Matthieu Cornette
The Complete
Ragozin
Chess Evolution
Cover designer Piotr Pielach
ypesetting i-Press ‹www.i-pr ‹w ww.i-press.pl› ess.pl›
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key to symbols Preace Introduction
�
� �
Part �. System with a�+ Chapter �. �. g� h� �. x� — �. a�+ �.��� �.��� Chapter �. �. g� h� �. x� — �. a�+ �. e�!? Chapter �. �. a�+ c� — �.cxd� Chapter �. �.a�+ c� — �.��� Chapter �. �. a�+ c� — �.e�
�� �� �� �� �� ��
Part �. System with b� Chapter �. �.b� Chapter �. �. g� h� �. x� — �. b�
�� �� ���
Part �. �.cxd� Main line Chapter �. �.cxd� exd� — �.��� Chapter �. �.cxd� exd� — �. g� h� �. h� �–� Chapter ��. cxd� exd� — �. g� h� �. h� �
��� ��� ��� ���
Part �. �. g� h� Chapter ��. �. g� h� — �. h� dxc� Chapter ��. �. g� h� — �. x� �.���
��� ��� ���
Part �. ransposition to Nimzo-Indian Chapter ��. �.��� Chapter ��. �.e�
��� ��� ���
Part �. Te Accelerated Ragozin Chapter ��. �. b� — �.��� and �.��� Chapter ��. �. b� — �.e� �.a� �...c�
��� ��� ���
KEY TO SYMBOLS
=
Equality or equal chances White has a slight advantage
Black has a slight advantage
White is better
Black is better
+-+
White has a decisive advantage Black has a decisive advantage unclear
with compensation
with counterplay
with initiative
with an attack
with the idea
only move
N ! !! ? ?? !? ?! + #
novelty a good move an excellent move a weak move a blunder an interesing move a dubious move check mate
PREFACE
Te Ragozin opening is named afer one o its �rst contributors, Viacheslav Vasilyevich Ragozin (����–����). He was a Soviet grandmaster and became the World Correspondence Chess Champion in ����. I started to play this opening back in ���� and I have used it ever since. It’s a perect complement to my main opening against �.d�, the Nimzo-Indian. Over the last decade this line has become highly ashionable at the top level, with Magnus Carlsen, Vishy Anand, Anish Giri, and Levon Aronian, to mention only a ew o the elite grandmasters, playing it regularly. Te theory surrounding the Ragozin has developed very ast, but I have never stopped updating my �les, and I am still amazed by how good this opening is. I thought it was time or me to share with you all the secrets o my avourite and most-solid line; relatively easy to play, with a good positional background, but somehow almost always orgotten by the chess literature. I apologize in advance i sometimes I push certain lines a bit too ar, but I always have a desire to �nd the truth even i it’s not really possible. In any case, everybody can decide by themselves where to stop. Do not worry, I am mysel ar rom remembering everything rom this book, and I doubt anyone can learn all the lines. Have a good read and I hope you will enjoy this book. Cornette Matthieu Bordeaux, January ��th, ����.
Bibliography: Te Mega Database ����. Corr Database ����. Te Week In Chess. Chess Evolution Weekly Newsletter. A. Kornev, A Practical White Repertoire with �.d� and �.c�, vol. �, �, ��������. V. Barsky, Te Ragozin Complex , ����. R. Pert, Playing the Ragozin, ����.
