CONTEMPORARY CHESS OPENINGS
General Editor R.G.Wade
The Benoni William R. Hartston
Popularised
by
Fischer
and
Tal,
the
Benoni is one of the best choices for any player who wants an active defence to ,P-Q4. The first edition of this book re ceived
wide
acclaim.
Leonard
Barden
praised it as 'a balanced review of this sharp and lively opening' and placed the author
'among
the
top
ten
opening
theorists in the world.' This new edition has been expanded and updated,
and
contains many more illustrative games. William Hartston is an international mas ter anp Britain's highest-ranking player. In the '972/3 Hastings Premier Tourna ment he was placed third, ahead of many grandmasters - and only just failed to achieve the grandmaster rating. He has also written a volume on The Grlinfeld and is co-author of The King's Indian Defence, both in Batsford's Contemporary Chess Open ings series.
Second Edition of A BATSFORD CHESS BOOK
For a complete list of Batsford chess books please turn to the backflap
CONTEMPORARY CHESS OPENINGS GENERAL EDITOR: R.G.WADE
The Benoni WILLIAM R. HARTSTON
B. T. Batsford Ltd / London
Preface
This book is intended to contain all the material necessary for chess players who wish to play the Benoni defence with the Black pieces, or who may meet it as White. I hope and think that players of competitive chess of all standards will find this work useful, since it is directed at no particular level of play, but my aim has been rather to set out all the material in the most coherent and readable manner possible. Writing on chess openings is admittedly in danger of dating owing to the large number of international tournaments played, which are always adding to the relevant material. It is impossible to deal with this problem completely satisfactorily, but I have minimised its effect by stressing the general features of any variation, using recent games more to illustrate these ideas than as the final word on the subject. This should help the reader to acquire a feel for the position, which is always more important than memorising long, and possibly out-dated, variations. For the second edition, I found it both desirable and ex pedient to include a number of annotated games, serving to illustrate current theoretical trends in addition to providing further examples of strategic development after the opening. References to the beginning of 1973 have been incorporated and those who seek a full account will not be disappoin ted. The book is divided into three distinct sections : the Modern Benoni and Czech Benoni form the first two parts, and both of these are covered in sufficiently great detail for anyone who may wish to play these lines as either colour; in the third section I have given a review of other less popular Benoni lines, with enough analysis for the reader to meet them with confidence. W.R.H.
Contents
Preface Symbols I. THE MODERN BENONI
A The Fianchetto Variation B The Knight's Tour Variation c Uhlmann's Line D The Main Line E
The Pawn Storm Variation
F The Penrose-Tal Line Q Other Systems
Avoiding the Modern Benoni Annotated Games
2. THE CZECH BENONI 3. OTHER BENONI SYSTEMS Index of Complete Games Index of Variations
Symbols
ch
Check
± =F
Clear advantage for Black
!!
Very good move
? ?? !? ?!
Weak move
Clear advantage for White Strong move
Very bad move Double-edged move Doubtful move
W or B at the side of each diagram indicates which side is to move
I.
The Modern Benoni
12
TIu Modern Bmoni
The characteristic position of the Modern Benoni arises after the moves
I P--Q.4 N-KB3 5
PxP P-Q.3.
!I
P-Q.1I4 P-1I4 3 P--Q.s P-K3 4 N-Q.83 PxP
I W
The Modern Benoni has the reputation of being one of Black's most aggressive replies to 1
P-Q,4.
White is immediately given a central
pawn majority in the hope that Black's queen's side majority will prove more effective. Owing to the unbalanced nature of the position, play is necessarily very sharp. Black will fianchetto his king's bishop and aim for ..
.
P-Q.N4
followed by a general advance on the queen's wing,
while White tries to restrain tHis plan while preparing a pawn push in the centre. The line was introduced by Marshall against Nimzovitch at New York 1927, in which game White demonstrated the effectiveness of establishing a knight at
Q,B4
and Black was driven into a hopelessly
passive position. Thereafter the variation was only seen sporadically until the mid-1950s when extensive analyses by Suetin demonstrated Black's correct plans. Shortly after, Tal scored some brilliant victories with it and the Modern Benoni received the accolade of respectability. Its popularity reached a peak while Tal was World Champion, and has recently risen again following Fischer's successful adoption of the opening at the Havana Olympiad 1966 and subsequently. White's possible plans are numerous. We examine them under the following headings: A. The fianchetto variation:
B.
N-B3 P-KN3 7 N-Q,2 and 8 N-B4 N-B3 P-KN3 7 B-N5 main line: 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 N-B3 B-N2 8 B-K2 pawn storm variation: 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 P-B4 Penrose-Tal line: 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 B-Q,3 B-N2 8 KN-K2
c. Uhlmann's line: 6 D.
The
E. The F.
6 P-KN3
The 'knight's tour' variation: ti
The
G. Other systems.
The Fia1lChetto Variation
13
A. The Fianchetto Variation: 6. P-KN3 6 7 B-Na IN-a, Pointless is 8 N-R3? as in Golombek-Stahlberg, Hamburg 1955, when there followed 8 . 0-0 9 0-0 R-KI 10 N-B4 B-Q,2 11 P-Q,R4 ' N-R3 12 P-K4 N-Q,N5 with good play for Black. 8 P�K4 0-0 9 KN-K2 is also ineffective; e.g. Donner-Czerniak, Venice 1950, continued 9 R-KI 10 P-Q.R4 N-R3 11 P-B3 N-Q,N5 12 B-K3 P-N3 13 Q-Q,2 B-Q,R3 140-0 N-Q,2 with advantage to Black. 0-0 I.. . . . .
. .
• . •
2
B
White has developed his pieces quietly without committing himself in the centre. He intends to continue with the plan of N:-Q,2, N-B4, P-K4 and a gradual expansion culminating in a central breakthrough with P-K5. Black has a number of possible methods of counterplay, the great variety of these illustrating the many varied thematic ideas inherent in the Modern Benoni formation. We consider: (i) 9 P-Q.R3, (ii) 9 «.CK2( ! ) , (iii) 9 ... N-R3, and (iv) other ninth moves. . . •
• • •
(i) 9
. . .
P-Q,R3
10 P-Q.14 Almost a reflex action. It is essential to prevent P-Q,N4, so no other move comes into serious consideration. Q.N-Q.2 10 R-KI 11 N-Q.2 Q,N-Q,2 transposes, but White should not answer 10 . .. R-KI with 11 B-B4 when Black secures good play with 11 N-K5! (weaker is 11 «.CB2 12 Q,-Q.2 Q,N-Q.2 13 KR-NI P-B5 14 B-R6. . . .
• . •
• • •
• • •
14
The Modern Benoni
B-RI I S Q-B4 R-NI 1 6 P-R3 P- QN4 1 7 p X P p XP 1 8 N-Q4±, Smyslov-Tolush, Leningrad 1 9SI ) 12 Q.- N3 Q-B2 1 3 NXS RXS 1 4 N-Q.2 R-NS I S Q.-K3 N-Q.2 ! 1 6 Q.-K8ch N-BI 1 7 s-K4 Q.-Q.2 1 8 Q. x Q. B X Q. 1 9 B x P P-N3 20 P-RS p- B4 !, Uhlmann-Kluger, Marianske Lazne 1 9S4. 1 1 N-Q.2
3 B
R-NI 11 ... I I . . . R-K I is an important alternative, perhaps better than the text move. White obtains no advantage then with either (a) 1 2 N-B4 N-N3 1 3 N-K3 ( 1 3 NXN Q.X N 1 4 P-RS Q-B2 I S B-B4 N-R4 1 6 B-Q.2 B-Q.2 =, Toran-Esposito, Buenos Aires 1 9S5; or 1 3 N-R3 B-Q.2 14 B B4 N-BI IS N-B4 Q-B2 16 P-K4 N-R4 1 7 B-K3 R-NI 1 8 P-RS B-N4 with complications, Sosonko-Veinger, Leningrad 1 966) 1 3 .. N-NS ! 1 4 NX N BX N I S P-R3 B -Q. 2 1 6 Q-Q.3 R-NI = , Stahlberg-Kluger, Bucharest ' 1 9S4; or (b) 1 2 P-R3 R-NI 1 3 N-B4 N-K4 1 4 N-R3 Q-B2 (insufficient is 14 ... Q.-K2 I S P-B4 N(K4)-Q.2 1 6 K-R2 P-KR4 1 7 P-K4 ± Sokolev-Savon U S S R 1 966 ; but a sharp try is 14 ... N-R4? ! for example: I S P-K3 P-B4 1 6 R-NI B-Q.2 1 7 P-Q. N4 P X P 1 8 RXP Q- R4 with complications, Osnos-Stein, USSR Champ 1 966, or I S P-K4 P-B4 1 6 p XP B XP 1 7 P-KN4 NXP 18 PXN Q- RS 1 9 PXB B-K4 20 R-KI and Black's attack should not succeed, Yuferov-Vasiukov, U S S R 1 968) I S P-B4 N (K4)-Q.2 1 6 P-K4 P-BS ! ( 1 6 ... P-N3 1 7 K-R2 B-N2 18 Q.-Q. 3 Q.R-BI 19 N-B4 ±, Szabo-Unzicker, Moscow 1 9S6) 1 7 B- K3 (if 17 Q- K2 P-Q.N4 !) 1 7 ... N-R4 1 8 B-B2 N-B4 1 9 P-KS (if 1 9 NXP B X N 20 PXB NXKP+)N-Q.6 20 PXPQ-Q.I! 2 1 Q-Q.2 B-B4 +, Gonzales-Polugaevsky, Havana 1 962. Formerly it was main tained that after 1 1 ... R-K I , White could gain the advantage with 1 2 P-RS P-Q.N4 1 3 P x P e.p. N x NP 14 N-N3 N-BS I S R-R4 N-N3 16 R-R2 N-BS 1 7 Q.-Q. 3, but then the resource 17 ...
1M F_lutto VIIt'i4lUm
15
Il-NI! was unearthed. Critical then is 18 Q.XN Il-NS 19 N-IlS! ? IlXQ. 20 N X Q. but this awaits practical tests. After this discovery the move 11
. ••
R-KI became fashionable again;
some of the developments of theory will be found in the game Stetsko Bangiyev annotated on page 82 .At the present time 11 ... R-KI may be recommended as a promising sharp response to the fianchetto variation, avoiding the quiet paths into which this line usually leads. Besides 11
. • •
R-KI and 11
bility for Black of I I
. . •
with either 12 P-R3 R-NI
N-KB2
16 N-B4 B-Q.2
. • .
R-NI there is also the dubious possi
N-KI , but after this White obtains an advantage 13 N-B4 N-K4
14 N-R3 P-B4
13 N-R3! (but not 13 NXN BXN
or 12 N-B4 N-K4
IS P-B4
I , P-RS, Marovic-Cebalo, Yugoslavia 196,; 14 � B-N2
IS B-Q.2 B-Q.2 with equality, Horowitz-Reshevsky, New York 19S6).
12 N B4 -
13 P XP e.p. NXNP
12 P-RS P-Q.N4
14 P-K4 (or 14 N-N3 N-BS
I S R-R4 N-N3 as in O'Kelly-Tolush, Bucharest 19S3, when White has no better than a draw with 16 R-RI N-BS, etc.)
t;C-K2
16 N-BI N-BS
I ' t;C-K2 N-K4
14
• . •
R-KI
I S R-KI
18 P-R3 P-BS with active play
for Black, Donner-Filip, Amsterdam 19S4.
12 ...
N-KI
12 .. .N-N3 allows 13 NXQ.P.
13 P-RS 14 N-N6 1 5 P-R3!
N-K4 N-B2
Good for Black is I S P-B4 N-NS
16 N-B4 R-KI
I , N-lC4 N-N4
18 P-R3 B-B4! Donner-Keres, Hastings 1954-S; while I S N-K4 B-B4 16 B-NS P-B3
I ' B-Q.2 also achieves nothing, Smyslov-Pachman,
Amsterdam 19S4.
4 B
White now has some advantage since it is difficult for Black to create
16
Tilt Modem Bm"";
1 5 ... N-N4 ( 1 5 ... N-Q2 16 N-B4 1 7 N-R3! ±) 1 6 B-Q2 R-Kl 17 R-KI, Marovic-J. Littlewood. Hastings 1 962-3. and White is slowly but surely completing his pre parations for p-B4. P-K4, etc. active play for himself. For example
N-K4
(ii) 9
. . .
Q;-K2 (!) (from diagram 2)
This is Black's most solid defence to the fianchetto variation. His plan is simply to avoid weakening his queen's side by any unnecessary pawn moves, and to keep a firm hold on his K4-square. It is also possible to play 9 ... Q.N-Q2 1 0 N-Q.2 Q.-K2(!) 10 N-Q.2 Q.N-Q.2
transposing.
11 N-Ilf Other possibilities are: (a) 1 1 P-KR3 P-N3 1 2 P-Q.R4 B-QR3 1 3 R-KI N-KI B x N 15 P x B N-B2, Donner-Petrosian, Goteborg 1 955, 1 6 Q.-N3 N-B3 1 7 N-NI KR-B 1 1 8 N-B3 P-QR3! Black
1 4 N-QN5 when after gained the
initiative;
1 1 7-Q.R4 N-K4 1 2 P-B4 N(K4)-N5 1 3 N-B4 N-KI 14 P-K3 1 5 P-R3 N(N5)-B3 1 6 R-KI B-Q2 with a difficult game for both sides, Lilienthal-Suetin, 2 1St USSR Championship 1954. 11 ... N-Kt Q.xN 12 NxN 13 P-Q.R..t 1 3 R-K I Q;-K2 1 4 P-Q.R4 N-Q2 1 5 Q;-N3 N-K4 1 6 B-Q.2 P-KN4 I 7 N-K4 P-KR3 1 8 B-B3 (Van Seters-Tan, Hastings 1 962-3) and now instead of 1 3 ... p-B4?? 14 NXBP. 1 3 . . . R-N I or 1 3 . .. P-N3 (b)
P-B4
would be quite satisfactory.
13 ...
P-Q.R3
Quiet manoeuvring with
1 3 ... Q.-K2
as in the note above is also suffi-
The Fianchetto Variation
17
den t for equality. The text move was played in the game Gligoric Petrosian, Zurich 1 9S3, in which after 14 P-RS KR-KI IS B-B4 Q-K2 16 Q-N3 N--Q2 Black had a very comfortable position,
(iii)
9
...
N-R3 (from diagram 2)
This intends to prepare . . . P--QN4 by playing . . . N-B2 , but in this line Black's central problems cause too many difficulties for him to equalise. 10 P-KR3! This innovation of Korchnoi's denies Black the use of his KNS square for his knight or bishop and thus makes it much easier to continue actively in the centre. If instead 10 P-K4, then 10 . . . B-NS is satisfactory, for example: II R-KI N-B2 12 P-KR3 BX N 13 QXB N-Q2 14 Q-K2 R.-KI IS B-K3 P- QR3 16 P-QR4 R-NI with good play for Black, Letelier-Darga, Havana 1 964. The older plan for White was 1 0 N-Q2 N-B2 II p-Q . R4 (if II N-B4 KN-KI 1 2 P-QR4 P-N3 1 3 B-Q2 R-NI 1 4 N-NS NXN IS PXN N-B2 16 RXP NXNP is not bad for Black, Tal-Mnatsakanian, U S S R 1 9S9, but not here II . . . P--Q N4? 12 NXQP ! QXN 1 3 B-B4 Q-N3 14 p-Q6 with great advantage, Boleslavsky-Kapengut, Minsk 1 96 1 ) II .. . P-N3 12 N-B4. (If�12 R-KI B-QR3 1 3 R-R3 R-KI 14 P-K4 N-Q2 I S B-BI BX B 16 NX B P--QR3 I 7 B-B4 N-K4 Foguelman-Pachman, Buenos Aires 1 960; or 1 2 R-NI B-QR3 1 3 P-QN4 pXP 14 RXP B-N2 with a good game for Black, Buslaev-Polugaievsky, Tiflis 1 9S6) 1 2 . . . B--QR3 1 3 N-R3 (or 13 Q-N3 B x N 14 QX B P-QR3 with counterplay, Bevshev Kliavin, Voroshilovgrad 1 9S5) R-KI 14 R-KI N-Q2 I S B-Q2 (or I S P-B4 P-B4 1 6 P-K4 pXP 17 NXP N-B3 18 N-B3 Q-Q2 Of Yepez Evans, Havana 1 966) I S '" P-B4 16 Q-N3 N-B3 and Black has an active position, Bukic-Matulovic, Yugoslav Championship 1 967. A new plan was seen in the game Korchnoi-Schmid, Erewan 1 965, which continued 10 N-KI N-B2 II P-QR4 R-KI 12 N-B2 P-N3 .13 R KI R-NI 14 P-R3 N--:Q2 I S B-Q2 Q-K2 1 6 R-NI with even chances. N-B2 10 . . . 11 P-K.f! I I P-QR4 R-K I 1 2 N-Q2 P-N3 was played in two games between Bertok (White) and Matulovic. The first (Yugoslav Championship 1 965) continued 13 R-KI B-QR3 14 P-K4 N-Q2 I S N-B3 N-K4 16 NXN BXN 1 7 B-K3 QB-N2 18 Q-Q2 P--QR3 ; while the second (Sochi 1 966) went 1 3 N-B4 B--QR3 14 Q-N3 BXN I S QXB. P--QR3 16 B-NS P-R3 1 7 B--Q2 Q-Q2 18 P-K4 P--QN4, and in both cases Black had a perfectly satisfactory position. =,
18 11
If
The Modem BttUmi
N-Q.2
•••
II
• • •
P-Q.N4
12 p-K5!
is very strong.
6 W
12 R-KI III B-N5 was played in the game Lengyel-Langeweg, Havana 1966, but after 12 ... P-B3 13 B-B4 N-K4 14 N-Q.2 P-Q.N4 15 B-K3 P-N5 16 N-K2 B-Q.R3 17 R-N I P-B4 Black had good counterplay. After the text move, 12 R-K I , White has a strong position. It is difficult for Black to achieve active play with the threat of P-K5 always in the air. The g�me Korchnoi-Tal, USSR Championship 1962, con tinued 12 . .. N-K I 13 B-N� B-B3 14 B-K3 R-N I 15 P-Q.R4 P-Q.R3
16 B-KB I ! Q-K2
17 N-Q.2 N-B2
20 N(2)-K4 c;c-Q I
2 1 NXB
24 N�5 NXN BI Q.xp. R-K I
25 Q.XN B-N2
29 B-Q.B4 B-B I
33 Q-N5 R-K5
R-Q.B5
37 RXR BXR
18 P-B4 P-Q.N4
ch NXN
19 p-K5! PxKP
22 p-Q.6 N-K3
26 Q.-Q.2 Q-Q.2
30 R-BI
R-N5
34 R-KB2 P-B4 38 R-Q.2 B-K3
23 PXKP P-N5
27 K-R2 p-N6 31 BXN BXB
35 Q-B6 Q-Q.2
39 R-Q. I Q-R2
'28 Q.R 32 B-R6
36 RXQ.BP
40 R-Q.2 Q-Q.2
41 R-Q.I Q-R2 42 R-Q.4 Q.-Q.2 43 P-N4 P-R4 44 K-N3 R-NI 45 K-R4 Q-KB2 46 K-N5 PxP 47 PxP B-Q.2 48 R-Q.B4 P-R5 49 R-B7 p-R6 50 RxB Q. x R A
resigns.
5 I p-K6 Q-R2
52 Q-K5 PxP
53 P-K 7 K-B2
54 P-Q.7
very impressive execution of White's strategy in this line.
(iv) Other ninth moves (from diagram 2) (a)9 . . BXN
.
Q.N-Q.2 loN-Q.2( I OP-Q.R4 N-K I
13 B-R6 N-N2
14 Q-Q.2 P-N3
I I P-K4 N-K4
15 K-RI B-R3
12 NXN
Sliwa-Spassky, I I P-Q.R4 or 10 . Q =
Goteborg 1955) 10 ... R-KI (10 P-Q.R3 transpose into lines already discussed) 1 1 P-Q.R4 (11 N-B4 N-N3 12 N-K3 N-N5 is satisfactory for Black, Veltmander-Simagin, Gorky 1954) 1 1 N-Kf 12 P-R3 P-KN4?1 This idea was tried out in the game Uhlmann-Larsen, Beverwijk 1961, but after 13 N(Q.2)• . •
K2(!)
. . .
. .
The Fiandlltlo
K4 NXN
Variation
19
14 NXN P-KR3 IS P-B4 pX P 16 pX P N-N3 17 P-BS N-RS 18 p-B6 Nx B 19
.
20
his
TIu Modern Bmoni Queen's side from th� bind created by the White pawn at Q.N5.
Florian-Kluger, Budapest 1955 , continued 14
15 P x P e.p. p�N4!) R�BI J 6 P-B4
.
P-Q.1l4
15 R-KI (if
17 P-KN4 N(R4)-B3
±. In the game Heemsoth-Gligoric, Hastings 1959-60, Black
continued more calmly with 14
Q.N-B3
. .
16 R-R4! N-R4
. . .
R-IU
15 R-R4 N-KI
16 N-K4
18 Q.�3 but here also White had a slight
17 N-B3 N-B2
advantage.
B. The Knight's Tour Variation 6 N-B3 P-1{N3 7 N-Q.� (jrom diagram 1)
7 B
White intends to play 8 N-B4 and subsequently, by further attacking the Black queen's pawn, to force his opponent onto the defensive leaving the way clear for White to exploit his spatial advantage. How ever, this plan consumes much time and Black is able to organise sufficient counterplay. Occasionally, after
6 N-B3,
an attempt is made to anticipate White's
plan of attacking the Queen's pawn, and
6
• . •
B-K2 is played, but this
is too passive to be satisfactory; for example: 7 P-K4 0-0
9 0-0 N-B2
10 p�R3! KR-KI
II Q.-B2 B-N5
8 B-K2 N-R3
12 P-N4 ±, Furman
Osnos, USSR Championship 1963. From diagram 7 Black's best plan is to continue his development with 7
• • .
B-N2
8 N-B4 0-0. Other methods are clearly superior for
White. The original Modern Benoni game, Nimzovitch-Marshall, New York 1927, continued 7
K3! 0-0
• • •
Q.N�2
II B�3 N-R4 ( 1 1
14 N-B4 IC-B2
• • •
6 N-B4 N-N3
Q.N�2
9 P-K4 B-N2
12 0-0 P�R3
10 N
13 P�R4 R-NI
15 B-B4 is also better for White; Borisenko-Sokolsky,
The Knight's Tour Variation
21
2 I St USS R Championship 1 954) 1 2 0-0 B-K4 1 3 P-Q.R4 N-KB5 1 4 P-R5 N-Q.2 15 N-B4 with a marked advantage to White. After 7 . .. Q.N-Q.2 8 N-B4 N-N3 9 P-K4, however, Black may secure satisfactory chances with 9 ... N X N! (instead of 9 '" B-N2) lO BX N B-N2 II 0-0 0-0 1 2 B-B4 (or 1 2 P-KR3 P-Q.R3 1 3 P-Q.R4 R-K I 14 R-KI N-R4 1 5 Q-Q.2 Q-R5 1 6 Q-N5 Q.xQ. =, Vukovic-Trifunovic, Yugoslav Championship 1 957) 1 2 ... P-Q.R3 13 P-Q.R4 N�R4! ( 1 3 . .. R-K I leaves White with the advantage after 14 R-KI P-N3 1 5 Q-Q.2 N-R4 1 6 B-KN5 B-B3 1 7 B XB Q.XB 1 8 B-B I , Gligoric-Czerniak, Amsterdam 1 954) 14 B-K3 R-Kl 15 Q-Q.2 R-N I and Black has adequate counterplay, Gligoric-Trifunovic, Yugoslav Championship 1 957. It is therefore most accurate for White to reply to 7 ... Q.N-Q.2 with 8 p-K4! B-N2 9 N-B4 N-N3 1 0 N-K3 transposing into the Nimzovitch-Marshall game without allowing Black this equalising opportunity. Another unsatisfactory i'ystem is 7 .. . N-R3 8 N-B4 N-B2. The game Donner-Estrada, Varna 1 962, continued 9 P-Q.R4 P-N3 1 0 P-K4 B-Q.R3 I I B-N5- P-R3 1 2 B-R4 B x N 1 3 B X B B-N2 1 4 0-0 0-0 1 5 P-B4 Q-Q.2 16 P-K5 with a tremendous position for White. We now come to the main variation from diagram 7 : B--N2 7 .. . 8 N-B4 8 P-K4 0-0 9 D-Q.3 is harmless ; for example, 9 ... N-R3! 1 0 0-0 (or 1 0 N-B4 N-B2 I I P-Q.R4 P-N3 1 2 B-B4 r�N-KI Gerusel Martius, Munich 1959) 10 ... N-B2 I I P-Q.R4 N-N5 1 2 B-K2 P-B4 1 3 B X N P XB 14 N-B4 Q-K2 1 5 Q.-Q.3 P-N3 with equal chances, Darga-Gereben, Amsterdam 1 954. 8 .. . 0--0 =,
8 W
9 B-B4 An interesting
idea analysed by the Dutch players is 9 B-N5.
Donner-
22
TIu Modern Bmoni
Langeweg, Beverwijk 1 963, continued 9 JI P-QR4 P-KN4
12 B-N3 N-KI
... P-KR3
13 P-K4 P-B4
10 B-R4 P-R3
14 pXP BXP
15 B
K2 P-N3
16 0--0 R-R2 17 B-N4 with advantage to White. Black also failed to equalise in the game Van den Berg-Robatsch from the same tournament ; after 9 B-N5 P-KR3 10 B-R4 N-R3 II P-K3 N-B2 12 P-QR4 P;-N3 13 B-K2 B-N2 140--0 Ie-K2 IS P-K4! it was difficult for Black to free his position. After this game Robatsch suggested that after 9 B-N5 P-KR3 10 B R4 Black can unpin with 10 ... 1C-Q.2(!) at the same time threatening . . . P-QN4 .This was successfully tried out in the game Langeweg-van den Berg, Dutch Championship 1963, wt..!'. after II B-N3 P-QN4! 12 NXQ.P B-R3 13 P-K3 P-N5 14 N-R4 BXB 15 KXB N-R3 Black's active play and attacking chances fully compensate for White's extra pawn. If, after 10 ... 1e-Q.2, White prevents ... P-QN4 with II P-QR4 Black can play 1 I ...N-R3 followed by ... N-QN5, ...P-N3, and ... B-R3 with good chances ; weaker, however, would be II ... Ie-N5 12 BXN Q.XN (or 12 .. BXB 13 NXP) 13 BXB KXB 14 P-K3 IC-Q.N5 15 le Q.2 ± (Euwe) . N-KI 9... White cannot now win the Q.P: 10 N-N5 B-Q.2 (or IO ... B X P II N X B Q-R4ch) II N(N5)Q. X P P-QN4 12NXN BXN I3 N-K5 Q-Q.3 I4N-Q3 Q.X P =F; or 10 N-K4 P-QN4 II N(B4) x P N X N 12 B X N R-KI wins. For the intriguing 9 ... p-N3 !? see Donner-Planinc annotated on page 83 . 10 Q,-Q,2 _
9
B
This move was originally suggested by Konstantinopolsky. Alternatives cause Black no trouble. If 10 P-K4 p-B4! is dangerous only for White ; while 10 P-K3 P-KN4 1 I B-N3 P-B4 is also good for Black. For example, 12 P-B4 (12Q-Q.2 BXN 13 P x B P-N4 14 N-N2 Q-K2gave Black play on both wings in the correspondence game Ovtshinkin-Shaposhnikov,
The Knight's TOfIT VtII'ialitm
23
1959) 12 .,. �K2 13 Q-Q2 PXP (it is inaccurate to delay this since after 13 ... N-Q.2 14 B-K2 PXP 15 P x p! gives White the advantage; e.g. 15 ... Q.N-B3 16 P-Q.R4 P-N3 17 0-0 B-Q.2 18 B-R4 �KB2 19 B-B3 ±, Suetin-Kagan, Tallin 1956) 14 BXP N-Q.2 15 B-K2 N-K4 and Black's hold on the important central squares gives him the better prospects, Shamkovitch-Vasiukov, Moscow 1957. Now White is really threatening N-N5 or N-K4 winning the queen's pawn. Black's usual replies are restricted to 10 ... P-N3and 10 ... B XN. A very interesting, but hardly convincing, recent attempt is the sacrifice of a pawn with 10 .. , N-Q.2?!, Yudovitch-Koslov, Moscow 1966, con tinued II NXQ.P N-K4 12 NXN N-B5 1? 13 Q-Q3 NXP 14 �B2 RXN 15 Q.XN P-Q.N4 16 P-Q.R3 P-N5 I7 pXP R-K51 18 B-R6 RXNP 19 Q-Q2 B-B3 but the soundness of this is exceedingly doubt ful.
(i)
10
. .
.
P-N3
This is the most natural continuation. Attempts to win the Black queen's pawn again fail now, for if II N-N5 B-Q.R3 12 N(N5) XQ.P NXN 13 NXN P-KN41 14 B-N3 p-B4! and White's play is refuted; or II N-K4B-Q.R3 12 N(B4) XQ.P NX N 13 BXN R-KI 14 BX N RXN followed by ... R-Q. 5 with the better game. 1 1 P-K3 The only real alternative to this is II N-N5 B-Q.R3 12 P-Q.R4 but after 12 ... BXN 13 P XB N-Q.2 Black has excellent prospects, since 14 NXQ.P ? N(Q.2)-B3 15 NXN RXN 16 R-Q.I N-K5 17 �B2 Q.--B3 gives him a very dangerous attack, Goldin-Shaposhnikov, Correspon dence I962;andI4P-K3N-K4 15 BXN BXB 16 NXB PXN 17B-K2 N-Q. 3 is also better for Black, Sliwa-Suetin, Poland v Bielorussia 1958. 1 1 ...
IZ P-Q.R..f Less accurate is the immediate 12 ... Q.B X N 13 Bx B P-Q.R3since White may obtain a minimal advantage after 14 0-0 N-Q.2 (or 14 ... �K2 15 Q.R-NI N-Q.2 16 KR-Bl P-B4 17 P�N4 with the better chances for White, Borisenko-Polugaievsky, 23rd USSR Championship 1956) 1 5 Q.R-N I P-B4 16 B-KN3 Q.-B3 (worse is 16 ... �K2 17 KR-KI N-K4 1 8 B-B l N-B3 1 9 P-K4 ±, Taimanov-Suetin, 25th USSR Champion ship 1958. 13 B-Kz 1 3 P-R4is not dangerous: 1 3 . . . Q.B XN 14 B XB P�R3 15 �K2 N-KB3
24
Tile Modern Benoni
16 �3 R-R2 11 P-KN3 N-N5 and Black gained the initiative, Borisenko-Boleslavsky, 28th USSR Championship Ig6 1. 13··· Q;-B3
IfB-N3 15 B x B
B xN P-Q.R3
And Black, who is now a tempo ahead of the lines given in the note to move twelve, has a completely satisfactory game. Osnos-Forintos, Leningrad v Budapest 1962, continued 16 0 -0 N-Q.2 11 P-B4 N- B2 18B-B2 P-Q.N4 Ig pX P N-N3 20 B-K2 P X P 21 BX P NX B 22 NX N Q.X p with level chances.
(ii)
10
•••
BX N
(from diagram 9)
This very aggressive move is due to Tal. Black gives up his fianchettoed bishop in order to activate his queen's side majority of pawns. The play is complicated, but Black's chances are not worse. 11
P xB
IJ
Q.XB is a little tested alternative. After I I ... P-Q.N4 12 N -Q.2 P-N5 14!CK4 !CB3 150-0-0 a very wild and difficult game is in store, Matsukevitch-Suetin, semi-final 24th USSR Championship 1951·
13!C B2!CK2
11 ...
P-Q.N4
10 W
Steinitz would certainly have approved of Black's play; with all his pieces on the back rank he has a good position.
12 N-N2
B-N2
Also satisfactory is 12 .. . P-B4, for example 13 P-Q.R4!CR4 14 P-K3 B-R3 15 !CBI P-N5 16 P-B4 N -Q.2 11 P-R4 Q.N-B3 =+=, Koblentz Shaposhnikov, 4th USSR Correspondence Championship. Insufficient for equality, however, are: (a) 12 ... P-Q.R4? 13 p-K4 ! Q.-K2 14 B Q.3 (or 14 P-B3 B-R3 15 P-Q.R4 P-N5 16 BXB RXB 17 0-0 N -Q.2
Uklmallll's Line
25
18 XR-XI P-B3 1 9 B-R6 N-N2 20 P-B4 ± , Koblentz-Kagan, Tallin 1 956) P-N5 1 5 0-0, Borisenko-Tal, Riga 1 955, with advantage to White; and (b) 1 2 . . . Q-X2? 13 P-Q,R4 ! pXP 1 4 P-N3 N-N2 1 5 B N2 P-B3 1 6 P-R4 N-Q2 I 7 0-0 ±, Najdorf-Larsen, Dallas 1 957. 13P-N3 13 p-x4? fails to 13 . . . Q-X2 1 4 B-Q3 B x P . N-Q.2 13... P-B4 14 B-N2 Q.N-B3 IS 0--0 Also 1 5 . . . Q-X2 16 B-N5 XN-B3 1 7 Q,R-KI N-K5 is not bad, but here 1 7 . . . Q-B2 1 8 P-QB4 gives White some advantage, Lebedev-Tal, Riga 1 955. 16 P-Q.1lf P-Q.R3 The chances are equal. Antoshin-Tal, U S S R Championship 1 956, con tinued I7 P x P (better is 1 7 p-B4) P x P 1 8 P-B4 B-R3 1 9 R-R5 P x P 20 KR-RI N-B2 with good play for Black.
