The Petroff- An Expert Repertoire For Black- Sakaev

chni c hnical cal dio dior: r:

M rgy oloviov

ovr dsign by:

Kalo al o an Nachv

ranslaion by:

G M vgny rmnkov

h publishrs publishrs would lik o han han  Phil dams for for advic advic rgard rgarding ing h nglish ranslaion. h ransla ion.

opyrigh

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Konsant ons antin in aka akavv 2011 201 1

Printd in Bulgaria Bulgaria by hss tars  Ld.  oa  B N13: 978 954 8782 845 845

Kai Skav

The Petro: an Expert Reperoire fo Black

Chess tars

Other CHESS ST Books

Repertoire books: Opening for Wite Ac. to Kramnik £  by A. Khalian Volume 1a: Old Indian, rre lnes n the Classcal Vraton, 2006 Volume 1b: The Classical Varation, 2006 Volume 2 n-Ni-Ind, n-Ni -Ind, An-Qun's An-Qun 's Ind Indian ian,, Ensh Ensh,, 2008 2008 Volume 3 Englsh (cS), English (four knghts), 2011 Opening for Wite According to nand e4  by A Khalman Volume 8 The cilin, Paulsen-Kan and rare lnes, 2006 Volume 9 The icilian, PaulsenTamnov and other lnes, 2007 Volume 10 The clan, veshnkov, 2007 Volume 1; The iciian, Dragon, 2009 Volume 12 The ician, Rauzer Attack, 2009 Volume 13: The cilan, Englsh Attack, 2010 Opening for Black According o Karpov  by Khaifman

Curen heory and practice seris:

An Expert's Gude to the 7.Bc4 Gruenfeld by akaev, 2006 The harpest can by ril Georgev and At Kolev, 2007 The aest can by Delchev and emkov, 2nd reved 2008 he Queen's Gambt Accepted by akaev akae v and emkov, 3rd rev ed, 2008 The Easest iclian by Kolev and Nedev, 2008 The Petrosan ystem Against the QID by Beliavs and Mikhalchishn, 2008 Kill KI.D by emko ekov, 2009 The ng's Indian A Complete Black Repertore by Vctor Bologan, 2009 The cotch Game or Wte by admir Barsky, 2009 The Modern Philidor Defence by adimr Barsky, 200 The Moscow & t-Moscow Varatons by exey Dreev, 2010 queezing the Gambts by Kir Georgiev, 2010 The French Defence A Complete Black Repertoe by Nkta Vtiugov, 2010 A Unversal Weapon d4 d6 by Vadimr Barsy, 200 The Meran & Anti-Mern Variatons by Aeey Dreev, 2011 The afest Grunfeld by eander Delchev and Evgenij Agrest, 2011 Fighting the French a New Concept by Denis Yevseev, 201

Mor or  ai ails ls a earom

Contents Prfac

                                             

7

Par 1 Al  e Repe wo 2 1 2 3 4

l om Play  Movs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 inna Gam. c3 f6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 ing's Gambi. 2.f4 xf4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 BishopsOpning. 2.�c4 f6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Par 2 All e Repe wo 3d4 and 3xe5 le4 e5 2 6  6 7 8

hr nighs Gam. 3. c3 �b4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Blgra  Gambi. coch Four nighs. 3.c3 c6 4. 4  .. .. . 6 Glk ariaion. 3. c3 c6 4.g3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Four nighs Gam. 3. c3 c6 4.�b 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Par 3 Pero Deene 3d4 le4 e5 2 6 3d4 xe4 9 0 1 12 13 14 1

4. x  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 4.� 3  . x �7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 4.� 3  . x 7 6. c3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 4.� 3  . x 7 6.00 x . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 96 4.� 3  . x 7 6. x 7 7 7.00 � 6 8.h f6 . . . . 01 4.� 3  . x 7 6. x 7 7 7.00 � 6 8. c3 xc3 .... 10 4.� 3  . x 7 6. x 7 7 7.00 � 6 8.c4 c6 . . . . . 108

Par 4 Pero Deene 3xe5 le4 e5 2  6 3 xe5 d6 16 17 18

4. x x. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 4. c4 x4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 4. 3 x4 .c4; .2; .� 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 9

19 20 21 22

4.3 x4 . 4  6.  3 c6 7.00 7 8.1 g4 9.c3  . ... 136 4.3 x4 . 4  6.  3 c6 7.00 7 8.1 g4 9.c4 6 ..14 4.3 x4 . 4  6.  3 c6 7.00 7 8.c3 xc3 . . . . . . . . 17 4.3 x4 . 4 6.  3 c6 7.00 7 8. 4 b4 9.cx ; 9.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 23 4.3 x4 . 4  6.  3 c6 7.00 7 8.c4 b4 9.2 00 10.a3 c6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 24 4.3 x4 . 4  6. 3 c6 7.00 7 8.c4 b4 9.2 00 10.c3   .a3 xc3 12.bxc3 c6 13.1 8 14.4 . . . . 180 2 4.3 x4 . 4 6. 3 c6 7.00 7 8.c4 b4 9.2 00 10.c3   .a3 xc3 12.bxc3 c6 13.1 8 14.cx x   1.  ac8 16.a4; 16.g3; 16. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 26 4.3 x4 .  6.  3 c6 7.00 7 8.c4 b4 9. 2 00 10.c3  1 .a3 xc3 12.bxc3 c6 13.1 8 14.cx x   .  ac8 16.3 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 98 27 .3 x .  6.   c6 7.00 7 8.c4 b4 9. 2 00 0.c3   .a3 x 3 12.bxc3 c6 13.1 8 14.cx x  .  ac8 16.3 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 6 2 .3 x .  xc3 6. x 3 7 7.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216  . x .3 xc3 6. xc3 7 7. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 9

Cmpee Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

PRFAC The Petro Defence is an exceptionally reliable an almost in estructible opening, an  a har  nut to crack, even for the strongest an most meticulously prepare  gran masters heoretically. It is no acci ent that the Petro Defence, name aer its inventor an also know as the Russian Game, has for many years been the main opening weapon of a imir ramnik an  Boris Gelfan an has aso been playe regular ly by ishy nan an  lexey hirov. owa ays there are also several very young an  talente  gran masters who play it, such as Wesley o an  ish Giri. naoly arpov an  rtur Yusupov have been using it as a part of their opening armoury throughout their chess careers... The ist coul go on an on. The Pero Defence is characterise  by the fact that on his secon  move Black oes not protect his epawn, but instea  counter atack  th 2... f6, proposing to the opponent the imme iate exchange of a pair of paws, thus slighty simpliing the position an  quickly ening the ture pawnstructure. What are the pluses an minuses of an opening reperoire base on the Petro Defence,such as we are recommen ing in this book? I think I can see only one rawback. If White is an experience  payer with a goo grasp of theory, an he is in the moo to raw,then he shoul be able to share the point without too much probem. till, the same can also be sai  about almost every oher opening, because in contemporary chess it is tremen ously icult to win with Black unless White makes a serious mistake.On the other han ,there is a great a vantage to consi er: you ll not obtain ba  positions from the opening he Petro Defence is particularly suitable for players th a positional style, since in a calm, quiet contest you can easily n the game if the opponent takes too many risks. You can see this ilustrate in the omplete Games section. I have en eavoure to present an explain to you all the ner points of his opening,as I u erstan them In general,the critical positions have been treate  thoroughly an  I have aso suggeste  an  analyze  a great many new i eas in this book. ome variations which have amasse consi erable tournament practice,but which, in my ew, are

ss prin ip  , hav bn covr  on y bi y. Ohr is, h book oul  hav bcom oo big, osing its ssnial purpos. noruna y, oo many auhors i chss boo in hat ay; hy or no o gi na  ana ysis an  on quo out a  gams, som of hich ar vry aky p ay an almos us ss. hop ha you  ra   i n oy su yin his ook an  I is you on r ournamn rsuls  is opning 

Kntantin Sakaev, Saint eterburg 2

Pa le4 e5 A Wite Repes wout 2)

I have discussed numerous times and I know, from my ow experience, how dicut it is for ite to combat the Petro Defence. enever you are preparing at home against the possibiity of facing this opening in a tour nament game, even if you are a very strong payer you have great probems. In hapter One of our book, we sha rst anayse some very rarey payed attempts for ite to avoid the Petro and lacks reaction to a of them is fairly simple. Later, we deal th the Venna Game, in which White pays incorrectly  on the kng 

side and Back should respond wth a cassica counterattack in the centre, ending up with an excelent posiion.  for the Kng Gamb, this is a very compex opening wth a ong and rich history, but readers wil nd very reiabe ways to combat this too. Finaly, the Bhop pen  ng is a direct atempt to avoid the Petro and to introduce themes which are simiar to hose of he Itaian Game. Whites plans are destined to fai, however, be cause aer 2 6 3d3 6 there arises an immediate con ict in the centre, which is quite advantageous for Black.

Chapter 

l.e4 e5 edom Payed Moves

veop his kights o c6 a f6 a  a vace 7 , seizig space a  esurig a very comfortabe posi tio. We sha limit ourseves to examiig White's active possi biity of tryig to a vace th f2  f4. It is quite obvious that this pawn a vace is very risky, sice it exposes White's kig, especiay i coectio with the fact that his ights quare  bishop wi be restricte  to the e2s quare. 2... 2d4 It is icut to take the move f6 ( Back is preparig 7 . It 2.\hS seriously. Back has may is safer for him to pay 2...c6 atractive optios a  I sha show a  here 3.f4 seems to be too a you ust oe of these: 2...c6 3. veturous for White owig to 3... c4 g6 4.f3 f6 .e2 g7 )3.f4 (  better move for White 6.bc3 6 7. 3, akamura  a is 3.f3, but Back ca aswer sikira, opehage 200. ere, this with 3...c6, foowe  by 7  I beieve Back's most ogica . It is aso goo to pay symmetmove is 7...a , exchagig ricay with 3... 6, folowe  by White's ights quare  bishop for achettoig the bishop o g7. The the kight a  e ig up with a positio is cose  a White's exslight e ge for Back. tra tempo is irreevat, so the We sha brie y ea with the game is e qua.) move 2. 3. We have o itetio ( iagram) a ow: here of aayzig pas base  o some passive setup for White 3...c6 4. e xe . 4 wth a bishop or a quee o the xe4? ( This is a iterestig e2s quare, or with a kight o 2. move. It is simper for Back to I a these cases Back shou  e  opt for ...c6 6.e e4 7.f3  

le e5

8. d3 e7 9.00 00 0.c3 fS . e  f6, with e quality.) 6.e2 dS 7.dxe5 h4 8.g3 xg3 9.hxg3 xh 0. e3 e4 1. g2 xeS ( The game is rather unclear aer  ... g6?2. f2 c6 3.c3)2. f3 e6 3.d4 eS 14.f3 e6 and aer a repetition of moves the result will be a draw; 3...exf4 4.f4 (4.e5? dS) 4...c6 5. e2 (S.f3 dS6.e5 hS 7. d2 h6, followed by g7g5) S... cS (5... d6? 6.d6 cxd6 7. c4 00 8.c3 a6 9.f3 bS) 6. c3 00 (6...d5 7.e5 g4 8.g4 h4 9. g3 xg4  .xdS d7 .c4 b4  Black has good compensation for he pawn,sucient for e qualiy.) 7.e5 e8 8.f3 d6 (8...f6 9.d4 eS  .dxeS xf4 . d5; 8...d4? 9.e4 e6) 9. g5 d7 0.d4 b6 .d5 h6 Black's position is ne apa from the knight on e8,making the position dicult to evaluate. 2exd4 (diagram) First of all, we shall look at White's possible de ations from the entre Game: A) 33, B) 3and then at the entre Game itself: C) 3d4

It is simply bad for Whie to play 3.f4? c6 4. f3 c5  he will not regain his d4pawn and has no compensation whatsoever. The line 3. c4 f6 transposes o he Bishop'sOpening.

A) 33 With this move White is oering the sharp Dansh Gambit. However, Black is not force  to accept the sacrice and he has a simple and reliable way of obaining an excellent position. 3  d5 4exd5 Aer 4. xd4 he best White can hope for is e quality. His c3  pawn deprives his knight of hat s quare and does not enhance his position. Aer 4...dxe4 5. xe4 e7 6. g5 d7 7.f3 gf6 8. c2 00 9. e2 h6 0. h4 e8 1.00 h5  Black has an excellent posiion, Tomas Batet  orneev, Malaga 2002. 4   'xd5 5xd4 The move 5.f3 makes little sense at this point,because White ll have to capture on d4 with his pa anyway.

Chapter 1

5  6 6 g4

cnr with 14 he! an  h solvs al his opning problms.

B) 3 Wih his mov i is rying o transpos to h coch Gam, which ariss if Black rplis with 3... c6. H is no oblig  to o  his howvr an  has a vry goo  alrnativ in 3  b4 73 For 7.�2 �b4 8. c3  s 7. c3. 7 b4  e  9   �4 1 0 �b3 h n gam is  qual ar 10.c6 bxc6 11.2 x2 12. x2 1 0 �b3 11ab3 ge7 1  e3 0 - 0 - 0 13 0  0 ow hit can rply h: Bl) 43or B) 4  d

Bl) 43 d3 53 Ar .bxc3, Blacks safs mov is ...�7. h bishop is plac  on a proc  s quar an  prvns h possibl sorti of his opponns knigh o g ( vn ar ...�c 6.�c 6 7. 00 c6 i can har ly prov 13  a5! sucin compnsaion for th his mov is br han 13... pawn.). 6.�c  7.x  f6 8. a6, which has bn play  much 00 00 9.�a3 (ar 9.�b3, Black has h rsourc 9... a6, mor on. 14fdl, D. Masrovasilis   wih h i a of a6c) 9... b 7   kmbris, Grc 2001. Black 10.�b3 a3 11. xa3 c+ an  shoul  coninu o play in h h is vn slighly br, Zvia 

le e5

ginsv  Moylv, b a 2000. 5 .. .c3 If Black plays h imm ia ...7,hn Whi can rply wih 6. 4 c3 7. xc3 00 8.b4?   9. b2 f6 10.  3 , raching a complica  posiion in which Whi has nough compnsaion for h pawn, Zviaginsv  Bliavsky, Pororoz 1 9 9 9. 6.bxc3
7.. .d5! 8.exd6 xd6 Ar 8...cx 6 9. a3 bc6 10. x 6 x 6 1 . 6 00=hr is a ransposiion o h sam n gam as in h main lin. 9. 'xd6 cxd6  0 .ia3
ll . d6 0  0 Ar 11...6 Whi can play 12.g 000 13.a3   14. x6, so Back is rlucan o giv up his scon  bishop for a knigh. 12. 0 - 0 - 0 ie6 3.®b2  amp o play aggrssivly woul  no work for i: 13.g a2 14.@b2 h6 1. @xa2 hxg 16.7 (ohrwis i wll b a pawn own wihou any compnsaion wha sovr) 16...x7 17. 7 g6 18. xb7 f 8=  Black's rook is ra y o go o 2 an  h is in no angr. 13 . ..8=

i canno pro from h a vanag of h bishop pair, sinc his pics lack coor inaion, whil Black has asy play on h ligh s quars. H has h possibiliy of ploying hs knigh along h rou 7 b6 an  lar o a4 or c4, accor ing o circumsancs. Whi can har ly sav his lighs quar  bishop from bing xchang , so h gam is  qual.

Chapter 1

B2) 4id2

4• d2 5bxd2 Th position is compltly  qual ar . xd2 c ( If Black wishs o ntr a mor complica d struggl h can choos ..    7 6. xd4 f6 7. c3 c6 8. 3 00 9. d3 d6 , bu Whit maintains a sligh dg, hanks o his spac advantag.) 6.c3 f6 7. 4 8. f4 d 9.xd6 xd6 0. cxd4 cxd4 5• c6 6b3 Ar 6. b, Black rplis wth 6...a6 7. xc6 (if 7. a4, hn 7... g7 and i is unab o play d2b3, withou which h cannot rgain his d4paw) 7...dxc6 8. b3 b6 9. xd4 xd4 0.  d4 c. Black has dpoyd his qunsid paws on dark s quars and h ndgam is xclnt for him. On his nxt mov h can continu wth f,ibrating his bishop ar an xchang of paws, or obtaining th xcln bockading s quar 6 if Whi's pawadvancs. 6•• {6 7id3 0-0 80-0 es

r i appars o b amost  quay strong for Back to pay th immdiat 8...d? 9el

9•d5 It is a bit passiv for him to opt for 9...d6 0.  d4 d7 1. xc6 xc6 2.f3  and although Black dos no hav any wak nsss or any bad pics,Whi is still slightly btr hanks o his spac advanag, B.avchnko   hadav,Olginka 201. 10e5 d7! This is th mos prcis rout to  qualiy for Black. is altrnativs ar lss convincing, for xampl: 0... g4 1.h3 gx 12. x x 3. xh7 xh7 4. h g8 x x 6. x f6 7. f4 b6 8. xd4 c 1 9. b a6 20. d6 7 2 .b4 Thr is also a way to rach a mor compx but still approximaly  qual position: 0... 4?  . bxd4 xd4 2. xd4 c 3. b d7 llbxd4 xd4 2xd4 xe5 3h7 xh7 4h5 g8 15xe5 c5 6 xd5

l.e e5

loss his pawn) 6... 6 7.h3 16.f3 x 17x f6 6 .. .�f6 7. �bx2 8. h6 (t h pcsacric 7... �xc2 9.xc5 �e2= Black's kng x? looks vry araciv oo) is a bi xpos ,bu Whi canno 8.x 6 6 Black has a po  l xploi his civly, so h po initiativ for Back. Ar .  2? Black's simpls siion is  qual. rply is ... 7 ( aurally h can also play ... b4 an  if Whi C) 3. �xd4 c6 os not ranspos o h main lin wih 6. c3, h gam is  qual.)6. c3  an ar h x chang of h cntra pa ns, Black's posiion sms mor ac tiv. I looks uslss for Whi o play S. f3?, bcaus h bars h way of his qun o h g3s quar. r ... b4 6.c3 (i is vn wors for Whi o play 6.  2 00 an  Black is hraning 8) 6... a 4.�e3 7.  3 00 8.00 S Black is Th main i a of th nr ghing for h iniiaiv. Gam is o ransfr h whit qun o g3, xrting powr prssur agains th g7s quar. ccor ingly, rraing Whit's qun to a4 or 1 maks it sns. Back simply vops his knigh on f6 an bishop on c,ob taining a la in vlopmn an  siing th initiaiv. r 4. 3, th bs ha i can hop for is to ranspos o h main in: 4... f6 .c3 b4 ( Back has anothr vry promising alrnaiv hr 5 .. .b4 6 . d2 0 - 0 7. in ... c?) 6.  2 00 7.000 0 - 0 - 0 e8 8.�g3 8 8.g3. Or 8. c4 6 9.f3  10. b3 4 .. .f6 5.c3 c6 an  i has no aciv prosI is vry imporan for Whi pcts on th kingsi , whil Black o coninu wih his vlopmn. is ra y o wih raw his bishop o r .? g4 6.2 (o r 6.4 c wih mpo an  hn bgin an h4 follow  by h  Whi onsiv wih b7b an a7a.

Chapter 1

I woul  b isasrous for i o op for 8.f3? San his qun on 3 is xpos ,bcoming an asy arg for Blacks pics.

xb4?+)  .a3 c6 12.  3 8 13.f3 6 14. h1 h6 1S x8 x8 16. 1 f8+ an  now Black us n s o pay c8 7 an  a88. i's iniiaiv is insufcin o compnsa for th sac ric pawn.  0 .. .e7! ll.f4 11.f3 6 12.h3 S 13.xS xS 14.f4 aS+ Blacks rook is wll pac  on aS an  i canno caus any srious probms for him.Or  .  3 h4 12.f3 8 with th thrat of c6S. ll .. .d5 2 . d3 12.f3 fS ( In his or r of s .. .xe4 movs, Back has anohr vry init os not hav  com- trsting possibiliy in 12... a4? pnsation for h pawn ar 8... 13.  3 xa2 14.b1 aS 1S. h1 x4, but th gam bcoms 4, h vry aciv pay an  sharpr an much mor complx. som a vantag.) 13.  3 7 14.  possibl coninuation is 9.a3 4 x4  s 12.  3. aS ( 9... g4?)10.f3 8 11.g2 6 12.h4,habalov  Martinovs y   hicago 1 9 96. Back mus pay vry prcisly to nuraliz hi's kingsi  iniiaiv,for xamp: 12...h (12 ...7?) 13. hS h6 14.f4 fS 1S.h4 W (  hi must try o a vanc his gpawn; sinc h has no ohr rasonabl plan) 1S...S 16. 2 7. ow, owing o som acical nuancs,i is ba for hit to pay 17.g4 c3 18.c3 c2 1 9. 2 h7 20.gS 2 ...! fS. i migh hav som his is h righ im o giv ohr inrsing i as, bu if back h xra marial an  siz Black plays wll h shoul b abl h iniiaiv o hol his own in all ins. Mor cauious play is lss f 9.xe4 xe4 1 0 .c3 fciv  for xamp : 12... h4 13. 10.b4 xb4 (hr i is also f3 8 14.g4 7 1S.2 aS +   goo  for Black o play 10... wh h i a of aSa4, coninuing

l.e e5

th atack on h qunsi  h i has a minimal marial a ensuing play will b rahr sharp vanag, bu Black's bishop on 4 an Whi's compnsation for h is as goo  as a rook hr is no pawn will probably b insu- oub ha Black has a v pow rl initiative, Ru   , ci nt. 3.e4 e4 4. d Lon on 2010 (game  Concuion ite move pan at the beginning of the game and deveop hi queen before hi minor piece o he can hardy eect any advantage and mut even think about equazing. I beieve that in a the rarey payed ine anayzed in thi chapter the bet ite can hope for i that hi opponent i not e prepared to combat them Hoever ith oid common-ene pay in the centre Back houd be abe to obtain exceent poition ithout any probem hatoever.

Chapter 2

l.e4 e5 2c3 f6 Venna Game

can casl aricialy,sinc h has mor han sucin im for his. Whi can coninu his dvl opmn, ignoring Blacks knigh for h im bing, bu ha woud only b sucin for  qualiy and no mor: 4. f3 xc3 ( Th ohr rliab way for Black hr is: 4... f6 S.xS dS6. b3 c6Whis bishop on b3 and h knigh on c3 ar svrly rsricd by Backs W shal analyz hr A) pawnchain c6d5, so Black has 3.ic4, B) 3.g3 and C) 3.f4 no opning problms whasovr.) S.dxc3 A) 3 . c4 xe4

4.�h5 I is wakr for Whi o play 4. x S. x4 dS; Black occupis h cnr and lar h

S...c6 ( Back on plays hr S...f6, wih h ida of holding on o h pawn. I do no lik his mov a all from h ashic poin of w and would nvr play lik his. Black fas bhind in dvlopmn and loss his righ

l.e e5 . 

to castle comfortably; evertheless, I have faile  to   a irect retatio of it. Black wats to play 7 6, followe by c7c6 a  6 5, while White ca try to evelop his iitiative i various ways. e ca play for example: 6.�e3,keepig the optio of    e2 a  000, although he ca also cosi er the simple possibil ity of 6.00 6 7.h4 g6 8.�e3, followe  by f2f4White has the iitiative, but Black has cosi er able efesive resources.) 6.xe5 5 7.00 � 6 8.e 00 9.� 3   7 0.�f4 f6  .x 7  7 2.  6 x 6. The positio is almost smetrical a  absolutely e qual. 4 .. .d6 5.ib3  rather ull e game arises aer 5.xe5 e7 6.xe7 7 7. �b3 f5 8.f3 (8. 5 � 8 9.f3 c6 0.e3 5) 8...c6, followe  by 7 5. 5 .. .ie7 6. c6 7.xe5 g6 8.�e2

8... 0- 0 The game is more complex a approximately e qual aer 8...

 4 9. 3 xb3 10.ab3 f5 1.00 6 12.f3 c6 a  Ivachuk, Moaco (rapi ) 9 92. 9. 0 - 0 if6  0 .xc6 Black has a excellet positio aer 10.f3 e8  . 1 b6    .  . dxc6 ll.d3 es 12JW a5 3.a4 ie6 4.ixe6 xe6+ a  Black's positio is eve slightly preferable.

B) 3.g3 This move is ot at all ambitious.

3 .. .ic5 I thik this is Black's most log ical reactio. The lie: 3... 5 4.ex 5 x 5 5.�g2 xc3 6.bxc3 � 6 7.f3 00 8.00 c6 lea s to the Glek variatio (2.f3 f6 3.c3 f6 4.g3). Black has a alterative o his last move,which lea s to orig ial positios  8... 7. is kight is more exibly place  o 7, but it restricts the mobility of his ow lights quare  bishop. fter 9. 4 h6 0.e ex 4  .cx 4 b6 2. 3 Zviagisev  u,Ohri  200 9, epe ig

Chapter 2

6. 0 - 0 e8 7.d3 on circumstancs, Whi can s quz his opponnt's position Ar 7.h3, Back coninus by a vancing his a or c pawns. th h sam pan: 7..4 8. H aso has th possibiliy of in- h2 c6 9f4 , with th a vancrasing his piceprssur wih ag h mov f3 an  Back's play is no at al asy (it is wakr for Whi o op for 12. c6 13.c3 6, wih  quaiy, Lko   amnik, Bu aps 2001) 4  g2 0 - 0 Back shoul  not b in a hurry o play 4 6, sinc hn his bishop has no rtrat an  it may soon ry to xchang it by c3a4

5g e2 Th mov .f3 is simply ba  hr, owing to ...  an  Back sizs h initiaiv. 5  . c6 I woul  b prmaur for Black o imm ialy aack his opponn's cntr with his kigh sill on b8: ...c6 6.00  7x   cx  8. 4 x 4 9.x 4 g4 10. 3 c6, vi  G anski, Rj ka 2010. Hr h mov  .b3 nabs i o win his oppo nn's cnral pawn an  Black's compnsaion will b insucin.

7 .. h6! With his prophyactic mov Black nsurs longrm scuriy of his kight on f6. 8h3 d4 Ar complting his prophylacic masurs on h kingsi   Black is ra y o opn th cnr. I is also possibl for him o pay patintly wih 8.a6 9.h2 6 10.f4 4 whn all his pics ar pois n h cnr an  Back is ra y to folow up wih b7b an  c8b7. i has no prospcs of vloping an initiaiv on h kngsi  an  in   his own king is vulnrab. 9a4 If 9h2 hn 9...c6 10.f4  an  Black's aci ty in h cntr is much mor civ han Whi's play on th anks, al in accor anc h classic prncipls 9 ..  1 0 .f4

l.e e 2 c3 f6 3 d

Whie can preven he pawn We sha now ea h the b reak 7  by means of the moves C) 4exd5 an  C2) somewha articia move 10 c 4, 4e5 bu Back can couner his eectivey wih he ine: 10 c6 11  ac3 c 12   h2 a6, preparing Cl) 4exd5 This move ony heps Back's b 7b   0  xe2 �xe2 d5 2 eveopmen, so i canno be e5 xe5 3if4 goo  4• xd5 5e5 xc3 6 bxc3 �h4 7e2 ig4 8 c6 9e h5

3  es ( I is aso ineresing for Black o  13    e6? an  in severa va aions Back's rook goes to the quensi e, aacking Whie's king is in fron of his ie's pawns an pieces )  4e5 army, so he canno even  quaize, id7 5c3 d4 6 d5 xd5 espie havng an exra pawn  7d5 ie6= Back has 0d achieve safe e qualiy  Aer 0 4 000     f2 f6 he fle is opene an  hie has C) 3f4 d5 some problems  12   b e 3 xc6 bxc6 14   xe g6    e  6 16   g (aer 16   e4, Black can again pay 6    f8,wih he i ea of increasing his pressure aong he fe h he move f8  f) 6   f8 17 2 f 8xg6 hxg6+ Black regains his pa, mainaining he iniiaive in he process   0   ll �x 2  e2 d5

Chapter 2

3c4 Whi canno achiv any hing h 13f  000 14.f2 (ar 14.�f3 x 1. c6 x  16.x  bxc6 17 x� 6 h wil hav iculy sa ng h gam) 14...b8 1.xx . Black xrs pow l prssur on h cnral ls, whil Whi's pics ar vry passiv an  h has no coun rplay along h bl. 3  Wxe5 4b 00-0 5g4  Th posiion is oubl g  ar 1...b8?16.�f3 f6 17 �c. Back has an xra pawn an  aciv pics whil, as compnsaion,Whi xrs powrl prssur on h bl an  on h long iagonal. 6 Wxe5 xe5 7  b8 8  e6 c5 9d3 he8 2 0  g5  d6 2d5 c6 2 2 e4 h6 23f4  f6 24  g3  c7+ ( iagram) Black's nx mov wil b �c  f2, xchanging h nmy bishop on g3 an  nuralizing h possibl angr. Whi mus pay vry prcisly o savag a raw, bcaus his pawnsrucur is inf 

rior. If h plays 2.2, hn Back can rply h 2...� 6, with h powrful hra xc4.

C2) 4e5xe4

5.lf 

I woul b jus crazy for Whi o pay .f3, ignoring h principls of quick vlopmn, voping his qun in h cnr aha  of his minor pics. Ar ... c6 ( Black can obain a vry goo  posiion h h simpl mov ...xc3, bu h is sriving for mor an  qui jusiaby so.) 6.�b xc3 7.bxc3 h4 (7...�7 8. 4 00 9.� 3 (ar 9.2 f6

le e5   3 d5

10.exf6 f6  .f4 e7+ Black is also sightly better) 9..f6 10.h5 g6  g6 hxg6 12xg6 h8 13h6 g8 it all en s in a raw b y perpetual check) 8.g3 e4 9. xe4 xe4 10c6 bxc6  .e2 b8+. Black has a strong bishoppair an an a vanage in the en  ga me. lthough Blacks knight on e4 is very strong, atac ng it with 5. 3 is too passive ites bishop wil remain o f  an the pawn on e5 wil be eprive of support. 5... xc3 6.bxc3

6.. 4 Black estroys his op ponents pawnchain wth this move 7f3 c6 8�e2 (it is o better for White to pay here 8 cx 4 �b4 9� 2  2 10.x 2  x 4+; his pawns are a sorry sight,whie Black will soon caste, establishing a consi erable lea  in eveopment in the process) 8.�c5 9.00 xc3 10h  00  e  Back alrea y has an extra pawn an White ca har ly create any meaningl threats on the kingsi e. Back has many goo  moves to choose from an  I beieve his best possibiity is: 11.. 4

an now: 2.�  e8 13.xc3 xf3 14. xc5 xe5 15 c3 ( ite oses after 15f2  4 16.xf3 f5) 15... 4 16�f4 e7. Whies compensation is far from sucient; 12.xc3  his atemp by White to restore the maeria bal ance is competely ineective. 12...�b6 (2..b6?) 13. 2 xf3 14f3 � 4 15b  e5 16.b5 � 4 (  very cautious payer wth Back, fearig the transfer of ites rook to the kingsi e, coul  choose 16e8 17.� 5 �f6 8�xb7 b8  9.�c6 xb5 20. �xb5 � 7+, with a slight e ge for Back.) 17c3 W (  hite cannot regain his sacrice pawn,since after 17.�xb7 b7 18xb7 �b6 his rook on b7 is trappe .) 17.�b6 Back has an extra pawn, whie White cannot create ay rea threats on the kingsi e. 5ie7 If 5.c6 White can evelop his bishop to an active posiion with the move 6. b5,preparing to caste 6.We2 It is jus a oss of a tempo for him to pay 6. 3 xc3 7bxc3 00

Chapter 2

8. 4 (hr i is oo passiv for Whi o play 8. 2 c 9.00 c6 10. 4 aS 1 . d2 c4  a  Black follows this up by u rmiig Wi's cr wih f6) 8...f6 9.  3  10.x d7 11.f3 (  .h f6 12.2 c 13.00 c4 14. f f 1. xf b6 . Black's qu ll go o 6 a his kight o 4) 1 ...c 12.00 c4 13. 2 c7  a  lar h wi ploy his bishop o 6 a th kigh o f6, h vry promisig pay. ompar wih 6. 3,it is mor logica for Whit to coiu h 6. 4, bu v h ar 6...c 7.  3 xc3 8.bxc3 c6 9.00 00 10. 3 c4 1 . 2 b Back has xcll prospcs o h qusi  a  his chacs ar by o mas wors.

al his pics will b awkwar ly plac . 7. . .xc3 8.bxc3 0  0 9. g3 This crats aohr araciv arg for Back o aack, bu i caot b goo  for Whi o pay 9. 4. Ar 9...c 10.g3 c6 11. g2 6 12.00 h6+ Black has a xcl blocka ig bishop o 6 a  goo  prospcts o h cl. 9 .. .c5  0 .ig2 c6  . 0  0 I woul b ssss for Whi o play 1 .h4, with h i a of scurig th gs quar for a knigh sorti. Black ca simply cour i wih 1 ...h6, sic his mov is an itgral part of his plan i ay cas. n . . .e6 2Jbl bs 3.hl I is icu o suggs ayhig mor aciv for i. Black has xclln corol of all h s quars in his half of h boar , whil h mov 3. 4 ll oly cra anohr arg for Black, as w poin ou arlir.

6 .. .!  oubl g posiion arss ar 6... xc3 7. xc3 00 8. f4 c 9.0 00 c6 10.c4 4 1 .4  Jaos c  Gligoric, Blgra   1 964. 7.d3 3 •6! 4 . d2 b5+Whis aurally, i canno b pa on  is prfcly blocka   happy h 7. 6 xf6+, bcaus an  Back has xclln prospcs

.e4 e5 2.3 f6 34 d5

for a pawnonsiv on  si  by mans of g7g? Misr qunsi , as wll as on  king   imoscnko  Barnaul 1 988. Cocuo The Vea Game  a aciet opeg whch  more or e g ored by cotemporary gradmater. Th i eay udertadabe. Bac ha demotrated reiabe way of obtag a exceet game ad they are mpe ad eay to impemet. It eem to me tha t te mot promg e : 2. c3 f6 3.g3 but Bac houd ot have ay probem couterg that ether.

Chapter3

l.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 Kng's Gambit

lar, sice it iberates the lights quared bishop, but it eads to a ucear positio. 5. �h5 6. d4 e7 This is Back's most use move. e deveops his kigside, depri g White's kight of the ds quare i the process. 7 d6 It is aso good for Back to pay 7..g4, forcig White to make a Of course, there are eor upeasat decisio e must ei mousy compe ad westudied ther sacrice his kight o f3, or possibiities for both sides i this retreat it to a bad s quare. til, opeig, sice the Kig's Gambit Back does ot eed to sharpe possesses a tremedously rich the game so eary, because he has history. But istead of aayig a very goo positio ayway. the etire theory of this sharp opeig I sha just try to show you oe very good defece for Back, We wi deal here with A) 3.c3? !  B) 3.c4ad the most importat move for ite  C) 3.

A) 3.c3?! I beieve that to pace the kig i frot of the bishop ca ever be good, period .. White has o compesatio 3 • h4 4. e2 g5 for the pawn ad his kig has o The move 4...  is more popu  safe shelter, so Black has good

le e5 2 exf

chancs of soon organizing an a- 3 c6 1 . xf4 S 12.  2 aS 3.00 xb3 14.axb3 fS 1. f2 ack agains i. f6 ) 8... c6 ( h posiion bB) 3 . c4 coms vry inrsing ar 8... 3, bu Back os no n  o sharpn h gam so much) 9.d3 S 10. x  (bu no 10. xf4 b4an Whi loss his casling righs) 10... x S  . xf4 cS 12. 00 7 ; 7. 4 b4 (h sruggl is vry compica  ar 7...  6 8. f3 00 9.00) 8. xf4 (if 8. f3, Back has a vry srong coninuaion in 8...a 9.a4   0.  c6 1 . xf4 00 12.00 x 4 13. 3•d5!? x S x S 14. x  6 ) 8... Black shou  rfrain from - 4 ( h posiion ors chancs priving his opponn of h righ for boh si s ar 8...00 9. f3 o cas, sinc ar 3... h4 4. E8 10. ) 9. g2 00 0. f,Whi's knigh wil b vl- 00 xc3 ( Back is inn ing an op  o f3 wih mpo an  his onsiv on h ligh s quars, so king's rook will lar join in h h givs up his bishop.)  . xc3 acion by mans of h mov h2  xc3 2.bxc3 6 3. f3 c6 h4, un rmining his opponn's 14.Ea1 7 Ovchkin  apawn on gS. kav, rpuov 2007. 4.d5 Black can  quaiz safly an  Or 4.x  h4 S.f   6 rliably by playing 3... f6 4. c3 c6 S. b3 S6.x  cx S 6. f3 hS 7. c3 7 8. 4 00 9.f2 7 10.E b6 1 . b3 x S 12. x  x S 13.c4 3 14. x3 fx3 x3, Ju. Pogar Topalov, Mxico 2010. In his posiion, Black coul  hav sruck a powr sragical bow on h ark s quars h h mov 1... cS,ransforming h nmy bishop on b3 ino a big pawn . Ar 16.  gS 17.h3 fS, follow  by an hn: gg4, Back's aack is crushing. 4 .. .f6 5.c3 xd5 h mov 7. f3 alows 7... 4 8. 2 (8. 2 7 9. 4 00 0. Back mus capur his bishop

Chapter 3

as soon as possibl. I is infrior Whi has numrous alrnao play ... b4 6.f3 00 7.00 ivs hr: Cl 4.d4, C2 4 . c4, 8 8. b3  and Whi has h C3) 4.c3 and C4 4.h4 dg. 6.xd5 g5 Cl) 4. d4 In principl, all dvloping his is a vry dubious mov. movs ar good for Black hr,for 4•••g4! xampl: 6...c6, or 6... d6. In his prcis posiion th 7.h4 c6 8.c3 gS+ knighsacric on f3 is no as good for Whi as i is in many ohr lins. Black quickly aacks h d4s quar and dos no allow his opponn o obain a big lad in dvlopmn. Ar 4... g7, an inrsing  for Wi is h rarly playd mov .c3?, sinc i is no as good for Black o n a pic wih ...g4 as i was on h prvious mov, bcaus i is br for him o hav dvlopd his knigh on h posiion is qui sharp, c6 rahr han his bishop on g7. bu Black has vry good pros  5 . 4  6.�x pcs.

C 3. Hr, jus as on h pr ous mov, I shall ignor all Black's possibiliis apar from h mos promising on. 3•••g5!

6•• .c6! Ar 6...d6 7.c3 c6 8. 000 Wi's compnsaion for h pic migh sill b insufcin, bu h posiion rmains xrmly sharp. 7 . c4

e4 e5 24 exf4 .   g5

Th mov 7.  xposs h ark s quars i gral a  h b2pawn i paricular. Back ca xpoi his imm ialy wih 7... \f6 8. xc6 \xb2 a Whi oss maria, sic h li 9.c4 \xa1 10. x 8 1.00 \g7  os o work a  h aack coms o a a  . 7  d5 8d5 xd4 9  'x  Wh g7 n. 00

4•! 5Ex c5 6 h d4 7 f4 h6 Sg3 Ar 18. 1 Black ca simpy bosr his bishop wih h mov 8...c 8•h5 9ig5 Black was hraig f6g4. 9• �e8 2 0 Ed e5 2f xf4 22�xf4 E Back's xra pic wil b much mor impor a ha Whi's scar  xra pawns. C2) 4  c4

ow Black shoul  o b gr y a  ry o hol  o o h xra marial. Isa  h shou  b ra y o rur som of i i or r o block h fl. ll  ! Th posiio rmais qui uclar ar l...7 1c3 f6 13.\h6 14. 2 •e5 f6 3c3 g6 4�h4 Ar 14.\ 1 7 1.x 4 c6 16. 8 17. 2 f8 18. xf8 xf8 1 9. f4 fS Whi's iiiaiv is isuci o compsa for h sac c pic. Or 14.\gS7 1.   f8 a  hr 16.x 4 loss o 16...c6 

4•g7 Th li: 4...g4 .00 gxf3 6.\xf3 la s o a vry sharp posiio; Black os o   o r such complicaions. 5d4 Or .h4 h6 6. 4 6 7.c3 c6 a  h mai lin is rach  by rasposiio. 5•• d6 6h4 If i os no brak h pawchai gf4 h wil hav gra problms, sic h simpl complio of his vlopm is no vry promisig, for xampl: 6.00 c6 7.c3 h6

Chapter 3

an now: for 8.h4 g4  s 6.h4; 8.g3 �h3 9.gxf4 ( 9 f2 f6 10. gxf4 x4 an  Black ar suppors his knigh wih h mov 6 5) 9...  0.x  g4 11.g2 12.xg7 f6 13.xf6 xf6 14.  2 g8 15. , inschroh   chrr, Zl 1 9 93 an  now Back cou  hav obain  a gra a  vanag wh 15...g4 16.5 h5; ar 8.b3, i is vsrong for Back o coninu wh 8... 7, craing h hra of c6a5; 8.a4 � 7 9.b3 a5 10.  f8 11.a3 x 12.xa5 c5 Zaginsv  kopian, jka (rapi )2010. 6 h6 7.c3 c6 8.00 g 9.el

r i is vry promising for

Back o xpos h nmy king wih h mov 9 .. .£! Th gam akamura  vanchuk, ap  g  2010, conin u wih 9...xh4 10.f4 f6 11. 5 x5 12. x5 g3 13.g3 xg3 14.xf6 �f8 15. 3 � 6 a  i ha  h chanc o nr a slighy br n gam wih 6.1 (insa , in h gam h play  h risky in: 16.h5 �g4 17. an  hr Back coul  hav won wih 17...  8 18. 5 �2  an  Whi wou sur cisiv maria loss)16... 7.xg3 g3 18.  2 g8 1 9.4 5 20.x5 5 21.a  , which, if Back fn s  corrcy,shou n in a raw. . I is no corrc for Whi o coninu wih 10.xf3? gxf3 11. xf3 f6, bcaus h canno o  anyhing wo hwhil aong h f  an  whou ha his aack coms o a a n .   . . .� r 10...g3 11.g2 f6, is cnr is baui,bu his king is poniay vunrabl. lg2 h3 2.g f6+

le eS 24 exf4 . gS

Whites knight is awkwardy placed on g2 and destroys the harmony of his pieces, while Black has an exceent position.

C3) 4.c3

G M adm Zagise tred recently to resurrect ths ancient moe. In some ariations Whites knght is ready to go to d5, but the serious drawback of the pace ment of the kght on c3 is that his d4paw is nsucienty protected. 4•• 6 It is ess good for Back to pay 4...g4 5.e5 c6 (a ery compcated endgame aises aer 5... h4 6.g3 g3 7.xg4 xg4 8. xg4) 6.xg4 h4 7.f2 c5 8. d4 d4 W (  hte's intiatie is ery dangerous aer 8... xd4?! 9.b4 b6 10.d5) 9.f3 th a doubleedged position. (diagram) 5.g3! This is the essnce of G M adim Zaginse's idea. White does not aow his opponent to capture

the knight with the moe g5g4 and destroys the pawnwedge g5  f4 wthout haig to make heay sacrices. dditionay he wishes to quicy deeop his queenside pieces with the dea of eentualy casting on the quenside. nfortunatey for romantic payers the ancient gambits are unsound: 5.d4 g4 6.e5 (6. c4 gxf3 7.00 eads by transposition to the position aising aer 5. c4 g4 6.00 gxf3 7.d4) 6... xe5 7.dxe5 h4 8.e2 c5 er 5.c4, Back has the res olute response 5...g4 and White is forced to sacric hs kight, but in many ariations the fact that he has deayd the deelopment of his kngside wth his fourth moe becomes impotant. 6.00 (6.d4 gxf3 7.xf3 h4 8.g3 d4 9. f6 10.d5 e5 11. 00 c5 12.f4 f3 13.g2 f2 14.e5 xe5 15.xc7 d8 16. xa8 c5  White's knight on ais trapped and Back must n) 6...gxf3 7.xf3 (7.d4 xd4 8. d4 g5 9f2 c5 10. xf4 xg2 .Exg2 d4 12.Ef2 c6  

Chapter 3

Whits pics ar  acti but nrthlss, the position can b aluatd in Blacks faour, thanks o his considrab matria adantag in this ndgam.) 7...\h4! 8.d5! This is Whits bst chanc. Other (  s, his position would b trrib: 8.g3 c5 9.g2 \h6 10.d3 d6 1.f4 h3 12.h1 \g6  Whi is a piec dow and his atack has bn parrid. No doubt, h cannot b hap PY with th immdiat transiion ino an ndgam in th folowing sampl ariation: 8.d3 5 9. \xf4 x4 10.xf4 xc  .dxc4 d6 12.d5 d7 13ad1 c6 1. 3 8 15.d6 d6 16.xd6 6 and his chancs of sala ion ar  problmatic.) 8... c5 9.h1 e5 10.2 W (  hit loss immdiaey ar 10.\c3 g4  .h3 f2 12.h2 c6) 10... f3 11.gxf3 b6 H has som positional prssur, but it cannot compnsat ly for th missing pic, so Back is clarly btr. 5 .. .g4! Black should play this mo! H dos not win th nmy knight, bu h nsurs a powrl pawnwdg on f3. H can also play mor solidly, mphasizing dlopmn: ...d6 6.d g7 .d 5 8.gx gxf4 9. f4 g4 10.b f8  .2 f3 12.f3 \f6 13. 5 \x= th gam is doubldgd and approximatly ual, Zagins   P.mirno, Nookuznsk 2008. 6.h4  Th posiion bcoms com 

pltly irrationa aer 6...d4 7. d5 g3 8.hxg3 f6 9.c3 d6 10.a4! g3 11.d1 c5 12.cxd4 h4 13.dxc5 xd5 14.xd h 15.d6 f6, but Black dos not nd to ngag in such adnurous xprimnts. 7.d4

Now, undr th cor of th bastion on f3, Black can strk a blow against th nmy cnr: 7.. .b4! Ar 7...7, i should simply fori his cnr wih th mo 8.3 ! and i will b bad for Black o gi up his bishop n for h sak of winning a scond pawn. 8 .c4 d5! I is rahr passi and too slow for Black to continu wih ...d6 9.00 xd 10.d5 c .b4 2 12.h1 d4 13.c3  1.2 2 15.\x2 c6 16.3 and hi has a powl initiai. 9 . xd5 f6! 1 0 . xc6 bxc6 ll.�d3 c5! 1 ...b12.h6 12.dc5 �xd3 13.cxd3 d7

e4 e5 24 exf4  g5

4.@ Other se Black will comfortably pick up the enemy c5pa. It is not good for White to play here 14.d4 f6 since his light suares are treendously vulnerable. 4 ...xc5 5d5 xd3 6 @e3 c6 7f6 @e7 8.xg4 g4 19@xd3 !+ and Wite must think about salvation.

White has two possibilities here: C4a) 7! and C4b) 7.xf6

C4a) 7. ! It cannot be good for hite to withdraw the kight to a defen sive position, losing a tempo in the process. 7  Jg8 8.d4 ih6 9.c3 c6

C4) 4.h4

lOd5 Aer 10. b5, Back has nu4  .g4 5e5 merous promising possibilities It is bad for White to play 10...a6, 10... d7, but his most at5 .g5? h6 6.x x 7. c4 d5 tractive is 10.. xg2!  .d5 a6 12. 8. xd5 e8 and his compensa- a4 (12.f  xf2 13.dxc6 xf14 xbxc6and he obtains several tion for the piece is insucient. pawns and an attack for the ex  5•d6 6xg4 f6

Chapter 3

e qua aer 14...f3 15.xf3 f3 16.gf3   17.c1 xb2=) 5. b2 xb2 16.00 xc2 17.xf4 xf2 18.f2 �g7 1 9.c  �d4 20. xc6 g4 (ack has a good ater nate here n the moe 20...f5, mmedatey gettng rd of one of hs soated pawns. s bshop s superor to te's knght n a strugge on bot sdes of the board, so ack s een sgty better. he matera e on the board howeer, has been reduced consderaby, so hs wnnng chances are ony mnma.) 2. d5 �b7 22.c4 �xf2 23.@f2 xh4 24.xc7 h5= Fer  Letao, C4b) 7.txf6 �xf6 8.tc3 Guaruhos 2006. (1) tc6 9 .. .�g6 1 0 .d3 �g3.@d2

change.) 12...b5 3.xb5 axb5 14.b5 �d7 15.c6 (or 15.dc6 �g4 and ack's ntate s crushng)15...c6 16.dxc6 e7. Whte s undeeoped and hs defence w be tremendousy d cut.  0 . . . txd5 ll.exd5 �e7 2 . e 2 tb4 13.c4  14.�a4 @ 15.�xb4 es 16.�d2 xg2 7. @ g3 8.�d e4 19.2  and Whte s hepess aganst the threat of e7g7, so ack wns, Fedoro  hro, oanca Zdroj 2000.

9.td5 Aer 9.�b5, ack's best repy s 9...@d8, aer whch Whte must ge up hs bshop (oher wse Back w pay c6d4) and Back's kng w be competey safe on d8. o 10.c6 bc6 11.d3 (here s merey a transposon of moes aer 1 .f3 g8 12.d3 �h6) 11...g8 12.f3 �h6 13.f2 b8 14.e2 xb2 (he poson s

hs poston has been encountered n practce numerous mes and Back has so many possbes hat an extense anay ss s just mpossbe. I thnk hs best way of song hs probems s: ll . .. tb4! oth kngs carry out rather strange sotes n the araton 11...d4 12.c3 c6 13.f6 @e7 14.

.     g

cxd4 xf6 15c2 e7 16�e2, bu subse queny White wi soon depoy his bishop on f3 nd gin n edge It woud be inteesting fo Bck o ry he moe 11h6? owee, he cnnot soe his pobems wth he ine: 11e7 12e1 xd5 13exd5 e7 4xg3 g3, Fedoo  nnd,Wijk n Zee 2001, since White cn coninue hee wih 5c3 (in the boemenioned gme,he pyed 15e2 g8 16d1 g4=, wih e quity) 15Eg8 16d4, wh he ide of b5 nd Bck wi he some compiced pobems o soe 2.� I woud be oo isky fo hie o y hee 12xb4 e3 13c3 g7 14b3b6 15f4 (i woud be een wose fo him o op fo 15c3  nd he immediey

comes unde  cushing tck, Beck  eimnn, fohem 2005) 155 163 c5 7d2 d7; Bck hs ceed he the of d74 nd Whie hs no comfobe defence gins his 2 . .�x 13 xd5 14. exd5 g8 5.c3 h6 6.d2  7.el d7=

Bck hs  egood posiion in his endgme

Cocuo Th Kg' Gambt  a very tretg opeg wth a rch ad exctg htory. W mut admt that t cota umrou pob te whch have ot be xtevy aayzd at a. om of th po to are o harp ad o-tadard that oe ve the bt com putr programfa to vauat thm corrcty. t, I bev that th for Bac that I hav uggetd are qute rabe ad our thor ough aay houd hp Bac to pay them wth codc.

Chapter4

l.e4 e5 2.c4 Bishop's Opening

Black can counr 4.5? wi  yical rspons 4...d5 ! wi adanag.

 Bisop'sOpning is bing playd mor and mor on jus wih e aim of aoiding th Pro Dfnc. i hops to ranspos o  Ialian Gam in whic h can rly on a long posiional balmainaining a minima dg. 2 .. .f6 W will analyz now  3d4 and B 3.d3  mo 3. c3 lads o  inna gam 2. c3 f6 3.�c4. Ar 3.f4  h Grco Gambi Black obains a good gam wi  rpy 3...d5

4 . .xe4 Ar 4... c6 hr ariss a wllkow orical posiion faourabl for Black bu i is aso good o capur  pawn. 5�xd4 f6 6 c3 Ar 6.�g5 Black can solv all is probls wi 6... c6! ( I is infrior for im o play insad 6...�7 bcaus ar 7. c3 c6 8.000 dS 9.E  �6 10.4 bd7  . d4 unncssary complicaions aris.) 7.3 (ar 7.  3d4 exd4 4 h4 Black as  rsourc 7...d5  ruso Gambi ariss af and Wi dos no hav any compnsaion for  pawn.) 7... r is mo.

l.e e5 2c f6

e7 8f6 gxf6 9c3 xe3 10 e3 �b+ and Wite must gt for a draw in a ceary worse endgame 6c6 It is too risky for Back to opt for 6c6 7�g5 d5 8000 �e7 9Ee1 ( 94?   krip cenko, Linares 2001) 9�e6 104 bd7 1d4 wit compications 7h4

8 .. .c3 Here 8e7 !?is interesting; a possibe continuation is 9d1 c3 10bxc3 d6 1d4 e5 12 Ee1 c 13f4 cxd4 14 e5 dxe5 15cxd4 �e6 16Exe5 000 t a ery complicated and approximately e qua position 9.bxc3 0  0  0  0  0  0 h6

ll . 6! h6 12 .xh6 d5! Back oses aer te passie moe 12d6 13g ! �e6 1�d3 E8 15Eg1 d7 16�7 8 7ib4 Aer 7�e7 8�g5 d5 9000 17g5, wit te deady treat �e6 10xd5 xd5 d5 d5 of g5g6 3.id3 12c4 ite seizes te initiatie Aer 13g, Back as te r8.ig5 800 c3 9bxc3 00 10 source 13d6 ite can force a draw imm�d3 d5 11Ee1 (but not 1 �g5?6 12Efe1?xg5 13xg5 g6) 11 diatey wit te ine 13Exd5 e4 12f �e6 13Eb1 Eb8 14c xd5 14�d3 f5 15g6 8 16 c5 15Ed1 xd3 16Exd3 d 17 6 3 Wd6 xd4 xd 18Exd4 xd4 1 9 Back as created te treat of xd4 Ebd8 20d3 Exd3 2 cxd3 b6= wit a draw, atoug Back f6e, so ite must take a draw by a perptual ceck stil as a symboic edge 4.Wg5 8�d2 e7 ! 9d1 d5 ! 10xd5 Te moe 14g5? can be xd5 11d5 x4 12c6 bxc6 13x4 c5+ and Backs posi- countred t 1 �f5 15f5 f4 tion is preferabe

Chapter 4

4 . . . h8 5�h6 g8 raw b perpetual check 



B) 3d3

3 .. .c6 Black wishes to creae a com  plex sruggle with this moe  ite's deeopment at he mo  men is not in harmon  with the classical principles (it is accpted that knights should be developed before bishops), so Black is  ng to seie the cenre with his pawns  here is a good altrnatie in 3  c5, transposing o a t  of al  ian Game under er  favourable circumstances, becaus Black's knight has not been devloped to c6 et and can be placed on d7, which is sometimes even more harmonious  4 f3 00

50  0 White (  has tried to ex  chang Back's bishop for his knight, but in the game Mchane  amnik, London 200 9 (game 2 this did not bring him an be  ets 5 c3 d6 6 a4 b6 7 c 3 e6 8   b3 b3 9 a xb3 bd7=, with e qualit  he pin of the f6  knight is not dangerous for Black either, since it can be supported b the other kight on d7 5   g5 d6 6 bd2 e6 7 c 3 bd7  and the position is approximael  e qual, iiako  anchuk, Me  rida 2004 )  5 d6 6 c 3 b6 7   b3 bd7 8 bd2 c6 9 e  e8 10 f  f8   g3 g6 12 h  3 h6

Now the position is compltel  s metrica  Both sides hae de  plo d heir forces harmoniousl  and Whie's opening adantage is practicall  nullied  Black can be quite happ with th resuls of he opening  he gam lksee   Gelfand, strak an 2010, contin  ued wih 13 d 4 d7 14   c2 c5 15 d  xe5 dxe5 16 f5 e6 17   e2 c7 18 h2 c4 1 9 g4 xg4 20  xg4 d8 2  d  f6 22   f3 h4 23   g4 g6 24   f3 h4 25   g4 and the pla ers agreed to a draw 

.e e5 2.c f6 .d c6 .  d5 5.b d6

The ine: 3   c  4 f3 transposes to the cassica Itaian Game (We shoud aso mention that White has the attractive move 4 c3, with the idea of deveoping the other knight to the e2  s quare )  4  d 5 5.b3 Aer SedS cdS �b3 Back has the interesting check     �b4  He is abe to compete his deveopmet in this wa , whie maitaiing his pawcentre  7  c3  This s quare is important for the deveopment of White's knight but now it has been occupied b a paw so Back's bishop retreats  7   �  d 8.00 00 9 �  g5 �e = and Back has obtained a good game  5 .. .d6 Here Back tries to be tric  sometimes wth a check S  �b4 , aimed at preventing the deveop ment of White's knight on c3, or he pa s   a tr ng to make troube for the enem  bishop Howeverwe sha ana e Back's most soid and, I beieve, best move 

Now White can maintain the tension wth the move Bl) 6.c3, or he can give up the centre wth B2) 6. exd5,in order to compete his deveopment whie attackig the enem centre 

Bl) 6.c3 e4 The move   d4? has been pa ed on  rare  It ooks a bit risk , but shows ghting spirit  7 e2 a  ( He has a reasonabe aternative here in fortiing his centre wth 7  c5? 8 g3 c ) 8a3 c5 9 �  a2 00 (aer 9   �e ,White has the resource 10. b4, doubing the enem  paws on the e e)10.00 h  White is sight  better but Back has his trumps as we  He has seied space and White w nd it dicut to advance wth f2 f4 

7.g5 It is senseess for White to eave his knight on c3 Aer 7 dxe4 a + Back's knight w go to the cSs quare and he wi even have the edge Aer the harmessoo ng move 7 e4 things are not at a

Chapter 4

iple and Back u t pay vey p eci ey: ...xe4 8.dxe4

8...�g4 ! 9.h3 W (  hite would no obtain much with 9.�g5 f6 10.�e3 a6 11.e2 e  12.000 c5) 9...�h5 10.�g5 f6 11.�e3 a6 12.e2 e  13.000 c5 14. c5 c5, with e quaity, Roge  T e hko ky,  ac 1 98 . If Black doe  no pay 8...�g4 he wil have poblem  8...h6 9.�e3 and late White deveop his queen on d2 and caste  queenside wih tempo; e Black's natua move 8...00, White again has the chance to deeop hi  piece  with tempo: 9.�g5! c7 10.d2 �g4 11.000 �e7 12.�xe  xe  13. d6 xd6 14 xd6 and hi  ead i developmet i  con iderable, Hou Yifan  Bu Xiangzhi, hina 2010; 8...�b4 9.�d2 ! W (  hite doe  no achieve much wih 9.c3 xd1 10. xd1 �d6,fo exaple:11. c2 e  12.�e3 f6 13. ad1 a6; o  11.�e3 a6 12. e2 f6 13. ad1 e ; o   . e2 f6 12. d e  13. d2  aer 13. h4, Black ha he coldblooded eply 13...g6  13... a6 14.a4 c5 15.�c4 a5 16.b 

d8 1 .f3, draw, ho t  We er  inen, Brigton 1 98 ) 9...d2 10.xd2 00 11.c4  and Wie ainain  an edge hank  o he lne abe d6 qua e in he eney cap. 7    0 - 0 8 . e4  an po iion of ove  a i e  aer 8.cxe4 xe 9.xe �f5 8    xe4 9  xe4 

0.�£ The position i  e qual ae  10.00 a6 11.xd6 (11.f3 �xe4 12.dxe4 c5  see 10.f3 �xe4 11.dxe4 d  12.00 c5) 11... xd6 12.f3 �e6 nand   amnik, Fankt (rapid)1 9 98.  0   ixe4 lldxe4 d7

.e4 eS 2. c4 6 . d c6 4.  dS S b d6

12 a3 ite has tried some other moes here wth the idea of preser ing his lights quared bishop from exchange. In the game Mosesian  Bu Xiangzhi  hina 2010 (game 3 ite tried to pace his bishop on c2  but aer 12.c3 a5 13.00 a4 14.c2 e7 15.d1 fd8 16.h4 h6 17.g3 b5 he faied to obtain any adantage. 1200 c5 13.c4 b5 14.e2 e7 (the moe 14...h4 was tested in the game Tiiako  Rozentais, Kalithea 200 9 and aer 15. e3  it became clear that the e4  paw was taboo, so Back had simply ost a tempo by not deeoping his queen to e7 immediatey (it woud be bad for him to pay 15...xe4 16.fd1 e7 17.xc5 xf3 18.xf3 xc5 1 9.xc6 since he would lose a pawn) 15.d1 fd8 16.g4 e6 17.c3 a5 12   c5 13  a2 e7 14  e3 a4 5  b3 c5 6  a2  a4 7  b3 c5 18 a2, draw, Rubles y  akae  ochi 2008 B2) 6exd5

6  xd5 It is interesting but eris , for Back to opt for 6...cxd5 !? 7 g5 ( It is too slow for ite to continue wth 7.00 c6 8. g5 e6 9. c3 c7 0. b5 b6  .e1 a6 12. c3 d6 13.h4 00 14. xf6 gxf6 15.d2 g7+and in the game Kams   Gelfand  Bazna 200 9  Black obtained a ery good position. White cannot achiee anything much with the ine: 7. c3 d4 8. g5 00 9. ce4 b4 10.c3 xe4 1. xe4 e7)7..e6 (it woud be careess for Back to opt for 7.. c6 in ew of 8. c3 and aer 8...e6, ite has the tactica blow 9.xd5!) 8. c3

8..a5! (here, if 8..c7  White has the resource 9.d4! e4 10. d2 00 (aer 10... c6  ite can pay 1.xf6 gx6 12. dxe4 ±, whie if 10... a5 1.f3 !± and the opening of the game seems to be in ites faour) 11. xf6 gxf6 12.h5 a5 13. xd5 xd2 14. xd2 f5 15. f4 xd4 16. c ±; Backs k ng is ulnerable and he is clearly worse) 9.00 c6 10.e1 ( The position is ery dicut to ealuate aer 10.a3 h6 !? 1.h4 g5 12.g3 g4 13 d2

Chapter 4

000 14   h4 e7)      cS! (aer 10 d4  White has the remarkabe resource 11   xe6 ! dxc3 12 b 4! xb4 13   b3 ± and his offensie on the ight s quares is tremendousy dangerous for Back)

7. 0 - 0 0 - 0 8 .e

We shal now anaye the risky pawsacrice B2a) 8 .. .ig4, as we as the soid positiona moe B2b) 8 . ..d7!, foti ng the centre  It is not good for Back to opt for 8  e8  due to 9   g5 ! h  ( 9   e7 10   c3 )10   x! (i n a game between junior payers  the moe 10   e4 was payed but that made White's preious kightmoe senseess) 10   x   c 4 b4 12  e4 f6 13 c 5 f8 14 xb4 a6 15 c4 fS (it is een worse for Back to pay here 15 e6 16 c3 dS 17   d5 xdS 18   e3 ± and White has a solid extra paw) 16  e3 xd3 17   d2 ad8 18 f3 e6 1 9   c2 dS 20 g3 th an adantage to ite 

It looks ike the best for White here is the prophyactic moe 11  a3 !? (     f6 gxf6 12 d 4 exd4 13  xdS 000 14   xf6 b3 15  cxb3 f5 16   e4 f4 17   g3 g6   Backs passed dpaw is ery powe  so he has exceent compensation for the pawn) The b4s quare is ery impotant for his queen in numerous ariations  since it does not hae too many s quares to go to  Meanwhie  in some ines  White retreats his bishop from b3 and his bpa can go forward  o it appears that if Back does not wsh to defend an inferior position (which hap pens in al the ariations in which B2a) 8 .. .ig4 9.h3 ih5 0. he pays d5d4 and his pawns are g4 ig6 ll.xe5 e5 2.xe5 doubed on the ee) then he d7 3.e h4 14. ust pay 11   0  00 !? Posi(diagram) tions wth opposite sides castling 4 .. .ae8 are oen sharp and doubeedged It is not an improement for and this is no exception  so there Back to continue wth 14 fe8 great compications wil arise  15   d2 eS 16 g2 f4 17   xf4 with unpredictabe conse quences  f3 18 xf3 xe1 1 9 g2 f6

.e e5 2. c f6 .d c6 .  d5 5. b d6

20 g ! xb2 2  d2 xa  22  e  xb  2   e8 (it i een wor e for im to oo e 2  8 24 4:W ite will oon capture t e bi op on g6, ending up in a te nicaly nning po ition) 24 c7  Black lo e  al i  queenide paw and ite' pawbe come un toppable It i  al o im po ant t at Bla k'  bi op on g6 i completely out of pay 5 . d2 ! In t e game lek ee  iro, ermany 2007, t ere folowed 15 f  5 (it wa  tronger for Bla k to play 15 5 !, pre e ing ome compen ation for t e paw) 16 c  x  17bxc  7 and ere aer 18 8 1 9 g2 ± W ite would maintain a great adantage 5 . . . e5 15 xe  16 xe  5 ( 16 e5 17g  f6 18 c  f  1 9 1 ±) 17d5 xd5 18  e8 1 9 d2 e6 20g2 xg4 2  xg4 ; W ite' k ig t wil come to f and Bla k wil ae no compen ation for t e paw 6g2

6 .. .Wf6 T e alternatie  are inferior: 16 5 17  xg4 18 xg4 x 1 9c  xg4 20f ; 6 f4 7f4 f  18xf  xe  1 9 g2 f6 20g  xb2 (an atempt by Black to pre ere by all mean  t e pin along t e r t rank would not work: 20 fe8 2  d2 5 ( 21 6 22e  xe  2 f4 e7 24f5 f5 25gx5 e2 26f2 e5 27 c  xa  28 e4 ; 21 e2 22 c  xd2 2  e  f8 24 e ; 21 d  22 ) 22 c  g5 2 e  xe  24f4 e7 25f5 f5 26gxf5 e2 27 f2 e5 28 c  xa  2 9 e4) 2  d2 xa  (21 fe8 22e ! xa  2  c  xb  24 4) 22e  xb  2  c  e8 24 4 i  bi op on g6 i  trapped and Black lo e   7.d5 cxd5 8.f4 c4 9 . dxc4 xel 2 0 .el �xb2 2. ic3 �cl 22.h2 �xf4 23.�g3 �xc4 24.d2 We2 25.gl es 26.b3 �xc2 27.el±  Bla k'  pawn  are armle  and W ite a  excelent c an e  of exploiting i extra piece

Chapter 4

B2 8•• .d7! This moe has ony one drawbac : Bac  boc s his ight s quared bishop, but he can soe this probem ater.