INTRODUCTION
When I started to write this book, one o the �rst problems I encountered was to �nd the right way to order it or to divide it. As you will notice, there is ofen more than one way to get to a certain position and I have tried to make it as clear as possible via which move-orders the line can be reached. �.d� � �.c� e� �. � d� �.c� b�
rs nlw qk+ t r � z ppz p +pz pp � + +ps n + � + +p+ + � v lPz P + + � + N s +N+ � Pz P +Pz PPz P � t R L vQm KL+R
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Tis is the basic position o the Ragozin opening. White now has a wide choice o moves. I decided to divide this book into seven parts. Te �rst part is about the a�+ system. It can start with �. a�+ directly or with �. g� �rst, then �...h� �. x� x� �. a�+. White’s idea behind this check is to drive the black knight rom b� to c�, blocking the c-pawn which otherwise ofen counterattacks White’s centre with a ...c�-c� push. Instead, Black ofen reacts with ...dxc� and ...e�-e� at the right moment. Part � introduces the b� system. As in the �rst case, it can start either with �. b� directly or afer �. g� h� �. x� x� �. b�. Black reacts with ...c�c� in both cases. Part � is about the �.cxd� exd� line, where I analyse not only �.Bg�, the main line, but also other �th moves.
In Part � I cover the �. g� h� line. I the bishop retreats to h�, Black can take on c� and play a good version o the Vienna variation, and i �. x�, it brings us to a ashionable line. In Part � I analyze all the different White �th moves which transpose to the Nimzo-Indian. �.e� is o course the main move, but or example �.g� is also a decent possibility. And �nally, the last part o this book is about what I call the ‘Accelerated Ragozin’: �.d� d� �.c� e� �.c� b�. It’s a move-order I have used quite ofen mysel and most o the time it reaches the ‘normal’ Ragozin, even i White has different options. Black’s main idea behind this move-order can be to avoid the Nimzo-Indian with �.c� or the line with �.e� ollowed by �. ge�. I White tries to play these continuations in the accelerated Ragozin, Black has a strong ...dxc� response.
Part 1. System with a4+ In this �rst section we will study every system where White plays a�. �.d� f� �.c� e� �. f� d� �.c� b� �. g� �. a�+
rs nlw qk+ r t � z ppz p +pz pp � + +ps n + � + +p+ + � Qv lPz P + + � + N s +N+ � Pz P +Pz PPz P � t R L v K mL+R �
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Tis move is the start o one o the main branches o Ragozin. Te idea is to drive the b� to c�. It’s not the most natural square or the knight because it’s in ront o the c�-pawn. On the other hand, the a� is also not ideally placed and Black will have an advantage in development. �...c� �.e� (�. e� will be studied in Chapter �. �.a� will be studied in Chapter �. �. g� h� �. xf� xf� is another move-order to reach Chapters � and �, but also Chapter � i White delays taking on d�. �.cxd� exd� is the start-
ing position o Chapter �.) �...�–� will be studied in Chapter �. �.cxd� exd� �. g� h� �. x� x� �.a�+ c� is another path to reach Chapter �. �...h� �. xf� xf� �.a�+
rs nl+k+ t r � z ppz p +pz p � + +pw q p z � + +p+ + � Qv lPz P + + � + N s +N+ � Pz P +Pz PPz P � t R + K mL+R
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Tis is a ashionable move-order. �...c� �.e� �.e� will be studied in Chapter �. �.a� will be studied in Chapter �. �...�–� �. e� Te most ashionable line nowadays, which will be careully analyzed in Chapter �. �. c� will be studied in Chapter �. �.a� will be studied in Chapter �.
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T�� �������� R������
r+ +k+ t r � z ppz pN+pz p � +n+p+ p z � + +p+ + � Qv lPw q + + � + N s + + � Pz P +Pz PPz P � t R + K mL+R �
Chapter �. �. g� h� �. xf� — �. a�+ �.XXX �.XXX �.d� f� �.c� e� �. f� d� �. c� b� �. g� h� �. xf� xf� �.a�+ c� �.e� �.e�?
r+l+k+ r t � z ppz p +pz p � +n+pw q p z � + +ps N + � Qv lPz P + + � + N s + + � Pz P +Pz PPz P � t R + K mL+R
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Tis move looks tempting, but it’s just a mistake giving Black a good advantage. �... d�! �. xd� (�. xc� xc�+ ��.bxc� xc� ��. b� dxc� Opening up lines or the bishop. ��. xc� (��.e� �–�–� and Black was simply better, as White could not develop easily due to the pressure on the g�-pawn: Van der Stricht,G (����)-Atalik,S (����) Plovdiv ����) ��...�–�–� Black had a very big advantage in development: Rmus,A (����)-Delchev,A (����) Bi jelo Polje ����) �...xd�! Te kind o move which is easy to miss!
