Item 1 – Game (E81)

This is Game 3 from the Semi-Final match between Yasser Seirawan and

Larry Christiansen in the U.S. Championship. (Christiansen eventually

won the match to move on to play Joel Benjamin in the Final match of

the 1997 U.S. Championship.)

[Event "US Championship (Semi-Final)"]

[Site "Chandler"]

[Date "1997.09.05"]

[Round "3"]

[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]

[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]

[Result "0-1"]

[ECO "E81"]

[WhiteElo "2630"]

[BlackElo "2550"]

[PlyCount "70"]

[EventDate "1997.09.03"]

1. d4 d6

In round 1 of their match, Christiansen played the Bogo-Indian

against Seirawan and got a bad game. Here he varies with 1 ... d6,

leading to a sharper game, better suited to Christiansen's style.

2. e4

On 2 Nf3 Black has the irregular 2 ... Bg4, or he can revert to a

King's Indian with 2 ... Nf6. On 2 c4, Black has the extra option of

the Old Indian move 2 ... e5, which is not bad.

Nf6

This is a Pirc Defence right now.

3. f3

A means of transposing into the Saemisch Variation of the King's

Indian. If White had played 3 Nc3 (the normal Pirc move), White's

c-pawn is blocked, and the opening cannot be classified as a King's

Indian Defence.

g6

Also possible is 3 ... e5?! or even 3 ... d5, which would most

likely transpose to a Classical Frenceh after 4 e5 Nfd7.

4. c4 Bg7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Be3

The players have arrived at the main "tabia" for the Saemisch

King's Indian.

a6

Black has many moves at this juncture, including 6 ... e5 (the main

line), 6 ... Nbd7, 6 ... Nc6, 6 ... c6 and 6 ... c5 (a pawn

sacrifice). The text prepares to meet 7 Qd2 with 7 ... Nc6, and Black

is ready for ... Ra8-b8 and ... b7-b5 if White castles queenside.

7. Bd3 c5

A typical positional pawn sacrifice. If now 8 dxc5 dxc5 9 Bxc5 Nc6

and Black's counterplay on the central dark squares is worth a pawn.

8. d5 e6

The position has evolved into a type of Modern Benoni formation.

9. Nge2 exd5 10. cxd5 b5 11. a3

With the square e4 heavily fortified, the prospect of Black playing

... b5-b4 is not a real threat. But Seirawan's plan is to "fix" the

Black queenside and render it immobile. If White succeeds in this, he

can then turn his attention to the kingside unfettered by any

counterplay on the other wing.

Nbd7 12. b4 Qe7 13. O-O Bb7

This move looks inaccurate as the bishop "bites on granite" (i.e.,

White's light-squared pawn chain) from this post. More natural seems

13 ... Ne5 with a view towards developing the bishop on d7 instead.

14. Qd2 Rac8 15. Rab1

White has been enouraged to make this move, as the bishop on b7 is

potentially a sitting duck.

Rfe8 16. Bf2 Ne5

Christiansen was cautious in placing his knight here, as the

exchange ... Ne5xd3 has little intrinsic value - White may be able to

expand in the center more easily as Black would have less control over

the e5 square. Of course, White will not retreat the d3 bishop, as

Black's knight would then cruise into c4.

17. a4

Another step in the thus far successful queenside plan. The pawn on

b5 is softened up, while pawn exchanges are likely to lead to an

isolated pawn for Black. White does not worry about 17 ... c4, as then

on 18 Bc2, the queenside is completely blockaded, and White can go

about the business of preparing f3-f4.

cxb4 18. Rxb4

Black appears to have problems with his b-pawn here.

Bh6!

Now if 19 Qd1 the bishop on h6 is very active, although this may be

the line that White should play; meanwhile if 19 Be3 Bxe3+ 20 Qxe3,

much of the pressure against Black's queenside, emanating from White's

"good" dark-squared bishop, is gone.

19. Qxh6 Nxd3 20. Rd4 Nxf2

There was no question that the dangerous bishop had to be

eliminated.

21. Rxf2 Rc5 22. Qd2 Rec8

Christiansen, a very dangerous tactician, has found a way to obtain

some counterpressure, along the c-file.

23. Rf1 bxa4!

A positional surprise, but Christiansen has calculated ahead.

24. Nxa4 Rc2

Threats against the White knight on e2 will allow Black to start

breaking down White's proud center.

25. Qd3 Nxd5 26. Rb1

Trying to convince Black's knight on d5 to go away, by means of the

threat Rb1xb7 followed by capturing on d5.

Qe5!!

Now if 27 Rxb7 Rxe2 and Rc1+ is threatened.

27. exd5 Rxe2 28. Re4

A way of both exchanging off Black's very dangerous rook, and

shoring up the d5 point through the forced exchange.

Rxe4 29. fxe4 Rc7

Now Black is a clean pawn up, and although his bishop on b7 is a

little awkward, so is the knight on a4, which must remain there to

guard against an invasion with ... Rc7-c3.

30. Rd1 Bc8 31. Nb6

Trying to embarrass the bishop.

Rc3 32. Qd4

White had to play 33 Qe2 here.

Rc1! 33. Qd2

Forced, to avoid loss of material.

Rxd1+ 34. Qxd1 Bb7

A very subtle trap. Also good was 34 ... Bg4 as 35 Qxg4 Qd4+ is

super for Black.

35. Qa4?

A natural move, holding both d4 and e4. However, the only move was

35 Qb1!, physically defending both e4 and the errant knight on b6.

Qc3!

Suddenly, there is no defence to the twin threats of 36 ... Qe1

mate and 36 ... Qc5+ picking off the knight. If 36 Kf1 Qc1+ 37 Kf2

Qb2+ wins.

0-1

One of Akiba Rubinstein's greatest legacies is the family of

super-stodgy defenses descending from the French 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3

dxe4. And while, after 4 Nxe4, 4 ... Nd7, 4 ... Be7 and 4 ... Nf6 are

equally annoying, the crown prince of this system is 4 ... Bd7, which

envisions multiple exchanges to dampen White's initiative.

This system was used quite effectively against me at the June

Action Championship at the Marshall Chess Club by IM Danny Shapiro. I

tried an attacking system, but forgot the analysis, and Shapiro got a

solid game while I was floundering in time pressure.

At the 1993 Geneva Open, then-22-year-old IM Mikhail Golubev faced

the 4 ... Bd7 system in the French Defence twice. Golubev borrowed an

idea that has proved dangerous in the Caro-Kann, and used it to

brilliant effect, hammering 2 peacefully-inclined opponents, and

deterring others from believing that a fortress can be created right

out of the opening.

Danny Shapiro played a little differently than Golubev's opponents!

Rohde - Shapiro, NY June Action Championship

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Bd7

[Among American players, IMs Jay Bonin and Walter Shipman are known

to trot this out on occasion.]

5 Nf3 Bc6 6 Bd3 Nd7

[Necessary to cover the e5 square.]

7 O-O

[Interesting is 7 c4 to plan a knight retreat to c3. Then 7 ...

Ngf6 8 Nc3 Be7 9 O-O Bxf3! (else 9 d5!) 10 Qxf3 c6 was reasonably

solid for Black in Klovan - Noguieras, Jurmala 1978.]

Ngf6 8 Neg5!

[Reminiscent of the Caro variation 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4

Nxe4 Nd7 5 Bd3 Ngf6 6 Ng5 which has caused Black so many headaches

recently. Sacs on e6 crop up because of the absence of the

white-squared bishop. Previously 8 Ng3 was considered the main move to

"preserve" chances, as 8 Qe2 is too tame after 8 ... Nxe4 9 Bxe4 Bxe4

10 Qxe4 c6. A good example of 8 Ng3 is Cholmov - Dymerski, Poland

1992, which continued 8 ... Be7 9 c4 O-O (Some players would snap 9

... Bxf3 at the first sign of trouble.) 10 Ne5 Nxe5 11 dxe5 Nd7 12

Qh5!? g6 13 Qe2 and Black should have joined the battle with 13 ...

Nxe5! (14 Qxe5 Qxd3 15 Bh6 f6 16 Qxe6+ Rf7) instead of accepting

permanent passivity after 13 ... Nc5 14 Bc2.]

Bd6!

[In Golubev - Scher, Geneva 1993, Scher, obviously on "show-me" mode,

played 8 ... h6, and after 9 Nxe6 fxe6 10 Bg6+ Ke7 11 c4 was facing

destruction by 12 d5, and 11 ... Be4 12 Nh4 does not help. So Black tried

11 ... Bxf3 12 Qxf3 Nb6 13 Re1 Now 13 ... Qxd4 is unappetizing due to 14

Qxb7 Rd8 15 Be3 and the solid-looking 13 ... c6 14 Bf5 Qd7 can be met

simply by 15 Qh3. Scher played 13 ... Nxc4, trying to clear the d5 square

for his queen, but he was rudely awakened by 14 Rxe6+! Kxe6 15 Qe2+. In

the face of paralyzing bishop checks coming on f5 and f4, Black essayed

the confusing 15 ... Ne3, but Golubev finished him off artfully: 16 Qe3+

Kd6 17 Qg3+ Kc6 18 Qc3+ Kb6 19 Qb3+ Kc6 20 Bf4 b5 21 Rc1+ Kb6 22 a4 Qd5

23 Bxc7+ Kb7 24 Be4! 1 - 0 Instead of 8 ... Bd6, 8 ... Be7 would not

be good because 9 Qe2 renews the possibility of 9 ... h6 10 Nxe6, and

after 9 ... O-O 10 Ne5 Black just has a bad position.]

9 Re1 h6 10 Nh3

[It looks like Black is doing well because of the awkward position

of White's knights, but White still has the nucleus of a strong

kingside attack - he will play Nf3-e5, and if the Black knight is

driven off f6 White will have Qd1-g4. To prevent this Epishin burrows

a hole for his queen bishop. but it may have been better to ditch it

with 10 ... Bxf3! 11 Qxf3 c6, and Black, after castling on either

side, can play for the equalizing break ... e6-e5. Note that 10 ...

g5? works out badly after 11 Ne5 Bxe5 12 dxe5 Nd5 13 Qh5.]

Bxf3!

[Golubev - Epishin, Geneva 1993 instead continued 10 ... b6?! 11

Ne5 Bb7 12 Bb5! (Although the bishop does not want to leave its juicy

post on d3, this move snuffs out the long diagonal and creates play

against the resulting weak white squares. Black cannot afford 12 ...

Bxe5 13 dxe5 Nd5 14 Qg4.) O-O 13 Bc6 Rb8 (Taking on e5 loses

material.) 14 Bxb7 Rxb7 15 Qf3 Qc8 16 Qg3 Kh7 17 Qh4 c5 18 Bxh6!! gxh6

19 Ng5+ Kg7 20 Re3 cxd4? (Also weak was 20 ... hxg5?? 21 Qxg5+ Kh8 22

Rh3+ Nh7 23 Qh6 and it's over. A better defense was 20 ... Bxe5! 21

dxe5 - There is no point to 21 Rh3 Ng8 - Ng8. After 22 Rg3? Kh8, both

23 Re1 and 23 Qf4 can be met by 23 ... Nxe5! followed by 24 ... f6. Or

23 Ne4 Nxe5 24 Rxg8+ Kxg8 25 Nf6+ Kg7 26 Nh5+ Kh7 27 Qf6 Rg8 28 Qxe5

Rg5. And on 23 f4 Black has 23 ... Qc6, stopping 24 Ne4 and preparing

24 ... f6. After 23 ... Qc6 24 Qh5 Nb8 hangs tough. But White has

better on his 22nd. The direction-switching 22 Ne4! menaces 23 Rg3+

Kh8 24 Qg4, and 22 ... Nxe5 is bested by 23 Nd6 Ng6 24 Qe4. Therefore,

22 ... Kh8 is forced. Then after 23 Nd6 Qc6 24 Qh5 White is doing

well. Extremely tricky is 20 ... Ng8!! which could transpose into a

previous line after 21 Rg3 Bxe5! 22 dxe5 Kh8. After 20 ... Ng8 21

Nxe6+? fxe6 22 Rg3+ Kh8! (not 22 ... Kh7? 23 Qe4+) holds. And on 21

Ngxf7 Bxe5! is again sufficient! White's best would be 21 Ne4! Then 21

... Bxe5 22 dxe5 is good for White, as noted above. But Black has 21

... Nxe5!! 22 Nxd6 Ng6, with continuing complications and an unclear

position after 23 Qe4 Qc7 24 Nxb7 Rb8.) 21 Rg3! and Black could not

recover.]

11 Qxf3 c6 12 Bf4?

[Correct was 12 Nf4 and if 12 ... O-O (Korchnoi gives 12 ... Qa5

followed by castling long) 13 Nh5 Re8 14 Bd2, and Korchnoi - Dreev,

Brno 1992 continued 14 ... e5? (better is, for example, 14 ... a5) 15

Nxg7! e4 16 Qh3 Kxg7 17 Qxh6+ Kg8 18 Bc4 Re7 19 Qg6+ and the game was

drawn, but 19 Bb4!! Bxb4 20 Re3 would have won.]

Qc7

[Now White has absolutely nothing!]

13 c3 g5 14 Bxd6 Qxd6 15 Qg3

[Ignominious scrambling is necessary, to deal with the plight of

the knight on h3.]

Qxg3 16 hxg3 O-O-O 17 Rad1 c5 18 Bc2 cxd4 19 Rxd4 e5 20 Rc4+

[Another awkward move by a heavy piece, to avoid the sting of ...

g5-g4.]

Kb8 21 Kf1

[White has worked hard to obtain equality!]

Nb6 22 Rb4 Rd2 23 Bb3 Nfd5 24 Rbe4

In the ensuing time scramble, I managed to come out on top and win

In the Chicago Open (held Memorial Day Weekend 1997), many top players

chose to battle it out in sharp variations of the Sicilian Defence.

The first 3 games below concern the Najdorf; the last game is a

Richter-Rauzer.

For another sharp Najdorf, fully analyzed, see issue 1.9: Shabalov -

Browne, also from the Chicago Open.

***

In round 2 of the 3-day, Ziatdinov's tried his pet 7 Qe2!? , but

Najdorf Variation maven Wojtkiewicz brushed it off without too much

trouble.

[Event "Chicago Open 3-day G/75"]

[Site "?"]

[Date "1997.??.??"]

[Round "2"]

[White "Ziatdinov, R."]

[Black "Wojtkiewicz, A."]

[Result "0-1"]

[ECO "B95"]

[WhiteElo "2522"]

[BlackElo "2686"]

[PlyCount "49"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qe2

Be7 8. h4 Bd7 9. O-O-O b5 10. a3 Nc6 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Rh3 h6 13. Bxf6

Bxf6 14. f4 Qe7 15. Qe1 g5 16. e5 dxe5 17. fxe5 Bg7 18. Rd6 Rc8 19.

Rg3 Bb7 20. b4 Rd8 21. Nxb5 axb5 22. Bxb5+ Kf8 23. Rgd3 Rxd6 24. exd6

Qf6 25. Qe3 0-1

In Round 4, however, this battle of Najdorf-heads went in deFirmian's

favor,

as he was able to prepare and push through the space-gaining 19 e5!,

subjecting Black's kingside to severe pressure.

[Event "Chicago Open"]

[Site "?"]

[Date "1997.??.??"]

[Round "4"]

[White "de Firmian, N."]

[Black "Wojtkiewicz, A."]

[Result "1-0"]

[ECO "B85"]

[WhiteElo "2636"]

[BlackElo "2686"]

[PlyCount "77"]

[EventDate "1997.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. a4

Nc6 8. Be3 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. f4 Re8 11. Kh1 Qc7 12. Bf3 Na5 13. Bg1

Bf8 14. Qe1 Rb8 15. Rd1 b6 16. b4 Nc4 17. b5 Bb7 18. bxa6 Bxa6 19. e5

dxe5 20. Ncb5 Bxb5 21. Nxb5 Qc8 22. fxe5 Nd5 23. Rd4 Rd8 24. Qe2 Na5

25. Be4 g6 26. Qf3 Rd7 27. Bxd5 exd5 28. Rxd5 Qc6 29. Rxd7 Qxd7

30. Nd6 Bg7 31. Qxf7+ Qxf7 32. Nxf7 Nc4 33. e6 Re8 34. Re1 Bf8 35. g4

Nb2 36. Bxb6 Nxa4 37. Bd4 Rc8 38. g5 Be7 39. Rf1 1-0

The main attraction in Round 5, after all the schedules had merged,

was Shabalov - deFirmian. No one was disappointed as the players

quickly headed for the treacherous waters of the Poisoned Pawn

Variation.

[Event "Chicago Open"]

[Site "?"]

[Date "1997.??.??"]

[Round "5"]

[White "Shabalov, A."]

[Black "de Firmian, N."]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[ECO "B97"]

[WhiteElo "2624"]

[BlackElo "2636"]

[PlyCount "94"]

[EventDate "1997.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4

Qb6 8. Qd2 Qxb2 9. Nb3 Nc6 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Na4 Qa3 12. Nb6 Rb8 13.

Nc4 Qa4 14. a3 b5 15. Nxd6+ Bxd6 16. Qxd6 Qxe4+ 17. Be2

17... Bb7?

Las Vegas master Danny Olim gives 17 ... Qd5 as only slightly better

for White.

18. O-O-O! Rd8 19. Qc7 Qe3+ 20. Kb2 Qxe2 21. Rhe1 Qh5 22. g4 Qxg4 23.

Qxb7 Rxd1 24. Qxc6+ Ke7 25. Qc5+ Ke8 26. h3 Qf3 27. Nd4 Rxd4 28. Qxd4

Rg8 29. Rd1?

Olim points out that 29 Re3 would have been very strong. Now Nick

salvages a draw.

29... Qd5 30. Qxd5 exd5 31. Rxd5 Ke7 32. Rh5 Rg3 33. Rxh7

Rf3 34. Rh4 Ke6 35. a4 bxa4 36. f5+ Kxf5 37. Rxa4 Rxh3 38. Rxa6 Kg5

39. Ra7 Kg6 40. Kc1 f5 41. Kd2 f4 42. Ke2 f6 43. c4 Kf5 44. Kf2 Rc3

45. c5 Rxc5 46. Ra8 Rc2+ 47. Kf3 Rc3+ 1/2-1/2

In Round 7, Ziatdinov showed his theoretical knowledge by using

an oft-overlooked forcing line involving a pawn sacrifice, starting

with 9 Bh4, in the Richter-Rauzer against Serper.

[Event "Chicago Open"]

[Site "?"]

[Date "1997.??.??"]

[Round "7"]

[White "Ziatdinov, R."]

[Black "Serper, G."]

[Result "1-0"]

[ECO "B66"]

[WhiteElo "2522"]

[BlackElo "2656"]

[PlyCount "67"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2

a6 8. O-O-O h6 9. Bh4 Nxe4 10. Qf4 Ng5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Qa4 Qb6 13.

f4 Nh7 14. f5 Rb8 15. Bc4 Be7 16. Bxe7 Kxe7 17. fxe6 Bxe6 18. Bxe6

fxe6 19. Qg4 Qe3+ 20. Rd2 Rhg8 21. Nd1 Qe5 22. Qc4 Rb6 23. Qd3 Nf6

24. Re1 Qc5 25. Qh3 e5 26. Ne3 Nd5 27. Qh4+ Kd7 28. Qg4+ Kc7 29. Qe6

Rc8 30. Rd3 Kb8 31. Nxd5 Qf2 32. Qxd6+ Kb7 33. Qe7+ Kb8 34. Qxe5+ 1-0

Item 4 – a Najdorf game with good notes.

Shabalov - Browne, Chicago Open 1996, Rd. 3 [B96]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5

[The reason this variation has lost some popularity for White is

not that it isn't strong, but that Black has an incredible number of

choices, and White must be heavily prepared for all of them. Now,

aside from 6 ... e6, Black can steer the game into the

Richter-Rauzer with 6 ... Nc6 7 Qd2 (White can vary with 7 Bxf6) e6,

or play 6 ... Nbd7, but then 7 Bc4 has a good repuration.]

e6 7. f4

[Now the big choices for Black are 7... Be7 (the Main Line), 7 ...

b5 (the Polugaevsky), 7 ... Qb6 (the Poisoned Pawn), 7 ... Qc7 (a

Kasparov favorite which prepares ... b7-b5) and 7 ... Nbd7

(generally transposes to the Main Line). Lesser known are 7 ... Nc6

(as in this game), 7 ... h6 (which can transpose to the game or to

the Goteborg Variation after 8 Bh4 Be7 9 Qf3 g5!?) and the highly

unusual 7 ... Bd7.

Nc6 8. e5

[Along with 8 Nxc6, the critical move. Generally White can insert

Nd4xc6 at any point in this series of moves; Black is not about to

help White develop by playing ... Nc6 xd4 himself. Other 8th move

alternatives for White are 8 Qd2, transposing to the Richter-Rauzer,

and the excessively quiet 8 Be2 h6 9 Bh4 Qb6 10 Nb3 Qe3 11 Bxf6 gxf6

12 g3 (better is 12 Rf1) Be7 13 Qd3 with equality in Ljubojevic -

Andersson, Stockholm 1980.]

h6 9. Bh4 g5

[In Ljubojevic - Ivanchuk, Tilburg 1989, Ivanchuk played the

different idea 9 ... dxe5 10 Nxc6 Qxd1 11 Rxd1 bxc6 12 fxe5 Nd5

(Weak is 12 ... Nd7 13 Ne4) 13 Ne4 and White stood better after 13

... Be7 14 Bf2!? (steadier are 14 Bxe7 or 14 Nd6+) Rb8 15 Bd4. In

Brodskij - Rechel, Groningen Open 1993, Rechel tried Ivanchuk's

recommendation 13 ... Rb8; after 14 b3! (not 14 c4? Rxb2! with

advantage) he followed it up with the wild 14 ... g5 - this enables

Black to play Bf8-b4+ without allowing c2-c3 - 15 Bg3 Bb4+ 16 Ke2

f5?! 17 ef e5 18 Kf3! g4+ (18 ... Bg4+ 19 Kxg4 Ne3+ 20 Kf3 Nxd1 21

Bxe5 and White wins) 19 Kf2 Bf5 20 Bxe5 and White later consolidated

and won.]

10. fxg5 Nd5 11. Nxd5!

Shabalov makes sure that he is the first to vary from their game from

the 1994 U.S. Championship. That game continued 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Ne4

(12 Nxd5?! cxd5 13 Qg4 and 13 ... dxe5 14 g6 f5 15 Bd8! fxg4 Bf6 was

good for White in Panajotov - Sandler, Albena 1989, but Black could

have played 13 ... Be7) Qb6 13. Bd3 hxg5 (not 13 ... Qe3+ as in

Vitolins - Sandler, USSR 1989, which continued 14 Qe2 Qxe2+ 15 Bxe2

dxe5 16 g6! with a serious advantage. Also weak is 13 ... Qxb2 which

lets White castle without first blocking the f-file with Bh4-f2: 14

O-O Qxe5 15 Qf3 is good), and then White can try either 14 Bxg5 or 14

Bf2. In Shabalov - Bronwe, US Champ. 1994, Shabalov selected 14. Bf2

Qxb2 15. 0-0 Qxe5 16. Bg3 Qd4+ 17. Kh1 Now the game Vitolins -

Shabalov(!), USSR 1990, continued 17 ... Ne3 18 Qf3 Nxf1 19 Rxf1 f5

20 c3! g4 21 Qe2 Qg7 22 Rxf5! with advantage. But Browne found 17 ...

f5!! 18. c3 Nxc3 19. Nxc3 Qxc3 20. Rc1 Qa5 with an unclear position,

as although Black is 3 pawns up, he is still completely undeveloped!

Nevertheless, Browne later consolidated and won. But a less radical

alternative on White's fourteenth is 14 Bxg5. Then, in Castaneda -

Browne, World Open 1997, Walter immediately blundered with 14 ...

Rxh2?? After 15 Rxh2 Qg1+ 16 Bf1 Qxh2, Black was hammered with 17

Qxd5!!, and White will recover the queen with a winning advantage -

after 17 ... exd5 White mopped up with 18 Nf6+ Ke7 19. Ng4+ Ke6 20.

Nxh2 dxe5 21. Be2 f6 22. Bd2 Bd6 23. O-O-O e4 24. Rh1 d4 25. Ng4 e3

26. Ba5 Bf4 27. Nxf6. The right way, after 14 Bxg5, is 14 ... Qxb2.

Then Luther - Leyva, Havana 1992 continued sharply with 15. Nf6+ Nxf6

16. Bxf6 Qc3+ 17. Kf1 Rh6 18. Rb1 d5 (better than 18 ... dxe5? 19 Bg5

and White's threats, including Bf3-e4, are too strong) 19. Qf3 a5 20.

h4 Be7 21. Qf4 Rh5 22. g4 and White seems to have the better chances.

11... exd5 12. exd6 Bxd6 13. Qe2+

Shabalov's idea is calm development, hoping to take advantage of

Black's structural weaknesses later. For his part, Browne has decent

control of space, and tactical chances based on White's relative lack

of development. One wonders, however, whether Black's king will ever

find a comfortable home.

Kf8 14. O-O-O Nxd4

Better than 14 ... hxg5 15 Bf2 when the White bishop is ready to come to

d4.

15. Rxd4 hxg5 16. Bf2 Be6 17. Qd2 Qf6 18.Bd3!

Very methodical. Once White gets his pieces out, Black's loose king

position could begin to tell. Thus, Shabalov does not concern

himself with defending the h-pawn.

Rxh2

Rejecting 18 ... Bc5 19 c3 Rh6 (preparing to win the Exchange) as

White is in control after 20 Rf1! Bxd4 21 Bxd4 Qe7 22 Qe3 and Qe3-e5

is in the air.

19. Rxh2 Bxh2 20. Be3 Rc8 21. Rb4 Rc7 22. Bxg5 Qe5 23. Rh4 Bg3 24.

Rh1

White has recovered his pawn and consolidated the initiative.

d4 25. b3!

It will be very difficult for Black's dark-squared bishop to reach

this side of the board.

Ke8 26. Kb2 Rc5 27. Bh4 Bf4 28. Qb4

Finally, Shabalov makes an exploratory probe.

b5 29. Bf6

Virtually forcing Browne to sacrifice the Exchange.

Rxc2+ 30. Kxc2 Qxf6 31. Qc5 Be3 32. Kb1 Qg7 33. Be4 Kd7 34. Qa7+

Kd6 35. Qb8+

Sending the king on a trip.

Kc5 36. Qc7+ Kb4 37. a3+ Kxa3 38. Qc5+ 1-0

If 38 ... Kxb3 39 Bc2 mate or 38 ... b4 39 Qa5+ Kxb3 40 Qa2+ Kc3 41

Qc2 mate.

Item 5 – 6 annotated games

[Event "1997 New York Open"]

[Site "Manhattan, New York City"]

[Date "1997.04.02"]

[Round "1"]

[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]

[Black "Ippolito, Dean"]

[Result "0-1"]

[ECO "C42"]

[WhiteElo "2595"]

[BlackElo "2280"]

[PlyCount "158"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6

This move, once considered a speculative alternative to 6 ... Be7 or 6

... Nc6, is now a mainstream option.

7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. Nc3

An important juncture. On 9 Qc2 Na6! is a sound pawn sacrifice.

Also to be considered is 9 cxd5 cxd5 10 Nc3, to give Black an isolated

queen's pawn. Then Tkachiev - Ye Rongguang, Jakarta 1994 saw 10 ...

Nxc3 11 bxc3 Bg4 12 Rb1 b6 13 Rb5 (the prelude to an Exchange

sacrifice introduced by Nigel Short) [ANALYSIS DIAGRAM] Bc7 (not 13

... a6? 14 Rxd5! Bxh2+ 15 Nxh2! winning two bishops for a rook) 14 h3

a6 (if 14 ... Bh5? 15 c4) 15 hxg4 axb5 16 Qc2 with an unclear

position.

Nxc3 10. bxc3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Bg4 12. Qd3

The most aggressive approach. Another possibility is 12 h3 Bh5 13 Re1

Nd7 14 Bf1 Qc7 14 c4 as in Kuczynski - Barua, Manila 1992.

Nd7

If Black wants to avoid the forthcoming complications, he can drop his

bishop back with 12 ... Bh5, after which White's most accurate seems

to be 13 Bg5 Qc7 14 Rae1 Nd7 15 Be7, Chandler - Barua, Thessaloniki

1988.

13. Ng5

Now the play is virtually forced.

Nf6 14. h3 Bh5

Way too passive is 14 ... Bd7 15 Re1 h6?! 16 Nxf7 Rxf7 17 Qg6 Qf8 18

Bxh6.

15. f4 h6 16. g4 hxg5 17. fxg5

The critical position. White is recovering the piece he has invested,

and his attack still looks to be brewing.

Nxg4

In Nunn - Salov, Brussels 1988, 17 ... b5 18 Bb3 was thrown in.

18. hxg4 Qd7

Black cannot play 18 ... Bxg4 19 g6 Be6 (or 19 ... Qh4 20 Bxf7+ Kh8 21

Bf4 and Black is in big trouble) 20 Rxf7! Bxf7 21 Qh3!

19. Qh3?!

In the Nunn - Salov game, 20 Qf5 was played in the analogous position

(with ... b7-b5 and Bc4-b3 thrown in). After 20 ... Bxg4 21.Qxd7 Bxd7

22.Rxf7 Rxf7 23.g6 Be8 24.Be3 a5 Black was ok. Back to our game, 19

Qf5 would be better than Morozevich's 19 Qh3. The big question is

whether Ippolito had an improvement in store if White

captured the bishop with 19 gxh5. Theory gives 19 ... Qd7 19.gxh5 Qg4+

20.Kf2 Rae8 21.Rg1 Qh4+ 22.Kg2 b5 23.Bb3 and then in Short - Huebner,

Tilburg 1988, Black blundered with 23 ... c5? 24 Rh1, while in Psakhis

- Mikhalcisin, Klaipeda 1988, White also won after 23 ... Re4 24.Qf3

Bh2 25.Rh1 Rg4+ 26.Kf1 Rg3 27.Qxc6 Qh3+ 28.Kf2 Qf5+ 29.Ke1 Rc8 30.Be6.

Bxg4 20. Qh4 Bf5

Now Black, with his extra pawn and more compact king position, has

a clear advantage. Still, Morozevich tries to get something going on

the h-file.

21. Bf4 Bxf4 22. Rxf4 b5 23. Bb3 Rae8 24. Raf1 Bg6 25. Qh1 Re3 26. Rh4

Bh5

Neatly thwarting all of the threats. Now White has to scramble to

avoid a mating attack.

27. Qh2 Re2 28. Rf2 Re1+ 29. Kg2 Qe7 30. Qg3 Bg6 31. Kh2 Be4 32. Qf4

g6 33. Qf6 Qxf6 34. Rxf6 Re2+

Ippolito went on to convert his extra pawn in the endgame.

35. Kg3 Bd5 36. Bxd5 cxd5 37. Rf2 Re3+ 38. Rf3 Rxf3+ 39. Kxf3 Rc8 40.

Kf4 Rxc3 41. Ke5 Rc2 42. Kxd5 b4 43. a3 bxa3 44. Rh3 Ra2 45. Kd6

Ra1 46. d5 f6 47. Re3 fxg5 48. Ke7 Rd1 49. Rxa3 Rxd5 50. Rxa7 Rf5 51.

Ke6 Rf4 52. