4 Rxf2 26 c5 Qxe3 0-1
White has collapsed. His king is wide open and he has lost material. The struggle in
these ‘piece play’ defences has yet to be resolved. They are thought to be better for White,
but as we have seen, they pack some punch.

Game 6
V.Fedoseev-A.Gabrielian
Taganrog 2015

1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 c5

 A very early … c7-c5 introduces us to the Tarrasch complex of defences. Black tries to
free himself immediately, often at the cost of inheriting an isolated pawn in the centre.
We will quickly get to the main line position.
5 cxd5 exd5 6 g3 Nc6 7 Bg2 Be7 8 0-0 0-0 9 Bg5 cxd4 10 Nxd4
We have a classic positional imbalance. Black has an isolated queen’s pawn and in
return he has freedom of movement and an active position. The choice of this variation is
very much a question of taste. Not everyone plays well with an isolated pawn, but among
all but the very best, Black’s opening idea is completely viable.
10 … h6 11 Be3 Re8 12 Rc1 Bf8
 13 Nxc6!
This has all been seen many times before and now White plays a move designed to kill
Black’s counterplay. From an isolated pawn position, Black is forced into structure with
‘hanging pawns’, where the pawn at c6 looks weak.

Tip: Always consider swapping one advantage for another in a game of chess,
if it increases your control of the position

13 … bxc6 14 Bd4 Bd7 15 e3
 15 … Nh7?!
I slightly prefer 15 … Rb8 16 Qc2 a5 17 Na4 Ne4, when all the Black pieces are in
play. Gabrielian underestimates the potential of the White position.
16 Na4
White focuses on nailing the c6-pawn down by controlling and perhaps occupying the
square in front of it. A classic strategical idea.
16 … Ng5 17 Bc5 Qf6 18 Bxf8 Rxf8 19 f4
An interesting move. Black is rather passive and so White starts to play actively.
19 … Ne6 20 e4! Rfe8 21 e5 Qe7 22 Qd2
Black is uncomfortable. White has the easy plan of Rce1 and f5 at his disposal,
whereas Black is struggling to do anything at all. It is positions of this type that put many
off the Tarrasch.
22 … Rab8 23 a3 a5 24 f5! Nf8 25 Rce1 Qg5
26 Qf2

Tip: When you have a strong attack, you certainly does not want to exchange queens.

26 … Bc8 27 Nc5
Finally and with strong effect. The knight controls a whole complex of important
squares and restricts the Bishop on c8.
27 … Kh8 28 Bh3 Qh5 29 Kg2 Nh7 30 Qd4 Qg5
Black cannot use tactics to help him. After 30 … Ng5 31 Bg4 Rxb2+ 32 Qxb2 Qxg4
33 Rf4! Qh3+ 34 Kh1 White retains a big advantage, e.g. 34 … Bxf5 35 Rh4.
31 Rf2 Nf6 32 Ree2 Ng8 33 e6!
Very good. White confidently presses home his advantage.
33 … fxe6?!
It is a bit more difficult for White after the superior defence 33 … Rf8. White is still
much better after 34 Qe5! Rb5 35 Nd3 Qe7 36 Qd4 Nf6 37 Ne5 Qc7 38 Rc2 c5 39 Qa4
Ba6 but the game is not totally clear-cut. The problem with the game continuation is that it
opens up lines which only White will use to aid his attack.
34 fxe6 Nf6 35 Re5 Qc1 36 Bf5 Qc4 37 Qe3 d4 38 Qf3 Qc1 39 Nd3 Qc4 40 Nc5
Qc1
 41 Nb3
Strongest was 41 Bg6! which seems to win at once, e.g. 41 … Re7 (41 … Rg8 42 Bf7
Rf8 43 e7) 42 Rf5! Bxe6 43 Rxf6 gxf6 44 Qxf6+ Rg7 45 Nxe6.
41 … Rxb3?
The mistake smacks of time trouble. It has been a thankless position for Black to
defend .
42 Qxb3 Nd5 43 Rxd5! cxd5 44 Bg6
 Finally, White gets on the winning track. Black’s rook cannot leave the back rank due
to mate.
44 … Rg8
44 … Rxe6 45 Rf8 mate.
45 Bf7 Qe3
Or 45 … Rf8 46 e7.
46 Qxe3 dxe3 47 Bxg8! exf2 48 e7 1-0
Nice. If 48 … Bd7 49 Bf7!
Chapter Three
Exchange Systems
White often makes an early exchange of central pawns in the Queen’s Gambit.
There are two main highways:

1) The QGD move order: 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 cxd5.

2) The Slav move order: 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 cxd5 cxd5.

 It is worthwhile taking a close look at these systems and how plans for both White and
Black emerge from the resulting pawn structures.

QGD Exchange Pawn Structure

Game 7
A.Karpov-L.Ljubojevic
Linares 1989

This game is a classic demonstration of the minority attack by one of the greatest players
of all time.

Tip: To improve study games collections of the greatest players.

White attacks the black queenside with a well-timed pawn advance, hoping to create
weaknesses. The clarity of this plan is the reason why it is so popular. But first, the
opening moves.

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 d5 4 cxd5!
A good moment to capture.
4 … exd5
Taking with the knight 4 … Nxd5 allows White to get a strong centre with 5 e4 Nxc3
6 bxc3.
5 Bg5
The pin is a bit awkward for Black, so he generally unpins quickly with … Bf8-e7.
5 … c6 6 e3 Nbd7 7 Bd3 Be7 8 Qc2 0-0 9 Nf3 Re8 10 0-0

Harmonious development but, as usual, you have to know what to do with it.

Tip: Far too many players learn the opening parrot-fashion, memorizing variations
and don’t have a good enough understanding of the middlegames and endgames
that arise from the lines that they are playing. All three phases of the game
should be taken into consideration when one is choosing an opening repertoire.

10 … Nf8 11 Rab1!
Left to his own devices, White will push b4-b5 and then capture on c6. This will leave
Black with a backward pawn on a half-open file. White then attacks the weaknesses. It’s
incredible how many games have been won using this simple method.
We will see later how Black should respond actively. Ljubojevic, a very strong
grandmaster goes passive and, against Karpov, that is fatal.
11 … Ne4
Aiming for exchanges, which is the right idea to begin with.
 12 Bxe7 Qxe7 13 b4! a6

This does not hold White up. A second pawn joins the attack.
14 a4! Bf5 15 Ne5 Rad8 16 Rfc1 Ng6 17 Bxe4 Bxe4 18 Nxe4 dxe4 19 Nxg6 hxg6 20
b5
Black obviously thinks he can hold this position with all the exchanges, but Karpov
has made his living exploiting tiny weaknesses in the enemy position.
20 … cxb5 21 axb5 Rd6
After 21 … axb5 22 Rxb5 the pawn on b7 is a clear target.
22 bxa6 bxa6
 There are literally thousands of examples like this one, where the White pawns come
forward and leave Black with an isolated, weak pawn on the queenside. These positions
are very unpleasant for the defender and best avoided. Black cannot do anything and just
has to sit and wait. Karpov’s technique from here is excellent.
23 Qa4 Qd7 24 Qxd7
White is even happy to trade queens.
24 … Rxd7 25 Rc5 Ra7 26 Ra5 Kf8 27 Rb6 Rea8
One weakness might not win the game on its own, so Karpov brings up his king.
28 h4 Ke7 29 Kh2 Kd7 30 Kg3 Kc7 31 Rb2 Rb7 32 Rc5+ Kb8 33 Ra2 Re7 34 Kf4
 The next stage of this endgame has been completed. White’s king moves into the
action and poor Ljubojevic finds himself struggling to cover multiple weaknesses. His
problems are:

1) The a6-pawn.
2) His e4 -pawn and kingside pawns.
3) His open king.

The combination of all these weaknesses means that Black cannot hold this position.
34 … Kb7 35 Rb2+ Ka7 36 Rc6 Rh8 37 Ra2! a5
37 … Rxh4+ 38 Kg3 Rh5 39 Rcxa6+ leads to a crushing attack or loss of material.
The concluding variation is instructive: 39 … Kb8 40 Ra8+ Kc7 41 R2a7+ Kd6 42 Rd8+
Ke6 43 Ra6+ Kf5 44 Rd5+ Re5 45 Rxe5 mate.
38 Rxa5+ Kb7 39 Rca6 Rxh4+ 40 Kg3 Rh5 41 Ra7+ Kc6 42 R5a6+ Kb5 43 Rxe7
Rg5+ 44 Kh2 Kxa6 45 Rxf7 1-0
A classic example of what can happen if Black fails to obtain any counterplay at all.

Game 8
G.Kallai-A.Yusupov
Swiss Team Championship, Switzerland 1999

The lesson of the previous game must be that Black cannot sit idly by and let the minority
attack just happen. He often seeks counter play against the white king. The following
game is a model example.
 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Nc3 Nbd7 5 cxd5 exd5 6 Bg5 Be7 7 e3 0-0 8 Bd3 Re8 9
0-0 c6 10 Qc2 Nf8 11 Rab1
White readies himself for the minority attack as before. Black places his pieces as
aggressively as possible in reply, pointing towards White’s king.
11 … Bd6 12 Bf5!?

An interesting move, which prevents … Bg4. When the light-squared bishops are
exchanged, the easy plan of b4-b5-bxc6 will leave the backward c6-pawn very vulnerable.
Moreover, exchanging pieces decreases Black’s attacking capability.
It is interesting to note that after 12 b4, Black should play 12 … Bg4! with a promising
position. Play may then proceed 13 Nd2 h6 14 Bxf6 Qxf6 15 b5 Qg5 16 bxc6 bxc6 17
Ne2 Rac8. Here Black has chances of a kingside attack and may also consider … c6-c5!,
bringing the rook on c8 into the game.
12 … Ng6 13 b4 a6 14 a4 b5!
Another very interesting moment. Yusupov slows up the minority attack and buys
himself some time to start his counterplay. This is excellent judgement, as it is not easy to
gauge how weak the pawn on c6 really is.
15 Bxc8 Rxc8 16 axb5 axb5 17 Ne2 h6 18 Bxf6 Qxf6 19 Nc1 Nh4!
The knight on f3 is a key defender of the White king and so Black exchanges it off.
20 Nxh4 Qxh4 21 g3 Qh3 22 Nd3 h5!
 Another very good move from Black. Despite the exchanges, he can still bring
pressure to bear against the White king.
23 Qe2 Re6
The rook comes to the third rank, intending to swing across to g6 or h6, according to
the requirements of the position.
24 Qf3 h4 25 Rfe1
25 Qg2 looks sensible, trying to get the queens off before the roof caves in, but then 25
… Qf5! 26 Rfd1 Ra8 is simply good for Black, who has brought all his pieces into
excellent positions and threatens … Ra3 or … Ra2, increasing his advantage.
25 Ra1 also came into consideration, taking the file, but even there 25 … Rg6 26 Qg2
Qf5 27 Ra3 h3! 28 Qh1 Re8 29 Nc5 Bxc5 30 bxc5 Rf6 is awful for White, who cannot
break out.
25 … Rce8 26 Rbc1 hxg3 27 hxg3 Rh6 28 Ra1 Ree6

Tip: When attacking, find ways to bring all the pieces into the attack.

29 Qg2 Qf5 30 Nc5 Bxc5 31 bxc5 g5!
 The plan is to play … g5-g4 and triple major pieces on the h-file.
32 g4
32 Ra8+ Kg7 33 Rd8 g4 34 Ra1 b4 would again leave White short of moves. If 35
Rb8 then 35 … Rh3! cleans up, e.g. 36 Rxb4 Reh6 37 Rb7 Qf3 winning.
32 … Qh7 33 Qg3?
Maybe White has to try 33 e4 Rh3 34 Re3 but after 34 … Rxe3 35 fxe3 Rxe4 36 Qg3
Kg7 White finds himself a pawn down with an open king. His position is lost.
33 … Rh3 34 Qb8+ Kg7 35 Kg2 Qe4+ 0-1

The minority attack gets very good results for White and is applicable in many
positions where a suitable pawn structure is present. However, if Black defends precisely,
we have seen that he has counterchances. There are two sides to this story.

Game 9
D.Milanovic-M.Andrijevic
Veliko Gradiste 2015

We now turn our attention to a second plan by White, which is radically different from the
minority attack and much more aggressive. A central pawn advance by White, usually
involving the moves f2-f3 and then e3-e4 has proved very attractive to attacking players
over the years. As we will see, it is a double-edged procedure.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 cxd5 exd5 5 Bg5 Be7 6 e3 c6 7 Bd3 Nbd7 8 Qc2 0-0 9
Nge2!

In order to prepare the central pawn advance, White normally puts his king’s knight on
e2, after which f2-f3 becomes possible. It was ex-world champion Alexander Alekhine
who recommended this idea, some 90 years ago. When the plan works, it looks very good
indeed.
9 … Re8 10 0-0 Nf8 11 f3!
Black now has to decide how he wants to meet the idea of e3-e4. He has a wide
choice. The entire variation hinges on whether, after e3-e4, White’s pawns become a
dangerous attacking force or whether they are simply hanging in the centre waiting to be
attacked.
11 … Nh5
Trading the dark-squared bishop makes sense.
12 Bxe7 Qxe7 13 e4 dxe4
If Black did not take, White might have followed up with e4-e5 and then f3-f4, with a
powerful pawn roller.
14 fxe4 Be6
 This is more or less a typical position. What is the fate of those central pawns?
I prefer White for the following reasons:

1) He has the easy plan of doubling rooks on the f-file.
2) There is no real pressure on his central pawns as yet.
3) It will cost Black some time to get his knight on h5 back into the game and when it
does retreat to f6, it becomes a target for the white e-pawn.

15 Rf2 Nf6 16 h3
Necessary, to stop … Ng4.
16 … Ng6 17 Raf1
Where does White go from here? Looking out for the best moment to play either e4-e5
or d4-d5 would seem to be the way forward.
17 … Rad8 18 e5!
 Why not? The Black knight is a target.
18 … Nd5 19 Nxd5
This is surprisingly awkward to meet.
19 … Rxd5
19 … cxd5 20 Qd2 gives White a steady positional advantage, as the d5-pawn is quite
weak. Meanwhile 19 … Bxd5 20 Nf4! Rf8 21 Nxd5 cxd5 22 Qb3 again leaves Black
passively placed, with the strong white pawn on e5 a cramping force.
20 Bc4 Rd7
 21 Rxf7!
Maybe Black thought he was covering everything, but unfortunately not.
21 … Qxf7
21 … Bxf7 22 Rxf7 comes to the same.
22 Rxf7 Bxf7 23 Bxf7+ Rxf7 24 Qc4 Rd8 25 b4 a6 26 a4 Kf8 27 b5
Black has two rooks for the queen but no counterplay whatsoever. It is quite amusing
that White manages to get a minority attack together, even if it is somewhat delayed.
27 … axb5 28 axb5 Ne7
Of course, taking on b5 gives White two central passed pawns.
29 bxc6 bxc6 30 Kh2 h6 31 h4 Rf2 32 Kg1 Rf7 33 g3 Rb8 34 Nf4!
 Very good. Black has not been able to get his pieces to work together and therefore
White piles in for the concluding attack.
34 … Rb2 35 Qe6 g6
35 … Rb1+ 36 Kg2 Rb2+ 37 Kh3 Rb1 38 Qd6 demonstrates how White is threatening
to infiltrate with his queen.
36 Qd6 Kg7 37 e6 1-0
A model game with this line.

Game 10
G.Jones-L.Bruzon
Tromso Olympiad 2014

The previous game made White’s idea of advancing in the centre look very good indeed,
but it is a double-edged procedure. The following game comes from a chess olympiad and
features two strong grandmasters.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 cxd5 exd5 5 Bg5 c6 6 Qc2 Be7 7 e3 Nbd7 8 Bd3 0-0 9
Nge2 Re8 10 0-0 Nf8 11 f3 g6!
 No knight on the edge this time for Black. 11 … g6 is a solid move, blunting the
bishop on d3 and preparing … Ne6, followed by the development of the queenside pieces.
12 Rae1
I marginally prefer 12 Rad1 which Jones played in a game against grandmaster David
Howell. The first point is to give the d4-pawn additional protection and second point is to
deter … c6-c5! which can be a very effective counter to White’s overall plan.
12 … Ne6 13 Bh4 b6! 14 Kh1
14 e4 immediately, is premature, exposing d4. Black gains the advantage after 14 …
dxe4 15 Nxe4 Nxd4 16 Nxd4 Qxd4+ 17 Bf2 Qd7.
14 … Bb7 15 Qb3 Rc8! 16 e4 c5!
 Bruzon has found a good way to destabilize the position. Everything will hinge on the
upcoming e4-e5, which White must play to avoid the disintegration of his centre.
17 Bb5
17 Bxf6 Bxf6 18 Nxd5 Bxd5 19 Qxd5 Qxd5 20 exd5 Nxd4 leads to a position which
will probably be a draw, but where, thanks to his better pawn structure, only Black can try
to win. No self-respecting grandmaster would admit defeat like this with the White pieces
and so Jones goes for something sharper.
17 … Rf8
17 … cxd4! 18 Bxe8 Nc5 was an excellent exchange sacrifice here, after which White
is struggling. Black has a strong initiative. For example, 19 Bxf7+ Kxf7 20 Qd1 dxc3 21
Nxc3 Ba6! 22 e5 Nh5 23 Bxe7 Qxe7 24 Nxd5 Qe6 25 Rf2 Nd3. One must assume that
Bruzon did not go for this because he thought that he was better and just needed to choose
a safer move to maintain his advantage.
18 e5 Nh5
The knight goes to the edge anyway, but in somewhat different circumstances in view
of Black’s central pressure.
19 Bxe7
19 Bf2 a6 simply wins material.
19 … Qxe7 20 Nxd5 Bxd5 21 Qxd5 Rfd8
All of Black’s pieces are now in play and he will regain his central pawn with
advantage.
 22 Qe4 cxd4

23 f4
23 g4, however ugly, had to be considered. However, in general, when you have
better-placed pieces, the tactics work in your favour, which is also the case here: 23 …
Qb4! 24 gxh5 Qxb5 25 hxg6 hxg6 26 Nf4 Nc5 27 Qe2 Qxe2 28 Rxe2 d3 29 Rd2 Rd4 30
Nh3 Re8 31 f4 Ne4.
23 … d3! 24 Nc3 Rd4 25 Qf3 Nhxf4
Black is winning now. He just has to exhibit care.
26 Re4 Rcd8 27 Rxd4 Rxd4 28 Ne4 d2
28 … Qb4 29 Nf6+ Kg7 30 Bd7 d2 31 Bxe6 Nxe6 32 Ne8+ was possibly the reason
Bruzon preferred 28 … d2. Although Black is still winning after 32 … Kh6 there is risk
attached to such a position.
29 g3 Nh3 30 Nf6+ Kh8
30 … Kg7 was even better.
31 Be2 Neg5 32 Qc6 Rd8 33 Kg2 Qxe5 34 Bd1 h5 35 b4 Kg7 36 a4 Kh6 37 Qb7
Qe6 38 b5 Kg7 39 Qxa7 Rd5 40 Qa8 Rf5
 Finally getting through to the White king.
41 Rxf5 Qxf5 42 Qg8+ Kxf6 43 Qd8+ Kg7 44 Qd4+ Kh7 45 g4 hxg4 46 Qxg4 0-1
It is mate in three after 46 … Qf2+.

Summarizing, the plan of a White central advance almost always leads to interesting play
and can be very effective when Black doesn’t know exactly what he is doing. However,
we have just seen a model game by Bruzon and so we conclude that chances can be
obtained by both sides in this line.

Game 11
K.Hulak-B.Spassky
Toluca Interzonal 1982

Castling on the queenside to be followed by a kingside pawn storm is the most aggressive
plan that White can put into practice in the QGD Exchange Variation. Everything depends
on personal style. If you like risk, then by all means try this line. Our next game shows
what can happen when White misplays the position.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 d5 4 Bg5 Be7 5 cxd5 exd5 6 e3 0-0 7 Bd3 Nbd7 8 Qc2 Re8 9
Nge2
The knight may also go to f3 in this line, but Nge2-g3-f5 is a more profitable circuit, if
the intention is to castle queenside.
9 … c6 10 h3
 This helps with the preparation for g2-g4.
10 … Nf8 11 0-0-0
Here we are. White’s plan is ready to go, but his own king is not exactly secure.
Spassky begins the usual Black counterattack.
11 … a5 12 Kb1 b5!

12 … a4?! seems an enterprising pawn sacrifice, but can be met safely by 13 Nxa4!
Qa5 14 Nac3 b5 15 Nc1 Everything is covered and it turns out that Black has just thrown
away a pawn.
13 g4 a4 14 Ng3 a3!?
14 … Qa5 first came into consideration.
15 b3 Qa5 16 Rhg1 Kh8!
Spassky’s sense of danger tells him to get off the g-file. He also gives himself the
possibility of … Ng8 as a defensive idea. This is an interesting position. White may also
think of attacking the weak Black pawn on c6, although of course, the problem will
always be the king on b1, which needs looking after.
17 Nce2 Bd7 18 Nf5 Bxf5
The knight was too influential to remain on the board.
19 gxf5
White has opened an avenue of attack down to g7. Can he make anything of it?
19 … Rac8
 Black prepares … c6-c5!, which will give counterplay.
20 Nf4 N8d7 21 Qe2 c5!

The game suddenly warms up and we should compare the position of the kings. The
White king seems more vulnerable. Perhaps Hulak is okay, but he has to be careful. The
point at which the opponent goes into action after he has been soaking up pressure is
always a critical moment in any game. Mistakes occur as the former aggressor fails to
realize that he now has to defend.
22 dxc5 Nxc5 23 Bxf6
Played probably to prevent 23 Rc1 Nfe4!
23 … Bxf6 24 Nxd5 Na4!
 An incisive move, reminding White about his king.
25 Rc1
Taking the knight leaves White in a terrible mess, for example 25 bxa4 bxa4 26 Bc4
(26 Nxf6 Qb4+! 27 Ka1 Qc3+ 28 Kb1 Rb8+ 29 Bb5 gxf6 30 Rd2 Re5 wins) 26 … Red8
27 Qd3 Rxd5 28 Bxd5 Qb4+ 29 Bb3 axb3 30 Qxb3 Qe4+ 31 Qd3 (if 31 Rd3 then 31 …
Qe5) and now 31 … Qe5 winning.
25 … Nc3+ 26 Nxc3 Rxc3 27 Rgd1 Qb4

Tip: In an attacking situation, opposite-coloured bishops frequently give the
attacker a huge advantage.

28 Bc2
 28 … Rcxe3!
Making room for the queen to come to c3.
29 Qd2
Or 29 fxe3 Qc3.
29 … Rc3
29 … Qxd2 30 Rxd2 Rxh3 was a simpler approach. Spassky wants to finish the game
with a direct attack.
30 Re1 Rxe1 31 Qxe1 h6 32 Rd1 Kh7 33 Qe2 Rxh3 34 Qe1 Qc5 35 Kc1 Rxb3!
A very nice finishing touch.
36 axb3 a2 0-1
Reviewing this game might put White players off the whole idea.

Game 12
V.Hort-V.Inkiov
Lugano 1984

If the last game told the full story there wouldn’t be many takers for the line where White
castles long. Fortunately, this is not the case. White wins more games than he loses in this
line and it is simply the sharp nature of the variation that does not appeal to all players.
The Queen’s Gambit is basically a strategic opening, where White claims the ability to
develop more easily and gain an advantage in space. A plan based on castling queenside
changes this game plan to something much riskier.
 1 c4 e6 2 Nc3 d5 3 d4 Nf6 4 cxd5 exd5 5 Bg5 Be7 6 e3 0-0 7 Bd3 Nbd7 8 Nge2 Re8
9 Qc2 c6 10 0-0-0 Nf8 11 h3 b5 12 Ng3!?

Hort plays carefully, making room for the knight on c3 to drop back to e2 and intends
Nf5 followed by a delayed g4. 12 g4 at once is also possible and is the most direct.
12 … a5 13 Nce2 Bd7 14 Nf5 Bxf5
I’m sure this is the correct move, as the knight on f5 is dangerous and the bishop on c8
is often a problem piece. Yet Hort builds his position and his advantage steadily and
Inkiov never really gets into the game.
Instead, 14 … Rc8 has the drawback of allowing 15 Bxf6! gxf6 (15 … Bxf6 16 Nd6)
16 Nxe7+ Qxe7 17 Kb1 when the position is already rather ugly for Black, W.Kozlowski-
W.Jaworski, Poland 1990.
15 Bxf5 a4 16 Kb1
While the king is on c1, the pawn on c6 is untouchable.
16 … Ra6 17 g4 b4
17 … g6 18 Bd3 Ne6 was a sensible approach, but White may claim some positional
advantage, as the Black pawn on c6 is a liability and if Black finds a way to play … c6-c5,
other pawn weaknesses appear. This summary underpins Hort’s patient play. He feels he
has no need to rush the kingside attack; instead why not encourage Black to weaken
himself on the queenside first.
18 Qd3 Ra5 19 h4 g6
 20 Rhg1!
20 Bxf6 Bxf6 21 g5 Bg7 22 Bh3 b3 23 a3 c5 seems to open the position in Black’s
favour, so White goes into action.
20 … a3 21 b3 c5
21 … gxf5 22 gxf5 Ng6 23 Bxf6 Bxf6 24 h5 gives White far too strong an attack.
22 Nf4 Ne4 23 Bxe7 Rxe7 24 Bxe4 Rxe4?
He must of course take with the pawn, which leads to 24 … dxe4 25 Qe2 Rd7 26 dxc5
Rxc5 27 Rxd7 Qxd7 28 Rd1 Qe7 29 g5 with chances for both sides.
25 dxc5! Qxh4 26 Nxd5
 26 … Re6?
Black cracks up. He has to take his chances in the endgame after 26 … Qxf2 27 Qd2
Qxd2 28 Rxd2 Kg7 29 c6 Ne6 30 c7 Rxd5 31 Rxd5 Nxc7 32 Rc5 Ne6 33 Rc4 Rxe3 34
Rxb4 but this is not very pleasant.
26 … Re6 takes the quick way out.
27 Qd4 Qxf2 28 Rgf1 Qg2 29 Nf6+ Rxf6 30 Qxf6 Ra7 31 Rd8 Rc7 32 Rfd1 1-0
Now Rxf8+ is a winning threat. To summarize, the QGD variations where White
castles long are among the most interesting of them all. Expect a sharp and unusual battle!

Game 13
L.Psakhis-A.Kveinys
Sevastopol 1986

Back in the 1890s, Harry Nelson Pillsbury came up with a new idea for White, based on
the immediate occupation of e5.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 cxd5 exd5 5 Bg5 Be7 6 e3 0-0 7 Bd3 Re8 8 Nf3 Nbd7 9
0-0 c6 10 Qc2 Nf8 11 Ne5!?
 A move combining various ideas. White often reinforces the knight with f2-f4, but he
may switch to other plans depending on what Black does. This line is still going strong,
some 120 years after Pillsbury first played it.
11 … Ng4!
Thought to be the most effective counter and a move that forces exchanges, easing the
Black position. Note Black does not delay, even for one move, the idea of evicting White’s
knight from e5.
12 Bxe7 Qxe7 13 Nxg4 Bxg4 14 Rae1 Qh4
14 … Qf6 was the original Pillsbury game, where White built up a nice position by
reverting to the minority attack. Play continued 15 a4 Re7 16 b4 Rae8 17 b5 Qg5 18 f4
Qf6 19 Qd2 Bf5 20 a5 Qg6 21 Bxf5 Qxf5 22 a6 (Black is not yet worse, but he will
clearly have to play well to make a draw; the position clarifies to find him with two pawn
weaknesses)
 22 … cxb5 23 Nxb5 Qd7 24 axb7 a6 25 Nc3 Qxb7 26 Rb1 Qc6 27 Rfc1 Qd6 (27 …
Rxe3 28 Ne4! is a neat trick, winning the exchange; Black can fight after 28 … Qa4 29
Qxe3 Rxe4 30 Qc3 Rxd4 31 Ra1 Qb4 32 Qxb4 Rxb4 33 f5 but it is clearly going to be an
uncomfortable endgame) 28 Nd1 Ng6 29 g3 h5 30 Qe2 h4 31 Qh5 hxg3 32 hxg3 Nf8 33
Rc5 Rd8 34 Rbc1 g6 35 Qf3 Ne6 36 Rc8 Kg7 37 Rxd8 Nxd8 38 Rc5 Ne6 39 Qxd5 (Black
could not hold it all together) 39 … Qb6 40 Rc1 Qb4 41 Nf2 Qd2 42 Qe5+ f6 43 Qxf6+
Kxf6 44 Ne4+ Kf5 45 Nxd2 g5 46 d5 gxf4 47 gxf4 Nxf4 48 exf4 Kxf4 49 Rc5 Rd7 50
Nc4 Ke4 51 d6 Kd4 52 Rc7 Rd8 53 d7 Kd5 54 Rc8 1-0, H.Pillsbury-J.Showalter, New
York 1898.
Defensive technique has improved beyond recognition since this game was played, but
Pillsbury gave a masterclass in sustained pressure and that is why the game retains value.
Instead, 14 … Qd6! is a tough, modern move and is satisfactory for Black. For
example, 15 f4 Bd7 16 f5 f6! 17 Qf2 Re7 18 e4 Rae8 (Black has organized his position
carefully) 19 exd5 cxd5 20 Rxe7 Rxe7 21 Qf4 Qxf4 22 Rxf4 Bc6 23 Rf2 a5 24 Re2 Kf7
25 Kf2 Nd7 26 b3 Rxe2+ 27 Bxe2 Ke7 28 Ke3 Nb6 29 a4 Kd6 30 Kf4 Na8 31 h4 Nc7 32
g4 h6 33 Bf1 Be8 34 Bd3 Ke7 35 Bf1 g5+ 36 hxg5 hxg5+ 37 Ke3 Kd6 38 Be2 b6 39
Nb5+ Nxb5 40 Bxb5 Bd7 41 Bxd7 ½-½, Y.Gozzoli-E.Bacrot, Saint-Quentin 2015.
Rather a dull game and an indication why modern players prefer other White plans.
Nevertheless, as Psakhis shows, this line could be a tremendous surprise weapon, as not
everyone will defend with the skill of Bacrot.
15 f4
The option of a kingside attack is always a possibility for White.
15 … Re7 16 f5!
 16 h3 has also been played, but why give the Black bishop a chance to get away?
16 … Rae8 17 e4 dxe4 18 Rxe4

18 … Nd7?
A demonstrable mistake. 18 … Rxe4 19 Nxe4 Qd8 was better, but White still has good
chances to win after 20 Qf2 Bh5 21 Ng3 Qg5 22 Qf4.
19 h3
Black’s bishop is suddenly completely misplaced.
19 … Nf6
19 … Rxe4 20 Nxe4 Bh5 leads to 21 Qd2! (21 g4 Qxh3 22 gxh5 Qe3+ [or 22 … Qxh5
23 Qd1] 23 Kg2 Qxd4 24 Rf4 in both cases with advantage to White) 21 … Nf6 22 Nxf6+
Qxf6 23 Rf4 leaving the bishop in limbo.
20 Rxe7 Rxe7 21 Qf2 Qxf2+ 22 Kxf2 Bh5 23 Rg1!
 The bishop is dropping off, come what may. Black tries a few feeble tactics.
23 … Rd7 24 Ke3 Re7+ 25 Kf2 Rd7 26 g4 Rxd4 27 Be2 Rb4 28 b3 g5 29 Bc4! 1-0

Game 14
H.Nakamura-E.Bacrot
FIDE Grand Prix, Paris 2013

1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Be7
 Black often tries to steer around critical lines of the exchange variation by employing
the move-order tweak above, developing the bishop on f8 before the knight on g8. This is
known as the Alatortsev variation, and is very popular indeed with many of the strongest
players in the world.
3 … Be7 has the immediate effect of preventing Bg5, so after a capture on d5, White
has to find another way.
4 cxd5 exd5 5 Bf4 c6 6 e3 Bf5!
Black is still trying to profit from his move-order and offers White the chance to
simplify after 7 Bd3 Bxd3, which leads to a very dry position. However, White can also
make this position independent by striking at the newly-developed bishop.
7 g4!
 7 … Be6
7 … Bg6 8 h4 Bxh4 9 Qb3! b6 10 Rxh4 Qxh4 11 Nxd5 is a known trap that leaves the
Black queenside looking very fragile.
8 h4 Nd7
The capture 8 … Bxh4 is again met by 9 Qb3, which is surprisingly difficult to meet.
After 9 … b6 10 Nf3 Be7 11 Ne5 White has a strong initiative, so strong that very few
Black players take the risk.
9 Bg3
Patiently protecting h4, Nakamura is content to maintain an advantage in space.
Pushing the kingside pawns immediately is also tempting, but gives Black more
opportunities for counter play, for example 9 h5 Nh6 10 Be2 Nb6 11 Nh3 (11 Rc1 is
possible) 11 … Qd7 12 f3 f5! 13 g5 Nf7 14 Qc2 Nd6 when Black controls c4 and e4 and
stands well.
9 g5 is also possible and may lead to 9 … h6 10 g6!? Ngf6 11 gxf7+ Bxf7 12 Bd3 0-0
13 Nf3 Bh5 14 Rg1 Kh8 15 Be2 Bb4 with equality.
9 … Ngf6
9 … Nb6 10 f3 Bd6! 11 Bxd6 Qxd6 12 Qc2 Ne7 13 Bd3 h5 14 g5 0-0-0 15 Nge2 Kb8
is okay for Black too.
10 f3!
Taking the e4-square away from Black.
 10 … Nb6 11 Bd3 Nc4! 12 Qe2
12 Bxc4 dxc4 13 e4 b5 14 Nge2 b4 15 Na4 Qa5 gives Black counterplay.
12 … c5?
You will already understand that this is a heavyweight, complex variation, where big
decisions have to be made early in the game. If you are coming to the Queen’s Gambit for
the first time, then to comprehend what is going on is a real challenge.
Bacrot strikes in the centre as he is hoping to take attack the White king. However 12
… c5 is a mistake on which Nakamura pounces. Better was 12 … Bd6! 13 Bxd6 Qxd6 (13
… Nxd6 is also fine for Black) 14 0-0-0 (or 14 Bxc4 dxc4 15 0-0-0 h5 16 g5 Nd5 17 Ne4
Qe7) 14 … 0-0-0 15 Bxc4 dxc4 16 e4 Qg3 with equality.
13 Bxc4 dxc4 14 d5!
Probably missed by Bacrot. When Black captures the pawn he is immediately pinned.
14 … Nxd5
If 14 … Bxd5 then 15 0-0-0 is strong, while 14 … Bd7 15 d6 Bf8 16 0-0-0 Qb6 17 e4
leaves Black very cramped.
15 0-0-0! Qa5
Electing to sacrifice a piece for an attack, which turns out to be insufficient. However,
15 … Qd7 16 Nxd5 Bxd5 17 e4 is winning for White.
16 Nxd5 Bxd5 17 Rxd5 Qxa2 18 Qc2!
 Holding the fort. White only needs two more moves to consolidate (Ne2, Rhd1), so
Black must continue to try to open lines.
18 … c3
18 … Bf6 19 Be5 wins.
19 b3! Qa1+ 20 Qb1 Qa6
Or 20 … Qa3+ 21 Kc2 c4 22 bxc4 Qa4+ 23 Qb3 also wins.
21 Rh2!
The strongest grandmasters have nerves of steel and believe in their calculating
powers. A club player might over-worry about Black’s attack, but in reality it is only the
Black queen that is involved and White can parry all the threats.
21 … 0-0
21 … c4 22 Ra2 Qc6 23 bxc4 0-0 24 Qd3 also gets nowhere for Black.
22 Ra2 Qb5
22 … Qc6 23 Qe4 and 22 … Qf1+ 23 Rd1 Qb5 24 Ne2 are both winning for White.
23 Ne2 Rfd8 24 Rxd8+ Rxd8 25 Be1!
 Covering d2.
25 … c4 26 Nxc3 Qb6 27 Qe4 cxb3 28 Rd2 Rxd2 29 Bxd2 Bf8 30 Qd5
Quite brilliant consolidation by Nakamura. Black has just not been able to generate
any real threats.
30 … Qb4 31 Qb5 Qa3+ 32 Kb1 a6
32 … Qd6 33 Qd5 Qg6+ 34 e4 Qf6 was marginally better, but even here White has a
winning position, e.g. 35 e5 Qxh4 36 Kb2 Qe7 37 Nb5 g6 38 Nd6 h5 39 Bg5.
33 Qxb7 Qd6 34 Qd5 Qh2 35 h5 1-0
Play after 3 … Be7 is very different to the clear-cut plans that we have examined
earlier in the chapter. If White decides to go for an exchange variation with 4 cxd5 exd5 5
Bf4 he must be prepared to slug it out in a very complex position.