C. Uhlmann's Line 6 N-B3P-K.N3 ,B-NS (from diagram /) 11 B
This line was fashionable in the late 1960 s following its successful adoptiQn by the East German grandmaster Uhlmann. White's strategy is very similar to that of the Averbach system in the King's Indian defence: Black is tempted to play ... P-KR3 and P-KN4 which weakens the white squares near his king. If Black does not do this, the White bishop at KN5 exerts a cramping influence on his game . Black's only reasonable replies are 7 ... P-KR3 and 7 ... B-N2.
26
The Modern Bmonj
(i) 7 ... P-KR3 8 B-1lf
If 8 B-B4 P-KN4 (8 ... N-R4!? also deserves consideration) and White has nothing better than 9 B-N3 transposing to the main line. P-KN4 8 ... N-Rf 9B-N3 loP-K3 Complicated, but not good for White, is 1 0 Q,-R4 ch B-Q,2 (better than IQ N-Q.2 1 1 N-N5 ! when it is difficult for Black to complete his development; not however 1 1 Q-K4 ch? Q,-K2 1 2 B X P Q, x Q, 1 3 N x Q, P-B4 1 4 B X B P X N 1 5 B X RP R X B 1 6 N X P p-K6 ! +, Shadurski Suetin, Vladimir 1 962) 1 1 Q-K4 ch Q,-K2 12 B X P Q, x Q, 1 3 N XQ, P-B4 1 4 B X N R X B when Black's powerful bishops and mobile pawns provided ample compensation for the sacrificed pawn. The game Geller -Suetin, Moscow 1 960, continued 1 5 N-B3 P-N4 1 6 N-K5 P-N5 17 N-Q, I (if 17 N x B K X N 1 8 N-R4 K-Q, 3 1 9 P-K3 N-B3 20 B-B4 N-Q,2 ! with advantage to Black) 17 .. . B-N2 with equal chances. 1 0 P-K4 transposes into lines considered below or may lead into a King's Indian, Averbach variation. 10 .. . N xB B-N2 JI RP x N 12 N-Q.2 An interesting idea is 1 2 N-R2 0-0 1 3 N-N4. Bondarevsky -Bilek, Leningrad v Budapest 1 96 2 , continued 1 3 ... B X N 1 4 Q, X B P-B4 1 5 Q-Q,R4 N-Q.2 16 B-K2 P-R3 17 Q-B2 P-N4 1 8 0-0 Q,-B3 with satisfactory play for Black. 0--0 12 . " Also sufficient for equality is 1 2 . . . P-R3 1 3 P-R4 N--Q.2! For example 1 4 B-K2 Q,-K2 (also 1 4 . . . N-K4 1 5 N-B4 N X N 1 6 BXN B-Q, 2 1 7 Q, B2 R-N I 1 8 P-R5 P-N4, Osmanagic-Portisch, Sarajevo 1 962; and 1 4 . . . P-N3 15 N(B3)-K4 N-B3 1 6 N X N ch Q, X N, Stahlberg -Portisch, Havana 1 964, are both comfortable equalising methods) 1 5 N-B4 N-K4 1 6 N-N6 R-Q, N I 1 7 P-R5 0-0 1 8 N (B3)-R4 B-B4 and Black maintained the balance, Cob a - Wade, Havana 1 964. 13 N-B4 Slower methods are not dangerous to Black. An interesting example is the game Neikirch-Ivkov, Leipzig 1 960, which continued 13 B-K2 N-Q,2 14 0-0 N-N3 1 5 N-N3? ( 1 5 N-B4 ) B-Q,2 1 6 R-N I N-R5 17 Q,-B2 N x N 1 8 P x N P-N4 with advantage to Black. 13 . . . Q.-K2 • • •
=
UllJfI'IIIIfII S LiM
17
13 '" N-R3 is more risky; for example the game Ketslach-Karasev, Leningrad C hampionship 1964, continued 14 �� N-B� 1 5 P-It4 Q;- K2 16 B -Q. 3P-B4 1 7 K-B I B-Q.2 1 8 K-N I Q.R-KI 1 9 P-KN4 with sharp and difficult play. 14 B-Q.3 14 B-K2 R-Q. I I S 0-0 N-Q. 2 1 6 P-R4 N-K4 1 7 N X N (if 1 7 N-R3 P-NS ! gives Black a bind on the king's side), Botvinnik-Tal, match 1 960, and now 1 7 '" B X N gives Black no worries.
I� B
N-Q.2 14 . . . 1 4 . . . P-B4 is too weakening; the game Geller-Langeweg, Varna 1 962, concluded drastically: I S 0-0 B X N 16 PXB P-N4 N-Q.2 P-Q.B5 18 B-B2 B-N2 1 9 Q;-NI Q;-Q.2 20 N-B3 B XP 21 N-Q.4 B-K3 �� Q.XP P-R3 23 Q;-N6 P-Q.R4 24 Nx B Q. x N 2 S Q.R-Q.I resigns. 1 4 . . . N-R3 is a rs:asonable possibility, though; Bagirov-Vasiukov, Baku I96 I , continued I S R-Q.BI N-B2 I6 P R4 P-N3 1 7 K-B I R-NI I 8 K-N I P-R3 I9 P-KN4 P-N4 20 P x P P x P 2 I N-RS B -Q.2 with chances for both sides. 15 B-B2 Good for Black is I S 0-0 N-14 I 6 N X N Q. X N I7 R-KI B-Q.2 1 8 R-NI P-N5, Germek-Tal, Bled I 96r. Also inferior for White is 1 5 N-NS N-K4 1 6 N (N5) xQ.P N X N I7 N X N P-N4. 15 · · · N-Kf Q. x N 16 N x N Black has a very healthy position. In the game Krzsnik -Rabar, Yugo slav Championship 1 962, there followed I7 Q;-Q.3 P-B4 18 P-KN4 B-Q.2 I 9 o-o? (better I 9 p X P B X P 20 Q;-Q.2 with equality) P-Q.N4 ! and Black has the advantage, for 20 Q.X P P-B5 gives a very dangerous attack. -
We have thus seen that 7 . . . P-KR3 gives Black entirely, adequate
28
Th4 Modern Bmoni
resources. In order to avoid this line, White often adopts a more flexible move order, delaying B-N5 until after he has played P-K4. For instance, from diagram I, 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 N-B3 B-N2 8 B-N5, or 6 N-B3 P-KN3 7 P-K4 B-N2 8 B-N5. These lines transpose into the variation with 7 . B-N2 discussed below. The only disadvantage White suffers by delaying B-N5 in this way is that in some variations it is useful to have the opportunity of playing P-K3 instead of P-K4. Now this possibility is no longer available. . .
(ii) 7
...
B-N2 I, W
White now has three possibilities: (a) 8 N-Q,2, (b) 8 P-K3, and (c) 8 P-K4, of which the latter is by far the most common, though usually reached by the transposition mentioned above.
(a) 8 N-Q2 P-KR3 This is the most forceful continuation. Also playable is 8 . . 0-0 when 9 P-K3 transposes to line (b) , and 9 P-K4 to line (c). Suspect, however, is 8 . P-Q,R3 9 P--Q.R4 P-R3 1 0 B-R4 P-KN4 I I B-N3 N-R4 1 2 N-B4 N X B 1 3 RP X N 0-0 1 4 Q-N3 ! ±, Averbach-Vasiukov, U SSR Cham pionship 1 959. P-KN4 9B-14 loB-N, N-14 If here 1 0 P--Q.R3, II p-K3 ! is good, since Black is prevented from exchanging the White queen's bishop by . . . N-R4 and his king's side is compromised for no compensation. 11 Q.-I4' ch II N-B4 Nx B 12 RP X N 0-0 1 3 P-K3 Q,-K2 1 4 B-K2 R-Q,I was played in the second match game Botvinnik-Tal 1 960, and White secured some pressure. After the game Tal made two suggestions for .
. .
• • •
Uhlmann's Line
29
Black to obtain more active play: firstly 14 P-KB4 instead of 14 R-QI is more logical ; and secondly, the previous move there was the very active continuation of 1 2 B X N 13 P x B P-N4 14 N-Q.2 P-QR4 1 5 P-K4 P-N5. This was tried in the game Neikirch-Bobotsov, Bulgarian Championship 1 960, when after the further moves 1 6 B-N5 ch B-Q2 1 7 B X B ch N x B the position is quite equal and the players agreed a draw. K-BI IJ ... • • •
•••
. • •
If W
I� Q.-N3 1 2 P-K4 was played in the game Ternblom-Neistadt, Leningrad Championship 1 964 ; but after 1 2 N X B 1 3 RPx N P-Q.R3 14 B-K2 N-Q.2 15 P-B4 p-N4! 1 6 Q.-l!2 P-B5 Black was able to proceed with 17 N-B4 and gain the initiative. 1 2 P-K3 occurred in Uhlmann-Garcia, Mar del Plata 1 966, when after. 1 2 '" N X B 1 3 RP X N N-Q.2 14 Q.-B2 N-K4 1 5 B-K2 P-R3 1 6 P-R4 White had some advantage. Better here is to continue as in the game above with 1 3 P-R3 instead of . . . N-Q.2 when it will be impossible for White to delay P-Q.N4 for long. I� ... NxB P-Nf! 13 RPxN This is Tal's analysis. After 14 N X P B-R3 1 5 P-K3 N-Q.2 Black has excellent counterplay for the pawn. • • •
• . .
. . •
. . .
(b) 8 P-KS 0-0 (from diagram IS) 9 N-Q.2
(see diagraTJl 15) This is the solid way to play the variation. White should be able to maintain the initiative for some time. 9 . .. R-KI This is the usual move, but other possibilities also provide some chances. 9 P-KR3 1 0 B-R4 N-R3?! was tried in the game Bannik-Suetin, • . .
30
The Modern Bmoni
Sochi
1961 , when after II B-K2 N-B2 I2 0 -0 P--Q.N4 I3 NXP N x N 14 KBXN R-NI 15 �K2 P-N4 16 B-N3 NXP Black had a good posi tion. In this line 12 P--Q.R4 instead of 12 0 -0 seems more calculated to retain a p lus. 9 .. . P--Q.R3 10 P--Q.R4 Q,N-Q,2 11 B-K2 transposes to the main line after 1 1 ... R-KI or 1 1 ... �B2 12 0 -0 R-KI. Unsatisfactory, however, is 1 1 ... �B2 12 0 -0 N-N3 as in Filip-Lokvenc, Marianske Lazne 15 B
1 960, when there followed 1 3 P-K4 B-Q,2 14 �B2 Q.R-K I 15 R-KI �-RI 1 6 B-KB4 with advan tage to White. 10B -1U If 10 N-B4 �Q.2 ! 1 1 B-B4 N-K5 12 NXN RXN (analysis by Tal). P-Q.R3 10 . .. 11 P-Q.llf Q.N -Q.2 120-0 Q.-B2 12 ... R-NI is the main alternative, but White may gain a slight advantage with 13 B-KB4 N-K4 14 P-R5 KN-Q.2 15 B-N3 P-B4 16 P-K4 N-KB3 I7 PXP BXP 18 BXN PXB 19 N-B4, Simagin Suetin, 2 7th USSR Championship 1 960. 13 Q.-B2 13 R-BI may be more accurate ; the radio game Stahlberg-Keres 1 960, continued 13 ... P-N3 14 P-K4 P-R3 when 15 B-R4 would maintain a little advantage. 13.·· N-N3 Weaker is 13 '" R-NI when White preserves a plus by 14 P-R5 P-N4 15 pXP e.p. Q.RXP 1 6 N-B4 R-N5 I7 B-B4, Mohring-Golz, Zinno witz 1 966. 14 B-B3 14 P-K4 is impossible owing to the tactical possibility 14 ... KNXQ,P! 15 PXN BXN 16 Q,XB RXB I7B-R6 It-K4 with a sound extra pawn. We are following the 8th match game, Botvinnik-Tal l 960, in which
Uhlmann's Line Tal now played
31
14 P-BS ? ! but after I S B X N (IS P-RS is also strong, Q.N--Q.2 1 6 �R4 neither 1 6 P-N4 1 7 p x p e.p. N X P I 8 �B6, nor 1 6 N-K4 1 7 B X N B--Q.2 1 8 B X N ! is satisfactory for Black). I S B X B 1 6 P-RS N--Q.2 1 7 N(B3)-K4 B-K4 1 8 Q. X BP for after
IS
. .•
•••
. ••
. .•
•.•
Black had insufficient compensation for the pawn. Tal suggested after the game that
14
••.
B-B4
I S P-K4 B-Q.2 followed by . . N-B I was .
Black's best chance for equality. Since at the best this line is somewhat uncomfortable for Black, he does his best to avoid the whole variation by playing
7 . . . P-KR3 as in line (i).
/
/(c) 8 P-K4 (from diagram 13) J6 B
As mentioned above, this line has many features in common with the
Averbach system of the King's Indian, into which it will almost certainly transpose if White play B-K2 soon. There are, however, some subtle differences which give this line a character of its own. Black's main replies are
8 . . . P-Q.R3 and 8 .. . P-KR3 ! Besides these 8 ... �R4 ? which here is quite out of context. Petrosian�Contedini, Munich I 9S8, con tinued 9 N--Q.2 0-0 1 0 N-B4 �I I I B--Q.3 P-N3 1 2 0-0 B--Q.R3 1 3 P-B4 �B2 1 4 P-KS with a crushing position. 8 ..
.
0-0,
the only move to have occurred in -master play is
(i) 8
...
0-0
This reply invites White to transpose into the Averbach system at once with
9 B-K2 , and since this is a natural move the line appears to have
little individual significance. White may, however, continue more accurately:
9 N--Q.21
Now Black is prevented from playing
It
.. . P-KR3, . . . P-KN4 and . .. N-R4.
is thus very difficult for him to free his position.
The Modern Benoni
3 lZ
P-Q.R3 Q.-B2
9 ··· 10 P-Q.llf
Also better for White is 10 . . . Q.N-Q.2 1 3 B-R4 P-KN4
1 4 B-N3 N-K4
II B-K2 R-KI
15 Q-B2 P-N3
1 2 0-0 P-R3
J6 Q.R-NI
R-R2
1 7 P -N4, Polugaievsky-Lutikov, RSFSR Championship 1 958.
JJ
B-K2
White has now transposed into a position that can be reached from the Averbach system, but only if Black plays very weakly! That is, after I P-Q.4 N-KB3 0-0
2 P-Q.B4 P-KN3
6 B-N5 P -B4
3 N-Q.B3 B-N2
7 P-Q.5 P-K3
continues 9 . . . P-Q.R3?
4 P-K4 P-Q.3
8 N-B3 Px P
5 B-K2
9 BP XP, if Black
II N-Q.2 . It is therefore
ID P-Q.R4 Q-B2
scarcely surprising that this position is better for White. The game Shamkovitch-Spassky, semi-final USSR Championship 1 9 58, continued 1 2 0-0 P-B3
II . . . KN-Q.2 R-K I
16 Q-N3 N-Q.2
13 B-R4 N-K4
1 7 Q.R-K I R-NI
14 P-B4 N':"'B2
15 N-B4
1 8 B-N4! with great advantage
to White. Other tries for Black after 8 . . . 0-0 For example: 9 ... N-R3 P-KR3
13 B-R4 Q.-K2
9 N-Q.2 ! are also unsatisfactory.
10 B-K2 N-B2
14 P-B4 K R-KI
I I P -Q.R4 B-Q.2 1 5 P-K 5 Px P
Taimanov-Casas, Santa Fe 1960; or 9 . . . P-KR3 II B-K2 N-R3
1 2 0-0 N-B2
13 P-R4 P-N3
12 0-0
16 N-B4 ±,
10 B-R4 R-K I
14 P-B4 ±, Taimanov
A. Zaitsev, 30th USSR Championship 1 962. The best attempt is 9 . . . Q.N-Q.2
1 0 B-K2 Q-K2
I I 0-0 P-K R3
12 B-R4 P-KN4
13 B-N3 N-K4
as in the game Cholmov-Petrosian, 21St USSR Championship 19 54, but
now Suetin's recommendation of 14 B X N Q.x B
(ii) 8
15 N-B4 Q.-K2
16 P
17 p-Q.6 i s very dangerous for Black.
K 5 Px P
. . .
P-Q,R3 (from diagram r6)
9 P-Q.llf
9 N-Q.2 ! is very strong here. Compare the variations given below after 8 . . . P-KR3
9 B-R4 P-R3
10 N-Q.2!
P-R3 9 .. . 10 B-B41 ? 10 B-R4 transposes, after 10 ... P -K N4 13 RP XN N-Q.2
10 ... I I B-K2 12 0-0
II B-N3 N-R4
12 N-Q.2 N X B
14 B-K 2, into the Tolush-Suetin game quoted below.
B-NS 0-0
If 12 N-Q.2 Bx B
1 3 Q.x B N-R4
14 B-K 3 P-B4
1 6 P-K N4 ? fails to 16 . . . N-B5 (analysis by Tal).
15 P x P R XP and
Uhlmann's Line .Ui
33
R-KI
. . •
Black's posIhon is satisfactory. The game Geller-Tal, 26th USSR Championship 1 959, continued I � Q;-B2 (if 1 3 P-R3 NXKP ! ) Q;-B2 1 4 K R-KI QN-Q2 15 P -R3 BXN 1 6 B XB P-B5 I7 B-K2 QR-BI with active play.
(ill ) 8
. . .
P-KR3! (from diagram 16)
98-14
9 B-B4 has also been played occasionally. Black may then play 9 ...
P -R3 transposing into the Geller-Tal game above after 1 0 P-QR4 ,
or 9 '" N-K4
� 0 B-N5 ch ( 10 B-BI 0-0
P-KN4
1 3 N-BI p-N4 ! ?
I I N-Q2 QN-Q2
1 2 B-K2
1 5 N-N3 P -B5 with good
14 KBXP Q-R4
play for the sacrificed pawn, Cuellar-Fischer, Sousse 1967) K -BI
I I B-K 3 N-N5
1 5 P x P NXN ch
12 N-Q2 P-R3
1 3 B-K2 N-Q.2
10 . ..
14 P-K R4 K N-K4
1 6 P XN P XP with a difficult game for both players,
Uhlmann-Golz, Zinnowitz 1 967.
17
B
P-KN4
9···
In view of the dangers arising after I I B-N5 ch in this line, it has been
suggested that Black should avoid this move by playing 9 . . . P -QR3, and only after 1 0 P-R4 continuing with 10 . . . P-K N4. However, White has a much better move than 10 P-R4 at his disposal, viz.: 10 N-Q2 ! I I B-K2 (less good is I I P-R4 when after
For example, 10 .. . P -Q.N4 II . .. P-N5 QN-Q2
1 2 QN-NI 0--0
13 B-Q 3 R-KI
1 4 0 --0 Q;-B2!
15 Q;-B2
16 N-B4 p-N6 ! Black has a good game, Veresov-Suetin,
Bielorussia 1 96 I )
I I . . . 0-- 0
inaccurate, for after 13 . . . P-N5
13 0-- 0 (still 13 P -14 is
12 Q;-B2 R-K I 1 4 N-Q.I P-N4
1 5 B-N3 Q;-K2
16 0-- 0
as in the game Langeweg-Keene, Brunnen 1 966, simply 16 . . . NXKP is good for Black) QN-Q2 a-NI
1960.
1 7 P-B4
1 4 P-R4 P -N5
±, Taimanov-Boleslavsky
15 N-QI p-N6
16 Q;-Q 3
USSR Team Championship
The Modern Bmmai
34
lo �N3 N-Rt �N5ch II N-Q.2 N x B I2 RPXN ()-{) u
13 D-K2 leads into the Averbach system
of the King's Indian. Weaker here is 12 . . . P-R3 14 B-K2 N-K4 (or 14 . . . !C-K2
N4! ±, Uhlmalln-Keene, Hastings 1966-7)
13 P-R4 Q.N�
16 !C-B2 B-Q. S
IS P-RS R-NI
17 B
IS P-KN4 !C-Q.2 as in
Tolush-Suetin, semi-final 26th USSR Championship 19S9, and now 16 P-B3 gives White a distinct pull. JI
K-BIl
• . .
1 1 . .. B-Q2? leaves White with a marked advantage after 12 B XB ch
Q.X B
13 N-KS! as was shown in the games Szabo-Klein, Santa Fe
1960, and Forintos-Dolz, Hungary v East Gennany f964.
III
�Kal
12 ()-{) P-R3
13 B-K2 NXB
14 BPXN? is dubious.
� vberhausen 196 1, continued: 14 . .. N-Q.2 P-KR4 P XP !C-K2
17 N-Q.! N-K4 21 P-KN3 P-B3 2S R-KI R-R6
III ...
13 RP xN
NxB
18 R-R3 R-Q.R2 22 N-B2 B--QS
26 P-KS Q.x P
Szabo-Perez,
-����
IS P-Q.R4 P-N3 19 N
xN
BXN
23 K-RI Q.R-02
27 Resigns.
16 !C-B2
20 P-KN4 24 N X P
cf. p. 84.
18 B
This very interesting position is of great importance for the theory of the Modern Benoni. White's plan is a gradual advance of the king's side pawns combined with pressure on the white squares and in parti cular KBS, where eventually he hopes to establish a knight. In contrast Black has very good play on the black squares and attacking possi bilities on the queen's side. The prospects are about even.
13 .,. 14 N--Q.2
N--Q.lI P-R3
It is better not to omit tftis move. The game Pietzsch-Tringov, Havana 1965, continued instead 14 ... N-K4
IS p-B4l? N-N3
16 B-RS pXP
UlalmIJIIII'S LW
35
1 7 B X N P X B 18 p X P P-Q.N4 ?! 19 Q-B2 P-N5 20 N-K2 B -1l3 21 N B3 K-N I 22 P-K5 with a promising attack. Another example of this line is Vogt-Espig, East German Championship 1968, which went 14 '" N-K4 15 P-B4 N-N3 16 B-1l5 Q-B3, and now Maric suggests 171'-KS ! P X P 18 N(Q.2)-K4 Q-B4 1 9 P-KN4 Q. X BP 20 B X N Q-K6 ch 21 K-B I ! P X B 22 R-1l3 and Black is in difficulties. N-K4 IS P-R.f I S . . . Q.-K2 16 Q-P2 B-Q.S is a logical plan, suggested by the author. Mecking-Keene, Hastings 1966-7, continued 1 7 R-KB I ! ? K-N2 1 800-0 P-N4 1 9 p x p and now 19 p x p gives Black excellent prospects. 16 Q.-B2 16 N-B I was played In the game Golz-Pietzsch, Colditz 1967, with the continuation 1 6 . . . Il-Q.N I 1 7 N-K3 P-KIl4 ? ! 18 Q;-B2 P �NS with complications. Ma.rie recommends the immediate 1 6 P-KIl4 ! when after 1 7 Il X P R X R 1 8 B X R P-NS 1 9 P-B4 p x p e.p. 20 P X P Q-N3 •••
'H
Black has more than sufficient compensation for the pawn.
16 ... 1 7 P-RS
R-Q.NI P-N4!
Black played less actively in the game Uhlmann-Pade'lsky, Zagreb
1 965, with 1 7 . . . B-B3 1 8 N-Q.I P-N4 19 pxp e.p. R X P 20 R-Q.R2 K-N2 and White won with a superb example of the model strategy in this line. The game is given in full at the end of this section.
18 P xP e.p. 19 Q.R-R2
RxP P-NS!
Black keeps White's king's side under restraint and thereby makes it difficult for his opponent to undertake any active operations. We are following the game Pietzsch-Capello, Havana
20 N-Q.I P-KR4
21 N-K3 R-N5
1 966. There followed 22 N(K3)-B4 N X N !Z3 N X N Q-K2 and
Black's position is quite satisfactory. It is difficult for White to develop his king's rook since if
24 0-0 p-R5! gives a strong attack.
Illustrative Game White: Uhbnann Black: Padevsky Zagreb 1965 I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B4 P-B4 3 P-Q.S P-K3 4 N-Q.B3 P x P S P x P P-Q.3 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 N-B3 B-N2 8 B-KNS P-KR3 9 B-1l4 P-KN4 IO B-N3 N-R4 1 1 B-NS ch K-B I 12 B-K2 N X B %3 RP X N P-R3 1 4 P-R4 N-Q.2 I S N-Q.2 N-K4 16 Q-B2 R-Q.N I 1 7 P-RS B-B3 18 N Q.I P-N4 1 9 p X P e.p. R X P 20 R-Q.R2 K-N2 21 N-K3 R-K I 22 0-0 K-N I 23 P-KN4 R-NS 24 P-KN3 N-N3 25 N-B5 B X N 26 NP X B N-K4 27 B X P P-NS 28 B-K2 B-N4 29 N-B4 Q;-B3 30 P-N3 P-R4 3 1 K-N2 P-RS 3 2 P X P B X P 33 P-KRI N X N 34 B X N Q-K2 3 5 P-
36
The Modern Bnumi
K5! p x p
36
R6 Q.X p ch
Q-1C4 B-B3 37 Q. x p ch B-N2 40 K-NI resigns.
38
�9 R (R6)
R-Q,R6 Q.-Q.2
D. The Main Line 6
P-Ki P-KN3
7
N-B3 B-Na
a
B-Ka
(from diagram
I)
19
B
This vanatlon is one of the soundest and most natural methods of playing against the Modern Benoni. White chooses a logical plan of development with neither the apparent timidity of the fianchetto variation, nor the forthright hostility of the pawn storm lines. This was the most common treatment of the opening at the time when Tal was establishing himself as a World Championship contender. A number of spectacular victories scored by him caused the line to fall into disfavour, and even after some of Tal's ideas were shown to be incorrect there remained some suspicion of the line. However,
the
Yugoslav
grandmaster
Gligoric
has
consistently
adopted this system and enriched it with many new ideas, and recently the line has regained its popularity and is now the most often en countered line of the Modern Benoni. On the whole it may be con sidered the most promising method of dampening Black's aggressive desires while preserving possibilities of exploiting the latent advantages in the White position. White' must play with the utmost care though,
�
as Tal's o ponents have tended to discover to their cost.
a... 9 0-0
0-0
Other lines such as
9 B-B4 or 9 N-Q.2 do no more than transpose, for White must castle soon in any case.
The Main Line
37
Now Black has a host of possible moves of which only the most natural, 9 . . . R-K I , has ever gained any real popularity. This is a little surprising, for 9 . R-KI is by no means an easy equalising line for Black, and some of the alternatives deserve further analysis. .
.
20
B
The most important possibilities here are 9 . . P--QR3 and 9 . . R-K I , but before analysing these i n detail, I shall give a resume of the experiences gained with the other choices : (a) 9 . . . B-N 5? I Q P -KR3 (also good is 10 B-KB4 R-K I I I P -K R3 ! as i n the game Korchnoi-Lutikov, US S R Championship 1 959, which continued 11 . . , N XKP 12 P XB B XN 13 B--QN5 B XP 14 B XR Q. XB .
15 R-K I B XR
16 Q. XB P-B4
Q. XP
resigns)
20 R XN
13 Q-Q.2 P--QR3 N(K I ) XB
17 B-R6 Q-K2
IQ . . . B XN
14 B-N5! B-B3
18 Q,R-K I
.
18 N-N5 Q.-K4
I I B XB Q.N-Q.2
15 B-R6 B-N2
19 Q.-N I
12 B-B4 N-K I
16 B-N5 B-B3
17 B XB
with a clear advantage to White, Gligoric
Matulovic, Palma 1967. (b) 9 . . . Q,N-Q.2 is an old and rather passive line to which some American players ha�e recently attempted to add new life. Averbach Tolush, Training game 1953, continued 10 Q,-B2 P-Q,R 3 I I P--QR4 R-K I
12 B-KB4 Q-B2
13 N-Q.2 N-K4
14 P-R3 K N--Q2
15 B-K 3 P -B3
16 P-B4
with much the better game for White"The plan of 10 . . . P--QR3 �md I I . , R-K I is unpromising and a later idea was to replace this with N-K I and . . N-K4. For example 9 . . . Q.N--Q2 10 N-Q.2 ( 10 B-KB4 .
. . .
N-K I
.
I I P-KR3 P-Q.R 3
12 P-Q.R4 R-NI
13 N-Q.2 p-B4 ? !
14 p XP
is mi nimally favourable to White ; Karaklaic-Boskovic, Belgrade 1966) 10 . . . N-K I I I N-B4 (or I I P Q,R4 Q,-K2 12 R -K I N-B2 13 N-B4 P-N3 14 B-B4 N-K4, Reshevsky Saidy, u s Championship 196 3-4) I I . . N-K4 12 N-K3 P-B4 13 P B4 N-B2 14 P x P, Vranesic-Reshevsky, Amsterdam 1964. and i n no line can White count on more than a slightly superior position.
Px P
15 N-B4 N-K4
16 Q.-Q,2
.
38
The Modern Bmo"i
Now we come to the most important lines : ( I ) 9 (2) 9 R-K I .
...
P-Q.I\3 and
. . .
( I) 10
9
. . .
P-QRg (from diagram 20)
P-Q.14
B-NS (see diagram 22) 10 . . This line was formerly quite popular, but completely went out of fashlOn when the attention was shifted to 9 . . . R-K I . Whether this fall from favour was fully justified is by no means certain, since analysis does not indicate Black's prospects to be significantly worse here than in the other line. A still older idea for Black is 1 0 . . . P -N3; for example the training game Smyslov-Ragosin 1 9 53 continued II B-KB4 R-R2 1 2 N-Q.2 R-K 2 13 B-B3 N-K I 14 N-B4 Q.-B2 when instead of the simple 15 R-K I or 15 B-N3 maintaining a bind on the position, White continued 1 5 P-K5 17 N-Q. 5 N XB! 18 N XQ. R XN with curious pXP 16 p-Q.6 N XP complications. Also after 10 . . . P-N3, simply II N-Q.2 followed by N-B4 should give the advantage. Finally, 10 . . . QN-Q2 led Black into difficulties in the game Simagin Antoshin, Moscow Championship 19 55, after I I B-KB4 Q-K 2 12 N-Q.2 .
R-NI
( 1 2 . . . P-N3 . 13 R-K I
R-NI
14 P-R3 N-K I
15 B-N3 N-B2
16 N-B4
is also a little in White's favour, Soos-Pfleger, Lugano 196 8) 1 3 P-R3 N-K I 14 B-R2 N-B2 15 N-B4 N-K4 16 N-N6 N-RI with the better prospects for White. 1 1 P-R3 This is the most natural and forcing continuation. Instead II D-KN5 led to a comfortable game for Black in Stahlberg-Spassky, Goteborg
The Main Line 1 955,
after
1 1 . . . Q.N-Q.2
12 Q-Q.2 B XN
13 B XB P-B5
39
14 B-'K2 Q.-B2
li5 K-R I N-B4 ( 15 KR-KI is possibly even better) 1 6 Q.-K 3 KR -K I 17 P-B3 N-N6 1 8 QR-Q.I QR-NI . Also I I B-KB4 does not have much . • .
sting for Black may simply play I I B XN 1 2 B XB N-K I (or 12 . .. Q. B2 13 R-B I Q.N-Q.2 14 P-Q.N4 with complications, Byrne-Reshevsky, New York 1956) 13 Q.-N3 P-N3 14 N-Q.l N-Q.2 with a sound position, Ivkov-Trifunovic, Sombor 1957. Another interesting example of this line is the game Pachman-Kaplan, Puerto Rico 196 8, which went I I B-KB4 Q.-K2 12 Q.-B2 ( 12 N-Q.2 seems stronger) Q.N-Q2 13 KR-K I p-B5 ! 14 Q.R-Q.I ( 14. B XBP B X N 15 P X B· N-K4 16 B-K2 N-R4 gives • . .
22 W
Black a dangerous attack) Q.R-BI, with equal chances. Yet another move to have been tried here without significant success is 11 N-Q.2 ; Donner Portisch, Budapest 1 96 1, continued 11 . . . B X B 12 QX B Q.N-Q.2 13 N B4 N-N3 14 N-K 3 Q.-B2 15 P-R5 Q.N-Q.2 16 N-B4 P-Q.N4 with equality. Finally, for an example of 11 R-KI see the game O'Kelly-Damjanovic at the end of this section.
1 1 ... 12 B x B 12 . . . R-K I K N4 ? KN-Q.2
BxN Q.N-Q.2 led to a fine position for Black after 15 Q.-B2 N-K4
16 B-K2 Q.N-Q.2
1 3 B-B4 Q.-B2
14 P
17 P-Q.N3 P-B5
in the
game Gligoric-Janosevic, Titovo Uzice 1966. Instead of 14 p-KN4 ? either 14 Q.-B2 or 14 Q.-Q.2 would give good chances of advantage. 13 8-·B4 13 B-N5 transposes into a position already discussed in Uhlinann's variation with 7 B-NS . After 13 . .. P-R 3 14 B-B4 Q.-B2 15 R-KI KR-K I 1 6 Q-B2 P-BS ! Black's position gives good prospects, GeUer Tal, U S S R Championship 195 9.
40
The Mod"n Bmonj
I, . . .
N-KI
14 B-1U
Q.-h
1 3 . . . �B2 is also possible. The game Najdorf-Reinhardt, Mar del Plata 196 1 , then continued 14 R-K I- KIl-K I 15 �B2 R-K2 1 6 P:-Q.N3 P-R3 1 7 �2 K-R2 1 8 P:-Q.N4 N-K4 and Black's position is no worse. 1 4 . . . �K2 is far too passive. A good example of the fate that may lie in store is the game Pachman-Szabo, Mar del Plata 1962, in which there followed IS Q:-Q.2 N-B2 1 6 KR-K I KR-N I 1 7 B-B I �B I 1 8 K R I P-N3 1 9 B-R2 R-N2 20 P-B4 P-B3 2 1 p-K5 ! BP X P 22 P X P N X KP 23 B X N B X B 24 R X B P X R 25 p:-Q.6 R:-Q.I (if 25 . . . N-K3 26 � QS) 26 B-B4 ch K-R I 27 N-K4 N-K I 28 R-KB I �N2 29 B-K6 P:-Q.N4 30 �N5 R(N2):-Q.2 3 1 R-B 7 ! R X R 32 Q X R R-B I 33 P:-Q.7 N-B3 34 Q X N R X Q 35 p:-Q.8 = Q ch R-B I 36 �Q5 p X P 3 7 QXBP resigns.
15
R-BI
Now instead of 1 5 . . . QR-NI 1 6 P:-Q.N3 N(K I )-B3 1 7 �B2 KR-KI 1 8 B-R2 when Black has little prospect of freeing his game, Black should play 15 . . . P-B5 as suggested some years ago by Becker in his notes to Smyslov-Filip, Vienna 1 95 7, where the weaker line was played. Mter 15 . . . P-B5 White cannot play 1 6 P-QN3 p X P 1 7 N-N5 ? ( 1 7 Q X P N-B4 ) �N I 18 N-B7 in view of 1 8 . . . P-N7 when Black s hould win. =
Illustrative Game White : O'Kelly Black : Damjanovic Havana 1 968 I P:-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P:-Q.B4 P-B4 3 P-Q5 P-KN3 4 N:-Q.B3 P-Q,3 5 P-K4 B-N2 6 N-B3 0--0 7 B-K2 P-K3 8 0--0 P X P 9 BP X P P-Q,R3 10 P QR4 B-N5 I I R-K I B X N 1 2 B X B Q,N:-Q.2 1 3 B-K2 R-K I 14 P-B3 QR-B I IS P-R5 P-B5 1 6 B-K3 N-B4 1 7 R-R3 P-R4 18 N-R4 N(3) Q,2 19 B X P N X P 20 B-KB I N(5)-B4 2 1 N-B3 �R5 22 B-B2 Q:-Q.N5 23 R X R ch R X R 24 �B2 B:-Q.5 25 R-R I N...!K4 26 B X B Q, X B ch 27 K-R I K-N2 28 P-R3 P-R5 29 R:-Q.I Q:-Q.N5 30 R-R I N(K4) -Q,2 3 1 �B2 N-B3 32 N-R2 �KB5 33 N-B3 N-R4 34 K-N I N-KN6 35 R K I R X R 36 Q, X R Q:-Q.N5 37 �B2 K-N I 38 N-R2 �R5 39 P-N4 N:-Q.2 40 �2 N-B3 41 B-'B4 �K I 42 N-B3 �K4 43 P-N5 p X P 44 B X P N(3)-R4 45 K-B2 N-B5 46 B:-Q.7 P-KN4 47 B-N5 �K2 48 Q:-Q.4 Q:-Q.I 49 �N4 �B3 50 �B4 �K4 5 I B:-Q. 7 N-R8 ch 52 K-B I �K6 53 N-K4 N-N6 ch 54 N x N P X N 55 Q,-B8 ch K-N2 56 �B2 N:-Q.6 Whi te resigned.
The Main Line
(2)
9
. . .
41
R-K I (from diagram 20)
The attack on the king's pawn leaves White with but two moves from which to choose: (a)
10 Q.-B2 and (b) 10 N-Q.2 . In recent times 10 N-Q.2 1 0 Q-B2 is also not without its
has been by far the more popular, but merits
as
Korchnoi and Hort have demonstrated on a number of
occasions recently.
123 W
(i)
10
Q.-B2 N.R3
This, the most active reply, is the best way to solve Black's develop ment problems. Instead
1 0 . . . B-N5 I I B-KB4 Bx N 1 2 B X B P-Q.R3 1 3 KR-K I ! ( ' 3 P-Q.R4 Q.-B2 1 4 p-R3 ? Q.N-Q.2 I S P-R5 N-K4 1 6 B-K2 KN-Q.2 1 7 B-Q.2 P-B5 gives Black more play but is also not bad for White, Ree-Keene, Havana 1 966) Q.-B2 (if 1 3 . . . P-Q.N4 1 4 P-K5 Px P I S p-Q.6 ±) 1 4 P-Q.R4 Q.N-Q.2 1 5 p-R5 ! with advantage to White, Pachman-Gasic, Sarajevo 1 966. fails to equalise after
11 P-Q..R3 A very complex alternative is
1 1 B-KB4. The famous game Averbach U S S R Championship 1 958, continued 1 1 . . . N-Q.N5 1 2 Q.-N I N X KP ? ! 1 3 N X N B-B4 1 4 KN-Q.2 N X Q.P 1 5 B X P ? N-B3 ! and Black
Tal,
42
The MoJern Benoni
regained his piece with the better game. However , in the Soviet Year book of Chess for 1 958-9, Cholmov published an analysis to demon strate that Tal's sacrifice was incorrect. Instead of the faulty 1 5 B x p ? he recommended 1 5 B-N3 ! He gave as the main line 1 5 . . . Q;-K2 B3! Q.R�I (a)
17
.
1 6 B
1 7 R-KI! and now : .
.
R X Q. R X R
N-N5 21
18 B X P Q;-K3 (or 18 . . . R X B
RXB R-Q.2
22
1 9 N XR D X Q.
N(2) -B4 winning)
1 9 P-Q.R3
20 RXB
( 1 9 . . . N-B3
2 0 D XP RXN
2 1 N X R B X Q.
2 2 R X Q. R XR
2 3 R XB
is no better)
�o P x N R X N
2 1 N X R B X Q.
22 R X Q. R X R
23 R x B
P
XP
24
BxP
and White should win.
(b) 1 7 . .. N-B2 ( I j . .. N-B3
1 8 Q;-B I and Black has
18 B-R4!)
insufficient compensation for the piece ; 1 8 . . . P-N3 is answered by 1 9 N X Q.P. (c) Q.R x B
1 7 .. QXN .
Q;-B2
1 8 B X P RX B
2 2 NXB N-N5
19 N X R B XQ.
20 N X R Q;-R4
21
2 3 N-K 8 wins.
The only game in which Cholmov's 15 B-N3 ! has been played is Peterson-Chodos, semi-final US SR Championship 1964, when the view that this refutes Black's sacrifice was substantiated. There followed 1 5 ... B-R3
16 B-N5 B X N (if 1 6 . . . R-K3
1 7 B-Q.3 N-N5
B-Q6
1 8 N-B6 ch)
20 KR-Q.I R XN
17 B-Q.B4, or if 16 . . . R-K2
1 7 B X R Q. x B
18 N x Q.P B X Q.
19 N x Q.
2 1 R X B and White eventually won.
After 1 1 B-KB4 N�N5, however, it is not at all necessary for Black to go in for this sacrificial line , for he may obtain a perfectly satisfactory game by other means. For example 14 P X N (or 1 4 N X N N X N
12 Q;-NI Q-K2
1 5 P X N B-B4
whether White has enough for the pawn) 16 P X B N X Q.P
17 B-Q.N5 N X B
13 N-Q2 K N XQP !
1 6 Q-Q.I Q. X B and it is doubtful 14 . . . B-B4
15 Q.-Q.I B X N
18 B X R R X B with a good game for
Black ; Donner-Robatsch, Beverwijk 1 962. After 12 . . . Q;-K2 Euwe suggests simply 13 R-K I (instead of 13 N-Q.2) when if 13 . . . N X KP 14 B�N5. Another possibility is 13 P-Q.R3 N x KP Q. X B
14 P x N N X N
15 P x N
1 6 R-K I Q.-N4 when again it is unclear whether White's play is
sufficient for the pawn. Another interesting but little-explored idea for Black is I I B-KH4 N�N5 1 2 Q;-Nl N- R4. For example 1 3 B-KN5 P-B3 1 5 P--Q R3 ! and now : (a) 15 · .· P x P 1 6 N-K N5? ! N-Q.6
1 4 B-K3 P-B4 1 7 B X KN P X B
with complications, Ree-Tringov, Titovo Uzice 1966. Tal suggested that 1 6 P XN instead of N-KN5 would lead to chances for White after 1 6 . .. P X N
1 7 KB XP P XP
1 8 N-K4 ; (b)
( 1 6 B XQ.BP ! is a better try) N-R3
15 . . . P-KB 5
16 B-Q.2
17 R-K I P-KN4 with advantage for
Black, Andersen-PBeger, Copenhagen 1967. A recent idea is 11 R-K I (diagram 2 5) ·
TItI Main LW
43
-5 •
Pachman-Soos, Titovo-Uzice 1 966, continued II . N-Q.N5 1 2 Q-N3 loses to 1 3 B-Q.N5 !) 13 P-Q.R3 N-R3 1 4 B-Q.N5 R-K2 1 5 P-R3 N-K l 16 B-KB4 P-B3 ' 7 B-B6 with advantage to White. Also the game Korchnoi-Cordovil, Lugano 1 96 8, showed no improvement in Black's fortunes : after I I R-N l 1 2 B-KB4 N-R4 . .
�-N3 ( 1 � . .. NXKP ?
•.•
1 3 B-KN5 P-B 3
1 4 B-K 3 P-I14
1 5 p XP B X P
1 6 �2 N-B2
1 7 B
KN5 B-B3 1 8 P-KR3 B XB 1 9 NXB Black was again in some difficulties. A more vigorous and convincing solution to Black's problems was demonstrated in Polugaievsky-Matulovic, Skopje 1 96 8, which went 1 3 B-K 3 R-Q.B I 14 Q.R-Q.l N-B4 and B-N5 1 2 P-Q.R3 p-B 5! II . here the players agreed a draw. More experience is needed with this line before it is possible to give a completely valid assessment of its worth, though there seems no reason for Black's chances to be in any way inferior to those in other line5. Finally, two other insipid continuations have been tried in the position of diagram 24 : (a) I I B-KN5 P-R3 (not I I N-B2 1 2 N-Q.2 R-NI 13 P-Q.R4 ±, Flohr-Sokolsky, 2 1 st US S R Championship 1954) 12 B-R4 P-KN4 13 B-N3 N-Q.N5 14 Q.-N I N XKP 15 N XN B-B4 1 6 K N-Q.2 N XQ.P 1 7 B-B3 P-N5 18 B-K2 Q.-K 2 19 P-B3 N-K6! (analysis by Suetin) with good chances for Black. (b) II N-Q. 2 N-B 2 1 2 R-KI P-Q.R3 (less good is 12 . . . N-Q.2 1 3 N B4 N-K4 1 4 N-K3 P-N3 1 5 P-B4 N(K4)-Q.2 1 6 B-B 3 ±, Hort-Bouaziz, Sousse 1967) 13 P-Q.R4 R-NI 14 P-R5 B-Q.2 1 5 N-B4 B-N4 with a level position, Stahlberg-Padevsky, ,Hav�a 1 964. . .
. . .
11 . . .
N-B=z
I I ' " B-N5 led
to advantage for White after 1 2 B-KB4 N-R4 1 3 B-KN5 15 P-R3 p XP 1 6 P XB P X N 1 7 B XP N-B 3 18 P-N5 in the game Hort-Nicevski, Skopje 1 96 8.
P-B3
14 B-Q.2 P-B4
44
The Modern Bnu:mi
12 R-KI Alternatives give White few prospects of maintaining the initiative ; for example : (a) 1 2 R-Q I B-N5 1 3 B-KN5 P-KR3 1 4 B-R4 P-KN4 1 5 B-N3 N-R4 1 6 P-R3 N X B 1 7 P X N B-Q2 , Klasup-Tal, Riga 1 959; (b) 12 N-Q2 P-QR3 13 P-QR4 R-N I 1 4 P-R5 B-Q2 1 5 N-B4 N-N4, Vukovic-Matulovic, Yugoslav Championship 1 960 ; (c) 1 2 B-KN5 P-KR3 1 3 B-KB4 P-QN4, Kots-Chodos, U S S R Cham pionship 1 962 ; and Black has good play in all cases.
R-NI
12 . . .
Another possibility leading to difficult play is 1 2 . . . Q-K2. The game Korchnoi-Bilek, Sousse 1 967, continued 1 3 B-KN5 P-KR3 1 4 ll-R4 P-KN4 1 5 B-N3 N-R4 1 6 QR-Q I N X B 1 7 RP X N P-N5 1 8 N-KR4 Q-N4 with complications.
13 B-B4
N-R4
Black's prospects are not worse. The game Ragosin-Scherbakov, Moscow Championship 1 955, continued 1 4 B-KNS P-B3 I S B-R4 P-KN4 1 6 N-Q2 N-BS I 7 B-N3 N x B ch 1 8 N x N P-B4 and Black held the initiative. \Ve now come to one of the most important variations of all in the Modern Benoni.
(ii) 9
. . .
R-KI
10
N-Q.2 (from diagram 20)
White's plan in this situation is to over-protect his king's pawn with P-B3, then to play N-B4 and eventually to break through in the centre with p-B4 and P-KS. The only replies to give Black much counterplay are 1 0 N-R3 and 1 0 QN-Q2 . The first is analysed below, while 1 0 . . . QN-Q2 will be dealt with on page 8S. Other moves do not contest ' "
_ _ .
The Main Line 45 White's initiative ; for example : (i) 1 0 P-N3 1 1 P-B3 ( 1 1 P-B4 trans poses into the four pawns attac� of the King's Indian defence ; while 1 1 P-Q.R4 gives Black counterchances after 1 1 . . . B-Q.R3 1 2 B-Q.NS B X B 1 3 P X B Q.N-Q.2 14 Q;-B2 N-K4 I S P-B4 N (K4)-Q.2 1 6 N-B3 P-BS 1 7 R R4 Q."":B2 I � R-K I P-Q.R3 1 9 R x RP R x R 20 P X R P-Q.N4, Nezhmet dinov-Polugaievsky, R S F S R 1 960) 1 1 . . . B-Q.R3 1 2 B >;IB N X B 1 3 N-B4 Q.-Q.2 (or 1 3 ' " N-B2 1 4 B-B4 B-B I I S P-Q.R4 N-R4 1 6 B-K3 R-N I 1 7 Q;-Q.2 ±, Garcia-Szabo, Tel Aviv 1 964) 14 P-Q.R4 N-B2 I S B-B4 B-B I 1 6 P-KN4 (also good is 1 6 B-NS N-R4 1 7 P-KN4 N-N2 1 8 P-KS, R. Byrne-Evans, u s Championship 1 963-4) Q.R-Q. I 1 7 Q;-Q.2 P-Q.N4 1 8 P X P N X NP 1 9 N X N Q. X N 20 Q-Q.3 with clear advantage for White ; •. .
Donner-J anosevic, Venice 1 967. (ii) 10 . . . P-Q.R3 is also insufficient for inequality. For example 1 1 P-Q.R4 (not 1 1 Q;-B2 P-Q.N4 1 2 P-Q.R4 P-NS 1 3 N-N I in view of 1 3 . . . N x Q.p ! ) 1 1 . . . . P-N3. (Also of interest is the game Brinck-Claussen Pietzsch, Lugano 1 968, which continued 1 1 . . . Q.N-Q.2 1 2 P-B3P-B4 also deserves consideration-Q.-B2 1 3 N-B4 N-N3 1 4 N-R3 B-Q.2 I S Q;-N3 N x RP ! 1 6 N x N 'P-Q.N4 1 7 N-B3 P-NS with complications) and now 1 2 p-B3 ! or 1 2 Q;-B2 ! leaves Black devoid of counterchances ; less good is 1 2 P-B4 when after 1 2 . . . R-R2 1 3 B-B3 Q.R-K2 Black has good counterplay, e.g. 1 4 N-B4 N X KP ! I S N X N R X N 1 6 B X R R X B 1 7 Q;-N3 (if 1 7 N-K3 B-Q.S) B-NS 1 8 B-Q.2 (or 1 8 B-K3 B-K7 1 9 Q;-B2 !, Shianovsky-Artsukevitch, Leni?grad 1 9S3, and now 19 . . . R X N ! 20 Q. x B R-KS 2 I R-B3 Q;-B2 followed by . . P-BS and . . N-Q.2 -B4 is satis factory for Black according to Suetin) 1 8 . . . B-K7 1 9 KR-B I N-Q.2 20 N X Q.P P-BS, Ragosin-Aratovsky, semi-final USSR Championship 1 9S I ; or 14 R-R3 Q.-B2 I S K-R I Q.N-Q.2 1 6 R-N3 P-BS 1 7 R-N4 P-Q.N4 !, Levit-Golovko, USSR 1 9S 3 ; or finally 1 4 R-K I P-Q.N4 I S P x P P x P .
.
46,
The Modem Benoni
1 6 N X NP_ B-Q.R3, Ilivitsky-Shaposhnikov RSFSR 1 954. In all cases Black has adequate chances. N-R3 10 . . . In this position White's choice lies essentially between attempting a direct push in the centre with P-B4 and P-K5, or first stabilising the central position with P-'B3 and leaving the pawn thrusts until he has improved the placings of his pieces. At present the latter plan is far more common, for it leads to a more durable advantage for vVhite than the immediate break-through attempts, though in both lines Black should, with accurate play, secure equality.
,
We shall examine first the earlier plans with (a) I I R-K I and (b) I I P-B4 ; then the more fashionable (c) I I p-B3 ! Besides these, other moves have been tried, but none with any measure of success. The antipositional I I B-B3 ? gave White nothing in the game Albareda-J. Littlewood, Lucerne 1 963, which continued II R-N I 1 2 P-Q.R4 N-Q.2 1 3 N-B4 N-K4 14 N X N B X N 1 5 B-K3 N-N5 with good play for Black. Even weaker is I I B X N as was played in the game Kraidman-Kanko, Students' Olympiad 1 955, when after P X B 1 2 P-B3 B-Q.2 1 3 P-Q.R4 R-N I 1 4 N-B4 N-R4 1 5 P-KN4 II B-Q.5 ch 1 6 K-N2 R-N5 1 7 Q;-Q.3 Q.-R5 Black had a tremendous attack. I I R-N I is another ineffective idea as was shown in Gligoric-Tal, Candidates 1 959, in which there followed I I B-Q.2 1 2 R-K I ( 1 2 P Q.R3 ? R-N I I j P-Q,N4 P X P 1 4 p X P R-QB I 1 5 Q.-N3 ? R x N I 1 6 Q. X R N X KP 1 7 Q.-B2 N-B6 1 8 B-Q.3 B-R5 won quickly for Black i n the correspondence game Hofmann-Behnke 1 955) R-N I ! 3 P-Q.N3 P-Q.N4 1 4 B-N2 N-B2 1 5 Q.-B2 Q.-K2 1 6 N-Q.I B-R3 ! I 7 P-B3 N-R4 18 N B I N X Q.P ! 1 9 P X N B-B4 20 Q.-B3 B-N2 2 1 Q.-B I B X R 22 B X B K X B 23 Q.X B N-B5 with a very strong position for Black._ Finally, another move to have failed against Tal is I I K-R I as played • . •
• • .
. . •
The Main Line
47
by Ufimtsev in the Spartak;;.de 1 96 7 ; the game continued : I I . . . N-B2 1 2 P--Q.R4 R-NI 1 3 P-B4 P-Q,R3 1 4 P -R5 B-Q,2 1 5 B-B3 N-N4 1 6 p-K5 ! ? p X P 1 7 p X P R X P 1 8 N-B4 R-B4 1 9 N-K3 R-B5 20 N K2 R-KR5 2 I P-KN3 R-K5 22 B X R N X B 23 N-KII4 N-Q,5 24 K-N2 Q;-K2 25 R-K I P-KR4 26 R-R3 R-K I 2 7 N-K� B-R6 ch ! 28 K x B N-N4 ch ! resigns. We now come to the more common lines :
(a) I I R-Kr (from diagram 28) This is an old move which bears too little relevance to the mam problems of the position to cause Black much difficulty. 29
B
El . . .
N-B2
Other possibilities are : (i) I I . . . B-Q,2 1 2 B-B I N-KN5 1 3 N-B3 N-K4 1 4 B-KB4 B-N5 1 5 Q,B X N B X B 1 6 B X N P X B 1 7 P-KR3 B X N 1 8 Q, X B R-N I 1 9 P--Q.N3, Bisguier-Sherwin, u s Championship 1 960; or (ii) I I . . . R-N I 12 P-KR3 B--Q.2 1 3 B-B I P-Q,N4 14 P-Q,R4 N-B2 1 5 P X P N X NP 16 B X N B X B 1 7 R X P B-Q,6 1 8 N-B3, Cholmov Perez, Havana 1 965, but in both of these White has the better game.
12 P-Q.14 1 2 Q;-B2 R-N I
1 3 P--Q.R4 is the alternative, but this too leaves Black
with several reasonable continuations. For example, 1 3 . . . P-Q,R3
14 P-R5 B--Q.2 1 5 N-B4 N-N4, Klasup-Lein, Vilna 1 955 ; or 1 3 . . . P-N3 14 N-N5 P--Q.R3 1 5 N X N Q, X N 1 6 R-R2 Q;-K2 1 7 P-B3 N-R4 1 8 N B I P-B4, Birbrager-Tal, U S S R 1 953 ; or finally 1 3 . . . N-R3 14 B X N P X B 1 5 N-B4 R-N5 1 6 N-R2 N X Q,P 1 7 B--Q.2 R X N, Vranesic-Stein, Tel Aviv I g64 ; all these lines give Black interesting possibilities of counterplay.
12 . . .
P-NS
1 2 . . , P--Q.R3 is a good alternative. Andersen-Matulovic, Havana 1 966,
48
The Modern Benoni
then continued 1 3 P-B4 R-N I 1 4 P-R5 B-Q,2 1 5 B-B3 B-N4 B X N 1 7 R X B N-Q.2 1 8 P-KN3 P-Q.N4 19 p X P e.p. R X NP �NI with active play for Black.
1 6 N-B I 20 �B2
13 Q;-B2 Or 1 3 P-R3 R-N I 14 B-Q,3 P-Q,R3 1 5 N-B4 P-Q.N4 1 6 p X P p X P 1 7 N-R5 B-Q,2 1 8 B-KB4 P-N5 1 9 N-Q, I �B2 20 N-B4 N-N4, ' Lilienthal-Lyavdansky, U S S R 1 964, when Black's position was quite solid.
30 B
N-R3 In the famous game Gurgenidze-Tal, U S S R Championship 1 957, Black played instead 1 3 . . , N-N5 and won brilliantly after 14 p-R3 ? N x p ! 1 5 K X N Q;-R5 ch 1 6 K-B I B-Q.5 1 7 N-Q, I Q, X RP ! 1 8 B-B3 Q;-R7 1 9 N-K3 p-B4 ! 20 N (Q,2)-B4 P X P 2 1 B X P B-R3 22 B-B3 R-K4 23 R-R3 Q,R-K I 24 B-Q,2 N X P ! 25 B X N ch R X B 26 K-K2 B X N 27 R X B B X N ch 28 Resigns. � However if after 1 3 . . . N-N5, White plays 14 B X N ! B X B 1 5 N-B4 he should obtain slightly better prospects since the threat of 1 6 B-B4 is a little awkward for Black to meet. 13 . . .
14 �NS
N-Q.NS
Black's position is now very satisfactory. The game Lokvenc-Tal, Miskolc 1 963, continued 1 5 Q;-Q, I B-Q.2 16 N-B4 N-N5 1 7 B-B4 B-Q.5 and Black gained the initiative.
(b)
II
P-·B4 (from diagram 28)
This move transposes into a four pawns attack type of King's Indian defence position, from which line it may indeed also arrive, for example by the move order I P-Q,4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B4 P-KN3 3 N-Q.B3 B-N2 4 P-K4 P-Q.3 5 P-B4 0-0 6 N-B3 P-B4 7 P-Q.5 P-K3 8 B-K2 P X P 9 BPX P Il-K I 1 0 N-Q.2 N-1l3 1 1 0-0. In this line, however, as in
The MtJin Line
49
many
of the four pawns attack variants White's centre lacks the necessary support of his pieces to cause Black much concern.
31 B
N-B2 Probably the soundest reply, though Black has some alternatives worthy of mention : ( I ) I I . . . B-Q.2 1 2 B-B3 (C-B2 1 3 N-B4 P-Q.N4 14 N X Q.P Q. X N 1 5 P-K5 Q.-N3 1 6 P X N B X P 1 7 K-R I Q.R-Q. I 1 8 P-Q.R4 N-N5 is very complicated, Westerinen-Tringov, Tel Aviv 1 964. (ii) I I . . . R-N I 1 2 R-K I ( 1 2 B-B3 is also possible, for example 1 2 . . . N-Q.N5 ! 1 3 B-K2 p-B5 ? ! 1 4 (c-R4 P-Q.R4 1 5 B X P N-N5 1 6 P-:KR3 N-K6 with complications, Zaitsev-Suetin, 30th U S S R Cham pionship 1 962 ; if after 1 2 B-B3 Black plays 1 2 . . . P-Q.N4, then White gains the advantage with 1 3 P-Q.R4 p X P 1 4 N-B4 R-N5 1 5 R X P as in the game Pantaleev-Prahov, Bulgarian Championship 1 960. Another very obscure possibility is I I . . . R-N I 12 P-KR3 P-B5 1 3 B X P P-Q.N4 14 B-Q.3 N-B4 1 5 B X P R X B 1 6 N X R (C-N3 I 7 P-Q.R4 N-N6 ch as in A. Zaitsev-Altschuler, 6th U S S R Correspondence Champion ship) 1 2 . . . N-B2 ( 1 2 . . . P-B5 is too sharp ; the game Portisch-Dely, Hungarian Championship 1 955, continued 1 3 B-B3 N-B4 14 N X P P-Q.N4 1 5 N X Q.p ! Q. x N 1 6 P-K5 (C-K2 1 7 P-Q.6 (C-K3 1 8 B-K3 with great advantage to White) 1 3 P-Q.R4 P-N3 ( 1 3 . . . P-KR4 was played in Lilienthal-Scherbakov, Moscow 1 955, but after 14 P-R3 N-Q.2 1 5 B-Q.3 B-Q.5 ch 1 6 K-R2 P-R3 1 7 N-B3 White had a minimal advantage) 14 R-N I P-Q.R3 1 5 (C-B2 P-Q.N4 and Black had reasonable prospects, Zaitsev-Vitolinsh, U S S R 1 963 ; (iii) I I . . . P-N3 1 2 B-B3 N-B2 ; and (iv) I I . . . N-Q.2 1 2 B-B3 N-B2 both transpose into variations cor!sidered below. 12 B-B3 If 1 2 P-Q.R4 Black should simply continue 1 2 . . . P-N3 ( 1 2 . . . R-N I is 11
• . •
_
50
TIte Modern Bmoni
also good) 1 3 B-B3 R-N I . For instance, 14 R-K I B-Q.R3 (or 14 . . . p ItR4 15 P-R3 B-Q.R3 1 6 B-K2 B X B 17 R X B P-RS 18 N-B3 N-R4 1 9 P-KS, MOller-Czerniak, Vienna I 9S I , with an unclear situation) I S N (Q.2)-N I ! N-Q.2 1 6 N-R3 P-BS ! (weaker is 1 6 P-B4 as in Udovcic-Minic, ' Bled 1963, when either 1 7 p X P or 1 7 P-KS ! gives advantage to White) ' 17 N (B3)-NS B X N 1 8 P X B p-B6 19 R-N I P X P 20 B X P B X B 2 I R X B Q-B3 22 R-Q.B2 N-B4 with a slightly preferable position for Black, Malich-Tringov, Sarajevo I 96S. . • .
12 . . .
R-NI
1 2 . . . P-N3 is a sound alternative transposing into the previous note after 13 P-Q.R3 ( 1 3 N:"'B4 B-Q.R3 14 Q-N3 P-Q.N4 I S N X Q.P ? is not possible because after I S . . . Q. X N 1 6 P-KS Q;-N3 Black threatens . . P BS ch). Another solid line is 1 2 . . . N-Q.2 13 P-Q.R4 R-N I 1 4 N-B4 N-N3 I S N-RS P-B4 1 6 p X P B X P 1 7 B-Q.2 Q;-B3, Steinmeyer Evans, u s Championship 1 963-4, and Black has good prospects. .
P-Q.N4 B-Q.2 PxP
13 N-B4 14 N-RS IS P-KS
In the game Polugaievsky-Evans, Havana
1966, Black continued I S . . ' KN X P ? 16 N X N N X N 17 Q. X N Q. X N 18 Q. x Q.P 19 Q.x p with great advantage to White.
weakly with
B -B4
16 P x P 17 B-8t
Not
17
. . •
18 B-N3
R xP R-8tl
R-K I ? when 18 N-B6 is good for White.
P-NS
Black now has a clear advantage as was seen in the games Zinser Evans, Venice
1 967, and Soos-Matulovic, Skopje 1 967. The first of 19 N-R4 KN X P 20 N X P B-N4 ! 2 1 R-K I B X P 22 R 23 N (BS)-N7 Q-B3 24 N-Q.6 B X R 2S N X B B X B 26 B X N
these finished :
NI B-B6 Q. X N 27 Resigns. In the other game Soos managed to improve, but
TIle Main Litu
51
only to the extent of three moves : 1 9 N-B6 B X N 20 P XB P XN 2 1 �X � Il X Q. 2 2 B X N Il-QBI 23 B-Q1l5 P X P 24 �R-QI N-Itl 25 Il �8 B-Q5 ch 26 It-RI R X R 27 B XR P-B5 28 R X Q.I R XB ! 29 P X R p-B6 30 Resigns. IllustrativI Gamu
White : RubIDetd Black: Oarda Buenos Aires 1964 I P-Q4 N-KB3 2 P-QB4 P-S4 3 P-QS P-K3 4 N-QB3 P x P S P x P P-Q3 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 N-B3 B-N2 8 N-B3 ()-Q 9 0--0 R-ItI 1 0 N12.2 N-R3 I I P-B4 R-N I 1 2 P-QR4 ? N-QNS 13 B-B3 P-N3 14 N-B4 B-QR3 I S Q-N3 R-N2 1 6 P-N3 �R-K2 1 7 »-Q2 N X ltP ! 1 8 N X N R X N 19 B X R R X B 20 Q.R-B I B-Q5 ch 2 1 It-RI B-QN2 2 2 B-B3 B X P 23 B X B R-K6 ch 24 Resigns. White : Forbato. Black: K1u.ger Hungarian Championship I 96S First ten moves as above; I I P-B4 N-B2 1 2 P-QR4 N-R3 ? ! 1 3 B-B3 P-R4 14 N-B4 N-KNS 1 5 P-KN3 B-QS ch 16 K-N2 P-B4 1 7 P-R3 B X N 1 8 P X B p X P 19 B X N P X B 20 P X P Q-B3 2 1 B-Q2 B-Q2 22 R-R I N-B2 23 N-K3 P-QN4 24 R-R6 K-N2 2S P-NS Q-B2 26 P B4 P-NS 27 B-B I R-KN I 28 R-R7 ch! resi�.
(c)
II
P-B3 ! (from diagram 28)
With this move, originally a recommendation of Gligoric, White safe guards his centre and threatens to develop his initiative by playing N-B4 followed by P-QR4 and eventually B-KB4 or P-KB4 driving Black into a passive position. The best defence to this plan consists in playing an early . . . N-Q2, to answer N-B4 with . . . N-Y4 threatening to eliminate the menacing knight. How this works out in practice will be seen from the examples below. 33
B
11 ...
N-lkI
52
The Modern Bnumi
This is the most natural reply, preventing N-B4 in view of . . . P-Q.N4. Shaposhnikov and Yudovitch, in an article in Shakhmatny Bulletin in 1 95 8, recommended instead the immediate I I . . . N-Q.2, and this was played a few times without ever gaining real popularity. After I I . . N-Q.2 1 2 N-B4 { 1 2 N-NS gave no advantage in the game Birbrager-Tal, Spartakiade 1 966, after 1 2 . . . N-N3 1 3 P-Q.R4 ICK2 ._
1 4 N-B4 N XN
15
B XN N-N I !
