The Slav - Sadler.pdf

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 my ae

 

HSS RSS NIN UIS      :      

90  2 9 0 6 90  2 9 06 4 90 2 9 03 X 902 9 0 2 90 2 9 02  902 9  0  90 2 9 0  3  90  2 9 09 9

CaoKann Avance Closed icilian Dutch Lenina Fench Avance candinavian eilav icilian T aianov Topowsky

Byon Jacobs Daniel Kin Neil McDonal Tony Kosten John Es Matthew adle Jaes Plaskett Joe Gallahe

Fo fuhe etails fo Chess Pess titles, please wite to The Chess Pess c/o Eveman Chess, Gloucester Mansions, 40a haesbuy Avenue, Lonon WC2H HD.

Che Pre penin Guie

The Slav

Mw S

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 C P, 

irst publishe 997 by The Chess ress, a iprit o First Rak Publishi, 23 Ditchli Rise, Brihto, East usse, BN 4Q, i associatio ith Everya Boos plc Reprite ith correctios 999 Copyriht ©  997 Matte aler Distribute by verya Chess, Gloucester Masios, 40a haesbury Aveue, oo C2 D All rihts esee. No pat o this publicatio ay be reprouce, store i  retieval syste or trasitte i ay o or by ay eas, electroic, electostatic, aetic tape, echaical, photocopyi, recori or otherise, ithout prior perissio i iti ro the publishers. A CP c taloue eco or th is book is available ro te British ibrary BN  90259 00 5

C design by Ray   Pintd and bu i Grt iti y Ltd, ulfo a K'

  5  c c6

lgraphy trductn

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The Old an Lne (3 f3 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 a4 f 6 e3 e6 7 xc4 b4 8 00): Black plays t prevent e4  The Old an Lne (3 f3 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 a4 f 6 e3 e6 7 xc4 b4 8 00): Black allws e3e4  he New an Lne (3 f3 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 a4 f 6 e): Black fghts fr cntrl f e4  The New an Lne (3 f3 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 a4 f 6 e) : Blac cunterattacs  The myslv aratn (3 f3 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 a4 a6)  The Brnsten arat (3 f3 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 a4 g4) 7 The 4 . . .a6 lav (3 f3 f6 4 c3 a6): Whte plays 5 e3  The 4 . . .a6 lav (3 f3 f6 4 c3 a6): Aggressve ptns fr Whte  The xchange aratn (3 cxd cxd)  ve-Orders ad Transpsts   Odds and nds

9 10 11 130

dex f mplete Games

142

13 27 39

 62

 7

Books

Elopadia o Css Opigs vo D (ECO), vi Inm  987 Baod Css igs 2 (BCO), Kpv & Kn ( 989) Wg   Slav, ipv & v ( 9)  Slav o  Touam Play, F ( 988)

Peroals

Iomao CssBas Magai N  Css abook Bs Css Magai Css Moly

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 si  ppin n pnin is fqn misuns mny p  (inuin sm sng n s) iv   py n pn g  i is nssy  ns  gt mn viins;  n pp tin is mp wiu  s n qn sii n   sp  v 20 is in  imin ni gn I nw m pin  t s vm  pnin    vwmin n is is s il u   nnpssin ly w s i im  p p it t s sins  n  vin n  pssin ly nw  si s I nw   v wn m ms m n

m pnins n m n 0mv pi  nsis (n is n us I vn n n) T iin I  is psiin  mv 0 n m   m ms  w s in mins   pins ui  s  vy ssp u v vy  ss is  spt n ms ms   su n w win ms us w i  n  ppns  us w unsn  psiin  In my pinin pnin pp in n  sss    simpl ps  Knwing  min im  u pn 2 Knwin  v  mv s   nsnin pi psiins T s pp s i   v Openng Ams

i 2  i ns   n T nu 2    win   vp is insi pis s t w  in  lisu isp insi  pwn in 2    ims    n  vp  is isp

h e l v

usie e pwn in n en  pl e7-e6 n nlue e l evelpmen weve e use f ess ies lie lve neve ns sml l mus e eful wen e evelps is lisque isp e    2  6  Cf Cf6  C

 l n nl pl  qui   f if e n suessll efen 7 wi is queen Tus 1 4  2 4 6  Cf Cf6  e f

is fine f l sine    6  n esil e me  6   7; weve    2  6  C Cf6  e f? l wul lie  pl    f u e will ve e iffiul efenin 7 te    6  

w 6   6 lses  pwn  7 C  8 Cf6+ ef6 9  n 6  6 weens e queensie li sques  mu 7 e e 8 e e6 ( sp f7+ me) 9 + Cf7 0 4 6     inenin - p pin e isp Te enel ule is

   6  is n  sine 6   7 lses  pwn  7 C  w n l  u is min ie? l eie s  sp Wie fm plin    e s  fin   w  efen 7 Tis is  pi l penin ilemm wee  pe ven n ppnens e iel  wee  ne e piees in su  w  e e is nullifie

In trouc tion

e man lne f te lav ns 1 4 S 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 xc4

rst, Black wns a pawn an treatens b7b5, makn ts an ermanent ecnd, te b3square s nnnly taken away rm te qeen, wc means tat Wte can nt attack b7, and ence tat �f5 emes pssbe Wle Wte recap tres te c4pawn, Back wll develp te lt-squared bsp t f5 r 4 an wll be lkn t cmpete s nse evelpent: 5 a4 (surrun n te cpawn by preventn b7S 5 �f5 6 e5 (ntenn xc4 r  e3 (ntenn �xc4 6   e6 are te an lnes  far I ave been very entusastc abut Back's stratey, t nw I ave t reveal te wnse f s play Ts srt f sczprena  necessar wen yu play b t ses  te lav, as I d! 4  xc4 relnquses cntrl f e4, c makes t easer fr Wte t ramp Back wt tw centra pawns n 4 and e4 But Wte must be care l tat s pawns  nt becme eaknesses as Back frst mmblses, ten attacks tem Te bttm lne s at te player w as te better

unerstann f e lne wll et te best results wt eter clur Te secnd ea s t play 1 4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 a6

Te mve 4   a6 was rst played n Brtan by Grandmaster Jn Levtt, but t s Granmaster Julan Hdsn w as uped ts varatn at te est evel, and ntrduced te mst snfcant deas Te rnal dea f 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 6 4 c3 a6 was t meet b3 wt b7-b5, mvn te pawn t a prtecte square Hwever, ways were fund t explt te drawbacks f b7-b5: te dark-square weak nesses n c5, b6, a an te sty expsed black queensde Ten, n a brllant pece  unsteretype tnk n, Hsn realse tat a7-a6 cul allw te rk t defed b7 frm a7 N ne ad dare t pay suc a strane mve befre, but Julan dd, and ts as ade sme prev usy dy nes cmpetey vable Hwever, atu avn   5xc4 elps t prevent e2-e4, Back's pstn s ess ynamc tan n te   d5xc4 lnes, as t s muc arder t break aanst Wte's centre wt

h e l v

  c6cS and e7eS y wn prefer ence as Back is fr te 4   dxc4 lines as tey are ricer in cntent and ffer a wider rane f pssibiities t suit many differet styles Move-Orers

verders are a muc underrated par f penin preparatin Opp nents dnt always pay fair! Imaine te scene yu sit dwn t pay cn fident tat yu kw yur penin at least as well as yur ppnent and wat appes He plays te penin in sme unusual mverder and yu emere a bit dazed t find yurself playin a different line t te ne yu wanted! And uness yu wrk ut yr mverders truly tis will cntinue t appen time and time aain

  w can tis appen in te lav If yu want t play te 4   a6 lav ten tere is ntin tat Wite can d t muddy te water wic is ne f te attractis  tis ine 4   dxc4 lines wever reuire sme care irst Wite can try t sidestep tem by payin an eary e2e3 prtectin c4 e 3 c3 f6 4 e3 Black as many reasnabe mves ere but nne f tem fit in wit te idea we want t play Te ter way fr Wite t play is c4xdS leadin t te xcane variatin; 4   a6 av fans suld study tese psitins paricu larly carefully since tis sr f psi tin is very typica f tis line and tere are many traspsitins Unerstanng Typal Postons

Well fr tis par read n   

 The Old Main Line: Back plays to prevent e3-e4

d d5 2 4 6 3 Lf3 Lf6  L3 dx 5 a f5 6 3 6 7 x b

1

8 0-0

Tis taditia systm f dv mt f Wit is scially pu lar at cub lv Wit quitly ca ts t aw ad uts is i t safty bf  stats is pla f 3 e, t btai a pfct awn ctr is capt xamis Bacs at temts t pvt Wit fm aciv in tis a First w d t as usvs a fe qustis i d t stabis u arac: usio 1 Hw will Wit ty an aciv 3-4 s Wit as tw maj ap acs: a 2 Tis is t mst anus ia wic w sa xain fist b 4 t mv t bisp  , ic is lpi Black t pvnt e3 uso  Hw ca Bac fit aaist 2 ad 34 s Blac as t ics at tacki t 4-squa: t bisps   ad f5 ad t nit  f6 W it ays 2  is supti t e3-4 pus wit y tw ics: t

qun and t kit n c3 w v  wi aciv t 3-4 advac wit tm bcaus t paw at tacs t bisp  5 If Bac wats t  ca simy pmpt tis by  tati t bisp t 6 s tat 3-4   attacs t bisp w if Wit ays 3-4 ass Back can win a pawn by payin �xc3 and  x4 usio : Wat mv- sul I ay tis in s y w favuit as b t ay    00 9 2 �6; 8  bd7 9 2 �6 is sa sic Wit ca f a daus paw sacrific 



Ra-a

I

Tis was a cucial a f m: I was adi t Isit O by y af a it and y a wi wud uaant fist pac Hwv v  itatly ny a wi wul b d u t ip it Al f t Li Gad Pix! 1 d d5 2 4 6 3 Lf3 Lf6  L3 dx4 5 a f5 6 3 6 7 x 

h e l v

S - - 9 2 j6 1  5

0 e4 �c   c e4 wns a safe pawn nsequenty Wte re vers t Plan B: e ecanes s knt n f fr my sp n  an remves an aacker f e4

1  .  .bd  1 x6 x6 1 2 d

2 e4   wins a pawn as   e (r   �c 4 c c4  c4 e4) fas     4 4 �e e  ef6 f6 wit a cear etra pawn 1 2

An nerestin mve tu I maine tat it s nt te mst accu rate  fr ramniks 2   a see e net ame 1 3 4

n  prevent e-e4 We sce Wtes aim was  pus a pawn wtn is wn terrty t was a ways unikey ta we cu prevent it fr ever Hwever y resstn fr as n as psse we ave frce Wte t make a cncessin namey tat e as a t pay e efre en ae  play e-e4 Atu Wte ans te tw isps wit ts aneuvre e ecanes ff te piece ta wu e mst affecte y te ee4 avance n  te isp as itte scpe f Wite can mantain s pawn n e4 rever te epature f te knt frm f eans at Wite ses sme cntr ver te centra ark squares 4 an e Tis ast pint s seen t reat eect in tis ame 1 3. . 5 1 4 d5 naS

I spent a reat eal f tme a ts stae an rease tat I a t frce Wte t reease te tensin n te centre an play c Te eplana tn fr ts as a t t  wt te centra ark squares: witut te  pawn I can ransfer a knit t e (va c) an epit te upst tat y pawn n e creates n 4 By pacn my rk n c I was pn t et y ppnent wrrie aut psse treats n te c-fe n rer t tempt m n payn c 1 5 j5 fdS 1 6 dx6?

Wait a inue Wasnt Back pay

Here i is Aer ts mstake We as t e ve carefu t av a s avantae Te crrect pan s e tremely inenus Back as tw ave nues f pressure: e as ssie reats an te cfe an e can e vep sme pressure aainst e4 y eans f   c Hw can Wite ea

h e O  M in L in e B ck py to pre ve n t e 3e

it bt tese treats Wit te aneuvre   c5 7 e On  t rk cvers e4 an efens te nit n c an te rank tus pr tectin Wite's queensie aainst cfie a Wite is sit etter aer  d but te ame is sti ver cmpi cate

ame I was vey impresse wit Wite's attitue: reaisin tat is p sitin a wrsene cnsierab Wite rerupe an cncentrate tta n efence  9 x6 x6 2 d3 xd3 2  xd3 b3 22 b1 b8 23 d2 a5!

6bx6!

 ppnent a unerestimate tis recapture Altu it weakens ack's queens ie pawn structure ack prtects te centra it suars ver wic e previus a ittle cntr ue t te ecane f is it-square bisp Tis mve is s strn ecause Wite's queensie s s weak te pawn n a4 ives ack a cmfabe st n b4 fr te een frm wic it can attack te a4 an 2-pawns  7 d3? C5 1 8 3? C6!

ite's 7t an t mves were cssive ptimistic as e a n cance f an attack an te -file eanwie Back treatens 4 it is cntr f te fie an t's weakene queens ie as a cear aret I believe tat Black can area e tinkin abut victr urin te

Prtectin te -square s tat te rk can use eiter f te pen fies n te bar 24 f3 d8 25 2 C8!

Back's knit is te east active f is piec€s Te tet prepares t brin it t 4 via c7 an e Wen tis ap pens a f Black's trps wi be n teir ptima squares 26 1 C 2  C6 28 2 b6 29 f2 Cd4

Intenin    c  �c e2 winnin te ecane as 2 e2 is impssibe since te queen is pinne t te kin 3  b3 31 b1 b8 32 3 4 33 f4 xf4 34 xf4 8 35 d x3 36 x3 C2 3 f3 x4

Te first weak pawn fas 38 a5 a6 39 d3 Cx3 4 x4 x4 4 bx3 5!

h e S v

wat t sies su e aiin fr in tis variatin





KaKam

Monte rlo



1 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 f3 f6 4 3 dx4 5 a4 jf5 6 3 6  jx4 b4 8 - - 9 2 j6 1  5 bd 1 1 x6 x6 1 2 d 1 a5!

I tin tat te r enin is winnin nw 4    c 42  7 4 a wu ave reaine te a pawn ut nw aer 42  7 4 a Bac can sipy pay 4   a5 42 d8  43 8 5 44 1 6 45 f2 f5 46  f6 4 x xa5 48 3 5 49 d4 f4 5 a 6!

51 b

5  a c5 wins a r 5 1 . . .3 52 b2 5 53 b6 5 54 4 f5 55 xa6 x 2 56  6 f4 5 4 f3 58 x5 x5 59 x5 f2 6 x5 f1 61 4 f5 62 d6 6 -1

Tis was a very iprant ae fr e an an instuctive eape f

Ts ve is re active an pray mre ica tan 2  e7 Wie Bac is nt treatenin t win a pawn ieiatey wit    �c ue t 4 c c 5 �2 c2  � 2 7  winnin te queen it es prevent  e4 as wit Wites centre sty weaene Bac can et away wit tain te pawn:    �c 4 c c 5 �2 4 (5   c2)  �4 e5 7 �f f wen wit tw pawns fr te ecane Bac stans vey we te tat  a2 aws   a4 4 4 a 5 a2 (pin t trap te queen) 5    escapin t f5 1 3 jd2

Prtectin c an intenin e-e4

h e O  M in L ine  B ck py to pre ve n t e 3e

ut   

 3    5 1 4 d5ad8

4 c 15    �  17 �4 wins fr Wite

33 a2 2 34 f1 x3 35 W2 5 36 2 x4 3 Wd2 d8 38 W1 xd 1  39 xd1 1 4 d2 d3 41 2 b2 -1

 5 dx6 bx6 1 6 1 4!

ecurin an utpst n  fr te kit

 Wites pan f 9 e2 an 10 e seems armess Let us take a k at te mre irect 9 

Game  usuam

 1 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 f3 f6 4 3 dx4 5 a4 f5 6 3 6  x4 b4 8  - 9 4!

Te mst testin iea Wite eimi nates te isp n f witut wast in time n e2  7 b3 5 1 8 2 d6 1 9 3 5 2 2 f5 21 d2 5! 22 d b8!

e wite queensie is kin er weak 23 b1 x3 24 bx3 xa4 25 2 b2 2 6  d2  4 2 d  5 2 3 f3 29 a4 5 3 4 5 3 2 f8 32 xa f3

9 . . .bd!?

A typica strataem Backs u e f-pawns wi take ver e isps task f preventin ee uson 4 Wat is rn wit 9  � ns Wite can pay 10   1 1 c2 uson : Wy is it imprtant t put te queen n c2 an nt e2 ns First te queen neutraises 

reatenin   2 w Back is ut winnin



h e S v

Backs mst actve pan f ...a treatenng . . .c. ecn wt te queen n c2 Back must be carefu tat wen e pays ...e-e e es nt aw g (. . .ee as pene up te a2g8 agna an te f7-pawn s nw pnne t te kng s Back cannt recapture n g). Of curse we are eang wt subte nuances rater tan bg fferences but t s mprtant t unerstan tem nne teess.

ame  vakav

Domund   f3 d5 2 d4 f6 3 4 6 4 3 dx4 5 a4 jf5 6 3 6  jx4 jb4 S 00 bd

 0 x f5 x f5    2  6  2 f3  b6

sio  Wat es Back gan

Preventng e-e4 by attackng te 4-pawn wc as been weakene by te asence f te wte kngt frm £ .  3 1 aS  4 f2 5  5 4 S! ?  6 ja2 fdS   jd2 fS  S a5 a6  9 fd  4

uttng ut Wtes gt-square sp. 20 j S 2 4 jx3 22 jx3 fx4 23 d5 Sd 24 d4 Y Y

Te raw was agree n a very murky pstn . It s nw tme t cnser te ter mve-rer: 8 . . . b7 ntenng t meet 9 e2 wt 9 . . .g as ave.

frm eayng castng s 8 .. .7 s recte aganst te pan f an eary 4 wc we saw n Yusupv-ramnk. Ater 9 4 Back w repy 9 . . .g as 0 g g s etremey ubus fr Wte. nce Back as nt caste s rk s we pace n te sempen -fe pntng twars Wtes kng Back w pay ...c7 (attackng 2) caste queense an ten ube rks n te fe wc s nt wat Wte was png fr wen e sens by (e tugt) tk te bsp par  wat es Wte  aer 8 .. .b7 9 4 g Gve up r We f es a genus ke Ivancuk e cses a tr ptn: e gets sneaky. 9 4 j6   j2! ?

h e O M in L in e B ck py to pre ve n t e 3e 

te want t take n 6 ny ce Back a cate  e pay a ef cnatn mve we e t fr Back t cmt  kn e tet prevent te p n 6 r ecapn te knt attentn by 10]S Te aternatve watn e 10    cnere n te net e

1 2 . 8? 

10...00

an f tactc can nvetate 10 ]c    (nt 1  c  12  c 1 c2 e2 1 e2 6 wnnn a pawn) 1]2 2  a  ]a r 1 c2 (uncear  Ivancuk) an en tey ave  e ratefu f tey c tel me wat  n n Hw eer mre ptna player can e y wt Bareev mve Atu te queen w  trat t c2 te p  mre pave n e2 tan  c: aer e6-eS Back n ner  t fear 6 (n fact e e qute ee t ee t) a te wte p s nt n te a2 ana; an t l mean tat Wte cannt repy  y wt - aer   e6-eS r  c6



11

x6 x6  2 2

nce te wte queen   n te c2 Back tre t ncnvenence t y penn te c-fe Te mmeate 12  cS wul e met y 1 a2 net tn Back ter p nce 1  ]aS e a pawn t 1 cS n tenn 2 Bareev terefre pay te rk t te cfle n rer t fac tate c6cS Te c6-cS reak  paye e ten tan e6-eS n te av ut t  a typca ea tat  we wrt remeern  3 4 ?

nce Wte e nt want te c-fe t e pene e prepare t meet 1  cS wt 1  If ny e t a  p n c T mve

h e Sl v

ntruces a sarp pawn sacrfce tat s pray nt qute  enu s 1 1 was sueste y Ivancuk as an aternatve wen e cams a st avantae fr Wte 1    cS 14  eS 1   1  e7 17  s nee rater etter fr Wte Backs man prems are te weak ness f s t squares an s sp n 4 wc s sut ff frm te rest f Backs peces y te pawn n cS Te mmeate 1    e7 s strner: 14 e4 (as nterestn s 14  ntenn 14   cS [ 14   eS s mre sense 1 S c 1  an c wt avantae) 14   cS 1 S eS 1   17 eS (17  ses te epawn t 17   f)

us pay ue t s treat f  e2 1 3 .  5 1 4 d5 xd5  5 xd5 !? 8?!

Te start f a seres f st naccu races tat Ivancuk epts rutay   c  c  17 1 7f 18 f (18 c4 4 unpns) 18 e7 s Ivancuks recmmena tn as 1 S S 20 S a ws mate aer 20   e 1 6 d1 4

1  d 6!

A very strn mve: te -pawn epses te tsquare weaknesses n te ack pstn y penn te -a8 ana an freen S fr te knt n c  1  . 6 1 8 f4 b6 1 9 b5 5 2 3!

17  c4 freen te sp an pre ventn Wte frm estasn a tsquare ckae f te queen se wt 2 an c4 Aer 18 c4 Back can rean te pawn wt     1  c4 (1    S 20 2 [20  c2; 20  e eaves Wte mre actve ue t s tw rakn sps) 20 c4 4 wen 2 1 f4 (te ny mve t save te c-pawn) 2 1  fe8 (22   e s nw a treat) 22  4 ves Back aner-

h e O M in L ine B ck py to pre ve n t e 3e

aly prtecting 2 4 2 1 4 f5 22 f3 !   5 24 d5 xd5 25 xd5 3 26 a5 1 -

20 23

 

2 g wul als ave wn ite is ust te ecange up wit a innng ptn

 Toa-Gelfad    d5 2 4 6 3 f3 f6 4 3 4 5 a4f5 6 3 6  x4 b4 8 00 bd 9 46 1   3 ! ?

Blacks passive pay as gven Wite a uge space avantage

nter waiting ve Hwever lacks isp as a square

1 9   d6 2 x6 x6 2 1 f4 8 22 f3 d6 23 3 df6 24 5 5 25 fd1 

10   5

262?!

1 1 4 d5!

lack akes a iscvere attack y te queen n te knigt n 4 Once te kngt retreats Back w agan ae g r is isp 

2 S eS 27 e4 (Tpav) wu ave e t a cear ege r Wite

pav rgty suggests   �   S as an iprveent strking eiately against te epse king de pawns

26 . . .f5! 2 4 b5 2S axb6 axb6 29 aS xaS 3 xaS xaS 31 d5 xd5 32 xd5 xd 5 33 b3 fS 34 xd 5 a4 35 xb6 x4 36 6 7 3 a 1 f4 3S aS f7 39 S 6 4 a 6 d 5 41 f 4 42 3   

    2  5 b 6 1 5 b3 5 1 6 3 00 1  a5 x4 1 8 xd4 s 1 9 4

Instea f  4 Wite as a re testing plan:  e2 an 0 e4

12

2 6 1 3 a2?!

h e S v

  Ivakatr

Linres  1 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 f3 f6 4 3 dx4 5 a4 f5 6 3 6 7 x4 b4 8  bd7 9 2 6 1 4!?

Ts pawn sacrfce s te prblem wt ts mve-rer 1    .x3

Te mre restrane 0  0-0 s cn sere n te net capter 1 1 bx 3 x4 1 2 a 3 !

c an    Qec wt 4 b 00  7 Q7  f usio 9 Hw ten can Black et s kn t safety? s Back can caste queense nstea f knse usio 10 Yu nt sun very mpresse s Black's pstn s rrble! Wte as a smpe an etremely ef fectve plan: a4aa senn up te black queense an ten aer mv n te bsp n c4 c-c4-c fns n ff te  In repy Black must seek t play e-e an actvate s kns e pawns 1 2    1 3 f1

Frm  te rk prtects te c pawn an supprts te c-c4-c pus 1 3 .  

usio 6 Wat s n n? s In return fr te sacrfce

centre pawn Wte as ane te tw bsps an prevente Black frm castln knse usio 7 an't Black ust rab anter pawn wt   c? s O  b (ttn te knt an te pawn n b7)    Qa4 4  treatenn t a4 an e s rrble fr Black usio  an't Black ust blck te a-f ana wt 2  c an ten castle knse? s Ts s lcal but   c s awkwar meetn    0- wt 4

 c 4 Qe Qe (4   0-0  Q wns a pece)  e e (r else Wte plays f2-£ an 24 tap pn te knt)  £ wns a pece wle   Q (blckn te a-f anal) 4 e 0-0 (4    e  e s crusn)  b favurs Wte ue t s sp par 1 4 a5

1 4 .  d6!?

h e O  M in L ine B ck py to pre ve n t e 3e

e yng Rmanan playe Gab el chatzman ted 1 .. he8 st Razvaev n tmn 1993,  ae 1 a! b 1 h d  3 e 18 xg xg 19 g! eventng Black fm actvatng s gsde pans th .. .f-fS by attack  g) 9 . . b 8 20 x! x 21 f e 22 xg, Whte std lely bette. 1 . . .cS ctting t te isp n a3, as sggeste as an m vement, bt ae 20 dxcS bxc 21  1! (peventng 2 1 . . .b8 de t 22 f) 2...e (efenng f) 22 d! (eyeng the knght n d) the y pstve cse f actn pen t lc s t ng the neck f the man  made ths sggestn!   b3 5

n dea f Baeev's I beleve, tyng  icnvenience White by the pn n e ght. te tat 1. . .he8 s met  1 h!  6 3

1 e3 npnnng, and eyeng the pa, is als inteestng. 6   8

1  .   b6 1 8 4!

heatenng cc. 1 8     9 a4 5 2 dx5 bx5 21 3 6 22 5 f 6 23 b2  6 24 4 x4 25 x4 6

I d t ecmmend ts psi tn t anyne. e game fnshed 26 1 6 2 a8 b8 28 xd xd 29 xb8 xb8 3 x5 dd6 31 x xa6 32 xa6 xa6 33 x 5 34 f4 f5 35 5 b 36  b6 3 2 a5 38 3 8 39 4 b4 4 3 6 4 1 x a x4 42 a8  6 43 a3 8 44 3 d5 45 f6 d 46 3 6 4 b4 d 48 x5 8 49 3 d6 5 6 6 51  a8 52 b4 d 53  a4 54 f6 d5 55 3 4 56 4 fx4 5 x4 2 58  d8 59 5 a6 6 6 x6 61 x6 8 62 d6 d1 63 5 2 64 f5 1 

Elestwartma 17

a6!

enng  the ptectn and e black kng.