Slav Exchange Pawn Structure

Here we have the basic symmetrical pawn structure from the Exchange Slav: 1 d4 d5 2 c4
c6 3 cxd5 cxd5.
 The positions arising are not as diverse as those which occur from the QGD move-
order and thus both sides have to work much harder to build any advantage. Currently,
Black’s chances are thought to be satisfactory, but this does not mean that it is easy to get
a good game.

Game 15
V.Ragozin-S.Flohr
Moscow 1948

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 c4 c6 4 cxd5 cxd5 5 Nc3 Nc6 6 Bf4

 What can White achieve in the Slav Exchange with his one extra move? It does not
seem like much to work with. Well, one move, used correctly, can make all the difference,
rather like the serve in tennis can win the point right away. So 6 Bf4! is a good start,
placing the bishop aggressively. Let Black demonstrate that he can equalize! We begin
with a classic Slav Exchange, where Black is put to the test.
6 … e6
Definitely playable, but the bishop on c8 is blocked in. More fluid are both 6 … Bf5
and the modern 6 … a6!, examples of which we will see later. Flohr was a very tough
player and it is almost as if he is saying ‘go ahead, break me down’. Let’s see how this can
be done.
7 e3 Bd6 8 Bg3!
Trading on d6 just improves the Black queen. If Black wants to trade, let him open the
h- file.
8 … Bxg3 9 hxg3 Qb6 10 Rb1 Bd7 11 Bd3
 11 … Nb4
11 … 0-0 walks into a White attack after 12 Ne5! threatening Bxh7+ and then Qh5.
12 Ne5 Nxd3+ 13 Qxd3 Ke7
An interesting moment, where Flohr judges it is safe enough to keep his king in the
centre. White is now looking to prepare e3-e4, opening the position to get at the Black
king. Patience is needed.
14 Nxd7 Kxd7 15 0-0
It seems difficult to make anything of this position from White’s perspective, but on
closer inspection there is little that Black can do. Meanwhile White has plans like Na4-c5
available, plus the e3-e4 break mentioned earlier.
15 … Qc6 16 Rbc1 Rhc8 17 f3! Qc4 18 Qd2!
 With e3-e4 imminent, White needs the queens on to help his attack.
18 … Ke8 19 e4
The plan is launched and immediately puts Black under pressure. Flohr elects not to
capture.
19 … Qb4?!
19 … dxe4 20 fxe4 e5! was a better chance for Black, counterpunching at the right
moment. He is aided by the tactical point 21 dxe5 (21 Qg5!? was perhaps the reason Flohr
didn’t play this way and White does indeed have attacking chances after 21 … Qxd4+ 22
Kh1 Kf8 23 Rxf6 gxf6 24 Qh6+! but nothing completely clear) 21 … Qc5+ 22 Kh2 Qxe5.
20 e5 Nd7 21 f4
White strengthens his centre and looks forward to f4-f5.
21 … Rc4 22 Rcd1 Qb6
23 b3
Why not 23 f5! immediately? Black has no totally satisfactory reply:
a) 23 … Rac8 24 fxe6 Qxe6 (24 … fxe6 25 Kh2! g6 26 Qh6) 25 Qg5.
b) 23 … Kf8 24 fxe6 Qxe6 25 Nb5 Rc6 26 Nd6; 24 fxe6 fxe6 25 Qf4
In both cases, White has a very good position.
23 … Rc6 24 Qd3 g6 25 Nb5 Kf8 26 g4 Kg8 27 Kh1 f5
Trying to put a halt to the impending f4-f5!
28 gxf5! exf5
28 … gxf5 29 g4! fxg4 30 Rg1 Kh8 31 Rxg4 is horrible for Black.
29 Nc3 Qa5 30 b4
 Decoying the queen from the defence of the d5-pawn.
30 … Qxb4 31 Nxd5 Qf8 32 Qb3 Kh8 33 Qxb7 Qc8
The only move to protect all the pieces.
34 Qxc8+ Rcxc8
Not 34 … Raxc8? 35 Ne7.
35 Rc1 Rd8 36 e6
The attack or even the threat of attack has given way to a winning ending. Black
cannot hold out.
36 … Nb6 37 Nc7 Rab8 38 e7 Re8 39 Nxe8 Rxe8 40 Rc7 Kg7 41 Rxa7 1-0

Warning: Over-passivity is the cardinal sin for Black in the Slav Exchange.

Game 16
G.Kamsky-M.Carlsen
FIDE World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk 2005

One cannot copy the moves of the opponent indefinitely without running into trouble. Yet
here we see a young Magnus Carlsen doing just that for the first nine moves! Let’s not
forget that at the time this game was played, Kamsky was considerably stronger, so to hold
him with Black could be considered a good result.
The opening move order is irregular to begin with, but we soon reach a Slav position.

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 d5 3 Bf4 c5 4 c3 cxd4 5 cxd4 Nc6 6 Nc3 Bf5
The symmetrical variation, a tough nut to crack.
7 e3 e6 8 Bb5

8 … Bb4
8 … Nd7! is a better choice if one wants to win, with White struggling to get the upper
hand in this recent game: 9 Qa4 Rc8 10 0-0 a6 11 Bxc6 Rxc6 12 Rfc1 Qc8 13 Ne5 Nxe5
14 Bxe5 f6 15 Bg3 Be7 16 Ne2 Bf8 17 Nc3 Be7 18 Ne2 Kf7 (Black rejects a draw) 19
Rxc6 Qxc6 20 Qxc6 bxc6 21 Rc1 Rc8 22 f3 c5 (Black has a definite edge with the two
Bishops and is quite justified continuing the game) 23 b3 c4 24 bxc4 Ba3 25 Rc3 Bb4 26
Rb3 Rxc4 27 a3 Bf8 28 Be1 Rc7 29 Ba5 Rc2 30 Ng3 Rc1+ 31 Kf2 Rc2+ 32 Kg1 Bd6 33
Nxf5 exf5 34 f4 g5 35 g3 Ra2 36 Rb7+ Kg6 37 Bb4 Bxb4 38 axb4 gxf4 39 exf4 Rd2 40
Rb6 Rxd4 41 Rxa6 Rxb4 42 Rd6 d4 43 Rd7 h6 44 Kf2 Rb2+ 45 Kf3 Rd2 46 h3 Rd3+ 47
Kf2 Rd2+ 48 Kf3 h5 49 h4 d3 50 Ke3 Re2+ 51 Kf3 Rd2 52 Ke3 Rg2 53 Kf3 Rd2 ½-½,
Bajarani-Solodovnichenko, Ordu 2016.
This sort of game is a bit dry for the average taste, but it represents a success for
Black, who easily neutralized White’s small opening edge.
9 0-0 0-0 10 Rc1 Bxc3
Continuing to copy with 10 … Rc8 also seems possible. Play can continue 11 a3 Bd6
12 Bxd6 Qxd6 13 Bd3 Bxd3 14 Qxd3 (a very boring position) 14 … Na5 15 Ne5 a6 16
Nb1 Nc6 17 Nxc6 Rxc6 18 Nd2 Rfc8 19 Nb3 Rxc1 20 Rxc1 Rxc1+ 21 Nxc1 ½-½,
M.Novik-M.Kanep, Finland 2014.
 11 Rxc3 Ne4 12 Rc1 g5 13 Bg3 h5!?

Real ambition, but is it justified? It seems unlikely that Black can take White’s solid
position by storm and, indeed, Kamsky finds a way to neutralize the tactics.
14 Bxc6 bxc6 15 Ne5
Hitting c6 and making room for f2-f3!, which saves the bishop.
15 … h4?
According to the machines, Black must sacrifice two pawns to keep the game afloat
with 15 … f6 16 Nxc6 Qd7 17 Qxh5 Rac8 (White is uncoordinated for the time being and
Black has chances) 18 Ne5 (18 Na5 Qa4 19 Nb7 Rxc1 20 Rxc1 Qb4 21 Nc5 Qxb2 22 Rf1
Nxc5 23 dxc5 Qxa2 is also unclear) 18 … fxe5 19 Bxe5 Qh7 20 Qe2 g4 with counterplay.
The modern-day Magnus would never miss these opportunities.
16 Nxc6 Qd7 17 Be5 f6 18 f3 Nd6
An unfortunate retreat although 18 … fxe5 19 Nxe5 was no good at all for Black.
19 Bxd6 Qxd6 20 Qd2
White is just a solid pawn up. Perhaps Black can try to manufacture some attack on the
kingside, but it cannot succeed with best defence. Kamsky is extremely strong at this
technical phase of the game, grinding out extra material and snuffing out any counterplay.
20 … Rf7
 21 b4

Tip: With a pawn majority on the wing, creating a passed pawn on is usually a
step in the right direction.

21 … Rg7 22 h3 Re8 23 Rfe1 Rc7 24 b5 a6 25 a4 axb5 26 axb5 Rb7 27 e4 dxe4 28
fxe4 Bh7 29 e5
Excellent! White takes up the attack and the game soon comes to a conclusion.
29 … Qf8 30 Rc5 Rg7 31 exf6 Qxf6 32 Ne5 Bf5 33 Rf1 Qd8 34 Qe3 g4 35 hxg4
Bxg4 36 Nc6 Qc7 37 Rg5 h3 38 gxh3 Bf5 39 Rfxf5 1-0

Game 17
A.Chernin-E.Bacrot
Corsica 2006

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 cxd5 cxd5 4 Nc3 Nf6 5 Nf3 a6!

 This is the modern approach, whether Black plays 5 … a6 as here, or delays it one
move with 5 … Nc6 6 Bf4 a6. An early … a6 is constructive, in that Black prepares
counterplay with a well-timed … b7-b5 and it keeps a white minor piece out of the b5-
square, which is often useful.

Note: To sit and try to get an equal position or to wait for the draw to arrive
in the Slav is the wrong approach. Black must show respect, but at all times
should be looking for active counterplay.

6 Bf4 Nc6 7 Rc1
After 7 e3 Bg4! leads to a very easy game for Black, who simply plans … e6 and …
Bd6. With 7 Rc1, Chernin is still trying to make use of his extra move, but I am not sure
what the rook does on c1, as there are no invasion opportunities on the c-file.
7 … Bf5
Bacrot is happy to go back into the symmetrical variation, where Rc1 is meaningless
and … a7-a6 is useful. Black is already completely equal.
8 e3 Rc8 9 Be2 e6 10 0-0 Be7
10 … Bd6 11 Bxd6 Qxd6 is also very reasonable, so we must interpret 10 … Be7 as
an attempt to play for the win.
11 Nd2 0-0 12 a3 Nd7 13 Nb3 Bf6 14 Bg3 Re8
 It is clear that Black is looking to break out with … e6-e5. This will weaken the d5-
pawn and so timing is of the essence.
15 Re1 h6 16 Bf1 Bg6 17 Na4 e5!
The White knight leaves c3 and so Black moves forward, seizing the moment to
activate his forces.
18 Nac5
After 18 dxe5 Ndxe5 Black is fully active and stands very well. If White returns to
attack d5 with 19 Nc3 then 19 … Ne7 20 Nd4 N5c6 is equal.
18 … Nxc5 19 Nxc5 Re7 20 dxe5
I find it surprising that Chernin didn’t try 20 Nxb7 Rxb7 21 Bxa6 Qb6 22 Bxb7 Qxb7
23 dxe5 Nxe5 24 Rxc8+ Qxc8 25 Qxd5 although Black is still very active after 25 …
Nd3! 26 Rf1 Qc2!
20 … Nxe5 21 b4 Nc4 22 Bxc4 dxc4
 23 Bd6?
23 Rxc4 was playable, for example 23 … Qxd1 24 Rxd1 b6 25 Ne6!! Rxc4 (25 …
Ree8 26 Nc7 Re7 27 Rc6 is better for White) 26 Rd8+ Kh7 27 Nf8+ Kg8 28 Nxg6+ Kh7
29 Nf8+ (29 Nxe7?? Rc1+) 29 … Kg8 with equality. Chernin’s failure to observe this
tactical variation leads him into trouble.
23 … Re8 24 Nxb7 Qb6 25 Na5 c3
 This is the problem for White. Black’s passed pawn is very strong.
26 Bg3 c2 27 Qe2 Bb2 28 Nc4 Rxc4 29 Qxc4 Bxc1 30 Rxc1 Rd8 31 Qe2 Qb5 0-1
Nice. The White queen is overloaded and cannot defend against the idea of 32 Qe1
Qa4! intending Rd1. A typical Exchange Slav, not without interest, although admittedly
not exactly thrilling either.

Game 18
N.Gamboa-L.Fressinet
Nancy 2012

Let us see another example of what I consider to be a very effective counter to the Slav
Exchange.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 cxd5 cxd5 4 Nc3 Nc6 5 Nf3 Nf6 6 Bf4 a6! 7 e3 Bg4!
 If White can play easy moves, then so can Black. At a stroke Black finds a good
square for his light-squared bishop and will set up an harmonious pawn structure after …
e7-e6.
8 Be2
Good alternatives are hard to come by if White wants an advantage. Let’s examine a
few ideas:
a) 8 h3 Bxf3 9 Qxf3 e6 10 Bd3 Bd6 is already dead equal
b) 8 Qb3 is often troublesome when the bishop on c8 leaves home early, but not here
as Black can reply 8 … Bxf3! 9 gxf3 (not 9 Qxb7?? Na5) 9 … Na5 10 Qc2 e6. Although
this position offers equal chances, the doubled pawns do not impress and I would prefer to
play Black.
c) 8 Bd3 e6 9 0-0 and now either 9 … Bd6 or 9 … Be7 according to taste, both fine for
Black.
8 … e6 9 0-0 Be7 10 Ne5 Bxe2 11 Qxe2 Rc8 12 Rac1 0-0
 13 Nxc6
This looks like the move of a man already playing for a draw. Of course this is the
wrong way to play against a much stronger opponent, as you have to keep the position
sharp to keep the thought of a loss in his mind.

Tip: When you want a draw the worst way to go about it is to play passively.

13 … Rxc6 14 Na4 Qd7 15 Nc5 Bxc5 16 dxc5 Rfc8 17 b4 a5!
 Black is better after this strike, as White now has to worry about his queenside pawns.
The knight is potentially better than the bishop too, with good squares on e4 and d7 to
occupy.
18 bxa5
18 a3 axb4 19 axb4 b6! is uncomfortable for White.
18 … Ne4 19 Qb2 Nxc5
White is going downhill. It is interesting to note how ineffective the bishop on f4 has
become.
20 Rb1 f6 21 Rfd1 Qd8 22 Qa3 Ra6 23 Rb5
The defence of weak pawns has become White’s sole objective.
23 … Ne4! 24 Rxb7 Rxa5 25 Qb3?
This was a rapid game and, short of time to think, White goes astray. 25 Qb2 was
better of course, but cannot challenge Black’s advantage after 25 … e5! (shutting out the
bishop) 26 Bg3 Nc5 27 Rb4 (or 27 Rb5 Na4 28 Qb4 Rxb5 29 Qxb5 Nc3) 27 … Na4 28
Qd2 Nc3 29 Ra1 Rxa2! 30 Rxa2 Nxa2 31 Rb1 Nc3 32 Ra1 Ne4 winning.
25 … Nc5 26 Qb6 Nxb7 27 Qxb7 e5 28 Bg3 Qc7
The grandmaster typically chooses the safest and easiest way in a winning position.
29 Qb4 Rxa2 30 h4 Qf7 31 Qg4 Rac2 32 Kh2 h5 33 Qf3 R2c5 34 Qe2 Qg6 35 Qf3
Qg4 36 Qxg4 hxg4 37 Rd2 Kf7 38 Kg1 Ke6 39 Kh2 Rc1 40 Ra2 Rd1 41 h5 Rh8 42
Ra6+ Kf5 0-1
 I think we can say that in 2016 the general perception is that an early … a6 solves
most of Black’s problems in the Slav Exchange.
Early exchanges in the centre fix the pawn structure for the time being and promote
quick development. The early middle game tends to define how the game will go, when
one or other player changes the pawn structure and reveals a plan.

Tip: Queen’s Gambit exchange systems are very popular indeed and a study of
how they work is essential for the improving player.
Chapter Four
The Queen’s Gambit Accepted
1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4

Newcomers to the Queens Gambit often ask why Black cannot take the pawn on c4.
This is a good question!
The Queens Gambit Accepted (QGA) is a very respectable system, favoured by
grandmasters on a regular basis. Black should keep two ideas in mind: not to try to keep
the pawn he has just gained and remember that, for the moment, he has ceded the centre.
However, if he keeps these thoughts in mind he should be able to reach a decent position.
The QGA has been debated right up to world championship match level.

Game 19
H.Banikas-A.Rabinovich
Tallinn 1997

1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 Nf3
We will start our journey into the QGA by considering an early … b7-b5, a brazen
attempt by Black to make it difficult for White to regain his pawn. This almost looks like
the play of a beginner. An early … b5 is risky and was given the thumbs down by
theoreticians until very recently, when computers have shown that Black can get away
with it in certain circumstances. Generally, after 3 Nf3 b5 is poor, whereas after 3 e3 and 3
e4, it may be playable. Let’s take a look:
a) 3 e4 b5 4 a4 c6 can lead to madcap play, way beyond the scope of this book.

Black could be intending a crazy exchange sacrifice. Play can continue:

a1) 5 axb5 cxb5 6 Nc3 Bd7 7 Nf3 e6 8 Be2 Nf6 9 0-0 is a very sensible approach from
White, refusing to get involved in mayhem, relying on his centre and development to
provide compensation for a pawn. R.Ponomariov-I.Sokolov, Zafra 2007 continued 9 …
Be7 (9 … b4 seems to win another pawn, but White then has promising ideas such as: 10
e5 bxc3 11 exf6 Qxf6 12 bxc3 Bd6 13 Nd2 or 10 Na4!? Nxe4 11 Ne5! Bc6 12 Bxc4 Nf6
13 Qc2 Bd6 14 Nxc6 Nxc6 15 Bb5) 10 d5! (when ahead in development, open up the
game) 10 … exd5 11 exd5 Qb6 12 Bf4 Bc5 (12 … 0-0 13 d6 Bd8 14 Ne5 Nc6 15 Nxd7
Nxd7 16 Bf3 piles on the pressure) 13 Bxc4!? (13 Ne5 0-0 14 b3 was the more restrained
course) 13 … bxc4 14 Qe2+ Kf8 15 Ne5 Bf5 16 Na4 Qb5 17 Nxc5 Qxc5 18 Nxc4 (for the
piece, White has a big attack and can get his rooks into the game easily; Black is toiling)
18 … Qd4 19 Be5 Bd3 20 Qd2 Qxd5 (20 … Qxc4 21 Rfc1 Qg4 22 h3 Qd7 23 Qxd3
leaves the Black position in a terrible mess.) 21 Rfd1 (21 Bxf6! gxf6 22 Ne3 was the best
way and at the very least White exchanges down into a much better ending, e.g. 22 …
Qd7 23 Rfd1 Nc6 24 Qxd3 Qxd3 25 Rxd3 Rg8 26 Rd6) 21 … Qxc4 22 Rac1 Qa6 (22 …
Qe6 23 Bxf6 Nc6 24 Bc3 Bf5 would be more problematic for White) 23 Bxf6 Nd7 24 Bc3
Bb5 25 Qg5 Nf6 26 Qc5+ Kg8 27 Bxf6 h6 28 Bc3 Re8 29 Rd6 Qb7 30 Qf5 Qe7 31 Qxb5
1-0.
Leave this type of play to the grandmasters. Sokolov showed great confidence in his
defensive powers going into this line, but even he was unable to solve the problem of how
to complete his development once the piece had been sacrificed.
 a2) 5 Nc3 a6 6 axb5 cxb5 7 Nxb5 axb5 8 Rxa8 is the exchange sacrifice mentioned
earlier.

If you have time on your hands and a powerful computer program, you might like to
investigate further. Initially, Black will get a central pawn for the exchange and both sides
have problems to overcome before they can get their king out of the middle. Play can
continue 8 … Bb7 9 Ra1 e6 (9 … Bxe4 is obviously possible too) 10 Ne2 (10 f3 f5!? with
continuing craziness, has been seen in a number of games; however, this should be better
for White after the simple 11 exf5 – you just need to have analysed it beforehand!) 10 …
Bxe4 11 b3 Nc6 12 Nc3 Bb4 13 Bd2 Bxc3 14 Bxc3 b4 15 d5 bxc3 16 dxc6 Qxd1+ 17
Kxd1 cxb3 (Nakamura has managed to confuse his opponent and goes on to win) 18 c7
Kd7 19 Ra3 b2 20 c8Q+ Kxc8 21 Rxc3+ Kd7 22 Bd3 b1Q+ 23 Bxb1 Bxb1 24 Rb3 Be4
25 Rb8 g5 26 Ke2 Ke7 27 h4 gxh4 28 Rxh4 Bc6 29 Rc4 Be8 30 Rc7+ Kd6 31 Ra7 Ne7
32 Rd8+ Ke5 33 Rb7 Kf6 34 Rdb8 Ng6 35 Rb6 h5 36 f3 Ba4 37 Rxh8 Nxh8 38 Ke3 Ng6
39 Ra6 Bb3 40 Ra5 Bd5 41 Ra7 e5 42 Ra5 Be6 43 Rb5 h4 44 Rb1 Kg5 45 Rb5 f6 46 Rb7
Nf4 47 Kf2 Nh5 48 Rb6 Bf5 49 Rb8 Bg6 50 Rb4 Nf4 51 Ra4 Bf7 52 Ra7 Kg6 53 Ra1
Bd5 54 Rd1 Kg5 55 Rd2 f5 0-1, B.Adhiban-H.Nakamura, Caleta 2015.
Anything goes in the opening these days, as long as it is half-reasonable and has the
element of surprise behind it. Nakamura uses this ‘shock value’ to win an important open
tournament game.
Luckily, White can avoid all this stuff by playing 3 Nf3 or 3 e3.
b) For example 3 e3 b5 4 a4 b4!? is a new twist.
 Black hopes that the pawn on b4 will slow down White’s queenside development.
Previously, only 4 … c6 5 axb5 cxb5 6 b3 was considered, with a very nice position for
White.
After 4 … b4!? play can continue 5 Bxc4 Nf6 6 Qf3 c6 7 Ne2 e6 8 e4 Bb7 9 Bg5 Be7
10 Nd2 h6 (a typical position from this line; White seems to be better, but how does he
increase his advantage?) 11 Bxf6 Bxf6 12 e5 Be7 13 Ne4 0-0 14 Rd1 Ba6 15 Bb3 (I prefer
15 Bxa6 Nxa6 16 0-0 with an edge to White, although Black’s position is clearly playable,
for example he can re-route his knight to d5) 15 … Nd7 16 Nf4 Qa5 17 Qg3 Nxe5! 18
Nxe6! (18 dxe5 Qxe5 19 Qe3 Qxb2 leaves White regretting that he has not castled) 18 …
Nd3+ 19 Rxd3 fxe6 20 Re3 (20 Bxe6+ Kh8 21 Re3 Rae8) 20 … Kh8 21 Qe5 (this is
sensible; getting the queens off before Black’s attack becomes too strong) 21 … Qxe5 22
dxe5 Rad8 23 Bxe6 Rd3 24 Rxd3 Bxd3 25 Nd6 Bxd6 26 exd6 Rf6 27 Kd2 Rxe6 28 Kxd3
Rxd6+ 29 Kc2 c5 30 Rd1 b3+ 31 Kc1 Ra6 32 Rd8+ Kh7 33 Kd2 Rxa4 34 Kc3 Ra1 35
Rd2 a5 36 Kxb3 a4+ 37 Kc4 a3 38 bxa3 Rxa3 39 Kxc5 h5 40 Kd4 Ra5 41 Ke4 g6 42 f4
Kg7 43 h3 Kf7 44 Rd6 Ra2 45 g4 hxg4 46 hxg4 Ra7 47 g5 Rb7 48 Ke5 Ra7 49 Rf6+ Kg7
50 Rc6 Re7+ 51 Kd6 Re4 52 Rc7+ Kg8 53 Rc8+ ½-½, Onischuk-Xiong, Saint Louis
2016.
After that extended discussion, back to our featured game.
3 … b5?!
I don’t trust this move at all after White has developed a piece.
4 e3 c6 5 a4
The usual strike.
 5 … e6
After 5 … Bd7 6 Ne5 is a strong move, threatening both 7 axb5 and 7 Qf3!
6 b3 Bb4+ 7 Bd2 Bxd2+ 8 Nfxd2 a5
This is Black’s idea, but he is not developing any pieces. White’s queen has access to
f3, which is important.
9 axb5 cxb5 10 bxc4 b4

So Black gets a protected passed pawn, but in all other respects his position is woeful.
11 Qf3! Ra7 12 Qg3
A double hit on b8 and g7.
12 … Nd7 13 Qxg7 Qf6 14 Qg3! Bb7
White exchanges on his terms after 14 … Qg6 15 c5! Qxg3 16 hxg3 a4 17 Nc4 Ne7 18
Nd6+ and has a clear advantage.
15 c5
Extremely strong, giving the White knight access to c4.
15 … Bc6 16 Nc4 a4
 17 Qd6!
17 Nd6+ was tempting, but the queen invasion is stronger still.
17 … Ne7 18 Ne5 Qf5
18 … Nxe5 19 dxe5 sets up twin threats of exf6 and Qb8+.
19 Bd3 Bxg2
Giving up the ghost but if 19 … Qg5 20 Nxc6 and the game is over.
20 c6 Nxe5 21 Qb8+ Nc8 22 Bxf5 1-0
Incisive and excellent play by White.

Warning: The lines with … b5 are risky for Black and are best used as surprise
weapons.

Game 20
T.Radjabov-G.Kasparov
Linares 2003

The main line of the QGA is very solid and gives rise to a lot of draws at the highest level.
This of course, suits Black. Here is a typical example.

1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 e3 e6 5 Bxc4 c5
 This is the start of the main line, with Black jabbing at the pawn on d4. Expansion on
the queenside may begin soon, with … a7-a6 and … b7-b5 very much on Black’s mind.
6 Qe2
White may castle, play 6 dxc5 or 6 Nc3 instead.
6 … a6 7 dxc5
By capturing on c5 this early, White avoids an IQP.
7 … Bxc5 8 0-0 Nc6 9 e4

White is pinning his hopes on this advance. If Black allows him the time to play e4-e5
and then Nc3-e4 an attack may well be in the offing. Needless to say, Kasparov is on the
ball.
9 … b5 10 Bb3 Nd4
10 … Bb7 11 Nc3 Nd4 12 Nxd4 Bxd4 13 e5 Nd5 also seems fine for Black and
promotes further simplification, for example 14 Nxd5 Bxd5 15 Rd1 Bxb3 16 axb3 Qb6
(the position is dead equal) 17 Bd2 0-0 18 Ba5 Qa7 19 Rd2 f6 20 exf6 Rxf6 21 Rxd4
Qxd4 22 Bc3 Qf4 23 Bxf6 Qxf6 24 Rc1 Qf5 25 h3 Qd5 26 Qe3 h6 27 b4 Rf8 28 f3 Rd8
29 Kh1 Kh8 30 Re1 Qd4 31 Qc3 Qxc3 32 bxc3 Rd3 33 Rxe6 Rxc3 34 Rxa6 Rc4 35 Rb6
Rxb4 36 f4 Rxf4 37 Rxb5 ½-½, V.Kramnik-R.Ponomariov, Dortmund 2012. To get an
easy draw with Black against Kramnik is not exactly straightforward, but that is what
happened here, even if it was hardly spectator-friendly.
11 Nxd4 Qxd4 12 Be3 Qe5
12 … Qxe4 grabs a pawn, but allows White the initiative after 13 Nc3 Qc6 14 Bxc5
Qxc5 15 Ne4 Nxe4 16 Qxe4 Rb8 17 Rac1 Qa7 18 Rfd1 0-0 19 Qh4.
13 Bxc5 Qxc5 14 Nc3 Bb7 15 Rac1 Rc8 16 Qd2 Qb4 17 Rfd1 0-0

The two open files in the centre tend to encourage rook exchanges. White has very
little to work with.
18 f3
But not 18 e5 Ng4 when the pawn on e5 is suddenly very weak after 19 Re1 (19 Qe2
Rc5) 19 … Rfd8 20 Qe2 Rc5.
18 … Rc7 19 Ne2
Radjabov hints that he is happy with a draw. Kasparov sees no reason to disagree. Off
come the pieces.
19 … Qxd2 20 Rxd2 Rxc1+ 21 Nxc1 Rc8 22 Rc2 Nd7 23 Nd3 Kf8 24 Kf2 Ke7 25
Rxc8 Bxc8 26 e5 f6 27 exf6+ gxf6 28 f4 a5 29 Ke3 h6 30 a3 Kd6 31 g4 e5 32 h4 exf4+
33 Kxf4 Nc5 34 Bc2 Nxd3+ 35 Bxd3 b4 36 axb4 axb4 37 Bf5 Bb7 38 Bc2 Bc8 39 Bf5
Bb7 ½-½

Game 21
M.Hebden-A.Longson
4NCL, Wakefield 2016

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 c4 dxc4 4 e3 e6 5 Bxc4 c5 6 0-0 a6 7 Bb3 Be7 8 Qe2 cxd4 9 exd4

Note: The culprit in the last game was the early capture on c5. If White wants to
spice things up in the main line, he has to allow an isolated queen’s pawn.

Is the d4-pawn strong or weak? Can White generate enough initiative to compensate?
This is the real story of the QGA main line. To review rules for IQP positions in general. If
you hold the IQP you should:

1) Develop actively.
2) Aim to attack.
3) Avoid exchanges.
4) Look to dissolve the IQP if necessary, with a timely advance.

When playing against the IQP the recognized techniques are:

1) Prepare to defend.
2) Seek exchanges.
3) Aim for the endgame, keeping the better pawn structure.
4) Blockade any advance by putting a piece on the square in front of the pawn.
5) Surround, attack and then hopefully win the isolated pawn.
Let’s see if any of these ideas feature in our illustrated game.
9 … Nc6 10 Rd1 Na5
10 … 0-0 11 Nc3 Nb4 would be a decent alternative, looking to blockade with … Nd5.
 11 Bc2 b5 12 Nc3 Bb7 13 Ne5 0-0 14 Bg5
Hebden correctly moves his pieces to the most active squares possible.
14 … Rc8
14 … Nd5! definitely came into consideration and I think Black is then absolutely
okay, as the trading of pieces is forced, e.g. 15 Bxe7 (15 Nxd5 Qxd5 16 Be4 Qxe4 17
Qxe4 Bxe4 18 Bxe7 Rfe8 19 Bb4 Nc6 is equal) 15 … Qxe7 16 Ne4 (16 Nxd5 Bxd5) 16
… Rac8 17 Nc5 Nc6! 18 Nxb7 (18 Nxc6 Bxc6 19 Qe5 a5 20 Be4 Rfd8 is again equal) 18
… Qxb7 19 Be4 Rfd8 with a level position.
15 Rac1 Nc4 16 Nxc4 Rxc4 17 Qd3 g6 18 Bb3 Rc8 19 Qh3!