1 6 B-B4
R-Q.I
17
(C-Q,2 P-Q. R3
1 8 N-R3 N-Q.2
with equality ; while against other- 1 2th moves Black may play 1 2 . . . N-B2 transposing into the satisfactory variations below) 1 2 . . . N-K4 1 3 N-K3! gives White the advantage ; compare this with the main line where Black is more prepared to deal with 'Vhite's threat of P-B4. Instead of 1 3 N-K3! White continued less forcefully in the game Bertok-Tal, Bled 1 96 1 , where there followed 1 3 B-B4 ? N XN 1 4 II XN N-B2 1 5 (C-Q,? P-Q.R3 and Black had the preferable position. Other moves have also been tried in diagram 33 ; for example : I I . . . R-NI 1 2 R-KI (or 1 2 K-RI N -B2 1 3 P-Q.R4 P-Q. R3 1 4 P-RS B-Q.2 1 5 N-B4 B-N4 1 6 B-B4, Wexler-Forintos, Tel Aviv 1 964) 1 2 . . . N-B2
1 3 P-Q.R4 P-R3
14 P-RS B-Q.2
1 5 N-B4 B-N4
1 6 B-NS,
Garcia-Scheweber, Tel Aviv 1 964, and in both cases White's position is slightly preferable. Finally, I I . . . B-Q.2 turned out very well in the game Smirnov Nebolsin, RSF SR 1 965, when after 1 2 _P-Q.R4 N-R4 1 3 N-B4 P-B4 1 4 B-Q 3 B-Q.S ch 1 5 B-K3 N-B5 16 B XB P XB 1 7 N-K2 N XB 1 8 Q X N N-B4 Black had a fine position. Instead of the faulty 1 4 B-Q 3, 1 4 p-B4! should have beerl played, when Black will find it difficult to justify his play. la
P-Q.14 54
B
Now Black must prepare to meet N-B4. Hi s choice lies between (i) 1 2 . .. P-N3 (with the idea of . B-Q.R3 to exchange the knight at Whi te s QB4) ; and (ii) 1 2 . . . N-Q.2 (followed by N-K4) . .
'
.
. . .
The Main Line
(I) 12
. . .
53
P-N3
This is the older of the two moves, which has recently come back into fashion. Possibly, though, this is more due to a dissatisfaction with the other line than any positive aspects.
13 K-R1 Also dangerous for Black is the immediate 1 3 N-B4, though against this he should, with accurate play, achieve active chances. For example 1 3 N-B4 B-Q.R3 14 B-N5 (not 14 B-B4 when Black frees his game with 14 N-R4 1 5 B-K3 P-B4 1 6 N-Q.2 P-B5, Kchouk-Forintos, Havana 1 966) p-R3 ! (neither 14 B X N 1 5 B X B P-Q.R3 1 6 K-R I R-N I 1 7 Q;-K2 !, Petrosian-Schmid, Zurich 1 96 I ; nor 14 . . . Q.-Q.2 1 5 Q;- Q.2 B X N 1 6 B X B P-Q.R3 1 7 Q.-Q.3, Birbrager-Tal, 'U S S R Teams Cham pionship 1 955, gives Black any freedom) . 1 5 B-R4 Q.-Q.2 {6 P-KN4 ? Q.R-N I i 7 B-N3 B X N 18 B X B P-R3, Horowitz-Evans, us Champion ship 1 968. By delaying B X N until his preparation for . . , P-Q.N4 are complete, Black has secured good counterplay. See illustrative games at the end of this section for the remainder of this game. A recent attempt to improve this variation for White is the move 14 R-N I (after 1 3 N-B4 B-Q.R3) to prepare P-Q.N4 himself; but it seems that here also Black has sufficient counterplay. For example 1 3 N-B4 B-Q.R3 14 R-N I B X N · 1 5 B X B N-Q.2 1 6 B-Q.2 (or 1 6 N-N5 N-K4 1 7 N X N Q.X N 1 8 B-Q.N5 N-Q.2 1 9 B-Q.2 P-Q.R3 with chances for both sides, Gligoric-Lobigas, Manila 1 968) P-Q.R3 1 7 P-Q.N4 P x P 1 8 R X P Q.-K2 1 9 K-R I KR-Q.B I 2 0 Q.-K2 P-Q.N4 2 1 P X P B X N with complications, Adamski-Matulovic, Lugano 1 968. The text move is almost a waiting move, hoping that Black's reply will enable White to extract more from the position than he can achieve with the immediate 1 3 N-B4. Since White intends to open the centre eventually, K-R I is a useful precaution tn any case. . . •
•••
' "
35 B
54
The Modern Benoni
R-NI
13 . . .
,
13 N-Q.2 was played in the game Najdorf-Fischer, Havana 1 966, but after 14 N-H4 N-K4 1 5 N-K3 P-B4 1 6 P-B4 N-B2 1 7 P x P P x P 1 8 B-Q.3 Q;-B3 1 9 N-K2 N�KR3 20 N-N3 Q;-N3 2 I Q;-B2 R-B I 22 B-Q.2 B-Q.2 Gligoric's suggestion of 23 R-B3 ! leaves Black in some difficulties. 13 B-Q.R3 ? 1 4 B X B N X B 1 5 N-B4 is very bad for Black. • • •
• . •
14 N-B4
B-Q.R3
The game Gligoric-Matulovic, Sousse 1 967, continued 1 5 B�N5 P-R3 1 6 B-R4 Q;-Q.2 1 7 Q;-Q.2 B X N ( 1 7 P-KN4 ? ! deserves consideration) 1 8 B X B P-R3 19 B-Q.3 P-Q.N4 20 P X P P X P 2 1 R-R7 and Black is under some pressure though his queen's side pawns should provide sufficient counterplay. It is too dangerous for White to play for the win of a pawn in this line with 1 9 B X N B X B 20 Q. x p for after 20 P Q.N4 followed by . . . P-N5 Black's counterplay on the queen's side is very strong indeed. • • •
• • •
(ii) 12 ... N-Q.2 (from diagram 34) 13 N-B4 Interesting is 1 3 P-B4 N-B3 when at the cost of one move Black has transposed into a line good for him. It seems that his resources are still sufficient ; for example Furman-Tal, U S S R Championship 1 9S9, con tinued 14 B-B3 P-N3 I S N-B4 B-Q.R3 1 6 Q;-Q.3 ( 1 6 Q;-N3 B X N I 7 Q..X B R-NI 1 8 N-NS N X N 1 9 P X N N X KP ! 20 B X N B-Q.S ch led to a good game for Black in Zheliandinov-Adamski, Havana. 1 967) R-N I (also possible is 1 6 B X N transposing to the previous note) 1 7 R-N I P-Q.N4 1 8 P X P N X NP 1 9 N X N B X N 20 B Q.2 ? N X KP ! winning a pawn. After 1 3 P-B4 it is dangerous to play 1 3 ' " R-Nl f4 K-R I Q;-K2 in view of I S P-KS P X P 1 6 N (Q.2)-K4 with a strong attack, Mititelu Reicher, Roumanian Championship 1 964. • . .
-
13 · · · N-Kf 14 N-K31 ( diagram 36) P-B4 14 · · · see
This is the most active reply leading to very sharp play. The alternatives are very passive : (a) 14 ' " P-B3 was played in the third game of the Uhlmann Portisch match, Budapest 1 962, and after I S B- Q.2 R-N I 1 6 R-N I B-Q.2 1 7 1'-Q.N4 P x P 1 8 R x P N-R3 1 9 R-N I N-B4 20 Q.-B2 Q.-K2 2 I Q;-R2 N-B2 Black secured a good position. Portisch r�commended that instead of Uhlmann's plan of queen's side play, better was I S P-B4 N-B2 followed by a later P-BS and P x P for White when Black's king's ' side may prove difficult to defend.
The Main Line
55
36 W
(b) 1 4 . . . P-N3 1 5 R-K I R-NI : 6 P-B4 N-Q.2 1 7 N-B4 N-B3 1 8 B-B3 B--Q.R3 19 N-R3 N-Q.2 20 N (R3)-N5 - B X N 2 1 P X B R-R I 22 P-K5 -with clear advantage to White, Kraidman-Fischer, Natanya 1 968• N-B2 15 P-B4 PxP 16 P x P Now i t is known that Black should play 1 6 . . N-KR3 ! for which reason White should avoid this position with 1 3 K-R I ! See the notes to Gligoric-Minic page 87 for details. After the text the game Bukic Tal, Budva 1 967, continued 1 7 B-Q.3 Q.-B3 1 8 R-B3 ' B-Q.2 ( 1 8 N-R I 1 9 Q;-B2 R-B I is an interesting suggestion of Petrosian's, which he assesses as unclear) 19 i-B2 N-KR3 20 B-Q.2 R-K2 2 1 Q.N-Q.I ! N-K I 22 R-N3 Q.-Q.5 2 3 N-B2 ! K-RI 24 B-B3 Q. x BP 25 N-R3 Q.-RS 26 R-KB I B-Q.S 2 7 R-B4 Q.-B3 28 B X B P X B 29 N X P N X N 30 B X N R-B I 3 1 Q.x R ! B X Q 32 B X B R-K8 c h 33 K-B2 Q;-K2 34 B-K6 R x B 35 P x R N-B3 36 R (N3)-KB3 N-N I 37 R-B7 Q.-R5 ch 38 R-N3 p--Q.6 39 R-B8 Q;-Q.5 ch 40 K-B I resigns. .
•. .
Illustrative Games White : Horowitz Black : Evans u s Championship 1 968 I P--Q.4 N-KB3 2 P--Q.B4 P-B4 3 P--Q.5 P-K3 4 N--Q.B3 P x P 5 P x P P--Q.3 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 N-B3 B-N2 8 B-K2 0-0 9 0-0 R-K I 1 0 N-Q.2 N-R3 I I P-B3 N-B2 1 2 P-Q.R4 P-N3 1 3 N-B4 B--Q.R3 14 B-N5 P-R3 I 5 B-R4 Q;-Q.2 1 6 p-KN4 Q.R-N I 1 7 B-N3 B X N I 8 B X B P-R3 I 9 RK I P-Q.N4 20 P x P P x P 2 I B-B I P-N5 22 N-K2 P-R4 23 P-R3 P X P 24 RP X P N-N4 25 K-N2 R-R I 26 Q;-B2 N-KR2 2 7 Q;-Q.2 Q;-K2 ' 28 Q;-Q.3 N--Q.5 29 R X R R X R 30 N X N B X N 3 1 R-K2 P-N4 32 Q;-N5 B-K4 33 Q;-B6 R-R8 34 Q;-B8 ch N-B I 35 B X B Q. X B 36 Q;-B5 N-N3 37 Q. X Q. N X Q. 38 R-;-KB2 P-B5 39 K-N3 R-R 7 40 R-K2 p-N6 4 1 Resigns.
56
The Modern Bmoni
White : Petrosiaa Black : Schmld Zurich 1 96 1 First 1 3 ,moves as above : 1 4 B-N5 B X N 1 5 B X B P-QR3 1 7 Q-K2 Q-B I 1 8 B-B4 B-B I 1 9 QR-N I ! N-R4 ( 1 9 P X P P X P 2 1 N X P N(B2) X P loses a pawn to 22 B X P) 2 I P-KN4 N-B3 22 NP x P P x P 23 R-NI ch K-R I 25 QR-N I R-KN2 26 P-K5 P X P 2 7 Q X P N(B2)-KI 29 R X B ! K X R 3 0 Q-K7 ch K-N3 3 1 p-Q.6 ! resigns.
1 6 K-R I R-N I . . . P-Q.N4 20 20 B-Q2 p-B4 ? 24 R-N3 R-K2 28 R X R B X R
E . The Pawn Storm Variation From diagram I : 6 P-14 P-KN3
7
P-Ilf :n B
This is the most direct refutation attempt of the Modern Benoni. White prepares at once to set his central pawn roller in motion. Attempts by Black to halt the advance are doomed to failure : for example the game Shamkovitch-Zheliandinov, RSFSR Championship 1 959, continued 7 . . . Q-K2 ? 8 N-B3 ! QN-Q2 ? (8 N X KP 9 N X N ch 1 0 K-B2 leaves Black in dire straits in view of the open king's Q. X N file, but better was 8 . . . B-N2 followed by 0-0 though he is still strug gling.) 9 P-K5 p X P 1 0 p X P N X KP I I B-N5 ch N-Q.2 dis. ch. 1 2 K B2 ! N-N5 ch 1 3 K-N3 ! and Black is quite lost. Thus Black usually continues 7 . . . B-N2 when White may play 8 N-B3 0-0 transposing into the King's Indian, four pawns attack, or continue more ambitiously with either (i) 8 P-K5 or (ii) 8 B-N5 ch. • • •
(i) Mikenas's line 7
" .
�N2
8
P-KS
This variation has been extensively analysed and played by the
TIte PIllIm Storm VlJrialitm
57
Lithuanian master Mikenas. White's strategy, expressed naively, is to push his pawns as far as they will go, and then to take advantage of the resulting denuded position of the black king caused by his pieces
fleeing from the onrush of pawns. As may be expected this leads to
extremely double-edged play. The chances are approximately even. If anything, theory favours Black, while practice shows White to
be
more sllccessful.
sa
B
Black's only two sane moves are (a) 8 ' "
p X P (very risky) and (b)
8 . . . KN-Q.2 ( !) .
(a) 8
...
Px P
KN-Q.2 9 . . . N-N5 ? 1 0 p-K6 or 1 0 B-N5 ch is overwhelming for White; Also weak is 9 . . . N-R4, the game Yakovlev-Voloshin, Molotov 1 956, continued 10 B-N5 ch B-Q.2 I I N-B3 0-0 1 2 o-o ! ( 1 2 B X B N X B 9PxP If
1 3 P-KN4 N X P is by no means clearly good for White) 1 3 B-K2 B X N P x Q.
14 B X B B X P
1 5 B X N Q;-R5
1 7 Q. x Q.
1 8 R-B5 with great advantage for White. Finally, if 9 . . . Q;-K2
Mikenas gives the variation : 1 0 N-B3 0-0 BXB
1 2 . . . B-N5
1 6 P-KN3 Q. X B
1 3 p-Q.6 Q.-K3
14 Q.-Q.5 ! B X P
I I B-KN5 P-KR3
1 5 N X B R-K I
16
12 B XN
0--0--0
Q. X N
1 7 B-B4 ! with advantage.
10 P-K6 PxP 1 1 P X P (see diagram 39) 11 Q.-RS ch •••
Other moves are even less satisfactory ; Mikenas gives the following possi hili ties : (i) I I . . . N-K4 (ii) 1 1 . . . N-KB3 1 5 B-N5 ch K-K2
1 2 Q. x Q. ch K X Q.
1 3 B-N5 ch, etc.
1 2 B-Q.B4 Q. x Q. ch 1 6 R-K I .
1 3 K X Q. N-B3
1 4 N-B3 N-Q.R4
58
T1u Modem Benoni
(ill) I I . . . N-B I 1 2 N-N5 ! Q.x Q. ch 13 K X Q. N X P 14 B--Q.B4 N-R3 1 5 KN-B3; and in all cases Black is in severe difficulties. Also I I . . . lCK2 1 2 B-K2 N-KB3 1 3 B-KB4 B X P 1 4 B--Q.6 !CQ. I 1 5 lCR4 ch KN--Q.2 16 R--Q.I , Kampenus-Kirillov, Riga 1967 ; and I I . . . B X N ch 1 2 P X B lCK2 13 B-K2 N-K4 1 4 lCR4 ch Q.N-B3 1 5 B-KR6 B X P 16 0--0-0 B--Q.2 1 7 �KN4, Mileika-Zhuravlev, Riga 1 962, both leave much to be desired in the Black situation.
39 B
12 P-N3 13 P x B
B xN ch Q.-KS ch
1 3 . . . �K2 ? rapidly led to a winning position for White in the game Peterson-Shershniev, Latvia 1964, in which there followed 14 N-B3 Q.X P ch 1 5 B-K2 0-0 16 0-0 N-N3 1 7 B-KR6 R-K I 18 N-N5 �K6 ch 19 K-RI B-K3 20 N X P and Black was lost.
14 Q.-IU
Q.x Q.ch
14 . . . Q.XR ? (if 14 . . . N-KB3 15 B-KN2 is very strong) loses by force to 1 5 P X N db!. ch K X P 1 6 B-R3 ch.
15 B x Q.
1 5 N X Q. also makes matters difficult for Black, e.g. 1 5 . . . N-B I 1 6 B KN2 N-B3 1 7 R--Q.NI N X P 18 0-0 Q.N--Q. I 1 9 N-B4 R-BI 20 R-KI ±, Zelevinski-Liberson, Moscow 1 957.
15 . . . 16 N-B3
N-BI NxP
Black's position is extremely precarious despite his extra pawn. Mikenas-Polugaievsky, semi-final 23rd U S S R Championship 1 957, continued 1 7 0-0 ( 1 7 B-KR6 is also very strong) 0-0 18 B-KR6 R-KI 19 N-K5 N--Q.2 20 :1--Q.N5 with advantage to White.
(b) 8 . . . KN-Q2 ( !) (from diagram 38) This is Black's best defence to Mikenas's 8 P-K5. Black prevents the
The Pawn Storm Variation complete opening of the centre which proved
so
59
dangerous in the line
above.
fO W
9 N-NSI 9 P
xi>
is not dangerous for Black ; for example the game Mikenas
Scherbakov, Moscow 1 96 1 , continued
9
...
1 0 N-B3 N-KB3
0-0
1 1 N-K5 (or I l B-K2 N-K I with easy equality) Q.N-Q.2 1 3 P X N N-Q.2 1 7 P X B Q.-K5
14 p-K6 p X P
1 5 p X P Q-R5 ch
1 2 B-K2 N X N !
1 6 P-N3 B X N ch
1 8 R-KN I Q. x KP with advantage to Black.
9 N-K4 ( !) is essentially the same as the text move, since it transposes after 9 . . . P X P
1 0 N-Q.6 ch.
9 ... 1 0 N-Q.6 ch
K-IU
PxP
1 0 . . . K-B I ? leaves White with a very strong attack after I I N-B3 ; for example 1 I B-N5
• .
, Px P
1 5 Q.-N3 KN-'-Q.2
1 963 ; or I I . . . P-B3 1 5 B-KB4 P X N
1 2 B X P N-KB3
1 3 B-B4 Q;-K2 ch
14 N-K5 !
16 0-0 ; Mohring-Juttler, Correspondence 1 2 N X B Q. X N
1 6 B-K3 P-N3
1 3 P X P ,N X P
1 7 B-Q.B4 P-KR3
14 N X N Q;-K I
1 8 p-Q.6 N-Q.2
1 9 0-0 ch, Barchitov-Vasiliev, U S S R 1 964; and in both cases it is doubtful whether Black can survive.
60
The Modern Bmoni
u N x B eh A very interesting, as yet untried alternative is I J N-N5 ! ? threatening 1 2 p-Q.6 ch followed by N-B7. After this, one somewhat bizarre possi bility is I I . . . R-K I ( !) 1 2 p-Q.6 ch K-B I 1 3 N-B7 p X P dis. ch 1 4 N X R Q-R5 ch I S K-Q.2 (or 1 5 P-N3 p X P 1 6 N-B3 P-N7 dis. ch is unclear) K X N 1 6 Q-K I ch Q. x Q. ch 1 7 K X Q. B-K4 and Black's chances are not worse. Another complex line is I I P X P as in the game Kavalek-Trapl, Czech Championship 1 963. There followed I I . . . N X P 1 2 N X B ch 1 4 N-B3 Q-K3 I S N X N B X N 1 6 B-K2 K-N2 Q. X N 1 3 p-Q.6 ch K-B I 1 7 CH) N-B3 1 8 B-N4 Q. X Q.P 1 9 Q.-N3 and now Black blundered with 19 . . . Q-B2 ? losing instantly to 20 R X P ch ! Q. x R 2 I B-R6 ch. Instead of 19 . . . Q-B2, White's attack is refuted by 19 . . . KR-KB I 20 Q. X NP
Q.R-N I .
11 . . . 12
P-Q.6 ch
Q,xN
In the game Mikenas-Suetin, U S S R Championship 1 962, White played 1 2 N-B3 but Suetin showed that Black can survive the attack with careful play. There followed 1 2 . . . R-K I ! 1 3 B-B4 K-B I 1 4 0-0 N-N3 I S B-NS R-Q. I 16 p X P ( 1 6 p-Q.6 is an interesting alternative) 1 6 . . . R x p with about equal chances. \Vith the text move White hopes to take more advantage of the exposed position of the Black king.
12 1 3 N-B3 14 B-K2 • . •
K-BI N-QB3
Weaker is 1 4 B-B4 for after 1 4 . . . N-N3 I S B-N3 P-KS 1 6 N-KS N X N 1 7 P X N P-BS 1 8 B-B2 Q.-B4, Black repulses White's attack, Baumbach Polugaievsky, Bad Liebenstein 1 963.
14 · · ·
P-KR3
Worth consideration is returning the pawn with 1 4 . . . P-KS I S N-NS P-KR3 1 6 N X KP B-Q.S when it is White's king which may then become stuck in the centre.
15 P x P 16 0-0
N(Q2) x P
White's passed queen's pawn and bishop pair provide ample com pensation for the sacrificed pawn, but Black should be able to defend himself satisfactorily. For example Gipslis-Grigorian, Kishinev 1 964, continued 1 6 . . . N X N ch 1 7 B X N B-Q.S ch 1 8 K-RI K-N2 1 9 B-Q.S R-B I ( 1 9 . . . p-B3 ? 23 Q-Q.S R-KB I
20 Q-N3 R-Q.N I
24 Q.R-Q. I Q.-N3
2 I B-K6 Q-Q. I
22 B-KB4 N-R4
2S R X B ! and White won quickly,
Till Paum Storm VtriJlitm
61
Zilberberg-Taoin, Correspondence 1967} �o B-ItB4 �1 21 �N3 P-XN4 �2 a-N3 �N3 �3 �KB3 P-B4 with an unclear position. (ii) T.jmaDOv's LiDe : 7 . . . B-N2 diagram 37)
8
B-N5 ch (from �
B
This is one of the most highly regarded of all lines against the Modern Benoni. Black cannot play 8 . . . Q.N-Q.2 since it losee a piece to 9 P-K5 followed by p-K6. Also 8 . . . B-Q.2 9 P-K5 is very strong for White ; for example 9 . . . N-R4 (9 . . . B X B 1 0 P X N B X P 1 1 N X B (c-R4 ch
12
N-B3 B X N ch
1 3 P X B Q. X P ch
compensation for the piece lost) B XB
1 2 N X B 0--0
14 B-Q.2 gives Black insufficient
10 N-B3 P x P
1 1 P X P 0-0 ( 1 1
• • •
1 3 0-0 1C-Q, 2 as in O'Kelly-Diez del Corral,
Madrid 1957, also leaves White with a big advantage after 1 4 (C-K2) 12 B XB N X B
1 3 P-KN4 and White should
win easily.
Thus it will be seen that Black has only one reasonable reply :
8 ... 9 �Q.3
KN-Q.2
Having served its purpose in causing extreme congestion on Black's queen's side the -bishop retreats to prevent Black playing . . . P-Q.1l3
followed by . . . P-Q.N4. Another move with the same motive is 9 P-Q.R4, but this unnecessarily weakens the pawn formation and allows Black an easier game ; for example 9 . . . 0--0 (also interesting is 9 . . . (C-1l5 ch 1 0 P-N3 Q.-K2 as in' the game Lutikov-Vasiukov, 26th U S S Il Cham pionship 1 959, which continued 1 1 N-B3 0-0 """N-N5
14 B-B I P-N3
1 2 0-0 N-1l3
1 3 Il-K I
1 5 B-B4 B-N2 with problems for both sides)
1 0 N-B3 ( 1 0 KN-K2 ? is quite wrong here ; the game Ustinov-Cholmov, Ashkhabad N-KB3
1 96 1 , continued
1 3 P-1l3 P-Q.1l3
1 0 , . . N-1l3
1 4 B-B4 ? N X KP !
winning position for Black) 1 0 . . . N-1l3
1 1 0-0 N-N5
1 2 B-K3
I S N X N Il-K I with a
I I 0-0 N-N5
1 2 B-K3 and
62
TM Modem Bmoni
now Black should not play 1 2 . . . P-N3,
as
in. Zaitsev-Tal, USSB. Cham 1 4 B-R.4 gives White some
pionship 1 962, when 1 3 B-B2 ! N-B3
advantage, but simply 1 2 . . . N-B3 ! since 1 3 P-K5 fails to 1 3 . . . N-N5. White's central pawns are not really mobile and Black has a perfectly
free and easy game. Also Black's position is quite satisfactory if White fails to prevent
. . . P-Q.B.3 and ' " P-Q.N4. In the game Cherepkov-Suetin, Sochi I g6 1 , 9 N-B3 0--0 1 0 0--0 P--Q.B.3 1 1 B--Q.3 P--Q.N4 was played. There ensued
1 2 !C-K I B.-K I 1 3 !C-N3 P-B5 1 4 B-B2 P-N5 B--Q.2 ! ( 1 6 . . . N X KP ? attack) !C-B2 !
1 7 B X N B. X N
1 5 N--Q.R.4 N-KB3 1 6 P-B5
1 8 N-N5
81ves White
1 7 B-N:> B-N4 18 p-K5 ! P X KP 1 9 p X P R.P X P 2 1 N X NP Q. X Q. 2 2 P X Q. Q.N--Q.2 with equal chances.
a strong 20 N X P
43
B
0-0
9 ...
9 . . . !C-B.5 ch is insufficient here, for after 1 0 P-N3 !C-K2
1 1 N-B3 0--0
1 2 0--0 it is difficult for Black to complete his development ; for example HI
..
. N-B.3 ( 1 2 . . . N-KB3
14 B-B J ! N-B.3
1 3 p-K5 ! or 1 2 . . . N-N3
1 5 P-KR.3 B X N
1 6 Q. X B N-N5
Gromek, Polish Championship 1 960) 1 5 P--Q.R.4 P--Q.B.3
1 6 P-K5 B-N2
1 3 B.-K I B-N5
1 7 !C-Q. I , Sliwa
1 3 B.-K I N-B2
14 B-B I P-N3
1 7 N-KN5, Sliwa-Perez, Marianske
Lazne 1 96 1 ; and in all cases White has a clear plus.
An interesting alternative, however, is 9
. . . P--Q.R3
1 0 P--Q.R.4 !C-R.4 ! ?
as played in the game Gromek-Polugaievsky, Marianske Lazne 1 959. There followed 1 1 B�2 !C-N3 12 N-B3 0--0 i 3 !C-B2 R-K I 14 K--Q. I (after 14 B-B4 B--Q.5 ! gives reasonable chances) N-KB3
15 P-B.3 Q.N--Q.2
1 6 B.-K I !C-B2 with chances for both sides.
lo N-B3
Black now has two reasonable plans starting with the moves 1 0 . . . N-B.3 and 1 0 . . . P-Q.R3 respectively. Other tenth moves are dealt with later.
The Pawn Storm Variation
63
oH B
(a)
10
. . .
N-R3
This is the more ambitious, but less convincing, of Black's possibilities.
N-lIQ
11 0-0
In the game Shamkovitch-Suetin, Charkov
1 956, Black played I I ' " 1 3 B-B I N-KB3 1 4 P-Q.R3 N-R3, and now after Taimanov's recommendation, 1 5 p-R3 !, it is very difficult for Black to R-KI
1 2 N-Q.2 N-N5
obtain counterplay. Also I I . . . N-N3 fails to equalise, for example 1 2 B-K3 R-K I 1 3 B KB2 P-B5 1 4 B-B2 N-N5 1 5 B-N I B-N5 1 6 P-Q.R3 N-R3 1 7 P-R3 ± , Antoshin-Gusev, Moscow 1 962. Worth consideration, however, is I I . . . R-N I ? ! to answer 1 2 N-Q.2 with . P-Q.N4 ! ( 1 3 N X P p-B5 !) . .
Ut
N-Q.2 45 B
1 2 �B2 R':"NI
1 3 P-Q.N3 P-Q.N4
game AIster-Clarke, Wageningen into a drawn ending with
14 B-N2 is an insipid plan. In the 1 957, Black now forced the game P-B5 1 5 p X P p X P 1 6 B X P N X P
14 1 7 B X N �N3 ch 1 8 R-B2 Q.XB, etc. 1 2 K-R I also lacks bite. For example 1 2 . . . P-Q.R3 • . •
1 3 P-Q.R4 R-NI
Th4 Modem Benoni
64
1 4 P-RS P-N3
IS P X P R X P
1 6 N-Q.2 N..,.B3
1 7 Q-B3 N-N4
1 8 N-B4
N-Q.S 1 9 Q-B2 R-NS and Black gained the initiative, Gastonyi-Forintos, Gyula 1 965. More critical here is 14 P-BS as in Spassky-Savon, p. 88. la
...
N-B3
12
. . •
P-Q.N4 is bad after 1 3 N X P N X N
1 4 B X N R-N I (O'Kelly
van Seters, Brussels 19S9) and now I S B-Q.3 ! B X P 1 7 N�B4 with a clear advantage. (Analysis by Evans. ) 12
. • .
16 B X B R X B
R-N I ( !) i s probably Black's best chance of equality, Saidy
Evans, u s Championship 1 964, continued 1 3 P-Q.R4 P-Q.R3 N-Kl
IS Q.-B3 Q-B2
1 4 N-B4
1 6 P-RS P-Q.N4 with counterplay for Black.
This line holds out the best prospects for Black to justify his plan of • • •
N-R3 and . . . N-B2, and shows that it is possible to keep White's
formidable pawn centre under restraint while preparing a queen's side advance.
13 P-KR3
R-KI
Now the game Taimanov-Trifunovic, U S S R v Yugoslavia 1957, con tinued 14 Q-B3 ? R-N I ?
I S P-Q.R4 N-R3
P-Q.R3
19 P-BS ! B-K2
PxP
18 P-RS ! B-B I 22 p-Q.6 B x P
23 N x B Q. x N
16 N-B4 N-Q.NS 20 P X P BP X P
1 7 B-N I 2 1 P-KS !
24 N-K4 resigns. What both
playel'S overlooked at move 14 was that after 14 Q-B3 ? Black can win a pawn with 14 . . . KN X Q.P !
I S P X N B-Q.S ch
1 6 K-R I R-K6. How
ever, this tactical circumstance does little to affect the view that White's position is clearly superior, for he may avoid the trap by playing
14 P-Q..R4 followed
by N-B4 and only then does he play Q.-B3' With
this move order White has exactly the same plan as in the game above and Black is in great difficulties avoiding Trifunovic's fate.
(b)
10
. . . P-QR3 (from diagram 44)
Here Black adopts the alternative plan of developing his queen's knight on Q.2,. which with his queen on Q.B2 will restrain the threatened white pawn advance in the centre.
11 P-Q.R4 (see diagram 46) N-KB3 11. • • •
With this move Black goes into a four pawns attack type of position, in which he hopes that the misplacing of the White bishop on Q.3 will make up for the move lost. (Black has forfeited two tempi in the wanderings of his king's knight, while the White bishop has contrived to reduce the net loss to one move.) Since Black's main fear is that White will play P-KS, there is certainly some justification for his hopes,
The
Pawn Storm
Variation
65
is much Ipore difficult to execute with the bishop on Q.3 owing to the resulting weakness of the queen's pawn. An alternative plan is the very interesting I I Q-B2. In the cor respondence game Fink-Koblentz 1 959, there followed 1 2 N-Q2 (after 1 2 0-0 P-B5 1 3 B-B2 N-B4 14 B-K3 B-N5 1 5 B-Q4 B X N 1 6 R X B B x B ch 1 7 Q.X B Q.N-Q2 Black had adequate resources, Marsalek Forintos, Lenin�rad 1 960 ) p-B5 ? ! 1 3 N X P N-B4 1 4 0-0 B-N5 1 5 Q;-B2 N X B 1 6 Q.X N N-Q2 1 7 P-R3 N-B4 1 8 Q;-B2 B-Q2 1 9 P-R5 and Black had nebulous chances for the pawn sacrificed ; 1 9 . . . B X N for this advance
• . •
leads to obscure complications.
12 0--0 Feeble is
1 2 N-Q.2 which allows Black to seize centrol of the /iame with 1 2 . . . R-K I 1 3 0-0 N-N5 ! 14 N-B3 p-B5 ! +.
12 . . . 13 P-KR3 14 Q.xB 15 B-Q.2
B-N5 BxN Q.N-Q.2
1 5 B-K3 ? gives Black the chance to secure strong counterplay by 15 R-K I 1 6 B-B2 Q-R4 1 7 K-R I Q-N5 ! 1 8 P-R5 P-QN4 19 KR-QNI P-B5 +, Kluger-Tringov, ' Sofia 1 962.
vigorous action on the queen's wing :
15 . . .
. . •
Q.-Ib
Black's firm grip on his
' "
K4 square, and possibilities of play on the
queen's side give him reasonable prospects. The game Kvatkovsky Scherbakov, Sochi
1 96 1 , continued 1 6 B-B4 KR-K I
1 7 Q.R-K I R-K2
with equal chances.