1 f3 d5 2 d4 f6 3 4 6 4 3 dx4 5 a4 f5 6 3 6  x4 b4

he S v

8 - tbd 9 2 6 1 4 x3 1 1 bx3 tx4 1 2 a3  1 3 f1 -- 14 a5 b8 1 5 !?

ppas t actvat th lght-suad bshp n th lng dagnal  . ..xf3 ss smply t  d+. 44  . a5 45 2 6 46 d8 a6 4  td 48 f4  49 6 tb6 5 x6 a4 51 8 a3 52 f8 a2 53 a3 ta4 54 xa2 d 55 d4 1 -

If ths sn't nugh t cnvnc yu f th dang n accptng th pan sacc thn ty ths!

 be-Bel

An ntstng manuv tansf ng th bshp t th annyng h2-b 8 dagnal h bshp has alady fu fld ts task n a3 by pvntng th back kng fm castlng kngsd. 1 5 .  .d8 1 6 4 a8 1  b2 f5 18 td2 f4 19 f3 txd2 2 xd2 f8 21 f1 5 22 dx5 x5 23 a6

hlvst ctcss ths mv pf ng Wht a 23 Ma Md 2 a2 c 2 d hs may ll b m accuat but th ssnta pnt s that Wht ll alays hav vy gd chancs bcaus Black's kng s ak and Wht's bshps a stng 23 . . . b6 24 a4 d5 25 d4 xd4 26 xd4 t5 2 d1 8 28 4 2 29  1 x 1  3 x 1 f5 31 d2 d 32 xf4 b5 33 f1 txa6 34 3 b 35 f2 6 36 4 5 3 3 b6 38 2 8 39 5 6 4 d2 6 4 3 f6 42 d 4 43 f2 t5 44 3

A a tmsambl and a lttl cnfusn Wht stabshs cn tl th ths vl lttl mv hch

Mun  1 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 t3 tf6 4 tf3 dx4 5 a4 f5 6 3 6  x4 b4 8 - tbd 9 2 6 1  4 x3 1 1 bx3 tx 4 1 2 a3  1 3 f  1  ?

A vy aggssv altnatv t th ld 13 fc Wht sacfcs yt an th pan asnng that ths ll my pn m lns f hs pcs  1 3   tx3

Bst and th mst ctcal. 13   0-0-0 as xtmly nplasant f Black n th gam Blavsky-Akpan  vsbsk 13  b2 Mh8  a  1 Mab1 c 1 f f and n 18 h! xc3 1 xc3 xd 20 b3 xb1 21 xb gvs Wht an v hlmng ntatv as Blavsky pntd t laly n such lns th kng's k s much m actvly placd n 1 than n c 1 as n lns  hav sn pvsly hs s als t f 13  . .c as n bntnck unh  hn 1 d!  1 d3! f   x 0-00 1 xd xd 1 8

he O  M in L in e B ck py to pre ve n t e 3e

 (bn) s h (nlasan) bs at Black can h  4 b2

4 1 5 a 5  ?

n bcms a ll anm   mal m ss b Wh lls hh n th n

o bak   black ns t a-a  ac s als nsn 5

   df6

   (nnn   0-0) s m by

 x! (  Vb c! [n    xc??   ma  xc xc 8 c xa3!  cx Vx 20 Vxa3 V  a V 22 Va3 [vnn s casln, hch las  a a by n a 22   V)   00  x Vx 8  Vc  a! , bakn  h ns h a advana Ista  a (vnn a-a) s est n bn sss  3   x 0-0-0 8 x Vx   an b3 h a ans aack 

16

5 a6 1  a1 d8 1 8 jxa6 

 bxa6 1 9 x6 4 2  5 a5 2 1 x4 b5 22 2?  8

 

s s W's fs naccacy n s fascnan am! bn ns at h sml 22 Vxb axb 23 c a 2 b a 2 c8  2 x8 xb 2  c 28 c   b    30 x l av bn lealy b  Wh Th am

22    d6 23  d 24 3 - 25 5 dd8 26 6? x6 2 x6 b5 28 jxf8 xf8 29 xa6 xd4 3 f3 f6? 31 x6 x6 32 f4 d5 3 4 5 34 a4 5 35 fx5 fx5 3 6 a  8 3 

  Wh s nnn aan 3  . 6 38 6 5 39 6 f 4 x5 6 41 4 f6 42 2  43 a4 6 44 3 f5 45 f3  46 4 6 4 5  48 x6 x6 49 3  5 3 6 51 f5  52 4 a 53 5 8 54 4 f 55 5 f8 56 6 8 5 4  -

he S v

Summary

The alet eae ll have ntce my pfn mstst f the lne 8 b  e2  0 e xc3   bxc3 xe I hnestly cannt nestan the at tactn f these lnes f Black heefe f Black shes t ty t pevent e3e, then Kamnk's 8   00  e2  s the lne f y; Yspv's plan f a ck h s the mst testn espnse 1 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 t3 6 4 t3 dx4 5 a4 f5 6 3  6  x4 b4 8 - 8    -

8  b   h  0 e2 - game  0 h3  game   e2  (     see next chapte) 0 e xc3 (0      see next chapte) 1  bxc3 xe 1 2 a3 c 3 fe 1  game  3 fc1 000  a D    game 6 1   b8 - game  

9 2

 h game  

9  6  

  b  see next chapte

1  t5 tbd 1 1 tx6 x6 1 2 d1  2  e - game   2   aS game 2 

B tb 7

 

 

 The Old Min ine Blck llows e-e4

  2 4 6 3 f3 f6  3   4 f 6 3 6 7 x4 b

1

 00 s chapte deals th lnes asng  8 . . .bd  e2 0-0 0 e4 g (  . . .g 0 e4 0-0, tnng dn e danges pan sacfce n the y) and  . . .g4. sio  When Whte plays e3 e, e gans a cmmandng cental esence th pans n e4 and d4. y s Black playng ths pstn? Is't e jst se? sw ental pans ae stng f ey ae dynamc and able t advance  case aay the ppsng peces. ese, they can pesent easy ta ets f the enemy peces. n ths case, te cannt advance d4-dS, and e4e leaves a hle n dS f the black ees. eve, Black s theatenng  n a pan t ...xc3 and e4, n that hs kng s safely cas le. heefe, hle the d4e4 cente es Whte a dente space advantage, ack has plenty f theats aganst te te cente, hch s te bass f hs nteplay. sio 2 What s the dffeence eteen playng  . . . g fst   ...0-0 0 e4 g?

sw Gd estn! Geneally,

black playes play  . . g t petend that they ae llng t take n the pan sacfce ae 0 e4. ven f tey dnt ntend t take the pan, the dea s t make Whte aste a lt tle tme n the clck thnkng abt hs vaatns! Y neve kn  a fe mntes mght be handy late! 

 Goteadle

Ischa 6  d4 d 2 4 6 3 f3 f6 4 3 x4  4 f 6 3 6 7 x4 b4 8  bd 9 2 - 1 4 6   d3

Whte had t deal t the theat

he S v

f xc3 and x It s a gnal l that th ng y can dlay cmmttng y cnt th btt snc th lat y val  hand th lss tm y ppnnt has t adjst t t 11

  

5

th knght n f3 t th n and ths thatns   S h altnav     h s cnsdd n Gam 2 1 2 f4

yng t avd S f a h lng Wht bngs anth pc t ba n S tangly ngh ths s pbably nt th bst mv Th d ct 2 S s cnsdd n th nxt gam 1 2 !?   

Black thatns 3  xf3  xf3 S! alsng cmftably I thnk that ths s a nvlty 2    M8 had bn payd bf 1 3 5

Abstly ncssa 1 3 d5 1 4 xd5 xd5   

usio : What s th pt f

ths mv? s h fst plac t k f

cntplay s th y pan baks an baks hav t fnc tns a) hy attack th ppnnt's pan tct and fc hm t act t y b) hy a a bakt' thy gan spac and thf gv m m f y pcs t bcm actv Back has t pan baks n ths pstn S and c-cS sally h pfs t am f   -S snc ths stps Wht fm playng S hm slf ncnvnncng th black knght F xampl .cS 2 S! dS 3 xd xdS ( 3   xd3  xd3 xdS  gS! s nplasant)  xg hxg  gS th thats f Sand gh and h  mat s nasty f Black Th mv n th gam pns

Wht has a spac advantag d t hs pans n d and S mally th hs bshps knght and n pntng tads th back kng Wht cld cnsd lanchng a kngsd attack bt h Back's bshp n hS ntfs th ths pan t can xchang tslf f th knght n f3  tn t g t blck any ht attack n th b -h dagnal anhl Black ll challng f th c-fl xchangng th bshp n

h e O Min L in e  B ck    e 3 - e 

d fr th n  n   n rr t  fr   n ntry  f th bc r c c wll  tnfr  h t c  b8 f wh  t ny ttc 4, t c n  ht n y b r    wht n th cn Wht ? ty cl! Wht  nt wnt t hn c  th cf c th ud h c t fr h c t,  h h tw n Frt y wn frt), h cn cncn tt n th nd wh Wht ld t f th t:  c  t   r cncntrtn f r c I w ty t h y d wn:  h fc8  4   h4, nt h4-h Th  dtrt th rwc t f4, vr: Wht w  t thrw t f-wn frwr  w, t th  t n h wy Th chnc   h r, I bl, bt l t' chc  nttn, bt th  ly   n chn  d ny n tctc nt f tr  t  tt h n yr clc lt, thn y n f tht y  t wt t n t tt  dy On th thr hn, ch l r tn th t nct d th t ffct fr th  t t  wth!

1   . .xd3 1 8 xd3 4!

c  nw nnn 7 n 9    by 9   c7!, whn 20   nt wn  c  lc h 20  c, whn h n wl R n tht h ctty n h  h c t nht, Wh  c t Pln A n n n th n , bt h  r t wn n wht h c h h r 1 9 4 6 2 5 5!

 3 8 1 6 a5! ? 6 1  a4!?

t fr I thht bt yn    b8  tnn 8    t  y th wht  Thn t y rr I ntc 8 ! Wht  tnn t t th nht n 7 d thn t y h n b4,  f8  trl, t thn 9 b! d y h  tr! 

O y  hd  tht n wr,    thn, h c u wth n ct fnc 21 dx5 nxf4 22 a6! bxa6 23 6 a5 24 1 8 25 b3  26 2 n4?!

A rhr c  2   f 27

h e S v

 h 28 4 h 29 2 h4 th y  w nt t t  by ln n r th ) w th wy t y 2 a 1 j 5? ! 28 xa5 x6??

  Mc+  t t t  2 f4 nt   tht rn fr Wht Wht bt 2  nt?

ame 0 Gelad-ater

.uc 

1 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 lf3 lf6 4 l3 dx4 5 a4 jf5 6 3 6  x4 jb4 8  lbd 9 2 j6 1  4 - 1 1 jd3 5 1 2 5

Prbby th bt  29 b5 ??

y G I h  tht Wht cl y wn  c wth 29  frn r n bh I h thht tht I cl ly 29   f2+ wth  cr ttc n th r n c2 bt Wht t y 0 Mf2 Lcy Wht hr th  bn t! Ar 29   Wht  t lt 29   . 3 a2 b6

Trin th r 31 2 3 32 d2 6 33 xb6 axb6 34 ld4 4  - 1

1 2  . ld5 1 3 lxd5

Th trnti  4 wth n th nt 

1S

t

1 3   .xd5

    h bn t bt nc Wht ry h  c n t n th ni I  ctc bt cncn  wn rty  wll n tht r 1 4 3 6? !

A btbl cn I w r fr 4    7 fllw by  rk t th cf n  8-c 1 5 l1 !

h e O  M in L in e  B ck  / w e 3e

ty nts th th c  c nht 29    'x6 3 '3 7 3 f4 'f7 32 5 'd7 33 4 8 34 5!

 vy nstuctv n: Wht n tds t y f2f4 n f4-f, whch s culy culy nus nus nc Blck hs kn hs kns wth h7-h  h7-h rv, th nht w vntuy  t  wth tm, httn th s s n 4

3 4   . 'd8 35 '3 'd 36 d6 'f7 37 '5 'f5 38 '2 b4 39 4 'f6 4 5 '5 4 2 b3 42 d6!

  f5 f5  6 xf6 xf 6 'xf6 'xf 6  7 b5 b 5 tb8 tb 8 d3! a6

Pvntn th knht fm cm  ctv

Fn Fn th th 7  7wn

18    9  s nt n t snt snt f f ck  xb4 axb5 2 a5 ta6 2 td3!  22 d2 2 23 a a8 24 2 x2 25  x 26 x 6 27 t5 'f5 28 h3 '2 29 6!

42    f7 43 'd1 8 44 3 'f6 45 5 'h4 46 3 'f6 47 'd2 '7 48 '3 'f6 49 d6 7 5 'xb3 'xd4 5 '2 8 52 '8 h7 53 '2 h8 54 '8 h7 55 'x6!

Ptctn 4 xcnt umnt In th sult in stn, Wht's sh cm

55    'xb2 56 5 '2 57 '7 '4 58 3 'd3 'd3 1 

he S S v

A 9 f, lc ct t t  t  ht h t  c  20 lc hl b f  th  ch f ht    ,  ,  h  w h  Lt  t  l t   4

 1 1 Xu Ju-Akoa

19 1 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 Cf3 Cf6 4 C3 dx4 5 a4 f5 6 3 6  x4 b4 8 - Cbd 9 2 6 1 4 - 1 1  d3 d 3    5 1 2 5  5 Cd Cd 5 1 3 C C4 ! ?

 t th  Y, th     th hc t 1 3 .  . . 

 c  c  ltly t by 4     b Oc lc lc   th ht  7, h wll l th c w,  h ct tct  wth    t th bh   f h tct th ht wth     c7,  c7, th  Mc  l Th t t  t         cc 1 4 C3

Th ct ch 4  h l b t

usio  Why  Wht ly

4 ? 4   c, t lc f  th   b b    f f h c c usio  :  wh wht t th th  ct? ct?  t   ? s Abltly t Th   cltly cltly  l l tt 4    c   lcl, t t h 4w th  c    c c  c (   c?)  c  (f c c  t     c 7 h7+ h7  c2+  9   20 c, w w   w w) ),, fllw fllw by    c    Mc,  ht yh s

y wht ly  t y th t  t tht w h h   th ft tw  f th cht Wth th ct cl,  th ct f ch  th cfl, thy fl  y bt th w ct;   ctly th l wth  4 h c t c Of c, lc  h  ht ht tt tt    h  h   wb t th ct wth c-c c-c w  w,, Wht Wht c t   h t 4 t tf ft h ht, th h

h e O M in L ine  B ck //o //o w e 3 -e 

4   6 

  x6 x6      t  y t tmtcy rry fr f : c yr wr wrr t f thy rctr wth th h  Wht w y h ht  t h4 on  t S  4  h    Bc B c w h n fc fc t  mt mt By t wth th f fw w k rt th t f f    h7h h7h t   ht t f S S   f cr   th - f-f fr c y A th  r tht t' ttc w hry ttc r  r     h  h  th  ry   th n  !

  4 5

 7 3

Th   rfcty rn  ch c' ht   c Bc h w t rt y y c-cS c-cS t why  th h h   yr yr   7 S? 7    c4 8 4 8 9 h4 f8  t    rn Th ht  f8  f t h7  f y  rc rc Wht  t thrt thrt t t  r  h th Bc cn ht th c tt  ch th ht wy wy wth wt h  7f 7f  Wht c hwr try    th c  wth h2h4hS  y  y r  4 cS 7 h4 c4 8 hS!? A w t'  t y th rr! W' h t wt fr rctc tt fr  cc cc c  rch rch  7   .b6 . b6

  7 8  c 9 c  0 c4 4    r r   8 xd5 xd5 xd5 xd5  9 dx5 dx5 x5 x5 20 3 6 2 a5 a6 22 a a8 23 fd b3 24 x8 x8

B h  t -w t Wht'   w Th  t  t  t   25 b6 d8?! 26 xd8 xd8 27 ?!

Th e S v

lk lhtly utu 2th mv ll Wht th h t tvt h  by th lvly 27  t   h  27   ll 28 8+ h7 2 +  th u (ly by Xu u Th t  hht but t  ly  t b   2 . .  2 3 5 29 b4  3  1  3 1 x   x 3 2 d3 d4 33 b3 d 34 3 d 35 b6 d 5  6 b4 d 3 3   1 d 3 d2  39 d xd 4 xd6 xd 41 xd3 d5 42 d2  43 3 5 44 b3 4 45 4 6

ll  M

Bsh



1 d4 d 5 2 4  3 3  4 3 dx4 5 a4 5 6 3   x4 b4  - bd  9  2  1  4 - 1 1 d3  

 h  ml  A   8 (2   b  l t   2   b2  )  h 8   Wht h  lht vt  lvyh L    8 (    b    th u  b  u  t tmp       t th u hl  b  b b 7   8 b7  ult  lk 1 2 4 8 1 3 d 1  1 4 3 a6 1 5 a 1 !

A   8  b k h    ( xllt  b Wht   th u) 7 b  8  7    2   2   22  b 2   2    l h  pblm  lvOll  Olym  1 5   b

 btt      b ( 7 b  8  tp th u) 7 b b 8 b b    20   2    lk  bbly h h ult  h t  Lut Gl  (bll)  1  b 1 !

 lly l th vlm hm Wht lt h u   mbl ll h    y  lk bk 1   . .?!

A lhtly y  lk vl  tly  t   tu ty t b th th     Th blm  tht   th m l  lly t t 

l hul lly hv tk t lu th   lthuh 7 2!  th bh  t    vt  Wht 1   5 ?

Th  th l thh

Th e O l d M a in L i n e : B la c k a ll o w s e 3 - e 4

17   d8?

   1 8  " 1 "4 f8  ky f Blk

tmy   h  w wk 

 4!

  k  ff    b 1 9 a2! 8 2 b3!

t th kht  4,  k w  hv t mv t' tt t t  f t  a8 2     8 22 a d  3 b4 24 a4   2  4 f6 2 3 a 2 3 d 28 ! xd 29 xd xb1 3 xb1 cxd 31 b xb 32 xb ad8 33 xd 8 34   3 xd8 d8 3 d  1 + 3 x  1 x1  4 8?? 3 9  !  4 3 b4 41 xa xa 42 b8+  3 8 b 44 d  4 a b4 6  8 4  8 48 d4 ia 49  8  d 8 1 i7 b4 2 4 3 3  b4 4 id6  0





y   4   t    ,   th t tw m 

 

 rv

1     a 1  2 d8 1  a4  1 8 4 8 1 9  3 a8 2 3 d 21 2   22 a a 1   

 Kv hw  m t  h f Wht

  KrvBrv

Nvg 9

1 d4 d 2 4  3 3  4 3 dx4  a4   3   x4 b4 8  bd 9 2 4 1 3!



9 1 d4 d 2 3  3 c   a4    3

4 dx4 4   x4  8  bd 9 2 4!?

A th  mv tht m t  ht t t y h ff   l  10 d 1 ixf3 1 3

a! 1 1 4  1 2 3 x3 x3 1 4 x3 - 1 



ht h th tw h    vt, t Bk  

Th mt v  w f 1 0h ht  y f 4

Th  Sa v

wtt f f t SS  nv 1 0 . . .SXf3 1 1 jxf3 00 1 2  d 1 ja5 1 3 e4 e5  4 d 5

T   tnct t t Rcn f pt  Wt n  tt pc n  tn 2 t f c ck n   ctv pc  w 1 4 . .tb6 1 5 �b3 �xc3  6 bxc3 cxd5 1 7 exd5  ac8 1 8 c4! !

nt c4  �S  20   2 �f f 22 f c4 2   24 7  cl tt f Wt (pv)

Wc  t tt v Answer:  cn ff n fntv cncn n t  00 nd   7    Hwv pctc c  nt n t fn in t v t v wn kn  fn cn wt t p  00    7 t   nc t tk t tnt f  ppnnt t ccnt T fwn  w w

  D w

 19 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 tf3 tf6 4 tc3 dxc4 5 a4 � f5 6 e3 e6 7 �xc4 �b 8 00 tbd7 9 b3

1 8  . . fe8 1 9 �d2 ja6 20 d6 ! tbd7 21 �e3  c6 22 a5 ! xd6 23 �a4  xd H 24  xd 1  d8 25 c5 !

ck  n t p i n t  nt fn 25 . . . h6 26 jf5 g6 27 c2! xa5 28  d6
pv v SS  S f 7  cS  7 wnnn A  c  Question  n  wn  

v p t    00 n   7

T v fc  w  pt tn f Wt     (t) 0 2 (cn t p w) 0�7  7  2  ( c ) 2   c c 4 S   t n cnnt cp f t k ttck  f  p pnnt  c wk tn    pt n  wn  t p   00    7 (ptctn 7 n fcttn ccS)  ntn

Th e O l d M a in L i n e  B la c k a ll o w s e 3 - e 4

r hite Ale eaes will obsee   chose  00 aainst Richaon  just such a ustwin siuation. The ept to avoi the epetition in this e is butally ealt with

1 x 1 3 "x d 1 4  4 1  x4 x4 1  "  

 b 1  4 

A billiant scove of Davi Gliksan The queen oves to allow the epawn to avance. 1    .M 10   .

 . .xe4   xe4 xe4 2 xe6!  lealy bette fo White 11 x

x 1  

The situation is aleay espeate 6 . xf 7 e6! (Dtauss) 7 . f6   e7 �c 9 e6 �c7 ( 9 ...7 2 e 20 f4  wins, while instea 6...6 7 x7 e  S!! (aain Dtauss), openin oe central lines, is cushin a  ...cx 9   �c 20 fc   is appalln fo Black. 1  x d 1   x 1 9 "

No the pont of 2 a is eveale this check pcks up he loose bishop on a!

iven the bishop to an infeio e

1 9.   Mx   1 " 4  M x 3 M  4 Mx d     Mx xd4  M 1   M  9   3  1 -

he la v

Summary

Ar 8   7  "2 0-0 0 4    h 2   roy Wht' t t n r 2    hcr ho choo  4 n oton yr ho for   n 4 " Th oton r coct n ntrtn n  c Ar Kro' t trtnt    4 ho roy  o n yo ot  w n Gzz'' ny f yo o thn yo'r roy r Kro! t rr f yo rty n  wn  Bc 8   0-0  th ony wy to y 

 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 f3 f6 4 3 dx4 5 a4 f5 6 3  6  x4 b4 8 - 8   - 

8  7 D  "2 4 0  - game 1 0 h - game 1  " - game 1 5

9 2  bd     4   6    d 3 h  (D) h - game 12  2 5 2 f4 - game 9  2   d5 D)   - game 1 0  4 - game 1 1

B Cbd7   

11

  

h5

1 2 Cd5   

 e New in ine ck fights for contro of e

 d  d5 2 4 6 3 f3 f6 4 3  5 a f5 6 5

e seence 1 d d 2 c c 3 f3   c3 dxc  a f  e s the est fashn at the hghest level.  e tly s a mden mve Whte es t y abt pttng hs kng  safety he tes mmedately t eve e2e by mvng te nght t e5 ad playng f2-£3. In pncple lc sld nt all Whte t eve e2e, snce hee t s deally eded by a pan n f3, leavng the te peces fee f actve peatns.  s capte, Black cntnes the t f e th an nteestng pece ce

 6 7 f3 b4   

ng the knght n c3 and ths ng f e.

 

and ae ths thee s n gng !

 x4 9 fx4 x4 1 0 d2  f3 leads t a ellknn da   

 epettn ae 0 .  .xd 1  d8 1 2 g! xg  3 xg 3  bxc3 xc3  e2 c2  e c3 etc

 xd4 1 1 x4 x4 1 2 �2   

xd+

1 3 xd2 �d5

uso 1 What s the mateal

balance? s Black has f pans f a

pece, thgh t s tch and g hethe he can hang n t the cpan. Even thee pans, heve, s gd mateal cmpensatn f the tempaly athe nactve bshp n f1.

ame  a-adler

Hatng 1  6 2 d4 d5 3 f3 f6 4 dx4 5 a4 f5 6 5 6 7 f3   x 9 fx4 x4 1 0 xd 1 1 x x 1 2 xd2 1 3 xd2 d5 1 4 3

3 b4 d2 �2

The l v

Aer 14 c a6 whch  cond ered n he ne game, Whe away ha o worry abou . . .a6-b4+ whch can be rrang. Therefore whe payer began o epermen wh 14 c3, avodng h or of couner pay. The one drawback o he kng on c3 however  ha   ju whn reach of he back queende pawn o Back can pay an aggreve con nuaon ha woud no ucceed agan 14 c . 4 c b+ 5 d3 b3+ 6 e4 f5+ 7 f4 d4 8 g5 d8+ 9 h5 e8+ 30 h4 e7+ 31 h5 g6+ 3 h6 g7+ 33 g5 6+ 34 f4 g5 mae!

 4  . -!  5 3

Th ook ncomprehenbe  wha  wrong wh 15 c4? The probem  15 . . .b5! 16 e5 and now 16  . .b4+! The kng' epoed pacemen gve Back a via era empo for he a ack. 17 b4  me by 17 . . .a6+! 18 a3 ( 1 8 a6 b8+! 19 c3 e5 wnng) 18 . . .ab8 19 e3 d6 0 a b4+ 1 b1 d1  c1 d4! (hreaenng ...e5 and  . .e4+) 3 e1 c! 

ollo wing diagram

Thank o h powerfu kngh hu, Back  now wnnng by force. Faen your ea be, a raher ong varaon e ahead!

The aemp o urn down e g wh 17 c  me by 17. . .b3+ 18 c3 a6! 19 e3 (1 9 a6 e5 0 b3 ab8+ wn for Back) 19 . . .ab8 (nendng ...b4) 19 a6 a5+ 0 d3 a6+ 1 e4 wh a crazy poon, where anhng coud happen (epecay o he whe kng!) . 15 e3 fr of a am o ake con ro of ome dark quare; econdy Whe free he bhop o deveop and hreaen c4.  5  .  b 5 !  6  2

h e Ne w   i n L i n e  B l c k fig h t f o r c o n t r o l o f e 

nead 16 ab5 cb5 17 e d7!  xd7 d7 19 f3 ac 0 a7 ! 1 c (Hbner pon ou ha   xb4 oe o 1b8+  a3 6 3 a b3 4 f fb)  gave Whe nohng n he  game GefandHbner unch  Even f Whe wn boh of he bk queende pawn for h b n and maage o wap off he n and boh e of rook he ng endng  key o be drawn  Whe ha he wrongcooured k' pawn for h bhop. Hence a Bk need o do  o am for a po n ke

nd he w draw ce he be e can acheve 

whch  aemae! The game con nued  d1 b3+ 3 b1 g6 4 g4 (akng f5 from he back queen) 4  b 5 a4 when 5   b5 6 a7 b woud have ed o a draw by repeon accordng o bner we 5 . h!? 6 c1 c3 7 bc3 fd ed o grea compcaon  6 . . Cd   Cxd xd  8 5

A new dea Pke had earer payed 18 f3 agan ramnk bu Back' raegy  mar n boh cae  8  6!  9 hd     

Ecng uff h grandmaer che! 1 . . .a6! wa n fac a rong new dea and howed (I hnk) good under andng of he poon Back ha

h e la v

our pawn or the pece whch  ampe owever h pece are pa ve and he ha to nd a way to act vate them Whte  trong on the ght quare (he ha a ght-quared bhop) but weak on the dark quare o I have to put my queen n contact wth ome dark quare The c7-quare  the obvou pot nce rom there the queen eye a eS 4 and the h2-pawn owever I obv ouy coudn't pay 18 c7 a 19 ab woud wn or Whte Thereore 1 8   a6! eemed ogca and aer a t te cacuaton I aw that t wa ndeed the bet move For eampe aer 19  c7 20 Md6? Mad8! 21 Mc6 4!  etremey worryng or Whte

The more actve aternatve 16   cS  condered n Game 22

1 7 e2

17  g2 wn a pawn but aer 18 Mhg1 h2 19 Mg7 h e ha probem deendng h econd rank 1 7   a 1  g4

The net game  ntended a a cau tonary tae or back payer and I hope that my opponent w orgve me or ung t n th way ync may pont out that I am demontrat ng one o my rare wn rom a cata trophc rth hamponhp!