16.Exd4 gxh4 17.Exh4 g7 18. c4 e6 1 9. xe6 (it is aso good for White o continu here wth 1 9.e5 ± Bac s ing is  nerabe and Whites adantage is oerwheming, Tiia o  Hera Buda 200 9) 1 9...xe6 20. e2, transferring the ight o the fSs quare: 20...Ead8 21.g3 h7 (21...Ed5  22.c4 EaS 23.b4 ) 22.Exe6 e6 23.g5 g6 24. xe6 Eh8 25.xd8 Exd8 26.f ±  ite has an xtra pawn and xcen winning chances. 1 0 .d5 cxd5 1 1�xd4

W sha now anayze he immdiate opening of he cntr B2bl 9.d4 as w as h cam compeion of Whites dopn B2b2 9 .bd2

B2l 9.d4 exd4 It is ust a oss of ime for Bac  to pay 9... 5f6 becaus ar  .c3 exd4 11.xd4,Whie gains ll. . .c5! a ead in deeopmnt.  possibe This is he gh moe for coninuation is  ...c5 12. g5 h6 Bac  becaus h must pay ac13.h4 gS i y  He shoud be ready to sacri ce a pawn in ordr to bring his pieces up to the ring ine. Aer  ...b6 12.a4  (if 12.4 fS Bac  has co ne ay) Blac s posiion is unpromising and Whis prmann hreat of a4  a5 dooms Bac  to compty passi  dfnce. 12...7 i is  n worse for him o op for 12... S 13.a5 c8 14.c3 ±) 13.f4 14 ad  h2 15. xh2 xd4 6 (ar 13...f5 ie shoud

.e4 e5 2.c4 f6 3. d3 c6 4.  dS 5.b3 d6

play 4. c3, jus as before) 14. c3 ± and Back is faced wih a long and laborious defence. 2.�d3 If hie acceps he pasacrice Back obains ll compensaion hanks o his bishoppair and more acie pieces: 1 xd5 b6 13 e2 f6 14. b3 a6 5. c3 �e6 6. a4 b6 17.h4, Tiiako  efanoa, Wijk aan Zee 2004.

 possible continuaion is 17.. 8 ( Black can also hold he posiion in the ariaion 17... �g4 18. 4 a6 1 9 e5 �d6 20. gS hS 21. c3 ! fe8 22.�e3 3  23.gx3 �e5=, bu he main line of our ariaion is much more relable; aer 20... f3 21. xg7 h8 22.gxf3 g8 23. g3 g3 24.hxg3, Blacks dark suares are serously endangered) 8.h3 (i amouns o more or less he same aer 8.b3 �g4 1 9. a4 c6 20. xe8 xe8 21. xc5 f3 22. gx3 x S 23.�b2 xc2 24. f6 g6 25.�g5 h6=) 18... d5  9. 4 bS 0. e �b4 2.c4 xa4 22.cxd5 dS 23.�d2 f3 24. xb4 xb4 25. b4 �c6=, h a draw.

12 . . .�b6! This is Blacks mos acie moe. He canno sole his problems h 2... e8 3. xe8 xe8 4. �f4! (14. xd5? e2; 4.�e3 e3 5. xe3 xe3 16. e3 b6=; 14. c3 e5 15. xe5 xeS=) 4... e4 5.d2

5... f6 (5...�b4 16. c3 c3 17.bxc3 b6 18. e1 a4 1 9.�e3 ) 16. c3 b4 17.�e5 �fS (7... e4 18. xe4 dxe4 1 9.d8 �f8 20. g5 e3 21. e3 e7 22. xe7 e7 23. f3 ;20...h6 2. �c3 c4 22. h7 xh7 23.xf8 f6 24. d xa2 25. f6 ! gxf6 26.b3 �g4 27.xa8 d1 28.xb7  ie pick  up he enemy bishop on d wh checks and wins. There is also a e aracie winaraion:

Chapter 

24..e3 25 e3 e2 26 e1 c2 27.� f6 ±, but here Whte must sl work hard to rease hs adantage n a poston th bshops of opposte coours)18 f1 (here t mght be nterestng for Whte to try 18f6 !?g f6 1 9 d5 b2 20 e1 c3 2 . f5 ; Black's kng s ulnerabe, so Whte has the edge) 18. d7 1 9.�d4 Whte has consoldated hs positon and s ready o start attacking hs op  ponent's d5pawn. nfortunatey for Back the moe 1 9.. b2 s reted wh a simpe but ery ef fectie seres of moves: 20 a4! a3 2 . c5 c5 22 g5 �g6 23. d5 c8 24.e1 b6 25.h4!  and Back has suddenly come under an at ack out of nowhere. 13Je2 f6 14c3

d2 ! he was forced to defend a slghty nferor poston, a task whch he faed to cope wth 15e3 Aer 15 e5, Back folows h 15�g4! 16 g4 g4 7 f3 f2 ! 8. f2 ae8  h an a tack ! 15 •e3 6. 'xe3 Or 16 e3 fe8 17 e8 e8 18.b3 c5, and Back has su cient counterpay aong the cle. 16  . 'xb2 7Jbl 'a3 8 xd5 'xa2 He can also play here 18 . e3 1 9 f6 g f6 20 e3 b6= 19 e7 h8 2 0 Jxb7 8 2.xb8 xb8 22.h3, and Black has no problems a all

B22) 9bd2

14••d7! It s essental to deprie Whte's knght of the possibilty of going to the a4s quare wth tempo. In the game Morozech  Gelfand, Be 200 9, Black allowed ths and aer 14.�g4 15. a4 c6 16. c5 S 17.�e3 c4 18

9••c7 Aer 9 e8, White has the power resource 10. e4! 7f6 (his pieces are aso much more active aer 10..�f8  .d4 e d4 12 d4 ) 1 �g5 (here Whte could consder 1 . d6 d6 and no  an nterestng try s 12c4!?

e4 e5 2.c4 f6 .d c6 4  d5 5.b d6

b4 13.d4, as is the immediate 12.d4!?)  ...�f5 12.h3 �g6 13. h4 �e  14. xg6 hxg6 15. f3 ±; White enjoys the advantage of a powerl bishoppair. The move 10. 4 (aer 9... e8) would not be orre t, be ause Bla k's e5pa is su iently prote ted and White should on entrate his for es on the kingsde. Aer 0...�   . 3, in the game a hier Lagrave   Gefand, anty Mans sk 200 9, Ba k de ided to oust the enemy knight from the s quare, but weakened his queenside in the pro ess:  ...b5 (it was orre t for him to play 1... f6 ! and Bla k woud have no problems) 12. e3 f6 13. xd5 ( Naturaly it would be premature for White to play 13.a4, be ause of 13... f4 ) 13... xd5. Now White should hoose 14. 4 (the move 14.a4 allows the unpleasant pin 14...�g4; in the game Whie played rather impu sively 14.d4? and aer 14...e4 15. g5 �f5 Bla k obtained an ad vantage) 14... f6 15. xb5 xb5 16. g5  and aer Bla k prote ts his pa h the rook,White an ontinue with 1 . e4, tr ing to rea h an almost symetri a pawstru ture with a minimal positional plus. 0e4 (diagram)  0 . . .h6 It would again be premature for Bla k to move his rook to e8: 10... e8 11.�g5 ! (  .h3 h6 12.�d2 f8 (12... f6=) 13. h2 f5?!

(13...a5 14.a3 e6) 14. h5 Nevedni hy  Beiavsky, Plovdiv 2008)  ...f6 12. 4 e  13.�d2 f8 (13... 5 14.�a4 6 15.h3 and Bla k will have problems freeing his knights from the pin; 13...b6 14.d4 ±) 14.d4 exd4 5. 5 d5 16. xd  with a slight edge for ite. ll.id2 We should onsider the aer  natives for White: 11. 4 5f6 12. xf6 xf6; 11. g3 e8=; aer 1.h3, Ba k an play 11... e8, fortiing his e5pa and preparing to transfer his knight on d  to f8 or f6 (the game Ne vedni hy  Fridman, Plovdiv 2008, ontinued with  ... h8?! 12.�d2 a5 13.a3  13. 4  13... f5?! 14. 3 x 3 15. 3 f6 16. e3 ± and ite maintained a onsiderable advantage, sin e Bla k had di ulty ompeting his developmen); 11.d4 5f6 12. xf6 xf6 13. 3 exd4 14. xd4 (or 14. xd4 xd4 15. xd4 f6=, leading to om plete s mmetand e qualiy)14... e5 15.f4

Chapter 4

and here Black has two e qualy good possibilities: 15 g6 16g3 cS 17 c2 (the endgame arising aer 17 b5 b6 18 e3 Ee8 1 9  x 20 d6 f8 21 xe8 xe8 22d6 e6 23xe6 e6+ seems more pleasant for Back; or 1 9\d2 h3 with ideas of capturing on e3, followed by c5c4, as well as possible knightsoties to f4 or h4, accodring to dierent circumstances) 17b5 18 d5 Eb8=, and the position is approximatey e qual; 15 g4!?  this seemingy recess knightmoe turns out to be correct 16h3 h4 17hxg4 (17Ee2 f6 18\d3 d7 1 9 d2 Ead8=)17 g4 18d2 f4 1 9 xf4 xe1 20 h2 (20f  xf1 2  xf1 Efe8 22 f4 gS23 g3 cS, folowed by Ea8d8) 20h4=, wth a draw by a perpetual check (diagram) ll    a5! This is a ery cleer moe wth the idea of  tak ng control of the b4s quare! Black has many other natural moes at hi di posa : White is better aer 11

7f6?! 12 xf6 ! (12 g3 Ee8 13 h3 aS 14a3 a4 1S a2 d7 16 h4?  16c3  16e4 17 hf5, menko  aeht, Dresden 2007, 17 exd3+) 12  xf6 13 d4

13e4 This is an intere ting attempt by Black to seie the initiatie, in the spirit of the Marshall ttack, but it is unsound (13 g4 14c4 e7 15dxe5 eS 16Exe5 f3 17e1 fS 18Exf5 xfS 1 9gxf3 Efe8 20 e3 xf3 2 d1 h3 22 h1 Ead  23 e2 ; 13exd4 14d5 cxdS 1S b4 ±)14 xe4 fS15Ee1 Eae8 (15Efe8 16c4 f4 17 4 f4 18 c2) 16c4 (16 e5 eS 17dxe5 ExeS 18c4) 16 f4 17 xf4 f4 18 c2 Exe1 1 9 xe1 e6 20d3 g6 21h3 ;

le4 e5 2. c4 f6 3.d3 c6 4.  d5 5. b3 d6

r  ... 8, i an on nra on  arg on   i t mo  12. 1 ! (i i inrior o play 12. g3 aS 13.a3 fS, i a doubldgd po iion, obalia  Moyl , o i 2 ). No   i  no good or Bla k o play 12..., b au  o 13. 3 ± and  ill a  prob  i  pro tion o i  Spa n. hor,  u t oninu  12...   bu ar 13. 4 f4 14. 2 Wit i   iniiai , b au   x  po r pi pr ur again   nral quars and a   undrining pa nbrak d3d4 up i  l . Ho  r, Bla k a  a rliab altrnai  in  .. 8 12.3 f  13. g3 d  14.a3= i a opliad iddlga and approxialy  qual han  .  ould l  on n ing or Bla k o op or 12... 8 (in tad o 12...  ) 13. 4 (13.d4 S 14. g3  or 14. 3 4=  a opli ad and approxialy baan d po iion) 13. f ! (  mo  13...   alo   n 14.  ! gx  1.   g  1 . x8 x8 1 . x  14.. 1.    1 . d  i a  a dangrou  iniiai   13... 4 14. 4 x4 1.d4 S 1 . 2 Wi i  ligly br, bau  Bla k ill nd i o bring i  kig on 8 ino play) 14. 2 (14.  S 1. 2 dS=) 14...   1. xf  x  1 . 3 d4 (r i ould b oo i  for Ba k o play 1 ... f4 1 . x4 x4 18 x8 h  1 9 a  ) 1 . xd4 b  18. 3 d  1 9. 3

d4 2 . x  gx  2 . d4 xd4= aloug  ould anag o a  i  ndga)

2.c4 f no  12.a3, B a k an on  inu bra y  12... f ,aking u  of  ir u an  a in  aiaion 13. x  (ar al d lopnt  along  lin o 13.h3 a4 14. a2 8 Bla k    ill a  no prob  a o r) 13.. x  14.d4 xd4 1. d xdS, Wi ill no a  a   o  b4 quar or i  bi op. i  i  w you an   f  o  o  1 ...a ! r 12. 3 i ould b inr ing or Bla k o play 12... !? (12...  = ould b u in or  qualiy) 13. g3 S 14. 2 4 1. 4 x4 1 .d 4 f =, it an a i  po iion. 2 ... f4  i  l  pr i  or Bla k o pay r 12... b4, b au  o 13. 3 ! ( i  alrnai   anno ra any probl  or Bla k  13. b4 axb4 14.    1. xf  x = 13.  xd3 14. g xgS 1. xd3   1 . xd8 xd8 and

Chapter 4

ae eey captue of the gSpawn, Black blocks White's bishop with the moe  ... dS)13...f5 (3...c5 14. g3 f6 1S.a4 ) 4. cS (the play is ey ineesting af te 4. g3 !? cS 1S.d4 exd4 6. xd4 ) 4... d5 ( I is infeio fo Back to play 14... h8

2S.xf5  and Whie's bishop on c3 is so powe that he has an oewhelming adantage.) 15. d6 xcS 16.d5 cxdS  . xc8 Exc8 18.xe5 White pese es a sligh edge thanks to his domina  tion of he eSs quae. 13.4 e4 4.d4 f6=

5. d6 xcS 6.  Ex  . x bxd3 8. xe5 ! xe1  9. xe h  20. g6 g8 2.  f8 22. d1 ! f4 ( The idea of ite's last moe can bes be seen in the aiation 22...e6 23. xh6 gxh6 24. d4 and Back gets mated.) 23. f3 e6 24. xf4 x

White woud hae had some adantage th a pa on c3 instead of c4. Now the weakness on d4 and his passie bishop make his position not at all attactie and the game is e qual.

Concuion In paying the Bihop' Opening White i uuay hoping to devia te om the we-nown theoretica ine He wihe to obtain a cam po iton with a ight edge, in the pirit of the Itaian Game, and ome time the game even tranpoe to that opening However,  Bac repie with 3.. . c6 the game i quite derentom the uua deveop ment in the Itaian Game. Our anayi how convincingy that there i not a inge variation in which ite can obtain even a mini ma edge and Bac ha an exceent poiton in a ine

a 2 le e5 2 �f6 Al Wite Repies wthout 3d ad 3�xe5

I n the second part of our book we ana se some rare  pa ed possibiities for White on moe .  Aer . c , Back can rep  with .. b4, ac quiescing to a sight  worse, but er soid, po siion The s metrica moe .. c6 is aso simpe and quite reliabe.

Of course, pa ers wth Black wi need to memorize the main ines of the ariations arising aer 4 b5 d4. The moe 4d4 eads to a harmess ersion of the coch Game,whie a er 4.g , Black ob tains approximate  e qua chanc es in ghing positions of a non forcing nature

ChaptrS

. 5 2.� �6

bishoppair,but vlops uickly, whil kping th position clos . t is mor ambitious an  popular o continu th 3... c , which prsnts hit with a  c oic of systms non of t m vry promising, howvr...) an  w sh ll analyz ths in th fol  owing chaptrs.

3.c3 h amatur variation 3. c4 x4 4. c3, is covr  in haptr 2 on h inna am with 2. c3 f 3. c4 x4 4. f3. hit canno obtain any a  vantag in th opning wit  th passiv lin  3. 3  h r 3... c , ollow  by  , is also goo  for Black) 4. 2 g  .   g  . c3   . g h  . 3 c  9.h3   .x  x  1. x  x  2.    3.c3 =  lak  akav, rn acka Ban a 2  . 3 .. .b4 his bishop sori is a rliabl option for Black, although i is a bit passiv. H prsnts his oppo nnt with h a vantag of th

4.e5 h  position is ual a r 4. c4  .   . 3 c3 . bxc3  .  4  .  0  0 5 . e2 es 6. d3 c3 7 .dc3 e4 Now it can only crat som problms for his opponnt by makng th most natural mov in th position  casting.

le4 e5      b4

8.00! heoconsiders 8 4 as the main ine, but I think that this move, cosing the diagona o Wites o n bishop, oses the minima e ge that he has area  acuire  8d6 900 c6 ! this is more active than the more popular coice or Black here: 9 d ) 10a4!? his is an origina a or i e to bring is a rook in o ac ion He ou not achieve much th the natura ine: 10c4 h6   e   12 e  6 and Black as no probems at a) 10h6  a a6 12c4  1  a  6 14 g  e4 1 e  6, utovsk   akaev, erbia 200 9 (gae 4Whites most prudent ecision here oud be to repeat moves 8 .. .d5! Back mus  pa  active  i his opponent lets him He has exchange his dark suare bishop, so it ou  be positiona  usti e  to bui  his pa chain on te ar suares, keeping the position cose  In this pa icuar c ase, ho ever, there is a concrete r  eason h the move 8 6 is not

good ite has the opportuni  o seizing additiona space and then pinning the enem kight on 6 ith 9   f6 10g bd7   e  b6 12a4 ( it aso ook  at tractive to begin an oensive on the ight suares th 12 b4 !? b  1 c4 h6 14h4 aS1 d g 162 xd 1 cxd f6 18b3 ) 12a 1  f2 h6 144 c (14 8 1 e4 g 16 xf6 x6 1 2  White maintains a slight edge, since Backs king is vunerabe, Ho e  iri,Wi k aan Zee 200 9)

No  it is ver  goo  or ite to continue ith 14!, prevent ing g g and thus maintaining the unpeasant pin on Blacks 6  kight it is inferior for W ite to pa 1b4: aer 1axb4 16cxb4 xa4 1 x6 x6 18 b  b  1 9b xe  20xe  a8 21e8
Chapter S

Whies space advanage promises him a sligh edge and Black is faced wih a long defence. 9.f4

9 ••• f6! Blacks knigh on e4 s only pseudo acive, since i bocks he ele and impedes Blacks oher pieces from occupying heir bes suares. He usually coninues h 9... c6 here, bu aer 10.c4! d4 11. e U here arises an open posiion in which Whies bishoppair is very powerl. 10.ie3 Whie canno creae problems for his opponen wih 10.f  c6=. Blacks bishop goes o fS and his kigh on b8 s ransferred eorlessly o eSvia he d  suare. 1 0 . . .i!N Aer 10...c6  .f  e6 12. e U Black has diculies. ll.g4 ie4! (diagram) 12.g5 Whie can sacrice a paw wih 12. e1 c6 (i is weaker for Black o op for 2...h6 1 .f1 c6

14.f h  15. d2 e5 16. f2 d6 1 .d ; 16...c6 1 .d  fd  18. xeS xeS 1 9.h ;Whie has he edge, since he can advance his paw wih empo from f  o fS, forcing he enemy bishop ou of play on h )

1 .f  c2 14. d2, bu aer 14...h6 15.f2 h  16. ad1= ies compensaion is only enough for eualiy. Or 1 .g5 d  14.xd5 (aer 14.h5 b6 15.g  g6 16. d2 c4 1 . c4 dxc4+ Blacks posiion is even slighly preferable) 14... e5 (h e can also solve his problems h 14...de5 15.c4 xc4!16. c4 e5 1 .e2 dS=) 15.c4 xgS 16. g5 xgS 1 .g4 c2 18. xc2 xg4= wih a draw by perpeual check.

.e4 eS 2.  f6 3.  c3 b4

2  fd7 3.xd5 e5 4. 24. f  h4 25. h3 h2 26. g2 c4 xg5 5.g5 xg5 16.ig4 xf3 27.x3 ±; materia e quality ha  been r tored, but White'   d5 17.h4 piece  are much more actie. 8.cxd5 e5 9.ie2 bd7 2 0 .cl xh4 2 .e3

7. . .f4! er all Black'  other optio  hi  iitiatie i gradually eutra ied ad White'  extra exchage hould tel, for example: 17... xh4 18.cxd5 f6 1 9. f3 bd7 20.d6 !±, ad the opeig of the cetral le  i  i hi  faour, or 17...g6 18.h5 g5 1 9.f4 h4 20. cxd5 f6 21. f3 g3 (21...xf4 22. g2 e3 23. f2 bd7 24. f3 ±) 22. g2 g4 23. f3 h2

2. ! Black' pa i ready to joi i the attack. 22.g3 f6 23.f4 Oe of hi  kight  ll occupy the blockadig quare d6 ad hi other kight i  headed for e4, o  Black ha  excelent compe ation for the exchage.

Conuson The move 3... b4 s not very popuar but s reabe. Ba obtans a sod poston and avods havng to study ong theoreta vara tons. The drawbas are that the varaton s a bt passve for Ba and hs opponent s presented with the adva ntage of the bshop-par Overa, the ne s payabe, of ourse, but I suspet that t w not be to everyones taste, so n the foowng hapters we sha examne Ba's more ambtous aterna tve 3.    6.

apter6

l.e e5 2 f6 3.c3 c6 cotc Four gts Begrade Gambt

With his ast moe 3... c6 Black mainains the symetry but he stil has good chances of aoiding a dull position with dra sh tendencies. Insead he can obtain a iely position wih more than sucient couner chances. 4.d4 With the whie knight already deeloped o c3 the cotch ame is not at all dangerous for Back. ites oher more interesting alternaties wi  be analyzed in he following chapters. 4 .. .exd4 (diagram) 5xd4 The Begrade ambit is reached aer the moe . d. at does Black need o know

about i  The following ariations are quie sucient  ... e7 ! 6. f4 (6 . xd4 xd 7.exd xd4 .  \xd4 0 0=  6. c4 0 0 7.0 0 d6 . xd4 xd4 9.\xd4 xd 10. \xd e6 11.\d3 \d7=) 6...d6 7. xd4 0 0 . b xd 9.exd e= 5 .. .ib4 6.xc6 bxc6 7.id3 d5

l.e4 e5 2.  f6 3.  c3  c6 4.d4 exd4

8.exd5 ll. . h6 r 8.00 c  9.bxc dx4+ If Black shs o rach a posiWhi has nohing o brag abou. ion wih mor ghing possibii8 .. .c x d 5 9  0 - 0 0 - 0 1 0 . is, h should ry 11...�d6, wh g5 c6 11.� h ida of a8b8 and vnualy If Whi pays 11.a4, h can b8b4. 12  6 �xf6 13�xf6 6 nd up in an infrior posiion, for xampl: ll...h6 12.�h4 8 1 .c4 14:e2 d6 5.d4 c5 16. �d6 14.cxd5 cxd5 15. c  ( Back's  17.  = gam sms br too ar 15. c1 b8 16.b  �f4 17. c6 �5.) 15... b8+and Black is btr.

r, th opponns can agr to a draw, as was don in numrous gams. Cocuo ite ha deveoped h ght too eary ( comparo wth the cotch Game to the c3-quare ad he caot caim ay advatage whatoever. Uuay aer 4.d4 the poto qucy become mp ed ad the game  equa o atey te payer have more or e topped payg th e.

Chapter7

l.e4 e5 2 �f6 3.�c3 �c6 4.g3!? Gek Varaton

White sometimes plays this with the aim of reaching positions that hae not been extensiey analysed  G M Igor Glek has contributed consideraby to the deelopment of this ariation and has played numerous games with it  4    ic5 he position is about e qual but much more open aer 4 d5 5  exd5 xd5 6 g2 xc3 7 b xc3 d6 8      reasonable continuation is 9   b1 b8 1 d4 e8 (diagram) and here White has two main possibiities: 1  g5  this is the main theoretical line  er  for example 

1    f5 12 d5 (it is harmless for White to play 12   xb7 xb7 13  c6 b1 14   e8 xe8 ; Black has excelent compensation for the pawn) 12  g6 13 h  4 e  14  xc6 (14 d  xe5 xe5 15   e1 f6 16 h  5 f5 17 f4 xg5 18 xe5 f6 1 9 d4 c6 2 f6 xf6+ there arises an endgame in which Black is at no risk) 14 b xc6 15  xb8 xb8 16 d xe5 g5 ( Black can try to seize the initiatie here with 16 h6!? 17   f3 c5  with sucient compensation for the pawn) 17 h  xg5 xe5 18 f4 e6 the position is completey e qual; 1  g5!? his is the only way for White to try to create any seri ous probems for Back      f 6! ( he moe 1    d7 bocks the bishop's diagona and thus aer

le e5         .g3  

1  e3 exd4 13 c xd4 b6 14 c 4 hite ends up th a sligh advantage )  1  e3 b6! 13 d3 b7 ! (aer 13 e4, Whie is slighly b eter: 14 c4 h8 15 g5 g5 16 xc6) 14 d  ( Blacks posiion is quite accepable aer 14 h4 a5 15 d 5 d  16 f5 bd8,folowed by d6f8,exe ing pressure agains hites cenre )  14   d7 15 fd1 a5 16   b7 xb7 17   a6 a5 18 b3 exd4 1 9 c xd4 c6, wth e quality  5 . g2 d6 6.d3 a6

7.0-0 The move 7 e3!? was ried in one game by G M adim Zaginsev  a very inventive player who has made numerous opening discoveries  er 7    e3 8 e3, he player wih Back, G M v geniy Najer, played 8   e7  ( f er the auomaic reply 8 00, vgeny was possibly afraid of 9 d !?, wth he idea of casling queenside, when a very nonsandard posiion would arise!) 9 h4 c6 10 d  g6 11 f5 f5 1  e xf5 f8 (i seems about e qua ly srong for Black o play here

1    e7) 13 0  00 d5 Zaginsev  Najer, Ohrid 00 9 (game 5 In he subse quent complex manoeuving sruggle, he chances of both sides are ap proximately balanced, alhough in he game Back had he iniiative  7 .. . 0 - 0 8 . e3 hite can begin wih the pro phylacic move 8 h  3, but tha would no change the evaluation of he posiion  er for example: 8  e6 9 h  h6 10 e3 e3 1 e3 d5 1 exd5 xd5 13 e1 d7 14 d1 ad8 15 a 3 xc3 16  xc3 f6 he game is e qual, o robiov  akaev, Novokuznesk 008  8 .. .e3 9.e3 e7 10. h4

 0 . . .c6  interesting position arises aer 10  g4 1 d  d7 (diagram) This move emphasizes he fac that hite has not payed h   h3, restricting the mobility of Blacks ights quared bishop  White has no construcive ideas

Chapter 7

1 .d2 c7 18. h1 ad8 1 9. g2 f +) 12... h  13. f5 exf5 14. exf5 f  15.dxe5 this is stronge than the oenpayed move 15. h3=) 15...dxe5 1 . e4 xd3 17. d3. Blac s position is cramped and his b s quare is wea  Whites (  night is headed there), so the endgame is dicul except for 12.d4 ad8 13. xf ? for him. 2  e8 gx  14. f1 c  15.f2?  there are no forcing lines,but White has With his last move Blac gives sucient compensaion for the additional su pot to his e5  pa n, but he has an ineresting exchange. alernative hee 12...f5? 13. lld4 exf5 e . He lac s s ace bu can counte he advance of ies g pa n h acive o eraions on the cena  les and he da  s quares. he chances ae a ou eual. 3d2

ll  )g6 he ove ll... g has a olid i i a  bass oo. B c  ules u he s ible exchange ci ce on f and i ead o a i ade he f e h the ove f . ill hi  lan o d hi  eve  en n  e c  ex lo hi  13   ccu  nce b  enegec l  he ve 3...d is su cien  . d3 In he g e ha e      e ali  bu Bl c  d e  o o il g   te l ed h ve   la  hi . e . e  .   Bl c   b e  c  he si  i   bal d af  ou l hs an  nd g n he e 1.exd cxd .dxe xe 1 . advanage   ... h  3. d g   =  ...dxe 1. xe . f3 e  1. e2 b  .b  a xe4 1 . e e  1 . xe  xe 

.e4 e5 2.  f6 . c c6 4.g � 

the position is consideraby sim- 6.e4 ed5= Black  repied and the resut shoud be a pace one bockading piece on 6 draw with another,so the prospects are 14.e e7 15adl Yc7 approximatey e qua Cocuo There wa a tme whe you coud urpre your oppoet wth a move e 4.g but thoe day are og goe. Th varato ha ow eve bee ted afew time at top eve, o ucet materafor aa ye ad cocuo ha bee amaed. ayer who prefer more ope poto ca pay 4 ...d5, but I prefer the move 4... . I beeve th e to be morejuted pooay ad qute ogca too, becaue t guaratee a tog Bac preece  the cetre ad good pro pect o the dar quare

Chapter 

l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.c3 c6 4.b5 Four ights Game

5.  d4 e d4 6.e5 d c3 7.exf6 f6 (but not 7...c d2? 8.d2 xf6 9.00 and Back is dangerousy behind in deelopment) 8. dxc3 e5 9. e2 e2 10.e2 d5 .�f4 c6=

he Four ights Game is, I beiee an opening taught in the rst essons of a chidrens chess casses. I am not panning to dea th this opening thoroughy. I sha just show you the basic theoretica ines which the payer with Back shoud focus on 4 .. . d4 here is a mountain of theo on the symmetrica moe 4...�b4, and we sha ignore a of i. I wi ony mention that, according to the contemporary eauation of this ariation, White can caim a sight adantage. White now has two possibe bishop retreats: A) 5.ic4and B) 5.a4 It is a weknown draw aer

A) 5.ic4 It may seem strange now, but this retreat of the bishop was the cause of great probems for Back for a ong time.

5 .. .c5! his moe is the correct soution of a the probems in this po sition. It is inconceiabe now how White can create any dicuties for his opponent.

le e5 2.   3.c3  .�   d

It is too ris  for Back to opt for 5... xf3?! in ew of 6.gxf3! � c5 7. g ± and White has a dangerous initiatie aong the ge. Howeer  the game is compicated but quite acceptabe for Back a er 5...d6 6. xd4 exd4 7. d5 d7 8.00 g6 6  xe5 The position is e qua a er 6.d3 d6 7. xd4 �xd4 8.00 �e6 9.�b3 00= Franoni  nand  Bie nik  Baku (rapid)2010 (ame 6, then besides the moe that was 1 988. 6  �e7 payed in the game  10... �h5 !?  Back coud hae tried 10...h6 ad a er 11.�e3 xd5 12. xd5 xd5 13.exd5 e8 14.00 f3 15.gxf3 �d6 16.f4 h4 there woud e a transposition to the ariation beginning with the moe 10.�e3  but th a pawn on h6 instead of h7. This cannot be harm for Back at a. 1 0   xd5 ll xd5

7   It is rather dubious for White to pay here 7. x?!  because of 7...d5 ! 8. xh8 dxc4 Back obtains an exceent position a er 7. d3 d5 8. xd5 xe4 9. e3 �d6 10.f3 h4 . f2 00  7  d5 8ixd5 White's position remais ery ll  xd5! 1exd5 e8 passie a er 8. xd5 xe4 9. e3 �g410.�e2 xe2 11.xe2 o-om: 1 3  0 - 0 Ob ectiey speaking  ites 8   9d3 (diagram) most prudent moe here is 13.c3  but it eads to a draw by force: 9     0 - 0 - 0  1 0 e3 If 10.�g5  utos y  am  13... xf3 14.gxf3 h4 15. d2

Chapter 8

xe3  . e3 Vf2 17.  e3 18. b f3 1 9. Ve h 20. Vxh Ve2 2 .a4 Vxd3 22. a2 V4= with perpeua he k 13   1 d6

16  �h3 17Jl £ 18

18  5! hite has ome under a danerous atta k. He wi be happy if it a ends in perpet a he k but he mi ht een get mated. 15f 19c Or 15. g2 Ve5 1 . h f5 17. The folowng ariation is 3 Vxd5 18. Va4 e  1 9.�g5 h  20. 4 Vxd3 2. he1 d4 22. Vd1 early in Ba ks faour 1 9. 3 Vx 4 23. xe  xe  24.b3 Vb5 gxf4 20. Va4 ! 2 .dx  e3 25�e3 Ve5+  ow in order to 22. xb7 d8  19   f  0 �a prote t his h2s quare hite must make a rather awkward moe with his queen to g or h1 when Ba k an patienty prepare the adan e of his pawnsboth on the kingside and on the queenside. ite is doomed o a ong and aborious defen e. 15  h 16hl Here it is safer to play  . 3 th he oninuaion  ...g5 17. xd4 (1 7. h Vh3 18. g f3  9. g2 gxf4 20. Va4 transposes to he ain ine of our analysis   0 .  .dS 17...gxf4 8. Vf3 e3 1 9.h3 Vxd4  is o h onside n  the 20. e3 Vxb2 2 . Vf2 Vg7 22.  oe 20... !? and aer 2. x  V 23. Vf5 b8= and aho  e3 22. xb7 d8 23.  h2 24. Bla  has soe iniiai e ie 4 xg4 25. xg4 e2 2 . g2 should be able o old. e =V27. xe  xe1 28. x 2  7 

le4 e5 2 f6 3c3 c6 4b5 d4

 ineresing position arises here arises an endgame in which ie mus gh or a draw aer   c !? 1 c5 h a e5 3   x x �, Moyle  Radjabo, any Mansyisk 2010

Whie can coninue here wih 5  3! x3 63 �xd5 7�c and ie has good chances o sang he game.

B) 5  a

5  c5 I is oo passie or Bla k o play  x   x  c  0 0 d  d  e  9 d  Wie is slighly b eer, J Po gar  Hammer, isiansund 2 10

and now: he moe d enables Black o exchange his knigh or the bishop and aer .b . b  xb  .  b  d = he obains a ery good game, since ie akes two moes o adance his pawn o d4; aer  0, Black has a good reply in ..\aS, preening he possible exchange on d4. here migh ollow: d d h b ( e7 can be answered wih 9 e , orcing he exchange o he knigh on d4 under circumsances very aourable o Wie) 9 b  xb  10.cxb b4 ( Black is no obiged o hur h he adance o  his pawn, since aer 10 e   d4 b4 12 a4 exd4 1  xd4 d , alhough i migh seem a rs sigh ha Whie is beer, his knigh on a4 is away rom he cenre and Black has more han sucien counerchan es)   1 e  12. bd2 0 0 1  c4 c = he posiion is approximaely eual;  xe d d  d   g4 9 e dxe4 ( 9 x  10.gx  h  exd alhough Black has numerous aa kng possibiliies

Chapter 

here, it was not so eas for him to proe their ee tieness in a pra ti al ompetitie game  an huk  aruana, Biel 200 9) 10 e4 (0 xe4 xe4 11 xd4 aS 12 3 gS 13 e3 f3 4  gxf3 fS  Bla ks initiatie is er  powe l  hanaa  Khenkin  reden 200 ; 10   d4 exf3   g xf3 e ) 10   xf3   g xf3 hS 12 e2 eS13 b3

6xe5 If White does not apture this paw he ll not a hiee an thing spe ial out of the opening  apturing aer astling b both sides is simpl bad: 6 0  0 00 xeS? ( d3 d6 8 xd4 xd4=)   d 6 8 d3 g4 9 e1 f3 0 g xf3 xf3 11 h  3 (aer   x S, Bla k  wins on e again with the moe 11 g4) 1   g4 12 f4 h4 13  e2 gS14 d hS,mating   6 .. . 0- 0 7.d3 he moe d3 depries Whites knight of an impotant s quare and Bla k an obtain a er  good position in the following manner:    d 6 ( here    6 !?, followed b  d dS, is also good)

8 f3 g4 9 e3 6 10   d4 (af ter 10 0  0 Bla k has the powe l  ontinuation 10   xf3 !   g xf3 hS, followed b  d8f6+ and er  good pla  on the dark s quares;    b S11 xd4 d4 2  b3 aS3 a 4 b4 14 e2 b2 S b f3 6 g xf3 a3 with a doubleedged position  Bla ks pawnstru ture is superior, but his darks quared bishop is out of pa  for the moment )  10 d4  0  0 aS 2 b3  3 13 b x 3  x 3 4 h  3 xf3 1Sxf3 fe8 Bla k will soon manage to adan e with d6dS, soling al his probems  7 .. .b6

ite has two possibilities   here to larithe situation in the entre: Bl) 8.fand B) 8 e5

Bl) 8.f c6 It is also possibe for Ba k to pla immediate 8  d S (diagram) and now: 9d  3 dxe4 ( 9  6 is also good, transposing to the ariation th 8  6 9 d  3 dS) 0 d xe4 6 11 0  0

e4 e5 2 f6 3.  c3 c6 4. b5 d4

100-0 Or 10.�e3 d e4 1.de4 g4 12 d2 e3 13. e3 e6+ and Back has a cear adantage. 1 0    11�d dxe  dxe Aer 12. xe4, Back pays 12... e4 13.de4 h4! 14.d3 (oherwise Back has he moe 14... f3) 14... ad8 15.g3 g3 16. hg3 g5!

e8 12.�e3 e4 13. e4 e4 14.c3 e6=; 9. cd5 g5 !? 10. f6 f6 1. d3 e7 12.00 e4 13. h1 e2 14. 4 a5 15. 1 c1 16.c1 �fS Back's compensation for the pa is quite sucient; 9. d5 e4 (  interesting option here is 9... d5 !?10. d5 h4 1. e3 f5, Naara  hiro, Prague 20 4. ie shoud continue with 12.c3!, when Back has to nd some ery creatie ideas in order o proe that his compensaion is sucient.) 10.  6 1 i! a 6 1 . e4 a4 12.00 3 13. It is ess conincing for Back c 3 (it is worse for Whie o play to play here 12...e7 13. e1 ad8 13. 1 c1 14. c3 d4 15.xc1 14. d3 �e6  wih compens ion d2 16. d1 d1 17.d1 �f5+ for the pawn. and Back is een e er)13... e4 13e1 e8 1e5 14.d3 d4 15.�e3 d3 16.f3= he acical usication of 9d3 d5 Back s idea is the ariation 14. d3 e 15. e4 e4

Chapter 

16 xe4 (16�e3 g 17d4 xf2 18f2 f2 1 9 xf2 xf4 20 g1 xa4 21d7 ed8 22 xb7 xc2) 16 xe4 17xe4 b3 !, winning the exchange 1••• h5 The aternative is 14g4 1 d3 h4 16f4 xc2 (16e6 17g3 f 18xh4 xh4 1 9 gxf3 xf3 20 g2 xe1 21xe1= and here arises an approximatey e qua but doubeedged endgame, in which Whie's pay is easier and more peasant) 17c2 f2 18 h1 e1 1 9gxf3 f2 20xf2 xf2 21�e3 xc2 22xe xb2 23�d4 c5 24b1 c2 2c1 b2=, with a repetition of moves

ter 17�d 18cxd! (the ine: 18d cxd 1 9xe8 xe8 20  g8 21 cxd f 22xb6 xc2 is advantageous to Bac ) 18f3 1 9 h1 xd2 20d2

20cxd 21d f6 22�c3 f 23 e6 xe6 24x6 ( ite has an exceent posiion, even though Bac has an extra queen!) 24�c7 2ae1 d8 261e e 27xe g6 28xg xg 2 9h4 xh4 30g3  t is ony Wite who migh ave winning chances 8 xg 19e6 xe6 0�xg5 xg5 xg e xe4 xe

15e6 x h 16f4 �c7  ie oses his epawn and Bac s pieces are muc more ac tiv r d3 e6 and hite  no su ve is aac  once Bac s roo  oins in  5••�g5 16ex x 7 t is i ey hat he e l soon b3  a se an e qua posiion  bish fantastic positon a ses af  ops of opposie colou s

.e4 e5 2.  f6 3 c3  c6 4 b5  d4

B) 8 e5

ueensortie creates serous probems for Black 14 h6, ale o ons  Leko, Monaco 2005 (the moe 14g6 weakens the dark suar s and aer 5 "e2 "e7 16 f4 ± ite s ceary better)15 c2 ( In the game Whte tried the strange retreat 15 e1, aer whch Black obtaned excellent compensaton for the pawn) 15 d4 6 c4 c7 7 e1 b5 18e6 xe6  9 xe6 bxc4 20 c5 ± and te is better; 8•• e 8 9 d5 d6! 3 e5 14 xe5 xe3 5 e3 Aer 9c6, Back s only try ( It s amost eually good for ng to eualie and cannot hope te to contnue with 15dxe3 for more 10 e3 d5 11c3 f5 d6 16f4  and he has the edge) 1200 f6 13 b3!?Whte might 15 f6 16d4 e6  adance c3c4 at some pont, de stro ng Blacks solid pawnstructure ( It looks more natural for ite to continue wth 13c2 c7 14f4 xe3 15dxe3 f5, Moyle  homoe, Tol atti 2003 Aer 16 d2 d3 17 d3 e5 18c4 exf4 1 9exf4 f6 20 "c2 , ite would retan a slght edge)

Black has two possiblites here, but neither of them is sucient to eualize: aer 13 h, ite has the resource 14 "h5 ! This surprising

tes extra pawn,despte its eing bac ard on e3,s uite usel Black must ght for eualiy 10e3 Aer 10c3, Black has 10 "g5 ! 11 e3 (it is not good for Whte to play 1cxd4 xg2 12 e7 h8 13 f  g4 14f3 h3 5 "e2 "g5 16 d5 1 7 xf d4 and he comes under a dangerous a ack)1 f 1200 dxe5 13 "f3 xe3 14dxe3 d6 5e4 "e7 and Black has a sli ht e ge

Chapter 8

on d3 impedes the completion of his deeopment) 4..b5 5.�b3 xb3 16.xb3 d6 17.d3 e8  Bck hs obtined exceent compenstion for the pw. ll   1 0 - 0

er 10.e3 Bck hs  plesnt choice between the clm nd sfe moe Ba) 1 0  c6 nd the shrp Bb) 1 0 c5! Howeer, we cnnot recommend o Blck the line: 10..dxe5  .xe5 g5 in  ew of 12.5c4 ! (beter thn 2.d7 d7 3 f5 14.c3 f6) 12...f5 3.h4 f6 (3...e7 14.c3 c6 15.�b3 h8 16.f ±) 1.f4 d6 15.c3 xc4 (5...g6 16. f  e6 7.xd6 cxd6 18.d5 ±White consolidtes his posiion, presering his extr pw) 16.xc4 g6 17. f1 �e6 (here 17...c6 ± is  s ght im proement, keeping some miniml compenstion) 18.e5 g3 1 9.cxd4. ite hs prried he  ck nd should n his position, Motyle  hiro, Moscow 2001.

Ba) 1 0 c6  11.00 d e5 (the sme position rises er  ...�c7 12.f4 dxe5 13.xe5 f6; while 12.c3 f5 trnsposes to the min ine  0... c6 11c3 f5 12.00 �c7) 12.xe5 �c7 13.f4 f6 14.5g4 (14.d3 b5 15�b3 h8  nd ite's kight

1 c7! Bck increses the pressure ginst he e5pwn, forcing Whie eiher o llow Bcks knigh o go o he d6s qure with tempo, or o gie bck the exr pw. I is weker for Blck to continue wih 12...xe3 13.dxe3 �f5 14.�c2 e7 15.exd6!? This is  ery importnt decision, but i is the ony wy for ite to gh for the iniiie (it would be hrmess for Bck for Wh e to try here 5.e4 e4 16. e1 d5=). 15...xd6 6. h U;White wnts to py f2  f3 nd hen e3e4, when it woud be ery dicut for Bck to proe th he ctiiy of his pieces com penses for the scriced pwn. 13Je1 Or 13.e2 xe3 4.dxe3 dxe5 5.e4 e7 16.�e3 d6 17.f3 c4 18.�f2 �b6= nd he position is e qu.

l.4 5 .   .    4.b5 d4

er 13.f4 e3 4.d e3 fS mus consider he possibiity of 1S. c2 (1S. f2 d eS 16.e4 e6 Blck dvncing his b nd c17.fS c4 ; Bck hs  sligh pwns. edge, dhibn  eksndrov, lc3 Kok 200 9) 1S...d eS 16. eS Bck's ide cn be bes seen in  c2 17. c2 eS18. eS e7 he vriion 11.00 dxeS12. eS 3 dxe5 x �xd3 c7 13.f4 bS4. b3 c4 1S.c3 15e7 S. c2 d8 5  \hS 16§c2 �d6 7 xc8 xS =

ie hs he bishoppir, but Bck hs more spce,so he gme is e qu.

B2b) 1 0 c5!?

ow in some vriions White

nd now:  clm nd sfe coninuion for Blck is o py 1S... eS 16. eS c b3 17.c d4  d4 18. b3 ( The nurl move 18. b3,opening he le for he rook h empo,is weker for Whie. Aer 18...  eS 1 9.d4 e4!  Bck's queen on e4 is remendously powel.) 18... eS 1 9.dS  dS 20. dS e6 nd he endgme ooks like  ded drw; i migh be interesing for Blck o ry 1S...c b3 !? 16.c d4 f6! (er 16...b 2, Whie hs he repy 17.f3 ± nd Blck wll hve problems wh his rook on 8) 17. b3  d4 18.c3 d6  Blck hs e celen compension for the pwn.    12b3 12.00 e3 13.d e3 c4 4. b4 d eS 1S.hS, uskis  eu buer, ienn 2008, (1S. d8 xd8) 1S... f6 16. eS e6 

Chapter 

12.exd6 xd6 13.�c2 f6 14. initatie is ery dangerous. 1    e3 13e3 de5 00 �c7 15g3. Now the best moe for Blac  s the patient reply 15... 4  e5 �g5 e8 ! (or 15.. xe3 16dxe3 c6 17.f3 c4 18. f2  and te s welprepared now for e3e4; 15.. b5 16. f4 h4 17.d4 �b7 18.d5 ad8, cs  Khafman, Hoogeeen 2002, 1 9. h5! xd5 20. g4 f3 21.xf3 xe3 22. e3 d5 23. f6 g f6 24.f3 ; Bac 's doubled paws are a denite wea ess n hs setup.) 16f3 xe3 17.d e3 �g4 18xb7 �e2 1 9. f4 (1 9. e1 ab8 (here an nteresting try is 1 9...d3!? 20. 15   Aer 15. d7 d7 16.xd7 d3 xd3 21. c7 e4+ with qute promising play on the light xg2 17.d5 g6+White fals to s quares) 20.xb8 xb8 21. xe2 complete the deelopment of hs d5+ Blac s centraied queen is queenside. 15  �g 16gl �h3 17 so powerl that White is faced wth a dcult defence.) 1 9...f  g3 �h5 18g5 �h3 19g3= 20.@ 1 ab8 2 .  8  Blac s  Drawn by repetton of moes. Cocuo I beeve that  the ytem wth 4 . . . d4  the Four Kght Game te caot eect ay advatage. Th  becaue h bhop o c4 or a4 oe rema cut oom the acto by Bac' trog paw barrer c6-d5. Furthermore  evera e Bac obta exceet pay o the dar quare athough ometme he eed to acrce a paw to acheve th.

Part 3 l. e4 e5 2   f6 3. d4 Petro Defence 3.d4

The rition wth 3.d4 hs been n zed extensie . If p  foows the min theo  retic ine: 3  txe4 4id3 d5 5txe5 td7 6txd7 d7 7 0 - 0 id6,the drwish tenden  cies re quite cer in most of the positions reched.  for the other ines er 3.d4, t seems to me tht Bck w s obtins er  good posi tions nd in the popur rition

5e5 ie7 6 0 - 0 tc5he een hs exceent chnces of seizing the inititie, becuse ites e5  pwn turns out to be cut ofrom the rest of his forces. It is more or ess the sme er 4dxe5 d5 5td - the e5p is too fr w from Whites cmp nd Bck cn either exchnge on d2,or retret with the ight to c5 nd in both cses he ends up with  egood gme.

Chapter9

.e4 e5 2.�£ �f6 3.4

  d5 5bd2 his moe has been played many time  with White by G M Jan Nepomniachtchi. 5.d3 transposes to the ariation 3.d4 e4 4.d3 d5 5.de5 (s ee hapter 0).

With this moe White is tr ng to open some lines and deelop rapidly. e plans to capture the e5pa one moe later, with either his knight or his pawn. 3•• xe he moe 3...ed4 is wellkno to theory. Aer 4.e5 e4 5.d4 d5 6.ed6 d6 7. c3, despite the symetrical pawntructure, White maintains the initiatie thanks to his more actie piece .  e5 We shall deal wth the more popular moe 4.d3 in the hapters 015. he line: 4. e5 d6 5.f3 d5 transposes to the ariaton 3. e5 d6 4. f3 e4 5.d4 d5 (s ee hapter  9). 

Black has two possibilites here and they both desere attention: A) 5•• c5 the knight is headed for the wonder blockading s quare at e6, and B) 5   xd2 with the dea of not wasting any time on manoeuing.

A) 5•• c5 6b3 White has also tried some less ambitious moes here: 6.e2 e7 7.00 00 8. b3

.e4 e5 2.  f6 .d4 e4 4e5 d5 5.  bd2

xb3 9.axb3 c5 1 .c3 c6 1.f4 f5 12.d3 \d7= Negi  Gir, Wijk aan Zee 2 1 ; 6.a3 aS ( It is also good for Black to pa  6...e7 7.b4 e6 8. c4   9.cxd5 \xd5  .c4 \c6 and Blacks knight is headed for the f4s quare wth great eect, while his rook s read to go to d8, occup ing the open le.) 7.e2 e7 8.     9 e1 7.h4 c5 8.c4 dxc4 9.xd8 xd8 1 . bd2 bc6 11. xc4 e6 12.d2 ed4 13. xd4 xd4 14. c1 e6 15.d3   = Bauer   Giri, France 2 1 ; 7.c4 d c4 8.c4 xd1 9.@xd1 d7 1 .e6 e6 1 . bd4 b6 12. g5 @7 13.b3 d5 14.a3 @e8 15.b2 @e7 16.a3 @e8 17. b2 @e7, draw, achier Lagrave 9... c6 ( he position will be Gelfand, ant  Man sk almost identica aer 9...f6 1 . 2 9; exf6 f6= with ve active pa  7.g3 c5 8.g2 c6 9.   e7 for Black, habaov  Mot ev, 1 .c3   1.h4? (or .e3 b6=, Moscow 2 1 .) 1 . f1 f6 ( Here wth e qualit ) 1 ...c4 12. bd4 1 ...f5  . g3 g6 12.e3 s exd4 3.cxd4 g4 14.\d2 f6  le s preci e; Whte maintains a and White comes under a dangerslight edge thanks to his contro ous attack, J. Polgar  Gelfand, of the b5 quare, hort  am ant  Mans isk 2 9. 7•d4 8d4 nik, Wijk aan Zee 2 1 .) 1.exf6 f6 12. g3 g6 13.e3 \d6= White has also tred 8.\xd4 h6 9.d2 e6 1 .h4 ( his is not 6  e6 Here 6... xb3 has been an attackng move; it i  proph pla ed man  tmes and s b  no la is against the possiblit  of g7  means bad, but it improves g5.) 1 ...c5 11.\f4 c6 12.h5 d7 Whites pawnstructure, so it ( Back's queen is uncomfotable on the dle,so the move 12...\b6 seems to me to be less logica. is clearl  better.) 13.c4?! (it is (diagram) more prudent for White to con7bd4 We shoud examine White's tinue here th 13.   =) 13...    ( Here it is at east as alternative :

Chapter 9

good for Back to pay 13... e +, folowed by castling kingside) 14000 e  15. c3 d4 16. d2 f6 1 .exf6 f6 18. d3 hf8 1 9. de1 e  20g3 d6 21h4 e  ( Back coud hae continued the ght here  for exampe with 21. g4 22. e4 de8+)22.g3 draw, Nepomniachtchi  eksee, aana 2010. 8  ie7 It is rather dubious to pay 8 c5? 9. b5 d  10.e6 cxd4 11. exd  d  12.d  xd  13.xd4 e  14.xg  e6 15. d1 f6 16. g3 000 1 . e1 b6, akoenko Wang Yue, Nan ing 200 9. hite coud hae created problems for his opponent with  18. b3 c6 1 9. f4

9id3 9. f4 c5 10. f3 c6 1 .c3 e6 (instead, 11...g5 12. g3 g4 13. d2 f5  woud be ey strong) 12. d3 h6 13.h3 d  14.d2 000 15.000 d4 16.c4. ere, in the game a himo  i hao, hany Mansyi k 200 9, he players agreed to a draw, although after 16... b4 1 .b3 g5 18. g3 xd3

1 9.xd3 f5+ Back woud hae an edge. 9   0 - 0 ! It is inferior to continue wth 9..c5 10. f5 f5 11.f5 c6 12.f4 and, thanks to the bishoppair, White has the edge. In the game ashimo  efand, ugo 200 9, Back suddeny bundered with 10...00?and aer  . xg  xg ? ( e could hae defended more resiienty wth 11...c4 12. f5 h8 13. xe  xe  14. e2 xeS±) 12.h5 ites attack proed to be decisie.  0  0 - 0 c5  c4 12 xe7 �xe7 3ie2 d8+

Back bishop wi go to f5 and hi  knight to c6, aer which he ll be ready to adance with d5  d4,with an excelent position.

B) 5   xd2 6ixd2 c5 It is e s precise for him to pay 6... e , in iew of .c4 00 8. c2. hite is ready to castle queenside, aer which he wil exert pressure aong the de, with a lead in deelopmen.

e4 e5 2 f6 3.d4 xe4 4.e5 d5 5.  bd2

xe7 xe7 4.h3 00 1. c2 4! 6.cx 4 Ef 8 !=) 3... 7 14.b4 Now ie can iher try cxb4 1.cxb4 xb4 15... xb4!?) piece pay wih Bl) 7  g5,or un- 6. 4 x 3 7. x 3 00 8.f4 ermine Back's cenre wih B2) f  1 9. f2 ac8 20.c 1 c 8  7c4 Here i wou  be much more ineresing for Back o ry 20. . Ef 8  Bl) 7•g5 a5 8c3 e6 9 2 .g4 g6+) 2 .c1 c8 22.c   d3 c6 1 0  0 - 0 h6 c 8 rawvi er  Ka im ha nov Nachik 200 9  ll...g ! 2. g3 000 !

ll  d2 I wou be too ris y for hi o op for ll. h4 since his bishop igh become a arg for lacks a vancing pas: iagram) ll... c7  his move is a bi oo c uiou . 2  e7 Here i is no so goo  for Black o play 2... g 3. g3 000 becaus of 4. b !) 3. g3 he posiion woul  b approximaey e qual aer 3.

13.e1 I wou  be incorrec for i o play 3.b4?! cxb .cxb4 b4 .b 4 inc hi  igh on f3 an bishop on g3 are cu o om he quensi .) 3 ..  + an  in he impen ing sharp gh on boh ank  acks prospc  are prfrab. ll �c7 12el e7  o payabe bu no essenia i  he aggres iv opion 2...g !? 3.b4 aer 3. e2 i

Chapter 9

is ery prom s g for Back to pay 1 000!+) 1 g4! Black shoud gh for  e dark s quares ( It is weaker for Black to opt for 1 c4 14�c2 �g7 15 e2 g4 16 d4 xd4 17cxd4 000 ; 15 �a4 00 16c6 bxc6, Gashimo  Fridman, Main (rapid) 200 9 ow W ie shoud pay 17h4!, deeloping an initiaie on the dark s quares) 14b5 a5 15h4 c4 13c �d7 a3 0-0 15 b4 8=

T e position is abou e qual Black can neutraie his oppo nen's potential hreas aong the b1h7 diagona th the moe �e6f5, whie aer 16  e3, he has the wonde l possibiity of: 16   d 7cxd cxb 18 axb xb 19  b1 jac8 ( The immediate 1 9a5? is possiby een stronger for Back ) 20�e2 jxc1 21xc d+ White's hopes are based on a possibe kingside atack, since his bishops are aimed in that direcion Black's queenside pawns oweer, ogether wih his exceent

bockade on d5,appear o be more impo ant and so he has t e ad anage, epomn ac tchi  Bu, ochi 200 9 (ame 7

B2) 7c c6

8  d3 White must coninue th is deeopment; oherwise he might end up in the worse posiion: 8 b  d4 T is moe is ery good because now the white queen is isolated on the queen side and canno exer any pressure against the centre 9�d  g6 ( 9�e7 is inferior,since he bish op does not atack t e enemy e5  pawn in tha case er 1000 00  h  White mainains a slight edge) 1000 �g7 1  b5 b6 12 fe1 00 1 a4 e8+ and White cannot adance with 14a5 because aer t e exchange of queens his e5paw wil be hang ing; 8 c2 �e6 9cxd5 ( It mig t be interesting, but ery risky, for White to try 9000 !?, whic  Back s oud counter with the cam moe 9 �e7 er that he

l. 5 2  f6 d  .5 d5 5  bd2

cn choose beween closing he rook is red  to penere o he cenre wih d5d4, followed b  seenh rnk nd Whie is unble preprtions o csle queenside, o couner his eeciel , so or simpl csling kingside. In he Blck is cer beer. 8    e7 ter cse, Whites king migh urn out o be in dnger on he queenside.) 9...xd5 10. c3

9h3 Wih this moe Whie pre ens Blcks bishop from being deeloped o  comforble posiion on g4. If 9.b3, hen er 9...dxc4 10.c4 Whies bishop comes o he c4s qure in wo moes, hing sopped  d3 on he w , nd his empoloss should ell in he ure. Aer 0...0 0 11.0 0 0  b6 ( I is een sronger for Blck o pl   ... d4 12. xd4 cxd4 , wh  sigh dnge, becuse Whies king is er  uncomfor ble on he cle.) 12.e6 e6 13.e6 h8,he posiion is blnced, mirin  ermn, Isrel 1 9 98. 9    e6 I is less precise for Blck o pl  9...0 0, since er 10.c2 he ll he o lose  empo wh he 6...xd4 7. xd4 xd4 8. moe 10...h6, in order o remoe bS b6 1 9.b7 fd8. Bcks the h7pw from ck.