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��.c� (��. c� xc�! Treatening ... xc� winning the queen. ��. c� xd�–+ and Black simply had two pawns up or nothing in the game eixeira,R (����)-Mitkov,N (����) Rio de Janeiro ����) ��... xc�! as the white knight is trapped on d� Black continues to collect the pawns ��.e� g� and Black won quite easily in the game: Abhishek,A (����)-Vishnu,P (����) Dharamshala ����. White is not even able to grab a pawn with his knight! �.a� xc�+ �.bxc� �–� ��.e� transposes to �.e� then �.a� �...�–�
r+l+ t rk+ � z ppz p +pz p � +n+pw q p z � + +p+ + � Qv lPz P + + � + N s P zN+ � Pz P + P zPz P � t R + K mL+R
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C������ 1. 5. g5 h6 6. x�6 — 7. a4+ 8.XXX 9.XXX
�. c�!? Quite a ashionable move. Kramnik used it against Aronian in ����, and in ���� Wang Hao and Krasenkow played it. Te idea behind this move is to be able to take on c� with a rook and also delay the bishop de velopment, which might be able to recapture the pawn on c� in one move without losing an important tempo. �.a� xc�+ ��.bxc� g�!?
r+l+ r tk+ � z ppz p +pz p � +n+p+qz p � + +p+ + � Q+Pz P + + � z P P z P zN+ � + + P zPz P � t R + K mL+R
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Black paralyzes White’s kingside as the �–bishop cannot move (��... d� is also a decent alternative. Black wants to play … e� next ollowed by …dxc� and …e�.) ��. c� a) ��. e� I was surprised to see that this move had been already played several times. ��... xg� ��. g� h� ��. g� � ��.�–�–�!N dxc� ��. xc� a� Obviously, White has some compensation here, but pawn is a pawn and I believe that Black is �ne. b) ��.h� with the obvious idea o h�h�, getting rid o the annoying black queen. ��... d� ��.h� (��. d� dxc� ��. xc� e�! Black had good play in: Miladinovic,I (����)-Mitkov,N (����)
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Heraklio ����) ��...� ��.cxd� exd� ��. d� White has �nally succeeded in developing his bishop, but his kingside is weakened now, and Black was totally �ne afer ��... g� in the game Van Wely,L (����)-Pokorna,R (����) Vlissingen ����; c) ��.g� d� ��. d� ad�!?N
+ r t r tk+ � z ppz pl+pz p � +n+p+qz p � + +p+ + � +Pz P + + � z P P z P zNz P � + + P z P z � t R +Qm KL+R
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With the idea o taking on c� and playing …e�. (��...dxc�!?N is a good alternative ��. xc� e�!? Exploiting the weakened light-squares on the kingside. ��.�–� ad�= with a decent position) ��. d� (��.cxd� exd� ��. g� fe� ��.�–� b�=) ��... � ��.�–� (��. d� a�=) ��...dxc� ��. xc� e� and I like Black’s position; d) ��. h�N can lead to a move repetition ��... e� ��. � g�=; ��... d� ��.c� has been played twice with a score o �/� or White which is quite surprising, as Black has a good position here: ��... xc� ��. xc� dxc� ��. xc� b� ��. e� was played in the game Popov,V (����)-aimanov, M (����) St Petersburg ����, but here I suggest an improvement over the game: ��... a�!?N
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T�� �������� R������
r+lt r +k+ � z p p z +pz p � p +p+ p z z � s n + + + � + P z + + � z P P z P zN+ � +R+Lz PPz P � + + K m +R
�... g�!? Putting pressure on the g�-pawn leaves White with a lack o coordination. �... d� I played this move back in ���� against the Spanish grandmaster Rivas Pastor. It’s an interesting alternative but I preer the text move.