Gam   adler-Fergso

Bitish Cmpionsi 199 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 a4 f5 6 e5 e6 7 f3 b4  e4 xe4 9 fxe4 xe4 1 0 d2 xd4 1 1 xe4 �xe4+ 1 2 �e2 xd2+ 1 3 xd2 �d5+ 1 4 c2 a6

Back ha payed rather owy put tng h kng to aety n the corner o Whte begn to take contro Th nce move take away the annoyn check on S rom the back queen

ack cannot hod on to the c4pawn wth 14   bS a 15 Md1 c 16 abS ab 17 3! attackng 7 and the rook on a8  jut one way o e potng Back'  mtake

1  . . �d7

1 5 xc4 000 1 6 �e3 b

A novety KramnkKrGeorgev ocow Oympad 1994 had contn ued 18  6 19 Mhd1 g2 20 Md8 Md8 21 e6 wth a cear advantage or Whte

Th e  e w M a in  i n e :  la c k fig h  s fo r c o n  r o l o f e 4

  Bad 1 b4+ 2 0  b 1 d5 ack ha go h kngh o a cenra po on dS bu   hard o ugge oher acve hng for hm o do

2 a3 c7 22 a5 b 23 a6

oenng up he back queende.

23    b6 24 f3 he 25 he1 f6 26 �b3

a 27 h4 b5 2 e3 a5

 deperae aemp o break ou  one ha  eay refued.

2 xd5 exd5 30 xe xe 31

usio 2 Wha wen wrong?

Why dd Back oe whou eem ngy beng abe o pu up any o of fgh? s Back knew ver e abou h lne and wa eremey un forunae ha h  one of hoe varaon where knowlege  een a: he bg decon for Back are raegca  here  amo no chance o caculae our way ou of roube. Back mu underand where and when o echange queen; where o am o pu h kngh; and how o arrange h pawn. Whou h knowedge Back ha e chance of ucce. uso  How doe one acqure h knowedge? s One mu udy game n h lne and draw concuon from hem.

8

5

amik-ate

Lnas 199 1 f3 d5 2 d4 f6 3 c4 c6 4 dxc4 5 a4 f5 6 e5 e6 7 f3 8 e4 xe4 9 fxe4 xe4 1 0 xd4 1 1 xe4 xe4+ 1 2 xd2+ 13 xd2 d5+ 14 c2 1 5 xc4 000

  b   

 1 . ..edS  me by 3 d  and e.

2 d6 xa6 33 xc6 e1+ 34

2 c7 35 d7+ b6 36 xb5

0

c3 b4 d2 e2 a6

Back ha cae queende and no kngde. Why? Fr cang queen de brng a rook mmdaey o he open d-fe; econd f Whe e change queen he black kng  we paced o proec he queende pawn from a poena aack by he whe kngh. 1 6 e5 f6 1 7 xd5

Th e Sla v

The more critica 17 e3 cued n Game 0 and 1 .

lS

d

1 7    xd5

Here Back ha ecanged queen on h own term: he ha forced Whte to take on d. We can concude that te echange of queen  ony acceptabe to Back f t improve the back pawn tructure. Ao, Back houd recapture on d wth the c pawn: aer ...e6d, Back ha jut a 4- majorty on the queende; aer . . .c6d, Back ha a pawn chan of fve againt jut two whte kngde pawn on g and . Back  more key to be abe to create paed pawn and a pawn chan that w re trct the whte pece wth the atter rather than the former. 1 8 a3 b4+ 1 9 Wd2 Wd7 20 1 8 21 3 b6 22 b5+ Wd6 23 e2 a6

Preventng b+. 24 h4 hf8 25 h5 f5 26 h6

A typica attackng dea for Wte. Athough Whte run the rk of o ng th pawn, a t  now cut off from the ret of t troop, f White can get a knght to g or a bhop to g8 .. .

26   g6 27 h1 5 28 a5 a2 29 x5 bx5 30 a1 b4 31 2 6 32 xa6 a8 33 b5 xa5 34 xa5 xa5 35 e1 b 36 f3 We7 37 g5 d6 38 xh f

ut n tme! 39 g4 xh6 40 gxf5 gxf5 41 We3 e5

Back pawn are now very dan gerou and White mut pay accu ratey. 42 6 Wd6 43 b g4+ 44 Wf3 e4+ 45 Wf4 e5 46 a6 4 47 g5 d3+ 48 We3 f4+ 49 Wd4 e3 50 f3 e2 51 b7 e5 52 e1 d3 53 f3 e5 54 e 1 f3 5 5 We3 W5 56 Wf2 Wd4 57 xf3+ xf3 58 Wxe2 e5 59 Wd2 d3 60 xd5

Th e  e w M a i n  i n e :  la c k fig h  s fo r c o n  ro l o f e 

xd5 6 1 b 3 

 w if Wte es n swp eens

sures, wic kes i esy r Wie  blcke e wi s bsp.

a 19 arpov-artarso

Tlbrg 1

 d d5 2  6 3 f3 f6  3 x 5 a f5 6 e5 e6 7 f3 b  e ixe4 9 fxe xe 1 0 d2 xd 1 1 xe4 �xe 1 2 �e2 xd2+ 1 3 xd2 �d5+ 1 4 2 a6  x4 000 1 6 �e5 f6 1 7 �e3?

t e e, is ws  new e te is cli  e s frce  ppne  weken e pwn tcture run s kn

23   �xb3+ 24 �xb3 xb3 25 xb3 d4 26 h4! hd8 27 4 7 28 h5 g4 29 h6!

   5!? 



7 .  b8 s cnsere n e ne  es.

  b3 b4

It's tt pln in! w e blck knse pwns re stene up n Wte rully ssues clee cntrl. lck's pln sees very lcl: e is n  pu  kni n d4.

 1 ! 6 20 a3! d  1  a5!  2 �3! b6 23 b3

s e s sill te el fr  wt ...c 6-c5 n ...b4 te wekes Blck's li sures  rcn ll s pwns t rk-

29   xg2 30 hxg7 xg7 31 f1 d6 32 h6 e4 33 hxf6 h5 34 6f d4 35 f7 d7 36 xg7 xg7 37 f g3+ 38 2 g2+ 39 3 g3+ 40 d2 g 41 f7+ d6 2 e3 a6 1 0

A relly ressve e fr rpv

Th e Sla v

a 20

21 b3 d5 22 �f3 �f4 23 ;f1 �d4 24 �f2 �xf2 25 xf2 

iroaee

Biel 99 1 d4 d5 2 4 f6 3 3 6 4 f3 dx4 5 a4 f5 6 e5 e6 7 f3 b4  e4 xe4 9 fxe4 xe4 1 0 d2 �xd4 1 1 xe4 �xe4+ 1 2 �e2 xd2+ 1 3 xd2 �d5 1 4 2 a6 1 5 x4 0-0-0 1 6 �e5 f6 1 7 �e3 b 1  e2 �xg2?

Te key ve, prepring   cnes e secn rnk 26 g4 f5 27 h5 d7 2 ;fg2 ;hd 29 e5 xg7 30 xg7 f4 31 xh7 d5 32 g6 xg6 33 xg6 d7

eeking  reuce Wie's winning cnces by ecnging s ny pwns s pssible Te less greey 1 8  e5 is cnsiere in e ne ge 

1 9 hg 1 �xh2 20 xg7 b4+

enrlising e knig wi epi Te ening is eul ccring  Breev 34 4 ;xh7 35 xh7 d7 36 5 b6+ 37 4 a5 3 g6 d6 39 e e5 40 h5 e4 41 e 5 42 3 e5 43 d7 f4 44 b5 f3 45 a6  

is is prbbly fine in generl fr Blck, bu n ve inspiring I prefer

Th e  e w M a in  i n e :  la c k fig h  s fo r c o n  r o l o f e 

 mre cive pln  Blck pe in e nex me

a 1 amk-vak

Las 99

 f3 d5 2 d4 f6 3 c4 c6 4 c3 c 5 4 if5 6 e e6 7 f3 ib4  e ixe4 9 fxe4 xe4 1 0 id2  1 1 xe4 �xe4+ 1 2 �e2 2+ 1 3 xd2 �d5+ 1 4 c2 6   c4 000 1 6 �e5 f6 1 7 �e3 ! 1  ie2 e5!

29 e3 �c5 30 c4 b6 31 b1

 eer sie s n bvius wy  cnue

s s e bes se-up fr Blck ns n f6 n eS, keepin e se wns were ey re, l rnsferrin pecs  e w pss 4 n S meimes, Blck ll rnsfer e kni  4 vi cS  6

  3 �e6 20 b3 d5 21 b2 Rhd 22 d1 b4 23 �c3 �e7 24 e3

d 1 25 Rxd 1 xd 1 26 ixd 1 6 27  c7 2 c2 5!

n mpn mve, securn e  n b4 If Wie cul success lly ply 4-S, n e kn cul m vulnerble n Blck wul   be creful

I s ime  rw  few cnclusns 1. Blck sul csle ueense . If e ueens re  be ex cne, Blck wns em  be ex cne n S, wen e will mpr s pwn srucure wi   c6x 3 . Blck's iel ups fr s kn is n 4 n n  4 Blck's bes pwn scure in e mile me is  plce is pwns n , b, c6, eS, f6,  n , snce s cres w cenrl uss, 4 n  Bu s s n e en f e sy.

a 22 amkrov

Dotud 19 1 f3 d5 2 d4 c6 3 c4 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 4 if5 6 e5 e6 7 f3 ib4  e4 ixe4 9 fxe4 xe4 1 0 id2 �x4 1 1 xe4 �xe4+ 1  e2 ixd2+ 1 3 xd2 �d5+ 1 4 c2 6 1 5 xc4 000 1 6 �e3!

Th e Sla v

�2 is just inning for White his king is fact pefectly safe. 20 ...gS!? and 20..g2 (threatening ..g6+) are both interesting, but the onus is clealy on Black to find a reonable contnuatIOn. 2 xd4 x2+ 21 d2 d8 22  Ixd2+ 23 b3 xb2+ 24 a3

With hindsight, ve obious! This is the very latest idea in this line: White avoids giving Black the extra tempo .. .f7-f6, forcing Black to look fo another defensie formation. 1  . . . 1  2 x2 1 8  1 x2 1  Ix!

This move ws originally thought to be impossible ue to 9 ... , but 20 h! is vey strong for White aer 20 .. .xe3 2  xh2 or 20 .. xh 2  x. 1 9 . . .Id4?!?

Amazingly White's king is quit safe, and now it is just a matter of th material telling in the end. 24 . . .d2 2 3 4 2 b3 b 27 f8+ b7 28 xf7+ a 2 f3 xf3 3 xf3 a 31 f4 d3+ 32 b2 3 33 1 2+ 34 b3 3+ 3 2 2+ 3 d3 I 37 f4  38 x

The blak pawns are insufficientl avanced to cause White any real problems. 38 .  . I3+ 3  1 3 I 1 4 I3 I3 41 4 3 42  a 43 Ix  44 b  4 6 I4 4 d b4 47 I d4+ 48  b4  b8 1 

An amazing attempt that just falls sho. When  staed to analyse this position, I wanted to play 9...hg8, aiming to meet 20 xf7 with 20 ...g2, but 2 xc xe2+ 22 �b3 + 23

White ill in eily by attackin the lack pawns from the rear wit his king. Pcp ine the first edition o

  N  w   in L i n   B l  c k fig  t  fo r c o n t r o l o f  

 k wnt t p t v n v impnt  in t tn w v f ny  t pvy tvy nt  f k tn kn 5  ) nt f n T   n t fin i f 1 5   -    ab8! 

 wnf   tw nt it k  t 7  vn t pn p t n nt t xp wt kin n n k ptt t pwn n  nt t typ Wit n  x fw y   6  f Wt  vn n tn  t ptin 17 2

7 1   1    1   + w  w y pttn  mint  1  1 7  b4+!  8 W3 b 1 9 d 1 f! 20 3 4 21 3 d+ 22 xd xd  

 t y i    t k  't knw w in t m m kn Wy Ti 1 Wt n t n n d3 f8+ 24 Wd2 b4+ 2 2 bxa4 2 f1 b 2 3 b3 28 d2  29 d4 b4 3 2 xd4 %% 2

 fw mnt  tt   tw y mnk n n y ntin t t f t tn t ik n Z 1  t  t wt  v n y vi fm t tn 16  wit

  3

 tt id T wt n

x  infn fm f tn  t n t t n Wt ttn t it 1 n t n f      2 b4+ 8 Wb ad8 1 9 1 d4

mnik' mpvmnt v 1       1     wn k  wt t  t f tm n vkyiv   17 2 a3 fd8 21 4 

k  tify  22 b3 a 23 4 + 24 Wa 2+ 2 Wa2  b4+ 2 Wa  2+

%%  t  f tn kini my    k' t  f tin T ni t tin   tw m ftn ty fft t tpt y Wt

Game 

Krk

Lon (ntl rad Prix)   d4 d 2 4  3 f3 f 4 3 dx4  a4 f     f3 b4 8 

Fitin f 4 y pinnn t k knt  tt  4  nw  tt Int  x4    6 1  w t y 1   11 x x1 1 x1 1 x1  1  x 1 xf6 xf6 15   16 6 6 17 x x v k xnt pntn f t xn n vky Bv UR 16) 1    1  6 1  7 15 f 7 n Akpin

  l v

ew Yk en 14 15 ! in ten x5 ilitin te wek ne n  n 5 tivtin te litue i n  Ae 1  x5! 1 x5 x5 1 8  5! 1 ex5 4! Blk t ey et te

22 l3  23 a1 b3 24 xa x3 25 3 xb2 2 1 5!

ite i in i ne ut me w e t n n

8 .  .  9 4 5 1  dx5 a5! 1 1 d4 l 1 2 lx bx 1 3 4 x5!

1   14  i le   Blk 1 4 x4  1 5 a xa 1  xa b8!

2 x 4 28 3 8 29 x8 x8 3 4  31 d5 5 32 4 5 33 3 5 34  b 35   3 xa b8 3 d 5 38  b2 39 8 x3 4 x  41   42  6

ll   kvBv

o  

1 d4 d5 2 4  3 l3 l 4 l dx4 5 a4 5  5   3

Wite ley  tule wit i ueenie 1  ld 1 ld! 1 8  1 b4 1 9 2 l5 2 2 lxa4 21 x 5

  N  w   in L i n   B l  c k fig  t  fo r c o n t ro l o f  

i i    in  in   in  i   i    i  m yin  n    7 i  nin

  b4 8 g 2 4  

in i t   n n whi i   t y  i   �7

   �   7 7 1 8  in  ) 1  i   1     c5 1 1 a2 a5 1 2 dxc5

O           1   1    intnin   1 2 .  d5 1 3 xd5 xd5 1 4 Qxg hxg 1 5  b 1 bd7 1  3  c8 1 7 b4 cxb3 1 8 c 1 b2 1 9 b3 c3 2 fd 1 5 21 d4 xd4+ 22 xd4 b 23  xb2

 f3 g 1   10   1 �     1 �      00 000 i  ti m tin t 1 � i m  t  i   i i t n k' intiv i     7 int     m i i in  t tiv  i n  it  7   �7 v 1    000   � (innin ) 1  7 17  in t  i ivin i  m  t  7  �   18 7   � winnin t     In t 17 i n    (tin th it n )     i in   n  00   � (

t        it n  itin n t Ivn v 23   c4 24  b 1 bxc5 25 xc5 - 2 d3 a3 27  b7 c2 28  f4  f8 29 h3  c3

 8 (Iv) v n  n    3 2 g5 3 1  f5 g4 32 xg4 3 33  x xg4+ 34 fx g4 gxf 3 5  xa7  a3 3 4  a2 37 a5  4 38  a8+ h 7 39  d8  xa5 4 xd 5  xd5 41 xd 5  xg4 42 f3 a4 43 g4 g 44 h4 a1 45 h5+ g7 4  f5  g 1 47 3   1 + 48 4  g 1 49  f4 g 3  

A t nm

h  l v

Summary

Te sielines  n see  cuse Blck ny prbles, bu unubely e s cucil line  e en is rnik's 4 c2 6 5 c4 000 6 e  In enerl, suc psiins re esier  ply fr ie n fr Blck 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 lf3 lf6 4 lc3 dxc4 5 a4 f5 6 l5 6 . . 6  f3 

7  game 2 

  . b4 8 4

8 5  game 2 8  . . x4 9 fx4 lx4 1 0 d2 �xd4 1 1 lx4 �x4 1 2 �2 xd2+ 1 3 xd2 �d5+ 1 4 c2 14 c3 game 1  1 4 .  la6 1 5 lxc4 0-0-0 1 6 �5  

6 e3 6 b8 game 1 7 16  c5 game 22 



1 6  . .f6 1  �3

7 5  game 18 1  .  .b8

7  c5 game 1 9 

18 2 

8   2  game 20 18 e5  game 21

7 f3

1 6 e5

18 �e2

 he New Main ine Black counterattacks

  d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6  c3  5 a4 f5 6 e5

 ths chptr w cnsr lns n c Blck s nt ly f  fr 4, bu swces s ntn  te -pwn, run h 6 5 hs n Wh's cntrl f 4 R  tentn s cncentrte n  . 6  f3 c5!? 8 4 c4, whch s  lty f bth Brs Glfn n e r. In th fllwn s  wll s t wlly ffrent wys n h ey nle s lne!

n-l, 11, bu  nt ben tr snc, s, n hs ns, lfn h pnt u  cnnun tht se t quls fr Blck



a 25 Pket-Geland

W   Z 199   d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3  5 a4 f5 6 e5 e6

 t 12s n 1 3s, 6  . b  4 c 8 3 5 ttckn 4) ws lr, but r  5 5 1 4 8 11 c1 6 12 6+ 6 13 2, Wht stns btr  s th w bshps  Blck t ctte s quns pwn y

 3 c5  e cxd 9 xc?

  unusul  tt ws succss l  ts frs pprnc n lf

9 g6 1 0 b5+ fd7   

1  b? sply lss   1 5  1 1 xd a 6

Th e Sla v

An ts ws t. f nw 12 e2, ten 12. . .CeS 13 eS Cc6 s very  fr Bc, s Wte s frce nt ecnes. 1 2 xd7+ xd7 1 3 �xd7+ �xd7 14 xd7 xd7 1 5 e2 b4 1 6 d1 + e7 1 7 f4 hc 1  ac1

%-% Wte bvusly s mre crucl pssbtes. W better t test te blck pstn tn Grry sprv

Game 6 asparovirov

Dos Heanas 96 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 a4 f5 6 e5 e6 7 f3 c5  e4 cxd4 9 exf5

e 13 C, 13 . . .cb2 is scver ceck, s Bck wns. Wte cn tr 1 f2!, snce er 1. . .c3     1 2 Cf+ e 1 C, 13 .. .cb2 s n lner sc ere cec, but Bck cn ept t ter epse pece n Wte's ps tn: te knt n eS. He cn pl 1 . . .c!, tretenn bt 11... n 11...c3, s Wte cn n ln ecne ueens wt +. I sems tt Wte cn stp bt tes trets wt 11 4, but Bck  te st u er 11...c, pck up te ueen. ly Blck s nt c pletely wnnn er 1 . . .c,  Wte cn ply 11 C2, ttckn t bsp n b4, but ter 11...eS 1 Cb4 cS! Blck s pwerl c penstn fr te pece: tw pw n te epse wte kn. I t tt Blck s bettr ere. Grr plye te mr nturl. . . 10 xc4 �d6 ?

An mzn mve, n t t cnfusn by ttckn nter pece 1 1 b5+ c6 1 2 c4 �c5?

Te mn ne n te ny re test f Bc's py. 9 b4?   

Blck cul nt tke te knt n c3, renn s pece, becuse er 9 .. .c3 1   11 Cf Wte wns  rk. Hwever, f we mne tt t s Bck's mve fter 9 .. .b4, ten 1 . . .c3 s pssbe be cuse ter 1 1 +  12 Cf

 serius n, n suc  srp ps tn, ftl mstke. Blck cul smpl ve retrete wt 12 . . . we

h    w M a in L in   l a c k c o u n t  r a t t a c k 

 t te tret f ...4c, Wte bly s ntn better tn t t ves wt 1 e5 6.

ne tt refutes Blck's e. Let us tke nter lk.

lck cnnt ren te pece nw,   . . .c 14 bc 5 lses  pece  5 5. bvusly rv  nt  ts ve; but I beleve tt e lke setn etreely n lter n.

Gelado

1 3 d2

13 00 1 4 a2 xd2+ 1 5 �xd2 7   

lck's s tretenn .. . -6, wn  g te bsp, wle e cn ls try f5, ntenn ...e. Wte s t ve prbles but.. .

1  b4

cn te ecne f ueens s ..f5 llws 1 e.

1  xb4+ 1 7 xb4 a6 1  b6   

te es nt lse te bsp f  ll! Te rest s esy fr sprv.

1 8 xb5 1 9 xa xa 20 fxe6 bx4 21 exf7+ xf7 22 d2 e6 3 hc1 d6 24 b3 b5 25 bxa4 bx4 26 c4 f5 27 c2 d7 2 x4 xa4 29 xa4 b6 30 xd4 1   

A fne e by sprv, but nt

e  ortund 199 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 c3 f6 4 f3 dxc4 5 a4 f5 6 e5 e6 7 f3 c5  e4 cxd4 9 exf5 b4 1 0 xc4 �d6

rv cul nt resst tryn ts e  secn te, but ts te e s cnvncnly ule. I  wner wy Blck s been vn 10 . .. c 11 +  12 0-0 12 f+ e 1   cb2+) 12 . . .cb2 1 b2 e 14 fe6 e6.

Wte's tw bsps, te wek but etr) pwn n e6 n te sltly epse kn n e bvusly ffer cpenstn fr te pwn, but I n't see n vnte fr Wte. Blck's bsp n b4 prevents s p pnent fr plyn e 1 n nn up n e6, s 15  s teptn: 15 .. .6 s et by 16 fe1 wle  5. . .5 16 + s ls sub-ptl, s n peeln wul sy! Hwever, 15 .. .c!, ttckn te bs n c4, s te best efence: 16 b4 c4 s

 l v

 fr Blck n 16 e6 e6 1 xb4 lees n eul pstn. F nlly, 16 b s et by 16 . . .c6, pr tectn te bsp, wen 1 xb4 b4 18 fe1 c6! te pnt f 1S .. .c8) 19  ! , ntenn . . .f, s fne fr Blck. I feel tt t e nus s n Wte t enstrte re tn just suffcent ply fr te pwn.

uenly t s Blck's kn tt s  nger! 1 8 . . �xh2 1 9 xc6 a8 20 �xf �xf4+ 21 c2 g6 22 df1 �h2+ 2 g2 �h3 24 fxg6 fxg6

1 1 b5+ c6 1 2 f4

25 xg6+ hxg6 26 �xg6+ h8 2 h 1 

Wnnn te ueen. Te e  er. 27   f2+ 28 b3 b 8+ 29 a3 1 

Ts preents te cpture 12. . .c ue t 1 xc6 cb+ 14 b4+!, wen, tnks t te ret strent f te scere check, Wte wns te wle use! 1 2   0-0 1 3 xc6 �xf4 14 �xd4 xc3+ 1 5 bxc3 �g5 1 6 f4 �xg2 1 7 OOO bxc6 1 8 hg1 

 t sees s f, espte tese tw reerses, r's 9 . . .b4 y well be just but plyble. Let us nw tke  lk t te re restrne cntnu tn 9 . . .c6. lea-ela

o Han  1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c dxc4 5 a4 f5 6 5 6 7 f3 c5 8 4 cxd4 9 xf5 c6 

foo wing diagram

Te ler n re sl e. 1 0 xc6 bxc6 1 1 fx6 fx6 1  xc4

  N  w  a in L i n   B la c k c o u n   r a   a c k s

xbS xbS 20 3 a3 2 1 b 1 xb1 22 xb1 c5 23 d3 h6 24 c4 b4 25 cxd5 Y Y 

 Van der terePersso

San adino

 e i s nsiere in Gme 0 le me ventrs ers m  t nsie te lterntive    keein te iee n in t rve lter it - � n 0-0 t lks nter is ve ers

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 tc3 tf6 4 tf3 dxc4 5 a4 f5 6 t5 6 7 f3 c5 S 4 cxd4 9 xf5 tc6 1 0 txc6 bxc6 1 1 fx6 fx6 1 2 xc4 dxc3 1 3 bxc3

A iferent mve-er tt sl e met       < <7 it te sme ies s in Iless Gelfn ve 1 3 . . .a5 1 4 2 

  dxc3 1 3 xdS+ xdS 1 4 bxc3   

is  srifie is  mniient net ite is  it ette in tis enin e e s  slitl etter n rtre (feer n islns) n te  iss t lk's iees re ve

4 .d5 1 5 d2 d6 1 6 c2 d7   

e in tets t ek ns n els t ver te n n fe n te : te -file

 7 d2 hfS 1 S ab 1 abS 1 9

1 4. . .�xc3+ 1 5 f 1 �xa 1 1 6 x6 dS

  �e7 lses t 7 
s iet mve lin te rk t jin in te ttk jstiies ites rilint ie

h  la v

1 7    �xa4 1   d 1 + �xd 1 + 1 9  xd 1 5 20 �f7 e 21 �xg7 d7 22 if7 f 23 ie6 f6 24 �b7 e 25 �xa8+ 7 26 if4+ 1 0

Came 

1    hd?

Topalov-Gelfand

o

 endn  omewat mor awward for ac nce  n   tte more open Nonetee t  urprn ow uc  poto oe down



1 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 f3 f6 4 3 dx4 5 a4 if5 6 e5 e6 7 f3 5  e4 xd4 9 exf5 6 1 0 x6 bx6 1 1 fxe6 fxe6 1 2 �e2  ?