(c)
Other Tenth Moves (from diagram 44)
No moves besides of equality :
1 0 . . . N-R3 or 1 0
• • •
P- Q.R3 really give much chance
66
The Motkm Bmoni
(a) 10 . . . p-N3 ? I I Q-X2 ! ( I I 0-0 B�lt3 is not bad for Black) N-KB3 12 0--0 It-XI 13 P-XS ! Q.N�2 14 B-B4 p x p IS P X P N-N5 16 B-KNS P-B3 1 7 p�6 ch X-ItI 18 p-x6 (A. Zaitsev-Dzhindzbihash viIi, Leningrad 1962) is a fine example of what to avoid as Black in the Modem Benoni. We give a diagram to serve as a horrible warning:
47 B
(b) 10 .. . Q-N3 ? I I N�2 P�lt3 J2 �lt4 B-Q.S 13 N-B4 Q-B2 14 N-K2 B-N2 IS �2 P-N3 16 Q-N3 with a deal" advantage to White, Alatortsev-Aronin, 18th USSIt CIw!lpionship I9SO. (3) 10 . N-KB3 I I 0--0 It-XI ? (It is best to play I I P-Q.lt3 or I I ... B-NS attempting to transpose into variation 2 above) 12 B-NS B-Q.2 13 P-xS !l XB 14 NXB � X P IS P X P N-XS 16 p-Q.6 N-It3 I 7 � and Black is in great difficulty, Lapienis-Shirochin, Baku 1966. . .
. • •
F. The Penrose-Tal Line
6 P-Kf P-KN, 7 B-Q.s B-Na 8 KN-Ka 0-0 9 0-0 (frflm diagram I) This line became one of the most feared against the Modem Benoni in 1960 after the Finnish master Ojanen beat Keres at Helsinki, and Jonathan Penrose subsequently beat Tal at Leipzig using it. White's play is based on using his central pawns as a basis for a king's side attack. The thematic method of developing the onslaught is to play P-KB4, N-N3, Q-B3 and 'an eventual thrust in the centre with P-xS, answering . .. Q.P x P with P-BS. The resulting attack on the KB -file �n prove very dangerous indeed. The variation is less popular now, since Black's correct defensive measures have been shown, though it remains one of White's sharper anti-Benoni weapons and leads to very interest ing miqdle-game positions.
TIll Pmrou-Tal Litv
An idea of the Soviet master K1aman is by playing
to delay
67
castling for White
9 B-KN5 instead of 0-0, in an attempt to induce a weakness
in Black's king's side. This line is interesting but needs further testa to prove itself a reliable weapon. For example 9 . . . P-KJl3 1 0 Jt-QlI (or 1 0 B-U4 P-N3 1 1 �2 Jt-Jt2 12 N-N3 B-1l3 1 3 P-Kll4 B X B 14�XB P-Jtll4 15 B-N5 Q;-BI 16 P-K5 N-N5 17 p X P P-B5 with com plications, Klaman-Vladimirov, Leningrad Championship 1965) 10 ... �N�2 1 1 N-N3 N-K4 12 B-U ll-KI 13 P-B4 N(It4)�2 14 0-0 P-1l3 1 5 �R4 P-JtR4 with a difficult struggle ahead, Klaman Vladimirov, semi-final Leningrad Championship 1 966.
4B
B
As usual Black has the full range of typical Modern Benoni plans from which to choose his continuation. We examine (i) 9 . . . �R3, (ll) 9 .. .
P-N3, (ill) 9 (i) 9
...
. . . N-R3 and (iv)
9 . . . N-Jt l .
P-
This is the plan used by Keres and Tal in their defeats mentioned above. It is therefore not surprising that it fell into disfavour, although it seems that Black may adopt it without any disadvantage.
lo P-Q.14
11 P-R3
�
UP, for if at once Black gains the advantage with 1 1 . . . P-B5 III 8-BlI N-MS I An alternative plan for White, developed by the Hungarian grand master Bilek, is 1 1 N-N3 �N�2 12 Q;-U R-E.I 1 3 P-B4, for example 1 3 . . . N XKP ! ? ( 1 3 . . . p-B5 ? I 14 B X P N-B4 15 P-K51 p X P 16 P-B5 P-KS 1 7 B-KN5 Q;-K4 1 8 B-B4 ±, Bilek-Stein, Amsterdam 1964) 1 4 �N XN P-B4 . 15 B-!l2 � I 16 R-R3 P-N3 1 7 �I P X N 18 P BS ! N-K4 19 B XP R-BI 20 Q;-B2 Q;-R5 1 with about equal chances, Bilek-Schmid, Te1 Aviv 1964. This is a necessary precaution before advancing the
1 1 p.-:B4?
68
The Modem Bmoni
11 ... III P-Ilf
Q.N-Q.1I
It makes no difference whether this or
1 2 N-N3
is played
first since both
are essential to White's plan.
49
B
III
R-NI
• . •
In the Penrose-Tal and Ojanen-Keres games Black played
12 R-KI 1 3 N-N3 P-BS 1 4 B-B2 N-B4. The former then continued I S ICB3 KN-Q.2 1 6 B-K3 P-Q.N4 1 7 P X P R-NI 1 8 ICB2 ! P X P - 19 P-KS ! P X P 20 P-BS ! ; and the latter game went I S K-RI B-Q,2 1 6 ICB3 K-RI 1 7 B-K3 N-NI 1 8 Q,R--Q. I P-Q,N4 19 p X P P X P 20 P-KS ! P X P 2 I P'-BS ! and in both cases White developed an overwhelming attack. (See illustrative games.) Black should leave his rook on KB I where it • • •
defends against the attack more effectively.
13 N-N3 14 B-B2
P-BS P-Q.N4
IS P X P 16 B-K3
PxP P-NSl
1 4 . . . P-N3 is too slow ; the correspondence game Pavoblek-Preo con 1 7 Q,R--Q. I P--Q.N4 1 8 P x P tinued I S B-K3 N-B4 1 6 ICB3 KN--Q.2 p X P 1 9 P-KS P X P 20 P-BS with great difficulties for Black.
The position
is very delicately balanced and gives chances to both sides. 1 962, continued 1 7 R-R7 ICQ I 1 8 N-R4 1 9 P-N3 p-B6 20 N-K2 R-R4 2 1 R X R Q,X R and the situation
Bertok-Portisch1 Stockholm
R-N4
remains very unclear. Illwtrative Games
Pearose Black : Tal Leipzig 1 960 1 P--Q.4 N-KB3 2 P--Q.B4 P-K3 3 N-Q,B3 P-B4 4 P-Q,S P x P S P x P P-Q.3 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 B--Q.3 B-N2 8 KN-K2 0--0 9 0--0 P--Q.R3 1 0 P--Q.R4 Q,B2 I I P-R3 Q,N--Q.2 1 2 P-B4 R-KI 13 N-N3 P-BS 14 B-B2
White :
The Penrore- Tal Line
69
N-B4 IS Q-B3 KN-Q.2 1 6 B-K3 P-Q.N4 1 7 P X P R-N I 18 Q-B2 p X P 1 9 P-KS P X P 20 P-BS B-N2 2 1 Q,R-Q.I B-Q,RI 22 Q,N-K4 N-RS 23 B X N P X B 24 p X P BP X P 2S Q-B7 ch K-R I 26 N-Q.BS Q-R2 2 7 Q, X N Q, x Q, 2 8 N X Q, R X P 2 9 N-N6 R-N6 30 N X BP R-Q. I 3 1 p-Q.6 R-B6 32 Q,R-B I R X R 33 R x R B-Q.4 34 N-N6 B-N6 3S N-K4 P-R3 36 P-Q, 7 B-B I 37 R-B8 B-K2 38 B-BS B-RS 39 P-N3 resigns. White : Ojanen Black: Kere. Helsinki 1960 First 14 !U0ves as above : IS K-R I B-Q,2 16 Q,-B3 K-R I 1 7 B-K3 N-N I 18 Q,R-Q.I P-Q,N4 1 9 p X P P X P 20 P-KS ! P X P 2 1 P-BS ! P-NS 2 2 p-Q.6 �R4 23 Q,N-K4 N-Q,6 24 B X N P X B 2S P-B6 B-KB I 26 R X P N-R3 2 7 KR-Q. I KR-Q. I 28 Q-B2 ! Q-N4 29 Q,-Q,2 N-B4 30 N x N B X N 3 1 R-Q.S Q-N2 32 N-BS Q-B3 33 B-R6 ! B X B 34 Q, X B R-KNI 3S R X P Q,R-Q, I 36 R-Q,4 P-N4 37 R X B R X P 38 R x KNP resigns.
(ii) 9
. . .
P-N3 (from diagram 48)
This is yet another of Suetin's ideas. Black plans to exchange the white squared bishops with . . B-Q,R3 in order to lessen the force of White's attack and to gain more space for his own pieces. The line has only seldom been played and certainly deserves more attention. .
10 N-N3 It is not clear what is White's best method of continuing. Other lines to have been played are as follows : (a) 1 0 P-B4 B-Q.R3 1 1 B X B N X B 1 2 N-N3 P-BS 1 3 B-K3 N-B4 14 B-Q.4 R-K I I S P-BS N-Q,6 16 Q,-B3 N-K4 1 7 B x N R X B with good play for Black, Giterman-Suetin, semi-final 29th U S S R Championship 1 96 1 . (b) 1 0 B-KNS P-KR3 I I B-R4 B-R3 1 2 P-B3 B X B 1 3 Q, X B P-R3 14 Q,R-K 1 Q,N-Q,2 l S P-B4 Q-B2 1 6 N-N3 P-BS ! 1 7 Q,-Q.2 Q,R-K 1
Tu Modem Benoni
70
1 8 R.-K2 P-Q.N4
1 9 N-Q. I Q;-B4
ch
20 K-RI P-NS 1 96 1 .
with the better
game for Black; Banfalvi-Suetin, Debrecen
10 . . . �R3 1 1 ....0"
If I I P-B4 Black secures active play with I I . . . N-NS ! 1 2 Q.XN (12 B XB ? B-Q.S ch 1 3 X-RI Q;-RS ! + ) B X B 1 3 R-KI N-Q.2. I n the game Schweber-Garcia, Buenos Aires 1 964, there followed 14 Q;-B3 B-Q.R3 I S P-N3 B-Q.S ch 1 6 K-RI Q;-RS with level chances.
11 III (tx B • • •
BxB N-N5
1 964. 1 3 Q;-Q.2 P-Q.R3 14 Q.R-KI R-R2 I S R-K2 P-Q.N4 1 6 P KR3 N-K4 1 7 B-R6 B X B 1 8 Q.XB P-B3 with a sound equality. The prospects are about even. The game Szabo-Ivkov, Belgrade continued
(ill ) 9
. . .
N-R3 (from diagram 48)
This continuation became popular while It
is
9 . . . P-Q.R3
was in disrepute.
not certain what White's best reply is, since there are several
attractive plans of attack. 51
W
lo N-N3 This is the oldest and most often seen continuation, but many other moves have also been tried here :
10 B-KNS. was successful in the game Ivkov-Jansa, Vrnjacka 1 967, when after 1 0 . . . N-B2 I I P-B4 P-KR3 1 2 B-R4 R-KI 1 3 P-R4 P-R3 14 P-R3 R-NI I S B-B2 ! P-Q.N4 1 6 P-KS p X P 1 7 P Q.6 N-RI 1 8 P X NP RP X P 1 9 p X P R X P 20 B-N3 White had a very strong position. In this line the exchange sacrifice 1 3 . . . P-KN4 (instead of I 3 . . . P-R3) 14 p X P N-NS I S Q;-Q.2 R-K4 1 6 P-R3 p X P 1 7 B-N3 N-R3 1 8 B X R B X B has been suggested, but as Ivkov pointed out I S p-N6 !, instead of 15 Q;-Q.2 is good for White. (a)
Banja
The Pmrose-1 at Line Mter
10 B-KN5
I I B-R4 P-KN4 12 B-N3 N-R4 1 96 1 . There followed 1 3 (C-Q,2 15 P-Q.R4 R-N I 16 P-B4 P-N4 with chances
crucial is
10
71
• • .
P-R3
as played Johner-Bialas, Neuhausen
N-B2
14 Q.R-KI P-R3
for both sides.
1 0 P-KR3 N-B2 I I P-Q.R4 P-N3 1 2 B-KNS is a similar plan ; 12 P-KR3 ( 1 2 P-Q.R3 1 3 P-B4 (C-Q,2 14 (C-Q,2 B-N2 I S P-BS ! gave White a strong attack in van Seters-Bredewout, Mondorf 1 963) 1 3 B-R4 B-R3 1 4 P-B4 B X B 1 5 Q.XB (C-K I 16 Q.R-Q. I ( 1 6 P-KS ! gives better prospects) N-Q.2 1 7 P-KS P X P 18 p-Q.6 with (b)
for example
. . •
• . •
complications, but Black is at least holding his own, Ivkov-Toran,
1 966. 10 P-Q.R3, with the intention of disrupting Black's queen's side with P-Q.N4, is a recent idea, but s":ould not prove dangerous. For example 1 0 . . . R-K I (also interesting is 1 0 . . . N-B2 I I R-N I P-Q.N4 1 2 P-Q.N4 P-BS 1 3 B-B2 B-Q.2 as in Ojanen-Westerinen, Helsinki 1966) I I P-R3 P-BS 1 2 B-B2 N-B4 1 3 N-N3 p-KR4 \ 1 4 B-N5 Q-N3 I S R-N I N-R2 1 6 B-K3 P-RS with active play for Black, Ghitescu Kavalek, Beverwijk 1 967. (d) 10 P-B3 is very solid but has little other merit. Hort-Jakobsen, Copenhagen 1 965, continued 1 0 . . . R-N I I I P-R3 B-Q.2 12 R-N I Q-B2 1 3 B-K3 P-BS 14 B-Q.B2 N-B4 IS N-Q.4 P-Q.N4 with good play Palma (c)
for Black. 10 . . .
N-B2
Also possible is 1 0
. . . R-K I I I P-KR3 R-N I , and now White should 12 p-B4 ! with attacking chances, rather than 12 P-Q.R4 N-Q.NS 1 3 B-N I P-Q.R3 14 P-B4 P-Q.N4 with strong counterplay, Aaron-Stein, Stockholm 1 962.
play
52 W
R-NI P-KR3 I R-K I is an interesting alternative. In the game Ivkov-Najdorf, Havana 1 966, there followed 1 2 B-KB4 ( 1 2 P-Il4 may be stronger, but 11 I
. . •
The ModmI Benom
72
then 1 2 P-Q.N4 is very obscure) 1 2 P-Q.R3 1 3 P-Q.R4 R-N I 14 P-R5 P-QN4 1 5 P X p e.p. Q,R >S P and Black secured an active game , (see illustrative game)� • • •
• • •
P-Q,R3 P-Q,14 12 P-N3 1 3 P-B4 P-Q,R3 14 Q,-B3 P-Q.N4 was the old way of treating the position, but since it is not dangerous for Black if White plays P-R5, this is quite unnecessary and merely amounts to the loss of a move. 13 P-B4 1 3 P-R5 P-Q,N4 gives Black the better chances after either 1 4 P-B4 P-N5 1 5 N-NI R-K I 1 6 Q,-B3 N-N4, Sallay-Varnusz, Hungarian Champion ship 1 96 1 ; or 14 p x p e.p. R X P 1 5 P-B4 N-N4, Dozsa-Lengyel, Budapest 1 962. 13 · · · P-Q,N4 P xP 14 P x P P-N5 15 Q,-B3 Black has a promising position. The game Garcia-Kavalek, Bucharest 1 966, continued 1 6 N-Q, I N-N4 1 7 B X N R X B 1 8 N-K3 N-Q,2 1 9 N B4 N-N3 20 N-R5 B-Q,2 and Black's chances are not worse. la
• • •
(iv) 9 . . . N-KI (from diagram 48) is an idea of Matulovic's which he has played twice against Ghitescu. Both games continued 10 B-K3 N-Q,2 X I P-B4 P-Q,R3 12 P-Q,R..f p-r �3 13 R-NJ ; in the first, at Bucharest 1 966, there followed 1 3 . . . Q,-K2 14 B-KB2 Q,N-B3 15 P-R3 P-Q,N4 1 6 P X P P X P 1 7 P-Q,N4 P-B5 1 8 B-B2 with some advantage for White. In the second game, at Havana 1 966, Matulovic attempted to improve with 1 3 B-N2 but after 1 4 Q,-Q,2 R-B I 1 5 P-Q,N4 KN-B3 1 6 P-R3 R-K I 1 7 B KB2 Q,-B2 1 8 P-N5 P-Q,R4 White again had the preferable position. It seems that 9 . . . N-K I is too passive to give good prospects of equality, and Black is better advised to play one of the lines discussed above. This
. • •
Illustrative Game White : Ivkov Black : Najdorf Havana 1 966 I P-Q,4 N-KB3 2 P-Q,B4 P-KN3 . 3 N-Q,B3 P-B4 4 P-Q,5 B-!\!2 5 P-K4 P-Q,3 6 B-Q,3 0-0 7 KN-K2 P-K3 8 0-0 P X P 9 BP X P R-K I 1 0 N N3 N-R3 I I P-KR3 N-B2 1 2 B-KB4 P-Q,R3 1 3 P-Q,R4 R-N I 14 P-R5 P-Q,N4 1 5 P X P e.p. Q,R X P 1 6 N-R4 R-N2 1 7 R-N I N-N4 1 8 P-N4 p-B5 ! 1 9 B-B2 N-Q,2 20 N-K2 N-K4 2 1 B-B I Q,-R5 22 P-B4 N-Q.2 23 B-N2 B X B 24 R X B N-B3 25 Q,N-B3 N X N 26 N X N B X P 2 7 Q,-Q,4
Other Systems
73
B-D4 28 B-N I N-N5 29 P-N3 Q,x P ch 30 R-N2 Q,-R6 3 ' - P XB N-K6 32 B-K4 Q,R-K2 33 R(B I )-B2 N X R 34 R X N Q,-R5 35 R-KB2 P-B3 36 Resigns.
G. Other Systems
(from diagram I)
53
B
This is the most important of the less usual lines against the Modern Benoni. White attempts to take advantage of the weak Black queen's pawn.
7 ... This is a natural but dangerous reply. Occasionally the attempt has been made to anticipate White's next move with 7 . . . P-Q.R3, for example 8 P-Q.R4 B-N2 9 P-K4 0-0 1 0 B-K2 (or 1 0 N-Q.2 N-R4 I I B-K3 N-Q.2 1 2 B-K2 KN-B3 1 3 0-0 R-N I 14 Q.-B2 N-K I 1 5 KR-K I , Rossetto Lokvenc, Varna 1 962, and Black's position is uncomfortable) 1 0 . . . Q.-K2 ? I I N-Q,2 Q.N--Q.2 1 2 0-0 N-K4 1 3 P-R3 N-K I 1 4 B-R2 P-B4 1 5 P-B4 N-Q.2 1 6 B,-Q.3, Bachmann-Langeweg, Scheveningen 1 963, and again Black has difficulty in freeing himself. See Vaganian-Tal, p. 89 for improvements. 8
Q.-Jlt ch
This is the point of White's system, and is the only move to give Black any worries. The slower plan of 8 P-KR3 0-0 9 P-K3 is com pletely innocuous, for example 9 . . . P--Q.R3 (also 9 . . . P-N3 1 0 N--Q. 2 N-K I, I I N-B4 B-Q.R3 1 2 P--Q.R4 B X N 1 3 B X B, Keres-Tal, Estonia v Latvia 1 954 ; and 9 . . . N-K I 1 0 B-K2 Q.N--Q2 1 1 0-0 N-K4 1 2 B X N
74
TM ModmI Bmoni
P X B 1 3 KN-Q.2 P-B4 14 Q;-N3 N-Q.3 I S N-B4 P-KS, Tal-Spassky, Leningrad 1 954, both give Black good prospects) 1 0 P-Q.R4 N-R4 ! I I B-R2 p-B4 ! 1 2 B-K2 P-BS 1 3 P-K4 N-Q.2 14 0-0 K-lt l IS K-ltl It-NI with the better game for Black, Furman"-Forintos, Oberhausen 1961. J
. • .
1 0 P-K4 is considerably better for White.
8 . . . Q-Q.2
9 Q;-N3 10 P-Kf
10 N-Q.2 ? N-R4 ! I I B-NS P-Klt3 1 2 B-R4 0-0 1 3 P-K3 P-KN4 is good for Black. Also the ingenious l O B X p ? Q. x B I I Q. x P fails to II 0-0 1 2 Q. x It Q;-N3. • • •
10 . . .
0--0
1 0 . . . N-R4 is inferior, for example I I B-K3 0-0 1 2 B-K2 P-Q.R3 1 3 P-Q.R4 N-KB3 14 N-Q.2 ±, Shashin-Stahlberg, Erevan 1965. 54 W
11
B-IU
Alternatives accomplish nothing : (a) I I B-Q.3 N-R3 (or I I . . . R-K I 1 2 0-0 P-BS ! 13 B X P N X KP, Perez-Donner, Whitby 1 960, when 14 N-Q.NS ! ? leads to complications) 1 2 O-O_ N-ll4 13 B-K3 Q.R-N I 14 B-K2 B-NS with equality, Toran Nievergelt, Lugano 1 9S9. (b) I I N-Q.2 N-R4 ! 1 2 B-K3 P-B4 1 3 p X P p X P 14 P-N3 N-R3 I S B-K2 P-BS ! 16 p x P N X P 1 7 R-KN I Q.R-K I (or I 7 . . . N X B 1 8 N X N B-B4 19 B-R6 B-N3 20 B X B Q.X B 2 1 N-K4 Q.-K4 with good play for Black, Vladimirov-Gufeld, Tashkent 1 9S8) 1 8 N(Q.2)-K4 K-RI 1 9 P-Q.R3 N X B 2 0 K X N P-N4 2 1 N-NS P-BS 22 Q.-Q. I N-B4 with advantage to Black, Chukaev-Suetin, Sochi 1 96 1 . P-Q.N41 11 ... The clearest way to equalise. Other lines played are as follows : (a) 1 1 . . . N-R4( ?) 1 2 B-K3 P-Q.R3 1 3 P-Q.R4 B-NS 14 P-R3 B X N
Other Systems
75
15 B XB N-Q.2 1 6 0--0 Q.R-N I ,17 B X N P XB 1 8 Q-Q. I ±, Filip-Kluger, Budapest Ig6I . (b) 1 1 N-R3( ?) 1 2 0--0 KR-B I . 1 3 N-Q.2 N-KI 1 4 Q.R-B I Q.R NI 1 5 B-N3 P-Q.N4 1 6 P-Q.R4 p X P 1 7 Q.-R3 ±, Sacharov-Gufeld, Kiev 1 958. (c) I I R-K I 12 N-Q.2 P-Q.N4! ( 1 2 N-R3 13 0--0 Q.R-NI 14 KR-K I gives White a clear advantage, Uhlmann-Dely, Erfurt 1 955) 1 3 B X NP N X KP 14 Q.N X N P-B4 1 5 B-K2 P X N 16 N-B4 B-BI 1 7 Q. N3 B-N4 with equality, Uhlmann-Milic, Marianske Lazne 1 96 1 . (d) I I B-N5 1 2 N-Q.N5 ! ? Q.-R4 ch 1 3 N-Q.2 B X B ( 1 3 P-BS ? 14 Q.XBP R-BI IS Q-Q.3 B X B 1 6 Q.>
• • •
• . •
• • •
• • •
• • •
• . •
13 B x B
N x KP
Evans-Perez, Amsterdam 1 964, now continued 1 4 0--0 P-Q.R3 Q.3 N-KB3 with equal chances.
(ii)
6
P-Kt P-KN3
7
IS B
B-KB4 (from diagram I ) SS B
This is a similar plan to the last, but in some ways is better motivated, for now 7 B-N2 gives White good chances with 8 B-NS ch B-Q.2 9 B-K2 ! (9 B X P ? B X B 1 0 N X B Q.-R4 ch I I N-B3 N X KP loses for • • •
76
The Modern Bmoni
White, and
9 B X B ch Q. X B 1 0 N-B3 0--0 I I 0-0 R-K I 1 2 R-K I N-R3 also achieves nothing, Wade-Lehmann, Munich 1 954) 9 , Q: B2 (9 . . . Q:-K2. 1 0 Q:-N3 P-N3 I I N-B3 0-0 1 2 N-Q.2 R-Q. I 1 3 0-0 ±, Korchnoi-Klein, Santa Fe 1 960) 1 0 N-B3 0-0 ( 1 0 . . ' P-Q.R3 I I 0-0 0-0 1 2 p-K5 ! p X P 1 3 N X P IC-Q. I 14 B-B3 ±, Geller-Suetin, USSR Championship 1 960) I I N-Q.2 a-K I 1 2 0-0 P-Q.R3 1 3 P-Q.R4 B Q.B I 14 B-N3 and Black's position is very difficult, Bachmann Langeweg, Bamberg 1 962. The best reply for Black is the cautious 7 . . . P-Q.R3{l) which secures him a perfectly satisfactory position. For example 8 P-Q.1lf B-Nz 9 N-B3 0-0 10 B-Q.3 (Alster-Enevoldsen, Moscow 1954) and now either 1 0 . . . Q:-K2 foliowed by . . Q.N-Q.2, . . . N-K I and . . . N-K4, or 1 0 . . . B-N5 equalises. • • •
.
(ill ) 6 P-Kf P-KN3 7 N-B3 �N2 ( from diagram I )
8
�Q,3 56 B
This system is quite harmless, for the bishop is badly placed on
Q.3
both from the point of view of-restraining Black's queen's side advance, and for preparing play in the centre.
8 ...
0-0
90-0
B-N51
This is the clearest way to equalise ;
9 ' " P-Q.R3 1 0 P-Q.R4 B-N5 ! 9 Q.N-Q.2 1 0 B-KB4 Q."':K2 I I R K I N-K I 1 2 N-Q.2 N-K4 1 3 B-B2 B-Q.2 14 P-Q.R4 N-B2 1 5 B-KN3 P-KN4, Lebedev-Vasiukov, Moscow Championship 1 955, with difficult play. Unsatisfactory for Black is 9 . . . N-R3 1 0 P-KR3 N-B2 I I R-K I R-N I 1 2 P-Q.R4 P-Q.R3 1 3 P-R5 P-Q.N4 14 p X P e.p. R X P 1 5 N-Q.2 N-N4 16 N-B4 R-N I 1 7 B-N5 and White has the better game, Cholmov-Birbrager, Lvov 1 968. transposes. An interesting idea is
. . •
Other
lo P-KR3 11 Q.x B 12 P-Q.1lf
77
B xN P-Q.R3
As Suetin has pointed out, 1 2 B-KB4 P-Q.N4
White since 14 p-Q.6 fails to 14
12 . . . 13 Q.-K2
Systems
• . •
1 3 P-K5 P X P is weak for
Q.N-Q.2 .
Q.N-Q.2
If 1 3 B-KB4 Q;-B2 14 Q;-K2 Black's best is 14 . . . Q.R-B I ( 1 4 . . . R-KI is Donner-Tal, Zurich 1 959, but then Boleslavsky's recommendation of 15 Q.R-B I N-K4 16 P-Q.N3 makes it difficult for Black to obtain counterplay) . Liptay-Portisch, Hungarian Championship 1 963, then continued 1 5 B-B4 KR-K I 16 Q;-B2 R-K2 I 7 B-KR2 Q.R-K I with advantage to Black. 1 3 Q;-Q. I also fails to cause difficulties. In the game Mititelu-Tal, Reykjavik 1 957, there followed 1 3 . . . Q.-B2 14 B-KB4 KR-KI 1 5 .Q; Q.2 N-K4 1 6 B-K2 Q;-R4 1 7 B-KN5 Q;-N5 1 8 Q.R-KI Q.N-Q.2 1 9 B Q.3 P-N4 20 K-R I P-B5 with good counterplay for Black.
13 . . .
R-KI
1 3 . . . Q;-B2 is more dangerous, for example 14 P-B4 ( 1 4 B-KN5 Q.R-B I 15 Q.R-KI P-B5 16 B-N I KR-KI I 7 Q;-Q.2 N-B4 with equal chances, Pomar-Eliskases, Torremolinos 1 96 1 ) 14 . . . KR-K I 15 Q;-B3 P-B5 1 6 B-B2 Q;-B4 ch 1 7 K-R I P-Q.N4 18 B-K3 Q;-N5 1 9 R-R2 N-B4 20 P-K5, Pfleger-Filipowicz, Tel Aviv 1 964, with complications. Now Black has no worries, since 14 P-B4 may be answered by 14 . . . N x KP 1 5 N X N P-B4 with not the slightest advantage to White.
(iv) 6 P-K.f P-KN3 7 P-B3 :S-N2 (from diagram I )
8
:S-KNS
This is another feeble system. Simplest then is 8 . . 0-0 (8 . . P-KR3 deserves attention also) 9 Q;-Q.2 P-Q.R3 10 P-Q.1lf Q-Ilf ( 1 0 . . . R-KI I I KN-K2 Q.N-Q.2 1 2 N-B I R-N I 1 3 B-K2 Q;-B2 1 4 N-N3 Q;-N3 1 5 R-R3 N-K4 1 6 P-R5 Q;-N5 1 7 N-R4, Franco-Tal, Vama 1 962, is very complex) 11 R-R3 Q.N-Q.2 12 KN-Kst R-KI 13 N-BI N-Kf 14 B-Kst P-R4 15 0-0 N-R2 16 B-K3 P-B4 with good play for Black, Bronstein-Larsen, Belgrade I g64. .
(v) 6 P-K.f P-KN3 7 :S-K2 :S-N2
8
.
P-KN4 ?!
Finally, this outlandish plan may be recommended to those of gangster temperament.
78
TM Motkm Benoni
8 .. .
0-0
Also 8 .. , (C-K2 leads to bizarre play
as in the correspondence game van den Bergh-van Hwnbeeck, in which there followed 9 P-B3 �1l3 10 P-KR4 P--Q.N4 I I P-1l5 Q.N--Q.2 1 2 p-1l6 B-B I •
g P-KR4
The consistent continuation, ' but against reasonable play White's attack may be refuted. We consider three examples : (a) 9 . . . Q.N-Q.2 1 0 P-N5 N-K I 1 1 P-1l5 P-B3 I 2 P X NP IlP X P, Keller-Reitz, Correspondence ; (b) 9 . . . N-R3 1 0 B-KN5 N-B2 1 1 P-B3 P-KIl3 1 2 B-KB4 P-J04. 1 3 N-R3 P--Q.N4, Prof. Schafer-Lipiniks, Correspondence; (c) 9 ... R-KI 1 0 P-B3 P--Q.R3 I f P-R4 Q.N--Q.2 1 2 P-KIl5 N-K4 1 3 N-R3 R-N I
14 N-B2 P--Q.N4
1 7 B-K2 Il-N5
1 8 p X P BP X P
1 5 P X Q.NP RP X P 1 9 P-N5 N-R4,
16 B X P B--Q.2
Harlamov-Kogan,
Vilna 1 966 ; and in all cases Black's counter-attack was beginning to dominate.
Avoiding the Modern Benoni In this section we discuss some of the possible alternatives for both side:! in the moves leading up to diagram I .
(i) The Hypel'llloclern BenoDi I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B4 P-84 3 P-Q.s P-K3 4 N-Q.B3 P xP S P x P P-KN3 This challenging continuation is mainly of psychological value, since White, by playing 6 P-K4, may force Black back into the main lines,
57 W
Avoiding till Modma Bmtmi
79
for he cannot allow p-x5 and so he must play . . . P-Q.3 at once. How ever, if Black fean the fianchetto variation or the knight's tour attack he may prefer this move order since White cannot transpose into those particular lines. The Hypermodern Benoni preserves its own character in only two distinct cases. Firstly, White may try to refute Black's play with 6 P Q.6( !), and this does indeed look very promising; and secondly, White may still adopt the knight's tour plan of establishing his king's knight at Q.B4. With the Black pawn not yet on Q.3, however, this loses much of its point.
(a) 6 P-Q6 ( !) Q-N3 This is the crucial continuation. In the game van den Berg-Nievergelt, Berlin 1965, Black continued 6 B-N2 ? ! hoping to attack White's centre later; but the ensuing play showed that this is too optimistiC! 7 P-X4 N-B3 8 P-B4 0-0 9 P-X5 N-XI 1 0 N-B3 P-Q.N4 1 1 B X P Q;-N3 1 2 0-0 N-Q.5 1 3 B-B4 with a clear advantage to White. . . •
7 B-NS
This was Tal's suggestion to justify 6 p-Q.6, but also the simple 7 B-B4 seems sufficient to maintain a plus. Euwe's "Archives" suggest the following possibilities : 7 . . . B-N2 8 Q;-Q.2 or 7 . . . Q.XNP ? 8 B-x5.
7
..
·
N-14
7 . . . B-N2
8
I ...
P-B3
I N-B3
Q;-Q.2 leaves White in a dominating position.
Other moves are worse : 8 . . . Q.x Q.p ? 9 Q.x Q. B X Q. 1 0 N-Q.N5 ; or 8 . . . B X P 9 N-Q.5 Q;-R4 ch (9 . . . Q. x P ? IQ P-N4 N-N2 1 1 B-B6) 1 0 B-Q.2 Q;-Q. I I I B-B3 ; or 8 . . . P-xR3 9 B-x7 1, and in all cases White's position is overwhelming. (Analysis from "Archives".)
80
Th4 Modem Bmtmi
9 �K3
B xP
Now after 10 N-Q.s �Q.I I I �N3 Black's position is very pr� carious and White-has more than sufficent compensation for the pawrl .
