White: Yudasin, L Black: Kasparov, G
USSR Championship, Moscow 1988
Result: 0-1 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 f4 Not the most popular move, but a logical one. White can potentially push on with f5 or e5 if Black isn’t careful.
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6. . . a6 7 Be3 b5 8 Qf3 Bb7 9 Bd3 QUESTION: Black must make a decision about his knight on b8. Should he place it on d7 or c6 in this position? ANSWER: Here d7 is the best square, as on c6 it can become something of a tactical liability. 9. . . Nbd7
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10 g4 10. . . Rc8 11 O-O QUESTION: How should Black develop the bishop on f8? ANSWER: It is possible for Black to play it to e7 (the normal move), but also to fianchetto it on g7. Although this takes slightly longer to carry out, the pawn on g6 does nullify White’s light-squared bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal. 11. . . Be7
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9. . . Nc6 10 e5! dXe5 11 NXc6 Qc7 12 NXb5! aXb5 13 BXb5
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10 a3 With 10 a3 White tries to stop the threat of ...b4, but it does allow Black an extra move to develop.
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11. . . g6 12 Qh3 Nc5 13 e5 Nd5 14 Ne4 NXe4 15 BXe4 NXe3 16 QXe3 BXe4 17 QXe4 dXe5 18 QXe5 QXd4+ 19 QXd4 Bc5 20 QXc5 RXc5
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21 Rf2 Ke7
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12 Rae1 O-O 13 Qh3 With this move White gets his queen off the h1-a8 diagonal and hopes to threaten mate on h7 after a subsequent e5 push. Another idea is to play g4-g5 and kick the f6knight away.
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13. . . Nc5! As expected Kasparov shows impeccable understanding of the position. Rather than being afraid of the e5 push, he counterattacks against e4 and at a stroke is able to exchange off the potentially dangerous piece on d3 that bears down towards his king on h7. The text also allows Black a square on d7 for his other knight, should he so need it.
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14 Bf2 QUESTION: Is it good for Black to play 15 f5 e5 16 Nde2 Nf6 17 Ng3 d5! ...h6 in this position to prevent White’s potential 15. . . Bf6 EXERCISE: Can White now go for 16 attack down towards h7? e5, attacking the f6-bishop and unleashing an attack on the pawn on h7? 14. . . Nfd7 16 Rd1
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14. . . h6 16 e5 NXd3! 17 eXf6 NXf4 18 Qg4 BXg2+ 19 Kg1 QXf6 20 Be3 BXf1 21 RXf1 e5 22 BXf4 15 Kh1 QUESTION: Why did White play Kh1? Qg6 23 QXg6 f Xg6 ANSWER: Such moves are generally classified as ’waiting’ moves. White tucks his king away in 16. . . Re8 17 Bg1 the corner and awaits developments. He wants to avoid any potential tricks on the g1-a7 diagonal, although now it walks into the line of the b7-bishop which could be potentially hazardous for White. 14. . . g6 15 f5 e5 16 Nf3 Nh5
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bishops, Black can play 20...Nf6, which attacks e4 and retains the flexibility to play e5 at some point, or 20...Ne5, which places the knight on a secure square and also nullifies the scope of the bishop on d4.
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20. . . Nf6
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17 e5 NXd3 17. . . g6
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20. . . Ne5 21 Ng3 NcXd3 22 cXd3 Bc6 23 Nge2 a5 24 Nf4 b4 25 aXb4 aXb4 26 Nce2 eXf5 27 eXf5 Qb7 20. . . BXd4 21 NXd4 Ne5 22 f6 Qf8 23 Nf3! 21 Qg3 EXERCISE: Should Black capture on e4? 21. . . e5! Perfectly timed by Kasparov. As e4 is under threat, White must capture on c5 and accept a bad position, or sacrifice the e4-pawn and hope he obtains some compensation. Of course, against Kasparov this is hardly likely to work!
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17. . . h6 18 Nde2 Bg7 19 f5 This is a typical move that White plays to try to launch an attack. Here, though, it seems rather loose, as now Black has a lovely square on e5 for his knight to hop into. A knight on e5 would be a wonderful piece, as it cannot be attacked (it is on an outpost), and defends the g6-square, as well as counterattacking against the c4- and d3-squares.
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19. . . Qe7 20 Bd4 QUESTION: Should Black exchange the dark-squared bishops? If not, what should he do? ANSWER: Although it wouldn’t be immediately disastrous for Black to do this, it would allow White to push on with f6 more easily. Black should generally not allow White to get a pawn to f6 as this can become a major thorn in his side. To prevent the exchange of
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21. . . Nf Xe4? 22 BXe4 NXe4 23 NXe4 BXe4 24 BXg7 KXg7 25 f6+
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23 BXc5 dXc5 23. . . Nf Xe4 24 BXe4 NXe4 25 NXe4 BXe4 26 Nc3 EXERCISE: Should Black capture on c2?
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26. . . Bb7! The safest course of action is to play 22 BXc5 dXc5 23 Ng1 c4 24 Be2 NXe4 25 NXe4 the position safely. The bishop on b7 covers the BXe4 d5-square and prevents the knight from jumping into this nice square. 22. . . hXg6
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22. . . eXd4 23 gXh7+ Kh8 24 NXd4 Nf Xe4 25 BXe4 NXe4 26 NXe4 QXe4 26. . . BXc2 27 Rd2 Bf5 28 Nd5 Qe6 22. . . f Xg6
27 h4 White wants to play h5 to try and prise open the g-file towards Black’s king.
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27. . . Rc4! Now the counterattack comes. 28 Bg5
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30. . . f6 31 Be3 RXg2! 32 RXg2 Qh3+
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28 h5 Rh4+ 29 Kg1 RXh5 28. . . Qe6 29 Rd2
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29 h5 Rg4 30 Qe3 RXg2 29. . . Rg4 30 Qd3 f6
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White: Movsesian, S Black: Kasparov, G
Sarajevo 2000
Result: 0-1 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 14 bXc3 Qc7 Nc3 a6 6 Be3 This is the English Attack, which will be analysed in Chapter Four.
0Z0Zka0s ZblnZpop 6 pm0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0OBAPZ0 2 PZPZ0L0O 1 ZKZRZ0ZR
6. . . e6 7 f3 b5 8 Qd2 Nbd7 9 O-O-O Bb7 10 g4 Nb6 11 Qf2 As will be discussed later in Korneev-Sasikiran, this Qf2 idea is quite popular. Hopefully Black will have had his morning cup of coffee and will realize there is a threat of Nxe6 followed by Bxb6, but in reality White’s main idea is to move the queen out of the way of a ...Nc4 fork. However, as we shall see, moving the queen away from the defence of the king has its drawbacks...
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11. . . Nfd7 12 Kb1?!
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14. . . Be7 15 h4 Qc7 16 Ne2 Na4 17 g5 d5 18 Rhf1 O-O 19 Bd4 e5 20 Be3 b4 21 cXb4 BXb4 22 eXd5 BXd5 23 c4 BXc4 24 BXc4 QXc4 25 RXd7 Qb5 26 Ka1 Ba3
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14. . . Na4!? 15 Ne2 Be7
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15 Ne2 White probably has to defend the c3pawn at some point anyway. 15. . . Be7 16 g5 O-O! 17 h4 EXERCISE: What are the candidate moves for Black here? I recommend finding three possible moves before deciding which one you would go for.
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17. . . Na4 ANSWER: Again we see this thematic leap. The alternatives were 17...d5 and 17...Rc8:
12 Bd3 Rc8 13 Nce2 12. . . Rc8 13 Bd3 RXc3! This sacrifice changes the balance of the game. QUESTION: Why can Black get away with such a move? ANSWER: Black’s compensation is the fractured pawn shield in front of the white king and the fact that he can normally pick up the c3-pawn, meaning he is only one point down in the material stakes. Also, Black can attack quite fluently after the sacrifice ...Rc8 and ...Na4 are coming fast and White is forced on to the defensive. If you still need convincing, just play through this game!
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0Z0Z0skZ 7 Zblnapop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0O0 4 nZ0ZPZ0O 3 Z0OBAPZ0 2 PZPZNL0Z 1 ZKZRZ0ZR
0Z0Z0skZ Zbl0apop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0m0OP 4 nZ0ZPZ0Z 3 Z0OBZPZ0 2 PZPZNL0Z 1 ZKARZ0ZR
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17. . . d5 18 h5 dXe4 19 BXe4 BXe4 20 f Xe4 Nc4 19 f4? NXd3 20 cXd3 d5! 21 e5 d4 21 Bc1 b4 22 cXb4 BXb4 23 Rh3 19. . . d5! 20 Qh2 17. . . Rc8!? 18 h5 Na4 18 Bc1?! Too slow.
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0Z0Z0skZ Zblnapop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0O0 4 nZ0ZPZ0O 3 Z0OBZPZ0 2 PZPZNL0Z 1 ZKARZ0ZR 8 7
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20 h6 g6! 21 Qg3 Bd6 22 Qg2 Rc8 20. . . Bd6!
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18 h5!? Ne5 19 g6 f Xg6 20 hXg6 h6! 21 BXh6 gXh6 22 RXh6 NXf3
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18. . . Ne5 19 h5
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20. . . b4? 21 eXd5 BXd5 22 BXh7+ KXh7 23 g6+ Kg8 24 h6! Qc4 25 RXd5 QXe2! 26 RXe5! NXc3+ 27 Ka1 QXh2 28 RXh2 Bd6 29 hXg7 KXg7 30 Bh6+ Kg8 31 gXf7+ KXf7 32 BXf8 BXe5 33 f4!
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21 Qh3?! Again this is too slow.
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22. . . NXc3+ 23 NXc3 QXc3 24 Bb2 Qb4 25 g6 Be5 26 d4 Bf4 27 gXf7+ KXf7 28 Qg4 Bh6 23 cXb4? White cracks under the pressure. It’s not surprising, though, as his king’s pawn cover is being stripped and to make things worse, Garry Kasparov is sitting on the other side of the board!
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21 Bf4! b4! 22 cXb4 Rc8 23 Rc1 d4! 24 g6
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21. . . NXd3! 22 cXd3 EXERCISE: How should Black proceed? White is angling to play g6 and he is an exchange up after all. Black must certainly act quickly here.
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23 h6 g6 23 c4! dXc4 24 g6 cXd3 25 RXd3 Rc8 26 Rd2 Be5 27 Rhd1 Bc6! 23 cXb4? BXb4 23. . . Rc8 ANSWER: Quick development is key! Taking on b4 would be a little bit slow in this position, whereas the text threatens ...Qc2+.
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22 RXd3? dXe4 23 RXd6 QXd6 24 h6 g6
24 Ka1 White tries desperately to hold the fort.
22. . . b4! ANSWER: Do as Garry does!
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24 Qf1 dXe4 25 f Xe4 Qc2+ 26 Ka1 Be5+ 27 25 dXe4? Be5+ 26 Nd4 BXd4+ 27 RXd4 QXc1+! d4 BXe4 28 Ba3 Bd5 25. . . BXe4! ANSWER: Yes! With White’s king 24. . . dXe4?! so open, such a move looked on the cards. I will quote Grandmaster Lubomir Ftacnik here: ’Even to an untrained eye it becomes clear that Black is achieving success in the attack with much higher 8 speed than his opponent.’
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26 g6! White doesn’t give up and makes one last throw to complicate things. That is to be expected when playing someone as strong as Movsesian.
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24. . . Qc2 25 Rd2 Be5+ 26 d4 BXd4+ 27 RXd4 QXe2 28 Bd2 24. . . BXb4! 25 Qh2 Qc2 25 f Xe4 QUESTION: Does Black have a killer blow here?
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26 dXe4 Be5+ 27 Nd4 BXd4+ 28 RXd4 QXc1+! 26 Rhg1 Qc2 27 Nd4 Be5 28 Qe3 Bd5 26. . . BXh1 27 QXh1 BXb4 28 gXf7+ ANSWER:
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28 gXh7+ Kh8!
29 Bb2 Qc2 30 Rb1 QXe2 31 h6! Bc3! 32 28. . . Kf8! The position is complicated so we hXg7+ KXf7! 33 Qb7+ Kf6 34 BXc3+ NXc3 should be worrying about what tactical possi- 29. . . Rb8! Now it’s the b-file Black is interested bilities lie in it. Using the opponent’s pawn as in. a shield is a good start. This is another typi- 30 Bb2 cal way to block the opponent’s attack which is worth banking in the defensive memory bank.
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30 Bd2 Ba3 31 Bc1 BXc1 32 RXc1 Qb6 33 Nc3 NXc3
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28. . . KXf7 29 Bb2! NXb2 30 Rc1 Qe5? 31 Qb7+ Kf6 32 Rf1+ Kg5 33 d4
30. . . NXb2 31 Nd4 ANSWER: Yes!
28. . . QXf7 29 Qg2
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31 Rc1 Qe5 32 d4 Qd5 33 QXd5 eXd5 34 KXb2 33 NXc7 Bc3+ Bd2+ 33. . . KXe6 34 QXc7 31 KXb2 Bd2+ 32 Ka1 Bc3+ 31 Nd4
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31. . . NXd1! Cool as you like! Not only does this win a rook, but White cannot now win the queen with his intended trick (can you see why?).
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34 Qh6+ Kf5 34. . . Bc3+ Notice how calm Kasparov was when being counterattacked. A level head gets one far in any Sicilian variation and the Scheveningen is no exception.
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31. . . Bc3! 32 NXe6+ KXf7 33 QXg7+ KXe6 34 QXc7 Nc4# 32 NXe6+ It looks like Black is in trouble, but Kasparov has everything worked out. 32. . . KXf7 33 QXg7+
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White: Karpov, A Black: Kasparov, G
World Championship (Game 24), Moscow 1985
Result:
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1 e4 Here Kasparov writes: ’When with exaggerated confidence he advanced his king’s pawn, I felt glad: now the battle would take place on my territory my opponent was aiming not for protracted manoeuvring, but for a hand-to-hand fight.’ With this Kasparov perfectly describes the type of position that commonly arises from the Scheveningen and in which you must be ready to fight!
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1. . . c5 And here Kasparov comments: ’Black also sticks to his principles: he does not avoid the Sicilian Defence, which nearly always leads to complicated, double-edged play.’ Again, I have to agree with his sentiments of this opening! 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6
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11. . . Bd7 12 Bf3 Rb8 13 Qd2 Bd7 14 Nb3 b6 15 g4 The typical way to try and push Black off the board. White decides he will have more play on the kingside than on the queenside. 15. . . Bc8 QUESTION: Why retreat like this? The bishop only went to d7 a few moves ago. ANSWER: The idea is to allow the f6-knight to come to d7 as White is threatening g5 to trap it. As we will see further in Aagaard-Gordon in Chapter Two, d7 is the best square for the knight as it can re-emerge on c5 or e5 as the game develops. 16 g5 Nd7 17 Qf2!? ANSWER:
17. . . Bf8! An excellent move and one that the Scheveningen player needs to be aware of. This 5. . . a6 6 Be2 e6 move defends the king and helps to open the e6 Be2 a6 7 O-O Be7 8 f4 O-O 9 Kh1 Qc7 10 file for the rook on e8 (should White ever go f5, a4 Nc6 11 Be3 Re8 Black can consider capturing with ...exf5 to clear the file for the rook to exert influence in the centre). Black will now play ...Bb7 and ...Nb4 to control d5, a square the white knight on c3 is eyeing up. With these moves Black simply completes his development, relying on the flexibility and solidity of his position. 18 Bg2
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20 h4!? Nc5 21 h5 Ba8 22 f5 Ne5 23 Bd4 Ncd7 24 hXg6 f Xg6 25 f Xe6 RXe6 26 Nd5 BXd5 27 eXd5 Re7 28 BXe5 NXe5 29 Nd4
0sbZrakZ Z0lnZpop 6 ponopZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0O0 4 PZ0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0A0Z0 2 0OPZ0LBO 1 S0Z0ZRZK 8 7
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20. . . Rbc8?!
0ZrZrakZ ZblnZpZp 6 ponopZpZ 5 Z0Z0Z0O0 4 PZ0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0Z0Z0 2 0OPZ0LBO 1 Z0ARZRZK 8 7
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18 h4 Bb7 19 h5 18. . . Bb7 19 Rad1 A sensible move. White completes his development and takes aim at the d6pawn. 19. . . g6 QUESTION: Why would Black want to apparently weaken his king position like this? ANSWER: The bishop on f8 can now fianchetto by coming to g7, where it will be on an active square. By analysing this game (and other games in this book), you will realize that such a move isn’t in fact all that weakening for Black.
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0ZrZrakZ 7 ZblnZpZp 6 po0opZpZ 5 Z0Z0Z0O0 4 Pm0ZPO0Z 3 ZNMRZ0Z0 2 0OPZ0LBO 1 Z0A0ZRZK 8
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21 Rd3 Nb4
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20. . . Nc5! 21 NXc5 bXc5! 22 Rd3 Nd4 23 Rh3 Qe7!? 24 Qh4 h5! 25 gXh6 QXh4 26 RXh4 Kh7!
20 Bc1!? EXERCISE: What other moves could White have played here? ANSWER: All of 20 f5, 20 Qh4 and 20 h4 came into consideration. Let’s take a look:
0s0ZrakZ ZblnZpZp 6 ponopZpZ 5 Z0Z0Z0O0 4 PZ0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0Z0Z0 2 0OPZ0LBO 1 Z0ARZRZK
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21. . . Bg7!? 22 Rfd1 d5!? 23 eXd5 Nb4! 24 Re3 NXd5 25 NXd5 BXd5 26 BXd5 eXd5 27 RXe8+ RXe8 28 RXd5 Qc6 22 Rh3 Bg7 23 Be3?! ANSWER:
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20 f5?! Nce5! 21 f Xe6 f Xe6 20 Qh4 Bg7 21 Rf3 Nb4 22 Rh3 Nf8
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0ZrZrZkZ 7 ZblnZpap 6 po0opZpZ 5 Z0Z0Z0O0 4 Pm0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0A0ZR 2 0OPZ0LBO 1 Z0Z0ZRZK
0ZrZ0ZkZ Zblnspap 6 po0opZpZ 5 Z0Z0Z0O0 4 Pm0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0A0ZR 2 0OPZ0LBO 1 Z0Z0ZRJ0
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23 f5! eXf5 24 eXf5 BXg2+ 25 KXg2 Qb7+ 26 24 Bd4 e5 25 f Xe5 BXe5 26 BXe5 dXe5 Kg1 24 f5 eXf5 25 eXf5 BXg2+ 26 QXg2 Rce8 27 Bg1 Be5 28 f6 Re6 23 Be3 23. . . Re7! Congratulations if you chose this strange-24 Nd4 e5 25 Nde2 eXf4 26 NXf4 Rce8! 27 Qh4 Nf8 looking move!
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24. . . Rce8?! So this was the idea! To double rooks on the e-file. This is a prophylactic idea to try and put the brakes on the f5 advance (it would be met with ...exf5 when the e-file is open for the rooks), but if White doesn’t play f5, how else is he going to attack?
0Z0ZrZkZ Zblnspap 6 po0opZpZ 5 Z0Z0Z0O0 4 Pm0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0A0ZR 2 0OPZ0LBO 1 Z0Z0ZRJ0 8 7
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23. . . BXc3 24 bXc3 QXc3 25 Bd4 QXc2 26 RXh7!! KXh7 27 Qh4+ Kg8 28 Qh8# 23. . . d5!? 24 f5! eXf5 25 eXf5 Qd6 26 Bd4 23. . . f5 24 gXf6 BXf6 25 f5 eXf5 26 eXf5 Rf8
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24 Kg1 24. . . f5! 25 gXf6 BXf6 25 Rd1! Looking at that d6-pawn again. 25. . . f5 26 gXf6! EXERCISE: Which way should Black now recapture on f6?
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27 BXb6! Ng4! 28 BXc7 NXf2 29 BXd6! NXd1 30 BXe7 NXc3! 31 bXc3 NXc2
0Z0ZrZkZ Zblns0ap 6 po0opOpZ 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 Pm0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0A0ZR 2 0OPZ0LBO 1 Z0ZRZ0J0 8
27. . . Rf7! Black succeeds in successfully regrouping his rooks and now takes over the initiative.
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28 BXb6 Qb8 So White has won a pawn, but Black has some handy compensation in the form of a newly opened b-file and pressure against f4. 29 Be3 Nh5 30 Rg4
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26 eXf5?! eXf5! 26. . . NXf6!?
0Z0ZrZkZ Zbl0s0ap 6 po0opmpZ 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 Pm0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0A0ZR 2 0OPZ0LBO 1 Z0ZRZ0J0 8 7
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30 Rf3 Nf6 30. . . Nf6 31 Rh4!? ANSWER: Surprise White!
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0l0ZrZkZ ZbZ0Zrap 6 pZ0opmpZ 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 Pm0ZPO0S 3 ZNM0A0Z0 2 0OPZ0LBO 1 Z0ZRZ0J0 8
26. . . BXf6 27 Qd2 d5 28 e5 Bg7 29 Nd4 Nc6 30 Nce2
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27 Rg3?!
0Z0ZrZkZ Zbl0s0ap 6 po0opmpZ 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 Pm0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0A0S0 2 0OPZ0LBO 1 Z0ZRZ0J0 8 7
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31 Rg3 Nh5 31 Rh4 31. . . g5! Risky stuff, but White had it in his mind to be the one attacking and suddenly the tables are turned something which it is often
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hard for a chess player to adapt to.
bl0ZrZkZ Z0Z0Z0ap 6 QZ0SpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0O0 4 PZ0ZPZ0S 3 ZrM0Z0Z0 2 0OnZ0ZBO 1 Z0Z0Z0J0
32 f Xg5 Ng4!
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0l0ZrZkZ 7 ZbZ0Zrap 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0O0 4 Pm0ZPZnS 3 ZNM0A0Z0 2 0OPZ0LBO 1 Z0ZRZ0J0 8
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37. . . Nb4! 38 Qa5 QXd6 39 e5 Qd3 40 BXb7 Qe3+
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38 RXe6 RXb2 32. . . NXe4 33 Qe2! NXc3 34 bXc3 Nd5 35 BXd5 BXd5 36 QXa6 BXc3 37 Qd3
bl0ZrZkZ Z0Z0Z0ap 6 QZ0ZRZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0O0 4 PZ0ZPZ0S 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 0snZ0ZBO 1 Z0Z0Z0J0
33 Qd2 NXe3 34 QXe3 NXc2 35 Qb6! Ba8 Exchanging queens would suit Black, as he has play on the queenside.
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36 RXd6? In time trouble White blunders, which is hardly unexpected in such a complicated position.
bl0ZrZkZ 7 Z0Z0Zrap 6 pL0SpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0O0 4 PZ0ZPZ0S 3 ZNM0Z0Z0 2 0OnZ0ZBO 1 Z0Z0Z0J0 8
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38. . . Ne3! 39 RXe8+ QXe8 40 Bh3 RXb2 41 Qe6+ QXe6 42 BXe6+ Kf8 39 Qc4 Kh8 40 e5? With the last move of the time control, White understandably blunders for the second time.
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36 QXb8 RXb8 37 Bh3! 36. . . Rb7! Skewering the queen against the knight on b3. 37 QXa6 RXb3?!
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bl0ZrZ0j Z0Z0Z0ap 6 0Z0ZRZ0Z 5 Z0Z0O0O0 4 PZQZ0Z0S 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 0snZ0ZBO 1 Z0Z0Z0J0 8 7
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40 RXe8+ QXe8 41 Nd1 Na3 42 Qd3 Ra2 40. . . Qa7+ 41 Kh1 BXg2+ 42 KXg2 Nd4+ With this game Kasparov became World Champion! A complicated fight it’s safe to say, but one in which Black always had his chances. 0-1
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White: Tseshkovsky, V Black: Kasparov, G
USSR Championship, Moscow 1981
Result: 0-1 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 g3 The Fianchetto Variation will be examined more closely in Chapter Six. This system can be played against almost all the Sicilian variations and the Scheveningen is no exception.
rZ0lkZ0s opZbapop 6 0Znopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 PZ0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0Z0O0 2 0OPZ0OBO 1 S0AQZRJ0 8 7
6. . . Nc6
rZblka0s 7 opZ0Zpop 6 0Znopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0Z0O0 2 POPZ0O0O 1 S0AQJBZR 8
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9 Ndb5 Qb8 10 Bg5 a6 11 BXf6 gXf6 12 Nd4 Qa7! 9. . . O-O 10 Nce2?! QUESTION: Why did White play this seemingly strange-looking move? ANSWER: White would like to play for a Maroczy Bind position with c4. The pawns on e4 and c4 would hinder Black’s freeing ...d5 and ...b5 pawn breaks.
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6. . . Be7 7 Bg2 O-O 8 O-O Nc6 7 Bg2 Bd7 8 O-O Be7 9 a4 QUESTION: Why would White be playing moves like this so early? ANSWER: White is concerned about a future ...b7-b5 break, which is one of Black’s main pawn break ideas in the Scheveningen (and the Sicilian in general).
rZ0l0skZ opZbapop 6 0Znopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 PZ0MPZ0Z 3 Z0Z0Z0O0 2 0OPZNOBO 1 S0AQZRJ0 8 7
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10 Ndb5 Qb8 11 Be3 a6 12 Nd4 10. . . Rc8! 11 c3?! Alternatives:
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0ZrZ0skZ Zplbapop 6 pZnZpm0Z 5 Z0ZpZ0Z0 4 PZ0MPZPZ 3 Z0O0Z0ZP 2 0O0ZNOBZ 1 S0AQZRJ0 8 7
0Zrl0skZ opZbapop 6 0Znopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 PZ0MPZ0Z 3 Z0O0Z0O0 2 0O0ZNOBO 1 S0AQZRJ0 8 7
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13. . . Be8 14 g5 Nd7 13. . . h6
11 Nb5 d5! 12 eXd5 NXd5
14 eXd5
11 b3 d5! 12 eXd5 eXd5 11 c4 a6 12 b3 Qa5
0ZrZ0skZ Zplbapop 6 pZnZpm0Z 5 Z0ZPZ0Z0 4 PZ0M0ZPZ 3 Z0O0Z0ZP 2 0O0ZNOBZ 1 S0AQZRJ0
11. . . a6! Preventing Nb5 which would attack the d6-pawn. A typical Sicilian move, the text also gives Black ideas of ...b5 at some point.
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12 h3 Qc7 13 g4 ANSWER:
0ZrZ0skZ Zplbapop 6 pZnopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 PZ0MPZPZ 3 Z0O0Z0ZP 2 0O0ZNOBZ 1 S0AQZRJ0 8 7
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14 NXc6 BXc6 15 e5! Ne4 16 f3 Nc5 17 f4 f6 14. . . NXd5 Black has a fine position. White’s g4 move has only served to create weaknesses around his own king, and Black is ready to put his rooks in the centre to attack down the open files.
15 BXd5?! A risky decision. Though the d5pawn is now ripe for the taking, White will sorely 13 Be3 Na5! 14 b3 b5! miss the bishop in the defence. That said, it’s 13. . . d5! Kasparov demonstrates his knowledge clear from such a decision that White was already of the principles. As usual, a counter on the wing unhappy with his position and thus tried to shake is best met by a counter in the centre! things up. 15. . . eXd5 16 Nf4 QUESTION: What to do about the pawn on d5? ANSWER: Play actively and sacrifice it! Without the bishop on g2 White’s
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king is even more exposed, but how to get at it? 18 Be3 Bb8! 16. . . Bc5! Now this bishop comes into the game 18 NXd5 Qg3+! with great effect. The potential power of the 18. . . Be6! Scheveningen is about to be witnessed. 17 Nb3? Not great, but White had already gone wrong:
0ZrZ0skZ apl0Zpop 6 pZnZbZ0Z 5 Z0ZQZ0Z0 4 PZ0Z0MPZ 3 ZNO0Z0ZP 2 0O0Z0O0Z 1 S0A0ZRJ0 8 7
0ZrZ0skZ 7 ZplbZpop 6 pZnZ0Z0Z 5 Z0apZ0Z0 4 PZ0Z0MPZ 3 ZNO0Z0ZP 2 0O0Z0O0Z 1 S0AQZRJ0 8
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18. . . Rfe8 18. . . Rcd8
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19 NXe6 f Xe6 20 Qe4 ANSWER: 17 Be3 NXd4 18 cXd4 Bd6 19 NXd5 Bh2+ 20 Kg2 Bc6 17 NXd5 Qd6 18 Ne2 Rfd8 19 Bg5 f6 20 Be3 Ne5
0ZrZ0skZ apl0Z0op 6 pZnZpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 PZ0ZQZPZ 3 ZNO0Z0ZP 2 0O0Z0O0Z 1 S0A0ZRJ0 8 7
17. . . Ba7! 18 QXd5 QUESTION: Is White just a pawn ahead for nothing? What can we do here as Black? ANSWER: No! White is badly coordinated, but Black does need to attack quickly before White can regroup.
0ZrZ0skZ aplbZpop 6 pZnZ0Z0Z 5 Z0ZQZ0Z0 4 PZ0Z0MPZ 3 ZNO0Z0ZP 2 0O0Z0O0Z 1 S0A0ZRJ0 8
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20 QXe6+ Kh8 21 Be3 Bb8! 22 f4 Rce8 20 Qg2 Ne5 21 Be3 Nf3+ 22 Kh1 Nh4! 23 Qe4 Nf3! 20. . . RXf2! The correct choice.
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20
0ZrZ0ZkZ 7 apl0Z0op 6 pZnZpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 PZ0ZQZPZ 3 ZNO0Z0ZP 2 0O0Z0s0Z 1 S0A0ZRJ0
0ZrZ0ZkZ ZpZ0Z0op 6 pZnZpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 PZ0Z0ZPZ 3 ZNO0Z0lP 2 0O0Z0aQZ 1 S0A0ZKZ0
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20. . . Ne5 21 Bf4! Nf3+ 22 QXf3 RXf4 23 Qe2 23 Kh1 Qd3! 24 QXf2 Rf8! 25 Qe3 Qf1+ 26 Kh2 Rf2+ 27 Kg3 Rg2+ 28 Kh4 Qf6+ 29 g5 21 RXf2 Qg3+ 22 Qg2 Ne7!! 30 Nd4 QXd4+! 23. . . Qe5! 24 Bf4
0ZrZ0ZkZ apZ0Z0op 6 pZnZpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 PZ0Z0ZPZ 3 ZNO0Z0lP 2 0O0Z0SQZ 1 S0A0Z0J0 8 7
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0ZrZ0ZkZ ZpZ0Z0op 6 pZnZpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0l0Z0 4 PZ0Z0APZ 3 ZNO0Z0ZP 2 0O0Z0aQZ 1 S0Z0ZKZ0 8 7
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22 Kh1? QXh3+ 23 Kg1 BXf2+ 24 KXf2 Rf8+ 25 Ke2 Qf1+ 26 Ke3 Qe1+ 27 Kd3 Rd8+ 28 24 KXf2 Rf8+ 25 Kg1 Qe1+ 26 Kh2 Rf2 Nd4 Ne5+! 24. . . QXf4 25 QXf2 ANSWER: 22. . . BXf2+ 23 Kf1? 25. . . Qc4+ If only we could always play such nice games as Black against 1 e4! The key theme from this game was Black’s perfectly timed ...d5 break in the centre. This gave Kasparov a good position and he went on to score a crushing victory from there. 0-1
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White: Anisimov, P Black: Belov, V
Krasnoyarsk 2007
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 Be2 a6 My recommendation, playing the position in Najdorf/Scheveningen style. The text gives rise to a potential ...b5 push which will harass the knight on c3.
rZblkZ0s ZpZ0apop 6 pZnopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPO0Z 3 Z0M0A0Z0 2 POPLBZPO 1 S0Z0J0ZR 8 7
7 Be3 Be7
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7. . . Qc7
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9 O-O O-O 9. . . O-O 10 O-O-O Nd7 QUESTION: Why has Black retreated like this? What other sensible moves could he have played? ANSWER: Black pre-empts White’s g4-g5 push to kick the knight away and the knight is happy to search for pastures new, mainly on the queenside. We saw this idea in Kasparov’s games in the previous chapter.
8 f4
rZbl0skZ 7 ZpZnapop 6 pZnopZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPO0Z 3 Z0M0A0Z0 2 POPLBZPO 1 Z0JRZ0ZR
rmblkZ0s 7 ZpZ0apop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPO0Z 3 Z0M0A0Z0 2 POPZBZPO 1 S0ZQJ0ZR
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8 Qd2 O-O 9 O-O-O Nc6 10 f4
10. . . NXd4 11 QXd4 b5 12 e5!?
8. . . Nc6 9 Qd2
11 g4 ANSWER: Think of the typical moves we
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have seen so far. Black wants to play ...b5, but 13. . . Bb7 14 h4 Re8 15 h5 e5 cannot yet due to the knight on c6 being en prise, 14 Rhg1 ANSWER: so first he plays... 14. . . Qa5! Best.
rZbl0skZ 7 ZpZnapop 6 pZnopZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPOPZ 3 Z0M0A0Z0 2 POPLBZ0O 1 Z0JRZ0ZR 8
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0sbZ0skZ Z0Znapop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 lpZ0Z0O0 4 0Z0LPO0Z 3 Z0M0A0Z0 2 POPZBZ0O 1 Z0JRZ0S0 8 7
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11 Bf3 Nb6 12 Qe2 Bd7 13 Kb1 Na5 14 b3 14. . . b4 15 Na4 Qa5 16 b3 Nc5 17 NXc5 dXc5 Qc7 15 Rd3 Nc6 16 a3 NXd4 17 BXd4 Bc6 18 Qb2 11 Kb1 NXd4 12 QXd4 b5 13 g4 Qa5 14 a3 14. . . Qc7 15 f5 Ne5 16 f6 Bb7 15 g5 Rfc8 16 h4 Rab8 17 h5 Ba8 18 h6 Bf8 19 Bd2 b4 20 Na2 Qc7 21 Bd3 bXa3 22 b3 15 b3!? White can’t decide whether to play an Nc5 23 Bc3 e5 24 f Xe5 dXe5 25 QXe5 NXd3 26 aggressive or defensive move. Welcome to the SiQXc7 RXc7 27 hXg7 BXg7 28 BXg7 BXe4 29 cilian labyrinth... EXERCISE: Did White have a better option than this nervous defensive move? Bd4 RXb3+! 30 cXb3 Nc1+! 11 g4 11. . . NXd4 12 QXd4 ...and only then: 12. . . b5 Black’s counterattack has been launched!
