The Chigorin Bible - A Classic Defence To Ruy Lopez - Ivan Sokolov & Ivan Salgado Lopez

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Title page
Key to Symbols
Foreword
Part I: Games, plans and personal experience
Introduction to part 1
Chapter 1 - First games and plans
Chapter 2 – White's strategy to trade the d-pawns - pros and cons
Chapter 2 – games
Chapter 3 – Keres's legacy
Chapter 3 – games (1)
Chapter 4 – White's f2-f4 pawn push in non-closed centre positions
Chapter 5 – Closed centre strategies
Part II: Theory
Introduction to part 2
Overview of the Chigorin theory
Chapter 1 – Early ...d5s and the Romanishin variation
Chapter 2 – 11...Qc7 12.d5
Chapter 3 – 11...Qc7 12.Nbd2, rook moves and 12...cxd4
Chapter 4 – 11...Qc7 12.Nbd2 Nc6, old main line
Chapter 5 – 11...Qc7 12.Nbd2, bishop-moves Chapter 5 – games
Chapter 6 – 11...Nd7, 12th move sidelines
Chapter 6 – games
Chapter 7 – 11...Nd7 12.Nbd2 (main line)
Chapter 7 – games
Chapter 8 – 11...Nd7 12.a4 (modern line)
2
THE CHIGORIN BIBLE
A CLASSIC DEFENCE TO THE RUY LOPEZ
by
Ivan Sokolov
Iván Salgado López
Thinkers Publishing 2019
www.thinkerspublishing.com
Editor in Chief
Romain Edouard
Consulting Editor
Daniël Vanheirzeele
Proofreading
Part 1: Ian Marks
Part 2: Bernard Carpinter
Graphic Artist
Philippe Tonnard
Cover design
Iwan Kerkhof
Authors’ photos
Jos Sutmuller & Irina Petrova
5
Typesetting
i-Press ‹www.i-press.pl›
First edition 2018 by Thinkers Publishing
The Chigorin Bible. A classic defence to the Ruy Lopez

Copyright © 2018 Ivan Sokolov & Iván Salgado López
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without the prior written permission from the publisher.
ISBN 978-94-9251-041-9
D/2018/13730/22
All sales or enquiries should be directed to Thinkers Publishing, 9850 Landegem, Belgium.
e-mail: info@thinkerspublishing.com
website: www.thinkerspublishing.com
6
KEY TO SYMBOLS
! a good move
? a weak move
!! an excellent move
?? a blunder
!? an interesing move
?! a dubious move
™ only move
= equality
∞ unclear position
© with compensation for the sacrificed material
² White stands slightly better
³ Black stands slightly better
± White has a serious advantage
µ Black has a serious advantage
+– White has a decisive advantage
–+ Black has a decisive advantage
‚ with an attack
ƒ with initiative
„ with counterplay
… with the idea of
¹ better is
≤ worse is
N novelty
+ check
# mate
7
FOREWORD
by Romain Edouard
IVAN AND IVAN: A WONDERFUL COCKTAIL!
I first met the Ivans many years ago: Ivan Salgado in 2004, at a World Youth Championship, and Ivan
Sokolov in 2012, in a round robin tournament in Nancy. I became friends with both of them, as it was
obvious that they were friendly and interesting people.
From 2011 to 2014 I was the captain of the Chalons-en-Champagne team which was competing in the Top
12 French league. In 2013, I decided to hire both Ivans, as I considered them strong fighters and great for
team morale. It turned out they didn’t know each other!
The funniest thing was the difference in their personalities. Ivan Sokolov was very classical, able to spend
hours thinking about a position and come up with a very smart idea. Ivan Salgado was more the kind who
— at the time — would switch on the engine and be convinced it showed the right move after a few
seconds. As a result, any chess debate between them quickly became very animated!
I remember once asking, “Guys, I want to go 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 with Black, but if 4.Nc3 I don’t
want to play any of the main moves. What should I do?”. Ivan Sokolov started to think, but Ivan Salgado
immediately answered, “4...h6!”, then added, “he should know 5.g3, or Black is absolutely fine!”. Sokolov
said, “Hmm, and what is so terrible if I play, let’s say, 5.Bf4?”. Salgado answered “Bad! Then 5...Bd6,
equal 0.00”. And Sokolov almost fell off his chair.
We had incredible fun during our first time together in the French league, and later, at another tournament, I
saw both Ivans sitting together at dinner. “Did you two get along?”, I asked. “Yes”, answered Ivan Sokolov,
“actually most of the things Ivan says make a lot of sense!”. And they became great friends.
When they came up with the idea of writing a book together on a particular opening for Thinkers
Publishing, I accepted with great excitement. Having seen previous examples of their work, I believed Ivan
Sokolov’s experience and working method, complemented by Ivan Salgado’s fresh ideas, would result in a
wonderful cocktail.
Their book did not disappoint me. After reading it, you won’t be missing any information about the
Chigorin Defence, and will also acquire a lot of chess culture and understanding.
A highly recommended book!
Romain Edouard
Barcelona, Spain
4th November 2018
8
PART 1
GAMES, PLANS AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
by
Ivan Sokolov
INTRODUCTION TO PART 1
The Chigorin Variation is one of the oldest variations of the Ruy Lopez, ‘invented’ (according to my
database) at the Monte Carlo tournament in 1902 by Carl Schlechter in his game versus Siegbert Tarrasch.
Doing my research for this book I was surprised to discover that in the early years of the development of the
Chigorin Variation, Black often intentionally kept his king in the centre by opting for 8...Na5 9. Bc2 c5
instead of 8...0-0, trying to be flexible and keeping extra options. The drawback was that White was not
obliged to spend time on h2-h3, as he was on 9.h3 in a regular move order. Nevertheless this unusual more
order was tried with Black by Capablanca, Lasker, Botvinnik, Euwe, Rubinstein and Reshevsky, amongst
others. However, sometime in the late 1940s, this flexible plan more or less disappeared from grandmaster
practice, so I did not include it in the games in this book.
The player who made the greatest contribution to the Chigorin Variation in its early years was Akiba
Rubinstein. According to my database Mikhail Ivanovich Chigorin himself played ‘his’ variation only
twice, in 1906 and 1907, and it is rather surprising that the variation bears his name.
In later years Paul Petrovich Keres became the great champion of the Chigorin
Variation, and an entire chapter of this book is devoted to his legacy.
The strategic part of the book consists of thirty-two fully-annotated games divided into five chapters, with
the fifth chapter divided into four subchapters.
In this strategic part I have given an insight into the historical development of the variation and have tried to
help the reader understand the most common plans and concepts for both sides.
My own practical experiences in this variation date back to 1994, and over the years I have tried it with
Black versus greats like Kramnik, Shirov and Grischuk. Some of these experiences are included in the book.
The Chigorin Variation is rich in ideas which can be used in a range of middlegame positions arising from
different variations.
Understanding the strategic ideas of this complex variation is also a middlegame improvement ‘tool’ and a
must for anyone wanting to take his or her chess to the next level.
The current trend, developed in recent years, is for Black to capture on d4 with his e-pawn, aiming for
Benoni-type pawn structure positions which lead to rather double-edged positions.
These modern developments and the current theoretical state of affairs in general are dealt with in the
theoretical part of the book by my friend, Ivan Salgado.
This ‘Chigorin bible’ aims to be the ultimate improvement ‘tool’ for club and tournament players in the
variation. The first part provides the reader with a good understanding of general plans and strategic
concepts and the second part provides direct theoretical knowledge.
9
I hope the reader will also simply enjoy playing over the games, many of which are famous historical ones.
I really enjoyed selecting and analysing them.
Ivan Sokolov
Lelystad, The Netherlands
9th October 2018
10
CHAPTER 1.
FIRST GAMES AND PLANS
According to my database Mikhail Ivanovich Chigorin played ‘his variation’ in only two regular tournament
games, at Nuremberg in 1906 and Ostend in 1907.
This information came to me as a complete surprise, but my database simply shows no other games of his
with it. In the first game (vs Duras) Chigorin did not show any coherent plan for Black, at least in the
opening, and got a clearly inferior position, although he eventually won the game. In the second game (vs
Schlechter) he had definitely prepared opening and middlegame plans and his ideas in that game resemble
plans for Black that we were to see in years to come. Chigorin developed his pieces to try to exert pressure
on White’s centre, while remaining flexible in case White closed the centre by pushing d4–d5. Pioneering
efforts are usually difficult; Chigorin tried to solve his opening problems with an illtimed central pawn
break, the position opened and, with White’s pieces well positioned for such an eventuality, Black soon
came under a crushing attack.
1
Carl Schlechter
Mikhail Chigorin
Ostend 1907
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4
Qc7 12.Nbd2
12...cxd4
Chigorin’s first game in ‘his variation’ went 12...Kh8?! 13.Nf1 Ng8?! Black is preparing for counterplay
with ...f7–f5 if White closes the centre with d4–d5. The problem with playing 12...Kh8?! and 13...Ng8?!
though is that Black does not exert any central pressure, so White can take his time over a decision about
the centre and happily continue to develop his pieces. 14.Ne3 Be6
11
15.Nf5 White wastes no time in starting a kingside attack, typical of the playing style of those times. He
could have put Black in a difficult situation (i) after 15.b3±, cutting the a5-knight out of play, (ii) by
continuing development and pushing d4–d5 at a convenient moment, (iii) simply going for the exchange of
d-pawns with dxe5, or (iv) playing for the Nd5 jump, since Black’s knight is on g8. It is not easy for Black
to find useful moves here. 15...Bf6 16.d5 Bd7 17.g4 g6 18.Ng3 Bg7 19.Kh2
Chigorin has reached the type of position he was aiming for when playing 12...Kh8 and 13...Ng8. The
centre is closed, so he can try to improve his pieces and prepare pawn pushes or breaks. First he improves
his knight (a plan we see up to the present day) with 19...Nc4! 20.Nd2 To trade or not to trade?
Strategically it is useful for Black to keep the knights in these types of positions as his b6-knight will slow
down any white queenside pawn push, while helping support a possible pawn roller with ...a6–a5, ...c5–c4
etc. Chigorin makes the correct strategic decision! 20...Nb6! 21.h4?! Not seeing how to advance on the
kingside, White sacrifices a pawn. 21...Qd8! 22.Kg2 Qxh4 23.f3 Bh6 24.Rh1 Qf6 25.Rh3 Qg7 26.Kf2
Bf4µ White did not have enough compensation for the pawn and Black went on to win in Duras,O-
Chigorin,M Nuremberg 1906.
12
13.cxd4
13...Bd7!
The exclamation mark is because Chigorin’s idea is from 1907! Nowadays Black develops his bishop to d7,
connecting his rooks, while the bishop is both well placed and flexible should White close the centre with
d4–d5. Schlechter will continue to develop his pieces while keeping decisions about his central pawns open,
also a common white strategy up to the present day!
Modern theory does not consider 13...Bd7 precise and the main line nowadays is 13...Nc6 14.Nb3 a5
15.Be3 a4, for which please see the theoretical part of the book.
14.Nf1 Nc6 15.Be3 Nb4 16.Bb1 Rfc8
Black is ready, if White decides to close the centre with d4–d5, but White refuses to cooperate!
13
17.Qd2!
17.d5 a5 leads to a good game for Black. One modern example (reached by a different move order) went
18.Re2 Bd8 19.Ng3 Qb7 20.Qd2 Na6 21.Bc2 Nb4 22.Bb1 Na6 23.Bc2 Nb4 ½–½ Short,N (2674)-
Adams,M (2741) Wijk aan Zee 2005.
17...d5?!
Principled, but it doesn’t quite work. Opening the centre favours White.
18.Ng3! exd4 19.Bxd4
Chigorin definitely misjudged the consequences of his 17...d5? central break, for which Black was simply
not ready. There is no way for him to liquidate into anything playable; the white pieces are simply much
better placed and he lands in a lost position.
19...dxe4
19...Nxe4 does not help: 20.Nxe4 dxe4
21.Bc3! Qd6 22.Bxe4 Qxd2 23.Bxd2 Ra7 24.Bxh7+ Kxh7 25.Rxe7+–.
20.Bxf6!
14
The most precise continuation. The black king has no defenders.
20...Bxf6 21.Nxe4 Be7 22.Neg5 Nc6 23.Bxh7+ Kf8 24.Rad1
24.Nxf7 also wins.
24...Rd8
24...Be8 does not escape the mating attack after 25.Be4 Rd8 26.Bd5 Nb4
and now the queen lif t mates: 27.Qd4! Rxd5 28.Qh4+–.
25.Nxf7 Bf5 26.Nxd8 Rxd8
15
Various moves win here for White.
27.Qxd8+ Nxd8 28.Bxf5 Qb6 29.Ne5 Kg8 30.Nd7 Qh6 31.Rxe7 Qg5 32.Nf6+
1–0
At Ostend in 1907, alongside the Ostend Championship tournament where t he Schlechter-Chigorin game
was played, there was a Masters tournament, where first place was shared by Ossip Bernstein and Akiba
Rubinstein. In their game Akiba Rubinstein chose the ‘Chigorin Variation’ and came up with a novel plan
of shuffling his knights to f7 and g7 (see the game). Black’s concept looks flexible, but is rather passive.
Eighteen years later Efim Bogoljubow would test Rubinstein’s concept by advancing his g-pawn and
following up with a knight sacrifice on f5. This is rather dangerous for Black and was likely underestimated
by Rubinstein. Throughout his career Akiba Rubinstein made significant contributions to the ‘Chigorin
Variation’ (many more than Chigorin himself ) and I honestly have no idea why the concept was not called
the ‘Rubinstein Variation’.
2
Ossip Bernstein
Akiba Rubinstein
Ostend 1907
Qc7 12.Nbd2 Nc6
16
13.d5 Nd8
The plan Rubinstein invented in 1907! Black’s d8-knight will go to f7, and the f6-knight to g7. Black’s
problem is that he does not really get to play ...f7–f5, while White gets dangerous knight sacrifice possibil-
ities on f5 after pushing g2–g4, as in the Bogoljubow game below. It is quite possible that Rubinstein
simply underestimated White’s sacrificial possibilities on f5, as in his game vs Bogoljubow.
14.Nf1
Eighteen years later Bogoljubow decided to close the queenside in order to focus on a kingside attack, and
played 14.a4 Rb8
15.c4! To stop the opening of the queenside in White’s favour, Black now needs to close it immediately.
15...b4 If White is to focus on a kingside attack, this is the correct strategy, as he needs all four rooks on the
board and does not want to be bothered on the queenside. 16.b3
17
[16.Kh2 Ne8 17.g4 was Bogoljubow’s strategy in another game of his vs Rubinstein. The two of them had
quite a theoretical debate on this line in the mid-1920s! 17...g6 18.Rg1 f6 19.Nf1 Nf7 20.Ne3?! The start of
a wrong idea to place the bishop on the a1–h8 diagonal. (20.Ng3, keeping his dark-squared bishop on the
c1–h6 diagonal, looks nice for White, who will keep improving his position and prepare a break on the
kingside, while Black is a sitting duck!)
20...Kh8 21.b3 Rg8 22.Bb2 Bf8 23.h4 Qe7 24.Rg2 Now Black gets his bishop to f4 and is doing fine.
24...Bh6! 25.Qe2 Bf4+ 26.Kh1 Qf8 with a comfortable game for Black in Bogoljubow, E-Rubinstein, A
DSB-Kongress 1925.]
16...Ne8
17.g4 (White had no reason to rush. He could have played 17.Nf1, preparing to push the g-pawn.)
Rubinstein understood that Black’s correct reaction is to push ...h5 (as we will see later in the ‘g4-pawn
push’ section), however he did not go about it in the best way. 17...g6 (The immediate 17...h5! had to be
played, creating counterplay.) 18.Kh1 Ng7 19.Rg1 h5 20.Nf1 hxg4 21.hxg4 f6 22.Ne3
18
White has consolidated his position on the kingside and is ready to prepare the thematic piece sacrifice on
f5. 22...Nf7 23.Nh4 Nh8 24.f4 (24.Nef5± also looks quite strong.) 24...exf4 25.Nef5 Nxf5 26.gxf5 g5
27.Bxf4 (27.Ra2!, bringing the rook to h-file first, looks quite good for White. 27...Rf7 28.Bd3 Rh7 29.Rh2
with Bxf4 to follow and Black still needs to solve the problem of his king.) 27...Rf7 28.Bh2 Rh7 29.Ng2
Nf7 and the game was eventually drawn in Bogoljubow, E-Rubinstein, A Baden-Baden 1925.
14...Ne8 15.a4 Rb8 16.axb5 axb5
19
17.g4
17.Be3 with b2–b4 to follow, combining play on both wings, is another plan for White.
17...g6 18.Ng3 Ng7 19.Kh1 f6 20.Rg1 Nf7 21.Be3 Bd7 22.Qe2 Ra8
23.Nd2
In order to sacrifice a piece on f5, White needs his rooks on the board, thus 23.Rab1 Rfb8 24.Rg2 and White
is ready to jump with his knight to f5, e.g. 24...b4 25.c4 Qc8 26.Nf5 with an attack.
23...Kh8 24.b3 Qb7 25.Bd3 Ra6 26.Rgb1 Rfa8
½–½
20
In 1908 the ‘Chigorin Variation’ was to gain prominence at top level when it was adopted twice by Tarrasch
in his World Championship match versus Lasker. Lasker tried to keep central f lexibility, however Tarrasch
understood that in particular situations, swapping pawns and knights on d4 is good for Black, as the d6-
pawn is merely an academic weakness. This strategy had already been adopted a year earlier by Rubinstein,
so in essence Tarrasch was copying Rubinstein’s strategy. This concept is nowadays seen in many opening
variations, however in 1907 and 1908 Rubinstein and Tarrasch were definitely ahead of their time. In the
first game Lasker launched a futile attack and Tarrasch won easily with a mating attack himself! In the
second game in this line Lasker stuck to his concept, trying to improve on move 16. Tarrasch lost the thread
and Lasker won with a mating attack. Modern theory agrees with Tarrasch, and, due to Rubinstein’s and
Tarrasch’s reactions, Lasker’s ‘flexible strategy’ with 13.Nf1 has disappeared from tournament practice.
3
Emanuel Lasker
Siegbert Tarrasch
Düsseldorf 1908
3rd match game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3
An unusual move order (Black has delayed castling), but after 12...0-0 we will reach the main line.
8...Na5 9.Bc2 c5 10.d4 Qc7 11.Nbd2 Nc6 12.h3 0-0
21
13.Nf1
Lasker wants to keep his options open, however Tarrasch correctly understands that in the ensuing positions
his ‘weak d6-pawn’ will be an academic weakness, as Black will get ample play. A year before this game,
the same plan for Black had already been employed by Akiba Rubinstein (see comment to 16.Bg5 Be6), so
Tarrasch basically followed Rubinstein’s idea. Based on those games, theory would later abandon Lasker’s
13.Nf1.
a) 13.d5 Nd8 had already been seen a year earlier in a Rubinstein game — see game 2.
b) Friedrich Sämisch’s concept from 1921 — 13.dxc5 dxc5 14.Nf1, trying to take advantage of White still
having his pawn on c3, hence better control of the central squares — is how theory would develop. See the
next chapter, ‘Common Strategies’.
13...cxd4! 14.cxd4 Nxd4! 15.Nxd4 exd4
White has to lose time to capture the d4-pawn, while Black’s good pieces amply compensate for the ‘d6-
pawn weakness’. This strategy, common in modern times and seen in different openings, was far from
obvious in 1907 and 1908! Lasker believed in White’s chances, as he tried 13.Nf1 twice in the match.
22
16.Ng3
In the next game Lasker tried to improve with 16.Bg5 h6

[16...Be6 was played in the Rubinstein game mentioned. 17.Rc1 Qb6 18.Ng3 Rac8
19.Ne2 (19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.exf5 was perhaps where Lasker wanted to improve.) 19...h6 (19...d3 might lead to
an entertaining line, ending with perpetual check: 20.Qxd3 Ng4 21.Bxe7 Qxf2+ 22.Kh1 Ne3 23.Nf4 Rxc2
24.Bxf8 Rxc1 25.Rxc1
23
25...Bxh3 (25...Qxf4 should also be a draw, but Black is pushing his luck a bit: 26.Rc3! b4 27.Bxd6 Qf2
28.Qxe3 Qf1+ 29.Kh2 bxc3 30.Qxc3) 26.gxh3 Qf3+ 27.Kg1 Qg3+ 28.Kh1 Qf3+=) 20.Bf4 d5 (20...Nh5
was definitely worth considering.) 21.e5 Ne4 22.Nxd4 Rc4
The position is about equal. 23.Be3 Bg5?! (23...Bc5 24.Bxe4 Rxc1 25.Qxc1 Bxd4 26.Bb1=) 24.Bxe4 dxe4
25.Bxg5 (White misses his chance to get the upper hand with 25.Rxc4!.) 25...Rxd4 26.Be3 Rxd1 27.Bxb6
½–½ Forgacs, L-Rubinstein, A Ostend 1907]
17.Bh4
24
White’s plan is 18.Qd3, 19.Bxf6, 20.e5 and 21.Qh7 mate! However, White is not ‘playing by himself ’ and
Black can easily counter these threats. Tarrasch, however, is about to lose the thread immediately and
Lasker indeed obtains a mating attack! 17...Qb6?
[17...Re8! gives the king an escape square on f8 and is at least OK for Black: 18.Rc1 (or 18.Qd3 Be6)
18...Qb6 19.Qd3 Be6.]
18.Qd3! Now suddenly the situation is dangerous for Black. Tarrasch tries to solve it radically. 18...g5
(18...Re8 19.e5 dxe5 20.Rxe5 looks promising for White.) 19.Bg3 Be6 20.Rad1 Rfc8 21.Bb1 Nd7
22.e5! Nf8 White has a tremendous attack and different ways to strike. Lasker first improves his queen,
then rips open the kingside. 23.Qf3 d5 24.Qh5 Kg7 25.f4! f5 26.exf6+ Bxf6 27.fxg5 hxg5 28.Be5+– d3+
29.Kh1 Ng6 30.Qxg5 Bf7 31.Ng3 and White won a few moves later: Lasker, E-Tarrasch, S Munich 1908.
16...Nd7!
25
The bishop will defend the d4-pawn from the active f6-square, while the knight will also find a more active
position. This manoeuvre is quite common nowadays.
17.Bb3 Qb6 18.Nf5 Bf6 19.Bf4 Ne5 20.Bd5 Ra7
Lasker now goes for an all-out attack that is not going to work.
21.Qb3?
21.Nxd4 Nc4 22.Ne2 was definitely worth considering, as after 22...Nxb2 23.Qb3 White has compensation
for the sacrificed pawn.
21...Rc7 22.g4 g6 23.Nh6+ Kg7 24.g5 Bd8 25.Qg3
26
25...f6!
As well as Black being a pawn up, the tables are turning, and he is the one who obtains a devastating attack!
26.Nf5+ Kh8 27.Nh4 fxg5 28.Bxg5 Bxg5 29.Qxg5 d3 30.Kh1 Rc2 31.Re3 Rfxf2
Lasker could have safely resigned here.
32.Ng2 d2 33.Rg1 Rc1 34.Qe7 Rxg1+ 35.Kxg1 d1=Q+ 36.Kxf2 Qf3+ 37.Ke1 Qa5+ 38.Rc3 Bxh3
39.Qxd6 Qaxc3+ 40.bxc3 Qxc3+ 41.Ke2 Qc2+ 42.Ke3 Qd3+ 43.Kf4 g5+ 44.Kxg5 Nf7+
0–1
27
CHAPTER 2.
WHITE’S STRATEGY TO TRADE THE d-PAWNS — PROS AND
CONS
In this chapter we will examine White’s strategic idea to play dxe5 at some stage; after Black recaptures we
will get the pawn structure in the diagrammed position.
White hopes to have an advantage based mainly on the position of his pawn on c3 and Black’s on c5, giving
White the possibility of infiltrating with his knight on the central d5-square, while Black does not have the
same possibility, since White’s pawn on c3 guards the central d4-square.
This strategic idea was a great favourite of the famous 11th World Champion Robert James Fischer, and
often played by him, and in a number of books this plan/idea has even been named after him. Well, nothing
could be further from the truth, as in this case Fischer merely copied existing knowledge!
According to my research the author of this strategic plan is the famous German theoretician, Friedrich
Sämisch, who introduced the idea in his game versus Bogoljubow in 1921! Sämisch’s idea was well
received and became a frequent guest at top level, including in the Smyslov-Botvinnik World
Championship match in 1957.
In my games selection I have tried to find examples that best reflect the pros and cons of the position.
We may draw the following general conclusions:
WHITE:
• of ten utilises the d5-square, sometimes even by means of a pawn sacrifice, to recapture exd5 and open the
b1–h7 diagonal to Black’s king. See (in the games or comments) games 4, 6 (Lipnitsky-Botvinnik), 8
(Spielmann-Yates).
• has the plan to push g2–g4 — see game 5;
• has the idea of playing g2–g3 and sacrificing the pawn on h3 to stop Black’s knight coming to the f4-
square via h5) — see game 8.
• The position of the knight on d5, and dynamics resulting from it, is often the key to White’s success.
28
BLACK:
• Pushing his c-pawn to c4, taking space, is usually a good idea as it can offer Black abundant tactical
possibilities! One idea can even be an exchange sacrifice on d3 — see game 9, comments to 24...c4!. The
more common tactical idea connected with Black’s ...c5–c4 pawn push is the ...Nd4 jump, sacrificing a
piece in order to get a central pawn roller (...c4 and ...d4). This is one of Black’s most important ideas for
counterplay and can be very dangerous for White, as Fischer found out in his game versus Kholmov! See
games 4 (Fischer-Khomov), 5 (comments to 17...c4!) and 7.
• In order to have the important d5-square under control Black should not be afraid of doubling his e-pawns
— see game 4 (Fischer-Kholmov).
• If Black trades White’s knight on d5 for one of his knights without altering the central pawn structure, he
equalises — see game 6 (Lipnitsky-Botvinnik).
4
Friedrich Sämisch
Efim Bogoljubow
Triberg 1921
Qc7 12.Nbd2 Nc6
13.dxe5
Friedrich Sämisch was a German grandmaster and renowned theoretician. Most of grandmaster Sämisch’s
opening concepts are in 1.d4 systems, like the Sämisch Variation of the Nimzo or Sämisch Variation of the
King’s Indian. Here, however, we see him developing a new concept in the Ruy Lopez. It was a fresh idea
at the time, searching for ways for White to avoid battling Black in a blocked Rubinstein (13.d5 Nd8) set-
up. It is worth mentioning that in the games to follow White usually reached the position in the game after
13.dxc5 dxc5.
Rubinstein’s plan for Black after 13.d5 Nd8 14.Nf1 Ne8 15.a4 Rb8 16.axb5 axb5 17.g4 g6 18.Ng3 Ng7
29
19.Kh1 f6 20.Rg1 Nf7 was already known — see game 2 (Bernstein-Rubinstein), and at the time White did
not have a clear antidote to it.
13...dxe5
This is a good moment to take strategic stock and make a few observations. White is hoping to exploit the
d5- and f5-squares for his knights and obtain better play. Black obviously cannot do the same with the d4-
and f4-squares, but Black’s space advantage on the queenside may count, and in a number of positions
Black also has the ...Nd4 piece sacrifice motif, creating a powerful rolling pawn chain (pay attention to
Fischer-Kholmov, comment to move 16!). My impression is that Black has sufficient counterplay to balance
White’s activity on the kingside.
14.Nf1 Be6!
Probably Black’s best set-up. Black will place his rook on the d-file, push ...c5–c4 and create counterplay.
14...Bd6 was played by Botvinnik in the World Championship match vs Smyslov, however it looks rather
passive and Smyslov got an edge after 15.Nh4 g6 16.Bh6 Rd8 17.Qf3 Ne8.
30
Black’s position is solid, but also quite passive. 18.Ne3 f6 19.Nd5 Qf7 Not seeing a clear follow-up
Smyslov correctly parts with his dominant knight and grabs the bishop pair. 20.Nb6! Rb8 21.Nxc8 Rbxc8
22.g3 (22.Be3+=) 22...Bf8 23.Be3+= W hite had pressure in Smyslov, V-Botvinnik, M Moscow 1957 (½–
½).
15.Ne3 Rad8 16.Qe2
16...g6
Forty-four years later Soviet grandmaster Ratmir Kholmov showed important active plans for Black in his
famous victory over the 11th World Champion, Robert Fischer. 16...c4! Black takes space on the queenside
and prepares various tactical/strategic ideas. 17.Ng5 White threatens to take Black’s bishop pair and also
damage his pawn structure, so the e6-bishop needs to go back to c8, right? Wrong! 17...h6! 18.Nxe6 fxe6
31
An excellent strategic concept by K holmov! Black’s doubled e6– pawn now controls the d5- and f5-
squares, the f8-rook is well placed on the f-file, while the e7-bishop will improve its position by coming to
c5. Also there is a hidden tactical motif in the position. It would have been good for White here to have the
a2–g8 diagonal open and place his c2-bishop on b3, but this is easier said than done! 19.b4? This allows
Black a nice tactical solution. (19.b3 was arguably the most logical and White’s best, however Fischer
probably did not know exactly what to do after 19...Bc5! as 20.bxc4?
allows 20...b4! — a typical strategic motif — and Black is better, as he dominates the dark squares.)
19...Nd4!
32
This standard tactical motif leads to a large advantage for Black, who will immediately get his piece back
and dominate events. 20.cxd4 (White cannot ignore the knight as 20.Qf1? loses to 20...Nh5 with 21...Ng3
to follow.) 20...exd4 21.a3 d3 22.Bxd3 Rxd3 Black’s d3-rook is a monster. 23.Ng4 Kh7 24.e5 Nxg4
25.Qe4+ g6 26.Qxg4 Rf5
Black’s superior pawn structure on the queenside should decide. 27.Qe4 Qd7! Forcing transition into a very
favourable endgame. 28.Be3 Qd5 29.Qxd5 Rxd5 30.f4 g5 Due to his better pawn structure Black had a
large advantage and went on to win in Fischer, R-Kholmov, R Havana 1965.
17.a4
17.Ng5 Bc8
33
18.a4 (18.Qf3?? was an unusual piece blunder: 18...h6! 19.Nd5 Qd6 20.Rd1 hxg5 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Bxg5
Kg7 and Black soon won in Averbakh, Y-Botvinnik, M Moscow 1957.) 18...Qb7 (18...c4! is almost always
a good move for Black in these positions; it transposes to our main game and is, I think, more active than
what Botvinnik played.) 19.axb5 axb5 20.h4 Bd6 21.Nd5 Nh5 White had a slight pull, but the game ended
in a draw: Smyslov, V-Botvinnik, M Moscow 1957.
17...c4! 18.axb5 axb5 19.Ng5 Bc8
White doesn’t see a clear follow-up and decides to temporarily sacrifice a pawn with the aim of forcing a
draw. It is worth noticing that Black’s space advantage on the queenside restricts White.
20.Nd5
20.b3 Na5 21.bxc4 bxc4 looks about equal.
20...Nxd5 21.exd5 Rxd5 22.Be4
34
22...Rdd8
22...Rd6! could have been winning attempt: 23.Bxc6 Qxc6 24.Qxe5 Bb7 White must be careful to keep the
balance here.
23.Nxh7 Rfe8?
Avoiding a draw is risky and not a good decision.

Black had to acquiesce in a perpetual check: 23...Kxh7 24.Qh5+ Kg8 25.Bxg6 fxg6 26.Qxg6+ Kh8=.
24.Qf3 Bb7 25.Nf6+
25.Ng5 looks promising for White.
25...Bxf6 26.Qxf6 Rd6 27.Qg5 Qd7 28.Be3 f5
White is really set on forcing a draw.
35
29.Bd5+
29.Bf3 would have led to White’s advantage.
29...Rxd5
And draw agreed due to perpetual check.
½–½
5
David Bronstein
Samuel Zhukhovitsky
Kiev 1940
Qc7 12.Nbd2 Nc6 13.dxc5 dxc5 14.Nf1
In this game Black chooses a different set-up and develops his f8 rook to d8. This allows the e7-bishop to
retreat to f8 and Black can also delay the development of his c8-bishop.
36
14...Rd8 15.Qe2 Be6
a) 15...g6, with the plan of fianchettoing the bishop, takes control of the f5-square and also strengthens
Black’s king position. There is an interesting game of Tal’s on this subject: 16.Ne3 It’s not clear if Tal
needed to rush with this move, which blocks his c1-bishop. 16.Bh6 was an option. 16...Rb8 17.Ng5 Bf8
18.Qf3 Bg7
True to his style, Tal now initiates a tactical whirlwind. 19.Nd5! Qd6?! I assume Black simply thought he
had the threat of 20...h6, winning a piece.
[19...Nxd5! was the right answer: 20.exd5 Na5
37
with a standard ...Nc4-Nd6 idea, when Black is at least OK. White probably needs to be quite inventive
(which Tal certainly was!) and strive for an immediate initiative with, for example, 21.Qg3 (21.Rd1 Nc4
looks quite comfortable for Black.) 21...Rxd5 22.f4. White has enough attack ing ammunition to bail out
with equality, but not more. 22...h6 23.Nf3 Rb6! 24.fxe5 Nc4 25.Be4 Rd8 26.Qh4 Nxe5 27.Bxh6 Nxf3+
28.Bxf3 Bxh6 29.Qxh6 c4=.]
20.Be3! h6 21.Nxf6+ Bxf6?! (21...Qxf6 22.Qxf6 Bxf6 23.Nf3± and White finishes a pawn up.) 22.Rad1
Qe7
White’s knight has no retreat, however Tal has his magic. 23.Bxc5! Rxd1 24.Rxd1 Qxc5 25.Qxf6 hxg5
26.Bb3 White had to see this when playing 20.Be3! Black is defenceless. 26...Rb7 27.Qxg6+ Kf8 28.Qh6+
Ke8 29.Rd5 Qb6 30.Qh8+ Ke7 31.Qxc8 1–0 Tal,M-Averbakh,Y Riga 1961.
b) Botvinnik’s interesting idea for Black is to prevent White’s f1-knight getting to g3 (as it will be traded)
or e3 (as the ...Nf4 jump will follow with tempo). However it involves a temporary pawn sacrifice:
15...Nh5
38
16.a4 Rb8 17.axb5 axb5 18.g4! Nf4! 19.Bxf4 exf4 20.e5 g6 21.Qe4
Black now weakens his kingside pawn structure unnecessarily. 21...f6? (Better was 21...Bf8! 22.Qxf4 Bg7
and Black gets his pawn back, leading to approximate equality. 23.Ng3 Re8 24.Ne4 Nxe5 25.Nxe5 Rxe5
26.Nf6+ Bxf6 27.Qxf6 Re6 28.Rxe6 Bxe6= White does not have enough attacking potential to pose Black
any threats on the kingside.) 22.Qxf4 fxe5 23.Qe3 c4 24.Ng3± 0–1 Kan,I-Botvinnik,M Moscow 1954.
16.Ne3 h6
39
Bronstein now emba rk s on a straightforward attacking plan.
17.g4!
A critical moment! Black needs counterplay quickly!
17...Bf8
The way to get counterplay was with the plan shown in the previous game (Fischer-Kholmov, comment to
move 16). First, the always useful move here 17...c4! 18.g5 hxg5 19.Nxg5
And now Black has a standard sacrificial motif: 19...Nd4! 20.cxd4 exd4 White needs tactics to balance
Black’s rolling pawns. 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.exd5 Bb4
40
White can now try to complicate matters with 23.Bg6! (23.Rd1 d3 24.Bxd3 cxd3 25.Rxd3 Nxd5 leads to a
drawish ending, although Black has a slight plus. 26.Qe4 Nf6 27.Rxd8+ Rxd8 28.Qxb4 Rd1+ 29.Kg2 Rxc1
30.Rxc1 Qxc1³) 23...d3! Forcing the trade of queens.
a) 23...fxg6? is not the way to go for Black: 24.Qe6+ Kf8 (24...Kh8? runs into mate: 25.Re4 Nxe4
26.Qxe4+–) 25.Re4 Qe7 Now White wins the queen with advantage:
26.Nh7+! Nxh7 27.Qxg6 Nf6 28.Rxe7±.

b) 23...Rd7 leads to a position not easy to assess: 24.d6 Qxd6 25.Ne4 Nxe4 26.Bxe4 d3 27.Qf3;
24.Qe5 Rd7 25.Qxc7 Rxc7 26.Bf4 Rd7 27.Bf5 Rxd5 28.Re5 Rad8 With his strong pawns, Black is
definitely not worse.
18.g5 hxg5 19.Nxg5
41
Now Bronstein has a tremendous attack.
19...Ne7
19...Qe7 20.Qf3 g6 was the lesser evil: 21.Kh1 c4 22.Rg1 Bg7 23.Nf5! gxf5 24.Nxe6 fxe6 25.Bh6 and
White ends up with queen for rook and knight. 25...f4 26.Rxg7+ Qxg7 27.Bxg7 Kxg7±.
20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Ng4
Black doesn’t have a suitable defence.
21...Nh7
21...Ng6 22.Nxf6+ gxf6 23.Qg4 Qf7 24.Kh2+– The g-file attack decides.
22.Kh1 Kh8 23.Rg1 Ng8 24.Rg2 Be7
42
White needs fresh attacking resources, meaning ‘time to open the b1–h7 diagonal!’.
25.f4!+– exf4
Trying to keep b1–h7 diagonal closed with 25...Bf6 is only a temporary measure: 26.fxe5 Bxe5 27.Be3
Ngf6 28.Nxe5 Qxe5 29.Qf2 Rf8 30.Bf4 Qh5 (30...Nxe4 31.Bxe5 Nxf2+ 32.Kh2 Ra7 33.Rag1 and Black
loses his f2-knight: 33...Rff7 34.Bg3+–) 31.Qg3+– and White’s attack should win.
26.e5 g5
27.Bxf4
27.Qe4 Nf8 (27...Bf8 28.h4+–) 28.h4 also wins.
27...gxf4 28.Bxh7 Bh4 29.Be4 Bg3 30.Bxa8 Rxa8 31.Nf6 Qf7 32.Qh5+
43
1–0
6
Ilia Kan
Mikhail Botvinnik
Moscow 1952
Qc7 12.Nbd2 Nc6 13.dxe5 dxe5
14.a4!?
White wants to open and control the a-file, which is in general good for him.
14...Rb8
Black is by no means forced to surrender the a-file immediately and could have played 14...Be6. After
15.Ng5 Rad8 (15...Bd7! is a better move leading to equality: 16.Nf1 h6 17.Nf3 Be6 ½–½ Zaitsev, I-
Smyslov, V Moscow 1969) 16.axb5 axb5 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Qe2 c4
44
White now hurried to open the a2– g8 diagonal with 19.b3 (Better was to play 19.Nf3! first.) and allowed
(as already shown in the comments to game four) the known strategic motif 19...b4!, when Black is fine.
20.Qxc4 bxc3 21.Nf3 Qc8 22.Ra4 Nd4 23.Qxc8 Nxf3+ 24.gxf3 Rxc8 with approximate equality and later
drawn in Levenfish, G-Lilienthal, A Moscow 1940.
15.axb5 axb5 16.Nf1 Bd6 17.Bg5 Ne8 18.Ne3 f6 19.Nd5 Qb7 20.Be3 Be6 21.Nd2
A relatively common situation for this line. White has got his knight to d5, and has some ‘pull’, however
due to the closed nature of the position, and Black having more space, it is not easy for White to increase his
momentum. In order to do so, the position will need to open a bit. Botvinnik played two interesting games
with Black here, in both of which he immediately challenged White’s dominant knight on d5.
21...Ne7
In the other game Botvinnik went for 21...Nc7, and after 22.Nb3! c4 23.Nc5 Bxc5 24.Bxc5 Rfd8
45
White had to sacrifice a pawn in order to open diagonals for his bishops and get an advantage. 25.Qh5
[25.Qf3! was the way to go, and after 25...Nxd5 26.exd5 Rxd5 (26...Bxd5? 27.Qf5 g6 28.Qxf6±) 27.Be3
White has more than just compensation. Black can opt for a positional exchange sacrifice with 27...Rd3
(27...Rd6 28.Be4 f5 29.Bxf5 is better for White.) 28.Bxd3 cxd3, but White should be better here.]
25...Bf7 26.Qh4
Now the way for Black to equalise is to force an immediate exchange of knights. 26...Bg6! (26...Ne6 allows
the d5-knight to live and is better for White. 27.Bb6 Re8 and now White gains the advantage by opening up
the position: 28.b3! 1–0 Gligoric, S-O’Kelly de Galway, A Hastings1956.) 27.Nxc7 Qxc7 28.Qg4 Bf7=
with equality and soon drawn in Lipnitsky, I-Botvinnik, M Moscow 1952.
22.Nxe7+
Opening up the position with 22.b4! Nxd5 23.exd5 Bxd5 24.bxc5 would have offered White somewhat
better prospects.
46
22...Qxe7
23.Qe2
Now the position is about equal.
23...Rf7 24.Ra5 Qb7
For some reason Botvinnik is refusing to push 24...c4.
25.Rea1 Nc7
In order to get chances, White needs to open up the position.
26.c4! Bf8 27.Bd3 bxc4 28.Nxc4 Qc6 29.Qc2 Nb5 30.Ra6 Qc8
30...Qe8 was better.
31.Nb6 Qe8
47
32.Nd5!
White has pressure. Probably because of time trouble, the rest of the game is full of unusual mistakes for
this level.
32...Kh8?
32...Nd4 was necessar y, though White is better after 33.Bxd4 exd4 34.Nc7 Rxc7 35.Rxe6.
33.Bc4?
33.Bxb5! Rxb5 34.Qa4 wins, as Black is under terrible pins and will lose material.
33...Nd6?!
33...Nd4 was better.
34.Bxc5 Nxc4 35.Qxc4 Bxd5
48
36.Qxd5?
36.exd5, creating a passed pawn, leads to a large advantage for White.
36...Rxb2??
A blunder only terrible time pressure can explain.

36...Bxc5 37.Qxc5 Rxb2=
37.Ra8 Rb8 38.Rxb8
1–0
7
Leonid Stein
Henrique Mecking
Sousse 1967
Qc7 12.Nbd2 Nc6 13.dxc5 dxc5
49
Leonid Stein comes up with a different plan of manoeuvring his knights in this game.
14.Nh2!? Be6 15.Qf3 Rad8 16.Ndf1 g6
Black decides to cover the f5-square.

16...c4, the standard ‘useful move for Black ’, was another option: 17.Ne3 Rfe8.
17.Bh6 Rfe8 18.Ne3
White is ready to attack. How does Black create counterplay? With the standard knight jump motif.
18...Nd4! 19.cxd4 cxd4
Black will get his piece back, while White wants to create an attack.
20.Nf5! Bxf5 21.exf5 Qxc2 22.Rxe5
50
The situation is tense, and Black slips!
22...Bf8?
22...Qxb2! 23.Rae1 d3! was Black’s best defence. After a tactical skirmish the game would likely come to a
peaceful end: 24.fxg6 hxg6 25.Rxe7 Rxe7 26.Rxe7 Qa1+ 27.Nf1 Black gets his piece back. 27...d2 28.Bxd2
Rxd2 The game is about equal. 29.Qa8+ Kg7 30.Qxa6 Qxa2 31.Qxb5 Rxf2=.
23.fxg6!
Now the tactics favour White.
23...Bxh6
23...Rxe5 loses, as after 24.Qxf6 Qxg6 25.Qxd8 Qxh6 26.Ng4 Qg5 White creates a fork, snatching a pawn
and getting a won endgame: 27.Nf6+! Kg7 28.Qxf8+ Kxf8 29.Nxh7+ Kg7 30.Nxg5 Rxg5 31.Rd1+–.
51
24.Ng4!
This should net White a healthy pawn up position.
24...Bg7
24...Rxe5?? 25.Qxf6+–
25.Nxf6+ Bxf6 26.Qxf6 hxg6
27.Rae1!
White keeps up the pressure. The immediate pawn grab 27.Rxe8+? Rxe8 28.Qxd4 probably leads to a draw,
as Black is active after 28...Re2.
27...Rf8?
A crucial mistake, as White now weaves a mating net, immediately forcing the outcome.
a) 27...Rxe5 does not solve Black’s problems: 28.Qxd8+ Kh7 29.Qh4+ Rh5 30.Qxd4 White is a healthy
pawn up with excellent winning chances.
b) 27...Qc8 was Black’s best defence, and after 28.R5e4 Qb8!
52
White needs to go for a queen endgame a pawn up: 29.Rxe8+ (29.Re7 Rf8 30.R1e4 doesn’t mate, as Black
has 30...Rd6.) 29...Rxe8 30.Rxe8+ Qxe8 31.Qxd4 and W hite has a plenty of work to do to gain the full
point.
28.R5e4
This simple rook transfer does the job.
28...Rd5 29.Rh4 Rh5 30.Rxh5 gxh5 31.Re5 Rc8 32.Rg5+
1–0
53
8
Viacheslav Ragozin
Vasily Panov
Leningrad 1939
Qc7 12.Nbd2
Now we will examine a few games where Black played flexibly...
12...Bd7
...and White went for the pawn structure we are examining in this part of the book.
13.dxe5
13.Nf1 Rfc8 (Smyslov later realised that the rook belongs on e8 and play 13...Rfe8. See the comments to
game 9, Botvinnik-Kan.) Now, in one of the first games with this position, Rudolf Spielmann correctly
understood that with rooks on a8 and c8, Black is not ideally placed for positions with the trade of d-pawns!
14.dxe5! dxe5 15.Ne3 Bf8
54
And now White seizes the moment to open the b1–h7 diagonal for his bishop. 16.Nd5! Nxd5 17.exd5 f6
White has the initiative on the kingside, but needs to play energetically! 18.Be4 was played by the ‘maestro
from Vienna’, allowing Black to consolidate.
[18.Nh4! was the way to go, when Black is in trouble: 18...g6 (18...Be8 19.Qg4 with 20.f4 to follow looks
good for White.) Now White can remove Black’s pawn defences by means of a piece sacrifice: 19.Nxg6!
hxg6 20.Bxg6
55
White brings in an extra attacking unit via a rook lift, obtaining a winning attack. 20...Be8 (Black is not in
time to bring his knight in play: 20...Nc4 21.Re4+–) 21.Bf5 Rd8 22.Re3 Qf7 23.Rg3+ Kh8 24.Qg4+–]
18...Ra7 19.Qc2 g6 20.g4
20...Nc4! The ‘Nimzowitsch knight’ was already a known strategic resource and this is exactly what Black
does. 21.Bd3 Nd6 With his knight well placed on d6, Black is already in the driving seat. 22.Be3 Rb7
23.Rad1 Bg7 Black had the advantage and went on to win in Spielmann, R-Yates, F San Remo 1930.
13...dxe5 14.Nf1 Rad8 15.Qe2 Nh5
56
Black wants to stop White’s f1-knight from reaching g3 (as he will take it) or e3 (as he will jump with his
h5-knight to f4). We have already seen a similar plan in one of the Botvinnik games.
Here White comes up with an instructive pawn sacrifice.
16.a4 g6 17.g3!
The idea is obviously Ne3–d5, so Black is invited to accept a pawn sacrifice (which he will do and regret!).
17...bxa4
If 17...Rfe8 18.Ne3 Nf6 19.axb5 axb5 White can develop his initiative with 20.g4.
18.Bxa4 Bxh3 19.Bh6
19...Bxf1
57
Black wants to eliminate the f1-knight before it heads to e3 and d5.
19...Ng7 20.Ne3 is good for White, as after 20...Be6 21.Nd5! Bxd5 22.exd5 Black does not have a good
response. 22...Rxd5 (22...f6 23.Bc2 Nb7 24.Rxa6 is a large advantage for White.) 23.Nxe5 White will soon
get a material advantage, while Black’s coordination is terrible.
20.Rxf1 Ng7 21.Kg2 Rb8
White now becomes too focused on delivering mate, and lets his advantage slip.
22.Rh1
Principled, but not best!