Hebden goes for it, recognizing that he has to sacrifice a pawn a few moves down the
line. The h3-square is a common location for the White queen in many Queen’s Gambit
positions, keeping an eye on both e6 and h7.
19 … b4 20 Na4 Rxc1 21 Bxc1 Qa5 22 Nc5
This is the sacrifice, which Longson boldly accepts.
22 … Bxc5
22 … Bd5! is pretty safe, but Black is looking to win, so he takes the pawn and braves
the dark-square weaknesses.
23 dxc5 Qxc5 24 Qh4 Qc6 25 f3 Qc5+ 26 Kh1
 26 … Nh5?
A mistake, possibly prompted by time pressure. Hebden tends to move very quickly.
Black should play the natural 26 … Rc8! and he can negotiate the tactics after 27 Qxf6 (27
Bh6 Qh5! 28 Qxf6 Qxh6 29 Bxe6 fxe6 30 Qxe6+ Kh8 31 Qf6+ Qg7 32 Rd8+ Rxd8 33
Qxd8+ Qg8 34 Qd4+ Qg7 holds) 27 … Qxc1 28 h3 Qc6 29 Rd8+ Rxd8 30 Qxd8+ Kg7 31
Qd4+ f6 32 Qxb4 Qc1+ 33 Kh2 Qc7+ and Black is fine.
27 Bh6! Re8
Otherwise Rd8 comes.
28 Ba4 Bc6 29 Rc1
White wins material.
29 … Qxc1+ 30 Bxc1 Bxa4 31 Qxb4 Bc6 32 Bh6 e5 33 Qd6 Ba8 34 Qxa6 1-0
A game where White managed to prove that his active pieces were worth more than
the IQP, but Black certainly had his chances.

Game 22
S.Mamedyarov-M.Carlsen
Qatar Masters, Doha 2015

There follows one of the best examples I have ever seen of how to play against the
isolated queen’s pawn. Whilst not coming from a strict QGA move order, a typical IQP
position is soon reached.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Nc3 Bb4
 A very decent system which is solid and difficult to crack.

5 Bg5 h6 6 Bxf6 Qxf6 7 e3 0-0 8 Rc1 dxc4

Naturally, Black could play either 8 … Rd8 or 8 … c6, but he wants to clarify the
position.
9 Bxc4 c5
Black would find it very tough to develop the queenside pieces if he did not play …
c7-c5.

Tip: The freeing break … c7-c5 or … c6-c5 is one of Black’s most important ideas
in the whole Queen’s Gambit complex.

10 0-0 cxd4 11 Ne4
Less routine than 11 exd4 and designed to push the Black Queen to a marginally worse
square. In very high-level games, even the smallest detail matters.
11 … Qe7
 12 exd4
12 a3 Ba5 13 Qxd4 Nc6 14 Qc5 is a completely different way of playing the position
and might well be preferable to the game continuation. White avoids the IQP and tries to
set up a squeeze position where Black will have problems with his queenside pieces. Play
can continue 14 … Bb6 (14 … Qxc5 15 Nxc5 Rd8 is an improvement for Black; 16 Rfd1
Rxd1+ 17 Rxd1 Bc7 18 Bb5 Ne7 19 g3 b6 is equal) 15 Qxe7 Nxe7 16 Rfd1 Rd8 17
Rxd8+ Bxd8 18 Nd6 (this is exactly what White is looking for, creating a situation that
will be very uncomfortable for Black in practical play) 18 … Nf5 19 Nxf5 exf5 20 Nd4
Bd7 21 Bd5 Rb8 22 b4 a5 23 b5 Rc8 24 Rd1 Rc7 25 Bf3 Bf6 26 b6 Rc3 27 Rb1 f4 28
Bxb7 fxe3 29 fxe3 Rxe3 30 Nf3 Bf5 31 Rb5 Bd3 32 Rxa5 Bd8 33 Ra8 Re8 34 Kh1 Bb5
35 a4 Bxa4 36 Rxa4 Bxb6 37 h4 g6 38 Bd5 Re7 39 Ra6 1-0 C.Li-M.Matlakov, Skopje
2015.
12 … Rd8 13 Qe2 Nc6 14 Rfd1 Ba5 15 Ng3
Making room for the queen to come to e4.
15 … Bb6 16 Qe4 Bd7 17 h4!?
White must try to stay as active as possible and sets up the idea of h5 followed by Bd3.
Carlsen meanwhile, keeps very calm and focuses his complete attention on the IQP.
17 … Be8 18 a3 Rd6!
 This is another example of the micro-precision which the greatest players can bring to
bear and believe it or not it is the first new move. The rook is well placed on d6 as Black
continues to pile up the pressure on d4.
By contrast 18 … Rd7 is not as good, e.g.19 Rd2 Rad8 20 Rcd1 Rd6 (the rook came to
d6 anyway) 21 Ba2 Kh8 22 Bb1 f5 23 Qf4 Rd5 24 Qe3 Qf6 25 Re1 R5d6 26 Qb3 Nxd4
27 Nxd4 Bxd4 28 Qxb7 Bc6 29 Qb3 Qxh4 30 Rxe6 Bd5 31 Rxd6 Bxb3 32 Nxf5 Qg5 33
Rxd8+ Qxd8 34 Rxd4 Qc7 35 Bd3 Bf7 36 Ne3 g6 37 Bc4 Bxc4 38 Rxc4 Qb7 39 Rb4 Qc6
40 Rc4 Qb7 41 b4 Qa6 42 Rc3 h5 43 Nc2 Qd6 44 Ne3 ½-½, B.Szabo-S.Kojima, Budapest
2012.
19 Qg4?!
A little too ambitious. White should recognize that his position can only get worse
from here and liquidate with 19 d5! Best play then is probably 19 … exd5 (19 … Rad8
goes nowhere: 20 Qc2! Rxd5 21 Bxd5 exd5 22 Qf5 Qe6 23 Rd2 Ne7 24 Qxe6 fxe6 25
Ne2 Bg6 26 Nf4 Bf5 27 Re1 Rd6 28 Rde2) 20 Rxd5 Qxe4 21 Nxe4 Rxd5 22 Bxd5 Rd8
23 Nc3 with only the faintest edge for Black.
19 … Rad8 20 d5 Qf8!
 Maybe underestimated by Mamedyarov. Black sidesteps Nf5 tactics and prepares to
take on d5.
21 Qe4 Ne7
One can say that the pawn has been undermined.
22 Bd3 f5! 23 Qe5 Nxd5 24 Bxf5
Mamedyarov loses patience, but what was left aside from the knowledge that this
would be a long, unsuccessful grind. Mamedyarov does not relish that fate.
24 … exf5 25 Nxf5 Rc6! 0-1
Consolidating. A very good game for training purposes as the key moves 14 … Ba5,
18 … Rd6, 20 … Qf8, 21 … Ne7 and 25 … Rc6 are all tough for average players to see.

Game 23
M.Al Sayed-Li Chao
Gibraltar 2016

Note: White is not restricted to playing IQP positions in his search for an advantage. The
most direct attempt to dominate the centre is 3 e4.

1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 e4
 Looks good. White takes the centre and intends to recapture the pawn on c4. Black
must counterattack immediately.
3 … e5!
Attacking the centre. 3 … e5 is Black’s safest and best move here. Others:
a) 3 … Nf6 4 e5 Nd5 5 Bxc4 Nb6 is another way, encouraging the White pawns
forward. Play can continue 6 Bd3 Nc6 7 Ne2 Bg4 (further provocation from Black, who
thinks that 8 f3 will weaken the White pawn structure) 8 f3 Be6 9 Nbc3 Qd7 10 Ne4 Bd5
11 Nc5 Qc8 12 a3 e6 13 Qc2 Bxc5 14 Qxc5 Qd7 15 Be3 Ne7 16 Nf4 and White has a
slight edge in terms of space, but the blocked centre doesn’t really favour the bishop pair.
A Black knight could easily find its way to d5. This is an approximately equal position
with all to play for. The game T.Hillarp Persson-J.Westerberg, Gothenburg 2015 continued
16 … h5 17 h4 Bc6 18 Bf2 Nbd5 19 Ne2 b6 20 Qc4 a6 21 Qc1 Bb5! 22 Be4 0-0-0 23 b3
a5 24 b4?! (tempting, but a little too ambitious; White should hold a tight line with 24 Qd2
and await events) 24 … axb4 25 axb4 Kb7 26 Be3 Ra8! Black is the one who benefits
from the open a file. 27 Nf4 Rxa1 28 Qxa1 Bc4 29 Kf2 Ra8 30 Qc1 Ra2+ 31 Kg3 Qb5 32
Nxh5 g6 33 Nf6 Bd3 34 Bxd5+ exd5 35 Kh3 Rc2 36 Qa3 Bf1 37 Rg1 Rxg2! 38 Rxg2
Qe2 39 Kg4 Qxg2+ 40 Kf4 g5+ 0-1. A nice finish! It is mate after 41 hxg5 Qh2+ 42 Kg3
Qh3+ 43 Kf4 Ng6.
b) A further idea, maybe the most provocative of all is 3 … Nc6!?
 when possible is 4 Nf3 Bg4 5 d5 Ne5. Black is playing in the style of Chigorin’s
defence, which we will encounter later. Black relies on piece play to disrupt White’s plan,
drawing the centre forward and then occupying the holes that arise. This leads to a less-
than clear cut situation, which newcomers to the Queen’s Gambit are, in general,
recommended to avoid. Play can continue 6 Bf4 Ng6 7 Be3 Nf6 8 Nc3 e5 9 Bxc4 Nh4 10
Rg1!? a6 11 Be2 Bxf3 12 Bxf3 Nxf3+ 13 gxf3 (White has a nice, steady edge with more
space and Black has no obvious way to get counter play) 13 … g6 14 Qb3 Qc8 15 Rc1
Bd6 16 Na4 Nd7 17 Nc5 b6 18 Nxd7 Qxd7 19 Bg5 f5 20 Bh6 Qb5 21 Rc6 Qxb3 22 axb3
fxe4 23 fxe4 Kd7 24 Rg3 a5 25 Rf3 Rhe8 26 Kd2 a4 27 Kc2 a3 28 bxa3 Rxa3 29 Bg5
Ra2+ 30 Kd3 Rea8 31 Rf7+ Ke8 32 Rcxc7!? (White goes for it; 32 Rxh7 springs to mind,
but then comes 32 … R8a3! and Black has finally achieved decent counterplay) 32 …
Bxc7 33 Rxc7 Rxf2 (33 … R8a7 34 Rc8+ Kf7 35 Be3 Rb2 36 Kc3 Rb1 37 Rb8 is
surprisingly difficult for Black, who in the long run will struggle to fight against the
passed d-pawn) 34 d6 Rd8 35 Re7+ Kf8 36 Bh6+ Kg8 37 d7 Rxd7+ 38 Rxd7 Rxh2 39
Bg5 Rb2 40 Kc4 b5+ 41 Kd5 Rxb3 42 Kxe5 Rc3 43 Bh6 Rh3 44 Kf6 1-0, K.Sasikiran-
B.Lalic, Cappelle la Grande 2016.
4 Nf3
Taking on e5 is just bad: 4 dxe5 Qxd1+ 5 Kxd1 Nc6 6 f4 f6! 7 exf6 Nxf6 with rapid
Black development.
4 … exd4 5 Bxc4 Nc6 6 0-0 Be6!
There are other moves, but 6 … Be6 is reliable, neutralizing the bishop on c4. It is the
existence of such lines that demonstrates why 3 e4 isn’t more popular.
7 Bxe6 fxe6 8 Qb3 Qd7
 Offering the pawn on b7.
9 Bf4
Taking the pawn offers Black the chance to catch up with development and reach a
coordinated position, for example 9 Qxb7 Rb8 10 Qa6 e5 11 Nbd2 Nf6 12 b3 Bd6 13 Bb2
0-0 14 Rfc1 Rb6 15 Qe2 Kh8 16 Ne1 Ng4 (I prefer Black here, as he has a strong central
passed pawn) 17 Ndf3 a5 18 Rc4 Nb4 19 Ba3 Na6 20 Bc1 Nc5 21 Bd2 Nf6 22 Rxc5 Bxc5
23 Nxe5 Qe8 24 N1d3 Re6 25 f4 Bd6 26 Rf1 a4 27 b4 Qb5 28 Qf3 Kg8 29 Rc1 Qb7 30
Nc6 Rxe4 31 Nf2 Rfe8 32 Nxe4 Nxe4 33 Qh5 Nf6 34 Qf5 d3 35 Qxd3 Qb6+ 36 Kh1 Ne4
37 Be3 Ng3+ 38 hxg3 Qxe3 ½-½, E.Moradiabadi-I.Nyzhnyk, Cleveland 2015.
9 … Nf6 10 Nbd2 Bb4
The ease with which Black can develop his pieces tells us all we need to know about
this opening variation. 3 … e5 frees up Black’s game and makes his life relatively
uncomplicated.
11 Rac1 Bxd2 12 Bxd2 0-0-0
 This may look as though Black is castling into an attack, but the pawn on d4 is
massively strong and prevents White from achieving much.
13 Qd3 Qd6 14 Rc2 Ng4 15 Rfc1 Rhf8
Threatening … Rxf3.
16 e5
16 g3 Rf7 just threatens to double rooks and so White must pin his hopes on 17 Rxc6
but it really isn’t good enough. After 17 … bxc6 18 Qa6+ Kd7 19 Bf4 e5 White’s ‘attack’
has already ground to a halt.
16 … Ngxe5 17 Nxe5 Qxe5
 18 Rxc6
White tries to improve on the previous line. The attack isn’t good enough here either.
18 … bxc6 19 Qa6+ Kb8 20 Rc4 Rd5!
A nice defence, intending … Rb5.
21 Qxc6
21 Ra4 Qf5! is another fine point, with Black’s pressure against the White king far
more significant than anything happening on the queenside, for example 22 Qxa7+ (22
Be1 Qe4 23 Rb4+ Rb5 24 Rxb5+ cxb5 25 Qxb5+ Kc8 26 Qa6+ Kd8 27 Qf1 Rf5 is
winning) 22 … Kc8 23 Qa6+ Kd7 24 Qe2 Qb1+ 25 Qe1 (25 Be1 d3) 25 … Qxe1+ 26
Bxe1 c5 27 Rc4 Ra8 28 a3 d3 29 Bd2 Rb8 and Black has a winning position.
21 … Rb5 22 f4 Qd5! 23 Qxc7+ Ka8 24 b3 Rb7
Winning chess is all about getting your position organized. Li Chao understands that
once the queens are off, his rooks can run rampant.
25 Qc6 Qxc6 26 Rxc6 Rb6 27 Rc4 Rd8 28 Kf2 Rb5 29 Rc7 e5
 30 Kf3
30 Rxg7 Rc5! 31 fxe5 Rxe5 32 Rg3 d3 33 Re3 Rf8+ 34 Ke1 Rfe8 35 Kf2 Rxe3 36
Bxe3 Kb7 should win comfortably for Black, who is just going to bring his king up.
30 … Re8 31 fxe5 Rbxe5 32 Rxg7 R5e7 33 Rg4 Rf7+ 34 Kg3 Rd8 35 h4 d3 36 h5
Re7 37 h6 Re2 0-1
One cannot play the QGA and ignore 3 e4, which is a dangerous line. Nevertheless, if
Black knows his stuff, there are several different ways to get a good game.

Game 24
L.Vizantiadis-B.Spassky
Siegen Olympiad 1970

1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 Nc3
 3 Nc3 looks like the most natural move in the world, yet it is far less common than 3
Nf3, 3 e4 or 3 e3.
3 … e5!
This is the reason – a nice jab in the centre which solves any opening problems. Black
gets immediate, free play for his pieces.

Tip: I would counsel chess improvers not to choose complex lines in the opening
if simple ideas are available. When you become strong, with plenty of experience,
only then should you head for the difficult lines.

4 d5
4 e3 exd4 immediately saddles White with an isolated pawn and after 5 exd4 Nf6 6
Bxc4 Black has an easy choice between 6 … Be7 and 6 … Bd6, with castling and …
Nbd7-b6-d5 to follow.
4 … a6
Spassky tries to coax a2-a4, after which he can use the b4-square.
5 a4 Nf6 6 Bg5 Nbd7 7 e4 h6 8 Bxf6 Nxf6 9 Bxc4
 White has regained the pawn, but Black has two bishops and a very nice game.
9 … Bb4
Threatening … Nxe4.
10 Qc2 0-0 11 Nf3 Bd6 12 0-0 Nh5!
White immediately starts to feel the absence of his dark-squared bishop. The idea of
… Nh5-f4, with a direct attack in the offing is strong for Black.
13 Ne2 Bg4 14 Nd2 Qg5
Black piles in the pieces, with White very passive.
15 Ng3 Nf4 16 Nb3 h5!
It is starting to get very nasty now, with Spassky using every available unit to
pressurize the White king. We can observe that the knight on g3 is just helping to
accelerate Black’s attack.
17 f3 Bd7 18 Kh1 g6 19 Rg1 f5!
 Possibly 19 … h4 20 Ne2 h3 was even stronger, but Spassky’s continuation is also
very direct.
20 Ne2 fxe4 21 Nxf4 Rxf4 22 fxe4 Raf8
With everything in place, it is a question of how Black breaks through.
23 Qc1 Kg7 24 Be2 Qe7 25 Nd2 c6
Giving himself extra options, so that if White captures on c6, the e4-pawn comes
under fire.
26 Bc4
26 dxc6 Bxc6 27 Bf3 Bb4 leaves White struggling to find a good move.
26 … Rf2
 27 Nf3?
Crumbling under pressure from the then world champion. 27 Bd3 was marginally
better, but even then 27 … Bc5! maintains a big advantage.
27 … R8xf3 0-1
Nasty. White gets mated after 28 gxf3 Rxh2+! 29 Kxh2 Qh4+ 30 Kg2 Bh3+ 31 Kh1
Bf1.

Note: The verdict is that 3 Nc3 e5! is quite okay for Black.

Game 25
V.Artemiev-A.Motylev
Russian Championship, Chita 2015

1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 e3 e5!
 I am beginning to sound like a broken record, but 3 … e5 is again the solution to
Black’s early development issues. White will soon be saddled with an isolated pawn and
Black has plenty of good squares for his pieces.
But there is nothing wrong with 3 e3, which often transposes back into main lines. The
only slight difference is that White may occasionally play his knight on g1 to e2, but this
is rare and should not concern us.
4 Bxc4 exd4 5 exd4 Bd6
It is safer to play the bishop to e7, to avoid a later pin with Bg5, but enterprising
players might like 5 … Bd6, which is more active. When in doubt, follow the best and we
will now see a good example from Magnus Carlsen of how to keep it safe and at the same
time win the game. V.Tkachiev-M.Carlsen, Moscow 2009 continued 5 … Nf6 6 Nf3 Be7
7 0-0 0-0 8 h3 Nbd7 9 Nc3 Nb6 10 Bb3 c6 11 Re1 Nbd5 (the manoeuvre of the knight is
worth noting; Black blockades the isolated pawn and stations his knight on a beautiful
central square) 12 Ne5 Be6 13 Bg5 Re8 14 Na4 h6 15 Bh4 Bb4! 16 Rf1 Nf4! (very good;
exchanges help when one has a better pawn structure – it is even more convenient that
White overlooks the threat) 17 a3? (17 Nc3 a5 18 Re1 a4 19 Bxe6 Nxe6 sees Black
continuing to enjoy a slight edge) 17 … Qxd4 18 Qxd4 Ne2+ 19 Kh1 Nxd4 20 Bxe6 Rxe6
21 axb4 Rxe5 22 Nb6 Rae8 23 Bxf6 gxf6 24 Nd7 Rf5 25 Rxa7 Re2 26 Rxb7 Rxb2 27 f4
Kg7 0-1.
White must have lost on time. Let us note that this was a blitz game. This in no way
compromises Black’s excellent opening strategy.
6 Nf3 Nf6 7 0-0 0-0 8 h3
Stopping … Bg4 is a useful idea.
 8 … Nc6 9 Nc3 Bf5 10 Bg5!

A slight edge to White, but that is all. The pin is inconvenient. Both sides have free
play and look to bring the major pieces into the game.
10 … h6 11 Bh4 g5?
Don’t try this at home, a move which is just asking for a sacrifice. I prefer losing a
tempo with 11 … Be7 allowing Black to reach a decent position, e.g. 12 Re1 Ne8 13 Bxe7
(13 Bg3 Nd6 14 Bb3 Bf6) 13 … Nxe7 14 Ne5 Nd6.
12 Nxg5! hxg5 13 Bxg5 Re8
The computers suggest that Black is fine in this position, but we all know that
defending positions where the king is wide open can be very tricky. Even grandmaster
Motylev is not up to the task.
 14 Qd2
14 Nd5 was certainly a good alternative and the attack proceeds after 14 … Be7 15
Nxf6+ Bxf6 16 Qh5 if now 16 … Bxg5? (16 … Rf8 is the best defence: 17 Bh6 Bh7 18
Bxf8 Qxf8 19 Rad1 Nxd4 20 Bd3 Bxd3 21 Rxd3 with unclear play) 17 Bxf7+ Kg7 18
Bxe8 Qf6 19 Bxc6 bxc6 20 Rae1 is uncomfortable for Black.
14 … Nxd4 15 Rad1 c5 16 b4 b6 17 bxc5 bxc5 18 Rfe1 Rxe1+ 19 Qxe1 Be6?
Black has to break the pin with 19 … Be7 and after that it is tough to find a conclusive
way to attack the king, e.g. 20 Qe5 Be6 21 Bd3 Ng4.
20 Bxe6 fxe6
 21 Rxd4!
A move which 19 … Be7 would have prevented.
21 … Bh2+
21 … cxd4 22 Qxe6+ Kg7 23 Nd5.
22 Kxh2 Qxd4 23 Qxe6+ Kg7 24 Ne2! 1-0
So that if 24 … Qa1 25 Qe7+ Kg6 26 Bd2! sets up unstoppable threats of Bc3 or
Bf4+.

Game 26
E.Bacrot-L.Dominguez Perez
Biel 2008

1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 Nf3
 So we return to 3 Nf3 and we can consider the benefits of this move over 3 Nc3, 3 e4
and 3 e3:

1) White develops a piece and controls the centre.
2) White prevents the freeing break … e7-e5.

3 … Nf6 4 e3 e6 5 Bxc4 a6 6 0-0 c5
As so often in the Queen’s Gambit, … .c7-c5 is the classic freeing break. Black makes
room for his queenside pieces to come into the game and counters White’s control of the
centre.
7 Bb3 cxd4 8 exd4
Clearly White can avoid the isolated queen’s pawn by playing something boring like 8
Qxd4 Qxd4 9 Nxd4 but Black is then under no pressure whatsoever, for example 9 …
Bd7! 10 Nc3 Nc6.
8 … Nc6 9 Nc3 Be7 10 Bg5 0-0
 A typical IQP position, where White must demonstrate that his active pieces mean
more than his pawn weakness. Black’s plan here is something like … Na5, … b7-b5, …
Bb7 and … Rc8, so White must be quick.

Tip: When you have the worse pawn structure, keep active, avoid exchanges and
look for chances to take the initiative.

11 Qd2
When White plays Qd2, I would immediately be thinking as Black that he is intending
Qf4-h4.
11 … Na5 12 Bc2 b5 13 Rad1 b4!?
I would have expected 13 … Bb7 here …
 and then White has two interesting moves:
a) 14 Qf4 Rc8 15 Qh4 carries on with the plan and after 15 … h6 16 Bxh6 gxh6 17
Qxh6 Rxc3! White doesn’t have more than a draw: 18 Qg5+ (18 bxc3 Bxf3 19 Rd3 Ng4!
20 Qh3 f5) 18 … Kh8 19 Qh4+ Kg7 20 Qg5+ with a draw. A short line which gives us a
good idea of the tactical possibilities contained in these positions.
b) 14 d5 exd5 15 Rfe1 Rc8 (15 … Nc4 16 Qc1 b4 17 Ne4! Nxe4 18 Bxe4 Bxg5 19
Nxg5 h6 20 Nf3 Rc8) 16 Bf5 Rc7 17 Qf4 Nh5 18 Qh4 Bxg5 19 Nxg5 h6 20 Qxh5 Qxg5
21 Qxg5 hxg5 22 Nxd5 Bxd5 23 Rxd5 which is roughly equal.
An examination of these lines will show us that it is preferable to attack, as the Black
defence has to be spot on.
14 Qd3
Threatening Bxf6 and then Qxh7 checkmate. If 14 Bxf6 Black replies 14 … Bxf6 15
Ne4 Be7 16 Nc5 Bxc5 17 dxc5 Qxd2 leading to liquidation, which is not what White
really wants.
14 … g6
 15 d5!
When you hold an IQP, look out for this advance. 15 d5 is an excellent move and with
the threat of d5-d6, it turns out that White does not have to move the attacked knight for
the time being.
15 … exd5
15 … bxc3 allows 16 d6 Bxd6 17 Qxc3! which puts the Black position into a real
tangle. Even if Black defends perfectly, it is unlikely that he can now avoid problems, for
example 17 … e5 (17 … Nd5 18 Rxd5 Bxh2+ 19 Kxh2 Qxd5 20 Rd1 Qb5 21 Ba4! Qxa4
22 Bh6 f6 23 Qc7) 18 Nxe5 Re8 19 Nf3 Re6 20 Rfe1 Rxe1+ 21 Rxe1 Kg7 22 Rd1 Nb7 23
Ne5 Qe7 24 Nc6 Qe6 25 Bb3. These are long lines, but we can see the theme. Black is
being pushed around on every single move.
16 Nxd5 Qxd5 17 Qxd5 Nxd5 18 Rxd5 Bxg5 19 Nxg5
 White has exchanged the pieces on his terms. He has ditched his IQP and it is now a
question of whether he can make anything of his better coordination.
19 … Nb7
Not a great square.
20 Rd4 h6 21 Nf3 a5 22 Be4 Rb8 23 Rc1
Black can mount a tough defence after 23 Ne5 Nc5 24 Nc6 Rb6 25 Bd5 (25 Nxa5
Nxe4 26 Rxe4 Ra6 27 Re5 Be6 28 a3 bxa3 29 bxa3 Rfa8 is equal) 25 … Ne6 26 Rd2 Nf4
27 Bf3 Bb7.
23 … Be6 24 h4 Bxa2
24 … Rfd8 is natural, but White can trade down a better rook endgame after 25 Bxb7
Rxd4 26 Nxd4 Rxb7 27 Nxe6 fxe6 28 Kf1. This position is not nice for Black at all. He
has the worse pawn structure and will probably understand that against anyone good, he is
going to have to defend for hours. Hence Dominguez Perez snaps off the pawn.
25 Ne5 Be6 26 Rc7 Nd8 27 Ra7 Rb5 28 Nd7 Bxd7 29 Rdxd7
 29 … Kg7?
29 … Re5! 30 f3 Ne6 31 Bd5 Kg7 is a much better defence. Black centralizes and
White has no advantage, e.g. 32 Rxa5 (32 Bc4 Kf6) 32 … Nf4 with equality.
30 Ra6
With the idea of Rxg6+.
30 … Kg8 31 Bd5 Kg7 32 g4 Re8 33 Kf1 Rc5 34 Ra8
The pin on the knight is deadly.
34 … Rc1+ 35 Kg2 Rc2 36 Bxf7! 1-0

IQP positions crop up all the time in the QGA and so it will really boil down to how
well you handle them.

Tip: I don’t want to put the defender off, as there are plenty of resources and the QGA is a
very respectable opening line from Black’s perspective. You just have to be patient and
resourceful. If you possess those qualities, then the QGA comes with my full
recommendation.
Chapter Five
The Queen’s Gambit Declined
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6

The Queen’s Gambit Declined is a most solid response to White’s classical opening.
Black reinforces his centre and can choose between a variety of reliable systems as he
plots his course forward. When Black chooses the QGD, he is more or less content to
slowly equalize and usually displays patience and care as he gradually emerges from a
slightly passive position. Black’s neutralizing approach is very popular at the highest level
of chess, particularly with ageing grandmasters, or those happy with a draw. There are
very few sharp opening surprises in the Queen’s Gambit Declined.

Game 27
A.Alekhine-J.R. Capablanca
World Championship, Buenos Aires (Game 6) 1927

Perhaps the most solid line of all for Black is the classical variation, a bit too passive for
most modern players, but still very difficult to get an advantage against if Black knows his
stuff.

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 d5 4 Bg5 Nbd7 5 e3 Be7 6 Nf3 0-0 7 Rc1 c6
 There are a few tweaks that Black can make, but this solid pawn triangle in the centre
is characteristic. Black is inviting White to break him down, if he can.
8 Bd3 dxc4
Note that Black waited until White moved the bishop on f1 before making the capture
on c4. This is called ‘the battle for the tempo’ and is a common theme in many QGD
positions.
9 Bxc4 Nd5!

An important move. Black is cramped and wants to exchange pieces to ease this.
Clearly, Black can try something like 9 … b6 10 0-0 Bb7, but he is still a bit short of
space.
10 Bxe7 Qxe7 11 Ne4
Alekhine attempts to complicate. 11 0-0 Nxc3 12 Rxc3 e5 is an important alternative,
with White keeping a very slight edge in terms of freedom of movement.
11 … Qb4+
If 11 … N5f6 then 12 Nxf6+ Qxf6 13 0-0 e5 14 d5 gives White the freer game.
12 Qd2 Qxd2+ 13 Kxd2 Rd8 14 Rhd1 N5f6 15 Nxf6+ Nxf6 16 Bb3!
It is important that White makes the freeing break … c6-c5 as unattractive as possible
for Black.
 16 … Kf8
16 … c5 can be played, but if Black opens things up too early, the position can
rebound against him, as he is so far behind in development, e.g. 17 Ke1! cxd4 18 Rxd4
Rxd4 19 Nxd4 and White is much better.
17 Ke2 Ke7 18 Ne5 Bd7 19 f3 Be8 20 e4 Nd7 21 Nc4 Nb6 22 Ne3 Rd7 23 a4 Rad8
24 a5 Na8 25 d5
White is working with minimal tools. He is cramping Black, to be sure, but there are
no targets to attack. So Alekhine moves forward, in the hope of creating pressure.
25 … cxd5
25 … Nc7! brings the knight back from the dead and equalizes. After 26 dxe6 (26 Kf2
Kf8) 26 … Nxe6 27 Nf5+ Kf6 28 Bxe6 fxe6 29 Rxd7 Rxd7 30 Ne3 Rd4 the position is
level.
26 exd5 Rc7
26 … exd5 27 Bxd5 introduces the idea of Rc4-b4 and the Black queenside would
become vulnerable. After 27 … g6, to keep the knight out of f5, then 28 Rc4! f5 29 Rb4
keeps up the pressure.
27 dxe6! Rxd1?
He should probably play 27 … fxe6 and try to survive the tactics. After 28 Rxd8 Kxd8
29 Rd1+ Ke7 30 Bxe6 Kxe6 31 Rd8 Bb5+ 32 Kf2 Nb6 33 axb6 axb6 Black is only a little
worse.
 28 Nf5+!
A nice intermezzo, underestimated by Capablanca.
28 … Kf6 29 Rxd1 fxe6
The point is that after 29 … Kxf5 White has 30 Rd8! Bb5+ 31 Kd2! fxe6 32 Rxa8
Rd7+ 33 Kc3 Rc7+ 34 Kd4 with a clear advantage.
30 Nd6!
Better than 30 Rd8 Bb5+ 31 Ke3 exf5 32 Rxa8 Re7+ when Black is safe.
30 … Bg6 31 Rd4?!
Alekhine could have played 31 Bc4! rendering … Rc5 impossible. Following 31 …
Ke7 (31 … b6 32 a6! and 31 … Rc5 32 b4 Rc7 33 Ke3! both keep White on top) 32 b3 a6
33 Rd2 with a clear advantage.
31 … Rc5! 32 Rb4
32 Nxb7? Rb5 is the point of Black’s play.
32 … b6 33 axb6 Nxb6
The knight on a8 unexpectedly made a useful contribution to Black’s cause.
34 Kd2 Ke7 35 Ne4 Bxe4 36 Rxe4 Nd5 37 Bxd5 Rxd5+ 38 Kc3 a5 39 Rc4 h5 ½-½

I cannot think that Capablanca enjoyed this experience, so perhaps the classical is not
the line to venture against someone stronger than you in the hope that you will get a draw.
 It would be a different story if you are a strong, technical player and want to grind a
weaker opponent down. Back in 1927, both Alekhine and Capablanca wanted to
demonstrate to each other who was the strongest technician, so the QGD became a major
battleground in their world championship matches.

Tip: The study of classic games is essential if one wants to understand chess and
make significant improvement.

Game 28
T.Roussel-N.Legky
Montreal 2002

One of the more aggressive lines for Black in the classical complex is the Carlsbad
variation. This line can work extremely well and White really has to play precisely to
avoid slipping into a bad position.

1 c4 e6 2 Nc3 d5 3 d4 Nf6 4 Bg5 Nbd7 5 e3 h6 6 Bh4 Be7 7 Nf3 0-0 8 Rc1 a6!

Black prepares queenside expansion by taking on c4 and then playing … b7-b5. In an

ideal world, after that comes … Bb7 and … c7-c5. The move 9 Bd3 as played here,
positively encourages Black to display his wares.
9 Bd3
Both 9 c5 and 9 cxd5 have to be studied closely if Black wants to employ this line.
Transposing to the exchange variation might be White’s best course, as it makes the move
… a7-a6 look slightly unnecessary. Of course, White has played Rc1, which he doesn’t
normally do in the exchange.
9 … dxc4 10 Bxc4 b5 11 Bd3 Bb7 12 0-0 c5

Black’s plan has been successful and he already stands well.