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13 g5 Rb8 QUESTION: Why did Black play this, rather than develop with ...Bb7?
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0sbl0skZ Z0Znapop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0O0 4 0Z0LPO0Z 3 Z0M0A0Z0 2 POPZBZ0O 1 Z0JRZ0ZR
0sbZ0skZ Z0Znapop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 lpZ0Z0O0 4 0Z0LPO0Z 3 ZPM0A0Z0 2 PZPZBZ0O 1 Z0JRZ0S0
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15 f5! b4 16 f6 Bd8 17 f Xg7 Re8 18 Nb1 Bb6 19 Qd2 QXa2 20 Rgf1 Ne5 15. . . Nc5 This threatens ...b4 as the knight on c3 can no longer run to a4 as planned. 16 e5
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17 Kb2 b4 18 Nb1 Bd7
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17. . . Qa3+ 18 Kd2
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16 f5 b4 17 f6 bXc3!
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18 Kb1 Na4 19 NXa4 bXa4! 20 c3 BXb4!
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18. . . Ne4+ 19 NXe4 dXe4 20 Ke1
0sbZ0skZ Z0Z0apop 6 pZ0ZpZ0Z 5 ZpZ0O0O0 4 0O0LpO0Z 3 l0Z0A0Z0 2 PZPZBZ0O 1 Z0ZRJ0S0 8 7
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16. . . b4? 17 eXd6 bXc3 18 Kb1! 17 b4
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20 QXe4 BXb4+ 20. . . Bb7 21 Kf2 BXb4 White’s king has been forced on to the run and Black has won a clear pawn. White can of course throw plenty of obstacles in Black’s way, but the opening has been a great success for Belov. 22 Rg3 Qa5 23 c4 Rbd8 24 Qa1 RXd1 25 QXd1 Rd8 26 Qb1 bXc4 27 BXc4 Bd5 28 a3 Bc5 29 Be2 QXa3 A second pawn bites the dust. 30 Qc2 BXe3+ 31 RXe3 Qa1 32 Qc7 Ra8 33 Rc3 ANSWER: 33. . . e3+! 34 KXe3
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rZ0Z0ZkZ Z0L0Zpop 6 pZ0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0ZbO0O0 4 0Z0Z0O0Z 3 Z0S0J0Z0 2 0Z0ZBZ0O 1 l0Z0Z0Z0 8 7
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34 RXe3 Qd4 34. . . Qg1+ 35 Kd3 g6 36 Qd7 Qb1+ 37 Kd2 Qb2+ 38 Rc2 Qb4+ Once f4 goes, White loses almost all his other remaining pawns. 0-1
25
White: Filev, G Black: Nikolov, M
Bulgarian Championship, Blagoevgrad 2009
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Be2 a6 7 O-O Be7 8 f4 O-O 9 Kh1 QUESTION: Why does White put the king in the corner like this? ANSWER: As in many Sicilian lines, safeguarding the king like this is a moot point. Many believe it to be a waste of time, but others think it is a useful safety move in case the king gets into trouble on the g1-a7 diagonal. The following games will hopefully let the reader decide for themselves!
rmbZ0skZ Zpl0apop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPO0Z 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 POPZBZPO 1 S0A0LRZK 8 7
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rmbl0skZ 7 ZpZ0apop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPO0Z 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 POPZBZPO 1 S0AQZRZK
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10 Be3 b5!? 11 Bf3 Bb7 12 e5 dXe5 13 f Xe5 Nfd7 14 BXb7 QXb7 15 Qh5 b4 16 Nce2 Nc6 17 Bf4 NXd4 18 NXd4 Qe4! 10. . . b5 And why not? If White doesn’t play a4 to prevent it, you definitely have this move on the agenda. Now a potential ...b4, kicking the c3-knight and weakening the defence of e4, is in the air. 11 Bf3 Bb7 12 e5 QUESTION: How should Black deal with the attack on the knight on f6? ANSWER: Normally the knight prefers to retreat to d7, but here that would allow a tactic:
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9 e5 dXe5 10 f Xe5 Bc5 11 Be3 Nd5 12 NXd5 12. . . Ne8 QXd5 9. . . Qc7 The queen typically comes here, keeping an eye on the e5-square. 10 Qe1 QUESTION: Why does White play this move? What is the idea behind it? ANSWER: The queen can swing to the kingside via g3 or help support the e5 push.
rm0ZnskZ Zbl0apop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0O0Z0 4 0Z0M0O0Z 3 Z0M0ZBZ0 2 POPZ0ZPO 1 S0A0LRZK 8 7
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12. . . Nfd7? 13 eXd6 BXd6 14 NXe6! f Xe6 15 14 Qg3 Nd7 15 Be3 Rc8 16 Rad1 b4 17 Nce2 BXb7 QXb7 16 QXe6+ Kh8 17 QXd6 Rc5!? 12. . . dXe5 13 BXb7 QXb7 14 f Xe5 Nfd7 15 Qg3 14 Ne4 Nd7! 15 eXd6 NXd6 16 NXd6 BXd6 17 Kh8! 16 Bf4 Nc6 17 Rad1 Rac8 Bd2 Rac8 18 Rd1 Nf6 13 BXb7
14 f5 dXe5 15 QXe5 Bf6 16 Qe3 Nc6! 17 NXc6 QXc6 18 f Xe6 f Xe6 19 Bd2 Nc7 20 Rae1 Rae8 14. . . Ra7
rm0ZnskZ ZBl0apop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0O0Z0 4 0Z0M0O0Z 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 POPZ0ZPO 1 S0A0LRZK 8 7
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13 f5 dXe5 14 f Xe6!? BXf3 15 eXf7+ RXf7 16 NXf3 Nd7 17 Bg5 Bf8 18 a3 Nd6 19 Nd2 RXf1+ 20 QXf1 Qc6 21 Re1 Re8
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14. . . d5 13. . . QXb7 EXERCISE: Pretend you are White and that you want to start attacking as quickly 14. . . d5 15 Qd3 Nc6 16 NXc6 QXc6 17 f5 as possible (well, I am guessing you do, as you’ve 14. . . QXe4 15 NXe4 dXe5 16 f Xe5 Nd7 17 Nc6! played attacking moves so far!). Think about what moves you could play to set up an attack. 15 Be3 b4 Forcing White to capture on b7. Now a queenless middlegame will be reached do you 14 Qe4 This doesn’t look very aggressive, but think this will be acceptable for Black? it’s probably here that White noticed the coiled spring effect behind Black’s solid position. AN- 16 QXb7 RXb7 17 Ne4 dXe5 18 f Xe5 ANSWER: SWER: 14 Qg3, 14 Ne4 and 14 f5 look like better 18. . . Nc7! The knight is coming to d5, where it ways to attack. Let’s see if they were any better: cannot be kicked away, as the c2-pawn is being held back by the black pawn on b4.
rm0ZnskZ ZqZ0apop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0O0Z0 4 0Z0MQO0Z 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 POPZ0ZPO 1 S0A0ZRZK 8 7
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20. . . Rc7
0m0Z0skZ 7 Zrm0apop 6 pZ0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0O0Z0 4 0o0MNZ0Z 3 Z0Z0A0Z0 2 POPZ0ZPO 1 S0Z0ZRZK 8
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21 Nc6 Rb6 22 NXe7+ NXe7 23 c3 ANSWER:
0Z0Z0skZ Z0Znmpop 6 ps0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0O0Z0 4 0o0ZNZ0Z 3 Z0O0Z0Z0 2 PO0A0SPO 1 S0Z0Z0ZK 8 7
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18. . . g6 19 Rad1 Ng7 20 g4! 19 Rf2 Nd5!
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23 Bf4 Ng6 23. . . NXe5 24 cXb4 Nd3! A simple fork. 25 Re2 NXb4 Black has won a pawn and now sets about converting his advantage. 26 a3 Nbd5 27 b4 Rc8 28 Be3 NXe3 The knight on d5 disappears... 29 RXe3 Nd5 ...only to be replaced by its comrade! 30 Rd3 Rc2 31 h3 h6 32 Rf1 Rbc6 33 Rdf3 f6 Adequately dealing with all of White’s threats.
34 Rd3 Kf7 35 Nc5 Rc3 36 Rd4 RXa3 37 NXe6 19. . . f5 20 eXf6 gXf6 21 Bh6 Rf7 22 Raf1 Nd7 KXe6 38 Re1+ Re3 39 RXe3+ NXe3 40 Re4+ 23 Ng5! Kd5 41 RXe3 Rb6 Although White has managed to reach a rook ending, which was probably his 20 Bd2 Nd7 best chance to draw, it’s always nice to be in a position as Black is here where you can play for a win and you can’t really lose! 8
0Z0Z0skZ ZrZnapop 6 pZ0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0ZnO0Z0 4 0o0MNZ0Z 3 Z0Z0Z0Z0 2 POPA0SPO 1 S0Z0Z0ZK 7
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42 Re7
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42 Rb3 a5 43 b5 Kc4 42. . . g6 43 Rh7 h5 44 Rg7 f5 45 Kg1 Kc4 Excellent technique from Nikolov. The b-pawn goes and so do White’s hopes. 46 Kf2 KXb4 47 Ke2 a5 48 Kd2 Kb3 49 Kc1 a4 50 Kb1 Re6 51 Rb7+ Ka3 52 Rg7 Re1+ 53 Kc2 Re2+ Initially Black appeared to have a passive position, but after ...Nc7 and ...Nd5! suddenly it was Black who was better! 0-1
29
White: Adams, M Black: Van Wely, L
London 2009
Result:
1/2-1/2
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be2 e6 7 O-O Be7 8 f4 O-O 9 Bf3 Here we see an advantage of developing the bishop to e2: it has the option of coming to f3 and pointing at Black’s queenside.
rZ0Z0skZ Zbl0apop 6 pZpopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 NZ0ZPO0Z 3 Z0Z0ABZ0 2 POPZ0ZPO 1 S0ZQZRJ0 8 7
9. . . Qc7 10 Be3
rmbZ0skZ 7 Zpl0apop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPO0Z 3 Z0M0ABZ0 2 POPZ0ZPO 1 S0ZQZRJ0 8
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12. . . d5 13 e5 Nd7 14 c4 13 c4 c5!
rZ0Z0skZ Zbl0apop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Z0o0Z0Z0 4 NZPZPO0Z 3 Z0Z0ABZ0 2 PO0Z0ZPO 1 S0ZQZRJ0 8
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10 Kh1 Nc6 11 NXc6 bXc6 12 Qe1 d5! 13 b3 a5 10. . . Nc6 11 NXc6 This isn’t generally a good trade for White to make, but Adams has a followup which will clamp down on the newly-formed black central pawn mass. 11. . . bXc6 12 Na4 QUESTION: Should Black play for ...d5 here? ANSWER: With the white knight on a4 Black must be careful not to let White get in c4 to attack any ...d5 push. 12. . . Bb7
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13. . . d5 14 Qc2 ANSWER: 14. . . Nd7 Well done if you worked out that the d4-square looks pretty ideal for it. (Though I did mention it above!) Black can now play ...Nd7b8-c6, heading for d4. 15 b3 Rac8 16 Rad1 Nb8! Coming to c6 and then d4 (if possible). White tries to arrange his pieces to prevent this, but this just leaves the
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position level as the white pieces become tied up on opposite sides, but whose is the more potent? trying to prevent the knight jumping into d4. 26 h6 17 Qf2 QUESTION: Can Black play 17...Nc6 immediately and head for d4?
0Zrs0ZkZ Zbl0Zpap 6 0ZnopZpO 5 Z0o0Z0O0 4 pZPZPO0Z 3 ZPZ0ABZ0 2 PZ0SNL0Z 1 Z0Z0ZRJ0
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0mrs0ZkZ 7 Zbl0apop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 Z0o0Z0Z0 4 NZPZPO0Z 3 ZPZ0ABZ0 2 PZ0Z0LPO 1 Z0ZRZRJ0 8
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26 f5 eXf5 27 eXf5 Ne5 28 BXb7 QXb7 29 hXg6 hXg6 30 f6 Bf8 31 Nc1 Re8 32 Qg3 Qd7 33 Rh2 Qg4
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17. . . Nc6 18 e5! dXe5 19 BXc5 eXf4 20 Bb6 26. . . Bh8 27 Bg2 aXb3 28 aXb3 Rb8 Homing in Qb8 21 Rd7 Bf6 22 Rfd1 on the now weakened b3-pawn. 18 g3 29 Rfd1 Ba8 30 Rd3 Nb4 31 R3d2 Nc6 32 Rd3 Nb4 Black agrees to a draw against his slightly higher-rated opponent.
0mrs0ZkZ Zbl0apop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 Z0o0Z0Z0 4 NZPZPO0Z 3 ZPZ0ABO0 2 PZ0Z0L0O 1 Z0ZRZRJ0 8 7
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bs0s0Zka Z0l0ZpZp 6 0Z0opZpO 5 Z0o0Z0O0 4 0mPZPO0Z 3 ZPZRA0Z0 2 0Z0ZNLBZ 1 Z0ZRZ0J0 8 7
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18 e5!? BXf3 19 QXf3 Nd7 20 eXd6 BXd6 21 Rd3 18. . . Bc6 19 Nc3 Bf6 20 Ne2 Bb7 21 g4 ANSWER: 21. . . g6! An idea we saw in Yudasin-Kasparov in Chapter One. This lets the bishop stay on the long diagonal and provide useful defensive cover.
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32. . . e5 33 f5 Nd4 34 f6 NXb3
22 g5 Bg7 23 Rd2 Nc6 24 h4 a5 25 h5 a4 Suddenly both sides get their respective attacks going
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1/2-1/2
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White: Kamsky, G Black: Mamedyarov, S
Moscow 2008
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Be2 a6 7 O-O Be7 8 Be3 O-O 9 f4 Nc6 10 Qe1 We saw this idea in Filev-Nikolov. The idea is to swing the queen around to g3, where it looks down the g-file at the black king, as well as supporting a possible e5 advance in the future. In this line White wants to do without any Kh1 move. Although this may appear to save a tempo, White will always need to watch out for tricks down the g1-a7 diagonal. This can be quite annoying, so generally Black needn’t worry too much.
rZbl0skZ Z0Z0apop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0APO0Z 3 O0M0Z0Z0 2 0OPZBZPO 1 S0Z0LRJ0 8 7
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rZbl0skZ ZpZ0apop 6 pZnopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPO0Z 3 Z0M0A0Z0 2 POPZBZPO 1 S0Z0LRJ0 7
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12 Rd1 Bb7 13 Bf3 Qc7 14 e5 dXe5 15 f Xe5 Nd7 16 BXb7 QXb7 17 Ne4 Kh8! 18 Rf4 Qc7 19 Qg3 NXe5 20 BXe5 QXe5 21 RXf7 QXg3 22 RXf8+ BXf8 23 hXg3
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12. . . Bb7 13 Qg3 Defending the e4-pawn through tactical means, due to the threats against g7. 13. . . g6! QUESTION: Why does Black play this seemingly weakening move?
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rZ0l0skZ ZbZ0apZp 6 pZ0opmpZ 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0APO0Z 3 O0M0Z0L0 2 0OPZBZPO 1 S0Z0ZRJ0 8 7
10 a4 10. . . NXd4 QUESTION: Why does Black exchange like this in the centre? ANSWER: Because White hasn’t played a4, Black can go for ...b5. Of course, though, he can’t right away as he would lose his knight on c6! 11 BXd4 b5 12 a3 Preventing Black from going ...b4 and winning the e4-pawn.
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13. . . NXe4 13. . . Bc6 14 Kh1 Qd7 15 Rad1 Qb7 16 Bf3
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Rac8 17 Rfe1 g6
rZ0l0skZ ZbZ0apZp 6 0Z0opmpZ 5 opZ0Z0Z0 4 0O0APO0Z 3 O0M0ZBL0 2 0ZPZ0ZPO 1 S0Z0ZRJ0
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15 Rae1?! b4 16 aXb4 aXb4 17 Nd1 d5! 18 e5 Ne4
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15 NXb5!? NXe4 16 Qe1 ZZ– 14 f5? e5 15 Be3 NXe4 16 NXe4 BXe4 17 Bh6 15. . . Rc8 16 Rad1 Re8 14 Bd3 Nh5! 15 ZZ–
0Zrl0skZ ZbZ0apZp 6 0Z0opmpZ 5 opZ0Z0Z0 4 0O0APO0Z 3 O0M0ZBL0 2 0ZPZ0ZPO 1 Z0ZRZRJ0
14. . . a5!? Black can no longer play the ...Nh5 and ...Nxf4 trick, but there are other ideas at his disposal.
rZ0l0skZ ZbZ0apZp 6 0Z0opmpZ 5 opZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0APO0Z 3 O0M0ZBL0 2 0OPZ0ZPO 1 S0Z0ZRJ0
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14. . . Rc8 15 Rae1 Nd7 15 b4!? Returning to the radical 15 b4:
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16 Qf2 Rc4 17 Rad1 aXb4 18 aXb4 Qc8 19 BXf6 BXf6 20 NXb5 RXc2 21 Qe3 Ba6 22 NXd6 Qb8 23 b5 BXb5 24 NXb5 QXb5 16. . . aXb4 17 aXb4 The position hinges on whose queenside is the weaker: b5 is a target, but then so too are b4 and c2. 17. . . Rc4! Black appears to have a very playable position here. White’s queenside pawns are targets and his minor pieces are a little loose. 18 Kh1?! Finally White feels he has to get the king off the dangerous diagonal, but this is slow.
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0Z0l0skZ 7 ZbZ0apZp 6 0Z0opmpZ 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0OrAPO0Z 3 Z0M0ZBL0 2 0ZPZ0ZPO 1 Z0ZRZRZK
0Z0l0skZ ZbZnapZp 6 0Z0opZpZ 5 ZNZ0Z0Z0 4 0s0APO0Z 3 Z0Z0Z0L0 2 0ZPZBZPO 1 Z0ZRZRZK
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18 Qe1!? RXb4! 19 Nd5 Rc4 20 NXe7+ QXe7 20 BXb5 BXe4 21 BXd7 BXc2 22 Bb5 BXd1 23 21 BXf6 QXf6 22 e5 Qd8! 23 BXb7 Qb6+ 24 RXd1 Bf6 24 Be5 dXe5! 25 RXd8 RXd8 Qf2 QXb7 25 eXd6 Rd8 20. . . BXe4 ANSWER: 18. . . Nd7 21 Bg7?! I bet you didn’t see that one coming!
0Z0l0skZ 7 ZbZnapZp 6 0Z0opZpZ 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0OrAPO0Z 3 Z0M0ZBL0 2 0ZPZ0ZPO 1 Z0ZRZRZK 8
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0Z0l0skZ 7 Z0ZnapAp 6 0Z0opZpZ 5 ZNZ0Z0Z0 4 0s0ZbO0Z 3 Z0Z0Z0L0 2 0ZPZBZPO 1 Z0ZRZRZK 8
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18. . . RXb4?! 19 e5 Nd5 20 NXd5 eXd5 21 e6 f Xe6 22 Qe1!
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21 Bc3 Ra4 22 NXd6 BXd6 23 RXd6 Qc7! 24 19 Be2!? Sacrificing a pawn, but White will ob- Rd4 RXd4 25 BXd4 QXc2 26 Re1 tain some activity and pressure for it. 21. . . BXc2! 19. . . RXb4 20 NXb5
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0Z0l0skZ 7 Z0ZnapAp 6 0Z0opZpZ 5 ZNZ0Z0Z0 4 0s0Z0O0Z 3 Z0Z0Z0L0 2 0ZbZBZPO 1 Z0ZRZRZK
0Z0Z0lkZ Z0ZnapZp 6 0Z0ZpZpZ 5 ZNZpZ0Z0 4 0S0Z0O0Z 3 Z0Z0Z0L0 2 0ZbZBZPO 1 Z0Z0ZRZK
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21. . . KXg7 22 Qc3+ Nf6 23 QXb4
24 Qc3!? Be4 25 RXb4 BXb4 26 Qc7 Nf6 27 22 BXf8 QXf8 QUESTION: Black is the exchange Ra1 Qc5 28 Ra8+ Kg7 29 Ra7 QXc7 30 RXc7 down, but what does he have in return? AN- 24. . . BXb4 25 Rc1 Be4 26 Rc7 Qd8 27 Qe3 SWER: Black has two pawns as well the more Qh4! With an obvious threat of mate in one on active pieces and a passed d-pawn. With White’s e1, which surprisingly White can’t deal with so dark-squared bishop gone, Black also can be less easily. fearful of being checkmated on g7! 28 Qg3 23 Rd4 White is struggling to do anything meaningful here, as those Scheveningen central pawns prevent any central play.
0Z0Z0ZkZ Z0SnZpZp 6 0Z0ZpZpZ 5 ZNZpZ0Z0 4 0a0ZbO0l 3 Z0Z0Z0L0 2 0Z0ZBZPO 1 Z0Z0Z0ZK 8
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28 Bd1 Nf6 28. . . Qf6 29 Qe3 Qa1+ 30 Qc1
23. . . Rb3 24 Qe1 d5 25 Qd2 Bf5 24 RXb4
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0ZRZ0Z0Z Z0M0Zpjp 6 0Z0ZpmpZ 5 Z0ZpZ0Z0 4 0Z0Zba0Z 3 Z0Z0Z0ZP 2 qZ0ZBZPZ 1 Z0Z0ZQZK
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30 Qg1! Qb2 31 Rc8+ Kg7 32 Qd4+ QXd4 35 QXf4 QXe2 33 NXd4 Bd2 34 NXe6+! f Xe6 35 Rc7 Kf6 36 35. . . Qd2 36 Ne8+ NXe8 37 RXe8 Qe3 ThreatRXd7 h5 37 Bf3 BXf3 38 gXf3 BXf4 39 Kg2 ening 38...Qxh3+. 30. . . Qa2! Continuing to probe. Mamedyarov 38 Bf3 BXf3 39 gXf3 Qd2 40 Qg1 Qe2! wants more than a pleasant ending with the bishoppair and two pawns for the exchange. 31 Rc8+ Kg7 32 Qd1 Nf6 33 h3
0Z0ZRZ0Z Z0Z0Zpjp 6 0Z0ZpZpZ 5 Z0ZpZ0Z0 4 0Z0Z0a0Z 3 Z0Z0ZPZP 2 0Z0ZqZ0Z 1 Z0Z0Z0LK 8 7
0ZRZ0Z0Z Z0Z0Zpjp 6 0Z0ZpmpZ 5 ZNZpZ0Z0 4 0a0ZbO0Z 3 Z0Z0Z0ZP 2 qZ0ZBZPZ 1 Z0ZQZ0ZK 8 7
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40. . . Qe2 41 Qg2 Qd1+ 42 Qg1 QXf3+
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33 Nc3 BXc3! 34 RXc3 Ng4 35 Qe1 d4 36 Rg3 Ne3 33. . . Bd2 Now f4 falls and White is completely lost. 34 Qf1?! ANSWER: 34. . . BXf4! 35 Nc7
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0-1
White: Sibarevic, M Black: Kasparov, G
Banja Luka 1979
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d5! 20 e5 Ne4 21 Rg2 f6 22 Ne3 f Xe5 23 BXe5 d6 6 Be2 a6 7 O-O Be7 8 Be3 O-O 9 f4 Nc6 10 Bd6 24 BXd6 QXd6 25 f5 Ng5 26 Qh4 h6 27 Kh1 Bd7 Be2 d4 12. . . Qb8! ANSWER: The queen still looks at the e5-square from b8, preventing White from playing e5 himself, but the queen serves a dual purpose on b8: it also creates the possibility of pushing ...b4 and recapturing on b4 with the queen. This would immediately attack b2 and put White on the back foot.
rZ0l0skZ ZpZbapop 6 pZnopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPO0Z 3 Z0M0A0Z0 2 POPZBZPO 1 S0ZQZRZK 8 7
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rl0Z0skZ Z0Zbapop 6 pZnopm0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPO0Z 3 O0M0A0Z0 2 0OPZBZPO 1 S0Z0LRZK 8 7
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10. . . Qc7 11 Qe1 b5 If White doesn’t play a4 to prevent this, why can’t Black push on? 12 a3 Preventing ...b4 which would cost him the e4-pawn.
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12. . . Qc7
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13 Qg3?! Not best, although Black is fine in any case:
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12 Bf3 Rc8 13 a3 NXd4 14 BXd4 Bc6 15 Rd1 Qc7 16 Rd2 a5 17 g4 b4 18 aXb4 aXb4 19 Nd1
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rZ0Z0skZ Z0Zbapop 6 pZNopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0ZPO0Z 3 Z0M0A0L0 2 0lPZBZPO 1 S0ZRZ0ZK
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13 Rd1 NXd4 14 BXd4 e5 15 Be3 Bc6 16 Bf3 16 Na4 Qb7 17 Nb6! NXd4 18 BXd4 Rad8 19 Re8 17 f Xe5 dXe5 18 Nd5 BXd5 19 eXd5 e4 20 BXa6 QXe4 Be2 Qc7 21 Rd2 Rad8 16. . . BXc6 17 Bd4 QUESTION: Can you see 13 Bf3 NXd4 14 BXd4 e5 15 Be3 Bc6 16 Qg3 White’s threat? ANSWER: White wants to play Re8 17 f Xe5 dXe5 18 Bh6 Bf8 19 Bg5 Nd7 20 18 Nd5! with a discovered attack on b2 while also Bh5 g6 21 Rad1 Nc5 22 Bf3 Ne6 threatening to take on f6. 13 Bd3 b4 14 Nd1 a5 15 Nf2 NXd4 16 BXd4 e5 17. . . Qb7! A nice square for the queen. Now e4 13. . . b4! 14 aXb4 QXb4 Now we see the main is attacked, which gives White no respite. idea behind 12...Qb8. How can White defend b2? 18 Rab1 Qc7 So the queen has been chased back, but she already has her loot in the form of the 15 Rfd1 b-pawn. It is now up to White to prove that he has any compensation.
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19 e5
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15 e5? NXd4 16 eXf6 Nf5!
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15 NXc6 BXc6 16 e5 Ne4! 17 NXe4 BXe4 18 Bf3 BXf3 19 RXf3 QXb2 20 Raf1 dXe5 21 f Xe5 QXc2 22 Bg5 BXg5 23 QXg5 Rab8 24 Rg3 Qg6 19 Bd3 g6 20 f5 Nh5 21 Qg4 Bf6! 22 BXf6 NXf6 23 Qg5 Kg7 15 Rad1 QXb2 16 Rd3 19. . . dXe5 20 BXe5 15. . . QXb2 16 NXc6
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rZ0Z0skZ 7 Z0l0apop 6 pZbZpm0Z 5 Z0Z0A0Z0 4 0Z0Z0O0Z 3 Z0M0Z0L0 2 0ZPZBZPO 1 ZRZRZ0ZK
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20 f Xe5 Ne4 21 NXe4 BXe4
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23 Rb6 Bb5 24 NXb5 aXb5 25 Rc7 Nd7 26 BXb5 NXe5!
20. . . Qc8 21 Rd4
23. . . eXf5 24 Rb6 QUESTION: Can Black play 24...Ne4 here?
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24. . . Rc8!
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0ZrZqskZ Z0Z0apZp 6 pSbZ0mpZ 5 Z0Z0ApZ0 4 0ZRZ0Z0Z 3 Z0M0Z0L0 2 0ZPZBZPO 1 Z0Z0Z0ZK 8 7
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21 Rb6 g6 22 f5 eXf5 23 BXf6 BXf6 24 Rd6 BXg2+!
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21. . . g6 This appears weakening, but ideas of f5 are prevented and also there are no more ideas 24. . . Ne4? 25 NXe4 BXe4 26 RXe4!! f Xe4 27 Bc4! ZZ– 28 RXg6+ hXg6 29 QXg6# with Qxg7 mate on the cards. 22 Rc4 Threatening Bf3 so Black gets out of the 25 RXa6 Ne4 26 NXe4 BXe4 Kasparov has returned one of the extra pawns, but he’s still one way. 22. . . Qe8 This all looks rather passive for Black, ahead and has exchanged a pair of knights to but if left alone the a6-pawn will run down the boot. board, so White must try some tricks soon.
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23 f5!?
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0ZrZqskZ 7 Z0Z0apZp 6 RZ0Z0ZpZ 5 Z0Z0ZpZ0 4 0ZRAbZ0Z 3 Z0Z0Z0L0 2 0ZPZBZPO 1 Z0Z0Z0ZK
0ZrZ0ZkZ Z0Z0ZpZp 6 0Z0Z0ZpZ 5 Z0A0LpZ0 4 0Z0ZbZ0Z 3 Z0Z0Z0Z0 2 0ZqZBZPO 1 S0Z0Z0ZK
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27 Bb2! Rb8! 28 Qe5 RXb2! 29 QXb2 BXg2+ 32 Bf1 BXg1 33 KXg1 Qc5+ 30 KXg2 Ba3!! 32. . . QXe2! 27. . . Qb5! 28 RXc8 Qb1+ 29 Bg1 RXc8 Suddenly the initiative is with Black; he is still a pawn up and he is attacking. White’s strategy 8 has clearly failed.
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30 Qe5 ANSWER: 30. . . Bc5 Pinning and winning.
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32. . . QXe2 33 Rg1 BXg2+ 0-1
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30. . . QXc2 31 Bf1 Qc7 31 Ra1 QXc2 32 BXc5?
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White: Efimenko, Z Black: Nguyen Van Huy
Dresden Olympiad 2008
Result: 1-0 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Be2 a6 7 O-O Be7 8 f4 Nc6 9 Be3 O-O 10 a4 QUESTION: This is very popular, but why is it necessary? Can’t White just get on with other useful attacking moves? ANSWER: As we saw in the last two games, Black obtains quite a lot of counterplay when allowed to advance with ...b5. White reasons that it’s worth investing a tempo to prevent this freeing move.
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10. . . Qc7 11 Qe1 Here White plays the Qe1 line, but replaces the useful move Kh1 with a4. This rules out any ...b5 ideas, but the question is just how exposed will the king be on g1?
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11. . . NXd4 Of course this is not the only move, but as usual there is an idea connected with it. 13 f Xe5 dXe5 14 Qg3 Bc5! 15 BXc5 QXc5+ 16 Kh1 ZZ– 13 Be3 13. . . eXf4
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11. . . Bd7 12 Qg3 Kh8 13 Rad1
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12 BXd4 e5 This is the point. The bishop on c8 can emerge on more active squares than d7 (i.e. 13. . . Be6 14 Qg3 eXf4 15 BXf4 Nd7 e6) thanks to this tempo-winning move. 14 BXf4 13 Be3 This retreat is almost always played, but of course it’s not the only idea in the position.
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rZbZ0skZ 7 Zpl0apop 6 pZ0o0m0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 PZ0ZPA0Z 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 0OPZBZPO 1 S0Z0LRJ0
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14 RXf4 Be6 15 Kh1 Nd7 16 Qg3 Bf6 17 Bd3 16. . . Bf6?? 17 RXf6! BXc3 18 bXc3 QXc3 19 Raf1 Ne5 17 Kh1 Qe5! 18 Bf4 Qc5 19 Bg4!? 14. . . Be6
rZ0Z0skZ ZpZnapop 6 pZ0obZ0Z 5 Z0l0Z0Z0 4 PZ0ZPABZ 3 Z0M0Z0L0 2 0OPZ0ZPO 1 S0Z0ZRZK 8
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19 Bh6 Qe5 20 Bf4 Qc5 14. . . Qb6+
19. . . Ne5 20 Bf5
14. . . Qb6+?! 15 Kh1 QXb2 16 Qg3 Qb6 17 e5 dXe5 18 BXe5 Kh8 19 Nd5! Qd8 20 Rad1 Bd7 21 NXe7 QXe7 22 RXd7 QXd7 23 RXf6 Rg8 24 Bd3 Rac8 25 Rh6! 15 Qg3 Nd7 16 Bh6 ANSWER: 16. . . Qc5+ Like this!
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20 BXe6 f Xe6 21 BXe5 QXe5 22 QXe5 dXe5
28. . . QXd5 29 Qg5
20. . . Bf6 The bishop reaches the famed diago- 29 Qf4 g5 30 Qg3 Sacrificing two tempi to try nal and Black can be quite happy with how the and get that bishop on f5 into the game. Black’s opening has turned out. last move may look weakening, but this position 21 Rad1 g6 22 Bh6 Bg7 23 BXg7 KXg7 24 Rf4 is still okay for him. b5 25 Rdf1 b4 26 Nd5 BXd5 27 eXd5 After exchanging on d5 Black hopes that the beast on e5 will prove better than the bishop on f5. White may have gone on to win this encounter, but so far things are okay for Black. 27. . . Rae8
30. . . a5 31 c3 bXc3 32 bXc3 QUESTION: White doesn’t have anything does he? Can we grab on d5? If not, what else could we play? 32. . . QXd5? ANSWER: Unfortunately Black cracks. This move looked obvious, but suddenly White can crash through on the kingside.
