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About the Author
Nigel Davies is an International Grandmaster and FIDE Senior Trainer. He
is the author of numerous books and DVDs on the game and is known for
the clarity of his explanations.

Also by the Author

10 Great Ways to Get Better at Chess
Alekhine’s Defence
Gambiteer I
Gambiteer II
Opening Repertoire: The Grünfeld Defence
Play 1 e4 e5!
Play the Catalan
Starting Out: The Modern
Taming the Sicilian
The Dynamic Réti
The Grünfeld Defence
The Queen’s Gambit Declined: Move by Move
The Pirc: Move by Move
The Rules of Winning Chess
The Trompowsky
The Veresov
Contents
About the Author
Bibliography
Introduction

1 Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation, 4 Qc2

2 Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein Variation, 4 e3
3 Nimzo-Indian: Sämisch Variation, 4 a3
4 Nimzo-Indian: Kmoch Variation, 4 f3
5 Nimzo-Indian: Leningrad Variation, 4 Bg5
6 Nimzo-Indian: Romanishin Variation, 4 g3 & 4 Nf3 c5 5 g3
7 Nimzo-Indian: Miscellaneous Lines
8 Queen’s Indian: 4 g3
9 Queen’s Indian: 4 a3 & 4 Nc3 Bb7 5 a3
10 Queen’s Indian: 4 e3
11 Queen’s Indian: Miscellaneous Lines
12 Anti-Catalan: 3 g3 c5
13 Queen’s Pawn with Bg5
14 Queen’s Pawn with Bf4
15 Queen’s Pawn: Others
16 Anti-Reti: 1 Nf3 Nf6
17 Anti-English: 1 c4 e5

Index of Complete Games

Bibliography
Books
1 d4: Volume Two, Boris Avrukh (Quality Chess 2010)
Indian Defences, Ludek Pachman (Chess Ltd. 1970)
Keep It Simple 1 d4, Christof Sielecki (New in Chess 2019)
Learn from the Grandmasters, Raymond Keene et al (Batsford 1975)
Nimzo-Indian 4 e3, Craig Pritchett (Batsford 1980)
Playing the Trompowsky, Richard Pert (Quality Chess 2013)
Secrets of Opening Surprises: Volume 14, Jeroen Bosch et al (New in Chess
2012)
The Complete Benoni, Lev Psakhis (Batsford 1995)
The Nimzo-Indian, Renaldo Vera (Gambit Publications 2008)

Databases & Engines

Chess Tempo Online Database
Deep Fritz 13
Introduction
The Nimzo and Queen’s Indian Defences are normally introduced via the
moves 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6, the Nimzo-Indian arising after 3 Nc3 Bb4 and the
Queen’s Indian coming about after 3 Nf3 b6. These two defences are
viewed by many as being the best way for Black to play against 1 d4,
combining soundness and the potential for playing to unbalance the game
and win.
Although I dabbled with these defences throughout my playing career,
they became a regular part of my repertoire from the early 1990s. I adopted
them after conducting an inventory of my games in which I discovered that
my results as Black were quite poor against very strong players and decided
to prepare something more solid than my habitual Modern and Pirc
Defences.
With some informal guidance from former Soviet Champion Lev
Psakhis, I put together a simple repertoire with the Nimzo and Queen’s
Indian. I still remember him showing me the following vibrant battle when
we were neighbours in Herzliya in Israel, explaining that Black does not
need to play ... c7-c5 immediately in this line, but can first play preparatory
moves such as ... Qd7 and ... Rd8.

Game 1
E.Magerramov-L.Psakhis
Nimes Open 1991

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 g3 Ba6

 5 b3
This was the standard reply at the time. One of the reasons I do not
recommend 4 ... Ba6 as part of the repertoire is because of the sharp line 5
Qc2 c5 6 d5 exd5 7 cxd5 Bb7 8 Bg2, when White gets a dangerous
initiative for the pawn. It is not that this is necessarily bad for Black, I just
prefer to give lines that are harder to pin down with engine analysis and can
be played based on understanding and common sense.

Question: What do you recommend instead?

Answer: I give the older and natural 4 ... Bb7.

Question: You say that this is one of the reasons, what is the other one?
 Answer: The other reason is that playing 4 ... Bb7 means we do not
have some move order issues: for example, after 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 g3 b6
4 Bg2 would make 4 ... Ba6 pointless because there is no white pawn on c4.
There is also an issue with flank opening move orders, such as after 1 Nf3
Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 b6 4 Bg2 when Black can again play 4 ... Bb7 and 4 ...
Ba6 would not be right.
5 ... Bb4+ 6 Bd2
Pretty much forced, though with the bishop on d2 the move 5 b3 is less
than useful. 6 Nbd2 Bc3 7 Rb1 Bb7 leaves White threatened with the loss
of his d-pawn (8 ... Bxd4), and the exchange (8 ... Be4), and it is difficult to
see how he can stop both.
6 ... Be7 7 Bg2 0-0 8 0-0 Bb7 9 Nc3 Na6

This is a set-up we will reach for Black, but without White’s extra
moves b2-b3 and Bc1-d2.
 Question: Is it not useful for White to have these extra moves?

Answer: No, not really. The pawn on b3 can interfere with the transfer
of White’s queen to a4 and the bishop on d2 would now prefer to be on b2.
10 Ne5 d5!?
Surprisingly Psakhis refuses the exchange of light-squared bishops. 10
... Bxg2 11 Kxg2 c6 would have been another way to handle the position.
11 cxd5
White could consider bringing his bishop to b2 at this point with 11 Bc1
followed by 12 Bb2.
11 ... exd5 12 Rc1 Qc8
When I first saw this move I was very surprised. Psakhis explained that
the queen was well placed on e6 and that it could be transferred there via
either c8 or d7. Meanwhile the rook on f8 will come to d8 to support the d5-
pawn when Black plays ... c7-c5.
13 Bg5 Rd8 14 f4
The more restrained 14 e3 is a possibility here: for example, 14 ... h6 15
Bxf6 Bxf6 16 Qh5 Qe6 17 Nd3 c6 18 b4 gave White some pressure in
S.Irwanto-E.Van den Doel, Turin Olympiad 2006.
14 ... c5 15 e3 Nc7 16 f5 Nce8
A later Magerramov game varied at this point with 16 ... Re8 and after
17 g4 Bd6 18 Bf4 h6 19 Qf3 Ne4 20 Rfd1 Qd8 21 Nxe4 dxe4 22 Qg3 he
had strong pressure in E.Magerramov-K.Sakaev, St Petersburg 1992. This
implies that Magerramov was quite happy with his position at this point and
might even have had an improvement ready had Sakaev not varied himself
with 16 ... Re8.
17 g4 h6 18 Bh4 Qc7 19 Nb5 Qb8
 20 g5
Perhaps this is the point at which Magerramov planned to improve: for
example, with 20 Bg3. In any case his position was fine at this point.
20 ... hxg5 21 Bxg5 a6 22 Nc3 b5 23 Qe1 Bd6 24 Qg3 Rc8 25 Kh1
A rather relaxed move for such a tense position. Perhaps White should
have preferred 25 Rcd1 or 25 Bf3.
25 ... cxd4 26 exd4 b4 27 Bxf6 Nxf6
And not 27 ... bxc3 because of 28 Bxg7!, etc.
28 Na4 Rxc1 29 Rxc1 Qa7!?
Another possibility was 29 ... Qf8, stationing the queen where she
protects g7.
30 Nc5 Re8
It must have been a difficult decision to choose between this and 30 ...
Rc8, but Psakhis’s moves are motivated by the spirit of counterattack.
31 Qf4
 Perhaps not the best. Black is rock solid after 31 Nxb7 Qxb7 32 Rg1
Bf8, but maybe White could consider 31 Bf3 and then push his h-pawn up
the board.
31 ... Ba8
There is an argument that the bishop is out of play on a8 and that Black
should play 31 ... Bc8 instead.
32 Bf3 Qe7 33 Rg1 Bxe5 34 dxe5 Qxe5

35 Qh6
In the heat of the moment White might have overplayed his hand. He
should be OK after 35 Qxe5 Rxe5 36 Nxa6 Rxf5 37 Kg2 because the b4-
pawn is hanging.
35 ... Nh7 36 Nd7?
In the last few moves before the time control White may have missed
the reply. He had to play 36 f6!, after which 36 ... Qxf6 37 Qxf6 Nxf6 38
Nxa6 would probably see White hang on.
 36 ... Qc3! 37 Qf4 Nf6
Apparently Black can play 37 ... Bc6 because 38 f6 Bxd7 39 Rxg7+
Kh8 presents no danger to his king. I would have wanted to check that very
carefully, and short of time I would not have wanted to risk it.
38 Nb6
The engine prefers entering an endgame a pawn down with 38 Nxf6+
Qxf6 39 Qg5, a line which was understandably rejected.
38 ... Bc6 39 Qg3
39 Na4 Bxa4 40 bxa4 a5 would consolidate comfortably for Black.
39 ... Ne4 40 Qg2 Qe5 41 Bxe4 Qxe4

A practical decision, entering an endgame with an extra pawn. From

here on, White is fighting for his life.
42 Qxe4 dxe4 43 Rc1 e3+ 44 Kg1 Bf3 45 Nc4 f6 46 Re1 e2 47 Kf2
Bh5 48 Ne3 Re5 49 h3 Kh7 50 Rc1 Kh6 51 h4 Re4 52 Ng2 Re5 53 Ne3
Kh7 54 Re1 Rc5 55 Kg3 Ra5 56 Nc2 Rxa2
 56 ... Rxf5 was also good: for example, 57 Nxb4 Rf1 58 Nc2 Bg6 is
winning.
57 Nxb4 Ra3 0-1
58 Kf2 Rxb3 59 Nxa6 Rf3+ 60 Kg2 Rxf5 wins easily for Black.

Despite a lack of expertise, my results as Black immediately improved,

mainly because I stopped losing quite so often! Over the next few years, I
gradually improved my handling so these defences would be my main
weapons against 1 d4, playing a vital role in my gaining the grandmaster
title.
From a historical perspective the main pioneer of both these defences
was the famous thinker and strategist, Aaron Nimzowitsch, and this is how
the Nimzo-Indian acquired its name. The ‘Indian’ part of the name is part of
a quaint tradition by which all defences which involved a fianchetto were
given this moniker which then expanded to lines beginning 1 d4 Nf6. Philip
Sergeant wrote this in the 1934 book, A Century of British Chess:
“The Indian Defences by P-KN3 coupled with P-Q3, or P-QN3 coupled
with P-K3, were largely taught to European players by the example of
Moheschunder and other Indians, to whom the fianchetto developments
were a natural legacy from their own game. The fondness for them of the
present Indian champion of British chess, Mir Sultan Khan, is well known.
But they are now so widely popular that Dr. S. G. Tartakover was able to
declare, some years ago, that ‘to-day fianchettos are trumps.’ A sequel
hardly to have been anticipated from the discovery of Moheschunder in the
Mofussil.”
There are numerous problems with this nomenclature, not least of which
is the fact that the Nimzo-Indian does not always involve a fianchetto. On
the other hand a line of the Queen’s Gambit Declined that was popular at
the start of the 2 century went 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7 5 e3 0-
0 6 Nf3 Nbd7 7 Qc2 and now the ‘Indian’ 7 ... b6. As both the Nimzo-
Indian and Queen’s Indian can feature this same kind of set-up for Black,
we should probably just accept the names as tradition. Here, meanwhile, is
one of the most famous Nimzo-Indians in which Black exchanged his dark-
squared bishop and failed to fianchetto the other.

Game 2
P.Johner-A.Nimzowitsch
Dresden 1926

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4

Although this pin had been played in a few games in the 1880s it was
Nimzowitsch who popularized it in the 1920s during the rise of the
Hypermodern movement. This game would contribute considerably
towards this popularization.
4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 c5 6 Nf3 Nc6 7 0-0 Bxc3!?
Giving up the bishop-pair to double White’s pawns. This concept would
later be revived by the German Grandmaster Robert Hübner who used it via
a 4 ... c5 5 Bd3 Nc6 6 Nf3 Bxc3 move order. That does have the slight
advantage that Black can still castle on either flank.
8 bxc3 d6

Having exchange his dark-squared bishop Nimzowitsch establishes his

pawns on dark squares. We will encounter this strategy in numerous lines in
the repertoire presented.
9 Nd2 b6
White’s previous move prepared to meet 9 ... e5 with 10 d5 Na5 11
Nb3!, so Black would have to retreat his knight to e7 instead.
10 Nb3
Instead of this White should have preferred an immediate 10 f4 when
Nimzowitsch gave the sequel 10 ... e5 11 fxe5 dxe5 12 d5 Na5 13 Nb3 Nb7
14 e4 Ne8 with approximate equality.

Question: Does White’s passed d-pawn not give him an advantage?

Answer: Not in this case; it will be firmly blockaded by a black knight,

which then puts pressure on the e4- and c4-pawns.
10 ... e5 11 f4
 In this position 11 d5 would have been strongly met by 11 ... e4!: for
example, 12 dxc6 exd3 13 Qxd3 Ng4 14 f4 Qc7 leaves White with a very
weak pawn on c4 and weak light squares.
A more recent example of this line featured a better move in 11 f3, but
Black’s position was still OK. F.Olafsson-I.Csom, Bad Lauterberg 1977,
continued 11 ... Ba6 12 Rf2 Rc8 13 Bf1 Ne7 14 Rd2 Qe8 15 e4 h6 16 a4
Rc7 17 a5 Bc8 18 axb6 axb6 19 Ra8 Qc6 20 Rda2 Bb7 21 Rxf8+ Kxf8 with
approximate equality.
11 ... e4 12 Be2 Qd7!
A brilliant non-standard move by Black which restrains a white
kingside pawn advance. A simpler method would have been 12 ... Ne8 13
g4 (13 f5 is strongly met by 13 ... Qg5) 13 ... f5, but then 14 d5 Ne7 15 g5
would block the position and leave Black with little in the way of winning
chances. Nimzowitsch, being the stronger player, wanted to win.
13 h3
There have been subsequent attempts to improve White’s play, but none
of them have cast doubt on the soundness of Black’s position and
Nimzowitsch’s 12 ... Qd7. For example:
a) 13 Bd2 Ne7 14 a4 Ba6 15 d5 h5 16 Be1 Nf5 17 Bf2 g6 18 Nd2 Kg7
19 h3 h4 20 Qe1 Rh8 21 a5 bxa5 22 Rxa5 Bc8 23 Qb1 Qe7 24 Rc1 Re8 25
Rc2 a6 26 Rb2 Ra7 27 Bd1 Qf8 28 Rb8 Qh8 produced a tough struggle in
the game P.Lukacs-I.Csom, Hungary 1974.
b) 13 a4 a5 14 Ra2 Qf5 15 Na1 h5 16 Nc2 Bd7 17 Na3 Na7 18 Rb2
Rab8 19 Qc2 Rb7 20 Bd2 Rfb8 21 Bd1 g6 saw Black’s position hold firm
in V.Feldman-A.Allen, Gold Coast 2001.
13 ... Ne7 14 Qe1?!
Various sources agree that this is a mistake by White because it allows
Black to blockade the kingside.
From a strategic point of view the obvious move is 14 g4, but then
Black can proceed with 14 ... h5 15 g5 Qxh3 (15 ... Nh7 16 Bxh5 Qxh3 17
Rf2 Nf5 18 Rh2 Qg3+ 19 Rg2 appears to be a draw by repetition) 16 gxf6
Qg3+ with at least a draw. It is not clear whether he can play on for a win
here, though the engine slightly prefers Black after 17 Kh1 Qh4+ 18 Kg1
Bh3 19 Qe1 Qxf6.
14 ... h5!
 15 Bd2

Question: Can White not play 15 Qh4 here to attack the h5-pawn?

Answer: This is one of the tactical points behind Black’s play.

Nimzowitsch had seen he could meet this with 15 ... Nf5 16 Qg5 Nh7 17
Qxh5 Ng3, winning the exchange.
15 ... Qf5
Continuing the plan of a kingside blockade. The engine is enthusiastic
about 15 ... Qa4, though to the human eye it looks strange to send the queen
over to this side of the board after playing 14 ... h5.
16 Kh2 Qh7
Completing his plan of restraint after which White is unable to find an
active plan. White may already be lost because he can only watch Black
improve his position and prepare a decisive breakthrough with an eventual
... g7-g5.
17 a4 Nf5 18 g3 a5

Question: Does that not leave the b6-pawn very weak?

Answer: It does, but it also stops White from exchanging his weak a-
pawn with a4-a5, and a4 proves to be a more serious weakness than b6.
19 Rg1 Nh6 20 Bf1 Bd7 21 Bc1 Rac8
Getting ready to force d4-d5 by playing ... Bd7-e6. White decides to do
this voluntarily, after which even dxc5 is ruled out.
22 d5 Kh8 23 Nd2 Rg8
Finally getting ready to start an attack based on the ... g7-g5 lever. There
is not a lot White can do about it because his position has been rendered so
passive.
 24 Bg2 g5 25 Nf1 Rg7 26 Ra2 Nf5 27 Bh1
Johner has done a decent job of organizing his defence, but it is not
enough to hold the position.
27 ... Rcg8 28 Qd1 gxf4
This would have been a harder decision than might first appear;
although Black opens the g-file, he also opens the e-file for White.
29 exf4 Bc8
The engine points out that Black already has a winning combination
with 29 ... Ng4+! 30 hxg4 h4!: for example, 31 Rgg2 hxg3+ 32 Kg1 Rxg4
leaves White helpless. However, there was no need for these heroics when
Black can win by safer means.
30 Qb3 Ba6 31 Re2 Nh4

32 Re3
Nimzowitsch was expecting 32 Nd2 and had planned a nice queen
sacrifice with 32 ... Bc8 33 Nxe4?? (or 33 Bxe4 Nxe4 34 Nxe4 Qf5, etc) 33
... Qf5 34 Nf2 Qxh3+!! 35 Nxh3 Ng4 mate.
32 ... Bc8 33 Qc2 Bxh3! 34 Bxe4
34 Kxh3 leads to mate after 34 ... Qf5+ 35 Kh2 Ng4+ 36 Kh3 Nf2+ 37
Kh2 Qh3 mate.
34 ... Bf5 35 Bxf5 Nxf5 36 Re2 h4 37 Rgg2 hxg3+ 38 Kg1 Qh3 39
Ne3 Nh4 40 Kf1 Re8
0-1
White is defenceless against the threat of 41 ... Nxg2 followed by 42 ...
Qh1+: for example, 41 Ke1 Nf3+ 42 Kd1 Qh1+ leads to mate.

Besides the fianchetto stuff, another common misconception about the

Nimzo is that Black exchanges his dark-squared bishop. Sometimes he does
so, and it can be very useful to double White’s c-pawns; this deprives White
of a b2-b4 pawn lever and can leave him with long-term pawn weaknesses.
At the same time, there are many lines in which Black retains his dark-
squared bishop having extracted some form of concession from White: for
example, 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 shuts in White’s queen’s bishop.
Here is one game in which my dark-squared bishop because a monster:

Game 3
B.Halldorsson-N.Davies
Reykjavik 1998

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 f3

The Kmoch Variation, which is one of White’s sharpest answers to the
Nimzo. It is also quite fashionable, having been adopted by Vishy Anand
amongst others.
4 ... Nc6
I thought this was a good idea at the board; in retrospect I am not so
sure. I hope that my lack of preparation does not disappoint the reader too
much. I tend to prefer general understanding over memorizing variations
and will try to improvise at the board.
The repertoire line is 4 ... c5 5 d5 d6 6 e4 Bxc3+ and will be covered in
Chapter Four.
5 e4
White can also transpose into a Sämisch Variation with 5 a3, after which
5 ... Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 b6 can be followed by targeting the c4-pawn with ... Ba6
and ... Na5. Normally this line would be reached after 4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3
b6 6 f3 Nc6.
5 ... e5 6 d5
After 6 a3 I would have played 6 ... Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 d6 and then hope to
convince White to close the centre with d4-d5.

Question: Would closing the centre like that be a good idea for White?

Answer: Not at all; Black would get the c5-square and f3-f4 by White
would give him the e5-square.
6 ... Nd4 7 a3
Before playing 4 ... Nc6 I had calculated the line 7 Nge2 c5 8 dxc6
dxc6, when the knight on d4 is not just adequately protected, but also rather
handsomely placed.
7 ... Be7 8 Nb5
 8 Bd3 was a better move, after which 8 ... c5 9 Nge2 d6 leads to a
complex and difficult middlegame in which both sides would need to look
for pawn levers. Now Black obtains a very comfortable game.
8 ... Nxb5 9 cxb5 Bc5 10 Qc2 d6

This position may surprise those who think that the Nimzo necessarily
involves the surrender of Black’s dark-squared bishop; he can often keep it
on the board, especially if his pin on White’s c3-knight has extracted a
concession.
11 Bd3 Nh5
Threatening ... Qh4+ followed by ... Ng3.
12 Ne2
An earlier game that I did not know about (L.Krizsany-A.Kogan,
Budapest 1994), had gone 12 g3 0-0 13 Bd2 c6 14 bxc6 bxc6 15 dxc6 Qb6
16 Ne2 Bf2+ 17 Kd1 Bh3 with sharp play and an eventual draw. This might
have been better than Halldorsson’s choice as he now finds himself in
difficulties.
12 ... Qh4+ 13 g3
13 Kd1 was not an attractive alternative, but it might have been
somewhat better.
13 ... Qf6 14 Ng1
An ugly retreat but what else is there? After 14 f4 there would follow 14
... exf4 15 Nxf4 Nxf4 16 Bxf4 g5 17 Bc1 Bh3 18 Qe2 h5, with all sorts of
problems for White.
14 ... Qg6
Black should play the immediate 14 ... 0-0, which is what I resort to
when White tries to repeat the position. Meanwhile he could now have tried
15 g4 instead of his 15 Ne2.
15 Ne2 Qf6 16 Ng1 0-0! 17 Qg2 Qg6
Getting ready to open the f-file with ... f7-f5. White rightly prevents
this, but in doing so allows my knight into the f4-square.
18 g4 Nf4 19 Bxf4 exf4 20 0-0-0 Qf6
 In some ways this now looks more like a King’s Indian than a Nimzo.
Black has a powerful dark-squared bishop and can try to smash open files in
front of White’s king. The difference is that a King’s Indian would have
featured 2 ... g6 and Black’s g-pawn is still on g7.
21 Kb1 a6! 22 Qc2 axb5 23 Bxb5 c6 24 Bc4 Bd7
Had I not been so fond of my dark-squared bishop, I might have
considered 24 ... b5 25 Bb3 Bxg1! 26 Rhxg1 c5!, which gets Black’s
queenside pawns rolling.
25 Ne2 Be3 26 h4
After 26 Qc3 I would have avoided the exchange of queens with 26 ...
Qe7 to maintain my attacking chances on the queenside.
26 ... Rfc8 27 dxc6 bxc6
Opening the b-file and preparing to break open the position with a ...
d6-d5 lever. The engine prefers 27 ... Rxc6, which feels quite wrong to me.
 28 Qc3 Qe7 29 Qd3 d5!? 30 exd5 cxd5 31 Bxd5 Rab8 32 Bxf7+ Qxf7
33 Qxd7 Qf6!?
According to the engine, this is a mistake. It seems I should have forced
a draw here with 33 ... Rxb2+ 34 Kxb2 Rb8+ 35 Ka1 Rb1+ 36 Kxb1 Qb3+
37 Ka1 Qxa3+ 38 Kb1 Qb3+, etc.
34 Nd4 Kh8 35 Rh2
It seems that the refutation of Black’s speculative play is 35 Nb5 Rd8 36
Qf5 Qc6 37 Rxd8+ Rxd8 38 Rf1, but Black has very active play and it is
very difficult for White to consolidate. I would say that Black has
reasonable compensation for the pawns, especially in a practical game.
35 ... Rd8 36 Qa4 Rxd4 37 Rxd4 Bxd4 38 Re2 Be3

The anchoring this bishop on e3 signals the beginning of the end for
White.
39 h5 Qd6 40 Ka1?! Rc8 41 Re1 Rd8 42 g5 Qd5 43 h6
Trying to expose Black’s king in the hope of gaining some tricks.
 43 ... Qxg5
The engine assures me that the cold-blooded 43 ... Qxf3 is the better
choice, but even had I known this, I would not have played it.
44 hxg7+ Qxg7 45 Rh1?
45 Qb5 would have been more tenacious, but White is lost in any case.
45 ... Rb8 46 Qc2 Bd4 47 Rb1 Qe5 48 Ka2 Qd5+ 49 b3 Qxf3 50 Rd1
Bg7 51 b4 Qe3 52 Rd3 Qe6+ 53 Kb1 Qf6 0-1

This kind of flexibility, both in the pawn structure and piece

deployment, can be challenging even for experienced players. It also
represents an opportunity for outplaying the opponent, which may be at the
heart of why the Nimzo and Queen’s Indian Defences have been the
repertoire choice of so many great players.
It is difficult to think of a world champion who has not included at least
one of these defences in their repertoire during the last century. Even Bobby
Fischer, who was so closely associated with the King’s Indian Defence,
switched to 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 in his 1972 world championship match against
Boris Spassky. Admittedly he just played the Nimzo in one game and then
used 3 ... c5 and 3 ... d5 after 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3.
The way I have written this book is so that it can be read from cover to
cover, explaining the plans and presenting a wide variety of structures and
plans, meaning the reader can gain an insight into the strategic breadth of
these defences. This may come as an unpleasant surprise for those
expecting a telephone directory of game references and engine analysis, but
I would urge you to bear with the approach that is offered.
Getting a good general feel for an opening makes it easier to learn any
variations that are needed, or improvise if the opponent fails to cooperate
with your preparation. If more engine analysis is required, and I should add
that it is not necessary, I would recommend getting the electronic format of
the book and adding analysis and game references to it yourself in a chess
database program. This is much better than getting ‘off the shelf’ analysis,
as you will be engaged in the development process rather than using passive
and obedient repetition.
Please note that unlike the Queen’s Gambit Declined, the Nimzo and
Queen’s Indian do not automatically furnish Black with a defence against
Queen’s Pawn Games, the Catalan (3 g3) and flank openings with 1 Nf3
and 1 c4. In order to address this I have included chapters with
recommended ways of meeting these openings, suggesting treatments for
Black which are strategically compatible with the overall repertoire.

Acknowledgements
My thanks go to Byron Jacobs of Everyman Chess for his support and
encouragement throughout this project.

Nigel Davies,
St. Helens,
October 2021
Chapter One
Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation,
4 Qc2
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2

The move 4 Qc2 was a popular choice in the early days of the Nimzo-
Indian; White prevents his c-pawns from being doubled and prepares e2-e4.
It was a favourite line of world champions Jose Raul Capablanca,
Alexander Alekhine and Max Euwe, but with the coming of Mikhail
Botvinnik 4 e3 superseded it. More recently 4 Qc2 has made a comeback
and at the present time is seen as White’s most critical answer.
 4 ... Nc6
The so-called Zurich Variation, which is relatively rare these days, but
both logical and playable. Black is planning to put his pawns on dark
squares with ... d6 and ... e5, and will be happy to exchange his dark-
squared bishop.
5 Nf3
Another possibility is 5 e3, but this simply loses flexibility for White.
Black can continue with 5 ... d6, after which 6 Nf3 0-0 7 a3 Bxc3 + 8 Qxc3
Qe7 followed by 9 ... e5 is a superior version of the main line.
5 ... d6 6 Bd2
Thought to be White’s best. 6 a3 has also been played and is covered in
Miton-Perelshteyn (Game 4). Instead, 6 Bg5 is well met by 6 ... h6 as
White’s best move is then 7 Bd2. If he prefers 7 Bh4 then 7 ... g5 8 Bg3 g4
will cost White his d4-pawn.
6 ... e5
 This is not Black’s most popular choice, but it makes perfect sense. At
club level it is now likely that White will either capture on e5 or push on
with 7 d5, neither of which are optimal choices.
7 a3
After 7 d5 Black must capture on c3 because of 8 Qa4+ if he moves his
knight. This is not bad for him as after 7 ... Bxc3 8 Bxc3 Black’s knight can
use the e7-square with 8 ... Ne7: for example, 9 e4 and now 9 ... Ng6 was
played in Kilgus-Rashkovsky (Game 5) and 9 ... 0-0 in Mchedlishvili-
Papaioannou (Game 6).

Question: Does it matter that much when White plays d4-d5?

Answer: The timing of d4-d5 is important as in the main line with 7 a3

Bxc3 8 Bxc3 Qe7 9 d5, the e7-square is occupied by Black’s queen, when
the knight must head back to the less convenient b8-square.
7 ... Bxc3 8 Bxc3 Qe7 9 e3
Keeping the tension in the centre as in addition to closing the position
with d4-d5, White may want the option of opening the position with dxe5.
Bareev-Filipov (Game 7) varied at this point with 9 d5, after which 9 ...
Nb8 10 e4 0-0 11 Be2 Nh5 12 g3 Bh3 gave Black counterplay.
9 ... a5
Black inhibits a possible b2-b4 with this move and can consider
compromising White’s queenside with ... a5-a4.
10 dxe5 dxe5 11 Be2 0-0 12 0-0 Re8 13 h3 a4
 This all took place in Ippolito-Christiansen (Game 8), in which a
complex struggle led to an eventual draw.

Game 4
K.Miton-E.Perelshteyn
SPICE Cup, Lubbock 2007

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2

One of White’s oldest antidotes to the Nimzo. White prevents the
doubling of his pawns and lends support to the e4-square. The drawbacks
are that it does move the queen quite early and takes her away from the
protection of d4.
4 ... Nc6
The repertoire line, a simple and logical move that found favour with
pioneers of the Nimzo-Indian, including Alexander Alekhine and
Nimzowitsch himself. Black attacks the d4-pawn, is preparing to exchange
his dark-squared bishop, and will put his pawns on d6 and e5. White’s main
hopes will be based on making effective use of his bishop-pair.
5 Nf3 d6 6 a3
The main line is 6 Bd2, which is covered in games 5-8.
White has also tried 6 Bg5, but after 6 ... h6 7 Bd2 (and not 7 Bh4? g5 8
Bg3 g4, which wins a pawn for Black) 7 ... e5 this line has no real
independent significance; in fact, ... h6 is quite a useful extra move for
Black.
It is worth mentioning the experimental 6 g4?!, which follows a modern
trend to charge the g-pawn forward. Black is doing fine after the consistent
6 ... e5 7 d5 Bxc3+ 8 Qxc3 Ne7 9 h3 (or 9 g5 Ne4 10 Qc2 f5) 9 ... c6 10
dxc6 Nxc6 when White should probably prefer his g-pawn back on g2.
6 ... Bxc3+ 7 Qxc3 a5
 Question: What does that move do?

Answer: It is a useful move which inhibits White’s planned queenside

pawn advance and arguably threatens to play 8 ... a4.
8 b3
Black can meet 8 Bg5 with 8 ... h6 9 Bh4 g5 10 Bg3 (10 d5 gxh4 11
dxc6 bxc6 12 Nxh4 c5 intending 13 ... Bb7 also gives Black good
counterplay) 10 ... Ne4 11 Qd3 f5, which is especially comfortable for him
because he is not committed to castling kingside.
8 g3 in this position should probably be met by 8 ... a4 and then a later
... Qe7 followed by ... e6-e5.
8 ... 0-0 9 Bb2
9 Bg5 h6 10 Bh4 g5 11 Bg3 Ne4 12 Qc2 f5 takes valuable space on the
kingside and after a subsequent ... Qf6, Black’s king will be safe enough.
9 ... Re8 10 Rd1 Qe7 11 e3
11 g3 would be met by 11 ... e5 12 d5 Nb8 followed by ... Nbd7 and ...
Nc5. White’s pawn on b3 would be uncomfortable in that position.
11 ... e5
 12 Be2
Maintaining the option a capture on e5 looks like the most testing way
to play it.

Question: What happens if White pushes his d-pawn on?

Answer: After 12 d5 Nb8 Black has a comfortable game: for example,

13 Be2 Bf5 14 b4 Nbd7 15 Qb3 Nb6 16 0-0 Bd7 was already becoming
uncomfortable for White in E.Pavlidou-D.Vocaturo, Thessaloniki 2010.
12 ... Bg4 13 d5 Nb8 14 Qc2
14 0-0 Nbd7 15 b4 axb4 16 axb4 e4 17 Nd4 Bxe2 18 Nxe2 Ne5 19 Ng3
was comfortable for Black at this stage in P.Meister-M.Taggatz, German
League 2007, though Black should probably have resisted the temptation to
occupy the d3-square with 19 ... Nd3 and opted instead for 19 ... Qd7.
14 ... Nbd7 15 h3 Bh5 16 Nh4 Bxe2 17 Nf5 Qf8 18 Qxe2 g6
 Pushing White back. Black has a very comfortable game already.
19 Ng3 h5
19 ... Nc5 would have been a simpler approach, but it is always
tempting to harass a knight on g3 with the h-pawn.
20 Qc2 h4 21 Ne2 Nh5 22 0-0 f5 23 f4
This helps Black considerably by giving him a long-term option to open
the e-file. Both 23 Nc3 and 23 Rfe1 would have been better moves.
23 ... Nc5 24 b4 axb4 25 axb4 Ne4 26 Nc1?
Turning a poor position into what is effectively a lost one. The best
chance for counterplay was with 26 c5, when Black still has a fight on his
hands.
26 ... Neg3 27 Rf2 exf4 28 exf4 Re4 29 Nd3 Rae8 30 Kh2 Re2 31
Rxe2?! Rxe2 32 Qc3 Kf7 33 Ra1?
Hereabouts I get the impression that time trouble was playing a part,
hastening White’s demise. 33 c5 was White’s best chance here too.
 33 ... Qe8 34 Ne1?
The engine recommends the desperate 34 Qh8, but this is just as
hopeless for White after 34 ... Qxh8 35 Bxh8 Rd2 36 Ra3 Rd1 37 Nf2 Rf1
38 Rf3 Rb1, threatening both the b4-pawn and 39 ... Nf1+.
34 ... Nf1+ 35 Kg1

35 ... Qe3+
35 ... Nd2 would have won on the spot, but the exchange of queens is
just as effective.
36 Qxe3 Nxe3 37 Bd4 Nxf4
37 ... Nxc4 would also win.
38 Bxe3 Rxe3 39 Nf3 Rc3 40 c5 dxc5 41 bxc5 Rxc5 42 Rb1 b5 43
Ne5+ Kg7 0-1

Game 5
G.Kilgus-N.Rashkovsky
Oberwart Open 2002

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 Nc6 5 Nf3 d6 6 Bd2 e5

I like this slightly unusual move; Black plays his key ... e6-e5 idea at a
time when he can retreat his knight to e7 after 7 d5. The standard move is 6
... 0-0, which also gives rise to interesting play.
7 d5
This tempting advance is likely to be popular at club level, but it is not
White’s best. He should play 7 a3, after which I recommend 7 ... Bxc3 8
Bxc3 Qe7.
Another possibility is 7 dxe5 dxe5 8 0-0-0, but Black is doing fine after
8 ... Bxc3 9 Bxc3 Qe7, intending ... a7-a5 soon.

7 ... Bxc3

Question: Did Black have to give up the bishop-pair straight away?

 Answer: Black needs to capture on c3 as after the immediate 7 ... Ne7??
White wins the bishop on b4 with 8 Qa4+.
8 Bxc3 Ne7 9 e4 Ng6!?

Question: Should Black not be getting castled?

Answer: Black delays castling for another move to encourage g2-g3.

Other players have chosen to castle for Black in this position, and we will
look at that possibility in the next game.
10 g3 0-0 11 Bg2 Ne8
 Rashkovsky is unconcerned about where White puts his king; he just
wants to play his pawn lever with ... f7-f5. In B.Esen-S.Del Rio Angelis,
Gothenburg 2005, Black first played 11 ... Bd7 and then after 12 0-0 went
12 ... Ne8 13 Nd2 f5. This seems like a loss of time to me, but was about
even after 14 exf5 Bxf5 15 Ne4 Nf6 16 Nxf6+ Qxf6 17 Qe2 Qf7 18 Rac1
Qd7 19 Rfe1 Bg4 20 f3 Bh3 21 Bh1 Rae8.
12 Nd2
12 h4 can also be met by 12 ... f5: for example, 13 h5 (after 13 0-0-0 it
is probably wise to play 13 ... h6) 13 ... fxe4 14 hxg6 exf3 15 gxh7+ Kh8 16
Bf1 Bf5 when the pawn on h7 is a great defender for Black’s king.
12 ... f5 13 exf5
This helps Black to develop. After the aggressive 13 h4 Black should
probably put another pawn on a dark square with 13 ... h6 and meet 14 0-0-
0 with 14 ... f4.
13 ... Bxf5 14 Ne4 Nf6 15 Nxf6+ Qxf6
 16 Qe2?
Missing the hammer blow that follows. It would have been better to put
the queen on d2 instead.
16 ... Bd3! 17 Qd2
After 17 Qxd3 Black wins back the piece with interest via 17 ... Qxf2+
18 Kd1 Qxg2, etc.
17 ... Qf5!?
Going for the kill. As Black I would have played just 17 ... Bxc4, going
a pawn up and with White still having trouble with his king.
18 h4
Apparently trying to shoot his way out of trouble. After 18 b3 e4 19 0-
0-0 Rae8 20 Bd4 Ne5 the position is clearly very attractive for Black, but it
is not over by any means.
18 ... Rae8
Planning a knight sacrifice on f4, but White has a hidden resource.
 19 b3?
Missing it. The engine points out that after 19 h5 Nf4 20 gxf4 exf4+ 21
Kd1 Re2 White can sacrifice his queen and defend via 22 Bh3 Qe4 23 Re1
Rxd2+ 24 Kxd2 Qf3 25 Re7 Rf6 26 Re8+ Kf7 27 Rae1, the point being that
Black is threatened with mate because of the pawn on h5. After 19 b3
White does not have this resource.
19 ... Nf4! 20 0-0-0

The line indicated in the previous note no longer works: 20 gxf4 exf4+
21 Kd1 Re2 22 Bh3 Qe4 23 Re1 Rxd2+ 24 Kxd2 Qf3 25 Re7 Rf6 26 Re8+
(or 26 Bxf6 gxf6 27 Rg1+ Bg6) 26 ... Kf7 27 Rae1 Qxh3 allows Black’s
king to escape via g6.
20 ... Ne2+!
This is even stronger than 20 ... Nxg2.
21 Kb2 Qxf2 22 Bh3
 White’s position is hopeless whatever he does. After 22 Qxd3 there
would follow 22 ... Qxg2 23 Qc2 Rf2, etc.
22 ... Nxg3 0-1
22 ... Nxc3 was also good: for example, 23 Kxc3 (if 23 Qxf2 Nxd1+) 23
... Qd4+ 24 Kb4 a5+ 25 Ka3 Qc5+ 26 Kb2 Rf2 wins the queen. After 22 ...
Nxg3 23 Rh2 Black can play 23 ... Ne4 24 Rxf2 Rxf2 25 Qxf2 Nxf2 when
he will be two pawns up in the endgame.

Game 6
M.Mchedlishvili-I.Papaioannou
European Team Championship, Warsaw 2013

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 Nc6 5 Nf3 d6 6 Bd2 e5 7 d5

7 a3 will be illustrated by the next two games.
7 ... Bxc3 8 Bxc3 Ne7 9 e4 0-0
 The most flexible move. In the previous game Black played 9 ... Ng6.
10 Be2

Question: Because Black’s plan is to play ... Ng6 and then possibly ...
Nf4,
should White not fianchetto his king’s bishop? What would Black do
after that?

Answer: After 10 g3 Black can organise his ... f7-f5 lever via 10 ... Nd7
11 Bg2 f5 12 Ng5 Nc5, achieving adequate counterplay.
10 ... Ng6
With White having placed his bishop on e2 it is tempting to get him to
also play his pawn to g3. Having said that, 10 ... Ne8 is another good move
and in R.Idrisova-K.Tarlev, Anapa 2010, White found herself in all sorts of
trouble after 11 h3?! f5 12 exf5 Bxf5 13 Bd3 Bxd3 14 Qxd3 Ng6 15 g3
Qf6.
11 g3 h6
Depriving White of the g5-square is useful: for example, after ... Bh3
White will be unable to play Ng5. Having said that Black has tried other
moves here with reasonable results, including:
a) 11 ... a5 12 h4 Bg4 13 Nh2 Bxe2 14 Qxe2 h6 15 h5 Ne7 16 f4 Nd7
17 Nf3 f6 18 Rd1 Nc5 19 0-0 Qd7 20 f5 Rfb8 produced a blocked position
which was later drawn in Y.Averbakh-T.Petrosian, Yerevan 1965.
b) 11 ... Bh3 12 Ng5 Bd7 13 h4 h6 14 Nf3 Bg4 15 Ng1 Re8 16 Bxg4
Nxg4 17 f3 Nf6 18 Ne2 c6 19 Qb3 Qc7 20 Bd2 ½-½ was B.Alterman-
A.Graf, Recklinghausen 1998.
12 Nd2
After Black’s reply White is obliged to castle queenside, which might
not be to everyone’s taste.
The alternative is simply 12 0-0 when Black has to decide how to
counter the c4-c5 pawn lever by White. One way of doing this is via 12 ...
Bh3 13 Rfe1 Qe7 and then 14 b4 Rac8 15 Qd3 c6. Another approach would
be to restrain White’s queenside pawns starting with 12 ... a5.
12 ... Bh3 13 0-0-0
 13 ... c6
Undermining the pawn chain at its head is justified by the position of
White’s king. Black could also deprive White of his bishop-pair via 13 ...
Ng4 when 14 Bxg4 Bxg4 would be fine for him.
14 f3 Rc8 15 Kb1 cxd5 16 cxd5 Nd7 17 Nc4 Nc5 18 Ne3 Bd7 19 Qd2
Ne7
Bringing the knight back into play and reintroducing the idea of the ...
f7-f5 lever.
20 g4 Ng6
 Question: Did the knight not just come from there?

Answer: It did, but after White’s last move the f4-square beckons.
21 Ng2 Nh4
This will make it harder for White to organize a kingside pawn storm.
22 Nxh4 Qxh4 23 Qe3 b6
Black could also consider doubling rooks on the c-file, starting with 23
... Rc7.
24 Be1 Qe7 25 Rc1 a5
A typical idea, preventing White from driving the knight from its c5
outpost with b2-b4.
26 Bf2 Rc7 27 Qd2 Rfc8 28 h4 Qe8 29 Be3 Bb5 30 Rhg1 Kh7 31 Rh1
Kg8
 Black’s king moves away from the shadow of White’s rook and the
players decide this is a convenient moment to agree a draw. Either side
could probably continue here if they felt so inclined.
32 Rhg1 Kh7 33 Rh1 Kg8 ½-½

Game 7
E.Bareev-A.Filippov
Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2009

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 Nc6 5 Nf3 d6 6 Bd2 Qe7

The repertoire line is 6 ... e5 7 a3 (rather than 7 d5 as was considered in
the last two games) 7 ... Bxc3 8 Bxc3 Qe7 9 d5 Nb8, which transposes into
the position reached after Black’s ninth move.
7 a3 Bxc3 8 Bxc3
8 Qxc3 Ne4 9 Qc2 Nxd2 would deprive White of his only trump, which
is the bishop-pair.
8 ... e5 9 d5 Nb8
 10 e4
There is a case for playing the more restrained 10 e3 to stop a black
knight landing on f4. A.Morozevich-D.Khismatullin, Taganrog 2011,
continued 10 ... 0-0 11 Nd2 c6 12 dxc6 Nxc6 13 Bd3 and now 13 ... Be6
followed by 14 ... d5 would have been a simple way to equalize. Another
interesting possibility would have been 13 ... Nd4 14 Qb1 Ne6, whereas in
the game Black’s 13 ... b6 favoured White after 14 Ne4.
10 ... 0-0
 11 Be2

Question: What would Black play after 11 Bd3?

Answer: He can use the same idea as in the game with 11 ... Nh5 12 g3
Bh3.
11 ... Nh5 12 g3 Bh3
Temporarily stopping White from castling kingside.
13 Nh4 Nf6 14 Qd3
Not a bad move, but probably not the most testing one. 14 Bd2 would
have been a tricky move as 14 ... Nbd7 can be met by 15 g4!, sacrificing a
pawn for a powerful attack along the g-file. Black, in turn, can sidestep this
with the paradoxical 14 ... Qd8! when 15 g4 is met by 15 ... Nxe4! without
a white Nf5 attacking the queen. This retreat of the queen is a hard move to
find without use of an engine; Black might also have 14 ... Nfd7 as was
played against Bareev’s 14 Qd3. Instead, if White plays the immediate 14
Nf5 then 14 ... Bxf5 15 exf5 Nbd7 would be OK for Black.
14 ... Nfd7
The retreat of the f6-knight indicates that Filippov was aware that 14 ...
Nbd7 could be met by 15 g4!: for example, 15 ... Bxg4 16 Bxg4 Nxg4 17
Nf5 Qf6 18 Qh3 h5 (18 ... Nh6 19 Nxh6+ Qxh6 20 Qxd7 loses a piece) 19
Rg1 gives White a winning attack.
15 b4 a5 16 bxa5

In retrospect this might have been the wrong decision by Bareev. White
should probably settle for just 16 Bf1 when 16 ... Bxf1 17 Kxf1 g6 is still
fairly balanced.

Question: Has White not won a pawn?

 Answer: Yes, but it is a weak pawn that will be almost impossible to
exploit and meanwhile he has given Black the c5-square for his knights.
16 ... Na6 17 Qe3 Nac5 18 Bb4
After 18 Bf1 Bxf1 19 Kxf1 Black can play 19 ... g6 when a nice freeing
mechanism would be 20 Kg2 f5 21 exf5 g5! 22 Nf3 Rxf5 with pressure on
the f-file.
18 ... Kh8
Perhaps 18 ... g6 was better, getting ready to play ... f7-f5. Black soon
comes round to this idea anyway.
19 Bf1 Bxf1 20 Kxf1 g6 21 Kg2 Rg8!?
I wonder if this move was chosen because of his opponent’s clock
situation. Black could have played 21 ... f5 22 exf5 g5! 23 Nf3 Rxf5 with an
approximately equal position, but a simpler one than the game.
22 Rhf1 Raf8 23 Rae1
The immediate 23 Kh1 might have been better.
23 ... f5 24 exf5 gxf5 25 Kh1 f4 26 Qe2 Qf6 27 Qd1
 And here 27 Qc2 might have been more accurate.
27 ... b6
A somewhat difficult move to understand as it allows White to
exchange off his useless doubled a-pawn. It seems likely that he wanted to
reposition the knight on d7 and free it of any duties to defend c5, but even
so 27 ... Rg7 was probably better.
28 axb6 cxb6 29 Qb1 Rg5 30 Nf3 Rh5 31 g4?
A clear mistake by White. 31 Bxc5 would have been better when the
consistent follow-up to 27 ... b6 would have been to recapture with the b-
pawn and play 31 ... bxc5. White might also have considered 31 Rg1,
further securing his king position.
31 ... Rh3 32 g5 Qf7
This looks obvious, but White has a resource. 32 ... Qe7 would have
been more accurate here.
33 Ng1?
 Missing his chance. White needs to try 33 g6! when Black cannot
capture with the pawn because of 34 Ng5 and 33 ... Qxg6 would allow
White to defend himself with the exchange of queens. Black’s best move
might be 33 ... Qg7, maintaining his attacking chances.
33 ... Rh5 34 Nf3
34 Bxc5 Nxc5 35 Qxb6 is bad because of 35 ... Qg6, when Black will
treble the major pieces on the g-file.
34 ... b5 35 Rg1

35 ... Rg8?
The latter stages of this game might have been affected by time trouble.
Black should play 35 ... bxc4 when 36 g6 hxg6 37 Qxg6 Nd3 38 Ref1 Qxg6
39 Rxg6 Rf6 40 Rxf6 Nxf6 41 Bxd6 e4 is winning for him. After the move
played, White could have stayed in the game.
36 g6?
 White returns the favour. 36 Qc2 appears to keep the balance after 36 ...
bxc4 37 Qxc4 Qg6 38 Rg2, etc.
36 ... hxg6 37 Bxc5
It is already too late for 37 Qc2 as Black’s attack would develop in the
same way with 37 ... bxc4 38 Qxc4 Qf5.
37 ... Nxc5 38 Qxb5
38 Qb4 Qf5 gives Black a winning attack.
38 ... Nd3 39 Rg2
After 39 Qb6 Black wins with 39 ... Qf5 40 Re2 Qh3.
39 ... Nxe1 40 Nxe1 e4 0-1

Game 8
D.Ippolito-L.Christiansen
New York Open 2000

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 Nc6

Question: Is this still a Nimzo?

Answer: This is the so-called ‘Black Knights Tango’, which transposes

into a 4 Qc2 Nc6 Nimzo with White’s fifth move.
3 Nf3 e6 4 Nc3 Bb4 5 Qc2 d6 6 Bd2 Qe7
Although this is a perfectly acceptable move, it is not the repertoire
move order. The recommended approach is 6 ... e5, after which 7 a3 Bxc3 8
Bxc3 Qe7 9 e3 a5 10 dxe5 dxe5 takes us back into the game.
7 a3 Bxc3 8 Bxc3 a5 9 e3 e5 10 dxe5
Eschewing the capture of space to open the position up a little for his
dark-squared bishop. 10 d5 Nb8 would resemble the previous game, though
Black has already committed himself to ... a7-a5 which is not really
necessary.
10 ... dxe5 11 Be2 0-0 12 0-0 Re8
Another good move is 12 ... Bg4: for example, 13 h3 Bh5 14 b4 axb4 15
axb4 Rxa1 16 Rxa1 e4 17 Nd4 Nxd4 18 Bxd4 Bxe2 19 Qxe2 Rd8 20 Qb2
Ne8 21 Ra7 b6 22 c5 bxc5 23 bxc5 h5 set up a defensible position in
H.Ree-H.Hecht, Teeside 1972. A third option is to play 12 ... a4 to
immobilize White’s queenside pawns. This might well have been my own
choice here.
 13 h3 a4 14 Rfd1 Nd7

Question: It looks odd to move the knight from a good square. What is
the idea?

Answer: This is a very good and noteworthy idea. Black wishes to

bolster his e5-pawn with ... f7-f6, after which White’s dark-squared bishop
will be ‘biting on granite’.
15 Rd5!?
Trying to take advantage of Black’s knight transfer, but the rook will not
be stable on this square.
15 ... f6 16 Bb4
After this Black is at least equal. A consistent follow-up to White’s last
move might have been something like 16 Rad1 Nc5 17 Nh4 Be6 18 Bg4!?
because 18 ... Bxd5 19 cxd5 Nd8 20 Bb4 b6 21 Nf5 gives White a decisive
initiative. As such, Black should settle for 18 ... Bxg4 when his position
remains very solid.
16 ... Nxb4 17 axb4 Qxb4 18 Rb5 Qe7 19 Rxa4 Rxa4 20 Qxa4 Nf8
Perhaps White thought he would have the initiative, but his rook is not
well placed. Black might have done even better here with 20 ... b6 21 Qa2
Kf8 when White should probably try to get his rook back into play with 22
Rb3.
21 Ra5 Rd8 22 c5 g6 23 c6
Forceful, but also risky because this pawn may later become a target.
Quieter moves were possible here such as 23 b4 and 23 Qc2.
23 ... b6 24 Ra7 Qd6 25 Bc4+ Be6

26 Bxe6+?!
After this bishop exchange the c6-pawn becomes weak. 26 Bb5 would
have held the balance.
26 ... Nxe6 27 Qc4 Kg7 28 Nd2
 Drifting deeper into the mire. 28 b4 Qd5 29 Nd2 would have minimized
White’s difficulties, though there is no question about who is on top here.
28 ... b5 29 Qb3 Ng5
Black could have just gone a pawn up with 29 ... Qxc6.
30 h4 Nf7 31 Ne4?!
Giving up the c6-pawn. White could have held the balance with 31
Qxb5! Qxd2 32 Rxc7, with two pawns and the initiative for the sacrificed
knight.
31 ... Qxc6 32 Nc3 Qb6 33 Ra1
33 Nxb5?? loses a piece after 33 ... Rb8.
33 ... b4
Giving White squares for his knight. 33 ... c6 would have consolidated
Black’s extra pawn.
34 Ne4
34 Na4 was the natural move to win time on Black’s queen. A draw by
repetition would be possible after 34 ... Qb5 35 Nc3 Qb6 36 Na4, etc.
34 ... f5 35 Ng5 Nxg5 36 hxg5 Qd6 37 Qc4 Qe7 38 Ra7
Strictly speaking the position should be a draw, but that does not take
the clock situation into account. The last few moves turn out to be quite
dramatic.
38 ... Rd2 39 g3
 39 Rxc7 Rd7 40 Rxd7 Qxd7 would be completely equal.
39 ... h6?
Mistakes are quite common just before the time control on move 40.
The right move was 39 ... Rd7 when Black will not be able to use his extra
pawn, but does at least have it.
40 gxh6+?
40 Rxc7 Rd7 41 gxh6+ Kxh6 42 Rxd7 Qxd7 43 Qxb4 leaves Black
fighting for a draw.
40 ... Kxh6 41 Rb7
41 Rxc7 is less effective than on the previous move as Black can now
play 41 ... Rd1+ 42 Kg2 Qd8 43 Rb7 Qd5+ 44 Qxd5 Rxd5 45 Rxb4 Kg5
with a likely draw.
41 ... Qd8 42 Rxb4 Rd1+ 43 Kh2 f4 44 exf4
And not 44 gxf4?? because of 44 ... Qh4+ 45 Kg2 Qh1+ 46 Kg3 Rg1
mate.
44 ... Qd2 45 Qc5 Qe1 46 Qf8+ Kh7 47 Qf7+ Kh6 48 Qf8+ Kh7 49 Qf7+
Kh6 50 Qf8+ Kh7 ½-½
Chapter Two
Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein
Variation, 4 e3
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3

The so-called Rubinstein Variation which was first popularised by

Akiba Rubinstein and then later developed by Mikhail Botvinnik and other
Soviet Grandmasters such as Efim Geller. Over the years it has been a firm
favourite of many 1 d4 specialists, including Lajos Portisch and Svetozar
Gligoric.
 Question: What is the idea behind it? Does it not shut White’s c1-
bishop in
and cause problems for his development?

Answer: With 4 e3 White prepares to continue his development with 5

Bd3 or even 5 Ne2, the latter being Rubinstein’s original intention. It does
shut in the bishop, so the fact that 4 e3 is a popular move for White
indicates an immediate potential advantage of the Nimzo-Indian over the
Queen’s Gambit Declined. In the Queen’s Gambit Declined White can play
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 d5 4 Bg5, whereas 4 Bg5 against the Nimzo allows
Black to develop good counterplay (see Chapter Five for details).
4 ... 0-0

This move is natural enough, but there should still be an explanation as

to why it is the chosen repertoire move. Essentially it is because it offers a
simple antidote to two of White’s main piece placements, 5 Ne2 and 5 Bd3
followed by 6 Ne2, thus saving Black a lot of initial work and then ongoing
maintenance. Against the third major option, 5 Bd3 followed by 6 Nf3, I
will advocate a solid option that has been favoured by many top players,
including Sergey Karjakin.
5 Bd3
This is White’s most flexible move, maintaining the option of
developing his king’s knight on either f3 or e2. White has a major
alternative in 5 Ne2, though this is thought to be less effective after 4 ... 0-0
because of ... d5: for example, 6 a3 Be7 7 cxd5 (7 Ng3 dxc4 8 Qc2 Nbd7 9
Bxc4 c5 10 dxc5 Nxc5 11 0-0 a6 is Pomes-Adams, Game 9, whereas 7 Nf4
c6 8 cxd5 exd5 transposes into note ‘a’ below) 7 ... exd5 and now:
a) 8 Nf4 c6 9 Bd3 Nbd7 10 0-0 Re8 is Jones-Almasi (Game 10).
b) 8 g3 c6 9 Bg2 Na6 10 Qc2 Nc7 is Conquest-Adams (Game 11).
c) 8 b4 c6 9 Ng3 Be6 is Shimanov-Wang Hao (Game 12).
Another move to have been played is 5 a3, which leads to a form of
Sämisch Variation which is not covered in Chapter Three because of the
inclusion of 4 e3 an 4 ... 0-0. In this case Black can play 5 ... Bxc3+ 6 bxc3
b6 7 Bd3 Bb7 8 f3 Nc6 9 e4 Ne8, as in Agrest-Davies (Game 13).
5 ... d5 6 Nf3
This natural developing move is the main line, though White has several
alternatives that are addressed in separate games:
a) 6 Ne2 allows Black to get active play with 6 ... dxc4 7 Bxc4 e5, after
which 8 0-0 Nc6 9 a3 Bd6 10 d5 Ne7 is Milanovic-Baklan, Game 14.
b) 6 cxd5 exd5 7 Nge2 prevents the ..dxc4 and ... e6-e5 idea, but opens
up the bishop on c8. Lagarde-Cheparinov (Game 15) continued 7 ... Re8 8
0-0 Bd6 9 Bd2 a6 10 Rc1 Nbd7.
c) 6 a3 is again a Sämisch-type move when Black should play 6 ...
Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 dxc4 8 Bxc4 c5 9 Ne2 Qc7 10 Ba2 b6 11 0-0 Ba6, as in
Sokolov-Polgar (Game 16).
6 ... b6
 The repertoire choice.
7 0-0 Bb7
This reaches a key position in which White has two major types of plan,
an expansion on the queenside with a2-a3 and b2-b4, or playing on the
kingside with Nf3-e5 and f2-f4. These two approaches can be implemented
in different ways.
8 cxd5
Clarifying the central tension like this can be seen as desirable,
especially as it does not liberate Black’s queen’s bishop along the c8-h3
diagonal; it has already moved from c8 to b7. An example of White trying a
queenside expansion without first exchanging in the centre is Portisch-
Petrosian (Game 17), which went 8 a3 Bd6 9 b4 dxc4 10 Bxc4 a5 11 b5
Nbd7 12 Bb2 e5, freeing Black’s game.
8 ... exd5 9 a3
 Aiming for a queenside expansion, but the plans based on Nf3-e5 are
arguably more critical:
a) The immediate 9 Ne5 was seen in Iljin-Andreikin (Game 18), which
continued 9 ... Re8 10 Bd2 Nbd7 11 f4 a5 12 Rf3 Ne4.
b) The preliminary 9 Bd2 was played in Adly-Carlsen (Game 19),
where 9 ... Nbd7 10 Ne5 Nxe5 11 dxe5 Nd7 led to a complex struggle.
9 ... Bd6 10 b4 a6 11 Qb3 Qe7 12 b5 Qd8

This interesting and original move was played in L’Ami-Karjakin

(Game 20). It prepares to take on b5 without allowing White to gain the
bishop-pair with Nxb5 and Nxd6.

Game 9
M.Pomes-M.Adams
Spanish Team Championship 2001
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Nge2

Question: What is the idea behind this move and who came up with it?

Answer: Putting the knight on e2 like this was Akiba Rubinstein’s

intention when he championed 4 e3. In doing so he hoped to gain the two
bishops without contracting doubled c-pawns.

Question: Are there any disadvantages to playing this way?

Answer: It is rather slow, and against 4 ... 0-0 Black has no need to give
up the bishop-pair.
5 ... d5 6 a3 Be7!
 Giving up a tempo, but with White’s knight on e2 now interfering with
the development of the bishop on f1. Either White has to play g2-g3 and
Bf1-g2 or move the knight on e2 again.
7 Ng3

7 ... dxc4
A simple and economical approach by Adams. Black is treating the
position like a Queen’s Gambit Accepted and will hit back in the centre
with ... c7-c5.
8 Qc2
Probably designed to avoid the exchange of queens, though putting the
queen on a potentially open c-file does make a somewhat strange
impression. After 8 Bxc4 c5 9 dxc5 Qxd1+ 10 Kxd1 Bxc5 Black equalizes
with ease: for example, 11 b4 Be7 12 Bb2 b6 13 f3 Bb7 ½-½ was
F.Henneberke-H.Bouwmeester, Zevenaar 1961
 Question: Given Adams’s presumed much higher rating, why is he
willing to
play so quietly and risk a draw?

Answer: His greatest strength is in quiet positional play, so probably he

reasoned that he would be able to exploit small errors by his opponent. It is
also worth noting that it is easier to win equal positions than bad ones;
many players take absurd risks as Black and come to regret it as their
position deteriorates.
8 ... Nbd7 9 Bxc4 c5 10 dxc5 Nxc5 11 0-0 a6 12 b4 Ncd7 13 Bb2 b5
14 Be2
An almost imperceptible error. White would be better off with 14 Bd3
here as after 14 ... Bb7 15 Rfd1 Rc8 he can reposition the queen with 16
Qe2, which is probably a better square than b3. The game would then by
quite equal.
14 ... Bb7 15 Rfd1 Rc8 16 Qb3 Qb6 17 Rd2 Bc6 18 Rad1 Qb7 19 e4
19 f3 would probably be the lesser evil here, though Black is still better
after 19 ... Ne5, when 20 Nxb5 does not work because of 20 ... Nxf3+.
19 ... Nb6 20 f3 Qb8
Some dark-square weaknesses are appearing around White’s king.
21 Nb1
21 e5 would be strongly met by 21 ... Bd5! 22 Qc2 (22 Nxd5 Nfxd5 is
just better for Black as ... Nb6-c4 is coming) 22 ... Qxe5! 23 Nxd5 Qxd5!,
winning a pawn.
21 ... g6 22 Bd4 e5 23 Bf2 Bd7 24 Qe3 Rc6
 With the doubling of rooks on the c-file Black has a small but definite
pull.
25 Nf1 Rfc8 26 g4?!
I would have been very reluctant to play this move; it is difficult to
believe that it can help White’s position.
26 ... Be6 27 Bg3 Nfd7 28 Kg2 Qc7 29 h4 Na4 30 Qf2 Qb7 31 Ne3
Rc1 32 Nd5 Bd8 33 Qe1 R1c2 34 Ne3 Rxd2 35 Qxd2 Bb6 36 Nd5 Bxd5
37 Qxd5 Qxd5 38 Rxd5 Rc2 39 Rxd7?!
Up to this point White had defended himself well, but here he slips up.
39 Rd2 was the right move when White is close to equality.
39 ... Rxe2+ 40 Kf1 Rb2 41 Nd2 Bd4 42 Rd8+?!
This only serves to improve Black’s king. 42 Bf4!? would have been a
clever try and 42 ... Kg7 43 Rd6 threatens Bg5 and Bf6+, causing problems
for Black’s king.
42 ... Kg7 43 Ke2?
 Turning a poor position into a lost one. Instead of walking into a pin,
White could have tried 43 g5 and answered 43 ... Rxd2 with 44 Bxe5+
Bxe5 45 Rxd2. The resulting position is still good for Black, but there
would be more chances for salvation than in the game.
43 ... Ra2 44 Re8 Nb6 45 Kd1
And not 45 Bxe5+? because of 45 ... Bxe5 46 Rxe5 Rxd2+ 47 Kxd2
Nc4+ 48 Ke2 Nxe5, etc. This trick will recur in a couple of moves time.
45 ... Rxa3 46 g5 h5

47 Kc2
Once again White is unable to take the e5-pawn: for example, 47 gxh6+
Kxh6 48 Bxe5 Bxe5 49 Rxe5 Rd3 and 47 Bxe5+ Bxe5 48 Rxe5 Rd3
threaten both ... Rxd2+ and ... Nc4.
47 ... Rc3+ 48 Kd1 Nc4 49 Nxc4 bxc4 50 Bxe5+ Bxe5 51 Rxe5 Rxf3
52 Rc5?
 After this White is clearly lost. 52 Ra5 was the last chance to make a
fight of it.
52 ... Rf4 53 Rxc4 Rxh4 0-1

Game 10
G.Jones-Z.Almasi
European Team Championship, Warsaw 2013

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Nge2 d5 6 a3 Be7 7 cxd5

In the previous game White played 7 Ng3 which seems to give Black an
easy game. Jones’s choice is a more pugnacious line, unbalancing the pawn
structure to give both sides their chances.
7 ... exd5 8 Nf4 c6 9 Bd3 Nbd7 10 0-0 Re8 11 f3

Question: What is the point of that move?

 Answer: It is the start of a well-known and aggressive plan in such
structures. White wants to play e3-e4, gaining a central pawn duo which are
also known as ‘hanging pawns’, because they have no support from pawns
on the c- or f-files.
11 ... Nf8 12 Bc2 Ne6 13 e4 dxe4 14 Nxe6 Bxe6 15 fxe4 c5
This, in turn, is a typical response; Black invites White to set up a
passed d-pawn by pushing on, but there will be good blockade squares for
Black’s pieces on d6 and e5. In a game R.Irzhanov-J.Ehlvest, St. Petersburg
1994, Black varied at this point with 15 ... Bg4, after which 16 Qd3 Bh5 17
Bf4 Bg6 18 Qd2 c5!? 19 d5 and now 19 ... Bd6! (rather than the 19 ... Nh5
which was played in the game) 20 Rae1 Be5 would have been fine for
Black.
16 e5!?
A sharp move, typical of Jones’s active style. 16 d5!? would have been
fine for Black after 16 ... Bg4 17 Qd3 Bd6 18 Bg5 Be5, etc.
16 ... Nd5 17 Qd3 g6 18 Ba4 cxd4!
 19 Ne4
Everything hangs together after Almasi’s cold-blooded play: for
example, 19 Qxd4? loses to 19 ... Nxc3 20 bxc3 Qa5, threatening 21 ... Bc5,
and 19 Bxe8? does not work because of 19 ... dxc3 20 Bxf7+ (or 20 Bb5
Qb6+ 21 Kh1 a6) 20 ... Bxf7 21 bxc3 Be6, when Black’s two minor pieces
far outweigh the rook and pawn because they are so well entrenched.
19 ... Rf8 20 Bh6 Ne3 21 Bxf8 Kxf8
 Question: That was interesting, but does Black have enough for the
sacrificed material?

Answer: White has won the exchange for a pawn, but at considerable
strategic cost. Black’s knight on e3 is a tower of strength and the e5-pawn is
very weak, which explains White’s decision to immediately return the
sacrificed exchange.
22 Bb3
22 Rf3 Nc4 would have been deeply unpleasant for White.
22 ... Nxf1 23 Rxf1 Qb6 24 Bxe6 Qxe6 25 Qxd4 Rd8 26 Qc3 Kg8
Black is slightly better here because of his superior pawn structure and
the long-term weakness of White’s king.
27 h3 Rc8 28 Qg3 Rd8 29 b4 Kg7 30 Nf6 b5 31 Kh2 h6 32 Qe3 a6 33
Rf4 Rc8 34 Rf3
 34 Rf1 was less active, but better.
34 ... Bd8 35 Rf1 Rc4 36 Kh1 Qc6

37 Qg3?!
37 Qd2 would have been better, avoiding the exchange of rooks. Once
they come off, the weaknesses in White’s position become more obvious.
37 ... Rc1 38 Rxc1 Qxc1+ 39 Kh2 Bb6 40 h4 Qg1+ 41 Kh3 Bf2 42
Qh2 Qc1 43 g3 Qc8+ 44 g4 Qc3+ 45 Kg2 Bd4 46 Qf4 Qc2+ 47 Kf3
Or if 47 Kg3 there follows 47 ... Qd3+ 48 Qf3 Bxe5+, etc.
47 ... Qd3+ 48 Kg2 Qe2+ 49 Kh1 Bxe5 50 Ne8+ Kf8 0-1

Game 11
S.Conquest-M.Adams
British League (4NCL) 2001

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Nge2 d5 6 a3 Be7 7 cxd5 exd5 8 g3

 8 Nf4 c6 was seen in the previous game, Jones-Almasi. The move
played may also lead to a central pawn expansion by White (f2-f3 and e3-
e4), but this plan will tend to develop more slowly.
8 ... c6 9 Bg2 Na6 10 Qc2 Nc7 11 0-0 a5 12 Bd2 Re8 13 Rad1 Ne6 14
Bc1 b5

Question: Doesn’t that give Black a weak pawn on c6?

Answer: This is certainly a controversial looking move because of this

backward c-pawn. Adams would only play this way because he believed
that the weakness would be offset by piece activity.
15 f3 Ba6 16 Rfe1

Question: Can White not play 16 e4 here?

 Answer: That would be met by 16 ... b4 17 Na4 dxe4 18 fxe4 Bb5,
which threatens ... b4-b3 (decoying White’s queen from the defence of e2),
and 19 Rfe1 leads to the loss of the exchange after 19 ... b3 20 Qxb3 Bxe2
21 Rxe2 Nxd4, etc.
16 ... Rc8 17 Kh1
This time Black would meet 17 e4 with 17 ... b4 18 axb4 axb4 19 Na4
c5, opening the game and embarrassing White’s queen on the exposed c2-
square.
17 ... b4 18 Na4
18 axb4 axb4 19 Na4 c5 would be much the same.
18 ... c5 19 Nxc5 Nxc5 20 dxc5 Bxc5 21 Bh3

21 ... Rc7
The early part of the game has not gone well for White, who has a weak
pawn on e3 and difficulty finding a place for his queen.
22 Qb3
 After 22 Qb1 Black would have a pleasant choice between capturing on
e3 immediately and first playing 22 ... Qb8. In either case White’s position
is ‘unenviable’ to say the least.
22 ... bxa3
22 ... Bc4 looks even stronger: for example, 23 Qa4 bxa3 24 bxa3 Rce7
piles up pressure against the pawn on e3.
23 bxa3 Bc4 24 Qb2 Bxe3 25 Bxe3 Rxe3 26 Nd4 Rce7
Black is just a good pawn up, but some technical difficulties remain
because the extra pawn is blockaded by the knight on d4. Adams proves
more than equal to the task of converting.
27 Rxe3 Rxe3 28 Qc1 Re8 29 Re1 Rxe1+ 30 Qxe1 Qb6 31 Qa1 g6 32
Bg2 Nd7
With the knight unable to use the e4-square, Adams brings it to a better
circuit.
33 h4 Qf6 34 Qd1 Nc5 35 Kh2 a4 36 f4 Qb6 37 h5 Qf6 38 hxg6 hxg6
39 Bf3?
This makes things easier for Black. 39 Nf3 would have been more
stubborn.
39 ... Nb3 40 Nc2 Qh8+ 41 Kg2 Qb2
 42 Kh3
After 42 f5 there is a nice win with 42 ... Na1! 43 Qxa1 Qxc2+ 44 Kg1
Qxf5, picking up another pawn.
42 ... d4 43 f5 gxf5 44 Bc6 d3 45 Ne3 Qd4 46 Qf3 Nd2 47 Qf2 Ne4 48
Bxe4 fxe4 49 Qd2 Be6+ 50 Kh2 Qh8+ 51 Kg1 Qe5 52 Qf2 Qa1+ 53 Kg2
Qxa3 54 Qf6 Qc5 0-1
Killing White’s hopes of counterplay by preventing a check on g5.

Game 12
A.Shimanov-Wang Hao
Russian Team Championship 2011

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Nge2 d5 6 a3 Be7 7 cxd5 exd5 8

b4
 Question: What is the idea behind that move?

Answer: There are a couple of ideas behind it. First of all, White is
looking to clamp down on Black’s freeing pawn move with ... c7-c5 and,
secondly, it can be a prelude to the famous ‘minority attack’ in which White
levers open a queenside file with b4-b5 (normally after ... c7-c6 from
Black).
8 ... c6 9 Ng3 Be6
The start of an interesting plan which intends queenside action by
Black. An alternative is 9 ... Bd6, intending to play more on the kingside.
A.Graf-R.Antonio, Singapore 1995, continued 10 Bd3 Re8 11 0-0 Nbd7 12
Qc2 Nf8 13 b5 Bd7 14 a4 Rc8 15 Ba3 Bb8 16 Rfc1 Ng4 17 Nf1 Qg5 with
attacking chances for Black.
10 Bd3 Nbd7
 In K.Georgiev-G.Ligterink, Wijk aan Zee 1985, Black played 10 ... a5
instead and after 11 b5 c5 12 dxc5 Nbd7 13 c6 bxc6 14 bxc6 Ne5 15 0-0
could have snatched the bishop-pair with 15 ... Nxd3 (15 ... Nxc6 was OK
for Black in the game, despite the result) with at least equal play after 16
Qxd3 Qc8 17 a4 Qxc6 18 Ba3 Bb4.
11 0-0 b5!?
A known plan in such structures; Black is planning to transfer his d7-
knight to the c4-square.
12 Nce2 Nb6 13 Nf4 Bd6

14 Bc2

Question: Why did White not gain the bishop-pair with 14 Nxe6?

Answer: After 14 ... fxe6 he would be faced with the prospect of Black
playing ... a7-a5 next. It is fair to say that the opening has not been a
success for White.
14 ... Nc4 15 Rb1
Trying to free his game with 15 e4 might have been a better idea, but
Black stands well after 15 ... dxe4 16 Nxe4 Bf5: for example, 17 Nxd6
Bxc2 18 Nxf7 Rxf7 19 Qxc2 Qxd4 recovers the pawn with the better game.
15 ... a5 16 Rb3
Possibly underestimating the strength of Black’s rook getting to a1. He
should have tried to break free with 16 bxa5 Bxa3 17 e4, when his position
still seems to be afloat.
16 ... axb4 17 axb4 Ra1 18 Qd3 Qe7
The b4-pawn is falling and White will be reduced to trying for desperate
counterplay.
19 f3 g6!

Paying due care and attention. 19 ... Bxb4?? would be a blunder because
of 20 Ngh5 when 20 ... g6 21 Nxf6+ Qxf6 22 Rxb4 wins a piece.
 20 Nfe2
20 Nxe6 fxe6 21 Bd2 would have temporarily held the b4-pawn, but
Black would then have had a number of good lines. The most spectacular
and strongest would have been 21 ... Ne4!!, after which 22 fxe4 dxe4 23
Qe2 Rfxf1+ 24 Nxf1 Nxd2 25 Qxd2 Bxh2+ 26 Kxh2 Rxf1 27 g3 Qf8 gives
Black a winning attack: for example, 28 Qg2 Qh6+ 29 Qh3 Rf2+ 30 Kg1
Qxh3 31 Kxf2 Qh2+ 32 Kf1 Qxc2, etc. I must confess that I found this with
the help of the engine!
20 ... Bxb4 21 e4
Finally looking for counterplay, but rather late in the day.
21 ... dxe4 22 fxe4
22 Nxe4 Nd5 keeps rock solid control of the position.
22 ... Ng4 23 Rb1
Probably missing Black’s stunning 24th move. 23 Bf4 would have
limited the damage.
23 ... Rxb1 24 Bxb1
 24 ... Nce3! 0-1
A nice finish. After 25 Bxe3 Bc4 26 Bg5 Qxg5 27 Qf3 Ra8 White has
lost a pawn and his position is falling apart. A crushing defeat for the
Russian GM.

Game 13
E.Agrest-N.Davies
Stockholm 1995

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4

This game is included partly to show that I have played the Nimzo, but I
would only advise the reader to emulate my play up to a point. I was
demonstrably lost later in the game and only won because White slipped up
at critical moments.
4 e3 0-0 5 a3
 A delayed Sämisch Variation. I have put it in this chapter for the sake of
good organization, as after 4 a3 my suggestion is a different system with 4
... Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 b6 followed by ... Nc6, ... Ba6 and ... Na5, a line which
does not involve early castling for Black.
5 ... Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 b6 7 Bd3 Bb7 8 f3 Nc6
The same plan that I give against the Sämisch; Black intends to play ...
Ba6 and ... Na5. The difference is that he has already castled kingside
which means he must take some defensive measures there.
9 e4 Ne8

Question: Why did you retreat your knight to the back rank? Is it not
badly
placed there?
 Answer: It is important to prevent the knight being pinned with Bc1-g5.
It may also come out to d6 and help increase the pressure on White’s c4-
pawn.
10 Nh3
White has also played 10 Ne2 when Black should again look to attack
the weak c4-pawn. M.Cebalo-M.Palac, Medulin 2002, went 10 ... Ba6 11
Rb1 d6 12 Ng3 Na5 13 Qe2 c5 14 d5 Qd7 15 Nf1 exd5 16 cxd5 Bxd3 17
Qxd3 f5! 18 Ng3 fxe4 19 Nxe4 Nf6 20 Nxf6+ Rxf6 21 Kf2 Qf5 22 Qxf5
Rxf5 with a clear advantage for Black in the endgame.
10 ... Qh4+
This was a theoretical novelty, though I was unaware of this at the time.
Although giving a check almost always feels good, it is also no
improvement. Here are the alternatives:
a) 10 ... Ba6 11 Qe2 Na5 12 Bg5 f6 13 Bh4 Nd6 14 e5 Nf5 15 Bxf5
exf5 16 exf6 was agreed drawn at this point in A.Ryskin-J.Ehlvest, St.
Petersburg 1994. Black can choose between several continuations, the
safest being 16 ... Qe8 to exchange queens and thus safeguard his king.
b) 10 ... Na5 11 e5 Qh4+ showed that even Russian Grandmasters can
struggle to resist a check in A.Deze-S.Makarichev, Novi Sad 1983. The
game continued 12 Nf2 d6 13 0-0 dxe5 14 dxe5 f5 15 exf6 Nxf6 16 Nh3 e5
with good play for Black.
11 Nf2 Ba6
11 ... e5 might have been a better idea, looking to bring the queen back
to e7 next and try to construct a blockade.
12 0-0 Na5
 13 Qa4
Pointing to the dark side of 10 ... Qh4+: the d7-pawn is hanging and
Black is losing time.
13 ... d6 14 Ra2 c5 15 Re2
Planning to play e4-e5, opening the position for his active pieces and
two bishops. Black should probably have prevented this with 15 ... e5, but I
chose instead to play actively.
15 ... Rc8 16 d5 Nc7?!
An active move too far. 16 ... Qe7 would have been better.
17 e5 exd5 18 exd6 Ne6?
Losing already, but I thought I could handle White’s passed d-pawn.
The engine suggests the ingenious 18 ... Nb5!?, but then decides Black is
lost anyway after 19 Re5. Even so, this might have been a better practical
choice.
19 g3 Qf6 20 d7
 An even stronger line would have been 20 cxd5! Bxd3 21 Nxd3 when
21 ... Qxc3 loses to 22 dxe6 Qxd3 23 d7 Qxe2 24 exf7+ Kxf7 25 dxc8Q
Rxc8 26 Qd7+, picking up the rook on c8. After the move played Black is
still screaming, but also doing some kicking.
20 ... Rcd8 21 cxd5 Bxd3 22 Nxd3 Nc7 23 Qg4 Qg6

Bailing out into an endgame where White starts to slip up.

24 Qxg6?!
24 Ne5! was a much stronger move and after 24 ... Qxg4 25 fxg4 Nxd5
26 Ref2 f6 there is even 27 g5!.
24 ... hxg6 25 Ne5 Nxd5 26 c4?
Mistakes tend to come together in a game and here White drives Black’s
knight to where it wants to go. 26 Rfe1 would have been a better move,
after which 26 ... Nxc3 27 Re3 Nd5 28 Rd3 holds the balance. Of course, it
might have been difficult to let the c-pawn drop.
26 ... Ne7 27 Rfe1?
 27 Rd1 would have been a better chance with White hanging on after 27
... Nb3 28 Bb2 f6 29 Ng4 Nf5 30 Rd5, etc.
27 ... f6 28 Nd3 Nec6 29 Nf4 Nd4

30 Nxg6
Collapsing immediately, but 30 Re3 Nxc4 31 Nxg6 Nxe3 32 Rxe3 Rxd7
was also losing for White.
30 ... Nxf3+ 31 Kf2 Nxe1 32 Rxe1 Rxd7 33 Nxf8 Kxf8 34 Re4 Rd3
White is losing the c4-pawn as well. The position is quite lost for him,
but nobody ever won a game by resigning.
35 Bf4 Rxa3 36 Bd6+ Kg8 37 h4 Rd3 38 Bf4 Kf7 39 Bb8 Nc6 40 Bf4
Rd4 41 Rxd4 Nxd4 42 Ke3 Nc6 43 Ke4 Ke6 44 Bc7 Ne5 45 Bb8 a5 0-1

Game 14
D.Milanovic-V.Baklan
Corinth Open 2004
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 Nge2 dxc4 7 Bxc4 e5 8 0-
0 Nc6
In the game J.Parker-J.Rowson, 4NCL 2013, Black varied with 8 ...
Qe7, after which 9 a3 Bd6 10 Nb5 e4 11 Nxd6 cxd6 12 Nf4 b6 13 Bd2 Bb7
14 Rc1 Na6 15 b4 Nc7 produced a position in which White’s bishop-pair
was ineffective.
9 a3 Bd6 10 d5 Ne7 11 Ng3 a6

Question: Is that to prevent Nb5 by White?

Answer: Partly, and partly to introduce the possibility of ... b7-b5. It can
also be seen as a flexible semi-waiting move, delaying the decision on
where to put the e7-knight as both g6 and f5 are possibilities.
 A year earlier Baklan had played 11 ... Ng6, J.Hellsten-V.Baklan,
Plovdiv 2003, continuing 12 Bd2 a6 13 Rc1 Kh8 14 Ba2 Ng4 15 h3 Nh6 16
Nce4 Be7 17 f4 f5 18 Nc5 with some difficulties for Black. On the other
hand, a game M.Bluvshtein-S.Tiviakov, Montreal 2009, had featured the
simplifying 11 ... Nf5 12 Nge4 Nxe4 13 Nxe4 Be7 14 Ba2 a5 15 Bd2 Nd6
16 Ng3 Re8 which gave Black a reasonable position, but perhaps one which
was less rich in fighting chances. Playing a much lower-rated opponent
Baklan would be interested in the full point, but would not want to have a
very bad position in trying to achieve it.
12 b4 Nf5
Baklan shows that he learned a lot from his game with Hellsten. The
knight does not have great prospects on g6: for example, 12 ... Ng6 13 Bb2
Ng4 14 h3 Nh6 15 Nce4 Nf5 16 Qh5 Qh4 17 Qxh4 Nfxh4 18 Rac1 gave
White some serious c-file pressure in A.Rakhmanov-M.Perunovic,
Paleochora 2008.
13 Qd3
Probably not great, but White does not have much here in any case.
After 13 Nge4 Black could even consider 13 ... Be7 followed by ... Nf5-d6,
with what looks like nothing for White.
13 ... Nxg3 14 hxg3 Bd7 15 Rb1
This looks like a fairly standard move, but Black is hatching a scheme
to attack White’s queenside pawns. 15 Bd2 was a better idea and after 15 ...
Qe7 to trade knights with 16 Ne4. This may seem negative, but it is better
to have a near equal position than a bad one.
15 ... Qe7 16 e4
 16 ... b5! 17 Bb3 Rfb8
Black’s idea becomes clear: he wants to play ... a6-a5. The immediate
17 ... a5 is also playable, but would allow White to simplify the position
with 18 Nxb5 Bxb5 19 Qxb5 axb4 20 axb4 Nxe4 21 Qc4, etc.
18 Bd2 a5 19 Na2 c5 20 dxc6
There is little choice because Black is threatening ... c5-c4, and 20 bxc5
Bxc5 leaves the a3-pawn in trouble.
20 ... Bxc6 21 Nc3?!
Going active at the wrong time, which leads to a worsening of his
position. White should try to tough it out with 21 Rfe1 when the position is
worse for him, but still defensible.
21 ... axb4 22 axb4 Bxb4 23 Nd5 Bxd5 24 Bxb4 Qxb4 25 Bxd5 Ra3!
It seems possible that White missed this resource when he played 21
Nc3. Black keeps his extra pawn and enters an endgame.
26 Rxb4 Rxd3
 27 Bc6
Missing an ingenious resource that might have saved the game. He
should have played 27 Rfb1! when Black will have nothing better than 27
... Rd4 (27 ... Nxd5 28 Rxb5!! will win back the piece because Black is
threatened with back-rank mate) 28 Rxd4 (and not 28 Rxb5 Rxb5 29 Rxb5
because of 29 ... Rd1+ 30 Kh2 Ng4+ 31 Kh3 Nxf2+ 32 Kh4 Rh1+ 33 Kg5
h6+ 34 Kf5 Rh5 mate) 28 ... exd4 29 Kf1 Nxd5 30 exd5 Kf8 31 Ke2 Ke7
32 Kd3 Kd6 33 Kxd4 b4, which is marginally better for Black, but still
drawn.
27 ... Rd6 28 Rxb5 Rxb5 29 Bxb5 Nxe4
Black has won a pawn, but the position is fraught with technical
difficulties because the pawns are limited to one side of the board. The good
news is that he can torture White for a very long time, so in practice the
results from such positions are very good.
30 Re1 Rd4 31 f3 Nxg3 32 Rxe5?!
 A serious error which magnifies White’s difficulties. He should first
play 32 Kf2 before capturing on e5 to avoid the bind that follows.
32 ... f5! 33 Rc5 f4 34 Bc4+ Kf8 35 Rc7 g5 36 Kf2 h6 37 Ke1 Rd6
It is hard to know if this is winning for Black, but in practice White’s
defence is psychologically very difficult. Many hours of suffering are in
store and it might turn out that you are lost in any case.
38 Rh7 Ke8 39 Bb5+ Kd8 40 Rf7 Rd5 41 Bc4 Rd4 42 Ba6 Rd6 43
Bb5 Rb6 44 Bd3 Rb3 45 Bc4?! Rc3 46 Bb5 Rb3 47 Bc4 Rb2 48 Rf6
Making things easier for Black. White could have obtained a better
version of the game with 48 Rf8+ Ke7 49 Rf7+ Kd6 50 Rf6+ Kc5 51 Ba6
h5 52 Rg6 Rxg2 53 Rxg5+ Kd4 54 Rg8 h4 55 Rd8+ Kc5 56 Rh8 Rh2 57
Bc8, at least stopping Black’s h-pawn for the time being.
48 ... h5

49 Rg6
 Underestimating the strength of the newly emerging passed h-pawn.
White had to try 49 Rd6+ Ke7 50 Rd2, but may not have relished being
tortured some more after 50 ... Rxd2 51 Kxd2 Nf5 followed by ... Ne3.
49 ... Rxg2 50 Rxg5 h4
Compared with the line after 48 Rf8+, White cannot blockade Black’s
passed h-pawn.
51 Rg8+ Ke7 52 Rh8 Rh2 53 Ba6 h3 54 Bc8 Re2+ 0-1
After 55 Kd1 h2 the passed pawn will cost White his rook.

Game 15
M.Lagarde-I.Cheparinov
Gibraltar Masters 2019

1 c4
The standard move order is 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5
6 cxd5 exd5 7 Nge2, reaching the position after White’s seventh move.
1 ... e6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 cxd5 exd5 7 Nge2
By first exchanging on d5 White avoids the 6 ... dxc4 and 7 ... e5 plan
that we saw in the previous game, Milanovic-Baklan. On the other hand, the
bishop on c8 is no longer blocked in by a pawn on e6.
7 ... Re8 8 0-0 Bd6 9 Bd2 a6!?
 A useful preparatory move, preventing a white knight from coming to
b5 and keeping open options of either ... c7-c6 or ... c7-c5. The advantages
of this become clear when examining other examples of play from this
position:
a) 9 ... c5 10 dxc5 Bxc5 11 Rc1 Nc6 12 Nb5 Bb6 13 Nbd4 was about
equal in J.Piket-B.Gelfand, Wijk aan Zee 2002, though some players might
not care for having an isolated d-pawn.
b) 9 ... c6 was met with 10 f3 in D.Sorm-T.Luther, Bad Homburg 2008,
when Luther moved his c-pawn a second time with 10 ... c5 and had a good
game after 11 Qe1?! Nc6 12 Qh4 Be7 13 Qf2 Nb4 14 Bb1 b6. White might
have considered delaying the committal 10 f3 with, for example, 10 a3,
putting the onus on Black to find another useful move.
10 Rc1 Nbd7 11 Nf4
Alexei Aleksandrov specialises in this line for White and has played 11
Qb3 in a couple of games. A.Aleksandrov-A.Shariyazdanov, Calcutta 2002,
had an interesting sequel in 11 ... c6 12 f3 b5!?, after which 13 Bb1 Bb7 14
Ng3 c5 15 Nce2 c4 16 Qd1 b4 17 Qe1 a5 gave Black excellent counterplay.
11 ... c6 12 h3
The problem with putting the knight on f4 is that it makes the plan of
f2-f3 and e3-e4 more difficult to accomplish because of the ongoing
possibility of ... Bxf4. For example, after 12 f3 Black might play 12 ... b5
followed by 13 ... Qb6 when ... Bxf4 can become a real problem.
12 ... Nf8 13 Nh5
A tacit agreement that the knight on f4 may not be optimally placed;
White tries to exchange it and Black in turn avoids this exchange.

13 ... Ne4!?
13 ... Nxh5 14 Qxh5 g6 might have been simpler, but Cheparinov
probably wanted to keep some fighting chances because of his higher
rating.
 14 Nxe4
14 Bxe4 dxe4 15 Ng3 f5 would be very comfortable for Black.
14 ... dxe4 15 Bc4 g6
The immediate 15 ... Be6 was also good, but Black is trying to lure his
opponent into complications.
16 Ng3 Be6 17 Nxe4!?
Merrily entering the fray. 17 Bxe6 Rxe6 18 Qb3 was solid and equal.
17 ... Bxc4 18 Nxd6 Bxf1 19 Nxe8 Bxg2 20 Kxg2 Qxe8

Question: How would you assess this position?

Answer: Black has recovered his pawn and obtained a position with a
strategic imbalance. White has a bishop against a knight plus a central pawn
majority; on the other hand, his king is weak.
21 Qg4 Rd8 22 Rc5 Nd7 23 Ra5 Nf6 24 Qh4 Qe4+
 At first sight it looks odd to exchange queens when White’s king is
vulnerable. This decision is to some extent justified by White’s light square
weaknesses.
25 Qxe4 Nxe4 26 Bb4 f5 27 Re5 Rd7 28 Re8+ Kf7 29 Rb8 Nf6 30
Kf3 g5 31 Ke2 h5
Preparing ... g5-g4, which may either fix White’s pawns on the same
colour as his bishop or obtain a passed g-pawn.
32 f3 Kg6 33 Kd3 g4 34 hxg4 fxg4 35 fxg4 hxg4 36 Be1 Rh7 37 e4
Black’s ambition starts to bear fruit. White should have played 37 Bg3
when 37 ... Rh3 38 Bf4 g3 39 Ke2 Rh2+ 40 Kf3 Rxb2 41 Bxg3 keeps
things level.
37 ... Rh3+ 38 Ke2 Rh2+ 39 Ke3 Rh1

40 Ke2
 After 40 Bc3 there follows 40 ... Rh3+ 41 Ke2 Nxe4 42 Rxb7 Nxc3+ 43
bxc3 Rxc3 with an extra pawn in the rook endgame.
40 ... Nxe4 41 Rxb7
Or 41 Ba5 Rh2+ 42 Ke3 Nf6, when the difficulties caused by the passed
pawn are accompanied by the harassment of White’s king.
41 ... g3 42 Bxg3
There is little choice at this stage and Black goes a piece up.
Unfortunately for him, it may still not be winning because White might
eliminate the remaining pawns.
42 ... Nxg3+ 43 Kd3 Rd1+ 44 Kc2 Rxd4 45 Rb6 Rd6
After 45 ... Rc4+ 46 Kd3 Ra4 White has a neat finesse in 47 b4 when
Black’s queenside pawns will all be eliminated.
46 Rxa6 Kf6 47 b4 Ke5 48 a4 Ne4 49 Ra8 Rd2+
Perhaps the last realistic winning chance was with 49 ... Rg6 50 b5 c5,
keeping his remaining pawn. This also carries deep risk as White then has
connected passed pawns on the queenside.
50 Kc1 Rd4 51 b5 Rc4+ 52 Kd1 Kd4 53 bxc6
This endgame is a theoretical draw, but Black can keep trying and make
White find accurate moves.
53 ... Ke3 54 Re8 Rxc6 55 a5 Ra6 56 Kc2 Rxa5
 Question: Isn’t this position a theoretical draw?

Answer: It is, but White will need to defend it accurately. In practice

this will not be easy.
57 Re7 Ra8 58 Rc7 Kd4 59 Rd7+ Kc4 60 Rc7+ Nc5 61 Kd2 Kd4 62
Ke2 Rf8 63 Re7 Rf6 64 Re8 Rf7 65 Rd8+ Nd7 66 Rh8 Nf6 67 Rd8+ Nd5
68 Rd6 Rf8 69 Rd7 Ke4 70 Ra7 Nf4+ 71 Kd2 Rd8+ 72 Kc2 Nd5 73 Rh7
Rc8+ 74 Kd2 Ra8 75 Rh4+ Nf4 76 Rg4 Ra2+ 77 Kc3 Rh2 78 Kb3 Rf2
79 Rg8 Kd4 80 Rf8 Rf3+ 81 Kc2 Rc3+ 82 Kd2 Rd3+ 83 Kc2 Nd5 84
Rd8 Rh3 85 Kb2 Rh2+ 86 Kb3 Rg2 87 Rd7 Rg3+ 88 Kc2 Kc4 89 Kd2
Rg2+ 90 Ke1 Kd4 91 Rd8 Ke3 92 Re8+ Kf3 93 Rf8+ Nf4 94 Kd1 Ra2 95
Kc1 Ke3 96 Re8+ Kd4 97 Rd8+ Nd5 98 Kd1 Ke4 99 Kc1 Nb4 100 Re8+
Kd4 101 Rd8+ Kc4 102 Rc8+ Kb3 103 Kd1 ½-½
Game 16
I.Sokolov-J.Polgar
Hoogeveen 2006

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 a3 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 dxc4

Black should do this before White achieves cxd5.

Question: Was this plan not possible in your game against Agrest?

Answer: No, as after 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 d5 White will capture on d5

before Black can take on c4.
One other line worth noting is 7 ... e5!?, after which 8 cxd5 (8 dxe5
dxc4 9 Bxc4 Qxd1+ 10 Kxd1 Ng4 is good for Black) 8 ... e4 9 Bc2 Qxd5
10 Ne2 produces an interesting position in which both sides have chances.
8 Bxc4 c5 9 Ne2
 9 dxc5 would not make any sense after 9 ... Qa5 10 Bb2 Qxc5. White’s
bishops would be contained and his pawn weaknesses could soon become a
problem.
9 ... Qc7 10 Ba2 b6 11 0-0 Ba6 12 Re1 Nc6 13 Ng3 Rad8
Sokolov evidently felt his position was not bad at this stage as he
repeated this whole line two years later against Almasi. I.Sokolov-
Z.Almasi, Sibenik 2008, diverged at this point with 13 ... Rfd8 and after 14
Bb2 Na5 15 e4 Bc4 16 Bxc4 Nxc4 Black had a promising position.
Almasi’s play does seem very logical, and I would prefer his approach over
Polgar’s.
14 Bb2 e5
Here too Black can play 14 ... Na5, but then the king’s rook looks better
on d8. T.Iljin-S.Khader, Alushta 2009, continued 15 e4 Bc4 16 Bxc4 Nxc4
17 Bc1 cxd4 18 cxd4 and now Black’s 18 ... Rd7 19 Bg5 Ne8 shut the f8-
rook in, which it is better to avoid. Even so Black’s position was reasonable
at this point.
15 Qc2
In a later game, T.Haimovich-E.Berg, Kemer 2007, White played 15 d5
at this point, but then Black blockaded the passed d-pawn with 15 ... Na5 16
e4 Ne8 17 Qg4 Nd6 18 Rad1 Qd7 19 Qh5 Qa4, achieving a very
satisfactory position. A couple of years earlier in M.Illescas Cordoba-
F.Vallejo Pons, Sanxenxo 2004, White had played 15 Rc1, after which 15 ...
Na5 16 Qf3 Rfe8 17 e4 Bc4 was fine for Black. It is fair to conclude that
Black is doing just fine if the plan of ... Na5 and later ... Bc4 is used.
15 ... Rd7
After 15 ... Na5 Reinaldo Vera pointed out that White would play 16
dxe5 followed by c3-c4 to activate the bishop on b2. Whilst this is true, the
position is far from clear after 16 ... Bd3 17 Qc1 Qxe5 18 c4 Qe6 19 e4 Ne8
20 Nf5 f6.
16 Rad1 Rfd8 17 h3
Polgar suggested 17 Ne4 Nxe4 18 Qxe4 with ideas such as Bb1 to
create threats on the kingside.
17 ... c4
 Question: Does that not block the bishop on a6 in?

Answer: It does, but with Black being unable to increase the pressure
against d4 she opts to blockade the position.
Instead, 17 ... Na5 would have been met by 18 dxe5 Qxe5 19 c4,
unveiling the bishop on b2, though this too isn’t clear after 19 ... Qe6.
Another possibility was 17 ... g6 to defend the b1-h7 diagonal, though it is
not easy to play such a move when you lack a dark-squared bishop.
18 a4
Vera did not like this move, preferring instead to play 18 Bb1. But it
looks fine if followed up correctly.
18 ... Re8 19 Ba3?!
It is this move that seems to be the mistake, allowing Black a complete
blockade of the position. White should have played 19 Ne4, after which 19
... Nxe4 20 Qxe4 Bb7 21 Bb1 g6 22 Qg4 may still be slightly better for
him.
19 ... e4!
Closing the position leaves White’s bishops with little scope. Over the
following moves Black mobilizes her forces in the centre and on the
kingside.
20 Bb1 Rd5 21 Ne2 Rg5 22 Nf4 Bc8?!
White could have obtained some counterplay after this. Black should
play 22 ... Qd7 followed by 23 ... Nd5, exchanging the defending knight on
f4.
23 Qe2
23 Ba2 would have forced Black’s bishop back to a6 with the loss of
some time.
23 ... Qd7!?
 Sacrificing a pawn for the initiative. In such positions Polgar comes into
her own.
24 Qxc4 Na5 25 Qb4?
25 Qe2 was better because the main danger lies on the kingside. Of
course, Black would then recover the pawn with 25 ... Qxa4.
25 ... Nd5 26 Nxd5?
Opening the floodgates. White should have recognized the danger and
exchanged queens, either with 26 Qb5 or 26 Qd6.
26 ... Qxd5
26 ... Rxg2+ was playable here, but leads to just a draw by perpetual
check after 27 Kxg2 Qxh3+ 28 Kg1 Qg4+ 29 Kf1 Ba6+ 30 Bd3 Qh3+ 31
Kg1 Qg4+ 32 Kh2 Qh5+, etc. Polgar wants more than that.
27 h4 Rg4 28 Qb5 Qd8
28 ... Qxb5 29 axb5 Nc4 is slightly better for Black, but she is playing
instead for mate.
29 g3 a6 30 Qb4?!
30 Qf1 Qxh4 31 Bd6 has been recommended as a better defence, but
White is still struggling after 31 ... Qd8!.
30 ... Qxh4
 31 Bxe4
On 31 Qxb6 Black wins with 31 ... Rxg3+ 32 fxg3 Qxg3+ 33 Kh1 Bg4
34 Bxe4 Bxd1 35 Rxd1 Qh3+ 36 Kg1 Nc4.
31 ... Rxg3+ 32 fxg3 Qxe4 33 Rd2?
33 Qb1 was a better defence, but it still looks grisly for White after 33
... Qf3.
33 ... Qf3 34 Kh2
Neither 34 c4 Nxc4 nor 34 Qd6 Bb7 would have saved White.
34 ... Qh5+
Repeating the position to get nearer the time control. 34 ... Bf5 wins for
Black, but it can wait.
35 Kg1 Qf3 36 Kh2
As good as anything in a bad position. 36 c4 loses to 36 ... Nxc4 and 36
Qxb6 is bad because of 36 ... Qxg3+ 37 Rg2 Qxe1+, etc.
36 ... Bf5! 37 e4
 37 Qxb6? loses to just 37 ... Nc4 38 Qxa6 Nxd2.
37 ... Bxe4 38 Rxe4
This time 38 Qxb6? leads to mate after 38 ... Qh5+ 39 Kg1 Qh1+ 40
Kf2 Qg2+ 41 Ke3 Qf3 mate.
38 ... Qxe4

39 d5?
Losing immediately, but White’s position was already beyond salvation.
After the superior 39 Rf2 Black has a wide choice including 39 ... f6 40
Qxb6 Nc4, etc.
39 ... Nc4 0-1

Game 17
L.Portisch-T.Petrosian
Lone Pine 1978
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 Nf3 b6

This solid move is the repertoire choice and the main alternative to 6 ...
c5.

Question: Why was this move chosen over other possibilities?

Answer: It is a relatively straightforward system that offers fighting

chances and has been played by many top GMs. I personally like the fact
that Black does not need to give up the bishop-pair.
7 0-0 Bb7 8 a3 Bd6 9 b4
One of the main strategic decisions White needs to make in this line is
whether or not to capture on d5; here Portisch chooses not to do so and gets
Black to capture on c4. A couple of alternatives are worth mentioning here:
 a) 9 Nb5 Be7 10 b4 dxc4 11 Bxc4 Nbd7 12 Bb2 c5 (12 ... a5 is also
possible) 13 bxc5 bxc5 14 dxc5 Nxc5 15 Be5 a6 soon petered out to a draw
in S.Gligoric-Y.Balashov, Bugojno 1978.
b) 9 Qe2 c5 10 dxc5 bxc5 11 Rd1 Nbd7 12 b3 was played in
H.Mecking-L.Polugaevsky, 2nd matchgame, Lucerne 1977, and now 12 ...
Qe7 (rather than 12 ... Qb6) 13 Bb2 Rfd8 would have regrouped Black’s
pieces effectively.

9 ... dxc4

Question: Can Black attack White’s queenside pawns with 9 ... a5

instead?

Answer: Some sources have dismissed it because of 10 c5. but I’m not
convinced this is clear. Black can then play 10 ... axb4 11 Na4 bxc5 12 dxc5
Be7 13 axb4 Nbd7 followed by 14 ... c6.
 10 Bxc4 a5 11 b5 Nbd7 12 Bb2 e5
Black can also delay this advance with 12 ... Qe7: for example, 13 Re1
Rad8 14 e4 e5 was A.Kashlinskaya-A.Rudolf, Paks 2011.
13 Re1 e4
There is a case for delaying here too with 13 ... Qe7.
14 Nd2 Qe7 15 Be2
A logical move, covering the g4-square and freeing c4 for a knight. In a
game B.Kantsler-R.Dautov, Minsk 1986, White played 15 Bf1 instead, but
after 15 ... Qe6 16 Nc4 Rfe8 17 a4 might have found himself on the
receiving end of an interesting bishop sacrifice with 17 ... Bxh2+!? (rather
than 17 ... Bb4 as played in the game): for example, 18 Kxh2 Ng4+ 19 Kg1
Qf5 20 f3 exf3 21 gxf3 Qh5 with a strong attack.
15 ... Rad8 16 Qc2

The battle rages over control of the centre and White’s ability to
undermine the e4-pawn with f2-f3.
 16 ... Rfe8 17 f3?!
Had Portisch realized that he would not win the battle for the e4-square
he might have chosen a different plan, such as 17 Nc4 to eliminate Black’s
bishop-pair. As it is, I imagine he had seen his own 23rd move, but not
Black’s reply.
17 ... exf3 18 Bxf3 Bxf3 19 Nxf3 Ne4 20 Nxe4 Qxe4 21 Qxe4 Rxe4 22
Nd2 Re6 23 e4?!
The point behind White’s play: he sets up a central pawn duo before
Black can blockade these pawns with 23 ... f5. Unfortunately, Black’s reply
is so strong that White should have pulled the plug on his idea; 23 Nc4 was
a reasonable move.
23 ... Nc5!

A thunderbolt that Petrosian had probably seen well in advance; it

changes the course of the game.
24 Nc4
 Perhaps in a state of shock, Portisch finds a poor reply. Taking the
knight with 24 dxc5 is bad because of 24 ... Bxc5+ followed by 25 ... Rxd2,
but White certainly seems to be able to do better with 24 d5: for example,
24 ... Ree8 25 Bd4 Bf4 26 Bxc5 Bxd2 27 Re2 Bf4 28 Rf1 Be5 29 Bf2 f5
leads to the win of a pawn for Black, but in a much messier way than the
game. Also just 24 Rab1 looks more stubborn because a rook endgame
would be reached after 24 ... Nd3 25 Re3 Nxb2 26 Rxb2 Bf4 27 Rf3 Bxd2
28 Rxd2 Rxe4 29 Rc3. It is not at all clear that Black would be able to win
this position.
24 ... Nxe4 25 Rac1?!
This seems like another inaccuracy. White had to eliminate Black’s
bishop with 25 Nxd6 to have the chance of some play against c7.
25 ... Bf8 26 Ne5 Nd6 27 a4
After 27 Rxc7 there would follow 27 ... f6 28 Nd3 Rxe1+ 29 Nxe1
Nxb5 30 Rb7 Nxd4, etc.
27 ... f6
The beginning of the end. Black drives the knight away from e5 which
leads in turn to the exchange of a pair of rooks.
28 Nf3?!
28 Nc6 would put the knight on an impressive looking square, but
where would it then go?
28 ... Rxe1+ 29 Nxe1 Rd7 30 Nf3?!
30 g4 might have been a better chance, trying to prevent the kingside
squeeze that now happens.
30 ... Nf5 31 Kf2 h5
Black sets about mobilizing his extra pawn on the kingside. Lacking
any sort of meaningful counterplay, White’s position is lost.
32 Rc2
Black could meet 32 h3 with 32 ... h4 and then methodically move
forward at leisure.
32 ... g5 33 Rc4 Bd6 34 g3 Kf7 35 Ng1 Ne7 36 Ne2 Nd5 37 Bc1 Ke6
38 Rc2 Kf5 39 Kf3
After 39 Nc3 Black can proceed with 39 ... Nb4 40 Rd2 h4, the point
being that 41 gxh4 is met by 41 ... Bf4 42 Rd1 Bxc1 43 Rxc1 Nd3+, etc.
39 ... g4+ 40 Kf2 Rh7 41 Rd2 h4 42 Kg2 Ke4
 42 ... hxg3 43 Nxg3+ Kg6 intending ... f6-f5 is also winning for Black.
43 Rd1?!
White can offer slightly better resistance with 43 gxh4, but his position
is still quite lost. The game might then continue 43 ... Rxh4 44 Ng3+ Bxg3
45 Kxg3 Rh7 after which 46 Kxg4 is met by 46 ... Ne3+ 47 Kg3 Nf1+,
winning the rook.
43 ... Ne3+ 44 Bxe3 Kxe3 45 Nc3?!
45 Nc1 f5 is equally hopeless for White.
45 ... h3+ 0-1
When White moves his king back, Black will play 46 ... Rh5, leaving
White helpless.

Game 18
T.Iljin-D.Andreikin
Russian Team Rapid Championship 2017
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 Nf3 b6 7 cxd5
Clarifying the central tension and producing a quite different structure
to the lines where Black plays ... dxc4.
7 ... exd5 8 0-0 Bb7
White has two main plans in such positions: a Stonewall-type attack
with Ne5 and f4, or pressure down the half open c-file. There might also be
situations in which e3-e4 comes in, but this is likely to be rare.
9 Ne5
The most direct implementation of the Stonewall plan. In the next game
(Adly-Carlsen), White first played 9 Bd2 and then Ne5 on the next move.
9 ... Re8
I was intrigued by Andreikin’s treatment here (9 ... Re8 and later 11 ...
a5), because of its originality in quite a well-trodden variation. One of the
traditional answers to 9 Ne5 is 9 ... Nbd7 10 f4 c5 11 Rf3 Ne4 when some
old analysis by Taimanov runs 12 Rh3 Nxe5 13 Qh5 h6 14 dxe5 Bxc3 15
bxc3 f6 16 c4 d4. The engine finds nothing wrong with any of this and it all
makes perfect sense.
9 ... a6 has also been played here, but does not look like a well-used
tempo when faced with such an aggressive plan. E.Bareev-O.Renet,
Yerevan Olympiad 1996, had a spectacular continuation in 10 Bd2 Bd6 11
f4 c5 12 Rf3 Nc6 13 Nxd5 Bxe5 14 Nxf6+ Bxf6 15 Bxh7+ Kxh7 16 Rh3+
Kg8 17 Qh5 Bh4 18 Rxh4 f6 19 d5 Ne7 20 e4 Nxd5 21 Rd1 Nc7 22 Bc3
Qe7 23 e5 Rad8 24 Re1 1-0.
10 Bd2 Nbd7 11 f4 a5!?
 Question: What is the idea behind that move?

Answer: It is a very interesting and noteworthy treatment that has

several effects. Protecting the bishop prepares to play ... Ne4 on the next
move, but this is not the only idea. In certain circumstances, Black might
exchange the light-squared bishops with ... Ba6 as this is now protected by
a rook.
12 Rf3
The critical answer is 12 Nb5!, intending Rc1, when it would be
interesting to know what Andreikin intended. The engine gives 12 ... Bf8 13
Rc1 c5 as Black’s best, but the hole on b5 suggests an edge for White here.
12 ... Ne4 13 Rh3?!
After 13 Bb5 Black can play 13 ... Nxe5 14 fxe5 Bxc3 15 Bxc3 (15
Bxe8 Bxd2 is good for Black) 15 ... Re6 when the knight on e4 ensures him
full equality.
13 ... Nxe5 14 fxe5
After 14 dxe5 Black can throw a spanner in the works of White’s attack
with 14 ... Bc8, because 15 g4 interferes with the transfer of White’s queen
to h5.
14 ... Bxc3 15 Bxe4
15 Bxc3 is strongly met by 15 ... Bc8 16 g4 f5.
15 ... dxe4
And not 15 ... Bxb2 because of 16 Bxh7+, etc.
16 Bxc3 Re6 17 Be1 Rg6 18 Rc1 Bd5

Question: Isn’t this a draw because of the opposite-coloured bishops?

Answer: Without any other pieces on the board, opposite-coloured

bishops have drawish properties in the endgame. In this position all the
major pieces are still on the board and although both sides’ bishops are
inhibited by their own pawns, it is clearly White’s that is shut in more.
19 a3 Qd7 20 Rg3 Rf8 21 Rxg6 fxg6
Here and on the next move Andreikin sharpens the plan, presumably
because he was concerned about not being able to break through. With this
also being a rapid game, the clock may have been a significant factor.
22 Bg3 Qb5!?
22 ... c6 is solid, but probably too solid for the tournament situation.
23 Qc2
Letting Black take the initiative. 23 Rxc7 Qxb2 24 Qc1 was the right
course of action.
23 ... c6 24 h3 h6 25 Kh2 g5 26 Qd2 Qd3 27 Qxd3?!
Giving Black a powerful passed d-pawn. 27 Rd1 was best when White
should still hold. The remainder of the game was probably played at
breakneck speed with both players making slips and Andreikin finally
getting the win.
27 ... exd3 28 Rd1 Be4 29 e6 Rf6 30 Rd2 Rxe6 31 Bc7 a4 32 Bxb6
Rf6 33 Kg1 Kf7 34 Ba5 h5 35 Rf2 h4 36 Rxf6+ gxf6 37 Kf2 Kg6 38 g3
Kh5 39 Bb4
 39 ... Bf5
Essentially offering a bishop sacrifice which White should not accept.
39 ... f5 would probably win without any more drama.
40 g4+ Bxg4 41 hxg4+ Kxg4 42 e4 Kf4 43 d5?
43 e5! would have held.
43 ... cxd5 44 exd5 Ke5 45 d6 Ke6 46 Kf3 f5 47 Ke3 h3 48 Kf3 f4 49
Kf2 g4 50 Bd2 g3+ 51 Kf3 h2 52 Kg2 f3+ 0-1

Game 19
A.Adly-M.Carlsen
Dresden Olympiad 2008

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 Nf3 b6 7 0-0 Bb7 8 cxd5

exd5 9 Bd2
 Question: What does that move achieve?

Answer: It is a good waiting move which keeps both of White’s major

plans available. Depending on Black’s reply, he can go for either c-file play
or a Stonewall-type attack with Ne5.
9 ... Nbd7
Probably Black’s best and most flexible reply. Had Black played 9 ... a6
White has time to both put a knight on e5 and support it, via 10 Ne5 Nbd7
11 f4. The move Bd2 is useful here as the bishop may be transferred to e1
and h4 in certain circumstances and does not interfere with the transfer of
the queen’s rook to a more active square.
10 Ne5
Switching back to Ne5 ideas at what seems like a less appropriate time;
as Black has already played 9 ... Nbd7 he can simply exchange the knight.
 White’s main move is in fact 10 Rc1, looking to play on the half open c-
file. As Black is now ready to exchange a white knight on e5, he has time
for 10 ... a6 which stymies White’s queenside action.

There might follow 11 Ne5 (11 Ne2 should be met by 11 ... Bd6 when
Ne5 plans are no longer an option and queenside progress also looks
difficult) 11 ... Nxe5 12 dxe5 Nd7 13 a3 (13 e6 Nf6 14 Ne2 Bxd2 15 exf7+
Rxf7 16 Qxd2 Qd6 was also fine for Black in S.Gligoric-M.Filip, Zagreb
1955) 13 ... Be7 14 Qc2 Nxe5 15 Bxh7+ Kh8 16 f4 Ng4 17 Bf5 Nh6 18
Ne2 c5 19 Ng3 d4 20 Be4 Bxe4 21 Qxe4 Bf6 ½-½, as in S.Gligoric-M.Tal,
Oberhausen 1961.
Another possibility is 10 Qc2 when 10 ... a6 11 Ne5 can still be met by
11 ... Nxe5: for example, 12 dxe5 Ne4 13 Bxe4 dxe4 14 Rfd1 Bxc3 15
Bxc3 Qe7 16 Rd2 Rad8 was equal in A.Yusupov-R.Dautov, Dresden 1998.
10 ... Nxe5 11 dxe5 Nd7
 11 ... Bxc3 12 Bxc3 Ne4 is also quite playable, but might tend towards
simplification.
12 Qc2
After 12 f4 Black can play 12 ... Nc5 13 Bc2 d4: for example, 14 exd4
Qxd4+ 15 Rf2 Nd3 16 Be1 Rad8 17 Bxd3 Qxd3 18 Qxd3 Rxd3 was better
for Black in I.Kan-G.Lisitsin, Leningrad 1934.
12 ... g6
Black can also play 12 ... Nxe5 13 Bxh7+ Kh8, but Carlsen might have
wanted more tension in the position.
13 f4 Nc5 14 Ne2
Looking to simplify the position. 14 Rad1 would have been a good
alternative, with approximate equality after 14 ... a5.
14 ... Bxd2 15 Qxd2 Nxd3
Another good move was 15 ... f6, after which 16 exf6 Nxd3 (or 16 ...
Qxf6) 17 Qxd3 Qxf6 18 f5 c5 19 Ng3 Rae8 is at least equal for Black.
16 Qxd3 c5
 17 Nc3 d4 18 Ne4 Bxe4 19 Qxe4 dxe3 20 Qxe3 Qh4 21 Rad1 Rad8
22 Qf3
There is nothing wrong with White’s position at this point, but from
here on he is comprehensively outplayed. 22 Rd6 was also fine and, if
anything, is even slightly better for White.
22 ... Qe7 23 Rf2?!
Preparing to go into a queen endgame where it turns out that White has
some problems. 23 g3 was much simpler and dead equal after 23 ... Rxd1
24 Rxd1 Rd8 25 Rd5 h5 26 Qd3 because White’s queen is much better than
in the game.
23 ... Rxd1+ 24 Qxd1 Rd8 25 Rd2 Rxd2 26 Qxd2 Qe6
 Now White’s queen is unable to reach the strong d5-square and Black
gets to set some annoying problems.
27 Kf2 Kg7 28 a3
Or 28 Qd8 h5 29 a3 Qf5, again with some difficulties for White.
28 ... h5 29 Qd3 Qg4 30 g3 Qh3 31 Kg1 Qf5 32 Qe2 a6 33 Kf2 b5 34
Ke3 Qb1 35 Qd2 a5 36 e6
Sacrificing a pawn to open Black’s king up; one of the most important
aspects of queen endgames is king safety. Another way to implement this
idea was 36 Kf2 Qh1 37 Ke3 a4 and now 38 e6 fxe6 39 Qd7+ Kh6 40 Qd6.
White should hold this with accurate play, but he will need to keep playing
good moves.
36 ... fxe6 37 Qd7+?!
Another slight inaccuracy, after which White is teetering on the brink of
defeat. 37 Qd6 was the best after which 37 ... Qxb2 38 Qxc5 is probably a
draw.
 37 ... Kh6 38 Qxb5 Qg1+ 39 Kf3 Qh1+ 40 Ke3 Qxh2 41 Kf3 Qh1+
42 Kf2 h4 43 gxh4 Qxh4+ 44 Kf3 Qh3+ 45 Ke4 Qg2+ 46 Ke3 a4 47
Qxa4 Qxb2 48 Qa8?
48 Kf3 was better, though White is still being squeezed after 48 ... Kh5.
48 ... Qd4+?!
Carlsen in turn commits an inaccuracy, after which White could have
held. 48 ... Qc1+ wins the f4-pawn because White cannot go to e4 or f3 due
to the check on h1, winning White’s queen.
49 Kf3 c4

50 Kg4?
The losing move. White had to play 50 Qf8+ Kh5 51 Qe7, holding a
draw.
50 ... c3
50 ... Kg7 51 Qb7+ Kf6 was perhaps even more precise.
 51 Qf8+ Qg7 52 Qd8 Kh7 53 Qc8 Qf6 54 a4 g5! 55 Qd7+ Kg6 56
fxg5
Also 56 Qe8+ Qf7 ends White’s checks.
56 ... Qf5+ 57 Kh4 c2 58 Qd2 Qe4+ 59 Kg3 Qc4 60 Qd8 Kh5 61
Qh8+ Kxg5 62 Qg7+ Kf5 63 Qf7+ Ke5 64 Qg7+ Kd5 65 Qd7+ Ke4 66
Qb7+ Kd3 67 Qf3+ Kd2 0-1

Game 20
E.L’Ami-S.Karjakin
Wijk aan Zee 2013

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 Nc3 Bb4 5 e3 0-0 6 Bd3 d5 7 0-0 Bb7 8 cxd5

exd5 9 a3 Bd6 10 b4

Question: Is this part of a different plan to putting the knight on e5?

 Answer: Yes, White is opting for play on the c-file and against the pawn
on c7.
10 ... a6 11 Qb3 Qe7 12 b5
An apparently logical follow-up; White wants to exchange Black’s
dark-squared bishop (after 12 ... axb5 13 Nxb5 and Nxd6), and/or make
Black’s c-pawn backward.
12 ... Qd8!?

Question: Why is Black playing that after putting his queen on e7 on

the
previous move? It looks like a loss of two tempi to me.

Answer: Having got White to commit himself with 12 b5, Black would
like to take this pawn, but at the moment White would exchange off his
bishop for his knight. So Black prepares to capture on b5 by first making
room for his bishop on e7.
Karjakin’s move is not only free-thinking and original, it also seems to
improve Black’s chances over 12 ... axb5 13 Nxb5 Nbd7 14 a4, which looks
like some pressure for White.
13 a4 axb5 14 Nxb5 Be7 15 Ba3
15 Ne5 c5 also seems fine for Black.
15 ... c6
It is tempting to eject this knight from b5, but it can also have its uses
there; it impedes White’s queen’s action on the b-file. With this thought in
mind, 15 ... c5 should be considered, and it seems that it may be better than
Karjakin’s move.
16 Bxe7 Qxe7 17 Nc3 Nbd7 18 a5

18 ... c5
 Black is rightly keen to avoid the slow torture position that arises after
18 ... Ba6 19 Bxa6 Rxa6 20 axb6 Rxb6 21 Qa3, where Black has a weak
pawn on c6 and not much else.
19 a6 c4 20 Qb5
This is not bad, but maybe White could do better with 20 Bxh7+!?
Nxh7 21 Qb5 Bc8 (21 ... Rxa6 22 Rxa6 Bxa6 23 Qxa6 will be at least
somewhat better for White because of Black’s pawn weaknesses) 22 Nxd5
Qd6 23 Nb4. White would then have compensation for the piece in the form
of two pawns, which will shortly become three, and a bind.
20 ... Bxa6 21 Rxa6 Rxa6 22 Qxa6 cxd3 23 Nd2
Perhaps 23 Rb1 was an improvement here to prevent Black gaining
counterplay with 23 ... Qb4.
23 ... Qb4 24 Qxd3 Rc8 25 Nb5 Ne4 26 Nxe4 dxe4 27 Qb1 Qxb1 28
Rxb1 Nf6 29 f3
 29 h3 seems more ambitious to me, the idea being to play g2-g4 and
then bring the king up to g3. White would seem to have whatever chances
that are going.
29 ... Rc6 30 Na7 Rc3 31 Rxb6 h5 32 Kf2 Rc2+ 33 Kg3 h4+ 34 Kh3 exf3
35 gxf3 Rf2 36 Rb3 Rxf3+ 37 Kg2 Rf5 38 Nc6 Kh7 39 Ne7 Rg5+ 40 Kf3
h3 41 Rb2 Rg1 42 Nf5 Rf1+ ½-½
Chapter Three
Nimzo-Indian: Sämish Variation, 4
a3
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 a3

The Sämisch Variation, which is one of the most ancient and direct
enemies of the Nimzo. White immediately forces Black to surrender the
bishop-pair and hopes to use the doubled c-pawns to facilitate the formation
of a broad pawn centre. Black meanwhile can try to attack the weak c4-
pawn.
4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 b6
 The repertoire approach, looking to attack the c4-pawn with ... Nc6, ...
Ba6 and ... Na5. This plan could also be initiated with 5 ... Nc6.
6 f3
The most logical move, aiming to build a broad pawn centre with e2-e4.
6 e3 can be met by 6 ... Bb7: for example, 7 f3 Nc6 8 e4 d6 9 Bd3 Na5 10
Ne2 Qd7 11 0-0 Ba6 12 Ng3 Bxc4 13 Bxc4 Nxc4 won a pawn in S.
Gligoric-P.Keres, Zurich Candidates 1953.
6 ... Nc6 7 e4 Ba6

8 Bg5
Again, this is the critical move, pinning the f6-knight and intending e4-
e5. Meanwhile White can damage Black’s pawn structure with Bxf6 should
Black unpin with 8 ... Qc8.
Besides 8 Bg5, White has two other possibilities that are covered in
separate games:
 a) 8 e5 Ng8 9 f4 Na5 10 Qa4 Ne7 11 Nf3 Qc8 gave Black excellent
counterplay in Zilberman-Sakharov (Game 21).
b) 8 Bd3 Na5 9 Qe2 Nb3 10 Rb1 Nxc1 11 Rxc1 Qe7 12 Nh3 d6 saw
Black eliminate one of White’s main trumps, the two bishops, in Boyer-
Bauer (Game 22).
8 ... h6
Preparing to break the pin with ... g7-g5 should White push on with e4-
e5.
9 Bh4 Na5 10 e5
The critical move which forces Black to compromise his kingside pawn
structure. Instead, 10 Qa4 Qc8 11 Bxf6 gxf6 12 Nh3 Qb7 was fine for
Black in Hoffmann-Harikrishna (Game 23).
10 ... g5 11 Bf2 Nh5

12 c5
 This is all known from opening theory, so this would have been
prepared before use by Carlsen and his team.

Question: What about 12 h4, attacking Black’s kingside pawns?

Answer: That is a logical move, but Black has a good answer in 12 ...
f5, after which 13 exf6 Qxf6 14 c5 Bxf1 15 Kxf1 g4 was good for Black in
Simagin-Petrosian (Game 24).
12 ... Bxf1 13 Kxf1 d6 14 exd6 cxd6 15 h4 gxh4 16. Rxh4 Nf6 17 c4
dxc5 18 dxc5 Qxd1+ 19 Rxd1 Nd7

We have been following Game 25, Carlsen-Ding. Chances were about

equal here.

Game 21
N.Zilberman-Y.Sakharov
Ukrainian Championship, Kiev 1966

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 a3

The move that distinguishes the Sämisch Variation, one of the oldest
and sharpest lines at White’s disposal. White immediately takes the bishop-
pair and argues that the doubled c-pawns will help support the goal of
building a centre. On the other hand, the pawn on c4 is very weak.
4 ... Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 b6!
The repertoire line, playing to immediately attack the c4-pawn with ...
Ba6 followed by ... Nc6 and ... Na5.
6 f3 Ba6 7 e4 Nc6 8 e5?!
8 Bg5 h6 will be covered in the last three games of the chapter.
8 ... Ng8

9 f4
 After 9 Nh3 Black can adopt a similar set-up to the main game with 9 ...
Na5 10 Qa4 h6 (the immediate 10 ... Ne7 also seems fine) 11 Nf2 Ne7: for
example, 12 Ne4 0-0 13 Bf4 Nf5 14 Kf2 d5 15 exd6 cxd6 with a nice game
for Black.
9 ... Na5 10 Qa4 Ne7 11 Nf3 Qc8
With White’s queen over on a4 it makes sense to play 11 ... 0-0 here: for
example, 12 Be3 d6 13 Rd1 Qe8 14 Qb4 Qc6 15 Nd2 Rae8 16 Rg1 d5 17
c5 Bxf1 18 Rxf1 Nc4 19 Nxc4 dxc4 20 Rf3 b5 gave Black a good game in
I.Argandona Riveiro-N.Ninov, San Sebastian 2008.
12 Be3
Or 12 Bd3 Qb7 13 0-0 Qc6 14 Qxc6 Nexc6 15 Nd2 d5, with a fully
equal game.
12 ... Qb7 13 Nd2

Question: Why did White defend the c4-pawn again?

 Answer: Black was threatening ... Nxc4 followed by ... b6-b5: for
example, 13 Kf2 Nxc4 14 Bxc4 b5 15 Bxb5 Bxb5 16 Qb3 Qc6 is nice for
Black.
13 ... f6
13 ... Nxc4 was still quite possible: for example, 14 Nxc4 b5 15 Qb3
(15 Qc2 was probably best, but still attractive for Black after 15 ... bxc4 16
Rb1 Qc6) 15 ... bxc4 16 Qxb7 Bxb7 17 Bxc4 Bxg2 18 Rg1 Be4 19 Rxg7
Bg6 followed by ... Nf5 traps the rook.
14 Be2
14 Nf3 is met by 14 ... Nxc4: for instance, 15 Bxc4 b5 16 Qc2 bxc4 17
Rb1 Qd5, dominating the light squares.
14 ... Nxc4?!
This has been a major theme for Black, though in this particular position
it may not be the best because White can control the h1-a8 diagonal. 14 ...
Qxg2 15 Rg1 Qh3 looks much stronger.
15 Nxc4 b5 16 Qd1
An even better line is 16 Qc2: for example, 16 ... bxc4 17 exf6 gxf6 18
Rb1 Qxg2?? (18 ... Qc6 is best, but then White still has an attractive
position after 19 Bh5+ Kf8 20 Bf3) 19 Bh5+ Ng6 20 Qxg2 wins the queen.
16 ... bxc4 17 exf6 gxf6 18 Bh5+ Kd8
 19 Bf3 d5
There is a case for playing 19 ... c6 here to keep the d5-square for the
knight.
20 f5?!
It looks as if White started overestimating his position hereabouts and
this continues to the end of the game. 20 Rb1 would have been a sensible
move, when it looks quite nice for White.
20 ... Nxf5 21 Bf2?!
Surely 21 Bf4 must be the logical follow-up after throwing the f-pawn
on to the bonfire?
 21 ... Qc6

Question: Is there a reason Black did not go after the c-pawn with 21 ...
Qb2?

Answer: That would be fraught with risk after 22 0-0 Qxc3 23 Bg4
because the position is opening up and there is no obvious place for Black’s
king.
22 0-0 Rb8 23 Bg4 Rb3 24 Qf3
Still rating his chances very optimistically. 24 Bxf5 seems sensible to
me followed by attempting to exchange major pieces and blockade on the
dark squares. Letting the knight live for too long will see it land on e4.
24 ... Bc8 25 Bh3 Rf8 26 g4?
Turning a bad position into a lost one. White should have tried 26 Rae1
when he keeps practical chances, and some of us would have wanted to
eliminate the knight with 26 Bxf5.
26 ... Nd6

27 g5
This move doesn’t help either. White should play 27 Bg2, when it is
more difficult for Black to establish a knight on e4.
27 ... f5 28 Bh4 Qe8 29 Kh1 Kd7 30 Bg4 Ne4
White is busted, largely thanks to the dominant position of this knight.
The rest only takes a few moves.
31 Bh5 Qe7 32 Qg2 h6 33 Bd1 hxg5 34 Bxb3 cxb3 35 Bg3 f4 36 Be1
Ba6 0-1
White faces a ruinous loss of material after 37 Rf3 (or 37 Rg1 f3, etc)
37 ... g4 38 Qxg4 Be2.

Game 22
M.Boyer-C.Bauer
Cappelle-la-Grande Open 2019

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 Nc6 6 f3 b6 7 e4 Ba6 8

Bd3

Question: What does White want to achieve with that move?

Answer: Rather than launch into speculative gambit play, White sets
about reinforcing the c4-pawn. The downslide of this idea is that it returns
the two bishops.
8 ... Na5 9 Qe2 Nb3 10 Rb1 Nxc1 11 Rxc1 Qe7
Black can also play 11 ... Nh5 12 g3 and only then 12 ... Qe7. A.La
Manna-A.Kogan, Otranto 2011, continued with 13 Nh3 Qxa3 14 0-0 Qe7
15 f4 g6 16 e5 Bb7 when White had only nebulous compensation for the
pawn.
 12 Nh3

Question: Would it have been a good idea for White to play 12 e5?

Answer: It would certainly come into consideration: for example, 12 ...

Nh5 13 Nh3 f5 14 0-0 threatens g2-g4 to trap the knight. However, Black
can handle this OK with 14 ... Qh4, ruling out g2-g4 for the time being.
12 ... d6
12 ... e5 looks very reasonable here.
13 0-0
And here there is a case for 13 Nf4 to discourage ... e6-e5 because the
knight would land on d5.
13 ... e5 14 f4 0-0 15 Ng5 Rae8 16 fxe5 dxe5
 17 Nf3?!
‘Sacrificing’ the e4-pawn for no particularly good reason. 17 Rce1
makes sense here when the game remains balanced. Black cannot take on
a3 right away, as after 17 ... Qxa3 18 Rxf6! (even stronger than 18 Ra1
Qxc3) 18 ... gxf6 19 Qg4 fxg5 20 Qxg5+ Kh8 21 Qf6+ Kg8 22 Re3 he will
need to sacrifice his queen for that rook to continue the game.
17 ... exd4 18 cxd4 Nxe4
It is as simple as that: Black goes a good pawn up. White fights to the
end, but the pawn remains a pawn all the way through.
19 Ne5 Ng5 20 h4?!
20 Qf2 would have damaged White’s position less.
20 ... Qd6 21 Qg4 Bc8 22 Bf5 h5 23 Qf4 Ne6
23 ... Bxf5 was probably even stronger: for example, 24 hxg5 f6 25 gxf6
Rxf6 leaves White with very little hope.
24 Bxe6 Rxe6 25 c5 bxc5 26 Rxc5 Rf6 27 Qe4?
 Probably missing Black’s reply. 27 Qe3 would have been better.
27 ... Bb7! 28 Qe3
28 Qxb7 loses immediately to 28 ... Qxd4+.
28 ... Rxf1+ 29 Kxf1 Re8 30 Qc3 Re7 31 Kg1 Bd5 32 Qb4 Re8 33
Qb5?!
Making things easier for Bauer. 33 Rb5 was relatively best.
33 ... c6!
Securing the position of the bishop on d5. White cannot take this pawn
because d4 would hang.
34 Qb4 f6 35 Nd3 Qg3 36 Qd2 Qxh4 37 Qf2 Re4 38 Ra5 Qg4 39
Nc5?!
Losing immediately, though the position was hopeless for White in any
case.
39 ... Re1+! 40 Kh2 Re2 0-1

Game 23
M.Hoffmann-P.Harikrishna
Gibraltar Masters 2011

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 f3

This game transposes into our system against the Sämisch, reaching it
after Black’s sixth move. The repertoire line is 4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 b6 6 f3
Nc6, while the repertoire choice after 4 f3 is 4 ... c5.
4 ... Nc6 5 a3
Transposing back into a Sämisch.
5 ... Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 b6 7 e4 Ba6 8 Bg5
 8 ... h6 9 Bh4
White needs to keep this pin if he is to trouble Black at all. 9 Be3 would
be met by 9 ... Na5, attacking the c4-pawn.
9 ... Na5 10 Qa4
10 e5 is the critical line and will be examined in the next two games.
10 ... Qc8 11 Bxf6
Taking the opportunity to inflict some damage on Black’s kingside,
though without Black’s king being committed this does not mean very
much. After the preliminary 11 Nh3 Black can avoid this capture with 11 ...
Nh7: for example, 12 Bd3 0-0 13 e5 Re8 (13 ... f5 14 exf6 Nxf6 is also
possible here) 14 0-0 Nf8 15 Nf4 d5 16 cxd5 Bxd3 17 Nxd3 exd5 18 f4
Ng6 19 Bg3 Qf5 20 Nb4 c6 21 Rae1 h5 gave Black good play in E.Geller-
V.Smyslov, Moscow 1949.
Another move to have been tried is 11 e5, but then 11 ... Nh7 12 Bd3 0-
0 13 g4 (13 Ne2 can be met by the typical prophylactic move, 13 ... f5) 13
... d5 14 Qc2 f5 15 gxf5 dxc4 16 Be4 exf5 17 Bxa8 Qxa8 gave Black good
compensation for the sacrificed exchange in G.Baches Garcia -J.Gonzalez
Garcia, Havana 2003.
11 ... gxf6 12 Nh3?!

White should take the opportunity to play 12 c5, after which 12 ... Bxf1
13 Kxf1 Qa6+ 14 Kf2 Qc4 15 Qxc4 Nxc4 16 Ne2 would bring about a
tenable endgame.
12 ... Qb7
Black had a strong move in 12 ... c5! when 13 d5 can be met by 13 ...
Qc7 with ideas of ... Qe5 and/or castling long.
13 Qb4
As on the previous move White should play 13 c5: for example, 13 ...
Bxf1 14 Rxf1 Qc6 15 Qb4 Nb7 16 Rb1 is not bad for White. Another
decent option was 13 Nf2, after which 13 ... Qc6 was about equal in
V.McCambridge-G.Sosonko, New York 1984.
13 ... Rg8
Putting the rook on the half open g-file and inhibiting the development
of the bishop on f1. White now takes radical steps to bring this bishop out
by protecting g2 with his king.
14 Kf2 c5!
A powerful move by Black, taking aim at the weak c4-pawn and
beginning the process of opening the position to get at White’s exposed
king.
15 dxc5

Question: Did White have to make his pawns so weak?

 Answer: There was no really good alternative as 15 Qa4 then 15 ... Qc6
16 Qxc6 Nxc6 makes it impossible for White to defend his c4-pawn.
15 ... Rc8!?
Dynamic play, but perhaps unnecessary. 15 ... Nc6 was a strong move
here when 16 Qa4 Ne5 17 Rb1 Qc8 18 Qb4 Qxc5+ 19 Qxc5 bxc5 will see
Black win the c4-pawn for inadequate compensation.
16 cxb6 Nxc4
And not 16 ... Qxb6+? because of 17 c5 when 17 ... Rxc5 18 Qxb6 axb6
19 Bxa6 wins a piece.
17 Nf4 Rc6 18 Bxc4 Rxc4 19 Qb2 axb6 20 Qd2?!
Faltering in a difficult position. The engine informs me that White can
do better with 20 Rab1 b5 21 g3, though Black still has a strong initiative
after 21 ... d5! 22 exd5?! Qa7+.
20 ... Qc7
It seems that 20 ... Qc6 was a stronger move: for example, 21 g3 (or 21
Rac1 f5 22 exf5 Qc5+, etc) 21 ... f5 22 exf5 Rxc3 threatens both the f3-
pawn and 23 ... Rc2.
21 g4?
Allowing Black to prise open the g-file to great effect. White should
play 21 g3 Rxc3 22 Rac1 when he is hanging on.
21 ... f5 22 Nh5 Ke7
 23 gxf5?
Losing on the spot. 23 Rad1 would have been better for Black, but not
immediately losing.
23 ... Qc5+ 0-1
After 24 Qe3 Rg2+ White loses his queen.

Game 24
V.Simagin-T.Petrosian
Moscow Championship 1950

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 Nc6 6 f3 b6 7 e4 Ba6 8

Bg5 Na5
8 ... h6 9 Bh4 Na5 is another move order that would cut out the poor 11
exf6.
9 e5 h6 10 Bh4 g5 11 Bf2
 As mentioned in the note to Black’s eighth, 11 exf6? is bad because of
11 ... gxh4 12 Nh3 Qxf6.
11 ... Nh5 12 h4
The natural move, immediately trying to exploit Black’s weakened
kingside. For 12 c5!? see the next game, Carlsen-Ding.

12 ... f5

Question: Why can Black not just capture the c4-pawn?

Answer: He can, but he needs to be careful how he does it. 12 ... Nxc4?
is downright bad because of 13 Qa4! but 12 ... Bxc4 is playable for Black.
Petrosian’s choice in the game looks better still.
13 exf6?
A tempting, but poor move; two superior alternatives have been tried:
 a) White’s most popular choice has been 13 hxg5: for example, 13 ...
Qxg5 14 Nh3 Qg6 15 g4 (15 Qa4 can be met by 15 ... 0-0-0) 15 ... fxg4 16
Bd3 Qf7 17 fxg4 Nf4 18 Nxf4 Qxf4 19 Bg6+ Kd8 20 Qe2 Kc8 was about
equal at this point in E.Agrest-A.Sokolov, St. Petersburg 1993.
b) 13 g3 also seems reasonable for White: for instance, 13 ... f4
(connecting the rooks with 13 ... Ke7!? is interesting here) 14 hxg5 Qxg5
15 Nh3 Qg8 16 gxf4 0-0-0 produced a double-edged game in F.Berkes-
Z.Almasi, Kazincbarcika 2005.
13 ... Qxf6

14 c5?!
Making a poor position much worse. White should have chosen
between 14 g3 and 14 Qa4, though neither of them look very pleasant when
Black castles long.
14 ... Bxf1 15 Kxf1 g4!
 White cannot take this pawn because 16 ... Ng3+ would win the rook on
h1. Meanwhile it proves to be a bone in his throat.
16 Qd3 0-0 17 Re1?!
Things are going from bad to worse. 17 Qe4 would have been relatively
best, though it is still good for Black after 17 ... Qg7 18 Ne2 Nf6 19 Qd3
bxc5.
17 ... Nf4 18 Qc2 Nc4 19 g3?
After Black’s reply, White’s position becomes hopeless. The best
chance was probably 19 fxg4 when 19 ... Nd3! 20 Nf3 Nxe1 wins the
exchange, but at least White has his knight out.
19 ... Qf5!

A neat surprise that Simagin might have overlooked. White cannot take
the queen because of mate on d2.
20 Rc1 Qd3+
 20 ... Nd3 was also very strong, but Petrosian characteristically chooses
the safety of an endgame.
21 Qxd3 Nxd3 22 Rd1 Ndb2 23 Ra1 gxf3 24 Nh3 bxc5 25 Kg1 Nd3
26 Kh2 Rab8 27 Ra2 Rb3 28 dxc5 e5 29 g4
A desperate attempt at counterattack in a lost position.
29 ... e4 30 g5 e3 31 gxh6 exf2 32 Nxf2 Nxf2 33 Rxf2 Kh7
With the smoke having cleared, White could have spared himself the
rest, but we do not know what the clock situation was.
34 Rd1 Rf7 35 c6 d6 36 Rd3 Rb2 37 Kg3 Rxf2 38 Kxf2 Ne5 39 Rd4
Nxc6?! 40 Ra4?! Kxh6 0-1

Game 25
M.Carlsen-Ding Liren
Lindores Abbey (rapid) 2019

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 b6 6 f3 Nc6 7 e4 Ba6 8

Bg5 h6 9 Bh4 Na5 10 e5 g5 11 Bf2 Nh5 12 c5!?
 Question: Was this a prepared theoretical novelty?

Answer: Although this is not new, it is a noteworthy choice from

Carlsen. With the backing of a powerful team of top players and super-
computers we can assume it was not a frivolous decision.
12 h4 was played in the previous game, Simagin-Petrosian.
12 ... Bxf1 13 Kxf1 d6
It makes perfect sense to open the position before White completes his
development, the one caveat being that Black will also need to find safety
for his king. This is not Black’s only move and in the game S.Volkov-
M.Brodsky, Dubai 2003, he played 13 ... f5 instead and after 14 Ne2 Qe7
15 g3 bxc5 16 Kg2 Nc6 17 Qd3 0-0 Black was certainly not worse.
14 exd6 cxd6 15 h4 gxh4?!
 A serious error which presents White with a large advantage. Returning
to the issue of king safety, it seems that Black could and should have played
15 ... Ke7!. protecting the h8-rook with the queen so that Black no longer
needs to fear the pin on his knight on h5.
16 Rxh4 Nf6

17 c4
17 Qa4+ was an attractive alternative, but it seems that Black can
defend with 17 ... Qd7 18 Qxd7+ Nxd7 (not 18 ... Kxd7?! 19 Rf4 Ke7?? 20
Bh4, winning on the spot) 19 cxd6 Nc4 20 Bg3 Ne3+ 21 Kf2 Nf5 followed
by ... Nxg3 and ... Rc8.
17 ... dxc5 18 dxc5 Qxd1+ 19 Rxd1 Nd7 20 cxb6 axb6 21 Ne2 Rc8 22
Nc3 Rxc4?!
22 ... Nxc4 23 Nb5 Ke7 looks safer and again there could be an
immediate draw via 24 Na7 Rc7 25 Nb5 Rcc8 26 Na7, etc.
 23 Ne4 Rc7 24 Nd6+ Kf8 25 Bg3 e5 26 Nf5
Bringing the knight to the best square and attacking the pawn on h6, but
this is not necessarily White’s strongest move. The engine prefers 26 f4 and
claims an edge for White, though this seems to peter out to equality after 26
... f6 27 Nb5 Rb7 28 fxe5 Nxe5 29 Rd8+ Kg7 30 Rxh8 Kxh8.
26 ... f6 27 Be1

27 ... Nb7
Black can also play 27 ... Kf7 when an immediate draw might happen
after 28 Rg4 Ke6 29 Ng7+ Kf7 30 Nf5 Ke6, etc. Carlsen keeps pressing,
but proves unable to extract blood from a stone.
28 Rg4 Rh7 29 Ra4 Nbc5 30 Ra8+ Kf7 31 Bb4 h5 32 Rd8 Ke6 33 Nd6
Rc6 34 Nc8 Kf5 35 Re8 Kg6 36 Kg1 Kf7 37 Rd8 Kg6 38 Kh2 Rg7 39
Re8 Kh7 40 Nd6 Rg8 41 Re7+ Rg7 42 Re8 Rg8 43 Re7+ Rg7 44 Re8 ½-
½
Chapter Four
Nimzo-Indian: Kmoch Variation, 4
f3
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 f3

This is the so-called Kmoch Variation and has been fashionable in

recent years. Having been pioneered by Hans Kmoch, it later found favour
with Florin Gheorghiu and then Alexei Shirov before starting to become
more mainstream. In recent years, Vishy Anand has been one of its main
practitioners.
4 ... c5
 The main alternative is 4 ... d5, but the text leads to White getting
doubled pawns and is a more typical Nimzo strategy.
5 d5
White can also try 5 a3 when 5 ... Bxc3+ would lead to a different line
of the Sämisch Variation to the one covered in the previous chapter. For this
reason, the repertoire move is 5 ... cxd4, after which 6 axb4 dxc3 7 bxc3 d5
8 e3 0-0 9 Nh3 Qc7 10 Qb3 e5 11 Nf2 Be6 12 c5 Nbd7 13 Bd2 e4 was
good for Black in Sirletti-Narciso Dublan (Game 26).
5 ... d6
Staying flexible for now because White would be ill-advised to prevent
the doubling of his c-pawns.
6 e4 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 e5
Putting his pawns on the opposite colour to his remaining bishop. There
is a case for trying to delay this move so as to keep access to e5 for the
knight on b8, but it does not look as if Black gains much by doing so.
8 Bd3 Nbd7 9 Ne2 Nf8
 Question: Does Black not plan to castle?

Answer: He might well do so, but committing his king to the kingside
will be fraught with danger because of a potential white pawn-storm on that
flank. Instead of this, he first improves his knight, making use of the f8-
square before it is occupied by a rook should he castle kingside. More likely
still is that Black will castle queenside or bring his king to c7 by hand.
10 h4 h6
Several Black players have also chosen to stop White’s kingside pawn
advance in its tracks with 10 ... h5: for example, M.Pomes-L.Psakhis,
Andorra 1994, went 11 Qb3 Kd7 12 a4 a5 13 Rb1 Ra6 14 Bg5 Kc7 15 Kd2
N8h7 16 Be3 Kb8 17 Qa3 Qc7 18 Ng3 g6 19 Rhg1 Nd7 20 f4 exf4 21 Bxf4
Nhf6 22 Rgf1 Ng4 23 Bg5 f6 24 Bf4 Nde5 25 Bxe5 fxe5 26 Be2 Nh6 27
Rf2 Qe7 28 Rh1 Rf8 29 Ke1 Rxf2 30 Kxf2 Ng4+ 31 Bxg4 Bxg4 32 Qc1
Qf6+ 33 Ke1 Rb6 34 Ne2 Bd7 35 Qh6 Rb1+ 36 Nc1 Rb2 37 Qe3 Rxg2 0-1.
I certainly understand the motivation behind 10 ... h5, but on balance I
would prefer to keep the kingside pawns on dark squares.
11 g4 Qa5 12 Qb3 Kd8 13 Ng3 Kc7

14 Rb1 Rb8 15 Rb2 Bd7 16 Rhh2 Ng6 17 h5 Ne7

We are following Ovod-Csom (Game 27), in which the players were
locked into a complex positional battle.

Game 26
S.Sirletti-M.Narciso Dublan
Las Palmas Open 2005

1 d4 e6 2 c4 Nf6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 f3 c5 5 a3 cxd4

The repertoire choice. 5 ... Bxc3+ is quite playable, but would transpose
into a different antidote to the Sämisch (4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 c5), than the
one presented (4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 b6 when ... c5 is delayed or omitted
altogether).
6 axb4 dxc3 7 bxc3 d5

8 e3
In F.Gheorghiu-R.Sanguineti, Mar del Plata 1965, White preferred 8
cxd5 exd5 9 Bf4, after which 9 ... Be6 10 e3 0-0 11 Bd3 Nh5 12 Bxb8 Rxb8
13 Ne2 Re8 14 Qd2 Bd7 15 Kf2 a6 16 Ra5 Re5 17 g3 Nf6 18 Re1 Qe7 19
Nd4 Re8 produced a state of dynamic equilibrium.
8 ... 0-0 9 Nh3
9 cxd5 was possible here too, and perhaps also advisable.
9 ... Qc7 10 Qb3 e5!
 Putting White in difficulties; her king is uncastled and the position is
opening up.
11 Nf2
Black can answer 11 cxd5 with 11 ... Bxh3 12 gxh3 Nxd5; White cannot
capture the knight because of the fork on c3.
11 ... Be6 12 c5 Nbd7 13 Bd2
White is understandably trying to complete her development, but it is no
longer easy. Escaping the gaze of the bishop on e6 with 13 Qa4 would run
into difficulties after 13 ... a5 14 Be2 Rfc8 15 0-0 b6, taking a can opener to
White’s queenside.
13 ... e4!
Threatening 14 ... d4!.
14 fxe4 dxe4 15 Bc4
Black would meet 15 Qc2 with 15 ... a5!, opening up the queenside.
15 ... Bxc4 16 Qxc4 Ne5 17 Qe2 b6 18 Ra6!?
 Question: What is White’s idea with this?

Answer: It is the start of a highly creative counterattacking idea, though

there was a case for implementing it a move later via 18 0-0 bxc5 19 Ra6!?.
18 ... bxc5
Had Black realized how dangerous White’s idea is, he might have tried
18 ... Nd3+ 19 Nxd3 exd3 20 Qxd3 Rad8 21 Qe2 Ne4, with a strong
initiative. This in turn makes a case for White first playing 18 0-0 and only
after 18 ... bxc5 sacrificing the exchange with 19 Ra6 cxb4 20 Rxf6.
19 Rxf6 gxf6 20 Nxe4 Qc6 21 Nxc5 a5 22 0-0 axb4 23 cxb4 Ra2 24
Rf4 Rd8 25 Rd4 Rd5 26 Ne4
 26 ... Kg7
A slip which gives White a chance to get back into the game. The right
way to win this was with 26 ... Rxd4! 27 exd4 f5!, after which 28 Ng3 Ra1+
29 Nf1 Nc4 leaves White quite lost.
27 Qf2?
Losing on the spot. White could and should have made room for the
king on h2 with 27 h3 when it is still a game.
27 ... Ra1+ 28 Be1 Rxd4 29 Qg3+ Ng6 0-1
The knight on e4 is hanging.

Game 27
E.Ovod-I.Csom
Budapest 2002

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 f3 c5 5 d5 d6

 The choice between this and 5 ... Bxc3+ is a matter of personal
preference. After 6 bxc3 d6 7 e4 e5 we get the same position as in the
game, but without allowing White the option of the inferior 6 Bd2.
6 e4

Question: Can White prevent the doubling of his pawns with 6 Bd2?

Answer: He can, but this loses time for development. Black gets a good
game after 6 ... 0-0 7 e4 exd5 8 cxd5 Nh5 9 Nge2 (or 9 Qe2 f5 10 0-0-0
Re8) 9 ... f5 10 Qc2 Bxc3 11 Nxc3 Qh4+ 12 Kd1 Na6 when White’s king
position is a cause for concern.
6 ... Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 e5

As Csom’s queen later goes to a5 it is worth trying to delay this advance

with 7 ... Qa5 and keep the centre pawns flexible: for example, 8 Ne2 (8
Bd2 allows Black to stay flexible with 8 ... Nbd7) 8 ... 0-0 9 dxe6 Bxe6 10
Qxd6 Bxc4.
7 ... 0-0 would also keep Black’s pawn structure flexible, but has the
drawback that it commits Black’s king to the kingside. Most of the time in
this structure he will want to go to the other flank because White’s doubled
pawns stop him levering open the position with b2-b4.
8 Bd3 Nbd7 9 Ne2 Nf8
Regrouping; Black does not want to castle here anyway, and certainly
not on the kingside.
10 h4
10 g4 h6 11 h4 would just transpose back into the game.
10 ... h6
A number of strong players have chosen to stop White’s kingside pawn
expansion with 10 ... h5, as we saw Psakhis doing at the start of the chapter,
but this has the drawback that it leaves the dark squares less well covered.
11 g4
The logical follow-up. White’s gain of space on the kingside makes it
very difficult for Black to act there, not least because the ... f7-f5 pawn
lever is being inhibited. It is also not easy for White to do much; if he
advances any further he may leave weak squares behind.
11 ... Qa5
Csom’s treatment in this game is worthy of note, but it is not the only
way to play it as Black. In G.Lagumina-A.Madan, Campobasso 2006, Black
preferred 11 ... Ng6 when there followed 12 h5 Nf8 13 Kf2 N8h7 14 Ng3
Ng5 15 Be3 Nfh7 16 Kg2 Bd7 17 Rb1 Qc7 18 Bc2 0-0 19 Qd2 Rfb8 20
Rb2 a6 21 Bd3 b6. Black had successfully closed the kingside, started play
on the other flank and only lost because of a blunder.
12 Qb3 Kd8!
 Question: What on earth is Black doing? Doesn’t he know he cannot
castle now?

Answer: I am sure Grandmaster Csom was aware of the castling rule.

He is bringing his king to c7 to protect the b7-pawn and then develop the
bishop on c8. Meanwhile his king is safe because White is unable to open
the position.
13 Ng3 Kc7 14 Rb1 Rb8 15 Rb2 Bd7 16 Rhh2 Ng6 17 h5 Ne7 18
g5?!
White is eager to make progress on the kingside, but this creates
weaknesses. Further preparatory moves would have been advisable.
18 ... hxg5 19 Bxg5 Neg8 20 Qc2 Nh6 21 Qc1 b6 22 Bxf6?!
This and White’s next move look like a very serious misjudgement of
the position, or perhaps a loss of patience. 22 Kd2 would have been a better
idea.
22 ... gxf6

23 Nf5?
In the space of two moves White obtains a bad bishop against good
knight scenario and gets tortured for the rest of the game. 23 Rbg2 would
have been better here.
23 ... Bxf5 24 exf5 Qa3 25 Rhg2 Rbg8 26 Kd1 Rg5 27 Rxg5 fxg5 28
Kc2
Going for counterplay with 28 Qxg5 Qxb2 29 Qe7+ falls short after 29
... Kc8 30 Qxa7 Rg8, etc.
28 ... f6 29 Kb1 Ng8 30 Rh2 Qxc1+
The engine is keen to keep queens on, but Csom now knows that he can
play for many hours with just two possible results. He will either win or
draw.
31 Kxc1 Kd7 32 Kd2 Nh6 33 Ke2 Ke7 34 Rg2 Rg8
 Black’s first goal is to play ... g5-g4.
35 Ke3 g4 36 fxg4
36 f4 might have been a better chance, though White should be
concerned about Black’s knight coming to e5.
36 ... Rxg4 37 Rxg4 Nxg4+ 38 Kf3 Nh6 39 Kg3 Kf7 40 Be4 Kg7 41
Kh4 Nf7 42 Kg4 Nh6+ 43 Kh4 Kh7 44 Kg3 Nf7 45 Kg4 Kh6 46 Bd3
Kg7

Question: It looks like Black isn’t making any progress here. Should he
not
just agree to a draw?

Answer: Csom is following one of the golden rules of endgames, which

is not to hurry. By tacking around he clarifies the position in his mind, gains
time on the clock and wears down White’s psychological resistance.
 47 Be4 Kf8 48 Bd3 Ke7 49 Be4 Kd7 50 Bd3 Nh6+ 51 Kh4 Kc7 52
Kg3 Kb7 53 Kf3 Ka6 54 a4 Ka5 55 Bc2 a6
Preparing ... b6-b5 so as to break through on the queenside with his
king.
56 Ke4 b5 57 axb5 axb5 58 cxb5 Kxb5 59 Bd3+ Ka4 60 Bc2+ Ka3 61
Kd3?
The engine suggests that White can hold with 61 Ke3 Kb2 62 Kd2 Ng4
63 Bd3 Kb3 64 Be2 Nh6 65 Bd3. This may be true, but having been
exhausted by the preamble, White goes for counterplay at the cost of a
pawn.
61 ... Nxf5 62 Kc4 Nh6 63 Kb5 Kb2 64 Bg6 f5
Decisive. The e-pawn wins the race against White’s d-pawn.
65 Kc6 e4 66 Kxd6 e3 67 Kxc5 e2 68 c4 e1Q 69 Kd6 Kc3 70 c5 Kd4 0-1
Chapter Five
Nimzo-Indian: Leningrad
Variation, 4 Bg5
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Bg5

The Leningrad Variation, which found favour with several top

grandmasters over the years, notably Boris Spassky, Lajos Portisch, Jan
Timman and Evgeny Bareev. Known as a sharp and rather risky line, it
needs to be handled accurately by Black. Had Black played 3 ... d5 then 4
Bg5 would have been one of White’s main options, whereas against 3 ...
Bb4 it is a sideline.
 4 ... c5
Our preferred repertoire move order. Sometimes 4 ... h6 5 Bh4 c5 is
considered interchangeable, but instead of 6 d5 White then has 6 e3 as a
very real possibility, which is aided by the presence of the moves 4 ... h6
and 5 Bh4.
5 d5
This is White’s consistent follow-up, but a couple of alternatives need to
be considered:
a) 5 e3 is not good because of 5 ... Qa5 6 Ne2 Ne4, which would be
ineffective if the moves 4 ... h6 and 5 Bh4 had been included. Now White’s
best would be 7 Qd3, after which 7 ... cxd4 8 exd4 Nxf2 9 Kxf2 Qxg5
leaves Black a good pawn up.
b) 5 Rc1 cxd4 6 Qxd4 Nc6 7 Bxf6 Qxf6 8 Qxf6 gxf6 gave Black a very
comfortable endgame in N.Grotnes-L.Ogaard, Norwegian Championship,
Namsos 1995.
c) 5 Nf3 Bg5 cxd4 6 Nxd4 h6 7 Bh4 Qa5 8 Qc2 Nc6 9 e3 Ne4 10 Rc1
Nxc3 11 bxc3 Be7 left White with doubled c-pawns and not much to show
for them in R.Stern-E.Alekseev, Santa Domingo 2003.
5 ... h6
 6 Bh4

Question: Can White prevent the doubling of his c-pawns with 6 Bd2?

Answer: He can try that, but it makes Black’s life easy because there is
no longer a pin on the knight on f6. V.Hort-A.Adorjan, Oslo 1984,
continued 6 Bd2 0-0 7 e3 Bxc3 8 Bxc3 exd5 9 cxd5 d6 10 Ne2 Nbd7 11
Nf4 Ne4 12 Be2 b5 13 0-0 Nxc3 14 bxc3 Rb8 with excellent counterplay.
6 ... Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 d6 8 e3
White gets nowhere with 8 dxe6: for example, 8 ... Bxe6 9 e3 g5 10 Bg3
Ne4 11 Qc2 Nxg3 12 hxg3 Nc6 13 Rb1 Qe7 14 Nf3 0-0-0 was very
comfortable for Black in V.Brond-F.Trois, Mar del Plata 1976.
Another possibility for White is 8 f3, which intends 8 ... e5 9 e4, rather
than placing the pawn on e3. Black might then proceed with 9 ... Nbd7 10
Bd3 Nf8 11 Ne2 g5 12 Bf2 Ng6 13 g3 Bh3 14 Rg1 Nh5, which was very
comfortable for him in D.Rajkovic-A.Crisan, Kladovo 2001.
8 ... e5

Blocking the centre, which will inhibit the action of White’s bishop-
pair.

Question: Why does it do that?

Answer: Because bishops are known to prefer open positions in which

their range of action will be greater.
9 f3
This is probably the critical line, but certainly not the only one.
Alternatives are:
a) 9 Bd3 can be met by 9 ... e4 10 Bc2 Nbd7: for example, 11 f4 Nb6 12
Bb3 Rg8 13 Ne2 g5 14 fxg5 hxg5 15 Bg3 Qe7 16 a4 a5 17 Rb1 Nbd7 18 0-
0 Ng4 19 Qd2 Nh6 20 Be1 f5 was nice for Black in J.Graf-Spassky (Game
28).
b) 9 Qc2 Qe7 10 Nf3 Nbd7 11 Nd2 Kd8 12 Bd3 Kc7 13 0-0 g5 14 Bg3
h5 15 f3
h4 16 Bf2 g4 17 fxg4 Nxg4 18 h3 Nxf2 19 Rxf2 e4 20 Bxe4 Rg8
supplied attacking chances and promising compensation in G.Gaertner-
N.Stanec, Klagenfurt 1996.
c) 9 f4 exf4 10 exf4 Qe7+ 11 Qe2 Qxe2+ 12 Nxe2 Ne4 13 Ng3 Nxg3 14
Bxg3
Bf5 15 Kd2 Kd7 16 Bd3 Bxd3 17 Kxd3 Re8 was very comfortable for
Black in A.Cherepkov-M.Taimanov, USSR Championship Semi-Final,
Leningrad 1969.
9 ... Bf5
 Question: What is the idea behind this move, especially when White
can win
a tempo with 10 e4?

Answer: That is true, but in doing so he locks in his light-squared

bishop which was ready to move to an active square on d3. Meanwhile the
loss of time is not particularly important in such a closed position.
10 Qb3
Trying to exploit the downside to Black’s last move by attacking b7.
Instead, 10 e4 Bc8 intends to play ... Nbd7, ... Nf8, ... g7-g5 and ... Nf8-g6:
for example, 11 Bd3 Nbd7 12 Qa4 Ke7(!) 13 Ne2 g5 14 Bf2 Nf8 15 h4 Ng6
16 hxg5 hxg5 17 0-0-0 Bd7 18 Qa3 b6 19 g3 Qc7 20 Be3 g4 21 f4 Rag8
gave rise to a complex struggle in Sasikiran-A.Graf (Game 29).
10 ... b6 11 g4 Bc8 12 h3 Nbd7 13 a4 Qe7
 14 Rh2 a5 15 Ne2 Kd8 16 Ng3 Kc7 17 Nf5 Qf8 18 Qb5 Bb7 19 Rb1
Ra6 20 Bd3 g6
We are following Bohm-Panno (Game 30). Black has effectively
neutralized his opponent’s set-up and soon went on to launch his own active
play.

Game 28
J.Graf-B.Spassky
German Bundesliga 1989

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Bg5

The Leningrad Variation was brought into prominence by the young
Boris Spassky as ... White. Part of the reason for showing him on the other
side is that we can expect him to understand what he is doing.
4 ... h6
The repertoire move order is 4 ... c5, though most players hit the bishop
first.

Question: Why is that?

Answer: I prefer 4 ... c5 because 5 e3 (5 d5 h6 6 Bh4 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 d6

transposes back into the game) is just bad because of 5 ... Qa5 6 Nge2 Ne4.
5 Bh4 c5 6 d5
Unlike going 5 e3 after 4 ... c5 (see the last note), White can consider
playing 6 e3 here.
6 ... Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 d6 8 e3 e5
Putting the pawns on dark squares, much as Black did against the
Kmoch Variation with 4 f3.
9 Bd3
9 f3 is White’s most important move and features in the next two
games.
9 ... e4 10 Bc2
 Question: Can White not take that e4-pawn because of the pin on the
knight?

Answer: No because 10 Bxe4? would lose a piece to 10 ... g5. and 10

Bxf6 Qxf6 11 Bxe4 is met by 11 ... Qxc3+.
10 ... Nbd7
10 ... g5 11 Bg3 Qe7 is another popular option for Black, but I prefer
not giving White any kingside targets.
11 f4 Nb6
11 ... Qe7 12 Nh3 Nb6 is also possible, as in I.Danilov-I.Farago, St Veit
2006.
12 Bb3
In V.Ivanchuk-V.Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 2001, White varied at this point
with 12 Qe2, after which 12 ... Bg4 13 Qf1 g5 14 fxg5 Nh5 15 a4 hxg5 16
Bf2 Nf6 17 Bg3 Qe7 gave Black a promising game, once again because of
his better pawn structure.
12 ... Rg8!

I really like this simple and solid move which aims to play ... g5 next.
The immediate 12 ... g5 was possible, but after 13 fxg5 Ng4 14 Nh3 the
position is somewhat messy.
13 Ne2 g5 14 fxg5?!
The start of White’s problems because the pawn structure now clearly
favours Black. 14 Bg3 would have been a much better idea, with a very
reasonable game for White.
14 ... hxg5 15 Bg3 Qe7
Once again proceeding in simple and solid style. Spassky knows that his
pawn structure is better which will give him the superior chances over time.
16 a4 a5 17 Rb1 Nbd7 18 0-0 Ng4 19 Qd2 Nh6 20 Be1
 20 Bc2 might have made it more difficult for Black to improve his
position, but his structural advantage remains. A sample variation is 20 ... f5
21 Bd1 Ne5 22 Bxe5 Qxe5 23 Ng3 Kd8, bringing the king to safety on the
queenside.
20 ... f5 21 Bd1 Ne5 22 Ng3 Kd8 23 Be2 Kc7 24 Qb2 Kb8 25 Qb3?!
25 Qb6 would get in Black’s face rather more, but after 25 ... Rh8 he is
still very much on top.
25 ... Ra6

26 Nh5?
This leads to a rapid worsening of White’s position, though he probably
thought he should ‘do something’ before Spassky found ways to further
improve his position. After 26 Qb2 Black might play 26 ... Ka7 27 Qb5
Rh8, when the storm clouds are gathering on the kingside.
26 ... Nhg4 27 Qb5
 27 Bf2 Rh8 28 h3 Rxh5 29 hxg4 fxg4 will be followed by the crushing
sacrifice, 30 ... Nf3+.
27 ... Ka8
White was threatening to take the rook on a6 because b7 is pinned.
28 Bf2
Or 28 Bd2 Rh8 29 Bxg4 fxg4 30 Nf6 Nf3+ 31 gxf3 gxf3 when the
knight has no good retreat square and White’s kingside has been wrecked.
28 ... Rh8 29 h3 Rxh5 30 hxg4 fxg4 31 Bg3 Nf3+!
Spassky gives us a brief glimpse of his trademark attacking skill.
32 gxf3 exf3 33 Kf2
White must give the piece back as after 33 Bd1 there follows 33 ...
Qxe3+ 34 Bf2 (34 Rf2 Qe1+ leads to mate) 34 ... Qe5, etc.
33 ... fxe2 34 Kxe2 Rh3 35 Rg1

Good enough, though the engine points out that 35 ... Qh7 is even more
deadly because Black is threatening both 36 ... Qc2+ and 36 ... Rxg3 37
Rxg3 Qh2+.
35 ... Bf5 36 Rbf1
Losing on the spot, though trying to defend this position would be a
thankless task in any case. 36 Rb2 is White’s most tenacious move, but then
Black wins by bringing his rook on h3 to h7 and then f7.
36 ... Qe4 0-1
White has no good defence against Black’s many threats: for example
37 Qb2 is met by 37 ... Qxc4+ 38 Kf2 Bd3, etc.

Game 29
K.Sasikiran-A.Graf
Goodricke International, Calcutta 1998

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Bg5 c5

The recommended repertoire move order. As we have seen, after 4 ... h6
5 Bh4 c5 White has another reasonable move in 6 e3.
5 d5
Protecting d4 with 5 e3 here is not a good idea; Black would answer
with 5 ... Qa5 6 Nge2 Ne4, which attacks both c3 and the bishop on g5.
5 ... h6 6 Bh4 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 d6 8 e3 e5 9 f3
Probably White’s most important move, making room for the bishop on
f2 and inhibiting ... e5-e4.
9 ... Bf5!?
 Question: That looks strange, can White not simply gain a tempo now
with 10 e4?

Answer: That is what he does in this game, and that’s also Black’s idea.
When White plays e3-e4, he will find it difficult to prise open the dark
squares with a later f3-f4. Meanwhile the time Black loses is not a
significant factor because the position is closed.
10 e4
White’s most obvious move, but one which falls in with Black’s
cunning plan. A couple of alternatives are as follows:
a) 10 Bd3 Bxd3 11 Qxd3 Nbd7 12 e4 Nf8 13 Rb1 b6 14 Qc2 Ng6 15
Bxf6 Qxf6 16 Qa4+ Ke7 17 Ne2 Nf4 18 Nxf4 Qxf4 19 0-0 ½-½ was
H.Bohm-L.Szabo, Amsterdam 1975.
b) 10 Qb3 will be examined in the next game, Bohm-Panno.
 10 ... Bc8!
The best square for the bishop, regardless of whether it has just come
from there. The less logical 10 ... Bh7 was played in V.Milov-N.De
Firmian, Biel 1994, where 11 Rb1 b6 12 Bd3 Nbd7 13 Ne2 Qe7 14 Bc2 g5
15 Bf2 Nh5 16 h4 Nf4 17 g3 put White on top.
11 Bd3 Nbd7 12 Qa4
A clever move by the young Indian player, making it difficult for Black
to regroup his knight on d7 without committing his king to the kingside.
A.Yermolinsky-A.Chow, New York 1993, varied at this point with 12 Ne2
Qe7 13 Bf2 (13 Qa4 might now be met by 13 ... Kd8, sending the king to
the queenside) 13 ... Nh5 14 Be3 Qf6 15 Qd2 g5 16 Nc1 Nf8 17 Rb1 Kd8
18 a4 a5 19 g3 Kc7 20 Rf1 Ng6 21 Qd1 Qe7 22 Qb3 Ra6 23 Rf2 Ng7 24
Rfb2 b6 25 Qc2 Bd7 26 Be2 Qe8 27 Bd1 f5 with the better game for Black.
This was a good model of how to play such positions: first neutralizing
White’s play and then gradually preparing a counterattack.
12 ... Ke7!?
 A very interesting and non-standard move, unpinning the knight on the
a4-e8 diagonal, but walking into a pin on the h4-d8 one. In fact, the pin
from the bishop on h4 is not a serious problem as Black can unpin at any
time with ... g7-g5 or possibly even ... Nf8-g6. As the centre is closed, he
will then have the time to reposition the king, probably on the queenside.

Question: Would it not be better to unpin with 12 ... 0-0? This looks
like the
obvious move to me!

Answer: It may well be playable, but White has mobile pawns on the
kingside and can try to open the position there. For this reason, the
queenside is usually a better place for Black’s king.

Question: But does White not already have an open b-file?

 Answer: He does, but if Black defends the b7-pawn how will White get
in? Once his b-pawn has gone to c3 there are no pawn levers in this sector
of the board.
13 Ne2 g5 14 Bf2 Nf8

15 h4
15 0-0 would be met by 15 ... Ng6 when White has no real chance of a
pawn lever anywhere on the board.
15 ... Ng6 16 hxg5 hxg5 17 0-0-0 Bd7 18 Qa3 b6
This does not seem altogether necessary. 18 ... Nh5 looks rather more to
the point, aiming to put a knight on f4.
19 g3 Qc7 20 Be3 g4 21 f4 Rag8
A sensible human approach to the position. The engine likes 21 ... exf4
22 Bxf4 Nxf4 23 gxf4 Rh3, but it takes nerves of steel to be unconcerned
about the e4-e5 lever at some point.
 22 f5 Rxh1 23 Rxh1 Nf8 24 Kb1 Qb7 25 Ka1 N8h7 26 Qc1 a6 27
Qa3
The engine likes 27 Rh6 until it considers 27 ... b5 for long enough.
Black has adequate counterplay here.
27 ... Ng5 28 Bxg5 Rxg5 29 Qc1 Rh5

Exchanging rooks makes perfect sense and Black looks like he’s taking
over. Sasikiran only manages to keep things even with an imaginative piece
sacrifice.
30 Rxh5 Nxh5 31 Qg5+ Nf6 32 Nf4 exf4 33 e5 dxe5 34 d6+ Kxd6 35
Qxf6+ Kc7 36 Qxe5+ Kc8 37 Qh8+ Kc7 38 Qe5+ ½-½

Game 30
H.Bohm-O.Panno
Lone Pine Open 1978
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Bg5 h6
It is worth repeating that the repertoire move order is 4 ... c5 5 d5 h6 6
Bh4 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 d6 to side-step 6 e3 instead of 6 d5, as in the game.
5 Bh4 c5 6 d5 d6 7 e3 Bxc3+ 8 bxc3 e5 9 f3 Bf5 10 Qb3

Probably White’s most testing response to Black’s 9 ... Bf5, White

attacks the newly vulnerable b7-pawn. The alternatives were addressed in
the previous game, Sasikiran-Graf.
10 ... b6 11 g4
11 e4 would be met by 11 ... Bc8, just as it was in the previous game.
The bishop would not want to interfere with the transfer of Black’s b8
knight to d7 and f8.
11 ... Bc8 12 h3 Nbd7 13 a4 Qe7 14 Rh2
 Question: That’s a strange looking move, what does it do?

Answer: It is designed to meet a specific problem. After 14 Ne2 Black

can play 14 ... g5 15 Bf2 e4 16 f4 gxf4 17 Nxf4 (17 exf4 e3! followed by ...
Qe4 is strong) 17 ... Ne5, which looks effective because the knight wants to
come to f3. This sequence is probably why Bohm left his knight on g1,
though looking more closely it may not be such a big deal for White after
18 Be2 Nf3+ 19 Kd1.
14 ... a5
A typical move in such structures, preventing the opening of the
queenside with a4-a5. After 14 ... g5 White probably intended 15 Bg3 e4 16
f4 gxf4 17 Bxf4 Ne5 18 a5 to get queenside play.
15 Ne2 Kd8
 The logical follow-up to Black’s previous move; the king is coming to
c7 to protect the pawn on b6.
16 Ng3 Kc7 17 Nf5
It is interesting that Black allowed this when the engine wants to play
16 ... g6. Panno simply reasoned that he could drive the knight back later.
17 ... Qf8 18 Qb5 Bb7 19 Rb1 Ra6

20 Bd3?!
This is definitely a slip by White as Black’s reply forces him to give up
his dark-squared bishop for a knight. 20 e4 was the right move so as to meet
20 ... g6 with 21 Ne3.
20 ... g6 21 Bxf6
This is forced because 21 Ng3 g5 costs White a piece.
21 ... Nxf6 22 Ng3 h5 23 Rbb2
23 g5 h4! 24 Ne2 Nh5 is fine for Black.
23 ... Qd8 24 Kd1 Kb8 25 Rbg2 Bc8 26 Nf1 Ra7
 There was a case for immediate action with 26 ... e4: for example, 27
Bxe4 Nxe4 28 fxe4 Qe7 leaves White’s position full of weaknesses and his
pawns ready to fall like ripe apples. Fortunately for Black, White’s next
move makes ... e5-e4 even stronger.
27 g5?! e4! 28 fxe4 Nd7

Black’s knight heads for the beautiful e5-square.

29 Nd2 Ne5 30 Bc2 f6
Taking the opportunity to open the f-file.
31 gxf6 Rf8 32 Rf2 Raf7 33 Nf3 Bd7 34 Nxe5?
White is understandably getting frustrated at being tortured, but this
turns a poor position into a lost one. Rather than attempt to shoot his way
out of trouble, he should just hang tough with 34 Qb3.
34 ... Bxb5 35 Nxf7 Rxf7 36 cxb5 Rxf6 37 Ke2 Kc7 38 e5 dxe5 39
Be4
 After 39 Rxf6 Qxf6 40 Rg2 Qh4 41 Rxg6 Qc4+ 42 Kd2 Qxd5+ Black
wins handily.
39 ... Rxf2+ 40 Rxf2 Qh4 41 Bxg6 Qc4+ 42 Bd3 Qxd5 43 c4 Qe6 44
Kd2 e4 45 Be2 h4
45 ... Qd7+ would pick up the pawn on h3 and shorten the winning
process.
46 Rf4 Qxh3 47 Rxe4 Qg3 0-1
Chapter Six
Nimzo-Indian: Romanishin
Variation, 4 g3 & 4 Nf3 c5 5 g3
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Nf3
White usually prefers this move order because 4 g3 can be met by 4 ...
d5 which many white players prefer to avoid. Having said that, the
repertoire choice is 4 g3 c5, after which 5 Nf3 will transpose to the same
position that we reach after White’s fifth move.
4 ... c5 5 g3
 Transposing into the Romanishin Variation, which the Ukrainian
Grandmaster wielded to great effect in the 1970s and 80s. White has several
alternatives here which have some transpositional nuances:
a) 5 e3 is possible, producing a position which can also be reached via 4
e3 c5 5 Nf3. As the suggested repertoire has us meeting 4 e3 with 4 ... 0-0
we need something different here, and accordingly the recommended line is
5 ... Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 d6 as in Speelman-Agdestein (Game 31).
b) 5 dxc5 can be met by 5 ... Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 Qa5: for example, 7 Qb3
Na6 8 Nd4 Ne4 9 Nb5 0-0 10 Qa3 Qxa3 11 Bxa3 Nexc5 12 g3 b6 13 Bg2
Rb8 14 Nxa7 Bb7 15 Bxb7 Rxb7 16 Nb5 Ra8 gave Black compensation for
his pawn in T.Utasi-J.Tompa, Budapest 1991.
c) A good way to meet 5 d5 is with 5 ... Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 Qa5: for
example, Lanchava-Yudasin, New York 2003, continued 7 Bd2 d6 8 Qc2 0-
0 9 Ng5 Re8 10 Ne4 Nxe4 11 Qxe4 Nd7 12 Qd3 Ne5 13 Qe4 Qa4 14 e3
exd5 15 Qxd5 Qa6 16 Rb1 Qxa2 17 Rd1 Be6 18 Qxd6 Bg4 19 f3 Rad8 20
Qc7 Rd7 21 Qxd7 Bxd7 0-1.
d) 5 Bg5 transposes into the line 4 Bg5 c5 5 Nf3, which was considered
in the previous chapter.
5 ... Nc6 6 Bg2 Ne4!?
 The repertoire line.

Question: Why was this move chosen? Doesn’t it violate opening

principles
by moving a piece a second time?

Answer: The second move of the knight forces concessions. It was

chosen because it leads to unbalanced positions in which Black gains the
bishop-pair.
7 Bd2
The other way to defend c3 is via 7 Qd3. but then 7 ... cxd4 8 Nxd4
Nxc3 9 bxc3 Ne5 10 Qc2 Be7 leaves White with very little compensation
for his pawn weaknesses.
7 ... Nxd2
 Getting the two bishops at the cost of time (exchanging a knight that has
moved twice), and space.
8 Qxd2 cxd4 9 Nxd4 Qb6
Asking the question of the knight on d4 has scored much better than
Black’s two other choices in this position, 9 ... Ne5 and 9 ... 0-0.

10 e3
After 10 Nc2 Be7 11 0-0 0-0 12 Kh1 d6 13 f4 Bd7 14 Rad1 Rfd8 15
Ne3 Bf8 16 Ne4 Rac8 17 b3 a6 18 f5 Ne5 Black obtained an excellent
position in S.Ernst-M.Turov, Wijk aan Zee 2013.
10 ... Ne5
Essentially forcing White’s reply, which leads to a certain weakness on
his dark squares.
11 b3 Qa5 12 Rc1
In P.Linster-B.Macieja, Olympiad, Khanty-Mansiysk 2010, White
retreated his d4 knight with 12 Nde2, after which 12 ... Ba3 13 0-0 a6 14
Rad1 Rb8 15 Qd4 0-0 gave Black a comfortable game. The subsequent
attempt to complicate with 16 Nb5 rebounded on White after 16 ... axb5 17
Qxe5 d6 18 Qh5 Bd7 19 Rd4 Bc5, as we’ll see in Game 32.
12 ... a6 13 0-0 0-0 14 f4 Ng4

15 Qd3 Be7 16 h3 Nf6 17 g4 Rb8 18 g5 Ne8

We are following Cheparinov-Ivanchuk (Game 33), in which a double-
edged battle was under way between White’s space and Black’s two bishops

Game 31
J.Speelman-S.Agdestein
Hastings 1991-92

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3

The relevance to the repertoire is that after 4 Nf3 c5 White can play 5 e3
instead of 5 g3. As we are meeting 4 e3 with 4 ... 0-0, a special treatment of
this line is needed so as not to be ‘move-ordered’ out of what we want.
4 ... c5 5 Nf3
Reaching the same position that would arise after 4 Nf3 c5 5 e3.
Agdestein now lends the game its own character by capturing on c3; this is
like the encounter Johner-Nimzowitsch (Game 2), except that Black has not
castled and not played ... Nb8-c6.
5 ... Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 d6 7 Be2 Qe7

Question: Why doesn’t Black get castled?

Answer: As we have seen from the last two chapters, it is often a good
idea for Black to delay castling; another key idea is that he will sometimes
transfer the knight on b8 to d7, f8 and g6 if White closes the centre with d4-
d5.
8 0-0 e5 9 Ne1
 9 Nd2 is an alternative here when Black could still consider 9 ... e4.
9 ... e4 10 f3 Bf5
In S.Hamilton-J.Benjamin, Colonie 2010, Black varied with 10 ... Nc6,
after which 11 fxe4 Nxe4 12 Bf3 0-0 13 Nd3 Bf5 gave him an excellent
game. This entire line with 5 ... Bxc3+ does seem very comfortable for
Black.
11 fxe4 Bxe4 12 Nd3 Nbd7 13 Nf2 0-0
Black’s control over the e4 square gives him an excellent game. Unless
White can push his e-pawn forwards, he is unlikely to be able to liberate the
dark-squared bishop that has no black counterpart.
14 a4 Bg6 15 Qb3 Rab8 16 Ra2 Ne4 17 Nh3 f5 18 Bd3 Ndf6 19 Nf4
Rbc8

20 g3?!
20 Nxg6 might have been the lesser evil before Black’s bishop trains its
sights on the weak pawn on c4 with ... Bf7.
 20 ... Bf7 21 Rg2 Rc7 22 Bb2 Rfc8 23 d5
A move that Speelman would have been very reluctant to play because
it hands Black the e5-square.
23 ... g5 24 Nh3
24 Bxe4 fxe4 25 Nh3 Ng4 is just horrible for White as on e5 the knight
can hop into d3 or f3.
24 ... Bg6 25 Bc1 Ng4 26 Be2 h5 27 Kh1 Qe5 28 a5 Rh7
Black prepares to break through with ... h5-h4 and White, having been
tied up strategically, cannot prevent it.
29 Ng1
The engine prefers 29 Bd3, but White’s position is disgusting in any
case; the problem is that he has little choice but to watch as Black brings his
forces to bear.
29 ... h4 30 Nf3
30 gxh4 gxh4 31 Nf3 Qe7 leaves White facing numerous threats,
including 32 ... h3.
30 ... Qe7 31 gxh4 gxh4 32 Bd1 h3 33 Ra2 Rg7
 34 Ne1 Qh4 35 Nd3 Kh7 36 Qb2 Rcg8
36 ... Bh5 is also very strong.
37 Nf4 Bh5 38 Nd3 Qg5 0-1

Game 32
P.Linster-B.Macieja
Khanty-Mansiysk Olympiad 2010

1 d4 e6 2 c4 Nf6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Nf3

4 g3 c5 5 Nf3 transposes back into the game.
4 ... c5 5 g3 Nc6 6 Bg2 Ne4
 7 Bd2 Nxd2 8 Qxd2 cxd4 9 Nxd4 Qb6 10 e3
The best reply, keeping the knight anchored in the centre at least for
now. White has also played 10 Nc2, but this seems less testing: for
example, 10 ... Be7 11 0-0 0-0 12 Rab1 d6 13 Rfd1 (or 13 b4 Rd8 14 Kh1
Bd7 15 Ne3 Bf8 16 b5 Na5 17 f4 Qc7 18 Rfc1 Rac8 which gave both sides
chances in H.Nakamura-R.Ponomariov, Wijk aan Zee 2011) 13 ... Rd8 14
Ne3 a6 15 b4 Qa7 16 a4 Bd7 17 a5 Ne5 18 b5 axb5 19 Nxb5 Qxa5 20 Qxa5
Rxa5 21 Nxd6 Ba4 22 Nxb7 Bxd1 23 Nxd8 was agreed drawn at this point
in K.Sasikiran-B.Macieja, Warsaw 2009.
10 ... Ne5 11 b3 Qa5 12 Nde2
One of White’s two major branches. For 12 Rc1 see the next game,
Cheparinov-Ivanchuk.
12 ... Ba3!
An important move, delaying White’s queenside expansion. After 12 ...
0-0 White can play 13 a3, pushing Black back. The a3-pawn is immune
because of the line 13 ... Bxa3 14 Qa2 Nd3+ 15 Kf1 Qf5 16 Nd4 Qf6 17
Ne4, winning the bishop on a3.
13 0-0 a6 14 Rad1 Rb8

Question: What’s the idea behind that move?

Answer: It introduces the possibility of ... b7-b5. This is a standard idea

in such structures to attack the pawn on c4; it is this c4-pawn that gives
White his space advantage, so its removal would be a good thing.
15 Qd4
An alternative possibility is 15 f4 Ng4 16 h3 Nf6: for example, 17 g4 0-
0 18 Nd5 Qxd2 19 Nxf6+ gxf6 20 Rxd2 b5 with developing counterplay.
15 ... 0-0 16 Nb5 axb5 17 Qxe5 d6 18 Qh5?!
 Starting a somewhat speculative kingside demonstration, perhaps
because White wanted to shock his higher-rated opponent; the problem is
that it is not very good. The right way to proceed was with 18 Qxb5, but
then Black is OK after 18 ... Qxb5 19 cxb5 Bd7 20 Nd4 Rfc8 21 Rd2 d5,
locking White’s g2-bishop out of play and leaving his extra pawn rather
meaningless.
18 ... Bd7 19 Rd4?!
The consistent follow-up to his previous move, but unfortunately this is
just putting White’s pieces out of play. 19 Nd4 was a better move, after
which 19 ... g6 20 Qe2 bxc4 21 bxc4 Bb4 is a bit better for Black, but
nothing special.
19 ... Bc5 20 Rh4

This was White’s idea, to launch a mating attack. Unfortunately for him
it does not work.
 Question: It looks more like the kind of move that would be played by
club
players than at grandmaster level! Why did White think it would work?

Answer: White’s rating was that of a strong club player at 2264;

probably he thought it was a good idea at the time.
20 ... h6 21 Nf4 bxc4 22 Be4?
22 Rg4 is bad because of 22 ... e5, but this would have been better than
the game.
22 ... f5 23 Ng6?
White continues to merrily sacrifice his pieces, but unfortunately
supplies are running low. 23 Bb1 was relatively best, but winning for Black
after 23 ... c3.
23 ... Rf7
23 ... Rf6 was even stronger, according to the engine.
24 Bc2 Qxa2 25 Qg5?
Continuing to play the most spectacular looking moves, but Black can
defend. 25 Rxc4 does not help much either after 25 ... Bb5 26 Bd3 Bxc4 27
bxc4 Qb2, etc.
25 ... Qb2
The engine assures me that White does not have anything after just 25
... Qxc2, which would therefore be preferable.
26 Ne7+ Kf8 27 Ng6+ Ke8 28 Qh5 Kd8
 A ‘safety first’ approach that is good, but not the best. The engine
recommends 28 ... cxb3, after which 29 Nh8 bxc2 30 Qxf7+ Kd8 would see
Black’s king slip away.
29 Nh8?
29 Ne5 was relatively best, but still losing; Black plays 29 ... Rf8, after
which 30 Nxd7 Kxd7 31 Rxc4?? (31 Qe2 is better, but still winning for
Black after 31 ... cxb3 32 Qb5+ Ke7 33 Bxb3 b6) loses to 31 ... b5 32 Rb1
Qe5 33 Rxc5 Qxc5; White has no compensation for the material.
29 ... Rf6 30 Rxc4 b5 31 Rxc5
Nothing helps much now as 31 Rb1 is met by 31 ... Qxb1+! 32 Bxb1
bxc4, etc.
31 ... dxc5 32 Bd3 Kc7 33 Nf7 Be8 34 Qf3 Rxf7 35 Rd1 Bc6 36 Qf4+
e5 37 Qh4 Rd7 0-1

Game 33
I.Cheparinov-V.Ivanchuk
FIDE Grand Prix, Jermuk 2009

1 d4 e6 2 c4 Nf6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Nf3 c5 5 g3 Nc6 6 Bg2 Ne4 7 Bd2 Nxd2 8

Qxd2 cxd4 9 Nxd4 Qb6 10 e3 Ne5 11 b3 Qa5 12 Rc1
One of White’s two major options in this position. The other one, 12
Nde2, featured in the previous game, Linster-Macieja.
12 ... a6 13 0-0 0-0

14 f4!?
The start of some expansive and aggressive play by Cheparinov which
Black meets ambitiously in return. After 14 a3 Black’s soundest reply
would have been 14 ... Be7, rather than delve into murky complications by
taking the a-pawn.
14 ... Ng4
 14 ... Nc6 may also be playable: for example, 15 Rfd1 d5 16 cxd5 exd5
17 h3 was R.Wojtaszek-P.Acs, Paks 2011, and now 17 ... Rd8 would have
been Black’s best move, with approximate equality.
15 Qd3 Be7!?
Ivanchuk wants to keep his dark-squared bishop, but this is asking a lot
of the position. A much simpler approach would have been 15 ... d6 16 a3
Bxc3 (Black loses after either 16 ... Bxa3? 17 Ra1 or 16 ... Qxa3?? 17 Na4
Nxe3 18 Ra1) 17 Rxc3 Qxa3 when the simplifications have greatly eased
Black game.
16 h3 Nf6 17 g4 Rb8!?
This is also very provocative and risky play, allowing his knight to be
driven to the back rank. 17 ... h6 was worth considering here, holding up
White’s g4-g5.
18 g5 Ne8 19 Ne4 Qd8!?
 Black could also hold White’s intended f4-f5 idea up with 19 ... g6, but
Ivanchuk presumably wanted to avoid presenting a ‘hook’ for the advance
of White’s h-pawn.
20 Rcd1 Nc7 21 c5 b6!?
Deliberately luring the pawn on to c6 where it is blockaded by Black’s
knight and might later be surrounded. Note that Black had many more
standard options en route to this position; Ivanchuk chose to play in this
way rather than being dragged.
22 c6 a5 23 Rf3
23 cxd7 Bxd7 leaves White with no obviously strong follow-up.
23 ... Ba6 24 Qd2 Bb4 25 Qc1 d5

Question: Does that not leave White with a powerful passed pawn on
c6?
 Answer: It does, though whether this pawn will be weak or strong is a
moot point.
26 Ng3 Qd6 27 Nh5 Qc5 28 Qb2?
Either overlooking or underestimating the reply, perhaps because of
time pressure. 28 Rf2 would have held the balance.
28 ... Bc3!
Of course! Now Black gets to eliminate the knight on d4 and then the
pawn on c6.
29 Qf2
29 Qc1 Bxd4 30 exd4 Qxc1 31 Rxc1 Be2 skewers the rook against the
knight on h5.
29 ... Bxd4 30 exd4 Qxc6 31 Rg3

Question: Is White playing for some kind of hack attack here?

 Answer: Yes, with the game having turned against him, Cheparinov
opts to try and throw the kitchen sink at Black’s king. Here he’s lining up to
play Nh5-f6+, which in turn is sidestepped by the wily Ivanchuk.
31 ... Kh8 32 Qe3 Qd6 33 Rc1 Rfc8 34 Rg4? Ne8 35 Re1 g6 36 Nf6
Nxf6 37 gxf6 Rc2 38 Rh4
This does not work, but neither does anything else. 38 f5 is handled by
38 ... exf5 39 Qe8+ Qf8, etc.
38 ... Rbc8 39 Qg3
Black would also reach a winning endgame after 39 f5 R8c3 40 Qf4
Qxf4 41 Rxf4 gxf5.
39 ... Qb4 40 f5

40 ... Qxe1+!
Neatly simplifying into a winning endgame.
41 Qxe1 Rc1 42 Qxc1 Rxc1+ 0-1
White has nothing for the lost pawns.
Chapter Seven
Nimzo-Indian: Miscellaneous Lines
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4

In this final chapter on the Nimzo we will consider White’s less

common responses.
4 Qb3
The so-called Spielmann variation, which is quite well motivated by
preventing the doubling of White’s pawns and attacking the bishop on b4.
At the same time, it does not provide any control of the critical e4-square,
unlike 4 Qc2, and can leave the queen somewhat exposed.
 4 Bd2 was Savielly Tartakower’s favourite move; it is often dismissed
as passive but contains more than a drop of poison. Black has a good
answer in 4 ... 0-0 5 Nf3 d5 6 e3 b6: for example, 7 Rc1 (7 Bd3 Bb7 will
transpose into the 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 Nf3 b6 lines considered earlier) 7 ...
Bb7 8 cxd5 exd5 9 Nb5 Bxd2+ 10 Nxd2 a6 11 Nc3 c5 12 Nf3 c4 saw Black
obtain and mobilize his queenside pawn majority in Zysk-Yilmaz (Game
34).
4 ... c5 5 dxc5 Nc6 6 Nf3 Ne4 7 Bd2 Nxd2
Gaining the two bishops in return for White’s space, a similar concept to
the line given against the Romanishin Variation in Chapter Six.
8 Nxd2 Bxc5 9 e3 f5!?
An aggressive plan that originated with Alexander Alekhine, taking
space in the centre and on the kingside.
10 Be2 0-0 11 0-0 b6 12 a3 Bb7

13 Qc2 Rc8 14 Bf3 f4

 Black had active play in the game Pakleza-Wojtaszek (Game 35), and
went on to win in fine style

Game 34
R.Zysk-M.Yilmaz
Greek Team Championship 2018

1 Nf3
This game reaches our repertoire line via an unusual move order. The
official way to get here is via 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Bd2
(Tartakower’s speciality) 4 ... 0-0 5 Nf3 d5 6 e3 b6 7 Rc1 Bb7, transposing
back into the position after Black’s seventh move.
1 ... Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 d5 4 d4 Bb4 5 e3 0-0 6 Bd2 b6
Black’s set-up is akin to the one given against 4 e3 and can transpose.
7 Rc1 Bb7
 8 cxd5
Zysk’s continuation is the one that seems to give 4 Bd2 the most
independent significance as compared with the system I give against 4 e3.
Other moves have also been played here:
a) 8 a3 Be7 (8 ... Bd6 also looks fine for Black after 9 Nb5 Ne4 10 cxd5
Bxd5! 11 Qc2 Nd7 12 Bd3 f5!?: for example, after 13 0-0? Black can bring
off a classic double bishop sacrifice with 13 ... Nxd2 14 Nxd2 – 14 Qxd2
Bxf3 15 gxf3 Bxh2+ is also a winning attack for Black – 14 ... Bxh2+ 15
Kxh2 Qh4+ 16 Kg1 Bxg2 17 Kxg2 Qg4+ 18 Kh1 Rf6) 9 cxd5 exd5 10 Bd3
Nbd7 11 0-0 c5 12 Bb1 Ne4 13 dxc5 Ndxc5 14 b4 Ne6 was fine for Black
at this stage in A.Salvetti-G.Milosevic, Swiss League 1998.
b) 8 Bd3 Nbd7 9 0-0 dxc4 10 Bxc4 c5 11 a3 Bxc3 12 Bxc3 Ne4 gave
Black a very comfortable game in S.Venancio-L.Powell, Novi Sad
Olympiad 1990.
8 ... exd5 9 Nb5
 Instead, 9 Bd3 would resemble Game 19, Adly-Carlsen.
9 ... Bxd2+ 10 Nxd2
In A.Timofeev-D.Bocharov, Khanty-Mansiysk 2019, White recaptured
with the queen here and Black built up a good position after 10 Qxd2 c5 11
Be2 a6 12 Nc3 c4 13 Ne5 b5 14 f4 Nc6 15 Bf3 Ne7 16 0-0 Ne8 17 Ne2 f6
18 Ng4 Nd6. Black’s play was very instructive in this example, utilizing the
queenside pawn majority, gaining control over e4 and ejecting White’s
knight from e5.
10 ... a6!?

11 Nc3

Question: Why didn’t White capture the c7 pawn?

Answer: It would take a great deal of either courage, foolishness or

good calculation to capture on c7 here, but there is no simple reason why he
didn’t take. After 11 Nxc7!? Ra7 12 b4 b5 (12 ... Nc6 13 b5 Qxc7 14 bxc6
Bxc6 would favour White because of his better pawn structure), White can
rescue the knight with 13 a4!: for example, 13 ... bxa4 14 Qxa4 Nc6 15 Nb3
Qxc7 16 b5 axb5?? 17 Qxa7. This would be very difficult to see during a
game, but perhaps provides an argument for 10 ... c6 instead of 10 ... a6.
11 ... c5
Now Black has a comfortable game and even arranges a queenside
pawn advance as Bocharov did against Timofeev.
12 Nf3 c4 13 g3 Nbd7 14 Bg2 Re8 15 0-0 b5 16 a3 Bc6
Protecting the b-pawn so as to further advance the queenside pawns
with ... a5 and ... b4.
17 Nd2 Nb6 18 Re1 Ra7 19 Ne2 Qd6 20 Nf4 a5
The long-awaited queenside advance. White tries to counter this with a
kingside demonstration of his own.
21 h4 g6 22 g4
 22 ... b4!?
Some of us might have chosen to inhibit White’s ambitions with 22 ...
h6 here.
23 g5 Nfd7 24 Qg4
The immediate 24 h5 might have been more to the point.
24 ... bxa3 25 bxa3 Qxa3 26 Nb1 Qd6 27 Nc3 a4 28 e4 dxe4 29 d5 f5
30 Qg3 Ba8 31 Nb5 Qb8 32 Nxa7 Qxa7 33 h5 Ne5 34 Bxe4?!
This sacrifice is objectively incorrect, but White is looking to create
counterplay. I get the impression that the last few moves were played in
time trouble, which is very common in intense games. 34 Red1 is
objectively better, but would have done little to shake Black’s grip on the
position.
34 ... fxe4 35 Rxe4 Qf7 36 Rce1 Nbd7 37 R1e3 Rc8
Just 37 ... Bxd5 would have been simpler; the elimination of this
important pawn allows the bishop to play or at least get exchanged for
White’s strong knight on f4.
38 hxg6
Or 38 Kf1 gxh5 39 Kg1 a3 40 Rxa3 Bxd5, etc.
38 ... hxg6 39 Qh3!?
 Looking for counterplay by eyeing both the h-file and the e6-square.
39 ... Rf8?
39 ... Rb8 would have been easier for Black after 40 Rxe5 Nxe5 41
Rxe5 a3! 42 Qxa3 Qxf4, but this is all in the domain of the engine rather
than the human mind.
40 Qe6?
40 Qh6 would have been more awkward for Black, but he can reach a
winning endgame after 40 ... Qh7 (40 ... Ng4 41 Qxg6+ Qxg6 42 Nxg6
Nxe3 43 Nxf8 Bxd5 44 Rxe3 is a bit murky) 41 Qxh7+ Kxh7 42 Ra3 Rf7
43 Rxa4 Nc5 44 Rexc4 Nxa4 45 Rxa4 Nf3+ 46 Kg2 Nxg5.
40 ... Qxe6 41 Nxe6 Rc8 42 Rxe5 Nxe5 43 Rxe5 c3 44 Nd4 Kf7 45
Nc2
Instead, 45 d6 c2 46 Nxc2 Rxc2-+ 47 d7 Rc1+! 48 Kh2 Rh1+ 49 Kg3
Rh8 takes care of the passed pawn.
45 ... Re8 0-1
 The exchange of rooks leaves White dead lost.

Game 35
Z.Pakleza-R.Wojtaszek
Warsaw 2007

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qb3

The so-called ‘Spielmann Variation’, which was popular in the early
days of the Nimzo. White gains time on the bishop on b4
4 ... c5 5 dxc5 Nc6 6 Nf3 Ne4 7 Bd2 Nxd2 8 Nxd2 Bxc5
Another model game for Black in this line is G.Norman-A.Alekhine,
Hastings 1926, which went 8 ... 0-0 9 e3 Bxc5 10 Be2 b6 11 0-0 f5 12 Rac1
Rb8 13 Nf3 Qf6 14 Rfd1 g5 15 Nb5 and now 15 ... f4! (in the game
Alekhine played 15 ... e5, which should have been met by 16 Nc3) 16 h3 h5
would have been best and very strong.
9 e3 f5!
Taken directly from Alekhine’s model. The ... f5-f4 lever will
considerably enhance the strength of Black’s dark-squared bishop.
10 Be2 0-0 11 0-0 b6
 Question: What is Black’s plan here?

Answer: Black’s other bishop comes out to the a8-h1 diagonal to form a
battery of ‘Horwitz bishops’ with its colleague on c5. Add Black’s kingside
pawn advance and a possible rook lift ( ... Rf6), and there are the makings
of a dangerous kingside attack.
12 a3
This does not look like an efficient use of time. 12 Nf3 Bb7 13 Rad1 is
probably better as in G.Lorscheid-H.Neunhoeffer, German League 1992.
Black would then have a wide choice, and personally I might opt for the
direct 13 ... g5, rather than 13 ... Qe7 as played in the game.
12 ... Bb7 13 Qc2 Rc8 14 Bf3 f4 15 b4?
Black’s initiative has developed very quickly, which may explain a
certain anxiety on White’s part. There are several better moves than this:
 a) 15 Bxc6 Bxc6 16 e4 tries to keep the position closed to inhibit
Black’s bishop-pair, but Black can open it up with 16 ... b5!, the point being
that after 17 cxb5 Bxb5 18 Nxb5 he has 18 ... Bxf2+!, winning the queen.
b) 15 Nb3 seems to give White compensation for a pawn after 15 ...
fxe3 16 Nxc5 exf2+ 17 Qxf2 bxc5 and now 18 Qe3; on the other hand, he
would lose a pawn after 18 Qxc5? Na5 19 Qxa7 Bxf3 20 Rxf3 Rxf3 21
gxf3 Nxc4.
15 ... fxe3 16 bxc5 exd2 17 Be4
There is no time for 17 cxb6 because of 17 ... Nd4.
17 ... Nd4

18 Qxd2 Bxe4?!
Letting White off the hook. Just 18 ... Nb3 followed by 19 ... Nxc5
would maintain Black’s advantage; now he needs to win the game all over
again.
 19 Qxd4 Bc6 20 cxb6 axb6 21 f3 Qf6 22 Rfd1 Qxd4+ 23 Rxd4 Ra8
24 Kf2 Kf7 25 a4 Ke7 26 Re1 Rf5 27 Rb1 Ra6 28 Nb5?
There is no good reason to surrender the a4-pawn. Just 28 Rbd1 would
keep Black’s edge to a minimum.
28 ... Rxa4 29 Nd6?
29 Nc3 would have been objectively more tenacious, but White could
hardly move his knight back after giving up a pawn.
29 ... Ra2+ 30 Kf1
Choosing to protect the g-pawn at the cost of his king being trapped on
the back rank. It does not really matter that much either way; White is just
losing here.
30 ... Rg5 31 g4 Bxf3 32 Nc8+
After 32 h4 Black’s simplest and most practical option would be 32 ...
Rxg4 33 Rxg4 Bxg4 34 Rxb6 Be2+ 35 Ke1 Rc2 36 c5 Bf3. The art of
winning is about finding clear and safe solutions rather than ‘optimal’ ones.
32 ... Kd8 33 Nxb6
33 Nd6 Rxg4 makes little difference.
33 ... Rxg4 34 Rxd7+
White tries to create some play rather than lose prosaically after 34
Rxg4 Bxg4.
34 ... Ke8 35 Rb3
 There is no good defence to the threat of 35 ... Bg2+: for example, 35 h3
Bg2+ 36 Kg1 Bxh3+ 37 Kh1 Bg2+ 38 Kh2 (or 38 Kg1 Rh4) 38 ... Bf1+ 39
Kh1 Rh4+ 40 Kg1 Bg2 has the unstoppable threat of mate on h1.
35 ... Bg2+ 0-1
36 Ke1 Bc6 threatens both the rook on d7 and mate with 37 ... Rg1.
Chapter Eight
Queen’s Indian: 4 g3
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6

The move that characterises the Queen’s Indian Defence. Black will
bring his queen’s bishop to the effective b7-square from which it will cover
the central squares.
4 g3
This has been White’s main choice since the birth of the Queen’s Indian.
White opposes Black’s fianchettoed bishop to later challenge for the central
squares.
4 ... Bb7
 The repertoire choice, avoiding 4 ... Ba6 because of the line 5 Qc2 c5 6
d5 exd5 7 cxd5 Bb7 8 Bg2, with dangerous play. The move 4 ... Bb7 also
gives us a convenient way of meeting 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 g3; Black can
just play 3 ... b6 4 Bg2 Bb7 when White’s best move is 5 c4.

5 Bg2 Be7 6 0-0

White has also tried delaying castling with 6 Nc3 when 6 ... 0-0 7 Qc2
Na6 8 e4
d5 9 cxd5 exd5 10 e5 Ne4 11 0-0 c5 12 Be3 cxd4 13 Bxd4 Nac5 gave
Black counterplay in Rodshtein-Yemelin (Game 36).
6 ... 0-0 7 Nc3
Not the only move by any means. The alternatives are as follows:
a) 7 d5 is a sharp pawn sacrifice that leads to a lot of theory and
complications should Black take. Instead of going into this I suggest 7 ...
Na6: for example, 8 Nd4 (8 Nc3 transposes into note ‘c’ to White’s next
move) 8 ... Nc5 9 Nc3 a5 10 e4 d6 11 f4 Nfd7 12 dxe6 fxe6 13 Bh3 e5 is
Gaya Llodra-Tiviakov (Game 37).
b) 7 Re1 can be answered by 7 ... d5 8 cxd5 exd5 9 Nc3 Na6,
transposing into note ‘b’ to White’s eighth move.
c) 7 b3 c6 8 Nc3 d5 9 Bb2 Na6 10 e3 Rc8 was both comfortable for
Black and gave fighting chances in C.Horvath-D.Howell, Leiden 2012.
d) 7 Bf4 c5 8 Nc3 cxd4 9 Nxd4 Bxg2 10 Kxg2 Qc8 11 Ncb5 Ne8 12
Qb3 Nc6 13 Nxc6 dxc6 was at least equal for Black in N.Meskovs-
G.Gajewski, European Rapid Championship, Wroclaw 2014.
7 ... Na6!?

This flexible move is the repertoire choice. It has been a favourite of

Sergei Tiviakov for several decades and I will draw on his games quite
heavily to illustrate the ideas; Black is keeping four major options open:
1) To attack the d4-pawn with ... c7-c5.
2) To aim for ... d7-d5 and ... c7-c5.
 3) To prepare ... d7-d5 with ... c7-c6.
4) To exchange pieces with ... Nf6-e4.
This multiplicity of plans makes it difficult for White to find a clear line
of action and should be especially effective against weaker and less
experienced players.
8 Bf4
This will be taken as the main line, though White has numerous
alternatives. These are the most important ones:
a) 8 Re1 is well met by 8 ... d5 9 cxd5 exd5, reaching a position that can
also come about via a flank opening move order such as 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 b6
3 Nc3 Bb7 4 g3 e6 5 Bg2 Be7 6 0-0 0-0 7 Re1 d5 8 cxd5 exd5 9 d4 Na6.
Although I have played this for White, I have to admit that the tempo spent
on 7 Re1 is not the most efficient use of time. A good example of how to
play Black was E.Postny-S.Tiviakov, Leiden 2015, which went 8 ... d5 9
cxd5 exd5 10 Bf4 c5 11 Rc1 Ne4 12 a3 Re8 13 Qa4 cxd4 14 Nxd4 Nac5 15
Qd1 Nxc3 16 Rxc3 Bf6 with comfortable equality.
b) 8 b3 Ne4 9 Bb2 f5 10 e3 Bf6 11 Rc1 Qe7 12 Qe2 Nxc3 13 Bxc3 Be4
14 Rfd1 g5 gained counterplay for Black in Tratar-K.Chernyshov,
Pardubice 2001.
c) 8 d5 Bb4 9 Ne1 Bxc3 10 bxc3 Rb8 11 e4 d6 12 Nd3 Re8 13 Re1 Nd7
is Fodor-Medvegy (Game 38).
d) 8 a3 Ne4 9 Nxe4 Bxe4 10 Qa4 Qc8 11 Ne5 Bxg2 12 Kxg2 Qb7+ 13
Kg1 c6 is Enkhtuul-Tiviakov (Game 39).
e) 8 Ne5 Bxg2 9 Kxg2 c6 10 e4 Qc7 11 Nf3 d6 12 Qe2 Nd7 13 e5 Qb7
14 h4 c5 supplied counterplay too in Lalic-Tiviakov (Game 40).
f) 8 Qc2 c5 9 d5 exd5 10 Nh4 Nb4 11 Qd1 g6 12 cxd5 d6 13 Rb1 Re8
14 a3 Na6 produced a complex struggle in R.Jumabayev-G.Sargissian,
Dubai Open 2013.
g) 8 Bg5 c5 9 d5 exd5 10 cxd5 d6 11 Nh4 Qd7 12 Qd2 b5 13 e4 b4
gave Black excellent play in A.Shneider-S.Tiviakov, Moscow 1992.
8 ... Ne4
Freeing Black’s position with an exchange of minor pieces.
9 Nxe4 Bxe4 10 Qa4 Nb8!?
 Question: Why is Black sending his knight home again?

Answer: He wants to bring it out to a better square and in doing so

throws his opponent on to his own resources.
Black’s usual move had been 10 ... Qc8: for example, 11 Ne5
(alternatively, 11 Rfd1 d6 12 b4 c6 13 Bf1 b5 14 Qa5 Qb7 was fine for
Black in J.Lautier-P.Nikolic, French League 2002, while 11 Rac1 c5 12
Rfd1 was T.Giorgadze-O.Romanishin, Moscow 1979, and now 12 ... Qb7
was probably the simplest line with approximate equality) 11 ... Bxg2 12
Kxg2 f6 13 Nf3 c5 14 Rfd1 was P.Harikrishna-S.Tiviakov, Montreal 2007,
where 14 ... cxd4 (14 ... Rf7 was played in the game when White should
probably have played 15 d5) 15 Nxd4 Rf7 would have been the best course
of action, with a fighting position and chances for both sides.
11 d5!?
 White has been provoked by Black’s last move and decides to
administer some punishment. 11 Rfd1 would be a more solid approach, but
then 11 ... d6 seems fine for Black.
11 ... exd5 12 cxd5 Bxd5 13 Rfd1
The hope is that White’s play along the d- and c-files will more than
compensate him for the pawn. He certain has great activity here, but there
are no obvious weaknesses in Black’s position.
13 ... Bc6 14 Qc2
14 Qc4 prevents Black’s knight from coming to a6, but then 14 ... Bf6 is
reasonable.
14 ... Na6

White had just nebulous compensation for his pawn in Yilmaz-Tiviakov

(Game 41).

Game 36
M.Rodshtein-V.Yemelin
Czech League 2015

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 g3 Bb7 5 Bg2 Be7 6 Nc3 0-0

The repertoire choice. Instead, 6 ... Ne4 is the main answer to White’s
sixth move, but it takes us away from the suggested fighting system with 7
... Na6!?. Here we would reach the main line after 7 Qc2 Nxc3 8 Qxc3 0-0
9 0-0 and White has additional possibilities such as 7 Bd2 and 7 Nxe4.
7 Qc2

Although this is primarily designed against 7 0-0 Ne4, it also gives a

new twist to the repertoire system based on 7 ... Na6.
7 ... Na6!? 8 e4 d5
Challenging the centre in the right way. 8 ... c5 9 d5 will favour White
because Black’s pieces are not well placed for this pawn structure.
9 cxd5 exd5
 In B.Gelfand-M.Carlsen, Nice (rapid) 2008, Black varied with 9 ... Nb4,
but after 10 Qb1 Ba6 11 Bf1 Bxf1 12 Kxf1 exd5 13 e5 Ne4 14 Nxe4 dxe4
15 Qxe4 f5 he might have struggled to find compensation for his pawn after
16 Qe3 (16 exf6 was unconvincing in the game) 16 ... Qd7 17 Qb3+ Nd5 18
Kg2. In any case this pawn sacrifice is unnecessary.
10 e5 Ne4 11 0-0
In M.Chetverik-K.Chernyshov, Balatonbereny 1994, White varied with
11 a3 to prevent 11 ... Nb4 and after 11 ... c5 12 0-0 Rc8!? (12 ... Qd7) 13
Be3 (or 13 Bh3 Rc6 14 Bf5 g6! 15 Bxe4 dxe4 16 Qxe4 cxd4 17 Nxd4 Rc7
when Black has plenty of compensation for the pawn because of the
weakness of White’s light squares) 13 ... cxd4 14 Bxd4 Nac5 15 Rfd1 Ne6
Black had achieved a very comfortable game.
11 ... c5!
This seems more accurate than 11 ... Nb4 when 12 Qb1 c5 13 a3 Nxc3
14 bxc3 Nc6 15 Re1 was slightly better for White in A.Beliavsky-
M.Brodsky, Warsaw 2002.
12 Be3
 12 ... cxd4
Although I am taking this is the main line it is somewhat cooperating in
isolating Black’s d-pawn. There are two alternatives that may be better:
a) 12 ... Rc8! 13 Rad1 Qd7 14 h4 Rfe8 15 Ng5 Bxg5 16 hxg5 cxd4 17
Rxd4 Qf5 gave Black approximate equality in A.Giri-E.Najer, German
Bundesliga 2010.
b) 12 ... Nb4 13 Qb1 Qd7 14 Rd1 was A.Karpov-J.Polgar, Vitoria
Gasteiz 2007, and now 14 ... c4 was probably best. In the game Black
played 14 ... Rad8, after which 15 dxc5 Nxc5 16 a3 Nba6 and now 17 Ng5
would have given White a big advantage.
13 Bxd4
13 Nxd4 seems stronger when 13 ... Rc8 14 Rfd1 Qe8 15 a3 Nxc3 16
bxc3 Nc5 17 Bh3 Rc7 looks playable, but with White having the more
pleasant position.
13 ... Nac5
 Question: Is that Black’s only way to play the position?

Answer: Not at all; Black has other moves here in 13 ... Rc8 and 13 ...
Qd7.
14 Rfd1 Qc8 15 Rac1 Rd8 16 Be3 Qg4!? 17 Nd4 Nxc3 18 Qxc3 Rac8
19 Qe1 Ne6 20 Rxc8 Rxc8 21 Bf3 Qg6 22 Nb5 Qf5!?
 Question: Doesn’t that leave d5 to be taken?

Answer: Yes, Black is sacrificing the d5-pawn for play on the light
squares.
23 Bxd5 Bxd5 24 Rxd5 Rc2 25 Nxa7
25 Qb1 would have made it difficult for Black to justify his pawn
sacrifice: for example, 25 ... Qf3 26 Qxc2 Qxd5 27 Qb3 Qxe5 28 Nxa7
does not leave him with much.
25 ... h5 26 Qf1 Rxb2 27 Nc6 Bf8 28 Rd2?
Black’s active play is rewarded by a serious mistake from White,
though unfortunately he does not notice. There are several stronger moves
for White, including 28 h4.
28 ... Rxd2 29 Bxd2 Qc2?
 Missing it. 29 ... Qf3! wins on the spot as after 30 Nb4 there is 30 ...
Nd4! (threatening ... Ne2+) 31 Qd3 Bc5 with lethal threats.
30 Qc1 Qxa2?
And here 30 ... Qe4 would have been strong.
31 Bb4 Bxb4 32 Nxb4 Qe2 33 Nd5 b5 34 Qc8+ Kh7 35 Ne3?!
35 Ne7! would force Black to give perpetual check via 35 ... Qe1+ 36
Kg2 Qe4+ 37 Kg1 Qe1+ 38 Kg2 Qe4+, etc.
35 ... Qf3 36 Qc2+ g6 37 Qd2 Ng5 38 Kf1?!

Another losing move which again Black misses, and this makes me
wonder if the players were in time trouble.
38 ... Qh1+?
Black is concerned about White’s idea of e5-e6, but it seems that he can
deal with it. He can win with 38 ... Ne4 39 Qe1 b4 40 e6 b3 41 e7 b2 42
e8Q (or 42 Kg1 Nxf2) 42 ... b1Q.
39 Ke2 Qf3+
 39 ... Qxh2 is bad because of 40 Nf1, hitting both the queen and the
knight on g5. Black would be forced to scramble for a draw in the line 40 ...
Qxf2+ 41 Kxf2 Ne4+ 42 Ke3 Nxd2.
40 Kf1?
40 Ke1 was better as he can then meet 40 ... Ne4 with 41 Qe2 Qh1+ 42
Nf1.
40 ... Qe4?
Black can win with 40 ... Ne4, as on move 38.
41 Qd5
41 h4 was better as Black gets nowhere with 41 ... Qh1+ 42 Ke2 Qf3+
43 Ke1 Nh3 44 Qe2.
41 ... Qxd5 42 Nxd5 Nf3 43 Ke2 Nxe5 44 f4 Nc6 45 Kd3 Kh6 46 Nc7
b4 47 Kc4 g5 48 Nd5 gxf4 49 Nxf4 Kg5 50 Nd3 Kg4 51 Nf2+
This may draw for White, but it is certainly not easy. 51 Nf4 secures a
draw after 51 ... h4 52 Nd3 hxg3 53 hxg3 Kxg3 54 Kc5, when the b-pawn
falls and White can sacrifice his knight for the f-pawn.
51 ... Kf3 52 Nd3 Kg4
Repeating the position while he tries to figure it out. According to the
engine 52 ... Kg2 53 Nf4+ Kxh2 54 Nxh5 Kg2 55 Nf6 Kxg3 56 Kb5 b3 57
Kxc6 b2 58 Ne4+ leads to a draw, but this is a very difficult line for a
human to work out.
53 Nf2+ Kf3 54 Nd3
 54 ... f6
White is able to hold after this move. 54 ... f5 seems to be the most
testing line and comes within a whisker of victory; together with the engine
I worked out the line 55 Kb3 Ke4 56 Nf4 h4 57 Nh5 Kf3 58 gxh4 Kg4 59
Ng7 f4 60 h5 f3 61 h6 f2 62 h7 f1Q 63 h8Q Qd3+ 64 Kb2 Qc3+ 65 Kb1
Nd4 66 Qh5+ Kf4 67 Qh4+ Ke3 68 Qg5+ and White has too many checks.
After the other try, 54 ... Kg2, the draw is simpler with 55 Nf4+ Kxh2 56
Nxh5, etc.
55 Nc5?
This ‘should’ lose for White. 55 Kb3 was the right way when 55 ...
Nd4+ 56 Kc4 Nf5 57 Kxb4 Nxg3 58 hxg3 Kxg3 59 Kc3 h4 60 Kd4 f5 61
Ke3 h3 62 Nf2 h2 63 Nh1+ Kg2 64 Ke2! Kxh1 65 Kf2 will end in
stalemate.
55 ... Kg2?
 Missing his chance via 55 ... Ne5+ 56 Kxb4 Ng4 57 h3 Kxg3 58 hxg4
h4, etc.
56 Ne4?
Again risking defeat. White should draw with 56 Ne6 Kf3 57 Ng7 Kg4
58 h3+ Kg5 59 Ne8.
56 ... f5?
Missing his last chance to win via 56 ... Ne5+ 57 Kxb4 Ng4.
57 Nf6 Kxh2 58 Nxh5 Kh3 59 Ng7 Kg4 60 Kb3 Kg5 61 Kc4 Kg6 62
Ne6 Kf6 63 Nf4 Ke5 64 Nh5 Nd8 65 Kxb4 Ne6 66 Kc3 Ke4 67 Kc4 f4 ½-
½

Game 37
J.Gaya Llodra-S.Tiviakov
Spanish Team Championship 2003

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 g3 b6 4 Bg2 Bb7 5 0-0 Be7 6 c4 0-0 7 d5!?

 A dangerous pawn sacrifice that was popularized in the 1980
Polugaevsky-Korchnoi match.

Question: What is White’s idea?

Answer: When Black takes on d5, he wants to bring his knight to h4

and then f5, with dangerous attacking chances against the black king.
7 ... Na6!?
Black refuses the bait, at least for the time being. 7 ... exd5 8 Nh4 is
known to give White compensation for his pawn in a super-sharp position.
8 Nd4
J.Bonin-T.Bartell, Philadelphia 2008, varied at this point with 8 Ne5,
after which the game continued 8 ... exd5 (8 ... Nc5 9 Nc3 a5 is worth
considering) 9 cxd5 Re8 10 Nc3 Bb4 11 Nc4 Bxc3 12 bxc3 Nc5 13 Ne3
Nfe4 14 Bb2 Qg5 with active counterplay for Black. Instead, 8 Nc3
transposes into the next game.
8 ... Nc5
Black can also consider 8 ... exd5 at this point, with White’s knight
committed to d4 instead of h4. L.Van Wely-J.Polgar, Biel 2007, continued 9
Nc3 c6 10 cxd5 Nxd5 11 Nxd5 cxd5 12 Nf5 Bf6 13 Bxd5 Bc6 14 Qb3 Nc5
15 Qf3 Bxd5 16 Qxd5 Qe8 17 Qf3 Qe6 and Black had adequate play for her
isolated d-pawn.
9 Nc3 a5
Securing the knight against b2-b4 by White.
10 e4 d6 11 f4 Nfd7

Black regroups his pieces and eyes the possibilities of ... e6-e5 and ...
Be7-f6. Although his position is currently somewhat cramped, it does have
the possibility of several different counterblows.
 12 dxe6 fxe6 13 Bh3 e5 14 Ne6 Nxe6 15 Bxe6+ Kh8 16 Bxd7 Qxd7
17 f5 Ba6 18 Qd3
18 Qe2 can be met by 18 ... c6 with ideas of ... d6-d5 or ... b6-b5.
18 ... c6
Surprisingly Black can play the immediate 18 ... d5! when 19 exd5
Bc5+ 20 Kg2 Bd4! intends to smash the position open with 21 ... c6. The
engine things that Black is fully equal here.
19 Be3

19 ... d5?!
Now this leads Black into difficulties. The right counterblow was with
19 ... b5, after which 20 cxb5 cxb5 21 b4 (preventing Black’s own 21 ... b4)
21 ... axb4 22 Nd5 Bb7 23 Nxb4 d5! (23 ... g6 also seems playable) 24
Nxd5 Ra3! gives Black counterplay.
20 exd5 b5 21 Qe4 Bb7 22 Rad1 bxc4 23 d6! Bxd6 24 Qxe5?!
 Just when things were becoming horrid for Black, White makes his first
major slip. 24 Rf2 Qc7 25 Qxc4 would have left White with a clear
advantage.
24 ... Bxe5 25 Rxd7 Bc8 26 Re7 Bd6 27 Re4 Bxf5 28 Rxc4 Bh3 29
Rxf8+ Rxf8 30 Bf2 Be5 31 Rxc6 Rd8 32 Be3 Rf8 33 Bf2 Bd4
This tempting move may not be the best, but Tiviakov wants to keep the
game going. 33 ... Rd8 could have led to a draw by repetition after 34 Be3
Rf8 35 Bf2, etc.
34 Nd1 h6 35 Rc4 Bf6

36 Ra4
Losing his coordination. White should have played 36 b3 Rd8 37 Ne3
Rd3 38 Rc2, which has everything covered.
36 ... Rd8 37 Ne3 Rd2 38 Be1? 0-1
The decisive mistake, after which White immediately resigned. He
should have played 38 Rxa5 Rxb2 39 Rd5 Rxa2 40 Rd1 with a passive but
defensible position, whereas after 38 Be1 there might have followed 38 ...
Re2 39 Bf2 Rxb2 40 Ng2 Bc3 41 Ne1 (or 41 Re4 Rxa2) 41 ... Bb4 42 a3
Ra2, winning a pawn and the game.

Game 38
T.Fodor-Z.Medvegy
Budapest 2012

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 g3 Bb7 5 Bg2 Be7 6 Nc3

The other move order would be 6 0-0 0-0 7 Nc3 Na6!?, transposing
back into the game. The move 7 ... Na6 is the repertoire choice, instead of
the standard 7 ... 0-0, having been less well explored and as it leads to a
more complex fighting game.
6 ... Na6
 Black’s move order is probably designed to meet 7 Qc2 with 7 ... c5, but
this is not the repertoire choice. Instead, I recommend just 6 ... 0-0, after
which 7 Qc2 Na6 8 e4 d5 was covered in Game 36, Rodshtein-Yemelin.
7 0-0 0-0 8 d5
This position can also be reached via our antidote to the 7 d5 gambit
line (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 g3 Bb7 5 Bg2 Be7 6 0-0 0-0 7 d5) that
was covered in the previous game, Gaya Llodra-Tiviakov. The repertoire
antidote to that system, of 7 ... Na6, necessarily means transposing into this
position should White then choose 8 Nc3.
Of White’s other moves, 8 Ne5 will be covered in the next game, Lalic-
Tiviakov, and 8 Bf4 in Game 41, Yilmaz-Tiviakov.
8 ... Bb4!

The point; White’s centre is now subject to massive pressure and Black
wants to inflict doubled pawns.
9 Ne1
 Question: Can White just take on e6 here?

Answer: 9 dxe6 fxe6 would lead to a complex middlegame struggle in

which personally I would prefer to have Black’s centre pawns.
9 ... Bxc3 10 bxc3 Rb8
There is a good alternative in 10 ... Nc5. White can then harass the
knight with 11 Ba3 (or 11 Nd3 Nce4 12 f3 Nd6 13 c5, as in D.Rat-
V.Simakov, Szombathely 2003, where 13 ... Nc4! would have been the best,
rather than 13 ... bxc5 as played in the game), but after 11 ... Rb8 12 Nc2
Ba6 Black was already annoying White in B.Jobava-L.Aroshidze, Tbilisi
2007.
11 e4 d6 12 Nd3 Re8 13 Re1 Nd7
Inhibiting White’s intended e4-e5 advance.
14 Be3 Nac5
 15 Bxc5

Question: Why is White giving up his bishop-pair like this?

Answer: He rightly wants to inflict some damage on Black’s own pawns

while he still can. After 15 Rb1 Nxd3 16 Qxd3 Ne5 17 Qd4 c5 Black’s
position already looks preferable.

Question: Then would 15 Nxc5 not have been a better idea, with the
same objective?

Answer: It would have been very reasonable, but the bishop-pair is not
great in this closed position.
15 ... bxc5
Making room for the remaining knight to come to b6 and attack White’s
c4-pawn.
16 e5 exd5 17 exd6 Rxe1+ 18 Nxe1 Nb6
After this the game fizzles out to approximate equality. 18 ... cxd6
might have been a tad stronger here, with White struggling to hold the
balance after 19 Rb1 Ba6 20 Bxd5 Nf6.
19 dxc7 Qxc7 20 cxd5 Rd8 21 Qh5
 21 ... Bxd5
Black is already looking for some imbalance, hoping to win White’s a2-
pawn for his c5-pawn and have an outside passed pawn.
22 Rd1 Bxa2 23 Rxd8+ Qxd8 24 Qxc5 Be6 25 h3?!
An error, perhaps influenced by the clock situation, which allows Black
to take the initiative and win a pawn. 25 Bf1 would have been more
accurate when Black will struggle to find any winning chances.
25 ... Qd1 26 Qe5 Nd7 27 Qe4 Qc1 28 Qe3?
A sure sign of time shortage, exchanging queens into a lost endgame.
Unpinning the knight with 28 Kh2 or 28 Bf1 would still leave Black a pawn
down, but with queens on there would be a lot of technical difficulties for
Black.
28 ... Qxe3 29 fxe3 Nb6 30 Kf2 Na4 31 Ke2 Nxc3+ 32 Kd3 Nb5 33
Nc2 Kf8
 With due care and attention this will be winning for Black, and
Medvegy handles the technical phase well.
34 h4 Ke7 35 Bc6 Nc7 36 Be4 h6 37 Nd4 Kd6 38 Bf5 a5 39 g4 g6 40
Bxe6 Nxe6 41 Nf3 Nc5+ 42 Kc4 Nd7 43 g5 h5 44 Kb5

White’s king gets drawn away to take care of Black’s passed pawn, but
Black then wins on the other side of the board.
44 ... Kd5 45 Nd2 f6 46 gxf6 Nxf6 47 Kxa5 Ng4 48 e4+ Kd4 49 Kb5
Ke3 50 Nc4+ Kxe4 51 Nd6+ Kd5 52 Nf7 Ne5 53 Ng5 Nc4 54 Nh7 Nd6+
55 Kb4 Nf5 0-1

Game 39
A.Enkhtuul-S.Tiviakov
Nakhchivan Open 2016

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 c4 b6 4 g3 Bb7 5 Bg2 Be7 6 0-0 0-0 7 Nc3 Na6 8 a3

 Question: What is the idea behind this move?

Answer: At first this looks like a waste of time, but it has several points.
The main one is that it stops Black using the b4-square, so White may now
play d4-d5 without Black answering with ... Be7-b4, which put massive
pressure on White’s centre in the previous game. Another point is that
White may at some point play b2-b4 and make the knight on a6 look badly
placed.
8 ... Ne4 9 Nxe4
Another Tiviakov game, M.Kopylov-S.Tiviakov, Cairo 2002, went 9
Qc2 here and after 9 ... Nxc3 10 Qxc3 c5 11 Rd1 Qc7 12 Bf4 d6 13 dxc5
Nxc5 14 Rac1 the position was about equal.
9 ... Bxe4 10 Qa4
 White has also tried 10 b4 here, but Black is OK after 10 ... c6 11 Bf4
(11 Qb3 can also be met by 11 ... Nc7 with ideas of ... b6-b5) 11 ... Nc7 12
Qb3 b5! 13 Bxc7 Qxc7 14 c5 Bxf3 15 Bxf3 a5 16 a4 Rfb8 was equal in
G.Van der Stricht-S.Ovsejevitsch, Ghent 2011. One other possibility is 10
Be3 when O.Guenthner-S.Ovsejevitsch, Gerlingen 2011, went 10 ... c6 11
Bh3 c5 12 Nd2 Bb7 13 d5 exd5 14 Bg2 Nc7 15 Nb1 Bf6 with White
already struggling to hold the balance.
10 ... Qc8 11 Ne5
This allows White to gain space, but it does involve a slight weakening
of the light squares around her king.
11 ... Bxg2 12 Kxg2 Qb7+ 13 Kg1

After 13 f3 Black can keep a complex game with 13 ... Nb8 (13 ... d6 14
Qc6 allows White to simplify), after which 14 Rd1 d6 might be followed by
Black trying to arrange his pawns on light squares, the opposite colour to
his remaining bishop.
 13 ... c6
Black could also consider 13 ... Nb8, intending 14 ... d6.
14 Be3 Rfc8 15 b4
A first sign that White is struggling with the planning issues; this does
further weaken the light squares. 15 Rfd1 would have been a more flexible
move.
15 ... b5 16 Qb3 d6 17 Nd3 bxc4 18 Qxc4 Nc7 19 Rfc1 Nd5 20 Bd2
Bf6 21 e3 h5!?
Whenever I see this kind of h-pawn move I immediately think of Bent
Larsen. It is quite a good idea in this position because of the weakness of
White’s kingside light squares and the fact that there are no white pieces
posted in that sector.
22 a4 h4

23 a5
 Yet another pawn on a dark square. but White’s position is far from
easy. After 23 b5 there would follow 23 ... c5! 24 dxc5 dxc5 (24 ... Bxa1?!
would be met by 25 c6) 25 Nxc5 Qb6 26 Rab1 Be7, winning material.
23 ... Be7 24 Ra2 a6 25 Rac2 Nf6 26 f3
A belated attempt to cover the light squares, but this in turn weakens g3.
26 ... hxg3 27 hxg3 c5 28 dxc5?!
A serious mistake in which the clock may have played a part. The
engine thinks that White is still equal after 28 Kg2, but with such a
vulnerable king White would need to play very accurately to hold the
balance.
28 ... Qxf3 29 Qf4 Qd5 30 Qd4 Qg5 31 Kg2 dxc5 32 Nxc5
Or 32 bxc5 Rd8 33 Qc4 Nh5, etc.
32 ... Rd8 33 Qf4?!
White should try to trade queens with 33 Qh4, as if Black avoids the
queen swap with 33 ... Qg6, there is 34 Rh1 Nh7 35 Qe4! to force the
exchange anyway.
33 ... Qg6 34 Qf3 Rac8 35 Be1 Ng4 36 Bf2 Bxc5 37 bxc5?!
After this the position is hopeless for White. 37 Rxc5 was a better
chance; Black should still be winning after 37 ... Rxc5 38 bxc5 Ne5 39 Qf4
Nd3 40 Qh4 f6 41 Rh1 Rd5, but he certainly needs to find more good
moves than in the game.
37 ... Ne5 38 Qb7
38 Qe2 Qe4+ followed by a rook lift with 39 ... Rd5 would be hopeless
for White.
38 ... Nd3 39 Rd1 Ne1+! 40 Rxe1
40 Bxe1 Qxc2+ is also a winning decoy.
40 ... Qxc2 41 Qxa6 Qe4+ 42 Kg1 Rxc5 43 Qb6 Rdc8
 44 Rd1?!
This leads to mate, but it might be considered a merciful end. 44 Qb1
Qxb1 45 Rxb1 Rxa5 would only expose White to needless suffering.
44 ... Rh5 45 Rd8+ Kh7 46 Kf1 Rh1+ 47 Ke2
Or 47 Bg1 Qf3+, etc.
47 ... Qg4+ 0-1
White is mated after 48 Kd3 Rd1 mate.

Game 40
B.Lalic-S.Tiviakov
Etna Open, Nicolosi 2014

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 g3 Bb7 5 Bg2 Be7 6 0-0 0-0 7 Nc3 Na6 8 Ne5
Bxg2 9 Kxg2 c6
 Question: What does that move do?

Answer: It starts the process of putting pawns on the opposite colour to

his remaining bishop and making room for the queen on c7. One of the nice
things about 7 ... Na6 is that Black tends to have a rich choice of
possibilities, and here there are a couple of alternatives:
a) 9 ... Qc8 10 e4 Qb7 11 d5 Bb4 12 f3 d6 13 Nc6 Bxc3 14 bxc3 Nc5 15
Be3 Nfd7 16 a4 a5 produced a complex positional struggle in which
White’s well-placed knight compensated for his weak pawns in
A.Demianjuk-D.Khismatullin, Khanty-Mansiysk 2010.
b) 9 ... c5 10 d5 d6 11 Nc6 Qd7 12 e4 Rfe8 13 Re1 Bf8 14 Bg5 exd5 15
exd5 Rxe1 16 Qxe1 Ng4 17 h3 Re8 18 Qd2 Ne5 19 Nxe5 Rxe5 was agreed
drawn at this point in W.Arencibia Rodriguez-S.Tiviakov, Havana 2008.
Although White has more space, the black position is rock solid.
 10 e4 Qc7

11 Nf3
This position has been reached in several other games. For example:
a) 11 Bg5 d6 12 Nf3 h6 13 Bxf6 Bxf6 14 Rc1 Nb8 15 Re1 Nd7 16 d5
a6 17 Nd4 Bxd4 18 Qxd4 Rad8 19 Qd2 Rfe8 was fairly balanced at this
stage in E.Mochalov-I.Lutsko, Minsk 1996.
b) In another Tiviakov game White played 11 Bf4, after which 11 ... d6
12 Nd3 Rfd8 13 Qf3 Qb7 14 d5 cxd5 15 cxd5 Rac8 16 Rfd1 exd5 17 exd5
b5 18 a3 Rc4 gave Black counterplay in I.Zaja-S.Tiviakov, Warsaw 2005.
In general engines seem to mis-assess this position as being better for White
on account of his greater space, but this does not matter so much after a
couple of minor pieces have been exchanged and there is no clear target for
White to attack. Meanwhile the exchange of light-squared bishops has left
White’s king potentially vulnerable.
11 ... d6 12 Qe2
 Preparing e4-e5 to increase his control of terrain, but this too fails to
achieve anything concrete.
12 ... Nd7 13 e5 Qb7!?

As usual Tiviakov is looking for a fighting game. The way to shoot for
equality was via 13 ... dxe5 14 dxe5 h6, but being considerably higher rated
than his GM opponent, Black wants to play.
14 h4
Taking kingside space and possibly preparing to put a bishop or knight
on the g5-square. Tiviakov in turn continues to eschew any fight for
equality that he might have gained by taking on e5.
14 ... c5!? 15 exd6
15 Nb5 would give Black exactly the kind of imbalance he is seeking
after 15 ... cxd4! 16 exd6 Bf6. I mentioned earlier that White’s king was
potentially vulnerable on the light squares, and this becomes clearer when
the queen on b7 is gazing directly at White’s king on g2.
 15 ... Bxd6 16 Qe4 Rab8
16 ... Qxe4 17 Nxe4 Be7 was the obvious line, but Black wants to
activate his rook if the queens are coming off.
17 Rd1 Nf6 18 Qxb7 Rxb7 19 dxc5 Bxc5 20 Ne5 Rc8 21 b3 Nb8 22
Bb2 Kf8 23 Rd3 Nc6 24 Nxc6 Rxc6 25 Rad1 Be7 26 Kf3 h5 27 Ne4 Nxe4
28 Kxe4 f6 29 Rd7
An interesting battle; Lalic is continuing to hoover off pieces where he
can, whilst Tiviakov strives to keep play in the position.
29 ... Rcc7 30 Rxc7 Rxc7 31 a4?! Ke8 32 Bc1 Bc5 33 Be3 Ke7 34 Ra1
a5!

Question: Is Black not making his bishop ‘bad’ by putting his pawns on
dark squares?
 Answer: The main factor his is that his two pawns on the queenside
blockade White’s three; meanwhile he can still create a passed pawn on the
kingside. Tiviakov does not quite manage to win this game, but he tries to
the end.
35 Kd3 Rd7+ 36 Ke2 e5 37 Rb1 Ke6 38 f3 Bxe3 39 Kxe3 Rd4 40 f4
g6 41 fxe5 fxe5 42 Rf1 Rg4 43 Kf3 g5 44 hxg5 Rxg5 45 Rd1 e4+ 46 Kf2
Rf5+ 47 Ke3 Rf3+ 48 Kxe4 Rxg3 49 Rd5 Rxb3 50 Rxh5 Kd6 51 Kd4
Kc6 52 Rh6+ Kb7 53 c5 Rb4+ 54 Kd5 bxc5 55 Kxc5 ½-½
The final position is quite drawn. Nevertheless, I found this game
fascinating for the way Tiviakov kept the fight going against an opponent
who was clearly happy with a draw.

Game 41
M.Yilmaz-S.Tiviakov
World Teams Championship, Antalya 2013

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 b6 3 g3 Bb7 4 Bg2 e6 5 0-0 Be7 6 d4 0-0 7 Nc3 Na6 8 Bf4
Ne4 9 Nxe4 Bxe4 10 Qa4 Nb8!?
 In the given position this is the best way to re-energize Black’s knight. It
also succeeds in provoking his opponent.
11 d5!? exd5 12 cxd5 Bxd5 13 Rfd1
White is hoping for typical gambit-style compensation along the open
files.
13 ... Bc6 14 Qc2
After 14 Qc4 Black can play 14 ... Bf6.
14 ... Na6 15 e4 Bb7 16 Rac1 Re8?!
Giving White a pleasant choice between recovering his pawn and
getting excellent compensation. Instead, he might have tried 16 ... d6 17 e5
(if 17 Nd4 Bg5) 17 ... Nc5 18 Nd4 Bxg2 19 Kxg2 Qd7 20 Nf5 Ne6, with
reasonable chances.
17 Nd4?!
The main problem with Black’s last move is that it left f7 unguarded, so
White has 17 Qc4 Nc5 18 Ne5, forcing 18 ... d5 19 exd5 Bd6, which gives
back the pawn with a somewhat unpleasant position.
The other issue is that 17 Bxc7 gets the pawn back and leaves Black
fighting for equality: for example, 17 ... Nxc7 (17 ... Qc8!? might be better,
though it is still nice for White after 18 e5 Nxc7 19 Qxc7 Bc6 20 Qxc8
Raxc8 21 Nd4, etc) 18 Qxc7 Qxc7 19 Rxc7 Bxe4 20 Rdxd7 Bf6 21 Nd4
Bxg2 22 Kxg2 Red8 23 Rxd8+ Bxd8 24 Rd7 Bf6 25 b3 Bxd4 26 Rxd4 will
then see the return of White’s rook to the seventh rank.
17 ... Bf8

Black can equalize with 17 ... Bg5, but as usual Tiviakov looks for
fighting options.
18 f3?!
After this passive move Black takes over the initiative. White should
probably play 18 a3, after which 18 ... Nc5 19 Nb5 d6 20 b4 a6 21 bxc5
axb5 22 cxd6 cxd6 23 Qd3 is equal. 18 Bxc7 is also equal now, as Black
plays 18 ... Nxc7 19 Qxc7 Bxe4, etc.
 18 ... d5 19 Nc6 Qf6 20 exd5 Bc5+ 21 Kh1 Bxc6 22 dxc6 Nb4 23 Qc3
Qxc3
Black would lose a piece after 23 ... Qxc6? 24 Qxb4!. On the other
hand, it was worth considering 23 ... Qe6, when 24 ... Nxa2 is threatened.
24 bxc3 Nxc6
Not 24 ... Nxa2? as after 25 Rc2 Rad8 26 Rxd8 Rxd8 27 Bf1 the knight
is trapped and c7 also hangs.
25 Bxc7 Rac8 26 Bd6 Bxd6 27 Rxd6

White has managed to recover the sacrificed pawn, but finds himself in
an endgame in which Black has all the chances.
27 ... Rc7 28 Rcd1 g6 29 Bf1 Re5 30 Rd7 Rxd7 31 Rxd7 Rc5 32
Rd3?!
Going passive with a rook is rarely a good idea in the endgame. White
should have played 32 f4, after which 32 ... Rxc3 33 Bb5 a5 34 a4 gives
Black a lot of technical problems, and probably it should be a draw with
best play.
32 ... Ne5 33 Rd8+ Kg7 34 f4 Ng4 35 Be2 Nf2+ 36 Kg2 Ne4 37 Rd7
Nxc3 38 Bg4 Nb5 39 Be2 Nc3
Avoiding any commitment until after the time control. The next time
Black gets this position he plays 39 ... a5.
40 Bg4 Nb5 41 Be2 a5

42 h4
42 a4 might have been a better defence: for example, 42 ... Nc3 43 Bg4
Rc6 44 Rd4 f5 45 Bf3 makes it difficult for Black to improve his position.
Of course, such stubborn defence for either a draw or a loss is not for
everyone; most players prefer to roll the dice and try for swindles.
42 ... Nc3 43 Bg4 Rd5 44 Rc7 Rd2+ 45 Kh3 Nd5 46 Rb7 Rd3 47 Kh2
And not 47 Be6 because of 47 ... Nxf4+.
47 ... Re3 48 h5 a4 49 Bd1?
 This just helps Black get his pawns further down the board. Probably
White was hoping for 49 ... a3 50 Bb3, but 49 Kg2 would have made it
harder for Black.
49 ... Nc3 50 Bg4 b5 51 a3 Re1?!
51 ... Ne4 would have been more direct: for example, 52 hxg6 hxg6 53
Rxb5 Nxg3 54 Rb7 Nh5 is winning.
52 h6+?
Playing for a trick, but when Black doesn’t fall for it he has to resign. 52
Kg2 was the right move when Black still has work to do.
52 ... Kxh6 53 Rxf7 b4!
Setting up a lethal passed pawn.
54 axb4 a3 55 Bf3 a2 56 g4!?

A nice try, but Black is never going to fall for that one.

Question: What one?

 Answer: White is threatening mate with 57 g5.
56 ... g5 0-1
Chapter Nine
Queen’s Indian: 4 a3 & 4 Nc3 Bb7
5 a3
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 a3

Although the former world champion Tigran Petrosian pioneered this

move, it was Garry Kasparov who popularized it with a series of sensational
victories in the 1980s. White can also play 4 Nc3 and then meet our
repertoire move of 4 ... Bb7 with 5 a3.
 Question: What is the idea behind this move? It looks like a waste of
time!

Answer: White invests a tempo in preventing Black from pinning a

knight on c3 with ... Bf8-b4. In so doing he hopes to win the battle for the
centre.
4 ... Bb7 5 Nc3

5 ... Ne4!?
This somewhat unusual move is the repertoire choice. It leads to a
complex positional game in which Black has his fair share of the chances.
6 Nxe4
The critical response, but not the only one, White has tried two
alternatives here:
a) 6 Qc2 Nxc3 7 bxc3!? (7 Qxc3 gives White nothing: for example, 7 ...
Be7 8 g3
 a5 9 Be3 a4 10 Bg2 d6 11 0-0 0-0 12 d5 Bf6 was fine for Black in
A.Graf-P.Harikrishna, German Bundesliga 2014) 7 ... f5 8 e3 (8 g3 Be4 9
Qb3 Nc6 10 Bg2 Na5 11 Qa4 Bc6 was good for Black in P.Hanko-
K.Chernyshov, Litomysl 1996) 8 ... Be7 9 Bd3 0-0 10 e4 fxe4 11 Bxe4
Bxe4 12 Qxe4 Nc6 13 0-0 Na5 gave Black excellent play in Gupta-Duda
(Game 42).
b) 6 Bd2 is harmless: for example, 6 ... Be7 7 d5 f5 8 g3 Bf6 9 Rc1 c6
10 dxe6 dxe6 11 Bg2 c5 12 0-0 Nxd2 13 Nxd2 Bxg2 14 Kxg2 0-0 was
pleasant for Black in Shaked-De Firmian (Game 43).
6 ... Bxe4

7 Nd2
The critical line, fighting for the centre:
a) Lajos Portisch has shown how to handle 7 Bf4: for example, 7 ... Be7
8 e3 d6 9 Bd3 Bxd3 10 Qxd3 a5 11 b3 Nd7 12 0-0 0-0 13 e4 Re8 14 Rfd1
Qc8 was fine for Black in Gelfand-Portisch (Game 44).
 b) 7 e3 Be7 8 Be2 (8 Bd3 Bxd3 9 Qxd3 d6 10 e4 Nd7 11 0-0 a5 12 Bf4
0-0 13 Rad1 Qc8 was comfortable for Black in I.Sokolov-B.Gulko, Malmo
2001) 8 ... 0-0 9 0-0 d5 10 b4 dxc4 11 Nd2 Bd5 12 Nxc4 a5 13 bxa5 b5 saw
Black take the initiative in Neverov-Baklan (Game 45).
7 ... Bg6

The most active square for the bishop.

8 g3!
The critical move; White’s light-squared bishop will eye the long
diagonal which Black has just abandoned. White has also played 8 e4: for
example, 8 ... Nc6 9 d5 Nd4 and now:
a) 10 Nf3 Nxf3+ 11 Qxf3 Bc5 (11 ... Bd6 is also possible) 12 Bd3 0-0
13 Be3 exd5 14 cxd5 Bxe3 15 Qxe3 f5 gave Black good play in Pankov-
Ogloblin (Game 46).
b) After 10 Bd3 (M.Krasenkow-K.Chernyshov, Warsaw 2002) Lysyj
recommends 10 ... Qg5 11 0-0 Bh5 12 Nf3 Nxf3+ 13 Qxf3 Qxc1 14 Raxc1
(14 Qxh5 Qxb2 15 e5 Bc5 is good for Black) 14 ... Bxf3 15 gxf3 Bd6 with
Black for choice.
8 ... Nc6 9 e3 e5 10 d5 Na5

11 h4
Hitting the knight on a5 with 11 b4 allows Black counterplay with 11 ...
Nb7 12 Bb2 Bd6 13 Bg2 a5, as in Landenbergue-Chernyshov (Game 47).
11 ... h6 12 e4
White has also tried two other moves here:
a) 12 Bh3 looks a little strange and 12 ... Nb7 13 0-0 a5 14 b3 Bd6 15
Bb2 0-0 16 f4 Bd3 17 fxe5 Bxf1 18 Bxf1 Bc5 was Chekletsov-Chernyshov
(Game 48).
b) 12 b4 Nb7 13 Bb2 Bd6 14 e4 a5 15 Bc3 Qe7 16 Rb1 axb4 17 axb4 0-
0 18 Bd3 f5 gave Black counterplay in A.Dreev-A.Ostrovskiy, Internet
(rapid) 2018.
12 e4 Bd6 13 Bd3 Nb7 14 Bc2 a5 15 b3 Qe7
 16 Bb2 h5 17 Qe2 Nc5
Black had good fighting chances in this original position in Vorobiov-
Lysyj (Game 49).

Game 42
A.Gupta-J.Duda
PRO League (Internet, rapid) 2019

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 a3
Many White players prefer a 4 Nc3 Bb7 5 a3 move order which reaches
the position after White’s fifth move. This is done to avoid some of Black’s
fourth move options, such as 4 a3 Ba6 or 4 a3 c5.
4 ... Bb7 5 Nc3 Ne4 6 Qc2
One of several moves; the alternatives will be covered in the subsequent
games.
 6 ... Nxc3 7 bxc3!?

Question: Is it good to double your own pawns like that?

Answer: This is certainly a controversial decision. White wants to play

e2-e4 and if Black is to stop this he has to weaken himself with ... f7-f5.
After the standard 7 Qxc3 Black can develop comfortably with 7 ... Be7: for
example, 8 Bf4 (8 g3 0-0 9 Bg2 c5 10 dxc5 bxc5 11 0-0 Nc6 12 Bf4 d6 13
Rfd1 Qc7 14 Rac1 a5 was similarly fine for Black in J.Tin-D.Komarov,
Penang 2015) 8 ... 0-0 9 e3 c5 10 dxc5 bxc5 11 Be5 f6 12 Bg3 Nc6 13 Rd1
Rf7 14 Be2 a5 gave Black a comfortable game in Y.Pak-S.Tiviakov,
Nakhchivan 2018.
7 ... f5 8 e3 Be7 9 Bd3 0-0 10 e4 fxe4 11 Bxe4 Bxe4 12 Qxe4 Nc6 13
0-0 Na5 14 d5!?
 Taking space in return for giving Black the c5-square. 14 Qd3 was a
sensible alternative, whilst the engine likes 14 c5 bxc5 15 d5 Bf6 16 dxe6
d5 17 Qg4 Bxc3 18 Bg5 Qd6 19 Rac1, assessing this wild position as
‘equal’. I would need some convincing that Black’s connected passed
pawns allow White equality here.
14 ... Nb3 15 Rb1 Nxc1 16 Rbxc1 Bxa3 17 Ra1 Bd6

There was also a case for putting the bishop on c5.

18 dxe6 Qe7 19 Nd4 dxe6 20 f4 Rae8 21 g3 a5 22 Kg2 Qf7 23 Rae1
Qg6
Exchanging queens is a practical decision, but not necessarily the best.
The engine prefers 23 ... e5!? 24 fxe5 Qxc4, which would be rather murky
and difficult to play compared to the position without queens.
24 Nxe6
24 Qxg6 hxg6 25 Nxe6 Rf6 26 Nd4 looks balanced here as White can
displace the strong bishop on d6 with Nb5.
 24 ... Qxe4+ 25 Rxe4 Re7 26 c5!

26 ... Rxe6!?

Question: Is it good to sacrifice material in the endgame like that?

Answer: It is an interesting practical decision. Black prefers to sacrifice

the exchange rather than opt for a drawish position with 26 ... bxc5 27 Ra1
Ra8 28 f5. Black was higher rated, which may explain this decision.
27 Rxe6 Bxc5 28 Rfe1 Kf7 29 Rc6 Bd6 30 Rc4 Ra8 31 Ra1 Ke6 32
Kf3 b5 33 Re4+ Kd7 34 f5 a4 35 h4
It makes more sense to bring the king over to the queenside: for
example, with 35 Ke2.
35 ... c5 36 g4 b4 37 cxb4 cxb4
 38 g5?
This natural move loses. White had a study-like way to hold a draw via
38 Rd1! b3 39 Rb4! Kc6 40 Rc1+ Kd5 41 Rb5+ Kd4 42 Rc6 Be7 43 Rb7,
threatening Rd7+ and repeating the position after 43 ... Bc5 44 Rb5 Be7.
This would have been very hard to see, especially if White was short of
time.
38 ... b3 39 Ree1?!
Losing immediately, but there is probably very little that can be done.
For example, after 39 f6 gxf6 40 Rexa4 there follows 40 ... Rxa4 41 Rxa4
b2 42 Ra7+ Kc6 43 Ra6+ Kc5 44 Ra5+ Kc4 45 Ra4+ Bb4 and the pawn
queens.
39 ... a3 40 Reb1 b2 41 Ra2 Ra5
With White’s rooks tied to the pawns, this is completely winning for
Black.
 42 Kg4 Ra4+ 43 Kh3 Rf4 44 f6 gxf6 45 gxf6 Rf2 46 Kg4 Ke6 47 Rd1
b1Q! 48 Rxb1 Rxa2 49 Rf1
The fact that White continues here shows that the players were very
likely short of time.
49 ... Rg2+ 50 Kh5 Kf7

51 Kh6
51 Rf4!? might have been worth trying, at least to bring a lighter
element to the game.

Question: Why couldn’t Black then take the rook?

Answer: He could, but then what is White’s next move?

51 ... a2 52 Kxh7 Be5 0-1

Game 43
T.Shaked-N.De Firmian
U.S. Championship Semi-final, Denver 1998

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 a3 Bb7 5 Nc3 Ne4 6 Bd2

Question: What’s the idea behind that move? Can Black not just snaffle
the bishop-pair?

Answer: White wants to play d4-d5 without contracting doubled c-

pawns, and if Black takes the bishop with 6 ... Nxd2 then 7 Qxd2 prepares
to dominate the centre with 8 e2-e4. Although White does manage to get
d4-d5 in, Black obtains comfortable play by reinforcing his knight.
6 ... Be7 7 d5 f5!? 8 g3
After 8 Nxe4 fxe4 9 Nd4 Black obtains the better game with 9 ... exd5
10 cxd5 0-0 11 Qb3 Bd6: for example, 12 e3 Na6 13 Qc3 Qf6.
 8 ... Bf6 9 Rc1 c6 10 dxe6
Sooner or later White will have to do this. After 10 Bg2 0-0 11 0-0 there
is 11 ... cxd5 12 cxd5 Nxc3 13 Bxc3 Bxd5, leaving White struggling to
pretend his pawn loss is a sacrifice.
10 ... dxe6 11 Bg2 c5 12 0-0 Nxd2 13 Nxd2 Bxg2 14 Kxg2 0-0 15 b4
Just weakening his position. Black is just better here because his bishop
is by far the strongest minor piece, but White could have made it harder for
his opponent with 15 f4 and after 15 ... Nc6 just look for a draw via 16 Nf3
Qxd1 17 Rfxd1 Rad8 18 Kf2.
15 ... cxb4 16 axb4 Nc6 17 b5 Na5 18 Ncb1
After 18 e4 Black can play 18 ... Qd3, though maybe this is where
White should seek salvation via exchanges and 19 Qc2.
18 ... Rc8 19 Qa4 Qc7 20 Qa2 Kh8
Getting away from the stare of White’s queen on a2, but maybe 20 ...
Qc5 would have been more precise.
21 Kg1 f4?
 Question: Does this launch an attack?

Answer: Black is, indeed, looking to drum up an attack against White’s

king, but it comes at the high cost of the e4-square. There were numerous
moves to keep a nice plus: for example, 21 ... Qe7.
22 Ne4 Bd4
The consistent follow-up to his previous move, but White can defend
here. Note that 22 ... Nxc4? is just bad because of 23 Nbd2.
23 Nbd2 Qe5 24 Qb1 Qh5 25 Nf3 Bc5
25 ... e5 would have been better; White’s forces now develop great
activity.
26 Rfd1 fxg3 27 hxg3 Nxc4 28 Kg2
Introducing the possibility of putting a rook on the h-file. Black’s
position has gone from being very good to quite desperate, but there are a
few twists and turns yet to come.
28 ... Be7 29 Rd7 Na3 30 Qb2 Qe8 31 Rcd1
31 Ne5! would have been very strong: for example, 31 ... Nc4 32 Rxc4
Rxc4 33 Rxe7 Qxe7 34 Nxc4 etc.
31 ... Rc2 32 Qb3
And here 32 Qd4 would have been much better: for instance, 32 ... Rxe2
(and not 32 ... Nxb5?? 33 Qd3 Rc7 34 Qxb5) 33 Qd3 Rb2 34 Ne5 Nc2 35
Qc3 Ra2 36 Qb3, etc.
32 ... Rxe2 33 Qd3 Ra2 34 Rxa7 h6 35 Ne5?
Missing another win via 35 Qb3 Re2 36 Rdd7. It looks like both players
were short of time.
35 ... Qh5 36 Rxe7 Qxe5

37 Qe3?
Evidently missing the reply. White should play 37 Ra7 when 37 ... Qd5
38 Qxd5 exd5 39 Rxd5 Re2 starts to look drawish.
 37 ... Raxf2+! 0-1
A complete turnaround. White is losing the queen after 38 Nxf2 (both
38 Qxf2 Qxe4+ and 38 Kg1 R2f3 are hopeless) 38 ... Qxe3.

Game 44
B.Gelfand-L.Portisch
GMA Qualifier, Moscow 1990

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 a3 Bb7 5 Nc3 Ne4

It is always reassuring to find a respectable GM such as Lajos Portisch
on the black side of this line. His serious approach to the opening and deep
preparation is legendary.
6 Nxe4 Bxe4 7 Bf4

Question: Does this have something special in mind?

 Answer: It is not an attempt to refute Black’s opening; White just
develops his forces and steers the struggle towards the middlegame.
7 ... Be7 8 e3 d6 9 Bd3 Bxd3 10 Qxd3 a5 11 b3 Nd7 12 0-0 0-0 13 e4
Portisch has reached this position several times: for example P.Nikolic-
L.Portisch, Reykjavik 1991, went 13 h3 Re8 14 e4 e5 15 Be3 exd4 16 Bxd4
Ne5 17 Qc3 (17 Bxe5 dxe5 18 Qxd8 Raxd8 19 Nxe5 Bf8 is just good for
Black, who will recover his pawn and have the better minor piece) 17 ...
Bf6 18 Rad1 Nxf3+ 19 Qxf3 Bxd4 20 Rxd4 Re5 21 Qf4 Qe7 22 Rfd1 Rf8
23 f3 f5 with complete equality and a draw soon agreed.
13 ... Re8
Black can also play the immediate 13 ... e5 as after 14 dxe5 dxe5 15
Nxe5 Nxe5 16 Qxd8 Bxd8 17 Bxe5 Re8 18 Bg3 Rxe4 results in full
equality.
14 Rfd1 Qc8
 15 e5
P.Cramling-L.Portisch, London 1996, varied with 15 Re1, after which
15 ... Qb7 16 Rad1 Rab8 17 d5 Bf6 18 e5 Nxe5 19 Nxe5 dxe5 20 Bxe5
Bxe5 21 Rxe5 exd5 22 Rxd5 Qc6 23 Rd7 g6 produced an equal position
and a draw soon afterwards.

Question: This line looks a bit drawish. What if I want to win as Black?

Answer: That depends on the level of the opposition; weaker players are
unlikely to replicate the moves of top grandmasters and are more likely to
make errors later on.
15 ... dxe5 16 Nxe5 Nxe5 17 Bxe5 Bd6
17 ... f6 18 Bf4 Qd7 is probably also fine for Black, but classical players
like Portisch prefer to avoid creating any weaknesses, such as e6.
18 Qg3 Bxe5 19 dxe5 Qb7 20 Rd4 Rad8 21 Rad1
White gets to control the d-file, but Black gets counterplay against
White’s queenside pawns.
21 ... Rxd4 22 Rxd4
 22 ... Qc6
22 ... a4! would have been a crisper way to equalize: for example, 23 b4
(or 23 bxa4 Qa6) 23 ... c5! suddenly creates back-rank problems. Now
White could prevent Black from opening the queenside and keep an edge.
23 h4
Missing his chance. 23 a4 would have been more difficult for Black
because there is no queenside counterplay, whereas now Portisch steers the
game towards a draw.
23 ... Qc5 24 Rd7 Qxa3 25 Rxc7 h6 26 Rb7
26 Qe3 was the last chance to trouble Black.
26 ... Qc1+ 27 Kh2 a4 28 bxa4 ½-½
Once the queenside pawns have been hoovered it will be a complete
draw.

Game 45
V.Neverov-V.Baklan
Cesme Open 2016

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 a3 Bb7 5 Nc3 Ne4 6 Nxe4 Bxe4 7 e3

As with 7 Bf4, which was covered in the previous game, this quiet
continuation aims mainly at simple development and switching the
emphasis of the struggle to the middlegame. The critical 7 Nd2 will be
examined in the last three games of this chapter.
7 ... Be7 8 Be2
Instead, 8 Bd3 d5 9 Bxe4 dxe4 10 Nd2 f5 11 f3 was V.Kramnik-
R.Vaganian, Horgen 1995, and now 11 ... exf3 (rather than 11 ... Bd6, as
played by Vaganian) 12 Qxf3 c6 was best with approximate equality after
13 0-0 0-0 14 Nb3 Bd6 intending 15 ... Qc7.
8 ... 0-0 9 0-0 d5 10 b4
 10 Nd2 would force Black’s bishop to retreat to the kingside, but it is
not badly placed there. F.Kuijpers-H.Bohm, Leeuwarden 1972, continued
10 ... Bg6 11 b4 c6 12 Qb3 Nd7 13 Bb2 Nf6 14 f3 Qd7 15 Rfc1 Rfc8 with
comfortable equality for Black.
10 ... dxc4 11 Nd2 Bd5 12 Nxc4 a5!?

Fighting chess! 12 ... c5 would have equalized for Black, but he wants
to keep the game going. Such decisions are usually influenced by the
relative strength of the two players, Baklan being over 100 points higher
rated than his opponent.
13 bxa5 b5 14 Ne5 Rxa5 15 Bd2
15 Qc2 was a good option here because 15 ... b4 can be answered by 16
e4 Bb7 17 Rd1, when White’s space advantage gives him a slight edge.
15 ... Rxa3 16 Rxa3 Bxa3 17 Bxb5
 Either missing or underestimating the strength of Black’s reply. White
should have played 17 Qc2, with adequate compensation for the pawn after
17 ... f6 18 Nf3 b4 (Black would like to avoid this ugly move, but 18 ... c6
is refuted by 19 e4) 19 e4 Bb7 20 Bc4.
17 ... Bxg2!
A bolt from the blue; Black recovers the piece with a fork on d5.
18 Kxg2 Qd5+ 19 e4 Qxb5 20 Qb1 Qxb1 21 Rxb1 Rc8 22 Rb7 Bd6
23 f4
The problem with this move is that Black can start to take control of
some light squares with ... f7-f6-f5. 23 Nc4 Nc6 24 Be3 would have been
better when a later ... f7-f5 could be met by f2-f3.
23 ... f6 24 Nc4 Nc6 25 Be3 Bf8 26 Kf2 f5

27 exf5
 27 Kf3 would have been more stubborn. Both sides make some small
errors at this stage, which might indicate the onset of time pressure.
27 ... exf5 28 d5
And here 28 Ne5 would have been better.
28 ... Nb4
28 ... Ne7 might have been more accurate as after 29 d6 cxd6 30 Nxd6
it seems that Black can go for the h2-pawn with 30 ... Rc2+ 31 Kf3 (31 Kg3
is bad because of 31 ... Nd5!) 31 ... Rxh2, etc.
29 Rb5 c6
Exchanging the last queenside pawn, which as Baklan knows full well
will make his winning chances problematic. He could get the same kind of
position after 29 ... Rd8 30 d6 cxd6 31 Rxb4 d5, recovering the piece.
30 dxc6 Rxc6

Question: Is Black winning the endgame?

 Answer: It is difficult to say, but White is going to get tortured for a
very long time.
31 Ne5 Rc2+ 32 Kf3 Rc3
And not 32 ... Rxh2 (or two moves later, 34 ... Rxh2) because then 33
Rb8 leaves Black tied up and threatened by 36 Bc5 and 36 Nd7.
33 Ke2 Rc2+ 34 Kf3 Bd6 35 Rb6 Bxe5 36 Rxb4
After 36 fxe5 Nd5 37 Rb5 Nc7 38 Rb7 Ne6 Black’s knight arrives on an
ideal blockade square, directly in front of White’s passed e-pawn.
36 ... Bf6 37 Rb5 g6 38 Rb8+ Kf7 39 Rb7+ Be7 40 h3 Rc3 41 Ke2
Ke6 42 Rb5 Bd6 43 h4 h5 44 Rb6 Kd5 45 Ra6 Ra3

46 Rxa3
The rook exchange is forced because 46 Rb6 loses immediately to 46 ...
Rxe3+.
 46 ... Bxa3 47 Kd3 Bb2 48 Bd2 Bd4 49 Ba5 Bf6 50 Be1 Kc5 51 Bf2+
Kd5 52 Be1 Be7 53 Bf2 Bd6 54 Be3 Bc7 55 Bd2 Bb6 56 Bc3 Ke6 57 Be1
Bg1 58 Ba5 Bh2 59 Ke3 Kd5 60 Kf3 Bg1 61 Bd8 Kc4 62 Ke2 Bc5 63 Bf6
Bb6 64 Be7 Kd4 65 Kf3 Kd3 66 Bb4 Bd8 67 Be1 Bf6 68 Bf2 Kd2 69
Be3+ Ke1 70 Kg3? Ke2 71 Bb6 Kf1 72 Kh3 0-1

Black is gradually squeezing his way in: for example, 72 ... Be7 73 Kg3
Ke2 74 Bd4 Bb4 75 Kg2 Be1 76 Bf6 Ke3 77 Bg5 Ke4 78 Kh3 Kf3 79 Bh6
Bd2 wins the f4-pawn.

Game 46
G.Pankov-N.Ogloblin
Russian Team Championship 2007

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 a3 Bb7 5 Nc3 Ne4 6 Nxe4 Bxe4 7 Nd2 Bg6!

 Question: That looks like a strange place for the bishop! Should it not
retreat
to b7?

Answer: 7 ... Bb7 8 e4 would leave Black’s bishop on b7 rather

passively placed. From g6 it will enjoy much greater influence.
8 e4
White’s main line, 8 g3, will be examined in the next two games.
8 ... Nc6! 9 d5
Forcing, but also forced. Moving the knight to protect the d4-pawn
would lose the one on e4.
9 ... Nd4 10 Nf3
M.Krasenkow-K.Chernyshov, Warsaw 2002, varied at this point with 10
Bd3, after which 10 ... e5 11 0-0 Bd6 12 b3 c5 13 Nb1 0-0 14 Nc3 a6 15 g3
Qe7 16 f3 f5 was at least equal for Black at this stage. Black can also
consider other ways of meeting 10 Bd3: for example, Igor Lysyj gives the
line 10 ... Qg5!? 11 0-0 Bh5 12 Nf3 Nxf3+ 13 Qxf3 Qxc1 14 Raxc1 Bxf3
15 gxf3 Bd6 with Black having an edge already.
10 ... Nxf3+ 11 Qxf3

11 ... Bc5
Not bad, but perhaps Black can do even better. The engine recommends
11 ... exd5 and it looks like it is right: for example, 12 cxd5 (12 exd5 Bc5
13 Qe2+ Kf8 puts Black ahead in development; he can follow up with ...
Qd8-f6) 12 ... Qe7 13 Bd3 f5 14 d6 Qe5 15 Bf4 fxe4 16 Bxe5 exf3 17
Bxg6+ hxg6 18 dxc7 fxg2 19 Rg1 d6 followed by ... Ke8-d7 will round up
the pawn on c7 and leave Black better. Lines like this are more suitable for
silicon entities than carbon ones.
12 Bd3 0-0 13 Be3 exd5 14 cxd5 Bxe3 15 Qxe3 f5 16 0-0 f4!?
 It is certainly tempting to have an advanced f-pawn plus access to the
e5-square, but perhaps Black should settle for just 16 ... fxe4 17 Bxe4 Bxe4
18 Qxe4 Qf6 with an equal game.
17 Qh3 Qe7 18 Rac1 Qd6
18 ... Bxe4? just loses a piece to 19 Rfe1.
19 e5 Qxe5
And not 19 ... Qxd5? because of 20 Bc4, winning the queen.
20 Bxg6 hxg6 21 Qxd7 Rf7 22 Qe6 Qxe6 23 dxe6 Re7 24 Rc6 Rd8 25
h4 Rd2 26 Rfc1 Re2 27 Rxc7 R2xe6 28 Rxe7 Rxe7 29 Rc2 Kh7 30 Kh2
g5 31 Kh3 gxh4
31 ... Kg6 was another way to maintain equality.
32 Kxh4 f3!
 33 gxf3
Despite the extra pawn it is still a draw, but White can choose to play on
for a while in the hope that Black makes a mistake.

Question: Can White not play 33 g4 intending Kh4-g3?

Answer: In principle that would be a good idea to try and round up the
f-pawn without doubling his pawns. Unfortunately there is a serious
problem in 33 ... Re2!.
33 ... Re6 34 f4 Kg6 35 Kg4 Kf6 36 Rc7 a6 37 a4 Re4 38 Rc6+ Kf7
39 Rxb6 Rxa4 40 Kg5 Ra1 41 b4 a5 42 Rb7+ Kg8 43 b5 a4 44 Ra7 Rb1
45 Rxa4 Rxb5+ 46 f5 Rb2 47 f3 Rg2+ 48 Rg4 Rf2 49 Kf4 Kf7 50 Rg6
Rf1 ½-½

Game 47
C.Landenbergue-K.Chernyshov
Cappelle-la-Grande Open 2006

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 a3 Bb7 5 Nc3 Ne4 6 Nxe4 Bxe4 7 Nd2 Bg6 8

g3!

The most testing line, White’s bishop will come to the diagonal that
Black’s has just abandoned. 8 e4 was examined in the previous game,
Pankov-Ogloblin.
8 ... Nc6 9 e3
An essential move. After 9 Bg2 Black has 9 ... Nxd4 10 Bxa8 Bc2,
winning the queen.
9 ... e5!
White has been building a very harmonious position and Black needs to
have a foothold in the centre. The position this creates is quite unusual, but
it is one in which Black has counterplay.
 Amongst Black’s other tries 9 ... a6 was played in an early game in this
line, G.Kasparov-U.Andersson, Tilburg 1981, which resulted in a famous
victory for Kasparov after 10 b4 b5 11 cxb5 axb5 12 Bb2 Na7 13 h4 h6 14
d5 exd5 15 Bg2 c6 16 0-0 f6 17 Re1 Be7 18 Qg4 Kf7 19 h5 Bh7 20 e4 dxe4
21 Bxe4 Bxe4 22 Nxe4 Nc8 23 Rad1 Ra7 24 Nxf6 1-0. In light of this it is
interesting that Chernyshov experimented with 9 ... Rb8 in the game
M.Mozharov-K.Chernyshov, Moscow 2010, the sequel being 10 Bg2 (10 b4
looks more critical, along the lines of Kasparov-Andersson) 10 ... a6 11 b4
b5 12 Qe2 Be7 13 0-0 0-0 14 Nb3 d5 15 cxd5 exd5 16 Bb2 Na7 17 Nc5
with a horrible position for Black at this stage. Perhaps Chernyshov was
just throwing his opponent on his own resources with 9 ... Rb8.
10 d5
Taking space. 10 Nf3 is not unplayable, but after 10 ... exd4 11 Nxd4
Nxd4 12 exd4 Bd6 Black achieves comfortable equality.
10 ... Na5 11 b4
Driving the knight to the passive b7 square, though in doing so White
invites a counterattack based on ... a7-a5. Simple development fails to
trouble White according to Lysyj’s analysis: for example, 11 Bg2 Bd6 12 0-
0 0-0 (12 ... Bd3 13 Re1 Nxc4? loses to 14 Qb3!) 13 Qe2 (or 13 b4 Nb7 14
Bb2 a5, attacking the b4-pawn) 13 ... Nb7 14 Ne4 (alternatively, if 14 h4 h6
15 b4 a5, as usual) 14 ... Bxe4 15 Bxe4 f5 16 Bg2 e4 17 b4 a5 18 Bb2 Qe7
with an edge for Black.
White’s other move is 11 h4, as covered in the next game, Cheknetsov-
Chernyshov.
11 ... Nb7 12 Bb2 Bd6
 Question: Isn’t that a strange square for the bishop?

Answer: Yes, it does look odd, but that does not mean that it is bad.
With Black’s queen’s bishop out on g6 already there is no reason the move
Black’s d-pawn, and on d6 the bishop not only protects e5, but can
participate in a counterattack against White’s queenside with ... a7-a5.
13 Bg2 a5!
A key move for Black.
14 Bc3 Qe7!
Another important move, continuing to pile the pressure on b4 and at
the same time supporting a possible ... e5-e4 advance.
15 0-0 0-0 16 Qb3
White can prevent ... Bg6-d3 with 16 Nf3, but then 16 ... Be4 is a good
move. In either case the game is still fairly balanced at this stage.
 16 ... Bd3 17 Rfe1 e4 18 Qb2 f5 19 Bf1 Bxf1 20 Rxf1 c6 21 dxc6 dxc6
22 Rfd1

22 ... c5!?
An interesting moment. Black was probably concerned that after a move
like 22 ... Rfd8 White could play 23 c5 bxc5 24 bxa5 Nxa5 25 Bxa5 Rxa5
26 Nc4, bringing his knight to a good square and having an outside passed
a-pawn. Black’s extra pawn would be meaningless here as it is doubled and
blockaded by the knight.
23 bxa5 Nxa5 24 Bxa5
24 Qxb6? gets the queen trapped after 24 ... Rfb8.
24 ... bxa5 25 Rab1
As White, I would have wanted to improve the position of the knight
and looked for a way to bring it to d5. With that in mind 25 Nb1 comes to
mind, the idea being that after 25 ... Be5 26 Nc3 Qf6 27 Rac1 a4 28 Qc2
Black’s best may then be 28 ... Bxc3 29 Qxc3 Qxc3 30 Rxc3, bringing
about a drawish looking rook endgame.
25 ... a4 26 Qc2 h5

Question: Is Black launching a pawn storm in front of his king?

Answer: Not really; this can be seen more in terms of a general gain of
space and ruling out a possible g3-g4 by White to undermine the pawn on
e4. White’s main problem piece is his knight, and he would like to get it
into play.
27 Nf1 Ra6 28 Rd5
The rook is impressively placed on this square, but White is still playing
without his knight.
28 ... Rf6 29 Qd1 Qf7 30 Rb2 h4?
 I do not like this move as it allows White to activate his knight. The
modest 30 ... g6 looks better, with approximate equality.
31 Rbd2?!
Missing 31 gxh4! when White’s knight can come into play via g3.
Black’s position would then be very difficult.
31 ... Bf8
31 ... Qg6 is better, preventing White’s gxh4 for the time being.
32 Rd8?!
Giving up the c4-pawn for apparent activity which fails to produce
anything concrete. Meanwhile Black has a passed c-pawn which he
promptly sets about pushing. 32 gxh4 should still be played, to give his
knight a square on g3. Chances would then be about even.
32 ... Qxc4! 33 R2d7 Qe6 34 Qh5 Rf7 35 Rd5?!

Continuing to overestimate his chances. 35 Rxf7 Qxf7 36 Qe2 would

have been better when 36 ... Rc6! gets the rook behind the passed pawn,
ready to advance it.
35 ... c4! 36 Qd1 c3 37 Qc2 Rc6 38 gxh4 Kh7 39 Ng3?!
Continuing the collapse which turned a decent position into a lost one
within the space of a few moves. 39 Rb5 was more stubborn, meeting 39 ...
Bxa3 with 40 Rbb8.
39 ... Bxa3 40 h5 Be7 41 R8d7 a3 42 Rd1 Ra6 43 Rb7 a2 44 Ra1 Bd6
45 Rxf7 Qxf7 46 Qxc3 Ra3 47 Qd4 Be7 48 Qd7 Qf6 49 Qxf5+ Qxf5 50
Nxf5 Bb4 51 Nd4 Bc3 52 Nb5 Bxa1 53 Nxa3 Kh6 54 Nc2 Bc3 55 Kg2
Kxh5 0-1

Game 48
I.Chekletsov-K.Chernyshov
Marianske Lazne 2018

1 d4 e6
This game reaches the line under consideration via a somewhat unusual
move order. The standard route is 1 ... Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 a3 Bb7 5
Nc3.
2 c4 b6 3 a3 Bb7 4 Nc3 Nf6 5 Nf3
Transposing to the same position reached after move 5 in the previous
note.
5 ... Ne4 6 Nxe4 Bxe4 7 Nd2 Bg6 8 g3 Nc6 9 e3 e5 10 d5 Na5 11 h4!?
 Varying from the previous game which featured 11 b4; White is trying
to exploit the position of Black’s bishop on g6.
11 ... h6 12 Bh3!?
This, in conjunction with a later f2-f4, is quite a dangerous plan which
needs accurate handling by Black. 12 e4 is the main alternative and will be
considered in the next game, Vorobiov-Lysyj.
Here 12 h5 Bh7 13 b4 Nb7 14 Bb2 is another possibility mentioned by
Lysyj and after 14 ... Bd6 15 Bh3 a5 he suggests that White should sacrifice
a pawn with 16 c5 bxc5 17 b5. There is some compensation, but I would
have to call this ‘speculative’.
12 ... Nb7 13 0-0 a5 14 b3 Bd6 15 Bb2 0-0 16 f4!?
 16 ... Bd3?!
This runs into a very dangerous exchange sacrifice. Black should play
16 ... exf4 17 exf4, f6 after which 18 Qg4 Bd3 19 Rfe1 Nc5 20 Re3 Re8 21
Rae1 Rxe3 22 Rxe3 Qf8 would produce an approximately equal position.

Question: Why did Black play this way if it is so dangerous?

Answer: It might be that he wanted to win the game against his lower-
rated opponent and was looking for ways to complicate.
17 fxe5! Bxf1 18 Bxf1
18 Qxf1 would similarly offer White very good compensation.
18 ... Bc5 19 Qf3 d6?!
Sinking every deeper into the mire. 19 ... f6 was better to try and buy
White off with a pawn sacrifice; Black would be OK after 20 exf6 Rxf6 21
Bxf6 Qxf6. Here 20 Bd3 is more dangerous, but Black seems to be able to
defend with 20 ... Qe8!.
20 Bd3! dxe5 21 Qf5! g6
The only move, though Black is subjected to a vitriolic attack. After 21
... Bxe3+ 22 Kg2 Re8 there would follow 23 Qh7+ Kf8 24 Qh8+ Ke7 25
Qxg7 Bxd2 26 Qxe5+ Kf8 (26 ... Kd7 27 Bf5+ leads to mate) 27 Qg7+ Ke7
28 Bf6+ Kd7 29 Bf5+ Kd6 30 Bxd8, winning the queen and the game.
22 Qxe5 f6 23 Qe6+ Kg7 24 Ne4

24 ... Be7?!
It is difficult to give Black good advice, but this move should lose. The
engine suggests that 24 ... Qe8 is the best defence, but White could easily
find 25 Bxf6+ Kh7 26 Qg4 Bxe3+ 27 Kg2 with an ongoing and massive
attack.
25 h5! Nc5
25 ... gxh5 is met by 26 Qf5 with a variety of horrible threats.
 26 Nxc5
Not bad, but 26 Qg4! was a killer: for example, 26 ... Qe8 (26 ... Nxd3
leads to mate after 27 Qxg6+ Kh8 28 Qxh6+ Kg8 29 Qg6+ Kh8 30 Ng5
Qxd5 31 Qh7 mate) 27 Nxc5 Bxc5 28 Kg2 followed by Rf1 would leave
Black helpless.
26 ... Bxc5 27 Kg2
Here too White should play 27 Qg4!, after which 27 ... Bxe3+ 28 Kg2
Bg5 29 Bxg6 will be too much for Black.
27 ... Qe7
27 ... gxh5 28 Qf5 is immediately fatal.
28 Qg4 g5 29 Qf5 Kg8 30 Rf1 Rae8
30 ... Bxe3?! 31 Re1 would put Black in a deadly pin and threaten both
Bd4 and Rxe3.
31 a4 Bd6
 This retreat from c5 is a good practical try, especially against an
opponent in time trouble. The engine wants Black to play 31 ... Qf7 32 e4
Qh7, but after 33 Qxh7+ Kxh7 34 e5+ Kg8 35 e6 Black would be in a
special kind of hell.
32 Bxf6?
Missing his chance, presumably in time trouble. White should play 32
Qg6+ Qg7 33 Rxf6 Rxf6 34 Qxe8+ Rf8 35 Qe6+ Qf7 36 Bf5 followed by
the decisive advance of his e-pawn.
32 ... Rxf6 33 Qxf6 Qxf6 34 Rxf6 Rxe3 35 Rf3 ½-½

Game 49
E.Vorobiov-I.Lysyj
Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2011

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 a3 Bb7 5 Nc3 Ne4 6 Nxe4 Bxe4 7 Nd2 Bg6 8

g3 Nc6 9 e3 e5 10 d5 Na5 11 h4
For 11 b4 see Game 47, Landenbergue-Chernyshov.
11 ... h6 12 e4
 This natural move blocks the bishop on g6, but on the other hand might
weaken dark squares such as d4. 12 Bh3!? was covered in the previous
game, Chekletsov-Chernyshov.
12 ... Bd6
In an article on this line Lysyj opined that 12 ... Bc5 was the best move
and this does look very reasonable. Play might continue 13 b4 (or 13 Bd3
Nb7 14 b4 Bd4 15 Rb1 0-0 16 h5 Bh7 17 Nf3 c5! 18 dxc6 dxc6 19 0-0 c5
with an excellent game for Black) 13 ... Bd4 14 Rb1 Qf6 15 f3 Nb7, which
is already better for Black because of White’s many weaknesses and poor
development.
13 Bd3 Nb7 14 Bc2 a5 15 b3 Qe7 16 Bb2 h5 17 Qe2 Nc5
In his notes to this game Lysyj thought he should have played 17 ... c6
18 0-0 0-0 19 f4 f6, with an edge for Black.
18 f3
 Question: What is White’s idea with that move?

Answer: He is protecting the e4-pawn to transfer his knight to f1, e3

and f5.

Question: It looks a bit strange to me. Would it not have been better just
to castle?

Answer: Yes, in retrospect just 18 0-0 might have been better, intending
18 ... 0-0 19 b4 Nb7 20 c5 bxc5 21 b5 followed by Nd2-c4. White would
have some compensation for his pawn, and Black might want to return it
with 21 ... a4 22 Nc4 Na5 23 Bxa4 Nxc4 24 Qxc4 f5, gaining counterplay
on the kingside.
18 ... c6
 18 ... 0-0 was also possible here, but Black is concerned about
committing his king to the kingside when White can advance there with g3-
g4. This thinking also explains his 20 ... Kd8.
19 Nf1 Nb7 20 Ne3 Kd8!?
A radical and controversial way of playing the position which Lysyj
would later admit was an attempt to be “excessively original”. In his notes
he expressed a preference for staying flexible with 20 ... Bc5: for example,
21 Nf5 (21 dxc6 dxc6 22 Nf5 can even be met by 22 ... Bxf5 23 exf5 0-0-0
intending ... Bd4) 21 ... Bxf5 22 exf5 cxd5 23 cxd5 0-0 now leaves White
with his own king to worry about. On the other hand, 20 ... 0-0 is very risky
and, for instance, 21 g4 Bc5 22 gxh5 (even 22 0-0-0!? Bxa3 23 gxh5 can be
considered here) 22 ... Bxh5 23 Nf5 Qf6 24 Qh2 Rae8 25 f4 gives White a
powerful initiative.
21 Kf2 Kc7 22 Kg2 Bh7 23 dxc6
A premature release of tension which signals a major turning point in
the game. 23 Nf5 would have been rather good for White, such as after 23
... Bxf5 24 exf5 f6 25 Rhe1.
23 ... dxc6 24 Nf5 Bxf5 25 exf5 f6 26 Rhd1 Rad8
 27 f4?!
This dynamic move tries to open the game for White’s two bishops, but
it also creates weaknesses. In particular there is now a real danger that the
e5-square will fall into Black’s hands. White should have just waited with
27 Kh3 when it is not clear how Black can improve his position.
27 ... Rhe8
27 ... exf4 28 Qxe7+ Bxe7 29 gxf4 also looks attractive for Black,
particularly because of White’s weak pawns. White would be compensated
by the open g-file on which to put pressure on g7.
28 fxe5
28 Qxh5 is met by 28 ... exf4 and then 29 Re1 Qxe1 30 Rxe1 Rxe1
would be just horrible for White.
28 ... Bxe5
 29 Bxe5+
29 Rxd8 Qxd8 30 Re1 Nd6 would lead to a similar position to the game,
though perhaps with queens on instead of rooks.

Question: Would that be better or worse for Black?

Answer: Probably better because queen and knight are thought to be a

particularly effective combination.
29 ... Qxe5 30 Qxe5+ Rxe5 31 Rxd8 Kxd8 32 Kf2 Nd6 33 Re1
Exchanging rooks looks like only way to save the f5-pawn, but it leads
to a lost endgame. White’s last chance to save himself was with 33 Rd1,
after which 33 ... Kc7 can be met by 34 Re1 Rxe1 35 Kxe1 a4 36 c5! bxc5
37 bxa4. For this reason, Lysyj intended to meet 33 Rd1 with 33 ... Kd7 34
Re1 Rxe1 35 Kxe1 a4 36 c5 axb3, which does not allow White to take d6
with check, but instead of 34 Rd1 White should play 34 Rd4 and then
defend the f5-pawn from f4.
33 ... Rxe1
33 ... Nxf5? would lose the knight after the exchange of rooks.
34 Kxe1 a4!

Essentially the winning move. Black wants to take on b3 and then f5, so
White’s reply is forced after which Black is effectively a pawn up.
35 bxa4 Nxc4
It is now just a question of time before Black arranges the advance of
his passed c-pawn, gradually improving the position of his king and knight.
White cannot win the h5-pawn without losing the one on f5, and indeed
these pawns now get exchanged.
36 Bd1 Ne3 37 Bxh5 Nxf5 38 Bg6
 38 ... Nd6

Question: Why can Black not just take the pawn on g3?

Answer: That results in the knight being trapped after 38 ... Nxg3? 39
Kf2 Nh1+ 40 Kg2.
39 Kd2 Ke7 40 Kc3 Ke6 41 Kb3 Kd5 42 g4
42 a5 bxa5 43 Ka4 Nc4 44 Bf7+ Kd4 45 Bxc4 Kxc4 46 Kxa5 c5 47
Kb6 Kd4 48 a4 c4 49 a5 c3 50 a6 c2 51 a7 c1Q 52 a8Q Qc5+ forces the
queens off after which Black’s king will quickly devour White’s kingside
pawns.
42 ... Kd4 43 Bc2
43 a5 bxa5 44 Ka4 Nc4 will win for Black as in the previous note.
43 ... Nc4 44 g5 fxg5 45 hxg5 c5 46 g6 Nd2+ 47 Kb2 Nc4+ 48 Kb3
Nd2+
 48 ... Ne3 would have won more quickly, but there is no hurry here.
49 Kb2 c4 50 Bf5 Nb3 51 Bd7 Kd3 52 Bh3
52 Bb5 was the last chance for counterplay.
52 ... Kd2 0-1
After 53 Bf5 Nd4 Black is ready to advance his c-pawn.
Chapter Ten
Queen’s Indian: 4 e3
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 e3

This quiet system is one of the most ancient enemies of the Queen’s
Indian and found favour with Paul Keres and Lajos Portisch among others.
White wants to develop his kingside forces and then look to do battle in the
middlegame.
4 ... c5
A fighting reply; Black invites White to push on in the centre with d4-
d5 when a kind of Modern Benoni would arise. This should be in Black’s
favour because he has gained the useful move ... b7-b6, whereas White’s e-
pawn will almost certainly want to move again to e4, balancing out the
tempi.
5 Nc3
Instead, 5 Bd3 d6 6 0-0 Nbd7 7 b3 Be7 8 Bb2 0-0 9 Nc3 g6 10 Qe2 a6
11 Rad1 Bb7 12 Bb1 Qc7 13 e4 Rfe8 14 Rfe1 cxd4 brought about a
Hedgehog formation in Ivkov-Romanishin (Game 50).
5 ... d6 6 Be2
Likewise, 6 Bd3 Be7 7 0-0 Nbd7 gave rise to a complex struggle in
Gheorghiu-Romanishin, (Game 51).
6 ... Be7 7 0-0 0-0 8 d5 e5 9 e4 Nbd7 10 Ne1 Ne8 11 g3 g6 12 Bh6 Ng7
13 f4 f5

And Black had a very comfortable form of Czech Benoni formation in

Ravi-Eingorn (Game 52).

Game 50
B.Ivkov-O.Romanishin
Moscow 1985

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 e3

4 ... c5!?
Throughout his career Romanishin has played to win every game, both
as White and as Black.
5 Bd3
5 Nc3 d6 6 d5 would produce a kind of Benoni in which White will
almost certainly want to play e3-e4 leaving Black’s ... b7-b6 as a useful free
move: for example, 6 ... e5 7 e4 a6 8 h3 Nbd7 9 a4 Be7 was E.Ragozin-
V.Eingorn, Metz 1996. This position type will be further explored in Game
51, Ravi-Eingorn.
5 ... d6 6 0-0 Nbd7 7 b3
 7 Nc3 Be7 8 a3 will be examined in the next game, Gheorghiu-
Romanishin.
7 ... Be7 8 Bb2 0-0 9 Nc3
9 Nbd2 is another possibility, though it should not trouble Black very
much. U.Andersson-E.Dizdarevic, Sarajevo 1985, continued 9 ... Re8 10
Qc2 Bb7 11 Ne4 h6 12 Rad1 Qc7 13 dxc5 bxc5 14 Rd2 Rad8 15 Rfd1 Bc6
16 Nxf6+ Bxf6 17 Bh7+ Kh8 18 Be4 Bxe4 19 Qxe4 Bxb2 20 Rxb2 Nf6
and was very comfortable for Black at this stage.
9 ... g6

Question: That looks odd. What is the idea?

Answer: Romanishin wants a move that is useful in both Hedgehog

structures (where White plays e3-e4 and Black answers with ... c5xd4), and
Czech Benoni ones (White plays d4-d5 and Black plays ... e6-e5). His 9 ...
g6 is useful in both, as would be 9 ... a6, which is a reasonable alternative.
10 Qe2 a6 11 Rad1 Bb7 12 Bb1 Qc7 13 e4
An instructive moment at which White finally commits himself in the
centre and a Hedgehog formation arises. Had White played 13 d5 instead it
would have been a kind of Modern Benoni formation with 13 ... exd5 14
cxd5 b5.

Question: What if White just refused to commit himself, for example,

with 13 h3?

Answer: We are now at a point in which Black himself could clarify the
central tension: for example, with 13 ... cxd4 14 exd4 d5.
13 ... Rfe8
 Interestingly Black waits for yet another move. 13 ... cxd4 would have
produced a typical and very reasonable Hedgehog formation.
14 Rfe1
White could also consider 14 d5 here, after which Black could either
capture the d5-pawn or play 14 ... Nh5 15 Qd2 e5, closing the position.
14 ... cxd4 15 Nxd4 Rad8 16 h3 Bf8 17 Qe3 Qb8 18 Kh1 Bg7

Question: Is Black trying to do something or just playing possum?

Answer: The big problem with the Hedgehog is to convince White to

discombobulate his own position. You do this by making mysterious semi-
threats, that actually don’t threaten anything.
Note that Black can consider playing 18 ... d5 here, but after 19 e5 Nh5
20 g4 dxc4+ 21 Kg1 Ng7 22 bxc4 the wedge on e5 is just as significant as
the weak pawn on c4.
 19 f4 Nh5 20 Rf1 Qa8 21 g4 Nhf6 22 Kg1 Nc5 23 Rde1 Qb8 24 Qf2
Ba8
Continuing to provoke White. Note that a counterblow in the centre was
possible here with 24 ... e5!?, though after 25 fxe5 dxe5 26 Nf3 White has
gained the d5-square as a basis of operations.
25 b4 Ncd7
25 ... e5!? is possible on this move too, but after 26 fxe5 dxe5 27 Nc6!?
Bxc6 28 bxc5 bxc5 29 Nd5 Bxd5 30 exd5 White would get powerful play
along the e- and f-files in return for his pawn.
26 Nf3 Rf8 27 f5

It looks like things are going well for the experienced Yugoslav GM, the
only problem being that pawns can’t move backwards. The further White
advances, the more holes are left in his position.
27 ... Rfe8 28 g5 Nh5 29 f6 Bf8 30 a3 Qc7 31 Nd2 Ne5 32 Rc1 Qb8 33
Ne2 d5!
 Black picks his moment to open the position, probably on the basis that
White’s pieces are not well placed for such action. There may have been
practical considerations here too, such as White beginning to run short of
time on the clock.
34 cxd5 exd5 35 Ng3?
Turning a poor position into a lost one. 35 Bd4 was probably White’s
best, though still far from pleasant after 35 ... dxe4 36 Nxe4 Nc4! 37 Rxc4
Bxe4 because of the exposure of White’s king.
35 ... Nd3!
A bolt from the blue after which White’s position begins to collapse.
The reply is forced.
36 Bxd3 Nxg3
36 ... Qxg3+ was also not bad, but with White’s king so exposed it
makes sense to keep the queens on.
37 e5
 37 Rfe1 dxe4 is every bit as horrible.
37 ... Nxf1 38 Nf3
There is no shortage of lines that show the extent of White’s suffering,
though one worth mentioning is 38 Kxf1 d4 39 Bxd4 Rxe5 40 Bxe5 Qxe5,
etc.
38 ... d4! 39 Nxd4
Alternatively, 39 Bxd4 would be met by 39 ... Bxf3.
39 ... Qxe5 40 Bxf1 Rxd4! 0-1
The point is that 41 Bxd4 (41 Qxd4 Qg3+ will be mate next move) 41 ...
Qxg5+ hits the rook on c1.

Game 51
F.Gheorghiu-O.Romanishin
Novi Sad 1982

1 Nf3
The repertoire move order is 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 e3 c5,
reaching the position after Black’s fourth move.
1 ... e6 2 c4 Nf6 3 d4 c5 4 e3 b6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Bd3 Be7
As in his game with Ivkov, Romanishin develops his pieces and waits
for White to commit. If White plays e3-e4, he will be ready to adopt a
Hedgehog formation with ... cxd4, and after d4-d5 can look at either
capturing on d5 or pushing past with ... e6-e5. There are a couple of other
moves that would fit in with this strategy, namely 6 ... g6 and 6 ... a6.
7 0-0 Nbd7 8 a3
After 8 d5 Black could consider capturing, playing 8 ... e5 and just
castling.
8 ... Bb7?!
 Question: Why have you given this natural move as dubious? Are you
mad?

Answer: The negative side of the early development of the bishop is

that if Black wants to meet d4-d5 with ... e6-e5, the bishop is then on
completely the wrong diagonal. For this reason, I think the flexible 8 ... 0-0
is better, after which 9 b4 a6 10 Bb2 g6 11 d5 e5 would be a much-
improved version on the game.
9 b4 a6 10 Bb2 0-0 11 d5 e5
Blocking the position in the spirit of the Czech Benoni (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4
c5 3 d5 e5), perhaps because the bishop on b2 then bites on the granite
pawn on e5. The problem is that Black’s own bishop on b7 is probably even
worse placed.
 Black could also consider 11 ... exd5 12 cxd5 b5, which is more in the
spirit of the Modern Benoni (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 followed by ... exd5).
12 Nd2 g6
A typical idea for Black in the Czech Benoni; Black wants to bring a
knight to g7 from where it can help support a kingside expansion.
13 Nb3 Nh5 14 Be2 Ng7 15 Na4 e4!?
An aggressive move by Romanishin, taking space on the kingside,
though to some extent Black might have been motivated by despair. After
15 ... f5 White has 16 bxc5 bxc5 17 Bc3, intending to infiltrate with Rb1
and putting a knight or bishop on a5. Throughout these operations the
bishop on b7 is not helping.
16 bxc5 dxc5!?
 Question: Rather than allow White a passed d-pawn should Black not
have
captured with his b-pawn?

Answer: Black was rightly concerned of White coming into a5 and

penetrating down the b-file. The problem is that White now has a nice pawn
lever with a3-a4-a5, which causes Black to play for an attack on the other
flank to confuse the issue.
17 Nc3 f5 18 a4 Bd6 19 a5 Rb8 20 axb6 Qxb6 21 Na4 Qc7 22 h3
Rbe8 23 Bc3 Ne5 24 Rb1 Bc8

25 Naxc5!?
With this the game enters a new and dramatic phase that was probably
accompanied by time trouble. Black probably intended to meet 25 Qd2 with
25 ... f4 26 exf4 Rxf4!, as the rook cannot be taken because of 27 ... Nf3+.
25 ... f4!?
 After 25 ... Bxc5 there is 26 Nxc5 Qxc5 27 Bb4 when Black has no
attack and will have to contend with White’s connected passed pawns.
26 Nxe4 f3!?
There is no turning back, though this attack just should not work, at
least not if White defends himself accurately.
27 Nxd6
Trying to keep it simple, but it seems that Black has nothing after 27
gxf3 Bxh3 28 c5 etc.
27 ... fxe2 28 Qxe2 Qxd6 29 f4 Nd7 30 Qd3 Nf5 31 e4
Suddenly giving Black some counterplay. 31 Rfe1 would have kept
control of the position.
31 ... Nc5! 32 Nxc5 Qxc5+ 33 Kh2 Qe3! 34 Qxe3 Nxe3

35 e5?
Shocked by the sudden turn of events, and quite possibly in serious time
trouble, Gheorghiu falters. He had to play 35 Rfe1 Rxe4 36 d6 when the
engine suggests he can hold the balance.
35 ... Bf5 36 Bd4
White is going a whole rook down and is unable to find enough
compensation. 36 Rfe1 Bxb1 37 Rxe3 (or 37 Rxb1 Rb8, etc) 37 ... Rxf4 38
e6 Re4 is the end of the road.
36 ... Nxf1+ 37 Rxf1 Bd3 38 Rf3 Bxc4 39 d6 Be6 40 g4 Rb8 0-1
A dramatic game. From an opening point of view Black should
probably desist from an early development of his queen’s bishop if he wants
to adopt a Czech Benoni style set-up.

Game 52
L.Ravi-V.Eingorn
Manila Olympiad 1992

1 Nf3
The repertoire move order is 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 e3 c5 5 Nc3
d6, transposing to the position after Black’s fifth move.
1 ... c5 2 c4 b6 3 e3 Nf6 4 Nc3 e6 5 d4 d6 6 Be2 Be7 7 0-0 0-0 8 d5 e5!
 Reaching a pawn structure that is typical of the Czech Benoni (1 d4 Nf6
2 c4 c5 3 d5 e5). Despite White’s extra control of terrain, this is thought to
be a sound defence which offers Black some attacking chances on the
kingside. In this position White will almost certainly want to play e3-e4 and
Black’s ... b7-b6 is a useful move against White’s queenside expansion
based on b2-b4. I therefore claim that Black is effectively a tempo up
compared with the standard Czech Benoni.
9 e4 Nbd7 10 Ne1 Ne8
A typical Czech Benoni move; Black wants to play ... g7-g6, ... Ne8-g7
and ... f7-f5.
 11 g3
White, in turn, prepares to neutralize Black’s ... f7-f5 plan by preparing
his own f2-f4.
11 ... g6 12 Bh6 Ng7 13 f4 f5 14 Nd3 Bf6 15 Qd2
Another possibility is 15 exf5, after which 15 ... gxf5 16 fxe5 Nxe5 17
Nxe5 Bxe5 produces a balanced position.
 15 ... a6 16 g4
A very aggressive and somewhat speculative approach which has some
logic, but places great demands on White to play accurately. A safer
approach is 16 exf5 when 16 ... gxf5 17 fxe5 Nxe5 18 Nxe5 Bxe5 is similar
to the previous note.
16 ... fxg4 17 f5
Continuing in aggressive style. 17 Bxg4 was also possible, after which
17 ... exf4 18 Be6+ Kh8 19 Rxf4 Bd4+ 20 Kg2 Rxf4 21 Qxf4 Ne5 is very
comfortable for Black.
17 ... Bh4 18 fxg6 hxg6 19 Bxg4 Nf6 20 Be6+
20 Bxc8 Qxc8 21 Qg2 Kh7 22 Bd2 Ngh5 is fine for Black.
20 ... Kh7
 Question: Can’t Black capture that bishop?

Answer: Eingorn might have dismissed 20 ... Bxe6 21 dxe6 Qe7

because of the line 22 Qg2 Kh7 23 Bxg7 Kxg7 24 Qh3, but it turns out that
this is quite good for him after 24 ... Rh8 25 Nd5 Bf2+ 26 Rxf2 Nxd5 27
Qg4 Rh4. Such an intricate line is very difficult to calculate with complete
confidence, so if there is a simple alternative it makes more sense just to
play it.
21 Rf3?
Either overlooking or miscalculating the reply. 21 Bxg7 Kxg7 22 Qg2
was better when it is still a game.
21 ... Nxe4! 22 Rxf8
22 Nxe4 Rxf3 leaves White the exchange down. He prefers the loss of a
pawn and getting a strong knight to e4.
 22 ... Nxd2 23 Rxd8 Nf3+ 24 Kg2 Bxd8 25 Bxg7
25 Bxc8 is met by 25 ... Nh4+ 26 Kf2 Kxh6, with an extra pawn and the
compensation.
25 ... Nh4+ 26 Kh3 Kxg7 27 Nf2
Or if 27 Bxc8 Rxc8 28 Ne4 when Black consolidates with 28 ... Nf5.
27 ... Nf5 28 Bxc8 Rxc8 29 Nfe4 Be7 30 b3 Nd4 31 Rf1 b5 32 Nd2 b4
33 Nce4 a5

Eingorn reveals his winning plan: a breakthrough on the a-file to

activate his rook.
34 Kg4 Ra8 35 h4 a4 36 Ng5 Bxg5 37 hxg5 axb3 38 axb3 Ra2! 39
Ne4 Nf5 40 Rh1
The last attempt to complicate with 40 Rxf5 is met by 40 ... Rg2+ 41
Kh3 gxf5 42 Kxg2 (or 42 Nxd6 Rxg5) 42 ... fxe4 with a winning pawn
endgame.
40 ... Re2 41 Nf6 Rg2+ 42 Kf3 Rg3+ 43 Kf2 Rxg5 0-1
Chapter Eleven
Queen’s Indian: Miscellaneous
Lines
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 Nc3

Usually this is used as a transpositional tool into the Kasparov

Variation, which happens after 4 ... Bb7 5 a3. It can also have independent
significance via 5 Bg5. Meanwhile here are a couple of other fourth move
alternatives that have been tried:
a) After 4 Bf4 Bb7 5 e3 a fighting line for Black features 5 ... g6: for
example, 6 Nc3 Bg7 7 Be2 0-0 8 Qc2 a6 9 h3 d6 10 0-0 Nbd7 11 Bh2 Qe7
12 Rfd1 e5 is Rapport-Nestorovic, (Game 53).
b) I tried the experimental 4 Qb3 in Davies-Rowson (Game 54), but
Black achieved a comfortable position after 4 ... Bb7 5 Nc3 Be7 6 Bg5 0-0
7 e3 h6 8 Bh4 Ne4 9 Bxe7 Qxe7 10 Nxe4 Bxe4 11 Be2 a5.
4 ... Bb7 5 Bg5
Instead, 5 a3 transposes back to Chapter Nine.
5 ... h6 6 Bh4 g5 7 Bg3 Nh5 8 Qc2
Alternatively, 8 Be5 f6 9 Qc2 fxe5 10 Qg6+ Ke7 11 Qxh5 exd4 12
Nxd4 Bg7 was just good for Black in A.Moen-N.Davies, Gausdal 1997.
8 ... d6 9 d5 Qe7 10 e3 Bg7 11 Be2 Nd7 12 Nd4 Nxg3 13 hxg3 0-0-0

We are following Zhao Xue-Hao Yuan Wang (Game 55). A complex

position has arisen in which White nonetheless missed her dark-squared
bishop.

Game 53
R.Rapport-N.Nestorovic
German Bundesliga 2018

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3
The move order that is significant for the repertoire is 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6
4 Bf4 Bb7 5 e3 g6!?, with the same position as after Black’s fifth move in
the game.
2 ... b6 3 Bf4 Bb7 4 c4 e6 5 e3 g6!?

Question: What does that move do?

Answer: It is that start of an interesting and combative plan that fits in

with the spirit of this repertoire. Black keeps a flexible position for now and
may later play for ... e6-e5.
 6 Nc3 Bg7 7 Be2 0-0 8 Qc2 a6 9 h3 d6 10 0-0 Nbd7 11 Bh2 Qe7 12
Rfd1 e5 13 dxe5
This central exchange is not the only move for White; he can also keep
the tension and try to break through with c4-c5. A.Mirzoev-B.Adhiban,
Balaguer 2007, varied with 13 Rac1 when there followed 13 ... e4!? (13 ...
exd4 14 Nxd4 Nc5 is a solid alternative) 14 Nd2 Rfe8 15 b4 Nf8 16 c5 d5
17 cxb6 cxb6 18 b5 a5 19 Na4 Rec8 20 Qb1 N8d7 and Black had
successfully defended the points of entry on the queenside.
13 ... Nxe5 14 Nxe5 dxe5 15 Nd5 Nxd5 16 cxd5 Rfd8 17 Qb3
17 Bf3 can be met by 17 ... Rd7 followed by ... Rad8.
17 ... a5 18 Rac1

18 ... Qb4
A more convincing path would be via 18 ... a4! 19 Qc4 Ra5 20 Qxc7
Qxc7 21 Rxc7 Raxd5 22 Rdc1 Rd2 23 Rxb7 Rxe2 24 Rxb6 Rc2! 25 Rf1
Kf8, intending ... Rdd2. Nestorovic’s move is not bad either, but involves
him in more work to equalize.
19 e4!?
Provoking Black into capturing the e4-pawn, which is exactly what he
now does! The solid line is just 19 Qc2 Rac8 20 e4, when 20 ... c6 21 Bg4
Rc7 22 Rd3 seems to keep some pressure. 19 Rxc7 would not have been
good because of 19 ... Qxb3 20 axb3 Bxd5, when suddenly White has to
take care of his weak b3-pawn.
19 ... Qxe4!?
One gets the sense that there was a battle of wills in this game. 19 ...
Qxb3 20 axb3 Rac8 would have been the solid way to play the position: for
example, 21 Rc3 c5 might be followed by ... f7-f6 and then bringing his
bishop to d6.
20 Bf3 Qb4 21 Qxb4 axb4 22 Rxc7 Rab8 23 g4
 Question: What is that move about? It looks very odd!

Answer: After 23 Bg3 Black can lock White’s bishop out of play with
23 ... f6. This explains Rapport’s 23 g4; he wants to be able to undermine
this structure with g4-g5.
23 ... f6 24 g5 Rdc8 25 Rdc1 Rd8
And not 25 ... fxg5? because of 26 d6 Ba6 27 Bg4, etc.
26 Rd1 Rdc8 27 Re7 Re8 28 gxf6 Bxf6 29 Rxe8+ Rxe8 30 Bg4 Bc8
31 Rc1 Bxg4 32 hxg4 Rd8 33 Rc6 Be7 34 Re6 Bc5 35 Rxe5 Bd4 36 Re2
Rxd5 37 Rd2 Kf7 38 Be5
Simplifying into a drawn rook endgame. White makes some efforts to
win, but it never looks as if he will succeed.
38 ... Rxe5 39 Rxd4 b3!
A good way to ensure the draw is to isolate White’s queenside pawns.
40 axb3 h5 41 Rf4+ Ke6 42 Kg2 hxg4 43 Kg3 Rb5 44 b4 g5 45 Rxg4
Rd5 46 Rc4 Kf5 47 Kg2 g4 48 Kf1 Rd3 49 Rc6 g3 50 fxg3 Rxg3 51 Rxb6
Rb3
 51 ... Ke4 might have made it easier for Black to hold, but he’s never in
any real danger of losing.
52 Ke2 Ke5 53 Kd2 Kd5 54 Kc2 Rh3 55 b3 Rh2+ 56 Kc3 Rg2 57
Ra6 Rh2 58 Rg6 Rf2 59 Kd3 Rf3+ 60 Kc2 Rf2+ 61 Kc3 Rh2 62 Rb6
Rg2 63 b5 Kc5 64 Rb8 Rg3+ 65 Kc2 Rg2+ 66 Kc1 Rh2 ½-½

Game 54
N.Davies-J.Rowson
British League (4NCL) 2005

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 c4 b6 4 Qb3!?

 An idea that I had flirted with for some time; I decided to try it against
Rowson because of his studious approach to the game and the likelihood
that he would know any theoretical lines very well. There are several ideas
behind this move in that it covers the b4-square (admittedly not as
effectively as 4 a3), and paves the way for possible queenside castling.
4 ... Bb7 5 Nc3 Be7
Another possibility is 5 ... d5, as played in V.Roschupkin-S.Bondarchuk,
Yuzhny 2010, which went 6 Bg5 Be7 7 e3 0-0 8 Bxf6 Bxf6 9 cxd5 exd5. In
this position White should consider 10 Rd1 to inhibit Black’s ... c7-c5
break, rather than the 10 Bd3 that was played in the game.
6 Bg5
6 d5 looks tempting, but Black can play 6 ... Na6! 7 e4 Bb4! to
undermine White’s centre. 8 Bd3 would then be met by 8 ... Nc5 9 Qc2
exd5 10 exd5 Qe7+ with an excellent game for Black.
6 ... 0-0
 The immediate 6 ... Ne4 is also playable: for example, 7 Nxe4 Bxe4 8
Bxe7 Qxe7 9 Nd2 Bb7 (9 ... Bg6 is interesting) 10 Qg3 Na6 11 Qxg7 0-0-0
12 Qg3 Rhg8 13 Qc3 Bxg2 14 Bxg2 Rxg2 and Black was already for
choice in B.Certic-M.Lapcevic, Vrnjacka Banja 2009.
7 e3 h6 8 Bh4 Ne4 9 Bxe7 Qxe7 10 Nxe4 Bxe4 11 Be2 a5 12 0-0 Qb4
13 Rfc1 d6

Rowson has emerged from the opening with comfortable equality, but
he should probably have made sure it stays that way by exchanging queens
here. Over the following moves he begins to find himself in trouble.
14 Qd1!? a4

Question: What happens if Black captures the b2-pawn with 14 ...

Qxb2?
 Answer: My intention was to cut off the queen’s retreat with 15 a3 and
then figure out how to trap her.
15 Nd2 Bb7 16 a3 Qa5
16 ... Qxb2? 17 Rc2 would win the queen.
17 Bf3 Qa6 18 Nb1
The knight will be well placed on c3, though a normal person might
have brought it there via e4.
18 ... Nc6 19 Nc3 Na5

And not 19 ... Qxc4? because of 20 Nd5, when the attempt to get
material equivalence for the queen with 20 ... exd5 falls short after 21 Rxc4
dxc4 22 Qc2 b5 23 Qf5, hitting b5 and also threatening Qd7.
20 Qxa4
Missing a stronger line in 20 Bxb7 Nxb7 21 Ne4, when White has a pull
due to Black’s misplaced queen and knight.
20 ... Bxf3 21 gxf3 Qxc4 22 Qxc4 Nxc4 23 Nb5 d5
 23 ... Nxb2 24 Rab1 Na4 25 Nxc7 is slightly better for White because
Black’s knight is still out of play.
24 Nxc7 Ra5
An inaccuracy after which White has some chances. I was expecting 24
... Ra7, after which 25 b3 Rxc7 26 bxc4 Rxc4 27 Rxc4 dxc4 28 Rb1
produces a drawn rook endgame.
25 b3 Nd2 26 b4 Ra4
And not 26 ... Nxf3+? because of 27 Kg2 Nh4+ 28 Kh3 etc.
27 Rc6 Rc8?!
Presumably missing the reply as otherwise he would have played 27 ...
Nxf3+ 28 Kg2 Nh4+ 29 Kh3 Nf5 30 Rxb6 Rc8 31 Ra6.
28 Nxd5! Rxc6 29 Ne7+ Kf8 30 Nxc6 Nxf3+ 31 Kg2 Nd2

32 Rc1
Having gone a good pawn up, I now proceed to fluff it, probably out of
shock that my position had become so good. 32 Ne5 was a better move in
this position, after which 32 ... Ke7 33 Rc1 f6 34 Rc7+ Kd8 35 Ra7! Rxa7
36 Nc6+ is a nice finesse that I hadn’t seen.
32 ... f6 33 Nb8 Rxa3 34 Nd7+ Ke7
Black should have gone to f7, largely because of the possibility of 36
Rc7+ in the game.
35 Nxb6 Ra2 36 d5
And here 36 Rc7+ was better, after which 36 ... Kd6 37 Rxg7 Ne4 38 b5
looks winning for White.
36 ... exd5 37 Nxd5+ Kd6 38 Nc3 Rb2

39 b5?!
Allowing Black to escape. The way to keep the advantage was with 39
Nb5+!: for example, 39 ... Kd5 40 Rc5+ Ke4 (or 40 ... Ke6 41 Nd4+ Kd7
42 Rc2, exchanging rooks) 41 Nd6+ Kd3 42 b5, leaving Black in serious
trouble.
39 ... Ke5 40 Rd1 Nc4 41 Kg3 Nd6
 Black can also play 41 ... Rb3 42 Nd5 Rxb5 because 43 f4+ Kf5 44 e4+
Kg6 will not get anywhere.
42 Kf3 g5 43 Rb1 ½-½
Perhaps White keep trying with 43 Rd5+ Ke6 44 Rc5, but after 44 ... f5
the b-pawn is unable to advance, and White might have to be careful with
what he does on the kingside.

Game 55
Zhao Xue-Hao Yuan Wang
Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2005

1 d4 e6
The repertoire move order is 1 ... Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 Nc3 (or 4 Bg5
Bb7 5 Nc3) 4 ... Bb7 5 Bg5, reaching the position after White’s fifth move.
2 c4 Nf6 3 Nf3 b6 4 Bg5 Bb7 5 Nc3 h6 6 Bh4 g5!?
 A fighting line which gains the bishop-pair in return for compromising
the kingside pawn structure. For those who would prefer a quieter option, I
recommend 6 ... Be7 7 e3 Ne4, seeking simplification.
7 Bg3 Nh5 8 Qc2
Preparing to castle long. White has tried a couple of other moves here.
For example:
a) K.Sakaev-J.Lautier, Saint Vincent 2005, went 8 e3 Nxg3 9 hxg3 Bg7
10 Qc2 Nc6 11 0-0-0 Qe7, when play continued 12 g4 0-0-0 13 a3 Kb8 14
Kb1 d6 15 Bd3 Na5 16 b4 Nc6 17 Be4 d5 18 cxd5 exd5 19 Bf5 a5 20 bxa5
(20 b5 was better, with approximate equality) 20 ... Nxa5 21 a4 Rd6 and
White was in trouble.
b) In one of my own games, A.Moen-N.Davies, Gausdal 1997, my
opponent played 8 Be5 f6 9 Qc2?!, but after 9 ... fxe5 10 Qg6+ Ke7 11
Qxh5 exd4 12 Nxd4 Bg7 13 0-0-0N (13 e3 is better, but still nice for Black
after 13 ... Nc6 14 0-0-0 Nxd4 15 exd4 Qf8 16 Rd2 Qf4, as in K.Langeweg-
L.Portisch, Amsterdam 1963) 13 ... Qf8 14 Nf3 Bxc3 15 bxc3 Qf6 16 Kb2
Na6 17 h4 Nc5 18 Nd4 Ne4 0-1.
8 ... d6
A very reasonable move, though there is also a case for omitting this
and just putting the knight on c6. W.Uhlmann-M.Taimanov, Havana 1964,
went 8 ... Nc6 9 0-0-0 Nxg3 10 hxg3 g4 11 Ne1 Qg5+ 12 e3 0-0-0 13 a3
Bg7 14 Kb1 Kb8 15 Nd3 h5 16 Be2 Ne7 17 Nf4 h4 18 gxh4 Rxh4 when the
chances were about even.
9 d5 Qe7 10 e3 Bg7 11 Be2 Nd7 12 Nd4 Nxg3 13 hxg3 0-0-0 14 0-0-0
Kb8 15 Rhe1
There was a case for 15 Kb1, leaving the rook on the h-file for the time
being so that Black could not advance his h-pawn.
15 ... h5 16 b4
Advancing pawns in front of the king like this is a risky undertaking. 16
Rh1 would have been sensible and equal.
16 ... Bxd4
A sensible move; Black does not want this knight coming to c6, after
which the exchange of the bishop on b7 would leave his king potentially
weak.
17 exd4 g4
 Question: What is Black’s idea with that move?

Answer: One of the main points is to prevent White from playing Be2-
f3; the exchange of light-squared bishops would weaken Black’s king
position. A second point is that it shields the h5-pawn from attack so as to
free the h8-rook for action.
18 Kb2 Qf6 19 f3 gxf3 20 Bxf3 e5 21 Qa4?
Ruining her position with a single aggressive move. White should have
played 21 c5, after which 21 ... exd4 22 Ne4 d3+ 23 Nxf6 dxc2 24 Nxd7+
Rxd7 25 Kxc2 dxc5 26 bxc5 bxc5 brings about an even endgame.
21 ... exd4 22 Nb5
Or 22 Ne4 Qg7, intending ... Ne5 next.
22 ... d3+ 23 Kb3
23 Kb1 a6 24 Na3 Ne5 is every bit as bad as the game.
 23 ... a6 24 Nc3 Ne5 25 Rxe5 Qxe5 26 Rxd3 Rhg8 27 Ne2 Rde8 28
Nd4 Rxg3 29 Qd7 Qe1

30 Qxf7
Instead, 30 Ne6 can be calmly met by 30 ... Rc8, defending c7.
30 ... Re3 0-1
Chapter Twelve
Anti-Catalan: 3 g3 c5
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4
Attempting to reach a Catalan via 2 Nf3 e6 3 g3 is not an issue, as after
3 ... b6 4 Bg2 Bb7 5 0-0 e6 6 c4 we have a direct transposition into the 4 g3
Bb7 line of the Queen’s Indian. This would be more problematic for those
who meet 4 g3 with 4 ... Ba6.
2 ... e6 3 g3
The Catalan, which aims to make it difficult for Black to develop his c8-
bishop by posting his own bishop on g2. As this effectively rules out a
Queen’s Indian Defence, Black needs another option.
3 ... c5
 Question: That looks nothing like a Nimzo or Queen’s Indian! Is it
really part
of the repertoire?

Answer: It is a common choice among pugnacious Nimzo and Queen’s

Indian players. Black invites White to transpose into a Modern Benoni, but
only the line where he is already committed to a kingside fianchetto. This is
not thought to be one of the critical lines and we will see how Black obtains
counterplay.
4 d5
Alternatively White can try 4 Nf3, which Black can meet with 4 ... cxd4
5 Nxd4 d5 6 Bg2 e5 7 Nf3 (7 Nb3 d4 8 0-0 Nc6 9 f4 e4 is Li Yankai-Van
Wely, Game 56) 7 ... d4 8 0-0 Nc6 9 e3 Be7 is illustrated by Bluebaum-
Navara (Game 57).
 4 ... exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 Bg2 g6 7 Nf3 Bg7 8 Nc3 0-0 9 0-0

An important position to consider. White has a central pawn majority

and might hope to attack the weak pawn on d6. Black meanwhile has a
strong bishop on g7, the half-open e-file and a queenside pawn majority. A
double-edged game is in prospect.
9 ... a6
Black has a large range of move orders here, so I have chosen what
seems logical and easy to remember. This move intends ... b7-b5 and
White’s reply is considered mandatory.
10 a4 Nbd7
This, in turn, is the only square for the queen’s knight so Black can stay
flexible with his queen and rooks.
11 Nd2
This represents White’s major generic plan in which he transfers this
knight to c4. The other lines are considered within two other games, as
follows:
a) 11 Bf4 Qe7 12 Rb1 Re8 13 Qc1 Qf8 14 Re1 h6 15 Qc2 Rb8 16 b4 c4
17 h3 Nh5 produced a complex struggle in Paehtz-Korobov (Game 58).
b) 11 Re1 Re8 12 e4 c4 13 Qe2!? Nc5 was very good for Black in
Olivares Canelles-Pichot (Game 59).
11 ... Re8

12 h3
The immediate 12 Nc4 is also possible and leads to very similar
positions after 12 ... Nb6 13 Na3 Bd7. White’s plan with 14 a5 is covered
with Stefansson-Hjartarson (Game 60) and 14 Re1 within Akopian-Yudasin
(Game 61).
12 ... Rb8 13 Nc4 Nb6
Black has a major alternative in 13 ... Ne5, but this is highly theoretical
and can be heavily analysed by engines. For practical reasons I prefer to
avoid such lines; I take the view that the target audience for this book has
limited time for chess study.
14 Na3 Bd7
Black develops his bishop, makes c8 available for his knight and at the
same time introduces an important combinative idea; he wants to play ...
Nxa4 and then recover the piece with ... b7-b5-b4.

15 Re1
This is one of White’s two major alternatives, the other being 15 a5 as
covered in Stefansson-Hjartarson, Reykjavik 2019 (Game 60). In that case
Black’s knight can go back to c8 and he has two ideas for counterplay,
either ... Bd7-b5 or ... b7-b5.
15 ... Qc7 16 e4 Nxa4!
A very important idea for Black that frees his game.
17 Nxa4 b5 18 Nxc5 Qxc5 19 Be3 Qc8 20 Rc1 Qb7
 Black had good counterplay in Akopian-Yudasin (Game 61).

Game 56
Li Yankai-L.Van Wely
Ho Chi Minh City 2019

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 c5 4 Nf3
4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 is a Modern Benoni and will be examined in
Games 58-61.
4 ... cxd4 5 Nxd4 d5 6 Bg2 e5 7 Nb3
 For 7 Nf3 see the next game, Bluebaum-Navarra.
7 ... d4 8 0-0 Nc6 9 f4
Undermining the d4-pawn is the critical approach. 9 Bg5 Be7 10 N1d2
0-0 11 Re1 Qc7 12 e3 dxe3 13 Bxe3 Bg4 14 f3 Be6 was very nice for Black
at this stage in O.Spirin-E.Bacrot, Deizisau 2011.
9 ... e4!
The critical move, shutting down White’s powerful g2-bishop.
10 f5
 Question: What’s the idea behind that? Is White not neglecting his
development?

Answer: There are two ideas: firstly, White stops Black defending the
e4-pawn with ... Bc8-f5 and, secondly, he prepares to attack the e4-pawn’s
defender with Bg5.
10 ... g6
Black in turn undermines the f5-pawn so he can defend e4. 10 ... h6
would stop the Bg5 pin, but White can pile the pressure on e4 with 11
N1d2.
11 Na3
Going after the pawn on d4 in return for the one on f5. The engine
recommends 11 Bg5 to intensify the pressure on the e4-pawn. Black can
then just let this pawn go with 11 ... Be7, as after 12 Bxf6 Bxf6 13 Bxe4 0-0
14 N1d2 Re8 he obtains excellent compensation because of White’s weak
dark squares.
11 ... Bxf5 12 Nb5 Bg7
12 ... Ng4!? was worth considering so as to meet 13 N3xd4 with 13 ...
Qb6 14 e3 0-0-0. The engine then gives 15 Bxe4 Bxe4 16 Qxg4+ f5, but
assesses the position as favourable for Black. This is quite telling because
engines tend to like pawns rather than positional compensation.
13 N3xd4 Nxd4 14 Qxd4
14 Nxd4 Bg4 15 Qa4+ Qd7 16 Qxd7+ Bxd7 would lead to the same
position as the game, but after Black’s 16th move rather than his 15th.
14 ... Qxd4+ 15 Nxd4 Bd7 16 Bf4
16 Nb5 can be met by just 16 ... 0-0: for example, 17 Bg5 Ng4 18 Bxe4
Rae8 supplies excellent counterplay.
16 ... Ng4 17 Rad1 f5 18 h3 Ne5

19 Bxe5
 Handing Black a very useful bishop-pair. It would be better to play 19
b3 when a major candidate move for Black should be 19 ... h5, to rule out
the undermining g3-g4 lever.
19 ... Bxe5 20 g4
Getting this in was probably White’s priority when he played his radical
19th move. Yet the problem in opening the position in this way is that it
also opened the position for Black’s bishop-pair.
20 ... fxg4 21 hxg4 Bxg4 22 Bxe4 0-0-0 23 Bd5 Rhf8 24 Rxf8 Rxf8 25
Nf3

25 ... Bf4

Question: Why did Black not take the b2-pawn?

Answer: He can play 25 ... Bxb2, after which 26 Rb1 Bxf3 27 exf3
Bd4+ 28 Kg2 b6 leaves him a good pawn up, but the presence of opposite-
coloured bishops would lead to a draw if the rooks were exchanged.
Meanwhile Black has the excellent plan of advancing his duo of passed
pawns on the kingside.
26 Rd3 h5! 27 c5 Re8 28 e4 g5 29 Nd4 h4
Black’s pawns move inexorably towards their destination.
30 Nb5 Kb8 31 Rb3 Bd1 32 Ra3 g4

33 Nd6
Desperately seeking counterplay. The engine unhelpfully prefers 33
Nd4 which would leave White without the same chances. Black would win
with 33 ... h3 34 c6 bxc6 35 Nxc6+ Kc7 36 Rxa7+ Kb6 when the king is
safe and he wins on the kingside.

Question: What about 33 Rxa7 Re7 34 c6?

Answer: That would drop the rook to 34 ... Be3+.

 33 ... Rf8 34 Rd3 Bf3 35 e5 Bxe5
35 ... Bxd5 is more efficient as after 36 Rxd5 Be3+ 37 Kh1 Rf1+ 38
Kg2 Rf2+ 39 Kh1 g3 there is a lethal threat of 40 ... Rh2 mate. It seems
likely that Van Wely was short of time at this point as otherwise he would
have played this way.
36 Bxf3 Rxf3
This rather confirms the time trouble hypothesis. 36 ... gxf3 is more
convincing.
37 Rxf3 gxf3 38 Ne4
White avoids the lost pawn endgame that would arise after 38 Kf2 Bxd6
39 cxd6 Kc8 40 Kxf3 Kd7 41 Kg4 Kxd6 42 Kxh4 Ke5, etc. Such endgames
are always won by the side whose king is closer to the pawns.
38 ... Bd4+ 39 Kh2 Bxb2 40 Kh3 Bd4 41 Kxh4 f2 42 Nd2 Kc7 43
Kg4 Kc6 44 Kf3 Kxc5 45 Ke4 Bc3 46 Nf1 Kb4 47 Kd3 Bf6 48 Kc2 Ka3
49 Kb1 Bg5 50 Ka1 Bf4 51 Kb1 a5 52 Ka1 a4 53 Kb1 b5 54 Ka1 b4 55
Kb1 b3 56 axb3 Kxb3 0-1
White’s knight cannot move and the a-pawn is advancing.

Game 57
M.Bluebaum-D.Navara
Dutch League 2016

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 c5 4 Nf3 cxd4 5 Nxd4 d5 6 Bg2 e5 7 Nf3

This is thought to be White’s most critical and popular approach. 7 Nb3
was the topic of the previous game, Li Yankai-Van Wely.
7 ... d4 8 0-0 Nc6 9 e3
 White needs to attack Black’s pawn centre before it can be consolidated.
9 ... Be7
Black sensibly sets about completing his development.

Question: Can Black not obtain an advanced passed pawn with 9 ... d3?

Answer: This has in fact been played, but it is regarded as being both
risky and highly theoretical. One entertaining line runs 10 Nc3 Bb4 11
Nxe5 Nxe5 12 Qa4+ Nc6 13 Bxc6+ bxc6 14 Qxb4 d2 15 Bxd2 Qxd2 16
Rad1 Qc2 17 Qd6 Nd7 18 Qxc6 Rb8 19 Nd5, when White is winning.
10 exd4 exd4 11 Bf4 0-0 12 Ne5 Qb6 13 Re1 Be6 14 Nxc6
Another possibility is 14 Qb3, but then 14 ... Rac8 15 Nd2 Nh5 16 Nd3
Nb4 17 Be5 Rfd8 was fine for Black at this stage in P.Nielsen-
H.Stefansson, Heraklion 2007.
14 ... bxc6 15 Qb3 Rac8 16 Nd2 h6
 One of several possibilities for Black. 16 ... Rfe8 17 Nf3 c5 18 Ng5 was
played in A.Ahner-C. Braun, German League 1997, and now 18 ... Bf5
(rather than 18 ... Bf8 as played in the game) would have been very
comfortable for Black.
17 Qc2
White might have been tempted by the line 17 c5!? Bxc5 18 Rxe6!?,
which looks like a draw after 18 ... fxe6 19 Qxe6+ Kh8 20 Nc4 Qb5 21 Ne5
Rfe8 22 Nf7+ Kg8 23 Nxh6+ Kh8. etc. On the other hand, 17 Nf3 is
comfortably met by 17 ... c5, securing the passed d-pawn.
17 ... c5

With the establishment of a protected passed pawn, I think Black has the
better chances. This edge grows as pieces are exchanged because passed
pawns are especially valuable in the endgame.
18 Nf3 Rfe8 19 Re2 Bd6 20 Bxd6 Qxd6 21 Qd3
 Black can answer 21 Ne5 with 21 ... Ng4: for example, 22 Rae1 Nxe5
23 Rxe5 Rc7 24 Bd5 Rce7 with further simplification in the offing.
21 ... Bg4 22 Rxe8+
22 Rae1 Rxe2 23 Rxe2 Qa6 is very awkward: for example, 24 b3 (24 a3
Rb8 puts pressure on the b2-pawn) 24 ... Nd5 exploits the pin on the c4-
pawn to get the knight into a strong position.
22 ... Rxe8 23 b4 Bxf3 24 bxc5 Qxc5 25 Bxf3

Both sides have a passed pawn, but Black’s is further advanced; his
queen and knight also cooperate better than the queen and bishop, in
particular because of the weakness of White’s dark squares. White soon
tries to bail out into what should be a drawn rook endgame, but this draw
requires very accurate play.
25 ... Nd7 26 Bd5 Nb6 27 Qf5 Nxd5 28 Qxd5 Qxd5 29 cxd5 Re5 30
Kf1 d3 31 d6 g5 32 d7 Rd5 33 Ke1 Rxd7 34 Kd2 Rd6 35 f3 Kg7 36 a3
Rf6 37 Rf1?!
 37 Ke3 d2 38 Ke2 might be better, when White is probably holding the
draw.
37 ... Rb6 38 Kc3 d2 39 Kxd2?
And here 39 Rd1 was better, though it is getting difficult for White to
defend after 39 ... Rf6, picking up the f-pawn.
39 ... Rb2+ 40 Ke3 Rxh2 41 Rc1 Ra2 42 Rc3 h5 43 Ke4 Kg6 44 Rc6+
White’s last chance was to try to break up Black’s kingside pawns with
44 f4, but he is lost anyway after 44 ... f5+ 45 Ke3 (or 45 Ke5 Re2+ 46 Kd5
h4!) 45 ... h4! 46 Rc6+ (if 46 gxh4 gxh4 47 Kd4 Kh5, etc) 46 ... Kf7 47
Rc7+ Ke6 48 fxg5 hxg3 49 g6 g2 and Black is queening first.
44 ... f6 45 Ra6 Re2+ 46 Kd3 Rg2

47 Ke3?
47 g4 was a slightly better try, but still lost for White after 47 ... hxg4 48
fxg4 Rxg4.
47 ... Rxg3 48 Kf2 Rh3 49 Rxa7 g4 0-1
 After 50 fxg4 hxg4 the rook endgame is quite lost for White as Black’s
king will be shielded by his advancing passed pawn duo.

Game 58
E.Paehtz-A.Korobov
Wijk aan Zee 2019

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 c5 4 d5
Going into the fianchetto line of the Modern Benoni.
4 ... exd5 5 cxd5 g6
Choosing a provocative move order which just ends up taking us back
to normal lines. The repertoire approach is 5 ... d6 6 Bg2 g6 7 Nc3 Bg7 8
Nf3 0-0, transposing back into the game after Black’s eighth move.
6 Bg2 Bg7 7 Nc3 0-0 8 Nf3 d6 9 0-0 a6
Different move orders have been tried for Black in this position, all of
which have their advocates. For repertoire purposes we will keep it simple
and robust; Black almost always wants to play ... a7-a6 and ... Nb8-d7, so
we will play these moves first. He will also want to play ... Rf8-e8 most of
the time to put his rook on the half open e-file and ... Ra8-b8 gets ready to
advance his queenside pawn majority.
10 a4 Nbd7
 11 Bf4
One of several options for White. Alternatively:
a) The main line with 11 Nd2 Re8 12 h3 Rb8 is examined within Games
60 and 61, Stefansson-Hjartarson and Akopian-Yudasin.
b) 11 Re1 (or 11 e4 Re8 12 Re1) is covered in the next game, Olivares
Canelles-Pichot.
c) 11 Ra2 Ng4 12 h3 Nge5 13 Nd2 f5 14 f4 Nf7 15 Nc4 Nb6 16 Nxb6
Qxb6 17 a5 Qc7 18 Be3 Bd7 19 Bf2 Rfe8 was fine for Black in
A.Kharitonov-L.Psakhis, Sevastopol 1986.
d) 11 Rb1 aims to play b2-b4. A good answer is 11 ... Re8 12 b4 Qc7 13
Bd2 Nb6 14 Ng5 Bf5 15 bxc5 Qxc5 16 Rc1 Nc4, as in P.Nikolic-
D.Velimirovic, Yugoslav Championship 1983.
11 ... Qe7 12 Rb1 Re8 13 Qc1
13 e4 is an alternative here when one should note that 13 ... Nxe4? loses
to 14 Nxe4 Qxe4 15 Re1, etc. Black should play 13 e4 Ng4! to use the e5-
square.
13 ... Qf8
Preventing White’s intended Bf4-h6 whilst unveiling Black’s rook along
the e-file. Black also had other options here, such as 13 ... Nb6!? 14 e4!?
(14 Nd2 is met by 14 ... Nh5!) 14 ... Nxe4!? 15 Re1 Bxc3 16 bxc3 Qd8 17
Nh4 f5, when White may have enough compensation for the pawn, but not
more than that.
14 Re1 h6

Question: What does that move do?

Answer: Good question. It certainly prevents anything from coming to

g5, though I don’t think this is a priority for Black. A good alternative here
would have been 14 ... Nh5 to drive the bishop from f4.
15 Qc2 Rb8 16 b4! c4
 As White I would have been pleased to see Black merrily surrender the
d4-square, though admittedly this gives him a passed c-pawn. 16 ... b6 17
bxc5 bxc5 seems better when Black’s position looks very tough.
17 h3 Nh5 18 Bd2 b5
Uniting his queenside pawns, though b5 can be a potential target and the
passed pawn on c4 is blockaded.
19 axb5 axb5 20 g4 Nhf6 21 e4
White plays a solid move, but this might have been the moment to push
for more. 21 Nd4 looks promising after 21 ... Nxd5 22 Ncxb5 N7b6 23 e4,
though obviously it is much messier than the game.
21 ... Ne5 22 Nxe5 dxe5 23 f4
This and White’s next move take space on the kingside, but still Black’s
position remains very tough. Just 23 Be3 was possible here.
23 ... Qd6 24 f5 Bd7 25 Be3 Ra8 26 Bc5
This is clearly a nice square for the bishop, but it is not clear what it
does here apart from look good.
26 ... Qb8 27 Ra1 Qb7 28 Qd2 Rxa1 29 Rxa1 Ra8 30 Rxa8+ Qxa8 31
Qa2
 Heading for a drawn endgame rather than let Black’s queen come in
after 31 Kh2 Qa3.
31 ... Qxa2 32 Nxa2 gxf5 33 gxf5 Nh5 34 Bf1 Bf6 35 Bd6 Nf4 36 Kh2
h5 37 Kg3 Bg7 38 Nc3 f6 39 h4 Bh6 40 Bc5 Kf7 ½-½

Game 59
F.Olivares Canelles-A.Pichot
Carlos Torre Memorial, Merida 2015

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5
The repertoire move order is 2 ... e6 3 g3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 Nc3
g6 7 Nf3, transposing into the position after White’s seventh move.
3 d5 e6 4 Nc3 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 Nf3 g6 7 g3 Bg7 8 Bg2 0-0 9 0-0 a6 10
a4 Re8
 I take the view that 10 ... Nbd7 is the more flexible option for Black
here, transposing back into the game after 11 Re1 Re8 or 11 e4 Re8 12 Re1
c4.
11 Re1 Nbd7 12 e4 c4

A typical idea for Black in the Modern Benoni; he wants to bring his
knight on d7 to c5 and then d3.
13 Qe2
There are several alternatives:
a) 13 Bf1 Qc7 14 Qe2 Nc5 15 Qxc4 Bg4 16 Nd2 (Psakhis mentions that
16 Bg2 can be met by 16 ... Nfd7 17 Bf4 Nb6 18 Qf1 Bxc3 19 bxc3 Nxe4)
16 ... Nfd7 17 e5 Rxe5 18 Rxe5 Nxe5 was good for Black in J.Piket-
L.Winants, Wijk aan Zee 1987.
b) 13 Be3 Ng4 14 Bd4 Nde5 15 Rf1 was A.Aberg-Y.Yakovich,
Stockholm 2002, and now 15 ... Nd3 would have been better than 15 ...
Bd7. Black would have stood well in that case.
 c) 13 Bf4 can also be met by 13 ... Ng4! because of 14 Bxd6? Qb6!,
hitting d6 and f2.
13 ... Nc5!
An excellent move, offering the c4-pawn as bait. In the game
G.Sosonko-G.Ligterink, Wijk aan Zee 1977, Black played the inconsistent
13 ... Qc7?! and after 14 Bf4 Ng4 15 Bf1 Qc5?! 16 Nd2! found himself in
big trouble.
14 Be3
A very difficult decision for White. 14 Qxc4 is strongly met by 14 ...
b5!, after which 15 Qa2 b4 16 Ne2 Nfxe4 removes White’s important e-
pawn and leaves Black with tremendous activity. Of course, letting the
knight come to d3 is no picnic either.
14 ... Nd3
A dream position for Black.
15 Red1
 15 ... Ng4

Question: Why did Black refuse to capture the pawn on e4?

Answer: He probably saw 15 ... Nxe4 16 Nxe4 Rxe4 17 Nd2, but then
underestimated the strength of 17 ... Rxe3! 18 Qxe3 Nxb2. This is more
complicated than the game, but it also seems somewhat stronger.
16 Rab1 Qa5 17 Nd4 Bd7 18 h3
18 b4 Qd8 19 a5 might have been a better attempt to hold the position
together.
18 ... Nxe3 19 Qxe3 Qc5 20 Nce2

20 ... b5

Question: Can Black not take the a-pawn with 20 ... Bxa4?
 Answer: That certainly had to be considered, but it gets messy after 21
b3.
21 b3 Rab8
A very good alternative would have been 21 ... bxa4 22 bxc4 Ne5, not
least because it acts against potential white counterplay based on 23 Nc6.
22 a5 Rec8 23 Kh2 h5 24 f3 b4
Perhaps a bit too early. 24 ... Re8 looks very unpleasant for White.
25 f4 Qxa5 26 bxc4 Nc5 27 e5?
Perhaps underestimating the strength of Black’s reply. White’s best
chance was 27 Nc6, after which 27 ... Bxc6 28 dxc6 Rxc6 is well met by 29
e5, with approximate equality.
27 ... Qa3! 28 Qxa3
After 28 Qg1 Black can sacrifice his queen with 28 ... dxe5 29 Ra1
exd4; the rook, minor piece and monster passed pawn would supply
overwhelming compensation.
28 ... bxa3 29 Rxb8
29 Ra1 was the last chance to save the game, but it still looks bad for
White: for example, 29 ... dxe5 30 fxe5 Bxe5 31 Rxa3 Bd6 leaves Black
with a dominating position, and he does have a reserve a-pawn. Instead, 29
exd6? is bad because of 29 ... Rxb1 30 Rxb1 Re8! with a variety of threats
based on ... a2 and ... Rxe2.
29 ... Rxb8 30 Ra1
30 exd6? is bad here too: 30 ... a2 31 Ra1 Rb2 leaves White hopelessly
tied up.
30 ... dxe5 31 fxe5 Bxe5 32 Rxa3 Rb2 33 Re3 Bd6 34 h4 a5
Black’s passed a-pawn is going to be very difficult to stop.
35 Nc3 f5
Threatening 36 ... f4, but the immediate 35 ... a4 would be more to the
point.
36 Nde2?
Moving the knight away from the queenside and the watch over the
dangerous a-pawn. 36 Kh1 was a better chance, but far from pleasant for
White in any case.
36 ... a4 37 Nb5 Bxb5 38 cxb5 a3!
 39 Nc3
After 39 Nc1 there might follow 39 ... Ne4 40 b6 Nxg3! 41 Rxg3 a2! 42
Nxa2 Rb3, etc.
39 ... f4 40 Rf3 fxg3+ 41 Kh3
After 41 Kg1 Black can win with 41 ... Ne4 42 Nxe4 a2 43 Rf1 Rb1.
41 ... a2 42 Nxa2 Rxa2 43 Rf6 Ne4!
Lethal. The knight cannot be captured because of mate on h2 and
meanwhile Black is threatening 44 ... Nf2 mate.
44 Rxg6+ Kf7 0-1

Game 60
Y.Stefansson-J.Hjartarson
Reykjavik Open 2019
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 Nc3 g6 7 Bg2 Bg7 8 Nf3
0-0 9 0-0 a6 10 a4 Nbd7 11 Nd2 Re8 12 h3

Question: Does White need to play this before bringing his knight to
c4?

Answer: White’s plan in this game (including 15 a5) can also be applied
without the insertion of the moves 12 h3 and 12 ... Rb8: for example, 12
Nc4 Nb6 13 Na3 Bd7 14 a5 Nc8 15 Nc4 Bb5 16 Qb3 Bxc4 17 Qxc4 b5 18
axb6 Nxb6 19 Qd3 (19 Qh4 Qc7 20 Bh6 Bh8 21 Bg5 Nfd7 22 Ra2 c4 also
gave Black good play in K.Arkell-J.Mestel, British League 2004) 19 ... Qc7
20 Ra2 c4 21 Qc2 Nfd7 22 Bf4 Nc5 23 h3 Nb3 24 g4 a5, with excellent
counterplay for Black in L.D’Costa-J.Mestel, British League 2004.
12 ... Rb8 13 Nc4 Nb6
 Challenging the well-placed knight on c4. The other way to do this is
via 13 ... Ne5, but then 14 Na3 prepares to drive the knight on e5 back with
f2-f4, with very complicated play. 13 ... Nb6 is simpler and gives Black a
reasonable game.
14 Na3 Bd7 15 a5 Nc8 16 Nc4 Bb5
Black returns to the idea of exchanging the knight on c4, this time for
his bishop.
17 Qb3 Bxc4 18 Qxc4 Nd7

This position has been reached in several games, perhaps indicating that
neither side is dissatisfied with their chances. White has the bishop-pair and
there is a weak pawn on d6, but the bishops will struggle to activate and
Black has a half-open e-file, a great bishop on g7 and a nice square on e5.
Meanwhile that supposedly weak pawn on d6 is very difficult to get at.
19 Bf4
 Other moves to have been played here are as follows, with common
themes occurring throughout these examples:
a) 19 Ra3 Ne5 20 Qa2 Na7 21 f4 Nd7 22 Qc4 Qc8 23 e4 b5 24 axb6
Rxb6 25 Ra5 Nb5 26 Bd2 Nd4 gave Black excellent play in V.Kovacevic-
Z.Ilic, Pula 1980.
b) 19 Qd3 Ne5 20 Qc2 Na7 21 Ne4 Nb5 22 e3 f5 23 Nd2 c4 24 Nxc4
Rc8 25 Ra4 Nxc4 26 Rxc4 Rxc4 27 Qxc4 Qxa5 recovered the pawn with
promising play in V.Mikhalevski-I.Morovic Fernandez, Saint Vincent 2000.
c) 19 e4 b5 20 axb6 Ncxb6 21 Qd3 c4 22 Qc2 Nc5 23 Be3 Nd3 24 Rfb1
Nd7 was at least equal for Black in X.Bedouin-H.Hoeksema, Groningen
2010.
19 ... Ne5 20 Qa4 h6 21 h4 b5

Black commits to the opening of the b-file, which creates targets for
both sides, on a6 and b2. Strictly speaking this was not entirely necessary,
but otherwise Black would need to find some good waiting moves.
 22 axb6 Rxb6 23 Bxe5 Rxe5 24 Qc2 Qd7 25 Ra2 h5 26 Rfa1 Qb7 27
e3 Re8 28 Bf1
The isolated pawn on a6 is under threat, but it proves to be a tougher nut
to crack than is at first apparent.
28 ... a5! 29 Bc4 Rb4 30 Qe2 Ne7
Now the knight heads for a more active square on f5 when White
struggles to keep control of the position.
31 Nb5 Nf5 32 Rxa5 Rxb2 33 Qd3 Qe7 34 Ra7?!
After this Black gains the initiative. White should have exchanged
Black’s dangerous rook with 34 R1a2, maintaining equal chances.
34 ... Qe5! 35 R1a2?!
Too late. Perhaps he had overlooked or underestimated Black’s 36th
move.
35 ... Rxa2 36 Rxa2
Likewise, if 36 Bxa2 Nxg3!, etc.
36 ... Nxg3 37 fxg3 Qxg3+ 38 Rg2 Qe1+ 39 Qf1 Qxe3+ 40 Qf2 Qc1+
41 Bf1
 Question: Does Black have enough for his piece with just the two
pawns?

Answer: The problem for White is that he is almost completely tied up

by Black’s active pieces, so Black can just keep improving his position.
42 Rg3 Be5 43 Rf3 f5
43 ... Re4 was even stronger, and after 44 Rxf7 there follows 44 ...
Rg4+ 45 Kh1 Bf4! with a winning attack.
44 Kg2 Re4 45 Kh3 Bf6
45 ... Rb4 would have threatened both 46 ... Rb2 and 46 ... Rxb5 47
Qxb5 Qh1+, and won immediately.
46 Nxd6 Rxh4+ 47 Qxh4?
Black has all the chances in the resulting endgame and probably it is
just winning for him. As we are a long way from any repertoire
considerations, the remaining notes will be brief, but 47 Kg2 Rg4+ 48 Kh1
would have been relatively best.
47 ... Bxh4 48 Kxh4 Qe1+ 49 Kh3 f4! 50 Nc4 Qd1 51 Rxf4 Qxd5 52
Bg2 Qd7+ 53 Kg3 Kg7 54 Re4 g5 55 Bf3 Qc7+ 56 Kg2 h4 57 Rg4 Qd8
58 Re4 Qb8 59 Rg4 Kf6 60 Be2 Qa8+ 61 Bf3 Qa2+ 62 Kh3 Qf2 63 Bg2
Qe2 64 Bh1 Qd3+ 65 Kh2 Qd1 66 Re4 g4 67 Bg2 h3 68 Ne3 Qd6+ 69
Kg1 hxg2 70 Rxg4 Qd2 71 Rf4+ Ke6 72 Re4+ Kd7 73 Nxg2 Kc6 74 Kf1
Kb5 75 Re2 Qh6 76 Ne3 c4 77 Ke1 Kb4 78 Nd5+ Kb3 79 Re3+ Kb2 80
Re2+ Kc1 81 Ne3 Qh4+ 82 Kf1 Qf4+ 83 Ke1 Kb1 84 Kd1

84 Kd2 is more stubborn, but then there follows 84 ... Qd4+ 85 Ke1
Qh4+ 86 Kd2 Qd8+ 87 Ke1 Qg5: for example, 88 Nd1 (88 Nxc4 Qh4+
wins the knight) 88 ... Qg1+ 89 Kd2 Qd4+ 90 Ke1 c3, etc.
84 ... c3 85 Ke1 Qg3+ 86 Kf1 Qf3+ 87 Ke1 Qf4 88 Kd1 Qxe3!
The killer blow; if the queen is captured Black will create a new one
and then win with queen against rook. Instead of suffering any further,
White tries a stalemate trick that is never going to work.
89 Rb2+
89 Rxe3 c2+ goes through to queen.
89 ... Ka1 90 Rb1+ Ka2 0-1

Game 61
V.Akopian-L.Yudasin
Lvov Zonal 1990

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3
Just a reminder that the repertoire move order is 3 g3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5
cxd5 d6 6 Nc3 g6 7 Nf3 Bg7, transposing into the position after Black’s
seventh move, and that against 3 Nf3 we are playing 3 ... b6.
3 ... c5 4 d5 d6 5 Nc3 exd5 6 cxd5 g6 7 g3 Bg7 8 Bg2 0-0 9 0-0 a6 10
a4 Nbd7 11 Nd2 Re8 12 h3
White can also try doing without this move in carrying out his plan, i.e.
the later 14 Re1 rather than 14 a5, as covered in the previous game: for
example, 12 Nc4 Nb6 13 Na3 Bd7 14 Re1 Nxa4 15 Nxa4 b5 16 Nxc5 dxc5
17 e4 b4 18 Nc4 Bb5 19 Qc2 Nxd5 20 Rd1 Bxc4 21 Qxc4 Nb6 22 Qe2 Qc7
23 Bf4 Be5 24 Bxe5 Qxe5 was fine for Black in R.Martyn-R.Palliser,
British League 2006.
12 ... Rb8 13 Nc4 Nb6 14 Na3 Bd7 15 Re1
 In the previous game White played 15 a5. Instead, 15 e4 was played in
Z.Medvegy-V.Ivanchuk, Mainz (rapid) 2007, the sequel being 15 ... Qc7 16
f4 Nxa4! 17 Nxa4 Nxe4! 18 Rf3 b5 19 Nc3 Nf6 20 Nc2 b4 21 Nb1 Bb5
with excellent compensation for the sacrificed piece.
15 ... Qc7 16 e4 Nxa4!?
A typical and noteworthy combination; Black will recover the piece and
free his game.
17 Nxa4 b5 18 Nxc5 Qxc5
And not 18 ... dxc5? because of 19 Bf4.
19 Be3 Qc8 20 Rc1 Qb7 21 Bd4 Rbc8 22 b4
Boris Avrukh recommended 22 Nc2 in this position, which makes sense
because it improves a poorly placed piece. He was also right in pointing out
that after 22 ... b4 23 Qd2 a5 24 Qf4 White wins material, though this is not
the end of the story. Black can then get counterplay with 24 ... b3 25 Bxf6
(25 Na3 Nh5 26 Qe3 Nf6 repeats the position) 25 ... Rxc2 26 Qxd6 Qb8 27
Qxb8 Rxb8 28 Bxg7 Kxg7 29 Rb1 a4, intending 30 ... a3 with a very
dangerous passed pawn.
22 ... Rxc1 23 Qxc1 Rc8 24 Qd2
24 Qb2 looks tempting here, but then Black gets play with 24 ... Nh5 25
Bxg7 Nxg7 26 Nc2 Qc7 27 Nd4 Qc3, with chances for both sides in the
resulting endgame.
24 ... Ne8 25 f4
White wants to push in the centre with e4-e5, so Black must obtain
some counterplay.
25 ... Bxd4+ 26 Qxd4 Qc7 27 Re3 a5!

Setting up a passed b-pawn.

28 bxa5

Question: Can White push on with 28 e5 here?

 Answer: He can, but Black has an effective answer in 28 ... Ng7 to
come to the newly unprotected f5-square.
28 ... Qxa5 29 e5
Looking for counterplay. White is also in danger if he tries to be solid:
for example, 29 Rb3 is met by 29 ... Rc1+ 30 Kh2 Qe1 and if 31 Nxb5 there
follows 31 ... Bxb5 32 Rxb5 Rd1 33 Qb6 Rd3, etc.
29 ... Rc1+ 30 Kh2 b4 31 e6?!
An important turning point. The position still seems OK for White if he
plays 31 Nc4: for example, 31 ... Qa2 32 Nd2 Rc2 33 Re2 b3 34 Be4 holds
things together.
31 ... fxe6 32 dxe6
After this White is losing. 32 Nc4 was still the best chance, though it is
good for Black now after 32 ... Qc5 33 Qxc5 dxc5.
32 ... Bc6 33 Bxc6 Rxc6 34 Nc4 Qc5 35 Qxc5

35 ... Rxc5!
 Question: Should Black not straighten out his pawns with 35 ... dxc5?

Answer: That would often be the right choice, but in the current
situation White’s knight occupies a strong position on the c4-square which
would blockade the pawns. By capturing with the rook, Black removes this
blockader.
36 Nb6 Rc3 37 Nd5 Rxe3 38 Nxe3 b3 39 Nd1 Kg7 40 Kg2 Kf6 41
Kf3 Kxe6 42 Ke3 Nf6 43 g4 d5 44 Kd4 Ne4 45 Nb2 Nf2 46 Kc3 Nxh3 47
Nd3 h5 48 f5+ Kf6 49 fxg6 hxg4 50 Kxb3 Kxg6 51 Kc3 Kf5 52 Kd4 Nf4
53 Ne1 g3 54 Ke3 g2 55 Kf2 Ke4 56 Nf3
56 Nxg2 leads to a lost pawn endgame after 56 ... Nxg2 57 Kxg2 Ke3
58 Kf1 Kd2, etc.
56 ... d4 57 Ng5+ Kd3 58 Nf3 Kc3 0-1
Black’s d-pawn will force the win of White’s knight, after which it will be
the g-pawn’s turn to advance through to promotion.
Chapter Thirteen
Queen’s Pawn with Bg5
1 d4 Nf6

At club level Queen’s Pawn Games enjoy huge popularity, largely

because they get White into the game without necessitating an extensive
study of opening theory. For this reason it would be remiss of me not to
cover them in this volume so that it then lays the foundation of a complete
system for Black. I have also divided these lines into three separate chapters
based on those with Bg5, Bf4 (Chapter Fourteen) and then everything else
(Chapter Fifteen). The current chapter examines those lines where White
plays Bg5.
 2 Bg5
The Trompowsky, or ‘Tromp’, had a period of wild popularity in the
1980s and 1990s which then waned when Julian Hodgson, its arch-
exponent, quit playing. There are still several Tromp players who are still
wielding it with success, though most use it more as a surprise weapon.

The other Bg5 lines to be considered are as follows:

a) 2 Nf3 e6 3 Bg5 is the Torre Attack, when I recommend 3 ... h6 4 Bh4
(4 Bxf6 Qxf6 5 e4 d6 6 Nc3 g6 7 Qd2 Bg7 is examined in Djordjevic-
Eljanov, Game 62) 4 ... c5 5 e3 b6 6 c3 Be7 7 Bd3 and now the key idea is
7 ... Ba6 to exchange light-squared bishops, as in Klingelhoefer-Taimanov
(Game 63).
b) 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5 is the Richter-Veresov Attack, when again I
recommend 3 ... h6, after which 4 Bh4 e6 5 e3 c5 is Rossetto-Evans (Game
64).
2 ... e6 3 e4
 After 3 Nd2 h6 4 Bh4 c5 5 e3 b6 there would be a transposition into
Klingelhoefer-Taimanov, as given in note ‘a’ to White’s second move,
above.
3 ... h6

A fighting line which gains the two bishops in exchange for time and
space.

Question: What are the alternatives?

Answer: Black really needs to play this way after 2 ... e6, so the
alternatives would need to be sought at that point. These include 2 ... Ne4, 2
... c5 and 2 ... d5.
4 Bxf6 Qxf6 5 Nc3
This is generally regarded as White’s most aggressive response. The
alternatives are as follows:
 a) 5 c3 d6 6 Bd3 g6 7 Ne2 e5 8 0-0 Bg7 9 f4 Qe7 10 f5 0-0 11 fxg6
fxg6 12 Qb3+ Kh7 13 Rxf8 Qxf8 14 Nd2 Nd7 is fine for Black as shown in
Demidov-Alekseev (Game 65).
b) 5 Nf3 was played in Djordjevic-Eljanov, but should probably be
regarded as a Torre Attack. It is mentioned in the note to White’s second
move and covered in Game 62.
5 ... Bb4 6 Qd3
The alternative is 6 Qd2 d5 7 e5 Qd8, as in Grinev-Pavlov (Game 66).
6 ... d5 7 e5 Qd8

Question: Is Black not losing time like this?

Answer: He does lose time, but with the position in the centre closed, it
is not that important. He has time to develop and then prepare ... c7-c5.
8 a3 Be7 9 Qg3 0-0
 It is often risky to castle into an e5 wedge, but here Black can afford to
do so because White’s dark-squared bishop has been exchanged.
10 0-0-0 c5 11 dxc5 Bxc5 12 Nf3 Bd7 13 Bd3 Nc6 14 h4 f5

Black’s last move is an important one, taking space on the kingside and
restricting White’s pieces. We are following Sedlak-Zontakh (Game 67).

Game 62
V.Djordjevic-P.Eljanov
European Club Cup, Novi Sad 2016

1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 e6 3 e4 h6 4 Bxf6 Qxf6 5 Nf3

From a repertoire point of view, the most important move order for
reaching this position is 2 Nf3 e6 3 Bg5 h6 4 Bxf6 Qxf6 5 e4 d6. This is
because very few Trompowsky players would prefer 2 Bg5 e6 3 e4 h6 4
Bxf6 Qxf6 5 Nf3 over 5 Nc3 or even 5 c3.
 5 ... d6 6 Nc3 g6

Question: Why does Black decide to fianchetto here?

Answer: It is not his only option, but makes sense in this position. The
pawn on g6 will protect the light squares around Black’s king, should he
choose to castle kingside, and the queen is left with a convenient path to
retreat to d8.
7 Qd2 Bg7 8 h4 a6 9 0-0-0
White has more space, but Black has the two bishops. Black’s aim will
be to gradually open the position up so that his dark-squared bishop
becomes very strong.
9 ... Nd7
Provoking White’s next. Another possibility was 9 ... Qe7 when
J.Hodgson-A.Khalifman, Rakvere 1993, continued 10 e5 Bd7 11 Ne4 Bc6
12 Qf4 Bxe4 13 Qxe4 c6 14 exd6 Qxd6 15 Ne5 Nd7 16 f4 Qd5 17 Qxd5 ½-
½.
10 e5 Qe7
It is as well to avoid 10 ... dxe5 11 dxe5 Nxe5 12 Nxe5 Qxe5 13 Qd8
mate!
11 Qf4 d5

Reaching a kind of French Defence in which Black will try to

undermine White’s pawns with ... c7-c5. The most unusual feature is
Black’s bishop on g7, though this too can play a role in attacking White’s
central pawn wedge.
12 Qe3 c5 13 Re1 b5 14 h5 g5 15 Nh2 Bb7 16 Ng4 Rc8 17 Ne2 Nb6
Hereabouts Black’s timing was slightly off. He could have obtained
excellent play with 17 ... f5 18 exf6 Nxf6 19 Nxf6+ Qxf6, courtesy of his
bishop-pair.
18 dxc5 Nc4 19 Qd4 0-0 20 f4 f5 21 Nf2 Rxc5 22 Nd3 Rc6 23 fxg5
 One of the keys to this position is keeping the bishop on g7 out of play.
With that in mind 23 Qf2 would have been a better option.
23 ... Qxg5+ 24 Nef4
Walking into a pin, but 24 Kb1 Qd2 would have been very annoying.
24 ... Rfc8 25 Re2 Nd6 26 Qa7 Ra8 27 Qe3 Ne4 28 Rg1 Rac8
Missing a strong line in 28 ... Ng3 29 Re1 d4 30 Qxd4 Rc4. I sense that
time trouble was playing a role in this part of the game, White being short
of time and Black trying to hurry his opponent. This would explain much of
what is to come.
29 g4 fxg4 30 Bh3 d4

31 Qxe4?
Turning a better position into a lost one. White should have played 31
Qxd4 when 31 ... Rd8 32 Qxe4 Rxc2+ 33 Rxc2 Bxe4 34 Rxg4 Bxd3 (34 ...
Qe7 is bad because of 35 Nxe6) 35 Rxg5 hxg5 36 Nxd3 gives White the
better of a likely draw.
31 ... Rxc2+! 32 Rxc2 Rxc2+ 33 Kxc2
33 Kb1 does not help White after 33 ... Bxe4 34 Rxg4 Qxf4 35 Rxf4
Bxd3, etc.
33 ... Bxe4 34 Rxg4 Qxe5
This is the big difference with the note to White’s 31st.
35 Bf1 Qf5 36 Bh3 Bxd3+ 37 Nxd3 Qf3! 0-1
White is losing a piece: for example, 38 Rh4 Qe2+ wins the knight.

Game 63
S.Klingelhoefer-M.Taimanov
German League 1998

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 d4 e6 3 Bg5 c5

The preferred repertoire move order is 3 ... h6, after which 4 Bh4 c5 5
e3 b6 6 d5? just loses a pawn for White after 6 ... g5 7 Bg3 Nxd5.
4 c3
A popular option for White is 4 e3, after which 4 ... b6 can be strongly
met by 5 d5 exd5 6 Nc3 Bb7 7 Nxd5 Bxd5 8 Bxf6 Qxf6 9 Qxd5
(T.Petrosian-J.Kozma, Munich 1958) and now 9 ... Qxb2 is bad because of
10 Rd1 Qb4+ 11 c3! Qxc3+ 12 Rd2 Qc1+ 13 Ke2 when Black loses his
rook on a8. As such, after 4 e3 Black should go 4 ... h6 5 Bh4 and only then
5 ... b6 as 6 d5?! can now be met by 6 ... g5.
4 ... h6 5 Bh4 b6 6 e3
 Question: Why can’t White take the centre with 6 e4?

Answer: Because Black would then win the e4-pawn with 6 ... g5.
6 ... Be7

Question: Wasn’t 6 ... Bb7 the logical follow-up to 5 ... b6?

Answer: This is another good move, but Taimanov has something

special in mind. He is first waiting for White to move his king’s bishop
before doing it.
7 Bd3 Ba6!
 An excellent plan, versions of which will also be recommended against
the London System and Colle; by exchanging White’s light-squared bishop,
Black vastly reduces any attacking chances White might have on the
kingside. Note that Black finessed this idea by first waiting for White to
develop his king’s bishop as the exchange of bishops will now give him a
tempo.

Question: Should White have therefore played 7 Nbd2 and waited with
Bd3?

Answer: He could have done, but Black can also wait then with 7 ... 0-
0, and after 8 Bd3 play 8 ... Ba6.
8 Bxa6 Nxa6 9 0-0 0-0 10 Qa4
A more logical line is for White to play for e3-e4: for example, 10 Qd3
Qc8 11 Nbd2 Qb7 12 e4 cxd4 13 Bxf6 Bxf6 14 cxd4 d5 15 e5 Be7 16 a3
Nc7 17 Rac1 Rac8 was about equal in M.Rufener-H.Fioramonti, Swiss
League 1996. As Black I might have delayed or omitted ... d6-d5 to leave
him with greater flexibility in the centre.
10 ... Nc7
There is a case here for 10 ... Nb8 to put the knight on c6 next.
11 Nbd2 d6 12 Rfd1 Qe8 13 Qxe8
White decides that the best way to get a result against the famous
grandmaster is to exchange queens, but the game might have caused him to
rethink this approach. 13 Qc2 was probably better when the game is still in
balance.
13 ... Rfxe8 14 a4 Kf8 15 a5 Reb8 16 Ra2 g5 17 Bg3 g4 18 Ne1 cxd4
19 exd4

An important moment. By recapturing this way White sets up a classic

‘minority attack’ scenario in which Black will try to inflict pawn
weaknesses with a later ... b6-b5-b4, and this plan will persist throughout
the game. 19 cxd4 was probably a better way to hold the balance, though I
am quite sure that Taimanov would have played on.
19 ... Nh5 20 Nc4 Nxg3 21 hxg3 Nd5 22 Nc2 h5 23 axb6 axb6 24
Rxa8
After 24 Rda1 Black can further develop his minority attack plan with
24 ... Rxa2 25 Rxa2 b5. Perhaps White can hold, but it would not be easy.
24 ... Rxa8 25 N2a3 Ke8 26 Kf1 Kd7 27 Ke2 Kc6 28 Kd3 b5 29 Ne3
Nxe3 30 Kxe3 d5 31 Nc2 Ra2 32 Rb1 Bd6 33 Kd3 Kb6 34 Kd2 Kc7

Not seeing how to break through on the queenside, Taimanov transfers

his king to the other flank. The number one rule of all endgames is not to
hurry!
35 Kd3 Kd7 36 Kd2 Ke7 37 Kd3 Kf6 38 Kd2 Kg6 39 Kd3 f5 40 Ra1
Rxa1
The exchange of rooks is forced because 40 ... Rxb2 is met by 41 Ra6.
 41 Nxa1 f4 42 gxf4 h4 43 Ke2 Bxf4 44 Nb3 e5 45 dxe5 Bxe5 46 Nc5
Kf5 47 Nd3
47 f3 g3 would leave the threat of ... h4-h3 hanging over White’s head
like the sword of Damocles, but that’s not to say that he can’t still hold the
position.
47 ... Bd6 48 Kf1
48 f3 g3 would be similar to the previous note.
48 ... d4 49 f3 gxf3

50 gxf3?
This should be losing. 50 cxd4 Kg4 51 Ne1 will hold the draw because
after the exchange of Black’s f-pawn, White can even sacrifice his knight
for the last pawn on b5, leaving Black with the wrong rook’s pawn to go
with his bishop.
50 ... Be5?
 Assuming the game score is correct (which I doubt), Black missed a win
at this point with 50 ... dxc3 51 bxc3 Be5 52 Nxe5 Kxe5, reaching a
winning pawn endgame: for example, 53 Kg2 Kf4 54 Kh3 Kxf3, etc. An
explanation for both this and the sudden termination of the game is that
there was a time scramble in which White’s flag fell.
51 cxd4 Bxd4 52 Kg2 0-1
The game score ended mysteriously as a black win at this point, though
White has a blockade on the position with b2-b3 and can hold.

Game 64
H.Rossetto-L.Evans
Buenos Aires 1960

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5

The Richter-Veresov Opening, which is like a mirrored Ruy Lopez (1 e4
e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5).
3 ... h6
 Just as 3 ... a6 is good against the Ruy, this is an excellent line against
the Veresov. With his knight on c3 White will not particularly want to
capture the knight on f6 because he has blocked the natural pawn lever of
c2-c4.
4 Bh4
After 4 Bxf6 exf6 White’s knight on c3 interferes with his natural pawn
lever of c2-c4, and this will cause him to lose time in arranging it. After 5
e3 (5 e4 Bb4 6 exd5 Qxd5 7 Nf3 0-0 8 Be2 Qa5 9 Qd2 Nd7 10 a3 Nb6 11
Rb1 Bxc3 12 Qxc3 Qxc3+ 13 bxc3 Nd5 was very comfortable for Black in
B.Spassky-V.Korchnoi, 16th matchgame, Belgrade 1977) 5 ... Be6 6 Bd3 f5
7 Nf3 Nd7 8 0-0 Bd6 9 Ne2 0-0 10 Nd2 Nf6 11 Rc1 c6 12 c4 dxc4 13 Bxc4
Bd7 14 Qc2 Qe7 15 Bd3 g6 16 g3 Rac8 Black stood well in
S.Vijayalakshmi-S.Tiviakov, San Marino 2006.
4 ... e6 5 e3
 Instead, 5 Bxf6 Qxf6 6 e4 Bb4 7 e5 Qd8 followed by ... c7-c5 would
give Black an attractive version of the French Defence in which White is
without his dark-squared bishop.
5 ... c5 6 Nf3 cxd4 7 Qxd4
Evidently looking to emphasize piece play, but with fewer central
pawns White will face an uphill struggle. 7 exd4 seems better to get a
strong point in the centre. The pawn structure would then resemble the
Exchange Variation of the Caro-Kann (1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 Bd3
Nc6) or a Queen’s Gambit Declined Exchange Variation (1 d5 d5 2 c4 e6 3
Nc3 Nf6 4 cxd5 exd5).
7 ... a6
Stopping anything coming to b5. Speaking for myself I would probably
have omitted this move and played 7 ... Nc6 8 Bb5 Bd7 9 Bxc6 bxc6, as I
would like White to help bring more of my pawns towards the centre.
8 Be2 Nc6
Although Black is trailing in development, it is difficult for White to
exploit this unless he can open the position up.
9 Qd3 Be7 10 a3
 Question: I suppose this is to stop something coming to b4, but would it
not
have been better just to castle?

Answer: Yes, I think so; this does look like an inefficient use of time.
10 ... 0-0 11 0-0 b5 12 Bg3 Bb7 13 Rfd1 Qc8 14 Nd4 Rd8 15 Bf3 Na5
16 b3
Preventing Black’s knight from landing on c4, but further weakening
squares along the c-file. White’s big problem in this position is finding a
plan; neither of his two main pawn levers (e3-e4 or c2-c4) look very
feasible as things stand whereas Black can keep strengthening his position.
16 ... Nc6 17 Nce2 Ne4 18 Nxc6
18 Bxe4? would be bad for White after 18 ... dxe4 19 Qd2 Bf6 20 Qc1
Ne7, threatening to trap White’s knight with 21 ... e5.
 18 ... Qxc6 19 Be5 Rac8 20 Ra2
20 Nd4 Qe8 21 Bg4 Bf6 22 Bxf6 Nxf6 would leave White with similar
difficulties to the game; a lack of effective pawn play that means he can do
little other than await developments.
20 ... Ng5 21 Nd4 Nxf3+ 22 Nxf3 f6 23 Ba1 Qe8 24 Bc3 e5 25 Qd2
Qh5
Not bad, but not the best. 25 ... d4! 26 exd4 Qh5 would have been very
powerful here.
26 Ba5 Re8 27 Qe2 Bd6 28 h3

28 ... f5
Personally, I would not have wanted to weaken e5 in this way. 28 ... Bc5
would have been a good way to further strengthen Black’s position.
29 Bb4 Bb8 30 c3 Qf7 31 Rad2
31 a4 is an attempt to get some play, but Black then has 31 ... bxa4 32
Rxa4 d4!, unveiling an attack on the b-pawn amongst other things.
 31 ... e4 32 Nd4 Qc7 33 g3
33 Nxf5? allows mate in two via 33 ... Qh2+ 34 Kf1 Qh1 mate.
33 ... a5 34 Nxb5 Qb6 35 Nd4 axb4 36 cxb4 g6 37 b5 Be5
37 ... Bd6 would have been a better way to restrain White’s pawns.
38 a4 Rc3 39 b4 Rc4
Moves leading up to the first time-control often contain inaccuracies.
Here Black should have played 39 ... Qd6 40 a5 Qxb4 41 a6 Ba8 when he
maintains his advantage. After the move chosen White could have held on.
40 a5

Passed pawns should be pushed!

40 ... Qc7 41 b6 Qd7 42 Nb3?
Missing his chance to stay in the game. White had to play 42 b5! Bxd4
43 a6! when Black seems to have nothing better than to return the material
with 43 ... Qxb5, after which 44 axb7 Qxb6 45 Rxd4 Rxd4 46 Rxd4 Qxb7
should be drawn.
 42 ... Qb5 43 Nc5 Bc6 0-1
White is unable to advance his passed pawns and his b4-pawn is
doomed.

Game 65
M.Demidov-E.Alekseev
Khanty-Mansiysk (rapid) 2020

1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 e6 3 e4 h6 4 Bxf6 Qxf6 5 c3

As recommended by Richard Pert in his book Playing the Trompowsky.

The good thing about this move is that it supports the d4-pawn, so the
French Defence style plan of 5 Nc3 Bb4 followed by 6 ... d5 would not be
as effective here as it is in the next two games. The downside is that it is
somewhat slow, and without the danger of a white knight coming to the d5-
square, Black can set about building for ... e6-e5 with ... d7-d6.
 5 ... d6 6 Bd3 g6 7 Ne2 e5
Black can also wait for White to play f2-f4 and then play this: for
example, via 7 ... Bg7 8 0-0 Qe7 9 f4 e5, reaching the position after Black’s
9 ... Qe7 in the game.
8 0-0 Bg7 9 f4 Qe7 10 f5
The engine initially expresses some enthusiasm for 10 Qa4+, but after
10 ... Nd7 11 Nd2 0-0 it starts to calm down.
10 ... 0-0
10 ... Nd7 is a good alternative with more aggressive intent: for
instance, 11 Qb3 gxf5 12 Rxf5 0-0 13 Rf2 (Black would obtain counterplay
on the dark squares after 13 Rf3 exd4 14 cxd4 c5!?; it is all about opening
the game for his dark-squared bishop) 13 ... Qg5 14 Na3 Nf6 15 Nc4 Rb8
16 Rd1 b5 17 Nd2 exd4 18 cxd4 c5 gave Black good play in
S.Kindermann-P.Eljanov, Schwaebisch Hall 2017.
11 fxg6
Pert tries to argue that 11 Qb3 gives White the initiative after 11 ... Kh7
12 fxg6+ fxg6 13 Rxf8 Qxf8 14 Na3 Nd7 15 Rf1. I really don’t see it and
neither does my engine; Black just plays 15 ... Nf6 and 16 ... Qe7 next.
11 ... fxg6 12 Qb3+ Kh7 13 Rxf8 Qxf8 14 Nd2
 Black’s position is rock solid here. D.Doric-M.Nikolov, Zadar 2005,
varied with 14 Na3 and after 14 ... Qe7 15 Rf1 Bf6 16 Nc4 Nd7 17 Ne3 c6
18 Kh1 Nf8 19 Qc2 h5 20 a4 Kg7 the players agreed to a draw.
14 ... Nd7 15 Rf1 Nf6 16 Nf3
16 Nc4 Qe7 is also quite equal.
16 ... Qe7 17 Ng3 b6 18 h3 Bb7 19 Qc2 Rf8 20 a3 a6 21 Qe2 a5 22
Qc2 Bc8 ½-½
Either side could have continued playing if they were minded to.
Black’s position must be marginally preferable because of the bishop-pair
and earlier he could have opted for the more pugnacious 10 ... Nd7.

Game 66
V.Grinev-S.Pavlov
Dnipro (Russia) 2019
1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 e6 3 e4 h6 4 Bxf6 Qxf6 5 Nc3
This was a popular and aggressive way to play the position until
effective antidotes were discovered. White keeps open the option of f2-f4
and by moving his queen next move can introduce the possibility of castling
long.
5 ... Bb4 6 Qd2

6 ... d5
A nice way to handle these 5 Nc3 lines which we shall also see in the
next game.

Question: What’s the idea behind it?

Answer: Black steers the game towards a French Defence structure in

which White is missing his dark-squared bishop. Although this is officially
a ‘bad’ bishop, it lends support to the dark-squared pawn wedge and makes
it harder to undermine.
7 e5 Qd8
Going all the way back makes room for the bishop on e7. Black will
then be able to follow up with ... c7-c5, beginning to undermine White’s
pawn wedge.
8 a3 Be7 9 f4
Instead, 9 Nf3 c5 10 dxc5 Bxc5 11 b4 was L.Mkrtchian-
A.Kashlinskaya, Paks 2011, and now 11 ... Be7 (rather than 11 ... Bb6, as
played in the game) 12 Bd3 Nc6 13 0-0 0-0 14 Rad1 f6 just looks nice for
Black.
9 ... c5

Black’s thematic pawn lever, undermining the pawn chain at the base.
10 Nf3 Nc6
 Black has another possibility in 10 ... a6, Zhang Pengxiang-E.Alekseev,
Nizhnij Novgorod 2007, continuing 11 dxc5 Bxc5 12 f5 Nc6 13 0-0-0 b5 14
fxe6 fxe6 15 Qf4 g5 16 Qg4 h5 17 Qg3 (17 Qxg5? Qxg5+ 18 Nxg5 Be3+
wins a piece) 17 ... Qe7 18 Bd3 g4 19 Nh4 Qg5+ with a good game for
Black.
11 0-0-0
This natural looking move looks like a mistake because of Black’s
reply. White should play 11 dxc5 first, and possibly avoid castling long
altogether: for example, 11 ... Bxc5 12 b4 Be7 (12 ... Bb6 13 Na4 Bd7 14
Nxb6 Qxb6 15 Qf2 gave White a marginal edge in D.Campora-C.Minzer,
Madrid 2007) 13 Bd3 Bd7 14 0-0 Qb6+ 15 Kh1 Nd4 is very comfortable
for Black.
11 ... c4 12 h4 Rb8 13 f5!?
White rightly takes fright at the prospect of ... b7-b5-b4. With this and
his next move he tries to change the nature of the position.
13 ... exf5 14 Bxc4!?
The consistent follow-up. Unfortunately for White, Black can return the
material with a clear advantage.
14 ... dxc4 15 d5 0-0! 16 Qf4
16 dxc6 bxc6 17 Qxd8 Rxd8 is just a pawn up endgame for Black.
16 ... Qb6 17 d6 Be6! 18 dxe7 Nxe7 19 Rd6
The kind of ‘feel good’ move that looks stronger than it is. Both 19 Nd4
and 19 h5 would have offered better chances.
19 ... Qf2
 20 Rhd1?
Allowing Black to take the g2-pawn. 20 h5 would have been a better
move when 20 ... Qxg2 is met by 21 Rg1 Qh3 22 Nh4, boxing Black’s
queen in and threatening 23 Qxh6.

Question: So how should Black actually meet 20 h5?

Answer: Probably with just 20 ... b5, looking to open the b-file against
White’s king.
20 ... Ng6
Black could and should have played 20 ... Qxg2!, after which 21 Rg1
Ng6 22 Qe3 f4 23 Qe4 Qh3 leaves Black’s queen safe enough and
meanwhile he has won the g-pawn.
21 Qh2 f4 22 Re1 Bf5 23 Re2 Qg3 24 h5 Qxh2 25 Nxh2 f3!?
 An ingenious temporary pawn sacrifice which looks to win the pawn on
h5. However, 25 ... Ne7 would have been a perfectly reasonable move with
Black maintaining equality.
26 Nxf3 Nf4 27 Rf2 Nxh5 28 Nh2 Bh7 29 Rd4 Rbd8 30 Rxc4 Rfe8 31
Nf3 g5

Looking to bring his knight back into play via f4 or even g7.
32 Ne4?
The first sign that the players were in time pressure; this turns a
reasonable position into a lost one, but then Black misses it. White should
have played 32 Nb5 when Black has to find 32 ... f6 33 exf6 Nxf6 34 Nxa7
Ne4 to hold the balance.
32 ... g4?
Missing a golden opportunity. 32 ... b5 simply attacks the rook that
defends the knight on e4, and after 33 Rb4 a5 it can no longer do so.
33 Nd6 gxf3 34 Nxe8 Rxe8 35 Rxf3 Rxe5 36 g4 Ng7 37 Rc8+?
 A check that should have been missed and a further indicator of time
trouble. White should have played 37 Rc7 when it looks as if he can force a
draw after 37 ... Be4 38 Rfxf7 Ne8 39 Rfe7 Rxe7 40 Rxe7 Bc6 41 g5 hxg5
42 Re5, eliminating Black’s last kingside pawn.
37 ... Re8
Humans struggle to pin their own knights, but 37 ... Ne8! would have
been a much better move. Black will unpin with ... Kg7 and can protect his
b7-pawn with ... Be4.
38 Rc7 Ne6

39 Rd7?
White would have rejected 39 Rxb7 because of 39 ... Be4, but after 40
Rfxf7 Bxb7 41 Rxb7 this represents his best chance of survival.
39 ... Ng5 40 Rf2
40 Rc3 Re1+ 41 Rd1 Re6 consolidates nicely: for example, Black can
protect his b7-pawn with ... Be4.
 40 ... Re1+ 41 Kd2
41 Rd1 was better, but still lost for White after 41 ... Re4.
41 ... Rb1
The threat of ... Ne4+ wins White’s b2-pawn and protects b7 as well.
This would have been a good moment for White to resign, but he fights on
gamely with a diminishing supply of material.
42 Rf4 Rxb2 43 Rb4 Rxc2+ 44 Kd1 Ra2 45 Rbxb7 a5 46 Rb6 Kg7
47 Ra6 Rxa3 48 Rda7 Ra4 49 Rxa5 Rxg4 50 Ke2 Rb4 51 Rc7 Bg6 52
Kf2 Ne6 53 Rc3 Rb2+ 54 Kg3 Nd4 55 Rc7 Rb3+ 56 Kf2 h5 57 Re7 Nc6
0-1
A rook is dropping too!

Game 67
N.Sedlak-A.Zontakh
Serbian Team Championship 2014

1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 e6 3 e4 h6 4 Bxf6 Qxf6 5 Nc3 Bb4 6 Qd3

 In the previous game (Grinev-Pavlov) we saw 6 Qd2 d5. This game
features White’s ‘other’ queen move, but Black can use the same plan.
6 ... d5 7 e5
 Going for a French-type structure. White has tried two alternatives here:
a) 7 Nge2 dxe4 8 Qxe4 0-0 9 a3 Ba5 10 f4 was played in a game
A.Bigg-C.Hanley, Street 2004, and now 10 ... Nc6 11 0-0-0 Rd8 would
have made it difficult for White to develop because of the pressure against
d4.
b) 7 a3 Bxc3+ 8 bxc3 0-0 9 e5 Qd8 10 f4 c5 11 Nf3 Qa5 12 Kf2 b6 13
Qe3 was a game T.Tran-A.Bakin, Budapest 2010, and now 13 ... Ba6 would
have made sense as the elimination of White’s king’s bishop will scupper
any hope he has of building an attack.
7 ... Qd8
The ‘natural’ move is 7 ... Qe7, but this means the bishop cannot retreat
there should White play 8 a3. S.Buckley-R.Webb, British League 2005,
continued 8 ... Ba5 9 f4 Bb6 10 Na4 Bd7 11 Nxb6 axb6 12 Nf3 when
Black’s position was not particularly dynamic because of his inability to
undermine White’s central wedge. On the other hand, 7 ... Qg6!? is an
intriguing possibility tried in I.Schneider-D.Bunzmann, Boeblingen 2008,
where 8 Qxg6 fxg6 9 h4 c5 10 0-0-0 0-0 gave Black an excellent game.

8 a3
Rather driving the bishop where it wants to go. Other possibilities are as
follows:
a) 8 0-0-0 c5 9 dxc5 0-0 10 f4 Nd7 11 Nce2 a5!? 12 Ng3 a4 13 a3 Bxc5
was promising for Black already in R.Eames-J.Emms,British League 2004.
b) 8 Nge2 was played in A.Rodriguez Vila-S.Brunello, Sabadell 2008,
and now I like the calm 8 ... 0-0 (rather than 8 ... c5 9 a3, as played in the
game), after which 9 0-0-0 c5 10 a3 cxd4! 11 Nxd5 Bxa3 is quite nice for
Black.
c) 8 f4 can also be met by 8 ... 0-0 (8 ... c5 9 a3 Qa5 10 Rb1 Bxc3+ 11
Qxc3 Qxc3+ 12 bxc3 was also fine for Black in D.Grassie-S.Christensen,
Copenhagen 2006) when 9 a3 (9 0-0-0 c5 10 a3 c4 would be good for Black
as he can prise open White’s king position with an advance of his b-pawn) 9
... Be7 10 Nf3 c5 11 dxc5 Bxc5 12 0-0-0 Nc6 gives Black a comfortable
game.
8 ... Be7 9 Qg3
Also after 9 0-0-0 Black should play 9 ... c5: for example, 10 dxc5 Bxc5
11 f4 Nc6 12 Qg3 g6 (12 ... 0-0 seems safe enough, and Black can
safeguard his king with the typical ... f7-f5) 13 Nf3 Bd7 14 Nb5 Ne7 15
Nd6+ Bxd6 16 exd6 Nf5 17 Qe1 Bc6 18 g4 Nxd6 19 Bd3 was J.Sherwin-
D.Tan, British Championship, Scarborough 2004, and now 19 ... Qf6 would
have left White shy of full compensation for his pawn.
9 ... 0-0 10 0-0-0
10 Nh3 c5 11 dxc5 Bxc5 12 Bd3 Nc6 13 0-0 Bd7 14 Kh1 Bd4 15 f4
was played in S.Fowler-I.Gourlay, Coventry 2005, which was another good
moment for the key 15 ... f5 move, shutting White down on the kingside.
10 ... c5 11 dxc5 Bxc5 12 Nf3 Bd7 13 Bd3 Nc6 14 h4 f5!
 An important move which is typical of such French Defence type
structures.

Question: What does it do?

Answer: Black takes space away from White’s pieces, for example, the
g4-square, and shuts off the bishop on d3. If White takes the pawn en
passant, the opening of the position is nice for Black’s bishop-pair.
15 h5
15 exf6 Qxf6 is nice for Black because the opening of the position
favours his bishop-pair. He would, incidentally, be threatening 16 ... Bxa3
in that position, decoying White’s b2-pawn from the defence of the c3-
knight.
15 ... b5!?
 An interesting if unnecessary pawn sacrifice, looking to open lines
against White’s king. There were perfectly reasonable alternatives in 15 ...
Rc8 and 15 ... Qa5, both of which mount pressure whilst maintaining
material parity.
16 Bxb5 Qb6 17 Bxc6 Bxc6 18 Qf4?!
18 Rd3 was better to defend the b2-pawn with Nc3-d1. Moving it
forwards two squares leaves White’s king position even more exposed.
18 ... Rab8 19 b4 Be7
Black could also recover his pawn with 19 ... Bxf2, after which 20 Nd4
Bxd4 21 Qxd4 Qc7 gives him material parity and attacking chances against
White’s king.
20 Qe3 Qa6
This looks good at first, but the queen gets in the way of Black’s ... a7-
a5 pawn lever. 20 ... Qc7 was better, after which 21 Nd4 Bd7 would leave
White to wonder what to do about 22 ... a5.
21 Ne2
 21 ... Rfc8
Missing an ingenious attacking line in 21 ... f4! 22 Nxf4 (or 22 Qc3
Rfc8) 22 ... Rxf4 23 Qxf4 Qxa3+ and Black wins. Once this chance is gone
White manages to shuffle his king to safety.
22 Nfd4 Ba4 23 Kd2! Rc4 24 f4 Qb7 25 Rc1 a5 26 Ke1
26 c3 first was better, but White is understandably keen on getting his
king to the other side of the board.
26 ... axb4 27 axb4 Bxb4+ 28 Kf2 Bc5 29 c3 Rd8
29 ... Qa7 would have been stronger, but this is no longer as easy as it
was.
30 Qd2 Be8 31 Kg3 Qc8 32 Rh3 Ra4 33 Kh2 Qa6 34 Rc2 Kh7 35
Rb2 ½-½
Black is still better here, for example, after 35 Rb2 Ba3, but might have
drifted into time trouble during the spectacular repositioning of White’s
king.
Chapter Fourteen
Queen’s Pawn with Bf4
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3
The immediate 2 Bf4 has also proven to be very popular.

However, this has little independent significance for us after 2 ... e6 3 e3

c5 4 c3 b6 5 Nd2 Be7 6 Ngf3 0-0, with Black waiting for Bd3 before he
plays ... Ba6. This will be similar to the main line with 2 Nf3 and 3 Bf4.
The other flavour of Bf4 to be considered is 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bf4, a speciality
of Richard Rapport and Baadur Jobava which has found a huge following at
club level. There is not much to recommend this line apart from it ‘getting
out of theory’ because White’s set-up does not support a natural pawn lever.
The recommended antidote is 3 ... e6, which is covered in Rapport-Giri
(Game 68).
2 ... e6 3 Bf4 c5 4 e3 b6 5 c3 Be7 6 h3 0-0 7 Bd3 Ba6

Exchanging White’s light-squared bishop, just as Black did in

Klingelhoefer-Taimanov. The absence of these bishops will make it much
harder for White to develop an attack on Black’s king.

Question: Could White have saved a tempo by playing 7 Nbd2 Ba6 8

Bxa6?

Answer: That’s a very good question, and 7 Nbd2 would have made the
immediate 7 ... Ba6 less effective. But Black can also wait with 7 ... d6 and
meet 8 Bd3 with 8 ... Ba6.
Note that Black can also exchange on d4 before playing ... Ba6, but
when White recaptures with the c-pawn there is the danger of mass
exchanges on the c-file. Hoang Thanh Trang-Hou Yifan, Khanty-Mansiysk
2010, went 7 ... cxd4 8 cxd4 Ba6 9 0-0 Bxd3 10 Qxd3 Nc6 11 a3 d5 12
Nbd2 Bd6 13 Rac1 Rc8 14 Bxd6 Qxd6 with a very drawish position.
8 Bxa6 Nxa6 9 Qe2 Qc8 10 Nbd2 cxd4 11 exd4 Qb7 12 a4 d6 13 0-0
Nc7 14 Ne1 a6 15 Nd3 b5

With this last move Black commenced a form of minority attack on the
queenside, which attempts to use a pawn lever ( ... b5-b4) to prise open
queenside files and create weaknesses. We are following Game 69, Boe-
Kunin.

Game 68
R.Rapport-A.Giri
Wijk aan Zee 2019

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bf4 e6

 4 Nb5

Question: That looks like a beginner’s move! Do grandmasters often

play
such transparent one-move threats?

Answer: They’re more likely to do so if there is some more subtle

objective involved. In this case White wants to force a concession: for
example, gaining the bishop-pair (after 4 ... Bd6 5 Nxd6+) or getting a
black knight to go to a6.
Simple development does not work well here; a few years earlier the
game B.Jobava-F.Caruana, Wijk aan Zee 2015, had gone 4 e3 Bb4 5 Nge2
(5 Nf3 would have been answered by 5 ... Ne4, and 5 Bd3 is met by 5 ... c5
6 dxc5 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 Qa5) 5 ... 0-0 6 a3 Bd6! 7 g3 (or 7 Bxd6, after which
7 ... Qxd6 8 Ng3 c5 is objectively equal) 7 ... b6 8 Bg2 Bb7 9 0-0 c5 10 Re1
Be7 11 h3 Nc6 when White was having trouble forming a plan because
neither of his natural pawn levers (e3-e4 or c2-c4) was easy to achieve.
4 ... Na6 5 e3 Be7 6 Nf3 0-0 7 Bd3 c6 8 Nc3 Nb4 9 h3

Merrily handing Black the bishop-pair. On the other hand, 9 Be2 c5

looks very comfortable, again because of the difficulty White has with
effective pawn play and therefore planning.
9 ... Nxd3+ 10 cxd3 b6 11 0-0 Bb7 12 Qb3 Nd7 13 Rfe1 Rc8 14 Rac1
h6 15 Bg3 a5 16 Na4 Ba6 17 Ne5 Nxe5 18 Bxe5 Bb5 19 Re2 Re8 20 Rec2
Bf8 21 Nxb6?!
A little combination which gets the piece back. Yet there was a case for
resisting the temptation to play this move and instead opting for the simple
21 Bf4.
21 ... Qxb6 22 a4 Ra8
 23 g4?!
This too looks too clever for White’s own good, though to some extent
the damage has already been done. 23 axb5 a4 24 Qa2 (and not 24 Rxc6?
Qxc6 25 bxc6 axb3) 24 ... cxb5 25 Rc6 would have been better, though
Black still has his queenside pawn majority after 25 ... Qa5.
23 ... Qd8 24 axb5 a4 25 Qc3 cxb5 26 Qc6 b4 27 Bc7
27 Qb5 Qa5 would force the queens off and leave White playing for
either a draw or a loss.
27 ... Qg5 28 f4
Trying to shoot his way out of trouble. 28 Bf4 Qh4 29 Kg2 would have
kept more pawns around White’s king, after which he ‘only’ has to worry
about the passed pawn Black can create.
28 ... Qg6 29 e4 h5
29 ... a3 was already very good, but Giri wants to soften up White’s
king position.
 30 g5
It makes sense to keep the pawns intact. After 30 exd5 Black can play
30 ... b3 31 Rc3 Bb4: for example, 32 Rc4 (or 32 f5 Qg5 33 dxe6 fxe6 34
Rc4 Bd2, etc) 32 ... a3! 33 Rxb4 axb2 34 Rb1 Qxd3 35 Rxb2 Qg3+ 36 Kf1
Ra1+ followed by mate.
30 ... h4 31 Kf2 a3 32 b3?

Question: Was that a good move, just handing Black a supported passed
pawn on a3?

Answer: In my view it was an extraordinary decision. 32 bxa3 had to be

played.
32 ... Rec8 33 Qb7 dxe4 34 dxe4 f6 35 Be5
Trying to complicate in a lost position. Giri handles it with ease.
35 ... Rxc2+ 36 Rxc2 Re8
 36 ... Rd8 was also good.
37 gxf6 gxf6 38 Kf1
38 f5 exf5 39 Kf1 Qf7 is good enough.
38 ... Re7
38 ... fxe5? is met by 39 Rg2, both here and on the next move, though
Black’s position is so good that this probably wouldn’t lose for him.
39 Qc6 Rg7 40 Qxe6+ Kh7 0-1
White gets mated after 41 Bxf6 Qg1+ 42 Ke2 Rg2+ 43 Kd3 Qf1+ 44
Ke3 Rg3+ 45 Kd2 Rd3 mate.

Game 69
M.Boe-V.Kunin
Heusenstamm Schloss Open 2016

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 b6
The repertoire move order is 2 ... e6 3 Bf4 c5 4 e3 b6, reaching the
position after Black’s fourth move in the game.
3 Bf4
It is curious that the advent of computer-based opening preparation has
created huge interest in openings such as the London System in which
White switches the emphasis of the struggle to the middlegame. This
tendency has been driven by fear of the opponent’s preparation, but this is
more a reality at GM level than it is at club level.
3 ... e6 4 e3 c5 5 c3 Be7 6 h3
A typical London System move, safeguarding the dark-squared bishop
from exchange via ... Nh5.
6 ... 0-0 7 Bd3 Ba6
 The key bishop exchange that runs across my recommended answers to
the Torre Attack, London System and Colle.
8 Bxa6
White had other moves here such as 8 0-0 or 8 a4, but they all lead to
the same type of position.
8 ... Nxa6 9 Qe2 Qc8 10 Nbd2 cxd4!

Question: I thought that in the previous note you said that this gets
drawish
when White recaptures with the c-pawn. So why give it an exclamation
mark now?

Answer: This is good timing by Kunin as he has a slight edge after 11

cxd4. Note that Black could also delay or omit the d4 capture if he wants to
win.
 11 exd4
On this occasion Black can meet 11 cxd4 with 11 ... Nb4 12 0-0 Qc2,
attacking the b2-pawn. Hou Yifan did not have anything like this in her
game.
11 ... Qb7

This pawn structure is now quite attractive for Black, he has an extra
central pawn and can try to orchestrate a minority attack on the c-file with a
later ... b6-b5-b4. The following moves witness his attempts to implement
this plan, and he does obtain slightly the better chances.
12 a4 d6 13 0-0 Nc7 14 Ne1 a6 15 Nd3 b5 16 Bg5 h6 17 Bh4 Ncd5 18
Qf3 Rab8 19 axb5 axb5 20 Ra2 Ra8 21 Rfa1 Rxa2 22 Rxa2 g5
Black could also play 22 ... Ra8 without this, but perhaps wanted to
prevent further exchanges with Bxf6.
23 Bg3 Ra8 24 Rxa8+ Qxa8 25 Qd1 Kg7 26 h4 Qh8 27 hxg5 hxg5
 Up to this point the game has gone well for Black, his strong knight on
d5 coupled with a possible minority attack ( ... b5-b4) gives him slightly the
better chances. Unfortunately it all unravels in the period before the time
control and in fact White comes close to winning.

28 Ne1 Nh5 29 Bh2 Nhf4 30 Bxf4 Nxf4 31 g3 Nd5 32 Qe2 Qb8 33

Nc2 Qb7 34 Ne3 Nf6 35 Qd3 Kf8 36 Ndf1 b4?
Frustration sets in and Black starts to let things slip. 36 ... d5 would
have been a good way to prepare this move as White now avoids creating
any weaknesses by pushing past.
37 c4 Qa6 38 Qb3 Qa5 39 Nc2
Black’s b4-pawn is dropping, a direct result of the precipitous 36 ... b4?.
39 ... Ne4 40 f3 Nf6 41 Qxb4 Qa8 42 Qa3 Qc6 43 Qd3 e5 44 dxe5
dxe5 45 b4 g4 46 fxg4 Nxg4 47 c5 e4 48 Qd4 Bf6 49 Qd1 Ne5
 50 Qd6+?
Presumably White was in time trouble as this just loses back his extra
pawn. 50 Nfe3 is just good for White.
50 ... Qxd6 51 cxd6 Nc4 52 Kf2 Ke8 53 g4 Kd7 54 Ng3 Bh4 55 Kg2
Nxd6 56 Ne3 Be7 57 Nef5 Nxf5 58 gxf5 Kd6 59 Nxe4+ Ke5 60 Kf3 Bxb4
61 Ng5 f6 62 Ne4 Kxf5 63 Nxf6 Kxf6 ½-½
Chapter Fifteen
Queen’s Pawn: Others
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3
2 f3 is a way of trying to reach a Blackmar-Diemer Gambit; 2 Nc3 d5 3
e4 is strongly met by 3 ... Nxe4! when 4 Nxe4 dxe4 5 f3 e5! is good for
Black, but White hopes that 2 f3 d5 3 e4 dxe4 4 Nc3 will give him his
desired transposition. The recommended antidote is 2 ... d5 3 e4 c5!, after
which 4 e5 Nfd7 5 c3 Qb6 is Argandona Riveiro-De La Villa Garcia (Game
70).
2 ... e6 3 e3
 The so-called Colle System which comes in two essential flavours,
those in which White plays c2-c3 (Koltanowski), and those in which he
fianchettoes his queen’s bishop with b3 (Zukertort). Both of these are quite
playable and very suitable for club players who wish to cut down on what
they need to study in the opening.
3 ... c5 4 c3
Against 4 Bd3 I would suggest that Black first deprive White of a
potential central pawn duo with 4 ... cxd4 5 exd4 and then look to set up a
kind of tough Hedgehog formation. For example, after 5 ... Be7 6 0-0 b6 7
c4 d6 8 Nc3 Nbd7 9 Bf4 Bb7 10 Nb5 Qb8 11 Rc1 a6 12 Nc3 0-0 13 Re1
Re8 14 b4 Bf8 15 a3 a5 16 Nd2 axb4 17 axb4 e5 Black started to develop
some counterplay in J.Chabanon-J.Laurent, Paris 2012.
4 ... b6 5 Nbd2 Be7 6 Bd3 Ba6

The same plan that we saw in the earlier games, Klingelhoefer-

Taimanov and Boe-Kunin. The exchange of light-squared bishops deprives
White of his most important minor piece if he ever wants to attack Black on
the kingside; this in turn means that Black does not need to fear a wedge
formation in which White advances with e3-e4 and later e4-e5.
7 Bxa6 Nxa6 8 Qe2 Nc7
After the exchange of light-squared bishops, Black was comfortably
placed in Franklin-Pritchett (Game 71).

Game 70
I.Argandona Riveiro-J.De La Villa Garcia
Andorra 2002

1 d4 Nf6 2 f3 d5 3 e4
Offering a pawn which Black declines. I tend to adopt the same
approach to gambit lines; it seems impractical to me to play into an
opponent’s favourite line which gives them the initiative and that they
might have analysed extensively.
3 Nc3 would also be met by the key flanking blow, 3 ... c5. White’s
early f3 might then be seen as a loss of time which prevents his king’s
knight from coming to its natural square.
3 ... c5!
 An excellent antidote.
4 e5 Nfd7 5 c3
White has set up a pawn wedge in the centre, but the problem now is in
maintaining it. He would find this much easier if his f-pawn was back on f2
as then he could bring his knight out to f3.
5 ... Qb6
One of several attractive possibilities. I also like the approach used in
K.Stead-P.Chen, Cammeray 2011, in which Black got an excellent game
with 5 ... Nc6 6 Be3 cxd4 7 cxd4 Nb6 8 b3 Bf5 9 Bd3 Bxd3 10 Qxd3 e6 11
Ne2 Be7 12 0-0 0-0 13 Nbc3 f6 14 f4 f5!, blockading the kingside and
looking to play along the c-file.
6 a3 Nc6 7 Ne2 a5
An idea that is well known from the French Defence, as Black wants to
prevent White from closing the queenside with b2-b4.
8 a4 e6 9 f4 f6
 Another move that is typical of the French Defence; Black is attacking
White’s pawn wedge at both d4 and e5. White is already in serious trouble
here because his centre is collapsing and he is behind in development.
10 Ra3

Question: That’s surprising; what is the idea?

Answer: This looks like an exotic way of trying to defend himself by

driving Black’s queen from b6 with Rb3 next. Unfortunately, this leads to
the rook getting in trouble.
In retrospect the best chance might have been to bring a knight to b5
instead with 10 Na3 Be7 11 Nb5 0-0 12 exf6 Nxf6 13 g3. The resulting
position is not good for White by any stretch of the imagination; in fact 13
... cxd4 14 Nexd4 e5 15 fxe5 Ne4! 16 Qb3 Be6 still leaves White’s position
teetering on the brink of disaster. Yet this was certainly much better than the
game.
Another possibility White might consider is 10 g3, but this too just
looks good for Black after 10 ... cxd4 11 exf6 dxc3 12 fxg7 Bxg7 13 Nbxc3
Nb4, intending 14 ... Nc5.
10 ... Be7 11 Rb3 Qd8 12 g3

Trying to shoot his way out of trouble with 12 f5 is bad for White after
12 ... fxe5 13 Nf4 (13 fxe6 Nf8 is no improvement) 13 ... Nf6, etc.
12 ... Nb6
Not Black’s best, though it is difficult to uncover the right path in such a
complex position. The simplest approach might have been 12 ... c4, simply
trapping the rook after 13 Rb5 Na7.
13 Rb5?
 This is an extraordinary place to put a rook, though under the right
conditions it is not necessarily a losing proposition. White had to play 13
exf6 which actually might not be so bad. After 13 ... Bxf6 (avoiding 13 ...
gxf6 when White might get to play a promising exchange sacrifice with 14
Rb5 Na7 15 Rxc5!) 14 dxc5 Nd7 15 Be3 Be7 16 Nd4 Nxc5 17 Rb5 Na7
(17 ... Ne4 18 Bh3 is not bad for White either) 18 Rxc5 Bxc5 19 Nxe6 Bxe6
20 Bxc5 again gives White compensation for the exchange.
13 ... cxd4 14 cxd4
14 exf6 Bxf6 15 cxd4 would have been slightly better, but still good for
Black after 15 ... Bd7.
14 ... Bd7 15 Nec3 Nb4

Well that’s the end of White’s rook, and Black doesn’t even need to take
it just yet. The remainder of the game essentially consists of an extended
death agony as White hopes for an error that never comes.
 16 Na3 0-0 17 h4 Kh8 18 Be2 Bxb5 19 Naxb5 Nc8 20 0-0 Na7 21
Nxa7 Rxa7 22 Bd2 Ra8 23 Nb5 Rc8 24 Bxb4 axb4 25 Bd3 f5 26 Bc2 g6
27 Bb3 h6 28 Kf2 Kg7 29 Ke3 Rg8 30 Rg1 g5 31 Qh5 Qe8
Exchanging queens is the simplest approach to handling any white
attacking chances.
32 Qxe8 Rgxe8 33 h5 Kf7 34 Na7 Ra8 35 Nb5 gxf4+ 36 Kxf4 Rg8 37
Kf3 Rac8 38 Na7 Rcd8 39 Nb5 Rg5 40 Rh1 Rdg8 41 Rh3 Rg4 42 Bd1
Rc8 43 Ke3 Rg5 44 b3 Rc1 45 Kd2 Ra1 46 Nc7 Rg8 47 Nb5 Ra2+ 48
Ke3 Rg2

49 Bf3
Allowing a merciful end to his suffering.
49 ... Bg5+ 0-1
White is getting mated after 50 Kd3 Rd2 mate.

Game 71
M.Franklin-C.Pritchett
British League (4NCL) 2000

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 e3 c5 4 c3
Heading for a Koltanowski flavour of the Colle.
4 ... b6 5 Nbd2 Be7 6 Bd3 Ba6!

Exchanging the light-squared bishops to reduce White’s attacking

potential on the kingside.
7 Bxa6 Nxa6 8 Qe2 Nc7 9 dxc5
Giving Black a central pawn majority looks like a concession. 9 0-0 0-0
10 e4 must be a better idea: for example, 10 ... d6 (10 ... d5!? is possible
here as the wedge formation that arises after 11 e5 is much less dangerous
for Black when the light-squared bishops have been exchanged) 11 e5 Nfd5
12 Ne4 cxd4 was S.Kovacevic-B.Perez Manas, Mislata 2011, and now 13
exd6 Bxd6 14 Nxd4 would have given White the initiative.
 9 ... bxc5 10 e4 d5 11 0-0 0-0 12 c4 Re8

Question: Why is Black putting the rook on a file that is not open?

Answer: On e8 the rook ‘shadows’ White’s queen, so White will be

discouraged from an exchange on d5 that would then unveil it.
13 b3 a5
Looking to play ... a5-a4, which would prise open a file and create
weaknesses in White’s camp.
14 Bb2 d4
Taking space and creating a passed pawn. Although this pawn is not
currently dangerous to White, as the game progresses it makes its presence
felt.
15 e5 Nd7 16 Ne1
 Freeing the f-pawn to advance and positioning the knight so it can
blockade the d-pawn on d3.
16 ... f5

16 ... a4 could also be considered here, immediately getting to grips

with White’s queenside.
17 f4?!
In my view this is a positional error. White should play 17 exf6, after
which 17 ... Nxf6 18 Nd3 brings his knight to an excellent square on which
it controls the centre, puts pressure on c5 and blockades the d-pawn. In my
view, this is also an argument against 16 ... f5 and in favour of 16 ... a4.
17 ... Na6 18 Rf3?!
Compounding his previous error by going for an unrealistic attack on
the kingside. 18 a4 would have been a better idea when 18 ... Nb4 can be
met by 19 Ba3, intending Bxb4 and Nd3.
18 ... Nb4 19 Rh3 a4! 20 a3 Nc6 21 bxa4
 I would say at this point that White is strategically lost as in the long
term he will be unable to defend his weaknesses on the queenside.
21 ... g6 22 g4 Nb6 23 gxf5 exf5 24 Nd3 Na5 25 Rf1 Bf8 26 Bc1 Nxa4
Taking the c4-pawn is nowhere near as good because White has 26 ...
Naxc4 27 Nxc4 Nxc4 28 Nxc5!, muddying the waters. After the move
played White’s queenside is beginning to collapse so Franklin throws
everything he has at Black’s king.
27 Rf2 Ra7!
Reinforcing Black’s king position by protecting the second rank.
28 Rg2 Nc3 29 Qh5 Rg7 30 Qh6 Qd7 31 Nf3 Ne4
31 ... Nxc4 was also good, but a knight on e4 will help defend the king.
32 Nh4
Getting ready to sacrifice on g6, but it just does not work. As 32 Ng5 is
met by 32 ... Nxg5 33 Qxg5 Nxc4, doubts must be raised about White’s
entire attacking plan.
 32 ... Nxc4

33 Kh1
White would love to be able to sacrifice on g6, but it simply does not
work. After 33 Nxg6 Black can play 33 ... hxg6 (and not 33 ... Rxg6?
because of 34 Rxg6+ hxg6 35 Qh8+ Kf7 36 Rh7+ Ke6 37 Qg8+ followed
by mate) 34 Rxg6 Rxg6+ 35 Qxg6+ Qg7 when the queens are forced off
and Black just wins.
33 ... Ne3! 34 Bxe3
34 Rxe3 dxe3 discovers an attack on the knight on d3.
34 ... dxe3 35 Nxg6
Going down in flames. 35 Rxe3 is answered by 35 ... Qd4 when 36
Nxf5 gxf5 leads nowhere.
35 ... Qxd3!
Cold-blooded and effective; White’s attack comes to naught.
36 Qxh7+ Rxh7 37 Ne7+ Kf7 38 Rxh7+ Ke6 39 Rg6+ Kd7 40 Nd5+ Re7
0-1
Chapter Sixteen
Anti-Réti: 1 Nf3 Nf6
1 Nf3

The final two chapters of this book will look at suitable answers to the
two major flank openings, the Reti (1 Nf3) and the English (1 c4), based
around lines that I have personally used. These two openings are often
overlooked by players who have a defence against White’s two most
important moves, 1 e4 and 1 d4, yet they do require some study. As a young
player I played Black in a simultaneous display against Viktor Korchnoi,
and after 1 Nf3 d5 2 c4 found that my favourite Chigorin Defence (1 d4 d5
2 c4 Nc6) had been avoided and I lost a horrid game.
 Several defences naturally lend themselves to playing Black against the
Flank Openings, most notably the Queen’s Gambit Declined and the King’s
Indian Defence. Many other openings, including the Nimzo and Queen’s
Indian, mean that flank openings need some additional study.

Question: What about White’s other first moves such as 1 f4, 1 b3 and 1
g3?

Answer: These have their own highly independent character and are not
used to move order players out of their favourite defences to 1 d4. For this
reason, only 1 Nf3 and 1 c4 will be covered.
1 ... Nf6 2 c4
Against 2 g3 I recommend just 2 ... d5 3 Bg2 c6 when White has two
major approaches:
a) 4 0-0 Bg4 5 d3 Nbd7 6 Nbd2 e5 7 e4 Bd6 gives Black a solid game
and is covered in Hartoch-Davies (Game 72)
b) 4 c4 is a gambit line that can be comfortably met by 4 ... Bg4 5 Ne5
Be6 6 cxd5 Bxd5 7 Nf3 c5 8 Nc3 Bc6 9 0-0 e6, as in K.Lie-M.Carlsen,
Gjovik 2009.
2 ... e6
 3 Nc3
White has a major alternative here in 3 g3, which angles for
transposition into a Catalan Opening. Against this my repertoire
recommendation is Romanishin’s unusual 3 ... a6 4 Bg2 b5 and now:
a) The attempted refutation is 5 Nd4 c6 6 cxb5 axb5 7 Nxb5, but then 7
... cxb5 8 Bxa8 d5 seemed very promising for Black and is covered in
Artamonov-Khismatullin (Game 62).
b) 5 b3 Bb7 6 0-0 c5 is covered in one of my own games, Chapman-
Davies (Game 63).
3 ... Bb4
This move leads to play along the lines of the Nimzo. Where possible I
recommend giving White doubled c-pawns which tend to sap the mobility
of White’s entire pawn structure.
4 Qc2
 This is regarded as White’s main line and there is clearly a similarity to
the lines in Chapter One as White prevents the doubling of his c-pawns.

There are several alternatives he can consider:

a) 4 Qb3 also prevents the doubling of c-pawns. The recommended
antidote is 4 ... Nc6 5 a3 Bxc3 6 Qxc3 d6 7 g3 e5 8 Bg2 Qe7 9 0-0 0-0 as in
Polugaevsky-Rozentalis (Game 76).
b) 4 g3 Bxc3 5 bxc3 b6 6 Bg2 Bb7 7 d3 d6 8 e4 0-0 led to a complex
strategic battle in Gelfand-Adams (Game 77).
c) 4 e3 Bxc3 5 bxc3 d6 again features a complex position in which
White has the bishops, Black the better pawn structure. Loncar-Naumkin
(Game 78) continued 6 d3 0-0 7 Be2 Re8 8 0-0 e5 when they had an
exciting if imperfect game.
d) The wild looking 4 g4 was tried in Cornette-Adams (Game 79), and
featured an impressively calm response by Adams with 4 ... Bxc3 5 dxc3 d6
6 g5 Nfd7 7 Be3 Qe7 8 Bg2 e5 9 Qc2 Nc6 10 h4 Nb6. If White was looking
for a short brilliancy he would not be disappointed.
4 ... d6

5 a3
5 g3 has also been played here: for example, 5 ... 0-0 6 Bg2 c5 7 0-0
Nc6 8 e3 Bxc3 9 Qxc3 e5 gave rise to a complex middlegame in Gabriel-
Sokolov (Game 80).

Question: What is the difference between these two approaches?

Answer: The immediate 5 a3 is more likely to be the precursor to lines

without g3 by White.
5 ... Bxc3 6 Qxc3 e5
Occupying the centre and putting a pawn on the opposite colour to his
remaining bishop, which is very much in accordance with Black’s game
plan.
7 d4
After 7 d3 Black might want to delay castling with 7 ... Nc6 or even 7 ...
h6 because 7 ... 0-0 8 Bg5 is a bit annoying.
7 ... e4 8 Ng1

Question: Why does White retreat to the back rank when he could play
8 Nd2?

Answer: The knight can be better placed on g1 in this structure as it

might later come out to e2 and then f4. There was in fact a game with 8
Nd2; A.Rustemov-A.Sokolov, Munich 2008, went 8 ... 0-0 9 e3 c5 10 dxc5
dxc5 11 b4 Re8 12 Bb2 Nc6 13 Nb3 cxb4 (or 13 ... b6) 14 axb4 Qe7 with
chances for both sides.
8 ... 0-0 9 Bg5 h6 10 Bh4 Re8
 Supporting e4 and envisaging the transfer of his b8-knight to d7 and f8.
This will eject the pinning bishop on h4, but without weakening Black’s
king position.
11 e3 Nbd7 12 Ne2 Nf8
This all took place in Zhou Jianchao-Sokolov (Game 81), and now after
White’s 13 d5, Black’s best may well by 13 ... N8d7. The game proved to
be very exciting when White castled queenside and advanced his pawns
there.

Game 72
R.Hartoch-N.Davies
Leeuwarden 1993

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 g3 d5 3 Bg2 c6 4 0-0

 Nothing sharp from White here. Rob Hartoch was at one time
considered one of Holland’s most talented players, but he lost his ambition
as a player when he found himself in demand as a writer and commentator.
Here he wants little apart from obtaining a playable middlegame.
4 ... Bg4

5 d3
Against the Reti Opening set-up with 5 b3, I recommend a regrouping
of Efim Geller’s namely 5 ... Nbd7 6 Bb2 e6 7 c4 Be7 8 d3 0-0 9 Nbd2 a5
10 a3 Qb6! 11 Rc1 Rfc8! 12 Rc2 Qd8! 13 Qa1 Qf8!. M.Sadler-N.Davies,
London 1989, continued 14 Rfc1 Nc5 15 Bd4 Nfd7 16 Rb1 f6 17 Bb2 Nb6
18 Qa2 Bh5 19 cxd5 cxd5 20 Rbc1 Bf7 21 Bh3 Qe8 22 Nd4 Bf8 23 Qb1
Na6 24 Rxc8 Rxc8 when a draw was agreed.
Another possibility is 5 d4 e6 6 c4 when Black’s simplest line is 6 ...
Be7 (6 ... Nbd7 7 h3 Bh5 8 cxd5 exd5 9 Qb3 Qb6 10 Qe3+ is annoying) 7
h3 Bh5: for example, 8 Nc3 0-0 9 Qb3 Qb6 10 Ne5 Rd8 11 g4 Bg6 12 c5
Qxb3 13 axb3 Nbd7 14 Nxg6 hxg6 15 b4 was assessed as “complex” by
Christian Sielecki with him expressing a preference for White. It is
certainly not much after 15 ... e5 16 e3 a6 intending ... Nf8-e6.
5 ... Nbd7 6 Nbd2 e5 7 e4 Bd6 8 h3 Bh5 9 Qe1
J.Rizzitano-N.Davies, Peabody 2007, varied with 9 Qe2 0-0 10 c3 when
a draw was agreed, which I admit was extraordinarily brave of me. Black
could well play the position on if he were so inclined.
9 ... 0-0 10 Nh4 Re8 11 Nb3 a5 12 a4 dxe4 13 dxe4 Nc5 14 Nxc5 Bxc5
15 Bg5

Question: That move looks a bit odd. What is the idea?

Answer: Black is protecting the knight to then move his queen. White
meanwhile is unable to exploit the temporarily awkward position of the
rook.
 16 Nf5
B.Damljanovic-A.Khalifman, Belgrade 1993, saw instead 16 Bf3 Bxf3
17 Nxf3 Qc7 18 Kg2 Nd7 19 Qe2 Ree8 20 Rfd1 Nf8 21 Bd2 Ne6 22 c3 f6
23 Be1 Bf8 24 Nd2 Red8 with full equality for Black at this stage and in
fact he went on to win.
16 ... Qb6
Starting to put pressure on the queenside so as to encourage White to
create weaknesses there.
17 b3 Bb4 18 c3
White could perhaps have avoided any more queenside pawn moves
with 18 Bd2; the problem with pawns is that they don’t move backwards.
18 ... Bf8 19 Rb1 Nd7
Transferring the knight towards the queenside and getting ready to play
... f7-f6.
20 Qd2 Nc5 21 Qc2 f6 22 Be3 Qc7 23 g4
 A first sign of frustration; White wants to put his rook on the d-file, but
the weakening of f4 will not go unnoticed.
23 ... Bf7 24 Rfd1 Ree8 25 Bf1 Be6 26 Rd2 g6 27 Ng3 Qf7
Attacking b3 a third time which in turn forces a concession.
28 c4 Red8 29 Rbd1 Qc7 30 Ne2 Na6
Not only eyeing the b4-square, but preparing to exchange dark-squared
bishops. When this happens White’s position will be literally full of
weaknesses.
31 Nc1 Bc5 32 Bxc5 Nxc5 33 f3 Bf7 34 Qc3 Rxd2 35 Rxd2 Rd8 36
Kf2 g5 37 Rxd8+ Qxd8 38 Nd3 Ne6

Lev Psakhis found my play unconvincing at this stage; he was

concerned that the position would become too blocked and wanted to
somehow orchestrate ... b7-b5. In retrospect I feel he was probably right,
but I still don’t see how White could have saved himself in the game.
 39 Be2 h5 40 Ke1 h4 41 Bd1 b6 42 Be2 Qd4 43 Qxd4 exd4 44 Kd2
Kf8 45 Bd1 Ke7 46 Bc2 Kd6 47 Bd1 Nc5 48 Nxc5 Kxc5 49 Kd3 Be8 50
Be2 Bd7

50 ... b5 was good here too.

51 e5?!
Desperation, but what else can White do? After 51 Kd2 Black can break
through with 51 ... Kb4 52 Kc2 b5, though one particular pawn endgame
needs calculating carefully. That line runs 53 cxb5 cxb5 54 Bxb5 Bxb5 55
axb5 Kxb5 56 Kd3 Kc5 57 Kd2 Kb4 58 f4!? gxf4 59 e5!? fxe5 60 g5 f3! 61
g6 f2 62 Ke2 d3+! 63 Kxf2 Kc3! 64 g7 d2 65 g8Q d1Q when the queen
endgame is won for Black.
51 ... fxe5 52 Ke4 Kd6 53 c5+ bxc5 54 Bc4
Or 54 Kd3 Be6 55 Kc2 Bd5, etc.
54 ... Be6 0-1
 The position is hopeless for White: for example, 55 Kd3 (if 55 Bxe6
there follows 55 ... Kxe6 56 Kd3 Kd5, etc) 55 ... e4+ 56 Kxe4 Bd5+ 57 Kd3
Bxc4+ 58 Kxc4 Ke5 59 Kd3 Kf4, which wins the endgame.

Game 73
K.Lie-M.Carlsen
Gjovik (rapid) 2009

1 c4
The repertoire move order for this line is 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 g3 d5 3 Bg2 c6 4 c4;
against the English Opening (1 c4) we are playing 1 ... e5.
1 ... c6 2 g3 d5 3 Bg2 Nf6 4 Nf3 Bg4
A simple and reliable choice for Black. He can take the gambit pawn
with 4 ... dxc4, but this gives White good compensation.
5 Ne5 Be6!
 Having played this position from the white side, on numerous
occasions, I can confirm that this is a very reliable system. Magnus
Carlsen’s patronage also says something, though on occasion he has played
quite dubious openings.
There is a nice trap which runs 5 ... Bf5 (moving the bishop to h5 will
amount to the same) 6 cxd5 cxd5 7 Qa4+ Nbd7 8 Nc3 e6 9 g4 Bg6 (the
immediate 9 ... Bc2 would be similar after 10 Nxf7 Kxf7 11 Qxc2 Nxg4 12
Nxd5!, etc) 10 h4 Bc2 11 Nxf7! Kxf7 12 Qxc2 Nxg4 13 Nxd5! giving
White a strong attack, while I once had 5 ... e6 played against me and got a
very good game after 6 cxd5 exd5 7 Nxg4 Nxg4 8 e4 Ne5 9 d4 Bb4+ 10
Nc3 Nc4 11 exd5 Bxc3+ 12 bxc3 0-0 13 dxc6 Re8+ 14 Kf1 in N.Davies-
A.Krayz, Tel Aviv 1993.
6 cxd5 Bxd5 7 Nf3 c5!
Giving Black both central control and a retreat square for his bishop on
c6.
8 Nc3 Bc6 9 0-0 e6 10 d3
Other moves fail to make much of an impression on Black’s position.
For example:
a) 10 Qc2 was played in E.Miroshnichenko-M.Gagunashvili, Konya
2010, and now 10 ... Nbd7 (rather than 10 ... Bd6, as played in the game) 11
Rd1 Be7 12 d4 cxd4 13 Nxd4 Bxg2 14 Kxg2 0-0 is dead equal.
b) I tried 10 Re1 in N.Davies-V.Kotronias, Gausdal 1990, after which
10 ... Be7 (instead of 10 ... c4) 11 e4 0-0 12 d4 cxd4 13 Nxd4 Qb6 leaves
White with nothing: for example, 14 Be3 Qxb2 15 Ncb5 Bxb5 16 Rb1
Qxa2 17 Rxb5 Nc6 18 Rxb7 Nxd4 19 Qxd4 Rfd8, etc.
10 ... Be7 11 a3
 Question: Is White playing for b2-b4 with this move?

Answer: That looks difficult to arrange and ineffective even if it

happens, so I really do not know what his idea was here.
A plan I like more is 11 e4, to shut Black’s much travelled c6-bishop
out of play. J.Sande Edreira-J.Cuartas, Barbera del Valles 2011, continued
11 ... 0-0 12 Qc2 Nfd7 13 d4 cxd4 14 Nxd4 Bf6 15 Rd1 with an excellent
game for White, but Black should play 12 ... b5 instead of his strange 12 ...
Nfd7.
11 ... 0-0 12 Qc2 Nbd7 13 Rd1 b5 14 b3
White’s passive play is asking for trouble, and before long he gets it.
14 ... Qb6 15 Bb2 Rac8 16 Rac1
16 a4 can be answered by 16 ... a6, both here and on the next move.
16 ... Rfd8 17 Qb1?!
 Either missing or underestimating the strength of Black’s reply. 17 a4
would have been a better idea, the weakness of b4 not being a big issue
when neither of Black’s knights are able to reach it.
17 ... c4! 18 dxc4 bxc4 19 bxc4 Bc5! 20 Rf1 Ng4! 21 e3 Ndf6

Almost out of nowhere Black has developed powerful threats. His next
move turns White’s poor position into a lost one.
22 Qc2?
White should have played 22 Ba1, though he is still worse after 22 ...
Bxe3!: for example, 23 fxe3? (23 Qxb6 is relatively best, but then 23 ...
Bxb6 leaves Black with a clear advantage in the endgame) 23 ... Qxe3+ 24
Kh1 Nxh2! 25 Kxh2 (or 25 Nxh2 Bxg2+ 26 Kxg2 Rd2+ 27 Kh1 Qxg3, etc)
25 ... Ng4+ 26 Kh1 Bxf3 27 Rxf3 Qh6+ 28 Kg1 Rd2 29 Qb7 Qh2+ 30 Kf1
Qxg2+ 31 Ke1 Rf8 with a winning position.
22 ... Bxe3 23 Rcd1?
 Losing immediately, but the position was beyond salvation. 23 fxe3 is
answered by 23 ... Nxe3 24 Qe2 (24 Qf2 Nfg4 is a killer) 24 ... Nxf1+ 25
Kxf1 Ng4 with a decisive initiative.
23 ... Nxf2 24 Rxf2 Ng4!

Piling on the pressure.

25 Rdf1
Or 25 Rxd8+ Rxd8 26 Nd1 Rxd1+! 27 Qxd1 Nxf2, etc.
25 ... Nxf2 26 Rxf2 Bxf3 27 Bxf3 Rd2 28 c5 Bxf2+ 0-1
After 29 Kh1 Qxb2 White faces ruinous loss of material.

Game 74
V.Artamonov-D.Khismatullin
Ugra Governor’s Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk 2011

1 c4
The repertoire move order for this line is 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 a6,
reaching the position after Black’s third move in the game.
1 ... e6 2 Nf3
With this move order White could try 2 g3, after which 2 ... Nf6 3 Bg2
a6 4 b3 would prevent Black’s ... b7-b5 and presumably force him into
some more normal Reti/Catalan type position with 4 ... d5 when the utility
of 3 ... a6 is questionable.
2 ... Nf6 3 g3 a6

When Oleg Romanishin started playing this move in the 1970s people
were very surprised that it was not only playable, but also very interesting.

Question: What is the idea behind it?

Answer: Black intends to play 4 ... b5, which both prepares a fianchetto
of his queen’s bishop and gains space on the queenside. As we shall see, it
can also be a gambit line.
4 Bg2 b5 5 Nd4
Accepting what seems like a pawn sacrifice, but is actually something
more than that. If White first plays 5 cxb5 axb5 and then 6 Nd4, Black has
the option of protecting his b5-pawn with 6 ... Ra5.
5 ... c6 6 cxb5 axb5 7 Nxb5 cxb5!

Question: Is it now a pawn and the exchange that Black is giving up?
Is he going to have enough for all that material?

Answer: The transaction is not yet complete as we shall see; White’s

bishop is going to be in trouble.
8 Bxa8 d5!

This is the real point; the bishop on a8 is trapped and threatened with
capture by Black’s queen ( ... Qc7 and ... Qa7).
 9 Qc2
Alternative ways of trying to mount rescue operations are as follows:
a) 9 b4 was White’s choice in J.Skoberne-M.Tratar, Ljubljana 2010,
after which 9 ... Qc7 10 Bb2 Qa7 11 Qc2 Bd7 12 Bxf6 gxf6 13 Bxd5 exd5
14 Nc3 Qb7 (14 ... Nc6!? is interesting: for example, 15 Nxd5 Qd4! 16
Qe4+ Kd8 17 Qxd4 Nxd4 18 Rc1 Bc6 19 Rxc6 Nxc6 20 a3 Kd7 21 e3 f5
ends up about even) 15 0-0 Na6 16 a3 d4 17 Qe4+ Qxe4 18 Nxe4 Be7 19 f4
Bc6 20 Nf2 Kd7 with approximate equality in this materially imbalanced
endgame.
b) 9 a4 Qa5 10 Qc2 Bd7 11 Bb7 Kd8! (11 ... Qa7 allows 12 Bc8!) 12 0-
0 (or 12 Nc3 Qc7 13 Bxd5 exd5) 12 ... Qc7 (12 ... Qa7 is not bad either, but
the engine assures me that we can win the bishop even in the endgame) 13
Qxc7+ Kxc7 14 Ba8 bxa4 and Black wants to trap the bishop with ... Na6
and then move his own bishop on f8.
9 ... Bd7 10 b4
 Preventing the immediate attack on the bishop with ... Qa5, but Black
has another way to reach a7.
10 ... Qb6
The simplest and most direct way to win the bishop. The engine
meanwhile says that Black can even play 10 ... Bxb4!? 11 Bb2 Qa5 when
12 Bxd5 (if 12 Bb7 Qb6) 12 ... exd5 13 Bxf6 gxf6 14 Nc3 Bc6 is very good
for Black.
11 Nc3
Losing his way in the complications. White would have done better to
play 11 Bb2, after which 11 ... Na6 12 Bxf6 gxf6 13 Nc3 Nc7 14 a4 Nxa8
15 axb5 Qb8 is slightly preferable for Black but not massively so. Another
better move would have been 11 a4, but Black still has an edge after 11 ...
Qa6.
11 ... Qa6 12 a4
Or if 12 Bxd5 exd5 13 a4 when Black is clearly better after 13 ... bxa4
14 b5 Qb7 15 Nxa4 d4, intending 16 0-0 Bh3!.
12 ... Qxa8 13 Nxb5 Na6 14 Nc7+
14 Bb2 Be7 15 Nc7+ Nxc7 16 Qxc7 0-0 gives Black a powerful
initiative: for example, 17 b5 Rc8 18 Qf4 Bxb5!! 19 axb5 Qxa1+! 20 Bxa1
Rc1 mate.
14 ... Nxc7 15 Qxc7 d4!?
Threatening mate and intending a very nice positional pawn sacrifice.
15 ... Bxb4 16 a5 0-0 would also have been good for Black.
16 0-0 d3!?
 The engine doesn’t get this move, seeing it as a reduction in Black’s
material advantage. I would say that it is a very grandmasterly decision.

Question: What does it do exactly?

Answer: At a superficial level it weakens White’s light squares, but it

also means that White’s kingside pawn majority is now hobbled and unable
to flow forwards.
17 exd3?
White should at least have ensured the integrity of his queenside pawns
with 17 b5. The fall of his b4-pawn means that he can do very little to
trouble Black as he mobilizes his forces.
17 ... Bxb4 18 Bb2 Nd5 19 Qe5
19 Qc4 0-0 20 a5 Bxd2 would be similar to the game; Black’s position
is structurally rock solid, and the white a-pawn will not trouble Black on its
own.
19 ... f6 20 Qh5+ g6 21 Qh6 Kf7 22 Rfc1 Bf8 23 Qh4 Be7 24 Rc4 h5
Heralding a kingside expansion which starts to develop threats against
White’s king.
25 Ba3 Bxa3 26 Rxa3 Bc6 27 Ra1 Ne7
Ideas such as ... Bh1, threatening mate on g2, are starting to appear.
28 Rac1 Rd8 29 Qf4
Or 29 d4 Nf5 30 Qf4 Bh1, etc.
29 ... g5 30 Qe3 Bh1

31 Kf1?!
Heading for the hills. White could have bailed out into a bad endgame
with 31 f3 Qxf3 32 Qxf3 Bxf3 33 a5 with much suffering and a likely zero
in store. For this reason, most people prefer to roll the dice when in trouble.
31 ... Nf5 32 Qb6 Kg6 33 Ke1
33 Qxe6 Re8 would lose immediately.
 33 ... Rxd3 34 R1c3 Rd7 35 Kd1 Qd5 36 Qb2 Be4 37 Rc5 Qd4 38
R5c4 Bf3+! 39 Kc2
39 Rxf3 would drop the queen.
39 ... Qxf2 40 Kb1 Rxd2 41 Rc2 Rd1+ 42 Rc1 Rxc1+ 43 Rxc1 Qa7
44 Qb4 Nd4 45 Rc8 e5 46 Rg8+ Kf5 47 h4 Qc7 48 Rb8 Qc2+ 49 Ka1
Qc1+ 50 Qb1+ Nc2+ 0-1
White is getting mated after 51 Ka2 Qa3 mate.

Game 75
T.Chapman-N.Davies
Staunton Memorial, London 2009

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 a6 4 Bg2 b5 5 b3

 Choosing to decline the gambit and maintain a solid position, though
now Black’s queenside space proves to be useful. 5 Nd4 was considered in
the previous game, Artamonov-Khismatullin.
5 ... Bb7 6 0-0 c5 7 Nc3 Qb6
Had I known what I was doing at the time, I would have probably
played the immediate 7 ... b4, after which 8 Na4 d6 9 d4 cxd4 10 Qxd4 Be7
11 Qd2 a5 12 a3 Na6 13 axb4 Nxb4 14 Bb2 0-0 15 Nc3 Qb8 was fine for
Black in O.Kobo-D.Khismatullin, St. Petersburg 2018. Black’s queen is not
well placed on b6 as after ... b4 White wins a tempo with Nc3-a4, though it
is gratifying to at least see other GMs making the same mistake.
8 e3 Be7 9 Qe2 0-0!?

10 Rd1
Looking back, I am surprised I chose to offer the b-pawn as bait, though
admittedly Black obtains compensation after 10 cxb5 Ne4!? (10 ... axb5 11
Qxb5 Qc7 12 Qe2 Ba6 13 d3 Nc6 also offers Black play for the pawn) 11
Nxe4 Bxe4 12 bxa6 Bf6 13 d4 Nxa6 because of his active piece play. Such
speculations are not my usual cup of tea, which is why in future I would
avoid 7 ... Qb6.
10 ... b4
Giving up on the gambit master approach. 10 ... Nc6!? would have been
consistent with Black’s play so far, though the compensation seems
nebulous to me after 11 cxb5 axb5 12 Qxb5 Qxb5 13 Nxb5 Nb4 14 Nc3.
11 Na4 Qc7 12 d4 d6 13 dxc5 dxc5 14 Bb2 Nbd7 15 Ne1 Bxg2 16
Nxg2
M.Sorokin-M.Ginzburg, Villa Gesell 1998, saw 16 Kxg2 instead,
keeping the e1-knight on track for d3. After 16 ... Nb6 17 Nxb6 Qxb6 18
Qf3 Rad8 19 Nd3 White was clearly better in a rather miserable position for
Black.
16 ... Rad8 17 a3 a5 18 axb4 axb4 19 Nf4 g6
 After some very uninspired play in the early stages I start to get back on
track. The point behind this move will become apparent shortly.
20 Nd3 e5 21 e4 Nh5
Routing the knight towards the e6-square via g6 so that it can get in
contact with d4. In doing so I am also switching the emphasis of the
struggle away from the queenside, and this will mean that White’s knight on
a4 is inappropriately placed.
22 Rf1
Choosing the wrong plan; White wants to play f2-f4, but then his knight
on a4 will not be able to participate. White can also reroute a knight
towards the d5-square and maybe he should. 22 Ne1 Ng7 23 Nc2 Ne6 24
Ne3 is inescapably better for White.
22 ... Rfe8 23 Rae1 Bd6 24 Qe3 Rc8
Reinforcing the guard over c5 so that its other protectors might be
repositioned.
25 f4 exf4 26 gxf4 f5 27 e5 Bf8 28 Re2
The engine still prefers White, but by now it is wavering. However, this
is the position I had been playing for because White’s minor pieces are shut
it, he cannot get a knight to d5 and I can blockade his e-pawn by bringing a
knight to e6.
28 ... Ng7 29 Rd1 Ne6
Black continues with his plan, but there was a better move: 29 ... Nf6
exploits the pin along the e-file and after 30 Qf3 Ne4 31 Nf2 Nxf2 32 Rxf2
Ne6 Black is certainly not worse. He might not be better either because of
33 Rfd2 Red8 34 Rd5, when it looks difficult to remove White from his
entrenchments. This might have been why I chose a more complex route; I
wanted to use the last hour before the time control to outplay my opponent.
30 h4 Be7 31 Qh3 Ndf8
 The engine wants me to blockade the kingside with 31 ... h5, but that
would create an unwinnable position. Black’s main pawn lever is ... g6-g5
which I was hoping would materialize as the game progressed. Fortunately
I didn’t even need it.
32 h5 Rcd8 33 Rdd2?
Christmas comes early! White should defend f4 with 33 Rf1, after
which I would have doubled rooks on the e-file starting with 33 ... Rd7.
33 ... Rxd3! 34 Qxd3 Nxf4 35 Qf3 Nxe2+ 36 Rxe2 Rd8 37 hxg6 hxg6
38 e6 Qd6
38 ... Rd6 39 Be5 Qc6! would have been more precise, but neither of us
had much time at this stage.
39 Qh3 Nh7 40 Be5 Qxe6 41 Nb2 Bf6 42 Nd3 Ng5 43 Qg3 Bxe5 44
Nxe5 Qf6 45 Ra2 f4 46 Ra6
A last despairing attempt at a swindle.
 46 ... Rd1+ 47 Kg2 Rd2+ 48 Kh1 Qh8+ 0-1

Game 76
L.Polugaevsky-E.Rozentalis
PCA Qualifier, Groningen 1993

1 c4
The repertoire move order is 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qb3 Nc6,
which reaches the position after Black’s fourth move in the game.
1 ... e6
The answer to the English Opening will be 1 ... e5, as will be covered in
the last three games of the book.
2 Nc3 Bb4 3 Qb3 Nc6 4 Nf3 Nf6

5 a3 Bxc3 6 Qxc3 d6
 Rozentalis has also played 6 ... d5, but I am a fan of having pawns on
dark squares after exchanging the dark-squared bishop.
7 g3
7 d3 e5 8 e3 0-0 9 Be2 a5 10 b3 h6 11 0-0 Bg4 12 Bb2 Re8 13 Rfe1
Qe7 gave Black a sound position in Y.Malinin-M.Limontas, Panevezys
2008.
7 ... e5 8 Bg2 Qe7 9 0-0 0-0 10 b4 a6 11 Bb2

Question: Can White not continue his queenside expansion with 11 a4

followed by b4-b4?

Answer: Black’s 10 ... a6 just made it a bit harder for White to take
space on the queenside. If he had now played 11 a4 there might follow 11 ...
Re8 12 b5 (12 Bb2 can be answered by 12 ... a5 13 b5 Nb4 14 Ba3 d5
because Black’s 11th move protected e5) 12 ... axb5 13 axb5 Nd4 14 Nxd4
exd4 15 Qxd4 Rxa1 16 Qxa1 Qxe2, recovering the pawn with full equality.
11 ... Re8 12 d3 Bg4 13 e3
Protecting d4, but slightly loosening the light squares. Rozentalis now
seeks to exploit this.
13 ... Qd7 14 Rfe1 h6

Question: What’s the point of that move? Is Black creating room for his
king
so he won’t get mated on the back rank?

Answer: The main point is that Black might now be able to bring his
knight to h7 and then later out to g5. It also prevents a possible Nf3-g5 by
White.
15 Nd2 h5!?
 Question: Doesn’t this second move of the h-pawn represent a loss of
time?

Answer: Not really because Black would never consider playing this
when White’s knight was still on f3; Black is looking at playing a later ...
h5-h4 to soften up White’s king position. Note that this now caused
something of an overreaction by Polugaevsky.
16 b5?! axb5 17 cxb5 Na5
As a result of White’s 16th move his pawns are now split into two
islands. Although this may not seem very serious, it does slightly hobble
White’s position.
18 a4 c6 19 bxc6
19 Nc4 would have been another reasonable approach, after which 19 ...
Nxc4 20 Qxc4 d5 is still objectively equal.
19 ... Nxc6
19 ... bxc6 was also quite playable.
20 Nc4 Rad8
20 ... Ra6 might have been more solid to discourage a4-a5 and Nc4-b6
ideas, but I get the impression that Rozentalis wanted to provoke
complications at this stage by shifting his forces over to the kingside.
21 a5 d5 22 Nb6 Qe6 23 Qc5 h4 24 a6 bxa6 25 Rxa6 Nb8 26 Ra5 Qf5
 27 e4
White has some pitfalls to avoid: for example, 27 Nxd5 is met by 27 ...
Rxd5! (27 ... Nxd5 28 e4 would favour White) 28 Bxd5 Nxd5 29 Qxd5?
Bf3 threatening both White’s queen and 30 ... Qh3.
27 ... dxe4 28 dxe4 Nxe4! 29 Qe3
I suspect that White had missed Black’s last move. After 29 Bxe4? there
is 29 ... Qxe4! 30 Rxe4 Rd1+ 31 Kg2 h3 mate.
29 ... Qxf2+ 30 Qxf2 Nxf2 31 Raxe5
White is fighting for a draw. Another way to do so would have been 31
Kxf2 Rd2+ 32 Kg1 Rxb2 33 Nc4 Rb4 34 Raxe5; White will be a pawn
down, but with all the pawns on one side of the board it should not be
losing for him.
31 ... Rxe5 32 Bxe5?!
An easier path to a drawish position would have been 32 Rxe5 Nd3 33
Re4 Nxb2 34 Rxg4, etc.
 32 ... Nd3 33 Bc7
Another mistake which could and should have lost. 33 Re3 Nxe5 34
Rxe5 Rd1+ 35 Kf2 Rd2+ 36 Kg1 would probably hold on, but without the
same ease as some of White’s earlier opportunities.
33 ... Nxe1 34 Bxd8 Nxg2 35 Kxg2 h3+ 36 Kf2 Nc6 37 Bc7

37 ... Be6?
The only real danger for White is that Black’s knight will get to f3 and
snaffle the h2-pawn, starting with 37 ... Nd4. Once Rozentalis misses his
chance, Polugaevsky takes care not to present another opportunity.
38 Na4 f6 39 Nc5 Bg4 40 Ke3 g5 41 Ne4 Kf7 42 Nf2 f5 43 Nd3 Ke6
44 Bb6 Kd5 45 Bc5 Bd1 46 Ba3 Nd4 47 Bb2 Ne6 48 Nf2 Bg4 49 Nxg4 ½-
½

Game 77
B.Gelfand-M.Adams
Wijk aan Zee 1996

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 g3 Bxc3

There has been a growing understanding of the benefits of inflicting
doubled pawns: for example, the line 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 g6 4 Bxc6
has been fashionable in recent years. The point is that the pawns then
become quite difficult to mobilize which has a direct effect on middlegame
planning; without pawn levers we can struggle to find an effective plan.
5 bxc3

5 ... b6 6 Bg2 Bb7 7 d3 d6 8 e4 0-0 9 0-0 Nfd7 10 Nh4 Nc6

Adams puts the knight in the centre, but there is a case here for 10 ...
Na6!?. Y.Pelletier-N.Pedersen, German Bundesliga 2002, went 11 a4 f5 12
exf5 Bxg2 13 Nxg2 Rxf5 14 d4 Qe8 15 Ra2 and now 15 ... Nf6! (rather
than 15 ... e5, which allowed White to open the position with 16 f4 in the
game) 16 Re1 Ra5 17 Qf3 Rc8 is very solid for Black.
 11 f4 Ne7 12 Nf3 Nc5
White would like to move his pawns forward, but the pressure against
e4 makes it hard for him to play d3-d4. Meanwhile Black can gradually
prepare to play ... f7-f5.
13 Be3 Qd7 14 Re1 Rae8 15 Bf2 f5 16 e5 d5?!
Without this Black would have had a reasonable game. The best was
probably 16 ... Ng6 when 17 Bxc5 dxc5 18 Qe2 Ne7 19 Red1 Qa4 makes it
hard for White to do very much.
17 Bxc5 bxc5 18 Qb3
18 Nd2! is even stronger because White can target the c5-pawn with
Nd2-b3.
18 ... Rb8 19 Qb5 Bc6

Question: As he now loses his c5-pawn, why did Black avoid the
exchange
 of queens?

Answer: 19 ... Qxb5 20 cxb5 would straighten out White’s pawns and
leave Black with both weaknesses and a lack of space. At least with the
move played he obtains some counterplay.
20 Qxc5 Rb2 21 Nd4 Ba8 22 Bf3
The engine assures me that White can play 22 Qxa7, showing nothing
clear in the line 22 ... Rxg2+ 23 Kxg2 dxc4+ 24 Kf2 Qd5 25 Rg1 c5 26
dxc4 Qxc4 27 Qxe7 cxd4 28 Qb4 Qd3 29 Qxd4 Qc2+ 30 Ke1 Qxh2. As
helpful as this is, the final position is fraught with difficulty because White
will be unable to find a safe space for his king. It would also be very
difficult for him to advance either of his passed pawns.
22 ... dxc4 23 Bxa8 Rxa8 24 dxc4 Kf7 25 Reb1 Rab8 26 Rxb2 Rxb2
27 Qxa7 Qc8!?
Objectively speaking, 27 ... Nc6 might have been better, but then 28
Qa4 Nxe5 29 Qxd7+ Nxd7 leaves Black in an endgame where White has all
the chances. With White’s king so weak it is understandable that Black
should want to keep the queens on the board.
28 Rf1 c5 29 Nf3 h6 30 Rf2 Rb1+ 31 Rf1 Rb2 32 Qa3
Black’s counterplay becomes very serious after this, but it wasn’t easy
in any case. 32 Rd1 was worth considering, but then Black can fight on
with 32 ... Rb7 33 Qa3 Rb8 34 Rd6 Ra8. It is far from easy for White to use
his two extra pawns, one of them is doubled and the other isolated.
32 ... Qb7 33 Qxc5 Rxa2 34 Qe3 Qb3 35 Nd2 Qc2 36 Rf2 Ra3 37 Nf1
Qxc3 38 Rf3 Qxe3+ 39 Rxe3 Ra2 40 Rd3 g5
 Suddenly attacking the base of White’s pawn chain. Black has fully
equalized now; in fact, if anything it is White who needs to be careful.
41 Rd7 gxf4 42 gxf4 Kf8 43 Rd8+ ½-½

Game 78
R.Loncar-I.Naumkin
Ischia 2000

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 Bxc3

The same formula of doubling White’s pawns where possible. There is a
surprising dearth of games with Black’s last move, but it makes a lot of
sense from a logical perspective.
5 bxc3
 Capturing away from the centre with 5 dxc3 does not make much sense.
Black could continue with a ... d6 and ... e5 set-up, much as in the game.
5 ... d6 6 d3 0-0 7 Be2 Re8
There is a case for leaving the rook on f8 to support ... f7-f5; this
becomes even more apparent when White plays e3-e4. Based on this logic,
a sample line might be 7 ... e5 8 e4 Nc6 9 0-0 Nd7 10 Be3 Nc5 11 Rb1 b6
12 Qc2 f5 when Black has achieved full equality.
8 0-0 e5 9 e4 Nbd7 10 Be3 c6 11 Nd2 d5 12 cxd5 cxd5 13 Bf3
13 Qb3 was a reasonable alternative here as 13 ... dxe4 14 Nxe4 Nxe4
15 dxe4 Qc7 is probably a bit better for White.
13 ... dxe4 14 Nxe4 Nxe4 15 Bxe4 Qc7 16 Qb3 Nf6 17 Bf3 Bg4
Being the higher rated of the two players, Naumkin seeks to unbalance
the position. There was a draw to be had via 17 ... Ng4 (threatening ... Nxh2
followed by ... e5-e4+). 18 Be4 Nf6 19 Bf3 Ng4, etc.
18 Qxb7 Qxc3
 19 Qxa8

Question: Did White have to give up the queen like this?

Answer: It was a very reasonable, though not entirely necessary

decision. White could also play 19 Bc6 when 19 ... Reb8 20 Rac1 Qxc1 21
Qxa8 Rxa8 22 Rxc1 Rc8 23 Ba4 Rxc1+ 24 Bxc1 Be6 25 a3 Nd5 reaches a
drawish looking endgame.
19 ... Rxa8 20 Bxa8 Qxd3

Question: How would you assess a position with this kind of material
imbalance?

Answer: There are a couple of major factors, king safety and the
coordination of the rooks. Black’s queen can become very strong if White’s
king gets opened up, and this is one of his major tasks over the coming
moves.
21 h3 Be2 22 Rfe1 a6 23 Rac1 h6

Avoiding any back-rank problems.

Question: Is it a good idea to give the king an escape square like this in
general?

Answer: Not really; sometimes a move like ... h6 can weaken the king
position. At this stage back-rank issues are highly relevant though, so the
move is now appropriate.
24 Rc5 e4 25 Bc6 Qd6 26 Ba4
And not 26 Rxe2 because of 26 ... Qd1+.
26 ... Bd3 27 Bb3 g5 28 Rec1 Bb5 29 a4 Bd7 30 Rd1 Qb8 31 Bc2 Be6
32 a5 Kg7 33 Bd4 Kg6 34 Be5 Qb4 35 Bd6 Qb2 36 Be5 Qb4 37 Bd4 Qb8
38 Rb1 Qd8 39 Be3 Kg7 40 Rb4 Nd7 41 Bd4+ Kf8 42 Rc6 Qxa5 43 Bc3
Qd5 44 Rc8+ Ke7 45 Rxe4 Qb7 46 Rh8 Qc6 47 Bb4+ Kf6 48 Bb1 Qc1+
49 Re1 Qb2 50 Ba5 Qa3?
The start of some very patchy play, which probably indicates that both
players were in time trouble. 50 ... Kg7 was better when a draw could be the
result after 51 Rh7+ Kf8 52 Rxh6 Nf6 53 Rh8+ Kg7, etc.
51 Bd2 Qb2 52 Rxh6+ Kg7 53 Bxg5 Qb5 54 Rh5 Qb4 55 Bh6+ Kf6
56 Rc1 a5 57 Bg5+ Kg7 58 Rh7+ Kg8 59 Rh4 Qb7 60 Be4 Bd5 61 Bh7+
Kg7 62 Bf5 Be6 63 Be4 Qb5?

64 Bh6+
64 Rh7+ leads to mate after 64 ... Kg8 65 Rc8+ Nf8 66 Bf6.
64 ... Kf6 65 Bf3 a4? 66 Rf4+?
This all looks like time trouble chaos. 66 Bc6 would have won the a4-
pawn.
66 ... Ke7 67 Re4 a3 68 Ree1 a2 0-1
 Presumably this was a win on time or the remaining moves were
unavailable. At this stage the position seems about even because White will
struggle to advance his kingside pawns without weakening his king
position, while the a2-pawn cannot get any further.

Game 79
M.Cornette-M.Adams
French League 2003

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 g4!?

A move to have found some support of late, which might be seen as an
indicator of White’s frustration with facing this line. One of the issues I
have with it is that Black has yet to declare where his king will live, so he
might decide to castle long.
4 ... Bxc3 5 dxc3
 Question: Is it right to capture away from the centre like that?

Answer: It depends very much on the position. In this case White

accelerates the development of his queenside by opening a diagonal for his
c1-bishop and leaves his queenside more secure should he want to castle
there.
A case can also be made for 5 bxc3, which leaves White the option of
creating a broad pawn centre, and this has attracted some illustrious
support. For example, 5 ... d6 6 g5 Nfd7 7 Bg2 Nc6 8 d3 e5 9 h4 f5 (9 ...
Nb6 10 Be3 Qe7 11 Nd2 Bd7 12 a4 Na5 13 Nb3 Bc6 14 Nxa5 Bxg2 15
Rg1 was good for White in H.Nakamura-A.Sokolov, Mainz (rapid) 2009,
but 9 ... Qe7 might be a more flexible choice when Black keeps the option
of ... f5 on the next move) 10 Nd2 Qe7 11 Ba3 h6 12 c5 dxc5 13 Bxc6 bxc6
14 Qa4 was played in N.Grandadam-V.Iordachescu, Bratto 2010, and now
14 ... Rb8 looks natural to meet 15 Qxa7 with 15 ... hxg5.
5 ... d6 6 g5 Nfd7 7 Be3 Qe7
Already foreshadowing the possibility that he might castle long. 7 ...
Nc6 is possible here too, intending 8 Qc2 Qe7 9 0-0-0 e5 followed by 10 ...
Nb6.
8 Bg2 e5 9 Qc2 Nc6 10 h4 Nb6 11 b3 g6
Preparing to bring the bishop to f5.
12 Nd2 Bf5 13 Be4 Qe6
 14 a4
It is not clear that this move is wise if White is preparing to put his king
on the queenside.

Question: Can White not give Black weak doubled pawns with 14 Bxf5
here?

Answer: The relative merits of doubled pawns depend very much on the
position. In this case 14 ... gxf5 gives Black excellent central control and it
is not immediately apparent how White can attack them.
14 ... Nd7 15 h5 0-0-0 16 0-0-0 Kb8 17 Rh4 Ne7 18 hxg6
It seems to make more sense to play 18 Rdh1 before opening the h-file,
but Black can meet this with 18 ... Bxe4 19 Nxe4 Nf5 20 R4h3 Nxe3 21
fxe3 Rhf8, leaving White with a very ragged pawn structure.
18 ... hxg6 19 Rdh1 Rxh4 20 Rxh4 c6!
 Classical chess, preparing to meet White’s various flank operations by
taking the centre with ... d6-d5. The position is turning rapidly against
White.
21 Nf1
21 Kb2 might have been more stubborn. White’s position now collapses
with stunning rapidity.
21 ... d5 22 cxd5 cxd5 23 Bxf5 Nxf5 24 Rb4?
In retrospect the rook is not well placed here, but White’s position was
unenviable in any case. 24 Rh2 would be met by 24 ... d4 25 Bd2 Rc8.
24 ... Rc8 25 Kb2

Or 25 c4 a5 26 Rb5 dxc4, etc.

25 ... a5 26 Rb5 d4 27 Bd2 dxc3+ 0-1
28 Bxc3 Nd4 is crushing.

Game 80
C.Gabriel-A.Sokolov
Swiss League 2001

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 d6

This lesser-known move is our repertoire choice and has been a long-
time favourite of Andrei Sokolov. Black maintains great flexibility apart
from announcing that his pawns are going to dark squares. As he will most
likely exchange his dark-squared bishop, this makes perfect sense from a
strategic perspective.
5 g3
5 a3 Bxc3 6 Qxc3 e5 is covered in the next game, Zhou Jianchao-
Sokolov.
5 ... 0-0 6 Bg2 c5 7 0-0 Nc6 8 e3
White has tried several other moves here. For example:
 a) 8 b3 Bxc3 9 dxc3 h6 10 Rd1 Qe7 11 Nh4 Bd7 12 h3 Rad8 13 Be3
Na5 14 Rd2 Bc6 15 Rad1 Bxg2 16 Kxg2 b6 17 Kg1 Nc6 18 Bf4 d5 saw
Black seize the initiative in S.Vukanovic-O.Romanishin, Pula 1990.
b) 8 d3 h6 9 e3 Qe7 10 b3 Bd7 11 Bb2 Rac8 12 Rac1 Rfd8 13 a3 Ba5
14 d4 cxd4 15 exd4 Bxc3 16 Qxc3 d5 17 Qe3 dxc4 18 bxc4 Na5 19 Ne5
b5! gained control of queenside light squares in Z.Ribli-G.Dizdar, Austrian
League 1997.

8 ... Bxc3

Question: That voluntary exchange of bishop for knight seems

surprising;
why did Black do it?

Answer: White’s last move prepared to bring the knight to e2, after
which it is not clear what Black’s bishop would be doing on b4. By
exchanging now he avoids this problem and can adopt the classic strategy
of putting his pawns on the opposite colour to his remaining bishop.
9 Qxc3 e5 10 b3 Bg4 11 h3 Bxf3

Question: Is it not even worse to exchange the second bishop? White

now has
two bishops against two knights, which should constitute a clear
advantage.

Answer: Everything depends on the specific position. In this case,

Black is able to hunt down some light squares which makes the knights
very useful; knights need outposts, but if they have them they can be a
match for a bishop-pair.
12 Bxf3 e4 13 Bg2 Ne5 14 Bb2 Qd7 15 Qc2 h5?!
In principle this is a good idea, but the timing might have been slightly
off. 15 ... Rae8 would have been a good preparatory move, after which 16
Bxe5 dxe5 17 Rad1 (17 Bxe4 drops the h3-pawn, and this is one that helps
defend White’s king) 17 ... Re6 18 Bxe4 Nxe4 19 Qxe4 f5 20 Qb1?! (20
Qd5 Qxd5 21 cxd5 Rd6 is drawish) 20 ... Rh6 gives Black excellent
attacking chances for the sacrificed pawn. Another possibility was 15 ...
Qf5.
16 Kh2?!
White should coolly take the e4-pawn, as after 16 Bxe4 Nxe4 17 Qxe4
Qxh3 18 Bxe5 Rae8 19 d4 Black is not going to get enough compensation.
16 ... Qe6
 17 d4
17 Bxe4? would lose on the spot to 17 ... Nxe4 18 Qxe4 Ng4+, winning
the queen. On the other hand, 17 Rad1 seems to be a reasonable alternative:
for example, 17 ... Nf3+ 18 Bxf3 exf3 19 Bxf6 Qxf6.
17 ... Nf3+!
Getting rid of the light-squared bishop. 17 ... exd3 18 Qc3 would not be
good because White could then roll forwards with f2-f4.
18 Bxf3 exf3 19 Rg1 Rfe8 20 d5
Opening the long diagonal for the bishop on b2. As both players’ plans
materialize the game is rapidly heading towards a crisis point.
20 ... Qe4 21 Qd1
21 Qxe4?! Nxe4 22 Rgf1 f6 would leave White very passively placed.
21 ... Nh7 22 g4
Ambitious play by White, looking to open the g-file to coordinate with
his bishop on b2. 22 Qb1 was a quieter and entirely playable alternative.
 22 ... Ng5
Another option is 22 ... h4, but then White can prevent the knight from
coming to g5 with 23 g5. After 23 ... Qf5 24 Rg4 Re4 (24 ... Nxg5 gives
White a strong attack with 25 Rxg5 Qxg5 26 Qxf3 intending 27 Rg1) 25
Qd3 Rae8 (25 ... Nxg5 is bad because of 26 Rag1 f6 27 Bxf6! gxf6 28
Qxe4, etc) 26 Rag1 Qg6 27 Bc3 the game is in the balance.
23 gxh5?
The losing move, though to see the right path was very difficult. The
engine indicates that White had to play 23 h4, after which 23 ... hxg4 24
hxg5 Qh7+ 25 Kg3 Qh3+ 26 Kf4 Qh2+ 27 Kxg4 Qxf2 28 Qxf3 (28 Bc3
Re4+ 29 Kf5 Qxe3 leads to mate) 28 ... Qxb2 29 Rae1 is surprisingly OK
for White, despite the advanced position of his king.
23 ... Qh4

24 Qf1
 24 Rxg5!? was probably the best try because Black needs to choose 24
... Qxf2+ (24 ... Qxg5? 25 Qxf3 Re5 26 Rg1 gives White a winning attack)
25 Kh1 Qxb2 rather than getting greedy. In the game, White has to give up
his rook for Black’s knight anyway, but this time without tricks or
compensation.
24 ... f6 25 Rg3 Qxh5 26 Qd3 Ne4 27 Rag1 Nxg3 28 Rxg3 Kf7 29
Qd1? Re4 30 Rxf3 Rh8 31 Qh1 Rh4 32 Qg2 Rg4 33 Rg3 Rxg3 34 Qxg3
Rh6 0-1

Game 81
Zhou Jianchao-A.Sokolov
France vs China, Paris 2006

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 d6 5 a3

5 g3 featured in the previous game, Gabriel-Sokolov. Here White
chooses to immediately take the bishop-pair.
5 ... Bxc3 6 Qxc3 e5
 It’s worth comparing this position with the 4 Qc2 Nimzo lines that were
covered in Chapter One.
7 d4 e4 8 Ng1 0-0 9 Bg5 h6 10 Bh4 Re8 11 e3 Nbd7 12 Ne2 Nf8 13 d5
Re5
Zhou Jianchao reached this position again the following year. Zhou
Jianchao-A.Bagheri, Cebu 2007, varied with 13 ... N8h7 14 Qc2 and now
14 ... Nf8! (rather than 14 ... Qe7 as played in the game) 15 Nc3 Ng6 16
Bxf6 Qxf6 17 Nxe4 Qf5 18 Bd3 Ne5 19 f3 Qg6 20 0-0 Nxd3 21 Qxd3 Bf5
recovers the pawn with at least equality.
Meanwhile 13 ... N8d7(!) deserves serious attention because White’s d-
pawn has gone to d5 by comparison with the last time the knight was there.
After 14 Qc2 Ne5 15 Nd4 (15 Bxf6?! Qxf6 16 Qxe4? Bf5 would lead to
disaster for White) 15 ... Ng6 16 Bg3 a5 Black has a comfortable game.
14 Bg3 Re8 15 Bh4 Re5
 Effectively offering a draw by repetition which White decides to
decline. Black could also play 15 ... N8d7, as in the note to his 13th move.
16 Qd4 Ng6 17 Bg3 Re8 18 Nc3 Bf5 19 0-0-0?!
Old timers, like myself, would balk at the idea of castling into dodgy
pawn cover, and that’s nothing compared to his next move. As White lost
this game, I can be duly judgemental and recommend just 19 Be2 instead.
19 ... Nd7 20 b4?!
I guess that is one way of keeping the knight out of c5. I don’t
particularly like it because it puts the knight on the edge, so I have to prefer
the engine suggestion of 20 Na4.
20 ... a5 21 Kb2 axb4 22 axb4 Nge5 23 Be2 c5

This all makes perfect sense, opening lines in front of White’s king.
24 dxc6 bxc6 25 Bxe5
Missing a hidden route to salvation. After 25 Qxd6 Black can play 25 ...
Qb6 to threaten 26 ... Re6. The engine then wants to defend White’s
position with the remarkable 26 Ra1 Rxa1 27 Rxa1 Re6 28 Na4!! Rxd6 29
Nxb6 Rd2+ 30 Kc3 Rxe2 31 Nxd7 Nxd7 32 Ra6: for example, 32 ... c5 33
bxc5 Nxc5 34 Ra5 wins one of Black’s minor pieces. Not many human
players would see this stuff.
25 ... Nxe5 26 Kb3 Nd3 27 Bxd3 exd3 28 Qf4 Qf6
Threatening 29 ... Ra3+!.
29 Ra1 Rab8 30 Ra4 Qg6
30 ... d5! would have been even stronger; after 31 cxd5 cxd5 32 Nxd5
Black plays 32 ... Qe6 33 Ra5 Be4, etc.
31 Rd1 Re5
31 ... d5 was the best here too, but now White in turn misses his way.
He should play 32 Ra6, with some chances of survival, though with both
players in time trouble I would not want to have such an exposed king.
32 g3?! Be6 33 Ka3 Bf5 34 Qd4 Ree8 35 g4 Bxg4 36 Rxd3 Bf5 37 e4
Bxe4 38 Rg3 c5! 39 Qe3 cxb4+ 40 Rxb4 Ra8+ 41 Kb3 Bc2+ 42 Kb2
Rxe3
 43 Ra4
43 Rxg6 Rxc3 44 Kxc3 Bxg6 is hopeless.
43 ... Ree8 44 Ka3 Bf5 45 Rd3 Qg1 46 Rd2 Rab8 0-1
Chapter Seventeen
Anti-English: 1 c4 e5
1 c4 e5

This is the choice of many Nimzo-Indian players and the proposed lines
fit in well with the overall repertoire. With the suggested line of 2 Nc3 Bb4,
Black will often be allowed to double White’s pawns with ... Bxc3, much as
he does in the Nimzo.
It is important to know that after 1 ... Nf6 2 Nc3 e6 White can play the
Flohr-Mikenas Attack with 3 e4, which, whilst playable for Black, needs
considerably theoretical knowledge.
2 Nc3
 Another popular choice for White is 2 g3 Nf6 3 Bg2 c6 and now:
a) 4 d4 is regarded as White’s main try for an advantage, but Black can
meet this with 4 ... Bb4+ 5 Bd2 Bxd2+ 6 Qxd2 d6, as covered in Shimanov-
Adams (Game 82).
b) 4 Nc3 d5 5 cxd5 cxd5 6 Qb3 Nc6 7 Nxd5 Nd4 8 Nxf6+ (Black also
gets a powerful initiative after 8 Qc4 Nxd5 9 Bxd5 b5!: for example, 10
Bxf7+ Ke7 11 Qd5 Nc2+ 12 Kd1 Nxa1 13 Qxa8 Qc7 14 Qe4 Kxf7 15 Qb1
Bb7 16 f3 Be7 17 Qxa1 Rc8 18 Qb1 e4! with an attack that keeps on
coming) 8 ... gxf6!? 9 Qd1 Qc7! 10 Kf1 Nc2 11 Rb1 Be6 12 b3 Rc8 13 Bb2
Ba3! 14 Bc3 (14 Bh3 Bxh3+ 15 Nxh3 Bxb2 16 Rxb2 Qc6 similarly gives
Black more than enough compensation for the pawn) 14 ... Nb4 15 Bxb4
Bxb4 16 Nf3 0-0 17 Ne1 Rfd8 18 Nd3 Ba3 and the ongoing problems with
White’s development gave Black the better of it in J.Hodgson-M.Illescas
Cordoba, Wijk aan Zee 1993.
b) 4 Nf3 e4 5 Nd4 d5 6 cxd5 Qxd5 7 Nc2 Qh5 8 h3 Na6 9 Nc3 Qg6 10
Ne3 Bc5 11 Qa4 b5 12 Qd1 0-0 13 0-0 Rd8 gave Black the better game in
P.Leko-P.Svidler, Monaco (blindfold) 2005.
2 ... Bb4
 3 Nf3
Probably the most active way to allow the c-pawns to be doubled. After
3 g3 Bxc3 4 bxc3 Black should leave his f-pawn free to advance: for
example, with 4 ... d6 5 Bg2 Ne7. B.Labok-L.Psakhis, Ramat Aviv 2000,
continued 6 Rb1 Nbc6 7 Nf3 0-0 8 0-0 b6 9 d3 f6 10 Ne1 Be6 11 Nc2 Qd7
12 Re1 Bh3 13 Bh1 Rae8 with a nice game for Black.
Another move to be considered is 3 Qc2, after which 3 ... Ne7 4 Nf3
Nbc6 5 g3 0-0 6 Bg2 d6 7 a3 Bf5 8 d3 Bxc3+ 9 Qxc3 Qd7 10 0-0 Bh3 was
very comfortable for Black in H.Hoffmann-M.Taimanov, Bad Wildbad
1993.
As such, White’s most important line is probably 3 Nd5 when my
choice for Black is 3 ... Be7. After 4 d4 d6 5 e4 Nf6 6 Nxe7 Qxe7 7 f3 I
tried Psakhis’s suggestion of 7 ... c5 in Degerman-Davies (Game 83).
3 ... Bxc3 4 bxc3 d6 5 c5 Nf6 6 cxd6 cxd6
 In an earlier game, S.Knott-N.Davies, British Championship,
Scarborough 1999, I chose instead to play 6 ... Qxd6, after which 7 Qa4+
Nbd7 8 Ba3 c5 9 d4 0-0 10 e3 Qc7 11 Rc1 b6 12 Be2 Bb7 13 0-0 Rfe8 was
not too bad for Black. On reflection it made more sense to me to have an
extra central pawn.

Question: Were you concerned that your opponent whom you played
6 ... cxd6 against might have prepared an improvement on the Knott
game?

Answer: I do not think I remembered playing it, but perhaps in the light
of experience I better understood the logic of recapturing with the pawn.
7 g3 0-0 8 Bg2 Qc7 9 0-0 Nc6 10 d3 b6 11 Bg5 Nd7 12 Nd2 h6 13 Be3
Bb7 14 Nc4 Nd8
 We are following Thompson-Davies (Game 84). With this last move I
managed to carry out the important exchange of light-squared bishops,
depriving White of the bishop-pair and slightly weakening his king.

Game 82
A.Shimanov-M.Adams
Turkish Team Championship 2012

1 c4 e5 2 g3 Nf6 3 Bg2 c6

Black wants to build a broad pawn centre with ... d7-d5, and White must
now decide how he wants to react to that.
4 d4 Bb4+
The most popular line is 4 ... exd4 5 Qxd4 d5, when Black gets an
isolated d-pawn, but the bishop check is a very reasonable alternative.
5 Bd2 Bxd2+ 6 Qxd2 d6 7 Nc3
 Exchanging queens is nothing for White: for example, 7 dxe5 dxe5 8
Qxd8+ Kxd8 9 Nf3 Re8 10 Nc3 Kc7 11 0-0 Bg4 12 Rfd1 Bxf3 13 Bxf3
Nbd7 was comfortably equal in M.Suba-P.Nikolic, Debrecen 1992.
7 ... 0-0
In N.Davies-I.Khenkin, Tel Aviv 1992, Black played differently here
with 7 ... Qe7. After 8 e4 he surprised me with 8 ... d5! and had good
compensation for the pawn after 9 cxd5 exd4 10 Qxd4 cxd5 11 Nxd5 Nxd5
12 Qxd5 0-0 13 Ne2 Rd8 14 Qb3 Be6. None of this is necessary for Black
though, as just castling gives him a comfortable game.

8 e4
White has several alternatives here:
a) 8 e3 brings about a quite different pawn structure which should not
particularly trouble Black: for example, 8 ... Nbd7 9 Nge2 Qe7 10 h3 Nb6
11 b3 e4 12 g4 d5 13 Ng3 Be6 14 c5 Nbd7 was fine in L.Schandorff-
L.Psakhis, Copenhagen 2000.
 b) 8 Rd1 Nbd7 9 dxe5 dxe5 10 Nf3 Qe7 11 0-0 Re8 12 Qd6 Qxd6 13
Rxd6 Nc5 14 Rfd1 Bg4 15 Ne1 a5 produced an equal endgame in
V.Korchnoi-J.Lautier, Enghien les Bains 2003.
c) 8 dxe5 dxe5 9 Qxd8 Rxd8 10 Nf3 Re8 11 0-0 Na6 12 Rfd1 Bf5 13 h3
h6 14 g4 Bh7 15 Ne1 Nc5 was fine for Black at this stage in V.Akopian-
B.Gelfand, Cap d’Agde 1996.
d) 8 Nf3 e4 9 Ng5 d5 gives Black a strong pawn wedge and slight space
advantage.
8 ... Nbd7 9 Nge2 a6 10 d5
This looks like an inaccuracy, after which Black obtains easy play.
Keeping the central tension with 10 0-0 was a much better idea: for
example,, 10 ... b5 11 Rfd1 Bb7 (11 ... bxc4 12 dxe5 dxe5 13 Na4 would be
unpleasant for Black because of his many pawn weaknesses) 12 Rab1 Qc7
13 dxe5 dxe5 14 Qd6 brings about an equal endgame.
10 ... cxd5 11 exd5
 White probably overestimated his chances in this structure. Black can
meet 11 cxd5 with 11 ... a5 followed by the transfer of his knight to c5: for
example, 12 0-0 Nc5 13 Rac1 Bd7 14 f3 b5 gives Black a nice game.
11 ... Qa5 12 0-0 b5 13 cxb5
13 Ne4 might have been White’s best, though both the queen exchange
and 13 ... Qb6 would be nice for Black.
13 ... axb5 14 b4 Qxb4 15 Rfb1 Qa5 16 Rxb5 Qc7

Question: How do you set about assessing such a position?

Answer: In this case a good way is to simply count the pawn islands:
White has three and Black has just one. There are other factors here too, for
example, the bishop on g2 is shut in by the d5-pawn. The following moves
see Adams gradually improve his position and White become increasingly
frustrated.
 17 Rb2 Ba6 18 Nb5 Bxb5 19 Rxb5 Nc5 20 Nc3 Rfb8 21 Rab1 Rxb5
22 Rxb5 g6 23 Rb4 Qa5 24 Rb5 Qa3 25 Rb6 Kg7 26 h3 Nfd7 27 Rxd6?

The water torture pays off with White producing a quick move. 27 Rb2
was necessary when Black would then figure out how to further improve
his position.
27 ... Nb3!
White had evidently missed this blow and finds himself the exchange
down.
28 Rxg6+ hxg6 29 axb3 Qxb3 30 Ne4 Ra2 31 Qc1 Rc2 32 Qd1 Qc4
End of game; the threat of 33 ... Rc1 forces a further loss of material.
33 Qf3 Qxd5 34 g4 Ra2 35 g5 Qc4 36 Qd1 Nc5 37 Qg4 Qc1+ 0-1

Game 83
L.Degerman-N.Davies
Stockholm 1995
1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 Bb4 3 Nd5

3 Nd5 is arguably White’s most critical line, not only avoiding doubled
pawns, but gaining time on the bishop. As an answer to this Alexei Shirov
pioneered 3 ... Be7, an apparently modest retreat of the bishop which looks
to just develop and force the exchange of White’s advanced knight on d5.
3 ... Be7 4 d4 d6 5 e4
This became established as White’s main line after both Garry Kasparov
and Anatoly Karpov adopted it with success. After 5 Nf3 Black can play 5
... e4 (simple development with 5 ... Nc6 6 e3 Nf6 7 Be2 0-0 8 0-0 Bf5 is
also not bad) 6 Nd2 f5 followed by ... Nf6 and ... 0-0 with a well supported
space advantage in the centre.
5 ... Nf6 6 Nxe7
6 dxe5 dxe5 7 Nxf6+ Bxf6 8 Qxd8+ Bxd8 would bring about an even
endgame.
 6 ... Qxe7 7 f3 c5

An idea that was shown to me by Lev Psakhis. In earlier games Black

had tried other possibilities, but without notable success. For example:
a) 7 ... exd4 8 Qxd4 c5 9 Qd2 Be6 10 Bd3 Nc6 11 Ne2 0-0 12 0-0 a6 13
b3 Rab8 14 Nc3 Nd4 15 Bb2 b5 16 Nd5 Bxd5 17 cxd5 Qa7 18 Rad1 c4 19
Qf2! was better for White in A.Karpov-M.Illescas Cordoba, Dos Hermanas
1994.
b) 7 ... Nh5 8 Ne2 0-0 9 g4 Qh4+ 10 Kd2 Nf6 11 Qe1 Qh6+ 12 Kd1
Qg6 13 Rg1 Nfd7 14 d5 c6 15 Be3 is an odd-looking position in which
White is probably better because of his space advantage and two bishops,
D.Fridman-S.Sulskis, Riga 1995.
8 d5 0-0 9 Bg5 h6 10 Bh4 Nbd7 11 Qd2 Re8 12 Bd3 b5!?
 It looks like I had a lot of energy that day. 12 ... Nf8 intending ... Ng6 is
a solid alternative, and possibly just a better way to play the position.
13 cxb5
I do not know how much my opponent had seen at this point or how
accurately he assessed the resulting positions. There was certainly a case for
13 Bxf6, after which 13 ... Nxf6 14 cxb5 a6 15 Ne2 Qc7 16 bxa6 Bxa6 17
Bxa6 Rxa6 gives Black some Benko Gambit-style compensation along the
a- and b-files. Whether this compensation could be considered truly
‘adequate’ is rather a moot point.
13 ... Nxe4 14 Bxe7
14 fxe4 Qxh4+ 15 g3 Qg4 would leave Black equal on material and
better on position.
14 ... Nxd2 15 Bxd6
15 Kxd2 Rxe7 also leaves Black slightly better.
15 ... e4 16 Kxd2 exd3 17 Kxd3 a6
 18 bxa6
White cannot resist the temptation of going two pawns up in the
endgame, but perhaps he should have done. The engine likes 18 Ne2 axb5
19 Nc3, but its assessment softens from being better for White to equal after
19 ... b4 20 Ne4 Ba6+ 21 Kc2 Bc4 22 a3 bxa3 23 Rxa3 Bxd5.
18 ... Rxa6 19 Bc7?!
Perhaps still underestimating the danger. 19 Bg3 was probably better,
though White still has to try and neutralize the powerful initiative Black has
after 19 ... Nb6.
19 ... Ra4 20 Rd1?
The losing move. Black has a clear advantage after 20 b3 Rd4+ 21 Kc2
Nf6, but this is much better than the game.
20 ... Nf6 21 Kc3 Re3+ 22 Kd2 Nxd5 23 Bd6
Black wins the bishop on c7, after 23 Ne2 Ba6 24 Nc1 (or 24 Nc3 Rd4+
25 Kc1 Nxc7, etc) 24 ... Rd4+ 25 Kc2 Nxc7.
 23 ... Rd4+ 24 Kc1 Rc4+ 25 Kb1 Bf5+ 26 Ka1 Nb4 27 a3
27 g4 Nc2+ 28 Kb1 Bh7 leaves White facing deadly threats.
27 ... Nc2+ 28 Ka2 Be6 29 Nh3?
This could have lost on the spot, but White’s position looks hopeless
anyway. After 29 Kb1 Black has 29 ... Rxa3! threatening mate on a1, and
after 30 bxa3 Nxa3+ 31 Ka1 (or 31 Kb2 Rc2+ 32 Kxa3 Ra2 mate) there is
31 ... Rc2 followed by ... Ra2 mate.
29 ... Nxa3
Missing an immediate mate with 29 ... Rxa3+ 30 bxa3 Rb4+, etc. My
excuse is that I was speeding up my play because the earlier heroics took
some time.
30 Ka1
30 bxa3 Rb4+ leads to mate.
30 ... Nc2+ 31 Kb1

31 ... Nd4
 The engine indicates that I missed a faster win with 31 ... Ra3! 32 bxa3
(after 32 Kc1 there follows 32 ... Nd4+ 33 Kd2 Rc2+ 34 Ke1 Re3+ 35 Kf1
Rxf3+ 36 gxf3 Bxh3+ 37 Kg1 Nxf3 mate) 32 ... Nxa3+ 33 Kb2 (or 33 Ka1
Rc2 with an unstoppable threat of mate on a2) 33 ... Rc2+ 34 Kxa3 Ra2
mate.
32 Nf2
White could prevent the check from f5 with 32 g4, but then Black wins
with 32 ... Rxf3 33 Bxc5 Bxg4 34 Rxd4 Bf5+ 35 Ka1 Rxc5 36 b4 Rc2,
threatening both the knight and ... Ra3+.
32 ... Bf5+ 33 Ne4 Rxe4! 0-1
White is getting mated after 34 fxe4 Bxe4+ 35 Ka2 Ra4 mate.

Game 84
I.Thompson-N.Davies
Monarch Assurance International, Port Erin 2003

1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 Bb4 3 Nf3 Bxc3 4 bxc3 d6 5 c5 Nf6 6 cxd6 cxd6 7 g3

This is not White’s only mode of development; 7 e3 0-0 8 d4 Qc7 9 Bb2
Nc6 10 c4 Bg4 11 Be2 e4 12 Nd2 Bxe2 13 Qxe2 d5 14 0-0 Rfe8 was also
fine for Black in I.Kosov-A.Khruschiov, St. Petersburg 2009.
7 ... 0-0 8 Bg2 Qc7
 At the time I thought it would be good to have some flexibility with
where to put my queen’s knight; I now think it would be better to have that
with my queen. Probably I should have played just 8 ... Nc6 when 9 0-0
Re8 10 d4 e4 11 Nd2 d5 12 e3 Bg4 13 Qa4 Na5 14 Ba3 Be2 15 Rfe1 Bd3
was good for Black in V.Gerasimov-I.Glek, Tomsk 2001.
9 0-0 Nc6 10 d3 b6
In view of White’s reply there was a case here for just 10 ... h6. The
position then looks about even because it will be difficult for White to make
use of his bishop-pair.
11 Bg5 Nd7 12 Nd2
At first the engine likes 12 Nh4, but it turns out to be OK for Black after
12 ... Rb8 13 Bxc6!? Qxc6 14 Nf5 Kh8! 15 Be7 Re8 16 Bxd6?! Nf8! 17
Bxb8 Bxf5 when White’s bishop on b8 is trapped.
12 ... h6 13 Be3 Bb7 14 Nc4 Nd8
 Exchanging the light-squared bishops is a major strategic achievement
for Black as White’s bishop-pair is gone and he will now be weak on the
light squares.
15 a4
Avoiding the exchange with 15 Bh3 is too artificial: for example, Black
can shut the bishop out of play and expand on the kingside with 15 ... f5.
15 ... Bxg2 16 Kxg2 Nc6
Showing a temporary excess of restraint. 16 ... d5! 17 Na3 Ne6! would
have created a more harmonious arrangement of Black’s forces in which
Black’s f-pawn will soon have a role.
17 Qb3 d5 18 Na3 Nf6 19 Rac1 Rfe8 20 Bd2 Qd7 21 c4?!
Giving me the d4-square has unfortunate consequences. 21 Nc2 would
have been a better idea.
21 ... Nd4 22 Qd1 e4! 23 Nb5 Nxb5?!
 A needless exchange. I could have kept the knights on with 23 ... Nf5
and at the same time menaced White’s kingside.
24 cxb5 d4 25 dxe4 Nxe4

26 Bb4
26 f3 Nc5 is also very nice for Black, but this might have been a better
option than the game.
26 ... Re5
26 ... a5 is a surprisingly strong move that I don’t think I considered.
After 27 Be1 (27 bxa6 Rxa6 28 Ra1 Nc5 targets the a-pawn) 27 ... Rac8 28
Rxc8 Rxc8 White has problems preventing his queenside from being
infiltrated.
27 e3?!
Understandably wanting to rid himself of Black’s d-pawn, but the light
squares become horribly weak. 27 Qd3 was better: for example, 27 ... Rae8
28 Rc4 Ng5 29 Rxd4 Qh3+ 30 Kg1 Rxe2 looks attractive for Black but
there is nothing clear.
27 ... Ng5 28 exd4
And not 28 Qxd4? because of 28 ... Qh3+ 29 Kh1 Nf3, etc.
28 ... Re4 29 f3
29 Rc3 is strongly met by 29 ... Rd8!: for instance, 30 Rd3 Qh3+ 31
Kg1 Rexd4 32 Rxd4 Rxd4 wins because f3 must be protected.
29 ... Rxd4 30 Qb3 Rd3 31 Qc4

White’s position is also indefensible after 31 Qc2 Re8: for example, 32

Rf2 Rxf3 33 Rxf3 Qh3+ 34 Kh1 Nxf3 with an extra pawn and an attack.
31 ... Re8 32 Rce1 Rxe1 33 Bxe1?
Losing immediately. White should have played 33 Rxe1, but then 33 ...
Qh3+ 34 Kh1 Rxf3 would be hopeless in the long run.
33 ... Qh3+ 34 Kg1 Nxf3+ 0-1
White must give up his rook and further indignities would surely follow.
Index of Complete Games
Adly.A-Carlsen.M, Dresden Olympiad 2008
Agrest.E-Davies.N, Stockholm 1995
Akopian.V-Yudasin.L, Lvov Zonal 1990
Argandona Riveiro.I-De La Villa Garcia.J, Andorra 2002
Artamonov.V-Khismatullin.D, Ugra Governor’s Cup, Khanty-
Mansiysk 2011
Bareev.E-Filippov.A, Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2009
Bluebaum.M-Navara.D, Dutch League 2016
Boe.M-Kunin.V, Heusenstamm Schloss Open 2016
Bohm.H-Panno.O, Lone Pine Open 1978
Boyer.M-Bauer.C, Cappelle-la-Grande Open 2019
Carlsen.M-Ding Liren, Lindores Abbey (rapid) 2019
Chapman.T-Davies.N, Staunton Memorial, London 2009
Chekletsov.I-Chernyshov.K, Marianske Lazne 2018
Cheparinov.I-Ivanchuk.V, FIDE Grand Prix, Jermuk 2009
Conquest.S-Adams.M, British League (4NCL) 2001
Cornette.M-Adams.M, French League 2003
Davies.N-Rowson.J, British League (4NCL) 2005
Degerman.L-Davies.N, Stockholm 1995
Demidov.M-Alekseev.E, Khanty-Mansiysk (rapid) 2020
Djordjevic.V-Eljanov.P, European Club Cup, Novi Sad 2016
Enkhtuul.A-Tiviakov.S, Nakhchivan Open 2016
Fodor.T-Medvegy.Z, Budapest 2012
Franklin.M-Pritchett.C, British League (4NCL) 2000
Gabriel.C-Sokolov.A, Swiss League 2001
Gaya Llodra.J-Tiviakov.S, Spanish Team Championship 2003
Gelfand.B-Adams.M, Wijk aan Zee 1996
Gelfand.B-Portisch.L, GMA Qualifier, Moscow 1990
Gheorghiu.F-Romanishin.O, Novi Sad 1982
Graf.J-Spassky.B, German Bundesliga 1989
Grinev.V-Pavlov.S, Dnipro (Russia) 2019
Gupta.A-Duda.J, PRO League (Internet, rapid) 2019
Halldorsson.B-Davies.N, Reykjavik 1998
Hartoch.R-Davies.N, Leeuwarden 1993
Hoffmann.M-Harikrishna.P, Gibraltar Masters 2011
Iljin.T-Andreikin.D, Russian Team Rapid Championship 2017
Ippolito.D-Christiansen.L, New York Open 2000
Ivkov.B-Romanishin.O, Moscow 1985
Johner.P-Nimzowitsch.A, Dresden 1926
Jones.G-Almasi.Z, European Team Championship, Warsaw 2013
Kilgus.G-Rashkovsky.N, Oberwart Open 2002
Klingelhoefer.S-Taimanov.M, German League 1998
Lagarde.M-Cheparinov.I, Gibraltar Masters 2019
Lalic.B-Tiviakov.S, Etna Open, Nicolosi 2014
L'Ami.E-Karjakin.S, Wijk aan Zee 2013
Landenbergue.C-Chernyshov.K, Cappelle-la-Grande Open 2006
Li Yankai-Van Wely.L, Ho Chi Minh City 2019
Lie.K-Carlsen.M, Gjovik (rapid) 2009
Linster.P-Macieja.B, Khanty-Mansiysk Olympiad 2010
Loncar.R-Naumkin.I, Ischia 2000
Magerramov.E-Psakhis.L, Nimes Open 1991
Mchedlishvili.M-Papaioannou.I, European Team Championship,
Warsaw 2013
Milanovic.D-Baklan.V, Corinth Open 2004
Miton.K-Perelshteyn.E, SPICE Cup, Lubbock 2007
Neverov.V-Baklan.V, Cesme Open 2016
Olivares Canelles.F-Pichot.A, Carlos Torre Memorial, Merida 2015
Ovod.E-Csom.I, Budapest 2002
Paehtz.E-Korobov.A, Wijk aan Zee 2019
Pakleza.Z-Wojtaszek.R, Warsaw 2007
Pankov.G-Ogloblin.N, Russian Team Championship 2007
Polugaevsky.L-Rozentalis.E, PCA Qualifier, Groningen 1993
Pomes.M-Adams.M, Spanish Team Championship 2001
Portisch.L-Petrosian.T, Lone Pine 1978
Rapport.R-Giri.A, Wijk aan Zee 2019
Rapport.R-Nestorovic.N, German Bundesliga 2018
Ravi.L-Eingorn.V, Manila Olympiad 1992
Rodshtein.M-Yemelin.V, Czech League 2015
Rossetto.H-Evans.L, Buenos Aires 1960
Sasikiran.K-Graf.A, Goodricke International, Calcutta 1998
Sedlak.N-Zontakh.A, Serbian Team Championship 2014
Shaked.T-De Firmian.N, U.S. Championship Semi-final, Denver 1998
Shimanov.A-Adams.M, Turkish Team Championship 2012
Shimanov.A-Wang Hao, Russian Team Championship 2011
Simagin.V-Petrosian.T, Moscow Championship 1950
Sirletti.S-Narciso Dublan.M, Las Palmas Open 2005
Sokolov.I-Polgar.J, Hoogeveen 2006
Speelman.J-Agdestein.S, Hastings 1991-92
Stefansson.Y-Hjartarson.J, Reykjavik Open 2019
Thompson.I-Davies.N, Monarch Assurance International, Port Erin
2003
Vorobiov.E-Lysyj.I, Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2011
Yilmaz.M-Tiviakov.S, World Teams Championship, Antalya 2013
Zhao Xue-Hao Yuan Wang, Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2005
Zhou Jianchao-Sokolov.A, France vs China, Paris 2006
Zilberman.N-Sakharov.Y, Ukrainian Championship, Kiev 1966
Zysk.R-Yilmaz.M, Greek Team Championship 2018