An nteretn novet tat am for a t dfferent endame

ac mut tr and actvate  nt:    !  troner wen 1 �7 ! rean te pawn Af ter 1  ac 1  19 . . e  bet prevent ng 0 �d cd 1 c7 + due to 1d+ a dcovered cec tat wn te roo! 

1 9 hd 1 ab 20 g3

 pace te pawn on a pro tecte uare and tu prevent t bac nt from movn ac now a erou probem wc e  unabe to overcome 20    h5 21 d4 a5 22 a3+ e 23 ad1 xd4 24 xd4 b1 25 d3 e1+ 26 f2 f7 27 5 a 2 4+ e 29 d3 f7 30 xa 7 a2+ 31 f1 a1+ 32 g2 a2 33 h3

Now te  jut wnnn. 1 2   dx3 1 3 �xe6+ �e7 1 4 ix �xe6+ 1 5 xe6 xb2 1 6 ixb2 ib4+ 1 7 e2 e7 1  4

33   a3 34 f4 e1 35 c5 3 3 4+ e 37 b4 B1 3 xe1 xe1 39 a5 Ba1 40 a6 e7 41 d2 10

h  Main in lack countrattacks

t 6   e6 7  �b4 nd 6   e6 7  c5 are ppr nterttking sys s t  eves  py Hwever ak n s py mre swy m  t bre t rm  rmped ps 

a  KramikShort

Novgorod  f3 d5 2 d4 f6 3 c4 dxc4 4 3 c6 5 a4 f5 6 e5 bd7 7 4 b6  e a

eventing 46 brekng p  bk eensde 8   e6 s nsid er n te next gme wie 8   bd7  seeking te exnge  knigts as sed by 9 b ! xe5 10 dxe 4 1 1 b7 e 1 4 g6 1 e4 _7 14  e 15 �4 6 16 �xe [xS 17 d n KsprvTimmn  1995

Te stndrd pn  devepment: te een spprts ee4 rm e evng te rk t ver d4 rm d  1 4     fd7 1 5 d3 ?

1 5 xd7 xd7 16 e4 is s sigty better r ite 1 5   �e7 1 6 e4 e5 1 7 d5 fd 1  e3?

A mistke wing k t weken te wte eensde 18 �d wd ve kept n edge rding t Krmnik 1  .  xc3 1 9 bxc3 cxd5 20 exd5 c4?

 3?  nvety 9  d7 10 d7 d7 11 e4 �g6 1 �e e6 1 �4 b4 14 00 s nrm wit  sgt ntge r ite

   e6 1 0 g2 b4 1 1 00 00 1 2 3 h6 1 3 �e2 h7 1 4 d 1 

 tnk tt rt my ve mised ite's next bt tis s ty  gd mve! 21 xh6 gxh6 22 �g4+ �g5 23

h  l v

�xc4 ac8 24 �b5 xc3

 x x+ an  xe

a as  ntera in tis mr sitin

9  . .a5 1 0 4

25 t 1 b6 26 d6 4 2 d5 �f6 28 ad1 3 29 fx3 x3 30 td3 �c3 31 tf4 4 32 5d2 �c5 33 �xc5 txc5 34 x4 x4 35 td5
ite as a ti ee in te en ame bt e is nabe t mae an tin  it 38 . . .d 39
0      (  x +   + ins ba te iee)   x e (Rzee) is extreme n ear 1 0 .  .g6 1 1 3 b4 1 2 2 !

7 is better sine  x x ies a a n te i ie  x7 x7 transses t   a 9  1 3 00 tfd

N ite an tae te t bis s 1 4 txg6! hxg6 1 5
ame zele-ote

yon



1 d4 d 5 2 c4 c6 3 tc 3 tf6 4 tf3 dxc4 5 a4 f5 6 t5 tbd  txc4 tb6 8 t5 6!

ite as ertess btaine a ner ersin  te  mai ine it  e

9 f3

A sensibe re 9 a b (treatenin b r b) 0 a? is nsistent bt er ris ie 9  is met b 9   b 0  e en te natra    ses t     x

1  . . c5 1 8 ta2! cxd4 1 9 txb �xb4 20 �xb4 ax4 21 a5 d3 2 xd3 t5 23 b5 tbc4 24 f4 td 25 2 tc6 26 b6 8 2  tc8 28 f3 txb6 29 axb6 t 3 xb ab8 31 a tc8 32 xc xc8 33 c nxc 34 bxc c 35 c1
e strate b ite

  N  w  a in L i n   B la c k c o u n t  r a t t a c k 

ummary

  e 7  c u einite be tuie b c e I icu ie iv ning  te ine it 8 e c 9 e �b 9   c i  te me e mngt u  n't min ting n  igt e en ng Pbb it i imtnt t ce te igt nent: 9   c i be e gint n imtient ttcing e ie 9  �b u unette  e itin incine e I u ee te me i    b  c b n n't min te igt cme itin tt ie m ti ine ten tein 8   e o ie  g mvee ince it vi Kmni 9 g  

1 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 f3 f6 4 3 dx4 5 a4 if5 6 e5 6 e6   

  b7 7 c b 8 e D 8    game 1 8  e game 2 

7 f3 5 8 e4 xd4 9 exf5  9 �c game 25 9 6 

  

9  �b 1 0 �c  1 1 �b  c 12 c game 2 12 � game 27 



10 x6 bx6   fxe6 fxe6   2 ix4 12 e2 game 0 1 2 dx3 1 e2 game 28 1 bc game 29 

  





8 e5

9 exf5

l '   .fxe6

 he Smslov Variation

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 tf3 tf6 4 tc3 dxc4 5 a4 ta6

The me 5  a6 as riginal an iea  manuel Lasker; an it as later taen u an ae ith success b anther rl hamin assil msl Recentl Ianchuk an hrt hae als use it t g eect usio     a6 ls a litte strange hat es it  s 5 a (reenting b7b5) has eaene the bsuare In the main lines it 5   5 6 e lac uts a bish n b an eels his ueen's knight t 7; here lack leaes his bis n e7 t ee b ree r the knight lack's lightsuare bish il n g t g t ut res sure n the suare usio   hat ierence es this make s In the 6 e lines lack's bishs n 5 an b cmbine t re ent hite rm easil achieing e e In this line lack eerts irtuall n ressure n e an er little n  ich means that hite rett much has the centre t himsel usio  ell that esn't sun e rmising r lack es it hat am I suse t  as lack 

s msl's ste as lack i

erectl reecte in this sstem: he i reare t accet a sight sace is aantage an il just ace his iece n g suares here the cri nate ell ith each ther inc lack's sitin is er sli the p nent ill nt be able t launch  suen attack an msl ill a tientl unrael gaining sace little by little until he rees himsel

 Ivacuk-m

Tin



1 d4 d5 2 tf3 tf6 3 c4 c6 4 tc dxc4 5 a4 ta6 6 e4

er straightrar la

h  m y/o v Vri tion

 g 7 xc xf3   

  e6 s det th n the net me

8 f3 e6 9 xa6 bxa6

A derent pprch hc eds t  cmpcted mddeme

 e3 b 9 a5

c hs n prbems here Frst  hs echned t sets  mnr es nd sc echnes s  the per t ess spce snce t ns tt there re eer peces n  nned re; secnd Bc' s ed ns ve Bc the b-e n c  ctvte hs mjr peces nd ttc  vnerbe hte eensde Bc d be mch ess ctve  hs 6n ere n ! ertn vnch  hpp t echne eens n es e th  dr

A tpc de rm hte mn t prevent ether    ctvtng the bc een r   - cementn te nht n b4 Bc hs t e  tte cre tht ths nht prtected n b the bshp n e es nt et ct  rm te rest  s rm 9 e7   

9  �3 rcn 10 3 (10 3 c)  s st pssbe bt Bc preers ntr devepment 1 0 e2 0-0 1 1 0-0 b5

1  e2 a5 1 1 c c 1  g1 g6 1 3 f1 g7 1  �c5 �b6 1 5 xb6 6 1 6 e3 0-0 1 7  1 d7   f Bc des echnn n 3  re cmpe sttn rses s e l see n the net me.

Gam  NovkovGreasson

Bin n 995

1  d5 2 c c6 3 f3 f6  c3  5 a4 a6 6 e g 7 xc e6

hs r rm vs mve s the bc pn r srvv n these mddemes

T Sla v

usion  t s te t 

tis me? Anw he min ie is tt c

ins just  itte mre sce r hs eces  remember ht I s but ms tent imrvn is s tin tin etr territr tte b tte e ter int s tt c u ie t stre t te ite cen tre ith c-c but irst e nees  resnbe sure r is ueen: he cn't ut t n te c r es snce er   c tese es  be ene n te ueen  be n the irin ne  te rs n 1 n c1 11b rees b7  r the bc ueen here t s bsute se A nice bnus s tt ter c-c te bc ueen  jn ith the nit n  in ttcin te en  2 �b3 �c7  3 Rfc �b7  4 g5 Rfd8  5 xf6 gxf6

eer n ence t s eser r c t ciee te    cc bre  6 te  xe2  7 txe2 ac8   c3 c5  9 dxc5 ta6 

A er net e 19   c u ve st t 0 c c  1 b 20 td3 txc5 2 txc5 xc5 2 xc5 xc5 23 �c3 �xe4 24 �xf �d5 25 tc3 �d4 26 �f3 �e5

c's cntr  the r sur es m  cnces 27 g3 b4 28 Rd  xd + 29 txd  d4 30 �d3 g7 3 b3 h6 32 a c5 33 f f6 %  %

is me is  me ustrtn f c's mieme strte in thi tn N  e me n t  t  e 

a  Bez-etas

A rce recture s 1    ses  ece t 1 b e een in t c's insie is nt t ser us heer snce hte hs n ieces n tht re reer ithut his rsure bsh hte ses  t  cntr er the centr r sures hch mens tht  s

bwat



 d4 d5 2 tf3 tf6 3 c4 c6 4 tc dxc4 5 a4 ta6 6 e3

e mst s tn n rb b the best me hite es no ie c te cnce t ube hs f ns th   

T  m yslo v Vri tion

    g4  xc4 e6 8 h3 h5 9 00 4 1 0 e2!

A very r rey, ut I u e intriue t iver t ei  in min int te ECO remmen tin    (tkin 7 y rm te ueen)      2, intenin  t r te ueen me mre 1    6  6 7  i nt nie r k n te rek e    2 e  iee t 6   7 2  8  (8 2 e ue me rem) 8    9  6 20 2 1 4  exd5! 1 5 e5 d4!  1 6 exf6 xf6 1  f4

A tyi mneuvre in ueen' n enin te ueen mve t e2, surtin te e u, ie te ok i ye t , urtin te pn n iurin 6 ue o the itin  te rk t te lk ueen n 8 

0    e 1 1 d 1 0 -0 1 2 g4  g6 1 3 4 c 5 ! 

Qusion 5 t i in n? Answr A mentin r te

n unuuy tive mve t ti   te myv vritin, ut li Gretrn  nti  ti itin,  n interetin ie in i e mre retrine    7 i siere in te net t me

4  5  

iee, k  t n,  trn entre n  tem n te ueen it   e8 nrtuntey, I n't tink tt ti i uite enu; n ti i mt entirey ue t te  in  te i n 6, i tke y  riint ure r te k ueen Per k u tr   e8 ? t meet 6 e6 (6  6) it ei ter 6   6 r 6   8, intenin t reture n 6 it te ueen, tu I u e te irt t mit tt it  k  it eutive 1    e8 1 8 f 1 a6

h  l v

To prevent 5 .

 h3 ih 9 00 b4 10 �e2 i 1 1 d 1 00 1 2 g4 i g6 1 3 e4  d7  

1 9 d2 

Whte starts to go wrong aroun here an rs ver quckl nto a lost poston. 19 a! 5 (19 . . .c 0 e ! egnnng to exchange peces) 0 g3, ntenng e, woul have gven Whte the etter chances. 1 9   d7 20 �g2 c6 21 b axb 22 ixb e4 23 ixe xf4 24 e 1 h6 2 ib  ie4 26 xe4 �xe4 27 ic4 �f4 2 b3 e 29 �g3 xg3+ 30 fxg3 c6 31 id a 32 b4 d  ie4 cxb4 4 e1 b3 3 id3 ig 36 b2 c 37 f1 g6 3 e2 ic1 39 b1 b2 40 f3 b3 01

Black antcpates the threat of le an ff4, ntenng f4f5 to trap t shop on g. 1 4 e  

A ver oueege ecso Whte allows hs central pawns to  doule, ut aso frees the fpawn t avance. 1 4  xe 1  dxe �a 1 6 f4 a 1 7 ie3 h6

The man lne for Black s cons ere n the next game, proa the fnest nfol game ever plae.  wsh  coul la ths well n normal chess!

Gam 6 mk-vk

akng an escape square for t shop.

Mont aro (indfo) 996

1  g2 ih7 1 9 xd xd 20  g

1 f3 d 2 d4 f6 3 c4 c6 4 c3 dxc4  a4 a6 6 e3 ig4 7 ixc4 e6

0. . .a6 s consere n the ne game.

  m ylo v Varia tion

 xd8+ xd8 22 �d2 gxf4 23 f4 ib6 24 ib5

Black mu gve perpeual ceck due  e rea f mae n    �6 all   . .e,  e acrfce a bp  keep e een bed n n a.

a 37 ramort

 cxb5 25 ixh6 c5 26 �d7   

6 27 �c8+ h7 28 ig5

  rea f �f6 and  ate, We ju eem  be nnng, t n   Black urn  acrfce a e,  me  free  ueen.

1 f3 d5 2 d4 c6 3 c4 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 a4 a6 6 e3 ig4 7 ixc4 e6 8 h3 ih5 9 00 b4 1 0 �e2 e7 1 1 d1 00 1 2 g4 ig6 1 3 e4 d7 1 4 e5

8 d5  29 �xc5   

 9 e en 9 .  b! nce a perful cuneraack 

 xc3 30 �xc3 �xa4 31 g3   

e4 3 2 if6 b4 33 �c8 �e1 + 34 4 �f2+ 35 g5 �d2+ 36 h4 h6+ 37 g3 �e3  

Kramnk bvuy beleve n  cnnuan fr We, bu  eem a le ay  me. nce Black  reaenng lle n e cenre, a en ble mve lke 1 �f, akng c7 aay frm e black queen and

  l v

nenng perap , mae mre appeal  me

xe5 30 b6 d4 31 d1 g8!

1 4  xe5 1 5 dxe5 �a5 1 6 f4 h6 1 7 g2 ad8 1 8 e3 h 7 1 9 x d8 xd8 20 d 1 a6 !

Te ne dea, acvang Blac' ueene mary

32 f3 f6! 33 e2 xe2 34 xe �xe4+ 35 f3 �c2+ 36 �f2 xf2 37 xf2 a5 38 fxe6 xe6!

21 b3 h8!

 a e bp n 7 can reac vae elf by mean f g, f7-f6 and f7!  pn ul n be  everyne' ae, bu r n a ce game 22 d2 b5 23 axb5 cxb5 24 f5 c6!

e ' free! We ll n be abl  cpe  e  penal ud paed pan 39 e3 b4 40 d1 f5 41 f4 fxg 42 hxg4 g8 43 e5 f 44 d f6 45 b 3 g5 46 c5 e5 4 7 b d4 48 xa5 c3 49 a4 d5 0 1

reng e ne eakne n e 25 xd8+ �xd8 26 f4 c5 27 e3 b6 28 xc5 ·xc5 29 f2

Kramn' apprac  Ce  raer mpaen. A ueer me  demnraed n e fllng gam e la f a mac beeen rance 1-yearl ar enne Bacr an eWrl ampn aly myv

  m yo v Vri tio n

oe ame  varaon bear Te ach core a a raer crug 5 1  d oe player a made o look aly feror  he edgame Bu  e player oe mgh ave e ced!

Gae 

ff or h h a clear adva age Black mu play d7 o pre ve e eer before or aer b7 b  a ypca    a6 poon 1 2   c? ! 1 3 b3 c5?

T  ecevely acve rom Black a  early age 1 4 b5!

Barot-mysov

atch ga 96

1 4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 c3 f6 4 f3 c4 5 a4 a6 6 3 g4 7 xc4 6 8 00 7 9 �2 b4 1 0 d 1 00 1  h 3 h5 1 2 a 5 ! ?

T fe move reae a7 ad dc folloed by d6 1 4  xf3 1 5 gxf3 a6 1 6 dxc5 bd5 1 7 d6 xd6 1  cxd6 �xd6 1 9 a4 c5 20 f4 �c6 2 1 d2 �b5 22 �xb5 xb5

e ave already ee We dea  NovkovGrearo Our fr g ould be erefore o m me e pla of b7b olloed  e rafer of e qee o b7:  b 1 �b c7 1 e (1  g �g6  e!? edg a quck  apng e bop) 1   b7 I  vou a We  beer prepared r h oppoe plan a  e ve game e rook cover d from  wle e quee o e2 bo pro  e4 ad aack b makg   c6c re dffcul o aceve er 15 g 6 16 e We end eer 2 

Te edng  vey ay for Black ce  kg ave o oupo  23 a3 4 24 1 df6 25 c1 &d 26 f 3 d6 27 d 1 f 2

Th e la v

a4   x ex 0  c7 31 b4 db5 3 c5 f 33 b6 6 4 e4

Th all Whe  make a ma ve rde frard h h epan a   de le a pece  35 Md6. 4   f7  e5 c6 6 xc7 c1

7 f xc7  b e  xb7+ f 40 b+ e7 41 b7 c7 4 xc7 xc7 4 c6 4 4 b4 1 0

 fne vry fr he y Frenchman, crnng an amaz mach rel.

Th e m yo v Varia tion

mmr

erecay,  . . .a6  ng ell r Black an  a yem a been playe y myv, vanck an r en  m ave mer! I y n n playng lgly crampe ptn en  cl be e yem r y.  e  e m crcal e.

 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 6 4 c3 dxc4 5 a4 a6  e4 (D) 6 e g 7 xc e6 8  5 9 00 b 1 0 e e7 1 1 M1 00 1 g g6 1 e D 1  . . .c game 35 1  . . .7 1 e xe5 15 xe a5 16  Ma8 17 e 6 18 g 7 19 Mx8 Mx8 0 M1 0 .. .g5 game 36 0 .. .a6 game 37 1 a game 38 







 g4 7 xc4 (D)  x  game 33 7 .. .e6 game    

  



6 e4

1 3 e4

7 xc4

 he ronstein Vrition

1 d4 d 5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 a4 jg4

ke mylv' 5  a6, 5   g  a varan a a been arnd fr a lng me  ever ganng de pread pplary s 1 Wa  e pn f 5  g4? s 5  g lk  delay ee by png prere n e d pan We ld avd 6 e a af er 6    e6 7 c4 b (reaenng   e4), e a prblem ldng  cenre Terefre 6 e5, ganng a emp n e bp,  alm alay played N aer 6   5 We ll cann play 7 e, a  ld all 7  d  ! s 2  Wa plan de We ave? s nce We can ake e cpan a  lere, ere  n need fr m  r  c H  m danger plan b am  epl e lgly precar p n f e bp n 5  a) 7 f, c blck e 5-d d agnal and reaen  aceve e2-e, e pprng g2-g g6, 2-, nendng  rap e b  b) 7 , nendng  gan pace n

e kngde  g2g and devel e bp  g2 T varan   cmplcaed, ever, a a l bk ld be needed  eplan it ramfcan! I ll d my be,  I'm afrad y'll nly ge a br aer! r e le avage, ere  al  e 7 g, plannng a fance

ame  ramkDamjav

sow



1 d4 d5 2 f3 f6 3 c4 c6 4  dxc4 5 a4 jg4 6 e5 jh5  f fd

 

s  T  a rang

lkng mve Wa de  d?

  Bro ns t in V ri tion

 Black mu challenge he

ngh n e r h bhp ll be agh by gg and h-h N aer  g, 8   �g6 9 h e! 10 de5 d 11 d h  fne fr Black ever, anher pn   gve lack an unepeced ppruny  nnue h preure agan he dan

8 xc4 5

n h  ! The kngh mve m f6 ha freed he hd8 agnal  he ueen, gvng lack he ppr ny  epl he lgh eakenng n he e -h dagnal creaed by 7 £

 e4

kngh naural uare, hle h bhp  bng grane n h 9 e eek  epl h emprar cnfu n by hreaenng a devaang check n d6, and al held he kngh n c alng he furh rank;  10 de  n a hrea a   h ll n lnger acheve anyhng 9   b4+ 1 0 d2 7 1 1 xb4 xb4+ 1 2 d2 xd2+

rced, a 1   c le  1 d6 1 3 xd 2 xd4 1 4 d6+  7

The alernave, he enerpg 1 d8,  cndered n he ne game 1 5 f5+ f6 1 6 xd4 d8

he l mve and a very enble ne Whe cann play 9 de a  h+! n he kngh n c, le 9 e e5 10 de  d7 11  b  a very rky pan grab lack ha a ubanal lead n devel en and  fll up h e7 and f7-f6 r g7-g, penng er lne 9 g  cndered n ame  1 and  o  Wha de 9 e d?  Back pece are a lle range a he mmen: h kng ngh  n d7, hch  he ueen

We have reached an endng, bu he accal cmplcan cnnue fr me hle ye 1 7 c3 c5 1 8 4 xd4 1 9 xd4 b3+ 20 c3 xa 1 21 2  7 22 xa1 d7 23 b4 o 5 In h ju a brng,

eual endng?  Unfrunaey fr Black, n Whe e eny a defne edge here, and  all bl dn  ha ayard bhp n h r, Black  gng  have  pend a emp h

  l v

  f7f6 to bring it back into play; and second, if it was still on c, Black wouldn't hae such an annoying weakness on b7! The white knight is excllently placed on c4, as it can at ack 7 ia d6 (with t hlp of a roo on d) or a   You mean Black is lost?! A No , not at all He only has one real weakness, so he shold be able to defend, but it isn't really that much fun

stopping the knight from actiati ia eS Black obiously felt ery u comfortabl round here, since  starts just moing his knight arou for no reason

31  . b 3 c5 d7 33 b3  34 d4 b 35 c4 b7 3 b d7 3 7 a5

3   f 4 d 1 b

Kramnik suggests that 24 Mb more solid

IS

5 a5

Exchanging knights would greatly simplify Black's defensie task Now White forces unpleasant weaknesses n the black ueenside 5   xa4+  b3 b 7 xb7 f7+ 8 c3

The trade of the a4-pawn for the 7-pawn has n profitabl for White, as now he has two targets: a7 and c6 8   b8 9 a e8 30 a1 d7 31 f4

Gaining space on the kingside and

Threatening a breakthrough wit e4-eS 3 7   a8? 38 a4 c 7 39 c5 b 10

And Black lost on time in t hopeless position: he is just going t lose his c-pawn Let us now tae a look at 14   d instead of 14   e7

h  ro n  t in Vri tion

am  adorffHellste

openagen 996

1 4 5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 c4 5 a4 g4 6 e5 h5 7 f3 f 7 8 xc4 e5 9 e4 b4 1 0 2 �e7 1 1 b4 �b4 1 2 �2 2+ 1 3 xd2 e4 1 4 e6+ 8 1 9 c3 he8 20 ac4 ab8 21 3 3 22 xd3 c5 23 e2 f5! 24 f1 f4 25 1 b3 01

An amazingly uick defeat for Whie!

ame  EpsPomes

anea 995 An interesting idea: in the ending oe, Black would hae loed to e hs kng on c7 protectng the eak b-pawn! ne drawback is that hite can take on b7 with check, but  least the postion s unbalanced, like the safe edge which White eas  obtained in the game Kramnik amljanoc.

1 d4 5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 a4 g4 6 e5 h5 7 f3 f7 8 xc4 e5 9 g3

1 5 b7+

15 g4!?  g6 1 6 f4 f6 1 7 f5 e 1 xb7+ c7 19 ba5 does not really proe the whte position, but in ed 15 h4!? (threatening g2g4 and h5) 15  f6 16 g4 e 17 f5!?, at cking g7 and d4, s an nterestng empt.

1 5  c7 1 6 ba5 a6 1 7 e4 

e3 1 8 e3 b4

This has been the most popular choice recently. White preents . . .h4 nd threatens d4e5. 9  . .b4

For 9 . . .f6 see Game 43.

  Sla v

1 0 dx5 00 1 1 h 3  ?

White now threatens e5e6. 1 1 . .  � 7 1 2 f4

 h6 gxh6 19 �xe6 �f7 20 f5 5 21 0-0 woud hae ed to a murky postn. 1 7 3

17 e4! , intending h6, was b ter. 1 7 . . .La6 1 8 0-0 f7 1 9 L4 h 20 ad1 �c7 21 b3 f8 22 � Lc5 23 Lxf6 xb3 24 xd8 x 25 Lg4 d5 26 Ld4 Lxa4?  �a1 b5?

12 �f4 is considered in the next game. 1 2 . . .d8 1 3 �c2 f6

Absoutey necessary in order for Black to free himself. 1 4 6

14 exf6 xf6 gies Back some counterplay for the pawn. 1 4 . . . Lc5 1 5 L3

r 15 f5 Md4 16 e3 ba6 17 0-0 Mad with counterplay (Epishin). 1 5 . . .Lx6 1 6 Lf5

Black is determined to ignore  kingside defences. The punishment  swi. 28 f5 b4 29 L6 x6 30 fx c3 31 �b1 �7 32 Lh6

The pawn capture 32 ... gxh6 lose to 33 Mf7. 32 . . .f8 33 Lf7+ g8 34 f5 xf 35 xh7+ h8 36 xf7 �8  �f5 1 0

Ga  Pke-elle

onhan 996 1 6 . . .�d7?

A mistake according to Epishin. The aternatie 16. . e 17 e4 a6

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 dxc4 5 a4 g4 Lfd7 8 Lxc4 5 00 1 1 h3 �7

3 Lf3 Lf6 4 Lc 6 L5 h5 7  9 g3 b4 1 0 dx 1 2 f4

  Bro ns t in Va ria tion

1 7 .  .8

17 .. .d7 fails to 18 �g5 ! xe5 (18 .. .f6 19 ef6 gxf6 20 xg6+) 19 �xd8 xg3+ 20 f1 Mxd8 21 e4, when Black has insufficient compen sation for the exchange. 18 00 �c5+ 19 g2 xc3 20 �xc3 �xc3 21 bxc3 d7

A ery interesting idea. 12. . .g5, to ase the ishop away, is simply met by 13 �d2 (13 �xd7 xd7 14 �xg5 xg5 15 xd7 5 16 f4 is ery messy)  .. .xe5 14 xe5 xe5 15 e4 xd2+ 16 xd2 g4 17 �g2 with a tter osition for White.