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Black’s plan is simple: ... b� and ...c�-c� ��. e� (Afer ��.c�?! c� is even stronger than with a pawn still on c� ; ��. d� b� ��. f� xf� ��. xf� ac� ollowed by ...c�-c�) ��... b� ��.� (��.�–� c� and ... ac� is coming next, with a pleasant position or Black) ��... ac� ��.c� xc� ��. xc� c�= with at least equality. �. d� will transpose to Chapter �, but it’s actually less precise than �. e� because afer �...dxc� the bishop is attacked and White has no choice but to take back the pawn directly; �. e� is the main move. It will be deeply analyzed in Chapter �. �.cxd� exd� See Chapter �.
r+l+ t rk+ � z ppz p +pz p � +n+pw q p z � + +p+ + � Qv lPz P + + � + N s P zN+ � Pz P + P zPz P � + R t K mL+R
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��. c� ��.h� has been played three times but it looks super�cial to me. ��... a�!?N is a good move. Black is threatening to take on c�. ��.h� (��. c� xc� ��. xc� dxc� ��. xc� d�= ollowed by ...e�-e�) ��... � ��.cxd� (��. e�? is a mistake due to ��... dxc�! simply winning the pawn, ollowed by ... b�-b� ; ��.b� dxc� ��. xc� b� ��. e� b� with complex play) ��...exd� ��. d� (��. e� d�!? with the idea being to play ...e� ��. b� leads to a orced draw: ��...axb�!? ��.xa� d� ��.xb� b� ��.a� b� ��.a�+ b�=) ��...e� ��. d� e� ��. � d�= with a balanced position ��... xc� ��. xc� d�
r+lt r +k+ � z ppz p +pz p � +n+p+ z p � + +p+ + � v lPz P + + � + N s P zN+ � Pz PR+ z PPz P � + + K mL+R
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C������ 1. 5. g5 h6 6. x�6 — 7. a4+ 8.XXX 9.XXX
Tis is the move chosen by the elite players. Aronian has already played this position three times and recently Hammer and Movsesian have both tried it. ��... d�!?N has never been played but I believe it is a good alternative to the main move. ��.a� ��.c� doesn’t promise anything ater the thematic ��...e� ��.a� �!?N (��... xc�+ has been played in one existing game in the database but it looks rather strange to me not to insert ... � �rst ��. xc� exd� ��. xd� xd� ��.exd� e�+ ��. e� d�= Shen,Y (����)-Zhao,X (����) China ����) ��. c� xc�+ ��. xc� (��.bxc� f� ) ��...exd� ��. xd� xd� ��.exd� e�+= ��... f� ��. b� With the idea o orcing the d� to an awkward square. ��. e� a� has been played in the most recent game by Hammer (��...e�!? was Aronian’s choice ��.�–� c� might look passive but is okay or Black ��.b� (��. e� f� ��. f� b�= ollowed by ... b�) ��...dxc� ��. xc� d�= and Black had a good position in the game Radjabov, (����)-Aronian,L (����) Beijing ����) ��.c� (��.cxd� exd�=) ��... c� I such a theoretician as Hammer chose to play this way, I can be assured that my idea with ��... d�!?N ��.c� e� is correct. ��.b� g� I am not entirely sure that it’s the best way to play or Black but nevertheless I want to keep this game in the book because
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Black played a real masterpiece. (��... a�= looks quite logical) ��.g� e�!