22.Rfd1! regains the pawn with a la rge adva nt a ge. 22...Rfd8 23.Rxd8+ Bxd8 (23...Rxd8 24.Qxa6 and
Black’s a5-knight is terribly placed.) 24.Rd1 Nc6 25.Qxa6 White has a winning advantage.
22...Rfd8 23.Rh2 Ne6 24.Rah1 Bf6
White now needs to deliver mate, but this proves elusive.
25.Bc1 h5 26.Nh4 Qb7 27.Bc2 Kf8 28.g4
58
The critical moment!
28...Bxh4?
a) 28...g5 29.Nf5 h4
will not keep things closed as White has 30.Rxh4! gxh4 31.g5 Qxb2 32.Kh2 Qb5 33.Qh5 Bg7 34.Kg2 with
Rxh4 to follow and a tremendous attack.
b) 28...Nf4+! would have tested White, as after 29.Bxf4 exf4 30.gxh5 g5
59
31.Ng6+ Kg7 with 32...Kh6! to follow, White’s attack is at risk of dying.
c) The immediate 28...Qxb2 leads to a tactical blow-for-blow battle possibly ending in a drawish endgame:
29.Qf3 (29.gxh5??, analogous to the game, now blunders into 29...Qxc1 30.Rxc1 Nf4+–+) 29...Nf4+
30.Bxf4 exf4 31.Qxf4 Qxc3 32.g5 Rb2 33.Rc1 Qe5 34.Qxf6 Qxf6 35.gxf6 Rd2 36.Rh3 Rbxc2 37.Rxc2
Rxc2 38.Ra3=
29.Rxh4 Qxb2
This tactical motif no longer works for Black.
30.gxh5!
White now has a winning attack.
30...Qb5 31.Qg4 Ke7 32.hxg6 Rg8 33.Rh7 Rbf8 34.Qf5
60
There was probably terrible mutual time pressure here.
34...Qe8 35.R1h6
35.Rd1! keeps the black monarch boxed in and wins in a few moves.
35...Kd6 36.g7 f6
37.Kf1
37.Rxf6 Rxf6 38.Qxf6 Qe7 39.Bg5+–
37...Rf7
37...Rxg7! 38.Rxg7 Nxg7 39.Rxf6+ Rxf6 40.Qxf6+ Ne6 and Black is fighting.
38.Rxf6 Rfxg7 39.Rxg7 Rxg7 40.Ba4 Qg8 41.Ke2 Rg1 42.Rf7 Rg7 43.Rf6 Rg1
61
Now White gets the right idea, but executes it wrongly.
44.Bh6
44.Be3! wins, as after 44...Qg4+ 45.Kd3! c4+ (45...Rd1+ 46.Bd2 wins as in the game.) 46.Kd2 Nb3+
47.Bxb3 Qxf5 48.exf5 cxb3 White has t he simple 49.Rxe6+ Kc7 50.Rb6.
44...Qg4+ 45.Kd3
Now Black does not take the chance that is suddenly available!
45...Rd1+?
45...c4+! 46.Kd2 Nb3+! drew: 47.Bxb3 Qxf5 48.exf5 cxb3 49.Rxe6+ Kc7 and because of Black’s passed
b-pawn White has to take a draw by perpetual check: 50.Re7+ Kc6 51.Re6+ Kc7=.
62
46.Bd2
Now it’s all over.
46...Rxd2+ 47.Kxd2 Qg8 48.Rg6 Qc8 49.f4 Nc4+ 50.Ke2
1–0
9
Mikhail Botvinnik
Ilia Kan
Moscow 1954
Qc7 12.Nbd2 Bd7 13.Nf1
In this position Smyslov understood that Black’s f8-rook is best deployed on the e-file, anticipating further
events.
13...Rfe8 14.Ne3
The Smyslov games mentioned 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.N3h2 Rad8 16.Qf3 Be6 17.Ne3 Nc4
63
Now 18.Nf5 is the principled follow-up by White, as he wants one of Black’s bishops (18.Nxc4 Bxc4 is
about equal.) 18...Bxf5 19.exf5?! Now Black’s 13...Rfe8 development is seen as fully justified. (19.Qxf5
Nd2 T he threat is 20....g6. 20.Ng4 Nxg4 21.Qxg4 Rd6 Black has a pleasant game, however it’s still about
equal.) 19...e4!
White is now stuck between a rock and a hard place! It is inadvisable to grab on e4, but is also rather
unpleasant not to. 20.Bxe4 (20.Qe2 led to Black’s advantage: 20...Bd6 21.Ng4 Nd5 22.f6 h5 and Black
went on to win in Milev, Z-Smyslov, V Bucharest 1953) 20...Ne5 21.Qg3 Bd6 22.f4 White’s problem is
that he doesn’t threaten to take on e5. 22...c4! The a7–g1 diagonal is now open with devastating effect on
White. 23.Nf3
64
White’s pieces are poorly coordinated and a decisive tactic is in the air — but Black has to find it!
23...Nxf3+
[23...Bc5+! was a forced win: 24.Kh2 (24.Nd4 Bxd4+ 25.cxd4 Nxe4 26.Rxe4 Nd3 White is positionally
busted, Black’s d3-knight is a monster and White will soon start losing material. 24.Kh1 also loses to
24...Neg4 25.hxg4 Nxe4.) 24...Neg4+! 25.hxg4 Nxe4 26.Qh3
and now it’s important for Black not to be afraid of ghosts: 26...Bf2! 27.Rxe4 Rxe4 28.Ng5 Rxf4! Check on
h7 does not bring White anything; Black wins in a few moves.]
24.Bxf3
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24...Rxe1+ 25.Qxe1 Bxf4 Black still has the better game, however White managed to hold in Aronin, L-
Smyslov, V ½–½ Moscow 1952.
14...Bf8
Now Botvinnik decided to force ‘our’ pawn structure.
15.dxe5 dxe5
As in some previous examples, White shuffles his f3-knight to the g4-square. His problem, as we saw
earlier, is that he does not have enough space to really get his attack going.
16.Nh2 Rad8 17.Qf3 Be6 18.Nhg4 Nxg4 19.hxg4 Nc4 20.Nf5
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20...Nd6
It was also possible for Black to take more space on the queenside with 20...a5 and ...a4 to follow.
21.g3 Qb7 22.Kg2 f6 23.Rh1 Nf7 24.b3
White does not have any threat, so Black plays a constructive move, doubling his rooks on the d-file.
24...Rd7
a) The ‘always useful move’ 24...c4! would have presented White with a difficult choice, e.g. if 25.b4
White is in serious trouble after 25...g6! 26.Ne3 Ng5! 27.Qxf6 Nxe4 28.Qf3 Rd3!
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and White does not have good defence against 29...Be7 (or 29...Bd6) with 30...Rf8 to follow. 29.Bxd3
[29.Rd1 Bd6 (29...Be7? is a mistake due to 30.Rxd3 Rf8? 31.Rd8 and White even wins.) 30.Rxd3 Rf8 and
Black wins.]
29...cxd3 30.Rd1 Be7 with ...Rf8 to follow and Black has a winning attack.
b) The immediate 24...g6 25.Ne3 Ng5
does not work in the same way, as there is no 28...Rd3: 26.Qxf6! Be7 (26...Nxe4 now enters an ending
which can only be better for White after 27.Qf3 Nd6 28.Qxb7 Nxb7.) 27.Qxe5 Rf8 Now White has a
choice between a likely forced draw or being ambitious: 28.Rd1 (28.Nf5 Bf6 29.Qf4 is ‘being ambitious’.
My engine gives 0.00, but to me it looks promising for White.) 28...Rxd1 29.Nxd1 Bf6
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30.Qd6
[30.Qxc5 is rather risky for White, as after 30...Nxe4 31.Bxe4 Qxe4+ 32.f3 Black plays 32...Qa8! (In case
anyone is wondering why not the ‘more logical’ 32...Qb7, the reason is that after 33.Nf2 Bd5 34.Bh6
Bxf3+ 35.Kh3 Re8
White has 36.Re1!.) 33.Nf2 Bd5 34.Bh6 Bxf3+ 35.Kh3 Re8 Black’s initiative is worth more than a pawn
here.]
30...Be7 31.Qe5 Bf6= with a repetition of moves.
25.Qe2 Red8 26.Ne3 c4 27.bxc4 bxc4 28.Rb1
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28...Qc7?
28...Qc6, avoiding Nd5 with tempo, was a better move.
29.Nd5 Qa5
Now Botvinnik misses an interesting tactical solution.
30.a4
30.g5! seized the moment, when White gets a promising attack! With the best defence, however, it probably
ends in a draw.
30...Nxg5
[30...fxg5 31.Qh5 Bf5 32.exf5!? (32.Bxg5 Nxg5 33.Qxg5 transposes toour main line.) 32...Qxd5+ 33.f3 h6
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34.Rd1 White definitely has compensation for his sacrificed pawn.]
31.Bxg5 fxg5 32.Qh5 Bf5 33.Qxg5 (33.exf5? now is just wrong, as after 33...Qxd5+ 34.Kg1 h6 there is no
follow-up for White.) 33...Bg6
34.Rxh7! Bxh7 35.Nf6+ Kh8 36.Nxd7 Rxd7 37.Rh1 g6 (37...Kg8 38.Rxh7 Kxh7 39.Qf5+ is very good for
White, as Black’s king is weak.) 38.Qf6+ Kg8 39.Qe6+ Rf7 This looks very promising for White, but there
is probably no more than a draw.
40.Rxh7 (40.Qxc4 leads to a likely draw after 40...Qb6 41.f4 Qe3 42.Bb3 Kh8 43.Rxh7+ Kxh7 44.Qxf7+
Bg7 45.fxe5 Qxe4+.) 40...Bg7 41.Qxc4 Now Black again gets counterplay and chances of a draw:
41...Qb6! 42.Rh2 Qxf2+ 43.Kh3 Qf3 44.Qe2 Qxe2 45.Rxe2 Rf3 46.Bb3+ Kh7 and Black should be able to
save his skin.
30...Bc5 31.Rd1 Bxd5 32.exd5
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32...g6?
A strange decision. Black voluntarily allows White to open diagonals for his bishops!
The natural blockading move 32...Nd6 would have led to an unclear game with mutual chances.
33.Qxc4 Nd6 34.Qe2 Qxc3 35.g5! Rf7 36.Rb3
White could have got a large advantage with 36.gxf6 Rxf6 37.Bb2 Qc4 38.Qxe5!.
Perhaps White saw some ghosts here. 38...Rdf8 (38...Rxf2+? 39.Kh1 simply wins for White.) 39.Bd3 Qxa4
40.f4 Material is equal, but White’s bishops are firmly in command.
36...Qa5 37.Bb2 Re8 38.gxf6 Rxf6 39.f3
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39...Bd4
After the trade of dark-squared bishops Black’s king is much safer.
40.Bxd4 exd4 41.Qf2
½–½
10
Robert Fischer
Paul Keres
Curacao 1962
Nd7
73
Nowadays, this is arguably the main line for Black, however in 1962 this was Keres’s novel preparation for
the Curacao Candidates.
12.dxc5
a) Later in the tournament, in his second white game vs Keres, Fischer opted for 12.d5 Nb6 and now made
an instructive mistake! 13.g4?! White is underdeveloped and not ready for this aggressive pawn push, and
Keres reacts correctly! 13...h5!
Later in the book we will see examples of similar play by Black in the part on ‘closed centre plans’. Black is
already better! 14.Nh2 hxg4 15.hxg4 Bg5! Trading the ‘right’ bishops. 16.Nd2 g6 17.Ndf3 Bxc1 18.Qxc1
Kg7 Black was better and went on to win in Fischer, R-Keres, P Candidates 1962.
b) 12.Nbd2 is considered White’s main move here.
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12...Bf6 Rashid Nezhmetdinov had this idea (in 1958!) which resembles the modern main line. (12...exd4
13.cxd4 Nc6 is Black’s main line nowadays, following Nezhmetdinov’s aim of achieving a Benoni-type
pawn structure. 14.d5 Nce5 Play is sharp. Please study the details in the theory section of the book.
12...cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 was Paul Keres’s preparation for the 1962 Candidates tournament and we will
explore this later in the chapter on Keres.) 13.Nf1 (White can naturally also opt for 13.dxc5 dxc5 and get a
good version of the 12.dxc5 dxc5 lines (as 13.Nbd2 is in ‘the system’, while Black is not in a hurry to play
13...Bf6.) 13...exd4 14.cxd4
14...Nc6 As mentioned above, Black would like to get a Benoni-type pawn structure after 15.d5 Nde5, the
modern main line idea, however this way the idea fails for tactical reasons. White is tactically alert and
reacts well! 15.e5! dxe5 16.Be4 Bb7 17.dxe5 Nezhmetdinov correctly judges that his best chances are in the
rook and pawn vs bishop + knight endgame! 17...Ndxe5! (17...Be7 18.Ng3 gives White a tremendous
attack.) 18.Nxe5 Qxd1 19.Rxd1 Bxe5 20.Rd7
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The point behind 15.e5! — White wins material. 20...Rab8 21.Rxb7 Rxb7 22.Bxc6 Rc7 23.Bf3 c4 24.Ne3
White has some advantage, however matters are far from clear, Black’s extra queenside pawn offers him
good counterplay and Nezhmetdinov went on to win this game! Kotkov, Y-Nezhmetdinov, R Sochi 1958.
12...dxc5 13.Nbd2
13...Qc7?!
Black’s queen will prove poorly placed here because of the possibility of a Nd5 jump with tempo, and will
be the source of Black’s further problems.
13...f6 is considered the main line and three years later Fischer was to suffer an instructive loss with White.
14.Nh4 Nb6 15.Nf5
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White goes after Black’s bishop pair, but because of Black’s g7/f6/e5 pawn chain, White’s dark-squared
bishop will not be superior to Black’s k night. 15...Rf7 16.Nxe7+ Rxe7 17.Qf3 Be6 18.Nf1 Rd7 19.Ne3
Now Black plays the ‘always useful move in these positions’. 19...c4 20.Nf5 Na4 As in some other games,
due to lack of space White cannot really get a kingside attack going. Black now has the threat of ...Nc5–d3,
so White eliminates the knight. 21.Bxa4 bxa4 Yes, Black got doubled a-pawns, but he also has the excellent
d3-square for his rook. 22.Be3 Rd3 23.Qg4 Qd7
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White does not have any threats and Black has a pleasant position. Black’s queenside pawn weaknesses are
academic here. 24.Bc5 Rc8 25.Be7 Fischer now forces 25...Bxf5, which Black probably wanted to play
anyway. (25.Ba3 was perhaps a better move.) 25...Bxf5 26.Qxf5 Nc6 (26...Qxf5 27.exf5 Nc6 28.Ba3 g6
also looks pleasant for Black.) 27.Bc5 Nd8 28.Qxd7 Rxd7 Fischer was renowned for his preference for
bishops, however here Black’s knight proves superior. 29.Rad1 Rd3 30.Ba3 Nc6 31.Rxd3 cxd3 32.Rd1 Rd8
33.Kf1 g6
34.g4? (34.f3 f5 35.Kf2 was necessary, with a likely draw.) 34...f5! 35.gxf5 gxf5 36.exf5 e4 37.Ke1 Ne5
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White now suffers unavoidable and decisive loss of material, since Black’s passed d-pawn will cost him his
bishop. 38.Bc5 (38.Kd2 loses a rook after 38...Nc4+ 39.Kc1 d2+ 40.Kc2 e3–+.) 38...Nf3+ 39.Kf1 Kf7
40.Kg2 Rg8+ 41.Kh1
41...Rg1+! 42.Rxg1 Nxg1 43.Be3 Nf3 44.Kg2 d2 45.Bxd2 Nxd2 And with an extra piece, Black won
easily in Fischer, R-Ivkov, B Havana 1965.
14.Nf1 Nb6 15.Ne3 Rd8
79
16.Qe2
The immediate 16.Nd5 was also an option.
16...Be6
If 16...f6 White gets a strong attack after 17.Nd5! Nxd5 18.exd5 Bb7 19.Nh4 Bf8
20.Qh5!‚ (20.f4 Rxd5 21.Qg4 e4 22.Bxe4 Rdd8 23.Bc2 Qf7= was about equal and later drawn in Gligoric,
S-Unzicker, W Varna 1962) Now Black does not have a good solution as after 20...g6 (20...g5 21.Nf5 with
22.h4 to follow is very good for White.) 21.Nxg6 hxg6 22.Bxg6 Bxd5 23.Re3 White has a winning attack.
17.Nd5!
Fischer’s novelty at the time!
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17.b3 Nc6 18.Bd2 c4 19.Red1 a5 20.Rab1 Rab8 was fine for Black in Matanovic, A-Van Scheltinga, T
Birmingham 1951.
17...Nxd5 18.exd5 Bxd5 19.Nxe5
Material is equal, but Black’s pieces are poorly coordinated, his king potentially weak and a5-knight out of
play, so White has a clear advantage.
19...Ra7 20.Bf4 Qb6 21.Rad1 g6 22.Ng4
22.b3+– Keeping the a5-k night locked out was quite good, as Black does not really have an acceptable
response. 22...Be6 (22...Nc6 23.Rxd5 Rxd5 24.Nxf7 leads to a winning attack for White.) 23.Qf3 and
White develops a winning attack.
22...Nc4
22...Be6! 23.Qe5 Bxg4! destroying the irritating knight was the way for Black to stay in the game.
23.Bh6
23.b3 looks like an immediate win: 23...Na3
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24.Qxe7 Rxe7 25.Rxe7 Here 26.Bc7 is a terrible threat, so Black either gets mated or loses tons of material.
23...Be6 24.Bb3 Qb8
The only way for Black to stay in the game was 24...Rxd1 25.Rxd1
25...Bxg4! 26.Qxg4 (26.hxg4 g5! 27.Bxc4 Qxh6+=) 26...Nd6 White is better, but Black is still fighing.
25.Rxd8+ Bxd8 26.Bxc4 bxc4 27.Qxc4
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White is a sound pawn up and has a strong attack.
27...Qd6 28.Qa4 Qe7 29.Nf6+ Kh8 30.Nd5 Qd7 31.Qe4 Qd6 32.Nf4 Re7
33.Bg5
It is difficult to understand why Fischer refrained from the simple 33.Bf8, collecting an exchange and
winning immediately.
33...Re8 34.Bxd8 Rxd8 35.Nxe6 Qxe6 36.Qxe6 fxe6 37.Rxe6 Rd1+ 38.Kh2 Rd2 39.Rb6 Rxf2 40.Rb7 Rf6
41.Kg3
1–0
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CHAPTER 3.
KERES’S LEGACY
Paul Petrovich Keres, uncrowned king and in the opinion of many the strongest player never to become
World Champion, probably contributed most to the popularity of the Chigorin Variation.
Throughout his career the Chigorin Variation was Keres’s trusty companion. He had a dynamic style based
on solid positional concepts, and he handled the Chigorin Variation accordingly.
The two concepts most frequently seen in his games relate to dynamic central play. One is based on an early
central ...d6–d5 pawn push.
Black pushes ...d6–d5 early, creating immediate central tension. Play is dynamic and it is easy to go
wrong.See games 11 and 12. Game 18 is a modern example.
Another concept actually more often seen in Keres’s games is related to voluntarily agreeing to an
‘academic’ pawn weakness on d6, hoping that active piece play will compensate for it.
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We have already seen this concept in game 3, Lasker-Tarrasch. Black hopes to pressurise White’s e4-pawn,
and the possibility of the ...d6–d5 pawn break and general active piece play will compensate for the d6-
pawn weakness.
If White’s f2-pawn had been on c2, the pawn structure would have resembled a typical Sicilian. Comparing
the two, the Sicilian idea appeals more as Black can place his knight on the e5-square, whereas in the
Chigorin it can be hit by f2–f4.
The resulting positions are complex, however I would be inclined to say favourable for White.
There are a few general guidelines:
• Black should be alert to White’s light-squared bishop taking control of the a2–f7 diagonal — see games 13
and 14;
• White can develop a violent attack against Black’s king, with sacrifices often being the means of getting
the job done, therefore Black must keep an eye on his king’s safety — see game 11 (comments to 15...Nd7
in Unzicker-Keres), game 12 (comments to 19.Ndf5!) and games 14, 17 and 19;
• A black knight on e5 is an excellent piece if it cannot be chased away — for a modern example see game
18;
• Getting the upper hand requires knowing what to trade and what to keep, game 16 being a good example.
11
Efim Geller
Paul Keres
Moscow 1951
Qc7 12.Nbd2
85
In this game Paul Keres first makes a central pawn trade and than develops his bishop to b7. In later games
Keres would usually keep his bishop on the c8–h3 diagonal.
12...cxd4
The immediate 12...Bb7 is considered favourable to White after the simple 13.d5.
13.cxd4 Bb7 14.Nf1
Modern theor y considers 14.d5 White’s best, as Black’s a5-knight and b7-bishop are not well placed for the
closing of the centre. I assume that Keres came to the conclusion that those positions are better for White
and therefore in most of his later games kept his bishop on the c8–h3 diagonal — see the next four Keres
games in this chapter. For strategic insight on closed centre positions after 14.d5, see the game Shirov-
Timman in the ‘closed centre’ section.
14...Rac8
86
15.Bb1
15.Bd3 is another bishop move. Keres had huge experience in these positions and two instructive games.
15...Nd7
[15...d5! Six years later versus the same opponent Keres opted for the same idea! 16.dxe5 (16.exd5 can lead
to a positional pawn sacrifice: 16...e4 — 16...exd4 17.Bg5 Nc4 also looks about equal — 17.Bxe4 Nxe4
18.Rxe4 Bxd5
Black’s d5-bishop is strong and his pieces are well coordinated. 19.Re1 Nc6 Black either has excellent
compensation or White has to allow ...Bxf3 with ...Nxd4 giving the extra pawn back.]
16...Nxe4 17.Ng3
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17...f5! Black gets excellent play with this pawn sacrifice. 18.exf6 Bxf6 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Bxe4 Rfd8
Black’s f6-bishop is an excellent piece, and in order to develop White will have to give his extra pawn back.
21.Qe2 (White could also have considered giving his pawn back immediately and completing his
development: 21.Bd2 Bxe4 22.Rxe4 Bxb2=.) 21...Re8 22.Nd2
22...Qd7 (Black could have got ambitious with 22...Re5 and ...Rce8 to follow, provoking White into playing
f2–f3, creating dark square weaknesses a round his king.) 23.Qf1 Nc6 24.Nb3 Nd4 25.Bxb7 Qxb7
26.Nxd4 Bxd4 In order to finish his development, White surrenders his b2-pawn, so a draw was agreed in
Geller, E-Keres, P Candidates 1956.) 16.Ne3 (As is often the case when Black’s bishop is developed to b7
White’s best is to close the centre: 16.d5! transposing to my game vs Kramnik — see ‘personal experiences’
section.) 16...exd4!
88
Keres loved this strategic decision. The d6-pawn will be an ‘academic weakness’, while Black will get
excellent piece play. As we will see in some other Keres games in this chapter, this strategy will not always
work perfectly, but here it works out excellently. 17.Nxd4 Bf6 18.Ndf5 g6 Smyslov must have
overestimated the dynamic possibilities afforded by his h6-knight. 19.Nh6+ Kh8
White’s h6-knight is more of a liability than an asset and White has to think about equality. 20.Rb1
[20.Neg4 Bg7 21.Bf4 Ne5 (21...Bxb2 22.Bf1 gives White good compensation.) 22.Rc1 Qe7 23.Bb1; or
20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 Nc4 22.Rb1 were both possible equalising attempts for White.]
20...Bg7 21.Nhg4 (If 21.Nd5 Black can also opt — apart from 21....Bxd5 — for dy namic play with
21...Qd8 22.Ng4 f5! 23.Nge3 fxe4 24.Bxe4 Qh4 25.Ng4 Rc4 with the initiative.) 21...h5! 22.Nh2 Nc5
23.Nd5 Bxd5 24.exd5
89
Black now penetrates to the second rank. 24...Nxd3 25.Qxd3 Qc2 26.Rd1 Rfe8 27.Qxc2 Rxc2 With his
powerful rook(s) on the second rank Black was better and went on to win in Smyslov, V-Keres, P
Candidates 1959.
15...d5!?
This standard central break, seen in a number of Keres’s games, leads to sharp play and a likely dynamic
balance. 15...exd4 16.Nxd4 Rfe8 is Keres-type central strategy, Black’s active piece play being
compensation for the rather academic d6-pawn weakness.
Keres had actually already tried the strategy he used to beat Smyslov in their 1959 Candidates game above
in 1956 (!), but this time it did not work so well! 15...Nd7 16.Ne3
Now Keres goes for his favourite central strategy. 16...exd4 17.Nxd4 With White’s bishop on b1 instead of
d3 Black does not have ...Bf6 tempi, which turns out to be important!
17...g6 18.a4 b4 Now White places his bishop on an active post. 19.Ba2! Nf6 (White’s a2-bishop hits the
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f7-square, so Keres cannot transfer his bishop to g7, as in the game vs Smyslov, as 19...Bf6? is bad due to
the simple 20.Ng4 and White’s h6-knight will now cause serious damage.) 20.Bd2 Qb6
White now executes a standard attacking plan. 21.Nef5! gxf5 (If 21...Bd8, ignoring the knight, White gets a
w inning advantage after the forced sequence 22.Nh6+ Kh8 23.Be3 Qc7 24.Nxf7+ Rxf7 25.Ne6 Qe7
26.Nxd8 Rxd8 27.Bxf7 Qxf7 28.Bb6 Nc6 29.Bxd8 Nxd8 30.Qxd6+–.) 22.Nxf5
Black is a piece up, but his king is wide open and in order to prevent mate, he will suffer decisive material
losses. 22...Qd8 (If 22...Bd8 23.Bh6 threatening 24.Qf3–g3 with mate cannot be stopped.) 23.Bxb4 White
was perhaps a bit greedy to collect material.
[23.Bh6 Nc6 24.f4 with 25.Qf3 or 25.Re3 to follow wins for White; 23.Qf3 also wins: 23...Ne8 (or
23...Kh8 24.Nxe7 Qxe7 25.Bg5 Kg7 26.Qg3 Nc6 27.Re3+–) 24.Nh6+ Kh8 25.Nxf7+ Rxf7 26.Qxf7 Ng7
27.Bxb4 Nc6 28.Bc3 White has a material advantage and an attack.]
23...Nc6 24.e5 Nxb4 25.exf6 Bxf6 26.Qg4+ Kh8 27.Qxb4 White has a material advantage, but later
misplayed and eventually even lost (!) in Unzicker, W-Keres, P Hamburg 1956.
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16.exd5
16.dxe5 Nxe4 leads to good play for Black: 17.Bf4 Black has a number of good possibilities here. 17...Bb4
(17...Bc5 18.Ne3 f6 was fine, or 17...Nc4) 18.Re2 f5 19.Bd3 Nc4 with good play for Black in Klovans, J-
Tal, M Riga 1952.
16...exd4
16...e4, hoping for the same as in 15.Bd3 d5 16.exd5 e4, is different now as White can play 17.Ng5 and
keep his bishop pair. Black has difficulty here proving compensation for a pawn.
17.Bg5!
White keeps the tension, as Black cannot take so easily on d5.
17...h6
17...Nxd5 leads to White’s advantage after 18.Bxe7 Nxe7 19.Bxh7+ Kxh7 20.Ng5+ Kg8 21.Qh5 Qc2
22.Rxe7.
18.Bh4
The adventurous possibility 18.Bxh6! leads to an interesting tactical tussle.
92
18...Rfd8
[18...gxh6? loses to 19.Qd2 Rfd8 20.Qxh6 Rxd5 21.Ng3 and White has a decisive attack, e.g. 21...d3
22.Bxd3 Bf8 (or 22...Rxd3 23.Nf5 Bf8 24.Qg5+ Kh7 25.Qxf6 Bxf3 26.Re7+–) 23.Qxf6 Bg7 24.Qh4 Rxd3
25.Nf5 Bxf3 26.Ne7+! Kf8 27.Qh7 Be5 28.Nxc8+–]

19.Qd2 Rxd5 20.Bf4
93
20...Nc4! (20...Bd6 21.Bxd6 Rxd6 22.Nh4! with Nf5 to follow gives White an attack.) 21.Bxc7 Nxd2
22.Rxe7 Nxf3+ 23.gxf3 Kf8! White temporarily saves his extra piece, but falls under a back rank pin.
24.Bd6 Rxd6 25.Rxb7 Rc1 Black has sufficient compensation, but not more.
18...Nxd5
94
19.Qd3
It was the time for White to think about equa lit y: 19.Bxe7 Nxe7 20.Nxd4 Rfd8 21.Qg4 Qd6 22.Be4 Bxe4
23.Rxe4 with a likely drawish outcome.
19...g6 20.Bg3 Bd6
20...Qb6! was better for Black, as White cannot capture the d4-pawn: 21.Qxd4? (21.Nxd4? Bf6) 21...Qxd4
22.Nxd4 Bf6 and Black wins.
21.Bxd6 Qxd6
22.Qd2?
95
It is quite likely that White simply missed Black’s next move.
22.Qxd4!, seeking equality, was necessary.
22...Nf4! 23.Qxa5 Bxf3 24.gxf3 Nxh3+ 25.Kg2 Nf4+ 26.Kg1
Black has a decisive attack.
26...Nh3+ 27.Kg2 Nf4+ 28.Kg1
28...Qd5! 29.Ng3 d3 30.Ne4 Qf5 31.Qb4 Rfe8
With 32...Rxe4 and mate to follow.
0–1
12
Isaak Boleslavsky
Paul Keres
Zürich 1953
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4
Qc7 12.Nbd2 Rd8 13.Nf1
96
Now Keres goes for his favourite central pawn break, but here matters are a bit more complicated.
13...d5!?
For 13...cxd4 14.cxd4 exd4 15.Nxd4 d5, the modern ...d5 central pawn push, see game 18, Grischuk-
Bologan, later in this chapter.
14.exd5
White could a lso have chosen 14.Ng3, when Black probably has to accept a pawn down position: 14...dxe4
15.Nxe5 cxd4 16.cxd4 Be6 17.Nxe4 Rac8
18.Re2 Nc4 19.Nf3 Bd5 Black has some pressure for his sacrificed pawn, but White gradually made his
extra pawn count and went on to win in Gligoric, S-Milic, B Zagreb 1953.
14...exd4 15.cxd4
97
15...Nxd5?
It was necessary for Black to keep his knight on f6, guarding the king, and play 15...Bb7. After 16.Bg5
(16.Ne3 Nxd5 17.Nf5 Bf8 and White’s kingside activity looks to be of a temporary nature.) 16...h6
17.Bxf6 (17.Bh4 Nxd5 looks about equal.) 17...Bxf6 18.Ne3
18...g6! 19.Rc1 Nc4 the bishop pair should provide Black with adequate compensation.
16.Qe2?
Black’s king is temporarily vulnerable and White missed a good possibility in 16.Ng5!
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The situation is now difficult for Black. 16...Nf6
[16...g6 17.Qf3 (17.Nxh7 Nc6! is not really clear.) 17...Bf8 18.Be4 Bb7 19.dxc5 h6 20.Rd1 and White
finishes a pawn up.]
17.Qf3 h6 (17...Bb7? loses a pawn for nothing: 18.Bxh7+ Kf8 19.Be4.) 18.Bf4 Qd7!
19.Ne4 (Taking the rook with 19.Qxa8 is also possible; it’s messy, but White should be better. 19...hxg5
20.Bd2 Bb7 21.Rxe7 Qxe7 22.Qa7 Nc4 23.Bxg5) 19...Bb7 20.dxc5 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 White definitely has the
initiative here. 21...Bxc5
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22.Bxh6 (22.Ng3 looks less violent, but offers good attacking chances.) 22...gxh6 (22...Bxe4 23.Rxe4 gxh6
24.Rg4+ Kf8 25.Re1 should win for White.) 23.Qg3+ Kf8 24.Bh7 Bxf2+ 25.Qxf2 Qd4 26.Ne3 Thanks to
his safer king, White is better.
16...Bb7 17.Ng3 cxd4
18.Nxd4
18.Ng5 now is considerably less dangerous and can lead to a forced draw (if Black wants): 18...g6 19.Nxf7
Kxf7 20.Bxg6+ hxg6 21.Qe6+ Kg7 22.Nf5+ gxf5 23.Qh6+ Kg8 24.Qg6+ Kh8 25.Qh6+=.
18...g6 19.Bh6?
Similar to the Unzicker-Keres game (see the comments to the Geller-Keres game above), White has the
tactical motif 19.Ndf5!
100
Compared to that game Black is now in better shape as he can ignore White’s intrusive knight. 19...Bf6!
(Accepting the Trojan horse with 19...gxf5? falls under a mating attack after 20.Nxf5 Bf8 21.b4! Black’s
knight is forced on to the c-file, so that the c2-bishop will no longer be attacked and White’s queen can
move to the mating position on h5. 21...Nc4 22.Qh5 with 23.Ne7+ to follow mates.) 20.Nh6+ Kh8 In order
to break through the black king’s pawn defences, White has to offer another knight. 21.Nh5! Bd4 22.Be4
gxh5! 23.Qxh5 Nf6
And now White has to force a draw by perpetua l check: 24.Nxf7+ Kg8 25.Bxh7+ Nxh7 26.Qg6+ Bg7
27.Nh6+ Kh8 28.Nf7+ Kg8 29.Nh6+=.
19...Bf6
White is struggling to create real threats on the k ingside, while Black’s f6-bishop is a monster.
101
20.Nb3?
This passive retreat seals the game as White loses material without compensation.
For better or worse 20.Qg4 or the speculative 20.Ndf5 had to be played.
20...Nc4 21.Ne4 Bxb2 22.Nbc5 Bxa1 23.Rxa1 f5!
The game has been decided. White does not have any compensation for his material losses and Black soon
obtains a mating attack himself.
24.Nxb7 Qxb7 25.Nc5 Qc6 26.Nd3 Nc3 27.Qe1 Qf6 28.f4 Ne4 29.Kh2 Qc3 30.Qb1 Ncd2 31.Qc1
102
31...Rxd3 32.Bxd3 Qxd3 33.Qc7 Nf3+!
White is nicely mated: 33...Nf3+ 34.gxf3 Qe2+ 35.Kh1 Qxf3+ 36.Kh2 Qf2+ 37.Kh1 Ng3#.
0–1
13
Boris Spassky
Paul Keres
Riga 1965
5th match game
Qc7 12.Nbd2
We will now look at four games where Keres executes his favourite central strategy. He clears most of the
central pawns, swapping both his eand c-pawns on d4, judging that the resulting d6-pawn weakness will
prove academic and that he will get ample piece play in return.
103
12...Bd7
The idea behind Black keeping his bishop on d7 is that the bishop is already ‘correctly developed’,
compared to being on b7, should White decide to close the centre by pushing d4–d5.
13.Nf1 cxd4 14.cxd4 Rac8 15.Ne3
15...Rfe8
Black develops his last piece before opening the centre with 16....exd4.
a) The transformation of the pawn structure with 15...Nc4 16.Nxc4 bxc4 leads to some advantage for White
after 17.Bd2 Rfe8 18.Bc3, as in Bronstein, D-Panov, V Baku 1944.
b) If 15...Nc6 White happily closes the centre as Black loses too much time with his knight: 16.d5! Nb4
104
17.Bb1 a5 18.a3 Na6
Now White has the important move 19.b4!, gaining a space advantage and the possibility of play on both
sides of the board. 19...axb4 (19...g6 20.Bd2 Nh5 21.Bd3 and White had queenside pressure, while Black
could not create anything close to a kingside attack. White went on to win in Bologan, V (2655)-Peng, X
(2648) Shanghai 2001) 20.axb4 Qb7 (20...Nxb4?? is a terrible blunder as Black loses the knight
immediately: 21.Bd2 Qc5 22.Qb3+–.) 21.Bd2 Black now makes the ‘standard Chigorin bishop
improvement’: 21...Bd8 22.Bd3 Bb6
Black has improved his bishop, but has two problems, viz. lack of counterplay (none of his other pieces are
well placed to support it) and vulnerability on the kingside, where the absence of the bishop will soon be
felt. 23.Nc2 h6?! (23...Ra8 with 24....Nc7 to follow, trying quickly to trade one or both pairs of rooks, was
necessary.) Now Leko plays a model game! On a number of occasions White refuses immediate material
gain, trying to extract the maximum from the position! 24.Nh4 Nh7 25.Qf3 Ng5 26.Qg3 Nc7
105
27.Ne3! (27.Bxg5 hxg5 28.Qxg5 wins a pawn, but gives Black the time to connect his pieces after
28...Ne8.) 27...Ra8 28.Nef5 Rxa1 29.Ne7+! Again White plays for the maximum, not interested in winning
a pawn with 29.Rxa1 Ra8 30.Rxa8+ Qxa8 31.Nxd6 because he correctly judges that he can get more.
29...Kh8 30.Rxa1 Nh7
31.Qf3! Imposing a terrible threat! 31...Nf6 (31...Ne8? runs into a pretty mate: 32.Qxf7! Rxf7 33.Nhg6#.)
32.Bxh6 And White, now a pawn up with a terrible attack to boot, went on to win in Leko, P (2740)-
Kamsky, G (2686) Wijk aan Zee 2006.
16.b3 exd4 17.Nxd4 Bf8 18.Bb2
106
The type of middlegame Black has been aiming for! Black has a potentially weak d6-pawn, but judges that
active piece play will compensate for it. If White’s f-pawn had been on c2, we would have had a ‘Sicilian’
pawn structure. It is naturally much better for White to have his pawn on f2 as Black’s strategy does not
equalise here. Black would like to play 18...g6 with 19...Bg7 to follow, but the f6-knight would be hanging,
so Black needs to defend that knight first, losing precious time.
18...Qd8
Now we have an instructive moment! Spassky makes arguably the most logical decision — he collects
Black’s bishop pair while maintaining pressure on the d6-pawn weakness.
19.Ndf5
The strongest for White was to ‘correct’ Black’s pawn weakness! 19.Nd5! Nxd5 20.exd5 Black no longer
has a weak d6-pawn, but has a terrible problem with the passivity of his a5-knight (Black’s ‘regular
problem’ in many lines of the Chigorin Variation). White also enjoys a space advantage. 20...Rxe1+
21.Qxe1 g6 22.Qd2 Bg7 23.Re1 The a5-knight is badly placed and Black is in serious difficulties here.
107
23...Qb6 (If 23...Nb7 24.b4! keeps the unfortunate knight locked up. Black cannot solve the problem
tactically with 24...Nc5 as after 25.Nc6! Bxc6 26.Bxg7 Kxg7 27.bxc5 dxc5 28.Qc3+ White should win the
ensuing technical ending: 28...Qf6 29.Qxf6+ Kxf6 30.dxc6 Rxc6.) Now, as so often in these positions,
Black’s king becomes vulnerable. White can open routes using the sacrificial motif already seen in previous
Keres games in this chapter: 24.Nf5! (The positional 24.Bd1 b4 25.Bg4 also leads to a large advantage for
White.) 24...Bxf5 (24...Bxb2 loses to 25.Ne7+ Kg7 26.Nxc8 Bxc8 27.Bf5! and in order to prevent mate,
Black loses one of his bishops.) 25.Bxf5 Rf8 26.Bxg7 Kxg7
27.Re7! and Black is in bad shape, as 27...gxf5? loses to 28.Qg5+ Kh8 29.Qf6+ Kg8 30.Re3 f4 31.Re5!+–.
19...Bxf5 20.Nxf5
Strategies related to 20.exf5!? often deserve consideration in similar positions.
20...g6 21.Ne3
108
Black can create adequate counterplay here, but needs to be precise!
21...Bg7
It was better for Black to improve his knight first, as his bishop can potentia lly occupy t wo diagonals.
21...Nc6! 22.Qd2 (22.Rc1 Bg7 23.Qd2 Black now has the typical central pawn break 23...d5! 24.Bxf6 Qxf6
25.Nxd5 Qb2 and is doing well.) 22...Bh6! The black bishop now uses a different diagonal! (The pawn grab
with 22...Nxe4 23.Bxe4 Rxe4 is risky, to say the least, for Black after 24.Nd5 Re6 25.Rec1! Bg7 26.Bxg7
Kxg7 27.Rc3, when White’s d5-knight is a monster and Black’s king is weak.) 23.Bxf6
(If 23.Rad1 Black can now take 23...Nxe4.) 23...Bxe3! (23...Qxf6 24.Ng4 Bxd2 25.Nxf6+ Kf8 26.Red1
Bc3 27.Nxe8 Bxa1 28.Nxd6 Rd8 29.Rxa1 Rxd6 30.Rd1 and White finishes a pawn up.) 24.Rxe3 Qxf6 and
the position is about equal. Please note that White’s b3-pawn limits his bishop here.
22.Qd2 Nb7
109
Black’s b7-knight is passive, but Black was worried about his d6-pawn weakness.
If 22...Nc6 White can again happily sacrifice his e4-pawn, as after 23.Rad1 Nxe4 24.Bxe4 Rxe4 25.Nd5 he
has more than enough compensation.
23.b4
White limits Black’s b7-knight, while opening the diagonal for his c2-bishop — a logical move, but not the
best!
23.Rad1! was quite unpleasant for Black, as after 23...Nxe4 (With White’s rook on d1 the ...d5 pawn break
does not work now: 23...d5 24.e5! Ne4 25.Qe2 with a large advantage for White.) 24.Bxe4 Rxe4 With
Black’s knight badly placed on b7, White now wins material. 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Nd5
26...Re6 (26...Re5 27.Qb2+–) 27.Qd4+ Kg8 Now Black suffers decisive material losses after 28.Qa7! Rb8
29.Rxe6 fxe6 30.Ne7+ Kh8 31.Nc6+–.
110
23...Qe7?
The problem in practical over-theboard play in these positions (at least as I see it) is that Black needs to be
more precise and more inventive than White, as Keres’s mistakes in this game illustrate.
Black could have stayed right in the game using Nimzowitsch’s blockading knight strategy with 23...d5!.
White has to take the pawn. 24.exd5 (If he doesn’t, Black is fine after 24.Nxd5 Nxd5 25.Bxg7 Nxb4; or
24.e5 Ne4.) and now after 24...Nd6 Black definitely has his chances.
24.f3 Qf8 25.Bb3
Now White has a monster bishop on b3, Black has no counterplay and in a higher sense the game has been
decided.
25...Nd8 26.Rad1 Rc6 27.Rc1 Qe7 28.Kh2 Qd7 29.Nd5 Nxd5 30.Bxd5 Rxc1 31.Rxc1
111
The difference in activity between White’s d5-bishop and Black’s d8-knight is striking.
31...Qe7 32.Bxg7 Kxg7 33.Qc3+ Kg8 34.f4 Ne6 35.g3
There is no immediate killing threat, but Black simply does not have any counterplay.
35...Ng7 36.Qc7 Qf6 37.Rc2 Rf8 38.Qb6
Black loses his queenside pawns and does not have enough material for a miracle on the kingside.
38...g5 39.fxg5 Qxg5 40.Qxa6 Qe5 41.Qxb5 Ne6 42.Qf1 Kg7 43.Qf5
1–0
112
14
Alexander Grushevsky
Paul Keres
Moscow, 1963
Nd7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4
13...Nc6
In this game Keres uses an idea he had already employed in the 1962 Candidates tournament. Essentially
the strategy is similar to that of the previous game versus Spassky.
14.Nf1
14.Nb3 is modern theory’s main line here. For developments, see the comments to the next game, Ivkov-
Keres.
14...Bf6
Keres places his bishop on the long diagonal, preparing 15...exd4, ready to employ his favourite strategy
once again.
15.Be3 exd4 16.Nxd4 Nde5
113
Compared to the previous game, White is better placed here as his c2-bishop can go immediately to the a2–
g8 diagonal, granting him a pleasant advantage!
17.Bb3 Bd7
17...Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Be6, opposing White’s b3-bishop, was played in one instructive game of Leonid
Stein’s, so let’s see it: 19.Ne3 Rc8 20.Re2 White wants to bring his rook to the d-file. (20.Nd5 was also
possible.) 20...Re8
21.Rd2?! This natural move is a mistake! (21.Nd5 was correct, keeping an advantage. White would like to
trade his knight for Black’s e6-bishop in order to get a light-squared bishop vs knight situation, as Spassky
did in the previous game vs Keres.) 21...Qe7? Now White forces the ‘desired trade’!
[Remember — in these positions, what to keep and what to trade is often a crucial strategic question and in
this game Black does not get the answer right! 21...Bg5! was necessary and Black equalises! 22.Bxe5
(22.Rc2, escaping the pin, does not bring White any advantage either: 22...Nc6 23.Rac1 Bxb3 24.axb3 Qd7
114
25.Qg4 Qxg4 26.hxg4 Ne7 and this ending is most likely going to end peacefully.) 22...Bxb3 The
complications peter out into a drawn endgame: 23.Qxb3 (23.axb3 Bxe3 24.Rxd6 Qh4=) 23...Rxe5 24.Rd4
Bxe3 25.Qxe3 d5=]
22.Nd5! Bxd5 23.Bxd5 Nc6 24.Bxf6 Qxf6
We now have situation similar to Spassky-Keres (Game 13). White’s bishop is superior to Black’s knight,
whi le Black’s d6-pawn weakness is an important factor. 25.Rc1 Nb4 26.Rxc8 Rxc8 27.Bb3 Rd8 28.Qc1!+–
Qf4 29.Qc7 Rf8 30.Rxd6
30...h6 (30...Qxe4?? runs into mate after 31.Qxf7+!) 31.Rd7 Qxc7 32.Rxc7 a5 33.Rb7 1–0 Stein, L-
Novopashin, A Kiev 1963.
18.Ng3 g6 19.Nxc6 Bxc6 20.Rc1 Rc8 21.Re2 Bh4 22.Nf1
115
White is simply better here: his b3-bishop is a strong piece, and Black’s piece play does not compensate for
his d6-pawn weakness and White’s use of the d5-square.
22...Qd7 23.Bd4
White had another good possibility in 23.Bh6 Rfe8 24.Ne3.
His idea is simple: to jump with his knight to d5, forcing its trade for Black’s c6-bishop, when he would
enjoy an advantage akin to Spassky-Keres a nd Stein-Novopashin above. Black cannot take as he would
land in a lost position after 24...Bxe4 25.Rxc8 Rxc8 26.Qd4! Qxh3 27.Qxe4! Rc1+ 28.Nd1 Bxf2+ 29.Rxf2
Qxh6 30.Rf1. Black has picked up three pawns for his piece, but his king is weak and White should win.
23...Bg5 24.Rcc2 b4
Searching for counterplay, Keres prepares 25....Bb5 in order to disturb White’s rook, a good idea in general,
but which fails tactically here!
116
25.Ne3 Bb5
26.Rxc8
White has a nice tactical solution in 26.Nd5!, and after 26...Bxe2 27.Rxe2 he has the terrible threat of 28.f4,
so Black has to move his e5-knight, while White’s d5-knight is a monster. Black’s strategy has failed
completely.
27...Nc6 28.Bf6 Bh6 29.Nb6 Qc7 30.Nxc8 Rxc8 31.Rc2 White has regained the sacrificed exchange with a
winning advantage. His next move is 32.Qd5 and Black simply cannot protect the f7-weakness, the c-file
pin, the d6-weakness...
26...Rxc8
117
Again — what to trade and what to keep? Should White trade the remaining pair of rooks?
27.Rc2?
No! Trading the remaining pair of rooks is a terrible mistake which throws away White’s advantage.
White needs his rook in order to target Black’s d6-pawn weakness!
27.Rd2 targets that weakness and leads to a clear advantage for White. Black’s d6-pawn weakness is a real
problem here, so we see clearly that Keres’s dynamic central strategy does not always work! 27...Nc4
28.Bxc4 Bxc4 29.b3 Be6 30.Bb2 Qc6 31.Qf3
Black is in trouble here and cannot get counterplay, for example 31...f5?! loses to 32.Qg3! Bxe3 33.Qxe3
Qxe4 34.Qg5 and White wins with a mating attack.
27...Rxc2
118
The situation is no longer clear, as White cannot target Black’s d6-weakness. Most likely we have a
dynamic balance here.
28.Bxc2
28.Qxc2 a5 29.Bd5 h5.
28...Bc6 29.Bb3 Bxe3 30.Bxe3 Bxe4 31.Qd4 Qc6
32.Qxb4??
32.Ba4! was necessary, leading to a probable draw: 32...Qxa4 (If 32...Qd5 White can now take with
33.Qxb4! as 33...Bxg2? loses to 34.Bh6.) 33.Qxe4 h5 34.Qd4 Qxa2 35.Qxd6 Qxb2
Due to Black’s weak king position, the outcome is perpetual check: 36.Kh2 f6 37.Bd4 Qd2 38.Qe6+ Kh7
119
39.Qe7+ Kg8=.
32...Bxg2! 33.Bh6
It’s a different story now compared to the 32.Ba4! Qd5 variation as Black’s queen can retreat to c8!
33...Bxh3 34.Qb8+ Qc8 0–1
15
Borislav Ivkov
Paul Keres
Beverwijk 1964
Nd7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6
120
14.Nf1
Probably because of Keres’s ideas and White’s difficulty in getting an advantage after 14.Nf1, modern
theory considers 14.Nb3 best — see the following game, Volokitin-Mamedyarov.
a) 14.a3 was played in another Tal-Keres game at the Curacao Candidates, Keres again opting for his
‘central pawn trade strategy’: 14...exd4 15.Nb3 Nde5 16.Nfxd4 Bf6
White’s c2-bishop does not find a dominant position here and the game is about equal. 17.Bd2 Nxd4
18.Nxd4 Nd3 In a roughly equal position Tal now goes for complications... that will end to his opponent’s
advantage. 19.Nc6?
19...Nxf2! 20.Qf3 Nxh3+ and Black went on to win in Tal, M-Keres, P Candidates 1962.
b) Should White close the centre, Black shuffles his knights and gets counterplay. Tal has a game with
Black here: 14.d5 Nb4 15.Bb1 a5 16.a3 Na6 17.b4 Nb6 18.Qb3 Bd7 19.Bd3 Nc7
121
Black is playing for the ...f7–f5 pawn break, after which White’s d5-pawn will be hanging. 20.Rb1 (20.Nf1
was White’s best, when play becomes very sharp: 20...axb4 21.Be3! Nc4 22.Bxc4 bxc4 23.Qxc4 bxa3
24.Bb6
Black looks in trouble, but he has an ingenious piece sacrifice idea: 24...Bb5! 25.Qxc7 Qxc7 26.Bxc7 a2
White is a piece up, while Black has a monster pawn. The position is very difficult for a human to evaluate,
but the engine says 0.00.) 20...Kh8! 21.Bb2
122
21...f5! Black had excellent play and went on to win in Suetin, A-Tal, M Kiev 1964.
14...exd4
a) 14...Nb6, delaying a central decision, was seen in another Tal-Keres game: 15.b3 Bf6 16.Bb2 Bd7
17.Ne3 Rc8 18.Qd2
Now Keres goes for his ‘standard plan’. 18...exd4 19.Nxd4 Be5 Again it is worth noticing that Black has
nothing to fear as White has not placed his light-squared bishop actively on the a2–g8 diagonal. Being able
to relocate this bishop from c2 to b3, controlling the a2–g8 diagonal, is of crucial importance for the
assessment of the position! 20.Nxc6 Rxc6 21.Bxe5 dxe5 22.Rad1 Qc8 23.Kh2 Be6= and later drawn in
Tal,M-Keres, P Moscow 1963.
b) 14...Bf6 We saw this in the previous game. Keres definitely understood that the resulting positions were
better for White.
123
15.Nxd4 Nxd4 16.Qxd4 Ne5
White now retreats his queen in order to vacate the d5-square for his knight.
17.Qd1
17.Rd1 was played in another top-level game twenty years later: 17...Bb7 18.Ng3 Qc7 19.Bb3 White has
placed his bishop on the desired diagonal; Black will try to block it by jumping with his knight to c4.
19...Rfd8 20.Be3 Nc4 21.Nh5 Bf8 22.Rac1
22...Rac8
[22...d5 is the standard central pawn break, and also the engine’s suggestion, but from a human perspective
it looks risky for Black here, as after 23.e5 (23.Bg5 f6 promises White nothing, as sacrifices on f6 do not
bring the desired result.) 23...Re8 24.Qg4 (24.Bf4 is also possible.) 24...Qxe5 25.Bd4 f5 26.Qf3 looks
promising for White.]
124
Now White uses a rook lift to develop an attack. 23.Rc3 Qe7 24.Bh6 Qe5 25.Rg3 Probably thinking that he
cannot afford to lose the g7-pawn, Black now panics.
25...g6? (25...Bxe4! was cold-blooded defence and after 26.Bxg7 Bxg7 27.Rxg7+ Kh8 chances are about
equal.) 26.Bg5 Now White is winning. 26...Qxd4 27.Rxd4 Nxb2 28.e5! White wants the maximum from
the position! The materialistic approach with 28.Bxd8 also wins. 28...Nc4 Now White sadly succumbs to
material greed.
29.Bxd8? (29.Nf6+ could have led to a forced mate: 29...Kh8 30.Rh4 h6 31.Bxh6 Bxh6
125
and now White weaves the mating net with 32.Rxg6! fxg6 33.Rxh6+ Kg7 34.Rh7+ Kf8 35.e6.) 29...Rxd8
And it took thirty more moves for White to win in Timman, J (2650)-Romanishin, O (2570) Wijk aan Zee
1985.
17...Bf6 18.Ne3 Be6 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.Qxd5
Based on our previous two examples Ivkov has made the necessary trade to get an advantage — right?
Nope! Black places his knight on c4, so White’s bishop never gets to d5!
20...Rc8 21.Bb3 Nc4! 22.Re2
Black is now in time with the central pawn break.
22...Rc5 23.Qd1 d5! 24.exd5 Rxd5 25.Qe1 Rd4
126
White has development problems and is fighting for equality here.
26.Rb1
26.a4 trying to get some activity was perhaps advisable. 26...b4 27.a5 Nxa5 28.Bc2 and Black has nothing
better than to accept a drawish outcome with 28...b3 29.Qxa5 bxc2 30.Qxd8=.
26...Qd6 27.Be3?!
White is under pressure and it is understandable that he wants to force events to try to clarify matters.
27.Bc2 was perhaps better.
27...Nxe3 28.Rxe3 g6
The position might look as though it’s almost a draw, but things are actually not easy for White.
127
29.Re2 Kg7 30.Rd1 Rc8 31.Rc1 Rxc1 32.Qxc1 h5 33.Re1 a5! 34.Rd1 a4 35.Bc2 Rxd1+
Most likely a time pressure decision. How should White react here?
36.Bxd1?
Going for an opposite-colour bishop ending was a better choice, as after 36.Qxd1 Qxd1+ 37.Bxd1 Bxb2
38.Be2 b4 39.Bb5 b3 40.Bc4 White should survive.
36...Qe6–+ 37.Qc2 Qe1+ 38.Kh2 Be5+ 39.g3 h4
40.Kg2 hxg3 41.Bf3 gxf2 42.Qxf2 Qc1 43.b3 axb3 44.axb3 Qf4 45.Kf1 Bd4 46.Qe2 Qf5 47.Qe4 Qxh3+
48.Ke2 Qd7 49.b4 Bc3 50.Qc6 Qd2+ 51.Kf1 Qe1+ 52.Kg2 Bd4 0–1
16
128
Andrei Volokitin
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Foros 2006
Nd7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.Nb3!
This is the modern approach which after
14...a5 15.Bd3
is nowadays considered White’s best attempt to get an advantage.

The alternative 15.Be3 was played by Tal in the 1962 Candidates versus Keres (in that tournament we had
two Tal-Keres games in this variation, Keres winning both of them!): 15...a4 16.Nc1 Keres now makes his
‘usual central transaction’. 16...exd4 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bf6
129
It is important to note here that, with Black’s pawn on a4, White’s c2-bishop is well contained and does not
get to the important a2–g8 diagonal! 19.Ne2 Bb7 20.Qd3 Now Keres goes for a trade of his b-pawn for
White’s e-pawn. 20...Nc5 (In the case of 20...Ne5 the b5-pawn can be taken! 21.Qxb5! Ba6 22.Qb4 Nc6
23.Qxa4 Nxd4 24.Nxd4 and Black does not have enough compensation.) 21.Qxb5 Bxe4 22.Bxe4 Nxe4
Black’s d-pawn is a weakness and White has some pull here. However, a draw should be the most realistic
outcome. 23.Rad1 (23.Qd5 does not get White anywhere after 23...Re8 24.Rad1 Be5!=) 23...d5 24.Nf4 This
forces tactical play, so the character of the game now changes. The positional approach was 24.Bxf6 Nxf6
25.Nc3 This would have kept Black under pressure, as White has one weakness to worry about (the b2-
pawn), while Black has two (the a4- and d5-pawns). 24...Bxd4! 25.Rxd4 Qf6 26.Qxd5 Rad8
27.Rexe4 Rxd5 28.Nxd5 Qg5 Objectively the position is about equal, but the play is now sharp, and Tal
will eventually ‘disconnect’ his pieces. 29.f4 Qh6 30.Rxa4 Qd6
130
31.Ra5?! This move leads to the discoordination of White’s pieces and his subsequent problems. (31.Rad4=)
31...h6 32.b4 Kh7 33.Rc5 Qa6! White’s pieces are losing coordination, with the dominant d5-knight unable
to maintain its position. Black’s rook enters the fray andmWhite’s king finds itself in trouble. 34.Nc3 Rd8
35.f5 Rd2
36.Re8? This loss of tempo obviously loses, but White no longer had any good solutions. 36...Qd3–+
37.Re4 Rc2 38.a4 Rc1+ 39.Kh2 Qd6+ 40.Ree5 Rxc3 0–1 Tal, M-Keres, P Candidates 1962.
15...Ba6 16.d5 Nb4 17.Bf1
131
17...a4
17...Rc8? blunders into a well-known trick: 18.Nxa5! Qxa5 19.Bd2 with 20.a3 to follow and a healthy extra
pawn for White.
18.Nbd4
This tactical solution yields White an advantage here!

Black has good counterplay after the old move 18.a3 Nxd5 19.Qxd5 Nf6 20.Qd1 axb3 21.Qxb3 Rb8.
18...exd4 19.a3
White now gets his piece back and obtains a favourable game.
19...Nxd5 20.exd5 Ne5 21.Nxd4 Qd7 22.Bf4 Bf6
132
White has an advantage here, but he should know what to trade and what to keep!
23.Qd2
23.Bxe5!, parting with his bishop, was a clever trade for White here! 23...Bxe5 (23...dxe5 allows White’s
knight to c6: 24.Nc6 Rfe8 25.Qd2 Qd6 26.Nb4 Black’s a6-bishop is terribly passive, the b5-pawn is a
target, and White’s rook comes to c-file. White is clearly better here.)
White has two different ways to get a clear advantage here. 24.Nc6
[The other is 24.Qd2. 25.Nc6 will be unpleasant for Black, so it is logical for Black is to eliminate the
knight: 24...Bxd4 25.Qxd4 This position is far from equal. Black’s problem is that his b5- and a4-pawns are
weak. Play might continue 25...Bb7 (25...Rac8 26.Qb6±; 25...Qa7 26.Qf4 Qb7 27.Rad1±) 26.Re3 Rac8
27.Rae1 Rc5 28.Re7 Qc8 29.Qb4 Bxd5 30.Bxb5 and White collects the a4-pawn, a healthy pawn up.]
24...Bxb2 25.Rb1 and Black has problems:
133
25...Bf6
[25...Bxa3?? blunders a piece after 26.Re7!, forcing Black’s queen into a potential Ne7+ fork: 26...Qf5 (or
26...Qc8 27.Re3+–) 27.Re3+– with the double threat of Ne7+ and Rxa3.]
26.Bxb5 Bxb5 27.Rxb5±. The c6-knight is a monster, the f6-bishop is hitting empty squares and Black will
lose the a4-pawn.
23...Rfc8
White now makes the wrong trade.
24.Bg5?!
24.Qb4! still maintains the pressure: 24...Ng6 25.Nc6.
24...Bxg5 25.Qxg5 Rc5
134
Now Black is fine.
26.Nf5 f6 27.Qf4 Bb7
In this unclear position, the players agreed a draw.
½-½
17
Bozidar Ivanovic
Paul Keres
Sarajevo 1972
Nd7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6
Keres is playing his favourite variation; White comes up with an interesting idea!
14.a4!?
This move has only been played in a few grandmaster games, but it certainly deserves attention.
14...bxa4
a) 14...Bb7 is another logical continuation, but here White gets the advantage by closing the centre —
nearly always White’s best reaction when Black develops the bishop to b7. 15.d5! (15.axb5 axb5 16.Rxa8
Qxa8 17.Nb3 Nb6 with equal chances was seen in Beliavsky, A-Romanishin, O Odessa 1974.) 15...Nb4
16.Bb1 Nc5
135
17.axb5
[17.Nb3 is an interesting pawn sacrifice, however after 17...Nxa4 18.Bd2 a5 (18...Nxb2?? blunders a piece
after 19.Qe2.) 19.Nxa5 Qxa5 20.b3 White gets his piece back and will have compensation for a pawn in the
shape of the pins Black is under, but not more.]
17...axb5 18.Rxa8 Qxa8 19.Nb3 Now we have a relatively standard structure where White has an
advantage.
b) A move like 14...b4? is simply a positional blunder. White has a big advantage after 15.Nb3 and Black
will collapse on the queenside.
15.Bxa4
A critical moment! Interestingly enough, Keres does not carry out his favourite central strategy
immediately, but first develops his bishop — which is a serious mistake!
136
15...Bb7?
15...Nxd4! was necessary, although after 16.Nxd4 exd4 17.Nb3 with Nxd4 to follow, Black has still to
prove that his active piece play compensates for the d6-pawn weakness.
16.Nc4 Qc7 17.Ra3?
This rook lift looks nice, but is not White’s best. The problem is that in many lines it is exposed to a ...d6–
d5 pawn push with tempo.
The regular white reaction to the development of Black’s bishop to b7 in such positions is to close the
centre, which indeed brings White a large advantage here too: 17.d5!
17...Ncb8 (or 17...Na7 18.Bxd7 Qxc4 19.Bd2±) 18.b3 Nc5 19.Bd2 Black does not have any counterplay
and White will win the game on the queenside. 17.Be3 is also very good for White who wants to play
18.Rc1 with 19.d5 to follow (or 18.d5 right away), so Black has to open the centre: 17...exd4 18.Nxd4
Nxd4 19.Bxd4
137
The tactics here work in White’s favour: 19...Nc5 (19...Qxc4 20.Bxd7 is just an easy white advantage)
20.Ne3! Ne6
[20...Bxe4?? loses a piece after 21.Qg4 f6 (or 21...Bg6 22.Nd5) 22.f3 (22.Bxc5? offers Black chances of
survival after 22...f5.) 22...Bb7 23.Nf5+–]
21.Bc3 Bxe4 22.Bb3 with Nd5 to follow and White’s initiative is clearly worth more than a pawn.
Now Keres has a choice — how to take on d4, with the knight or pawn?
17...exd4?
Wrong choice! Now White gets an attacking knight on d4.