0Z0Zrs0Z Z0Z0Zpjp 6 pZ0o0ZpZ 5 Z0lPmBZ0 4 Po0Z0S0Z 3 Z0Z0Z0L0 2 0OPZ0ZPO 1 Z0Z0ZRZK 8
0Z0Zrs0Z Z0Z0Zpj0 6 0Z0o0Z0o 5 o0ZqmBo0 4 PZ0Z0Z0S 3 Z0O0Z0L0 2 0Z0Z0ZPO 1 Z0Z0ZRZK
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27. . . Kh8!? 28 Bd3 a5 29 Rh4 f5! 30 Qh3 Rf7 28 Rh4 ANSWER:
32. . . Rb8! 33 Bb1 f5 34 Rhf4 Rb3 35 RXf5 RXf5 28. . . h6! The white queen must not be allowed 36 BXf5 RXc3 37 Qe1 Rc4 38 Be6 RXa4 39 Qb1 into the black position. Black is still reacting well Qc7 40 Qf5 Qe7 here and now the threat of Qg5 and Qh6+ is par- 33 RXh6! Efimenko is a very strong Ukrainian ried. Grandmaster and he doesn’t need to be asked twice to sniff out a combination around the black king. 33. . . Rg8
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34. . . f6 35 RXg5+! Bd7+
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35 RXg5 RXg5 36 QXg5 White has won a clear pawn and Black’s king is exposed. Efimenko gradually converts.
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36. . . Qc4 37 Rd1 Qc5 38 h3 Nc4 39 Qh6+ Ke7 40 Re1+ Ne5 41 Qh4+ Kf8 42 Bd7! Winning the exchange and the game.
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33. . . KXh6 34 Qh3+ Kg7 35 Qh7+ Kf6 36 Be4+ Ke6 37 Qf5+!
42. . . Ra8 43 Qh8+ Ke7 44 QXa8 KXd7 45 Qb7+ Ke6 46 Qb3+ Kf5 47 Rd1 Ke4 48 Qc2+ Kf4 49 Rf1+ Kg5 50 Qf5+ Kh6 51 Qf6+ Kh7 52 Rf5 Black had a solid and acceptable position until he fell for a trap on move 33. Do take care to watch out for sacrifices around your king!
34 Rh5
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34 QXg5+ Kf8 35 c4! 34. . . Kf8
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1-0
White: Barron, M Black: Ganguly, S
Edmonton 2009
Result: 0-1 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Be2 Be7 7 O-O O-O 8 f4 Nc6 9 Be3 a6 10 a4 Qc7 11 Kh1 This combination of a4 and Kh1 is the most flexible idea at White’s disposal. The idea is to prevent Black from doing anything immediately, without giving away which plan White might employ himself.
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11. . . Bd7 As mentioned in the notes to KarpovKasparov, this is the line I’m recommending.
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12 Nb3 12. . . Nb4!? An interesting little sideline.
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11. . . Re8 12 Qe1 White wants everything: to prevent Black from enjoying any counterplay and to attack on the kingside himself.
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12. . . NXd4 13 BXd4 Bc6 14 Qg3 ZZ– 13 Qg3 Kh8 QUESTION: Why was this played, seeing as White had no immediate threat down the g-file?
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13. . . Rac8 14 e5 Nfd5 15 NXd5 NXd5 16 f5 14 e5
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15. . . NXc3 16 BXc3 dXe5? 17 NXe6! BXe6 18 BXe5 16 f Xe5 f6 17 NXd5
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14 Rad1 Rac8 15 Bc1 d5! 16 e5 Ne4 17 NXe4 17 eXf6 QXg3 18 hXg3 BXf6 dXe4 18 f5 eXf5 19 c3 Nd3 20 BXd3 eXd3 21 17. . . NXd5 18 c4 QXe5 19 QXe5 f Xe5 20 Nf3 RXd3 g6 22 Bh6 Rfd8 23 Re3 Be6 24 Bg5 Re8 Now an endgame arises by force. 14. . . Nfd5 15 Bd2 QUESTION: Should Black 20. . . Nf4 21 NXe5 NXe2 22 NXd7 RXf1+ 23 take on e5 now or do it after first exchanging RXf1 Rd8 24 Re1 RXd7 25 RXe2 Kg8 26 Kg1 knights on c3? ANSWER: It is better to capture Bf6 QUESTION: How to assess this endgame? on e5 first, because the position will explode if Try to pick the good and bad points about each Black doesn’t! side’s position. ANSWER: It’s a good question! 15. . . dXe5! Let’s take a look: 1) White has fewer pawn islands (three to two). 2) The e6-pawn, though a little weak, is passed. 3) Black’s pieces are more active than White’s. Indeed, the bishop on f6 is clearly better than its counterpart on d2. That was all enough to convince Ganguly that he should play for a win! 27 Bb4
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0Z0Z0ZkZ ZpZrZ0op 6 pZ0Zpa0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 PAPZ0Z0Z 3 Z0Z0Z0Z0 2 0O0ZRZPO 1 Z0Z0Z0J0 8 7
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27 Be1 Kf7 28 b4 Rd1 29 Kf2 27. . . Rd1+ 28 Kf2 Rc1 29 c5 Bd4+ 30 Kf3 Kf7! Winning a pawn. The rest is a matter of technique. 31 Rd2 Rc4 32 Bc3 BXc3 33 bXc3 RXc3+ 34 Ke2 RXc5 35 Rd7+ Kf6 36 RXb7 Rc4 The white a-pawn disappears, leaving Black two pawns ahead. 0-1
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White: Aagaard, J Black: Gordon, S
British Championship, Great Yarmouth 2007
Result: 0-1 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 through on the h7-square. (More positional ideas Nc3 e6 6 Be2 a6 7 O-O Be7 8 f4 O-O 9 Kh1 will be looked at in the next game.) Qc7 10 a4 Nc6 11 Be3 Bd7 We finally reach the 17 Qh5 main line of the 6 Be2 variation. 12 Nb3 QUESTION: Why does White retreat like this? ANSWER: After 11...Bd7 Black wants to capture on d4 and play ...Bc6. This would put pressure on e4. White argues that ...Bd7 isn’t a useful move for Black and in fact gets in his way. Thus White decides to spend a move retreating his knight to prove his point.
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12. . . b6 Preventing White from going a5 and fixing the b6-square. 13 Bf3
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17 Rf3 Nb4 18 Rh3 g6 19 Qd2 Bf8 20 Rf1 ZZ– 17. . . Nb4 18 Rf2 Compare this position to 17 Rf3, above. White’s queen is active, but he cannot get his rook to h3 via f3 (for now).
rZ0ZrZkZ Zblnapop 6 po0opZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0OQ 4 Pm0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0A0Z0 2 0OPZ0SBO 1 S0Z0Z0ZK 8
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13 g4 Bc8 13. . . Rfe8 14 g4 Bc8 QUESTION: Can you remember from Karpov-Kasparov in the previous chapter why Black retreats like this? ANSWER: He vacates d7 for the f6-knight, so that it can come back into the game via c5 or e5.
15 g5 Nd7 16 Bg2 Bb7 This is a key position for this line. EXERCISE: What do you think a b c d e f g h the plans for White are in this position? What moves will he play to carry these plans out? ANSWER: White’s main plan is to attack! He nor- 18 Rf3 NXc2 19 Rh3 Nf8! mally plays Qh5, Rf3 and Rh3 to try and crash 18. . . Bf8 We have seen this idea before. Black
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will be looking to play ...g6 and ...Bg7 in some but if White can’t attack the g7- or h7-squares lines and so reactivate the bishop. then Black is generally okay in this type of position. 19 Nd4 25. . . Bf8 26 Kg1 Nc4 27 Bc1 d5! The f8-bishop can even emerge on d6 or c5 at the right moment. Objectively this position is equal, but Black definitely has chances to better.
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28 Bf4 Qb7 29 b3? ANSWER: By using the tactic of interference: 29. . . Ne3! 30 Re1
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19 Raf1 g6 20 Qh3 Bg7 21 Bd4 e5 19. . . g6 20 Qh3 Bg7 Another tense position has arisen. Black awaits developments carefully, hoping to spring out from the Hedgehog-style position that he has adopted. Can White avoid being pricked by the Hedgehog’s spikes?
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21 f5 White thinks that he cannot hang about, so he decides to go for the typical attacking move. 30 BXe3 RXc3 31 Re1 Re4! 32 Rf3 NXc2 33 21. . . eXf5 22 eXf5 BXg2+ 23 KXg2 Ne5 24 Rd1 NXc2 RXc2 34 Rd1 Qc6 35 Bf2 Ree2 30. . . RXc3 31 RXe3 ReXe3 32 BXe3 Nc6
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0Z0Z0akZ ZqZ0ZpZp 6 ponZ0OpZ 5 Z0ZpZ0O0 4 PZ0M0Z0Z 3 ZPs0A0ZQ 2 0ZPZ0S0O 1 Z0Z0Z0J0 8
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24 f6 Nc4! 25 Bc1 Bf8 24. . . Rac8 25 f6 As mentioned in the above note 32. . . Qc7 on 24 f6, Black shouldn’t be overly scared to see 33 Ne2 this move. Of course, a pawn on f6 can be dangerous (so I’m not saying completely ignore it!),
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0Z0Z0akZ 7 ZqZ0ZpZp 6 ponZ0OpZ 5 Z0ZpZ0O0 4 PZ0Z0Z0Z 3 ZPs0A0ZQ 2 0ZPZNS0O 1 Z0Z0Z0J0
0Z0Z0ZkZ Z0Z0ZpZp 6 pZ0a0OpZ 5 Z0ZpZ0O0 4 PZ0Z0MKZ 3 ZPZnA0L0 2 0Z0Z0Z0O 1 Z0Z0ZqZ0
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33 Rf3 NXd4 34 BXd4 RXc2
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42 QXd3 QXf4+ 43 Kh3 QXh2+ 44 Kg4 Qh5#
33. . . RXc2 Now Black has something for his play, 42. . . d4 Jacob Aagaard actually became British being a pawn ahead, and from here on things be- Champion in 2007, despite this loss, and is a come even more difficult for White. greatly-respected chess author. However, even 34 Nf4 RXf2 35 BXf2 Nb4 36 Qc3 Qd7 37 he couldn’t extricate himself from the problems BXb6 Qg4+ 38 Qg3 Qd1+ 39 Kg2 Bd6 The with his position after such a loose move as 29 key defensive bishop emerges and White finds it b3?. So long as Black defends well on the kingside, his position has always seemed to me the does so with great effect. easier to handle! 40 Kh3? In time trouble White blunders, but his position was difficult anyway. 0-1
0Z0Z0ZkZ 7 Z0Z0ZpZp 6 pA0a0OpZ 5 Z0ZpZ0O0 4 Pm0Z0M0Z 3 ZPZ0Z0LK 2 0Z0Z0Z0O 1 Z0ZqZ0Z0 8
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40 Bf2 d4 41 Qf3 Qd2 42 Qa8+ Bf8 40. . . Qf1+ 41 Kg4 Nd3 A deadly pin. 42 Be3
50
White: Martinez Duany, L Black: Fier, A
Barcelona 2009
Result:
1/2-1/2
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be2 e6 7 O-O Be7 8 f4 Nc6 9 Kh1 O-O 10 Be3 Bd7 11 a4 Qc7 12 Nb3 b6 13 Bf3 The bishop normally comes here as it covers e4 as well as the g4-square, which is helpful should White want to charge with the g-pawn.
0s0ZrZkZ Z0lbapop 6 po0opm0Z 5 O0Z0Z0Z0 4 0m0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0ZBZ0 2 0OPL0APO 1 S0Z0ZRZK 8 7
13. . . Rfe8 14 Qd2 Here White isn’t trying to push Black off the board with g4-g5, but instead is content to manoeuvre around. Plans involving Bf2-Bg3 and then trying to push with e5 are possible.
14. . . Rab8 15 Bf2 QUESTION: What is White’s a b plan with Bf2? ANSWER: To play Bg3 and put the bishop on the h2-b8 diagonal. This would allow White to play e5, which introduces some 16 Bg3 ZZ– interesting tactics, as you will see very soon. 16 a5 15. . . Nb4! I believe this to be the best reply, 16. . . bXa5! opening the c-file and stopping the white knight coming to d5.
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0s0ZrZkZ Z0lbapop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 o0Z0Z0Z0 4 0m0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0ZBZ0 2 0OPL0APO 1 S0Z0ZRZK 8 7
0s0ZrZkZ Z0lbapop 6 po0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 Pm0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0ZBZ0 2 0OPL0APO 1 S0Z0ZRZK 8 7
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15. . . Bc8 16 Bg3 Nd7 17 e5 dXe5 18 ZZ– 16 a5 ANSWER:
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16. . . b5 17 Bb6 Qc8 18 e5! dXe5 19 f Xe5 Nfd5 20 NXd5 NXd5 21 Qf2 17 NXa5 e5 The knight on b4 helps control the d5-square, so Black can challenge the centre like this. The text also prevents White from playing his e5 trick, as we saw in the notes to Black’s 16th move, above. 18 Bg3 eXf4 19 BXf4 Be6 EXERCISE: What do
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you think Black’s mini-positional plan should be Raa1 Rbd8 28 b3 Qc8 29 Nd5 NXd5 30 eXd5 in this position? ANSWER: To try and put a Qb7 31 Qd3 Rb8?! This appears a bit strange, knight on e5. Indeed, ...Nd7-e5 (or ...Ng4-e5 as as now White can capture on a6 for free. in the game) would blunt the bishop on f4 and if White ever captures the knight then ...dxe5 would improve Black’s pawn structure. 20 Rfc1
0s0ZrakZ ZqZ0Zpop 6 pZ0o0Z0Z 5 Z0ZPZ0Z0 4 0Z0Z0A0Z 3 ZPZQZ0ZP 2 0ZPZ0ZPZ 1 S0Z0ZRZK 8 7
0s0ZrZkZ Z0l0apop 6 pZ0obm0Z 5 M0Z0Z0Z0 4 0m0ZPA0Z 3 Z0M0ZBZ0 2 0OPL0ZPO 1 S0S0Z0ZK 8 7
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31. . . Rc8 32 c4 g6
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32 c4 20 Rfd1 Bf8 21 BXd6 QXd6 22 QXd6 BXd6 23 RXd6 NXc2
0s0ZrakZ ZqZ0Zpop 6 pZ0o0Z0Z 5 Z0ZPZ0Z0 4 0ZPZ0A0Z 3 ZPZQZ0ZP 2 0Z0Z0ZPZ 1 S0Z0ZRZK 8
20. . . Bg4
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0s0ZrZkZ 7 Z0l0apop 6 pZ0o0m0Z 5 M0Z0Z0Z0 4 0m0ZPAbZ 3 Z0M0ZBZ0 2 0OPL0ZPO 1 S0S0Z0ZK 8
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32 RXa6 Ra8 33 Rc6 32. . . Qb6 33 Rf3 Rb7 34 Bd2 Qc5 35 Ba5 Qc8 36 b4 g6 37 Raf1 Re5 38 Rf6 Rh5 1/2-1/2
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20. . . h6 21 h3 Bf8 22 Rd1 Nd7! 21 BXg4 NXg4 22 h3 Ne5 Black has carried out his mini-plan and is now very solidly placed indeed. 23 Ra4 Bf8 We have seen this defensive regrouping before! 24 Rca1 Qc8 25 Rf1 Nc4 26 NXc4 QXc4 27
52
White: Kupreichik, V Black: Ibrahimov, R
Minsk 2000
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 e6 3 Nf3 d6 4 d4 cXd4 5 NXd4 Nf6 6 g4 Paul Keres was the first to play 6 g4, in his game against Bogoljubow in Salzburg, all the way back in 1943! Why, though, would White play this move this quickly? White often plays a later g4 later in the Sicilian, but never usually so early. In short, there is no easy way for Black to refute the audacious advance immediately, especially with the c8-bishop blocked in, and the threat of playing g5 to kick the f6-knight back could be quite promising for White.
rmblka0s opZ0Zpo0 6 0Z0opm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPO 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 POPZ0O0Z 1 S0AQJBZR 8 7
6. . . h6 This is my recommendation.
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7 Rg1 Nc6
rmblka0s 7 opZ0Zpo0 6 0Z0opm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 POPZ0O0O 1 S0AQJBZR 8
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7 h3 7 g5 7. . . Nc6 8 Rg1 h5! This in my view is the critical test of the Keres Attack. Black doesn’t let White get on with his intended plan of g5 driving the knight back, but rather challenges it head on. QUESTION: How does 8...h5 prevent White from going g5? ANSWER: It doesn’t and in fact it appears to encourage this pawn advance, but there are some good points behind the move, as we’ll now see.
9 g5 This appears at first sight to be the most logical move. The black knight that may now 6. . . a6 7 g5 Nfd7 8 Be3 b5 9 Bg2 Nb6 10 O-O come to g4 can be kicked away with f3 at some Bb7 11 f4 b4 12 f5!? e5 13 Ne6 f Xe6 14 Qh5+ point and White has his usual kingside space adKd7 15 f Xe6+ Kc8 16 Nd5 vantage. Of course, things are never that simple! 7 h4 The most direct approach. White isn’t hang- 9. . . Ng4 The main point of playing 8...h5. The ing about; he wants to get g5 in and get it in knight has no intention of going backwards and quick! charges into White’s position. Reckless or clever? I hope you will think it’s the latter! 10 Nb3 QUESTION: Why do you think White retreated like this? ANSWER: Black is intending to use his knight on g4 to go ...Qb6!, pinning the knight on d4 to the f2-pawn.
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rZblka0s 7 opZ0Zpo0 6 0ZnopZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Op 4 0Z0ZPZnO 3 ZNM0Z0Z0 2 POPZ0O0Z 1 S0AQJBS0
rZbZka0s opZ0ZpZ0 6 0lnopZpZ 5 Z0Z0Z0Op 4 0Z0ZPZnO 3 ZNM0Z0Z0 2 POPZQO0Z 1 S0A0JBS0
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10 Be2 g6!? 11 NXc6 bXc6 12 BXg4 hXg4 13 QXg4 Bg7 14 Qg3 Rb8 15 a3 Qa5! 16 Rh1 Ba6 17 Rh3 Be5 18 f4 Bd4 19 b3 e5 20 Bb2 Bc8! 21 Rh1 eXf4 22 Qd3 Be5 23 O-O-O Bg4 24 Rd2 O-O
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rZbZkZ0s opZ0Zpa0 6 0lnopZpZ 5 ZNZ0Z0Op 4 0Z0ZPZnO 3 ZNZ0Z0ZB 2 POPZQO0Z 1 S0A0J0S0 8 7
rZbZka0s opZ0Zpo0 6 0lnopZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Op 4 0Z0ZPZnO 3 ZNM0Z0Z0 2 POPZQO0Z 1 S0A0JBS0 8 7
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12 Bh3 Bg7 13 Nb5?!
10. . . Qb6 11 Qe2
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11. . . Bd7 12 Rg2 a6 13 f3 Nge5 14 Be3 Qc7 15 Qf2 b5 16 a4 b4 17 Nd1 g6 18 a5 Be7 19 Qg3 Bc8 20 f4 Nd7 21 Rd2 Bb7
10 f3 Qb6! 11 Bb5 Ne5 12 Be3 a6 13 BXc6+ bXc6
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13 BXg4 hXg4 14 ZZ– 13. . . Nce5 14 Rg3 Bd7 QUESTION: This looks good, but could Black have grabbed on f2?
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11 Rg2 g6 12 Bf4 Nge5 13 Qe2 a6 14 O-O-O Qc7 15 Kb1 b5 16 Qe3 Be7 11. . . g6
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endgame.
rZ0ZkZ0s 7 opZbZpa0 6 0l0opZpZ 5 ZNZ0m0Op 4 0Z0ZPZnO 3 ZNZ0Z0SB 2 POPZQO0Z 1 S0A0J0Z0
22 Kg2 e5! 23 BXc3 QXc3 24 Qf3 QXf3+ 25 KXf3 RXh4 Reaching a winning ending. The rest of the moves I will give without comment, as Black clinically achieves his objective!
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26 Na5 b6 27 Nc4 Ke7 28 Ke3 d5! 29 Nd2 dXe4 30 NXe4 Bc6 31 f3 Ke6 32 a5 b5 33 a6 Rh2 0-1
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14. . . NXf2! 15 Be3 Nfd3+! 16 cXd3 QXb5 15 Nc3 White’s strategy of attacking d6 has failed and Black has gained plenty of time for development. QUESTION: White is, however, threatening f3 trapping the knight on g4. What can Black do about it? ANSWER: Using his lead in development, Black has a tactic to prevent it: 15. . . Rc8! 16 a4
0ZrZkZ0s opZbZpa0 6 0l0opZpZ 5 Z0Z0m0Op 4 PZ0ZPZnO 3 ZNM0Z0SB 2 0OPZQO0Z 1 S0A0J0Z0 8 7
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16 f3 RXc3! 17 bXc3 Bb5 18 Qg2 Ne3 19 Qd2 N5c4 20 Qd3 Be5! 16. . . Nc4 17 BXg4 hXg4 18 QXg4 Qb4 So White has won his pawn, but in return Black has gained a lot. Threats on c3 hang in the air, both black rooks are already in the game, and it’s not surprising that White can’t deal with all these threats. 19 Kf1 ANSWER: 19. . . NXb2! 20 BXb2 BXc3 21 RXc3 RXc3 Having regained his material, Black is already better and he now exchanges off into a favourable
55
White: Fier, A Black: Ponomariov, R
Spanish Team Championship 2009
Result:
1/2-1/2
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 Annotating this game for his Open Sicilians column on the ChessPublishing website, Richard Palliser couldn’t resist noting: ’Yet another strong player decides that the Keres Attack isn’t quite the terrifying weapon it was once considered to be’. That said, the Keres Attack is the most popular variation against the Scheveningen right now and the sub-variation we’ll see in this game is one of the most important. I advise the reader to study this line!
rZblka0s opZ0Zpo0 6 0ZnopZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Zn 4 0Z0MPZ0O 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 POPZ0O0Z 1 S0AQJBS0 8 7
6 g4 h6 7 h4 Nc6 8 Rg1 h5 9 gXh5
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rZblka0s 7 opZ0Zpo0 6 0Znopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0ZP 4 0Z0MPZ0O 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 POPZ0O0Z 1 S0AQJBS0 8
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9. . . RXh5 10 Bg5 Rh7!? 11 Qd2 Qb6 12 Nb3 a6 13 O-O-O Be7 14 Kb1 Bd7 15 Rg3 Qc7 16 Bg2 b5 17 a3 Rd8 18 f4 Bc8 19 Nd5!? eXd5 20 eXd5 Na7 21 Re1 Kf8 10 Bg5 Nf6
rZblka0s 7 opZ0Zpo0 6 0Znopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0A0 4 0Z0MPZ0O 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 POPZ0O0Z 1 S0ZQJBS0 8
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9 g5 9. . . NXh5 Returning to 9...Nxh5:
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10. . . Qc7!? 11 Qd2 a6 12 O-O-O Bd7 13 Be2 Rc8 14 NXc6 BXc6 10. . . Qb6!? 11 Nb3 a6 12 Qd2 Bd7 13 O-O-O Qc7 14 Kb1 Ne5 15 Nd4 b5 16 f4 b4! 17 f Xe5 bXc3 18 eXd6 BXd6 19 QXc3 QXc3 20 bXc3 Bc7 11 Rg3!? The move recommended by many sources,
56
including Viktor Gavrikov in ’Experts vs. the Sicilian’, and one which needs to be taken seriously. QUESTION: Why is White moving his rook like this? Why isn’t he developing and trying to castle queenside? ANSWER: That is also a popular option, but with the rook move White first wants to see how Black is going to develop. The rook performs a useful function along the third rank and now White can consider f4 without worrying about ...Qb6 pinning the knight on d4 to the rook on g1.
12 Rd3 Qc7 13 Qe2 Bd7 14 O-O-O Ne5 15 R3d2 b5 16 f4 Nc4 17 e5!? NXd2 18 Bg2 Nfe4 19 NXe4 NXe4 20 BXe4 Rc8? 21 f5! Qc4 22 f Xe6 BXe6 23 Qf3 d5 24 Bd3 Qc5 25 NXe6 f Xe6 26 Bg6+ Kd7 27 Qf7+ Be7 28 Bf5! Rc6 29 BXe7 Qe3+ 30 Kb1 Qe2 31 BXe6+ 12. . . bXc6 13 Qf3 Qa5! Black sees that White will castle queenside and so places his pieces facing in that direction. Previous practice had suggested that White was a little better here:
11. . . a6 Black also plays a useful waiting move.
rZbZka0s Z0Z0Zpo0 6 pZpopm0Z 5 l0Z0Z0A0 4 0Z0ZPZ0O 3 Z0M0ZQS0 2 POPZ0O0Z 1 S0Z0JBZ0 8 7
rZblka0s ZpZ0Zpo0 6 pZnopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0A0 4 0Z0MPZ0O 3 Z0M0Z0S0 2 POPZ0O0Z 1 S0ZQJBZ0 8 7
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13. . . e5?! 14 Bc4! Be6 15 BXe6 f Xe6 16 O-OO Rb8 17 h5!
11. . . Be7 12 Qd2 a6 13 O-O-O Bd7 14 Bg2 13. . . Bd7 14 O-O-O Be7 15 e5! dXe5 16 Ne4 Rc8 15 f4 Qc7 16 e5! 13. . . Qb6 14 O-O-O Rb8 15 b3 Nh5 16 Rg1 g6 12 NXc6 17 Bc4 Qa5 18 e5!? d5 19 Kb1 Bd7 20 Bf1 Bg7 21 Qe3 Qc7 22 f4 c5 23 Ne2 a5 24 Ng3 NXg3 25 RXg3 a4 26 Be2 c4 27 h5 aXb3 28 cXb3 Ba4 29 Rc1 8
rZblka0s ZpZ0Zpo0 6 pZNopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0A0 4 0Z0ZPZ0O 3 Z0M0Z0S0 2 POPZ0O0Z 1 S0ZQJBZ0 7
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12 Qd2 Qb6 13 Nb3 Bd7
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13. . . Rb8 14 Bc4! Qb6 15 Bb3 Nh5 16 Rg1 g6 17 O-O-O Bd7 18 Rge1 Qc7 19 Qd3 a5 20 f4 Bg7 21 f5 13. . . Be7 14 O-O-O d5 15 Bc4 Bb7 16 Bb3 Kf8 17 h5 14 O-O-O Nothing else makes much sense, but now Black will look to target b2 down the open b-file. 14 BXf6 gXf6 15 QXf6 Qh5! 16 Rh3 e5 17 Be2 Be7 18 Qg7 Qh6 19 QXh6 RXh6 20 Rh1 RXh4 14. . . Rb8 15 Bc4 QUESTION: Can’t White capture on f6 and win a pawn?
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0sbZka0s Z0Z0Zpo0 6 pZpopZ0Z 5 Z0m0O0A0 4 0l0Z0Z0O 3 ZBM0Z0S0 2 POPZQO0Z 1 Z0JRZ0Z0 8 7
0sbZka0s Z0Z0Zpo0 6 pZpopm0Z 5 l0Z0Z0A0 4 0ZBZPZ0O 3 Z0M0ZQS0 2 POPZ0O0Z 1 Z0JRZ0Z0 8 7
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18 Kb1 a5!
18. . . d5 19 Rg4 Qb7 20 Ne4 White wants to get 15 BXf6 gXf6 16 QXf6 Rh6 17 Qf4 e5 18 Qe3 rid of Black’s active knight on c5, which is supRXh4 19 Rg8 Be6 20 Qg3 Rf4 21 Qg7 Ke7 porting the ...a5-a4 advance. 15. . . Nd7! A strong regrouping and one which fully solves Black’s problems.
0sbZka0s ZqZ0Zpo0 6 pZpZpZ0Z 5 Z0mpO0A0 4 0Z0ZNZRO 3 ZBZ0Z0Z0 2 POPZQO0Z 1 Z0JRZ0Z0 8 7
0sbZka0s 7 Z0ZnZpo0 6 pZpopZ0Z 5 l0Z0Z0A0 4 0ZBZPZ0O 3 Z0M0ZQS0 2 POPZ0O0Z 1 Z0JRZ0Z0 8
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20 Kb1 a5 21 Na4 NXb3 22 aXb3 c5 20. . . NXe4 21 RXe4 Bd7!
15. . . Nh5 16 Rgg1 g6 17 Bb3 16 Qe2 Qb4 17 Bb3 Nc5 18 e5! Fier hurries to create some play of his own before Black’s apawn begins to advance. QUESTION: What is Black’s plan in this position?
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23 c3!? c4
0s0Zka0s 7 ZqZbZpo0 6 pZpZpZ0Z 5 Z0ZpO0A0 4 0Z0ZRZ0O 3 ZBZ0Z0Z0 2 POPZQO0Z 1 Z0JRZ0Z0
23. . . d4 Not just creating a protected passed pawn, but a move which prevents any action down the d-file.
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24 Rd3 Bc6 25 Rdf3!? A tricky move and one which Black needs to be on red alert against. 25. . . Be7!
0s0ZkZ0s ZqZ0apo0 6 pZbZpZ0Z 5 Z0o0O0A0 4 0ZPo0S0O 3 ZBZ0ZRZ0 2 PO0ZQO0Z 1 Z0J0Z0Z0 8 7
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21. . . dXe4?? 22 Rd8# 22 Rf4
0s0Zka0s ZqZbZpo0 6 pZpZpZ0Z 5 Z0ZpO0A0 4 0Z0Z0S0O 3 ZBZ0Z0Z0 2 POPZQO0Z 1 Z0JRZ0Z0 8 7
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0s0ZkZ0s 7 ZqZ0apo0 6 pZbZpZ0Z 5 Z0o0O0A0 4 0ZPo0S0O 3 ZBZ0Z0S0 2 PO0ZQO0Z 1 Z0J0Z0Z0
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22. . . c5 23 c4
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22 Ra4!? c5 23 QXa6 f6! 24 eXf6 c4 25 QXb7 RXb7 26 Ra8+ Kf7 27 Ba4 gXf6 28 BXd7 RXd7 29 Be3 RXh4
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25. . . BXf3? 26 QXf3 QXf3?? 27 Ba4+!
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0s0Zka0s ZqZbZpo0 6 pZ0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0opO0A0 4 0ZPZ0S0O 3 ZBZ0Z0Z0 2 PO0ZQO0Z 1 Z0JRZ0Z0
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26 RXf7 BXg5+ 27 hXg5 Rh1+ 28 Kd2 QXf7 29 RXf7 KXf7 26. . . g6 Here the game was prematurely agreed drawn.
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0s0ZkZ0s ZqZ0apZ0 6 pZbZpZpZ 5 Z0o0O0A0 4 0ZPo0S0O 3 ZBZ0Z0S0 2 PO0ZQO0Z 1 Z0J0Z0Z0 8 7
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26. . . g6 27 BXe7 QXe7 28 Rh3 Rh5 1/2-1/2
60
White: Thomassen, J Black: Cebalo, M
Biel 2008
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 g4 h6 7 h4 Nc6 8 Rg1 h5 9 gXh5 NXh5 10 Bg5 Nf6 We saw all this in the previous game. Now we come to White’s typical developing plan: queen to d2 followed by castling queenside. With the king safe, White will then look to open up the position to get at the black king on e8.
rZ0Zka0s ZplbZpo0 6 pZnopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0A0 4 0Z0ZPZ0O 3 ZNM0Z0S0 2 POPL0O0Z 1 Z0JRZBZ0 8 7
11 Qd2 Qb6 The queen kicks the knight from d4, before dropping back to c7.
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rZbZka0s opZ0Zpo0 6 0lnopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0A0 4 0Z0MPZ0O 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 POPL0O0Z 1 S0Z0JBS0
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14. . . Rc8 15 Qe1 Qc7 16 Kb1 b5!? 17 Bh3 b4 18 Nd5 eXd5 19 eXd5+ Ne7 20 Rd2 Nh5 21 BXd7+ QXd7 22 Re3 f6 23 Nd4 f Xg5 24 hXg5 Nf4 25 Re4 NXd5 26 Ne6 Nc7
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15 Bg2 Not White’s only move:
rZ0Zka0s ZplbZpo0 6 pZnopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0A0 4 0Z0ZPZ0O 3 ZNM0Z0S0 2 POPL0OBZ 1 Z0JRZ0Z0 8
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11. . . a6 12 O-O-O Bd7 13 Be2 Qb6 14 Nb3 Qc7 15 h5 b5 16 a3 Be7 17 Qf4 Qd8 18 Bh4 Rg8 19 h6 g6 20 RXd6! BXd6 21 QXd6 NXe4 22 BXd8 NXd6 23 Bf6 12 Nb3 a6 13 O-O-O 13 Be2 Bd7 14 h5 NXh5 15 Rh1 g6 16 O-O-O QXf2 17 e5 Qf5 18 eXd6 QXg5! 19 QXg5 Bh6 20 QXh6 RXh6 21 Na4 Ne5 22 Nb6 Rd8 23 Nc5 Bc6
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13. . . Bd7 14 Rg3 Again we see this multipurpose rook move. White can now play f4 without 15 Qe2 b5 16 Bg2 b4 17 BXf6 gXf6 18 e5 bXc3 leaving the rook en prise on g1 and the rook can 19 RXc3 f Xe5 20 Qc4 d5 21 RXd5 eXd5 22 BXd5 swing across the third rank in some lines. Rh6 23 BXf7+ Kd8 24 h5 Rd6 25 Nc5 Bh6+ 14. . . Qc7 26 Re3 Nd4 27 c3 Nf5 28 Bg6 BXe3+ 29 f Xe3 Rd1+ 15 Be2 O-O-O 16 h5 Be7 17 Qf4?! NXh5 18
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BXh5 f6! 19 Bg4 f Xg5 20 Qd2 Rdf8
0ZrZkZ0s Z0lbapo0 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 ZpZ0m0A0 4 0Z0ZPZ0O 3 ZNM0S0Z0 2 POPZQOBZ 1 ZKZRZ0Z0
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15. . . Rc8 ANSWER: Either plan is good. It depends how you feel at the board!