r+lt r l vk+ � z ppz p +p+ � +n+ + p z � + P zpz p p z � P P z z +P+ � z P N s P zN+ � +R+Lz P P z � + + K m +R
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When holding the two bishops it’s always important to open the position ��. xe� (��. b� exd� ��. xd� (��. xc� d�! ��. xd� xg� ��. d� xd� ��.exd� ac� ��. b� a� ��. g� f� ��. c� g� with a sharp and very unclear position. However, Black’s play looks easier.) ��... xd� ��. xd� c�= with equality.) ��... xe� ��.dxe� a�! Black has sacri�ced a pawn or the initiative and now has to continue playing actively to keep up the pressure. ��.�–� (��.b� e� ollowed by ...d�-d� gives Black an edge) ��...axb� ��.axb� c� ��. d� g� ��.� e� ��. � gx� ��.ex� �! Once again Black tries to open as many lines as possible. ��.ex� x� ��.h� a� ��. d� g� ��. � e� ��.d� a� ��. b� d� ��. c� a�! A very nice tactical blow. ��. xa� ( ��. c� xc� ��. xc� h�) ��... xc� ��.g� xb� ��.gx�+ x� ��. d� xd�+ ��. xd� e�+–+ and Black easily won the rook endgame in Krasenkow,M (����)-Hammer,J (����) Stockholm ����.
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��... d� ��... d�!?N
I don’t believe White has anything here.
r+ r t l vk+ � z ppz pl+pz p � +n+p+ p z � +N+p+ + � +Pz P + + � z P + P zN+ � PR+ P z zPz P � + + K mL+R
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I’m quite surprised to see that even this move is possible. a) ��. xc� this tempting move turns out to be not so good: ��... ac� ��.b� dxc�! ��. e� (��. xc�? a�!–+ and White cannot protect all the pieces ; ��. xc�? a� ��. c� b�–+ trapping the rook) ��...a� ��.c� b� and Black is better. b) ��. e� is harmless ��...a� ��.c� dxc� ��. xc� b� ��. e� b� ��.axb� xb� ��. c� c� Black is �ne. c) ��.cxd�! is a bit smarter ��...exd� ��. d�! (��. xc� is still not dangerous or Black: ��... ac� ��. b� (��. xd�? f�–+) ��... a�! ��. xc� (��. d� a� ��. c� xa� ��. xd� f� ��. c� b� ��. d� b� and Black will at least win back the pawn ; ��. d� f�! and here White’s best chance is to give up an exchange: ��. c� xc� ��. xc� a� ) ��... xc� ��.d� a� ��.c� xa� ��. c� b� ��. d�= with a balanced position) ��... ac� ��.�–� a� ��.c� e�= and
��.cxd� ��. d� a� ��.c� d� (��...e� even i Aronian played this move against Kramnik, I am not sure it is necessary: Kramnik,V (����)-Aronian,L (����) Zürich ����) ��.�–� was played in Meissner, R (����)-Klim,A (����) LSS email ����, and here I suggest ��... a�!?N
r+lt r l vk+ � +pz p +pz p � p+ +p+ z p � s n +p+ + � +Pz P + + � z P N sLz PN+ � PR+ P z zPz P � + + +Rm K �
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��.c� (��.cxd� exd� see ��.exd�) ��... c� ��.b� (��. d� g� ��. e� d� ��.b� f� ��.g� e�= with an equal position) ��...g� ��.h� g�= ollowed by ...e�-e� with equality. ��...exd� ��. d� a� ��.c� d� ��... a� is also �ne ��. � (��.�– � d� see ��... d� then ��... a�) ��... d� ��. xc� xc� ��. e� c� ��. a� e�= with equality in Wang, H (����)-Movsesian,S (����) Huaian ����. ��.�–� a�!?N
C������ 1. 5. g5 h6 6. x�6 — 7. a4+ 8.XXX 9.XXX
r+lt r l vk+ � +pz p +pz p � p+ + + z p � s n +p+ + � + P z + + � z P N sLz PN+ � PR+ z z PPz P � + + +Rm K
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I like this move. Black can stop the advance o White’s queenside by playing ...b�-b� or ... b�. Te move ...c� is also a good option. See ��.exd� ��... a�N
r+lt r l vk+ � s npz p +pz p � p+ + + z p � + +p+ + � + P z + + � z P N sLz PN+ � PR+ P z zPz P � + + +Rm K �
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is a sae option (see ��... d� then ��... a�) ��. c� c� ��. a� (��. e� b� ��. a� d� ��. b� b�=) ��... d� ��. b� b� ��.h� (��. xc� xc� with an equal position) ��... e� ��.b� g� ��. b� g� ��.a� e�= and I don’t see any plan or White; ��... b� has been played twice in this position. It is o course possible, but I preer another square or the knight.