13 Be2
If White must waste time by putting his bishop on e2, then a better way to do it was 13
dxc5 Nxc5 14 Be2 Rc8 15 Qxd8 Rfxd8 16 Rfd1 but Black is still in very good shape and
can even be aggressive, for example 16 … Rxd1+ 17 Nxd1 (17 Rxd1 b4! 18 Nb1 Na4) 17
… g5 18 Bg3 Nfe4 with good play.
13 … Rc8 14 dxc5 Nxc5 15 Nd4 Qb6 16 b4 Nce4 17 Nxe4 Rxc1 18 Qxc1 Bxe4 19
a3 Bd5 20 f3 Bc4 21 Bf2
21 Bxc4 Rc8 22 Rf2 Rxc4 23 Rc2 might be the most sensible.
21 … Rc8 22 Qd2 Qd8 23 Rd1 Nd5 24 Rc1 Nb6 25 Bxc4 Nxc4
 It is rare for Black to get such an active game in the QGD. Roussel Roozmon seems
disappointed by his failure to use the White pieces successfully.
26 Qa2 Bf6 27 a4 Bxd4
Black is spoilt for choice here. Also good is 27 … Nb6! 28 Rxc8 (28 Rc5 Bxd4 29
exd4 Nxa4 winning) 28 … Qxc8 29 Ne2 bxa4 with a clear advantage.
28 exd4 Nb6 29 Rxc8 Qxc8 30 g3 Nxa4 31 d5 Nc3 32 Qc2 Qc4 0-1

Note: The Carlsbad is generally underrated and is not a bad option at all.

Game 29
G.Kasparov-N.Short
Thessaloniki Olympiad 1988

1 c4 e6 2 Nc3 d5 3 d4 Be7
 This is the Alatortsev Variation, a tough nut to crack. Black asks White to find an
alternative to 4 Bg5, thereby avoiding an awkward line of the exchange variation: 3 …
Nf6 4 cxd5 exd5 5 Bg5 Be7 6 e3 c6 7 Bd3 0-0 8 Nge2(!).
Of course White can play 4 Nf3, but then he cannot play the above line. White
normally takes on d5 now.
4 cxd5! exd5 5 Bf4 c6 6 Qc2!?
Kasparov challenges Short with an unusual idea. 6 e3 is most common, after which
Black develops with 6 … Bf5.
6 … g6!
This is the reason 6 Qc2 is played less than 6 e3. Black plans … Bc8-f5, gaining a
move. However, Kasparov is happy to allow this possibility
7 e3 Bf5 8 Qd2!?
An odd idea, but very interesting nevertheless. Now it White who hopes to gain time,
intending to attack the Bishop on f5 with his advancing kingside pawns.
8 … Nf6 9 f3! c5!
 A correct move, trying to open up the position with the White pieces on slightly odd
squares.
10 Bh6
A new move at the time, improving on 10 Bb5+ Nc6 11 dxc5 Bxc5 12 Na4 Be7 13
Bh6 Bd7 14 Bxc6 Bxc6 15 Nc3 Bc5 16 0-0-0 Qe7 17 h4 0-0-0 18 Nge2 Ne8 19 Nd4 Nc7
20 Kb1 Ne6 21 Nce2 Kb8 22 Nxe6 Qxe6 23 Qc3 Bb6 24 Nd4 Qd7 25 g4 Rhe8 26 Rc1
Rc8 27 Qd3 Ka8 28 Bg5 Qd6 29 h5 Qe5 30 Bf4 Qe7 31 hxg6 ½-½, T.Petrosian-
A.Beliavsky, Kislovodsk 1982.
10 … cxd4 11 exd4 a6 12 g4! Be6 13 Nge2
 It is suddenly much easier to handle the White position. White has the clear plan of
Bg2, 0-0, Rae1 and a kingside pawn storm. Black is struggling to coordinate.
13 … Nbd7?!
13 … Nc6 14 Bg2 (14 0-0-0!? is another way to play, e.g. 14 … Bf8 15 h4 Bxh6 16
Qxh6 Qd6 17 Kb1 0-0-0) 14 … Bf8 15 0-0 Bxh6 16 Qxh6 Qd6 puts up better resistance. I
am not sure why Short plays his knight to d7, which is passive by comparison.
14 Bg2 Nb6
 15 b3!
Carefully cutting out counterplay based on … Nc4
15 … Rc8 16 0-0 Rc6 17 h3 Nfd7 18 Nd1
Manoeuvring before the inevitable f3-f4!
18 … Rg8?!
Black plays as though intimidated. 18 … Bf8 was a better defensive attempt when play
can continue 19 Nf2 Bxh6 20 Qxh6 Qf6 21 Rfc1 Nb8 22 f4 and White is better.
19 Nf2 f5 20 Rae1 g5
This looks suicidal.
21 gxf5 Bf7
21 … Bxf5 is answered by 22 Ng3 Be6 23 Nh5 Nf8 24 Nd3.
22 Ng4 Bh5 23 Ng3 1-0
23 … Bxg4 is answered by the crushing 24 Bxg5.
Kasparov was the best player in the world at that time, with only Karpov for company
at the top of the tree. As we saw here he was particularly merciless against lower rated
grandmasters.

Game 30
J.Granda Zuniga-G.Sargissian
Linares 2015
Modern black systems in the Queen’s Gambit Declined are usually pretty fluid; they don’t
tend towards passivity. The Tartakower system that we now examine, is one of the most
popular of all.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Nc3 Be7 5 Bg5 h6 6 Bh4 0-0 7 e3 b6!

Very logical. Black makes the first effort to develop his queenside pieces. The plan is
… Bb7, … Nbd7 and the freeing break … c7-c5. After that the major pieces will be
deployed. No time is wasted and because of this, the Tartakower system is a favourite
opening line of many top grandmasters.
8 cxd5
White has plenty of choice, for example8 Rc1, 8 Qb3, 8 Be2, 8 Bd3 and 8 Qc2 are five
possible moves.
8 … Nxd5 9 Bxe7 Qxe7 10 Rc1
White has chosen a simple way to meet Black’s idea, but one which is not very
effective. The plan is clearly to put pressure on Black’s c-pawn. but Sargissian soon
achieves his idea of … c7-c5, negating this idea completely.
10 … Bb7 11 Be2 Rc8!
It looks a little bit unusual to play this way, but Black is just going to play … c5. It
really is as simple as that.
12 0-0 c5!
Equalizing comfortably.
 13 Ne5
After 13 Nxd5 Bxd5 14 dxc5 Rxc5 15 Rxc5 Qxc5 16 Qa4 Bc6 17 Qf4 Nd7 18 b4 Qf8
19 Rc1 Rc8 Black keeps the balance.
13 … Nxc3 14 Rxc3 Nc6 15 Nxc6 Rxc6 16 Bf3 Rd6 17 Bxb7 Qxb7

The exchanges have not helped White’s cause and he is struggling to draw. The d4-
pawn is very tender and White has no activity. A bad day at the office for Granda Zuniga
so far.
18 Qg4 cxd4 19 exd4 Qd5 20 Rd1 Rad8
Piling up on the weak d4 pawn. The threat is … e6-e5, which is hard to stop. Instead,
20 … Qxa2 21 Rg3 g6 22 Qf4 allows White more counterplay than he deserves.
21 a3 e5 22 Rc7 exd4 23 Rxa7 d3 24 Re7 d2
 This powerhouse will win the game outright.
25 Re3
25 Re2 Rc6 highlights that White has a problem on the back rank, for example 26
Rexd2?? Qxd2 27 Rxd2 Rc1+ winning.
25 … Rc6 26 h3 Rc1 27 Kh2 Rxd1 28 Qxd1 Qc5 0-1
He is simply going to put the queen on c1. A game which demonstrates the
effectiveness of the Tartakower System. White has to be very precise to achieve any
advantage.

Game 31
Bu Xiangzhi-V.Ivanchuk
Danzhou 2016

The Tartakower can lead to some really hard struggles. The next game is a better
representation of White’s chances.
1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 d5 4 d4 Be7 5 Bg5 h6 6 Bh4 0-0 7 e3 b6 8 Bd3 Bb7 9 0-0
Nbd7 10 Rc1 c5 11 Qe2
 There is nothing fancy about White’s opening variation. He is just developing all his
pieces and plans Rfd1, after which he will claim that he has two rooks in the centre and is
ready to commence action. Black is happy that he has achieved … c7-c5 and now offers
the exchange of some pieces to ease his burden.
11 … Ne4! 12 Bxe7 Qxe7 13 cxd5 Nxc3 14 Rxc3 Bxd5 15 e4 Bb7 16 b4!
A very interesting move, without which White would have nothing. White tries to
demonstrate that having an extra rook in play really does mean something.
16 … Rac8
Taking on b4 looks bad, for example 16 … cxb4 17 Rc7 Rab8 (17 … Bc8 18 e5 Qd8
19 Rfc1 with pressure) 18 Ne5 Rfd8 19 Bb5 Bc8 20 Nc6.
However, taking on d4 is possible. After 16 … cxd4 17 Rc7 Rab8 18 Bb5 Rfd8 19
Ne5 (19 Rd1 Qd6 20 Rxd7 Rxd7 21 Bxd7 Qxd7 22 Rxd4 Qc6 is equal) and now the
saving move – 19 … Qd6. Ivanchuk chooses a third way, which presumably he thinks is
safest.
17 dxc5 bxc5 18 b5
Black establishes a queenside pawn majority, which could become dangerous.
18 … c4!
 Ivanchuk moves to deal with the pawn majority before it becomes a real threat.
19 Rxc4 Rxc4 20 Bxc4 Qb4
By sacrificing a pawn, Black activates his pieces.
21 Rd1 Rc8! 22 Rxd7
At first sight 22 Bxe6 fxe6 23 Rxd7 seems very good, but White has some back-rank
problems which neutralise his advantage, e.g. 23 … Rc1+ 24 Rd1 Qxb5! 25 Qxb5 Rxd1+
26 Qf1 Rxf1+ 27 Kxf1 Bxe4 28 Nd2 Bd5 29 a3 with equality
22 … Rxc4 23 h4 Qxb5
 Black regains the pawn and should be fully equal. As is the trend in modern chess, the
game moves into a gruelling ending, with both sides still playing for the win.
24 Rd8+ Kh7 25 Kh2 Rb4 26 Qxb5 Rxb5 27 Nd4 Rb4
27 … Ra5 must certainly have been considered, but after 28 f3 Rxa2 29 Rd7 the rook
and knight could prove an effective attacking force against the Black king, enough for
equality at least.
28 f3 Kg6 29 Nb3 Bc6 30 Rc8 Bb5 31 Rc7 Ra4 32 h5+! Kf6 33 e5+ Kf5 34 Kg3
Equality is maintained, but in a sharp position. Black has chances if he can pick up the
pawn on a2. White has opportunities to hit the black king with some tactics.
34 … g5 35 Nc1 a5
35 … f6 36 exf6 Kxf6 37 Rh7 is not recommended for Black.
36 Rxf7+ Kxe5 37 Rh7
 37 … Rh4?!
This is the starting point of Black’s problems in the ending. Ivanchuk’s decision to
take his rook offside is a poor one. He had two reasonable alternatives:
a) 37 … Rb4 38 Rxh6 Rb2 (threatening to untangle with … Rc2) 39 Rg6 Kf5.
b) 37 … Ra3 38 Rxh6 Rc3 39 Nb3 a4 40 Nd2 Bd3 and Black’s wing pawn is a real
threat.
38 Rxh6 a4 39 a3 Bc4 40 Kf2 Rh1 41 Ne2 Ra1 42 Rg6! Bd3
42 … Ra2 is too slow, e.g. 43 h6! Rxe2+ 44 Kg1 Bd3 45 h7 Bxg6 46 h8Q+ and the
queen should be able to round up Black’s ragged position.
43 Rxg5+ Kf6 44 f4 Rxa3
It has taken Black far too long to round up White’s outside pawn. Meanwhile, Bu
Xiangzhi has made real progress on the other flank. After 44 … Ra2 comes 45 Ke3! Bxe2
(45 … Rxa3 46 Kd2! Bf5 47 g4 with a clear plus) 46 h6 winning.
45 Ng3
45 h6 Ra2 46 Ke3 Ra3 47 Kd4! is very good for White.
45 … Ra1 46 h6 a3 47 Rg7 a2 48 Nh5+ Kf5 49 h7 Rf1+ 50 Ke3 Re1+
50 … a1Q?? 51 Rg5 mate is a nice finish.
51 Kxd3 Rd1+ 52 Ke3 Re1+ 53 Kf3 Rf1+ 54 Kg3 a1Q 55 Rg5+ Ke4 56 Re5+ 1-0
White promotes next and has extra material to finish the job. The only way to prevent
this is to play 56 … Qxe5+ but then comes 57 fxe5 Rf8 58 Nf6+ Kd4 59 Ng8!, a splendid,
finishing position that Ivanchuk does not want to see on the board.

Game 32
T.Radjabov-F.Caruana
FIDE Grand Prix, Baku 2014

Lasker’s Defence, named after the late World Champion, is a rock-solid way to meet the
Queen’s Gambit. It is basically used when Black is happy to make a draw or when he
wants to entice White to overstretch.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Nc3 Be7 5 Bg5 h6!

A useful move in the modern Queen’s Gambit for two reasons:

1) Back rank mates are less likely.
2) The battery of a white bishop on d3 and queen on c2 is less effective.

Small things, but they all add up.
6 Bh4 0-0 7 e3 Ne4
Promoting exchanges. Not everyone has the patient temperament needed to play
Lasker’s Defence, but if you are happy to put the shutters up and sit tight for a while, then
this is a very respectable system.
8 Bxe7 Qxe7 9 Rc1
 9 cxd5 Nxc3 10 bxc3 exd5 11 Qb3 Rd8 12 c4 is another way for White, but Black can
survive this line because he doesn’t have any real weaknesses to defend or problems to
address. Play may proceed 12 … dxc4 13 Bxc4 Nc6 (threatening … Na5) 14 Be2 (14 Qc3
Bg4 is equal) 14 … Rd6! with reasonable chances.
9 … c6 10 Bd3 Nxc3 11 Rxc3 dxc4 12 Bxc4 Nd7 13 0-0 b6! 14 Bd3 c5!

It cost Black a tempo to play … c5, but he can be quite satisfied. A couple of minor
pieces have been exchanged, so he doesn’t feel cramped and he is getting ready to unravel
the queenside. Among the best players, this type of position tends towards a draw.
15 Be4
15 Qc2 Bb7 16 Bh7+ Kh8 17 Be4 Bxe4 18 Qxe4 Nf6?! (18 … Rfd8! is an
improvement) 19 Qc2 Rfc8 20 Rc1 led to a cheerless position for Black in a recent high-
level game, but he managed to defend it easily enough: 20 … Qb7 21 Rc4 a5 22 Ne5 Kg8
23 dxc5 Rxc5 24 Rxc5 bxc5 25 b3 Rc8 26 Nc4 Qc7 27 Rd1 Ra8 28 g3 Nd5 29 h4 Nb4 30
Qe4 Rd8 31 Rxd8+ Qxd8 32 Qb1 g5 33 hxg5 hxg5 34 a3 Nc6 35 Qc2 Qd5 36 Nb6 Qd6
37 Nc4 Qd5 38 Qc3 g4 39 a4 Nb4 40 Qf6 Nc6 41 Qf4 f5 42 Qc7 Qd1+ 43 Kh2 Qf3 44
Qc8+ Kg7 ½-½, V.Topalov-H.Nakamura, Khanty-Mansiysk 2010.
15 … Rb8 16 Qc2 a5 17 Rc1 Ba6 18 Bc6 Rfc8 19 Bxd7 Qxd7 20 dxc5 Rxc5 21
Rxc5 bxc5 22 b3 Rc8
 White has the better pawn structure, but he doesn’t really have the ammunition to
make anything of it. The game drifts towards an inevitable draw.
23 Qc3 a4 24 Qa5 Bb7 25 Qxa4 Qxa4 26 bxa4 Ra8 27 Rxc5 Rxa4 28 Rc2 Bd5 29
Ne5 Rxa2 30 Rc8+ Kh7 31 f3 f6 32 Nd7 e5 33 e4
Even 33 Nf8+ leads nowhere. The discovered check is worthless.
33 … Bb3 34 Rc7 ½-½
I guess I am a fan of Lasker’s Defence, but only in certain circumstances. If you need
to play flat out for a win as Black, then 7 … Ne4 might be the wrong choice.

Tip: Aim for simplification if you have a cramped position.

In the following game we examine the Cambridge Springs variation. A tricky line
where White must be very sure what he is doing.

Game 33
S.Andersen-K.Gonzalez
Las Palmas 2016

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6
Another route to the Cambridge Springs might be 2 … e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Nbd7
when White must avoid the first of Black’s traps: 5 cxd5 exd5 6 Nxd5?? Nxd5! 7 Bxd8
Bb4+ 8 Qd2 Bxd2+ 9 Kxd2 Kxd8 and Black wins a piece.
 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 e6 5 Bg5 Nbd7 6 e3 Qa5

This is the Cambridge Springs Variation, a line which is so effective that many White
players decide to avoid it by playing an early cxd5. Black’s play is tricky, setting up ideas
of … Bb4 and … Ne4, but also solid. Even if White negotiates the opening traps there is
no guarantee that he can get any advantage in the main lines.
7 cxd5
There are two other recognized main lines:
a) 7 Nd2 is perhaps most reliable, avoiding tricks, but Black is perfectly okay after 7
… Bb4! (also possible are 7 … dxc4! 8 Bxf6 Nxf6 9 Nxc4 Qc7 and 7 … Ne4 8 Ndxe4
dxe4 9 Bh4) 8 Qc2 0-0 9 Be2 c5, or even 9 … e5.
b) Meanwhile 7 Bxf6 Nxf6 8 Qc2 Bb4 9 Bd3 dxc4 10 Bxc4 0-0 is also fine for Black.
7 … Nxd5 8 Qd2 Bb4 9 Rc1
 9 … Nxc3
A very good alternative is 9 … h6 10 Bh4 c5! which frees up Black’s game and leaves
the bishop on h4 looking out of play. The game E.Bacrot-R.Ponomariov, Beijing 2014
continued 11 Bc4 N7b6 12 Bb5+ Bd7 13 Bxd7+ Nxd7 14 0-0 cxd4 15 Qxd4 Bxc3 16
bxc3 0-0 (Black has effortlessly achieved a good position) 17 c4 N5f6 18 Rfd1 Rac8 19 e4
e5 20 Qb2 Rc7 21 Bxf6 Nxf6 22 Nxe5 Re8 23 Nf3 Nxe4 24 Rd5 Qa4 25 Qb3 Qc6 26 Rd4
Rce7 27 h3 Nc5 28 Qc3 Re4 29 Rcd1 b6 30 Rd6 Qa4 31 R6d2 Qxc4 32 Qa1 Re2 33 Rd4
Qxa2 0-1.
10 bxc3 Ba3 11 Rb1 b6!
Preparing … Ba6, a nice, easy way to get the queenside development going.
12 Bd3 Ba6 13 0-0 0-0 14 e4 Rfe8
 15 Bh4
White can often get stuck for a plan in a position like this as it is hard to get the centre
pawns moving forward. Meanwhile, Black looks for the right moment to free himself with
… c6-c5!
A perfect example of this type of drifting was seen in R.Wukits-D.Rogic Austria 2014:
15 Rfe1 Rac8 16 Re3 Bf8 17 Bf4 c5! 18 Bxa6 (18 d5 exd5 19 Bxa6 Qxa6 20 exd5 Rxe3
21 Bxe3 Nf6 22 Rd1 Rd8 leaves the advanced pawn on d5 rather weak) 18 … Qxa6 19
Ne5 cxd4 20 cxd4 Red8 21 Rd1 Qa4 22 Rd3 (it has been clear for a while that White does
not really have any idea what to do and now Black cashes in) 22 … Rc2 23 Qe3 Rxa2 24
Qf3 Nxe5 25 Bxe5 Ra1 26 d5 Rxd1+ 27 Rxd1 Qc2 28 h4 a5 29 h5 h6 30 Bf4 exd5 31
exd5 a4 32 Qg4 a3 0-1.
15 … Bf8 16 Rfd1 Bxd3 17 Qxd3 Rac8 18 e5 h6 19 c4 Be7 20 Bxe7 Rxe7 21 Rb3
Qa6 22 Rdb1 c5!
 Black strikes at precisely the right moment.
23 d5 exd5 24 Qxd5
If 24 cxd5 then Black replies 24 … Qxd3 25 Rxd3 Nxe5.
24 … Rce8 25 Re3 Qxa2 26 Rbe1 Nb8 27 Nh4 Rd7 0-1
I can recommend the Cambridge Springs. With a bit of prep, Black can turn this line
into a winning weapon.

Game 34
I.Kovalenko-N.Short
Tromso Olympiad 2014

White need not play Bg5 in the main line. A very popular alternative is an early Bf4.
1 Nf3 d5 2 d4 Nf6 3 c4 e6 4 Nc3 Be7 5 Bf4
 Whereas Bg5 increases pressure against the d5-pawn, Bf4 eyes the Black queenside.
White develops speedily and Bf4 systems can lead to a wide variety of complex,
middlegame positions, which are ideal if one wants to play for a win with White. The
normal approach for Black until very recently has been to react with an early … c7-c5.
5 … 0-0 6 e3 c5
Black accepts that his pawns will be somewhat weakened in return for freedom of
movement.
7 dxc5 Bxc5 8 Qc2
8 cxd5 Nxd5 9 Nxd5 exd5 10 a3 Nc6 11 Bd3 leads to a classic isolated queens pawn
position. Objectively, Black is fine as he has no problems whatsoever developing, but not
everyone likes to play with a weak central pawn.
8 … Nc6 9 Rd1
9 a3 Qa5 10 0-0-0!? is the aggressive way to play, creating a situation where the
players will attack on opposite wings.
9 … Qa5 10 Be2
 10 … dxc4!
Short is happy to win the ‘battle for the tempo’. Just to show you how sharp and
confusing this position can become, let us see what happens when Black attacks directly:
10 … Ne4!? 11 cxd5 Nxc3 12 bxc3 exd5 13 Rxd5 Nb4 14 cxb4 Bxb4+ 15 Rd2 Bg4 (enter
here at your own risk – White plays very precisely now, as he has to) 16 Bc7! b6 17 a3
Qxa3 (17 … Bxd2+ 18 Qxd2 Qxa3 19 0-0 Rfc8 transposes) 18 0-0 Bxd2 19 Qxd2 Rfc8 20
Be5 Rd8 21 Bd4 Rac8 22 Ne5 (22 Bd3 is best according to the engines – you need nerves
of steel to brave the open king position, e.g. 22 … Bxf3 23 gxf3 Qe7 24 f4 Rd6 and it is
clear why White did not go for this) 22 … Bxe2 23 Qxe2 f6 24 Nd3 Qb3 25 Nf4 Rc6 26
h4 Rdc8 27 Qg4 Qf7 28 Kh2 Rc1 29 Rxc1 Rxc1 30 h5 h6 31 Qf5 Rc7 32 e4 (32 Ng6!
keeping everything protected was a better idea) 32 … Qd7 33 Qd5+ Qxd5 34 exd5 Rc4 35
Ne6 Kf7 36 Kg3 a5 (the long-awaited advance of the pawns begins) 37 Kf4 (after 37
Bxb6 a4 38 Bc5 a3! 39 Bxa3 Rc3+ 40 Kf4 Rxa3 41 g4 White might hold a draw; as
played, he cannot) 37 … a4 38 Kf5 Ke7 39 Bxb6 Kd6 40 Nxg7 a3 41 Bd8 Rc8 42 Ne8+
Kxd5 43 Bxf6 Rxe8 44 Bc3 Rf8+ 45 Kg6 Rxf2 46 g4 Rg2 47 Kxh6 Rxg4 48 Kh7 Ke6 49
h6 Kf7 50 Kh8 Rg8+ 51 Kh7 Rg6 0-1, N.Nguyen-M.Sebenik Baku 2016
11 Bxc4 Be7 12 0-0 a6 13 a3 Nh5 14 Bd6 Bxd6 15 Rxd6
 White has a small edge, as Black has the usual difficulty of developing his queenside
pieces. This is not a life-threatening advantage, but against a very strong opponent this
type of position can become unpleasant, as the advantage very gradually increases..
15 … Rd8
15 … Nf6 16 Rfd1 Ne5 17 Be2 Nxf3+ 18 Bxf3 Qc7 19 Qa4 Rb8 20 Qd4 and White
has a
strong grip on the position L.Bruzon-K.Abdel Razik, Khanty-Mansiysk 2010.
16 Rxd8+ Qxd8 17 Rd1 Qe7 18 Ne4 Nf6 19 Bd3
Putting the knight on d6 right away looks very uncomfortable for Black, for example
19 Nd6 Ne8 (he should try to exchange it off) 20 Nxe8 Qxe8 21 Ng5 g6 22 Ne4 Qe7 23
Nd6 with advantage to White. It is curious how a second knight comes to d6 so soon.
Black is still tied up.
19 … h6 20 Nd6 Nd5 21 Qc5 Qc7 22 Bb1 b6 23 Qc2 Qxd6
 24 Qh7+
The game takes an unexpected turn from positional pressure to direct attack.
24 … Kf8 25 Qh8+ Ke7 26 Qxg7 Bb7?
26 … Qc5 escaping the pin, was a safer defence. Short probably did not play this as 27
Bg6 looks very strong, but Black can survive with 27 … Kd8! 28 Bxf7 Qc2!
27 e4 Qf4 28 exd5 Rd8 29 Ba2 exd5 30 h3!
 Black is really struggling now, with an open king and a poor pawn structure making
his life very difficult.
30 … Rd7 31 Rxd5 Rxd5
31 … Qc1+ 32 Kh2 Qf4+ 33 Qg3 Qxg3+ 34 Kxg3 will lead to misery in the ending.
32 Bxd5 Nd8 33 Bxb7 Nxb7 34 Qc3 Nc5 35 Nd2 Qf6 36 Qb4 a5 37 Qb5 Kf8 38
Nc4 Qd4 39 Ne3
White is very happy to play this technical position a pawn up. His next job is to create
a passed pawn – that’s how you win this type of position.
39 … Ne6 40 Qe2 a4 41 Nf5 Qf4 42 Ne3
42 Qc2 is more precise.
42 … Qe5 43 Qd2 b5 44 Ng4 Qf4 45 Qc3
It is worth pointing out that 45 Qxf4 Nxf4 46 Nxh6 Nd3 47 Nf5 Nxb2 48 Ne3 is
winning for White. I actually like this line for Kovalenko, as he gets his passed pawn. As
played, White grinds on, with a lot of work to do.
45 … h5 46 Nf6 Qf5 47 g4 hxg4 48 hxg4 Qb1+ 49 Kg2 Qd3 50 Qe5 Qc4 51 g5 Ke7
52 Ne4 Kd7 53 Kg3 Nd4 54 f3 Qc7 55 Nf6+ Kc6 56 Ng4 Qd6 57 f4 Qd5 58 Qf6+
I am at a loss to explain why he does not play 58 Qxd5+ Kxd5 59 Nh6 Ke6 60 Kg4.
58 … Kc5 59 Ne5? Qe4??
Looks like both players were playing with a 30 second increment. Short misses 59 …
Qb3+! 60 Kh4 (60 Kg4 Qd1+ 61 Kh3 Qh1+) 60 … Qd5.
 60 Qe7+ Kb6 61 Nd7+ 1-0
5 Bf4 is a very important alternative to 5 Bg5.

Viswanathan Anand was defeated 4½-6½ by Magnus Carlsen in the 2014 World
Championship match. Here is possibly his best game of the match, which features, luckily
for us, the Bf4 Queen’s Gambit.

Game 35
V.Anand-M.Carlsen
World Championship, Sochi (Game 3) 2014

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Nc3 Be7 5 Bf4 0-0 6 e3 Nbd7!?

Back to the solid classical system of play. Is this dissatisfaction with 6 … c5?
7 c5 c6 8 Bd3 b6!
An important move. Black must challenge the White pawn chain before he gets
squeezed out of existence.
9 b4 a5 10 a3 Ba6
Ridding himself of his bad bishop. Nevertheless, White can still mount some pressure.
11 Bxa6 Rxa6 12 b5!
The complications begin and it soon becomes clear that White was more familiar with
the subtleties of the position. Carlsen began using up much time to think about his moves.
 12 … cxb5 13 c6 Qc8 14 c7
This is the point. White’s pawn on c7 jams the black position and it is very hard to get
rid of it.
14 … b4 15 Nb5 a4 16 Rc1 Ne4
16 … Ra8 17 Bd6 Bxd6 18 Nxd6 Qa6 is also unpleasant.
17 Ng5 Ndf6 18 Nxe4 Nxe4 19 f3 Ra5

20 fxe4
This is Anand’s improvement on 20 Qe2 as seen in L.Aronian-M.Adams, Bilbao 2013.
This game continued 20 Qe2 Qd7 21 fxe4 Rc8 22 exd5 exd5 23 axb4 Rxb5 24 0-0 Rxb4
25 Qa6 h6 26 Rc6 Bg5 27 Bxg5 hxg5 28 Rfc1 Rc4 29 R1xc4 dxc4 30 Qxb6 a3 31 Rxc4
a2 32 Qa5 Qe6 33 Qxa2 Rxc7 34 Qa8+ Kh7 35 Rxc7 Qxe3+ 36 Kf1 Qf4+ 37 Qf3 Qxc7
38 Qh5+ Kg8 39 Qxg5 Qc4+ 40 Kf2 Qxd4+ ½-½.
20 … Rxb5 21 Qxa4 Ra5 22 Qc6 bxa3
After 22 … dxe4 23 a4 g5 (23 … Bh4+ 24 g3 Be7 25 0-0 Ra7 26 Rc4 leaves Black
very tied down) 24 Bd6 Bxd6 25 Qxd6 Rxa4 26 0-0 the Rook on f8 is paralysed. White
makes further progress after 26 … f5 (both 26 … Ra8 27 Qxb4 Qd7 28 Qxb6 and 26 …
Ra5 27 Rc6! Rd5 28 Qxb4 Re8 29 Rfc1 Rd7 30 Qxb6 are clearly better for White) 27 Rc6
b5 28 d5! with excellent play.
23 exd5 Rxd5 24 Qxb6 Qd7 25 0-0 Rc8 26 Rc6
 26 … g5
26 … h6 was more modest and perhaps better. 26 … Bb4!? is also a defence, intending
… Ba5 whenever possible.
27 Bg3 Bb4
27 … Ra5!? 28 Rxe6 Qxe6 29 Qxa5 Qxe3+ 30 Kh1 Qd3 31 Re1 leaves Black still
wondering about how he is going to activate his rook on c8.
28 Ra1 Ba5
Maybe Black has try and grovel it out, with something like 28 … Bf8, but the defence
is not pleasant at all. As played, Carlsen loses the plot and Anand finishes nicely.
29 Qa6 Bxc7 30 Qc4
Pin and win.
30 … e5 31 Bxe5 Rxe5 32 dxe5 Qe7 33 e6 Kf8 34 Rc1 1-0

We have seen that Black could have improved, but my impression of the line
commencing 6 … Nbd7 is not that favourable.

Game 36
P.Eljanov-V.Kramnik
Baku Olympiad 2016

I think the Bf4 system is very good one for club players to adopt. It’s a bit more
straightforward than the line with Bg5, mainly because there is less to know. You need to
choose wisely against 6 … c5 and, if you do, you will find that Black’s options are limited
if he wants to improvise. In our final game of this chapter we see Vladimir Kramnik keen
to get the strong bishop on f4 off the board.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Nc3 Be7 5 Bf4 0-0 6 e3 Nbd7 7 c5 Nh5!?

This is fashionable at the highest level. At the cost of time Black nabs the dark-
squared bishop. I suppose if you are a solid defender, this line might suit you, but White
obtains an advantage in space.
8 Bd3!
Steady development will do.
8 … Nxf4 9 exf4 b6 10 b4 a5 11 a3 c6 12 0-0 Ba6
Another way to play is 12 … Qc7 13 g3 Ba6 14 Kg2 Bf6 15 Qc2 Bxd3 16 Qxd3 Qb7
17 Rfc1 axb4 18 axb4 Rxa1 19 Rxa1 Ra8 which gives an indication of the rock-solid
nature of this line. White has a spatial edge, but with Black systematically exchanging
pieces, this advantage is of limited value. The game A.Giri-L.Aronian, Paris 2016
continued
20 Qb1 h6 21 Ne5 Bxe5 22 fxe5 Rxa1 23 Qxa1 bxc5 24 bxc5 Nf8 25 Qb1 Qa6 26
Nd1 Qc4 27 Qa1 Qd3 28 Ne3 Ng6 29 h4 Ne7 30 Qa8+ Kh7 31 Qe8 Nf5 32 Nxf5 Qxf5 33
Qxc6 Qe4+ 34 Kg1 Qe1+ 35 Kg2 Qe4+ 36 Kg1 Qe1+ ½-½. A dry game, but excellent
play from Black.
13 Re1
13 b5 cxb5 14 c6 is similar to the Anand formula, but can be met by 14 … Rc8! which
is good for Black.
13 … Bf6 14 Ne5 Bxe5 15 fxe5 Bxd3 16 Qxd3

Each exchange reduces the impact of White’s extra space.