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0ZrZka0s 7 ZplbZpo0 6 pZnopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0A0 4 0Z0ZPZ0O 3 ZNM0Z0S0 2 POPL0OBZ 1 Z0JRZ0Z0 8
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0ZrZkZ0s Z0lbapo0 6 pZnopm0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0A0 4 0Z0ZPZ0O 3 ZNM0S0Z0 2 POPZQOBZ 1 ZKZRZ0Z0 e
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0ZrZkZ0s Z0lbapo0 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0m0An 4 0Z0ZPZ0O 3 ONM0Z0ZR 2 0OPZQOBZ 1 ZKZRZ0Z0 8 7
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19. . . Nh5 20 Rh3
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19 a3 Now White gets to prevent ...b4 ideas and we only witness a positional masterpiece from the respected Croatian Grandmaster Miso Cebalo.
16 Qe2 Be7 17 Kb1 b5 18 Re3 QUESTION: Can you think why White may have played this? ANSWER: He sees the threat of ...b4 and wants to play Nd5 in reply. Does this work, though?
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18. . . b4 19 Nd5 eXd5 20 eXd5 Ne5 21 f4 Bg4!
15. . . Be7 16 f4 O-O-O 17 Qf2 Kb8 18 f5 Ne5 19 Bh3 Nc4
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20 BXe7 KXe7 20. . . Nc4 21 Nd4 g6 22 Bf3 EXERCISE: Choose between one of the following three moves: a) 22...Bxg5; b) 22...Qc5; c) 22...Nxb2. 22. . . Qc5
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18 f4 b4 19 Na4 Na7! 18. . . Ne5 This is still good, but was there anything better?
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29 f Xe5 RXe5 30 Qf3 b4 31 Ne4 Rf5 32 Qg3 bXa3
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29. . . RXf5 30 Ne4 a4 31 Nbd2 Bc6 32 NXc4 bXc4 33 Nd6 Possibly the players were in time trouble, as White gets some unexpected chances which he didn’t deserve, but Black is still clearly better.
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33. . . cXd3 34 NXc8+ Kf8 Cebalo has it all worked out! 35 QXd3 Qd4 Now he wants an ending to simplify things. 36 Qe2
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22. . . NXb2! 23 BXh5 NXd1! 24 QXd1 b4! 25 aXb4 Qb7
0ZNZ0j0Z 7 Z0Z0ZpZ0 6 0ZbZpZpZ 5 Z0Z0orZ0 4 pZ0l0Z0O 3 O0Z0Z0Z0 2 0OPZQZ0Z 1 ZKZRZ0Z0 8
22. . . BXg5 23 hXg5 Nf4 24 RXh8+ 23 BXh5 RXh5 24 Nb3 Qb6 25 BXe7 KXe7 Black should not mind his king being in the centre in the Scheveningen, as mentioned above. Those pawns on e6 and d6 do a great job of preventing any threats.
26 f4 a5 EXERCISE: Assess this position. ANSWER: This is a dream position for Black in this variation. He can play ...Rch8 and go after the a b c d e f g h weak h4-pawn, or he might play for ...b4 and go after White’s king on the queenside. Moreover, Black has the better pawn structure, so any end- 36 QXd4 eXd4 37 RXd4 Rf1+ 38 Ka2 e5 39 Rd2 ing will be better for him. Rf4 40 Rh2 e4 41 Nb6 Rf3 27 e5 Uh-oh, have we missed something? 36. . . Rf2 37 Qe1 Qc5 38 Ka1 27. . . dXe5 No. White is just playing for tricks. 28 Rhd3 Be8 29 f5
0ZNZ0j0Z 7 Z0Z0ZpZ0 6 0ZbZpZpZ 5 Z0l0o0Z0 4 pZ0Z0Z0O 3 O0Z0Z0Z0 2 0OPZ0s0Z 1 J0ZRL0Z0 8
0ZrZbZ0Z Z0Z0jpZ0 6 0l0ZpZpZ 5 opZ0oPZr 4 0ZnZ0Z0O 3 ONMRZ0Z0 2 0OPZQZ0Z 1 ZKZRZ0Z0 8 7
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38 c3 Bd5 39 Nd6 Rg2 38. . . Bg2 39 Nd6 QXc2 40 Nc4 Bd5 41 Rc1
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Qe2 42 Qb4+ Kg7 43 Nd6 Rf1 44 Qc3 RXc1+ 45 QXc1 Bb3 46 Ne8+ Kf8 White decided he’d had enough. Black can play this line positionally, as Cebalo did, but there were also various tactics along the way which might have decided things a little earlier. 0-1
64
White: Eames, R Black: D’Costa, L
London 2010
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 g4 h6 7 h4 Nc6 8 Rg1 h5 9 gXh5 NXh5 10 Bg5 Nf6 11 Be2 QUESTION: Why does White play 11 Be2? It’s not as if he is going to play in the same way as in the 6 Be2 lines is he? ANSWER: Yes, that is true, but this position is very different. White wants to play h5 and deny Black the use of this square for his knight. His play is quite flexible and he might choose Qd2 and 00-0 or a Rg3 approach depending on how Black replies.
rZ0lka0s Z0ZbZpo0 6 pZnopm0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0AP 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 POPLBO0Z 1 S0Z0J0S0 8 7
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13. . . Be7 14 O-O-O Qc7 15 h6 gXh6 16 BXf6 BXf6 17 Nf5! eXf5 18 Nd5 Qd8 19 QXh6! Be6 20 NXf6+ Ke7 21 Qg5 f Xe4 22 NXe4+ Kf8 23 Qg7+ Ke7 24 Qf6+
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13. . . Qb6 14 Nb3 Qc7 15 h6 14 a3 The most popular move, as ...b4 and ...Nxe4 was definitely in the air. Alternatives:
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11 Rg3 11. . . a6 12 h5 Bd7 13 Qd2 b5!? QUESTION: Why did Black play this? ANSWER: Black threatens ...b4 to win the e4-pawn, while gaining space on the queenside. It’s likely White will castle there very soon which makes the move even more appealing. The drawback to it is that now Black cannot really castle either way, so the king will have to remain in the centre for a while.
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14 NXc6 BXc6 15 a3 Rc8 16 Qd4 Be7 17 O-OO Bb7 14 O-O-O?! b4! 15 NXc6 BXc6 16 Nd5 NXe4!
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17 BXd8 NXd2
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14. . . Rc8 15 O-O-O 15 Nb3 Be7 16 Be3 Na5!? 17 NXa5 QXa5 18 RXg7 b4 19 Na2 NXe4 20 QXb4 Qe5 21 Rg1 RXc2 22 Bd3? NXf2!
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15. . . b4 This felt the most natural move. When White has played a3, this is the typical move to prise open lines on the queenside.
0Zrlka0s Z0ZbZpo0 6 pZnopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0AP 4 0o0MPZ0Z 3 O0M0Z0Z0 2 0OPLBO0Z 1 Z0JRZ0S0 8
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18 h6 g6 19 Nb3 a5 20 Nd4 RXc3!? 21 BXf6 BXf6 22 QXc3 RXh6 23 Rh1 RXh1 24 RXh1 Qb6 25 Rd1 Nc6 18. . . Rh7 I like this move to defend the g7-pawn (I recommended a similar surprise weapon in the notes to Fier-Ponomariov). The rook still operates on the h-file and isn’t that susceptible to attack.
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19 f4 15. . . Na5 16 Kb1 Nc4 17 BXc4 RXc4 18 f4 Qa8 19 e5 Ne4 20 NXe4 QXe4 21 eXd6 RXh5
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16 aXb4 NXb4 17 Kb1 Be7
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19 h6 g6
19. . . Qc7 QUESTION: Should White push with f5 or e5? ANSWER: Both breaks are on the cards and Black must be ready for both of them. Nor17. . . e5!? 18 Nb3 Be6 19 f4 Qb6 20 f5 RXc3 mally such moves will lead to tactics breaking out 21 QXc3 NXe4 22 Qh3 Bd5 after a long spell of manoeuvring and this game 18 Be3 is no different in such regard. a
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20 e5!? My opponent decides that now is the time to go for it and smash open the position.
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0Z0skZ0Z Z0Z0ZpZr 6 pZ0ZpZpO 5 l0ZPL0Z0 4 0m0M0Z0Z 3 Z0Z0Z0Z0 2 0O0ZBZ0Z 1 ZKZRZRZ0 8
0ZrZkZ0Z Z0lbapor 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0O0ZP 4 0m0M0O0Z 3 Z0M0A0Z0 2 0OPLBZ0Z 1 ZKZRZ0S0
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33 Nc2! Qa2+ 34 Kc1 Nc6 35 Qf4 Na5!? 20 f5 e5 21 Nb3 Bc6 22 Bf3 a5
33. . . Qa2+ 34 Kc1 Qa1+ 35 Kd2 QXb2+ 36 20. . . dXe5 21 f Xe5 QXe5 22 Bf4 Qa5 23 Nb3 Ke1? Qb6 24 h6 g6 A complicated position has arisen. Black is a pawn up, but anything can happen here. To be honest, I fall into that category of 8 players who prefer to be material up than down!
0Z0skZ0Z Z0Z0ZpZr 6 pZ0ZpZpO 5 Z0ZPL0Z0 4 0m0M0Z0Z 3 Z0Z0Z0Z0 2 0l0ZBZ0Z 1 Z0ZRJRZ0 7
25 Bg5 Bc6 26 Rgf1 Rd8 27 Nd4 Ne4
0Z0skZ0Z Z0Z0apZr 6 plbZpZpO 5 Z0Z0Z0A0 4 0m0MnZ0Z 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 0OPLBZ0Z 1 ZKZRZRZ0 8 7
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36 Ke3! Nc2+ 37 Kf4 RXd5 38 Nc6! QXe5+ 39 NXe5 g5+ 40 Kg3 RXe5 41 Bd3 Re3+ 42 Kf2 RXd3 43 RXd3 RXh6
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36. . . Nc2+ 37 Kf2 RXd5 Now Black is winning.
27. . . Be4! 28 BXf6 BXc2+ 29 NXc2 RXd2 30 38 Bb5+ RXb5 39 Qg7 A last trick in time trouble, but Black has enough to deal with it. RXd2 BXf6 31 RXf6 NXc2 32 KXc2 RXh6 28 NXe4 BXe4 29 BXe7 KXe7 30 Qg5+ Ke8 31 39. . . NXd4+ 40 Ke3 RXg7 41 hXg7 Nc2+ 42 Qe5 Bd5 32 c4 EXERCISE: Calculate the conse- Ke2 QXg7 0-1 quences of 32...Qa5. Who do you think will come out on top after this? Warning: this is quite a difficult exercise! 32. . . Qa5!? 33 cXd5? Black now obtains the advantage.
67
White: Haznedaroglu, K Black: Navara, D
European Championship, Warsaw 2005
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 g4 h6 7 h3 ANSWER: The 7 h3 subvariation has become popular in recent years and is a firm rival to 7 h4. Instead of trying to push Black off the board, White is content with the gain of space that 6 g4 has afforded him. He normally tries to play for f4, which allows him to push further ahead with any of the e-, f- and gpawns at the right moment.
rmblka0s opZ0Zpo0 6 0Z0opm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0M0Z0ZP 2 POPZ0O0Z 1 S0AQJBZR 8 7
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10 f4 Nc4 11 Bc1 Qb6 12 b3 e5!? 13 Nde2 Ne3 14 BXe3 QXe3 10. . . g5! QUESTION: Shouldn’t Black be developing instead of lashing out with such a move? ANSWER: 10...g5 actually shows good understanding of the position. White’s main pawn break here is f4, so Black takes steps to prevent it. From a more concrete point of view, White was threatening 11 f4 to kick the e5-knight away and so Black needed to do something immediately to stop that. 11 O-O-O 11 f4 gXf4 12 BXf4 Bd7 13 Nf3 Qa5!? 14 O-O-O Rc8 15 NXe5 dXe5 16 Bd2 Be7 17 Kb1 Qb6 11. . . Bd7 12 f4 Probably the critical test. Black now gets to secure the knight on e5, but at what cost? 12. . . gXf4 13 BXf4 Rc8 14 Rhf1
0Zrlka0s ZpZbZpZ0 6 pZ0opm0o 5 Z0Z0m0Z0 4 0Z0MPAPZ 3 Z0M0Z0ZP 2 POPZQZBZ 1 Z0JRZRZ0 8
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7 h4 7. . . Nc6 8 Be3 a6 9 Bg2 Ne5 10 Qe2
rZblka0s ZpZ0Zpo0 6 pZ0opm0o 5 Z0Z0m0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0M0A0ZP 2 POPZQOBZ 1 S0Z0J0ZR 8 7
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14 Nf3 Qc7 15 Rhf1 b5 16 a3 Be7 17 Bg3 Nc4! 18 Rd3 Qa5 19 Be1 b4 20 Nd5 bXa3 21 RXa3 Qb5 22 Rb3 Qa4 23 Kb1 eXd5 24 eXd5 Bb5 14. . . b5
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18 b3? Qa3+
0Zrlka0s 7 Z0ZbZpZ0 6 pZ0opm0o 5 ZpZ0m0Z0 4 0Z0MPAPZ 3 Z0M0Z0ZP 2 POPZQZBZ 1 Z0JRZRZ0
18. . . QXb2+ 19 Kd1 Qa1+ 20 Bc1 Nb2+ 21 Kd2 Nc4+ Black repeats moves to gain time on the clock, which is a sensible decision.
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22 Kd1 d5 23 Nd4 Nb2+ 24 Kd2 Nc4+
0ZrZka0s Z0ZbZpZ0 6 pZ0ZpO0o 5 ZpZpZ0Z0 4 0ZnM0ZPZ 3 Z0MRZ0ZP 2 PZPJQZBZ 1 l0A0ZRZ0 8 7
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14. . . RXc3!? 15 bXc3 Qc7 16 Kb1 Be7 17 Bc1 Ba4 18 Qf2 Nfd7 19 Nb3 Bb5 20 Rfe1 Nb6 21 Bf1 Na4 15 Nf3 Nc4! We saw how powerful this knight leap can be in the notes to White’s 14th move, above. There are tricks in the air for sure...
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16 e5 Trying to punish Black for leaving his king 24. . . NXd3 25 QXd3 Bb4 26 Ne2 QXa2 in the centre. That’s very logical, but this ad- 25 Ke1? vance allows a wonderful riposte. 16. . . Qa5!! I doubt White even considered this! Black just ignores White’s previous move and gets on with the attack. The king on e8 is fine: our friends, the d6- and e6-pawns, are covering him for the time being. Can the queenside attack break through, though?
0ZrZka0s Z0ZbZpZ0 6 pZ0ZpO0o 5 ZpZpZ0Z0 4 0ZnM0ZPZ 3 Z0MRZ0ZP 2 PZPZQZBZ 1 l0A0JRZ0 8 7
17 eXf6 Qb4 This simple attack on b2 is very hard to meet. 18 Rd3
0ZrZka0s 7 Z0ZbZpZ0 6 pZ0opO0o 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0lnZ0APZ 3 Z0MRZNZP 2 POPZQZBZ 1 Z0J0ZRZ0
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25 Kd1 Nb2+ 26 Kd2 NXd3 27 QXd3 Bb4 28 Ne2 QXa2 25. . . QXc1+ 26 Kf2 Qf4+ 27 Kg1 Qe5 The king has escaped, but White is a pawn down with the worse position. The end is nigh. 28 Qf2 Nb2 29 Rd2 RXc3 30 NXe6 A desperate sacrifice. 30. . . BXe6 31 Re1 Qg3 32 RXe6+ f Xe6 33 f7+ Kd7 0-1
69
White: Buzeti, J Black: Kovacevic, A
Nova Gorica 2010
Result: 0-1 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 g4 h6 7 Be3 White takes advantage of the fact that Black cannot play ...h5 here, having already gone ...h6, as he does in Van KampenPopilsky in the next chapter. White’s potential plans are to play f3, Qd2 and 0-0-0 in English Attack style, or to play Bg2 and h3, as he does in this game.
rZblka0s opZ0Zpo0 6 0Znopm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0M0A0ZP 2 POPZ0O0Z 1 S0ZQJBZR 8 7
7. . . Nc6
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8 f3 a6 9 Qd2 d5!? 10 O-O-O dXe4 11 Qf2 Qc7 12 Ndb5!? aXb5 13 NXb5 Qb8 14 Bb6 Bb4 15 Kb1 Ba5 16 Nc7+ QXc7 17 BXc7 BXc7 8. . . Bd7
rZ0lka0s 7 opZbZpo0 6 0Znopm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0M0A0ZP 2 POPZ0O0Z 1 S0ZQJBZR 8
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7. . . a6 8 h3 b5 9 a3 Bb7 10 Bg2 Nbd7 11 Qe2 g5! 12 h4 Rg8 13 hXg5 hXg5 14 O-O-O Rc8 15 Bd2 Ne5 16 BXg5 RXg5 17 f4 Nf Xg4 18 f Xg5 RXc3! 19 g6 Qg5+ 20 Kb1 Re3 21 gXf7+ Ke7 22 Qf1 Rg3 8 h3
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h5! 19 gXh5 g4! 20 NXe5 gXh3 21 Bf3 dXe5 22 Rdd1 b5 23 Bg5 b4 24 Nb1 Bb5
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11. . . Nc4 12 Rhe1 Best.
rZ0lka0s opZbZpo0 6 0Znopm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0M0A0ZP 2 POPZ0OBZ 1 S0ZQJ0ZR a
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0Zrlka0s 7 opZbZpo0 6 0Z0opm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0ZnMPZPZ 3 Z0M0A0ZP 2 POPZQOBZ 1 Z0JRS0Z0 8
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9 Ndb5 Qb8! 10 Qd2 a6 11 Nd4 b5 9. . . Ne5
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12 Kb1 Qb6 13 Ndb5? Qa5
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12 Nb3 Qc7 13 f4 NXb2! 14 Nb5 Qc4 12. . . Be7 13 Kb1 Qb6 14 Nb3 Qc7 We have seen this idea many times by now. Pulling the knight away from d4 could be a crucial tempo gain for Black later on in the game. 15 Bc1 b5 16 Nd2 ANSWER:
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0ZrZkZ0s o0lbapo0 6 0Z0opm0o 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0ZnZPZPZ 3 Z0M0Z0ZP 2 POPMQOBZ 1 ZKARS0Z0 8
9. . . Be7 9. . . Be7 10 f4 Qb8 11 O-O NXd4 12 QXd4 Bc6 13 e5 Nd7!? 14 BXc6 bXc6 15 eXd6 QXd6 16 QXg7 Bf6 17 Ne4! 10 Qe2 Rc8 11 O-O-O White has quite a few moves here: 11 Ndb5?! Qa5 12 NXa7 RXc3! 11 O-O Nc4 12 Bc1 Qb6 13 Nb3 Be7
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11 f4 Nc4 12 O-O-O? Qb6! 13 b3 NXe3 14 a b c d e f g h QXe3 e5 15 Nd5 Qc5 16 c4 eXd4 17 RXd4 NXd5 18 eXd5+ Kd8 19 Qc3 Be7 20 b4 Qb6 21 Re4 Bf6 22 Qd2 Re8 23 Rhe1 RXe4 24 RXe4 Qg1+ 16 f4 b4 25 Re1 RXc4+ 16. . . Na3+! Although Black stands well here, 11 Rd1 Nc4 12 Bc1 Qb6 13 Nb3 Be7 14 O-O this is another useful mini-trick to know. a6 15 Kh1 g5! 16 Rd4 Qc7 17 Nd2 Ne5 18 Nf3 17 bXa3
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attack in the centre or the kingside.
0ZrZkZ0s 7 o0lbapo0 6 0Z0opm0o 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0ZPZPZ 3 O0M0Z0ZP 2 PZPMQOBZ 1 ZKARS0Z0
23 Bh1 O-O Now Kovacevic decides it is safe enough to house the king, having calculated that he is further ahead in his queenside attack than White will be on the other wing.
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24 g5 hXg5 25 f Xg5 EXERCISE: Decide whether or not Black can get away with grabbing the ’free’ pawn on g5. 25. . . Nc5
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17 Ka1 NXc2+ 17. . . QXc3 Now the king’s pawn protection is ruined, offering Black long-term attacking prospects. 18 Nb3 e5! As there is no longer a knight able to come to d5, Black can play this with impunity. 19 f4 QUESTION: Should Black capture on f4 here? ANSWER: Black could, but this would only help White as at the moment his major pieces on the e-file aren’t doing anything. 19. . . Qc7
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25. . . BXg5 26 Rg1 Bh6 27 Qh5 Bb7 28 QXh6 QXc2+ 29 Ka1 QXd1+! 30 RXd1 gXh6 26 Rg1?! EXERCISE: Decide what you would do here as Black.
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0ZrZ0skZ Z0l0apo0 6 0Zbo0Z0Z 5 opm0o0O0 4 0Z0ZPZ0Z 3 O0ZNZ0ZP 2 PAPZQZ0Z 1 ZKZRZ0SB 8 7
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19. . . eXf4 20 BXf4 O-O 21 e5 20 Bb2 Bc6 21 Nc1 Nd7 Black delays castling so as not to give White an object of attack. It is important to note that this doesn’t mean that Black will never castle!
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26 NXc5 dXc5 27 h4 b4 22 Nd3 a5 Still not committing the king, thereby leaving White guessing as to whether he should 26. . . g6?!
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28 NXc5 QXc5! 29 h5 b4
0ZrZ0skZ 7 Z0l0apZ0 6 0Zbo0ZpZ 5 opm0o0O0 4 0Z0ZPZ0Z 3 O0ZNZ0ZP 2 PAPZQZ0Z 1 ZKZRZ0SB 8
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28. . . Na4! Now Kovacevic is back on track. 29 hXg6 f Xg6 30 Qh2 QUESTION: What is White getting up to with this move? ANSWER: The idea is to penetrate with the queen down the hfile, likely via h6. This would put pressure on the g6-pawn. However, as stated before, we should remain calm. Here the white king is under more pressure down the c-file, and there is a certain defensive manoeuvre that Black can employ to help defend. Can you see what it is? 30. . . NXb2
26. . . Na4!
0ZrZ0skZ Z0lba0Z0 6 0Z0o0ZpZ 5 opZ0o0O0 4 0Z0ZPZ0Z 3 O0ZNZ0Z0 2 PmPZ0Z0L 1 ZKZRZ0SB 8
27 h4?!
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0ZrZ0skZ 7 Z0l0apZ0 6 0Zbo0ZpZ 5 opm0o0O0 4 0Z0ZPZ0O 3 O0ZNZ0Z0 2 PAPZQZ0Z 1 ZKZRZ0SB 8
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27 NXc5! dXc5 28 Qh2 Bd6 29 h4 b4 30 h5 27. . . Bd7 28 h5
0ZrZ0skZ Z0lbapZ0 6 0Z0o0ZpZ 5 opm0o0OP 4 0Z0ZPZ0Z 3 O0ZNZ0Z0 2 PAPZQZ0Z 1 ZKZRZ0SB 8
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30. . . Rf7! 31 Qh6 QXc2+ 32 Ka1 NXb2 33 NXb2 Rh7 34 QXg6+ Kh8 31 NXb2 Rf7! Better late than never! This rook move shores up any holes around the king. Indeed, Black’s king is surprisingly solid, as White’s pieces aren’t in any decent attacking positions. 32 Rdf1 EXERCISE: Decide whether Black should exchange off all the rooks or keep them on for a potential attack.
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0ZrZ0ZkZ 7 Z0lbarZ0 6 0Z0o0ZpZ 5 opZ0o0O0 4 0Z0ZPZ0Z 3 O0Z0Z0Z0 2 PMPZ0Z0L 1 ZKZ0ZRSB
0Z0Z0SkZ Z0lba0Z0 6 0Z0o0ZpZ 5 opZ0o0O0 4 0Z0ZPZ0Z 3 O0Z0Z0Z0 2 PMPZ0Z0L 1 ZKZ0Z0ZB
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32 Qh6 QXc2+ 33 Ka1 Rh7 34 QXg6+ Kh8
34 Bf3
32. . . RXf1+
34. . . BXf8 35 Bf3 Qc3 36 Qe2 QUESTION: Can Black capture on a3 safely? 36. . . Qc5
0ZrZ0ZkZ Z0lba0Z0 6 0Z0o0ZpZ 5 opZ0o0O0 4 0Z0ZPZ0Z 3 O0Z0Z0Z0 2 PMPZ0Z0L 1 ZKZ0ZrSB 8 7
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0Z0Z0akZ Z0ZbZ0Z0 6 0Z0o0ZpZ 5 opl0o0O0 4 0Z0ZPZ0Z 3 O0Z0ZBZ0 2 PMPZQZ0Z 1 ZKZ0Z0Z0 8 7
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32. . . Rh7 33 Qe2 Qc3
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33 RXf1 Rf8 Wise: exchanging all the rooks leaves 36. . . QXa3 37 Bg4 BXg4 38 QXg4 Qe3 39 Qe6+ White with no attack and all the weaknesses. Kh7 40 Qd7+ Bg7 41 Nd3 34 RXf8+ 37 Qg2
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0Z0Z0akZ Z0ZbZ0Z0 6 0Z0o0ZpZ 5 opl0o0O0 4 0Z0ZPZ0Z 3 O0Z0ZBZ0 2 PMPZ0ZQZ 1 ZKZ0Z0Z0 8 7
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37 Bg4 Qg1+ 37. . . Be6 38 Bg4 Bf7 39 Qh3 Be7 40 Bd1 BXg5 Resignation may appear somewhat premature, but the game is up for White as Black is planning to play ...Qe3, exchanging queens and threatening mate on c1, which at the very least leaves Black a clear pawn ahead in an endgame. 0-1
75
White: Short, N Black: Sokolov, A
Bazna 2008
Result:
1-0
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 8. . . Bd7 9 f4!? This line with 9 f4 is probably d6 6 g4 h6 7 Bg2 where White will be looking towards in the near future. A quick f4 prevents Black from going ...g5 and stakes out space. In fact, White can consider the e5 push himself, along with both f5 and 8 g5. Meanwhile Black’s counterplay will invari7 ably consist of ...a6, ...b5 and ...Rc8 as usual for these Sicilian lines. 6
rmblka0s opZ0Zpo0 0Z0opm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 POPZ0OBO 1 S0AQJ0ZR a
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rZ0lka0s opZbZpo0 6 0Znopm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPOPZ 3 Z0M0Z0ZP 2 POPZ0ZBZ 1 S0AQJ0ZR 8 7
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7 h3 7. . . Nc6 QUESTION: Can White take advantage of the bishop on g2 and capture on c6, with a quick e5 to follow? 8 h3 Opting for the aforementioned transposition...
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9 Be3 9. . . a6
rZblka0s opZ0Zpo0 6 0Znopm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0M0Z0ZP 2 POPZ0OBZ 1 S0AQJ0ZR 8
rZ0lka0s ZpZbZpo0 6 pZnopm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPOPZ 3 Z0M0Z0ZP 2 POPZ0ZBZ 1 S0AQJ0ZR
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8 NXc6 bXc6 9 e5 Nd5! 10 eXd6 BXd6
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9. . . Qb6!? 10 Nb3 a5!? 11 Qe2 a4 12 Be3 Qd8 13 Nd2 a3 14 bXa3 RXa3 15 Nb3 Be7 16 O-O O-O 17 Nb5 Ra4 18 Nc3 Ra3 19 Nb5 Ra4 20 Nc3 Ra3 21 Nb5
rZ0ZkZ0s Zplbapo0 6 pZnopm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0ZPOPZ 3 ZNM0A0ZP 2 POPZQZBZ 1 S0Z0J0ZR 8 7
9. . . NXd4 10 QXd4 Bc6 11 Be3 Be7 12 O-O-O O-O 13 Rhg1 Nd7 14 Qd2 Rc8 15 h4 Nb6 16 Qe2 Na4 17 NXa4 BXa4 18 b3 Bd7 19 g5 10 Be3 Be7 11 Qe2 ANSWER: 11. . . Qc7!
rZ0ZkZ0s 7 Zplbapo0 6 pZnopm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPOPZ 3 Z0M0A0ZP 2 POPZQZBZ 1 S0Z0J0ZR
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12 O-O-O Rc8 13 NXc6 BXc6 14 Bd4 b5 15 e5 dXe5 16 BXe5 Qb7 17 Rhg1 b4 18 BXf6 BXf6 19 Ne4 BXe4 20 BXe4 Qc7 21 Qf3 g6 22 Kb1 O-O 23 h4 Rfd8 24 h5 g5! 25 f Xg5 BXg5 26 Bd3 Qc6 27 QXc6 RXc6 12. . . b5 13 a3
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rZ0ZkZ0s Z0lbapo0 6 pZnopm0o 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0ZPOPZ 3 ONM0A0ZP 2 0OPZQZBZ 1 S0Z0J0ZR 8 7
11. . . b5 12 e5! NXd4 13 BXd4 dXe5 14 f Xe5 Nh7 15 O-O-O Rc8 16 Ne4
12 Nb3 QUESTION: Why has White voluntarily retreated the knight like this? Normally Black has to work hard to make White do that! ANSWER: As we saw in the 6 Be2 lines, a set-up with ...Bd7 is geared towards playing ...Nxd4 and then ...Bc6 afterwards. White has more space here due to the f4 push and when you have more a b c d e f space you should want to keep pieces on, because the opponent has less room to manoeuvre within. 13 O-O-O Rb8 14 Qf2 a5!? That’s the basic idea here! 13. . . Rc8
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0ZrZkZ0s 7 Z0lbapo0 6 pZnopm0o 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0ZPOPZ 3 ONM0A0ZP 2 0OPZQZBZ 1 S0Z0J0ZR
0ZrZ0skZ Z0lbapon 6 pZnopZ0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 No0ZPOPZ 3 ONZ0A0ZP 2 0OPZ0LBZ 1 Z0ZRZRJ0
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13. . . O-O 14 g5 hXg5 15 f Xg5 Nh7 16 h4 Ne5
17 aXb4 NXb4 18 Bb6 Qb8 19 Ba7 Qc7 20 e5 14 O-O Nh7 To prevent any g5 push from White, d5 21 Bd4 but I can’t help feeling the knight just ends up 17. . . bXa3 18 bXa3 Nb8 19 Nb6 Rce8 20 c4 Setting up a Maroczy Bind (the pawns on c4 and e4 being misplaced here. help prevent Black’s ...d5 break). 20. . . Bc6 21 Na5 Nf6 22 NXc6 NXc6 ANSWER: 23 e5! Timed to perfection. The newly weakened d7-square will serve as the launch pad for White’s pieces.
0ZrZkZ0s Z0lbapon 6 pZnopZ0o 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0ZPOPZ 3 ONM0A0ZP 2 0OPZQZBZ 1 S0Z0ZRJ0 8 7
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23. . . dXe5 24 g5 hXg5 25 f Xg5 Nd4 Deciding to sacrifice the piece this way.
0Z0ZrskZ 7 Z0l0apo0 6 pM0Zpm0Z 5 Z0Z0o0O0 4 0ZPm0Z0Z 3 O0Z0A0ZP 2 0Z0Z0LBZ 1 Z0ZRZRJ0 8
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14. . . O-O!? 15 g5 hXg5 16 f Xg5 Nh7 17 h4 Ne5! 15 Rad1 O-O 15. . . g5 15. . . g5 16 e5! gXf4 17 eXd6 BXd6 18 Nd5! Qb8 19 NXf4 16 Qf2 b4 Trying to obtain some counterplay.
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17 Na4 25. . . Nh7 26 Rd7 26 gXf6 BXf6 27 c5 Rd8
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0Z0s0skZ 7 Z0l0Zpo0 6 pM0Zpa0Z 5 Z0O0o0Z0 4 0Z0m0Z0Z 3 O0Z0A0ZP 2 0Z0Z0LBZ 1 Z0ZRZRJ0
0ZrZ0skZ Z0O0Zpo0 6 pZRaqZ0Z 5 Z0ZNopZ0 4 0Z0Z0Z0Z 3 O0Z0A0ZP 2 QZ0Z0ZBZ 1 Z0Z0Z0J0
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27. . . QXc5 28 Nd7
34. . . Qd7 35 Qd2!
28 Rc1 Be7 29 Qa2 Nf5
35 Qc4 Rfe8 36 QXa6 Ra8 37 Qb6 Picking up the bishop on d6. A masterclass by Nigel Short. I believe that this little-played 9 f4 move could become popular quite soon for those looking at new ways to take on the Scheveningen. In reply Black might consider 9...Qb6!? trying to unsettle the white centre, with interesting play to follow.
0Z0s0skZ 7 Z0l0apo0 6 pM0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0O0onZ0 4 0Z0Z0Z0Z 3 O0Z0A0ZP 2 QZ0Z0ZBZ 1 Z0S0ZRJ0 8
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29. . . BXc5 30 Na4! 30 RXf5! Typical Short! 30. . . eXf5 31 Nd5 Qd7 32 c6 Qe6 33 c7 Rc8 34 Rc6! Bd6
79
White: Qi Jingxuan Black: Andersson, U
Buenos Aires 1978
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 g4 h6 7 g5 This was the original way to play the Keres Attack. White goes 6 g4 to play a quick g5, and nothing is going to stop him! Why Black should play 6...h6 to slow down this g5 kingside advance, in my humble view anyway, is demonstrated by Andersson in this game. Without the g-pawn, White finds it a lot harder to crash through Black’s position. Remember: Black’s structure is also slightly the better one after this move, so any positional, manoeuvringtype game may favour him.