(b) 6 N-B3 B-N2 ( from diagram 57) 7 N-Q.lI 8 N-B4
0-0
P-N3
It should be mentioned here that this line is really of most significance in the case where the early moves were I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B4 P-K3 and then White, perhaps fearing a Nimzo-Indian, plays 3 N-KB3 and after 3 . . . P-1I4 4 P-Q.S. Then after 4 . . . P X P 5 P XP P-KN3 it is no longer good to play p-Q.6 and Black is qui,ejustified in delaying . P-Q.3. Of course, Black may, if he wishes, play 8 . . P-Q.3 here transposing to the knight's tour attack. . .
.
59
W
9 �N5
Weak is 9 p-K3 ? as in Boleslavsky-Tal, 23rd U S S R Championship 1956, which continued 9 . . . P-Q.3 10 B-K2 B-Q.R3 I I P-Q.R4 B x N 1 2 B X B Q.N-Q.2 1 3 0-0 R-K I 14 Q;-B 2 Q.-K2 1 5 R-NI N-N5 with advantage to Black. Suetin's suggestion of 9 B B4 deserves consideration. P-KR:J 9. -
.·
lo �14 P-K3
B R3
11
1 1 Q.-R4 ? P-KN4 1 2 B-N3 P-N4 1 3 N X P N X P is good for Black. Szilagyi-Cholmov, Moscow '963. The position now is somewhat unclear ; Donner-Perez, Bognor 1 955, continued I I . . . P-Q.N4 1 2 N-Q.6 when the critical line is 1 2 . . . P--N5 1 3 B X B P X N 14 B-N7 p X P 1 5 R-Q.NI Q.-N3 J 6 B X R Q.XN with
Avoiding tlu-Modern Bmoni
81
complications. "Archives" suggest that Black may improve his pros pects in this line by delaying . . . P-KR3, for with the White bishop still on KN5 the threat of . . . N-K5 can be awkward for White.
(ii) The ModeI'D Benom Declined Here we give a brief survey of the results of White averting the Modem Benoni by choosing different continuations at moves 3 or 4.
(a)
P-Q4 N-KBg 2 P-QB4 P-B4 g P-Q5 P-K,:; 4 Px P ? ! I
This is a somewhat anti-positional line which surrenders White's spatial advantage for no apparent reason. White has a faint hope of tactical chances, but apart from the shock value inherent in any weak opening line, the variation has no real worth. The game FoguelDlan-Mecking, Buenos Aires 1 967, continued 4 . . . BP X P (4 . . . Q.P x p leads to complete equality) 5 B-N5 P-Q.4 ! ? (5 . . . P-Q.3 followed by . . . B-K2 and . . . N-B3 is solid and good) 6 P-K4 P-KR3 7 B X N Q. X B 8 BP X P P X P 9 p X P B-Q.3 1 0 B-N5 ch ? ( 1 0 N-Q.B3 0-0 I I N-B3 is better) N-Q.2 I I N-Q.B3 0-0 I 2 N-B3 N-K4 1 3 B-K2 N·X N ch 14 B X N B-Q.2 15 Q.-B2 Q.R-K I ch 1 6 B-K4 B-B4 I 7 P-B3 Q.-P.5 ch 1 8 K-K2 P-Q.N4 ! 1 9 P-KN3 Q.-R4 20 K-Q.2 B X B 2 1 N X B Q. X Q.P ch 22 K-K2 Q.-R4 23 F-KN4 Q.-R6 24 Q.R-KB I R X p ! 25 Resigns.
(b) I P-Q4 N-KBg
2 P-QB4 P-B4
g N-KBg
This line is quite harmless and is often an indication that White is satisfied with a draw. After 3 . . . P x P 4 N x P a variation of the English opening is reached in which Black has a number of clear equalising methods. We give some typical examples : (i) 4 . . . P-K3 S P-KN3 P -Q.4 6 B-N2 P-K4 7 N-KB3 (7 N-B2 P-Q.5 and 7 N-N3 P-Q.5 are also quite sati�factory for Black) P-Q.5 ! 8 0-0 N-B3 9 P-K3 (9 P-Q.N4 is met by 9 ' " p-K5 ! with better chances for Black) B-K2 l O P X P P x P and Black has a perfectly free and playable position. (ii) 4 . . . P-K3 S N-Q.B3 B-N5 (5 . . . N-B3 is less satisfactory) and now : (a) 6 N-NS P-Q.4 ! 7 B-B4 o-o ! when 2 N-B7 ? fails to 8 . . . N-R4. (b) 6 B-Q.2 N-B3 7 N-B2 B-K2 8 P-K4 (8 p-KN3 ? P-Q.4 9 B-N2
Sa
TM MfHIma Bmtmi
� 1 0 N-K2 N�2 ! 1= , Prins-Barcza, Venice 1949) 0-0 9 B-K2 P-Q.N3 1 0 0-0 B-N2 I I B-B4 R-B I 1 2 N-K3 I'--Q3 with equal chances, Sajtar-Stahlberg, Prague 1 954. (c) 6 P-K3 N-K5 ! is already better for Black, Reshevsky-Fischer, Palma 1 970. (d) 6 N-h B x N ch 7 P x B Q;-R4 8 Q:-Q.3 N-B3 9 B-R3 as in Ivkov Fischer, Vinkovci I 96g , and now 9 P-Q.4 ! 10 P-K3 P-K4 gives • . •
Black the advantage according to Fischer.
Annotated Games · J . White :
Stet.ko
Black :
Bangiye
v
Played in the Championship of the Soviet Navy
197 1 .
Apart from demonstrating the strength of the Soviet Navy, this game gives a good demonstration of some recent possibilities discovered for Black to counter the fianchetto variation.
I P-(U N-KB3 a P-Q.B4 P-Ilf 3 P-Q.s P-K3 4 N-Q,B3 P x P 5 P x P P-(b 6 N-B3 P-KN3 7 P-KN3 B-Na 8 B-Na 0-0 9 0-0
P-Q.R3
This move has been the most popular in the early seventies, though as we have seen Black has several reliable alternatives.
10 P-Q.J4 Q.N-Q.a 1 1 N-Q.a U S S R 1 969, White concocted an I I R-KI R-N I 12 R-N I ? ! Q;-B2 1 3 B�2 N-N5 ! 1 4 Q;-B2 P-B5 1 5 P-N4, but after 1 5 P x P e.p. 16 Q. x Q.NP N-B4 1 7 Q;-R3 R-K I Black had a fine position. Korchnoi continued 1 8 P-R5 when Black missed the win of a pawn with 1 8 N x BP ! 1 9 K x N B X N followed by . . . N-K5 ch. . In the game Korchnoi-Kapengut,
unusual plan of queen's side operations with
. . •
. • •
11
• . •
R-KI la N-B4
1 2 P-KR3, the game Osnos-Tal, U S S R Ch. 1 969, continued 12 N-R4 13 N(Q.2)-K4 ? Q.N-B3 14 N X N ch N X N 1 5 B-B4 R-N I 1 6 Q:-Q.3 Q;-K2 1 7 P-K4 N-R4 1 8 B�2 Q;-K4 ! and Black's control of the
After
• • •
dark squares gave him excellent attacking prospects. la
. ..
N-Kf 13 N-R3 N-1l4 14 P-R3
As usual White wants to play P-B4 without allowing the black knight to advance to
14 ···
P-Ilf
...
KN5.
AMOtated Games
83
This king's side advance is the most radical solution to Black's strategic problems, though also 1 4 . . . R-N I is possible ; the critical continuation then is that of the game Marovic-Kapengut, Erevan 197 1 : I S P-K4 ( I S K-R2 P-B4 1 6 p-K4 P-KBS ! 1 7 p X P Q- RS 1 8 P X N B X KP ch is too dangerous for White) I S . . . p-B4 ! 16 P x P B X P 1 7 P-KN4 B x P 1 8 P X B Q--RS 1 9 P X N R-KBI ! ( 1 9 . . . N-NS 20 B-B4 B-K4 2 1 Q--B 3 R-KB I fails to 22 Q--N3) 20 p-R6 ! B-RI 2 I N-K4 N-NS 22 Q. x N ! Q. x Q. 23 N-B4 and it remains unclear whether White's pieces or Black's queen should be superior. After 23 . . . P-Q.N4 ! one can scarcely assess the position as 'equal' though it would be fair to say that the better player has all the chances. 60 W
IS P-K4 Here too IS K-R2 can be met by I S ' " P-KBS ! 1 6 P x P Q--RS 1 7 P X N B X KP ch with a ferocious attack. IS . . . P-Q.N41 16 N-K2 Very tame, but after 1 6 P x NP RP X P I 7 N (B3) x P B-Q.R3 White is in deep trouble. 16 . . . P x KP 17 B x P B x P 18 B-N2 B-NS 19 P-B3 B-Q.2 20 P KN4 N x NPl This blow completes the destruction of the white king's defences and the rest is just the execution of the naked monarch. 21 P x P B x KNP 22 B-B3 Q.-RS 23 N-B2 B-Kof q R-B2 B x B 2S R x B R-KBI 26 Q.R-R3 P-NS 27 Q.R-K3 Q.-R7 ch 28 K-BI Q;--RB ch 29 N-NI N-N6 ch 30 K-B2 Q.-R7 ch White resigned. 2. White : DODDer Black : PlaDinc Wijk aan Zee 1973 A new move casts doubt on the Knight's Tour Variation. I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B4 P-B4 3 P-Q.S P-K3 4 N--Q.� P x P S P x p P-Q.3 6 N-B3 P-KN3 7 N--Q.2 B-N2 8 N-B4 0--0 9 B-Bof P-N31 ?
84
The Modern Benoni
This blatant disregard of the attack on the Q,P is clearly intended to challenge White's whole strategy. Actually the move 9 . . . P-N3 had been suggested before this game by . . . Donner ! IO
BxP
Some players on facing such an innovation would instinctively refrain from the complications with 1 0 Q,-Q,2 , which may indeed be best. Of course I O N X Q,p ? is met by 1 0 N-R4. . • .
10 . . . R-KI
1 1 B-N3 N--KSl
la N x N
Mter this White i s always i n difficulties ; perhaps 1 2 R-B I is better, but I think Black has enough for the pawn in any case. Of course, this whole conception of sacrificing the Q,P needs further tests before one can be sure.
la . . . R x N 13 P-K3 P -Q.N4 14 N-Q.6 R-Q.NS IS B x P B-BI ! 16 B-B6 1 6 N x B R X B is quite hopeless, but now White's king is fixed in the centre.
61 B
16 . . . B-Q.R3!
17 B x R
Also 1 7 Q,-Q.2 B x N 1 8 1! x B should win for Black.
Q. x
B 1 9 B x R N-Q.2 followed by . . . N-K4
17 . . . R x P 18 Q.-llf: Q.-BS I9 R-Q.BI B x N ao P-B4 Q.-B4 al P-K4 R-K7 ch aa K-Q.I Q.-llf: White resigned. 3. White : Radev Black : Padevsky, Bulgarian Championship 1 970 A cautionary tale from the realms of Uhlmann's Line :
I P-Q.4 N-U3 a P-Q.B4 P-B4 3 P-Q.S P-K3 4 N-Q.B3 P x P S P x P P-Q.3 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 N-B3 B-Na 8 B-KNS P-KR3 9 B-llf: P-KNf 10 B-N3 N-llf: 1 1 B-NS ch K-BI 12 B-K2 N x B 13 BP x Nl ? We have seen that 1 3 R P x N promises nothing for White, but really this should be worse ! A recent horrible example of 1 3 RP X N was the
Annotated Games
85
game Bobotsov-Kaplan, Siegen 1 970, which continued 1 3 . . . N-Q.2 1 4 N-Q.2 Q-K2 I S P--KN4 ? P-R3 1 6 P-R4 B-Q.S ! 1 7 0-0 ? ? N-B3 1 8 N-B4 1 9 P x P P-NS 20 N-K3 N x RP 2 1 B X NP Q-RS 22 P-KN 3 N x P
P-KR4 !
x R 24 K x N B X N (K6) White resigned. 13 . . . N-Q.2 14 0-0 Q.-IU 15 �B2 P-R3 16 P-Q.R.f P-KIlf 17 N-Q.I N-K.f 18 R-R3 N-N3 ?
23 K-N2 N
Black thinkS that the central position will take care of itself while he attacks on the king's side, but he has an unpleasant shock awaiting him in another five moves. The right method was demonstrated in the game F . Portisch-Timoshhenko, Vilnyus 1 969, where Black played 1 8 . . . B--Q2 securing the better prospects after 1 9 N X N B X N 2 0 N-K3 B--Q.S 2 1 K-R I R-K I
22 N-B4 K-N2.
19 N-K3 P-N5 20 N-R.f
· An excellent pawn sacrifice, which is merely the prelude to another which exposes the black ki ng.
20 . . . N x N
21 P x N Q. x RP
u
N-B4 Q.-K2
23 P-K5 ! ·
After this typical thrust White's pieces rush in and Black is helpless despite his extra material.
23 . , . B x P 24 N x B Q. x N 25 Q-N6 Q.-K2
26 K-RI !
Threatening to tie BI�ck up still further with 2 7 R-K3 . 26 . . . P-B4 27 B-Q.3 �KB2 28 Q. x Q.P ch Q.-K2 29 Q.-KN6 Q.
KB2 30 Q.-N6 Q. x P 31 Q.-KB6 ch K-N I 32 Q.-N6 ch K- BI 33 B x BP resigns.
Fi.�,�,,:�... 3rd Match Game 1 972 After Fischer's default in the second game, the chess world waited for this encounter in a unique state of tension for all concerned. The game was eventually played in a secluded room where Fischer, having spent most of the day booking himself on and off various flights out of Reykjavik, produced the following splendid achievement : �. JXhi.�;_�p'��y,--. BI(ic� : __
• .
I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B.f P-K3 3 N-KB3 P-B4 4 P-Q.5 P x P 5 P X P P-Q.3 6 N-B3 P-KN3 7 N-Q.2 Q.N-Q.2 8 P-K.f B-N2 9 B-K2 0-0 10 0-0 R-KI Mter a curious movelOrder, we are back in the Main Line with Fischer adopting the formation with . . . Q.N-Q.2 instead of the fashionable . . ••
N-R3·
I I Q.-B2 The main alternative is I I P-Q.R4 with the following possibilities : (a) I ! . . . N-K4 1 2 Q-B2 P-KN4 � 1 3 N-B4 ! (Better than the 1 3 N-B3 of Gligoric-Fischer, Palma 1 970) 1 3 . . . N x N 1 4 B x N N-NS I S N-K2 ! P--QR3 1 6 R-R3 Q-K2 1 7 R-KN3 ! P-R3 1 8 P-B4, Najdorf-Ree, Wijk
The Modem Bmoni
86
aan Zee 1 97 1 , with a clear advantage to White, though he lost eventually. (b) 1 1 P-Q.R3 1 2 p-B4 ! ? ( 1 2 Q-B2, 1 2 P-RS or 1 2 P-B3 are safer continuations) 12 P-BS ! 1 3 P-KS ! ( 1 3 N X P N x KP gives White nothing, while 1 3 B x P gives Black the choice between 1 3 N-B4 and 1 3 Q-N3 ch 14 K-R l Q;-QS ! with excellent play in either case.) 1 3 . . . p X P 14 N X P N-N3 ! IS P x P N-NS ! 1 6 N-Q.6 ! B X P ! 17 N X R Q-RS ! ( 1 7 . . . B x P ch 1 8 K-R l Q-RS 19 B-KNS ! led to a win for White in the game Gligoric-Nicevsky, Zagreb 1 970) 1 8 P-R3 Q-N6 19 B x N Q-R7 ch 20 K-B2 Q-N6 ch 2 1 K-N l (2 1 K-K2 B X B ch 22 P X B R X N leaves White's king in a death trap) 2 1 Q-R7 ch 22 K-B2 Q-N6 ch drawn ; Popov-Spassov, Bulgarian Ch. 1 972. • • •
. . •
. • .
. • .
• . •
11 . . .
N-141?
With this bold move Black sacrifices his pawn formation for active play and attacking chances. 1 1 . . . N-K4 and 1 1 P-Q.R3 are the less imaginative alternatives to Fischer's imaginative idea. I� B x N P x B 13 N-B4 . . •
" B
It is doubtful whether this natural move is correct. Mter 1 3 P-Q.R4( !) N-K4 14 N-Q.I Q-RS IS N-K3 White has better chances to retain the advantage ; the game Gligoric-Kavalek, Skopje 1972, continued I S . . , N-NS 1 6 N x N P X N I 7 N-B4 Q-B3 1 8 B-Q.2 Q-N3 1 9 B-B3 B x B 20 P X B with a clear plus for White ; there followed 20 P-N3 2 I KR KI B-R3 22 N-Q.2 R-14 23 P-KB4 P x P e.p. 24 N x P R-R4 2S Q-KB2 Q-B3 26 R-K3 R-KI 27 Q.R-KI Q-BS 28 P-KS ! P x P 29 R-K4 <,CB3 30 Q-N3 ch K-R I 3 1 N X P R-KN I 32 R-KN4 R x R 33 N x R Q-N3 34 P-B4 R-B4 35 N-R6 ! R-B3 36 R-K8 ch K-N2 37 R-N8 ch K x N 38 Q-R4 ch resigns. In a later game at San Antonio 1972 against Browne, Gligoric scored another victory with this plan, so Fischer's I I N-R4 must be considered a little dubious_until something mor-e is found. 13 . N-14 14 N-K3 Q.-RS 15 B-Q.II N-NS 16 N x N . . •
. . •
.
.
Annotated Games
87
After this White is in trouble, bun 6 P--KR.3 N x N 17 B x N gives Black the choice between : (a) 1 7 . . . B x N ? 1 8 Q. x B Q. x KP 1 9 Q.R-K I when White has good play for the pawn. (b) 1 7 . . . B X P ! ? 1 8 p x B Q. X RP with the threat of . . . K-R I and a quick mate on the knight's file. 1 9 P-B3 is met by 1 9 . . . B-Q.S ! 20 B X B P X B again threatening . . . K-R I as well as . . . P x N. (c) 1 7 . . . B-Q.2 is completely satisfactory.
16 . . . P x N 17 B-B4 Q.-B3 Compare this position with that of Gligoric-Kavalek above ; White's knight on QB3 is very passively placed compared with Gligoric's on B4.
18 P-KN3? 1 8 B-N3 is far superior since 1 8 . . . p-KR4 ? is met by 1 9 N-NS.
18 . . . B-Q.2 i9 P-Q.R4 P-N3 20 KR-KI P-Q.R3 21 R-K2 P-N4! Black has quietly prepared this advance, and now he slowly gains complete control and reduces White to aimless wandering to and fro
22 Q.R-KI Q.-N3 ! This prevents P-KS and prepares for the eventual win of the White KP. 23 P-N3 R-K2 24 Q.-Q.3 R-NI 25 P x P P x P ri P-N4 P-BS
2 7 Q.-Q.2 Q.R-KI 28 R-K3 P-R4 29 R(3)-K2 K-IU 30 R-K3 K-NI 31 R(3)-K2 B x N 32 Q. x B R x P 33 R x R R x R 34 R x R Q. x R 35 B-R6 Q.-N3 36 B-BI Q.-N8 37 K-BI B-B4 38 K-K2 Q.-KS ch. 39 Q.-K3 Q.-B7 ch 40 Q.-Q.2 Q.-N6 41 Q.-Q.4 41 K-KI might have given some drawing chances according to Spassky,
but I think the position should still be lost. 41 . . . B-Q,6 ch and White J'esigned ; after 42 K-K3 Q.-Q.8 Black wins very quickly. S. White : GUgoric Black : Minic Yugoslavia 1 9 72 Games like this one often make me feel that Gligoric is not the right opp�:ment to choose if one wants to play the Modern Benoni, though some people seem able to get way with it.
I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B4 P-B4 3 P-Q.5 P-K3 4 N-Q.B3 P x P S P x P P-Q.3 6 P-Kf P-KN3 7 N-B3 B-N2 8 B-K2 0-0 9 0-0 R-KI 10 N-Q,2 N-R3 11 P-B3 N-B2 12 P-Q,R4 N-Q,2 13 K-RI 1 3 N-B4 was once popular here but suffered a serious blow in the game Toth-Matulovic, Hungary 1 972 : 1 3 . . . N-K4 14 N-K3 P-B4 IS P-B4 N-B2 1 6 P x P N-KR3 ! ! 1 7 P x P (Otherwise Black recaptures on . . . KB4 with the knight keepirlg a very active position) 1 7 . . . B-Q.S ! (The point of Matulovic's new idea) 1 8 P x P ch K-R I 1 9 R-B3 N-NS 20 Q.-Q.3 Q.-RS. Black already has a winning position, there followed 2 I P-R3
88 , Till Modern Benoni N x N 2 2 R x N Q. x BP 23 N-Q.I N x P 24 R R3 N x R 2 5 'N x N B-B4 26 Q-N3 B x P (R2) 2 7 K R I B-K4 2 8 K-N I Q-R7 ch 29 K-B 2 B-N6 ch 30 K-B3 B-K5 ch 3 1 K-N4 R-N I ch White resigned_ 13 . . . P-N3 14 N-B4 N-14 IS N-K3 R-NI 16 B-Q,�,I! The immediate 1 6 P-B4 is less �ood : 1 6 . . . N--Q.2 1 7 N-B 4 N-B3 1 8 ,P-K5 ( 1 8 B-B3 is met by 1 8 . . . B-Q.R3 ) 1 8 . . . p x p 1 9 p-Q.6 N-K3 20 P X P N-Q.2 2 1 N-Q.5 N x p ! 2 2 N-K7 ch R x N 2 3 P x R Q. x P with the better ' game for Black ; Platonov-Savon, 38th U S S R Ch. 1 970. \ 16 . . . P-Q,R3 17 P-B4! -
--
Now is the right moment for this move. White played less forcefully
1 972, with 1 7 R-Q.N I P N X NP 1 9 N x N P X N 20 P Q.N4 P-B5 2 1 Q-B I R-R I
in the game Bukic-Adorjan, Vrnjacka Banja
P-Q.N4 1 8 P
x
-
with good play for Black.
17
.
_ .
N-Q,� 18 N-B4 N-B3 19 B-B3!
Q.R3 19 . . P-KI4 �o N x Q,P! Q, x N 21 P-KS Q,-Q,I �� P-Q,6 N-K3 �3 P x N B x P �4 P-BS! P x P
Now this move can no longer be met by . . . B
-
.
.
White's combination has resulted in a favourable opening of the position and Black's king is in great danger.
�S B-B6 R-BI ' �6 R x P N-Q,S �7 R x RP Q, x P 2 7 . . . N x B ? loses at once to 28 Q.-B 2 . �8 B-Q,S B-B4 � 9 R x B ! N x R 30 Q,-N4 ch N-N� 31 N-K4 Q,-Q,I 3� R-KBI B-K4 33 B-B3 resigns (33 . . . Q. X B 34 N-B6 ch ! ) . 6.
White :
Spassky
Black :
Savon
Moscow
1971
This confirms the dangers to Black i n the pawn storm line with
8
B -N 5 ch.
Note that when Spassky met Fischer's Modern Benoni
KB3,
his knight was already committed to
so this strong attacking
variation was not available.
I P-Q,4 N-KB3 � P-Q,B4 P-B4 3 P-Q,S P-K3 4 N-Q,B3 P x P S P x P P-Q,3 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 P-B4 B-N� 8 B-NS ch KN-Q,� I n a five-minute game against Reshevsky, Tal tried 8 . . . Q.N-Q.2 ? ! Apparently his intention was to reply to 9 P-K5 with 9 . : P x P l O P X P N-R4 I I p-K6 P x P 1 2 P X P o-o ! when 1 3 P x N B X N ch 1 4 P x B Q.-R5 ch is extremely hazardous for White. Howev�r, after the simple 1 3 N B3 ! White gains a clear advantage. 9 B-Q,3 The late grandmaster Alexander Zaitscv preferred 9 P-Q.R4, for example 9 . . . 0-0 1 0 ,,-B3 R-K I ( l O . . N -R3 1 1 0-0 N-N 5 1 2 B-K3 P-Q.R3 1 3 B-B4 R N I 1 4 P-R3 R-K I 1 5 B-H2 gave White a good game in Zaitsev-Gufeld, Debrecen 1 9 70) I I 0-0 P-Q,R3 1 2 B-K2 N-B I ,
-
.
-
Annotated Garms 89 14 D-Q,2 with some advantage to White ; Zaitsev 1 3 P-R3 Q,N-Q,2 Radev, Albena 1 970. 9 . . 0--0 10 N-B3 N-R3 I J 0--0 R-NI 12 K-RI N-B2 13 P-Q,R4 P-Q,R3 14 P-BS At first sight this move creates an ugly i mpression, but it opens up .
excellent prospects for White's Q,B.
14 . . . P-Q,N4 is RP x P N x NP 16 B-NS P-B3 17 B-KB4 N-� 18 P-R3 R-B2 19 P-KN4 B-BI 20 R-h Black's handling of the queen's side pawns has left him with a static formation and little prospect of active play.
Spassky now begins
regrouping his pieces to secure maximum attacking prospects on both wings.
20 . . , N-Q,S 21 N X N(Q,4) P x N 22 N-K2 R-N5 23 N-BI Q.-N3 24 R-B2 P-Q,14 25 R-B2 R-B2 26 B-Q,2 N x B 27 N x N R-N4 28 R x R Q, x R 29 Q,-R4 B-Q,2 30 Q,xQ,P Q,-B7 31 B- B3 ! Q,-K7 32 R-RI B-K2 33 R-KI Q,-B6 ch 34 K-R2 R-NI 35 R-K3 Q,-B8 36 R-N3 P-N4 and Black resigned. He is already one pawn down with the Q,RP facing the firing sq uad' whenever White wishes ; his position is quite hopeless. 7. White : Vaganian
Black : Tal
39th
U S S R Ch. 1 9 7 1
Recently a handful of players have been experimenting again with lines with B-KB4 for White. Here we see Tal demonstrating his faith and ability in this opening, and showing some of Black's resources against this treatment.
I P-Q4 N-KB3 2 P-QB4 P-K3 3 N-KB3 P-B4 4 P-Qs P x P 5 P x P P-KN3 6 N-B3 B-N2 7 B -B4 P-QR3 7 . . , P-Q,3 allows
8
Q-R4 ch B - Q,2
9 Q-N3 Q,-B 2
1 0 P-K4, which B lack
players have been avoiding since Portisch-Fischer, Palma 1 9 70, where
90
The Modern Benoni
� I I B-K2 P-Q,R3 1 2 P-KS P X P 1 3 B x KP Q-B I 1 4 � after 1 0 Black was in trouble. A clear advantage for White against I I P Q,N4 ! ? here has yet to be demonstrated, though the whole line looks a bit suspect for Black. The very latest news of this line also gives Black little cheer ; from the last round of San Antonio 1972, Portisch-Larsen went I I . . . N-R4 12 B-K3 N-R3 1 3 N-Q,2 p-B4 ? ! 14 P x P P x P I S B X KN P-KBS 1 6 0-0 P X B 1 7 p X P N-NS 1 8 N (B3) -K4 P-R4 1 9 N N5 P-RS 20 Q-B4 P-R3 2 I N-K6 B x N 22 P X B P-Q,4 23 B-B7 ch K-RI 24 Q-R4 Q-J4 2S N-B3 Q, x P ch 26 K-R I N-Q,6 27 Q,R-KI ! N X R 28 R x N Q-Q,6 29 Q-RS p-R6 30 P-Q,N3 B-B6 3 1 P-K7 K-N2 32 P X R = Q, ch R x Q, 33 B x P B X R 34 Q,-KS ch R-B3 3S Q-K7 ch resigns. 8 "-Kt 0--0 9 B-K2 P-Q,3 10 P-Q.R4 After a devious order of moves we are back in a fairly normal position for the B-KB4 variation. 10 . . . B-N5 I I P-R3 This move does not promise much and I I 0-0 is probably better, for example the game Korchnoi-Minic, Erevan 1 97 1 , continued I I . . . R K I ( 1 1 . . . N-B4 is better) 1 2 N-Q,2 B X B 1 3 Q, X B N-R4 14 B-K3 P-N3 I S P-KN4 ! N-KB3 1 6 B-B4 with advantage to White. II . . . B x N 12 B x B Q.-B2 13 0--0 Q.N-Q.2 14 P-R5 Uhlmann-Portisch, Hastings 1970- 1 , continued 1 4 Q,-B2 P-BS ! I S B K2 KR-K I 1 6 KR-K I R-K2 1 7 Q,R-Q,I Q,R-N I 1 8 P-RS Q,R-K I ! 1 9 R-Q,4 Q, x P 20 B X Q,P R X p ! 2 I R (Q,4)-Q,1 Q-N3 ! 22 N X R N X N with very good chances for Black. 14 . . . KR-KI 15 Q.-Q.2 ? ! It i s too early to commit the queen t o this diagonal ; White plays for a king's side attack which is never really there. 15 . . . Q.R-BI 16 P-KN4 R-K2 1 7 KR-KI N-K I 18 B-N2 R-NI 19 B-N5 B-B3!? . . .
. . •
Annotated Ga1l1ls
91
Many players would not take this risk and prefer 19 R-K4 20 B-B4 R-K2 with repetition of moves, but not Tal ! 20 B x B N (KI) X B 21 P-Bf P-BS 22 K-RI N-KI 23 R-:-Rf P-Q.Nf (see diagram 64) . Black has delayed these thematic que en's side moves · until they are most effective. White's pieces do not stand well to meet the pressure on the QN file. 2.f P x P e.p. R x NP 2S KR-RI Q.-N I 26 R( I )-R2 N-Bf 21 R x BP KR-N2 28 P-KS! At last White counters in the centre and the position rapidly becomes critical. 2B R x P 29 R x R R x R 30 Q.-Q.f? 30 Q-K3 ! is correct since 30 Q-N6 is met by 3 I P X P Q x R 32 Q X N(KS) ch with a draw. 30 . . . R-Q.B7 31 P x P Q.-N7 32 P-Q.7 It is too late for 32 Q-K5 since Black plays 32 N X p ! 33 QX N R X B winning. :J2 . . N x P 33 R-BB R x B White resigned. •..
. . .
.•.
. . •
.
2.
The Czech Benoni
94
TIr4 C(.Ich Bmmai
With the exception of the Modern Benoni, which is perhaps too pre
carious for the average taste, the most popular Benoni system currently is that introduced by the moves I P-
Until recently this line was considered too passive, since it was thought that the bishop on K2 was not well placed to facilitate the natural advance . . . P-KB4. It seemed that the development plan of . . . P-KN3 and . . . B-N2 was better designed for this purpose. In recent years, however, games by the leading young Czech players (particularly Hort, Kavalek and Jansa) have shown that much may be gained by placing the bishop on K2 at this stage. The possibility of exchanging the 'bad' bishop by means of . . . B-KN4 is perhaps the most common thematic idea, and dealing with this positional threat is one of the problems with which White is faced. On the minus side, Black must take into account the increased difficulty in preparing . . . P-KB4, since this is the natural method of freeing his position. If this is to be effective, Black needs to play a preliminary . . . P-KN3, since he must be ready to recapture on his KB4 with a pawn. Here the drawback of . . . B-K2 is felt, since . . . P-KN3 appears to weaken the Black squares seriously
if there
is no bishop on
KN2. But if the bishop is elsewhere, then why not let the knight perform
its duties ? Mter castling, Black wishes to move his king's knight to free the KB-pawn, and also to threaten . . . B-KN4 in some circumstances ; the natural squares for it to occupy are K I or KR4, and from either of these it is keeping a watchful eye on the important KN2. This plan may sound very slow and tortuous, but it is justified by the blocked nature of the central position which makes it difficult for White to organise an effective break-through while Black is carrying out his manoeuvres. Whi�e has a large variety of plans from which to choose while Black
Tire Cl:,tch Bnwni
95
is preparing . . . P-KB4. The most common attacking ideas involve either
early P-Q.N4 in an attempt to gain space on the queen's side and to open the queen's knight's file, or alternatively a quick advance of the king's side pawns to anticipate Black's . . . P-KN3 which may then become the means of an attack on the Black king. To see how these ideas work out in practice, it will be helpful to study some examples from master play, which provide good illustra tions of what both sides should aim for, and may also serve as warnings of what must be avoided. an
66 W
Diagram 66 shows the position after 1 6 moves in the game Savon Hort, Orebro 1 966. White has played to prevent . . . P-KB4 and has succeeded in rendering this advance impossible for the time being. Black has just completed the trip with his queen's knight via Q,2 and KB3 to KN I to expel the White bishop from its threatening post. The queen's side pawn position has become blocked by mutual consent,. each player having been more concerned with
67
w
preventing the opponent's P-Q.N4 than with executing this advance himself. The chances of both players are approximately even, since it is very difficult for White to develop any attack without allowing Black
96
The
C(.ech Benoni
to seize the initiative with . . . P-B4. The players, in fact, shortly agreed to a dra iV. In diagram 67 we see the same type of position, but here White's plan has failed completely. This was reached in the game Pachman Cioca1tea, Harrachov 1966, after Black's 19th move. Here Black had gained the initiati.ve on the queen's side with a timely . . . P-Q.N4 and now has broken through with . . .P-KB4 also. The position of the White king is now very exposed and Black has a clear advantage. 68 W
Diagram 68, on the other hand, shows the result of inaccurate play on Black's part. The position was reached after Black's fifteenth move in the game Radev-Kirov, Bulgarian Championship 1 966 . White played a very early P-KR4 in anticipation of Black's . : . P-KN3. Black then un wisely refrained from playing this move, thereby allowing White to post a knight at KB5 where it was exchanged f
6g
W
finally, diagram 69 shows the situation after 1 7 moves of the game _ Uhlmann�Vasiukov, Hastings 1 965-6.- Most of the play so far has
TM C�,," Bmtmi
97
taken place on the queen's side : White has played �N4 which was answered with . . . �N3. The subsequent exchange of pawns
has left
the queen's knight's file in White's control, though the placings of Black's pieces deny White any entry. This shows another aspect of the
K2 in the Q. J and eventually �R4 under circumstances such as
variation in that the Black king's bishop is well placed at opening, to go to
these. The chances here are even. We now proceed to examine the variations in detail.
A. White develops his bishop on K2 and knight on K.B3 This natural system of development is one of the most popular, and
il\ustrates well the difficulties facing both sides. It does, perhaps, pose Black with too few direct problems for White to entertain great hopes of an advantage, though Black must play with accuracy to avoid obtain
ing a passive position. From diagram 65 :
6 N-B3 , B-IU 8 0--0
0--0
N-KI
8 P-Q.R3, against which Black should play N-Q.2 when 9 0-0 transposes into lines considered below. Less accurate is 8 P-KN3 which allows White to build up a strong attack
Also played here often is
8
. . .
. . .
70
B
with
9 B-R6 N-N2 1 0 P-KR4 ! as occurred in the game Malich-Cobo, 1 966. There followed 10 . . . P-B3 II P-R5 P-KN4 1 2 N-Q.2
Havana
gO
TM CI;,Qa Bmmd
N-1l3
1 3 B-N4 N-Bll
White. 8 .. .
1 5 P-U4 with advantage to
1 4 B X B Q. X B
N-Q..
This is more flexible lhan an immediate
...
P-KN3, though
that move
is also popular and well-playable. For example 8 . . . P-KN3
9 B-Jl6
1 0 N-Q.3 B-N4 leads to an easy game for Black, as was
(9 N-KI N-Nll
seen in Pasman-Buslaev, Sochi 1 967, which continued 1 1 P-Q.1l3 P-N3
I � P-Q.N4 B X B
1 3 .Q X B N-Q.ll
advantage to Black) 1 1 N-KN5 B X N
9
• ••
1 2 Q, X B P-B3
1 5 N-Nll P-B4 with
14 B-Q. I B-1l3
N-N2
1 0 (C-Q,2 N-Q.2
1 1 Q.1l-Q. 1 (after
1 3 �N3 �K2 Black's position is very
solid, as was shown in the game Bilek-Hort, Varna 1 962, in which White made no impression on the defence and move 35. Also 1 1 P-KR.3 K-1l 1 P-B4
1 5 p X P N XBP
1 2 P-1l3 N-B3
a draw was agreed at
1 3 N-KI N-N I
1 966, leads to equal chlinces). 1 1 . . . Il-K I ! ? ( 1 1 . . . N-H3 ? P XN
12 N XP !
1 3 p-Q.6 is very favourable for White, but 1 1 . . . K-1l 1 and a
waiting policy is a less drastic solution) P-B4
14 B-K3
I S B-N4 N-B3, as in Pachman-Hort, Harrachov
1 4 �N4 P-N3
I II �B� N-B I
1 3 P-Q.1l3
1 5 NP X P NP X P with chances for both sides,
Gligoric-Ghitescu, Beverwijk 1 967.
9 P-Q.R3 (see
diagram 7 1 ) '
This preparation for queeri's side play is the most accurate continuation
...
at White's disposal. He wishes to play B-1l6 in reply to
P-KN3 and
then to develop the queen on Q.2. Thus 9 P-Q.R3 also serves partly as a waiting move, hoping for Black to commit himself. Other moves are less promising: (a) 9 B-K3 P-KN3 KR4
1 3 P-B3 N-R2
1 0 p-KN4 1 ? N-N2
1 1 K-R I N-B3
1 2 N-Q.2 P
14 R-KN I B-N4 with a free game for Black,
Stahlberg-Averbach, Erevan 1 965. (b) 9 �Bll P-KN3 (12 '"
10 B-R6 N-N2
B-N4 t>qualises more easily)
[ I N-Q.2 P-R3 13 p X P p X P
1 2 P-Q.R3 P-B4 14 P-B4 R-B3 1 ?
1 5 B-N5 R-N3 with complications, Garcia-Gheorghiu, Bucharest 1 966.
(c)
9 N-K I B-N4 1
1 2 P-N3 B X B
10 P-Q.R3 P-KN3
1 3 Q. X B P-B4
I I N-Q.3 ( 1 1 P-Q.N4 P-N3
14 KP X P NP X P
1 5 P-B4 P-K5 led to
good play for Black in Halfdanarsson-Wade, Reykjavik 1 966) B X B I � Q. X B N-N2
1 3 P-B4 p X P
14 Q. x p �K2
1 5 Q.R-K I P-B3
1 6 N
H5 N-K I wi,h equal chances, Sanguinetti-Jansa, Lugano 1 968. (d) 9 P-KN3 P-KN3 1 3 P-Q.R4 B-N4
Jansa, Lugano 1 968.
9 ··. 10 B-R6
10 N-KI N-N2
14 B X B Q. X B
P-KNS N-Nst
1 1 N-Q.3 P-B4
I II P-B3 P-Q.1l3
1 5 P-B4 �K2 with equality, Lombardy
The C;;ee!& Bmoni
99
71 B
1 1 Q--Q.2 This is most accurate since it effectively prevents I I P-B4 in view of the reply 1 2 P X P P X P 1 3 N-KN5 with a very dangerous attack. I I P-Q,N4 P-B4 led to advantage for Black in the game Malich-Jansa, Harrachov 1 966, which continued 1 2 R-N I P-N3 1 3 Q;-Q2 P-B5 1 4 Q,-Q, I P-KN4 1 5 N-Q,2 R-B3 ! 1 6 B X N ( 1 6 B X P R-N3 gives Black a strong attack) K x B 1 7 B-N4 P-KR4 ? ! 1 8 B X P R-R3 1 9 B-N4 N -B3 with good compensation for the sacrificed pawn. • • •
72 B
JI . . . N-B3 An interesting and very solid idea here is to leave the knight on Q,2 until completing the defences on the queen's side. For example the game Uhlmann-Vasiukov, Hastings 1 965-6, continued I I . . . K-R I 1 2 P-Q,N4 P-N3 1 3 KR-Q, I P-R3 1 4 �R-N I R-R2 1 5 R-N2 �K I ! 1 6 p X P NP X P 1 7 KR-N I B-Q. I ! 1 8 B-Q. I B-R4 1 9 B-R4 �Q, I 20 Q,-Q,3 N-B3 2 1 B- Q,2 N-N I with equality. Black's position is im penetrable, since 22 R-N8 only leads to a draw after 22 . . . B-B2 23 R (8 ) -N2 B-R4. If White wishes to try for more against this play he should hold the tension on the queen's side with 1 6 B-Q. I instead of 1 6 P X P, though this may lead to very double-edged play and Black's chances should not be worse.
1 00 Th6 CQeIa Bmoni
I. P�N4 Slower tactics get White nowhere ; the game Nikitin-Muratov. Kiev 1 965, for example, continued 1 2 N-K I K-RI 1 3 N-Q.3 N-NI 14 B-Kg P-B4 1 5 P-B3 P-B5 1 6 B-B2 P-JtN4 1 7 P-Q.N4 P-N3 1 8 P-Q.R4 P-Q.R4. and Black's attack on the king's side is more dangerous than his opponents on the opposite wing. P-N3 Ill . . . K-RI IS N-KI 14 P xP NP xP 15 P-8.f Gligoric has suggested 1 5 N-Q.3 here. though it is doubtful whether White can claim any advantage after 1 5 ' " N-NI followed by . P-B4. N-Nd 15 . . . 1 5 . . . P x p ? led to great difficulties for Black in the game Malich Jansa. Havana 1 966, after 1 6 B X P N-Q.2 1 7 N-Q.3 P-N4 1 8 B-N3 P-B4 1 9 P-K5 when White rapidly obtained a decisive advantage. K xB 16 B x N ch 17 P xP PxP The chances in this position are even. The game Malich-Polugaievsky, Havan 1 966, continued 1 8 N-B3 B-Q.3 1 9 N-Q.N5 N-B3 20 B-Q.3 B-NI 2 I Q.R-NI B-Q.2 22 N-B3 P-Q.R3 23 N-K!l B-Q.3 and White was completely unable to exploit his passed queen's pawn. The game was drawn eleven uneventful moves later. . .
B. White develops his bishop on Qs and knight on KBS Recently this system has been very popular for White. Although the bishop looks rather awkwardly placed on Q.3. with white pawns on K4 and Q.B4 blocking its lines of action, this proves an effective post from where it hinders Black's freeing plan of . P-KB4, while leaving the K2-square free for the white queen or queen's knight to enter the attack. From diagram 65 : 6 N-BS � It is worth mentioning here an unusual idea of the Russian master Sergievsky, which involves bringing the queen's knight to 1tN3 in the hope of inducing weaknesses in White's king's side. However, this appears to be too artificial, as was shown in the game Krogius. .
T1rI C;:;ecla Bmoni 1 0 1
Sergievsky, Sochi 1 966, in which after 6 . Q.N-Q.2 7 B-Q.3 N-B I 8 P-KN3 N-N3 9 P-JtJl4 B-NS 1 0 B-K2 P-KR3 1 1 N-Q.2 B-Q.2 1 2 N B I B-B I 1 3 N-K3 N-Kg 14 P-R3 P-KR4 1 5 P-B3, Black was left with a lifeless position. .
.
7 B-Q.3
73 B
N-KI 7 ... It is very difficult to decide what plan Black should adopt here, since White's formation is extremely flexible. In particular, White will delay castlir.g until it is clear what the situation demands : whether he should castle long and pursue an attack on the Black king ; or leave his own king in the centre and try to increase his spatial advantage on both wings. Thus Black does best to keep his position as flexible as possible also, in readiness for whatever White may choose to do. For this reason 7 . . . N-K I is a good non-committal reply. Also good is 7 . . . P-Q.R3, which is useful in any circumstances, and particularly serves to dissuade White from castling on the queen's side where he will be subjected, to an attack with a prompt . . . P-Q,N4. The game Savon-Hort, Orebro 1 966, went 7 . . . P-Q,R3 8 P-KR3 Q,N-Q.2 9 P-Q,R4 N-R4 1 0 N-K2 P-KN3 1 1 P-KN4 N-N2 1 2 N-N3 N-B3 1 3 B-K3 B-Q.2 1 4 �2 P-Q,R4 15 B-R6 K-R I 16 Q,-B2 N-N I 17 B-K3 Q,-K I 18 N-Q.2 B-R5 1 9 P-N3, and in this complicated position with about equal chances, a draw was· agreed. Black's most common cause of downfall in this variation is an excess of passivity. An example of this syndrome is the game Spassky-Ciocaltea, Beverwijk 1 967, which continued 7 . . . Q,N-Q.2 8 Q,-K2 N-K I (8 . . . N-R4 is more promising) 9 P-KN4 ! (with the Black Queen's bishop hemmed in, there is no need to prepare this with P-KR3) P-KN3 1 0 B-R6 N-N2 1 1 0-0-0 N-B3 1 2 P-KR3 P-R3 13 Q,R-N I B-Q,2 14 N-Q.2 K-R I 1 5 P-KR4 and White already has the makings of a very powerful attack (see illustrative games) .
102
TJu Czech Bnwni
8 P-KR3 This move is often played at move six or seven, but there is no need for White to declare his 'intentions so early. 8 ... P--Q.R3 It is best to lose no time in preparing counterplay on the queen's wing in anticipation of White's coming attack on the opposite side of the board. In the game Petkevitch-Vitolinsh, Latvian Championship 1 96 7, Black played an immediate 8 . . . P-KN3 9 B-R6 N-N2 1 0 P-KN4 N-Q.2 I I P-KR4 N-B3 12 N-R2 K-R I 1 3 P-R5, Whi te had some advantage. Also unsatisfactory in this type o( position is the manoeuvre 8 . . . N-R3 9 B-K3 Q.N-B2 for after 1 0 P-R3 Black has nothing better than 1 0 . . . P-Q.N3 when the knight on B2 is left misplaced, Krogius Kotov, R SFSR 1 957.
74 W
9 P-R3 9 P-Q,R4 is a commonly seen alternative, in order to put a stop
to
Black's ambitions on the queen's side, though it does also renounce White's chances on that wing. The game Ivkov-Janosevic, Sarajevo 1 967, continued 9 . . . P-KN3 N-B3
1 3 N-N3 K-R I
1 6 K-K2 P-N3
1 0 B-R6 N-N2
I I P-KN4 N-Q.2
1 4 R-KN I (or 1 4 Q,-B2 N-N I
1 7 P-N3 Q.-B I
1 8 Q,R-KN I
R-R2
12
N-K2
I S B-Q,2 B-Q.2 1 9 R-N2 Q.-B2
20 B-B3 P-QN4 with an obscure position, Savon-Martens, Harrachov 1 967) N-N I R-N I
I S B-K3 B-Q,2
1 6 Q-B2 P-QN4
1 7 P-N3 P X RP
18 P XP
1 9 K-K2 with chances for both sides.
Also worth consideration is 9 Q--K2 with the idea of castling queen's side and continuing with an attack analogous to that of the Spassky Ghitescu game mentioned in the note to
m ov e
Blad is far bettF�r pla c ed to cope wi t11 such
a
Popoy-Vaskukov in the following :-lote for resc' lrces in a similar situation . 9 ...
N -Q.2
seven. Here, however,
plan ; cornparc the game an
exam ple of Black's
The Czech Bmoni 1 03 75 B
P-KN3
10 . . .
This is the usual, and indeed the most natural, move at this point, but it is by no means clearly the best. A recent idea is to abandon this attempt at king's side play to concentrate on preparation for
. . . P-Q.N4,
and hoping to take advantage of the black square weaknesses caused by White's last move. The game Mecking-Matanovic, Sousse
1 967, 1 0 . . . N-B2 I I P-N4 P-QN4 ! 1 2 P X NP RP X P 1 3 B-K3 B-R3 1 4 0-0 Q--N I 1 5 N-Q2 P-B5 1 6 B-K2 N-N3 1 7 Q--B 2 P-R3 1 8 P-QR4 B-N4 with a good game for Black. Another
for example, continued
example is Popov-Vasiukov, Armies
team
championship
Moscow
10 . . . N-B2 I I Q-K2 R-N l 1 2 P-QR4 R-K I 1 968, which went 1 3 B-K3 N-B I 1 4 R-QNI N-N3 1 5 Q-Q2 B-Q2 1 6 P-N4 P X P 1 7 R x P P-QR4 1 8 R-!,, 2 N-R3 1 9 N-QN5 P-QN3 and Black again had the advantage. Evidently this plan deserves further tests, and may even cast doubt on White's plan of an early
11 12
B-R6 P-N4
P-KN4.
N-N2
Attempts to pursue an attacking policy on the king's side at once are somewhat risky, and often rebound disastrously on the aggressor. An example is the game Pachman-Ciocaltea, Harrachov after
1 2 Q-Q2 N-B3
1 3 N-K2 K-R I
obtained a very good position with
1 966, in which 1 4 N-N3 N-N I 1 5 B-K3, Black 1 5 . . . P-QN4 ! since 1 6 Px P P x P
1 7 B x P p-B4 ! would leave White's king in grave danger. There followed 1 6 R-QB I P X P 1 7 R X P P-QR4 1 8 R-B2 P-R5 1 9 K-B I p-B4 ! with advantage to Black.
12 . . .
P-N3
\-Ve are {c ! l oviing the game Bukic-Ciocaltea, Szombathely which there followed
1 3 N-K2
J 6 B-K3 B-Q2 1 7 K-K2 Q-B I with complications and chances
1 966, in 3 1 4 1'>-:->3 K-R I 1 5 Q- <> '2 N-N I 1 8 KR-KI\" I P-B3 1 9 QR-N I B-Q I
� -B
for both plavers.
1 04 TM Cz;ee/& Benoni IUrutratWe Gamu
White : Spauky Black : Obit"ca 2 P-Q.B4 P-B4
I 1'--Q4 N-KB3 B-it2
6 N-B3 0--0
1 0 B-R6 N-N2
7 B-Q.3 Q.N-Q.2
14 N-Q.2 ! K-RI
1 5 P-KR4 N-NI 19 p x p
23 N X P N-R4 31 N-K4 R X P
34 Q-N3 P-KN4
35 N x B R X N
White : Pol1lgaievsky I 1'--Q4 N-KB3
B-K2
1 0 B-R6 N-N2 K3 P-Q.R3 I'--QN4 B-Q.I
file)
4 N-Q.B3 P-K4
8 P-KR3 N-Q.2
1 2 N-K2 K-RI
5 P-K4
9 P-R3 P-KN3
1 3 N-N3 N-NI
14 B
is better designed to keep the initiative)
1 7 K-K2 R-N I
1 8 KR-KNI Q-KI
2 I Q.R-KB I Q-K2
22 N-B3 B x N
1 9 Q.R-NI 23 P x B
at once is better, since it is White who gains the Q.N
24 P X P P-B4
2 8 R-NI Q-B I
ch
33 B-K4 Q-R4
ch resigns.
3 1'--Q 5 P-B4
I I P-KN4 N-B3
1 6 P-N3 B-Q.2
25 Q-N2 N X R
29 Q-K4 B x B
32 N(K4)-B6 Q-Q.B2
7 N-D3 N-KI
20 N-Q.2 B-R5 !
2 1 N-B3 N-N5
Black : Stein USSR Championship 1 966
1 5 Q-B2 ( 1 5 p-N4 !
P X P (23 . . . P-B4
28 p-K6 B-KN4
36 Q-K5
2 P-Q.B4 P-Q.3
6 B-Q.3 0--0
1 7 P-N5 B-KI
20 P X P P X P
24 N X P(N4) ! ! N-N6
2 7 Q. x N R-KR2
30 Q. X B Q-K2
1 3 Q.R-NI B-Q.2
1 6 B-K3 P-KR4
e.p. N X P
5 P-K4
9 P-KN4 P-KN3
8 Q-K2 N-KI
1 2 P-KR3 P-R3
1 8 P-B4 p-B4 ? ! 22 R X N P X R
4 N-Q.B3 P-Q.3
3 P-Q.5 P-K4
I I 0--0--0 N-B3
2 6 p-K5 ! ! R-B2
Beverwijk 1 967
25 N-R2 Q-KI
29 Q-N2 ! P X NP
26 R-N I N-B3
2 7 R X R Q. X R
30 P-KR4 N(N2)-R4
3 1 N-B I N-NI
would give White some advantage) 36 B-K2 Q-B6 ch 37 K-B2 N(Nl )-B3 38 K-N2 ? Q-B7 39 R-N2 Q. x P ch 40 K-NI Q.-Q.5 ch 41 K-N2 B-B4 42 N-Q.2 Q-K6 43 Q-Q.8 ch N-NI 44 B-B I Q. x p ch 45 K-RI Q-B7 46 Resigns. 32 Q-N6 R-B3
Q-B I !
33 B-N5 ? (33 Q-N8 !
34 B X R
ch Q. X B
35 K-K I Q-B6
C. White fianchettoes his king's bishop This plan is well-motivated here, for P-KN3 is a useful preparation for P-KB4, and thus discourages Black's thematic plan of . . . B-KN4. The disadvantage of fianchettoing lies partly in the slight loss of time involved, but mainly in the resulting weakness of the KB I to Q.R6 diagonal. This enables Black to play . . . P-Q.N4 more easily, and this move, often involving a pawn sacrifice, forms a common theme for much of Black's counterplay. From diagram 65 :
The Ct;.ech Benoni 105
0-0 6 P-KN3 The pawn sacrifice 6 P-Q.N4 has been played even at this early stage. and is a good practical alternative to the text move. For example : P-Q.R3. as was played 7 P x P 0-0 (less accurate is the immediate 7 in Portisch-Damjanovic, Monaco 1 968, which continued 8 N-B3 0-0 9 N-Q.2 p X P 1 0 N X P N-R3 I I N-Q.B3 N-B2 1 2 N-B4 B-Q.R3 1 3 B Q.3 lCQ,2 1 4 N-N6 with advantage to White) 8 B-R3 P-Q.R3 9 B X B Q. X B 1 0 p X P N X RP I I N-B3 P-B5 1 2 0-0 N-B4 1 3 N-Q.2 N-Q.6 with compensation for the pawn, Pachman-Jansa, Harrachov 1 966. 6 N-R3 7 B-R3 is unsatisfactory for Black. Vladimirov-Sergievsky, Sochi 1 966, continued 7 . . . N-B2 8 B X B Q. X B 9 N-B3 lCQ,2 1 0 Q. K2 P-Q.R3 I I P-Q.R4 R-Q.NI 1 2 0-0 0-0 1 3 P-R5 ± . • . •
• • •
• . •
7 �N2 Developing the bishop on KR3 has also been tried here. Krogius Polugaievsky, Sochi 1 966, continued 7 B-R3 B X B 8 N X B Q.-B I 9 N-KN5 P-KR3 1 0 N-B3 N-R2 I I Q;-Q.3 N-R3 1 2 P-Q.R3 N-B2 1 3 B-K3 Q;-R6 with equality. The ambitious 7 p-KR4 ? ! is also possible ; for example 7 . . . Q.N-Q.2 8 B-R3 P-Q.N4 ! ? 9 P x P P-Q.R3 l O P X P P-B5 I I B-K3 Q;-R4 1 2 Q.-B2 B-Q. I ! 1 3 N-B3 B-N3 14 B X B Q. X B 1 5 0-0 B X P 1 6 KR-N I N-B4 with good play for the pawn, Donner Kavalek, The Hague 1 966. See also the game Addlson-Vasiukov at the end of this section for another very interesting example of this line. The pawn sacrifice . . P-Q.N4 is also effective if White plays N-KB3 too early. The game Ivkov-Hort, Sousse 1 967, went 7 N-KB3 Q.N-Q.2 8 B-N2 P-Q.N4 9 Px P P-Q.R3 I O N-Q.2 P X P I I N X P B-Q.R3 1 2 B B I N-N3 1 3 N-B3 B X B 1 4 N X B Q;-B I 1 5 N-K3 Q;-R6 16 Q;-B2 P-N3 1 7 Q;-N2 Q. X Q. 1 8 N X Q. N-R5 and Black stood no worse. 7 ... N-KI Black does best to keep his position flexible. 7 . . . N-R3 is unsatisfactory : 8 KN-K2 B-Q.2 9 0-0 N-B2 1 0 P-B4 N-K I I I Q.-Q3 B-B3 1 2 P-B5 ± , .
1 06 Tilt Cr:.ech Bnumi Zaitsev-Servievsky, Kiev 1 965. It is always dangerous for Black to develop his queen's knight in this way, since he is then badly prepared to deal with 'White's P-KB4. 7 . Q.N-Q.2 transposes to the main line. . .
8 KN-� 8 N-B3 is ineffective since it hinders the advance of the KBP and allows Black to develop q ueen s sid(; play. Suetin-Batnikov, Moscow 1 96 1 , con tinued 8 . . Q,N-Q,2 9 P-KR4 Q,N-B3 1 0 Q;-Q. 2 N-B2 1 I N B J B-Q.2 1 2 P-R4 P-Q.N3 1 3 N-K3 P-N3 14 B-B3 P-Q,R3 1 5 P-Q.R5 P-Q.N4 with some advantage for Black. '
--
.
77 B
N-Q.2
8 ...
8 . . . B-N4, after which 9 0--0 B X B 1 0 N X B ( 1 0 Q, X B P-Q,R3 I I Q,-K3 N-Q,2 1 2 P-Q,R4 R-N l 1 3 P-B4 N-B2 14 Q,-Q,3 Q;-B3 1 5 B-R3 P-Q,N4 ! +, Vranesic-Ciocaltea, Tel Aviv 1 964) P-KN3 I I P-B4 N-Q,2 1 2 N-Q,3 Q;-K2 1 3 Q;-Q,2 P-N3 14 Q,R-K l B-Q,R3 led to a satisfactory game for Black in Byrne-Hughet, Lugano 1 968. However, after 8 . . . B-N4 9 p-B4 ! casts doubt on Black's play. For example 9 . . . P X P 1 0 P X P B-R5 ch I I N-N3 P-B4 1 2 0--0 ( 1 2 p-K5 ! ? p X P 1 3 P X P P-B5 1 4 0-0 P X N 1 5 R X R ch K X R 1 6 B-K3 p X P ch 1 7 K-R l N-R3 1 8 p-Q,6 i s unclear, Sergievsky-Kotkov, Chebokar 1 960) p X P 1 3 Q,N X P P-KN3 1 4 B-Q,2 N-N2 1 5 B-Q,B3 N-B4 1 6 Q,-Q,2 N-R3 1 7 P-N3 N-B2 1 8 Q,R-K l N-K l 19 N-N5 ! ± , Kozlov-Dvoretski, U S S R 1 967. A serious error would b e 8 . . . p-B 4 ? since after 9 P x P B X P White has gained the use of his K4-square. Benko-Zwai g , Hav:ina 1 966, continued 1 0 0-0 N-Q2 J I N-K4 P-K R3 1 2 N ( 2 ) -B3 P -R3 I J P-Q,R3 An important alternative here is
with a clear advantage. Finally,
Vranesic-
8 . . . �,-R3
�
0- 0 Q,N--B2
is worth �onsideration here.
Bilek, :\msterdam 1 964, con tinuc -1
-
u
:; -T{3 R-Q 'I I
I
I
P-Q,R4
The C�eeA Bmtmi 1 07 P-Q,N3
1 !2 P-B4 B-B3
13 �B!2 P-Q,1t3
14 N-BI , when 14
• • •
P-Q.N4 1
gives Black satisfactory prospects. 9 "'"
.,. B
P-KN3 9 ... P-Q.1t3 1 0 P-Q.1l4 P-Q.N3 has been played a number of times here : 9 (a) I I !CQ.3 It-N I 1 2 B-Q.2 ( 1 2 It-N I is better) P-N3 1 3 P-N3 P-B4 1 4 P-B4, Clarke-Langeweg, Kecskemet 1 964, and now 14 N-N2 is safe and good. (b) I I B-K3 It-N I 1 2 !CQ.3 N-B2 ! [ 3 P-B4 B-B3 14 It-N I It-K I 1 5 P-B5 B-K2 16 K-Itl K-It l 1 7 N-N I with equal chances, Pachman Watzka, Vrnjacka Banja 1 967. (c) [ I B-Q.2 R-N I 1 2 N-B I N-B2 1 3 �K2 B-B3 14 R-N [ R-K2 1 5 N ( I )-R2 ! P-Q,1l4 1 6 N-N5 ±, Korchnoi-Udovcic, Belgrade 1 957· White may also omit P-Q.1l4 in this line : Cobo-Boey, Lugano 1 968, went 9 P-Q,R3 10 B-K3 P-KN3 I I �Q,2 N-N2 1 2 P-B4 P-B4 1 3 K-R I ( 1 3 P-KR3 B-B3 1 4 K-R2 P-N3 1 5 Q,R-K I R-R2 = , Andersen Hort, Krems 1 967) P X BP 1 4 N X P N-K4 1 5 P-N3 N-N5 1 6 B-N I B-B3 with chances for both sides. N-N2 10 B-R6 1 1 Q.-Q.2 The position is now delicately balanced and prospects are even. Two examples : (i) I I . . . P-B4 1 2 P-B4 R-B2 1 3 P-N3 p.,-Q,R3 1 4 B-R3 B-B3 1 5 Q,R-B I �K2 1 6 BP X P N X P 1 7 B X N B X B [ 8 p X P p X P 1 9 N-1l4 p-B5 ! ?, Lengyel-Cobo, Havana 1 966. (ii) I I . . . N-B3 1 2 P KR3 K-R I 1 3 B-K3 N-Q,2 14 K-R2 P-B4 15 P-B4 KP X P 1 6 B X P P-KN4 I 7 B-K3 N-K4 1 8 P-N3 B-Q,� [ 9 N-N I P-Q,R3 2 0 N-B3, • . .
• . •
• • .
Portisch-Zwaig, Balle 1 967.
In both assess.
cases
the
remlting position is
very
obscure and difficult to
108
TM C_ BIIfIItIi
IllIulraliw GatM White: Addf"Oll
Black : Vuiakov Reykjavik Ig68 I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.lI4 P-lI4 3 P-Q.5 P-Jt4 4 N�B3 P-Q.3 5 P-Jt4 B-U 6 P-1tN3 0-0 7 P-JtR4 N-1l3 8 B-R3 B x B 9 N X B �N4 10 P XP N-B2 I I P-1tN4 �2 12 P-N5 ItN-ItI 13 P-R4 Il-NI 14 �u �BI 15 B�-2 �R3 16 R-R3 B�I 17 P-B3 P-N3 18 N-B2 N-N2 19 �B4 P X P 20 P X , �2 21 R-R7 �ItI 22 N�3 N X P 23 N X N Q.XN 24 Q. x Q. R X Q. 25 P-N4 P X P 26 1t-1t2 N-R4 27 R Q.NI p-N6 28 R�7 P-B4 29 p x p e.p. B X P 30 R X Q.P N-N6 ch 31 It�I B X P 32 N XP N X P 33 R-Q.7 N-B3 34 R-R7 RX P 35 N-B6 N-1t5 36 P XN R-BB ch 37 1t-1(2 R-B7 ch 38 It-K3 R(Q.4) XB 39 Resigns.
D. White develops his bishop on Qs and knight on K2 From diagram 6 B-Q.3 0-0 7 KN-1U
65 :
79 B
This system is not particularly effective, for Black is not prevented from playing . . B-KN4 exchanging his bad bishop. N-R4 7 ··· This is the most aggressive move here, though 7 . : N-K I has also achieved good results. For example 8 0-0 B-N4 9 P�R3 N-Q.2 1 0 P-KN3 B X B II N X B P KN3 1 2 B-K2 N-N2 1 3 N-Q.3 P-B4 14 P X P N X P 1 5 B-B3 N-Q.5 with good play for Black, Hamann-Hort, Harra chov 1967. .
.
-
TIw Cz:;«h Bmoni l og
8 0-0 If 8 N-N3 Black achieves excellent . prospects with 8 N-B5 ! Ivlev Batnikov, Moscow 1 967, then continued 9 B X N P X B 10 N-R5 B-N4 J I P-KN3 P-KB4 1 2 N XBP P X P 1 3 B X P B XN 1 4 P X B R X P 1 5 (C-R5 R-R5 1 6 (C-K2 N�2 1 7 0--0-0 N-B3 and Black stands better. Another try here is 8 B-K3 as in Peterson-Godes, Sochi 1 966, when after 8 B-N4 9 !C"Q.2 B X B 10 Q.X B �R3 J I P-KN3 P-KN3 1 2 P-B4 P x P 1 3 P x P (C-R5 ch 14 (C-B2 chances were about even. B-N.f 8 ... 9 P-Q.R3 In the game Karaklaic-Bertok, Yugoslav Championship 1 962, White secured the better game after 9 B X B Q. x B 10 (C-B I (C-K2 I I (C-K3 N-R3 ? 1 2 Q.R-KI N-B2 1 3 P-B4 N X BP 14 N X N P X N 1 5 Q.xp. Instead of 1 1 N-R3 ? Black should have played J I Q.N�2 or 11 P-KN3, since the queen's knight is needed to guard the important K4 square. P-Q.R3 g ... Also satisfactory is 9 P-KN3. Scalcotas-Plachetka, Ybbs 1 968, con tinued 1 0 P�N4 P-N3 1 1 Q.R-NI B X B 1 2 Q.X B Q.N�2 1 3 (C-R6 (C-K2 14 P-N3 Q.N-B3 15 P-B3 K-RI with equality. 10 P-Q.N.f P-Q.N3 Porath-Doda, Havana 1966, now continued J I P X P NP X P 1 2 R-NI B X B 1 3 Q.XB N�2 14 (C-K3 P-N3 1 5 R-N3 N-N2 1 6 KR-NI P-B4 with equal chances. •••
• . •
•••
•.•
• • •
•••
E. White develops his knight on KNS 6 KN-IU (see diagram 80) This is a dangerous line for Black to have to combat, for if he continues unwarily White may build up a ferocious attack on the king's side. The immediate 6 . 0-0, for example, is very risky since after 7 N-N3 N-KI 8 P-KR..f Black's position is most precarious. An example of what may happen is the game Radev-Kirov, Bulgaria 1 966, which continued 8 . . . P-Q.R3 9 N-B5 B X N 10 P X B N�2 1 1 B�3 N-B!Z 1 2 P-KN4 P�N4 1 3 P-N5 p X P 1 4 B-B2 R-KI 1 5 p-B6 ! B-B I 1 6 K-B I P-K5 1 7 N X P N-K4 18 P-R5 N�6 1 9 B X N P X B 20 Q.X P R-'K4 2 1 p-N6 ! R X Q.P 22 P X BP ch K-RI 23 (C-KN3 R�8 ch 24 K-N2 R X R 25 B-R6 ! N�K3 26 R X R !C"Q.2 2 7 N X Q.P 1l�1 2 8 R � I . .
The C;:ech Benoni
1 10
Q-B3 ch
33
29 K-R2 Q-B2
p x p ch N x P
3 1 Q-KS Q;-NI
32 P-B4 P-BS
R-KN I resigns. A more active attempt by Black was seen in the game Simagin
Taimanov, Kislovodsk 1 966 : 6
. . . 0--0
8 P-KR4 P--Q.R3
7 N-N3 N-K I
80 B
9 P-Q,R4 P-Q.N3 1 2 N X P N-B3
1 0 N-B5 B X N 1 3 N-N5 R-K I
1 1 P Y- B
I I P X B P-K5, but after
1 4 B-K2 Q.N-Q.2
1 5 K-B I N-K4
16
R-Q. R3 Black had insufficient compensation for the pawn. Also insufficient
9 P-R5 B-N4 !
is 8 . . . P-KN3
IQ B X B Q.X B
in this line, for White plays not
I I Q-Q.2 with equality as in Bondarevsky
Polugaievsky, Rostov 1 96 1 , but 9 B-R6 ! N-N2
B XP
I I Q,-Q2 with a vehement attack)
B-B3
1 3 P-R3 B-Q.2
1 4 P- Q.N4 P-N3
1 0 B-K2 N-R3 ( 1 0 . . .
I I Q-Q2 N-B2 1 5 K-B l
1 2 P-R5
with advantage,
POl'tisch-Jimenez, Havana 1 966. As these games show, it is best for Black not to castJe into the full force of White's onslaught. Other plans, however, are quite satisfactory for Black and in many cases th � position of White's king's knight is embarrassingly difficult to justify. This accounts for the relative
UIl
popularity of this variation for White. Some examples of Black's correct strategies are as follows : (a) 6 . . . N-R3 7 N-N3 N-B2
R--Q.N I
0--0
14 B-K3 P-B5
P--Q.R3 P XP
1 0 P--Q.R3 P-Q.N4 =,
12 NXN PXN
Forintos-Milic, Belgrade 1 967)
1 0 - B-K3 P-Q.N4 ! 1 4 P X P B--Q.2
8 P-Q.R3 (01' 8 B-K2 P-Q.R3
I I p X P N X NP I I P X P N X NP
1 5 0-0 Q-B2
0--0
12 N XN P XN
9
0--0
1 3 P-Q.N4 9 B-K2 1 3 P-N4
1 6 Q.--Q.2 (Nikolic-Minic, Belgrade
1 966) R-R5 ! with equal chances.
(b) 6 . . . P-Q.R3 7 N-N3 P-KN3 8 B--Q.3 I I B-K3 B-N4 ! 1 2 Q;-Q2 B X B
1 0 KN-K2 N-R4 P--Q.R3 N-BS
P-KR4
9 0--0 P-RS
1 3 Q. X B P-KN4
14
1 5 P--Q.N4 N--Q.2, Mohring-Ciocaltea, Zinnowitz 1 966,
with advantage to Black.
(c) 6 . . .
Q.N-Q.2
7 N-N3 p-N3
8 B-K2 P--Q.R3
9 B-R6 B-B I
The Gz;ech Berwni 1 0 B--Q2 B-K2 I I P--QR3 P-KR4 I 2 P-Q.N4 P-R5 blinsky, Moscow Championship 1 966.
F. O ther plans for White
=,
x
II
Niki6n-Lyu
(from diagram 65)
One of the difficulties of studying an opening of this type is that White's possible plans are numerous and cannot be relied upon to fall into neat categories. The systems considered so far cover most of the possibilities of piece development for White, but there remain a few odd lines, mostly involving early pawn moves not previously considered. An appeal to the basic principles of the poshion and analogy with other variations should always be sufficient to cope with anything outlandish, but for the sake of completeness I shall mention a few more ideas here : (a> 6 B-IU 0-0 7 P-Bof? is very poor for White. After 7 . . . P x P 8 B x P Q.N-Q,2 9 N-B3 N-Rof 1 0 B-K3 P-KN3 1 1 0-0 B-B3 12 Q,-B! N-K4 13 N x N B x N, Stahlberg-Langeweg, Zevenaar 1 96 1 , Black had a firm grip on the central black squares and White's aggres sion has only rebounded on himself. (b) 6 B-K2 0-0 7 P-KNof! ? is better positionally motivated than the previous line but achieves no advantage. Navarovsky-Kavalek, Szombathely 1 966, continued 7 . . . N-KI 8 B-K3 N-B2 (8 P-Q.R3 9 P--QR4 P-KN3 1 0 Q.-Q.2 P-KB4 ? 1 1 NP X P p X P 1 2 p X P B X P 1 3 N-B3 K-R I 14 KR-N I P-K5 1 5 N-N5 ± , Ivanov-Noskov, Kazakhstan Championship 1 968) 9 Q,-Q,2 P-Q,R3 10 P-Q,14 P-N3 11 P R3 N-Q,2 12 N-B3 R-NI 13 0-0 R-KI 14 KR-NI K-RI 15 N-KI R-NI 16 N-Q.3 P-Q.Rof with equality. (c> 6 B-Q.3 0-0 7 P-KR3 should be met by 7 . . . Q.N-Q..2 or 7 . . . N-KI as in line B. Not, however, 7 . . . N-R3? 3 P--:R3 N-K I 9 KN-K2 P-KN3 1 0 0-0 N-N2 I I p-B4 ! P-»3 ? 1 2 P-B5 P-KN4 ? 1 3 P-KR4, Reshevsky-Crepinsek, Maribor 1 967, when Black is already strategically lost. . . •
Postscript One variation not yet discussed and yet very closely related to the Czech Benoni is that introduced by the moves I P-Q.of N-KB3 2 p (tB4 P-Bof 3 P-Q,S P-Kf of N-Q,B3 P-Q.3 5 P-Kf Q.N-Q.2. For some time I thought of this as an option preserving system, with Black awaiting events before deciding what to do with his king's
J 12
The Czech Bmoni
bishop; It does, however, have independent merit, particularly against lines with B-Q.3 : some examples : (a) Reshevsky-Quinteros, Buenos Aires 1 970, went 6 P-KRS B-K2 7 B-Q,3 N-B I ! ? 8 B-K3 P-KR4 9 Q,-Q.2 P-R5 1 0 P-KN4 P x P e:p. I I P X P N-N5 ! drawn ! ? though Black already stands better. (b) Ghitescu-Petrosian, Zagreb 1 970, went 6 N-B3 a-K2 7 a-Q.3 N-BI 8 P-KR3 (8 P-Q,R3 may be a better plan : 8 . . . N-N3 9 0-0 P-KR4 10 P-Q.N4 with some queen's side initiative, Weissman-Ciocaltea, Romanian Ch. 1 970) 8 . . . B-Q.2 9 Q,-K2 P-KR3 10 B-K3 N-N3 I I N Q,2 P-KR4 1 2 P-Q,R3 P-R5 1 3 N-B3 N-R4 1 4 Q,-B2 N (3)-B5 1 5 B-KB I P-Q,N4 with a lovely game for Black.
81 W
Perhaps the critical test comes with 6 P-KN3 since after 6 . . . P KN3 ? ! ' 7 B-N2 B-N2 White has the very strong possibility of 8 N-R3 ! as in the game Kushnir-J. Hartston, Women's Olympiad , Skopje 1 972. After this White is well placed to play P-KB4 when Black is somewhat stifled. Thus Black is best advised to continue along Czech Benoni lines with 6 . . . B-K2 . On the whole 5 . . . Q,N-Q.2 'may be recommended as a transpositional possibility, particularly if Black fears the B-Q,3 attack. Illustrative Game White : Kuijpet' Black : HartstoD Anglo-Dutch Match 1 9 7 1 Self-indulgence ' i s only part o f the reason for choosing this game ; it also demonstrates how well this opening can respond if the player has faith in it. I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B4 P-B4 3 P-Q.5 P-K4 4 oN-Q.B3 P-Q.3 5 P-K4 a-K2 6 N-B3 0-0 7 a-K2 Q.N-Q.2 8 P-Q.R3 P-Q.R3 It is difficult to say whether this is a good move at this stage. It is certainly useful for Black to refrain from committing himself yet on the
The Czech Benoni
I 13
king's side, while also it is nice to have possibilities of . . . P-Q,N4 in the air. Nevertheless, if White proceeds with his plan of P-Q,N4 answering P-Q,N3 with the advance of the Q,RP to R5, Black may feel that his Q,RP belongs on . . . Q,R2 . Like all interesting moves, 8 . . . P--Q.R3 has both plusses and minuses and we shall have to wait for a great deal more experience before reaching a final judgement. 9 R-Q,NI 9 P-Q,N4 would allow . . . P--Q.N4 with good play for Black, since 10 P x BP is met by . . . Q,N X P with an attack on the KP. 9 . . . K-RI !? This continue� the waiting policy while already preparing the thematic wandering manoeuvre of the Q,N to KN I . i o 0--0 N-KI 1 1 P-Q,N4 P-KN3 1 2 B-R6 N-N2 13 Q,-BI?1 1 3 Q,-Q,2 is normal and correct. 13 . . . P-N3 14 N-KII? This allows Black to gain the initiative ; better was 1 4 P--Q.R4 keeping the knight on KB3 to retain the possibility of answering . . . P-B4 with N-KN5· 14 · · · P-B4! It is very pleasant to be able to play this move without going on a ramble with the Q,N first. 15 P-B4 KP x P 16 B x P P-KN4 17 B-Q,2 P-B5 18 P-N3 White must try this to avoid being completely squashed with . . . N-K4. 18 . . . KBP x P 19 R x R ch N x R 20 RP x P N-N3 21 N-Q,3 B-B3 22 K-IU Q,-K2 23 P x P NP x P 24 Q,-RI ? Ugly and bad ; 24 Q;-B I was better though White is i n difficulties in any case. 24 . . . N-K4 25 Nx N B x N 26 R-KBI B-Q,2 27 Q,-N2 ? P-N51 28 K-RI • • •
1 14
TM CQ.Cia BtrUnIi
To prevent
..•
!C"1l5 ch
•
• N-a. Sl9 B-XI R-KMI '1 Of coune !2g N x P ch 30 B x N B X N is decisive. N-Q.I R -N, ,1 N-X, R-:a, sa X-NI N-Bs 33 8-. B-Q.s SO Sf B-Q.3 �K4 35 R-KI R-R6- " N-BI X-Na '7 B x B Q.x B cia . . .
• • •
sa R-X, B-RS 39 �Kh B-Q.8 ... Q.-Bt B-B6 .1 P-XS'1 (S« diagram 82). 41 It-B!2 l is
the only move to save White, but he did not see the ensuing combination. .. R-R8 cia � X-Ba N-X5 cbI and White reUpecl since 43 B X N � 7 Ch 44 It-Itl !C"BS ch leads to mate. ••.
.
3. Other Benoni systems
1 16
Other Benoni Systems
In this section we shall discuss other, generally less important, varia tions of the Benoni which are not dealt with in the preceding pages. Since the Benoni covers a wide range of piece and pawn formations which both sides may adopt, it is not easy to classify the various lines very con�istent1y. For ease of reference, however, they are here divided into the following sections : (i) The King's Indian Benoni : 1 P--Q.4 N-KB3 2 P--Q.B4 P-B4 3 P Q,5 P-K4
4 N-Q,B3 P--Q.3
5 P-K4 P-KN3·
(ii) Schmid's system : I P-Q,4 P--Q.B4 2 P--Q.5 P-Q.3 3 N--Q.B3. (iii) The semi-Benoni : I P-Q,4 P-Q,B4 2 P-Q,5 P-K4 with White not playing P--Q.B4. (iv) Odds and Ends.
(i) The King's Indian Benoni P-Qof N-KB3 S P-Kf P-KN:J I
2 P'-QBof P-Bof
3 P-Q5 P-Kf
of N-QB3 P-Q3
This hybrid variation is a cross between the Czech Benoni and the King's Indian, and many of the characteristics of both the-se openings are apparent in the further play. White must choose whether to treat the line as a King's Indian, and allow Black to transpose into that opening, or whether to meet it by more direct methods. The former plan is attractive, since completely Closing the centre with , P-K4 and P-B4 is often faulty in the King's Indian and it may be expected that White should be able to profit from this by steering the game into channels unfavourable to Black. Indeed, one of White's most promising continuations is to play 6 B-K2 B-N2 7 N-BS 0-0 8 B N5 which leads into a variation of Petrosian's system against the King's Indian considered better for White. Other lines leading to the King's Indian also fall outside the scope of this book and we discuss below . .
• . .
Other Benoni systems
I I7
on i y those lines of independent value. However it must always be borne in mind that these possibilities do exist and form a necessary part of the system as a whole.
8 P-KR3 ! (also good is 8 N-N3 ! , for example, Mititelu-del Corral, 1 960, continued 8 . P-QR3 9 P-QR4 QN-Q2 10 B-N5 ,P-R3 1 1 B-Q2 Q-K I 1 2 P-R4 P-KR4 1 3 Q-K2 N-R2 14 QR-R3 N-B3 with a slight advantage for White. Ineffective, however, is 8 0-0 when Black equalises with 8 N-R4 ! 9 N-N3 N-B5 ; Henneberke- Matanovic, Zevenaar 1 96 1 , then continued 10 Q�-K2 N X B 1 1 Q X N N-Q2 1 2 B-Q2 ) 8 P-QR3 9B-N5 P-R3 10 B-K3 K-R2 1 1 Q-Q2 QN-Q2 !2 P-KN4 KN-NI 13 P-KR4 with some advantage to White, Olafsson-Gufeld, Moscow 1 96 1 . Leipzig
.
. .
. . .
=
. . .
(b) 6 B-K2 B-N2
7
P-KR4 P-KR4
(Also possible is
7 . . . P-KR3 , 8 P-R5 P-KN4 as in Haygarth-Nilsson, 1 960, which continued 9 P-B3 N-R3 10 P-KN4 N-B2 1 1 B Q3 B-Q2 1 2 KN-K2 0-0 1 3 N-N3 P-QR3 with minimal advantage for White) 8 B-N5 P-R3 9 Q-Q2 (9 P-R4 QN-Q2 10 Q-Q2 Q;-R4 1 1 R-R3 with a slight advantage, Vladimirov-Stein, R S F S R v Ukraine 1 957) 9 · . QN-Q2 10 P-B3 N-BI 11 N-R3 N(I )-R2 12 B K3 B-Q2 13 N-B2 Q-K2 14 P-KN4 0--0 15 0--0-0 with an unclear position, A. Zaitsev-Schianovsky, Erevan 1 962. Leipzig
.
(c) 6 B-K2 B-N2 (7 B-N5 ( !)
7
P-B4
leads to Averbach's system against the King's Indian with
Black playing an inferior variation)
P xP
8 BxP
0--0
9
P-K5
0,. Bentmi S.1sUms
u8
(9 N-XB3 ? N-R4 10 B-K3 Q.N-Q.� is better for Black) R-.Jb with equality (Euwe) .
(d)
PxP
10
B xP
6 B-K2 N-R3 ! ?
This is an interesting attempt to deal with the problems raised in line (b) above. For exam ple after 7 P-KR4 P-KR4 8 B-N5, Black can B-R3 ! as in the game Stahlberg-Pilnik, Beverwijk 1 958, play 8 •••
which continued 9 B X B. R X B N-B2
13 P-B3 P-R3
10
1 1 N-R3 B X N
12 R X B
14 Q,R-N I R-Q.N I with equal chances. The dis
advantage of this idea, however, lies in the possibility White has playing 7
of
P-B"I, for Black's knight can no longer come to the defence
of the K4-square. The game Carvallo-Recalde, Sao Paolo 1 960, con tinued 7
. . . N-Q.2
(after 7
...
p XP
8 B X P White continues with N-B3
and can soon play P-K5 in better circumstances than in line (b) above) 8 N-B3 B-N2 9 0-0 N-B� 1 0 K-RI Q-K2 I I P-B5 with a clear advantage for White.
(e) 6 P-B3
This line shows one of the more interesting aspects of the King's Indian Benoni ; here White is attempting to play a Samisch variation against a King's Indian which would be very good with Black having played •• .
P-Q.B4 and . . . P-K4. However, here Black need not comply with White's
. . . B-N2 and 0-0 : 6 . . . N-R..-I B-K3 B-K2 8 Q-Q.2 P-B4 9 P X P P X P 10 B-Q.3 0-0 I I 0-0-0 N-Q.2 =, Niemala-Doda, Varna 1 962) 7 . . . B--N2 8 B--RS 0-0 9 B x B Q.x B 10 P-KN.f N-BS 1 1 KN-IU N-R6 12 N
wishes by playing the natural moves of
7 P-KNS
(7
KNI N-BS drawn,
Ilivitsky-Petrosian, Goteborg 1 955.
Ot,," Benoni systems
(f)
6 P-KRg B-N2
I 19
7 P-KN4
N-Rg 8 B�3 N-B2 9 B-Kg B�2 1 0 P-Rg l\-NI I I P-N4 P-N3 12 KN-K2 K-BI 1 3 N-N3 P-KR4 14 p-N5 ! N-R2 15 p-KR4 ! P-Bg 16 Q;-Q.2 P X KNP 1 7 RP X P with the better game for White, Taimanov Doda, Leningrad I g66.
(ii) Schmid'. System: I P-Q,4 P-Q.B4 2 P-Q,S P-Q,3 s N-QJls P-KNS 86 W
Although this systems is seldom encountered with the move-order given above, the positions arising from it are of great importance in a large number of openings. To give one interesting example, it may be noted that the positions reached b y the following three openings are in fact identical :
(i) I P-Q,4 P -Q.B 4 2 P-Q, 5 P -Q,3 3 N-Q,B3 P-KN3 4 . P-K4 B-N2 I 5 N-B3 N-KB3 6 B-K2 0-0 7 0-0 N-R3 8 R-K I ; (ii) I P-X4 P-Q.B4 2 N-KB3 P-KN3 3 P-Q.4 B-N2 4 P-Q.S P-Q,3 5 N-B3 N-KB3 6 B-K2 0-0 7 0-0 N-R3 8 R-K I ; (iii) I P-K4 P-Q,3 2 P-Q,4 N-KB3 3 N-Q,B3 P-KN3 4 N-B3 B-N2 5 B-K2 0-0 6 0-0 N-R3 7 R-K t P-B4 8 P-Q, 5 . The West German grandmaster Lothar Schmid has played this line frequently as Black and is one of the very few ·players to have done so regularly. It is mainly due to his efforts, and perseverance after many defeats, that the reputati on of the line is not bad. We consider first the main line with 4 P-K4 B-N:z 5 N-BS N-KB3 6 B-K:z : (see diagram 87) The natural move here is 6 . . . 0-0, but experience has shown that this is too slow to give Black equality. The game Smyslov'::'Schmid, Helsinki 1 952, for example, continued 6 . . . 0-0 7 0-0 N-R3 (7 . . . B-N5 8 N-Q.2 ! B X B 9 Q, X B N-R3 1 0 N-B4 N-B2 1 1 P-Q,R4 ± , Ratsc:h-
1 20
Other Benoni Systems
Badestein, Leipzig
1 960) 8 N-Q2 ! N-B2 9 P-QR4 P-N3 1 0 N-B4 B-QR3 I I B-B4 ! R-N I ? ( 1 1 . . . B X N is necessary, though White clearly stands better after 1 2 B X B) 1 2 P-QN3 ! N-Q2 1 3 Q-Q2 with great advantage for White. Black's best move, extensively played by Schmid, is
6 . . . N-R3!
with the idea of delaying castling until Black's queen's side play is more under way. Naturally, leaving the king in the centre can be ve·ry dangerous, but it seems that Black can get away with this and secure equal chances if he is careful. For example : 7 0--0
N-B2 8 P-Q.14 I I B-KB4 was played
(8 R-K I 0-0
9 P-QR4 P-QR3 1 0 B-KNS P-R3 1 962, and now Black may obtain an equal game with I I . . . P-KN4 1 2 B-N3 N-R4 instead of Schmid's continua tion of I I . . . B-Q2 ? when 1 2 Q-Q2 P-QN4 1 3 P-KS ! was very strong for White) 8 . . P-Q.R3 9 N-Q.2 B-Q.2! 10 N-B4 P-Q.N4 1 1 P-K5 ( 1 1 N-N6 ? P-NS ! ! , Hayes-Schmid, Dychhoff 1 9S4, i s good for Black) Q.P x P 12 RP x P N x NP! ( 1 2 . . . R X P ? 13 R X R QXR 14 N X KP P-NS I S p-Q6 ! was played in Botvinnik-Schmid, Leipzig 1 960, and White quickly broke through with a winning attack) 13 N x N B x N 14 N x P B x B with equal chances. Some other possibilities from diagram 86 are as follows : (a) 4 P-� B-N2 5 N-B3 KN-B3 6 B-N5 ch is an interesting in Spassky-Schmid, Varna
.
plan with the idea of causing some disruption in Black's development. Tal-Benko, Bled
1 9S9, continued 6 . . . QN-Q2 (6 . . . B-Q2 7 P-QR4 0-0 8 0-0 N-R3 9 R-K I N-B2 1 0 B X B Q X B I I P-R3 QR-Q I 1 2 B-B4 with a slight ai:lvantage to White ; Gheoghiu-Soos, Bucharest 1 96 1 ) 7 P-QR4 0-0 8 0-0 P-QR3 9 B-K2 R-N I 10 R-K I N-K I 1 1 B-KB4 N-D2 1 2 B-KD 1 when Black should have played 1 2 . . . P-QN4 with chances of equality.
(b) 4 P-KN3 B-N2 5 B-N2 N-KB3 (also good are : S . . . N-QR3 6 P-K4 N-D2 7 N-R3 ? P-QN4 8 0-0 P-NS with the better game for
Other Benoni systems
121
Black, Jimenez-Penrose, Varna
1 962 ; and 5 . . . P-K4 6 Px P e.p . P x P 7 P-K4 N-QB3 8 N-B3 ? KN-K2 9 B-K3 Q-N3 ! with advantage) 6 P K4 0-0 7 KN-K2 N-R3 8 0-0 N-B2 9 P-QR4 R-N I 1 0 P-R3 P-N3 1 1 B-K3 P-QR3 1 2 R-N I P-QN4 1 3 p X P N X P ! 14 Q-Q2 with equal chances ; Smyslov-Zak, Kiev 1 938.
(ill ) The Semi-Benoni :
I
3 P K.f P Q,3
P-Q,4 P-Q,B4 2 P-Q,S P K.f 88 W
This line has some features in common with the Czech Benoni and the King's Indian Benoni discussed earlier, into either of which it may easily transpose if White plays
P-QB4.
Here we discuss those variations in
which White refrains from this move. The line is not completely satis factory for Black because White has a very fine outpost at
QB4
from
where a knight will bear down on the weak points in the Black position. It is an amusing piece of chess history that Alekhine referred to his adoption of this variation as one of his chess sins ; his successes with it caused it to become quite popular, and he felt an apology to be due for bringing a poor opening to the notice of the chess-playing public. Let us examine some of the possibilities from diagram
88 : P-B41 (5 N-B3 B-N2 6 B-K2 N-K2 7 N Q2 N-R3 8 N-B4 N-B2 9 P-QR4 0-0 1 0 0-0 P-N3 I I B-K3 B-QR3 1 2 N-R3 B X B 1 3 Q X B P-R4, Rossetto-Schmid, Havana 1 967, is not bad for Black) 5 P x P (5 . . . B-N2 6 p X P B X P 7 N-B3 B-N5 8 B-N5 ch K-B I 9 0-0 ±, Botvinnik-Calvo, Palma 1 967) 6 B x P B-N2 (or 6 . . . N-KB3 7 N-B3 N-R4 8 B-KN5 B-K2 9 B-KR6 B-N5 1 0 B-K2 B-Q2 I I p-K5 ! P X P 1 2 p-Q6 ! with a great advantage for White, Visier-Larsen, Palma 1 968) 7 N-B3 N-KB3 8 B-NS eh B-Q2 9 B-Q3 ±, Portisch-Litmanowicz, Budapest 1 957. (b) 4 N-QB3 P-QR31 5 P-QR4 P-KN3 6 P-14 (6 P-B4 p X P 7 n x BP B-N2 8 N-B3 N-KB3 9 B-K2 N-R4 now only gives equality
( a ) 4 N-QB3 P-KN3
. . .
5
1 ��
0,l1li' Btntmi SysUms
White) P-K14 7 N-BS B-NS 8 B-JU B x N 9 B x B N-Q.. 11 B x B N x B III O;-Q. P-BS IS N-Q.I P-Ilf with complications, Antoshin-Bevov, Moscow 1 962 . . (c) " P-KIlf P x P 5 B x P N-JU (5 . , . Q-R5 ch 6 P-N'3 Q-K2 7 N-KB3 ! is very good for White, for after 7 . . . Q. X P ch 8 K-B2 Black is in great difficulties. (Not, however, 7 N-Q.B3 ? when 7 . . . p-KN4 ! gives Black the advantage, Bogoljubow-Alekhine, 9th match game 1 934.) 6 B-NS cia B-Q.a 7 B x B cia Q.xB 8 N-KBS N-NS 9 B-NS with for
10 P-aS 8-aS
equal chances (Kmoch) .
(d) " B-Q.s N-IUI s N-Ka N-Q.. 6 CH) N-KNS 7 P-Q.14
.B-JU
8 N-Q.. P-Q.1ts 9 Q.N-Ilf Q.a-NI
10
P-aS
with some
advantage for White, Filip-IJungquist, Marianske Lazne 1 96 1 .
(iv) Odds and Ends In this final section there appear those lines after Q.5 which have not been dealt with previowly.
1 P-Q.4
P-Q.B4
2
P
(a ) 2 . . . P-Kf s P-14 P-Q.3 4 P-QBo4 B-K2. This is an unusual line with Black hoping for better than in the Czech Benoni or King's Indian Benoni which White's move order invites. Black's plan is to exchange
the
black-squared bishops at once and this seems quite
effective. The game Incutto-Bazan, Argentine Championship 1 962, continued 5 N-Q.B3 B-N4 6 N-B3 B x B 7 R X B 8 B-K2 0-0 9 0-0
N-R3,
and Black has a satisfactory position. White does better to avoid
P-Q.B4. P-Q.Bo4 P-Bo4? is premature. The game Rossetto-Schmid l 942, continued 5 P X P B X P 6 B-Q.3 B X B 7 Q. X B B-K2 8 N-Q.B3 N-R3 9 N-R3 ! with advantage to White. (c) 2 . . . P-Q.3 S P-Kf P-KNS 4 P-KB4 B-N2 5 N-KBS is not effective for White : 5 . . . P-KSl 6 p X P (6 B-N5 ch .B-Q.2 7 B X B this line by adopting one of the Semi-Benoni variations without
(b) 2 . . . 'P-14 s P-14 p._Q.3
4
Otlur &noni uslnns
123
8 0--0 N-K2 is good for Black, Fuderer-Schmid, Zagreb 1965) P x P 7 P-K5 P--Q.4o 8 P-B4 N-K2 9 N"';B3 P-Q.R3 with equal chances, Van Scheltinga-Schmid, Dublin 195 7. (d) 11 . . P-KS fails to equalise : 3 N--Q.B3 N-KB3 4 P-K4 P--Q.3 (if 4 p X P 5 p-K5 !) 5 B-N5 ch Q.N--Q.2 6 p X P p X P 7 p-K5 ! p X P 8 N-B3 P--Q.R3 9 B-B4 N-N3 10 Q.x Q. ch with advantage for White, Szabo Guimard, Mar del Plata 1 962. P-Q.N4? 1 3 P-K4 P--Q.R3 5 P--Q.R4 P-N5 5 N-KB3 P--Q.3 (e) 11 6 Q.N--Q.2 N-KB3 7 B--Q.3 with a.vantage to White, Rejfir-Llado, Oberhausen 1 961. (t) Finally, the bizarre 11 P-Ilf?l which was played a few times in the Staunton-St. Amant match of 1 843, is strongly met by 3 P-K4! P KP 4 N--Q.B3 N-Kli3 · 5 P-B3 (also 5 P-KN4 is worth consideration) with an improved form of the Staunton gambit in the Dutch defence. ch Q.XB
.
•.•
. . .
...
Index of Comp lete Games ADDISON-Vasiukov l oll BOBOTSOV-Kaplan 85 BUK I C-Tal 55 DONNER-Planinc 83 FOGUELMAN-Mccking 8 1 FORI NTOS-Kluger 5 1 GELLER-Langeweg 2 7 GLIGORI C-Kavalek 86 , -Minic 8 7 GURGENIDZE-Ta I 48 HOROWITZ-Evans 55 I LVITSKY-Petrosian 1 1 6 I VKOV-Najdorf 72 KAVALEK-Trapl 60 KORCHNOI-Lutikov 37, -Tal 1 B K U IJPE RS-Hartston 1 1 2 OJANEN-Keres 69 PACHMAN-Szaoo 40 PENROSE-Tal 68
PETROSIAN-Schmid 56 POLUGAIEVSKY-Stein 1 04 POPOV-Spassov 86 PORTISCH-Larsen 90 RADEV-Kirov 99, Padevsky 84 RESHEVSKY-Quinleros 1 1 2 RUBINETTI-Garcia 5 1 SOOS-Matu lovic 5 1 SPASSKY-Fischer 8 5 . -Ghitescu 104, -Savon 8B STETSKO-Bangiyev B2 SZABO-Perez 34 TOTH-Matulovic 87 UFI MTSEV-Tal 47 UHLMANN-Padevsky 35 VAGANIAN-TaI 89 ZIN SER-Evans 50
Index of Variations
I.
THE
I P-Q.4 N-KB3 4 N-Q.B3 P x P A.
II
MODERN BENONI 2 P-Q.B4 P-B4 S P x P P-Q.3
3 P-Q.S P-K3
The Fianchetto Variation 6 P-KN3 P-KN3 7 B-N2 B-N2 8 N-B3 0-0 9 0-0 (i) 9 . . . P-Q.R3 (ii) 9 . Q-K2 ( ! ) (iii) 9 . . . N-R3 (iv) Other Ninth Moves . .
B.
The Knight's Tour Variation 6 N-B3 P-KN3 7 N-Q.2 B-N2 9 B-B4 N-K I 10 Q-Q.2 (i) 1 0 . . . P-N3 (ii) I O BXN
13 16 17 18 20
8
N-B4 0-0
• . .
c.
Uhlmann's Line 6 N-B3 P-KN3 7 n-NS (i) 7 ' " P-KR3 (ii) 7 . . . B-N2 (a) 8 N-Q.2 (b) 8 P-K3 (c) (i) 8 P-K4 0-0 (c) (ii) 8 P-K4 P-Q.R3 (c) (iii) 8 P-K4 P-KR3 !
D.
The Main Line 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 N-B3 B-N2 9 0-0 ( I ) 9 . . . P-Q.R3 ( 2 ) 9 . . . R-K I
8 B-K2 0-0 38 41
1 26
Index of Variatiorts 41
(i) I Q Q,-B2 (ii) I Q N-Q,2 N-R3 (a) I I R-K I (b) I I P-B4 (c) 1 1 P-B3 ! E.
F.
G.
44
47 48 51
The Pawn Storm Variation 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 P-B4 B-�2 (i) Mikenas's Line 8 P-K5 (a) 8 . . . p x p (b) 8 . . . KN-Q.2 ( !) ( ii) Taimanov's Line 8 B-x5ch 8 . . . KN-Q.2 9 B-Q.3 0-0 1 0 x-B3 (a) 1 0 . . . N-R3 (b) 1 0 . . . P-Q.R3 (c) Other Tenth Moves The Penrose-Tal Line 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 B -Q.3 B-:\2 9 0-0 (i) 9 . . . P-Q.R3 (ii ) 9 . . . P-N3 (iii) 9 . . . �-R3 (iv) 9 . . . N-K I
56 57 58 61 63 64 65 66
8 KX-K2 0-0
Other Systems (i) 6 N-B3 P-KN3 7 B-B4 (ii) 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 B-KB4 (iii) 6 P-K4 P-'KN3 7 B-Q.3 B-X2 8 x-B3 (iv) 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 P-B3 B-N2 8 B-KN5 (v) 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 B-K2 B-N2 8 P-Kx4 ? !
Avoiding the Modern Benoni (i) The Hypermodern Benoni I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B4 P-B4 3 P-Q.5 P-K3 4 N-Q.B3 p X P 5 p X P P-KN3 (a) 6 P-Q.6( !) (b) 6 N-B3 B-N2 (ii) The Modern Benoni Declined Annotated Games
56
67 69 70 72 73 73 75 76 77 77
79 80 81
lruiex �( Variations
CZECH BEKONI
93 A. White develops his bishop on K2 and knight on KB3 97 8. White develops his bishop on Q.3 and knight on KB3 100 c. White fianchettoes his King's bishop 104 D. White develops his bishop on Q.3 and knight on K2 108 E. White dev�lops his knight on KN3 109 F. Other Plans 11I P�pt III �. THE
3.
OTHER. BEKOKI SYSTEMS (i) The King's Indian Benoni I P- Q.4 K-KB3 !Z P�B4 P--B4 3 P�5 P-K4 4 K�83 P-Q.3 5 P-K4 P-KN3 (ll)
Schmid's System
1 15 1 16 1 19
I �4 �B4 !Z P--Q.5 P- Q.3 3 N�B3 P-KN3 12 1
(Ui) The Semi-Benoni
I P�4 �84 2 P�5 P--K4 (iv) Odds and Ends
3
P-'K4 1!Z2
127