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��. b�!? Quite a smart move. White wants to play b� to take away the squares rom the knight on a�. Te a�-pawn will not be hanging due to b� threats trapping the bishop. ��.e� b� ��.e� (��. a� b� ��. c� d� ��. c� xc� ��. xb� xc� ��. xc� a�=) ��...c�!?
r+lt r l vk+ � +p+ +pz p � p+ + + z p � + p zps N + � + P z + + � z Pn+Lz P + � PR+Nz z PPz P � + + +Rm K
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Tis gives Black good play or the isolated pawn. (��...c� is also ine ��. d� aking control o the d�square with the idea o playing c� (��. c� d� ��. d� e�) ��... e�! with the idea o ...c� ��. � (��. c� c�! ) ��... a�=) ��.dxc� (��. c� c� ��. c� a�) ��... xc� ��. d� (��. c� a�=) ��... d� ��. � xd� (��... b� ��. c� c�=) ��. xd� �=; ��.h� b� ��. b� c� Tis is more logical, although ��... b� is also possible ��. e� c� ��.dxc� xc� ��. e� g� ��. d� b� ��. d� dc�= even i Black has an isolated pawn, I believe his good pieces compensate or it. ��.a� c�=; ��.b�?! is not a good idea because afer ��... c�! Black has the initiative. ��. xc� (��. a� b�) ��...dxc� ��.e� e�;
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��.e�?! is premature: ��...dxe� ��. xe� (��. xe�? c� ollowed by ... g� and the d�-pawn will all.) ��...c� and only Black can be better here. ��...b� ��... b� ��. d� e� ��. e� c� ��. c� a� ��. � g� ��.h� (��. b� c� ��. xc� dxc� ��. xc� a�! and Black has a good initiative or the pawn) ��... x� ��.gx� d� ��.e� b� with an unclear position. ��.b� ��.a� b�!?
��.a� ��.e� d� ��. � d�
r+ r t +k+ � + +l+pz p � p+pv l + p z � s np+p+ + � + P z N s + � z PP+Lz PN+ � +R+ P zPz P � +R+ + K m
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��... e�
r+ r t l vk+ � + + +pz p � p+p+l+ z p � s np+p+ + � P+ P z + + � +Ps NLz PN+ � +R+ z PPz P � +R+ + m K
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��...c� ��... xa�?! ��.b�
a
c) ��.e�?! xe� ��.dxe� e�; ��... db� ��. g� � ��. h� bxa� ��.bxa� a�= with an equal position
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Tis position looks totally �ne to me. ��.g� b� ��.a� a) ��.b� is always met by ��...a� ; b) ��. a� g� ��. e� (��. h� f� ��. g� c�!?=) ��...�=;
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Tis position is quite complicated. I tried to play logical human moves aiming to guess how the game might continue, and I ound no problems or Black. I provide the ollowing lines just to illustrate how play might develop, but there is no need to try to remember them! ��.g� ��. cb� d� ��. a� b� It’s not easy to see how White can play or an advantage here. ��.axb� (��.b� leads to simpli�cations afer: ��...a�! Tematic ��.axb� xb� ��. a� cxb� ��. xb� axb� ��. xa� xa� ��. e� d�= and Black has no problems ; ��.h� b� ��. e� c� and I like Black) ��...axb� ��. ba� xa� ��. xa� b� ��. e� (��. a� a�) ��...c�!? ��. a� (��. dxc� xc� ��. c� c� ��. fd� g� with a balanced position) ��... b� ��.d� d� ��.dxc� (��. a� f�=)
C������ 1. 5. g5 h6 6. x�6 — 7. a4+ 8.XXX 9.XXX
��... xc� ��. a� c� transerring the bishop to b� ��. � b� ��.ed� e�= with equality. ��... db� ��.axb� ��. g� bxa� We can delay this move, but the simpliication is also ine. ��. xa� (��.bxa� xb� ��. xb� b�) ��... xb� ��. e�! b�! ��. a� c�! ��.dxc� (��. xc� xc�! It is important to have this move. ��. xb� xd� ��. xd� xb� ��. xb� a� ��. c� a�=) ��...a� ��. b� e� ��. c� xc� ��. xb� axb� ��. e� b� with enough compensation. ��...axb� ��. a� b� ��. ba� xa� ��. xa�
t r + l vk+ � +n+ +pz p � +p+l+ z p � +p+p+ + � + P z + + � +Ps NLz PNz P � R+ + z P P z � + + + m K
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��...d�!? ��. a� b� ��.e� d� ��. f� c�= Black’s position is solid.
