The King's Indian Defense

MODERNIZED: THE KING'S INDIAN DEFENSE

Dejan Bojkov

ETROPOLITAN

ME TROPOLITAN CHESS PUBLISHING

First Published in the US by Metropolitan Chess Publishing 2014 Copyright© 2014 Dej an Bojkov First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the Publisher. ISBN- 13: 978-0-985628 1-0-9 ISBN- 10: 0985628103

Cover by Elena Rose Dadural Edited by Lawrence Stevens Printed in the US by Lone Star Press Metropolitan Chess Publishing is an imprint of Metropolitan Chess, Inc Metropolitan Chess, Inc., PO Box 25 1 12 , Los Angeles, CA 90025-0 1 12 email: info@metrochessla. com website: www.metrochessla.com

METROPOLITAN CHESS PUBLISHING Commissioning Editor: Ankit Gupta Editor-in-Chief: Lawrence Stevens Assistant Editor: Alej andro Ruiz , Jr.

Contents

Introduction

5

The Classical Variation

15

1a F lexibility in the Classical Variation

17

1 b The Gligoric System

67

1c The Exchange System

91

1d The Petrosian System

107

2

The Samisch Variation

121

3

The Four Pawns Attack

189

4

The Averbakh System

213

5

The Bagirov Line

237

6

The Fianchetto System

273

Solutions to the Exercises

307

Index of Variations

355

1

Symbols

Good move

!! ? ?? !? ?!

Excellent move Bad move Blunder Deserves attention Dubious

# D

Checkmate

oo

Unclear position

=

Equal position

;!;

Slight advantage for White

+ ±

Distinct advantage for White

+

Distinct advantage for Black

+-

White is winning

Forced; the only move

Slight advantage for Black

-+

Black is winning

t

with the initiative

�

with the attack insufficient compensation for the material

00

sufficient compensation for the material with counterplay with the idea... better is... Novelty Time pressure

Introduction

D

ear reader, you are holding in your hands a book on my beloved opening, the King's Indian Defense. I started playing this line in my youthful days after reading the famous book by David Bronstein about the Interzonal tournament in Zurich-Neuhausen 1953 . It was the time when the defense appeared in elite tournaments and never left.

I witnessed Garry Kasparov's glorious career and followed his final match against his great rival Anatoly Karpov when Kasparov did not fear to use the KID and even won the match. My passion for the King's Indian remains undiminished all these years . For some people it is a religion. Many of my friends have tried to convince me that this opening is positionally unsound. White is taking more space and controls the center better. I strongly disagree. The KID is founded on strong fundamentals; the center is temporarily given up but can later be attacked and destroyed, while Black's control of key squares can compensate for his lack of space. Have a look at the following example:

Skembris

·

Van Wely

Skei 1993

White indeed has more space, but his position is strategically lost. His gain of space has opened up some weaknesses in his camp, specifically the d4 square. At the same time, Introduction

5

the analogous square on d5 is well covered by the black pieces and is unreachable by the white knight.

18. Rhe1 f6 19. Rd6 Kf7 20.Nd2 Ke7 21. Rd3 Ne6 22.g3 h5 23. h4 Nd4 24. Nf1 b6 25. Ne3 Bb7 2 6.(3

14.a3 c5/

If26.Nd5+ then 26 . . . Kd6 , answering 27. Nxf6 with 27 . . . Rf8 2 8 . Nd5 Rxf2+.

This fixes the white pawns on the color of Black's own bishop, and pre pares a standard knight maneuver.

15. b5 Nc7 16. Be2 Of no relief is 16 .Nxe5 due to 16 . . . Re6 17. Ng4 f5 18.Ne3 f4 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.cxd5 Rxe4++, while 16.Rdl Re6 17. Rd8+ only helps Black to proceed with his idea: 17 ... Kg7 18.Be2 Re7+.

16 . . . Re6 17. 0-0-0 ReB+

26. . . Rg8 2 7. Bd1 Kd6 28. Rd2 Raf8 29. a4 f5 30. exf5 gxf5 31.(4 Probably more stubborn is 3 l . g4 hxg4 3 2 . fxg4 f4 3 3 . Nf5+ Rxf5 34.gxf5 e4+.

31 . . . Rxg3 32. Nc2 Better was 32.fxe5+, which is an swered by 32 . . . Ke6 3 3 . Rf2 f4 34.Bxh5 f3 3 5 . Bg4+ Kxe5 3 6 . Nf5 + Kf4-+.

32 . . . Be4 33.fxe5+ Kxe5 34. Nxd4 cxd4 35. Bxh5 Rh8 36.Bf7 Rxh4 3 7. Kb2 Rhh3 38. c5 bxc5 39. a5 Ra3 40. a6 Ra4 41. Be8 c4 42. Rf2 Rb3+ 0-1

White can do nothing to face the establishment of the black knight on d4 . After this, Black can either prepare the f5 breakthrough, or he can even open the position on the queen's flank at the proper moment. Probably not familiar with this game from two months before, Polgar, with 17 ... Kg7 18.a4 a6 , rushed and threw away the edge. Now White uses the open a-file to release the pressure. 19.Kb2 Re7 20.Rd6 Ne8 2l.Rd5 axb5 22.axb5 b6 23.Ral Rxal 24.Kxal f6 25.Rd8 Bb7 26.Nd2 f5 27.exf5 gxf5 . The game was later drawn, Huebner Polgar, Biel Interzonal 1993 . 6

Introduction

I

n order to better understand the King's Indian Defense, one needs to appreciate the importance of Black's dark-squared bishop. This mighty piece on the long diagonal is the pride and the j oy of any KID player. The black squares are the territory of the second player, yet the bishop might in fact not even be needed for the second player to demonstrate this:

Qhl#.)

18 . . . Ng3+ 19.hxg3 20.Nfl Qh6+ 2 1 . Nh2 Kg7-+

Qxf8

Nau mkin - S mirin

Ischia 1995

And now if 2 2 . Bfl then 22 . . . Qxh2+ 2 3 . Kxh2 Rh8 mate.

1 7. . . Qxg5 18. Nfl If 18. Bfl then 18 . . . Kg7 !? intending . . . Rh8 .

18 . . . (5� With the attack. The outcome of Black's idea is very impressive, and the position of his pieces on the king's flank is quite frightening.

19. exf5 Here, Ilya Smirin introduced a fabulous novelty, based on his deep understanding of the position:

15 . . . Bf6l!N 16. Bxh6 Rejecting the offer would not save White from problems: 16 .a3 Bg5 17. Bf2? Bxd2 18.Qxd2 Nxb3+.

Not 19.Qcl 2 1 . Kg2 f4+.

Nf4

20.g3

Nh3+

19 . . . gxf5 20. a3 a41 Energetic play on both flanks ! If 20 . . . Nf4 then 2 1 . g3 .

21. b4 Or 2 1 .bxa4!? 21 . . . Nb3+

16 . . . Bg5/ The point behind Black's maneu ver. Without the black-squared bish op, White can do nothing to control his dark-squared perimeter.

1 7. Bxg5 The exchange is poison, as Black will mate on the dark squares: 17.Bxf8? Be3+ 18.Kh l (Also mating

is 18. Kfl Qh4 19.Ndl Ng3+ 20. hxg3 Introduction

7

Black is using one extra piece at least (the bishop! ) in the attack, makes his position resignable.

31. Qe2 If all the white pawns leave the black squares, White will have no control over them: 3 1 .b3 Rc8 3 2 . Kc2 Rxc4+! 33 .bxc4 Rb2+-+.

31 . . . Qa7 32. Rcl RaB 33. b3 Bf4 34. Kc2

Smirin's inspired play has given him the advantage, which he later converted into a full point on move 47. As we have seen, the positional pawn sacrifice is one of the strategi cal ideas to prove superiority on the dark squares. However, we also have another strong weapon in our arsenal, the attack with opposite-colored bishops:

34 . . . Re7 Kamsky - Kasparov

Manila (ol) 1992

Kasparov is not interested in trading his bishop for a rook!

35. Qd3 Qc5 36. R bl Re3 3 7. Qd4 Ra2+ 38. Kdl It's mate after 3 8 . Rb2 39.Qxb2 Be5 40.Qa2 Rc3+.

Rxb2+

38 . . . Rxf3 There were other wins as well, for example 38 . . . Re8!? 39.Rd3 Qb4 40.Qc3 Qxc3 4 1 . Rxc3 Rd2+ 42 . Kcl Rel mate.

39. Qxf4 Rxf4 40. Rxa2 41.Kc2 Qxh2+ 0-1

Qgl+

You will have noticed that the attack was conducted mainly on the squares of the color of the black bishop. Kamsky has an extra pawn, but it's no consolation. The open files and diagonals, and above all the fact that 8

Introduction

In the KID, players are not afraid to sacrifice material, even for strate gical purposes. You saw what Smirin did in his game against Naumkin. Here is an example of a successful blockade:

Kotov - Gligoric

Candidates Tournament 1953

Thanks to the pawn sacrifice, Black has managed to build a strong central position. Gligoric does not stop so soon, though.

16.Nf3 Qe7 1 7. Nxe5 18. 0-0-0 Nf6 19. h3 Bd7

Qxe5

Another plan is 19 ... a6 !? 20. Bd3

(20. a4!? Bd7 21.Rel Nh5 t) 20 . . . b5

Svetozar Gligoric was one of the leading forces behind the KID all his life. In this game he demonstrated a remarkable idea.

2 l .cxb5 axb5 2 2 . Bxb5 Ba6-. . Also 19 . . . b5!? 20.cxb5 a 6 2 l . a4 axb5 2 2 . Bxb5 Bd7 2 3 . Rhel Bxb5 24.Nxb5 Nh5t.

20. Bd3 a6 21. Nbl! (3!?

ll . . . e4! 12.fxe4 (4! 13. Bf2 Nd7! 14.Ngl Not 14.e5?! Nxe5 1 5 . Bxh7+ Kh8t 16.0-0-0 Qg5 17. Kbl Qxg2 1 8 . Ne4 Nf6 19.Rhgl Qf3 20. Nxf6 Rxf6 21.Nc3 Qh5 22 .Be4 Bg4+.

14 . . . Qg5 15. Bfl Ne5';.

Kotov was threatening to bring his knight into the action via d2 and f3, and Gligoric is not afraid of sacri ficing another pawn! Introduction

9

Also possible was 2 l . . . Rae8!? followed by: a) 22.Nd2 Ba4! 23.b3 (23. Qxa4 Nxe4!) 23 . . . Qal+ 24.Nbl Bd7 2 5 . Rdel b5=. b) 22.Rdel Nh5 2 3 . Nd2 Ng3 24.Nf3 Qh5 25.Rhgl b5+t. Another idea is 2 l . . .Be8!? 2 2 . Nd2 Ba4! 23 .b3 (if23. Qxa4 then 23 . . . Nxe4) 23 . . . Qal+ 24.Nbl Be8! 2 5 . Bel Nd7 26.e5!? Bxe5 27. Bxh7+ Kh8 28. Bd3 Rg8oo.

We are much obliged to the Yu goslavian GM for another powerful idea, the positional exchange sacri fice:

Avery

•

Gligoric

USA 1971

22.gxf3 Nh5 23. Nd2 Nf4

21 . . . Rf4!

The outcome of Black's strategy: his pieces on the freed f4 and e5 squares are dominating the position and the long diagonal is in complete control. White's pieces lack air because of their own pawns. Black has rich compensation for the pawns and went on the attack after

24. Bfl b5! The game was eventually drawn at move 41.

"I found this move easily over the board . The exchange sacrifice solves all Black's strategical problems. It introduces into the action the passive bishop on g7 and the knight, and Black even gets some material compensation for the exchange." Needless to say, this pattern is now commonly recognized by any chess player.

22. Bxf4 24. Rc2

exf4

23. Nd3

Qxg5+

Not 24. Nxf4? Bh6 .

24 . . . Rf8 25. Kdl a3! 26.Ncl Ba4 2 7. Nb3 Bb2 With the idea 2 8 . . . Bxb3 29. axb3 a2.

28. Rxb2 If 2 8 . Rc6 then 28 . . . Bxb3+! 29.axb3 Qe5 30.Rxa6 Bc3+.

28 . . . axb2 29. Qxb2 RbB! 30. Qd2 Nf6 31. Kcl Bxb3 32. axb3 Qe5 33. Kbl g5-+ 10

Introduction

e have seen the sacrifices of the pawn(s) and the exchange, but Black can also sacrifice:

W

I) A Piece Miroshnichenko - Bojkov

European Individual Chess Championship, Plovdiv 2008

34. Rc1 g4 35. Rc7 Nh71 36. Ka2 Ng5 37. Qe2 h41 38.fxg4 Rf8 39. Bf3 Qd4 40. Rc4 Qe3 0-1 The strategic ideas in the King's Indian Defense can be the subject of another complete book, so rich in ideas is the KID ! I will just mention the pawn chains. The situation of the pawns, especially in the positions with the closed center, obliges both sides to play on their flanks. For White this is usually the queen's flank where he has the better quality pawns, thanks to the wedge on d5, while Black attacks the king side. In these double-edged situations . the main question is "Who is faster?", and an experienced KID player is not afraid of sacrificing material.

It seems as if I need to retreat, after which White will most proba bly smash me on the queenside. But I know that King's Indian players do not retreat.

12 . . . Ncxe4! 13. Ndxe4 Nxe4 14. Nxe4 f5 15. Nc3 f4 1 6. Bd2 e4 1 7. 0- 0 e3 18. Be1 axb4 19. axb4 Rxa1 20. Qxa1

Introduction

11

Rg7-+) 23 . . . Nh5 24.Bf2 (24.Bh2 Be3+ 25.Rf2 D Qh4 26.Nd3 Ngf4 2 7. Qel Nxg2! 28.Kxg2 Rg7+-+) 24 . . . Ngf4 and now: 2 5 . Rc7? Ba4! 2 6 .Qxa4 Nxe2+ 27.Kh 2 Bf4+ 2 8 . Kh3 (28.g3 Qh4+

29.Kg2 Bxg3 30. Qe8+ R{B 31. Qe6+ KhB-+) 28 . .. Nhg3 ! 29. Rxf7 Kxf7 30.Nd3 Qc8+ 3 l . Kh4 (31.Kh2 Nxfl+ 32. Khl Nfg3+ 33. Bxg3 Nxg3+ 34.Kgl Ke7!-+) 3 l . . . Nxfl 32.g4 Nd2 3 3 . Nel

20. . . (8! 21.gxf8 Bh8 With lively doubled-edged play. The game ended in a draw, which satisfied both opponents.

2) ARook Piket

-

Kasparov

Tilburg 1989

h5!-+. 2 5 . Nd3 ! : a ) 25 . . . Nxg2 2 6 . Kxg2 Rg7+ 27.Kh 2 Ng3 ! 2 8 . Bxg3 Qg5 29. Rg1D Qh5+ 30.Kg2 Be3 3 l .Rhl Rxg3+ 32.Kxg3 Qg5+ 33 . Kh2 Qh4+ 34.Kg2 Qg5+ 3 5 . Kh2 Qh4+=. b) 2 5 ... Rg7 2 6 . Nxf4 Bxf4 27.g4 ! (27. Rc7? Ng3! 2B. Rxd7 Qh4

29.Rxg7+ Kxg7 30.Bxa7 Nxe2+! 31. Qxe2 Bh2+-+) 27 . . . Bxcl 2 8 . Qxcl Nf4 2 9.Qe3 h5!+.

21 . . . Nh5!

20 . . . g8! Time is more precious than the material!

21.Nxa8? Here are some beautifullines giv en by Kasparov's trainer: 2l .hxg3 fxg3 ! 2 2 . Bxg3 Bh6 ! 23.Nxa8 ! (23.Ne6 Bxe6 24.dxe6 12

Introduction

22. Kh1D 2 2 . Bxa7 Qh4 23 .h3 Bxh3 24.gxh3 Qxh3 2 5 . Rf2 gxf2+ 2 6 . Kxf2 Nh4 27. Bfl Qh2+ 2 8 . Ng2 Rg7-+.

22 . . . gxf2 28. Rxf2 Ng3+! 24. Kgl Qxa8 25. Bc4 a6!

3) A Queen! Kramnik - Kasparov

Munich Intel Express blitz '5 1994

Black took over the initiative, and his opponent could not adjust to the situation and lost quickly:

26. Qd3?! Other moves lose, too: 26.hxg3 fxg3 27.Rb2 Qd8 2 8 . Kfl Bh6 29.Ke2 Qg5 -+. And 2 6 . Nd3 Qa7 27.Nc5 Bb5 !

(27... dxc5 28.d6 cxb4 29. Qd5 NhB 30. Qxe5 Qe3 31.RdJ oo) 2 8 . Bxb5 axb5 29.hxg3 fxg3 30. Rfc2 dxc5 3 l .bxc5 Nf4-+.

26. . . Qa7 2 7. b5 If 27. Rcc2 then 27 . . . Be7 threaten ing 28 . . . Bh4 .

27. . . axb5 2B. Bxb5 Nhl! 0-1

12 . . . Nfxe4!! Kasparov had prepared this line especially for the blitz match with Kramnik.

13. Bxd8 15. Rcl ?!

Nxc3

14. Qel

Rfxd8

1 5 . Nb l ! is the only move to test Black's idea. It is not a big surprise that Kramnik did not orient himself well enough with less than five minutes on ·the clock. Nevertheless, even against best play Black has good compensation for the queen.

15. . . Nxa2 16.Ral Nb4 1 7. Bdl e4 18.Rbl ReB 19. Qe3 (5

Introduction

13

L

With all his pieces beautifully placed, Black is indisputably better, and went on to win!

20. h4 Rf8 21.g3 Rae8 22. Kg2 Nbd3 23. Rgl (4 24.gxf4 Rxf4 25. h5 g5 26. Rfl Rh4 27. Rhl Rf4 28. Rfl Ref8 29.(3 Rh4 30.fxe4 Nf4+ 31.Kgl Ncd3 32. e5 Nxe5 33. Rcl Rh3 34. Nf3 g4 35. Nxe5 Rxe3 36. Nxd7 Nh3+ 37. Kg2 Rxfl 38. Kxfl g3 39. Kg2 Nf4 + 0-1

14

Introduction

et's stop here to take a breath! Mr. Kasparov's play in this game was extreme, as usual, just like our defense. You will see more of these ideas in this book and will learn other things as well. The chapters feature the most important systems for White which you are most likely to face. Each chapter includes memory markers, important positions and ideas that were explained in the text, which will help you to memorize the key positions. My practice as a trainer has taught me that no book is complete without a set of exercises to help you confirm your knowledge.· Therefore, at the end of each chapter there are many puzzles, both tactical and strategical! Welcome to your remarkable jour ney in the King's Indian Defense!

Chapter 1 The Classical Variation

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5

T

he Classical Variation is by far the most popular reply to our beloved defense. White is doing everything right. He occupies the center, he develops his knights first, he develops the king's bishop next, and he is ready to castle; It's a truly classical approach, and it's no wonder that it is the main weapon that you might face when playing the KID.

Chapter 1: The Classical Variation

15

Chapter la Flexibility in the Classical Variation

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 exd4 8.Nxd4 ReB 9.(3 c6

In the late nineteenth century, positions where one side abandons the center were considered to be dangerous and even lost for that side. The KID was an irregular (and wrong! ) opening, according to the Classical Chess School . hen came Aaron Nimzowitsch who, together with the other "hy per-modernists", gave new meaning and understanding to positions with the so-called small center. This pawn structure in the Classical arises after the moves:

T

l.d4 d6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7. 0-0 exd4 8.Nxd4 ReB 9.{3 c6 (see the above diagram). Black has released the tension in the center and given his opponent both the territory and the freedom to develop comfortably. White's advantages are obvious, and Black has a backward pawn on d6 which seems to be well controlled by the white pawn bind on c4 and e4. The

first player just needs to finish his development, bring the cl bishop to a good position (and there is plenty of choice on the c . l -h6 diagonal ! ), place the queen on d2, connect the rooks, bring them to the center, and his advantage will be beyond any doubt. For many years , this position was not considered to be worth playing as Black. After all, he does not really have a direct attack against the king, nor are there any obvious targets to hit. Enough talking, let's have a look at the new games which changed the attitude towards the line ! I start with two games by Viorel Bologan, the Moldavian player known for his uncompromising style.

Chapter la: Flexibility in the Classical Variation

17

The main line: ll.Bg5 1 Fier

-

Bologan

Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2011 l.d4 d6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 g6 4.Nc3 Bg 7 5. e4 0 - 0 6. Be2 e5 7. 0-0 exd4 8.Nxd4 ReB 9.f3 c6 l O. Khl Nbd7 11.Bg5

12 Qc7!? 13 .Qd2 and now: a) 13 . . . a6?! This is a bit slow, and one should be aware of a typical combination in White's arsenal: 14 . Nc3 b5 15 .cxb5 axb5 16. Racl (with the threat Nc3xb 5 ! ) 16 . . . Qb6 17. Nxc6! Qxc6 1 8 . Nxb5 Qb6 19. Nc7± . Watch out for this idea! b) Instead, Postny suggests the idea 13 . . . Nc5 ! 14 . Nxc5 (or 14.Nc3 a5 15.Radl Nfd7oo) 14 . . . dxc5 1 5 . Nb3 b600• White has a pawn majority on the kingside, but Black has counterplay on the dark squares, and the Knight is misplaced on b3. 12 Qa5 This is what Bologan chose against Beliavsky, and as we shall see, things are good for Black here as well. We look at two moves: a) 1 3 . Bd2 is the old move in the position, when Black is doing generally fine after both 13 . . . Qe5 and 13 . . . Qc7: .••

•••

The main line in this variation . White tries to permanently stop Black's main counterattacking re source d6-d5 while finishing his development . Still, there are other ideas for Black .

ll . . . Qb6 Black targets both the knight on d4 and the pawn on b2 , forcing White to retreat the knight to a worse position. It was because of this idea that Bologan decided to give the line a new try.

12.Nb3 Six months prior to this game Bologan suffered a defeat after the tricky 12.Na4. His opponent Alexander Beliavsky managed to extract some advantage from the opening. However, Black had ways of improving his play: 18

al) 13 . . . Qe5 14 .Bc3 Qe7 The knight on a4 and the bishop on c3 do not really seemed improved, to say the least. 15 .Qd2 Ne5 16.b3 d5! 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.Bb5 Bd7 19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20.exd5 Qxd5 and we see Black taking over the initiative in Bilobrk-Saric, Split 201 1 .


a2) 13 . . . Qc7 14 .Be1 a6 15.Rc1 c5! Another option for Black to begin active play is to advance this c-pawn and win the d4 square for the knight. 16 .Nc2 Ne5 17. Nc3 Bd7 18 .Qd2

(The seemingly dangerous 18.{4 Nc6 weakens the e4 pawn instead, and Black is fine after 19.Bf3 Nd4 20.Nxd4 cxd4 2l. Qxd4 Nxe4+Z.) 18 . . . Rad8 19.Bh4 Bc6 20. Rfd1 b5!? 21 .cxb5 axb5 22 .Bxb5 Bxb5 23.Nxb5 Qb6 24.Nca3 and here the active 24 . . . d5! would have given fantastic compensation to Black after 25.Bxf6 Qxf6 26.exd5 Qh4 with the threat Bg7-h6-f4! Instead, 24 . . . Rd7 was the game continuation in Ruzele-Siepelt, Berlin 1994. b) 1 3 . Bf4N

b2 1 1 )

18 . . . Bg4

19.Qd2

Rh5

(19. . . Nxe4 ? 20.Nxe4+-) 2 0 .e5±. b212) 18 ... Rxe4 19. Bxd7 Nxd7 20.Nxe4 dxe4 2 1 . Ne6 Nf6 2 2 . Nxg7 Kxg7 23 .Qb3 and Black didn't get sufficient compensation for the exchange in Beliavsky-Bologan, J S ibenik 2010. Even if he can survive this we do not play the KID to suffer for a draw. b22) Note that 14 . . . Qb4? is met by 1 5 . Nc2 ! and the b2 pawn is taboo: 15 . . . Qxb2?? 16 . Na4+-. b23) Instead, Black needed to play 14 ... Qb6 ! ? 15 .Qd2 Nfd7 16 .Be3 Nc5 17.Qc2 (or 1 7.Nc2 a5 lB.Rabl B{B) 17 . . . Ned7 18.Rad1 a5oo.

12 . . . a5 Black wins space on the queen's flank with tempos .

13. Qd2 We will look at 1 3 . Na4 Qb4 in the next game, Elj anov-Bologan, S ibenik 2010.

13 . . . a4 14. Be3 Qd8! The best square for the queen. From here it can be transferred to either the king's or queen's flank!

15. Nd4

This was the novelty that Beliavsky had prepared for the game. b1) Now one possibility is 13 ... Qc7 14 .Qd2 (Black will achieve

1 5 . Nc1?! is too slow, and Black can perform the desired central break after 15 . . . Ne5 16 . Rb1 Be6 17.b3 axb3 18.axb3 d5t, in Sharavdorj Shimanov, Moscow 2 0 1 1 .

15. . . Nc5

standard break after 14.Nc3 Nh5 15.Be3 {5+Z.) 14 . . . Nh5 1 5 . Be3 Nc5

a

16 .Nc3 a5 17.Nb3:t. b2) But 13 ... Ne5 is best in the above diagram. Now, after 14 . Nc3: b2 1) The central release which Bologan tried did not work: 14 . . . d5?! 15.cxd5 cxd5 16 . Bb5 Bd7 17. Bxe5 Rxe5 18.f4 and now: Chapter la: Flexibility in the Classical Variation

19

Thanks to the beautiful pawn on a4 , the knight on c5 is really hand some. Please note that whenever this

knight occupies the c5 square, we usu ally start playing on the king's flank, discarding our plans for a central strike with d6-d5. Also possible are 15 . . . Nb6 and 15 . . . Qa5 !?.

16. Rfdl 16.Rabl!? is an alternative for White. Still, after 16 . . . Nfd7 17.b4 axb3 18.axb3 Be5 19.b4 Ne6 20.f4 Black can trade a pair of pieces: 20 . . . Bxd4!

(But not 20... Bg7 21.Nxe6 Rxe6 22.Bd4 Nf6 23.Bf3 ReB 24.RfdH, when White stabilizes the situation and enjoys his extra space, in Goganov-Shimanov, St. Petersburg 2011.) 2l.Bxd4 Nxd4

The central strike! 20.b4 Ne6? Fighting for the dark squares! 2l.Ra8? Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Bxd4 23 .Qxd4 Qh4! And now a small winning combination is inevitable: 24.Qd2 Ng3+ 25.Kgl Qxh2+! 26.Kxh2 Nfl+ 27.Kgl Nxd2+, with a good extra pawn in Smith Shimanov, Stockholm 2010. If 16.Nc2 then 16 . . . Nfd7 ! welcom ing 17.Qxd6? a3 ! .

1 6. . . Nfd7 1 7. Rabl With 17.Bfl White can try to defend the king's flank in advance. 17... Be5 A semi-provoking move, as Black would love to see the white pawn advance to f4 , leaving it.s colleague on e4 vulnerable.

22.Qxd4 Ra3. With fewer pieces on the board White's space advantage is not so obvious, and Black can gradu ally equalize: 23.Ral Rxal 24.Rxal Qf6 25 .Qe3 Qe7 26.Qd3 Nf6 27.Ra8 Bg4=, Bologan. 16.b4 is an aggressive try for the first player. Pay close attention to the following model game, as Black manages to achieve all the ideas that he wants: 16 . . . axb3 17.axb3 Rxal 18.Rxal Nh5 ! Opening the road for the queen! 19.Bdl f5! 20


We show two possibilities: 18.Qf2!? stops Qd8 -h4 and is probably White's best try. Still, the situation is full of life and possibil ities for both sides after 18 . . . Qe7 (18 . . Qa5!? with the threat a4-a3

b) 19. Bf2

.

makes sense as well, since the white queen has left the center.) 19.Rel Nf6 20.Radl Bd7 2 1 .h3 Nh5 2 2 . Nde2 and here is a strong blockading move 22 . . . g5 !

\

After Qe7-f6 and eventually a4a3 , Black seems in good control of the situation. Instead, the youngest GM in the world preferred 22 . . . b6 23.g4 Nf6? 24.Bxc5 ! bxc5 2 5 . f4 Bxc3 26.Nxc3±, in Reinderman-Nyzhnyk, Wijk aan Zee 2 0 1 2 . 18.Rabl ('!?' D. Mozetic.) 18 . . . Qa5 a) 19.Qc2 Qb4 20.Ncb5 Qa5 21.Nc3 Qb4 2 2 . Nce2 Nf8 ! Remember this pattern - Black is taking care of the strong d4 Knight! 23 .Qcl Nfe6 24 .Nc2 Qa5=, Khalifman-Kokarev, Dagomys 2009.

Now Black, with 19 . . . Nf8 , intended to first deal with White's d4 knight, and then advance the f-pawn. 20.b4 axb3 2 l . axb3 Qb4 2 2 . Bel Nfe6 2 3 . Nc2 Qb6 led to a complex position with mutual chances. White, however, committed a characteristic mistake, 24. Bf2?, and was punished in a typical, tactical way: 24 . . . Bxc3! 25.Qxc3 Nxe4! 2 6 . Bxb6 Nxc3, winning a pawn in Bosiocic- Cvitan, Split 201 1 .

1 7 Be5 ...

Provoking White's Unclear is 17 . . . Qa5oo.

next

move.


21

18.(4 This move drives away the bishop from its active location, but weakens the e4 pawn. A safer alternative is 18.Bf2 Qe7 19. Bfl . However, after the already standard idea 19 . . . Nf8 ! 20.b4 axb3 2l.axb3: a) 2l ... Ra3 22 .Qc2 Nfe6 2 3 . Nde2 Nf4?! (Only this is a mistake. Better was 23 . . . Qf6!?"?.) 24.Nxf4 Bxf4 25 .b4 Ne6 26.Rd3:t, Van Wely- Shchekachev, Bastia 2010. b) Black could have solved all his problems with the other typical blockading idea: 2 l . . . Nfe6 22.Nde2 Qf6 23 .b4 Na4 24.Nxa4 Rxa4 25.Be3 g5=.

Note the ideal position of the black pieces. The bishop on e5 is a monster! 18.g3 is another solid but innocuous attempt. Black equalizes after 18 . . . Qe7 (unclear is 18. . . Qa5oo) 19.Bg5 f6 20.Be3 Nf8 2l.b4 axb3 22.axb3 Nfe6 23.Nc2 Qg7 24.b4 f5 25.Nd4 Nxd4 26.Bxd4 Bxd4 27.Qxd4 Na4=, Polishchuk-Opryatkin, 2007/ Corr 201 1.

22

The careless 18.b4?! axb3 19. axb3 is strongly met with 19 . . . Qh4! t.

It is worth studying this position for a while using Mozetic's notes: a) Now 20.h3? weakens the black squares: 2 0 . . . Nf6-+ . b) 20.Bgl is no better: 20 . . . Nf6 ! (20. . . Bf4! might be even stronger) and now: bl) 2 l .g4 Bxg4! 22.fxg4 Nfxe4-+ . b2) 2 l .b4? Nh5 2 2 . g4 Ne6 ! 2 3 . Nxe6 (or 23.gxh5 Nxd4) 23 . . . Ng3+ 24.Kg2 Nxe2 2 5 . Nxe2 Bxe6t. b3) 2 1 .Qel! is White's best try, but he is still worse after 2 1 . . .Qxel 2 2 . Rxel Ra3+. c) After 20.f4 Bg7 2 l . Bf3 Nf6, Black's pieces have arrived on the battlefield with great effect, and the first player is in trouble: 2 2 . Bf2

(not 22.g3?! Qh3+, and g4 and e4 are weak squares.) 22 . . . Qh6 2 3 . Rel Ng4 and now :


cl) 24. Bgl? Bxd4 25.Qxd4 Qxf4+. c2) 24. Bg3 Ne5 ! (24 . . . Ra3 might be even better.) 2 5 . Be2 Ned3 ! 2 6 . Bxd3 Bxd4: c21) 27.b4? Ra3 . c22) 27.Bc2 Qg7 2 8 . Ne2 Bf6 ! (28 . . . Nxe4 ?? 29. Nxd4!+-) 29.Qxd6 (29. Ngl Bc3) 29 . . . Nxe4 3 0.Bxe4 Rxe4+ with the bishop pair and the better game. c23) 27.Ne2 Bf6t. c3) 24. Bxg4 Bxg4+. Black was better and managed to convert his advantage in Ligterink-Mozetic, Tilburg 1993.

20 . . . Qf8

18 ... Bg7 19. Bf3 Qe7

2 6 . Nxf3 RedS = .

The threat is ... f7-f5 . Black is using the half-open e-file!

23. b4

Bologan decides to play for a win. Alternatively, a relatively safe equality would be reached after 20 . . . Nb6!? 2 1 .b3 h5 (also possible is

21 . . . axb3 22.axb3 Ra3 23.Bf2 Nbd7 24. Qc2 h5+t) 2 2 . f5 axb3 2 3 . axb3 Ra3 24. Bg5 Qe5 2 5 . Nce2 Nbd7oo.

21. b4 axb3 22. axb3 Ra3 Black can torture his opponent by hitting the vulnerable e4 pawn: 2 2 ... Nf6 2 3 . Bgl (23. Qc2 Bg4 24. b4 Ne6= Bologan.) 23 . . . Bg4 24.e5 dxe5 2 5 .fxe5 Bxf3 (25 . . . Bh6 26. Qc2 Bxf3

2 7.Nxf3 Nfd7 2B. RbdH,

Postny.)

20. Rel


23

33.Rxf7 ! Be6! 34.Rxf8+ Qxf8�, with the remark:

28 . . . Nb6/ The King's Indian Spirit! Black sacrifices a piece for only two pawns. However, these pawns will be well supported by both bish ops and the heavy pieces. Also possible is 23... Na4 24.Nxa4 Rxa4 25.Qc2;!;.

24. bxc5 Nxc4 25. Qd8 26. Qxe8 dxc5 2 7. Nde2 c4

Nxe8

Better than 27...Bxc3 28.Nxc3 b5 29.Ral Rxal 30.Rxal b4 3 l. Na4 c4 32.Qb6 Be6 33.Nc5;!;, Bologan.

28. Qcl g511

"You might be laughing, but despite the fact that Black is a piece down, and does not have a single pawn to compensate for it, I would still prefer to have Black here ! " Indeed, the beautiful bishops i n the center, which control everything, make even the materialistic machine respect the position, and carefully assess it as equal!

81. Ndl Rxbl 82. Qxbl b5 88. Ne8 Be6 84. Nf5/ Ra8 Absolutely gorgeous! Black clears the way for the bishop, so that no one will disturb it on e5!

29.fxg5 29.g3 b5 highlights the weak ened third rank, while 29.e5 gxf4 30.Ne4 Rxe5 3 1.Qxc4 Be6 32.Qc2 Qe7 33.Nxf4 Ba2 34.Rb2 Bd5�, given by Bologan, leads to a complete mess.

29. . . Be5 80.Bh5 Also unclear would be 30.Ndl Qc5 3l.Ng3 b5 32.Nf5 c3 33.Nh6+ Kg7 34.Ne3 Be6 35.Re2 b4 36.Bg4 b3 37.Bxe6 fxe6 38.Qdl Bd4oo.

80 . . . Rb8 After 30... Qc5 Bologan gives the following line: 3l.Rfl Rf8 32.Qd2 b5

24


35. Qdl One wild line is 3 5 . Ned4 Bxf5 36.Nxf5 Ral 37.Qxa l Bxa l 3 8 . Rxal b4 39. Be2 ! c3 40. Bc4 Qb8 4l.Bb3 c5 42.e5 c4 43. Bxc4 c2 44.h3 Qa7 45.Rcl Qd7 46.Nh6+ Kg7 47. Bb3 Qd2 48. Rxc2 Qel+ 49.Kh2 Qxe5+ 50.g3 Qxg5 5 l . Nxf7 Qe3 =.

Or 40 ... b3 4 l . Nxe6 b2 42 . Nxf7+ Qxf7 43 . Bxf7 bxclQ 44.Rxcl c2 45.Nxc5 Bb2 46 .Rel clQ 47.Rxcl Bxcl=.

41.Nxe6 Ral 43. Rxal clQ+!

42. Qxal

Bxal

35. . . c5? Both opponents went into time trouble, with unavoidable mistakes. Better was 35 ... Ral 36 .Qxal Bxal 37.Rxal Qd8 38 .h4 b4 39. Nh6+ Kf8 40.Nxf7 Qb6 4 l . Ne5 b3 42. Nf4 Ke7 43.Nxe6 b2 44.Rbl Qe3 4 5 . Nd4 Qcl+ 46.Rxcl bxclQ+ 47. Kh2 c5 48.g6 hxg6 49.Nxg6+ Kf7 50. Nf4+ Kg8 5l.Nde2 Qel 52 . Nd5=.

36. Nh6+ 36.Rfl ! ± .

36 . . . Kh8 ? 3 6 . . . Kg7 37.Qd2 b 4 3 8 . Nf4 Qd6 39.Nxe6+ fxe6 40.Qf2 Rf8 4 l . Nf7 c3 42 .Qh4 Qd4 43 . Nxe5 Qxe5 44. Bg4 h5 45 .gxh6+ Kh8 46.h3 Rf6oo.

37. Rfl Qe7

Or 43 ... Qa7 44.Nxf7+ Kg8 45.Rfl (45.Nh6+=) 45 . . . Qe7 46.Ne5 b3 47. Bf7+ Kh8 48.g6 Qf6 49.g7+ Qxg7 5 0 . Nxg7 b2 ! ! 5 l . Nd3 blQ 52 . Ncl Kxg7 with good chances for a draw, according to Bologan.

44. Rxcl fxe 6 45. Ral Qf8 It's also a draw after 45 . . . Kg7· 4 6 . h4 Qb7 47. R d l Qc7 4 8 . R a l Qb7=.

46.Nf7+ Kg7 4 7. Ra 7 b3 48.Nh6+ Kh8 49. Nf7+ Kg7 50. Nh6+ KhB *·* Who would not like to give this line a try after such a start?!

38. Qd2 Fier misses a golden opportunity: 38.Nxf7+ Bxf7 39.Bxf7 Ral 40.Nc l Qxg5 4l.g3+-.

38 . . . b4 39. Nf4 c3 40. Qcl c2 Chapter la: Flexibility in the Classical Variation

25

2 EJjanov - Bologan

Croation Team Championships, Sibenik 2010 l.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg 7 4 . e4 d6 5. Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 e5 7. 0-0 exd4 8.Nxd4 ReB 9.f3 c 6 lO. Khl Nbd7 11.Bg5

position for Black in Blees-Brendel, Krumbach 1991.

14 . . . Nc5 Definitely playable, and Black en joys a good game after this move. However, from a theoretical point of view, Black's problems are easily solved with the standard 14 d5! .•.

Eljanov also goes for the main line against Black's setup.

ll . . . Qb6 12. Nb3 a5

13. Na4 And here, instead of allowing the a-pawn to advance, he tries to force the queen's retreat with tempo. The drawback of this move is that the knight is misplaced on the edge of the board, and does not sufficiently control the center. Note that White cannot take the d-pawn: 13.Qxd6? a4 14.c5 Qb4 15.Qd4 Qxd4 16.Nxd4 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 Bxd4+. 13 .Qd2 was the course of the pre vious game, Fier-Bologan, Moscow 2011.

13. . . Qb4 14. Ncl A more or less forced retreat, as the alternative 14 . Nd4? saw White suffer after 14 . . . Nc5! 1 5 . Nxc5 dxc5 16 .Nb3 a4 17. Nc1 Qxb2 18.Nd3 Qd4, with an extra pawn and better 26

White's knight on a4 is too far away from the central battle, and Black equalizes easily, at the very least. We look at several replies: After 15.Nd3 Qe7 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.e5 Nxe5 18.Nb6 Rb8 19.Nxd5 Qd8 20. N3f4 h6 2 l . Bxf6 Bxf6 2 2 . Nxf6+ Qxf6=, Black even managed to win this position, in Shneider-Buturin, Kiev 1986. 15.a3 does not have the desired effect, as the queen can step into the bishop pin for a moment: 15 . . . Qe7 16.exd5 cxd5 17. Bh4 (1 7. cxd5 Qe5 18.{4 Qxd5 19. Qxd5 Nxd5+) 17 . . . dxc4 18. Bxc4 Ne5 19.Bb5 Bd7 2 0 .Qe2?! Bxb5 2 l .Qxb5 Qd7, and Black is already much better. Just compare the coordinated black pieces to white's , which are scattered around, in Ruzele-Ivanchuk, Sochi 1986. 15.cxd5 cxd5 and now there are further branches:

Chapter l a : Flexibility in the Classical Variation

a) 16 .exd5 Nc5 17. Nd3 , when Black has a pleasant choice between immediate equality with 17 . . . Qxa4 18.Nxc5 Qxd 1 19.Bxd 1 Nxd5 = Pane lo- Grigore, Sitges 2 0 0 5 , and the rec� ommendation by Eljanov : 17 . . . Nxd3! 18.Bxd3 Nxd5 19.a3 Qd6 2 0 . Bc4 Be6, with excellent play for Black. b) 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 (Black can also

sacrifice a pawn with 16. . . Bxf6 17.a3 Q{B 18.Qxd5 RdB�.) 17. Nd3 (17.exd5? suddenly loses material after 17. . . Bd7 18. b3 Bxa4 19. bxa4 Qb2-+) 17 . . . Qd4 18.e5 Nd7 19.f4 f6 ! The King's Indian bishop needs air. 20.Bf3 fxe5 2 l . Nxe5 Qxd 1 2 2 . Raxd 1 Nxe5 2 3 . fxe5 Bxe5=, and Black's two bishops will secure equality.

15. Nd3!N

16 ... Qb4! and now: a) After 17. Rd1 (Bologan) 17 . . . Nd7, only Black c a n b e better, or even 17 . . . d5!? with the initiative. b) 17.Qc2 d5 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Nd3 Qd4+. Please note that the immediate 16 d5? is premature: 17.cxd5 cxd5 1 8 . Nd3 Qf8 19.e5 Nd7 20.f4±, Roed er-Burgess, Vienna 1990. •••

15

...

This move is a novelty and the first choice of the engines. White needs to trade his opponent's active pieces at once . Anything else will pass the initiative to Black. 15.Nxc5 also trades pieces, but provides time for Black to create con crete threats: 15 Qxc5 16.Qd2 .•.

Qxa4 1 6. b3 Nfxe4!!

Spectacular and in the spirit of the KID. Bologan sacrifices his queen for just two minor pieces and a pawn, but will enjoy great activity. Note that 16 Qa3? loses the queen after 17.Bcl. •••


27

A less brave man would prefer another attractive sacrifice after 16 Nxb3! 17.axb3 Qxal 18 .Qxal Nxe4! ...

b) Or a different perpetual with 2 3 . Ne4 axb3 24.Nf6+ Kg7 2 5 . Nh5+ gxh5 26.Qg5+ Kh8 27.Qf6+ Kg8 28 .Qg5+=.

1 7. bxa4

19.Qcl Nxg5 20.Qxg5 Rxe2

1 7. . . Nc3 The point behind Black's idea. He wants the e2 bishop, not the one on g5 . Less good is 17 . . . Nxg5?! 18.Rbl Bf5 19.Nxc5 (after 19.g4!? Bxd3

20.Bxd3 Nh3 2l. Qd2 Be5�, "White can hardly crack the black-squared blockade) 19 . . . Bxbl 20.Nxb7 Bxa2 2 1 . Nxd6 RedS 22 .c5 Ne6 23 .Qc2 Bd5 24.Bc4 Bxc4 25.Qxc4;!;.

18. Qcl!

with much more material to compen sate for the queen. The most likely out come is a draw: 21.Qd8+ Bf8 22.Nf2

The only move. Everything else loses material: 18 .Qc2? Rxe2 19.Bd2 Bf5 -+. 18.Qel?! Rxe2 19.Nxc5 Rxel 20. Raxel Bf5 2 1 . Nxb7 d5t.

18 . . . Nxe2 19. Qa3

(or 22.h4 Re7! with the key defensive resource given by Eljanov: 23.h5 Rd7 24.Qe8 Re7 25.Qd8 Rd7=) 22 ... a4 (also good is 22... Re6 23.Ne4oo). Now: a) Either a perpetual after 23 .bxa4 Rxa4 24.Ne4 Be6 (24 . . . Rxe4!? 25.fxe4 Be6�) 2 5 . Nf6+ Kg7 26.Ne8+ Kg8 27.Nf6+=, 28


19...Be6! I suspect that Bologan did not even consider throwing away his bishop for the miserable rook on al! 19 . . . Bxa l 20.Rxal b6 2 l . Nf2 f5 22.Qb2 would see White consolidating, and building an attack on the dark squares.

20.Nxc5 Or 20.Rael Bxc4 2 l . Nxc5 dxc5 22 .Qxc5 Ba6iii , where the white rooks are out of play.

30. Bf6 The b-pawn becomes too dangerous, so White hurries to trade bishop!;!. 30 . . . Bxf6 3 1 .Qxf6 Re6 32 .Qb2 Bc4iii . and once again, White's rooks are kept out of play.

21 . . . Nc3! Once again scorning the rook. Indeed, the line 2 1 . . . Bxal 2 2 . Rxal Nd4 2 3 . Bf6± should be avoided!

22. Rae1

20... dxc5 21. Qd3 The position is extremely messy, and difficult for both players . Some further lines prove that Black has enough compensation:· 21.Qb3 is a line given by Bologan 21...Nd4 22.Qxb7 Bxc4 2 3 . Rfel Ne6 24.Racl Bxa2 25 .Qd7 c4iii . And the line 21.Qxc5 is provided by Eljanov: 2 1 . . . Bd4 22 .Qd6 Bxc4 23.Rabl (also 23. Qc7 b5! and 23.Rael

c5! 24.{4 Re4 25.{5 RaeB with the initiative) 23 . . . b5! 24.Qxc6 Rac8 25 .Qd7 b4 2 6 . Rbdl Be6 27.Qd6 Bg7 28 .Qb6 h6! and now: a) 29.Bd2 Bxa2 30.Qxa5 b3iii with eompensation. b) 29.Bh4 Nc3 3 0 . Rdel Ra8iii . c) 29. Rdel Bxa2

22 . . .Nxa2 The other pawn was also yummy: 22 . . . Nxa4 23 .Qb3 b5! 24. Rxe6 Rxe6 25.cxb5 Nb6 26.bxc6 Rxc6 27.Qb5 Rac8 28 .Qxa5 c4 29.Rbl Nd7 30.Qa7 Nf8iii . In fact, it is only Black who can play for a win here!


29

23. Re3 h6 24.Bh4 Black's pawns also start rolling after 24. Bf4 Nb4 25 .Qe2 b 5 ! .

24 . . . Nb4! Also possible is 24 . . . Nc3 !? with counterplay.

25. Qe2 b5 26. cxb5 Similar is 26.axb5 cxb5 27.cxb5 Nd5.

26 ... Nd5 2 7. Ra3 c4 ?! Overambitious . A neat continuation is 27. . . cxb5! 28.axb5 (or 28. Qxb5 c4 29. Qxc4

3 0 . Qb5 RedS 3 l . Rc l Nb4 3 2 .c7 Rd5 3 3 .Qb7 Rc500•

29. . . Rec8 30. Bg3! Black's position has i mproved significantly in the last moves, and Elj anov hurries to get rid of the black-squared monster.

30 . . . Rxc6 31. Be5 Bxe5 Unfortunately, 3 1 . . . Bf8 can be answered with 3 2 . Raxc3 Nxc 3 3 . Rxc3± .

�

32. Qxe5 c2

Ne3 30. Qcl Nxfl 31. Qxfl RabB with initiative) 28 . . . Nb6 29.Rel a4 30.Qc2 Bd4 31 .h3 Bb3 3 2 . Rxe8+ Rxe8 33.Rxb3 axb3 34.Qxb3 Ra8 3 5 . Kh2 c4 with counterplay - Eljanov.

28. bxc6?! Returning the favor. Better was 28 .Qxc4! cxb5 29.Qxb5 Reb8 30.Qe2 Rb2 3 l .Qdl±.

28. . . c3

Now the position is more or less balanced. White will need to give up some m aterial for the c2 passer, and the resources of both sides will be exhausted.

33. h4 Nb4 Or 33 . . . Rac8 34 .h5 g5 3 5 . Kh2 Nf4 3 6 . Re3 Rc5 37.Qb2 Bf5 38 .Qb6 Be6=.

34. Rc3 Rxc3 35. Qxc3 36. Qd2 h5 37. Kh2 Bf5 Much more subtle than 28 ... Rec8 29.Rcl Bf8 30.Raal Rxc6 3 l . Rxc4 Nc3 32.Rxc3 Rxc3 3 3 . Bf6 Rc4 34.Bb2±.

29. Rcl If

29. Bg3

then

29 . . . Rac 8 !

(29. . . Rec8 30. Qb5 c2 3l.Rcl Nb4 32.c7 Bb2 is refuted with 33.Rxc2!) 30


ReS

4 7. .. Nd6 48. Rb8+ Kg7 49. Kg3 Nf5+ 50.Kf4 Nxh4 51.a6 Bd5 52. Ke5 Bf3 53.Kd6 It's also a draw after 5 3 . a7 g5 54.Rb3 Ng6+ 5 5 . Kd6 Be4 56.Rb6 BaS 57.RbS Bf3 5 S . Rb5 g4 59. Rg5 BaS 60. Rxg4 f5 6 1 . Rgl f4 62 . Ke6 f3 6 3 . Kf5 Kh7 64. Kg4 Ne5+ 6 5 .Kf4 Nc6 =.

53. . . g5 54. a 7 g4 55. Rb3 56. Rxf3 Nxf3 57. a8Q g2

g3

38.g4! The only way to generate counter play, but a sufficient one.

38 hxg4 39.fxg4 Bxg4 40. Qg5 Bh5 ..•

Analysis shows that Black cannot win: 40 . . . Be6 41 .h5 Na2 42 .Qe5 Nxcl 43.h6 Kf8 44 .Qd6+ KgS 45 .Qe5=. Also, 40 ... Bd1 41 .Qe7 Nd3 42 .Qd7 Nxcl 43.QxcS+ Kg7 44.Qc3+ Kh7 45.Qc7=.

41.Qxa5Na2 No better was 4 1 . . . Nd3 42 .Qa6 Rc3 43 .Qf6 = .

58. Qa1+ Kg8. 59. Qa8+ Kg7 60. Qa1+ Kg8 61.Qa8+ Kg7 62. Qa1+ Kg8 63. Qa8+ Kg7 %-%

42.Qa6 Bg4 ?! It was time to accept the draw with 42 . . . Rc3 43 .QaS+ Kg7 44 .Qd5 Nxcl 45.Qd4+ KgS 46 .Qxc3 Bdl 47.QcS+=.

43.Qxc8+ Suddenly, Bologan needs to show some technique to prove the draw. He does it successfully, though.

43 ...Bxc8 44. Rxc2'! Be6 45. R b2 Nc3 46.a5 Ne4 4 7.Rb5 Bologan proves the draw after 47.a6 Bd5 4S.Rb5 Bc6 49.RbS+ Kg7 50.a7 g5 5 1 . RcS Bb7 52 .h5 Nf6 53.RbS Be4 54.Rb5 Nxh5 55.Rxg5+ Kh6 56.Re5 BaS 57.ReS Bc6 5S.RcS Be4=. Chapter la: Flexibility in the Classical Variation

31

Aggressive development: ll.Bf4 3 Premnath - Kokarev

Mumbai Mayor's Cup 2010 l.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg 7 4. e4 0-0 5. Be2 d6 6. Nf3 e5 7. 0-0 exd4 8.Nxd4 ReB 9.(3 c6 lO. Khl Nbd7 11.Bf4

Two white pieces are hanging, so the knight needs to retreat.

13. Nc2

The most aggressive way to develop the bishop. White seemingly wins a tempo. However. . .

The other retreat can be met in the same way: 13.Nb3 Nf4! threatening Nf4xe2 , after which the bishop on d6 or the pawn on b2 will suffer. We discuss four continuations: 14.c5 a5 1 5 . a4 Ne5 16.g3 Nxe2 17.Qxe2 Qe6! (or 17. .. Be6!?) with the idea 1 8 . Nd4 Qc4 19.Bxe5 Qxe2 20. Ncxe2 Rxe5 2 1 . Racl f5 22.exf5 Bxf5iii .

l l . . . Nh5! l l . . .Ne5 12 .Qd2 is a playable alternative, but Black can and should show activity at once.

12. Bxd6 The only way to prove that White's previous move was not a mere waste of time is to accept the sacrifice. Alternatively, 1 2 . Be3?! f5 (worth considering are both 12 . . . a5!? and 12 . . Qh4!?) 13 .Qd2 f4 14 . Bf2 Be5? saw Black achieving a comfortable position in Lautier-Piket, Adelaide 1988. .

12 . . . Qf6!

32

The bishop pair compensates for the missing pawn, with interest. 14.Rel is best met with 14 . . . Nxe2 ! This bishop is also a good piece!


(better than 14 . . . Ne5 15.c5 b6 16. Qc2 Be6 17. BfH Loehr-Schmitt, Germany 1991) 15.Rxe2 Ne5 16.c5 b6 with counterplay. 14.Rbl a5!� creates the threat a5 -a4-a3 . Finally, after 14.B:x:f4 Qxf4 15.Qc1 Qh4 (15 . . . Qc7, with the idea

of a5-a4-a3, also provides enough compensation for Black.) 16.Qe3 f5 17.g3 Qe7 1 8 . c5 Nf6 , Black has sufficient compensation for the sacrificed pawn. The e4�pawn is always a target , and the pair of bishops also brings j oy to Black. The further course of this game shows that it is only Black who can play for a win. I am giving the next few moves so that you can see how this position is handled by a grandmaster. 19.Bc4+ Kh8 2 0 . Rae1 fxe4 2 l . Nxe4 Bh3 2 2 . Rf2 Nxe4 2 3 . fxe4 Rad8 24. Rf7 Qe5 2 5 . Bfl Bc8 2 6 . Rf2 Be6 27.Qf4 Rd7 2 8 . Qxe5 Bxe5 2 9 . Kg2 Kg7 30.Rc2 RedS 3 l . Bc4 Bg4 3 2 . Be2 Be6 3 3 . Bc4 Bxc4 3 4 . Rxc4 Bxb2 +, Franco Ocampos-Damljanovic, San Sebastian 1994.

A typical trick, which might work in many cases for Black.

15. Bxc5?

· White is frustrated, and gives up too quickly. Correct is 15.e5! Now Black can choose equality with 15 R:x:e5!? 16. Bxe5 Qxe5 17.Qd8+ Bf8 18.Rf2 Rb8 19.Qd4 Qc7�, with a nice bishop and a pawn for the exchange: •••

13 . . . Nf4 14. c5 With the white knight on c2 , Black has one more idea up his sleeve. Kokarev had pleasant experience after 14.B:x:f4 Qxf4 1 5 .g3 Qh6 16.Qc1 Qxc1 17. Raxcl f5�. Aupov-Kokarev, Kazan 2 0 0 1 . As in the game Franco Ocampos-Damlj a novic, it is only Black who can play for the win. Lerner-Kuzmin, Alushta 1992 , continued 14.Rf2 (similar would be 14.Rel) 14 . . . Nxe2 1 5 . Rxe2 Ne5 16.Ne3 Be6 17.c5 b6 1 8 . Ned5 cxd5 19.Bxe5 Qxe5 2 0 . exd5 Qf5 2 l . dxe6 Rxe6 22 .cxb6 axb6 2 3 . Rxe6 Qxe6 24.Qd2 Qc4 2 5 . a3 Bxc3 Y:.!- ¥2 .

14 . Nxc5/ ..

Also possible , on Black's last move , was the queen trade 19 . . . Qxd4 2 0 . Nxd4 Nfe6 2 l . Nxe6 Bxe6�. Or instead, Black can choose complications with 15 Qg5 16.g3 Bh3 (or 16 . . . Nxe2 1 7. Qxe2 b6 18.f4-t. •••


33

but Black definitely has compensa tion) 17. Bxc5 and now: a) Bad would be 17 . . . Rad8 1 8 . Ne4 Qf5 due to Postny's suggestion: a1) 19.Bd6! all) not 19 ... Bxe5 20.Ne3 Qc8 2l.Nc4 Bg2+ 2 2 . Kg1 Bd4+ 2 3 . Rf2+-. a12) nor 19 ... Bxfl 20.Qxfl Nxe2 21 .Qxe2+-. a13) 19 . . . Bg2+ 20.Kg1 Bxfl 2l.Bxfl Bxe5 22.Nd4 Nh3+ 2 3 . Bxh3 Qxh3 24.Bxe5 Rxe5 25 .Qe1!±. a2) Much worse was 19. Nd4? Bg2+ 20.Kg1 Nxe2+ 2 l . Kxg2 Nxd4 22.Nd6? Rxd6 2 3 . Bxd6 Nc2 24 .Qe2 Nxa1 2 5 . Rxa1 Qe6 26.Qd3 Bxe5 27.Re1 Rd8 2 8 . Rxe5 Qxe5 0 - 1 , Karolyi-Watson, Kecskemet 198 8 . b) However, a playable alternative is 17 . . . Nxe2 18.Qxe2 Bxfl 19. Rxfl Qxe5 20 .Qf2 with approximate equality. c) Or the wild 17 . . . Qxe5!? 1 8 . Bd6 Bg2+ 19.Kg1 Nxe2+ 2 0 . Kxg2 Nxc3 2l .bxc3 Qxc3 2 2 . Bf4 Rad8 23.Re1D (not 23. Qcl Re2+ 24.Rf2

One more mistake gives Black t chance to increase his advantage.

24 . . . g51 25. Qe5 Not 25 .Qe3? c5-+. Also insufficient 2 6 . Bg1 Bg7-+.

is

25 .Qc1

25. . . Qxe5 26. Bxe5 Rdl+ 2 7. Rx• Rxdl+ 28. Rel Rd2

Qxc2 25. Qxc2 Rxc2 26.Rxc2 Bxal-+) 23 . . . Qc4 with two pawns and active pieces to compensate for the piece.

15. . . Qg51+ Double attack. Black recovers the pawn, and has the bishop pair for free.

16.g3 Nxe2 1 7.Be3 Nxc3 18. bxc3 Qe7 Or 18 . . . Qa5 !?

19. Bd4 Bh3 20. Rel Rad8 21. Qe2 Rd7 22. Qe3 RedS 23. Re2 Bf8 24. Qf4

34

The bishops triumph !

29. Ne3 Rxa2 30. Kgl B, 31. Bxg7 Kxg7 32.(4 gxf4 33.g" a5 34. e5 a4 35. c4 a3 36. c5 R 37. Nc4 Rg2+ 38. Khl a2 39. Rc2 40.(6+ Kh6 41.Nd6 Be6 0-


The prophylactic ll.Nc2

that this piece is vulnerable in the center, encouraging the e- and f-pawns to advance. White's last move in this line is an improvement on 14 .exd5?! cxd5 1 5 .c5 Nh5 16.Qd2 Nc6 = , Pavlovic - S edlak, Mataruska Banj a 2 0 0 8 .

4 Kovalenko - Kokarev

RUS Cup final 2011 J. d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 8.Nc8 Bg7 4. e 4 d6 5. Be2 0- 0 6. Nf8 e5 7. 0 - 0 exd4 8.Nxd4 ReB 9.f8 c 6 l O. Khl Nbd7 11.Nc2

12. Bg5 Insisting on his idea to stop d6 d5 forever. As usual, though, this bishop has a wide choice of squares for development: 12.Bf4 should be met with 12 . . . Be6 13 . Na3 (or 13.Ne3 d5=) 13 . . . Nh5! and now : a) It appears that the d6 pawn is poisoned: 14 . Bxd6 NcB ! 15.Bb4 Qg5 16.Qcl

White prophylactically retreats the knight to c2 . His idea is to step away from the vulnerable central square, and to unblock the queen's file, thus hoping to prevent the d6-d5 thrust. Additionally; the c2 -knight wants to be transferred to e3, or to support a bishop on e3. and now comes the combination: 16 . . . Ng3+ ! 17.hxg3 Qh5+ 1 8 . Kgl Bd4+ 19. Rf2 a5+ suddenly trapping the bishop! b) 14 . Be3 Qh4? gaining counter play with the idea 15.Qxd6? Rad8 16.Qc5 Ng3++. The other bishop development cannot prevent d6-d5: 12.Be3 Be6

ll. . . Nb 6 All these considerations, though, are overpowered by the fact that White loses precious time. Therefore, we should try to prepare d6-d5 at once. Please note also that the retreat of the d4 Knight has left the e6 square in Black's hands, and the bishop would not mind arriving there with a tempo. l l . . . Ne5 is not the best square for the knight , as the line 1 2 . Be3 Be6 13 .b3 d5?! 14 . B d4 ! ± proves

·

(I also like 12 ... Nh5!?, first provoking some weaknesses on the king's flank, 13.g4 Nf6 14. Qd2 Be6 with counter play.) 13.b3:

Chapter l a: Flexibility in the Classical Variation

35

a) And now Black should not waste any time, but strike at once with 13 . . . d5!

b2) 14. Nd4 Rad8 16.cxd5?! (16.a5f;t,)

1 5 . a4 d5 16 . . . Bxd5

(16 ...Nfxd5! 1 7.exd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5+) 17.a5 Nc8 = in Chuchelov Hoehn, Porz 1990.

12

...

Be6

Natural, but not best. And the direct 12 ... d5?! is not well supp orted, and should be refuted after 13.cxd5 (or 13.c5 Nbd7 14.exd5

Nxc5 15.dxc6 Qxdl 16.Raxdl bxc6 17.Nd4;t Lev-Rechlis, Tel Aviv 1989) 13 . . . cxd5 14 . a4!± . . Black needed first to put the question to the bisho p : 12 . . . h6!

For example: a1) 14 .cxd5 cxd5 15.e5 Nfd7 16.f4 f6 17.exf6 Nxf6 18.Rc1 (18.Bd4

Ne4 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Bxg7 Kxg7=) 18 . . . Rc8 19. Bd4 Ne4 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 2l .Qd4+ Qf6=. a2) Yurtaev also proved decent compensation after 14 .exd5: a21) Now 14 . . . cxd5 is simplest: 15.c5 Nfd7 ! The point behind Black's break! 16.Qd2 (16.Bd4 fails due

to a small trick: 16 ...Nxc5 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Qd4+ Qf6 19.Qxc5 RacB+) 16 . . . Rc8+t. a22) Yurtaev continued instead with 14 . . . Bf5!? 15. Bd4 c5 16 . Bxc5 Nfd7 17. Bxb6 Qxb6 18.Na4 Qd6 19.Rb1 Be5 and Black even won in Moskalenko-Yurtaev, Frunze 1987. Watch out for this name, we shall hear more about him later! b) Also possible, though, is 13 . . . Qe7 instead: b1) 14.Qd2 d5 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.e5 Nfd7 17.f4 f6 18.exf6 Nxf6 19. Bd4 Ne4 is a somewhat better version for White than the line from above, but still close to equality.

36

and after 13.Bh4, only now proceed with 13 ... Be6. The additional moves h7-h6 and Bg5 -h4 provide us with the option to chase away the bishop with g6-g5 with tempo at the right moment, thus supporting the d6-d5 advance. a) Now, there is another cunning idea by Yurtaev. 14 . Ne3 is met with 14 . . . g5 !


and d6-d5 on the next move. We look at two tries by White: a1) 15. Bg3 d5 16.cxd5 cxd5 17. Nb5

(1Zexd5?! allows Black to seize the initiative: 17... Nfxd5 18.Nexd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Qxd5+.) 17. . . Re7 18. Bd6 Rd7 19.e5 NeB 20.f4 gxf4 (20 ... Nxd6!? 21.exd6 gxf4 22.Rxf4 Qg5 might transpose.) 2 1 . Rxf4 Qg5 2 2 . Rf3 Nxd6 23.exd6 Be5?, and Black was fine in Thoma-Pachmann, Prague 1995. a2) 15.Bf2 d5 16.cxd5 cxd5 17. Nf5 Bxf5 18.exf5 Nc4 led to an interesting and double-edged battle: 19.Bxc4 dxc4 20 .Qa4 Qc8 2 1 . Rad1 a6 22.Rd6 b5 23 .Qc2 Re5 24.g4 Qb7 25.Bd4 Nxg4 26.Rb6 Qd7 27. Bxe5 Nxe5�, in Thorhallsson- Comas Fabrego, Arnhem 1988 , which ended successfully for Black. b) 14.b3 is the other way to protect the pawn, and this is where Yurtaev's bomb explodes: b1) 14 . . . Nxe4! !

Absolutely brilliant! 15.Bxd8 Nxc3 16.Qd2 Raxd8 17. Rae1 c5! Now White won't be able to meet d6-d5 with c4c5 ( Postny). 1 8 . Ne3 d5! Black has two minor pieces and a pawn for the queen, but the activity of those piec es is so great that White was relieved to escape with a draw after 19.cxd5 Nbxd5. And now: bll) 20. Bc4 Nb4 2 1 .Qf2 b5 2 2 . Bxe6 Nd3 23 .Qh4 Nxe1 24.Rxe1 Rd4 2 5 .Bg4 h5+. b12) 20.Nxd5 Rxd5 2 1 .Qc1 b5 2 2 . f4 Rdd8 23 .Qa3 Nxe2 24. Rxe2 c4 2 5 .bxc4:

lh-lh, Huzman-Yurtaev, 1987.

White

has

no

Tashkent winning


37

chances against Black's powerful pair of bishops . b2) However, 1 4 . . . g 5 i s not so bad here, either. Black needs to be careful, though: 15.Bf2 d5 16.exd5 cxd5 17.c5 Nfd7 !? The same idea as above! (but not 17... Nbd7 lB.Rcl

a6 19.Na4 ReB 20.Nd4 Ne5 21.Nb6 Rc7 22. b4t. Kozul-Strikovic, Yerevan 1996) 18 .cxb6!? Bxc3 19.bxa7 Bxa l 20.Qxal b6�. White certainly has compensation, but we have an extra exchange. Still, attacking is much more fun than defending, therefore check out what Yurtaev did instead! Now back to our game:

Black has every reason to play for a win. His bishops are much better than their counterparts. Still, we do not always manage to win our better positions, and this game was one of those examples.

20. Nc3 Qa5 21. Qc2 Rac8 22. Rfdl Nc4 23. Bxc4 Rxc4 24. Racl Rec8 25. Bel b5 26.a3 Qb6 2 7. Qd2 aS 28. Bf2 Qb7 29. Ne4 Rxcl 30. Rxcl Rxcl+ 31. Qxcl Qd5 32. Bel b4 33. axb4 axb4 34. Bxb4 Bxb2 35. Qel Be5 36. Bc3 Bxc3 37. Nxc3=

13. Ne3 This move does not pose any prob lems for Black. The bad news comes after 13.b3!t. when White stabilizes the situation and Black finds it hard to advance in the center: 13 . . . h6 14 .Be3 d5?! 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.e5 Nfd7 17.f4 a6 (17. . . {6

1B.Bd3! underlines the fact that the g6 pawn is loose now!) 18.Bd4± , Grigore-Larios Crespo, Benasque 1999. Also strong is 18.Nd4±.

13 . . . h6 14.Bh4 g5 15. Bf2 d51= 16. cxd5 cxd5 1 7. e5 Nfd7 18.Nexd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Nxe5+ 38

White h a s defended well, and the game should now end in a draw. It seems, though, that time trouble


The acid test: ll.Be3

took its toll in the later stage of the game.

37... Qd4 38.Ne4 Kg 7 39. h4 Bf5?! 40. hxg5 Bxe4 41.gxh6+ Kxh6 42.fxe4 Kg5 43.Qg3+ Kf6 44.Qf4+ Ke6 45.Qf5+ Ke7 46. Kh2 Qe3 47.g3 Qd2+ 48. Kh3 Qh6+ 49.Kg4 Qhl 50. Qe5+ Kd7 51. Kg5 Qg2 52.Kf6 Qa2 53. Qd5+ Qxd5 54.exd5 Kd6 55. Kxf7 Kxd5 56.Kf6 Ke4 57.g4 Kf4 58.g5 Ke4 59.g6 Kd4 60.g7 Ke4 61.g8Q Kd4 62.Qb3 Ke4 63. Qc4+ 1 - 0

5 Kramnik - Ponomariov

Dortmund SuperGM 2011 l.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4 . e4 d6 5. Be2 0 - 0 6. Nf3 e5 7. 0 - 0 exd4 Ponomariov wants to surprise his mighty opponent and chooses this rare and fresh line.

8.Nxd4 ReB 9.{3 c6 lO.Khl Nbd7

ll. Be3 Still, Kramnik shows some quality prep, and this line might be Black's main source of concern nowadays. Despite the fact that the bishop stays on the file of the e8 rook, it is surprisingly difficult for Black to make use of this. White has one more prophylactic retreat in his disposal, l l . Nb3 . But here, the knight simply invites the black a-pawn to advance with tempo, starting with ll . . . a5. Note that the pawn on d6 is not delicious at all : 1 2 . Qxd6 a4 1 3 . Nd2 (Even worse is

13.Nd4 ? Nh5 14.Nc2 Be5 15. Qd2 Qh4 16.{4 Ng3+ 1 7. Kgl Nx{l +.J 13 . . . Ne5 14 .Qxd8 Rxd8 , and Black has full Chapter l a: Flexibility in the Classical Variation

39

compensation for the sacrificed pawn. White is underdeveloped, and the positional threat of a4-a3 with the bishop ranging on the long diagonal cannot be prevented so easily. One sample line is: 15.f4 Nd3 16 .Bxd3 Rxd3 17.e5 a3 ! 18.exf6?! axb2 19.Bxb2 Rxd2 20.Bcl Rc2+.

Qf8, trying to m ake use of his black squared bishop, for example: 16.Nd5 Re6 17. Bb5 a6 1 8 . Ba4 Nc5 19.Nc7 Rd6 20.Nxa8 Rxdl 2 l . Raxd l Bf6 = . a 2 ) Still, White h a d other ways of improving his position. There is also the ambitious 1 3 . Nxd5 cxd5 14 .Nb5 dxe4 (or 14 ... Nb6 15.Bf4!) 1 5 . Nd6 Re7 16.fxe4t., and White will use the f-file for his m ajor pieces and the c4 square for his bishop to attack the most important f7 pawn, as in De Verdier-Schutz, Sweden 2009. b) If 12 ... cxd5, there is once again the very unpleasant 1 3 . Ndb5 ! The knight is headed for d6. 13 . . . dxe4

(13 . . . Nb6 14. a4 Be6 15.e5 Nfd7 16.{4±, Petkov- Gajewski, Plovdi v 2008) and

Now back to our game:

ll

. . .

a6

This was prepared by Ponomariov at home. Black takes control over the b5 square and intends to play b7-b5 or d6-d5 in the future. Black has alternatives, though. Of course, Black's initial reaction is to look at d6-d5: ll d5?! Beware ! For the time being, White has a pull here. 12.cxd5 and now: a) 12 . . . Nxd5 The best move, but Black is not better after either of the main replies 13.exd5 and 13.Nxd5: al) 13.exd5 Rxe3 14 .dxc6 Black has some compensation for the pawn, but it's quite obvious that the first player is not risking much, and can play for a win in a relatively easy way. The best for Black now is 14 . . . bxc6! ...

(better than 14... Nb6 15.Nc2 ReB 16. Bb5 Qxd1 17.Raxd1 R{Bt., Djukic Strikovic, Brezovica 1988) 15.Nxc6 40

now: bl) The f7 pawn can become vul nerable after White plays 14 .Bf4! bll) 14 ... Nh5? 15.Bd6! Qh4 (15 . . . Re6 16. Bc4 ±) 16 . Nc7 Be5 (16. . . Re5 1 7. Qe1+-) 17. Bxe5 Rxe5 1 8 . Nxa8 Ng3+ 19.Kgl Nxfl 20.Qxfl Rh5 2 l .h3+-. b12) 14 ... Nc5 1 5 . Nc7 Bf5 16 .Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nxe8 Rxe 8 . The exchange is stronger here, as White can m ake use of the open files for his Rooks, in Rakhmanov-Kokarev, Voronezh 2010. b2) Or even after White instead plays the aggressive 14 .fxe4 Nxe4 1 5 . Rxf7 ! Nxc3 (not 15. . . Kxf7?? 16. Bc4++-) 16 .Qb3 K h 8 17. Rxg7 Kxg7 1 8 . Qxc3+ Nf6 19. Bf3 , White has excellent compensation for the exchange ( Postny). Ponom a riov liked the Grischuk style provoking idea of l l Nh5 , but I a m not quit e convinced after 1 2 . g4 ! N h f6 1 3 . Q d 2 h5 14 . g5 Nh7 1 5 . N b 3 Qe7 16 . Ra d l Be5 17.f4 ! :


. . .

(our f7 pawn will be safe now!), and d6, too. We look at two possibilities : a ) The prophylactic 1 2 . Nc2 c a n be met with 12 . . . Be6 13 .b3 d5 (13 . . . Ng4!? 14.Bd4 Ne5) 14 .cxd5 cxd5 15.e5 Nfd7 16.f4 f6�. b) The only game played in this line continued 12 .Qd2 d5

This pawn s acrifice i s something that we should always be afraid ofl White does not mind investing some material in order to gain Black's dark-squared bishop, and we agree! 17... Bxc3 18.Qxc3± and now: a) 18 ... Qxe4+ 19.Bf3 Qxe3 (19 . . . Qe7 20.Rfel QfB�) 20.Rdel Qxc3 2l.Rxe8+ Nhf8 22 .bxc3±. b) 18 ... Nc5 19.Nxc5 dxc5 20.e5± or 20.Bd3 !?±. However, Black can still prepare the d6-d5 advance with ll Nb6!? ...

The knight move not only opens the diagonal of the light-squared bishop and controls the d5 square, it has two additional functions: control over c4

and now: bl) 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.exd5 (This time

14.Ndb5 is not threatening Nb5-d6, and can be met simply with 14 ... a6 15.Na3 Bd7=.) 14... Nfxd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5=, and Black was at least equal in Zielinski-Curic, Duisburg 2004. Further tests will reveal how good Black's resources are in this line. The other attempts do not promise anything either: b2) 13.exd5 cxd5 14 .c5 Nc4 1 5 . Bxc4 dxc4 16. Ndb5 Qxd2 17.Bxd2 Rd8= and Black can even hope to make use of his bishop pair in the long run. b3) Or the immediate 13 .c5 Nbd7 14 .exd5 Nxd5 1 5 . Nxd5 cxd5 16 .b4 Qe7 17. Bf2 a5�. Another interesting and typical plan for Black is ll a5!? 12 .Qd2 a4 continuing with Qd8 -a5, Nd7-c5, Nf6 -d7-e5 (or b6), and a4-a3 at the ...


41

proper moment. The arising positions are similar to those that can arise in the Fianchetto Line of the KID, but there the white light-squared bishop is placed on g2 , and the d3 square is somewhat loose. I consider this to be in White's favor, but I believe that Black's resources should not be un derestimated. Back to Kramnik - Ponomariov:

12.Nc2 Ponomariov writes: "Judging by the times, I think here Vladimir started to play on his own resources. "The move he played is quite ambitious; he emphasizes the main weakness of the black position, the weak pawn on d6. But at the same time, without positional grounds, White retreats his knight from the center. "However, at the board it is im possible to calculate every line and the choice is about one's confidence in one's own strengths." If 12.Qd2 , Black shows that the move a7-a6 is not played solely to prepare the b7-b5 advance: 12 . . . d5! 13.exd5 cxd5 14 .cxd5 (or 14.Nxd5

Nxd5 15.cxd5 Nb6 16.Rfel Nxd5=) 14 . . . Nb6: 42

Similarly, as in the ll . . . Nd7-b6 line from above, White lacks the resource Nd4-b5-d6 , and does _ not have the c4 square for his bishop. The game is level. 15. Bg5 Nbxd5 16. Rfel Nxc3 17.bxc3 b6=, or 17 . . . Qb6 = . In his notes, Ponomariov also mentions 1 2 .Bgl , retreating the bishop from its vulnerable position. a) White's idea is revealed in the line 12 . . . d5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14 .exd5 Nb6 15 .Qb3! The queen has this extra square ! 15 . . . Nfxd5 (15. . . Nbxd5 16.Bc4±) 16 . Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Bc4t, and even though Black has freed himself from the backward pawn, White has an i r ritating initiative: 17 . . . Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Be6 19. Rfd l Nf4 (or 19. . . Qg5

Ponomariov 20. Bfl Re7 2l.RacH with the two bishops) 2 0 . Bxe6 Nxe6 2 l . Bc3t. b) But the Ukrainian GM also shows the best response: 1 2 . . . c5! 1 3 . Nc2 Ne5 "and the later possibilities include Be6, Nc6 , and Nfd7. In general, Black has sufficient counterplay."

12 . . . Ne5 Active play is required, as usual, to prevent White from developing harmoniously. Do not forget that fundamentally, White has the better


pawn structure, and this might tell in the long run if we do not use the tactical chances that our position provides. 12 ... Qc7 13 .Qd2 b5 14 . Rfd H is a good example of slow play, as Black is now forced to defend passively.

Qxd5+) 16 . . . Nc6 17.e5 Ne4 1 8 . Nxe4 dxe4 19. Nd4 Nxd4 2 0 . Bxd4 f5 2 1 .exf6 Bxf6 2 2 . Rfd l Qxd4 2 3 .Qxd4 Bxd4 2 4 . Rxd4 Bf7=. 13

. • .

Neg4 14. Bgl

13.{4 The principled move. However now, as we know, the e4 paw n becomes a target, too. White can play more solidly with 13.Qd2 , but then Black · can successfully hit the center with

13 .. Be6 14.b3 (14.{4 ? Nxc4) 14 d5 .

•••

(14 b5!?? is another possible attack in the center.). . . .

After the immediate 15.f4 Neg4,

14 . . . h5 Once more, Ponomariov gives a clear explanation of the situation: "The last three moves are reminis cent of the Modern Benoni. Black is prepared to sacrifice a knight for active play." If 14 . . . Qe7 then 1 5 . Bf3;!;, but not 15 .h3?! Nh5 ! with the idea of 16 . Bxg4? Ng3+ 17.Kh2 Nxfl+ 1 8 .Qxfl Bxg4 19.hxg4 Qh4 mate. Slow is 14 . . . b5?! 15 .c5 dxc5 16 . Bxc5±. it's a messy position in which Black seems OK. After 16.e5: a) 16 ... dxc4!? looks like a per ceptive piece sac: 17.exf6 Nxe3 18.Qxe3 (lB. QxdB RaxdB 19.Nxe3

Bxf6 20.Racl cxb3 2l. axb3 Bxb3+) 18 ... Qxf6 19.Ne4 Qb2 2 0 . Nd6 cxb3! 2l.Nxe8 Rxe8 2 2 . axb3 Qxc2+. b) While a safer option is 16 . . . Ne4 17.Nxe4 dxe4=. White can also trade on d5 first with 15.cxd5 cxd5 and then play 16.f4 (16.exd5?! Nxd5 1 7.Nxd5

15. Bf3 Here the direct attempt 15 .h3 will unleash the power of the black pieces: 15 . . . Nxe4 ! 16 . Nxe4 Rxe4 17.hxg4 Qh4+ 1 8 . Bh2 hxg4 19.g3 Qe7 2 0 . Bd3 Bf5 ! (or 20 . . . b5! and the white king is quite unsafe) with the idea 2 1 . Bxe4? Qxe4+ 2 2 . Kgl Qxc2 -+.

15. . . Be6


43

16. b8 Most of the annotators considered this move to be dubious. They suggested instead 16.Qd3! as the best move. Indeed, it seems Black might have some issues here, but a detailed analysis shows some good ways for Black to counterattack: 16 ... b5 and now we look at two replies: After 17.cxb5 axb5 18. Rfd l (JB.Radl ? Bc4 +) 18 ...d 5 ! 19.e5 Nd7 20.Nd4 , Black needs to ruin the opponent's center: 20 . . . Ngxe5 ! 2 1 .fxe5 Nxe5 22 .Qd2 Bd7 (22 . . . b4 28.Nce2 Qd6t,) 23.a4 b4 24.Nce2 c5! 25.Bxd5 (25.Nb3 Nxf3 26.gxf3 Qf6+) 25 . . . cxd4 26.Bxa8 Qxa8 27.Nxd4 h4t. Or 17.Rfdl Bh6 (The exchange

of queens turns out to be bad for Black after 17... Bxc4 18. Qxd6 since the knight on g4 is out of play.) 18.g3 (18. Qxd6 Qxd6 19.Rxd6 Bxf4 20.Rxc6 bxc4=) 18 . . . g5 ! Active play, remember?! 19.cxb5:

a) And here I recommend 19 . . . gxf4 ! Thorough analysis will give you good chances to score the whole point, and here are some lines: al) 2 0 .Bxg4 Bxg4 2 1 .bxc6 Nxe4 2 2 . Nxe4 Bf5 2 3 . Rel Qe7 24. Nb4 Qxe4+ 25 .Qxe4 Bxe4+ 2 6 . Rxe4 Rxe4=. a2) 20.gxf4 axb5 2 1 .e5 (21. Qfl) 2 1 . . . Nd7 ! 2 2 . Bxc6 Bxf4 . a21) 2 3 . Bxa8 Bxh2 24.Bg2 Bxgl 2 5 . Kxgl Qh4 26.Qh3 Qf2+ 27.Khl Qxc2 28 .Qxh5 Nf2+ 29.Kgl Nxd l 30.Rxdl Nxe5=. a22) 23 .Qf3 ReB 24 .exd6 Nde5 2 5 .Qxf4 Rxc6 = . b ) 19 . . . axb5 seems less subtle, a s i t provides White time to consolidate the position, although it might be playable as well.

1 6. . . Qa5 Black now starts creating concrete problems, and the positions become extremely sharp.

1 7. Qel Ponomariov considers this dubi ous, and had not even considered it during the game. Indeed, the queen now steps onto the file of the black rook, and this gives Black some addi tional tactical chances . 44


Alternatively, White could opt for

17.Qd2 , but the queen is somewhat loose on this square:

Black can play 17. . . Nd5 ! and now: a) 18.cxd5 Bxc3 19.Qcl, when Black is best advised to keep his bishop with 19 . . . Bd7!=, rather than go for the line 19 ... Bxal 20.dxe6 Bg7 2l.exf7+ Kxf7 2 2 . f5�. b) 18 . Nbl is the computer defense for White, which, however, does not pose serious problems for Black after 18 ... Qxd2 19.Nxd2 Nxf4!? (19. . . Nc3 is also good) 20. Bxg4 Bxg4 2 l . Rxf4 Bc3! and we look at three replies : bl) 22.Nf3 Ponomariov 22 . . . Bxal 23.Nxal Bxf3 24.gxf3 f5 ! (24 . . . d5 25.cxd5 cxd5 ?) with the idea to meet 25.exf5 with 25 . . . Re2 26.fxg6 Rxa2 27.Bd4 c5 2 8 . Bc3 ReB 29.Re4 Rxe4 30.fxe4 b5+. b2) 2 2 . Be3 Bxa l 2 3 . Nxal Be2=. b3) 22.Rf2 Bxal 2 3 . Nxal d5?, or again 23 . . . f5 . Ponomariov also mentions the line 17.Qd3

Now 17 . . . d5! 18.cxd5 Nxd5! 19.Nxd5 Bxal 2 0 . Bb6 Qb5 21.Qxb5 axb5 2 2 . Nc7 Bc3 2 3 . Nxe8 Rxe8 24.h3 Nf6 . 2 5 . Bd4 Bxd4 2 6 . Nxd4=. We resume our game in progress:

17

. . .

b5?

Instead of this, Black can get a good game in two ways: 17... Nd7!? 18.Nd4 (The endgame is good for

Black after IB.Ne2 Qxel 19.Raxel Ngf6 20.Nc3 Bg4=.) 18 . . . Nh6: a) 19.Qd2 f5 (19. . . Rad8 20.Racl Bg4oo) 20.e5 Nf7 (20. . . dxe5? 2I.Nxe6) 2 l . Nxe6 Rxe6?. b) 19.Rdl Nc5 (19 ... Bg4) 2 0.Qd2 f5 2 l . Rbl fxe4 22 .b4 Qd8 2 3 . Nxe4 Nxe4 24. Bxe4 Bxc4 2 5 . Bxg6 Bxfl


45

26.Rxfl (26.Bxe8 Bxg2+ 2 7. Qxg2 QxeB+) 26 . . . Qf6 27. Bxe8 Rxe8 2 8 . Nf3 Nf7 29. Bd4 Qg6 30.Bxg7 Qxg7=. c) 19.h3 f5 20.Rcl (20.Rbl B{7) 20 . . . Nc5t. The other route was offered by the Ukrainian GM: 17 Bf5, when he provides the lines: 18.h3?! (or 18.Nd4 QdBt) 18 . . . Qd8 ! ! t •••

b) 20 .. . Bxd4 2 1 . Bxd4 cxb3 2 2 . axb3 Ngf6 23.f5 Bxb3 24 .Qg3--+. Or 18 Nh6 19.e5 dxe5 2 0 . Bxc6 bxc4 (20. . . exf4 21.Bxa8 RxaB 22.Nd4±) 2 1 . fxe5 Nd7 2 2 . Bxa8 Rxa8 2 3 . Nd4± . •••

18 ... b4 19.Na4

19 ...Bc4 ? Ponomariov: "after which White has very serious problems with the e4 pawn. But such retreating moves are not so easy for a human to see, especially when the queen has only recently come from d8 . Instead of this, I played another natural move, keeping the tension." Ponomariov's line might continue 19.Rdl Nxe4 20.Nxe4 Bxe4 2 1 . Bxe4 Nf6+.

18.c5? Kramnik misses a good chance to consolidate his position with 18.h3! and now: 18 bxc4 19.Nd4! (19. hxg4 ? •••

hxg4 20.Be2 cxb3 21.axb3 Qh5+ 22.Bh2 Bxb3+) 19 . . . Nd7 (or 19. . . Bd7 20. bxc4±) 20.Rcl: a) 20 . . . cxb3 2 1 . Nxc6 Bxc3 22.Rxc3 Qxa2 23 .hxg4 hxg4 24.Bdl b2 25.Bc2+-.

46

The critical moment of the game! Ponom ariov saw 19 Nxe4! but for some reason discarded it. Black is better in all lines: 20.Qxe4 Bxb3 2 1 . axb3 Rxe4 2 2 . Bxe4 Bxa l 2 3 . Rxal Ponom ariov: "I was afraid that I could lose all my queenside pawns and the minor pieces would be stronger than the queen. But in reality, White has more problems here, because of the bad position of his king. The computer suggests: a) 23 . . . Re8 ! 24.cxd6 (the idea is •.•

24.Bxc6 Re2 25.Nb6? Nf2+ 26.Bxf2 Rxf2-+) 24 . . . Qd8 2 5 . Bxc6 Re6t with excellent play, as the white king is not that well protected. b) 23 . . . Qc7 !?�. c) 23 ... dxc5 24.Nxc5 Qc7 2 5 . Nxb4 Qxf4 . Black is somewhat better here." 20.Qxb4 Qxb4 2 1 . Nxb4 Nxc5+. 20.Bxe4 Bd5 2 1 .Qxb4 Qxb4


2 2 . Nxb4 Bxe4 2 3 . Raeloo, with an unclear situation in which Black is not worse. One instructive line by the Ukrainian goes 23 . . . a5 24.Nb6 axb4 25.Nxa8 d5! 2 6 . Nb6 Bc3!?t.

20. Qxb4! Kramnik has a great sense of danger, and here he immediately understood that parting with the exchange is the lesser evil for him than allowing Black to have the initiative with queens on the board. Now the endgame is difficult for Black.

20. . . Qxb4 21. Nxb4 Bxfl 22. Rxfn Nxe4

23. Nb6! Much better than the move which Black expected, 23 .cxd6 Rad8: 24. Bxe4 2 5 . Bc5 Ne3 Rxe4 (25 ... Bf8 !? 2 6 . Nxc6 Rxd6 27. Bxd6 Bxd6�) 26.Rgl Re6 27.Nxc6 Rdxd6 28.Bxd6 Rxd6+. 24.d7 Rxd7 2 5 . Bxe4 Rxe4 2 6 . Nc5 Rxb4 27. Nxd7 Bd4=.

23 . . . Ra7 '!?' Ponomariov. Black will have to return the ex change anyway: 23 . . . dxc5 24.Nxc6;!;.

24. cxd6 Nxd6

25. Bxc6! Kramnik has achieved what he wanted. His endgame technique is legendary, and though he faced one of the greatest defenders in the world, he managed to crack his defense. Watch out for such endgames, they are always very difficult for Black! I will cite Ponomariov's analysis, as it gives a very clear picture of what is going on for the rest of the game. Black's play would be easier after 2 5 . Nc4: 25 . . . Nxc4 2 6 . Bxa7 Nd2 27. Bxc6 (27. Rdl Nxf3 28.gxf3 Ne3 +!) 27 . . . Re7 ! 2 8 . Bc5 Re6 29.Rcl (29.Rdl B{B!) 29 . . . Bb2 3 0 . Rd l Ba3 3 l . Bf3 Nxf3 32 .gxf3 Nf2+ 3 3 . Bxf2 Bxb4+!. and because of his weak pawns, it is quite hard for White to realize his small material advantage. Less clear is 25 . . . Rae7 !? 26.Nxd6 Rel 27. Rxel Rxel 28 .h3 Bd4 29.hxg4 hxg4 30. Bxg4 Bxgl 3 l . Nd3 Ral 3 2 . Nc400•

25 . . . Re2 26. N6d5 Someone at the press conference suggested 2 6 . Bf3 , but again, it is easier for Black to play here: 26 . . . Rd2 27.Nc4 Nxc4 2 8 . Bxa7 Nce3 , and the activity of his pieces gives Black good grounds for optimism.


47

26 . . . Nc8 "Almost unnoticed, the black knight has retreated from the center to the edge of the board, whilst White has brought his knight from a4 into the center! "

27. h3 Nh6 ? Ponomariov: "I was still too optimistic, and hoped to seize the initiative, although after his latest knight maneuvers, Black should be a little careful. "Otherwise I would of course have played 27 . . . a5!;!; with good drawing chances, eg. 28.hxg4 (28.Nd3 Nh6) 28 . . . axb4: 29. Bxa7 Nxa7 30.Nxb4 Nxc6 31.Nxc6 Rxa2 32.gxh5 Rc2 3 3 . Ne7+ Kf8 34.Nd5 Rd2 . 29.Nxb4 hxg4 30.Bb5 Re4 3 1 . Rcl Nd6 32.Bxa7 Nxb5 33 .Bc5 Rxf4 34.Nd5 Re4 35.a4 Nd4+!."

the same time, I cannot even or ganize a perpetual check, because when the bishop on gl takes the Ra7, it frees gl for the white king! " No better is 28 . . . Kh7 29. Ba4 Nf5 30.Kh 2 ! Nfd6 3 1 . Bxa7 Nxa7 3 2 . Rc2 , as White neutralizes the activity of the black pieces.

29. Bb5! Ng3+ Maybe more practical chances were offered by 29 . . . Rc7 !? (with the

idea 30.Rxc7? Ng3+ 31. Kh2 Nfl+=) which at least is a very striking move . But after 3 0 . Nxc7 axb5 3 1 . Nxb5 Nce7 there are still no threats to the white king, so White's passed pawns should decide.

30. Kh2 Nfl+ 31. Rxfl axb5 "Unfortunately, now Black does not have the resource a6-a5 and the white knight feels totally comfort able."

28. Rcl!

32. Bxa7 Nxa7

"It turns out that White does not have to rush to take the rook on a7, as it is not going anywhere."

33. Kg3!

28 . . . Nf5 To his horror, Ponomariov "real ized that in the tactics , White can take the NcB with check, after which the Ra7 becomes undefendable. At

48

With 33 .Rcl, White traps the enemy knight, but after 33 . . . h4 his king still has problems.

33. . . Nc8 34. Rdl Bf8 Black was in time pressure here.

35. Kf3 Rb2 36.g4 Kg7 "It is hard for Black to defend,


and my time-trouble made White's task easier. "It was dangerous, but still pos sible, to open the h-file by 36 ... hxg4+ 37.hxg4 Kg7 38.g5 Rh2 ! Instead, I decided to try to activate my pieces at the cost of a second pawn, but my opponent was very accurate."

37.gxh5

37. . . Nd6 Here too, there was the more tenacious 37 . . . gxh5 3 8 . Rgl+ Kh6 and in any event, White cannot play for a direct attack: 39.Nd3?! Rd2 ! 40.Ke3 Rh2 41.Ne5?? Bc5+.

38. hxg6 fxg6 39. Nc 7 Kf7 Better was 39 . . . Nf5 .

An early deviation: 10.Nc2 6 Nyzhnyk

•

Kazhgaleyev

Tata Steel (C), Wijk aan Zee 2011 l . d4 Nf6 2 . c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 0-0 6. Nf3 e5 7. 0-0 exd4 8.Nxd4 ReS 9.{3 c6 10. Nc2

Before committing his king to h l , White makes a useful prophylactic move which seemingly stops d6d5. He is also happy to prevent the maneuver Nb8-d7-c5. However, Black can still reach c5 in a much more convenient way.

1 0. . . Na6/ l l . Be3

40.Nd3 Rxa2 41.Ne5+ Kf6 Or 4 l . . . Kg8 42 . Nxg6+-.

42. Nd7+ 1-0 A painful defeat for Ponomariov, who showed guts, playing the line against one of the world's most -prepared l.d2-d4 players. The course of the game, as well as the analysis , shows that from a theoretical point of view, Black has good chances for a full-blooded fight .

The most logical follow up. The Bishop on e3 is guarded by the knight, and White wants to save a tempo by avoiding the king retreat. He is now planning Qdl-d2 and Ral-d l , which will underline the weakness of the d6 pawn. Black needs to hurry and show his trumps at once. Naturally, without the knight on c7, l l .Bf4 does not promise any thing: l l . . . d5 1 2 . exd5 cxd5 13.cxd5 Nh5 14 .Bd2 Nc7�. The king retreat l l .Khl is still


49

possible, and we have now a version of the game Kovalenko-Kokarev. In that game the knight from d7 went to b6 to prepare d6-d5, and here we have an even better square for this same idea: ll . . . Nc7!

and d6-d5 cannot be stopped. Play may continue: a) 12.Be3 d5 13.exd5 cxd5 14 .c5 Bf5 hitting the knight on c2 and the bishop on e3, and Black is already very good: 15. Bf2 Nh5 16 .Nd4 Bd7

(There is no need to spoil Black's haircut with 16... Nf4 17.Nxf5, as Black's kingside pawns are already mussed.) 17.Qd2 Qf6 and now: al) 18.g3 Bf8 19.b4 b6 The advanced pawns seem scary, but can easily be attacked. 20.Racl bxc5 21 .bxc5 Rac8=, or 2 l . . . Bxc5 2 2 . Nxd5 Nxd5 2 3 . Rxc5 Nb6 2 4 . Rc7 Ng7 25. Rfcl Nf5 26.Nxf5 Bxf5 27.Bb5 RedS 28 .Qe2 Be6 29.a4 Bd5 30.Kg2 a6 31 .Bc6 Rab8 32.a5 Na8 3 3 . Bxa8 Bxa8 . a2) 18. Rfel to free the f1 square for the bishop 18 . . . Nf4 19. Bfl Bc6 and now three possibilities: a21) 20.Radl Rxel 2 1 . Rxel Nfe6 Bxd5 2 3 . Nxd5 Nxe6 22.Nxe6 24.Qxd5 Qxb2 =. 50

a22) 20.Nxc6 bxc6 leaves Black in control of the situation. a23) 20.b4 a6 2 1 . a4 Nce6+±. White's center is under pressure, and he cannot stick to the blockade for very long. b) 1 2 . Bf4 is met with the pawn sacrifice 12 . . . d5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14 . Bxc7 Qxc7 15.exd5 Qf4�.

with the bishop pair and total control over the black squares to compensate for the pawn down, Huzman-Epishin, USSR 1987. c) 1 2 . Bg5 pins the knight and seemingly prevents d6-d5, but now 12 . . . d5! A nyway! It works! cl) 13.exd5 cxd5 14 .Rcl Be6 15.c5 h6 16.Be3 and now we have active play on the king's flank: 16 . . . Nh5 (also 16. . . Nd7!?) 17. Bd4 Bf5 18.Bxg7 Bxc2 19.Qxc2 Qh4 20. Bf6 Nxf6 , and Black is already thinking about seizing the initiative. c2) White can also try to open the f-file to make use of the vulnerable f7 square , like he did in some previous lines: 13.cxd5 cxd5 14 .Rcl h6 1 5 . Bh4 dxe4 16.Qxd8 Rxd8 17.fxe4 However, with the knight on c2 this does not seem scary. On the contrary, the first player risks ending up with a weak


and isolated pawn on e4: 17 . . . g5 18. Bg3 NceS 19.Ne 3 Be6 20.Rcd1 (or 20.Rfdl) 20 ... Rxd 1 2 1 . Rxd 1 Nd7 22.Nf5 Bxc3 23 .bxc3 Nc5 24.Nxh6+ Kh7 2 5 . Ng4 Nxe4 2 6 . Bd3 f5=.

ll. . . d5!

16 . . . Ba4! Black has great play. It is remarkable how quickly White loses this endgame. 17.QxdS RaxdS: a) 1S.Rf2 f5! 19.Rb1 fxe4 20.fxe4 Bc6 2 1 . Bxa7 Bxe4 22 .b4? Rf8 ! 23 .Rxf8+ Bxf8 24.Rcl ReS 0 - 1 , Black sacrifices a pawn, but will get open files and open diagonals for his pieces, and often White's dark-squared bishop too. The compensation is rich . Every KID player appreciates it, and should be willing to play such positions.

12. cxd5 cxd5 13. exd5 If White ignores the pawn, he has no chance of any advantage: 13.Qd2 dxe4 14.QxdS RxdS 15.fxe4 ReS 16. Rad1 Ng4=. 13.Bf2 is another move to keep it safe: 13 . . . dxe4 14.QxdS RxdS 15.Rad1 Bf5 1 6 . Ne3 Be6 (16 ... Nc7!?=) 17.fxe4 Rxd 1 1S.Rxd 1 Nc5 =, Maslik-Vovk, Slovakia 2 0 12 . 13.Bb5 this move is sometimes dangerous for the defender, but not in this particular case. 13 . . . Bd7 14. Bxa6 Overoptimistic. (Safer is 14. Bxd7

Qxd7 15.exd5 RadB 16.Bxa7 Nxd5 1ZNxd5 Qxd5 18. Qxd5 Rxd5 19.Rabl ReB=.) Now we enjoy the bishop show! 14 ... bxa6 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5

Tilicheev-Vorobiov, Moscow 2 0 1 1 . b ) More resilient is 1S. Nb4! a 5 19.Na6 R d 3 (or 19. . . Bxb2 20.Rabl Be5=) 2 0 . Nc5 (also 20.Bxa7 Bxb2 21.Rabl Be5=) 20 . . . Rxe3 2 1 . Nxa4 Re2�.

13...Nb4! The logical follow up. Black has had good results after 13 Bf5, but it seems like the position of the knight on a6 might .••


51

be a problem for Black. For example, 14.Bf2 and now: 14 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Bxc2 16.Qxc2 Qxd5 17.Bc4 Rac8 18.Bxd5 (And here •••

White has the improvement lB.Racl! Qa5 19. Qb3�, with the two bishops and pressure against {7. I would not like to play the KID and defend such a boring position.) 18 . . . Rxc2 19. Bxb7 Nc5 20.Bxc5 �-lh, Malcher-Langers , Germany 2009. 14 Bxc2 15.Qxc2 Nxd5 16 . Radl •••

(16.Nxd5! Qxd5 17.Bc4 would trans pose to Malcher-Langers, though.) 16 . . . Qe7 (16 ... Bxc3, with chances to equalize, is correct) 17.Bxa6 (17.Nxd5! Qxe2 1B. Qa4 Qxb2 19.Rbl Qe5 20.Rfel+-) 17 . . . Ne3 18.Nd5

16. . . Qa5 Not a bad square for the queen. Black has other reasonable options, too: 16 Bd7!? Simple development. 17.Qd2 ReS 18.Radl (White cannot •••

yet trade the light-squared bishops: 1B.Bb5? Rxc3! 19.Bxd7 Rxc2+.) 18 . . . a6 and now: a) 19. Rfel Qb6 . All Black's pieces are actively placed, and White finds it hard to protect the b-pawn, for instance 20.Nd4 Nxd5! 2 l . Nxd5 Qxd4 22.Qxd4 Bxd4 2 3 . Rxd4 Rxe2+. b) Note that the advance of the d-pawn will make it only more vulnerable than it is now: 19.d6?! Qb6 20.Na3 Qb4+,

Nxc2 19. Nxe7+ Rxe7 20.Rd2 Ne3 2l.Bxe3 Rxe3 22.Bxb7 Rb8 lh-lh, Benko-Pilnik, Budapest 1952 .

14.Nxb4 Or else Black's position is even more pleasant after 14.Bf2 Nbxd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16 . Bb5 Rf8+.

14 . . . Rxe3� 15. Nc2 ReB

Or 16.Qd2 Bf5 (Note that the b2 pawn is poisoned: 16 . . . Qb6+ 17.Khl Qxb2 ? lB.Rabl ±.) 17. Radl and now

followed by Rc8 -c6, Bg7-f8 , and even tually Re8-e6 to take the d-pawn. 16 a6!? takes away the b5 square from the white bishop, and Black can also use his b-pawn in the battle for the d5 pawn. 17.Qd2 Qd6 18.Radl b5 19.a3 Bb7 20. Rfel Rad8 2 l .Nb4 a5 2 2 . Nc2 (or 22.Nxb5 Qb6 23.Nc2 Rxd5 24.Nbd4 Qxb2 +) 22 . . . b4�. These lines are not forced, but they demonstrate the potential behind Black's position.

17 . . . Rc8� or 17 . . . Qb6+ 18.Nd4 Bd7�.

1 7. Bc4 Bd7 1B. Qd2 h5?

•••

16.Khl

52


Not the best move. It will tran spire later that the position of the pawn on h5 is in fact creating some targets for the first player only. It was not too late for Black to return to the plan of surrounding the d5 pawn with 18 . . . b5!?

Rxe8 25 .Rel Rxel+ 2 6 . Nxel Kf8 fol lowed by Kf8 -e7-d6, when Black has no risk of losing.

22 . . . Rcd8 23. Nd4!± White's chances are connected with the attack against the black king (remember the weakening h7h5 move?) and his centralized pieces will help him in its organization. Also possible is 23 .d6, and White is already threatening Qg3xg6 . How ever, Black can defend concretely with 23 . . . Be6 24.Nd4 Bxb3 2 5 . Nxb3 Qb6 2 6 . Rd2 Bf8 , and once again the white d6 pawn is doomed.

23 . . . Kh7?!

And now 19.Bb3 b4 20.Ne2 Qc5

This only helps White. If 23 . . . Qf8 then 24.Ne6 ! . More resilient would b e 2 3 . . . Bc8 although here, too White retains a large advantage after 24.d6! Rxd6 2 5 .Qxg6 Re7 2 6 . Nde2 Be6 27. Bxe6 Rdxe6 2 8 .Qd3 ReB± .

2l.Racl Qd6 2 2 .Qf4 Re5�.

24. d6 RfB 25. Rfel Bc8

19. Qf2 a6 20. Radl Rac8 21. Bb3 Qc5!?

26. Nc2 b5 2 7. Re5 Qb6 28. Re7 Rd7 29. Ne3 Qd8 22. Qg3!

Or 29 ... Qc5 3 0 . Re5 Qb6 3 l . a4± .

Without the queens and even the rooks, it is easier for Black to show superiority on the black squares: 22 .Qxc5 Rxc5 2 3 . Rfel Rcc8 24.Rxe8+

30. Rxd7 32. Ne 7!

Qxd7

31. Ned5


Bb7

53

Development without preparation: 10.Be8 7 Shankland

-

Vorobiov

20th Dresden Open 2011 l . d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 8.Nc8 Bg7 4 . e4 d6 5. Nf8 0-0 6. Be2 e5 7. 0 - 0 exd4 8.Nxd4 ReB 9.{8 c6 In this game w e take a close look at the plan of quick development for White, who simply ignores all central threats and plays: The threat ofBb3xf7 is impossible to meet. This is why you should refrain from weakening moves like h7-h5 without a concrete reason!

10. Be8

82 . . . Kh8 88. Bxf7 Rxf7 84. Nxg6+ Kg8 85. Ne5 Qe6 86. Nxf7 Qxf7 87. Rel h4 88. Qg5 Bc6 89. Re7 Qf8 40. Rc7 b4 41.d7 Nxd7 42. Nd5 Qe8 48.Rc8 1 - 0 And a sweet finish at the end. Despite the outcome, Black had great compensation for the sacrificed pawn after the opening.

No prophylaxis, no need to stop Nb8-d7, nada. Therefore, we demonstrate that such a flighty approach against the KID cannot be recommended.

10. . . d51 Of course, Black makes use of the fact that the bishop on e3 is hanging, and clarifies the situation in the center. This is an immediate equalizer, and it is quite surprising that a strong GM and good theoretician like J. Gustafsson is still trying to extricate something out of this line for White . Probably he already 54

CIJ,apter la: Flexibility in the Classical Variation

knows that in the other lines there is not much either?!

ll.cxd5 Nxd5! Black frees his position a bit by trading a pair of knights, and at the same time opens the diagonal for his king's bishop. Weaker is ll . . . cxd5, although a recent grandmaster game saw Black equalizing after 1 2 .Qb3 Nc6 1 3 . Radl Qa5 14 .Qb5 (White could pose more

problems with 14.Ndb5! dxe4 15.Nd6 Re7 16.fxe4;t, when the f7 square is once again vulnerable.) 14 . . . Qc7

14 . . . Nc 6 !

1 5 .Qxd5

Re5

1 6 . Bxc6

(16. Qc4 Nxd4 1 Z Bxd7 Nxf3+ 18.gxf3 Qxd7 is somewhat better for Black, but was preferable to the move in the game.) 16 . . . Rxd5 17. Bxd5 Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Bc6 19. Rfdl Bxd5 20.Bf2 Qf6 2 1 .exd5 Qxb2+ with a clear edge for Black, in Zhou Jianchao Volokitin, Khanty-Mansiysk 2007. The other principled way is 13.Qb3 Nc6 14 .Rad l , when Black should proceed with further trades: 14 . . . Nxd4 1 5 . Bxd4 Bxd4+ 16. Rxd4 and now the key move 16 . . . Qf6!

15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 Be6 18.Qb5 a6 19.Qb4 Bf8 2 0.Qc3 Qxc3 21 .bxc3 Bxa2=, in Hammer Berg, Eretria 2 0 1 1 .

12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Rcl White gets nothing after 13.Bb5 Bd7 14.Qb3 :

White has tried various moves here, but without obtaining even a hint of an advantage: a) Naturally, the pawn is un touchable: 17. Rxd5? Be6+. b) 17.Qxd5 Be6 18.Qc5 (White a) And now there is no need to grab the pawn with 14 . . . Bxd4 15.Bxd4 Bxb5 16.Qxb5 dxe4 17. Bc3

(or lZRadl Nc6 18.Bc3 Qb6+ 19. Qxb6 axb6) 17 ... Qb6+ 18.Qxb6 axb6 19.fxe4 , when White will have decent compensation, thanks to his powerful bishop. b) Instead, Volokitin showed a better way to handle the situation:

should liquidate to a drawn rook end game with 18.e5 Bxd5 19.exf6 Rxe2 20.Rxd5 Rxb2 2l.Rfdl h6=.) 18 . . . Rec8 19.Qb4?! After this, Black is already better: 19 . . . a5 (Not bad, but even

more determined would be 19. . . Rc2! 20.Rf2 a5+ not fearing 21. Qxb7?? Qxd4 22. Qxa8+ Kg7- +.) 20.Qa4 Rc2 2 1 .Qxc2 Qxd4+ 2 2 . Kh l Rc8 23 .Qd3 Qxb2 24.f4 Qc2 (o 24 . . . Bxa2+) 2 5 . a4 Qxd3 (25. . . Qxa4! 26.f5 Bc4 2 Z Qe3


55

Bxe2 28. Qxe2 Qc4-+) 26.Bxd3 Rc3 27.Bb5 Bc4 28.Rdl Bxb5 29. axb5 Rb3 lh-lh, Li-Ding, Hefei 2 0 1 1 . For some reason, Black accepted a draw here even though his position is close to winning. c) 17.Rd2 Qf4 Activity again. Instead of opening lines to the f7 pawn with dxe4, Black prefers to create threats. 18 .Qxd5 and now: cl) 18 . . . Qe3+ 19. Rf2 Be6 20.Qd3 Qb6 21 .Qb5 Qe3 22 .Qd3 Qb6 23 .Qb5 Qe3 24.Rd3 Qcl+ 25.Rfl (now White

d) Finally, a very fresh example in which the youngest GM in the world played Black for a change: 17.Qa4 Bd7 18.Qdl Bc6 19.exd5

can push with 25.Rdl Qe3 26. b3t) 25 . . . Qc4 26.a4 Qxb5 27. axb5 Bc4 28 .Rd2 Bxe2 29. Rxe2 Re5 �-�. Gustafsson-Kotronias, Kerner 2007. c2) More subtle is 18 ... Be6 ! : c21) 19.Qd3 can b e answered the same way with 19 . . . Bxa2=, as the bishop cannot be trapped: 20.g3 Qc7 21 .b3? RedS 22 .Qe3 Rxd2 23.Qxd2 Bxb3+. c22) 19.Qd4 And here an equalizer is 19 . . . Bxa2=, but not 19 . . . Rad8 20.Qxd8 Qe3+ 2 1 .Rf2 Rxd8 22.Rxd8+ Kg7 23 .b3 a5;!;, although Black managed to save this position too, in Hess-Naroditsky, Groningen 201 1.

19 . . . Rxe2! 20.dxc6 Rxb2 2 1 .cxb7 (not 21.c7 Qb6!) 2 l . . . Rxb7 2 2 . Rd6 Qb2 2 3 . Rf2 Qbl 24.Qxbl Rxbl+ 2 5 . Rfl Rb2 2 6 . Rf2 Rbl+ 27. Rfl Rb2 28.Rf2 Rbl+ �-�. Ernst-Nyzhnyk, Wijk aan Zee 201 2 .

13

• . .

Nc6!

What's more natural than quick development and central pressure? Another approach brought a quick victory to Black in the following game, but it could easily have b�en

56


the other way around: 13 . . . a6?! 14.Qb3 ! dxe4? 15.fxe4 (15. Bc4! R{B 16. Bxf7+ Rxf7 17.fxe4+-) 15 . . . Rf8 16. Rxf7! Rxf7 17. Rfl Bf6 18.e5+-, Handke-Atalik, Cappelle la Grande 2000.

14.Nxc6

19. . . Rxd4 2 0. R c 7 Bd5 21. Rd7 White is also on the defensive after 2 l . Rxa7 Rd2 2 2 .Rel ReS, and Black has the initiative. Also good is 22 . . . Rxb2 .

21 . . . e3 22. Rel Rd2 + 23. Bfl Kg7 Also good is 23 . . . a5!?.

Or 14 . Bb5 Qb6 1 5 . Bxc6 bxc6, but not 16 . Rxc6? Bxd4! 17. Rxb6 Bxe3+ 18.Khl Bxb6+.

24. Re2 ?

14 . . . bxc6 15. Rxc6 Bb7 16.Rc2 ?! Shankland

wants

to have his

rook on the second rank to defend the b-pawn, but there is a drawback to this square . Somewhat more venomous is 16.Rcl dxe4 17.Qxd8, when Black needs to be careful and opt for 17 . . . Rexd8 !? 18.f4 a5=, rather than 17. . . Raxd8 18.f4 Bd4 (1B . . . Re7!? might still be an equalizer.) 19.Kf2 Bxe3+ 20.Kxe3;!; Gustafsson-Maze, Aix�les Bains 2 0 11.

16. . . dxe4 1 7. Qxd8 RaxdB= 18.(4 Bd4 19. Bxd4 The disadvantage of the position

of the rook on c2 is revealed after 19.Kf2 Bxe3+ 2 0 . Kxe3 :

Now Black had a chance t o finish the game in his favor.

24 . . . Rxe2 ? But missed it . . . Correct was 2 4 . . . Rd l ! 25 .h3 Bb3

(25. . . Re4 26.g3 Rc4 should also do.) 2 6 . Rxd l Bxd l 27.Rel e2-+.

25. Bxe2 Bxa2 2 6. Rxa 7 ReB 2 7. h3 Rcl+ 28. Kh2 Be6 29. Ra3 Rc2 *-*

And now 2 l . . .Rd3+! 2 l . Bxd3 exd3+ 22.Kxd3 Be4+ 2 3 . Kd 2 Bxc2 2 4 . Kxc2 Re2+ 2 5 . Kc3 Rxg2+. Chapter la: Flexibility in the Classical Variation

57

Minor alternatives 10.Nb3 and 10.Bg5 8 Lakdawala - Yermolinsky

National Open, Las Vegas 1997 l.Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5. d4 0 - 0 6. Be2 e5 7. 0- 0 exd4 8. Nxd4 ReB 9.f3 c 6

12 . . . Qd8!? and 12 . . . Qe5!?) 13 .Bel Nbd7 (or 13 ... a6 14.Rcl Nbd7) and it is not so clear why the knight on a4 is better placed than on c3. After 14 . Bf2 , Black has several nice looking continuations: a) 14 . . . Bh6 !?= will make use of the absence of the white bishop on e3. b) 14 ... a6 15.Rcl Bh6 16. Rc2 b6� patiently finishes development and leaves the central breaks with b6-b5, d6-d5 or f7-f5 for the future. c) 14 . . . Nc5 15.Nc3 (15.Nxc5?! dxc5 16.Nb3 Nh5 is excellent for Black, thanks to the juicy {4 and d4 squares.) 15 . . . a5 16.Qd2 b6 (or 16 . . . Nfd7=), Beliavsky- Sergeev, Alushta with approximate equality.

2009

IO. . . a5!

IO. Nb3 In this game we shall have a look at a couple of minor alternatives for White. As you can see, the featured game is quite old, and this is an in dication that there are not too many volunteers following in the footsteps of the first player. The move Nd4-b3 is also prophylac tic; it opens the file for the queen, pre venting d6-d5. The drawback is that it allows another typical counter-move. White has also tried the immedi ate 10.Bg5. After 10 Qb6 we look at two replies: Note that White might like to force a draw with l l .Be3 Qxb2 12.Na4 Qa3 13.Bcl Qb4 14 .Bd2 Qa3 15.Bcl Qb4 16 .Bd2 Qa3 lh-lh, in Ivkov-Larsen, Belgrade 1964. l l.Na4 Qa5 12 .Bd2 Qc7 (also •••

good seem to be the alternatives 58

This is why the b3 square is not perfect: the knight is a magnet for the black a-pawn.

l l . a4 If White wants to fight for an ad vantage, he needs to continue with the artificial l l . Na4 . But Black can exploit this set up with ll . . . c5!? as there is no one to attack the b5 and d5 squares. Play may continue 1 2 . Rbl Bd7 13.Nc3 a4 14 .Nal and here I be lieve Black's best is 14 . . . Nc6, and now:


15 .Qxd6? Nd4! is dangerous for White only. Also possible is 15 . . . Nh5 !?. 15.Nc2 Nd4 16 . Ne3 Nh5t sees Black in control all over the board. Finally, the once recommended 15.Nb5 Nd4 16. Nxd4 cxd4 17. Nc2 Qb6 18.Rf2 , planning b3 and Bb2 , can be met tactically with 1S . . . Bc6 19.b3?

This knight i s the reason why White no longer wishes to play an early a2-a4 . Black is comfortable, and later manages to outplay his opponent.

14. Radl Bf8 15. Rf2 Qc7 1 6. Bfl Rad8 1 7. Rcl Nd7 18. Nd5!? Bxd5 19. cxd5 Nc5 20. Qdl A draw would be a better deal for White instead: 20.Nxc5 dxc5 21.Bxc5 Bxc5 22.Rxc5 Qb6 23 .Qc3 cxd5 24.Rb5 Qa7 25 .Qc7 ReS 26.Qd7 (not 26. Qxb7?! Qe3!+) 26 . . . RedS 27.Qe7 ReS =.

20. . . Nxa4 21. dxc 6 bxc 6 22. Ral Nc5 23. Nxa5? Necessary 24.Qa4�.

was

2 3 . Nxc5

dxc 5

23 . . . d5!

19 ... Bxe4! 20.fxe4 Nxe4+.

ll . . . Be6 Even better is ll ... Qb6+ 12 .Khl

Nfd7 followed by NbS -a6 , and Black can occupy both the c5 and b4 squares. I would love to have Black in this situation.

12. Be3 Na6 13. Qd2 Nb4 = We've seen this break so many times that it has become part of our KID culture . Naturally, Black is better now.

24. Qd2 Ne6 Decisive is 24 . . . Ncd3 ! dxe4 26.fxe4 Nxd3-+.

25.Bxd3

25. Qcl d4 2 6. Bd2 d3 2 7. Nb3 Nc2 28. Ra5! Qb6 29. Nal Bc5 Also winning 29 . . . Ned4-+.

is

the

stronger

30. Rxc5 Qxc5 31.Nb3 Qb5 32.Na5 Ned4 33. Khl c5 34. Bc3 Ne2 35. Qd2 Nxc3 36. Qxc3 Ne3 0-1 Chapter l a: Flexibility in the Classical Variation

59

Memory Markers Here are reminders of some of the ideas and motifs in this chapter, which include queen sacrifices, breaking open the center, knight outposts , and blockading. Giving up the center opens up many possibilities !

1. After 9...c6. Our starting po

2. After 16 ... Nf6-d7. The queen

sition.

is best placed on dB to work on both sides, text move iu Fier Bologan, page 20.

3. After 22 ... g6-g5!. A black square blockade. See diagram on page 21 in Fier-Bologan.

4. After 18 ...Nf6xe4!.

60

Typical queen sacrifice, see diagram on page 28 in Elj anov-Bologan.


5. After l l ...Nf6-h5!. Active play against the bishop sortie on f4, text move in Premnath Kokarev, page 32.

6. After 14 ...Nf6xe4!!. Yurtaev's brilliant idea. See diagram on page 3 7 in Kovalenko-Kokarev.

7. After 12 ...d6-d5. The central strike, see diagram on page 4 1 i n Kramnik-Ponomariov.

13 ..Na6-b4!. Black square compensation, see text move in Nyzhnyk-Kazhgaleyev, on page 5 1 . 8. After

.

Chapter la: Flexibility i n the Classical Variation

61

Active play in the center. See diagram on page 55 in Shankland Vorobiov.

9. After 16 ... Qd8-f6!.

62

10. After 13 ...Na6-b4. The b4 outpost for the knight, text move in Lak.dawala-Yermolinsky on page 59.


Exercises Black to play! ·

with these situations from actual games, you, as Black, can practice finding

some of the breakthroughs, tricks, combinations, and positional opportunities that may appear after "abandoning" the center in the Classical Variation. Solutions to these exercises begin on page 307.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

C obb - Grossett

Young - Yermolinsky

Bristol Open 1998

US Open, Chicago 1994

The seeming happiness in White's camp is deceptive. Prove it!

Remember the previous one?


63

Exercise 4

Exercise 3

Zude

·

Hoelz l - Szilagyi

Graf

Bundesliga 2004

Budapest 1988

Black is very active. Can he turn his activity into something more tangible?

How can Black exploit the somewhat loose position of the opponent's rook?

Exercise 5

Exercise 6

Keipo - Perez

Zakharov - Yurtaev

Cuba 2000

URS-ch sf, Volgodonsk 1983

White wants to establish a-knight on b6. What would you recommend for the second player?

64

Once more, Yurtaev!


Exercise 7

Exercise 8

Trmal - Michalek

Littleton - Boey

Czechia 2009

Den Haag 1966

Shall we retreat the knight?

White has just taken the pawn on d6. How can Black punish his opponent for this greediness?

Exercise 9

Exercise 10

Kolev - Rasik

Korotylev - Kokarev

Budapest 1993

Serpukhov 2007

How can Black prove superiority on the black squares?

Once again, squares!

superiority on black


65

Exercise 11

Wirig - Vaisser

Caen 2011 A pleasant choice . . .

66


Chapter l b The Gligoric System

l. d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7. Be3

exd4 8.Nxd4 ReB 9.{3 c6

An alternative form of development in the Classical line is the Gligoric system. Instead of castling, White first develops the bishop to e3.

T

he prominent Yugoslavian GM Svetozar Gligoric had a great impact on the development of the King's Indian Defense and advanced it to the highest levels. He gave to the world the Mar del Plata Line, as well as the famous Rf8 -f4! positional exchange sacrifice which is a common theme in almost every KID line, and tons of model games which I recommend to any player who wants to make the KID part of his/her life! Still, as a universal player, he also needed to fight against his beloved defense and he did so in a very dangerous way. The featured set-up is named after him.

1 Popov

-

Giri

Russian Championship, Olginka 2011 l.Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0- 0 5. e4 d6 6.Be2 e5 7. Be3

Chapter 1 b: The Gligoric System

67

Gligoric's move. White wants to postpone castling for the time being and provoke the tempting 7. . . Nf6 -g4. This is Classical (developing a piece), flexible (the king can castle on either side) and provoking. While 7. . . Nf6-g4 is still playable and is Black's main line, I am recommending the straightforward approach of bringing pressure into the center at once. It also matches well with the line which we have already studied as Black's main weapon against the Classical System.

7. . . exd4 10. Qd2

8.Nxd4

ReB

9.(3

c6

Black hits the center and frees his position.

l l . exd5 cxd5 12. 0 - 0 This is the most logical development, as otherwise White might have issues on the e-file. However, some players have also tested 12.c5 at once. In this case, Black either tries to make use of the loose position of the white pieces with 12 . . . Qe7 ! or simply finishes developing with 12 . . . Nc6, most likely transposing to a position similar to the one in the next game, Onischuk-Bacrot. First, we look at 12 Qe7! a) Now 13.Kf2?! seems a bit too much already. 13 . . . Nc6 14 .Nxc6? Once control over the d4 square is lost, White is in big trouble. (Better is 14.Radl Bd7+.) 14 . . . bxc6. (The threat •••

·

is Nf6-d7, not only attacking the c5 pawn, but threatening a fork with d5d4 followed by Qe7-h4+, picking up the bishop on d4!) 15. Bd4 Rb8 16 .a3 Rxb2 ! !

One of the two main ideas that White has in the line . Kasparov considered it insufficient for an advantage. A possible transposition to the lines which we have already discussed is achieved after 10 .0-0 d5 ll.cxd5 Nxd5! See the notes to Shankland-Vorobiov, game 7 in Chapter la. For the main line 10 . Bf2 see the next game, Onischuk-Bacrot.

10. . d5! .

We have seen this already. Whenever the opportunity arises,

68

Chapter lb: The Gligoric System

Black bets on black and cracks White's shaky position ! 17.Qxb2 Ng4+ 18.fxg4 Bxd4+ 19.Kg3 (Or

19. Kfl Qe3 20.Ndl Qf4+ winning the queen, and it's a mate after 19.Kel Bxc3+ 20. Qxc3 Qxe2#.) 19 . . . Qe3+

20.Bf3 Be5+ and mate next move , Solonar- Grimberg, Bad Woerishofen

2008. b) For better or worse, White needs to try 1 3 . Bf2 although here, too,

Black

is

doing

great

after

13 ... Na6 !? (13 . . Nc6!?) 14 .c6 bxc6 15.Nxc6 Qb7 16 . Na5 Qb4 17.Nb3 Nc7 18.0-0 Ne6 19. Rad1 Bb7, with .

active play in the center, Wichmann Rayner, Leipzig 2007. One interesting idea was test ed recently: 12 Nc6 1 3 . Bf2 Re5N. Compared to the Onischuk-Bacrot game, White has played Qd1-d2 in stead of the generally more useful 0-0. The queen is not very well placed on this square and White needs to castle anyway. 14 .0-0 •••

14 ... Qf8! 15.Bb5 Bd7 16. Rae1 Bh6 17.Qdl Rae8 18.Rxe5 Rxe5 19.Re1 Qe8 20.Rxe5 Qxe5 2l.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Qe2 Qxe2 23.Ncxe2 =, Franco Alonso-Cheparinov,

San

Sebastian

2012. 12 Nc6 13. c5 . . .

The silent approach does not yield White any advantage: 13.Rad 1 And now 13 . . . dxc4 14 .Nxc6 Qxd2 15.Bxd2 bxc6 16. Bxc4 Be6 17. Bxe6 Rxe6 18. Rfe1 Nd5 19.Rxe6 fxe6

20.Rc1 Rd8 =. Indeed, Black has pawn weaknesses, but the active positions of his pieces fully compensated in Romanov-Zvj aginsev, Moscow 2009. Black can also try the patient 13 . . . Nxd4 14 . Bxd4 dxc4 15. Bxc4 a6 16. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 17.Qxe1 Bd7 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.Bxg7 Nb6 2 0.Qc3 Nxc4 2 1 .Qxc4 Kxg7 22 .Qd4+ Kg8 23 .Qxd7 Qb6+ 24.Qd4 Qxd4+ 2 5 . Rxd4 ReS ¥2-¥2, Timoscenko-Rasik, Czechia 2008.

13 . . . Qa5N

This remains still the only over the-board game in which Black used this move. However, I did find two correspondence predecessors . Giri probably saw them, too. On account of the improvement that White later had, I will recommend another idea. After the great Garry Kasparov introduced the positional exchange sacrifice 13 ... Rxe3!? against none other than Anatoly Karpov in their New York World Championship match in 1991, almost everyone has been choosing this option and, I should add, with good reason. This is how the sacrifice was described when it was introduced: "A typical Kasparov exchange sacrifice, Chapter lb: The Gligoric System

69

which, of course, had been prepared beforehand. It is based not on the calculation of any specific variations, but on a clear positional foundation. Left without an opponent, the King's Indian bishop becomes terribly strong, and the price paid for this is very small." (Geller and Lein)

14.Qxe3 Qf8!

This is the point behind the sacrifice. Black threatens to win material with Nf6 -g4! and prepares the possible Bg7-h6 . I love Kasparov's description of Black's compensation: "Apart from obvious superiority in control of the center and the powerful dark-squared bishop (hole at e3, weak white pawn at c5), a completely new factor has appeared in the position - the black rook is ready to come into play via b8-b4-h4 . But the sum of these pluses can hardly outweigh White's extra exchange, and the position is one of approximate dynamic balance." The pawn on c5 is also hanging. Against Kasparov, neither Gel fand nor Karpov could prove any advantage: Gelfand tried 15.Ncb5 Qxc5 16.Qf2 (16.Racl Qb6 17. Qf2 Bd7

70

Chapter l b: The Gligoric System

was the course of Gelfand-Kaspar ov, Linares 1992, which Black won.) 16 . . . Bd7 17. Rfd l Bh6 1 8 . Nb3 lh-'12, Hracek-Kantsler, Panormo 2001. Karpov immediately got rid o f the loose knight: 15.Nxc6. The current practice also shows that Black is in good shape. After 15 . . . bxc6: a) The stem game is a good demonstration of Black's ideas: 16 .Khl Rb8 ! 17. Na4 Rb4! 18 .b3 Be6 19. Nb2 Nh5 20.Nd3

20 ... Rh4! 2 1 .Qf2 Qe7 2 2 . g4 It was already White who needed to find the only move ! 22 . . . Bd4 2 3 .Qxd4 Rxh2+ 2 4 . Kxh2 Qh4+ lh-lh, Karpov Kasparov, Lyon/New York 1990. b) 16. Na4 Bf5 17. Rfel

17 ... d4!? And now: bl) 18.Qa3 The only way to fight for something. 18 . . . Nd5 (lB... RdB!?

19.Bd3 Be6 20.g3 Nd5 also looks nice for Black.) 19.Bd3 Be6 20.Bc4 and here the most subtle is 20 ... Rd8!? (20... Bh6 2l.Bxd5 Bxd5 22.Qd3 RdB 23. b3 Be6 24.Rxe6 fxe6
fact, this is the actual novelty in the position. Not 14 Qxc 5? 1 5 . Nxc6 Qxc6 •••

16.Bb5±. The two correspondence games saw another approach with 14 a6!?: •••

After this move Black seriously intends to go after the c5 pawn.

15.Nb3 (15.Khl Qxc5 16.Ne6 Qa5 · 1 7:Nxg7 Kxg7 is a hefty extra pawn albeit White's compensation is the dark-squared bishop. We should not forget that the d-pawn is a central one.) 15 Qb4 and now: •••

a) Not 16 . Nxd5? Qxd2 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 1 8 . Nxd2 Rxe2-+. b) With 16. Rfd l White defends the queen and hits the d5 pawn for the future. bl) 16 . . . Bf5 Note that Black prefers to have this bishop active rather than to defend the isolated d5 pawn. With all the pieces on the Chapter l b: The Gligoric System

71

board, the isolani tends to be an asset rather than a weakness, due to the excellent control of the central outposts. 17. Bfl Rac8 18. Racl

(18.Nxd5? Nxd5 19. Qxd5 Bxb2-+) 18 . . . Be6:

game . 24.Rel Nf5t!, Taras-Lloveras Rebell, ICCF email 2006. b2) Still, 16 . . . Be6 is also possible and seems good enough for a safe equality after 17. Bfl Rad8 18.Nd4 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 Nd7 20.Nxd5 Qxd2 2 1 . Rxd2 Nxc5=. c) White could use the other rook instead, 16 . Rad l , when the logical development 16 . . . Bf5 17. Nd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Nd7 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Qxd5 Rad8 led to a complete exhaustion of both the armies and a draw after 2 1 .Qd4+ Qxd4+ 2 2 . Rxd4 Nxc5 2 3 . Rfdl Rxd4 24. Rxd4 ReS 25.Kf2 Be6 2 6 .f4 b5 27.g3 f5 ¥2-¥2, Romanov Kruchem, ICCF corr 1996.

15. Bxd4 Qb4 1 6. Rfdl!

bll) White rejected the drawing line 19.Nd4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Nd7 2l.Nxd5 Qxd2 2 2 . Rxd2 Bh6 2 3 . Be3 Bxe3+ 24.Nxe3 Rxc5=. b12) 19.Qc2 allows Black's dark square bishop to go to a working diagonal. 19 . . . Bh6 20.a3 Qf4 2 1 . Nd4 Nh5 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23 .b4

White overprotects the d4 square, defends the queen, and prepares an attack against the isolated d5 pawn. The other rook can also be use ful in this role: 16. Radl Bd7 17.a3

(Premature is 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Qxd5 Be6 19. Qd2 Qxc5++.) 17 . . . Qb3 18. Bd3

23 ... Ng7! The knight is brought into the center and Black has a good

72


with an advantage for White. Note that the immediate gain of the pawn is not effective: 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Nxd5 Qxb2 20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 2 1 . Qxd7 Rxe2 22.Qxb7 Rae8=.

16. . . Bd7 1 7. a3 Qb3 18. Bd3 Rad8

It is understandable that White wants to support the bishop on d4, but the text move allows a nasty pin .

28 ... Qe7 29. Radl It is unlikely that White will survive after 29.Bxg7 Nxg7 3 0 . Qd2 ReS 3 l . Kfl Re3 32 . Bxd5 Bd3 (not 32 . . . Rd3 33. Qa2) 3 3 . Be4 Qg5+, but this was his best chance.

29. . . Bxd4+ 30. Rxd4 Nf6 31. Qd2 ReB 32. Kf2 Qc5 0-1

19. Bc2 White misses a chance to obtain a

large advantage. Instead, the maneuver 19.Bbl!

Qc4 20.Ba2! would put unbearable pressure against 20 Qa6 2 l . Nxd5 Kxg7 23.Qxd5± . ...

the d5 pawn: Nxd5 2 2 . Bxg7

19. . . Qc4 20. b3 Qa6 21. b4t.

White is completely tied up and could not find any defense against either of the threats Re6 -e3! or Re6-e4! Therefore he resigned. An interesting game, and from a theoretical point of view, Kasparov's exchange sacrifice still rules!

White i s better. His pawn majority has advanced unimpeded, but he tragically blunders at the end.

21. . . b 6 22. cxb 6 axb6 23.Bb3 Bf5 24. a4 Qb7 25. b5 h5 26. Qb2 Re6 27.Rel Better was 27.Qf2 ! ± .

27... Ne8 28. Ne2 ? Chapter l b : The Gligoric System

73

2 O nischuk - Bacrot

12th Karpov International Poikovsky 2011 l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 0 - 0 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 exd4 8. Nxd4 ReB 9.(3 c 6 10. Bf2

15 . . . Nxd5! 16 . Nxd5 Bxd5+, Jedlicka Sikora Lerch, Ostrava 2009.

13 . . . Re51?

Instead of defending the bishop, White safeguards it on f2. Kasparov considered this move best. We shall see that the great Russian found serious followers.

10 . . . d5/ Anyway! Whenever the opportunity arises, remember?

ll.exd5 cxd5 12. 0- 0 Nc6 13. c5 The only move. 13.Nxc6 is dangerous for White only: 13 . . . bxc6 14 .Rel Be6 15.cxd5

Sasikiran introduced this novelty a couple of years ago. Nowadays, when everything is explored so deeply and novelties are played on move thirty (or even forty!), one is astonished to find that chess still has many resources. Black's idea is a similar set-up to the one that Kasparov adopted: Qd8-f8 , Bc8-d7 and doubling the rooks on the open e-file. Besides the text move, the main line remains 13 Nh5 14.Qd2 Be5. Black activates his pieces and creates •••

74

Chapter l b : The Gligoric System

threats on the king's flank. Once they are stopped, after 15.g3 Ng7, the pieces are relocated to the center.

But the main move is 16 ... Be6:

This is the tabiya of the whole line. Black sup orts the d5 pawn and is already threatening to exchange (maybe even twice) on d4 , play Ng7-f5, and advance the d-pawn. We discuss five alternatives for White: 17. Ncb5, 17. Bb5 , 17. Nxe6, 17.f4, and 17. Bfl on page 77. a) 17.Ncb5 Mikhalevski stated, "taking additional control of the d4 square makes sense." I do not object to this, but add that the knight is not so stable on b5. Black is doing reasonably well after 17. . . a6 (or 1Z .. Bh3!?) 18.f4 axb5 19.fxe5 Nxe5 and now:

p

The battle will be for the strategically important d4 square, and the main question remains: is the d5 isolani a weakness or an asset? With the rook development to el, White does not pay sufficient attention to the d4 square: 16.Rfel Ne6 17.Nxe6 Bxe6 18.f4 Bxc3 19.bxc3

(19. Qxc3 d4 20. Qa3 Qd7 with a strong passed pawn and light-square domination looks scary for White.) 19 . . . Bf5, and White found nothing better but to trade everything and offer a draw despite a rating advantage: 2 0.c4 dxc4 21.Qxd8 Raxd8 22.Bxc4 Re4 2 3 . Rxe4 lh-lh, Fressinet-Todorov, France 2009. Better is 16.Rfdl, guarding d4 with another piece. Now 16 ... Ne6 is a reasonable sideline: 17. Nxe6 Bxe6 18.f4 Bxc3 !? In this line we usually need to part with this beautiful bishop, and the other one will have to work for two! 19.Qxc3 Bf5 20.Bfl Be4, with an irregular, messy position, in the game Hansen-McShane, E sbjerg 2001.


75

a1) 20.Bxb5

Bd7

2 l . Bfl

Nf5

(2l. . . Nh5!? with the idea Nh5-f6-e4 looks tempting too.) 2 2 . Bg2 Nc4

c) Another option is 17. Nxe6 Nxe6!? 18.Qxd5 Bxc3 19.bxc3

23 .Qc3 Nfe3:

24.Bxe3 (Instead, White had to sac rifice the exchange with 24.Bxd5 Nxdl 25.Rxdl Ne5 26.Bxb7 Rxa2oo.) 24 . . . Nxe3 25.Re1 Nxg2 26.Kxg2 Rxe1 (26. . . Re4!?+) 27.Qxe1 Qf6+, Gustafsson- Sebenik, Austria 2012. a2) Perhaps it is better to opt for 20.Nxb5 Nf5 2l .Qf4 f6 2 2 . Nd4

19 . . . Ncd4 20.Bc4 Qxd5 2 l . Bxd5 Ne2+ 2 2 . Kfl Nxc3 2 3 . Rd3 (23.Bxb7 Nxdl 24.Rxdl RadB) 23 . . . Nxd5 24. Rxd5 RedS =, Arizmendi Martinez-L'Ami, Barbera del Valles 2 01 1 . d ) The straightforward 17.f4 also proved to be insufficient for getting an advantage: 17 . . . Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Nf5 19. Bf2 d4 20.Nb5 Qe7

(22.g4!? g5 23. Qd2 Nh4!? 24.Bxh4 gxh4 is a line for adventurers.) 22 . . . Bd7 (22 . . . Nxd4 immediately is more subtle.) 23 .b3 Nxd4 24. Bxd4 Bf5oo, Socko-Chigaev, Moscow 2012 . b) Against 17. Bb5 the recent fashion is 17. . . Rc8 (But also 17. . . Qd7

intending RadB, as in Ivanchuk Radjabov, Morelia/Linares 2006, is possible.) and now: b1) 1 8 . B x c 6 ? ! b x c 6 1 9 . R a c 1 Nf5 =. Black also has 19 . . . a5!? and 19 . . . Bd7 20.b4 Ne6 =. b2) Or 18 .b4 Nf5 19. Nxf5 Bxf5 20.Re1 Bh3 2 l . Bxc6 bxc6 22 .Bd4 f6 23.a4 Qd7 24.Bxe5 fxe5 25.Rad1 Rf8 26 .Qd3 Rce8=, in Cheparinov-Fedoseev, Moscow 2 0 1 1 .

76


2 l . Bd3 (or 2l. Bf3 Qxc5 22. Nxd4 Ncxd4 23.Bxd4 Nxd4 24. Qxd4 RacB=) 2 1 . . . a6 (Not bad, but Black can boldly take the pawn thanks to the tactical trick 21 . . . Qxc5N 22. Nc7

2 7. Rxdl ReB =) 26 . . . Nxd6 2 7 . R d l Rd8 = , Kruppa-Volokitin, Kallithea 2002 .

I

n all these lines Black was patiently repelling White's active possibilities, and even though the position was always about equal, this is not every KID player's cup of tea. If so, you are advised to pay close attention to Sasikiran's idea, our text move 13 . . . Re5 !?.

14. Bb5 22 . . . Ne5! 23.fxe5 Qxc 7+.) 2 2 . Bxf5 axb5 23. Be4 (After 23. Bxe6 Qxe 6 24. Bxd4 RedB 25. Qf2 Rxa2, Black is at least not worse.) 2 3 . . . Qxc5 (23 ... Bg4!? 24. Rel Qxc5=) 2 4 . Bxd4 Nxd4 2 5 . Qxd4 Qxd4+ 2 6 . Rxd4 Rxa2 27. Rxa2 Bxa2 2 8 . Bxb7=, Gelfand-Van Wely, Wij k aan Zee

1996. e) Finally, 17. Bfl allows the already standard idea 17 . . . Bxd4 18.Bxd4 Nxd4 19.Qxd4 Nf5 20.Qf2 d4 2l.Nb5 Qe7 2 2 . Nxd4 Qxc5 2 3 . Nxe6 Qxf2+ 24.Kxf2 Rxe6 2 5 . Rd7 Rd6 Onischuk starts immediate play on the queen's flank, trying to ob struct Black's ideas . This position is extremely fresh.

26. Rxd6 (26. Rxb7?! is answered by 26 . . . Rd2+ 2 7. Kgl Nd4 28. Bg2 ReB +, but OK is 26. Rdl Rxdl Chapter l b : The Gligoric System

77

We discuss two other plans , one starting with 14 .Qa4 and another starting with 14 .Re1. Both have been tested. One version of queenside counter play is seen in the line 14.Qa4 Bd7:

a l l ) Sasikiran retreated the rook with 15 . . . Re7, perhaps fear ing Nd4-b5 with possible forks. The game continued 16 .Bf3 Rxe1+ 17.Qxe1 Bg4 18.Qd1 (In case of

White

continued

with

15.Rad1

(15.Bb5 transposes to the featured game.) 15 . . . Nh5 (15... a6!? to prevent Be2-b5 is an additional possibility for Black.) 16.Bb5 Qc8? ! . (Instead, Cabrera needed to play a-la-Bacrot with 16... Rc8, not fearing 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18. Qxa7 RaB 19. Qb6 QeB=.)

lB.Rdl then lB . . . ReB 19. Qfl Qxc5 is possible, when it is questionable if the first player can prove compensation.) 18 . . . Bxf3 19.Qxf3 ReS (Even better was 19. . . Ne4! 20.Nxc6 Bxc3 21. bxc3 bxc6+.) 20.Ndb5 Ne4+t:

And now White found the co 17.f4! Nxf4 ordination breaker: 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Qxf4 (White could

have cashed in his idea with 19.Ba6! QbB 20. Qxf4±.) 19 . . . Rf5 20 .Qd2 Bxc3 21 .Qxc3 cxb5 22.Bd4;i;, Vazquez Igarza-Cabrera, Totana 201 1 . The stem game saw a different version of queenside counterplay with 14.Rel : a) to which Sasikiran reacted with 14 . . . Qf8. a1) After 15.f4:

78


Black has successfully finished his development, and now his opponent blundered: 2 l . Nd6? Nxd6 22.cxd6 Qxd6 2 3 . Nxd5 Bxb2+, AI Sayed Sasikiran, Guangzhou 2010.

a12) 15 . . . Re8 was also possible,

as the aggressive knight thrust 16. Ndb5 (Not 16.Ncb5? Ne4 +, and 16.Bf3 Rxel+ will transpose to the game.) can be answered with the no less aggressive 16 . . . d4!

25. . . Ne4+ 26.Khl Qh6+.) 2 1 . . .Qxd6

Ng3+!

2Z hxg3

22 .cxd6

Bd4+ 2 3 . Kh l Nf2+=. a122) 17. Na4 Bf5 1 8 . Nc7 Rxe2 19.Qxe2 Rb8 2 0 . Nb5 Ne4�. In both these lines we see Kasparov's idea in practice. a2) Predojevic suggested an improvement for White in Chess Evolution, November 2 0 1 1 : 15.a3 Bd7 16 . Ndb5 , but I feel that things are not so scary for Black, and he can try a move which was not suggested by the Bosnian GM : 16 . . . Rd8 !? when 17. Nd6 Ne8 1 8 . Nxb7?! is effectively answered by 18 . . . Rb8+. a3) The most recent attempt to get something out of the position was made by Volkov: 1 5 . Ncb5 Bd7

with two lines

in which Black sacrifices the exchange: a 1 2 1 ) 17. Nxd4 Rd8 1 8 . Qa4 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 Rxd4 ! 2 0 . Qxd4 Ng4 ! and now White needs to settle for a draw with 2 1 .Qd6 (Or, if he likes,

he can get mated instead after 21. Qc4 ? (or 2 1 .Qb4 a 5 ! 2 2 .Qc4 Be6 ! ) 2 l . . . B e 6! 22. Qb4 a5 23. Qb5 Bd4+ 24.Khl Nf2+ 25. Kgl

16. Bfl (The knight can venture into the black camp but is not well supported for that: 16.Nd6 b6 17.Rcl Bh6 18.Rc3 Qe7?-.) and now: a31) Black could have boldly taken the pawn. In the line 16 . . . Rxel 17.Qxel Qxc5 1 8 . Nf5 Qc2 (Safer is

18 . . . Qf8 19.Nxg7 Kxg7 20.Rdl Qb4 21. Qxb4 Nxb4 22.Nxa7 Nxa2=.) 19.Nxg7 Kxg7 2 0 . Nd4 Qxb2 2 l . Rbl Qxa2 2 2 . Rxb7 ReS 23 .Qcl�, White has compensation for the pawns but Chapter lb: The Gligoric System

79

Korchnoi would certainly have taken them! a32) Instead, Volkov-Nitin, Dubai 2012 saw 16 . . . Nh5 17.Qd2 Rae8 18 .b4 Bf6 (18 . . . a6 19.Nxc6 Bxc6 20.Nd4 Bd7 is close to equality.) 19.Rxe5 Rxe5

b12) Instead he choose a wrong path: 17. Nxc6?! Bxc6 18 .Qc1?!

(and here Black should have captured with the bishop with approximate equality, 19. . . Bxe5=) 20.Rd1 Bg5 21 .Qb2 Qe7 2 2 . Nxc6 bxc6 2 3 . Nxa7. White had won a pawn, but his op ponent generated counterplay after 23 . . . Be3 and later saved the game. b) Sasikiran's second try was 14 . . . Bd7, and it proved even more successful than the first, with the game not even reaching move twenty! 18 ... d4! 19. Nb5? Qxc1 0-1, El Debs Sasikiran, Caleta 201 1 . After 20. Raxc1 Rxe2 2 l . Rxe2 Bxb5-+ Black is winning. b2) Against 15 .Qd2 the most logical follow up is 15 . . . Qf8, which intends to complete the plan and prepares Bg7-h6. b2 1) White was successful after 16 . Bfl but this had nothing to do with the opening: 16 . . . Bh6 17.f4 Rxel

b1) 15.a3 Nh5! Active play. 16 .g3 Qg5 : bll) Here White needed to find the only move 17.h4 , which keeps the balance after 17 . . . Qe7 18.Ndb5 d4 19.Ne4 (not 19.Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Qxd4 Nxg3! 21.Bxg3 Rxe2+) 19 . . . Nf6+t.

80


(The first improvement for Black is the cool 17. . . Rae8!? the rook can stay active, or be replaced by another active black piece in case of 18.Rxe5 Nxe5+t.) 18.Rxe1 Rd8 19.h3 Bg7 (Central activity was already possible with 19. . . Ne4!? 20.Nxe4 dxe4 2l.Nb5 Be6 22.Nd6 f5ao.) 20.Qd1

20 Ne4! 2 l . Nxe4 dxe4= 2 2 . Nxc6?! Bxc6+, Ulko- Sychev, Moscow 2 0 1 1 . b22) 16. Ndb5 w a s a more fruitful attempt. . . .

17 . . . Rd8 ! There is no rush for the c5 pawn. As you will see, Black can always take it later. b22 1 1) Now W hite could have entered wild complications with the computer-like line 18.Rad l ! ?N Rxc5 19.Nxc6 (or 19.Ndb5 Be6 20. Qcl Rxdl 21. Qxdl=) 19 . . . Rxc6 20.Bxa7 ! ? b6 2 l . Bb5 Rxc 3 ! 2 2 . Bxb6 (also

possible was 22. Qxc3 ReB 23. Qe5 Rc5 24.Bxd7 Rxe5 25.Rxe5 Nxd7 26.Red5 Bxb2 27. Rxd7 Qb4=) 22 . . . Bxb5

On the whole, this is an idea that the second player should always watch out for! b221) N. Kosintseva tried to

23.Qxd8 ReS, where her chances are preferable. b22 1 2) The move which Gura mishvili chose is also quite logical: 1 8 . Nxc6 Bxc6 19.Qc2 . But it allowed Black to demonstrate one of the main ideas of the line: 19 . . . Nh5! ? (or 19 . . . Nd7 20.Radl (also 2 0 . Redl Nxc5) 20 ... Nxc5 21.Rxd8 QxdB=) 2 0 . Bfl

solve the problems with the help of

tactics: 16 ... d4! ? 17. Nxd4


81

Bd7-c6.) 16.Qxb7 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 Rb8 18.Qxa7 Rxb2 ! 19. Rab1 (19. Bxe5? Bxe5 20.Racl Qh4 21.g3 Bd4+ 22.Kg2 Qh3+ 23. Khl Nxg3#) 19 . . . Rexe2 ! (Instead of this sharp and direct approach, I like the silent but violent 19. . . Re7!N

20 ... Rxc5! 2l.Rad1 (The rook is un touchable, for the black squares will be severely weakened after 2l.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 22.Khl Ng3+ 23. hxg3 Qh5+ 24.Kgl Bd4+-+ and this will cost White her queen.) 21...Ra5 22.Rxd8 Qxd8 23 .b4 Re5 24.Rxe5 Bxe5=, Guramishvili-Ko sintseva, Gaziantep 2012 . b222) Moves can be transposed with the novelty 16 . . . Rd8 !?N 17. Rad 1 (17.f4 is answered by 17. . . Re7) and 17 . . . d4 transposes, however Black can try 17 . . . Bf5!?oo. b3) After the direct 15 .Qb3,

20.Bxg7 Bf5 21. Qa3 Rxbl 22.Nxbl Nxg7 23.Nc3 d4 �, when Black enjoys plenty of compensation for the pawn.) 20.Nxe2 Rxe2 21.Bxg7 Rxe1+ 22.Rxel Kxg7oo, resulting in an unclear position, but still good for Black in Volkov-Gallagher, Aix-les-Bains 2011.

14 . . . Bd7 15. Qa4

Black was looking for trouble with 15 . . . Nh5 (A safe approach is

15. . . Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Re6 followed by 82

Chapter 1 b: The Gligoric System

15 . . . Rc81?

An improvement upon Sasikiran's only loss in this line, which saw 15 ... Qc8 16.Rfel a6 (Here also Black has improvements, such as 16 ... Rxel+

lZRxel a6 18.Bxc6 Bxc6.) 17.Bxc6 Bxc6 18.Qc2 Rh5 (or JB... Rxel+ 19.Rxel Qc7

20.b4 ReB with approximate equality)

21.Qd3 Rb8, which also gave him some compensation, in Shulman-Feller, Lubbock 2011. But there was not as much payoff as in Predojevic's line, when this knight was destined for c4.

1 6. . . Rxel+ 1 7. Rxel 18. Bxd4 Bc6=

Nxd4

19.b4 Bd7 20.Radl Bh6 2l.Bg3;!;, Onischuk-Sasikiran, Ningbo 2011.

16.Rfel Soon after Bacrot showed his nov elty, Shulman tried to improve upon his compatriot's play with 16.Radl!? Here I like Predojevic's 16 a6!? •••

The difference between this game and the above Onischuk- Sasikiran game (with 15 . . . Qc8) is that Black's rook is active on the c-file.

19. Qdl Qa5 20. Bfl ReB 21. Rxe8+ Nxe8 17.Bxc6 Bxc6 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Qxa6 Nd7. This is why the pawn is sacrificed before Nf6 -h5 . The knight will find good squares in the center, specifically c4. Black's compensation is there, albeit not very obvious, after 20. Rfel Rxel+ 2l.Rxel Ne5�. Also possible, at White's 2 0th, are 20.Bd4 Re6 2 l . Bxg7 Kxg7 22 .Qd3 Qf6�, and 20.Qd3 Re6 2 l .b4 Ne5 22 .Qc2 Nc4�. Feller played the natural-looking 16 ;Nh5 instead and nevertheless sacrificed a pawn after 17.g3 a6 18.Bxc6 Bxc6 (or 18... bxc6 19.Qxa6 ReB) 19.Nxc6 bxc6 20.Qxa6 Qc7 ..

22. Qd2 ? White misses a maneuver and loses a pawn. Better was 2 2 . Nxd5 Chapter lb: The Gligoric System

83

Bxd5 23.Bxg7 Bxf3 24.gxf3 Nxg7 25 .b4 Qc7 26.Bh3 Qe7=.

The active king will save White.

22 . . . Bxd4+ 28. Qxd4 Nc 7!

88 . . . Be6 84. Bxe6 Nxe6 85. Ke4 Kg7 86. Ke5 Nc5 8 7. Kd4 Nd7 88. Nb4 a5 89. Nd5 g5 40. Kc4

Black wins the pawn on c5. Still, with stubborn and strong defense, Onischuk saved the half point.

40 . . . g4

24. b4 Ne6 25. bxa5 Nxd4 26. a 6! bxa6 27. Bxa6 Ne6 28. Kf2 Nxc5 29.Bc8

29. . . d4 Allowing White the King activi ty with 29 . . . Kg7 30.Ke3 Kf6 3 1 . Kd4 Ne6+ 32.Bxe6 fxe6 33.Kc5 might have been his best chance for a win.

80. Ne2 Bd5 81. Nxd4 82.Nc6 a6 88. Ke8! 84

Bxa2


Better was 40 ... Ne5+!? 4 1 . Kb5 (or 41.Kd4 Ng6) 41 . . . Ng6 . 41.fxg4 Ne5+ 42. Kb5 Nxg4 48.Kxa5 Nxh2 44.Kb4 Kg6 45. Kc8 Kf5 46.Kd8 Ng4 4 7.g3 Ke5 48. Nf4 Kf5 49. Nd5 Ne5+ 50. Ke8 Kg4 51. Nf6+ Kf5 52. Nd5 Kg4 58. Nf6+ Kxg8 54. Ke4 Nd7 55. Nxd7 h5 56. Nf6 h4 57. Kf5 h3 58. Ng4 f6 59. Ne8 Kf8 %-%

Memory Markers Here are reminders of some of the ideas and motifs in the Gligoric System.

Again, giving up the center opens up many possibilities !

1 . After 10...d6-d5!. The central strike, text move in Popov-Giri, page 68.

16 ... Rb8xb2!!. Attacking the king in the center, see diagram on page 6 8 in Popov-Giri .

3. After 14...Qd8-:f8! Kasparov's

4. After 18 ... Bf5-e6. Active play in the center. See diagram on page 72 in Popov-Giri .

exchange sacrifice, see diagram on page 70 in Popov-Giri.

2. After


85

5. Mter 13 ... Re8-e5!?. Sasi kiran's set-up, text move in Onischuk-Bacrot. See diagram on page 74 .

6. After 16 ... Bc8-e6. The stan dard plan, the tabiya for the line.

7. After 19 ...Re5-e7!N. Ultra sharp play, see diagram on page 82 in Onischuk-Bacrot.

8. After 15 ... Ra8-c8!?. Bacrot's improvement, text move in Onischuk-Bacrot, page 82.

86


See diagram on Onischuk-Bacrot.

page

75

in

Exercises Black to play!

With these situations from actual games, you can find some ideas and opportunities that may await you, as Black, when facing the Gligoric System. Solutions to these exercises begin on page 3 1 2 .

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Sundararaj an - Asau skas

S erralta - Rabineau

World Championship U20, Goa 2002

French Championship, Nimes 2009

Exploit the pin.

Find the move.


87

Exercise 3

S ergeev - O sinovsky

S asikiran - Konguvel

St. Petersburg White Nights St. Petersburg 2004

India Championship, Nagpur 1999

Make use of your activity!

Exercise 5

How can Black make progress?

Exercise 6

Obukhov - S ergeev

Bedic - Marku n

Soviet Union 1991

Slovenian Championship Kranj 1999

Black's position seems frightening, but how to break in?

88

Exercise 4


Find the move.

Exercise 7

Exercise 8

Miles - Nu nn

. D annevig - Vladimirov

BBC TV Master Game England 1976

Gausdal International 1991

The black square symphony!

Did you pay attention?


89

Chapter l c The Exchange System

l. d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8

In the Classical system , the first player can choose not to maintain the pre s sure in the center but to swap central pawns instead, reaching the Exchange System.

F

or many years this idea has been considered innocuous, as the exchange in the center and then the queen trade eases Black's defense. Moreover, the pawn skeleton will now favor Black, as our pawns on e5 and c6 will better control the center, covering all the critical squares. Compare these pawns to those on c4 and e4, which can never disallow a black piece on d4 (ideally a knight) and you will see the difference.

But you need to be ready for this line in your games , as many white players try to take the sting out of the KID as early as possible . Do not worry. Patient and purposeful play will still give you chances to play for the full point . The system I have choosen for you is relatively rare, and this will increase its surprise value.

Chapter lc: The Exchange System

91

Mchedlishvili - Jobava

Tbilisi Municipality Cup 2009 l.d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d6 5.e4 0- 0 6. Be2 e5 7.dxe5 dxe5

In your King's Indian encounters, you may face opponents who are unwilling to enter sharp lines in which they can get mated, preferring to play a game without risk, or they might just be endgame masters willing to outplay you in a quiet manner. If so, the Exchange KID will suit their purpose.

8. Qxd8 Rxd8

92


9. Bg5 This is the only move that can cause any trouble for Black. Note that White cannot win a pawn with 9.Nxe5 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 (not 10.Nxf7?? Bxc3+-+) 10 . . . Bxe5 1 l . Bg5 ReS . Even the dark-squared bishop is not as tasty as usual in this situation: 1 2 . Nf6+ Bxf6 1 3 . Bxf6 Bf5 14 .Rd1 Na6 !?

Black safeguards the back rank and prepares the doubling of the rooks on the e-file with Re8 -e6 and Ra8 -e8. The maneuver Na6 -b4-d3+ (or even better Bf5-d3 ! ) is also possible. Since White cannot castle, Black already stands somewhat better. Against 9.Nd5 I like the fighting move which Lenic used: 9 . . . Ne8!? 10. Ne7+ Kf8 1 l . Nxc8 Rxc8 12 .Be3 Nc6 13.0-0-0 Nf6 . Black has kept more pieces on the board and gradually outplayed his opponent, after 14 . Nd2 Rd8 15.f3 Nd4 16 .Rhel c5=, followed by Nf6 -g8 and Bg7-h6 with black-squared domination in Tolstikh-Lenic, New Delhi 2010. Instead, Black can equalize at once with 9 . . . Nxd5 10.cxd5 c6 l l . Bc4 cxd5 1 2 . Bxd5 Na6 =.

9 Na6/?

10 Re8 l l .f4 c6 (ll . . . h6 was still good: 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. 0-0-0 Bxe5 14.fxe5 c6=) 12 .0-0-0 Nc5 1 3 . Bf3 h6

. . .

•••

14 . Bxf6 Bxf6 1 5 . Nd3 Nxd3+ 16 . Rxd3 g5 17.g3 gxf4 18.gxf4 Be6 19.b3 Rad8 , with some compensation for the sacrificed pawn in De Firmian Leski, California 1993 . 10 h6!? is a tricky move order which invites White to err. We look at three alternatives: a) l l . Bh4 ReB and now 1 2 . f4 can be strongly met with 12 . . . g5 : •••

Players who choose the Exchange System are usually not very well prepared to enter long theoretical lines. Therefore, I suggest that we give them a big surprise right from the start! It's relatively rare, but logical. White's threat was Nc3 -d5 to hit both the f6 knight and the c7 pawn. The c-pawn is now defended, and Black has Rd8-d6 to defend the knight. At the same time, the knight from a6 controls c5 and completes Black's development. Black's main choice is 9 Re8 where he is comfortably equalizing. But what if we need to play for a win?! The sharp 9 c6 was used by Kasparov to try to unbalance the situation with a pawn sacrifice. However, White is usually well prepared for that, and I also do not completely trust this approach because of the forced manner of the positions that arise. Such forced lines usually lead to a draw. ...

••.

IO.Nd5 Consistent. 10.Nxe5 is still possible and still innocuous. We look at two possibilities:

a1) 1 3 . Bg3 Nc5+ and again White cannot defend the central pawn with 14 . Bf3? Nfxe4 1 5 . Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 gxf4 17. Bxf4 Bxe5-+. a2) Less good is 13.fxg5 hxg5 14. Bg3 Nc5+, as 1 5 . Bf3 fails to 15 . . . Rxe5! 16. Bxe5 Nd3+ 17. Ke2 Nxe5-+. b) l l .Bf4 is stronger, with comfort able equality for Black after l l . . . Re8 1 2 . Rdl Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Bxe5 14. Bxe5 Rxe5 15.Rd8+ Kg7 16.f3 b6=. c) Finally, l l . Bxf6 Bxf6 1 2 .f4 c6 1 3 . Rd l Rxd l+ 14 . Bxd l Bxe5 15.fxe5 is somewhat better for Black already. The pawn on e5 will inevitably fall, and the one on e4 will not be in great shape afterwards . Chapter l c : The Exchange System

93

10

. . .

Rd6

As mentioned before, Black can now play this move to defend f6. However, if you desperately need a win (imagine that your opponent is a half point away from you in the final round of an open tournament and needs a draw to win it! ) you might consider the fascinating idea of GM Neverov: 10 ... Nxd5!?

Here, Black has tried to develop the initiative in various ways: a) 12 . . . Bg4!? 13. Be70 ReS (13 ...

c5!? intending 14. . . f6 to restrict the bishop is interesting, too.) 14 .Ba3 Bxf3 15.gxf3 Bf8! Black is heading for exchanges, but then he will have complete domination on the dark squares ! 16 . Bxf8 Kxf8 and now: al) 17.0 - 0 - 0 Nb4 (1 7. . . Ke7 with If White plays l l.cxd5 then ll . . .f6 gets the type of unbalanced play that Black is aiming for, after 12.Be3 (Black takes over the initia

the idea Na6-c5-e6-d4 looks great, too!) 18.a3 Nc6, intending Nd4 as compensation for the material:

tive after 12.Bxa6 bxa6 13.Be3 Bb7 14.Rcl RacB 15.Bxa7 f5!) 12 . . . Nb4 (also 12 . . . f5!?) 13.Rcl f5 14 . Rxc7 fxe4 15.Ng5 Nd3+ 16. Bxd3 exd3 17. Kd2 Rxd5oo. In any case this will shake your opponent's confidence! White accepts the exchange sac rifice with ll.Bxd8 Nf4 1 2 . Bf10

(of course not 12.Bd1 Nxg2+ 13. Kf1 Nf4+).

Once the knight reaches d4 it will completely paralyze the white rooks. Which piece is better, the knight on d4 or a rook, is highly debatable !

94


a2) The strength of the knight is also seen after 17. Kd2 Rd8+ 18.Kc3 Nc5, intending Nce6 -d4 to compen sate for the exchange. b) Black can play more aggressive ly in the center with 12 . . . f5 13.Kd2

(13.exf5 Bxf5 14. 0-0-0 Nb4 15.Bxc7 Bh6 looks scary for White, to put it

Taken by surprise, the strong Georgian GM chooses a toothless de veloping move. Jobava will now get a chance to enjoy his more flexible pawn structure. White's best option is ll.Bxf6

Bxf6

mildly.) 13 . . . fxe4 14. Nel Bf5 15.Bh4 Bh6 16.Kc3 g5 17. Bg3 Rd8 18.h4 g4, with a strong initiative. The next blunder eased his task. 19.Nc2

19 ... Nxg2! 20.Bxe5 (not 20.Bxg2 Rd3 mate) 20 ... Bd2+ 2l.Kb3 Nc5+ 22.Ka3 e3! 23.Bxg2 Bxc2 24.fxe3 c6 25.Rh2

a5 26.b3 Bb4+ 27.Kb2 Bxb3! 28.axb3

And we consider four possibilities for White: 12.Rcl on this page, 12.0-0-0 and 12.b4 on page 96, and finally the acid test 12.Nxf6+! on page 97. 12.Rcl with the idea c4-c5 can be parried: a) either with 12 . . . c6!? 13.c5 Rxd5!

Nd3+ 29.Kc2 Nxe5 30.Rhhl Rd2+ 3l.Kbl Rxg2 32 .Ra2 Rxa2 33.Kxa2 Nf3 0-1, Brijs-Bedyk, IECG email 1999. c) Neverov himself chose 12 ... b6 13.Bg5 Ne6 14.Be3 Bb7 15.Nd2 f5

(He could have obtained compensation after the subtle 15...Nb4! 16.Kdl f5 1Zf3 RdB�.) 16.f3 Nb4 17.Kdl? (And White could have benefitted by JZ0-0-0! Nxa2+ lB.Kbl Nb4 19.c5 intending Bc4;t, although I also have the feeling that Black should be OK even here.) 17... Rd8 (� Neverov) 18.a3 now

Nc6oo, Fulvi-Neverov, Groningen 1993 .

11.Nd2 Chapter lc: The Exchange System

95

14 .exd5 cxd5 15.Bxa6 bxa6 with the two bishops and a central pawn pair in return for the exchange! b) or with 12 . . . b6 13 .b4 c6

(13 . . . Bd8!? 14.c5 bxc5 15. bxc5 Re6=) 14 .c5, when Black can once more sac the exchange:

Black's plan is to bring the knight to the center (ideally, the d4 square via the c5-e6 route), trade a pair of rooks (to soften the pressure along the d-file) and to enjoy his powerful knight! 15.Bxf3 c6 Note that the active idea 16.Rd7 drops a pawn after 16 ... Nc5 17.Rc7 Nd3+ 18.Kd2 Nxf2 19.Re1 (19.Rfl? Nxe4+) 19 ... Nxh3! . After 12.b4 a) Black should play the immedi ate 12 . . . c6! When the intended 13 .c5? is in fact losing · material for White! 13 . . . Rxd5:

14 . . . Rxd5! 15.exd5 e4 16 . Nd2 cxd5�. If 12.0-0-0 then 1 2 . . . Bg4! 13.Nxf6+ Rxf6 14.h3 Bxf3 !

a1) 14. Bxa6 bxa6 15.exd5 e4 16 .0-0-0 exf3 17.dxc6 fxg2 18. Rhgl Be6+ (Here Black wins quickly

with 1B . . . Bg4 19.Rd3 Be2 20.Rd6 Bg5+ 21.Kc2 Bf3- +.) 19. Rxg2 ReS,

Black successfully transforms the advantage of the bishop pair into the advantage of the better minor piece. White's bishop is rather poor in this case, surrounded by its own pawns.

96


and Black converted his material advantage in Korotylev-Matamoros Franco, Calatrava 2006. a2) Keeping the bishop isn't any better: 14 .exd5 e4 15.0-0-0 exf3 16. Bxa6 fxg2 17.Rhe1 bxa6 18.Re8+ Kg7 19.d6 Bg5+ 2 0 . Kb2 Bg4!-+. b) However, also possible is 12 . . . Bg4 13.Rd 1 Kg7 14 .c5 Rxd5! 15.Rxd5 (better than 15. exd5 Nxb4 16.a3 Nc2+ 1 7.Kd2 Bf5(XJ) 15 . . . Nxb4 16 .Rd2 Nc6�.

The

acid

test

of the

line

is

b1) The main line now runs 14 . . . Nc5?! 1 5 . 0 - 0 - 0 f6 16 . Rd8+ Kg7

Black needs to be careful here! 12 ... Rxf6 1 3 . Nxe5 Re6: a) After 14 . Ng4 h5 1 5 . Ne3 Rxe4 16.Bf3 ReS 17.0-0 c6 1 8 . Rab1 Nb4, Black was already more comfortable. A handful of moves saw him converting his pressure into something more tangible: 19.a3 Nd3 20. Rfd 1 Ne5 2 1 . Be2 Bg4 2 2 Nxg4 hxg4 23 .h3 gxh3 24.gxh3 Re7+. White has weak pawns and an inferior minor piece in Dao Thien Hai-Stellwagen, Dresden 2008. b) Better is 14 .f4

bll) Now 17.b4 is nothing for White after 17 . . . Nxe4 18. Bg4 Rd6 ! 19.Rxc8 Rxc8 2 0 . Bxc8 fxe5: b111) 2 1 . fxe5 Rd4 2 2 . Kc2 Rxc4+ 2 3 . Kb3 (not 23.Kd3 Rxb4) 23 . . . Rc3+ with equality. b112) or 2 1 . Bxb7 Nf2 ! (21 . . . Rd4

12.Nxf6+!

.

22.Bxe4 Rxe4 23.fxe5 Rxc4+ 24. Kd2 Rxb4 25.RcH) 2 2 . fxe5 Rb6 2 3 . Rfl Nd3+ 24.Kd2 Nxe5 2 5 . Bd5 c6 2 6 . Be6 Rxb4=. b12) I wanted to suggest this main line to you, but then I discov ered the highly unpleasant 17. Nd3 !


97

17 . . . Rxe4 1 8 . Nxc5 Rxe2 1 9 . Nd 3 . The pin is very unpleasant! Probably Black is not losing, but it makes no sense to enter this position at all!

b121) 19 ...Bf5 20.Rxa8 Bxd3 21.Rd8 Rc2+ 22.Kdl Rxb2 23.Rel Rbl+ 24.Kd2 Rxel 25 .Kxel Bxc4 26.Rd7+±, Miton-Smit, Pavlodar 1991. b122) or 19 ... b6 20.Rel Rxel+ 21.Nxel c5 22.Nc2 h5 2 3 . Ne3± Yakovich-Livner, Stockholm 2001. b123) also 19 ... Kf7 20.Rel Rxel+ 2l.Nxel b6 22.Nc2 h5 2 3 . Kd2 Ke7 24.Rh8 Bb7 25. Rh7+ Kd6 26.Nd4� . b124) and finally 19 . . . Kh6 20.Rel Rxel+ 2 l . Nxel b6 22.g3 Bb7 23.Rd7 ReS 24.Rf7� . b13) 17. Bg4 was supposedly a strong novelty but it seems to me that the evaluation of the final po sition given in Chess Informant is completely wrong: 17 . . . fxe5 18 .b4 Rd6 19. Rxc8 Nd3+ 20.Kc2 Rxc8 2 l . Bxc8 .

98


Up to here, the game is evaluat ed as slightly better for White in Khuseinkhodzhaev-Levin, St. Peters burg 2008. However, if we continue the line a bit: 2 l . . . Nxb4+ 2 2 . Kc3 a5! We see that it is the other way around! b131) 23 .c5 Rd3+ 2 4 . Kc4 exf4+. b132) 2 3 . Bxb7? Rd3+ 24.Kb2 a4! 25 .c5 (25.a3 Rb3+ 26.Kcl Rxa3-+) 25 . . . a3+ 2 6 . Kbl Rd2-+. b133) 2 3 . fxe5?! Rd3+ 24.Kb2 a4+ is similar as above. herefore, from the diagram after line b) on page 97, I suggest two other possibilities: getting counterplay for the sacrificed pawn starting with 14 . . . Kg7 !? or trying to recover the pawn with the untested 14 . . . Re7!?:

T

b2) 14 ... Kg7 !?

15.0-0-0?!

1 5 . Bf3

{6 16.Nf3 15 . . . Rd6 !? (better than 16. 0- 0 - 0 f6 1 7.Nd3 �).

(not Rxe4+) 15 . . . Nc5

1 1 . . . c 6!

The point behind Black's play. White's pieces are a bit uncoordi nated, guaranteeing counterplay. 16.Rd1 Be6 (Better than 16 . . . Rxdl+

lZBxdl Be6 18. b3 RdB 19. Ke2, which seems like an improved version for White.) 17.0- 0 ReB 18 .b3 Nc5 19.h3 a5 20.Rxd6 cxd6 2 l . Ng4 a4 2 2 . Rb1 Ra8 23.e5 h5 24.Nf6 axb3 2 5 . axb3 dxe5 26.fxe5 Ra3?, Hedgehog-Alan sacount, playchess .com INT 2006.

b3) 14 . . . Re7 ! ?N is suggested,

With the disappearance of the active white knight, Black will seize the initiative. Note the difference: the d4 square is an ideal outpost for the black knights, while the d5 square can be attacked by a black pawn!

12.Nxf6+ Black looks great after 1 2 . Ne7+ Kf8 1 3 . Nxc8 Rxc8, with the idea of Nc5 (c7)-e6-d4 .

12 . . . Bxf6 13. Be3! There will be fewer pieces to con trol the black squares after 1 3 . Bxf6 Rxf6+.

13 . . . Bd8 ?! Jobava wants to transfer the bishop to a more active position. Usually this is a good idea, but here it allows the c4-c5 advance with the knight still on a6. A better idea seems to be the cool 13 . . . Nc7 14 .0-0-0 Ne6 1 5 . Nb3 Be7 16. Rxd6 Bxd6 =.

14. 0 - 0 - 0 with the idea 1 5 . Bf3 (or 15.0-0-0

{6 16.Rd8+ Kg7 17.Nd3 Rxe4 1B. Bf3 Re7, which is approximately equal) 1 5 f6 16.Nd3 Bf5 17. Nf2 Bxe4

Mchedlishvili should have freed the c4 square for his knight and bishop with 14 .c5! Rd7 15.0-0-0 Be7 16 . Bxa6 bxa6 17. Nc4:t.

18.Bxe4 Nc5 =.

14 . . . Be7

.. .


99

This looks weird. Why didn't Jobava finish his plan? After 14 . . . Bb6 15.Bxb6 axb6 16.Nb3 Rxdl+ 17.Rxdl Be6=, he is very comfortable. Maybe he just wanted to keep more pieces on the board.

15.Nb8 Worthy of consideration is 15.c5!?

15. . . Rxdl+ 16. Rxdl

Two energetic moves have clarified the situation. Black will keep his active light-squared bishop on the board and bring the knight to d4. He has also gained space on the king's flank.

21. Be2 Nb4 22. a8 Nc 6 28.Bc8

Now watch out, this is where the second player's idea is revealed!

16. . . c5! Brilliant! Even though Black releases control over the d5 square, he will be better! The difference comes from the positions of the knights. The black one can easily reach the d4 point via different routes, which we cannot say for its adversary.

17. h8 b6 Sets free the knight and prepares Na6-b4 (b8)-c6 -d4! or Na6 -c7-e6-d4!

18. Bg4 If 18.a3 then Ne6+.

18 . . . Nc7

19.Nd2

18 . . . (5! 19.Bf8 f4 20. Bd2 Be6!';

28 . . . (8! Further unbalancing the position for good. Calm improvements were also possible, for instance 23 . . . h5 followed by the further advance of the king side pawns.

24. Bxf8 Bxc4 25. Kc2 Rf8 26.Rd7 Bb5 2 7. Kbl Bh4

100


Black wins a pawn and the game. 28.Nd2 Not 28. Bel? Nd4-+. 28 ... Bx(2 29. Bg4 Bd4 30. Nf3 Rf6 31.Bd2 ? h5

32. Bg5 hxg4 33. Bxf6 gxf3 34.gxf3 Be2 35. Rg7+ Kf8 36. Rxg6 Bxf3 3 7. Rg 7 Bxe4+ 38. Kcl Bd3 39. Rc7 Na5 40. Kdl e4 0-1

Chapter 1c: The Exchange System

101

Memory Markers Here are reminders of some of the ideas and motifs in this chapter. There are still some interesting possibilities in the Exchange System !

1. After 14.. .Nb8-a6!?. The cap ture on e5 (9.Nxe5 ) is innocuous. See diagram on page 92 in Mchedlishvili-Jobava.

2. After 12 ... g5. The g6-g5 un

Nev erov's exchange sacrifice. See di agram on page 94.

4. After 13...Rd6xd5.

3. After 10 ... Nf6xd5!?.

102


dermining. See diagram on page 93.

Trouble on the long diagonal. See diagram on page 96.

5. After 14...Re6-e7!?N. Novel

6. After

ty against the acid test. See dia

faster to the outpost? The text

gram on page 99.

move

in

16... c6-c5!.

Who's

Mchedlishvili-Jobava,

page 100.


103

Exercis es Black to play!

With these situations from actual games, you can find some ideas and opportunities that may await you, when facing the Exchange System. Solutions to these exercises begin on page 3 17.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Mengual Bolo Castella Garcia

Wolske - Kubikova Pardubice 1996

Cullera-B 2003 Tricks are rare but possible in the Exchange line.

104


The "Who is faster?" contest.

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Shankar - Saravanan India Championship, Nagpur 1999

Ruiz Delgado Martinez Martin

White wants position.

to

consolidate

his

Vecindario 2010 The d-file is well covered and the white rooks are useless. But how about their black counterparts?

Exercise 5

Exercise 6

Ritz - Neumeier

Olafsson - Danielsen

Wattens 1997

ReyJdavik Open 2006

What is Black's plan?

The bishop on h3 is ready to chop off the knight whenever it reaches the e6 square. A draw?


105

Chapter ld The Petrosian System

l.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 0- 0 5. Nf3 d6 6. Be2 e5 7.d5 a5

After Svetozar Gligoric's dangerous positional system, we study a world champion's concept to fight the KID, the Petrosian System, named after the ingenious GM and world champion . Known for his unique limiting style, the Armenian GM invented a system which was bringing him so many points that he even stated once that he bought his apartment thanks to his opponents who dared to choose the KID against him. The special attention of this great player should only flatter us. he idea of the system is to close the center as quickly as possible , establish the two pawn chains, and prevent Black from trading in the center. White has extra space and possibilities to expand on the queen's flank; Black should look for chances on the opposite side of the board where his pawns are more aggressively situated. Petrosian often developed the bishop to g5 , intending to hinder

T

this play. Prophylaxis worked well against his less experienced op ponents. But later, new methods were found and Black has learned to bring his dark-squared bishop into the game , activating it for both attack and defense, before White advances on the queen's flank. What you need to know is that in general, the release of central pressure eases your counterplay on the king's flank as well.

Chapter ld: The Petrosian System

107

Topalov - Mamedyarov Corus, Wijk aan Zee 2008 I.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg 7 4 . e4 0 - 0 5. Nf3 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a5

Our recommendation. The line 7 . . . Na6 8 . Bg5 is also logical and leads to equality if Black knows what to do.

This move simply cries out for 9 . . . Ng4! 10. Bg5 f6 and now: a) l l . Bh4 stops f6-f5 only tem porarily and places the bishop in a dangerous position: l l . . . Qe8 1 2 . Nel f5 1 3 . Nd3 (preferable is 13. Bxg4 fxg4 14.Bg5=) 13 . . . h5 14 .exf5 Bxf5 15 .Qd2 e4t,

B.Bg5 This is how Petrosian handled his system. Many years later it was Vladimir Kramnik of Russia who gave second life to White's concept. But from the peak of the line's glory, it's once again in decline. 8.0-0 NaG can lead to transposi tions after 9.Bg5. However, White can also try

9.Be3

Granda Zuniga- Sasikiran, Andorra 1998. b) And after l l .Bd2 f5 it is ques tionable if White has achieved any thing with the bishop provocations: 1 2 . Ng5 Nf6 13.exf5 gxf5 (13 ... Bxf5!?

makes sense as well, as the knight from g5 can not easily access the e4 square.) 14 .f4 Qe8 15.fxe5 dxe5. 1 08


P

etrosian loved to play against these hanging pawns on f5 and e5, but we should not forget that they are central pawns, and ready to come into motion: 16 . Kh l h6 17.Nf3 e4 18.Nd4 e3 19.Bel Ne4+±, Karasev- Sakaev, St. Petersburg 2 0 1 1 . The first player c a n also attempt to defend his center with 9.Nel Nc5 10.f3, but we know that if a KID player is given extra time he will inevitably use it: 10 . . . Nh5 1 1 .g3 Bh3 12 .Rf2 f5 13.exf5 gxf5 14 . Nd3 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 f4i. Black is fully mobilized and already attacking the kingside in Danner-Sebenik, Austria 2 0 1 1 . Another way t o defend the e 4 pawn is 9.Qc2 . Black then finishes developing with 9 . . . Bd7 and prepares both c7 -c6 and the typical king's side attack lO.Nel (Note the typical trick

ll . . . Nfxe4! 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Bf5-+.) 10 . . . Nc5 prevents the Nel-d3 maneuver. (Also worthy of consideration is 10. . . c6!?.) 1 1 . Bg5 h6 1 2 . Bh4 g5 13 . Bg3 , and now the position of the bishop on g3 allows the following exchanging combination: 13 . . . Nfxe4

which deprives White of the direct attack with lO.Rbl Nc5 ll.a3? 14 . Nxe4 Nxe4 15 .Qxe4 f5 16 .Qc2 f4 .


1 09

9.Bh4 The pawn chains are fixed and they show the directions in which both sides will conduct their plans. White has better pawns on the queenside and should attack the base of Black's pawn chain on this side, and Black should do the same on the kingside. 9.Be3 is still possible and is a specialty of GM Zvj aginsev. Black is doing fine by simply developing his forces: 9 . . . Ng4 lO.Bcl Na6 1 1 .0-0 Nc5 12 .g3 ! ? Black recovers the piece, but how about the light squares? It seems White is controlling them, thus making the KID bishop a poor piece. But Inarkiev finds a way to bring this piece into the game: 17. Bd3 g4! (preparing h6 -h5 -(h4) and to open the cl-h6 diagonal for the bishop) 18.Be4 fxg3 19.hxg3 b6 20.Qd2 h5 2l.Nc2 h4 2 2 . gxh4? ! Qxh4 23 .g3 Qh5 24.Ne3.

A venomous idea! 1 2 . . . Nf6 (The simple-hearted 12 . . . {5?! walks into White's hidden idea: 13.Nh4! QeB 14.{3 Nf6 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Be3±.) 13 .Qc2 Qe8 14 . Nh4 Bh3 15 .Rel Nfd7 16. Nb5 Na6 (16. . . Qb8!?) 17. Bd2 c6!? 18.Nxd6 Qb8 19.c5 Naxc5 20.Nc4 cxd5 2 l .exd5 b6=, Porper- Ganguly, Edmonton 2009.

9

...

Na6 1 0. 0 - 0

White may transpose moves with Now 24 . . . Rf6 2 5 . Ng2 Bh6 2 6 . Q d 3 Raf8+ was played i n D a nner Inarkiev, Saint Vincent 2 0 0 5 .

8 . . . h6 It is useful to clarify the white bishop's diagonal.

110


10.Nd2 Qe8 11.0-0. In addition, White can further postpone castling with l l.a3 Nh7 or ll . . . Bd7, or White can even try the sharp l l.g4 a4 1 2 . f3 intending Bh4-f2 and h2 -h4-h5:

anticipates an eventual bishop check on e 3 . O n e o f the ideas behind the Petrosian system is to trade both bishops for Black's knight and light squared bishop. Concretely: 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Bg4

Black needs to react immediately with 12 . . . h5! 13.g5 Nh7 14 . Nxa4 and here, best is 14 . . . Qe7 ! 1 5 . Rgl Bh6 ! +, rather than 14 . . . f6 15.gxf6 Nxf6 which also gave some compensation for the pawn in Pasztor-Kislik, Zal akaros 2 0 1 1 .

10. . . Bd7 l l . Nd2 Qe8 13 . . . Nc5 (The somewhat artificial 13 . . . Bxg4 14. Qxg4 Qe7 15.Nb3 Nb8 16. Qe2 Nd7 is not bad at all.) 14 . Bxd7 Qxd7 15.Nb3 Be7 (Odd. Here instead, Black needed to play 15 . . . Na4 16.Nxa4 Qxa4 1 7.Nd2 Qxdl 18.Rfxdl a4 which is close to equal.) 16 . Nxc5 dxc5 17.Qd2;!;, Kovalenko Levin, St. Petersburg 2 0 1 1 . Naturally, White needs to play on the queenside, but 12.a3 allows the standard 12 . . . a4! 13.Nb5 Bxb5 14 .cxb5 Nc5 =.

Prophylaxis and development. The pin is broken and Black can start his kingside operations .

12.Khl!? A useful prophylactic move. Thanks to the efforts of Kramnik, this move became White's main choice. White is waiting for his opponent to show his intentions and


111

However, with 12.b3 instead, White can start a gradual queenside pawn storm:

Now the moves which have inde pendent meaning are: a) 15.Qc2 Be3+ (or 15. . . {5 16.Rabl

Be3+ 17. Khl Bc5= Xu Jun-Wen, Hefei 2011.) 16. Bf2 Bxf2+ 17. Rxf2 Qe7

Previously, this was the main choice. Still, the positions that arise can easily transpose from the main text. 12 ... Nh7 and now: 13.f3 h5 14 .Rb1 Bh6 15.Bf2 Qe7 16 .Rb2 (or 16.a3 h4 17.b4 Bf4 1B.Rb2) 16 . . . h4 17. Re1 Qg5 18. Bfl Nf6 19.f4 Qxf4 20.h3 Nh5 2 l . Be3 Qxe3+ 22.Rxe3 Bxe3+--+, Kunze-Sjugirov, Rijeka 2010. Or 13.a3 h5, intending to trap the bishop, thus forcing White's next move: 14.f3 Bh6:

1 12

Chapter 1d: The Petrosian System

18.Kh l . Here, I like playing a-la Kotroni as with 18 . . . h4 followed by Qe7-g5 , Kg8 -g7 and Nh7-f6 -h5 and you know what happens afterwards. However, 18 ... f5 was not bad at all: 19.exf5 Bxf5 2 0 . Bd3 Nc5 2 l . Bxf5 gxf5 =, Simic-Brenjo, Kladovo 1994. b) Or 15.Rb1 Be3+, in conjunction with the covering move 16 . Bf2 . I n this case Black i s happy to trade, as his pawn center is situated on the dark squares and White will have only the passive light-squared bishop left on the board. 16 . . . Bxf2+ 17.Rxf2 Nc5 (17... h4!? followed by

Qe8-e7-g5 and {7-{5 is an excellent plan as well.) 18 .Qc2 (or 1B. b4 axb4 19.axb4 Na4=) 18 . . . f5 19.b4 axb4 20.axb4 Na4 2 l .Nb5 Bxb5 22.cxb5 Qe7=. Black's game is easier, as the pawn on c7 can be defended without much ado and the pawns on the king's flank are easily advanced, in Franic-Plenkovic, S ibenik 2 0 1 1 . c ) White c a n also prevent Black's bishop from arriving on the excellent e3 square with 15. Bf2, but Black's piece is already good enough and he can concentrate on his kingside attack with 15 . . . Qe7 and now:

cl) 16 . Khl h4 17.Rgl Preparing Qdl-el. 17 . . . Bg5 (A trick worth re

membering is 17. . . Nf6 with the idea 18.Bxh4 Nxe4 +.) Gradually building

the pressure:

Bxh2+ 30.Kxh2 Nf4 - + 31.g3 Rxh4+ 32.gxh4 Qg2#.) 29 . . . Bg3 3 0 . Ra7 (not 30. hxg3 ? hxg3 31 .Be3 ?? Nf4 32.Be2 Rhl+ 33. Kxhl Qh4+ 34. K.gl Qh2+ 35. Kfl Qxg2#) 3 0 . . . Qf4 3 l . h3 ! , al though Black is still on top after 3 1 . . .Qg5 ! --.. c2) The prophylactic King move in the previous line is needed, since after 16 . Rbl h4 17.b4 axb4 18. axb4 Bf4!

Black's plan includes Kg8 -g7, Rf8 -h8 ,

Nf6 h5 -g3 + and mate in short notice . -

18.Qel Kg7 19.Rbl Nc5 2 0.b4 axb4 21.axb4 Na4 2 2 . Nb3 Nxc3 23 .Qxc3 Nf6 24.Ral Nh5 2 5 . Rxa8 Rxa8 26.Ral Rh8 27.Kgl Bf4: Black already threatens Qe5 -g5 , followed by Bd7-h3. For instance, the careless 19.Rb2 can be answered 19 . . . Nxb4! 20. Rxb4 Qg5 2 l . Rb2 Bh3 with a strong attack.

12 . . . Nh7 Black frees his kingside pawns.

13. a3 h5

Imperative now is 2 8 .Qe10 (After 28.Be3 Qg5 29. Kf2 f5+ White was soon crushed in Kiss-Kotronias, Kavala 2005.) 28 . . . Qg5 ! 2 9 . Bfl ! (Black's idea is shown after 29.Bxh4 ?

With the idea of trapping the bishop after g6 -g5 and h5 -h4 . It is also possible to play 13 . . . a4 14 . Nb5 Bxb5 15 .cxb5 Nc5 , Rahman Tratar, Bled 2002 , which leads to approximately equal positions, but is less active compared to the text move.


1 13

The immediate 17.b4 is also possi ble: 17 . . . axb4 18. axb4 f4 19.Be1 g5oo, in Pavlovic-Dimitrov, Varna 1994.

14.(3 Bh6

1 7. . . gxf5

The most logical continuation. Black brings the bishop into open air. If instead 14 Bf6, we look at two possible replies: After 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.b3, Black quickly got the initiative: 16 . . . Qe7 17.Qe1 Kg7= 18.Qf2?! h4! Gulko-Kasparov, Novgorod 1995, as 19.Qxh4 is met with 19 . . . Nxd5+. More challenging is 15.Bf2 Bg5 . Black prepares the usual play with h5 -h4, Kg8-g7, Re8 -h8, Qe8-e7, Nh7f6-h5 , etc. Ideally, the second player should combine his attacking ideas with defending moves on the other wing. 16 .Rb1 a4 17.b4 axb3 18.Nxb3 b6 19.Nb5 h4 20.a4 Qe7 21.a5 bxa5 (21...Rfb8!?) 22.Nxa5 Nf6 23.Nc6 Bxc6 24.dxc6 Kg7?, Paunovic-lruzubieta Villaluenga, La Roda 2012. •••

15. b3 Be3 16. R bl (5 This is not the only plan in the position. Black can also temporarily pre vent the b3 -b4 advance with 16 . . . Bc5 17.Qc1 and now 17 ... f5 18.Na2 g5 19. Bf2 f4 20.b4 Bxf2 2 1 . Rxf2 axb4 2 2 . axb4 g4?, in Sertic-Jovanovic, Djakovo 201 1 .

1 7. exf5 1 14


18. b4 GM Igor Naumkin preferred instead to trade his f-pawn for the black h-pawn: 18.f4 exf4 19.Bxh5 Qe5 20.Ne2 . Practice shows, though, that Black's activity compensates for the doubled f-pawns with interest. 20 Nc5 and now : 21.Nf3?! is simply bad after 2 1 . . .Qg7 22 .g3 fxg3 2 3 . Nxg3 f4 24.Re1 a) 24 ... fxg3 2 5 . Rxe3 Qh6 -+. b) That line was even better than 24 . . . Nf6 2 5 . Bxf6D (not 25.Ng5? ••.

Bf2!-+, and not 25.Rxe3 ?! fxe3 26. Qe2Ng4!?-+) 25 . . . Rxf6+, Naumkin

Wood, London 1993 , and another possibility is 25 . . . Qxf6 ! ?.

21.Bg6 yielded White nothing after 2 1 . . .Qg7

R g8 + ? , Gershon-Antoniewski, Mureck 1 9 9 8 .

2 0. . . Qg6!? Mamedyarov transfers the queen to a more active position. Also possible is 2 0 . . . Rg8 ! ? 2 1 .Qe2 Qg6 2 2 . Rfd 1 Rae8 =, in Lalev Petrushin, Pleven 1985.

21. Qe2 Qh6 22. Rfdl RaeB 23. Qel RgB 24.Nfl Bg5

2 2 . Nxf4? (better was 22. Bxh7+ Qxh7

23. Bg5 Nd3 24.Nxf4 Nf2+ 25.Rx{2

Bxf2 26. Qf3 �) 22 . . . Nf6 ! 23 .b4 axb4 24.axb4 Bxf4 (24 . . . Na4!) 2 5 .bxc5 Bxd2 2 6 . Bxf5 Bxf5 2 7. Rxf5 Ne4-+, Naumkin-Vorobiov, Moscow 2010.

18 ... axb4 19. axb4 KhB = 25. Ne2/? An interesting exchange sacrifice by Topalov. Also to be considered is 2 5 . Bc2 Qg7 2 6 . Bxg5 Nxg5 =.

25. . . Rg 7 After 25 . . . Ba4 2 6 . Bxf5 Bxd1 27.Rxd1 Bxh4 28.Qxh4 Qg5 29.Qh3 Nxb4 30. Nfg3 the strong e4 square and the weak black king will provide good compensation for White.

26. Bxg5 Qxg5 2 7. Qf2 e4 28.(4 Qh6 29. Bc2 h4 30. h3 Nf6 Black has good play o n the king's flank. The game is dynamically level.

20;Bd3 Or

2 0 . Bf2

Bxf2

2 1 . Rxf2

h4

(2l ... Qe 7! ? =) 2 2 . f4 exf4 2 3 . Nfl Q e 5 2 4 . Q d 2 h 3 2 5 . Rxf4 h x g 2 + 2 6 . Kxg2

Neither side can make progress and a draw was agreed some moves later.

31. Ne3 Nh5 32. Kh2 Ng3 33. Nd4 RegB 34. Rd2 Qf6 35. Bdl RaB 36. Be2 Kh 7 3 7. Bdl Rf8 38. Qel Rfg8 39. Kgl Rf7 40.Ndc2 Ba4 41.Nd4 Bd7 42. Kh2 -*·-* Chapter ld: The Petrosian System

1 15

Memory Markers Here are reminders of some of the ideas and motifs in the Petrosian System.

1. After 15 ...e4. Central activi ty. See diagram on page 108.

2. After 13 ... Nf6xe4. Recover ing the bishop with the f-pawn advance. See diagram on page 109.

Activat ing the KID bishop. See diagram on page 1 12 .

4. After 1 7 .. Bh6-g5. Gradually building pressure on the king's flank. See the diagram on page 1 13 .

3. After 14...Bg7-h6.

116


.

5. Mter 16 ...f5. The natural attack on the king's wing, text move on page 1 14 .

Activity compensates for the doubled f-pawns. See diagram on page 1 15 .

6. Mter 2 1 ... Qe5-g7.


117


As Black, practice finding the right moves when facing the Petrosian System. Solutions to these exercises begin on page 3 2 1 .

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Goossens Schebler

Tukmakov Magerramov

Belgian Championship 2004

9th Spartakiad, Moscow 1983

·

Three versus one . . .

118


·

White has just taken the h4 pawn. What did he miss?

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Torres - Strikovic

Petersen - Bekker Jensen

New York Open 1988

Denmark Junior Championship Lyngby 1996

everything OK queenside attack?

Is

with

White's

Exercise 5

White offers the bishop swap. Is it a good idea?

Exercise 6

Naumkin - Khalifman

Izquierdo - Navarro

Sochi U20 1984

Santiago Zonal Tournament Santiago de Chile 1996

How to free the rook?

How to fight the positional threat b4-b5?


1 19

Exercise 7

Straka - Rabatin

Valle - Di Berardino

Czech Championship U16 Kouty nad Desnou 2009

69th Brazil Championship Brasilia 2003

How to conduct the attack?

120

Exercise 8


Improve your position!

Chapter2 The Siimisch Variation

l.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.{3 0-0 6. Be3 c5 The second most common plan against the KID is the Samisch Variation , named after the prominent German GM Friedrich Samisch. This line offers a prudent approach against Black's central counter-strikes. We have already seen in the previous chapter that the second player often attacks not only the d4 square but also the e4 pawn, especially when the e5 pawn is swapped off. Samisch's approach was to counter this with his rock-solid concept: first overprotect the e4 pawn, solidify the center, secure yourself, and only then bring the pieces out. Behind the solid center you should not be in danger, time is not so important, and the white pieces will have plenty of time to get into the game and find their optimal squares.

A gainst this system, I suggest we fis hake White's comfort as early

as possible and strike in the center at once with 6 . . . c5 ! . The logic is that the white knight is not at f3 and cannot easily support the central d4 pawn. Further on, a delay in development can be highlighted only if the position is opened. In that case, the difference in the quality of the developed and active pieces in comparison to the underdeveloped and sleeping pieces will become more obvious . The price of a pawn is not as high as the profits that Black will gain.

White can meet 6 ... c5 with three conceptually different plans: 1) Accept the pawn and try to withstand the pressure, hoping that in the endgame the difference in activity will not be too significant. 2) Proceed with development and try to hold the d4 square. 3) Close the center with d4-d5 and try to win time for development . After examining these plans we will conclude with a look at the prin cipally different development of the white bishop to g5 (6. Bc l-g5), which we call the Neo-Samisch .

Chapter 2: The Siimisch Variation

121

Plan 1 (grabbing the pawn) and trading queens 1 Benidze - Saric

European UlB Championship 2008 l.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg 7 4 . e4 d6 5.(3 0 - 0 6. Be3 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5

A typical resource, which opens the diagonal for the dark-squared bishop. We will see more of it later. 10.Rc1 (White has problems with the

c4 pawn after 10.Nge2 Nde5 ll.Nf4 Na5 12. Qa4 Bd7 13. Qb4 ReB�.) 10 . . . Qa5 l l . Nh3 Rd8 . White's lag in development became frightening in Dlugy-Gelfand, Palma de Mallorca 1989.

8. Qxd8 White is behind in development, so it makes sense for him to take the queens off the board. If White avoids the immediate pawn gain with 8.e5 Nfd7 9.f4 , then Black can open the game anyway with 9 . . . f6! 10.exf6 Nxf6 ! l l . Bxc5 Bf5 . Since the white pawns are on the c4 and f4 squares, white lacks sufficient control over e4 and d4! 1 2 . Nf3 Ne4 13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14 .Ba3 Nc6 15.Be2 Nd4 16 .Nxd4 Bxd4+, Campos More no-Mortensen, ECC 1991. If White keeps the queens on the board, he risks losing still more tempos in the opening, and falling under a devastating attack: 8.Bxc5 Nc6 9.Be3 Nd7 !

8 . . . Rxd8 9. Bxc5 Nc6

A tabiya for this line. White has plenty of choices. We shall first see what happens if he keeps the bishop on the a3-f8 diagonal and tries to take as many pawns as he can.

I O. Ba3 122


One of the most used moves is

b) Better is l l . Kxd l Nd7 !

10.Nge2; see Wang Yue-Radjabov,

game 3 . The other main alternative is 10.Nd5, which will lead us to our next game, Krylov-Efimenko. Since Razuvaev- Shirov 1991, 10.Rdl is not very often played. 10 . . . Rxd1+ and now: a) l l . Nxdl Nd7 ! (11 . . . b6 12.Ba3 Nd7 is also good.) 1 2 .Ba3 And now a new method to attack the queenside pawns: 12 . . . a5!

The threat is Nc6 -b4, and White cannot trade that knight, as the a-file would be opened. Shirov proved that his position is better with energetic play: 13.Ne3 Nb4 14 . Nh3 Nc5 ! 15.Nf2 e6 16 .Be2 b6 17. Nfd l (if 1 7. 0 - 0 then 17. .. Bd4!) 17. . . Nxa2 18.Nc2 Ba6 19. Bxc5 bxc5 20.Na3 Ncl 2 l . Nb5 Rb8 2 2 . Bfl a4 2 3 . Kd2 Nb3+ 24.Kc2 Rd8 25.Nbc3 Rd2+ 2 6 . Kbl Na5 27.g3 a3 Triumphantly demolish White's flank at the end! 28 .bxa3 Bxc4 29.f4 Bb3 0-1, Razuvaev- Shirov, Germany 1991. One can easily understand why White's appetite for the move 10.Ra 1-d l has disappeared.

Remember this typical maneuver. Black opens t he bishop's diagonal with tempo, and forces the white bishop to make a very tough choice. bl) 12 .Ba3 The usual retreat, as the bishop can eventually defend the queen's flank. The retreat on the other diagonal (option b2) does not principally change the situation. 12 . . . Bxc3! This idea works well in many positions . Black soon recovers the missing pawn and leaves White with two more weaknesses on the queenside. 13 .bxc3 Nde5+.

Chapter 2: The Samisch Variation

123

b2) 1 2 . Be3 The other retreat.

Black intends Bc8-e6 with a juicy skewer on the a2-g8 diagonal. White has tried here: b11) 14 .f4 Ng4 15.Nh3 Ne3+! Once the light-squared bishop is gone, Black can start harvesting pawns. 16 .Kd2 Nxfl+ 17. Rxfl Be6 18 .Rbl Rd8+ 19.Ke3 Rd7+ Erik son-Ly, Chennai 2011. b12) 14 .Ne2 Nxc4 15.Bcl e5

(15... N6e5 16.Nd4 Bd7+ is more active.) 16 .Ng3?! (There is no work for the knight on the king's flank. Better was 16.Nd4 N6a5 17.Nb3 Be6 18.Nc5 RdB+ 19.Kc2 BcB 20.g4 b6 21. Nb3 Be6+, Pechy-Vocaturo, Bratto 2005.) 16 . . . Be6 17.Bd3 Nb6!

12 . . . Bxc3! An important moment. The advantage of the more active pieces is transformed into a better pawn structure. Soon Black will start winning the weak white pawns. 13 .bxc3 Now I prefer the natural 13 . . . Nde5! as it obstructs White's natural development. (This

is even better than the move played in Shahtahtinsky- Cela, Ikaria 1998, which continued 13 . . . b6 14. Ne2 Ba6 15.Nd4 Na5 16. Nb5 Ne5�.) Black plays Bc8-e6 next, and stands better. 14 .Kc2 Be6 15.c5 Bxa2+.

10

...

Suddenly White cannot defend his queenside weaknesses. 18.a3 Na4 19. Bd2 Rd8 20.Ke2 (not 20.Kc2 Na5!) 20 . . . a6 (20. . . Na5!+ with the idea Be6-c4 is even better.) 2 1 . Rcl b5 22 .Be3 Na5 23.Nfl Nb3 and White resigned in Bouah- Cawdery, Cape Town 2011, not willing to see 24.Rc2 Rxd3 25.Kxd3 Bc4 mate.

124


a5

The same idea as in Razu vaev- Shirov 1991, above. Black is preparing Nc6 -b4.

Finally, after 13.0-0-0 e 6 !

ll. Rdl With l l.Nd5?! White is playing with fire: ll ... Nxd5 12.cxd5 Nb4!

Black starts a nice attack against t he center and the queen's flank.

13.Rdl would not prevent Black from attacking the center: 13 . . . e6! 14.d6 Nc2+ 15.Kf2 Nxa3 16.bxa3 Be5 17.Bb5 Bxd6+, restoring the material advantage and keeping all the positional trumps in Resnjanskij Raykhman, Differdange 2008. 13.Kf2 would be answered similarly: 13 . . . e6 14 .Bc4 exd5 15.exd5 Bd4+ 16. Kg3 Nxd5+.

(However, there was nothing wrong with the simple-minded 13 . . . Nxa2+ 14. Kbl Nb4 15.Bc4 Bd7 16.Ne2 RdcBt.) a) It looks like White's best chance now would have been to give back the pawn with 14 .d6!? Nxa2+

(or 14 ... Be5 15.Kbl Rxd6 16.Rxd6 Bxd6 17.Bb5+) 1 5 . Kb1 Nb4 16.f4 e5

17.Nf3+, although Black is obviously better in either case. b) And after 14 .Bc4 exd5 15. Bxb4

(If 15. Bxd5? White already needs to be careful not to get mated after 15. . . Nxd5 16.exd5 Bf5-+ followed by Bg7-h6+ and RaB-cB!) 15 . . . axb4 16. Rxd5 (better than 16.Bxd5 Be6 1 7.Kbl Ra5 18.Ne2 Bxd5 19.exd5 Raxd5+) 16 . . . Be6! 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. Bd5 (Or else things will get even worse: 1B.Bxe6 Bh6+! 19.Kc2 Rd2+ 20.Kb3 fxe6 21.Nh3 Rxg2+.) 18 . . . Bh6+


125

13 Nd7 14 . Nxe7+ Nxe7 1 5 .Bxe7 ReS 16.Ba3 ReS (16 . . . f5!?�) 17.b3 b5! •••

19.f4 (If 19.Kc2 White's pieces will be paralyzed forever, after 19. . . Rc8+ followed by Rcl-+.) 19 . . . Bxf4+ 20.Kbl Bxd5 2l.exd5 Rxd5 and White was fighting for his life in Beliavsky Nunn, Amsterdam 1990.

l S . Kd l (White cannot· accept this sacrifice: 18.cxb5?! Rc2 19. Bc4 Rxa2 20. Bxe6 fxe 6 21. Bcl Nc5 +.)

ll . . . Be6

1S . . . bxc4 1 9 . Bxc4 Bxc4 2 0 . bxc4 Rxc4 2 l . B c l Nc5 2 2 . B e 3 Nd3 The Ra4+. m aterial 2 3 . Ne2 balance will be soon restored, and Black keeps his active pieces i n addition to his distant passed p aw n , i n Kolbus-Hillarp Pers son, Stockholm 2 0 0 7 . 1 3 Bxd5 14.cxd5 N b 4 1 5 . Kf2 ReS 16 . Bb5 Rc5 17. Ba4 Rc1 1S .g3 g5 19.g4 .

This is better than exchanging on dl, since Black keeps the enemy king in the center.

12.Nd5 Since the main line gains White nothing, he might also try 12.Rxd8+

Rxd8 13.Nd5

•••

However, here too Black can show decent compensation after both 13 . . . Nd7 and 13 . . . Bxd5:

126


Once again, Black manages to use his advantage in development. 19 . . . Nfxd5 ! 20.exd5 and now : a) 20 . . . Nxd5 2 l . Bb3 Bd4+ 2 2 . Ke2 e6 23.Bdl b5 24. Bd6 Bxb2 2 5 . Nh3 h6�, Oms Pallisse-Kuzmin, Andorra 2003 . b) More subtle is 20 ... Bd4+! 2l.Kg2 (or 21. Ke2 Bxgl 22. Bxb4 axb4 23. Kd3 Kg7+) 2 l . . . Nxd5 with a strong attack.

Once again, possible is 14.Rxd8+

Rxd8.

12 . . . Nb4!

15.Bxb4 axb4 16 . Nd5 and now: a) 16 . . . Ra8 17. Nxb4 Nd7t

Again an idea by Shirov. Black is OK with sacrificing no fewer than three pawns in order to trade the op ponent's active pieces and underline his lag in development! Tournament practice has proved that White has nothing to play for, and this line has virtually disappeared from the chess scene.

13. Nxe7+ The game is conveniently opened for Black after 1 3 . Nxb4? Rxdl+ 14 .Kxd l axb4 1 5 . Bxb4 Rxa2+. And after 13. Bxb4?! axb4 14. Nxb4 Nd7 15.Rd2 Nc5t, Black will soon recover at least one pawn and enjoy his mighty pieces .

13 . . . Kh8 14. Nd5

We arrive at a curious position in which White has three ( ! ) extra pawns, but cannot defend them. The b2 pawn is lost on the next move, and after that, it's a2's turn. Black will simply take them while further activating his pieces. b) 16 ... Nd7 !? 17.Kd2 Bxb2 (Trying

to force White's pawn to the a3 square also makes sense: 17. . . Ra8!? 18.Nxb4 Ra4 19. a3 Bxb2, with decent com pensation for the pawn.) 18.Kc2 Bg7 Chapter 2: The Siimisch Variation

127

19.Ne2 Ra8 20.Ncl Ra3 2 1 . Nxb4 Nc5 22.Be2 and here I like 22 . . .f5't rather than 22 . . . Be5 23. Nbd3 Nxd3 24. Bxd3 Rc3+ 25.Kbl g5�, Ostojic-Arsovic, Belgrade 1995. More solid is 15.Nd5 which leads to a safer position for White. 15 . . . Nc2+ 16 .Kf2 (Or 16.Kd2 Nxa3

2 1 . Bxa4 Nxd5 2 2 . exd5 Bxd5 2 3 . Bb3 Bxb3 2 4 . axb3 Rc2 + 2 5 . Ke3 Rc3+ 2 6 . Ke2 Rxb3 (26. . . Rc2+!?=) 2 7 . R d l h6 2 8 . Rd3 B c 3 2 9 . a4 Rb2 + 3 0 . Kd l B b 4 3 1 . Rd4 g5 3 2 . Kc l Ba3 3 3 . Rd3 Rb3+ 3 4 . Kc2 Rb2 + 3 5 . Kc l Rb3+ lh - lh , M artinovic- Saric, Bj elolasica 2 007.

17.bxa3 b5! 18.Nh3 draw, Kramnik Shirov, Bundesliga, 1992. The game can continue: 18 ... bxc4 19.Bxc4 Nxd5 20.exd5 Bxd5 2l.Bxd5 Rxd5+= followed by Bg7-f8, or even Bg7-b2.)

14 . . . Nc2+ 15. Kf2 Nxa3 1 6. bxa3 b5!

16 . . . Nxa3 17.bxa3 .

From the eight games played in this line in the Megabase, White managed to make five draws only.

1 7. Nh3 White hopes to finish his develop ment behind the super-well-protect ed knight in the center, but there is a way to undermine it! 17 . . . b5!

(17. . . Nd7!? was tested just once but might bring you good dividends ifyou dig deeper) Now:

bl) 18.cxb5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Bxd5 is already more pleasant for Black, who can bring the rook on the second rank after Rd8-c8-c2 . b2) Also unappealing for White is 18.Nxf6 Bxf6 19.cxb5 Rd2+ 20.Ke3 Rxa2't. b3) 18. Nh3 The best reaction. 18 . . .bxc4 19. Bxc4 ReB 2 0 . Bb3 a4 ! = and this i s virtually a forced draw :

128


The Scottish GM Jonathan Rowson tried to revive this line in 2004, but the KID expert Vasilios Kotronias reacted the best possible way: 17.a4 White wants to stabilize the queen's flank and removes the a3 pawn from the possible attack of the dark-squared bishop. He is also willing to use b5 to seal the b-file with his own bishop. Therefore: 17 . . . bxa4! (not 17. . . bxc4

18.Bxc4 RacB 19.Bb3t.)

Black's doubled a-pawns are more dangerous than they seem. The rea son: piece support! 1 8 . Ne2 1 8 . Ne2 (or

18.Bd3 RabB 19.Rbl Rxbl 20. Bxbl ReB 21.Bd3 Nd7 and . . . Nd7-e5 or c5) 18 . . . Rab8 19.Ncl ( The utility

of the doubled a-pawns is seen in the line 19.Rd2 a3� followed by

19. Nb 6 Better

than

19.Nhf4?!

Bxd5

(also good is 19. . . Nxd5 20. Nxd5 c3+)

2 0 . Nxd5 Nxd5 2 i . Rxd5 Rxd5 22 .exd5 Bd4+ 2 3 . Kg3 c3+, in Bigler-Har Zvi, Biel 1993 .

19 . c3 ?1 ..

Rb8-b2.) 19 . . . Rb2+ 20. Be2 Rc8, with rich compensation for the pawn in Rowson-Kotronias, Hastings 2004. 17.cxb5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Bxd5 is similar to line bl above, on the previous page.

17 Rac8 ••.

Black seems to allow a tempo gain after 17 . . .bxc4N 18. Bxc4, but this might be very good for Black as well: 18 . . . Rdc8 anticipating 19.Rcl Bh6 20.Rc3 (not 20.Rc2 ? Nxd5 21.exd5

Bxd5+

22.Bxd5?

Rxc2+

20 ... Bxd5 2 l .exd5 Rc5?.

18. Be2 bxc4

check!) This is quite an entertaining option indeed, but I would rather you adopted a more restrained ap proach: 19 Rxdl!N 20.Rxdl Rc6 21.Rd8+?! Now there will be no one to guard the first rank: 2 l . . . Ng8 2 2 . Nd5 c3+. Better is 21.Na4 c3 22 . Rcl Bxa2+, and if 2 3 . Nxc3 then 23 . . . Nxe4+ 24.fxe4 Bxc3. •••


129

Also better is 21.Nd5 c3 2 2 . Ne3 c2 23.Rcl Bxh3 24.gxh3 Bh6+.

20.Nxc8 22.Bb5

Rxc8

21. Ba6

Rc6

White could put Black's idea to the test with 22.Rd8+ Ng8 2 3 . Bd3 Bh6 24.Bc2.

22. . . Rc5 23.Ba4 Bh6 24.g4 c2 25. Rcl Bxcl 26. Rxcl Rc3= 27.Ng5 Bxa2 28.e5 Nd5 29. Rxc2 Rxa3 30.Rc8+ Kg 7 31. Be8 Nf4 32. Rc7 Nd3+ 33. Ke2 Nxe5 34.{4 Nxg4 35. Bxf7 Bxf7 36. Rxf7+ Kg8 37. Rxh7 a4 38. Ra7 Nxh2 39. Ra6 Kg7 40.Ra7+ Kf8 41.Ra6 Ral 42. Rxg6 a3 43. Ra6 a2 44.Ne4 Nf3 45. Kxf3 Rfl+ 46. Kg4 alQ 47. Rxal Rxal 48.Ng5 Ke7 49. Kf5 Ra5+ 50. Kg6 %-%

Plan 1 (grabbing the pawn) with aggressive play: 10.Nd5 2 Krylov - Efimenko Russian Team Championships 2010 l . d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg 7 4.e4 d6 5.{3 0 - 0 6.Be3 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bxc5 Nc 6 Instead of retreating the bishop, White can try to play more aggres sively with:

10.Nd5

White hopes to cause some dis comfort in Black's position . Still, we should not be afraid of that, and need to react in a standard way:

10 . . . Nd7 A familiar idea, is it not? This is probably Black's most used move in the line . The bishop on g7 must be freed, and it will be Black who is the troublemaker. White now needs to grab the pawn. Depending on which piece takes on e7 we have two completely different plans.

ll.Nxe7+ We look at the capture l l.Bxe7, and the retreat l l.Ba3 on page 134. With the other capture ll.Bxe7, White pins his hopes on the stable

130


position of the knight on d5. However, Black can play around it! ll . . . Nxe7 12.Nxe7+ Kf8 1 3 . Nd5 (worse is

13.Nxc8 Bxb2 14.Rbl Bc3+ 15.Kf2 Bd4+! 16.Kel RaxcB+ tJ.l ZRxb7? Bb6+) 13 . . . Bxb2 .

Now we consider two moves: In case of 14 .Rdl Nc5 (14 ... Nb6!?) 15.Ne2 , Black can nevertheless re treat the bishop and perform the same plan as after 14.Rbl below: 15 ... Bg7 !? 16 .Nec3 Bd7 17.Be2 Rac8 18 .Kf2 Be6 19.Ke3 Rd6�. The differ ence between White rook's position on dl rather than on bl is insignificant. White can try 14 .Rbl Bg7�.

L

et's try to assess the situation. White has kept the extra pawn, and stabilized the situation in the center where his knight is doing a great job. If it weren't there, the black pieces would flood the opponent's camp, but for the time being it holds the position. How about the Black's trumps? Well, Black has the unopposed KID bishop, and this is worth more than a pawn! White's queenside is damaged and the c4 and a2 pawns are weak. These pawns show us the correct plan. Black needs to attack them by ignoring the strong Nd5 . White has tried many ideas here; we look at four alternatives . a ) 15.Ne2 Nc5 16 . Nec3 (16.Ncl

Be6 1 7. Nd3 transposes to the 15.Nh316. Nf2-17.Nd3 line, d21 below.) 16 . . . Bd7 (The same plan can be performed in a more active way: 16 . . . Be6 17.Be2 Rac8.) 17. Be2 Rac8 18.0-0

18 ... Rc6 ! Black plays around the knight! The rook is lifted along the sixth rank to attack the a2 pawn. The other rook can also j oin the party in a while. 19.Rfdl Ra6 2 0 . f4 White intends to shut out the KID


131

bishop. Therefore: 20 . . . Bxc 3 ! 2 l . Nxc3 Ra3 2 2 . Rbc1 ReS (22 . . . Re8 might be even better: 23.e5 f6?.) 2 3 . e 5 Be6iii , Wells-Lamoureux, Oakham 1993 . b) 15.g4 is aggressive , but not so well prepared. 15 . . . b6 16.g5 This is the point - the g-pawn is blocked, and White intends to march with his h-pawn. 16 . . . Bb7 17.h4 Rac8 Threatening Nd7-e5. 18.f4 Nc5 White's center crumbles . 19.e5

(not 19.Bg2 ? Nxe4 20. Bxe4 ReB-+) 19 . . . Bxd5 20.cxd5 Rxd5+, Watson , London 1990. c) 15 .h4

Levitt

Once again, White wants to use the h-pawn and find work for his rook from its initial position. cl) Here I like 15 . . . Nc5 ! ? Black is ready for 16.h5 (if 16.Nh3 then 16. . . Be6) 16 . . . g5 , not allowing the rook to enter the game. Next, Black plays for the standard plan : 17.h6 B e 5 18. Be2 Rd6 1 9 . R d 1 Bd7 20.Rh5 f6 (also 20. . . Ba4 21. Rbl f6+) 2 l .f4 gxf4 2 2 . Nxf6 Bc3+ 2 3 . Kfl Rxf6 24.Rxc5 Bc6iii , in Wang Rui Moradiabadi , Cebu 2007. c2) But you might also study 15 . . . Nb6 16.h5 Be6 17.Nh3 Rac8 18.Ng5 Bxd5 19.cxd5 Rc2 20. Bd3

132


Bc3+ 2 l . Kfl Rd2 22 .hxg6 hxg6 23. Be2 Rxa2oo, E hlvest- Gelfand, Polanica Zdroj , 1997. d) Now the main continuation is 15.Nh3: d1) There is an infrequent ly played alternative for Black in 15 . . . b6 16. Be2 Bb7 17. Kf2 Rac8 1 8 . Rhc1 Bh6?. 1 9 . f4 Nc5 2 0 . Kf3 f5 ! 2 l . exf5 gxf5 2 2 . Nf2 Ne6 2 3 . Nd3? Rxc4 ! - +, Foisor-Maze, Ascona 2 0 07. d2) But most often seen is 15 ... Nc5 16.Nf2 Be6:

d21) Trading the knight on c5 only helps Black lift the rook: 17.Nd3 Rac8 · 18. Be2 (or 1B.Nxc5 Rxc5 19.Rxb7 Ra5+) 18 . . . b6 (18 . . . Na4!?) 19.0-0 and Black has a pleasant choice of which pawn to attack: 19 . . . Nb7 !? The c4 pawn, after the maneuver Nb7-a5. (or Black can go

for the a2 pawn, after the rook lift 19 . . . Nxd3 20.Bxd3 Rc5?.) 20. Rfc1 Na5 .

d221) At the Canadian open I chose the former plan: 18 . . . Rd6 19. Rfd1 Ra6 2 0 . Rd2 Bh6 (20 . . . Ra3=

Roquebourne, Korchnoi-Polgar, 1992.) 2 l . Rc2 Ra3 2 2 . Nd1 Bg7 2 3 . N1c3 a6 2 4 . Nd1 f5 .

The white knight on d5 is still beautiful, but has nothing to do with real life. 2 l . Rb4 Rc6 2 2 . Rc2?

(A blunder. 22.Kfl RdcB 23.N3f4 Bh6 24.g3 Rc5� was needed, although it is only Black who can hope for something in this situation.) 22 . . . Bxd5 2 3 . exd5 Rxd5 24.cxd5 Rxc2 2 5 . Kfl Ke7+, Georges-Gallagher, Zurich, 1994. d22) 17. Be2 Rac8 18.0-0

While White's position is still defend able, I would not like to be in his shoes. He needs to defend all the time against the opening of the position, and he could lose time in frustration, and might commit a mistake. Or at least, this is what happened in my game. Now if 2 5 . Nf2 then 25 . . . fxe4 (or 25. . . Bd4!?+) 26.fxe4 Nxe4 27.Nxe4 Bxd5. Instead, my game continued with 2 5 . N1c3 b5 26.Rb4 (not 26.cxb5 Na4) 26 . . . fxe4 27.Nxe4 Nb7 28.Rd2 Bh6 29.Rd1 (Worse are 29.Rd3 + and

29.Rdb2?? Bxd5 30.cxd5 Be3+ 31.Kfl Rcl+ 32.Bdl Rxdl+ 33. Ke2 Rxd5- +.) 29 . . . Rxa2 30.Nec3 (if 30. Ndc3 then 3 0 . . . Be3+) 30 . . . Rc2 3 l . Bd3? Rd2 White has finished his development and intends to do . . . ? No idea what, to be honest with you! Black has all the joy and can choose either to lift the rooks to the a-file and attack the a-pawn, or to put pressure on the c-pawn.

3 2 . Rxd2 Bxd2 3 3 . Rb2 Bxc3 34.Nxc3 Bxc4 3 5 . Be4 Nc5 36. Bd5 Bxd5 37.Nxd5 Nd3 3 8 . Rb1 Rc5 0-1, Inigo Bojkov, Toronto 2 0 1 1 . d222) 1 8 . . . b6 is also a very prom ising plan. You can study the follow ing game: 19. Rfe1 Nb7 !


1 33

Here is an example from my own practice: l l . . .e6 1 2 . Nc7 Rb8 1 3 . Nb5 a6 14 . Nd6 Nd4 (or 14 ... b6 with the

idea to meet 15. 0-0-0 with 15. . . Nc5 16.Nxc8?! Bh6+ 17.Kc2 Rxdl lB.Kxdl RxcB+) 15.0-0-0 b5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.Bb4 Ba6 18.Ne2 Nc6 19.Bel Nc5 20.Nc3?! b4.

Surrounding the c4 pawn! 20.Recl Bh6 21.Rdl (2l.Rc2? loses a pawn after 2l. .. Bxd5 22.exd5 Rxd5) 21 . . . Na5 22.Rb4 Rc5 23.f4?! Bxd5 24.exd5 Bxf4 25.Ne4 Rc7 26.Kf2 Nb7?! (better is

26...(5 27.g3 Re7 28.gxf4 Rxe4 29.K.f3 RdeB 30.Bfl Nb7+) 27.Ra4 (White can try 27.c5! bxc5 28.Nxc5 Nxc5 29.Rxf4=.) 27...Nd6 28.Nf6 Be5! 29.Nxh7+ Kg7 30.Ng5 Bf6 31 .c5 (or 31.Nf3 Ne4+ 32.K.fl Nc3) 3l ... bxc5 32.Nf3 c4-+, Graf-Guseinov, Dubai 2003. After ll.Ba3

This move opens the bishop on a6 , prepares the advance b4-b3 , and underlines the poor development of the white pieces. We look at three White responses: a) After 2 1 . Bxa6? bxc3 2 2 . Be2 Bh6+ 2 3 . Kc2 Rxb2+ 2 4 . Kxc3 Na4+ 2 5 . Kc4 Ne5+ 26.Kd4 Bf4 it's a quick mate. b) If 2 1 . Ncb5 then 2 l . . .b3! 2 2 . a3

(not 22. Kbl bxa2+ 23.Kxa2 Bxb5 24.Bxb5 Rxb5-+) 22 . . . Bxb5 2 3 . Bxb5 (and not 23.Nxb5 Bxb2+!) 23 . . . Nd4 24. Bg3 Nxb5 2 5 . Nxb5 Bh6+ 2 6 . Kbl Rxd l+ 27. Rxdl Rxb5-+. c) The game continued with 2 1 . Nbl Nd4 . The idea is to trap the knight. (However, 2l. .. Bxfl! was

Black is no longer willing to part with the pawn, especially after real izing that it can escape with a tempo. His play is natural and easy-to-go.

134


in fact a better way to surround the opponent's knight on d6. For exam ple: 22.Rxfl b3 23.a3 Ne5 24.Bg3 Ned3+ 25.Kd2 e5 and wins.) 2 2 . Nc4 (22.Bxa6 b3! was the point of Black's

idea. White's king lacks air in the line 23.a3 Nxa6 24.Nc4 Ne2#.) 22 . . . Rbc8 .

c2) After 2 3 . Nbd2 b3! Black is winning:

The difference in the activity o f the pieces determines the outcome of the game. cl) Now, worse than the game continuation is 23 .b3 Ncxb3+ 24. axb3 Nxb3+ 2 5 . Kc2 Na l+!

c21) And now if 24.Kbl then 24 . . . bxa2+, when Black opens further lines for his rooks on the queen's flank, and his attack is unstoppable: Ndb3+ 2 5 . Ka l?? c2 1 1) not 2 6 . Kxa2 Bxc4 27. Bxc4 Ra8+ 28.Kbl Ral+ 29.Kc2 Nd4+ 30.Kc3 Nc6+ 3 1 . Kc2 Nb4 mate. c2 12) 2 5 . Kxa2 Ra8 26.Kbl Ndb3 27.Kc2 Bxc4 2 8 . Nxc4 Nal+ ! ! and if 29.Kcl then 29 . . . Ncb3+ 30.Kbl Rxdl mate. c22) The game ended with 24.a3 Na4 2 5 . Kbl Nxf3 ! 26 .gxf3 Bxc4 27. Bxc4 Rxc4 2 8 . Rcl Rxcl+ 29.Kxcl Bxb2+ 3 0 . Kbl Bc3 0-1, Astengo-Bojkov, Bergamo 2009. Black resigned, as the line 3 1 . Nxb3 Rdl+ 3 2 . Kc2 Rxel-+ does not require further explanation.

ll

Nxe 7 12. Bxe 7 Bxb2

.•.

26.Kcl Bh6+ 27.Nbd2 Bxc4 2 8 . Bxc4 Rxc4+ 29.Kbl Rc2 with the idea : 30.Kxal Bg7+ 3 1 . Kbl Rb2+ 3 2 . Kcl ReS+ winning easily for Black.


135

White

has

an

alternative

in

14.Kdl ReS and now two further

choices:

15.Ba3:

13.Rbl Weaker is 13. Bxd8 Bxa1 14 . Nh3 Bc3+ 15.Kdl Be5! preventing Nh3 f4-d5! 16 .Nf2 Nb6 17. Nd3 Bd4 18.Ncl (White needed to install the

knight on d5 anyway: 1B. Nf4 Bd7 19.Bc7 ReB 20.Bxb6 axb6 21. Kc2 with chances for equality.) 18 . . . Na4 19.Ba5 Be6, and Black took over the initiative after 2 0 . Nb3 Be5 2 l . Nd2 b6 2 2 . Bb4 a5 2 3 . Ba3 Nc3+ 2 4 . Kc2 Nxa2+, James-Wells, Dublin 1993 .

13 . . . Bc3+

a) Now 15 ... Bg7 is playable but a bit slow. 16.Ne2 Nb6 17. Nf4 Rd8+ 18.Nd5 Be6 19. Bd3 (19. Kel!?) 19 . . . Rac8 20.Ke2 Nxc4 2 l . Be7 Rxd5

(or 21. . . Rd7 22.Nf6+ Bxf6 23.Bxf6±) Bxd5 2 3 . Be4 ReB (better was 23 . . . Nb6 24.Rbdl Bc4+ 25.Kf2 f5 26.Bbl Nd5rx>) 24.Bxd5 Rxe7+ 22 .exd5

2 5 . Kf2;l; Horvath-Bojkov, Chambery 2007. b) Instead, I will suggest the direct attack 15 . . . Nb6!N, with the idea to meet 16.c5 with 16 . . . Rd8+ 17. Kc2 Bg7 ! � and if 18.cxb6? then 18 . . . Be6! 19. Bd3 (19.Rcl axb6 20.Bb2

Rxa2 21.Rbl ReB+ wins material for Black.) 19 . . . Rac8+ 2 0 . Kd2 Bc4 and Black wins.

14. Kf2

136


15.Kc2 is more common. We can make use of the position of the white king with a later f7-f5 . 15 . . . Bg7 16.Bd6:

Black can now play 16 . . . b6!?, and 16 ... Ne5 !? is excellent as well. But there is also 16 ... f5 ! In his notes, the future world champion Kasimdzhanov gives the following lines: a) 17.exf5 Ne5 18.g4 (18.Bxe5? Bxf5+ 19.Bd3 Bxd3+ 20.Kxd3 Rxe5�) 18 ... gxf5 19.h3 b6!+. b) 17.Bd3 fxe4 18. Bxe4 Nf6 19.Bd3 Rd8 20.c5 b6+ or 2 0 . . . Ne8 !?. c) 17.c5 fxe4 18.fxe4: c1) And now best is 18 . . . Rxe4! 19.Nf3 Nf6 20. Bd3 Rg4 2 l . g3

(21.Rhgl Nd5 22.a3 Ne3+ 23.Kd2 Nc4+ 24.Bxc4+ Rxc4+) 2 l . . .Be6!+.

c2) 18 . . . Bd4!? 19.Bc4+ Kh8 20.Nf3 (20.Bb5 Rxe4 21.Bxd7 Bxd7 22.Rxb7 Bf5�) 20 . . . Bxc5 2 l . Ng5 Kg7oo. c3) 18 . . . Nf6? 19.Bc4+ Kh8 20.e5 Ng4 2 l . Nf3=, Nenashev-Kasimdzha nov, Namangan 2000.

14.�. Re8 In this game Efimenko chose the second most used move.

The main theory continues with the check 14 ... Bd4+ and this is also decent:

Now we look at two alternatives: 15.Kg3 ReS 16. Bg5 Nf6 ! �

17.Nh3 Nh5+ 18.Kh4 Kg7 The king on h4 is awkward and this was proved in the following game: 19.g4 h6 2 0 . Bxh6+ Kxh6 2 l . gxh5 f5 2 2 . Kg3 fxe4 2 3 . Bg2? gxh5 24.f4 Rg8+ 2 5 . Ng5 h4+ 0-1, Gil Capape-Howell, Gausdal 1986 . In case of 15.Kel Black is not obliged to repeat moves with 15 . . . Bc3+, but can play for more with 15 . . . Re8 !


137

18.Nf4 ?

16. Bg5

f5N

1B.Bh4 f5 is with the idea hxg6, followed strong attack.)

(16 ...{6N 1ZNe2 Bb6 also good for Black, 19.exf5 Ne5! 20.fxg6 by Bf5 and Nd3+ with

17. Ne2 Bg7 18.exf5 h6 19. Bh4 g5 20. Bg3 Nc5 with attack against the king in the center.

15.Ne2 Be5 16.Bg5 Or 16.Ba3 Nb6 17.c5 Na4?.

A blunder. Now the white bishop will be overworked. Better was 18.Nd4 Bd7 (also possible is 18. . . a6) 19.Rd2 (or 19.Be2 Nc3) 19 . . . b6 with an unclear, double edged position; ·

16. . . Nc5 1 7. Rdl

18 . . . h 6! 19. Bxh 6 Kh7 20. Bg5 (6+ 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Nd5

17. . . Na4

22 . . . Bd8!

Black can still opt for the opening of the game with 17 . . . f5 !? 18.exf5 Bxf5 19. Nf4 Rf8, since Black's active pieces and White's weak pawn prove sufficient compensation for the second player.

The KID bishop is not to be traded so e asily! In the forthcoming battle , Black converted his advan tage .

138


23. h4 Be6 24.g4 ReB 25.g5 Bxd5 26. cxd5

After 26.exd5 Bb6+ 27. Kg3 Nb2 28.Rcl Re3, Black increases his advantage.

26 . . . Nc8 Two other possibilities 2 6 . . . Rf8 !? and 2 6 . . . Rc2+!?.

are

27. Rd2 BaS 28. Rd8 Nxa2 29. d6 Nb4 80. Rdl Better than 30 .d7 Rc2+ 3 l . Kg3

Rf8-+. 30 . . . Rc8 81.Bb5 RfB 82. Be2

32 . . . Nc 6! 88.Rd8 Rxd8 Faster would have been 33 . . . Bb6+ 34. Kg2 Rc2 3 5 . Rel Ba5.

Bd2 Ne5 85. Be2 34.Bxd8 36. Rbl Rf7 8 7. R b2 Bf4 88. Rc2 Nc6 89. Ba6 Bxd6 40. Bxb 7 Nd4 41. Rb2 Rxf8+ 42. Kg2 Rg8+ 48. Kfl Rb8 44.Rd2 Rxb 7 0-1

Plan 1 (grabbing the pawn ) with calm development: 10.Nge2 3 Wang Yue

-

Rad.jabov

2nd FIDE Grand Prix, Sochi 2008 l . d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 8.Nc8 Bg 7 4 . e4 d6 5. (8 0 - 0 6. Be8 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 B. QxdB RxdB 9. Bxc5 Nc6 1 0. Nge2

One could argue that this is the most obvious and natural move. White just develops and wants to convert the extra pawn. But we know that the position of the bishop on c5 is shaky and there is yet another flaw behind the knight being on e2 .

1 0. . . b 6 Radjabov chooses the second most popular move. Black has usually opted for the standard idea of chasing the bishop with 10 Nd7 and this is also very good for Black. Now we look at three choices for the first player: l l.Ba3 and l l.Be3 on the next page, and finally l l .Bf2 beginning on page 142 . •••


139

The most common continuation is

ll.Ba3.

Still, the bishop is somewhat mis placed on a3 . l l . . . Nde5 1 2 . Nf4 Nd4

(Black has a pleasant alternative in 12 . . . e6 13.Rdl Rxdl+ 14. Nxdl a5 with the standard idea Nc6-b4 and an excellent game for Black, Murey-Degraeve, Cappelle la Grande 1993.) 13.0-0-0 Bh6 14 . Kb1 Bxf4 15. Bxe7 Rd7 16 . Nd5 Ndc6 (16 . . . Nec6 might be better) 17. Nf6+ (or 17. Bf6oo)

We look at three tries here: a) Note that13 . Rd 1?

is a mistake in view of 13 . . . Nxf3+! 14 .gxf3 Bxc3+ 15 .bxc3 Nc2+ 16 . Ke2 Rxd 1 17. Kxd1 Nxe3+ 1 8 . Kd2 Nxfl+ 19. Rxfl b6+ with a very nice endgame for Black. b) 1 3 . Kf2 is also considered dubious on account of the following game: 13 . . . Be6!

17. . . Kg7 18.Nxd7 Nxe7 19.Nxe5 Bxe5 and Black was already on top in Schnider-Zelbel, Graz 2010. ll.Be3 For some time this was considered a mistake, as the bishop can be in danger on this particular square. However, the current state of the line shows that this might be White's only chance to fight for some thing. l l . . . Nde5 1 2 . Nf4 Nb4 This is how Black hits the bishop on e3.

b1) 14 . Ncd5 Bxd5 15.Nxd5 Nc2 16.Rc1 Nxe3 17.Kxe3 (not 1 7. Nxe3 Rd2+) 17 . . . e6 18.Nc3 Bh6+ 19.f4 g5! 20.g3 Ng6 with strong attack m Gunawan-Gelfand, Minsk 1986.

140


b2) Nobody has ever tried 14 .Nxe6 fxe6 1 5 . Rbl, where Black has decent compensation for a pawn after 15 . . . Nc2 16. Bg5 (or 16. Be2 Nxe3

17.Kxe3 RacB= anticipating 18. b3 ?! Nxf3 19.Bxf3 Bxc3) 16 . . . Rac8 and White can hardly afford to grab another pawn with 17. Bxe7 Rd2+ 18. Kg3 Nf7, when the black pieces are dominating the board, for exam ple: 19.Nb5 a6 2 0 . Na3 Rc7 2 l . Nxc2 Rxe7 2 2 . Ne3 Be5+ 2 3 . f4 Bd4-+. c) Best is 13 .Rcl!

White has two pawns for the sacri ficed exchange, and is hoping to play for a win without any risk. It is up to ·you if you want to enter this position; not everyone is able to patiently defend, especially if they are KID players! Anyway, the situation is not as dangerous for Black as it seems. After all, there is an open file for the rooks, so they will not be worthless.

13 . . . Be6! Gelfand's

Black should follow footprints. (Weaker is

13 ...g5 14.Nfd5 Nbd3+ 15.Bxd3 Nxd3+ 16.Ke2 Nxcl+ 1 7. RxcH, Khenkin-Schaack, Frankfurt 2011.) 14.b3 g5 1 5 . Nxe6 Ned3+ Black wins the exchange. (As pointed out by

Bologan, he can also postpone the immediate cash-in with 15. . . fxe6 16.Bxg5 Kf7, and the fork on d3 will follow anyway. This might transpose into the main line of the featured game.) 16. Bxd3 Nxd3+ 17. Ke2 Nxcl+ 18 .Rxcl fxe6 19. Bxg5 Kf7:

A n important thing for you to fik now here is that we usually

want to trade our bishop for the opponent's knight. We continue from the diagram: cl) 20.Be3: ell) Black's best is trading right away with 20 . . . Bxc3! 2 l . Rxc3 e5. c12) But 2 0 . . . Bd4 is not bad either: 2 l . Ndl Rac8 2 2 . Nf2 e5 2 3 . Nd3 Bxe3 2 4 . Kxe3 (not 24.Nxe5+? Ke6 25.Kxe3 Kxe5-+) 24 . . . Kf6 2 5 . Rfl Rc6 26.f4 exf4+ 27.Nxf4 Kg7 2 8 .e5 Ra6 29.Ke4 Rd2 , and the position was unclear in Khairullin- Gallagher, Aix-les-Bains 2011. c 2 ) 2 0 . Nd l B d 4 Creating the threat Rd8 -g8 . As explained above, Black wants to get rid of the white knight. 2 l .g3 Rd7 2 2 . Nf2 Bxf2 !


141

23.Kxf2 e5! Once the White knight is off the board this move can and should be played. This is also the reason why we need to exchange the bishop for the knight; it can no longer torture us on the d5 square. Next, Black places his pawns on the color of the bishop and levels the chances. 24.Ke2 Ke6 25 .Be3 b6!=, in Atalik Berg, Eretria 2011. Compared to the line 1 1 .Bc5 -e3 , after ll.Bf2 the bishop is seemingly not in danger. However, Black still finds enough counterplay with 1 1 . . . Nde5. Once again, the d3 square is the ultimate temptation for the black knights. 1 2 . Nf4:

Rxa2 27.Nb6? Rb2+ with an eventual draw, in Gordon-Williams, Liverpool 2008. b) 12 ... b6! Simple and good. Black finishes his development and makes the most of his lively pieces. White has tried: b1) 1 3 . Be2 White manages to castle, but this is the only benefit of the move. Black creates strong counterplay after 13 . . . Ba6 14 . Nb5 Nb4 15.0-0 Bxb5 16.cxb5: bll) And now the rook dream is completed after 16 . . . Rd2 17. Rab1 Bh6 18. Bg3 Bxf4 19.Bxf4 Rxe2 20. Bxe5 f6

(not 20... Nxa2?! 21.Ral Nb4 22.Rfdl± maintaining pressure on a7) 2 1 . Bd4

ReB?, or 2 1 . . . Nxa2 22.Ra 1 Rd2 23.Bxf6 exf6 24.Rxa2 ReB =. b12) This is better than 16 ... Bh6 17.Bg3 Ned3 18.Nxd3 Nxd3 19.Bxd3 Rxd3 20.Rfd1 Rad8 21.Rxd3 Rxd3 22.BeH, Akesson-Huschenbeth, Stock holm2009. b2) 13. Nfd5 e6 14 . Nc7 RbB: b21) Exchanging rooks at the moment seems sensible for the first player. Still, after 1 5 . Rd1 Rxd1+ 16 . Kxd 1 Nb4

a) It is important to know that without the bishop on e3, the move 12 . . . Nb4?! is just a shot in the dark. Black did well in the following game, but only thanks to some mistakes by his opponent: 13.Rd H Rxd 1+ 14 .Kxd1 g5 15. Nfd5 Ned3 16 . Bxd3 Nxd3 17.Bg1 (better was 17.Ke2 Nxf2

18.Kxf2 Bd4+ 19.Ke2 K{B 20. h4±) 17 . . . Nxb2+ 18.Kc2 Nxc4 19.Nc7 Bh3 0 20.gxh3 ReS 2 1 . N3d5 (better was

21.N7d5 K{B 22.Ne2 Ne5+ 23.Ndc3±) 21...Kh8= 22.Bxa7 e6 2 3 . Kd3 exd5 24.Nxd5 Ne5+ 25.Ke3 Ra8 2 6 . Bc5

142


Black already has two strong threats, either to trap the white horse after

a7-a6 and Rb8-b7, or to transfer the rook to the open file with Rb8 -b7-d7 (or Bc8 -b7 and Rb8-d8) at once. Possible continuations are: b2 11) 17. Bg3 Bb7 18.a3 Rd8+ 19. Kcl Nbd3+: b2 1 1 1) 20.Bxd3 Rxd3 2 l . Kc2

(2l.Rdl

Rxdl+

22.Nxdl

Nxc4 +)

2l...Rd7 2 2 . Ne8 (22. N7b5 a6) 22 ... Nxc4 2 3 . Nxg7 Kxg7=. b2 112) 20.Kc2 White is seemingly doing fine, but the following tactical strike clarifies the situation · in Black's favor: 20 . . . Nxc4! 2 l . Bxd3 Ne3+ 2 2 . Kd2 Nc4+= and the first player should settle for a draw, as the line: 2 3 . Ke2 Nxb2 24.Bb5 Bxc3+ is favorable for Black only. b2 12) 17. N7b5 Rb7 This time the rook is transferred via the seventh rank. The advantage of the rook lift is the fact that the queen's flank is now secured, which is not the case with White's . 18.Be3 Or else the bishop from g7 might like to appear on the cl-h6 diagonal. 18 ... Rd7+ 19.Kcl Nbd3 + 20. Bxd3 Rxd3 2 l . Bd4 Bh6+ 2 2 . Kbl (or 22. Kc2 Rd2 + +) 22 . . . Nxc4=.

I know that this position is now very far from the opening, but it makes

sense to continue the analysis in order to make the reader feel the potential of Black's position. b2 121) The pawn is taboo: 2 3 . Nxa7? Rxd4 2 4 . Nxc8 Rd2-+. b2 122) 2 3 . Rd l i s , obj e ctively speaking, White's safest move, and after 23 . . . Rxdl+ 24.Nxd l a6 2 5 . Na7 Bb7 2 6 .b3 e5 (or 26. . . Nd2+ 27.Kc2 Nfl=) 2 7. Bgl Nd6 2 8 . Bxb6 f5! 29.Bc5 Nxe4! ! I would love to rely on the pawns, for example: 30.fxe4 Bxe4+ 3 l . Kb2 Bxg2 3 2 . Ne3 Bxe3 3 3 . Bxe3 f4 34. Bd2 g5 3 5 . Kc2 Kf7+. b22) 1 5 . Bh4 has had good results and was tried by GM Rowson.

Nevertheless, it should not pose any real problems for Black after . . . Nd3+ or ... Rd7: b221) 15 . . . Nd3+ 16. Bxd3 Rxd3 : b22 11) 17. Ke2 Rd7 18.Ne8 (better is 18.Bg3�) 18 . . . Ba6 19.Nf6+ Bxf6 20. Bxf6 Bxc4+ 2 l . Ke3 Rd3+ 2 2 . Kf4 e5+ 2 3 . Kg3 Rd6 24. Bg5 f6 25. Be3 Rbd8 2 6 . Kf2 Nb4+ Zaja- Saric, S ibenik 2008. b2212) 17. Bg3 might be better, when Black cannot get his initiative going the way he would like: b2 2 1 2 1 ) 17 . . . Rb7 1 8 . Ke2 Rd4 1 9 . Ne8 Rxc4 2 0 . Nxg7 (20. Nd6?


143

Rb4 + 21.Nxc8 ? Rxb2+ 22. Kd3 Rd7+ 23.Kc4 Na5#) 20 . . . Kxg7 2 l . Rhd1 Rd7 2 2 . Rxd7 Bxd7 2 3 . Kd3 Rb4 24.b3 f5 oo. b22 122) 17 . . . Bxc3+ 18.bxc3 Rb7

However, the bishop might as well first visit the a6 square. An other recent top GM encounter saw U Ba6 1 2 . Nb5 Rd7 •••

(18 . . . e5 19.Rcl f5�). b222) If you want calm equality, you can choose the continuation 15 . . . Rd7 16.Ne8 Nd3+ 17. Bxd3 Bxc3+ 18.bxc3 Rxd3 1 9 . Ke2 Rxc3 20.Rhc1 Ra3 2 l . Bf6 e5= followed by Bc8-e6.

ll.Ba3 Bb7

13 . Nec3 (13.Rdl Rad8 14.Rxd7Nxd7!? followed by Nd7-c5 looks excellent for Black as well.) 13 . . . Bb7 ! This is

Radjabov follows this move with a logical novelty. Two more contin uations deserve serious investiga tion. White managed to get something from the opening after ll e6 1 2 . Rd1 Ba6 13.Nb5 Rxd1+ 14 . Kxd1 Rd8+ 15.Kc2 Bh6 16 .Nec3 Nh5 17. Kb1 Bxb5 18.cxb5 (18.Nxb5? Rdl+ 19. Kc2 ...

Rcl+ 20.Kb3 Na5+ 21.Ka4 Nxc4+) 18 . . . Ne5 19.Be7! Rd7 20.Bh4;t;, in Khenkin-Hausrath, Saarbruecken 2009.

144


where we discover the advantage of the bishop shuffling. The knight on b5 is in danger, having no moves. a) Thus 14 .Na4 RadS 15. Be2 Nh5 16.g3 f5�, lvanchuk-Grischuk, Monte Carlo 2 0 1 1 . b ) After 14 . Nd5 , w e employ the usual counterplay along the d-file with 14 : .. e6 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Rd1 Rxd1+ 17.Kxd 1 Rd8+ 18.Kc2 a6 19.Nc3 Bg5+t.

12. Rdl The "active" 1 2 . Nd5 only helped Black develop the initiative: 12 . . . e6 13.Ne7+ Nxe7 14 . Bxe7 Rd7 1 5 . Bb4 ReS 16.Rc1 Bh6 17.Rc2 RcdSt, Lev-Kraidman, Tel Aviv 1992 .

12 . . . a5N

13 . . . Nb4 14.Bd3 Bh6

Technically speaking, this move is a novelty. In reality, though, we have seen the idea often enough. The bishop on a3 attracts the Black knight's attention, as well as that of his entire queen's flank.

The outcome of the opening battle is satisfactory for the second player. He is using nearly all his pieces and already has concrete threats. It is only his later mistakes that made him lose the whole point.

13.Ncl

15. Nd5 Nfxd5

Or 13.Nb5 Nb4 14 . Nec3 Rxd l+ 15.Kxdl Rd8+ 16 .Ke2 Bh6+± . White could also have tried to make use of the vulnerable b6 pawn. Still, Black is fine after 1 3 . Na4 Nb4! a) The pawn is not yummy at all: 14.Nxb6 Nc2+-+. b) 14 . Rxd8+ Rxd8 15.Nxb6 Nd3+ 16.Kd2 Nf2++. c) 14 . Bxb4 Rxd l+ 1 5 . Kxdl axb4 16.Nxb6 Rxa2-+.

Not a bad move, but Black could also have tried 15 . . . Bxcl 16.Bxb4 axb4 17.Rxcl Rxa2 (also possible is

17. . . Bxd5 18.cxd5 Rxa2 19.Rbl Nd7 20. Bc4 Ra5 2l.Ke2 ReB= 22.Rhc1 ? Rac5 23. b3 b5) 1 8 . Nxe7+ Kg7 19.Nd5 Rxb2 20.0-0 b5=.

1 6. cxd5 e6 Now a forced line follows:

1 7. Bxb4 19. e7D

axb4

18. dxe6

Bxcl

Chapter 2 : The Siimisch Variation

145

It seems Radjabov wanted too much. He could still have shared the point after 2 l . . . Rxa2

19 . . . Rdc8 Once again not bad, but I also fancy the line 19 ... Rxd3 20.Rxd3

Bg5 21 .h4 Bxe7 22.Rd7. And now Black has the sharp

22 ... Bc5!? 2 3 . Rxb7 Rxa2 :

a ) 24.Rb8+ Kg7 25.Rd8 Rxb2 26.Rd2 Rbl+ 27.Rdl Rb2 =. b) or 2 4 . Kd2 Rxb2+ 2 5 . Kc l Rxg2 2 6 . Rd l b3=, and White has chanc es to go wrong with 27. Rdd7? Ba3+ 2 8 . Kd l Rgl+ 2 9 . Ke2 b2-+. Or a certain draw in the line 22 ... Rxa2 23.Rxe7 Ral+ 24. Kf2 Rxh l 25. Rxb7 Rbl 26.Rxb6 Rxb2+=.

2 2 . Rbl Ba6 2 3 . Bxa6 Rxa6 24.Kd2 Ra7=.

22. Rc7! Bd5 28. 0- 0 fxe4 24.fxe4 Bxa2 25. Ral

20. e8Q+ Rxe8 21. Rxcl

The threat is Ralxa2 and Bd3-c4+. Wang Yue is already on top and does not miss his chance.

21 . . . {5 ? 146


25. . . Bd5 26. Rxa8 Bxa8 2 7. Bb5 Re5 28.Bc4+ Kf8 29. Rc8+ ReS 80. Rxe8+ Kxe8 81 . e5 Ke 7 82. Kf2 Bc6 88.g8 g5 84. Ke8 h 6 85. Kd4 Bd7 86. Bd5 Bb5 8 7. Bf8 Be8

38. Bg2 Ba4 39.Bd5 Bb5 40. Bg8 KfB 41. Bc4 Ba4 42. Bd5 Bb5 43. Bf3 Ke7 44. Bg4 Bfl 45. Kd5 Bb5 46. Bf5 BeB 4 7. Kc4 b3 48. Kxb3 Bb5 49. Kc3 Be2 50. Kd4 Bb5 5l. Kd5 Ba4 52. b4 Bb5 53. Bg4 Ba4 54. Bc8 KdB 55. Ba6 Kd7 56. e6+ Ke 7 57. Bc8 Bb5 58. Bd7 Be2 59. Kc 6 b5 60. Kb 6 Bc4 61. Bxb5 Bxe6 62. Kc 7 1 - 0

Plan 2: White maintains the pressure in the center 4 Caruana - Rodshtein

European Team Championships 2011 l . d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.{3 Bg7 4. e4 0 - 0 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 c5 7. Nge2 Now that we have reviewed the lines in which White accepts the pawn offer, we move forward with a completely different approach . The first player protects the center rather than grabbing the c5 pawn.

7. . . Qa5

In response, Black gets ready for the battle. The queen on a5 stands well, supporting both the c5 pawn and the eventual Benko-style play with b7-b5 if White closes the center with d4 -d5. It also discourages long castling by the opponent and prepares the smooth development Nb8-c6.

B. Ncl White forces the game into a Maroczy structure. There are other possibilities as well. We examine 8.Qd2 here and 8.d5 on page 150.


147

8.Qd2 can't really stand the cen tral pressure. Sooner or later White will need to do something about the d4 pawn in order to finish development. There is not much choice, though: 8 ... Nc6 9.d5 (Note that 9.dxc5 is an an

tipositional exchange. The outpost on d4 is now screaming for a black piece to arrive there. 9...dxc5 10.Nd5 Qxd2+ ll.Kxd2 Nd7 and after e7-e6 Black has an excellent position.) 9 . . . Ne5 The pawn on c4 is hanging and White has two different approaches. We look at 10.Nc1 and 10 .Ng3 .

(JO.b3?! does not contribute to White's development and provides precious time for Black. 10... a6 followed by b7b5 is a logical way to punish White's sloppy play.)

after ll . . . e6! 12.Ra3 (or 12.Be2 exd5 13.cxd5 b5t) 12 . . . exd5 13 .cxd5 Nh5! Black turns to another plan, typical for the Benoni defense - play on the king's flank with f7-f5 . 14.Be2 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16 .Bh6 Qb4 17.Bxg7 Nxg7 18.f4 Nc4 19.Bxc4 Qxc4 20.a5 Bd7 2l.N1e2 Rae8 (Also excellent for

Black is 21. .. Nh5! (Nikitin) improving the knight. 22.0-0 Nf6 23.Rf3 RaeB?..) 22 .Kf2 , Spassky-Polgar, Budapest 1993 , or 22.0-0 Bb5 ! . a2) White can · also neglect the pawn thrust and finish developing with l l .Be2 . In response, we should continue preparing for the b7-b5 advance. l l . . . Bd7:

a) 10.Nc1 Intends to transfer the knight to the queen's side.

In this situation I recommend Benko-style play with 10 . . . a6 (JO. . . e6

is certainly another option, and leads to Benoni-like positions: ll.Be2 exd5 12.cxd5 Bd7 (12 ... a6!?) 13. a4 a6 14.Ra3 Qc7 15. 0-0 RaeB 16.N1a2 BcB 17.a5 h5?. Psakhis-Szalanczy, Vienna Open 1990.) And now : a1) White can try to prevent the b7-b5 advance with l l . a4 but

148


a21) Note that 1 2 . f4?! is doing the knights a favor: 12 . . . Neg4 1 3 . Bg1 b5 14 . Bf3 Bh6 !+, and the knight intends to return to e5 with decisive effect. a22) 1 2 .h3? prepares the f3f4 advance but comes a move too late: 12 . . . b5 13 .b3 Nh5 !+, with multiple threats such as 14 . . . Ne5xf3 , 14 . . . b5xc4, 14 . . . Nh5-g3 , etc. 13 . . . Ne8! is also great. a23) On account of Kramnik Gelfand, Linares 1993, the plan with 1 2 . a4 was considered somewhat dangerous for Black. However, there

is a later improvement.

12 . . . Qb4 13 .b3 e6 (If you are in a mood to

play an endgame you might try this one: 13 . . . Nxc4 14.Bxc4 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2 BxaJ oo.) 14 .Nla2 Qa5 (In this line, our main concern is the health of her Majesty, so please, refrain from any experiments: 14 ... Qxb3 ? 15.Rbl Qa3 16. dxe6 fxe6 1ZQc2 is already forcing Black to sacrifice the bishop in order to save the lady.) 15.dxe6 Bxe6 16.Qxd6 Too

not stand so well. 10 . . . Qb4 (JO. . . a6 as

in Dautov-Kempinski, Bad Wiessee 1997 is also good for Black.)

greedy:

I like this straightforward approach . The pawn on c4 is hanging and White starts to feel the heat. And now: bl) Be ready for the typical trick after l l .b3?

Now Gelfand could have punished his mighty opponent had he found 16 ... Nxe4! 17.fxe4 Rfd8 18 .Qxc5 Nd3+ 19. Bxd3 Bxc3+ 20.Nxc3 Qxc3+ 2l.Kf2 Rxd3+. Instead, the game continued 16 . . . Nfd7 17. Kf2 Nc6 1 8 . Racl Nd4 19 .b4 Qb6 2 0 . Qxb6 Nxb 6 2 1 .bxc5 Nxe2 2 2 . Nxe2 and Gelfand missed one more chance, this time for equality with 2 2 . . . Nxa4 ! (22 . . . Nxc4

23. Bd4 ;t Kramnik- Gelfand, Linares 1993.) 2 3 . Nf4 Rfc8 2 4 . Nd5 Bf8

25.Nab4 a5 2 6 . Nd3 Nxc5 2 7 . Nxc5 Bxc5 2 8 . Rbl= as pointed out by Kramnik. b) 10. Ng3 is the second possible plan. The knight on g3 , though, does

l l ... Nfg4! 1 2 . Rcl Nxe3 13 .Qxe3 b5 14 .cxb5 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Qd2 Qh4 17.Qf2 a6 18 .bxa6 Bxa6 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 2 0.Qe2 c4 2 1 . 0 - 0 Nd3 2 2 . Nb5 NxcH as in Gupta-Jones , Yerevan 2007. b2) White has less than nothing if he trades queens at once: l l . Nb5


149

Qxd2+ 12.Kxd2?! (better is 12.Bxd2=) 12 . . . a6 13.Nc3 h5!? 14 . Be2 b5!'t. b3) l l . a3 intends to exchange queens in a more favorable situation. This does not change the evaluation of the position. l l . . .Qb3 12 .Qdl Qxd l+ 13.Rxd l and now: b31) 13 . . . Nfd7 14 .Kd2 Nb6 15 .b3 e6 16 .Kc2 exd5 17.exd5 f5, and my position was very good in my game against K. Rusev from the Bulgarian Individual Championship, Blagoevgrad 2009. b32) or the immediate 13 ... e6 14 .Be2 (14.dxe6 Bxe6 15. b3 Nc6

1116.Rxd6 Ng4! 17.fxg4 Bxc3+ 18. Kf2 Be5+) 14 exd5 15.cxd5 a6 16.f4 lh-lh, ...

Maiwald-Kempinski, Dresden 2008. After discovering that the knight on e5 is too lively, White might come to a conclusion that 8.d5 immediatly is better:

and Bl � ck took over the initiative in Bogda rt ovski-Kempinski, Chalkidiki 2002. i

B . . . cxd4

Thi s is natural. Once the knight is gone from e2 why shouldn't we do it?

9. Nb3

.

Thi� is also natural. Why not take o� d4 with a knight when he can sti ll do it? Indeed, the bishop on d4 is only a sourc � of tempo gains after 9. Bxd4 Nc6 10,Nb3 Qd8 l l . Be3 Be6 12 .Rcl Ne5? i 1 3 . Nd5 Bxd5 14 .cxd5 e6! Black :rhakes use of the fact that his opponei}t has not yet castled and tries to open the center. 15 .dxe6 fxe6 16.Be2 (16. Qd2 d5!) 16 . . . Nxe4!? I 17.fxe4 : Qh4+ 18.Kd2 Qxe4 19.Rc3 Qxg2" < and soon a draw was agreed ' in Bischoff- Stellwagen, Germany, 2004, b}lt I have the feeling that Black can play for more after 19 . . . d5!--..

9 . . . Qh 5 10.Nxd4 Nc 6

The Benko-style of play is especially effective with the queen on a5 and the underdeveloped white kingside. Therefore: 8 . . . b5! One example is 9.cxb5 a6 10. Ng3 (Plan A does no

longer exist in this sub-line: lO.Ncl ? Nxe4! 11.fxe4 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qxc3+-+.) 10 . . . axb5 l l . Bxb5 Ba6 1 2 . Bxa6 Nxa6 13.0-0 Nd7 14 .Rcl Ne5 15.Qe2 c4+,

l l . Be2 Aft�r the game, Caruana was not totally convinced about the strength of this inove. Perhaps ll.Qd2 is better. But in this case Black can reduce the pieces in the center with ll Nxd4 •••

I I

•

150


I

12.Bxd4 Be6 with a normal game

for Black:

Black has no worries: 13 . . . Nd7 14. Bxg7 (or 14. 0 - 0 Bxd4+ 15. Qxd4 Qc5=) 14 . . . Kxg7 1 5 . 0 - 0 Qc5+ 16 . Kh l Nf6 = , and not 1 6 . . . Bxc4 17.b4 Qxb4 18.Qd4+ Ne5 19.f4 , when White wins a piece. 13.Nd5 does not impress either: 13 . . . Nxd5 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15.cxd5 Bd7=.

ll . . . Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Qh4+1? A tricky continuation, which aims to spoil White's coordination.

13.g3

We look at three replies: 13.h4 Rfc8: a) Note that White cannot easily bother the black queen: 14 .b4 Bxc4 (or

the simple 14 . . . Nd7 with an excellent game for Black) 15.g4 Nxg4t. b) Another attempt to trap the lady with 14.c5?! is even worse , due to my improvement over Gallagher's analysis: 14 . . . dxc5!+ anticipating 15.g4? cxd4!

16.gxh5 dxc3 17.bxc3 Nxe4! -+. Perhaps White should complete his development with 13.Be2 but

Black's idea is seen in the line 1 3 . Bf2 Qg5 , when the first player has problems with the defense of the g2 pawn. Caruana didn't like the continuation 14 .g4 (14. 0-0

Nh5 followed by Nh5-f4 is good for Black) 14 . . . Be6 15 .h4 Qe5 , where "White's pawn structure is severely weakened." - Caruana.

13 . . . Qg5 Instead of this, Black needed to place the queen on h3: 13 ... Qh3

The queen seems shaky on this square, but she prevents White from castling and cannot be attacked so easily. 14.Kf2 is a suggestion by Caruana, which does not yield White


151

much after 14 . . . Be6 15 .Qd2 Bh6 16.f4

(or 16.Be3 Bxe3+ 17. Qxe3 RfcB 18. b3 Qh5=) 16 . . . Bg7 ! ''After provoking f4

the bishop returns, leaving the e4pawn vulnerable and the g4 square open to invasion. Black has sufficient counterplay." Caruana.

!

witnessed the following game in New Zealand: 14.Qd2 Be6?!

(The immediate aggression with 14 ... Bh6!?N makes a lot of sense. In the line 15.f4 e5 16.Be3 Ng4 17. Bfl Qh5oo, White has a repetition of moves, but hardly more.) 15.Nd 1 ! A key resource that Black needs t o know. The knight is transferred to f2 both for defense and attack against the intruder. a) Note that the queen is indeed in trouble after 15 . . . Rfc8?! 16. Nf2 Qh5 17.f4±. b) I also do not fancy Black's posi tion after 15 . . . Bh6 16.Qc3 Bg7 17. Nf2 Qh6 18.0-0, although it might not be as bad as it seems after 18 . . . Nd7, as the queen can re-enter the game via g7. Black will also be happy to get rid of the queens in this situation. c) So it seems that Black does not have any choice: 15 . . . Bd7 16. Nf2 Qe6 17.0-0 Bc6 18. Rfel a6 (18 ... Nd7!?) 19.a4 a5 20.b3 Nd7 2 l . Bxg7 Kxg7 22.f4 f5 23.exf5 gxf5 24.Bh5::!;, Ganguly-Lukey, Queenstown 2012 .

14. Kf2! One more thought of Caruana clarifies White's plan: "A strong move, preparing to regroup with Be3, Qd2 , Rcl and b3, when White has organized his position and enjoys a typical Maroczy bind. Instead, castling would allow . . . Bh3 with gain of tempo."

14 . . . Be6 15. RcH

152


15 . . . Qa5 Even 15 ... Rfc8 16.b3 a6 17. a4 Nd7 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.f4 Qc5+ 2 0 . Kg2 is also a bit better for White. he problem for Black is that he has no active play and has to wait and see what will happen afterwards. This is not the type of play that KID fans like to see. Therefore, it makes sense to play 13 . . . Qh3 and employ the aggressive novelty 14 . . . Bh6 !? in the annotation after Black's thirteenth move.

T

1 6. Kg2 RfcB 1 7. b3 a6 18. a4 Since b7-b5 is stopped, White can safely play on the kingside.

1B . . . Nd7 Nf6 ?

19. Bxg 7

Kxg 7

20.{4

Better was 20 . . . Nc5 2 l . Rfl f6::!;, or 20 . . . f6::!; at once.

21. Bf3 23.g4!±

RabB ?

22. Rel

RdB

Plan 3: Closing the center with 7. d4-d5 The third approach that White can try is to advance the d5 pawn and keep the center blocked. In this case, positions which are typical for the Benoni will arise. As this is something that cannot be avoided in this line, the second player needs to have at least enough knowledge to get out of the opening in good shape. White's advantage grew, and Caruana managed to wrap up the game later.

23 . . . h6 24. h4 RhB 25. Qd4 Or 25.f5 Bd7 2 6 . Nd5± .

25. . . Qc5 2 6. Qxc5 dxc5 2 7.{5 Bc8 28. e5 NeB 29.fxg6 fxg6 30. Nd5 Rf8 31. Nxe7+ - Be6 32. Kg3 Rf7 33.Nd5 b 6 34. Rcdl Nc 7 35. Nxc 7 Rxc 7 36. Rd6 Re7 3 7. Bd5 RbeB 38. Bxe6 Rxe6 39. Rxe6 Rxe6 40. Kf4 Kf7 41. Ke4 1 - 0

5 Anand - Nakamura 6th Tal Memorial, Moscow 201 1 l . d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4 . e4 d6 5. Nge2 Anand chooses to enter the Sa misch in this slightly unusual way. Alternatively, White can also achieve Benoni-style positions with the "normal" move order 5.f3 0-0

6.Be3 c5 7.d5 e6

We look at three possibilities for White: 8.Nge2 has the drawback that it obstructs the normal development of the bishop. I will also add that the development of this knight is the

Chapter 2: The Stimisch Variation

153

main problem that White experience in this line. After the natural moves 8 . . . exd5 9.cxd5 a6 10.a4 Nbd7 1 l . Ng3 , Black immediately puts the future of that knight in question with the typical idea 1 1 . . .h5: a) 12. Be2 Nh7 will most likely transpose to the game Korchnoi Cheparinov below. (The game is in

the annotations after move 8: see variation a2 on page 163.), but Black has the additional option 12 . . . h4 . b) 12.Bg5 Compared to the main lines White has lost a tempo. This certainly cannot be without consequences: 12 . . . Qa5 13 .Qd2 b5 saw Black already seizing the initiative in Muir-Jones, Crete 2007. If White chooses to develop the bishop first with 8.Bd3, it will most likely be traded for the black knight after 8 . . . exd5 9.cxd5 a6 10.a4 Nbd7 l l . Nge2 Ne5:

a) 12 .Bc2 gives Black a tempo in his queenside expansion: 12 . . . Bd7 13.0-0 (And we should not forget

that the c4 square is a great spot for the knight: 13.a5? Nc4 hits too many things.) 13 . . . b5t. b) Alternatively, 12 .0-0 Bd7 13.Ng3 Nxd3 (as usual, 13 . . . h5!? is

154


also possible) 14.Qxd3 b5 15. axb5 axb5= Here the abrupt 16.e5?! (White needed to head for the equal position after 16.Nxb5 Qb6 1 7.Rxa8 RxaB 18.Na3 Qxb2 19.Nc4 QbB.) 16 . . . c4

17.Qd2 dxe5 18.Bc5 ReS saw White losing the pawn without too much compensation in Edouard- Cossin, Chalons 2008. 8.Qd2 is what White usually chooses. We can then enter the typical Benoni set up with 8 . . . exd5:

a) Now 9.exd5?! does not make any sense in this particular situation. After 9 . . . Re8 Black already threatens to win material with Bg7-h6 , which practically forces castling on the long side. a1) 10. Nge2 will be answered with 10 . . . Nbd7 or 10 . . . a6, and White still needs to castle long in order to finish his development.) a2) And if 10.0-0-0, the queen's flank is not the most welcome place that the monarch can reside! 10 . . . a6 l l. g4

ll ... b5 Black opens both the a- and b-files and starts a strong attack after 12 .cxb5 axb5 (12 . . . Bd7!? looks even better: 13. bxa6 Nxa6�) 13 . Bxb5 Nfd7 (13 ... Bd7 14.Bc4 Qb6�) 14 . Bh6 BhS 15.Nge2 Ba6 16 . Bxa6 Nxa6 followed by Nd7-b6-c4, and Black is clearly on top in Shockley-Zilberstein, Reno 2002. b) Normal is 9.cxd5 a6 . It is useful to insert the moves a7-a6 and a2 -a4 . Black has a pawn m ajority on the queenside and it makes sense for him to prepare counterplay on this side of the board. Another idea is the standard f7-f5 advance. The position is very flexible, and while White finishes his development Black prepares to show his cards everywhere. Now best is 10.a4 (Or else Black

will gratefully occupy the flank:

10.Nge2 b5 ll.a3 Nbd7 12.Ng3 h5 13.Bh6 Ne5 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.f4 Ned7 16.Bd3 Qb6 1 7.Bc2 c4 + Mai Jiongqi Wang Yue, Xiapu 2005.) lO . . . ReS:

The tabiya of the line. Black makes a useful move and pressurizes in the center. The first player has tried various ways to finish his development. b l ) l l . B e2 A somewhat slow maneuver. l l . . .Qc7 Black makes an useful move and keeps the h 3 c 8 diagonal open, thus n o t letting the white knight appear on h3 . This forces White to continue the bishop m aneuver: 1 2 . B d l and only now 1 2 . . . Nbd7 1 3 . Nh3 Ne 5 + which m akes use of the fact that the bishop i s no longer controlling the c4 square ! In this line such small

subtleties often decide the outcome of the opening. b2) On the other hand, l l . Bd3 places the bishop within reach of the black knight. l l . . . Nbd7 1 2 . Nh3

(12.Nge2 Ne5 will also win the bishop for the knight) 12 . . . Ne5 and as the

capture on h3 is threatened, Black will trade his knight for White's light-squared bishop and have an excellent game. b3) l l . a5 allows Black to open the game on the queen's flank with l l . . .b5 1 2 . axb6 Qxb6? since the half-open b-file is definitely an asset for Black.


155

b4) Therefore, the most natural way for White to finish developing seems to be l l . Nge2 Nbd7.

21...c3! (even stronger was 2l ... Nxd5! 22.exd5 c3) 22 .Qxc3 Nxd5 and Black

Now White needs to decide where to place the knight in order to free his bishop. It is a funny thing: despite his advantage in development, White finds it hard to develop his pieces harmoniously. From this position we examine at length three alternatives for White, 12.Nd1!? here, 12 .Nc1 on page 158, and 12.Ng3 on page 159. b41) One set-up for White starts after 12.Nd1!? The idea is to place this knight on f2, the other knight going to c3, and White will have good control over e4. As usual though, such a deep positional plan spends a considerable amount of time, and Black can make use of it. b411) 12 . . . Rb8 is a worthy try: 13.Nec3 Qc7 with the idea c5 -c4 and b7-b5 (the immediate 13 ... Qa5

won, Hultin-Ziegler, Gothenburg 1997. b412) After 12 . . . Ne5 13.Nec3 I see nothing wrong with 13 . . . Qa5, which was given the dubious sign (?!) by the King's Indian expert Gallagher. (There is also the natural

13 . . . Bd7 14.Nf2, when Black can choose to play on the queen's flank with 14 . .. Rb8 f!. and b7-b5, or on the kingside with 13 . . . Nh5f!. and {7-{5.)

is usually answered with 14.Ra3) 14 .Rc1 Qa5! 15.Rb1 Ne5 16.Be2 b5t, with an excellent game for Black. In order to show activity, White went too far with 17. axb5 axb5 18 .b4 cxb4 19.Na2? Nc4 20. Bxc4 bxc4 2 l . Nxb4 and got punished:

156


Now, after 14.Ra3 Nfd7 (14 ... Qb4 in tending ... Nc4 looks good, too.) 15.Be2

f5 16.0-0 Nb6, Black had harmo niously developed his forces in Kas pi-Hebden, Rishon Le Ziyyon 1992 .

Instead, 14 . Be2 was considered to be somewhat better for White by the Dutch player Meulders. I believe that this assessment was based on the result of his game rather than on objective reasons. 14 . . . b5 15.0-0

and only then to advance on the queen's flank with 16 . . . b4.

P

lease note that such an advance of your pawn majority must be well grounded and well supported by the black pieces. If not, the freed squares can be occupied by their white counterparts (the c4 square is the ideal outpost for a white knight!) and this can backfire ! We look at 17. Ncd1 Rac8, with the idea c5-c4. Now, 18 .b3 helps Black open the game on the queen's flank with 18 . . . c4 19. Rc1? (19.Rbl helps Black to

create a strong defended passer after 19. . . c3) 19 . . . cxb3+.

b41 2 1 ) The game Meulders Douven , Netherlands 1991 con tinued 15 . . . Nfd7 1 6 . Nf2 Nc4 (or 16 . . b4 1 7. Ncdl Nb 6 1B. Bh6±) 17. Bxc4 bxc4 1 8 . f4 Rb8 1 9 . e 5 , and at this stage of the game nothing was clear at all. b4122) Instead, a good idea for Black is to complete his development with 15 . . . Bd7 16 . Nf2

Instead, 18.h3 prepares the cen tral advance with f3 -f4 and Black needs to hurry with his counterplay: 18 ... c4 (It is also interesting to acti

vate the bishop in a slightly unusual way with 1B . . . Bb5!?+

.

19.axb5 Qxal 20. bxa6 Qa4 oo.) 19.f4 Now Black completes the plan to free the c4 square for his knight with 19 . . . c3 ! t.


157

b42) 1 2 . Nc1 seems like the safest way to allow the bishop to enter the game. At least, the knight cannot be bothered on the c1 square. Indeed, neither can it bother anyone.

b422) The other plan is 13 . . . Nh5, when Black prepares f7-f5 . b4221) Now an important tip! If White tries to prevent the f7-f5 advance with the violent 14 .g4?

After 12 . . . Ne5 13.Be2 we look at two good plans: b42 1) I like the plan to play on the queenside with 13 . . . Bd7 14 .0-0 Rb8 15.a5:

Black has the cruel 14 . . . Qh4+ 15.Bf2 Qf6 ! 16.gxh5 Nxf3 + 17. Bxf3 Qxf3 18.Rg1 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Rxe4+-+. b4222) After 14 .0-0 f5 15.f4 Nd7 Black is not afraid of the doubled h-pawns. The payback is good: the bishop pair, the g6 square for the queen, and the half-opened g-file. (15. . . Ng4 16. Bxg4 fxg4 oo) 16. Bxh5 gxh5 17.e5 (One more trick worth re

membering is 1 7. exf5?? Rxe3 18. Qxe3 Bd4-+.) 17 . . . dxe5 18.Nd3 b6 19.fxe5 Nxe5 2 0 . Nxe5 Bxe5 2 1 . Bg5 Qd6t!. White certainly has compensation for the pawn, but no more than that in Mihajlovic-Kovacevic, Nis 1996.

15 ... b5!? these pawn sacrifices are very common in the Benoni structure. In return for the pawn, Black will generate pressure along the b-file. 16. axb6 Rxb6 17.Rxa6 Rxa6 18.Bxa6 Qa5 19. Be2 Rb8�.

158


b43) Finally, the most natural development of the knight 1 2 . Ng3:

the trade of the dark-squared bishop is not always in White's favor: 21.Bh6?! Bxh6 22 .Qxh6: b43 11) Now Black missed a golden opportunity to capitalize on the posi tion of White's queen with 2 2 . . . Ng5 !

allows the corner pawn to worry it with 12 . . . h5 1 3 . Be2 h4 14 . Nfl N h7 !

2 3 . Kh l (23. Qxh4 ?? Ngxf3+) 23 . . . Ra7 ! 24.Qxh4 Nxe4! 2 5 .Qel (25. Qxd8 Ng3+ 26. Kgl RxdB+J 25 . . . Nxc3+. b4312) He choose instead 22 . . . Qf6 2 3 .Qd2 f4 =, with an impressive dark square blockade in Obodchuk Domogaev, Belgorod 2 0 1 1 . b432) Another way t o finish de velopment is 15.Bf2 , when Black is doing great with 15 . . . Ne5 16.Ne3 .

With the pawn o n h4 , the h7 square is better for the knight. For example, if 14 . . . Nh5 instead, then 15.g4 ! . From the diagram, four tries are 15.Bh6 , 1 5 . Bf2 , 15 .g4 , and 15 .Qc2 : b431) White has tried 15.Bh6 Bd4 16.Ne3 b6 (It is also interesting to give

some consideration to the bishop on h6: 16: ..g5!? 17.Nf5 Ne5 I!J.l8.Nxd4? cxd4 19. Qxd4 Qf6, giving it a deserved rest outside the board.) 17.Nc2 Be5 18.Be3 Bg7 19.0-0 Ne5 20.h3 £5�. Note that


159

And now: b4321) 16 . . . h3 !N

17.f4 (Unfor tunately for White, 17.g3 Ng5 hits painfully at the f3 pawn.) 17. . . hxg2 18.Rg1 Nd7 19.Bf3 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Ndf6 21 .Qc2 Bh3+ Rybka. b4322) Also, the previously em ployed 16 . . . Qg5 17.0-0 f5 18.Kh 1 f4 19.Nc4 Nxc4 20. Bxc4 Be5 2 1 .Qe1

Thus, after 15 . . . g5 ! 16 . Rb1 (16.Bf2

Nh{B

2 1 . . .Qh6 !? with an attack on the dark squares seems excellent for the second player. 2 2 . Bxh4 g5 2 3 . Bf2 Nf6 (23 ...g4 24.fxg4 Bxg4 25. Qcl (25.Be2?? f3 ! ) 25... Ng5t) 24.g3?! Kf7 25 .h4 Rh8 26.Rg1 Nh5 27.g4 Ng3+-+ 0-1, Novikov-Loginov, Volgodonsk 1983 . b433) On the other hand, 15.g4 allows Black to block the king's flank, and, as we know, he is better on the other side of the board:

17.Ne3

Ng6

18.Nf5

Be5+)

16 . . . Ne5 Black had pleasant one sided play: 17.Qc1: b4331) 17 ... b5!? 18. axb5 axb5 19.Nxb5 Ba6 20.Nc3 Bxe2 2 1 . Kxe2 Qf6 2 2 . Nd2 Nf8+. b4332) 17 . . . Bd7 18.Nd2 Rb8 19.0-0 b5 20.axb5 axb5 2 1 .b4 c4 2 2 . Ra 1 Ng6 2 3 . Ndb1 Be5 24.Rf2 Nf4+, Blanco Fernandez-Martin del Campo, Cienfuegos 1997. b434) Finally 15.Qc2 , which frees the d2 square for the knight,

did not yield White anything i n the following model game: 15 . . . h3 (other

tries are 15 . . . Qe7! ? and 15 . . . Ne5! ?) 160


16 .g3 f5 ! 17. Nd2 (Or 1 7. exf5 gxf5

The usual move order is 8 ... exd5

18. Qxf5 Ne5�

9.cxd5 h5

and just look at the juicy white pieces on the e-file!) 17 . . . Bd4! 18. Bxd4 cxd4

This can be an almost automatic reaction for you once you see a knight appear on g3 ! For 10.Bg5, see page 164. Now 10.Be2 can transpose to positions mentioned in the analysis after 5 .f3 : 10 . . . Nh7 1 l . Be3 a6 1 2 . a4 .

19.Nd1 Ne5 20.0-0 fxe4 2 l . Nxe4

(not 21. Qxe4 ? d3- + or 21.fxe4 d3! 22.Bxd3 Qb6+) 2 l . . . Bf5 2 2 . Ndf2 Ng5 and Black was already better. 23 .R a3 (23. Qb3 Bxe4 24.fxe4 R{B+) 23 . . d3! 24.Nxd3 Nexf3+ 2 5 . Bxf3 Nxf3+ 26. Rxf3 Rxe4+ (Becerra .

Rivero), Cooke-Becerra Rivero, Boca Raton 2006.

5

...

0- 0 6.(3 c5 7. d5 e 6 8.Ng3 a6

Nakamura avoids the trade in the center for the time bein:g, but sooner or later he will have to do it, and this will transpose to the line below.

Black's counter-chances are connect ed with the h5 -h4 advance, which will cause unavoidable discomfort in the opponent's camp. We look at 12 . . . Nd7 first here, and on page 163 we examine the immediate 1 2 . . . h4!?.


161

a) The pawn advance can be done after 12 . . . Nd7 13.0-0, once the king's rook occupies fl : 13 . . . h4 14. Nh1 This knight will go to f2. 14 . . . f5� :

a121) The specialist of the line, super- GM Dreev, allowed the f5-f4 advance against Radjabov but faced troubles after 17. Nf2 f4 18.Ng4 Qg5 19. Bf2 Ne5 20.Ne4 Qe7 2 l . Nxe5 Bxe5 2 2 . Rae 1 Bf5 2 3 . Bd3 b5 24.Re2 h3 ! Dreev-Radjabov, Warsaw 2005. a122) Instead, 17.f4 Qg6 allowed Black to comfortably place his pieces. At the same time I find it hard to foresee White's active ideas. 18.Nf2 Ndf6 19.h3 Bd7 20.Rab1 Rac8: a1221) Now Iljushin- Can, Mos cow 2012, continued 2 l .a5 Kh8 2 2 . Bf3 Rg8 23 .Qc2?! Nh5 24. Rfe1 Bh6 2 5 . Ne2 Rce8 2 6 . Bd2 N7f6 27.Nd3 Bb5 28 .b3

Here are a couple o f examples: al) After 15 .Qd2 , a good move is 15 ... Qf6 with the idea f5-f4 . (Also pos

sible is 15 ... h3 16.g3 fxe4 17.fxe4 Nhf6 18.Nf2 Ne5� Mikhalevski.) And now:

all) Probably White should now settle for the solid 16.f4 fxe4 17.Nf2 Qe7 18 .Ncxe4 Ndf6 19.Nxf6+ Qxf6oo Dreev-Karpov, Reykjavik rapid, 2004. a12) But White can first trade on f5 . The current practice of the line is satisfactory for Black: 16.exf5 gxf5�: 2 8 . . . Re4!-+. After 29. Bxe4 fxe4 , mate on g2 is coming. a1222) So, perhaps White needed to proceed with his idea: 2l .b4 cxb4 2 2 . Rxb4 Ng4 2 3 . Bd4 Bxd4 24. Rxd4 Nxf2 2 5 . Rxf2 Rc7=.

162


a2) Our next example is 1 5 .exf5 gxf5 16 . Nf2 f4 17. Bd2 Ne5 18.Khl, when the course of the following game definitely deserves close exam ination:

18 ... Nf6 !? 19.Bxf4 Nh5 20. Bd2 Ng3+! 21 .hxg3 hxg3 2 2 . Nh3 Qh4 2 3 . Bg5 D Qh7 24.Qel Bxh3 2 5 . Qxg3 Bf5+ 26.Qh2 Qg6 (or 26 ... Nd3!? 2 7. Qxh7+ Kxh7 28.Bxd3 Bxd3�) 27.f4 Ng4 28. Bxg4 Bxg4 .

for the position itself: 2 9 . Rael Rf7 3 0 .Qg3?! Bd4! 3 1 . Bh4 Rh7 3 2 .Qh2 Re8 ! - + 3 3 . Rxe8+ Qxe8 3 4 . g3 Qe3 3 5 .Qg2 Bf6 3 6 .Qe4 Rxh4+ 37. gxh4 Qh3+ 3 8 . Kgl Bd4+ 3 9 . Rf2 Qg3+ 4 0 . Kh l Bxf2 ? It is only this fortieth move which spoiled the well-deserved win by Cheparinov. (The cool 40 . . . Kf8!- + would have crowned his bra ve play.) 4 1 .Qe8+ Kg7 4 2 . Qe7+ Kg6 43 .Qxd6+ Kh5 44.Qe5+ Kxh4 4 5 . Qe7+ Kh3 4 6 . Qh7+ Qh4 47.Qd3+ Qg3 4 8 . Qh7+ draw, Korchnoi- Cheparinov, Porto Carras 2 0 1 1 . b ) Or, play the pawn advance 12 . . . h4!? immediately, as I actually believe that Wh ite's knight is best placed on f2! Black did well after 1 3 . Nfl Nd7:

We look at two possibilities here: bl) 14 . Nd2 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.f4 Ndf6 with the threat Nf6 -g4 . 17.h3 Qe7 18.Kf2 ReB 19.Nc4 Rb8 20.a5:

Black has decent play on the king's flank. The fact that the experienced defender Victor the Terrible Korchnoi failed quickly under a dreadful attack speaks


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b22) But a safer option is the novelty 23 . . . Qg5 ! N

Seemingly, White has stopped the fire on the queen's flank, but no one has ever managed to perform such a feat with his king in the center! Indeed, 20 ... b5! is still possible, as 2 l . axb6 in Korchnoi-Xie Jun, Roquebrune , 1998, can be answered 2 l . . . Rxb6 ! and the rook is untouchable: 2 2 . Nxb6? Qxe3+ 23.Kfl Qxf4+ 24. Bf3 Ne4-+ with a winning attack. b2) After 14 .Bf2!? f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.f4 ReS 17.Ne3 Bd4 18.Nxf5!? Dreev's sharp idea, Black has an im provement: 18 . . . Bxf2+ 19.Kxf2 Rf8 20.g4 hxg3+ 2l.hxg3 Rxf5 2 2 . Rxh7 Kxh7 23 .Bd3: b21) The position is very complex, and there is nothing wrong with the move chosen by Gallagher: 23 . . . Nf6 24.g4oo, Dreev- Gallagher, Catalan Bay 2004.

24.Qf3 Kg7 2 5 .fxg5 Rxf3+ 26.Kxf3 Ne5+ 27.Ke3 Nxd3 2 8 . Kxd3 Bf5+=. The move order which Anand chose is designed to develop the bish op to a more active position: 10.Bg5. Compared to the game Anand Nakamura, Black has not yet commit himself to the move a7-a6. This gives him an additional resource, which I believe is best in the current situation : 10 . . . Qb6 ! hitting the pawn on b2 and diverting the white queen from its usual route.

Black is doing well in this line.

164


a) The main idea is that after ll.Qd2 Nh7: a1) The move 1 2 . Bh6 is no longer possible thanks to the queen on b6! 12 ... Bxh6 13.Qxh6 Qxb2+. a2) Instead, White can try 12 .Be3 Nd7 and now the suspicious idea 13 . 0 - 0 - 0 which seems, as usu al, to be castling into it! (Better is the normal development 13.Nge2 Ne5 14.Nf4 a6 15. Be2 Qa5 16. 0 - 0 b 5 17. Qc2 Bd7=, Gulko- Spraggett,

Hastings 1989.) 13 . . . h4 14 . Nge2 Qa5

15.Kb1 b5 16 . Ncl b4--+, Braun- Galla gher, Olbia 2008. a3) Or, White can try the slightly more active (and risky!) 1 2 . Bh4 which leaves the bishop exposed. 12 . . . Nd7 13 . Be2:

a31) In fact, Black could have now won this bishop for a knight with 13 . . . g5 14. Bxg5 Nxg5: a3 1 1 ) because after 15.Qxg5 Black recovers the pawn with 15 . . . Qxb2 16.Rc1 (not 16.Nxh5 Qxa1+ 1 7.Kf2 Qxc3- +) 16 . . . Nf6oo. a312) although Sandipan was not afraid to sacrifice a piece with 15.Nxh5 ! ? Nh7 16 . Nxg7 Kxg7 17.g4� Sandipan-Caspi, Zurich 2009. a32) But 13 ... Re8 looks safer, and was the recent choice of Leon Hoyos, who obtained sufficient counter play after 14 . 0 - 0 Bf6 1 5 . Bxf6 Nhxf6 16 .Nh1 a6 17. Nf2 Rb8 18.f4 c4 19.Kh1 Qc5 2 0 . Rad1 b5, Sandipan Leon Hoyos, Tromsoe 2010. b) Dreev chose 1 1 .Qb3 , but then the queen simply retreated 1 1 . . .Qc7, happy that her counterpart is far away from the c1-h6 diagonal.


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Black was good in these games: 12.Be2 a6 and now: b1) 13.a4 Nh7 14 .Be3 Qe7 1 5 . 0 - 0 Nd7 (Watch out for this typical

White has the strong intermezzo 13.a5! Qc7 14 . Bh6;!;, Gupta-Vorobiov, Kavala 2010.

"white" trick: 15 . . . {5? 16.Bxc5 dxc5 17.d6+ Qf7 18.Bc4+-.) 16.f4 Bd4!

Instead, Nakamura proceeds with the usual play on the queen's flank, but I have the feeling that this is not sufficient for equality, with the stable white center.

17. Bf2 h4 18.Nh 1 g5 ! 19.Qd1 Qf6 20.fxg5 lh-lh, Dreev-Topalov, Elista 1998 . b2) 13.0-0 Nh7 14 .Be3 h4 15 .Nh1 f5 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.Bf2 g5� , Dreev-Bologan, Shanghai 2001.

12. Qd2 Nbd7 13. Be2 RbB

14. 0- 0 c4

9. a4 h5 10. Bg5 exd5 ll. cxd5 We have reached a position similar to the analysis from above. However, the inclusion of the moves a7-a6 and a2-a4 is a difference that favors White.

ll

•..

Qc7

Black can no longer make use of the plan 1 1 . . .Qb6 12 .Qd2 , as after 12 . . . Nh7:

15. Be3!? Or 15. Rab1 b5 16. axb5 axb5 17.b4 cxb3 18.Rxb3 b4 19.Na2±, Grover Ootes, Wijk aan Zee 2 0 1 2 .

15 ... h4 16.Nhl h3!? Nakamura wants to weaken the light squares in front of the enemy king.

166


This is better than 16 . . . Nc5 17.Bxc4 Ncxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.fxe4 Qxc4 20.Nf2;!;.

21.a5 Qd8

1 7.Nf2!

22. Ne2

Cool reaction by the world cham pion! Black's idea appears in the line 17.g3 Nc5 1 8 . Bxc4 Ncxe4 19.Nxe4 Nxe4 20.fxe4 Qxc41'.

In the line 2 2 . Na4 Nh5 2 3 . Racl Anand was afraid of 23 . . . Qh4 !? 24. Rxc4 g5, but cool analysis shows that after 2 5 . Bxh5 Qxh5 26.Ba7 Ra8 27. Bd4 White is simply better.

1 7. . . hxg2 18. Kxg2 ;!;

22 . . . Nh 7 28. Ng8 ?!

Once Black goes passive, it spells trouble.

At the Tal Memorial, Anand was mainly concerned in signing the contract for the wee match against Gelfand, and finished the event with nine draws. Instead, he could have been more aggressive :with 2 3 . Rfcl!?;l; or 23.Rgl !?;l; .

2 8. . . b 6 24. axb 6 Nxb 6 25. Bd4 Bxd4 2 6. Qxd4 Qf6+t.

Although the engine considers

this position as equal, I would not recommend it to the second player. The knight on f2 is well placed, and the first player can create a powerful step-by-step attack on the king's flank with f3 -f4 and e4-e5 in the future. The g-file also helps him in this plan.

18 ... Nh5!? Nakamura correctly provokes the advance of the f-pawn at the moment at which White is not yet ready to support his central pawns.

19.{4 Nhf6 20. Bf8 Or 20.a5!?;!;.

20. . . Re8

However here, Black needed to prepare the f7-f5 advance as fast as possible: 20 . . . Nc5 !? 2 1 .Qe2 Nb3 22.Rad l NeB 23 .e5 Bf5oo.

There is no mate without the queens . Black is OK now!

2 7. Ne2 Qxd4 28.Nxd4 Bb7 29. Ra8 Nf6 8 0. Nc 6 Rbc8 81.Na5 B e c ause the line 3 1 . Nb 4 offers Black good tactical chances with 3 1 . . . Nfd7 (or 31 . . . Rc5 32. Nxa6 Bxa 6 33. Rxa6 Rb5) 3 2 . Nxa6 c 3 ! 3 3 .bxc3 Nc4 , Anand decides to force a draw.

81 . . . Ba8 82. Nc 6 Ba8 %-%

Bb7

88.Na5


167

The Neo- Siimisch: 6. Bg5 6 Nikolov - Spasov

Bulgarian Championship, Plovdiv 2008 I . d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 8.Nc8 Bg 7 4. e4 d6 5.f8 0 - 0 6. Bg5

7. Qd2

The Samisch can be interpreted in a more active way, with a bishop on g5 . This piece provokes the future advance of the black h-pawn (which will win a tempo for White after the future Qd1-d2) and in case Black uses the Benoni set-up, White will have the bishop where he likes it most. The good news for Black is that we can choose an active Benko-style set up instead, when the bishop is not effective on g5 .

6. . . a6

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This is what White usually does in this position. The general drawback of the move 7. Nge2 is that it shuts the diagonal for the light-squared bishop and the b7-b5 advance becomes more effective. 7 . . . c5 8 .d5 b5 9.cxb5 Qa5!? is a common idea, which you will see in the main lines below. Black makes a useful move with the queen and waits for his opponent to capture on a6 - thus developing his bishop for free. 10 . Ng3 axb5 (or 10. . . Nbd7!?) l l . Bxb5 Ba6 1 2 . Bxa6 Nxa6 13.0-0 Rfb8 14 . Rb1 Rb7, and Black has enough compensation for the pawn, Y2-Y2, Dreev-Azmaiparashvili, Reggio Emilia 1996.

7. . . Nbd7 Please note that the move order

7... c5 8.d5 Nbd7 allows the move 9.a4!?

I faced this once, and even though the final outcome was positive, I feel reluctant to repeat the line. T h e game saw 9 Qa5 10.Ra3 ReS. Once again, the knight does not belong on e2 : l l.Nge2?! Ne5 1 2 . Nc1 e6 13.f4 Neg4 14.h3 h6 1 5 . Bh4 exd5 16.hxg4 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Rxe4+ 1 8 . Ne2 Qxd2+ 19.Kxd2 dxc4+. Therefore: l l .Nh3 Ne5 1 2 . Nf2 : •••

16 . . . Nxd5 17.exd5 e6 1 8 . Bd2 exd5+00• If you are one of those who dare, here is something for you to dig into! b) Instead, 12 . . . e6 was my move in the game: b1) Premature is 13.f4 Neg4 14 . Nxg4 Nxg4 15 .h3 Nf6 16 .dxe6 Bxe6 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Nd5 Qd8 19.Nxf6+ Qxf6+. b2) 13. Be2 Qb4 (or 13 . . . exd5 14.cxd5 c4 15. 0- 0 ±) and now: b2 1) Now White played 14 .Qc2?! b2 1 1) which allowed the tactical chance 14 . . . Nxc4! and which I had miscalculated and missed! 1 5 . Rb3 Qa5 16. Bxc4 (or 16.Bxf6 Ne3 1 7. Qcl

Bh6 lB. Qbl exd5 19.exd5 c4 20.Ra3 Nxd5 2l.Bd4 Nf4 22. Kfl Nxe2 23. Nxe2 Rxe2+) 16 . . . exd5 17. Be2 d4+.

a) Here Black can sacrifice two pieces after 12 . . . Qb4!? 13 .Qd1 Nxc4

b2 12) I played 14 . . . exd5?! 15.cxd5 c4 16 .0-0 Qc5 (or 16. . . Rb8 17.a5 b5 18. Be3) 17.Qd2± with advantage for White in Kozhuharov-Bojkov, Bulgaria Teams 2 0 1 1 . b22) Instead, White could have achieved an edge with the subtle 14 .Qd1!

(Certainly not 13 . . . Qxb2 ? ? 14. Rb3+-) 14 .Rb3 Nxb2 15 .Qc2 Qa5 16.Qxb2


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15 . Qxg7+ Kxg7=, Genov-B ogner, Sunny Beach 2 0 0 9 . Instead, 9.d5 b5 10.cxb5 Qa5! 1 l . Nc1 axb5 1 2 . Nxb5 Nb6+t 13.Qxa5 Rxa5 14 . Nb3 Ra8 15.Nc3 Ba6 16.Rcl h6 17.Bd2 Nfd7 18.Rc2 Rfb8 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20.Ke2 f5 ! + was an excellent Benko in the game Tosic-Arsovic, Subotica 2008.

8 . c5 9. d5 . .

14 . . . Nxc4 15.Rb3 Nxb2 16.Qc2 Qa5 17.Qxb2 exd5 18.0-0 dxe4 19.fxe4 Nxe4 20. Nfxe4 Rxe4 2 l . Bf6 Bxf6 22. Rxf6 Rd4;t.

B.Nh8 White uses the opportunity to bring the knight into play via a square which does not obstruct the bishop. Again, the knight is not well placed on e2: 8.Nge2 c5,

9

. . •

b5

The Benko style ideas are quite effective against White's set-up, since he loses too much time with f2f3 and the maneuver Nh3 -f2 (d 1).

1 0. Nf2 The text position is usually achieved after a different move order: 10.cxb5 Qa5 . However, White might try something else, like 1 l . a4

(11.Nf2

although the move 9.Bh6 adds some independent flavor : 9 . . . Bxh6 10. Qxh6 b5! Anyway! l l .h4 (or

ll.cxb5 axb5 12. Nxb5 Ba6 13.Nec3 cxd4 14.Nxd4 Qb61') 1 1 . . .b4 1 2 . Nd5 e6

1 3 . Nxf6+

Qxf6

14 .h5

Qg7

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transposes

to

the game.)

1 1 . . . Ne5 1 2 . Nf2 which, however, would not change the character of the game. Black has the traditional compensation after 12 . . . axb5 13. Bxb5 Ba6 14 .0-0 Rfb8 1 5 . Rfb1 NeB !

A typical idea. The knight opens the

road for the bishop and eventually for the f-pawn and aims for the c7 square. The pawn on e7 is usually poisoned! 16 . Bxe7? Here is a case when this pawn is not yummy at all. 16 . . . Bxb5 17.axb5 Qxa1 18.Rxal Rxal+ 19. Nfd1 (If 19.Ncdl then 19. . . Rxb5.) 19 . . . Nc4 20.Qe2 (or 20. Qel Nxb2) 20 . . . Bd4+ 2l.Kfl Ne3+ 2 2 . Kf2 Nxd1+-+. Black gets counterplay after 16.Qe2 Bxb5 17. Nxb5 Qd8 18.Bd2 Nc7 19.Nxc7 Qxc7?, Maciol-Hebden, Leicester 2010.

12.Nfdl 12.a4 can be met with 12 . . . axb5

13. Bxb5 Ba6 14 .0-0 Bxb5 15. axb5 Qxa1 16 . Rxa1 Rxa l+ 17. Nfd1 Rfa8�. Zhao-Ly, Gold Coast 2010. In case of 12 .bxa6 Bxa6 1 3 . Bxa6 Black will reply with 13 . . . Qxa6 ! 14 .Qe2 Rfb8.

10 . . Qa5 .

Before trading on b5 Black waits for the bishop on f1 to move, thus winning a tempo. There are plenty of useful things that Black can do, contrary to his opponent.

ll.cxb5 The pawn should be captured sooner or later, or else Black will come for the one on c4: l l .Be2 Nb6 12.0-0 (12. b3? h6 13.Bh4 g5 14.Bg3 b4 15.Ncdl Nxe4- +) 1 2 . . . Nxc4 13.Bxc4 bxc4+, Ionescu-Atalik, Romania 1996.

ll ... Nb 6 The same policy again .

C

ontrary to popular belief, Black's compens ation in the B enko becomes more obvious with the disappearance of the queen s ! T h e reason for t h i s is the fact that Black seeks counterplay on the queen's flank, and without the ladie s , there is no one to worry him on the king's side .


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Ideally, Black is seeking a pure rook endgame, where he is usually better despite the pawn down! 15.Qxa6 Rxa6 16.Nfdl Nc4 17.b3 Na3 18.Rcl Nd7 19.Ke2 Nb5! 20.Kd2 (20.Bxe7?!

Nxc3+ 21.Nxc3 Bxc3 22.Rxc3 {6 traps the bishop - another typical idea!) 20 ... Nxc3 21.Nxc3 Bxc3+ 22.Kxc3 f6 23.Bd2 Rxa2+, Jakubowski-Mista, Zakopane 2001. Nikolov is no stranger to the position. Our game from the final in Svilengrad continued 12.Be2 , which is the main line in White's opening arsenal 12 . . . axb5 13 . Nxb5 , t o which Black needs t o proceed with the development 13 . . . Bd7 (13 . . . Na4

al) But here I failed to conclude the game in style with 27 . . . Qd8! !-+ 28.g3 Bxe3+ 29.Kxe3 Qd4+ 30. Kxf4

is worse: 14. b3 Nxd5 15. bxa4 Bxal 16.exd5±) 14 .Nc3 Rfb8, with a

further branch: a) Nikolov chose against me the solid 15.Nfd l to which I replied:

15 ... e6! Reminding White that his king is still in the center! 16.dxe6 Bxe6 And he took the pawn here as well! 17.Qxd6?! Na4t Black had a tremendous initiative after: 18.0-0 Nxb2 (18... Ne8!?) 19.Rcl · Rd8 20.Qf4 Nh5 21.Qh4 Rdb8 22 .Qel Nxdl 23.Bxdl Rb2 24. Be3 Bd4 2 5 . Rf2 Rxf2 26.Kxf2 Nf4 27.Qfl .

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30 . . . g5+ 3 1 . Kxg5 Qe5+ 3 2 . Kh4 Qf6+ 3 3 . Kh5 Qg6+ 34. Kh4 Qh6 mate. a2) Instead, the game continued 27 . . . Bxc3?@ 2 8 . Bxf4 Bd2 29. Bxd2 Qxd2+ 30.Be2 Rxa2? (30. . . Qd4+ 31. Kg3 Rxa2-+) 3 1 . Qd l+ and for White, the worst was behind him in Nikolov-Bojkov, Svilengrad 2006.

b) Probably better is 15.0-0:

But Black has two good choices in 15 . . . Na4!? and 15 ... Ne8: bl) 15 ... Na4!? 16 . Nxa4 Qxd2 17. Bxd2 Rxa4 . Here are some lines of my home analysis which demon strate the compensation that Black has: 18.Bc3 (After 18. b3 Ra3 19.Bcl ?!

b12) 20. Rfbl c4 2 1 . Rcl Rxb2 2 2 . Bxc4 Nf4 23 .g3 : b 1 2 1 ) 23 . . . N h 3 + 24.Nxh3 Bxh3 2 5 . Bb3 Rd4 2 6 . Rd l : b 1 2 1 1 ) 26 . . . Rg2+ 27.Khl Rxdl+ 2 8 . Rxd l Rf2 29.f4 (29.Ral Rx{3+J 29 . . . Re2 3 0 . Kgl Rxe4 3 1 . Kf2 Rb4 3 2 . Rcl Kf6 = . b 1 2 1 2 ) Rather than 2 6 . . . Rxdl+ 27.Rxd l g5 2 8 . Bc4 Rg2+ 29.Khl Rf2 30.Ral Rxf3 3 1 . a4 Rc3 3 2 . Bb5 Rc2 3 3 . a5 Bg2+ 34.Kgl Bxe4 3 5 . Bc6 Rg2+ 3 6 . Kfl Rxh2 37.Ra3 Rd2±. b122) Also good is 23 . . . Ne2+ 24. Bxe2 Rxe2 : b1221) 2 5 . Rc7? Bb5 2 6 . Kg2

(26.Rxe7? Raxa2 27.Rxa2

Ra7 20.Bb2 watch for good tricks like this one: 20. . . Nxd5! 21. Bxg7 Nf4 +.) 18 . . . Nh5 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 and now:

27. . . Rel+ 28. Kg2 Bfl+ 29.Kgl Bh3 mate.) 26 . . . Rb4+. b1222) 2 5 . a3 Bb5 2 6 . Rabl Ba6 27.Rb3 Ra2+. b2) Even better for Black is 15 . . . Ne8:

bll) 20 .b3 Ra3 2 1 . Rfbl Nf4 22 .Bc4 g5 23 .g3 Ng6 24.Nd3 Rba8 25.Rb2 h5 2 6 .b4 Rc3 27.Rcl Raa3 28.Rb3 Raxb3 29. axb3 cxb4 30.Ral Bh3 3 1 . Rcl Kf6+.


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b222) 19 . . . Bxe6 2 l . Be3 Rb7 b2221) 22.Qxd6

2 0 . Bxe6 Rd8

Nxe6 23 .Qg3

(23. Qc6? Nxc3 24.Nxc3 Rb6 25. Qa4 Bxc3-+) 23 . . . Nxb2 !

And now we consider three alter natives for White, 16. Bxe7, 16. Rabl, and 16 .Rfbl : b2 1) Here, as usual, the greedy 16. Bxe7 is punished, this time after 16 . . . Na4! 17.Qe3 (17.Nfdl Rxb2+) 17 . . . Rxb2 18.Nxa4 Qxa4+. b22) 16. Rabl is better, but Black has the initiative after 16 . . . Na4 17. Nfd l e6 18. Bc4 Nc7 19.dxe6 :

24.Nxb2

(24.Rxb2 Rxb2 25.Nxb2 Qxc3 26.Bcl Bd4+ 2ZKhl Qc2-+)

24 . . . Qxc3 2 5 . Ndl RxdH. b2222) 2 2 . f4 Nxc3 2 3 . Nxc3 Rab8 24 .b4 cxb4 2 5 . Nd5 Nc5 2 6 .Qc2 Qa4 2 7.Qc4 b3 2 8 .Qxa4 Nxa4 29. axb3 Rxb3=. I hope that the analysis will be of some help to understand the nature of the position. b23) Finally, the move 16.Rfbl has already been seen in GM practice: 16 . . . Na4 17. Nfd l (Better than 1 7.Nxa4

Qxd2 18.Bxd2 Bxa4 19.Bc3 Bc2 20.Rfl Bxc3 21. bxc3 Rb2+, Dreev Beliavsky, Linares 1995.)

b221)

19 . . . Bd4+ 20.Kh l (20.Be3 20 . . . Bxe6 2 l . Bd3 Nxb2 22.Rxb2 Rxb2 23 .Qxb2 c4 24. Be3 Bxe3 25.Nxe3 cxd3? 26.Rd l d5 27.exd5 Nxd5 28.Nexd5 Bxd5 29. Rxd3 Bxa2=.

Bxe6?)

·

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Now an idea that is always good

to know is 17 . . . Rxb2 !

12 . . . axb5

13.Nxb5

And Black explodes the dark squares, although the position re mains approximately equal. 18.Rxb2 Nxc3 and now : b231) 19. Bc4 Na4 (19 . . . Bd4+!?

· The other capture leads to the Benko endgame, which is excellent for Black: 13.Bxb5 Ba6 14.Bxa6

Qxa6 15.Qe2

20.Be3 Nxdl 21.Bxd4 Nxb2 22. Qxa5 Rxa5 23.Bxb2 Nc7=) 20.Qxa5 Rxa5 2l.Rbbl Ra8 2 2 . Kf2 Bxa l 2 3 . Rxal

f6 24.Be3 f5=.

b232) 19.Nxc3 The problem with this position for me at least, during the game, was that I could not find a way to gain the advantage. Equal positions I had everywhere, but not an advantage. b2321) For example, 19 . . . Bxc3 20.Qcl f6 (20... Bxb2 21. Qxb2 {6) 2l .Bd2 Bxb2 22.Qxb2 Qa4=. b2322) I chose 19 ... Bd4+ 20.Kfl Bxc3 21 .Qcl f6 2 2 . Bd2 Bxb2 23.Qxb2 Qa3 24.Qxa3 Rxa3 2 5 . Kel f5 2 6 . Bcl Ra7 27.Bd3 Nf6 2 8 . Bb2 fxe4!? (28 ... Kf7 29.a3 e6 draw, Benitah Bojkov, Vancouver 2006) 29.fxe4 Ra4 30. Bc2 Rc4 3 1 .Bd3 Rb4 3 2 . Bc3 Ra4 33.Bc2 Rc4 34. Bxf6 exf6 3 5 . Kd2 Ba4=.

Here we look at two possibilities: First, 15 Rfb8 16.Qxa6 Rxa6 17.b3 c4 1 8 . Rbl cxb3 19. axb3 h6 20.Be3 Nfd7 2 1 . 0 - 0 Ne5 2 2 . Rf2 (22.Nf2 Nxf3+) 22 . . . Nbd7 2 3 . Ra2 Rxa2 24.Nxa2 Nc4 =. •••


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And 15

•••

Qxe2+ 16.Kxe2 Rfb8:

a) Now 17.b3 c4 18.Rb1 (18. b4 Na4 l'l 19.a3 Nxe4+) 18 ... h6 with two

possibilities: a1) 19.Be3 Nfd7 20.bxc4 Nxc4 2l.Rxb8+ Rxb8+t. a2) 19.Bh4 Nbd7 20.b4 Ra3 2 l .b5 g5 22 .Be1 Nh5 23 .g3 Bd4 24.Rc1 Ne5 25.Rc2 Nd3 26.Bd2 Nb4 27.Rb2 Nd3 28.Rc2= e6!?. b) Not as good is 17.Rb1 Nc4 18 .b3 Na3 19.Rc1 c4 20.bxc4 Nxc4 2 l . Re1 h6 22.Bh4 Nh5+.

17.b3 c4 18.Rb1 ReS 19.Be3 cxb3 20. axb3 (Probably, White needed

to force a draw with 20.Bxb6 bxa2 21. Bxa5 Bxc3+ 22.Nxc3 axblQ+ 23.Nxbl Rcl+ 24. Kd2 Rxbl=.) 20 . . . Bxc3+ 2 l . Nxc3 Rxc3 2 2 . Bxb6 Ra2 23 .b4 Nc7 24. Bxc7?? Re3+ 0-1, Clemens-Kovalev, Zwolle 1996. The other knight can also appear on c3: 14.Ndc3N

13 . . Bd7 14. Nbc3 .

The most solid, but a somewhat artificial reply. As usual, the queen exchange works well for Black: 14.Qxa5 Rxa5 15.Nbc3 Rb8 16 .Bd2 Ne8 ! t

Here is an original analysis of this option: 14 . . . Na4 (14 ... Rfb8!?) 15.Nxa4 Qxa4 16.Nc3 Qb4 17.Be2 Rfb8 18.Rb1 NeB 19.0-0 Bd4+ 20.Kh 1 (20.Be3 Rxa2!+ 21.Bxd4 cxd4) 20 ... Bxc3 21.Qxc30 (21.bxc3 Qxb1 22.Rxbl Rxbl+ 23.Bdl Rxa2-+) 2l...Rxa2 22.Bc4

1 76


(22.Qxb4 Rxb4 23.Bxe7 f6 24.e5 fxe5+) 22 ... Rxb2 23 .Qxb2 Qxb2 24.Rxb2 Rxb2 25.Bxe7 f6 26.Bd8 Bb5 (26... Rc2

2ZBd3 Rc3 28.Ba6 Ra3 29.Bc4 BcB) 27.Bxb5 Rxb5 28.Ral Rb8 29.Ba5 f5+.

14 . . . e 6 15. dxe6 Bxe6

a) 1 9 . Qxa5 Rxa5 2 0 . a3 saw Black completely in control after 2 0 . . . Rb8 : a l ) 2 1 . Bd2 Ra7 2 2 . Rc l Bd4+. a2) 2 1 . 0 - 0 Bd4+ 2 2 . Kh l Kg7 !? Black plays for a win. (22 ... Bxb2

23.Nxb2 Rxb2 24.Rfel Nc3 25.Bfl Rb3=) 2 3 . Bd2 Ra4

16. Qxd6N A greedy novelty. Safer is 16.Be2, though Black experienced no problems here as well. 16 . . . d5! It looks like the best idea for Black is to immediately try to reach the white king! 17.exd5 (better than

1ZBxf6 Bxf6 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Qxd2+ 20.Kxd2 Bxd5t) 17. . . Nfxd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 and now:

24.Rcl (24.Nc3 ? allows the total dom ination of the black troops instead: 24 . . . Rxb2 25.Nxa4 Rxd2 26.Rael Ne3-+) and now:

a21) 24 . . . h5!? Improving on the king's flank. I have the feeling that it is only Black who can push for a win in this situation, for instance, after 2 5 . Nc3: a211) 25 ... Rxb2 2 6 . Nxa4 Rxd2 27. Rfel Bf2 2 8 . Nxc5 Ne3 29.Nxe6+ fxe6 30. Bfl Bxel 3 l . Rxel Nxfl 3 2 . Rxfl Ra2 =. 2 6 . Bxc3 a212) or 25 ... Nxc3 (26. bxc3 Bf6+ 2 7. Be3 ReB) 26 . . . Bxc3 27.Rxc3 (27. bxc3 Rb2 28.Rfel Rxa3+) 27 . . . Rxb2 2 8 . Bd3 Rb3-+. a22) Instead, equal is 24 ... Bxb2 2 5 . Rxc5 Bxa3 2 6 . Rc4 Bb4 27. Bxb4 Rbxb4 2 8 . Rxb4 Rxb4=. a3) Finally, an over-the-board game saw 2 1 . Rcl Bxb2 2 2 . Nxb2 Rxb2 23 .Ral c4 24.Bd2 c3 2 5 . Bh6 Ne7+,


1 77

Vernay-Nakar, Aix les Bains 2 0 1 1 . But Black had two better options on his 25th move: a31) 25 . . . f6 26. Bc4 Nf4 27. Bxe6+ Nxe6 28.0-0 g5 -+. a32) and 25 ... c2 26.Bd2 Nc3 27. Bxc3 Rxa3 28 .Rc1 Rxc3 29.Kd2 Rc6 30.Bd3 Rd6 3 l . Rhe1 Bf5 3 2 . Kc3 Rb7 33.Bxf5 Rc7+ 34.Kb4 gxf5 -+. b) 19.0-0 has also been played: 19 ... Rfb8 (Instead, Black could

a) 2 l . Bd3 c4 2 2 . Be3 cxd3 2 3 . Bxb6 Ra6+. b) 2 l .e5?! Nh5 . c) 2 l .exd5 exd5 2 2 . Bb5 NeB� with rich compensation for the pawn. A sample line 2 3 . 0 - 0 Nd6 24.Bd3 Nbc4 25 .Bc3 Bxc3 2 6 .bxc3 ReS 27.a4 Nd2 2 8 . Rf2 Re1+ 29.Bfl N6c4-+.

16

•..

Na4

have achieved a slight edge after the move: 19. . . Qxd2 20. Bxd2 Bd4+ 2l.Khl Nb6+.) 20. Bc4 Bd4+ 2 l . Kh 1 Qxd2 2 2 . Bxd2 Bxb2 2 3 . Nxb2 Rxb2 24.Bh6: b1) 24 ... Ne3 2 5 . Bxe3 draw, Socko- Spisak, Krynica 1997. b2) Black missed another chance: 24 . . . Nb4! 25.Rac1 Bxc4 26.Rxc4 Nd3 27.Rc3: b21) 27 ... Rd8 ! ? 2 8 . Kg1 Rb4 29.Rd1 c4 30.Bg5 Rdb8 3 l . Bf6 Rb1 32.Rfl Rxfl+ 3 3 . Kxfl Rb1+ 34.Ke2 Nf4+-+. b22) 27 ... Nf2+ 28.Kg1 Raxa2 29.Rxc5 Nh3+ 30.Kh1 Nf2+=. I have also analyzed the untested computer suggestion 16.Nb5

1 7. Qd2 I remember that when I was ana lyzing the game, the computer's first choice was 17.Bd2 and I did not feel surprised to see this had already been tried in a correspondence game:

17 Rfd8 18.Nxa4 18 Qxa4. •••

•••

16 . . . d5 17.Qxa5 Rxa5 18.Bd2 Raa8 19.Nc7 Ra7 20.Nxe6 fxe6:

1 78


(18. Qf4

Qb6!)

Note that the greedy 19.Qxc5 Rxd2 2 0 . Kxd2 Nxe4+ 2 l .fxe4 Qxe4--+ leads to a decisive attack for Black:

al) 22 .Qb5 Qa7 2 3 . a3 Rab8 24 .Qa5 Qe7 2 5 . g3 Bb3 2 6 . Bg2 Bxd l 27.Rxd l Rxb2 -+. a2) 22 .Be3 Qb4+ 2 3 . Kf2 Bxa2� 24. Bxd4 cxd4+. b) The game saw 19 . . . Rd4 20.b3 Qd7 2 l . Nc3 Nh5 22 .Qe3 Bxb3 23. Be2 (23.g4 QdB!) 23 . . . RdS 24. axb3 Rxd2+ �-� (63), Knudsen-Mikeshin, ICCF email 1999.

17. . . Rfd8 18. Qc2

a) 2 2 . Bd3 Bh6+ 2 3 . Kc3 (23. Kc2 Qxg2+ 24.Nf2 ReB-+) 23 . . . Qf4 24 .Qe3

ReS+ 2 5 . Kd2 Qb4+ 2 6 . Ke2 Bg4+ 27. Kf2 Bxe3+ 2 S . Kxe3 ReS+ 29.Kf2 Qf4 + 30.Kgl Rel+. b) 2 2 . Be2 ReS 2 3 . Nc3 Bxc3+ 24.Qxc3 Rxc3 25 .bxc3 Qxg2+. More resilient is 19.Qf4,

18 . . . c4 Black is two pawns down, but is much better developed. All of his pieces are involved in the pressure he puts on White's position. No wonder he soon starts a very dangerous attack. However, there was a more incisive decision: 18 . . . Nxb2 ! 19.Qxb2

(better than 19.Nxb2 Nxe4 20.fxe4 Qxc3+ 2l. Qxc3 Bxc3+-+) 19 . . . Rxdl+ 20.Rxd l (not 20.Kxdl Nxe4 21.fxe4 Bxc3 22. Qc1 Qa4+ 23.Ke2 Qxe4+-+) 20 . . . Nxe4 2 l . fxe4 Bxc3+ 2 2 . Bd2 Bxb2 2 3 . Bxa5 Rxa5+. although Black's initiative is over whelming here as well: a) 19 ... Nh5 !? 20 .Qe3 Bd4 2 l .Qe2 Nf6:


1 79

19. Bd2

23 . . . Rxdl+ 24. Kxdl Bxc3

19 . . . Rxd2!!

25. Qb8+0

Instead, 19 . . . Nc5 with an initiative is the positional approach, but the combination that Spasov chooses gives him a dangerous attack, and excellent practical chances .

2 5 .Qcl loses on the spot after 25 . . . Bg4+ 2 6 . Kc2 (26. Be2 Qa4 + 27. Qc2 Bxe2+) 26 . . . Bf6 27.Bxc4 Qc3+ 2 8 . Kbl Qxal+ 29.Kc2 Qc3+ 30.Kbl Qb4+ 3 l . Bb3 Qxe4+ 32 .Qc2 Qd4, as .. Bf5 is inevitable.

20. Qxd2 RdB 22. Qxb2 Nxe4/

21. Qc2

Nxb2

.

25 . . . Kg 7 26.Rcl ?l This natural move brings White to the verge of defeat. The computer defense was 2 6 . Bxc4 Bxc4 27.Rcl Bd3 28.Rxc3 Qxc3 2 9.Qb3 Qa l+ 3 0 . Kd2 Qxhl=.

26 . . . Bg4+ 2 7. Kc2

The point. Black opens the diag onal for the "Monster". Gufeld would have been delighted to see this .

23.fxe4 Obviously weaker is 2 3 . Rcl Rxdl+ 24.Kxdl Nxc3+ 2 5 . Rxc3 Bxc3 26.Qcl Qe5 -+.

180


After 27. Be2 Qa4+ 2 8 . Rc2 Bxe2+ 29.Kcl (not 29.Kxe2 Qxc2+-+) 29 Qa3+ 3 0 . Kbl Bd3 ...

Black has won back a queen and a pawn for his sacrificed rooks, but White's defensive resources are not yet exhausted. White is completely tied up. The bishops are obviously better than the rooks! However, White can still fight here: 31.Rdl Bxe4 32.Rd8 h5 33.Rh8 Qa4 34.Qf8+ Kf6 35.Qd6+ Kf5! 36.Qc5+ Be5 37.Qf2+ Ke6+, and I doubt that any human can stand the pressure.

27 Be5 28� Qxe5+1 . . .

Again the only move. Momchil Nikolov is famous for his stubborn ness in defense.

28 Qxe5 29. Bxc4 Qxe4 + 30. Kb3 Qb7+ 31. Kc3 Qxg2+ . . .

32. a4 Bf3 B etter was 32 . . . Qc6! 3 3 . Kb4 Qd6+ 3 4 . Kb3 Qb6+. Black stops White's counterplay and then ad vances the pawns on the King's flank. 3 5 . Ka3 f5+.

33. Rhfl {5 The same plan, but with Black's inactive queen, White escapes.

34. Rc2 Qh3 35. Kb4 Be4 36. Ra2 Qh4 3 7. a5 White advances the pawn, but gives yet one more chance for his rival. Better was 37.Rdl with chances for a draw.

37. . . Bd5 38. Rcl Qe7+


181

46. Kb3

39. Kb5 39.Ka4 Qc5 40. Bxd5 Qxcl 4 l . Kb5 Qfl+ 42 .Bc4 Qbl+ 43.Kc5 Qgl+ 44.Kb5 f4 45.a6 Qa7 should be winning for Black, although with difficulties.

39

••.

Qe5

Missing the last chance to play for a win. After 39 . . . Qd6 ! the white pawn will be stopped, as 40.a6? allows 40 ... Bc6+ 4l.Kb6

41 ... Bd7+ 42.Kb7 Qc6+ 43.Kb8 Qb6+ 44.Ka8 Bc6 mate.

40. Kb4 Qd6+ 41. Kb3 f441.. .Qb8+!?.

42. Rcc2 44.Kb3 182

Qb8+ Qe3+

43. Kc3 45. Kb4

Qe5+ Qe7+


And with the white . pawn close enough to the promotion square to scare Black, he decided to force a draw.

46 . . . Qb7+ 4 7. Kc3 Qd6+ 49. Kb3 -*·-*

Qc6 48. Kb4

Memory Markers Here are reminders of some of the ideas and motifs in this chapter.

1. After ll . .Nd7!. The typical knight maneuver. See diagram on page 123 in Benidze-Saric.

2. After 12 .Nb4!. Shirov's idea

3. After 19 .Nb7!. Surrounding the c4 pawn. See diagram on page 134 in Krylov-Efimenk.o.

4. After 16 Nf6!.

.

..

..

in Benidze-Saric. on page 1 2 7 .

See diagram

Attacking the exposed king. See diagram on page 137 in Krylov-Efimenk.o. ...


183

5. Mter 19 ... Kf7. The critical exchange sacrifice. See diagram on page 141 in Wang Yue Radj abov.

6. Mter 21 ... Rxa2. Black levels

7. Mter 15 ... cxd4!. An im provement on Gallagher's analy sis. See diagram on page 1 5 1 in Caruana-Rodshtein.

8. Mter 13 ...Qh3. The naughty

184


the chances. An improvement on 2 1 . . .£5 in Wang Yue-Radj abov. See diagram on page 146.

queen! Improvement on 13 . . . Qg5 in Caruana-Rodshtein. See dia gram on page 1 5 1 .

9. After 9 ... h5.

The automatic advance of the h-pawn when the knight reaches g3 . See diagram on page 161 in Anand-Nakamura.

Avoiding a7-a6 against the Bc1-g5 plan. See diagram on page 164 in Anand-Nakamura.

1 1 . After ll ...Nb6. Postponing a6xb5 to win a tempo, text move in Nikolov-Spasov. See diagram on page 1 7 1 .

12. After 17 ... Rxb2!. A typical way ofbreaking the defense in the Benko-style set-up. See diagram on page 175 in Nikolov-Spasov.

1 0 . After 10 ... Qb6!.


1 85


As Black, practice finding the right moves when facing the Samisch . Solutions to the exercises begin on page 325.

Exercise 1

Martinez - Damljanovic Andorra Open 2008 An appetizer.

186


Exercise 2

·Polishchuk

- Nesterets

Myrhorod Open 2010 How can Black make use of his active pieces?

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Arlandi - Khalifman

Harika - Mamedov

Groningen 1985

Moscow 2012

Demonstrate your compensation!

How can Black fight against the opponent's space advantage?

Exercise 5

Exercise 6

Dragomarezkij - Kaminski

Zaid - Ubilava

Warsaw Open 1992

USSR 1974

Which piece holds White's position together?

Prove that the white pieces are clumsy.


187

Exercise 7

Dias - Fier

Akhmadeev - Amonatov

Curitiba 2010

Nezhmetdinov Memorial 2007

White is a pawn up and is seemingly consolidating his position. Is he?


Exercise 9

Exercise 10

Demanghon - Perrin

Sergeev - Klimov

FRA-chT2 2008

St. Petersburg 2003

Is White as rock solid as he seems?

188

Exercise 8


A small combination.

Chapter 3 The Four Pawns Attack

l.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.(4 0-0

What can be more logical than taking the center if they give it to you? This is the first thing that will come to anyone's mind after seeing Black developing in a KID style. Just push the pawns, seize the center and crack this freaky set-up. It's that simple . . .

B

ut i n reality, things are not as simple as they look. First of all, White is neglecting h i s development and has not yet brought any of his kingside pieces into the game . The second player, on the other hand, has already castled and is ready to bring a rook closer to the center; only those mighty pawns are obstructing it from starting a fire against the white monarch. Therefore, they need to be cleared away, and I suggest we do this at once: 6 . . . e7-e5 is a move which seems to be deeply underestimated, even though according to the Megabase it was played as early as 1851! Let us try to fix this unfairness!

1 Jobava - Jianu

Romanian Team Championship Brasov 2011 l . d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.(4 The Four Pawns Attack. A recent book of IM Semko Semkov called it Kill K. I.D. Bombastic, yes , but also to the point. White is willing to immediately attack in the center and occupy it, and eventually blow it open to reach the black king. White certainly needs some preparation in order to do that. Therefore, I suggest that we counterattack at the first possible moment.

5. . . 0 - 0 6. Nf3 e5!? Chapter 3: The Four Pawns Attack

1 89

Black hits back in the center at once. Indeed, White is not badly developed and can even win a pawn, but the rook on f8 will help Black to find sufficient counterplay. Black usually strikes in the cen ter with 6 . . . c5, or prepares the e7-e5 advance with the help of 6 ... Na6 . This move needs further investiga tion, and as we shall see, some trans positions are possible.

l

am nevertheless recommending you use the fresh 6 . . . e7-e5 attempt which is in the true spirit of the KID, and further on it avoids some side-possibilities for the first player, which might be uncomfortable for Black. However, a line that is of interest to us arises after 6 ... Na6 7.Be2 e5 and now 8.dxe5 (For 8.fxe5 dxe5

9.d5, see the next game.) 8 ... dxe5

190

Chapter 3: The Four Pawns Attack

Black is again sacrificing a pawn. Tournament practice has shown that the best that White might expect here is a forced draw: 9.Nxe5 is the old theory of the line. (For 9.Qxd8, see page 193.) Note that it does not now make sense for us to exchange queens with 9 . . . Qxd1+?! since the bishop will be transferred to a better square after 10.Bxd 1 ! Nc5 1 l . Bc2 Be6 12 .Be3 Nfd7 13 . Nxd7 Nxd7 14 .0-0-0 Bxc3 15 .bxc3 Rfd8 16. Rd4:t. em Thus 9 ... Nc5, putting immediate pressure on the e4 pawn. Unfortunately for White, he cannot use the queen to defend the pawn because 10.Qc2?! is answered with 10 . . . Nfxe4! l l . Nxe4 Bf5 12 .Bf3: a) 12 ... Re8 !?N might be even better, as White cannot castle anyway. 13.0-0 Bxe4 14 . Bxe4 Qd4+ 15 .Qf2 Qxf2+ 16. Rxf2 Nxe4 17.Re2 f5+. b) 12 . . . Bxe5 13.fxe5 Bxe4 14 . Bxe4 Qh4+ 15 .g3 Qxe4+ 16.Qxe4 Nxe4+. 10.Qxd8 Rxd8 l l . Bf3 Be6 will transpose to the line 9.Qxd8 below. Therefore, White needs to defend with 10.Bf3 Qxd1+ 1 l . Kxd 1 and now Black should bring the rook immedi ately into the game with ll . . . Rd8+! which is uncomfortable for White.

Bxc3+) 14 ... gxf4 15.Rg1 fxg3 16.Rxg3 Kf8+ and Black has all the play. a3) The c2 square is never safe for the white king: 13 . Kc2 g4 14 .Be3

We consider four replies, 1 2 .Bd2, 12.Ke2?! , 1 2 . Ke1, and 12 .Kc2 on page 192: a) If White tries to block the check with 12 .Bd2 then Black has 12 . . . g5 ! ! (or even 12 . . . Ng4 13.Nxg4

Bxg4 with the idea of 14.Bxg4 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Nxe4 +):

We look a t five replies here: a1) 13 .g3 gxf4 14 . gxf4 Bh6 ! 15.Nd5 (White lacks the time to break

the pin: 15.Ke2 ? Rxd2+ 16. Kxd2 Bxf4+) 15 . . . Ncxe4 16 . Nxf6+ Nxf6

17.Rg1+ Kf8+. a2) The active 13 .b4 just brings the knight to a better position: 13 ... Ne6 14.g3 (14.{5 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Bxe5 16.fxe6

14 ... Ncxe4! 1 5 . Nxe4 Bf5+. a4) 13 .h3 allows Black to recover the pawn and keep the initiative: 13 . . . gxf4 14 . Ke2 Nh5 ! 1 5 . Bxh5 Bxe5 16. Bf3 f5 ! with a clear edge due to the weak white king. a5) Finally, 13.fxg5 walks into 13 . . . Ne8 ! + when the knight on e5 is almost trapped, and White loses material: 14 . Ng4 Bxg4 15. Bxg4 Bxc3 16 .bxc3 Nxe4-+. b) The drawback of 1 2 . Ke 2?! is that the c4 pawn is attacked with tempos. An old and convincing example: 12 . . . Be6 13.Nd5 Nfd7: b1) How vulnerable the king is shows in the line 14 . Nxc7? Nxe5 15.Nxe6 Nxf3 16.Nxc5 Nd4+ 17. Kf2 (1 7. Kfl Nc2 18.Rbl Rdl+) 17 . . . Nc2 18.Rb1 Bd4+, and Black wins a piece. b2) 14 .Be3 Nxe5 15.fxe5 Nd7 16. Bg5 Bxd5 17.cxd5 ReS+ Gorelov Belov, USSR 1987.


191

c) The king avoids the intermedi ate checks with 1 2 . Ke l Be6 1 3 . Kf2 , but Black would nevertheless enjoy great compensation after 13 . . . Nfd7 !

D emember this move. It is a key firesource in the current line, which unleashes the power of the black monster on g7, weakens the d3 square, and gives a chance for the e6 bishop to attack the c4 pawn. 14 .Nxd7 Rxd7 15.e5 Bxc4+.

Black plays 12 . . . Nfxe4! 13.Nxe4 Bf5 14.Rel Bxe5 15.fxe5 Rd4, and either recovers the piece or forces a perpetual: 16 . Kc3 (or the immediate 16. b3 Nxe4) 16 . . . Rd3+ and now:

dl) A beautiful draw is forced after 17. Kb4 Na6+ 18.Ka5 b6+! 19.Kxa6 Bc8+ 2 0 . Kb5 Bd7+ 21.Ka6 Bc8+,

d) Thus White has 1 2 . Kc2 , but as we have already seen, this position is not great for the White king:

with a perpetual check. d2) Or 17.Kc2 Rd4, and if White does not want to repeat moves he needs to try returning the piece with 18 .b3 !? Nxe4 (It's best to avoid

18 . . . Bxe4+ ?1 19.Bxe4 Rxe4 20.Rxe4 Nxe4 21. Be3!�.). And now: 192


d21) There is no need to be afraid of 19.g4!? as Black has a couple of dis covered checks: 19 ... Nd2+ (19... Ng5+ leads to the same thing) 20.gxf5 Nxf3 21.Re2 , and here I like the tricky 2l...gxf5 22.Bb2 RadS! 23.Rfl Re4! where White still needs to work hard in order to prove compensation. d22) 19.Kb2 is more cautious . A GM game continued 19 . . . Nc5 20.Ka3?! (or 20.Be3 Nd3+ 21.Kc3

Nxel

22.Bxd4

Nxf3

9.Qxd8 RxdS 10.Nxe5 . The difference from the previous line is that White can castle short. Still, we are doing fine with 10 . . . Nc5:

23.gxf3=)

20 . . . Nd3 2 l .Rd1 ReS! with the idea ReSxe5 -a5 mate ! 2 2 . Bxb7 Rxe5 with an edge for Black. Some lines to prove the assessment: d221) 2 3 . Bd2 Rd6 24. Bc3 Re2 25 .b4 (or 25.Ba5 c6): a) If 1 l . Bf3 Be6: a1) 1 2 . Nd5?! Nfd7 13.Nxd7 Rxd7 14 . Ke2 ReS! (14 . . . c6! is even better.) 15.e5 c6+, Vaiser-Weindle, Chiasso 19S9. a2) 1 2 . 0 - 0 Nfd7. With the disap pearance of the knight on e5 Black has nothing to worry about. 13.Nxd7

2 5 . . . Nb2 ! 2 6 . Bxb2 Re3+ 27.Bc3 Rxc3+ 2 S . Kb2 Rxc4 29. Rxd6 cxd6+. d222) Best is 2 3 . Bd5, yet Black can still try to mate the opponent with 23 . . . Rexd5! 24.cxd5 Rxd5 25 .b4 Be6! 26.Rb1 Rd6 2 7.b5 a6 (27. .. Bc4!?) forcing him to find the only defense: 2S.Bf4! Rd5 ! (or 2B . . . Nxf4 29.Rxd6

cxd6 30. b6 Bd5 31.g3 Ne6 32. b7+-) 29.Bxc7 axb5 30.Rxb5 Rxb5 3 1 . Rxd3 Rc5 3 2 . BdS Rc2 3 3 . Bf6 Rxa2+ 34.Kb4 RaS 3 5 . RdS+=, Cifuentes Parada-Bosboom, Netherlands 199S.

13 . . . Bd4+! It is useful to bring the bishop to an active position now, not having to face the move e4-e5 with it still on g7. 14 . Kh 1 Rxd7 15.Nd5


193

c6= 16. Be3 Practically forcing a draw. (weaker is 16.Rdl Bg7 1 7. Ne3 ?!

Rxdl+

lB.Nxdl

Nd3

19.e5

{6t)

16 . . . cxd5 17. Bxd4 dxe4 1S. Bxc5 exf3 19. Rxf3 Bxc4. GM Yevseev tried to play this position for a while , but in the end accepted the draw in Charochkina-Yevseev, St. Petersburg 201 1. It is a funny fact that even in a sharp defense like the KID, there are lines which lead to a forced draw. Still, this should not be considered a significant danger for the second player. b) After the pseudo-aggressive 1l.Nd5:

the pawn with 13 . . . f6 !? 14 .Bxc5 fxe5 15.fxe5 Bxe5=, as the pawn cannot be defended with 16.Ba3 Bxb2 (16 . . . Bg4 17. Bxg4 Bxb2+ is also possible.) 17. Bxb2 Bg4. b22) Instead, Kindermann con tinued 13 . . . Bxe5 14 .fxe5 Rxe5 15.Kf2

(If 15. Bxc5 then 15. . . Bg4=, and if 15. Bd4 then 15 . . . Re4.) 15 . . Ne4+ .

16 .Kf3 :

t .. � ..

'/ /

ll .� b1) Black did well in a recent game after ll . . . c6 1 2 . Ne7+ KfS 13.NxcS RaxcS 14 .Be3 Nfxe4 15.Rd1 Rxd1+ 16.Kxd1 ReS 17. Nd3 Nxd3 1S. Bxd3 Bxb2+, Uhoda-Guliyev, Metz 2003 . b2) But White's move can still be met with ll . . . Nxd5 12.exd5 ReS ! A n old game of Kindermann shows the tactical resources of the second player. Let's follow it. 13.Be3 (13. 0-0? is just bad: 13. . .{6 14.Nd3 B{B!) And now: b2 1) Black is not forced to give up the bishop pair; he can recover

194


� t

t

ft

Now look what he does : 16 . . . Bg4 + ! 17. Kf4! (better than 17.Kxg4 Nf6 + 18.Kf3 RaeB 19. Bd4 Rf5++) 17 . . . Rae8 !

(It's a draw after 17. . . Rf5+ 18. Kxe4 Bxe2=.) 1S. Bxg4 Nf6 ! 19. Bxa7 (And not 19. Bf3 ? g5+! 20. Kg3 Rxe3+ given by Hazai.) 19 . . . Re4+ 20.Kf3 Nxg4, with a strong attack for the second player in Gabriel-Kindermann , Bad Homburg 1997.

7. dxe5 Another way sacrificed pawn

to is

pick

up

the

7.fxe5 dxe5 transposes (8.d5 8.Nxe5 to Bromberger-Nyzhnyk, the second game in this chapter.) The problem

with thi s capture is that the knight on e5 is quite shaky once the pawn on d4 disappears . Therefore: 8 ... c5!

This is White's best try. A top GM game saw a transposi tion to the 6 . . . Na6 line after 8.Nxe5

Qxdl+ 9.Kxdl Na6:

If the d-pawn moves forward, the e-file will be opened: 9.d5 ReS 10. Nf3 Nxe4. Black not only recovers the pawn, but has a strong attack after l l . Nxe4 f5! It is good to chase away the knight from f3 ! 1 2 . Be2 fxe4 1 3 . Nd 2 , and now the flashy 13 . . . Bh3 ! wins a pawn for Black, as both 14 .gxh3? Qh4+ 1 5 . Kfl Bd4-+ and 14 .0-0 Qg5 15.g3 Bd4+ 16.Kh 1 Bxfl-+ are disastrous for the first player. 9.Be3 carefully watches the cen ter, but it is a bit too late. a) One continuation is 9 ... cxd4 10. Bxd4 ReS l l . Be2 Qa5 (ll . . . Nxe4!

The knight on a6 is doing a great job. It defends the pawn on c7, it can attack the pawn on e4 with Na6 - c 5 , or it might like to jump to b4 instead. Nobody has yet tested 10.Be3 , and I feel Black has nothing to worry about after 10 . . . ReS: a) Note the usefulness of the knight on a6 after l l . Kc2?

would not be bad for Black either: 12.Nxe4 Qh4+ 13.Ng3 Bxe5 14. Bxe5 Rxe5 15. 0-0 Nc6 +.) and now:

a1) After 1 2 . Nf3 Nc6 13 .Qd2? Nxd4! 14 . Nxd4 Nxe4 , Black later won in Reina Aguilar-Arias Rodriguez , Trevias 2 0 0 6 . a 2 ) White missed the chance to scramble the position with 1 2 . Nxf7 ! Kxf7 13.0-0 Nc6 14 .Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nd5 Re6 16. Bg4 Kg7 17.Bxe6 Bd4+ 1S.Kh 1 Bxe6oo. b) Instead, 9 . . . ReS! puts the White strategy to the test! 10. Be2 Qa5 l l . Bd2 cxd4 1 2 . Nd5 QdS+.

7 dxe5 8. Qxd8 . . .

l l ... Nxe4! 1 2 . Nxe4 Bf5 1 3 . Bd3 Nb4+ 14 . Kd2 Nxd3 15. Kxd3 f6+.


1 95

b) After l l .Kc1 Nxe4 1 2 . Nxe4 f6 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 it is up to Black if he wants to recover the pawn, or (pref erably!) to play for the attack with Bc8-f5 on the next move. After 10.Be2 Rd8+ l l . Kc2 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 Bf5 13.Bf3 Nc5 14 .Re1 Bxe5 15.fxe5 Rd4 16.Kc3 Rd3+ 17. Kc2 Rd4 18.Kc3 Rd3+ 19.Kb4 Na6+ 20.Ka5 b6+ 2 l . Kxa6 Bc8+ 22.Kb5 Bd7+ 23.Ka6 Bc8+ 24.Kb5 Bd7+ 25.Ka6, a draw was agreed in Mamedyarov-Svidler, Baku 2008. You have seen this draw already in the notes above. (If Black had contin ued with 25 . . . Bc8+, the game would have arrived at the position in the diagram on page 192 in line d l .)

8 . . . Rxd8 9. Nxe5

a) And Black could have proved good compensation if he had found 12 . . . Na4! 1 3 . Bd2 Na6 14 .Be2 (if 14.Nd4 then 14 . . . N6c5) 14 . . . N6c5 15.0-0-0 Bf5�. b) Instead, he went down after 1 2 . . . Nd3+ 1 3 . Ke2 Nxc 1+ 14.Rxc1 Nc6 1 5 . Ke3t, Jobava-Roussel, Warsaw 201 1 . Also, 9 Nxe4!? looks like an interesting try for equality: 10.Nxe4 f6 l l . Nxg6 hxg6 1 2 . Kf2 Bf5 . You can investigate Black's possibilities in this case; it should be fun. The king on e1 provides some extra options for the first player, af ter 9 Na6 10.Be3 ReS l l . Be2 Nxe4 1 2 . Nxe4 f6 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14 .0-0. Still, this line is also worth investi gating. •••

•••

1 0. Bd3 Best. The pawn on e4 needs care. Alternatively, 10. Be2

9. . . Re8!? I like this move . Black places the rook on the half-open e-file, and intends to open the file either by taking on e4 and proceeding with f7f6 , or simply by trading the knight on e5 with Nd7. There are also valuable alterna tives for the second player: Another game of Jobava saw 9 Nfd7!? 10. Nf3 Bxc3+!? 1 l .bxc3 Nc5 12 .e5: •••

196


runs into 10 . . . Nxe4! 1 l . Nxe4 f6 1 2 . Nxg6 (12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Kf2 Nd7!?

14.Nf3 Nc5 15.Rdl Bf5 is excellent for Black, with the bishops completely paralyzing White's queen's flank.) 12 . . . Rxe4 1 3 . Nh4 Bg4 14 . Nf3 . A correspondence game continued with 14 . . . Bxf3 (Black could prove a decent

initiative either with 14 . . . Bf8 followed by B{B-c5, or with 14 ... Na6�.) 15.gxf3 Re7 16.Kf2 Nc6 17.f5 Rae8 18. Bd3;t, Mueller-Callow, IECG email 2000.

10

••.

Ng41

12 . . . Na6!'1 Jianu probably was afraid of the line 12 . . . f6 1 3 . Nd5, but analysis shows that Black is doing great here as well. (13. 0-0 fxe5 14.Be4 Nc6 is equal) After 13 . . . Na6 14 . Ne3 Be6 15.exf6 (Maybe it's best for White

to play for equality with 15.f5 Nb4 16. Bb1 gxf5 1 7. 0 - 0.) 15 . . . Bxf6 , with Ra8-d8 and Na6 -c5 to follow, Black has great development.

13. 0 - 0 Rad8

Seemingly best! Black's bishop will be active on the g4 square if it recaptures there. This line is very fresh, and there is only one game in the megabase, which we explore here. Note that the e4 capture idea is no longer available with White's bishop on d3: 10 Nxe4? l l . Bxe4 f6 12 .Bd5+ Kh8 1 3 . Bf7 Rf8 (not 13 . . . Re7 14.Nd5) 14 . Nxg6+ hxg6 1 5 . Bxg6+ Krush-Airapetian, Tulsa 2008. The bishop on d3 is also ready to meet the standard aggression: 10 Na6 1 1 . 0 - 0 Nc5 1 2 . Bc2 c6 (or ...

•••

12 ... Ng4 13.Nxg4 Bxg4 14. e5 Rad8;!; 1962) Mikov-Vooremaa, URSS 13.Be3±, 2004.

Kopylov- Seibicke,

This was the idea behind Nb8-a6. Black wins one more tempo to introduce all his pieces into the game, and f7-f6 is coming soon.

14. Be4 Nc5 15. Bf3 Bxf3 1 6. Rxf3 Of course not 16.gxf3?! f6 ! 17.exf6 Bxf6 1 8 . Rb1 Bxc3 19.bxc3 b6, when White's position is a total mess .

1 6. . . (61

Kiel

10 Nfd7 might be playable, but I would prefer to have the bishop on •••

g4, as Jianu had it, rather than on d7. l l . Nxd7 Bxd7 1 2 . Kf2 .

ll.Nxg4 Bxg4 12. e5 1 3 . Kh 1 Bd4+! 12 .0-0 Or Bxc3 14 .bxc3 Nd7, with excellent compensation for Black.


197

18 . . . c6 19. Nxf6+ Bxf6 20. exf6 Nxb2

Finally, the second central file is opened, and it is White who has to be alert now. One of his main problems is . . . the pawn on f4! It obstructs the normal development of his bishop and limits the activity of his rook, too.

1 7.Be8 17.exf6 can be answered with 17 . . . Bxf6 18.Be3

21.{5!? The last try. After 2 l . Rbl Nxc4 2 2 . f7+ Kxf7 2 3 . Rxb7+ Re7 24. Rxe7+ Kxe7 2 5 . Bxa7 Ke6 2 6 . Rc3 Rdl+ 27.Kf2 Rd2+ 2 8 . Kel Rxa2 2 9 . Rxc4 Rxa7 30.Rxc6+ Kf5 3 l .g3 Ra2 , all the pawns are killed.

21 . . . Nxc4 22. Bxa7 Kf7 28. Rh8 gxf5 24. Rxh 7+ Kxf6 25. Rxb7 Rd2

18 . . . Rxe3! 19.Rxe3 Bd4 20.Ndl Nd3 2l.Kfl (not 21.g3? ReB) 2 l . . . Bxe3 22.Nxe3 Nxf4, and Black takes over the initiative. ·

1 7. . . Nd8 = 18. Nd5 Or 18.exf6 20.Rbl c6.

198

Bxf6

19.Nd5

Bxb2


Black's rooks will double on the seventh to compensate for White's extra pawn.

26. Rb4 Rc2 2 7. a4 Ree2 28. Kfl Re4 29. Kgl Ree2 30. Kfl Re4 31. Kgl

2 Bromberger Nyzhnyk

It looks like they agreed to the draw at this point, as the next move does not make sense.

l . d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg 7 4 . e4 d6 5.f4 0 - 0 6. Nf3 e5

31 . . . Ke5 % - %

-

Bahia Feliz 2011

I shall once again refer to the line starting with 6 ... Na6, as the positions which we shall study below can easily transpose (especially after 7.Bd3, discussed on page 200). After the modest development

7.Be2 e5:

a) Note that White cannot keep the central pressure with 8.0-0 exd4 9. Nxd4 ReS 10.Bf3 Nc5 l l .Rel due to a trick worth remembering:


1 99

ll . . . Bg4! 1 2 . Bxg4 Nxg4 1 3 .Qxg4 Bxd4++, and Black wins the pawn on e4 after Bd4xc3. b) Thus 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.d5 (9. Nxe5

c5! is excellent for Black, compare with the previous game!) 9 . . . Nc5! This is the big difference. White does not have a defender of the e4 pawn. Both natural defenses now have definite drawbacks: bl) 10.Qc2 We've seen this before; the queen is not happy here ! 10 . . . Nfxe4! 10 . . . h6 l l . Bxf6 Qxf6 12 .b4 Na6 13 . Rbl c5!=, with blockade on the black squares and equality. 14 . a 3 Qd6 15 .Qb3 B d 7 H i .0-0 Rac8 17.Khl h5 18. Nb5 Bxb5 19.cxb5 NbS 2 0 . Nd2 and a draw was agreed in Stellwagen-Iordachescu, Wijk aan Zee 2002 . Now the move 7.Bd3 can easily transpose to the position into our game after 7 ... e5 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.d5:

l l . Nxe4 Bf5 1 2 . Bd3 (12.Nfd2 ? Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Qh4+ loses a pawn.) 12 . . . Bxe4 1 3 . Bxe4 f5 Forking everything all the way. . . 14 . Bxf5 Rxf5 ! and Black is on top, as e 5 e 4 is unstoppable: 1 5 . Be3 (15. 0 - 0

e4 16.Nd2 Bd4+ 17. Khl Qh4 leads to a picturesque position in which White cannot face the threat Rf5xfl+ followed by Qh4-el!) 15 . . . e4! 16. Bxc5

exf3 17. 0-0, and here instead of 17 . . . c6+ Dyachkov- Svirjov, Alushta 2003, Black could have been more determined with 17 . . . Qg5 ! 1 8 . Rael Be5 with the threat 19: .. Be5xh2+ and Qg5 -h4 +. b2) 10. Bg5 is better, although White had to part with his bishop:

200


Black has a large choice of ideas besides the move 9 . . . Nc5 , which the young Ukrainian used in our main game. The most important for us are 9 ... Qe7, and 9 ...Ne8 which is explored on page 2 0 2 .

9 Qe7 This is a rare plan and Black has good statistics here, but I feel that the queen is not optimally placed. The way that Nyzhnyk played, 9 . . . Nc5 , seems better. Just one example to demonstrate the difficulties that the second player experiences in this line: 10.0-0 Nc5 l l . Bc2 a5 1 2 .Qe2 !?N is a most recent one. White controls the e4, c4 and b5 squares. ...

T

his version of the hanging pawns is not good for Black. Soon, one of them will need to advance, mak ing the second one a backward weak ness. It's best to avoid it! b) 1 3 . Be3 might be even better: 13 . . . Ng4 (13 . . . b6 is still possible,

keeping the Nf6-g4 resource for the future.) 14. Bg5 f6 15.Bd2: After 1 2 . . . Bd7 we look at two alter natives: a) 1 3 . Kh 1 frees the g1 square for the bishop. 13 . . . b6 14 .Rb1 Nh5 15. Be3 Bg4?! (15. . . Nb7 at once is

more flexible, for example 16. b3 Nd6 17.a3 Nf4 18. Bxf4 exf4 19.e5 Nf5?.) 16.Qf2 Nb7 17.Nb5 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.Bg5 Bf6 20. Bxf6 Rxf6 2 l . Rbel± with advantage for White in Koneru Ju, Antakya 2010:

b1) Now Black can do what Edward Lasker did in his game against Alekhine in New York 1924! 15 ... Qd6 !? intending to meet 16. Nb5 with 16 . . . Qb6 . However, the prelim inary 16.h3:t keeps some edge for White.


201

b2) Or 15 . . . Nh6 16. Nb5 Rfc8 17.a3 a4 (o 17. . . Nf7!? intending Bh6) 18.Nel c6 19.Nc3 Bg4?! (o 19 . . . Nf7t) 20.Qf2±, Tasic- Sikorski, LSS email 2008. The move 9 ... Ne8 is not mentioned by Semkov. It is flexible, as Black has a choice of plans. He can advance either with 10 . . . c7-c5, or 10 . . . f7-f5 (see page 203) which I believe is somewhat better. 10.0-0. And now we see the prophylactic 10 .. c5!?: .

B

lack intends to block the position on the queen's flank first, use the wonderful square on d6 for the knight, and enjoy a kingside attack. Luke McShane produced two wonderful games in this line. a) In the first game, I suspect he was very happy to see l l .dxc6 bxc6 12 .Be3

202


12 . . . Nec7! 1 3 . a3 Ne6 , when he had total control over the center. Thus White's play on the queenside is not dangerous at all. 14.b 4 Nd4 15.Ne2 Nxf3+ 16 . Rxf3 Nc7 ! The other knight replaces his brother on the d4 square. 17.h3 Ne6 1 8 . Ra2?! f5. McShane took over the initiative and won just two moves later! 19. Bc2? Qxdl+ 2 0 . Bxd l f4 and White re signed, as the pawn on e4 falls after Ne6 -g5 , Palliser-McShane , Hinckley Island 2009. b) The acid test of the line is however, the immediate advance on the queen's flank: l l .a3! played by another great expert of the line, Alexander Shabalov. At the 2011 UTD tournament in Dallas, I saw him winning this position with both colors. l l . . . Bd7 1 2 .Qel Qe7 13.Bg5 f6 14 .Be3 Nd6 1 5 . Rbl. It seems that White should be more successful on his part of the board, but with careful play McShane nullifies the activity: 15 . . . Rfc8! 16.Qh4 b6 17.Khl Nf7 ! Freeing the d6 square for the second knight, which is inactive at the moment. 1 8 . Nd2 Nc7 19.b4:

And now the other plan 10... f5

It seems White is making prog ress, but . . . 19 . . . Na6 ! The knight is suddenly retreating to counterattack the b-pawn, and Shabalov is forced to either close the flank or risk 20.d6!?. You do not need to ask Shaba twice. He will sacrifice something at the moment he can! (Black achieves

what he wants in case of 20. b5 Nc7 21.a4 NeB 22.a5 Ned6 and next, most likely, Qe7-f6 will follow, and Black is ready to advance on the king's flank.) McShane continued with 20 . . . Qxd6 2 l .Nd5 Rf8 (21...Be6 22. Nxf6+ Bxf6

23. Qxf6 seems dangerous for Black, but might be approximately equal.) 22.Rf3 Nc7 23 .bxc5 bxc5 24.Rbfl with a sharp, double-edged game in which the Englishman proved better, Shabalov-McShane, Toronto 2010.

We look at l l.Be3 and l l.Bg5.

l l.Be3 a) The only game so far in this line saw Black prematurely advancing his kingside pawns with ll . . . f4?! 1 2 . Bf2 g5 , but after 1 3 . Nd 2 ! he could not prevent the maneuver Be2 -g4 , and lost the battle for the light squares , and the game, after 13 . . . c5 14 . Be2 Qd7 (Maybe 14 . . . Nf6 15.a3 b6 was

more resilient, but the position is still good for White.) 15 .h3 Qd6 16.Nb5

Qg6 17.Bh5 Qh6 1 8 . Bg4! ± . Watch out for such ideas! White dominates the board, Chernyshov-Demchenko, Moscow 2007. b) Instead, some preparation was required: ll . . . Qe7 !? with a possible continuation 1 2 . a3 Nc5 1 3 . Bc2 Nxe4 14 . Nxe4 fxe4 1 5 . Nd2 (if 15.Bxe4 then 15 . . . Nd6!) 15 . . . Rxfl+ 16 .Qxfl Nd6 , and the knight will enjoy the f5 and eventually the d4 squares. l l.Bg5 Some players believe that the queen is not well placed on d6 and is a bit shaky. I am not entirely convinced, as it can now support the knight: ll . . . Qd6 1 2 . Be3 (12. a3!?

can be answered with 12 . . . Nc5 13.b4 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 b6, with f5-f4 and Chapter 3: The Four Pawns Attack

203

the h7-h6, g6-g5 advances to follow.) 12 . . . Nf6 (Deserving attention is 12 . . . f4 13.Bf2 Nc5 14.Bc2 a5, with a sharp, doubled-edged game.).

could finish his development with 13 . . . Bd7 ! ? and I do not see much difficulty for him. 14 .a3 (14. Rcl Ng4

15. Bgl Bh6 followed by Bh6-e3 looks great for Black) 14 . . . fxe4!? This is

something that Black usually avoids in these situations, but concrete analysis shows that Black's two bishops compensate for White's e4 outpost: 1 5 . Nxe4 (Or 15.Bxe4

Nc5 16.Bxc5 Qxc5 1 Z Nxe5 RaeB 18.Rxf6 Rxe5! 19.Rxf8+ Qx{B, with lovely compensation for the pawn.) 15 . . . Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Nc5 17. Bxc5 Qxc5 18.Qd3 a5oo 19.Ng5 Qe7. c2) On the other hand, the move in the game was neatly refuted: 13 . . . Nc5? 14 . Bxc5 Qxc5 1 5 .exf5 gxf5 16 . Nxe5 Ne4 17. Bxe4 Bxe5 And now three alternatives: a) Nothing comes with 1 3 . Nb5?! Qe7, as this knight needs to defend the e4 square: 14 .exf5? e4. b) And after 1 3 . a3 Nc5 14.b4 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 White cannot hold the important e4 point:

18. Bxf5 ! Bxf5 19. Rxf5 Rxf5 2 0 .Qg4+ Bg7 2 1 .Qxf5±, and White managed to convert his extra pawn in Parligras Erdogdu, Athens 2007.

7.fxe5 dxe5 B. d5 Na 6 9. Bd3 Nc5

15 . . . fxe4! 16 .Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Bf5 18.Qh4 e4 19.Nd4 a5�. c) Therefore 13.Kh l Prophylaxis: cl) Instead of the move played in the game, shown in c2 below, Black

204


McShane game: Bc8-d7, b7-b6, etc., as 13.Nb5 is simply bad: After 13 . . . Qb6, the e4 pawn is hanging and c7-c6 is a threat.) 1 3 . Bg3 Nfxe4 ! :

10.Bg5 Bromberger chooses a rare con tinuation and is not shy about trad ing his bishop. The main continuation is 10.Bc2 a5 and now : After 1 1.0-0 Black can proceed in the spirit of the game with ll . . . Qd6 followed by Bc8-d7, b7-b6 , and play on the kingside. There is also the provoking ll.Bg5 against which Black can try l l . . .h6 1 2 . Bh4:

12 . . . g5 Quite entertaining! (I would also recommend to finish developing ifyou want a slower game: 12 . . . Qd6N with development as in the Shabalov-

a ) In case of 14. Bxe4 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 f5 16. Nc3 e4 17. Nd4 f4 18.Bf2 e3 19.Bgl Qf6-+, one can hardly discover at a glance who has the extra piece. b) After 14 . Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 f5 White took the practical option to give back the piece with 16 .0-0 (The

line 16. Bc2 e4 1 7.Nd4 f4 1B.Bf2 e3 19.Bgl Qf6+ is sufficiently convincing for him to avoid it!) 16 . . . fxe4:

Black has active play and somewhat better chances . And now:


205

b1) 17. Nxe5 Rxfl+ 18 .Qxfl Qe7 19.Re1 h5 looks scary for White. His knight can easily be lost in the center. b2) Instead, the game saw 17.Nd2 e3 (17. .. Bf5!?+) 18. Rxf8+ Qxf8 19.Nfl Qc5 (And here GM Ian Roger's

i

t

.1.

suggestion 19. . . e4! to open the bishop would yield Black somewhat better chances.) 2 0 .Qe2 b5oo, Jones-Yuan, Sydney 2010.

IO . . . Qd6

Now, this is even better than the standard 13 . . . Bd7 as it allows Black to play on both flanks, thanks to the additional b7-b5 possibility.

14. Khl ?! It seems as if Bromberger lost the thread. Otherwise, he would have chosen to control the b5 square without delay. Correct is 14 .Qe2 cxd5 15.cxd5 Bd7 16 . a4 with approximate equality.

14 . . . Bd7 15. Qel b5!

cxd5

16. cxd5

II.Bc2 Immediate castling entails a pawn sacrifice: 1 1 .0 - 0 Ng4 (with the threat Nc5xd3 and Qd6-b6+) 1 2 .Bc2 (12.Khl Qb6 transposes) 1 2 ... Qb6 1 3 . Kh1 Qxb2 14 .Bd2 Qb6 , and it is questionable if the compensation is sufficient .

I I . . . a5 12. 0 - 0 h6 13. Bd2 13 . Be3 allows 13 . . . Ng4 and f7-f5 with tempo.

13 . . . c6!

B lack takes over the initiative. After b5-b4 the pawn on e4 will be in danger.

1 7. Qh4 206


It was probably better to sacrifice the pawn with 17. a4 b4 1 8 . Nb5 Qb8 19.Rcl Bxb5 20.axb5 Qxb5 2 1 .Qh4 , with some activity in return .

1 7. . . h5 Nyzhnyk misses a golden oppor tunity: 17 . . . b4! 18.Ndl

19 . . . Na 6 o 19 . . . Rfc 8 ! ? 2 0 . Bxb4 Ng41'.

20. Bg5 Rfe8+ 21. Nxe5 ?! White's desire to restore material balance is understandable, but here it leads to even worse circumstances.

21 . . . Qxe5 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Qxf6 Qxf6 24. Rxf6 Nc5+

18 . . . g5 ! 19.Qel Bb5 Punches are coming from the left, from the right, and finally. . . 20.Rgl Nfxe4 ! ! From the center! 2 l . Bxe4 Nxe4 22 .Qxe4 f5 23 .Qe3 Qxd5+.

This is a K I D player's dream endgame. Just looking at White's bishop and the juicy e4 pawn will make him happy.

18. b4

25. Rafl Rxa2 26.Nd4

Returning the favor. 18.Ndl b4 19.Nf2 keeps White in the game .

18 . . . axb4 19. Ne2

26. . . Rxc21 2 7. Nxc2 b3 28.Na3 Nxe4 29. Rxf7 b4 30. Rxd7 bxa3 31. d6 b2 32. Rb7 Nxd6 0-1 Chapter 3: The Four Pawns Attack

207

Memo r y M a r k e r s Here are reminders of some of the ideas and motifs in this chapter.

1. Mter 6 ... e5. position.

Our starting

The central strike. See diagram on page 191 in Jobava-Jianu.

2. Mter 12 ... g5!!.

3. Mter 13 ...Nfd7!.

4. Mter 2 1 . ..Bc8+.

The exchange of White's most active piece. See diagram on page 192 in Jobava-Jianu.

The beautiful draw. See diagram on page 192 in Jobava-Jianu.

208


5. After 10 ...Ng4. The fresh idea of Jianu, the text move in Jobava-Jianu. See diagram on page 197.

6. After 10 ... Nfxe4!. The center

7. After 10... c5!?. McShane's plan . See diagram on page 202 in Bromberger-Nyzhnyk.

8. After 16 ... b5!.

crumbles. See diagram on page 200 in Bromberger-Nyzhnyk.

Play on both flanks, text move in Bromberger Nyzhnyk. See diagram on page 206.


209

Exerc i s es Black to play!

As Black, practice finding the right moves when facing the Four Pawns Attack. Solutions to the exercises begin on page 3 3 2 .

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Varlet - Trommsdorf

Metge - Rogers

French Team Championship 1989

Auckland 1992

How can Black profit from his active pieces?

Black played 26 . Kg8 -f7 and later won. What did the experienced Australian GM miss?

210


..

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Verdier Maier

Trepka - Skrivanek


Tabor 201 1

·

White's initiative is overwhelming. Or is it?

Delay in development dangerous .

is

always

Exercise 5

Exercise 6

Sykora - Sochna

Poobalasingam - White

Czechia Team Championships 2011

British Championship Isle of Man 2005

Drive the e-pawn forward!

In search of. . . overworked pieces.


211

Exercise 7

Exercise 8

Gerard - Hebden

Sofronie - Golubev

Montpellier Open 2003

Bucharest 2003

Find a good plan for Black.

212


What should Black do now?

Chapter 4 The Averbakh System

l . d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 0-0 6. Bg5 Na6

Which light pieces to develop first: the knights or the bishops? The classical players taught us the knights! They are short-ranged pieces and need more time to reach the center or either flank. A bishop, on the other hand, might appear to be already developed from its initial square in many cases, or it can be brought into action with just move .

GM

Averbakh had Yuri another opinion when the KID was the subject. He liked to first develop his black-squared bishop with 6 . Bcl-g5 . One idea was that it can now be easily supported by Qcl- d 2 , and these two pieces together can fight the pride and joy of Black's setup: the KID bishop ! Moreover, once the bishop is swapped off, White can start a devastating attack against the weakened fianchetto position! White also prevents the immedi ate 6 . . . e7- e 5 , and is ready to castle

long when Qdl-d2 is played. The first player is in fact reluctant to develop the kingside knight , as he might need to advance the h- and g-pawns as fast as possible , and might also like to support the e4 pawn with f2 -f3 . In the sharp positions that arise, the usual question is "Who is faster? ", and therefore I suggest that we start our counterplay as soon as pos sible . Sacrifices will be needed to make time work for us, and you should not be afraid to make them!

Chapter 4: The Averbakh System

213

Khoroshev - Mchedlishvili Agzamov Memorial Tashkent 2012 l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 8.Nc8 Bg7 4 . e4 d6 5.Be2 0 - 0 6. Bg5

7. Qd2 This is the main move, which retains the flexibility in White's set up. White supports the black-squared bishop, intends to weaken Black's kingside by exchanging bishops, and then to advance the g- and h-pawns with mating threats. Long castling is also on the agenda. However, other dangerous plans are also available . We look at 7.f4 c6 here, 7.h4 e5 (on page 2 1 8), 7.Qc2 h6 (on page 220), and 7.Nf3 h6 (page 220).

O

ne way for White to make use of the delayed development of his knight is to advance 7.f4:

The Averbakh system. It is named after the world's oldest living GM , the prominent theoretician and endgame specialist Yuri Averbakh. White delays the development of the king's knight for the time being, thus keeping his options open. White can use this delay in various ways, for example, by advancing the pawns on that side of the board before developing the knight.

6. . . Na6 Black prepares the e7-e5 advance and intends to introduce the knight into the central fight via the c5 square . As usual, whenever you see the bishop appearing on the g5 square, you must have something in mind! This move is not only designed to provoke h7-h6 but also to prevent e7e5. Avoid 6 . . . e5? 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Nd5 with a double attack against the pinned knight and the c7 pawn, when White wins.

214


Compared to the Four Pawns Attack, White has an active bishop on g5 . At first sight, this should favor the first player, but a closer investigation of the position reveals that the bishop is vulnerable there. Now 7 c6 prepares the maneuver Na6 -c7-e6 to worry the bishop and put pressure on the white pawns on f4 and d4 . a) White cannot hold his impres sive center in case of 8 .e5 Ne8 9.Nf3 Nac7 10. Bh4 b5. •••

bll) 9 . . . d5 is probably the best, as the central strike is something that Black definitely needs: 10.e5 (Or

10.cxd5 cxd5 ll.e5 Ne4=; and 10.exd5 cxd5 ll.c5 Ne4 is already better for Black, who can easily attack both d4 and c5 pawns.) 10 . . . Ne4: b1 1 1) Note that the straightfor ward l l . Nxe4 dxe4 1 2 . Ng5 does not win a pawn:

The center can be attacked from this side too! 1 1 .0 - 0 (Black's idea is

shown after ll.cxb5 cxb5 12.Nxb5? Nxb5 13. Bxb5 Qa5+.) ll . . . bxc4 1 2 . Bxc4 Ne6 1 3 . Bxe6 Bxe6 14 .d5 cxd5 1 5 . Nxd5 f6 16.exf6 Nxf6 17. Nxf6+, and since the center is gone, the opponents called it a day, in Del Rio Angelis-Cuenca Jimenez , Evora 2 0 0 7. b) 8 . Nf3 Nc7: 1 2 ... f6 ! 1 3 . Nxe4 (Or 13.exf6 exf6 14.Nxe4, which allows Black to first improve his rook with 14 . . . Re8 15.Nc3 Ne6, and either the f4 or d4 pawn will be captured.) 13 . . . Ne6 Black recovers

the material and enjoys a free game. 14.exf6 exf6 15 .d5 cxd5 16.cxd5 Nxf4 17.0-0 and now: bl l l l) 17 . . . g5 !? is an interesting winning attempt. 1 8 . Bf2 (or 18.Bg3

Nxe2+ 19. Qxe2 f5 20.Nc3 f4+; and 1B.Rxf4 is probably best, with unclear game after 18 . . .gxf4 19. d6) 18 . . . Re8

Now Nc7-e6 is a nasty threat and White needs to do something about it. b1) 9. Bh4 is a possible prophylax is. In this case Black has a bunch of convincing options:

19.Nc3 Nxe2+ 20.Nxe2 Bg4 , and Black took over the initiative in Bucharest Dumitrache- Golubev, 1996. b 1 1 12) Also possible is 17 ... Nxe2+ 18.Qxe2 Qxd5 19. Nxf6+ (19.Bxf6 Bf5!) 19 . . . Bxf6 20. Bxf6 Bf5 = .

Chapter 4 : The Averbakh System

215

b112) 1 1 .0-0 is a move against which I had to fight some years ago:

After 1 l . . .f6 1 2 . cxd5 Nxc3 13 .bxc3 Nxd5! Black needs to make use of the open squares in the opponent's camp! Now 14 .Qd2 Bh6 ! is the correct move sequence. (and not the move that I

chose in the game: 14 ... Qa5?! which allowed the bishop to come back home. 15.Bel t) 15.g3 (or 15.Bg3 Qa5 16. Bc4 Bf5?.) And only now 15 . . . Qa5

with an excellent game for Black, as 16.c4? fails to 16 . . . Qxd2 17. Nxd2 Ne3+, which wins the exchange for Black, or even a piece after 18. Rfc1 g5 -+. b12) I knew this line very well, but as my opponent Kieran Moynihan in the decisive round at the Cork Chess Congress, in Ireland in March 2012, was blitzing his moves, I decided to deviate with 9 . . . Ne6 first, and only after 10.Qd2 play 10 . . . d5!? which appeared to be quite effective from a practical point of view, as Kieran sank into deep thought.

216


Our game continued l l . Bxf6 exf6 1 2 . exd5 cxd5 . b121) Now critical was 1 3 . Nxd5 b5! 14 .b3 (or 14.f5 bxc4 i5.Bxc4 Ng5t) 14 . . . Bb7 with decent compensation for a pawn. One possible line runs 15.f5 Ng5 16 .0-0 bxc4 17.bxc4 Ne4 18 .Qf4 Bxd5 19.cxd5 Qxd5 =. b122) Kieran did not take the dare and rejected the pawn with 13.c5 Nc7 14 .0-0 Bg4 (Black intends f6-f5

and Nc7-e6 to attack the base of the white pawn chain.) 1 5 . Rad1 (15.Nel at once was better.) 15 . . . Ne6 16 .Ne1 f5 17. Nc2 (if 17. Bxg4 then 17. .. Bxd4+) 17 . . . Bxe2 18.Qxe2 b6! Black is al ready better, but there was no need for White to lose a pawn with 19.b4? bxc5 2 0.bxc5 Nxc5 2 1 . dxc5 Bxc3+.

b13) Black can also attack the center from the other side: 9 . . . b5

the vulnerable f4 pawn are not addressed at all. 9 . . . Nh5 !? 10.Qd2 f6 1 1 . Bh4 Bh6 ! 1 2 .g3 e5 13 .dxe6 Nxe6 Black has counterplay, as White cannot castle long: 14 . 0 - 0 - 0 Nhxf4! 1 5 . Kb1 (15.gxf4 ? Bxf4 wins the queen) 15 . . . Nxe2 16.Qxe2 g5 -+. b3) Finally, 9.Qd2 is answered with the typical pawn sacrifice that we have already seen in the game Moynihan-Bojkov: 9 . . . d5!

10.e5 (10. cxb5 cxb5!? ll.e5 Nfd5 looks good for Black) 10 . . . Nh5 l l .Qd2 (or ll.g3 {6! 12.cxb5 cxb5 13.Nxb5 Nxb5 14. Qb3+ Kh8 15. Qxb5 Bh3 �) ll . . . Ne6 12.g3 bxc4 13 .d5 cxd5 14. Nxd5 f6 15.exf6 Nxf6 16. Bxc4 Kh8 17.0-0, and with the excluded bishop on h4 White cannot hope for any advantage. 17 . . . Nc7 18. Nxf6 exf6 ! ?oo. b2) 9.d5 is designed to deprive the knight of the e6 square, but it's a bit slow :

Moreover, the problems with the bishop on a shaky square and

But it's a much improved version, as the light-squared bishop is not obstructed by its own knight. 10. Bxf6 exf6 and now : b31) Neglecting to trade in the center will give White problems after 1 1 .0 - 0 dxe4 1 2 . Nxe4 Bg4 1 3 . Rad1 Qe7 14 . Nf2 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 f5+. The pawn on d4 is a convenient target. Next, Ra8-d8 and Nc7-e6 will follow, and as the bishops are opposite-colored White will have to advance d4 -d5. This pawn will be blocked and White's bishop will become inactive. Black can start play on the king's flank afterwards with h7-h5 -h4 and attack against the f4 pawn. b32) ll.exd5 cxd5 1 2 .c5 Bf5 13.0-0 Be4! An excellent outpost for


217

the bishop! 14.b4 (14.Nxe4 will be aw ful after 14 ... dxe4 15.Nel f5 16.Rdl b6+) 14 . . . Ne6 15.Racl f5+. White is

doomed to a passive defense due to the pawns on the dark squares.

A

nother principally different plan is to advance the h-pawn with 7.h4 e5:

8 .d5 White needs to stabilize the center if he wishes to proceed on the king's flank. (There is no time for

B.h5 exd4 9. Qxd4

concrete reason for doing so: the necessity to create threats in the center before White opens (or closes!) the game on the kingside. 9.Be3 Nc5 The pressure on the e4 pawn forces White to put his queen to work in a defensive role. 10.Qc2 (or 10.Bf3 a5

ll.g4 Qd7! 12.g5 Ng4 with good game; and if 10.{3?! then 10 ... Nh5+) 10 . . . c6 l l .h5 (Remember well the typical trick after ll.b4?

l l . . . Ncxe4! 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Bf5 14. Qf3 e4 and Black wins the rook.) l l . . . cxd5 1 2 . cxd5 Qa5 Once again putting 1 3 . B d2

9... Nxe4!) 8 . . . h6 I usually advise you

not to use this pawn so early. In this case, however, we have a very

218


pressure

on

e4!

It seems that White has achieved his plan and there is nothing else but for Black to advance the g6 pawn. Only if we do not recall the dark squared domination principle with 13 . . . Bd7 !

14 .hxg6 fxg6 and now: a) In case of 15.Rbl Qb6 16.Be3 a5? the pawn on h6 is no longer available for White. 17.Bxh6? Nfxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Qxe4 Qxf2+ 20.Kd2 Bf5. b) Accepting the pawn deprives the first player of his most active pieces: 15. Bxh6 Bxh6 16. Rxh6 Kg7 17.Rh4 Rh8 18. Rxh8 Rxh8+. c) 15.f3 Rac8

All the black pieces are in action, and logic says Black should be better! cl) If White takes the pawn, there is more than enough compen sation for Black after 16. Bxh6 Bxh6 17.Rxh6 Kg7. For example: 18.Rh2 (or lB.Rhl Nh5 19. 0 - 0 - 0 Na4- +) 18 . . . Nh5 19. Nh3 Rh8 20.Rbl Qd8 !+ suddenly switching flanks with to tal domination on the black squares. The threats Nh5 -f4 and Qd8-h4+ fol lowed by Qh4-g3xg2 are impossible to parry. c2) White's attempt to start an open fight is spectacularly refuted: 16 .b4? Qxb4 17. Nb5

17 . . . Qxb5 ! ! 18. Bxb5 Bxb5 19.Qbl Bd3 20.Qdl Nfxe4-+ 2 1 . fxe4 Rfl#. c3) 16 . Rbl is probably best, but it's still better for Black after 16 . . . Qd8 ! 17.Bxh6 Bxh6 18.Rxh6 Kg7 19.Rh l , and now 19 . . . Nh5� or 19 . . . b5t.


219

'l'I Then the queen loses a tempo V V with 7.Qc2 we can put the question to the bishop with 7... h6:

and now: a) 8 . Be3 e5�. b) 8.Bd2 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5= 10.Nd5?! Nc5 1 l . Bb4 Nfd7 1 2 . Bg4?! f5 13.exf5 e4 14 .Be2 was already better for Black had he found the move 14 . . . c6!

(14... Nd3+ L. Spassov- V. Spasov, La Roda 2005.) 15.f6 Bxf6 16. Nxf6+

Qxf6 17.0 -0-0 Qg5++ with a pawn gain. c) The third retreat of the bishop, 8. Bf4, places it on a vulnerable square . We can underline this fact with 8 . . . c5 9.d5 e5 10.dxe6 Bxe6 ll.Rdl (In case of 11. 0-0-0?! the

easiest solution is ll...Nb4 12. Qb3 NeB followed by Nb4-c6-d4 in the near future.) ll . . . Nb4 12 .Qd2 :

220


Depending on our mood, we can choose either to sacrifice a piece with 12 . . . Nxa2 ! ? 1 3 . Nxa2 Nxe4 14.Qe3 Qa5+ 1 5 . Kfl Qxa2 16.Qxe4 Rfe8iii , with a lot of fun for the missing material, or to keep all the pieces on the board with 1 2 . . . Re8=, since the pawn is poisoned: 13. Bxd6? Nxa2! 14 . Nxa2 Nxe4-+.

A pet line of Belorussian GM fiA leksandrov is 7.Nf3 . My advice is to include 7... h6 and compared to the analogous positions of the Classical Line of the KID, Black has the useful move Nb8 -a6 and White the not"so-good Bcl-g5 .

Some proofs of this thinking are pro vided below : a) S . Bf4 e5! 9. dxe5 Nh5 10.Be3 dxe5= was an immediate equalizer. In fact, Black is still several tempos ahead : l l .Qc1 Kh7 (l l . . . Nf4!?) 1 2 .0-0 c6 1 3 . Rd1 Qe7 14 .c5 Nc7 15.Nd 2 Nf4 16. Bfl Nce6 17.g3 Nh5 18 .b4 Nd4 19.Bg2 a5 2 0 . a3 B g4+ is a good example for the second player in Mitchell-Arakham i a , Caleta 2 0 0 5 . b) 8 . B e 3 : b 1 ) The Bishop c a n be once again attacked . 8 . . . Ng4 9 . B c 1 e5 and now : bll) 10.h3 exd4 ! 1 l . Nxd4 Nf6 1 2 .0 - 0 Nc5 (Black's best plan is to

ll . . . dxe5 1 2 .h3 Nf6 1 3 . QxdS RxdS 14 . Be 3 Nh5 1 5 . Rfd 1 ReS 16 . a3 Nf4fl., Ponom ariov- Grischuk, B eijing 2 0 1 1 . b 2 ) Also possible is the prelimi nary S . . . e5 9.dxe5 Ng4 10. Bf4 Nxe5 l l . Nd4 Nc5 1 2 . 0 - 0 Ne6 1 3 . Be3 Nxd4 14 . Bxd4 c5! 1 5 . B e 3 Be6 16.b3

(or 16. Qb3 b5! 17.Nxb5 a6 18.Nc3 RbB 19. Qc2 Nxc4) 16 . . . Nxc4 17.bxc4

Bxc3 1 S . Bxh6 ReSfl., L'Ami-Aguera Naredo, Reykjavik 2 0 1 2 . c ) Finally, White can retreat the bishop to h4: S . Bh4 but here it can be captured by the black knight, a trade which we cannot resist. S . . . g5 9 . B g3 Nh5 10.0-0

lure the light-squared bishop to f3 and then attack it with Nf6-h7-g5! 12 . . . Re8!?

13. Bf3 Nh7+.) 1 3 . Bf3 a5 14 . Re1 ReS= Bick- Sharavdorj , Minneapolis USA 2005. b12) 10 . 0 - 0 c6 1 l . dxe5 (or the model plan which we have already seen after ll.h3 exd4 12.Nxd4 Nf6 13.Rel ReB 14.Bf3 Nh7!fl.) and now

Black usually recaptures with a piece (for example ll...Nxe5 12.Nd4 Nc5 13. Be3 a5fl.), but Grischuk proved recently that there is nothing wrong with the other capture:

10 ... e 6 ! The bishop has nowhere to go, and Black can improve his position first. l l . Ne1 Nxg3 1 2 . hxg3 c5! Hitting where it is most painful the black squares! 13 .d5 exd5 14 .exd5 (14.cxd5 f5!) 14 . . . Nc7 1 5 . Nc2 f5 16. B d 3 Bd7 17.Qh5 QeS 1S .QxeS RaxeS and Black was already a touch better in Khismatullin-Nikolaidis, Chalkis 2010.


221

7. . . e5 8. d5

9 dxe5 .••

White can once again try to turn the game in another direction with 8.Nf3. If this happens , I advise you to attack the e4 pawn at once with 8 Qe8 : .••

Note that the White pawn is in real danger: 9.0-0?! exd4 10.Qxd4

(10. Bxf6 is the lesser evil, though it's somewhat better for Black after 10 . . . Bxf6 ll.Nxd4 c6+) 10 . . . Nxe4!

and now: a) 10.Rd1 Nc5 1 l . Bxf6 This trade weakens White's dark squares. ll . . . Bxf6 1 2 . Nd5 Bd8 (with the idea of c7-c6) 13 .Qe3 Ne6 ! Now Black ar ranges his pieces in a most beauti ful way: 14 . Nxe5 c6 15.Nc3 and now the move 15 . . . Bg5 ! leads to advan tage for Black. (Instead, 15 . . . Bb6 in

Uhlmann-J. Polgar, Aruba 1992, was actually quite good anyway, and led Judith to a victory later.) 16.Qf3 f5 17.0-0 Bf6 (1 7. . . Qe7!?+) 18.Nd3 Ng5

19.Qe3 Nxe4+. b) 10.0-0 is more solid, but Black still manages to bring the a6 knight to a gorgeous position: 10 . . . Nc5 not only attacking the e4 pawn but intending to bring the knight into the center with tempos after Nc5 -e6. l l . Bxf6 Bxf6 1 2 . Nd5 (Worse is 12. b4 ?! Ne6 13.c5 c6+.) 12 . . . Bd8! and again, White cannot win the pawn: 13 .Qe3 Ne6+ 14 . Nxe5?! c6 15.Nc3 Bg5� 16.f4? Nxf4 ! .

ll .Qxe4 Bxc3+ 12 .Qxe8 Rxe8, and the bishop on e2 has suddenly become loose. But 9.dxe5 releases the central pressure, which is in Black's favor.

222

Chapter 4: The Auerbakh System

Thus 9.d5 remains White's only option:

1 3 . Nb3 Na4 14 . Ndl c6 1 5 . Bd2 cxd5 16.cxd5 ReS 17.Qd3 b6 1 8 . Rcl Nh5 19. Rxc8 Qxc8 2 0 . g3 f5 2 l . f3 fxe4 2 2 .fxe4 Bh3 2 3 . Rgl Bd7 24.Rfl Nf6 2 5 . Be3 Kh7 2 6 . Bf3 Bh3 27. Rf2 Ng4 2 8 . Bxg4 Bxg4+, Gerusel-Popovic, Germany 2 0 0 2 .

8

Now we can exploit the somewhat chaotic arrangement of the white pieces with 9 ... Nc5. The queen on d2 has taken away the square from the f3 knight and will need to move again . (9. . . Bd7 is good as well: 10. 0 - 0

Nh5 11.Rae1 {6 12.Bh6 Bxh6 13. Qxh6 Nf4=, Milanovic-Damljanovic, Valje vo 2010.) And now :

a) The queen stays only if White wishes to part with his dark-squared bishop, as in the following game: 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 1 l .b4 Nd7 1 2 .0 - 0 Bg7 Freeing the road for · the f-pawn. 13 .Qc2 This frees the c1-h6 diagonal for Black's bishop. 13 . . . a6 14 . Bd3 Qd8 (14... Bh6!?) 1 5 . Nd2 Bh6 The bishop can work well on this diagonal, too! 16. Nf3 Nf6 , and Black has an excellent game, in Illescas Cordoba Comas Fabrego, Cala Galdana 1999. Next, he will most likely go for Nf6 h5-f4. b) 10.Qc2 But now White has lost a tempo, and this matters a lot in the KID ! Let's see the course of a model game, where Black gets everything he wants: 10 . . . h6 1 l .Bc1 (ll. Be3 Ng4! and {7-{5.) 1 l . . .a5 1 2 . Nd2 Bd7

. . .

Nc5!?

This is my recommendation against the Averbakh system because of a sharp idea of Ang. Perez. It has an excellent surprise value and some deep analysis will allow you to score decently in the line. If you do not want to take a risk, you might like to study 8 . . . Qe8 !? which is a decent alternative . So is the main continuation 8 . . . c6 9.f3 cxd5 10.cxd5 Bd7, which also successfully solves Black's opening problems.

9.(3 Born out of necessity.


223

The simple-minded 9.b4?! neatly punished after 9 . . . Ncxe4!

is

1 l . Bxd8 Nxd2 10 . Nxe4 Nxe4 1 2 . Bxc7 Ne4 (12 . . . e4 is interesting too: 13.Rcl e3 14.fxe3 Ne4 �) 1 3 . f3 Nc3 14 . Bxd6 ReS (14 . . . RdB!? 15.Bc7 ReB) 1 5 . Kfl e4! and it turns out that Black's initiative is very strong even in the endgame: 16.Re1

(or 16. Rcl exf3 1 7. Bxf3 Bf5+ with the nasty threat Bf5-d3+) 16 . . . Bf5 luring the pawn to g4 ! 17.g4 Bd7 18.Nh3 (1B. h3 looks more resilient,

although Black still has all the joy after lB . . . RadB 19.Bc7 ReB 20. d6 Nxa2 +) 18 . . . Rac8 1 9 . Nf2 exf3

10.0-0-0 looks like castling into it:

10 . . . a4 l l .h4 a3 1 2 .b3 c 6 13 .dxc6

(o 13.h5 Qa5 14. hxg6 fxg6 15.KbJ oo) 13 . . . bxc6 14 .Qxd6 Qa5 1 5 . Kc2 Ne6 16 .Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Qxc6 Nd4+ 1 8 . Rxd4 exd4 , with somewhat better chances for Black in Voiteanu- Galyas, Budapest 2 0 0 7. 10.h4 usually does not have in dependent value, as White almost always proceeds with the move l l .g2 -g4 which will transpose to the 10.g2 -g4 line from above. I will just mention the exceptions: 10 c6 •••

20. Bxf3 Rxe1+ 2 l . Kxe1 Rxc4+, when White's position fell apart in Portisch-Kluger, Budapest 1957. 9.Bf3 a5 10. Nge2 c6 1 1 . 0 - 0 cxd5 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Nxd5 Bg5 14 .Qc2 Bd7 was excellent for Black in Efimov-Ivanov, Tomsk 2003.

9. . . a5 lO. Bdl White frees the e2 square for the knight and prepares Bd1-c2 . Still, this seems a bit artificial. This is not the only idea that White has in this situation. Three alternatives are explored.

224


and now:

a) l l . Nh3 cxd5 1 2 . cxd5 Bd7 13 .Nf2 a4!? with the idea Qd8-a5 and b7-b5 -b4:

10 .. . c6

l l .h4 cxd5 l � . cxd5 Bd7 1 3 . Nh3 · (13.h5 transposes to Raetsky- Gal 14 .h5 h6! 1 5 . Bh4 (Or 15.Bxh6 Nxh5 16.g4 Nf4! 1 7.Bxf4 exf4 + 18. Qxf4 ? a3! Demonstrating how useful the a-pawn advance is for Black.) 15 . . . Qa5 16 . Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Qxh6 (1 7. hxg6 Bg5!)

17 . . . Bg7 18 .Qd2 a3 19.b3 Bh6 : al) And here White missed the draw after 20.Qxh6 Qxc3+ 2 l . Kfl Qxal+ 2 2 ; Bdl Bb5+ 2 3 . Kgl g5 24.Qxg5+ Kh7 25.Qf5+=. a2) The game continued 20 .Qc2 Rac8 2 l . Nfd l Kg7+ 22 .hxg6 fxg6 23.Rbl Qb4 24.0-0 Bf4 2 5 . Nf2 Rh8 26.g3 Bxg3 27.Ncdl Rh2 2 8 .Qc3 Qb6 29.Qd2 , 0-1 Budrewicz-Zhigalko, Warsaw 2 0 1 1 . b ) Another game saw l l .h5 cxd5 1 2 . cxd5 Bd7 13.Nh3 Qe8 14.g4 b5 1 5 . Nf2 b4 16 . Ncdl Bb5 '12-lh, Raetsky- Gallagher, Swiss Championship, Samnaun 2008. The main move is 10.g4 which usually leads to the same position if White chooses the 10 .h4 approach. Black needs to strike back in the center as soon as possible . At least this is what the classics say, when confronted with a flank diversion .

lagher, which is studied under the 10. h4 move order.) White is ready to

finish his development with Nh3 -f2 and advance on the king's flank. How about Black? 13 . . . b5! (If you do

not want to sac anything, there is a positional way of countering White's attack: 13. . . Qe8 14.Nf2 b5 15. h5 b4 16. Ncdl Bb5�.):

This i s the sharp idea b y Ang. Perez. Black is ready to sac a pawn, or a piece! The ultimate target is that naughty white king in the center!


225

a) 14 . Bxb5? is completely handing over the controls to Black: 14 . . . Bxb5 15.Nxb5 Rb8 16.Qe2 (Even worse is 16.Nc3 Rxb2!+.) 16 . . . Qd7 17. a4 Nxa4+. b) 14 .Nf2 Qb6 (14 ... b4!? 15.Ncdl ReB?) 15 .h5 was seen in Guerra Perez, Cuba 1997. Now according the Cuban player, Black had to play 15 . . . Ra7 ! 16.Rc1 ReB intending Rac7=. c) The point behind Black's idea is unleashed after 14 . Nxb5 Nfxe4 ! !

looks great for Black as well.) 19. Bc6 Ra7 20.Bxd6 Ne4+ 2 l . Kxf3 Nxd6+. c122) In addition, Perez played the position himself, and after 17. Bxf3 Bxb5 1 8 . Bxf8 Rxf8 19. Be2 Bxe2 (I found, though, a good improve ment on Black's play: 19. . . Bd7! Why trade bishops when we can have two of them?!

Next, Black plays e5-e4, Rf8-b8, and/or f7-f5 with the better chances.)

A star move ! I spent numerous

�ours analyzing the positions af terwards and found no way for White to claim any advantage, despite the extra piece that he might have ! And you may be sure that your opponent will be completely shocked to have this on the board, while you will be completely armed straight from home! c1) First of all, as Perez analyzed, it is already too late to reject the "gift": 15. Bxd8? Nxd2: c11)16.Kxd2 Rfxd8 17. Nxd6 Bxg4 18.fxg4 Rxd6 19. Bc4 Rb8+ (or even

better 19... e4!+). c12) 16 . Be7 Nxf3+: c121) 17. Kf2 Bxb5 1 8 . Bxb5 Rfb8

(18 . . . Nd4 19.Bxf8 RxfB 20.Bc4 e4 + 226


2 0 . Kxe2 a4!�, he got decent compen sation for the exchange, Keipo-Perez Cuba 1996. c2) Thus, 15.fxe4 is forced, and after 15 . . . f6 the fun starts:

c21) 16 .Bh6?! looks like a mis take to me. 16 ... Nxe4 17.Qe3 Bxh6: c211) 18 .g5 fxg5 19.Qxe4 gxh4 -+ is hopeless for White, with the king under crossfire in the center. c2 12) 18.Qxe4 f5 19.gxf5 Bxf5 20.Qa4 Qb6 is one more improvement on Perez's analysis, and Black is winning. c213) 18.Qxh6 Ng3+ or 18 . . . Bxb5 19.Bxb5 Qb6+. c22) 16 . Bxf6? the extra piece was White's only advantage . 16 . . . Qxf6 17.g5 Qd8 1 8 . Nc 3 Qb6+. If Black emerges only a pawn dow n , t h i s would be absolutely nothing compared to all the weaknesses in the white camp. c23) The same can be s aid for 1 6 . Nc3 fxg5 17. Nxg5 (if 1 7. hxg5 then 1 7. . . Qb 6 +) and now 17 . . . Rb8 ! t or 17 . . . Bh6 !?=. c24) The only thing left is 16.Be3 Nxe4:

center. I would not like to be in White's shoes in this situation.) 1 9 . Ng5 Ng3 2 0 . Rgl±, Terrieux-Ekstroem , Rogaska Slatina 2 0 0 9 . c242) 17.Qc2 is the more logical move. White is at least attacking the knight and gains time for the defense. Still, 17 . . .f5 leads to further branches, which seem excellent for Black: c2421) 1 8 . gxf5?!

1 8 ... Ng3 ! Do not forget (as Ekstroem did) to include this move ! It is the cornerstone of your counterattack! c242 1 1) Bad is 19.Rgl Qxh4 2 0 . Nf2 Nxf5 - +. c242 1 2 ) 19.Rh2 is possible, but not great after 19 . . . Nxe2 20.Qxe2 Qxh4+ 2 1 . Bf2 Qb4+ 2 2 . Nc3

c241) In the only game in the Megabase, White won after 17.Qdl f5 1 8 .gxf5 gxf5? An automatic answer which spoiled the attack.

(Instead, correct is 18 . . . Ng3! 19. Rgl Nxf5 20. Bg5 Qb6 21.a4 Nd4, trying to open as many files as possible in the Chapter 4: The Averbakh System

22 7

22 . . . e4! and I doubt that White can survive the line attacks of all the remaining black pieces! c242 13) 19.0-0-0? This is not advisable. 19 . . . Rc8 20.Nc3 Bxf5 21.Bd3 Bxd3 22 .Qxd3:

c24221) After 19.a4 Ng3 20.Rgl Nxe2 2 1 .Qxe2 f4 , with his flanks disconnected and the bishop on g5 in danger of a permanent prison, White has nothing better than 2 2 . Be7 Rf7 2 3 . Bxd6 Bxb5 24. Bxb8 Bxe2 2 5 . Bxe5 Bxe5 2 6 . Kxe2 Rb8+ (or 26 . . . {3+!?+). c24222) Or 19.Nc3 Ng3 20.Rgl f4 2 1 . Bf3 (21.Rxg3 fxg3 22. 0-0-0

e4! allows Black to attack for free.) 2 1 . . .Qb6 2 2 .Qf2

Now White gets slaughtered after 22 . . . e4! 23 .Qd2 Bxc3 24.bxc3 Rxc 3 + ! 2 5 . Kbl (25. Qxc3 Ne2+) 2 5 . . . Qb8+ 2 6 . Kal Rd3 2 7.Qc2 Nxh l-+. c2422) 1 8 . Bg5 is the move cham pioned by the computer. However after some digging, it confesses that it is only White who plays for the half point, after 18 . . . Qb8 !

228


I

t seems as if White is finally stabilizing the situation . But here comes my favorite move of all the analysis that I did: 22 . . . Rab8 ! ! Black i s not afraid t o go into an endgame despite the piece down!

23.Qxb6 Rxb6 with the threat h7-h6 and Rf8-e8 to trap the bishop. And if 24 .h5 e4 2 5 . B d 1 Rxb2+, Black already has two pawns for the piece (and what pawns ! ) and very active pieces (and what pieces! ) . c2423) 18.Ng5 Ng3

We look at five possibilities for White: 1) 19.0 - 0 - 0 Nxh 1 2 0 . Rxh1 ReS 2l.Nc3oo and now we can follow one more of Perez's games: 2 l . . .h6: 11) 2 2 . Ne6 Bxe6 2 3 . dxe6 d5!+. 12) 22 .gxf5 ! ? hxg5 23.fxg6 gxh4+. 13) 2 2 . Nf3 f4 2 3 . Bd2 (23.Bf2

digging will also discover excellent possibilities for Black in this line as well. 32) 2 2 . Rxf3 Rxf3 2 3 . Nxf3 Bxg4 24.Qe3 Bxf3 2 5 .Qxf3 Qxh4+ 26.Qf2 Qg4--+:

2 7. Nc3 Rf8 2 8 . Qh2 Bh6 ! and being, technically speaking, only a pawn down, Black has a devastating attack without any risk. 4) 1 9 . Rh 2 f4 2 0 . Bf2 Nxe2 2 1 . Qxe2 f3 ! 2 2 .Qc4 (In the line 22. Qd3, Black

can open files! 22 . . . e4! 23. Nxe4 Bxb5 24. Qxb5 Qe7+.) 22 . . . Rc8 2 3 .Qb3

Bxg4! 24. Qxg6 Bf5 25. Qg2 a4 D.Qa5--+)

23 . . . Bxg4 24.Qxg6 B f5 2 5 . Qg2 Qb6 26.Rg1 Rf7+--+ Diaz-Perez, Cuba 1997. 2) 19.Ne6 !? is interesting with rich, double-edged play after 19 . . . Bxe6 20.dxe6 f4 2 1 . Bc4 Kh8 22.Rg1 fxe3 2 3 . Rxg3 d5 24.0 - 0 - 0 Qxh4 25 .e7 Qxe7 2 6 . Rxd5 Rac8oo. 3) 19.Rh3 was also suggested by the computer. 19 . . . Nxe2 2 0.Qxe2 f4 2l.Bg1 f3 : 31) Probably, White should play for a draw with 2 2 . Nxf3 Bxg4 23.Rg3 Bxf3 24.Rxf3 Qxh4+ 2 5 . Rf2 Rxf2 26. Bxf2 Qh1+ 27.Qfl Qe4+=, although I suspect that some

23 ... a4! The beauty of the position is that Black can attack from either


229

side! 24.Qxa4 Rb8 2 5 . Ne6 Bxb5 26 .Qa7 Qf6 27.Nxf8 Rxf8+. 5) And finally, after 19. Rg1 Nxe2 20.Qxe2 f4 2 l . Bf2 e4! , Black enjoys a strong attack.

10 . . . c6

a) 13 . . . Nd7 14 . 0 - 0 Ndc5 15. Bc2 Bd7 16.Rad1 Bc6 17.b3, with a slight edge for White, was played in Sasikiran-Zude, Bastia 2005. b) Instead, I like 13 . . . Nxd5 !? 14 .cxd5 Nc5 , as White cannot easily dominate on the light squares after 1 5 . Bxc5 dxc5 16 .Ba4 Qh4+ ! Before White has time to castle! 17. Ng3 Bh6 18.Qf2 b6 (with the idea Bc8-a6) 19.Bb5 a4� . Less good is 12.cxd5 B d 7 (or

12 . . . a4 13.Bc2 Qa5 14. Nbl Qb6 15.Na3 Bd7 16.Rbl RfcB 17.Be3 Nh5 18.g3 {5 � as in Bareev-J. Polgar, Moscow 1996) 13.0-0 b5 14 .Bc2 Qb6

11. Be3 ?1 Highly illogical. White should finish developing with ll.Nge2 . Black has a good score in this line as well, but the position is balanced and White can try and fight for an edge. u .. cxd5 .

1 5 . Be3 Qb7 16 . Nd1 Rfc8 17. Nf2 b4 18. Rfc1 Bb5 , with a convenient position for Black, in Tsvetkov Berbatov, Plovdiv 2010.

11 . . . cxd5 12. cxd5 b 6 13. Be2 NeB 14. 0 - 0 - 0 (5 15. Kbl Nf6

Probably, 12 .Nxd5!? is White's best bet in this position. 12 . . . Ne6 13.Be3 and now:

230


21. Bxe4 bxc5 22. Ne2 Bg4 23. Rd2 Rb8 24. Nc3 Rb4 25. h3 Bd7 26. Kal Qh4 2 7. Bd3 Rfb8 28. Rbl c4 0-1

Black is already better on both flanks.

16. Qc2 ? The exchange on e4 should not be allowed!

16. . . fxe4 1 7.fxe4 If instead 17.Bxc5, then 17 . . . exf3+.

17. . . Nfxe4! 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bd3 Not 19.Qxe4 Bf5 -+.

19. . . Nc5

20. Bxc5 e4! There are many ways to convert the extra pawn, but Mchedlishvili decided correctly not to hold on to it, but to transform it into more power for the KID bishop!


231

Memory M a rkers Here are reminders of some of the ideas and motifs in this chapter.

1. After 8 ... Nc7. The maneuver N a6-c7 -e6 against the four pawn advance. See diagram on page 2 15 .

2. After 13 ... Bd7!. The h6 pawn

3. After 7 . . .h6. A good version of the classical line. See diagram on page 220.

4. After

232


sacrifice. See diagram on page 2 1 9.

1 0 ...Nxe4!. Central pressure. See diagram on page 222.

An early central attack. See diagram on page 224.

6. After 13...b5!. Perez's sharp

7. After 14 ...Nfxe4!!. Analysis of Perez's sharp idea. See

8. After 14...Qb6. Comfortable

5. After 9 ... Ncxe4!.

diagram on page 2 2 6 .

idea. See diagram on page 2 2 5 .

development. page 230.

See

diagram


on

233


As Black, practice finding the right moves when facing the Averbakh System. Solutions to these exercises begin on page 337.

Exercise 1

Uksti Kulaots ·

Polva Open 2000 Why was the h-pawn good for bait?

234


Exercise 2

Strunsky

·

Raykhman

German Championship Net Final UlB 2009 The game of checkers.

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Zaiatz - Komiagina

Wilder - Gallagher

Russian Women's Championship Orel 2006

Saint John Open 1988

A typical situation, but it still works!

How to make our pieces work?

Exercise 5

Exercise 6

Walkusz - Dlugosz

Mohr - Uhlmann

Gdansk Championships 2005

Bund_esliga 1994

White has just started queenside action. Prove that it's premature!



235

Exercise 7

Exercise 8

Bagirov - Khismatullin

Seirawan - Gelfand

Moscow Open 2008

Tilburg 1990

The stability of the white center is deceptive. Prove it!

Exercise 9

Exercise 10

Vegh - Krum Georgiev

Silman - Brooks

Berlin Open 1988

Software Toolworks Open Pittsburgh 1988

How to address our problems on the king's flank?

236

How to negate White's activity?


Inspiration is needed.

Chapter S The Bagirov Line

l.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 8. Nc8 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf8 0- 0 6. h8 Na6!?

We trust that the lines we have studied so far have convinced you that the King's Indian is a hard nut to crack and cannot be taken with bare hands . Careful preparation is needed, and in this chapter we shall investigate such an approach. he positional system which starts with 6 .h3 is named after GM Vladimir Bagirov who laid the foundation of its strategic concepts. Just as in the Petrosian, this system is designed to limit Black's active possibilities. One idea is to carefully control the e4 square and make the f7-f5 advance ineffective. White often plays g2-g4 to discourage his op ponent from advancing this pawn; even if f7-f5 is still possible, the first player intends to trade twice on f5 and block the position with Nf3 d2-e4. If this happens , the knight is more than happy in the center, but what is more important, it will

T

dominate the black bishop on g7, our most beloved piece. Another strategically venomous plan is to advance the kingside pawns with g2-g4 and h3 -h4-h5 in order to force Black to close the flank with g6g5 . If this plan works, Black would suffer painfully until the very end, deprived of his usual counter-chances on the king's wing. With the limited space he has, there will be nothing to be done on the other side of the board either. This one-sided play is what the first player craves. Shall we allow him this pleasure? We must not forget that in the KID, White can hardly afford slow motion !

Chapter 5: The Bagirov Line

23 7

1 Parligras - Fressinet

13th European Championship Plovdiv 2012 l.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg 7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 The usual move order is 5 . Nf3 0-0 6.h3 .

5. . . 0- 0 6. Nf3

(ideally) shut the flank and play a one-sided game on the queen's flank. These are, in brief, White's intentions . However, remember that in the KID, White cannot afford such slow motion . As Boris Avrukh once told me, he abandoned this beloved weapon of his since he was getting mated way too often.

6 . . . Na 6

The Bagirov system. White intends to fight the KID in a positional way. The placement of the pawn on h3 is designed to take control over the important g4 square, thus making possible the development of the bish op to e3. White usually waits with the other bishop, which might get into the game at a later stage on e2 or d3 , or it might even be fianchet toed. This pawn is also useful in the aggressive-preventive play on the king's flank. As mentioned in the in troduction, White usually advances g2-g4 and tries to discourage the f7f5 move. If Black insists on this idea, the first player will exchange twice on f5 and win the e4 square and open the g-file for an attack. If not, White might advance the pawns further to

238


7. Be3 The most natural move . For the more active, tricky, and popular continuation 7. Bg5 see the next game. But here I will mention the following game, as there is a transposition to a later phase in our present game: 7 . . . Qe8 8 . Be2 e5 9.d5 Nh5 10.g3 f5 l l . Nh4 Nf6 1 2 .exf5 gxf5 13.Be3. We reach a position seen in our main game, but with an extra tempo for Black. This certainly cannot be bad, and Black took over the initiative after 13 . . . Bd7 14.Qd2 Nc5 1 5 . Bh6 Nfe4 16 . Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Qcl Qf7+ in Rajcevic-Antic, Obrenovac 2 0 0 5 .

7 e5 . . .

ready better, as 14. Qxa7 Bb7 15.Nd2 Nxe4! 16.Ndxe4 Bxe4 17.Nxe4 Rxb5+ leaves Black a healthy pawn ahead.) 14 . . . Be6 1 5 . Nxe5 . It seems White should be happy with his position, and that Black's pawns on the c-file will fall in the future . But Spasov reveals hidden resources in the posi tion with 1 5 . . . Nxe4 !

8.d5 White stabilizes the center and shifts the play to the flanks . Some years ago there was a slight burst of popularity in the line 8 .dxe5 dxe5 9.c5 (the pawn is untouchable: 9. Nxe5?! Nxe4) with the ideas Bflxa6 and Nf3-d2-c4-eventually-d6 But it was soon discovered that 9 . . . b6! yields White no advantage:

The king in the center matters more than the material. 16 . Nc6 Qg5 ! 17.Nxb8?? (o 1 7. Qxe4 Bxc3+ 18. bxc3 Rxb5+) 17 . . . Qxg2 1 8 . Rfl (not 18. Qxe4 ?? Bxc3+) 18 . . . Nxc3 19.bxc3 Rxb8 2 0 . Be2 Re8, and despite the extra exchange, White resigned in Kukov- Spasov, Plovdiv 2 0 0 8 .

8

. . .

Nh5!

A principled decision. White did not pin this knight, so why not trou ble him with it? Now both Nh5 -f4 and f7-f5 are in the air.

10.Qa4? ! (10. cxb6 Qxdl+ ll.Rxdl axb6 12.Bc4 Bb7= Karpov-Kasim dzhanov, Vitoria Gasteiz 2007.) 10 . . . Nxc5 l l . Bxc5 bxc5 1 2 . Rdl Qe7 1 3 . Bb5 Rb8 ! 14 .Qc2 (Black was al-


239

Instead, Topalov chose 8 c6 against Carlsen and I believe this is playable as long as the second player is ready to positionally sacrifice a pawn: 9.g4 Nc5 10.Nd2 a5 l l.a3 •••

And we look at two possibilities: Topalov chose l l Nfd7: a) Now White gets nowhere after 12 .b4 axb4 13. axb4 Rxal 14.Qxal Na6 15 .Qa3 c5 16.bxc5 Naxc5=. b) So Carlsen played 1 2 . Rg1 a4 13 .Qc2 Nb6 14 .0-0-0 Bd7 1 5 . Kb1 and now, according to many of the annotators, Topalov needed to opt for 15 . . . Rc8 (rather than 15 . . . cxd5? which •.•

led to an unfavorable position and defeat in Carlsen-Topalov, Nanjing 2009) 16. Be2 cxd5 17.cxd5 Kh8 18.h4 f5 19.gxf5 although here, too, I am not convinced of Black's chances. White's queenside is stable, which is definitely not the case with Black's kingside. Not recommended!

240


Instead of the move played by Topalov, I like Marin's recommenda tion l l ... a4:

"This is possible right now," Marin notes, "as it is hardly favorable for White to capture this pawn at the price of exchanging his dark-squared bishop and weakening the dark squares in his camp (especially after g2 -g4)." a) Now in case of 12 .Qc2 Qa5 (or 12 . . . Bd7 13. 0 - 0 - 0) 1 3 . 0 - 0 - 0 Bd7 14 . Kb1 cxd5 15.cxd5 b5, it looks like a much better version of the position that Topalov got from the opening. b) In contrast, capturing the a-pawn with 1 2 . Bxc5 dxc5 13.dxc6?!

(o

13.Nxa4

Qa5

14.Nc3

Bh6�)

13 . . . bxc6 14 . Nxa4 Bh6 brought White only troubles: 1 5 . Nc3 Rb8 16.Rbl Qa5 17.Bd3 Rd8 18 .Qc2 Be6 19.Nf3 Bf4+, Muse-Levacic, Medulin 2002.

Back to our game:

9.g8 Parligras decided to limit the black knight. However, this cannot prevent Black from playing for the f7-f5 advance. There are several alternatives for White. We look at 9.a3 next, 9.Nd2 on page 243, 9.Ngl on page 244, a nd 9.Nh2 on page 246. A typical plan is to advance the pawns on the queen's flank at once: 9.a3 . In this case I recommend that you first give some air for your piec es, with 9 ... c6 (Alternatively, Black

a) Now the active 12 . . . Nf4!? seems fine for Black.

As usual, the knight on f4 does not intend to retreat from this excellent square. For example: 13 .g3 fxe4 14 . Nxe4 (The line 14. Nd2 Nd3+

15.Bxd3 exd3 16. Nde4 Nc7 17. Qxd3 b6 with the ideas Bc8-a6 (b7) and Nc7-e8-f6 shows the advantages of both the vacated c7 square and the presence of the light-squared bishop on the board for Black.) 14 . . . Bf5 15. Nfd2

also advance on "his, flank, but we should not forget that this is a risky strategy with less time for development. 9. . . Qe8 10.b4 f5 ll.c5 Nf6 12.Rcl KhB 13.Bc4 NbB saw double-edged play in the recent game Riazantsev-Mamedov, Plovdiv 2012, but I have the feeling that White is more comfortable.) 10.b4 cxd5 l l .cxd5 can

The c-file is opened, but it is not cer tain who will make use of it. ll . . . f5 12 .Rcl (12.exf5 gxf5 13.Bg5 Qd7= yields nothing) and at this point we look at two possibilities:

15 ... Nc7 ! hitting the pawn on d5, rather than prematurely taking it.

(If instead 15. . . Nxd5? then 16. Qb3 Chapter 5: The Bagirou Line

241

Nac7 17.Rxc7.) The idea is 16 .gxf4? exf4 17. Bxf4 Bxe4 18.Nxe4 Rxf4+. b) Also possible is 1 2 . . . Bd7.

All of a sudden, Black has nasty threats. b2 1) I can understand White's unwillingness to take the d6 pawn, but objective analysis shows that 1 5 . Nxd6 Bh6 will lead to a draw after a spectacular skirmish: 16 .Qb3 Rxf2 ! 17. Bxf2 Bxd2+ 1 8 . Kxd2 (Worse

is 18. Ke2 Nf4+ 19.Kxd2 Qxf2+ 20.Kdl e3 --.) 18 . . . Qxf2+ 19. Be2 Ng3 20.Rhel

Qd4+ 2 l . Kc2 Qf2 2 2 . Kd2 Qd4+=. b22) Lysyj , playing White, hur ried to secure the third rank with 15 .Qb3 and soon went wrong. b221) Now Black could have used the same motif to grab the initiative: 15 . . . Ng3 ! !

bl) Note that the pawn on e5 is untouchable in the line 13.exf5 gxf5! 14 .Nxe5 f4 15.Nxd7 (Or 15. Qxh5 BeB

16. Qe2 fxe3 17.Nf3 exf2+ 18. Qxf2 Bh6 with powerful attack for a pawn.) 15 . . . fxe3 16.Qxh5 exf2+ 17. Kdl Qxd7 18. Bd3 Be5. Black recovers the pawn and enjoys the better chances thanks to his safe king. b2) We now follow a game by Novikov, who decides to finish developing with 13.Nb5 fxe4 14 .Nd2 Qh4! 16.fxg3 (or 16.Nxd6 Nxhl) 1 6 . . . Qxg3+ 17. Kdl (not 17.Ke2 Bxb5+) 17 . . . Rxfl+! ! 18.Nxfl (or lB.Rxfl Bxb5) 18 . . . Qxg2 19.Rgl Qf3+ 2 0 . Kc2 Bxb5 -+, with three pawns for the exchange and an attack as "compensation". b222) Instead, Black finished his development and gave his opponent a chance for some nice tactics with 15 . . . Rac8?! 16 .Rxc8 Rxc8 and now White missed the computer-like combination: 17.Nc4 ! ! (17.Nc3 fl. was

Lysyj-Novikov, 17 . . . Bxb5

242


Belgorod

1 8 . Nxd6

Bxfl

2008.) 19.Nxc8

Bxg2 2 0.d6+ Kf8 2 1 . Ne7 Nf6 22 .Qe6 Bxh1 2 3 . Nxg6+ hxg6 24.Qe7+ Kg8 25.d7 Nxd7 26.Qxh4±. The maneuver 9.Nd2 is designed to temporarily stop the f7-f5 advance, and afterwards this knight can either be used to control the e4 square or it might be transferred to the queen's flank. 9 . . Qe8

a1) 13.f4? is not great here, as after 13 . . . exf4 14 . Bxf4 Nh5! Black creates strong threats. 15.Nf3 (or 15. 0 - 0 Nxf4 16.Rxf4 Be5+) 15 . . . Nc5 16.Qd2 Ne4 17. Nxe4 fxe4 18.Nd4 Nxf4 19.gxf4 e3 with a decisive advantage Kourousis-Banikas, Black, for Nikaia 2007. a2) Better is 13 .Qb3:

Black's play is pretty standard and is easy to memorize. The knight is supported by the queen, and f7-f5 is coming next. a) 10.g3 gives an additional object for an attack for the second player: 10 . . . f5 1 1 .exf5 gxf5 1 2 � Be2 Nf6:

Now it's 13 ... Nd7 ! with the ideas of f5 f4 , Nd7-c5 and Na6-b4 afterwards. 14 . Rg1 supporting the bishop. (After

.

14. 0-0- 0 ? f4 15.gxf4 exf4 White will have to part with the piece.) 14 . . . Kh8 15.f3 . If it's necessary to weaken the black-squared perimeter with a move like this , then than Black can simply enjoy the game: 15 . . . f4! 16 . Bf2

(16.gxf4 ? loses at least a piece after 16 . . . exf4 1 7.Bxf4 Ndc5 18. Qc2 Nb4 19. Qb1 Nbd3+-+) 16 . . . fxg3 , and Black

took over the initiative and quickly won, in Sethuraman- Shyam, New Delhi 2010. b) 10.Be2 invites the knight to a dream square with 10 . . . Nf4 , and the second mistake in a row 1 1 . Bxf4?! led to a disaster on the dark squares after 1 l . . . exf4 12 .Qc2 Nc5 1 3 . Bf3 Qe7 14 .0-0-0 Bd7+, Askarian- Sumets, Alushta 2002.


243

c) 10. Nb3 is recent try. White puts his hopes in the queen's flank, as his alternatives are in dire straits. 10 ... f5 l l .c5 f4 Just in time ! 12 .Bd2 Nxc5 13 .Nxc5 dxc5 14 .b4!?

14 . . . f3! (14 ... cxb4 15.Nb5 Qd7 16.Bxb4 � is the kind of play that White is aiming for.) 15.gxf3 (15.g3? would receive a painful punch: 15... Nxg3 16.fxg3 f2+ 17.Ke2 cxb4 and Black already wins, as the knight must not move: lB.Nbl ? Qb5+ 19.Ke3 Bh6 mate.) 15 . . . cxb4 16 .Nb5 Qd8 (16... Qf7!? is also worth analyzing.) 17.Qb3 (1 7.Rcl c6 18.dxc6 bxc6 19.Rxc6 a5 is good for Black.)

9.Ngl is a somewhat artificial way to oppose Black's threats.

White's idea is revealed in the lines 9 . . . f5?! 10.exf5 or 9 . . . Nf4 10.g3 Nh5 1 1 . Bg2 . Instead, 9 . . . Qe8! Prepares f7-f5, since the queen supports the knight from this square. 10 .Be2:

17 . . . Kh8 18. Bxb4 a6 !? and the open fight ended peacefully after 19. Bxf8 Bxf8 20.Nc3 Qf6 2 l . Ne2 a5 22.a3 Bc5 23.Ng3 Nf4 24.Ne2 Nh5

(Instead, Black could have searched for more with 24 ... Qh4!?, since the compensation on the black squares should be more than enough.) 2 5 . Ng3 Nf4 26 .Ne2 , when a draw was agreed, Wang Yue-Ding, China 2010.

244


10 ... f5 (10 ... Nf4 is also possible, but I like the move in the text better.) Now:

a) I was once "caught" in a home prepared line: l l . Bxh5 gxh5 1 2 . Nf3 fxe4 13.Ng5 Qg6 14. Ngxe4 Bf5 15.Ng3 :

b) If l l .exf5 then l l ... Nf4!

My opponent Kukov was a student of the notorious Bulgarian IM Bogomil Andonov, who had many bright ideas in this line. As he was practically blitzing his moves I became worried that things were not going that well, but my next move came as a surprise for him: 15 . . . Bd3! Up to here we were following a game of Andonov, but now Kukov had to think on his own. The move in the game proves that White's setup is harmless. 16 .Qxh5 Qxh5 Forced, as otherwise the black bishop will not have a retreat square. 17. Nxh5 Bxc4 18 .Nxg7 (or 18. b3 Bd3 19. 0 - 0 - 0 Bg6 20.Nxg7 Kxg7=) 18 . . . Kxg7 19.b3 (19.0-0-0!?Nb4 20. b3 Ba6=) 19 . . . Bd3 20.Kd2 Bg6 2 1 . a3 c6 2 2 . Rhdl Nc7 23.Ke1 c5! Kukov-Bojkov, Bankia 1116-final 2002 . Black was already better due to the weak d5 pawn, and I went on to win.

This is the idea behind Black's line. White should be punished for his sloppy play! bl) Bad here would be 1 2 . fxg6? Nxg2+ 1 3 . Kd2 Qxg6+. b2) 1 2 . Bf3? was already one mistake too many, and Redzepagic was swiftly punished after 12 . . . e4! 1 3 . Nxe4 Bxf5 14 . Nc3 Nd3+ 15.Kd2

15 ... Nxf2 ! 16.Qe1 (not 16.Bxf2 Bh6+ 17.Be3 Qxe3 mate) 16 . . . Nxh 1 17. Nge2

Nb4 0 - 1 , in Skopje 1991.

Redzepagic- Golubev,


245

b3) Better is 1 2 . Bxf4 exf4 1 3 . fxg6 Qxg6:

A tabiya for the line. Recently, the strong Brazilian GM Vescovi tried to prove that White's extra pawn is more important than the initiative. In vain. 14.Bg4N This was his idea. (14.Kfl Bf5 provides

One more way to meet Black's counterplay is 9.Nh2. Still, the knight does not seem so great on this square. 9 . . . Qe8 10.Be2:

And now a couple of possible continu ations for Black: a) 10 . . . Nf4!? l l . Bf3 (In case of

ll.g3 ?

decent compensation for the pawn.) 14 . . . Bxg4 (14 ... Nc5!? might be even better.) 15.hxg4 (The careless 15. Qxg4 ?! brings White to the verge of defeat: 15 ... Qc2 16.Nge2 {3! 1 7.gxf3 KhB and White is in trouble.) Now:

b31) Kotronias decided to restore material balance: 15 . . . Bxc3+ 16 .bxc3 Qe4+ 17.Qe2 (better than 17.Kfl Qxc4+ 18.Ne2 RaeB +) 17 . . . Rae8 18 .Qxe4 Rxe4+ 19.Kd2 Rfe8 20.Rh5 Nc5 2l.Rg5+ Kh8 2 2 . Rf5 Rxc4=, Vescovi-Kotronias , Bursa 2010. b32) Instead, 15 ... Rae8+ 16 . Kfl Nc5 also looks great for Black, who will then double his rooks on the open file and/or open the diagonal for the bishop with Nc5 -e4!

246


Black will take the more valuable bishop: ll . . . Ng2+ 12.Kfl Nxe3++.) l l . . . f5 1 2 .a3 (not 12.g3 Nxh3) 12 . . . g5 with the idea Qe8-g6. Such positions are a bit favorable for White with a knight on d 2 . However here, with that piece misplaced, Black experiences no problems whatsoever.

13.g3 fxe4 14 . Nxe4 Qg6? (More exact is 14 . . . Bf5!, as in this case White cannot capture the knight: 15.gxf4 exf4. White was hoping for 14 . . . Nxh3 15.Ng4 Qg6 16. Rxh3 Bxg4 1 7.Bxg4 Qxe4 18. Qe2 with compensation on the light squares.): al) Now after 15.h4? g4 Black soon won in Simantsev-Neuman, Pardubice 2 0 1 1 , as the line 16.gxf4 gxf3 17.f5 Bxf5 18.Ng3 Bc2 leads to a healthy extra pawn for the second player. a2) Critical is 15.gxf4 ! exf4 16. Bd4 ReS 17.Bxg7! Rxe4+ 18. Bxe4 Qxe4+ 19.Qe2 Qxe2 + 2 0 . Kxe2 Kxg7 2l.Rhgl with an advantage for White. b) Alternatively, 10 ... f5 makes a lot of sense:

king's side with KgB-hB, R{B-gB, not forgetting the immediate threats such as f5xe4, or f5-f4 with Bc8xh3 to fol low.) 12 . . . hxg4 13.hxg4 fxe4 14 .Qbl Qg6 15 .Qxe4:

15 . . . Bd7 is a recent novelty which equalized immediately. 16 . Ke2 Nb4! The knight is heading for the d4 square, and White needs to stop it. 17. Rhcl (of course not 17.Racl ??

Nxa2! 18. Qxg6 Nxcl+ 19. Rxcl hxg6) 17 . . . a5 and now: bl) 18.Qxg6 hxg6 19.a3 Na6 20.Ne4 b6 is good for Black as point ed out by Ostojic. b2) And 18.a3 Na6 19.f3 b6 is similar. b3) 18.f3 a4 19.Nfl a3 20.b3 Qxe4 (Also interesting is keeping the Black should not fear l l . Bxh5 gxh5, as now the black queen receives the excellent g6 square from where it will attack both the g2 and e4 pawns (squares). In addition, the g-file is advantageously opened for the black rook. 12 .g4 White tries to stabilize the situation in the center and to secure the e4 post for the knights.

central tension for the time being with 20. . . Rf7 21.Nd2 Ra{B 22. Qxg6 hxg6 23.Nce4 b5?.) 2 1 . Nxe4 c6 22 .dxc6 Bxc6 2 3 . Nfd2 (23.Nfg3!?) 23 . . . d5=, and a few moves later the opponents agreed to a draw in Grigoryan Mamedov, Rijeka 2010.

(The line 12. 0-0 Qg6 allows Black to slowly but surely bring pieces to the Chapter 5: The Bagirov Line

24 7

9. . . Qe8

can also prepare to ruin the black center with g3 -g4 .

14.gxf4 exf4 15. Bd4 The pawn is poisoned: 15. Bxf4? Nb4 16 .Qbl (if 16. Qb3 then 16 . . . Nd3+) 16 . . . Ne4 17. Nxe4 Rxf4 and Black wins a piece.

15 . . . Nb4

10. Be2 f5 11. exf5 Naturally not l l . Nd2?? f4-+, and not l l . Nh2? f4+.

1 1 . . . gxf5 12.Nh4 12.Nd2 would transpose to the alternative line 9.Nd2 discussed above, with 12 . . . Nf6? transposing to the diagram in line a) on page 243.

12 . . . Nf6 13. Qc2

An important moment! From hindsight, the

strike

15 f3!N •••

13 . . . (4! Activity and only activity! The timid 13 . . . e4?! allows 14 .0-0-0, when White is strategi cally winning. He has juicy squares for the knights (f4 is great one), and

248


is already possible, but the French GM decided to bring his knight clos er first. I guess he wanted to avoid the line 16.Nxf3 Nb4.

Now, bad 18 .0-0-0 Ne4

Qxe4

wins

is 17.Qd2?! Bf5 19.Rhgl (19.Nxe4? ?

instantly

for

bl) 2 l . Nh4 Bd7

Black.)

19 . . . Bg6 !+. However, even after 17.Qb3 Black has nothing to worry about. a) One possibility is 17 . . . a5, intending to meet 18.0,- 0 - 0 with either 18 . . . Bh6+ or 18 . . . Bf5 . b) However, 17 . . . Nd3+, spoiling casting, is even better: 18.Kd2 White manages to bring the a-rook into action. Still, Black has decent counter chances after 18 . . . Nc5 19.Bxc5 (The

only move. Not 19. Qc2 ? Bf5!+ and not 19. Qa3 ? Nfe4+ 20.Nxe4 Nxe4+ 21.Kd3 Bxd4-+.) 19 . . . dxc5 20. Ragl Bf5:

with the ideas Nf6 -e4+ and Kg8-h8 with Bg7-h6+ to follow. White can try the following four ideas: 2 l . Nh4 , 2 l . Ng5 , doubling rooks starting with 2 l . Rg2 , and the lively 2 1 .Qxb7.

And now: bll) 22 .Qxb7?! is too risky. 22 . . . Rb8 23.Qxc7 Rxb2+ 24.Kdl Ng4 ! ! 2 5 . Bxg4 Ba4+ 2 6 . Kcl Rc2+ 27.Kbl Qb8+ 2 8 . Nb5 (or 28. Qxb8 RxbB+ 29.Nb5 Rxc4+) 28 . . . Qxc7 29.Nxc7 Rb8+ 30.Nb5 Rxc4 , with close to a decisive advantage for Black. b12) On the other hand 2 2 . Rg2 is possible, with a mess after 22 . . . Qe5 2 3 . Rhgl Qf4+ 24.Kdl Rf7 25.Nf3 Bf5 26.Qxb7 ReB�. Black definitely has a powerful initiative, and it is up to him to prove that it matters more than White's material advantage. b13) After 2 2 . Nf3 Black can either repeat moves with 22 . . . Bf5=, or take a risk with 22 . . . Nh5 !? to try for a win. b2) If 2 l . Ng5 , then 2 l . . . Rd8 (to stop Ng5 -e6) 2 2 . Kcl. Then after 22 . . . Bh6 Black is fine. b3) The immediate doubling of the rooks is also logical: 2 l . Rg2 Ne4+ 2 2 . Nxe4 Qxe4 2 3 . Rhgl Bg6 24.Ng5 Bh6 25.f3 Qf4+ 26 .Qe3 Rae8 2 7.Qxf4 Rxf4 28 .b3 Rh4 29. Rg4 Bxg5+ 30. Rxg5 Rxh3 (or 30 . . . Rd4+ 31.Kel K.g7oo) 3 l . Bd3 Rh2+ 3 2 . R lg2 (not 32.Kc3 ? Re3) 32 . . . Rxg2+ 3 3 . Rxg2 =.


249

b4) And finally, one entertaining line goes 2 1 .Qxb7 Ne4+ 2 2 . Nxe4 Qxe4 23. Rxg7+ Kxg7 24. Rg1+ Bg6 25.Qxc7+ Kg8 26.Rxg6+ Qxg6 27.Qxc5 Rae8:

Fressinet was probably counting on this novelty, and it certainly has a good surprise value. Still, analysis shows that White can claim an advantage. Therefore I suggest that you go back and review the analysis of 15 . . . f3 ! N instead, on page 248. The only predecessor saw 16 ... Ne4 and did not end happily for the KID defender after 17. Rg1 Rf7 18.Nxe4 Qxe4 19. Bxg7 Nc2+ 20.Kd 1 Rxg7 2 l . Rxg7+ Kxg7 2 2 . Bf3 Qe7 23.Kxc2 Qxh4 24. Rg1+±, in Semcesen-Berg, Gothenburg 2 0 1 1 . But 1 6 . . . c 5 ! ? deserves further investigation.

1 7. Rgll R(7

Strictly speaking, White has plenty of material for the sacrificed ex changes. I still prefer Black, though, as the rooks and the queen together possess immense power when chas ing the enemy king.

There is no time to gr ab the bish op: 17 . . . fxe2? 18. Rxg7+ Kxg7 19.Qg5+ Kh8 20. Bxf6+ Rxf6 2 1 . Qxf6++-.

18.Nxf3 B(5

16. Qd2

19.Nh4

With the pawn still on f4 , 16.Qb3 is less appealing: 16 . . . Nd3+ 17.Kd2 Nc5 and Black looks great.

16. . . (3N 250

Chapter 5: The Bagirou Line

White also could have castled with 19.0-0-0. In the line 19 ... Bg6 2 0 . Ng5 Re7 2 l . Bf1 (21.Ne6 looks great for White too.) 2 1 . . .c5 2 2 . Bxf6 Bxf6 23.Ne6± White has a large advantage and the tricky 23 . . . Qa4?? (hoping for 24.Nxa4 ?? Nxa2 mate) is simply refut ed with the zwischenzug 24. Rxg6+.

And after 19 . . . Ne4 20.Qh6 Bg6 2l.Bxg7 Rxg7 2 2 . Nd4 Nxc3 23 .bxc3, White manages to keep control over the situation. Despite the scary look of his position, he should be better after 23 . . . Qa4 24.cxb4 c5 25 .bxc5 dxc5 26 .Qe3 cxd4 2 7.Qb3 Qa5 28. Rxd4±.

19. . . Nc2+ 20. Kdl Nxd4 21. Qxd4 Bd7 For better or for worse, Black needed to capture the pawn with 2 l . . . Bxh3;t .

22. Kc2 Qf8 23. Rg5 ReB 24. Ragl± 25. . . Re5! Taking the sting out of the active white pieces. It is important to get some air for the defenders .

26. Rxe5 dxe5 2 7. Qxe5 Ng8 Better was 27 . . . Ng4 2 8 .Qe4 Rxf2+ 29.Kcl Nf6 , and Black is still in the game.

28. Qe4 Or 28 .Qg3 Rxf2+.

28 . . . Rxf2+ 29. Ne2 ?! Parligras did not fancy 29.Kbl Rxb2+ 3 0 . Kxb2 Qb4+ 3 l . Kcl Qxc3+ 3 2 . Bc2 Qb2+ (32 ... Bh6+ 33.Kbl White has an extra pawn and active pieces . And even in such a difficult situation, the KID player is able to find resources as long as his dark-squared bishop is on the board!

Qb4+ 34.Bb3 Bg7 is also anything but clear.) 3 3 . Kdl Nf6 34.Qe3 Qxa2 ,

with a mess in which the exchange should objectively prevail.

29 . . . Nf6 30. Qe3 Rh2 ?

24 . . . Kh8 25. Bd3


251

2 Avrukh - Milov 7th Gibraltar Masters 2009 l . d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.e4 Nf6 5. h3 0 - 0 6. Bg5 Na 6 The presence of the bishop on g5 might provoke Black to play h7-h6 . I believe there is no need to go for this. As you have seen from the previous game, White can also develop the bishop to e3. Furthermore, White will be able to win a precious tempo with the developing move Qdl-d2 , hitting the h6 pawn. Now Black creates threats of his own. The game enters the time trouble zone and the turn of events did not inspire White!

31. Rg3 Nh5 32. Rxg7 Qxg7 33. Nf5? Qf6+ 34.Nfd4 Nf4 35. Be4

7. Nf3 The position in the text is usually achieved with the move order 6.Nf3 Na6 7. Bg5 .

7. . . Qe8 I like this approach . It is the most flexible one, and Black keeps the op tion to go for either of the e7-e5 or c7c5 advances . The utility o f the bishop o n g 5 is seen in the line 7 . . . e5 8.d5, as now the pin on the f6 -knight doesn't allow 8 . . . Nc5? due to 9.b4, and White's e-pawn is safe.

8. Be2 After 8.a3 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.b4, the knight can find a better post with 10 . . . c6? followed by Na6 -c7-e6. The useful move 8.Qc2 can be met with another of Golubev's ideas: 8 . . . h6!? (8 . . . e5 is met with 9. dxe5 dxe5

35. . . Nxe2 35 . . . Qe5 would have been quicker.

36.Nxe2 Rxh3 37. Qxa 7 Qe5 38. Qd4 Qxd4 39. Nxd4 Re3 40. Bd3 h5 41. Kd2 Rg3 42.Be4 h4 43. c5 h3 44. c6 bxc6 45. dxc6 Bg4 46. a4 h2 47. Bhl Rgl 0-1

252


10.Nd5, and White's queen defends the e4 pawn) 9.Be3 (insisting on his idea with 9.Bh4 can be answered 9. . . c5?) 9 . . . e5 10.dxe5 dxe5

However, Black can react with the central attack 8 ... c5!

with a roughly equal game: a) l l .c5 b6!? is what I like, but also good is l l . . . Nb4!? 1 2 .Qb3 Nc6. b) After 1 l . Nd5 Nh5 (ll . . . Nd7!?) 12.a3 one should know the idea 12 . . . Kh7 to make way for the rook. (12 . . . f5!?) 1 3 .Be2 c6 14 . Nb4 Nc7 15.Bc5 Rg8 =. 8.Bd3 brings the bishop to a vulnerable square and it makes sense for us to underline this fact as fast as we can, with 8 . . . e5 9.d5 Nh5 10.Qd2 f5� (10 ... f6!? to push

the bishop with tempo makes a lot of sense!) l l . g4?! fxg4 1 2 . hxg4 Bxg4

The '!' is given by the KID special ist Golubev. We now look at four of White's options: 9.d5 here, 9.Qd2 on page 254, and 9.Be2 and the fianch etto 9. Bg2 , both on page 255. a) White would normally be hap py to close the center now, but 9.d5 can be met with 9 . . . e 6 ! 10. Be2 (also

good for Black is 10. Qe2 exd5 ll.exd5 h5!) 10 . . . exd5 l l . exd5 Bd7 (Note that once again, Black can employ the in teresting pawn sacrifice ll. .. h5!

13.Nh2 Bd7 14 . 0 - 0 - 0 Nf4 15. Be2 Nc5+, Marholev-Antic, Plovdiv 2012 . In case White chooses the aggressive 8.g4, one line is 8 ... e5, for example 9.d5 Nd7 10. Rg1 Kh8 l l . Be2 Ndc5 1 2 . a3 Bd7 13 .b4 Na4 14 .Nb5 Nb6 15 .Qd3�, in Martinovic Saric, Bosnj aci 2012 .

12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13.gxh5 Bf5 14. hxg6 fxg6+, and then curiously observe Chapter 5: The Bagirov Line

253

White's attempts to castle.) 1 2 .0 - 0 h 5 13.Nh2 hxg4 14 .hxg4 Ne4 with advantage for Black in Meskovs-Felgaer, Caleta 2 0 1 1 . b) 9.Qd2 was used by the main ideologist of the line, Vladimir Bagirov. White is heading for a Maroczy bind set up. b1) After 9 . . . Nb4 the KID expert Smirin showed a good plan for Black: 10. Bg2 (10.dxc5 is usually anti-posi tional. 10... dxc5 11.0-0-0 b6 looks fine for Black.) 10 . . . h5.

White's advanced pawn can also be attacked. True, one needs nerves of steel to open his king this way, but we are playing the KID after all, aren't we? bll) The game continued 1 l . Bxf6 exf6 12.0-0-0 hxg4 1 3 .hxg4 Bxg4 14.a3 Nc6 ! This was one of the ideas behind the move Na6 -b4 . The knight is now happy to be working near the central squares. 1 5 .Qf4 Qc8 16 . Nd5 Qe6 ! Black is doing fine, and the greedy 17. Nc7?

was swiftly punished after 17 . . . Qxc4+ 18.Kb1 f5 ! Who would possibly care about the miserable aS -rook when our dark-squared bishop enters the game?! 19. Bfl (19.Nxa8 RxaB 20.Rd2 cxd4 +) 19 . . . Qa4 20.Bb5 Qa5 and Black went on to win in Maciej a- Smirin, Maalot-Tarshiha 2008. b12) Probably White could simply abandon these pawns and play in the spirit of Velimirovic's attack: 1 1 .0 - 0 - 0 cxd4 (or ll . . . hxg4 12. hxg4 Nxg4 13.Kbl) 1 2 . Nxd4 hxg4 1 3 .hxg4 Nxg4 14 . Ncb5 a5 with a mess, as 1 5 . Nc7? is wrong due to 15 . . . Qa4 16.Nxa8 Qxa2 17.Qc3 Nxf2 , where Black's attack is unstoppable . b2) If you do not want to experi ence those opposite side castling at tacks, you might simply prefer the normal development with 9 . . . Bd7. Now, after the overoptimistic 10.e5?

(White was better advised to proceed with development, although in that case the Benko style play: 10.Bg2 b5 ll.cxb5 Bxb5t is very promising for Black.) 10 . . . cxd4 l l .Qxd4 (not ll.exf6 exf6+) Black immediately casts a shadow over White's frivolous play with 1 l . . .Bc6!

254


12 .Qe3 (again, not 12. exf6 exf6+ check!) 1 2 . . . dxe5 with an extra pawn

an clear edge in Perunovic- Grigory an, Bansko 2 010. c) From the previous line, it became apparent why development is so important for White, and the logical 9.Be2 was recently tested by Pashikian to which his opponent Jobava reacted with 9 . . . cxd4 (But

I have the feeling that Black should

12 . . . h5!? The good old pawn-for-the dark-squared-bishop sac. 1 3 . Bxf6 Bxf6 1 4 . gxh& Rc5! The point behind Black's play. If this rook makes it to the king's flank, White might be in trouble. In the only two games played so far in this sub -line , Black scored an excellent 1 Y2 points. 1 5 . Nd5 (or 15. hxg6 Rg5! 16.f4 Rx g6t) 15 . . . Bg7 1 6 . hxg6 fxg6 17.Rc1 e 6 1 S . Ne3 Rh5:

instead play 9. . . h5!??, as the line 10.Bxf6 exf6 ll.gxh5 f5 is very attractive for the second player.) 10 .Nxd4 Nc5 (or 10 . . . Bd7 11.{3) l l .f3 Bd7 (Instead of this move which seems a bit slow, it · made sense for Black to reduce material. Therefore ll . . . Ne6!?N 12.Be3 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Be6, with chances for equality.) 12 .Qd2 QbS (or 12 . . . a6 13. h4) 13 .h4

ReS 14.h5;!;, Pashikian-Jobava, Martuni 2 0 1 1 . d ) Another way t o finish develop ing is via the fianchetto 9. Bg2 : d1) The modern way of fighting White's bind is shown in the following games: 9 . . . Bd7 10.0 - 0 cxd4 l l . Nxd4 ReS , not only to weaken the long diagonal, but to prepare an unusual rook lift. 1 2 .b3

dll) One of these games ended in beautiful black-squared symphony after 19. Nb5 Be5 2 0 . Ng4 (20.Nxd6 Qe7 21.Nb5 Bf4 �) 20 . . . Bf4 2 1 . Nxd6 Qe7 2 2 . Rc3 e5 2 3 . Nb5 Rh7 24.Rd3 Be6 2 5 . Rd6 KhS 2 6 .Qe2 Rh4 27.f3


255

Nc5 28. Rfd1 Qg5 29.b4? Bxg4 30.fxg4 (30. hxg4 Be3+ 3l.Kfl Nxe4) 30 . . . Be3+ 31.Kh 1

31 . . . Nxe4 0-1, Parligras-Rapport, Caleta 2012. d12) In the other game, White decided to give back the material but secure his king with 19. Ng4 Qe7 20.e5 Bxe5 2 1 . Nxe5 dxe5 2 2 . Ne2 Bc6 23.Rc3 Bxg2 24.Kxg2 Nc5=, and a draw was agreed some moves later in Ipatov- Stellwagen, Germany 2012 . d2) I see nothing wrong with the conventional plan to fight the Maroczy bind: 9 . . . cxd4 10.Nxd4 Nc5 1 1 .0-0 Bd7

It is a bit odd that no one has ever played this way after a game by Garry Kasparov himself! Kasparov's game saw 1 2 .Be3 ReS 1 3 . Rc1 a6 14.Qe2 e5 1 5 . Nb3 Ne6 16. Rfd 1 Nf4 17. Bxf4 exf4 1 8 . Rxd6 Qe5 with typical black-squared com pensation, Ariela-Kasparov, ICC . INT 1998. From the diagram, Krasenkow analyzed instead 12 .f4 , and after 1 2 . . . Ne6 (12 . . . Rc8 ? 13.e5) 1 3 . Nxe6 Bxe6 I believe that Black is doing fine.

Despite the cramped nature of his position, it is full of tactical resources: d21) 14 .c5 dxc5 15.e5 Rd8 16 .Qf3 Nd7 17.Qxb7 Rb8 18.Qxa7 Rxb2oo. 15.exd5 Bxd5 d22) 14.Nd5 (15.cxd5 Nd7) 15 . . . b5. d23) 14 .Qe2 Qc8 1 5 . Nd5 (15. b3 ?

Nxg4

wins

a pawn

for Black ) .

15 . . . Nxd5 and now: d231) 16.exd5 Bd7 when the e7 pawn is poisoned: 17.Qxe7? (17.Racl

Qc5+ lB.Khl RfeB 19.f5 RacB with b7-b5 to follow.) 17 . . . Re8 18.Qxd6 Bf8

19.Qf6 Qc5+ 2 0 . Kh2 Bg7 trapping the white queen. 17. Bxe7 Bd7 d232) 16.cxd5

(17.Racl QdB with the ideas Qd8-b6+ 256


and Bd7-b5 looks OK for Black.) 17 . . . Qc5+ 1 8 . Kh2 Rfe8 19. Rfcl (bet ter than 19.Racl Qb6 20.Bh4 Bb5+ or 19. Bh4 ? Bb5) 19 . . . Qb6 20.Bh4 Qxb2 with good play. Also possible is 20 . . . Bxb2 2 l . Rcbl Bxa l 2 2 . Rxb6 axb6oo.

8

. . .

e5 9. d5

11.0-0 In the line l l .b4 Na4 1 2 .Qcl Nxc3 13 .Qxc3:

9

. . •

Bd71?

Black finishes his development and secures the a4 square for his knight. This was one of those games which forced Avrukh to abandon his main weapon. Instead, the main lines goes 9 . . Nh5 10.g3 f5 l l . exf5 gxf5 1 2 . Nh4 Nf6 and Black has carried out f7f5, getting a strong center. White in turn will play for a blockade, trying to force the advance of either the e-pawn or the f-pawn. .

10. Nd2 For the other main move 10.g4 , see our next game, Milanovic-Bojkov.

10. . . Nc5

Black can equalize at once with 13 . . . Nxe4!? 14 . Nxe4 f5 15.0-0 (Or

15.Bd3 fxe4 16.Bxe4 Rf4 1 7. Qd3 Bf5 18.{3 Bxe4 19.fxe4 Rf7-.;t with a7-a5 next.) 15 ... fxe4 16.Qe3 Bf6=.

But Black decided to play for even more with 13 . . . Nh5 14 .Bxh5 gxh5 15.g4 f6 16.Be3, and could have achieved the advantage had he played 16 . . . hxg4 (instead of 16 . . . c6

in Koster-Nijboer, Enschede 2003) 17.hxg4 Bxg4 1 8 . Bh6 Bxh6 19.Rxh6 Qe7 20.f3 Bd7 2 1 . 0 - 0 - 0 Rf7+ with Rf7 -g7 to follow.


257

ll . . . a5 12. b3 If 1 2 . a3?! then 12 . . . a4 .

12 . . . h5

Note that the other capture 15 . . . Bxf5 16.Bxc5 dxc5 17. Nde4;!; leads to a pleasant position for White, thanks to the control over the e4 point.

1 6. Bxh5 Qe7 1 7.Be2 The generally desirable blocking move 17.f4? fails tactically to 17 . . . exf4 18.Bxc5 dxc5 19.Rcl Qe3+.

17. . . e4 18. Qc2 Or 1 8 . Rcl:

Black's concept in this encounter made an enormous impression on me. I still admire the way Milov han dled this game.

13.a3 Nh7 14. Be3 f5 15. exf5

Now 18 . . . a4! 19.b4 Nb3 20.Nxb3 axb3 2 1 . Qxb3 f4 2 2 . Bd2 f3, and the pawns are rolling.

18 . . . Qh4 19. Rfel There is no time to show activity on the queen's flank: 19.b4 f4 20.bxc5 fxe3 2 1 .fxe3 Ng5+. And 19.f4 fails once more, due to 19 . . . Qg3 .

19 . . . Ng5 The hits on h3 are in the air. Now what?

15 . . . gxf5!! The stunning pawn sac! The h5 pawn is lost with tempo, but Black manages to open files for his rooks and mercilessly bring all his pieces to the king's flank!

258


20. Bfl One beautiful line runs 20.b4 f4! 21.Bxc5:

With the disappearance of this bishop, White can no longer hold the dark-squared perimeter. Once again there is no time for 2 1 .b4 f4 2 2 . Bxc5 dxc5 2 3 . Ndxe4 Nxe4 24.Nxe4 Bxal 2 5 . Rxal Bf5 26.f3 (26. Bd3 f3 27.Ng3 Qf6+) 26 ... Bxe4 27.fxe4 cxb4 2 8 . axb4 axb4+, as given by Maxim Notkin.

21 . . . Qxg5

21...e3 ! ! 22.fxe3 Nxh3+ 2 3 .gxh3 Qg3+ 24.Kh l Qxh3+ 2 5 . Kgl Qg3+ 2 6 . Kh l Rf6 and White is helpless. Back to our game:

22. Radl Re7 23. b4 axb4 24. axb4 Na6 25. c5 2 5 .Qb3 was probably more resil ient.

25 . . . Nxb4 2 6. Qb3 Na6 2 7. Bxa6 Or 27.c6 Nc5 !

2 7... bxa6 28. Qc4 Be5 29. Nfl Rg 7

20 . . . Rae8 Milov coolly brings up the re serves. But it appears, though, that the position was already ripe: 20 . . . Nd3 ! 21.Bxd3 exd3 2 2 . Qxd3 f4 2 3 . Bd4 f3 ! with a decisive attack a s 24. Bxg7 Nxh3+! is mate in five .

21. Bxg5 Chapter 5: The Bagirov Line

259

3 Milanovic - Bojkov

1st League CS, KraiJevo 2011 l . c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4.d4 Bg7 5. Nf3 0- 0 6. h3 Na 6 7.Bg5 Qe8 8. Be2 e5 9. d5 Bd7 1 0.g4!?

White is helpless.

30.g3 Qh5 31. c 6 Bc8 32. Nxe4 fxe4 33. Qxe4 Bxh3 34. Qhl Qf5 35. Re2 Bxfl 36. Kxfl Bxg3 37. Qg2 Be5 38. Qhl a5 39. Qh4 Qf3 40. Rcl Rh7 0-1 I suspect that we will see more of this against Milov's fabulous idea. This move is in the spirit of the line, designed to prevent Black's active moves at the start. Impossible now is Nf6 -h5, and after f7-f5 White wouldn't mind trading twice, thus opening the g-file for his rook and vacating e4 for the knights. The king will eventually find a relatively safe shelter on the queen's flank.

10 . . . Nc5 A logical move which brings the knight into the action . The play of Swedish IM Nithander deserves credit as well: 10 . . . Kh8

260


Better is 13 . . . f6 !

A typical maneuver in the KID. Since the h5 square is unavailable, and e8 and d7 are blocked, Black frees g8 for the knight to prepare f7f5 . 1 1 . Rg1 (or 11.Nd2 NgB 12. Qc2 f6 13.Be3 Bh6�) ll . . . Nc5 1 2 . Nd2 Ng8 with the idea f7-f5. (12 . . . a5!?) 13 .Qc2 (Nothing is gained by 13. b4 Na4) and White gets ready to meet the f7-f5 advance. Please note that the position which arises after 13 . . . f5 14 .gxf5 gxf5 15�0-0-0 Nf6 16 . Kb1 Nfxe4 17. Ncxe4 Nxe4 18.Nxe4 fxe4 19. Bg4 Bxg4 20. Rxg4;!; is something that White is heading for. The bishop on g7 is definitely not happy, and White is enjoying the g-fi.le.

A change in plans! Black will create a dark-squared blockade and no longer needs his bishop. But before trading it he places his pawns on that color. 14 .Be3 Bh6 15.Bxh6 Nxh6 16.b4 Na6 17.a3 c5 (Now instead of

this impatient move, some preparation would have leveled the chances. After 17. .. Nf7� Black plays Qe8-e7 and c7c5.) Still, White's active moves have

left his king without a hiding place: 18 .dxc6 bxc6 19.c5 Hillarp Persson Nithander, Gothenburg 2010, with favorable complications for White.

l l . Nd2


261

ll . . a5 l l c6 can be answered with: .

...

a) 12 .b4 Na6 13.dxc6 bxc6 14 .c5 Nc7 15 .cxd6;J;. b) Or 12.Be3 cxd5 13.cxd5 h6?! 14.h4! b5 15.g5 hxg5 16.hxg5 Nh7 17.b4 Na4 18.Nxa4 bxa4 19. Bg4! Qc8 20.Rcl Qb7 2 l . Bxd7 Qxd7 22.Rc6±, with a dream position for White in Tuvshintugs- Sharavdorj , Ulaanbaatar 2011. On principle it is best to avoid n h6. It brings the bishop to a better position after 12 . Be3 Kh7, and helps White to block the king's flank 13 .h4! with the direct threat g4-g5 and the positional one h4-h5 to force g6-g5, after which White has all the play. Beware of this idea! 13 . . . Bxg4 14. Bxg4 Nd3+ 15.Ke2 Nxb2 16 .Qb3 Nxg4 17.Qxb2± , Ris-Milonakis, Heraklion 2011. ...

queen's flank and cracks Black's cramped position. However, 12 Qe7oo deserves attention, with the idea Nf6 -e8 and f7-f5 . ...

18. Rgl Another plan is to hurry up and castle with 13 .Qc2 !? Ne8 14 .0-0-0 with the standard idea 14 ... f5 15.gxf5 gxf5 16.exf5 Bxf5 17. Nde4 , when the g7 bishop is blocked. Play may continue 17 . . . Nxe4 18.Nxe4 Nf6 19.f3 Bg6 with the idea Nf6 -h5 -f4 .

18 . . . Kh8 ?! Despite the glorious outcome of this game, I am not too happy with the outcome of the opening. Since White intends to castle long, it made sense for me to worry him a bit in advance. Instead, 13 . . . c6! was called for,

12. Be8 QcB I did not like the look of 12 Kh8 13.h4 Ng8 14 .h5 ! . Even less 1 2 h 6 13.h4 Nh7 14 .h5 g5+- which leads to the strategically lost position for Black against which I have already warned you: ...

. . .

and after 14 .Qc2 (or 14. Bxc5 14 . . . dxc5) 14 . . . cxd5 15.cxd5 Qc7, note that the positionally desirable trade of the light-squared bishops fails tactically: 16. Bb5? (better is 16. 0-0-0 Rfc8?) 16 . . . Ncxe4! 17. Ndxe4 Bxb5+.

White continues Nd2 -fl-g3 , f2 -f3 , castles, brings all his pieces t o the

262


14. h4! Ng8 15. Nfl Also interesting is 15 .h5 !? gxh5 16.gxh5 and now : 16 . . . f5 17.Qc2 (17.exf5 Bxf5 18.Nfl

could offer some edge for White.) Although here 17 . . . Bh6 is already possible: 18.Rxg8+ Rxg8 19. Bxh6 f4 20.Nf3 Qd8 2 1 . 0 - 0 - 0 Qf6=, and material balance is restored. There are not enough pieces for a counterattack in the line 16 . . . Bh6? 17. Rxg8+! Rxg8 18. Bxh6 Rgl+ 19.Nfl Bh3 20.Qd2 Bxfl 2 l . Bxfl Qh3 22.Qe2 Qd3 23.Qxd3 Nxd3+ 24.Ke2 Nxb2 2 5 . Rbl+-.

15. . . (5 1 6.gxf5 gxf5 1 7. exf5

Better is 18 . . . Bh6 19. Bxh6 Nxh6 20.Qd2;!;. One might say that White is winning material after 18 . . . Bh6 19.Nxf5 Qxf5 20. Rxg8+, but Black has plenty of activity and is even better in the line 20 . . . Rxg8 2 l . Bxh6 Rgl+ 2 2 . Bfl Nd3+ 2 3 . Kd2 Nxf2 24 .Qc2 Qxc2+ 2 5 . Kxc2 Ng4+.

1 9. Qd2 A very venomous move! I thought that Slavisa wanted to castle next. The idea 19. Bd4 is not yet working due to 19 . . . Nd3+ 20. Bxd3 (20. Qxd3 ?

exd3 2l.Bxg7+ Kxg7 22.Nxf5+ Kh8-+) 20 . . . Bxd4 2 l . Bxe4? Bxf2++. However, . White could have claimed the advantage after 19.Nxf5 Qxf5 20.Qd2 a4 (and not 20. . . Bh6?

2l.Bd4+ Rf6 22.Rxg8+ Rxg8 23. Qxh6 Rgl+ 24. Kd2 e3+ 25.fxe3, when I get slaughtered) 2 1 . 0 - 0 - 0 ! As Black's initiative is not as great as it seems: 2 l . . . a3 22 .b4! Na4?? (Black's best is

22 . . . Nd3+ 23.Bxd3 exd3 24. Qxd3±.) due to the alternative exchange sacrifice 2 3 . Rxg7 ! ! Kxg7 24.Rgl+ Kf7 2 5 . Bg4 and White wins.

19. . . a4

17. Bxf5?! . .

Automatic and wrong. Black is OK after 17 . . . Ne7 ! : a ) 18. Bxc5 dxc5 19.Qd3 (or 19.Ng3 Nxf5) 19 . . . Nxf5 with active piece play. b) Or 18.Ng3 Nxf5 19. Nxf5 Bxf5 when White cannot organize a block ade on the e4 square. Black is also OK after 17 . . . Nh6 ! .

18. Ng3 e4 ?! This was my idea, to open up the bishop and quickly organize play on the queen's flank with a5 -a4-a3 . But I am one tempo too short.

Instead ofthe expected 20.0-0-0, Milanovic played:


263

20. Bd4! Nd3+ There is no other choice. The lines: 20 . . . Be5 2 l . Bxe5+ dxe5 22.0-0-0±, 20 ... Nf6 21 .Qg5 Bg6 2 2 . Bxc5 dxc5 23 .h5+-, 20 ... Qd7? 2 l . Nxf5+-, and 20 ... Rf7 2 l . Bxg7+ Rxg7 22 .Qd4+are a good proof. Fortunately, I found a very nice resource. After the forced moves:

21. Bxd3 Bxd4 22. Bxe4 And now the star move of the game:

22 . . . Be5!!

and I am proud to have this bishop still there ! Four lines: 25.0-0-0? Bf4 would be a good trade . 25.Qg5 Bxc3+ 26 .bxc3 ReB+ leads to a forced draw : 27. Kfl (But

of course, White can lose if he likes after 27.Kdl ? Qf3+ or 27.Kd2 ? Qxf2+ 28.Kcl Rel+ 29.Rxel Qxel+ 30.Kb2 a3+-+.) 2 7 . . . Qh3+ 2 8 . Rg2 Qhl+

For the sake of the bishop I am ready to sacrifice not only a pawn, but an exchange to boot. With the queen on d2, 22 . . . Bxf2+? no longer works: 23 .Qxf2 Bxe4 24.Qd4+.

23.(4 White miscalculated here. The main line goes 23.Nxf5 Rxf5

24.Bxf5 Qxf5

264


29.Rgl Qh3+=. 25.Kfl a3 ! and if 26 .b3?? then 26 . . . Qh3+. I was mostly afraid of the counter sac 25.Rg5! a) Now 25 . . . Qf3 2 6 . Rxe5 (n ot 26. Qe2 ? Bxc3+) 26 . . . dxe5

allows White to sacrifice the ex change himself with 27.Qe2 ! ! Qhl+ 2S .Kd2 ! Qxal 2 9 .Qxe5+ Nf6 30.Qxf6+ KgS . I was not sure if this was a win for White while calculat ing it . In any case it is not pleasant and White can always take the per petual if he likes. b) I therefore intended to lure the white knight into the center with the tricky 25 . . . Qf6 ! ? 2 6 . Ne4 Qf3 2 7. Rxe5 dxe5 2 S . Ng3 RfS with compensation for the pawn.

28. . . Bxf4 24. Qxf4 Bxe4 25. Qe8 The bishop is untouchable: 25.Qxe4? ReS . But 25 .Qg5 B f3 was possible.

We were getting low on time, and this influenced the quality of the play.

25. . . Bf8

28.Nb5?! Correct was 2 S . Nge2 Qxd4+ 29.Nxd4 Ne4+ (or 29. . . Nd7 30.Ne6

Ne5 3l.Nxf8 Nxc4+ 32.Kc2 Rx{Bt) 30.Nxe4 Bxe4 3 l . Ne6 Rf6 with an unclear position.

28 . . . Qxd4+ 29. Nxd4 Nd7 80. Ne6 Rf6 81. Rafl The pawn is not healthy for White: 3 l . Nxc7 ReS 32.Ne6 Rxc4+.

81 . . . Ne5

And it is our other bishop that now saves the day! It controls the e4 and h5 squares and prevents White from castling!

26. Qd4+ Nf6 2 7. Kd2 Artificial castling is White's best. Not 27. Nce4?? Qg4-+, and not 27.Kf2?! Qg4 .

27... Qg4 The situation has stabilized, and I managed to outwit my opponent in the time scramble.


265

32. Kc3 Better than 32.Nxc7 ReB 3 3 . Ne6 Rxc4 34.Nh5 Rf7+.

32

• . .

Rg8 33. Ng5?!

33.Nh5? Rxgl 34. Rxgl Bxh5 loses a piece for White. But 33.Ne2 ! was called for.

33 . . . h6 Best was 33 . . . Rf4!+.

34.N3e4 Not 34.Nxf3 Rxf3+ 3 5 .Rxf3 Nxf3 36.Rg2 Nxh4 37.Rgl Nf3 38.Rg2 h5-+. And not 34.N5e4 Rfg6 -+.

48

34 . . . Rf4+

• . •

Nf2

An easier win was 48 . . . Rg3, as Nf2 and Rg2 can't be stopped: 49.Nxd6 Nf2 50.Nf7+ (or 50.Rh2 Rg2 51. Nf7+ Kg7 52. d6 Kxf7) 50 . . . Kg7 5l .d6 Kxf7+-.

49. Rh2 Ne4 50. Na5 Kg7 51. Nxb7 Kf6 52. Re2 Rf4 Not 52 . . . Ke5? 5 3 . Nxd6 .

53. Ka5 Nf2 54. Nxd6

35. Nxf3 Rxgl 37. Kb4

36. Rxgl Rxf3+

Not 37.Kd4?? Rd3 mate.

37. . . Rf4 38.Nd2 Rxh4 39. b3 Rd4 40. Rg2 axb3 41. axb3 h5 42. Kc3 Rf4 43. c5 h4 44. cxd6 cxd6 45. Nc4 h3 46. Rh2 Rf3+ 4 7. Kb4 Ng4 48.Rhl 54

• . .

Kg6

Avoiding the last trap: 54 . . . h2? 55.Ne4+! Nxe4 56 . Rxh2 = .

55. Nc4 h2 56. Rel Rf5 0-1

266


Memory Markers Here are reminders of some of the ideas and motifs in The Bagirov Line.

Kingside aggression. See diagram on page 242 , notes to 9.g3 in Parli gras-Fressinet.

Immediate 1. After 9 ...b6!. equality against the central trade. See diagram on page 239, notes to 8 .d5 in Parligras-Fressinet.

2. After 14 ... Qh4!.

3. After 13 ... Qxg6. A tabiya for the line. Kingside aggression with a pawn sacrifice. See dia gram on page 246, notes to 9 . g3 in Parligras-Fressinet.

4. After 13 ...f4!. Opening of the

center, the text move in Parligras-Fressinet, page 248 .


267

5. After 15 ... f3!N. A Novelty on

6. After 8 ... c5!. Central counter

move 15. See diagram on page 248, notes to 15 . . . Nb4 in Parli gras-Fressinet.

strike. See diagram on page 253, notes to 8 .Be2 in Avrukh-Milov.

15 ... gxf5!!. Milov's superb idea, the text move m Avrukh-Milov, page 258.

8. After 22 ...Be5!!. The posi tional exchange sacrifice, see di agram in Milanovic-Bojkov, page 264.

7. After

268



As Black, practice finding the right moves when facing The Bagirov Line. Solutions to the exercises begin on page 343.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Nikcevic - Tkachiev

Miroiu - Georgescu

Cannes i 996

White's position seems rock-solid.

ROM-ch U16 2007 White has just defended his h3 pawn with Kgl-h 2 .

Chapter 5 : The Bagirov Line

269

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Kostic - Riemersma

Apecheche - Espinosa Veloz

Caorle 1989

Havana 2007

White thought he was winning a piece. Prove him wrong!

How to make use of the weakened dark squares?

Exercise 5

Exercise 6

Robatsch - Timoscenko

Vokoun - Juptner

Mitropa Cup 1995

CZE-chT1 W 2012

What's the best move?

270


White wants to castle long.

Exercise 7

Exercise 8

Todorovic - Dujkovic

Arnaudov - Novikov

SCG-chT 2006

EU-ch 2008

The king's in the center.

.

A standard idea . . .

Exercise 9

Exercise 10

Sahu - Miles

Wolf - Kleinwaechter

Kolkata 1995

GER-chT 1999

Everything seems OK for White.

How to increase Black's activity?


271

Chapter 6 The Fianchetto System

l . d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 0-0 5.g3 d6 6. Bg2 c6 7.0-0 Qa5

The Fianchetto System is another positional approach . White copies his opponent's play and shows no great a mbition . First of all , the kingside is fortified, and in addition , the fianchettoed bishop is well placed to support queenside expansion . There is still White's advantage of the first move and the space advantage of the d4 pawn against its d6 counterpart.

T

his is indeed true, but there are some things that now work well for Black, too. First of all, the fifth rank is free of pawns, and this can be used by the black queen for an attack on the fianchettoed bishop after Qd8 - a 5 -h5 . The queen can also be well utilized for queenside

attacking, with Qa5 -b4 (or a6), and can also support the e7- e 5 advance. Black is flexible in the center, and can try various set-ups with his pawns. The game is very rich in nuances in our suggested system, and I trust in Black's dynamic chances.

Chapter 6: The Fianchetto System

2 73

1 Laznicka - Vachier-Lagrave

Spanish Club Championship Sestao 2010 l.d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4.g3

This is why Black hurried with c7-c6 move. The queen is activated and will have various options.

8. e4

White tells his opponent: "You want to fianchetto your bishop and give it some extra powers? No problem, I can do the same ! You want to attack on the king's flank? You're welcome to it, my position has been fortified!" I know many KID players who do not like to face this approach. But please be patient, you will discover that Black has his share of play in this line, too.

4 . . . 0- 0 5. Bg2 c6 The usual way to reach our recommended line is 5 . . . d6. In this game Black kept his options open. He could have switched to the Griinfeld Defense on the next move, but I suspect that Vachier-Lagrave wanted a more lively game than the symmetrical positions that arise in that opening. Still, if you are one of those players who tend to play both the Griinfeld and the KID, this is a good point for you to torture your opponent just a bit.

6. 0- 0 d6 7.Nc3 Qa5 274


Leading to the main line. White has a bunch of other tries. We look at 8.Qc2 here, 8.h3 and 8.Nd2 on page 275, and 8.d5 on page 276. 8.Qc2 prepares the maneuver b2b3 followed by Bcl-b2 , and vacates dl for the rook. However, it allows 8 . . . Qh5 9.Rel e5 (Maybe 9... Bh3!??

or 9... Na6!?? are better options for Black.) 10.d5 (10.dxe5 dxe5 ll.Ng5! is the critical test for Black's idea.) 10 . . . cxd5 l l . Nxd5 Nxd5 12.cxd5 Na6 = Arabidze-Mchedlishvili, Tbilisi 2009.

8.h3 will usually transpose to the main text after 8 . . . e5:

Petrosian-Jankovic, Plovdiv 2008. b) Black could have held the balance with the natural 15 . . . b5 16.Nd5 Qb7 17.Nb6 Rab8 18 .Qb2 bxc4 19.Nxc4 Qxb4 20.Qxb4 Rxb4 2 1 . Nxe5 Rb2 2 2 . Nxc6 Rxa2=. 8.Nd2 is designed to kill any active play by Black. Now, the c4 pawn is covered and the Qa5 -h5 maneuver is stopped due to e2-e4. I have faced this idea twice and if you are playing against a Georgian player watch out for it; it's their specialty. Black can continue developing naturally with 8 . . . Nbd7

and now 9.e4. But it might have some indepen dent flavor after 9.Be3 Nbd7 10.dxe5 Nxe5! Freeing his position a bit. l l . Nxe5 dxe5 12 .Qa4 Qc7 (Here the

simple 12 ... Qxa4 13.Nxa4 Nd7= fol lowed by f7-f5 would lead to equali ty.) 13 .b4 Be6 14 . Racl a6 (14 . . . Bxc4 15. b5! is too dangerous for Black.) 15.Qb3: a) And now instead of the care less 15 . . . Qc8?! when White can start his queenside play in two ways, 9.Rbl and 9.a3: a) 9.Rbl e5 al) 10.b4 is not exact: 10 ... Qc7 l l .d5 cxd5 1 2 . Nxd5 Nxd5 13.cxd5 (13. Bxd5?! Nb6!) 13 . . . Nf6 = .

16 .Nd5! Nxd5 17.cxd5 Bxh3 18.Bxh3 Qxh3 19.dxc6 bxc6 20.Rxc6;!;,

Chapter 6 : The Fianchetto System

2 75

a2) 10.d5 cxd5 ll .cxd5

weaknesses along the d-file. 20.Rd2 Rad8 2 l . Rd5 Rf7 22 .Qc2 fxg3 23.fxg3 Rxfl+ 24.Kxfl Qf5+=. White can try to shut down the queen's sortie against his king with the help of the immediate 8.d5 How ever, the queen finds another target:

8 .. Qa6 .

and now I started a complex plan to repel the opponent's pieces: ll . . . Qc7 !?

(It is not easier to deny all this activity with ll. .. b5 12.b4 Qb6 13.Nb3 a6 14.Be3 QbB 15.Na5�.) 1 2 . Nb5 Qb8

13.Nc4 Ne8 White's activity is over, and now the intruders will be repelled. 14.b4 a6 15.Nc3 f5 (It

is important not to get overexcited when counter attacking. Do not allow the white knight to reach the c6 square! 15... b5? 16.Na5.) 16.Qb3 b6 17. a4 Ra7 (17... Bb7!?) 18.Be3 Rc7

19.Rbcl Rf7 20. Rfdl Bf8 2l.f4 Bh6 = 22.a5?! b5 23.Nb6 Bb7 24.Nxd7 Rcxd7+, and Black's strategy was successful at this stage in the game, GaprindashviliBojkov, Istanbul 2005. An alternative was 24 . . . Rfxd7+. b) The other way White can start his queenside play is 9.a3 e5 10.d5, an idea to make use of the d5 outpost and to eventually attack the d6 pawn. My game against Nanu saw an almost forced line of play: 10 . . . cxd5 ll.Nxd5 Nxd5 1 2 . Bxd5 Nf6 13.Bg2 Qc7 14.b3 Be6 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16 .Bxe4 f5! 17. Bd5 Qf7 18.Bxe6 Qxe6 19. Ra2 f4 , and the activity on the king's flank compensated for Black's

276


Another way to use the queen on the queenside. 9.Nd2 Nbd7 and now : a) 10.dxc6 bxc6 l l . Rbl Ne5 12 .b4 Be6+ was Shutukov-Ehlvest, Khanty-Mansiysk 2009. b) 10.e4?! allows an immediate attack against the center. 10 . . . Ne5 l l .Qe2 cxd5 (or ll . . . Bg4 12.{3 Bd7+) 1 2 . exd5 (o 12. cxd5 Qxe2 13.Nxe2 Nd3 +) 12 . . . Bf5 . White's position is crumbling, so he decides to enter a highly unbalanced position with 13.f4 Bd3 14 .fxe5 Bxe2 15.exf6 Bxfl 16.fxg7 Kxg7 17. Bxfl , but naturally Black's big material force prevailed in the end, in Radulov-Bojkov, Sunny Beach 2007.

B

• • •

e5

9. h3 Once again White can close the center, but with the knight on c3 this is less effective: 9.d5 cxd5 10.cxd5

Black has queenside pressure with the closed center. 18.Rcl Qd8 It is good to control a5 against the Nb3a5-c6 maneuver. 19.Qd2 Nd7 20.Ral Nac5 and Black achieved everything he was hoping for in Schulze-Bojkov, Neuhausen 2008. There is also the tricky ll.a3 b4 1 2 . Na2!? when Black has two inter esting possibilities: a) Either to play the Benko-style sacrifice with 12 . . . Qb5 !? 13.Nxb4 a5 14 . Nc2 Nbd7:

10 ... b5! This is why White should avoid this line. Black wins some tempos to organize his play on the queen's flank. We look at two of White's replies: l l.Nd2 b4 1 2 . Nb3 Qc7 13.Ne2 a5 14 .a3 Na6 1 5 . axb4 axb4 16.h3 Bd7 17. Be3 Bb5 Black intends to exploit the weakness of the b3 square, with Nd7-c5-b3, as well as the open c-file and the half open b-file. I believe Black has ample


2 77

compensation after 15.Rel Nc5 16. Bfl Qb7 17.Nd2 Bd7 18.f3, and now 18 . . . Bb5!?� or 18 . . . Ba4!?�. b) Or if you are not in a sacrificial mood, you can chose the more stable 12 . . . bxa3 13.Nc3 Qb4 14 .Rxa3:

1 0. Be3

bl) But beware of the interesting tactical possibility for White after 14 . . . Nxe4?! 15.Nxe4 Qxe4 16.Ng5 Qg4?! 17.Ne 6 ! ! ± which led to success in Tashkov-Grigorov, Albena 201 1 . b2) Instead, Black can finish his development with 14 ... Nbd7, for ex ample: b21) 15. Ra4 Qb8 16.b4 a5!? .:1 17.bxa5?! (17.Rxa5 Rxa5 1B. bxa5 Qb4 19. Bd2 Qxa5=) 17 . . . Nc5 18.Ra3 Ba6 19.Rel Nd3 20.Re3 Nxcl 2 1 .Qxcl Bh6+, winning the exchange. b22) Or 15.Rb3 intending Nd7-c5, Bc8 -a6 with rooks on the c- and b-file. 15 . . . Qa5 16.Be3 Ng4 17. Bd2 (17.Ra3 Nxe3!) 17 . . . Nc5 18.Ra3 Qb6 19.Na4 (19. h3 Nf6 20. Be3 Bd7�) 19 . . . Nxa4 20.Qxa4 Rb8 (20... {5!?) 21.Qxa7 (21.b4 Rb7) 2 l . . . Nf6 22.Qxb6 Rxb6 regaining the pawn with equality.

9 . Nbd7 .

.

278


The alternatives do not promise White any advantage. For lO.Rel, see our next game, Harikrishna-Radjabov. 10.d5 is still possible, but com pared to the previous note White has included the unnecessary h2h3 pawn move while Black has played the useful developing move Nb8-d7. Naturally, this is in his favor: 10 . . . cxd5 l l .cxd5 b5 1 2 . Nd2 b4 13 .Qa4?! (better is 13.Nb3, although

Black is still somewhat better after 13 . . . Qd8 14.Ne2 a5) 13 . . . Qb6 14 .Ne2

Nc5 15 .Qdl Ba6 16 . Kh2 Rac8+, and White was completely tied up in Funke-Bojkov, Differdange LUX 2007. 10.Qc2 is an interesting position al move which defends the c3 knight in advance, the c4 pawn against future attacks, and frees dl for the rook. The only drawback is that it releases control over the d5 square, which Black can immediately exploit with 10 . . . exd4 l l . Nxd4 Nb6 1 2 . Nce2 ReS:

a) If 13 .b3 then 13 . . . d5! al) Now 14.c5? Nbd7 15.exd5 Nxd5 would lose the c5 pawn. a2) Black is also more comfort able after 14 .cxd5 cxd5 15.exd5 Nfxd5 a3) Better is 14 .exd5 cxd5 15. Be3 dxc4 16.bxc4 . Strictly speaking this position is equal, but Black feels more comfortable due to White's weaknesses on c4 and a2 . And indeed, Movsesian needed just three more moves to prove an edge against a very strong Russian GM after 16 . . . Bd7 ! : Qa4 18. Racl a31) 17. Nb3?!

when the typical exchange sacrifice 19 . . . Rxe 3 ! 20.fxe3 Bxe2 21.Qxe2 Qe5 would . give Black ample compensation on the black squares and a future attack against White's weakened kingside. b) 13. Bf4 is the last word in this line so far. Kiril Georgiev was successful in a game against his old rival Branko Damljanovic, but the impression is that the opening had nothing to do with this fact. 13 . . . d5!

(or 18.Bxb7 RabB · 19. Bg2 Nxc4t)

18 . . . Bf5+, in Grachev-Movsesian, Plovdiv 2008. a32) For better or for worse, White needed to accept the chal lenge: 17. Bxb7 Bxh3 18. Bxa8 Bxfl 19.Bc6

Still the best idea for the second player! 14 .exd5 cxd5 15.c5 Nc4 16 .b3 Na3 17.Qd2 Qxd2 18. Bxd2: bl) 18 ... Bd7 19. Racl Ne4 20.Be3 Rac8?! Once again, Damljanovic


2 79

missed a chance to bring the knight back into the game, and was pun ished for it. (Better was 20. . . Nb5

21.Rfdl Bc6 with an approximately equal position.) 2 l . Rfdl a5 2 2 . Kh2 Nxc5 23.Nf4 Ne6 24.Rxc8 Bxc8 25.Nxd5 Nxd4 26.Bxd4 Bxd4 27. Rxd4:t Georgiev - Damljanovic, Tivat 2011. b2) Now the improvement 18 . . . Nc2 !?N

makes a lot of sense, immediately getting rid of the knight on the rim! 19. Radl (better than 19.Nxc2?! Rxe2 20.Radl Ne4 +) 19 . . . Nxd4 20.Nxd4 Bd7 2l .Be3 (better than 21.b4?! Ne4 22.Nb3 Ba4 23.Rfel RadB +) 2 l . . . Ne4 22. Rfel Nc3 (Also equal is 22 ... Nxc5

23.Bxd5 RadB but Black can play more aggressively.) 2 3 . Rd2 Rac8

24 .b4 a5 25.a3 axb4 26.axb4 Ra8 . White still owns the better pawn structure, but Black enjoys the more active pieces and this is the primary factor in the endgame.

280


10

. . .

exd4

Vachier-Lagrave chose the main move and this is sufficient for equal ity. The preliminary exchange in the center gives a chance for Black to liq uidate into an equal endgame. Note that the less used move 10 . • . Nb6 is a good alternative and also promises Black equality.

We look at three replies: l l .Qd3, l l.dxe5, and the immediate l l.Nd2 . l l.Qd3 is now met with the attack against the c4 pawn, as the white queen is rather loose on its new square: ll . . . exd4 1 2 . Nxd4 Qa6 13 .b3 d5!= 14 .exd5 Nbxd5 15.Bd2 Nxc3 16. Bxc3 Nd5 17. Bb2 ¥.!-¥.! Skatchkov Vorobiov, Cappelle la Grande 2006. l l.dxe5 intends to stabilize the situation in the center and to win some tempos for a queenside initiative. But in general, such an approach is anti-positional, as Black controls well all the central squares, which we cannot say for his adversary. ll . . . dxe5 1 2 . Nd2:

Qa5 19.Rd2 Rxd2 20.Bxd2 Qc7= Nielsen-McShane, Drammen 2005. The immediate ll .Nd2

Now Black has an interesting positional exchange sacrifice in troduced into practice by the . Bulgarian-Macedonian GM Vladimir Georgiev : a) 12 . . . Be6!? 13.Nb3 Qb4 14 .Bc5 Qxc4

is effectively opposed with ll . . . exd4 1 2 . Bxd4 (12.Nb3 Qa6 drops the

pawn on c4, and 13. Qxd4 ? Nfd5 is even worse) 12 . . . Be6 13 .Qf3 Qh5 (13 . . . Nfd7+Z followed by {7-{5 is also a great idea) 14 .Qxh5 Nxh5 15.Bxg7 Nxg7 16.b3 a5! 17. Rfdl a4 18 .b4 a3= in Akopian- Shomoev, Budva 2009.

1 1 . Nxd4

15.Bxf8 Bxf8 16.Qc2 a5 Y2-Y2, Hansen- Georgiev, Germany 2000. b) Also possible is the simple re grouping 1 2 ... Nbd7= with the idea Rf8-e8 and Nd7-f8 -e6-d4! c) And finally, McShane's highly original way of preventing White's play on the queenside: 12 . . . Qb4 13.c5 Nc4 14 . Nxc4 Qxc4 15 .Qc2 Be6 16. Rfdl Rfd8 17.b3 Qb4 18.Na4

l l . . . Nb 6 12. Nb3 Or 12 .Qd3 , which transposes to 10 . . . Nb6 l l .Qd3 exd4 1 2 . Nxd4 , in the note after Black's lOth move.


281

12 . . . Qh5

This was why the e5 pawn was swapped. Now White needs to trade queens and is no longer hoping for any advantage.

18. Qxh5 The other version of the endgame is no better: 13.Nd2 Qxd l 14 . Rfxd l Be6 15. Bfl Rfd8 16.f4 d5 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.Bxb6 axb6 19.e5 Nh5 20.Kf2 f6t Mikhalevski- Oratovsky, Rishon Le Ziyyon 1995. No one has ever tried 13.g4? ! , and with good reason, a s 13 . . . Bxg4! 14 .hxg4 Nxg4 15. Bf4 Nxc4 nets a third pawn for the sacrificed piece and keeps the attack going for free, for the second player.

18 . . . Nxh5 14.g4 14 .Na5 would most likely lead to a transposition, but Black can also use the moment to strike with 14 . . . f5 .

14

•. .

Nf6 15. Na5 Be6!

Vachier-Lagrave brings his piec es quickly into action. Indeed, no one likes to defend passively, e_specially a KID guy.

1 6. Rfdl The move 16.c5 allows Black to get rid of the backward pawn: 16 . . . Nc4 17. Nxc4 Bxc4 18. Rfdl dxc5 19. Bxc5 Rfd8 !? 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8 2 l . Bxa7 Rd2 22 .b3 Nd7 (22 . . . Bd3!?�) 2 3 .bxc4 Bxc3 24.Be3 Bxa l 2 5 . Bxd2 Ne5 26 .c5 (not 26.B{l ? ? Nf3+) 26 . . . Bd4 27. Kfl Nd3 2 8 . Ke2 Nxc5=, Zhu Chen-Arizmendi Martinez, Gibraltar 2006. And 16.b3?! looks like a blun der: 16 . . . Nxg4 17.Bd2 Ne5 18.f4 Nd3 19.Nxb7 and now: a) 19 . . . Bd4+ 20.Kh2 g5 2 l . f5 Bxc4 2 2 . Na5 Ba6 2 3 . Nxc6oo, Poliakov- Go chelashvili, Novomikhailovsky 2011. b) Black could have entered fa vorable complications with 19 . . . Bxc4 20 .bxc4 Nxc4 2 l .Rad l Ndb2 22.Ne2 Nxd l 2 3 . Rxdl Rfb8 24.Na5 Nxa5 2 5 . Bxa5 Rb2+. Also bad is 16.Nxb7?! Nxc4 17. Rabl Rab8 18.Nxd6 Nxe3! 19.fxe3 Nd7+.

16. . . Nfd7!?

282


Black transfers his knight from f6 to a better square and opens the diagonal for the bishop. The way for . the f-pawn is cleared as well. There was nothing wrong with 16 . . . Nxc4 17. Nxc4 Bxc4 18. Rxd6 Rfd8 which can transpose to the game Zhu Chen-Arizmendi Martinez from above, in the note to White's 16th. After 19. Rxd8+ (White can also

Supporting the bishop on the e6 square.

21. Rxd6 Not 2 l .f5? gxf5 2 2 . gxf5 Bxf5 !

21 . . . (5 22.gxf5 gxf5 23. e5 BfB =

try his chances with 19.Radl Rxd6 20.Rxd6 NeB 21. Rd7 Bxc3 22. bxc3 Bxa2 23.Rxb7 a5, but the a-pawn looks scary.) 19 . . . Rxd8 20. Bxa7 Rd2�, we reach the position after 2 1 moves in that game.

17. Racl 17. Rxd6 looks very nice for Black after 17 . . . Ne5 18.Bfl Bxc4 19.Nxc4?! Nbxc4+. Maybe White could try 17.f4 Nxc4 18.Nxc4 Bxc4 19. Rxd6 Nb6 20.Rc l (or 20.e5 {6!) 2 0 . . . B a 6 2 l .b3 Rfd8 with complex position with mutual chances.

17. . . Nxc4 18. Nxc4 Bxc4 1 9. b3 Be6 Or 19 ... Ba6 20. Rxd6 Nb6 2l.f4 Rfd8=.

White's strong passed pawn on e5 is neutralized by the excellent blockading outpost in front of it. The game is equal, and in the forthcoming battle the Frenchman proved luckier.

24. Rddl Nb 6 25. Kf2 Ba3 26. Rc2 RadB 2 7. Rxd8 RxdB 28.Ne2 Nd5 29. Nd4

20.(4 Rfe8!?


283

29 . . . Kf7 Better was 29 Bc8=. ...

30. Nxe6 Kxe6 31. Bxd5+ Rxd5 33. Be3 Be7� 32. Bxa7 Rdl 34. Rd2 Rhl 35. Kg2 Rbl 36. Kf3 Rhl 37. Kg3 c5 38. a4 Rbl 39. Rd3 b6 40. Kf3 Rhl 41.Kg2 Rbl 42. Bd2 Ral 43. Kf3 h5 44. Ke2 h4 45.Be3 Rhl 46. Bf2 Ral 47.Bel Ra2+ 48. Bd2 Ral 49. Rc3 Kd5 50. Kd3 Ra2 51. Rcl Ra3 52. Rc3 Ra2 53. Ke2 Ral 54. Re3 c4 55. bxc4+ Kxc4 56. Rc3+ Kd5

57. Rd3+ Kc 6 58. Rc3+ Kd5 59. Rc7 Bc5 60. Rf7 Ra2 61. Kd3 Rxa4 62. Rxf5 Ra3+ 63. Ke2 Rxh3 64. Rf7? 284


64 . . . Rg3 65. Bel Re3+ 66. Kd2 h3 6 7. Bf2 Ra3 68. Bxc5 bxc5 69. Rd7+ Kc6 70. Rd6+ Kc7 71. Kc2 Ral 72. Kb2 h2 0-1

2 Harikrishna Radjabov •

10 . . . exd4 l l . Nxd4 Ne5

39th Olympiad Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 l.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg 7 4.g3 0 - 0 5. Bg2 d6 6. 0 - 0 Nbd7 7.Nc3 e5 8. e4 c 6 9. h3 Qa5 I O. Rel

12. Bfl

This is White's main weapon against the chosen system. He sup ports the center and intends to bring the bishop via f1 to the defense of the c4 pawn. Nevertheless , Black needs to use the time to build pressure in the center. 10.Be3 leads to the previous game Laznicka - Vachier-Lagrave.

The best continuation. Weak is 1 2 . Nb3?! Qc7 13 . Bfl Be6! and White has obvious problems with the c4 pawn, and not-so-obvious problems with the king's flank: 14 .f4

(Or 14.Nd2 a6 15.{4 Qb6+ 16.Kh1

16 ... Nh5! 1 Zfxe5 Qf2 18.Ne2 Bxe5+..) 14 . . . Nxc4 15.f5 gxf5 16.exf5 Bd5+ Daskevics-Saric, Warsaw 2008.

12 . . . Re8 Black introduces the rook into the game. The pressure along the half-open e-file will be useful in the future.


285

18. Be8 Besides this natural development White has some important alterna tives. We look at 13.f4, 13.Rbl, and finally 13.Nb3 on the next page.

13.f4 Ned7

has independent value in case White chooses something like 14 . Kh2

(14.Nb3 Qc7 transposes to 13.Nb3 Qc7 14.{4 Ned7, reaching the dia gram on page 287 below.) 14 . . . h5

15.Nb3 Qc7 16.c5?! Nxc5 17. Nxc5 dxc5 18.e5 Nd5 (or 18 . . . Rd8! 19. Qf3 Nd5+) 19.Nxd5 cxd5 20.Qxd5 Be6+, Umansky-Movsesian, playchess.com INT 2005. 13.Rbl is designed to prepare the b2-b4 advance, and it also takes away the rook from the x-ray of the black bishop. Black is best advised to proceed with queenside play: 13 ... a6, a move which takes away the b5 square from the white knights and prepares the b7-b5 thrust.

White has tested two ideas: a) The preparatory 14 . Bd2 which was tested in only one recent game, which saw 14 . . . b5!? (14 . . . Qc7 prepar ing b7-b5 seems OK too) and now: al) White did not venture into the complications after 1 5 . Ncxb5!? Qb6 16 . Nxd6 Qxd4 17. Nxe8 Nxe8 18.Be3 Qxdl 19. Rexdl Be6oo. axb5 15.cxb5?! a2) Instead, 16 .b4 Qd8 17. Nb3 Be6+ was Radovanovic-Vovk, Hastings 2012. b) And the straightforward 14.b4 Qc7 15.f4 Ned7 16.Bg2:

White has advanced his pawns all over the board, but now it's Black's turn: 16 . . . c5 17.bxc5 Qxc5 18.Qd3

286


Nb6 19.Be3 Qxc4 20.Qd2 Na4 2l.Nxa4 Qxa4 with a healthy ex tra pawn despite White's activity in Maletin- Sakaev, St. Petersburg 2009. 13.Nb3 can be played at this moment as well as later. The drawback of this move is that the knight is standing in the way of Black's oncoming a-pawn, whose advance is one of the main options in his position. 13 . .Qc7 .

is doing great. He has the center, more space, and a free development. Wait a minute, just how, exactly, is he to develop his forces? Bcl-e3 is not possible, Bcl-d2 is anything but appealing, and how should White deal with the simple positional threat of a7-a5 -a4- (a3), followed by Nd7-c5? And how about the possible problems with the exposed king's flank? For the time being, theory has not found a good answer to these questions. al) 15 .Qd3 a5! a l l ) The pawn cannot be stopped: 16 . a4?? Qb6+. a12) And if 16. Na4? then 16 . . . b5! 17.cxb5 cxb5 ·18 .Qxb5 Ba6 19.Qxa5 Qxa5 20.Nxa5 Bxfl . a 13) So White played 16 .Be3 a4 17.Nd2 Nc5 (Even better is 17. . . Nh5!

18.g4

a) 14 .f4 White immediately tries to show who's boss. 14 . . . Ned7

18 . . . Nc5! 19. Bxc5 dxc5 20.gxh5 RdB 21. Qe2 Qxf4 �) 1 8 . Bxc5 dxc5 19.e5 Rd8 (better was 19 ... Bf5 20. Qf3 Nd7 21.g4 Be6oo) 20 .Qe3 NeB 2 l . Nde4 b6

This position can also appear with a slightly different move order: 13.f4 Ne5 -d7 14 . Nb3 Qc7. Visually, White

2 2 . Radl Rxd l 2 3 . Rxd l f5 24.exf6 Nxf6 2 5 . Nxf6+ Bxf6 2 6 .Qe8+ Kg7 and Black repelled the opponent's initiative in the center and enjoyed the bishop pair, in Nakauchi-Bojkov, Canberra 2010.


287

a2) 15.Qf3 seems a touch better compared to the previous move, as the queen is less . vulnerable here. But still, Black goes 15 . . . a5 16 .Be3

(16.Na4 is now possible but is in fact still helping Black after 16 ... b6 17.Bd2 c5! 18.Nc3 Bb7, renewing the a5-a4 threat and generating useful pressure against the e4 pawn.) 16 . . . a4 17.Nd2 a3 18.b3 Ng4!? (18 . . . Qa5!?�) 19. Racl?! (19. hxg4 Bxc3 20.Radl= was mandatory) 19 . . . Nxe3 20.Qxe3 Qb6 (Instead, the simple 20. . . Nc5+ is much better for Black.) 2 l .Qxb6 Nxb6 22.Kg2 Be6= 23. Bd3 f5 24.Nf3 fxe4 25.Nxe4 Rad8 26.Nf2 Bf7 :Y2-lh, Dolezal-Forthoffer, Prague 2009. a3) 15.Bg2 a5!

Freeing the c6 square for the knight. 16.b3 a6 17.a4 Qd7 18.g4 , and here I like Movsesian's inspired play, al beit in a blitz game: 18 . . . Nfxg4!? (18 . . . Nc6!?� or 18 . . . h5!?�) 19.hxg4 Bxg4 20.Be2D Bxe2 2 1 . Qxe2 Qh3 22 .Qfl Nf3+ 2 3 . Nxf3 Qxf3 24.Bd2 Bxc3 2 5 . Re3 Qg4+ 2 6 . Rg3 Qxg3+ 27.fxg3 Bxd2 , and Black took over the initiative to win later in Fancsy-Movsesian, Dos Hermanas 2004.

13

. . .

c5/?

16.Be3 a4 17.Nd4 Qa5 (or 17... Nc5 18.Bf2 Qb6�) 18.Nc2 Qc7 19.Na3

Bf8 20 .Qd2 Nc5 2 l . Bxc5 dxc5 22 .e5 Rd8 23 .Qe3 Ne8 24.g4 Qb6 25 .Qf2 f5 26.gxf5 Bxf5 with complex, dou ble-edged play with mutual chances, Omearat-Tissir, Abu Dhabi 2010. b) At the same time, natural de velopment allows Black time to count er-attack: 14.Be3 Be6 15.Nd2 c5:

288


Once again, a very fresh (histori cally) idea by GM Vladimir Georgiev. Veselin Topalov also gave it a go in 2000 against none other than Anatoly

Karpov to win a fine attacking game. Black is ready to part with the d6 pawn on some occasions as long as he can control the d4 square and the black-square complex. Furthermore, some tactics will support the second player's intention. Note that Black is now entering a strategically risky position with a permanent weakness on d6 and needs to play actively and keep the position unbalanced, at least until he finds a clear target to attack. 13 . . . Be6 was and is still played instead, but I feel like the surrender of this beautiful piece is a major con cession!

16 . . . Nc6 17.Qxd6? Nd4+. b) The game saw instead 15 . . . Qb4 16 .Nab5 Nxc4? (o 16. . . Rad8) 17. Bxc4 Bxc4 18.a3 Qb3 19.Nxd6 Re7 20.Bxc5 Rc7 2 l . Bd4± Litwin-Dobrowolski, Polanica Zdroj 2010. It is very important for you to know that the immediate attack on the d6 weakness 14.Ndb5? is spectacularly refuted after 14 . . . Nxe4!

14. Nf3 One of the two main weapons that White has in his arsenal and the choice of Karpov against Topalov. The other is 14.Nb3!? discussed on page 290. 14.Nc2 looks timid and was tried only once, but watch out! It has more venom than you might think! After Be6 15.Na3:

The main trap. 15.Nxe4 Qxe l ! the queen on a5 shows her power! a) Now 16.Qxe l Nf3+ 17. Khl Nxel is already much better for Black: al) 18. Nbxd6 Bf5! is a sugges tion by Stohl, which allows Black to maintain his active position. (Rather

than keeping the material gain with 18 . . . Nc2 19.Nxe8 Nxal 20.Nxg7 Kxg7 2l.Nxc5 Nc2 22.Bd2 �, which also seems OK for Black, but not advanta geous.) 19.Nxc5 Nc2 20.Nxe8 Rxe8i.

a) Black should now take away the b5 square from the white knights with 15 . . . a6 ! i and not worry about the d6 pawn: 16 .f4 (16. Qxd6? Nf3+)

a2) 18. Nexd6 Rxe3 19.fxe3 Nc2 DimukhametovNxe3+ 20.Rcl Samusenko, Moscow 2006. b) Stohl also suggests White's best is 16.Nc7, but this is still better for the second player after 16 . . . Qxd l 17.Rxdl Nf3+ 18.Kg2 Rxe4 19. Kxf3 Rxe3+ 20.fxe3 Rb8+.


289

The

other main weapon is as recommended by Boris Avrukh in his Grandmaster

14.Nb3!?

Repertoire.

Black answers 14 ... Qb4 when White has a really wide choice . We look at the early try 15.Bg5?! here, the former main move 15.Bd2 on page 290, the silent but violent 15.a3 on page 291, and the less tested 15.Qxd6 on page 296. 15.Bg5?! was one of the first at tempts to fight the system, but not a very successful one. 15 . . . Be6 (not

15... Nxc4 ?? 16.a3 winning material) 16 .a3 Qb6

And now: a) 17. Nd5?! Nxd5 18.exd5 Bd7 19.a4 f5 20.Bd2 Nf7 2 1 .Qc2 Rxe1 2 2 . Bxe1 Ng5+ Ippolito-V. Georgiev, Bermuda 1998. b) Stohl recommended 17.Nd2!? when Black has the fascinating idea 17 . . . Qxb2 ! ? (or . 1 7. . . Nc6 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.cxd5 Nd4 20.Nc4 Qc7?) 18.Na4

18 . . . Qxa 1 ! 19.Qxa1 Nxe4 20 .Qd1 Nxg5 2l.f4 Nxh3+ 2 2 . Bxh3 Bxh3 23.fxe5 Bxe5oo, with rook and three pawns for the queen, with the two bishops against the two knights. Why not give it a go sometime? For a while , 15.Bd2 was con sidered to be White's main move, but the second player found con vincing play after 15 . . . Qb6 16.f4 (or

16.Nd5 Nxd5 1 7. exd5 QdB 18.Bc3 {5= Piarnpuu-Melamed, St. Petersburg 2001) 16 . . . Nc6 :

290


c4+ 23. Qd4 + Qxd4+ 24.Nxd4 Nd3 +) 22 . . . Rxel+ 2 3 .Qxel c4+ 2 4 . Kh2 cxb3 2 5 .Qc3+ Kg8 2 6 . Qxb3 ReS 27.a3 Na6 2 8 .Qxb6 axb6 2 9 . Rc l Re2 3 0 . Rc8+ Kg7 3 l . Rd8 Rxb2 3 2 . Rxd6 Nc5 3 3 . g4 Kf8 = Dautov. b) Dautov suggests instead 17. Kh2 Nd4 18.Bd3, but this is just equal after 18 . . . Bd7 or 18 . . . a5. Avrukh likes the silent but violent

15.a3:

a) 17. Bg2?! The '?!' is given by Dautov, who played this move against Vladimir Georgiev. 17 . . . Be6 . 18 . Nd5 Bxd5 19.cxd5 Nb4! and it suddenly transpired that it is Black who owns the initiative: 20.Bc3

Indeed, Black needs to be careful in this position; 15 ... Qb6 is the only move. (Another try which I once test

ed against Ilincic: 15. . . Nf3+?! 16. Qxf3 Qxb3 1 7.RadH, gave White a strong initiative.) Now White achieves nothing af ter 16.f4 Nc6 17. Bg2 (or 1 7. e5 dxe5 This position occurred in the game D autov-V.Georgiev, EU- ChT Batumi 1999. (20. Kh2 is weaker, as

Stohl points out: 20 . . . Nd3 21. Ba5 Qa6 22. Bfl c4 +) 2 0 ... Nfxd5 ! (Or maybe even better is 20 . . . c4+ 21. Bd4 Qb5 as in the game, and now 22.a4 Qa6 followed by Nf6-d7 with firm control over the d3 square.) 2 l . Bxg7 (or 21. exd5 c4+ 22. Kh2 cxb3 23. Qxb3 Bxc3=) 2 1 . . . Kxg7 2 2 . exd5 (22.a3?

18. Bxc5 QdB 19. Qxd8 RxdB 20.fxe5 Nd7 21.Radl ReB 22.Bf2 Ndxe5=) 17 . . . Be6 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.cxd5 Na5 2 0 . Nxa5 Qxa5oo with active play on the queen's flank for Black in a Beno ni type of position. However, the acid test is 16.Nd2. There are two ways to fight for equality; Black of course cannot capture the pawn with 16 . . . Qxb2?? as 17. Na4 traps the queen.


291

One option is to take away the queen from the potential b2 -b4 advance: 16 ... Qd8

And now: a) 17.b4 is still possible, but less appealing. 17 . . . b6 18 .b5 a6 19.a4 axb5 20.Nxb5 Bb7 2 l .f4 Nc6 2 2 . Bf2 Nb4 23.Ra3 Bxe4+ was Maletin-Smirnov, Barnaul 2011. b) White might try also 17.Qc2 !? with the natural desire to finish his development and place a rook on the half-open file. A game of Antonios Pavlidis , a former student of mine, continued 17 . . . Nc6 (17. .. b6 lB.Radl Bb7 is worth investigating.) 18.Nf3 Nd7 19.Redl Nde5 20.Nxe5 Nxe5!? sacrificing a pawn, or even two. Antonios is a very sharp tactician who is not afraid to invest material, which helped him win his first na tional men's title at the age of eigh teen. 2l.Bxc5 Nf3+ 22.Khl Qg5 and Black had strong attack for the sacri ficed piece. 23.Bxd6 Qh5 (23 . . . Qh6 is more exact.) 24.Ne2 g5 25.Ngl Nxgl 26.Kxgl Bxh3 27. Rd5 Re6 2 8 . Bf4? Bxfl 29. Rxg5 Qe2 30.Qc3 Rg6 0-1, Obrusnik-Pavlidis, Albena 201 1 .

The other way to fight for equality is 16 ... Nc6 17.Rbl

All of this was a part of Avrukh's rec ommendation, a fact of which I was completely unaware - shame on me! We look at the move I played here, and the most precise 17 . . . Qd8 on page 295. a) Taken by surprise, I chose the following plan against Alejandro Ramirez: 17 . . . Nd4?!

I now believe that this is dubious , but I still want to show you this game, as the ideas that it saw might be use ful to you. 18 .b4 Qd8 19. Bxd4 (The

idea that I was most afraid of was 292


the simple improvement of the pieces: 19. Bg2-t. followed by Nd2-b3. Once White gets rid of the strong knight, he can pile his heavy pieces along the halfopen d-file. I could not, and still do not, see an equalizing line for Black even though the computer leisurely es timates the position as approximately balanced.) 19 . . . cxd4 20.Nb5. True, Black is losing a pawn now, but I will possess the dark-squared bishop and a good follow-up. Now, not so good is 20 . . . Nh5 21.Nb3-t., and the tempting 20 . . . Qb6?! is strongly met with 2 1 .c5 dxc5 22 .bxc5 Qxc5 (or 22 . . . Qc6 23.Nd6) 23.Rcl Qe7 24.Nc7 Be6 2 5 . Nxa8 Rxa8 26.Nf3± . Best is 20 . . . h5! as played in the game.

24.Ne2 Qg5+, or even better, 24 . . . a5 first.) 22 . . . Nh5 2 3 . N2f3 Nf4:

Never mind that the computer says White should be somewhat better here. A human will always prefer to have the black pieces in this situation. Or at least a KID addict will! al) There is no time for any preparation: 24.Kh2 and now: a l l ) 24 . . . Qd7 2 5 . Ng5 Be5 and the black squares are weak, I insist! a12) Also possible is 24 . . . Qf6!?. a13) And 24 . . . Be5 2 5 . Nxe5 dxe5 2 6 . Nf3 Qf6 27.c5 Rd8 28 .Qb3 Nd3 29. Bxd3 Qx£3---. . a2) Alejandro finds the best chance: 24.Nb5 Bf8 25 .e5 (25. Qd2 is

probably best, but he also wanted to show some activity after all!) 25 . . . Bf5 This move is designed to fight for the black squares and . . . the cen ter! Larsen would be proud to see this move from one of his admirers. 21.Nxd4 (21.h4?! gives away the g4 square: 21. . . Ng4) 2 1 . . .h4! Now the black squares in the opponent's camp will be severely weakened! Ramirez continued with 2 2 . gxh4

(Alternatives are no better: 22.g4 ? Nxg4, or 22.Bg2?! hxg3 23.fxg3 Nh5

Black's compensation now is huge! Now White has several possibilities: a21) 2 6 . Rb3?! dxe5 27.Qxd8 Raxd8 2 8 . Rxe5 Rxe5 29.Nxe5 Rdl+. a22) 26 .Ral dxe5 27.Qxd8 Raxd8 2 8 . Nxe5 Bg7+. a23) 26.Rcl dxe5 2 7.Qxd8 Raxd8 28.Rxe5 Rxe5 2 9 . Nxe5 a6 (29. . . Bh6!?) 30.Nc3 Rd2iii . a24) Ramirez played 2 6 . Nxd6 Bxd6 (Of course not 26 . . . Bxbl 27.Nxe8

Qxdl 28.Nf6+, where White wins.) Chapter 6: The Fianchetto System

293

27.Qxd6 (27.exd6 Rxel 2B.Nxel Bxbl 29. Qxbl Qxd6+) 27 . . . Bxbl 2 8 . Rxbl (Normally White would be happy to enter an endgame, but he lacks the time for that: 2B. Qxd8 RaxdB 29.Rxbl Nd3 30. Bxd3 Rxd3+.) 28 . . . Qc8!

with numerous threats, namely Qd4-f4 (d7) or Ng5-e4-f6 and e5-e6 at the proper moment.)

The game is now extremely com plex, and neither of us were sure who would give mate or get mated! Now if 29.Qf6 then 29 . . . Nxh3+ 30.Kh2 (30.Bxh3 Qxh3 31. Qxf7+

Kxf7 32.Ng5+ Kg7 33.Nxh3 Rxe5+) 30 . . . Nxf2+ threatening . . . Ng4. Not 30 . . . Re6? 3 1 . Bxh3 Rxf6 3 2 . Bxc8 Rxf3 33. Bxb7. Instead, Alejandro played 2 9.Qd4! Nxh3+ 30.Kh2 Qf5 3 1 . Bxh3 ! Qxf3 !

(Taking the second exchange would be a mistake: 31. .. Qxbl 32.Ng5

294


This is the game position after 3 1 . . .Qxf3 ! Now Black wins after 3 2 . Rdl Rad8 33.Qxd8 Qxf2+ 34.Khl Rxd8 3 5 . Rxd8+ Kg7-+, or 3 2 . Bg4 Rad8 a33 . Qxd8? Qxf2+. Ramirez played 3 2 . Bg2 ! Rad8, and we both entered the time scram ble with Alej andro playing better. Now if 3 3 . Qxa7? then 33 . . . Qf4+ 34.Kgl Rd2 3 5 . Rfl Rxe5 and White would gradually get mated before he even starts advancing his queenside pawns: 36.Qxb7 Rh5 37.c5 Rxh4 .

So the game continued 3 3 . Bxf3 , the only move. 33 . . . Rxd4 34.c5

b 1 ) 19 . . . h5! similar t o the idea in my game against Ramirez , Skoberne generates tactical ideas, thanks to the h5 -h4 thrust: 20.Nd5 (20. b4

cxb4 21. axb4 would see Black ad vancing the h-pawn: 21 . . . h4 22.g4 ? Nxg4) 20 . . . Bd7 (o 20. . . Nd4 21. b4 Nd7 22. bxc5 Nxc5oo) 2 1 .b4 b6: bll) 2 2 . Bf2 Now the position is equal. 22 . . . Nxd5 23.cxd5 Nd4=

34 ... Rxe5?! (Missing the chan ce 34 . . . Re7! 35. Kg3 Rd3 36.a4 Rxe5+) 35. Bxb7 Rxh4+ 3 6 . Kg3 Rc4 37.Rb3 Kg7 3 8 . Rd3 a5 39. Bd5 Rc2 40.c6 axb4 4 1 . axb4 lh-lh, Ramirez-Bojkov, Richardson USA 2 0 1 1 . b ) Therefore, I now believe that 17 . . . Qd8 at once is the most precise for Black:

Brunello- Skoberne, Porto Carras 2011. b 1 2 ) Maybe White needed t o try 2 2 . Nxf6+ Bxf6 23 .bxc5 bxc5 24.e5 dxe5 2 5 . Ne4 Be7 2 6 .fxe5 Bf5oo, but not 26 . . . Nxe5? 2 7.Qd5 Nc6 28.Rb7+-. b2) 19 ... Nd7 !? looks worse: 20.Nd5 Bxd5 (20. . . Nd4!? is a possible improvement for Black.) 2 1 .cxd5 Nd4� 22 .b4: b21) 22 ... b5 23 .bxc5 Nxc5 24.Nfl± was the game Ramirez- Sadorra, Orlando 2 0 1 1 .

18. Bg2 (18.b4 does not impress here due to 18 ... Ng4 19. hxg4 Bxc3) 18 . . . Be6 19.f4 (Black also should not worry about 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.exd5 Nd4 21. b4 b6=):

Chapter 6 : The Fianchetto System

295

b22) Trying to improve, I first thought that 22 . . . Nb5

17 ... Qxc3!! This was my suggestion from two years before. (17. . . Bf8 was would be OK for Black, but then I discovered the strong exchange sacrifice 23.Nc4! Nc3 24 .Qc2 Nxbl 25.Rxbl Qc7 26 .bxc5 Nxc5 27.Nxd6 Qxd6 28.e5 Qd7 29.Qxc5± . The untested 15.Qxd6 was an option when I made my KID DVD.

A good sign for Black is that two games were played afterwards with Black scoring llh/2 . In the game that he won, Black followed my recom mendations: 15 ... Nf3+ 16.Khl Nxel

17.Bxc5

296


an inspired and safe over-the-board try, which is a reasonable alternative for Black: 18. Qxf8+ Rx{B 19.Bxb4 Nc2 20.Bxf8 Nxal 2l.Bh6 Nxb3 22. axb3 Zalakaros Juhasz- Csirik, 1h-lfz, 2009.) 18.bxc3 Nxe4 19.Qd5 Bxc3

and I am happy to discover followers! A strong and experienced IM went down after facing this idea - not a big surprise for such a wild position ! a) The line that I give in the DVD continued 20.Rcl Bf5 2 1 . Qxb7 Rab8 22.Qxa7 Ra8 23 .Qb6 Nxc5 24.Nxc5 Bd4 25 .Qd6 Rad8 2 6 . Rxel Rxd6 27.Rxe8+ Kg7 2 8 . Ne4 Ra6 29.g4

Bxe4+ 30.Rxe4 Bxf2 3 l . Re2 Bc5=. Naturally, there is a vast scope for improvement for both players but I feel that Black is definitely not risk ing more than his opponent! b) Instead, the game saw 20.Rdl Bf5 2 l . Bg2

Ngl+ 3 5 . Kh4 Nf3+ 36.Kh3 Nxd2 37.Nxd2 Bxd6 38.Qd4 Bc7 39.f3 Re2 40.Ne4 Rh2+ 4 l . Kg4 f5+ 42.Kg5 Rh5+ 43 .Kf6 fxe4 44 .Qc4+ Bd5 0-1

Colovic-Carmaciu, Sunny 2 0 1 1 . A spectacular game !

Beach

14 . . . Nxf8+ 15. Qxf8 2 l . . . Nxg3+!

2 2 . Kh2 (22.fxg3 Nxg2 23.Kxg2? Be4+) 22 . . . Nxg2 23 .Qxg2 Ne2 24.Bd6 Rad8 2 5 .c5 Be5+

(25 ... b6! would be even stronger!) 26.Khl (26. Bxe5 Rxdl 27. Qxb7 was White's only chance.) 26 . . . Nf4 2 7.Qfl Bxh3 28 .Qc4 Bg4 29.Rd2 Bf3+ 30.Kh2 Bd5 3 1 .Qa4 Bc6 32 .Qc4

15. . . Nd7!? An idea of the Romanian GM Grigore. Topalov achieved excellent com pensation after 15 . . . Be6 16. Bf4

(However, 16.Nb5! is critical and looks advantageous for White.) 32 . . . Rxd6 !

33.cxd6

Ne2+

34.Kh3

16 . . . Nd7 17. Bxd6 Ne5 18 .Qe3 Rad8 and now 19. Radl (not 19. Bxc5? b6


297

20.Ba3 (20. Bd4? Rxd4-+) 20. . . Nxc4+)

19 . . . b6 20.a3 Nxc4 2 l . Bxc4 Bxc4�, Karpov-Topalov, Monte Carlo 2000.

16.Nb5 It is curious that the passive

16.Bd2 was played twice against the

young Ukrainian GM Vovk and he easily got the upper hand using the same method: 16 . . . Ne5 17.Qd l Be6 18.b3:

18 . . . Nxc4 (18 . . . Qb4!? can be your choice if you do not need a draw.) 19.Rxe6 fxe6 20. Bxc4 Qb4 21 .Qfl Qxb2 22 .Rcl Bxc3 2 3 . Rbl Qc2 24.Rcl Qb2 2 5 . Rbl=.

16 . . . Ne5

18 ... Nxc4! 19.bxc4 Bxc3 20.Bxc3 Qxc3 2 1 .Qxd6 b6+ L'Ami-Vovk, Dieren 2011. The stem game saw 16.Radl?! Ne5 17.Qg2 Be6 18.Nb5 Rad8 with ad vantage for Black in Marin- Grigore, Amara 2007. White might do better to start retreating his pieces with 16.Qdl Ne5 17. Kg2 Be6 18.Nd5 Nc6 19. Bf4 Qd8 =, although the most he can count on is equality, as 20.Kh2?! can be met with 20 ... Bxb2 ! (instead

of 20... Nd4 21.Nc3 h5+ Miron Georgescu, Bucharest 2011) 2 l . Rbl

Bd4 22.Rxb7 Bxf2+. considered himself Marin 16.Redl as best, although this op tion remains untested. I will give you a possible line: 16 . . . Ne5 17.Qg2 Be6 18.Rxd6

298


1 7. Qe2 Avoiding the typical trick with the special participation of Her Majesty: 17.Qg2?

17 . . . Bxh3 18 .Qxh3 Nf3+ -+.

Centralization!

17. . . Rd8 18.Redl Be6 19. bB a 6! 20. Bd2 20.Nxd6 knight.

Qb6

would

trap

the

20 . . . Qb6=

Radjabov h a s repelled the active white pieces and can confidently look to the future .

21. NeB Ne 6 22. Rael Nd4

2B. QdB Qa7 24.Ne2 b5 25. Nxd4 Bxd4 26.B_eB BxeB 2 7. QxeB Qe7 28. Rd2 b4 29. QeB Rd7 BO. Redl f6 Bl. Be2 ReB B2. Kg2 a5 BB. Bg4 Bxg4 B4. hxg4 Qxe4+ B5. Qxe4 Rxe4 B6. Rxd6 Rxd6 B 7. Rxd6 Re2

BB. Rxf6 Rxa2 B9. Re6 a4 40. bxa4 bB 41. R b 6 Rxa4 42. RxbB Rxe4 4B. Rb8+ Kg7 44. Rb7+ Kh 6 45.(4 g5 46. KfB ReB+ 4 7. Kf2 Re2+ 48. Kf8 ReB+ * - *


299

Memory Markers Here are reminders of some of the ideas and motifs in The Fianchetto System.

1. After 8 ... Qa6. Use of the queen on the queenside. See dia gram on page 276, notes to 8 . e4 in Laznicka-Vachier Lagrave.

2. After

Active central play against Georgiev's idea. See diagram on page 280, notes to 10.Be3 in Laznic ka-Vachier Lagrave.

4. After 14 ... Qxc4.

3. After 18 ... Nc2!?N.

300


17 ... Bb5. Queenside pressure with a closed center. See diagram on page 277, notes to 9.h3 in Laznicka-Vachier Lagrave.

Positional exchange sacrifice. See diagram on page 2 8 1 , notes to 10 . . . exd4 in Laznicka-Vachier Lagrave.

5. Mter 13 ... c5!?. Central activ ity in Harikrishna-Radj abov, see diagram on page 288.

6. Mter 14 ...Nxe4!. The main trap. See diagram on page 289, notes to 14.Nf3 in Harikrishna-Radj abov.

Flexibility 7. Mter 23 ...Nd4. against Avrukh's line. See diagram on page 295, notes to 14.Nf3 in Harikrishna-Radj abov.

8. Mter 19 ...Bxc3. The mess. See diagram on page 296, notes to Harikrishna-Radj abov.


301

9. Mter 22 . Nd4 Centraliza tion in Harikrishna-Radj abov, see diagram on page 299. .

302

.

.



As Black, practice finding the right moves when facing The Fianchetto System . Solutions to the exercises begin on page 349.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Aronian - Marjanovic

Szabolcsi - Lorscheid

Bucharest 1999

Budapest 2007

Future GMs also need to learn. Aronian has just played 15.a2 -a3?

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark!


303

Exercise 3

Ursie

·

Sulava

Nova Gorica 1997

Palleja Rahal ·

Barcelona 1995

·

A typical trick.

Trap something!

Exercise 5

Exercise 6

Wheeler Zilberstein

Schaefer Lechtynsky

USA ICC 2006

Litomysl 1997

·

Target the king!

304

Exercise 4


·

How will you finish the game?

Exercise 7

Holeman Acher ·

FRA-chJM3, Rochefort 1998 Somewhat of a surprise . . .

Exercise 9

Exercise 8

Hoffmann

·

Movsesian

EU- Cup, Ohrid 2009 Unleash the power of your pieces!

Exercise 10

Lucea · Arias Boo

Zats · Bonin

Barcelona 2001

USA-AmChT, Parsippany 2001

Decoy the king!

Black's position looks cramped.


305

Solutions to the Exercises Chapter 1: The Classical Variation


Exercise 1

15 . . . Qe5+ or even the better 15 ... Ne5!+, Black is much better, thanks to his domination on the dark squares, the weak isolated pawn on e4, and the clear superiority of the black knight against the bishop on e2 .

Exercise 2

Cobb - Grossett Bristol 1998 The seeming happiness in White's camp is deceptive . Prove it!

12 . . . Nxe4! A typical trick based on the vulnerable position of the white knight on d4 and the dark-squared bishop. One should always watch carefully to see if it works!

18.fxe4 Even worse is 13.Nxe4 Qxd2 14 .Bxd2 Bxd4+, as Black wins the pawn for free after 15.Nxd6?? Rxe2-+.

18 . . . Bxd4 14. Qxd4 Qxg5 15. Qxd6 White has escaped material loss, but after:

Young - Yermolinsky US Open, Chicago 1994 Remember the previous one?

12 . . . Nxe4! This should be a piece of cake, once you have solved the previous exercise.

18.Nxe4 13. Bxd8? is even worse, as it loses a piece and the pawn after 13 . . . Nxd 2 .

18 . . . Qxh4 14. Nb8 Not 14 .Nxd6? Qxd4+.

Solutions to the Exercises: Chapter 1a

307

14 . . . Nc5 15. Nbxc5

28 . . . Bf8 29. Ne4

Once again White cannot take back the pawn: 15.Nxd6 Nxb3 16. axb3 Qd4+ 17.Qxd4 Bxd4+ 18.Kh l Rxe2 -+.

29 . . . Qxf5 30. Ng3 Nf2+ 31. Kgl Qc5 32. Kfl Nd3 0-1

It's lights out after 29.Re8 Nf2+ 30.Kgl Nh3+ 3 1 . Kh l Qgl mate.

15. . . dxc5+ With a healthy extra pawn and a bishop pair as "compensation", Black easily won.

Exercise 4

Exercise 3

Hoelzl - Szilagyi Budapest 1988

Zude - Graf Bundesliga 2004

How can Black exploit the some what loose position of the opponent's rook?

19 . . . Ng4! 20. Qg5 Ne3! Black is very active. Can he turn his activity into something more tangible?

26 . . . Rxb2! Black wins material while bring ing his pieces closer to the enemy king!

27. Qxb2 The most stubborn defense would be 27.Re8+ Bf8 28.Qxb2 Nxd3 29.Na4! (Or even worse: 29. Qd2 Nf2+ 30.Kgl Ne4 + - +) 29 . . . Nxb2 30.Nxc5 dxc5+, although Black should win here as well.

27. . . Nxd3 28. Qb8+ Or 28 .Qe2 Nxel 29.Qxel Bxc3.

308

Solutions to the Exercises: Chapter la

By simple means, just attacking the defender with tempos. The c2 knight is overworked, and White los es material.

21. e 5 The move 2 1 .Qxc5 will indeed save the rook but not the game, after 2 1 . . .dxc5 2 2 . Rd2 Nbxc4 23 .Re2 Nxfl 24.Rxfl b5-+. After the text move, the simple continuation 2l . . . Nxc2 wins easily.

Exercise 5

Exercise 6

Keipo - Perez

Zakharov - Yurtaev

Cuba 2000

URS-ch sf, Volgodonsk1983

White wants to establish a knight on b6. What would you recommend for the second player?

1 6. . . Nexg4! 1 7. Nb 6

Once more, Yurtaev!

29 . . . Bb7!! The hunting season for the white king is open!

17.fxg4 can b e answered with 18. Radl Bxd4 19. Rxd4 Nxg3+ 20.Qxg3 Rxe2 2 l . Rxd6 Be6+ with a healhy extra pawn for Black.

30. Qxb 7

17. . . Nxe4

White cannot survive after 30.Nd5 Rad8 3 l . Kgl Bxd5 32.cxd5 Rd6 .

17. . . RbB 1B. c5

30 . . . Nxg3+ 31. Kg1 Ne2+

This time, 18.fxg4? is even worse, as the white queen must guard the knight on b6. 18: .. Nxe4 19. Radl Nxg3+ 20.hxg3 Bxd4 2 l . Rxd4 Rxe2+.

3 1 . . . Nxfl immediately is also pos sible: 3 2 . Nxfl Qc3 3 3 . Rcl Qb2 -+.

18 . . . Ne5+ Black has chopped an important pawn and later won the game.

32. Kf2 RaeB 34. Ng2 Nd4 36. Rxh2 Nxh2

33. Qf3 Qxh2+ 35. Rh1 Nxf3

Black has gained a decisive material advantage which he soon converts.

3 7. Kg3 Re2 3B. Bd3 Rd2 39. Be4 ReB 40. Bc 6 ReB 41.Bb7 Rc7 42. Bxa6 bxc4 43. Kxh2 c3 44. Kg3 c2 45. Ne3 0-1


309

Exercise 7

Exercise 8

Trmal - Michalek

Littleton - Boey

Czechia 2009

Den Haag 1966

Shall we retreat the knight?

25 . . . Rxd6! KID players never retreat! They also rarely miss a chance to gain con trol over the black squares!

26. cxd6 26.fxe5 would lose the black squares anyway, and would not even bring material consolation for the first player after 26 . . . Rd4-+.

26 . . . Qxb 6 27.fxe5 Bxe5+ Black has a large advantage: his bishops control the whole board, the white king is rather miserable, and the white pawns are a mess.

28. Rd1 Rd8 29. Qf8 Bd4 80. Rfd2 c5 81.e5 Bxe5 82. Qe4 Bg 7 88.Bc4 Qb4 84. b8 a4 85. Ra2 axb8 86.Ra8 Bf6 8 7. Rxd8+ Bxd8 88. Qa8 Qxc4 89. Qxd8+ Kg 7 40. d7 Qe4+ 0-1

310


White has just taken the pawn on d6. How can Black punish his opponent for this greediness?

18 . . . Rad8 There is no direct refutation, but simple development will underline the fact that White lacks communication between his pieces. 13 . . . Nh5 is a decent alternative.

14. Qg8 Nh5 15. Qe1 Nf4 16.Kh1 Nb4+ White is helpless, s o huge i s the difference between the pieces.

1 7. a8 Nbd8 18. Bxd8 Nxd8 19. Qe2 Qb8 20. Ncd1 Rd7! 21. Rb1 Red8 - + 22. Bd2 ? ? Nf4 0-1

Exercise 9

Exercise 10

Kolev - Rasik

Korotylev - Kokarev

Budapest 1993

Serpukhov 2007

How can Black prove superiority on the black squares?

Once again, superiority on the black squares!

22 . . . Bxc3

19. . . Ne6!

I can almost hear you screaming: "How? Our pride, our KID bishop ! Isn't this something we should not do?" Well, you know that chess is a game of exceptions , and here, thanks to the fact that the e4 pawn is hanging, Black can actually make a concrete use of the black squares. He can establish a firm control over them even without the bishop!

This move forces the e5, after which Black gets backward pawn on d6 and the central situation in his

23. Bxc5 Qxc5! One more defender of the dark squares has to leave the stage.

24. Qxc5 dxc5 25. bxc3 And now, thanks to this nice ma neuver:

25. . . Ne 6! Nd7!+

2 6.{5

Nf8!

trade on rid of his stabilizes favor.

20. Bxe5 Unfortunately for White, he can not retreat the bishop: 20. Be3? a3 ! will cause immediate collapse of the queen's flank, while a neutral move like 20. Rabl? will witness an acci dent on the other side of the board: 20 . . . Nxd4 2 1 . Nxd4 Qh4!-+.

20 . . . dxe5 21. Qe3 Ndc5+ Black is better. He has two ex cellent outposts for his knights on f4 and d4 , and White has a poor bishop on e2 .

2 7. Kgl

Black establishes his knight on e5 and underlines the fact that he is in full control of the situation. Note that he kept the opponent's bad bish op on the board !


311

Exercise 11

Chapter 1b: The Gligoric System

Exercise 1

Wirig - Vaisser Caen 2011 A pleasant choice . . .

Sundararajan - Asauskas World Championship U20, Goa 2002

29 . . . Nh3+1 This breaks White's pawn for mation and allows Black to solidify his advantage. With so many active pieces, it is no wonder that he had an alternate win, with 29 . . . Qal+! 30.Nfl Nxg2 ! ! with the idea 3 1 . Kxg2 Bh3+ 32.Kg3 Qxfl 33. Nf4 h4 mate.

30.gxh3 Qxf3 31. Qd3 Bxh3 32.Nd4 Qxe4 33. Qxe4 Rxe4+ The three pawns supported by the active rook and the bishop pair prove better than the white knight.

34.Ndc2 (5 35. Rb3 (4 36. Nf1 Bxf1 37. Kxf1 Bxf2 38. Kxf2 Rxc4 39. Ne1 Kf7 40. Rb8 Ra4 41.Rb2 g4 42. Rc2 c5 43.Nd3 Kf6 44.Nc1 Ra3 45. Ne2 Rf3+ 46. Kg1 Ke5 47. Rc4 h4 48.Ra4 h3 49. Rxa5 g3 50. Ra8 g2 0-1

312

Solutions to the Exercises: Chapter lb

Exploit the pin.

23 . . . Bxc4 24. Rxc4 Qd5! 25. Rc2 White is doomed also after 25 .Qd3 Rxa2 2 6 . Kh l (or 26.Rccl Nxd4 27. Qxd4 Re1+!) 26 . . . Ra3-+. And if 2 5 . Rdcl RedS , the pinned piece will leave the stage.

25 . . . Nxd4 26. Qxd4 Re1+1 0-1 An elegant finish!

Exercise 2

30. Nxe1 Kf6 31. Kf3 Ke5 32. Ke3 Kf5 33. Nf3 Kg4 34. Kf2 Kf4 35. b4 f6 36. a4 Ke4 3 7. b5 Kd3 38. a5 c5 39. Nh4 Kxc4 40. b 6 axb 6 41. axb 6 g5 42. Nf5 Kd5 0-1

Exercise 3

Serralta - Rabineau French Championship, Nimes 2009 15. . . Nxf4! Forced, but good! Black gains three pawns for the piece at once, with a strong attack.

16.gxf4 Bxf4 1 7. Qd1 The queen must retreat, or else mate is coming: 17. Be3? Qg5+ 18.Kf2 Qh4+ 19.Kfl Qh3+ 20.Kgl Qxh2+ 2 l . Kfl Bh3 mate. Perhaps the square 17.Qc2 is a better retreat, although it's still much better for Black after 17 . . . Bxh2+ 18.Kg2 Bh3+ 19.Kxh2 Qxf2+ 20.Kxh3 Qxd4+.

17. . . Bxh2+ 18. Kg2 Bh3+1 Black even has two other options worth considering, 18 . . . Bf4!?+ and 18 . . . Nxe4!?+.

Sergeev - Osinovsky St. Petersburg White Nights St. Petersburg 2004 Make use of your activity!

26 . . . Nxb21 Wins a pawn at once.

2 7. Rxc8+ Qxc8 28.Nxb2 Qc1+ 29. Be1 Or 29.Qel d2 .

29 . . . Bd4+ 30. Kf1 Qe3 0-1

19. Kxh2 Qxf2+ 2 0. Kxh3 Nxe4 21.Nxe4 Rxe4 22. Nf3 Or 2 2 . Bg4 Rxd4-+.

22 . . . Rae8 Black wins back one of the pieces and retains good winning chances .

23. Rf1 Qxe2 24. Qxe2 Rxe2+ 25. b3 Kg7 2 6. Rfd1 R8e3 2 7. Kg3 h5 28. Re1 Rxel 29. Rxel Rxe1 Solutions to the Exercises: Chapter lb

313

Exercise 4

30. Kg2

Sasikiran - Konguvel India Championship, Nagpur 1999 How can Black make progress?

25. . . h5! The heavy pieces and the bishop cannot be improved for the moment, but the advance of the h-pawn will weaken the castled position of the white king, and will open spaces for future attack.

26. Nd4 h4 2 7. Rdl hxg3 28. hxg3 g5!? The idea is g5 -g4 , after which the bishop will gain the e4 square. Also 28 . . . Kg7 !?, with the idea to use the h-file in the future, makes sense as well.

29.g4 ?! White does not stand the pres sure and allows the following storm! Better was 29.Kg2 , preparing for the defense. Note that the trade of the light pieces is favorable for Black: 29.Nxf5 Qxf5 30.Kg2 g4-+.

29 . . . Bxg4!

314

Solutions to the Exercises: Chapter lb

Or 30.fxg4 Re4 3 l . Nf3 (or 31. Kg2 · Rxg4+ 32. Kh3 Re4 with a decisive at tack) 3 l . . . Rxg4+ 3 2 . Kf2 Rf4 33 .Qc3 Qxc3 34 .bxc3 g4-+.

30 . . . Bd7 31. Rhl g4 32. Qc3 gxf3+ 33. Kf2 Re4 34. Nxf3 d4 35. Qb3 Qf4 36. Rel Rxel 3 7. Kxel Bg4 38. Ngl Kg 7 39. Qc4 Qe3+ 40. Kfl Bf5 41. Qb4 Bd3+ 42. Kg2 Be4+ 43. Kfl Qf4+ 44. Kel Qg3+ 0-1

Exercise 5

Exercise 6

Obukhov - Sergeev

Bedic - Markun

Soviet Union 1991

Slovenian Championship Kranj 1999

Black's position seems frighten ing, but how to break in?

29. . . h5! The help of the foot-soldier will transform the white position from defendable into hopeless. The main defender on g3 cannot hold the position .

80. Kg1 White's fate is sealed if he starts pushing the pawns in front of his king: 30.h4 Qf6 3 1 . Kgl Qd4+ 3 2 . Ne3 Nf6 3 3 . Rd8 Rg4! 34.Qf2 Qxd3 35. Nxg4 Nxg4 36 .Qf4 Qe2-+.

80. . . h4 81. Qh8 Nf6 Black could also choose the pret ty finish 3 l . . . Rf2 ! 3 2 . Ne3 Rxg2+ 3 3 . Nxg2 Qxcl+ 34. Bfl Qxc5+ 35.Ne3 Nxe3 3 6 . Rxe3 (36. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 37.Rxe3 Bc5) 36 . . . Be6 37.Qf3 Qg5+! 38.Kf2 Bd5 39.Qh3 Bc5 -+.

12 . . . Nf4!+ It is amazing how quickly the white position will fall apart now. 12 . . . Nxc3 indeed ruins the white pawns, but this knight is made for greater deeds!

18. Bc4 ? 1 3 . Kh l Qg5 White's best bet.

14. Bg3

h5t

was

13 . . . Qg5 14.g3 Nh3+ 1 5. Kg2 Rd8 15 ... Nxf2 ! 16.Rxf2 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Rd8 ! is a pretty finish as well!

1 6. Nce2 Nxf2 1 7. Rxf2 c5- + 18. Qb8 cxd4 19. Bxf7+ Kh8 20. Nf4 Nc 6 21. Rc1 Qf6 22.Bd5 Bh6 28. Qa4 Bd7 24. Qd1 Rac8 25. Rc4 Bxf4 2 6.gxf4 Be6 0-1

82. Rxf8+ Not 3 2 . Rel Rf3 !

82 . . . Kxf8 88. Rc2 Rf8!- + 84. Qc8+ Kg7 85. Bf1 Ne4 86. b8 h8 8 7. Qc 7 Nd2 88. Rxd2 Rxf1 + 89. Kxf1 Qxd2 40. Qe5+ Kh 7 0-1 Solutions to the Exercises: Chapter lb

315

Exercise 7

Exercise 8

Miles - Nunn

Dannevig - Vladimirov

BBC TV Master Game England 1976

Gausdal International 1991

The black-square symphony!

19 . . . Neg41 20.Bh4 If the knight is captured, then Black will grab the dark-squared bishop, causing the collapse of the white position: 20.fxg4 Ne4 2 1 .Qf4

(not 21. Qb2 Nxf2 22.Kxf2 Qh4 + 23.Kg1 Rxe2!) 2 l . . . Nxf2 22 .Qxf2 Rxe2 ! -+.

20 . . . Ne41/ 21.fxe4 Not 2l. Bxd8 Nxd2, which leaves too many pieces hanging. Black threatens both Bxd4+ and Rxd8 .

21 . . . Qxh4 22. Bxg4 Qxg4 23. Nc3 dxe4 - + Without the bishops, Miles can do nothing to save the game.

24. Qe3 Qh5 25. Nde2 Bg4 26. Rel Qe5 27. b4 ? Bxe2 28. Nxe2 Qb2 29. Khl Qxb4 30.Rcl RdB 31. h 3 Be5 32. Qg5 f6 33. Qe3 Qd2 34. Qb3+ KhB 35. Qc4 Rd3 0-1 The end is near, after 36.Qf7 (or 36.Ng1 Qf4 37.g3 Qxg3 38. Qa2 Bf4-+) 36 . . . Qxcl+ 37.Ngl Qxc5-+.

316

Solutions to the Exercises: Chapter l b

Did you pay attention?

1 6. . . Rxe41 If you did, you would have already known that bishops are more import ant on various occasions in this line!

1 7.fxe4 Bxe4 18. Bg3 ? White's defense is not on the highest level. More resilient is 18.Ne3 although here, too Black has a good initiative: 18 . . . Ne5 19. Be2 (if 19.Kh1 then 19... f5

with the idea f5-f4). And now: 19 . . . f5! Suggested by GM Wahls. 20. Bxh5 f4! 2 l . Ng4 (not 21. Qd4 ??

Nf3+ 22.Bxf3 Bxd4 23.Bxe4 fxe3-+) 2 l . . . gxh5 2 2 . Rel Bxg2 and if 2 3 . Kxg2?? then 23 . . . Nxg4! -+. I like another of his suggestions: 19 . . . Nf4 20. Bg3 and here the good move is 20 . . . Nfd3 ! + (if 20. . . Nxe2+

then 21. Qxe2 Bd3=). 18 . . . Nxg3 19. hxg3 Bxc21 Black squares above all!

20. Qxc2 Bd4+ 21. Rf2 Nf6+ 22. Be2 Qxg3 23. Bf3 ReB 24. Rdl Bb6 25. a4

After 2 5 .d6 Re3, relative ly best is 2 6 . Kf1 Qh2 27 . g4 Rxf3 2 8 . Rxf3 Qxc2 - + because other tries are wors e : 2 6 . d7 ? Nxd7 2 7 . Bxb7 Ne 5 - + and 2 6 . Kh l? Re4 (or e ven 26 . . . Kg 7!- +) 2 7 . Bxe4 Qh4+ 2 8 . Kgl Nxe 4 2 9 . d7 Nxf2 3 0 . d8 Q + Bxd8 3 l . Qxf2 ? ? Bb6 - +.

Chapter 1c: The Exchange System

Exercise 1

25. . . Re3/ 2 6. a 5 Bxa5 2 7. Qc8+ Kg7 28.Qh3 Qe5 29.g4 Ne4 30. Re2 Ng5 0-1

Mengual Bolo Castella Garcia Cullera-B 2003 Tricks are rare but possible in the Exchange line.

26 . . . Rxa1 2 7. Nxa1 0-1 White resigned, not waiting for 27 . . . Rxa l 2 8 . Kxal Nxb3+ 29.Kb2 Nxd4 .

Solutions to the Exercises: Chapter lc

317

Exercise 2

Wolske - Kubikova

Shankar - Sarav�nan

Pardubice 1996

India Championship, Nagpur 1999

The "Who is faster?" contest.

16. . . c5! The best move. White was threat ening to bring his knight to d6 by c4-c5 and Nd2-c4-d6. Black pre vents this and brings his own knight quickly to the d4 outpost.

1 7. b5 Naturally, 17.bxc5 is no better, as then both the c4 and a3 pawns will be desperately weak, after 17. . . Nxc5+.

17. . . Nc 7 18. Nb3 Ne 6 19. Rhd1 Nd4+ 20.Nxd4 exd4 + Black has a protected passed pawn and the more active rooks. He is better in both the pawn and the rook endgames.

21.{3 Re6 22. Kd3 Rae8 23. a4 f5 24. Re1 Kg7 25. a5 ReS 26. Re2 fxe4+ 2 7.fxe4 Rf8 28. a6 b 6 29. Rg1 Rf4 30. Rc1 h5 31.Rce1 h4 32. Rg1 Kf6 33. Ree1 Rg5 34. Rgf1 Rgg4 35. Rf3 Ke5 36. Re2 g5 37.Ref2 Rxf3+ 38. Rxf3 Rf4 39. h3 g4 40. hxg4 Rxf3+ 0-1

318

Exercise 3


White wants to consolidate his position.

18 . . . c5! It makes no sense for Black to allow the consolidating Nd2-b3-c5 or Bb4-c5 maneuvers. The weak back rank helps Black demonstrate an advantage.

19. Rxc5 19. Bxc5 loses to 19 . . . Bh6 ! 20.Nb3 20.Bxd6 Rxcl+) 20 . . . Bxcl 2 l . Bxd6 Bxe4 22.0-0 Bxb2-+.

(not

19 . . . Rxc5 20. Bxc5 Rc6 The bishop cannot retreat and the black pieces become super heroes.

21.Nb3 If 2 l .b4, Black will first of all get rid of the doubled pawn with 2 l . . .a5 2 2 . a3 axb4 2 3 . axb4 Bh6 24.Nb3+ and then make use of the freshly opened a-file with 24 . . . Ra6 .

21 . . . a5! Not a moment of rest for White.

22.Be3 2 2 . a4 would be answered by 22 . . . Ba6 with the threat Ba6 -c4, and even the white king is in jeopardy.

The activity of the black pieces will allow him to win back the pawn and still maintain piece activity.

No worries about them ! They can open files of their own! In the mean time , the sphere of influence of the black-squared bishop is enlarged.

23. Nc5 Bc6 24. 0 - 0 Kf7

20. R b2

Giving White an opportunity, as Black had two much better moves, 24 . . . Rxb2+, and 24 . . . Bf8 2 5 . Ne6 Be7 26.Rcl Rxcl+ 27. Bxcl Bxe4+.

If 20.c5 axb4 2 l . axb4 Ra3 2 2 .Rcl Black has pleasant choice of which piece to improve first, the bishop: 22 . . . Bf8+ with the idea Bf8 -h6 , or the second rook: 22 . . . Rb3 followed by Re8 -a8.

22 . . . Rc2+

25.(3 White's last chance was 25 .Rcl, for if 25 ... Rxb2? then 2 6 . Nd3.

20. . . axb4 21. axb4 The a-file is open quickly profits from it.

and

Black

25... Re2 26. Bf2 Rxb2 2 7. a4 Ra2 28. h4 h5 29. Rd1 BfB 30.Nb7 Bxa4 31. Rd5 Bb3 32. Rd7+ Ke6 33. Rh7 a4 34. Bxa7 Rc2 35. Nd8+ Kd6 36. Bb8+ Kc5 3 7. R b 7 Kd4 38. Ba7+ Kd3 39. Kf1 Bc4 40.Nc 6 a 3 41. Rb1 a 2 42. Re1 Kc3+ 43. Kg1 Kb2 0-1

22. Na2 23. Rdd2 b5 ReaB 24. cxb5 Rxa2 25. Rxa2 Rxa2 2 6. Rxa2 Bxa2 2 7. b 6 NbS 28. b7 Bd6 29. Ne1 Nd4 0-1

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

Ruiz Delgado Martinez Martin

Ritz - Neumeier

2 l . . .Ra3 w a s better.

Wattens 1997

Vecindario 2010 The d-file is well covered and the white rooks are useless . But how about their black counterparts?

19 . . . a5!

21 . . . Ra6


22 . . . Kf8/ This is the endgame that Black

loves! The light-squared bishop suf focates behind its own pawns, and


319

the black squares are desperately weak. Black brings his king to c5 to help the knight. His play is a model for this endgame.

23.(3 Ke71 24. Kf2 Kd6/ 25. Ke3 Ne6/ 26. Bd3 Kc5/ 2 7. Bf1 Kb41 28. Kd2 a41 29. Kc2 Nd4+ 30. Kd2 Ne6 31. Kc2 a3/ The game is basically over.

32.Bd3 If 32 .b3 then 32 . . . Nd4+ 3 3 . Kd2 Nxb3+!-+.

32. . . b6 33. Kc1 Nc5 34. Be2 Na4 35. bxa3+ Kxa3 36. Bd1 Nc3 37.Bb3 Nxa2+ 38. Kc2 Ncl 0-1

23.Rd5, when Black can temporar ily sacrifice the pawn with 23 . . . Nb6! 24.Rxc5 N a4 25.Rd5 Rc7 and the h3 bishop becomes "empty". It looks good but does nothing: 26.Rd7 Rxd7 2 7 . Bxd7 Rd8 28.Bh3 Rd4+ . Perhaps White needs to bring the bishop to the defense instead: 23.g4 hxg4 24. Bxg4 Nb6 2 5 . Be2 Rd7+, although Black is clearly on the better side here as well. The black rook also reaches the d4 square after 23 .Rcl Rd8+.

23 . . . Rd8+ 24. Kc2 Rd4 25. Rxd4 exd41 The first asset is obvious: Black gets a protected passed pawn.

Exercise 6

26.(3 Nb 6 2 7. Kb3 Now the second player will coor dinate his forces.

2 7. . . a5/ 28. bxa6 bxa6 29. Rb1 a5 30. a4 (51 31 . Ka2 Both rook and knight are activat ed after 3 1 . exf5 Re3+ 3 2 . Ka2 Nxc4+.

31 fxe4 32.fxe4 Nxa4 - + 33. Rb8+ Kf7 34. Rc8 Nc3+ 35. Ka3 d3 0-1 . . •

Olafsson - Danielsen Reykjavik Open 2006 The bishop on h3 is ready to chop off the knight whenever it reaches the e6 square. A draw?

22 . . . Na8/ No, thanks! There is another route for the knight, from where it can attack the c4 pawn!

23. Kd2 Bringing the king to help. The al ternatives are:

320


Exercise 2


Exercise 1

Tukmakov - Magerramov 9th Spartakiad, Moscow 1983

Goossens - Schebler

White has just taken pawn. What did he miss?

Belgian Championship 2004 Three versus one . . .

the h4

24 . . . Be3+1 25. Bf2 Nc5 2 6. Qc2

36 . . . Bh3! The king has not a single defender and is bound to get mated.

3 7.g3 37.gxh3 Qxh3 is an inevitable mate on g2 .

3 7. . . hxg3 38. hxg3 Bfll Much better than 38 . . . Bg2+ 39.Kgl Qh3 40.gxf4 , as the bishop is not where it is needed.

39. Kgl Qh3 40. Kf2 Qg2+ 41. Ke3 Qgl mate

26.Qb5 Nfxe4 27.fxe4 Nxe4 will lead to the same result.

26 . . . Ncxe4! He missed that he cannot hold the control over the black squares!

2 7.fxe4 27. . . Ng4! 0-1 White resigned, not willing to see his forces disappear after 2 8 . Bxe3 Qxe3+ 29.Khl Nf2+ 30.Kgl Nxe4+ 3 1 . Kh l Nf2+ 3 2 . Kgl Nxdl+ 3 3 . Kh l Nf2+ 34.Kgl Kg7.

Solutions to the Exercises: Chapter l d

321

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Torres - Strikovic

Petersen - Bekker Jensen

New York Open 1988

Denmark Junior Championship Lyngby 1996

Is everything OK with White's queenside attack?

22 . . . dxc5 23. bxc5 Nxc5/ White obviously missed this idea.

24. Bxc5? Things were not that bad after 24.Nc4 ! , since White has open files to compensate for the material deficit. Now he gets mated.

24 . . . Be3+ 25. Bxe3 Qxe3+ 26. Kh1 Ng3+1 27. hxg3 hxg3 0-1 Mate is inevitable, as the threat ened 28 . . . Qh6+ and 28 . . . Kg7 followed by 29 . . . Rh8+ cannot both be stopped.

White offers the bishop swap. Is it a good idea?

13 . . . Bxg4 Not really. Attention to small de tails is always required in the game of chess. Here, White included the prophylactic move Kgl-h l and Black Nf6 -h7, which clearly favors him. The difference:

14. Qxg4 g5/ 15. Bg3 f5/ is that this pawn is not obstruct ed, and the e8 queen can support the h-pawn advance.

1 6. exf5 h5 1 7. Qe2 h4 Black wins a piece.

18.Nde4 Rxf5 20. Bxh4 Rf4 0-1

322

Solutions to the Exercises: Chapter ld

19. Qg4

Qf7

Exercise 5

Exercise 6

Naumkin - Khalifman

Izquierdo - Navarro

Sochi U20 1984

Santiago Zonal Tournament Santiago de Chile 1996

How to free the rook?

29. . . Qg4! This move brings the h-pawn to g4 and creates additional problems for White. Neither 29 . . . Bg5 nor 29 . . . g5 are as good.

30. Qxg4 The queen cannot retreat: 30.Qh2?? Bf4 ! , and 30.Qel?? Qxh3+ 3l.gxh3 Rxh3 mate.

30. . . hxg4 31. Ra1 White needs to · chase this rook, as else 3 l .c5 Bf4 will create the inev itable threat of Rh4xh3+ and Ra2-h2 mate.

31 . . . Rd2 32. Rgd1 g3+ 33. Rxd2 Bxd2 34. c5 Bxb4 35. c 6 bxc 6 36. dxc 6 Rf4 3 7. Rb1 Bc5 38. Rb8+ Kg 7 39. Rb7 Rf7 40. Bc4 d5 41. exd5 Rf4 42. Be2 Re4 43. Rb2 Rd4 44. Rb3 Rd2 45. Bg4 Bf2 46. Rb 7 Kf6 47. d6 Rc2 0-1

How to fight the positional threat b4 -b5?

24 . . . c5! A typical method! Either the b-pawn will be swapped or else the knight will get the excellent outpost on b4. In both the cases Black sta bilizes his situation on the queen's flank and can concentrate on his play on the other side of the board.

25. b5 Nb4+ 26.{4 ? This move only helps Black's in tentions.

26. . . exf4 2 7. Nxf4 Nxf4 28. Rxf4 Qg5 29. Rf2 Qe3 - + 30. Rb3 Nxd3 31. Qxd3 Ra1+ 32. Nf1 Rxf1+ 33. Kxf1 Qc1+ 34. Ke2 Bg4 + 35. Rf3 RaB 36. Qb1 Qxc4+ 3 7. Kf2 Qd4+ 38. Rfe3 Qf6+ 39. Rf3 Bxf3 40.gxf3 c4 41.Re3 Qf4 42. Qg1 Ra1 43. Qg2 Qe5 44. Qh3 Qb2+ 45. Re2 Qd4+ 0-1


323

Exercise 7

Exercise 8

Straka - Rabatin

Valle - Di Berardino

Czech Championship U16 Kouty nad Desnou 2009

69th Brazil Championship Brasilia 2003 Improve your position!

How to conduct the attack?

20 . . . Bh3!

24 . . . Kg6!+

Black wants to see a less flexible piece on g2 .

The king can take care of himself! Next, h5 -h4 will follow and the black queen is free to go wherever she likes. It could be the f6 square (in conjunction with e5 -e4), or on the eighth rank to fight for the open file. The white queen is now mis placed.

21. Bf1 Bxg2! 23. Bg3 Be3+

22. Bxg2

h3+

23 ... Bxg3 was simpler, as 24. Bxh3 Qe3+ 25.Khl Qf2 ! 26.hxg3 Ng5 27. Bg2 Kg7 leads to mate.

24. Kf1 hxg2+ 25. Kxg2 (5 26. Nf1 Bd4 27. Kh1 Qh5 28. Rd3 fxe4 29.fxe4 Nxb4 0-1

25. Ng3 h4 26.Ne2 Qf6 2 7. Qc3 e4 28. Qxf6+ Bxf6 29. Nf4 + Kf7 Black won the battle for the open file and later the game.

30.Rab1 Rg8 31.Ne 6 Ra2 32. Re1 c5 33. Nf4 Rga8 34.g3 Be5 35. Ne2 Rd2 36. Kf1 Raa2 37. b4 b 6 38. bxc5 bxc5 39. Rb7+ Kf6 40.gxh4 f4 41.(3 exf3 42. Nxf4 Rxh2 43. Nh5+ Kg6 44.Nf4 + Kh6 0-1

324


Chapter 2: The Siimisch Variation Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Martinez - DamJjanovic

Polishchuk - Nesterets

Andorra Open 2008

Myrhorod Open 2010

An appetizer.

2 7. . . Rc1+!! A nice tactical shot.

28. Kd2 White loses the rook, as the line 28.Rxcl Bb4+ 29.Rc3 Bxc3 mate is more than convincing!

28 . . . Rxb1 29.Bd3 0-1

How can Black make use of his active pieces?

21 . . . Nxe4! The white king is in danger!

22.fxe4 Bxe4+ 23. Kc1 Bh6- + There is no escape against the threat . . . e6-e5. Such attacks are very common in this type of the Samisch, as the rook and bishops can success fully operate from far away.

24. Rg1 e5 And black won.

25.g3 Bf3 2 6. Kc2 exf4 2 7. Nxf4 Bxf4 28.gxf4 Rdl

Solutions to the Exercises: Chapter 2

325

19. exf5 Nxf8! The goal of . . . f7-f5! The second bishop is effectively in play on the long diagonal.

20.(60 Not 20.gxf3 Bxf3 ++-.

20 . . . Nxg5! Weaker is 20 . . . Bh8 2 l .h4!oo as pointed out by Khalifman and Nesis.

21.fxg7 28. Ke1

Nh8!

22. Nd8

Kxg7

Intending Nf2 .

28 . . . Rd8!+

29.(5 Kg 7 80.fxg6 hxg6 81. h4 Kh6 82. h5 gxh5 88. Rg8 Rxf1 84. Rb8 Be4+ 85. Kd2 Rf6 86. Ke8 Bb1 87. Ra8 Kg5 88. Kd4 h4 89. c5 bxc5+ 40. Kxc5 h8 41.Rh8 Rh6 0-1

The energetic play of Khalifman allowed him to win back the pawn and completely tie down the opponent's forces. He went on to win.

24.Ne5 g5 25. Ng4 h5 26.Ne8 g4! 2 7. Be2 Nf4 28. Rg1 Rd4 29. Bf1 Ng6 80. Be2 Nf4 81. Bf1 Be4 Nearing zugzwang.

82. a8 Or 32.g3 Nd3+ 3 3 . Bxd3 Bxd3 -+.

Exercise 3

Arlandi - Khalifman Groningen 1985 Demonstrate your compensation !

18 . . . (5! The game needs to be opened be fore White consolidates his position!

326


82 . . . e5 88.g8 Rxd8 85. Nd1 8 7. Nd5 e8 0-1

Nd8 + 84. Bxd8 Bf8 86.Ne8 e4

Exercise 4

Kxh5 50. Rh4+ Kg5 51. Rh7 Rc7 52. Bh3 Kf6 53. Kg2 Bd4 54. Bg4 Rc2+ 55. Kf1 Rc7 56. Ke2 Be5 57. Rh3 Rc4 0-1

Exercise 5

Harika - Mamedov Moscow 2012 How can Black fight against the opponent's space advantage?

20 . . . Ba4! Mamedov trades a pair of bishops. In the arising position with opposite colored bishops, the black one will be placed in a dominant position while its counterpart will be limited by its own pawns and can only defend them. The space advantage will become irrelevant.

21. Qxa4

Dragomarezkij - Kaminski Warsaw Open 1992 Which piece position together?

Correct. It's the knight, and no matter how strong our black bishop, it needs to be exchanged.

1 9. exd5 b5!

21 . . . Bxd4+ 22. Kh1 Be5 23. Qd1 Rc3 24. Rb3 Qc7 25. b5 axb5 26. Bxb5 ReB+

20. Rh2 Be5!

Black is clearly better.

White's

1B . . . Bxd5!

2 1 .Qd3? drops a piece to 2 l . . . Bb5. So does 21.Qd2? Rc2 .

2 7.fxg6 hxg6 2B. Qg4 Kg 7 29. Rxc3 Qxc3 30. a4 Bf6 31. h 3 R c 5 32. Qf3 Qd4 33. Qd3 Qb2 34. Rb1 Qa2 35. Rf1 Rc3 36. Qe2 Rc2 3 7. Qf3 Qb2 3B. Bd3 Rd2 39. Bb5 Qe5 4 0. Qf4 Qxf4 41. Rxf4 Rd4 42.g3 Be5 43. Rg4 Rd2 44. BeB Rf2 45. Kg1 Bd4 46. Kh1 Be3 4 7. h4 Kh6 4B. Bd7 Rc2 49. h5

holds

The white center crumbles. Also good is 20 . . . Bd4! 2 l . Ne2 Bb2 2 2 . Rbl Ne5+.

21. Rhc2 Bg3+ 22. Kd1 Nb 6+ 23. Nh3 bxc4 24. Bxc4 Nxd5 25. Bxd5 Rxd5+ 2 6. Ke2 ReB+ 2 7. Kf1 Bxh4 2B. Rc7 Ra5 29. R1c2 Re1+ 30. Kg2 Bxg5 31. Nxg5 Rxg5+ 32. Kf2 Rh1 0-1


32 7

Exercise 6

Be5 28. Kf2 Nd4 29. Bd3 Rac8 30. b4 b6 3l. Bfl Nc2- + 32. Rb3 Bxa4 33. Rxd8+ Rxd8 34. Nxa4 Rd2+ 35. Be2 Rxe2+ 3 6. Kxe2 Nd4 + 3 7. Kd3 Nxb3 38.{4 Bxf4 39. Kc3 Ncl 40. Kc2 Ne2 0-1

Exercise 7

Zaid - Ubilava USSR 1974 Prove that the white pieces are clumsy.

16. . . Na5! With some clever maneuvering, Black manages to uncoordinate the opponent's troops.

Dias - Fier

17.Nb4

Curitiba 2010

The passive 17.Ncl allows 17 . . . Bxc3! 18 .bxc3 B e 6 19.Rb4 Rd H.

17. . . Bd4+ 19. Nbd5!?

18. Kd2

Bc5+

A tricky defense. White threatens b2 -b4 next. Not 19.Nd3 Nxc4++.

19 . . . Nc 6 And not 2l .cxd5;!;.

19 . . . e6

20.b4

exd5

20. Na4 Bd4+

White is a pawn up and is seemingly consolidating his position. Is he?

29. . . Ngxe4 +!! The king is still in the center, and once it gets opened the heavy pieces will quickly approach. Naturally, not 2 9 . . . Nfxe4+ 30. fxe4 Nxe4+ 3 l . Bxe4 Qe5 3 2 . Bf3 , when White defends. And not 2 9 ... Qh4+? 30.g3 .

White's knights are misplaced and . . . e7-e6 is a serious threat. Black takes over the initiative.

3 0. Bxe4

21. Bd3 e6 22. Ndc3 Nb4 23. Rhdl Bd7+ 24. b3

32.Kf3 Qg5 followed by Ng4-e5+ with a devastating attack) 3 1 . . .Qd4+

24.Ke2 is answered by 24 ... Nxa2 !

24 . . . Be5 Threatening 25 . . . Bxa4+-.

25. Ke2 Bxh2 26. a 3 Nc 6 2 7. Bc2 328


The other recapture does not help: 30.fxe4 Qe5 3 l . g3 (not 31.Ne2 Ng4+

3 2 . Kf3 and the king will not survive in the open air: 32 . . . Nxe4 3 3 . Bxe4 Qxe4+ 34. Kg4 (or 34.Kf2 Qe3+ 35.Kf1 Qf3 + 36.Kg1 Re2 and mate)

34 . . . Rb8 3 5 .Qd7 Rb4 3 6 . Kxh3 Rh8+ 37. Kg4 Qe2+ 3 8 . Kg5 Qe5+ 39.Qf5 Qxf5 mate.

80. . . Nxe4 + 81.fxe4 Qe5 82. Rhf1 White's best defense, but still in sufficient. If the knight retreats, the second player will have a pleasant choice on which side to mate the opponent's king: 32 .Ne2 Qf6+ 33.Ke3 (or 33.Kg3 Rxe4 34.Ra2 Re3+ 35.Kg4 Qf5+ 36.Kh4 RhB#) 33 . . .hxg2 34.Rhgl Rxe4+ 35.Kxe4 ReB+ 36.Kd3 Qf3+ 37.Kc4 Qxe2+ 38.Kc3 Re3+ 39.Kd4 Qd3 mate.

82 . . . Qxf4 + Black has recovered the p awn, can win another one, and continues the attack. His p osition is winning. ·

88. Kg1 Qd2 84.gxh8 RbB 0-1 White resigned or lost on time. Easier would have been 34 . . . Qd4+ 35.Kh l Qxe4+ 3 6 . Kgl Qd4+ 37.Khl Re2 .

Exercise 8

Black is obviously better, as the d5 and g4 pawns are weak and can be targeted. The bishop on d4 domi nates the board, but the other black pieces are not as active as they should be. Therefore, Amonatov first im proves the knight and brings it to f6 from where it will target the d5 p awn and can be further activated via h5, g4 or e4!

29. Kg2 Nf6 80. a5 Kf7! The king is also brought to a bet ter square .

81. Be2 Kg6 82. Bf8 Rxe1 88. Rxe1 ReB 84. Rb1 If 3 4 . Rxe8 then 34 ... Bxe8+ fol lowed by Be8 -f7 and the p awn on d5 will be lost.

84 . . . Ng4 The threat is Ng4-e3 -c4.

85. Bxg4 fxg4 And now both the bishop and the king will make use of the f5 square. Black's advantage has increased and he later won :

86. Re1 Rxe1 8 7. Bxe1 Bf5 88. Bd2 Bd8 89.Be1 Kf5 40. Bd2 Bc4 41.Kh2 Bb8 42. Kg2 Bf6 48. Kf2 BdB 44.Ne2 Bxd5 45. Bc8 Bc4 46. b4 b6 4 7. axb 6 Bxb 6 48. bxc5 dxc5 49. Ke8 Bxe2 50. Kxe2 c4 0-1

Akhmadeev - Amonatov Nezhmetdinov Memorial 2007 What is Black's plan?

28 . . . Nh 7!+ Solutions to the Exercises: Chapter 2

329

Exercise 9

2 l . axb4 Rxb4 with a decisive attack.

19 . . . Rxa2 20. Rbl Ra4 21. Rhel Qd3 22. Redl Qxe4 23. h 3 Rc4 24. Qg3 Rd4 25. Ral Qxd5 26. Rxd4 Qxd4+ 2 7. Qe3 Qxb2+ 0-1

Exercise 10

Demanghon - Perrin FRA-chT2 2008 Is White as rock solid as he seems?

13 . . . Bxb5 No, he is not, and Black can win back his pawn!

14. Bxb5 Better is 14 .Nxb5 Qxd2+ 15.Bxd2 Rxa2+.

14 . . . Nxe41

Sergeev - Klimov St. Petersburg 2003 A small combination.

Another typical tactical idea to be remembered! The bishop on g7 is opened with tempo, Black wins a pawn, and keeps the enemy king in the center.

When the knight on d4 is eyeing the c2 square, Black can consider the idea of giving check on c2 and then capturing on a3 and c3.

15.fxe4

16. Bxc4

If 15.Nxe4 then 15 . . . Qxb5+ and not 16. Bxe7? Rfe8 17. Bxd6 f5 -+.

15 . . . Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Qxb5 1 7.Bh6 Ne51 18. Bxf8 KxfB+ White has won the exchange in the complications, but because his king has stayed in the center, the immense activity of the black pieces promises a jolly time to the second player.

19. Kf2 If 19.Ral then 19 . . . Ra4! and if 19.a3 then 19 . . . Ra4 20.b4 cxb4

330


15. . . Bxc41

If 16 .0-0 then 16 . . . Rac8+.

16 . . . Nc2+ 1 7. Ke2 Nxa3 18. bxa3 Bxc3 Black has recovered the pawn and now has the initiative, thanks to his better bishop and White's pawn weaknesses on the a-file .

19.Rd3 Bf6 20. Rhdl Also possible is 20.e5 Be7 2 1 . Rhdl Nc5 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 2 3 . Rxd8+ Bxd8 =.

20 . . . Nc5 21. Rxd8+ BxdBI

Black wants to continue the bat tle, and keeps a pair of rooks . There is no penetration on the d-file.

22. Kf8 Be7 Eyeing a3 .

23.(5 ReB 24.Bb5 This looks rather useless. Better was 24.fxe6 fxe6 2 5 . Nf4 .

24 . . . a6 25. Bfl b5 26. Nf4 Bg5 2 7. Rd6 K(B 28. a4 White wants to get rid of his weakness, but in fact he simply loses it!

28 . . . Be7 29. R b 6 Bd8 30. Rd6 exf5 31. exf5 Ke 7 32. Rd4 Nxa4 Winning the vital pawn.

33. Nd5+ K(B 34.Bd3 Nb2 35.Be4. Nc4 36. Nb4 ? Losing more material. Better was 3 6 . Ke2 .

36 . . . Bf6 - + 3 7. Rdl Ne5+ 38. Kg3 Rc4 39. Nd5 Bh4+ 4 0. Kf4 (6 0-1


331

Chapter 3: The Four Pawns Attack Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Varlet - Trommsdorf

Metge - Rogers


Auckland 1992

How can Black profit from his active pieces?

Black played 26 . . . Kg8 -f7 and lat er won. What did the experienced Australian GM miss?

21 . . . Ncxe41 Black sees that the white pieces are stepping on each other's toes, and wins the game at once. This is even better than 2 1 . . . Nd3 22. Bxd3 Bxd3 23 .Rdl Nxe4 24. Rxd3 Nxf2 .

22. Bxe4 24. Nfd4

Nxe4

28. Qxe4

Rc4

If 24 .Qd3 then 24 . . . Rcl+! and Black first wins the queen, 2 5 . Nxcl Bxd3 26.Nxd3 , and then the knight, 26 . . . e4-+.

24 . . . exd4 25. Qf4 Qxd5 26. Qg5 Qxg5 27. Bxg5 Rc5 28. Rcl Rxg5 0-1

332


26. . . Bc21 Winning at least the exchange.

2 7. Rxd5 No better is 27.Rcl Bxe4+ 2 8 . Kxe4 Rxd2 29.Bxd2 Rxd2.

2 7. . . Bxd1+ 0-1

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Verdier - Maier

Trepkl;l - Skrivanek


Tabor 2011

White's initiative is overwhelm ing. Or is it?

Delay in development is always dangerous.

25 . . . Rxc5!

14 . . . Nxe4!!

We can just demolish the first player on the dark squares. White loses material with tempos.

We need to open the game in our favor!

26. Qxc5 2B. Khl

Not the best defense. The lesser evil was 15.Nxe4 f5 16 . Nc5 e4 17.Qc4 exf3--+, although Black is definitely happy with the bishop pair and the strong initiative on the king's flank. The endgame after 15 .Qxe4 Bf5 16.Qe3 Bxbl 17.Qxb6 axb6 18.Nxbl Rxa2+ is clearly in Black's favor.

Nxe4

2 7. Qxa5

Bc5+

Or 2 8 . Kfl Nxd2+ 29.Ke2 Nxbl-+.

2B . . . Bxb 6 29. Qa3 Nf2+ 30. Kgl Ne4 + 31. Khl Nxc3 - + 32. Rel e4 33. Nc4 Nb5 34. Qb4 Ned6 35. Ne5 Qf6 36.Nc 6 Bf2 3 7. Rfl f4 3B. Racl e3 39. Bdl Qh4 40.Ne5 Nf5 41.g4 fxg3 42. Qxh4 g2+ 43. Kxg2 Nxh4+ 44.Khl Bh3 0-1

15. Be3

15. . . Qd8 Here Black could have won with the energetic 15 . . . Nxc3 ! 16. Bxb6 e4 17.Qe3 exf3 18.Bc5 fxg2 19.Rgl NxbH.

1 6. Qxe4 '1 One more mistake and it is over. The last chance was 16 . Nxe4 f5 17.d6 fxe4 18 .Qd5+ Kh8 19.Ng5oo.

16 . . . Bf5 1 7. Qc4 ReB 1B.Bc5 Bxbl 19. Nxbl b6- + 20. 0 - 0 bxc5 21. bxc5 Qa5 22. c 6 Rfd8 23. Nc3 Solutions to the Exercises: Chapter 3

333

Exercise 5

e4 24.Nd4 Bxd4+ 25. Qxd4 Rxc 6 26.Nxe4 Qb6 2 7. Qxb6 Rxb 6 28.g4 f5 29.gxf5 Rxd5 30.(6 Rf5 3I. Rcl Re6 32. Rc8+ Kf7 33. Rc7+ Ke8 34.Nc5 Rexf6 35. Ne4 Re6 36.Nc5 Rei+ 37. Kg2 Re2+ 0-1

Sykora - Sochna Czechia Team Championships 2011 Drive the e-pawn forward!

16 . . . Bxe4! It is a pity to part with such a great piece, but the return on investment is worth it. The long diagonal is opened for the other bishop and the e-pawn advances with great effect!

1 7. Qxe4 Nf6! 18. Qh4 If White tries to make use of the pin along the e-file with 18 .Qe2 e4 19.0-0 Rae8 20. Rael, it's the white knight that is suddenly trapped, after 2 0 . . . Ng4! 2 l .h3 Qd8 2 2 .hxg4 exf3 -+.

18 . . . e4 19.Ng5 e3 20. Bc3 h6 A prettier finish is 2 0 ... Nh5 2 l . Bxg7 Qxb4+! 2 2 . Ke2 Qd2 mate.

2I . Ne6 Nxd51- + Now Black wins a piece.

22. Qxe 7 Bxc3+ 23. Kdl Nxe7 24. Rcl Bd2 25. Nxf8 Bxcl 26.Ne6 Bd2 2 7. b5 c 6 28. bxc 6 Nxc6 29. Ke2 ReB 30. Nc7 Re4 3I .Nd5 Rxc4 32. Nxe3 Bxe3 33. Kxe3 Rc2 0-1

334


Exercise 6

Poobalasingam - White

Gerard - Hebden

British Championship Isle of Man 2005

Montpellier Open 2003

In search of. . . overworked pieces .

19

Exercise 7

. ••

Nxe4!

One of the greatest features of the blockading knight is that it not only defends against the aggression of the passed pawn, but also attacks from its ideal position.

20. Qxe4 Bxd5 21. Qb4 Or else the other bishop will suf fer, after 2 1 .Qel Bxf3 2 2 . Rxf3 Qd4+.

21 . . . Rc4! Harassing the queen and under lining the fact that it is overworked. Premature is 2 1 . . . Bxf3 2 2 . gxf3 .

22. Qa3 Or 2 2 .Qb3 e4 2 3 . Nel Bxa l .

22 . . . Bxf3 The result: Black takes back the sacrificed piece and emerges with two pawns ahead.

23. Bb3 If 2 3 .Qxf3 then 23 ... Rxa4 .

23 . . . Qd4 + 24. Kh1 Bxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Qxd2+ 26. Rf2 Rg4+ 2 7. Kf1 Qd3+ 28. Re2 Rf4 + 29. Ke1 Qc3+ 0-1

Find a good plan for Black.

18

..•

Bf6!

The black-squared bishop is not doing much at the moment and is to be transfered to a better diagonal. The exchange of that piece will weaken the dark squares in the opponent's camp and make the black knights more confident. They will own the nice c5 and f4 squares.

14.g3 The bishop trade cannot be avoid ed after 14 .Qe3 Bh4 15.Rfl f6 .

14

•..

Bg5 15. d6 ?!

Indeed, White wins the d5 out post for the knight but a central pawn is a central pawn! After the natural 15. Bxg5 Qxg5 16 .Re3 Black has the better chances, but there is a long battle in progress. Similar is 16 . Kh2 Nc5 17. Bc2 a5.

15. . . cxd6 1 6. Nd5 Qd8 1 7. Bxg5 Qxg5 18. Kh2 Nc5+ 19. Qe8 ? This allows a small combination after which Black will be two pawns up:

19 . . . Qxg3+!

20. Qxg3

Nxg8- +


335

Exercise 8

21. Rad1 Or 2 1 . Kxg3 Nxd3 .

21 . . . Nh5 22. Be2 Nf4 28. Nxf4 exf4 24. Rxd6 Nxe4 25. Rd4 Rae8 26. Bf1 Ng8 2 7. Rxe8 Rxe8 28. Bd8 Re8 29. c5 Kf8 80. Rd7 Re7 81. Rd8+ Kg7 82. b4 Nh5 88. Kg2 Nf6 84. Kf2 g5 85. Be2 h5 86. Ra8 Ne4+ 8 7. Kf8 Nc8 88. Bf1 Re1 89. Bg2 Nd1 40. Bf1 Rxf1+ 41. Ke2 Rh1 0-1

Sofronie - Golubev Bucharest 2003 What should Black do now?

20 . . . Nc 7! The knight has nothing to do on the rim, so Golubev brings it into play via the square e8!

21. Qb8 Nce8! Overprotection ! The excellent blockading knight on d6 is support ed, and because the central situation is stabilized, Black can start advanc ing the pawns on the king's flank.

22. Nd2 Kh8 28. a4 {5? 24. a5 f4 25. Bc5 g5 A risky and entertaining deci sion. Black could also have prevented the knight maneuver by 25 . . . Qd8 !? or 2 5 . . . Qf6!?

26. Nb5 Bxb5 2 7. Bxb5 b 6 28. axb 6 axb 6 29. Bxe8 bxc5 80.Bc6 Rab8 81. Rxc5 g4 It's a sharp and double edged po sition in which Black proved luckier.

82. Ra5 Bh6 88. Qc8 Rg8 84.Nc4 Nxc4 85. Qxc4 f8 86. Qc5 fxg2+ 8 7. Kxg2 Qh4 88.Ra8 Bf4 89.Rh1 Rbf8 40. d6 Rf6 41. Bd7 Be8 0-1

336


Chapter 4: The Averbakh System Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Uksti - Kulaots

Strunsky - Raykhman

Polva Open 2000

German Championship Net Final UlB 2009

Why was the h-pawn good for bait?

The game of checkers.

10 . . . Nfxe4!

20 . . . Nd3+!

Because the central pawn is more valuable, especially considering the fate ofWhite's black-squared bishop.

At least this is how it looks when Black helps himself to the opponent's pieces with each move !

11.fxe4

21. Bxd3 Qxgl+ 22. Kd2 Qxh2- + 23. Qc7 Qf4 + 24. Ke2 Rf7 25. Qxb7 Raf8 2 6. Rc1 Qh2 2 7. Kf2 Rxf3+ 28. Kel Qgl+ 29. Kd2 Rf2+ 30. Be2 Rxe2+ 31. Kxe2 Qxc1 32. Qxd7+ Rf7 33. Qxd6 Qxb2+ 34. Ke3 Qd4+ 35. Ke2 Rf2+ 0-1

Or l l . Nxe4 Nxe4 12.fxe4 Qh4+ 13.g3 Qxh6+.

11 . . . Qh4+ 12.g3 Qxh6+ 13. Nf3 f5 14. Ng5 f4 1 5. h4 fxg3 1 6. 0- 0 - 0 Rf4 1 7. Bf3 Rxh4 18. b4 Bf6 19. Rxh4 Qxh4 20. Rh1 Qxg5 21. bxc5 Qf4 0-1


33 7

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Zaiatz - Komiagina

Wilder - Gallagher

Russian Women's Championship Orel 2006

Saint John Open 1988

A typical situation, but it still works!

ll . . . Ncxe4! This is this shot! We've seen it with the hanging rook on bl; here it works thanks to the fact that the queen's only retreat will be f3 .

12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.g4

How to make our pieces work?

20 . . . Bf6! Gallagher first brings the bishop into play and equalizes.

21.g5 Bd8 22. Ng4 Bb6 23. h5 Bxg4 24.fxg4 Bd4 = 25. Rabl Rab8 2 6. b4 axb3 2 7. Rxb3 Ra8 28. Bxb5 Rxa2 29. Bc6 gxh5 30.gxh5 Nc 7 31. Rhbl Na6

White loses the rook after 13.Qxe4 Bf5 14 .Qf3 e4 15.Qf4 Bxal.

13 ... cxd5 14. cxd5 Nf6 - + Black has a hefty extra pawn and a won position.

15. Qdl Qd7 16.g5 hxg5 1 7. Bxg5 Qf5 18. Rcl Qe4 19. Rh2 Qxd5 20. Qxd5 Nxd5 21. h 5 gxh5 22. Bxh5 ReB 23. Ne2 Be6 24. a3 Rac8 25. Rdl Rc2 26.Ng3 Nf4 27. Bf3 d5 28. Kfl Rc3 29. Bhl Bg4 30. Rel Nd3 31. Rbl e4 32.Nh5 Bxh5 33. Rxh5 Re5 0-1

And later manages to outplay his opponent.

32.Kel Nc5 33. Rb8 Rxb8 34.Rxb8+ 338


Kg 7 85. Bb5 Rb2 86. Bc1 Rb1 87. Kd2 Nxe4+ 88. Kc2 Rxc1+ 89. Kxc1 Nxg5 40. Bd8 e4 41. Bc2 f5 42. Kd2 Bc5 48. Ke2 f4 44. Bxe4 Nxe4 45. Kf8 Nf6 46. Kxf4 Kh 6 47. Kf5 Nxd5 48. Rb7 Ne8+ 49. Ke4 . Nf1 50. Kf4 Bd4 51. Kg4 Be5 52. Rb8 Ng8 58. Re8 Kg 7 54. Kg5 h6+ 55. Kg4 Kf6 56. Rb8 Ne4 57. Rb4 Ng5 58. Rb8 Ne 6 59. Rb5 Bf4 60. Rf5+ Ke 7 61. Ra5 Bg5 62. Kf5 Kf7 68. Ra7+ Be7 64. Ra1 Ng 7+ 65. Kg4 Bf6 66. Re1 Be5 67. Rf1+ Ke6 68. Rf8 Bf6 69. Ra8 Bg5 70. Rf8 d5 71. Rg8 Nf5 72. Re8+ Ne 7 78. Kf8 Kf5 74. Rh8 d4 75. Rf8+ Bf6 76. Rd8 Nc 6 77. Rd6 Ne5+ 78. Ke2 Ng4 · 79. Kf8 Kg5 80. Re6 Kxh5 81. Re4 Ne5+ 82. Kf4 Nf7 0-1

Exercise 5

15. Ncxe4 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 f5 1 7.f8 If 17.Nd2 g5 18.Bg3 , Black will recover the piece in the most conve nient way: 18 . . . e4! (avoiding 18 . . . {4 19.Ne4) 19.Qbl f4 20.Nxe4 Bf5+. And if 17. Nc3 g5 18.Bg3 , again it's 18 . . . e4 19.h3 f4 20.Bh2 Qe5 2 l . Kd2 e3+ crushing through. The most stubborn defense was probably 17.0-0 fxe4 18 .c5+.

17. . . fxe4 18.fxe4 Rf4+ Black not only wins a pawn but keeps the enemy king in the center.

19. Bf2 Rxe4 20. h8 b5 21. Qa5 bxc4 22. Qxc 7 Bf8 28. Kd2 Qa4 24. Qa5 Qb8 0-1

Walkusz - Dlugosz Gdansk Championships 2005 White has just started queenside action. Prove that it's premature!

12 . . . axb4 18. axb4 Rxa1 14. Qxa1 Ncxe4! No need to retreat!


339

Exercise 6

Exercise 7

Mohr - Uhlmann

Bagirov - Khismatullin

Bundesliga 1994

Moscow Open 2008


17. . . g5! Breaking open the position for the black-squared bishop !

18.Ne5 Or 18.fxg5 Nxg5 19.Qc3 a5! with hits on black squares all over the board!

18 . . . gxf4 19. c6 White loses material after 19.gxf4 Nxf4 20.Rxf4 Qg5+.

19 . . . bxc 6 Even better was 19 . . . Ng5 ! 2 0 . Rxf4 Nh3+ 2 l . Kfl bxc6 2 2 . Nxc6 Bxf4 23.gxf4 Qh4-+.

20. Rxc 6 Qg5+ 21.Nxf7 Kxf7 22.Nd6+ Ke 7 28. Nxe4 fxe4 24. b5 f8 25. Qb4+ Kf7 26. Qd6 RaeB 27. Bxf8 KgB 28. Bg2 Qe8+ 29. Kh1 Rxf1+ 80. Bxf1 Qf8+ 0-1

340


The stability of the white center is deceptive . Prove it!

16 . . . Nxf4! 1 7. Rxf4 g5 Not bad, but Black could have achieved even more with 17 . . . f6 ! 18.e6 (or 18. exf6 e5!) 18 ... Bxf4+ 19. Kxf4 g5++.

18. Kf2 gxh4! Note that Khismatullin is more interested in the bishop than the rook! Less clear is 18 . . . gxf4 19.cxb5 cxb5 20. Bf3 Rb8 2 l . Bxe7oo.

19. Rxh4 21. Bd8 ?!

Bg7

20. cxb5

RbB�

Necessary was 2 l .bxc6.

21 . . . Bxe5 22. Bxh 7+ Kg 7 28. Be4 cxb5+ 24. Rd1 e6 25. Rg4 + Kf6 26. Bf8 b4 2 7. Na4 b8 28. a 8 Ke7 29. Rd2 f5 80. Rc4 RdB 81. Rxd8 KxdB 82. Bd1 Bd7 88. Nc8 Ke 7 84. h4 a5 85. Ke8 Bg 7 86. Bf8 e5 8 7.g4 e4 88. Bd1 fxg4 89. Rxe4 + Kd6 40. Rc4 g8 41.Ne4+ Ke 7 42. Nc8 Bxc8 48. Rxc8 RgB 0-1

Exercise 8

Exercise 9

Seirawan - Gelfand

Vegh - �rum Georgiev

Tilburg 1990

Berlin Open 1988

How to negate White's activity?

20 . . . Ne4!

How to address pur problems on the king's flank?

Gelfand enters a complicated line which will allow him to trade off White's most active pieces.

12 . . . h5!

21. Qe3

13. h4 RhB! 14. Nh3

Not 2 1 . Nxe4 Qxa 2 .

21 ... Nxc3! 22. Bxb3 Bd4! 23. Qxd4 Ne2+ 24. Kf2 Nxd4+ The queens are off the board and Black's extra pawn becomes more valuable.

25. Ba4 Rb6 26.Re1 Kf8 2 7. Re4 Nb3 28. Bxb3 Rxb3 29. Re3 Rxe3 30. Kxe3 a6 31.c5 d5 32. Ra4 e6 33.(6 e5 34. h3 d4+ 35. Ke4 Be6 36. Rxa6 Bd5+ 3 7. Kd3 Bg2 38. Bg3 Bf1+ 0-1

Krum Georgiev performs sophisticated prophilaxis.

a

Or 14 .g5 Nfd7 15.Kbl Nb6�.

14 . . . hxg4 15. Ng5+ KgB!� 1 6. Rdg1 gxf3 1 7. Bxf3 Bd7 18.Ne2 Qe7 19. Ng3 Ng4 20. Bxc5 dxc5 21.Nf1 Nf6 22. h5 Nxh5 23. Bxh5 Rxh5 24. Rxh5 gxh5 25. Ne3 Ra6 26. Qh2 Rg6 2 7. Nf3 Qf6 0-1


341

Exercise 10

29. Qg2 This loses instantly. A human would not think of bringing the queen to the tiny little spot 2 9.Qh4 , but this was White's best chance. Nevertheless , Black is extremely active and despite the rook down has great chances of a success ful end of his attack after 2 9 . . . e4+ (or

29. . .g5 30.Bxg5 Qxg5 31. Qxg5 hxg5�) 30.Kd2 Qe8 ! ! 3 1 . Bxb6? (31. Bf4 is best and it will be good for you to analyse the position after 31. . . Qb5�) 3 1 . . .Qb5 32 .Be3 Qd3+ 3 3 . Kcl Qc3+ 34. Bc2 Ra8:

Silman Brooks -

Software Toolworks Open Pittsburgh 1988 Inspiration is needed.

26. . . Rxc3! The start of a wonderful attack. There is also the positional solution, 26 . . . Qc7 followed by Nb6-c4 with the advantage, but the move in the game is flashier!

27. Kxc3 Worse is 27.Qxc3 Nxe4 28 .Qc2 Nxg3 -+.

27. . . Nxe4+!! 28. Qxe4 Bf5

and mate is inevitable!

29. . . Qc7+ 30.Bc5 White is completely helpless after 30.Kd2 Nc4+ 3 1 . Bxc4 Qxc4-+. Or 30.Kb2 Nc4+ 3 1 . Bxc4 Qxc4 32 .Qd2 Ra8 3 3 . Ral e4+ forcing mate.

30 . . . dxc5 31. b5 Na4+ 32. Bxa4 Qa5+ 33. Kb3 0-1 It's a mate: 33 . . . Qb4+ 34.Ka2 Qxa4+ 3 5 . Kb2 Qb4+ 3 6 . Kcl Qc3+ 37.Qc2 Qxc2#.

342


Chapter 5: The Bagirov Line Exercise 2

Exercise 1

Miroiu

Nikcevic - Tkachiev White's position seems rock-solid.

27. . . Bxg4! But it's not! Unfortunately for White, he can not capture the intruder: 28.fxg4 Nd3 ! 29.Bxd3 Qf3+ 30.Kh2 Bf4+ 3 1 . Kgl Qxg4+ 3 2 . Kfl Qxd l+ 3 3 . Kg2 Qg4+ 34.Kfl Bg3 -+. One more deflection. White re signed due to 29. Qd3 Ncl .

Georgescu

White has just defended his h3 pawn with Kgl-h2 .

1 6. . . Nxh3!

28. Qc3

28. . . Na21 0-1

•

ROM-ch U16 2007

Cannes 1996

But this was not the wisest deci sion, since it can be still taken!

1 7. b4 Not 17.gxh3 17.Kxh3?? Nd4+.

Qxf3+

and

not

1 7. . . Nhg5 18. Nxg5 Nxg5 Black keeps a hefty extra pawn.

19. b5 Ne6 2 0. Kg1 ReB 21. bxc6 bxc6 22. Qa4 Nd4 23. Nd5 Qd8 24. Nb4 Bg4 25. Rd2 Bd7 26. c5 Qe7 2 7. Rc1 Qh4 28. Nc2 Qxe4 29. Nxd4 exd4 30. Bxd4 Bh6 31. Re2 Qh4 32. Rce1 Bg7 33. Rd1 Rxe2 34. Bxe2 ReS 35. Bf1 Be5 36.g3 Bxg3 3 7. Bg2 Bxf2+ 38. Kf1 Bxd4 39. Qxd4 Re1+ 0-1


343

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Kostic - Riemersma

Apecheche - Espinosa Veloz

Caorle 1989

Havana 2007

White thought he was winning a piece. Prove him wrong!

How to make use of the weakened dark squares?

19. . . Ng3+11 20.fxg3 21. Qxd3 e4 22. Bxe4

13 . . . Nd7! 14. Rcl Ne5! 15. Bfl Qe7 1 6. Nxe5 Bxe5 1 7. Bg2 Kg7! 18. Rc2 RhBI+

Bxd3

Similar is 2 2 .Qxe4 Qxe4 2 3 . Bxe4 Rae8-+.

22. . . Rae8 23. Rxf8+ KxfB 0-1

The h-file is to be opened for the heavy pieces . Black is strategically winning.

19. Qd3 h5 20.(3 Bd7 21. Kfl Qh4 22. Rf2 Ra(B 23. Ke2 c5 24. dxc 6 bxc6 25. Kfl Be6 2 6. b3 c5 2 7. Nb5 a6 28.Nc 7 Bd4 29. Rd2 Qg3 30. Qe2 hxg4 31.fxg4 Rxh3 32. Rxd4 cxd4 33. Qd2 (3 34. Qxd4+ KgB 35. Bxh3 Bxg4 0-1

344


Exercise 5

Exercise 6

Robatsch - Timoscenko

Vokoun - Juptner

Mitropa Cup 1995 23 . . . Rxc3+1 This is not even a sacrifice, as Black at once gets two pawns for the exchange.

24. Kxc3 fxg3 25. Bg2 Better than 25.fxg3 Rxf3+.

25. . . gxf2 26. Bg5 Not 2 6 . Rfl Ng3 27. Rxf2 Nxe4+.

26. . . Ng3 2 7.Be7 Rf7 28.Bd6 Nxe4 + - + 29. Kb3 Be6+ 30. Kb2 Nxd6 31. cxd6 e4+ 0-1

. CZE-chT1 W 2012 White wants to castle long.

1 6. . . Rf4! This typical exchange sacrifice welcomes the king to the queen's flank. There is no safe heaven on earth for the white monarch now.

1 7. Bxf4 This leads to disaster, but White did not have much choice. If 17.0-0-0 Black can insist: 17 . . . Rd4! 18.Qel (The queen is lost after 18.Bxd4 exd4 19.Nb1 Bh6!) and now 18 . . . a4+ with overwhelming po sition, or the pretty line 18 . . . Rxc4 19. Bxc4 Qxc4 20.Rgl Qxa2 ! ! 2 l . Nxa2 Nb3 mate.

17. . . exf4 18.Nfl Nd3+ 20. Kdl

f3!

Even worse 2 l . Kdl Qxf3+.

20.Ke2

is

19. Bxf3 Qxf2+

20. . . Nxf2+ 21. Ke2 Bd3+


345

Exercise 7

Black later won:

22. Qxd3 Nxd3 23. Kxd3 Qd4+ 24. Kc2 a4 25. a3 Qxc4 26. Nd2 Qd4 27.Nde4 Nf6 28. Nxf6+ Bxf6 29. Raf1 Qc4 30. Bg4 Qb3+ 31. Kd3 Bg7 32. Rh2 c5 33. Rg2 c4+ 34. Ke4 Qb6 35. Be6+ Kh8 36. Rf4 Qd4+ 3 7. Kf3 Qd3+ 38. Kg4 Be5 39. Rf5 b5 40. h4 b4 41. axb4 a3 42. Rf3 h5+ 0-1

Todorovic - Dujkovic SCG-chT 2006 The king's in the center.

13 . . . (4! And it's quite disturbed after:

14.gxf4 exf4 15. Bxf4 Ne4! 1 6. Be3 Better is 16 . Ndxe4 Rxf4 17.Qc2 Bf5 18.f3 Nc5t.

16 . . . Nxc3 1 7. bxc3 Bf5t Also possible are 17. . . Nc5!? and 17. . . Bxc3!?.

18. Rg1 Nc5 19. Nf3 Bg6 20. Nd4 Qe5 21. Rg2 Rae8 22. Rc1 Qe4 23. Nf3 Qf5 24. Rg4 Qd7 25. Nd4 Qf7 26. Rg2 Rxe3 2 7.fxe3 Qe7 28. Rxg6 hxg6 29. Ne6 Ne4 30. Qc2 Bxc3+ 31. Qxc3 Qh4+ 32. Kd1 Nxc3+ 33. Rxc3 Rf2 34. Nxc 7 Qf6 35. Nb5 Rh2 36. Nd4 Rxh3 3 7. Kd2 Qf2 38.a4 b6 39. a5 g5 40. axb 6 axb 6 41. Ra3 g4 42. Ne6 Rh2 43.Ra8+ Kh7 44. Nf4 g3 45. Kc3 Qe1+ 46. Kd4 Rxe2 0-1

346


Exercise 8

Exercise 9

Arnaudov - Novikov

Sahu - Miles

EU-ch 2008

Kolkata 1995

A standard idea . . .

Everything seems OK for White.

1 6 . . . Nf4!

20. . . g4!

is to bring the knight into the center without fearing the g3 pawn!

But then Miles blows open the lines!

1 7.gxf4

21. hxg4 hxg4 22. Nxg4

17.Bxf4 exf4 18.0-0-0 Rae8 is also big advantage for Black.

Even worse is 2 2 . Bxg4 Nxg4 2 3 . Nxg4 Qh4 24.f3 Bxg4 25.fxg4 f3 -+.

17. . . exf4 18. 0 - 0 - 0

22 . . . {3!!

than Better 19. Ndxe4 Qxf4+.

18. Bxf4

Bxe4

18 . . . fxe3 19. Qxe3 19.fxe3 was probably the most re silient, with a good choice for Black after 19 . . . Bxe4 (or 19. . . Rae8 20.Rhfl Bxc3) 20.Ndxe4 Qf3+.

19. . . Rae8 20.f3 Qf2! 22. Qxf2

Bxe4

21.fxe4

Better was 2 2 . Rhel Bd4 2 3 . Qxf2 Rxf2+.

22 . . . Nd3+ 23. Kc2 Nxf2 24. Rh2 0-1

The number of pawns is irrele vant. The number of open files and diagonals is what counts!

23. Bxf3 The only move was 2 3 . Nxf6+, when Miles most probably would have continued the attack with 23 . . . Raxf6 2 4 . Bxf3 Rxf3 2 5 . gxf3 Qg5+ 2 6 . Kfl Bh3+ 27.Ke2 Rxf3 2 8 . Rgl Qf4-+.

23 . . . Nxg4 24. Bxg4 Qh4! 25. Bf5 Not 2 5 . Bxc8? Qxf2+ 2 6 . Kh l Rxc8 and mate is threatened on the h-file.

25 . . . Rh6 Black h a s a decisive attack.

26.{3 Bxf5 2 7. exf5 e4 28. Rxe4 Bd4+ 29. Rxd4 cxd4 30. Ne4 Rxf5 31. Qe1 Qh2+ 32. Kf2 Rg6 33. Qf1 Rg4 34.Nd2 Qf4 35. Qe2 Re5 36. Ne4 Rxe4 0-1 Solutions to the Exercises: Chapter 5

34 7

Exercise 10

Wolf - Kleinwaechter GER-chT 1999 How to increase Black's activity?

15 . . . Ne8! First, the knight heads for the fabulous d6 square.

16. Qf3 Bf6!+ Then the bishop is activated on the cl-h6 diagonal.

1 7. 0 - 0 - 0 Kg7 Black holds all the cards. Also possible are 17 ... Ra6 18.Kbl Bg5 19. Bc2 Nd6+ and 1 7 . . . Bg5+ .

18. Kb1 Ra6 19. Qg2 Bg5 20. Nf3 Bf4 21. h4 Rb6 22. Ka2 Nd6 23. b3 Ra6 24.Nd2 Raa8 25. Nf1 Rh8 26.Ne3 RagS 2 7. Nc2 Kf8 28.(3 Ke8 29. Qf2 b 6 30. Ne2 Kd8 31. Nxf4 exf4 32. Qd2 Qe5 33.Ne1 (5 34. exf5 gxf5 35.gxf5 Bxf5 36. Bxf5 Qxf5 3 7. Nd3 Rg3 38. Qxf4 Rxf3 39. Qxf5 Nxf5 40. Rh2 ReB 41.Rdd2 Ree3 42.Nc1 Nd4 43. Rb2 h5 44.Rhg2 Re1 45. Ne2 Rff1 46. Rd2 Ra1+ 47. Kb2 Rfb1 + 0-1

348


Chapter 6: The Fianchetto System Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Aronian - Marjanovic

Szabolcsi - Lorscheid

Bucharest 1999

Budapest 2007

Future GMs also need to learn. Aronian has just played 15.a2 -a3?

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark!

15 . . . Nxe4!

1 7. . . Nxb2!

The main trick in this line !

16. Bd4 The knight can't be taken: 16 . Nxe4 Qxe l ! 17.Qxel Nf3+ 18.Kg2 Nxel+ 19.Rxel Rxe4-+. And not 16.b4 Nxc3.

1 6. . . Ng5 1 7. Kg2 1 7. . . Nef3! 0-1 Aronian resigned due to 18.Rxe6 Qf5 19.Re3 Qxh3 mate.

And it's the long diagonal, Shake speare !

18. Rxb2 Rxc3! 1 9. Bxc3 Bxc3 Black has won a pawn.

20. Rabl Bxb2 21. Rxb2 ReB 22.{4 Rc3 23. Nd2 Nc5 24.Nbl Rcl+ 25. Kf2 Bf5 26.Nd2 Rc3 2 7. Ra2 Kf8 28. Bf3 h5 29. Kel Ke8 30. Kdl Bd7 31. Nbl Rb3 32. Nd2 Ba4 33. Nxb3 Bxb3+ 34. Rc2 Kd8 35. Kd2 Bxc2 36. Kxc2 Kc 7 3 7. Kc3 b5 38.e3 Kb 6 39.Bdl Ne4+ 40. Kd4 Nf2 41. Bc2 {5 42. h3 a5 43.e4 Nxe4 44. Bxe4 fxe4 45.g4 hxg4 46. hxg4 b4 4 7. axb4 a4 48.{5 g5 0-1


349

Exercise 4

Exercise 3

Ursie

-

Palleja - Rahal

Sulava

Barcelona 1995

Nova Gorica 1997 Trap something!

19 . . . Nxf2/ Black is attacking the king, but . . .

20. Kxf2 Bf5/ 0-1 it's easier to do so with an extra queen!

A typical trick.

18 . . . Bxh3/ which chops a pawn. The f3 square is always vulnerable in these Fianchetto lines!

19. Bg5 Parting with the queen is no good: 19. Bxh3?? Nf3+. And 19.f4 Bxg2 20.fxe5 sees Black escaping with both pieces in one go: 20 . . . Nxe4!-+.

19. . . Bxg2 20. Kxg2

It seems as if White has compen350


Exercise 5

sation, thanks to the d5 outpost for the knight, but the following shot clarifies the situation:

20. . . Nf3! The dangerous bishop changed off and Black wins.

is

ex

21. Qf4 The knight is untouchable: 2 l . Kxf3 Nxe4 2 2 . Bxe7 (not 22.Nxe4 Qxe4 mate) 22 . . . Nxd2+ 2 3 . Ke2 Bxc3-+.

21 . . . Nxg5 22. Qxg5 h6+ 23. Qh4 Nd7 24. Qxe 7 Rxe7 25. Ne3 Bxc3 26. Rxc3 Rxe4 2 7. Rd1 Rd4 28. Rcd3 Rxd8 29. Rxd3 Kf8 80. Rxd6 Ke 7 31. Rd2 Nf6 32. Re2 Kd7 33. Rd2+ Ke 7 34. R e2 Kd7 85. Rd2+ Kc6 36. Rd8 b5 3 7. Rd1 ReB 88. Kf1 h5 39. Rd3 Ng4 40.Nxg4 hxg4 41.{8 gxf3 42. Rxf3 f5 48.g4 Re5 44.a4 bxa4 45. bxa4 Kb 6 46.Rd8 fxg4 4 7. Rd6+ Ka5 48. Rc6 Rg5 49. Kg1 g3 50. Kg2 Kxa4 51. R b 6 Rg4 52. Rxa6+ Kb4 53. Ra8 Rxc4 54. Kxg3 Re4 0-1

Wheeler - Zilberstein .

USA ICC 2006

Target the king!

18 . . . Ng4! The kingside is so weak that Black can sacrifice his knight to bring his forces closer to White's most precious piece.

19. Be3 Strategical resignation. However, the attack is devas tating after 19.hxg4 Qxf2+ 20.Khl Qxg3 , and the good thing is that it is for free, since Black can always get a third pawn in the process. Now 2 l . Re3? falls to 2 1 . . . Qh4+ 22.Kgl (not 22.Kg2 Rf2 + 23.Kgl Qh2 mate) 22 . . . Be5-+ Best is 2 l . Re2 Bxc3! 22 .bxc3 Qxg4 23 .Qgl Qf3+ 24.Qg2 (if 24.Rg2 then 24 . . . Qxe4) 24 . . . Qh5+ 2 5 . Kgl Qc5+-+.

19 . . . Nxe3 20.fxe3 Be5- + With the bishop pair and White's crumpled king's flank, Black's task is pure pleasure.

21. Kg2 Rf6 22. Qe2 Raf8 23. Rf1 Rxf1 24. Rxf1 Rxf1 25. Kxf1 Bxg3 26. Kg2 Be5 2 7.Bb3 Qd8 28. Qg4 Kg7 29. Kf3 Qf6+ 30. Ke2 Bxc3 31. bxc3 Qxc3 32. Bxe6 h5 0-1 Solutions to the Exercises: Chapter 6

351

Exercise 6

Exercise 7

Schaefer - Lechtynsky

Holeman - Acher

Litomysl 1997

FRA-chJM3, Rochefort 1998

How will you finish the game?

Somewhat of a surprise . . .

14 . . . Qa511

13 . . . Nc5!

The ability to see the whole board is a sign of great class. Black sud denly switches to the queen's flank to force the bishop to occupy a bad square.

Black trades off a pair of knights and spoils his pawn structure. How ever, he correctly notices that the c4 pawn will almost inevitably fall.

15. Bxd6

Holeman decided to give up the h3 pawn instead. White cannot save the c4 pawn: 15.Ne2 Be6 16. Racl (not 16. Qxb7

If 15.Bb2 then 15 . . . d3! 16.Qxd3 Bxb2-+.

15. . . Rfd8! The bishop is frozen due to the major threat of . . . d4-d3 , and Black wins material.

16.e5 Or 16.b4 Qa3 17.e5 d3 18.Qcl Qxcl 19.Nxcl d2 20.Nxd2 Rxd6 21 .exd6 Bxal-+.

16. . . d3 1 7. b4 If 17.Qxd3 then 17 . . . Nxe5 18.Qdl Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 Bxal-+.

17. . . Nxb4 18. Bxb4 Qxb4 19. Qc3 Qc5 20. Ned4 Nxe5 0-1

352


14. Nxc5 dxc5 15. Nf3

Bxc4 17.Rfe1 RabB 18. Qe7 RfeB 19. Qh4 Rxb2-+) 16 . . . Nxc4 17. Rxc4 b5!

Probably best is 15.Nc2 , but Black's position is overwhelming after 15 . . . Be6 16 . Na3 Qb4! 17.Racl Rad8+.

15. . . Nxf3+ 1 6. Bxf3 Bxh3+ Black emerges with a clear extra pawn.

1 7. Rfdl Not 17.Qxb7 Bxfl .

1 7. . . Qb6 18. Rd2 Be6 19. Radl Rfe8 20. Qc2 a5 21. Qb3 Qb4 22. Qxb4 cxb4 23. Be2 h5 24. Bb6 Bf6 25.(4 a4 26. a3 bxa3 2 7. bxa3 Be7 28. c5 Bb3 29. Rel BdB 30. Bfl Bxb 6 31. cxb 6 Rad8 32. Ree2

Exercise 9

Bc4 33. Rf2 Bxf1 34. Kxf1 Rxd2 35. Rxd2 Rxe4 36. Kf2 Rc4 37. Rd3 Rc2+ 38. Kf3 Rb2 39. Rd4 Rxb6 40. Rxa4 Rb3+ 41.Kg2 Kg7 42. Ra5 Kf6 43. a4 Ra3 44. Ra7 Rb3 45. Ra5 b 6 46. Re5 Ra3 47. Re4 c5 48. Kf2 Rb3 49. Re8 Rb4 50. Ra8 Kf5 51. R a 7 f6 52. a5 bxa5 53. Rxa5 Rc4 54. R a 6 Rc2+ 55. Ke3 Rc3+ 56. Kf2 c4 57. R c 6 g5 58.fxg5 fxg5 59. Rc8 Kg4 60. Rg8 Rf3+ 61. Ke2 Rxg3 0-1

Exercise 8

Lucea - Arias Boo ·

Barcelona 2001

Decoy the king!

1 7. . . Nxg3! The king is brought out into the open air and various knight forks start to appear.

18. Kxg3 exf4+ 19.Kh2 The bishop is captured after 19. Bxf4 Nh5+ 2 0 . Kh2 Nxf4 . I love the line 19.Kxf4 Nh5+ 2 0 . Kg5 Qd8 mate.

Hoffmann - Movsesian EU- Cup, Ohrid 2009

19. . . fxe3 20. Rxe3 f4 21. Re2 Nd7- + 22. Bh1 Ne5 23. Nxe5 Bxe5 24. Bf3 Qd8 25. Rg2 Qh4 26. Qf2 Qxh3+ 0-1

Unleash the power of your pieces!

28 . . . Rxe2! All of them get in the game, and White resigned after:

29. Rxe2 No different is 29.Qxe2 Nf4 .

29. . . Nf4 0-1 The lines 3 0 . Bfl Nxe2+ 31.Qxe2 Ne4-+ and 30. Bxb7 Qxb7 ! 3 1 . Be3 Nxe2+ 3 2 .Qxe2 Ne4 3 3 . Na5 Qb8 34.Rcl Qg3+-+ are more than con vincing.


353

Exercise 10

This Black.

Zats - Bonin USA-AmChT, Parsippany 2001 Black's position looks cramped.

14 . . . Nb5! But appearances are deceptive, since the black pieces can easily reach the opponent's camp. First of all, the defender on c3 is traded.

15.Nxb5 Rxcl 16. Qxcl Probably a better chance 16 .Bxcl Bxb5 17.Nd4 Bc4+.

is

16. . . Bxb5 1 7.Nd4 ReB The c-file is occupied.

18. Qd2 Bc4! And the d5 weaknesses is hit to allow Black time to firmly seize con trol over the open file.

19.Nc2 Qc7 20. Rcl ?!

354


makes

things

easier

for

20 . . . Bb3+ 21. Bg5 Bxc2 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Be4 Bxe4 24. Rxc7 Rxc 7 25.(3 Rc2 26. Qdl Ra2 2 7. Kg2 Bc2 28. Qcl Bd3 29. Qc8+ Kg7 30. Qxb 7 Rxe2+ 31. Khl Bd4 32. a4 Rel+ 33. Kg2 Bfl+ 34. Kh2 Re2+ 35. Khl Bg2+ 0-1

Index of Variations Chapter 1: The Classical Variation Chapter la: Flexibility in the Classical Variation l. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 e5 7. 0- 0 exd4 8.Nxd4 Re8 9. (3 c6

10.Kh1 Nbd7 l l . Bg5 Qb6 1 2 . Nb3 a 5 13 .Qd2 a 4 14 .Be3 Qd8 ! 1 3 . Na4 Qb4 14 . Nd4? Nc5 ! 14 . Ncl d5! 14 . Nc1 Nc5 13.Qxd6? a4 1 2 . Na4

19 26 26 26 26 18

l l . Bf4 Nh5 ! 1 2 . Bxd6 Qf6 ! 1 3 . Nc2 Nf4 14 . Bxf4 Qxf4 14 . Rf2 Nxe2 14 .c5 Nxc5! 1 3 . Nb3 Nf4 ! 1 2 . Be3?!

33 33 33 32 32

1 l . Nc2 Nb6 1 2 . Bg5 h6! 1 3 . Bh4 Be6 1 2 . Bg5 Be6 13 .b3 ! h6 14 .Be3 d5?! 1 3 . Ne3 h6 14 . Bh4 g5

36 38 38 35 35

1 2 . Bf4 Be6 1 2 .Be3

Index of Variations

355

10.Kh1 Nbd7 1 l . Be3 a6 1 2 . Nc2 Ne5 13.f4 Neg4 14 . Bg1 13 .Qd2 Be6 � 2 . Nc2 Qc7 12 .Qd2 d5! 1 2 . Bg1 l l . Be3 d5?! 1 l .Be3 Nh5 1 l .Be3 Nb6 ! ? l l . Nb3 a5

43 43 43 42 42 40 40 41 39

10.Nc2 Na6 ! l l . Be3 d5! 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.exd5 Nb4! 13.exd5 Bf5 13 .Qd2 dxe4 1 3 . Bf2 dxe4 13.Bb5 Bd7

51 51 51 51 51

10.Nc2 Na6 ! 1 l . Bf4 d5 l l . Kh1 Nc7 !

49 50

10 .Be3 d5! ll.cxd5 Nxd5! 1 2 . Nxd5 cxd5 13.Rc1 Nc6 ! 13.Rc1 a6?! 1 3 . Bb5 Bd7 14 .Qb3 13.Qb3 Nc6 ll.cxd5 cxd5 12 .Qb3

56 57 55 55 55

10.Nb3 a5! 1 l . a4 Be6 1 2 . Be3 Na6 13 .Qd2 Nb4 1 l . Na4 c5!?

59 58

10. Bg5 Qb6 1 l . Na4 Qa5 12 .Bd2 ll.Be3 Qxb2 1 2 . Na4 Qa3 13.Bc1 Qb4 14 . Bd2 Qa3

58 58

356

Index of Variations

Chapter lb: The Gligoric System l. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.Nf3 0- 0 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 exd4 8.Nxd4 Re8 9. {3 c6

10.Qd2 d 5 ! l l .exd5 cxd5 1 2 . 0 - 0 Nc6 : 1 3 . c 5 Q a 5 14 . Bf2 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qb4 16. Rfd 1 ! Bd7 16. Rad 1 Bd7 14 . Bf2 Qxc5? 14 . Bf2 a6!? 13.c5 Rxe3!? 14 .Qxe3 Qf8! 15.Ncb5 Qxc5 15.Nxc6 bxc6 1 3 . Rad1 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 dxc4 1 5 . Bxc4 1 3 . Rad1 dxc4 14 . Nxc6 Qxd2 10.Qd2 d5! 1 l .exd5 cxd5 12 .c5 Qe7 ! 12.c5 Nc6 10.Bf2 d5! 1l.exd5 cxd5 1 2 . 0 - 0 Nc6: 13.c5 Re5 ! ? 14. Bb5 Bd7 15.Qa4 ReS ! ? 16. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 16.Rad1 a6 ! ? 16. Rad 1 Nh5 15.Qa4 Qc8 14 .Qa4 Bd7 14 .Re1 Qf8 14 .Re1 Bd7 13.c5 Nh5 14 .Qd2 Be5 15 .g3 Ng7 16. Rfe1 Ne6 16.Rfd1 Ne6 16. Rfd1 Be6 1 3 . Nxc6 bxc6 14.Re1 Be6 10.0-0 d5 l l . cxd5 Nxd5!

72 72 71 71 70 70 69 69 68 69

83 83 83 83 78 78 80 75 75 75 74 68

Index of Variations

357

Chapter lc: The Exchange System l . d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.Nf3 0- 0 6. Be2 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8

9. Bg5 Na6 !? 10.Nd5 Rd6 1 1 . Nd2 c6 ! : 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.Be3! Bd8?! 14 .0-0-0 M�! 13.Be3! Nc7 12.Ne7+ Kf8 9. Bg5 Na6 !? 10.Nd5 Rd6 l l . Bxf6 Bxf6 12 .Rcl 1 2 .0 - 0 - 0 Bg4! 12 .b4 c6! 12 .b4 Bg4 1 2 . Nxf6+! Rxf6 13.Nxe5 Re6 10.Nd5 Nxd5 !? 1 1 .cxd5 f6 10 .Nxe5

l l . Bxd8 Nf4

9.Nxe5 Nxe4 10.Nxe4 Bxe5 l l . Bg5 Re8 9.Nd5

358 Index of Variations

99

� 99 99 95 96 96 96 97 94 94 93 92 92

Chapter ld: The Petrosian System l. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 0- 0 5.Nf3 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a5

8 . Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 Na6 10.0-0 Bd7 1 l . Nd2 Qe8: 12 . Kh 1 ! ? Nh7 13.a3 h5 14.f3 13.a3 a4 1 2 . Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Bg4 1 2 . a3 a4! 12 .b3 Nh7

1 14 1 13 111 111 112

8 . Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 Na6 10 . Nd2 Qe8 1 l .a3 1 l . g4 a4 9.Be3 Ng4 10 .Bc1 Na6

1 10 1 10 1 10

8.0-0 Na6 9.Be3 Ng4! 10. Bg5 f6 9.Qc2 Bd7 10 . Ne1 Nc5 10.Rb1 Nc5 1 l . a3? Nfxe4!

108 109 109

Index of Variations

359

Chapter 2: The Siimisch Variation l.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.(3 0 - 0 6. Be3 c5

7.dxc5 dxc5 8 . e 5 Nfd7 9.f4 f6 ! 10.exf6 Nxf6 ! 1 l . Bxc5 B f5 8.Bxc5 Nc6 9.Be3 Nd7 !

122 122

7.dxc5 dxc5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bxc5 Nc6: 10.Ba3 a5 1 l . Rd1 Be6 1 l . Nd5?! Nxd5 1 2 .cxd5 Nb4! 10.Rd1 Rxd1+ 10.Nd5 Nd7 l l . Nxe7+ Nxe7 1 2 . Bxe7 Bxb2 1 3 . Rb1 Bc3+ 1 3 . Bxd8 Bxa 1 1 l . Bxe7 Nxe7 1 2 . Nxe7+ Kf8 1 l . Ba3 e6 1 2 . Nc7 Rb8 1 3 . Nb5 a6 10. Nge2 b6 l l . Ba3 Bb7 12 .Rd1 a5 1 2 . Nd5 e6 l l .Ba3 e6 1 2 . Rd1 Ba6 1 3 . Nb5 Rxd1+ 14 . Kxd1 l l . Ba3 Ba6 1 2 . Nb5 Rd7 10.Nge2 Nd7 l l . Ba3 Nde5 1 2 . Nf4 l l . Be3 Nde5 1 2 . Nf4 Nb4 l l . Bf2 Nde5 1 2 . Nf4 7. Nge2 Qa5 8.Nc1 cxd4 9.Nb3 Qh5 10 . Nxd4 Nc6 9. Bxd4 Nc6 8 .Qd2 8 .d5 b5! 7.d5 e6 8.Nge2 exd5 9.cxd5 a6 10.a4 Nbd7 1 l . Ng3 h5 8.Bd3 exd5 9.cxd5 a6 10 . a4 Nbd7 l l . Nge2 Ne5 8 .Qd2 exd5 9.exd5?! ReS 9.cxd5 a6

126 125 123 136 136 131 134 145 144 144 144 140 140 142 150 150 148 150 154 154 154 155

360 Index of Variations

l . d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5. Nge2 0 - 0 6.(3 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Ng3

166 161 164

9 . . . a6 9.a4 h5 10. Bg5 exd5 1 l .cxd5 9 . . . exd5 9.cxd5 h5 10.Be2 Nh7 l l .Be3 a6 1 2 . a4 10. Bg5 Qb6 !

l . d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4 . e4 d6 5.(3 0 - 0 6. Bg5 a6

17 1 17 1 170 170 170 169 168

7.Qd2 Nbd7 8 . Nh3 c5 9.d5 b5 10.Nf2 Qa5 1 l . cxb5 Nb6 1 l . Be2 Nb6 10.cxb5 Qa5 1 l . a4 Ne5 8 . Nge2 c5 9.Bh6 Bxh6 10.Qxh6 b5! 9.d5 b5 10.cxb5 Qa5 ! 7.Qd2 c5 8.d5 Nbd7 9 . a4!? Qa5 10. Ra3 Re8 7. Nge2 c5 8 .d5 b5 9.cxb5 Qa5 !?

Index of Variations

361

Chapter 3: The Four Pawns Attack l.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.(4 0 - 0 6. Nf3

6 . . . e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Nxe5 ReS 10.Bd3 10. Bd3 10.Bd3 10.Bd3 9.Nxe5 9.Nxe5 9.Nxe5 9.Nxe5

Ng4! Nxe4? Na6 Nfd7

ReS 10.Be2 Nxe4! Nfd7 !? Nxe4!? Na6

8.Nxe5 Qxd1+ 9.Kxd1 Na6

197 197 197 197 196 196 196 196 195

6 . . . e5 7.fxe5 dxe5 8 .d5 Na6 9. Bd3 Nc5 10. Bg5 Qd6 10.Bc2 a5 10. Bg5 h6 8 . Nxe5 c5!

206 205 205 194

6 ... Na6 7.Be2 e5 8 .dxe5 dxe5 9.Nxe5 Nc5 9.Qxd8 Rxd8 10.Nxe5 Nc5 8.0-0 exd4 9 . Nxd4 ReS 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.d5 Nc5 !

190 193 199 200

7.Bd3 e5 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.d5 NeB 9.d5 Qe7

362

Index of Variations

202 201

Chapter 4: The Averbakh System l . d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4 . e4 d6 5. Be2 0 - 0 6. Bg5 Na6

7.Qd2 e5 8.d5 Nc5 !? 9.f3 a5 10.Bd1 c6 10 .0-0-0 a4 10.h4 c6 10.g4 c6 9.b4?! Ncxe4! 9. Bf3 a5

230 224 224 225 224 224

7.Qd2 e5 8 . Nf3 Qe8 7.f4 c6 7.h4 e5 7.Qc2 h6 7. Nf3 h6

222 2 14 2 18 220 220

Index o{ Variations

363

Chapter 5: The Bagirov Line l.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 0 - 0 6. h3 Na6

7.Be3 e5 8 .d5 Nh5 ! 9.g3 Qe8 9.a3 9.Nd2 Qe8 9.Ng1 Qe8! 9.Nh2 Qe8 8 .d5 c6 9.g4 Nc5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.c5 b6! 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Nxe5?! Nxe4

248 241 243 244 246 240 239 239

7. Bg5 Qe8 8 . Be2 e5 9.d5 Bd7 10.Nd2 Nc5 1 1 . 0 - 0 a5 1 l .b4 Na4 8.a3 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.b4 c6 8 .Qc2 h6!? 8.Bd3 e5 9.d5 Nh5 8.g4 e5 8.g4 c5!

258 257 252 252 253 253 253

7.Bg5 Qe8 8.Be2 e5 9.d5 Bd7 10.g4!? Nc5 1 l . Nd2 a5 12 .Be3 Qc8 12 .Be3 Kh8 1 2 .Be3 h6 12 .Be3 Qe7 ! ? 1 l . Nd2 c6 12 .b4 Na6 12 .Be3 cxd5 13.cxd5 h6?! 14 .h4! l l . Nd2 h6 12 .Be3 Kh7 13 .h4!

262 262 262 262 262 262 262

10.g4!? Kh8 l l . Nd2 Ng8 l l . Rg1 Nc5

364

Index of Variations

261 261

Chapter 6: The Fianchetto System l.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 0 - 0 5.g3 d6 6.Bg2 c6 7. 0- 0 Qa5

8 .e4 e5 9.h3 Nbd7 10.Be3 exd4 l l . Nxd4 Nb6 1 2 . Nb3 Qh5 13 .Qxh5 Nxh5 14 .g4 Nf6 1 5 . Na5 Be6! 14 . Na5 f5 13.Nd2 Qxd 1 14 . Rfxd1 Be6 13.g4?! Bxg4! 12 .Qd3 Nb6

282 282 282 282 281

8 .e4 e5 9.h3 Nbd7 10.Be3 Nb6 1 1 .Qd3 exd4 1 1 .dxe5 dxe5 l l . Nd2 exd4 10.d5 cxd5 10.Qc2 exd4

280 280 281 2 78 2 78

8 .e4 e5 9.d5 cxd5 10.cxd5 b5! 8 .Qc2 Qh5 8.h3 e5 8 . Nd2 Nbd7

277 274 2 75 275

8.e4 e5 9.h3 Nbd7 10.Re1 exd4 l l . Nxd4 Ne5 1 2 . Bfl ReS 13. Be3 c5!? 14 . Nf3 Nxf3+ 15 .Qxf3 14 . Nc2 Be6 14 . Ndb5? Nxe4! 14 . Nb3 !? Qb4 13.f4 Ned7 13.Rb1 a6 1 3 . Nb3 Qc7 1 2 . Nb3?! Qc7

297 289 289 290 286 286 287 285

Index of Variations

365

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