16 … Ra7 17 Ne2 Qa8 18 Qc3 Rb8
Black funnels his major pieces over to the queenside with ease. We now await some
pawn exchanges and further piece trades.
19 h4 h6 20 Nf4 axb4
With White maybe thinking of kingside action ( Nh5, Qg3), the moment has come to
trade.
21 axb4 bxc5 22 bxc5 Rxa1 23 Rxa1 Qb7 24 g3 Nf8 25 Kg2 Ra8 26 Rxa8 Qxa8 27
Qb2
Perhaps this position is a fraction better for White, as he can try to open the kingside
with g4-g5. However, by keeping his queen active, Kramnik manages the disadvantage
comfortably.
27 … Nd7 28 f3 Qa6 29 Kf2 Kf8 30 h5 Kg8 31 g4 Qa4! 32 Ne2 Qa6 33 Qb1 Qa8
34 Qb3 Qa7 35 Qb4 Qa6 36 Ke3 Qa8 37 Qb2 Qa7 38 Qb4 Qa8 39 Nf4 Qa1 40 Kf2
Qa8 41 Nd3
 They call this ‘grinding away’. In reality, not much is going on. We wait for White to
try to open up the kingside.
41 … Qa6 42 Ke3 Kf8 43 Qb2 Kg8 44 f4
This is the only winning attempt.
44 … Qa8 45 g5 hxg5 46 fxg5 Nf8 47 Ne1 Nd7 48 Nf3 Qa7 49 Kf4 Qa8 50 Qb1
Qa7 51 Kg3 Qa8 52 Kg4 Qa6 53 Kg3 Qa8 54 Qb3 Qa7 55 Kg4
Eljanov does not see any way to improve his position.
55 … Qa8 56 Qb1 Qa6 57 Kg3 Qa8 58 Kg4 ½-½
At the current time of writing, the line with 6 … Nbd7 7 c5 Nh5 is looking quite
reasonable for Black, as long as one is patient and careful. This should not deter you from
employing the line with an early Bf4!

Tip: As you become stronger, patience at the board becomes more important.
Chapter Six
The Slav
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6

The Slav defence, characterized by 2 … c6, is one of Black’s best replies to the
Queen’s Gambit. It is both solid and flexible. Black can often switch to attack in many
lines. The Slav is immensely popular at the highest levels because of the variety of
approaches that Black can bring to bear and there is no reason why amateurs should not
play it too. The Slav is an all-round, all-purpose defence.
In chess terms we note that Black keeps the diagonal open for his bishop on c8. The
bishop often deploys to either f5 or g4 and then Black follows with … e7-e6, setting up a
triangle of pawns in the centre. Black may capture on c4 instead, develop the bishop and
then play … e7-e6 again, forming a small centre, restraining White.
Let’s see these ideas in action.

Game 37
M.Parligras-D.Solak
Kragujevac 2016

We deal with the main line first.

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 dxc4
 This looks like anti-positional play, but Black really is threatening to keep his pawn
with … b7-b5. Hence the main line here is 5 a4.
5 a4 Bf5

The Euwe Variation, named after the famous Dutch ex-world champion. Black brings
the bishop out and stops e2-e4 for the time being. White’s chances in this line usually
revolve around whether he can play e2-e4 successfully or not.
6 Ne5
Making room for f2-f3 and then e2-e4. Black must play accurately and sharply.
6 … Nbd7 7 Nxc4 Nb6 8 Ne5
8 Nxb6 Qxb6 9 f3 Rd8 simply gives Black too much play.
8 … a5 9 h4!?
 One of those modern twists, which simply aim to make the position as complicated as
possible. White gains space on the kingside and maintains his threat of f3 and then e2-e4.
Black must look after his light-squared bishop.

Tip: In the Slav, Black’s bishop on c8 can be a very important piece.

9 … e6
Vishy Anand tried 9 … g6 recently in the game L.Aronian-V.Anand, Leuven 2016.
Play continued 9 … g6 10 h5 gxh5!? 11 e4 Bg6 12 Be3 e6 13 Bd3 Nbd7 14 Nxd7 Qxd7
15 f3 Bg7 16 Qd2 0-0 17 Ne2 Rfd8. Here Black has an extra doubled pawn, whereas
White dominates the centre. Note how the pawns on f3 and e4 shut the light-squared
bishop on g6 out of play. The computers say that Black is okay, but it is noticeable that as
soon as he tries to do something, his position instantly becomes worse, so I prefer White
here.
The game concluded: 18 Bg5 c5?! (maybe 18 … e5 was a better way to get some play)
19 Bb5 Qc7 20 Rc1 b6 21 0-0 Rac8 22 Qe1 h6 23 Bh4 Qb8 24 Ba6 Rc7 25 Bg3 Qa7 26
Bxc7 Qxc7 27 dxc5 bxc5 28 Qf2 Nd7 29 Bb5 Bxb2 30 Rc2 Ba3 31 Qe3 Bb4 32 Qxh6
Ne5 33 Nf4 c4 34 Nxg6 (White finally removes the useless bishop, on his terms) 34 …
Nxg6 35 Rxc4 Qg3 36 Qxh5 Bd2 37 Qg4 Be3+ 38 Kh1 Qe5 39 f4 1-0.
An instructive game that teaches us that Black must fight very hard in this variation to
keep his light-squared bishop active.
10 f3 h6
 Necessary, to provide a retreat for the bishop.
11 e4 Bh7 12 Be3 Nfd7 13 Nd3 Bd6 14 Ne2 Nc4 15 Bg1

15 … 0-0
Another remarkable example of the dormant light-squared bishop was seen in the
game A.Demuth-V.Keymer, Bad Ragaz 2016. Black tries to be as aggressive as he can, but
cannot win the battle of the tactics with his bishop on h7 excluded from play: 15 … Qb6
16 Qc2 Bb4+ 17 Nc3 Be7 18 d5 Qd8 19 dxe6 fxe6 20 0-0-0 Qc8 21 Qb3 b5 22 Nf4 Nde5
23 Bd4 Bf6 24 axb5 a4 25 Qb4 cxb5 26 Qxb5+ Kf7 27 Bxc4 Nxc4 28 Bxf6 Kxf6 29 Rd7
g6 30 g4 1-0. The final position tells its own story.
16 Qb3 b5!?
Solak is willing to sacrifice a pawn to try to expose the white king. This seems like a
good idea as it has cost White development time to build his centre. All the same I prefer
the more patient 16 … Ncb6 17 Be3 Kh8 18 Rc1 Qe7 keeping all options open. Black can
look to play … c6-c5, … e6-e5 or … f7-f5 according to circumstances.
17 axb5 cxb5 18 Qxb5 Ndb6 19 Rc1 Rc8 20 b3 Na3 21 Qxa5 Nc2+ 22 Kd1 Ra8 23
Qd2 Na3 24 Be3
White is clearly better although, as we will see, there are still plenty of opportunities
for Black to confuse and complicate.
24 … Qb8 25 Ke1 Nd7 26 Qd1 e5
 27 d5?
Tempting, but I think 27 g4! was the move, restraining Black’s next.
27 … f5!
Bringing both the rook on f8 and our old friend on h7 to life. The tables are turning.
28 exf5 Bxf5 29 Ng3 Bh7 30 Ne4 Bxe4! 31 fxe4 Nf6 32 Nf2 Qb4+
The game has turned rapidly with White now fighting for his mere existence. It seems
that White must be very careful indeed if he lets the light-squared bishop into the game.
33 Bd2 Nxe4!
 Black is even able to sacrifice his queen.
34 Nxe4
Taking the queen was horrendous, e.g. 34 Bxb4 Bxb4+ 35 Ke2 Nxf2 and Black wins.
34 … Qxe4+ 35 Qe2 Qg6
35 … Nc2+! is a little cleaner. Perhaps time trouble affected the game? After 35 …
Nc2+ 36 Kd1 (36 Rxc2 Qxc2 37 Qc4 Ra1+ 38 Ke2 Qd1+ 39 Ke3 Ra2 wins) 36 … Qd4!
37 Rh3 e4 38 Qc4 Rxf1+ 39 Qxf1 Bb4! and Black has a crushing attack in every variation.
36 Qd3
36 Kd1 e4 37 Qe3 Bf4 38 Qd4 e3 wins.
36 … e4 37 Qh3 e3 38 Bxe3 Rae8 39 Kd2 Bb4+ 40 Ke2 Nc2 0-1
Black must be very alert after 6 Ne5 and show great care to avoid being reduced to a
passive position.

Game 38
L.Gofshtein-M.Sadler
Ischia 1996

We now move on to the most common variation of all in the Slav Defence.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 dxc4 5 a4 Bf5 6 e3
 White plays it simply. He will regain his pawn on c4 and follow up with 0-0, Qe2 and
e4. A very logical plan, but Black has plenty of good ways to meet it.
6 … e6 7 Bxc4 Bb4 8 0-0 Nbd7 9 Qe2 0-0
Quick development is the name of the game for Black. He cannot stop e4 in the short,
medium or long-term and so instead readies himself to meet it.
10 e4 Bg6!
The struggle revolves around whether the White central pawns be maintained or
become attacked by active Black pieces.
11 Bd3
11 e5 Nd5 12 Nxd5 cxd5 13 Bd3 Bxd3 14 Qxd3 h6 15 Qb5 Qe7 leads nowhere for
White, as he cannot take on b7: 16 Qxb7 Nxe5! 17 Qxe7 Nxf3+ 18 gxf3 Bxe7.
11 … Bh5! 12 Bf4 Qe7!?
 A new move at the time this game was played. Any of 12 … Re8, 12 … e5, 12 … Qa5
or 12 … c5 can also be chosen according to taste. Black is preparing … e6-e5 and so
White puts a stop to that.
13 e5 Nd5 14 Nxd5 cxd5
The pawn structure is pleasant for Black, with his light squared bishop active on h5.
15 Qe3 Rfc8 16 a5
16 Ne1 a5 17 Nc2 Bg6 is equal.
16 … Bg6 17 Ra4 Bxd3 18 Qxd3 Rc4
 Black has a very harmonious position.

Tip: To assess a position look around and ask yourself whether you have any pieces
which are difficult to develop to good squares. If the answer is yes, you may be worse.

Black has no such problems here.
19 h4?
I think 19 Bg5 is probably best, forcing Black’s queen to a more passive square, but
White still can’t really work up much of an edge. After 19 … Qf8 20 Bd2 Bxd2 21 Rxc4
dxc4 22 Qxd2 b5 the game is equal. Meanwhile 19 Ng5 is a waste of time as 19 … Nf8 is
a good reply.
19 … h6
19 … Nc5!? 20 dxc5 Rxf4 was another option.
20 h5 Nc5!
This is better now, as the pawn on h5 is out on a limb.
21 dxc5 Rxf4
Black is better. Contrast the pawn formations and one immediately sees why.
22 a6 bxa6 23 c6
23 Qxa6 Qxc5 24 Qb7 Qf8 25 Rd1 a5 wins.
 23 … a5! 24 Rc1 Rc8 25 b3 Rc7 26 Rc2 Re4 27 Ra1 Bc5 28 Rxa5
If 28 Rac1 then 28 … Bb6.
28 … Rxc6?!
Letting White back in. 28 … Bb6 29 Ra1 Rb4 will keep White thinking about his
ragged pawns.

29 Rb5?
This is a clear mistake. Instead 29 Qb5! forces 29 … Bxf2+ 30 Rxf2 Rc1+ 31 Rf1
Rxf1+ 32 Kxf1 Rb4 and after 33 Rxa7 Rxb5 34 Rxe7 Rxb3 35 Ke2 when White is the
only one playing for a win.
29 … Qc7! 30 Ra2 Bb6
Black has anchored his position and converts without difficulty.
31 Kh2
31 Ra4 Rc3 32 Qd2 Rc2 doesn’t help.
31 … Rc3 32 Qd2 Qc6 33 Rxb6
33 Ra4 Rc2 34 Qd3 Rxa4 35 bxa4 Rxf2 also wins.
33 … axb6 34 Nd4 Rh4+ 0-1

I would say that Black has an active and coordinated position after 6 e3. At lower
levels this is a line that Black could play without burning the midnight oil for too long.
Game 39
F.Berkes-P.Zhang
Taiyuan 2006

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 dxc4 5 a4 Na6!?

Since White has created a hole on b4 the black knight aims to hop into that square
without delay. This is an excellent positional idea, but it does allow White to play e2-e4
right away.

Tip: They say that a Knight is badly placed on the edge of the board. This may be true,
but if you have a plan to improve its position then things might not be that bad.

5 … a5!? is an idea of Israeli grandmaster Yasha Murey with the same theme of …
Na6-b4 coming up. 5 … a5 slows down any White expansion on the queenside, but of
course it is a pawn move when Black could be getting his pieces developed. The jury is
still out on this interesting concept. Play may proceed 6 e4 Bg4 7 Be3 e6 8 Bxc4 Na6 9 0-
0 Nb4 and Black has a decent game.
6 e4 Bg4 7 Bxc4 Bxf3
One of the points of this line is to saddle White with doubled pawns.
8 gxf3 e6 9 Be3
 I have often wondered whether 9 Bxa6 bxa6 10 Be3 was any good for White. Black’s
queenside pawns are a wreck, yet strong players continue to allow this possibility and
White hardly ever plays 9 Bxa6. The half open b-file gives Black an active opportunity
and therefore 10 … Rb8! 11 Qe2 a5 is an adequate reply. The b2-pawn is a target and
Black can increase pressure with … Rb4 and … Qb8.
9 … Nb4 10 f4 Qa5

11 0-0
11 Rg1 with Rg5 in mind, is another way, but Black remains solid, e.g. 11 … 0-0-0 (11
… g6!? is possible) 12 Qb3 g6 13 Rg5 Qc7 14 a5 h6 15 Rg1 Kb8.
11 … 0-0-0 12 Rc1
12 Qe2 is rather planless here, but it has been tried. Black should keep developing and
hope to weather the storm, e.g. 12 … Kb8 13 Rad1 Be7 14 f5!? (an attempt to make
White’s rather static position work) 14 … exf5 15 f3 Rhf8 16 Kh1 Rd7 when Black is
solidly placed and one can hardly imagine that White has enough for a pawn.
12 … Kb8 13 Qf3 g6 14 Kh1 Be7
 A typical position from this line has been reached. White has to find the best way
forward. You would think that his best chance was to press on the light squares with either
f4-f5 or d4-d5, but those moves are difficult to arrange. Moreover, White’s king is not
completely secure. All in all, the 5 … Na6 variation is a good practical bet as White may
struggle to get it right.
15 Rg1 Ne8 16 Rgd1 Nc7 17 Qg2 Rd7 18 Rd2 Rhd8 19 Rcd1 Na8! 20 Qh3 Nb6 21
Bb3 Qa6 22 f5!
After a period of manoeuvring, White tries his only chance to break in. Greedy players
might have considered 22 Qxh7 Bf6 23 Qh3 but Berkes obviously thought that this might
expose his king.
22 … gxf5 23 exf5 Nc4
 24 Bxc4?!
24 Re2 e5 25 dxe5 Rxd1+ 26 Bxd1 Nxe5 27 Rd2 was a better defence, but the position
is congested and confusing.
24 … Qxc4 25 fxe6 fxe6 26 Qxh7 Bd6 27 Qe4 Bxh2!
A move that induces a state of panic in White’s camp. White’s king position is stripped
away.
28 d5??
He has to remain calm and find 28 f4 Bg3 29 Rg1! Rg8 30 Rh2! Rdg7 31 Qe5+ when
Black has yet to break through.
28 … Rh8
Suddenly, White has no defence.
29 Bxa7+ Ka8 30 Qxc4 Rg7 31 Rd4 Bf4 0-1
An abrupt end to an unusual game.

Game 40
L.Aronian-B.Jobava
European Team Championship, Reykjavik 2015

There are yet further options for Black after 5 a4.

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 dxc4 5 a4 Bg4?!
 The Steiner Variation, perhaps a little too active for its own good. White should force
the pace.
6 Ne5! Bh5 7 f3!
White will try to conduct his usual campaign, consisting of:

1) Dominating the centre, by preparing e2-e4.
2) Regaining his pawn with Nxc4.
3) Freezing Black’s light-squared bishop out of the game.

As he has been given a head start with Ne5, this overall plan has a very good chance of
success. Black must play sharply himself, or risk falling into prospectless position.
7 … Nfd7 8 Nxc4 e5 9 Be3!?
A strange-looking move, but effective nonetheless. It is hard to say why Jobava
perseveres with this line, as White seems to obtain an advantage in virtually every
variation. I suppose the odd positions that come about appeal to his taste.
Instead, 9 g3!? worked well in another Jobava game: 9 … Bb4 10 dxe5 0-0 11 Bh3
Qe7 12 f4 f6 13 e6 Nc5 14 f5 (why not keep the pawn?) 14 … Nba6 15 0-0 Rfd8 16 Qc2
with advantage to White in R.Kasimdzhanov-B.Jobava, Tbilisi 2015.
Complications arise after 9 Ne4 Bb4+ 10 Bd2 Qe7 11 Qb3 which are not especially
favourable to Black.
 9 … Na6 10 g3

10 … f6
Black cannot quite make it to equality after 10 … exd4 11 Qxd4! as White’s pieces are
simply better coordinated, for example 11 … Qf6 (11 … Nb4 12 Qe4+ Qe7 13 Nd6+ Kd8
14 Qxb4 is good as is 11 … Bc5 12 Qxg7) 12 Qxf6 Nxf6 13 0-0-0 Bg6 14 Bf4 Nd7 15 e4
Nac5 16 b4! Ne6 17 Nd6+ Bxd6 18 Bxd6 with a clear advantage.
11 dxe5 Nxe5 12 Qxd8+ Kxd8
Many players would choose 12 … Rxd8 here, not fearing 13 Nxe5 fxe5 14 Bxa7 as
Black can surely work up tricks after 14 … Bc5 15 Bxc5 Nxc5 can’t he? Well, the
problem is that Aronian is one of the best grandmaster in the world and he cannot be
bluffed. White is better after 16 b4 Nb3 17 Rb1 Bf7 18 Bh3 Rd4 19 b5, maintaining his
extra pawn.
13 Nxe5 fxe5 14 Bh3 Kc7 15 Rc1 b6 16 Bf5! Bf7 17 Kf2 g6 18 Be4 Kb7 19 Rhd1
White has effortlessly completed his development and looks forward to a direct attack.
19 … Nc5 20 Bc2 Rc8
20 … a5 trying to keep the c5-square, can be met by 21 Ne4! and Black has no good
moves.
21 Ne4
Anyway!
21 … Nxe4+ 22 Bxe4 Be6
 23 a5! bxa5
He may as well take the pawn. Standing pat with 23 … Be7 runs into 24 a6+ Kb8 25
Bxc6.
24 Bc5!
A very good move, forcing the entry of the White rooks into the attack.
24 … Bf5 25 Bxf5 gxf5 26 Rd3 Rc7 27 Ra3
With his pawns so ragged, rook endgames are very bad for Black.
27 … Bh6 28 Rc2 Rd8 29 Rxa5 a6 30 Ra3 e4 31 Rb3+ Ka8 32 Rb6 Rd5 33 b4
 Faultless play by Aronian. Black’s pawns must drop.
33 … Bd2 34 Ra2 Rb7 35 Rxc6 Rbd7 36 Raxa6+ Kb7 37 Rab6+ Ka8 38 Rb5 e3+
39 Kg2 1-0
I would certainly recommend any of 5 … Bf5, 5 … Na6 or 5 … a5 over 5 … Bg4.

Game 41
A.Volodin-A.Shirov
Keres Memorial, Tallinn 2011

If White is not happy with 5 a4, he may consider other options.

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 dxc4 5 e4
 This is the Geller Gambit, a very sharp line. When White allows Black to protect the
c4-pawn with … b7-b5 he had better know what he is doing. Here White takes the centre
and hopes to attack on the kingside. This is dangerous but Black’s resources are
considerable.
5 e3 is a slower, rather old-fashioned move, as White can force the recapture of the
pawn on c4 in the following manner: 5 … b5 6 a4! b4 (Black cannot keep the pawn with 6
… a6 since then 7 axb5 cxb5 8 Nxb5 is very bad for him as the pawn on a6 is pinned;
furthermore 6 … Bd7 7 Ne5 looks good for White too, who threatens axb5 followed by
Qf3) 7 Na2 e6 8 Bxc4 Be7 9 0-0 0-0 10 Qe2 Bb7 11 Rd1 Nbd7 12 e4 a5 (12 … Rc8 13
Bg5 c5! is the best way to proceed, with good chances for Black) 13 Bg5 (this is about the
best White can do in this variation; Black has to be a little careful) 13 … Re8 14 Nc1 Qb6
15 Nb3 h6 16 Be3 Ba6 17 Nfd2 Bxc4 18 Nxc4 Qc7 19 Qf3 c5 20 Bf4 Qb7 21 d5
(Alekhine has found a way to get on top) 21 … exd5 22 exd5 Qa6 23 Rac1 Bf8 24 Nbxa5
Ne4 25 Nc6 g5 26 Be5 Nxe5 27 N4xe5 f6 28 Qxe4 fxe5 29 d6 Bg7 30 Qd5+ Kh8 31
Qxc5 1-0 A.Alekhine-S.Tarrasch, Hastings 1922.
5 e3 is occasionally seen at grandmaster level even today, if only for the sake of
variety and surprise. However, by developing quickly and aiming to play … c6-c5, Black
can take the sting out of this line.
5 … b5 6 e5 Nd5
 7 a4
7 Ng5 is another brutal-looking line, Black should drive the knight back immediately
with 7 … h6! 8 Nge4 e6 9 Be2 Nd7 10 0-0 Bb7 11 f4 g6! (stopping the white pawn
advance dead in its tracks) 12 Rb1 Qc7 13 a4 b4 14 Na2 c5 15 Kh1 0-0-0 16 Bf3 Kb8 17
dxc5 Nxc5 18 Nxc5 Bxc5 19 Qe2 Qa5 20 Bd2 Qxa4 21 Qxc4 Rc8 22 Nc3 Qc2 0-1,
P.Verdier-M.Illescas, Barcelona 1996. Not a great game by White, but then, 7 Ng5 is not a
great move.
7 … e6 8 axb5 Nxc3 9 bxc3 cxb5 10 Ng5
White pins his hopes on this move, intending to deploy the queen aggressively.
10 … Bb7 11 Qg4 Nc6 12 Be2 Ne7 13 0-0 Nf5 14 Ne4
14 Bf3 Bd5 looks very solid for Black indeed.
14 … h5 15 Qf4 Be7 16 Bf3 Bd5 17 Re1 g5
 A bit unexpected, but typical of Shirov who likes to take it to his opponent as soon as
he can. It is hard to believe that White has anything for his pawn at all.
18 Qd2 Kf8! 19 g3 a5 20 Bg2 b4
Black’s queenside pawn majority is a powerful force, should the White attack run
aground.
21 Qe2 g4 22 Bb2 Kg7 23 h3 gxh3 24 Bxh3 Rh6 25 Nd2 Rc8 26 Rac1 b3 27 Ra1
Nxd4
27 … h4 28 g4 Nxd4 was an alternative.
28 cxd4 c3 29 Nxb3 cxb2 30 Qxb2 Rb8 31 Re3 Qb6 0-1
It is fair to say that the best days of the Geller Gambit are behind us.

Game 42
P.Wells-J.Houska
British Championship, Sheffield 2011

I mentioned at the beginning of the chapter that the Slav could be flexible. Let us consider
a modern approach involving an early … a7-a6, which is very popular amongst
grandmasters.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 a6!
 A more than useful waiting move, preparing … b7-b5 to gain space on the queenside
and keeping all options open. Black delays the modelling of his pawn structure and the
deployment of his minor pieces. Korchnoi once remarked that 4 … a6 had to be a mistake
because the b6-square was weakened. Nobody has yet been able to prove it.
5 a4
Very committal, but Wells is not afraid of a sharp struggle. White has numerous
alternatives after 4 … a6, including 5 c5, 5 e3, 5 Ne5 and 5 g3.
5 … e6 6 g3 Bb4
6 … c5! is a slightly surprising move, but a good one. One of the great advantages of
this line lies in Black’s ability to change the pawn structure to his or her design. After 6 …
c5 the game A.Grischuk-S.Movsesian, Ningbo 2011 continued 7 cxd5 cxd4 8 Nxd4 Nxd5
9 Bg2 Nxc3 10 bxc3 e5 11 Nb3 Qxd1+ 12 Kxd1 Nc6 13 Be3 Be6 14 Kc2 0-0-0 15 Bb6
Rd7 16 Rhd1 Rxd1 17 Rxd1 Be7 18 Bxc6 bxc6 19 Na5 c5 20 c4 h5 21 Nc6 Bf6 22 Na5
Be7 23 Nc6 Bf6 24 Na5 Be7 ½-½.
7 Bg2 Nbd7 8 0-0 a5
Fixing b4. The next task is to develop the queenside.
9 Qc2 0-0 10 Rd1 b6 11 cxd5 cxd5 12 Nb5
12 Bf4 Ba6 13 Ne5 Rc8 is comfortable for Black too.
12 … Ba6 13 Bf4 Rc8 14 Qb3 Bxb5
This could have been delayed. 14 … Ne4 15 Rac1 Qe7 with similar ideas to the game,
but preserving some options, might have been better.
 15 axb5 Ne4

16 h4!?
It looks like Peter Wells was finding it difficult to construct a plan to play for the
advantage. 16 Rac1 was an alternative and then after 16 … Bd6:
a) 16 … Qe7 17 Rc6 is unclear.
b) 16 … Rxc1 17 Rxc1 g5 (17 … Bd6 18 Be3 Ndf6 19 Ne5 is also possible) 18 Be3 f5
19 Rc6 f4 and White may be able to keep an edge in this complicated middle game.
16 … Nd6 17 Qd3 Nc4
Counterplay arrives, right on time.
18 Rab1 Bd6 19 Bg5 f6 20 b3 Na3
 21 Rbc1
A necessary piece sacrifice. If 21 Ra1 Black takes on g5, e.g. 21 … fxg5 when play
can continue 22 Nxg5 Nf6 23 Bh3 (23 Nxe6 Qd7 24 Nxf8 Rxf8 25 Rac1 Nxb5 is good for
Black) 23 … Re8 24 Bxe6+ Rxe6 25 Nxe6 Qd7 26 Ng5 Nxb5 with good play.
21 … fxg5 22 Nxg5 Nf6 23 Bh3
Both players were running short of time, but it is surprising that the relatively
straightforward 23 Nxe6! Qd7 24 Nxf8 Rxf8 25 Rc6 was not played.
23 … Rxc1 24 Rxc1 Qe7 25 Bxe6+ Kh8 26 Rc6 h6! 27 Nf7+ Rxf7 28 Bxf7 Qxf7 29
Rxd6 Ne4 30 Rd8+ Kh7 31 f3 Qc7! 32 Rxd5 Qxg3+ 33 Kh1 Qxh4+ 34 Kg2 Qg3+ 35
Kh1 Qh3+ 36 Kg1 ½-½
I think that the line with 4..a6 is suitable for all classes of player.

Tip: Here you have a strong, solid, flexible weapon which will score lots of points
in tournament play.
Chapter Seven
The Semi-Slav and Meran
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Nf3 e6

The Semi Slav complex is characterized by the moves … c7-c6 and … e7-e6 by
Black, where he deliberately blocks in his bishop on c8. Play can easily transpose back
into the classical variations, where Black goes into one of the old main lines or angles for
the Cambridge Springs set-up. However, Black’s intentions are often much more
aggressive than that.
There are two main moves for White:

a) 5 Bg5 dxc4 introduces the Botvinnik variation, a labyrinth of complicated lines.
b) 5 e3 is a quieter-looking idea that leads to the Meran after 5 … Nbd7. White then
usually chooses between 6 Bd3 or 6 Qc2, both of which look to play e3-e4 at the right
moment in the early middle-game.

Game 43
G.Kasparov-A.Miles
Basel 1986
Let us first take a look at the Botvinnik Variation.
1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 c4 c6 4 Nc3 e6 5 Bg5

This is the thematic Queen’s Gambit move, but the problems begin when Black takes
on c4 mixing things up.
Botvinnik, three-times world champion in the 1950s and 1960s, researched this system
thoroughly and was able to defeat everyone with it thanks to his superior preparation.
Nowadays, when all the information you could ever need is available with a few mouse
clicks, playing the Botvinnik System for either colour becomes a question of who can
remember the most.
We start with a Kasparov masterpiece, which more than hints at the difficulty of the
positions which arise.
5 … dxc4 6 e4 b5 7 e5
After 7 a4 Bb4 8 e5 h6 leads us into a similar maze to the game.
7 … h6 8 Bh4 g5 9 Nxg5 hxg5
9 … Nd5 is another very sharp try, which has been analysed to be better for White,
although I doubt any club players will know how to meet it.
10 Bxg5 Nbd7 11 exf6 Qa5
 A tricky line, where Black intends … b5-b4, after which the Bishop on g5 is attacked.
As usual (and this was played before the computer age) Kasparov is right on top of the
theory.
12 g3 b4 13 Ne4 Ba6 14 Qf3 0-0-0 15 b3!
As Black has put his king in the firing line, Kasparov opens up the queenside.
15 … cxb3 16 Bxa6+ Qxa6 17 Qxb3 Qb5 18 Rc1!
A novelty at that time, although the move is easily understood. White simply increases
the pressure against the Black king.
18 … Nb6 19 Be3 a5?!
19 … Rd5 is preferable but 20 Qc2 is still better for White.
 20 Qc2
Kasparov gives 20 Ng5! a4 (20 … Rd7 is met by 21 Nxf7! Rxf7 22 Qxe6+ Rd7 23
Rxc6+ Kb7 24 Rxb6+ winning) 21 Qc2 Rd7 22 Qxc6+ Qxc6 23 Rxc6+ Kb7 24 Rc1 and
again White is winning. Not much fun for Black, is it?
20 … Kb7 21 Qe2 Qd5?!
Taking off the queens is grim but after 21 … Qxe2+ 22 Kxe2 Nd5 23 h4! the passed h-
pawn is often a major trump for White in this line and I don’t really see any compensation
for Black’s missing pawn. He can consider 21 … Rd5 but even there 22 h4 is good.
22 f3 Nd7 23 0-0 Bh6 24 Rf2! Kb6
Black could have tried a counterattack with 24 … e5. However, Kasparov explains
how to counter this: 25 Bxh6 Rxh6 26 Qe3 Rhh8 27 Rd2 winning.
 25 a3!
A further opening of the queenside in order to fatally expose the Black king.
25 … Rb8
If 25 … Bxe3 26 Qxe3 Rb8 (26 … b3 27 Nc3 and d5 will win) 27 axb4 axb4 28 Rfc2
Rhc8 29 Rc4 again winning.
26 axb4 axb4 27 Bxh6 Rxh6 28 Qd2 1-0
Forking the pawn on b4 and the rook on h6.

Warning: It really is a terrible fate to lose a game when someone knows more
theory than you, as you never really feel that you played a single original move.
On the chessboard, that is a feeling to avoid.

Game 44
L.Van Wely-W.So
Wijk aan Zee 2013

For every game like the previous one, there are spectacular Black wins to even up the
score. The very best players see the complicated positions that arise as an ideal
battleground to play for the full point.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 e6 5 Bg5 h6
This is the Moscow variation, usually a very solid way to proceed.
 6 Bh4!?

Van Wely, as usual, goes for it. Black’s chances are supposedly improved on the
Botvinnik variation, as after 6 … dxc4 now, he has played an extra move.
Instead, the modest 6 Bxf6 Qxf6 7 e3 is the usual continuation for White, aiming to
achieve nothing more than a small edge in space and a slightly easier development. Black
meanwhile, has two bishops. This line demands patience from Black and you have to
know what to do when White plays 6 Bh4!?
6 … dxc4! 7 e4 g5
Black confidently keeps his extra pawn, but what concessions will he have to make?
8 Bg3 b5 9 Be2 Bb7 10 0-0
10 h4 is a dangerous idea, when Black should try 10 … g4 11 Ne5 Nbd7 and be
prepared to give his pawn back, e.g. 12 Nxd7 (also possible is 12 Bxg4 Nxe5 13 Bxe5
Rg8 14 Bf3 Be7 15 Qe2 Nd7) 12 … Nxd7 13 Bxg4 Qb6 and Black will probably castle
long in the near future.
10 … Nbd7 11 Ne5 Bg7 12 Nxd7 Nxd7 13 Bd6 a6
 This is pretty much standard fare so far and very complicated. White’s last move keeps
the Black king in the middle and now with 14 a4, he is trying to make it is tough as
possible for Black if he is intending to castle long. Black would like to, as usual, play …
c6-c5 to unleash the Bishop on b7 and he has chances to attack the White centre. The
position is genuinely unclear.
14 a4 b4 15 Nb1
The game V.Anand-B.Gelfand, Monte Carlo 2011 saw White try 15 Bxb4 and play
continued 15 … Qb6 16 Ba3 Qxd4 17 Qc2 c5! 18 Rad1 Qe5 19 Bxc4 Qc7 20 Nb1 0-0
(this might seem suicidal to club players, but it is hardly easy to attack Black’s king) 21
Nd2 Ne5 22 Be2 Rfc8 23 Kh1 c4 24 Rc1 Qc6 25 f3 Nd3 26 Rb1 Nxb2 (26 … Bd4 is
safer, with a well centralized position for Black) 27 Bxb2 c3 28 Bxc3 Qxc3 29 Qxc3 Bxc3
30 Nc4 Rc7 31 Rfc1 Bd4 32 Na5 Rxc1+ 33 Rxc1 Ra7! 34 Rc7 Ba8 35 Rxa7 Bxa7 36
Bxa6 f5 37 exf5 exf5 38 Bb7 Bb6 39 Nc4 Bxb7 40 Nxb6 Kf7 41 Kg1 Ke6 42 Kf2 f4 43
Nc4 Kd5 44 Nd2 Kc5 ½-½. In the end, Gelfand just developed enough counterplay.
15 … Nf6 16 e5 Ne4 17 Bxb4 c5!
This all looks fantastically imaginative, but the cold fact is that both players were still
following theory.
18 dxc5
18 Ba3 seems good if you consider only the result of V.Topalov-B.Gelfand, Monte
Carlo 2011, but Black did not play so well: 18 … cxd4 19 Bf3 Bf8? (19 … Rc8! is a much
better move and, again, very complicated: 20 Nd2 Nxd2 21 Bxb7 Nxf1 22 Bxa6 Rb8 23
Bd6 Rxb2 24 Bb5+ Rxb5 25 axb5 Bf8 26 Qxd4 Bxd6 27 exd6 0-0) 20 Re1 Bxa3 21 Nxa3
Nc5 22 Nxc4 0-0 23 b4 Bxf3 24 Qxf3 Nd7 25 h4! (decisive, as Black is not able to defend
his king position anything like as well this time around) 25 … Rc8 26 Qd3 Qc7 27 Rac1
Nb6 28 Nd6! Qxc1 29 Rxc1 Rxc1+ 30 Kh2 Rc3 31 Qxd4 Nd5 32 hxg5 hxg5 33 Qg4 1-0.
18 … Bxe5 19 Na3 Qc7 20 Nxc4 Bxh2+ 21 Kh1

21 … Rd8
21 … Qf4 22 Nd6+ Nxd6 23 Qxd6 Qxd6 24 cxd6 Bf4 wins.
22 Qb3?!
22 Qe1 allows 22 … Rd4! 23 Ba5 Qf4 24 Ra3 g4 with what looks like a strong Black
attack.
22 … Qf4! 23 Qf3 Qh4
Van Wely has faltered in the maze of possibilities and now he faces a complete wipe-
out of his king. He gives up the exchange without too much hope.
24 Qg4
24 Qh5 Nxf2+ 25 Rxf2 Qxf2 26 Qxh2 Qxe2 27 Nd6+ Rxd6 28 cxd6 Kd7 wins for
Black.
24 … Nxf2+ 25 Rxf2 Qxf2
 26 c6?
The final blunder and you have to say that White seems to have lost hope. He must try
26 Rf1 and hope that he can hang on after 26 … Qg3 27 Nd6+ Rxd6 28 Qxg3 Bxg3 29
cxd6 Bf4. This is doubtful, however, as the d6-pawn is ripe for plucking.
26 … Bxc6 27 Rf1 Qg3 28 Qxg3 Bxg3 29 Bh5 Rd4!
So finishes in style.
30 Bxf7+ Kd7 31 Bc3 Rh4+ 32 Kg1 Bh2+ 33 Kf2 Rf4+ 0-1
Ferocious complications are common in this variation.

Note: They say that the Queen’s Gambit is not really a gambit at all, as if Black takes
on c4, White always gets his pawn back. In the following game we see the kind of mess
Black gets into if he greedily grabs and tries to keep the gambit pawn.

Game 45
H.Nakamura-A.Giri
Sinquefield Cup, Saint Louis 2016

Once White has played Bg5 and allowed the capture on c4, he has burned his bridges.
There is no escaping a razor-sharp game if that is what Black desires. Many of Black’s
opportunities in the Botvinnik Semi-Slav come from the strong queenside pawn majority
and so White sometimes tries to stem this tide by playing an early a2-a4.
1 Nf3 d5 2 d4 Nf6 3 c4 e6 4 Nc3 c6 5 Bg5 dxc4 6 a4!?
 There is no going back after this! Black is able to play … Bf8-b4 and should do so.
6 … Bb4
The pin on the knight refreshes the threat of … b7-b5.
7 e4 Qa5
7 … b5 8 e5 h6 is another one of those lines that can lead to mayhem. Play may
proceed 9 exf6 hxg5 10 fxg7 Rg8 and now White can choose between 11 h4 and 11 g3.
Predictably, Giri tries to steer the game into a less random position, where he can use his
excellent technique to best effect.
8 Bd2 c5
To me, this seems like a pretty good way to meet White’s variation. Black frees up his
queenside and should be able to complete development comfortably.
9 Bxc4 cxd4 10 Nxd4 0-0
 11 Nc2
11 Qe2 was successful in Le Quiem-L.Dominguez, Lubbock 2011, but this was very
dependent on poor Black play: 11 … Nc6 12 Nc2 Ne5 13 Ba2 Rd8 14 0-0 b6 15 Nxb4
Qxb4 16 Rfd1 Bb7 (the hole on b4 prevents White from claiming any advantage) 17 Be1
Nxe4 18 Nb5 (18 Nd5! Qxa4 19 Ne7+ Kh8 20 Bd5 looks rather strong) 18 … Rxd1 19
Rxd1 Qxa4 (Black now has a clear advantage) 20 b3 Qa6 21 Bb1 f5 (21 … Rf8! is a good
move) 22 f3 Bc6 23 fxe4 Bxb5 24 Qb2 Nd3 25 Bxd3 Bxd3 26 exf5 Bxf5?? (the culprit; 26
… Re8! 27 f6 Qb5 28 fxg7 Qc5+ 29 Bf2 Qc2 was correct) 27 Rd7 e5 28 Qxe5 Bxd7 29
Bc3 1-0.
11 … Nc6 12 Nxb4 Qxb4 13 b3 Qe7 14 0-0 Rd8 15 Re1 Ne5 16 Bf1 Bd7
A new move from Giri, with his rock-solid stamp written all over it. Black may place
his bishop on b7 instead, for example 16 … b6 17 Qc2 Bb7 18 f3 Rac8 with a fully
coordinated position where Black is equal.
17 Qe2 Bc6 18 Bg5 h6 19 Bh4 Ng6 20 Bg3 Rd7 21 f3 Rad8
 White has two bishops but is he nursing some weak squares on his queenside. The
position is level. As is typical of modern chess, the two players keep the game going and
grind on.
22 Qe3 a6 23 Rab1 Qb4?!
Possibly 23 … e5 was better immediately, leaving the queen where she is. Black loses
time as a result of this adventure.
24 Rec1 e5 25 Be1 Qe7 26 Na2 Rd4 27 Ba5 R8d7 28 Bc3
Nakamura has managed to make his dark-squared pressure the focal point of the
position and forces Giri into sacrificing a piece.
28 … Bxe4 29 fxe4 Rxe4 30 Qa7 b5
 31 Qxa6!
All Black can do now is to launch a speculative attack, which should not really work.
31 … Ng4 32 h3
32 Rb2 also defends everything.
32 … Qc5+ 33 Kh1 Nf2+ 34 Kh2 Qe3 35 Re1 Qf4+ 36 g3 Qf5 37 Bg2 Rh4 38 Qa8+
Kh7 39 Qf3?
Possibly Nakamura was in time trouble, as he misses the simple capture of the Black
rook, e.g. 39 gxh4 Qf4+ (39 … Rd3 40 Rb2 – time and again Rb2 will keep Black at bay –
40 … Nxh4 41 Qe4!! Nxe4 42 Bxe4 winning) 40 Kg1 Rd3 41 Rb2! Nxh3+ 42 Bxh3 Rxh3
43 Qe4 and White wins.
39 … Rxh3+ 40 Kg1 Qxf3 41 Bxf3 Nd3?!
This is a very nervy and exciting part of the game as Giri, doubtless under time
pressure himself, misses a tactical shot. 41 … Ng4! was the right square for the knight: 42
Bxg4 Rxg3+ 43 Kh2 Rxg4.
42 Re3! Rxg3+ 43 Kh2 Rxf3 44 Rxf3 bxa4 45 bxa4 e4 46 Rf5 Nh4 47 Rfb5 Nf4 48
R5b4 Rd3 49 Rxe4 g5 50 Rxf4! gxf4 51 Rf1
Black has reduced the number of White pawns to a minimum, but unfortunately for
him, the one pawn that White does have left will be enough to win the game.
51 … Nf3+ 52 Kh1 Kg6 53 a5 Kf5 54 a6 Ng5 55 a7 Rh3+ 56 Kg1 Rg3+ 57 Kf2
Ne4+ 58 Ke1 Rg8 59 Bd4 Kg4 60 Be5 1-0

 If you wish to get involved in the Botvinnik Semi-Slav with either colour, you will
find a rich world of complications, which will take an enormous amount of your time to
unravel. If you like these theoretical investigations, you will be amply rewarded. If you are
a normal human being and not a chess professional, then I advise you to admire from afar.

Game 46
R.Rapport-D.Navara
Biel 2015

The Botvinnik Variation and the Meran Variation are lines which depend on White to
develop his knight to f3 at an early stage. The opening move order is important, as if
White plays a traditional Queen’s Gambit move order of 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5
c6 we find that with 5 e3!, he can avoid the complex variations altogether. Thus the Semi-
Slav crops up a lot after White opens 1 Nf3 or 1 c4, but not necessarily after 1 d4. Note
the opening moves of the coming game.

1 Nf3 d5 2 d4 Nf6 3 c4 c6 4 Nc3 e6 5 e3

White decides to protect his pawn on c4, with what looks a rather passive move.
Surprisingly, decent alternatives to 5 Bg5 or 5 e3 are difficult to find. If White tries to play
an early Bf4 he runs into 5 Bf4 dxc4! 6 e3 (6 e4 b5) 6 … Nd5! 7 Bxc4 Nxf4 8 exf4 Nd7 9
0-0 Bd6 with a good position for Black.
Meanwhile the capture on d5 leads to a poor version of the exchange variation where
Black gets to develop his problem bishop on c8 with ease, e.g. 5 cxd5 exd5 6 Bg5 (6 Qc2
is met by 6 … g6! intending … Bf5) 6 … Bf5! 7 e3 Be7 with equality.
 5 … Nbd7 6 Bd3
6 Qc2 is another main line.
6 … dxc4 7 Bxc4 b5
This looks loose, but if Black is allowed to play his plan of … Bb7, … a6 and then …
c6-c5!, all his problems will be solved.
8 Bd3 Bd6!?
Navara’s speciality. Black intends to answer e3-e4 with … e6-e5!, putting … c6-c5 on
hold for the time being. There are plenty of other ideas and you may take your pick from 8
… Bb7, 8 … a6 or 8 … b4. All of these have their own large fan clubs.
9 0-0 0-0

10 Ne2
After 10 Qc2 Black can revert to more Meran-like play by aiming for a quick … c5!,
for example 10 … Bb7 11 a3 Rc8 12 Rd1 c5! (Black has no problems after this aggressive
and active move) 13 Bxb5 Bxf3 14 gxf3 cxd4 15 Rxd4 Be5 16 Rd1 Rc5 17 Qe2 Qb8 (17
… Qc7 is a bit better, aiming at both h2 and c3) 18 f4 Bxc3 19 Bxd7 Nxd7 20 Rxd7 Bf6
21 b4! (an unexpected move by Nakamura, which gives White a slight pull after the
exchanges to follow) 21 … Bxa1 22 bxc5 Qc8 23 Qb5 (23 Rd1! maintains the White
advantage, as after 23 … Qxc5 24 Bd2! threatening the bishop and Bb4, Black is in
trouble, e.g. 24 … Qxa3 25 Qe1! Bf6 26 Bb4 and White stands well) 23 … a6 24 Qd3
Qxc5 25 Bd2 a5 26 h3 g6 27 Rb7 Bf6 28 Rb5 Qc6 29 Bxa5 Qf3 30 Qf1 Rc8 31 Rb1 Kg7
32 Bb4 Rc2 (Black has enough counter play for the pawn) 33 Qg2 Qe2 34 Qf1 Qh5?
(optimistic – he should settle for repetition with 34 … Qf3) 35 Qd3 Rc8 36 Kg2 Rd8 37
Qe4 Qe2 38 Rc1 h6 39 a4 Qd3 1-0, H.Nakamura-D.Navara, Prague 2014. Maybe Black
lost on time, or he just thought that his position was hopeless after 40 Qxd3 Rxd3 41 a5.
A typically messy game in this line, where the complications mean that the chance of
either player making a mistake is high.
10 … a6 11 a4 Bb7 12 axb5 cxb5 13 Ng3 e5
Since White has allowed Black to play both … c6-c5 and … e6-e5, he cannot claim
any advantage and may actually stand a bit worse. Not a great result from the opening.
14 Bb1 Re8 15 Ba2 h6 16 Bd2 Bc7 17 Nh4 Nf8 18 Nhf5 Ne6 19 dxe5 Bxe5 20 f4?
Rapport is known for his uncompromising, sharp style, but this is pushing it too far.
Black has a perfectly good position and so it is hardly likely that he can be taken apart by
a move like 20 f4. Instead simply 20 Bc3 was indicated, with rough equality after 20 …
Bxc3 21 bxc3 Qc7 22 Qd6.
20 … Bxb2 21 Rb1 Ba3 22 Bc3 Qxd1 23 Rbxd1 Ne4!

An excellent move, inviting favourable complications.

24 Bxg7
Other moves leave White material down.
24 … Nxg3
Or 24 … Nxg7 25 Nxh6+ Kh7! 26 Nxf7 Nxg3 27 Ng5+ (27 hxg3 Nf5 28 Rd7 Re7 29
Rxe7 Bxe7 wins) 27 … Kg6! 28 Bf7+ Kf6 29 hxg3 Rxe3 wins.
25 hxg3 Be4
 Again 25 … Nxg7 looks very good after 26 Nxh6+ Kf8 27 Rd7 (27 Bxf7 Rxe3) 27 …
Re7.
26 Bb2 Bxb2 27 Nd6 Bc6 28 f5
White recognizes he is losing and tries to confuse his opponent, who keeps control
well.
28 … Ng5 29 Nxe8 Bxe8 30 Rd6 Kh7 31 f6 Be5 32 Rd5 Bxg3 33 Rfd1 Kg6 34 Rf1
Kh7 35 Rfd1 Bc7 36 Bb1+ Kg8 37 Kf2
White has run out of ammo.
37 … Nh7 38 Rc5 Bb6 39 Rcd5 Nxf6 40 Rd6 Ng4+ 0-1

Game 47
M.Vachier-Lagrave-V.Topalov
Stavanger 2015

The Meran demands precision, a good memory and a capacity for hard work. I suppose
the drawback for club players is the usual one: have you got the time to study chess to the
exclusion of everything else?
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Nc3 c6 5 e3!?
Already a move the unenlightened player will find puzzling. Why does White block in
the bishop on c1? In chess terms the answer is simple: White doesn’t want Black to take
on c4. However, the slowing down of White’s development is a high price to pay.
5 … Nbd7 6 Bd3 dxc4
Black wins the ‘battle for the tempo’.
7 Bxc4 b5 8 Bd3 Bb7 9 0-0 a6 10 e4 c5!
 We have surely become accustomed to this freeing break by Black. The only question
is whether Black is going into action too early with his king still stuck in the middle.
Vachier-Lagrave is one of the best prepared grandmasters on the planet and so we await
his opening idea. So far this is all very well-known stuff.
11 d5 Qc7
11 … exd5 12 exd5 opens the position a bit early. Black can be embarrassed with a
quick Re1+.
12 dxe6 fxe6
Black has acquired an isolated pawn on e6 in return for activity.
13 Bc2 Bd6 14 Ng5!? Nf8
14 … Bxh2+ 15 Kh1 Nf8 leaves the bishop on h2 stranded after 16 f4! and White gets
a big attack with 16 … Bg3 17 e5! h6 18 Nh3 Rd8 19 Qe2.
15 f4 0-0-0
 16 Qe1
I must say that 16 Qe2 feels a bit more natural, but White came crashing down in the
high-powered game V.Laznicka-A.Shirov Novy Bor 2012 after 16 … h6 17 Nf3 (17 Nh3
c4 18 e5 Bc5+ 19 Kh1 Nd5 is equal) 17 … Bxf4 18 a4!? b4 19 e5 Bxf3 20 Rxf3 Bxe5 21
Qxa6+ Kb8 22 Rxf6?! (there are some moves I just don’t understand: 22 Qb5+ Qb7 23
Qe2 makes sense) 22 … gxf6 23 Be4 Qa7 24 Qb5+ Kc8 25 Be3 bxc3 26 bxc3 Bd6 27 a5
Rd7 28 a6 Kd8 29 Qc6 f5 30 Bf3 Ng6 31 Be2 Ne7 32 Qf3 Nd5 33 Bf2 Qb8 34 c4 Nf6 35
Qa3 Rhh7 36 Bh4 Be5 37 Qxc5 Qa7 0-1.
16 … e5 17 f5 h6 18 Nf3 N8d7 19 Kh1 Rhe8 20 Bd2 Qc6
 21 Rd1
This is the first new idea, hoping to improve over the previously played 21 Be3. To be
honest, I am not actually sure what White is doing. I like Black’s queenside pawn majority
and active chances. Positions such as these are one of the reasons the Meran is so popular.
21 … Nb6 22 Nd5?
22 Be3 was indicated, but Black is in no trouble even after that.
22 … Nbxd5 23 exd5
 23 … Qd7
There was nothing wrong with 23 … Qxd5! 24 Ba5 e4!!, but maybe Topalov thinks
his position is good enough to avoid risk or over-sharp lines. Nevertheless, the queen
sacrifice is excellent for Black, for example 25 Rxd5 (or 25 Ng5 Qe5) 25 … exf3 hitting
the White queen and now:
a) 26 Qd2 fxg2+ 27 Kxg2 (27 Kg1 Bxh2+! 28 Kxh2 gxf1N+ wins) 27 … Bxd5+ 28
Kg1 Ng4 29 Bxd8 Bxh2+ 30 Qxh2 Nxh2 31 Kxh2 Re2+ winning.
b) 26 Qh4 fxg2+ 27 Kg1; 26 … fxg2+ 27 Kg1 Ng4! 28 Rxd6 gxf1Q+ 29 Qxf1 Rxd6
and again Black wins.
24 Ba5 e4! 25 Ng1 Bc7 26 d6 Bxa5 27 Qxa5 e3
 So much for the weak, isolated pawn which is, in fact, finishing White off.
28 Ne2 Qc6 0-1
Vachier Lagrave has had enough. When he blocks the threat of mate, Topalov will take
on d6, with a completely winning position

Tip: Making practical, sensible opening choices is important if you want to improve, but
only have limited time at your disposal. DO NOT choose highly analysed variations,
which demand lots of study.
Chapter Eight
The Tarrasch Defence
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 c5

The Tarrasch Defence to the Queen’s Gambit is a free-flowing attempt by Black to

break the shackles as early as possible in proceedings. I think it is an ideal weapon for the
club player, thanks to the active game that Black often obtains. The activity comes with a
price and Black normally inherits an isolated d-pawn, but in return the initiative offers
good compensation.
Positionally, White can feel happy when he sees 3 … c5 on the board and if you feel
confident that you can keep the position under control with good technique, then there is
no reason to feel nervous about the Black aggression.
At grandmaster level, results tend to favour White, but that should not deter anyone
from adopting this most interesting system of play.

Game 48
B.Larsen-G.Kasparov
Niksic 1983

The Tarrasch Defence has been used in World Championship matches by Boris Spassky
and Garry Kasparov. In the early 1980s Kasparov was playing the Tarrasch on a regular
basis to defeat very strong opponents. The active and aggressive Black approach
conformed perfectly to his style. Let’s now go through the normal move order, leading to
the starting position of the main line.
1 c4 e6 2 Nc3 d5 3 d4 c5 4 cxd5 exd5 5 Nf3
White can consider taking on c5 immediately with 5 dxc5 but Black can disturb the
knight on c3 with 5 … d4! This is definitely playable for White after both 6 Na4 or 6 Ne4,
but not many people choose this line.
5 … Nc6 6 g3
All of 6 e3 ,6 Bg5, 6 dxc5 and 6 Bf4 have been tried, but 6 g3 is most logical as, from
g2, the bishop targets the d5-pawn.
6 … Nf6
6 … c4 is the Swedish variation, which is an unconventional way to handle the
Tarrasch. Play often proceeds 7 Bg2 Bb4 8 0-0 Nge7. Fixing the central pawn formation is
a bit inflexible for Black and it is thought that ideas such as Ne5 and a quick e2-e4 give
White the advantage. This is not 100% clear though as Black has queenside counterplay.
7 Bg2 Be7 8 0-0 0-0

Both sides develop naturally and White now has to decide how to proceed. We now
join a game between two of the finest creative players who have ever lived.
9 b3
A solid set up from Larsen. Instead, 9 dxc5 is the most direct way to isolate the pawn
on d5, but then White has to reckon with both 9 … d4!? as well as 9 … Bxc5.
 9 … Ne4 10 Bb2 Bf6 11 Na4 Re8
Pressure against the e2-pawn is a typical Tarrasch motif. Note how Kasparov
concentrates on activating his pieces to the maximum even at this early stage, as he
understands that passive play would just lead to the loss of his pawn on d5.
12 Rc1

12 … b6!
12 … cxd4 13 Nxd4 Bd7 14 Nc5 Nxd4 15 Bxd4 Bb5 is another reasonable approach,
where we again see Black getting his pieces to aggressive squares and in this case, setting
up pressure against e2. Play can continue 16 Re1 b6 17 Nxe4 dxe4? (17 … Bxd4 18 Qxd4
dxe4 was easier, with equality) 18 Bxf6 Qxd1 19 Rexd1 gxf6 20 e3 Be2 21 Rd7 Bg4 22
Rd4 f5 (Black now has to fight hard even to draw) 23 h3 Bh5 24 g4?! (24 Rd5! Bg6 25 h4
h6 26 Bh3 Rec8 27 Rxc8+ Rxc8 28 Bxf5 Bxf5 29 Rxf5 Rc2 30 a4 Rb2 31 Rb5 is not nice
for Black at all) 24 … Bg6 25 Kh2 fxg4 26 hxg4 Re5 27 Rcd1 h5 28 Rd8+ Rxd8 29
Rxd8+ Kg7 30 Rd7 a5 31 Rb7 b5 32 a3 hxg4 33 Kg3 Bf5 34 Bf1 b4 35 axb4 axb4 36
Rxb4 Be6 37 Rb8 Rc5 38 Be2 Rc2 39 Ba6 Rc1 40 b4 Rg1+ 41 Kh2 Rb1 42 b5 Bc4 43
Bc8 Rxb5 44 Rxb5 Bxb5 45 Kg3 Kf6 46 Kf4 g3 47 fxg3 Ke7 48 Kxe4 f6 49 Kf4 Bc6 ½-
½, G.Sargissian-P.Harikrishna, Huaian 2016.
13 dxc5 Bxb2 14 Nxb2 bxc5 15 Na4 Ba6
The point of Black’s play, setting up veiled threats against e2.
16 Re1 c4
 17 Nh4?!
This is rather time consuming.

Tip: Exchanging pieces is a good idea when your pawn structure is superior.

Thus 17 Nd2 is more commonly played, with a couple of possibilities:
a) 17 … cxb3 18 Rxc6 Bb5 19 Rc3!? Bxa4 20 Nxe4 dxe4 21 axb3 Bb5 22 Qc2 Qd4
with equality.
b) 17 … Qf6 18 Nxe4 dxe4 19 bxc4 Rad8 20 Qb3 e3 is unclear.
17 … Qa5! 18 Nf5 g6 19 Nd4 Rac8
Black is a bit better. His rooks are more active and the knight on a4 is unimpressive.
Larsen continues to play optimistically, but his position does not really warrant the
following extravagant move.
20 h4?!
Trading down was better, in the hope that he could hang on after 20 Nxc6 Rxc6 21
Bxe4 dxe4 22 Qd7 Rec8 23 Red1 R6c7 24 Qd2.
20 … Ne5! 21 Bh3 Rc7 22 Nc2 cxb3 23 axb3 Bc8 24 Bg2 Ng4
The black pieces converge on White’s king.
25 Rf1 Bd7 26 Ra1 Bxa4
 26 … Qb5 27 Nd4 Qb4 was a good alternative.
27 Rxa4 Qc3?
27 … Qb6! attacking both b3 and f2 should have been played. White has to struggle
on with 28 Bxe4 dxe4 29 Rc4, but his position is unenviable after 29 … Rxc4 30 bxc4
Rd8 31 Qc1 Qc5.
28 Bxe4 dxe4

29 e3?!
Another imprecision in this tense game. After 29 Na3 Rb7 30 Nc4! I am not sure that
Black retains any advantage, for example 30 … e3 31 f3 Nf2 32 Qd5 Qxb3? (32 … Reb8
is equal) 33 Ra3 Qc2 34 Rxe3.
29 … Qxb3 30 Rxe4
The point, but White is still worse.
30 … Rxe4 31 Qd8+ Kg7 32 Qxc7 Rc4 33 Nd4 Rxc7 34 Nxb3 Rc2 35 Nd4 Ra2 36
e4 Rd2
The endgame would have been very difficult for White to hold after 36 … a5! as
knights are not great fighting outside passed pawns. After 37 Nb5 h5 38 Nc3 Rd2 39 Na4
Rc2 40 Nb6 Re2 41 f3 Ne3 42 Rf2 Re1+ 43 Kh2 Rb1 the position will be very, very tough
for White to hold.
37 Nc6 a6 38 e5 Re2 39 Ra1 Rxf2 40 Rxa6 Rc2 41 h5! Kh6! 42 hxg6 hxg6 43 Ra4!
Kg5 44 Nd4 Rc3! 45 e6!
45 Kg2 Nxe5 wins.
 45 … Rxg3+ 46 Kh1
I am not sure why he does not play 46 Kf1, although I guess that after 46 … f5!
White’s position is still most uncomfortable.
46 … f5 47 e7 Re3 48 Nc6 f4! 49 Ra5+? Kh4 50 Ra8 Nf6!

51 Kg2??
Kasparov’s pressure pays off. 51 Kh2 might well have led to a draw, e.g. 51 … f3 52
e8Q Nxe8 (52 … Rxe8 53 Rxe8 Nxe8 54 Ne5 is equal) 53 Ra4+ Kh5 54 Kg3 g5 55 Kf2
Re6 56 Nd4 Re4 57 Kxf3, again equal.
51 … f3+ 52 Kf1 Kg3 53 Nd4 Ng4 54 Nxf3 Rxf3+ 55 Kg1 Nh2! 56 Rf8 Rc3 0-1

Game 49
D.Strauss-D.King
British Championship, Brighton 1984

The loose Black pawn formation can sometimes lead to both strategical and tactical
problems. The vulnerability of Black’s central pawns is the main reason that the Tarrasch
isn’t more popular among really strong players. Of course, this is a question of taste. In the
next game, Black misplays a tactical sequence coming out of the opening and gets
destroyed.
1 Nf3 d5 2 d4 c5 3 c4 e6 4 cxd5 exd5 5 g3 Nc6 6 Bg2 Nf6 7 0-0 Be7 8 Nc3 0-0
White has played many moves here, the most popular being 9 dxc5, 9 b3 and 9 Bg5.
Strauss sticks to what can accurately be called ‘ the main line’. The point of 9 Bg5 is to
increase pressure against the d5-pawn, with the help of a well-timed Bxf6. Black must be
careful.
9 Bg5! cxd4 10 Nxd4 h6

11 Be3
If 11 Bxf6 Bxf6 12 Nxc6 bxc6 13 Na4 then 13 … Bg4 offers Black plenty of activity.
11 … Re8 12 Rc1 Bf8 13 Nxc6
Strauss changes the pawn structure in the centre, so that Black has hanging pawns,
rather than an isolated pawn on d5. White will now try to mount a blockade on the squares
c5 and d4, This is a simple and effective method against which it is difficult for Black to
fully equalize.
13 … bxc6 14 Na4 Qa5?
Maybe Black should just play 14 … Bd7 and accept a slight disadvantage.
15 Rxc6 Bd7
This is the tactical idea, skewering the rook to the knight on a4. However, White has a
good reply.
16 Bd2!
 16 … Qb5?
16 … Bb4 17 Rc5 Bxa4 18 Rxa5 Bxd1 19 Bxb4 Bxe2 20 Rc1 is also considerably
better for White, due to the weak Black pawns on a7 and d5, but nothing like as
catastrophic as the game. Alternatively, 16 … Qd8 17 Rc1 Rc8 gambits a pawn in the
hope of counterplay. This may be Black’s best chance in the position, but a pawn is a
pawn.
17 Rxf6!
Very nice and possibly a shock for Danny King. White sacrifices the exchange and
breaks up the Black kingside.
17 … gxf6
Black cannot bail out with 17 … Qxa4 as 18 Qxa4 Bxa4 19 Rf5 Rxe2 20 Bxd5 is
winning for White.
18 Nc3 Qxb2 19 Nxd5
 19 … Rac8
19 … Bg7 is possibly best, but then at the very least White has 20 Ne7+: 20 Ne7+
Rxe7 21 Bxa8 Bg4 22 Be3! Qxe2 23 Qxe2 Bxe2 24 Rc1 with a clear advantage.
20 Bc3! Rxc3 21 Nxf6+ Kh8 22 Qxd7 Re7 23 Qf5 Kg7 24 Nh5+ Kg8 25 Qg4+ Kh8
26 Nf6 Bg7 1-0
After 26 … Bg7 comes 27 Qf5 winning.

Game 50
J.Muller-M.Illingworth
North Geelong 2012

The Von-Hennig-Schara Gambit is an important element of the Tarrasch complex.

Black gambits a pawn in the hope of getting an attack. It is a dangerous system for
club players and young players to learn and adopt and is sometimes used by masters as a
surprise weapon. The disadvantage of the gambit is that it can only be used via a specific
move-order: 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 c5 4 cxd5 cxd4!? and not via 1 c4 or 1 Nf3.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 c5 4 cxd5 cxd4
 5 Qa4+
The first refinement. 5 Qxd4 is most direct, but gives Black an extra option in the form
of 5 … Nc6 6 Qd1 exd5 7 Qxd5 Be6!? 8 Qxd8+ Rxd8. This is generally thought to be
unsound for Black, but I can assure you that it is not easy to meet and if you are
unprepared as White you could be going home early.
5 … Bd7 6 Qxd4 exd5 7 Qxd5 Nc6 8 Nf3 Nf6 9 Qd1 Bc5 10 e3 Qe7 11 Be2
 This is the main line position. For the pawn, Black has free development and has a
surprising choice of plans at his disposal:
1) By far the most common idea is to castle long and launch a kingside pawn storm.
White’s position is solid, he is a pawn up and he has counterattacking possibilities on the
queenside. This is a sharp variation.
2) Black can castle short, brings his rooks to the middle quickly and rely on his
development advantage to see him through. This is a rare idea, but playable.
3) Finally, Black can launch on the kingside immediately and as we will see in our
featured game, he may even leave his king in the middle! This is not for the faint-hearted.
11 … g5!?
White hasn’t castled yet, so what exactly is Black attacking? Well, he can claim he is
gaining space and asks White where he is going to put his king, if not on g1.
12 a3
Not many venture 12 Nxg5 Rg8 13 Nh3 Rxg2 14 Nf4 Rg8 as White has issues with
the safety of his king.
12 … g4 13 Nd2 Rd8
Unfortunately 13 … 0-0-0 14 b4! Bd6 15 Nc4 Bb8 (15 … Bc7 16 Nb5) 16 Qc2 is
simply good for White, so Black too must keep his King in the centre for the time being.
14 b4 Bd6 15 Qc2 Ne5 16 Bb2 Bc6 17 Nce4 Nxe4 18 Nxe4 Bb8 19 0-0
Finally. The computers prefer White, but we can all see that the defence is not going to
be easy. Black has the ready-made plan of … Rg8-g6-h6 and then … Qh4 at his disposal.
This is the type of frightening idea that wins games at lower levels. Muller continues
fearlessly.
19 … Rg8 20 Ng3 Rg6

21 Rfd1!
White is playing well. He moves to exchange rooks and can defend h2 with Nf1.
21 … Rxd1+ 22 Rxd1 Qh4 23 Qf5!
This should win for White. Illingworth conjures up a final trick.
23 … Nd7 24 Bc4 Rh6 25 Bxf7+?
No!
25 Qxf7+ Kd8 26 Rxd7+ was the end of the line for Black, e.g. 26 … Bxd7 27 Qf8+
Kc7 (if 27 … Be8 then 28 Nf5! which White may have overlooked: 28 … Qxh2+ 29 Kf1
Qh1+ 30 Ke2 wins) 28 Be5+ Kb6 (or 28 … Rd6 29 Qxd6+) 29 Qc5 checkmate.
25 … Ke7 26 Bh5??
26 Ne4 maintained White’s advantage.
26 … Bxg3
Black is right back in the game.
27 Qf7+ Kd8 28 fxg3 Qxh5 29 Qf8+ Kc7 30 Be5+ Qxe5
30 … Nxe5 31 Qd8 mate.
31 Qxh6 Qb2!
 As usual, when given a chance, the master takes it and presses home the advantage.
32 Qd6+ Kc8 33 Qd2 Qxa3 34 e4 Qb3 35 Rc1 a6 36 Qd4 Qe6 37 Re1
I cannot say why he does not play 37 Qh8+ Kc7 38 Qxh7 although this is still good for
Black after 38 … Qb3.
37 … Qe5 38 Qd3 Kb8 39 Rd1 0-1
I’m guessing White lost on time, although after 39 … Kc7, it is still very bad. The Von
Hennig Schara gambit leads to a rather random situation. If you like this type of thing,
give it a go!
Chapter Nine
The Semi-Tarrasch
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Nf3 c5

The Semi-Tarrasch is a separate black system, again based on an early … c7-c5, but if
White captures on d5, Black intends to recapture with his knight.

Game 51
B.Spassky-T.Petrosian
World Championship, Moscow (Game 5) 1969

1 c4 Nf6 2 Nc3 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 d4 c5 5 cxd5 Nxd5

This is how it is done. Black encourages early exchanges in the hope that this will
simplify his defensive task. One drawback is that White can form a broad centre
immediately.
6 e4! Nxc3 7 bxc3 cxd4 8 cxd4 Bb4+
Another second pair of pieces leaves the board and Black can castle quickly.
Meanwhile, White has a powerful centre. Whether you employ this line or not is going to
be very much a question of style. As Black I would say you need to be have good
defensive skills.
 9 Bd2 Bxd2+
9 … Qa5 10 Rb1 Bxd2+ 11 Qxd2 Qxd2+ 12 Kxd2 is unpromising for Black. He is
behind in development and White can easily get the rest of his pieces to good squares.
White’s king in the centre is no disadvantage at all with the queens off.
10 Qxd2 0-0 11 Bc4

The scene is set for the middle game. White has a central pawn majority and looks to
push the d-pawn at the right moment to create a passed pawn. Black has a queenside
majority which is very useful in the endgame. However, there is a long way to go before
the endgame is reached.
11 … Nc6
This position is still being debated today. Kramnik seems quite keen to defend the
Black cause as in the following game, M.Carlsen-V.Kramnik, Paris 2016, which continued
11 … Nd7 12 0-0 b6 13 a4 Bb7 14 Bd3 e5! 15 Qe3 (15 dxe5 Nc5 smashes up the White
centre and gives Black a pleasant position; meanwhile 15 d5 Nc5 threatens … Nb3) 15 …
exd4 16 Nxd4 Nc5 17 Bc2 Re8 (Black has equalized in a rather good example of how he
might play this type of position; as usual, Carlsen grinds on) 18 f3 Qf6 19 a5 Rad8 20
Rfd1 Ba6 (20 … h6! is very reasonable) 21 axb6 axb6 22 Ba4 Nxa4 23 Rxa4 b5 24 Rb4
Rd7 25 Rc1 Red8 26 e5 Qb6 27 Rc6 Qa7 28 Nf5 Qxe3+ (28 … Rd1+ 29 Kf2 R1d2+ 30
Kg3 Qxe3 31 Nxe3 Bc8 32 Rc5 Bd7 is equal) 29 Nxe3 Ra8 30 Kf2 g6 31 h4 h5 32 e6
fxe6 33 Rxe6 Kh7 34 Rf4 Bc8 35 Rb6 Ra2+ 36 Kg3 Re2 37 Re4 Bb7 38 Nd5 Rxe4 39
Nf6+ Kg7 40 Nxd7 Re7 41 Nb8 Rc7 42 Rxb5 Kf6 43 Rb2 Kf5 44 Rb6 Re7 45 Rb5+ Kf6
46 Kf4 Rc7 47 Rb6+ Kg7 48 Rd6 Rc4+ 49 Kg3 Rc7 50 Rd7+ Rxd7 51 Nxd7 Ba6 52 Nc5
Bf1 53 Ne4 Kf7 54 Nd2 Bd3 55 Kf4 Ke6 56 Kg5 Kf7 57 Nb3 Bf1 58 g3 Kg7 59 Nd4 Bc4
60 f4 Bd3 61 f5 gxf5 62 Nxf5+ Kh7 63 Ne3 1-0.
12 0-0 b6 13 Rad1
Or 13 Rfe1!?
13 … Bb7
13 … Na5 is an alternative, which may lead to 14 Bd3 Bb7 15 Rfe1 Rc8? (15 … Qd6
is preferable) 16 d5 exd5 17 e5! when White gives up a pawn to activate his entire army.
14 Rfe1 Rc8
An alternative is 14 … Na5 15 Bd3 (or 15 Bf1 Qd6) 15 … Qd6.
15 d5!
Will the advancing d-pawn turn out to be strong or weak? The entire variation often
revolves around this simple question.

15 … exd5?
Petrosian goes wrong immediately, probably expecting Spassky to recapture with the
pawn. Black should play 15 … Na5! forcing the Bishop back and encouraging 16 dxe6!?
(16 Bd3 exd5 17 e5 Nc4 is fine for Black) 16 … Qxd2 (16 … Nxc4 17 exf7+ Kh8 18
Qxd8 Rcxd8 19 Rxd8 Rxd8 20 e5 is very strong for White) 17 exf7+ Kh8 18 Nxd2 Nxc4
19 Nxc4 Rxc4 20 e5 Bc8 21 e6 Bxe6 22 Rxe6 g6= 23 Re7 a5 24 Rb7 Rc2 25 Rxb6 Rxf7
with equality.

Note : Don’t be too hard on yourself if you make a mistake at the board. Chess is
 not a game for perfectionists. After the game, learn what needs to be learned in
order not to repeat the mistake and move on!

16 Bxd5!
After 16 exd5 Black activates his queen with 16 … Na5 17 Bf1 Qd6 18 Ng5 Qh6.
16 … Na5 17 Qf4 Qc7 18 Qf5 Bxd5 19 exd5

19 … Qc2
The alternatives were not great, e.g. 19 … Nc4 20 Ng5 g6 21 Qh3 h5 22 Ne4 or 19 …
Qd6 20 Ng5 Qg6 21 Qxg6 hxg6 22 d6! Nb7 23 d7 Rcd8 24 Re7 Nc5 25 Rd5! in either
case with a big White advantage.
20 Qf4!
20 Qxc2 Rxc2 21 Re7! also looks a bit better for White.
20 … Qxa2 21 d6! Rcd8 22 d7
 This is a very famous game, precisely because of the rapid advance of the White
central pawn. Petrosian’s problem is the rook on f8, now completely walled in. Black is a
pawn up, but he will never get to enjoy it.
22 … Qc4 23 Qf5 h6
If 23 … Qc6 White replies 24 Ne5 Qe6 25 Qc2.
24 Rc1 Qa6 25 Rc7 b5 26 Nd4
26 Re8! was very strong indeed, winning at once.
26 … Qb6 27 Rc8!
Paralysing.
27 … Nb7
There was nothing to do, as the following are all winning for White:
a) 27 … b4 28 Re8 Qxd4 29 Rxf8+ Rxf8 30 Rxf8+ Kxf8 31 Qc5+!!
b) 27 … g6 28 Rxd8 Qxd8 29 Qxb5.
c) 27 … Qxd4 28 Rxd8 Rxd8 29 Re8+.
28 Nc6 Nd6
 29 Nxd8!! Nxf5 30 Nc6 1-0
The pawn will have the last say.

Naturally, a beautiful game like this dampened Black’s enthusiasm for the Semi-
Tarrasch, but the fact is Black can improve on Petrosian’s play and has done so many
times.

Game 52
Zhao Xue-E.Bacrot
Cap d’Agde 2013

1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Nf3 c5 5 cxd5 Nxd5 6 e4 Nxc3 7 bxc3 cxd4 8 cxd4 Bb4+ 9
Bd2 Bxd2+ 10 Qxd2 0-0 11 Bc4 Nd7!
 This time Black keeps his knight out of range of the d-pawn, preparing the usual … b6
and Bb7. He will then bring his major pieces into the centre. A good and effective plan.
12 0-0 b6 13 Rad1 Bb7 14 Qe3 Rc8 15 Bb3 Qe7!
The Black queen is well placed here, restraining the advance of the d-pawn. With …
.Rfd8 coming up, Black is in good shape.
16 Rfe1
It is worth seeing why d4-d5 has nowhere near the same impact in this position
compared to the previous game: 16 d5 exd5 17 exd5 (or 17 Bxd5 Bxd5 18 Rxd5 Nf6 19
Rd4 Rfd8) 17 … Qxe3 18 fxe3 Nc5 19 Rfe1 Rfe8 20 d6 Rcd8 and Black easily neutralizes
the pressure.
16 … Rfd8 17 e5
White would like to manoeuvre his knight to d6 via d2 and c4, but this takes a long
time. Meanwhile, the black bishop on b7 has come to life.
17 … h6 18 h3 Nf8 19 Nd2 Qg5
19 … b5 20 Ne4 Bxe4 21 Qxe4 a5 is okay too.
20 Qxg5 hxg5 21 Ne4 Bxe4 22 Rxe4 b5 23 d5 a5
 I prefer Black now, as the queenside majority will become a potent force in the coming
ending.
24 a4
He must have played this reluctantly, but White has problems anyway, for example:
a)24 d6? a4 loses for White.
b) 24 dxe6 Rxd1+ 25 Bxd1 Nxe6 26 Kf1 Rc1 27 Ke2 (or 27 Re1 Kf8) 27 … Nf4+ is
very good for Black.
24 … exd5 25 Rg4
After 25 Bxd5 Ne6 or 25 Rxd5 Rxd5 26 Bxd5 Rc1+ 27 Kh2 b4 28 Rd4 Rc3 Black
maintains the Black advantage.
25 … Rc3 26 Bxd5 Ne6 27 Kh2 b4 28 Rg3 Kf8 29 Bb3 Rxd1 30 Bxd1 Rxg3 31
Kxg3 Nd4 0-1
Black’s passed pawn will force White to surrender his bishop. This game gives a good
indication why grandmasters continue to play Black’s system in 2016.

Game 53
A.Zubov-D.Swapnil
Abu Dhabi 2016

More restrained methods are available for White and he doesn’t have to push forward in
the centre so quickly. It’s often the case that quiet openings can lead to violent middle
games. Consider this game from the 2016 Abu Dhabi Open.
 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 e3 c5 5 cxd5 Nxd5 6 Nc3

White has substituted 6 e2-e3 for 6 e2-e4. One would think this makes his position less
dynamic.
6 … cxd4
6 … Nc6 is equally playable.
7 exd4 Nxc3 8 bxc3 Qc7 9 Bd2 Nd7 10 Bd3 b6
Left to his own devices Black will get a very comfortable game with simple
development by … .Bb7, … Bd6, … 0-0 and rooks to the centre. This is why Zubov goes
into action right away.
11 Ng5! Nf6
Black does not like 11 … Bb7 12 Qh5! g6 13 Qh3 Be7 14 0-0 and although he can win
a pawn in this line, he may never survive to enjoy it, for example 14 … Bxg5 15 Bxg5
Qxc3 16 Qe3! 0-0 17 Rac1 Qa5 18 Rc7 Qd5 19 f3 Rfc8 20 Rxc8+ Rxc8 (or 20 … Bxc8
21 Be4) 21 Be4. This is a good example of why development is superior to pawn-grabbing
in the opening.
12 Qf3 Rb8
After 12 … Bb7 13 Bb5+ forces Black to move his king.
13 0-0 Bd6 14 Qh3 h6
 15 f4!?
A new move, by which Zubov announces that he intends to throw the kitchen sink at
the Black king. More restrained is 15 Rfe1 0-0 16 Nf3 Bf4 17 Bxf4 Qxf4 18 Ne5 Bb7 with
equality as in L.Aronian-M.Carlsen, London 2015.
15 … 0-0
15 … Bb7 16 f5 e5 17 Rae1 (perhaps Black did not like the look of 17 Bb5+ Kf8, but
appearances are deceptive; White’s attack is slowed down and Black’s pieces seem to be
better coordinated) 17 … 0-0 is a cold-blooded approach by Black, challenging White to
find a way through.
16 Qh4 Bb7 17 Rae1 Bd5 18 Nf3 Bc4 19 Bxc4 Qxc4 20 f5!
White ploughs on, threatening to take on h6.
20 … exf5 21 Bxh6! Nh7 22 Ng5!
 22 … Nf6
He cannot capture on h6:
a) 22 … gxh6 23 Qxh6 Nxg5 (23 … Nf6 24 Qxf6 Qxc3 25 Kh1! (not 25 Qh6 when 25
… Qxd4+ 26 Kh1 Qg7 defends) winning.
b) 24 Qxg5+ Kh7 25 Re3.
23 Rxf5 Rfe8
23 … Qxc3 24 Rxf6 gxf6 25 Ne4! Qxd4+ 26 Kh1 Be5 27 Qg4+ terminates
proceedings.
24 Ref1 Bf8 25 Rxf6
25 Bxg7 Bxg7 26 Rxf6 Bxf6 27 Rxf6! Qd3 28 h3! is an equally good way to crush the
black king, albeit almost in slow-motion.
25 … gxf6 26 Nh7!
 26 … Kxh7
After 26 … Bxh6 27 Nxf6+ Kg7 28 Rf3! Black cannot survive, despite the extra rook,
e.g. 28 … Re3 (or 28 … Qc7 29 Rg3+ Qxg3 30 Nxe8+ Rxe8 31 Qxg3+ Kf8 32 d5
winning, as is 28 … Re2 29 Qg3+ Bg5 30 Qxg5+ Kf8 31 Nh7+ Ke8 32 Qg8+ Ke7 33
Qxb8 Re1+ 34 Kf2 Rf1+ 35 Kg3) 29 Qg3+ Kf8 30 Qxb8+.
27 Bg5+ Kg6 28 Rxf6+ Kg7 29 Bh6+ Kg8 30 Qg3+ Kh7 31 Bxf8 1-0

Note: Slow-looking opening lines, where plenty of pieces remain on the board,
often lead to very sharp middlegames.

Game 54
Ding Liren-V.Anand
Sinquefield Cup, Saint Louis 2016

White can also choose a set-up with g2-g3 against the Semi-Tarrasch.
1 c4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 g3 d5 5 cxd5 Nxd5 6 Bg2 e6 7 0-0 Be7 8 d4 0-0 9
Nxd5 exd5
 There are many different move-order routes to this position resulting from any of 1 d4,
1 Nf3, 1 c4 or even 1 g3. A pair of minor pieces have been exchanged and Black is about
to acquire an isolated queen’s pawn. One would think this was unfavourable, but Black
gets plenty of free play for his pieces and open lines. In short, it is not at all easy for White
to prove any advantage and this is why we see Vishy Anand happy to defend the Black
cause. There are many tries for White here and Ding Liren chooses one of the most direct.
10 dxc5 Bxc5 11 Bg5 Qd7
This move looks awkward, blocking in the bishop on c8. but Black is going to regain
time by playing … h7-h6 soon and then he can start to think about ideas like … Rd8, …
Qe7 and … Bf5, moving forward with development.
12 Rc1 Bb6 13 Bd2
The bishop does not wait to be attacked.
13 … Qe7! 14 Bc3 Rd8 15 e3 Bf5 16 Re1 Be4 17 Re2 Rd7 18 Rd2 Rad8
 A pretty typical position has been reached. Black is very solid, defends his isolated
pawn comfortably and is challenging White to take the position further.
19 Qe2 Rd6 20 Rcd1 h6!
Another typically useful move. The super-grandmaster makes gradual improvements.
He takes away the g5-square from White’s pieces and prevents any future back-rank
mates.
21 h4 Qe6 22 Nd4
White cannot increase his minute edge and more or less offers peace.
22 … Nxd4 23 Bxd4 Ba5 24 Bc3 Bxc3 25 bxc3 Bxg2 26 Kxg2 Rc8 27 Qf3 Rxc3 28
Rxd5 Rxd5 29 Rxd5 Rc8 30 Ra5 Qb6 31 Re5 Kf8 32 Qf5 Re8 33 Rxe8+ Kxe8 34
Qe5+ Kf8 35 Qb8+ Ke7 36 Qe5+ Kf8 ½-½

Not at all thrilling, but very accurate by both players. At the highest level, an easy draw
with Black is deemed most satisfactory. The Semi-Tarrasch is playable in all forms. It is a
very decent defence.
Chapter Ten
Less Common Ideas for Black
1 d4 d5 2 c4

In this chapter we will look at less common, but still dangerous responses to the
Queen’s Gambit. All of these Black ideas are playable.
We first cover the Baltic Defence, 2 … Bf5. Black hopes to obtain an harmonious
position by placing his light-squared Bishop actively and then following up with … e6, …
c6 and quick development of the minor pieces. White can however, interrupt this scheme.
2 … c5 is the extraordinary ‘ Double’ Queen’s Gambit. Be prepared for some
surprises!
Next comes the Chigorin Defence, 2 … Nc6, where Black blocks the c-pawn and goes
over to piece play which he hopes is going to furnish him with counterplay. This is a
controversial variation where Black will try to play … e7-e5 early, if he can.
Next up is the swashbuckling Albin Counter-Gambit, 2 … e5, sees Black opening the
centre right away at the cost of a pawn. This is the most outwardly aggressive Black
response and White must be very careful. Super-grandmaster Morozevich revived the
Albin in high-level chess and showed that White must pay the gambit serious respect.
Finally, we close this chapter with Marshall’s Defence, 2..Nf6. This is free-flowing,
but 3 cxd5! leaves Black with an awkward problem, as either recapture on d5 loses time.
Nevertheless, this is a line which is rather unknown.

Game 55
K.Laciner-I.Miladinovic
Istanbul 2001

1 d4 d5 2 c4 Bf5

Black often has his bishop blocked in on c8, so with 2 … Bf5, he tries to solve this
problem immediately. The Baltic Defence is tricky and has attracted many grandmasters
who use it as an aggressive surprise weapon. Traps abound, as we are about to see.
3 cxd5 Bxb1 4 Rxb1
4 Qa4+! is thought to be the best move here, with White a bit better after 4 … c6 5
Rxb1 Qxd5 6 Nf3 Nd7 7 b4 Ngf6 8 e3 e6 9 Qc2 Bd6. White has two bishops, which can
be useful in the long term and the plan of either mobilizing his central pawns or advancing
on the queenside. While the Black pieces look well placed, they can become targets for
advancing White pawns to attack. Positions like this, where White has more potential,
tend to put the strongest players off the Baltic.
4 … Qxd5 5 Qa4+ Nc6
This time, Black can block the check more actively.
6 Nf3 e5! 7 dxe5 Bb4+
 The Black pieces now flow out, exactly what he wants.
8 Bd2 Qe4!
Threatening not only the rook, but also … Bxd2+, winning the White queen by
discovered attack. White’s reply is uncomfortable and forced.
9 Qd1 0-0-0
A dream position after only nine moves.
10 g3?!
Crumbling. However, 10 a3 Nxe5 proceeds along the same lines as the featured game,
with White simply losing, for example, 11 Bxb4 (11 axb4 Nd3 mate) 11 … Nd3+ 12 Qxd3
Rxd3 13 Ng5 Qg6 14 exd3 Qxg5 15 g3 Qe5+ 16 Kd2 Nf6 17 Bc3 (White has done the
best that he can to scramble some sort of respectability from the position, but with his king
wide open he is still completely lost) 17 … Qf5 18 f4 Rd8 19 h4 Kb8 20 Kc2 Ng4 21 Re1
Nf2 22 Rg1 Nxd3 23 Bxd3 Qxd3+ 24 Kc1 b6! (when winning, take no risk; Black
strengthens his position and protects his back rank) 25 h5 Rd5 26 g4 a5 27 f5 Rc5 28 Rd1
Rxc3+! (wiping out the entire queenside) 29 bxc3 Qxc3+ 30 Kb1 Qb3+ 31 Kc1 Qxa3+ 0-
1, J.Barkhagen-I.Miladinovic, Singapore 1990.
10 … Bxd2+ 0-1
Fortunately for White, not all Baltic games proceed in this way.

Note: There are many gems to be found for the club player among this selection
of unusual defences. Don’t worry what the book says. If you like an opening and
 it is playable (not completely unsound), then go for it!

Game 56
A.Shirov-P.Svidler
Gausdal 1991

Basically, when Black plays the Baltic he is counting on a lack of specific knowledge
from his opponent. Most players know what to do in the main lines but do they know the
tricky sidelines?
White must steel himself and even if he knows nothing, can note the following:

1) If the Baltic is so great, why isn’t everyone playing it?
2) Taking on d5 seems to be good.
3) The b7-pawn seems to be a target for attack.

In our next game, White attacks b7 early and forces a concession.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 Bf5 3 Nc3 e6 4 Nf3 c6 5 Qb3!

5 … Qb6
5 … Qc8 is very passive and invites 6 cxd5 exd5 7 e4! dxe4 (7 … Bxe4 8 Nxe4 dxe4 9
Ne5 with a clear advantage) 8 Ne5 Be6 9 Bc4 Bxc4 10 Qxc4 Qe6 11 Qxe6+ fxe6 12 Nxe4
which is very good for White.
 6 c5! Qxb3 7 axb3
White owns the a-file and has the steady plan of b4-b5 to hand. If Black reacts
passively, he can soon run into trouble.
7 … Na6!?
7 … a6?! is a bit slow and can lead to 8 b4 Nd7 9 Bf4 Rc8 10 e3 Ngf6 11 h3 Be7 12
Nd2 0-0 13 Nb3 Bd8 14 Na5! (a thematic shift by the white knight, which secures a slight
advantage as Black probably has to take, ceding a positional advantage) 14 … Bxa5 15
bxa5 and White is better.

8 e4!?
Very sharp, provoking serious tactical complications.
8 Na2 seems quieter, but White still has the idea of b4-b5 in reserve, for example, 8 …
Nf6 9 b4 Be7 (or 9 … Nc7 10 Nc3 Na6) 10 b5 cxb5 11 e4 dxe4 12 Bxb5+ Kf8 13 Bxa6
bxa6 14 Ne5 Nd5 15 0-0 f6 16 Nc6 Rc8 17 Nab4 Nxb4 18 Nxb4 e5 19 dxe5 Bxc5 20
Nxa6 Bd4 21 exf6 gxf6 22 Ra5 Bg6 23 Be3 Bxb2? (greed does not pay here; 23 … Bb6 is
preferable) 24 Nc5 Re8 25 Rb1 Be5 26 Rxa7 Re7 27 Nd7+ Kf7 28 Bc5 e3 29 Nxe5+ fxe5
1-0, C.Repka-P.Simacek, Olomouc 2015.
8 … Nb4 9 exf5
Shirov, true to character, goes for the most complicated move.
9 Ra4! was a definite alternative though, attacking two Black pieces. Black must seek
refuge in a piece sacrifice, for which he gets a lot of pawns: 9 … Nc2+ 10 Kd2 dxe4 11
g4!! Bg6 12 Ne5 (or 12 Nh4 Nxd4 13 Rxd4 Bxc5 14 Nxg6 hxg6 15 Rxe4 Nf6 16 Rf4 e5
17 Rc4 Bxf2 18 b4 0-0-0+ 19 Ke2 Bd4 20 b5) 12 … Nxd4 13 Rxd4 Bxc5 14 Nxg6 hxg6
15 Rxe4 Nf6 16 Rc4 Bxf2 17 Kc2. I slightly prefer White in both of these sacrificial
variations, but the positions reached are difficult to judge.
9 … Nc2+ 10 Kd1 Nxa1 11 fxe6 fxe6 12 b4
Will the Black knight get out of his hole? Svidler makes an immediate attempt to raise
the dead.
12 … a5
12 … Nf6 13 Bd3 Ng4 14 Rf1 Nb3 15 Bf4 a5 gets the knight out of jail, however, the
position remains very unclear after 16 bxa5 Rxa5 (16 … Nxa5 17 h3 Nf6 18 Re1) 17 h3
Nf6 18 Kc2 Black has extra material, but the c5-pawn splits his position in two.
13 bxa5 Nb3 14 a6

14 … Nxc1
Svidler rejected 14 … bxa6 15 Bf4 Nf6 16 Bd3 Be7 17 Kc2 Na5 18 Re1 after which
he is struggling to get his act together. The knight on a5 is right out of play and White is
going to win the e6-pawn, e.g. 18 … Nb7 19 Rxe6 Nd8 20 Re1 Ra7 21 Bd6 a5 22 h3.
15 axb7 Rb8 16 Kxc1 Rxb7 17 Bd3 g6 18 Re1 Bh6+ 19 Kc2 Ke7
We have reached a position which cannot be judged solely on the material balance.
White has a pawn for the exchange and a perfectly coordinated army. Black is all over the
place, unable to get his pieces working together. Shirov makes winning look easy with
some powerful moves.
20 b4! Nf6
20 … Rxb4 21 Ne5 is not nice at all for Black.
 21 Ne5 Rc7
Or 21 … Rc8 22 Ba6.
22 b5 cxb5 23 Nxb5 Rb7 24 Nc6+ Kd7 25 Ne5+ Ke7 26 Nd6 Rc7 27 Ndf7

Crushing.
27 … Bg7 28 Nxh8 Bxh8 29 f4 Nd7 30 Ra1 Bf6 31 Ra8 1-0

By all means play the Baltic Defence and studying the games of grandmasters
Miladinovic and Rausis would be a good place to start. Do understand that White has the
advantage, if only technical, in most of the main lines, as long as he knows the theory.
But as we have seen, this is a pretty grey area of Queen’s Gambit praxis.

Game 57
P.Friedrich-M.Zaitsev
Herne 2016

Now comes the ‘Double’ Queen’s Gambit. What is this, you ask?
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c5
 Here it is.
I have before me a very interesting book by Alexey Bezgodov on this opening,
recently published by New In Chess. There are a lot of pages. Can there really be so much
to say about this tricky line? It turns out that there is indeed plenty to say.
The first impression is that if 2 … c5 is so good, why isn’t everyone playing it? The
second thought is one of confusion. What do I do now ??
In actual fact, 2 … c5 is not a bad move at all. It was analysed by Haberditz and
Muller a few decades ago and I seem to remember that grandmaster Heikki Westerinen
liked to dabble with it on an occasional basis. O’Kelly de Galway was another fan. Among
modern grandmasters Mamedyarov has played 2 … c5.
I think the truth is that 2 … c5 is a very good surprise weapon, but that if White knows
his stuff, he can oblige Black to be very careful just to stay on the board.
3 cxd5 Nf6!
3 … Qxd5 4 Nf3 cxd4 5 Nc3 Qa5 6 Qxd4 Nc6 7 Qd5! is a little uncomfortable for
Black, so this is why they play 3 … Nf6.
4 Nf3 cxd4 5 Qxd4 Qxd5
Better timing.
6 Nc3 Qxd4 7 Nxd4 a6
 To stop Nb5 and to prepare later expansion with … b7-b5. However 7 … a6 is not the
only try with both 7 … Bd7 and 7 … e5 having also been played and analysed.
8 Bf4
The lower-rated player is on his own now and so he plays a natural move. The bishop
does not accomplish much on f4, but such a move is impossible to refute. Others:
a) Instead, 8 e4 Nbd7 9 f3! is rather better, when White keeps some options open for
his bishops. This is one of the lines that I think can become testing for Black, as he lacks a
good square for his bishop on c8. For example, 9 … e6 10 Nb3 Nc5 11 Na5 b5 (11 … b6
12 Nc4 b5 13 Nb6 Rb8 14 Nxc8 Rxc8 15 Be2 leads to a small pull for White and the
problem for Black is that he can hardly win such a position if White plays even half-
sensibly) 12 Be3 Nfd7 13 a3 Nb7 14 Nc6 Nd8 15 Nxd8 Kxd8 16 0-0-0 Bb7 17 Kb1 Rc8
18 a4 bxa4? (18 … b4 19 Na2 Ke8 20 Be2 is a better idea) 19 Nxa4 Ke8 20 Be2 e5?!
(Soysal has become impatient with his lack of counterplay and loosens his position; Black
should prefer the modest 20 … Be7 and accept that he is uncomfortably but not terminally
worse) 21 Rd3! (the rook is very mobile on d3) 21 … Bb4 (21 … Be7 22 Rhd1 is clearly
better for White) 22 Rb3 a5 23 Bb5 Rc7 24 Nb6 Bc6 25 Rc1 1-0, M.Oleksienko-S.Soysal,
Ordu 2016.
b) 8 g3! also tests Black’s idea, because even if he can neutralize the fianchettoed
Bishop, as he does in the following game, he is still worse: 8 … e5 9 Nb3 Bd7 10 Bg2
Bc6 11 0-0 Bxg2 12 Kxg2 Nc6 13 Bg5 (White is ahead in development and has the
specific threat of Bxf6 followed by Nd5) 13 … Nd7 14 Nd5 Bd6 15 Nd2 (15 Rfd1! looks
strong) 15 … Rc8 16 Nc4 Bc5 17 Be3 Rd8 18 Rac1 0-0 19 Nxe5 Bxe3 20 Nxc6 Bxc1 21
Nxd8 Bxb2 22 Nxb7 and the exchanges have only increased White’s advantage,
E.Tomashevsky-V.Durarbayli Skopje 2015.
 8 … Nbd7 9 Nf3 e6 10 a3 b5 11 g3 Bb7 12 Bg2 Be7 13 0-0 0-0
It looks as though the game is going to fizzle out to a draw, but this is precisely where
the master starts using his technique to outplay a weaker opponent.
14 Rfd1 Nb6
Eyeing c4 and d5. Friedrich offers another exchange of pieces.
15 Nd2 Bxg2 16 Kxg2 Rac8 17 e4 Nfd7 18 Rdc1 Rfd8

Black is a bit better. White’s Bishop has nothing to do and … Nc4 is a worrying
positional threat. Friedrich plods on.
19 Nd1 Nc5 20 Be3 Nbd7 21 b4 Nd3
White is being outplayed. Black obtains the c-file by force.
22 Rxc8 Rxc8 23 Nb3 N7e5 24 Kf1 g5 25 h3 h5
Excellent. Back would like to put his knight on f3 and reinforce it with … g5-g4 when
the White king will feel hemmed in.
26 Nc1 Nxc1 27 Rxc1 Nc4 28 Ke2 Ra8! 29 Rc3 a5 30 Bc5 axb4 31 axb4 Ra2+ 32
Ke1 Bf6
 Black’s position improves move by move, whereas White continues to have nothing
whatsoever to do.

Tip: Technical play and being able to eke out an advantage is one of the
hallmarks of mastery.

33 Rd3 g4 34 hxg4 hxg4 35 f4?
Such moves stem from frustration. A better chance lay in 35 Ne3 Ne5 36 Rd1 Bg5!
(36 … Nf3+ 37 Kf1 Nd2+ 38 Kg1 Nxe4 39 Nxg4 Bg7 40 Rd8+ Kh7 41 Bd4 keeps White
in the game) 37 Kf1 Kh7 38 Rc1 Bxe3 39 Bxe3 Nc4 when White has a cheerless defence
in front of him, but he might draw.
35 … gxf3 36 Rxf3 Bg5 37 Bd4
37 Nf2 is more stubborn.
37 … Bd2+ 38 Kf1 Bxb4 39 Rd3 Nd2+ 0-1
A fine display of technique by Zaitsev.

Game 58
S.Brunello-K.Piorun
Gjakova 2016

The next game and all the references within it are exclusively from 2016. This shows that
2 … c5 can be considered a modern move, designed to ambush an unsuspecting opponent.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c5 3 cxd5
It is worth mentioning that 3 dxc5 Nf6! 4 cxd5 Qxd5 5 Qxd5 Nxd5 is less dangerous
for Black, as White cannot keep his extra pawn, e.g. 6 Bd2 (6 e4 Nb4 7 Na3 e5! 8 Nf3 f6 9
Bd2 N8c6 10 Bc4 Bxc5 is equal) 6 … e5 7 Nc3 (or 7 b4 a5 8 bxa5 Bxc5 9 e3 Nb4!) 7 …
Be6! (better than 7 … Nxc3 8 Bxc3 Nc6 9 b4 a5 10 bxa5?! f6) 8 Rc1 Nxc3 9 Bxc3 f6 and
both the c5- and a2-pawn are under attack.
3 … Qxd5 4 Nf3 cxd4 5 Nc3 Qa5 6 Nxd4
Brunello sets up with g3 and tries to exert Catalan-style pressure on the long diagonal.
6 … Nf6

7 g3
After 7 Nb3 Qc7 Black can come under pressure: 8 e4 Nc6 9 Be2 e6 (9 … g6! is a
worthy alternative) 10 0-0 a6 11 Be3 Bd6 (11 … Bb4 is possible) 12 f4 e5 13 f5 0-0 14
Rc1 (14 Bg5 Be7 15 Bxf6 Bxf6 16 Nd5 Qd8 17 Qd3 seems better for White, but Black
has 17 … Nb4! 18 Nxb4 Qb6+ 19 Kh1 Qxb4 keeping equality) 14 … Qd8 15 g4 h6 16 h4
Nh7 17 Kg2 Be7 18 Qxd8 Rxd8 19 Bb6 Bxh4 20 Bxd8 Bxd8 21 Bc4 Nf6 22 Kf3 Bb6 23
Nd5 Nxd5 24 exd5 Nd4+ 25 Nxd4 Bxd4 26 Bb3 Kf8 27 d6 Bd7 28 Rc7 Rd8 29 Rfc1
Bc6+ 30 Ke2 e4 31 Rxf7+ Ke8 32 Re7+ Kf8 33 Rf7+ Ke8 34 Rd1 Bb5+ 35 Ke1 Bf6 36
Kf2 Bd3 ½-½, Ding Liren-S.Mamedyarov, China 2016.
I am not sure why a draw as agreed, as 37 Rxf6! gxf6 38 Rh1 Rxd6 39 Rxh6 Bb5 40
Ke3 Bc6 41 Bc2 is quite a bit better for White.
7 … e5 8 Nb3 Qc7 9 Bg2 Bb4
 Black’s development speeds along and he prepares to castle. Everything hinges on
White’s ability to tie down Black’s queenside.