17...Nxd4! was the correct exchange, leading to equality: 18.Nxd4 exd4 19.Qxd4 Now Black equalises by
means of the central pawn break seen so often in Keres’s games:
138
19...d5! Lots of things are hanging, but this tactical tussle is likely to end peacefully. 20.Bxd7 (If 20.exd5
Bxa3 21.bxa3 Qc5 22.Rd1 White has compensation for the exchange, but probably not more.) 20...Bxa3
21.bxa3 Qxc4
22.Qb6! Black cannot keep his extra exchange. 22...Qc3 23.Rf1 Bc8 24.Bb2 (or 24.Bc6 Rb8=) 24...Qd2
25.Bc6 Be6 26.Bxa8 Rxa8 and a peace agreement will soon be signed.
However White is tactically alert and takes advantage of Black’s inaccuracy.
18.Bxc6! Bxc6
18...Qxc6 19.Na5 Qc7 20.Nxb7 Qxb7 21.Nxd4 is clearly better for White due to Black’s d6-pawn
weakness.
19.Nxd4
White has many threats and Black hopes to solve his problems tactically.
139
19...d5
An important moment, as White had a forced win here!
20.Rg3
This leads to the win of the queen, which Ivanovic definitely correctly calculated, but probably
overestimated.
20.exd5! was the way to go, when after the relatively forced sequence 20...Bxa3 21.dxc6 Bb4 22.Bd2!
Black lands in a lost endgame: 22...Bc5 (22...Bxd2 loses to 23.Re7!) 23.Ba5 Qf4 24.cxd7 Qxd4 (24...Bxd4
25.Ne3 does not solve anything for Black.) 25.Qxd4 Bxd4 26.Rd1
White gets his sacrificed exchange back with interest. 26...Bf6 27.Bc7 Bd8 28.Bd6 Ra7 29.Ne5 and White’s
d-pawn proves decisive.
20...dxc4 21.Nf5 Bf6
140
22.Rxg7+! Bxg7 23.Qg4 Qe5 24.Bh6 Qf6! 25.Bxg7 Qg6
White wins Black’s queen, but Black gets enough material for it.
26.Ne7+
White’s other option was not to be eager to even the material ‘score card’, but to continue the attack: 26.Qf4
Rfe8 27.Re3
All White’s pieces are participating in the attack. Black again saves himself by giving up his queen.
27...Nc5! 28.Rg3 Ne6 29.Qf3 Nxg7 30.Rxg6 hxg6 (30...fxg6? loses to 31.Nh6+ Kh8 32.Qf7! — 33.Qg8 is
a terrible threat! — 32...Nh5 33.g4 Rf8 34.Qe6 Rf6 35.Qe5 Re8 36.Qc3 and White soon gets a decisive
material advantage.) 31.Nh6+ Kh7 32.Nxf7
141
The engines evaluate this crazy position as 0.00.
26...Kxg7 27.Nxg6 hxg6 28.e5 Rfe8 29.Qxc4 Re6 30.Qd4
The position is objectively dynamically balanced, however White cannot just sit and wait, as Black has a
plan to regroup. White needs to push his kingside pawns, aiming at Black’s king.
Strangely, Ivanovic, who was known for being a fearless attacking player at the time, will sit on his hands,
and Keres will regroup his forces undisturbed and obtain a winning advantage.
30...Rb8 31.Rc1
Keres does have a clear regrouping plan!
31...Rb7 32.b4 Nf8 33.h4
33.f4 Kg8 34.g4 is another plan, with complicated play and a likely dynamic balance.
142
33...Kg8!
34.Rc5?
This was White’s last chance to do something active! 34.f4! Bd7 35.h5 Reb6 36.hxg6 Nxg6 37.Rc7! Rxc7
38.Qxb6 Rc6 39.Qd4 and the weakness of Black’s king gives White enough counterplay.
34...Bd7! 35.f3 Reb6 36.Rc4 Be6
Mission accomplished! Black has regrouped, while White has refused to create any counterplay. There is
still work to do, but Keres ultimately brings it home.
37.Rc2 Rxb4 38.Qd8 Rd7 39.Qg5 Bf5 40.Ra2 Rb6 41.h5 Rd5 42.hxg6 Bxg6 43.f4 Ne6 44.Qf6 Rd1+
45.Kf2 Bb1 46.Ra4 Rb2+ 47.Kg3 Rg1 48.Rc4 Rgxg2+ 49.Kh3 Rg6 50.Rc8+ Nf8 51.Rxf8+ Kxf8 52.Qh8+
Ke7 53.Qc8 Rh6+ 54.Kg4 Rg6+ 55.Kh3 Rb3+ 56.Kh4 Rh6+ 57.Kg4 Rg6+ 58.Kh4 Bf5 59.Qxf5 Rb8
143
0–1
144
18
Vladimir Kramnik
Alexei Shirov
Linares 2004
Qc7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6
14.a3!?
White is preparing the d4–d5 pawn push and takes away the b4-square from Black’s knight. How should
Black react here? Shirov probably reacts the best way using, in its essence, Keres’s idea of active piece play
to compensate for the d6-pawn weakness.
The present state of theory considers 14.Nb3 the main line here, but it does not bring any advantage to
White as Black succeeds in jumping to b4 with his knight. 14.d5 Nb4 and after 15.Bb1 a5 16.Nf1 Bd7
17.Be3 Rfc8 18.Re2 comes the standard plan for Black to improve his dark-squared bishop:
145
18...Bd8! 19.Ng3 Qb7 20.Qd2 Na6 (Black probably judged 20...Bb6 to be too early, as White might get
attacking prospects after 21.Bg5.) 21.Bc2 Nb4 (Black could also have shown ambition and taken space with
21...b4.) 22.Bb1 Na6 23.Bc2 Nb4 ½–½ Short, N (2674)-Adams, M (2741) Wijk aan Zee 2005.
14...exd4!
a) 14...Bb7?
This is probably the worst Black can do as it plays directly into White’s hands. As is almost always
advisable in these situations when Black’s bishop is already developed to b7, White closes the centre!
15.d5! Nb8 16.Nb3 Rc8 17.Bd3 Nbd7
146
18.Bd2! White has the initiative on the queenside, while Black has no counterplay. 18...Nc5 19.Ba5 Qb8
20.Nxc5 dxc5 (If 20...Rxc5 White opens up the queenside with 21.a4.) 21.b3 Nd7 22.a4! b4 23.Nd2 White
has a clear advantage and went on to win in Anand, V (2781) -Nikolic, P (2676) Germany 2004.
b) If Black wants to develop his c8-bishop, then he should play 14...Bd7, as after 15.d5 (White can also
keep flexibility with 15.Nb3.) 15...Na5
he is in much better shape with his bishop on d7 instead on b7. After 16.Nf1 Nh5 17.Bd3 g6 18.Bh6 Rfc8
19.Ne3 Qd8 White had just a small advantage in Smyslov, V-Botvinnik, M Moscow 1940.
c) Black can also force ‘Keres-type’ central play with 14...Nxd4 15.Nxd4 exd4, however Alexei Shirov has
a specific reason for keeping his c6-knight on the board!
15.Nb3
147
And now we see why Alexei kept his c6-knight on the board.
15...Ne5!
This was an improvement on existing theory at the time, equalising the game. Now Black either has an
active knight on e5, or White takes it and improves Black’s pawn structure.
15...Nd7, resembling Keres’s games, has been played, and led to tactical adventures in two games by the
‘Magician from Riga’, shown in the next game, Tal-Kholmov.
16.Nbxd4 Re8 17.Bf4 Bf8
18.Rc1
Now Black plays a useful move.
148
18...h6 19.Bb3 Qb6
Black’s e5-knight is excellent piece, so Kramnik does not find anything better than to trade it, improving
Black’s pawn structure and bringing the game to equality.
20.Be3 Qb7 21.Nxe5
With a draw offer which Shirov accepted. After 21.Nxe5 dxe5 22.Nc6 Bd7 chances look about equal.
½-½
19
Mikhail Tal
Ratmir Kholmov
Moscow 1969
Qc7 12.Nbd2 Nc6 13.a3 cxd4 14.cxd4 exd4 15.Nb3 Nd7
15...Ne5! is Black’s best equalising attempt, as in the previous game, Kramnik-Shirov.
16.Nbxd4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4
It turns out that trading a pair of knights here leads to White’s advantage. Let’s see the two spectacular
games of the legendary Mikhail Tal.
17...Bf6
This stops the Bd2–c3 development, but allows White to develop his bishop to e3.
The other Tal game went 17...Ne5, and now White placed his bishop on c3, which is a good square for the
dark-squared bishop here. 18.Bd2 Bf6 19.Bc3 Re8 20.Qd2 (Perhaps White can consider the immediate
20.f4.) 20...Bd7 21.f4 Nc6
149
Again, ‘what to trade and what to keep?’. 22.Ne2! Black has a tough choice, either to move his bishop from
the long diagonal and make a monster out of White’s c3-bishop, or to trade the bishops and improve
White’s knight while having problems defending the d6-pawn weakness. White stands clearly better here.
22...Be7 23.Ng3 g6 Now Tal gets carried away as the artistic component of his play takes the driving seat!
24.Nf5!? A typical Tal sacrifice. It was unnecessary, not needed at all, but he did it — just for kicks! The
‘simple and dry’ 24.Bb3 would have led to a large white advantage, as after 24...Be6 25.Bd5 Bh4 loses to
26.f5 Bxd5 (or 26...Bxg3 27.Qh6, winning) 27.Qh6 Ne5 28.Qxh4 and the holes around the black king
prove decisive.) 24...gxf5 25.exf5 Qd8
150
Actually White has good compensation, but now Tal goes a step too far. 26.Re6?! This beautiful fancy
move doesn’t really work for White! (26.Re3 Bh4 27.Rd3 with compensation) 26...f6 (26...fxe6? naturally
plays into White hands: 27.fxe6 Bxe6? 28.Qd3 and White’s wishful thinking becomes a reality! Black’s
way to fight off the attack was 26...d5! with the simple idea of closing out (or trading) White’s c3-bishop:
27.Qd3 d4!
and White’s attack runs out of steam. 28.f6 Bxf6 29.Qxh7+ Kf8 30.Rxc6 dxc3! and Black wins.) 27.Qf2
Now Black spots the right idea! (27.Rae1? loses to 27...Bxe6! 28.fxe6 d5 and White’s bad king position
becomes decisive. 29.Qd3 Bc5+ 30.Kh1 Ra7–+; White should have opted for the less fancy, but quite
clever, 27.Re3 and his attack goes on.) 27...d5!
151
28.Rd1 d4 and Black went on to win in Tal, M-Vasyukov, E Alma-Ata 1968.
18.Be3 Ne5
Black wants to place his knight on c4, as for example in Ivkov-Keres, but White does not allow it.
19.b3
White first wants to quench Black’s counterplay and will activate his c2-bishop later.
19...Bd7 20.Rc1 Rac8
Now Tal seizes the moment and goes for a forced tactical sequence!
21.f4 Nc6 22.e5! dxe5 23.Nxc6 Bxc6 24.Be4
152
Due to various pins and a weak king position, Black does not have a suitable defence.
24...Rfd8
In the case of 24...Qb7 White continues with 25.Rxc6 Rxc6 26.fxe5 Be7 27.Qh5 h6 28.Qf5 g6 29.Qf3 and
Black’s position will collapse.
25.Qg4 Bd7 26.Bxh7+ Kf8 27.Bf5
27.Qh5! was a better move: 27...Qd6 28.Rcd1 and White wins in a few moves.
27...Qb7 28.fxe5 Rxc1 29.Rxc1 Bxf5 30.Qxf5 Qd5!
Black has survived the direct onslaught, but White is a pawn up and Black still has a difficult time ahead of
him.
153
31.Bf4 Kg8 32.b4 Bh4 33.Kh2 Re8 34.Rc7
Black now blunders a piece, bringing the game to an immediate end.
34...Bf2?
34...g6 was the way for Black to struggle on.
35.Rc8!
35...Rf8
Taking White’s rook with 35...Rxc8 drops a piece after 36.Qxc8+ Kh7 37.Qc2++–.
36.Bg5!
A nice finishing touch. White threathens to either take on f8 followed by Qc8 mate or grab Black’s bishop
on f2.
1–0
20
Alexander Grischuk
Viktor Bologan
Enghien les Bains 2001
Qc7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4
154
13...Rd8
Similar to Boleslavsky-Keres, Black prepares for the ...d6–d5 central pawn break. Should the centre be
closed with 14.d5, yes, 13...Rd8 will prove a loss of tempo, but Black is still in better shape than after
13...Bb7 14.d5, as Black’s light-squared bishop now goes to d7 immediately (and practice has shown that
Black has a reasonable game here).
14.Nf1
A clever move for White, played by a number of strong players, is the flexible 14.b3!. White develops his
bishop to b2, Black’s pawn break ideas no longer work, and it looks like Black does not equalise. 14...Nc6
15.Bb2
Black can now opt for Keres-type central play with trades on d4, or continue his development, trying to
keep his options open. 15...Bb7 (15...exd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 has proved in practice not to equalise
155
for Black.) 16.Rc1 (16.a3!? has been played by Michael Adams and is unpleasant for Black. His opponent
postponed the central decision: 16...Bf8 (16...exd4 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 with 19.Rc1 and 20.b4 to
follow is better for White.) 17.b4 Rac8 18.Rc1 Qb8
Now Adams correctly judges that the time has come to close the centre. 19.d5! Ne7 What is the best
location for White’s d2-knight here? Well it is the... a5-square! 20.Nb3! Nd7 21.Na5 White had a clear
advantage and went on to win in Adams, M (2726)-Koneru, H (2612) Merida 2008) 16...Qb6 17.Nf1
White keeps improving his pieces (18.Ne3–d5 or f5 is a threat), so if Black is planning any central pawn
break, the time is now! 17...d5 This being a rapid game, Alexander Grischuk does not come with up with
the best reaction. 18.exd5
[18.dxe5! was needed, and after 18...Nxe4 (18...dxe4 19.N3d2 wins a pawn for White.) 19.Qe2 Grischuk
probably did not realise that after 19...Nb4 20.Bb1 Bc5 White has strong exchange sacrif ice: 21.Rxc5!
Qxc5 22.Nd4 and Black is in trouble, as diagonals open towards his king. 22...Nc6 (22...g6 23.e6±;
22...Bc8?? blunders a piece to 23.Rc1 Qe7 24.a3+–) 23.Nf5 Bc8 24.e6 fxe6 25.Nxg7 and White’s attack is
156
worth much more than the exchange.]
18...Nxd5 (18...Rxd5 was better, with an unclear game.) 19.Nxe5 Nxe5
How should White recapture? Safely, with the rook, so Black’s d5-knight does not have any discovered
attack jumps, or with the pawn, risking a discovered attack on queen? 20.dxe5! Yes, with the pawn of
course! (20.Rxe5? is a positional mistake as it allows Black an excellent blockade on d5.) 20...Bg5 21.Qh5
Bh6
22.Ne3? In rapid games, in time pressure, even great players sometimes blunder. (22.e6! was strong:
22...fxe6 23.Qh4 as after 23...Nf4 White has the killer 24.Bxg7!) 22...Nxe3 23.Rxe3 Rd2 Now Black is
winning. 24.Qh4 Rxf2 25.Bd4 Rxg2+ 26.Kf1 Qa5 27.Be4 Qd2 28.Bxb7 Bxe3 0–1 Grischuk, A (2717)-
Smirin, I (2650) Odessa 2007.
14...exd4
157
15.Nxd4
Black is now ready for his central pawn break!

In some games (including one of Bologan’s) White delayed the capture on d4, aiming first to stop Black’s
...d6–d5 pawn break: 15.Bf4 Nc6 16.Ng3 Be6 17.Rc1 Qb6
18.Nf5
[Perhaps White can improve on those games with 18.Bb3, e.g. 18...Bxb3 19.axb3 g6
158
20.Nxd4! Qxd4 (20...Nxd4 21.Be3±) 21.Rxc6 Qxb2 22.Bg5 White definitely has compensation for a pawn,
as after 22...Rdc8 23.Re2 Qe5? (23...Qa3 24.Qc2 with compensation) loses to 24.f4 Qe6 25.e5!+–]
18...Bxf5 19.exf5
White has compensation for his sacrificed pawn, but not more. 19...d5
[Playing Black here, Bologan went for a strange (to me anyhow) doubling of rooks behind doubled pawns!
19...Ra7 20.Bb1 Rad7 21.a3 h6 22.Bg3 Kf8 23.Ba2 White went on to win in Galkin, A (2584)-Bologan, V
(2676) Tomsk 2001.]
20.a3 Rac8 Kasimdzhanov’s play with Black is much more natural than Bologan’s doubled rooks. 21.Bb1
159
(Threatening 22.Rxc6 with 23.Rxe7 to follow.) 21...Bf8 22.Ba2 (22.Bg5 does not promise White anything,
as after 22...b4 23.Bxf6 gxf6 he cannot take advantage of Black’s damaged kingside pawn structure.)
22...h6 If anybody stands better here, it can only be Black. Svidler, P (2686)-Kasimdzhanov, R (2706)
Yerevan 2001.
15...d5! 16.e5 Ne4
17.Bf4
a) 17.Nd2 has been played in some games, but after 17...Bc5! (17...Bb7 has been played in practice.)
18.N2f3 (18.N2b3 simply loses a pawn after 18...Nxb3 19.Bxb3 Qxe5.) 18...Nc4 White has a problem
protecting his e5-pawn.
b) 17.f3 leads to complications where Black is not worse! 17...Bc5! Yes, Black’s e4-knight doesn’t move!
We now have a tactical sequence leading to a fine position for Black. (17...Ng5 leads to White’s advantage
160
after 18.Ng3 g6 19.Kh2 Ne6 20.Nxe6 Bxe6 and now White got a strong attack after 21.f4 Rac8 22.Bd3 d4
23.f5 in Sigurjonsson, G (2475)-Torre, E (2520) Reykjavik 1980.) 18.b4
[18.fxe4 dxe4 19.Be3
and Black gets his material back after 19...Nc4 20.Bxe4 Nxe3 21.Nxe3 Bxd4 (21...Rxd4 is also fine for
Black.)]
18...Bxb4 19.fxe4 Qxe5
20.Bb2 Nc4 21.Nc6 Qxb2 22.Rb1 Bc5+ 23.Kh1 Qf6 24.Nxd8 Qxd8 25.Qxd5 And here Black has no
reason to fear an endgame: 25...Qxd5 26.exd5 Bd7. With the bishop pair, queenside pawn majority and
good blockade on d6, this position is easier to play for Black.
17...Bc5 18.Ne3
161
18...Qb6?!
a) 18...Nc4! was a better move leading to an unclear game after 19.Qe2! g6 (19...Bxd4 leads to
complications favourable for White after 20.Nxd5.) 20.b3 The game is dynamically balanced.
Play might continue 20...Nc3 21.Qd3 Nxe3 22.fxe3 (22.Qxc3 Nxc2 23.Qxc2 Qb6=) 22...b4 23.e6 Qb7
24.exf7+ Qxf7 with an unclear position.
b) 18...Qa7 19.Nxb5 axb5 20.Bxe4 Be6+=
19.Nb3?!
Grischuk does not spot a nice tactical possibility and soon gets into big trouble.
White had a beautiful tactical solution in 19.Qf3!, leading to clear advantage for White:
162
19...Bxd4 (19...Nd2 does not work for Black, as after 20.Qh5 g6 21.Qh4 Bxd4 22.Bg5 Be6 23.Bf6 Black
must quickly cover the g7-square, so he has to return his extra piece. 23...Bc5 24.b4 Bxb4 25.Qxb4 Ndc4
and here White has a pleasant choice between collecting an exchange or [more principled!] playing for an
attack.) 20.Nxd5 Bxf2+ (20...Rxd5?? loses to 21.Bxe4.) 21.Kh2 Rxd5 22.Qxe4
and now after the relatively forced sequence 22...Bf5 23.Qxd5 Rd8 24.Qf3 Bxe1 25.Bxf5 Bd2 26.Bxd2
Rxd2 27.Re1
163
with 28.e6 to follow, White has a big advantage.
19...Nxb3 20.Bxb3 Be6
21.Qd3?
White’s queen will be terribly placed on d3 where it allows all sorts of tactics.
21.Qe2 a5 22.Rad1 was a better defence.
21...a5! 22.f3
22.Rad1 a4 23.Bc2 Rac8 is advantageous for Black, but much better for White than the game.
22...a4 23.Bc2 g5!
164
White’s f4-bishop has to move, so his e3-knight is no longer sufficiently defended.
24.Bh2
Having achieved a winning advantage, Black now fails to be precise.
24...Bf5?
24...Rac8 was winning by force as after 25.Rac1

[25.fxe4 loses to the prosaic 25...dxe4 26.Qxe4 Bxe3+ 27.Rxe3 (27.Qxe3 lands White in a lost ending:
27...Qxe3+ 28.Rxe3 Rxc2 29.Rg3 h6 with 30...Rdd2 to follow and Black collects ‘ever y thing’.) 27...Rxc2
28.Qxc2 Qxe3+ and again Black’s rook enters the second rank, deciding the game.]
25...Bxe3+ 26.Rxe3
Now a ‘small pawn move’ throws White off balance! 26...a3! 27.Qxa3 (Or 27.fxe4 axb2 28.Rce1 d4 29.Rg3
165
Rc3 30.Rxg5+ Kf8 and White either loses his queen or has to allow the devastating 31...d3+.) and here
27...Rc3! is a killer blow!
25.Qe2?
White does not take the chance he was given.

25.fxe4 Bxe4 26.Qd2 Bxc2 27.Kh1 would have kept White in the game due to the weakness of Black’s
king!
25...d4?
25...Bxe3+ 26.Qxe3 d4 27.Qd3 Ng3 was an easy win for Black.
26.Bxe4?
The final blunder.

26.fxe4 Bg6 would still have kept White in the game.
26...dxe3 27.Kh1 Rd2 28.Bxa8 Rxe2 29.Rxe2 Bd3
166
Now Black’s d-pawn decides the game.
30.Ree1 Bb4 31.Rec1 e2 32.Bg3 Bd2 33.Rg1 b4 34.a3 b3 35.Be1 Be3 36.Bc3 Bxg1 37.Rxg1 Qf2 38.Re1
h5 39.Bd5 Qc5 40.Bb7 Qb5
The time control has been reached. White is totally tied up and Bologan gets the idea to ‘trap’ White’s
lightsquared bishop.
41.Ba8 Qc5 42.Bb7 Kh7 43.Ba8 Kg6 44.Bb7 Qb5 45.Ba8 Qc4 46.Kh2
167
46...Kh7
A bit strange.
Black could have taken the much shorter route 46...Kf5! followed by 47...Ke6, trapping White’s bishop the
same way as in the game.
47.Kh1 Kg8 48.Kh2 Kf8 49.Kh1 Ke7 50.Kh2 Ke6 51.g3 Qa6
White is now forced to allow 52.Be4 Bxe4 53.fxe4 after which everything will fall.
0–1
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CHAPTER 4.
WHITE’S f2–f4 PAWN PUSH IN NON-CLOSED CENTRE
POSITIONS
White’s f2–f4 pawn push is a standard plan to grab a kingside or central initiative, not only in the Chigorin
Variation, but also in some other Ruy Lopez lines. This f2–f4 push is normally executed in closed centre
positions (as will be seen in our next chapter at 5.1).
Here we have an interesting game where White pushes f2–f4 in a nonfixed central situation, and we get an
incredible tactical tussle between two chess legends!
21
David Bronstein
Paul Keres
Moscow 1949
Qc7
169
I will now give a couple of examples of White going for the f2–f4 pawn push. As mentioned above, this is
normally carried out in closed centre positions, but in this game we see David Bronstein doing it with his
pawn still on d4, thus in an open centre position.
12.Nbd2 Bd7 13.Nf1 Nc4
We saw 13...Rfe8 in game 9, Botvinnik-Kan.
14.Ng3 Rfc8 15.Bd3 Nb6 16.Nh4
White prepares the pawn push.
16...Bf8
And now decides that the time is right!
170
17.f4!
Black now logically tries to get counterplay in the centre.
17...cxd4 18.cxd4 exd4 19.Nf3
White improves his knight to be able to jump with it later to g5, and gets ready for the e4–e5 central pawn
break.
Perhaps White’s best was 19.b3!, postponing kingside action, but limiting Black’s b6-knight.
Black can use tactical means to activate his knight with 19...Nc4, but after 20.Qe2! it cannot remain
hanging forever on c4, and while it might look active after 20...Ne3, it cannot do much damage fighting on
its own, while its ‘line of support’ is under threat of being cut off after 21.Bb2. Black now needs to be
inventive to maintain the dynamic tension with 21...Qb6 22.Qf2 (22.Nf3? blunders into simple discovered
check tricks after 22...Nc2.) 22...b4! (22...d5 doesn’t help: 23.Nf3 dxe4 24.Nxe4± Nxe4? 25.Bxe4 Bc5
26.b4+–) 23.Nf3 Rc3!
171
24.Bxc3 bxc3, but his enterprising play still does not provide full compensation after 25.Ne2 (Of course
White shouldn’t blunder into some silly trick like 25.Nxd4?? Neg4–+; 25.Kh1 moving away from tricks on
the a7–g1 diagonal also looks good for White.) 25...d5 26.Nexd4 dxe4 27.Bxe4 Nxe4 28.Qxe3 Black has
some compensation, but not enough for equality.
19...Nc4
19...Na4! with the idea of jumping to c5 offered Black enough counterplay.
20.Qe2 b4
Black senses that time is precious here and aims for ...Bb5 creating counterplay.
21.e5!
Bronstein goes for the most straightforward solution, opening diagonals to Black’s king.
172
21.b3!, disturbing Black’s knight, was enough for a safe advantage: 21...Na3 22.Nxd4 Black is now forced
to improve his knight with 22...Nb5 and after 23.Nxb5 Bxb5 (23...axb5 24.Bb2 is obviously advantageous
for White due to the pawn structure.) 24.Bxb5 Qb6+ (24...axb5 25.Bb2 is again clearly better for White.)
25.Be3 Qxb5 26.Qf2 Black’s attempt at counterplay does not equalise:
26...d5 27.e5 Ne4 28.Nxe4 dxe4 29.Bd4 Qd5 30.Rad1±. White has different ideas here, e.g. to push his f-
pawn, or to round up Black’s e4-pawn. White is better here.
21...dxe5 22.fxe5
Due to the pin on the b8–h2 diagonal (White’s g3-knight is undefended) Black does not need to move his
f6-knight and aims for counterplay.
22...Bb5!
Black has his counter-tactics too and now we get amazing complications!
173
22...Ne3? only speeds up White’s attack after the simple 23.Bxe3 dxe3 24.Rac1 and Black does not have a
good move:
24...Qxc1 (24...Qb8 loses to 25.Rxc8 Bxc8 26.Qxe3 Black is undeveloped, his king undefended, and he
falls under a decisive attack.) 25.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 26.Kh2 Black’s f6-knight needs to move, allowing basic
textbook tactics after 26...Nd5 27.Bxh7+ Kxh7 28.Ng5+.
23.Bg5!
The most precise!

23.Kh2 also looks promising for White, but leads to equality after sharp tactical play: 23...Re8 24.Qc2 Nd5
25.Bxh7+ Kh8 26.Qe4 Nxe5
27.Qh4 (27.Nxe5 leads to equality after 27...Nf6 28.Qc2 Rac8! 29.Qxc7 Rxc7 30.Bf5 Rce7 31.Bf4 Nd5
and Black gets his piece back. 32.Nxf7+ Rxf7 33.Rxe8 Bxe8 34.Be5 Ne3=) 27...Nxf3+ 28.gxf3 Nf6
29.Bf5+ Kg8 30.Bg5
174
The situation looks like bad news for Black! White is about to remove the f6-knight and mate on h7, but
Black has a defensive resource here! He chases White’s light-squared bishop, hence mate on h7 cannot be
delivered! 30...Bd7! 31.Bd3 Bb5! White can get no further than a draw. 32.Bxb5 axb5 33.Bxf6 Qc2+
34.Kh1 Rxe1+ 35.Rxe1
Now Black is just in time with his d-pawn counterplay! 35...d3! 36.Rg1 (36.Nf5 d2 37.Nh6+ gxh6 38.Rg1+
Kh7 39.Qh5 Ra7 40.Qd5=) 36...d2 37.Bxg7 Bxg7 38.Ne4
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38...Kf8! (38...d1=Q?? 39.Nf6+ Kf8 40.Qxb4+ mates.) 39.Qg5 d1=Q and it ends in a draw by perpetual
check: 40.Qxg7+ Ke7 41.Qf6+ Kf8=.
23...Ne8 24.Rac1 Qa7 25.e6
Black is facing tough choices. His position is simply difficult to defend!
25...f6
Arguably best for Black was 25...g6, however White is better after 26.Rxc4! Bxc4 27.Bxc4 d3+ 28.Qe3
176
Black wins White’s c4-bishop, but loses his own knight on e8. 28...Rxc4 29.Qxa7 Rxa7 30.exf7+ Rxf7
31.Rxe8. White has an unpleasant attack.
26.e7
This tempting move throws aways White’s advantage!

26.Nf5! was stronger...
and Black has no good defence: 26...Be7 (26...fxg5? Now the e-pawn push decides as White recoups his
material investment with a number of wins. 27.e7 Ne3 28.Rxc8 Rxc8 29.N3xd4 Bxe7 30.Qxe3 Bc5
31.Qe6+ Kh8 32.Bxb5 Bxd4+ 33.Kh1+–) 27.Qe4 g6 28.Nxe7+ Qxe7 29.Bxc4 Bxc4 30.Rxc4 Rxc4
177
31.Qxa8 fxg5 32.Qxa6 with a large advantage for White.
26...Qxe7 27.Bxh7+ Kh8 28.Qd1
Bronstein must have overestimated his attacking chances in this position. It is true that the light squares
around Black’s king are very weak and that the mating net is almost woven, but Black’s king remains an
elusive target and White can easily lose this position! It is very easy for both sides to go wrong and the
position makes a good tactical exercise!
28...Ne3
This is arguably the most logical move.

However Black had a stronger possibility in 28...Qa7! when White needs to walk a tightrope to stay in the
game! Black’s king is ‘almost mated’, but it never actually happens. 29.Bf5! White’s only move! The
bishop is needed on f5 to threaten a Be6+ mating net later. (29.Bg6 loses to 29...fxg5 30.Nxg5 Nf6 White is
178
a piece down and his attack is running out of steam. 31.Re4 d3+ 32.Kh1 d2 33.Rc2 Ne3 34.Rh4+ Kg8
35.Qxd2 Be8!–+; 29.Ne5? also loses to a piece grab: 29...Kxh7 and after the fancy 30.Ng6 Black has to
endure a few scary moments, but ultimately wins after 30...Kg8 31.Qh5 Ne3 32.Bxe3 dxe3 33.Qh8+ Kf7–
+.) 29...fxg5 30.Nxg5 Nf6 31.Re4!
The point behind 29.Bf5: 32.Rh4+ with Be6+ to follow is something Black urgently needs to deal with!
31...g6! This simple move frees the g7-square for Black’s k ing and White ends up fighting for a draw.
[31...Bd7? does not remove the mating net motifs and loses to 32.Rh4+ Kg8 33.Rxc4! Rxc4 Move order is
important here! How does White win?
34.Qd3! (34.Qb3? Rac8–+) 34...Rc1+ ( 34...Rac8? 35.Bh7+ Kh8 36.Nf7#) 35.Kh2 and now the double
mating threat Bh7+ and Nf7# or a deadly check on the a2–g8 diagonal seals Black’s fate.]
32.Rh4+ Kg7 33.Bxc8 Rxc8 34.Ne6+ Kf7 (34...Kg8 is also possible, resulting in similar positions.)
35.Nxf8 Rxf8
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White is fighting for a draw and arguably the ‘most human’ 36.Qxd4 Qxd4+ 37.Rxd4 Nxb2 38.Rc7+ Ke6
39.Rxb4 leads to a better ending for Black.
29.Bxe3 dxe3
Prolonged massive complications are taking their toll and the players start to err.
30.Bf5?
White needed to find 30.Rxc8! Rxc8 31.Qd5! winning an exchange with the better position after 31...Kxh7
32.Qf5+ g6 33.Qxc8 Bh6 34.Ne2.
30...e2?
A strange blunder! Keres pushes White’s queen to its mating position!
180
30...Rxc1! removing White’s queen from mating net possibilities was necessary, and after 31.Qxc1 Qc7
White is forced into a worse endgame:
32.Nh4 Qxc1 33.Ng6+ Kh7! (It is possible that Keres did not see this move!) 34.Nxf8+ (34.Rxc1 Bd6µ)
34...Kg8 35.Rxc1 Kxf8µ
31.Qd4
31...Rxc1?
One blunder often leads to another and Keres now runs into a simple mating net, bringing an immediate end
to this exciting game.
31...Qc5! 32.Bxc8 Rxc8 33.Qxc5 Bxc5+ 34.Kh1 with 35.Nxe2 to follow and White still needs to do some
work to win.
181
32.Qh4+ Kg8 33.Qh7+ Kf7 34.Qh5+ Kg8 35.Bh7+
1–0
182
CHAPTER 5.
CLOSED CENTRE STRATEGIES
Understanding closed centre strategies in the Chigorin Variation is important, not only for this particular
variation, but also for a general understanding of Ruy Lopez closed centre positions in general.
I have divided this chapter into four subchapters, trying to illustrate the standard plans and strategies.
Subchapter 5.3 is Chigorin Variation-specific, while the other subchapters are also helpful for understanding
Ruy Lopez closed centre positions in general, as similar plans (for example an f2–f4 or g2–g4 pawn push)
can be used in some Breyer Variation positions.
5.1. White’s f2–f4 pawn push
The f2–f4 pawn push is one of White’s common plans in closed centre Chigorin positions. It is often
accompanied by White opening the a-file, but does not have to be.
Should Black not capture, White wants to push f4–f5 and start rolling his gand hpawns towards Black’s
king. If Black captures on f4, White’s philosophy is that Black will have control of the e5-square, while
White will have pretty much everything else (and indeed this very often happens to be the case!).
I found the ease and simplicity of Leonid Stein’s win versus Matanovic impressive, while Svidler-Piket
(14...Qb7 comments in game 23) shows that Black should not assume that control of the e5-square holds his
position. Karpov-Spassky (16...c4 comments in game 23) is an excellent example of a ‘logical move’ being
a grave mistake and how quickly the tables can turn.
Game 24, another Karpov-Unzicker game (and Landa-Nikolic in the comments) shows the far-reaching
implications of Black’s decision to capture on f4 or ignore White’s f-pawn push.
General instructions could be the following:
1. It is often a clever idea for Black to ignore White’s f2–f4 pawn push, as it takes White time to
subsequently roll his gand h-pawns: see games 23 (16...c4 in the comments to Karpov-Spassky) and 24
(Landa-Nikolic in the comments to this game).
2. Black’s control of the e5-square is often not as good as it initially looks as White has more space and
183
Black is in general passive: see games 20 and 23 (comments to 14...Qb7 in Svidler-Piket).
22
Leonid Stein
Aleksandar Matanovic
Tel Aviv 1964
Qc7 12.Nbd2 Bd7 13.Nf1 Rfe8
Compared to game 9, Botvinnik-Kan, theory develops and in the 1960s White players came up with the
plan Stein uses in this game.
14.b3!
White limits Black’s a5-knight while keeping his central pawn decisions open.
14...g6
Applying a Keres-type middlegame plan with 14...cxd4 15.cxd4 Nc6 16.Bb2 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 exd4 does not
work here, as Black has no counterplay to compensate for the d6-pawn weakness and White’s space
advantage.
184
The following game of Tal’s illustrates well Black’s problems: 18.Rc1 Qd8 19.Qxd4 Bf8 20.Rcd1 Rc8
21.Bb1 Bc6 22.Ng3
White has a space advantage and better-placed pieces. Sadly for Black, good advice in this position
probably does not exist. He hopes to solve his problems with a central pawn break. 22...d5 23.Qe3 Nd7
24.Nf5 (24.Qf4± is also quite good for White as files and diagonals open in his favour. 24...dxe4 25.Nxe4
with an attack.) 24...f6 (24...dxe4 25.Nd6 Bxd6 26.Rxd6±) 25.Qg3 Qc7 26.Qg4
185
Facing a difficult defence it is easy to blunder. 26...Ne5? (26...dxe4 27.Rc1 with an attack) 27.Bxe5 Rxe5
White now finishes an exchange up. 28.Nh6+ Kh8 29.Nf7+ Qxf7 30.Qxc8+– 1–0 Tal, M-Gligoric, S
Reykjavik 1964.
15.Bg5!
A strong move! In general Black does not mind the trade of darksquared bishops in these lines at all,
however here White keeps the central tension and defines the central pawn structure only at a favourable
moment of his own choosing. Black is passive, his king also potentially vulnerable and I think that White’s
plan in this game more or less closes this line for Black. White simply has a pleasant risk-free advantage.
Stein plays a model game.
15...Nh5
15...Kg7, delaying the trade of darksquared bishops, is no improvement: 16.Ne3 Be6 17.Qd2 Ng8 18.Bxe7
186
Qxe7 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.Nxe5 Bxh3 This transaction (trading his e5-pawn for White’s h3-pawn) will not
make Black happy. White already has a large advantage. 21.f4 Be6 22.c4 Qd8 23.Nd5
23...f6 (23...bxc4 24.bxc4 f6 does not reduce Black’s problems at all, e.g. 25.Ba4 Rf8 26.Nd3 Nxc4 27.Qf2
Bxd5 28.exd5 Qxd5 29.Nxc5 The coordination of Black’s pieces is horrible. 29...Kh8 30.Rad1 Qh5
31.Ne6 Black will lose an exchange to start with and then some more.) 24.Nd3 bxc4 25.Nxc5 White soon
won in Keres, P-Zuidema, C Beverwijk 1964.
16.Bxe7 Rxe7 17.Ne3 Nf6
18.Rc1
White is ready to push b3–b4 when it suits him, defining the central situation in his favour.
a) 18.Ng5?! is a move based solely on a tactical trick and throws away White’s advantage. However it
served Tal well in practice. 18...cxd4 19.cxd4
187
19...Rc8
[19...Nc6!, hitting White’s centre, is the principled response and equalises for Black: 20.dxe5 (20.Nf3
‘agrees’ that 18.Ng5?! was not a good move.) 20...dxe5 21.Nd5 Nxd5 22.exd5 Nd4 23.Rc1 Qb6 and Black
is at least OK.]
20.Rc1 Black now simply runs into White’s tactical idea. 20...h6? (20...Nc6!) 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Nd5 Nxd5
23.exd5
Black is in bad shape. His king is weak, his a5-knight misplaced (it could have been on d4!) and White has
a strong passed pawn. With his next move Black misses another, final, tactical shot. 23...Nb7? (23...Qd6
24.Ne4 Qb6±) 24.Nxf7+– Rxf7 25.Bxg6
188
25...Qd6 (25...Qxc1 26.Bxf7+ Kxf7 27.Qh5+ Kf8 28.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 29.Kh2+– is totally lost for Black due to
his weak king.) 26.Bxf7+ Kxf7 27.Rxc8 Bxc8 28.Qc2 Bd7 29.Qh7+ Kf8 30.Re3 1–0 Tal, M-Matanovic, A
Moscow 1963.
b) 18.Qd2 is also possible for White. Gligoric won a nice, ‘easy’ game, which I would like to show here.
18...Kg7
19.Rad1 (19.g4!? undermining Black’s f6-knight is also interesting. In order to keep his knight on f6, and
hence control the d5-square, Black needs to weaken his castled position. 19...h6 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.exd5 Nb7
22.Re3± Black’s passive knight is a clear consequence of the 14.b3! plan. 22...cxd4 23.cxd4 Rc8 24.Bd3
Qc3 25.Qd1±) 19...Nb7
189
Now Gligoric decides that the time has come to change the central pawn structure. 20.dxe5 dxe5 21.c4 h6?
This move is most likely a crucial mistake(!). (21...Qa5 was probably the only way to struggle on.) Gligoric
now plays excellently! 22.Nd5! Nxd5 23.exd5 Qd6
24.Qc3! b4 25.Qa1 f6 26.Qb1! Forcing a further weakening in Black’s camp. 26...g5 27.Nd2! Qc7 28.Ne4
Nd6 29.Nxd6 Qxd6
190
The relatively closed nature of the position should not deceive. Black is passive and White only needs to
open the kingside. He will simply open the h-file, trade everything and finish up with a won pawn endgame!
30.Bf5 Be8 (30...Bxf5 31.Qxf5 Qd7 32.Qf3 Qd6 33.h4! will end similarly to the game.) 31.h4! Bf7 32.Qe4
a5 33.hxg5 hxg5 34.g3 Ree8 35.Kg2 Rh8 36.Rh1 Rxh1 37.Rxh1 Rh8 38.Rxh8 Kxh8 39.Kg1 Kg7
40.Qh1! Black is now obliged to trade bishops and lands in a lost pawn endgame. 40...Bg6 (or 40...Bg8
41.Qh5+–) 41.Bxg6 Kxg6 42.Qh8 f5 43.Qg8+ Kf6 44.Qh7 g4 45.Qh6+ Ke7 46.Qxd6+ Kxd6
191
47.Kg2 f4 and Black resigned, not waiting for 48.f3. Gligoric, S-Matanovic, A Belgrade 1964.
18...Nb7 19.b4!
Black is now forced to make a decision about the central pawns, but does not have a suitable one at his
disposal. Matanovic decides to close the centre.
19...c4
19...cxd4 20.cxd4 Rc8 leads to a very pleasant ending for White: 21.Bd3 Qxc1 22.Qxc1 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Kf8
24.g4. Black cannot regroup his pieces and has a difficult time ahead of him.
20.a4 Rae8
Stein first takes the a-file.
192
21.axb5 axb5 22.Ra1 Bc6 23.Ra6 Qc8
And now decides that it is in his favour to close the centre.
24.d5! Bd7
White has a great position, but how to finish Black off? White goes for the f2–f4 pawn push plan! The
absence of dark-squared bishops accentuates the weaknesses of Black’s king position. With no counterplay,
Black is a sitting duck!
25.Nh2 Kg7
Trying to save himself with tactics does not work for Black either: 25...Nc5 26.Ra3 Ncxe4 (26...Na4
27.Qe2 Nb6 28.Rea1±) 27.Qf3 Two knights defending each other rarely works and here is no different.
27...Bf5 Now White has a nice exchange sacrifice. 28.Bxe4 Nxe4 29.Nxf5 gxf5 30.Rxe4! fxe4 31.Qf6 h5
193
32.Nf1
The diagram illustrates well the misery of Black’s position.
26.Qf3 Rf8 27.Rea1
27...Ng8
27...Qc7 28.Qg3 Nh5 preventing White from pushing f2–f4 brings Black another set of problems: 29.Qh4
f6 30.Nf5+ and his position soon collapses.
28.Qg3 Kh8
White is now ready for his f-pawn push.
29.f4
194
Black does not have a good choice here. Taking on f4 opens the position up in White’s favour, while not
doing so allows White to simply push the pawn to f5, getting an attack. Black’s d6- and b5-pawn
weaknesses and weak king position play a crucial role.
29...exf4
29...f6 30.f5 indeed looks bad for Black.
30.Qxf4 Rfe8 31.Nf3 Kg7 32.Nd4
White has various threats here, e.g. 33.Rb6 collecting material, or 33.Nc6, so Black hopes to get some
counterplay.
32...f5 33.Ra8! Qxa8 34.Rxa8 Rxa8 35.exf5
Black’s weak king position now proves decisive.
35...Re5 36.Ng4 Rae8 37.f6+ Kf7
195
38.Nh6+! Nxh6 39.Qxh6 Kxf6 40.Qxh7
1–0
The ease of Stein’s win in this game, and the other games I gave in the comments, leads me to conclude that
14.b3! simply kills Black’s 11.d4 Qc7 12.Nbd2 Bd7 13.Nf1 Rfe8 setup! White has a relatively easy riskfree
advantage, while Black struggles to find active play.
23
Anatoly Karpov
Wolfgang Unzicker
Nice 1974
Qc7 12.Nbd2
196
12...Nc6
In another game played a year later versus Karpov, Unzicker went for 12...Bd7. See the following game.
13.d5 Nd8
Back to the ‘Rubinstein knight plan’, one of the first structured plans for Black in the Chigorin (game 2,
Bernstein-Rubinstein!).
14.a4 Rb8
14...Qb7, trying not to surrender the a-file to White, has also been tried, and one of Svidler’s games as
White was rather instructive here: 15.Nf1 Ne8 16.N3h2 Peter Svidler prepares the f2–f4 pawn push. 16...f6
17.b3 Nf7 18.f4! exf4 19.Bxf4 Ne5
197
Possibly Black thought that with his knight well placed in e5, it could hardly get any better. Perhaps, but it’s
White who is better! His space advantage is important here. Black has his knight on e5, but White has
everything else. Also important is that Black’s e5-knight can easily be traded! 20.Ne3! Planning to jump to
f5 and provoking ...g7–g6. 20...g6 21.Neg4
White’s knight on h6 would be unpleasant, so Black decides to trade it. 21...Bxg4 22.Nxg4 Nxg4 23.hxg4
Black position is passive, while White decides to play on the both sides of the board. 23...Nc7 24.Rf1 Rf7
25.Qf3 b4
26.Bd2 (26.c4, focusing only on the kingside, was also good for White. 26...Ne8 27.Qh3 a5 28.Rf3 White is
definitely better here, but I guess Svidler was worried about some possible drawing blockade.) 26...a5
27.cxb4 cxb4 28.Rac1
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28...Raf8 (28...Na6, trying to stop White’s rook from entering on c6, does not work for Black: 29.Bd3 Nc5
30.Rxc5! dxc5 31.e5 and White wins, e.g. 31...c4 32.Bxc4 Bc5+ 33.Kh1 fxe5 34.d6 Qxf3 35.Rxf3 Raa7
36.Rxf7 Rxf7 37.d7 Be7
and now White wins with the elegant 38.Bxb4!+–.) 29.Bd3 Na6 30.Bxa6! Qxa6 31.Rc6
199
White has a large advantage; Black can only await his execution. I assume there was some time pressure, as
Svidler repeated moves on a few occasions. 31...Qa7+ 32.Be3 Qd7 33.Rfc1 Ra8 34.Rc7 Qe8 35.Bd4 Bd8
36.R7c6 Be7 37.Rc7 (37.Qf4+–) 37...Bd8 38.R7c6 Be7 39.R1c4 h6
40.Rc7 (40.Qf4 Kg7 41.Rc7+–) 40...Bd8 41.R7c6 Be7 42.Rc7 Bd8 43.Rxf7 Qxf7 44.Qf4 Qd7 45.Rc6 Be7
46.Qxh6 Qxg4 47.Rc7 1–0 Svidler, P (2710)-Piket, J (2605) Tilburg 1998.
15.axb5
15.c4! was Bogoljubow’s strateg y versus Rubinstein (see comments to game 2) and later Stein’s vs Ivkov
(see the following game). The 12th World champion Anatoly Karpov was a Ruy Lopez virtuoso with both
colours, however I prefer 15.c4! here.
15...axb5 16.b4
200
White controls the a-file and will keep Black busy on the queenside while planning the f4-pawn push on the
kingside. When Karpov had more space he loved playing over the whole board.
16...Nb7
16...c4 was Spassky’s choice versus Karpov and this game was also quite instructive! 17.Nf1 Ne8 Karpov
prepares the f4-pawn push. 18.N3h2 f6
19.f4! (Delaying the f4-pawn push leads to an unclear game, as Black gets counter play by executing a
Rubinstein-type plan: 19.Be3 g6 20.Qd2 Ng7 21.Ra7 Rb7 22.Ra5 f5 with counterplay.) 19...Nf7 20.Nf3
201
What should Spassky do here? Capture on f4 or ignore it? 20...g6! (Just like in our other examples in this
chapter 20...exf4? would have had been a grave strategic mistake leading to a large advantage for White
after 21.Bxf4 Ne5 22.Nd4.) 21.f5 Ng7 22.g4 Bd7 23.Be3 Ra8 24.Qd2 Qb7
Black wouldn’t mind trading all four rooks in this position, but White keeps the rooks on to support his
kingside attack. As a result Black is able to get queenside counterplay. 25.Rac1 Ra2 26.Ng3 Rfa8 27.h4
While Black’s dark-squared bishop is a defender of the king, in general it is strategically good for Black in
these closed-type positions to trade the said bishop, so Spassky does so. 27...Bd8 28.Kh1 Bb6 29.Rg1 Bxe3
30.Qxe3
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For a player of his stature, Spassky now makes a mistake which is difficult to explain. 30...Qa7? The first of
four queen moves out of six which achieve nothing, while White builds up a winning attack on the kingside.
(By penetrating first with his rook with 30...R8a3! and 31...Qa7 to follow Black could have created
counterplay and not given White a free hand on the kingside.) 31.Qd2 Be8 32.g5 Qe7 33.Rcf1 fxg5 34.hxg5
Qd7 Now White improves his knight. 35.Nh2! Qd8
An instructive moment! Karpov must have thought the game was over and committed an instructive
mistake! 36.f6? White wins a piece, so it should be game over, right?
[White should have continued with the attack: 36.fxg6! hxg6 37.Ng4! (37.Rf6 Rb2 38.Rxg6 maybe also
wins for White.) 37...Qxg5 (37...Kf8 38.Rf6 Qd7 39.Nf1 Ra1 40.Nfe3 Rxg1+ 41.Kxg1 Qa7 42.Rxg6 wins
for White.) 38.Nf6+ Kh8 39.Qh2+ Qh6
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And now White weaves a mating net around Black’s king: 40.Rf2 R2a3 41.Nf5! gxf5 42.Rfg2+.]
36...Bd7! 37.fxg7 Qxg5
No! White is not even better any more! For the time being White’s g7-pawn actually protects Black’s king,
but Black will collect it at a suitable moment, so with two pawns for a piece and active rooks, Black is not
worse here. White is actually well advised to make a draw here. Even great players often have difficulty
coping with a sudden turn of events and Karpov here proves no exception! White continues playing for a
win and lands in a lost position! 38.Qg2 (38.Qf2 Qf4 39.Qg2 Qh4=) 38...Rb2 Black simply has enough
counterplay. (38...Qh4=) 39.Rb1 Rba2 40.Qe2? Karpov is still under the illusion that he has the upper hand.
(40.Rbc1=) 40...Qh4 41.Rbf1 Bh3 42.Rf2 Ng5 43.Qe3 Bg4 44.Rgf1 Kxg7 White cannot prevent material
losses, at the minimum a pawn to start with. Black has a large advantage.
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45.Bd1 Bxd1 (45...h5–+) 46.Rxd1 Ra1 (46...Nh3µ) 47.Rdf1 Rxf1+ 48.Rxf1 Ra2 49.Rf2 Ra1+ 50.Rf1 Ra2
51.Rf2 Ra1+ 52.Rf1 Rxf1+ 53.Ngxf1 Qxe4+ 54.Kg1 Qxe3+ 55.Nxe3 Ne4 The position Spassky wanted —
a risk-free clear advantage in the endgame. 56.Nd1 Nf6 57.Ne3 h5 58.Nf3 Ne4 59.Nd1
An interesting moment to agree a draw, as games were adjourned at the time, so there was likely no time
pressure involved. ½–½ Karpov, A (2660)-Spassky, B (2655) Moscow 1973.
a) I can easily imagine Spassky calculated the following line: 59...Kf6 60.Ne1 g5
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61.Nc2! g4 62.Na3 h4 63.Nxb5 and although the computer gives an evaluation of 0.00 here, it is easy to
understand why a human player would decide not to investigate it further and call it a day!
b) Pushing the pawns directly with 59...g5 is also quite disturbing, but probably not winning: 60.Ne1 g4
(60...Nf6 61.Ne3 Kg6 62.N1c2 Ne8 63.Na3 Nc7 is just a draw.) 61.Nc2 h4 62.Na3 h3 63.Nxb5 g3
64.Ne3™ 64...Kf6 65.Nf1™ 65...g2 (65...Kg5 66.Nxg3 Nxg3 67.Nxd6 Ne2+ 68.Kh2 Nxc3 69.Nxc4=)
66.Ne3 Kg5 67.Nxg2 hxg2 68.Kxg2 Kf4 69.Na3=.
However, the computer engine strongly supports Black with 59...Kh6!.
The point of the engine’s move is that after 60.Ne1 Black has 60...Nf6! (This square is no longer occupied
by the black king!) 61.Ne3 Kg5 62.N1c2
62...Ne8! 63.Na3 Nc7–+ when he has successfully regrouped and covers his only weakness, so now his
pawns should decide.
There is definitely a lot to learn from this game between the two chess titans!
206
17.Nf1 Bd7 18.Be3 Ra8 19.Qd2 Rfc8 20.Bd3 g6 21.Ng3 Bf8
Karpov wants to provoke Black to close the queenside by pushing ...c4 so that he can focus on his kingside
plans.
22.Ra2!
If Black does not react, White enters on the a-file.
22...c4 23.Bb1 Qd8
Karpov now uses a textbook example to try to wrest control of the a-file.
24.Ba7!
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24...Ne8?
24...Qc7!, not giving White a free hand, was necessary!
25.Bc2
Now Black is doomed! White controls the a-file and combines play on both sides of the board. Karpov’s
execution is instructive.
25...Nc7 26.Rea1 Qe7 27.Bb1 Be8 28.Ne2 Nd8
How to improve for White? With the f4-pawn push!
29.Nh2 Bg7 30.f4 f6
Black’s problem here is that, contrary to Karpov-Spassky, Black has no queenside counterplay, so White
has all the time in the world to get rolling on the kingside.
31.f5 g5
Karpov now improves his position by trading what needs to be traded!
32.Bc2! Bf7 33.Ng3 Nb7 34.Bd1!
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White has various plans, Black zero counterplay — it is no longer ‘if ’, but ‘when’.
34...h6
34...Qe8 prevents the trade of lightsquared bishops, but does not save Black. 35.Bf3 h5 36.Qe2 h4 37.Nh5
and White will either penetrate with his rook to the seventh rank or open the kingside with g3, or both.
37...Nd8 (37...Kh7 38.g3 hxg3 39.Nxg3+–) 38.Bb6+–.
35.Bh5 Qe8 36.Qd1 Nd8
Karpov is taking his time. His bishop stays on a7, and a potential rook penetration on a7 will remain a worry
for Black.
37.Ra3 Kf8 38.R1a2 Kg8 39.Ng4 Kf8 40.Ne3 Kg8 41.Bxf7+ Nxf7
41...Qxf7 42.Bb6+–
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42.Qh5 Nd8 43.Qg6 Kf8
44.Nh5
And Black had enough of this torture.
1–0
24
Anatoly Karpov
Wolfgang Unzicker
Milan 1975
210
Karpov decided here to close the centre immediately.
14.d5
I personally prefer Stein’s 14.b3! (see Stein-Matanovic).
14...Nb7
14...c4 was played in an instructive Bundesliga game. White prepares the f2–f4 pawn push. 15.Ng3 (15.g4,
as played in Spassky, B-Tal, M Riga 1959, is another white plan here. See the comments to game 32 in the
‘Closed Centre — g4-Pawn Push’ section.) 15...Nb7 16.Nh2 Nc5 17.f4
Here we have an instructive example! How should Black react here? 17...exf4? A serious strategic mistake
which helps White tremendously to unleash the power of his pieces on the kingside! (Getting on with ‘his
own business’ with 17...a5! was the way for Black to proceed here, and after 18.Nf3 b4 followed by
19...Rab8 and 20...a4 Black gets excellent play on the queenside, while White struggles to create anything
211
meaningful on ‘his’ side of the board.) 18.Bxf4 Now White has an objective advantage and easy play.
18...h6
19.Qf3 (19.Nf3, placing the knight on d4, was also good for White.) 19...Nh7 (Now Black’s queenside
pawn push does not create anything to counterbalance White on the kingside. 19...Rab8 20.Be3! b4 21.Bd4
a5 22.Rf1 and White builds up a decisive attack.) 20.Rf1 (20.Nh5 was also strong.) 20...Bg5 21.Nh5 Bxf4
22.Qxf4
Black has no good defence here. 22...f6 (22...Re7 23.Qg3 g6 24.Nf6+ Nxf6 25.Rxf6 leads to a winning
attack for White.) 23.Qg3 Re7 24.Nxf6+ Nxf6 25.Rxf6 Nxe4 26.Bxe4 Rxe4 27.Raf1 White had a large
advantage and soon won in Landa, K (2571)-Nikolic, P (2676) Germany 2004.
15.N3h2
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White is ready to push f2–f4 next move and Black needs to decide how to react.
15...g6?
A grave mistake. Black voluntarily creates weaknesses around his king!

Focusing on queenside counterplay was Black’s best, leading to an unclear game: 15...c4! 16.f4 Now (as in
Landa-Nikolic above) Black should not touch anything on the kingside and continue with his counterplay.
16...Nc5! Black will put his rook on b8 and start pushing his queenside pawns. If White continues to
advance his f-pawn with 17.f5 Black has an interesting piece sacrifice at his disposal.
17...Nfxe4! (17...Reb8, pushing on the queenside, letting White get on with it on the kingside and finding
out whose attack will strike first, is also an option for Black here.) 18.Rxe4 Bxf5 19.Re2 Bxc2 20.Qxc2
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Sacrificing a piece for White’s central pawns is a black strategy often seen in the Ruy Lopez, but here Black
only gets two pawns for his investment instead of the usual three. Still, Black has full compensation.
20...Rf8 (20...Nd3 21.Ne3 Qd7 sacrifices a pawn after 22.b3 f5! 23.bxc4 e4 24.cxb5 axb5. Black has only
one pawn for his sacrificed piece, however my computer engine confirms that he has full compensation!)
21.b3 f5 with compensation.
16.Ng3 c4
17.f4!
Now with his kingside weakened, Black cannot just ignore White.
17...exf4
17...Nc5 18.Rf1 gives White unpleasant f-file pressure.
214
18.Bxf4
A typical position where White’s f4-pawn push achieves its aim. White already has a clear advantage, but
Black’s next move definitely doesn’t help.
18...Bf8? 19.Bg5 Be7 20.Qd2 Bc8 21.Rf1 Nd7
Not seeing an escape from White’s mating attack, Black resigned here.
1–0
Did Black resign too early? Well, not really. White has an unstoppable mating attack. The following lines
illustrate White’s attacking potential and White’s attacking motifs in similar positions: 22.Ng4 Bf8 23.Rf2
Nd8 24.Raf1
24...Ra7 (24...Bg7 25.e5! Rxe5 26.Nh5! gxh5 27.Bxd8 Qxd8 28.Nh6+ Bxh6 29.Qxh6+–) 25.e5! Rxe5
215
(25...dxe5 26.Nh5!+–) 26.Bxd8 Qxd8 27.Rxf7 Re7 28.Rxf8+! Nxf8 29.Nh6+ Kh8 30.Qd4+ Rg7 31.Rf7+–
216
5.2. Queenside decisions
Decisions about the queenside pawn structure are not easy for Black in the Ruy Lopez Chigorin! On the one
hand Black is reluctant to close the kingside as it might give White a free hand on the other side of the board
and deprive Black of counterplay.
On the other, the risk of a queenside collapse, and Black getting some terrible version of Old Indian-type
positions is a ‘clear and present’ strategic danger! Our featured game, brilliantly played by Stein, illustrates
it well!
25
Leonid Stein
Borislav Ivkov
Amsterdam 1964
Qc7 12.Nbd2 Nc6 13.d5 Nd8 14.a4 Rb8
We are still in Rubinstein ...Nd8-plan positions. Stein follows Bogoljubow’s play (from forty years
earlier!).
15.c4!
Here Black decides to postpone the closure of the queenside. Most likely Black thought this was clever, as
he can close the queenside by pushing ...b4 ‘anytime he likes’...
15...Bd7?
This decision by Ivkov proves to be an instructive strategic mistake. Leonid Stein now opens the queenside
and wins the game with incredible ease!
15...b4, as Rubinstein played in his epic games versus Bogoljubow, is a better move (see those games in the
comments to game 2, Bernstein-Rubinstein).
217
16.axb5! axb5 17.cxb5 Bxb5 18.Ba4!
Trading light-squared bishops is almost invariably good for White in these positions.
Black gets into a terrible Old Indian-type position. It may sound harsh, but Black is already strategically
lost!
18...Ra8
Keeping the light-squared bishops, in general a good idea for Black in these positions, does not help him
create enough counterplay here, e.g. 18...Ba6 19.Re3 Rb4 20.Bc2 Bb5 21.Rea3
Black has no counterplay here. His pieces are clumsily placed and he soon loses at least an exchange.
Black’s only possible counterplay is connected to placing his knight on f4 to work together with his b5-
bishop, however Black is far from making anything work here. I will give just a few possible lines:
21...Nb7
218
a) 21...Nh5 22.Nxe5 Nf4 23.Ra7 (The flashy 23.Nec4 also does the job.) 23...Nb7 24.Nc6+–;
b) 21...g6 22.b3 Nh5 23.Ra7 Nb7 24.Nc4 Bxc4 (24...Nf4 25.Bd2+–) 25.bxc4 Rxc4 26.Bd2 and Black loses
at least an exchange: 26...Nf4 27.Rb1 Rb8 28.Ba4+–;
22.b3 g6 23.Bb2 Nh5 24.Bc3 Again Black loses an exchange. 24...Nf4 25.Nc4! Bxc4 26.bxc4 Rxc4
27.Qf1+–
19.Re3!
This rook lift enables White to force the trade of light-squared bishops and take control of the a-file.
19...Nb7 20.Rea3 Bxa4 21.Rxa4 Rxa4 22.Qxa4 Rc8
This is an Old Indian pawn structure type of position which has gone strategically terribly wrong for Black.
White controls the a-file, the light-squared bishops have been traded, and Black has zero counterplay.
White’s b3-pawn is only a hypothetical target, as Black cannot really attack it. White now only needs to
219
improve his minor pieces.
23.b3
Computer engines prefer direct play like 23.Nc4 Nxe4 (23...Nd8 24.Bd2±) 24.Qb5 Nf6 25.Ra7
As a result of the pin on the seventh rank White wins a piece. 25...Rb8 26.Qc6 Ne8 27.Nb6 Qxc6 28.dxc6
Nd8 29.Nd5 Nxc6 30.Nxe7+ Nxe7 31.Rxe7 White should win this ending, however I prefer the systematic
way Stein improved his pieces to win the game with ease.
23...Nd8 24.Bb2 h6 25.Bc3 Qb7
White’s bishop has been developed, so now is the time to improve the f3-knight.
26.Ne1! Rb8
220
Black cannot try anything active because of the d6-pawn weakness, e.g. 26...Nd7 27.Nc2 Bg5 28.Nc4 and
Black’s bishop will have to go back to e7.
27.Nc2 Nd7 28.Ne3 Nb6
The execution phase in chess is almost always tactical.
29.Qe8+ Bf8 30.Nf5
Black cannot now prevent material losses.
30...Qd7
30...Ne6 31.Nxd6 also results in an endgame two pawns up for White: 31...Qc7 32.Qxf7+ Qxf7 33.Nxf7
Kxf7 34.Bxe5 Rd8 35.dxe6+ Kxe6 36.Bf4+–.
31.Nxd6 Qxe8 32.Nxe8 Rb7 33.Bxe5 f6 34.Bg3
221
White is two sound pawns up and has the better position to boot!
34...Nf7 35.Nc7 Bd6 36.Bxd6 Nxd6 37.Ne6 c4 38.bxc4 Nbxc4 39.Nxc4 Nxc4 40.f4 Rb2 41.Ra8+
1–0
This must have been a terrible loss for Borislav Ivkov, who was one of the top twenty players in the world
at the time. The ease with which Leonid Stein won this game is amazing.
222
5.3. Black’s misplaced b7-bishop and a5-knight problems
In Chigorin Variation positions, it looks good for Black to open the c-file, develop his bishop to b7 and at
some stage take with ...cxd4, applying a good version of Keres-type strategy.
There is one small problem for Black however! Once Black plays ...Bb7, White closes the centre with d4–
d5 and it takes Black a lot of time to activate his b7-bishop and a5-knight!
In our featured games we see Black’s difficulties in solving the problems associated with these badly-placed
pieces.
Timman (against Shirov, game 26) brought his f6-knight to f4 and White parted with his bishop pair.
Problems with the badly-placed a5-knight and b7-bishop still remained, however, ultimately costing
Timman the game.
In Shirov-Sokolov (game 29), I got a better version of Timman’s plan, equalising the game.
In Bronstein-Geller (game 27) we see Black stuck with his b7-knight, while White prepares a standard f2–f4
push on the other side of the board. Bronstein nicely combines different motifs.
In Kramnik-Sokolov (game 28), comments to 19.Be4 underline Black’s badly-placed a5-knight problems.
As we will see, with 19.Be4 Kramnik did not react the best way, but the lines given in my comments to
19.Be4 show that even though I managed to activate all my other pieces, my badly-placed a5-knight meant
the tactics worked for White.
Please take your time to study the games and comments. Over the years I have spent quite some time
analysing and playing these positions, but could not really make them work for Black! White stands, well,
better...
26
Alexei Shirov
Jan Timman
Belgrade 1995
Qc7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Bb7 14.d5! Rac8
223
Timman develops his rook with tempo, reaching the same position as in my game with Kramnik below via a
different move order. Black is fully developed, but he needs to get his b7-bishop and a5-knight working,
and this will not be easy.
15.Bb1
15.Bd3 was Kramnik’s choice vs me.
15...Nh5
Black is hoping for active play.

15...Nd7 has been tried too. White transfers his knight to g3 and has the better game.
16.Nf1
a) 16.Nb3
224
Black has problems with his a5-knight, so what is White trying to do? Exchange it! This may look stupid,
but it was tried by a great player, Vassily Ivanchuk, and he got some advantage. 16...Nxb3 17.axb3 g6
18.Bh6 Rfe8 19.Be3 Qd7 20.Kh2 Bf8 21.Nd2 Bg7 22.g3 Qe7 23.b4
White’s knight can travel to a5, targeting the c6-square, with a good version of a KID-type position;
Ivanchuk, V (2740) -Timman, J (2595) Horgen 1995.
b) 16.g3
225
This prevents Black’s knight coming to f4, but weakens the a8–h1 diagonal, so Black gets good dynamic
play. 16...g6
b1) 16...Qd7 17.h4 f5 looks fine for Black: 18.exf5 (If White gets greedy with 18.Nxe5? he soon ends up
being sorry after 18...dxe5 19.Qxh5 f4! with many threats, e.g. ...Bc5 with ...Qh3 to follow or ...fxg3 with
...Bb4 to follow and Black gets a winning attack.) 18...Nf6;
b2) The immediate 16...f5 is less good for Black as now (using the ‘standard reaction’) White gets the
advantage: 17.exf5! Bxd5 (17...Nf6 18.Ne4 Nxd5 19.Nfg5‚ ) 18.Ne4 Ba8 19.Nfg5‚.
17.Nf1 Qd7 18.h4 Nc4 19.b3 Nb6 20.Bh6 Rfe8 21.Bd3 Nf6 22.N3h2
Now Black goes for a standard piece sacrifice motif in these positions. 22...Nbxd5 23.exd5 Nxd5 24.Rc1
Nc3 25.Qd2 b4 Black has only two pawns for his sacrificed piece, but his c3-knight is a monster and his
pawn centre is mobile. Black has sufficient compensation here. 26.f3
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Now Black ma kes an instructive mistake. 26...d5? (26...f5 taking space — very advisable in similar
situations! — would give Black enough compensation.) 27.Rxe5 Bc5+ 28.Re3 Black has arguably improved
his material situation (he’ll get an exchange for a pawn after all), but has destroyed the coordination of his
pieces, has a terribly weak king, and his c3-knight is not really disturbing White any longer, as the action is
moving towards Black’s king! White should now win the game with a mating attack, as Black’s king has no
defenders. 28...Re6 29.Rce1 Rce8 30.Kg2 Bxe3 31.Rxe3 d4
The first chance for White to get a large advantage. 32.Rxe6 (32.Bc4! was stronger: 32...Rxe3 33.Nxe3 d3
34.a4 Black does not have any threats and White will keep improving his position.) 32...Qxe6 33.Bc4 Qe5
227
The second chance. 34.Bf4 (34.Kg1! was a strong move, as it gets out of the way of a ...Bxf3 check;
35.Ng4 is a devastating threat now. 34...Qd6 35.Ng4 Bxf3 36.Qf2 Black’s weak king now proves decisive.)
34...Qc5 35.Bg5 (With White’s king on g2 35.Ng4?? is a terrible blunder: 35...Bxf3+ 36.Kxf3 Qc6+–+.)
35...Qd6
And finally the third chance. 36.Bf4 (36.Be3 would still have closed the case: 36...Rd8 37.Bf4 Qc5 38.Bg5
Re8 39.Bf6+–.) 36...Qc5 37.Bg5 Qd6 and White decided to call it a day. 38.Bf4 ½–½ Timman, J (2595)-
Piket, J (2625) Amsterdam 1995.
228
16...Nf4
If 16...f5 White resorts to the ‘standard reaction’ 17.exf5! Nf6 18.Ng5 and the position opens, very much in
his favour, as in Shirov, A (2710)-Adla, D (2460) Bordeaux 1998.
How should White react now? To take or not to take on f4?
17.Bxf4!
The correct reaction!
17...exf4 18.Bd3 Bf6
19.Qe2
229
Principled, but White should rather target the weakness he has just created!
19.Qd2! leads to a clear advantage for White: 19...Nc4 20.Bxc4
20...bxc4 is perhaps better, but far from good for Black.

[20...Qxc4 results in positions where Black’s Black’s b7-bishop is a dead piece and, crucially, his king is
left without defenders, e.g. 21.Qxf4 Bxb2 22.Ne3 Qc7 23.Rab1 Bc3 24.Rec1
And with 25.Nf5 to follow White gets a winning attack. I will give a few possible lines: 24...Qd7 25.Nf5
Rfd8 26.a4 b4 (26...bxa4 27.Rb6 a3 28.Rxd6+–) 27.a5 Rc4 (27...Rc5 28.N3d4 Qc7 29.Rxc3! bxc3
30.Nxg7+–) 28.Rxb4! Rxb4 29.Rxc3 Bxd5 30.N3d4+–.]
21.Rac1
230
21...Qb6
[21...g5 is not an easy move to play, Black’s king position being weak and his problems definitely not
solved: 22.h4 h6 (22...c3 23.bxc3 Bxc3 24.Qd3±) 23.Nd4±.]
22.Qxf4 Bxb2 23.Rc2 f5 24.Ne3 fxe4 25.Qxe4 Rce8 26.Qxc4± White is a sound pawn up, and Black’s
bishop pair does not offer any objective compensation.
19...Qc5
19...Qb6! was a better move, Black’s strong f6-bishop compensating here for the deficiencies of his
position, and the game dynamically balanced.
20.Rac1
White could still have changed his mind (and should have) and gone for 20.Qd2! resulting in positions
similar to 19.Qd2!: 20...Nc4 21.Bxc4 bxc4 22.Rac1 g5 23.N1h2 c3 24.bxc3 Bxc3 25.Qd3±.
20...Qb4
231
Black is now doing reasonably well. His b7-bishop and a5-knight still need improvement, but on the other
hand the f6-bishop is strong and White’s plan is not obvious.
21.b3 Rfe8
Perhaps this was a good moment for Black to consider a ‘useful move’, e.g. 21...g6!? or 21...h6!? and
recapture on c8 with his rook.
22.Rxc8 Bxc8
Timman is very eager to play ...Nb7 with ...Nc5 to follow, and finally solve this terrible knight problem;
Shirov wants to prevent it tactically.
23.Qc2!
Is it a clever idea for Black to trade queens here?
232
23...Qc3?!
No, it’s not, but the decision was not easy!

a) 23...Nb7 During the game Timman tried to work out the pawn sacrifice 24.Qc6 (the point behind
23.Qc2). Black will lose at least a pawn, but will get active play and practical chances. Timman ultimately
did not trust it and decided against it and it is easy to understand him. 24...Rd8 (The computer engine
prefers 24...Kf8 25.Qxa6 Nc5 26.Qxb5 Qxb5 27.Bxb5 Rxe4 when Black has drawing chances, but it is
obviously better to be White here.) 25.Qxa6 Nc5 26.Qxb5 Qc3
Now in order to really maximise his advantage, White needs to play some good moves! 27.Be2! (27.Bb1
Bxh3 Black is only a pawn down and has his chances; 27.Bc4 Ba6 28.Qb6 Bxc4 29.bxc4 White is better,
but Black has saving chances.) 27...Nxe4 28.Bc4 Bd7 29.Qb6 Ng5 And now White needs to be clever!
30.N3d2! (The ‘logical’ 30.N1d2 likely leads to a forced draw: 30...Nxf3+ 31.Nxf3 g5! and Black has
enough compensation. 32.Qxd6 Bg4 33.Qc6 Bxf3 34.Re8+ Rxe8 35.Qxe8+ Kg7 36.gxf3 Qxf3 37.d6 Bd4
233
38.Qxf7+ Kh6 39.Qf8+ Bg7 40.Qe8 Bd4=.) 30...f3 31.Re3! Now it is obvious that Black is in trouble.
31...Qd4 32.Qxd4 Bxd4 33.Rd3 fxg2 34.Rxd4 gxf1=Q+ 35.Kxf1 and White should win this.
So, is there a way for Black to solve his problems here? Well, yes, there is!
b) The best for Black was 23...Kf8!, protecting the rook and eliminating White’s Qc6 tempo move. Black
will play 24...Nb7 next with a reasonable game.
24.Rc1! Qxc2 25.Rxc2
It is easy for Black to underestimate the gravity of his situation here and this likely happened to Timman.
The bad knight problem is still there and there is no clever way to solve it.
In practical terms, this is a very difficult situation for Timman, as he needs to choose between different ‘bad
possibilities’.
25...b4
Hoping to create KID-style counterplay was perhaps a better practical chance for Black, e.g. 25...g5
26.N1d2 h5 27.b4
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27...g4 (27...Nb7 doesn’t work for Black: 28.Rc7 g4 29.Ne1 Bd4 30.Nc2 Ba7 31.Nb3 with 32.Ncd4 to
follow and a large advantage for White.) 28.bxa5 gxf3 29.Nxf3 Bb7 Black targets White’s a5-pawn with his
bishop and cherishes some drawing hopes, however after 30.Rc7 Re7 31.Rxe7 Bxe7 32.Nd4 Bd8 33.Nf5
White should win.
26.Rc7
I will quote Shirov here: “Black’s problem is still the same as in the opening — the knight and the
lightsquared bishop”.
26...Bb7 27.N1d2 Kf8 28.Kf1 Re7 29.Rxe7 Kxe7 30.Ke2
Again Shirov describes the position best: “White’s plan is very simple — to grab the b4-pawn. He only
must be careful about ...f7–f5 counterplay”.
30...Bc3 31.Nb1 Ba1 32.Ne1 f5
235
32...Bd4 was arguably a better defence, however Black loses a piece and later the game after 33.Nc2 Bc5
34.Nd2! (35.a3 next wins a piece.) 34...f5 35.a3 fxe4 36.Bxe4 bxa3 37.b4+–.
33.Nc2 fxe4 34.Bxe4 Bf6
35.Nxb4 h6 36.Bd3 Bd4 37.Nc2 Ba7
White is not in a hurry to take a piece with 38.b4 and first defends his d5-pawn. Black’s a5-knight is not
going anywhere.
38.Nc3
Black’s a5-knight and b7-bishop problems have still not been solved!
1–0
236
27
David Bronstein
Efim Geller
Moscow 1951
In this game and the two which follow we will investigate positions with Black’s bishop developed to b7, c-
pawns traded and the centre closed after White’s d4–d5.
13...Bb7
As a general rule in situations where Black’s bishop has been developed to b7, White’s best reaction is to
push his pawn to d5 and close the centre.
14.d5!
I will quote Shirov (from the comments he gave on his game vs Timman): “A logical move when you don’t
know much theory. Now the knight on a5 and the bishop on b7 are not the best pieces on the board”.
Black’s b7-bishop is now indeed badly placed and Black has two natural ways to improve it:
a) move it back to c8 and develop it to d7 as in our game (which costs time!),
b) break White’s pawn centre with the ...f7–f5 pawn push, opening the a8–h1 diagonal for the bishop
(which is difficult to achieve!).
Black’s a5-knight is also a problem as it cannot stay on the edge of the board forever.
I have played these positions as Black in a number of games, even against the world’s best players, and I
can assure you from experience that the badly-placed a5-knight and b7-bishop are problems not easy to
solve. I have mostly tried to solve the latter by pushing the f-pawn with ...f7–f5, breaking White’s centre
and making the b7-bishop count! It is a dynamic plan, but not an easy one for Black to make work, as the
game Kramnik-Sokolov shows.
237
14...Bc8
Losing time but improving the bishop is another of Black’s choices here and I would like to show a few
strategically interesting examples. White would ideally like to play on both sides of the board. On the
kingside he is looking for attacking chances, while on the queenside he wants to ‘lock up’ Black’s a5-
knight. This locking up of Black’s a5-knight is important here! If Black’s knight gets to a safe post on c5,
Black will have a good KID/Old Indian-type structure. White can prevent this scenario once Black’s knight
goes to b7 by being ready to push b2– b4 and (very important!) support this pawn with a2–a3 if needed, so
Black’s knight stays ‘locked up’ on b7! Let’s see how this works in practice, two games played by David
Bronstein as White being particularly instructive.
14...Rac8 looks more active, but Black’s badly placed b7-bishop and a5-knight remain a problem. Please see
the Shirov-Timman and Kramnik-Sokolov games.
15.Rb1!
This move may look unpretentious, but actually has a strong strategic idea behind it! Anytime Black moves
his knight back to b7, White will push b2–b4 and after Black’s ...a6–a5, White will simply support his pawn
on b4 with a2–a3, being able to take back with axb4 (with White’s rook on b1 there is no a-file pin) and
keep Black’s knight ‘locked up’ on b7.
15.Nf1 Bd7 16.N3h2 Rfc8 17.Bd3
238
Black now improves his knight. 17...Nb7 White wants to prevent it coming to c5, but after 18.b4 a5! White
cannot keep his pawn on b4 due to the a-file pin. 19.Bd2 axb4 20.Bxb4 Nc5 Black has got everything he
wanted strategically, a great version of an Old Indian-type position, and gradually outplays White. 21.a3
Qa7 22.Ng3
Now comes the standard bishop improvement manoeuvre which Black resorts to in these positions.
22...Bd8! 23.Bf1 Ba5 24.Qf3 Qb6 25.Ng4 Nxg4 26.hxg4 g6 27.Rab1 White’s g-pawn is a weakness!
27...Qd8! 28.Qe3 Qh4 29.Be2 Bxg4 30.Bxb5 Trading his b5-pawn for White’s g4-pawn is obviously a
good piece of business for Black here as White’s king is now very vulnerable to an f-pawn push. 30...Bb6
31.Bc6
239
Keres has played a great game so far, a pure instructive lesson in how to play these positions as Black, but
now he misses a forced win. 31...Rab8 (31...f5!, ignoring his hanging rook and focusing on annihilating
White on the kingside, would have won quickly for Black.) 32.Bd2 Bd7 33.Bxd7 Nxd7 34.Qd3 Bd4 Black
is still better, but White managed to escape with a draw in Bronstein, D-Keres, P Moscow 1951. 15.Re3!? is
an interesting modern idea of Norwegian grandmaster Hammer.
White however, does not get an advantage because Black, as Keres did against Bronstein, manages to trade
his a-pawn for white’s b-pawn and as a result Black’s knight has a future on c5. 15...Nb7! 16.Rc3 Qb8
17.b4 a5! The situation is similar to Bronstein-Keres above. Black is doing fine. 18.Ba3 Bd8! 19.Bd3 Bd7
20.Qf1 axb4 21.Bxb4 Ba5 22.a3
240
The position is about equal, but Black now gives away his b5-pawn for no reason. 22...Rc8? (22...Qa7! and
Black has sufficient counterplay, not giving White a free hand to grab the b5-pawn. 23.Rac1 Bb6) 23.Rxc8+
Qxc8 24.Bxb5 Bxb5 25.Qxb5 White is a sound pawn up and went on to win in Hammer, J (2610)-Radulski,
J (2556) Helsingor 2011.
15...Bd7
15...b4!?
This is an interesting strategic idea for Black, played (according to my database) in only five games so far,
the famous grandmaster Samuel Reshevsky being its main protagonist. The idea is obvious: Black wants to
stop White’s b2–b4 pawn push and keep the c5-square for his k night. Reshevsky had two high-profile
games with it versus Gligoric (in 1952!), both of which ended in a draw. 16.Bd3 (The other game went
16.Nf1 Nb7! 17.Be3 Bd7 18.Rc1 Rfc8 19.Qd2 Qa5 20.Bb1 Bd8! and was balanced in Gligoric, S-
Reshevsky, S New York 1952.) 16...Nd7 17.Nf1 Nc5 18.Bc2 Nc4 19.b3 Nb6 20.Be3
241
As a result of 15...b4!? Black has got his knight to c5, however White is planning a kingside attack and
Black goes for one of his typical counterplay plans. 20...f5!? How to react with White? 21.Bxc5 (21.exf5!
was the correct reaction! Very often in similar situations taking on f5 is White’s best response.) 21...Bb7
22.Bxc5 Qxc5 23.Be4 and White is better.
23...Nxd5 24.Rc1 Qb5 (24...Qa5 25.Qd2 Rab8 26.Ne3 Nxe3 27.Bxb7 Nxf5 28.Be4 with the initiative)
25.Bd3 Qa5 26.Bc4 Kh8 27.Bxd5 Bxd5 (27...Qxd5 28.Rc7+=) 28.Nxe5 dxe5 (28...Bxg2 29.Nc4 Qxf5
30.Kxg2 Qxf2+ 31.Kh1±) 29.Rxe5 Bxb3 (29...Rad8 30.Rxe7+– Bxg2 31.Qg4) 30.Rxa5 Bxd1 31.Rxd1
Bd8+=) 21...Qxc5 22.Rc1 f4!
242
Now Black is fine. 23.Bd3 Qa5 24.Re2 Bd7 25.Rec2 Rfc8 ½–½ (44) Gligoric, S-Reshevsky, S New York
1952.
16.Bd3 Rfc8 17.Nf1
Black goes for the standard dark-squared bishop manoeuvre we see in these positions.
17...Bd8 18.Ng3
Black needs to improve the position of his a5-knight, but it’s not clear how.
18...Qa7
18...Nc4 19.b3 Nb6 20.Be3 still does not solve the problem of Black’s knight.
Black apparently has no active plan, but how does White improve his position?
243
19.Rf1!
David Bronstein prepares the f2–f4 pawn push, one of White’s standard plans, as we learned in the chapter
on closed centre positions!
19...Ne8 20.Kh1!
With Black’s a5-knight stranded on the queenside, White will have an extra piece on the kingside after the
f2–f4 push.
20...Nb7 21.b4 a5 22.a3
White’s strategic idea behind 15.Rb1! is now evident — Black’s knight remains under lock and key on b7.
22...axb4 23.axb4
Black is in a bad way here. Geller must have felt stupid making his next move, but Black has no good
moves here.
23...Be7
23...Bb6 looks more principled, but leads to a bad position for Black after 24.Nh4 g6 25.f4! Rxc1 26.Rxc1
exf4 27.Nh5 (27.Ne2 Be3 28.Ra1±) 27...Be3 (27...gxh5 28.Qxh5+–) 28.Nxf4±.
24.Ne2
244
With a range of pleasant options available, White simply goes for Black’s b5-pawn.
24...Bd8 25.Bd2 Bb6 26.Nc3 Bxf2 27.Nxb5 Qb6 28.Qe2 Bg3 29.Be3
White has a large advantage.
29...Qd8 30.Na7! Rc3 31.Qd2 Ra3 32.Nc6 Qf6
33.Nfxe5
Now Black has to part with his queen.
33...Bxe5 34.Rxf6 Bxf6
Black’s basic problem is his badly-placed/uncoordinated pieces, the b7-knight in particular.
245
35.Bc4! Rc3 36.e5! Rxc4 37.exf6 Nxf6
38.Bd4! Bxc6
38...Nxd5? loses by force: 39.Qg5 g6 40.Qxd5 Rxc6 41.Qg5 and Black loses the house after 41...d5 42.Qe5
f6 43.Qxd5++–.
39.dxc6 Rxc6
Having played brilliantly and with a steady hand, David Bronstein now misses a relatively prosaic win,
perhaps due to time pressure on the last move before the time control.
40.Qg5?
40.Bxf6! gxf6 41.Rb3+– would have won on the spot.
40...d5 41.Rf1 h6 42.Qg3 Ne8
246
White still has a large advantage, but Black is still kicking. Bronstein eventually ‘brings it home’.
43.Qe5 Rd8 44.Qh5 Nf6 45.Bxf6 Rxf6 46.Rxf6 gxf6 47.Qf3 Rd6?
47...Kf8 48.Qxf6 d4 was a better defence, though White should win.
48.Qg4+ Kh7 49.Qc8 Rb6 50.Qc7
1–0
28
Vladimir Kramnik
Ivan Sokolov
Wijk aan Zee 2005
cxd4 12.cxd4 Bb7
247
I have often started with this move, keeping my queen on d8, in order to have more flexibility with move
order. With Black’s bishop developed to b7, the best for White again is to close the centre.
13.d5!
Another game of mine played some months earlier went 13.Nbd2 Nc6 14.d5 Nb4 15.Bb1 a5 16.Nf1 Na6
Black’s knight now gets an outpost on c5, while the b7-bishop is improved. 17.Ng3 Bc8 18.Be3 Qc7 White
now comes up with a wrong plan 19.Nh2?! (19.Bd3 was more natural.) 19...Bd7 20.Ng4?! (Better was
20.Qd2 Nc5 21.f4! b4 or 20.f4 Rfe8 21.Nf3 Rac8 22.Qd2 Nc5 23.Bc2 — 23.Kh1 b4 — 23...b4 when in
both cases Black’s position is solid, although White does have some pressure.) 20...Nxg4 21.hxg4
248
Doubling his pawns is not going to make White happy, as he is not going to get any attack on the kingside,
while his g4-pawn will be a weakness. 21...g6 22.Bd3 Nc5 23.Rc1 Qd8! Now White’s problems connected
to his doubled g-pawns are clear. Black wants to play ...Bg5, trade dark-squared bishops and place his
queen on g5, hitting White’s g4-pawn weakness. Black is already better. White decides to part with his
bishop pair. 24.Bxc5 dxc5 25.b3
White’s passed d-pawn is not going anywhere, while Black’s queenside majority is unpleasant for White.
For starters Black takes the a-file. 25...a4! 26.Nf1 axb3 27.axb3 Qb6 28.Qe2 Ra3 29.Rb1 Rfa8
249
White’s position is passive, while Black has many plans. A timely ...c5– c4 pawn push will create a passed
b-pawn for Black and allow him to place his bishop on c5, simply paralysing White. 30.Ne3 Bd6 31.Red1
Kg7 32.Qf3 Time to improve Black’s queen. 32...Qd8! 33.g3 Ra2 34.Kg2 Qg5 35.Rh1 h6 36.Bc2?!
36...c4! Now Black’s bishop will come to c5 with tempo, when the c2-bishop will be hanging. 37.bxc4 Bc5
38.Bb3 (38.Rhc1 b4 with 39...R8a3 to follow. White simply cannot move any of his pieces.) 38...Bxe3
39.Bxa2 Rxa2 0–1 Stellwagen, D (2512)-Sokolov, I (2663) Hoogeveen 2004.
13...Rc8
13...Bc8 is one of the ways for Black to try to take advantage of this move order. One of my games went
14.b3 Bd7
250
15.Bb2 Placing White’s bishop on b2 in this position does not look logical to me. (15.Bd2 Qb6 16.Nc3
Now Black should secure his knight’s post on c5. 16...b4 17.Ne2 Nb7 White is a bit better, but Black’s
position is definitely playable. 15.a4!?, trying to open the queenside immediately, is always a possibility for
White here.) 15...Qb8 16.Nbd2 g6 17.Nf1 Nh5
18.Ng3 Nxg3 19.fxg3 White doubles his pawns in order to open the f-file for his rook. 19...Rc8 20.Qd2 b4
21.Kh2 Nb7 22.Rf1 Nc5 with an unclear game in Handke, F (2471)-Sokolov, I (2677) Amsterdam 2002.
14.Nbd2!
251
In my opinion White’s best.
I have faced 14.b3, putting an immediate ‘lock’ on Black’s a5-knight, versus two Ruy Lopez experts. With
precise play Black should be about equal. See the next game, Shirov-Sokolov.
14...Qc7
I tried 14...Nd7, shuf f ling t he knights on the queenside, a couple of rounds later in the same tournament.
White has an advantage in the resulting positions. 15.Nf1 Nc4 16.b3 Ncb6 17.Ne3 g6
White has different plans here and can also try to build kingside attack, keeping his dark-squared bishop on
the c1–h6 diagonal. 18.Bd2 Qc7 19.Ba5 Qb8 20.Qd2 Bd8 21.Rec1 (21.a4 leads to equality: 21...bxa4
22.bxa4 Nc4=; 21.Rab1! with 22.a4 to follow leads to White’s advantage: 21...Nf6 22.a4 Nbd7 23.axb5
axb5 24.Ra1 and Black has a difficult life ahead.) 21...Nf6 22.Qb4 Nbd7 23.Bxd8 Rfxd8
252
24.Qe1 (24.a4! bxa4 25.bxa4 Qc7 26.Rab1 Nc5 27.a5 and due to Black’s terribly placed b7-bishop, White
still has pressure.) 24...Rc7 Now Black equalises. 25.b4 Rdc8 26.Bd3 Nb6 27.Nd2 Rc3 with approximate
equality in Bruzon Batista, L (2652)-Sokolov, I (2685) Wijk aan Zee 2005.
15.Bd3!
This is more direct than 15.Bb1. Black has problems here. I went for the f-pawn push to hit White’s centre
and make my b7-bishop count.
15...Nd7 16.Nf1 Nc5
16...f5 17.b3! leads to positions similar to the game or a straight transposition in the case of 17...Nc5.
17.b3!
As so often in this variation, this simply kills Black’s a5-knight. Black’s only chance here is tactical central
253
counterplay, but the problem is that tactics work for White here. With Black’s knight terribly misplaced on
a5, White is practically a piece up!
17...f5 18.exf5!
Usually White’s best reaction to Black’s f-pawn push in these positions, and here is no exception.
18...Bf6
It looks as if Black has managed to create a mess, however this is rather deceptive, as tactics here clearly
favour White.
Kramnik plays it safe and eliminates Black’s ...e5–e4 pawn push, but lets the lion’s share of his advantage
slip.
19.Be4
a) 19.Bc2 was good for White as Black’s tactics turn out to be shortlived: 19...e4 (or 19...Na4 20.Be4 Nc3
21.Qd3 with 22.Bd2, 23.Rc1 to follow with a large advantage for White.) 20.Nd4 Nd3
254
21.Rxe4! Nb4 (21...Bxd5?? blunders material: 22.Bxd3 Bxe4 23.Bxe4 Qc3 24.Be3+–) 22.Ne3 Nxc2
(22...Bxd4 23.Qxd4 Nxc2 24.Nxc2 Qxc2 25.Re7 Rf6 26.Bh6) 23.Nexc2 Bxd5 24.Re2± and White is a
pawn up with an excellent position besides.
b) 19.Be2 also leads to White’s advantage: 19...Qf7 (19...e4 20.Nd4 Bxd5 21.Nxb5 Bxb3 22.axb3 axb5
23.Rb1 b4 24.Ne3 is clearly better for White.) 20.b4 e4 21.Ng5 Qxd5 22.Qxd5+ Bxd5
23.Bd2! An important move. 23...Bxa1 24.Rxa1 Nc4 (24...h6 25.bxc5 and Black’s a5-knight is now
hanging — the reason behind 23.Bd2!.) 25.Bxc4 Bxc4 26.bxc5 dxc5 27.Nxe4 The smoke has cleared;
White should win this ending.
19...Qf7! 20.Ng3 Nxe4 21.Nxe4 Qxd5
255
Black looks to be doing fine, but with a clever zwischenzug Vlad still doesn’t let me off the hook!
22.Bd2!
22.Ba3 Qxd1 23.Raxd1 Bxe4 24.Rxe4 Nb7=
22...Nc6 23.Bg5 Nb4 24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Nxd6
White did not play precisely on move nineteen but Black is still worse. A draw might look close, but
practical defence is not easy as Black has to choose between different ‘slightly worse’ positions.
25...Qxd1
I judged trading queens and tripling White’s pawns the most logical defence.
25...Rcd8 26.Nxb7 Qxb7 was another ‘slightly worse’ option.
256
26.Rexd1 Bxf3 27.gxf3 Rc3
Trying to be active.
Another ‘slightly worse’ option was 27...Rcd8 28.Kh1 (or 28.Ne4 Rxd1+ 29.Rxd1 Nxa2 30.Kg2±)
28...Nc2 29.Rac1 Nd4 30.Ne4 Nxf3 31.Rxd8 Rxd8 32.Nxf6+ Kg7 33.Rc6±.
28.a4!
28...Rxb3?
This is probably Black’s first real mistake in the game, but quite a serious one.
28...bxa4! was needed, e.g. 29.Rxa4 Rxb3 30.Ne4 with 31.Rd6 to follow. White is better, but Black has
drawing chances.
29.axb5 axb5 30.Kh2!
To my complete shock, I realised I was in a mating net here!
30...Kg7 31.Rg1+ Kh6
Kramnik gives me a chance to get back into the game!
32.Rg4?
32.Ra7! won on the spot: 32...Nc6 (32...Rxf3 33.Rgg7! Rh8 34.Rg4+–) 33.Rf7 Rxf7 34.Nxf7+ Kh5
257
35.Rg7! h6 36.Rg6 and Black’s king does not escape the mating net.
32...Nc6
33.Rag1?!
33.Ne4! Rxf3 34.Ra6±
33...Kh5?
The final mistake.

33...Rb4! probably saved the game: 34.Ne4 (34.Nxb5 Rd8 White is better, but Black should draw this.)
34...Kh5 35.Kg3 Kh6! with counterplay.
34.Rg7! h6
258
34...Kh6 35.Nf7++–
35.Ne4! Rxf3 36.R1g4 1–0
I resigned as forced mate cannot be stopped: 36.R1g4 Nd4 37.Ng3+ Rxg3 38.fxg3 Nxf5 39.Rh4+ Nxh4
40.g4#.
29
Alexei Shirov
Ivan Sokolov
Sarajevo 2004
cxd4 12.cxd4 Bb7 13.d5! Rc8 14.b3 Qc7 15.Bd3
15...Nh5
Black cannot try any tactical central tricks here, as he only tricks himself. 15...Bxd5? is a blunder after
16.exd5 e4 17.Bd2! exf3 18.Bxa5 Qxa5 19.Rxe7 and White finishes a piece up; 15...Nxe4? doesn’t work
either: 16.Bxe4 f5 17.Bd3 e4
259
18.Bg5! spoils Black’s fun: 18...Bf6 19.Bxf6 Rxf6 20.b4 (20.Be2 exf3 21.Bxf3± with advantage for White
in view of Black’s terribly-placed a5-knight was seen in Morozevich, A-Ponomariov, R Moscow 2001)
20...Nc4 21.Bxc4 Qxc4 22.Nd4 with a large advantage for White.
16.Bd2
Shirov more or less copies his play versus Timman from some years earlier (see Shirov-Timman). The
situation will however prove to be different.
16.a4 was the choice of Alexander Grischuk. Black now sacrifices a pawn in order to obtain active play.
16...b4 17.Bd2 f5 (17...Nf4! 18.Bxb4 Qb6 was perhaps a better way to sacrifice, as after 19.Bxa5 Qxa5
with 20...f5 to follow Black has good compensation.) 18.Bxb4 Nf4 19.Nc3 Nxb3
Black’s a5-knight problem looks solved, so life should be easy for Black? Well... not quite. 20.Rb1 A
critical moment. 20...Nc5? The losing mistake, as I misjudged the resulting opposite-coloured bishops
position.
260
[20...a5! was Black’s best: 21.Nb5 Qd8 22.Rxb3 axb4 23.Rxb4 Qa5 24.Rc4 fxe4 25.Rexe4
25...Bxd5 (25...Nxd5?? is a losing blunder: 26.Qb3 Kh8 27.Rxc8 Rxc8 28.Nxd6+–) Now White’s best is to
sacrifice an exchange. 26.Rxf4 exf4 27.Bxh7+ Kxh7 28.Qxd5 Rxc4 29.Qxc4 Kh8 Black’s king is weak,
however a lot of pieces have been traded off and a draw is the most likely result.]
21.Bxc5! Qxc5 22.Rxb7 Qxc3 23.Bxa6± White is simply a pawn up with an excellent position and soon
won in Grischuk, A (2719)-Sokolov,I (2706) Poikovsky 2004.
16...Nf4 17.Bxf4 exf4 18.Nbd2 Bf6 19.Rb1 Qb6 20.Qe2
20...b4!
As we see, the situation here is different compared to Shirov-Timman as Black is in much better shape with
queens on the board. Black’s next move is either 21...Rc3 or 21...Rfe8, so Shirov opens up the centre.
261
21.e5 dxe5 22.Nxe5 Qd8
22...Qd6!, defending the a6-pawn, was a better move with approximate equality after 23.Ndf3 g6.
23.Ndf3 Bxe5
23...g6? now loses to the simple 24.Bxa6+–.
24.Qxe5 Qxd5
25.Bxa6!
I missed this tactical shot which leads to a better endgame for White.
25...Qxe5 26.Rxe5 Bxa6 27.Rxa5 Ra8 28.Ne5 Be2 29.Rxa8
29.Ra4! would have made Black work for half a point!
29...Rxa8
The game is now equal.
30.Rb2 Bb5 31.Rd2 f6 32.Nf3 Bc6 33.Nd4 Rd8
262
White has voluntarily placed himself in a pin on the d-file, however the position is too dry for Black to
profit from it.
34.f3 Bb5 35.Kf2 Ba6 36.h4 Kf7 37.g3 fxg3+ 38.Kxg3 g5 39.hxg5 fxg5 40.f4 gxf4+ 41.Kxf4 Kf6 42.Ke3
Re8+ 43.Kf2 Rd8 44.Ke3 Re8+ 45.Kf2 Re4 46.Nf3 Kf5 47.Rd6 Re2+ 48.Kg3 ½-½
263
5.4. White’s g2–g4 pawn push
In the Ruy Lopez Chigorin Variation with a closed centre, the advance of White’s g-pawn is one of his most
common attacking strategies.
Efim Bogoljubow adopted this attacking strategy in his epic battles versus Akiba Rubinstein in the 1920s.
See game 2, comments to 14.a4.
White’s idea is quite simple: he wants to bring his d2-knight to f5, place his rook on the g-file and kill Black
with a direct attack.
Most of the time Black’s best reaction is to challenge White immediately on the kingside by pushing ...h7–
h5!
The games selected and their comments, will, I hope, illustrate the kind of hurdles both sides face, however
there are the following general guidelines:
• it is advisable for Black to react on the kingside, otherwise the risk of being overrun is high;
• Black does not have much reaction time, and normally needs to push ...h7–h5 immediately (!);
• White should not assume he will have a free ride as he is taking a strategic risk and his own king position
might get compromised, see game 30;
• if Black ignores White and plays ...g7–g6, White’s Nf5-piece sacrifice can be very dangerous for Black!
Beware computer engines which normally need time to start appreciating the danger of White’s attack! See
game 2 (comment to 14.a4 in Bogoljubow-Rubinstein) and game 31 (comment to 15.Kh2 in Sutovsky-
Postny);
• high tactical alertness by the both sides and an eye for a detail are needed here.
30
Mikhail Tal
Tigran Petrosian
Yerevan 1975
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 d6 7.Re1 Be7 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4
264
Qc7 12.Nbd2
12...Be6
Black is happy to lose a tempo in order to persuade White to close the centre by pushing d4–d5. I guess his
logic is that he is in better shape compared to 12...Bb7, as after 13.d5 he can retreat his bishop to d7. This
little-played continuation has been favoured in recent years by Israeli grandmaster Evgeny Postny, however
it fails to equalise and can lead to rather passive positions for Black. 12...Bd7 is played more often and was
Petrosian’s choice a year later versus the rising star Garry Kasparov, who was sixteen years old at the time
— see Kasparov-Petrosian in this chapter.
13.Nf1
13.dxe5 dxe5 leads to a pawn structure ty pe we examined earlier (games 4–10) which doesn’t give White
an opening advantage. Closing the centre immediately is another logical option for White. For 13.d5 see the
next game, Vachier-Lagrave-Postny.
13...Nc4 14.d5
265
14...Bc8
14...Bd7 15.g4 h5 16.gxh5 (16...Bxh3 transposes to the game) and now the 16...g6 idea does not work for
Black due to 17.b3 Nb6 18.Qd2! Nxh5 (or 18...Bxh3 19.Ng3±) 19.Qh6 Rfe8 20.Ng5 and White has a
strong attack.
15.g4 h5 16.gxh5 Bxh3 17.N3h2 g6
Critical moment!
18.Ng3?!
Tal misses the best continuation: 18.b3 Nb6 (including 18...Bxf1 does not help Black here, as after 19.Kxf1
Nb6 20.hxg6 fxg6 White plays 21.Ke2 with Rg1 to follow and a promising attack.) 19.Re3! Bxf1
266
and now comes the key move 20.Rg3!. Black’s f1-bishop is not going anywhere, White has a strong attack
and Black has no real counterplay. 20...Kg7 21.Nxf1 Rh8 22.hxg6 fxg6 23.Ne3 Black is in a difficult
situation. 23...Rh7 (23...Nh5 24.Nf5+ Kf7 25.Nh6+ Rxh6 26.Bxh6 Nxg3 27.Qf3+ Kg8 28.fxg3±) 24.Qf3!
(24.Nf5+ Kf7 25.Nh6+ Kg7 is less dangerous for Black than it looks.) 24...Rah8
25.Qf5 Rh6 26.Qe6 Kf8 27.Nf1 Rh1+ 28.Kg2 White wins the g6-pawn, for which Black does not get
compensation.
18...Kg7! 19.Kh1 Rh8 20.Rg1 Kf8
267
Black has now accomplished all of his strategic ideas. The h-file will open in his favour and White’s king is
weak.
21.a4
Black now makes an instructive mistake.
21...Nb6?
This allows White to survive by trading a pair of rooks, reducing Black’s attacking power.
21...b4! was much stronger as the h-file opens in Black’s favour. Black is attacking and needs all four rooks
on the board! 22.cxb4 (22.hxg6 fxg6 23.Ngf1 trying to follow up on the game strategy now loses to
23...Kg7 24.Qf3 Rh7
and White suffers decisive material losses or gets mated. 25.Qg3 Rah8 26.Qxg6+ Kf8–+) 22...cxb4 23.b3
Na5
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24.hxg6 (24.h6 Ng8–+ does not change anything.) 24...fxg6 25.Be3 Black now has different ways to attack
White’s king and win, e.g. 25...Ng4–+ or 25...Bd8 with 26..Qh6 to follow.
22.axb5! axb5 23.Rxa8+ Nxa8 24.hxg6 fxg6
25.Ngf1
With a pair of rooks traded, Black cannot build a decisive attack.
25...Kf7 26.Qf3 Qc8 27.Bg5!
Now Petrosian decides to call it a day and forces the trade of queens, and the game soon ends peacefully.
27...Bxf1 28.Rxf1 Qg4 29.Qg2 Nb6 30.Bxf6 Qxg2+ 31.Kxg2 Bxf6
269
Rooks now get traded as well and a draw becomes inevitable.
32.Ra1 Ra8 33.Rxa8 Nxa8 34.Nf3 Nb6 35.Kf1
½-½
31
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Evgeny Postny
Germany 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 d6 7.Re1 Be7 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4
Qc7 12.Nbd2 Be6
One of the world’s strongest players of modern times now chooses to close the centre immediately.
270
13.d5 Bd7 14.Nf1 c4
Black wants to bring his knight to c5 and push his queenside pawns.
14...Nc4 15.g4 h5 16.gxh5 Bxh3 transposes to our previous game.
15.b4!
White first kills Black’s queenside counterplay, then starts his kingside attack.
Emil Sutovsky opted for a straightforward attack on Black’s king with 15.Kh2 and Postny got on with his
own business on the queenside: 15...Nb7 16.g4 g6 17.Ng3 Rfb8 18.Rg1 Nc5 19.Qe2 a5 20.Bd2 b4!
Black has got his counterplay and White goes for a standard piece sacrifice to open the g-file. 21.Nf5!? A
principled decision! Computer engines usually underestimate these kinds of sacrifices. (21.cxb4 axb4
22.Qxc4 led to equality: 22...Bb5 23.Qxb4 Be2 24.Qc3 Bxf3 25.Qxf3 Rxb2 26.Rgc1 Raxa2 27.Rxa2 Rxa2
with a likely peaceful outcome.) 21...gxf5 22.gxf5+ Kf8
[It is not immediately obvious how White crashes through the black defences after 22...Kh8 but the usual
attacking strategy of removing the pawn defences around the enemy king does the job here: 23.Ng5! Rf8
24.Rg2! b3 25.axb3 (25.Rag1! bxc2 26.Nxh7 also wins.) 25...cxb3 26.Rag1! bxc2 27.Nxh7 Ncxe4 (or
27...Nxh7 28.Rg7 with Rxg7 and Qh5 to follow, mating immediately.) 28.Nxf8 Rxf8 29.Qe3 and again
Black cannot prevent mate.]
23.Qe3 Ke8 24.Qh6 bxc3 25.bxc3
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25...Ba4 (A logical decision. Black makes space should his king have to run, but 25...Rb2! would have
refuted White’s attack.) 26.Bxa4+ Nxa4 27.Bg5 (27.Rg7 led to balanced, if messy, positions easier to play
for White — for humans! 27...Rb2 28.Be3 Nxc3 29.Ng5 Bd8 30.Rg1! Now Black has to play a difficult
move for a human.
30...Rab8! (30...Ncxe4? looks more logical, at least to me, but loses after 31.Nxe4 Nxe4 32.Rxh7 Nf6
33.Rh8+ Kd7 34.Rg7 and White wins.) 31.Rxf7 Qxf7 32.Nxf7 Kxf7 33.Rg7+ Ke8 34.Rxh7 Nxh7
272
Black has enough material for his queen, but his king is terribly weak. The engines assess it as 0.00.
35.Qxd6 (35.Qxh7 Nxe4 36.Qg6+ leads to perpetual check: 36...Kd7 37.Qe6+ Kc7 38.Qf7+ Kc8
39.Qe6+=) 35...Bf6 36.Qe6+ Kf8 This position looks rather promising for White to me, however the
engines stick to their 0.00 verdict.
37.Bh6+ Bg7 38.d6 Bxh6 39.Qxh6+ Kg8 40.Qe6+ Kf8 This should end in a draw. 27...Nxe4! 28.f6
273
28...Qc5! 29.Be3 Qxd5 30.fxe7 Naxc3 Black was better and went on to win after a tactical roller coaster in
Sutovsky, E (2676)-Postny, E (2651) Ohrid 2009.
15...Nb7
15...cxb3! was Black’s best, though after 16.axb3 Nb7 17.Re3 he struggles to create counterplay.
16.g4!
White will effectively have an extra piece on the kingside, while compared to Sutovsky-Postny Black has
no counterplay on the other side of the board.
16...g6
16...a5 17.Ng3 axb4 18.cxb4 fails to create counterplay for Black, while 16...h5 17.gxh5 Bxh3 18.Ne3 with
19.Ng5 to follow leads to a strong attack for White. Black’s king is soon going to be in trouble.
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17.Ng3 Ne8 18.a4 Ng7 19.Bh6 Rfb8
20.Qd2
20.a5 leads to very good position for White. Without counterplay Black is a sitting duck and has to hope
that White does not win on the kingside. I guess Maxime was worried that Black might somehow hold, so
decided to keep the a-file open
20...Nd8 21.Ra3 Ra7 22.Rea1 Rab7 23.axb5 axb5 24.Ne1 f6
White has played a model game and achieved a clear advantage. Black is doomed to everlasting passive
defence without any sign of counterplay. Most probably White makes a mistake here allowing Black to
close the kingside.
25.f4
275
25.Be3± with 26.f4 to follow and White should break through Black’s defences.
25...Nf7 26.f5 g5 27.Bxg7 Kxg7
White is obviously better, but with the kingside closed it is difficult to ‘break’ Black.
28.Nf3 Rg8 29.Qh2 Kf8 30.Kf2 Bd8 31.Ke2 Nh6 32.Nh1 Be8
Yes, Black is passive, but he is also solid and manages to hold.
33.Nf2 Nf7 34.h4 h6 35.Nh1 Qe7 36.Ng3 Bb6 37.Ra8 Qc7 38.Qh1 Rb8 39.R8a6 Rb7 40.Ra8 Rb8
41.R8a6 Rb7 42.R1a3 Ke7 43.hxg5 hxg5 44.Qh7 Rh8 45.Qg7 Ra7 46.Nh5 Rh6 47.Kd2 Qb7 48.Rxa7
Bxa7 49.Kc1 Be3+ 50.Kb2 Qb8 51.Ra6 Qb7
White finally creates a breakthrough, but just not enough.
276
52.Rxd6 Kxd6 53.Nxf6 Rxf6! 54.Qxf6+ Kd7 55.Nxe5+ Nxe5 56.Qxe5 Bf4 57.Qe6+ Kd8 58.e5 Qc7!
59.Qf6+
59.d6 does not change the drawish outcome: 59...Qf7 60.Qxf7 Bxf7 61.e6 Bxe6 62.fxe6 Bxd6=.
59...Qe7 60.Qb6+ Qc7 61.Qf6+ Qe7 62.Qb6+ Qc7 63.Qf6+
½–½
32
Garry Kasparov
Tigran Petrosian
Banja Luka 1979
Qc7 12.Nbd2 Bd7
277
Petrosian is trying to achieve the same as in his game with Tal (game 30), but saving a tempo in the process.
White is now less encouraged to push d4–d5, as it no longer wins a tempo, and to me this approach looks
more logical for Black than 13...Be6. Along with this main game see also the instructive Spassky-Tal game
in the next note.
13.Nf1 Nc4
13...Rfe8?! Spassky now reacts well, as in the ensuing positions Black’s rook will prove poorly placed on
e8. 14.d5! c4 15.g4!
15...h5 Tal reacts in the most principled way, but his e8-rook is now poorly placed. (Playing like Postny
with 15...Reb8 — see comment to 13.d5 Bd7 in the main text — leads to passive positions, apart from the
fact that after 16.g5 Black has to retreat his knight to e8: 16...Ne8 17.Kh2 when White has good kingside
attacking prospects.) 16.gxh5!
278
This is almost invariably White’s best reaction in such positions, as the g-file highway to Black’s king is
now open. 16...Bxh3 (Compared to the comments to 13...Nc4 below in Kasparov-Petrosian, the 16...g6 idea
does not work well for Black now, as after 17.hxg6 fxg6 18.Qd2! Black has to retreat his rook to f8 and
White gets a kingside initiative himself while also being a pawn up.) 17.N3h2
[17.Ne3 with 18.Ng5 to follow also looks promising for White: 17...Nh7 (17...Nxh5? blunders into
18.Nxe5.) 18.Kh2 Bd7 19.Rg1 and White is the one taking advantage of the open kingside.]
17...Nh7 18.Ne3 Bg5 19.Kh1
The action is on the kingside, while Black’s a5-knight is totally misplaced. This ‘extra piece’ proves crucial
for White, who brings about a favourable two bishops vs two knights position. 19...Bf4 20.Rg1 Qd8 21.Qf3
Black is now forced into an endgame. 21...Qh4 (21...Bd7 22.Nf5 leads to a winning attack for White;
Black’s misplaced a5-knight aga in proves crucia l!) 22.Ng2 Bxg2+ 23.Qxg2 Qxh2+ 24.Qxh2 Bxh2
25.Kxh2
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White will ‘ break ’ Black on the queenside. 25...Nf6 26.Rg5 (The immediate 26.b4 also looks great for
White.) 26...Nh7 27.Rf5 g6 28.Rf3 Kg7 29.hxg6 fxg6 30.b4! cxb3 (After 30...Nb7 31.a4 Black cannot
solve the a-file problem as White will play on the both sides of the board and ultimately penetrate with his
rooks.) 31.axb3 Nb7 32.b4 And White went on to win in Spassky, B-Tal, M Riga 1959.
14.d5
14.b3 Nb6 15.Ne3 delaying central decisions is definitely an option to consider for White here.
14...Nb6 15.g4
White goes for the closed centre g-pawn push and Petrosian reacts in the best way.
15...h5! 16.gxh5! Bxh3
Here, with his rook on f8 (compared to Spassky-Tal above), Black had the possibility of a positional pawn
280
sacrifice which often works in similar positions: 16...g6! In game 30, Tal-Petrosian, after 14.d5 Bd7 15.g4
h5 16.gxh5 g6 I gave 17.b3 Nb6 18.Qd2! as the way for White to deal with the ...g6 plan, so here are more
details for readers who were wondering why. 17.Qd2!
Definitely the critical continuation to assess the viability of Black’s 16...g6!. The only difference compared
to the position mentioned is that White’s b-pawn is on b2 here instead of b3, and control of the c4-square
turns out to be important! This small nuance of White’s pawn being on b2 or b3 is difficult to grasp, even
for a strong grandmaster. Prior to the publication of this book I was training two strong Iranian
Grandmasters, Pouya Idani and Amin Tabatabaei, in the Chigorin Variation. After first seeing the Tal-
Petrosian game and White’s idea of Qd2-Qh6 as the way to deal with ...g6 in these positions, Idani said,
“But the only difference is that here White’s pawn is on b3 and there it was on b2! How can this really
matter?”. I gave it long thought and had some human ideas... finally a ‘silicon friend’ joined our analysis
and beautiful lines were produced! The lines given here are excellent calculation training for a tournament
player!
[17.Ng3 Bxh3 looks fine for Black; 17.Bh6? is a terrible positional blunder as Black sacrifices an exchange
with 17...Nxh5! and has,a clear advantage; in the case of 17.hxg6 fxg6 Black gets what he wants — his
rook on f8 makes a huge difference compared to Spassky-Tal above. Black has good compensation for the
sacrificed pawn, and the game is very unclear. 18.Ng5 Qc8 19.Nh2 Nh5∞]
17...Bxh3 18.hxg6 Ng4!
281
White’s pawn still being on b2 gives Black the option of a ...Nc4 jump here, disturbing White’s queen.
19.Ng5 This leads to interesting positions.
[19.Ne3 can lead to unusual tactics, again due to White’s pawn still being on b2: 19...Nc4! (19...fxg6
20.Nxg4 Bxg4 21.Qh6 leads to a balanced position, where it is perhaps sensible for Black to accept a draw
by perpetual check: 21...Rxf3 22.Qxg6+ Kh8 23.Qh6+=) 20.Nxc4 fxg6
White’s king is the one in danger and White has to find a narrow path to a draw here. 21.Ncxe5! dxe5 22.d6
Bxd6 23.Ng5! White seems to win material, but the story is far from over! 23...Rxf2 (23...Nxf2 24.Re2 is
perhaps pushing it too far for Black.) 24.Qd5+ Kg7
282
And now we get a rather unsual perpetual check: 25.Ne6+! (25.Nxh3? loses to 25...Rf3 26.Kg2 Rxh3
27.Kxh3 Rh8+ 28.Kg2 Qe7 and Black has a mating attack.) 25...Kh7 26.Ng5+ (26.Nxc7?? runs into an
immediate mate: 26...Rg2+ 27.Kh1 Nf2#) 26...Kg7 27.Ne6+ Kh7 28.Ng5+ Kg7 29.Ne6+ Black can
postpone the draw for a few moves: 29...Kh8 30.Qxa8+ Bf8
31.Be3 (or 31.Qxf8+ Rxf8 32.Nxc7 Rf2 33.Be3! Rg2+ 34.Kh1 Rxc2 35.Rad1! Rh2+ 36.Kg1 Rg2+=)
31...Rg2+ 32.Kh1 Qd6 33.Nxf8 Rh2+=]
19...Bxg5 20.Qxg5 fxg6 21.Ne3
283
21...Qh7! 22.Nxg4 Bxg4 23.Qxg4 Rxf2 Now White needs to find the only move to draw. His b-pawn still
being on b2 helps Black with mating nets. 24.Qe6+! (24.Kxf2 Qh2+ 25.Ke3 loses to 25...Rf8! 26.Re2
Qh6+! 27.Kd3 c4#.) 24...Kh8 25.Kxf2 Qh2+ 26.Kf3 Rf8+ 27.Kg4 ‘Mutual greed’ can still lead to
interesting calculation training lines:
27...Qg2+ (27...Qh5+ 28.Kg3 Qf3+=) 28.Kh4 Qf2+ 29.Kg5 (29.Kg4=) 29...Qxe1 30.Qh3+
284
Test yourself — where should the king go! 30...Kg7! (30...Kg8? loses to 31.Kxg6 Rf7 32.Qe6+–) 31.Qh6+
Kg8 And now is the time for the warriors to agree to a peace treaty. For a human it is very difficult to see
how Black loses after 31...Kf7
But White wins here — test yourself! 32.Qxg6+ Ke7 33.Qe6+ Kd8
285
Now comes a star move! 34.Bd1!! By means of a piece sacrifice White lures Black’s queen to an
unfortunate square, as we are to see. (34.Kg6 preparing Bg5 in order to cover the king is only a draw after
34...Kc7 35.Bh6 Qg3+ 36.Bg5
36...Nd7! Black has the threat of ...Rf6 at a time of his own choosing and the game is now balanced.)
34...Qxd1 35.Kg6! Kc7 36.Bh6! With his queen on d1 instead of e1 Black has no checks with his queen
and this proves crucial here.
286
36...Rg8+ 37.Qxg8 Qxa1 38.Qg7+ Nd7 39.Kf7 Qh1 40.Qg6 and White wins. 32.Qxg6+ (32.Kxg6? loses
to 32...Rf7) 32...Kh8 33.Qh6+=
17.N3h2!
It’s a safe bet that the young Kasparov knew the Spassky-Tal game! (See the comments to 13...Rfe8?!
above.)
17...Bxf1 18.Nxf1 Qd7 19.Ng3 Qh3 20.Qf3
Black has to cover the f5-square and try to get counterplay, so Petrosian opts for Black’s usual plan in these
positions.
20...g6! 21.Bd1!
22.Nf5 is now a threat.
287
21...Rfe8
An important moment!
22.Qg2
22.Bg5! would have put Black in trouble: 22...Nxh5 (22...Nfxd5 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.Bxe7 Nxe7 25.Qf6
is clearly better for White, as 26.Qxd6 is coming next, while if 25...Rad8?? White has 26.Nh5! gxh5
27.Re3+–; 22...Nbd7 deals with the immediate threats, but after 23.a4! it is not easy to find a good response
for Black as after 23...Nxd5 White now has 24.hxg6 fxg6 25.Nf5! Qxf3 26.Nxe7+ Nxe7 27.Bxf3
288
and although temporarily a pawn up, Black is in serious trouble here. 27...bxa4 28.Red1 Nc8 29.Rxa4 Black
has weaknesses he cannot cover, so White will regain his pawn deficit with interest.) 23.Bxe7 Rxe7 24.Nf5
White wins an exchange. Black gets some positional trumps for it, but not enough to hold. 24...Qxf3
25.Nxe7+ Kf8 26.Nxg6+ fxg6 27.Bxf3 Nf4 and White should win this endgame.
22...Qxg2+ 23.Kxg2
289
Petrosian’s b6-knight is much better placed here than Spassky’s on a5 (again see the comments to
13...Rfe8?!), however White probably still has some advantage. Young Kasparov definitely had respect for
the famous World Champion and a draw was agreed.
½–½
290
PART 2
THEORY
by
INTRODUCTION TO PART 2
Dear friends,
This book is the kind of openings book I always wanted to read when I was a kid, but could never find
because they did not exist. When I started playing chess, I was using the ECO and some other books. In the
ECO, you could find only the moves with some evaluations by symbols, and you were expected to believe
that everything would be all right. There were some books with typical games from the opening that was
being studied but at the end, chess is a concrete game and we need concrete moves!
In this book, I think we managed to get both. My colleague Ivan Sokolov has already written many good
books about the middlegame and he is an expert on the Ruy Lopez with Black. I cannot think of a better
person to write about the topic of the book. In my case, I am a 1.e4 player and, in the last two years, I had to
prepare several times against the Ruy Lopez Chigorin. I realized that things were not as easy as I had
thought, even if White normally has good results — but this is only because the best methods of play with
Black have not been discovered... yet.
This is not a repertoire book because I do not trust that format. When you are giving only one line against
every variation, it is enough that just one line does not work for the book to lose all its value. These books
use a lot of space for the sidelines and only a few pages for the main lines, the ones that people are playing
the most. In cases where these books do give more than one line, you know that this is the variation the
author is not comfortable about and probably you will find some variations he does not like.
I tried to give another look at all the variations in the Ruy Lopez Chigorin after the move 9...Na5. What you
can find in my part of the book is the following:
• I checked the old games and the modern ones but in the end, my idea is to give an idea about what is the
best (in my opinion, of course). I think this work will be useful for both White and Black players. Taking
into account that the Ruy Lopez Chigorin is the most frequently played in the Closed Ruy Lopez, many
people can make use of it.
• I tried not to be biased towards either of the colours. The moves are the most important thing. Sometimes
one variation is not so good and that is it. Sometimes a particular line is very interesting but there are not so
many games with it, so I had to give some ideas about how the game would go on but it is very complicated
to go deep into the analysis without practical tests. However, in the end, the main idea is to give simply the
best moves.
• There is a lot of new material; you can find loads of novelties.
• My evaluations of the variations are completely different from the official theory in many cases. This
291
gives you a good chance to catch your opponents, because probably they will not be familiar with the ideas
in this book.
I hope that you enjoy going through these variations and if you manage to win some games with my ideas,
even better!

Sofia, Bulgaria
18th September 2018
292
OVERVIEW
OF THE CHIGORIN THEORY
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Na5
The Ruy Lopez Chigorin is one of the oldest defences against 1.e4, and one of the most popular as well. I
was checking my database and just from 1998 until the moment when this book is published, there are
30.000 games from this position! For years I struggled to study this opening and I suffered some painful
defeats because I didn’t understand what was going on, and I didn’t know where I could get this
information! I remember checking many games played by Anand because he was the best in this kind of
position, but this was not enough for me somehow. I needed some methodical work on the topic, line by
line, and explaining the positional ideas as well as the theory. I asked some friends where I could get some
information about the Ruy Lopez Chigorin, but without success. I kept on making mistakes here again and
again.
Dear friend, this is over. The book you have in your hands will solve most of your problems if you had the
same ones I had. While we were writing the book, Sokolov was sending me the games he was analyzing.
The material he collected is extremely good. Each day when he sent me some of his files, I was checking
them and even if I was writing the theory, he was showing me ideas I didn’t know! Later, I could improve
my analysis thanks to these games. I hope that you have already gone through this invaluable material so
you are ready to proceed!
My part of the job in this book is to write about the theory. This is not a repertoire book for White or for
Black. This is about the Ruy Lopez Chigorin. I wanted to know what is going on in this opening, that’s all.
For many years, it disappeared from the top tournaments because it was considered passive. I never thought
this. I always considered that it is an opening where there is a lot of tension and there are also many changes
in the pawn structure which are very difficult to understand. Maybe for the top guys this was very easy.
I was studying this opening a lot. I checked thousands of games with the computer and believe me: nobody
knows what is going on in this opening. So many years, so many games, how is this possible? In my
opinion, there are a few reasons:
293
1. This opening didn’t pass the computer check of the 21st century. Lines that had been considered fully
playable failed to withstand the increasingly rigorous scrutiny of the engines. But many strong players still
had some old patterns in their heads from the previous periods and they thought they didn’t need to recheck
this knowledge. Because of that, they repeat the same mistakes as I did.
2. There is almost no literature about this topic. There are some books which offer a repertoire for White
and some others that offer a repertoire for Black. The problem is that their work is always biased. They
want to say at the end of the chapter that White is better or Black is fine, in order to help sell the book. In
the end, one understands that White is not better in every line and that there are some positions that are very
difficult for Black to defend. What should they do? Normally the writers decide not to include the best lines,
hoping that the readers won’t realize that. Then you get to your game and your opponent plays a move that
you didn’t see in the book and... it’s a very good move! How many games I won thanks to these books, you
cannot imagine!
3. The book you have in your hands didn’t exist. No knowledge, no understanding! How did I analyze this
book? It was very easy. I checked all the reasonable moves I found in every position. Of course, if you do
this, you can make a book with a thousand pages. Because of that, I used some filters to decide what should
be analyzed and what not:
a. If there is a dubious continuation for White, I try to give you the best continuation for Black as soon as
possible; sometimes I will give you only this move! If this move by White is not good, if you know the best
continuation that should be enough. If Black manages to equalize without any problems, I stop my analysis.
Thanks to the middlegame chapter, you will understand how to play. If there is a continuation that is better
for Black, don’t worry, you will know about that too!
b. If there is a dubious continuation by Black, I try to refute it in the best way and that’s it. Normally a
refutation is considered something between slightly better and clearly better for White. I consider engine
assessments of +0.50 to be enough.
c. Following the previous filters, normally we will get a very stubborn line (sometimes more than one, but
not very often!) where the evaluation will be between 0.00 and 0.30 (no way that Black is better in the Ruy
Lopez Chigorin, sorry). I will try to go a bit deeper than usual in these positions because they are the
positions most likely to appear over the board if both sides know what are doing. Depending on these
variations, I will tell you if the variation is playable, if this is easier for White or for Black in a practical
game and so on. These positions are not so easy to evaluate so I apologize if I’m wrong regarding some
positions but believe me, I tried to give my best.
How many new ideas I give in this book, I have no idea. When I counted more than 50, I decided that
probably I was doing a good job! Enough about how I worked on this part of the book, it is time to show
you some moves!
10.Bc2
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No chance that White is going to give up his bishop.
10...c5
10...d5 The Gajewski gambit. Black has had good results in the past but I think that I manage to refute this
line in the first chapter.
11.d4
The only move I will check in the book. 11.d3 This is possible as well but not very logical if you can play
d4 at once.
11...Nd7
Nowadays this is the main line and I will analyze it quite a lot. I will call it the Keres-Graf variation of the
Ruy Lopez Chigorin. Keres played this a lot in the past, but for many years no one was following his
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example until, at the end of the 80s, grandmaster Alexander Graf, with whom I had the pleasure to train in
my childhood, gave new life to this variation. Nowadays many people are simply copying his ideas,
although there are some who are improving them!
a) 11...d5
Again, in the chapter “Subvariations” you will find the refutation.

b) 11...Bb7
The Romanishin variation. Here after 12.d5! White is better and you will understand why later.
c) 11...Qc7
The most played variation but nowadays the top players prefer other moves.
12.Nbd2. The main move. In the chapter “White alternatives on move 12”. I will have a look mainly at
12.d5!?. Other moves don’t cause any problems.
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12...cxd4 The oldest move and ... the best! In the chapter “Black releases the tension with 12...cxd4” you
will find all you need. Please pay attention, what I have written might surprise you! Here I will just tell you
a little secret: I think that Black is doing fine here! 12...Re8 and 12...Rd8 you will find in the chapter “Two
rook moves”. Here White has an interesting way of playing that provides him with the advantage. 12...Bd7,
12...Bb7 and 12...Be6 you will find in the chapter “Bishop moves”. For now I will tell you that my favourite
one is 12...Bd7! 12...Nc6 This will be analyzed in the chapter “The old main line”.
Black was successful here in the past but not so long ago I had a game with White in this line, I analyzed
this variation quite deeply and I consider that White is much better. Here I analyzed 13.dxc5 as well. This is
not the best move, but it is so common that I couldn’t leave it without comment!
12.Nbd2
The old main line. There will be a chapter only for this move.
a) Another option is is 12.d5
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White doesn’t want to allow the Benoni pawn structure. Is it good to close the centre or does White do it too
soon?
b) 12.a4
The new main line. Black has a lot of problems to solve. I think that I found some interesting ideas but
Black needs to be extremely careful to get a reasonable position!
c) 12.dxc5
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The same idea as after 11...Qc7. When is this continuation better?
12...exd4 13.cxd4 Nc6
The way Graf played. Is this good enough for Black? Keep on reading!
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CHAPTER 1.
EARLY ...d5s AND THE ROMANISHIN VARIATION
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2
Contents
1. 10...d5 alternative (Gajewski Gambit)
2. 10...c5 11.d4 d5
3. 10...c5 11.d4 Bb7 (Romanishin)
1
10...d5 alternative (Gajewski Gambit)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 d5!?
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This gambit was played by the creative Polish grandmaster Gajewski. It was popular for some years but
nowadays White knows how to play to get the advantage.
11.d4!
11.exd5 e4! 12.Bxe4 Nxe4 13.Rxe4 Bb7 Black has long-term compensation thanks to his pair of bishops.
Maybe White is still better, but it is not practical to play like this.
11...dxe4
a) 11...exd4 Probably the best move here, but this was not the idea of the gambit! 12.e5 Ne4 13.cxd4!
13...c5! Black should play actively to get some chances. (13...f5 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.Nc3! Nxc3 16.bxc3 Nc4
17.a4!± Black has some stable pieces but the kingside is simply too weak. Thybo, J (2442)-Saptarshi, R
(2425) Kolding 2017; 13...Nc4 14.b3 Nb6 15.Be3 Bb7 16.Nbd2± 1–0 (26) Krauss, H (2096)-Koch, D corr.
2010) 14.Nc3!? Nxc3 15.bxc3 c4!?
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The best practical chance. White has the advantage on the kingside, Black on the queenside. Who is faster?
16.Nh2!N A very important move to prove an advantage for White.
[16.Bd2!? Nc6?! Black didn’t pay attention to White’s idea. (16...Rb8!N 17.Qb1 h6 The rook will defend
everything from b6. Then ...Nc6 and ...a5 will come. The position is not clear.) 17.Qb1! g6 (17...h6!?
18.Qc1! and Bxh6 next move is killing.) 18.Bh6 Re8
19.e6! f5 20.Bxf5 gxf5 21.Qxf5 Bf8 22.Qf7+ Kh8 23.Ng5 Ra7 24.Qh5 Kg8 25.Qf7+ Kh8 26.Qf4 Kg8
27.Nf7 Bxh6 28.Qxh6 Qc7 29.Qf6 1–0 Antipov,M (2529)-Slonimskij,A (2176) Jerusalem 2015.]
16...b4 17.Ng4 bxc3
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18.Nf6+! This idea is very important. 18...Bxf6 19.exf6 Qxf6 20.Qh5 h6 21.Qxd5±;
b) 11...Nxe4 12.Nxe5 f6 13.Nd3 Bd6 Croatian grandmaster Stevic played this position six times and
achieved four draws and two wins! It’s incredible that none of his opponents made serious preparation.
14.Nd2 f5 (14...Nxd2 15.Qh5! is a very nice trick.) 15.a4! This move is the key and the one that Stevic
didn’t face in his games. White won all the games I found in the database with this move!
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15...Bd7
[15...b4? 16.Nxb4 Bxb4 17.cxb4 Nc6 18.Bb3 Be6 19.f3! Nxd4 (19...Nxd2 20.Bxd2 Bf7 21.Bf4 Qf6
22.Be5± 1–0 (48) Teipel, T (2104)-Meyer, J (1798) GER email 2012) 20.fxe4 fxe4 21.Nf1 Nxb3 22.Qxb3
Qd6 23.Qe3+– 1–0 (30) Mostowik, D (2122)-Khrolenko, V (1966) ICCF email 2012; 15...Bb7 16.f3! Ng3
17.Nc5±]
16.Nf3 Nc4 17.Nfe5!± Patel, A (2478)-Atoufi, P (2284) Las Vegas 2017.
12.Nxe5
12...c5
12...Bb7?! Black simply loses a pawn. 13.Nd2 c5 14.Nxe4 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Rxe4±
Maybe the position is not so easy to win but White has a healthy extra pawn.
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13.Be3!
White should try to place his pieces on the best squares. Later White can play with Nd2 and Qb1, trying to
take the pawn on e4. 13.Bg5 this is tempting, but not good enough. 13...Bb7 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Bxe4 Re8©
13...Bb7
13...Qc7 14.Nd2 Bb7 is the same.
14.Nd2 Qc7
14...Rc8 15.Qb1! White simply tries to take the pawn. 15...cxd4 16.Bxd4 Bc5 17.Nxe4 Bxe4 18.Bxe4 Bxd4
19.cxd4 Qxd4 20.b4! The key move! Black loses material. 20...Rce8 (20...Nxe4 21.Rxe4 Qd5 22.bxa5 Rfe8
23.Qe1 f6 24.Rd1 Qe6 25.f4±) 21.Nf3 Qc3 22.Re3 Nxe4 23.Rxc3 Nxc3 24.Qd3+– Carlsson, P (2501)-Lie,
E (2428) Oslo 2008.
15.Bf4!
White goes for the pawn, but now in a different way!

15.Qb1?! Now the game becomes very forced. 15...cxd4 16.Bxd4 Bd6! 17.Ng4 Nxg4 18.hxg4 Bh2+
19.Kh1
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19...Bf4! The most accurate. (19...f5 20.gxf5 Bf4 21.Nf1 Rxf5 22.Bxe4 Rh5+ 23.Kg1 Bh2+ 24.Nxh2
Qxh2+ 25.Kf1 Qf4 26.Bxb7 Nxb7 27.Qd3² Kononenko, D (2502)-Gajewski, G (2575) Pardubice 2008)
20.Nf1!N (20.Nxe4 f5 21.gxf5 Rxf5ƒ) 20...f5 21.Kg1 Nc6∞
15...cxd4 16.Nxe4
16.Ng6!?N White could also take the exchange. 16...Bd6 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Nxf8 d3 19.Nxh7 Kxh7
20.Bb3 According to the engine White is better, but in a practical game this is not so easy to evaluate.
16...Nd5
The best practical try.

16...Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.Rxe4 Bd6 19.Qxd4±
17.Bg3 f5
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This is the critical moment. Some games reached this position and White lost control of the situation. It is
important to play
18.b4!N
This move is difficult to find if you don’t know it beforehand.

18.Ng6? Qc6 19.Nxf8 Rxf8 20.Qxd4 Nc4 21.a4? (21.b3 Na3 22.Bd1 fxe4 23.Qxe4 White is still better,
but the situation remains unclear.) 21...Nf6!µ Stevic the hero managed to win again with this variation in
Almasi, Z (2674)-Stevic, H (2571) Plovdiv 2008.
18...fxe4
a) 18...Nc4? White wins material after 19.Nxc4 Qxc4 20.Nc5! Bxc5 21.Bb3 Qxc3 22.bxc5 Qxc5 23.Rc1
Qb6 24.Qf3 Rad8 25.Bc7!+–.
b) 18...f4 19.Qh5! g6 20.Nxg6+–.
19.bxa5! Nxc3 20.Bb3+ Bd5
20...Kh8 21.Qh5+–.
21.Bxd5+ Nxd5 22.Rc1 Qb7 23.Qxd4
The pawn on e4 will fall soon. White is almost winning.
CONCLUSION
The Gajewski Gambit is simply bad. It was really interesting many years ago when the computers were not
so strong and people didn’t know it, but nowadays this should not work. White should remember a few
important things:
1. 11.d4! Instead of taking the pawn, it is better to fight for the initiative.
2. 13.Be3 and 15.Bf4 in the main line. It is not easy to explain why; sometimes in chess we just need to
remember!
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3. 18.b4!N and White is almost winning.
2
10...c5 11.d4 d5
d5
This is very similar to the Gajewski gambit. If you paid attention to the previous chapter, it won’t be
difficult for you to guess the best move...
12.Nxe5!
The best move according to the engine.

a) 12.dxe5!? Actually, maybe this is better from the practical point of view. If you are lazy, you can be
happy with this line! 12...Nxe4 13.Nbd2
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13...Nxd2 (13...Bf5 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Nd2 Qd5 17.Rxe4 Rad8 Black has some activity but
after 18.Qe1 Nc6 19.Nf3 White is better.) 14.Qxd2 Be6 15.Qf4! This is also good for White.
b) 12.exd5 exd4 13.cxd4 Nxd5 14.Qd3!? g6 15.dxc5 Bf5 16.Qe2 Bxc2 17.Qxc2² This is good for White as
well.
12...Nxe4
12...dxe4 13.Be3 transposes into the Gajewski Gambit.
13.Nd2!N
13.dxc5? Bxc5 14.Be3 Bxe3 15.Rxe3 Qf6 16.Bxe4 dxe4 17.Rxe4 Bb7© ½–½ (37) Yagupov, I (2501)-
Riazantsev, A (2623) Miass 2007.
13...f5 14.Nb3!
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This move is the difficult one. It seems that Black cannot keep his position together.
14...Bh4
The trickiest try.

14...Nxb3 15.Nc6! (15.axb3!? Bd6 16.Nf3²) 15...Qd6 16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.axb3±
15.g3 Nxb3 16.axb3 Bf6
Now White cannot play Nc6 and take the bishop but there is a nice opportunity.
17.b4! cxd4 18.Nc6 Qd7 19.Nxd4²
CONCLUSION
11...d5 is simply bad. Taking on e5 with the knight or with the pawn are both good. It depends on your
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taste!
3
10...c5 11.d4 Bb7 (Romanishin)
Bb7?!
This move has been played by many grandmasters, in the past and now! With his last move Black puts
pressure in the centre. This move is directed against the players who like to play with the open centre.
Grandmaster Romanishin has played it more than 10 times!
12.d5!
This is the typical idea against the bishop on b7. 12.Nbd2?! Many people have played like this but now
Black’s play is justified. 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 exd4 14.Nxd4 Re8!= Black has got a good version of the ...cxd4
and ...exd4 positions.
12...Nc4
The bishop is misplaced on b7. At least let’s try to improve the position of the knight! This is the only
independent try.
12...Qc7 13.Nbd2 is checked in 11...Qc7 (chapter 2).
13.a4 Nb6 14.b3!
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The main position of the Romanishin variation.
14...Bc8
Rapport and Romanishin play like this.

a) 14...c4?! This was one of Romanishin’s first tries, but it is not good. 15.bxc4 Nxc4 16.Na3! Qc7
17.Nxc4 Qxc4 Now White has two different ways to fight for advantage.
18.Qd3!? (18.Ra3!? Qc7 19.axb5 axb5 20.Rb3 Rfb8 21.Bg5 Bc8 22.Bd3 Bd7 23.Qe2± 1–0 (44) Tringov, G
(2430)-Romanishin, O (2550) Stara Pazova 1988) 18...Qxd3 19.Bxd3 Nd7 20.Be3 f5 21.exf5 Nf6 22.axb5
axb5 23.Bxb5± 1–0 (64) Khalifman, A (2630)-Beliavsky, A (2655) Reykjavik 1991;
b) 14...Nxe4 A speculative sacrifice. 15.Bxe4 f5 16.Bd3
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16...e4 (16...Nxd5 17.axb5 axb5 18.Rxa8 Bxa8 19.Bxb5 Nc7 20.Bf1! Other bishop moves were good as
well, but I would like to keep my king safe. 20...e4 21.Nfd2 d5 22.Na3 Ne6 23.Bb2 Bc6 24.b4! Breaking
up the pawns. 24...Bd6 25.Nb5 Bxb5 26.Bxb5± 1–0 (34) Kuznetsov, A-Ivanov, B ICCF email 2009)
17.axb5! (17.c4!? bxc4 18.bxc4 exf3 19.Qxf3 g6 20.Nd2² 1–0 (33) Kovalevskaya, E (2451)-Bezgodova, S
(2268) Elista 2000) 17...exd3 18.bxa6 Bxd5 19.Qxd3 Be4 20.Qd1± The pawn on a6 is very annoying and
Black is not able to create threats yet.
15.Qe2 Bd7
16.Be3!
This is an interesting move with a positional trap. It should be enough for an advantage.
16.c4!? This was played by Kasparov and it is good as well. 16...b4 17.Nbd2 g6 18.Nf1
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18...Nh5? (18...Bc8!? 19.Bh6 Re8 20.Ng3 Nbd7 I’m not sure how this position can be cracked, to be
honest.) 19.g4! Nf4 20.Bxf4 exf4 21.Qd2 Bf6 22.e5 dxe5 23.Nxe5 Bg5 24.Nh2 a5 25.Nhf3± 1–0 (43)
Kasparov, G (2849)-Grischuk, A (2663) Cannes 2001.
16...bxa4
16...Qc7N Black tries to keep the position together but White plays 17.Nh2! Rfb8 18.a5! Nc8 19.f4!±.
17.bxa4 Qe8
18.Qd1!N
This is the move that White hadn’t found yet.

18.a5?! Bb5 19.Bd3 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 Qb5 21.Qc2 Nc4∞ 0–1 (65) Saric, I (2668)-Rapport, R (2752) Monzon
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2016.
18...Nc4 19.Bc1
It may look as though White is playing badly, but that is not the case. The b-file can only be in White’s
favour. In the future, the c4 square will be weak and White will make use of it.
19...a5 20.Nfd2 Nb6
21.Nf1
21.c4!? with the idea of Nc3-b5 is strong as well.
21...Rb8 22.Nbd2 Qc8 23.Ne3±
CONCLUSION OF CHAPTER 1
The Romanishin variation has been played for many years but in my opinion is not really good. The plan
with b3, a4, Qe2 and Be3 puts Black in a very difficult situation. I don’t believe that Rapport will keep on
trying this idea with Black. If he does hopefully you will be on the White side!
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CHAPTER 2.
11...Qc7 12.d5
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 0-0 7.Bb3 b5 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4
Qc7 12.d5!?
Contents
1. 12...--
2. 12...Bd7!
1
12...--
Qc7
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12.d5!?
The only good a lternative to 12.Nbd2. White wants to play a slow game. In this kind of position, normally
the player who knows the plans better wins. Great players like Kasparov and Topalov liked to play this.
a) 12.a4?! Bd7! 13.Na3 cxd4! 14.cxd4 b4³.
b) 12.b3?! cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6! 14.Bb2 Nb4 and Black gets the bishop and a comfortable position.
12...Nc4
This move has been played many times, but in my opinion it is not so good.
Black considers that the knight on a5 will be better placed on b6, but this is not so clear. At the same time,
White gains some important tempi on the queenside.
a) 12...Nd7 will be checked in the Graf-Anton variation.
b) 12...Bd7! will be the subject of the next subchapter.
c) 12...c4? A bad positional move. 13.b4! cxb3 14.axb3 Bd7 15.Bd3 Rfb8
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16.Re2! A very nice move. White wants to play Ra2, push the knight back to b7 and later play b4. 16...Nb7
17.b4 Qc8 18.Rea2 Nd8 19.Ra3 Ne8 20.Nbd2± 1–0 (49) Gashimov, V (2734)-Inarkiev, E (2669)
Astrakhan 2010.
d) 12...Ne8 Black wants to play...f5 as fast as possible.
13.b3! (13.a4?! c4! 14.Nbd2 Bd7=) 13...g6 14.a4N No one has played like this, but this is the most normal
move. White threatens axb5 followed by b4. (14.Nh2?! Ng7 15.g4 Nb7 16.a4 Bd7 17.Be3 Rab8= 0–1 (33)
Lee, A (2271)-Bojkov, D (2544) Berkeley 2011) 14...Rb8
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Now we reach a very interesting position which the engines normally don’t understand. 15.b4! Not the best
according to the engine, but the most practical. White opens the queenside. (15.axb5 axb5 16.Bh6 Ng7
17.Nbd2 Bd7 18.Ra2 The engine at first is really happy with White’s control of the a-file, but after
Rubinstein’s manoeuvre things are not so clear. 18...Nb7 19.Qe2 Ra8 20.Rea1 Rxa2 21.Rxa2 Rb8 22.Qd1
Nd8 23.Qa1 f6= White has the file, but nothing can be attacked there. Meanwhile, Black improves his
position slowly. The position is more or less balanced.) 15...cxb4 16.cxb4 Nc4 17.axb5 axb5 18.Bh6 Ng7
19.Qe2²
White will play Nc3 and at the right moment will take on c4 with advantage.
Back to 12...Nc4?!.
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13.b3!
It’s very important to start like this, to force the knight to go to b6.
13.a4?! Bd7 14.b3 Na5! This is the key move. The knight finds a nice outpost on a5. From there, it will be
able to control the b3 and c4 squares.
15.Nbd2 (15.axb5?! Never give up the tension if you are not forced to! 15...axb5 16.Nbd2 g6! A very
important and typical move. Black plans ...Nh5. In this game the Russian grandmaster Kuzmin shows with
great class how this position should be played with Black. 17.Nf1 Nh5 18.Bh6 Rfe8 19.N3h2 Qd8 20.Qd2
Nf4 21.Nf3 Bf6 22.Ne3 Qc8 23.h4 c4 24.b4 Nb3 25.Bxb3 Rxa1 26.Rxa1 cxb3 27.Kh2 Bh3! 28.Ng1 Bxg2
29.Nxg2 Nxg2 30.Kxg2 Qg4+ 31.Kf1 Qxh4µ 0–1 (40) Psakhis, L (2535)-Kuzmin, G (2530) Krasnoyarsk
1980) 15...g6! 16.Ra2
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16...Rfb8? (16...Rfc8!? was more accurate. 17.b4 cxb4 18.cxb4 Nc4!=) 17.b4! Nb7 Standard play, but
mistaken. (17...cxb4 18.cxb4 Nc4 19.a5! Now Black has his rooks on the wrong squares, although probably
this was still better than the game.) 18.a5! Nh5 19.Nf1 Bf6 20.Ne3 Bg7 21.Bd3 Rc8 22.Bf1 cxb4 23.cxb4²
½–½ (46) Korneev, O (2565)-Kaiumov, D (2430) Jakarta 1997.
13...Nb6 14.a4!
14...Bd7
Black should keep the tension.

14...c4?! 15.axb5 axb5 (15...cxb3?! 16.Bd3²) 16.Rxa8 Nxa8 Here I didn’t find the right way. 17.bxc4!N
(17.Ba3!? I’m still better, but not as much as with the main move. 17...Nd7 18.Bb4 Nc5 19.bxc4 bxc4
20.Nbd2 Na6 21.Ba3 Nb6 22.Qb1² ½-½ (69) Salgado Lopez, I (2456)-Iuldachev, S (2508) Benasque
2007) 17...bxc4 18.Be3± The c4-pawn will be a permanent weakness.
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15.a5! Nc8
This position is better for White. Now he should decide what to do with the pawns on the queenside. It’s
possible to play with c4 or with b4. I will show you two model games by very strong players.
16.b4
16.c4 b4 17.Nbd2 Grischuk, A (2761)-Rapport, R (2694) Geneva 2017. You have already checked this in
the first part of the book.
16...c4 17.Nbd2
Now Kasparov plays standard moves.
17...Ne8!?
Black tries to play with ...f5 and to create a weakness on the kingside.
17...g6 18.Nf1 Nh5 19.Bh6 Re8 20.Qd2 Bf8
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21.g4!N (21.Ng3?! This looks normal, but the problem is that after 21...Nxg3 22.fxg3 Ne7 23.Rf1 f6 White
is slightly better, but is not possible to break into Black’s position so easily. The game was drawn later in
Kasparov, G (2838)-Ivanchuk, V (2711) Prague 2002) 21...Nf4 Not good, but otherwise Black is totally
paralyzed. (For example: 21...Bxh6 22.Qxh6 Nf6 23.Ng3 is just a decisive advantage for White.) 22.Bxf4
exf4 23.Qxf4 Bg7 24.Re3+–
Black has no compensation because the knight on c8 is extremely badly placed.
18.g4!N
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White should control the possible breakthrough ...f5. 18.Nf1?! f5 19.exf5 Bxf5 20.Bxf5 Rxf5
This looks like a slightly better position for White, but the weakness on d5 means his life will not be so
easy. 21.Ng3 Rf8 22.Be3 Bd8 23.Ra2 Qf7 24.Rd2 h6 25.Qc2 Ne7 26.Bc5 Ng6 27.Be3 Bc7 28.Nh2 ½–½
Debevec, B (2310)-Malyshev, V (2374) ICCF email 2008.
18...h5!?
The only chance. If White manages to play Nf1–g3 Black won’t be able to move.
19.gxh5 Bxh3 20.Nh2 Bg5 21.Kh1²
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White will have a strong initiative on the kingside.
2
12...Bd7!
Qc7 12.d5!? Bd7!
The most logical move. Black doesn’t show his cards.
13.b3
White keeps the knight out of c4. At some point he will play a4, but it is not yet clear when. The knight is
not on d2 and this gives White two extra possibilities: 1) To play with Na3 and put pressure on b5, and 2)
The c1-bishop can develop on the next move. Normally the bishop needs to wait until White plays Nf1.
13.Nbd2?! It doesn’t make sense to play Nbd2 now, as the idea of playing d4-d5 with the knight on b1 is to
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put pressure on the b5-pawn with Na3 at the right moment. 13...c4! will be checked in the 12.Nbd2 Bd7
chapter.
13...g6
I like this move the most. Black always needs this in order to play ...Nh5, so better play it now! There are
no concrete lines so I will simply show some games.
a) 13...c4?! A positionally bad move. 14.b4! Nb7 15.a4!
15...g6 (15...a5 16.axb5 axb4 17.Rxa8 Rxa8 18.cxb4 Bxb5 19.Nc3± 1–0 (33) Kanarek, M (2453)-Kowalska,
S (1828) Koszalin 2009; 15...Kh8 16.Be3 Ng8 17.Nbd2 g6 18.g4! f6 19.Nf1 Rfb8 20.Ng3± 1–0 (87)
Marholev, D (2401)-Umanec, F (2198) Prague 2011) 16.Be3 Rfb8
17.a5!? (17.Nbd2 Keeping the tension is good as well, and probably more practical.) 17...Nh5 18.Nbd2 Bf8
19.Nf1 Re8 20.Qd2± White was better but in a mail game is not easy to win this position. Pirs, M (2506)-
Tauscher, K (2408) Remote email 2013.
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b) 13...Nb7!?
Black starts the Rubinstein manoeuvre. Black is fine, I didn’t find the way to crack the position. Most of the
people play this and I didn’t find any problem. 14.a4!? This is the only plan that makes sense to me if you
want to play with 12.d5.
b1) 14.Be3?! This move doesn’t put any pressure on Black. 14...g6! (14...c4?! 15.b4 a5 16.a4! bxa4 17.Na3
Black has only created weak pawns on the queenside and in the future White will collect them.) 15.Nbd2
Nh5
16.Bd3 (16.g4 Nf4 17.Bxf4 exf4 18.e5 Rae8 19.Qe2 Bd8µ 0–1 (51) Kleijn, C (2424)-Bok, B (2469)
Belgium 2010) 16...Bf6 17.Kh2 Bg7 18.Rc1 Rae8 19.g3 Qc8 20.Ng1 f5!„ ½–½ (54) Boruchovsky, A
(2542)-Grandelius, N (2649) Gjakova 2016;
b2) 14.Nbd2 Nd8 15.Nf1 Ne8 16.g4 g6 17.Ng3 Ng7 18.Nh2 f6 19.f4 exf4 20.Bxf4 Nf7= ½–½ (41)
Karjakin, S (2786)-Hansen, T (2450) Tromso 2014;
b3) 14.c4?! As you already know, I don’t like this plan when Black’s knight is going to f7. 14...g6! 15.Nc3
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Nh5 16.Ne2 f6 17.g4 Ng7 18.Ng3 Nd8 19.Be3 Nf7 20.Qd2 Rfb8= ½–½ (45) Costa Trillo, V (2293)-
Santamaria Perez, T (2364) ICCF email 2016.
14...Rfb8
15.Na3! (15.Nbd2 g6! A typical position where Black is fine.) 15...g6! This way of getting the knight to g7
is much more active. (15...Ne8 16.Qe2 Nd8 17.Bd2 g6 18.Nh2 f6 19.c4 bxa4 20.bxa4 Nf7= Hracek, Z
(2607)-Nikolic, P (2661) Selfoss 2002) 16.Bg5!? Qd8 To be followed by ...Nh5. Black has no problems at
all.
Back to 13...g6.
14.Bg5
14.Bh6 Rfb8! 15.Nbd2 Nh5 16.Nf1 Nb7 17.Qd2 c4 18.b4 a5 19.a3 Ra6 20.g4 Ng7 21.Ng3 Rba8 22.Rac1
axb4 23.axb4 Nd8 24.Nh2 f6 25.Be3 Nf7³ 0–1 (72) Collins, S (2431)-Zhang, Z (2582) Khanty-Mansiysk
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2010.
14...Rfe8 15.Nbd2 Nb7 16.Bd3 Nh5! 17.Be3 Bf8=
Black is ready for ...Bg7 and in the future can play with ...Nf4. He has no problems.
17...Ng7 18.Bf1 f6 is good as well.
11...Qc7
CONCLUSION
When White does not play 12.Nbd2, these other moves don’t set problems for Black — 12.Nbd2 is the best
move by far.
1. 12.a4 Bd7! And White has only created weaknesses on the queenside.
2. 12.b3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6. Black gets the pair of bishops and is completely fine.
3. 12.d5!? This move has been quite popular. Many strong players played it with White but somehow this
variation has not been checked in recent years and even the best players in the world are not familiar with
the best setups and pawn moves. Let me refresh you these ideas:
a. If you are Black, be careful with the move ...c4. Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is bad — it depends
very much of the position, so be careful!
b. If you are White you should try to create some pressure on the queenside with Na3. Otherwise, it is better
to play 12.Nbd2!
c. Black’s best setup is ...g6 and ...Nh5 ALWAYS! (I don’t like to say this word, but in this case I see it
constantly). Then Black decides whether the standard plan with ...Ng7, ...f6 and ...Nd8–f7 is good or it
might be better to try something faster with ...Bf6 and ...Nf4. The engine likes White almost all the time but
please, don’t trust it! In these closed positions the engine sometimes is very stupid. But once you show it the
good plan, it starts to understand that the space advantage is not as good as it had thought. In my opinion,
White can’t fight for the advantage with 12.d5 if Black is ready. Moreover, once you know what to do with
Black, it is very easy to play!
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CHAPTER 3.
11...Qc7 12.Nbd2, ROOK MOVES AND 12...cxd4
Qc7 12.Nbd2
Contents
1. 12...Re8, 12...Rd8
2. 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6, 13...Bb7
3. 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 Re8, 13...Rd8
4. 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 Bd7
1
12...Re8, 12...Rd8
Qc7 12.Nbd2
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12...Re8!
The better of the two rook moves.

12...Rd8?! This move is quite popular, with 675 games in my database. Some grandmasters have played it
quite often, including top ones like Almasi. If you remember the ...exd4 chapter, you know that White is
better with 13.b4! Nc6 (13...cxb4 14.cxb4 We already checked this.) 14.d5 cxb4 (The sacrifice is obviously
not forced, but if Black plays 14...Nb8 he’s just clearly worse because of the lack of space for his pieces.
For example 15.Nb3±, White takes the a5-square under control and plans to play a4 in the near future.)
15.dxc6 bxc3 16.Nf1 Qxc6 17.Ne3!±
Black doesn’t have enough compensation for the piece.
13.b4!
This move seems to be good here as well!
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13...cxb4 14.cxb4 Nc6
Now White gets the advantage with two different approaches.
15.Bb2!
This idea is better here. Now Black doesn’t have ...d5 ideas because the rook is on e8. 15.a3 White plays the
same as in the 12...Rd8 variation. 15...exd4 16.Bb2
16...Nd7 (16...Bb7 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Nd7 19.Rc1 Qd8 20.a4 Ne5 21.Bb3² ½–½ (35) Szczepanski, Z
(2461)-Szabo, V (2386) LSS email 2011) 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bf6 19.Nb3² In this typical position
Black can only dream of defending well and making a draw.
15...Nh5!
The best chance to seek counterplay.
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15...exd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4
17...Be6!?N (17...Bb7?! A few times players have agreed a draw in this position but after 18.Bb3! Rac8
19.Re3 Black’s position looks terrible. All White’s pieces are on the best squares and Black cannot create
any counterplay against the e-pawn.) 18.Rc1 Qb7 19.Nb3²
16.Rc1 Nf4 17.Bb1
17...Qd7
17...Bxh3!? Looks tempting, but White is better after 18.gxh3 Qd7 19.Re3! Nxh3+ 20.Kf1 and Black
doesn’t have enough compensation for the piece.
18.Nf1
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18...Nxb4
18...Bf6!?N might be the safest. Black doesn’t risk a thing and puts pressure in the centre. 19.d5 Ne7
20.Ne3 Neg6 21.Bc3 White is better but Black’s position is not so easy to crack.
18...exd4?! 19.Nxd4 Ne5 20.Nf5 g6
21.Rc3!! (21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 Now it’s difficult for White to fight against Black’s strong knights.) 21...gxf5
22.Rg3+ Kh8 (22...Kf8 23.Qc1!+–) 23.exf5 Bh4 24.Rg4! Nxh3+ 25.gxh3 Bf6
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26.Bxe5! White has no other way to increase the pressure. (26.Rg3 Bb7=) 26...Rxe5 27.Rxe5 dxe5
(27...Bxe5? 28.f6! To be followed by Qd3 with mate.) 28.Qc1 Bb7 29.Qh6 Qd8 30.Nd2
The position is clarified. Black is completely tied up and Be4 is coming for White. After he exchanges the
bishops and installs the knight on e4, the game is over. The only chance for Black is 30...Rc8 31.Be4 Rc1+
32.Nf1 Bxe4 33.Qxc1 Bxf5 34.Rg3 where Black’s weak king makes the position better for White.
19.Ne3!
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White is a pawn dawn but all his pieces are very well placed. Black needs to be very accurate to hold the
position.
19...Nc6 20.Nd5!
20.dxe5?! Nxe5 21.Nxe5 dxe5 22.Bxe5 Qxd1 23.Rcxd1 Ng6=
20...Nxd5
20...Nxg2!? 21.Kxg2 Qxh3+ 22.Kg1 Bg4 23.Re3 Qh5 24.Qd3±
21.exd5 Nxd4 22.Nxd4 exd4 23.Qxd4 Bf8
Here White has two options to fight for an advantage.
24.Qd3!?N
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24.Re4!? Rxe4 25.Qxe4 f5 26.Qf4 a5 27.g3 b4 28.Rxc8 Qxc8 29.Bxf5 Qe8 30.Qh4 h6 31.Kg2 Rb8 32.Qg4
Rb7 33.h4± ½–½ (81) Romanov, R (2410)-Cernovsky, K (2344) ICCF email 2013.
24...Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 f5 26.g4
White will follow up with gxf5 and Re6 at the right moment, sacrificing the exchange if necessary. The
position looks really hard to defend.
CONCLUSION OF 12...Re8 AND 12...Rd8

These moves are not so popular, but normally White doesn’t know how to play against them. The universal
system I offer against both with 13.b4 is simply very good for White in my opinion. Black should think
about doing something else instead of moving the rooks so early!
2
12...cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6, 13...Bb7
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13...Nc6
For many years this has been one of the most played variations. Black wants to force White to define the
situation in the centre as soon as possible.
13...Bb7?! 14.d5! This kind of move should be played without thinking. Immediately the knight on a5 and
the bishop on b7 are out of play. 14...Rac8 15.Bd3!
The easiest and the best, in my opinion. Here we will follow a game by my colleague. 15...Nd7 16.Nf1 Nc5
(16...f5?! 17.b3! f4 18.Bd2± Black’s attack on the kingside is far away and White won’t have any problems
to open the queenside at the right moment.) 17.b3!
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White should not be afraid of giving up the bishop. The most important thing is to keep the bishop on b7 out
of the game. 17...f5 (17...Nxd3 18.Qxd3± White will follow up with Ng3, Bd2 and Rc1, gaining a much
better position.) 18.exf5 Bf6 (18...Bxd5?! 19.Be2! This is the important point! 19...Bb7 20.b4+–) 19.Be4
(19.Bc2! was even better, although the variations are not so clear.) 19...Qf7 20.Ng3 Nxe4 21.Nxe4 Qxd5
22.Bd2± 1–0 (36) Kramnik, V (2754)-Sokolov, I (2685) Wijk aan Zee 2005.
14.Nb3!
By far the best way to keep the tension.

a) 14.d5?! Nb4 15.Bb1 a5! Black has perfect squares for his pieces. 16.Nf1 Bd7 17.Bd2 Rfc8 18.Ne3 Na6!
³ Adams, M (2505)-Ivanchuk, V (2660) Lucerne 1989.
b) 14.a3
An interesting waiting move. White wants to play d5 on the next move, when Black cannot play ...Nb4.
Kramnik, Anand and Caruana among others have made use of this move. 14...exd4 15.Nb3 Re8! Almost no
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games have been played with this, but it is the most logical move by far. Black immediately puts pressure
on e4. 16.Nbxd4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 Bb7
We reach a typical position where the activity on the e-file compensates for the weakness of the d-pawn.
18.Bf4 Bf8 19.Rc1 Qb6 20.Be3 Qd8= Ivanchuk, V (2746)-Svidler, P (2726) Dagomys 2009.
c) 14.Nf1?! Nxd4 15.Nxd4 exd4=
14...a5
15.Be3
Once again this is the only way to keep the tension.

15.d5?! Nb4! 16.Bb1 a4=
15...a4 16.Nbd2
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This position is critical. Now Black has two options: play with ...Nb4 and force White to play a3 in the
future, or play without ...Nb4. 16.Nc1?! The knight here is completely misplaced. 16...Bb7! This forces d5,
but Black is in time with the counterplay. 17.d5 Nb4 18.Bb1 Rfc8! 19.Re2 Na6 Following the typical plans
with ...Bd8, Black will have a completely satisfactory position.
16...Bd7
This is the main line.

a) 16...Nb4!? 17.Bb1 Bd7 18.a3 Nc6
19.Bd3! The real fight is on the queenside! (19.Ba2?! This appears to be the right square for the bishop, but
it is not! 19...Rac8 20.Rc1 Qb7 21.Qe2 Rfe8= White cannot exert any pressure. Now the engine decides that
is time to play Bb1–d3...) 19...Qb7 20.Qe2 White has developed all the pieces to the best squares. 20...Rfe8!
Black holds the position with tactics. (20...Rab8?! 21.Rab1! The rook is ready to enter into the game after
b3! 21...Rfe8 22.b3²) 21.Rac1! An impor ta nt move, directed against Black’s counterplay with ...b4. The
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great Anatoly Karpov already played like this. (21.d5?! Na5=; 21.Bxb5? Nxd4 22.Nxd4 exd4 23.Bxd7
dxe3 24.Bxe8 exd2³; 21.Rab1 exd4 22.Nxd4 b4! Black should be faster than White with the counterplay on
the queenside. 23.Nxc6 Bxc6 24.Bd4 Bd8 25.axb4 Qxb4 26.Bc3 Qb7=) 21...Rab8! (21...exd4N 22.Nxd4
Rab8 23.f4!² After this move, ...d5 is not possible any more. Black should be able to put pressure on e4, but
actually this is not possible. 23...Nxd4 24.Bxd4 Bc6 25.Kh2 Bd8 26.b4!±) 22.dxe5!
The typical way to handle the position. (22.Nf1?! exd4 23.Nxd4 Bf8=) 22...dxe5 (22...Nxe5 23.Nxe5 dxe5
24.Nf3 Bd6 25.Bc5² White has a small but stable edge.) 23.Bc5! we need the c5 square for our rook.
(Instead 23.Nb1?! b4! would have been complicated, while 23...Bd8 was Karpov — Hort. After many
complications, Karpov won.) 23...Bxc5 (23...Nh5?! 24.g3! Probably this is the move that Karpov didn’t see.
24...Bxh3 25.Bxe7 Rxe7 26.Ng5!+–) 24.Rxc5²;
b) 16...Re8!?N It’s incredible, but I couldn’t find any game with this typical move!
17.Rc1 Qb7 18.Nf1 Nb4 19.Bb1 These are the normal moves for White in this variation, but now comes
19...Be6! This is the difference! Black forces White to define the central position with d5. 20.d5 Bd7
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21.Qd2 Na6
Once again, the engine considers that White is better, but I’m not sure. Only practice can show us the path.
One possible variation would be 22.Ng3 g6 23.Bd3 Bf8 24.b4 The only plan I could find for White.
24...axb3 25.axb3 Nc5= Black has a good King’s Indian! Only the future will say if my novelty 16...Re8 is
good enough to set problems for White!
17.Rc1 Qb7
The idea is clear, both sides keep the tension. The one who finds the most useful moves is better. White’s
idea is to play dxe5 at the right moment and get some advantage on the c-file, as you should already know!
18.Nf1!
Here Black has many moves. This is considered to be one of the main positions in the Chigorin! Once
again, I consider myself ready to offer new ideas to the variation.
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18.Qe2?! The queen was misplaced and even Kramnik didn’t manage to get an advantage here. 18...Rfe8!
19.Bd3 Rab8 20.dxe5 Nxe5 21.Nxe5 dxe5 22.Bc5 Bc6 23.Bxe7 Rxe7 24.Nf3 h6 25.Rc5 Nd7 26.Rc3 Re6
27.Rec1 Rd8 28.Qc2 Nf6 29.Nxe5 Bxe4 30.Bxe4 Qxe4 31.Qxe4 Nxe4 32.Rc8= ½-½ (53) Kramnik, V
(2753)-Adams, M (2737) Sofia 2005.
18...Nb4!
a) 18...Rfe8 19.Ng3 Bd8 20.Qe2
Many games have reached this positions but the pattern is always the same. I will show only one game.
20...h6 21.dxe5! dxe5 22.Bd3 Nb4 23.Bb1! (23.Rc5?! Nxd3 24.Qxd3 Ba5 25.Bd2 Bb6 26.Rxe5 Rxe5
27.Nxe5 Be6 28.Qf3 Bd4 29.Nd3 Rd8© ½–½ (44) Dominguez Perez, L (2713)-Svidler, P (2750) Nice
2010) 23...Nc6 24.Nh4² White now has the advantage on both sides of the board.
b) 18...Rac8 19.Ng3 Rfe8 20.b3! axb3 21.Bxb3²
c) 18...Bd8 19.Ng3 Ba5 20.Rf1²
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Black should be careful with the kingside.
19.Bb1
19...Be6!N
Once again this idea! I like this the most. If Black does not play this, White will simply place every piece on
the best square and take on e5 at the right moment.
20.d5
20.a3 Bb3 21.Qd2 Na2! Great setup! 22.Rcd1 b4! Black is doing fine.
20...Bd7
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Again this kind of position appears on the board. According to the engine White is better but I’m not sure at
all. Practical tests are needed. I will try to show some ideas.
21.Qd2 Na6 22.Ng3 Rfc8 23.Bd3!
The typical way of improving the bishop.
23...Bd8 24.b4! axb3 25.axb3 Bb6 26.Rxc8+ Rxc8 27.Bxb6 Qxb6 28.b4
With Ra1 to follow, probably White is slightly better, but not much. Black is very solid as well and if he
manages to play ...f5 in the future he could be better!
3
12...cxd4 13.cxd4 Re8, 13...Rd8
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13...Re8
Black keeps the situation flexible once again. This move has been played by Voiculescu, a strong
correspondence chess player, and with good results!
13...Rd8 A very interesting move. Black aims for ...d5 if White is not careful. Many grandmasters have
played this variation. The one who is playing it the most is Ilya Smirin, he even had a game in 2018. 14.b4!
This concrete approach should be checked always. I found only 12 games and White has great results! The
only strong grandmaster who played like this was Sergey Zhigalko. Normally he is well prepared, so it
makes sense to trust him! Almost nobody knows this, so maybe it will earn you a point! I will not analyze
the other options really deeply. If you know 14.b4! it’s enough for White, and enough for Black to play
something different! (14.b3 Almost everyone plays like this but after 14...Bb7 15.Bb2 Nc6 16.Rc1 Qb6
there are many games with this position and I’m not sure how good it is for White; 14.Nf1 The standard
move 14...Nc6! 15.Be3 d5! Black is completely fine; 14.d5 Bd7 15.Bd3 Nb7 A typical closed position
where Black is more or less all right.) 14...Nc6 (14...Nc4?! 15.Nxc4 bxc4 16.d5! The pawn on c4 will be
weak. Zhigalko played excellently in the following game. 16...Bd7 17.a4 Nh5 18.Re3! The rook goes to c3,
the best square in the position. 18...Nf4 19.Rc3 Rdc8 20.Rb1 Bd8 21.Bxf4 exf4 22.Bd3± The pawn on c4
will fall. White won later in Zhigalko, S (2651) -Meribanov, V (2409) Minsk 2013) 15.a3!
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White plays calmly. Now d5 is a threat, so Black should do something. (15.Bb3 This is tempting, playing in
gambit style and speeding up the development, but Black seems to have the strong move 15...a5! 16.bxa5
Nxa5 17.Ba3 Qb7 To be followed by ...Nxb3 at the right moment, Black is fine.) 15...d5 The most
interesting option, although White’s next move is very strong...
[15...Nxd4 16.Nxd4 exd4 17.Bb2 Bb7 18.Rc1 Qd7 19.Nb3 Rac8
20.Nxd4!N This is very logical, with Nf5 ideas. (20.Bxd4 Re8 21.Qd3² ½–½ (43) Adair, J (2481)-Savage,
N (1991) West Bromwich 2016) 20...Ne8 21.Qd2± White is planning Bb3 and Rcd1 with strong pressure;
15...exd4 16.Bb2 Nd7 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4² A typical Keres position where White has everything
under control.]
16.Bb2!N
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It’s very difficult to make this kind of move with so much tension in the centre, but this seems to be very
good! (16.dxe5?! Nxe4 17.Bb2 a5! 18.bxa5 Qxa5 Black is very active; 16.exd5!? Nxd5 17.dxe5 a5!
18.bxa5 Nxa5 With ...Nc4 to follow. Black has some activity, although after 19.Be4 Rb8 20.Bb2 White is
better.) 16...a5 The best, although the position is bad anyway. (16...exd4 17.e5!±; 16...Nxd4 17.Nxd4 exd4
18.e5±; 16...dxe4? 17.dxe5! exf3 18.exf6+–) 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.bxa5 Nxa5 19.Nxe5±
14.Nf1!
a) 14.b3 White simply wants to finish his development before moving the knight from d2. 14...Bb7!? Black
goes for a positional trick. (14...Nc6 15.Bb2 Bd7 It’s another way of playing but there are no games yet.)
15.Bb2 (15.d5? Now this is wrong because of 15...Rac8! 16.Bd3 Qc3–+) 15...Nc6
16.Nf1! The most logical move, in my opinion. If White does not need to define the central position, it is
better not to.
a1) 16.Rc1 Qb6 17.Nf1 Bf8 18.Bb1 exd4 19.Ng3 Ne5 20.Nxd4 d5! was balanced in Schuetze, M (2427)-
349
Voiculescu, C (2538) ICCF email 2011;
a2) 16.a4?! White’s pieces are not ready to create weaknesses on the queenside. 16...Rec8 17.Bd3 Nb4!
18.Bb1 Nc2 19.Bxc2 Qxc2 20.Qxc2 Rxc2 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Bxe5 Bb4© Barnsley, A (2472)-Voiculescu, C
(2532) ICCF email 2012;
a3) 16.d5!? Nb4! 17.Bb1 a5 18.Qe2
18...Reb8!N I like this move very much. Black keeps the queenside more stable. At some point, ...Nh5–f4
will be annoying. (18...Rec8 After this move, White managed to create some problems on the queenside.
19.a3 Na6 20.Bd3 b4 21.axb4 Nxb4 22.Rec1 Qd8 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Nc4 Ba6 25.Bc3 Bxc4 26.Bxc4²
Pirhala, L (2310)-Cernovsky, K (2344) ICCF email 2013) 19.a3 Na6 20.Bd3 b4 21.axb4 Nxb4 22.Rec1
Qd8!
This is the difference! White doesn’t manage to exchange the rooks. 23.Bb5 Bc8 Now ...Nd7–c5 is coming
and the position is more or less balanced.
16...Rac8 17.Rc1 Qb6
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Now that White’s bishop is on b2, b6 is a good square for the queen. There are some games from this
position, and it seems like Black is more or less fine. 18.Ng3! (18.d5 Nb4 19.Bb1 a5„; 18.Qd2 d5! This
sharp try is working now. 19.dxe5 Bb4 20.Qf4 Bxe1 21.exf6 Qxf2+ 22.Kh2 Nd8 23.Bd4 Ne6 24.Bxf2
Nxf4 25.Nxe1 dxe4 26.Be3 Nd5 27.fxg7 Nxe3 28.Nxe3 Rc3 ½–½ Gueci, A (2370)-Triay Moll, L (2359)
ICCF email 2009) 18...g6 19.Qd2!?
A typical position. Both sides have played very precisely and found all the useful moves without defining
the position. Here I believe that there is a better try for Black. 19...a5!N This is an interesting waiting move,
after which White has to find some plan. (19...Nxd4 20.Nxd4 exd4 21.Bxd4 Qd8 22.Rcd1 Bf8 23.Bb1²
Black has managed to hold this position several times, but in my opinion it is a bit sad.) 20.Bd3 Now the
bishop goes to f1, in order to put some pressure on the queenside. 20...Nd7 (20...Bf8 21.Bf1 h5 22.d5 Nb8
23.a3 Nbd7 24.b4² Black has a permanent weakness on b5.) 21.Bf1 Bf6!? 22.d5 Ncb8∞
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This is some kind of King’s Indian where the bishops on b2 and b7 are misplaced. The engine always
supports White’s position a bit more, but Black has counter-chances.
b) 14.b4 Nc6 (14...Nc4?! 15.Nxc4 bxc4 16.d5² The c-pawn will be weak in the future.) 15.Bb2 Nh5!
Now that f4 is not protected, it seems to be interesting to jump there! 16.a3 Bf6 Black forces d5. 17.d5 Ne7
18.Nf1 Ng6„ Black’s knights are perfectly placed. His bishops will head for d7 and b6, via d8. In my view
both sides have more or less the same chances.
Back to 14.Nf1.
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14...exd4
Black releases the tension. The point is that now Black can coordinate his forces with ...Re8 and ...Bb7. It is
difficult for White to find a big advantage here.
a) 14...g6N No games with this move! Black gets ready to play ...exd4 at the right moment. 15.d5! White
has no more useful moves, so it’s time to close the centre. 15...Bd7 16.Bd3 Nb7 17.Be3² White is going to
win the battle on the queenside.
b) 14...Bb7?! 15.d5! The bishop on b7 is really misplaced, as you already know.
c) 14...Bd7 This would transpose to 13...Bd7.
15.Nxd4!
15.a4?! b4 16.Nxd4 Bb7! 17.Bf4 g6 18.Nd2 Rac8= 0–1 (56) Milde, L (2089)-Voiculescu, C (2538) ICCF
email 2011.
15...Bb7
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This is the critical position. Black is almost fine, but with active play White manages to get an advantage.
16.b3!
Of course, White tries to place the bishop on the best diagonal. At the same time, this move restricts the
knight on a5.
16.Ng3!? g6 17.Bg5
This is very sharp and probably good as well, although 16.b3 is simpler. 17...Rac8 (17...d5?! Here White has
the strong 18.Ndf5!N 18...gxf5 19.Nxf5 Bd8! 20.Re3 Nc4 21.Rg3 Kh8 22.exd5± White is a piece down but
everything is pointing at the kingside.) 18.Rc1 Nc4 19.b3²
16...Bf8N
The most normal move.
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16...d5?! This move is not usually good if White can push forward with his e-pawn. 17.e5 Ne4 18.Bf4 Nc6
19.Rc1 Qd7 20.Nxb5! axb5 21.Bxe4±
17.Bb2!
This pawn sacrifice is the key!

17.Ng3? d5!=
17...Nxe4 18.Nf5 d5 19.Nh6+ Kh8 20.Ne3 Qf4 21.Bxe4 Qxh6 22.Bxd5 Qg6 23.Qf3²
White is better thanks to his more active pieces.

4
12...cxd4 13.cxd4 Bd7
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Qc7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Bd7!
My favourite move in this position. This is the most flexible square for the bishop and Black connects the
rooks.
14.Nf1
14.b3? Rac8! This is the reason why I like ...Bd7!
14...Rfe8!
This move has not been played a lot but in my opinion it gives new live to the 12...cxd4 variation. I’m not
sure how big White’s advantage is. Black keeps the position very flexible.
14...Rac8?!
Almost everyone plays this move here, but it is a mistake! White wants to place the knight on e3 and with
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this move, we are simply helping him. We are not creating real pressure on the c-file. Moreover, sometimes
the rook on a8 is needed to fight against White’s play on the a-file. 15.Ne3 Rfe8 (15...Bd8 16.Bd2!N
16...Re8 17.Bc3²) 16.Bd2! This is the extra possibility that Black should avoid, and because of that I
consider the 14...Rc8 move order a mistake. 16...Nc6 (16...Nc4 17.Nxc4 bxc4 18.Bc3²) 17.d5 Nd4 18.Bd3
Nxf3+ 19.Qxf3²
15.b3!
Once again, White keeps all his options open.

a) 15.Ne3?! Nc6! 16.d5 Nb4 17.Bb1 a5 Black has got a good version of this variation.
b) 15.Ng3 This is the standard plan, although I’m not a fan of losing the opportunity to play Ne3. 15...Rac8
Now White has two possibilities. 16.Re2! White wants to have the possibility to play with Bb3. Moreover,
d5 on the next move is stronger than it usually is.
[16.Bd3 exd4 (16...Nc6 17.Be3 exd4 18.Nxd4 d5 Again the same idea,but here White is slightly better.
19.exd5 Nb4 20.Ndf5 Bxf5 21.Nxf5 Nbxd5 22.Bd4²) 17.Nxd4 d5!N A very sharp try. No games with this
but Black equalizes here!
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18.e5 (18.exd5 Bd6 19.Rxe8+ Rxe8 20.Ndf5 Nc4 21.Nxd6 Qxd6 The pawn on d5 will fall and the position
is more or less equal.) 18...Bb4! 19.Re2 Rxe5 20.Bf4 Rxe2 21.Bxc7 Re1+ 22.Qxe1 Bxe1 23.Be5 Bb4
24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Nh5 Be7∞ Black is a pawn up but White has good activity, so the chances are balanced.]
16...Nc6 This is the only move for Black to get a reasonable position. White’s d5 was already a threat,
although many strong players have failed to recognize this. (16...g6 17.d5!N White closes the centre and is
ready to start action on the queenside. 17...Nc4 18.Bd3 Nb6 19.b3±; 16...Bd8?! 17.d5! h6 18.b3 Qa7
19.Rb1 Nb7 20.b4 a5 21.a3 Kh7 22.Bd3 a4 23.Qd2 Ng8 24.Bb2 Bb6 25.Kh1 Rc7 26.Nh4 Rec8 27.Ngf5±
1–0 (51) Ibarra Padron, J (2452)-Manduch, M (2466) ICCF email 2007)
17.d5 Probably the best try for advantage.

b1) 17.a3?! d5!N This typical move seems to equalize again. 18.dxe5 Nxe5 19.Nxe5 Qxe5 20.exd5 Qxd5=
b2) 17.Bg5!? Directed against Black’s central activity. 17...h6 18.Be3 (18.Bh4 g5! There is no mate.)
18...exd4 19.Nxd4 d5! I don’t believe that ...h6 was so bad for Black.
b3) 17.Be3!? exd4 18.Nxd4 d5! Now the game becomes extremely forced. 19.Nxc6 Bxc6 20.e5 Qxe5
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21.Bf5 Bd7 22.Bd4 Qd6 23.Bxf6 Bxf6
24.Rxe8+ (24.Ne4 Rxe4 25.Bxe4 Be6 26.Bd3 g6© ½–½ (31) Palac, M (2582)-Rogic, D (2502) Kutina
2006) 24...Rxe8 25.Ne4 Rxe4 26.Bxe4 Be6 Black didn’t have any problems playing this position the
exchange down. 27.Rc1 g6 28.Qd2 h6 29.h4 Kg7 30.Bf3 b4 31.g3 a5 32.b3 h5 33.Kg2 ½–½ Cornejo, W
(2503)-Cordoba, H (2555) ICCF email 2007.
17...Nb4 18.Bb3 a5
19.Bd2!N A very important move for theory. (19.a3?! This has always been played, but White loses an
important tempo to get counterplay on the queenside. 19...Na6 20.Bc2 a4=) 19...Qa7!? Black is ready to
activate the e7-bishop as soon as possible. This is my favourite move. (19...Na6?! 20.a4! Nc5 (20...b4
Closing the position is not good either. 21.Be3 Qb7 22.Rc1 Rxc1 23.Qxc1 Rc8 24.Rc2 Rxc2 25.Qxc2 Bd8
26.Bc4 Bb6 It seems that Black is doing fine, but it is not so easy. 27.Bxb6 Qxb6 28.Bxa6! Qxa6 29.b3±
Only White can win; a knight on c4 will be extremely annoying. After that, White will only have to
exchange the queens to win the game!) 21.axb5 Bxb5 22.Re3 a4 23.Bc2²
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White has managed to open the queenside. Moreover, the rook on the third rank is perfectly placed for
action on both sides of the board.) 20.Ne1 (20.a4!? Bd8! 21.axb5 Bxb5 22.Bxb4 Bxe2 23.Qxe2 Qb8! This
move is the key! 24.Bxd6 Qxd6 25.Ba4 Rf8∞) 20...Bd8 21.Bxb4 axb4 22.Nc2 Qc5
The position is very strange. White will grab the pawn on b4 and will be a pawn up, but Black will have
good play on the dark squares. The game could continue 23.Qe1 h5 24.Nxb4 h4 25.Nf1 Ba5 26.a3 Nh5
Here the engine favours White’s position but in a practical game both sides will have chances.
c) 15.d5?! Rec8! Of course this rook! Now the e5-pawn is more than protected. 16.Ne3 Nb7! Black will
make use of the typical middlegame ideas with a good game.
d) 15.Bg5 White tries to take control of the d5 square. 15...h6 16.Bh4 Rac8 17.Rc1 Nc6=.
Back to 15.b3.
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15...Nc6
15...Rac8!? is the other move order to get into the same position: 16.Ne3 Nc6 17.Bb2 Bf8 18.Rc1 Qd8
transposing.
16.Bb2 Rac8
16...Nxd4?! 17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Rc1 Qd8 19.Qxd4 Bf8 20.Rcd1± 1–0 (40) Tal, M-Gligoric, S Reykjavik
1964.
17.Ne3
a) 17.Ng3?! This common move is not good here because of 17...Bd8!=. Black has nice control over e5.
The only thing that is left is to place the bishop on b6.
b) 17.Rc1!? Qb7 18.Ne3 Bf8 This is another possibility. The lines are very similar to the main line.
17...Bf8!
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We reach, in my opinion, one of the critical moments in the 12...cxd4 variation where it is not so easy for
White to prove an advantage, if indeed there is one! Only a few grandmaster games here. My engine doesn’t
manage to crack Black’s position.
18.Rc1 Qd8
This move is the key! This idea, played by the correspondence chess player Garcia Rodriguez, looks quite
good. Black is ready to play ...exd4 on the next move. It’s very strange that d8 is the best square for the
queen but it is the only square that controls the kingside and the queenside at the same time!
a) 18...Nxd4?! 19.Nxd4 exd4
20.Bxd4 (20.e5?! dxe3 21.Rxe3 dxe5 22.Bxh7+ Kxh7 23.Rxc7 Rxc7 24.Bxe5 Rxe5 25.Rxe5 Rc6= 0–1 (38)
Nikolic, B (2079)-Sprenger, E (2435) ICCF corr. 1988) 20...Qd8 21.Qf3±.
b) 18...Qa7
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19.d5! (19.Nd5!? Nxd5 20.exd5 Nxd4 21.Nxd4 exd4 22.Rxe8 Rxe8 23.Bxd4 Qb8 24.Bb2 Qd8 25.Qd3
Qh4 26.Rd1 Rc8= 0–1 (47) Rios Parra, A (2335)-Van Riemsdijk, H (2400) Merida 1993) 19...Ne7 20.Nh2
Ng6 21.Nhg4 Be7 22.g3 Nxg4 23.hxg4 Bg5 24.Bd3² ½–½ (52) Illescas Cordoba, M (2605)-Miralles, G
(2515) Escaldes 1998.
c) 18...Qb7!? This is interesting as well, but probably ...Qd8 is more accurate.
19.d5!
I couldn’t find any good waiting move, so it’s time to change the pawn structure.
a) 19.Bb1 Nxd4 20.Nxd4 Rxc1 21.Qxc1 exd4 22.Nf5 Qc8 23.Qxc8 Bxc8 24.Nxd4 Bb7= ½–½ (38)
Vuillemin, G (2177)-Rakhimov, R (2142) ICCF email 2014.
b) 19.Qd2 exd4 20.Nd5 (20.Nxd4 Nxe4³) 20...g6!
An important move. Black needs to improve the f8-bishop. 21.Nxd4 Bg7 22.Nf3 Ne5 Garcia Rodriguez got
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this position twice and had no problems. 23.Nxe5 (23.Nxf6+ Bxf6 24.Nd4 Nc6 25.Nxc6 Bxc6 26.Bxf6
Qxf6 27.Bb1 Bb7= ½–½ (34) Marconi, R (2062)-Garcia Rodriguez, I (2054) ICCF email 2011) 23...dxe5
24.Bb1 Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Nxd5 26.exd5 Qb6 27.b4 ½–½ Pietrocola, R (2173)-Garcia Rodriguez, I (2054)
ICCF email 2011.
c) 19.Re2!?N 19...g6 20.Rd2 exd4 21.Nxd4 Nxd4 22.Bxd4 h5= Black’s waiting moves were better!
19...Nb4!N
This seems to be the most logical move in my opinion, although I couldn’t find any game with it. This
novelty in my opinion changes the whole evaluation of 12...cxd4! It was considered to be passive but now I
think that it is completely playable!
19...Ne7?! A bit too passive in my opinion, although quite solid as this game shows. 20.h4 Ng6 21.g3 Qb6
22.Qd2 Be7 23.Bd3 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 h6 25.Kg2 Ra8 26.a3 Bd8 27.a4 Qb8 28.Ba3 Bc7 29.Ra1 Qd8 30.Qd1
½–½ Mamutov, S (2150)-Duplenko, V (2322) ICCF email 2011.
20.Bb1 a5
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Black creates a retreat square for the knight. Later Black will play with ...Na6 and ...Qb6. Then, if possible,
... Be7 followed by ...Bd8–b6. White should try to prove that he can make use of his space advantage. One
possible line is
21.Rxc8 Bxc8 22.Bc1 Na6 23.Nh2 h5!
Preventing Ng4.
24.Qf3 g6
Black seems to be all right. The engine shows that White is marginally better but Black has chances as well,
with. ...Nd7–c5 coming fast.
13.cxd4
CONCLUSIONS ON THE 12...cxd4 LINE
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This variation is considered very passive for Black and nowadays almost no one plays like this. In my
opinion people are not very well prepared at all to play with either side. There are many old games with
typical mistakes. It looks like this variation didn’t pass the 21st century test — till now! My conclusions are
the following:
1. 13...Re8 is a very interesting try with the idea of ...exd4 as soon as possible. Here White has some pawn
sacrifices and gets a better position.
2. 13...Rd8 is very interesting as well and has given good results to many grandmasters, but the strong idea
14.b4! refutes it.
3. 13...Bb7 is simply bad, you cannot let your opponent kill your bishop with d5!
4. 13...Nc6 The old main line. I think that White is slightly better in some variations but the fresh idea with
16...Re8!?N gives me some hope that Black can still play this. As well in the main line, my idea with
18...Nb4 and 19...Be6 seems to give a reasonable position for Black, although maybe White is a bit better.
5. 13...Bd7 This is simply good. I analyzed many opportunities for White but somehow I failed to show any
advantage. There are a few positions where White can be slightly better if he plays extremely accurately,
but in these positions White is taking some risk as well because normally White pushes d5 and aims to
make use of the space advantage. If White fails to do that, in the future... f5 might come and Black will be
better! It will be interesting for me to see the evolution of this variation. Nowadays, the evolution is frozen
but after this book maybe everything will change!
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CHAPTER 4.
11...Qc7 12.Nbd2 Nc6, OLD MAIN LINE
Qc7 12.Nbd2 Nc6
Contents
1. 13.--
2. 13.d5
1
13.--
Qc7 12.Nbd2 Nc6
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Black wants to define the situation in the centre as soon as possible.
13.dxc5
This is common for people who don’t like closed positions. White’s strategy is also very easy to play, so it
is normal that many players favour this system. Anyway, if Black plays the best moves, I believe he doesn’t
have any problems.
13.Nf1?! No time to keep the tension. 13...cxd4 14.cxd4 Here Black has to decide how to capture.
14...Nxd4 The easiest way, in my opinion. (14...exd4 15.Ng3 Re8 16.b3!N 16...Nd7 17.Bb2 g6 18.Nxd4
The position is more or less balanced, but I slightly prefer White.) 15.Nxd4 exd4 In the past this was topical
for some time. In the end, it was established that Black is doing fine. 16.Ng3
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(16.Bg5?! Qc5 17.Bh4 Be6³) 16...Re8!?N This normal move makes things much easier. (16...Nd7 17.Bb3!
could be a bit problematic, as in Lasker-Tarrasch.) 17.Bg5 (17.Bb3 Qb6 18.a4 Be6³) 17...h6 18.Bxf6 Bxf6
19.Nh5 Qd8=
13...dxc5
14.Nf1
14.Qe2!? This move order could be interesting, although there are almost no games here. 14...Nh5! Black
should make use of the f4-square.
[14...Rd8 15.Nf1 Be6 We are into the main lines; 14...Be6 15.Ng5! Bd7 16.Nf1
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16...h6?! Black creates weaknesses with this move. (16...Rfe8!?N The typical waiting move. 17.Ne3 h6
18.Nf3 Be6 19.Nh4 Bf8 20.Qf3 The engine considers the position equal but in a practical game I think it is
a bit easier to play with White.) 17.Nf3 Be6 18.Nh4! Rfd8 19.Nf5 Bxf5?! (19...c4 was more stubborn
although after 20.N1e3 White is better.) 20.exf5² 1–0 (41) Elsbergs, J (1793)-Sileika, A (1664) ICCF email
2016.]
15.Nf1 Rb8
A mysterious waiting move suggested by the engine. Black gets ready to handle a4. 16.Ne3 Nf4 17.Qd1
Na5! Black anticipates 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 f6 and later the knight will go to c4 and d6 with good play.
14...Be6
The most natural move. Black should try to take the d5 square under control.
14...Rd8
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I don’t like to define the position of the rook so fast, although many people do it. 15.Qe2 Rb8!? Once again
this interesting waiting move. It was very popular at the beginning of the 60s. Black is doing fine so far.
[15...Be6 16.Ne3 This is the main line.; 15...Nh5?! I don’t like to give up control of the d5 square.
Moreover, White now has a very interesting way of playing. 16.g4! A very important move that kills the
line! 16...Nf4 (16...Nf6 17.Ne3²) 17.Bxf4 exf4 18.e5! g6 19.Qe4± White will be a pawn up and Black
doesn’t have enough counterplay.]
16.Ne3 g6
17.Nh2!? A very interesting practical try.

[17.Ng5!? Although this move objectively doesn’t seem to work, again Black faces some interesting
problems. 17...Bf8! 18.Qf3 Bg7 19.Nd5 Qd6? (19...Nxd5! 20.exd5 Na5³) 20.Be3 h6 21.Nxf6+ Bxf6
22.Rad1+– 1–0 (31) Tal M-Averbakh, Y Riga 1961. In the first part of the book this game is well analyzed.;
17.a4 Bf8 18.axb5 axb5 19.Nh2 Be6
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20.Nhg4 (20.Qf3 Bg7 21.Nhg4 Nxg4 22.hxg4 Nd4! 23.cxd4 cxd4 24.Bb1 dxe3= ½–½ (42) Gipslis, A-
Smyslov, V Tbilisi 1967) 20...Nxg4 21.hxg4 Rd6 22.g5 Qd7 23.Rd1 Rxd1+ 24.Bxd1 Qd8 25.Ng4 Bxg4
26.Qxg4 Ra8= ½–½ (57) Polugaevsky, L-Averbakh, Y Moscow 1961.]
17...Be6 18.Nhg4
18...c4!N If you can play this strong positional move, do it!

[18...Rd6!? 19.a4! c4 20.axb5 axb5 21.Qf3 Nxg4 22.hxg4 Rbd8 23.g5
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23...Na5?! (23...R6d7 24.g4 I would be worried about getting mated on the h-file! But the computer defends
with 24...b4 25.Kg2 bxc3 26.bxc3 Na5 27.Rh1 Nb3 28.Bxb3 cxb3 29.Qh3 h5! 30.Qh4 Kg7 31.gxh5 Rh8!
and Black is on top! A really nice resource to defend the position.) 24.Qg3?! Here White missed his chance.
(24.Nf5! gxf5 25.exf5 Bd5 26.Qh5 Bf8 27.f6 e4 28.Bf4!+–) 24...R6d7 25.Nd5 Bxd5 26.exd5 Rxd5³ ½–½
(39) Keres, P-Dunkelblum, A Beverwijk 1964.]
19.Qf3 Nxg4 20.hxg4 Qa5!
With the idea of ...Nd4. The position is still very complex, but the chances appear to be balanced.
15.Ne3
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15.N3h2?! Rad8 16.Qe2 c4! with the idea ...Nd7–c5 Black is already better.
15...c4!
I like this move very much. Black almost always needs to play like this. It’s very important not to define the
rooks’ placement yet. Now, if White plans the manoeuvre Ng5xe6, the rook on f8 will be perfectly placed.
Anyway, I found this move only after understanding that Fischer-Kholmov is not as promising for Black as
everyone thought!
a) 15...Rfd8 16.Qe2 h6
According to the engine this position is satisfactory for Black, but in a practical game it’s very dangerous
for Black because of the next ideas. 17.Nh4!?N (17.g4!? I like this attacking thrust. Maybe Black can
defend against the g5 ideas, but his task is quite hard.) 17...Bf8 18.Nhf5² White has better pieces.
b) 15...Rad8 16.Qe2 c4!
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This is considered to be the best way of facing the 13.dxc5 variation. I think is quite good, but maybe White
has some extra chances which have not been discovered yet. 17.Ng5 (17.Nf5!? Rfe8 18.Be3!N White
should fight against ...Bc5 ideas. 18...Bxf5 19.exf5 h6! To prevent Bg5. Like this, Black will control the e4
square better. 20.a4∞ The position is unbalanced. The engine offers his famous 0.00 evaluation. Probably
that is right, but in my opinion Black is the one who needs to play a bit more accurately; 17.Nh2? Nd4
18.cxd4 exd4µ) 17...h6 18.Nxe6 fxe6
19.b3! (19.b4? Nd4!! 20.cxd4 exd4µ Fischer, R-Kholmov, R Havana 1965) 19...Bc5 Of course Fischer
didn’t like this position, but things are still complicated if White keeps calm. 20.Rd1!N White should try to
exchange some pieces with the hope of gaining a better static position thanks to the weaknesses on e6 and
e5. In my opinion this changes the whole evaluation of the variation! What Kholmov found is good, but
maybe not enough... (20.bxc4?! b4 21.cxb4 Bxb4³) 20...Rxd1+ (20...Nd4?! 21.cxd4 exd4 22.bxc4 dxe3
23.Bxe3 Bxe3 24.Qxe3 bxc4 25.e5 Nd5 26.Qe4 Rf5 27.Rd4 Qxe5 28.Re1 Qxe4 29.Rexe4² White will
recover the pawn and will be on top in the endgame.) 21.Nxd1 Qd6
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22.b4 (22.bxc4 b4 23.cxb4 Nxb4 24.Be3 a5 Probably Black has enough compensation for the pawn.)
22...Bb6 23.a4² White is slightly better. The only thing he has to do is to get out slowly from his cave.
Back to 15...c4.
16.Nf5!
The best try for White.

16.Ng5?! h6! 17.Nxe6 fxe6
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Black has not played ...Rad8 yet, and this can be a very important factor. 18.Qe2 (18.b3 b4! 19.Bd2 bxc3
20.Bxc3 Bc5„) 18...Nd4! Black’s counter-attack comes immediately! This pattern is seen several times in
the first part of the book. 19.cxd4 exd4 20.Nf1 Bc5 21.Bd1 d3 22.Qd2 Rad8
Black is down a piece for a pawn but White cannot move!! It is not surprising that the engine gives
advantage for Black!
16...Rfe8!N
Black is ready for ...Bf8 and ...Nd7–c5.

16...Nd7?!
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17.Ng5!N (17.Nxe7+ Nxe7 18.Ng5 Nc5 19.Qh5 h6 20.Nxe6 Nxe6 21.Be3² 1–0 (56) Rittner, H-Sorri, K
Netherlands 1982) 17...Bxf5 (17...Nc5 18.Nxh7! Kxh7 19.Qh5+ Kg8 20.Nxg7! and Black will be mated
soon!) 18.exf5 Bxg5 19.Bxg5±
17.Nxe7+
17.N3h4 Bf8 18.Qf3 Nd7 19.Qg3 f6 and I cannot see the mate.
17...Nxe7 18.Be3 Ng6=
Black has everything under control. His position seems to be easier already.
2
13.d5
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Qc7 12.Nbd2 Nc6 13.d5!
This is the best. It’s true that the position becomes closed, but even there sometimes time matters! In my
opinion, if White doesn’t play this here, he can forget about being better.
13...Nd8
This old plan, played by Rubinstein and Botvinnik, contains more poison than might be expected, as you
could understand from the middlegame part of this book. Here I will try to show you the best ideas for
White, because I don’t consider this a reliable line for Black.
13...Na5 This will be like 12.d5 but with a tempo up for White. Maybe this is not so terrible, but a tempo is
a tempo! 14.b3! This move is always useful. Now White can think about playing c4 at the right moment.
14...Bd7 15.c4!? Rfb8 16.Bd3!N
Easy and effective! 16...g6 (16...b4?! 17.a3 Nb7 18.Nf1 a5 19.a4!± It’s true that everything is closed, but
379
White will have a free hand to start an attack on the kingside. Black has no counterplay.) 17.Nf1 Nh5
(17...bxc4 18.bxc4 Nh5 19.Ne3 Nf4 20.Bf1±) 18.Ne3 Nf4 19.Bf1 Nb7 20.Bd2 b4 21.Ng4!
An interesting idea, forcing Black’s next move. 21...h5 22.Ne3!± Now ...f5 is much more difficult to
achieve. Then White has to improve his position slowly and, thanks to his space advantage, it will be much
easier for him to manoeuvre. Don’t worry about the closed queenside, one side is enough to win!
14.a4!
Here I consider this plan better.

14.c4 It’s very tempting to play with c4 again, but there are differences. 14...g6! Black is ready for his
knight manoeuvres on the kingside and White is not in time to create problems! 15.a4 b4 16.Nf1 Ne8
17.Bh6 Ng7 18.g4 f6 19.Ng3 Nf7 20.Be3 Kh8 21.Kh2 Rg8 22.Rg1 Bd7
Both sides have played nice and logically. The engine keeps on shouting that White is much better but it’s
difficult for me to imagine how to break through Black’s position. 23.Qe2 Raf8 24.Rg2 Qc8 25.Rag1 Ng5
380
26.Nd2 Nf7 27.b3 ½–½ Haag, E-Kholmov, R Tbilisi 1969.
14...Rb8
This is Black’s idea. The queenside should be as closed as possible. Afterwards, Black starts jumping with
the knights on the kingside and dreaming of ...f5. At the beginning of 2018, I had the luck to play against
the German grandmaster Rene Stern, a specialist in this variation. He had had good results so I spent hours
on preparation, aiming to break his wall. After few hours of analyzing games and checking variations, I
came up with a new and interesting way of playing which I’m ready to share with you!
15.b4!
After many hours, I understood that this was the best line for White.
a) 15.b3 This is a normal move, but too slow here. 15...g6! Black starts his standard plan. 16.Qe2 Nh5
17.Nb1!? Trying to put pressure on the queenside. (17.Nf1 f6 18.Bh6 Re8 Now after ...Nf7 and ...Ng7,
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Black will get the typical comfortable position. The engine keeps on giving advantage for White but the
deeper you check it, the better is Black’s position!) 17...Bd7 18.Bh6 Re8 19.Bd3 Bf8 (19...f6!? was
interesting as well. 20.Be3 Nf7 21.Nbd2 Ng7 And ...f5 will follow.) 20.Bc1 Nf4 21.Bxf4 exf4 22.axb5
axb5 23.Qd2 Bh6∞ ½–½ (94) Gipslis, A-Karpov, A Riga 1970.
b) 15.c4?! b4 16.Nf1
16...g6! 17.Ng3 (17.g4?! h5!³) 17...Ne8 Once again, White can do nothing against the dance of the knights.
18.Bh6 Ng7 19.Nh2 f6 20.f4 exf4 21.Bxf4 Nf7=
15...Nb7
The most stubborn try. Black doesn’t define the position.

a) 15...Bd7
I considered this move to be inaccurate before I started this book but after checking it deeply I think maybe
382
it’s not that bad! 16.bxc5 The easiest, changing the nature of the position. 16...Qxc5 (16...dxc5? 17.axb5
axb5 18.c4! b4 19.Bb2! Very important. Black is not in time for ...Ne8 and ...f6. 19...Bd6 20.Ra6 Ne8
21.Rxd6! Nxd6 22.Nxe5+– No one can stop the pawns! Saric, I (2609)-Breutigam, M (2403) Karlsruhe
2017) 17.axb5 (17.Re3 Qc7 18.Ba3 Re8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bb4 Nb7 Black is doing fine.) 17...axb5 18.Ba3
Qxc3 19.Re3 Qc7
20.Bb4! The positional approach looks like the best way to go.
[20.Nxe5 This was my preparation but things are not so clear. 20...Bxh3! The only move for Black to keep
fighting. (20...b4 21.Nxd7 Nxd7 22.Bb2²) 21.Ndf3!?N (21.Rxh3?! dxe5 22.Bxe7 Qxe7= 1–0 (56) Huerga
Leache, M (2426)-Grotnes, N (2197) Plovdiv 2010; 21.Nd3 Bg4! 22.Qb1 Re8 23.Nb4 Ra8∞ 1–0 (55)
Vovk, A (2551)-Longson, A (2281) Hastings 2011) 21...Bg4 22.Nxg4 Nxg4 23.Rb3 Bf6 24.Bb2 Bxb2
25.Rxb2 Nb7! 26.Nd4 Ne5 27.Rxb5 Nc5=
The position is more or less balanced.]

20...Re8 21.Rc3 White has more than compensation. There are a few correspondence games where Black
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manages to hold, but in a human game I consider this to be very difficult. 21...Qb7 22.Bd3 Rc8
Now White has two options, both favourable to him. 23.Rb3 (23.Rca3 Qb8 24.Qe2²) 23...Qb6 24.Ba5 Qb8
25.Rbb1 Rc5 26.Qf1² Soon the pawn on b5 will fall. Jensen, E (2415)-Sandstroem, B (2362) ICCF email
2009.
b) 15...c4?! Too soon for this move. 16.Nf1 Ne8 Black starts his typical plan. There are many ways of
playing. I will only show you one game from Negi, who plays a great game up to a certain point. 17.g4! The
idea is not to attack; this is aimed against ...f5. 17...g6 18.Ng3 Ng7 19.Be3 f6 20.Kh2!
The rook can go to the g-file if Black plays ...f5. This makes the counterplay for Black impossible. Now the
only thing he can do is sit and wait. 20...Nf7 21.Rg1 Kh8 22.Nd2 Bd7 23.Qe2 Rg8 24.f3 Rb7 25.h4
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This position deserves to be remembered, because it can be a typical way of handling the position. White’s
advance h5 will come at the right moment, creating weaknesses on the kingside. In case the kingside is
closed, White will go to the queenside! I like the fact that White did not capture on b5 very early; this way
the rooks were not exchanged. 25...Rf8 26.Rg2 Rbb8 27.h5! g5 28.h6!? Negi was worried about a
completely closed position, but I don’t think this was a problem. (28.Rgg1 h6 29.Ra3 Kg8 30.Rga1 Bd8
31.R1a2 Qb7 32.axb5 axb5 33.Ra7 Qc8 34.Qf2 The first part of the plan has been accomplished. White
should try in the future to sacrifice on c4 and get two passed pawns. I believe this should be enough to win,
but that is not so easy to prove!) 28...Ne8 29.Rgg1 Nxh6 30.Rh1 Rf7 31.Kg2± White eventually won, but
after loads of adventures! Negi, P (2662)-Spraggett, K (2568) Linares 2013
Back to 15...Nb7.
16.a5!
This move might not appear logical, but in reality it is. Let me explain why. The queenside is closed, so
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Black cannot create counterplay there. The good thing for White is that he can play c4 or bxc5 at the right
moment, so if Black wants everything completely closed, he should play ...c4. In the endgame this will
allow a piece sacrifice on c4 and if White is doing well, he will probably take the pawn on a6 as well, with
decisive advantage. The push ...c4 also has the problem that the g1–a7 diagonal is opened. This might allow
White to invade on the queenside in the future. It’s true, White doesn’t have the a-file, but was it possible to
make use of it? I checked many games and in my opinion, Black was doing all right.
16.axb5 axb5 17.Nf1 Bd7
Black’s play is very easy. I will show some games to help you understand why 16.axb5 is not dangerous.
Even if the engine gives 0.50 for White at the beginning, it always goes down, trust me! 18.Be3 (18.Bd2
Ra8! The first sign that I don’t like this for White. Black is fighting for the file! 19.Ne3 Rfb8 20.Bd3 c4
21.Bc2 Rxa1 22.Qxa1 Qc8 23.Qb2 Ra8 24.Ra1 g6= ½–½ (120) Neiksans, A (2624)-Stern, R (2521)
Germany 2017) 18...Ra8 19.Qd2 Rfb8
20.Bd3 (20.Ng3 g6 21.Bd3 c4 22.Bc2 Nd8 23.Nh2 Ne8 24.f4 exf4 25.Bxf4 f6 26.Nf3 Nf7 27.Nd4 Ng7
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28.Be3 Qc8= ½–½ (32) Haba, P (2502)-Bromberger, S (2511) Germany 2012) 20...Qc8 21.Ng3 Rxa1
22.Rxa1 c4 23.Bc2 Ra8 24.Rf1 Ne8 25.Nh2 f6 26.f4 exf4 27.Bxf4 Nd8 28.Nf3 Nf7= 1–0 (58) Georgiadis,
N (2473)-Stern, R (2521) Germany 2017.
16...Bd7!
16...Ne8 Black immediately starts his plan. 17.Nf1 g6
18.Ng3 (18.Bh6?! The first step in the wrong direction, even if the computer supports it! This move looks
very good but it has a big problem: it only loses time. The point is that Black’s knight on d8 belongs on f7
and it will protect the kingside. Normally, is difficult to mate a king when a defending knight is around,
imagine with two! 18...Ng7 19.g4?! As we saw in other variations, this move is only good in very concrete
circumstances, for example if White manages to play h4–h5. If not, it doesn’t help White’s position.
19...Nd8 20.Ng3 f6 21.Qd2 Nf7= ½–½ (37) Szabo, K (2510)-Rubil, M (2306) Austria 2017. There is no
attack any more and Black will try to slowly prepare ...f5. In case this is not possible, the position cannot be
opened and we will have a draw, although only Black has chances.) 18...Ng7 19.Qe2! I keep my options
open. I might play on the queenside as well so before making the famous tour with the knight, Black should
close the position. (19.Nh2 f5!„) 19...Nd8
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20.Be3 (20.c4!? This is very typical, but the advantage is not so big. 20...cxb4 21.cxb5 Rxb5 22.Ba4 Rxa5
23.Bd2 Bd7 24.Bxd7 Rxa1 25.Rxa1 Qxd7 26.Bxb4²) 20...c4 (20...f6 21.c4!±) 21.Nh2! Now White is ready
to play f4. 21...f6 (21...f5 22.exf5 gxf5 23.Nh5!±) 22.f4! exf4 23.Bxf4 Nf7 24.Nf3 Bd7 25.Rf1±
Black is solid but has too many weaknesses and no counterplay. This was the kind of position I got in my
analysis and I was happy about it. Black can only wait. 25...Rbe8 26.Qd2 Kh8 27.Rf2 Kg8 28.Raf1 Kh8
29.Kh2 Kg8 30.Nd4 Kh8 31.Nge2 Kg8 32.g4 Kh8 33.Ng3 Kg8 34.Rg2 Kh8 35.Nh1 Kg8 36.Nf2 Kh8
37.h4!
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And White increases the pressure. I decided to finish my preparation here, it was getting too much...
17.Nf1
17...Nd8 18.Ng3 g6
18...Ne8 19.Nf5!? Bxf5 20.exf5²
19.Bg5!?
I decided to make use of the tactical possibilities of the position, although the plan with Qe2 which I saw
before is good as well.
19...Bc8 20.Qd2 Ne8
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21.Bh6!
The move order is very important!

21.bxc5? dxc5 22.Bh6 f6! 23.Bxf8 Bxf8 and Black has great compensation for the exchange.
21...Ng7 22.bxc5!
The whole point of my conception. White makes the typical moves but now I have an extra option!
22...dxc5
22...Qxc5 23.Be3 Qc7 24.c4 Qxc4 25.Bb6!+– The queen cannot escape.
23.Nxe5 f6 24.Nd3 Nf7 25.Bf4
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And I later won in Salgado Lopez, I (2629)-Stern, R (2522) Germany 2018, although not without
difficulties!
12...Nc6
CONCLUSIONS ON 12...Nc6
This variation is the oldest in the Chigorin. In this case, we cannot say that old is always good! Black’s play
is too schematic and if White is well prepared he should get some advantage. I will comment the variations
one by one:
1. 13.Nf1?! Keeping the tension is not good in this case. Black manages to equalize with the Keres
manoeuvre of exchanging in the centre.
2. 13.dxc5 This was the favourite move of many grandmasters; probably the one who liked this way of
playing the most was Bobby Fischer. His game against Kholmov was considered like some kind of
refutation but my idea with 20.Rd1!N gives some hopes for White to keep on trying this variation.
Fortunately for Black, I could find an improvement with 15...c4!, where Black gets a similar position to that
in Fischer-Kholmov, but an improved version.
3. 13.d5! is the good move and the one you should play if you want to fight for advantage. Here Black has
two possibilities:
a. 13...Na5 and play slowly. Here the idea with b3, c4 and Bd3 to open the queenside seems quite good. If
Black closes the queenside White will have a free hand on the kingside. The knight on a5 will be quite far
from his king so White can develop his initiative without many problems.
b. 13...Nd8 Rubinstein’s idea. This was a hard bone for me. But if White remembers to play with a4, b4 and
at the right moment a5 as in my game, Black will have a difficult life. Taking into account all that is written
here, I consider 12...Nc6 refuted. Black should play other variations if he wants to enjoy a comfortable
game.
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CHAPTER 5.
11...Qc7 12.Nbd2, BISHOP-MOVES
Qc7 12.Nbd2
Contents
1. 12...Be6 13.d5
2. 12...Be6 13.Nf1!
3. 12...Bd7 13.--
4. 12...Bd7 13.Nf1 --
5. 12...Bd7 13.Nf1 Rfe8 14.--
6. 12...Bd7 13.Nf1 Rfe8 14.b3
1
12... Be6 13.d5
Qc7 12.Nbd2
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12...Be6!?
This move was played once by Petrosian against Tal. Nowadays almost no one plays like this, but in 2018
the Belarusian youngster Vladislav Kovalev played this and I decided to pay some attention to it. The move
is not bad, but in my opinion is not very flexible.
12...Bb7? 13.d5!± Of course, White kills the bishop. The plan of b3, c4 and Bd3 is good here as well, as in
the 12...Nc6 13.d5 Na5 variation. I don’t consider it necessary to give more information about this.
13.d5
a) 13.b3? cxd4 14.cxd4 Rfc8µ

b) 13.b4?! cxb4 14.cxb4 Rac8!³
13...Bd7
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Black loses a full tempo but I’m not sure if this is enough for White to claim an advantage. Grandmaster
Postny has defended this position very successfully many times. The other two experts in this position are
Hebden and Filippov. I checked all their games and on a regular basis they got a better position with Black!
The reason is that Black’s play is always the same: Black is trying to play the Rubinstein manoeuvre with
the knights. On the other hand, White has to decide how to play with his pawns and sometimes that is not so
easy.
14.b3!?
14.Nf1 c4! Black is on time with this. 15.Ng3 (15.Kh2 Nb7 16.g4 g6 17.Ng3 Rfb8 18.Rg1 Nc5 19.Qe2
a5³ Sutovsky, E (2676)-Postny, E (2651) Ohrid 2009) 15...Nb7 16.Nh2 a5
Black should continue like this. 17.f4 Nc5 18.Be3 b4! With ...Nd3 to follow at the right moment, Black is
fine.
14...g6
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Grandmasters Filippov and Hebden have played this move with great results.
15.Nf1
15...Nh5
The engine favours White but things are not so easy! This is like a King’s Indian: if White does nothing,
Black plays...f5 at some point and gets the better game.
15...c4!? This is interesting as well. 16.b4 (16.Ba3!? Bd8! holds everything.) 16...Nb7
17.Bd2?! (17.Ng3 was the normal move. In the future White should try to play f4 somehow.) 17...a5 18.a3
Nh5 19.N3h2 Nf4! 20.Bxf4 exf4 21.Qf3 Bf6 22.g3 fxg3 23.Qxf6 gxh2+ 24.Kxh2 Qd8= Britton, R (2230)-
Hebden, M (2545) Blackpool 2014.
16.Bh6
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Hebden got to this position several times, and he used different strategies.
16.Be3 Rfc8?! (16...Rfb8 17.Qd2 Nb7! 18.c4 f6 This is the standard plan where Black is doing fine.)
17.Qd2 c4 18.b4 Nb7
Once again, we have the problem of handling the pawns. 19.a4! (19.g4? Ng7 20.Ng3 a5 21.a3 Ra6 22.Qc1
Rca8 23.Qb2 Qc8 24.Kh2 Bd8 25.Reb1 Bb6 26.Bxb6 Rxb6 27.Ra2 Rba6³ 0–1 (44) Tleules, T (1710)-
Filippov, A (2592) Almaty 2017) 19...a5 20.axb5 Bxb5 21.Ba4!
White is much better. Don’t be afraid of opening the queenside with White.
16...Rfe8
The knight should stay on h5 to fight against f4 and h4–h5!

16...Ng7!? The engine doesn’t like this variation for Black, although Hebden played this again later.
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What is his idea? 17.N3h2!
[17.Ne3 f6 18.h4 This seems to be annoying. The computer suggests this, but in my opinion it is wrong.
18...Nb7
19.Bxg7 (19.h5 Nxh5! This must be Hebden’s idea! He gives the exchange but he hopes that the position is
closed and he has good compensation. 20.Bxf8 Rxf8 21.a4! b4 22.Bd3 a5 The engine considers that White
is better but I’m not sure at all. I don’t see how to open the position and I would be afraid of a well-timed
...f5.) 19...Kxg7 20.h5 Rf7! Now ...f5 is coming and Black is fine!]
17...Nb7
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18.Ne3! (18.Qd2?! This move does nothing. 18...f6 19.h4 Nd8 20.h5 Nf7! 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Re3 c4
23.bxc4 Qxc4 24.Rg3 Ng5³ Ni, H (2681)-Debashis, D (2451) Fujairah 2012) 18...Rfb8 19.Nhg4 With f4 to
come, White is much better.
17.Qd2
17...Nb7!N
17...c4?! 18.b4 Nb7 19.g4 Ng7 Once again, Hebden is lucky that his opponent doesn’t play in the best way
with the pawns.
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20.a4! (20.Ne3?! a5 21.a3 f6 22.Kh2 Nd8 23.Rg1 axb4 24.axb4 Rxa1 25.Rxa1 Nf7 26.Nf1 Nxh6 27.Qxh6
Qb7³ 1–0 (56) Britton, R (2230)-Hebden, M (2523) London 2014) 20...Reb8 21.a5! f6 22.Ng3 Nd8 23.Be3
Probably Black can make some kind of fortress but White always has some f4 ideas and, very far in the
future, a piece sacrifice on c4.
18.g4
18.a4?! Na5! This is a typical positional trick.
18...Ng7 19.c4 f6 20.Qe2 Nd8
Black has got the position he was looking for.

2
12... Be6 13.Nf1!
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Qc7 12.Nbd2 Be6!? 13.Nf1!
White should keep the tension a bit longer.
13...Nc4
The best try for Black.

a) 13...Rfc8 14.Ne3!²
b) 13...cxd4 The only reasonable alternative to 13...Nc4. 14.cxd4 Rac8 15.Ne3 White is ready to play with
Bd2–c3, so Black should do something fast. 15...Nc4 16.Nxc4 Bxc4
17.Bb1! I like this. It is important to keep the pawn on b2 because the c1-bishop is best placed on c3. (17.b3
Be6 18.Bd3 is good as well but Black should simplify the position by 18...exd4 19.Nxd4 d5 20.exd5 Nxd5
when I’m not so sure how big White’s advantage is. 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Rxe6 Qc5! It is difficult for White to
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defend f2.) 17...Be6 18.Bd2 exd4 19.Nxd4 d5
As with the previous variation, White has some extra options. 20.exd5 (20.e5 Ne4 21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Rxe4²
Black doesn’t have enough compensation for the pawn.) 20...Nxd5 21.Rxe6 fxe6 22.Nxe6 Qe5 23.Nxf8
Rxf8
24.Qe1! Qxb2 25.Be4² The pair of bishops gives White a good advantage.
14.b3!
a) 14.d5!? Bd7 15.Ng3 Nb6
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The problem with this position is that White cannot open the queenside. Look how the black pieces are
developed there: a4, b4 or c4 by White are not annoying! This means that the other way is playing on the
kingside, but how to do it? 16.Nh4!? g6 17.Nf3 The engine suggests playing this. You might think: “Black
always wants to play ...g6 and now I force him, what’s going on?” It’s all about the knights! The knight on
b6 cannot go to f7 now, and should stay on the queenside. White hopes that ...g6 creates weaknesses around
the king. 17...Ne8 (17...Rfb8 18.Rf1 Bf8 19.Bg5 Bg7 20.Qc1!? This is balanced according to the engine but
the plans with Nh2 followed by f2-f4 are very interesting for White.) 18.Bh6 Ng7 19.Qd2
19...f5?! 20.exf5 gxf5 21.Ng5! White is much better! What a difference because of the black knight missing
from the kingside!
b) 14.Ng3!? Vallejo understands that he should play on the kingside and he doesn’t want to move his pawns
on the queenside. An interesting practical choice. 14...Nb6 15.d5 Bc8
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16.Nh2 (The idea 16.Nh4!? g6 17.Nf3 deserves attention.) 16...Re8 17.Qf3 White is ready to play Nf5.
17...g6 18.Bh6 Kh8 19.Ng4! Qd8 20.Nxf6 Bxf6 21.a4!
Model play by Vallejo. Once he has tied Black up on the kingside, he decides to open the queenside.
21...Bg7 22.Be3 Nxa4 23.Bxa4 bxa4 24.Rxa4 Bd7 25.Ra3 Rf8 26.c4!
403
An important move, improving the pawn structure on the queenside. 26...f5 27.Bd2 Bc8? (27...f4 28.Nf1
White will play Rea1 and b4 at the right moments, and will be much better.) 28.b4 cxb4 29.Bxb4± Vallejo
Pons, F (2700)-Hansen, S (2566) Germany 2012. Some of the games played by Vallejo are not the best
according to the engine but from the practical point of view, they are simply excellent!
14...Nb6 15.Ne3
15...c4
a) 15...a5?! Black should be really careful about this move because the b5 square is weak afterwards. 16.a4
c4 17.bxc4 Nxa4 18.Bxa4 bxa4 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.cxd5 Bd7 21.Ba3± Pijpers, A (2366)-Ernst, S (2566)
Groningen 2013.
b) 15...Rfe8 16.dxe5!N The pawn structure can be changed in this way now! (16.d5!? Bd7 17.c4 is
interesting as well.) 16...dxe5 17.Ng5 c4 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Bd2²
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16.Ba3 Rfd8
16...Rfe8 17.d5 Bc8! (17...Bd7? 18.Nxe5 cxb3 19.axb3 Qxc3 20.Nxd7 Nbxd7 21.Nf5± Popovic, P (2508)-
Radulski, J (2502) Herceg Novi 2005) 18.Nxe5! cxb3 19.axb3 dxe5 20.d6 Qxc3 21.dxe7 b4 22.Qd6 bxa3
23.Qxb6 Next comes Qd6, with an awkward position for Black.
17.d5! Bc8
18.bxc4!N
White changes the pawn structure on his favour.

18.Qd2?! a5 19.bxc4 bxc4 20.Rab1 Bf8 21.Qe2 Ba6 22.Nf5 g6 23.Ng3 Bh6 24.Nh2 Rdb8 25.f3 Nbd7= ½–
½ (51) Nijboer, F (2562)-Postny, E (2641) Rijeka 2010.
18...Nxc4
18...bxc4 19.Rb1 Bf8 (19...a5? 20.Nxe5!±) 20.Rb2 a5 21.Nd2 Ba6 22.Qf3! White plans Reb1, and Black is
completely tied up.
19.Nxc4 bxc4
19...Qxc4? 20.Nxe5 Qxc3 21.Nc6 Qxa3 22.Nxe7+ Kf8 23.Nc6±
20.Rb1±
The c4-pawn will be weak until it is taken!

3
12... Bd7 13.--
Qc7 12.Nbd2 Bd7
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My favourite move. It’s not by chance that Magnus Carlsen and Nils Grandelius are playing this variation
from time to time. It’s difficult for White to prove an advantage. This move is very flexible and fights
against most of the typical White moves in this position. This line has been a great nightmare for me. There
are hundreds of transpositions thanks to the flexibility of Black’s setup and it is really difficult to analyze
everything.
13.dxe5!?
a) 13.d5?! c4! and ...Nb7–c5 is in time.

b) 13.b4?! cxb4 14.cxb4 Rac8! This is possible thanks to the bishop on d7! 15.bxa5 Qxc2 16.Qxc2 Rxc2=
c) 13.b3? cxd4 14.cxd4 Rac8µ
13...dxe5 14.Nf1
Compared to the 12...Nc6 13.dxc5 variation, Black’s knight is on a5 instead of c6. This gives the extra
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option of ...Nc4–d6 at the appropriate moment. The bishop is on d7 and can go to c6 at some point. It is not
so clear which version is better, we should analyze more!
14...Rad8 15.Qe2 Rfe8!
Black decides to play with ...Bf8.

a) 15...c4
Black wants to play ...Nb7–c5. This is good as well although the variations are more difficult to understand.
16.Bg5! The most annoying move. 16...Be6!N (16...Nb7?! 17.Ne3 Be6 18.Nf5±) 17.Ne3 Nh5! 18.Nd5
(18.Nf5!? Bxg5 19.Nxg5 Nf4 20.Qg4 g6! Black pushes the knight. 21.Nh6+ Kh8 22.Qh4 f6 23.Nxe6
Nxe6=) 18...Bxd5
19.Bxe7 (19.exd5!? Bxg5 20.Nxg5 g6! 21.Nxh7 Nf4 22.Nf6+ Kg7 23.Qf3 Kxf6 24.g3 Kg7 25.gxf4
exf4=) 19...Nf4! This is the idea that saves the day! (19...Qxe7? 20.exd5 Nf6 21.Qxe5 Qxe5 22.Rxe5 Nxd5
23.Rd1!± White is much more active than in the main line.) 20.Qe3 Qxe7 21.exd5 Nxd5 22.Qxe5 Qxe5
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23.Rxe5 Nc6=
b) 15...Nc4?! 16.b3 Nb6 17.c4! White is much better, ready to play Ne3–d5 at the right time.
16.Ne3 Bf8!
Very solid and very effective.
17.Nh2
White continues with the standard plan.

17.b3 c4! 18.b4 Nb7 I start to prefer Black because ...Nd6 and ...Bc6 are coming.
17...Be6! 18.Nhg4 Nxg4 19.hxg4 Nc6! 20.a4
20.Nd5 Qb7=
20...c4 21.axb5 axb5 22.Nd5 Qc8=
408
And ...Ne7 follows.
409
4
12... Bd7 13.Nf1 --
Qc7 12.Nbd2 Bd7 13.Nf1
As usual, this move seems to be the best.
13...Nc4
The Carlsen-Grandelius way of playing.

a) 13...cxd4 was already checked in the 12...exd4 chapter and in my opinion Black is completely fine, but
almost no one knows it!
b) 13...Rfd8?! Normally this is not the square for the rook. It is better on e8 because Black is always ready
to exchange everything on d4 and put pressure on the e4-pawn. 14.b3 Rac8 15.Ne3 White is perfect.
14.b3
a) 14.Ne3?! This makes Black’s life easier. 14...Nxe3 15.Bxe3 a5!= It’s really difficult for White to create
an initiative.
b) 14.Ng3!? Rfe8 15.d5 Playing like Vallejo is interesting as well but now Black has an extra tempo.
c) 14.a4 Nb6 15.b3 c4! Too many pieces will be exchanged on the queenside and Black will equalize
without problems.
14...Nb6 15.Ne3!
15.a4 c4 16.Ba3 Rfe8 17.axb5 axb5 18.bxc4 Nxc4 19.Bb4 Bf8= Black is very solid and has no problems.
15...c4
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Black believes in this position. The first time I saw the position I thought that White should be better. When
the time is right he will take on c4, Black’s pawn (if Black takes with the b-pawn, of course) will be weak
and slowly White will prevail. Somehow, this plan is not so easy to implement because at the crucial
moment Black can take on b3 and follow up with ...a5 with the idea of creating a passed pawn on the
queenside. This is one of the positions in the Chigorin where White still hasn’t found a clear plan.
16.Rb1!?
I like this move. White is ready for bxc4.

16.Ba3 Rfe8 17.Qd2 Bf8 This has been played automatically in many games but is not so easy for White to
continue with the initiative if Black plays accurately.
18.Rad1 (18.bxc4 Nxc4 19.Nxc4 bxc4 20.Rab1 Rab8= So, W (2775)-Carlsen, M (2834) Doha 2015)
18...cxb3! Grandelius finds the right way to exchange on b3. Otherwise he would get a passive position.
(18...h6N This is a useful waiting move but here White has a forcing continuation. 19.bxc4 Nxc4 20.Nxc4
411
Qxc4 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Bxf8 Kxf8 23.Qd6+ Kg8 24.Nxe5 Qxc3 25.Nxd7 Nxd7 26.Rc1² The bishop on b3
will be very annoying; 18...a5!? 19.bxc4 Nxc4 20.Nxc4 bxc4 21.Nh2²) 19.axb3 a5 20.Rc1
20...exd4! (20...a4?! A positional mistake from the practical point of view, a lthough not so bad. 21.bxa4
Nxa4 22.Bb4² Areshchenko, A (2654)-Grandelius, N (2643) Grosseto Prugna 2016) 21.Qxd4 a4 22.Bb4
From this position there are two games where Black got reasonable chances. 22...h6 (22...Be6 23.bxa4 bxa4
24.Ra1 Nfd7 25.Qd1 Nc5 26.Ng5 g6 27.Nxe6 Rxe6 28.Nd5 Nxd5 29.Qxd5 Rc8= Scuderi, D (2260)-
Neder, A (2281) ICCF email 2010) 23.bxa4 Nxa4 24.c4 bxc4 25.Nxc4 Nc5 26.Bxc5 dxc5 27.Qc3 Be6=
Ronat, O-Henrich, T (1872) ICCF email 2010.
16...Rfb8!
The best move to hold the queenside.

16...Rfc8?! 17.bxc4! Nxc4 18.Nxc4
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18...Qxc4 (18...bxc4 19.Be3 Rab8 20.Qd2 This setup is better than with the bishop on a3. 20...Rxb1
21.Rxb1 Rb8 22.Rxb8+ Qxb8 23.Qc1² White’s advantage is not great, but his position is much easier to
play because only Black has weaknesses.) 19.Bb3 Qc7 20.Bb2 Bc6 21.c4!
A great idea! White opens the position and his bishops will be very strong. 21...Bxe4 22.dxe5 dxe5 23.Rc1
(23.cxb5!? Bxb1 24.Qxb1 axb5 25.Ng5 was interesting as well.) 23...Qb7 24.Nxe5 bxc4 25.Nxc4± Tarrio
Ocana, F (2388)-Sciupokas, A (2228) ICCF email 2015.
17.bxc4!?N
413
This plan is very easy to play. Maybe White doesn’t have a big advantage, but his position is very
comfortable.
17.Qe2 The engine supports this move. The idea is the same, to play bxc4 at some point, but the variations
are more complicated. 17...Be6 18.d5 (18.Ng5 Bd7=) 18...cxb3
19.axb3 (19.dxe6 bxc2 20.exf7+ Kxf7 21.Qxc2 This is very interesting but difficult to evaluate.) 19...Bd7
20.Bd2 a5 21.Bd3 a4 22.b4 Rc8 23.Ra1 g6 24.Rec1 Qd8 25.Ne1!
414
Following with N1c2–a3, White will be slightly better. Vaclav, J (2459)-Ostriker, J (2520) ICCF email
2011.
17...Nxc4 18.Nxc4 bxc4 19.Be3 Rxb1 20.Qxb1 Rb8 21.Qa1
White is slightly better once again.

5
12... Bd7 13.Nf1 Rfe8 14.--
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This is very interesting and I wouldn’t be surprised if Carlsen or Grandelius play like this next time they
reach this position. Black keeps all the possibilities open and White needs to decide how to proceed.
14.d5
White decides to close the centre because Black’s rook is placed on e8, which is not its best square. In this
position normally Black has three different plans:
• ...c4 followed by ...Nb7,
• ...Nc4 followed by ...Nb6 with the idea of pushing the queenside later, and
• ...g6 at the right moment, trying to plan Rubinstein’s manoeuvre.
a) 14.dxc5!? dxc5 15.Ne3
15...g6! Black controls the f5-square. (15...Bc6!?N Black doesn’t care about the f5-square. 16.Nf5 Bf8
17.Nh2 Kh8 18.Ng4 Ng8!? Black has everything on the first rank but the position is not easy to crack!)
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16.Nh2 There are many classical games from this position. 16...h5!?N Eighty games in the database and no
one played like this! In the past the grandmasters were really sensitive with their pawn moves next to the
king and probably they were right!
Anyway, I couldn’t find the way to refute this advance and it has the benefit of fighting against Nh2–g4.
(16...Rad8 17.Qf3 Be6 18.Nhg4²) 17.Nf3 Once the knight has forced ...h5, it comes back to its place.
(17.Qf3 White tries a sharp plan. 17...Bc6 18.g4!?
White uses the hook! Black should stay cool with 18...Rad8 19.gxh5 Nxh5 20.Nhg4 Bf8 Thanks to the
knight on h5, Black’s position is not easy to crack. 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.exd5 Bg7 23.Bg5 This would be the
logical follow-up, and here I like Petrosian’s typical idea 23...Nc4! 24.Bxd8 Qxd8 followed by ...f5 when
Black has more than enough compensation for the exchange.) 17...Rad8
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18.Qe2 (18.Nd5!? White changes the pawn structure to open lines for the c2-bishop, but this strategy is not
enough this time. 18...Nxd5 19.exd5 Bc8 This is safer. (19...Be6 20.dxe6!? — 20.Nxe5 Rxd5 21.Qe2
Bd6!= — 20...Rxd1 21.exf7+ Kxf7 22.Rxd1 The engine considers the position equal but with Black’s
weakness on the kingside I think White has the better chances, although I should admit that this is a
personal opinion.) 20.Rxe5 Nc4 21.Re2 Bb7=) 18...Bc6 19.Ng5 Bf8
Black is ready to play ...Bg7. The position is still complex but more or less balanced. One possible line is
20.b3 Bb7 21.c4 Nc6=.
b) 14.Ne3?! cxd4 15.cxd4 Nc6!= White doesn’t have a good way to keep the tension as we saw in the
12...exd4 variation.
c) 14.Ng3!? Nc4! (14...cxd4 15.cxd4 Rac8 This is analyzed in the 12...cxd4 chapter.) 15.b3 Nb6 16.Be3
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If White doesn’t want to play with d5, this is the alternative. 16...a5 Black should try to gain some space on
the queenside. 17.Rc1 a4! 18.Nd2 axb3 19.axb3 Rec8 20.f4!
Both players have played very normal and logical moves but now Black makes a mistake. 20...cxd4?! This
makes White’s life a bit easier. (20...b4! Tension, pressure! 21.Bb1 cxd4 22.cxd4 Qxc1 23.Qxc1 Rxc1
24.Rxc1 exf4 25.Bxf4 d5! 26.e5 Ne8 Black is doing all right here.) 21.cxd4 exf4 22.Bxf4 Ra2 23.Bb1 Qxc1
24.Qxc1 Rxc1 25.Rxc1 White was better in the endgame in Geller, E (2545)-Unzicker, W (2510) Moscow
1982.
Back to 14.d5.
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14...Nc4!
The most common plan.

a) 14...c4!? 15.b4!? (15.Ng3 Nb7 16.Nh2!? a5 17.f4 Nc5 18.f5 b4 19.Ng4 looks double-edged but after
19...Nxg4 20.Qxg4 Kh8³ it is difficult for White to break through on the kingside and Black is coming with
...Nd3.) 15...cxb3!N It is very important that Black can play like this. (15...Nb7?! 16.a4!±) 16.axb3 Nb7
17.Bd2
White is ready to play b4 and be better but 17...Nc5! followed by ...a5 gives Black a pleasant game because
after 18.b4 Black simply plays 18...Na4!=.
b) 14...Reb8 15.Ng3 g6
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Black is ready to play the Rubinstein setup, but White has an easy way to fight against this. 16.b3 (16.Nh2
Ne8 17.b3 Nb7 18.f4!²) 16...c4 Black normally needs this. (16...Ne8?! 17.Nh2! Nb7 18.Ng4 Nd8 19.f4±)
17.b4 Nb7 18.a4!
I’ve seen many games with this kind of position. Normally White is afraid to play this advance because of
...a5, but I will show you that there is nothing to fear. 18...a5 19.axb5 axb4 20.Rxa8 Rxa8 21.cxb4 Bxb5
22.Re3!
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When the time is right White will play Ra3 and Ne2–c3, and will have a real advantage.
15.Ne3!?
Probably the best idea.

15.b3 Nb6 16.Ng3
16...c4!N Once the knight is on g3, this is very effective because it is not so easy for White to put pressure
on c4. (16...g6 17.Be3 Bf8 18.a4!² Jovanovic, Z (2526)-Rogic, D (2559) Austria 2010) 17.Be3 Reb8
18.Qc1 a5 With ...cxb3 and ...a4 to come, Black is completely fine.
15.Ng3 Nb6 16.Nh2!?
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Playing for f4 looks ver y logical when White has not touched the queenside. 16...a5!?N I like this move.
(16...c4?! 17.f4 Now Black cannot cover e5 with a knight! 17...exf4 18.Bxf4 Na4 19.Rb1 Nc5 20.Nf3 Qb6
21.Nd4± Ermenkov, E (2449)-Ibragimov, I (2611) Dubai 2000) 17.f4 (17.b3 c4! Now is the moment!)
17...exf4 18.Bxf4 Nc4!=
15...Nxe3 16.Bxe3 h6!=
Black will continue with ...Nh7 and ...Bg5 when he considers the time is right. This position is all right for
Black; he doesn’t have any problem playing ...h6 now because White has only one knight and it is very
difficult to create an attack.
6
12... Bd7 13.Nf1 Rfe8 14.b3
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Qc7 12.Nbd2 Bd7 13.Nf1 Rfe8!? 14.b3
The most flexible. White is ready to enter either the d5 or the dxe5 variations with the best version possible
thanks to the support of the pawn on b3. It’s incredible how such a small move can make a big difference!
14...cxd4!
Probably this is the moment to play this exchange. I couldn’t find better moves.
a) 14...Rac8?! 15.d5! Now ...Nc4 is not possible. 15...c4?! 16.b4! Nb7 17.a4±.
b) 14...g6
This is the only reasonable move that I could find to keep the tension. White has many ways of getting a
better position; it depends on your tastes. I will give you no fewer than three options. This time even Bh6 is
a good move because the knight from a5 has a long road to f7. 15.d5
[15.Bh6 Bf8 (15...cxd4 16.cxd4 Nc6 17.Rc1 Rac8 18.d5 Na5 19.Bd3± 0–1 (58) Reppert, V (1859)-Korchut,
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A (1792) LSS email 2014) 16.Bg5 (16.Bxf8 Kxf8=) 16...Bg7
17.Rc1! (17.Ne3 exd4 18.cxd4 Bc6 19.d5 Bd7 20.Nd2 h6 21.Bh4 c4∞ 1–0 (48) Timoscenko, G (2530)-
Kakageldyev, A (2415) Ashkhabad 1978) 17...Bc6 18.Ng3 Kh8 19.Qd2 Ng8 20.Be3 Qe7 21.Rcd1 Red8
22.d5 Bd7 23.c4 b4 24.a3± 1–0 (52) Ovcharenko, L (2267)-Wilshusen, H (1572) ICCF email 2017;
15.dxe5!?N In my opinion this is an easy way to fight for a small edge. 15...dxe5 16.Bh6 Rad8 17.Qe2 Bf8
18.Bg5 Be7 19.Ne3 Bc6 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.c4²]
15...Nh5
16.N3h2! The start of a strong plan.

[16.Be3 Nb7 17.Qd2 c4! 18.b4 a5 19.a3 Ra6 20.g4
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Again the following games prove that this plan is often not dangerous for Black. 20...Ng7! 21.Ng3 Rea8
22.Rac1 Nd8 (22...axb4 23.axb4 Ra2 24.Nh2 Nd8 25.f4 exf4 26.Bxf4 f6 27.Nf3 Nf7= ½–½ (38)
Ponomariov, R (2710)-Sasikiran, K (2668) Mallorca 2004) 23.Kh2 f6 24.Rg1 Nf7 25.Ne1 ½–½ Shankland,
S (2595)-Kolev, A (2585) Las Vegas 2012; 16.Ng3!? Nxg3 17.fxg3 Nb7 18.Rf1 (18.c4! f6 19.Rf1 Nd8
20.Nh2²) 18...c4 19.b4 a5= 1–0 (73) Onischuk, V (2427)-Efimenko, Z (2612) Poltava 2006.]
16...Qd8 17.Ne3 Nb7 18.Qf3 Rf8 19.Nhg4 Nf4
20.h4! h5 21.Nh6+! The only way to continue the attack. Sometimes there is no way back, you just have to
keep charging forward! 21...Kg7 22.Nhf5+! gxf5 23.Nxf5+ Bxf5 24.exf5 Let’s pause in this position.
White sacrificed a piece, but the knight on f4 is trapped and g3 is coming, so White will get the material
back. Moreover, White’s bishops are pointing at the kingside and the g-file will open. A nice transformation
of the position with the knight sacrifice!
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24...Bxh4 25.g3 Qg5 26.Kh2± ½–½ (44) Liang, A (2488)-Stukopin, A (2586) Chicago 2017.
15.cxd4 Rac8 16.Ne3 Nc6 17.Bb2 Bf8 18.Rc1 Qd8!
We are again in the 12...cxd4 chapter.
12.Nbd2
CONCLUSIONS ON THE BISHOP MOVES

This chapter has been the most difficult of the 11...Qc7 variation. The point is that you should understand
the previous chapters if you want to understand this one! Black keeps the position flexible and he can
choose one plan or another. At the same time, this gives White the possibility to play different pawn
structures. Another important point about the bishop moves is that White cannot play immediately b3 or b4
because one of the rooks from a8 or f8 enters the game attacking the bishop on c2. All this made it
extremely complicated for me to give some clear conclusions and not jump around with different
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transpositions all the time. Let’s clarify what happened here!
1. 12...Bb7? 13.d5 The bishop-killer. Now black’s best move is 13...Bc8 and we would be on the same
variation as 12...Nc6 13.d5 Na5, the only difference being who is losing the tempo, the bishop or the
knight.
2. 12...Be6 This move is a bit provocative. I always thought that the best strategy would be to play d5 at the
right time, but things are more complicated. This move is not so good because White can keep the tension
and in this position, the bishop on e6 is misplaced because Black cannot play ...cxd4 followed by ...Nc6
because of d5 and Black loses a piece. After 13.Nf1 Black has two main ways:
a. 13...cxd4 with the idea of playing ...Nc4 at the right moment and recapture with the bishop on c4. Please
have a look to my idea 17.Bb1! with the plan of Bd2–c3, earning White the advantage.
b. 13...Nc4 and then ...Nb6. If White closes the centre, it is not so easy for him to prove an advantage. It is
better to play with 14.b3 Nb6 15.Ne3. White is ready to change the pawn structure with dxe5 followed by
Ng5 and c4, winning control of the d5 square with the better game. Because of that, Black normally plays
15...c4. Here White has the straightforward continuation 16.Ba3 Rfd8 17.d5 Bd7 18.bxc4!N leaving a
permanent weakness on c4. White is much better.
3. 12...Bd7 The best move of the three. Black keeps all the possibilities open and White needs to know
exactly what to do if he wants to get any sort of advantage. It is not a coincidence that world champion
Magnus Carlsen played like this. It was really difficult to draw conclusions in some positions because there
were many possibilities, but these are the ones I consider important:
a. 13.d5?! c4! Followed by ...Nb7–c5. Amazingly there are more than 300 games but Black is doing all
right. After the knight manoeuvre Black pushes the queenside with ...a5 and ...b4, and normally gets a very
pleasant game.
b. 13.dxe5 is tempting because the bishop is on d7 and maybe will need to lose a tempo to go to e6. After
13...dxe5 14.Nf1 Rad8 15.Qe2 it is very important to play 15...Rfe8! (15...c4 also equalizes, but Black
needs to play much more accurately). White continues with the standard play 16.Ne3 Bf8 17.Nh2 Be6!
18.Nhg4 Nxg4 19.hxg4 Nc6! and Black will fight the Nd5 jump with ...Ne7 at the right time, with equal
chances.
c. 13.Nf1 is the good move, keeping the tension, and now Black has different options:
• 13...cxd4 We would go immediately to the 12...cxd4 chapter.
• 13...Nc4 is the move preferred by the top chess players in recent years. It is not so easy for White to get an
advantage. The idea with 16.Rb1 instead of 16.Ba3 (played by many grandmasters) gives White a small but
stable plus.
• 13...Rfe8 is the best move in my opinion and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see it in the near future at the
top level. Black keeps all the possibilities open.
Botvinnik already played this idea in 1940! It had a period of glory but then disappeared from tournament
practice. Maybe now is the right time for its return! Here White has different options:
• 14.d5 Nc4 Black is doing fine in this closed position.
• 14.dxc5 dxc5 15.Ne3 has its merits but Black has two interesting ways of facing it: my idea with 15...Bc6
or 15...g6 followed by 16...h5! So far, no one has played like this but it looks completely acceptable for
Black.
• 14.Ng3 Nc4 15.b3 Nb6 16.Be3 is a position with a lot of tension. Black should start with 16...a5 gaining
428
some space on the queenside. If he is calm and doesn’t make positional concessions everything should turn
out well.
• 14.b3 is the most annoying. Here I tried to find some moves for Black but the only reasonable one was
14...cxd4, switching to the 12...cxd4 chapter. This is not bad for Black, taking into account that I consider
the 12...cxd4 variation completely satisfactory.
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CHAPTER 6.
11...Nd7, 12TH MOVE SIDELINES
Nd7
Contents
1. 12.--
2. 12.dxc5
3. 12.d5!? 12...--/13...--
4. 12.d5!? Nb6! 13.b3 f5
5. 12.d5!? Nb6! 13.Nbd2
1
12.--
Nd7
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The Keres-Graf variation.
12.Kh1!?
An extremely mysterious move, but with fantastic results! White’s idea is to be ready to play d5 and g4,
avoiding ...f5. Thanks to the king on h1, Black’s typical counterplay with ...h5 after g4 is not so effective
because after gxh5 White’s rook is ready to enter the attack with Rg1. Apart from that, I don’t consider this
move really good. There are many good normal moves in this position, so there is no need to play like this.
a) 12.b3 White’s idea is to play with Bb2 and Nbd2–f1 and Ne3. 12...exd4! Black tries to get the Benoni
pawn structure. 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.Nc3 Bf6!
Many games have reached this position. Black seems to be completely fine here. 15.Be3 cxd4!
[15...Bb7? 16.e5! dxe5 17.dxc5 Nd4 18.Ne4!N (18.Nxd4?! exd4 19.Bxd4 Nxc5 20.Bxc5 Bxc3= ½–½ (38)
Kveinys, A (2550)-Kollars, D (2509) Aarhus 2018) 18...Nxc2 19.Qxc2± White will be much better thanks
to the pressure on the d-file and the passed c-pawn.]
431
16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Bb7!
White cannot put enough pressure on d6. 18.Rc1 Rc8 19.Bb1 Bg5!?N No one has played like this but this is
the first option for the engine. (19...g6 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Qd2 Rfe8= 0–1 (60) Dominguez Perez, L (2712)-
Karjakin, S (2763) Beijing 2011) 20.Rc2 (20.Be3 Bxe3 21.Rxe3 b4 22.Ne2 Rxc1 23.Qxc1 Nc5=) 20...Re8
21.a4 b4 22.Nd5 Rxc2 23.Bxc2 Bxd5 24.exd5 Rxe1+ 25.Qxe1 a5=
The position is equal according to the engine but White should be careful. If Black manages to exchange the
dark squared bishops the position will be completely winning for him!
b) 12.b4!? A very concrete try for White. Black must react correctly. 12...cxb4 13.cxb4
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13...Nc6! (13...Nc4?! 14.Nc3 Bb7 15.d5²) 14.Nc3!? An interesting pawn sacrifice to keep up the fight for
the initiative. (14.a3?! exd4 15.Bb2 Bf6 16.Nxd4 Nde5 17.Bb3 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Be6=; 14.Bb2 Nxb4 15.Bb3
Bb7 Thanks for the pawn!) 14...Nxb4! The easiest. (14...exd4 15.Nd5 Nde5 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Qxd4
White will take the bishop on e7 and Black has no need to allow such a thing.) 15.Bb3 Bb7 16.Ba3
16...Qa5 The solid move. (16...Nc6 17.Nd5 Nxd4 18.Nxe7+ Qxe7 19.Nxd4 exd4 20.Qxd4 Nc5 should be
balanced as well, although White has some initiative.) 17.Bb2 Qd8 18.Qe2!? White has to play like this if
he doesn’t want to repeat moves. 18...Nc6 19.Nd5 exd4 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7=
12...Qc7!
This move is always one of the favourite moves for my engine in this variation. Here it makes a lot of sense
because it keeps the position flexible.
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12...Bb7 13.d5
This is exactly what White wants to get in this variation — but it is not so great anyway! 13...Nc4!?
[13...f5 14.exf5 Here Black has two options to recover the d5-pawn. 14...Nc4! (14...Nf6?! 15.Ng5! Bxd5
16.Nd2 Kh8 17.f4 exf4 18.Ndf3±) 15.Nbd2 Nxd2 (15...Ncb6?! 16.a4! Nxd5 17.Ne4 h6 18.Nh2 c4
19.Ng4 h5 20.f6 hxg4 21.fxe7 Qxe7 22.Qxg4² ½–½ (32) Sakai, K (2637)-Mercadal Benejam, J (2565)
ICCF email 2004) 16.Qxd2 Nf6 17.Ng5 Bxd5 18.f4! Kramnik’s idea is non-standard and very interesting.
434
18...Qc7! 19.Ne6 Bxe6 20.fxe6 Nh5 21.Qd5 Rad8? (21...Nxf4! 22.Bxf4 exf4 23.Qh5 g6 24.Bxg6 hxg6
25.Qxg6+=) 22.f5! Ng3+ 23.Kh2 Nxf5 24.Rf1 Nh4
25.Bg5? (After 25.Be3! Ng6 26.g3 Kramnik would have had total domination of the position.) 25...Ng6∞
Kramnik, V (2807)-Ponomariov, R (2734) Linares 2003.]
14.b3 Ncb6
435
15.a4 (15.g4?! c4 16.b4 a5³) 15...c4! This move is important. (15...bxa4 16.bxa4 a5 17.Na3² 1–0 (37)
Sutovsky, E (2692)-Lenic, L (2623) Aix les Bains 2011) 16.a5 cxb3 17.Bxb3 Nc4 18.Bxc4 bxc4= Svidler,
P (2753)-Efimenko, Z (2648) Dubai 2014.
13.d5
This is the only move that makes sense.

13.Nbd2 cxd4 14.cxd4 exd4 15.Nxd4 Bf6! 16.N2f3 Ne5„
13...Nb6 14.g4!?
The only way to avoid ...f5. Moreover, White is ready to play the easy plan Nbd2–f1–g3.
14...Nb7 15.Nbd2 c4!
436
15...g6?! I don’t like this move. The kingside will simply be weaker after this move. If Black doesn’t touch
the kingside it is much more difficult to get mated. 16.Rg1 Bd7 17.Nf1 f6?!
Black creates further weaknesses. 18.Ng3 (18.h4! This move, with the idea of h5, is normally good.)
18...Kh8 19.Nh4 c4 20.Ng2 Nc5 21.f4 f5 22.exf5 gxf5 23.Nxf5 Bxf5 24.Bxf5± 1–0 (36) Miron, L (2511)-
Costachi, M (2399) Olanesti 2016.
16.Nf1 Nc5 17.Ng3 a5! 18.Rg1 b4!
Graf understands what should be done. He doesn’t care about the kingside, he tries to create counterplay on
the queenside.
19.Be3 Rb8 20.cxb4?!
20.Nf5 Bd8!
437
The bishop on d8 defends many critical squares. 21.h4 Kh8 22.h5 b3! 23.Bb1 (23.axb3 cxb3 24.Bb1 Nc4
25.Bc1 a4ƒ Nothing has happened on the kingside yet and Black has developed active counterplay on the
queenside.) 23...Nba4ƒ
20...axb4 21.Rc1
21...Kh8!N
I like this prophylactic move. It’s useful in almost all circumstances!

21...Ra8? Here Graf couldn’t find the best plan. 22.Qe1 Rb8 23.b3 Ba6 24.Nf5 Rfc8 25.Nh2 Bf8 26.g5 Qb7
27.Ng4!
438
Now we can see why ...Bf8 is not so good. Black simply locks the king in the corner and mate can be easily
delivered! 27...cxb3 28.Nf6+ Kh8 29.f3 Nbd7 30.Nxh7+– 1–0 (54) Handke, F (2459)-Graf, A (2601)
Germany 2007.
22.Bd2 Nbd7 23.Nf5 Bf6!? 24.g5 Bd8
Black is completely f ine here! I couldn’t find a way for White to deliver in this kind of position.
25.h4
25.Nxg7!? Kxg7 26.Nh4 Rg8! 27.Nf5+ Kh8 28.Nh6 Rg7 With ...Nf8 to follow, everything is under
control.
25...Nb6 26.Bxb4 Nba4! 27.Bxc5 Nxc5³
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Black is a pawn down but has a strong initiative on the queenside, and in the future will try to prove that
White created weaknesses on the kingside as well!
11...Nd7
CONCLUSIONS
Alternatives on move 12: The lines checked in this chapter are not very dangerous, but it is good to know
them!
1. 12.b3 allows 12...exd4 followed by 13...Nc6 and Black has a good version compared to other variations
that we will check in the later chapters.
2. 12.b4 is an interesting dynamic try but Black can take the pawn with 12...cxb4 13.cxb4 Nc6 14.Nc3!?
(The only try for advantage) 14...Nxb4. White has some activity, but is not enough.
3. 12.Kh1 was popu larized by Kramnik. His plan to play against ...f5 is very deep. 12...Bb7 is what White
wants. I would play with 12...Qc7 and if you follow the ideas I gave in this chapter Black has no problems.
2
12.dxc5
Nd7 12.dxc5
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White plays a la Fischer.
12...dxc5 13.Nbd2
This looks to me like an improved version of Fischer’s variation against 11...Qc7. The knight on f6 was
well placed, taking the d5 square under control. On the other hand, the knight is ready for ...Nb6 or ...c4
followed by ...Nc5 so the situation is not so clear.
13...Bb7
The main move and one that makes a lot of sense. Black’s idea is to control d5 and put pressure on e4.
a) 13...f6?! This was the common move in the first games of this variation, but I don’t like it. Black allows a
standard manoeuvre for white. 14.Nh4!
14...Nb6 (14...Rf7 15.Nf5 Bf8 16.h4!²) 15.Nf5 This is the normal move. (15.Qf3!? This plan is not so
common but it was really effective in this game. 15...Re8 16.Nf1 Ra7 17.Qg3 Kh8 18.f4 Nc6 19.f5! We
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don’t see this plan every day in the Ruy Lopez! 19...b4 20.Bd1 Qc7 21.Bh5 1–0 Zaitsev, A-Dragunov, V
USSR 1963.) 15...Rf7
Black is planning to play with ...Bf8. White has different options. There are some grandmaster games but
they are not really convincing. I will limit myself to showing one idea. (15...Kh8 16.Qe2 Be6 17.Nf1 Ra7
18.h4 Re8 19.Nxe7 Qxe7 20.Ng3² 1–0 (46) Christiansen, L (2585)-Ree, H (2475) Hastings 1982) 16.h4!?N
I want to place my pawn on h5 and later I will decide on the best follow-up.
[16.Qg4 Kh8 17.Nf3 Bf8 18.Qh5 Qe8∞ Kengis, E (2475)-Graf, A (2405) Pinsk 1986; 16.Nxe7+?! Fischer
always thought that any bishop was better than the best knight, but here I don’t think so. 16...Rxe7
(16...Qxe7 17.Nf1 Be6 was better according to the engine but I must admit that is strange to leave the rook
stuck on f7 like this.) 17.Qf3 (17.Nf1!? Be6 18.Qxd8+ Rxd8 Maybe this endgame is better for White, but
of course that was not Fischer’s idea.) 17...Be6 18.Nf1 Rd7 19.Ne3 c4= Fischer, R-Ivkov, B Havana 1965.
Eventually Fischer lost this game!]
16...Bf8 17.h5!² White has won the battle on the kingside. The next idea is to play Re3–g3, afterwards Qe2
or Qf3 and Nf1, and later build up the initiative.
b) 13...Qc7 Black wants to play ...Nb6 on the next move but doesn’t want to play with ...f6. 14.Nf1 Nb6
15.Ne3 Rd8
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16.Nd5! The right move! White opens lines for the c2-bishop.
[16.Qe2?! Once again, Fischer doesn’t find the best move. 16...f6! (16...Be6?! 17.Nd5! Don’t give him the
same chance twice! 17...Nxd5 18.exd5 Bxd5 19.Nxe5 Ra7 20.Bf4± Fischer, R-Keres, P Curacao 1962)
17.Nh4 Bf8 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 g6!N Af ter this simple move, White’s initiative is over. (19...Bb7 20.f4
Rxd5 21.Qg4ƒ Gligoric, S-Unzicker, W Varna 1962) 20.a4 c4³]
16...Nxd5 17.exd5 f6 18.Nh4!
There is no way back! White needs to try to mate Black, or the weakness of the d5-pawn will tell against
him. 18...g6 (18...Bf8 19.f4! exf4 20.Bxh7+! Kxh7 21.Qh5+ Kg8 22.Ng6+–) 19.Nxg6! hxg6 20.Bxg6 Nc4
[20...Kg7 21.Re3!!
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21...Rh8 (21...Kxg6 22.Rg3+ Kf7 23.Qh5+ Kf8 24.Bh6#) 22.Rg3 Kf8 23.Qf3±
A very interesting position. White has no threats yet but Black’s king is permanently locked in on the
kingside. One check at the right moment could be mate! White only has to try the manoeuvre Rg5–h5 or
even at some point the idea h4–h5–h6–h7 and Black’s position will collapse.]
21.Qh5 Bf8 22.Re4 Ra7 23.a4+– 1–0 (33) Sarakauskas, G (2408)-Caoili, A (2202) London 2012.
c) 13...Re8!?
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We have seen that for some reason this move is useful most of the times, so why not here? I didn’t see any
problem with this move and Black is completely fine. Only 20 games in my database so this is an interesting
choice. 14.Nf1 Nc4! The knight goes to d6. 15.b3
[15.N3h2 a5!N I like this move very much. After a4 Black will be always ready for ...b4. At the same time,
White should be careful about Black’s possible ...a4. (15...Bg5?! 16.b3 Bxc1 17.Rxc1 Ncb6 18.Ng4²
Khalifman, A (2702)-Graf, A (2630) Lanzarote 2003. The knight on b6 is completely out of the game.)
16.Ng4 a4 17.Nfe3 Ndb6=]
15...Nd6 16.Ne3 Bb7 17.Nd5 Nf6!
Black puts a lot of pressure on e4. 18.Nxe7+ (18.c4 Nxd5 19.cxd5 f5!„) 18...Qxe7 19.Nd2 Qc7=
McShane, L (2643)-Sasikiran, K (2666) Biel 2004.
14.Nf1 Nc4!
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15.Ng3
15.b3 Nd6 16.a4 Re8 17.N3d2
17...Nf8!N This is the perfect setup for Black, as in the main line. (17...Bg5?! Black here missed the tactical
possibility 18.Nc4! bxc4 19.Bxg5² Tzoumbas, A (2415)-Graf, A (2575) Chania 1994.) 18.Ne3 Ne6
19.Nd5 Bf8= Black will decide when to take on d5, or play ...Nc7 and then take on d5. White will probably
get a passed pawn but this is not important because the black knight is perfectly placed on d6.
15...Nd6! 16.Qe2 Qc7
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17.Be3?!
17.Nf5! Nxf5 18.exf5 would be equal.
17...Rfe8 18.Nd2 g6 19.b3 Nf8
Bologan, V (2676)-Morovic Fernandez, I (2565) Poikovsky 2001. The players agreed a draw here but Black
is already better. After ...Ne6 his knights will have full control of the centre!
CONCLUSION 12.dxc5
This variation is not really good for White. Black doesn’t have the queen on c7, that’s the whole point.
Black will develop his pieces in this fashion: ... Bb7, ...Nc4 and ...Nd6. After this move, Black will have
control of the central squares. I very much like Morovic’s manoeuvre ...Nf8–e6. In my opinion, if Black
plays like this, his position is easier to play.
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3
12.d5!? 12...--/13...--
Nd7 12.d5!?
White decides to close the centre immediately to avoid the Benoni formation.
12...Nb6!
Black’s most logical move, because now it is possible to play ...f5.

a) 12...Nc4?! This only helps White to improve his position on the queenside. As we will see in the main
line, the knight is perfectly placed on a5 with the idea of ...Nb7–c5. 13.b3! Ncb6 14.a4 White has played
the normal moves and his position is already much better.
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14...Bb7 (14...bxa4 15.bxa4 Nc4 A few grandmasters got to this position and they completely misplayed it.
The key is the control of the c4-square. 16.Qe2!N 16...Na5 17.Na3 Rb8 18.Be3 Qc7 19.Nd2!± Please,
remember this setup for White! If you get here, everything is under control. Black has no moves. White will
later play Reb1 and in the future will try to place one knight on c4, exchange it, play a5 and later Ba4.
White’s play is slow but extremely effective!; 14...Rb8 15.a5! Na8 16.Nbd2 Nc7 17.Nf1 Ne8 18.b4! White
is better in this kind of position as we saw in previous chapters.) 15.a5 Nc8
I don’t like Black’s concept. White can play with b4 or c4 depending on the circumstances. There is no need
to rush. 16.Nbd2 (16.c4!? b4 17.Be3 Qe8?! Black chooses the wrong plan. 18.Nbd2 Bd8 19.Nf1 Ne7
20.Nh4 Kh8 21.Nf5± Navara, D (2660)-Miton, K (2646) Birmingham 2006) 16...Bf6 (16...f5? 17.exf5
Bxd5 18.Ne4+–) 17.Nf1 g6 18.Ng3 Bg7 19.h4! h5 20.Ng5
Black has no counterplay. White should manoeuvre and at the right moment (maybe after another 20
moves) play f3 followed by g4 opening the kingside.
b) 12...c4? This is a strategical mistake. Normally, this advance is good only when the white pawn is placed
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on a4. 13.b4! This is the typical reaction in this position.
13...cxb3 14.axb3 Qc7 15.Be3 Nb7 16.Na3 Rb8 17.Qd2 Nb6 18.b4!
Excellently played! 18...Bd7 19.Bd3 Rfc8 20.Rec1 Nc4 21.Bxc4 bxc4 22.Qc2 Qd8 23.Nd2 Bb5 24.Nxb5
axb5 25.Ra6± 1–0 (60) Hou, Y (2570)-Munguntuul, B (2261) Nalchik 2010. Extremely clean and good play
by Hou Yifan.
Back to 12...Nb6.
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13.b3
Sergey Zhigalko played this move more than once, although if Black knows how to play here everything is
fine.
a) 13.g4?! A very typical move, but Black has a typical reaction. 13...h5! 14.Nh2 hxg4 15.hxg4 Bg5
16.Nd2 g6 17.Ndf3 Bxc1 18.Qxc1 Kg7µ 0–1 (73) Fischer, R-Keres, P Curacao 1962.
b) 13.b4?! Nb7!N I like this move the most. Black keeps the tension and will try to exploit White’s
weaknesses on the queenside; he is planning ...a5. (13...cxb4?! 14.cxb4 Nac4 15.Nc3
Black’s knights look really nice but in reality they are doing nothing. Now White has a free hand on the
queenside. 15...Bd7 16.a4 bxa4 17.Nxa4 Nxa4 18.Bxa4 Bb5 19.Bc2 Qb6 20.Bd3 Rfc8= The position is
more or less equal although White eventually prevailed in Kovalenko, I (2636)-Neiksans, A (2586) Olaine
2017) 14.a4!
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The only way for White to keep the balance. (14.Nbd2 a5 15.bxa5 Nxa5³) 14...Nxa4 15.Bxa4 bxa4 16.Be3
cxb4 17.cxb4 Bd7
The engine considers the position equal although I would prefer Black thanks to the pair of bishops.
13...Bd7
This is the positional move.
14.Be3
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This is the only independent try.
14...Qc7!
The most normal move. Black is not in a rush to play ...f5. First, he consolidates his position on the
queenside.
a) 14...Qc8 Black is ready to play ...f5 and take with the queen. Anyway, I get the feeling that this move
was more improvisation than serious preparation. 15.Nbd2!N It was difficult to calculate the consequences
of this move but apparently White is better.
[15.Qd2?! Nb7 16.Na3 f5 17.exf5 Bxf5 18.Nh2
18...Bf6?! Black has lost an important tempo in the fight for the e4-square. (18...Bxc2!N 19.Nxc2 Qf5
20.Rad1 e4 21.Nf1 Bh4³ It’s very difficult for White to find a plan and ...Nd7–e5 is coming for Black.)
19.Rad1!² Qd7 (19...Bxc2 20.Qxc2! This is the difference. White takes control of the e4-square thanks to
the queen. On the previous move this move was not possible because the d5-pawn was hanging.) 20.Nf1
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Bh4 21.c4
21...e4? (21...b4 22.Nb1 was still playable although White’s position is easier to play.) 22.Bf4 b4 23.Nb1
a5 24.Bxe4± 1–0 (65) Zhigalko, S (2671)-Anton G, D (2650) Doha 2016]
15...f5
16.exf5 Nxd5 17.Ne4! Nxe3 18.Rxe3 Bxf5 19.Nxd6 Bxd6 20.Bxf5 Qxf5 21.Qd5+! An extremely accurate
move. (21.Qxd6 e4 22.Qc7 exf3 23.Rxf3 Qc2=) 21...Kh8 22.Qxd6 e4
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23.Rd1!! This is the key move. 23...exf3 24.Rxf3 Qc8 25.Rxf8+ Qxf8 26.Qb6! The knight is trapped on a5!
26...Nxb3 27.axb3 h6 28.Ra1 According to the engine White is slightly better although extremely good
technique is needed to convert this into a full point.
b) 14...c4!? This is possible as well. 15.Nbd2 Qc7 16.Qe2 Rfc8 17.b4 Nb7 18.a3 a5 19.Rac1 axb4 20.axb4
Ra2= Zhigalko, S (2671)-Anton Guijarro, D (2650) Tallinn 2016.
15.Na3
If White needs to play such a strange move to keep his centre together, this is not a good sign!
15.Nbd2?! f5!„
15...c4!
Black is completely fine. There were some games but White got nothing, only problems!
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16.Qe2
16.Qd2 Bf6 17.Rab1 Rac8 18.b4 Nb7 19.Rb2 Ra8 20.Nh2 Bd8= Sueess, F (2242)-Juras, Z ICCF email
2015.
16...Rfc8 17.Nd2 Bd8 18.Nab1 Nb7 19.Rf1 Nc5=
Kireev, S (2308)-Barnsley, A (2382) LSS email 2011.

4
12.d5!? Nb6! 13.b3 f5
Nd7 12.d5!? Nb6! 13.b3 f5!?
The most concrete try.
14.exf5 Bxf5 15.Bxf5 Rxf5 16.Re4
This is the continuation supported by the engine although I must admit that it is extremely strange. The idea
is to play c4 at some point and the rook will be supporting this advance.
16.Qd3?! Maybe it was unnecessary to show this move, but I played it many years ago and I decided to
include it. 16...Qd7 17.Be3!?
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A risky choice, but interesting as well. 17...Rxf3! 18.gxf3 Qxh3 19.Nd2 (19.Qe4? Rf8 20.Qg4 Qxg4+
21.fxg4 Nxd5 22.Bd2 Nc6µ 1–0 (43) Sandipan, C (2510)-Gozzoli, Y (2377) Goa 2002) 19...Rf8
This happened 14 years ago! I was playing against David Recuero, one of the most talented Spanish players
in recent years. Unfortunately for chess, when he was 18 he decided to stop chess and focus in his studies.
Fortunately for him, he is doing great in life! 20.a4? I was young, feeling nothing could happen to me — so
let’s attack on the queenside. It worked, but it wasn’t objectively correct. (20.Rad1 Rf6 21.Ne4 Rxf3 22.Qf1
Qh5©) 20...bxa4?! Here the problems started for my opponent. (20...Nxb3! 21.Nxb3 Rf6 22.axb5 axb5
Then he will play ...Rg6, take my queen and I will lose for sure!) 21.b4 Nb7? 22.bxc5 Nxc5 23.Bxc5 dxc5
24.d6!
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Suddenly the situation was unclear. 24...Bg5 25.Qf1 Qh4 26.Ne4 Bf4 27.Qg2 Nd7 28.Red1+– Salgado
Lopez, I (2232)-Recuero Guerra, D (2245) Mondariz 2004. I won later and thanks to this game I managed
to win the U14 Spanish championship!
16...Qd7!N
The most normal move. Black plans ...Raf8 and ...Rxf3!
17.c4 Raf8 18.Bd2!?
18.Nbd2 bxc4 19.bxc4 Bd8! Black is ready to play ...Qa4 and is completely fine.
18...Rxf3!
Black cannot lose time!
458
18...Nb7?! 19.Be3! Rxf3 20.gxf3 Qxh3 21.Nd2 White is better.
19.gxf3 Qxh3 20.Qf1 Qxf3 21.Re3
Black has two interesting options to keep his initiative going.
21...Qh5
21...Qf5 22.Bxa5 Bh4 23.Kh1 Bxf2 24.Rh3 Qg4 25.Nd2 Bd4 26.Qg2 Qxg2+ 27.Kxg2 Rf2+ 28.Kg3 Rxd2
29.Bxd2 Bxa1
The endgame is very complicated but, according to the engine, completely equal.
22.Bxa5 Bh4 23.Be1 Qg4+ 24.Qg2 Qd1 25.Qf1 Qg4+
459
And draw!
5
12.d5!? Nb6! 13.Nbd2
Nd7 12.d5!? Nb6! 13.Nbd2!
Once again, the most normal move is the best. Now, ...f5 is not dangerous any more. Black has so many
moves here, it is impossible to analyze them all. But there is a very interesting one.
13...g6!
The direct approach. Black is ready to take on f5 with the pawn. An extremely good practical choice in my
opinion.
a) 13...Bd7 The safest move. Black decides to play slowly. Unfortunately for Black, if White knows what
460
he is doing, he will have a small plus. 14.Nf1 White is ready to play Ng3 and control f5.
[14.b3 c4 15.Nf1 Nb7
16.Be3 (16.b4?! a5 17.g4 axb4 18.cxb4 Na4 19.a3 g6 20.Ng3 f6 21.Nh2 Qc8 22.f4 exf4 23.Bxf4 Nd8
24.Be3 Nf7 25.Nf3 Ne5³ 0–1 (63) Kryvoruchko, Y (2676)-Polgar, J (2709) Achaea 2012) 16...Qc7!
(16...cxb3? Improve the position first before exchanging on b3! 17.axb3 a5 18.Bd3! a4 19.b4 Rc8 20.Qe2±
Liang, A (2572)-Caruana, F (2811) chess.com 2018) 17.Bxb6 (17.Qd2 cxb3 18.axb3 a5 19.Bd3 Nc5!³)
17...Qxb6 18.bxc4
Probably Black was worried about this, but after. 18...Nc5! Black has excellent compensation for the pawn.
Later he will play ...g6 and ...f5.]
14...Nb7
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Black is ready to play ...c4 and ...Nc5.
15.Ng3
[15.b3 a5? It is interesting that Caruana fails for the second time in the moves with the pawns on the
queenside. Probably it is not so easy to do it right! I’m here with my head and my engine and life is much
easier! (15...Qc7 16.Be3 c4! was the best.) 16.Rb1!
White prepares a4 to close the queenside. 16...c4 17.bxc4 Nxc4 18.a4! Qc7 19.axb5 Nb6 20.Be3² Hou, Y
(2680)-Caruana, F (2811) Wijk aan Zee 2018.]
15...g6
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I’m not sure about this move now. The knights on b7 and b6 are very far from the kingside and Black could
come under attack. Anyway, allowing Nf5 is not really good either. This position is really interesting. Black
appears to be completely fine, but some problems might appear. 16.Bh6 Re8 17.b3!
White prevents ...c4, and is ready for b4. Initially I thought that Black was completely fine, but not so!
17...c4!
[17...a5?! 18.Qe2 b4 19.c4? Don’t close the queenside in Black’s favour! (19.Bd3! White has all the
possibilities covered. If the queenside is opened, it will be better for White! 19...bxc3 20.Qc2 a4 21.Qxc3
axb3 22.axb3² The knights on the queenside are really clumsy.) 19...a4 20.Qe3 Bf6 21.h4 Qe7= Hansen, E
(2566)-Naroditsky, D (2633) Reykjavik 2015]
18.b4 a5 19.a3 Ra6
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Black has won the battle on the queenside, but at a high price: his kingside is very weak! 20.Rc1!! I very
much like this kind of move. I will let you have the file but you will get mated! 20...axb4 21.axb4 Bf8
22.Be3 Qe7 23.Nh2! White is much better and will play f4 at the right moment.
b) 13...f5?! Black is not yet ready for this. 14.exf5 Bxf5 (14...Nxd5 15.Nb3! Nf6 16.Nxa5 Qxa5 17.g4!±)
15.Bxf5 Rxf5 16.Ne4² Leko, P (2749)-Kramnik, V (2754) Monte Carlo 2005.
c) 13...Qe8?! This is not the best way to prepare ...f5. 14.b3 f5 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Bxf5 Rxf5 17.Ne4 Qg6
18.Bd2 Raf8 19.Ng3 Probably Black was thinking about taking on f3 here but then realized that this was not
enough.
19...R5f7 (19...Rxf3 20.gxf3 Nxd5 21.c4!+–) 20.c4 Nb7 21.Qe2 b4 22.Qe4± Volokitin, A (2709)-Socko, B
(2635) Istanbul 2012.
Now back to 13...g6.
464
14.Nf1
a) 14.b4 White tries to counter-attack on the queenside before ...f5 comes. 14...Nb7! Black keeps the
tension and is ready to play ...f5. White cannot do much to avoid it.
[14...cxb4?! A positional mistake that even Carlsen made! All right, it was back in 2007, but he was Carlsen
any way! 15.cxb4 Nac4 16.Nxc4 Nxc4 17.Bb3!
This position is simply slightly better for White. Let’s see what happened to Magnus. 17...Nb6 18.Be3 Bd7
19.Rc1! Rc8?! Normally exchanging pieces is good when you have less space, but not in this case. White
will get control of the c-file. (19...Qb8!? was a better try but after 20.Qe2 Qb7 21.Nd2 Rfc8 22.f4 I still
prefer White. Only he has chances.) 20.Rxc8 Bxc8 21.Qc2 Bd7 22.Rc1 Na8 23.Qd2 Qb8 24.Bg5!
465
A great concept by Anand! White has to exploit the weaknesses on the kingside! 24...Bxg5 25.Nxg5 Rc8
26.Rf1! h6 27.Ne6 Kh7 28.f4 and Black was punished in Anand, V (2779)-Carlsen, M (2690) Linares 2007.
Great game by Vishy!]
15.a4
The only try to mess things up a bit. (15.Nf1 f5! 16.exf5 gxf5 17.N3h2 Bg5 18.a4 Bxc1 19.Rxc1 cxb4
20.cxb4 bxa4³ Leko, P (2699)-Tari, A (2597) Gallipoli 2017; 15.Nb3 c4 16.Nbd2 a5 17.Nf1 axb4 18.cxb4
Bd7 19.Bh6 Re8 20.Ng3 Bf8 21.Qc1 Ra6 22.a3 Bxh6 23.Qxh6 Qe7³ 0–1 (46) Swiercz, D (2492)-Howell,
D (2624) Puerto Madryn 2009) 15...cxb4 (15...bxa4 16.Bxa4 Nxa4 17.Qxa4 Bd7 18.Qb3 Qc7=
Vedmediuc, S (2456)-Zhigalko, S (2669) Calimanesti Caciulata 2016) 16.cxb4 Nxa4 17.Bxa4 bxa4
18.Qxa4 Bd7= Kryvoruchko, Y (2676)-Bartel, M (2677) Lublin 2012.
b) 14.b3?! f5 15.a4 bxa4 16.bxa4 f4 17.Nb3 Nxb3 18.Bxb3 c4³ Niekras, D (2313)-Sadzikowski, D (2590)
Fuengirola 2017.
c) 14.a4 c4! 15.axb5 axb5 16.Nf1 Bd7 17.Ng3 Na4³ Sjugirov, S (2602)-Chirila, I (2487) Rijeka 2010.
466
14...f5! 15.Bh6 Rf7
16.exf5
Only an insane person would allow Black to play f4. In correspondence chess there are such!
16.b3 f4 There are many correspondence games in this position. The chances objectively are more or less
balanced but in a practical game I would always be Black.
16...gxf5
A very critical position.
17.a4!
17.Ng3 e4! 18.Nxe4 (18.Nd2 Bg5=) 18...fxe4 19.Bxe4 Kh8 20.Ne5 ½–½ Sekret,R (2311)-Pannekoek, W
(2319) LSS email 2010. Probably the players agreed a draw because of...
467
20...dxe5 21.Qh5 Qg8 22.Re3 Bf6 23.Rg3 Rg7 24.Rxg7 Bxg7 25.Bxg7+ Qxg7 26.Qe8+ Qg8 27.Qxe5+
Qg7 28.Qe8+=.
17...Bd7
18.axb5!N
It is a mystery to me why White hasn’t tried this. I will try to give some interesting analysis about the
position.
18.b4?! cxb4 19.cxb4 Nac4 20.a5 Na4„ Preusse, G (2233)-Kukula, P (2149) ICCF email 2011.
18...axb5 19.Ng3!
White is planning to play Nh5 and to get as many pieces as possible close to the black king.
468
19...e4
Black doesn’t have many moves, so he should attack.

19...Nac4? 20.Rxa8 Nxa8 21.b3 Ncb6 22.Qd2±
20.Nd2
20.Bxe4!? fxe4 21.Nxe4 Rf5! 22.Nfd2 Rf7 23.Nf3 is a very funny draw!
20...Nac4
21.Qh5!
White fights for the initiative.

21.Nxc4 Rxa1 22.Qxa1 Nxc4 23.Qc1 e3!?∞
21...Rxa1 22.Rxa1 Ne5!
The knight should be close to the defence.

22...Nxb2?! Too risky. 23.f3!
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White plans to open the kingside completely. 23...Bh4 24.Ndf1! (24.Ngxe4!? This sacrifice is interesting as
well. 24...fxe4 25.Nxe4 Qe7 26.Nxd6 Bf6 27.Qxf7+ Qxf7 28.Nxf7 Kxf7 29.Ra7 N2c4∞ The engine says
that White is better here. For me, this endgame is very difficult to understand.) 24...N2c4 25.fxe4 Bf6
26.e5! White clears the way for the Ruy Lopez bishop! 26...Bxe5 27.Nxf5± White’s pieces are very close to
the black king. Black will have a really hard time defending himself.
23.f3 Rf6!
470
Black plans ...Rxh6!
24.fxe4
24.Bg5 Be8 25.Qh4 h6! 26.Nxf5 hxg5 27.Qxg5+ Bg6 28.Nxe7+ Qxe7 29.Nxe4 Rf7= The game goes on
but the three pawns compensate for the piece.
24...Rxh6 25.Qxh6 Bg5 26.Qh5 Bxd2 27.Nxf5 Bxf5 28.exf5 Nxd5=
The evaluation is 0.00. What to say? This is really complicated. Games are needed to understand who is
better!
CONCLUSIONS ON 12.d5
White closes the kingside but Black tries to open the position with ...f5. Actually, there are not so many
good moves for either side in this position. This is typical when one side decides to get some kind of
471
advantage (White gets the space advantage) and the opponent has to fight against it (in this case, Black
needs to play ...f5 and make the d5-pawn weak).
The best moves are 12...Nb6 13.Nbd2 planning Nf1–g3. Here there are two main options:
1. Black plays calmly with 13...Bd7 trying to develop. Then Black places his pieces in this formation:
...Qc7, ...Nb7 and ...c4 planning ...Nc5 with a great position. The problem is that if White plays b3 at the
right moment, he is ready to fight ...c4 with b4, closing the queenside. Then White will even give the a-file
to Black but this is not important because Black’s knights are far from the kingside and White can develop
an attack there. The engines don’t understand this at the beginning but sometimes I can offer good ideas as
well!
2. Black plays 13...g6! and a big mess appears on the board. White needs to play with 14.Nf1 allowing
Black to play ...f5. The position is really concrete, no plans, only moves. After some analysis it seems that
Black is doing fine. My novelty 18.axb5! is interesting but probably not good enough to get an advantage.
This means that Black has a fully playable game after 12.d5 and White should try to find new ways!
472
CHAPTER 7.
11...Nd7 12.Nbd2 (MAIN LINE)
Nd7 12.Nbd2
Contents
1. 12...--
2. 12...Bb7/12...Re8
3. 12...exd4 13.cxd4 Re8
4. 12...exd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.d5 Nce5 15.--
5. 12...exd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.d5 Nce5 15.a4 --
6. 12...exd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.d5 Nce5 15.a4 Rb8
1
12...--
Nd7 12.Nbd2
473
This is considered to be the main line nowadays, but in my opinion Black can get a very interesting game
with more than one line!
12...cxd4?!
Keres’ plan. Nowadays it is not so popular. You will understand why soon.
12...Bf6?! This is the third most played move. In my opinion it doesn’t make too much sense. The point is
that there is one pawn structure where this bishop is completely misplaced here. 13.dxc5! Only seven games
with this move but I’m almost sure that this is the best move. It is simply an improved version of other
variations we have seen before. 13...dxc5 14.Nf1
White’s plan is very easy: Qe2, Ne3 and Ng4 when the time is right. I checked the games and Black can do
little against this. If you have a look at the next games you will know enough. 14...Ra7 (14...Nc4 15.b3
Ncb6 16.Ne3 g6 17.Bb2!? c4 18.bxc4 Nxc4 19.Nxc4 bxc4 20.Ba3± 1–0 (49) Atakisi, U (2384)-Tanrikulu,
S (2131) Ankara 2007; 14...Nb6 15.Qe2 Qc7 16.Ne3 Be6 17.Ng4! Now we see the problem of the bishop
474
on f6. 17...Nd7 18.Nxf6+±) 15.Ne3 Nb6 16.Qe2 Be6
17.Ng4! Nc6 18.Rd1± 1–0 (70) Unzicker, W-Wolk, S Bad Pyrmont 1963
13.cxd4 Nc6
14.Nb3
Once again, the best idea is to keep the tension.

a) 14.a3?! exd4 15.Nb3 Nde5 16.Nfxd4 Bf6 17.Bd2 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 Nd3= 0–1 (41) Tal, M-Keres, P
Curacao 1962. What happened next was analyzed in many books.
b) 14.d5?! Nb4 15.Bb1 a5
475
Black has a good version of the ...cxd4 and d5 lines. 16.a3
[16.Nf1 Na6! The most logical move. The knight was doing nothing on b4. 17.Ng3 (17.Bd3 Rb8 18.Ng3
Nac5 19.Bf1 g6 20.Bh6 Re8 21.b3 Bf8= ½–½ (51) Malaniuk, V (2460)-Romanishin, O (2585) Moscow
1983) 17...g6 18.Bh6 Re8 19.Bd3 Rb8 20.Rc1 Nac5= ½–½ (62) Hunt, H (2436)-Rowson, J (2594)
Sunningdale 2007]
16...Na6
17.b4!? (17.Bd3 Rb8 18.b3 Ndc5 19.Bc2 f5!„ ½–½ (29) Damjanovic, M-Reshevsky, S Nathanya 1971;
17.Nf1 Nac5 18.Bd2 a4 19.Bc2 Nb6 20.Ne3 Bd7 21.Rc1 ½–½ Janev, E (2463)-Damljanovic, B (2541)
Paracin 2010. Here Black could have played on with 21...Nc4 22.Nxc4 bxc4 followed by ...Nb3. I think I
would prefer Black already.) 17...Bb7! A very important and difficult move! The knight is on d2 and
doesn’t have time to control the f5-square, so Black plays for ...f5! There are other moves in this position,
but they are not so good.
[17...Nb6 The best a lternative to ...Bb7. 18.Bd3! (18.bxa5 Na4 19.Nb3 Nc3 20.Qd3 Nxb1 21.Rxb1 f5!„)
476
18...axb4 19.Bxb5 Bd7
20.Qe2?! (20.Bxd7 Nxd7 21.Nb3 Maybe White is slightly better.) 20...Nc5 21.Bxd7 Nbxd7 22.Bb2 Na4
23.Nc4 Nxb2 24.Qxb2 Nc5³ ½–½ (38) Shabalov, A (2633)-Becerra Rivero, J (2575) Tulsa 2008)]
18.bxa5 (18.Qb3 Nc7 Black will follow up with ...f5) 18...Nac5 19.Nb3 Nxb3 20.Qxb3 Qxa5=.
c) 14.a4!? I didn’t realize this move was important till I saw one of the games explained by Sokolov in his
chapter. Black doesn’t have much choice. 14...bxa4! 15.Bxa4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 exd4 17.Nb3 Nc5
Black should go for massive exchanges if he wants to keep the balance. 18.Nxd4 Nxa4 19.Nc6! (19.Qxa4
Bf6 The bishop pair compensates for the weakness on b6.) 19...Nxb2 20.Bxb2 Qe8 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Re3
f6
477
White is slightly better thanks to his more active pieces. Probably he will win the pawn on d6 but I don’t
consider this to be enough to win the game.
14...a5
Black should put pressure on the knight on b3. Now White has two different options.
15.Bd3!
This is the problem and reason why this variation is not played more often.
15.Be3?! Incredibly enough, there are more people who play Be3 than Bd3. It is clear that people don’t
know the Ruy Lopez Chigorin very deeply! 15...a4 16.Nc1 (16.Nbd2 Bf6! 17.d5 Nb4 and Black is
completely fine.) 16...Bb7!
478
White cannot keep the centre together. 17.d5 (17.Bd3 Nb4!N This novelty gives Black a great position!
18.Bxb5 Bxe4 19.Bd2 d5! 20.Bxd7 Bxf3 21.Qxf3 e4! 22.Qg4 h5 23.Qxh5 Qxd7³ Black is a pawn down
but he is very active.) 17...Nb4 18.Bb1 f5„
15...a4!?
Black has to play like this to get a reasonable position.

15...Ba6 The move if Black doesn’t want to sacrifice material. 16.d5 Nb4 17.Bf1 a4 18.Nbd4!
A very important move! 18...exd4 19.a3 Nxd5 20.exd5² ½–½ (27) Volokitin, A (2660)-Mamedyarov, S
(2699) Foros 2006. Go back to the middlegame chapter if you don’t remember so well how to continue!
16.Bxb5 Qb6 17.Bxc6 Qxc6 18.Nbd2
479
Grandmaster Romanishin tried to defend this position many times. He had the feeling that he could hold it:
two bishops and White hasn’t finished his development. I understand him perfectly.
18...Bb7!?
Only some correspondence players have tried this but it seems to be the most logical move. Black simply
wants to play ...f5!
18...Bf6 19.Nf1 exd4 20.Nxd4
Romanishin reached this position several times but couldn’t equalize. 20...Qb6 21.Be3! Qxb2 22.Ng3 Ne5
23.Re2 Qb7 24.Rb1 Qa6 25.Nh5± 1–0 (42) Kulaots, K (2556)-Romanishin, O (2532) Budapest 2008.
19.Nf1
480
19...Rfc8
19...f5?! 20.Bg5! This is the trick!
20.Ng3 g6!
I like this simple move. Black keeps the status quo. His position is not so easy to crack.
20...Qb5?! 21.Rb1 Bf8 22.b4 g6 23.Be3 a3 24.Rb3² ½–½ (47) Hartl, H (2483)-Haug, U (2414) LSS email
2010.
21.Bh6
21...Bf6!?N
481
Black wants White to push d5!
21...Qb5?! I don’t like this move, it only helps White. 22.Rb1 Rc7 23.Re3 Rac8 24.Ne2± Farkas, L (2118)-
Salonen, J (2129) ICCF email 2017. Black has no compensation.
22.Qd2!
But White doesn’t advance his d-pawn!
22...exd4 23.Nxd4 Qb6
23...Qc4 24.Rad1 Qxa2 25.Qb4±
24.Rad1²
So we can say that the old Keres variation with 12...cxd4 is in trouble!
2
12...Bb7/12...Re8
Nd7 12.Nbd2
482
12...Bb7!?
This is not so popular but lately David Anton, one of the biggest experts in this variation, has been playing
this from time to time. I must admit that it is much more interesting than I had thought!
12...Re8 Canadian grandmaster Eric Hansen has played like this not so long ago. In the past Keres tried this
as well, of course. This looks like a really healthy move. Unfortunately, Black has problems with his pieces
in the closed position. 13.d5! Normally I don’t like this move with the bishop on c8, but the rook now is on
e8 so ...f5 is more difficult to play. After analyzing, it appears that White is doing fine. (13.Nf1 exd4
14.cxd4 transposes to 12...exd4) 13...Nb6! 14.Nf1
14...Nb7
[14...c4?! Too soon for this move. 15.Be3 (15.b4! Nb7 16.Be3 Bd7 17.Ng3²) 15...Nb7 16.a4?! A strange
mistake. You almost never play a4 if Black plays ...c4. 16...Bd7= ½–½ (26) Dgebuadze, A (2499)-Hansen,
E (2604) Belgium 2016.]
483
15.Ng3 g6
Black should not allow Nf5. 16.b3 c4 (16...Bd7!?N I will need this move for sure, so better play it now.
17.Be3 Bf6 18.Qd2 Bg7 19.Bd3! With c4 to follow, White is better; ...f5 is not possible.) 17.Be3 Bd7! I
think that Black should try to keep the position closed.
[17...cxb3 18.axb3 Bd7
19.Nh2?! (19.Qe2! was needed to avoid the ...a5 plans. 19...a5? 20.Bd3+–) 19...a5 20.Ng4 Bg5 21.Qd2
Bxe3 22.Qxe3 Rc8„ ½–½ (49) Tari, A (2584)-Hansen, E (2603) Wijk aan Zee 2017.]
18.b4! a5 19.a3²
484
White’s plan is ver y easy. The queenside is closed, so he simply needs to play for f4 at the appropriate
moment. 19...Ra6 (19...axb4 20.axb4 Rxa1 21.Qxa1 Na4 Maybe this is the best chance for Black, but even
here he is worse.) 20.Rf1 Qc7 21.Nh2 Rea8 22.Rc1!
A typical move! I saw one game of Karpov’s where he did this and I never forgot it. White will play with f4
and will crash through on the kingside. 22...Be8 23.f4 exf4 24.Bxf4±
13.Nf1!
One of the strange situations in the Chigorin when d5 is not the best reply to ...Bb7.
a) 13.d5!?
485
If there is a refutation, this should be the one, but maybe there is no refutation. White should be worried
about Black’s ideas with ...f5 at some point. After some analysis, I realized that things are not clear at all.
13...Nb6 (13...f5 14.exf5 Bxd5 15.Ne4! This is very common in this kind of position. 15...Nb6 16.a4!
White exploits the unstable position of the black knights. 16...Qc8 17.Nfg5 Qxf5 18.b4 cxb4 19.cxb4 Nc6
20.a5 Nxb4 21.axb6+– 1–0 (30) Schmidt, V (2141)-Jung, K (1684) GER email 2010; 13...Bc8 14.b3! An
important move to support White’s centre. 14...Qc7 15.Qe2± White will follow with c4, with the
advantage.) 14.b3 The critical test. (14.b4!?N 14...cxb4 15.cxb4 Nac4 16.Nxc4 Nxc4 17.a4 Probably White
is a bit better here, but Black’s position is solid.) 14...f5! It’s now or never! (14...Bc8?! 15.Qe2 Bd7 16.c4²)
Now White has to decide how to play. 15.exf5!? White gives up the centre. (15.c4?! f4!N The engine
favours White but this is like some kind of King’s Indian, where maybe White will get mated at some point
on the k ingside! 16.Bd3! White should put pressure on the queenside as soon as possible. 16...Qe8 17.Qe2
bxc4 18.bxc4 Bc8! 19.Rb1 Bd8∞ Both sides have some chances although I would prefer Black. The rooks
can go to a7 and f7. At some point ...g7–g5 is coming — White should be careful!) 15...Bxd5
486
(15...Nxd5?! 16.Ne4! Next comes Ng5; the e6-square is really weak.) 16.g4!?N I was a bit shocked when
my engine was suggesting this move, but actually it makes a lot of sense. White wants to play with Be4 or
Ne4 and at the same time doesn’t want to lose the f5-pawn. (16.Nh2!? The other move suggested by the
engine. 16...Kh8 17.Ng4 Bf7∞ A very strange position. The engine favours White but practical tests are
needed to show what’s going in reality.) 16...Nc6!
[16...Bf7!? 17.h4!
A great idea! 17...Nc6 (17...Bxh4?! 18.Nxh4 Qxh4 19.Ne4 h6 20.Kg2! Bd5 21.Rh1 Qf6 22.f3!+– White is
a pawn down but the black pieces are terrible!) 18.Ng5! White should play ver y actively. 18...Bxg5
19.hxg5 d5 20.Qf3 Qxg5 (20...e4? 21.Qh3! White plans Kg2 and Rh1!) 21.Nc4 Qd8 22.Nxe5² White is
better thanks to the pair of bishops and the space advantage on the kingside.]
17.Be4 Rc8 The critical position in this g4 idea. I couldn’t prove a clear advantage for White.
487
18.a4!? (18.Bxd5+ Nxd5 19.Ne4 Nc7!∞ The engine considers that White is still better here but the position
is very strange and in a practical game I wouldn’t be unhappy with Black.) 18...Bf7 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bxc6
Rxc6 21.Ne4²
This is the engine’s evaluation, not mine. If I saw this position on a board, I would think that Black is
completely fine! Extremely deep analysis is needed to understand what’s going on here.
b) 13.dxc5 dxc5 14.Nf1 We had a look at this in the 12.dxc5 chapter.
13...exd4
488
Black couldn’t wait any more, or d5 would come.
14.cxd4
Now Black should decide what to do. Different moves are possible.
14...cxd4!?
Probably this is good enough to equalize.

a) 14...Re8?! 15.Ne3! This is analyzed in the main variation with 13...Re8.
b) 14...Nc6!? 15.Ne3
[15.Bf4?! Rc8 (15...Nxd4 16.Nxd4 cxd4 17.Qxd4; 15...cxd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Qxd4 Rc8 should be
enough to equalize.) 16.Ne3 cxd4 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 Nc5 19.Bb3 Bf6³ ½–½ (52) Padmini, R (2388)-
Anton Guijarro, D (2617) Gibraltar 2015; 15.d5 Nce5 I guess Black is fine here. White’s knight went to f1
too soon.]
15...Bf6 The best move. Black tries to force the Benoni pawn structure. (15...Nxd4 This is solid. 16.Nxd4
cxd4
489
17.Nf5!? (17.Qxd4 Rc8 18.a4 Ne5=) 17...Bf6 18.Nxd6 Black couldn’t find the accurate move 18...Bc8!N
(18...Bc6?! 19.Nf5 Re8 20.Nxd4± Kozionov, K (2393)-Demchenko, A (2619) Izhevsk 2014) 19.Bf4 Ne5
20.Nxc8 Rxc8=) 16.d5 Nce5 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.f4 Ng6
The position is really unclear and both sides have chances.
15.Nxd4 g6 16.Ne3
490
16...Rc8!
16...Re8 17.a4 b4 18.Bd2 Qb6 19.Nb3 Nf6 20.Nxa5 Qxa5 21.Bb3 Nxe4 22.Ng4² ½–½ (43) Bokar, J
(2582)-Mary, P (2563) ICCF email 2010.
17.a4 b4 18.Bd2 Qb6 19.Ng4 Nc4 20.a5 Qc5 21.Nb3 Qc7=
½–½ (38) Dolgov,I (2508)-Wilczek,T (2538) ICCF email 2008.

3
12...exd4 13.cxd4 Re8
Nd7 12.Nbd2 exd4!
491
The most played move. A lot of theory about this has developed in recent years. In 1991 Alexander Graf
played like this. At the beginning it was virtually only him, but year by year more grandmasters started to
use his idea.
13.cxd4 Re8
An interesting waiting move. White has to decide how to play: close the centre or keep the tension?
13...Bf6? 14.e5±
14.d5!
This cannot be bad. The knight is left on the rim and it is not so easy to get it back into the game.
14.Nf1
This is interesting as well, although Black has some unknown chances. 14...Nc6! Now Black gets an
492
improved version!
[14...Bb7?! There are many games with this but the engine immediately comes with an annoying
continuation. 15.Ne3! The knight is aiming for f5. 15...cxd4 16.Nxd4 Bf8 17.b3!
This is the key! This typical pawn sacrifice is really good. 17...Rc8 (17...Bxe4 18.Bxe4 Rxe4 19.Bb2! White
has a great initiative, with Nf5 coming.) 18.Bb2 Nf6 19.Nd5! Again the same idea! 19...Nxd5 20.exd5
Rxe1+ 21.Qxe1 Bxd5
David was playing great till this moment but now he couldn’t find the best continuation. 22.Qd2!N This
simple move sets problems for Black. (22.Bf5?! Rc7 23.Rd1 Qg5!∞ David, A (2585)-Nikolov, M (2543)
Porto Rio 2015) 22...Nc6 23.Bf5! Rc7 24.Nxb5 axb5 25.Qxd5².]
15.Bf4! The best try to fight for advantage.
[15.Be3 Bb7 16.Qd2 Qa5 17.Qxa5 Nxa5 18.Rad1 Rad8= Gullaksen, E (2344)-Howell, D (2667) London
2014; 15.d5 Nce5
493
The difference from the main line is that in the Benoni the knight on f1 is not doing much! It is much better
on d2 with the idea of playing f4 followed by Nf3 when the time is right. 16.N3h2 (16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.f4
Nd7„) 16...Bh4!? 17.Re2 c4 18.Be3
18...a5!N Typical Benoni play. (18...Qc7? The queen is doing nothing on the queenside. 19.f4 Ng6 20.Nf3!
²) 19.f4 Nd3 20.Bxd3 cxd3 21.Qxd3 Ba6³ Black has more than enough compensation for the pawn.]
15...Nb4!?N
494
This non-standard move makes White’s life a bit difficult. (15...cxd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Qxd4 Ne5 18.Ne3
Maybe White can claim a small advantage.) 16.Ne3! (16.Bb1 Nc6 It’s funny, but it is not so easy to find a
good move for White!) 16...Nxc2 17.Qxc2 Bf8 18.Rad1
18...Bb7 White is better centralized but Black has the pair of bishops. White needs to play very accurately
to keep some edge. (18...c4 19.e5! is risky for Black.) 19.Nf5! Qc7!? Keeping the tension, my favourite
move here. (19...cxd4 20.Rxd4 d5!? 21.exd5 Rxe1+ 22.Nxe1 Rc8 Black has some compensation, but still
has to fight for full equality.) 20.b3² I couldn’t find an easy way for Black to continue here.
14...Bf6 15.Rb1
495
15...Ra7!?
A typical Benoni device. The point is to place the rook on e7 when Black’s second rank gets cleared of
pieces.
a) 15...Nb7 16.b3! The knight on b7 is terrible.
b) 15...c4?! 16.b4! Very common in these positions. 16...Nb7 17.a4²
16.b3 h6
16...Rc7 Connected with the previous move. Before playing ...Nb7, it is important to have the rook on c7
for better coordination. 17.Nf1 Nb7 18.Bf4 Ne5 19.Ne3 Nxf3+ 20.Qxf3 Rce7
21.Re2! This move defends the weakest point in White’s position, a2. 21...Qa5 22.Rd1 Qc3 (22...Qxa2? is a
bad move because of 23.e5! with the idea of Bxh7+.) 23.Qg3 Be5 24.Bxe5 Qxe5 25.f4± Later White won
496
in Navara, D (2708)-Howell, D (2606) Rijeka 2010. A great example by Navara. He simply placed his
pieces on the right squares while the knight on b7 was right out of the game.
17.Nf1
White’s advantage maybe doesn’t look so big, but the Black knight on a5 is terribly misplaced. Here we can
see how Karjakin plays excellently and gets a big advantage.
17...Ne5 18.Bf4 Rc7 19.Ng3 Nxf3+ 20.Qxf3 Nb7 21.Nh5 Be5 22.Re3!
I like this move. White improves his position and makes space for the other rook.
22...Qh4 23.Bg3 Bxg3 24.Nxg3 Qg5 25.Rf1 Rce7 26.Qe2 f5
497
Black tried to complicate matters with ...f5 but, as so often, one bad piece (the knight on b7) is enough to
have a bad position!
27.f4 Qf6 28.Nh5±
1–0 (61) Karjakin, S (2720)-Short, N (2696) Wijk aan Zee 2010.
498
4
12...exd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.d5 Nce5 15.--
Nd7 12.Nbd2 exd4! 13.cxd4 Nc6!
Black forces White to play a Benoni position. This is the most direct approach. Moreover, it is nice that the
knight comes back to the centre!
14.d5!
14.Nf1?! Nxd4 15.Nxd4 cxd4 16.Qxd4 Ne5! Playing like Keres, Black has no problems in this position.
14...Nce5
The only reasonable move. Now White has many options and it is not so easy to choose. The main ideas are
as follows. 1) White takes on e5 and pushes f4 as soon as possible to make use of the space advantage. 2)
White plays a4 first. Black has to decide what to play: ...Rb8, ...b4 or ...Bb7. For White a4 is a normal move
but he needs to be careful, since sometimes this move simply helps Black because it opens the queenside. 3)
White plays Nh2 because he doesn’t want to exchange pieces. He will have time to push the pawns later.
15.Nxe5
15.Nh2!?
499
Not so many people play like this. The main reason probably is that the engine gives 0.00 and the position is
really complex. Normally with White you are not so happy with this evaluation, but from the strategical
point of view, this decision is really sound. In the future if we manage to push f4, Black’s knights won’t
have a place to go. I checked it quite a lot and it seems that Black has at least three ways to get a reasonable
position. 15...c4!? Black tries to activate the knights as soon as possible. Almost no one plays like this. I like
it the most because a big mess is created!
a) 15...Nb6!? Black allows f4 but plans a counterattack. 16.f4 Ng6
17.g3! This typical control move is necessary. (17.Ndf1?! f5! Black destroys White’s centre completely.
18.Qh5 Bf6³ Smeets, J (2620)-De Jong, J (2421) Bunschoten 2012) 17...f5!N I like this concrete approach.
(17...Re8?! 18.Ndf3 a5 19.Ng4 a4 20.Rb1 Nf8 21.a3 Nc4 22.Bd3² Kolpakov, N (2315)-Semmler, R (2326)
ICCF email 2015) 18.h4
500
18...Rf7!? (18...Bxh4 This piece sacrifice is not enough. 19.gxh4 fxe4 20.Nxe4 Qxh4 21.Re2 Bg4 22.Nxg4
Qxg4+ 23.Rg2 Qxd1+ 24.Bxd1 Nxd5 25.Nxd6 Ndxf4 26.Bxf4 Nxf4 27.Rd2 White’s pieces will be
stronger and Black’s pawns are not creating any danger yet. Anyway, I think that Black can hold this.)
19.h5 Nf8 At first glance it looks as though Black has played passively, but in reality he is putting a lot of
pressure on White’s centre. The position is really unclear and practical tests are needed.
b) 15...Ng6 The positional approach, and a very logical move. 16.g3
16...c4!? Active again. (16...Nf6 17.h4 Ne5! I like this setup very much. The knights will have squares all
the time. 18.Ndf1 h5 19.Bf4 Nfg4 20.Bxe5 dxe5= Ponomariov, R (2718)-Adams, M (2725) Cap d’Agde
2003) 17.a4 (17.f4?! Nc5! 18.Ndf3 f5 19.exf5 Bxf5³ Belikov, V (2554)-Bezgodov, A (2502) Alushta 2008)
17...Rb8 18.axb5 axb5 19.f4∞ Both sides have chances.
16.f4
501
(16.Ndf3 Nc5!N Black changes the pawn structure for good! 17.Nxe5 dxe5 18.b3 f5!„) 16...Nd3!N This is
the idea! Black gives up a pawn and fights for compensation. (16...Ng6 17.Ndf3 Re8 18.Be3± Ivanov, O
(2462)-Naumkin, I (2426) Moscow 2017) 17.Bxd3 cxd3 18.Ndf3 f5! 19.exf5 Nc5
Now White has many options, but Black seems to be all right. 20.g4 (20.Nd4 Bb7 21.Qf3 Bf6 22.Be3 Bxd4
23.Bxd4 Rxf5„) 20...Bb7 21.b4 Bf6! 22.bxc5 (22.Rb1 Na4 23.Qxd3 Qc8 Black is two pawns down but has
interesting ideas like ...Nc3 or ...Qc4 exchanging queens. Then the pawn on d5 would fall. The engine loves
his 0.00 but I would prefer to play with Black.) 22...dxc5
502
23.Re5! c4„ Black is a piece down but will take on d5. Then he will have strong pawns on the queenside
and White’s king will be weak. Although the computer thinks that the position is equal, everyone would
prefer to be Black here.
15...Nxe5 16.f4
The most direct approach, but Black is doing all right here.
16...Ng6 17.Nf3
Many games have reached this point. Now Black has two interesting possibilities.
17...f5!?
This sharp move seems to work. I consider it perfect if Black is playing for a win.
17...Bh4
503
18.Nxh4 (18.Rf1?! Here this is not good because there is no rook lift to the third rank. 18...Bg3 19.f5 Ne5
20.Ng5 Qf6! 21.Qh5 h6 22.Nf3 a5³ Vachier Lagrave, M (2788)-Howell, D (2693) England 2016. I’m sure
that Vachier simply didn’t realize that a4 and ...Rb8 had not been included. He just forgot his preparation.)
18...Qxh4 19.f5 Ne5 20.Rf1 a5=
18.a4
Probably the most annoying move.

a) 18.exf5 Bxf5 19.Bxf5 Rxf5
20.g4!? Rxf4! 21.Bxf4 Nxf4 Some games have reached this position, and Black had no problems. 22.Qd2
(22.Kh2 Qd7 23.Re4 Rf8 24.Qd2 Nxh3 25.Qe3 Rxf3 26.Qxf3 Ng5 27.Qe3 Nxe4 28.Qxe4 Bf6³ 0–1 (44)
Al Modiahki, M (2542)-Kovalev, V (2639) Riadh 2017; 22.Re4 Nxh3+ 23.Kg2 Ng5 24.Nxg5 Bxg5= ½–½
(35) Florescu, C (2282)-Miron, L (2525) Sarata Monteoru 2012) 22...g5 23.Kh2 Qd7 24.Re4 Rf8 25.Rae1
Bf6 26.Nh4 Be5 27.Nf3 Bf6 28.Nh4 Be5 29.Nf3 ½–½ Bakunts, R (2355)-Kovalev, V (2584) Yerevan
504
2016.
b) 18.e5 Bb7
White’s centre appears to be very strong but in reality it is very weak. 19.e6 Ra7! A very nice manoeuvre.
After ...Qa8 White cannot defend the pawn on d5. 20.a4 Qa8 21.axb5 axb5 22.Rxa7 Qxa7 23.Kh2 Qa2!
24.Bb3 Qa8
Black plans to play ...c4. White needs to play really concretely to hold the position. 25.Ng5 Bxg5 26.fxg5
Ne7 27.Bf4 Qb8∞ White will lose the pawn on d5 but will have compensation because of his e6-pawn. The
position is unclear.
505
18...b4!?
Now the weakness on c4 is not so important.

18...fxe4 This is good as well. 19.Bxe4 bxa4 (19...Bh4!? 20.Bxg6 hxg6 21.Nxh4 Qxh4 22.axb5 Bxh3
23.bxa6 g5! 24.gxh3 Qg3+=) 20.Bxg6 (20.Qxa4 Nh4 21.Ra3 Rb8 22.Qc2 h6 23.Qe2 Bf6 24.Bc2 Nxf3+
25.Rxf3 Bd4+= Primbetov, K (2258)-Esserman, M (2467) Budapest 2017) 20...hxg6 21.Rxa4 Bh4= Black’s
king is a bit weaker but White cannot exploit that weakness.
19.e5
19.exf5 Bxf5 20.Bxf5 Rxf5 21.g4 Rxf4 22.Bxf4 Nxf4©
19...Bh4!
19...Bb7 20.Bb3! Now it is not so easy to attack d5, so Black plays differently.
20.Nxh4
20.Rf1 Bg3 21.e6 Qf6∞
20...Qxh4 21.Rf1 Bb7
506
The position is really unbalanced but the chances are more or less equal.
5
12...exd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.d5 Nce5 15.a4 --
Nd7 12.Nbd2 exd4! 13.cxd4 Nc6! 14.d5! Nce5 15.a4!
15...Bb7
This move became really popular after the outstanding wins of Anton Guijarro against Veselin Topalov and
Emil Sutovsky at the Gibraltar Open. He showed how to play this position in great style. Many players have
since tried to do the same as him but, unfortunately for them, they didn’t manage to play the position as well
as David!
507
15...b4? This is a positional mistake. Black cannot weaken the c4 square in this way. 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.f4
Ng6 18.Nc4 a5
Black believes that he can fight the knight on c4 with ...Ba6. 19.g3!?N I like this move, avoiding ...Bh4
forever and taking control of the centre. This is a very typical move in this pawn structure. White will
consolidate first and then will improve his position slowly. 19...Ba6 (19...Bxh3? 20.f5 Ne5 21.Nxe5 dxe5
22.Qh5 Black loses the bishop.) 20.Bd3! (20.b3? Bxc4 21.bxc4 Bf6! And Black would be better because
White always needs to pay attention to the b-pawn.) 20...Bf6 21.Rb1 Re8 22.Kg2²
White is much better. Everything is under control and he only has to improve his position slowly. One
possible plan is Bd2, Qf3, b3, Re2, Rbe1 and so on.
16.Nh2!
I like this move, which normally is underrated. White is planning to push f4 on the next move so Black
should act quickly.
508
a) 16.Qe2!?
The engine supports this move, although I don’t understand it very well. It’s clear that Black will play ...Re8
at some point. It is true that White forces ...Rb8 and White will have the control of the a-file, but I have the
feeling that White’s advantage in this position is really on the kingside. 16...Rb8 17.Nh2! This is the best
move here, although I would do it one move earlier.
[17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.axb5 axb5
19.f4! (19.Nf1? This concept is mistaken and after this move, Topalov couldn’t find his way in the game.
Black’s moves were much easier all the time and eventually Topalov lost. 19...Re8 20.Ne3 Bf6 21.Bd2 Bc8
22.Ba5 Qe7 23.Bc3 Ng6³ Topalov, V (2739)-Anton Guijarro, D (2650) Gibraltar 2017) 19...Ng6 20.Nf3
Bf6!„
509
Black will follow up with ...Re8 and ...Qd7, maybe ...c4 at some point. According to the engine, the position
is completely balanced, but we shouldn’t forget that this is some kind of Benoni and normally the engine
says that White is always much better. Probably this position will be easier for Black in a practical game.]
17...Re8
18.f4! This move is always needed in this position although often White is afraid of playing it for some
reason. (18.Ndf1?! Bf6 19.Ne3 c4 20.axb5 axb5 21.Bd2 Nc5„ Kobo, O (2482)-Ben Artzi, I (2400) Rishon
Le Zion 2017) 18...Ng6 19.Ndf3 Nh4 20.Qf2! This way, White justifies Qe2. The engine supports White
although I must admit that the position is really unbalanced and everything can happen.
b) 16.Nxe5!? Nxe5 17.f4 Ng6 18.Nf3 Maybe this is better for White as well, but 16.Nh2 should be
stronger.
Back to 16.Nh2.
510
16...c4!?
Probably the best try. Black has to look for some activity.
a) 16...Ng6 17.Ndf1! A very nice move. The knight heads for f5. Then f4 can be played with a big
advantage. 17...c4 18.Ne3 Nc5 19.Nf5 Ne5
20.Re3!N This was the right concept. The rook on the third rank is really good in many lines of the Ruy
Lopez! (20.axb5 This is good too, but I prefer to keep the queenside closed. That way, fewer pieces will be
exchanged. 20...axb5 21.Rxa8 Bxa8 22.Re3 g6 23.Nxe7+ Qxe7 24.Bd2± Bures, J (2380)-Kozak, M (2232)
Brno 2011) 20...g6 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Bd2± Black will suffer a lot in the near future because of his weak
dark squares.
b) 16...Re8 17.f4 Ng6 18.Ndf3².
c) 16...Bg5 This attempt to restrain f4 is bad because of 17.g3!
511
17.b3
White tries to break Black’s pawn chain on the queenside.

17.f4?! Nd3! 18.Bxd3 cxd3 19.Ndf3 Re8!„
Black has good compensation. White cannot try to grab the pawn with 20.axb5 axb5 21.Rxa8 Qxa8
22.Qxd3 because of 22...Nc5! 23.Qc2 Qa4! Black exchanges queen and afterwards the central pawns will
fall.
17...Nd3!?N
The engine does not initially support this move but any Benoni player would try it.
17...Qc7
This will leave Black with a bad pawn structure. 18.bxc4 bxc4 19.Ndf3 a5 20.Nd4 Nc5 21.Ng4 Ned3
22.Bxd3 Nxd3 23.Re2² White has Rc2 coming, targetting the c4-pawn.
512
18.Bxd3 cxd3
19.Ng4
19.Ndf3 Bf6 20.Rb1 b4 21.Qxd3 Nc5©
19...f5!
Black must play actively. If White plays Ne3 Black won’t have any counterplay.
20.exf5!
This move, opening the long diagonal for the bishop on b7, is not at all easy to play.
20.Ne3?! White tries to keep the diagonal closed, but this is not enough. 20...Bf6 21.Ra2 f4! 22.Nf5 Bc3!
513
23.Qg4 (23.Nxd6 Qc7 24.Nxb7 Qxb7© Black’s pieces are simply very active and White cannot make use
of the extra pawns in the centre.) 23...Qf6!„
20...Bf6
21.Rb1
21.Nxf6+? Qxf6 22.Ba3 Qxf5µ
21...Bxd5 22.axb5 axb5 23.Ne4!
White eliminates one of Black’s bishops.
23...Bxe4 24.Rxe4 Ne5 25.Bf4²
514
The pawn on d3 will fall at some point. The game is not over but Black will have to play really precisely to
have chances of surviving.
6
12...exd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.d5 Nce5 15.a4 Rb8
Nd7 12.Nbd2 exd4! 13.cxd4 Nc6! 14.d5! Nce5 15.a4! Rb8
The best move in my opinion. I like the bishop on c8 because it makes the move g3 difficult for White to
play in some variations.
16.Nxe5
a) 16.Nh2 My favourite idea now is not so good. 16...Bg5!N Black doesn’t allow f4. 17.g3 Nc4! Another
extra option thanks to ...Rb8. Black will have activity on the b-file. 18.axb5 axb5 19.f4 Bf6 20.Nxc4 bxc4„
b) 16.axb5 axb5 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.f4 This is like the main line.
16...Nxe5 17.f4 Ng6
515
Now White has to decide whether to take on b5 now or later.
18.Nf3
18.axb5 axb5 19.Nf3 Bh4 20.Nxh4 Qxh4 21.f5 Ne5=
We will check something similar in the main line. In my opinion Black has no problems in this kind of
position. The only independent idea for White here is 22.b4!? Bd7! This move one should remember.
(22...c4? 23.Re3 Qe7 24.Rg3 Kh8 25.Qd4±) 23.bxc5 dxc5 24.Be3 Rfc8 Black kept the position together
and the pawns on the queenside are planning to roll. The position is not clear but it appears the chances are
more or less balanced if both sides play well.
18...Bh4!
The best move by far.

a) 18...f5? In this case, Black gets a very bad position by force. 19.exf5 Bxf5 20.Bxf5 Rxf5 21.axb5 axb5
516
22.g4!
22...Rxf4 (22...Rf7 23.f5±) 23.Bxf4 Nxf4 24.Qd2! Bg5 (24...Nxh3+ 25.Kg2 Bg5 26.Nxg5 Nxg5 27.Ra7±
The rooks will try to clean up everything on the seventh rank!) 25.Kh2 Nxh3 26.Qd3 Nf4 27.Qf5 h6
28.Ra7! Qf6 29.Nxg5 hxg5 30.Qxf6 gxf6 31.Rd7 With Rxd6 to come, White should be winning.
b) 18...Bf6!?N
A very provocative move, but not so bad. If White pushes e5 too fast, the bishop will come back to e7. Then
Black will play ...Bb7 and the pawn on d5 will suffer, so... 19.Kh2! Control! White is ready to play g3 at
any moment. 19...Bb7 20.Rb1² White has control of the position and Black doesn’t have any active plan.
517
19.Rf1!?
This is a very interesting option for White, and in my opinion the only try for advantage.
a) 19.f5?! Bxe1 20.Qxe1 Ne5 21.Nxe5 dxe5 22.Be3 c4 23.axb5 axb5 24.Bc5 Re8 White doesn’t have
enough compensation for the exchange.
b) 19.Nxh4 Qxh4 20.f5 The only chance to keep the game alive. (20.Rf1 Bxh3! 21.gxh3 Qg3+=) 20...Ne5
21.Rf1 b4 22.Bf4 Qe7 23.Bd3 f6=
Black has good control of the position. I don’t see big problems for him in Kotronias, V (2529)-Indjic, A
(2612) Moscow 2018.
19...Bg3!
518
White is forced to push the pawns.
20.f5 Ne5 21.Ng5!?
White tries to mate Black, with f6 and Qh5 in the air. Black can’t solve his problems with 21...Qf6 as
22.Ra3 Bh4 23.Qh5 would guarantee White some advantage.
21...h6!
The safest try.

21...Nd7?
The engine supports this move but if you analyze this deeply, Black is in big trouble. 22.axb5! The best
moment for this capture!
a) 22.f6 This is only good for a draw. 22...Nxf6 23.e5 Bxe5 24.Rxf6 Qxf6 25.Bxh7+ Kh8 26.Qh5 Bd4+
519
27.Kh2 Be5+=
b) 22.Qg4 Be5 Black’s defence holds.
c) 22.Nxh7!? I like this idea but here, Black is holding. 22...Kxh7 23.f6 g6 24.Qg4!?N Probably this is not
winning, but it sets new practical problems. (24.Qd2 Nxf6 25.Qh6+ Kg8 26.Bg5 Be5 27.Ra3
An interesting position. Black is pinned and should be careful to avoid getting mated with Raf3 and Rxf6.
27...Rb7! A logical try. Black wants to play ...Ng4, ...Bd4 and ...f6. Please, pay attention to the rook on b7,
it is defending perfectly! 28.Qh4 Kg7 29.Qh6+ Kg8 30.Qh4 Kg7 31.Bh6+ Kg8 32.Bg5= Berg, E (2575)-
Forsberg, V (2227) Sweden 2012) 24...Be5 25.Qh4+ Kg8 26.Bg5 Now Black is completely locked in.
Actually, he should be terrified here! Luckily for him, there are two moves to make a draw. 26...bxa4! The
easiest try. Black’s rook enters into the game.
[26...b4 Trying to push the pawns on the queenside is a bit slower. 27.Rf2! Preparing Raf1 and Qh6. Black
should react very fast. 27...b3 28.Bd3 c4! Only move! 29.Bxc4 Rb4 30.Bd3 Qb6 31.Kh1 Qd4! Extremely
concrete defence! 32.Rf3 Qxb2 33.Raf1
520
White is ready for Qh6 and mate, but Black has a fantastic resource. 33...Nxf6 34.Bxf6 Bxf6 35.Rxf6 Rxa4
36.Qh6 Ra1!! There is no mate with Rxg6 and Rf8! 37.Rxg6+ fxg6 38.Qxf8+ Kh7 39.Qe7+= What a draw!
Who knows, maybe I missed some mating resources for White, but so far this variation looks like a draw.
Anyway, Black should have good nerves to enter such a line; 26...c4? With the same idea of b4, but there is
a problem. 27.a5! Closing the queenside to avoid counterplay. Not an easy move to make! 27...b4 28.Ba4!
Nxf6 29.Bxf6 Bd4+ 30.Rf2!
The most accurate, keeping the king close to the centre for the endgame. 30...Qxf6 31.Qxf6 Bxf6 32.Rxf6
Rd8 33.Rc1± The c-pawns fall and Black must fight hard for the draw.]
27.Bxa4 Nxf6!
521
Black is forced to give back the material because Bxd7 was coming. 28.Bxf6 Bd4+! 29.Kh1! (29.Rf2?!
Qxf6 30.Qxf6 Bxf6 31.Rxf6 Rd8 32.Raf1 Rb7= Black keeps his position together.) 29...Bxf6 30.Rxf6
Rxb2=
Black is a pawn up but White has pressure on the kingside and the position looks equal. White will play
Raf1, Qg5 and probably Rxg6 at the right moment with a draw. White is not winning but Black should be
very careful!
22...axb5 23.Nxh7!N
522
I got this idea from Berg’s game, but in this position no one has played like this. 23...Kxh7 24.f6 g6 25.Qg4
Be5 26.Qh4+ Kg8 27.Bg5
Once you’ve checked the variation 22.Nxh7, you understand why this version is much better for White!
One small pawn capture can change everything! 27...b4 The only move to keep the position together.
(27...c4 28.Rf3! b4 29.Raf1 b3 30.Bb1±) 28.Ba4 Planning Bxd7. 28...Nxf6 29.Bxf6 Bxf6 30.Rxf6 Ra8
31.Kh2!
523
In many lines is important that Rxa1 is not check. 31...Kg7 (31...Bd7 32.Bxd7 Rxa1 33.Be6!! Kg7
34.Rxf7++–) 32.Raf1± White has very unpleasant pressure on the kingside.
22.f6! gxf6
22...hxg5? 23.Bxg5 g6
24.Ra3!+–
23.Nf3 Kg7 24.Kh1∞
524
The position is very strange. White is a pawn down, but Black’s king is exposed. According to the engine
Black can defend, but is not easy to say what would happen in a practical game.
12.Nbd2
CONCLUSIONS ON THE 12.Nbd2 VARIATION

This is the most-played variation in the Keres-Graf. Black has many options but many of them are not good!
We will check them one by one:
1. 12...cxd4 This was one of Keres’ favourite ideas. It is interesting but in the main line the move 15.Bd3! is
very annoying and I couldn’t find a way for Black to equalize.
2. 12...Re8 is an interesting variation, keeping all the possibilities open. Unfortunately, after 13.d5 the black
knights don’t seem to be well coordinated and ...f5 is not possible because the rook is on e8. White can
make good use of his space advantage and has the better game.
3. 12...Bf6 forces White to make a decision but after 13.dxc5 this Fischer pawn structure is a very good
version for White. At some point, the knight from e3 will jump to g4 and will take the bishop on f6.
4. 12...Bb7 is a very good option for Black. I didn’t manage to find a clear refutation and it seems to be fully
playable. There are some Benoni positions that cannot be analyzed until the end but in most of them, I have
the feeling that Black has a good game. I really wanted to make 13.d5 work. Maybe White is better but the
positions are strange and I have the feeling that White has to play extremely accurately to avoid getting into
a difficult position. I believe that 12...Bb7 will be played more and more often.
5. 12...exd4 13.cxd4 Nc6! (It is not good to leave the knight on a5.) 14.d5 Nce5 is the critical position and
now White has different possibilities:
a. 15.Nh2 is a very interesting try to keep the tension but Black appears to have different alternatives to get
a complex and interesting game.
b. 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.f4 Ng6 Black is doing fine. The ideas with ...Bh4 keep Black in the game.
c. 15.a4! is the critical test. The fate of the 12.Nbd2 variation depends on White’s possibilities here. If
White cannot find something, Black is completely fine. Here Black has different options:
525
• 15...b4 is bad. White will have the control of the c4 square and Black cannot create counterplay.
• 15...Bb7 is an interesting try and David Anton managed to win two very important games with it. The
problem is that after 16.Nh2 the black knights are suffering a lot and in my opinion White has the better
game.
• 15...Rb8 is the main and the best move. Here Black should be careful if he doesn’t want to be mated after
16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.f4 Ng6 18.Nf3 Bh4 19.Rf1 Bg3 20.f5 Ne5 21.Ng5! The move 21...Nd7 falls under a
very strong attack where I don’t think Black can save the game. It is really important to play 21...h6 22.f6
gxf6 23.Nf3 Kg7. There are no games with this position but my feeling is that everything is decided here.
The engines consider that the position is equal but maybe some hidden attacking ideas (I couldn’t find them
at least) can be discovered in this position. Only practical tests will show us the truth.
526
CHAPTER 8.
11...Nd7 12.a4 (MODERN LINE)
Nd7 12.a4!
Contents
1. 12...b4/12...exd4
2. 12...Rb8
3. 12...Bb7
1
12...b4/12...exd4
Nd7 12.a4!
527
Probably this should be considered the main line. In the variation with 11...Qc7, this move was not good
because Black could play simply ...Bd7. Here that is not the case and Black has to define the situation on
the queenside. Many strong grandmasters are playing 12.a4 and Black has big problems to fight for
equality.
12...b4
This line is very solid for black, although in my opinion White manages to keep some small edge. 12...exd4
13.axb5! This move is very important! (13.cxd4?! b4! 14.b3 cxd4 15.Bb2 Bf6 16.Nxd4 Bb7 17.Nd2 g6
18.N2f3 Rc8³ 0–1 (51) Bok, B (2591)-Almasi, Z (2695) Germany 2014) 13...axb5 (13...dxc3? 14.Nxc3
axb5 15.Nxb5 Qb6 16.Nc3± 1–0 (54) Kosteniuk, A (2490)-Kovanova, B (2408) Eilat 2012) 14.cxd4
14...b4! Black should take the c3 square under control. Here White has two options to get an advantage.
(14...Bb7 15.Nc3 b4 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Bf6 18.Bf4± Krzyzanowski, M (2457)-Karpus, M (2328)
Katowice 2017) 15.Bf4!?N
528
[15.Nbd2 Bb7!?N (15...Nb6?! 16.Nf1 c4? — 16...Re8 was better — 17.Ne3 d5 18.exd5 Bb7 19.Ne5+– 1–0
(28) Sasikiran, K (2669)-Piorun, K (2638) Matanzas 2017) 16.Nf1 Nc6 17.Rxa8 Bxa8 18.Ne3²]
15...cxd4 16.Nxd4 Ne5 17.Nd2² White has good control of the central squares.
13.d5!
A very interesting idea of the Spanish grandmaster Lopez Martinez. Here he decides to close the centre
because the position on the queenside is defined and he hopes to exploit it. In the game he didn’t manage to
find the concrete moves, but the idea deserves consideration.
a) 13.Nbd2?! This is a standard move but does not fit the concrete needs of the position. 13...Rb8 14.Nf1 b3
15.Bd3 exd4 16.cxd4 c4 17.Be2 c3³ 0–1 (37) Quesada Perez, Y (2627)-Caruana, F (2811) chess.com 2018.
b) 13.cxb4 The most played move and the one you would play if you like an open game. 13...cxb4 14.Nbd2
The difference with the previous variation is that now Black cannot change the pawn structure in his favour.
14...Bb7 The best try, keeping some tension. In case of 15.d5 Black will be ready to play ...f5 at some point.
Once again, David Anton played this. (14...exd4 White gets a good version of the line. 15.Nxd4 Bf6
16.N2b3 Nxb3 17.Bxb3± 1–0 (39) So, W (2822)-Lesiege, A (2525) chess.com 2017; 14...Rb8 15.Nb3 Bf6
16.Nxa5 Qxa5 17.Be3² ½–½ (42) Huebner, R-Glauser, H Groningen 1965) 15.Nf1 exd4 16.Nxd4 g6!
529
Black takes the f5 square away from the knight, playing like Keres. 17.Ne3 Rc8! This is the move preferred
by the correspondence players. They equalize without many problems.
[17...Ne5!? 18.f4 (18.b3 with the idea of Bb2 was easier.) 18...Nec4 19.Nxc4 Nxc4 20.b3 Na3 21.Bd3 Re8
22.Nf3 Bf6 23.Ra2 Bc3
24.Rae2!? was a mess where probably Black is fine but in the game David didn’t manage to defend his
kingside. Ter Sahakyan, S (2598)-Anton Guijarro, D (2660) Minsk 2017.]
18.Bd2 Qb6 19.Nb3 Nf6 20.Nxa5 Qxa5= Kharlamov, V (2492)-Lednev, V (2453) ICCF email 2013.
13...Rb8
530
14.b3!N
This is very interesting because White retains all the possibilities on the queenside.
14.Nbd2 c4 15.cxb4 Rxb4 16.Ra3? (16.b3! was needed: 16...cxb3 17.Nxb3 Nxb3 18.Bxb3 Nc5 19.Bc2²)
16...Nc5! 17.Nf1 Nab3³ Lopez Martinez, J (2557)-Candela Perez, J (2411) Villava 2009.
14...bxc3
a) 14...c4 15.cxb4 cxb3 16.Bxb3 Rxb4 17.Bc2
The queenside is opened and normally this brings advantage for White.
b) 14...Re8 15.cxb4 cxb4 16.Be3²
15.Nxc3 c4 16.bxc4 Nxc4 17.Qe2 Qc7 18.Nd1!
531
With Ne3 coming, White has control of the position.
2
12...Rb8
Nd7 12.a4! Rb8
Black doesn’t yet want to define the pawn structure or decide the best post for the c8-bishop. The problem is
that the a-file is now in White’s hands.
13.axb5 axb5 14.b3!
Normally in the Spanish, the most flexible move is the best. Here that is the case. Black now should decide
how to go on. I also like this move because now d5 will be a better move, taking into account that after ...c4
White can always play b4 and push the a5-knight to b7, where it will be passive.
532
a) 14.dxc5 dxc5 15.Nbd2 This looks good but Karjakin has showed how to play this position with Black.
It’s funny that initially the engine gives White the advantage because of the a-file but White cannot do a
thing there!
15...Bb7 (15...Re8 16.Nf1 Nc4!? this is very interesting as well. 17.Qe2 Nd6 18.Rd1 Bb7 19.Ne3 Bf8
20.Nd5 Nb6 21.Be3 Nxd5 22.exd5 e4 23.Nd2 c4³ ½–½ (75) Zhang, C (2229)-Garcia, J (2436)
Philadelphia 2017) 16.Nf1 Nc4 17.Ne3 (17.Ng3 Nd6 18.Nh2 Qc7 19.Qg4 Kh8 20.Nf3 Ra8 21.Rxa8 Rxa8
22.Ng5 ½–½ Vedmediuc, S (2459)-Istratescu, A (2604) Arad 2017) 17...Nxe3 18.Bxe3 Qc7 19.Qe2 c4!
In the end, the a-file gives White nothing. 20.Ra7 Nc5 21.Nd2 Qc6 22.f3 Ne6 23.Kh2 Rfd8 24.b4 Nd4
25.Qd1 Bh4 26.Rf1 Nxc2 27.Qxc2 Rd3–+ 0–1 (32) Borisek, J (2541)-Karjakin, S (2763) Porto Carras
2011.
b) 14.Nbd2?! exd4 15.cxd4 Nc6!?
533
Now the b4-square is weak and this helps Black. 16.Nf1 (16.e5?! dxe5 17.dxe5 This is very sharp. Once
Fischer won a very nice game against Stein in this kind of pawn structure, but here it seems that Black is
doing fine. 17...Bb7! The easiest move. White cannot increase the pressure. 18.Ne4 Ncxe5 19.Nxe5 Nxe5
20.Qh5 Nd3= or 20...Ng6=; 16.dxc5 dxc5! Again this pawn structure is good for Black.) 16...cxd4
17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 Ne5!
A typical Keres position. Once again, a4 didn’t help White at all. 19.Qd1 Bf6 20.Ne3 Be6 21.Nd5 Bxd5
22.Qxd5 Rc8 23.Bb3 Rc5 24.Qd1 Nc4 25.Qe2 Re8 26.Bxc4 bxc4³ 1–0 (37) Anisimov, P (2521)-Kovalev,
V (2609) St Petersburg 2016.
c) 14.d5?! c4 15.Be3 Nb7! The knight will go to c5, Black is doing fine.
Back to 14.b3.
534
14...Qc7
a) 14...exd4?! Changing the pawn structure is not good in this case. 15.cxd4 Nc6 16.Nc3! This is the
difference!
When this transformation appears on the board the knight is better placed on b1 than on d2. 16...Nb4 Here
White has several ways to get a better game. (16...Bf6 17.Be3 cxd4 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 Be5 20.b4
Bxd4 21.Qxd4 Ne5 22.Qe3± ½–½ (43) Korneev, O (2548)-Garbisu de Goni, U (2411) Nova Gorica 2018;
16...Nxd4 17.Nxd4 cxd4 18.Nd5²) 17.Nd5!?N A bit strange, but very interesting. (17.Bf4 Rb6 18.Bb1 Re8
19.Qd2 Bb7 20.Be3² 1–0 (41) Sevian, S (2615)-Javakhadze, Z (2452) Dallas 2017; 17.Bb1 Re8 18.Bf4
Qb6 19.Qd2² 1–0 (59) Ivanchuk, V (2769)-Karjakin, S (2779) Astana 2012) 17...Nxd5 18.exd5 Nf6
19.Bg5!
535
White prepares Qd3 with mating ideas!
b) 14...Re8 A normal waiting move. 15.d5! Nf8
16.Be3!N The favourite move for the engine in this kind of position and it is absolutely right! (16.Nbd2
Bd7 17.Nf1 Ra8 18.Ne3 Qc7 was good for White as well, but now with the knight on e3 the plans are not
so clear, and White eventually drew in Inarkiev, E (2707)-Rapport, R (2694) Geneva 2017) 16...Ng6
17.Nbd2 White has the typical plan of playing Bd3–f1 and in the future the rooks will control the a-file.
White is much better. Black should be careful about the b4 move as well.
15.d5!
536
White doesn’t have any more useful moves to improve his position, so he should improve the pawn
structure.
15...c4?!
15...Nb7 16.Be3 (16.Nbd2?! Nd8 17.Nf1 f6 18.Be3 Nf7 19.Qe2 Nb6 20.N3d2 Bd7 21.Bd3 f5 22.exf5
Nxd5 23.c4 Nb4∞ ½–½ (49) Djukic, N (2526)-Koksal, E (2405) Minsk 2017) 16...Nd8 17.Na3! The knight
is very well placed here, attacking the weakness on b5.
16.b4 Nb3!?
Karjakin understands that after ...Nb7 his position is really sad so he decides to search for counterplay even
if it means sacrificing a pawn.
17.Bxb3 cxb3 18.Qxb3 f5 19.Bg5! Nb6
537
20.Na3!N
The perfect square for the knight, controlling c4 and attacking b5. 20.exf5 Rxf5 21.Bxe7 Qxe7 was not so
clear in Leko, P (2732)-Karjakin, S (2775) Beijing 2012.
20...Bxg5
20...fxe4 21.Nxb5! Qd8 22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.Nd2±
21.Nxg5±
3
12...Bb7
Nd7 12.a4! Bb7
A fighting move. Black forces d5. This means that the bishop on b7 will be misplaced, unless Black
manages to play ...f5 and make the d5-pawn weak. The position is very concrete.
13.d5
Of course, White should accept the challenge. After 13.Nbd2?! exd4 14.cxd4 b4 Black has no problem.
13...Qc7
The most played move, and a logical one. Black connects the rooks and doesn’t reveal his intentions yet.
a) 13...Kh8
538
A very interesting waiting move. The point is that after Black plays ...f5, there will be no pins on the a2–g8
diagonal. 14.b4! If Black plays slow, it’s good for White to play fast!
a1) 14.Nfd2 White wants to play b4 on the next move. 14...c4! 15.Na3 f5! Black plays very actively and
offers a pawn sacrifice. 16.axb5 axb5 17.Nxb5
17...Ba6 (17...Nc5 18.Na3 Nab3 19.Rb1 Nxd2 20.Bxd2 Nxe4 21.Rxe4! fxe4 22.Bxe4 The c4-pawn is weak
and White has the better chances.) 18.Na3 f4 19.Naxc4! White gives up the exchange in order to develop
his pieces. 19...Nxc4 20.Rxa6 Rxa6 21.Nxc4 Ra1 22.Qd3 Qc7∞ The engine favours White here but
advancing the pawns on the queenside seems quite difficult. In the future the black bishop on b6 would be
annoying. The position probably is balanced but I would prefer Black in a practical game.
a2) 14.b3N White wants to play Nbd2 and c4 and keep everything calm. 14...c4! 15.bxc4 (15.b4?! Nb3!
16.Bxb3 cxb3 17.Qxb3 f5³ Black has good compensation for the pawn because the d5-pawn will fall.)
15...Nxc4 16.Na3 Qc7 Black will play with ...f5 at some point and the chances are equal.
a3) 14.Nbd2 c4 15.Nf1 Nc5„.
539
14...Nc4 15.Nfd2 Nxd2
International master Kozak had this position twice. The second time, his opponent was well prepared.
16.Nxd2! This is the clearest way. (16.Bxd2 f5 17.exf5 Bxd5 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.Be3 Nf6 20.Nd2 Qc7∞
Nayhebaver, M (2440)-Kozak, A (2428) Balatonszarszo 2017) 16...f5 (16...Qc7 17.Nb3! Heading for a5.)
17.bxc5 Nxc5 18.Rb1
18...Qc7!N is more stubborn but after (18...Qa5 19.c4 bxa4 20.exf5± Buksa, N (2351)-Kozak, A (2422)
Budapest 2017) 19.c4 bxc4 20.Nxc4 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 fxe4 22.Nb6 White has the upper hand.
b) 13...c4?! Black is not ready for this move yet. 14.Be3!
540
Black has problems to keep the position together. After Na3 the b5-pawn is really difficult to defend.
14...Qb8 (14...Qc7 15.Na3 bxa4 16.Bxa4 Nc5 17.Bc2 Bc8 18.Nd2± Kulaots, K (2579)-Mihajlov, S (2386)
Fagernes 2018; 14...Nb6 15.Na3 f5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Bxb6 Qxb6 18.exf5²) 15.Na3!N (15.Nbd2 Bc8
16.axb5 axb5 17.Ra3 Nb7 18.Qa1 Rxa3 19.bxa3!± was also good in Sutovsky, E (2650)-Bologan, V (2640)
Poikovsky 2017) 15...Bc8 16.Qe2 White’s plan is Reb1 and b3, opening the queenside.
c) 13...f5?! 14.exf5±
Back to 13...Qc7.
14.b4!
White has had very good results with this move lately.
a) 14.Nbd2?! This natural move is simply bad. 14...c4! Now White has problems to develop an initiative on
the queenside. 15.Nf1 (15.b4?! cxb3 16.Nxb3 Nxb3 17.Bxb3 Qxc3³) 15...Nc5³
541
b) 14.Nfd2 White plans b4. Here Black has some extra appealing moves compared to 14.b4. 14...c4! This
option is very interesting, as is Black’s compensation. (14...Nb6 15.b4 cxb4 16.cxb4 Nac4 17.a5!N White
should close the queenside as soon as possible. 17...Nd7 18.Bb3 Nxd2 19.Bxd2 Rfc8 20.Nc3²
Black has no counterplay and White will try to prove that his space advantage is big enough. This is not an
easy task, but anyway White is better. 14...f5 15.b4 Nc4 16.Nxc4 bxc4 17.bxc5 Nxc5 18.exf5 This is like
the main line.) 15.Na3
15...f5!N This novelty is extremely important. Probably there will be new games in this direction. (15...bxa4
16.Bxa4 Nb6 17.Bc2 f5 18.Nab1! Nd7 19.Ra4 Nc5 20.Rxa5 Qxa5 21.Nxc4 Qc7 22.exf5 a5 23.Nca3 1–0
Seric, A (2168)-Nilsson, M (2109) ICCF email 2016; 15...Qb6? 16.axb5 axb5 17.Nxb5! This is the
problem!) 16.axb5 (16.exf5 bxa4 17.Bxa4 Nb6 18.Bc2 Bxd5„) 16...f4!? Black will be a pawn down but in
the future will have options to attack on the kingside. 17.Ba4 (17.bxa6 Bxa6 18.Qe2 Rfb8©) 17...Bc8
18.Qe2 Nb6 19.Bd1 Qc5 20.bxa6 Bxa6 21.Nc2 Bb5 22.Nb4
542
White is a pawn up but it is very difficult to improve his position. Maybe there is some dynamic balance.
22...g6 23.Bc2 Kg7 24.Kh2 h5„
14...Nc4
Now White should decide how to deal with the knight on c4. 14...cxb4?!N 15.cxb4 Nc4 16.Bd3! The knight
on c4 in reality is very unstable.
16...bxa4 17.Rxa4 Rfc8 18.Nbd2²
15.Nfd2!
543
The only way to fight for advantage! Here Black has two reasonable options. I went very deep into both of
them. Black is close to equalizing but doesn’t quite manage to do it.
a) 15.Nbd2?! The most normal move. The only problem is that White cannot put pressure on b5 with Na3
in the future. 15...Nxd2
[15...cxb4 16.cxb4
16...Nxd2 (16...Rac8? is a mistake as after 17.Nxc4 Black needs to take back on c4 with the pawn, which is
well-known to be a mistake because the pawn on c4 will be a weakness in the future. In case of 17...Qxc4
18.Bd3! Qxb4 19.axb5 axb5 20.Ra7 Rb8 21.Ba3
544
followed by 22.Qb1, White is clearly better. The pawn on b5 is endangered and Black will suffer a severe
lack of space for his pieces.) 17.Nxd2 Qc3 18.Nb3 Qxb4 19.Bd2 Qc4 20.Na5 Qc7 21.axb5 axb5 22.Bd3
Nc5 23.Bxb5 f5 24.exf5 Bxd5 25.Bb4² ½–½ (57) Tudorache, M (2101)-Schott, D (2297) ICCF email
2016.]
16.Bxd2 (16.Nxd2?! White wants to play with Nb3–a5. 16...Rfc8! 17.Bd3 c4! 18.Bc2 f5 19.exf5 Nf6
20.Ne4 Nxd5„) 16...cxb4 17.cxb4 Nb6!
Now White is forced to define the queenside pawn structure. 18.a5 (18.axb5 axb5 19.Bd3 Rxa1 20.Qxa1
Nc4=) 18...Nc4 19.Bc1 Rac8 Black will continue with ...Qd7 and ...g6, preparing ...f5; his position is fine.
b) 15.Na3 Nxa3 16.Rxa3 Rfc8 Black is in really good shape.
15...f5!?
a) 15...Nxd2!? 16.Bxd2
545
16...f5! Black should counterattack as soon as possible.
a1) 16...bxa4?! 17.Bxa4 Nb6 (17...c4 18.Bxd7! Qxd7 19.Na3 Rac8 20.Qe2 Qc7 21.b5! f5 22.Reb1 fxe4
23.Qxe4 axb5 24.Be3 Qd7 25.Nxb5± 1–0 (38) Sutovsky, E (2646)-Sadzikowski, D (2548) Minsk 2017.)
18.bxc5!N This move is logical and strong. White has a better structure on the queenside.
[18.Na3?! f5?! Black again allows White to carry out the favourable transformation of the pawn structure.
(18...cxb4 19.cxb4 Nxa4 20.Qxa4 f5! The position in completely unclear.) 19.bxc5! Qxc5 20.Be3 Qc7
21.Bc6 Nd7 22.Bxb7 Qxb7 23.exf5 Rxf5 24.Qd3± 1–0 (46) Barski, R (2402)-Svetushkin, D (2563)
Paleochora 2017.]
18...Qxc5 19.Be3 Qc7 20.Nd2 Nxa4 21.Qxa4±
White is planning to play Reb1 followed by c4 and Black cannot get any counterplay because his bishops
are very passive.
a2) 16...cxb4?! 17.cxb4 Nb6 18.Nc3!
546
Once again, Black took too soon on b4 and the c3 square is available for the white knight to put pressure on
b5.
a3) 16...Rfc8 17.Na3!±.
17.exf5
17...Nb6 Black tries to recover the d5-pawn as soon as possible.

[17...Kh8 Black prepares ... Bxd5. 18.bxc5!N This is the best move. I should admit that the moves are really
difficult to understand; the position is simply very concrete. (18.Be3 Nf6! (18...cxb4 19.cxb4 bxa4 20.Bxa4
Nb6 21.Bb3 Nc4 22.Qc2+– Nguyen, T (2539)-Kozak, A (2440) Budapest 2018) 19.bxc5 dxc5 Black will
later take on d5 and the position is unclear.) 18...Qxc5 (18...Nxc5 19.Be3 Nxa4 20.Bxa4 bxa4 21.Qd3±
White will play c4 and g4, taking full control of the position.) 19.Bb3!
547
The d5-pawn is simply very important. 19...Bxd5 (19...Rxf5 20.Be3 Qc7 21.axb5 axb5 22.Rxa8+ Bxa8
23.Qd3±) 20.Be3 Bxb3 21.Qxb3 Qc4 22.Qxc4 bxc4 23.Nd2 d5 24.Rad1!± White is a pawn up and Black’s
central pawns will be more a weakness than an advantage; 17...Bxd5? 18.Bg5! Bxg5 19.Qxd5+±.]
18.axb5 axb5 19.Na3! Qd7 20.Qb1!
A very accurate move. White keeps on putting pressure on the b5-pawn. The position becomes extremely
forced now. 20...Kh8 21.bxc5 dxc5 22.Qxb5 Qxd5 23.Be4 Qxd2 24.Bxb7 Rxa3 25.Rad1 Qc2 26.Qxb6 Ra2
548
Opposite-coloured bishops but White is a pawn up. In reality Black doesn’t have an attack because White’s
bishop on b7 protects the important g2-pawn. Now White has two options. 27.Qe6 (27.f4!?N 27...Qf2+
28.Kh1 e4 29.Bxe4 Rd2 30.Qe6 Bd6 After ... Bxf4, Black will be able to hold the position.) 27...Qxf2+
28.Kh1 Bh4! (28...Bf6N 29.Rf1 Qb2 30.Qd6 Rc8!! 31.Rb1 Qc2 32.Qe6 Rd8 33.Be4² White’s pieces are
more active but I’m not sure if he can get the full point. Everything depends on whether he manages to
create mating threats on the eighth rank.) 29.Rf1 Rd2
30.Rxf2! A fantastic way of playing, possible only in correspondence chess! (30.Rde1 Qg3 31.Qxe5 Qxe5
32.Rxe5 g6 Black should make a draw here thanks to the opposite-coloured bishops.) 30...Rxd1+ 31.Kh2
Bxf2 32.f6!
549
This is a great move. White removes the protection from Black’s king. 32...gxf6 33.Qe7 Bg1+ From now
on, everything is forced. 34.Kg3 Rg8+ 35.Kf3 Rf1+ 36.Ke2 Rf2+ 37.Ke1 Rf4 38.Bd5 Rb8 39.Qc7 Rb2
40.Bf3 c4 41.Kd1² Black’s king is weaker and his rooks are not very well coordinated. White is better
although at the end he didn’t manage to win in Ozols, A (2206)-Costachi, M (2229) ICCF email 2016.
b) 15...cxb4?! 16.cxb4 Rfc8 17.Bd3! f5 (17...Nxd2 18.Bxd2 bxa4 19.Nc3±) 18.Nxc4 bxc4 19.Bc2± The
pawn on c4 is extremely badly placed, as you already know.
16.Nxc4 bxc4 17.bxc5
17...Nxc5
17...Qxc5 18.Nd2²
18.exf5
550
Black is a pawn down but very active. I left my engine running all night and it couldn’t find a way to
equalize with Black.
18...Rab8!
This has been tried in correspondence chess.

a) 18...Rae8!?N
This was the suggestion of the engine after very long thought but somehow I don’t like the position it gives.
19.Ba3 Kh8 20.Ra2! A smart way to get the rook into the game. 20...Nd7 21.Be4 Nf6 22.Nd2 Bxd5
23.Bxd5 Nxd5 24.Ne4 Qc6 25.g3 Rxf5 26.Rd2 Nf6 27.Nxd6 Bxd6 28.Rxd6² White is more active and
Black has weak pawns on c4 and e5. A long defence awaits Black.
b) 18...Nb3!?N Black gains the bishop pair hoping for long-term compensation. 19.Bxb3 cxb3 20.Qxb3
Rab8 21.Nd2 Ba8 (21...Bc8 22.Qc4!±) 22.Qc2 Bxd5 23.Ba3² Black has compensation but doesn’t have an
easy way to recover the pawn.
19.Be3 Nd7!N
In a practical game this is a really good try. Black plans ...Nf6 and taking the pawn on d5. 19...Qa5!?
20.Bxc5!?N (20.Na3?! Nd3 21.Bxd3 cxd3 22.c4 Qc3 23.g4 Bc8 24.Qc1 Qxc1 25.Rexc1 Bd7 26.a5 h5!„
Janisch, M (2313)-Ottesen, S (2356) ICCF email 2014) 20...Qxc5 21.Be4 This way looks simpler and
White is better.
20.Be4 Nf6 21.Qf3 Qa5 22.Rd1!
It’s easy for the engine to play like this, but for a human this is not so simple.
22...Rfc8
551
Black’s pieces are quite active. The only piece that is doing nothing is the rook on b8 but after ...Ba8 there
will be possibilities like ...Rb2 or ...Rb3. Probably White is better, but in a practical game it is not easy at all.
23.g3 Ba8 24.Qg2
White plans to run away with Bf3.
24...Nxe4 25.Qxe4 Kh8©
A very strange position. White is a pawn up but Black is very active. Maybe White is better, but good luck
finding all the moves!
12.a4
CONCLUSIONS ON 12.a4
552
This new move is very interesting. In the last two years there have been many games with this move and
White seems to win many games! I think that this should be considered the main line. Maybe not yet, but
when the book appears, for sure! Black has a few possibilities:
1. 12...exd4 is not good but only because White has 13.axb5! After this Black has some problems with the
pin on the a-file while White has easier development, gaining a better position.
2. 12...b4 is a very solid line. After checking different possibilities I think that 13.d5! as played by Lopez is
the best continuation. Black has already defined the situation on the queenside so White can close the centre
without problems because he will have the initiative on the queenside.
3. 12...Rb8 13.axb5 axb5 and now the accurate move 14.b3! keeps all the options. Then White will play d5
and the knight will be misplaced on a5. White will have the initiative on the queenside with the plan Be3,
Nbd2 and Bd3 followed by b4 or putting both rooks on the a-file.
4. 12...Bb7 is the best and the most played move. This forces White to close the game with 13.d5 and hope
that ...f5 won’t be good enough. Here Black has several options but the only one to get a reasonable position
is 13...Qc7. This position is important for the evaluation of this line. White should try to play with b4 at the
right moment and fight against the knight on a5. There are two possibilities to do so:
a. 14.Nfd2 planning to play b4 on the next move. White should do this with the f3-knight (14.Nbd2?! c4!
and White now cannot increase the pressure on b5 with Na3). Here Black has three options:
• 14...Nb6 15.b4 cxb4 16.cxb4 Nac4 17.a5!N The position will remain closed but the space advantage will
give White some plus.
• 14...f5 15.b4 this is like 14.b4.
• 14...c4! 15.Na3 f5!N is a very interesting option for Black. The position is extremely unclear; Black is a
pawn down but seems to have interesting chances to fight for the initiative. We will need some games to
understand better what is going on here.
b. 14.b4! Nc4 15.Nfd2! The most accurate move order. Now Black has different options:
• 15...cxb4 16.cxb4 Rfc8 17.Bd3! White will have the upper hand on the queenside.
• 15...Nxd2 16.Bxd2 f5! The position is very unclear. I went very deep into this variation (up to move 41!).
This was necessary because the variations are really concrete. Black is very close to equality but at the end
of the day White is better if he finds the accurate moves.
• 15...f5 16.Nxc4 bxc4 17.bxc5 Nxc5 18.exf5 Rab8! This is the critical position of the 12.a4 variation. After
19.Be3 my novelty 19...Nd7! is very interesting. The engine supports White but the position is really
strange and difficult to analyze. We will need more games in this but right now I consider that White should
be better although in practical terms Black has all the chances.
553

The Chigorin Bible - A Classic Defence To Ruy Lopez - Ivan Sokolov & Ivan Salgado Lopez

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The Chigorin Bible - A Classic Defence To Ruy Lopez - Ivan Sokolov & Ivan Salgado Lopez

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Table of Contents

Part I: Games, plans and personal experience

Part II: Theory

Thinkers Publishing 2019

First edition 2018 by Thinkers Publishing

The Chigorin Bible. A classic defence to the Ruy Lopez

IVAN AND IVAN: A WONDERFUL COCKTAIL!

14.Nf1 Nc6 15.Be3 Nb4 16.Bb1 Rfc8

18.Ng3! exd4 19.Bxd4

19...Nxe4 does not help: 20.Nxe4 dxe4

21.Bc3! Qd6 22.Bxe4 Qxd2 23.Bxd2 Ra7 24.Bxh7+ Kxh7 25.Rxe7+–.

20...Bxf6 21.Nxe4 Be7 22.Neg5 Nc6 23.Bxh7+ Kf8 24.Rad1

24.Nxf7 also wins.

and now the queen lif t mates: 27.Qd4! Rxd5 28.Qh4+–.

25.Nxf7 Bf5 26.Nxd8 Rxd8

14...Ne8 15.a4 Rb8 16.axb5 axb5

23...Kh8 24.b3 Qb7 25.Bd3 Ra6 26.Rgb1 Rfa8

8...Na5 9.Bc2 c5 10.d4 Qc7 11.Nbd2 Nc6 12.h3 0-0

13...cxd4! 14.cxd4 Nxd4! 15.Nxd4 exd4

In the next game Lasker tried to improve with 16.Bg5 h6

17.Bb3 Qb6 18.Nf5 Bf6 19.Bf4 Ne5 20.Bd5 Ra7

21...Rc7 22.g4 g6 23.Nh6+ Kg7 24.g5 Bd8 25.Qg3

Lasker could have safely resigned here.

15.Ne3 Rad8 16.Qe2

17...c4! 18.axb5 axb5 19.Ng5 Bc8

20.b3 Na5 21.bxc4 bxc4 looks about equal.

20...Nxd5 21.exd5 Rxd5 22.Be4

Avoiding a draw is risky and not a good decision.

24.Qf3 Bb7 25.Nf6+

25.Ng5 looks promising for White.

25...Bxf6 26.Qxf6 Rd6 27.Qg5 Qd7 28.Be3 f5

White is really set on forcing a draw.

29.Bf3 would have led to White’s advantage.

And draw agreed due to perpetual check.

A critical moment! Black needs counterplay quickly!

26.Nh7+! Nxh7 27.Qxg6 Nf6 28.Rxe7±.

18.g5 hxg5 19.Nxg5

20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Ng4

Black doesn’t have a suitable defence.

22.Kh1 Kh8 23.Rg1 Ng8 24.Rg2 Be7

27.Qe4 Nf8 (27...Bf8 28.h4+–) 28.h4 also wins.

Now the position is about equal.

23...Rf7 24.Ra5 Qb7

For some reason Botvinnik is refusing to push 24...c4.

In order to get chances, White needs to open up the position.

30...Qe8 was better.

33...Nd4 was better.

34.Bxc5 Nxc4 35.Qxc4 Bxd5

36.exd5, creating a passed pawn, leads to a large advantage for White.

A blunder only terrible time pressure can explain.

37.Ra8 Rb8 38.Rxb8

14.Nh2!? Be6 15.Qf3 Rad8 16.Ndf1 g6

Black decides to cover the f5-square.

17.Bh6 Rfe8 18.Ne3

18...Nd4! 19.cxd4 cxd4

20.Nf5! Bxf5 21.exf5 Qxc2 22.Rxe5

Now the tactics favour White.

This should net White a healthy pawn up position.

25.Nxf6+ Bxf6 26.Qxf6 hxg6

This simple rook transfer does the job.

28...Rd5 29.Rh4 Rh5 30.Rxh5 gxh5 31.Re5 Rc8 32.Rg5+

Now we will examine a few games where Black played flexibly...

13...dxe5 14.Nf1 Rad8 15.Qe2 Nh5