Kd5 Nf3 39 c4 g3 40 c5 dXc5 10 Ndb5 a6 11 Be3 Qa5 12 Nd4 10. . . a6 A typical Sicilian move, preventing anything coming to b5 and allowing the possibility of pushing ...b5 at some point. 11 O-O-O Bd7 12 h4 Be7
rZ0ZkZ0s ZpZbapo0 6 plnopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0A0 4 0Z0ZPZ0O 3 ZNM0Z0Z0 2 POPL0O0Z 1 Z0JRZBZR 8 7
7. . . hXg5 8 BXg5 Nc6 9 Qd2 ANSWER: 9. . . Qb6 Best. This typical manoeuvre sees the queen attacking that knight on d4 before retreating. 10 Nb3 Returning to 10 Nb3:
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rZbZka0s opZ0Zpo0 6 0lnopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0A0 4 0Z0ZPZ0Z 3 ZNM0Z0Z0 2 POPL0O0O 1 S0Z0JBZR
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12. . . Qc7 13 Be2 b5 14 Rhe1 Be7 15 f4 b4 16 Nd5 eXd5 17 eXd5 Na5 18 QXb4 NXb3+ 19 aXb3 a5 20 Qd4 Qa7 21 Qc3 Rc8 22 Bc4 Kf8 13 Be2 Qc7 14 f4 O-O-O 15 Kb1 Kb8 16 Bf3 Bc8 17 Qe2 ANSWER: By using a nice motif: 17. . . Ng8! By threatening ...f6, Black forces White to exchange the dark-squared bishops. When you have less space, it’s good to exchange pieces like this. 18 BXe7 White exchanges as the threat of ...f6 trapping the g5-bishop was on the cards.
10 O-O-O QXd4 11 QXd4 NXd4 12 RXd4 a6 18. . . NgXe7 19 h5 g6 13 f4 Bd7 14 Bg2 Bc6 15 Rd2 Nd7 16 f5 Ne5 17 f Xe6 f Xe6 18 Ne2 Be7 19 BXe7 KXe7 20 Nd4 Raf8 21 NXc6+ bXc6 22 Bf1 g5! 23 Rg2 g4 24 BXa6 Ra8 25 Be2 RXa2 26 Rf1 Nf3 27 b3 Ra1+ 28 Kb2 RXf1 29 BXf1 NXh2 30 Be2 Rh4 31 Kc3 Kf6 32 b4 Ke5 33 Kd3 Rh3+ 34 Kc4 Kf4 35 b5 cXb5+ 36 KXb5 Rh6 37 Kc6 e5 38
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0jbs0Z0s 7 Zpl0mpZ0 6 pZnopZpZ 5 Z0Z0Z0ZP 4 0Z0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0ZBZ0 2 POPZQZ0Z 1 ZKZRZ0ZR
0jbs0Z0Z Zpl0Z0Z0 6 0ZnZ0M0Z 5 Z0ZponZ0 4 pZ0Z0OBZ 3 O0Z0Z0Z0 2 0OPL0Z0Z 1 ZKMRZ0Z0
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19. . . f5!? 20 Rhg1 f Xe4 21 NXe4 Nd5 22 Qd2 29 Nc5 e4 30 NXa4 d4 Rhf8 29. . . eXf4 30 BXf5 20 a3 gXh5 21 RXh5 RXh5 22 BXh5 f5 Finally, this freeing move arrives. Objectively the position is about equal, but White now overpresses, 8 presumably because he thought he was better 7 here, which he isn’t!
0jbs0Z0Z Zpl0Z0Z0 6 0ZnZ0M0Z 5 Z0ZpZBZ0 4 pZ0Z0o0Z 3 O0Z0Z0Z0 2 0OPL0Z0Z 1 ZKMRZ0Z0
23 Qd2 f Xe4 24 NXe4 e5 25 Ng5?!
0jbs0Z0Z Zpl0m0Z0 6 pZno0Z0Z 5 Z0Z0o0MB 4 0Z0Z0O0Z 3 ONZ0Z0Z0 2 0OPL0Z0Z 1 ZKZRZ0Z0 8 7
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30 NXd5 RXd5! 31 QXd5 Ne3 30. . . BXf5 31 Rf1
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0j0s0Z0Z Zpl0Z0Z0 6 0ZnZ0M0Z 5 Z0ZpZbZ0 4 pZ0Z0o0Z 3 O0Z0Z0Z0 2 0OPL0Z0Z 1 ZKM0ZRZ0 8 7
25 f Xe5 dXe5 26 Qf2 25. . . Nf5 26 Bg4 a5! QUESTION: Why did Black play this? ANSWER: To push ...a4, which attacks the knight on b3 and once that moves away, the d4-square will be in Black’s hands. 27 Ne4 a4 28 Nc1 d5 29 Nf6
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31 NXd5 RXd5! 32 QXd5 BXc2+! 33 Ka1 BXd1 34 QXd1 Ne5 31. . . Nd4! Now we see why it was important to drive away that knight on b3. Suddenly White experiences unpleasant pressure against c2. 32 Nd3
0j0s0Z0Z Zpl0Z0Z0 6 0Z0Z0M0Z 5 Z0ZpZbZ0 4 pZ0m0o0Z 3 O0ZNZ0Z0 2 0OPL0Z0Z 1 ZKZ0ZRZ0 8 7
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32 QXd4? QXc2+ 33 Ka2 Qb1# 32. . . f3 33 Qc3 Qb6 34 Nb4?
0j0s0Z0Z ZpZ0Z0Z0 6 0l0Z0M0Z 5 Z0ZpZbZ0 4 pM0m0Z0Z 3 O0L0ZpZ0 2 0OPZ0Z0Z 1 ZKZ0ZRZ0 8 7
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34 Nh5 Rc8 35 Qb4 QXb4 36 NXb4 NXc2 34. . . QXf6 0-1
82
White: Meijers, V Black: Van Wely, L
Dieren 1999
Result: 0-1 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 Be3 a6 7 Qf3 QUESTION: What is White’s likely set-up after this move? ANSWER: To castle queenside and play g4-g5. The queen can also go to h3 when there are some tactical threats on the e6-square and also possibly down the h-file, as we’ll see further in the note to Black’s 12th move, below.
rZbZka0s Zpl0Zpop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Z0m0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0A0ZQ 2 POPZ0OPO 1 Z0JRZBZR 8 7
7. . . Nbd7 I quite like this move, which prevents an immediate 8 g4. 8 O-O-O 8 Be2 h5!? 9 Bg5 Qa5 10 Bd2 Qb6 11 Nb3 Qc7 12 a4 b6 13 Bg5 Bb7 14 Rd1 Be7 15 Qe3 Nc5 16 Nd2 Rd8 17 O-O Ng4
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8 g4? Ne5 9 Qe2 NeXg4
9. . . b5 10 a3 Nc5 11 f3 8. . . Qc7 9 Qh3 The queen eyes up some squares 9. . . b5 10 NXe6 f Xe6 11 QXe6+ Kd8! 12 Bd4 in the black camp, as mentioned above. Be7 10 f3 b5 11 a3 Preventing the ...b4 push, but as we shall see, White should not play this move lightly if he has already castled queenside.
rZbZka0s ZplnZpop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0A0ZQ 2 POPZ0OPO 1 Z0JRZBZR 8
11. . . Rb8
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0sbZka0s Z0l0Zpop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Zpm0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 O0M0APZQ 2 0OPZ0ZPO 1 Z0JRZBZR 8 7
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9 Bd3 b5 10 a3 Bb7 11 Kb1 Rc8 12 Qg3 d5 13 QXc7 RXc7 14 eXd5 NXd5 15 NXd5 BXd5 16 a4 e5 17 Nf3 Bc6 18 Rhe1 f6 9. . . Nc5
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11. . . e5 12 Nf5 g6 13 Qh4! Ncd7 14 BXb5!! aXb5 15 NXb5 12 g4 ANSWER: 12. . . Nfd7! Wisely stepping out of the way of
83
the g5 threat.
0sbZka0s Z0lnZpZp 6 pZ0opZpZ 5 Zpm0Z0O0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 O0M0APZQ 2 0OPZ0Z0O 1 Z0JRZBZR 8 7
0sbZka0s Z0lnZpop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 Zpm0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 O0M0APZQ 2 0OPZ0Z0O 1 Z0JRZBZR 8 7
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13. . . Nb6 14 g6
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14 Qg3 Moving to allow the h-pawn to roll, but this feels a little slow.
12. . . b4 13 aXb4 RXb4 14 g5 Nfd7 15 g6! Nb6 14. . . b4 Another move we have seen several times 16 QXh7! RXh7 17 gXh7 e5 18 h8Q eXd4 19 before; Black just gets on with his play on the RXd4 RXd4 20 BXd4 Ne6 21 Be3 Bb7 22 Qh4 queenside. 13 g5 ANSWER: Play the move yourself! 15 aXb4 RXb4 16 h4 Bg7 17 h5 ANSWER: 17. . . O-O! This appears risky, but Van Wely, a very strong grandmaster, understands that he has sufficient defensive resources. A true Sicilian race now ensues!
0sbZka0s Z0lnZpop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 Zpm0Z0O0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 O0M0APZQ 2 0OPZ0Z0O 1 Z0JRZBZR 8
17. . . gXh5!? 18 RXh5 Qb6 19 b3 RXb3! 20 cXb3 BXd4 21 BXd4 NXb3+ 22 Kc2 NXd4+ 23 RXd4 QXd4
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17. . . Qb6 18 h6 BXd4 19 BXd4 RXd4 20 RXd4 Nb3+ 21 cXb3 QXd4 18 hXg6 hXg6 19 Qh4 White gets the first mate threat in on h7. It’s no time to panic though! 19. . . Re8 20 f4
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13 f4 b4! 14 aXb4 RXb4 15 g5 Nb6 16 f5 Nba4 17 NXa4 RXa4 18 Kb1 eXf5 19 b3 f Xe4 20 Qh4 Rb4 21 Bc4 Qb7 22 g6 RXc4 23 QXh7 RXh7 24 gXh7 Rc3 25 Rhe1 NXb3! 13. . . g6! Now all the threats connected with g6 are stopped dead in their tracks and Black can look to attack with ...b4 ideas in the near future.
84
0ZbZrZkZ 7 Z0lnZpa0 6 pZ0opZpZ 5 Z0m0Z0O0 4 0s0MPO0L 3 Z0M0A0Z0 2 0OPZ0Z0Z 1 Z0JRZBZR
0ZbZrZkZ Z0Z0Zpa0 6 pZ0o0ZpZ 5 Z0A0ZPO0 4 0Z0Z0Z0L 3 ZnMKZ0Z0 2 0OPZ0Z0Z 1 l0ZRZBZR
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26 Kc4 Na5+ 27 Kd5 Bb7+ 28 KXd6 Bf8+ 29 Kc7 Rc8+ 30 Kb6 Nd7+ 31 Ka7 Ra8#
20 Qh7+ Kf8
20. . . Qa5 21 f5 Again it appears that is White doing all the running, which is true he will be 26. . . BXf5+ 27 Kc4 Be6+ 28 Rd5 soon running with his king! 21. . . eXf5 22 eXf5 Qa1+ 23 Kd2 ANSWER:
0Z0ZrZkZ Z0Z0Zpa0 6 pZ0obZpZ 5 Z0ARZ0O0 4 0ZKZ0Z0L 3 ZnM0Z0Z0 2 0OPZ0Z0Z 1 l0Z0ZBZR 8
23. . . RXd4+! 24 BXd4 Nb3+! 25 Kd3
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0ZbZrZkZ 7 Z0ZnZpa0 6 pZ0o0ZpZ 5 Z0Z0ZPO0 4 0Z0A0Z0L 3 ZnMKZ0Z0 2 0OPZ0Z0Z 1 l0ZRZBZR 8
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28 Nd5 Na5+ 29 Kd3 QXd1+ 30 Ke3 BXd5+ 28. . . NXc5 29 Qh7+ Kf8 30 Qh2 Rc8 31 QXd6+
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25 cXb3 QXb2+ 26 Kd3 Nc5+
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25. . . Ndc5+ White’s king is chased up the board to its death.
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26 BXc5
0ZrZ0j0Z Z0Z0Zpa0 6 pZ0LbZpZ 5 Z0mRZ0O0 4 0ZKZ0Z0Z 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 0OPZ0Z0Z 1 l0Z0ZBZR a
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31 QXd6+ Kg8 32 Bg2 QXb2 0-1
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White: Van Kampen, R Black: Popilsky, G
Fermo 2009
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 Nf6 4 Nc3 cXd4 5 NXd4 a6 6 Be3 e6 7 g4 With this, the Perenyi Attack, White is trying to play in the style of the Keres Attack. Having gone ...a6, Black can’t quite continue in the manner of the last chapter (with 6 g4 h6), but there are other ideas...
rmbZka0s ZpZ0Zpo0 6 pl0opZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Op 4 0Z0MPZnZ 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 POPZ0O0O 1 S0AQJBZR 8 7
7. . . h5! QUESTION: Why has Black done this? Doesn’t it look quite weakening? ANSWER: The idea is to meet 8 g5 with 8...Ng4, highlighting the drawback of White having played Be3. 8 g5 ANSWER:
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9. . . Nc6?! 10 NXc6 bXc6 11 f4! Qb6? 12 Qd2! d5 13 h3
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10 h3 Ne5 11 Be2
rmblka0s ZpZ0Zpo0 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Op 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0A0Z0 2 POPZ0O0O 1 S0ZQJBZR a
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rmbZka0s ZpZ0Zpo0 6 pl0opZ0Z 5 Z0Z0m0Op 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0Z0ZP 2 POPZBO0Z 1 S0AQJ0ZR 8 7
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8 gXh5 b5! 8 g5
a b 8. . . Ng4! The most active move is also the best response. Just like in the Keres Attack, our knight comes to g4 to harass the bishop on e3. 11 Nb3 Nbd7
9 Bc1 Qb6
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11 f4 11 f4? QXd4! 12 f Xe5 QXd1+ 13 NXd1 dXe5 11. . . g6 Not just defending the pawn on h5, but preventing White from going g6 himself. We saw above after 11 Nb3 how dangerous that break can be. 12 f4 Nec6 The black knights might look like they
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are stepping on each other’s toes, but in fact they 18 NXc5 dXc5 19 e5 O-O-O 20 Ne4 Again we are quite well placed on c6 and d7. see the c5-pawn being attacked and Black now 13 Nb3 Nd7 14 Bf3 Be7 15 Qe2 Qc7 QUES- had to give up a pawn to get his pieces out. TION: Why did Black retreat the queen to c7? 20. . . Nd4!? 21 BXd4 cXd4 22 RXd4 Bb5 23 It’s not being attacked is it? ANSWER: No, it’s Qe3 RXd4 24 QXd4 Rd8 25 Qa7 Bc6 26 Qe3 not, but the queen has done her duty, kicking the knight back to b3, and retreats to allow the b-pawn to advance. This in turn will allow the 8 c8-bishop to develop.
0Zks0Z0Z Zpl0apZ0 6 pZbZpZpZ 5 Z0Z0O0Op 4 0Z0ZNO0Z 3 Z0Z0LBZP 2 POPZ0Z0Z 1 Z0J0Z0ZR 7
16 Be3 Nc5
rZbZkZ0s Zpl0apZ0 6 pZnopZpZ 5 Z0m0Z0Op 4 0Z0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0ABZP 2 POPZQZ0Z 1 S0Z0J0ZR 8 7
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26 Qa8+ Qb8 27 QXb8+ KXb8 28 Rd1 Bd5 26. . . BXe4 27 QXe4 Bc5 28 c3 Qb6 29 Kc2 Be3 Trying hard to create some counterplay. Now that the e4-knight is gone, things are harder for White, but he shouldn’t be worse.
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16. . . b5!? 17 O-O-O Nb6 18 Kb1 Nc4 19 Bc1 30 Rh2 Bb7 17 O-O-O EXERCISE: Decide if Black should play ...b5 and ...Bb7, or go ...Bd7 as that idea is too slow.
0Zks0Z0Z ZpZ0ZpZ0 6 pl0ZpZpZ 5 Z0Z0O0Op 4 0Z0ZQO0Z 3 Z0O0aBZP 2 POKZ0Z0S 1 Z0Z0Z0Z0 8 7
17. . . Bd7
rZ0ZkZ0s ZplbapZ0 6 pZnopZpZ 5 Z0m0Z0Op 4 0Z0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0ABZP 2 POPZQZ0Z 1 Z0JRZ0ZR 8 7
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17. . . b5?! 18 NXc5 dXc5 19 e5 Bb7 20 Ne4
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30 Rd1 RXd1 31 KXd1 30. . . Rd7 31 Re2 Bf2 32 b4 Bg3 33 Kb3 Qg1 34 Kb2 Qf1 The queen penetrates White’s position and suddenly Van Kampen is struggling to hold things together. 35 Qe3 Kb8 36 a4 h4 37 a5 QXh3 The pawn is
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regained and now the position becomes crazy!
0j0Z0Z0Z ZPZ0ZpZ0 6 0Z0ZpZpZ 5 ZpZ0O0O0 4 0Z0Z0O0o 3 J0O0LBa0 2 0S0Z0Z0Z 1 ZrZ0ZqZ0
38 b5 aXb5 39 a6 Qf1
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0j0Z0Z0Z ZpZrZpZ0 6 PZ0ZpZpZ 5 ZpZ0O0O0 4 0Z0Z0O0o 3 Z0O0LBa0 2 0J0ZRZ0Z 1 Z0Z0ZqZ0 8 7
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42 Qd2! b4+ 43 Ka4
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42. . . RXb2
39. . . bXa6? 40 Qb6+ Kc8 41 Bc6
0j0Z0Z0Z ZPZ0ZpZ0 6 0Z0ZpZpZ 5 ZpZ0O0O0 4 0Z0Z0O0o 3 J0O0LBa0 2 0s0Z0Z0Z 1 Z0Z0ZqZ0
40 aXb7 Rd1 Both kings have very few defenders around them, but who will get there first?
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41 Ka3 Rb1
0j0Z0Z0Z ZPZ0ZpZ0 6 0Z0ZpZpZ 5 ZpZ0O0O0 4 0Z0Z0O0o 3 J0O0LBa0 2 0Z0ZRZ0Z 1 ZrZ0ZqZ0 8 7
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41. . . BXf4! 42 QXf4 Ra1+ 43 Kb4 Ra4+ 42 Rb2? Collapsing.
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42. . . Ra1+ 43 Kb3 Qc4+ 44 Kc2 BXf4 43 KXb2 Qf2+ 44 QXf2 BXf2 Endgames with bishops of opposite colours are normally drawn, but the fact that the white kingside pawns are ripe for the taking swings the game in Black’s favour. 45 Kb3 Bc5! Very accurate play, preventing the king coming to b4.
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0j0Z0Z0Z ZPZ0ZpZ0 6 0Z0ZpZpZ 5 Zpa0O0O0 4 0Z0Z0O0o 3 ZKO0ZBZ0 2 0Z0Z0Z0Z 1 Z0Z0Z0Z0 8 7
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45. . . Be3 46 Kb4 BXf4 47 KXb5 BXe5 48 Kc6 BXc3 49 Kd7 Bd2 50 Ke8 BXg5 51 KXf7 46 Bg2 Kc7 47 c4 Be3 48 cXb5 BXf4 49 b6+ Kb8 50 Kc4 BXe5 51 Kc5 Bf4 52 Kc6 BXg5 53 Kd6
0j0Z0Z0Z ZPZ0ZpZ0 6 0O0JpZpZ 5 Z0Z0Z0a0 4 0Z0Z0Z0o 3 Z0Z0Z0Z0 2 0Z0Z0ZBZ 1 Z0Z0Z0Z0 8 7
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53 Kd7 e5 54 Ke8 f5 55 Kf7 e4 56 KXg6 e3 57 Bf3 h3 58 KXg5 h2 59 KXf5 e2 53. . . Bd8 54 Kd7 g5! 55 KXd8 g4 56 Ke7 h3 57 Bf1 f5 58 KXe6 h2 59 Bg2 f4 Although 16...Nc5 worked out well in this game, I still prefer the 16...b5 and ...Bb7 approach, maybe with ...Nb6 and ...Nc4 to attack. Black also has the option then to castle on either wing. 0-1
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White: Zhang, M Black: Riordan, C
Parsipanny 2009
Result: 0-1 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 8. . . bXa4 9 RXa4 Bb7 10 Nb3 Be7 11 Na5 Qc7 Nc3 a6 6 f3 12 Rb4 QXa5 13 RXb7 Nfd7 14 Bd3 Bf6 15 OO O-O 16 Qa1 Qd8 17 Na4 9 Na2 ANSWER:
rmblka0s ZpZ0opop 6 pZ0o0m0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0ZPZ0 2 POPZ0ZPO 1 S0AQJBZR 8 7
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rmblka0s Z0Z0Zpop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 Po0MPZ0Z 3 Z0Z0APZ0 2 NOPZ0ZPO 1 S0ZQJBZR 8 7
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6 Be3 6. . . e6 7 Be3 Here we see White’s most popular set-up, with Be3 and f3.
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9 Nce2 e5! 10 Nb3 Be6 11 Ng3 h6 12 Qd2 Nc6 13 Rd1 g6 14 c4 h5
7. . . b5 8 a4 ANSWER:
8. . . b4 This is the most obvious move and the best one. The pawn attacks the knight, forcing 9 Na2 it to move to a worse square, which gains time 9. . . e5! for Black to develop.
rmblka0s Z0Z0Zpop 6 pZ0o0m0Z 5 Z0Z0o0Z0 4 Po0MPZ0Z 3 Z0Z0APZ0 2 NOPZ0ZPO 1 S0ZQJBZR 8
rmblka0s Z0Z0Zpop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 Po0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0APZ0 2 0OPZ0ZPO 1 S0ZQJBZR
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9. . . d5 10 e5! Nfd7 11 f4 Qc7 12 c3 bXc3 13 Rc1 Qb7 14 RXc3 Nc5 15 Qc2 Nbd7 16 b4 Ne4 17
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Rc7 Qb8 18 Bd3 Be7 19 BXe4 dXe4 20 NXe6! f Xe6 21 Ba7! BXb4+ 22 Ke2 9. . . a5 10 Bb5+ Nbd7 11 O-O Bb7 12 c3! bXc3 13 NXc3
rm0Zka0s Z0Z0Zpop 6 pZ0Zbm0Z 5 Z0Zqo0A0 4 Po0Z0Z0Z 3 ZNZ0ZPZ0 2 NOPZQZPO 1 S0Z0JBZR 8
10 Nb3 d5 This is the point. By playing ...e5, Black prevents White going e5 himself, as we saw in the previous note.
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11 Bg5
rmblka0s 7 Z0Z0Zpop 6 pZ0Z0m0Z 5 Z0Zpo0A0 4 Po0ZPZ0Z 3 ZNZ0ZPZ0 2 NOPZ0ZPO 1 S0ZQJBZR 8
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13 QXd5 NXd5 14 O-O-O Nd7 15 Bd3 h6 16 Bh4 Ne3 13 Bd3 Nbd7 14 O-O 13. . . Nbd7
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rZ0Zka0s Z0ZnZpop 6 pZ0Zbm0Z 5 Z0Zqo0A0 4 Po0Z0Z0Z 3 ZNZ0ZPZ0 2 NOPZQZPO 1 S0Z0JBZR 8
11 eXd5 NXd5 12 Bf2 ZZ–
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11. . . Be6 12 eXd5
rm0lka0s Z0Z0Zpop 6 pZ0Zbm0Z 5 Z0ZPo0A0 4 Po0Z0Z0Z 3 ZNZ0ZPZ0 2 NOPZ0ZPO 1 S0ZQJBZR 8 7
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13. . . Be7 14 BXf6 14 Nd2 Be7 15 Ne4 Qd4 16 Nc1
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12 BXf6 gXf6 13 eXd5 QXd5 14 QXd5 BXd5 15 Bd3 Nd7 16 O-O-O Rg8 17 Bf5 Be6 18 BXe6 f Xe6 19 g3 Nb6 20 a5 Nd5 12. . . QXd5 13 Qe2 Not the most pleasing on the eye, but White was probably a little unhappy with his position already. EXERCISE: How to protect the knight on f6: with 13...Nbd7 or 13...Be7?
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32 Rc1 Ra4 33 Rc2 Rd4 34 Rc3 Bf5 35 g4 BXd3 36 RXd3 Ke6 37 Ke3 RXd3+ 38 KXd3 g6 39 Ke4 f5+ 40 gXf5+ gXf5+ 41 Ke3 Kd5 42 Kd3 f4 43 Ke2 Kc4 0-1
rZ0ZkZ0s Z0Znapop 6 pZ0Zbm0Z 5 Z0Z0o0A0 4 Po0lNZ0Z 3 Z0Z0ZPZ0 2 0OPZQZPO 1 S0M0JBZR 8 7
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16 c3 bXc3 17 NeXc3 O-O 16. . . NXe4 I’m not sure why Black didn’t just take on b2 here, which just seems very strong. 17 BXe7 Nc3
rZ0ZkZ0s Z0ZnApop 6 pZ0ZbZ0Z 5 Z0Z0o0Z0 4 Po0l0Z0Z 3 Z0m0ZPZ0 2 0OPZQZPO 1 S0M0JBZR 8 7
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17. . . QXb2 18 QXe4 KXe7 19 Nb3 Qc3+ 20 Kf2 BXb3 21 cXb3 QXa1 22 QXb4+ Ke8 18 Qd3 KXe7 19 bXc3 QXc3+ 20 QXc3 bXc3 Black is just a pawn ahead and with a bit of technique manages to convert it. 21 Ne2 Rhc8 22 Ra3 Rab8 23 NXc3 Rb2 24 Kd2 Nc5 Black’s activity is far too much for White’s uncoordinated forces to handle. 25 Kc1 Rb4 26 a5 Nb3+ 27 cXb3 RXc3+ 28 Kd2 RcXb3 29 RXb3 RXb3 30 BXa6 Ra3 31 Bd3 RXa5 The rest of the moves I will give without comment, as they are not directly relevant to the opening. Black plays for the win and eventually gets there!
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White: Almasi, Z Black: Cheparinov, I
European Team Championship, Crete 2007
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 f3 e6 7 Be3 b5 8 g4
rmblka0s Z0Z0Zpo0 6 pZ0opm0o 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0M0APZ0 2 POPL0Z0O 1 S0Z0JBZR 8 7
rmblka0s Z0Z0Zpop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0M0APZ0 2 POPZ0Z0O 1 S0ZQJBZR 8 7
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9 h4 b4 10 Nce2 e5 11 Nb3 Be6 12 Ng3 d5 13 Rg1 Nc6 14 g5 hXg5 15 hXg5 d4 16 gXf6 dXe3 17 QXd8+ KXd8 18 O-O-O+ Ke8 19 f Xg7 BXg7 20 Nc5 Nd4 21 NXa6 Bh6 22 Kb1 e2 23 BXe2 NXe2 24 Nc7+ Ke7 25 Nf5+
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8 Qd2 8 g4 Nbd7 9 g5!
9. . . b4 Not the only move, nor the most popular, but I like this disruptive approach. By immediately questioning the knight on c3, Black will develop according to how White reacts.
8 g4 h6 8. . . h6
rmblka0s Z0Z0Zpo0 6 pZ0opm0o 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0M0APZ0 2 POPZ0Z0O 1 S0ZQJBZR 8 7
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rmblka0s 7 Z0Z0Zpo0 6 pZ0opm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0o0MPZPZ 3 Z0M0APZ0 2 POPL0Z0O 1 S0Z0JBZR 8
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8. . . Nfd7 9 Qd2 Nb6 10 O-O-O Bb7 11 Nb3! Nc6 12 Qf2 Nd7 13 h4 Rc8 14 g5 9 Qd2
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9. . . Nbd7 10 O-O-O Bb7 11 h4 b4 12 Na4 Qa5 13 b3 Nc5 14 a3 NXa4 15 aXb4 Qc7 16 bXa4
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10 Na4 ’Knights on the rim are dim’ is the saying, 11. . . Ne5! Another one of those ’what’s this?’ but the knight notices a good square on b6 and it moves. White has five pieces developed to Black’s will be protected after Nb3 if it runs into trouble. two, and yet the knight moves yet again! Well, the idea is to play ...Bd7, exposing the knight on a4. Also the reader should be used by now to the fact that the king will remain on e8 for a while, meaning time can be spent doing other things. 8 The knight on e5 also eyes the f3-pawn and those pawns on d6 and e6 form the usual protective 7 barrier, meaning there are no immediate threats. 6
rmblka0s Z0Z0Zpo0 pZ0opm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 No0MPZPZ 3 Z0Z0APZ0 2 POPL0Z0O 1 S0Z0JBZR a
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12 b3
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10 Nce2 e5 11 Nf5 d5! 12 eXd5 QXd5 13 QXd5 NXd5 14 Bf2 Bb7 15 Bg2 g6 16 Ne3 NXe3 17 BXe3 Nd7 18 Rg1 Bc5 19 BXc5 NXc5 20 f4 e4 21 O-O-O h5 22 g5 Rd8 23 RXd8+ KXd8 24 h4 Kc7
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10. . . Nbd7
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12 QXb4 Bd7 13 ZZ– 12. . . Bd7 13 Nb2
rZblka0s 7 Z0ZnZpo0 6 pZ0opm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 No0MPZPZ 3 Z0Z0APZ0 2 POPL0Z0O 1 S0Z0JBZR 8
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rZ0lka0s 7 Z0ZbZpo0 6 pZ0opm0o 5 Z0Z0m0Z0 4 0o0MPZPZ 3 ZPZ0APZ0 2 PMPL0Z0O 1 Z0JRZBZR 8
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10. . . Bb7 10. . . Bb7? 11 QXb4! Qc7 12 Nb6 Ra7 13 OO-O 11 O-O-O 11 QXb4
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13 QXb4 d5 14 Qc3 BXa4 15 bXa4 Rc8 16 Qb2 Qd6!?
11 QXb4 d5! 12 Qd2 dXe4 13 O-O-O Bb7
13. . . d5 Care should be taken before playing such 11 Nc6 Qc7 12 NXb4 d5 13 eXd5 BXb4 14 a move, because the king is still on e8. However, QXb4 NXd5 15 Qd2 NXe3 16 QXe3 QXc2 as there is no knight on c3, this central pawn
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break is okay. The f8-bishop also happens to defend b4.
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14 Bf4 ANSWER:
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17 BXc7 NXd2 18 RXd2 eXf3 19 NXf3 Bc5 17. . . Qa5 Gaining time by attacking a2.
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14 eXd5 NXd5 14. . . Qc7 Surprisingly it’s best to defend the knight with the queen. It seems at first strange to selfpin like this, but there is no good way for White to take advantage.
rZ0Zka0s Z0lbZpo0 6 pZ0Zpm0o 5 Z0Zpm0Z0 4 0o0MPAPZ 3 ZPZ0ZPZ0 2 PMPL0Z0O 1 Z0JRZBZR 8 7
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rZ0Zka0s Z0ZbZpo0 6 pZ0Zpm0o 5 l0Z0Z0Z0 4 0oBMpZPZ 3 ZPZ0ZPA0 2 PZPL0Z0O 1 Z0JRZ0ZR 8 7
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17. . . Qb7 18 Kb1 Be7 Finally deciding to develop! 19 h4 Rd8 20 Qe3
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14. . . Bd6 15 eXd5 NXd5 16 Nf5! 14. . . Ng6 15 e5! 15 Bg3 dXe4 16 Nc4 ANSWER: 16. . . NXc4! Black hasn’t blundered as he can now capture on c4 and counterattack against White’s queen on d2. 17 BXc4
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and seal off the open g-file, which is the only source of counterplay here for White.
0Z0skZ0s Z0Zbapo0 6 pZ0Zpm0o 5 l0Z0Z0Z0 4 0oBMpZPO 3 ZPZ0LPA0 2 PZPZ0Z0Z 1 ZKZRZ0ZR 8
27 Bf2 Rd6 28 Be3 Ng4 29 Rg1 Rfd8 30 Bg5 Qc5 31 Rg2 R8d7 32 Be2 a5 33 Bc1 Rd4 34 Bd3 Qc6 35 Bb2 R4d6 36 Qg3 After a lot of protracted manoeuvring, Black now decides to go for it.
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36. . . a4! 37 BXe5 RXd3 38 cXd3 Qb5 This double attack on d3 and e5 regains the pawn while keeping an attack. 39 Bb2 RXd3 40 Qe1 aXb3 41 aXb3 Rf3 Threatening ...Rf1.
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20 g5 Nh5 21 Bh2 e5! 22 Ne2 eXf3 20. . . e5 21 Nf5 BXf5 22 gXf5 QUESTION: Choose between castling or grabbing another pawn on f3 before trying to castle on the next turn. ANSWER: It’s best not to be greedy!
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22. . . O-O I’m sure Cheparinov was extremely happy with how the opening has turned out. The king has been evacuated to safety and all of his pieces are well placed. 22. . . eXf3 23 Qa7! 23 f Xe4 Bc5 24 Qf3 Bd4 Now the bishop enters the game and it induces White to panic as the threat of ...Qa3 followed by mate is quite strong. 25 RXd4?!
0Z0Z0ZkZ Z0Z0Zpo0 6 0Z0Z0Z0Z 5 ZqZ0ZPZp 4 0o0ZPZnO 3 ZPZ0ZrZ0 2 0A0Z0ZRZ 1 ZKZ0L0Z0 8
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41. . . RXb3 42 Rg1
0Z0s0skZ Z0Z0Zpo0 6 pZ0Z0m0o 5 l0Z0oPZ0 4 0oBSPZ0O 3 ZPZ0ZQA0 2 PZPZ0Z0Z 1 ZKZ0Z0ZR 8
0Z0Z0ZkZ 7 Z0Z0Zpo0 6 0Z0Z0Z0Z 5 ZqZ0ZPZp 4 0o0ZPZnO 3 ZPZ0ZrZ0 2 0A0Z0Z0Z 1 ZKZ0L0S0
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25 Be1 Qa3 26 c3 bXc3 27 BXc3 BXc3 28 QXc3 25. . . RXd4 26 Bd3 h5! Borrowing from the Keres 42 Ka2 Qa6+! 43 Kb1 Rf1 Attack yet again. The f6-knight will come to g4 42. . . RXb3 43 Qd2 Qc4 44 Rc1 QXe4+ 45 Ka2
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Rd3 46 Rc8+ Kh7 47 Qg5 Desperately trying for a counterattack, but Black gets there first. 47. . . Qd5+ 48 Kb1 Rd1+ 49 Rc1
0Z0Z0Z0Z Z0Z0Zpok 6 0Z0Z0Z0Z 5 Z0ZqZPLp 4 0o0Z0ZnO 3 Z0Z0Z0Z0 2 0A0Z0Z0Z 1 ZKSrZ0Z0 8 7
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49 Bc1 Qb3+ 50 Ka1 Qa3+ 51 Kb1 Qd3+ 52 Ka1 Qa6+ 49. . . Qd3+ 50 Ka2 Qa6+ 51 Kb1 RXc1+ 52 BXc1 b3 Here we saw the advantages of an early ...b4: White’s set-up is disrupted and Black can get in an early ...d5 as the knight isn’t on c3 anymore. Of course it all needs to be timed correctly, but if Black does, a promising middlegame position can be reached. 0-1
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White: Vuilleumier, A Black: D’Costa, L
Lagos 2006
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be3 e6 7 f3 b5 8 Qd2 Nbd7 9 O-O-O This is the most natural set-up for White in the English Attack. He gets castled on the queenside before setting about attacking on the kingside. Indeed, the g- and h-pawns are normally thrown forward to try and open up the kingside, where the black king tends to hide out.
rZ0lka0s ZbZnZpop 6 pm0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0O0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0APZ0 2 POPL0Z0O 1 Z0JRZBZR 8 7
9. . . Bb7 10 g4 QUESTION: White is threatening g5 to attack the f6-knight. Where is the best retreat square for it? ANSWER: The knight wants to go to d7, which means that the other knight on d7 needs to move out of the way.
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10. . . Nb6! 11 g5 11. . . Nh5 11. . . Ng8
rZ0lka0s 7 ZbZ0Zpop 6 pm0opm0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0O0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0APZ0 2 POPL0Z0O 1 Z0JRZBZR
12 Bd3 The idea of this is to allow the c3-knight to drop back to e2 behind the bishop. This keeps White controlling any black knight invasion on c4 for now anyway!
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12. . . Rc8
0Zrlka0s ZbZnZpop 6 pm0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0O0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0MBAPZ0 2 POPL0Z0O 1 Z0JRZ0ZR 8 7
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11 Nb3 11 Nb3 Rc8! 12 Na5 Ba8 13 Kb1 Be7 14 Rg1 O-O 15 a3 d5 16 g5 Nfd7 17 eXd5 NXd5 18 NXd5 BXd5 19 Be2 Qc7 20 Bf4 Ne5 21 Nb3 Bd6 22 Bg3 Rfd8
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11. . . Nfd7 From here the knight can come to good squares such as c5 and e5.
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12. . . b4 13 Nce2 13 Kb1 Getting off the semi-open c-file. 13. . . Ne5 QUESTION: Why does Black move this knight again rather than develop? ANSWER:
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To quickly come to the c4-square. Otherwise White can play f4 and prevent the ...Ne5-c4 manoeuvre.
0ZrlkZ0s ZbZ0apop 6 pm0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0m0O0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0MBAPZ0 2 POPZ0Z0O 1 ZKZRL0ZR 8 7
0Zrlka0s ZbZ0Zpop 6 pm0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0m0O0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0MBAPZ0 2 POPL0Z0O 1 ZKZRZ0ZR 8 7
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14. . . Nbc4 15 f4! b4 16 Na4 NXd3 17 cXd3 Qa5 18 Bc1 Na3+ 19 bXa3 QXa4 20 QXb4 QXb4+ 21 aXb4 d5 22 a3 dXe4 23 Rhe1 eXd3 24 f5
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13. . . Be7 14 f4 O-O 15 f5 Ne5 16 f Xe6 b4 17 14. . . b4 15 Nce2 d5 16 h4 Bd6 17 Nf4 O-O 18 Nce2 Nbc4 18 BXc4 NXc4 19 Qd3 BXg5 20 g6! Na4 19 gXf7+ RXf7 20 Nf Xe6 Qe8 21 Rg1 BXg5 QXg5 g6 22 h5! 14 Qe1 We have reached one of the critical positions of the English Attack. The queen on e1 covers against any sacrifices on c3 and White hopes to launch on the kingside with h4, h5, g6, etc.
14. . . Nec4 15 Bc1 g6!? 16 h4 Bg7 17 Nce2 Na4! 18 BXc4 bXc4 19 Qb4 Nc5 20 QXc4 O-O 21 Qb4 Qc7 22 Ka1 d5 23 eXd5 BXd5 24 h5 Rfd8 15 h4 b4
0Zrlka0s 7 ZbZ0Zpop 6 pm0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0m0O0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0MBAPZ0 2 POPZ0Z0O 1 ZKZRL0ZR
0ZrlkZ0s ZbZ0apop 6 pm0opZ0Z 5 Z0Z0m0O0 4 0o0MPZ0O 3 Z0MBAPZ0 2 POPZ0Z0Z 1 ZKZRL0ZR
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14 Qf2 RXc3!? 15 bXc3 Na4 16 Ne2 Qc7 17 h4 15. . . d5 Be7 18 h5 O-O 16 Nce2 d5 14 b3 d5! 15 eXd5? Bb4! 16 Nde2 NXd5 17 Bd4 NXf3 14. . . Be7 Returning to 14...Be7:
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0ZrlkZ0s 7 ZbZ0apop 6 pm0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0Zpm0O0 4 0o0MPZ0O 3 Z0ZBAPZ0 2 POPZNZ0Z 1 ZKZRL0ZR
0ZrlkZ0s ZbZ0apop 6 pZ0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0ZnZ0O0 4 0o0M0M0O 3 Z0ZRAPZ0 2 POPZ0Z0Z 1 ZKZ0L0ZR
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16. . . a5 17 Bb5+ Nbd7 18 h5
19 Bc1 Qc7
16. . . d5
19. . . Qa5
17 eXd5 ANSWER: Although all three moves are playable, I don’t think the game move is the most testing for Black.
0ZrlkZ0s ZbZ0apop 6 pm0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0ZPm0O0 4 0o0M0Z0O 3 Z0ZBAPZ0 2 POPZNZ0Z 1 ZKZRL0ZR c
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0ZrZkZ0s 7 ZbZ0apop 6 pZ0ZpZ0Z 5 l0ZnZ0O0 4 0o0M0M0O 3 Z0ZRAPZ0 2 POPZ0Z0Z 1 ZKZ0L0ZR
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19. . . Qc7! 20 NXd5 BXd5 21 Qf2 O-O 22 h5 a5 23 g6 f Xg6 24 hXg6 hXg6 25 Qg2 RXf3! 26 QXg6 Bf6 27 Qh7+ Kf8
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20 Bc1 17 h5 Nbc4 18 Bc1 Qb6 19 BXc4 NXc4! 20 eXd5 BXd5 21 g6 Bf6! 22 gXf7+ KXf7 17 Ng3 O-O 18 h5 Qc7 17. . . NXd3 Now White won’t want to capture on d3 with the c-pawn as this would ruin his pawn structure. 18 RXd3 NXd5 19 Nf4
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24. . . gXh5? 25 Qg3! g6 26 Nb3 Qb5 27 RXh5 Bf6 28 RXd8+ RXd8 29 BXf6
0ZrZkZ0s ZbZ0apop 6 pZ0ZpZ0Z 5 l0ZnZ0O0 4 0o0M0M0O 3 Z0ZRZPZ0 2 POPZ0Z0Z 1 ZKA0L0ZR 8
24. . . Rd5 25 Nb3 Qb5 26 RXd5 QXd5 27 hXg6 f Xg6
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25 h6 Bf6 The defence I had seen after playing 22...Rfd8. Black defends actively, which is important in such positions. 26 NXe6 This may look crushing, but as a Scheveningen player you will learn to keep your head when others may lose theirs around you.
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0Zrs0ZkZ ZbZ0Zpo0 6 pZ0ZNa0O 5 l0Z0A0o0 4 0o0Z0Z0Z 3 Z0ZRZPZ0 2 POPZ0Z0Z 1 ZKZ0L0ZR
20 NdXe6!? f Xe6 21 NXe6 Kf7 22 Bd4 Qa4 23 Rh2 Rhe8 24 h5 Bf6 25 g6+ Kg8 26 h6 Qd7 27 gXh7+ Kh8 28 hXg7+ QXg7!
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20. . . NXf4 21 BXf4 O-O Here I felt Black could be content with the position: the two bishops in an open position and a solid enough king. Of course White can attack (which my opponent was only too happy to do!) and now the game starts to become interesting... 22 Be5 Rfd8 Here Black threatens ...Rd5 and White’s central pieces in the centre look quite uncoordinated. So Vuilleumier goes for the immediate attack: 23 g6!? hXg6 24 h5 ANSWER:
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26 BXf6 gXf6 27 h7+ Kh8
26. . . Re8! Cool defence! It is easy to panic when 24. . . g5 Keeping lines as closed as possible must you see such a move as Nxe6, but as mentioned be best. Why open up files for the opponent to previously, Black hasn’t done much wrong so it’s use towards your king? hard to believe such sacrifices can work so easily.
0Zrs0ZkZ 7 ZbZ0apo0 6 pZ0ZpZ0Z 5 l0Z0A0oP 4 0o0M0Z0Z 3 Z0ZRZPZ0 2 POPZ0Z0Z 1 ZKZ0L0ZR
0ZrZrZkZ ZbZ0Zpo0 6 pZ0ZNa0O 5 l0Z0A0o0 4 0o0Z0Z0Z 3 Z0ZRZPZ0 2 POPZ0Z0Z 1 ZKZ0L0ZR
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26. . . f Xe6? 27 BXf6 gXf6 28 QXe6+
0ZrZ0ZkZ ZbZ0ZpO0 6 pZ0Z0A0Z 5 Z0Z0Zqo0 4 0o0Z0Z0Z 3 Z0ZRZPZ0 2 POPZ0Z0Z 1 ZKZ0S0Z0
26. . . RXd3 27 hXg7 BXg7 28 BXg7 f Xe6 29 QXe6+ KXg7 30 Qe7+ Kg6 31 QXb7
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0ZrZrZkZ ZbZ0ZpO0 6 pZ0ZNa0Z 5 l0Z0A0o0 4 0o0Z0Z0Z 3 Z0ZRZPZ0 2 POPZ0Z0Z 1 ZKZ0L0ZR 8 7
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29. . . b3! 30 Rc3 QXa2+ 31 Kc1 Qa1+ 32 Kd2 Qa4 33 RXc8+ BXc8 34 Rh1 Qf4+ 35 Ke2 QXf6 29. . . Qb6 30 Bd4 Qh6 31 Rde3 f6 32 Re8+ RXe8 33 RXe8+ KXg7
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30 Bd4 BXf3 Covering h1. White is lost.
27 BXf6 gXf6 28 Re3 Bd5!
27 Re3 RXe6 28 BXf6 RXe3 29 h7+ Kh8 30 31 b3 f6 32 Re7 Be4 33 Re3 BXc2+ 34 Kb2 Bb1 As it turned out, it is White who is getting BXg7+ KXg7 31 QXe3 Qd5 mated. 27. . . RXe6 28 BXf6 0-1
0ZrZ0ZkZ ZbZ0ZpO0 6 pZ0ZrA0Z 5 l0Z0Z0o0 4 0o0Z0Z0Z 3 Z0ZRZPZ0 2 POPZ0Z0Z 1 ZKZ0L0ZR 8 7
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28 Rh8+ KXg7 29 BXf6+ RXf6 30 RXc8 BXc8 28. . . RXe1+ 29 RXe1 If it was White’s turn, then Rh1 would be crushing, but one tempo makes a massive difference in a position like this. 29. . . Qf5 Not the only good move.
103
White: Zakurdjaeva, I Black: Zuriel, M
Oropesa del Mar 2000
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be3 e6 7 f3 b5 8 Qd2 Nbd7 9 g4
rZ0lka0s ZbZnZpop 6 pm0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPO 3 Z0M0APZ0 2 POPZ0L0Z 1 Z0JRZBZR 8 7
rZblka0s Z0ZnZpop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0M0APZ0 2 POPL0Z0O 1 S0Z0JBZR 8 7
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12 Kb1?!
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12 Bd3
9 a4 b4 10 Na2 d5! 11 NXb4 dXe4 12 Be2 12. . . Rc8 13 g5 ANSWER: Bb7 13 O-O Qc7 14 a5 eXf3 15 BXf3 Ne5 16 13. . . RXc3! Of course! BXb7 QXb7 17 Nd3 NXd3 18 QXd3 Be7 19 Qb3 QXb3 20 NXb3 Rc8 21 Rfc1 Nd5 22 Bd2 Rc4 23 Be1 Bg5 24 Nd2 Rd4 25 c4 Nb4 26 Rd1 Be3+ 27 Kf1 Nc2 28 Ra4 Ke7 29 Ke2 Rhd8 30 8 Rc1 NXe1
0Z0lka0s ZbZnZpop 6 pm0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0O0 4 0Z0MPZ0O 3 Z0s0APZ0 2 POPZ0L0Z 1 Z0JRZBZR 7
9. . . Nb6 10 O-O-O Bb7 11 Qf2 QUESTION: What is the idea behind this move and how should Black respond? ANSWER: As we discussed back in Movsesian-Kasparov, 12 Nxe6 is threatened and also any ...Nc4 forks are avoided. Best now is to continue with the same knight manoeuvre we have seen before: 11. . . Nfd7! Defending its friend on b6 and seeking pastures new, just as you will have seen in the other games in this chapter.
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12 h4 13. . . b4 14 Nce2 Nc4 14 bXc3 Qc7 15 h5 ANSWER: 15. . . Na4 As Nimzowitsch said, ’the threat is greater than the execution’. After this move White will always need to worry about the c3-pawn,
104
hence why we probably shouldn’t capture it immediately.
0Z0Zka0s Zbl0Zpop 6 pZ0ZpZ0Z 5 ZpZ0m0OP 4 nZ0ZpZ0Z 3 Z0O0APZB 2 PZPZNL0Z 1 Z0ZRJ0ZR 8 7
0Z0Zka0s ZblnZpop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0OP 4 nZ0MPZ0Z 3 Z0O0APZ0 2 PZPZ0L0Z 1 Z0JRZBZR 8 7
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19 f4 Nf3+ 20 Kc1 Ba3+ 21 Kb1 NXc3+ 22 NXc3 QXc3 23 Bd4 Qb4+ 24 Ka1 e3! 25 QXe3 NXd4 26 QXd4 QXd4+ 27 RXd4 BXh1
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15. . . d5 16 Kb1 Na4 17 Ne2 dXe4 18 f Xe4 Ndc5
19. . . eXf3 20 Ng3 Nb2
15. . . QXc3 16 ZZ– 16 Ne2 d5 As mentioned above, this move frees the dark-squared bishop and snipes at White’s centre.
0Z0Zka0s Zbl0Zpop 6 pZ0ZpZ0Z 5 ZpZ0m0OP 4 0Z0Z0Z0Z 3 Z0O0ApMB 2 PmPZ0L0Z 1 Z0ZRJ0ZR 8 7
17 Bh3 Ne5 This knight, having searched for pastures new, finally finds them. It will now join in the attack and with good effect. 18 Kd2? Clearly White panicked here and decided to head for the hills. Of course, those hills aren’t necessarily any safer!
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0Z0Zka0s 7 Zbl0Zpop 6 pZ0ZpZ0Z 5 ZpZpm0OP 4 nZ0ZPZ0Z 3 Z0O0APZB 2 PZPJNL0Z 1 Z0ZRZ0ZR 8
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20. . . NXc3 21 Rd4 Nc4 21 Rd4 QXc3+ 22 Kf1 Nbc4 23 Bc1 Bc5
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18 g6 Ba3+ 19 Kb1 18. . . dXe4 19 Ke1
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0Z0ZkZ0s ZbZ0Zpop 6 pZ0ZpZ0Z 5 Zpa0m0OP 4 0ZnS0Z0Z 3 Z0l0ZpMB 2 PZPZ0L0Z 1 Z0A0ZKZR 8 7
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23. . . Bc5 24 Rd8+ KXd8 25 QXc5 Nd2+ 0-1
106
White: Korneev, O Black: Sasikiran, K
Corsica (rapid) 2005
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be3 e6 7 f3 b5 8 Qd2 Nbd7 9 O-O-O Bb7 10 g4 Nb6 11 Qf2 Nfd7 12 Bd3 Returning to 12 Bd3:
RXd3 O-O 21 Qh4 f6 22 Rh3 h6 23 g5 f Xg5 24 f Xg5 Be7 25 BXg7!! BXg5 26 BXh6!! BXh4 27 Rg1+ Kh8 28 RXh4 Qe7 29 Bg7+ Kg8 30 BXf8+ KXf8 31 Rh8+ Kf7 32 Rh7+ 13 Nce2 13. . . Nc5
rZ0lka0s ZbZnZpop 6 pm0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0MBAPZ0 2 POPZ0L0O 1 Z0JRZ0ZR 8
0Zrlka0s ZbZ0Zpop 6 pm0opZ0Z 5 Zpm0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0ZBAPZ0 2 POPZNL0O 1 Z0JRZ0ZR 8
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12 Kb1 Rc8 13 Bd3 13. . . Ne5? 14 NXe6! f Xe6 15 BXb6
12. . . Rc8 13 Nce2 ANSWER:
14 Kb1 Be7 This offers the chance to castle whenever Black wants; something I think he should definitely be interested in doing!
0Zrlka0s ZbZnZpop 6 pm0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0ZBAPZ0 2 POPZNL0O 1 Z0JRZ0ZR 8 7
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0ZrlkZ0s ZbZ0apop 6 pm0opZ0Z 5 Zpm0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0ZBAPZ0 2 POPZNL0O 1 ZKZRZ0ZR 8 7
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13 Kb1 RXc3! 14 bXc3 Qc7 15 Ne2 d5 16 e5 Na4 17 Bd4 NXe5 18 Qg3 Bd6 19 f4 NXd3 20
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14. . . Nba4!? 15 b3 NXd3 16 cXd3 Nc5 17 Ng3 20 g6 Bf6 A more active square than f8, though Be7 18 Qb2 b4 19 Nh5 Rg8 20 Ne2 g6 21 Nhf4 going there would have been okay too. The point a5 22 d4 Nd7 23 d5 e5 24 Nd3 Ba6 is to defend g7, as the g-file is about to be opened. 15 h4 Qc7 16 g5 Nba4 17 Bc1 b4 18 h5 O-O Both sides have been getting on with their respective attacks and the typical Sicilian race is very much on.
21 gXh7+ QUESTION: Should the king capture on h7 or hide behind the pawn on h8? ANSWER: Each position requires you to work out which option is best, although here only the game move 19 Qh2 QUESTION: What is a useful defensive works. set-up that Black can employ here? ANSWER: ...Rfe8 and ...Bf8 is one good way to shore up the kingside. The bishop will defend g7 and the rook covers any sacrifices on e6. 8
0ZrZ0skZ Zbl0apop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 Z0m0Z0OP 4 no0MPZ0Z 3 Z0ZBZPZ0 2 POPZNZ0L 1 ZKARZ0ZR
0ZrZrZkZ 7 Zbl0ZpoP 6 pZ0opa0Z 5 Z0m0Z0ZP 4 no0MPZ0Z 3 Z0ZBZPZ0 2 POPZNZ0L 1 ZKARZ0ZR
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21 h6 f Xg6 22 hXg7 QXg7 21. . . Kh8 Definitely the safest move.
19 g6!? h6 20 gXf7+ RXf7 21 Rhg1 19. . . Rfe8!
0ZrZrZ0j Zbl0ZpoP 6 pZ0opa0Z 5 Z0m0Z0ZP 4 no0MPZ0Z 3 Z0ZBZPZ0 2 POPZNZ0L 1 ZKARZ0ZR 8 7
0ZrZrZkZ Zbl0apop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 Z0m0Z0OP 4 no0MPZ0Z 3 Z0ZBZPZ0 2 POPZNZ0L 1 ZKARZ0ZR 8 7
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21. . . KXh7? 22 e5+ NXd3 23 eXf6 NXc1 Rdg1! gXf6 25 Qg2 Rg8 26 Qg6+!! RXg6 hXg6+ Kg7 28 gXf7+ Kf8 29 Rh8+ Ke7 19. . . NXd3 20 cXd3 e5 21 Nf5 BXg5 22 Ka1 f8Q+ RXf8 31 Rg7+ Rf7 32 RXf7+ KXf7 Bf6 23 Rhg1 Kh8 Rh7+ Ke8 34 RXc7 NXe2 35 RXb7 NXd4 a
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108
24 27 30 33 36
RXb4
0ZrZrZ0Z Zbl0Zpok 6 pZ0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0ZpZ0ZP 4 no0M0M0Z 3 Z0ZPZPZ0 2 PO0Z0Z0L 1 ZKZ0S0S0
22 Rhg1 d5 Sasikiran is happy to exchange queens, as this reduces White’s attacking potential.
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23 e5
0ZrZrZ0j 7 Zbl0ZpoP 6 pZ0Zpa0Z 5 Z0mpO0ZP 4 no0M0Z0Z 3 Z0ZBZPZ0 2 POPZNZ0L 1 ZKARZ0S0 8
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23. . . NXd3 24 cXd3
0ZrZrZ0j 7 Zbl0ZpoP 6 pZ0Zpa0Z 5 Z0ZpO0ZP 4 no0M0Z0Z 3 Z0ZPZPZ0 2 PO0ZNZ0L 1 ZKARZ0S0 8
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0ZrZrZ0Z ZbZ0Zpok 6 pl0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0ZpZ0ZP 4 no0M0Z0Z 3 Z0ZPZPZ0 2 PO0ZNZ0L 1 ZKZ0S0S0 7
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27. . . Qb6 28 Nfe2
23 Qg2 NXd3 24 cXd3 Qb6 25 Nb3 KXh7
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27 NdXe6! f Xe6 28 h6 gXh6 29 QXh6+!! KXh6 30 Rg6+ Kh7 31 Rh1#
23 QXc7 RXc7 24 eXd5 BXd5
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28 Qg2 QXd4 28 NdXe6 f Xe6 29 h6 28. . . e5 29 Nf5 Qf6
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24 eXf6 QXh2 25 f Xg7+ KXh7 24. . . BXe5 25 Bf4 BXf4 26 NXf4 KXh7 The position is very unclear and anything could happen. Indeed, it’s not surprising that already a deep combination exists. 27 Rde1 Played to stop ...Qe5, so that now Qg3 is a threat.
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33 RXg7
0ZrZrZ0Z 7 ZbZ0Zpok 6 pZ0Z0l0Z 5 Z0ZpoNZP 4 no0Z0Z0Z 3 Z0ZPZPZ0 2 PO0ZNZ0L 1 ZKZ0S0S0
33. . . Re4 34 RXg7 Rce8 35 Rg2 Bc8 36 Neg3??
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0ZbZrZ0j 7 Z0Z0ZpZ0 6 pZ0Z0l0Z 5 Z0ZpZNZP 4 no0OrZ0Z 3 Z0Z0ZQM0 2 PO0Z0ZRZ 1 ZKZ0ZRZ0 8
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29. . . b3 30 RXg7+ Kh8 31 a3 Qf6 32 Qh3 e4 33 Ned4 eXd3
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30 Qh3 36 Nfg3
0ZrZrZ0Z ZbZ0Zpok 6 pZ0Z0l0Z 5 Z0ZpoNZP 4 no0Z0Z0Z 3 Z0ZPZPZQ 2 PO0ZNZ0Z 1 ZKZ0S0S0 8 7
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36. . . Re1+ 37 RXe1 RXe1+ 38 Kc2 ANSWER: 38. . . Qc6+ You have proven yourself as a confident attacking player if you found this followed by the finish: 39 Kb3
0ZbZ0Z0j Z0Z0ZpZ0 6 pZqZ0Z0Z 5 Z0ZpZNZP 4 no0O0Z0Z 3 ZKZ0ZQM0 2 PO0Z0ZRZ 1 Z0Z0s0Z0 8 7
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30 RXg7+ Kh8 31 Qh3 30. . . e4 31 d4 eXf3 32 QXf3 Kh8 33 Ref1
0ZrZrZ0j ZbZ0Zpo0 6 pZ0Z0l0Z 5 Z0ZpZNZP 4 no0O0Z0Z 3 Z0Z0ZQZ0 2 PO0ZNZ0Z 1 ZKZ0ZRS0 8
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39 Kd2 Qc1+ 40 Kd3 NXb2+ 41 RXb2 Qc3# 39. . . Qc4+ 40 KXa4 Bd7+ 41 Ka5 Qb5# An entertaining game to say the least! This game sums up the English Attack: both sides didn’t give an inch and anything could have happened. 0-1
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110
White: Haslinger, S Black: D’Costa, L
Haarlem 2011
Result: 1/2-1/2 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be3 e6 7 f3 b5 8 Qd2 Nbd7 9 g4 Nb6 10 a4!? ANSWER:
rZblka0s Z0Z0Zpop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 O0Z0Z0Z0 4 0ZpMPZPZ 3 Z0M0APZ0 2 0OPL0Z0O 1 S0Z0J0ZR 8 7
10. . . Nc4! Although all three moves are playable, I believe the game move to be the strongest...
rZblka0s Z0Z0Zpop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 PZnMPZPZ 3 Z0M0APZ0 2 0OPL0Z0O 1 S0Z0JBZR 8 7
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12 O-O Bb7 13 g5 Nd7 14 f4 Nc5 15 Qg2 g6 16 Rad1 Qc7 17 Qg4 h6! 18 f5 gXf5 19 eXf5 e5 20 Ne6 f Xe6 21 Qh5+ Kd8 22 f6 Qc6 23 Rd2 Kc7 24 g6 Rg8 25 g7 BXg7 26 Qf7+ Qd7 27 QXd7+ NXd7 28 f Xg7 RXg7+ 29 Kf2 d5
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12 g5 Nd7 13 h4 Bb7 14 h5 Qa5 15 Qg2 Qb4 16 O-O-O Rb8 17 g6 Ba8 18 gXf7+ KXf7 19 10. . . b4 11 Na2 NXa4 12 NXb4 Nc5 13 Nbc6 Kd2!? Qc7 14 Qa5! QXa5+ 15 RXa5 Bb7 16 b4 Ncd7 12. . . Bb7 13 Na4 Nd7! On the current evi17 g5 Ng8 18 b5 aXb5 19 RXa8+ BXa8 20 BXb5 dence I prefer 13...Nd7 to 13...d5 as it allows e5? 21 Nb8 eXd4 22 BXd4 Black decent counterchances. Of course, theory 10. . . bXa4 11 NXa4 NXa4 12 RXa4 Nd7 13 Be2 can change and the reader can investigate himBb7 14 O-O h5 15 g5 Nc5 16 Ra2 g6 17 b4 Nd7 self whether these lines with 13...d5 might not be 18 Nb3 Ne5 19 Na5 Bc8 20 b5 aXb5 21 Nc6! appealing to him. That is the beauty of chess: nothing is set in stone and variations can fall in 11 BXc4 bXc4 12 a5 The modern way to play this and out of fashion like the wind. position. QUESTION: What is White’s plan in this position? ANSWER: To play Na4 and Nb6 when the b-file will be sealed. This allows White to castle queenside without needing to worry about any attacking ideas after ...Rb8.
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rZ0lka0s 7 ZbZnZpop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 O0Z0Z0Z0 4 NZpMPZPZ 3 Z0Z0APZ0 2 0OPL0Z0O 1 S0Z0J0ZR
rZ0lkZ0s ZbZnapop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 O0Z0Z0Z0 4 NZpZPZPZ 3 Z0Z0APZ0 2 0OPLNZ0O 1 Z0JRZ0ZR
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13. . . d5 14 e5 Nd7 15 f4!? Qh4+ 16 Bf2 QXg4 15 Qb4 Rb8 17 Rg1 Qh5 18 b4 15 h4 h5!? 16 g5 g6 17 Ne2 O-O 18 Nb6 NXb6 14 O-O-O Be7 Best, although again it’s worth 19 BXb6 Qc8 checking the alternatives: 15. . . O-O 16 Nb6 NXb6 17 BXb6 Qe8! I didn’t want to have my queen on the d-file in the line of White’s major pieces. Also, after a future ...f5 the queen can possibly swing out to the kingside.
rZ0lkZ0s ZbZnapop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 O0Z0Z0Z0 4 NZpMPZPZ 3 Z0Z0APZ0 2 0OPL0Z0O 1 Z0JRZ0ZR 8 7
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rZ0ZqskZ ZbZ0apop 6 pA0opZ0Z 5 O0Z0Z0Z0 4 0ZpZPZPZ 3 Z0Z0ZPZ0 2 0OPLNZ0O 1 Z0JRZ0ZR 8 7
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14. . . Qc7 15 Ne2 Be7 16 Nb6 NXb6 17 BXb6 a b c d e f g h Qc6 18 Nc3 O-O 19 Rhe1 Rfe8 20 f4 Qc8 21 g5 d5!? 22 eXd5 BXd5 23 NXd5 eXd5 24 QXd5 c3 25 b3 Bb4 26 Kb1 Qg4 27 Rg1 Qe2 28 f5 17. . . Qd7 18 Nc3 Rac8 19 Qe3 Bd8 20 Rd2 Qe5 29 Qc4 Qb5 30 Rd5 QXc4 31 bXc4 Rab8 BXb6 21 QXb6 Rc6 22 Qb4 Qc7 23 Rhd1 Rd8 32 Ka2 Re2 33 Rc1 h6 34 h4 Re4 35 Rcd1 RXc4 24 Na4 36 R1d4 RXd4 37 RXd4 18 Nc3 Rc8 19 h4 QUESTION: Black now has 14. . . Rc8 15 Qc3 Be7 16 Ne2 O-O 17 Bd4 f6 a chance to play a pawn break, but which is bet18 Nf4 e5 19 Ne6 eXd4 20 Qb4! Qe8 21 NXf8 ter? a) 19...f5; b) 19...d5. ANSWER: Both are BXf8 22 QXb7 options, but I probably didn’t play the best one! 15 Ne2 19. . . d5!? Even though this turned out well in the game, I don’t think this was the correct pawn break.
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0ZrZqskZ Z0Z0apop 6 pA0ZpZ0Z 5 O0ZbZ0Z0 4 0ZpZ0ZPO 3 Z0M0LPZ0 2 0OPZ0Z0Z 1 Z0JRZ0ZR 8 7
0ZrZqskZ ZbZ0apop 6 pA0ZpZ0Z 5 O0ZpZ0Z0 4 0ZpZPZPO 3 Z0M0ZPZ0 2 0OPL0Z0Z 1 Z0JRZ0ZR 8 7
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20 eXd5 BXd5
0ZrZqskZ Z0Z0apop 6 pA0ZpZ0Z 5 O0ZbZ0Z0 4 0ZpZ0ZPO 3 Z0M0ZPZ0 2 0OPL0Z0Z 1 Z0JRZ0ZR 8 7
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21 NXd5! eXd5 22 QXd5 Qa4 23 Kb1 Bf6 24 Bd4 Rb8! 25 BXf6 gXf6 26 Qd4 Rb5
19. . . f5! 20 gXf5 eXf5 21 Rhg1 Qh5 22 Bd4 Rf7
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21. . . Ba8! This is better than putting the bishop on b7, as there it would be susceptible to future tactics involving Rd7 ideas. Now, having played a successful pawn break to open up the position for his bishops, the second player can be happy with the outcome of the opening. 22 h5
bZrZqskZ Z0Z0apop 6 pA0ZpZ0Z 5 O0Z0Z0ZP 4 0ZpZ0ZPZ 3 Z0M0LPZ0 2 0OPZ0Z0Z 1 Z0JRZ0ZR 8 7
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20. . . Bb4 21 d6 Qd7 22 Rhf1 Rc6 23 Qd4 QXd6 24 QXd6 BXd6 25 Ne4 21 Qe3
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22 h5 Qc6 1/2-1/2
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White: Tomba, I Black: Fedorchuk, S
Porto San Giorgio 2007
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 18 Rhf1 Rf8 19 Rf3 Bd7 20 Rdf1 f6 Nc3 e6 6 Bc4 Be7 7 Bb3 Na6 Here we see an 12. . . QXe4 13 QXe4 NXe4 14 Nb5 extra advantage that Scheveningen players have over Najdorf players. QUESTION: I can see the knight wants to come to c5, but why can’t it go 8 via d7?
rZbZkZ0s opZ0apop 6 0Z0opZ0Z 5 ZNZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0ZnZPZ 3 ZBZ0Z0Z0 2 POPA0O0O 1 Z0JRZ0ZR 7
rZblkZ0s opZ0apop 6 nZ0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 ZBM0Z0Z0 2 POPZ0OPO 1 S0AQJ0ZR 8 7
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14 Be3 Bd7 14. . . NXd2 QUESTION: Can’t White just win the exchange here with a check on c7?
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15 KXd2 7. . . Nbd7 8 BXe6!? f Xe6 9 NXe6 Qa5 10 NXg7+ Kf7 11 Nf5 NXe4? 12 Qh5+ Kf6 13 Qh6+ KXf5 14 g4+ 8 Qf3 Nc5 Now the knight reaches c5 without Black having to worry about any sacrifices on e6. The reason why Najdorf players cannot play this idea is because they already have a pawn on a6 and so the ...Na6-c5 manoeuvre (which I’m sure they all secretly want to carry out!) is impossible. 9 g4 Qa5 Threatening 10...Ncxe4 winning a pawn. 10 Bd2 QUESTION: Is there anything Black can do here? With this early g4 advance White’s position looks a little unstable. ANSWER: Black can in fact win a pawn:
rZbZkZ0s opZ0apop 6 0Z0opZ0Z 5 ZNZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0Z0ZPZ 3 ZBZ0Z0Z0 2 POPJ0O0O 1 Z0ZRZ0ZR 8 7
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10. . . NcXe4! 11 NXe4 Qe5 This double attack 15 Nc7+ Kd7 16 NXa8 NXb3+ 17 aXb3 b5 18 wins Black his piece back. Rhe1 Bb7 12 O-O-O 12 Be3!? QXe4 13 QXe4 NXe4 14 15. . . O-O We’re only 15 moves in and Black has Nb5 Kd7 15 f3 a6 16 f Xe4 aXb5 17 O-O-O Kc7 already obtained a technically won position.
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16 Kc1 d5 17 f4 Bd7 18 Nd4 Rfe8 19 h3 EXERCISE: How should Black try and make use of the extra pawn? Which side of the board should he be playing on? 19. . . b5 ANSWER: It’s easiest to try and do something on the queenside, as most of the black pieces are there. 20 c3 a5 Black expands to open lines for his bishops. 21 Bc2 Rab8 22 Nf3 Rec8 23 Ne5 Be8 24 Nd3 Rc4 25 Kb1 b4 This gives Black a passed d-pawn. Notice how Fedorchuk uses the idea of accumulating small advantages in order to improve his position. 26 cXb4 BXb4
0s0ZbZkZ Z0Z0Zpop 6 0Z0ZpZ0Z 5 o0ZpZ0Z0 4 0arZ0OPZ 3 Z0ZNZ0ZP 2 POBZ0Z0Z 1 ZKZRZ0ZR 8 7
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26. . . aXb4 27 Rhf1 Bd6 28 Bb3 Rc7 29 Rc1 Bb5 30 Rfd1 RXc1+ 31 KXc1 BXd3 32 RXd3 BXf4+ A second pawn goes. White is hoping that the oppositecoloured bishops will save him, but with rooks on the board there is no draw! 33 Kb1 Be5 34 Rd2 g6 35 Bd1 Kg7 36 b3 Rc8 37 Rc2 RXc2 38 KXc2 f5 Normally endings with bishops of opposite colours are drawish, but here Black is two pawns to the good and can steamroll those central d- and e-pawns quickly down the board. 39 Kd3 Kf6 40 Ke3 Kg5 41 Kf3 Bd6 There’s no stopping the e-pawn, whereas White’s two queenside pawns are easily held by the pawn on a5. 0-1
115
White: Vazquez Torres, A Black: Suba, M
Collado Villalba 2009
Result: 0-1 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 Nf6 4 Nc3 cXd4 5 NXd4 e6 6 Bc4 Be7 7 O-O This line is called the Fischer-Sozin Attack, as it was the famous Bobby Fischer who came up with the idea of following up Bc4 and 0-0 by attacking the e6-pawn with f4-f5. Let’s see in this game how Black can cope with this plan.
rZbl0skZ ZpZ0apop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Z0m0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPO0Z 3 ZBM0ZQZ0 2 POPZ0ZPO 1 S0A0ZRJ0 8 7
7 a3 O-O 8 Ba2 Nc6 9 O-O Bd7 10 Kh1 NXd4 11 QXd4 b5 12 f4 a5 13 e5 dXe5 14 f Xe5 Ne8 15 Bf4 Bc6 16 Qf2 Qd7 17 Rad1 Qb7 18 Ne2 Nc7 19 Qg3 Rfd8 20 Bg5 BXg2+! 21 QXg2 QXg2+ 22 KXg2 BXg5
a b c d e f g h 7. . . O-O 8 Bb3 QUESTION: Why does White always retreat the bishop to b3? The bishop on c4 prevents Black playing his ...Na6 idea, so why 10. . . e5!? 11 Nf5 BXf5 12 eXf5 e4 13 Qh3 NXb3 not leave it there? 14 aXb3 d5 15 Be3 d4 16 Rfd1 Bc5 17 Ne2 dXe3! 18 RXd8 Rf Xd8 19 b4 Bb6 20 c4 Rd2
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rmbl0skZ opZ0apop 6 0Z0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 ZBM0Z0Z0 2 POPZ0OPO 1 S0AQZRJ0 8
rZbl0skZ 7 ZpZ0apop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Z0m0ZPZ0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 ZBM0ZQZ0 2 POPZ0ZPO 1 S0A0ZRJ0 8
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8 f4 NXe4 9 NXe4 d5 10 Bd3 dXe4 11 BXe4 Nd7 12 Be3 Nf6 13 Bf3 Nd5 14 Bc1 Bf6 15 c3 11 Be3 Qc7 12 f5 b5 Qa5 11. . . e5 12 Nde2 b5 13 g4 Bb7 14 Ng3 EXER8 Be3 NXe4 9 NXe4 d5 10 Bd3 dXe4 11 BXe4 CISE: The threat of g5 looms over Black’s head. Nd7 12 c3 Nf6 13 Bf3 a6 What can we do about it? ANSWER: As we have come across already, a wing attack is usually best 8. . . Na6 9 f4 Nc5 10 Qf3 a6 countered with a reply in the centre. 14. . . NXb3 15 aXb3 b4
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rZ0l0skZ 7 ZbZ0apop 6 pZ0o0m0Z 5 Z0Z0oPZ0 4 0o0ZPZPZ 3 ZPM0ZQM0 2 0OPZ0Z0O 1 S0A0ZRJ0
rZ0l0skZ ZbZ0Zpop 6 pZ0o0a0Z 5 Z0Z0oPZ0 4 0Z0ZPZ0Z 3 ZPo0ZQM0 2 0OPZ0Z0O 1 S0A0ZRJ0
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rZ0l0skZ ZbZ0apop 6 pZ0o0m0Z 5 Z0Z0oPO0 4 0o0ZPZ0Z 3 ZPM0ZQM0 2 0OPZ0Z0O 1 S0A0ZRJ0 d
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18. . . d5! 19 Ba3 Qb6+ 20 Kh1 Rfd8 21 Rg1 Kh8 EXERCISE: Work out why this move was played. ANSWER: It demonstrates the idea of prophylaxis in chess. White may be threatening Nh5 and something on g7 at some point, so the king steps off the g-file despite there being no immediate threats.
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18 bXc3 QUESTION: What should Black do now? ANSWER: Open lines for the bishops, starting with our favourite move...
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17. . . cXb2 18 f Xe7 bXa1Q 19 eXd8Q Rf Xd8 20 f6 g6 21 Nf5
15. . . d5! 16 eXd5 Bc5+ 17 Kh1 Bd4
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rZ0Z0Z0j ZbZrZpop 6 pl0Z0a0Z 5 Z0ZpoPZ0 4 0Z0ZPZ0Z 3 APO0ZQM0 2 0ZPZ0ZRO 1 S0Z0Z0ZK 8 7
16 Nd5 NXd5 17 eXd5 Qc8 18 g5 Bd8! 19 f6 g6 16 Nce2 d5! 16. . . bXc3 17 gXf6 BXf6
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22. . . dXe4!? 23 NXe4 a5 24 Re1 a4 23 Re1 Rad8 24 Bc1 a5 25 Qg4 dXe4 26 Be3 Blockading the e4-pawn so as to try and nullify the power of the bishop on b7 down towards the white king.
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0Z0s0Z0j ZbZrZpop 6 0l0Z0a0Z 5 o0Z0oPZ0 4 0Z0ZpZQZ 3 ZPO0A0M0 2 0ZPZ0ZRO 1 Z0Z0S0ZK 8 7
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26 NXe4 h6 27 Be3 Qc6 28 Bg1 Rd1! 29 RXd1 RXd1 30 QXd1 QXe4 31 Qd2 Bg5 32 Qf2 Bh4 33 Qd2 Be1 26. . . Qc6 27 c4 g6 28 Reg1 a4 29 Nh5 Be7 30 bXa4 QXc4 31 f6 Bf8 It may appear that White resigned prematurely, but in truth he has no attack and Black is going to pick up a4 and just be two pawns ahead. 0-1
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White: Li Shilong Black: Ehlvest, J
Moscow 2007
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Bc4 Be7 7 Bb3 Na6 8 f4 Nc5 9 Qf3 O-O 10 Be3 White plays la Vazquez Torres in our previous game, except that he has preferred to develop the dark-squared bishop rather than commit his king.
15 BXe6 f Xe6 16 QXe4 d5 17 Qd3 Bd7 15. . . d5 Black achieves easy equality. 16 BXd5 eXd5 17 Qd3 Re8 18 Rae1 Bd7 19 Nf3 Qa5 20 Ne5 Bb4 21 Rd1 Bc6
10. . . a5 QUESTION: Why has Black done this? Now the b5-square is permanently weak. ANSWER: The idea is to attack the bishop on b3 with ...a4. The knight on c5 is well placed to help out with this. The loss of the b5-square isn’t so important and Black can always cover it with ...Bd7 and possibly ...Qb6 in some lines. More pressing, though, for White is how to deal with this threat of ...a4?
rZ0ZrZkZ 7 ZpZ0Zpop 6 0ZbZ0Z0Z 5 l0ZpM0Z0 4 0a0Z0O0Z 3 oPZQA0Z0 2 PZPZ0ZPO 1 Z0ZRZRJ0 8
11 O-O 11 O-O-O a4 12 Bc4 a3 13 b3 Nf Xe4 14 NXe4 NXe4 15 QXe4 d5 16 BXd5 eXd5 17 Qd3 Bf6 18 Kb1 Re8 19 Rhe1 Bg4 20 Rc1 Re4
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11 a4 e5! 12 Nf5 BXf5 13 eXf5 e4 14 Qe2 NXb3 15 cXb3 d5 16 Rd1 Rc8 17 O-O Bc5 21. . . Bb5 22 QXd5 BXf1 23 QXf7+ Kh8 24 Rd7 Re7 25 RXe7 BXe7 26 QXe7 Qe1 27 Nf7+ 11. . . a4 12 Bc4 a3 13 b3 ANSWER: Kg8 28 Nh6+ Kh8! 29 Nf7+ Kg8 30 Nh6+ 13. . . NcXe4! Reverting to the fork trick. 14 NXe4 NXe4 15 QXe4 Now Black has space 22 Bd4 f6 23 c3 for his bishops to become more involved.
rZ0ZrZkZ ZpZ0Z0op 6 0ZbZ0o0Z 5 l0ZpM0Z0 4 0a0A0O0Z 3 oPOQZ0Z0 2 PZ0Z0ZPO 1 Z0ZRZRJ0 8 7
rZbl0skZ ZpZ0apop 6 0Z0opZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0ZBMQO0Z 3 oPZ0A0Z0 2 PZPZ0ZPO 1 S0Z0ZRJ0 8 7
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23 NXc6 bXc6 23. . . f Xe5 24 cXb4 ANSWER:
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24. . . Qb5! A neat little tactic. Surprisingly the white pieces aren’t well placed. 25 BXe5 QXd3 26 RXd3 Bb5 27 RXd5 BXf1 28 KXf1 Red8 29 RXd8+ RXd8 White may have two pawns for the exchange, but the b-pawns are doubled and in reality only Black can win here (which he eventually does). 30 Ke2 b5 31 Bc3 Kf7 32 Bd2 Ke6 33 Bc1 h5! A nice move, holding back White’s kingside majority which he would have thought about advancing with g4 at some point. 34 h3 Kf5 35 Ke3 h4 36 BXa3 Ra8 37 Bc1 RXa2 38 Bd2 RXd2! Transposing to a winning king and pawn ending. White’s extra b-pawn is of no use here. 39 KXd2 KXf4 40 Ke2 Ke4 41 Kd2 Kd4 This idea of ...a5-a4 gives Black good chances for equality, if not more, and that’s something the second player should certainly be content with. 0-1
120
White: Giroyan, G Black: Nasuta, G
Porto Carras 2010
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 Bc4 Be7 7 Bg5 White is trying to mix all the variations into one.
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7. . . O-O 8 f4 ANSWER: 8. . . NXe4! 9 NXe4 d5 10 Qe2 Qa5+
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17 QXd5 NXd5 18 c4 Ne3 19 Rfe1 Rd8 20 Ndf3 Nf5 21 Rad1! 17. . . b6 Now Black gets developed and can be satisfied with how the opening has turned out.
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18 b3 Bb7 19 Rad1 Rfd8 20 Kh1
10. . . BXg5!? 11 NXg5 dXc4 12 O-O-O c3
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11 c3 BXg5 12 NXg5 dXc4 13 QXc4 h6 14 Ngf3 Nd7 15 O-O Nf6 16 Ne5 Qd5 QUESTION: Do you think Black would prefer to see White retreat and keep the queens on, or swap off here? ANSWER: With a lead in development we can see why White thought he should keep pieces on, but in fact White could have gained more time with a queen exchange.
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20 Rd3 Rac8 21 Rfd1 Qe4 20. . . Qc5 21 Qe3 Of course White saw Black’s next move, but must have assumed he had a winning attack. 21. . . Nd5 22 Qh3 QUESTION: Should Black capture on c3 with the knight or the queen?
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22. . . NXc3
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24. . . RXd4 25 NXh6+! Kf8 26 QXe6 Qc4 27 Qf5+ Ke8 28 Rfe1+ Re4 29 Qg6+ Kf8 30 Qf5+ 22. . . QXc3 23 Rd3 NXf4! 24 RXc3 NXh3 25 Ke8 31 Qg6+ RXh3 RXd4 25 Rde1 23 b4
rZ0s0Z0Z 7 obZ0Zko0 6 0o0ZpZ0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0l0M0O0Z 3 Z0m0Z0ZQ 2 PZ0Z0ZPO 1 Z0Z0SRZK 8
rZ0s0ZkZ obZ0Zpo0 6 0o0ZpZ0o 5 Z0l0M0Z0 4 0O0M0O0Z 3 Z0m0Z0ZQ 2 PZ0Z0ZPO 1 Z0ZRZRZK 8 7
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23 NXf7 KXf7 24 QXe6+ Kf8
25 QXe6+ Kf8 26 Qe5 Re8 27 Ne6+ RXe6 28 QXe6 NXd1
23. . . QXb4 24 NXf7 ANSWER:
25. . . QXd4
24. . . KXf7!
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rZ0s0Z0Z obZ0Zko0 6 0o0ZpZ0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0l0O0Z 3 Z0m0Z0ZQ 2 PZ0Z0ZPO 1 Z0Z0SRZK 8 7
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25. . . RXd4! 26 QXe6+ Kf8 26 QXe6+ Kf8 27 Re5 Be4! Preventing White’s only trick of Rf5+. 28 f5 Qd6 White resigned as he is two pieces down for not much compensation. Yet again we saw White banging his head against the brick wall that is the Scheveningen. Sacrificing all over like this is generally not likely to work, though there were some mines for Black to avoid before he could emerge with the advantage. 0-1
123
White: Mantovani, R Black: Cebalo, M
Forli 1995
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 13 Kh1 Be8 14 Qe1 b5 15 a3 Qb6 16 Rd1 b4 Nc3 d6 6 g3 Be7 7 Bg2 O-O 8 O-O Nc6 This 17 aXb4 NXb4 18 Rd2 a5 is an important tabiya for the Fianchetto Varia- 9. . . Bd7 10 a4 tion. White has a number of moves here do not be alarmed, though, since so long as you know the typical ideas for Black in these positions you 8 can’t really go wrong! Plans that White can use include: 1) Play f4, g4-g5 and attack on the king7 side. White may argue this is an improved ver6 sion of certain 6 Be2 lines as there White often 5 played Be2-Bf3-Bg2, so here he saves two tempi not playing this manoeuvre. If things were that 4 simple, though, everyone would be playing 6 g3 3 rather than 6 Be2! 2) Play a4, Be3 and wait for Black to lash out. This is the more restraining 2 idea. 3) Play Nxc6 and e5, radically altering the 1 pawn structure and heading for an endgame.
rZ0l0skZ opZbapop 0Znopm0Z Z0Z0Z0Z0 PZ0MPZ0Z Z0M0Z0O0 0OPZ0OBO S0AQS0J0 a
9 Re1 Alternatives:
rZbl0skZ opZ0apop 6 0Znopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0Z0O0 2 POPZ0OBO 1 S0AQS0J0 7
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10 NXc6 BXc6 11 Qe2 Rc8 12 Bf4 Qb6 13 Qe3 QXe3 14 BXe3 a6 15 a4 Bd8 16 Bf4 Bc7 17 Red1 Rfd8 18 a5 h6 19 f3 Kh7 20 Be3 g5 21 Kf2 Kg6 22 Bf1 g4 23 Bd3 Kg7 24 f4 h5 25 Bd4 Rh8 26 Ke3 h4
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10. . . a6 11 NXc6 BXc6 QUESTION: Why did White take on c6 and allow Black to bring the bishop to this nice square? ANSWER: So White could now play: 12 a5 Preventing Black’s b-pawn from moving and trying to reduce Black’s counterplay. However, I very much like the way Cebalo handled his forces from here on.
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12. . . Nd7 13 Be3 Qc7 14 Na4 BXa4 15 RXa4 Rfc8 16 c4 ANSWER:
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16. . . b5!
9 NXc6 9 Nb3 Qc7 10 a4 b6 11 Nb5 Qd7 12 g4 a6 13 N5d4 NXd4 14 NXd4 Bb7 15 Re1 g6 16 h3 e5 17 Nb3 Bc6 18 a5 b5 19 f4 Qb7 9 b3 Bd7 10 Bb2 Rc8 11 Nde2 Qa5 12 h3 Rfd8
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having a dark-squared bishop and White only having a light one, there is no chance of being checkmated on g7 here.
rZrZ0ZkZ Z0lnapop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 OpZ0Z0Z0 4 RZPZPZ0Z 3 Z0Z0A0O0 2 0O0Z0OBO 1 Z0ZQS0J0 8 7
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22 h4 h5 Now it’s Black who is trying to prevent White from doing anything, but maybe this wasn’t necessary.
0srZ0ZkZ Z0Z0apZ0 6 0l0opZpZ 5 o0Z0Z0Zp 4 RZPZPZ0O 3 ZPZRZ0O0 2 0Z0Z0OBZ 1 Z0ZQZ0J0 8 7
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16. . . Bf6 17 Qd2 Nc5 18 Ra3! Nd7 19 b3 h6 20 Rd1 Be7 21 Ra2 Nc5 22 b4 Nd7 23 c5! 16. . . Ne5 17 b3 17 aXb6
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rZrZ0ZkZ Z0lnapop 6 pO0opZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 RZPZPZ0Z 3 Z0Z0A0O0 2 0O0Z0OBO 1 Z0ZQS0J0
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22. . . Rc5! 23 Bf3 Qc5 24 Qa1 Bd8! Displaying excellent positional understanding. The text doesn’t just defend the pawn on a5, but brings the bishop round to the a7-g1 diagonal. Moreover, there’s not a lot White can do here but wait around. 25 Qa3 Rb4 26 RXb4 aXb4 27 Qa2 Bb6 Here comes the bishop, ready to probe. It is clearly a better piece than its counterpart on f3. The only thing is: is this enough for Black to win?
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28 Kg2 Qe5 29 Rd2 Bd4 30 Qa4 Rb8 31 Ra2 Kg7 32 Qa5 QUESTION: Should Black exchange 17. . . NXb6 18 BXb6 Forced, as otherwise the c4- queens? pawn was dropping. 32. . . Bc5 18. . . QXb6 QUESTION: Should the players shake hands on a draw here? ANSWER: Well, let’s take a look at the specifics of the position: 1) If Black’s bishop could get to c5, it will be far better than White’s bishop on g2. 2) The b2- and c4-pawns are just as weak as Black’s a6-pawn, which isn’t easily attacked. Overall, the position is just slightly easier for Black to play and that’s why Cebalo decided to try and squeeze something from it. 17 cXb5 aXb5 18 Ra3 RXa5
19 b3 Rab8 20 Re3 a5 21 Rd3 g6 With Black
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0s0Z0Z0Z 7 Z0Z0Zpj0 6 0Z0opZpZ 5 L0a0l0Zp 4 0oPZPZ0O 3 ZPZ0ZBO0 2 RZ0Z0OKZ 1 Z0Z0Z0Z0
0Z0Z0Z0Z Z0Z0Zpj0 6 0Z0oplpZ 5 Z0a0Z0Zp 4 0oPZPZ0O 3 ZPZQZKO0 2 0ZBS0O0Z 1 Z0Z0Z0s0
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32. . . QXa5 33 RXa5 Bc5 34 Be2
0Z0Z0Z0Z Z0Z0Zpj0 6 0Z0opZpZ 5 Z0a0Z0Zp 4 0oPZPZ0O 3 ZPZQZ0O0 2 0ZBS0OKZ 1 l0s0Z0Z0 8 7
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40. . . Qf6+ 41 Ke2 QXf2#
33 Rd2 Qc3 34 Qa2 Ra8 35 Qb2 Ra3 36 Bd1 Ra1 37 Qc2 Rc1 38 Qd3 Qa1 39 Bc2? ANSWER:
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39 Qe2 39. . . Rg1+ 40 Kf3 Qf6+
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0-1
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White: Andriasian, Z Black: Van Wely, L
Hoogeveen 2007
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 g3 Be7
rZ0l0skZ opZbapop 6 0Znopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0A0O0 2 POPZQOBO 1 S0Z0ZRJ0 8
rmblkZ0s 7 opZ0apop 6 0Z0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0Z0O0 2 POPZ0O0O 1 S0AQJBZR 8
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10 Nb3 Ne5 11 Qe2 Qc7 12 Nd4 a6 6. . . Nc6 7 Bg2 Bd7 8 O-O Be7 9 Be3 O-O 10 10. . . a6 11 Rad1 Qc7 Again there are many difQe2 a6 ferent moves, but sensible replies should do the 7 Bg2 O-O 8 O-O Nc6 9 Be3 By far the most trick. popular move. This simply develops a piece to12 a4 Alternatives include: wards the centre.
rZ0Z0skZ Zplbapop 6 pZnopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 PZ0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0A0O0 2 0OPZQOBO 1 Z0ZRZRJ0
rZbl0skZ 7 opZ0apop 6 0Znopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0A0O0 2 POPZ0OBO 1 S0ZQZRJ0
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12 g4 NXd4 13 RXd4 e5 14 Rc4 Qd8 15 g5 Ng4 9. . . Bd7 10 Qe2 White continues to sensibly de- 16 Bd2 b5 17 Rb4 BXg5 12 f4 Rac8 13 f5 b5 14 a3 NXd4 15 BXd4 e5 16 velop and await events. 9 a4 a6 10 Be3 Qc7 11 Qe2 Bd7 12 Rad1
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Be3 Qc4 17 Rd3 a5
in particular looks like a good target to aim at. 12 h3 b5 13 a3 Rac8 14 NXc6 BXc6 15 Rd2 Qb7 Black’s king is also quite safe on g8 and he will always have long-term chances against the white 16 Bg5 a5 17 BXf6 BXf6 18 RXd6 Be5 king now that White has played f4. 12. . . Rab8 QUESTION: Why did Black play this move, rather than move a rook to the semi-open 17 Rfe1 EXERCISE: Choose the move you would c-file? ANSWER: The idea is to help push ...b5. prefer to play next: a) 17...b4; b) 17...Rfc8; c) White has a lot of pieces opposing it, so Black 17...Bg4. ANSWER: All three moves are perfectly fine for Black! needs to fight for the b5-square. 17. . . Bg4 This is good, but was not the only decent option:
0s0Z0skZ 7 Zplbapop 6 pZnopm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 PZ0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0A0O0 2 0OPZQOBO 1 Z0ZRZRJ0 8
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0s0Z0skZ Z0l0apop 6 0Z0o0m0Z 5 ZpZ0o0Z0 4 0Z0ZPObZ 3 Z0M0A0O0 2 0OPZQZBO 1 Z0ZRS0J0 8 7
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12. . . Rac8 13 h3 Ne5 14 g4 h6 13 f4 NXd4 14 BXd4 e5! The correct advance.
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17. . . b4 18 Nd5 NXd5 19 RXd5 Be6 20 Rd2 17. . . Rfc8 18 Rd2 b4 19 Nd5 NXd5 20 eXd5 Bf6!
0s0Z0skZ 7 Zplbapop 6 pZ0o0m0Z 5 Z0Z0o0Z0 4 PZ0APO0Z 3 Z0M0Z0O0 2 0OPZQZBO 1 Z0ZRZRJ0 8
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18 Bf3 BXf3 19 QXf3 b4 20 f Xe5 dXe5 21 Nd5 NXd5 22 RXd5 QXc2 23 Re2
0s0Z0skZ Z0Z0apop 6 0Z0Z0Z0Z 5 Z0ZRo0Z0 4 0o0ZPZ0Z 3 Z0Z0AQO0 2 0OqZRZ0O 1 Z0Z0Z0J0 8 7
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14. . . b5 15 e5!
15 Be3 b5 16 aXb5 aXb5 Although the position a b c d e f is level right now, I like the fact that there is a clear plan here for Black: push with ...b4 and see what we can do on the queenside! The c2-pawn 23 RXe5 Bf6 24 Rh5 QXb2
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23. . . Qb3 24 Kg2
running in this position. 43 QXf6+ Kh7 44 Kf2? Rc2 0-1
0s0Z0skZ 7 Z0Z0apop 6 0Z0Z0Z0Z 5 Z0ZRo0Z0 4 0o0ZPZ0Z 3 ZqZ0AQO0 2 0O0ZRZKO 1 Z0Z0Z0Z0 8
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24 RXe5 Bf6 25 Rh5 BXb2 24. . . f6 25 Qf5 Kh8 26 Rd7 Rf7 27 Bf2 Bf8 Black is happy to exchange rooks, as he is a pawn to the good. 28 Rd5 Re8 29 Red2 g6 30 Qf3 QUESTION: Should Black exchange queens? 30. . . Qc4!?
0Z0Zra0j Z0Z0ZrZp 6 0Z0Z0opZ 5 Z0ZRo0Z0 4 0oqZPZ0Z 3 Z0Z0ZQO0 2 0O0S0AKO 1 Z0Z0Z0Z0 8 7
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30. . . QXf3+ 31 KXf3 Rc8 32 g4 Kg8 31 b3 Qc6 32 Qd3 Rc8 33 Ra5 Kg7 34 Ra6 Qc1 35 Qd5 h5 36 Rda2 White is trying hard to keep Black at bay, but Van Wely eventually gets through. 36. . . Bc5 37 h4 BXf2 38 RXf2 Rc2 39 Ra2 Rc3 40 Rad2 Qb1 41 Rf3 Rfc7 42 Qd6 QXe4 It may appear Black has erred by allowing some counterplay, but in fact Black is making all the
129
White: Kovalevskaya, E Black: Vitiugov, N
St Petersburg 2002
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 g3 Be7 7 Bg2 O-O 8 O-O Nc6 9 NXc6 bXc6 10 e5 The logical follow-up; otherwise it doesn’t make sense to exchange knights on c6.
White’s strategy is: swap off pieces and hope that his better pawn structure will be to his advantage in an endgame. 13. . . RXd1+
10. . . dXe5!
0sbZ0ZkZ o0Z0apop 6 0ZBZpm0Z 5 Z0Z0o0Z0 4 0Z0Z0Z0Z 3 Z0M0Z0O0 2 POPZ0O0O 1 S0ArZ0J0 8
rZbl0skZ o0Z0apop 6 0ZpZpm0Z 5 Z0Z0o0Z0 4 0Z0Z0Z0Z 3 Z0M0Z0O0 2 POPZ0OBO 1 S0AQZRJ0 8
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13. . . Ba6 14 RXd8+ BXd8 15 b3 Rc8 16 Bb5 10. . . Nd5 11 eXd6 QXd6 12 Ne4 Qc7 13 c4 RXc3 17 BXa6 Bb6 18 Bd3 Bd4 19 Rb1 e4! Nb6 14 Qe2 e5 15 Be3 14 NXd1 Nd5! I like this move, which at first sight doesn’t appear to do much. However, White 11 QXd8 wanted to play Be3 and that is now prevented. Secondly, the text tempts White into playing c4 to kick the knight away...
rZbL0skZ o0Z0apop 6 0ZpZpm0Z 5 Z0Z0o0Z0 4 0Z0Z0Z0Z 3 Z0M0Z0O0 2 POPZ0OBO 1 S0A0ZRJ0 8
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0sbZ0ZkZ o0Z0apop 6 0ZBZpZ0Z 5 Z0Zno0Z0 4 0ZPZ0Z0Z 3 Z0Z0Z0O0 2 PO0Z0O0O 1 S0ANZ0J0 8 7
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11 BXc6 Rb8 12 QXd8 RXd8 11. . . RXd8 12 BXc6 Rb8 13 Rd1 It’s clear what
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15 a3 Ba6 16 b4 Be2! 17 Ne3 Bf3
0Z0Z0ZkZ o0Z0apop 6 0Z0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0o0Z0 4 0ZPZ0Z0Z 3 OrZ0Z0O0 2 ROnZ0O0O 1 Z0ANZ0J0
15. . . Nb4 16 Be4 Bb7
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0s0Z0ZkZ obZ0apop 6 0Z0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0o0Z0 4 0mPZBZ0Z 3 Z0Z0Z0O0 2 PO0Z0O0O 1 S0ANZ0J0 8 7
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17 BXb7 RXb7 18 a3
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0Z0Z0ZkZ orZ0apop 6 0Z0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0o0Z0 4 0mPZ0Z0Z 3 O0Z0Z0O0 2 0O0Z0O0O 1 S0ANZ0J0 7
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0Z0Z0ZkZ o0Z0apop 6 0Z0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0ZPZpZ0Z 3 OrZ0m0O0 2 RO0Z0O0O 1 Z0ZNZKZ0
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20 Kf1 e4 21 Be3 NXe3+
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19. . . a5 20 b4!
16. . . f5! 17 a3 f Xe4 18 aXb4 RXb4 19 RXa7 RXc4 20 Be3 Bb4 21 Kg2 h6
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21. . . a5 22 f Xe3
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0Z0Z0ZkZ o0Z0apop 6 0Z0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0ZPZpZ0Z 3 OrZ0O0O0 2 RO0Z0Z0O 1 Z0ZNZKZ0
18 Bd2 Nd3! 19 b3 e4 20 Bc3 f5 21 Ne3 Bc5
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18. . . Nc2 19 Ra2 ANSWER:
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19. . . Rb3! Well done if you saw that White wants to play b4 and activate the rook on a2.
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22 NXe3 f5 23 Nd1 Bf6 24 Ke2 Kf7 25 Kd2 Bd4 26 Kc2 Rf3 27 b4 BXf2 22. . . Bc5
0Z0Z0ZkZ o0Z0Zpop 6 0Z0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0a0Z0Z0 4 0ZPZpZ0Z 3 OrZ0O0O0 2 RO0Z0Z0O 1 Z0ZNZKZ0 8 7
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22. . . Bf6 23 Ke2 Kf8 24 Kd2 Ke7 25 Kc2 Rd3 26 b4 Kd7 23 Ke2 f5 24 Ra1 Kf7 25 Rc1 a5 26 Rc2 g5 27 Nc3 Ke7 28 Nd1 h5 29 Rc3 Rb8 30 Rc2 QUESTION: How can Black open the position to his advantage? ANSWER: The kingside is where Black’s pawn majority lies and indeed he has a nice plan to open things up on that front: 30. . . h4 31 gXh4 g4! Well played. The rook can gather in the h4-pawn and this leaves White with another weakness to worry about on h2. 32 Kf1 Rh8 33 b4 A desperate sacrifice for counterplay, but it doesn’t work. 33. . . aXb4 34 aXb4 BXb4 35 Rb2 Bd6 36 Nc3 RXh4 37 Nb5 RXh2 38 RXh2 BXh2 The ending is completely won for Black. 39 c5 Kd7 40 Nd4 Be5 41 c6+ Kd6 42 c7 KXc7 43 NXe6+ Kd6 44 Nd8 Bf6 45 Nb7+ Kc6 46 Na5+ Kb5 47 Nb3 Kc4 48 Nc1 Be5 49 Ke2 Kc3 50 Na2+ Kb3 51 Nc1+ Kb2 52 Kd1 g3 53 Ne2 g2 54 Ke1 Bg3+ Surprisingly it was Black who called the shots after the queens came off. I especially liked Vitiugov’s 14...Nd5! idea, after which White was the side struggling to hold on. 0-1
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White: Van der Weide, K Black: Van Wely, L
Dutch Championship, Leeuwarden 2001
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 f4 a6 7 Qf3 This is the way to keep the f4 line independent. QUESTION: What do you think White’s set-up will be after this? ANSWER: White generally plays Be3 and g4 to attack Black early on the kingside. The queen on f3 helps support the centre, as well as any future kingside pawn advances.
rmblka0s ZpZ0Zpop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPO0Z 3 Z0M0ZQZ0 2 POPZ0ZPO 1 S0A0JBZR
rmbZka0s ZpZ0Zpop 6 pl0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0ZQZ0 2 POPZ0ZPO 1 S0A0JBZR 8 7
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8 a3!? Nc6 9 ZZ– 8. . . Qc7 9 g4 QUESTION: Why is White advancing like this so early, instead of developing his pieces? ANSWER: As in other variations of the Scheveningen, White can play useful attacking moves whilst waiting to see how Black develops. Of course, Black can do the same! 9. . . b5 Our general counter. White opened the long light-squared diagonal, so Black seeks to put the bishop on b7 as quickly as possible.
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7 g4 e5!? 8 Nf3 BXg4 9 f Xe5 Nfd7! 10 h3 BXf3 11 QXf3 NXe5 12 Qg3 Nbd7 13 Be3 Rc8 14 10 g5 Nfd7 11 Bd3 Bb7 12 Be3 Nc5 13 O-O-O O-O-O Nf6 15 Bd4 Qc7 16 Rh2 g6 17 Rf2 Bg7 White can also castle kingside here as he does in the next game. 18 h4 O-O 13. . . NXd3+ 14 RXd3 7 Be2 Be7 7. . . Qb6 Here I rather like this queen sortie which attempts to kick the knight on d4 away. 8 Nb3
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rm0Zka0s 7 Zbl0Zpop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0O0 4 0Z0ZPO0Z 3 ZNMRAQZ0 2 POPZ0Z0O 1 Z0J0Z0ZR
0ZrZrZkZ Zblnapop 6 0Z0opZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0O0 4 po0ZPO0Z 3 Z0ZNA0M0 2 POPS0L0O 1 ZKZRZ0Z0
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22 f5 Bf8 23 f6 a3
14. . . Nd7 QUESTION: Hasn’t Black lost a lot of 22. . . b3! time capturing on d3 and is therefore a long way behind in development? ANSWER: As usual, those good guys on e6 and d6 shield the king on 8 e8 and provide it with decent protection. Black 7 also doesn’t declare which way he may castle, thereby avoiding giving White a target. 6
0ZrZrZkZ Zblnapop 0Z0opZ0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0O0 4 pZ0ZPO0Z 3 ZpZNA0M0 2 POPS0L0O 1 ZKZRZ0Z0
15 Rhd1 b4 16 Ne2 Rc8 17 R3d2 Be7 18 Ng3 QUESTION: Is it safe for Black to castle now? ANSWER: Yes, as the rook on h8 will need to join the action soon. Moreover, if White tries to pawn-storm we have our usual defensive methods to counter with. 18. . . O-O Now White can see which way to attack and the typical Sicilian race to mate is on. 18. . . a5 19 Kb1 a4 20 Nc1 O-O 19 Qf2 a5 20 Kb1 a4 21 Nc1 ANSWER:
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22. . . a3 23 b3 Qc3 24 Bd4
23 cXb3 aXb3 24 a3 White employs a typical de21. . . Rfe8! The idea is to drop the bishop back fensive idea to reduce the impact of the oncoming to f8 to protect the king. attack, but Black still has targets. 22 Nd3 ANSWER: It’s best to push the pawn 24. . . Qc4! Now we see why the bishop on d3 that attacks two of the opponent’s defensive pawns. was exchanged earlier. The e4-pawn suddenly becomes weak and isn’t easy to defend. 25 e5
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0ZrZrZkZ 7 ZbZnapop 6 0Z0opZ0Z 5 Z0Z0O0O0 4 0ZqZ0O0Z 3 OpZNA0M0 2 0O0S0L0O 1 ZKZRZ0Z0
0ZrZ0ZkZ ZbZ0apop 6 0Z0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0O0O0 4 qmrA0Z0O 3 OpZ0L0Z0 2 0O0SNZ0Z 1 ZKMRZ0Z0
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25 Qf3 f5 26 Nf2 Nf8
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33 aXb4 RXc1+ 34 NXc1 RXc1+!
25. . . dXe5 26 f Xe5 Qb5 Now the queen eyes up 33. . . Nc2 34 QXb3 Be4 Amazingly even with the e5-pawn. the queens exchanged, White is in huge trouble 27 Qf4 Rc4 28 Bd4 EXERCISE: Spot Black’s due to his king position. best square for the knight (which isn’t really in 35 QXa4 RXa4 36 Nc3 There was no real dethe game at the moment). ANSWER: d5 would fence. be a lovely square, for both defensive and attacking purposes. 28. . . Nb6 29 Ne2 Nd5 30 Qg3 Qa4 Inching forward. Now sacrifices can be considered as all the black pieces are in good positions.
0ZrZ0ZkZ Z0Z0apop 6 0Z0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0O0O0 4 rZ0AbZ0O 3 O0M0Z0Z0 2 0OnS0Z0Z 1 ZKMRZ0Z0 8 7
31 Ndc1 Rec8 32 h4
0ZrZ0ZkZ ZbZ0apop 6 0Z0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0ZnO0O0 4 qZrA0Z0O 3 OpZ0Z0L0 2 0O0SNZ0Z 1 ZKMRZ0Z0 8 7
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36 Ka2 NXa3 37 bXa3 RXa3+ 38 Kb2 Rb8+ 36. . . NXa3+ 37 Ka2 Raa8 38 NXe4
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32 NXb3 Nb4! 33 Nec1 Be4+ 34 Ka1 Nc2+ 35 Ka2 BXa3! 32 QXb3 RXc1+! 33 NXc1 RXc1+ 34 RXc1 QXb3 32. . . Nb4 33 Qe3
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rZrZ0ZkZ Z0Z0apop 6 0Z0ZpZ0Z 5 Z0Z0O0O0 4 0Z0ANZ0O 3 m0Z0Z0Z0 2 KO0S0Z0Z 1 Z0MRZ0Z0 8 7
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38 bXa3 RXa3+ 39 Kb2 Rb8+ 38. . . Nc2+ 39 Kb3 White either missed Black’s next or, more likely, he sportingly allowed a neat finish: 39. . . Na1# 0-1
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White: Mortensen, E Black: Hansen, C
Copenhagen 1995
Result: 0-1 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 be happy to see this little nudge. If White now Nc3 a6 6 f4 e6 7 Qf3 Qb6 The by now usual castles queenside we have a lever to open up that manoeuvre. side with ...b4 and the text also doesn’t develop a piece, meaning Black isn’t likely to be wiped off the board any time soon.
rmbZka0s 7 ZpZ0Zpop 6 pl0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPO0Z 3 Z0M0ZQZ0 2 POPZ0ZPO 1 S0A0JBZR 8
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7. . . Qc7 8 Nb3 Qc7 9 g4
rmbZka0s Zpl0Zpop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0ZPOPZ 3 ZNM0ZQZ0 2 POPZ0Z0O 1 S0A0JBZR 8 7
12. . . Nc5 Moving the knight again, but we saw in the previous game how this makes way for the other knight on b8 to come to d7. 13 Be3 Nbd7 14 O-O Here, compared to the previous game, White decides it’s safer to castle kingside than queenside. For now those advanced kingside pawns aren’t a problem, but should the position ever open up... 14 O-O-O Be7 15 Kb1 Rb8 16 h4 b4 17 aXb4 NXd3 18 RXd3 Ba8 14. . . Be7 15 Nd4 QUESTION: So the knight returns to d4, but does that mean Black has won or lost a tempo with his ...Qb6-c7 idea? ANSWER: Now that White has played his knight back to d4, Black has indeed won a tempo. Imagine if Black had played 7...Qc7 instead of 7...Qb6: the knight would already be on d4, so White would have an extra move. Of course, chess isn’t that easy, but Black can claim a minor victory when White loses time like this! 15. . . O-O 16 Qh5 White decides to attack with his pieces instead of pawn-storming. QUESTION: How to deal with the oncoming Rf3 and Rh3? ANSWER: Remain cool, calm and collected; then play a defensive manoeuvre which should be familiar by now...
16. . . g6! 17 Qh6 Rfe8 18 Rf3 Bf8 19 Qh4 Bg7 20 Rh3 Nf8 Just in time! Were you worried for a moment? Do not be if you’ve read the whole a b c d e f g h book to this point, you should have been cool as 9 a4 b6 10 Bd3 Bb7 11 O-O g6 12 Bd2 Bg7 13 instructed! Rae1 Nbd7 14 Kh1 O-O 15 Qh3 d5! 16 eXd5 21 Rf1 ANSWER: NXd5 21. . . e5! I like this move, as it creates room for 9. . . b5 10 Bd3 Bb7 11 g5 Nfd7 12 a3 This se- the pieces to join the game. cures the knight on c3, but Black should always
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0Z0ZrmkZ ZbZ0ZRZp 6 pZ0o0ZpZ 5 Zpl0Z0O0 4 0Z0Z0Z0L 3 O0MBs0Z0 2 0ZPZ0S0O 1 Z0Z0Z0J0 8 7
rZ0ZrmkZ Zbl0Zpap 6 pZ0o0ZpZ 5 Zpm0o0O0 4 0Z0MPO0L 3 O0MBA0ZR 2 0OPZ0Z0O 1 Z0Z0ZRJ0 8 7
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30 RXb7 RXd3+ 31 Kh1 Qc6+ 32 Kg1 Rf3 33 RXf3 QXf3 34 Rc7 Qe3+ 35 Kg2 Re5!
21. . . Rac8 22 f5 eXf5 23 eXf5 Ba8 24 f6 Qb7 25 30. . . RXd3! 31 RXf8+ Qg4 Nfd7 26 f Xg7 Ne5 21. . . Re7!? 22 Nde2 Rae8 23 Qf2 Ncd7 24 Bd4 e5 25 f Xe5 NXe5 26 Nf4? Ng4!
0Z0ZrSkZ ZbZ0Z0Zp 6 pZ0o0ZpZ 5 Zpl0Z0O0 4 0Z0Z0Z0L 3 O0MrZ0Z0 2 0ZPZ0S0O 1 Z0Z0Z0J0 8
22 f Xe5 RXe5 23 Rhf3 Re7 24 Nde2 Rae8 25 Nf4 ANSWER:
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25. . . BXc3! Again, timed to perfection. Giving up this bishop requires nerve as the dark squares around the king can become weak, but all the other black pieces are so well placed that Hansen believes this exchange should work for him. 26 bXc3 NXe4 Not just winning a pawn, but liberating both of Black’s rooks and the bishop on b7.
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27 Ne2 NXc3 28 NXc3 RXe3 29 RXf7 Qc5! It appears that White is the one attacking, but 31 cXd3? Re1# Black’s counterattack is alive and kicking. 31. . . RXf8 32 cXd3 RXf2 33 QXf2 QXc3 A very 30 R1f2 well played game by Black. Hansen timed his ...e5 break at the correct moment and then defused his opponent’s counterplay with 25...Bxc3. 0-1
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White: Polgar, J Black: Polugaevsky, L
7th matchgame, Aruba 1991
Result: 0-1 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 f4 e6 7 Bd3 b5 This feels a bit risky, but White cannot take advantage of the long diagonal towards a8. Black’s bishop will come to b7 and attack the centre from there.
rm0lka0s ZbZnZpop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPOPZ 3 Z0MBZQZ0 2 POPZ0Z0O 1 S0A0J0ZR 8 7
8 Qf3 Bb7 9 g4!? ANSWER:
rm0lka0s ZbZ0Zpop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPOPZ 3 Z0MBZQZ0 2 POPZ0Z0O 1 S0A0J0ZR 8 7
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9. . . h6 10 Be3 Nbd7 11 ZZ– 10 Be3 Nc5 11 O-O-O Nbd7
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9 Be3 Nbd7 10 g4 b4 11 Nd1 e5 12 Nb3 d5 13 Nf2 Be7 14 O-O-O O-O 15 f5 Qc7 16 g5 dXe4 17 NXe4 NXe4 18 BXe4 Rfc8 19 Rd2 BXe4 20 QXe4 a5 21 Kb1 a4 22 Nc1 a3 23 Rhd1 aXb2 24 RXd7 bXc1Q+ 25 BXc1 Qa5 26 Qd5 b3! 27 QXb3 Rcb8 9 g4
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9. . . Nfd7! However, I prefer the text move to 9...h6. The knight hops out of the way of the threat and wanders over to pastures new on the 11. . . b4 12 Nce2 Nbd7 13 Kb1 Qc7 14 g5 g6 15 h4 Bg7 16 h5 Rg8! 17 Ng3 O-O-O queenside. 12 h4
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rZ0lka0s 7 ZbZnZpop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 Zpm0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPOPO 3 Z0MBAQZ0 2 POPZ0Z0Z 1 Z0JRZ0ZR
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12 g5 b4 13 Nce2 Qc7 14 Kb1 g6 15 h4 Bg7
16 hXg6 hXg6 17 RXh8+ BXh8 18 Rh1 O-O-O
12. . . b4 13 Nce2 Qc7 14 Kb1 g6! QUESTION: Surely it’s bad to weaken yourself on the side of the board where you are being attacked, so why is Black doing this? ANSWER: To fianchetto the bishop to g7 which will hold Black’s position together. Remember too that Black doesn’t have to castle kingside into the attack!
16. . . Bf6 17 g5 Be7! It appears that White has gained a lot of time on the kingside by pushing those pawns with tempo, but by playing h6 Polgar can no longer prise the black king open with g5-g6, which as we know is the normal method.
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18 Ng3 QUESTION: When will Black be able to castle? ANSWER: Now! 18. . . O-O! As long as he watches out for a mate on g7, Black deems that his king should be safe enough on the kingside. The situation is very different now with that pawn on h6 blocking the h-file. 19 Rhe1 a5 Commencing a pawn storm down the queenside towards the white king. And why not? 20 Bb5
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14. . . Be7 15 g5 Rc8 15 h5 Bg7 16 h6
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20 Qg4 NXd3! 21 cXd3 Nc5 22 f5 Ba6 23 f Xg6 hXg6 24 Qe2 d5
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20. . . Rac8 21 Rc1?! Obviously concerned about but this merely gives away the b-file. the c2-pawn, but this is a little passive. QUES- 25. . . bXc3 26 RXc3 TION: What can Black play here? ANSWER: There are a few good moves, but... 21. . . d5! ...is another well-timed central break which opens the position to Black’s advantage.
0Zrs0ZkZ Z0l0apZp 6 0m0ZpZpO 5 o0mbZ0O0 4 0Z0M0OQZ 3 Z0S0A0M0 2 PO0ZBZ0Z 1 ZKZ0S0Z0 8 7
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26 Nb5 Qb7 27 NXc3 Nba4! 26. . . Qb7! 27 Rc2 Ne4! EXERCISE: How does Black gain a big advantage after 28 Rec1?
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28 RXc8 21. . . a4 22 eXd5
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28 Rec1 RXc2! 29 NXc2 Na4 30 b3 BXb3!
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28. . . RXc8 29 NXe4 22 e5 Nb6 23 b3 Ne4 24 NXe4 dXe4 25 Qh3 Nd5! 22. . . BXd5 23 Qg4 Rfd8 24 Be2 Nb6 Another dream position for Black. White cannot do anything apart from try and parry Black’s threats. Polugaevsky simply funnels his pieces towards the queenside and looks for a breakthrough. 25 c4 Lashing out to try and gain some space,
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32. . . Qd5! 33 aXb4 aXb4
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33 NXc2 RXc2 34 Bd4 ANSWER:
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0Z0Z0ZkZ ZqZ0apZp 6 0Z0ZpZpO 5 o0Z0Z0O0 4 0Z0AbOQZ 3 O0Z0Z0Z0 2 0OrZBZ0Z 1 J0Z0S0Z0 8 7
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29 Rc1 Nc3+! 30 RXc3 RXc3 31 bXc3 Nc4+ 32 Nb3 NXe3 29. . . BXe4+ 30 Ka1 Nd5 31 Bf2
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34 Rb1 BXa3! 35 bXa3 Ra2+! 34. . . BXa3! 35 Rb1
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31 Bd2 Nb4 32 a3 Qd5 33 aXb4 aXb4 31. . . Nb4 32 a3 Nc2+
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35 bXa3 Qb3 35. . . Qb3 Once White played h6 and sealed the h-file, the black king was able to safely castle. This gave Polugaevsky all the time in the world to attack on the other side. 0-1
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White: Simacek, P Black: Movsesian, S
Hustopece (rapid) 2009
Result: 0-1 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 f4 Trying to play a la the 6 Bg5 Najdorf. Instead of this pawn push White has a variety of queen moves at his disposal:
rmblkZ0s opZ0apop 6 0Z0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0A0 4 0Z0MPO0Z 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 POPZ0ZPO 1 S0ZQJBZR
rmblkZ0s opZ0apo0 6 0Z0opA0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPO0Z 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 POPZ0ZPO 1 S0ZQJBZR 8 7
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8 Bh4 NXe4! 9 BXe7 NXc3 10 BXd8 NXd1 11 ZZ–
8. . . BXf6 9 Qd2 O-O 10 O-O-O QUESTION: Yes, it’s nice to have the bishop-pair, but isn’t a b c d e f g h our d6-pawn about to come under attack? ANSWER: Well, it may do, although Black’s next 7 Qd3 a6 8 O-O-O b5 9 f4 b4 10 Nce2 Bb7 11 protects it to some extent, but we have already BXf6 BXf6 12 Qc4 O-O 13 QXb4 Qc7 seen the power of a bishop on f6 and this game 7 Qe2 Qa5 8 h4 Nc6 9 Nb3 Qc7 10 O-O-O a6 definitely furthers that case. 11 g4 b5 12 a3 b4 13 aXb4 NXb4 14 Bg2 Rb8 10. . . a6 Preventing Ndb5 when the d6-pawn would 15 Be3 a5 16 g5 Ba6 17 Qd2 Nd7 18 f4 O-O have been doomed. 7 Qd2 7. . . h6! Here we see the difference with the Najdorf: ...Be7 is a much more useful move than ...a6. Indeed, Black has some tricks up his sleeve that ensure White cannot reach the dangerous theoretical lines he may crave. 8 BXf6
11 g4 Nc6 EXERCISE: Has the super grandmaster missed that White can now win the d6-pawn? Try to calculate what may have convinced Black to play this move. ANSWER: 11...Nc6 develops a piece, clears the long diagonal for the bishop on f6, helps open the b-file once Black recaptures on c6, and there is a tactical shot behind Movsesian’s play. 12 NXc6 bXc6 13 QXd6
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rZbl0skZ 7 Z0Z0Zpo0 6 pZpLpa0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0ZPOPZ 3 Z0M0Z0Z0 2 POPZ0Z0O 1 Z0JRZBZR
0sbZ0ZkZ Z0Z0apZ0 6 pZpZpZ0o 5 Z0Z0O0o0 4 0ZBZ0OPZ 3 O0Z0Z0Z0 2 PZPJ0Z0O 1 Z0ZNZ0ZR
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21 f Xg5? BXg5+
13. . . Qb6 14 e5 Rd8 15 Qa3 Qe3+ 16 Kb1 RXd1+ 17 NXd1 QXa3 18 bXa3 Rb8+ 19 Kc1 Be7 Black will regain the a3-pawn and be at least equal.
21. . . gXf4 22 Rf1 Bg5 23 Nf2 c5 24 Nd3 Bd7 25 Kc3 Bc6 26 NXf4 Rd8 27 Nd3 Be3 28 BXa6 This routine grab lets Black’s bishops do the talking, although this was a rapid game so neither 20 Bc4 QUESTION: What should Black play player had time to calculate properly. next? ANSWER: Although White’s queenside 28. . . Bd4+ 29 Kd2 BXe5 This position is defiformation has already been destroyed, a second nitely easier for the bishops. front can be opened up on the other side. The 30 h4 Bg7 31 Ke2 Ra8 32 Bc4 Ra4! Again the next move is very much a grandmasterly one. grandmaster eschews the routine grab of material 20. . . g5! Congratulations if you spotted this! Or for something better. should I say, didn’t grab immediately on a3? 33 Bb3 Re4+ 34 Kd2 c4 35 Nb4 Bb5 With the bishop on b3 trapped, it is in essence game over. White only plays on as both players were likely down to their last couple of minutes.
0sbZ0ZkZ 7 Z0Z0apZ0 6 pZpZpZ0o 5 Z0Z0O0o0 4 0ZBZ0OPZ 3 O0Z0Z0Z0 2 PZPZ0Z0O 1 Z0JNZ0ZR 8
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36 Rg1 cXb3 37 aXb3 Re2+ 38 Kd1 Rh2 39 a4 Be2+ 40 Kc1 Bd4 41 Rg3 Be5 42 Rg1 RXh4 43 Nc6 Bf4+ 44 Kb2 RXg4 45 Re1 Rg2 46 a5 h5 47 Ka3 h4 48 c4 Bd6+ 49 Ka4 Bf3 50 Nd4 Ba8 Black’s h-pawn is the faster. The main trick to remember is the 7...h6 8 Bh4 Nxe4! idea (which we saw earlier in Giroyan-Nasuta from Chapter Five). This equalizes and also gives Black chances for a pleasant endgame grind. 0-1
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20. . . BXa3+ 21 Kd2 21 Kd2
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White: Metz, H Black: Dao Thien Hai
Budapest 1995
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Qd2 a6 8 O-O-O b5 9 f3 White is trying to play as he often does in the Richter-Rauzer variation of the Classical Sicilian, but again here Black enjoys a more flexible development.
rmblkZ0s Z0Z0apop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0A0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0M0ZPZ0 2 POPL0ZPO 1 Z0JRZBZR
rZ0l0skZ ZbZnapop 6 pZ0opA0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPO 3 Z0M0ZPZ0 2 POPL0Z0Z 1 Z0JRZBZR 8 7
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12 Be3 b4 13 Nce2 d5! 14 g5 Nh5 12. . . NXf6 13 g5 Nd7 14 Bd3 Rc8 15 Kb1 Ne5 16 f4 Nc4 17 Qh2 EXERCISE: Which of the following three moves would you play and why? a) 17...Qb6; b) 17...d5; c) 17...b4.
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9 Bd3 Bb7 10 Rhe1 Nbd7 11 f4 b4 12 Na4 Qa5 13 b3 Nc5 14 a3 Rc8 15 aXb4 NXb3+ 16 NXb3 QXa4 17 Kb2 d5
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9. . . Bb7 10 h4 O-O 11 g4 Nbd7 QUESTION: Aren’t we quite far behind in our attack, since White has already got in g4 and h4? ANSWER: For White to even try and break through, he has to play h5, g5 and g6. Moreover the bishop on g5 is currently blocking the way. So that gives Black four moves to conjure up some attacking ideas. If you think that’s possible, then you are a Sicilian player!
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12 BXf6 White decides not to waste time by bringing the bishop back in order to play g5. 17 BXc4 RXc4 18 f5 b4! 19 Nce2 BXe4 20 f Xe6 BXh1 21 RXh1 Qa5 17. . . d5!? ANSWER: After this push White normally chooses to play e5, blocking the centre, so I hope you had an idea behind 17...d5 if you chose
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an exchange down, but as we’ve seen before with these ...Rxc3 ideas (Movsesian-Kasparov comes to mind from Chapter One), Black has compensation since the white king doesn’t enjoy much protection.
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23 h5 Rc4 24 Ke3 ANSWER:
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17. . . Qb6 17. . . b4 18 Nce2
18 e5 The typical move to close the position, but a b c d e f g h White is in for a shock... QUESTION: Can you now see why ...d5 was played? ANSWER: Black 24 g6+ Kh6 25 Ke2 can uncork the following combination: 18. . . NXb2! 19 KXb2 RXc3!! The sacrifices rain 24. . . RXd4! Giving up another exchange! The sacrifices rain down upon White like a cold shower. down on White. 20 BXh7+ Not so much a Greek Gift sacrifice, 25 KXd4 but a clearance of the d3-square for the king. (How many times has that been said before?)
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0Z0l0skZ 7 ZbZ0apoB 6 pZ0ZpZ0Z 5 ZpZpO0O0 4 0Z0M0O0O 3 Z0s0Z0Z0 2 PJPZ0Z0L 1 Z0ZRZ0ZR 8
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25 RXd4 Qc3+ 26 Rd3 d4+ 27 Ke2 QXc2+ 28 Rd2 d3+
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25. . . Qb4+ 26 Ke3 Qc3+ 27 Ke2 20 KXc3 Qa5+ 21 Kb2 Ba3+ 22 Kb1 Qc3 20. . . KXh7 21 KXc3 Qa5+ 22 Kd3 Rc8 Black is
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27 Rd3 d4+ 28 Kf2 QXc2+ 27. . . d4 It’s amazing how Black is two exchanges down and yet has a huge attack! 28 g6+ Kh6 Black’s king is safe enough here. His queen and bishops now cause havoc. 29 Rhg1 Qf3+ 30 Ke1 Bb4+ 31 Rd2 Qe3+ 32 Kd1 Bf3+ 33 Kc1 Qa3+ 34 Kb1 Bc3! Forcing mate. Metz sportingly allows Black to complete the job. 35 Qg3 Qb2# Here a typical Sicilian position with opposite-side castling arose and suddenly Black could sacrifice a lot of his pieces. Be on the lookout for these wild sacrifices! 0-1
147
White: Durao, J Black: Andersson, U
Nice Olympiad 1974
Result:
0-1
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cXd4 4 NXd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 Bd3 Returning to 6 Bd3:
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rmblka0s 7 opZ0Zpop 6 0Z0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZ0Z 3 Z0MBZ0Z0 2 POPZ0OPO 1 S0AQJ0ZR 8
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7 Be3 Be7 8 O-O O-O 9 f4 EXERCISE: Which move would you play here? a) 9...a6; b) 9...e5; 6 Qe2 Nc6 7 NXc6 bXc6 8 g4 h6 9 Bg2 e5 10 c) 9...Nxd4. ANSWER: All three are of course h3 Qb6 11 f4? Be7 12 f5 Ba6 13 Qf3 d5! 14 playable, but Andersson gains an immediate edge eXd5 cXd5 15 NXd5 NXd5 16 QXd5 Bh4+ with a nice mini-combination: 6 Qf3 Nc6 7 Be3 Be7 8 Be2 O-O 9 Rd1 NXd4 9. . . NXd4 10 BXd4 e5! 11 Be3 10 BXd4 Qa5 11 Be3 Bd7 12 O-O Bc6 6 Bb5+ Nbd7 7 f4 a6 8 BXd7+ NXd7!? 9 Qf3 Qb6! 10 Nb3 Be7 11 Be3 Qc7 12 O-O-O O-O 13 f5 b5 14 a3 Rb8 15 g4 Ne5 16 Qg3 a5 17 g5 Re8! 18 f6 Bf8!
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6. . . Nc6 QUESTION: Why did Black play this, rather than any other move?
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11 f Xe5 dXe5 12 BXe5 Ng4! 13 Bf4 Qb6+ 14 Kh1 Nf2+ 15 RXf2 QXf2 11. . . Ng4 This is one reason why the bishop prefers
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to be on e2, as then moves like this leap are pre- technique in converting his advantage it is typivented. Now Black seizes the bishop-pair. cally impressive. 12 Qf3 NXe3 13 QXe3 eXf4 14 QXf4 ANSWER: 26 Qg5 Bg7 27 Bd3 Re5 28 Qf4 Qe7 29 Qf2 14. . . Bf6! As expected, Andersson knows where Rc8 30 Ra3 Re8 31 Bb1 Re2 32 Qf3 Re1 33 to place his pieces. The dark-squared bishop al- Bc2 RXf1+ 34 QXf1 Qe2 35 Bd3 Qd2 0-1 ready gives Black more than a pleasant game. It is far better on e5, controlling the whole board, than on e7.
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14. . . Qb6+ 15 Kh1 QXb2 16 Nd5 Bd8 17 QXd6 Be6 18 Rfb1! 15 Qd2 Be6 16 Nd5
rZ0l0skZ opZ0Zpop 6 0Z0oba0Z 5 Z0ZNZ0Z0 4 0Z0ZPZ0Z 3 Z0ZBZ0Z0 2 POPL0ZPO 1 S0Z0ZRJ0 8 7
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16 Kh1 Rc8 17 Nd5 BXb2 18 Rab1 BXd5 19 eXd5 Bc3 16. . . BXb2 17 Rab1 Bd4+ 18 Kh1 b6 19 c4 Be5 20 Qe3 Rc8 21 Rb3 g6 22 Ra3 Qd7 23 Be2 Rc5 24 Ra6 BXd5 25 eXd5 Re8 Observe Andersson’s
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White: Exercise 1 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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*
150
White: Solution to Exercise 1 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
0ZrZkZ0s ZpZbapo0 6 pl0opm0o 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 0ZnZPZPZ 3 ZNM0Z0ZP 2 POPZQOBZ 1 Z0ARZRZK 8 7
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16. . . g5 17 Rd4 Qc7 18 Nd2 Ne5 19 Nf3 h5 *
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White: Exercise 2 Black: ?
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Result: *
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*
152
White: Solution to Exercise 2 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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20. . . f Xg6 21 hXg6 h6 *
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White: Exercise 3 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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*
154
White: Solution to Exercise 3 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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19. . . Bc8 20 Nd5 eXd5 21 eXd5 *
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White: Exercise 4 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
0Zrlka0s ZbZnZpop 6 pm0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0M0APZ0 2 POPZ0L0O 1 ZKZRZBZR 8 7
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*
156
White: Solution to Exercise 4 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
0Zrlka0s ZbZnZpop 6 pm0opZ0Z 5 ZpZ0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 Z0MBAPZ0 2 POPZ0L0O 1 ZKZRZ0ZR 8 7
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14. . . RXc3 15 bXc3 *
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White: Exercise 5 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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*
158
White: Solution to Exercise 5 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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25. . . h5 26 gXh6 QXh4 27 RXh4 Kh7 *
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White: Exercise 6 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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*
160
White: Solution to Exercise 6 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
rZ0ZrZkZ ZblnZpap 6 po0opZpZ 5 Z0Z0Z0O0 4 Pm0ZPO0Z 3 ZNM0A0ZR 2 0OPZ0LBO 1 Z0Z0ZRZK 8 7
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22. . . Re7 23 Bd4 e5 24 f Xe5 BXe5 *
161
White: Exercise 7 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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*
162
White: Solution to Exercise 7 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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22. . . e5 23 f Xe5 NXe5 24 BXe5 RXe5 25 RXf7 Re7 26 RXe7 QXe7 *
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White: Exercise 8 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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*
164
White: Solution to Exercise 8 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
0sbZ0skZ Z0l0apop 6 0Z0opZ0Z 5 opZ0mPO0 4 0Z0ZPZ0Z 3 ONM0A0L0 2 0OPZ0Z0O 1 Z0JRZ0ZR 8 7
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18. . . Re8 19 f6 Bf8 20 f Xg7 BXg7 *
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White: Exercise 9 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
rZ0l0skZ ZbZ0apop 6 pZ0o0m0Z 5 Z0Z0oPZ0 4 0o0ZPZPZ 3 ZPM0ZQM0 2 0OPZ0Z0O 1 S0A0ZRJ0 8 7
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*
166
White: Solution to Exercise 9 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
rZ0l0skZ ZbZ0apop 6 pZ0o0m0Z 5 Z0Z0oPZ0 4 0o0ZPZPZ 3 ZPM0ZQM0 2 0OPZ0Z0O 1 S0A0ZRJ0 8 7
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16 Nce2 d5 *
167
White: Exercise 10 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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*
168
White: Solution to Exercise 10 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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17. . . Rg8 18 Ng3 O-O-O *
169
White: Exercise 11 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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*
170
White: Solution to Exercise 11 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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8. . . Qb6 9 Nb3 Qc7 *
171
White: Exercise 12 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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*
172
White: Solution to Exercise 12 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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13. . . Nfd7
0sbZka0s Z0lnZpop 6 pZ0opZ0Z 5 Zpm0Z0Z0 4 0Z0MPZPZ 3 O0M0APZQ 2 0OPZ0Z0O 1 Z0JRZBZR 8 7
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13. . . b4 14 aXb4 RXb4 15 g5 Nfd7 16 g6 Nb6 17 QXh7 *
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White: Exercise 13 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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*
174
White: Solution to Exercise 13 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
rZ0Z0skZ Zplbapop 6 pZ0opm0Z 5 Z0Z0Z0Z0 4 Pm0MPO0Z 3 Z0M0A0L0 2 0OPZBZPO 1 S0Z0ZRZK 8 7
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14. . . Kh8 *
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White: Exercise 14 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: * Fen: r2qk2r/3b1pp1/p2bp2p/3nn3/1p1N1BP1/1P3P2/PNPQ3P/2KR1B1R w kq - 0 16
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*
176
White: Solution to Exercise 14 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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16 Nf5 *
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White: Exercise 15 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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*
178
White: Solution to Exercise 15 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
rZ0Z0skZ Zpl0apop 6 pZ0o0m0Z 5 Z0Z0oPZ0 4 PZbZPZPZ 3 Z0M0A0Z0 2 0OPZBZ0O 1 S0Z0LRJ0 8 7
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16. . . d5 17 g5 NXe4 18 NXe4 dXe4 19 f6 Bc5 *
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White: Exercise 16 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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*
180
White: Solution to Exercise 16 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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20. . . NaXb2 21 BXb2 NXb2 22 KXb2 BXe4 23 BXe4 Qc3+ 24 Kb1 Ba3 *
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White: Exercise 17 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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*
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White: Solution to Exercise 17 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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8. . . Na6
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8. . . Nbd7 9 BXe6 f Xe6 10 NXe6 Qa5 11 NXg7+ Kf7 12 Nf5 *
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White: Exercise 18 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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*
184
White: Solution to Exercise 18 Black: ?
? 2012
Result: *
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18. . . Ng8 *
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