10 0-0
Alternative moves have been scoring well for White recently, although objectively
Black had a good position in both of these example:
a) 10 Bd2 0-0 11 0-0 Nc6 12 Rc1 Bf5 13 Qe1 (13 Bg5 Rfd8 14 Qe1 Qb6 15 Bxf6 gxf6
looks worse than it is for Black, as White has no way of taking advantage of his better
pawn structure) 13 … Bxc3 14 Bxc3 Be4 15 Bh3 Bd5 16 Nd2 Rfe8 17 b3 Rad8 18 e4 Be6
19 Bxe6 Rxe6 20 Qe2 h6 21 Nf3 Qb6 22 Rfe1 a6 23 Kg2 Qb5 24 Qxb5 axb5 25 Re2 Ra8
(there is still no indication that Black is going to lose this game) 26 Be1 Nd4?! (26 … Ne8
27 Rc5 b4 28 Rb5 Nd6 29 Rb6 Ra6! neutralizes White’s rook excursion) 27 Nxd4 exd4 28
Rd1 Rxe4 29 Rxe4 Nxe4 30 Rxd4 Nc5 31 h4 (or 31 Rd5 Ne6 32 Rxb5 Rxa2 33 Rxb7 Nc5
34 Rb8+) 31 … Ne6 32 Rd5 Rxa2 33 Rxb5 Ra7 34 Bd2 Nc7 (34 … f6 35 Be3 Nc7! 36
Rc5 b6 37 Rc6 Nd5 38 Bxb6 Rb7 leaves the Black position fully defensible) 35 Rb6 Nd5
36 Rd6 Nf6 37 Bxh6 Ra3 38 Bg5 Ne4 39 Rb6 Nxg5 40 hxg5 Ra7 41 f4 Kf8 42 Kf3 Ke7
43 Ke4 Kd7 44 g6 f6 45 Rb4 1-0, P.Nikolic-M.Ulibin, Bregenz 2016.
b) 10 Qd3 0-0 11 Bg5 Rd8 12 Qe3 Bxc3+ (too soon; simple development with 12 …
Nc6 13 Bxf6 gxf6 14 0-0 Be6 would have given Black equal chances as the shattered
kingside pawns are hard to exploit: 15 Qh6 Bxc3 16 bxc3 Qe7 17 Rfd1 Rac8 and Black
defends comfortably) 13 Qxc3 Qxc3+ 14 bxc3 Nc6 15 Bxf6 gxf6 16 Rd1 Be6 17 Nc5
Bxa2?
(a tempting capture, but wrong; the careful 17 … Na5! maintains the balance after 18
Nxb7 Rxd1+ 19 Kxd1 Nxb7 20 Bxb7 Rb8 21 Be4 f5 22 Bc2 Rb2 23 Kc1 Rxa2 24 Rd1
Kg7)
18 Nxb7 (now White gets the upper hand) 18 … Rxd1+ 19 Kxd1 Rc8 20 Kd2 Bc4 21
Ra1 a6 22 Ke1 Rc7 23 Nd6 Ne7 24 Ne8 Rc8 25 Nxf6+ Kg7 26 Ng4 Bb5 27 Ra3 e4 28
Ne3 f5 29 f3 exf3 30 Bxf3 Kf6 31 Kf2 Ke5 32 Bb7 Rc7 33 Bxa6 Bxa6 34 Rxa6 Rxc3 35
Ra7 Ng6 36 Ra5+ Ke6 37 Nxf5 Ne5 38 Nd4+ Kf6 39 h3 Nd7 40 Ra6+ Kf7 41 Ra7 Kg6 1-
0, Y.Wang-H.Wang, Huaian 2016.
10 … Bxc3 11 bxc3 0-0 12 Bg5 Nbd7!

A useful general tip is that whatever opening you choose to play should be based on
the following factors:

1) Do you like it?

2) Do you feel comfortable playing it?
3) Can you see good squares for all your pieces?
4) Do you like the typical pawn structures that result from your opening choice?
5) Is the opening sound or are there obvious defects?
6) Does the opening provide a solid platform with which to enter the middlegame?

Of the six points above, the last one is probably the most important. The double Queen’s
Gambit with 2 … c5 seems to fit that bill.
13 Qc1
13 Qd3 is a little more active, but then the queen can be attacked after … Rd8. Black
is absolutely fine in the positions that arise, e.g. 13 … h6 14 Be3 Nb6 15 Rfd1 Be6 16 Bc5
Rfd8 17 Bd6 Qc8 18 Qb5 e4 19 Na5 Nc4! 20 Be7 (20 Nxb7? a6 21 Qb1 Rd7 wins) 20 …
Rd5 21 Rxd5 Nxd5 22 Qxc4 Nxe7 23 Qxc8+ Rxc8 24 Nxb7 f5 25 g4 g6 26 gxf5 gxf5 27
Nd6 Rxc3 28 Nb5 Rc2 29 Nxa7 Rxa2 ½-½, M.Ragger-A.Mista, Germany 2016.
An unexciting game, but definitely instructive.
13 … h6 14 Be3 Nb6 15 c4 Bd7 16 Na5 Na4!?

Black makes the interesting decision to give up the b7-pawn in return for the initiative.
Many would have simply defended with 16 … Rab8 and of course this is a bit passive, but
the Black position is very solid.
17 Nxb7 Bc6 18 Bxc6 Qxc6 19 Na5 Qa6 20 Bd2 Rfc8 21 Qa3 Nc5
The pawn sacrifice has enabled Black to coordinate his pieces and put White in a
slight tangle. With the clock ticking such positions are often difficult to handle for the
player with the extra pawn. The c4-pawn is vulnerable and will require constant
protection.
It should not be difficult for White just to give back the pawn and make an easy draw,
but one has to make a mental readjustment in order to do that.
22 Qe3 Ng4 23 Qf3 Qe6 24 Bb4 Rab8 25 a3 Nf6 26 Kg2 Nce4 27 h4 Nd6 28 c5
A less than ideal move for the white bishop.
28 … Nf5 29 e3 e4 30 Qe2 Nd7
 31 Rfd1?
White returns the pawn at the wrong moment, but with Black seemingly threatening
… Ne5-f3 or … .Ne5-d3, White feels he has to activate his game.
31 Rac1 is better, keeping the c-pawn for the time being and after 31 … Ne5 32 Rfd1
Qg6! (32 … Nd3?! 33 Rxd3 exd3 34 Qxd3 is rather nice for White, who has two pawns
for the exchange and has snuffed out Black’s attack) 33 Rh1 Nd3 34 Rc4, White is
defending.
31 … Nxc5 32 Rac1 Nd3
Suddenly, Black is much better, with his knight on d3 controlling the position.
33 Rxc8+ Rxc8 34 Rxd3 exd3 35 Qxd3 Ne7 36 e4 Ng6 37 h5 Ne5 38 Qe2 Rc1 0-1
There are no decent moves to be found for White. An easy plan for Black might be to
increase control further by taking the seventh rank eg … Ra1-a2. Sometimes, it is truly
better to resign.

Game 59
A.Bisguier-J.Littlewood
Hastings 1961

The Chigorin Defence, 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6!?, is one of the best ways for a club player to
meet the Queen’s Gambit, as long as they have studied it carefully. This is not a variation
one can just sit down and play, as Black, by blocking his pawn on c7 is breaking one of
the golden rules of the entire Queen’s Gambit complex. Eschewing … c7-c5, Black is
relying on the pawn break … e7-e5 to free his game.

Note: The Chigorin leads to sharp middle game positions and White has to play
in a sophisticated manner to gain an advantage; something club players are not
exactly known for. If he fails to do so, Black can often get a very dangerous attack.

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 c4 Bg4
This is the usual square for the bishop, with … Bxf3 in mind in order to force through
… e7-e5.
4 cxd5 Bxf3 5 gxf3 Qxd5 6 e3 e5!

Black is speeding ahead in development and attacks in the centre to open up the game.
White has two bishops and will gain time with Nc3. Which colour do you prefer?
7 Nc3 Bb4 8 Bd2 Bxc3
The second Bishop is surrendered in the interests of maintaining momentum.
9 bxc3
A critical position, where Black has tried many options.
9 … exd4
Others:
a) 9 … Qd6! is a move favoured by modern-day specialist Alexander Morozevich.
Black plays flexibly, committing neither his knight on g8 prematurely or his king to the
queenside. He follows up with … 0-0-0, … Nge7 or … Nf6 according to White’s
response.
b) 9 … 0-0-0 is pretty straightforward, although it does reveal Black’s hand and 9 …
Nge7 or 9 … Nf6 are also decent moves.
Littlewood captures on d4 to cut down the mobility of the white pawn centre.
10 cxd4 Nf6!?
Littlewood’s development plan is easy to understand, but Black more often plays the
knight to e7 and castles long. It is a question of taste.
11 Rb1 0-0! 12 Be2
Seeing that 12 Rxb7? Nxd4 is terrible for White, Bisguier hastens to castle.
12 … Rfe8

13 0-0
13 Rg1 Qxa2 14 Rb5 a5 15 Rbg5 is a remarkable rook manoeuvre and leads to a
totally different type of struggle than the one in the main game. Black blocks the threat
and White continues to hack away, but with his king in the middle this is very risky. Play
can continue 15 … g6 16 h4 a4 17 h5 Kg7 (17 … Kf8 is possible) 18 d5 Qb2? (Black is
fazed by the outright attack; he should play the splendid 18 … Nd4! interrupting the entire
plan and cutting the White rooks out of the defence, e.g. 19 exd4 a3!! 20 hxg6 fxg6 21
Kf1 Qb2 22 Bc1 Qb6 23 Be3 Qb2 24 Bc1 with equality) 19 dxc6 a3 20 Rb5! (this is the
difference; White’s rook can still come back to defend) 20 … a2 21 Rxb2 a1Q 22 Rb1
Qa7 23 cxb7 Rab8 24 Bc3 Re6 25 Qd4 Rxb7 26 Qxa7 Rxa7 27 f4 Rc6 28 Bd4 Ra2 29 Bf3
Rd6 30 f5 Kh6 31 Be5 1-0, Z.Milev-M.Valchanov, Sofia 1957. A wild game, quite in
keeping with the style of Chigorin’s Defence.
13 … Rad8 14 a4 Rd6
The rook comes to the third rank to join a possible attack against White’s king.
15 e4?
Showing no sense of danger. Instead 15 Kh1! would be much safer and would even
prepare Rg1.
15 … Qh5 16 d5?
Compounding his last error. Now Black is suddenly winning. 16 Rb5 Qh3 17 Bf4
Rxd4 18 Qb3 can be offered as a suitable, if non-obvious defence, when the Black pieces
are suddenly uncoordinated and White has some hope.
16 … Nd4 17 Rxb7 Nxe4!

Littlewood, a master of the attack, is in his element and brings every piece to the final
assault.
18 Bf4 Rg6+ 19 Bg3 Nc3 20 Qd3 Ncxe2+ 21 Kh1 Qh3 22 Rfb1 Rxg3 23 fxg3
Nxg3+ 0-1
My impression is that Black gets good practical chances after 3 Nf3 Bg4 in every line.
Obviously, we are only scratching the surface in this book, but let us move on now to 3
Nc3!, a much more difficult move for Black to meet.

Game 60
V.Ivanchuk-W.Arencibia
Capablanca Memorial, Havana 2005

1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nc3!

If Black can’t play … e7-e5 quickly he tends to get a passive position, which is
awkward to handle. 3 Nc3 puts swift pressure on the d5-pawn and forces Black’s hand. He
certainly does not want to play 3 … e6?!, which makes the knight on c6 poorly placed and
3 … Nf6?! 4 cxd5 Nxd5 5 e4, also looks better for White. This leaves 3 … dxc4.
3 … dxc4 4 Nf3!
White has achieved success with 4 d5 Ne5 but 4 Nf3 is somewhat stronger, developing
and preparing to play d4-d5 at a better moment.
4 … Nf6 5 Bg5
Standard development will do here for White, as Black is in no position to free his
game just yet.
5 … a6?!
If this is the best Black has, then his position is not that great.
5 … Bg4 looks more Chigorin-like, but can be met by 6 d5! Bxf3 7 exf3 Ne5 8 f4
Nd3+ 9 Bxd3 cxd3 10 Qxd3 (threatening Qb5+) 10 … a6 11 0-0 and White has a pleasant
advantage, with more space and superior development.
5 … Qd6 6 e4 Qb4 was suggested by Deep Fritz 14, but now 7 d5! grabs the initiative,
for example 7 … Qxb2 (7 … Na5 8 Bd2 e5 9 Qc2 Bd6 10 Nd1 Qb5 11 b3) 8 Bd2 Nb4 9
Rb1 Nc2+ 10 Ke2. It is unlikely that White’s harmonious position can be shaken by shock
tactics of this type.
 6 d5!
Why not? Black’s Knight has to go to a silly square.
6 … Na7 7 e4 Nb5 8 Qa4 Bd7 9 Qxc4 Nxc3 10 bxc3 h6 11 Bf4
If you run this through a computer engine, they will tell you that the position is equal.
Don’t believe it!
Black is cramped and faces a difficult defence. He has been unable to play … e7-e5
during the opening sequence and in the Chigorin, this means passivity.
11 … e6
11 … b5 12 Qd4 e6 is probably Black’s best try.
12 Bxc7 exd5 13 exd5 Qe7+ 14 Be2 b5 15 Qd4
I think Black was hoping that by giving up the pawn, he could make it difficult for
White to coordinate his pieces. The plan has not worked.
15 … Qc5 16 Qe5+ Be7
16 … Qe7 is no solution. White continues 17 d6 Qxe5 18 Nxe5 Nd5 19 Bh5 g6 (19 …
Nxc7 is met by 20 Nxf7! Bg4 21 Bxg4 Kxf7 22 dxc7 Re8+ 23 Kd2 Bd6 24 c8Q Rxc8 25
Bxc8 Rxc8 26 g3 winning) 20 Nxg6! is crushing.
 17 d6
Very good. Ivanchuk drives home his advantage before Black can castle.
17 … Qxe5 18 Nxe5 Nd5
18 … Bd8 was possibly more tenacious, but I think that Arencibia was fed up with the
position and wanted it all to end. His wish is granted.
19 dxe7 Nxc7 20 Bf3 Rc8 21 0-0-0
Maintaining the threats.
21 … Be6 22 Nc6 Bd7 23 Rhe1 h5 24 Na7 Rb8 25 Bc6 1-0
If you give a world-class grandmaster the initiative and an extra pawn, you can more
or less write the game off. I’ll stick with my thought that the Chigorin is good for
newcomers to the Queen’s Gambit to learn and play. However, you will have to be well
prepared against 3 Nc3!

Game 61
Li Bo-J.Brustkern
Budapest 2013

1 d4 d5 2 c4 e5
 This is the Albin Counter-Gambit, one of Black’s most aggressive weapons against the
Queen’s Gambit. It’s an attempt to divert White away from his normal, positional
approach and force him to solve unusual problems. The Albin was revived at grandmaster
level in the 1990s by Alexander Morozevich, who achieved excellent results with it. Most
of his opponents knew what was coming, but seemed unable to do much about it!
My own view is that this was entirely down to the enormous talent of the player, rather
than the objective merit of the opening. White should be able to get an edge, at least. But
if you don’t mind taking a small risk in the opening, the Albin is certainly playable.
3 dxe5 d4
The pawn on d4 stops White from developing his minor pieces comfortably and is the
first point of the sacrifice.
4 Nf3
The question now revolves around whether the pawn on d4 is strong or just a target.
4 … Nc6 5 g3!
White is not short of good moves and 5 a3 or 5 Nbd2 are equally sensible.
 5 … Nge7!
Morozevich patented this move, the idea being to regain the pawn by playing …
Ng6xe5. Black can also try any of 5 … .Be6, 5 … Bf5 or 5 … Bg4, but 5 … Nge7 has be
shown to be the soundest try.
6 Bg2 Ng6 7 0-0!
I like this approach. White just lets Black have the pawn back and speeds up his
development.
7 … Ngxe5 8 Nxe5 Nxe5 9 b3!
We come now to the question of the pawn on d4.
9 … Be7 10 Bb2 Bf6
Looks logical, but the bishop is a target for the White knight and will soon have to
move again. This position is a little more awkward for Black than it looks.
Black can also try 10 … c5 when 11 e3! is the point of White’s opening plan,
undermining the pawn. Can Black maintain his pawn on d4? Let us see:
a) 11 … Bg4 is the first move that comes to mind, but then there follows 12 Qd2! (this
looks risky, but Black cannot exploit it) 12 … Nf3+ 13 Bxf3 Bxf3 14 exd4 Qd7
(alternatives are 14 … cxd4 15 Bxd4 0-0 16 Nc3 Re8 17 Qf4! Bc6 18 Rad1 and 14 … Bg5
15 Re1+ Kf8 16 Qc3) 15 Qf4! defusing the Black attack and leaving White a pawn up.
b) 11 … Bf6 12 exd4 cxd4 13 Nd2 0-0 14 Ne4! also leaves the pawn on d4 rather
vulnerable.
11 Nd2 c5 12 Ne4!
 12 … Be7
12 … Qe7 is met by 13 e3! dxe3 14 Qe2! (found by Deep Fritz) which leads to a very
strong position for White:
a) 14 … Bg4 15 Nxf6+ gxf6 16 Qxe3.
b) 14 … Ng4 15 Nxf6+ gxf6 (15 … Nxf6 16 Rae1 0-0 17 Qxe3 Qxe3 18 Rxe3) 16
Rae1.
c) 14 … exf2+ 15 Rxf2 0-0 16 Raf1 Bg4 17 Nxf6+ gxf6 18 Qe3.
In a way these variations point up the difficulty of using openings like the Albin in the
chess computer era. Anyone can switch on an engine and deal with the Black tactics.
13 e3 Nc6 14 Qh5
I was shocked when the machine suggested 14 Nxc5!! but apparently this is the way to
go. White sacrifices a piece and puts Black under immense pressure as the following lines
demonstrate: 14 … Bxc5 15 exd4 Be7 (others also fail, e.g. 15 … Bxd4 16 Bxc6+ bxc6 17
Bxd4 0-0 18 Bc5 Re8 19 Qxd8 Rxd8 20 Rfd1 or 15 … Nxd4 16 b4 0-0 17 bxc5 Nc6 18
Bd5) 16 d5 Nb8 17 Qd4 Bf6 (17 … f6 is met by 18 c5 0-0 19 d6) 18 Rae1+ Kf8 19 Qc5+
Kg8 (19 … Be7 20 Rxe7 Qxe7 21 Qxc8+ Qe8 22 Ba3+ Kg8 23 Qxe8 is mate) 20 Qc7!
Bd7 21 Qxb7. It may be that we will see less of the Morozevich line due to these very
variations.
14 … 0-0 15 Nxc5
This is good for White too, but not quite as entertaining.
15 … dxe3
 15 … g6 works in White’s favour after 16 Qd5.
16 fxe3
16 Ne4 might also be considered.
16 … Qd2 17 Na4 Qxe3+ 18 Kh1 Be6 19 Rae1

I can’t say that I like this position for Black and the last thing the gambiteer wants is to
be thrown on to the defensive. The problem for Black is his king and the strength of the
White bishop on b2.
19 … Qd2 20 Re2 Qd7 21 Nc5 Bxc5 22 Qxc5
The g7 square is looking rather tender.
22 … h6 23 Qe3 Rfd8 24 Ref2
24 Qc3! would have highlighted Black’s problem on the dark squares. The following
tactical lines are most instructive:
a) 24 … Qd4 25 Qxd4 Nxd4 26 Bxd4 Rxd4 27 Bxb7.
b) 24 … f6 25 Rxf6! gxf6 26 Qxf6 Nd4 (26 … Qd1+ 27 Bf1) 27 Qg6+ Qg7 28 Rxe6!
Qxg6 29 Rxg6+ Kh7 30 Be4 Kh8 31 Rg4 h5 32 Rg5 Rd6 33 Rxh5+ Kg7 34 Rd5.
c) 24 … Nd4 25 Rd2.
24 … Qd3 25 Qe1 Rd7 26 Be4 Qd6 27 Qc3
 White obtains pressure against g7.
27 … Qf8
27 … Nd4 fails to 28 Rd1 Rad8 29 Rfd2.
28 Bb1! Nd4 29 Qd3
After the queen switches to another dangerous diagonal, Black cannot block the lines
towards his king.
29 … Nf5 30 Qe4! g6 31 Qe5 Kh7
31 … Ng7 32 Bxg6! is a bone-crushing move.
32 Rxf5 1-0

Game 62
V.Mitura-K.Novosadova
Czechia 2013

Let’s take a look now at an incredible recent game, where the cheapo lands or, to put it
another way, Black confuses White with some baffling tactics. This is a roller coaster ride,
so don’t expect grandmaster perfection..
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e5 3 dxe5 d4 4 Nf3 Nc6 5 g3 Nge7!? 6 Bg2 Be6
The stable 6 … Ng6! is the main move, but Black seems keen on a caveman
(cavewoman?) attack.
7 Nbd2 Qd7 8 a3 Ng6
 Once White sets up the threat of b4-b5, it’s crucial for Black to attack e5 immediately.
9 0-0 0-0-0 10 b4
Instead, 10 Qa4 Kb8 11 Rd1 Ncxe5 leads to a very reasonable position for Black, e.g.
12 Qxd7 Rxd7 13 b3 f6 14 h3 Be7 15 Ne1 Rhd8 16 f4 Nf7 17 Ndf3 h5 18 e4 dxe3 19
Rxd7 Rxd7 20 Bxe3 Nh6 21 Nd4 Nf5 22 Nxf5 Bxf5 23 Bf3 Bxh3 24 Bxh5 Bf5 with
equality, H.Asgeirsson-A.Raetsky, Reykjavik 1996.
10 … h5!?
She cannot resist it! Yet there is nothing wrong with 10 … Ncxe5 for example, 11
Nxe5
(11 Bb2 h5 12 Bxd4 h4 13 Qc2 hxg3 14 fxg3) 11 … Nxe5 12 Qc2 (12 c5 Bh3 13 Bb2
Be7 14 Nf3 Nxf3+ 15 exf3 was I.Brener-P.Bressler, Berlin 2000 and now 15 … Bxg2 16
Kxg2 h5 17 h4 g5 looks extremely dangerous) 12 … d3 13 exd3 Nxd3 (13 … h5! is better
right away and Black has excellent chances) 14 Nb3 Nxc1 (or 14 … Bf5 15 Be3 Ne1 16
Qb2 Nxg2 17 Rfd1 Bd6 18 Kxg2 Bh3+) 15 Raxc1 Bf5 16 Qb2 h5 17 c5 c6 18 b5 h4 19
bxc6 bxc6 20 Na5 hxg3 21 hxg3 Qc7 22 Nxc6 Rd7 23 Nd4 Bh3 24 c6 Rd8 25 Qb7+ is
winning, A.Lilienthal-S.Tartakower, Paris 1933.
11 Bb2 h4 12 Qa4
12 b5 is one pawn move too many and Black puts the boot in after 12 … Ncxe5 13
Nxd4 Bh3! 14 N2f3 hxg3 15 fxg3 Bxg2 16 Kxg2 Qh3+ 17 Kg1 Nxf3+. This is the type of
devastating sequence the Albin gambiteer is looking for.
12 … hxg3 13 fxg3 a6?!
Ugly. An unnecessary weakening of the queenside. Of course, 13 … Kb8! should have
been played, with 14 Rad1 d3 15 exd3 Qxd3 16 Rfe1 Be7 leading to a very unclear
situation.
14 b5 Ncxe5 15 Bxd4

15 … Bxc4?
The black game is heading downhill. The best shot was certainly 15 … Bh3 after
which White has to show some care. Play can continue 16 Bxh3 Rxh3 17 Rfd1 Rh5 18
Ne4 Qe8 19 Kg2 Ng4 20 Nc3 when White is much better, but at least the position is
messy.
16 Bxe5?
One mistake deserves another. 16 Nxc4! wins. White simply has to be able to count
the pieces, which clearly in the game, Mitura was unable to do. After 16 … Nxf3+ (16 …
Qxb5 17 Qxb5 axb5 18 Ncxe5 wins) 17 Bxf3 Qxd4+ 18 e3 Qa7 19 Rab1 White is
winning.
16 … Bc5+ 17 Kh1 Nxe5
Now it’s Black who should be winning.
18 Qc2 axb5
18 … Qg4! is extremely strong, transferring the queen into a direct position of attack.
19 a4 Ng4?!
19 … b4! is better.
20 axb5 Kb8 21 Qa4 c6 22 bxc6 Qxd2 23 Qa8+
 Not 23 Nxd2 Rxh2 mate.
23 … Kc7 24 Qxb7+ Kd6

25 h4
In this random situation 25 c7! Rde8 26 Nh4! wins.
25 … Qb4 26 Rad1+
Have you ever seen anything like this? I thought that Black had a big attack a few
moves ago and now somehow her king is wandering all over the board.
26 … Bd5 27 Rxd5+ Kxd5 28 Rd1+ Ke4 29 Ng5+??
A further blunder. 29 Nd4+ Ke5 30 Qc7+ Bd6 31 Qxf7 is game over.
29 … Ke3
I did warn you that this was a fairground ride. Now White finishes things off, but not
quite in the expected way.
30 Rxd8
30 Rc1 Qxb7 31 cxb7 Rd1+ 32 Rxd1 Nf2+ also wins outright for Black.
30 … Qe1+ 0-1
Naturally, this is the type of tactical melee the Albin Gambiteer wants to encourage.

Overall, the Albin is not a bad bet for club players. Black gets freedom for his pieces
in return for a pawn and, as we have seen, there are frequent opportunities to get the pawn
back by playing … Nge7-g6xe5. A careful opponent may play 2 Nf3, when the Albin is
prevented, so Black has to be ready for that.

Game 63
A.Pietrobono-M.Del Gobbo
corr 2001

1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nf6?!

This is generally known as ‘ Marshall’s Defence’, after the legendary American, Frank
Marshall. Interestingly, one of the earliest examples of 2 … Nf6 features Marshall losing
with White! The problems with 2 … Nf6 start with 3 cxd5, when there is no good
recapture. Other third moves tend to transpose back into main lines.
3 cxd5! Nxd5
Clearly 3 … Qxd5 loses time after 4 Nc3. I once toyed with the idea of 3 … g6 trying
to trick White into an Exchange Grunfeld, which he might not want to play, but the reply 4
Qa4+! is surprisingly good for White.
So Black is left with 3 … Nxd5 and there is no reason after that why White should not
take the centre.
4 Nf3!
Patience first, occupation later. Here is the original Marshall game, where White
claimed the centre immediately.
4 e4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e5! (this is the freeing move Black is anxious to play and the key point
of the whole system; White does better to prevent this advance) 6 d5 Bc5 (Black already
has a nice position) 7 Be2 c6 8 Nf3 cxd5 9 Bg5 d4 10 Nd5 Be7 11 Nxe7 Qxe7 12 0-0
(Frank Marshall always sought the initiative, but his pawn sacrifice in this game is simply
unsound) 12 … Nc6 13 Nd2 h6 14 Bh4 g5 15 Bg3 0-0 16 h4 Ne8 17 hxg5 hxg5 18 Rc1
Be6 19 Bb5 Bd7 20 a3 f6 21 Nb3 Nc7 22 Bd3 Na6 23 Bc4+ Kg7 24 Bd5 Rac8 25 Nd2
Nc7 26 Re1 Ne8 27 f3 Nd6 28 Qa4 Rc7 29 b4 a6 30 Qb3 Rfc8 31 Qb2 Be6 32 Nb3 b6 33
Qe2 Qf7 34 Bxe6 Qxe6 35 Qd3 Nb5 36 Re2 Nxb4 37 Rxc7+ Rxc7 38 axb4 Rc3 39 Nxd4
Nxd4 40 Qxa6 Nxe2+ 41 Qxe2 Qc4 42 Qd2 Qd4+ 43 Qxd4 exd4 44 Kf1 Rc2 45 b5 d3 46
Ke1 Kf7 47 Kd1 Ke6 48 f4 Rxg2 49 f5+ Kd7 50 Be1 Rg1 51 Kd2 Rxe1 52 Kxe1 g4 53
Kd2 g3 0-1, F.Marshall-I.Gunsberg, Monte Carlo 1902.
I can imagine Marshall contemplating this episode and thinking that the opening idea
was worth a try in future games.
4 … e6
Passive-looking, but Black does not have many good ideas which can confidently be
called an opening system. Instead, he has a series of ‘moves’, for example:
a) 4 … Bg4 can be met by 5 Ne5! Bh5 (after 5 … Bf5 6 Qb3 is problematic) 6 Qb3
Nb6 7 Qh3! and after the White queen slides across, Black is in trouble in this
unconventional situation.
b) 4 … Bf5 seems okay, but is strongly met by 5 Qb3! Nb6 6 Nc3 and White is ready
to occupy the centre with e2-e4.
c) Finally 4 … g6 may be best, but then White gets a good version of the Exchange
Grunfeld after 5 e4 Nb6 6 h3 Bg7 7 Nc3 0-0 8 Be2 or 8 Be3.
However you look at it, Marshall’s Defence cannot be recommended.
5 e4 Nf6 6 Nc3 Bb4 7 Bd3 h6 8 0-0 0-0 9 Bc2
 White has confidently taken the centre and plans to take move forward with the idea of
Qd3 followed by e4-e5. What can Black do against this plan? A correspondence master
does not find an answer.
9 … Nc6 10 a3 Ba5
He can chop on c3 and try to defend, but the position is woeful, for example 10 …
Bxc3 11 bxc3 Ne7 12 e5 Nd7 13 Qd3 Ng6 14 h4 Re8 15 h5 Ngf8 16 a4 with a clear
advantage to White.
11 e5 Ne8 12 Qd3 f5 13 exf6 Nxf6
There is nothing else. 13 … Rxf6 fails to 14 Qh7+ Kf7 (or 14 … Kf8 15 Ne5 Bxc3 16
bxc3 Nxe5 17 dxe5 Rf7 18 Qh8+ Ke7 19 Rd1) 15 Ne5+ Nxe5 16 dxe5. Meanwhile 13 …
Qxf6 leads to even quicker defeat after 14 Qh7+ Kf7 15 Ne4.
14 Bxh6!
Devastating.
 14 … Qe8
The attack is too strong after 14 … gxh6 15 Qg6+ Kh8 16 Qxh6+ Kg8 17 Qg6+ Kh8
18 d5! exd5 19 Nxd5!! 19 … Qxd5 20 Ng5 Qg8 (or 20 … Qd7 21 Qh6+ Nh7 22 Bxh7
Qg7 23 Qh4) 21 Qh6+ Nh7 22 Bxh7 Qg7 23 Qh4.
15 Bd2 Qh5 16 b4 Bb6 17 b5 Ne7 18 Na4
White is a pawn up for nothing and reverts to conventional play. He has no need to
mate Black and can win at leisure by offering trades and occupying squares. Black takes
the quick way out.
18 … Ba5? 19 Bxa5 1-0
You will have to work hard to rehabilitate 2 … Nf6.
Index of Complete Games
Al Sayed.M-Li Chao, Gibraltar 2016
Alekhine.A-Capablanca.J, World Championship, Buenos
Aires (Game 6) 1927
Anand.V-Carlsen.M, World Championship, Sochi (Game 3)
2014
Andersen.S-Gonzalez.K, Las Palmas 2016
Aronian.L-Jobava.B, European Team Championship,
Reykjavik 2015
Artemiev.V-Motylev.A, Russian Championship, Chita 2015
Bacrot.E-Dominguez Perez.L, Biel 2008
Banikas.H-Rabinovich.A, Tallinn 1997
Berkes.F-Zhang.P, Taiyuan 2006
Bisguier.A-Littlewood.J, Hastings 1961
Brunello.S-Piorun.K, Gjakova 2016
Bu Xiangzhi-Ivanchuk.V, Danzhou 2016
Chernin.A-Bacrot.E, Corsica 2006
Ding Liren-Anand.V, Sinquefield Cup, Saint Louis 2016
Eljanov.P-Kramnik.V, Baku Olympiad 2016
Fedoseev.V-Gabrielian.A, Taganrog 2015
Friedrich.P-Zaitsev.M, Herne 2016
Gamboa.N-Fressinet.L, Nancy 2012
Gofshtein.L-Sadler.M, Ischia 1996
Granda Zuniga.J-Sargissian.G, Linares 2015
Hamdan.A-Savchenko.S, Algiers 2016
Hebden.M-Longson.A, 4NCL, Wakefield 2016
Hort.V-Inkiov.V, Lugano 1984
Hulak.K-Spassky.B, Toluca Interzonal 1982
Ivanchuk.V-Arencibia.W, Capablanca Memorial, Havana
2005
Jones.G-Bruzon.L, Tromso Olympiad 2014
Kallai.G-Yusupov.A, Swiss Team Championship,
Switzerland 1999
Kamsky.G-Carlsen.M, FIDE World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk
2005
Karpov.A-Ljubojevic.L, Linares 1989
Kasparov.G-Miles.A, Basel 1986
Kasparov.G-Short.N, Thessaloniki Olympiad 1988
Kovalenko.I-Short.N, Tromso Olympiad 2014
Kuzubov.Y-Moiseenko.A, FIDE World Cup, Khanty-
Mansiysk 2005
Laciner.K-Miladinovic.I, Istanbul 2001
Larsen.B-Kasparov.G, Niksic 1983
Li Bo-Brustkern.J, Budapest 2013
Mamedyarov.S-Carlsen.M, Qatar Masters, Doha 2015
Mamedyarov.S-Dominguez Perez.L, Beijing 2013
Milanovic.D-Andrijevic.M, Veliko Gradiste 2015
Mitura.V-Novosadova.K, Czechia 2013
Muller.J-Illingworth.M, North Geelong 2012
Nakamura.H-Bacrot.E, FIDE Grand Prix, Paris 2013
Nakamura.H-Giri.A, Sinquefield Cup, Saint Louis 2016
Parligras.M-Solak.D, Kragujevac 2016
Pietrobono.A-Del Gobbo.M, corr 2001
Psakhis.L-Kveinys.A, Sevastopol 1986
Radjabov.T-Caruana.F, FIDE Grand Prix, Baku 2014
Radjabov.T-Kasparov.G, Linares 2003
Ragozin.V-Flohr.S, Moscow 1948
Rapport.R-Navara.D, Biel 2015
Roussel.T-Legky.N, Montreal 2002
Shirov.A-Svidler.P, Gausdal 1991
Sokolov.I-Dutreeuw.M, San Bernardino 1989
Spassky.B-Avtonomov.A, Leningrad 1950
Spassky.B-Petrosian.T, World Championship, Moscow
(Game 5) 1969
Strauss.D-King.D, British Championship, Brighton 1984
Vachier-Lagrave.M-Topalov.V, Stavanger 2015
Van Wely.L-So.W, Wijk aan Zee 2013
Vizantiadis.L-Spassky.B, Siegen Olympiad 1970
Volodin.A-Shirov.A, Keres Memorial, Tallinn 2011
Wells.P-Houska.J, British Championship, Sheffield 2011
Zhao Xue-Bacrot.E, Cap d’Agde 2013
Zubov.A-Swapnil.D, Abu Dhabi 2016