   . Rd8 1 3 �c2 g6 1 4 f5 

14 e4 is ery risky ut not easy to fute. For example, 14 . . .c5 15 d6 xe5 16 x7 (forking ueen and ok) 16 . . .xf3+ 17 f1 c4+ 18 2 seems fine for White, while  .. .5 15 ax5 cx5 16 e3 xe5 7 0 is also difficult to judge.

1    .b6 1 5 xg6 hxg6 1 6 xb6

b6 1 7 h4

Black just manages to hold the en suing endgame, ut the whole line seems extremely uncomfortale for him. 22 fb1 a6 23 a5 a8 24 d1 f8 25 ab1 b5 26 c4 bxc4 27 xb7 xa5 28 b4 Rd5 29 Rc1 d7 30 Rbxc4 x5 31 x5 x5 32 4 a2+ 33 h3 f5 34 xc6 fx4 35 fx4 x4 36 xg6 h7 37 g5 P7 38 h5 '  '

 Dautov-kol

r Apel 194 1 d4 5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 xc4 5 a4 g4 6 5 h5 7 f3 fd7 8 xc4 5 9 g3 f6

reenting .. .g7-g5.

A ery solid continuation, just pro tecting the e5pawn.

h  l v

e5 e+ 41 f5 e2 42 b4 e 43 h4 f2+ 44 e6 e2+ 45 d a5 46 bxa5 f7 47 h7+ xf6 4 xb7 e4 49 xc6 xa4 50 b 10

This is all ery sensible Howeer White has another rather crazy idea

Game  rvl

Wijk  Zee 9 1 0 dxe5 xe5 1 1 xd+ xd 1 2 xe5 fxe5 1 3 ig5+ c7 1 4 000  d7 1 5 i h3 i e 1 6 i e3 

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4  dxc4 5 a4 ig4 6 e5 ih5 7  fd7  xc4 e5 9 e4

And this is it! This ey natur moe was completey ignored unti recently 9    h4+ 1 0 g3

The wacky 10 e2 is considered i the next game 1 0   f6

This ery nice moe prepares f3-f4, breaking the position open.

Haing soened up the kingsid with h4+, the ueen retreats to f where it helps attac f3 with t bishop on h5, and d4 with the pa on e5 1 1 dxe5 �xf3 1 2 d6+ d

1 6    c5 1 7 f4 id7 1  ixd7 xd7 1 9 f5

19 e4 Me8 20 f5 was een more accurate The ending is basically ery pleasant for White 1 9   ie7 20 g4 h6 21 e4 f6 22 xf6 ixf6 23 h4 ie7 24 i f2 ad 25 ig3 if6 26 c2 xd 1 27 x d 1 g 2 g5 hxg5 29 hxg5 ixg5 30 ixe5+ c 31 g1 e 32 ixg7 xe2+ 33 d3 d2+ 34 c3 ie3 35 g3 if4 36 f3 g2 37 xf4 xg7 3 f6 g 39 d4 d7 40

Amazingly, 12  �xd6 loses to 

  ro ns t in Varia tion

x6 xh 4 g5 (hraning 7+ ma) 14   f6 15 xf6 gxf6 16 6+ d (16  f 17 h6+ mae) 17 xf6+ xf6  xf6+ c7 9 5+! follow by xh5 or xh ih a cshing posiion, as poine  by Ian okolo

a5 25 h b6 2 c2? 

  �xf3 xf3 1 4 x7+ e 1 5 ?

The firs new mo o f he game! In okolo-Lauir, Belgrad 1991, hi had play 15 xh b 15 x5! (hiro) 16 f4 d7 is ic for Black, as after 17 g, 1 7 . c5! maks sur he rook os o escape  5   c5 1 6 c4 xh 1 1 7 xh xe4 1  g5

Eihr 26 d2 or 26 g5 would ha p a sligh aanag for Whi ac cording o hiro 26   ca6 27 e4 a7 28 g5 d5 29 hf7 e7 30 h d7 31 xh7 e5 32 xe5 xh7 3 xh7 xe5  f f4 5 xg6 xg4  e5 xh4 7 xc6 g5 Y  Y

am 

N- Bishke Zonal  1 d4 d5 2 c4 c 3 f f6 4 c dxc4 5 a4 g4 6 e5 h5 7 f fd7  c4 e5 9 e4 �h4 1 0 e2?

 b4 sms o win a piec, bu   .3! (hiro) 9 7 xc4 19   x7 20 f7+ followed by bxc5 ps th fun going) 20 xf + xf 1 bxc g faours Black.     f5 1 9 000 e7 20 xe7 xe7 21 f1 g

A sligh error accoring o hiro 1 ..6 22 x6 x6 23 f a is sggs insa, bu his also ses qie nice for Whie 22 g4 xe6 23 xe xe 24 

h  l v

A magnificent idea, the tactica just iication of which ies in my atime aourite opening trap! 1 0   exd4

Tempting but not the best. Back shoud react more camy with 10 . b4, intending  0-0

knight on c4 The moe is extreme aggressie: White wil expand on t kingside with g2-g4 and h2h4 and tr to win Back's ightsuared bisho whie rapid ueenside casting is as on the agenda

Game 

1 1 �xd4 c5 1 2 d6+ f8

12  e7 oses to 13 fS+ whie 12 .  d is met by 13 xb7+

.okoloHellste

Malo 

1 3 �xg+  1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 c3 f6 4 f dxc4 5 a4 g4 6 e5 h5  f fd 8 xc4 e5 9 e3 g6 uson 9 This ooks odd as we!  ns This is a typica idea in thi

ine Back reaises that the bishop i doing nothing on hS, where it mere bites against the pawn on f3 Ther fore, he moes it to a more actie di agona, deaying the decision of whic piece to put on b4: the bishop on  or the knight on b, ia a6. 1 3   xg 1 4 f5+

1 0 h4

Regaining the sacrificed ueen and winning a pawn, with a good osition to boot! 1 4  . .f6 1 5 xh4 a6 1 6 h6 e5 1  g4 xg4 1 8 fxg4 xg4+ 1 9 d2 ad8+ 20 c2 b4+ 21 b3 e6+ 22 c4 xc4+ 23 xc4 d4+ 24 xc5 c2 25 g+ 1 0

Finay, White can try the deeop ing moe 9 e3  uson 8 This ooks ery strange, doesn't it? ns With 9 e3, White de fends the d4-pawn and prepares to meet 9 .  h4+ with the simpe 10 f2. Howeer, 10 dxeS is sti no a threat due to 10. . h4+, winning the

This not ony aims to harass t bishop on g6 with hS, but aso threa ens d4xeS by remoing ack's r source of   h4+ 1 0  . .e  1 1 h 5  f5

1 1 . . �h4+ is met simpy by 2 

 Brontin Vrition

xf2+ 13 xf2 f5 14 d6+, win g a pece. 12 dxe5 00 13 h6 6 14 hxg7 e8 1 5 g4 Xg6 1 6 f4

47

.

rsekov-as

lish

1 f3 d5 2 d4 c6 3 c4 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 4 Xg4 6 e5 Xh5 7 f3 fd7 8 xc4 e5 9 Xe3 Xb4

A more natral deeloping moe than 9 . . .g6. 1 0 g4 Xg6 1 1 dxe 5

This is possibe now, since 1...h4+ no longer hits the knight on c4! 1 1 .  .0  0  

ite amazig! White is ony mo ig pawns, bt Back jst seems to be elpess! 1 6 .  .b4 1 7 Uc1 d5 1 8 Xg2 xe3 1 9 xe3 Xh4+ 20 f1 Xg3 21 f5 b6 22 fxg6 hxg6 23 d2 xe5 24 ed 5 1 0

24 . . .cxd oses to either 2 Mh8+ \xg7 26 h6+ f6 27 xd5+, fork ing kig and een, or istead 2 xd5 d4 26 Mh8+ xg7 27 h6+ ate! A game of astonishing ferocity, en by Ian okolo's remarkabe tadards!

This is a new idea. he alternatie 1 1 . . . e7+ was played in the origial game Granda Zniga-ikoic, Bie Interzona 1993, and now 12 d6+ xd6 13 xd6 wod hae gie White a safe edge de to his two bish ops and the weakness of Bac's dar sares. Instead i the game, White wet for the crazy compications of 12 f4 h4+ 13 f2 xg4 14 b3 a6 15 d6+ xd6 16 xb7 b4 17 xa8+ �b8 which s jst nfathom able. 1 2 h4 h6 1 3 h 5 Xh 7 1 4 g 5   h xg 5 1 5 h6 g 6

Th e la v

1 9 axb5 cxb5 20 e4 bxc4 1 xaS txe5 22 xa7

so 10 Why s Whte playng

so aggressely? He was a pawn up wth more space; why dd he sacrfce hs g-pawn? As Whte has played some ery strange moes n the openng. Frst, he put hs bshop on e3 n front of the e-pawn, blockng n hs lght squared bshop Then, nstead of de elopng hs peces, he adanced hs kngsde pawns n order to chase Black's lght-suared bshop. Whte has won a pawn, but hs pawn ad ances hae left many eak squares n hs poston. For example, f Black could get a rook to d and then play . . .c5, amng for the weak b3-square, then Whte's poston would become crtcal. Whte has rased the stakes wth hs rsky openng play  he must contnue n the same aggresse man ner or Black wll deelop and explot Whte's weaknesses. 1 6 Rg1 e7 1 7 Rxg5 dS 1 S c2 b5?

A tactcal mscalculaton. hekho recommends  . . .e6! 19 e4 a6! (ntendng . . .dc5) 20 h4 b5! , when  thnk that Black has good counter chances.

Whte s wnnng now due to  large materal adantage.

22 . . .tbd7 23 d4 f6 24 Rg3 c 25 aS aS 26 d5 te6  xaS tfS 2S Wf2 id6 29 t ib4 30 id4 WhS 31 f4 ted7 3 Re3 f 7 33 t g5 gS 3 4 ReS 1 0

And now thngs get een mo complcated. et us take a look at  h3.

Game  Geadl

nila Intoa 190 1 d4 d5 2 tf3 tf6 3 c4 c6 4 tc dxc4 5 a4 ig4 6 te5 ih5 7 3 ta6 S g4 ig6 9 ig2

 fnd t hard to recommend th lne to players of ether colour, unle they hae sx months n whch to an lyse the mndbogglng complcaton 9 e3  dscussed n the next game. 9 . . .tb4 1 0 00 ic2 1 1 d2 ib3 so 7 Why s Black do

ths? As f Black were to play no

T ronstin Variation

ally, hen White's space adantage ould garantee him a substantial antage. Black herefore keeps the awn and challenges White to make mething of his lead in deelopment.

xg5, which looks like good com pensaton to me.

1  e4 �d 1 9 f4 e7 20 e3 00 21 �e2 c5 22 dxc5 xc5 23 d2  a5

Black does not really hae enough for the exchange

Threatening a5-a6 to break up the ack ueenside 12 e4, attacking the ight on b4, is the other major con inuation, aiming for the attractie ap 12   xe4 13 xb4 d6 14 xb7!!, when 14  xb7 loses to 15 xc6+.     a6

topping a5-a6, but in fact this may ot be so dangerous: 12 . . e6 13 a6 c7 1 axb7 xb7 15 g5 fd5 16 e4 b6 1 d5 looks impressie, but 17 . . .d8 1 xc6 xc6 19 dxc6 xc6 20 e5 d5 21 xa7 c5, with ..0-0 to fol ow, was nice for Black in the game oreno-Rogers, anila lympiad 192   a4 e6 1 4 g5 d7 1 5 xd7 xd7 1 6 b6 �d 1 7 xa see

foowing diagram

 7   �xa?

Ftacnik suggests 17 .. . c2 18 b1 xa8 19 e3 b4 20 e2 d8 21 d2

2   Cd 5 24 h 1 �d 7 25 ac 1 �a4 26 �f3 c3 27 bxc3 �xa5 2 f5 c4 29 fxe6 e7 30 xh7+ xh7 31 �e4+ g6 32 �xc4 fxe6  �g4 x f + 34 xf 1 b5 5 c4 �c6+ 36 g 1 g 7 �f3 �d7 3  f2 a5  9 �e4 e7 40 xa5 f5 41 d 2 1 0

f White wishes to duck the critical lines hat we saw in he preious game, he can play 9 e3 instead of 9 g2

h  la v

c2!? 15 c2 d4+ 6 g2  and 17 f5 (Rogers).

Cam 49 Klarebeek-Roger

Dutch T



1 d4 6 2 4 d 3 f3 f6 4 3 dx4  a4 ]g4 6 e ]h 7 h3 a6 8 g4 ]g6 9 e3

A uieter attempt, making sure that White regains the pawn. 

following diagram

9 . . .b4 1 0 ]x4 e6

1 .. .c2+ oses to  c2 c2 12 f7 mate, ut 1 . . .d7 1 1 g6 hg6 2 f3, intending f1-g2, is more normal. White has a sma ad antage here due to his sight space adantage and ishop pair.

1 4 �e2 �xd7 1  a2 e4   xb4?! ]xb4 17 ]d2 00  8 ]xb4?

White is just paying for a dra ut he is doing this ady. The t makes the apawn er weak.

1 8 . . .axb4 1 9 b3 Ra! 20 Rad1  21 axb xb5 22 ]d3 ]b7!

Back is not going to echange ti ishop, whie the ah1 diagona is  tempting! 23 h2 �d 24 %b1 R8 2 R g!

An unepected and reay tro moe. 26 f1 1 1 0-0 a 1 2 f4 d7 1 3 xd7

Rogers recommends instead 13 e4 h4 14 g2 with a slight adantage for White, ut with the threat of 15 f3, intending f4f5, this looks horri le for Black.

26 fg5 oses to 26 . . .d6 (Rog as 27 g 1 g3+ is termina. 26 . . .R3 27 Rb2 gxf4 28 Rxf4  29 g3 Rg 1 + 30 h4 h6 0 1

And White ost on time in ti hopeless position.

Ca 

1 3 . . .]2!

We hae seen this efore. Back makes sure that the ishop does not get shut in ehind the e4pawn. 1 3 . . .d7 is strongy met y 14 e4!

LetaoBelavky

Erva



1 d4 d 2 4 6 3 f3 f6 4 c

Th ronstin Vrition

x4 5 a4 g4 6 e5 h5 7 g3

The iet otion. White ignores e bisho on h5 and jst deelos ormally.

   e6  g2 b4 9 x4 d5 Attacking c3 .   'b3 0 0 1 1  d2

11 0-0 fails to 1 1 . . .xc3 12 bxc3 xe2, winning a pawn.

1    a5 1 2 e4 b6 

An important and tyical manoe re. Black exchanges a pair of knights, elieing his slightly cramed osition hile attacking d4.   xb6

This rather hels Black. Beliasky ggests 13 e3 instead.     'xb6 1 4 e3 5 1 5 d5 d7   00 e5 1 7 h3 f3+ 1  h 1 d4

learly Back has now taken oer e initiatie. The bisho on h5 has ddenly become a major layer, s oring the incrsion of the black ight into the lnerable kingside iht sares.

1 9 '4 2 20 a1 xe3 21 fxe3 'd6 22 h2 ae 23 e1 g6 24 e2 e7 25 b5 'e5 26 f3 d7 27 g2 h 2 3 fd 29 d1 f6 30 ed2 f7 31 d3 h5 32 'b5 4 33 'x4 h4 34 e2 h7 35 d4 7 36 'd3 d 37 gxh4 2 3 d6 xb2 39 d7 d 40 h 1 h5 41 xh5 'xh5 42 e5+ f5 43 g1 5 44 g4 xd7 45 'xd7 fxg4 46 'd3+ h6 47 '3 g3 48 'xb2 'xd1 49 g2 'xa4 50 'xb7 '2+ 51 xg3 xe3 0-1

A fine game by Beliasky.

Th  Sla v

Smmr

I cannot really recommend the 5    g4 line for Black, not because it is a par ticularly bad line, but simply because unless you hae loads of time for de tailed analysis, you won't be able to feel comfortable playing it There are many theoretical problems to sole: 7 f3 fd7 8 xc4 e5 9 e4 gies White a safe endgame edge, while 9 g3 is also dangerous Een the crazy 9 e4 and 9 e3 pose difficult problems! By contrast 7 h3 gies Black too many counter chances, while 7 g3 is a little tame 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 a4 g4 6 e5 h5 7 f3

7 h3 a6 8 g4 g6 D 9 g2 - gam 48 9 e3 gam 49 7 g3 - gam 50 

7    fd7  xc4 e5 (D) 9 e4

9 g3 9   b4 10 dxe5 00 1 1 h3 c7 12 f4 gam 41 12 f4 - gam 42 9  f6 gam 43 9 e4 h4+ 10 g3 - m 44 10 e2 gam 45 9 e3 9  g6 am 46 9 b4 - gam  









9   b4+ 1 0 d2 e 7 1 1 xb4 xb4+ 1 2 d2 x d2 1 3 xd2 exd4  4 ed6+ (D) 14 e7  gam 39 14  d8 gam 40 

8 �g6   

8 e5   

14 ed6+

HA SV The  6  White pys 5 e   

 4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 3 6 4 c3 6

n the next two chapters we shall o at the moeorder  d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 a6   1 What s the pont of  .a6?  4 . .a6 aows the bshop to elop outsde the pawn chan to g4 o f5 snce aer   5 b3 attacng b can be met by b7b5 adancng e b7pawn to a safe suare or ..a7! an ugy ookng but brant ought of ulan Hodgsons.  2 ounds great. Any awbacs?  You had to as Bac s lacng a ot of pawns on lght qares so he can oen suffer from a dar suares 

a  Ol-Aad

Bil Intzonal 19

 4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 3 6 4 c3 6

5 e3

Whte protects the c4pawn and epares to deelop hs ngsde hte's numerous alternates here  dscussed n the next chapter.

5    b5

Black would le to deelop hs bshop outsde the pawn chan by payng 5  . .�g4 for exampe but 6 b3 s strong as 6  .  b5 7 cxd5 cxd5 8 a4! breas up the blac ueensde Blac must be able to meet a2a4 wth .b5b4; aer ..b5xa4 hs apawn be comes ery wea. n fact Back could play an nterestng tactcal dea here: aer 8 .  �xf3 9 gxf3 he can try 9 . b4!? so that aer 10 xb4 0. . .e5! attacs the whte ueen.  1 b3 exd4 2 exd4 c6 13 �e3 b4 ges com pensaton for the pawn due to Whte's weakened pawn strcture but 1  b7! gans a tempo by attac ng the roo on a8:  1   .bd7  2 dxe5 xe5 3 �xa6 when Blac has

h  l v

normou probm on th ight uar I'm ur that Juian Hodgon woud uggt 6   a7(!), but ar 7 5 (thratning 8 xg4 xg4 9 cxd5, winning a pawn) 7   6 (a uua in th a Back do not mind wapping off hi ightuard bihop for Whit' knight) 8 f3! h5 9 g4 g6 10 h4!, Whit' thrat of h4-h5, trapping th bihop, forc Back to pay th diatrou 1  h6, whn 1 1 xg6 xg6 1 2 c2 i ut winning for Whit Th incuion of 5   b5 6 b3 tak th b3-uar away from th whit un, aowing Back to dop hi ight-uard bihop in gratr com fot

For 8 gxf3,  th nxt gam 8 e6   

Thi wa a noty at h ti  th gam, a back payr had  xprimnting with th iont 8  to xpoit th abnc of th q from th unid and th  wakn of th knight on c3 (it i no ongr protctd by a pawn on   prfr Anand' imp mo,  carri th am thrat but wit th rik 9 d2 b4 1 0 �d 1

6 b3

Th xchang 6 cxd5 i conidrd in Gam 55  6 g4 7 h3   

A y natura raction, putting th ution to th bihop 7 2 i dat with in Gam 53 and 54 7 xf3   

7  h5 8 g4 g6 9 5, intnding h2-h4, i rathr awkward, a w ha n 8 �xf3

o that 10   a5 can b mt b 1 1 c2, but thi mo i a itt mk  fw yar ago, I payd 10 d3  1 1  ! ? xc3 1 2 c3 xa2 13 �d1 againt Jon Lvitt, acrificing a p in ordr to gain th adantag of t bihop againt two knight In fa  won a nic gam ar 13    00 14  a3 15 a1! xa1 16 xa1 a7!?  cxb5 cxb5 (hoping for 18 xb5  wapping off on of my bihop)  c2!, aowing my darkua bihop to activat itf via b4 i contro of th c-fi and Back' p i pic, I uicky gaind a dcii adantag Back houd ha p   4 at om point bfor Mc2 

The 

  

a 6 Sl a v : Wh i t e p la y s 5 e 

r to forc the echange of one of ite's bishops, bt Whit has ra ale compensation for the pawn 1    00 1 1 e2 bxc4 1 2 bxc4 c5 his is a typical freeing manoere  Blac h immediate 1 1   c5 ld of course hae lost a pawn to 12 cx5, so Blac first changs on  ad then breas in the centr

1  dxc5?

his is a serios mistae, and aer and's sprb play it almost loos  th losing moe Whit had to a for euality with 13 cxd5 cd4 4 4 c3 15 c3 d5

1   d4! 1 4 exd4 �xd4 

1  �a4 ad8 1 8 e1 d4 1 9 �xb4?

Retrating with 19 d1 was the only (bt rather miserabl) way to aoid material loss 1 9   xe2+ 20 xe2

r 20 h d3! 20   �xa1 21 c3 �c1 22 �a5 �f4 23 �xa6 a8 24 �d6 �xc4 01

White had had enough This game is a rally imprssie demolition job by Anand Let s now see what happens if Black recaptres on  with the pawn instead of the een hite has a worse pawn stctre  real tactical prolems, as Blac's cs ickly become amazingly ac 

1 5 �c2

5 c1 (to aoid Blac gag a po on the een aer c6-d4)   d! prents White from cas g.

1 5  c6  

15  d is well met by 16 d1 !

1  00 �e5

reeing the d-sare for the ight

am 52  de tee-o

Bl ntonal 13 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 a6 5 e3 b5 6 b3 g4  h3 xf3 8 gxf3!?

Th recapture with th ueen leaes White ulnerable to a uic   b his rcaptre aims to sffo cate Blac by playing f3-f4 (preenting Blac's e7-e5 brea) and cc5 (preenting the    c6c5 brak) 

The Sl v

5 f3 b5 6 b3 g4 7 e2

   bd7

Threatening 7eS 9 f4 bxc4 1 0 bxc4 dxc4

By taking the cpawn, Black pre ents c4cS Now Whte annot stop Black from playing c6cS himself, and the game soon fizzles out 1 1 xc4 e6

eter Wells and Glenn Flea  well known for their deep knowl of la systems, so this game is · cialy interesting 7 . . e6  00 d6

An inaccuracy that has unplea conseuences When White  eS, attacking c6, Black needs to  able to exchange it as uickly as p sible for one of his own kni Therefore Back should either  8   bd7 or 8  �e7 (to meet 9  with 9   �xe2 10 ¥xe2 and t 1   fd7!) n the game, White g  grip on the dark suares and wis  model fashion 

1 2 d2 b4 1 3 00 00 1 4 e4 a5 1 5 xb4 axb4 1 6 xf6 xf6 1 7 d3 d5 1  fc a5 1 9 ab1 �d6   

Gm  Wells-Flear

O+994 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 c3 f6 4 e3 a6



9 h3 h5 1 0 e5 xe2 1 1 2 00 1 2 f4 c7 1 3 fd3 bd7   b2 b7 15 c1 ac 16 R fd 1 7 f3 f 1  fc1 

White's pieces are coordinai beautiully 

foo wing diagram

1  .   bxc4 1 9 bxc4 xe5 20  d6 21 d3 e4 22 �e2 b  c5 xc5 24 dxc5 b7 25 cx xd5 26 xg7 xg7 27 g4  2 e4 e5 29 f4 xe4 30 xg

Th e 

 31 d2 �e7 32 �h6 g 33  h 34 g3 g 35 d7 5+ 36 h2 1 0

  Krakv-p

  9  4 6 2 4 6 3 3 d5 4 3  5 e3 b5 6 b3 Jg4 7 Je2 e6  h3 h5 9 00 bd7 1 0 e5 Jxe2 1 1 e2 xe5 1 2 dxe5 d7

 xd5 xd5 14 Jb2 Je7 1 5 d4 b6 1 6 1 00 1 7 6

17 Cc6 cS is ual according to ishin. Hr Whit's control of th il looks imprssi, but wth som  mos, Epishin gradually pushs

  

a 6 Sl a v  Wh i t e p l a y s 5 e 

Whit back. 1 7    �b7 1  �2 a 7  

f Whit now dfnds th S-pawn with 19 f4, thn 19 . . .b ! 20 c3 b4! 21 d3 c (Epishin) gains th cfil for Black. 1 9 z1 xe5 20 xe6 �x6 21 x �x2 22 x2 4 23 b4 dx4

Th wit knight is trappd. Black rgains his pic and his unsid pawns pro to b far too much for his opponnt to cop with. 24 Jd4 7 25 xh7 xh7 26 Jb6 6 27 Ja5 Ja3 2 f1 b4 29 e2 5 30 Jb6 b5 31 Jd4 b3 32 x4 b2 33 Jxb2 xb2 34 f3 Jb4 0 1

The Sla v

Instead of 6 b3, sometimes White plays 6 cd5

e2 e5 33 h3 e4 V - V

 Kapovot

Drtmud 99 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 c3 f6 4 e3 a6 5 f3 b5 6 cxd5 cxd5 7 e5

In the net game we see a tricky  ternatie moeorder from White

 aeogo

Htngs 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 c3

A different plan: White preents the black bishop from deeloping outside the pawn chain and tries to proe that Black' s ueenside is weak

f course playing 3 c3 first gi Black the etra possibility of playi 3  dc4 (see hapter 10) 3   f6 4 e3 a6 5 �c2 ?

7   . e6 8 d2 e 7 9 e 2 0-0 1 0 0-0 b7 1 1  d3

A typical manoeure by White, bringing the knight in contact with the weak c5suare 1 1 .  bd7 1 2 b4 b6

White has weak suares too ! 1 3 a4 e4 

foowing diagram

1 4 axb5 xc3 1 5 xc3 axb5 1 6 c5 c6 1 7 xa8 �xa8 1 8 d3 �a2 1 9 �h5 g6 20 �e5 �a7 21 a1 �b8 22 �xb8 xb8 23 a5 d8 24 e1 a8 25 xa8 xa8 26 g4 b6 27 f3 c4 28 f2 g5 29 f4 e7 30 g2 f6 31 f3 f7 32

5 f3 would of course simp transpose to the games we hae  ready seen in this chapter n c2 t wite ueen preents Black fro deeloping his bishop to f5, whic

Th e 

ggess ha i woud be naura for ack o pu his bishop on g4 insead oweer aer     6 3 g4 hie's idea is o pay 7 ge2 and if    bd7 hen 8 h3 h 9 f4 icking up he bishop pair ustio 3 I hough you said tha lack waned o exchange off his igh-suared bishop for White's igh! Aren' you conradicting oursef? sw It is a confict of ideas - as ack you say The ishop on c8 was y problem piece and I'm gad I'e changed i' whereas wih White ou say Yes I'e won the bishop ir!' Franky I would be happy to y either colour! I is clear how ver ha in comparison wih the ie 5 f3 b 6 b3 g4 7 h3 �xf3 White s gained he wo bishops a a much ower cos he has not had o either eaken his kingside pawn strucure r mispace his queen on he kingside o asicay Whie has got a good er ion of this ypical sort of position d ha is he poin of waiting with  c2 A simiar idea for White is  d3 reening  f Personlly I woud rb his opporunity o ranspose to a ueen's Gambit Accepted with 5   dxc4 6 �xc4 e6 7 f3 c ut I ow that no eeryone feels the me way!    g4!? 6 b3 Ma7 is ossibe howeer as neither 7 f3 dxc4 ( h 8 cxd cxd 9 g4 �g6 10 xg6 hxg6 11 g h 12 ge2 12 xd g3 ! 12   e6 1 3 f4 is better for hite due to the offside knight on ) 8 xc4  intending bd7 d e7-e nor 7 cxd cxd 8 f3   

  

a 6 Sl a v : Wh  t e p l a y s 5 e 

c8! ? wih   c6 and  e7e o fol ow is adanageous for Whie Righ ack o he game! 5 e6 6 f3 5   

A ery imginaie idea Back o taly changes his pan; he no onger plays for b7b but srikes in he centre with   c6-c ustio 4 Hasn' Back just wased a moe since he's payed firs   c7-c6 and now   c6-c? sw This is true of course White is playing he ariation 1 d4 f6 2 c4 e6 3 f3 c5 4 e3 d  c3 a6 with the moe 'c2 added in for free Back's conention is ha his ariatio is no adanageous for Whie normaly and ha he moe c2 does not make any difference in White's faour I fe that he bes way o ry to make use of c2 was to pay 7 cxd so that after 7    exd I cou attack a clear target on d by bringing my rook to d1 exploiing the fact that my ueen has aready acated this suare oreoer my ueen could be ery usefu on c2 to atack a ishop on c aer d4xc xc  xd5 exd5 8 e2 6 9 00 e6

Th e Sla v

of ths defense course, Whte pla for the ntate. 1 3 a3 exf3 1 4 ixf3 c6

Julan dd not lke the look of 14. . .dS 15 dxc c7 16 xb7 w three pawns and an intate for te pece. 1 5 d5 e5 1 6 dxe6 xf3 1 7 gx fxe6 1  b3 �xd2 1 9 ixd2

The start of a superb tactcal plan. Normal deelopment could hae eas ly ended n dsaster. For example, f 9 .. .e7 10 Md1 00 then 1  dxcS xc 12 xd wns a pawn, snce the bshop on cS hangs. Therefore Black begns a complcated tactcal manoeu re that seeks to explot the exposed poston of the ueen on c2 . 1 0  d 1  b4  1 1 �d 2

1 1 b 1 c , threatenng . . .fS, could be embarrassng. 1 1   e4 1 2 xe4 dxe4

Black's ueensde pawn mao een ges hm a slght pull, but aer  few adentures the game was eent ally drawn.

1 9   .d7 20 ic3 c6 21  ie7 22 ad2 ad 23 xd x 24 xd ixd 25 ixg7 c4

acrfcng a pawn to actate t kng. 26 bxc4 c5 27 f4 xc4 2 e ic7 29 f5 exf5 30 exf5 d5 31  b5 32 axb5 axb5 33 ic3 ie5 3 id2 e4 35 f1 xf5 36 h3 i 37 ic3 e4 3 e2 id6 39 i d4 40 ie3+ c4 41 id2 ib4  ixb4

Whte's peces are not coordnatng well, and f Whte were to contnue routnely wth 13 eS, then 13 . . .cxd4 14 exd4 M, threatenng ...c2, would be extremely annoyng. Instead

I spent a whle ust checkng th the pawn endng was drawn. Reme er that 41...b4 ust leads to a dra aer 42 xb4 as Black has the wron coloured bshop for the rook's pawn

h e 

   xb4 43 d3 a3 44 c b4  b 1 b 3 46 h4 c3 47 h �  �

ince 47 . . .h6 48 f4 d4 49 b2 e4 50 b3 xf4 51 xb4 g4 2 c3 xh5 53 d2 g4 54 e1 f3 55 f1 draw ut) for White.

  

a 6 Sla v : Wh i t e p l a y s 5 e 

7   �d7 S 3 e6 9 e5 �cS 10 3 d7 1 1 xd7 xd7

Alo poible wa 1 1 .  xd7!?

Another tricky moe for White i 5



Gam? 57 AtalkMles

Hastings 195/6

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 c3 6 4 e3 a6 5 a4 An unuual moe in thi poition hen White has already committed imelf to e2e3, hutting in hi dark quared bihop .

5    6 �b3 a7 7 a

uddenly, to his horror, ie rea ed that aer the natural 7 . . . e6, 8 b6! i extremely trong, a aer the rced 8  . xb6 9 axb6 a8 10 c5 tending b2-b4 and b4-b5 breakng rough, White ha a magnificent en g. Tony, practical a eer, jut ayed a few neceary defenie oe and got on with the game!

1  cxd5 cxd 13 e4 dxe4 1 4 xe4 g6 1  e §e7 1 6 §e2 00 1 7 00 aS 1 S §e3 bS 1 9 �a4 �dS 20 ad1 S 1 d5 c 2 § x 3 x c 4 �b4 �g5 5 dxe6 xe6 6 xS xS 27 �d4 gS S c4 e7 9 b4 d7 30 §b3 S 31 �d6 �eS 3 §a4 �f7 33 1  34 e4 �g6 3 5 c5 h6 36 d1 e4 37 B2 §d 3S §c2 g5 3 h3 �e3 40 �e7 hS 41 �f7 h7 4 �4 �e1 43 h gS 44 �g3 �xb4 4 d3 �a3 46 4 �xg3 47 xg3 dS 4S g6 gS 4 e 7  hS 0 g6 gS 5 1

The S v

e7+ h8 52 g6+ %  %

Aer  a4 Back can simpy pay   e6, aiming to put a bihop on the hoe on b4, but this eads more to a ema type of position, so for a deotee, I offer a few other idea: a)    g6 is interesting, eading to a sort of checter a (see hapter 1 1) .

b)    c7 i not as stupid as t seems: Back deends b7 n adance f 6 f3 then 6   �g4 7 b3 �f3  gf3 e6! c)   Ma7!? with the same idea If  a then maybe 6   �e6 !? 7 f3 (7 ' b3 dc4!) 7   dc4 8 g �g4 9 3 � with a competey uncear position

h e 4

  

a 6 Sla v  Wh i t e p l a y s 5 e 

Smmr

In general Black is doing fine in tese lines, but since the 4 . . . a6 la is suc a recent deelopment, tere is still scope for improements for bot colours. 4 f3 a6 5 e3 bS 6 b3 g4 7 3 �xf3 8 xf3 e6 9 �d3 �b4 10 �d2, as in adlerLeitt, is wort further tests, and te game adlerHodgson is certainly crazy enoug to be wort analysing! 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3

4 e3 a6  5 c2 game 6 5 a4 game 7 



4    a6 5 e3 b5 6 b3

6 cxdS game 55 

6 .  .g4 (D) 7 h3

7 �e2 e6 8 00  game  8 3 game 5 

7 .  xf3 (D)

 xf3 game  1 8 gxf3 game 2 



4 a6   

6 g4   

7    

he 4 a6 Slav Aressive options for White   

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 lf3 lf6 4 lc3 a6

In this chapter we deal with the more attacing systems against the   a6 a in which White deays e2 e3 in order to deeop the bishop on c 1 to an actie suare outside the pawn chain We shall first examine S cS which has irually become the main line so 1 S cS loos ie a begin ner's moe Isn't it bad to reease the tension in the centre so eary? Asw White is aiming for a big clamp' on the centre: S cS stops Blac from breaing with c6cS and �f wi preent Bac from achieing . . .e7eS  White will then either aunch a ueenside offensie with b2b a2 a and bbS or he wi organise a centra brea with e2e era this is a ery ambitious pan The ueenside brea b7b6 is not great for Bac since cSxb6 xb6 eaes him with wea dar suares on cS b6 and a and a bacward cpawn so 2 Bac can't pay on the ueenside and he can't get in any of his breas What can he do? Asw   c6cS is no on the agenda but e7eS shoud not be im

possibe to achiee if Bac can organ ise his pieces propery White ha cosed the centre so Blac has mor time to achiee his pan as he nee has to worry about a sudden centra breathrough oreoer Blac can spare a ot more pieces than usua t prepare e7eS since he doesn't nee any to defend his own centre

 Kam

V  1 lf3 d5 2 d4 c6 3 c4 lf6 4 lc a6 5 c5 f5 6 b3 a7

I coudn't hep aughing when Jul ian Hodgson tod me that he paye  a7a6 in order to faciitate a

Th e 

  

a 6 Sl S l a v : A g g re r e s s iv i v e o p t io io n s f o r W h i t e

t t the idea is a good one I t reall reallyy is ot clear whether the the een on b3 is ny better placed than than the rook on o n a7: n b3 the een attacks ery ery little and ets in the way of one of White's ain ain plans, plans , the th e eenside eenside paw p awnn storm ith b4, a4 and b If the een oes away from b3, then the rook an simply retrn retrn to a ! The The more conen co nention tional al 6  c  iscssed isc ssed in the the following foll owing game

White positionay White had to an ticipate e7-eS e7-eS and either preent it with 17 eS or play 7 c4, intending 17   eS 1 dS 1 7   .e5 . e5 1 8 c c4 f f6 1 9 dxe5 lxe5



7 f4 lbd7 8 h3 h6 9 e3 g5

The postn is now horribe for White: Black can jst gang p on his weak paw p awns ns 20 d4 aa8

Haing done its job, the rook comes back into pay pay This moe shows a good nder tanding of the position Black leaes is weakened eenside alone and abs space on the kingside, where hite has itte going for him The oe 7-gS 7-gS aso allows the bishop  come come to 7, spportin spportingg the    e7-eS eak

   h2 h 2 g  g 7 1 1 l e5 e 5 0 0  0 1 2 f3 f3

Unwilling to let Black hae things is own way, White prepares the e2e4 break This raises the stakes, as e7-eS  e7-eS wi become dobly effectie ainst ainst an epanded epan ded white centre centre 

    .lx . lx5 5 1 3 x5 x 5 ld7 l d7 1 4 xg xg77

xg7 1 5 e4 e 4 dxe dxe4 4 1 6 fx fx e 4 g6 g 6 1 7 OO? A careess moe that condemns

2 1 e 3 ad8 ad8 2 2 e2 e7 23 h e 1 ld7 24 d4+ lf6 25 e3 e5 26 f3 f3 h5

Preparing gS-g4, gS-g4, driing away a defender defender of e4 e4  27 a3 fe8 28 nxd8 nxd8 29 d1 d4 30 c2 c4 31 Wb 1

T e Sla v

3   . xc5  xc5

Thee fst Th fst pawn falls falls    32 �d2 c4 33 �dS xe4 3 4 xe4 xe4 xe4+ 35 xe4 xe4

S  .  e6 9 e e55 e e77  0 g4 g4 g6 g 6     dSS 1 2 e2 d  e2 xe xe55 1 3 xe5 x e5    4 a4

  and  and now the second seco nd 0 

A eally good expostion of the ideas ide as beh behn ndd the 4    a6 la

am  Iklvrv

Erevan Olymp   d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 a6 5 c5 f5 6 �b3 �cS?

Ths s a nomal plan, tyng t gain the two bshops by exchangi the knght fo the daksua bshop on d Howee, thee s a tactcall poblem on ths occasion tactca occasio n  4    a a5+ 5+ 1 5 c c33

O 15 f Ce4 16 g2 f6, nte ngg    e6-e5 n 1 5 . . 0 000 1 6 h4 h4 h6 h6 1 7 00-0 000 d7  d7   d6 eS 19 hg1 c7 20 h5 h 2 g5 xd6 22 cxd6 hS 

I'm not sue why hio did not want to epeat his peious game Pehaps t was nothng objecte, just the dese not to be too pedictable The dea behind ths moe s ex temely neat: Black wll deelop no mally wth e7e6, e7e6, Cbd7, Cbd7, e7 e7 and   00 and wll then pepae pepae    e6 e6 e5 by means of Me  Me and dc7, dc7, making use of the fact that the ueen has acated acated d ! 

7 f4 bd7 S h3?

Black  s gong t o castle castle kngsde, kngsde, so White wants to hae his pwn stom eady on that sde of the boad

I think that Black IS ust bett hee:: Whte s hang to make all so hee of postonal concessions and hs attack j ust sn't sn' t gettng anywhee anywhee

h e 

  

a 6 S la la v  A g g re r e s s  ve v e o p t  o n s f o r Wh  t e

 gxh6 gxh6 24 e4 dxe4 25 a4  26 c5 xc5 27 dxc5 �f6 2  �xc3+ 29 bxc3 Uab 30 d4  5 31 d 1 b6 32 cxb6 xb6 33 2 d 34 d7 b5 35 gd1 xh5

b5 e2+ 60 c3 f4 61 d f3 62 d2 d2+ + e1 01

Oiously Black is rather happier than White in this line at the mo ment! Another ery popular idea for White is to play pl ay 5 a4 a4    What is the poin of ths moe? A 5 a4 merely aims to re ent e nt Blac Black's k's idea of  . 7-5 7-5,, and force force hm to find another plan Though it seerely weakens the b4-suare, this moe does gie White the possibility of a4-a5, cramping the black ueen side.

Black wins yet another pawn. ough okolo fights hard, the re  is neer in dout  dout   c4 g7 37 b2 f 3 a4 5 39 c3 e7 40 d6 e3 41 e3  e3 e4 e4 42 6d4 e 5 43 f 1 g2   g1 xe3+ 45 d3 xd3+ 46  xd3 xd7 + 47 e3 h h33 4 x c6 7 49 b5 e5 50 Uh1 e6 51 d3

 1    f6 52 xh6+ g5 53 h f4 54 h4+ g4 55 h f5 56 e c5 57 a4 f3 5 a6 f2 59

am 60 Puskovps

Russia Cham hampo posh sh  1 f3 f6 2 c4 c6 3 c3 d5 4 d4 a6 5 a4 e6

The most natural and oerwhelm ingly the most popular hoice The game loses a little of its la character Im afraid, ut Black does get to oc cupy that weak b4su b4suar aree . 6 g5

Th e Sla Sla v

The fianchetto 6 g3 is dealt with in the following game 6 . . . bd  e3 ie 8 id3 00 9 00 d x c 4 1 0 ix ix c 4 c5 c 5 1 1 a 5 cx cx d 4 1 2 exd4 ex d4 b5 1 3 axb6 xb xb66

g 38 ba3 xb2 39 xa6 f4  6a4 xa4 41 nxa4 nd2 42   d3 43 na5 Wf6 44 na6 f5  a e6 46 a6+ d6 4 a5  48 a8 Wd5 49 f2 nb6 50 d e6 51 g3 nb1 52 h5 gxh5   h8 h4+ 54 xh4 d5 55 fS  56 d8+ e6 5 ne8+ f6 58 f e 59 h8 g1 60 nh+ f6 6 xh6 g  62 n e6 xg2 63 xe xe f6 64 a5 g1   

Let us see what happens if Whi opts to fianchetto eteDee

Bac B ackk has aready euaised. euaised. 14 ie2 ib ib  1 5 e5 h6 1 6 ih4 fd f d 1  ixe ixe �xe �xe 1 8 xd �xd 1 9 a 4 xa4 20  xa4 fd8  fd8 2 1 �a1 �c6 22 if3 �b6 23 ixb �xb 24 c1 d6 25 h3 ad8 26 cc4 e5!



Z 

1 c4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 c3 f6 4  a6 5 a4 e6 6 g3 bd  ig2 ib 8 00 0 0 00 0 0 9 �b3 �b 3 a5 a5 1 0 d1 b6

Back wins a pawn, but can't uite conerrt it into cone into a win win 

2 ab4 �e4 28 d5 �xd 29 �a3 g6 30 g4 dd6 31 b8 h 32 �b3 �xb3 33 x b3 d 1  34  h2 f6 35 f3 d2 36 h4 g6 3 a4

White will find it hard to achie e2e4, since Back has his bishop trenched on b4 and can aways pla . . .�c3, . �c3, remoing a defender of  Without this idea, howeer, Whi may strugle to find a plan. 1 1 e e55 x x e5 1 2 dxe d xe55 d d  1 3 cxd cxd exd5 1 4 if if4 �e �e 1 5 e4 e4 d4!  

T e 

  

 6 S S  v : A g g r e s s i v e op o p t io i o n s fo fo r W  i t e

xd4 x d4 x x5 5 1 7 x5 \x5 \x5

swi attack

2 -et

Bits apio apio p  1 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 3 f6 4 f3 a6 5 g5 dx4

Black's two bishos and ueenside awn maj maj ority gie him a clear cle ar adan adan tage 1  d 2 6 1 9 \ c2 ad 20 ad 1 xd2 21 xd2 b5 22 h3 h5 23 h4 bxa4 24 \xa4 xc3 25 bx3 \x3 6 2 \b4 27 \x6 a4 2 \3 b3 29 f1  30 \xb3 axb3 31 d2 2 32 d+ h7 33 5 f5 01

This does all seem fine for Black but if you cannot lie haily with out deeloing your bisho outside e awn chain, then S    �f 6 b3 a7 sees interesting Aer 7 a, thre th reaaten tening ing 8 b6, 7    dxc4 8 xc4 bd7 is not so stuid For examle, examle, 9 �gS h6 1 0  xf xf66 (1 0  h4 gS !? 1 1  g3 g7 seems fine for Black) 10 10   exf6  exf6 (lease don't een k of 10    xf6, allllowin owingg 1 1  cS ! , winnin winningg a iece iece)) 1 1 e4  g4 ( 1 1    h7!? ; 1 1    e6! e6! ?) wi wih a ery murky osition S  gS is a shar sh ar continuat c ontinuation ion that is only occasionally seen White de elos s bisho to its most aggres sie suare and is willing to sacrifice he awn on c4 for the chance of a

6 a4

Also ossible is the immediate 6 e4!? 6    h6 7 h4 d5  4 x3 9 bxc3 b5

Black has gone about this in a strang str angee way way S    e4 6 h4 (6 h4 has been layed but I don't beliee it! Een E en 6    h6 is not stuid, stuid, when wh en I don't see the a alu luee of h2-h4!) 6    xc3 7 bxc3 dxc4 8 e4 b is more natural if Black wants this tye of osition, since the omission of a2a4 and h7-h6 must hel hel Black a little little Aer S    dxc4 6 a4 anoher idea is to lay 6    �fS (a more natural natural la l a moe), aiming for a little tra: 7 e3 e4  e4!! ? 8 xe4 xe 4 xe4 9 xc4 xc4  xf xf33 ! 1 0 xf3 xf3 aS+  aS+!! 1 1 e2 xgS 12 xf7+ d8, when White does not hae sufficient com comensation ensation for the iece iec e 1 0   5 \ \ 7 1 1  g3 g3 \b \b 7 1 2  b 1

Th e Sla v

a7 1 3 f3 e6 1 4 e2 g6 1 5 f6

The opening has not been a success for Black, but somehow he hangs on and almost turns the tables com pletely 1 5   h7 1 6 �f3 b7 1 7 00 d7 1 8 xd7 xd7 1 9 �f4 e8 20 axb5 axb5 21 a 1 ! b 6 22 x a8 xa8 23 a1 b7 24 d5 cxd5 25 exd5 e7 26 �e3 g5 27 f4 e7 28 f3 c8 29 d6 xf3 30 x f3 �c5+ 31 f2 xd6 32 a8 d8 33 a7 d 5 34 xd 5 exd 5 35  b7 h5 36 xb5 f5 37 xd5 d7 38 e5 f7 39 g3  f6 40 c 5 V  V

Aer this freeing break, Black  no problems 1 1 xd7 xd7 1 2 e e 7   dxc5 xc5 1 4 x d8+ xd8 1 5   00 1 6 a3 xd 1 + 1 7 xd 1 c8   e2 f8 1 9 c2 a4 20 d2 d 21 h3 e7 22 d1 xc3 23 x b4 24 axb4 xb4 25 d3 a5  b3 xc3 27 Bxc3 xc3+ 28 x d6

Next, the adenturous 5 eS I dont like this moe at all for White and in the next game hiro neutral ises it ery easily with simple deel opment

 elavsk-rov

Ea Olypi 96 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 a6 5 e5 bd7 6 f4 dxc4! 7 xc4 b5 8 e 5 b 7 9 e4 e6 1 0 f3 c5!

You might hae expected the pl ers to hae called it a day here, es cially when you consider that this  the last round of a gruelling Oly piad for bot players: Beiasky  playing his 14th game on board 1 and hiro his 13th! 29 d4 e5+ 30 c3 c5 31 c 

Th e 

  

a 6 S la   A g g r es s i  e op ti o n s f o r W h i t e

 h4 c6 33 g h6 3 4 c4 7  h  f 36 exf xf 37 3 e6  e4 7 39 g4 c4 40 b7 b 41 a c4 42 e4  43 xd xd 44 b3 e4 4 f4 e3 46 3 e 47 xe e4 4 g xf4 9 gxh6 gxh6 50 3 g4 1 c4 xh5 52 b5 g4 3 xa h 4  h4  b h3 6 b6 h 7 b7 1� 5 b8� �a1+ 9 b6 �b1+ 0 c7 �xb+ 61 xb V  V

n the end een these two battlers not continue the game! A really pressie display of fighting spirit om both players The final ide to be considered is 5 b3, preenting the deelopment of e lightsuared bishop by attacking  The adantage of this moe is that lck cannot counter in normal la shion, but the emila approach is sy to understand, and nice for lack

6 g ? 

6 cxd5 cxd5  g5 e  e3 h6 9 xf6 xf6 0 d3 c6 11 00 00 2 Mac1 was played in Pikethiro, Aruba 995, and now hiro suggests 2  d, as 3 xb a5 4 b4 �e snares the ueen 6   xc4 7 �c4 b  �3 c 9 a4 cx4 1 0 Lx4 b4 1 1 Le4 b7 1 2 xf6 gxf6 1 3  1 e7 1 4 �f3 b3

am 4 aterBareev

Lars 1994 1 4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Lf3 Lf6 4 Lc3 6  �b3 e6

The most popular moe for Black    dxc4 6 xc4 f5  g3 is the 4 b3 xc4 5 xc4 f5 line with the extra oes 4 c3 a6, which faour White ore than Black, while 5   Ma 6 f4!  awkward  briefly considered 5   b5  cxd5 cxd5  a4 b4!?  xb4 c6 9 b3 Mb 10 d f5, intending c6b4, but   h4 chases away e bishop and just leaes White a wn up

To meet 5 xe6 with 5   a5+! 1  e3 �a+ 1 6 e2

Watch this king! 1 6   f 1 7 �f4 �e5 1 8 f3 �xf4 1 9 exf4 g7 20 f5 Lc6 21 fxe6 Lx4+ 22 x4 hd 23 d7 x7 24 exd7 d 25 e3 f5 26 Lg3 ic+ 27 f4

he Sla 

g4xfS-f6-f7-f8-g8!!

27 . . .d6+ 28 xf5 xd7 29 e4 c7 30 c4 e7 31 c3 e5+ 32 g4 h6 33 f4 e3 34 d5 f5+ 35 xf5 c8+ 36 f6 xf4 37 xb3 g5+ 38 f7 g4 39 f8!! e7+ 40 g8!!

The whie king complees a remarkable ourney e2e3-f4xf

40 . . .b4 41 f7 xc3 42 bx xc3 43 e1 c2 44 d5 d2  4 h5 46 f1 g6 47 b7  48 a5 a4 49 f6 xa5 50 x h5 51 h3 e5 52 a8 g5 53 f h5   

A brillian game!

h e 

  

a 6 Sl a v : A g g r e s s i v e op t io n s f o r W h i t e

Summr

If you had asked e a few onths ago , I would hae told you that Black had a few pobles in the 4   a6 la, but now I a not so sue!  cS should be aoided fo the tie being, while  a4, 5 eS and  b3 don't eally see to poise a geat deal, though  a4 and  b3 can be good weapons if you know that you opponent does not like to play systes with    e7e6  �gS is aggessie and desees the tests 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 a6 5 c5   a4 e6 

6 �gS  game 60 6 g3 game 61 

 �gS game 6  eS game 63  b3 game 64 5 jf5 6 �b3  6  a7 game 58 6  c8 game 59 





  





5 c5

5 e6   

6 b 

he Exchange Variation

1 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 xd5 xd5

The xchange ariation is oen dismissed as just a dead draw, but se eral top players, Yusupo and aiser in particular, play it to win What do they see in this ariation? Although the pawn structure is symmetrical, there is the open c-file to play with and we know from experi ence the annoying pressure that White can exert on b7 White also has the adantage of moing first in this position Indeed, if Black does not know what he is doing, his position can ery easily become highly un pleasant so 1 What plans has Black tried in this position?  sw Black has tried two ap proaches a) To put the bishop on c8 outside the pawn chain, on either f5 or g4 b) To unbalance the awn structure with  e4xc3 so 2 And what does White do? sw White also has two ideas He can put his kings knight on either f3 or e2 (aer �d3) so 3 What is the difference between them?

sw

a) f3 allows White to increase  pressure on the c-file by playing  attacking a black knight on c6 I Black exchanges knights with .x then White has remoed the mai barrier to inasion on the c-file. b) With �d3 and ge2 White ai not to attack on the c-file, but rat to keep Black passie by preenti the light-suared bishop from dev oping outside the pawn chain  white bishop on d3 controls f5, wi the absence of a knight from f3 mea that �g4 can be met by f2-f3

am 65 M-le

194 1 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 xd5 xd5 4 

White must be wary of mov orders here as 4 c3 e5!? 5 dxe5 d  e4 c6 7 f3 �f5 8 g3 �g6 9 a3 �c5 10 b3 ge7, as in Tozer-evi London (Lloyds Bank) 1993, giv Black good counterplay for the paw 4  .  l6 5 e3 lf6 6 l3

White could try 6 �d3!? here  preent 6   �f5 Black's best is 6    7 e2 �h5!, intending   �g6 to s

The Exchange Variation

ff bishops. 7 b3 aS! 8 �b+ �d7 so poses few probems.

   f5 

The old main ine. The modern  . .a6 is considered in the next game. 

the main ine which does not seem bad for Back bt at the board I got a tte carried away. The positiona idea is correct: since White has released the tension in the centre ery early Back fees mch more able to take action o the wings. Indeed this idea was seen to great effect in Kramnikhiro from hapter 8 bt in this case White has the open cfile to help his eenside pay. 1 1 g3 h5 1 2 h3 g4 1 3 hxg4 hxg4 1 4 d2 h4 1 5 e2 �a5?

7 ]b5 e6  f3 4 f3 f6 S c3 c6 6 �f4 �fS 7 3 e6 8 �b is the normal way to each this position. White is threaten ig eS ganging p on the knight on 6.

 o far so good. With my ast moe attacking the knight on d2  I was hop ing for the repy 16 fd1 when 16 . .�c2! 17 xc2 xb5 is reasonabe for Back. 1 6 e4 

  . d

Breaking the pin on the knight and hs deaing with the annoying threat f eS .  0-0 e 1 0 �b3 g5?

Aer a great dea of thoght my opponent fond a ery strong idea bowing the centre oen. 1 6  . �xd2 1 exf5 ]xg3 1 xg3 �xd4 1 9 fe 1 d 20 fxe6 fxe6 21 xe6

Bod bt probably not the best. 1 . . .c8 11 �xc6 bxc6 12 b7 a is

Wel this is not great for Black bt at east I'm sti alie! y opponent was aready in serios time-trobe and aer the game I was reay pset that I had made things so easy for him

Th e Sa v

in the rest of the game

21   c 22 d1 c5 23 xd4 xb3 24 xd5 bd4 25 e4 xb5 26 xb5 ad8 2 e1 d2 28 e4 e 8 29 e3  c2 3 0 a4 e  3 1 f6 xe3 32 d5+ c8 33 xe3 d2 34 x4 d4 35 e5 xa4 36 xc6 bxc6 3 b3 c 38 f3 c5 39 f2 c6 40 4 c4 41 b8 a5 42 e3 c 43 b5 c6 44 b8 Wc 45 a8 a2 46 5 b 4 6! c3 48   c 2

Eerything else is also hopeless, e g  4  cxb2 49 b+ xb 50 g + a7 5 1 xa2 and wins 49 d2 1 0

ow let s take a look at the fash ionable 6   a6

am 66 gser

Ichia 996 1 c4 c6 2 f3 d5 3 cxd5 cxd5 4 d4 f6 5 c3 c6 6 f4 a6

he modern mai line, which will be of particar interest to 4    a6 la payers, as this line can occr by transposition after 3 f3 f6 4 c3

a6 5 cxd5 cxd5 6 f4 c6

usio 4 Why is  a7a6 seul i

this position? As 6  a6 is a costrcti waiting moe ack keeps the whit pieces from occupying the b5 suar which means he no loger has t worry about b5, pining his knig on c6 usio 5 What if White ju plays 7 e3? As hen ack plays 7   �g4  h3 xf3 9 xf3 e6 his is anoth example of lack giing up his lig sared bishop for White's king knight in the la In this case, sin White has played cx5 so early, la has been abe to pay his kight to c its most natral and best sqare  manoeure g4xf3 also remo the attacking idea e5 usio 6 o what oes White do As he oly way that Whit can go for aantage is to aoi pla ing e2e3 too eary and ths sidest   xf3  e5! e6

ack does not fear  xc6 bxc6,  White is not sicienty actie to pr ent lack from freeing himsef wi

The Exchange Variation

c6cS

8 3 Cx5 9 x5 d!

   f5

An important new idea 9    b was so possibe, bt that does gie White  bit of a target to attack on the eenside 9   �d7 deelops the bish p to the ah1 diagona (preenting hite from eer achieing e3e4), hie sti aowing Back to coer the Ssare with the adance b7b6 if ecessay  0 d 3 c 6 1 1  f3 C d 1 2  3

 A rea nohodsbarred cassic! In itigation, Engand were paying witzerand that day in Ero 96' so e did hae other things on or inds (Athogh aer watching the atch for haf an hor we began to ink that een or game might hae een more eciting!)

am  drsss

Ap 1995  Cf3 f6 2 c4 c6 3 d4 d5 4 cxd5 xd5 5 c3 Cc6 6 f4 a6  c1

Here we see another attempt to de ay e2e3 

7  �g4  eS! (the point) is annoy ing, but now  eS is met by    c 8 3 6 9 5 x5 1 0 x5 Cd 1 1  3 c 8 1 2 d 3 xd3 1 3 xd 3    1 4 0-0 0-0 1 5 c 2 a 5   

espairing of making anything against this pan of �gf3, white payers turned to Pan B': �d3 and e2

 Yusuv-rv

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Cc3 Cf6 4 cxd5 cxd5 5 f4 Cc6 6 3 4

T e Sla v

so 7 Why no 6   a6 here? Asw er 6   a6 Whie can play

7 d3 g4 8 ge2 (u no 8 f3 h and Black can exchange bishops wih  g6) so 8 Wha's he prolem? an' I jus go 8   xe2? Asw You cerainly can, u in comparison wih he line 6 f3 a6 7 e3 g4 8 h3 xf3 9 xf3, we see ha Black has an inferior ersion: Whie has played d3 insead of h2h3, and his ueen is eer placed on e2 han on f3 This posiion is perfecly play able for Black, u here jus seems no poin in going in for a worse ersion of somehing if here is no real need o so  Wha is he poin of he 6  g4 7 f3 d7 manoeure? Asw By forcing f2f3, Black weakens a dark suare on e3 in White's posiion oreoer, Black has more chance of achieing he e7eS reak, since he whie knigh can no longer go o f3 Finally, he ishop is no oo badly placed on d7, as i sup pors Black's counerplay wih 7 S so 10 Wai a minue, if I ge his ia a transposiion from he a7 a6 la, hen I won't e able o play i in his way will I? Asw on't worry! Whie can' use his suble moeorder if he rans poses o he Exchange ariaion ia he 4   a6 la, since he will eiher hae shu in his darksuared bishop (3 c3 f6 4 e3 a6) or will hae al ready commied his nigh o f3 (3 f3 f6 4 c3 a6) 

 f3 d 8 d3 6

Also playale is 8   g6!?, inendi 9   g7 o support the    e7eS reak 

9 3

The aggressie 9 g4 is considered i he nex game, while 9 ge2 allo Black o win he bishop pair wi 9  hS 9   1 0 2 0-0 1 1 00 a6   

Black's main counerplay is o e pand on he ueenside, placing h knigh on he c4 oupos and adan ing he a and pawns 1 2 c 1 ! ?  a5 1 3  b3 !

An imaginaie idea: on b3,  knigh proecs d4, allowing Whie  expand in the cenre wih e3e4, whil eyeing he cSsuare, which will  weakened by 7 The o

h Exchng Vrton

problem is that the knight will be in the line of fire wen Black plays   a6 aa4 1 3 . . .l4 1 4 2 8 1 5 4 b5 1 6  5 l  5 ! 1  f4 l x 3 1 8 x 3 a 5 1 9 x x 20 h5 8 2 1 f2 5   

er  h White will force per petual with + and h+

  aseralanan

Evn Opn 96 1 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 l3 l6 4 xd5 xd5 5 f4 l6 6 3 4  f3 d 8 d3 6 9 4

lthough White' s position is a little loose, his extra awn will count in the end 20 .   b6 21 ld2 00 22 5 5 23 3 a5 24 a3 b 25 b1 a6 26  6 2 1  28 x b5 29 l3 8 30 b2 6 31 l4 a4 32 3 6 33 3 d5 34 x8+ x8 35 l3 6 36 4 a6

his aggressie thust is  aiser' s trademark White adances on the kingside, while Black counterattacks on the ueenside 9 . . .a6

9   b4 is interesting, so that aer 0 a3 aS   b4, the bishop returns to c7 and suports the central break   e6eS 1 0  1  6 1 1 1 3 f2 l4 6 1 6 1 bx4 bx4 1 9

4  8 1 2 l  2 l a5 1 4 2 b5 1 5 lb1  1  b3 ld 1 8 x4 dx4 20 x4

3 d5 5+ 38 2 xd5 39 xd5 xd5 40 ld4 x4 41 lx4 8 42 d4 2 43 f2 f5 44 xf6 b5 45 l5 l5 46 4 6 4 f+ 1 -0

Finally, we take a look at te most recent attemt from Black, 6 . e4

Th e Sla v

This game brought the whoe idea to popular attention

a 70 PortsKramk

1 d d5 2 c c6 3 cxd5 cxd5  f3 f6 5 c3 c6 6 f !?

The key to this concept Black a ticipates that the centre will o with c3c4 or e3e4, and paces  bishop on an influential diagonal 9 2

An idea o f Iosif orfman  11 What is the point of the e4xc3 manoeure? Aw With e4xc3, Back coses the cfie, bocking one of Whites major assets oreoer, he unbaances the pawn structure, isoat ing the white apawn but giing White the chance to play a pawn to 4 for the second time!  12 What if White had payed one of the subte moeorders, such as 3 cxd5 cxd5 4 �f4 c6 5 e3 f6 6 c3? Aw We, 6   e4 is sti possi be and leads to uncear pay aer 7 xe4 (or 7 ge2!?, intending f2f3 to recapure on c3 with a knight) 7  dxe4, intending a uick   e7e5 and   �b4  3 xc3  bxc3 6!

9 c4 �g7 0 cxd5 xd5 is a po tion from the 4 �g5 Grnfed (  f6 2 c4 g6 3 c3 d5 4 �g5 e4  �f4 xc3 6 bxc3 �g7 7 e3 c5 8 cx cxd4 9 cxd4 xd5, etc), which is f for Back, whie Kramnik shows t 9 �d3 �g7  0 00 00   e4 �g4 2 h3 �xf3 3 xf3 e5! 4 dxe5 (4 ex xd4! 5 cxd4 exf4 euaises) 4 d intending   xe5, is aso fine Fina 9 e5 is deat with in the next game

9    1 0 0-0 0-0 1 1 c dxc   xc f5

The xchange Variation

Kramnik gies 12 . . .�g4 13 h3 �xf3 14 xf3 e 15 dxe �xe 16 �xe xe as eual: 17 xb7 �xh2+ 18 xh2 h4+ 19 g xc4 keeps the alance. He also suggests 12 . . .a6!?, ntending ...b7-b.  3 c 1  c 8 1 4   2 6 1 5 h 3?

15 d b 16 �b3 leads to a slight dantage for White according to ramnik.  5   t5 1 6 d3 xd3 1  xd3 d 1 8 c3 b5 1 9 c1 tc4

A ery impressie demonstration of Black's strategy.

Gme 71 Cetes-eva

Ci/ugos 96 1 d4 c5 2 c3 cxd4 3 cxd4 d5 4 t3 tc6 5 tc3 t6 6 4 t4

After a weird transposition, we are back to the main position  3 txc3 8 bxc3 6 9 t5 ? 0 2 tb6 21 c 6 22 5 d5! 23 c5 h6 24 h4 b4! 25 b2 tc3 !

I like the way in which Black has oed his outpost rom c4 to c3!

A careless error. As Lalic has shown, Black can eualise with 9 .. .a! 10 b3 �g7 11 �b �xe! 12 �xe 00 1 0 txc6 bxc6 1 1 4!

6 xc8 xc8 2 h 1

27 xb4 e2+ wins. 7   h! 28 1

r 28 xb4 xa2! 8    5 29 b3 xb3 30 xb3 5 1 3 4 see

foowng dagam

2 td2 3 33 c1 5 34 d5 2 35  4 36 d6 8 3 tc4 tb5 38 5 txd6 39 x2 x2 40 xd6 x2 41 xb4 1 42 h2 b1 1

A ery awkward moe: Black

Th e Sl v

suddeny finds himself in big troube This is a good iustration of what can haen to ack if he does not take enough care

8 22 Vb3 b8 23 Va2 h8  fd1 Va8 25 h4 h5 26 d1 d 2 xd4 4 28 2 h 29 Jd a 30  a6 31 a5 xd4

1 1  . d 1 2 a6! 5 1 3 a3 xd4 14 xd4 0-0 1 5 0-0 8

32 b6

ack has to shed a awn to meet the threat of b7, winning the ex change 1 6 x8 x8 1  Vxa f6 1 8 a4 5 1 9 3 a8 20 V5 a5 2 1 V3

Now the ineitable adance of the white a-awn swily roes to be decisie 32 . . xd1 33 xd1 Vb 34 c a8 35 xd5 Vxd5 36 xd5 f5  d8 a6 38 d 8 39 a 1 0

he Exchange Variation

Smmr

A hree majo r coninuaions of he Exchange ariaion seem o be doing fine for Back Personaly  would recommend eiher 6   a6 or 6   5 , as 6   e eads o posiions ha are more ypical of he Grnfed han he a 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 cxd5 cxd5 4  f4 Cc6 5 3

5 f3 f6 6 c3 6  a6 D 7 e5 game 66 7 c1 game 6 6  e 7 e3 xc3 8 bxc3 g6  9 �e2 game 70 9 e5 game 71 







5  . .Cf6 6 Cc3 4

6  �f5 game 65 

 f3 d 8 d3 6 (D) 9 �g3 game 68 9 g game 69 



6   a 6

B g6   

B e6   

CPR TEN Move-Orers  sposos

 d4 d5 2 c4 c6

This chaptr s xtrmly impor tant oth or hit playrs, and or lack playrs ho ish to play lins ith d5xc4 Until rcntly, it was thought that Wht had no nd to  too accurat wth his mo-ordr Hor, du to th orts o Ian okolo, this s no longr tr W shall irst considr 3 3 With this mo Whit aims to rmo th orc rom  d5xc4 (Whit can smply rcaptur with th ishop and has no nd to play a2-a4, prnting 75), and thus to prnt Black ro ntring th la Usually, th gam continus 3   6 4 3 6, lading to th mila, a ry intrstng opn ing ut not th on  want to play Th olloing gam shos th ay to mt 3 3 

m  rasenkov-I  okolov

Mlm 5  d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 3 j!

In th introduction, I said that   �5 can only  good or Black  h can dnd th -pan with his un okolo notcd that ar 4

cxd5 cxd5 5 3,    c7 is possi as 6 xd5 loss to 6   xc1 3   f is not th nd o th orld or Wht ut h has only ry small chancs  gaining an adantag onc Black  dlopd his un's ishop outs th pan chain, whil Wht has s his insid

4 �b3 �c 5 cxd5 cxd5 6 c3

6 5 is considrd in th n gam 6   6  jd2 c6  3 6 9 j 6  0 00 jd6   fc 0-0

Black has dlopd ry naturall and has ualsd comortaly 1 2 3 � 1 3 j1 h6

Ian okolo suggsts th 13   Mad, aiming or 65, w most accurat

M o v  - O  d  s a  d  a n s p o s i t i o n s

  a2 ac8 1 5 b a5 1 6 a2 c 1  5 4 1 8 bd3

omewhere around here White of ered a draw but Black was haing one of it! 1 8   f6 1 9 b4 d6 20 f fd8! 2 4  22 xc? xc 23 x6   2 xd 8 x5

attack continues despite Blacks deficit of a rook. Howeer White had to try this as 25 d3? trying to deect the bishop on e4 from its protection of the d5-pawn simply loses a piece. oolo finishes ery efficiently.  5   xd8 26 dx5 dc4 2 x4 dx 28 c1 rh8 29 b1 x5 30 xc8 xc8 31 x ac6 32 h3 xb 33 axb c6 34 h4 d8 35 h5  36 f5 xb4 3 c8 rh 38 ,5 hx5 39 5 r 0 6 rf8 1 5 r8 2 6 rd8 3 x   r1 �xh5 5 �xb h1  01

46 e2 d4 wins the ueen on a8. A ery important game: oolo won his last four games in the tour nament to pip Krasenko by half a point!

m ogueras-.okolov

Eran Olyiad  1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 3 f5 4 b3 c 5 cxd5 cxd5 6 b5 d!?

5 d3?

Aer the natural 25 xa5 winning a piece 25 . . .c2 26 d h4 gies Black a ery dangerous attack: 27 xc2 xg4 28 f1 g2! (28 . . .xc2 29 xd5!) 29 e2 g4 30 e   g  leads to a draw by per petual while an okolo also men ions 29 . . .xc2!? when wth threats of ..e4 or ...c4 and ...g4 the

 c3 6 8 d2 ! ?

An interesting deelopment of the knight.

  l v

9     1 0 4 8   2  1 2 0-0 0-0  3 4 db8 

   t nt

4 4

 i n  tt it i in t   n  1 4 d 3 xd 3    xd 3 d     3     3   8  4   9 M2   Y

n i  n t n i  nt mv tt    in i   i   t m i          vnt  n  t t i ti t  t iv    i  t in v  v  ni t n Ivn v n t in

 7 ·

LuHS · G

  n ntint: it t in i i     i I it    in [   vnt 7  tn   it t t tt it      in    3   1 + i vy i        � Int         i t iti tt  t i n   (nt  �   t    7     � �   00 10 �   t  i  in iinv t Pt 7) 7   (7    8  � (8 ) i v n 4 . . . b  4 b4  2   3

Avnin it 7  i i  t 7  8 �   3  10 �  11 1  1   1    t in   in Yvi   ini P 17

 d4 d 2 4  3 3 dx4

 .  . 8 x4

n i    itt i ni t  t n  7  ( in  n)  in   n  nit n  i m n v   ini

i ii  n t h t v i mtin  h nv  ntin  i  t v i 8  i i ni  t n 

M o v e  O r d ers a  d Tr a n sp o s i t io n s

ing path for White

  Hartars-uk

 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 3 dx4 4 4 b5 5 a4 b4 6 a2 f6  f3 5 8 dx5! xd 1 + 9 xd1 fd 1 0 6! ?

8 .  xd4 9 c2

9 b3 , attacking f7, is strongly met by 9   cS! 10 xf7+ e7, when Black's threat of f2+ gies him an oerwhelming position 9  . .c5 1 0 5 a6! 1 1 b3  1 2 2 b6 1 3 3 6 1 4 d2 6 1 5 c1 fd 1 6 f1 5!

Hjartarson sggests that 10 f4 a6 1 1 e3 f6 is unclear, but 10   cS may be stronger, meeting 1 1 xc4 by 11a6! 12 xa6 bxa6 with ideas of b3 and xa4 as well as   xe4 1 0 . . .fx6 1 1 xc4

White's position is truly horrible 1  a5 b 1 8 xb4 xb3 1 9 xb3 c5!

This wins a iece de to the in on the knight 20 d5 cxb4 21 x5 f6 0-1

White players will obiosly not want to repeat this experience A re cent game has shown a more interest-

White has the more attractie pawn stctre and hence the better long term prospects, but Black's piece ac tiity and the slightly open position of the white king shold gie him eually good chances 1 1 . . a6

Also ossible was  1  eS!? 1 2 xa6 xa6 1 3 3 c5 14 2 

foowing diagram

1 . . 000? 

Hjararson says that Black should hae taken this opportnity to sap

T e Sla v

off bshops by 14 .  .xe3 15 xe3 000 16 h3 e5 1 Mac1 wt mu tual chances. n the game, Black fals to make the ost of hs chances and fall nto an unpleasant enng.

41 5 6 42 f2 4 43 2  44 6 1 -0

Nce technque fro Hjararso and a crtca new dea for Whte. n vew of va okolov's succe wth 3 . . .dxc4 aganst 3 c3, you m be wonderng whether Black can pla 3 .. .dxc4 agast 3 f3 but, among others, the followng game has put te ne under a cloud. t s so unbaance however, that  would ot be at a surprse f there s a sneaky resource for Black!



MlesHog 1 5   5!  f6 1 6 b 3 d4 1   1 b 1 8 h3 5 1 9 hd1 5 20 3 x3 21 xd8 xd8 22 x3 h6 23 f2 d6 24 2 d 25 1 h5 26 fd3 5 2 b2 4 28 d3! xf3 29 xf3 6 30 4!

Hatigs 1 f3 d5 2 d4 6 3 4 dx4

3 f3 f5 4 cx5 cxd5 5 b3 c s tactcally possble as 6 xd5 allow mate after 6 . . .xc1 The ccal d erence wth the 3 e3 lne s ta Whte has not blocked n hs dar uae hop, hch means tat aer 6 c3 e6, 7 f4 s etremel nasty: 7 . . .xf4 loses the rook o a aer 8 xb7, whle 7 . . .b6 8 xb axb6 9 e3, ntendng b5+, e2  then Mhc1 to nvae on the c-fle gves Black a vey depressg endg to defed. 4 3 b5 5 a4!

Whte's peces are eally placed, and Black can no longer hold hs pawn weaknesses 30   1 31 b2  32 x5 x5 33 x5  3 2 h1 35 2  1 36 f4 6  f5 5 38 f6  39  h 40 6 1



foowing diagram

The man dffeence between 3 c and 3 f3 s tat Black cannot ad vace hs ueense paws wt tempo agast 3 f3. Ths gve Whte plenty of te to undermne tem

M o v  - O r d  r a n d Tra n  p o  i t io n 

5 00 c 6 3! (6 b3? e4!, mng or c3, s to be voded  ll coss) 6     cS s very nce or he 1 2   d 1 3 ! 0-0 1 4 4!

    6 6 xb xb  b3 b  d2 xd 2 9 bxd2  1 0 bx b

A ve conusng suon: Blck hs wo pssed ueensde pws whle he hs more cenrl conrol The essenl conc s whether Blck cn ge hs pwns movng or wheher he cn blockde hem so h hey wll become wek 1 1  !

Exchnges help Blck ree hmsel 1 4  6 1  2 d 1 6 3 d 1  2 b 1  d6 6 1 9 2 6 20 00  21 1 x 22 x4  23 b3  24 3! b 2 2!

ery nsrucve Blck's pwns re gong nowhere, so hte uely m proves hs poson, removing he possbly o bckrnk mes nd mkng sure h i Blck does ueen,  won' be wh ceck 2  .  h6 26 2 3?

Threeng 2 x! x 3 3, winnng he rook o n 8  1 1   .6 1 2 !

This s he key de orcng Blcks peces no  nsy ngle 2  bd loses  pwn o 3 c6, wle 2  .d 3 xd s excly wh he wns: 3   bxd 4 e2 00

The Sla v

Allwing a cmbinatin, but Black wa tuggling t in anyting t .

b3 0-0 1 2 4?

2 nxa5! xa5 28 xa5 xa5 29 xc3 bxc3 30 xb8 h 31 b f5 32 x c2 33 x6 c1 34 xf5 6 35 f h8 36 f8 h 3 d5!

ate cannt be avete 3  . . .h 1 !? 38 xh 1 1 -0

Te net line i   6 4 e I am uie at w ula ti vaiatin i, a it eally en't m ie ite vey mc at all, an i eult ave nt eally been tat g

am ozllesas

Erva d  1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 3 f5!

I n't tink tat ti nee any cmment!

1 2 . . .c5! ! 1 3 dxc5 dx4! 1 4 x fxd8

Te int Black egain i ie wit a vaty ei itin, a t knigt n  i tie t te eence f te bi n d2 1 5 a4 xf3 1 6 fd 1 d3 1   ad8 1 8 n1 8d 1 9 ac1 fx 20 b2 f3 21 x2 f5 22  d3 23 cd1 df3 24 2 5! 2 h3 5!

Ti kingie avance inie  the game. 26 b4 axb4 2 axb4 4 28 hx x4

5 d3

5 c5 c5 6 b i te te way t ay, aing t itin vey imi a t Game 72 5 . . .xd3 6 xd3 6  0-0 bd 8 c3 b4 9 d2 a5 1 0 a3  1 1

w  mt all

29 h1 xf2 30 nxf2 xf2 

oveOrders nd Trnsposons

a1 4 32 b6 3 33 2 5 34  1 x 1 3 5 x 1 4 36 c8 f8 0-1

A iy  b3 n  c2  bth cs hit's qu prtcts c n prts th liht-squr bishp rm pi sy:  b3 ttcks b7 whi  c2 crs th 5squr. Hwr ths ms  thi t uthr hit's lpmt whil xpsi th whit qu t ttck by Bck's mir pics. Athuh ni thr lin prmiss much thy r bth ppur with psitil pyrs wh wish t i ny shrp ptis Rcty blck pyrs h b tryi  mi pprch  . . .6 5 3 xc 6 xc b5 7 c2 b7 with . . b7 n c6-c5 t w but s bits  bk  th   wi c ctrt  ur bl pl   vpi th ihtsqur bishp ut si th pw chi.

11 xb ttcks b7  ) 11 xb 6 12 c3 c8 !  wini th q s 13 3 lws 13.  xc1+ mt!  st  6 .  .cx5 6   x5! (hitti th bishp  ) 7 3 6! it i  quick ...c6c5 is s intrsti t tht 5 c3 trspss t  3 6 5 b3 5 xc4 f5 6 c3 bd  3 6 8 2  9 00 00 1 0 3

B wrn! Th turl' 10 1 lss th xch t 10  c2!  s 1 1 2 lws 11...b6! trppi th qu!

am  kopa-ov

aa Z

193

1 d4 d5 2 f3 f6 3 c4 c6 4 b3 dxc4

Th mst si  rlib pti. Blck irts th qun rm its ttck  b7 thrby lwi th liht squr bishp t p t 5.  supps tht  . . 6 is pssib hr s 5  (rti ...7!) 5 . . .b5 6 cx5 cx5 7  b! 8 b2 (8 xb 5! wis  pic) 8 . . .c6 9 c1 b7 10 5 (t rm th kiht  c6 which bth urs b  bcks th ci) is mt by 10   5! (10 .  x

1 0 . . 4 1 1 2

A ty. 1 1 2 is th   whn thy rcmms 11..x2 12 x2 5! 13  cx 1 x5 xc3 15 xc3 6! 16 1! xc3 17 bxc3 c7 with quity. hit must csir 16 b! rtii th bishp pir 1 1  . .xc3 1 2 bxc3 4!

A typic mur prti 3-  nutrisin hit's bishp n 2. 1 3 c4 c5 1 4 d 1 c 

foowing diagram

1 5 b2 b6 ! ?

e Sla v

Whte  s matera up, aer a! Razvaev-tra

Eva O  1 d4 f6 2 c4 c6 3 f3 d5 4 c 6

The start f an eccentrc pan frm hrv 15  Mf, ntenng 16  Mac an then   7bc6 t pressurse c4 n 4, was as nterestng 1 6  ac 1 f6 1  f 1 !