CONCLUSION In this chapter we studied the lines where White delays the development
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o the light-squared bishop. In general, Black bene�ts rom it by playing ... g�. In the ��. c� line, I like my novelty ��... d�!?N, but the regular ��... d� is also totally �ne. I suggest two ways to improve on the most recent games, with ��... a� or ��... a�.
Chapter �. �. g� h� �. xf� — �. a�+ �. e�!? �.d� f� �.c� e� �. f� d� �. c� b� �. g� h� �. xf� xf� �.a�+ c� �.e� �–� �. e�!?
r+l+ t rk+ � z ppz p +pz p � +n+pw q p z � + +p+ + � Qv lPz P + + � + N s P zN+ � Pz P +Lz PPz P � t R + K m +R
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Tis set-up became very ashionable in ���� afer Ding Liren played it with success against Hou Yian, and has been widely used since. I started to work on this line back then and have constantly kept my �le up-to-date. I played this position mysel twice with Black, against Markus Ragger and Laurent Fressinet, with varying success. In this line White is aiming
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T�� �������� R������
or a slight edge due to the passive black bishop on c�. Afer some considerations I decided to suggest two different ways o playing or Black. Te �rst one is more solid and has been recently played by the elite players, whereas the second line I offer is the one I personally preer. �...dxc� he ashionable reply and quite a logical continuation considering the act that White has already spent time on developing the bishop, and now will have to lose one tempo more recapturing the c�-pawn. �... d�
r+ + r tk+ � z ppz pl+pz p � +n+pw q p z � + +p+ + � Qv lPz P + + � + N s P zN+ � Pz P +Lz PPz P � t R + K m +R
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Tis is my personal preerence. Black is threatening to move the knight with a discovery so White has to do something about his queen. ��. b� gives the opportunity to take back on c� with the queen afer ...dxc� (��. c� dxc� ��.�–� is the best and transposes to �...dxc� ��.�–� d� ��. c�. (��. xc� makes Black’s lie easier, as afer ��...e�! ��.a� (recently played by Sargissian but not very impressive): a) ��.d�?! is not that good due to: ��... d�!
r+ + r tk+ � z ppz pl+pz p � + + q w p z � + +Pz p + � v lLs n + + � + N s P zN+ � Pz PQ+ P zPz P � t R + K m +R
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��.exd� exd� ��.a� e�+ ��. � dxc� ��.axb� cxb� ��. b� was played in Marchand,F (����)-Inkiov,V (����) Paris ����, and here Black’s play can be improved with: ��...a�! Black is a piece down, but White’s weak king and undeveloped rook on h� offer us more than enough compensation: ��.xb� (��. xb�? ails due to a very nice trap: ��...xf�!
r+ +r+k+ � +pz pl+pz p � + + + z p � z p +P+ + � PL+ + + z � + + +q+ � RQ+ P t zPz P � + + +K+R
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��.gxf� h�+ ��. g� e�+ ��. f� xf��) ��... xb� ��. xb� axb� ��. b� a� preventing g�-g� and making it diffi cult or White to �nish the development ��.d� e� ��. b� xd� ��. xd� xd� Black now has three pawns or the bishop, and active rooks, while White still needs time to �nish his development;