10... d8 ! Blcks concree ctions re er eectie. ( I is quite sfe o clml pl 0... e7 11. d3 000 ! 12. e2 b8 3.00 b4 4.b4 cxb4 15.b3 cS,wih n pproximel e qu posiion;but i is inferior for Blck o coninue h  ... c8?! 12.00 b4 13. b4 cxb4 4.e2 00 15. fd U Nepomnichchi  Fridmn, N n  (rpid) 200 9).  . e2 d4 12. xd4 cxd4 3.4 d7 14. 000 cS 5.d4 00 6. f3

Chapter 9

0� ndga Nponiach chi  Ra H  Black can count  1  khano, Dagoys 2 9  b  t  th standard action   e6 1   \  b   his pics a  btt  But not 12   c4 1 \xc4 coo dina d and th possibl nd- xS! gas ll b in his faou  Black has no ason to b  0  . c4 ll  c4 afraid of 12 d  g  1   b4 14 b4 cxb4 1 1 c8 1 \2 \b = His pics a  uit acti ly pacd and t is copnsats for th inial dfct in his pa nstructur     e6 3J; 4 4. 4 c4 5.�b3 �b6=

 .  . 0  0  Back is abl to aintain th tnsion in th cntr, abstaning fro any as y action  11   c4 12 \  xc4 \d7 1 \g4 (o 1     \ !14 \  x    th a  coplca d posi ion) 1    14 c  \xg4 1 xg4 Black as no ng o o y b 1 b   it a doub gd about in this ndga  Cu te e5paw  eparate m the ret f h fre a a thug t ramp a pt a tte t  a a target a thu a pteta abt I at a bta the wer ba g a re at e6 a  pee are ver we rate  te gt uare e thu reahe g  wthut a prbem aer bt 5     a 5 . �x.

Chapter  

le4 e5 2 f6 3d4 xe4 4  d3 d5 5e5

teniuk, Mo cow 200 9  10 e2, Ni ipeanu  akae, Kaihea 2008 Back can continue here with 0f6 ! 11exf6 x6 12 e3 e8 1  xc6 bxc6 14 c5 a6 15 f2 \xf4=, obtaining a good po ition 60-0 Aer 6 bd2, Back  be t repy i the thematic moe 6 c5, eaing White  knight on d2, Thi  moe ha  become ery where it tand  in the way of hi  fa hionabe atey t r t,White dark uared bi hop and comwa  paying it u t to reach fre h  petey rue  out the po ibiity of po ition , but oon the theory of making the undermining moe thi  ine began to deeop teadi- c2c4 y though it ead to intere ting po ition , Back i fine in a ca e  We ha anayze the moe 5 xe5 in hapter 1115 5    e7 Here 5 c5 u uay tran po e  to other ariation  and ony rarey ead  to independent po ition  One intere ting po ibiity i 6 c c6 7 d4!?g6 !? (a er 7   e7, Back ha  to take into account both 8 e2 and 8 f5!? 6•• c5 80  0 g7 9f4 00 ( 9 xd !? Aer 600 Back mu t reck10xd  00 Naidit ch  Ko  on wth the ariation 7c4 c6 8

Chapter  0

c2 ! b4 ( 8... e6 9.e2 cS 10. d1 d4 . c3 g4 12. d5 ±) 9. cxdS xc2 10.xc2 xdS 11. d1 c6 12.xc6 bxc6 13. e3 cS 4. bd2 xd2 15. xd2 ! ( It s ess precse or Whte to pay 15. xd2 e6 16. dc1 d8 17. b3 xb3 18.axb3 dS 1 9. 4 6 akoenko  arkrshna, och 2008.) 5... b8 16. c1 bS 17. g5 6 18.ex 6 gx 6 1 9. 4 b7 20.b3 ±and Whte mantans the adantage n the endgame.

Now Wte can try to exert pecepressure aganst the centre wth A) 7c3 or aod the exchange o  hs bshop wth B) 7  e2 Aer any other moes by Whte, Black can contnue wth hs deeopment by castng, or (an een more promsng dea)he can mmedately exchange the bshop on d3, or exampe 7. e3 xd3 8.xd3 cS+, or 7.h3 xd3 8.xd3 00 9. 4 a6+, and n both cases Back has the more pleasant poston, thanks to hs bshoppar and the successl blockade on the ght s quares.

A) 7c3 xd3 It s best or Back to capture ths bshop mmedatey. I 7...c6, then 8. d4 ( It mght be more precse or Whte to play here 8. e2 00 9. d4, preent ng the exchange o hs bshop.) 8...00 9. e2 !?  see 7.e2 00 8. c3 c6 9. d4. 8xd3 c6 9d 00

0g3  . S  S 11.x 5 d7 12. d3 a6 13. e2 6+ Berndt   rnst, Germany 200 9. 10. 4 a6 11. 5 cS 12. xe7 xe7 13.d2  S+; Back has eery chance o  adancng wth d5d4, whe Whte has no promsng deas. Back's bockade on the S and e6 s quares s qute secure, Pargras  Landa, Germany 2008. 10. 4 S! Whte's kngsde operatons are competey bocked. Now, to accompsh anythng, Wte woud need to organe a blockade o  the dark s quares b6c5d4, but n the game he dd not manage to achee ths 11. b 3 a6 12. e3 ( Aer 12. d1

.e e   6 .d e . d d e e 6 0  0 

c7 13. e3, Bck shoud p , not 13... e6? 1 . e2 h8? 15. c ± nd Bck hs fied to soe the probem of his c8bishop, Hrcek  Mot e, Dresden 2007, but 13...b6  Bck shoud pre pre the deeopment of his bishop on b7 or 6, er which he shoud tr  to dnce with c6c5  1 . §f2 §b7 15. d  d7+) 12... c7 13. e2 b6 1 . bd  §6 15. d2 e8 16.c3 c5 17. f3 d8+. Bck's knight wi occup the ex ceent bockdng s qure on e6 nd he hs  stbe dntge, Nr  Krmnik, Prgue 2008 (game 8 10 •••h8 It is so good to p 10... §h  .f3 d7 ( Bck's pwnbrrier compee  restricts the enem  kight on c3, so it woud not be good to continue with ...c5 12. f5 f5 13.xf5 c6 1 . f , becuse White s ight on c3 woud then become ctie.) 12. f  e8 13. e1 f8 14. g3 g6=. White's forces re tied up protecting his e5pwn nd Bck hs  er good position. lUel

l ..  a6 Here the moe 1 ...c5? ooks good, becuse Bck mintins rm contro of the ght s q res e6 nd f5. 12. f3 c6 13. b5 W (  hite chiees nothing with 13. g5 g5 1 . xg5 h6 15. f3 §e6+)13... §f5 1 .c3 g6 15. g5 f6 16.exf6 gxf6 17. §f  g8 18.h3 e  1 9. e3 c8 ( The gme is shrp nd er  uncer er 1 9... c8? 20. d1 b6 2 .c  d ) 20.xc8 xc8, with n pproximte e qu endgme. 12 •f4 Now it woud be er nteresting for Bck to continue with 12 •••c5!? Bck's most soid ine woud be: 12... c5 13. d1 5, with the ide of §c8d7, b7b5b ,etc. The gme is bout e qu. He hs n terntie in 12... c7 13. d1, but now it is not good for Bck o p  13... §h  1 .f3 e6? He is red  to ex chnge knghts, but this is not re   necessr . 15. ce2 xd  16. xd  Predo e c  Mi io c, Neum 2008. It is stronger for Bck to p  insted 13... d7, with the ide of b7b5b , er which, hing reduced the pressure ginst his d5pwn, he shoud be be to dnce c6c5. 13.db5 b4 .e2 (dgrm) 4 .. .g5!? There is  queter option here i n 1 ... §h  15.f3 §e6 16. d6 d7=,with  compicted nd pproximte e qu position.

Chapter 1 

. c3?! c6 9. d4 d4 10.\ d4 00 ll. e3 f6 != abo  Giri, jeka 2010  might also be ineresing for ie to ry he stup .c3 !? 00 9 c2. Then he can develop his rook on d1, or play e2d3, provok ng g7g6 and securing the h6s quar for his darks quared bishop) 00 (aer 8... c5 White has he promising move 9 e3) 9 d1 c6 10.c4 d c4 11\ c4 \c7 12 c3 d  13.\e4 15ic e6 Blacks king is a bit open,so he dc5 14.\e3 and Whie has a should block the centre t is bad slight edge 8ie3 to pay 15.. f5?! 16. d6 g6 17 a3 ! c2 1. c2 c2 1 9. d5 ie canno achieve much h6 20.b4  and Whie is aack- wih . c3, because his knigh is ing restriced by he paw barrier c6  6 d6   he posiion is d5 an  is hus misplaced, so his ve complicated but B ack has posiion is prospecless ..c6 9 e cellent prospects. 4 ( 9b4 e6 10 b1, koberne  rebrnic, Maribor 2011, and B) 7•e now h 10..b5 !+ Black can emphasie he bad posiion of he enmy k igh on c3 H can coninue h a7a5 and ite wl have p oblems wh the protecion of his b4pa.)

7   0 - 0 ... e6?!  is oo early or Black  k igh o ob ru  h diagonal o hi  l ghs qua   i hBlack has wo rea onable po op,since he has no ye comple  sibiliies he e he imm ia 9. hi  devlopmn. \d3 !? ( B ac  6 and 9.. \c7! i  able o ca  ou hi  i a aer Aer 9..6 Blac  mus play

le4 e5 2 J {6 3d4 {xe4 4 d3 dS 5e5 e7 6    {5

ery accurately to e quaze. 10. f4 ( Black eed ot fear 10.ef6 f6 11. e3 {e6 !, with e quality, Dembo  Mamedyaroa, aty Mas sk 2010) 10... e5 (1 0... b6 11. h1 e5 12. e5 Ef  13. f1 {bd7 14. {f5 f8 15.f4 {e6 16.g3 h8 17.b3  ad although Black might be abe to hod this positio White obiously has the itiatie)  . e5 {bd7 12.b4 ( fter 12. f4 Back should ot pay 12...b6 13. h1 g5?14. e3 ! b2 15.d2 ad he comes uder a dagerous attack, but, 12...Ef4! 13.E4 {e5 ad his compesaio for the echage is qute sufcet.) 12...Ef1 13.  {e4 14. {e4 de4 1S. {f5 (aer 15. f4 Black soles his probems wth the move 15... {b6 !) 15... {e5 16. {e7 e7 17.d4 f5 (17... {g4 18. c4 h8 1 9. b2 ) 18. b2 Ee8 1 9.a7 c7 20. e2 (f 20. c5 Black has the respose 20... b6 ! 21.c3 {g4 22.g3 e3 !, wth sucet couterplay) 20... g4 21. a6 c8 22. e2 g4, th a draw by repetto of moes. 9...c ! It is usel to prooke the moe 4 before udermiig the e5pawn.

10. f4 ( If 10.f4, the 10...f6 11.ef6 f6 12. e3 {e6 ad here t is bad for te to pay 13. {b3 d4! 14. {d4 {d4 15. d4 Ed8 16. c  h8 17 E  e1 f5,because he loses his bshop o d4, while if 13. {e6 e6 14.f5  Back shoud ot be afraid of the adace of Whites gpaw, because he has suciet couterpay alog the ele.) 10... {bd7 11. {f3 (aer  .Ee1 {e6 12. {e6 e6 13. g3 aS 14. g4 {cSa strategicaly ery complicated posito arises, with appromately e qual chaces) 11... {e6!. Blacks bock ade o e6 is particularly eectie whe ite caot adace hs fpawn  the ear ture ( It s less good, but possible, for Black to play 11... {e4 12. d3 {dc5 13. Ee1 b6 14. e4 d e4 1S. {d2 b2 16. {d e4 {e4 17. {e4 f5 18. {d6 c2, draw, . Polgar  Gi , Hoogeee 200 9.) 12. g3 {dc5+. Back s ready to cotue his queesde attack with b7b5, a7a5, c8a6 ad b5 b4, while Whtes peces are msplaced.

Now Black has a choice be 

Chapter 1 0

 een he deeoping moe Bl) 8 ... 6 and he radica souion B ) 8 ••c6

Bl) 8 . . . 6 Back compe es his deeopmen and wi hae a exibe pasrucure, bu his paw on dS i no be suppo ed by is neighbour  he cpaw. This is he reason why Back can ony euaize in his ariaion and nds i dicu o seize he iniia ie.  3 ie6

1ib5 We shoud anayze ie's a ernaies: 10. c1 d7 ! (10... c8 1 d1 d8 12.�g5 h6 13.e7 xe7 14. d4  14. e3   14...�g4 15.f3 �d7 16.f c6 7. e3 e6 18. xe6 e6 1 9.c5 g6 20. f2 �g4 21. h3 e2 22. xe2   Whie can ry o prepare f4f5; haing an exra pa  on he ank where he kings are paced gies him a sigh  adanage, masi  Landa, Reggio iia 2008)1 �f4 f6 12.exf6

ow  Back canno e quaize  h 2...f6 because of 13. g5 ! and he mus gie up his darksuared bishop,guaraneeing a sigh edge for Whi e: 13... c5 (13...g5 4.g5 f6 15. e1 h6 16.�h4 d7 17. d2 ) 14. e3 d4 (14... d4 15. ad1 h6 16. xe6 cxe6 7.�g3 ) 15. xe6 dxe3 6. xd8 exf2 7. xf2 d8 18. 1 gS 1 9. �e3 d4 20.d4 xd4 2 .�c4 g7 22. xf8 xf8 23. e U; i is correc  for Back o pay 2... xf6 ! 13. b5 (or 13. e1 �cS 14.a3 hS 15.�g5 d7 16.b4 �d6 7.b5 eS 18. d4 �g4 1 9.f3 + and Back has he iniiaie) 13... c8 14.c4 d7=  he posiion is ui e compicaed, bu Back's prospecs are no worse. 10.a3 Whi e brings he b4  s quare under conro and awais his opponen 's reacion. Back's mos  naura response o Whi e's prophy is on he ueenside woud be o pay ac iey in he cen re: 10... e4 !?. b5 (1. d3 xc3 12. xc3 f6) 11...�c5 (aer 11... d7, Back mus reckon wi h  12.c4!) 12.c5 xcS 3. bd4 xd4 4. xd4 d7= and he is cose o euai y. He can aso ry

le4 eS 2 f6 3d4 xe4 4d3 dS 5e5 e7 6  C 

prophylaxis with 10 a 6!? 1    e1 e  ( t is also good for Black to pay 1     c8 12 d1 d8= Najer  Gelfand,Odessa (rapid) 200 9) 12 Cd4 xd4 (12 xe5?) 13  d4 Ca4 14b3 xc3 15c3 f5 16exf6 f6 17 d3 f5 and rther simplication is unaoida ble, so the game shoud end in a draw, Kamsky  kopian, ermuk 200 9 10 Cb5 d7 (10   g4 1  Cbd4 Cxd4 12 xd4 e2 13   xe2 )11 f4 a6 12 Cbd4 Cxd4 13 Cxd4 c5 14 Cxe6 e6 15 g3 c4 16 g4, hiro  Gelfand, Kalithea 2008 Here,aer the game continuation 16   c5 17b4! cxb3 18axb3, White obtained some adantage  Instead, Back should hae payed 16    b6=, with approximatey e qua chances  10e1 Ce4

1  Cb5 ( er 1 d1 Black has the rather unpleasant pin 11   b4  If 1  a 3 it is possible for Black to continue with 1  f 6 12  Cxe4 dxe4 13 d1 e8 14exf6 xf6 15 Cd4 Cxd4 16   d4, but now not 16g6 17  c3 ± alga do  Loik, Ke er 200 9,but 16 c6= and Back holds the al 

ance  Howeer, it is een simpler for him to play 11 xc3 12   xc3 f6=) 1d7 12 Cbd4 g4 (  ery interesting position arises after 12  f 6? 13exf6 f6 14 Cxe6 xe6 15 c 3 ae8 16d1   Blacks pieces are ery actie but his light s quares are ulnerable In addition, White has the bishoppair, so the prospects are about e qual) 13 Cxc6 bxc6 14 Cd4 e2 15 Cxe2 f6 16  f3 g5 17   d2

17 ! ( It is less precise for Black to continue wth the natural line:17 e6 18exf6 f6 1 9 Cd4 xd4 20d4 d4 2    xd4 d6 ; White maintains a sight edge,but his winning chances are only minimal, Balogh  Grabarcuk,Wroclaw 200 9)18 e xf6 f6 1 9 d4 d4 20 Cxd4 (20   xd4 d6=; Black adances with c6c5, aer which he wll hae no prob lems whatsoeer) 20  c 5 2  Cb3 c4! 22 c5 d6 23d4 Ch6 24 fd1 White (  must place this rook on d1, because if 24 ad1 Black plays 24 f5 25   xd5 xd5 26 xd5 Ce3  a double attack) 24c6 25xc4 xf3 ! With this tactical shot, Back not

Chapter 1 0

oly solves all his problems b  eve obais he advaage.

1 0    a6?N I is oo passive o coi e  wh 10...d7  .xd5 ad ow Black is able o achieve complee e q aliy: 1 ... d5 12 xd5 dxe5 13. xc6 14.b5 ( The move a7  a6, which Back wll play laer wh empo, is sef l o Black, so maybe i wo ld be beer for Whie o play immediaely 14. b3?) 14...c8 15 ad1 �f6 16. fe1 e8 17.�f4 xe1 18. xe1 a6 1 9. b3 h6 20.h3 b8, meko  Moylev, Wi k aa Zee 200 9. Now Whie has he srog move 2 . d1, deprivig Back's q ee of he d7 s q are; 11...d e5 12.xe7 xe7 13. xe5 xe5 14. d4 fd8 (14...g4 15. c5 f6 16.�d4 f4 17.g3 h6 18.h4 ) 15.xe5 d5 16. e4 xb5 17.b3 c6 18.c4 h5 1 9.h3 ; Blacks rook o h5 wll have problems re rig o he cere, so he is doomed o a raher dic l defece, Kariaki  Gelfad, Jerm k 200 9.

llc6 bxc6 12d4 d7 3b3 Or 13.f4 f6 14. d2 e5 15. e5 b8 16.b4 e6 17.a3 aS+ ad Whie wll be able o maiai he blockade o he dark s q ares  13  xb3 14ab3 6 15 e6 6 16 c5 e8

The defecs i Black's paw sr c re are compesaed for by his bishoppair,so he game is approxmaely e q al

B2 8  c6

This is he mos exible move for Black. Firs of all he bolsers his d5paw. I is impora ha Blacks developed mior pieces

l.e4 e5 2.  f6 3.d4 xe4 4 . d3 d5 5.e5 e7 6. 0 - 0 

on h unsid can b b dployd sraigh o vry harmonious posons and will no ruir any addiional manou ng , so ha Blac 's minmal loss of tim and sligh ag in dvlopmn should b of no consunc. 9c4 Or 9. £d4 c7 ! 0.f4 f6 11.xf6  . f3 5 12. x5 bd7+ Baogh Rusmov, Grmany 2006  1 ... xf6 12. c3 6!

13. x6 ( I s bad for Whi o pay 13.f5? xd4 14. xd4 f5 15. h1 xd4 16.xd4, Nisipanu   Hand e, Grmany 2010; hr Black can coninu wh 16... b6!, retaining his xtra pawn thout any compnsation for Whit whatsover. It is vn mor precse for Blac to play 13...5! 4. x6 x3 15. h xe6 16. 6 x6, also h an xtra pa. Or 13. b3 d4! 4.xd4 xd4 5. xd4 d8 16. c4 h8 17. 1 f5 and Wit has dicultis ging out of h pin along he dl.  13... x6 14.f5 +.  Blac 's oprations in the cntre ar much mor ctiv han Whit's paonsiv on th ngsid.

Ar 9. bd2 6 10. b3 c5 11.c4 ?  ( Ar 11. 1 b6 12.c4 b7+ Blac 's pces ar vry harmoniously placd and his gam is clarly prfrabl, Inar iv  asimdzhanov Jrmuk 200 9  11... d4 12. c1

12... c6 ( I might b inrsing o try 12...f5 !? 13.exf6, bu hr no 13... 6 14. d3 c6 15. 1 t and Whit has th initia tiv, Palac  unin, chwarzach 2010, bu 13... xf6!  Blac 's bishop shoud go o d6, from whr  wil aim at i's ingsd  4. d3 c6 and th posiion is rahr uncar. 13. d3 a5! Black shoud try o undrmin the bas of the enmy night on b3. 14.a4 c7 ! Blac has various possib stups, bu I prfer on which forces it to proct his 5pawn. 15. 1 8 !+ and now Black can use th f8s quar for manou s with any of his mnor pics, whil his ight on c6 will always b rady o go o h b4  suar and his un's roo  may com ino pay via th a6suare. Blac has an xcllnt position. 9  c4 I is wakr to play 9... 6 0.

Chapter 1 0

cxdS cxdS 11.c3 c6 12 1 c8 13.b5 d7 14.f4 ,wth a sght edge for Whte. 1 0  c4

1 0   bd!? Back ca aord to pa  ths move  hs ght for the tatve, expotg the crcumstace that Whtes eSpaw acks sucet protecton. Back aso has a smper souton avaabe: 10... xd1 1 . xd1 bd7 12. c1 (12.c3 b6 13.e2 ca4! 14. xa4 xa4 15. d2 b6 and thaks to the possbe outpost on dS for hs knght, Back soves hs probems, for exampe: 16.g5 gS 17. xg5 fS 18.g4 e6 !, th a ver  safe posto.) 12... a4 13.b3 ab6 14.e6 e6 15.e6 h 16.bd2 eS 17. c8 xf3 18.xf3 c8 1 9.c5 e8= and the endgame s compete  e qua, Gashmov  Ge fand, Bursa 2010. llb4? hs s tes most prncped opton; othe se, Backs game s eas ad probemfree:  . bd2 b6 12.c5 cS

13.b3 fS 14.c2. Ths posto was reached  the Word hamposhp for computer programs  the game between Rbka ad arcs  Lede 2010. Backs most precse road to e quat  woud ow have bee 14...d3 15.d3 xd3 16. b3 xd1 17. d1 e7; 11. c2 c7 12.e2 e6 13.d3 xeS 14. xe5 xeS 15.h7 h 16.d3 d6 17.g3 cS+ Back s sght  better, Boogan  akaev, agujevac 200 9;  .e2 c7 12. c1 e6 13.c3 b6+; 11.c3 c7 ( Back ca smp the posto f he so wshes: 11... b6 12.e2 xd1 13. d1 ca4, reachng a posto whch usua  arses aer 10... xd .) 12. d4 b6 ( It woud be too rsk  for Back to weaken hs pastructure; aer 12...b5 13.e2 e6 14. e4 fS 15.c2! f4 16.d2!, a though Whte ma  ose hs eSpaw, he w gan exceet pa  o the weak ght s quares.)13.e2 fS! 14. f4 g6  the posto oers chaces to both sdes. ll  e6

le e   f6 d e  d d e e7 6 0  0  c

12�b3 12.c2 c7 ( It is weake fo Back to pay 12... b6 13. d . Now 13... xc4?! 14. xd8 xd8 15. d2 xd2 16. bxd2 b4 17. e4 t is ceatie but unsound  White has excelent chances of oganiing a stong kingside attack.) 13.b2 b6 14. b3 (14. bd2 xc4 15. xc4 b6  wth an exceent game fo Back)14... d8 ( It is infeio to continue wth 14... d5 15.d5 cxd5, since White shoud pay hee, not 16. c3, which Back can counte wth 16...c4 17. fd1 d8 18.b3 xb3 1 9. b3 d4 20. xd4 b4=,wth e quaity, but 16. c  ! d7 17. d1! and White maintains an edge.)15. c3 (ae 15.a3, Back has the excelent positiona moe 15... f8 !, opening the diagona fo his lights quaed bishop) 15...b4 16. e6 c3 17.  x 18.xc3 h6 1 9. fe1 d5=, with a good game fo Back. 12 ••• a5 Ae 12... b6 13. d1 c7 14. bd2 hite has potected all his pawns and competed his deeopment, pese ing the bette pospects.

13b5 The ine 13.e6?! e6 14. xe6 h8 15. bd2 axb4 16.b3 c7 leads to a shap position wth a slight edge fo Black. 13 ••• a 1.�b2 b6 5 bd2 d5 16.bxc6 bxc6 17 e ia6 18 xa6 xe3 19 . e3 xa6 2 0 ad1 Wb6 21 �e2 a5= The chances fo both sides ae appoximately e qual, and ae 22.d6 Black has the amaing, puey compute  moe 22 •••d6, sol ng al his poblems. Ae 23.exd6 d5 it becomes cea that White wl be unable to hod on to his d6  paw, fo exampe: 24� Wb8+ and ite een has to start thinking about maintaining e quality.

Concusion Just as in the previous chapter, in which we ana yzed the variaton  d e e d   bd, ite's prematrey faradvanced e pawn enabes Back's pieces to be depoyed comfortaby around it In additon, Back can attack it or ese undermine it with the moveP6 opening the !e for his rook in the process I ke variaton B) very much, particuary the move 8..   c6 since it eads to a very compi catedght in which Back's prospects are not a t a worse

Chapter 

l.e4 e5 2)£ f6 3.4 xe4 .d3 d5 5.xe5

o c5 and Whie s bishop on d3 wil come under he hrea of a raher unpleasan exchange. There was a ime when it was ve popuar for Black to develop his bishop symerically h 5... d6  bu hen i was esablished ha he posiion which arises by force aer 6.   7.c4 e5 8.dxe5 c6 9.cxd5 xd5 1 . c2 b4 11. e4 xc2 12. d5 f5 (i This is he main line of heory. is disasrous for Back o play 12... The posiion is almos symeri- xa1 immediaey, since aer 13. ca  alhough ie is slighy e4 he soon loses his knigh more acive hanks o ha ng he sranded on a1)13.g4 g4 14. e4 rs move. ill  he placemen of xa1 15. f4 f5 16. d5 h8 17. his bishop on d3 has a cerain c1  urns ou o be in Whie s fadrawback. Aer he possible ex- vour. Hence Back sopped playchange on e5, Whies pawn will ing his line. be removed from d4 and is bishop is hen oen exposed o aack  or exchange  by Black s knigh  which goes from e4 o c5. 5 d7 Wih is move Black exchanges he knighs. His knigh is us deveoped  while he enemy igh is wellplaced in he cen re. If ie allows his opponen o exchange on he e5suare  hen Blacks knigh on e4 will go

le4 eS 2 f6 3.d4 xe4 4 d3 dS S xeS

6c3 The main heoreical line of hi  aiaion  he moe 6. Cxd7  will be analyzed in haper 1  1Sand he moe 6.00  in haper 12. aly deelopmen of Whie'  queen in the cenre is no a all pomi ing  6.e2 CxeS 7.e4 dxe4 8.xe4 e6 9xeS d7 10. 00 (10. e  b4 1 .c  d6 12. xg7 000 1 . Cd2,O l  Khalifman, ochi 1 984; Black can coninue here wih 1 ...c6 ! , wih a dangerous iiiatie) 10... 000  . e 

acriced paw. White can ignore he enemy bi hop on b4 and coninue wih hi  deelopmen  12. Cc ,but Black can couner his wih 12..f6 1 .g  c  ( I like the immediae 1 ...hS!? een more, keeping he pos ible ex  change on c in re ee.) 14.bxc  hS. Black ha  good pro pec  of deeloping an iniiaie o he king ide, while Whie'  exra queen ide pawn i  dealued and in ignican, Karpo  Lar en, Tilburg 1 980 (game 9 6   xe5 ie'  knigh on eS wa  olidly placed and an atemp by Black o force hi  opponen o exchange he ights him elf doe  no wok  6... Cxc  7.bxc  d6 800 00 9. e  7dxe5 xc3 8bxc3

 ... b4! Black deprie  he enemy queen of i  po ible erea o he aS quae (anoher inere ing ry for Black i  11... d6 !? 12.aS dS) and now ie can repel the enemy bi hop bu aer 12.c  d6 hi pawn on c  deprie  he knigh of hi  quare 8  e7 and al o blocks he whie queen'  The game i much more liely line of rerea back ino i  ow camp. 1 .hS (aer 1 .aS Black aer 8... cS. Black's darkha  he re ource 1 ... dS! and quared bi hop, if i i  no ex  hi  hrea  uch a  d7c6 and changed, will rerea to b6 and dSxg2 are ery dangerou ) 1 ... hen Black migh een ca e fS 14.f4 he8 . Black'  iniiaie queen ide under i  proecion. moe han compen ae  for he 9.hS ( e 9.00 00  .hS

Chapter 11

g6 11. h6 e7 12.�f4 f5 13. ab1 b6 14. fe1 �e6 15.�g5 16.h4 c6 17.a4 fe8. Back s ready to exchange bshops  a the e7  s quare and then organe some actie pay wth the paadance c6c5, Gashmo  amnik, Baku 200 9) 9...�e6 ( It is ess precise for Back to opt for 9...g6 10.h6 �f8 .e3   Whe s   queen s ery we paced on e3, from where t can partcpate n the strugge for the dark s quares. Aer 11...�e7, Whte can choose between 12.00, 2.g3 and the surprisng moe 12.h4?, and n a these ines Back must ght for e quaity.)

Now White has wo possibi ies: 10. b1 d7 11.�g5 (bu not 11. xb7? �b6 and his rook is trapped)  ...h6 12.0 0 g8 13. �d2 000 Mosesian  Haba, ech 2004; 10.00 d7 11.h4 (11.�g5 �f5 12. ab1, Mosesian  Naara, ech Repubc (bt) 2005. Back s b7 pawn is no reay hangng yet, since Whe s rook woud be trapped on b7 aer the moe �c5b6,so Back can simpy

caste and aer 12...00 he poston s approxmatey e qua.) 11...�e7 12.�g5 (the game s dou beedged aer 12. g3 0 0 0) 12...g5 13.xg5 0 0 Hracek  Z. ogar, ardubce 1 9 94. 90-0 White sometmes tries to weaken Back s kngside wth 9.h5 �e6 10. b1 d7 11.h3 (the poston s e qua aer .�g5 c6 12.00 g5 13. xg5 00 14.f4 h6 15.g3 f5 Gashmo  Gefand,ochi 2008)

and here he can soe the probem of the proecton of his b7 pawn n two e quay good ways: ...c6?12.0 0 b5. Back hus depries hs opponent of he possiby of c3c4 and seies space, which he migh need ater when he begins his queenside oense. 13.�e3 (aer 13.a4 Back shoud pay,not 13...a6, Du  Froyano, Taganrog 2011, because of 14. a1 and Whte exerts pressure on the ae, but 13...bxa4 ,with a ery compcated srugge.)13... g6 14. h6 �f8 15.f4 �e7=. If White does not repea moes, Back castes with a ery good po 

e4 eS  { 6 d4 {e4 4 d dS S {eS

son The moe b6 is ess ce hn he pn wh c7 c6 nd b7  b5 b  is ery sod nd q e sfe 1200 g6 13 h6 f8 14 h4 e7 15 g5 gS 16 g5 00 17f4 d8 18 g3 h8 1 9f5 g fS 20 Ef4? (20 f5 Eg8= hro   Gefnd, Moscow 2008) 20Eg8 ( Bck sho d bsn from enerng shrp compcions wh he ne 20f6 2 Ee eS 22E e5 d6 23 e3 Ee8=  osky   hro, Ke er 2007) 21 f3 g5 22 f5 g3= The ens ng rook nd pwendng ooks e q  nd sho d end n  drw 9 0- 0 (dgrm) lObl 10f4 fS 11 e3 (er Eb,

Kornee  Grci mero, Mdrd 2007, Bck shoud ke he oppor ny o deelop his drk s q red bshop o  more cie poson h 11 c5 !?12 h c6 13c4 b6 14cxd5 d5 15 e2 e6=) 11  e6 12Eb b6= 1 0   b6 ll�h5 g6 12�e2 e6 13b5 d7= ordchesc   mees, Dresden 2008

Concusion In the variation with 6 {c ite immediatey echanges a the knights, so Back is orced to bock his opponent's aradvanced e5 pawn with his bishop Back has no open es on the queenside and this is in ite's avour, because Back cann ot quicky attack  ite's doubed cpawns On the other hand, Back has neither weaknesses, nor bad pieces, so he can maintain the baance with accurate pay It is essentiaor him to be abe to parry ite's possibe kingside in ita tve with the timey bocking pawnadvance P  ite does not react to this, Back wi graduay organe an oensive on the queen side, or,  one othees on the king side becomes open, severa major pieces wi be echanged on it As a rue, this a resuts in an equa position

Cater 12

l.e e5 2 f6 3.d xe .d3 d5 5.xe5 d7 6. 0 - 0

Aer 8.e2 e7 9.e3, he game transposes to the ariaion 8.e3 e7 9.e2. The moe 8.f4 presents Black th a choice:

With this moe White is trying not to assist Black's deelopment and he continues to mobilize his own forces as quickly as possibe. Howeer, the subse quen altera tion to the pawnstructure is adantageous to Black. He obtains the excelent c5s quare for his knight and then Whites bishop on d3 is threatened th exchange. In addition, Back can set up a secure bockade on the e6  and f5 s quares. 6 • xe5 We cannot recommend 6... d6?, because aer 7.c4 c6 8. cxd5 cxd5 9.f4 the oose black bishop on d6 is a tactica weak ness. 7 e5 c5 8ie3

aer 8...g6,White can change his mind and aoid the exchange of his lights quared bishop with. 9.e2. Aer 9...f5 10.e3 c6 11. d2 e7 (i t is not good for Black to play ...d4 12.f2 d3 13.cxd3 xd3 14.e3)12. f3 e6 13.d3 xd3 14.cxd3 d4 15.d2 d5, a compex strategical battle arises, with chances for both sides, Karjakin  Topao, Nice ( rapid) 200 9; 8... xd3? I like this moe best. 9.xd3 c5 ( 9...g6 10.e3 e7 . c3 c6 12. e2  see 8.e3 e7 9.f4 xd3 10.xd3 g6  . c3

3.d4 xe4 4. d3 d5 5. xe5 d7 6. 0 - 0 xe5 7e5 c5

c    { ) 0   x    x  fS=  Black has oband a good poson  Ar 8 {c , Black bolsrs hs dSpawwh 8  c 

and hn: 9 f    10 {  d    {f4 {xd    c xd , Ti akov  Dvakn, Moscow 00 9  Ar    fS 1 d    (  000 ! ) 4  {hS00 1Sg  g  {f4 fS= hr s a possbl rpon of ovs  Howvr, h only rasonabl possbly of avodng hs s or Black o casl unsd on hs  ov  9  4 g  ( 9   {xd !  10 xd  cS     h  g =)0 { , narkv  opan, Jruk 00 9  his was h rgh  o capur h bishop  0   {xd !   xd  fS=, wh a n poson  9 {   I blv ha hs s i's os logcal ov  Hs kngh  s rsrcd by h paw chan c dSand h wans o rdploy  o a b r locaon  9     0  4   (for 10  {xd    xd  g       s 8     9 f 4 {xd  0 xd  g     {c c   { ) 11    {xd  xd 00  c4 S 4 S

4    ( was also good for Black o op hr for 14 c  ! ScxdS xS  dxc  bxc =) S f4 fS  d4 gS  c xdS xf4 18 xf4 xdS 1 9 xdS cxdS 0  a ( 0 c    1 xf8 xf8  c    x x  xa  d= Black s a pawn down, bu w h bshops o oppos colour Black should asily dra  his posion )  0  g  1 g      8 x8 xf8, draw, Madyarov  Krank,W k aan  008  8    ie

94 9    W  avods h xchang, bu s orcd o ov hs bshop o a lss acv pos  H loss a valuabl po n dong so, and n h an Black

Chapter 

succeeds in coordinating his own peces. 9...00 10.f4 c6 ! It is es sental for Back to boster his d5  paw. ( He should refrain from 10 ...f6 11.exf6 xf6 12.c4 e6 13. cxd5 and here t woud be a disas ter for Black to pay 3...d5 14. c3 ± because with queens pre sent on the board Whites adan tage s oerwhelming  thanks to hs great peceactity in the cen tre and on the kingside  Tkachie  Giri  France 2010. The correct way for Black s to play 13... ®xd5 14. c3 ®xd1 15. d  and ites postion is ony slighty more acte.). 11.c3 ( The reckess moe 11.f5? rreocably weakens hs e5pawn and Back can expoit this mmedately with 1... d7 12.f6 gxf6 13.exf6 f6 14. c3. White cannot deelop his knght to any other reasonabe s quare  but here t is restricted by the pachain c6d5 and thus Black easily parries hs opponents ni tiatie. 14... e8 15. ®d2 ®e7 16. f3 e5 17. g3 g6 18. f1 e5 1 9. gf3 ®d6) 1 ...f6 ! (aer 11... f5 Black must reckon th the possibilty of 12.g4!?)12.exf6 xf6 13. d2 f5 (another interesting try is 13...a5 !? preenting b2b4 and securing the safe c5s quare for his kight)14.g4 d3 15.d3 xd3 16. ®c2 c5 7. ae f8=. ites position is seemingly more acte  but al Backs piec es are well paced and his c6  and d5 paws solidi hs posi tion. The game is approxmately e qual.

9 . . . d!? This is a ery interesting pos siblty for Back. It s too rsky to continue with 9...00 0.f5 d4 1. f4 !; with his ast moe Whte bolsters his pawn centre. It is quite sound for Black to continue with the popuar ine 9... xd3 10. ®xd3 g6 11. c3 c6 12. e2 0 0 ( Aer routine play by Back  White maintains a sight edge  12... f5 13. ®d2 ®d7 14. g3 00 15. ae . It might be inter estng for Back to try to secure the bockadng s quare f5 for his bishop2...h5 !?3 ad1 h4 14.h3 f5 ;White has been depried of the g3s quare for his kight whie if he attacks the enemy bishop on f5 wth his ight from d4  Black l pay f5e4.)

34 xe4 4 3 5 5 xe5 7 6 0 0 xe5 7xe5 

13.g3 (t oud be premature for hte to pay 13.f5?! f5 1.xf5 gxf5 15.6 8 16.xf8 xf8 17.f1 b 6 18.1 xb2 19.d e8; te does ot ave eoug peces e to orga ze a eectve attack e Back as already gobbed up a couple of pas Pogar  Gefad atyMasysk 2009) 13 ... (Back caot alt te enemy fpan tout excangg s darksquared bsop. er 13 . .. 5 1.f5  htes kgt jos  te attack t 15.5 ! ! + ad Back s  bg trouble. It s ot good eter to cotue th 13 ... f5 1.xf6 f6 15.f5 gxf5 16.c3 ad hte as te ntatve; ad f 13 ...c7 1.f5 xe5 15.d c7 16.ae1 tes attack s tre medousy dagerous. 1.c5 e8 15.1

15 .. .b6! (Back does not yet need to dfed agast ff5 n radcal fason by payng 15 ... g3. H oud prefer to trade s darksquared bsop for ts te couterpa or ot ex cange t at al. er 16.xg3 f5 17.c3 h5 18.3 7 19.2 b6 dams  Gelfad Povdv 20 10 

hte could maa a edge t 20.d6! peetratg o te eemy camp t s bsop .) 6.d6 e7! Back s reucta o tolerate te eemy bsop o d6 for ong especay sce aer ts excange e  d t d cult to to advace t ff5. 17. e7 xe7. Black as a good game snce ff5 s o oger a treat. For example e ca cou er 18. ae t 18 ...a5! 19.d2 a6 20.f3 f5. htes kngsde play as been blocked e Back s ready to gradualy pre pare to advance it c6c5 ad d5d sezg te tatve. 10.i 00

ll. htes pas ook beautl but ty are not suported eectvely by s peces so Back gas excellent counterplay.  atempt by te to  te eemy dpa by any means oud not brg ay beet 1. c f5 12 .g d7 (aoter ter estg opto s 12 ...e! ? 13.d2 b5 1.b5 b7 ad Black as good compesato for the pa

ha ter 1

thanks to the eakened long diagonal in htes camp) 13.f5 e 1 . d c6 15.c3 h ; Back pans to use the g5square for his queen or knght and he also has the undermining move h7h5 in resee. ven thoughite has an extra pan his defence is ve problematic. ll.g5! Blacks bishop is activated evading the possble threat of f5 f6 n the process. 12a3

12 .b6!? Black could have played the even simpler 12 .. .d 13.b5

�xe 1 .g3 �e3 15.h1 xd3 16.cxd3 d7 17.xc7 ad8 18. d5 �d2 19�xd2 d2 20. c7 a8 another interesting option is 20 ...de8! ? 2.d6 e2 22 . f8 xf8 and in this position Blacks domination compensates for the exchange) 2.f6 g5! and Black should be able to to hold the bal ance. 13� b7 14�g4 xd3 15cx3 f6!? 14 i6 17e6 c5

The position oers chances for both sides since they both have their trumps for the coming struggle.

ncin n thi ine t a in the variatin in which Wite ca tre  n e  with hi awn  reerving hi night  n m echange cmi  catedghng  in arie in which Bac ha g d  r ect he  m ve 9 ... d4!? which  eieve i a ver intereting  iiit  de  erve eri te

Chapter 3

.e4 e5 2 �f6 3.4 �xe4 4 . d3 d5 5 �xe5 �7 6.�x7 d7 7 0 - 0

pltly qual i ht plays n prmv ashion w 8.d2 00 9.x dx 10. h2 11. xh2 � 12.g �x 13.1 �5 hts mor popular optons 8. c3 and 8.c wll b anayzd n th nxt two caprs.

7 d6 Ths mov s smpl, naural and h bs. Black only nds o casl o complt s dvlop mn. hts ask s o xplo h somwha xposd poston o hs opponns kght on  and o ry o atack somthng, or o provok som waknng mov such as 5.  shall  o an alyz all hs possbls, on by on. I am no gong to try o analyz all o Blacks possblts hr, so I shall skp h amous horcal ln sarng wih  ...�h, ollowd by caslng qunsd, whch s v rs or Black. 85 Th poson bcoms com 

8 ! Ths s th most prcs and orcng way or Black o qualz. I s wakr or hm o play 8 ... 6 9.1 8 and hs poson s uncomorabl, snc h has lost hs caslng rghs. 9c3 Th alrnavs lad to a draw: 9.3 5 0.3 g6 1.�6 8 

ha ter 13

12.f d6 ordacescu  Landa Reggio milia 20 06 ; 9.xd5 c6 0.5 (but not 10c?! 000 and Blacks nitiative is tremendousy poerl) 10  xd 11.d2 00 (capturing te pan s too risky  aer   xd2 12d2 xb2?! 13fe1 f8 1. altoug te as no drect treats Back as ost is castling rigts and ites longterm initiatve based on tis is ort muc more tan a pa) 12xe e 13.e3 d5 . xd5 d5  ere l ardy be any gt le n tis poston. 9 .. .xd4

1 0 . e3 10xd5 xd5 11. xd5 c5 10.xd5 c6 11.e3 g6 12 3

12 . 00 ! enever you dont kno at to do deveop your peces! is principle s quite appropriate in ts position because casting is Backs most relable road to equaity 3.c c5 (a good aternative is 3 .fe8 1 e3 f6 15xd6 xd6 16.c3 e=  Backs knigt is eaded for te f5square) .e3 f6 15 xd6 (15.e2 e6 16.xd6 cxd6 7.c3 f 18.f xf Black il soon seize te open ee and tis il compensate for is lnerabe d6pan ) 15 .. xd3 16 xb7 xb2 7.a5 e If Black cooses any move oter tan 12 ..0 0 e fails to equalze completely 12  .g5 13.g f (or 13 .. xg 1xg e 6 15.e1 000 16e5 an d tes bisoppair ill create longterm problems for Black) 1.xf f 15.c and ite maintains some pressure Deep Fritz  amnik Bonn 2006; 12.c5 3.d1! (13c d7 1.f3 000 15d1 e5 6.g3 e6) 13 .. xd3 1xd3 e 15.d2; ite as a dangerous initiative on te dark squares. 10 ...e5 ll.�xe5 xe5 12.xd5 f (dagram) 13ael is move is muc trickier tan 13fe1 00 en Black equalizes immediately akov  Gir Hoogeveen 20 10 13... xd5 14.id4 Aer 1d2 f6 15.f xf

3d4 xe4 4 d3 d5 5xe5 d7 6xd7 d7 70 -0 d6

1 . .xc2 e2 f .ic 

16.f 00 17.e5 e5 18.c h8 19xf8 xf8 20.xe5 e8 2U xe8 e8 22 .h h6 23.f2 g5 2.hxg5 hxg5 25. e3 g7 26. d f6 athough htes kg s more actve he caot acheve much. 14 .. . 0 - 0 - 0 5 . xe5 If 15.xe5 Cf 16.e7 Cxd3 17.cxd3 c6

19.g4 Back aso equalzes covc gy aer tes other optos 19.e7 d7 20.xd7 xd7 21. d e7 2 2. c c5 23 .g g6 2 . b3 Cd 25.d cxd 267 d6 27.xb7 e8. Backs dpa s so poerl that te must or about maitag equaty. 19.c Cd 20 .e7 g5!  ; te has some compesato for the pa but oly eough to keep the baace. 9 ..ig 20{4 If 20.c Cd 2.e7 he8 22.xg7 e 23.h3 Cf3 2.g2 xc 25 .xf3 d3 26 .g2 b5 2 0 d4 2e7 he 22. xg7  2.g5 Or 23.d xd 2.b3 a6 25.a ee 2 e2 24.g2 2.e2 xe2 25.f2 xf2 26. xf2 d7 27.g8 d8 24 ... xc 25.bxc e4 2 . g d2 27. x 2.x x{4 29.g g4 0. 

15 ..b4! It s esseta for Back to em ate htes advatage of the bshoppar qucy ad he ca acheve ths by meas of some  trcate tactcs. 1.ic4 Or 16.g7 Cxd3 17.cxd3 hg8 foloed by d7c6



ha ter 1

0 ...b5! In this way Black lans to r at a assd awn on th qun

sid. It is lss rcis or hi to lay 30 .. .xg5 3.6 d 3.  33xc, and it hs a slight dg, although th ost roal rsult o th ga is a drw. 1 .xh7 xh7 2.xh7 xg5 .h4 g4 4.h5 h4 5. g g4 .h gl 7.h f4 8.@h4  9. hl 4 0 .@g5 gl 41.h5 hl 42.@g gl ht s orcd to at ovs, caus i h ovs his king to h h ight vn los.

ncin he mve h5 ead t imcatin and cmete eqaity Natray the mt iey ret wi e a draw  th ide ay c r  recty

Chapter 14

l.e4 e5 2 . f6 3.d4 xe4 4 . d3 d5 5.xe5 d 6.xd7 d7 7. 0  0 d6 8.c3

but also wakn th 5squar which ight b ry unplasant for hi if h s unabl to prnt th disadantagous xchang of th darksquard bishops For 0b1 b6 11�h5 f5  s 10�h5 1 0 ..  

In this ariation Black ust play accuratly to qualz  .. X It would b too risy for Black to play hr 8 �h 9g3 xc3 10bxc3 �h3 (ar10  �g 11  Black loss hi s castling rights and is thus facd with a long and rathr unplasant dfnc) 11 lUbl b1! 000 12c dxc 13�f3 c6 111 c6 (Black is clos to 1 c an d hits initiati is  ry dangrous Zhigalko  Li quality ar 11�f6 12�f3 �! 13f a8, Korn  Khnkin hao, Purto Madn 2009 Drzdn 200) 12g5 (hit 9.bxc 0- 0  0 .�h5 This is th ida of th o dos not achi uch with 12c 8c3 it allows his cpawns �f6 13c3 f8 1g5 � 15 to b doubld, but prooks an �x x= Rozntalis  Hariiportant postional waknss krishna, Grany 2008 ) 12    ny p Black's pan �c 13c (it is a draw ar 13 will not only rstrict hs bshop f8 1xf5 h2 15�xh2 �xh2

haer 14

6.xh2 5 Balogh  usuov, Bastia 2 00) 3 ...

.�h dxc4 5 .c  16. d3. Hr it is ircis or Black to lay 16 ...g6, Doinguz  Glfand, Bruda 2005. it can continu with 7.c!, k ing a slight dg. t is uch strongr or Black to ravly lay 6 ...g6!, without ing afraid o ghosts. His kingsid awnstructu is quit haronious and ar 7.6  hit cannot xloit th slight wakning o th dak squars in Blacks ca. .�h3 dxc 5 . c (Th o sition is qual ar 5 . 5 h6 16 . 6   . h6 gxh6 .�xh6 h2 9.�xh2 �xh2 20.xh2 6 2 .x6 x2 2 2., draw, achir Lagrav  Gland, KhantyMansyisk 2009.) 5 . .. 6 . 6

6 ...6 (H 6 .. .g6 is lss rcis. vn though it is harlss or Black i hit now lays 7.2  .ax6 19.x6 6 20.x6 �6 2.g �xd 22.gx5 c5 Madyarov  Gashiov, Kallitha 200, ar 7.c! instad, Black has to lay vry rcisly to qualiz, i indd that is now ossil.) 7. x6a .a1 x6 9.x6. n th ga Zhigalko  tuak, Minsk 20 10 , ar 9 .. .d7 20 . �3 it gaind an dg, ut Black could hav qualizd convincingly with th ov 9 ... �6!=, xloiting th vulnaility o his oonnts ack ank. ll...b

12.e1 I 2 .g5 � 3.�3 �g6  .   5. �d6 6.�xd6 cxd6 7.c 6 .cxd5 d5 9. c  Kornv  anda, asalanca 2005. 12 ... c 1. g5 I 3.c �f6 1.. .�c7 14.c4 e

 4 .  d3 d5 5xe5 { d  xd d 0 -0 d 8c3

E= Blacks plans will nclud th pawnadvanc 65, advanta gously stailizing th pawn structur. his should lly copnsat or hits picactvi ty.) 19 . ..Ex6 0.�x6 E .� E .�6 E=, draw, hirov  anik, asorla 199.

15.� Black can countr 15.�3 wth 15 .. .dxc4! (nncssary coplications ars ar 15 ... 16. �xS g6 .�h3 dxc4  . 4) 6.c4  1. Ex .h3 �d=, prparing to ov his rook to , atr which th position will  rthr siplid. 15 .. .dxc4 Black can also ruls th ny ishop rst th 15 ...h6 6 . d dc4 .c4 , not aring th lin 1 . d3 a ! 9.Ea1 d5! 0.c 4 .4 4 .Ex4 �=. Blacks outsid passdpaws on th qunsid ar potntially vry dangrous, so his prospcts ar not at all inror. 1 .  Ar 6.c4   . 6 6 1.Ex6 Ea 9.�3 (Ar 9. E1 Ex6 0.Ex6 �d .�3

1 .. .! It is wakr or Black to play 16 .. .g6 . g4 whn th osition is rathr coplicatd ut hits chancs a pral, achr g rav  Glad, hMansyisk. 1 . e  1.   19.�xh 2 20.�xh2 �xh2 2l.xh2 xe 22xe x 2.xc xc2 24.c  25. x f h atrial on th oard has n alost annihilatd, so th position should  a draw.

oncluion here were time when the move 8 wa the caue of eriou  worrie for devotee of the Petro Defence Nowada I do not ee  an dculte for Black in achieving equalit ut  ou can carcel  hoe for more than that ince mot of the variation are quite  drawih

Chapter 15

l.e4 e5 2. �£ �f6 3.d4 �xe4 4 . d3 d5 5. �xe5 �d 6.�xd xd . 0  0 d6 8.c4

This is th ost oular o or Whit in rcnt yars and it crats th ost rols or Black. 8 .. .c 9.cxd5 Th ariation 9.c3 00 10. cxd5 xc3 .xc3 cxd5 transos s to th ain lin. 9 .. .cxd5 1 0 .c Priously it usd to lay 10.h5 00 11.xd5 c6 1.h5 g6 13. h3 Th o 13. h6 is snslss, caus th qun is islacd thr and ar 13 ... Black has th usl xtra ossiility o oing his isho to .) 13...g5! diagra) and Black has xcllnt co nsation or th awn, or xal:

1.g5 xg5 15.c3  It is slightly lss rcis or Black to lay 5 ... a 16.ad1  1.d5 d . x 19.xd  0.x x and its dg is only solic, drg  P. H.ilsn, wdn 000.) 16.d5 d5 1. d .xd5 c5 19. h1 xd5 0.ac1, hiro  anik, azorla 199. Black can con tinu hr with 0 ...3 1.c d, solng all his rols. Ar 1.g Black lays 1 ... 6

 . d4  xe4 4  d d5 5   xe5  d7 6 .  xd7 d7 7 0 -0  d6 8. c4

and now: Th ov 2 .. .5 wakns th 15.c3 h5; 5squar and a 13.f3 h 15.3 h5 16.h3 4 17.4 14.4 hit aintains a sal 4 1.c3 xd4 19.2 6 advantag. 20.4 x4; 1Wxd5 Wc7 th ov 15.h6 can  countrd with th sctacular shot 15 ...4! ! 16. (Or 16.4 xd4 17.c3, Holzk  chado, Grany 2001, and now ar 17...h5! and it would hav srious rols to solv, or xal: 1.g3 x4 19.1 6 20.1 Ead  Blacks ics ar considraly or activ.) 16 ... xd4; all hits ics a hanging and although Black has a atrial dcit, h has th advan shall analyz now A 14c4 and B) 14 h tag. For 14.h4 6 15.3 xc3 15.d5! (This is th only ov ar which hit ay l or 16.h6 Efd  s 14.h6 Ed or lss condnt.) 15 ...d5 16. 15.h4 6 16.3 xc3. I 14.3 xc3 15.h6 (i 15. c3 c6 (Hr 16 ... h5! ? is worth considring.) 17.h6 E 1.Ead1 6, thn Black savs th day with 6 (ar 1 ...c7, Black ust 15 .. .c6 ! 16.g5 E 17.Eac1 6 rckon with 19.5) 19.g6 1 .Exc6 Ex6 Grigoriants  Moh2 20.xh2 hxg6 2.Ed2 tylv, Krasnojarsk 2007), Black can rly with 15 ...Ed 16.6 Ead  17. Ex 1.4 c6, as wll as with 15 ...E 16.6  17. Exf 1.4 c6 and in oth cass thr is a transosition to th variation 14.h6 d 5. g5 xc3 16.6  17. Ex 1.4 c6. hit's kingsid initiativ atr 14.h3 6 15.3 xc3 is unroising. H will hav to sk activ lay on th qunsid, ut this will only  sucint or 1 0 xc ll.bxc 0-0 12. quality and no or. A 16.E1 a2 (it is a draw ar 16 ... xd4 Wh5 g 



haer 15

1. 5 1.g3 h3 19.b2 Vg5 20 .c3 6 21.d1 5 22.c h 23 . 5 x5 2.xb ac 25.Vd5 Vxd5 26.xd5=, but ths s unncssaly colcatd) 1. xb Vxd 1 . b2 V= , and th daw is unavodabl. t would b sat o t to lay 1.g3, to adcally rvnt th ossbl constucton o hs oonnt's batts d6V5, o d6V, but Black qualzs vn thn. 1 .. .6 (h 1 ...h3 als to 15.d g 16 . h6 d .dc and Black nds u a awn dow, sinc h cannot continu with 1...g3 owing to 1.Vg5!  t s thratnng V6 and Blacks bsho on g s hanging.) 5.V3 Vxc3 16.b Vxd 1. c

x x  23.xa, o 19. b2 h3 20.d3 V6 21.a1 5, th dash outco o th ga s unavodabl; ht has anoth nsdous ossblty h n 1.b2, whn Black should ay hs oonnt's thats on th long dagonal, not with 1 .. ., bcaus o 19.c Vxa2 2 0.c d 2Uxb+ and th dinc n actty o th cs s so gat that h s byond salvaton, g  o, w Dlh 2011, but with 1 ...6! 19.d 5! = , qualzng; Th oth ossblity o ht hr s 1 . b ad 19.h6  20.c Vg 21.Vxg g 22. 3 a3 !  Black uss hs bshos to oc hits ook to lav th back ank and thn h xlots ths waknss  23.c3 5 2. b5 d+ 2.g2 d6 26.a d3=; Black is ady to gv rtual chck with his bshos o th  and 2 squars. A 14c4

and now: 1.xb a! (t s lss cis or h to ot or 1 .. .ab 19.V6 h3 20. 6 21.Vx6 6 22.3 xb 23 . b a5 and h hit s slghtly btt, but ths will hadly ovd h with any anngl winnng chancs, alljo Pons  Gland, Lon (aid) 2010). ow, ar 19.h6 c 20 .  x 21.V 

4  c!

 . d4 xe4 4 . d d5 5xe5 d7 6. xd7 d7 70  0 d 6 8. c4

1 .. .6 15.3 xc 16.h6 th a5squa.Thus th lin: 8. d8 (16 ...c8 1.c1 5 18.a± 1 6 19.h6 (o 19.h aS) olokitin  Maslak jka 20 10 ; allows 9 ...a5! 20.x8 x8 16 ... 8 1. c1 5 18.g3± and 2.g1 1 22.x1 x1 23.1  Ianchuk ala 20 0) 1.c1 xg2 2.xg2 = with a daw 5 and  hio ijk aan Z y a pptual chck. 200. H hit could ha con 1...f! tinud th 18.g3 !± with th plan hit playd lss stongly in o a2a4 and this would ha in- th gam akonko  Gland casd his adantag (in th ochi 2009 which continud 18 ... gam h playd 18.a  19.xc d8 19.xd8 xd8 20.d5. its xc 20.xc h 21.h3 xh3 ishop gos to 6 a which 22.gxh3 ac 23.ac1 xc 2. Black has som sious polms. 19.Wh xc 5 and Black managd to hold this ath unplasant nd gam). 15."g5 x2 1hl d 1  b2 1.d2 8 18.a1  19.  d6 20.h  2.g5 xg5 22.xg5 d6 23. d5 d= . .d5 a8 18.2 5 19.5 (9.d2 d 20 .1 6=) 19 ... x5 20.g3 d 2 .a1 8= 1.. e

1Jel! This is th coct ook o hit to plac on 1; i th 1ook gos th it will  hanging with chck onc Blacks qun gos to

19 .. Jxel! It is ssntial o Black to x chang all th oo and this is th point o his ida on o 18. In th ga Koz  Hlich IF 2008 Black trid to haass his opponnts qun ut a 19 .. . 20.h g5 2.g d 22.3 Whit gaind an dg. Black cannot sol his po ls with th ov 19 ...a5  caus a 20.x8 h is ocd to captu with 20 ...x8 ging up th l (H cannot play 20 ... x8 caus o 2.d5; now you can s why it od his a1

ha ter 15

rook rathr than his rook to Hr, it has a choic .). ow ar th sil ov twn Bl 15.Yg5 and B2 .a3 Whit ks his owl 15.h4. For 5.3 xc3 6.6 8  cntr intact and thus rtains a s 5g5 xc3 6.6 8. slight ut v stal advantag 2 0 Jxel e8! 21.xe8 xe8 Bl 15.Yg5 Yx ow, ar th rooks hav disaard o th oard, its Black is qut clos to quality connctd awns ar not at all ar 5 ...h 6.h d6 7.c dangrous and can  asily 8 8.8 x8= Gusinov  lockadd. Kranik, Baku 009. B 14 . h fd8 t s lss conncing, ut still roaly sucnt o a draw, to play  .. 8. Blacks dnc s basd on th variation 5.h 6 6.g5 xc3 7.d (7.6 8 8.x8 x8 9. ad8 0. d dS .ac  .h5 d6 3.xd6 xd6 .d5 xdS 5. h6, and dsit th act that hits hawn is vry unlasant, Black should anag to draw 1.Wf ith accurat dfnc, Rausis  Ar 6.d Black has th rtudnicka, Dcin 009.) 7... sourc 6 ...8!; Black should x\xd 8.g6 S 9. xgS chang th darksquard ishos 0.g5 5=. Blacks king s diatly  h can, caus rathr xosd, ut wth so littl thn his king will  uch sa. atral l on th oard Black 7.8 x8 8.ac  9c should  al to sav th ga. ac8 0.h  .3 xc . xc d6= Rublvs  ang u, ingo 0 0 .  Black lays 6 . ..a (instad o 6 ...8!), thn ar 7.ac a3? (hr 7... is ttr, ut ar 8.c d 9.x  0.5 Black still has rols to worry aout) 8c7!, and it has a clar advantag, Rulvsky  olokitin, Poikovsky 008.

 . d4  xe4 4 . d dS 5 xe5  d7 6.  xd7 d7 7. 0 0  d6 8 c4

1 .. . 17.  x 18 . e4

�6)  ... a3 5.d7 �d 6. cd �aS 7. d 2 .�c a . It all nds with th xchang o th critical awns on d7 and a and a draw. 2 0 .c bxc 21.xc d8 22. xd4 2.xd4 xd4 24.x7 c8 Blacks rook will go to th c squar, ar which it will not  al to hold on to his aawn, Tiviakov  anik, ijk aan Z 007.

Hr th asist way or Black to sav th draw is th ov: 18 .. .c! It is air to say that Black should  al to hold th osition vn with th assiv lin:  ... a 19.ac (19.a 6  0. c �a5 .c7 6; 19.c �a5 0.h  21.� 6 . a d 3.7 xa 2.a �6 5.xa �x7) 9 ... �a5 0.h  .c5 �d .c7 B2 15.h4 e 6 3.�3 �xd .d �x 5.�x x 6.dd7, draw. 19.cl it dos not chang anything with 9.c � 0.c �c3  .c, draw, o  Gland, strda 0 0. (diagra) 9.. . b4 Hr thr is a or attractiv way or Black to sav th day: atr 9 . ..�a5 0.c6 xc6 . �xc6 �xa  .d5, its dawn 1.�g5 looks vry owrl, ut Blacks Black has no rols ar assd awn can also advanc: 6.�3 �xc3 7.g5 d7, or x...a5! 3.d6 a . .d7 al: .6 dS 19.�3 �c6

hapter 15

20�g5  2Uac h6 22.b5 �xc 23.�xc xc 2.d7 h6, oowed by g7. 1 . .�xc 17Jl It woud be a blunder or hte to contnue with 17.�6? n vew o 17...�xd! 1.�xd h2 19.xh2 xd and he ends up a pawn do or nothng, Zakhar tsov  Maslak, Irkutsk 20 10 . 17. .  Back loses ae 17 .. .a3 . g6! hxg6 19.�6  20. x (20 ...x 21.h5 h7 22. ac+) 2.ac �a5 22.d5 d5 23.h5! gxh5 (hte was threaten ng 2.hxg6, as we as 2.h6!) 2.e g 25.�g5  26.�h6 g 27.e5+ 1. (dagra) 1 x! Here t would e naccurate 



for Back to pay 1 ...d5 19.�6 xf 20.e4 snce hs rook coes under attack wth tepo, and  Krank, ce 20 09. 19.h g 20h5 xd4 21acl �b2 22b1 �c 2 bcl t ends n a daw by repe ttion (t woud be senseess or hte to try 23.hxg6 hxg6 2. g6 xd 25.xd �g7  the endgae s even slghtly bette or Black).

onclusion The variaton beginning with the move 8c4 is very tricky and re quires very precise play by Black. If he is well-prepared however and  has several improvements up his sleeve in various wellknown varia  tons, as shown and analyzed in this chapter, he has nothing to worry  about

Part4 l.e4 e5 2) f6 3.xe5 The Petro Defence 3.xe5

Th mo 3x5 is hits most popular choic Ar that, hit can t many dirnt systms but th abundanc of al kinds of rarly playd options should not b a caus of worry for Black. rthlss, h must b ry wll prpard against on particular lin, namly .xe5 d 4. txe4 5.d4 d5 .id ie .0-0 0-0 .c4 tb4 9. ie2 0 - 0 10 .tc i ll. txc 12.bxc tc Jel es 14. cxd5 �xd5 15.if4 cs

Hr h must b rady to countr a multitud of altrna tis or hit. hits othr possibl contin uation, 5.tc txc .dxc ie .ie,

will no doubt continu its thortical and practica dlopmnt Black has no rason to b afraid of playing  0 - 0 , sinc th nsuing ght, with opposit sids castling, ors hi rich and promising prospcts. 

Chapter 6

l.e4 e5 2 �f6 3. �xe5 d6 4.�x?! Cochrane Gambit

prcis raction would  6 ... c5! . H has a atria adantag and sizs th initiati! 7.d3 c6 . c3 c! 9.dxc dx 0.c5 g6+  hit has no copnsation or th pic and Black should n. It is no ttr or it to choos 7.xd5  .2 x2 9.x2 d6+  his pics ar discoordinatd and h l los his d5 pawn.) Th ochran Gait was in ntd as long ago as th 9th cntury. Thr wr tis whn such attpts to prook an arly crisis on th oard wr trriing to Back. owadays, in th coputr ag, prossional chss playrs only sil condscndingly at such roantic xprints. In act, th corrct raction in this cas is or Back to play actily and aoid kping his pics on th last two ranks, sinc that ight wll nd in disastr. 4 �x 5.d4 Th stupid o 5.c lads to a situation in which Whit is alost idiatly lost! This is th truth  I a not jokng! 5 ...d5! 6. xd5 (Ar 6.3, Black's ost 

6 .. .d6 (Black has a good altrnati hr in 6 ... 7.2 c6! . This is all don or th sak o th quickst possi dlopnt! .dxc6 xc6 9.00 d 0.c 6 . c6 2.6 x6 3.d +) 7.00  . h3 g +; Black has xtra atrial and good chancs or a kngsid attack.

  f6 .  xe5 d6  4 x   e4 eS 2     f6

S.c3. Ths s an nsdous oe hch hte hte ust lay l ay an yay y ay.. The dea  dea s  s that he he does not allo hs acente to be edately edately undened. unde ned.

S .. . cS! t s essental fo Black to contol the cental squaes snce sn ce unde un de the coe coe of hs as as h can deelo hs h s eces to acte acte ostions (The asse asse oe S . . .c 6 enabls hte to adance his achain achain a long lo ng ay n the cenc entre: 6.d e .f f .e5 dS 9.�h g 10.d3 g6 11.g6 hxg6 1.�xg6= ith a dra by ee eetu tual al check check Hebel Hebelaa  Ga Ga aczyk Lubln 00.). 6.c  e6  e 6 e6  e6 xe6 xe 6  . d   9. 9 . dxc5 dxc 5 c6 and the gae tansoses to ou anl anlne ne gae gae  Toa Toalo lo  Krank Lnaes 1999. 5 .. . c5! (daga) .dxc5 f 6.c dS .exd5 t s ery good for Black to contnue ith  .. .5! . (t s een wose fo te to lay hee .b5 �xdS 9.00  10.3 �xd 11.�xd cxd+) cxd+)  . . .b 9.dxc5 (9.00 �xdS �xdS 10. 10 .33 �d+ �d+)) 9 . . .c5

10.00 �xdS 11.�xd5 xdS 1. bS and htes dang chances ae absolutely nal fo exal alee : 12 . . . a6 13.d3 bd 1. c3 e6+  .. . c 7.c4 e .e xe

9.c 9.00  10.�e (hites qun can go to d3 and fo fo thee the e t ay be tansfered to b3 o to bS but t ll coe und attack: 10.�d3 �d .d1 �e6 1.cxd6 ! 13.�b5 d6 1.c3 ad 1S.f xf 16.�xb b6+; Black ns eautlly n the aiaton 1.c3 c c 15. 15. xd6 hd!+ hd!+ ) 10 10... �e 11.e 11. e11

hapter 16

and hte has copensation fo he piece

1 1   e6 ! (hi (hiss is song songe e han han 11   d5 12e5 e4 13c3 xc3, ho hott  hov, Du Duba ba 200 2, gme 10 hite can continue here th th 1 1 f3 @g 15 15  xc3 b6 16e3, obtaining sucien copensaion fo the piece) 2 c3 d! (Black should efan fo fo 12    dc5, since ae 3e5 d4 d3 hie eains soe copensation fo the knigh) 3g5 (If 13d1 e7! 1cxd6 xd6 xd6 Black Black is clealy clealy bette) bette) 13    dc5 e5 h6 156 156 (Black (Black's 's poposition is pefeable aer 15h4 g5 6g3 d4 17d3 h5+) 5   gxf6 16f4 (16h5 @g7 17 exf6 xf6 1ad1 e7+ and Black paies the atack while e taining taining the exta exta piece) 16    f5!; Black's Black's blocka blockade de is i s secue a n d he exta knight should ell 9 . . ! The king is not the bes ghting uni when the boad is ll of pieces, so his odest retreat is Black's best ove ove 1 0 .e2 .e2 �d �d7 Black's queen on the dle prevents hite fro castling queenside It is i s weake weake fo Black Bl ack to opt fo 10    e 11e3 dxc5 12000

ll . e 11cxd6 xd6 1200 ad 13e3 13 e3 e5 e5 Ae the pseudoactive ove 1g5, Black can foce his opponent o ente ente an endgae: endgae: 11    g4 g4 ( (hie's hie's plans would be b e ustied ae 1dxc5 12xf6 gxf6 13d5 g 14000 g 15f3 e6 16f 16 f) ) 12 xg xg (12 (1 2c c? ? d5! 13xd 13 xd55 xe xe+) +) 2    xg 13 000



13    h6 ! Black plays plays activel activelyy and does not necessaily hold on to his ateial (aer (aer 13    @g6 14 h4 dxc5 15h3 f6 6f e7 17 e5 d5 xd5  xd5 xh xh a ve unclea position aises, in which

e4 e5 2  3xe5 d 4   x     

Blacks kng s xposd to vaous vaous 12 .. . .d d N ath ath unplasant unpla sant chcks) chcks) 14h4 14 h4 I t s  s ak fo fo Black to opt fo fo g5 15  g3 dxc5 16 16  d7 6 6 17 17  12    8 Top Topal alov ov  Kan Kank k Ln Ln xb7 d6 18d1 ab8 19xb8 as 1999 (gme 11 xb8 xb8 20  xb8 xb8 xb8 2 1 h4  c5 1. 1 . xd cxd 1. 0 - 0 - 0 ht's poston s vn os 2 2 hxg5 hxg5 23f 23 f33 f6 f6 h aa  14c4 6 15x 15 xd4 d4 c8+ tal l on th boad has bn a consdably ducd and th 1 . . c c 15.e5 A th pophylactc ov ost lkly outco s a da b1 Black Black has nough nou gh t t  to Hov only Black can play fo  5  b1 hs focs: 15    c5 a in h snc hs pcfoa- consoldat hs 165 h8 17 x4 18x4 ton n th cnt s vy stong g g  and no 19c3 fals fals to 9    l l dxc5 12.f c4+ + A 1200 Black has th b6 20  cxd4 c4 souc souc 12    6 dfndng aganst th chck fo th c4 squa and ovng hs qun fo fo th th dl dl  n th pocss pocs s 

15 .. . xc 1.bxc  17. bl d5 1.l 1.l �c �c  B l a c k has an ovhlng advantag onclusion The ochrane Gambit is not sound and  Black plays precisely Wite cannot obtain sucient compensaon for the sacrced piece.

Chapter 17

l.e4 e5 2) �f6 3.�xe5 d6 4.�c4 Pauen Attack

ra ractio ctio is 6 . . d 5 7.3 (i (i 7.5 7. 5 Black ca attack this knight with t to: o: 7 . . . d6) d6) 7 . . . 6 .d3  .d3 c5 9.00 00=

Just lik th ochran Gait which w w analyzd in i n th rous chatr, this rathr awkward rtrat o th knight origiatd origi atd during th 19th cntury. It was ivntd y Louis Paulsn, on o th ost aous layrs o th ti. hits knight on c is r strictd y Blacks aw on d6 and has no good roscts, so th ntir variation can  valuatd as quit original ut in act co ltly harlss to Black. 4 .  xe4 xe4 hit has thr logical ossiilitis in this this osition: osition: A) 5., 5. , B 5e2 and C) 5.d4 A) 5 c xc bxc bxc Ar 6.dxc3, Blacks silst

   g Black is trng to crat a colicatd osition  li sucint or quality is 6 . . . d5 7.3 7. 3 c6 .d . d d7 9c (or 9.d3 6 0.00 d6 d6 .c 0 0  s s 9.c 9. c) 9 ... .. . 6 (Black should rr rrai ainn o 9 . . . ?! 0.d aS .cxd5 cxd5, Khairul hairulli linn  dr drik ikin, in, r ruk uk-hov 003, caus it can continu th 1.d3 00 13 d .xd xd 15.xd±, aintaining a grat advantag) 10.c3 (i 10.cxd5 Black continus with with 10 . .. xd5!, rsrving th

. e4 e5 2    xe5 xe5 d 4 c4 xe4

.f4 4 as wll as xibility of his pawnstructur) risky ov   0 .f 0 .. .d6 . .d3 d3 00  2.0 2. 000 6=. A2 A2 1 0 .� .�£ £ Both sids hav copltd th obilization of thir forcs and    0 .f4 b b . . e ! ! hav no pawn waksss. Th  2 d2 b2 Th Th ov ov 2 . . . c5 can lad to position is appoxiatly qual. coplications, but Black dos not 7.d4  attack along th hl nd to go in for th. 3.f5 cxd xd4 (ar (ar 14 . . . b2 5. would woul d obviousl obviouslyy b b pratur, pratur , so s o 4.cxd4 xd4 hit has ha s th th  intr intr  Black should not b afrai afraidd of 7.h4 7. h4.. f3 xd3 hit H should continu cally with diat ov 6.f6!) 5.h b2 6 .g4 x x33 (a 6 . . .f6 it his his dv dvlopnt: lopnt: 7 . . .g7 .h5 6.g4  7.d5 d5 5  . 4 c4 00 9.3 d7. its pics can play 7. 9. ad) 17 . x3 x3 xd3 .cxd3  .cxd3 a discoordinatd and Black has 9.ad) asy and c ctiv tiv play in th cn- a 9 . d4 xf5 2 0 .g5 f6 2 1 . tr tr and and on th th l l, , Brto Brtokk  Ba Ba xf6 . t looks as though hit is unabl to xploit th jc, arajvo 95. wak waknd nd long lon g diagonal in his op7.. . g7 . d 0 - 0 9. 0  0 position , but th th is still t would b rathr advntur- ponnts position, ous for for Whit Whit to try 9.h4 9. h4  0 . tnsion on th boad and Blacks far fro fro asy. as y. f f , narkiv narkiv  hadav, hadav, Olginka Olginka dfnsiv task is far .� .� xd xd 4.cxd 4.cxd (rapid) 20. Hr Black can strik a powrl countrblow with with 0 . . . d5! .3 (.5 d7 2.f 2 .f44 h5) h5)  . . . c5 2.h5 c6 and his action in th cntr is uch or ctiv ctiv than hit hitss attack on th ank. 9 . .d7 



14 c5! It is considrably wakr to play play th th i i diat diat  . . .f5, .f5, not not bcaus o 5.d 5 .d5, 5, wh which ich is obously obously bad, sinc it ducs th sco of it itss ow ownn qun: qun: 5 . . .d7 6. ab b b  Ovt Ovtch chki kinn  Moty Motyl lv, v, ochi 200 (ge 2, but b  

 should now xain th

hapter 17

caus o 15.d5+ h8 16a1 c6 xc3 16.d2 6. Back's pcs 17.b3= . t ants to play d a uch o actv alsn  d5 and c3c a hch h ll ank c 2008 game 1 hav th rath unplasant pos tona that of xchangng th daksquad bshops o th c3squa. Manhl ht also has good pospcts o donatng th l. 15.d5 . o ht can only dra about th xchang o th daksquad bshops on th ong diagonal. Black plans to sz addtonal spac on th unsd and a th ppaatory ov c8d7 h ould lk to contnu ll..e! Black sovs all hs probls ith b7b5. Hs slght but stabl dg s not n doubt. th ths tpoay pasac c. Back's oth ovs do not dvlop pcs and nab ht A2 10.' to psv hs pcactvity. Ths poston as achd onc n a ga btn coputrs and t contnud ith:  ...c5 12.! d5 13 . d6! cxd 1.cxd d 15. ab1 hn ht's copnsation o th pan as o than sucnt Rybka  Th Baon Ldn 200 8. 12.xb axb 1.'xb7 a 14' a2 1 0 b 1Uel Th ov 11.3 s a bt too so and Black can datly xploit ths th 11...c5! 2.dc5 dxc5 13.a d7! (oput pogras rcond h 3 ...c3 a3 b but it's copnsation a 15d1 fo xapl ss qut al o th huan pont o vi.) 1.a5 a 15.xb7 

. e4 eS 2j f 3xe5  4 c4 xe4

Blacks osition is slightly abl thanks to his suio awnstructu

11d2 g5 12g3 g with an x cllnt osition) 10 x6 11 d!? (in th ga Ljubojvic  Hort, Bugojno 190, hit con B 5.\e2 tinud with 11d5 g5 12c3 and th oonnts agd a daw in viw o th sal variaton 2  d 31 d5 1h 5 15xd5 000=) 1xd 12  c6 13d5 d c3 hit has xcllnt consa tion o th awn;   c6! This is Blacks bst  sons H should not b aaid o his aws bing doubld on th l bcaus thn h sizs th initiativ and obtains th advantag oth bishoair c3 (H 5 \e7 e It is harlss o hit to lay has no nd to a 6 gx6 6d3 6 g5 9x x 10c3 6=, bcaus thn his bisho gos to h6 and Black bgins to ght o th initiativ)   d 

and now: ar th tiid lin:    x2   Whit has a slight dg; Black has also tid  6, which ss to  to b a bit articial It is a wllknown incil in chss to ty to dvlo rst th knights and thn th bishos t c3 c6 9000 h6 10 6 (Blacks ida can b bst sn in th vaiation 10h d

Blacks knight is rctly lacd on d and h ocs his o onnt to xchang uns gain ing ti or dvlont in th ocss 9x6 gx6 10x  113 c6= Th osition is aoxiatly ual Blacks ain stratgic task is to vnt by all ans th xchang o th

hapter 17

lightsquard ishops, caus thn Whit ould antain a clar advantag thanks to th xcllnt 5outpost or hs kght

 .c3 g5 Balogh  Gross, ustria 2009 7 . .xc .bxc d7 9g g Th prospcts or oth sids ar approxiatly alancd, tvi  akav, Budva (litz) 20 09 C) 5.d4 d5 .e f This ov nals Black to crat so disharony n Whits cap

 c It is nror or Black to play 6 . 6 H should not ov his knight aay ro th cntr, sinc it is not undr any attack c3! , Todorovc  tanova, ngapor 990 hit ishs to captur on d5 ith hs knight at so point (Black can countr th crativ ov .3 with activity in th cntr:  . .c6 2 6 9.g3 d5 0.g2 000 ith a slght advantag, Brg  P ilsn Hlsingor 2009, gme 14  .. .6 .g3 c6 9.g2, rachng a vry ntrsting position hich has not yt n thoroughly analyzd It looks as though it's ga is th or plasant. 7.c Th ov .c akns th dsqar and Black can highlight this idiatly th  . . g6 ! . Thr ight ollo or xapl: g3 g 9.g2 00 0.00 

 shall no analyz C) 7 b5 and C2) 7e2  aatur playr ight ll continu hr ith .3?!, ut atr  . .h @2 Black has th grandastrly rply  ..2! (it ould still hav so countrplay ar th psudoastrly rspons  . g3 9 hxg3 xh 0xd5 d6 @2 00 2.c3) .g 9@d3 c6! 0 . dx .@c3 6 and Blacks attack is trndously dangros. 

Cl) 7 b5 c 8. 0  0 This ida looks intrsting, ut th concrt variations indicat 

. e4 e5 2C Cf 3. Cxe5 d 4 Cc4 C xe4

that th coplications should nd in Blacks aour.

bloodd rspons  ...bxc+) 1 ... 5 19.x5
8 cxb5 Black should not b araid to captur th pic and in act h ust do so, sinc ar th unprincipld o  ...d6 9.Cxd5, Black would nd up a paw down. 9xd5 ¥d 8 OEe �xd5 c3 ¥d8 



13 c6! It is uch wors to play 13 ...6 1 . x6 g6 15.�h5 < 16.a Cc6 1.Cd5 h6 1.Cx Cx 19. x �x  0. x
hapter 17

14 f6 15d5 Th mov 15 . 6 would not lad to a draw y prptual chck: 15 ...gx6 16.�h5 8 17.�h6  18.�h5 g7+ and lacks king suzs out th nmy un. 15  e5 16J dl 0 - 0 lack has a good altrnativ hr in 16 ...g or xampl: 17. 3 ! 18.d6 xc3 9.dx7 �6+ 20.3 �c6 and h has th advantag or 17.xg xg 18.d6 9.�5 d7 10.�x7 8 11.�xc7 g5 9.x5 6 and thr aris- d6 12.�c6 00 13.x dx s a position in which hit has 1.c3 �5 15.c xc 16.�xc som compnsation ut h can- c5 lack has a v dangrous not rally hop o mor than a initiativ. draw.

17d6 d6 18xb5 i 19e3 d3 20g4 ig6 21 exd3 d3 22�e6 h8 23 xd6 ig6 24ie3 �c7 and Black maintains som advantag, mostly owing to th act that hit has waknd his position with th mov g2g. C2) 7�e2 (diagram) 7  ie6 8c3 I 8.d2  thn ar 8 ...�xd

8  d7 Or 8 . ..c6 9.d2 (9.g3 d7 10. g2 000  s 8 ... d7) 9 ... xd2 . d2 d7 .g3 d6 1 2. g2 00 13.00= th complt uality. It is possil or lack to play hr 8 ...c6 9.d2 000 10.g3 (hit should not play .xd5? xc3! .xc3 xdand lacks attack is dcisiv. d it would  ovroptimistic or Whit to opt or .x?! dx .g3, . avchnko  Linchvski t.P

e4 e5 2j f 3xe5  4c4 xe4

ersbrg 2008, since Back can cnter his his with with  .. xd4! xd4 ! 1 2 . g2 d8 13.xe4 e5 14.xc6 bxc6 5.a6 b8 16.xc6 c8! 7.00 b7 18.c4 c5, with a dangers iniave.)

several times, incding a grandmaser eve in he game B. avc a vche henk nk  Fr Frya yan nv, v, a annde 2 0 09. 09 . Nw Nw hie cd cd have payed 12.c4!, emphasizing he (I n 10 ...d6!N ... d6!N I particlary like fact tha Back has nt casled. (In his mve. .g2 e7, eaving he game hite payed 12.f3 he c1bishp bsrced by is 000 13.h3 e7 14.g2  n pieces and remvng he 15.f4 g5 16.d3, wh a cmknigh frm the c6sqare, snce picaed psiin ering excei has aeady cmpeed is mis- en prspecs prspecs fr Back. Back.)) 12 . . .d6 13.cx 13. cxd5 d5 cxd5 cxd5 14.b 14. b55 00 0 0 (Back's sin here. Back cd as cnine in cmpensain fr he paw aer direct direct fashin fashin wih wih 1 0 . . . xd2 (in- 14 ... ...  15.xe 15.xe44 e4 16. 00 00 sead sead f 10 . . .d6) .xd2 h5=, 17.xb7± is ceary inscient.) 15.xd5   16. 16. c3 xd2 (16 (1 6 . . . a6 reaching a psiin psii n wh wh a dynam- 15.xd5 ic balance n he bard, magin 17.xb7 xd2 18.xd2 ab8 9.  Marich Marichev, ev, Msc Mscw w 1990 199 0 . Bac Backk xa6 x a6 b6 20.e2 f6 21.b3 e8 has a sigh ead in devepmen, 22.00±) 17.d5 (This is an imb he ms keep in mind min d tha his his pran inermediae mve, shwknight n c6 is resricted by ing why 12. 12 . c4 was was s srng srng.).) 7... 7 ... hite's hite's pawnc pawnchai hainn c3 c3  d4 and and e4 (Blacks cmpensatin fr he he paw paw is insc in scien ien aer ae r 17 . . . is n very harmnsy harmnsy paced. paced . e5 18.dxe6 df3 19.e2 d4 9g3 Back can cner 9.d2 wth 20. xe6 21.xb7 c7 22. dS±) 8.de6 8 .de6 xe6 x e6 19 .00 .0 0±; ±; 9 .. . 000. hite has a cear advanage, (dagram) hanks t his pwel bshp9  0 - 0 - 0 I is a bi sw f f Back B ack  pay pair. 9 .. . c6 10.g2 g6 11.d2 f5, 1 0  g2 c6  d d22 d6 which has been esed in pracice 12a4 

hapter 17

hite is rearing b2b4b5. He has n ther prmising an an in this sitin. sitin. 12 h5  h5 The cmments t the pres mve are aicabe t Back as we. He mst cncentrate his actins n the kingside and the ee. 13h 13h4 4 es es

The psitin is very cmicated, bt Back's rspects are sighty better. better. Deending n hw hite cntines, Back can mve his bishp t g4 r ese pen  the game th g7g5. The qite reasnabe reas nabe an  an f g7g6, flw flwed ed by f8h6, exerting ressre against hite's knight n e3, is als wrth cnsidering.

oncluion Wite knight, knight, which retreat o the c4- c4 -quare quare on move 4, 4 , ha only only  one poible propect  to move evenually to the e-quare. But Wite oe another empo in the proce and obtrct hi bihop on  c. I  i clear hat Black ha nothing toear toear in thi variaion.

Chapter 18

l.e4 e5 2 f6 3.xe5 d6 4. xe4

In this chaper we shal anayze sme seldm payed lines n which ie pays nether the im mediate 5. 5 . d4 nr he he pplar pan f casting qeenside aer 5.c3 c3 c 3 6 dxc3. His His pins fr fr aviding the main lines are  5c4, 5 c4, B 5e2 and C) 5 d3

d3 00 8.00 c6 (Black's knight is generaly nt very wel placed n c6, b it is a develping mve and creates the rather npleasant pleasant threat threat f 9 . . . b4 10.c4 f5) 9.c3 e6 (the her pssibiity here here is 9 . . . g4 10.h3 h5 11 e d5= and Back has ams eqalized) 10.g5 (therse Back wld cntine wih d8 d7 and e6f e6f5) 10 . . .d7 .e4 e8 12.e xe4 13.xe4 g5= and he psitin is eqa.



 5c4 This is an rigina mve, bt ha's abt the mst psitive thing that can be said sai d ab it. ite can shw even ess ambitin bitin th 5.d3, 5. d3, when aer aer 5  . . 5 ]c6! f6 f6 6. d4 Back can pay pay 6 .  . d5, if This is the best mve, mve, discrhe s wishes, transpsing t he aging aging d2d4. d2d 4. exchange variain f he French Naray Back can as pay Defence, bt it is even better fr 5 .. .e7 6.d4 00 7.d3 g5=, him t cntine h 6 .  .e7 7. with with smething sm ething clse t eqaty eqa ty 

hapt hapter er 18 18

6c3 Aer 6.d4?! d5, ny hie can have prbems. The ine: ine: 6.e2 e7 7.00 7.0 0 00 8.d4 f6= is harmess; Back has cmfrabe devepmen and an easy game, Nisipean  Giri, Giri, ijk aan Zee 2010. 6  xc3 7c3

8 ... .. . �e7! , creaing creaing disharmny in in hie's camp. c amp. 8   g7 9ig5 Oherse Back wi cmpee his devepmen and have n prbems whatsever.

9   �d7! The The ine: 9 . . .6 10.h6 f5 11.00 �d7, wih the idea f cnining wh 000, is as 7  g6! risy fr Back. This is he mst prmising pssibe bt raher risy mve, wth which Back ensres 1000 0-0 11e1 es= he back back qeen remains  n d7 the harmnis devepmen f I f he fr ng, Back's ightsqared his kingside. kingside. The mve mve 7 . . .e7 is as pssi- bishp wi be ancheted t b7. be, bt I ike it ess. The psiin is eqal. Back hds he psitin, bt ny jst, jst, aer aer 7 . . .f5 8.d3 �d7 B) 5�e2 5�e2 (8 ... ... d3 9.�x 9.�xd3 e7 e7 10.00 00 1.e1 6 12.4) 9.00 e7 10.f5 �x5 1.e1! (1.�d5 �xd5 12.cxd5 e5 13.xe5 de5 14.e1 6= , Mit Mitn  Ga Gash shim imv v,, Havana Havana 20 07) 11 . . . 00 00 12.�d 12 .�d5. 5. Here he rad  eqaity is rather cmp cmpi ica cated: ted: 12 . . . �c2! 13.f4 ab8! ab8! (13 .. . f6 14.�b5!) 14.ab1 fe8= 8  e2 Aer 8.d3 Back shd pay

e4 e5 2C Cf 3Cxe5 d 4C Cxe4

6  d3 f6 7    �7 6 Back B ack w w have have  exchange exc hange n e2 eiher nw r n he nex mve, hs increasing hies ead in devepmen. Hwever, he psiin is csed and he premare devepmen f hies bishp  g5 baances his advanage s Back has n prbems in he exchange variain. 

24.g3 d8, draw, passky  Hr, Reykjavik 1977. 8  c3 �x2 92 h6

1 0 d2! In pracice, here hie mre en pays 10.h4 g5 g3 

7 bd7 I ike his mve, becase i is qie afe b as reains sme chances f baining a ghing psiin raher han a d and drawish drawish ne. I is very ery sid   pay: 7 . . .xe2 8 . e2 e7 9c3 9c3 c6 1 0 00 0 000 (hie cann achieve mch wih 10.00 a6 1Ufe1 c7 12.d4 e6 13e3 g6= advakasv  Timman Hgv Hgvee eenn 1999.) 199 9.) 10 . . . a6 1U 1 Uhe1 he1 c7 c7 12 .e4 xe4 xe4 13. 13 . dxe4 g5 g5 14.xg 1 4.xg55 e7= e7 = . hies hies edge is s mnima ha if bh sides pay crrecy he game hd end in a draw fr exam pe: 15f4 e6 16.h3 c5 17.f2 d8 18.f3 f6 19.h4 e6 20.g4 aS 21.a3 h6 22.h5 d7 23.h1 e8 

and nw Back has w psi biiies: i is cam and safe safe  pay pay 11  .  b6 12.000 d7 13.d2 (13. e4 g7= g7= ; 13.he1 13. he1 000 0 00 14.f1 14.f1 g7 g7 rme rmenk nkv v  Maka Makary rych chev ev,, Lb Lbin in 1976) 13 .  . 000 (The mve mve 13 . . .h5 is se, b is n wrh a emp a he mmen and aer 14h4 g4 15.de4 hie mainains a sigh edge, picea  My Mye ev, v, Bcha Bchare res s 2000 20 00)) 14. h4 g7=, and he psiin is apprximaey eqa.

hapter 18

11 h5!? This cmbaive mve is qie nara and prmis ing fr Back 12d5 d8 13h4 (13 e5 xe5 14h5 e6=) 13  g4 14d2 b6 15f4 xg3 16 g3 g7= Back's prspecs are n a a wrse in his raher cmplicaed endgame, Reinder man  Kasimdzhanv, ijk aan Zee 1999 (game 15

12  a6! 13c3 xc3 14c3 e7 1500 00=, wh eqal chanc es) d7 (e7 12fe1 00 13d4 and hie's bishp ges  f3, wh wer pressre n he ng diagna) 12a4! 000 13a5 bd5 14xd5 xd5 15a6 b6 16c4 f6 17fe hie has a sigh avanage, b Back has cnerchances If hie's inii aive reaches a dead end, his a6 pa migh trn in a iabiliy in he ng rn 110-0 Back can cner 11000 h 11  d5! = and ater he knigh ges  c5 and he bishp  d6; hie wi be nabe  rganize any acive pay   d5! 

10 c6 This is Back's ms reiabe eqaizing mve It is als gd, bt n qite scien t eqaize the sitin, t play 10 c5 11 00 e6 12 d4 d5 (aer 12 c6, Back ms reckn with 13d5 ?) 13 e3 c6 14e5 d6 15f4 00 16ae, and ite is sighy better The ay is mch mre interesing aer I is imprtant fr Back t de10  b6!? 1100 (11000 vep his bishp n the d6sqare d7 12h3 g6 13e4 xe4 14 (in pracice, he sally pts i n de4 g7= gt  Kasimdzhanv, e7), becase i is ve acively Germany 2006 Black shld nt paced hee and des n cme be afaid f 11b5 bd5 12c4, nder atack, as i wld n the ebt hee he shl cntine, nt le wth 12  c6, ams  Kamnik, 121 d6 13d4 If 13d4 g6 Ds Hermanas 1999, becase f 13cxd5 cxb5 144, bt with 13   14  d3 e6 15. 

e4 e5 2   f6 3Cxe5 d6 4 C Cxe4

e2 0-0 16g3 es 17c3  18xe8 xe8 19. Aer 19e1, Back can pay 19 ...e6 20.f5 c7, freeing the d6sqare fr his knight. 19    20 g6 21 d3 g7 22e1 f6 23 Or 23.e5 e8 24.f e7= 23  es 24xe8 xeS=

Nw he fais  eqaize aer the fwing pssibiities : 12 ...d7 Mrzevich  Kram nik, arajev 20 09. hite has n mers attractive ptins here fr instance: 13.a3 c8 14.a4 f3 15.�xf3 00 16.xe7 xe7 17.e2 b5 18.ae1 g6 19.b2± with advantage; if 12 .. .xf3 t is very prmiing f ie t respnd with 13. gxf3!?, athgh he a main tains an edge aer 13.�xf3 00 14.a3 Mvsesian  Harikrishna, arajev 2009. 6 0  0 e7 7h3 Oherwie Blacks bishp wil be deveped t the cmfrtable g4qare: 7.c3 00 8.c2 g4 9.d4 bd7 10.bd2 d5 (The mve 10 ... e8 alws ite's The itin is ced, s kniht t ccpy the c4sqare, ites bihpair is nt s dan- bt thi is nt very dangers ge and the chances are ba- fr Black either: .c4 h5 12. anced, Rehetnikv  akaev, e3 f 13.f5 c6 14.a4 d5= vanchk Gefand, Bazna Taang 2011. 2009.) 11.e1 §d6 12. f1 e8 13.xe8 �xe8 14.e3 h5= Naiditch  Jakvenk Odessa (rapid) C) 5 . d3 f6 It i es reliabe fr Black t 2009. 7 0  0 8c3 lay 5 . . .d5 6.�e2 �e7 7.00 d6 8.�d1 �d8 9.e1 e7 10.c3 c6 11.�e2 g4 12 .b3 

hapter 18

8 b6! The depoyent of Black's pieces wil be quite hamonious ae the anchetto of his bishop to b7. In addtion, he does not waste any temp on fo unneces sary pawnmoves such as d6d5. 9 c2 b7 1 0 d4 ometmes Whte begns with the move 10.e1 but ae 10 ... bd7 his next move woud again be .d4 and the game tansposes to positions which we shal analyze ate.  0 bd7 

  e8 12 c4 2.e1 f8 13.xe8 \xe8 14. f1 g6 15 . f4 g7 16.e3 d5 17.xd5 xd5= viakov  Wang Yue, antyManssk 2007. 12  13 g5 

 







13 h6 It is also possibe fo Back to opt fo the moe pdent move 13 .. .\c, evading the pin on the kight. Ae 14.e3 e 15 . b3 (ae 15.d2 xc2 16.\xc2 \b7 17. fe1 h6 18 . h4 d5= Black is vey close to equality) 15 .. .\b7 16.d2 g6 17.e1 b5! 18.df1 aS 19.a3 c5!=. Black obtained an excelent position in the game Naje  Lintchevsk, Taganog 2011 . 14 h4 g5 

bd2 . a4 a6 12.e1 e8 13 .g5 h6 14 . h4 h5 15.\d3 f8 (15 ...g6=, with the idea of puting his d7 knight on the f6squae) 16 . xe7 xe7= Movsesian  Kasimdzhanov an ebastian 2009. 1. g5 e8 12 .e1 d5 13.\d3 g6 14 . d2 c5 5.c4 c7 16 . c3 d5= Ni Hua  Motylev, Tiayuan 2005 (game 6 Fo 1.e1 e8 12 .bd2 (12 . g5 d5  see 1.g5 e8 12 .e1 d5) 12 ... f8  see 1. bd2 e8 12.e1 f8.



. e4 e5 2.  j  3.  xe5 d 4  j  xe4

15 g3 It s inteesting but stl nsuf cient fo any whte advantage to a6 play 15.xg5 hxg5 16 17.e3 xf 18.xf. Whte has no eal theats whle Black has a whoe exta ook fo two paws. 5 4 6fd2 xg3 7 g3 f6 (dagam) lthough Black's lght squaes on the kngsde ae vlneable thee s no way fo Whte to explot this so Black's pospects ae 



not at al wose Tvakov  G Gemany 2010 (gam 7

onclusion Wenever Wite plays 5 . c4 , he is mostly relying on the eect o  surprise. I Black reacts correctly, he will have no problems in the  opening whatsoever. I Wite chooses the variation with the exchange of queens aer  5.  e2, it almost always means that he is in the mood to make a draw. This is the usual result, but in some o the games that we have ana  lyzed in this chapter,  there is a realght, victory usually goes to the  side that plays beter in this practcally equal endgame. The variation with 5. � d3 is quite original but leads to solid, classi  cal positons in which the prospects are approimately equal.

Chapter 19

le4 e5 2 D 6 3xe5 d6 4 xe4 5d4

Thee is anothe possibility too  6 ...e7 with the idea of answeing 7. 00 with 7 ..."c6 and then tansposing to the main line. In that case Black must also eckon with the move 7.c4, so it is much bette fo him to develop his knight st.

5  d5 If Black voluntaily eteats his kight fom e4, he ends up in a passive and camped position, fo example: S .. .e7 6.d3 "f6 7.00 00 8.h3 with a slight edge fo White. 6d3 6 Black's othe possibility is to 700 abstain fom exeting pessue against the cente with his pieces The othe two possibilities fo and to foti his dSpaw in- ite equie pecise play fom stead. Fo this pupose Black usu- Black: ally plays 6 ...d6 7.0 0 00 8.c4 7.e2 fS 8."bd2 e7 9.00 c6. Thee is a lot of theoy on this "d 6  .d 000 ! (It is weake vaiation and I believe White has fo Black to opt fo 10 ...d3?! much moe chance of ghting fo .cxd3 d7 12 ."e5 xeS 13.dxe5 an opening advantage hee than "fS 14."f3, th a slight edge fo in the vaiation we analyze in this White, Gischuk  akaev, Moschapte. cow 2007.) .e f6 12."b3

. e4 e5 2.   3 xe5 d 4 .   xe4 5d4  d5

g4 12 ... e4 13.c4 dxc4 14.e4 e4 15.xe4 cxb3 16.�xb3 �g6 17.e2 �f5) 13.g5 13.c3 e7 14.e2 e4) 13 ...�xg5 14.xg5 d1 15.axd1 b4 16.c3 xd3 17.xd3 c6 18.f3 f6 19.e6 e8 20 .fe3 b6 21.3e2 g6= ; 7.c3 xc3 Ae 7 .. .b4 8. 00 c3 9.bxc3 00 10.c4 f5 .cxd5 �xd5 1 2. c4 White maintains a slight advantage.) 8. we shal analyze these in the fobxc3 lowing chaptes. 8.bd2 xd2 9.d2 g4 10. c3 0 0= allejo Pons  Gelfand Linaes 2010. 8.c3 g4 9.bd2 fo 9.e1 f5  see 8.e1 g4 9.c3 f5) 9 ...xd2 10.d2 00 .e1 d6 12.h3 h5 Moozevich  Bu Xiangzhi Yeevan 2008. 8  §g4 9.3 9.e4 dxe4 10.xe4 f3 11. 8 .. .d6! Black's bishop is moe actively placed hee than on e7. n �xf3 t is bad fo Wite to play addition he can tansfe his 11.gxf3 f5 12.e1 �xd4 and his kight to the kingside via the e7 pstuctue has been weaksquae He should efain fom ened so Black has the advantage.) 8 .. .g4 9.b1 b8 10.h3 h5 11. 11...xd4 12.�d3 e6 and the b5 e7 12.g4 g6 13.e5 00 position is equal. 14.c6 bxc6 15.xc6 xb1 16. We shal dea with the move xd8 a3 17.a3 xd1 + 18. xd1 9 .. .c4 in the next chapte. 9   10 bd2 xd8 19.d2 b8 20.e± and Black aso answes 10.�b3 Wite is close to ctoy than Black is to the daw Leko  Gel with 0 ... 0 0 when Wite has fand Miskolc 2010.). 9.00 00 nothing bette than 11.bd2 10.g5 g6 11.�f3 e7 12.e1 c6 tansposing to the main line since it is wong fo White to play 13.f4 f5 11.�xb7 owing to 1...f6! and 7 §e7 diagam) Black's ook is eady to join in the attack a the sixth ank. 12.f4 se White has two popula alte- (t is even wose fo ite to play natives hee  8. c3 and 8.c4 and 12 .�b3 3! 13.gxf3 b8!  fo ex 

hapter 19

ample: 14.�c2 g6+ 15. �d6; 4.�d1 g6+ 15.f �d6; o 14.�a4 g6+ 15. f1 g5) 12 ... xf3! 13.c7 g6 14.xe4 e4 15.xd8 b8 6.�xc6 xc6  0 . .. 0  0

�b3 t s useless fo Whte to play 1.�c2, because  compaso wth the ma e: .�b3 a5 2.�c2 c6 he smply pesets hs oppoet wth a exta tempo. The move 11. f eve ceas es the eect of the p o the f3 kght, so t caot be dageous to Back. Black ow has umeous attactve possbltes, of whch  shall show you just the oes whch seem to me the most puposel:  ...h4 (Black ca also efa fom focg the s sue, by payg 1...d6, ceasg hs kgsde pessue. Thee mght folow: 12.�b3 h8 13. �xb7 �f6 ad Black has a vey dageous tatve as compesato fo hs mmal matea dect.) 12.g3 (Ae 12.e2, Black has may attackg deas,

but I lke best the pophylactc move 12 . ..b8! , defedg agast the possblty of �d1b3. It s the had to see how Whte ca complete hs developmet.) 12 ... xf2 (Black ca mata the teso hee wth the move 12 ... �d6!?) 13.xf2 f4 14.�c2 f3 15.gxf3 �f6 16.h7+ h8 17. f4 �xf4 18.�d3 �h6 19.f5 xg3+ 20.hxg3 (t woud be too sky fo Whte to opt fo 20.xg3 e7! 2.g4 g6 ad Back's kght peetates to the f4outpost th geat eect.) 20 ...�h2 21.f=. f Black so wshes, he ca ow daw by pepetual check: 2...�h1 22.f2 �h2, but he ca aso play fo a  wthout too much sk.  a5 1.. .h8? !  Ths pawsacce s coect ude these ccumstaces. 12.�xb7 f6 13.�b3 g6 14.b5 xd2 (14 ...d6 15. xc6 xd2 16.d2 f3 17.g3+) 15.xd2 d6 16.g3 e7 17.d3! (t s less mpessve fo Whte to choose 17.f1 f4 18.g2 b8 19. �c2= ad thaks to hs paw wedge o f4, Back ca be opt mstc about the tue, meets  Bayam, talya 2004.) 17...f6 18.c4 c6 19.c5 c7 20.f4±; Whte has a sod exta pa ad Back's compesato s obously sufcet. (dagam) 2�2 2.\a4 c6 13.b5. Beag  md what folows  ths vaa to, t would be moe pudet fo 

. e4 e5 2Cj Cf 3. Cxe5 d 4 Cj Cxe4 5.d4  d5

White to eteat his queen to b3 now. 13 ... h4! (Back povokes, wth tempo, an impoant weakening of the white king's shelte.) 14.g3 (but not 14.Cxh4 xh4 15 f6 and ite  come under diect attack) 14 ...f6 15. c6 bxc6 16.xc6

and now: 19.xe4 xf3 20.xf3 g3 2.hxg3 d4 22.f4 xb2 23.f1 xf2 (hee it might be stonge fo Back to continue with 23 ...d7!?, inceasing the pessue) 24.xf2 a. Back has an exta pa, but reaising it wil not be at a easy, hepainov  Gefand, ochi 2008; 19.CeS eS 20.dxe5 g3 21. hxg3 b6 22.xe4 (It is even wose fo White to choose 22. dS+ xdS 23.cxd5 f3 24.g4. He has no other defence against his opponent's manoeue fShS. 24 ...g4 25.xe4 f3 26.f4 xf4 27.4 g5 28.g3 xb2 and Back has exceent chances of winning this position.) 22 .. .f3 23.h4 xh4 24.gxh4 g6+ 25. h2 g2+ 26.h3 xf2 27.e3 xb2 and ony Back has winning pospects. 12  6 3b4 a6 (diagram) White has two ogical possibiities now:  4b and B) 4a4

16...b8! . This is a vey powe attacking move (it is much weake fo Back to pay 16 ...e8 since ae17.Ce5 he  need to woy about maintaining the balance, nand  amnik, Wijk aan Zee 1999). 17.c4 (Ae 17.e6+  18.Cxe4 dxe4 19.CeS e5 20.xe5 f3 Back's queen wl be continuay tng to get to the h3squae and ite's position is  14bl b5 ! very dangeous.) 7. ..f4 18.Cxe4 Back exploits the cicumstance that White's ook has dxe4

hapter 19

abandoned the ae and blocks the advance of his b4pawn indefinitely. 15a4 bs 16axb5 axb5

save the gae with a perpeta check against White's eposed king) 19f3 �b6 20.e4 e4 2.g4 cb4+ 22h �f2 23.g (the gae onatov  Kunin, Moscow 2009, contined with 23.�d? bc3+ and Black won) 23 ..c5 24. b2 e3 2S.cb4 b4 26.�b3 d2 27�d5+ � 28 e6 �e7 29 a b4 30 . d4 bd8 3.�e5 d4 32.�d4 �e6. White wil be hard pressed to save the gae. 17 b6 185 x5 19 dx5

17al 17.e5 eS 18.de5 cS! (The eWorld hapion played too risly here: 18 ...f2 19f2 h4+. Here, instead of 20.f e 21. e �h4+ 22.g3 �h2 23.f �c2 24.c2 Howell  Kranik, London 2009, which led to a very coplicated endgae, it wold be ch stronger for White to play 20 .g3 f4 2 .g2 g3 2 2.hg3 h3+ 23.h3 g3 24.f3 f3 2S.g2 f2+ 26. g3 c2 27.c2 and Black shold be happy if he anages to

19  c5!?N Now some very interesting coplications arise. Black has also tried 19 .. .f2 20.f2 h4+ 2.f (2.g3 f4 22.g2 g3 23. hg3 g3 24.h7+ h8 25h eS= and, strangely enogh, ite has nothing better than perpetal check) 2 .. . e 22. e �h4+ 23.g3 �h2 24.f, and the position is very ncear, tellwagen  Fridan, Netherlands 2007. 20 cxb4 21b3! Aer 2.cb4, Black shod

. e4 e5 2.  j 6 3.  xe5 d6 4 .  j  xe4 5 . d4  d5

contine with the fafomobvi os move 21g6!, with a crshing attack In the vaiation 2e4 e4 22xe4 (White cannot keep his exta piece: 22e2 c5+ 23h1 \h4+, o 22f c5+ 23h1 \h4+) dxe4 23e4 bxc3 24 \c3 b4 White's e5pawn s safey bockaded by Back's bshop, whie Black's otside passed b4 pawn is temendosy dangeos, so he has the advantage 21 ih5! White is cleary bette ae 21h 22f c6 23g4 xc3 2\b1 g4 25xf8+ \xf8 26 e3 f2+ 27f2 \xf2+ 28h1± 

f4 \xf4 33xd6 h3! 34gxh3 \xd6= with a pobable daw) 27c3 28h 244 dx4 It is not good fo Black to co tine with 24 \b6+ 25\f2 \xf2+ 26xf2 e4 27e2 ite also maintains a cea advantage ae 24 e4 25 xf8+ \xf8 26 c8 27\a2± 25i2 8 2 6a2  26  e2 27\xe2 \d5 28b1 \xe5 29f4± 27b! 3 28h!

28 b6 Thee are nmeos tactical nances in this position and I wold evalate it as appoximate ly eqal om the dynamic point of view White is bette ae 28 e3 29 6! e6 30\a6 c 31c4+ bxc4 32d4 \xd 33\e6+ h8 34xb4± and the fact that Back's king has no escape sqare is deci sive 29x Or 29 fc8 30b2 h6! with excellent compensation fo th paw  

22xb4 Black has a vey good position aer 22e4 e 23e2 e2 2xe2 c6=, obtaining severa passed paws for the piece 22 b4 23J bs Thre is a transposition of moves ae 23  b7 24e xe4 25e2 c7 26\a2  27b ! (it is weakr fo Whit to opt for 27 d1 \e7 28b5 c3 29a4 e5 30\b2 h5 3 d4 d6 32

hapter 19

29.g5 ! ? e3 (29 . ..h6! ? 30 .h4 h7!?) 30.h4 ¥c6 3Ub2 c4! 32.g3 (32g5 d5 33.g1 a8 34.¥b1 c3 35c2 b4 36.f3 f3 37.xf3 ¥e4 38.f4 d3 39 xb4 e2 40.c ¥xb1 4.b1 xb4) 32 ...d5 33.c4 (33.g1 f4) 33 ...c4 34f3 c3 35.b1 ¥e4 36.e1 e5 and despite the absence of a whoe ook, Back s on top n this poston. 29 xb3 30x+  31�b2 2 32�x3 xb 33b3+ h8 34�xb � 35 ig5 x2 366 b4 377 x7 387 b3 Whte must gve up his bishop n ode to stop Black's passed pawns, so it al ends in a daw.

advantage.) Now, ae 21.e2 o 2.f1, Black can play 2.¥e7, wth a compicated poston. and 15 h8 Back cannot obtain much th staghtfowad pay: 15 . .  f6 16.b5 (Ae 16.h3 Back's coect eacton woud be, not 16 ... xd2? 17.xd2 h3 18.gxh3 g6+ 19.f1+ and White paied his opponent's attack and won the game, Lastin  ugin, oonezh 2005, but 16 ...h5 17. b5 axb5 18.d6 cxd6 19.ab5 a5=, with an acceptabe postion.) 16 . .ab5 (Ae 16  . xd2, Whte has the athe elegant vaation 17.¥xd2! f3 18.bxc6 g6 19.g3 bxc6 20.d6 cxd6 21.f5 f6 22.d3 g6 23.xf3±, wth evey chance of ealising his adB) 1 4a4 id6 vantage, Moozech  Kapov, Pague 2002.) 17.d6 cxd6 18. ab5 a5 19a3! planning ¥a2!, with advantage. 16�b2 It seems a bit awkwad fo White to play 16.eb1 ¥e7 (Ae 16 .. xd2?! 17.xd2 ¥h4 18. e7 19.f3 h5 20b5± Black's attacking potential was neutaized, whie his bad bshop and the weakness of the e5squae would ate tel, Moozevich  Gelfand, 15ia3 15.b1 h8 16.b5 axb5 17.ab5 Yeevan (apd) 2008. Howeve, a a5 18.e5 e5 19.dxe5 h5 faiy eiabe continuation fo 20.f3 ¥h4! (In the game ulypa  Black is 16 . .b6 17.b5 a3 18. Tuov, Latschach 2009, Back xa3 axb5 19.b5 �d6 20.aa1 payed the ovey cautious move xd2 21.xd2 f4!=,with appoxi20 .. .xd2?, when White could mate equalty.) 17.¥b2 d8! have payed 21.¥xd2! c4 22. (Black's knight is headed fo the f4±, obtainng an ovehelming f4squae.) 18.b5 ab5 19.d6 



e4 e5 2 C Cf6  Cxe5 d6 4C Cxe4 5d4  d5

cxd6 20 b5 Ce6 an d Blacks position is at least equal Ae 16b5 axb5

Now Black's most pomising move seems to be 18   f6 ! (Natually he can also pay a calm pophylactic move, such as 18 b6 o 18  h5) with the standad idea of d6f4 and also peseving the possibility of tansfeing the ook to g6 o h6 to oganize an attack against White's king 19Ce5 (ae 9h3 Black does not need to sacice mateial o exchange pieces; he can simply play 19   h5) 19e5 20dxe5 h6; Whte's kng is seiously endangeed

we shal analyze two possibilities: 17  d6 and 17 b5 17 cxd6 18ab5 (18 b5 Ca5  see 17b5 Ca5 18 xd6 cxd6) 18  Ca5 19h3 h5 20Ch2 c8 21a3 b6 22Cdf1 f4 23f3 h4 24e2 Hee it is vey pomising fo Black to play 24  fe8 ! , inceasing the pessue (n the game Ponomaiov  dams Wijk aan Zee 2005 , thee followed 24  Cg3 25Cxg3 g3 26Cf1 xf3! 27gxf3 xf3 and Black had sucient compensation fo the piece) e 25c1 Cg3 26 xe8+ xe8 27Cg4 Cxf 28xf1 g3, only Whte might have difculties in the nal position 17 b5 Ca5 (t woud be too isky fo Black, fom the pont of ew of stategy, to pay 17h5 18xc6 bxc6 19 Ce5 g5  19  c5 20f3  20 C df3 f3 21 Cxf3 16 7! e7 22 d6 cxd6 23Cd2 h4 This move has a ve bad ep24Cf± monatov  ljin, ochi 2007) 18b4 (18  d6! ? cxd6 utaton but in fact it is vey good 19ac1 c8 20b2 h5 hepa- Back's knight is tansfeed to nov  Koneev, oia del Rio the kingside, adding to his aeady excelent piece fomaton thee 2005) 

hapter 19

The altenatives ae infeio: 16 ... �e7 17.b5 a3 18.xa3 ab5 19.b5 f3 20.xf3 d8 21.d3  22.c4 dxc4 23.c4 fd6 24.a2± ndekin  Rakhmanov, Dagomys 2009; 16 .. .e8 17.b5 ab5 and hee White wod not achieve mch with 18.b5 �f6 (hee 18 ...f4!? is also vey good, isolating the enemy bishop on a3) 19.d6 cxd6 20.a5 (ae 20 .h3, Black can play camly 20 ...h5, maintaining the tenson) 20 ...eb8; Whte has lost his aSpawn and mst ght fo eqaity, vidle  Pe.H.Nielsen, Dortmnd 2005. Instead, it wold be coect fo hm to continue th 18.axb5! a5 19.d6 cxd6 20.b6, etanng a sight edge. 175 g6! It is bad fo Black to pay 17 .. . e5 18.dxe5 g6 19f3 xe5 20. f± when his compensation fo the piece is ceay inscient, o  Gii, Wijk aan Zee 20 10 . 18xg4 Ae 18.e4, Black can advantageosy sacice a piece: 18 ...e4! 19.xg4 �h4 20.e5 (the move 20 .h3 weakens White's

kingside and ae Black's simple eaction 20 ...h5 White is clealy wose) 20...�xf2+ 21.h1 xe5 22.dxe5 e5 23.b5 f5 24.bxa6 bxa6!. White's king is lneable and Black's powel centalized pieces povide him with an advantage. 18 xd2 9xd2 g4 20g6 White is unable to estict the mobiity of Blacks knight; ae 20.g3, Black has the epy 20 ... h4! 2 0  hxg6 26 f6 

Black has no pobems at all. His bishop is mch moe powel than its whte contepart and his tipled (!) pawns ae qite safe.

onclusion Wite usually castles on move 7, but the moves 7.  e2 and 7    require very precise playom Black in order to maintain equalit. n  the main line, Wite has the possibili of repeating the posion on his  thirteenth move by playing 1.  b. f he does not do so, however, Black obtains very active play and his prospects seem to be at least  equal.

Chapter 2 0

l.e4 e5 2 �f6 3.�xe5 d6 4.�£ �xe4 5. d4 d5 6 . d3 �c6 7. 0 0 e7 s. gel  9.c4

A) 10 .xd5 i  welknow theoetica posi tion aises ae  ...xdS .c3 00 12.h3 e6 13.a3. White has an isoated pawn, but his pieces ae so active that it is vey dicut fo Black to equaize. 11.�x£ �xd5

Ae this move the chaacte of the game is entiey dieent fom the one aising ae 9.c3, when White intends to go to b3 with his queen and attacks on the dak squaes. Now, thee is an immediate shap conict in the cente and the pay is mainy tactica, without any cea positiona guideines. White must choose now between shap ines, based on the 9 f6 A1)  a esut of the move 9.c4, sacice of his d4paw the base of the back kight on e4 12.�g3?! and A2) 12.�h3, and is undemined, so it must eteat. aowing simpication into an White now has two possibiities: endgame with  12.�xd5 to foce a caication of the situation in the cente th A) A1) 12.�g3?! 1 0 .xd5, o to incease the pesThis is one of two possibiities sue with B) 1 0 .3 fo White to keep the queens on 

-

hapter 20

the boad and ty to exet pes sue in the cente, but it tuns out to be tie. 12  d 133 00 1 b5

16ad1 White fails to tap the enemy queen with 16.a3 �xb2 17.ab1 �a2 and hee he is stuck fo a continuation. 16a6 17x7 Ae 17.c3 it is vey good fo Back to continue smpy wth 17 ... fe8, with a soid exta paw. 17d6 18�h3 7 19  6 xd3 2 0 �xd3 6 21  �a5 22 g+ @h8 23 h  2�h3 @g8 25xh7 5 Back has paied his opponent's attempt to mate him and has pe seved the eta mateial, so he maintains an advantage.

1 �b It is payabe but nfeio fo A2 12�h3? Back to opt fo 14 . ..�g4 15.�xg4 xg4 16. f6 17.xc7 ad8 18.e3, Kamsky  Khaifman, Las egas 1999. Hee Black can play 18 ... a6!, which leads to a vey complicated stugge in which White has a powe bishoppai but his knight is standed in ene my teitoy. 15g5 adS This centalising move is the best, as is oen the case in open positions, and it even aows Back This queensotie is much to ght fo the advantage! In moe inteesting, but Back can many vaiations White's bishop sti seze the initiative with peon d3 is hanging and his ack of an cise pay. 12 �xd escape hole fo the king is bound to te as wel. Back can ony stuggle to Back only equaizes with the each equaity with 12 ...xd4 13. ine: 15 ...h5 16.xe7 xg3 17. c3 d7 14.xd7+ xd7 15.e3 xb4 xb4 18.ad1, hapyko  e6 16ad1 d6 17.f5 (othe T.Balogh, Zagan 1995. Hee he good white option is 17.f4!? he8 should continue with 18 ...ad8!= 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4 g6 20.f5

 4  xe4 5. d4 dS 6 §d3  c6 70  0  e7 8 e g4 9 . c4  6

d8 2 1.d4 c6 22 .c3; Backs foces ae al squashed into the ast few anks but he has an exta  paw and shoud not lose. ) 17 ... e7 18.b5 hd8 19.xd6 cxd6; White has at least enough com pensation fo the pawn Kaspaov  Kapov, Moscow (m/28) 1984. 33

natives fo White hee: 14.e2 0-0-0 15.e3 �xd3 16.�xg4+ b8 17.�xg7 �f5 18. �h6 hg8; Black has a moe active position; 14.e3 �xd3 15.�xg4 �g6, and White must pay pecisey to equaize. 4 h5! 5 4 �5 6g3 Ae 16.e3 a good continuation fo Back woud be 16 .. 0-0 17.ae1 d6 18.g3 fe8 6 �6 7 f4        with an exceent position fo Back. 







A3) 2�xd5 xd5 13c3 Fo 13 . e4 0-0-0 14.c3  see 13.c3 0-0-0 14.e4. 13 g4! Black's knight is pefectly paced on g4 and ite is foced to potect his f2paw.Having blocked the h3c8 diagona Black oen has the possibiity of casting queenside. Hee Black usually plays 13 ... d8, but then he must eckon with the possibility of 14.c2! ? (it is useless fo ite to ty 14.b5 3      We should point out that Back in view of 14    0-m=, when the bishop on e7 is not hanging has a vey inteesting atenative owing to the vulneability of at his disposa hee: 13 ...db4!? Whites back ank; and it is had 1 4. e4 xd4 1 5. e3 dc2 ! (but to see how White can continue not 15 .. .c5? in view of 16 . xd4! his attack ae 14.f5 0-0 15.e3 cxd4 17.b5± with a stabe ad�b4 16. a3 �b3!) 14 .  0-0 15.e3 vantage to White) 16.a3 xe1 (it is �b4 16.g5  o even 16.ab1!? aso quite safe fo Black to opt fo 16 ... xa1 17.ab4 xb4 18.xa1 4 We should gance at the alte c6= when his pawchain b7c6 



hapter 20

cosideably esticts the actity of White's bishop o e4) 17.axb4 (i the vaiatio 17xe1 000 18.xa7 b6 19.f5+ b7 20.xe7 he8 2.xe8 xe8 22e4+ c6 White's bishop staded o a7 is i much geate touble tha Black's kight pied o c6.) 17 ... xb4 18.xe1 000=. Black's ook ad two paws do ot seem to be ay weake tha Wite's two mio pieces.

This staightfowad ad solid move is best hee. Ae the moe exible 15 ... f6 16.e4 b5 (16...a5 17.d5 e7 18.b4!) 17.d5 e7 18.ad o 18 .xa7! ? White has chaces to ght fo the iitiative. 16 e4 d7 17. xd4 xd4 18 . x7 xb7 19.xe7 hd8 20. 8d7= The ook ad paw edig is equal ad a daw is ve likely. 

14.xd5! This is the oly possibility fo ite to ceate ay seious poblems fo Black. The alteatives ae completely hamless : 1.c4 b4 15.d2 xd4 16. xdS xd2 17.d c6 18.xd2 cdS 19.xd4 dc4 20.c4+ b8 v  Razuvaev Tashket 1984; 1. b 15.d2 (S.dS d 16.a3 xc3 17.bx3 d7=) 1 .. .f6 16.xc6 bxc6 17.e3= ams  arpov iaes 1994. 14 Jxd5 15 . e3! (iagam) 15 .xd4! 



B 1 0 .c3

10  Thee is aoth thoetical lie he: 10 . ..xd .cxS f3 12.gxf3 cS but I do ot oside it to b completel sf for Black. 

 4 . C Cxe4 5. d4 d5 6 .  d  c6 7. 0 -0  e7  .  e g4 9 . c4  f6

Thee is aso a weknow vaiation: 10 ... 00 1.cxd5 xd5 12.h3 e6 13.a3 whch can aso aise ae 10.cxd5 xd5 .Cc3 00 12 .h3 e6 13.a3 �x xd4 2�d  completey equa endgame is eached ae 12.�h3 dc4 13. xc4 c2 14.d1 �c8 15.�g3 00 16.b1 d6 17.�h4 �g4= aana  Gelfand Biel 2009. Thee is a tansposition of moves ae 12.�g3 dxc4 13.xc4 00 14.d (14.g5 §d6 15.�h4 h6 16.xf6 �xf6 17.�xf6 gxf6 obon  Kapov Hanove 1983) 14.. .c5 15.h6 h5 16.�h3 (16. �g4 �d6) 16 .. .f6 (16 ... �d6 17. e3=) 7.�g3=

This move has been extensve y anayzed in theoy and tested many times in pactice. Black can hold the position but he must memoize a ot of vaations and kow them thooughly. He plugs the aimportant ee which White can open only by giving up his lghtsquaed bishop a temendousy impotant attacking pece.

hite can now continue opening les with 1a) 3cxd5 o else ty to incease the pessue with b) 3i 1a) 13cxd5 xd5 ib5 c6 15  xd5 cxb5

Ae 12.�d Back can equal ize in wo ways. The move ) 12 e6 has been played nume os ties but the is also the simple and moe pecise move 2) 12 dxc4! e hall dea with the both in oe to make the situation copltely clea. 



1) 12 e6 

4

hapter 20

16�b3 White has aso tried some oth er moves hee: 16.a4 16 .a4 00 0 0 17.axb5 17 .axb5 cS 1 . e3 e3 xe3 19xe3 gS 20.g3 fd 2  . d3 h= h = , ad ad White's White's edge edge is is merely symboic, Gashimov  Gefad, Liares 2010; 16.hS 00 17.xe7+ xe7 1.xb5 1 .xb5 fd fd 19 . e3 a6 2 0 .b3 .b3 ac 2  . ad1 ad1 = , daw, daw, a achi chie e La La grav gravee  Gef Gefad, Bie Bie 2009 20 09 ; 16.d3 00 17. 17 . e3 c7!N c7 !N This is Back's most pecise e spose the positio is ess cea aer 17... 17...c5 c5 1.ad1 xe3 19. xe3). xe3) . 1. 1 .xe7+ xe7+ xe7 xe7 19 . xa7 xa7 d!. Black has othig to be afaid of with the quees o the board. His doubed paws o the ble are ot realy a iabiity. 20.xd d 21.b6 dc 22. a 3  d S 23 . d4 d4 f6= , th th ideas ideas of 2 4 ...c ... c22 or 24 . . . b4; 16 .f4 f4 xf4 xf4 17. xe7+ f f 1  . eS d6 19.d2 19.d2

16 .. . xeS! This is the right move, sice Black does ot eed to be afra afraid id of ghosts ghosts!! (19 . . . g6 20.ee1 f6 2.ad± Naiditsch  amik, Dortmud 200) 20. b4+ e 21.xbS+ White

achieves othig much th 21. e1 e2+ 22.f c 23.f4 xdS 24.xe2+ d7 25.d2 xd2 26. xd2 c 7 27.c3+ a  d ow ow Blac Blackk ca choo choose se betwee betwee 27 . . . b 2 . xg7 with a appoximatey equa but doubeedged ght o both sides of the board, ad the immediate immed iate daw daw aer 27 . . . b6 2.e3+ a6 29.a3+) 2...d 22.d1 e2+ 23. h1 White os es immediatey imme diatey folog folog 23. f1 f1 d4 24.a4 c6 +  ad he e mais a whole rook dow, th out havig havig ay dageous discov ered ered chec checks.) ks.) 23 . . . d4 24.xb7 c 25.h3

25 ...g5! ... g5! This is the simpest ad safest move; move; Black prevets prevets a possibe f2f4 ad at the same time protects his rook o h th his quee. Now White captures the kight o d4 i various ies, but i the meatime mea time Black brigs his kig to safet safetyy ad activates ac tivates his hook hook istead istead,, aer aer 25 . . . c5 the postio becomes vey sharp) 26.xa7 26.c3 c7 27.b+ d7 2.b4  29.xd4 d) 26 .. . e 27.xd4 xd4 2.xd4 c2 29.b4 d7 ad oly White ca ose this positio.

 4Cj  4 Cj Cxe4 5  d4 d5 6 � �dd3 Cc6 70 -0 � e7 8 e �g4 � g4 9 c4 C6

16



00

20�2 I ode to deveop hs tatve, Whte must somehow combat the eemy kght o e6, so t seems ve ogca fo hm to opt fo the mmediate 20.f4.

17i3 17.Cxe7+ xe7 18.xb5 fd8 19.e3 a6 20.b3 a ac8 2 . ad1 , daw, daw,  ac ache he Lag Laga ave ve  Gefa Gefad, d, ad ow: Bie 2009, ad despte the fact f Back B ack eteats eteats his kight imi mthat the bshop s usuay stoge mediatey, medi atey, befoe befoe t has eve bee bee  tha the kght whe whe thee s pay atta attacked, cked, th 20 2 0 ... C c7, the ae o both aks,  ths patcua 2.c3 �xc3 22.Ce7+ h8 23. stuato Back s safey hodg xc3 Ce6 (o 23 .. .Ca6 Ca 6 24.d7 24 .d7 b4 b4 the positio. Thee ae quees 25.2 b6 26.Cc6 Cc5 27xa7 peset o the boad, ad quee xa7 28.Cxa7 a8 29.Cc6 xa2 ad kight kig ht wok togethe togethe at east 30.Cxb4 ad Back has o pobas we as quee ad bshop. It s ems at a) 24.f5 ad8 25.xd8 aso vey good fo Back that o Cxd8 26.c7 thee ases a the queesde hs pawnbase o edgame  whch Back's peces b7 is vey secuey potected. potected . ae stuck o the back ak ad his  7   5 5 18Jad1 3 19 defece wi be dcut; dcut; it s more accuate fo him to x3 �a5 cotiu cotiuee th 20 . . . fd8 2.f5 Cc7 22.Ce7+ h8 23.de1 b6 24. x d1 25.xd1 25 .xd1 xe3+ xe3+ 26. f (26. (26 . h1 e2 27.b1 d8 ) 26 . . . f4+ 27.g1 e3, th a daw by pepetua check. 2 0 f8 21f4 b4 22  23d3 23.Ce7+ h8 24.c4 Ce6 25. Cd5 ad8 ad 8 26 .ee1 c5+ c5+ 27. 27. xc5 xc5 Cxc5 Cxc5 28. 2 8. xe8+ xe8 29. Cxb4 Cxb4 g6 g6 

hapter 20

30 .g6=, .g6=, daw, vid vide e  GeGe- the fact that Back's king acks safe safe shete. shete . fand, Moscow Moscow 2009 20 09.. lb) 13i

2 3 5!  5! In the game game Lek Lekoo  Gef Gefand, Nachik 2009, Back went ong with: with: 23 . . . d7?! and ae 24.�c7 �c5+ 25.@f1 �b5 26.�g3± he came unde postona pessue. 24f6 a8 25g7 O 25.e7+ h8 26.�f2 e6 27 27 7 g5= g5 = , aand nd Back B ack ceates ceates active tive countepay, co untepay, whie pesevng pe sevng the exta mateia. 25 xg7 26� g6= 

The poston is so open that White must woy about hs op ponent's numeous unpeasant check, so he is unabe to expoit

13   6! Wth ths move Black potects his ght squaes squaes as best he h e can. The atenatives woud not sove sove hs pobems : 13 .. . d4 14.e2 d3 15.f4 xf4 16.f4 00 17.�f3; Black's d pawn is ost and te maintans the intiative; 13 .. . dxc4 4.�a4+ c6 15.e6! (ae 15.�xc4, besdes a tansposition to the main ine with: 15 . . . 0  0 , Wh Whit itee must must eck eckon on with with 15 .. . d4 16.d1 �a5 17.h3 c5, with a athe uncea position.) 15 ...e6 ...e6 16.�xc4 00 17.xe6! (17.�xe6+  18.e3 �d6 19. �xd6= �xd6= da daw nand nand  amn amnik ik,, Manz (apid) 2001) 17. 17 . . .d5 . d5 18. e3. (diaga) Now Back fails fails to equaize, equaiz e, no matte what what he pays: pays : 18 . . . h8 19.x 19. xd5 (19. (19 .d4! d4! ?) 19 ...cxd5 ... cxd5 20.�a4 (20.�d3!? f6 2.d4 �d7 22.ae) 20... 20...f6 f6

 4 .  e4 5 . d 4 d5 6 . � d   c6 7. 0 -0 � e7 8. ' e �g4 � g4 9 . c4  f6

21.d b2 22.\bS f6 23.xd5 \ 24.ed6 and White maintains a sight edge thanks to his command comm and of the cente. 18 . . .f6! 9.c5 (19.d \d7 20.e4 c3 2.bxc3 ae8 22. Exe8 Exe8 23.a7 bS 24.\d4 \e7 25.h3 \a3 26.c5 \xa2=) 9 .. . \d7! (In the bitz game Mooze ozevvich ich  van vanch chuk uk Mosc Moscoow 20 07 thee thee fo foow owed ed 19 . . . e8?! 20.Exe8+ \xe8 2.xd5 cxdS 22. \xd5+ \. Now White oud have ontinued with 23.x+ x 24.e3± peseng his ex ta pawn and a his winning chances.)

20.Ed6 (20.Eae1 bS 21. \d3 3 3 2 2 .bxc3 .bxc3 Efe8 Efe8=) =) 20 . . . \ 21. xdS xdS 22.Exd5 (22.\xdS Efd8 23.\x+ x 24.Ead1 Exd6 25.Exd6 b6 26.a3 8 27.g3 2 28.Ed7+ g6 29. xa7

b2= b2 =  and in this this rook rook and pawn pawn ending Black only needs to exchange the queenside aws to daw daw the the game. 22 . . . Efd8 Efd8 2 3. Ead1 ExdS 24.xd5 (in the vaiation 24.\xdS \xdS 25.Exd5 b2 26. Ed7 Ed 7 8  8 27.e 27 .e33 a S 28.Exb 28 .Exb7 7 Blac Black hods the baane baan e thanks thanks to the elegan egantt move move 28 . . .d4!=) 24... 24 ...Ee8 Ee8 25.e3 b2 26.\d3 f6 27.h3. ite is bette but Bak shoud be abe to daw th accuate defence. 14.xd5 14.xd5 xd5 xd5 15.\g4 15.\g4

15 ... 0  0 The The move move 15 . . . xc3 opens additiona es fo ite's attack and in the game game Rad Radj abov abov  Ge Ge fand Medias 2010 he expoited this biianty with 16.bxc3 00 17.b! \c7 18.h6! d6 19.\h3! Efe8 20.g7! 20 .g7! +   winning. winning. 6.xd5 16.e6 16 .e6 xc3 17.bxc3 17.bxc3 e6= e6 = 16.\h3 g6 17.e6 e6 8. \xe6+ = 6 ... xd5 17. 17. 6 6 18. Wx6 Wx 6  19 . 3 3 19.f4 c5= 19 . . . f6 20.ad1

apter20

2 0 d7! Hee t woud be mpecise fo Back to opt fo 20 2Uxd5 e7 22.g4 and White man tains some advantage thanks to hs safe safe king and actve actve rooks as we as the pesence of queens on the the boad boad De Fm Fman an  cha cha do openh openhag agen en 200 0. Howeve t woud aso be quite safe safe fo Back to pay 20 . . . d4 21.b3 d7 22.f4 d8 23.e5 xe5 xe5 24. 24 . xe5 xe5 g6= g6 =  and he wi wi not pat pa t easiy wth hs key d4pawn. 21.xd5 xd5 22Jxd5 b2 Back shoud shou d daw eot eot-essy. 

14.a4+ White shoud ente an endgame n ode to pevent his opponent fom comfoaby com petng hs deveopment ae casting. Whte keeps hs two bshops and estoes estoes the mateia m ateia baance n the pocess but fas behind n deveopment. 14.b5 00 15.xd4 cxd4 16.f4 c8 17.d3=; ite has sucient compensation fo the pawn but no moe. The ne 14.g5 00 15.xe7 xe7 16.d5 d6 17.xf6+ gxf6 18. 18 .h6 h6 Lawi Lawits tsch ch  Haasz Haasz ustia 1995 fas fas to 18 .. .f5 .f5 19. 19 . xf8 xf8 and Back ends up with a sod exta pawn. 14 .  Jd7 Jd7 15xd7+ 15xd7+ xd7 xd7

B2) 12 dx4! 134 5 

16 e 16.g5 h6 17.h4 g5 18. g3 d6= Back simpies the poston advantageousy. 16.e3 hd8! This is the ght ook to pace hee so that he can bng hs king to safety safety on the e8 e8  squae. 17.xd4 (17. c2; 17. ac e8!) 17... 17 ...cxd4 cxd4 18.b5+ d6 19.ad1 c5 (Back aso

 4  [ x 4 5d4 d5 6 d3 [ c6 7. 0 0 7 8J g4 9.c4 [ 6

equalizes wth 19 ...f8 20.xd4+ c7 21.f4 ac8 22.c4 d7=) 20. e5+ d6 21.ee1 (White woud not achieve much th 21. f4 f8 22.xd4+ c7 23.c4+ b8 24. a4 a6 25.b3 a7 26.a4 b6=) 2 .. .c5 22 .e5=  daw miin  Gii, antyMansyisk 2010. 16  d6! This is an impotant muti pupose move. Back peseves the possibiity of going to f8 with eithe of his ooks depending on cicumstances, and his bishop goes simultaneousy to a vey active position, ceating the theat of [d4c2 . Back cannot sove his pob lems with the natual ine: 16 ... hf8 17.c4 d6 18. [b5 ! [xb5 (it is athe dubious fo Back to opt fo 18 . ..[c2 19.d [xa1 20 .[xd6 c6 21.b5+ b6 22.b4!± and ite has a dangeous attack, despite the tansition into an endgame) 19.b5+ c7 20.d2 and White has a slight edge, thanks to his bishoppai. 7 c4 Black can counte 17.d1 wth 17 ...af8!. This move is not easy to nd, but it soves a his pobems. His othe ook emains on h8 as an attacking piece! 18.c4 [g4 19.f4 (if 19.f3 h2+ 20.h1 h5 21.[ e4 c6  see how use the ook on the h8squae is!; o 19.h3 h2+ 20.h1 [xf2+ 21. xh2 [xd1 22.[xd1 b5 and Back's pospects ae pefeabe) 19 ...f4 20.xf4 xf4 21.[e2 e4 22.[xd4 xd4 23.xd4+ 

cxd4 24 .d1 [e5 25.xd4+ c6=; Back maintains equaity thanks to his active pieces.

7 c2! This is a concete decision by Black; he cannot sove his pobems just by paying positionaly: 17.. . c6 18.d3! (Back is bette ae 18.g5 [c2 19.xf6 gxf6 20.e6 [xa1 21.b5+ c7 22. [d5+ c8 23 .xd6 d8; the position is equa ae 18.d1 ad8 19.g5 h6 20.f6 gxf6=) 18 ... ae8 (if 18...c4 19.[e2! cxd3 20. [xd4+ d5 21.[f3±, Black's d3 paw wl soon be lost) 19.d2 and although Black's pieces ae centaized, White has the advantage thanks to his two powe bishops. 18.M xa1 19 f4 (diagam) 19 8! This is the most pecise way to daw; the atenaties ae not competey convincing: If 19 ...[c2 20.xd6+ e7 21. d 5+ [xd5 22.xd5 White's po sition is possiby pefeable. Ae 19 ... ad8 20.xd6+ e7 





haper 20

2 0  ds 21 xd6 Aer 21.g5 a8 22 .xa c7 White's copensation for the exchange is insucient. 21  xd6 22:xd6+ e7 23 :e6+ d7=

21.e6+ d7, White has the rather ris t: 22.e5!? a6! 23. he8 2.xc5, with rather unclear consequences. 20e4 It is again a draw aer the transosition of oves 20.b5 d8 21.xd6 xd6 22. xd6+ e7 23. e6+ d7

ite ust take the draw by eretual check.

onluion he vaiaon wih 94 whih we have analyed in hi haper  doe no preen a eriou danger o Blak, a long a he i well pre  paed and underand he main idea I believe ha in he key vari  aion 9  f O     x  xd4 2 d, aer 2 4! Bak equale even more onviningly han wih he he more popu ar move 2  e, epeialy ine here are fewer line o memore

Chapter 21

e4 e5 2 6 e5 6 4  e4 54 5 6 c6 70-0 e7 8c

ine hee is: 8 ...f5 9e xc3 0. bc3 d3 .xd3 00, but ths seems to me to be much iskie fo Back. 9bx3 g4 If 9 .. . 00, then 10.h3! and Black's ightsquaed bishop is depived of any acve squaes to go to.

This vaiation was the cause of seious woies fo Back fo a ong peiod of time. It is sti quite popula, but the situation is diffeent now, because Black has found eliabe ways of obtaining an acceptabe position. White is wiling to slighty weaken his pawstuctue, but in etun he gins a ead in development, which can even be inceased in the tue, because Black wil have to edepoy his kight om the squae. t tuns out to be isplaced thee, since White's pwnhain c3d4 hmpes its obility and Black l need time to improve its position. 8  x The othe popua theoetical 

Now ite's most popula a tenative is the natua deveoping move A) 1 0 1 but lately he has been playing moe and moe oen ) 10 b1 intending to folow anothe scheme of deveop ent. Fo 10.f4 00 1Ue1  see 10.e. Fo 10.h3 h5 1Ub1 b8  see 10.b1 b8 11.h3 h5.

hapter21

A) O 00  f4 Hee, ae .b1, Black shuld play, nt  ...b8, whch tanspses t the vaiatn 10.b1 b8 1 .e1 00 , but ...b6!  e infcng hs ente queensde f matin whle Whte's k n b1 tuns ut t be useless.

seems that ths mve slves all Black's pblems.  pssibe cn tnuatn s: 16.g5 f6 17.f4 h6 18.f3 xf3 19xf3 e8 20.e3 xe3 2.�xe3 e6 22.�f3 e7 23.c4 �a4 24 . xf5 xf5 25.�xd5 xd4 and hee f 26.f5 e2+ 27.h1 f4 Whte is even sight y wse, whle ae 26. �xd4 �c2 27.�d5 �e4= t al ends n a daw.) 13 ...h5 14.b1 �d7 15.g4! g6 16.h4!  Whte has the n tatve. 13�x The endgame is abut equal ae 13 . xc7 xd1 14 . xd8 xc2 15 . xc2 d8= 3 �xd6

Black has sevea pssibltes nw and nealy all f them equal ize:    id6 , A2) l b8 and A3)   ih5 A)   id6 Ths mve is a bit passive but still eliable. 12ixd6 h Black lses ae 12 .. .xd6? 13 . xh7+ xh7 14.g5+ g6 15. �xg4 f5 16.�h4 h8 17e6+ �xe6 18.�xh8 xh8 19.xe6+ e 12 .. .cxd6, Whte has the stng eply 13.h3 ! (It is weake t play 13.e3 �d7 14.h3 h5 15. �d2 . In the game Tpav  Gelfand, Wijk aan Zee 2008, Black nw played 15 ... ae8 16. h4, when White had a athe unpleas ant intative, s it was much bet te t cntinue th 15 ...f5!N. It

143 14.h4 ae8 15.h5 e6 16.g3 fe8 17.xe6 xe6 18.g2 e7= Ivanchuk  Huzman, Ohid 2009. White has ted 14.b1 hee, but it des nt seem sensbe t pvke b7b6. Ae 14 ...b6 15.e3 ae8 16.be1, vetushkn  Haba, Gemany 20 09, Black can pt f 16 ...e7!, as n the game Gschuk  amnk fm the main ne, except f the n

 4   xe4 5d4 d5 6d Cc6 70 -0  e7 8 c Cxc 9x c   4

usion of the use move b7b6. 14 a8 15a

Hee Back can equaize by foce with 22 b5 23 b3 a5 24g3 a4 25  d5 (ae 25.c2, Back continues wth 25 ... a3 15  7! This exceent idea comes fom 26.d3 g6 and White cannot adimi Kamnk and it pacti hod on to hs c3pawn) 25 xd5 The position has bee cay equaizes the game. If 15 .. xe3 16 xe3 g6 17.h4 simpied and a daw is vey ike b8 18.h5 d7, then ae19.g4! y. Leko  Kasimdzhanov, Nachk A2) u  bs 2009, White has the ee and ex ta space on the kingside, so Backs defence w not be at a easy. 16x7 x7 17h4 ds ! Back pans to egoup hs foces wth h7h6, g8f8 and e7g8f6. 184 b6 93 The vaiation 19.e2 dxc4 20. xc4 f5 21.c3 g6 = eads to equa ity. 19 h6 2 0 xd5 Back epies to the pophyacThis amusing move was found tc move 20.g3 with the consoi by GM exande Motyev and it datng move 20 ...c6, ae which t is not a bad one. The idea is fo is had to see how White can im- Back to pay (say ae 12.b1) pove his positon. 12 ... d6 13.xd6 xd6 and now 2 0  xd5 24 6 22  te does not have the move , Gischuk  Kamnk, Kazan 14.xh7+ because ae 14 ... xh7 15.g5 g6 16.xg4 f5 17.h4 2011. 

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hapte 21

h8 18e6 xe6 19xh8 xg5 Black's rk n b8 is prtected! 2.h3 Fr 12b1 d6  see  b Aer the immediate 12e3, Back has the surprising repy 12  g5! 13g3 f5 14e5 xe5 15 xeS d6 16e1 c6 and his psitin is in n way wrse 2 h5 

th a white rk n e3 it wuld have been very gd fr Black t cntinue with 15  f5! This pawn is ready t advance ne square rther, enhancing the eect f the pin n White's kight n f3 We anayzed the same psitin by transpsitin aer 10b1 b8 11e1 00 12f4 d6 13xd6 xd6 14e3 f5! 15h3 h5 3 6 4.%3 

3.%2N This is the ny way fr White t ceate sme prblems f Back; the atenatives are harmless: 13g4 g6 14xg6 hxg6 (it is as gd fr Black t pt fr 14  g6 15g3 d7= th the idea f e7d6 and h7h5) 15d3 e8 16ab1 d7 17c4 dxc4 18xc4 d6= Back has practicay equaized, Bgan  Mtyev, Pi kvsky 20 10; 13e3 d6 14xd6 xd6 15 b1, vider  Mtyev, Ohrid 2009 Here, Back payed the rather tentative mve 15  f6 and ae 16c4 dc4 17xc4+ h8 18c3 he ended up in a very unpleasant psitin.  is en the case in simiar pawstructures,

4 .8 Aer Back's the ptins White maintains a slight advan tage, which is quite typical fr this variatin He dminates the ele and his bishp is much better than Black's kight: 14   d7 15 xd6 xd6 16h4 g6 17xg6 hxg6 18ab; 14 xf4 15xf4 xf3 16xf3 d6 5.%x8+ 'xS 6.x8+ x8 7 6 cxd6 8 h4 g6 9 xg6 (diagram) 9 g6 This is nt a very bvius mve; the idea is t be abe t bring the king clser t the du bed central paws 

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 4   xe4 5d4 d5 6   d3  c6 70 -0  e7 8 c3  xc3 9bxc3   g4

Ae the atual lie: 19 .. hxg6 20b1 b6 21.f White maitais the pessue . 20.  2Ubl b6 22 . b5 It is essetial fo White to foe the eemy ook away fom the e8squae, i ode to be able to bg his kig lose to the e te 22 .. Jk8 23.2 5 24. 3 c7 25.f4 7 26.g4 f6 

Bak is simply waitig. White's positio is slighty moe pleasat, but he has patially o hanes of ahieg aythig meaingl fom his tiy edge. A3) ll...ih5

12.bl It is bad fo ite to play 12 .e3, Kaaki  Maieja, P Blitz 2004, i view of 12 ...g5! 13 g3 f5 14.e5 g4 15d2 xe5 16 xeS d6 12 ...bs

13.�2 Just as befoe, it is ufavouable fo White to t to get id of the pi o the kight th the help of the ook, beause ae 13.e3 Blak has the powel iposte 13 . ..g5! 14.g3 f5 15.e5 g4 16. d2 xe5 17.xe5 d6 If 13.h3 d6 14d6 �xd6 15.e3 f5! ad by taspositio of moves we have agai eahed the positio aisig fom the vai

hater21

ation 10.Eb1 Eb8 11.Ee1 00 12. f4 d6 13.xd6 xd6 14.Ee3 fS 5.h3 hS. 3 6 4.'3 �7 It is athe dubious fo Black to pay 4 .. .f6 15.xd6 xd6 16. h4 Efe8 17.h3± White obtains a noma sight edge, which is just what he is sting fo in this vaiation, ae 4 . .f4 5.xf4 xf3 16.xf3 d6 7. Ee3 g6 18.h4 asikian  Wang Yue, isakhapatnam 2008. 

pobems ae 25 ... a5 26 Ee1+ f8 27.c5 dxcS 28.Exd8+ Exd8 29 .dxc5 bxcS 30.Ee5 Ec8 31.b5± and ite maintains a clea advantage.) 17g3 d3 18.d6 xd6 19xd6 cxd6 20.cxd3 bS 21.f4 (thee emains nothing to ght fo ae 21.a3 aS 22.f4 b4 23.axb4 axb4=) 2..b4 22.xd5 bxc3 23.xc3 xd4 24.e4 dS 25.c3 Exb1 26Exb Ec8 27 xdS Ec2 28.a4 Ea2= th an im minent daw in sight. 5 .. .x6 6.h4 g6 7. xg6 hxg6 8. h4 The move 18g3= eads to an equa endgame, daw, Boogan  Gefand, KhantyMansiysk 2010. 8 a6 Back's idea i s to continue with b7b5. 9.a4 a5 20.g3 'c6 2. 'g5 Fessinet  Li hao, Wijk aan Zee 201 . 

5.6 The ine: 15e5 eS 16.dxe5 g6 17.g6 hxg6 18.Ebd1 e6= leads to an appoximately equal position, meets  Gefand, Nice 2010. 15g5 h6 16.h3 g6!N (It is weake fo Black to play hee 16 ... g4 17.g3 h3 18.d6 cxd6 19.xh3 xh3 20.gxh3 fd8 21. EbS f8 2 2.Eeb1 b6 23.Exd5 Ebc8 24.c4 e7, Bacot  Wang Yue, Nanjing 200. White now avoided a ght with 25.Ee1 + f8 26.Eb1= , but he could have tied 25.g2, since the immediate attack on the c4pawn would not solve Black's

Hee, in ode to maintain the balance, Back needed to play 2..8, fo exampe: 22.g2 (The idea of this move is ae h4 h5 to edepoy the ook to the he fo an attack) 22 xl 

 4 Cxe4 5.d4 d5 6.d3 Cc6 7. 0 0  e7 8. Cc3 Cx3 9 .  x c3  g

23 .xe �xc3 24.e7 �x4 25. xc7 c 2.f4 �c5 27.7 (27.�g4 d8 28.f5  28.xb7 Cb4  28 .. .�d6 29.xb7 Ce5=) 27 b4 28.�e5 x3 2. �xb8+ h7 30.cx3 �c2+ 3.h3 �3 Whte cannot avod the pepetua check. 

and most natua way to equaze woud be 16 ... Cc4. Ae 7.fe  Back can pay 17...d6! , equaz ng, because the d5pawn woud be taboo; f 18.xd5, Back has the tactca shot 18 ... Cd2 ! 1 0 - 0 

B)  O .b

It s consdeed usefu to at tack the b7pawn, focng Back to make an awkwad move wth hs ook. Late, Whte can tansfe hs ow ook to the kngsde, va the b3 o b5 squaes (natuay, ae ceang the thd ank by advancng c3c4). 1 o ...bs u. e Back s n no dange ae .h3 h5 12.g4 (12. e1  see 11. e1 00 12.h3 h5; 12.f5 00 13.�d3 g6 14.e1  see 10.b1 b8 1.e1 00 12.h3 h5 13.f5 g6 14.�d3; ae 12.c4, Back's smpest eacton woud be 12 ... Cxd4 13.g4 Cxf3 14.�xf3 g6=) 13.Ce5 d3 14.xd3 00 15.�f3 Ca5 16.f4, Kamsky  Inakev, Jemuk 2009. Back's smpest

2.h3 Whte has aso ted deveop ng hs bshop to f4 n ths pos ton: 12.f4 d6 13.xd6 xd6 14. e3 (fo 14.h3 h5 15.e3 f5!  ee 14.e3 f5! 15.h3 h5)

14 .. .f5 ! The dea of ths move s vey smpe. Ae f5f4, the pn on the knight w be vey unpeas ant. 15.h3 (It s aso possbe fo Whte to pay 15.e1, with the dea of contnung with d3e2, n o de to get d of the pn and ate

hapter 21

expoit the vuneabiity of the eS and e6squaes, caused by the move f5. In that paicua case, Black can sove al his pob ems with 15 ...b6!=, feeing the ook fom the defence of the b7 pawn and panning to continue with be8) 15 .. .h5 16.e1 (16. e2?! f6 17.ae1, Bkic  Huz man, Povdiv 2008 and ae the alpupose fotiing move 17... bf8 ! , Back obtains an even moe peasant position) 16 ...f4 17.e6 d7 18.b5 f3 19.c6 bxc6 20.xb8 xb8 2.e7 fS 22. e8+ (ae 22.gxf3, it woud be quite safe fo Black to pay simply 22 .. .h6=, secuing an escape squae fo the king on h7) 22 ... xe8 23.xe8+ f 24.e6+  25.c8+ f8 26.e6= with a daw by pepetual check. Black's othe possible esponses to 14.e3 fail to sove his pobems: 14 .. .d7 15.h3 fS 16.f5 xfS 17.e2± and thanks to his tota domination of the de, ite maintains dangeous pessue, aiditsch  Mudzia, Gemany 2011; if 14.. .h5 15.d2 f6 ite shoud continue, not th the outine move 16.c4, which ae 16 ... dxc4 17.c4+ h8 18.c3 3 19.gxf3 eS= eads to appoximate equality, but with 16.h4 and ite maintains a dangerous initiative, which l equie ve precise play fom Black to neutalize. 14 ...f6 5.h3 (1S.c4 dc4 16.

c4+ h8 17.c3 e7 18.h3 fS= ) 15 ...h5

16.c4 (ite cannot ceate any dangeous theats with 16.e2, because ae 16...d7 17.g4  18.h4 fe8 19.f5 xe3 20. xe3 e8= Black successy solves all his poblems, nand  Gelfand, Monaco 2006) 16 ...dxc4 (if 16 ...xd4 17.h7+ xh7 8. xd4  19.c5 Blacks king is vey weak, thanks to which White initiative deveops eortessy) 17.c4+ h8 18.c3 with a better position fo White, vide  Motylev, Ohid 2009. 12 h5 

13  The move 13.g4 only ceates aditional weaknesses, so it is not 

 4 Cxe4 5 .d4 d5 6 .   d3 C6 7. 0 -0   e7 8. C3 Cx3 9 .  x3 

at all dangeous. Ae 13 ...g6 14.f4 d6 15.�d2 Ce7 (5 ... �d7) 16.Ce5 d3 17.Cd3 Cc8 (7...Cg6 18 .d6 �xd6 19.f4 f5 20.g5 c5) 18.Ce5?! (it would be moe pudent fo White to con tinue with 8e 2= ) 18 ...Cb6 Black's position was even moe pleasant in the game Gashimov  Illescas odoba, Bacelona 20 07. In olak  Istatescu, Desden 2008, ite played 13.c4!? dxc4 ( endgame a pawn down aises ae 13 ...Cxd4 14 . h7+ xh7 15.�xd4 f6 16.�xd5 �xd5 17. cxd5 f3 8.gxf3 fd8 19.c4 b5 20.e4 and it would be fa fom easy fo Back to save the game.) 14.c4 d6 (if 14 ...f3 15.�xf3 Cxd4 16.�e4 c5 17.xb7 xb7 8.d3 g6 19.�xb7 Ce6 20.�e4 White maintains a slight edge, and the same is tue of the vaiation 14 . ..b5 15.xb5 xb5 16.b5 3 17.�xf3 Cxd4 18.�e4 Cxb5 9.�xe7 Cd4 20.�e4  ite's bishop is bette than his opponent's kight in a position with play on both wings, so Black cannot eqalize) 15.c3

ow Black's most precise

move seems to be the devep 15 ...e8 (In the abovementoned game thee folowed 15 ...a6 6 d3 b5; Hee White can pa  a4! b4 18d2! ceating dente pobems fo his oppnent, be cause in many vaatons Backs ight on c6 has no comfotabe squaes to go to) 16.e3 (6. xe8+ �xe8 17.e3 Ce7; 6. e3!? h6 17.d3 xe3 18.e3 Ce7 19.c4 c6 ) 16 ...h6 7.d3 �f6= with equality. 13 .. .g 14.3

14 . N The altenatives fo Black ae less conncing. It is bad fo him to opt fo 14 ... �d6 15.g6 hxg6 16.c4 dxc4 17. �x4 and his queen on d6 is mis placed in many dieent vaia tions, fo exampe: 17. . .f6, u tovsy  Zhou Weiqi, KhantyMansiysk 2009, 18.d5! e5 19. Cxe5 e5 20.b3 fe8 2.be3± Black holds his position by a miacle ae 14 ...a6 15.g6 hxg6 16.c4 (othese Black plays b7 b5) 16 .. .dxc4 17.�xc4 f6 



hapter21

8.f4 (8.d5 a 9.d3 b5= ; if 8.c3 then not 8 .. e8 because of 9.f4 and he must eckon with the theat d4d5 but  ...d7 9.g5 b 2.c d6 2 .xd6 cxd6 2 2.f4 fd8=) 8 ... xd4 9.xd4 xd4 20.xd4 xd4 2.xc7 be8 22.ed c5 23. d5 b6 menko  Li hao Wijk aan Zee 20. White can continue hee th 24.a4! (the abovementioned game contin ued 24.xb6 b6 25.xb6 e + 26 .h 2 e2= and it ended imme diatey in a daw) 24 ...c8 25.xb6 xb6 26.xb6 xc2 27. xa6 e8 28.d4 g5 29.g4 White maintained some nning chances but with coect defence Back shoud be abe to daw. It is quite possibe to pay 4 ... a5.

much with 5.e5 d6 16.f4 (6. d7 e8 7.d2 xe+ 8.xe a8=) 16 .. .c6 (With this move Back secues the c7squae fo his queen) 7.xg6 g6! (ae 7...hxg6 it woud be pobematic fo him to advance f6) 8.g3 c7 9.e2 be8 20.be xe5 2.xe5 =.  continuation pesenting moe dange to Back is 5.f4 c4 6.e5! (e 6. e2 Back can pay 6 ... f6 and the position simpies to equaity ae both 7.d2 xd2 8.xd2 e8= and 7.h2 g5! 8.xg6 g6 19.xg5 xg5=) 6 ...d6 7. xg6 hxg6 8.g3! White is abe to maintain the tension with this move (18.xc4 dxc4 9.f3 b5 20. xd6 cxd6 2.d aS=) but af te 8 ...xe5 9.dxe5 e8 20.ed t b6 Back pans to tansfe his queen to the bockading squae e6. White has ony a minima ad vantage in this compicated posi tion thanks to his exta space. 5.� b5

It is essentia fo Back to depive his opponent of the possibi Now ite woud not achieve ity of c3c4.  we as contoing

 4  xe4 5.4 5 6 . 3  c6 7. 0 -0  e7 8.  c3  xc3 9.bx3  g4

the c4squae, Black has the possibility of pepaig the beak though b5b4, activatig his foces o the queeside. 1.f4 g 7JWg4  18. e2 f4 1JWxf4

structue. Ae 19 .. .d6 20.h6 f6 21. be d7 22.f4, Back stil has poblems to woy about. 2 0 .bel �

Back equalizes, because ae 1 g7 21.�g4 he has the stog reply It is very importat ot to let 21...b, th the idea of coite's quee go to the h6 tiuig ith b6a6, emidig squae, because i that case Black White that he has umeous ll have to weake his paw weakesses o the queeside. 

onclusion The variation beginning with 8.  3 is very problematic for Black  an requires very precise play om him to maintain equali It is  essental to remember that  Wite tries to get rid of the pin on his j knight with the help of the move  e-e3, then it is almost always good   for Black to play- !, seing the initative on the king sie. ange  ly enough, this resource, even uner the most favourable circum  stances, has been generally ignored by Black.

Chaper 22

le4 e5 2� �6 3.�xe5 d6 4.� �xe4 5.d4 d5 6.d3 �c6 7 0  0 e7 8.c4

8 .. b4 The move 8 ...f6 is aso quite we egaded by theoy; Back is tng to gain secue conto ove the d5squae. Back sometimes pays 8 .. . g4 but White can continue with the foowing unpeasant vaiaon: 9cxd5 xd5 10.c3 xc3 11. bxc3 00 12.b f3 (12 ... d6 13.e4 h5 14.h3±) 13.xf3 xf3 14.gxf3 and thanks to his two powe bishops ite maintains a sight but stabe advantage. In this chapte we shal anayse A) .cx5 and ) J el If White alows his bishop to be exchanged without ceating any immediate theats Back has evey eason to be happy with the position ae fo example 9.c3

xc3 10.bxc3 xd3 .xd3 dxc4 12.xc4 00. White's centa paws ae hamess while Black's bishoppai might become a powe foce. It is not sensible fo ite to exchange his bishop fo the centaized enemy knight: 9.e4 dxe4 10.e5 00 .a3 (it is even wose fo him to opt fo .c3 f6 12.g4 d3) ...c6 12.xc6 bxc6 13.c3 f5 and Back's pospects ae again pefeable owing to his powe bishoppai. In the next chapte we sha deal with the eteat of ite's bishop 9.e2  which is a vey soid move and the main ine of this vaiation. A) .cx5

 4 C Cxe4 5d4 d  6 d  Cc6 0  0 � e .c4 Cb4

Tis is a very sarp and concrete ove wic leads to a long forcing line. ite is illing to part with is ligtsqared bisop and e allows its possible ex cange. In retrn e gains te e le, on wic e plans to organize an attack against te eney king, wic as not yet castled.  .. xd3 1 0 .d3 xd5 12.e5 000! (this ove is ch ore proising for Black tan te ore poplar 12 . ..g6 13.f3 g6 1.g (It wold be ore prdent for ite to play ere 1.c3 xc3 15.bxc3 xf3 16. gxf3 e6 17.x  18xe7 d7= t siplication and a draw.. 11.e1 Wite exerts pressre along te ele and attacks te kigt on e; tis is te only way for i to jsti is positional concession on ove nine. If e plays less abitiosly, ten aer 1.c3 xc3 12.bxc3 00 13.c f5, Blacks prospects are slighty better. l ... (diagra 12.g4 The idea of tis ove is to force te eney bisop to go to g6, so tat Black cannot plg te open ele t f5e6. ites alternatives ere cannot provide i wit anyting ore tan eqality:

Here, Black can choose between two attractive possibilities: 1 ...b 15.e3 (In te gae das  eets, ondon 2009 ite ade a terrible blnder, wich is ardly srpsing in sch a sarp and coplicated position: 15.e2? g 16.xg c3 17.xd5 xe2 18.f xd5 19.xe2 xd 20 .e3 h4 2.f1 d6  and aer the rter loss of is 2paw ite went

hapt er 22

cases he has no poblems whatsoeve If ite becomes geedy and gobbles up the pawn, then he wil end up in a very passive position with bad pieces 4\xc7 d6 S\c3 White ll not change anything by eteating the queen to c2, because Black can simpy castle and then bing his ooks into action 1S   Black has wo powel bishops and a pefect blockade on dS, and he also dominates the ce, al of which adds up to excellent compensation fo the pawn, Mihalcisin  Pavasovic, Portooz 200S ) 14  \c6 1S\aS (1S\xc6 bxc6= Black has no poblems, thanks to his bishoppai and the dSoutpost The position is equal ae S\e 000 16gS xgS 7xgS xd4 8xe6 e6 9xe6 \b5=) 1S d8 16f4 (16gS gS 7xgS 00 8xe6 e6 9 \c3=, draw, allejo Pons  Kasimdzhanov, an ebastian 2009) 6  00 7c \b6 8bS \xaS 9xaS a8 20d5 d7 2eS d6 (2e8 22xc7 b4 23 c4 aS 24xaS) 22g3 e5 23e5 c6= Naiditsch  Kamnik, Desden 2008 2 g 13.c3 t is bad fo White to play 3 eS, fo example: 3  xf2 4 \g3 e4 1Sc3 \xd4 16e3 \d6 7xe4 e4 18ad d5 4eS (Ae White's outine 9b4 b6 20 f4 00  He candeveloping move 4f4 Black can not create any real theats, while simply complete his development the variation 2f3 \d7 22xd5 with 4 00, o else play 4  \xdS 23xe7 aS leads to an add6 Sd6 cxd6 and in both vantage fo Black on to lose the game) 5 \xd4 6gxf5 g5 7\e2 d6 8  \f4 19d3 \xf5  The position aising is temendously dicult to evaluate, since thee ae so many possibiities to conside 14  hg8!  believe this is a vey good move fo Black; it indi ectly potects the bishop on f5 5gxf5 (If White does not cap tue the bishop, he l simpy be le with too many kingside weaknesses to woy about: 5 c3 xc3 16\xc3 d7 7f4 d6) 5 b4N 6e3 gxf5+ 7 f (7h?? xf2#) 7  \e6 8 d3 (8a3 d6) 8 xd4 9 xb4 xb4 20c3 d4 21e1 \g6 (Black has an altenative hee in 2\c4+ 22e2 d6, with numeous theats) 22 xe4 xe4 23xe4 e4  Black's attack is extemely dangerous and thee ae too many annoying check luking on all sides 2c3 xc3 3\xc3 e6



 4      xe4 5  d4 d5   � d3  70  0 �e7 8  4 

13 xc3 14�xc3 f 

This is the most reiable move. Black secures the square fo his ng and simultaneousy deprives his opponent's pieces of the e5 square. 15 f4 We must eamine White's aternatives here: 15.b3  16.�c7 he8 17. �c4 c4 18.bc4 b6  Wite's pawncentre is so unstable that Black's position is preferable, de spite the absence of a pawn, Zhang Penqiang  Motyev, hanghai 2001 (game 18 15.h4  16.xc7 he8 17. g6 hxg6 18.f4 ad8 19.ad1 d7 20.c3 g5 21.g3 d8 22. e8 e8= Back transferred his bishop to the b6square and drew eortessy, dams  meets, Wijk aan Zee 20 09 ; 15.c7 00 16.e7 f3 17. xg7+ h8 18.h6 g4+ 19.g3 d4 20. g6 hxg6= nand  I. okoov, Dortmund 1999. 15  1.h4 16.e3 he8 17.ae1 c6 White's attack reaches a dead 



end, whie the chonic pawn weaknesses in his camp emain. 16.c7 he8 17.h4 e4 18. f5 f5 19.gxf5 Ead8= 1 ...h5

17J�xc7 er 17.gh5, Back's best move is 17...f5 ! (or 7...h5 and 18.c7 he8 19.g5+ g5 20. g5  ite wins a pawn, but his chances of realising it are only minimal) 18.c7 he8 9.c3 (This move is necessa, beause White's knight is hanging and Back is also threatening a8c8.) 19 ...ac8 20.b3 e6 and in the ensuing endgame Black will depoy his bishop on d5, dominating the entire board. ite fails to achieve much th 17.e5 e5 (Back can aso retreat with 17...d7=, intending to continue th e7d6) 18.e5 g8 19.g6 e4 20.b3+ h7 21.gh5 he8 22.e5 f5  Back can continue paying without any isk, because he has at east a pepetua check at any moment. 17 Jhe8 18.g5+ g5 1. g5 

hapter

along the ele, jst as in variation A, bt here the game is mch qieter.

19  In the game Radjabov  Kramnik, Nice 2009, Black chose 19 ... g8, acqiescing to a position a pa dow. However, that did not prevent the exworld champi on from drawing easily. Black has another interesting alternative here in 19 .. .e4 20. ac1 h1 (aer 20 .. b6, White has the coldblooded reply 21.c3!±, th the ve powerl threat of ce3) 21.xe7+ xe7 22.e7+ g8 23.f3 f3 24.e5 hg4 25. c7 xe5 26.de5 e8 and this shold aso lead to a draw. 20.xe7 20.e7 e4 21.g5+ g8 22.h2 g4+ 23.g3 d7 Black has very active play on the light sqares and, despite White's extra paw, the draw sees inetable. 2 o ...xe7 21.xe7 g8 22.e6 h7 23.el es 24. e7 xe7 25.xe7 xg4= Black has perpetal check. 

) 9.el This move is played with the same idea of exerting pressre

9 .. .xd3 10.d3 c6 11. cxd5 cxd5

12b5 Before placing his qeen on b3, from where it attacks Blacks paws on b7 and d5, ite wishes to force the enemy qeen to oc cpy the d7sqare, hampering the development of his lightsqared bishop. 12 ...d7 13.b3 0  0 (diagram) 14.c3 The alternatives are not at all dangeros for Black:

 4 .  j  xe 4 5d4 d5  .  d3  c 7. 0  0  e7 8c4  b4

Back can pay hee either B 5 Jd8, whch invoves an absoutey corect positiona pansacrce, o he can aow the exchang of his daksquaed bishop with B2) 15 .. .e8; in prnci pe this exchange s undesiabe, athough nothing seious to woy about In both cases the position emains about equa and the choice is just a matter of taste and stye 

14e5 �d8 15f3 d6! This knight is much bette depoyed here than on f6 16c3 e6 17 f4 e8 18ad1 �b6 19xd5 �xb3 20xe7+ xe7 21axb3 b3=, draw, and  Kramnik, Linares 1999; 14bd2 f6 1Sxe4 dxe4 16 xe4 �fS 17f4 �hS 18e3 b6 19d5 in the game Ponomaiov  Motyev, Ohrid 2001, ite continued th 19e5= and the opponents agreed to a draw) 19   b7 20d1 ad8 21d6 d7 22 d4 �h6 23e3 �hS=; 14f4 b6 1Se5 �b7 16c3 e6= Peng Xiaomin  Motyev, hanghai 2001 14 xc3 15.bxc3

Bl) 15 d8  . a3 ite must t to exchange the darksquared bishops, othewise Back's defence wil be ve simpe: 16e5 �d6 17a4 �a6 18h3 e6= 1 .. .f6 17.e3 



17 �c7! This is an exceent positiona move Back gives up his dSpawn, but presees his bishoppai and bockades his opponent's isoated pawcoupe In addition, White is e with a bad bishop on a3 The move 17�c6 is sucient fo Back to hod the draw, despite 

hapt er 22

the fact that his position ooks a bit ugly since his ightsquaed bishop is esticted by the pawn on d5. 18.e7 e8

19.ae1 19 .f6 xe3 20.e3 gxf6= Black has doubed pawns but his counteplay mostly based on the pessue on the ce against the backwad enemy pawn is quite adequate. 19 .. e7 1 9...xe7 20.Exe7 e7 21 xe7 f6 22.e1 b6 = itz  Maciea asaw 20 05 20.Exe7 d7 21.h3 f6 22.�a3 a6 It is much moe active fo hi to play 22 ... b6! with the idea of plaing a7 a5 placing his paws on daksquaes as is appopiate th a lightsquaed bishop on the boad.  23 .d2 Exe7 24.Exe7 Ee8 25.f Exe7 26.�xe7 �e6 27. �d8+ �e8 28.�b6 c6=. Back's g7 and f6 paws cove the dak squaes pefectly and he ain tained the balance in the game Topalov  amnik Las egas 1999. 18.d5 ie6 19.b5 In the endgame aising ae 19.�c5 �xS 20c5 b6 2.b4 Eac8= Back has no poblems at al; moeove hite has so many

weaknesses in his camp that he must play vey accuately to hod the balance. 19 .. .ac8

Back's compensation fo the paw is sucient as tounament pactice has coned. 2 0 h3 h6 21.e2 2.�b2 b6 22.Eae1 �c4 23. 1e2 �a4 24.h2 Ed5 25.b4= daw Topalov  das Dotmund 2001. 21 .c4 22el 6 23. icl c6 24.id2 , daw Leko  Gelfand Moscow 2008. B2) 15... e8

16.ia3

 4  Cxe4 5. d4 d5  .  d3 Cc 7. 0 -0  e7  . c4 C 4

Ae 16.e5, Back can eteat with his queen to c7, obtaining adequate compensation fo the d5paw, o to the dsquae, not focing the issue fo the moment. His simplest move howeve is 16 ...f6, aiming fo an equa posi tion th bishops of opposte col ous on the boad. 1  a3 17�a3 b Black's ightsquaed bishop is esticted by the d5pawn, so Black shoud ty to depoy his paws on dak squaes. It is amost equaly good fo him to continue with 17 ...f6 18. xe8+ �xe8 19.e1 �c6 183 18.ab1 xe + (It would be a blunde fo Back to play 18 ... �d8? 19.xe8+ �xe 20.xb6 g4 2.b7 f3 22.gxf3± and White eaised his exta pawn in the game nand  Gi, Monaco 2011 .) 19.xe1 �c6 (with 19 .. .f6 20.e7 �c6= Back aso main

tains equality, despite his poston not ooking completey safe.) 20. e5 (20.e7 f6 21.h3 a5=) 20... �c7 21 .c4 e6 22 .c5 bxc5 23 .dxc5 d4=. Black's passed d4pawn s sucient to countebaance Whte's passed c5pawn. 18   O 18 .. .f6 19.xe8+ �xe 20. e 1 �c6 21. e7 a5 1abl �c 0e8+ �eS  el �=

Dominguez  amnik, Wijk aan Zee 2010 .

oncluson The varaon wth 9. cxd5 s rather drawsh and  oth sdes play  correctly a draw  ecomes the most lkely result A s for the move 9 .  e Black has several qute relale ways of equalng aganst t. Wtes  attempts to exert pressure on the e le are not dangerous and Black s  a le to solve hs prolems convncngly n all varatons.

Chapter 3

l.e4 e5  .  f6 3.xe5 d6 4. xe4 5 .d4 d5 6.d3 c6 7. 0  0 e7 8.c4 b4 9.e

move in the folowing chpters. 1 0  llcxd5 If .c3, then aer  ...xc3 12.bxc3 Black brings another piece into the ght for the central squares: 12 ...e6! 13.cxd5 dS=. Black's bishop is perfectly placed on dS and he obtains a very good position thout any problems whatsoever. ll �xd5 2c3 xc3 13 bxc3  



We have already seen in the previous chapte that White's at tempts to create immediate pres sure along the ee fail and give him no chances of obtaining an advantage in the opening, so he should avoid the exchange of his bishop. 9  0 0 10 a3 This is an atracive move and it was very popular at the dawn of the development of this variation. White immediaely reduces the tension in the centre and denes the pawnstructure. Nowadays White almost auto matically chooses the more pre cise move 10.c3, maintaining the tension an preserving more options. We shall analyze his

14 f4 ite can boster his centre th 14 . e3, but his bishop is not so active on e3 and Black can ef fortlessy evelop his pieces to ac tive positions: 14 ...a5 (it is also good fo him to play here 14 ...f6)

 4  xe4 5 d4 dS 6 �d  c6 70  0 �e7 8 c4  b4 9 �e2 0  0 10a

15d2 (if 15.e5, then Black can It sees to e that the quiet dislodge the kight th 15 .. f6! move 1.e1 is White's best and 15.fe8 16.f3 d7 ae 1 ..e8 15f, White woud not achieve uch with 1.d 2 He wants to tansfe his ight to e3 via the csquae, so it woud be logica fo Black to pevent this: 1 ..a5 15f3 d7 16b3 b3 17.b3 c6 ite has tied advancing his connected pawns imediatey, when Black shoud oganize a bockade on the dak squaes: 1.c d6 15.d5 e5 16d d7 it is not good fo Black to sacice the c7pa: ae 15 .. 17a a5 16c7 ac8 17.a b6 18b5 c2 19c2 b5 20. f± his copensation fo the paw is insucient, so he should continue with 15  ac8  see 10 c3 f5 11a3 c3 12.bc3 c6 13.e1 e8 1cd5 d5 15.f ac8 14.. a5!? Back sacices a paw with 17 . fe8 (it is ess eiable to this move, tng to each a posiplay 17...g6 18.f d6 19.c5 tional daw He can accomplish f3+ 20.f3 f 21g3 Black this by estabishing a bockade on has the bishoppai, but ite's the dak squaes in a few oves connected paws ae oe imIf he wants to ente a uch potant 18.b5 (It is infeio to moe coplicated stuggle, he opt fo 18.e3?! g6 19b5 h3 can tanspose to the main ine 20 d6 21d + 22. aising ae 10c3 by plang g 23c3 f and White is 1  ac8 15e1 fe8. foced to ght fo equality, Ivan15.c7 chuk  Kanik, Nice 2008  18 .  If 15.e1, then 15 d6 16e5 b5 19.ab5 d7 20a2 c5 21 \b3  see 15.e5 d6 16.e1 g3 a 2 2ba6 a6 Back's block- \b3 ade on the d6 and c5 squaes Ae 15.e5, Back can equalsees quite haonious and he ize in seveal dient ways: has eqalizd completely, ad(diaga 15  c5 16\a (16f3 b3 jabov  Jakovenko, lista 200 8

hapter23

ite wi be unabe to hod on to his apawn.

16 ...cxd4 17.f3 5 18.g4 g6 19.cxd4 c2 2 0.d7 d6= ; 1 5. . .b3 16.xb3 xb3 7. ae1 a5 18f3 d6 19.d5 ac8=; 15...d6 16.c4 (16.e1 b3 17. 18 e d2 c2 18.xc2 xc2=; 6.g4 If 18 ..fd8 19.b e4 7.£3 g6 18.a4 b6=, with a Back cannot sove his pobvey compicated stugge and ap- ems with 18 ...g4 9.h3 xf3 20. poximatey equa chanes) 16 ... xf3 and he fais to each come4 17.g3 c2 18.c5 xe5 19. pete equaity: xe5 c6 20.xc7 xd4 21.xd4 xe2= 15.. ac8 1.a5 a5 17. c4 f 18 . 3 Ae 18.b3 b6 (Back can aso patiay equaize th 18 ... e8=) 19.xb6 axb6 20.a2 (afte 20.d1 Back can incease his pessue against the enemy cente th 20 .. .fd8, obtaining sufient compensation fo the 20...cd8 21.ab xd4 22. paw, Wedbeg  Niesen, Mun- xb7 g6 23.e4 d6, Zhang Zhong kebo 1998) 20...d8 (it is ess  Kapov, ap d'de 2000, 24. pecise fo him to opt fo 20...g4 dS f6 25.d1 b6 26.a4 e8 21.d5  22.gxf3 d4 when 27.h1, with the idea of advancite sti pesees some, abeit ing his fpawn; 20 . ..d8, amnik  and, minima, winning chances, Kaakin  ndeikin, Oopesa 20 00) oa 2005, 21 .ab1 b6 22.fd g6 21 .b2 xd4 (21. ..d6) 22.xd4 23.c5 xd4 24.cxb6 (24.c6) 24... xd4 23.xb6 d2 24.f3 xc4 axb6 25.f4 f6 26.xf6 xf6 25.xb7 g6= Back saves the daw 27.xb6 and White sti has some thank to his active ooks, since minute winning pospets. 

  xe 5d dS 6  d3  c6 70 0  e7 8c   9e2 00 10  3

19.b3 f8 0.fl 20.ae d4 21xd4 xd4 22h7+ xh7 23.xe6 dc4 24e7 c=  0 ... g 1. 2e2 g4 22xb7 f3 23 xf3 d4 24.ab cS 25xd8+ Exd8 26.b7 \e+ 27 fS 28 e2 xe2 29e2 d2=

o try her 2.g4!? 22xb7 b8 23.e4 xf3 24gxf3!? (24 xf3 d4 25.ab xb 26xb Ed6=) 24  b2  hs pieces ae s actve that he shud be abe  egan one of hs oppe's c nected pawns and save the game. .acl g4 3.5 e7 . al 24.h3 xa3! 25.\xa3 a3 26.a xf3 27gxf3 cS 28xa7 bS 29.b7 bxc4 304 2+ 3.xf2 xc4 24 f 24 ...d6 25.h3 f3 26xf3 e8 5.a c3 2.xc3 c3 Black ll exchang his lightsquared bishop for the eney knigh and his darksquared bshop will  transerd to th cSsquar, building a roksolid, drawsh setu. 

21 b It is also intresting or Blak 

onclusion In the variation we have analyed,  eginning with the move 10 a3, Wie reduces the tension in the central awn-structure too early The  straighorward move 14 f4 (it is moreeible for him to coninue  with 14  e, tansosing to he main line aer  O  c3)  rovdes Black with the additional  ossiility of 14  a5!?, sacrcing the c7awn and later, with  recise  lay, he can equale comletely

Capter 24

l. e4 e5 2.� �f6 3.�xe5 d6 4.� �xe4 5.d4 d5 6.d3 �c6 7. 00 e7 8c4 �b4 9e2 00 10�c3

e exers addional ressure agans he cenre before exelling he enemy knigh from he b4square and clarng he asrucure. ow, Black s faced wih a choce of where o deelo hs lghsquared bisho. 1 0 i The araon  ...e6 1.e5 f6 2.f3 was oular for a whle, bu laer on  os s good reuaon. he moe f6 weakens Blacks oson and hs is lkely o ell n he ure. lla3 On he f4square Whe's bisho can come under aack by he enemy kngh and aer .f4 c4 12.c4 xc3 3.bxc3 dS= e mus lose an imoran

emo for s rerea. The move .b3 s harmless, because Black has a choce beween 11...f6 2.c5 aS 13.e wh a raher unclear oson, Morozech  Pogar, Buenos res 2 and he more reliabe  ...dxc4 2.c4 f6 3.g5 (he oson is reeaed aer 3.e5 xd4 4+ h8 5f3 d7 6. e5 d4= Bologan  Zarnck, Buenos res 2  ) 3 ...g6 14. a3 c2 5.x  6.x+ x 17.xc2 xd4= ll  xc3 12 bxc3 c6



13Jel For 3.cxd5 xdS  see.  .a3. Aer 3.e3 Black can equal ze n arous ways, for examle

8. c4  b4 9 . � e2 0 -0 10 .  3 � 11. a3  xc3 12 bx3  c 13  eJ  e

wth 13 .. .a5=  r 13 . .. dx 1.  d6 15.e1 h6= and hte's bshp n e3 has n gd prspets. ite's bhp w b exhanged n f and aer 13.f dx 1.  d6= the pstn s equa. 13 e8 

14.if4 White's pawnentre lks pwel but he annt aheve anhing wth t. His attept t advane t with the help f the bshp n e3 s nt dangerus fr Blak at all sne n e3 hs bishp s nt ative. 1.e3 f6 15.d2 a5 16.xd5 xdS 17.a d7 18. b e7 19.b2 6 20.f3 d7= Tpav  nand jk aan Zee 2005. The ve 1.a2 s rather ray. The b1square s attaked by Blak's ghtsquared bshp s hite wants t upy the b le using the b2square. Aer that his rk an be redeplyed t e2 t ght fr the ele. (dagra) w aer 1 ...e6 hte an establish a stable pstna ad

vantage wth the spe ve 15. S It s pssbe fr Blak t play the theat ve 1 ...a5 but aer 15.xd5 xdS 16.b2 6 ite has the nterestng re sure 17.e5 ! ? (n the gae Ka sidzhanv  Gelfand lsta 2007 hte tried 17.a d8 18. f6 19.e3 e 20.d2 b6 21 .e5 e7 22 g g5 and the pstn reained apprxately equal) 17 18.f3 d6 19 be2 1 2 0.x1 e6 but here nt 2.h5 Mela  eblsna jeka 2010 but 21.b1! and hite has gd pensatn fr the pawn; n partular he shes t prvke the ve g7g6 wth f3e and then begn an attak n the kingsde wth the help f the pawnadvane h2hh5. Blak's st prese respnse s 1 ...f6! 15.b2 b6 16.f a5 17.xd5 xdS 18.e5 eS 19.f3 d7 20.e5  2.be2 6 22. dS xe5 23.xe5 xdS 2.xd5 ad8 25.xe8+ xe8 26.xe8+ xe8 27.g e6 28.b7 8 29 xa7 g 30 .d5 hS 31.xb6= wth a draw by pepetual hek ekseev  Kanik Dtund 2007.

hapter24

Th most logical and poplar in for hit is rst to xchang paws with: 14.cxd5 �xd5 and only thn play 15.f4, and w shal analyz this variaton n th folowing chaptrs of th book. 14 .. .dxc4 Ar 14 .. 8, ht has th powl ripost 15.c5 f6 16.�a4 (It might b vn mor promisng to contin with 16.�b3 b8 17. b5 4 18.x4 x4 19.d2) 16...a6 17.f1 �d7 18.�b3 x1 19.x1 b8 20.g5 xg5 21. xg5 and ack has a light sqard bshop and nmros paws on th sam color, so hs position is rathr nplasant to dfnd, Motylv  Gashimov, Poikovsky 2009. 15.c4 d6 16.xe8 16.�d2 �d7 (it is also good for lack to play hr 16 .. .h6, dpriving Whit's kight of th g5 sqar 1.xd6 cx6 18.h4 a5 1.a2 6 20.d5, orozc  Glfand, ochi 2007. lack can otain a rliabl position wthot any problms with th mov 20... 5 16 e8

17.g5 For 17.xd6 cxd6 18.g5 g6  s 17.g5. ht dos not achiv mch ith 17.�d2 �d7 18.xd6 cxd6 19.1 8 vdlr  Topalov, ijk aan Z 2005. Ar 17.h4, lack cannot achiv ll qalty with 17...a5 18.xf5 xc4 19.�f3 Eb8 20.h6 g6, in vw of 21.xd6 (21.3 x3 22.3 �7 23.h3 �h4 24.f4 x4 25.xf Jakovnko Gfand, antyMansyisk 2009) 2...xd6 22.�f6 f5 23. f4 with a slight dg for Whit. It is mor prcis for lack to play hr 17...d7!18.�3 �7 19. xd6 cxd6 20.5 xf5 2.�xf5 g6 22.�f3 c8 23.d5 g7 and his knight coordinats pctly ith his qn, so it is not infrior to hits bshop, olokitin  ts, Grany 20 09 . 17...g6 18.d6 cxd6



19.h4 If it dos not attack th nmy bishop on g6, lack wll asily improv th coordination o his pics. In addition, hit

8. c4 {b4 9 . � e2 0 -0   {c3 � 11. a3 {xc3 12 xc3 c 13 eJ  e

dos not hav an saphol for his king and ths is likly to tll at so point: 19g4 h6 20{f3 4 2g3 2 22{h4 4 23  d5 24f Kaakin  opaov Lon 2003 Hre it s very good for Blak to pay th alpurpos dfnsiv ove 24f8! and ar 253 ! h pins the bishop on f and at the sa time attaks th paw on a3 19 �e7 2 0 .g4 Whit an simpl th pos ton with the ln: 20 h5 xg5 21  hxg6 xg6 22 d3 g5 23b b6 24h7+ f8 25e4 8 Blov  Bu iangzhi Mosow 201 0 20 ...h 

 qual ndgame arises aer 22d7 {a5 23a2 6 24x6 {x6 Bologan  hirov Po kovs 200 9 If Whit puts his knight vountarily in a pin with 22{f4 thn Blak an xploit this wth the variation 22 {5! 23dx5 x4 24xd6 (246 6 25xg6 xf4 2 6x6+ h8=) 24 x3 (24  d8 25d 2 26d5 x3 27h2) 25d (ar 25  Blak ontinus wth 25   4 and Wt annot support his d6 paw wth his pis) 252 26d5 4 27d 2 and a draw by rptition of ovs

22 c8 hs is a devloping ov and 21.j3 It s a fored draw ar 2h5 it denitly solvs all Bak's h5 22xh5 hxg5 23d f8 probls so I prfr it 24d3 + 25h2 xf2 26 It is lss onvinng for Blak xg5 f6 27xf6 gxf6 28g3+ to hoos th or onrt aph8 29h3+ g7 30g3= Rad- proah 22{a5 23a2 2 (afjabov  Wang Yue Mdias 201 0 ter 23  d 3 Whit has th prob21. �e4 22.g3 lelik rply 24! and Bak Only Bak an b bttr if wl hav so diutis to onWht plays in smpl fashion  tend with Grishuk  dams 22x4 x4 23e f5 24{f4 Halkidiki 2002) due to 24d5! (Whit annot ahive muh th 8 



hapter24

24h5, bcaus Black has th strong rspons 24 f5 It is also possibl for hi to opt for 24 4 25\xd6 \xc3 26f1 d2, Hou Yifan  Bu Xiangzhi, hina 2009 ow, it ust forc a draw by a prptual chck with 27 x 28\d7 f8 29\d6) 24 c8 (ar 24 8, hit has th quit ov 25 h2! and it is dicult for Black to iprov his position) 251 xc3 268 h7 27xc8 \xc8 28\xd6 \8 29f4 e4, ibor  Li hao, ik aan Z 2011 Ar 30  a2 ! c6 31\cS! Black ust be prepard for a ong and patient defence 23  23\xd6 xd4 (23 \c2!?) 24  d5 bS 25\d7  26\xe8 xe8 27c4 d6 28c5 4 Hou Yifan  ang Yu, hina 2011  23 e7 24.\xd6  25. Wb4 x4 It is qually good for Black to connu hr with 25 b6 and thn if 26g3 c6 (Thr is no nd to ntr th shap coplications arising aer 26  xg3 27g3 3 28f2 xg3 29  g2 xc3 



30\7 with a vry unclar position 27f4 (but not 27c1, bcaus of 27a5 and it's d4 pawn  hang) 27 \xc3 28d1 26.d5

26 a5! In th ga Topalov  Glfand, Monaco 2003, Black playd 26  f5, to which hit could hav rspondd with 27f4!, prsrving a vy favourabl opposition of th quns, wher nithr sid can xchang advanta geously 27.\xe4 e4 28.c4  29.f4 d6 30.cl b6 31.£ i7 Thre ariss an unbalanced endgae in which Black's prospects are by no ans wors 

onclusion The variation beginning with the move  4  4 eads to simpca  tion and resuts either in a draw or an unbaanced position with ap  proimatey equa chances

Chapter 25

le4 e5 2 6 3xe5 d6 4 xe4 5d4 d5 6 . d3 c6 7 0  0 e7 8c4 b4 9  e2 0  0 l O . c3  lla3 xc3 2 bxc3 c6 3 el ges 4cxd5 Vxd5

has o coninue ith 17.a2, bt aer the siple ove 17.e5, Blacks poson s preferabe. 15 .. Jac8

15.if4  is oen he case in siiar posiions, on e3 hies bshop is passive and ied in its scope: 15e3 f6 16d2 ad8 17f3 d7 18b3 b6= Movsesan  Haba, zech Repubic 2003. t is no good fo ie o pay 15c4 under hese ccusances, because of 15 d6 16d5 (Hee, praccay no ae ha he pays, Bac's bshop comes o he f6sqare th gea eec) 16  f6! and e does no have he ove 17.c5? (hch oud have been possibe hou he n csion of he moves e1 and f8e8) n ve of 17  xc5 18 dxc6 xa1 19cxb7 ab8 20e3 xe3 ! + and Bac ns. o Whe

hs s one of he abas of he Peo Defence.  ould appea ha Bacs gh s mispaced on c6, because i hapes he paadvance c7c5, but exen sve ournamen pracce of his vaaion has shon ha i s very dct for hie o deploy his peces to acive posiions in order o advance his c and dpas ef fecvely. Bacs forces reain very active. One of his ain ideas s to play a5 and folo ha ih he nderining ove c7c5 It is orh enioning tha al he

hapter25

ossible exchanges ae favouable xa7 Ea8 23.b5 b5 24.cxb5 fo Black because his awn- xa3= ; 22.xc7 Exc7 23.d6 d6 stucture is wthout any defects 24.Exd6 e6 25.c5 bxc5 26 . b5 and this would be vey usel in f8=) 20 ...d7 2.d2 f6 22. xa5 d4 23 .xd4 xe2= draw an eventual endgame. he ohylactic move 16.h3 Leo  Kamnik Bssago 2004. s one of White's tickest otions 16 . g3 and it will be analyzed n the fol lowing chates. ow we shall analyze to oughly: A} 6.�a4, B) 6.g3 and C) 16.id3 Black's defensive task s much simle ae Whte's altenatives. 16. d2 a5 17.f1 �b3  of ten hapens Blac eacts in staghtfowad fashon aganst his bisho is laced on a rohs oonent's stange manoeues and foces a tansition into tected squae but Black has an endgame. 18.e3 �xd1 19. enough time to simli the osiaxd1 d7 20.d5 d6= Puijs- tion. 16 .. .d6 17.d2 (17.�a4 d7 18.�c2 f5 19.�b2 a5 20. ses  Fdman emany 200 8. d 2 g3 21.hxg3 c5  it is even 16.c4 �e4 17 . e3 more solid for him to ot fo 21... b6 22 .f1 �b3=  22 .�b5 b6 23 . 4 e 24. � 25.= arlsen  Pe.ielsen Faabog 20 07) 17 ... g3 18.hxg3 a5 19.�a4 d7 20 .�c2 b6 (20 .. .f5 2.�a4=) 2. d3 h6 22 . h7+ h8 23 . e4 �d6 24. e6=  the sion  equ dams  nand oa 2005. 16.�c1 17...�c2 he exchange of queens again solves all Black's oblems. (Aer 17...f6 Whte can ght for the initiatve wth the move 18.Ea2 deiving Black's queen of the c2squae.) 18.d5 a5 19.d4 �xd1 20.exd1 (White would not change much wth 20. Eaxd1 d7 2. b5 b6 22 .

a3  xc3 12bxc3  c6 13e e8 14 cxd5  xd5 154 ac

16 ..f6! hs is a typca move in ths panstructure. Back mproves he pacemen of hs pieces as much as he can before making the move a5. (he aternaves ould no solve hs probems: 16 . .a5? 17.c4! �e4?? 18d1 �d3 19e3 �xc4 20.e5 10 nand  ramnk oa 2005. Back has no ye esed he move 16 . .�d7 a hgh eve I seems o me that aer 17�b2 d6 18e3 a5 19.c4 hte manans a sight edge) 17.�b2 a5 18.e5 �b3 19.�d2 e5 20e5 c4 2.�g5 g6 2 2g4 a8 he other ossbe roue to equaity for Black here is 22...h6 23�h4 f5 2.h5 xe5 25dxe5 h5 26 �xh5 �e6 23.d7 f6 24f6 xe1 25.xe1 gxf6 26.�xf6  276 e6 28�xe6 h8 29. �f6 g8 30�g5 h8 3h4 f8 32 7 �b1 33h2 �g6 3. �xg6 hxg6 35xc7 xa3 36xb7 xf2 and t all ends n a dra. 16.f1 d6

17.xe8 (17.c4 xe1 18.�xe1 �e4 19.d6 �xe1 20.xe1 cxd6 2.d5 a5 22.d4 d7 23.e7 d8 17..xe8 18.c4 �e4 19 d6 cxd6 20�d2 �c2! hs

move s ypca n such postons e have already mentoned that any smpcaon s advanageous for Back. (t s eaker for hm o pay passvey h 20... �e7?! 2.e1 �d7 22.xe8 �xe 23.� �d7 24.d5 e7 25.d4± snce Backs poson s cramped hs d6pa requres protection and hte s hreaening o break hrough h c4c5 opan  Domnguez urin 2006.) 2.�f4 h6! hs s an excelen prophy acc move. ( s aso possble for Back o pay 2...g6 but he shoud ry o depoy hs pans on dark squares havng a ighsquaed bshop 22h3 (he pan is poi soned because aer 22.�xd6?! �b2 23.d1 g4 24d5 f3 25. �d7 f8 26�d6 e7! 27gxf3 5 Blacks initiative is ve dangerous ) 22 ..�c3 23d1 �c2 24.d2 �b1 25.�xd6 a5 26e5 b3 27e2 f6 28�d5 h7 29 d3 d3 30xe8 �xf1 31h2 �xf2 32.�g8 g6 33e7 �f 34h1 �f1 and a dra by a perpetual check.

hapter5

16 ...d7! bshop on d6 turns out to be mis It is usel to repulse the ene plced in this cse becuse it my queen. It is less precise for might come under ttck with Blck to continue with the seem tempo er c3c4 followed by c4 ingly ctive move 16 ...e4 17. g3 c5. f5 owing to 18.b5! (18.d2! However it would be good for c2 19.b5 xb5 20.b5 6 Blck to ply 17 ...f5 18b2 5 21 .c6 bxc6 egi  Fdmn 19.e5 b3 nd he would be Germny 2008) 18 ... xb5 19. very close to equlity b5 dS 20.e5 6 2.xc6 18.� c6 22.c6 bxc6 23.f  It is useless for ite to con Blck's queenside pwstructure tinue to rom ll over the bord hs been wekened therefore with his queen becuse er White hs the edge in this simple 18.d2 d6 19.d6 cxd6 Blck looking position. hs no problems t ll. 17.�c2 lS ... 19 .5 Aer 17b1 Blck cn equl White wekens his opponent's ize with this long vrition: 17. . . pwstructure with this move d6 18.d6 cxd6 9b5 e7 20. but presents him with the dvn xd5 4 21.5 c6 22.x7 tge of the bishoppir. f3 23.gxf3 f5 24.xb7 xc3 He would not chieve much 25 . f ec8 26 . h3 xf3 27.e3 with 19.d5 5 2 0.d4 d7 f4 28 .c7 b8

17...� If 17 ...d6 (The move e7d6 is usully good if White cnnot void the exchnge of bishops.) ite cn ply 8 . e3! f5 19. c1!   nd his centrl pws re redy to dvnce while Blck's

19 .. .a6! It is less precise for Blck to ply 19 ...d7 20.d5 (20.d2 6 21.d3 5 20 .. .e5 21.d4! (hite will be in trouble er 2. d7 xd7 22.c7 xc7 23.d6 xc3 nd here er 24.xe7 xe7 25.dxe7 f6 26.d4 6 with the

a3  x3 12. bx3  c6 13' e ' e8 14. cxd5  xd5 15� f4 ' ac8

plan of f6e8 f6 and g8 hites e7paw eains without the sppot of the est of his piec es and is dooed; whle ae 24dxe7 f6 25ad1 c7 26d4 e5 27f4 c6 28xc6 bxc6 ite st play accuaely to ake a daw and  Kamnik Mexico 2007) 21c6 (he othe possibility fo lack hee s 21 b5 22xb5 d6 23xa7 a8 24b5 f3+ 25gxf3 f4  he should be able to daw but play ing a pawn dow ight be athe npleasant) 22f1 g6 23dxc6 bxc6 (lack fails to solve his pob les with 23 c6 24xc6 xc6 25e3 and hte exets pes sre thanks to his powel bish oppar whle lack cannot ex change all the paws o he queenside aer 25 a6 26eb1 xc3 27xb7 xa3? ite wns with the siple response 28 xe7 24g3 c5 25a4 ad White aintains a slight advan tage thanks o his oe actve pieces 20.ixc bxc 2Ue5 d3 22.:ael  23.:a5 d 24. e5 xe5=

te's edge is eely sy bolc and lack should aage o daw wihout too uch eot B) .g3

his is a ogal move but t does not ceate ay seous pob les fo lack  .. .f It is too isky for hi to op fo 16b5?! 17d2 a5?! Kaaki  eets ijk aan Zee 2010  ie ca continue with 18a4! b4 1a6± obtaining a ateial ad vantage 17.d2 17c1 h6 18c4 �a5 (lack equalizes even oe siply with the standad ove 18  �d7) 19. d5 e5 20 e5 e5 2 d3 g4 22h7+ (It is overly abitious for ite to choose 22e4?! v anchuk  Gelfand Moaco 2011 becase aer 22 f5! 23xg4 g4 24xe5 xe5 25�xg4 f8 26�d4 e1+ 27xe1 �xe1+ 28 g2 b6 he can oly struggle to draw 22  xh7 23�d3+ g8 24xe5 f6 25�g6 h3 26� + h7 27�g6+ g8 and a daw

hapter25

by eretual hek 17 . .�d7 18 c4 h3! his move emhasies the weakenng of the ight squares in Whites am aused by his sixteenth move 19.�d3

19 . .g5! lak weakens his kings shelter a little but this is not imortant here beause it auses disharmony in the setu of ites iees is bisho must retreat to e3 thus eiving his own knight of this square 2 0 . e3 �d5 21.  22.�

22...b5!

Aer 22  e7 White an ativate his fores with 23f4! (23 ab1 f5 24a4 a6 25�d3 b5 26 a3 6 27 2 �f3 2 8�d1 �xd1 29exd1 d6 Gashmov  Wang Yue Nanjng 2010) 23 gxf4 (it woud be too risky for lak to ot for 23 g4 24e5± and Whites entre is very owerl) 24  f4 th a slght edge for White 23.d2 h6!  his is a usel rohylat move roteting the g5awn he osition is aroximatey equal and 24f4 is not dangerous in view of 24  e6! and lak exets ressure along the ele C) 16 d3 

16 ..�d7 17.bl he osition is omletey equal aer 17f5 �xf5 18  g3 d6 19�b3 b6 204 �f6 21d5 d4= vanhuk  Gefand avia 2004 17..b6! Aer the reiminary exhange 17d3 18�xd3 b6 White has an interesting resoure

a3 Cx3 12bx3 Cc6 13 e  e8 14 cxd5 xd5 15.  f4  ac8

at his dsposal  9e3! ? (the 4xe8 xe8 White s unable to move 9d5 transposes to the explot the pin on the ee main line of the vaiation) 19   19 .. .f 2 0 dl xa3 0 Cg5 g6  1Ce4 (It i  not ver dangerous for lac if hite tres h3 h5 xh5 Ce5 3 c g4 4h8+ xh8 5xe5+ g8 6Cx x 7 b3+ e6 8xa3 a5 9e c5  the poston remans ver com plicated but lacs defensve resources seem to be sucient fo equalt)  1e7  be1 hite has numerous possibiltes fo de veloping hs intiatve n retun Here lac has to queenfor his minmal material dect so lac must defend superpre- sorties: Cla) 2 0 ... g4 and Clb) cisel to eep the balance 2 0 ...d5! rischu  efand Moscow 006 Cla) 2 0 ...g4 21.g3 ac mantans a slight edge followng xc6 xf4 xe8 xe8 because his bishop is stronge than the enem nght when the ght continues on both sdes of the board 2. .. 22.8 S 23. l �d 24.�4

ow hte can sharpen the game with the move Cl) 8.b5, or he can continue plaing n a purel positonal manne C2) 18.d5 Cl) 8.ib5 bl l9.b 9Ce5 f5 0xc6 xf4= 9d5 cd8 0xb xd5 1  c4 c5 e3 d 6 3e4 Ca5

24 .. .c! lac could have evaded the

hater25

pin vn arlir with 24 .. .8.

hit annot tak advantag of his ontro of th : 25.b7 6 26.a6 (26.x6 x6 27 h6 (27...7 2 8.f4 a3 29.d5 a5 30.d4 f8 31. d6 Ed8=) 28.f4 a5=) 26. . . Ef8= 25.5 e5 26.x5 6 27. b7 f6 28.d3 (28.f3 6 29. a6 E8 30.4 8 31.Ex8+ x8 32.b7 d7=) 28 ...6 29. x6=, draw, sipanu  Fridan, Turin 2006 Th ov 25.h4 has svral drawbak in soe variations ths pawn is hanging hit no ongr has th h4squar avaiab, whih h uses as a bas for his pes in so variations and h no ongr has th possbilit of g2g4, in ordr to disodg Blak's knght fro th f5squar, whih t a oup in so ns. 25 .. . h6 (so worth onsidering s 25 .. . b5! ? 26.5 d5 27.6 gxf6  f it's pawn had bn on h3 hr nstad of h4, h ould hav transfrrd hs knight to f5, a th h4squar, whi now he s unab to do this and Blak has suint ountrpa. Bak has

t anothr intrsting possibilt  25 ...f5 26.7 h5 27.5 Ex3 28.f6 gxf6 29.d5 E5 30. Ed d6 31.f4 g7= and h aintains quait hr as wll. 26.5 5 27.x5 6 28. b7 f6 29.d3 6= Jakovnko  ang u, izhn ovgorod 2007. hit an iprov his position with th ov 25.h3 !

Thr ight foow: 25 ...b5 26.5 25 .. .h6 26.5 (26.h4 d5 27.4 h4 28.xh4 f6 29.5 d6 30.E3 E8 31.Eg3 @f8 32. E3 g8=) 26...e5 27.x5 e6 28.b7 f6 29.f3 6 30. x6 x6 31.d5 a5 32.E7 6 33.d4 xd5 34.f5 and t has so hans of antainng a sght edge 25 .. .6 26.5 xeS 27.xe5 d5 28.4 f6 29.3 E8 30. 5 f5 31.g3 g6 32.3 with a inia advantag for hit. 25.a4 This ov s aid at prvntng b6b5 and, in addition, ht's pawn is reovd fro a squar on whih it ight sotis o undr attak.

a  xc 12bxc  c6 1 e  e8 14cxd5  xd5 15 f4  ac

He cnnot chieve uch with the strightford line 25.e5 eS 26.xe5 f8= with the pln of continuing with e7f5. If 25.c4 then not 25 ...c8 even though er 26.h4 h4 (It would be  huge positionl concession for Blck to ply 26 ... g6? 27. f6 gxf6± Tiofeev  ng Yue ingbo 200.) 27. xh4 e8 Blck hs excellent chnces of neutrlizing ite's inittive but siply 25 ...h6!= with ides of e8d8 nd b6b5. Aer 25.h3 besides the prophyctic ove 25 ...h6 it is possible for Blc to continue with 25 ...b5 ! 26.h2 e6 27.xe6 e6 28.xe6  29.d6 d5= nd the ctivity of his peces copen stes for the scriced pw.

25 .. .b5! It is high tie Blck plyed ctively! He still hs soe probles in the vrition 25...h6 26.h3 6 27.e5 (ite hs n interestng resource here in 27.h2!? nd Blck loses er 27...f8 28. g4 dS 29.d6 e7 30.h7 f6 in

view of 3.g3!. He cn intin equlity only er very precise defence 27...h5 28.f3 bS nd now it would be bd for ite to continue with 29.xb5 cxbS 30 .h4 h4 3.xh4 S 32 .e5 e6 33.xe6 e6 34.xe6 4 nd Blc's outside pssed pwn s so powerl tht ite ust py very ccurtely to ke  drw. Insted it is stronger for hte to opt for 29.e5 e6! 30.c2 g6! when Blck's position is stil cceptble but fro  purely prctcl point of view ite's ge s esier.) 27 ...e6 28.b c8 29.c4 (It is lso t trctive for hi to try 29.5!? bx5 30.d3 d 7 3 .xe8 xe8 32.b7 e7 33.x6 fS 34.e5 eS 35.xe5 cS 36.x5 cxd4 37.cxd4 xd4 38.x f3 39. gxf3 x nd Bck mus ply precisely to sve the ge.) 29 ... eS 30.xe5 d Blc's posi tion here is sold but pssive Tiofeev  ng Yue ingbo (rpd) 200. 2.b5 cb5

27.e5 (But not 27.d5? be

hapter25

ause of 27 ..d8 28.d6 f5) 27 e5 28.�xe5 f6 29.�c5  30xe8+ �xeS 31.h3 xg3 32.g3 �d7= •..

Cb) 2 0 ..�d5

23.c4 ak s better aer 23.d7 6 24.xf8 xb5 (24...xb5 25xh7 d4 26.�e4) 25.xh7 x3 26.xf6+ gxf6 23 .. Jb7 24.d7 c6 25.  Aer 25.xf6+ gxf6 26.a4 �a6 hte's ompensaton for the exhange s nsuent. 25 .. .cxb5 26. xh7 bxc4 27. xf6+ f6 28.d5 c3 29.�c2 xd5 30. d6 �c6 31.� c2 32.�g4+
2.g3 e7 22.e5 22.4 f5 23 . e8 xe8 24.d5 (24.b3 �d7) 24 ...xb1 25.x b 6! 2 2. e8 xe8 2 3. 7 4 24.e5 d5 Aer an exhange on f6, ak shoud reapture th the pawn, makng use of the rumstane that hte's piees are too passve to expoit eetvey the defets of ak's kng sheter. 22 . .J 19 . .a3 hs s a's most dret route to equaty. he queter move 19 . ..f6 eads to a safe poston, but fals to equalze ompetey n view of Whte's smpe repy 20.4 (dagram) and now: 20 .. .h6 21.h3 e7 22.e5 e5 23.xe5 (or 23 . e5 f5

 . a  x 1 . bx 6 1.  e  e8 14 .xd5  xd5 15. 4  a8

The move 21e7 cannot be reed directly but sees quite ris

and ite again has a slight edge) 23 g6 24xe8+ xe8 25g3 with a pleasanter position for ie, nand  hirov, onaco (blindfold) 2005; 20e7 21bd (Black has nothing to fear aer 2e5 e5 22xe5 d6= ite can sim pli the position rather quickly with 2e5 e5 22e5 f6 23f4 f5 In the gae vidler  Kramnik, Dortund 2006, r ther exchanges followed 24c5 bxc5 25c4 g5 26d2 d6 27 xc5 e4 28 a5 c6 29e3 cxd5 30xa7 xa7 31a7 c3 32 xe8+ xe8 33b8 xb8 34 xb8 d4 35f  36a7 d3 37 e d2+ 38xd2 b+ 39d3= and a draw 2 1 d8 2 2 h3 g6 23g3 h6 24b3 e7 25a4 de8 26xe7 xe7 27e c6 28e5 cxd5 29f6 dxc4 30xc4 gxf6 31h4 hte's initiative more than compensates for the sacri ces pawn, but th precise de fence Black should anage to hod, eko  Kramnik, Dortmund 2007 20g5 20xe8+ xe8 2b5 b8 22 xd7 xd7= 2 0 g6 21. e4 � •••

22b5 f5 23c7 xc7 24 d6 d6 2 5xe8+ g7 26dxc6 c5; 22bd f5 23d6 (ite should have preferred here 23 g5 g5 24g5, with soe compensation for the pawn) 23  cxd6 24d5+ h8 25xd6 d6 26d6 xe + 27 xe e8 28xe8+ xe8 29h3 h6 30c4 h7= , draw, Jkovenko  Kram nik, oscow 2007 Black's posi ion is slightly pleasanter, but his chances of nning are just negli gible, since his ng is quite ex posed; 22d!? a5 23h6 f5 24 e3 Back might succeed in hold ing this position wth very precise play, but the defence would be ar duous; The most dngerous variaton for hm s 22d2 a5 23h6 f5 24d4 f6 25a4 (25g3 d7 26e4=) 25b7 (25   g5 26d6 cxd6 27xd6 d6 28 xe8+  29be g6 30 g4 +) 26 bd and htes in tiative is very powel

haper25

compensation for the outside passed apawn, the best that Black can hope or is to attack Whites c4pawn and make a draw; 25  8!  26bd it would be premature or ite to play 26 d6 because o 26e6, with the threat of ) 26 g7 27d6 d8

22c7 Or 2 23 e5 23  e5 xf3 ! 23  xe5 24x5 x5 25a=) 2gx3 xe5 256+ g7 26 xe5 x6 27e4 d6 an only ite might have problems here 22  c7 It is interesting but very risy or Black to opt or 2 e5! 23 e5 xe5 24c4 e 253

ites d6pawn looks angerous, bt Black also has his trumps His bishop is stronger than the eney knight an i he manages to avanageously retrea his qeen an out Wites kight  the initiative an hi opponents dpawn will become a target

an now: 25 c5 26h a5 Black apawn bolly advances, exloiting he act that ie cannot catre i comortably, since hi ng is vlnerable 27! a 2 a! 2c3 a3 2a  3 xc5 h5 3h3 xh3 32xh3 23f6 �xf6 24e8 e2 ; 2xc bx 2  3 b5 a3) 2a A series o g7 25dxc6 c5 26 .b2 xc6 manoeves will ollow, b, a 27.�d8 �xd8 28.xd8 5=

. a3  xc3 12. bxc3  c6 13. ' e ' e8 14. cxd5  xd5 15. 4 ' ac8

Leko  Gefad, Moscow 2009

acks bshop o c5 s com petey stabe ad  supports te apa, whch  soo be ad aced to the a3square t aso attack he f2pa ad Whte wil be ed down to ts defece Meawhe, acks rook s free o roam a oer the board, atackg he eemy pawns Hag a ths  md, ack woud ot hae ay probems ad he game shoud ed  a draw

onclusion e have examined how Wie can aemp lively piece-play, bu Black has no serious problems anywhere Blacks main saegic ideas  are as follows: 1) He mus exer pressure agains Wies pawn-chain c3-d4, pre  vening is advance, since ha might cramp Blacks posion. I is usu  ally benecial for him o place his bishop on f6 .  Wite succeeds in  advancing his c-pawn o c4, hen Black mus ry o force Wie to  push d4-d5 o , so hat he can hen organe a blockade on he  square. 2) He  us consanly consider he possibiliy of playing  a5, fol  lowed by he undermining move c7-5. 3) E xchanges are almos always use l for Black. I is paricularly  advanageous for him o exchange he queens, as well as he bishops. In order o simpl, he has he following resources up his sleeve:  wih a knigh on a5, Black can play  d5-b3, exchanging queens,  which migh be raher unpleasan for Wie;  wih a bishop on and a queen on e4, Black can oen lay e4  c2;  i is someimes use l for him o play   e7-d6,  his forces he  exchange of he dark-squared bisho s. Furhermore he can also ex  change he rooks along he ele.

Chapt 26

l.4 5 2) �f6 .�x5 d6 4.�£ �x4 5.d4 d5 6.d �6 7. 0 - 0 7 8.4 �b4 9.2 00 10.�  ll.a �x 12.bx �6 1Jl gs 14.xd5 xd5 15.f4 g8 16.h

hite ha a rch choice of pobiitie here. He can begin forc ing play th the move A) 172, trengthen hi centre wth B) 17. e3, remove hi pawn from attack with C) 17.a4, or tart to tranfer hi queen to a more active poiton with the move D 17.�a4 or E) 17.�c Thi i hite mot popular move here. He open an ecape hole for hi king and create the poibiliy of paying g2g4 at ome point outing the enemy bihop from fS and opening the long diagonal for hi ow bihop. Back ha two reaonable repone and both of them are ufcient for him to face the ture with optimim: with 16 ...e4, he put direct preure on the kight on f3 and xray the pan on ite inte the enemy bihg2; alternatively he can reply in op into hi camp hoping that it imilar fahion with the prophy- might become trapped. However actic move 16 ...6 (which we the concrete varation how that hal analye in the nex chapter) ite cannot trap t and can ony leting hi opponent clari hi in- exchange it tention rt 17...g2 18 .g4  19. 16 ...e4 4

12bxc3 c613el e814cxd5 Vxd5154 ac816h3 e4

ter than to repeat moves wth 24.4  e6 25.e4 =

23.�b3 e7 2.+  25.c g6 26 2 f6= The 

endgame s appromately equal hirov  amnk, Wijk aan Zee 200.

B) 7 e3 a5 

20.e Aer 20. 5 21.h5 g6 22. h gh5 23.g + h8 Black has a paw whch s doubled but still etra Leko  and an Lus 2005. 20.e8+ e8 2.h S! (2 1. ..e+ 2 2 .e e 23 .e 5 24.e8+  25.c8 g4 26. c7+ g8 27.c8+  28 .c7= 2 2 .g ! Whte's pawnstructure has been weakened and Black's prospects are better.

2 0  2.xl g 22. g 

22  

It seems very good to play 22 . . . e7 immedately here. Aer 23. h2  Whte has nothing bet

8.d2 8.e5 6 19.g4 (9.g4 cd8 2 0.a4 c6 2 .3 g6 2 2 . g6 hg6= te's bishop on g4 s restrcted by ts own paws and thus Black has a very comortable postion. He has nothng to fear aer 9.c4  d6 2 0.g4 h4= since te's peces lacks harmony 9 .. .e7 2 0 .e5= , draw, Tmman  renburg Goteborg 20 05 . 18.c4 c4 9.c4 c4 20. d2 dS 21.e4 e4 22.g5 e+ 23.e g5 24.a5 6 25.a7 cS = Black has sucent compensation or the queen th a rook a bshop and a passed cpa suppoted by the bshop Leko  amnk Brssago 20 04

(game 9 18  19.c 

Chapter26

hite cannot create any problems for his opponent with the line : 9  f3 d7 2 0e 4 Laznicka  topa Legnica 2 004 Blacks most solid move here would be 20 b6!= cementing the queenside and depriving Whtes knight of the c5square

19 .. .d7 2 0 . f6 2cl c5 22.dxc5 xdl 23.cxdl b3 2.c6 xc6 25.a7 c3 26. a6 27. e3 6 = Ivanchuk  amnik Wijk aan Zee 2008

C) 17.a

This move is typical for similar positions ite removes his

pa from attack and controls the b5square just in case

17 d6! 

Blacks other standard reply here would be 7  f6 but in this position it is less precise

Hang played a3a4 White is not planning to advance with c3 c4 any time soon Black usually places his bishop on f6 in order to prevent the advance o his opponents central pas Now ite would not achieve anything by trying to sharpen the game: 8  d2 g2 9  g4 h (9   e+ 2 0%e f8 2 b h5 22b5 d8 23h5 g6 24b5 dS 25c7 e8 26d c7 27d5 vanchuk  Gelfand ochi 2008 20f3 (20f3 h4 2e8+ e8 22%b3 rian  Wang Yue Taiyuan 2007 22   b3 23b3 f5 20  e1 +! (20f3 2 f3 f3 22 f3 2 e f3 22 c8 e7 23  g4 g4 24hg4 f3 25c7 g4+ 26�g3 h5 and Blacks counterplay s sucient for equality It is stronger for White to choose the positonal move 8 �d3 ! y simplication is usually

12bxc3 c613eJ e814cxd5 xd5154 ac816h3 e4

n Blacks avour but n ths particular case he has problems because th a bshop on 6 his c7 paw is hangng

He has several possbltes to choose rom but none o them equalze 18  3 19xe8+ xe8 20 x3 x3 2gx3± Whte s beter thanks to hs bshoppair; 18 g6 19e3 d3 20xd3 xe3 2e3±; 18 d3 19xe8+ xe8 20 xd3± Black has dcultes protectng hs c7pawn; 18   e7 19xe4 xe4 20c4 5 (it would be too rsky or hm to opt or 20  e6 2d5 e8 22dxc6 x4 23cxb7 b8 24b1 c6 25e2 d4 26xd4 xd4 27e3 Whtes bshop wll come to the long dagonal and ater that Black's poston wll become dcult 2e3 b4 22 e4 xe4 23b1 e7 245± and te mantans a slght edge

8.ie3 (dagram

8 a5 

In the game mrn  Voloktn, rete 2 007, Black tred 18  

a5! In ths varaton that can hardly be the right square or Blacks queen 19b3 5 20 d2 a5 By playng 2a2!±, te could have obtaned the advantage o the two bshops, snce Black would not have the move 21  c6 n vew o 22g4 g6 23d5+

9.d2 2.c5

i

20.c Ve6

2..i Here Black has a good alternatve n 21e7= plannng the transer o hs bshop to the 6 square

22cl b6 23. b3 2. Vxb3 xb3 25.c3 a5 26. d5

Chapter 26

7 � 

26. . .d7 It would be a mstake or Black o play 26 . ..bxc5 27.c5 �d7 adjabov  Wang Yue Baku 2008. Here Whte can mantan he advantage with the arrom obvious line: 28.8 xf8 29. h2! threatenng 30.�a6 xe1 31.c8.

27. a6 aS ! But not 27 . .d8 because o 28 .d 6! d6 2 9.cxb6

28 b5 xb5 29.axb5 b7 30.cxb6 cxb6 The queensde •

paws ll be annihlated n the nearest ture so the draw seems netable.

Here Black could consider 7 .. . a6! deprving his opponent o the mportant bSsquare. 18.d2 (aer queter play Black's game wll be even easer: 18 .�g3 �d6 =; 18.�e3 fS 19.d2 �c2 20.c4 aS 2 .a2 g6= 8 .. . g2 9. �g4 �h 20.3 S 2.�h5 g6 22. xh1 gxhS 23.c4 xc4 24.xc4 �6 25.xe8+ xe8 26.c7 Ku laots  Nouro Fnand 20 06 ; now wth 26 . . .b! 27.b6 wf 2.d e7= Black equalzes eortlessly.

8 .g3 c2 8 .. .�d6 9.e5 �xeS 20.�g4 g6 2 .dxe5 �S 2 2 .�3± Grischuk  Pe.Nelsen Monaco 20 06 .

9.�b5 �xb5 20 . xb5 a6 2 .xc6 bxc6 22Je5 I 2 2 .a2 �a4 23 .c4 then 23 ... cS! (it s weaker or Black to opt or 23 . ..�b3 24.ae2 8 25.c5 �dS 26.e5 cd8 27.e3± snce his position s terribly cramped so Whte's prospects are preera ble Grischuk  Volotin Foros 2006 24 .d5 �6 25.ae2 8=

D) 7.�a

22. . .c5!= It s essential or Black to ac

12bxc3 c613el e8 14.cxd5 xd5154 ac816h3 e4

complsh ths pawnbreak at ths precse moment whle Whte's rook has not yet occupied the ecellent aSsquare If instead Black plays 22  f6 2 3aS d3 24 eU he stll has some dcultes to worry about vdler  nand Morelia/Lnares 2007

23ael  2c5 f6 25d5 b3 26d7 a 27 d c6= hirov  Gelfand Moscow 2007

E) 7cl White's queen s free to manoeuve from ths square and hs bishop on f4 s protected whch s also usel

7f6!  s oen the case n such postons ths s the most favourable square for the bshop It is good for Black to place t on d6 only f hite cannot avod the echange of the darksquared bshops It s rather dubous for Black to play 7  aS! 18e3! f8 (It s slightly preerable to contnue h 18   fS but aer 9

eS cS 20hS cd4 2cd4 e6 22f3 Whte s clearly better) 9c4 d8 20eS S 2c3 and Whte is domnatng the entre board and  amnik Wijk aan Zee 2 010 Aer 7 d6 Whte has the reply 8e3±; now Blacks bshop s msplaced on d6 snce t does no prevent he advance of Whte's central pawns

8�b2 a5 Black shes to play dSb3 brnging about advantageous smplcaton

19d2!? Ths s the only move for Whte to ght for the advanage

19  g2 20 g

Now Black can equalze th precise play:

2 0  cd8! Ths s the best move It s less convncng to opt for 20   hS 2c8 c8 22e3 cS 23ae! when te moblzes hs last undeveloped orces and begins a counteroensve The move 20   a8 also equal zes for Black but n a much more

Chapter 26

dcul way Furhemoe i is 23. dl psychologcally unpleasan o Ae the alternatives o hm o etun the ook o s inal Whie pepetual checks are lurksquae 23 h5! (n he vaiation ng on all sdes: 23� 5 24g2 g6+ 25 21�h4 22e5 e5 23e5 h5 24g2 hg4 25hxg4 �g5 26 h2 ( 25 h 5 =; 25  d3= h 6 27c2 ! d2 28 6 !  25 �g5 2 6e4 �4+ 27  h 5 29g7! g7 30a2+ 8 31 28 g2 g6+ 29 5 = ; d2 Whe has a ve dange23h5 �h 243 h5 25 ous aack 22 g2 hg4 23 hg4 h h3+ 26g g3+ 27  c4 (Black can hold the balance h3=; in anothe long variation oo: 23  233 hg4 24g2 gh3+ 25 �g5 24g5 g5 25 e4 d5 xh3 (i Whe does no capue 262 5 27g5 g4 28h4 this paw hs posiion can only gx3+ 29g3 e 30e 2 be wose 25  h5+ 26g2 31h d6+ 32xf2 8+ 33 g6+ 27  d3+ 28g2 g6= e e8+ 34d h6 35xh6 wih a daw gxh6 36xh6 wih a daw 24 23  .g5 I is ineesing o Bak o  xc4 xc4 25g5 �e7 26xb7 xc3 27ac xd4 28e4 b6 hee 23  h3! 24e4 e7 25 29xb6 axb6 30e f8 31 f3 f5 26e2 h4 27g3 e6 7 31 h g8=  3 1  �5 - 28xe6 e6 and n s doumos l he peces have been bleedged endgame boh sides elminaed so he daw is una- pospecs ae abou equ vodabe 2h g6 255 5

2c7

26g2 �g+

Whe does no aheves much wh 2  �h4 2 2e5 xe5 23  e5 h5 24xg2 hxg4 25hxg4 g5

2   h5 22 d8 d8

27.h2 I is oo isky o he o pla 27 h3 28 e2 h4  his ng wll be ve unsafe and

12bxc3 c613el e814cxd5 Wxd5154 ac816h3 e4

Blacks iniiaive more han com pensaes for the sacriced echange

  = and the game ends in perpeual check.

Cocuso T he move 16. e4 obectvey euaes However as oe hap  pes whe Backs bshop captures he g2-paw he resutig es requre cocree ad precise cacuao Every mstake becomes cru cia e have aayzed umerous orcg variatios ad t is very easy or a payer to go astray  them. Accordigy the quieter es arisig aer16h6 a move we sha dea wth i the ext chapter are much more popuar at gradmaster eve

hater27

l.e4 e5 2. �f6 3.�xe5 d6 4.�£ �xe4 5.d4 d5 6.d3 �c6 7.0-0 e7 8.c4 �b4 9 .e2 0-0 10.�c3  ll.a3 �xc3 12.bxc3 �c6 13Jel e8 14.cxd5 'xd5 15.f4 ac8 16.h3 h6

here 18. . .cd6 19. d7 2 0.e3 g5=  19 . a5 20 .e3 g6 21. a4 b6 22.a6 cd8 23.c4 e+ 24.e c4 25.c4 a5 ollowed by the echangng manoeuve d8d7e7 and Black equalzed convncngly n the game Lutz  Landa Germany 2007. The poston s o a nonorcing nature and hte has numerous possibilties. We shall analyze them thoroughly: A) 7.a B)

A) 7.a Wth the help o ths move te hopes to bing hs lghtsquared bshop into action via c4 orbS.

7.i C) 7.c D) 7.g E) 7d2 and F) 7.cl hite has also tried: 17.a4. hte removes hs pawn away rom a square on whch t mght come under attack but Black can use ths tempo to simpli the positon: 17 . . .d6 18 .e3 a5= Hracek  Dydyshko zech epublc 2010; 17.h2. The transer o ths knight to the e3square takes too much tme or Whte so that he cannot epect to obtan any ad vantage. 17. . .d6 18.d6 d6 (t is also good or Black to play

7. . .id7 It would be rather dubous or Black to opt or 17...a5! 18.b3 b6 Fedorov  tupak Mnsk

12bxc3 c613el e814cd5 xd5154 ac816h3 h6

2010. Here Whte could have played 19 .b6 ! ab6 2 0.b5 th an advantage.

no weaknesses and his pieces are harmonously deployed.

B) 7.  d6

s.abl

18.c2 5 19.5 5 20. b5 (20.d5 a5 21.d4 d7 22. b5 vidler  Domnguez Pok ovsky 2005. By replng th 22 . . . 6!= Black could have solved all hs problems.  20 . . . a6 2.c6 bc6 22e5 d3 23ae  24. a5 d6 25.e5 e5= and the draw s mminent.

8.xe8+

8 ...d6 It s a mstake or Black to try 18 .. .a6 n ew o 19.d! (19. d2 a5 20.c2 5= Quezada  Bu Xangzh antyMansyisk 2010 19 .. .b5 20.a4 5 2.ab5! b1 22 .b  the lght squares n Black's camp are terrbly weak. However he has a good opton n 18 .. .5 19.e3 b8= wth appromately equal prospects.

18.c4 e 19.e e4 20. e3 b6 = Frman  Gr Germany 2010. 18.e3 a5 19.d2 b6 20.c4 lModahk  Dao Thien Hai Doha 2 00 6. It s most precse or Black to retreat now with 20. . . c6!=. Whte's peces are ted to the protection o hs c4paw whle Black's queen can retreat to the comortable d7square. Black has no problems whatsoever.

8 .. .xe8 9.c �e 20. d6 cxd6 2.�d2 21 .a2 e7 22 .e2 b=

2...�c2 22.�f Or 22.c2 c2 23.d5 a5 24.d4 a4 25.5 b3 26.b d8 with a slght edge or Black.

22. . .�b2 23.dl

9 . xd6 Aer 19.e3 Black has the smple reply 19 .. .b6=

9 .. .xd6 20.d2 b6 2. b5 cd8= The postion has -

been smplied a lttle; Black has

(dagram

23 ...�b3!

This s Black's most precse re sponse. The alternatves do not pro

Chapter27

vde hm th complete equalty: 23 ...c2 24.d2 b3 2Sc (Whte can create more problems or hs opponent wth 2S.e e 26.e b 27.e8+ h7 28. d3 29.d2  30.3  31. c4 32.S+ h8 33.c8+ h7 34.b7 d4 3S. h2 and thanks to hs much sa er ng Whte's poston s preer able although Black should manage to make a draw wth accurate deence. 2S . . .e4 26.e e7 27. e3 (27.4 dS= 27. . .b 28. e=  draw Belov  Bu Xangzhi Moscow 201 0; 23 ...g6 24.d6 e4 2S.e (I 2S.4 then 2S . . .3 and ater 26.3 d4= the poston s equal opan  Gashmov ls ta 2008. The move 26.g3 wth the dea o preservng the d4 pawn seems to be too rsky. Black can mmediately eploit Whte's weakened kingposton by playing 16 .. .e6. Whte cannot avod the varaton 27.dS g6+ 28 . g2 e2  28 . ..eS  29.d2 e+ 30.h2 eS 3.a2 3+ 32. 3 eS+ 33.g e= and Black draws by perpetul check.

2S ...d8 26.c7 3 27.dS! d2 28.b dS (Black cannot presee the etra piece under avourable crcumstances: 28 . . .gS 29.b7 eS 30.h4 6 3.e7 e7 32.e7 g6 33.a7 e4 34.a4 and te has ecellent chances o promotng his paws. 29.cdS (t s bad or White to play 2 9.b7 e6 3 0.c6 e 29 ...dS 30.b7 S 31.c8+ d8 32.S b Black must work hard here to make a draw because wth play on both anks hs kight s neror to te's bshop.

2.d2 �b 25.xd6 Aer 2S .g4 g6 2 6.d6  te's pieces turn out to be msplaced.

25 .a5 26.e5 b3 27. e2 f6 28.�d5+ '7 29 d3 

•

29.g4 eS 30.gS d4 31. e 3 S 32 .eS eS 33.eS=

29 x+ 

29 .. .d3 30.e8 x+ 31. h2 2 32.g8+ g6 33.e7 4+ 34.h=

30.x d3 3.gl xe2 32.�xb7 d2 33.5 el+ 3.

12bxc3 c613e e814cxd5 xd515 4 ac16h3 h6

2 e 35.�xa + 36. gl= Bla is unable o weave

�xc2 c2 2xe8+ xeS 22.cl

any maing nes agains s oonen, so e mus ae e aw by eeual e.  .c �e

22 g6! •

I is quie eliable, bu less convincng, o Bla to ontinue wi 22 . . .a4 23 .5 eS 24.2= omoev  Landa, oi 20 06 .

23.d5 e5 2.xe5 8 . g3 Ae 18.e3 Blac elies t te sana move 18 . . .2 ! (I he oes no exange queens and plays o example 18 . . .6, en ie an immedately oet te c2squae wih e move 19. a2 ! . Te positon ae 19 ...a5 20 .  6 21.d5 d6 was tested in te game enguta  uvaj, New Deli 2010. By laying 22. 3! e4 23.e4 Exe4 24.3, White coul have maintaine an advanage: 24 . . .xc4 25.2 3 26 .5 o 24 . . .ce8 25.Eae2 19.5 (19.x2 2 20.d5 aS 21.d4 a4= 19 . . .a5 20.4 x 2 1.ax ( 21 .ex 7 22 . 2 6= 2 1...d7 22 .b5 b6 23.xa7 a8 24.b5 bS 25. xb5 a3=

8 ...f6 9 .  �c2 2 0 .

24.4 d3

2 ...e5

25.e5 Te biso ening aising a te 25.e 6 26.e5 xeS 27. xeS eS could even be losing o Wie, sine is opponent's king woul mac to te cSsquae.

25 .. .xe5 26. 

I 26 .. .e3! ite has the

Chapter27

rather unpleasant response 27.c5.

27.' 'e7 28.f e 29. g3 d 3 0 .'e3 e+ 3. D) 7.g g6

Dl) 8  D2) 8 d3

hs bshop s on S.  . . .d3 19.\xd3 \d7! (It s less precse or hm to play 19 . . .d6 20.c4 \aS, Ivanchuk  Kamnk, Nce 2 010, 2xe+ ! xe 22 . d2 Whtes centre s securely protected and he has the dea o g4g5 n reserve, so he has the better pros pects 20.d5 6

•

•

Dl) 8  •

Ths move s played wth the dea o transerrng the bshop to the long dagonal and om there t wll be exet xray" pressure (through the knght on 3 aganst Backs queen. 1 . d3

2.ab (2.xe+ xe 22. \bS eS 23.\xd7 xd7 24 . c7 c3=; 22.b e7 23.c4 g6 24 .g3 b6= Howell  Geland, sterdam 2010 2...xe+ 22. xe e 7 23.c4, Kaakn  Geland, Nce (rapd 2010. The game s equal aer 2 3 .. .h5! 24.g5 g6 25 . g3 e7 26 .g2 d6=

8 d6 •••

1 .. .6! 19 .xe+ xe 20 . c7 c, akovenko  Frdman, Dresden 200, 2.4 aS 22. c

9.xe8+ xe8 20.c \e 2.e3 (dagram 2 ! N Whte hopes to advance d4d5 and c4c5 wth tempo, so Black's prophylactc retreat th the bshop s hs smplest and most relable way to equalze. •••

The act that te has played g2g4 means that Black s now orced to exchange on d3, whch he s usually reluctant to do when

12.bxc3 c613el e814cxd5 fxd5154 ac816h3 h6

28b7 e5 297 e8 30 §d5 Blak mght objevely be able o hold ths poson, bu ghng agans Whte's faradvaned passed paw, suppored by hs bshoppar, s lkely to be raher an unpleasan task 30    a3 3f4 d3 32d6 e2 336 d3 34g3 e + 35 h2 f3+ 36 g2 e=

22 . g2 I mgh be nerestng for hm o  he doubleedged move 2 d8! 22g2 (f 22d2, Blak has he resoure 22   e7 235 §g3! 22  e7! (22  2 23d5 a5 24 5 Yemeln  Polak, zeh Republ 200

and now: 23g5 5 24a2 (24gh6 h5 24  h5 (24  hg5 25 d2 a3 26 gh6 b4 Ths poson s very rh n possbles, bu Blak's hanes ae a b beer, Grshuk  Ivanhuk, Lnares 2009 (game 2 0  ; 23  d7 243 e7= ; e's best opon here mght be 23 b3 ! e4 (23  f6 24 dU 245 (24d2 g2 25 g2 b6= 24  5 25d5 f3 26f3 f6 27g2 a

22d5 e5 23d2 2 24 2 2= 22..�d3 =

The pospes of boh sdes are abou equa n he ensung end game

E) 7d2

Chapter 27

7 a5 •••

Black has also tried a ew other moves here: 17  d7 18 c4 �d6 19  d6 (1 9 d2 4 20 f4 e4 21g3 ce8 22e3 4e7 23�b5 a6 24�c4 a5 25�a2 �e6 26d5 �f5= Kasparov  Motylev Moscow 2004 The dea o avodng all the possble echanges wth the move 19�e3 deserves attenton; aer or eample 19   e7 20b3 b6 21d6 d6 22c4 �e4 233± te's poston s preerable 19  cd6 2 0 e3 a8 21 a4 a6 Karjakin  Geland Pamplona 2004 Here wth the smple move 22f5 (nstead the game contnued wth 22b3 �e4 23�g4 c7 and hre aer the concrete move 24f3! Black woul have some problems to worry about 22  xf5 23b3± ite would maintain a slight but longlasting and stable edge  usual  White can avod the exchange o the bshops he should do so thus aer 17  �d6 hite has the possbility of 18 �e3! (18 �f3 a5 19 d6 cd6= Wan Yunguo  Bu Xiangzhi Bejing 201 0 2 0 c4 xe+ 21 xe1 c7 2 2 e3 e8= 18  a5 9c4 e6 2 0a4 b6 2 1c5 �e7 22 ac1 �f6 23�a6 cd8 24c4 xc4 25  c4 e7 26�b5 �d7 27  d7 d7 28 xa7 a8 (2 8  d4 29 c6 !  29b7 eb8 30 e4±

8i 81 b3 19d2 c4 20  c4 xc4 2 1e3 b5 22c4 d7 23 c5 hirov  meets Wijk aan

Zee 2 00 Black could have played actively here th 23   �e4   aer which he could have even tried to seze the nitatve 18�g4 �g5 (It s quite possble that GM Kiril Georgiev chose ths move rom a purely aesthetic pont o vew because the rectangle ormed by the bishops s very unusual and beautil However Black could have equalized mmediately wth the simple move 18  �d6= 19�3 e1+ 20e1 d8 21�g5 g5 22 e5 (2 2h4 f6= opian  KirGeorgiev Vrnjacka Banja 20 10  22  �g6 23 g5 hg5 24e1 f6=

8  J�M7

9.b3 Aer 19e4 Black has sever al possibilites 9  �8! 20a2 ! b6 (it is possibly preferable or him to choose 20  c4±  Now t is rather dubious for White to continue wth 2g4 �g6 22a4 f5 23g3 g4 24 g4 e1+ 25xe1 e8 hirov  Gashimov estao 2010 The correct reaction is 21ae2! and havng set up a battey on the e

12bxc3 c613el e814xd5 xd515.4 ac8 6h3 h

le White seizes the intiatve Black has a good alternatve in 19 §e6!?= takng control over the light squares in the centre and preventing the transer o Whte's rook to e2 va the a2square It is also good or Black to play 19 cd8 exertng powerl pres sure aganst the central squares with the plan o advancing later with c7c5 The gae opan  Kasdzhanov Nalchuk 2009 continued 20g3 §g6 21h5 §d6 2 2 d6 xe+ 23xe cxd6 24§xg6 g6 and Black had no problems in act his position was even preerable Aer 20a2 in stead Black has the response 20    §e6 21ae2 c4 The logical con tinuation o the gae might be 22d2 (What else? ite ust t to clear the ele  22  b6 23c2 (aer 23§xb7 Black equalzes with 23 c5! 23 §5 24b3 c5=

9 xb3 2.g 

20.xb3

§xd5 §d6 25d6 cxd6 be cause wth the help o the a noeuvre §d5c6 and d4d5 te will gain control o the ele and obtain a slight edge although Black should be able to draw wth accurate deence hrov  o antyManssk 201 0

22.e3 22 b7 b 23d5 b 24 a4 (24 c4 §a4 25xd7 §xd7= 24  xb7! 25xb5 c6=

22 c5 23d5 

23ae c4!

23 .b5! 2.b7 

24ae §8=

2 ! 

b6

25.dl But not 25  d5 in view o 25   h7! Black indirectly protects hs paw in spectacular ashon: 26  e5 2 + ! 27x2 b2 + 28  g3 xa 29xd3 e+ 304 cxd4 3e4+ h8 32d4 c7 33d5 ce7+  Black's attack s decisive

25 �b2 26.exd3 � + 27.l el+ 28.xel �xel+ 29.2 �+ 30.l  = 

2 id3! 

I is less recise to play 21 §g6 2 2§b7 b8 23d5 xd5 24

Black draws by perpetual check

Chapter27 F) 7.�cl

9 .. .cxd6 7 .. .�d7 t s also qute relable or Black to contnue wth 7. . .f6 8.b2 aS 19.e5 (19.e5 b3=; or 9.ad1 b3 20.xb3 xb3 21.c4 aS 22.a2  Modahki  Wang Yue Ha Long ity 2009. Here hs most solid move would be 22 . . .b6!=) 9 .. . eS 20.xe5 cS 2.3 d6 22. ad b6 23.a2 e6 24.d5 h3 5.x xe1 26.xe1 x 27. gxh3 e8 28.xe8 ( 28.e4 wth the dea o preservng the rooks in order to organze an attack then 28 . . .e7! 29.e3 e8!= removng the kng to a safer area) 28 . . . xe8 29.e2 d8 30.a6 g6 31.g2 b1+ 32.h2 f 33.xa7 4 34. g c 35.h2 f4= draw onomaov  Geland KhantyMansysk 2009.

8 .�b2 d6 9 . xd6 Aer 19.e3 Black has at his dsposal a tactcal shot 9 .. .h3! 20.gxh3 xh3 2.xb7 g4+ 22.   h3=  ending the game th a perpetual check.

 believe t s less precse or hm to choose 9 . . . xd6 20.c4 (f 20.d2 b6 2.b5 xe1+ 22. xe1 aS= Black advances wth c7c5 and solve all hs problems; or 20.xb7 xe2 2.xe2 b8 2 2 .xb8 xb8 23 .e8  h7 24. xb8 c6 25.e xc3 26.e3 c 27.h2 c2 28.g3 e6= when ite's pieces are not su cently coodinated and so Black equalizes easly) 2 0 . . .b6

and now 21.b5. his transer o the queen to the kngside need not worr Black. .. .d7 22 .h5 4 (t would be even smpler or Black to respond with 2 2 . . .xe1+! 23.xe1 8=) 23 .b5 cd8 24.a4 and the most diect road to equal

12bx c613 el e814cxd5 xd5154 ac816h3 h6

ty or Black now s to quckly smpl the poston on the ele with 24 . . .xe. (t s less precse to play 24 . . . 25 .g3 6 opan  Geland traan 2 010 26 . g2 xe 27.xe e8 28.xe8+ xe8 29.d5). 25.xe g6 26. d5 (26.h4 xh4 27.xh4 8= ) 26 . .. e6!=. Now Whte cannot play 27.xc6? owng to 27 .. .d5 28.e8+ g7 29.xd8 xc6 30 .xc6 6 3 1.d7 xc6 32 .x+ g8+ and Black wns; t s reasonable or Whte to contnue wth 21.a2 6 22 .b5 d7 23.a4 and hs poston s a lttle better.

Ths s the most concrete plan or Black. He wants to exchange all the rooks consderably reduc ng the attackng potental o hs opponent's peces. n the game kopan  Wang ue strakan 2010 Black chose another lne 22 . . .b6 23.b (t s better or Whte to play here 23. e3 prepang to double hs rook along the ele) 23 . . .d 8 24.3 6= Black's lghtsquared bsh op has acqured reedom o move ment and the game s equal.

23.e3 d7 2.del xe3 25.xe3 e8 26.xe8+ xe8=

2 0 . e6 2.adl d5 22 d3 •

22 �c7! N •••

Black's bshop s not very good but te has a backward c3paw so these two deects bal ance each other out.

Concusion You shoud be convinced by now that 6h6 is Back's camest and most reiabe move I during a tense compettve game, a payer with Backais to remember some o the variatons provided in this chap ter, he st ll  has e xcellent chances o f  ndi ng the right  path over the board  by himse It  is essental, not so muc h to memori ze the long  forc ing lines, but  to understand t he main ideas of t he variaton. T hese have all been exlained quite t horoughly in the conc luson o f Cha p er    res pec t to both  he lnes 2 5 , whi c h i s very si milar t o thi s c ha pt er, wi th

and the ideas.

ater28

l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.xe5 d6 4. xe4 5.c3

Wte exchanges Black's centralzed knght acceptng the appearance of a slght defect n hs pawstructure. Meanwhle he prepares queensde castlng. n the last few years ths lne has be come tremendously popular whch s not surprsng because Black oen faces dcultes.

6 .. .d5 7.d4 �d6! Black has already played d6d5 so t s appro prate to develop hs bshop to an actve poston. 8.�d3 00 9.00 h6=; 6 .. .�e7 7.d4 00 8.�d3 dS 9 00 cS .dxcS (othese Black ll deploy hs knght on c6 whle aer  .eS Black has the strong reply 10 ... c4 followed by f6) 10 .. .d7 .c6 dc6 2.d4 �d6! 13.f5 �eS=

6 .. .e7

5 xc3 

If Black retreats hs knght wth S . . .f6 te obtans an advantage thanks to hs extra tempo or development.

6. Aer 6.bxc3 Whte's pawnstcture s seriously weakened and he has no chance of ganng an advantage. Black can obtan a very good poston s several ways

7. f Wte's other possblty here s 7.�e3 wth the same dea of preparng queensde castlng; we shall analyze ths n the next chapter n a somewat derent

2 6 3xe5 d6 4 xe4 5c3 xc3 6c3 �e7 7 �4

verson. If Whte cstles kngsde here, Blck hs no problems t ll. Aer 7.�d3 00 8.00 c6 (t s lso good for hm to opt or 8 ...d7 wth the de of 9 . . .c5) 9.e1 �e6= followed by d7, the poston s equl. he trnser of Whte's queen to 4 s not dngerous or Blck, snce aer 7.d4 00 8.�e3 c6 9.f4, he hs  sfe route to equlty 9 . . .d7 10.h3 (preventng 10 . . .g4) 10. . .f5 .4 5=, enterng n equl endgme, D.chneder  Ilncc, Torokblnt 2 004.

complcted poston, whch sometmes becomes ve shp, th oppostesdes cstlng. A) 7 c6 •

8.�d2

Aer 7 f4, one possblty for Blck s A) 7 . c6 He prepres to cstle on the same sde s te, to prevent hs opponent rom organzng an attack. hs scheme o development s very safe but somewhat passve, nd t leaves Black th almost no chnce of sezng the nttve. Blck's other possble develop ment scheme s based on the dou bleedged move B) 7 . 0 - 0 and n tht cse there rses  ve 





f 8.�b5 Black's smplest wy to equlze s wth 8 . . . 00 (he poston remans very unclear fter 8 . .. a6 9.c6+ bxc6 10.d3 00 1 1. 0 00 obava  Moty lev, okovsy 2010. Whte's plan s qute standard; he wnts to push h2h4 nd use the g5square as a spngbord or hs mnor peces.) 9 .d3 d7 10 .0 0 0 f5 1.xf5 f5 2.he1 �6 13.d4 xd4 14.cxd4 a6 15.�4 g5 16. �g3 h5 17.3 h4 18.�f2 d5= , drw Kuzubov  drekn, Lubbock 2009. Blck should not be ad o the move 8.�d3  the whte bshop wll come under ttck fom Blck's mnor peces, snce he wll prepre the development of hs bshop to f5, or hs knght to the e5square. hs wll tend to led to exchnges, whch should sut Blck, snce hs poston s  bt

Chapter 28

cramped. 8 . . .�e6 9.e2 (Whte cannot acheve much wth 9.d2 d7 10 .0 00 00 0= ). t wll be ver good or Black to develop hs rook to the ele n order to attack the enem queen so he can boldl castle here  9 . . . 00!N 10.000 �6= aer whch he deplos hs rook on the e8squae and completes hs development.

8 e6 9 . 0 - 0 - 0 

For 9.g3 d7 10. 000  see 9.000 d7 10.g3. The poston s absolutel equal ollowng 9.d4 xd4 10. cxd4 00=  9.g5 besdes the transpo ston to the an lne wth 9 . . . g5 10.g5 d7 11.000 6 12.�e3 000 Black has the nterestng move 9 . . .�5! ?  preseng both bshops.

9 . �d7 

The poston o Whte's bshop on 4 rather than e3 (the same poston wth a bshop on e3 arses aer 7.�e3 c6 8.d2 �e6) has some nuances that are worth mentonng. Here Whte does not have one o the deas o

�e3 whch  s to pla 3d4 and aer the trade o the knghts hs darksquared bshop attacks the enem queensde. Nether can he acheve anthng uch wth the move h2h4 preparng a knghtsorte to the g5square. On the other hand Whte has the possblt o exchangng hs knght or hs opponent's darksquared bshop whch Black can avod when Whte's bshop s on e3.

0g5 The poston would be ve smlar to the man lne aer 10.�e2 000 .g5 �g5 12. �xg5 6=  10.g3 a complcated strug gle arses aer 10 . . . 00 . olgar  Ghaem Magham Dresden 2008 but t s also possble or Black to pla 10 .. . 000 1.�g2 b8= Whte does not obtan much wth 10.h4 h6 1.�b5 (.g3 �6 12.�g2 000 13.b Ehe8 14. Ehe1 �g4 15.d5 Exe1 16.xe1 e8 = menko  Zhou nchao  n 2008) 11...a6 12.�a4 b5 13.�b3 b3 14.axb3 5 15.he1 0 0= Voloktn  renburg och 2006. 10.b1 00 0

2 6 3xe5 d6 4 xe4 5c3 xc3 6c3 �e7 7�4

11g5 g5 12 .g5 6 13�e3  see 10 .g5 g5  .g5 6 12  �e3 00 0 13b. The poston s equal aer 1. d4 xd4 and here ollowng 12cxd4 t s good or Black to play 12 .  �6 13.d5 �5 preparng to ree the ele whle he can counter 12xd4 wth the move 12 ..c5= equalzng snce aer 13 xg7 dg8 14.h6 Black has not only the lne 14   .g6 15 .h5 �g4 16.d5 d1 7.xd1 but also the possblty o 14  .�g4 15�d3 �8 166 �e7 17.x 8 18. g7 dg8 19h6 �8= wth an unavodable repetton o moves. 11.�b5 a6 12.�a4 �6 13�g5 (13he1 h6 14.d4 �d5 15.3 he8 16.e2 �c4= Kaakn  vanchuk och 20 08 ) 13   g5 14xg5 b5 15�b3 6 16e6 xe6 174 h5 18h3 g5 19d4 d5 2 0xc6 xd1+ 21.xd1 gx4 22 xd8 xd8 23c g8 24g1 3 25g3 e8 26.d e2 27d2 e1+ 28d1 e2= draw van chuk  Kramnk Moscow 200 8.

0 g5 It would be nterestng al

though a bt rs or Black to try the move 10  �5 ! ? 11.�c4 (Whte acheves nothng wth 11h3 h6 12 .3 00 0= )  . h6 123 00 and the poston s doubleedged

llg5 f6 12  e3 0  0  0

A smlar but less advantageous or Black poston arses aer 7�e3 c6 8d2 �e6 9 000 d7 10b1 a6 g5 g5 12 g5 6 3�e3 0 0 0

The derence s that Whte's kng s on c1 rather than b1 whch s not very mpoant and Black's pawn s on a7 rather than a6 whch s dentely preerable or hm Wth the black pa on a6 Whte has the possblty o advancng wth a2a4 ollowed by a

Chapter 28

march of the bpaw to b5 whle wth the pa on a7 ths dea would not work. Black's plan s now very smple. He should not touch the pawchan c7d6f6g7 but should strve to exchange peces. f he manages to exchange the lghtsquared bshops hs poston mght even become preferable because Whte's darksquared bshop s severely restrcted n ts moblty. The concrete varatons n ths stuaton are not so mpor tant. The essental thng or Black s to understand where to put hs peces. Here s an example to show how the struggle mght develop 

3.b3 @b8 .ie2 e8 5. el ig

mussen  Frdman Nov ad 2009.

B) 7 ... 0 0

Wth the whte bshop on f4 kngsde castlng s a good choce for Black.

8.�d2 It s weaker for Wte to play 8 . d3 owng to 8 . . . d7 ollowed by d7c5  Whte's bshop on d3 wll come under the threat of beng exchanged.

8 .. .d7 9. 0 - 0 - 0 c5

Black provokes the advance of the enemy paw snce the weakenng mght prove helpl. 6.

i5 7.i i 8.@b2 e7 9.i xel 2.xel es 2. dl ig6 22.a � 23. ig3 �e6 2.ic �e3 25.�xe3 xe3 26.i e7 Black drew wthout any problems n the game Ras

The plans of both sdes have become clear. te has good prospects on the kngsde  whle Black has chances both on the

queensde and n the centre eplotng the ele. Whte must regroup hs orces n order to begn an eectve kngsde attack. He must eventuall pla 23 n order to cover the e4 square aganst possble nvason b Black's knght and to do that he must rst move hs o knght rom 3. Whte's bshop on 4 s not helpl n the development o hs ntatve ether; t s restrcted b Black's pawns at the moment. Now we shall analze all Whte's reasonable optons here

B)  0 . c B2)  0 .d, B3) 0. and B) 10 . e3 . It would obvousl be a bad dea or hm to tr 0.h3?! e .g4 snce aer 1...e4 2e1 6 Black sezed the ntatve n the game seshkovs  I.Zatsev R 975. he move 0. b looks rather ndierent and Black should respond wth  . . . e. he ncluson o these moves s advantageous or Black because te's kng s onl slghtl better on b1 than on c while Black's rook s very useul on e8 where t is ver actve and stands read to support the kght  t goes to e4.

e6?! 2 .e3 and Black ll have to pla d6d5 at some pont aer whch hs e6pawn will become backward.

2 . e3 "d7 It mght be nterestng or hm to opt or 2 .. .c6!? 3.h4 dS 4. gS h6 S.e6 e6 6.h5 eS=. Whte's rook can penetrate nto the enem camp along the route h1h3g3g6 but Black's centre s very powerl so the poston oers chances to both sdes. 3. "b5! Val.opov  enkn och 20 05 .

B)  0 . c (dagram) Wth ths move Whte just pro vokes an exchange whch s n Black's favour snce hs poston is a bt cramped.

0

•

e6 ll xe6 xe6 

It is rather dubous to pla  . . .

Black deprves the enem queen o the allmportant d3 square rom where t can create threats aganst Black's kng 

Chapter 28

combnaton wth a ght on g5. Whte can play d3 only  he s prepared to enter an appro mately equal endgame. He has hardly anythng better though ...

B2)  0 .d

el �d7 dams  Kramnk Wijk aan Zee 2 008.

Whte s preparng 23 to deprve Black's knght o the e4 square and to prepare the advance o hs gpaw.

 0 Je8 ll. e6 2 . e3 g5 •

he other relable possblty or Black here s 2 . . .d4 3. cd4 �5! (otherwse hs bshops ll reman cramped) 4.g4 �g6 5.b �h4! 6.�2 h6= Huebner  Kramnk Fra (rapd) 996.

3.f 3.xe6 e3 4. xd8 d2+ 5.d2 d8= 3.g5 g5 4.g5 g5 5.b5 e6 6.�c4 �d7= Yemeln  Kochyev t.etersburg 997. (dagram)

3 .. .xd! 3 .. .�6 4.3

.g5 c6 5. g 6.

Black plans to follow up th e8e5 preparng to double hs rooks on the ele. He also has actve possibltes on the lght squares and all ths provdes hm wth good chances o equalzng.

B3)  0 . Wth ths move hte secures the g5square as a springboard or hs knght and sometmes even a black pawn on h6 does not preclude ths manoeuvre. It would be ve dangerous or Black to capture the knght snce hte's matng attack along the hle could prove atal.

2 6 xe5 d6 4 xe4 5.c   6c e7 7. 

xe7 xe7 3.d e .e 6 5.3 d6= Rozentals  encba lsta 998.

ll ... xd6 2.�xd6 �xd6 3.xd6 e .d x 5. gl g

 0 . . .c6 Ths s the saest road to equal t or Black. He prepares d6d5 n order to acqure some space and he also opens the wa to the aSsquare or hs queen. Black's other popular optons here 0 . . .e8 0 .. .6 and 0 . . . g all lead to a complcated struggle but with more possbl tes or Whte to seze the nta tve.

This endgame looks smple but n act t s qute nsdous and Black must nd several accurate moves in order to equalze.  he plas mprecsel the lnerabl t o hs queensde pawns s bound to tell.

6 . c

ll . xd6

Aer  .h5 t s good or Black to pla ...h6= or 1...d5 2.h6 g6= ndrews  Haessel hikago 2007. Whte cannot acheve much wth 1.g5 n vew o 11...d5 2.

Black need not ear the lne 6 .d3 e8 7. d2 6= lmas  Gashmov Lugo 2007. I te sezes addtonal space on the queensde wth 6.a Black should repl not with 6.. e6 whch would enable White to mprove hs pawnstructure with 7. g5 5 8 . d3 xd3 9.cxd3 6 20.e e8 2.xe8 xe8 22 . d2 8 23.b± and Black wll have to work hard to make a draw menko  alman och 20 06  but wth 6 . . .e8 17. d3 h6 8.a5 e6 19.e 6= Topalov  Geland Monaco (rapid) 2 006 .

Chapter 28

6  7  d3 xd3 8 cxd3 tf6 9d2 19 e e8 20 xe8 xe 8 2  d2 8 22 a4, Topalov  Geland, Wjk aan Zee 2006 Here Black could have equalzed convncngly wth 22   c5 234 b6=

2 2  d7!? 23e4 xe4 24dxe4 8 25e3 e7=

23e 23e1 xe1 24xe1 6=

23 ! 19  J8!  t s too passve t o play 19    d8 20a4 e8 21e1 xd4 22 xd4 8 23a5 c7 24b4± heparnov  Domnguez, uer navaca 2006 

2 0 g c5 21 c The move 21d6? loses the exchange wthout compensaton 28 22g5 e7 23gx6 xd6 24g7 g8 25g5 e7 26xh7 ac8! (Black's rook s ready to jon n the acton along the 6th rank) 27e1  d8 28g c6 29g5 e7 30e4 g6 31 e1 g2 32 c1 d8 33xc5 b6 34e4 8xg7 35g5 h2 and Black has excellent wnnng chances 21a4 d5 22e1 xe1 23 xe 6=

2 b6 22g5 td5 t s also sae to deend th

t s less convncng or Black to contnue wth 23   xe4 24 dxe4 e7 25 e3 d8 26b4! c4! ? Ths pawn s now separated rom the rest o hs orces, but ths s the only way or Black to prevent the openng o les, whch Whte's rook mght use to penetrate nto hs cmp 27d4 e8 28 g6 29h5 e5 30e3 d8 3a4 g6 32h6 8 33a5± d Black sh some dcultes to worry about

26 txf6 25e5 xe 26txe5 e8=

2 6 3x5 6 4 x4 5c3 xc3 6c3 7 7j4

ite has been unable to attack his opponent's vulnerable queenside pas while Black has the possiblty of creatng hs own passed pa on the ngside in the ture.

B)  0 e3 •

 0 c6! •••

It seems ve reasonable or Black to fort hs knight on c5 wth the move 0 . . .b6 but aer  .d4 b7 2.f3 6 3 .b a6 4.h4 e8 5.2 te is ready to seze the intiatve on the king sde and the advance of his gpawn mght be partcularly dangerous for Black. Here Black's most popular lne s 10 .. .e8 11.c4 e6 12. e6 xe6 3.h4 d7 4.d5 c6 5.f5 c4 6.b (strangely enough the ollowing variation has been tested only once at top level 6.g5 g5 7.hxg5 f8 8.bU and ite's poston s slightly better Kaakin  Kamnk Wjk aan Zee 2 007.) 16 . . . g6 17.h3 h5 8Cd2 e2 9.de g4 20.h2 d5 2.f3 a4 22.g4

d6 23.f2. he theory of this line goes even rther but I think that from Black's point of view we should stop the analyss here. His deence s dcult and he must nd some only moves" in order to survve zabo  Huzman Budva 2009.

ll.c5 Ths s the only way for Whte to justi the retreat o hs bshop on the prevous move. Black wns a tempo or actve operations aer 1. b1 and followng  . . . e8 (t is also good or hm to play the mmedate 1.. e4) 2 .d4 e4 13 .c1 d5 4f3 d6 hs poston is preerable Val.opov  Frolyanov ochi 2006. It is more or less the same after .d4 e4 2.e e8 3.f3 f6 ebag  Koneru katerin burg 2006. If .h4 t is very good for Black to contnue with . . .a5 12 b  e6 3a3 e4 4.e1 6= and his prospects are not at all worse Deepan  Koneru Vi sakhapatnam 20 06 .

Chter 28

Aer .c4 Black's best lne would be 11...e4! 12.d3 �5 3.g4 �g6 14.b3 ! and  15.g1 then 15 . . .5 !  and he sezes the ntatve.

ll ...dxc5 2.f Wa5 3 . d3 e6 .a3 adS t s less precse or Black to opt or 14 . . .�6 n vew o 15.g5! (or 15.he1 ad8  see 14. . .ad8 15.he1 �6 whereas t s a orced draw aer 15.h4 c4 16.�e4 c3 17.bxc3 xa3 18.b1 5 19.g5 e4 20.xe4 �5 2.xc4 h8 22. x 23.x xc3 24. x5 b4  draw Leko  Kra nk Wjk aan Zee 2 008) 15  . .�xg5 16.xg5 ad8 17.he

Aer 16. . .a4 17.he1 xd1 (17... c4 18.xe7 �d5 19.g3±) 18. xd1 c4 19.xe7 �d5 20.e5 �e6 21.xc5 �5 22.b3 4 23. e3 xh2 24.g3± hs lghtsquared bshop s restrcted b hs own pawns and so Whte antans a slght edge. It s correct or Black to pla the straghtorward 16 . . .�xc4! 17.xe7 (17.xc4 c7=) 17.. .de8! 18.h4 (the pawn s posoned and aer 18. xb7 b8 ! Black's attack becoes ver dangerous) 18 . . .�d5 19.g5 h5 2 0.c4 (Black s much better a ter 20.g4? a4) 20. . . a4 21 . he1 xe1 22.xe1 xc4 23.xc4 �xc4 24. e7 b6 25 .xa7 e8=

5 .. .f6 But not 15 ... g6 16.h4 wth a powel ntatve or Whte.

6.e3

5el 15.h4 c4 16.�xc4 a4 17.c7 xc4 18.xe7 de8 19.b4 a2 2 0. d4 c8 21 .xe6 e6 22 .b3 xb3 23.cxb3 x2= jugrov  Frolanov t.Petersburg 20 09. Whte can deprve hs oppo nent o the advantage o the bsh op par wth 15.e4 g6 16.�c4 and here the seemngl attractve pn o Whte's bshop turns out to be the ong decson or Black.

Black s clearl better aer 16.g5?! c4 17 (17.xh7 c3 18.x8 cxd3 19.xe6 e6 20.g6 �6) 17...h8 18.xe6 e6 9.xd8 xd8 2 0.e4. Whte s unable to parr the threat o �6g5 and cannot protect hs bshop n an other wa. 20 . . . c3 2.e2 g5 22.e3 xe3 23.e3 b2 24.xb2 xh7 25 .c3 b5 It is possble or te to contnue wth the standard move 16. h4 when Black has a choce be tween a move whch leads to an unclear poston and a move whch equalzes. 16 ...c3!? 17.xe6 e6 18. e4 �6 19.xh7  20.g5 e7 21.xe6 b6 22.c3 xe6

2.  6 3xe5 d6 4.  xe4 5c3 xc3 6.c3 e7 7.4

23.\ d6 (23 . . . ? 24 .Jc4 d5 25.xd5 cxd5 26.\d7 e7 27.d5 6 28.\g4  e 5 29. \e4 6 30.\e3  g 6 31.\xe7 \6 32.\xc5) 24.c4 (24 .\4  e 7 25.\e3  26.Jc4 d5 27.xd5 cxd5 28.d5  g 6 29. Je4  30 .d5=) 24 ...Jd4 25. \g6  c 7 26.\g3 d6 27.cxd4 d8 28.\xg7 b8 Ths poston s nonstandard and com pletely unclear; 16. . .c4 17.xe6 ( 17.c4 xd1, and aer 18.xd1 a4 or 18.xd1 c4 19.\xc4 b6 20. b4 \x2 21.\xb7 \xg2 22.\xc6 h4 Black s clearly better.) 17. . .cxd3 (17. . .e6 18.\xc4 te has excellent compensaton or the exchange) 18.x6 gx6! (18. . .d2 19.Cxd2 gx6 20. e 1 \d5 2 .Ce4 \a2 2 2 .Cd6 \d5 23.C5 h8 24.b3 \xg2 25.Cg3) 19.cxd3 \c5 20.\x6 \x2 21. \g5 h8 22 .6 (aer 22 .d 2, Black hs the ntermedate move 2 2 . ..6! ) 22 .. .g8=

6 b5 7.Mel 7.\e4 g6 18.xc6 b4 19.a6 \xa6 20.a6 bxa3 2.bxa3

xd1 22.xd1 d8 Whte's pawns are vulnerable and Black has exellent compensaton or hs mnmal materal dect.

7..c  17. . .\b6 8. Cg5 (aer 18.g4, Black has the strong move 18 . . . b4 !) 18 . . .g5 19.\xg5 d5 20. g3±

8 . e

8 .. .6! Ths s a very mportant pro phylactc move, whch s not at all obvous. t has become possble, because Whte s unable to open the kngsde by advancng hs gpawn. I 18 ... b6 19.g4! (9.Cg5 g5 20.\xg5 c5=; 19.h4 c5 20. g5 b4 Black's attack aganst the enemy kng s aster) 19 . . . c5 (19 ... a5 2 0.g5 Je7 21 .d4 \c5 22 . \h4 h6 23.4 d6± Blacks de ence s nearly collapsng and hs poston s very precarous; 19 ... Je7 20 .C e5 d6 2.g5 c5 2 2.5) 20.g5 Je7 2 .5±

9.bl

Black s clearly better aer 19.g4 Je7 20.g5 (20.J5 a3 21.

Chapter28


(dagram) 2 1 . . .xe4

The move 21 . e6= leads to a epetiton of moves. 22.Ye4 b4 23.te5 bxc3 4.lxc3 8 25.f4 M4+

Black's poston s even slghtly

preferable.

Conclusion The variaton beginning with the move 5.  is one of the most dangerous for Black in the Petro Defence. As for the line with 7 f4 which we have analyzed in this chapter, we can recommend to play ers who are ready to defend a minimally worse but quiet and safe  posion the move 7... c6 Players who are not aaid of a com pli cated and approximatey equal struggle with opposite-sides castling can choose the move 7...0-0.

Chapter29

l.e4 e5 2)£ f6 3.xe5 d6 4.£ xe4 5.c3 xc3 6.c3 ie7 7.ie3

tlng and the dobleedged B)

7 0-0 •

A) 7 c6 Wt ths move Black s tryng to eqalze and wants to avod getting nto sharp postons wt oppostesdes castlng. He is pre parng to castle qeensde m self. 

I tnk ts s te most danger os move for Black to face. he only dvantage of pttng te wte bsop on f rater tan e3 is tat te ele remans open bt ite as no plans to se te ele anywy! n e3 te bisop s eyeng te qeensde wc mgt prove sel f Black castles on tt side. If te black kng seeks selter on te kingside ten te bsop deprves Black's knigt of te c5sqare and s also more armonosly placed on e3 for te development of ite's kingside intatve. ow jst as aer f Black s two plns at is dsposal te ctios  7 6, wit te dea of preparing qeensde cas 

S.d2 ite's farng qeenma noees sold not troble Black n te least 8.d5 e6 9.b5 c 0. 00 0 a6 .a 0 0 . \f f6 3.d3 e5= and the game s eqal Kaakin  ren brg och 006. It s not worth te losng a

Capter29

tempo or the prophylactic move 8.h3 because the development o the bishop to g4 is not part o Black's plan. It is pointless to pn the knight since Whte can simply ignore it. I Black echanges his bishop on 3 doubling hs opponent's pawns then Whte wll develop his nitiative along the open gle. he game Leko  dams Miscolc (rapid) 2005 connued ith 8 ...�e6 9.d2 d7 10.000 a6 1g5 g5 12 g5 6 3�e3 000 and there arose a tycal pastructure or this variation. However it seems much more sensible or Black to ollow the plan o castling king side 8 . . . 00! ollowed by c6e5.

8 .. .e6

Now White played imprecsely wth 14.�3= and his bishop was soon echanged. his tye o po sition with both sides castlng kingside has hardly been ana lyzed at all yet. I believe ite should ollow this plan play 23 retreat the bishop to 2 via the h4 square and avoid the echange o his other bishop by retreating it to . hen he can organize a pawnoensive on the queenside. Black's deence is rather unpleasant while ite's edge is minimal but stable.) 0 . 000 (o 10.�c4 e5  .�b3 0 0= and his bishop on b3 is not doing much) 0 . . .d7=

9 d7 •••

9.0-0-0 er 9.g5 Black is not obliged to exchange his darksquared bishop. He can play instead 9 . . .�5! (aer 9 . . .g5 0.g5 d7 White has the possibility o castling kngside . �e2!? 00 12.00 e8 3.e �5 Landa  Wang Yue akhchivan 20.

ow we shall analyze in detail the moves Al)  0 . and A) lO.'bl

2{ {6 3{xe5 d6 4{ {xe4 5{c3 {xc3 6c3 e7 7e3

The poston s equal aer 0. b5 a6 .a4 b5 2.b3 00 3.e6 \xe6= The mmedate 0.{g5 seems pontless.

Naturally Black can continue with the smple lne: 0 . . .g5 1.g5. Aer 1...6 2.e3 000 there arses a standard positon  Black has completed the moblzaton o hs orces wthout losng any tempi with moves such as a7a6 or e76. Mevertheless Whte's poston s slghtly. preerable. Gong n or a poston with oppostesdes castlng s unnecessarily rsy or Black and aer ...00 Whte can play 2.b3! Wth this strong move te prevents the possble exchange o hs important lghtsquared bishop va the c4square. 2 .. .e8 ( 2 .. .a5 te plays 13.a4!± blockng the queensde) 13.h4 {e5 4. 4 \c6 5.b2± and thanks to hs control o the ele Black will always have counterplay but Whte's kng s saer and he has the advantage o the bshoppar so hs poston is preerable jugirov  akaev Dagomys 20 0.

However t is ve good or Black nstead to choose 0 . . .5!? (analogously to the variation 0.  b a6 .{g5 5 but under even more avourable crcumstances) .c4 h6 2.{3 e6 3. b5 a6 14.a4 b5 5.b3 6= jugrov  O.vanov lovdiv 200 t s possble or Whte to play 10.h 3 in order aer 0 . . . a6 1. {g5 to orce the opponent to gve up hs darksquared bshop or the kight. Aer  .g5 2. g5 6 3.e3 000 we agan reach a standard poston with a mnmal edge or te. Thereore t would be sensble or Black to opt or  . . h6 ollowed by e7 6 and 000 th an approxmately equal game. Al) 0.

The dea o ths move s to play {3g5 and aer an exchange on g5 to recapture wth the paw mprovng Whte's pawnstructure. Naturally Black should not allow ths.

0 ... 6!

Chaper 29

Black not only prevents the appearance of hs opponent's kght on gS but keeps n mind the possblty of castling kngsde hs does not happen very oen wth hs kight already developed to c6 butBlack s still prepared to castle queensde after all  

d If b5 a6 2a4 bS 3b3 f6 4e2 then t s qute safe to contnue wth 4   000 5c4 aS 6c5 xb3+ 7b3 c6= and Black's poston is not at all worse hrov  Gr Wjk aan Zee 20 However t s even better or hm to opt for 4  00!? snce White's queen on e2 turns out to be misplaced and the move b7b5 wll be very helpl for the development of Black's queensde ntative Aer the prophylactc move b (dagram) Black has a choce    f6 2d4 xd4 3d4 d4 4xd4 00 Se2 ae8 6f3 N Hua  Gr Wjk aan

Zee 200 Black can contnue with 6  b6 (n the game he played 6 b5 7g4 b6 and here th the resolute move 8g5! Whte could have created great problems for hs opponent) 7g4 f6 buldng a defensve lne whch Whte wll nd dcult to break although he stll mantans a slght edge; I much preer the move    a6 ! ? for Black th which he prepares to castle queensde whle preserving the opton to castle kngsde Aer 2d4 xd4 3 d4 Black should contnue not th the passve lne  3  g8?! 4c4 000 5c3 g6 6e2 wth consderable pressure for Whte Bologan Motylev Pokovs 200 9 but wth 3   0 0!   the move a7a6 turns out to be usel snce Black can counter c3c4 to lengthen the dagonal of Whte's bshop th the move b7b5! ll...xd 2.d (dagram)

2 .. . 0 - 0 !? I lke ths move ver much Whte wll try to pepare the ad vance of hs gpawn and n the meantime Black combnes actve

2   6 3  x d6 4  xe4 5 c3 xc3 6c3 �e7 7�e3

sponse, he can coose beween e sanda move  1 0 a6 nd   0 ...f6! It would be bad for im o o for  . . .000 1.d4 xd4  xd4 losing a pawn ••

  0 . a6 Black's position is very solid aer this move, but he fails to equalize compleely. ltg5 I would be senseless for White to choose 1.h3 since Black can respond simply t 11...000, reaching a tical position aer 12.g5 gS 13 g5 f6. 

queenside play with an oensive usng his c and d pawns, obain ing completely sucent counter play. Black has also tried 12 .. g8 13.c4 cS 14.�c3 000 5.e3 de8 1 6.b1 �f6 17.g3 �xc3 8. xc3 c6± when White's game is slightly pleasanter but nevertheless the posiion seems quite drawish Nisipeanu  Wang Yue Medias 201 0.  lO.�bl

ll g5 GM Vasily Ivanchuk had an interesing but not completely convincing idea here: ll . . �fS!? ••

This is a usel prophylactic move nd Black must now make up his mind about how to com plee is developent. In re

Chapter 29

Black is trying to avoid the exchange of Whte's knight for one of his bshops. If White continues routinely there will be exchanges, which will be n Black's favour: 12.c4 h6! 13.f3 (te can expect no advantage from the rs line: 13x Ef8 14d5 g6 15. xh6 gxh6 16.h6  17.e4 Eh8 18.+ x=) 13 .. .e6! 14. e2 f6! Black has deployed hs forces harmoniously and White is forced to simpli the poston. 15.d4 xd4 16.d4 d4 17. xd4 00 18.f3 Eae8= Whte's edge s purely symbolic, ekseev  vanchuk, strakhan 20 10 . It s much trckier if Whte chooses 12.h3!?. With this move he emphasizes that Blacks bishop on f5 is a bit exposed and he re veals his intention to aack it by advancing his g and f pawns. 12 .. 0 0 13.e2 (13.f3 f6=)

is slghtly better, thanks to his ex tra space, Nepomnachtchi  ekseev, Irkutsk 2010.

12.g5 f6 13 e3 0-0-0 

It is very dicult now for White to break Blacks defensive line. His only real plan would be to trade a pair of rooks and then advance his queenside pawns This plan is not easy to implement, however.

14.b3 Bearing n mind that Black in tends to go with his queen to the square, attacking the a2pawn, Whte needs this prophylactic move. Of course, he can postpone it a while by playing here 14.f3, 14.e2 or 14.h3 .

14 . Je8 15.£ 

13... e5 (If 13 ... h6 14.f3 Efe8 15.g4 e4 16.EhgU Black must reckon with the possble development of White's intiative on the kingside, which his pawn on h6 only helps, since it provides Whte with a target.) 14.f3 xf3 15. f3 c6 16.g4 e6 17.g2± White

It is harmless for White to choose 15.e2 , in view of 15 . . . g4= einderman  Fridman, Hilversum 200 9. Black forces the exchange of the lightsquared bshops, ecause if 16.f3 e7 his poston would be preferable. 15.h3 ! He transfers his bishop to b7, aer which his queenside wil be much more se

2 6 3. xe5 d6 4  xe4 5. c3 xc3 6c3 e7 7e3

cure. 16.�e2 8 17.he1 �c8 18. c4 6 19.d5 e5 20.  21.�h5 d7 22 .�d2 e5 narkev  dams Baku (rapd 20 08 .

16.i 8 17.ie2 �g6!   Whte has no convenient way to protect hs g2pawn ut even f he were ale to play he1 and �e2f Black would have nothng to worry aout snce Whtes edge s mnmal.

) 1 0 .. .f6!

15 �! 

Black's queen is comfotaly placed on the  and g6 squares whle t would e reasonale for hm to retreat his shop to c8 n orde to later prepare the thematic move 76 restctng Whte's darksquared ishop. Black has also tried 15 . . .h5 16.�f2 �f5 17.�e2 e7 18.he1 de 9.�f1 e1 20.e1 e7 2. �f2 e 8 2 2 .c4 a5 23. a3 b6 24.c3 (24.b4 a4 25.a4 Ce5 24. . . C8 25.2 (er this nder ent move Whte cannot achieve anhng. He could have created some prolems for his opponent wth the energetc 25 .b4 ! 25 . . . c6 2 6.d2 d7 27.d5 e5 28 . e1 �e6 29.d2 e8 30.f4 Cc6 3 .�d3 � 32 .e7 e7 33 .d1 8 34.f3 d8 35.�e4 f5 36. �d3 g6 37.g3 �e8 38.e3 e3 39.�e3 Ce6 40.4 a4 4.a4 c5 draw amnk  dams Dortmund 200 6.

This is the contemporary treatment of this varaton. Black does not agree to the echange of hs dasquared shop for the enemy knight.

ll.h4 er 1.Cg5 he should play  .. .�f5 of course and White acheves nothng. 1.�e2 00 0 12 .d4 Domnguez  Wang Yue oa 200 9. Here the smplest way for Black to equalze s 12 ... Cd4! (in the game he played 12 . . .d4 13. cd4± 13.d4 d4 14.d4 8. Now aer 15.g7 the poston would e smpled even more wth the lne: 15 . . .a2+ 16.a2 e6+ 17.1 e2 1.�g5 e7 (t is less precse for Black to contnue wth 11 .  .

Chapter 29

gS 12xg5 000 13xe6 e6 14d3± ad hs knght o c6 s misplaced) 12b5 (12f4 gS 13xg5 000 14xe6 e6 15a4 b 16b5 eS 17 f4 d7 18he1 c6 19 Ehe8 20 g3 eS = Black's peces are well cetralzed ad hs eSsquare s wel protected) 12  00 (It s less accurate to play 12   a6 achuk  Gashmov Moaco 2011 There mght follow 13  c6+ ! bxc6 14 Ehe1 00 15f4 gS 16 xg5 cS 17f3± ad there wll soo arse a multpece edgame whch ll be a bt better for Whte owig to Black's weak a6pa whch ca be atacked by White's rook, a e1e4a4) 13d3

ite's attempt to attac o te gside looks dagerous, but Bac's defece seems adequate: 13  e5! (ot 13   6? ! 14 6 ! gxh6 15x6) 144 xd3 ! te te exchage of White's lightsuared bishop, e has o moe teats o te gside 15cxd3 Eae8 16f4 cS 17xf6 xf6 18xf6 gxf6= Blac's doubled pawns ae ot a poblem at all ad te edgame s appoxmate ly equa

11 .. 0 0 0

12d4 The prospects ae baaced af ter 12g5 e7 13f4 h6 14f6 xf6 15xf6 gxf6 16d4 d7= Black places hs rooks o te gad e les ad te's move h2  turs o ut to have bee a weakeg  Te kightsortie 12g5 is not dagerous here: 12  f5 13 d3 (13c4 eS 14b3 h6 15 3 g4 16f3, daw, Kaak  Li ao KatyMassk 2010 If we cotiue ts vaiatio a bit her, te aer 16   xf3! 17 gxf3 3 18a7 e6 Black's caces are superior) 13  d3 14xd3, arev  Wag Yue, taan 2010 Black ca solve al is problems ow t 14  h6! 15e4 e6!= Black's ext move wll be de8, forcig te to excage o f6, aer wich the posiio is equal

12  d4 If 12   d4 13cxd4 (ae 13 d4 f6= we reac a stadard posito, except fo a extra weaeg moe by ite  2h)

2  6 3xe5 d6 4.  xe4 5 c3  xc3 6c3 �e7 7 �e3

13  d5 14h5 h6 15f3 Whte antains a slight ut stale advantage thanks to the shop par

13.d4 e5 14.e2 ! White would not gan any ad vantage with 14e3 a4 15c4 a5= snce Black's queen on a5 protects the e5 and c squares and is perfectly placed Aer 14f4 nand  Gashiov onaco 2011 Black equalzes wth the counterattacking line: 14   c5 15�e3 �f6=

les wth 14   a4 153 a5 16 4 �xd4 1xd4 f6 (White has alost the sae nal edge aer 1 g6 18h5 c5 19�f3 18he1 he8 19�f3 � 20g4 and of course t should end n a draw ut Whte has acqured uch ore space so he has chances o toturing Black for a it longer

15.�d4 bS

16.h5

 . . .d4! Black should exchange on d4 now despite the loss of a tepo ecause te's shop has een developed on e2 and thus hs g2 pawn is hanging n soe variations The ove 14  f6 s douleedged snce it deprves Black's bishop of a square to retreat to 15�e3 a4 163 (It s also possible for ite to play smply 16a3 d5 17heU 16   a5 1 b2 d5 18h5!? c6 19h4 a6 20 a4 c 2 �c5 Black fails to solve his pro

16�f3 f6= 16g a2+ 1c1 (1 xa2 e6= 1  �e6 18d4 hg8 19g3 �g4= In ths ajorpiece endgae White cannot exploi his slghtly eter pawnstructure ecause Black's isolated fpawn s ready to advance with f5f4 and Whte will e unable to lockadet successlly 16 ...h6 17.i f6= Mchane  Giri Wolvega 20 10 

B) 7 ... 0- 0 (dagra

8.�d2

GM lexander Motylev had an interesing ut not very good de here of playing 8h4 hie

Chapter29

immediately sends his knight to gS and only later does he com plee the development of his queenside. er 8 . . . d7 9.g5 Black can play 9 . . .e5 and then if 10 .d2 c6 11 .0 0 0 there arises a position which we have analyed with the moveorder 8.d2 d7 9.000 eS 10.h4 c6 .gS. However Black has a wondel alternative here  9 . . .f6!N. His knight perfectly protects the h7 square and controls the central squares. er 10.d3 cS 11. 000 dS Black has excellent prospects.

8 d7 ••

I is interesting but strategically risy for Black to opt for 8 . . . cS. This move is aimed at preventing the opponent from castling queenside because then Black plans to advance with b5b4 opening up the queenside. t the same time his opponent's knight is deprived of the d4square. (diagram) Nevertheless White's most promising move is still 9.000 (White can also t to begin an allout assault with 9.h4. He is pre

paring a kingside attack but his ow king is not securely protected. In the game Mamedyarov  Nabaty Ningbo 2011 there followed 9 . ..d7 10.g5 f6 1.f3 dS 12.g4 aS with a doubleedged struggle but quite favourable for Black though.) 9 . . .e6 (er 9 ... a5 10 .a3 Black's plan ofb5b4 is too slow. White is rst to create threats both in the centre and on the kingside. If Black continues analogously to the abovementioned game with 9 . . . d7 hoping to transfer his knight to f6 then White should play not 10.f4 f6 1 1.c4 bS 12 .b5 Eb8 th a completely unclear position but  .gS! gS  .xgS f6 12. c4 bS 13.+ Ex 14.x x 15.xd6 xd6 16.Exd6 b7 17.f3 Black's minor pieces lack secure squares and ite's prospecs are preferable.) 10.a3 c6 11.g5 fS The position is doubleedged and needs practical tess. I have to say that this does not seem to e a safe line for Black. His d6paw is backward and the bishop on fS might come under atack by White's paws.

9.00-0

2  6 3. xe5 d6 4  xe4 5 3 x3 63 e7 7 e3

Black ca choose here the cau tous move Bl) 9 e8, whch has ot yet ee tested much  practce, or he ca try the more cocrete le  B2) 9 e5 •



Bl) 9 e8 •

The idea o ths move s to postpoe the decsio aout where to move the kght  to e, 6 or c

10. Aer 10.�d3, Black ca co tue th 10 . Cc 11c dxc 12. he1 g6=, or 10 .. .c6 11.he aS 12.1 Ce 13.Cxe dxe= ad i oth cases the posto re mais approxmately alaced I 0 1, the 10   .c6 ad a ter Whte's most logcal move .h4  see 10.h4 c6 11.

10 c6 

(dagram)

.@b The cluso o the moves 11 . h h6 has some drawacks or te too It ll e dcult or White to ope the gle ow ad he loses the gsquare as a s prig oard or hs knght 121 C6 13�d3 �8 14dg1 Cg4 (It is ot

good or Black to opt or 14 . . .�g4,  view o 1.Ch2 ad he will have to allow hs ishop to e ex chaged, sce  t retreats Whte's gpa wll avace, og  the attack Black ca ac cept the challege, though: 14 . .  d ? 1g4 Cxg4 th a very u clear posito, ecause White has o real cocrete threats.) .�f4 6 16.C h2 , Topalov  Gead, ares 20 10 . 16   . Ce 17g4 Cxd3 18cxd3 e7. Black's pos tio looks upleasat, but he ca otai sucet couter chaces wth precise play 19.�e3 (19g hxg 20.g e2 2xe2 xe2 22.�e3 � 23d1 e8 24.C1 �g4 2c1 d Whte s the oly oe takig a risk here, ecause a ter 26.Cg3, Black cotues with 26 . 8xe3 27e3 xe3 ad he pcks up the d3paw too as com pesato or the exchage) 19   . 6 20 g3 �e6 2.4  ! 2 2.g5 hxg 23. g  The postio is com pletely uclear ad oth sides have their trumps i the esuig cotest Whte ca cotiue th the quet developg move 1�d3, to

Chapter 29 l l  dS! ?

th the dea of puttng the knght on cS

whch Black can respond n varous ways: aer ll   aS Black must bear n mnd that f hs queen's access to the kngsde becomes blocked by the paw capture deS the poston of the queen on aS mght turn out to be unfavourable 12 b1 eS (12  f!? 13eS deS 4e2 �e 1Sc4! (S�c4?! �xc4 1c4 ad8 17hS d1+ 18d1 d8 19d3 a 20g4 c7 aruana  amnk Wjk aan Zee 2 01 0 S   ad8 1f3; l l   f 2de1 (t mght be nterestng for te to try here 2 hS h 13b1 dS 4�h gh 1Sh �f8 1gS+ h8 and although t appears that Black's defences mght hold some play ers mght nd t all a bt too scary 12  dS 13�d4 cS 14f  Sf4 Nakamura  Kramnk Moscow 2010 Here Black should have played 1S  �d7! 1 xe8+ (g4 e1+ 17e1 b8 8eS �eS 19eS eS 20 xeS g4 2 1dS b  1  e8 obtanng sucent counterplay thanks to hs powerl bshoppar I beleve a very good decson for Black here would be to play

ll N 

It mghty be too risy to play ll   aS because there the queen can oen turn out to be cut o from the man eld of acton 12 hS (2�d3  see 11�d3 aS 12 b1 12  h 13�d3 eS (13   f 14�xh ! gh 1S h+; 13    �f 14g4 and Black comes under a dangerous attack vanchuk  Gelfand Nce (rapd 20 10 14eS deS 1Se2 �e 1�c4 c4 17c4 ad8 18g4 f 19d7 (te's poston remans slghtly pleasanter aer 19fS f snce Black's kngsde paws are ed on the same colour as hs ow bshop 9 xd7 20d7 bS (It would be too haardous to opt for the lne: 20   dS 21dS cdS 22a7 a8 23�e3 bS when Black has some actve prospects but not enough to compensate for the lost pa Domngue  Gelfand Nce 200 2b3 Whte mantans a slght advantage It s nterestng for Black to contnue with l   f6 2�d3 dS

2 6 3xe5 6 4 xe4 Sc3 xc3 6c3 e7 7 e3

3 h5 e4 4c (4  xe4 dxe4 5e a5 6d h6 and he has sucien counerpay, while aer 7xe4 e6 18b3 he has he resource 18  5! ) 4  f6 15 h6 g6 Boh sides prospecs are approximaely equa

12.id3  ; 1h5 h6 13 

12 .c5 13.g5 d3 14. �d3 g6 15.c4 •

Back has no probems aer 5d 6 63 g4

15 i 16.b3 �c7 •

Now Whie can choose be ween B2a) 10.Ib1 and B2b)

10.h I is inferior o opt or 0 d4, owng o 0   c5! b5 e6 xd6 b6 34 g4 4c4 (45? xa 15 f4 ad8 6b3 f6 7b xd6 8  xd6 xb3 9cxb3 e4 and Back ends up wih an exra paw) 4   a6 5 a3 a5 (15   c4 65 x5 7 xc4 g6 8 f4 xa3 9bxa3) 16c4 xd+ 7xd f6 Back has seized he iniiaive and it s White who must hink abou equaizing

B2a) 1 0 .Ib1 c6 ll . e2 For h4 a5  see 10 h4 c6 1b1 a5

 complicaed posiion has arisen on he board, oering chances for boh sides

B2) 9 .. .e5 ll. . .e8!

This move is always useul or Back Now ie must cari his inenions: is he going o pay in he cenre or organze an aack on he kingside? I is less precise for Back o pay he immediae g4, because of 1  d4! (Aer   d3 Back should pay, no    d5 3

Chapter 29

f4 d6 14h3! f4 15h7+! h8 16xf4 xf2 17g5 f6 18+ Ex 19g6 xd1 20 h4+ g8 21Ee1+ and  Kasimdhanov, Tashkent 2011, but 12  xe3! The powel bishop should be exchanged at the rst opportune moment!  13xe3 Ee8 and now aer 14Ehe1 e6 15 d4 d7= the postion is equal, while or 14h4 d5  see 11  Ee8 12h4 g4) 12  c5 13h3 cxd4 14 hxg4 dxc3 154 ! h6 16d3 b6 17b3 d5 18 g5 b4 19 xb4 xb4 20gxh6 and the endgame is slightl better or White

b6 17d4), because o 16g5! (16xd6 g4 17b4 xb4 18 cxb4 g6 19c3 3 20gxf3 EeS 21e4 Ed8= Whites h4pa is hanging, thanks to which Black convincingl holds the balance) 16  h6 17h7+ h 18a1 ! c7 19d3 g8 20 Ehe1 Ee7 (2 0   Ee5 213 Exe1 22Exe1 e6 23 a3) 21g3 Exe1 22Exe1 d7 23 e4 e7 24 4 White maintains the initiative and Black must pla accuratel to equalie

15.% h6 16.de1 ie6 17. d4 id6 The prospects or both sides are equal

12.4 The prospects are balanced after 12Ehe1 g4 13d3 xe3 14 xe3 e6 15d4 d7=

B2b) 1 0 .4

12 .g4 13.d3 e3 14. e3 

1 0 c6 

14 d5! 

Black wants to develop his bishop on d6, from where it will deprive ites queen o the wondel f4square It is inferior for Black to pla the seemingl attractive line 14  f6 15f4 b6 (15  h6 16g4

This is Blacks most exible move He prepares to move his queen to aS, or gain extra space with the pawnadvance d6d5 t s bad or Black to pla 10  x3, since that would open the gle or Whites attack Aer 11 gxf3 e6 12 g 1, or 12 h5 Whites initiative grows eort lessl

2  6 3xe5 d6 4  xe4 5.  c3  xc3 6c3 e7 7e3

It s cnsdered ldfashned play 14gS!, frcng Black t and nexble fr Black t cntn blck n his bishp n c8. Aer ue wth 10  .g4 1 .e2 c8. Nw 14 . . .d7 1SdS+ h8 16bU the mst dangerus way fr Whte Black has prblems cmpletng t develp hs nitatve seems t the develpment f hs peces. be: 12.hS (t s weaker t pt fr White has a gd alternatve 12.xeS e2 13.g6 g6 14. n the uet mve 1.hS. Nw aer xe2 e6 1S.b1 ae8= and 11g4 12e2 c8 13.h6 g6 14 Black s clse t eualty) 12 .  .h6 xeS dxeS (14  .e2 1S.xg6+ 13.xeS! ? (13.b1! ?) 13 .. .xe2 Pnmarv  Gelfand, Odessa 14.xe2 eS 1S.bS (aer 1S. 2008) 1S.g4 xg4 16.dS he c4 c6 16a4 Whte has nly a mantans a stable advantage, slight edge, aruana  Gashmv, whle aer 1. .f6, nand  GelantyMansyisk 2009) 1S  . d6 fand, Mexc 2007, t s very 16.g4 prmsng t play smply 12xeS It is nt adsable fr Black t (Black als has prblems aer cntinue here wth 10  .e8, 12.bU.) 12 .. .eS 13h6 g6 14 which was freuently tested n the e2 Black lacks space and the early days f the develpment f dark squares n hs kingside are ths variatn. vulnerable.

Whte can cunter ths n tw prmsing ways: .xeS!? dxeS 12d3 d6 (t s preferable fr Black t play 12  . c6 here, but aer 13.e2 aS 14b1 e6 1S.c4 ad8 16f3 Whtes pstn s better, snce he can prceed with actve play n the lght suares n the kingside) 13e4 fS, aruana  Gashmv, antyMansysk 2009 Here t wuld be very strng fr Whte t

ll.'bl We shuld examne Whtes alternatves here: 1.gS aS 12.a3, Mtylev  amnik, Wjk aa Zee 2007. Nw with 12 . . .fS 13.e2 a4 14.f3 c4 1S.c4 xc4, Black culd have btae a excelet pstn 1.c4 e6 12.S f 13.f3 

Chapter29

3 e8 4f3 the it is ot good for Black to play 4  h6 after which i the gae Kaaki  Kanik Moscow 200 White coolly replied 15�e2 It would the e ery risky for Black to accept the piecesacrice ut otherwise White wll advace his g ad fpawns opeig the position o the kigside stead the correct reactio for Black is 14  f6 ! 5 e4 c7 16h5 h6 ad he is ready to cotiue wth ad8 ad d6d5 otaiig suciet couterplay)

oe 75 Kaaki  Gelfad Moaco (lidfold) 20 (game

21

ll. .a5! .

Black caot sole his prolems with �g4 12�e2 xf3 3gxf3 �h5 4f4 e2 5xe2 �f6 6hgU sice White exers powel pressure on the gle ad Bls defene will e log and diult, Kan  elfand Moscow 20 0 

12.te5 3  f6 ! This is the right pawn with which to repel the eey ight (White should ignore the oe 13   h6 ad simply complete his deelopent wth 4 �e2 !  if Bla acepts the nightsacrice he is ery liely to get ated alog the hle) 4h3 (Aer 4e4 Bla should cotinue wth 4  e8= idirectly protecing his d6pa is plans include playing d87 ad8 and then dancing d6d5 ) 4   �e6 5b3 a6 6f4 � ites ingside operaions he rehed a ded end while Bla is ready to ontinue his queenside initiatie wth the

2 �e2 �e6 33 (3a3 d5= ) 3  fe8 ! =  Black l deelop his forces in the centre placig the roo on d8 nd the bishop o f6 wth a ery good positio The more strightforward line: 3  xf3 4f3 �f6 was ted i the game Koare  Maslk Dagoys 200 Now y playig 5 c4! ite could hae maintained a slight ut stable adantge

12 de5 1 . c4 b5 14 . b c 15 . g5 a5 •••

(digram)

16 . e Aer 6a4 Blak plys 6  

2   6 3 xe5 d6 4  xe4 5 c3  xc3 6.c3 e77.e3

bxa4 ! and aer 17.a4 f6 18.e3 e6 e obtains good prospects for active play on the ble wile if 17.e7 Pavlovic  avic Kragujeva 2 010, e has te intermediate move 17...b3! 18.f8 f5 and only ite wll have problems in tis position.

16 .. .xe7 17.a4 bs

18.d6 Aer 18.axb5 a4! 19.c4 (if 19.a4? a7+ and he eiter loses is bishop or is mated on the a le 19 . . .cxb5 followed by b5b4.

18 .. .�b7 19.axb5 �xb5 20. c4 �b7 21.�xe5 a4 22. a2 e6 Black's compensation for te paw is quite sucient.

Concusion Nowadays, the variation c3 c3 6c3 e7 7e3 seems to be one o the most dangerous or Back in the Peto Deence he pan o casting queenside aer 7 c6 seems reiabe enough, but he has  practicay no chances o winning the game ite obtains the advan tage o the bishop-pair in some ines, enabing him to tortre his op  ponent or a ong time Back might nd this rather unpeasant om the purey practica point o view he variation with 7 . . 0-0 is much more interesting or Back and eads to a compicated stugge with chance or both sides, but one in which Back can ace theture with opmism here are sti some position which have not been we anayed yet and payer can improve their anayca capabiities by stuying these variations here are pen o possibiities or reai ing you creative potentia over the board as we.

COMPLETE GAMES

1

Rudd

Avk

odo 2010

1.e4 e5 2.d4 ed4 3.d4
17.b3 \b5 Black has a good alterative i 17    \d6 18\f2 \a6 with sim lar ideas

18. @b2 c5

19.e5 14.e4 If hite does ot take the exchage then Black's rook will go o the a4suare and White will end up a pa down

14 . ..e4 15.e3 Aer 15he Black agai pays 15   
15 ...
16... other very good move s 16   f6 restrictig the bishop o d4 ad depriving ite's knight of the e5suare

It is more resilient for ite to defed with 19  f2  although after 19   
19 .. .
Compete Games

2 0 e3 2g5 

Whte cnnt chnge much wth 2 e2 nd Blck s thretenng e3c2 

21. e2 22.l c2 23. c2 c2 24.el d3 25.g4  Whte resgned 

2

cane

Kamnk

ndn 2009

l.e4 e5 2 . c4 f6 3.d3 c5 4 .  0 - 0 5. c3 d6 6 . a4 b6 7 .c3 e6

Blck crres ut n mprtnt nd dvntgeus exchnge Whte s prevented frm gnng the dvntge f the bshp pr nd lses the serces f hs bshp whch s very ctve n c4

 justed rs" Objectvely speng the pstn remns blnced pssbly even slghtly wrse fr Blck but Whte s very lkely t mke  mstke If Vldmr Krmnk hd been plyng gnst Vshy nnd fr exmple he wuld nt hve plyed ths mve whch shrpens the p stn tremendusly nd nsted he wuld hve preferred sme queter cntnutn whch mght led t  drw n ths gme mnk cmplctes the ssue but he stys withn  lmted mrgn f rsk wthut cmng clse t  lss

11. b5

8 . b3 Whte culd ls hve exchnged n e6  t s understndble tht Whte ws reluctnt t present hs ppnent with the sempen fle The pstn remns equl n ether cse

b4

8 .. .b3 9.ab3 bd7 10. (dgrm

1 0 . . .! Ths mve cn be descrbed s

12 d2?! 

Blc must crry ut  pwnbrek n the lght squres f he wishes t seze the nttve s te shuld frt hs lght

Compete Games

squares immediately. The d2 square is hardly any better for his bishop than the csquare, so Whte practcally wastes an im poant tempo. t was necessary to deprve Black's knight of the g4square with the move 12.h3. Then aer, for example: 12 . . .a5 (It would be too risky or Black to leave him self with a pawnsland on the a le: 12 .. .bxa4 13.\xa4 c5 14.e3 and Whte maintains the adva tage.) 13.bxa5 xa5 14.b4± ad his poston s slghtly preferable, but still quite close to equality. ou can say more or less the same about the position arising aer 12 .e1 aS (here 12 . . .bxa4 13. xa4 c5 s very dubious for Black, in view of 14.b5 and the presence of White's rook on e1 prevents Black from advancng c5c4 or d6d5) 13.bxa5 xa5 14.b4±

ger and ignores his opponent's possible pabreaks on the light squares. He had to strengthen his position with 14.he1 cxb4 15.cxb4. He has doubled pawns but all his pieces are ve active and he has nothing to be afrad o.

14 .. .d5! 15.ed5?! ust as before, it was best for Whte to bring his inactie rook into play with the move 15.he. Aer 15 ... c4 (He should not be afrad of 15 ... b6 16 .c2 c4, because of 17.g5.) 16.exd5 b6 17. b4 d5 18.a5 cxd3 19.xe5 the position would reman dou bleedged.

15 .. .tb6

12 .. .ba4 Or 12 . . . a5 13.bxa5 xa5 14.b4 xa4 15.xa4 bxa4 16.xa4= and the postion is approximately equal.

13.a4 c5

14.b5?! ite does not sense the dan

16.c2?! White continues his series of mstakes. In fact, he is under the false impression that his position is quite acceptable. Meanwhile, it was high time for resolute action nd he had to play actively  16 .\h4! \xd5 17. hd1 (It is no better for ite to play 17.g5 fd7 18. hd1 b3 19. c4 f6 20.e3 a6! 21.bxa6 xa6 and one of his pawns will fall soon.) 17. . .\xd3 18.g5 c2 19.

Compete Game

g Black has an extra pa and the advantage bu White has counerplay

33.id2 d6 34.a3 �b6 35. h1  36.h2 6g4 White resigned

16 ...c4! 17.e5 It is more resilient for White o defend with 17he xd5 18d4 although aer 18  e4 19 e5 xb5 20g h6 Black ends up th a solid extra pawn

17 . . .�d5 18.d4 This is positioal capitulatio but hite is already beyod salvation For example i the varia tion 18 he cxd3 19 xd3 xd3 20 xd3 ad8 he ends up a piece down

3 ovean - Bu Xangzh Naning 20 08

l.e4 e5 2.ic4 f6 3.d3 c6 4. d5 5.ib3 id6 6.c3 de4 7.g5 0-0 8.ce4 e4 9.e4 i 1 0 .� e4 ll.e4 d7

18 .. .e4 19.g1 fe8

12.c3 a5 13.0-0 a4 14.ic2 �e7 15.d1 fd8 16. h4 h6 17.g3 b5 18.id2  The game is practically over from the point of view of strategy White is helpless against the com bined pressure of all Blacks piec es

noher good move here is 18  f6 planning to transfer his bishop to c5 ad his ight ee tually to the g4square 

19.�g4

20. �b5 21.h4 �b3 22.�b1  d5 23h3 h6 Black was winning easily with the straightforward move 23   ab8 but he could equally aord to play more patiently

24.�c1 �b6 25.a4 ab8 26.a2 �b3 27.�a1 b6 28. h2 df6 29.ie1 g4 3 0 .g1 ef6 31.d5 d5 32 .g3 df6

19 .. .�e6! He could also have payed a

Compee Games

middle game by opting for eiher 19  @h8 and 19   \f6 but he does not need to be afrad o anythig n an endgame!

2 0 .�e6 e6 21 .@ @ 22 el 

Whte rereats his bshop to a square where t cannot be ex changed so isisting by all means on mananing his advatage of the bishop par It would all be perfect or White but for the fact tha the posito is not sucet ly ope ad hs bishops are very passive

22 ... @e7 232 It was more prudet for Whte to play 23 @e 2

c4 There might follow for example: 24f3 c4 25ad �c 26d5 xdS 27xd5 f6 28f4 exf4 29 gxf4 d8 30xd8 @xd8 31�d2 �d6 ad hite is unable to sup port he paw on f4 Aer the routie move 23  d7 White's idea would b e justied since aer for example: 24 ad ad8 25f3 �cS 26xd7 xd7 27xd7 @xd7 28@e2 Whte obtains winning chaces thaks to his possble undermig moves f3f4 and b2b3 actvatng hs bishops

24.g5 g5 25 . dl Black can counter 25ad or 2S @e2 wth 25   g4!  hreateng to transfer his knght to f3 va the gSsquare On the other side of the board White mus recko with the possible underming pawbreaks a4a3 and b5b4

25 ...b4 26 . g4 bc3 27. bc3 ab8

23 g5! 

This move s not at all obvious and it is tremedously powerl! t mght seem that Black weakes the lght squares in his camp but Bu Xanghi is takig into cosderaton some cocrete peculiar ties of ths positio in paticular the awkward placement ofWhite's rook on d2 ad he begins active play on the dark squares over the etire board! The posto would be equal aer 23   c5 with the dea of cS

Black has occuped the ble and prepared the penetraton o his knight into his opponent's camp; Whie is practically helpless against this

28.adl ie's defensive ask would

Compete Games

ot be ay easer aer smplca tos.  the varato 28 . e6 xe6 29.e2 h8 30.ad �cS Black maitais the advatage thaks to hs extra space ad more actve peces.

28 .. .c5 29.£ a3 30.i a4 31.ie3 f6 32.c4 b2 33. l ib4 34Jh2 h8

�dS= t should all ed  a draw.). Now Whte should cotiue to play  the same actve way: 36. xh8 xh8 37.cS! (Whte is com pletely paralysed aer 37.�c a4 38.g2 S! ad to add to Whte's worres Blacks kght peetrates to the d3outpost.) 37. . .a4 38.f4! (aer 38 .g2 i t s very good for Black to play 38 ... b8 threateg �b4c3 ad b8b2 ad White's bshop o c s helpless to prevet ths dea.) 38 ... exf4 39.gxf4 gxf4 40.�d4! ad te still presees good drawg chaces.

35 h8 36.g2 d8 37. hl •

35.h8 White loses valuable temp but i a practical game t would be almost mpossible for him to d the very arrow path givg hm some chaces of saving the game. He had to play 3S.cc2! aer which Blac should o try to force he ssue but should increase the tesio wth 3S ... bd8! (f Blac capures the pawn th 3S . . . xc4 then 36.�g leads t o a draw: 36 . . . d2 37.cxd2 d2 38.�cS  39.xd2 b 40.e2 h2 41. d3 xd2 42.xd2 b2 43.c3 xa2 44.b3 g2 4S . a3 xg3= ad a mutual fortress positio has arise o the board; or 36. . .xh2 37.xh2 ad White actvates hs forces so that for example aer 37 ...d8 38.h7 d6 39. cS 40.g2 c6 4.�e6 bS 42.�d7 aS 43.�e6 d2 44.�e3 d6 4S.

ite ca try passve defece but that would ot help because aer 37.c2 Black peetrates  sde hs oppoet's camp: 37. . . d3 38.�c a4 39.f4 gxf4 40. gxf4 d6 ad Whte's pas o  a2 a d c4 wll soo fall.

37 c4 38.h7 d6 39. ia7 c5 4 0 .ih5 •

4 0 . . .ia5

Ths move complicates Blac's wn slghtly stead he could have wo easly with 40 . . . c6+ clearig the dle for his rook.

Compete Games

1. c6 2.f6 b5 3. h3 hs

rther advace

Back prvkes the mve g3 g4 s that Whtes kg cat ccupy that square but t was much strger fr Back t pay 43    e3 with the same dea The his rk peetrates t d r d2 (accrdig t crcumstaces ad he s easy

Thgs are t s cear  the vaat 49  b5 5e6 c4 5  f2

9.e5 c8

5 0 .e6 d6

.g as Back bases his hpes  ite's straded bshp  a7 but ths prvides his ppet with tactca chaces Hs mst reabe rute t vctry was t prevet a attempts at cuterpay by pag 44    b 2 !  fwed by the trasfer f ths kight t the d3utpst

5. d6 6.d7 c6 7. h7 b 8 .f! Ths s te's y practica chace

8 ...ef Back's  here was by  meas easy t d It seems at rst sght that aer 48   gxf4! 49 g5 te's passed gpaw may be ve dagerus but i he ie 49  g8! 5g6 xe4! 5f3 d5 Back easiy prevets its

.hs White verks a chace f savg the game 5b6! e7 (r 5  xe6 52d8 a7 53h6 e5 54g5 c4 55f6 e4 56g5 ad hs gpa s as pwe as Back's passed paws 52c7 xc7 (52   xe6 53 d7 ad w  the varat 54e5 c4 55c4 c8 56b3 c3 57a4 e6 58b3 xe5 59 xe7 d4 as we as aer 54c4 xc7 55 xe7 b6 56e6 a 57e5 d8 58 xg5 d4 59  e6 ite has chaces fr a draw has t the presece f bishps f ppsite cur 53xe7 d6

Compete Games

54.e8 Here, it lks as thugh the edgame th ppsite clured ishps aer 54 .  . xe8 55. e8   e6 56g2 is a draw aer all: 56  . . e 5.f3 d4 58 .e2 ut t 58 .�g6 c3 59.e2 c4 60.� f3 61.xf3 d3 + ad the cpaw prmtes) 58 . c4 59f3 �d6 60. �d c3 61.�5 d3 62.�a6 ad Black cat make a prgress. If 62 . . . d4, the 63 .�c8= ad if h e advaces his cpaw, White's ishp ges t the h diagal. It is crrect fr Black t pla 54 .. .7, keepig the rks  the ard. 55.�g6 If White advaces his paw rther, Black will cpture it, still keepig the rks  the ard. I the variati 55e  �c3 56 .g2 �f6 5.a8 xe 58.a6  e 5 59.xa3 d5+ his passed pas  c5 ad f4 will settle he issue.) 55 . . .c 56.g2 e5 d there is still sme ght le.

51. ..e6 52 . g6 d5 53. d8 c4 54 . a7 55.c8 c3 56.c6 b2 57 e6 e7 58.g2 e6 White resiged

1 0 . . .6 This is a usel multipurpse mve Black ca use the hsqare t l as a escapehle fr his kig, ut als as a retreat fr his ishp  f5. It is als imprtat that the h6paw restricts Whites darksquared ishp, deprivig it f the g5square.

ll.a5 ie radicall prevets Black's pla f deplig his paws  the dark suaes. This is ver reasale frm the strategic pit f view, ecause White's darksquared ishp tais gd prspects i the ture

ll .. .a6



4

uov

akaev

eria 2009

l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.c3 b4 4. e5 0  0 5 . e2 e8 6.d3 c3 7.dc3 e4 8. f4 d6 9. 0  0 c6 1 0 .a4!? his is a ve iterestig ad stdad idea. hite prepes t trasfer his rk t the third rk.

Black is viusl rectt t pla this mve, ut ite was threateig t advace his apw rther, udemiig the ase f the eem kight  c6.

Compete Games

Black's last move has some pluses too because ow White's aSpawn wll be pemaetly ude attack by Black's kight.

12.c4  13.a3 f6 Black's kght cleas the ele fo tue active opeatios.

lems o the ah8 diagoal as well as o the gle; S.hS g6 (hee S . . .xhS 6.hS is bad sice the dak squaes o Black's kigside ae disastously weak) 6. xg7? (6. f4 fS=) 16 ... xg7 7.d2 xe2 8.xe2 c6 9.d2 ad White has vey good compesatio fo his mimal mateial decit.

15.e3 f6 16.g3 e4 17.e3 f6

14.g3 White must play vey pecisey because ae the caeless move 4.dS Black has the esouce 4.. .c2   wiig a pa. Ae 4.e Blac's most eliabe move seems to be 4 . . . b4 (4 .. .eS 1S.g3 e4 6.e3 f6 is also payable but hee ite does ot eed to epeat moves ad he ca play fo example: 7. dS obtaiig sigicat compesatio fo the saciced aSpawn. S.d3 c6 ad White has othig bette tha 6.f4 which leads to a epetitio of moves.

18.e8 White is eage to cotiue the ght although it would have be moe pudet to epeat moves.

18 ¥e8 19.el a5 

1 e 

Hee it would be too isky fo Black to play 4 . . .xaS. White has o immediately decisive cotiuatio but he has seveal attactive possibilities at hs disposal: S.b4 c6 6.b2 eS 7.hS± ad Black will have seious pob

2 0 d5?! 

This is a mistake. The coect move fo Whte hee is 20.g4! ad oly ae 20. . .h7 plag 2.dS fo example: 2...xdS

Compete Games

22cxd5 b5 (Black caot cotue here aalogously to the gae th 22 . . e4 because of 23d3 ad Whte's d5paw s taboo.) 23b4 b7 24.c4 d7 25.cxb5 axb5 26.f e8 27.xe8 xe 28f3 d8 Whte's tatve copesates for the sacrced paw, but o ore tha that ad a draw sees to be the ost lkely outcoe

2 0 . . .xd5 21.cxd5 �e4! l obvously ths ove.

should ed  a draw Black's best e sees to be: 22 . .. xc2 23.xc2 xc2 24c gxh6 25.xc2 c5 26dxc6 xc6 27.f3 c8 (aer 27 . d4, hte has the resource 28b7! e8 29.c8!) 28g3 ad Black's pawstcture s  rus, so Whte has great drawig chaces .

22 .. .xd5 23. �b5 24. c3 c6 25.id5 !

overlooked

22. d2 Here, aer log delberato, Whte chose a very rsy le  the hope of atg the oppoet Of course, ot 22d3 xd5 ad the bshop o f5 s protected Whte's objectvely best ove here was 22 xh6 ! ad ow: aer 22 . gxh6, he cotues with 23 d3 f4 (f 23 . xd5 24h5 with sucet cope sato) 24g3 g4 (aer 24..5 White plays 25b4, cofortably regag hs pece) 25.x4 xg4 26b4 f3 27.bxa5 xd5 28. e 7 c 8 29 f5 f8 30.x x 31c8 ad ths bshop ad paw edg s very sharp but

Black has cosoldated hs po sto Wte's tatve ca copesate for oe of the sacriced paws, but ot both, so Back has the advatage

26.h3 te adts that hs strategy was wrog. He could have rek dled hs fadg tatve with the otsoobvous ove 26 .h4 ! , with the dea of advacg g2g4g5 wth tepo er, for exaple, 26 ...d7 27.e3 h8 28.f3, he would have ataed soe copesato, although ot qute eough

26 .. . h7 27.h4 f6 28.f4 �c5 29. b4 3 0 .ib3 d5 Black begs hs a oesve ad hs posto s wg.

31.�h5 ig6 32.g4 d4 33.

Compee Games

This move prepaes g3g4, but b4 b4 34.  d3 35.h5 c5 36.g3 i 37.dl dc2 is possibly impecise, because 38.d2 h8 39.h4 b6 40. hite's ook is removed from the e3 a5 41.g4 ih7 42.c3 c6 hle, which ll be opened It seems more logical to pre43. a4 44 a4 b2 45. c2 bl 46.cl b6 47.ic2 pare the advance of the gpa ds 48.f4 ig8 49.bl c5 with the help of the line: 14\e2 ! ? 5 0 .ie4 e7 51. el d4 52.e2 h  1h3 \e7 16g4 h7 53. d6 54.g3 b4 55.i d3 56.c7  57. e3 f4 hite resigned 

5

Zanev

Najer

Ohrid 20 09

l.e4 e5 2.t tc6 3.tc3 tf6 4.g3 c5 5.ig2 d6 6.d3 a6 7.e3 e3 8.e3

8 ... te7 9. th4 c6 1 0 .d2 tg6 .t � 12.e t 13. 0 - 0 - 0 d5

Now, Black is faced wth a choice: 16    000 17g e8 18h4 d6 19\f2 \c7 (ae 19   g6, hite dominates the fle, while if 19  f6 20g6, Black's hpawn is isolated and might soon be lost 20f6 g6 2d4 th a ve complicated ght ahead ; 16   g!? (Black is trng to prevent his opponent fom seiz ing additional space on the kngside 17g6 g6 18g 6d7 19h4 000 2 0h3 e6 2 hf Ehf8= Black's pawns ae placed on light squares and they pefectly restrict White's bishop The game is equal 

14 .. .h5 15.h3 \e7 (diagram

16.e4?! 14.hgl

Now ite's lightsquaed bishop emains in exile In fact, from the point of vew

Cmpete ames

@b2 a4 33.�d2 ab3 34.cb3 @d7 35.�c2 :aS 36.b4 Now he a2g8 diagonal is open and hie is able o organize sucien counepla along i

36 ...:hl 37.:hl

of coec pawnsaeg ie should  o advance d3d4 and no e3e4 I seems moe logica for Whie o pla 16�f3 8d7 17g4 hxg4 18 hxg4 00 0  wih a complicaed bale

16 d4 17e2 0  0  0 18 .  8d7 19.g4 g4 2 0 .hg4 h7 21 .g5 f6 22 .g6 g5 • •

Black alread has a sligh bu sable edge

23 g2 :h2 24.�el b6 25. g3 �c5 •

37 c5?! •

Black should have kep he po siion closed He should hav coninud wih 37  @c7 38b3 @b6 scurel dfending agains i's onl dangerous idea based on plaing hh7 Neihr side has an real chances of improving his position so a positional draw appears on the boad

38.�c5 �c5 39.bc5 @c6 40  @c5 41.e2 @d6 42. dl c8 43. b3 @d7 44. c4 @d6 •

Hee 25  @b8! ? deseed consideaion prepaing he advance of his cpaw

26. :hh8 27.d2 �a5 28.a3 �b5 29.�e2 a4 30. b3 Ae 30c4 Black would have possibl coninued wih 30    c5 followed b b7b5

3 0 a5 31.:hl b2 32. •

45 . b3?!

Compete Games

hite eses to ght ad this is ot easy to udestand He had the oppotuity to play 45b3!, with the idea of peetatg with his kig e 45    c5 Whte plays 46a4, followed by a3, gadually squeezg lack's kig

45 ... d7 46.ic4 d6 47. ib3 d7 48.ic4 Daw hs gae was uspectacula but t was evetheless vey iteestg ad ostadad

which is ve usel to lack He fees the gle, cleaig the way fo a possible g7g5 t the sae tie, lack ow has the possiblity of exchagig knights o f3, af te whch his lightsquaed bishop will o loge be attacked th tepo esides this shap ove, t is good fo lack to play hee 10    h 6 ! ? , as we pointed out  the theoetcal sectio of hapte 8

ll. 6

uov

Kamnk

aku (apd) 20 10

.e4 e5 2. £ c6 3 . b5 f6 4.c3 d4 5.ic4 ic5 6.xe5 �e7 7.£

7.. .d5 8.d5 ig4 9.d3 0  0  0 1 0 .ig5 ih5!?

his is a coosese ove

e 00 lack ca play h6 12  e3 (t would be too isky fo White to cotiue th 12 h4 g5 3  g3 f3 4gxf3 h5 15h3 g4 ad lack has a cush g attack) 2   xf3 13gxf3 xd5 and ow the atual ove 4 xd5 loses to 14   h4 5g2 (5c5 xd5 6exd5 h3+) 15  d6 6 h3 c6 7c3 f5+ ad lack's attack is decisive, while follog 4exd5 e3 5e3 xe3 16f2 he8 hs iitiative oe tha copensates fo the saciced pa White's best ove hee is 1 b3!, eovig the bishop o possible atacks by the eey ooks o knight lack has o cocete opeatios i sight, so his best idea would be to potect the d5squae fo ivason by the eney kight th the ove 11    c6! (11he8 2h3 h6 3 e3 xf3 14gxf3 e3 5e3 xe4 16xe4 h4 7d2 xe4 8e f3 9xh4 xh4 20hg1 g5 21 ;   h6 12  e3 xf3 3 gxf3 e3 14e3 d7 15d2

Compete Games

e5 16EfU

It beces cler nw tht Blck hs n excellent psitin in l vritins 12h4 (1200 d6; 12e3 d7 13d4 d4 14e2 b2 15Eb1 3 nd he hs wdel cpenstin fr the pw 12  g5! 3g3 (13 g5 Ehg8 14h4 h6+ 13  f3 14gxf3 h5 15h4 g4

ll...c6 12 . c4 Nw Blck hs n dditil resurce, bsed n the dvnce  his bpw It ws better fr White t re tret his bishp  bit rther with 12 b3, lthugh er 12   xf3 (if 12  h6 White cn retret th 13e3, where his bishp is very cive in the ght fr the centrl squres 13gxf3 h6 14h4 d4 wth he pln f g7g5 fllwed by the trnsfer f the ight t e5 vi the dsqure Blck btins re thn ucient cpens tin fr the pw

12 ...h6 13 . h4 Here White shuld hve plyed 13e3, er which Blck cn chse between severl prising pssibilities fr intiing his inititive

13  d7 14d4 d4 15 e2; 13  xf3 14gxf3 (but nt 14 c5 xc5 5gxf3 d7 nd Blck's knight will g t the e5 squre th decisive eect 14   e3 15e3 b5 16b3 b4 17b1 xe4 8d2 xd2 19xd2 f3 2 0Eg1 g5 23 ; it lks s thugh Blck's best line here is 13   g4 14d4 d4 15d2 2 16h3 e3 17 x2 xc4 18f4 c5 19e2 xb2 20f5 xf5 2exf5 Ehe8 nd Blck intins  slight dvntge, while er 22f2 f3 23gxf3 Ee5 24 Eb1 xd3 ! ? (24    Ec5 25Exb2 Exc3 26Eg1 Ed5= 25cxd3 Exd3 he btins three pws fr the piece nd his pieces rein very ctive

13 ...g5 14 g3 b5! 5 b3 b4 16.a •

•

Blck is cerly better er 16e5 bxc3 17exf6 xf6 18e5 f5 19d4 Exd4

16 e4 17.el  •

Blck wuld hve  gret dvntge er 17  xf3 18gxf3 f3 19dxe4 h1 2 0xc5 xc5 21e2 b7 22g1 f5 when Blck hs n extr exchnge The

Compete ames

line he chooses in the game is even stronger

18.de4 e2 19.gl b5 20.c4 Or 20h3 h5 21xc5 xc5 22h4 e2 23h2 xg3 24g3 gxh4 25c4 hg8 26cxb5 hxg3 27h3 g4!+, with the unpre ventable threat of c5e7 protects the f3square against Black's nightsorties and at the same time eyes the h5square  

2...! If Blac had tried to play positionally, then aer 23  g4 24 h2 ge8 25a3 ite would have oganized counterplay

24.hg5 2 0 . . .a4 It was much more practical, om the point of vew of preventing tue mistaes, to begin gaining material here with 20   xb3 2axb3 a4 22bxa4 he8+ ad Blac would be totally dominant on the central les, with a ve easy game

21.a4 h5 Blac could maintain an overwhelming and easily realisable advantage with 21he8, threatening to capture on e4, but Blac obviously wants more than that

22.h4 hg8 Aer the immediate 22  f5! 23hxg5 xg5 24h3 f3! 25 gxf3 h4+ his attac is decisive

2 .dl ! (diagam This is an excellent defensive esource for ite is bishop

24 ...g5 Blac has played perfectly until now, but the position is still ve sharp e was evidently short of time (this was a rapid game and inevitably mistaes start to appear   I t is very liely that i n a game wth a classical timecontrol adimir amni would have found the line 24   xg5! 25 xh5 e2! 26e2 xg3 27f d2 28e g4!+ th a decisive aac for Blac

Compete Games

25.ih4 dg8 26 .  White could have gained some material here with 26g5 xg5 27Eh2 when continuation of Black's attack is far from easy

3 0 5 •

It is possible that in the heat of battle Black had overlooked that aer 3  .xf3 White has the in termediate check 3 h7

26 f4 •

Nw ite's f2paw, which is the main source of his worries, is reliably protected It was stronger for Black to play 26  e4 27g5 xg5, with sucient compensation.

27.i �e5 This is an attempt t seek complicatins by all means Black was not tempted to t to egain the exchange, because aer 27  c2 28d xa 29xa he would end up a pawn dow without any cmpensation

31.ih5 b6 32.�g4 �e4 33.e It is stronger to play 33.�g6!, not letting the enemy queen enter his camp Aer 33 .. e5 34e h8 35.h5 f6 36�e4 ite should gradually realise his advantage

33 �d3 34.gl �d2 35. d �b2 36.�f4 e6 37. �d2 �f6 •

2 . g5 g5 29 .�d It was strnger fr ite to pay simply 29d, with a clear advantage

29 b7 •

Black should have assured himself of a queenside pawnma jity by plang 29  xf3 3 xf3 xb2 with excellent cun terplay

30.h5

38.bl?!

The correct plan here wuld be 38�g4 ! d4 39 e ! , freeing the dsquare for the bishp, from were it protects f3 nd blcks the possible advance f Black's

Compt Gams

queenside pns

38. . .a5 39.a3?!

9.id3 c6 1 0 . 0 - 0 h6 ll.id2 �c7

White probbly overlooked his opponent's next ove

39 . .. 40 .b2 Here it s better to ply 0 e, lthough Blcks counterply is lredy quite sucient

4 0 .. .h5 41.ab4 b4 42.b4 c7 43.b1 d4 12.e1 ie7 13.c1 �d7 14. a3 0  0 15.b4 fd8 16 . e3 d4 17.cd4 cb4 18.ab b4 19.ib1 ac8 20.�e2 c1 21. c1 id5 22.d2

4.f4?

This knight is heded for the esqure nd the qeen cn go to hS, but ies cions on the kingside re too slo

This is  blunder Aer the nturl move eU  complited position rises, but ite ould still be slighly beter

4 id6 5.d4 �h2 46. @ �h1 47.e2 �b1 •

No it is ll over nd Blck esily relises his exr bishop

48.�g7 c8 9.�g8 @b7 5 0 .�g7 c7 51.� �e4 52. @ �d3 53.e1 b6 54.c5 @b7 22 ...c8 It is high time ht Blck d 55.e7 �d4 56.e2 �g4 57. e3 �g2 58.h7 White re- vnced his pssed ps, espesigned

7 NeachchB ochi 20 09

.e4 e5 2. f6 3.d4 e4 4.e5 d5 5.bd2 d2 6.d2 c5 7.ig5 �a5 8 .c3 ie6

cilly since er 22   b5 ! he ould soon tke control of he ipotnt esqure He exploits this in the vrition 23e c 2h5 xd 25e3 b2 2d6 xd6 27exd6 d3 28xd3 xd3, ending up ith n extr pn

23.e4

Compete Games

Aer 23. Black ca play 23 .. .a5 24. e3 �e6 25 .�b2 dS securely blockadig his oppo et's cetre paws.

23 �c6 24.a3 c2 25. c2 •••

ected paws ad at the same time maitai the blockade o dS so the draw is uavoidable.

3 0 c7 31.id6 c4 32. a7 d4 •

The rest o the game is quite simple ad o o iterest . .

33.al b5 34.bl c4 35. b2 h5 36.® ®h7 37.®e3 d3 38.®e4 dl 39.f4 el 4 0 .@ ®g6 41.h3  42. ®e4 h4 43 c5  44.®e3 el 45. @ d5 46.®f2 e4 47.g3 c4 48.e3 b4 49 d2 d4 50.b4 d3 51.4  •

•

Draw.

25 �c2 •••

Black does ot wish to risk ahig. lthough with 25 ...a3 26.�d3 aS he could have mai taied the advatage he would eed to precisely calculate various tactical complicatios coected or example with a ight sacri ce o 6. Furthermore it would help White to exchage his dark squared bishop restricted by his paws o d4 ad eS.

8

N avara

Kamnk

Prague rapid) 2008

l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.d4 e4 4.id3 d5 5.de5 c5 6. c3 c6 7.d4 e7 8. 0 - 0 0 - 0

26.�c2 c2 27 e7 e4 28. c6 29.dl d5 30.al •

9.f4 d3 10 .�d3  11. b3 a6 12.e3 c7 13.e2 b6 14.bd4 ia6 15.�d2 �e8 16.c3 c5 17. d8 18.fdl e6 diagram)

19.a4 Black caot keep his co

White does ot have ay active pla o his own so all he ca do is

Compete Games

pevent te development of Black's initiative His last move is aimed at twating te advance of Black's queenside pas

19 .. .h6 Black reminds is opponent tat esides te queenside, tee is a kingside wee Black as ex cellent pospects ased on te pawnadvance g7g5

20.a5 Tis move only elps Black Instead, Wite sould emain passive, plang for example 203

23.a4 Now Wite loses by force, ut even aer is elatively est line, 23d2 6, Black cannot be pevented fo advancing d5d4, t decisive eect

23 .. .a4 24Ja4 d4 25. cd4 cd4 26.d4 It is adly any bette fo Wite to play 26�d2 d5 and Black dominates te entie board

2 0 .. .b5 21.g3

26...ic5

21...ba5 Hee Black could ave launced a decisive opeation igt away  2  d4 22.cxd4 cxd4 23�f2 �b7 wit an ovewelm ing advantage

22.c2 g6

Black could ave maintained te deadly pin along te dle wt te move 26   �b4!, ae wic Wite loses by foce in all vaiations: 27 aa xd4 28 xd4 �c5 29xa5 d4 30d4 xd4 31xa6 g7, o 27f2 xd4 28d4 �c4 followed by �c4 b3

27Ja5 d 28.a6 

Compete Game

29. e3 30. d 3.e3

42 . d4 31. ..fd8 Tis was a rapid game, so it was quite natural at te opponents ad practically no time le aer move 30, so there were plenty of mistakes towards te end of te game It was stronger for Black to play 31g7, mantaining te compactness of his pawcan on te kingside ite would need to play very precisely ten in order o save te game

Tis las move was imprecise Aer 2d a 3e5 a3  d a2 5c2 g7 6e6 b6 7d7 b7 8e6= tere s an easy draw

42 . .. a4 43 . c6 es 44. d4 g7 45.c4  46.b4 as 47.a3 a6 48 b4 d6 49. a4 e7 50.b5 d2 51.g4 2 52.c5 e6 •

32.g6 h7 33.a6 sd3 34. ld2 35.e2 d7 36. e6 b7 Aer 36  c7, ite can reply wit 37e3 xb2 38g obtaining good counerplay

37.e3 2b6

db2

38 d4 

It is again a draw aer 38    g6 39e7  0xf5 7b3 1 e xg2 =

39.b6 Te evaluation of te posiion would remain te same aer 39 a5 g6 0e5 e7=

39 b6 40.e7 bs 41.  a5 

53.d4? Tis s te's decisive mistake Te move 53d3= would have still drawn

53 h4 

Now it is all over, because ite loses is most importan paw

54.  55.e5 g4 56. d5 a4 57. c3 b4 58 . e4 h5 59 . g5 g8 6 0 .f6 h4 6.  b5 62.g6 g5 ie resig ned 

Compee Games

9

aov

aren

Tiur 1980

l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.d4 xe4 4 . d3 d5 5.xe5 d7 6.We2 xe5 7.e4 dxe4 8. Wxe4 e6 9.Wxe5

9 .. .W d 7 1 0 . 0 - 0 0 - 0 - 0 l l. e3 b4 1 2.c3 f6 13.Wg3 c3 14.bxc3 5 15.4 This is a attept y White to stop the deveopet o his oppo ets kside attack. Black is ready to cotiue th 75, o owed by h5h4, developi his oesive, aer aost ay ove y White.

15 .. .g5!

as restraini Whites doubled paws o the ce

18 . d2 g4 19.f4 c4

Back eets poweu pressure on the iht squares eawhie, Whites quee and rook are out o the ae.

20.d5 This is a desperate attept to ree hisel ro the positioa bid.

2 0 ...d5 21. e8 22.a3 e4 23.el e8 24.xe4 xe4 25.2 Wc5 26 .f4 el 27. d2 al 28.We3 Wd6 29.f4 b6 3 0 .c4 c4 31.Wd4 Wxd4 32.xd4 ib5

t would be suciet or Back to equalie th the ove 15 .  . he8= olowed y sipii the positio y echani the rooks alo the ele, but he wats to ht or ore tha a draw in this positio.

16. White hopes to restrict the e ey lihtsquared bishop th this ove, but Black opens up the light squares anyway.

16 dg8 17. Wc6 •

The quee cotrols the long diaonal ro this square, as wel

Now White also oses his a3 paw.

33.i6 xa3 34.ig7 id7

Comete Games

t s een stroner or Black to 35f4 a5 36 .f6 x 37.c3 e6 38.g3 5 39.e4 7 play ll . . .e6!  as was ponted out 4 0 . e5 2 4l. f4 xg2 42. n the theoretcal secto o hap g5 c 2 43. x5 g3 44 . xg3 ter 16. xc3 45 . e5 c4 46.e3 5 12.e5 e4 13.c3 xc3 47.a3 e6 48 . g3 @ 49. 6 a5 50 .g7 g4 5l.f6 a4 52 .e3  53 .el cl 54.e7 3 55 . 2 c4 56.e3 g2 57. el c1 58 .2 l 59 . c3 c5 6 0 .e7 b5 61.e5 a3 62.7 b4 63.h5 b3 64.6 b2 65.g7  66 . g3 e3 Whte re sned.

14.bxc3 10

o

rov

ua rapd) 2002 The ollon ae was played wth a ast tecontrol so we should not e too crtcal towards the randasters. en thouh they ade any istakes the ae was still treendously nterestn and create n the sprit o the old asters.

l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.xe5 6 4. x x 5.4 c5 6.xc5 c6 7 . c4 e6 8 . xe6 xe6 9.0-0

The deects o White's pawn structure are ore iportant than any ntate he can deelop on the le. t was preerale to continue wth 14.3 8 1.c3 6 16. e3 Black s unale to castle ar tically whle Whte's pawnor aton is really presse and ery eecte.

14 �e6 15.bl b8 16 . e3 e7 •

17.f4 9 . . . 10e2 �e8 ll.el 5

Black has te now to rn hs rook on h8 nto play. t would e uch harder or

Compete Games

Black to prove any advantage af ter 17f g8 18ed and here he could mantan an edge only aer the notsoobvous move 18  ! (The engame aer 18  xe5 19d5 xd5 20xd5 c6 21f4 d8 22c4  2xb7= seems to be approximately equal; te has too many pawns and his peces are very actve ) 19 h (Aer 19xd5 xd5 20xd5  Black's kng ll occupy the e6square and Whte's pawnchan e5f4 wll soon be under mined wth the move g7g5 ) 19   xe5 20f4 c6 (Aer the attractve variation: 20  c4 21c6 xe 22xb7 xd1 2xb8 f8 24xf8 xf8 25c8 e7 26 c7= te draws by erpetual check 21d7 h5! Black secures the h6 and h7squares for hs rooks and hs king, as approriate 22xb7 xb7 2xb7 e6 2 f2 h6 25e1  Black has consolidated hs forces and hs extra piece (ignoring the tripled pawns) will surely tell

would be much more solid for Black to opt here for 19   , bringing hs other rook to the f8square and carrng out the underminng move g7g5 only later

2 0 .g5 g5 Aer 20x 21x g5 Black's kng would be much more comfoable

21.   22.Wh5 If 22d Black would play 22  g8 2 g g6 24e6 h6, parrng Whte's attack

22 Wg6 23.� @g7 24. �d5 ••

There will be no reetiton of moves, because aer 24f1 d8 25b1 Black ll play 25  b6! 26cxb6 xd4 27cxd4 b6

17 h 18.id4 g8 19.  ••

24 �c2! • •

Ths is a very imortant move and the best for Black in this postion! Now, his king remains com letely exposed, but with the help of hs queen he succeeds in creatng dangerous counterthreats

25.e6 19 g5 •••

Ths s a very ris move! It

It was correct for hite to play here 25f! xd4 26cxd4 d 27 h8 28g e 29g2 d4 0h! and there would

Compee Games

be penty of ght e but Blak wou sti be muh better

25 g6 •••

Blak was winning wth 25    @h6! 26e xd4 27x4 8 28 e5 f8 29 d4 (aer 29 e2 Blak's simplest solution would be the ounterattaking move 29 f5! + ) 29  d2+ and aer the exhange o queens his roa to vitory woul be quite easy

26.

f6 @g7 3e5+  there is no eene against White's ealy disovere hek) 29h5 @h6 3 e3 @g7 3g5 @8 324+ an d Blak is hepless

27 e3 •••

It al ens in a draw in the variation 27   xd4 28 @h6 29 x4 x4 3@h e4 33 8 32h4! h4 33f6 f6 34 xf6 @h5 35x8

28.e3 e3 29.h 

It was more tenaious for White to efen wth 26e athough the position arising aer 26   x4 27xd4 f8 28e4 xe4 29xe4 4 3xf4 4 3f2 f6+ seems to be winning for Bak in any ase

26 d3? •••

Bak overlooks the possibility of onluing the ght in speta uar fashion wth 26   x4! 27x4 f8! +

30gl Most probably both players were blitzing an they overlooke the simple but very beauti variation 3! x 31ex+

30

•••

e 5 31 .d6 f6

27.d7 ite misses a n in turn although it is a rather ompliate one 27h4! e3 (or 7  h4 28 e7! x4 296 h 3e5 g5 3 xb8 + an Bak has no angeous heks) 28h2 xf (aer 28  x4 29h5 h6 3

32.h3

If the opponents ha ha enough time, the game might have ene in briiant an rather

Comete Games

uusual fashio aer 32e7 g4 33 g3 g3 34e8   g5

cal pat that it is preferable for Black to cotue here th 12  d4 13 d cd4 14 0 0 c8 15e5 c3 1bc3 a3 17  b 1 d5 18  a 1 c

13.e5

35g8 (or 35hg3 h ate ) 3 5  g 3g hg 37hg3 f2 38  h 2 g4 ad Backs loe knght gives perpetual check

32 .d3 33.�d5 xc5 34. e7 xe7 35.g8 6 36JMl e4 White resiged This gae •

as ll of istakes, but it as ve mpressive ad beautil 

1

Topaov

Kamnk

iares 1999

l.e e5 2. f6 3.xe5 d6 4.x x 5.c3 c5 6. ic ie6 7 e6 xe6 8.d4  •

13 g4 •

He should aser a attack ith a couteraack, by playig 13  d4 The alost ubelievable variato 14  d4 (Black is better aer 14c4 e 15e   e 1  d4 cd4 17b5 d5 18d4   ) 14   d4 15f3 g5 1e2 b4 17  f2 e4 18  e3 f 9  f2  leads to a dra by repetitio of oves

14.dl  The quee has occupied a very good blockadig square Here 14 e6 ould fal to 15f5  eS 1c4  f6 17d5

5. 0 - 0 5!

9.dxc5 c6 10.e2 d7 11 e3 dxc5 12.f4 es •

We etioed  the theoreti

ompete Gmes

He cotiue th hi block adig trategy ad radically pre et the poiblity g2g4 Mea whle Black' rook ight eter the game at oe pot ia the huare

d4 becaue Black's piece coe ito play whle hite' two paw are iuciet to cope ate or the acriced pece.

16.ic hte aoid echage but pay a hey price for thi ce hi bihop goe back to it itial potio. It wa better or hi to chooe 1.h3 e3 1.e3 h 18.e4 g8 19.c3 ataiig good compeato for the pece.

16 .. .d4 1.c4

19 .. .a6! This  a ecellet moe for Black H cpa coiderably retrct hi ow bihop ad t i ery uel for hi to hae t re moved.

20.xd4 c8

 . . .g6 Black oerlook the poibilty of echagig uee: 1 . . .e! 18.d3 a !. It i eay to i a oe like this particularly whe calculatig seeral oe ahead. 19.e4 c 20.c (ite ca ot really avod the echage of uee becaue aer 20.d3 Black ha the reouce 20   c4!+) 20. . .bc6 21h3 h+ ad he i ery cloe to ictory.

18.h3 h6 19.b5 It is o beer for White to opt here fo 19e3 c2 20f2

cxd4

21.xd4

Now hite ha ot two but three paw for the piece It i troger for Black to co tiue wth 2...c2! 22.f2 (it i o ue for hite to play 22.f f 23.f4 c 24.h2 hf8 2.d2 e3! +) 22 .. . c (Black alo maitais hi adatage wth the ove 2 2 .. .f) 23d3 f 24.e3 e 2.c2 b 2.e4 h4 Black ha et up a ecure blockade o the kigide ad hite' poto i terrible.

22.b6  23.xb xc2 2.ie3

Gobblg pa caot ed well for hite: 24.a c5 25. h g4!+ ad he i helples agait g4f2.

Compete Game

2 g6 

This was played instantly but as is oen the case in open posi tions thee was a stonger con tinuation: 24 .  e2 ! 25 . a7 e4 26.xe4 xe4 and Black would hae stll maintained a slight edge.

25l xcl Ae 25 . . .e2  the bishop does not need to ee: 26.f3! (o 26. fe xe 27.xe f5 28 . f2 e7 29.e6 26 .. .xb2 27.f5 xf5 28. xf5 xg2 29.h g3 30.xg6  x g6 3 .c6 h7 32 . c b4=  with a draw.

26.xcl  27  h 

Black frees the h5square fo his queen. Ae 27 ... e7 28 .c6  29 . xa6 d8 30 .e2 te is een bete because he already has fou pas for the piece and his connected pawns on the queen side ae paticularly dangeos.

28.c7 The game should end in a daw ae 28.c6 h5 29xa6 e7 30.h2 d8 3.c8 d 32.e6 g3 33.g3 hxg3 34.xg3 d3 3 .g4 e2 36.g3= (diagram

28 g3! 

This is a pdent decision fo Black because ae 28. . .h5 29. e4 White is totally dominant and Black's pieces might nee come into play.

29.'h2  3.gl bl 31 .xh ic5 This is not a stupid moe. It s the simplest rote to a daw fo Black. Ae 31...g3 White has the additional possiblty of 32 .f2 ! ? shapening the game. 32.xc5 Dawn in iew of the lne: 32 . . . g3 33.h2 (o 33.f2? e4 and White loses his ook 33 . . . f.

12

Ovechn

oev

ochi 2004

l.e e5 2. f6 3.xe5 d6 .c xe 5.c3 xc3 6.bxc3 g6 7.d g7 8 d3 - 9.- 

Compete Games

9 . . . d7 1 0 .f b6 ll.3 a 1 . d b 13 d3 1.cd3  15.d5 d7 16.abl bs

threats et, so he simply improves his posion His bshop on f6 con tnues to exet pressure along the long diagonal, forcing Whe to protect his c3paw In addtion, t has some new nctions now, deprving Whte's bshop of the h4square and hs queen of e7, a possbe nvasonsquare on the ele

7.� '

There wll nevtably be a clash of paws on the queensde and the postion will then be opened up Black has the bshoppar, whch wll gve him some advantage

17.� c5 It s more or less the same after 17   c6, since ite can hardy maintain the tenson n he centre

18.c6 bc6 19.c �c7  0 . 3  .�d c6  .  f8 3.fl bl .bl a8 !

Black's ng s brought closer to the centre n anticpaton of the fothcoming endgame He s alrady plannng to exchange the strongest pecs on the board Hs other chances of realsing hs advantage would requre hm to keep the queens on the board and in that case t would be more natural for Black to play 27 . .@g7

8 .' ie7 Black's bshop protects the d6 paw in order to release th queen, whch has been carryn out tha task untl now

9.�b �b7 3 0 .�b7 b7

Black s already threatening c7c6!

5.l el 6.l if6!

Black cannot create any direct

There are three pawnslands each on the board: on the ale, on the c and d les and on the f, g and h les This te of game, patcularl since here s play on

Compete Games

both ans, s clearly n Blac's favour, because he has a powerl bshoppair In addtion, White's f4pa s terrbly msplaced If it had been on f3, he would have consderably more chances of a successl defence

2, deprivng Blac's bshop of the e4square in the process

 ...e  2. d2

3 . a5 a 32.c f6 33 . d2 e6 3.b3 d7 35.  c6 Blac maes several noncom mttal moves th hs kng before the tmecontrol, follong the endgame rule don't hurry f you don't have to   " It loos much more purposel for hm to transfer hs bshop somewhere, for example to e6, or to play h7h6, followed by g6g5

36. e3 e7 37.d cxd 38 . d a6 39.g3 dS 0.e3 d7

2 ...c2 Blac could have created great problems for hs opponent th the straghtforward move 42  d5, openng the route for hs king nto the enemy camp via the lght squares On the other hand, from the practcal pont of ew, the rule don't hurry" s qute applicable here as well Whte cannot do anythng meanngl at the moment, so Black always has the pawnbrea d6d5 n resee c cordingly, lexander Motylev's decsion at ths pont can only be applauded!

3.   a5 .a3 dl 5.  g5 6 6. .? Whte loses patence and that s the reason why so many end games of this type are lost! The move g6g5 s not a threat yet and t ll be much easer for Black to attac the g3pa than the h2pawn, so Whte's last move s a decsve mistae He should have played the waiting move 4 

6 . . .!

Compete Games

Do you see the consequences of the move 4h4? The bishop and pawn ending would have been a draw wth a white paw on h2 and Black would need to try to break wth the move d6d5

47.®x e1

48.5 ite is in agony, because he is helpless against d7c6, followed by d6d5 His ing is stuck with the protection of his g3pa and in the king and paw ending aer 8�f2 f2 49xf2 c6 50e3 cS Sd3 dS 52cxd5 xdS  Black is victorious, since his king gains the opposition  one of the most typical resources in all kng and paw endings

48 .. .5 9 . g7 c6 5 0 . 6 c5 5 .  a5 5 2 e7 a4 53.®g2 xc4 •

Blac wns even faster aer 53  �c3 54h3 �b2 h4 a3 56�f6 �c 57xh5 a3+ followed by �cb2 and the apaw promotes

54.d6 c3 55.3 f6 56 .  'b3 57 . d6 b2 58. 4 a3 59 . e5 b4 6 0 . x5 a3 6 .g4 c3 62.  a2 ite resigned

13

Caren

Kamnk

Nice (rapid) 200 8

l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.xe5 d6 4.c4 xe4 5.c3 xc3 6.bxc3 g6 7.d4 g7 8 . d3 0  0 9. 0  0

9. . .d7 10 .� b6 ll.e3 c5 12.dxc5 dxc5 13.a4 d7 4.a5 a4 5.�xb7 xc3 16. d2 e6 17.c3 c3 8 . a4

18 . ..�d7 Black wshes to play a slightly beer endgame wthout any, even minimal, risk nother good option was 18   �d4 (with the threat 19   b8 20a c4) and here White loses aer 19�e4 b8 20a7, in view of 20   d6! (Black is threatening 21c5c4) 21c4 (or 2c3 e3 22e3 fS 23�f3  and he traps the en

Compete Games

emy queen) 21 .. .f2 2 2 .h  c4 23.xc4 fd8 followed by 24 .. .d7+; Or 9.c4 c4 20.xc4 f6 with a clear advatage for Black.

19�xd7 d7 20a3 ib 2Uaal ic6 the exchange of a pair of rooks, which facilitates White's defence.

27d xd 28xd id 29id5 d5 3 0 xd5

This situation is quite typical, because in a ght on both sides of the board, Black has the advantage, thanks to his powerl bishoppair.

22 6 adS It is almost the same aer 22 . . . fd8, leaving the bsquare for his queen's rook.

23fcl ic3 2abl fe8 25ib5

White has exchanged one of the black bishops and thus diminished the attacking potential of Black's pieces, but Wite's a6 paw is defenceless now and Black could have exploited this.

3 0  e2 Black could have created great problems for his opponent with some delicate manoeuvres of his rook: 30 . . .e5! 3.f4 f5 32.g3 f6 33.c3 e5 34.d5 xa6, winning a paw and preserving excellent winning chances .

Black's pieces are active all over the entire board, so ite is tryng to free himself from the positional bind. e will need to ac quiesce to the eventual loss of his a6paw, which is likely aer the exchange of the lightsquared bishops.

25e6 26ic (diagram)

6 e It is stronger for lack to play here 26 . . .ed6 ! 27.d d4, con trolling the board and preventing

31c Now, the ght becomes very tense again. It was an easy draw aer 3. e3 ! e3 32 .e3 xc2 33.d7

Compete Games

31.  32. :a2 33. :bl h •

Blak s unale to keep hs shop on the a7g dagonal:  ... 4 4.8  g 7 5.8. The 5 square s under attak y Whte's rook and the rook and pawn endng aer 5 ...6 6.x6 ax6 7.x4= s a draw.

3.g3

pont of ew ths moe is strong ut t has a dente drawak. uddenly Whte sueeds n e plotng the ulneralty of the g6pawn. Blak would hae preseed deen winnng hanes th the lne: 46 . . .h 47.4  48. d6  e5

7. e2 f

It s more prese for Whte to play 4.8  g7 5.7 atatng hs pees and attakng the enemy a7pawn.

3 .. .g5 35.h d2 36.f6 g7 37.e 6 38.:b7 :xa6 39.xc5 :c6 0.e :e6 1. c5 :e5 2.d7 :e3 3.:xa7 :xg3 .e5 f6

Aer 44 . . .e 45.x  g8 46.e7 f4 47.6 x 48.d4 4 49.f g 50.h5 gxh5 a e unusual poston h douled lak hpawns arises and here Blak an onnue to or ture hs opponent for a long me.

5.x e3 6.:b7

8.c Whte ould hae dra mmedately wth 48.h8! e5 49. 6  f 5 50.xg6 xg6 5.xg6  xg6 52.f= and later the whte king goes into he orner and there as is wellknown Blak an only stalemate t!

8 :e3 •

6 h5 • •

ie's pawn s xed on the h4square and s lkely o be apured soon. From the srateg

Blak would hae more prat al wnnng hanes aer 48 . . .  f 5 49.6 e 50.f  51. h8 g5 52.hxg5  x g5 5.g6 (te loses aer the areless moe 5.  g 4+ and Blak's hpa eomes unstoppale. 5 .. .f5 54. 6 2 and there will soon arse an endgame of rook and ishop aganst rook n whh the defendng sde must play pre sely to draw.

9. :c3

Compete Games

50.8! Finally a bit late but not too late Magnus arlsen demonstrates the correct idea to save the game

5 0 .. Jxc4 5.b6 @ 52. xg6 ig3 53.@g2 @g4 54.b2 e4 55.a id6 56.a5 e2 57.@ e6 58.g5 @ 59. @g4 60.g5 @3 6.@ f6 62.@e2 ig3 63.@e3 e6 64. @ f6 65.@e3 e6 66.@ Daw



Berg

Pe.Neen

Helsingor 200 9

.e e5 2. f6 3.xe5 d6 4.c4 xe4 5.�e2 �e7 6.e3 f6

White has developed his pieces a bit awkwardly on the ank and Black counters this th straightfoward play in the centre Only nine moves have been played but Black already has the advantage

 0 .ig2 0 - 0  0 .d4 Look at White's bishop on b2  a sorry sight!

...5! This is a ve usel move because Black keeps the option of gaining additional space on the kingside ith the move h5h4 as well as using the g4square as a base for his minor pieces

2. d2 g6 The move 2   h4 would not create any concrete threats so Black prefers to complete his development

3. 0 - 0  0 i6 4.e

7.b3?! We have shown in the theoretical section that White should prefer 7c3 here

7 .. .c6 8.ib2 ie6 9.g3 d5

Compete Games

1 b4 

Black attacks the d4pawn and at the same time rees the ele r his rk Hwever, in mst variatins Whites d4paw is ta b, therefre instead f this mve, brinin his last piece int actin th 14  he8 was wth cnsiderin Frm a human pint  view the psitin is rather unclear aer 14 15\xe3 (it wuld be antipsitinal r White t play 153 �4 when Black wuld have very easy play n the liht squares) 15   4 16e2 xh2 173 h4 184 h3 19 �h d6 and in many variatins Black must sacrice a piece (in act he has n alternative, since his kniht n h2 is trapped   )  pssible cntinuatin is 20\2 Ede8 2Ee2 x4 224 4 and Blacks three cnnected passed pawns are strner than Whites piece, mstly because the bishp n b2 is rather islated frm the real actin

15.a3

16.bl This is a usel prphylactic mve, because Whites kin retreats t a sae place, away frm the ch6 dianal The d4pawn is nt hanin yet, s he des nt need t prtect it with the mve 16\d3 Furthermre, aer 16  4 17x4 4 18�3 � 19\c3 �7, the d4paw really wuld be defenceless and aer 20f, Black wins with 20   xd4  2  Exd4 cS

16 e8 

The pa is tab 16    xd4? 17\d3 cS 18b4  + and White ns a piece

17.d3?! It was much mre resilient t play 174, neutralizin the ene my bishp n h6 It wuld be rather dicult fr Black t explit the vulnerability f the liht squares in the centre  e454  and aer, r example, 17  �4 183 e4 19\f f3 20f3 S, Blacks advantae wuld be nly minimal

17 .. .g4

Aer 15 c3 \aS 16b Ehe8 Black maintains sme piecepres sure

15 .. .\b6

18.xg White culd have tried t cmplicate mattes a little with the

Compete Games

line: 8xd5!? �xd5 9xe8 g2 2 0 c4 a6 2e2 �dS 22  f3 f6 23xd8 xd8 24e and although Black would have the edge White would have counterplay

18 g4 •

Black's g4paw restricts hite's possibilities considerably because now he does not even have the f3square for his ight

'xb2 d1 4 0 'c3 'b8 41a4 White resigned

15 de-ov Wijk aan Zee 999

le4 e5 2 f6 3xe5 d6 4 xe4 5�e2 �e7 6d3 f6 7 g5 bd7 8c3 �xe2 9e2

19b4 White wants to place his knight on b3 but proves unable to do this

9  6 1 0 4 g5 l  g3 5 12d5 'd8 134 g4 14d2 b6 15f4 xg3 16 g3 g7 17 0 - 0 - 0 19a5! With his last ove Black provokes new weakesses in his opponent's cap

2 0 bxa5 xa5+

Or 7.c3 e 8d4 �d7 9f �h8 followed by c7c6 and d8c7 The endgae is doubleedged but Black has a powerl bishoppair and is not worse at all

17 es 18de1 •

White has nuerous weak squares bad pieces and a terrible pawstructure so he is already beyond salvation

21�c3 d2 22Jxd2 c4 23dd1 M6 24 xb2 25 �xb2 s 26e3 �xb2 27 'xb2 x2 28d2  29c4 e4 3 0  e2  31c5 ds 32  d1 ds 33'c3 h1 34  c2 c1 35 'b2 h1 36 e4 e4 37'b3 b1 38b2 b2 39

18 d4!? Black seeks coplications by

Compee Game

penetating with his bishop into White's camp The position would have been appoximately equal ae 8 d7 9hf eS 20c3 cS 2c4 c7

9h e3 0.h5  .g7 Black will counte 2c3 with 2c5, not allowing his opponent to advance d3d4

..e5 .c3 c5 3.'c d5! This supising move is also vey song Wite wanted o play d2b3 and then d3d4, in ode to oust the enemy oo fom the eSsquae

xd7 3e2 26d4 e4 27 d3; 24  d4 25bxc5 xcS 26c4 dS 27xf5 xfS 28xf5 b4 29cxb4 xfS 30g4 f2 3b3 xg2 32xe3 dxe3 33xe3 and a daw is the most likely oucome

4 .. cd4 5 . d3 dc3 6. bc3 d4 Blac would not achieve much with 26 f4 27gxf4 xf4 28d g3 29f8 c7 30 and ite maintains the baance thanks o his pieceactivity

7 c5 8e3 c3 9.

9 . a4! 4.d4 Aer 24b3, Black has the re souce 24  d4!, securing eliable bases fo his bishop on e3 and rook on eS and maintaining a clear advantage ie had here a vey interest ing move at his disposal in 24 b4! , th the idea of eliminating by all means he enemy pawn on cS I have failed to nd any advantage for Black: 24 cxb4 25 b3 bxc3 (25  d7 26d4 e4 27c5 bxc3 28 d3 d2 29e4 dxe4 30xd7

Here it would be bad fo Black to play 29   xd3 30ec4 xc4 31 xc4 xg3 32  White seiz es the initiative and th a tre mendously powel oo on the sevenh ran he will a least man age to daw by pepeual check

30a de3 3.e3 c5 3.d d3 33.d3 d3 34e  35d3 (diagam

35 'e7 •••

I was much bette for Black to advance his kng to the queenside, because he could eventually re

Compete Game

1c3 White redeploys his knight to an active position and Black's edge evaporates

 1 d2 2d5 @ 3 e7 @ e5 g6 5f  Dra ••

ate ate a passed pan pan there there : 35    c7 363 d7 37c5 c6 th excellen excellentt inning chances chan ces

3 6 e3  e3 MS 37b2 37 b2  38 38  c3 d1 d1 39a3 g6 g6

6

N

Hua

oev

Tiayuan 2005

e e5 2 f6 3e5 d6  e e 5 d3 f6 63 6 3 ie7 7 0 - 0 0 0 •

Or 39   b6 40c4 e4 (aer 40  . h5 White plays 41c3= and his knight ill ill go to the f4square via via e2) 4 xe4 xe4 h5 42 e5 d2 43 xh5 xg2 44h7 f6 45xa7 xg3 xg3 46 a8  a8== White White should should man age to dra

8c3 b6 9 c2 b7 10d bd7 ig5 es 12e1 d5 13d3 13d3 g6 1id2 1id2 c5 15c c7 16ic 16 ic3 3 d5 •

0c This move move is imprecise imprecis e It as as beter beter for for White White to opt for 40   c5 b6 41e6= and he should not lose aer transferring his knight to the f4s f4square quare

 0 b6 •••

Black in turn turn makes a mistake Aer Aer 40   e6! 4b4 f5! he ould still have good chances of inning this game

1 7 bd2 •

This natural move is imp recise and enables Black to ght for the initiative

Compete Games

It was correct co rrect for hite to play 17. 17 .a3 a3,, with with the the following following sample continuation: 17. 17 . . . e6 18.Ead dc4 19.xc4 19.xc4 f4 20 .e3 .e3 dS 21 . d3 f4= and a draw by repetition of moves

 7. . .b5! .b5! 18.cxb5

and he can counter 25.h4 with 2S .. . b6, with the idea of b6 a4.

25 . . x8 26.�xg7 'xg7 2 7   f f 2 8   b6 2 9  g3 b8 30.l xl 3.xl c8

If 18 .b3, then then ae ae 8 .  . dxc4 19.bxc4 b4 20.b2 cxd4 21.xd4 cS 22.g3 f6 Black is slightly better, because his pawnstructure is superior su perior and his pieces are more harmoniously deployed. deployed.

8 .c4 . c4 9.�3 xb5 20 20  a4 a6 t this point the opponents agreed to a draw, which seems rather premature, because Black could have captued on a4 with his knight, creating serious problems for hite. hite.

Tako

Gr

Black has seized more space and maintains an edge.

7

2.xb5 axb5 22a3 d6 23�h6 �f6 24.g5 �g7

l. 5 2. f6 3.x5 d6 4. 4.  x4 5  d3 d3 f6 6. 0  0  7 7.h 7.h3 0  0

25x8 Blacks position is preferable with queens present on the board

Germa Germany ny 2 01 0

8  c 8 9  c2 c2 b6  0 .d4 b7  b2 b2  2 c bd7 bd7

Compete Game

ig5 h6 ih g5 5ig  6fd g 7g f6

edge Now the position is equal .

 g   8 

Black could have maintained the tenson by by playing playing 24 .  . h5, but he decded to rely on simplica tion.

5e e1 6  7 h3  d5

8e White must try to exchange the rooks, because otherwise his queen cannot come into play, since since it has no squares.

 8 e 

The poston would be much more complex aer aer 18 . . . d7 19. e3 Ee7

9 9  7  0 ¥ ¥77 If 2.f2, then Black continues with 2 . . . Ee8, occupying occupying the ele and not allowing White's knight to go to the fSsquare a e3

 0    e7 13    e8 e 8 3 id3 id3

8 It is slightly more precise for White to play 28.c4 e7 29. ce3 xf5 3. 3 . f5 �b7, �b7 , but even then the draw is certain. certai n. It is essential for Black to prevent the exchange of the lightsquared bishops, since in tat case he would end up with a bad" darksquared bishop. If he keeps both bishops, he has no problems whatsoever.

8 e7 e7 9 7 7 e7 e7 3 0  h g  d5   33h d6 g g 35 g7 36  h5 7  e6 5 38d5 d 9cd h6 Draw. White's king must 



protect the g3pawn and he can make no progress. progress.

8 ZhangPenang ZhangPenang ov ov The f5square is ve weak; otherse, Black would have the

hanghai hai 2 1

 5  f6 5

Compete Games

d6  e 5d d5 6id3 c6 c6  0  0 ie 8c b b 

9cd5 d3 0d3 �d5 lel  g g6 3 c3 c3 1�c3 f6 5b3 @ 6.�c e8 1�c �c4 �c4 8.b 8 .bc c4 4 b6 b6

(or (or 2 0  d2 4 4 and and Wi Wiee s oally pinned, whe aer 20ac a3 he loses maeri maerial al 20    xc5 2   dxc5 dxc5 xc5 xc5 22  xc5 xc5 xe xe  2 3 xe xc5 Black will e ale to toure his opponent for a long time His ishop s superior o he enemy knigh and his rook is more acive ie needed magnaion in order o reach equaliy He could have solved his prolems only af after the nosooous line: 19 e3 ac8 20 20  a3 , exchang exchangng ng the darksquared ishops and manaining the aciviy of hs piec pi eces es Aer 20    a3 2xa3 xc4 xc4 22 2 2 xa7 @f8 @f8 23d 23 d  Black Black has ll compensaion for the pa, u no more mo re han hat hat The game game should sh ould end n a draw

9   ac8 0acl id6 1 eS For 2c5 f4 22xe8 xe8  see 2xe8

 .e8 . e8 c5 if 3c3 ie Black s a pawn dow, u he has no prolems a all In fac, fac,  s White who mus play precisely, ecause his c4pawn is not proteced and he g4pawn does not emellsh his poson eher If Whte had had a lightsquared ishop, ishop , instead of any any other mnor pece, his posion would have een preferale

This ishop s ready o go o the d5square, since his is he pefec pefec place for it

9ib Aer his move Whie's kingside ecomes even more vulnerale, n paicular his f4squ f4square are Follong 19  e3 ac8 2 0 c5

 hie makes a misake in a

Compete Games

dcult poston He wants to tanse hs knght to the Ssquae but ths poves to be mpossble Aer 24a3 Black has the the stong stong espon esponse se 24    b8 keepng hs queensde pawnor maton ntact

d6 4.£ 4 .£ xe4 xe4 5.d4 d5 6 .d3 .d3 c6 7. 7. 0 - 0 ie7 8.c4 b4 b4

24 ...bxc5! ... bxc5! 25.a3 It tuns out ou t that that the cSpawn cS pawn s taboo ong to the vulnerablty o White's hite' s back rank Ae 25 2 5 c5 Black wns wit with h 25   b8+ whle  25dc5 then 25  d8 wns

2 5 ...bs ... bs 26.b3 c4

This s the smplest road to vctoy Black's kng goes to the dSsquae aer the trade o the ooks The est est s vey vey smple sm ple

2 7 . xb8 xb8 b8 28 .  g2 g2 g2 29.xg2 e6 30.3 d5 3. £ g6 32.e3 ic7 33.c3 b6 34.a4 a6 35.£  36.4 g4 37.g4 5 38.5 5 39.f4 d4 40.ie c3 4.  c2 42.id2 c4 Whte re-

9.ie2 0-0 0.c3 i 1. a3 xc3 2.bxc3 c6 3.e1 e8 4.cxd5 4.cxd5 \xd5 \xd5 5 5.i .iff4 ac8 16.3 16 .3 e4! e4!

7.ie3 a5 18.c4 xc4 c4 \xc4 20.d2 \d5 xe4 \xe4 22.ig5 \xe1+ \xe g5 24.\a5 24.\a5 if6 \xa7 c5 c5

sgned

19

Leko

Kamnk

Bssag Bssagoo (m/ 1) 2 0 04

.e e5 2.£ f6 3.xe5

26.\xb7

19. 21. 23. 25.

Compete Games

If ite's rook escapes from the Xray" pressure of the enemy bishop with 26b, then Black plays 26   d4 and aer 27 xb7 a8 28b6 xa3= White loses his only queenside pawn and, wth it, any remaining illusions of being able to play for a wm.

26. . .d4 27a2 c4

29.a4 If 29 d2 , Black plays 29 f6 30xd8+ xd8= and he has eve rything protected and his cpawn is ready to advance er that he l use this paw to deect the enemy queen and will then pick up White's apawn With pawns le on only one side of the board, the draw l become inevitable

29 .. .c3 30.4 For the side having a queen against a rook and a bishop, it is usuay advantageous to have an outside passed pa In this case however, Whites apaw is not ve dangerous, since Blacks cpaw has been advanced much he and is well suppoed by his pieces

er 30 b3 b8 31 c4 dc8 32 d3 g6 33xd4 (ifite does not capture the bishop, Black plays b8b2 !  33  c2 34xc2 xc2 Whites apaw will inevitably be lost, so Black is in no danger In fact, it is White who ll have to try to make a draw by a perpetual check on the kingside

28.2 Black can counter 28c2 with 28  c3 and ite's rook will remain passive

28 ...d8 fter 28   c3?, the vulnerability of Blacks back rank be comes the decisive facto and fol lowng 29xe8+ xe8 30d7 e+ (30 b8 31xd4 c2 32 d2+ 31h2 e5+ 3 2f4 f4+ 33g3 e2+ 34g+ White wins

3 0 . . .6 his is a quiet positional eply The advance of White's apawn

Cmpete Games

has been stopped Black also had a tactical solution available: 30  g6? 31a5 �e5 32\xeS c2 33xc2 xc2 34h4 when ite should be able to draw by perpetual check aer advancing his kingside paws

31.c2 White can also block the enemy cpaw wth his rook: 31c2 �a5 32\f5 a8 with a probable positional draw

31. ..g6

36.c3! Now hite wll have great problems achieving a draw The right way for Wite to save the game was 36g5, creating the threat o perpetual check on the ingside Aer 36   xc2 37\xc2 d2 38e4 c2 39\e8 g7 40e5 it l be a draw by perpetual chec

36 ...c3 3.\c3 2d5 Black redeploys his rook to be able to capture the enemy apaw

38c6 a5 39.g3 da8 .h! ites paw is not threatening to advance, so Black has enough time to mae a generally usel move

32.b3 d6 ere Black could have played 32  �a5 33e7 f8 34e2 fd8 wih a repetition of moves

33.c2 White did not need to place his rook so passively e could have maintained the balance wth the move 33g4, planning to advance his hpaw later and also securing the g2square for his king

33 a5 3.g d2 35.g2 cd8 •

 ... 5a6 It ould be imprecise for Black to play 40   xa4 4h5, intending h5h6 Black could have stopped the advance of ites hpaw with 40  h6 41h5 g5, although aer 42 f4 (42 \xh6? 8a6 42  

Compete Games

gxf4+ 43. xf4 Exa4+ 44. g3 4a6 45d5 Black could have still totured his opponent for a long time transferring his rooks to attack the g4pawn.

41�cl a Black continues to thwart the advance of the enemy hpawn. Aer the immediate 41 .. Exa4, White can continue with 42.h5=

42�6 xa4 435 4a5

would fail; aer 46.f4, Black wins for example with 46   Ea2 47.f3 8a3+ 48.e4 a4+ 49e3 2a3+ S e2 Eb3 +, combining his threats to capure White's pas with mating threats with his rooks.

46  5a6 47�c3 a4 48 �c6 sa6 49�e8+ g7 50 �b5 4a5 51�b4 d 52�b3 ad6 53�c4 d3! 4�f4? This is the decisive mistake Now Black can keep he position closed, preventing the threat of pepetual check. Later he can re deploy hs rooks for an attack agains Whie's backward fpaw Insead, ite could have tried o open the position a litle with the lne : 44hxg6 hxg6 There woud still be pleny of gh le but a draw would be he most likely result

4 g5! 45�f6 6! •

(diagram Thanks to this possibility, Back s able to cement his kng side pawsucture

Whte is in zugzwang. f hs qeen rereats Black redeploys his roos for an attack agains he f3paw, while if ites ng re treats to the second rank, Black is able to avoid hs rook beng at tacked with check and he wins a tempo for the transfer of his other rook o the f6square.

46

5 a3 55�c5

46xh6 8a6 +  atempt to play actively

Aer SS.f4

Black

conti ues

wth SS  . Ed2+ 56.e Eh2 7.

Compete Games

d4+ g8 8g a+ 9a h+ , wg the quee

55 ... a2+

56.g3

6

hte's 3pawn alls ad the rest s smple 57.Wb4 aa6 58.g2

f4 59.Wb2+ af6 60JWe5 x 61.Wa1  62Wc3 1+ 63.g3 2+ 64x x+ 65.x f6 Whte resged 20

Grcuk - vancuk Lares 2009

l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.xe5 d6 4. xe4 5 .d4 d5 6 . d3 c6 7.0-0 ie7 8.c4 b4 9. e2 0-0 10.c3  ll.a3 xc3 12.bxc3 c6 13.e1 es 14.cxd5 Wxd5 15 f4 ac8 16. 3 6 17.g4 ig6 •

hte has a pawncetre, but Black's prospects are better thaks to hs powerl pressure agast t

27d3 d6 Ths rook s gog to the g6 square, rom where t wll eert pressure alog the gle ad protect Blacks kg He caot acheve much wth the cocrete varato 27   g6 28b3 a 29  g 6 30 e3 t would be more promsg or Black to opt or 27  a!?, advacg hs passed paw ad bolsteg the bshop o b4 l ths mght be very usel  the eve tual sharp struggle

28.c5 Aer 28 4 g6 29hxg7 d6 30d6 cd6, the materal s equal, but Black retas the ta tve

28..g6 29.if4

18. id6 19.xe8+ xe8  0 .c4 �4 21. e3 ds 22 .ig2 �e7 23.g5 ic5 24.a2 i5 5.d2 a3 266 ib4 29 ...�6 t would be more precse to cotue wth the mmedate 29   gxh6 30  g3 a sce Black's quee would ot be orced to go ro e7 to 6 as happeed  the game Aer 3h2 b6 32cb6 (32 d? e+) 32   cxb6 33

Compete Games

b3 Whte stll presees soe copensaton for the exchange but only enough or equalty at best

3 0 .g3 6 31.@2 a5 32.�a4 Whte wants to put hs queen on b5 or advance d4d5 Instead 32b3 was worth consderng with the rather un pleasant threat of b3d5 ; the poston would then have reaned unclear

21

ajan

Gefand

Monaco (blndfold) 2011

l.e4 e5 2. f6 3.xe5 d6 4. xe4 5.c3 xc3 6. c3 e7 7 . e3 0 - 0 8.�d2 d7 9. 0 - 0 - 0 e5  0 .4 c6 1. c4 e6 2. g5  13.£ f6 14. 3 e6 5.b3 a6 6.f4 i

32 .. . . Aer 32  f5 Whte contnues wth 33b5 wth soewhat better chances hus Black's exchangng operaton s copletely justed

33 . .

7.� Here Whte should have preferred 17d3 b5 18xe5 re ducng the attackng potental of hs opponent's peces Aer 18    e5 or 18  dxe5 Black would retan the ntatve bu Whte would have consderable chances o equalng

17.. .b5 8.c5 �c7 33 .. .xg3! 34.g3 xd4 35 . g2 c6 36.�d xc5 37. �g+ @ Aer 37  @h7 Whte can play 38h4= deprving hs opponent of the g5square aer whch Black cannot avod perpetual check

38.�c8+ @g7 39.�g4+ @ 40.�c8+ @g7 4.�g4+ Draw

It was also very good for Black to play the edate 18   a5!? when hs threat of a5a4 would be very serous whle Whte would have no chances of eectvely ex plotng the pn along the dle

19.d3 f Whte contnues with the postonal pasacrce 19 g3 dxc5 20  h3 wth the dea f4 e6 then Black responds th 20  c4 21e6 aS preserving hs extra paw and the ntatve

Compete Game

19 a5 2 0 .cxd6 •

It is no improvement for Whte to opt for 20.xe5 dxeS  Black's initiative is dangerous and he can comine the threat of a5a4 th the advance of his f and e pas.

2 0 ...d6 21.ib6 �b8 22. ic5 White is trying to ease his de fence y exchanging peces.

22 .. d8 Here t was even stronger for Black to choose the straightfor ward move 22 ...a4 whe te would come under a dangerous attack.

23.xe5 e5 24.x8+ �x8 25.f4 id6 26.id3 a4 27. dl axb3 28.cxb3 c5 29. �xc5 �c7 3 0 .bl ds 31 .�c2 1.c2 d+ 2.xd xf4 .xc6=

3. . .s 32 .g3 Or 2.e2 d4 .g followed y moving the shop out of the pin on the dle.

32 ...�d7

However, White's pawn is rather misplaced on fS, since it re stricts the movements of his own ishop. His only chance of saving the game was 3.e2! g6 4. c2 a7 5.xg6 xa2+ 36.c xd+ 7.xd a+ (The king and pa ending arising aer 37. . .xe2+ 8.xe2 hxg6 9.e cS 40.e4= is a draw. 8.c2 hxg6 9.e4 and having re gained his pawn, White should e ale to save the game.

33 Wd6 •

Black's queen exerts pressure across the whole oard from this square.

34.� id5 Black's ishop has occupied a sold outpost in the centre. Black is ready to continue with h7h6 on the kingside, otaining the safe h7suare for his kng. On the queenside he plans to penetrate wth hs queen to a3, aer which his cpan wll carry out the crushing reak c6c5c4 !

35.�f4 �a3 36.ie4?

33. White locks the h7 diago nal in this way to prevent Black's ishop from occupying it later.

This is a lunder in a very df cult position, most proaly due to the fact that the game was played lindfold. But even aer the natural line : 36.d4 cS 7.2 a 38.c2 hS ! White would e faced with a very dicult defence, ecause Black's king is safely sheltered, while its white counterpart is ex posed.

36 e4+ 37.�xe xdl ••

White resigned.