T chase the bshp frm e4 wth ut awng the exchange f bshps 1    a4! ? 1 8 a 1 fd8 1 9 d2 c6 20 b3 b6 21 d5

A very sensbe ea Back aw hs bshp t devep t g7 whst supptng cf5, attacng th queen 4   a6 5 f b5?! 6 cxb5 cxb5  bd2! (ntenng b s be ave, as Whte's peces are well paced t expt th queense ark square weaknesses, s Back shu try 5   xc4 6 xc4 e6 7 e b5  c2 b7, ntenng b-7 and   c6c5. Fnay,    xc4 5 xc4 transpses t the prevus game

5 f4  21  . xa 1 22 dxc6 f6 23 2 c3 24 xd8 xd8 25 c2 d6 26 1 xc6 2 xc6 xc6 28 d2 a6 29 b 1 4 30 h4 b5 3 1 xb5 axb5 32 d2 3 33 b1 4 34 d2 c3 %  %

 am a tte surprse that Whte accepted the raw here Althugh hs ppnent has gd cunterpay,

5  a6!? s cnsdere n the next game an 5 xc4 s as gd 6 xc4 g7 7 e (7 c 00  e4 b5 leads t a typca Grnfe pst whch, thugh reasnabe fr Bac may nt appea t pure av payers) 7    0-0  �e2 �e6 9 c1 b7 10 0- c5! 11 c d5! 12 M M 1 xd5 x5 14 xc5 xc5 15 c4 ! 16

M o v e   r d e rs a n d r a n sp o s i  io n s

x3 xc4 17 2 e6 ave Black no problems in Golin-Yusupov, Tilbur 1992. However,  . . . 6 b3 b6 7 c xb3  axb3 is a touch better or White, an not very excitin or Black. 6 3   c3 6

axb3 are improve or Black, as the white kniht is misplace on , whch makes . . .e-e easier to achieve.  1  . .4  2 cxd5 xd5 1 3 xd5 cxd5  4 xb6 xb6 Y  Y

An inally, an amazin sacricial line in this most soli o openins!

am 80 Alburtabalv

U

9

 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c2 6 5 f4 a6!? 6 3 f5  b3 b4!!

S 5

 b3 xc4 9 xc4 (9 xb7 d!?, intenin to trap the queen in the corner aer 10 xa b6, s ex tremely mrky but not worse or Black) 9 . . .xc4 10 xc4 d 1 1 3 a6, intenn ...-b6 an ...c6c is about equal.

S .  f5 9 b3 b6   2 bd   f3

A typcally nventve iea  Ku preichik. S xb4 5 9 xb

9 c x4 10 ex4 b6 1 1 e bxc 12 b  13 x x7 14 xc6 c 15 x cx4 16 b b4 (16 ...c1 17 d2 xh1 1 e! e 19 xh+  20 e leas to a draw by repetition) ave Black a powerul tatve n Epshin Kupreichik, Russia 1989 .

9  b S   xc6 d   xf6! xf6  2 x5 b6  3 b3 b4  4 bd2   5 xbS xbS  

The enins with 11 c xb3 12

The Sla v

n 1 6 . . a5   4 4 1 8 - xd2

Wite s sme pns, ut c s te i uys 1 9 5 f5 2 a3 3 21 d6 7 22 xf b6 23 e4  24 fd1 f4 25 5

1 6 xd5

A stne mve t py since v  ey n  cnvinc in me in is ine 6 3 is te teetic ecmmentin, meetin 6  it 7 e2 5 (tetenin  ) 8 , c is  it f  mess  ? seems me ntu, t cunte   5 it 8 3 ! 5 ( 8   2   c3 20 c 2 2 c2 2 22 ! [intenin   22   3 23 3 3 2   3 25 c2 c 26 c  , intenin c2 it n vnte)  3! 2 20 4  2     f8 23 ,

25 . b3 26 x b3 xb3 2 d b6 28 3 xd8 29 xf4 4 3 f3 xf4 3 f2  32 d3 a6 33 d x2+ 34 3 6+ 35  4 36 d2 f 3 d5  38  f 2+ 39 3 5+ 4 d2 xd 41 1 d4 42 8 5+ 43  xd 1

A fscinin me

M o v e - O r de rs a n d Tra n s p o s i ti o n s

Summary

3 e3 Jf equases for Black; 3 Cc3 dxc4 s a very nterestng ne and ony Hjartarson-Guo (Game 7S) s a possble attempt to pay wth White; 3 f3 dxc4 s very unalanced ut seems to e good for Whte; 3 Cf3 Cf6 4 e3 Jf s nothng for Whte; whle 3 Cf3 Cf6 4 'c2 and 4 'b3 are aso nothng spe ca. Hence 3 Cf3 Cf6 4 Cc3 dxc4 is the most accurate order for both sdes . 1 d4 d 5 2 c4 c6 3 e3

3 c3 dxc4 4 e4 b S a 4 b4 6 a2 Cf6 7 f eS D 8 xc4 game 74 8 dxeS game 75 3 Cf3 3  dxc4 game 76 3 . .Cf6 4 e3 Jf game 77 4 'b3 game 78 4 'c2 g6 S Jf4 D S . Jg7 game 79 S .. .Ca6 game 80 -

-

-









3 .  if5 4 �b3 �c7 5 cxd5 cxd5

(D)

6 c3 game 7 6 JS + game  -



7

. . .

e5

5 �f4

5 . . . cxd5

Odds nd Ends

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6

I ths chaptr w tak a b rf look at all th sdls that I could't ft to th ma chaptrs!



Th e Winwer Counter Gmit 3 c3 e

Ths gambt was all th rag four or f yars ago but th followg gam somwhat dampd th ardour of th black playrs

am 1  o-ikoi

lympa 9 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6  c e5 4 dxe5 d 5 e4 a5 6 d2!

Ths atural mo had b pract cally gord pror to ths gam (6 d2 had b th ma l) 6    .xe5  g!

Ths mo looks obous but t was Kasparo's w da Of cours th gus s ot  th mo tslf but  th astoshg attackg pla that flows from t It s ot as to gus that Wht s garg up for kgs d attack!

   d6

Black has also trd 7   c but a 8 f Vc7 9  dx 1 0 x f 1  d Wht s slghtly bttr du t o his lad  dlopmt 8 f f6 9 c2 e 1  OO! 

Odds ad Eds

1 1 e3

Azmaparashl, a long-tme ana lyst for asparo, playe   c3 agast slon n elle 99 xc3! 2 x6 cxb2 s gen as unclear by Gazza, but Azma clams an aantage ater 3 xb2 x6  e (threatenng e-e)   f4  b Ths assessment s obectely correct, as Whtes mate ral aantage, couple wth the threat o e-e, rng away the knght on f6 an exposng the shop on f4 to attack y Whtes peces b2-4, g3h), shoul tell n the en How eer, n a practcal game Whtes ark square weaknesses an expose kng ge lack ente counterchances slon playe f, unpnnng, an Whte sacrfce a pawn wth 2 e3 xe3 3 e3 (3 4! looks ery strong, meetng 3   h6 wth  h4! g6  3!, trappng the queen, an 3   c7 wth  3! or ust 4 fxe3 wth ery angerous at tackng play) 3  xe3 4 b a6   (amng to put a knght on  an threatenng e  , wnnng the shop on e7) 

7 x e6 8 3 Whte ha a superb attackng poston or the pawn Ths looks er smooth an, n hs annotatons, Azmaparashl comments that  lack tres to m proe wth    b4 (nstea of   4) then 6 3 c 7 e wns aer 7   gS 8 xe7 cx4 9 xb, but n fact 6   cS! s extremely goo for lack, as 7 xb4 xb3 8 xb3 xb an 7 e ! (threatenng   x) 8 xb4 x both leae lack smply a pawn up The poston s extremely rsky for lack, of course, an I woul not recommen ths sort o poston aganst a goo attackng player, but lacks tactcal chances must not e unerestmate 1 1   .dxe3 1 2 fxe3!

Ths s the key to the whole ea as 2 xe3 c7 promses nothng or Whte The text allows the bshop on 2 to moe wth tempo to the attack ng agonal a-h8 1 2  .

2  a6 s consere n the next game 1 3 3 g4? ! 1 4 d3 bd 1 5 f5!

Now aer    b 6 f x

Naturally, Whte wants to occupy

Th e Sla v

th fsu ith his kniht. 1 5 .  .xf5 1 6 Cxf5 ZS 1  Cx! ! x 1 S f5 CfS 1 9 4!

f Blck ishs t py this in h nds t find n impmnt n 12. . .c7.

82 Rogoznots

Moldovan



1 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 C3 5 4 dx5 d4 5 C4 a5+ 6 d2 x5  C Cf6 S Cf3 d6 9 2  1    1 1 3 dx3 1 2 fx3

Fwin Ksp's mp. n d t chs y th kniht n f if it shud sufc n 6. 1 9 . . 6 2 4!

20 4! 6 21 h s n stn ccdin t Ksp. 2 . . S 21 xS axS 22 5!

1 2 .  Ca6

2. . .d is pssi pntin 13 c3 s 13 . . .d1+ 14 d1 d1+ 1 d1 chns uns  dstyin hits ttckin pssiilitis. 1 3 3 

Th ndin is stll y unplsnt f Bck nd Ksp ps thuh th his custmy ny. 22   .CSd 23 4 dS 24 df1 fS 25 xf6 xf6 26 5  2 1 5 2S 2 6 29 4 S 3 b4 b6 31 bx5 bx5 32 b1 a6 33 b2  34 b xa2+ 35 b3 a6 36 6 x6 3  x 1 

inc this tuns ut s dy Blc must cnsid 13. . .6 kpin th un cs t th kinsid t hlp ith dfnc hi thtnin . . .4 nd .. .4 s  s . . .3+. 14 a3! 

foo wing diagram

Pntin 14. . .4 ctitin th kniht. 1 4  .C4! 1 5 1 f6

Odd and nd

Aw Ths s anth msl

faute lack accepts a slht space saantae an eelps hs kn's bshp n 7 an e 7e6 n  der t retan the ptn f deelpn hs bshp n c uts the pawn chan f he wshes

Gm  Gkoaov

Rkjvi Ths maneue echann the aneus bshp n c3 be ae black plas hop n ths lne 1 6  3  j xc 3 1   xg4

Obusl 17  e lses t 1 h7 mate

1991

1 3 5 2 c4 c6 3 3 6 4 c3 g6 5 4 jg 6 2 0-0  0-0 b6

A sl mo eelpn the bshp t b7 t supp lack's cen t The me acte 7   dc4  c4 4 s ealt wth n th net am

1     6 1 8 xc3 xg3 1 9 g5 xg5 20 j3 8 21  6 22 1 c 23 xg5 8 24 c5 jg4 25 x6+ 1 -0

8 cx5 cx5 9 5

25   f6 26 h e7 27 h7 s mate! B)

The Sch ete Sav: 3 c3 f6 4 e3 96

 1 What s the a bhn

ths sstem?

When the cental pawn stuctue bcmes fe the st s t an a cntal spac aanta wll be abl t clam the ntate 9 .  jb 1 0 j2 ?

10   Cc6 was stne meetn 11 f4 wth 11Ce! ntenn t de elp the nht t d6 when lack nl stans a lttle wse 1 1 4  6 1 2 3  ?

1 C3 s also pssbl lack has

Th e Sla v

not developed hs pees harmon ously: the kngs knght stops the queens knght rom developng to d and has no moves o ts own.

xe xe  h6 g6  xg6 e 36 h d6 3 7     -0

Gam 4

 2    1  d 

reevPt

Domun 14  d 6 2  6   d  e g  3 g 6 e2

hte an try 6 d (preventn .  .5) 6 . .-  h (preventng ...g  he wants to prevent the plan n th game although  . . .5 s an nterestn reply. he game transposes to a que varaton o the neld n wh hte has played the useul thoug hardly earth-shatterng extra mov h2-h. .

    

A lttle hasty aordng to ulko who preers 1 4 g4! e6 15 5.     gx   x e6  6 d3 6    e2 �d6 1   g  g6 1 9  h h 20 e2 a 2 a e 22 dxe xe 23 g x 2 x  2 x x 26 e

6    0-0  00 dx  jx g

Ths s a muh more atve dea: Blak wll ollow up wth   bd7 an a quk  . .e7-e5.

9 h x  0 x bd 1 1 b3

A very ne move: 26 .  .dxe4 loses to 2 4. 26   e 2 b b 2 g  29  � 0 �h �  6 g 2 xh x6 

he rtal lne s 1 1 d1 e5 12 d e4!? 1 xe4 xe4 14 xe4 b6 1 b (threatenng d5x6; Bareev su gests 15 b 1 !? protetng b2 and seek ng to avod the tmeloss wth 4 bxd5 as n the game) 15 . . xd5 16

Odds and Ends

xd xd 1 7 Mxd b6.

t and gan pace. 1  2 b6! 1 9 d d 20 1 !

Imperceptbl, Whte ha dred nto bg trouble Black control the central dark quare and Whte' queene  an ea target

2  What  gong on here? A Black ha acrfced a pawn

for a lead n deelopment and pre ure agant the b-pawn Howeer, th pla  uffcent to regan the pawn, but not to achee complete equalt:  d3 Ma 19 e4! d4 0 h  xf  1 h6 Mxd  exdS Md 3 Md d6 4 c3, ntendng g7 mate, when Whte' paed d-pawn and Black' weak kngde gae Whe a lght adantage n Baree-Kramnk, Nogorod 1994

21 1 6 22 1 5 23 b3 d2 2 d2 d2 25 6 6 26 5 b2 2  5 2 d3 d 29 g3 5 30  d 31 h2  5 3 2 h a2 3 3  h5!

1 1 .  5 1 2 d1  1 3 ?! d 1  d ad 1 5 3 5 1 6 2 d 1  dd1 b5!

  g   5  h6 6 h 5 3 g3  3 6 a1

Here Whte lot o n tme. Black actate h queende major

What I lke about the chleter la  t flexblt: on moe 7, Black ha

h Sla 

a uge range f pans We ave seen: a) 7   b6 renfrcng te centre by fancettng te ter bsp  an b) 7   dxc4 8 xc4 g4 t break qucky n te centre by means f   b7, xf3 an e7e5 but Black can als t c) 7   a6 t expan n te queense wt b7b5, befre r aer 5xc4 an ) 7   e4!? t unbaance te pawn structure wt xc3 Batesaler, Brts ampnsp 995, cntn ue 8 b3 b6 9 xe4 (9 cx5 xc3! 0 bxc3 cx5 ntenng c6a5, t tng te queen) 9   xe4 0 2 f5  f3 e5 2 xe5 exf3! 3 xf3 d7, re ganng te pawn wt a better pawn strcture;   an te st cntnues! Tere reay s uge scpe fr persna eas C)

3 f3 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 e3

5    b5 6 a4 b4  b1

7 a2, attackng te b4-pawn, re gans te pawn by frce, but serus mspaces te kngt Te text s mr ambtus  .  .a6 8 2

8 bd2 regans te pawn, but aer 8  c3 9 bxc3 xf 0 xf bxc Back wl break wt c6c5 an equase 8 . .  5 ! 9 - 6 1  d x 5  a5 ! 1 1 bd2 6 1 2 b3 x5 1 3 b2 3 1  xa6 xb2 15 b5 

Ts was ne f my favurtes wen I was ttle, but Im nt qute sure wy I eced t pay t aganst Bareev! It s actually nt a very prmng cn tnuatn

m  adlerBarev

gs 1 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 f3 f6 4 3 dx4 5 3 

foowing diagram

Tryng t manage wtut te standar 5 a4, wc prevents te ad vance b7-b5

Te kng s very safe n te centre Bareev rapy utpays me, but arun te tme cntr begns t ask t muc f s sgt advantage 1 6 b1 a6   2 b6 1 8 xb2

Odds and Ends

d5  9 4 x4 2 x4 3 21 2  22   d8 23 d2 a5 24 2 6 25 :1 d6 26 3 5 2 f1 5 28 4 5 29 4 f 6 3 f a 8 31 xd8 xd8 32 d2 :8 33 4 5 34 x5 x5 35  8 36 d3 d8 3  :8 38 d3 5 39 2 d8 4  4 41 x4 R8 42 d3 d8 43  :8 44 d3 8 45 2 :d8 46  :8 4 d3 d8 48  xa4?

T rsy Aer te tactcs Bac ny ust anages t h n t te ra

49 :a2 b2 5 xa5  51 2 8 52 6 x6 53 a d6 54 x8 x8 55 x6 x6 56 xf d3 5 5 5 58 6 xb3 59 f8 5 6 f4 b2 61 4 5 62 5 d 63  x5 64 fx5 x5 65 2 b3 66 8 x8 6 x8 5 68 f2 4 69 2 b2  b8 3  d  5

 

The Slav Gambit: 3 f3 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 e4 b5 6 e5 d5  a4 e6

As far as I a cncerned 5 e ust ses a an ut se deards just kee n ayng t! Frest angst tem is te attacng es payer Tger HarPerssn  ere s ne f s tyca effrts

86 HllarpPersson - As

Bt 196 1 4 6 2 f3 f6 3 d4 d 5 4 3 dx4 5 4 b5 6 5 d5  a4 6 8 5?

Te ern ne 8 a5 c3 9 c3 c5 10 g5 7 11 5 g6 12 g e7 s te  cntnuatn en Back  f u t   7-6-5 e Wite ays fr trcks!

8  .  9 4 ? 6 1  4 b4

10  a6 ieatey s nteresting t av eaenng te ueense t eary Te tet eads t asute cas tug  tn tat Back s fne 1 1 b a6  2 4 6  3 bd2 3 14 4 x4 1 5 x4 a5 1 6  5 5   d 8 bx3 b6 1 9 b3 x3 2 x3 bx3 2  4

Th e Sla v

 22 f b 2 2 b 2 fxg b6! 2 x x 26 f x 27 e xe 2 xf7

Here 6 . . .c8!? 7 £3 takes us back t square oe, but 7 e3 e 8 xc4 ex4  ex4 e7 10 00 00 11 3 a6!? 1 f3 c7!, teg ...e6, leas t a uclear posto.  the ext gam we see Black allowg the exchag o f.

am 87 aveko-ov

La



1    2  6  f f6   x   f 6 h4 e6 7 xf exf  e 6 2     29 e 1 e 0 b6 7 1 xe xe 2  h7  f2 xg  e1 f  e2 e 6 b  7 6 7   7 9 x  0  7 1  1  2 2  e  f1 f  g 7  



A amazg game!

E

3 3 6 4 c3 dxc4 5 a4 �5 6 h4!?

Ths s a terestg lttle ea that has eve bee tre by Kasparov.

Ths caot be ba, but  woer whether Black caot evelop more effectvely. Whtes basc ea s t play f3, h2h3 a g2-g4, removg the f-paw a thus uermg Blacks cotrol of e4.  orer to pre vet ths pla,  woul therefore sug gest protectg the f-paw wth . . .7, puttg the bshop sesbly o e7 a the evelopg the quees kght t b4 va a6. Ths le s of course very smlar to Yusupov Kramk from the 6 e3 ma les, but sce Whte has take o  so early, allowg Black to prevet e3-e4

Odds and Ends

w a pawn on fS, raer an s peces, Black as more flexbl w s pece placemen:    aS 9 xc4 a6 10 f3 d7 11 3 b4 12 00 e7 s fne for Black. 9 x4 0-0 1 0 0-0 bd 1 1  6 1 2 h3 h 1 3 �3 6 1 4 4! x4 1  x4 x4 1 6 �x4

28   W6 29 b4 d 30 b6 W 31 W2  32 b4 4 33 d6 h4 34 W2  3 Wd2  36 6 bx6 3 x6  38 d6 b 39 b6  40 b8  41 b xb 42 xb  43 Ub4 W 44 £4 Wd6 4 6 W 46 W3  4  Wb6 48 xd Wx6 49 x £ 0 Wd3 b6 1 W2 4 2 h xh3 3 xh3 £ 4 Wd3 W6  xh4 Wd 6 h W6  W4 2 8 h6 W 9 W4 1 -0

F

3 

 3 f4 e nends e-e3, wen e wll ave safel developed s queen's bsop ousde e pawn can. e move  7- as raer weak ened e lack kngsde and now xg6 s reaened 1 6    w 1  d2 6 1 8 �3 d 1 9  1  20 xd xd 21 b4 d6 22  x 23 dx �d 24 d1 d8 2 d4 8 26 Ux8 �x8 2 �3 �x3 28 x3

e's space advanage gves m a ve pleasan rook endng

Game 8 saksadler

Megeve (



1 d4 d 2 4 6 3 4 dx4!

Bascall wnng a pawn 4 3 6  3 b 6 �3 �  4 b4 8 4 b3 9 3 b4 1 0 2 �x2!

Now aer 11 Mxa2 bxa2 e pawn

The Sla 

queens! 1 1   1 x b2 1 2 4 tf6 1 3  5 5 14 xf6 xf4 1 5 xf4 a3 1 6 3 b2 1  b1 a2 Thretenng 18 . . . + 1  d 1 b3+ 1 9 d2 a6 20 fx  21 6 6 22 3 t5!

ta4 26 1 x3+ 2  x7 2 x6+ fx6 29 4 xd5 3 6+ b 31 t3 2 32  4+!

ng thngs se! 33 x4 dx4 34 d1 xd1 3 xd1 5 0-1 23 x 0-0-0 4 d5 xd5 25 xd5

ot  goo vert or 3 �4!

Os an ns

Summary

The  chete vaatn s a easnabe altenatve t 3    dc ae 3 Cc3 Hever nte that ac can ny pay ths lne ae e2e3 by te as 3 C3 C6  Cc3 6  cd cdS 6 ! eads t a spe vesn  the  chane vaatn hch s athe depessn  ac hte payes n r an beat atenatve mht cae t eamne 6 Ch!? 1 d4 d5 2 4 6 3 3

3 C3 C6  Cc3 dc   e3 game 85  e game 86  a S 6 Ch game 87 3  dc - game 88 -

-

-

3   5

3  C6  e3 6 5 Cc3 7 6 e2 00 7 0-0 D 7  b6  game 83 7  dc game 84 -

4 dx5 d4 5 4 a5  6 d2 x5  3 f6  f3 d6 9 2  1   --  - 1 1  3 dx 3 1 2 f x 3 (D) 2  c7  game 81 2  Ca6  game 82

4 . . . dxc4

7 0-0

1 2 fxe3

OF

Adianto-Kramnik, Ld (Il Gad Px) 1994 Akopian-Shirov, Wjk aa Z Op 1993 Alburt-Shabalov, USA Champp 1996 Andersson-Epishin, T Apl 1 995 Atalik-Miles, Hag 1995/96 Bacrot-Smyslov, Alb {x mac gam} 1996 Beliavsky-Shirov, Eva Oympad 1996 Benz-Gretarsson, Oba  1996 Cifuentes-Dreev, Wjk aa Z 1995 Cifuentes-Leyva, fug 1996 Dautov-Niolic, T Apl 1 994 Deev-Piket, Dmud 1 994 Ehvest-Schwartzma, N Yk  1996 pishin-Pomes, Maa 1995 Gefand-Lautier, uc 1994 Gelfand-Nikoic, Ma la Izal 1 990 Gelfand-Shirov, Dmud 1 996 Gofshtein-Sadler, Ica 1996 Gulko-Saov, Rkjavk (Wld Cup) 1991 Hillarp-Persson - Acs, Budap 1996 Hjartarson-Gulko, Rkjavk 1996 Hodgson-Sadler, Ica 1996 Hbner-Beliavsk Muc 1994 Iescas-Gefand, D Hmaa 1 996 Ivanchuk-Bareev, Dmud 1995 Ivanchuk-Lautie, La 1994 Ivanchuk-Smysov, Tal apdplay) 1996 Karpov-Hjartarson, Tlbug 1988 KarpovKramnik, M Cal ldfld) 1995

49 125 127 111 95 69 104 64 102 115 77 134 23 75 30 82 55 27 133 137 121 110 24 56 18 22 62 45 16

In d ex o f C o m p l e t e G a m e s

Karpov-Short, Dortmund 1995 Kasparov-Bareev, Novgorod 1994 Kasparov-Nikolic, Man ila Olympiad 1992 Kasparov-Shirov, Dos Hermanas 1 996 Khalifman-Georgiev.Kir, Elenite 1994 Klarenbeek-Rogers, Dutch Team Championship 1996 Kozul-Illescas, Erevan Olympiad 1996 Kramnik-Damljanovic, Moscow Olympad 1 994 Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Linares 1994 Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Monte Carlo lindfold) 1996 Kramnik-Lautier, Linares 1994 1996 Kramnik-Shirov, Kramnk-Shirov, Vienna 1996 Kramnik-Short, Moscow (Intel Grand Prix) 1996 Kramnik-Short, Novgorod 1994 Krasenkov-Epishin, Bo 1994 KrasenkovSapis, Polish Championship 1995 Krasenkov-Sokolov.I, Malmo 1995 Lalic-Saler, Hastings 1995/96 Lautier-Bareev, Linares 1994 Lautier-Sokolov., Groningen 1995 Leitao-Beliavsky Erevan Olympiad 1996 Miles-Hogson, Hastings 1995/96 Milov-Saler, Isle ofMan 1994 Nesterov-Imanaliev Bishkek Zonal 1 993 NogueirasSokolov., Erevan Olympiad 1996 ovikov-Gretarsson, Berlin Open 1995 Oll-Anan, Biel Inteonal 1993 Parker-Hellsten Copenhagen 1996 Piket-Ge1fan, Wijk aan Zee 1996 Portisch-Kramnik, Bel Inteonal 1993 Psakhis-Saler, Megeve (PCA rapidplay) 1 994 Pushkov-Epishin, Russian Championship 1995 Razuvaev-Sturua, Erevan Open 1996 Richarson-Sadler, Islington Open 1995 Rogozenko-Bets, Moldovan Championsh 1994 Ruze1e-Thorstens, yon (uropean Club Cup) 1994 Saler-Bareev, Hastings 1992/93 Saler-Ferguson, British Championship 1996 Saler-Hogson, Hastings 1995/96 Sadler-Miles, British hampionship 199 Savchenko-Ninov, Caelle la Gnde Open 1994

92 35

130 54 35

84 124 7 47

66 43

47

9 67 59 91 1 11 39 105 120 84 10 79

119 63 87 76 53

114 139 101 13 132 60 136 42 92 34

13

  l v

Schandorff-Hellsten, Coenaen 199 Shirov-Bareev, e 1991 Shirov-Nikolic W aan Zee 199 Sokolov.I-Bareev, eon 1995 SokolovI-Hellsten, Mao 1995 Sokolov.I-Shirov, rean Oad 199 StraussD-Lakdawala, SA 19 Topalov-Gelfand, erade 1995 ToalovGeland, os eranas 199 Vaiser-Nalbandian, rean en 199 Van der Sterren-Petursson, San eardno en 199 Van der SterrenShirov, e nteona 199 Ward-Levitt, rts Caons 1 995 Wells-Flear, Oaa 199 Xu Jun-Akopian, Mosco Oad 199 YusupovKramnik, a 1995 Yusupov-Shirov, Zurc 199

75  78 5 8 1  1 58 11 57 89 1 9  17 111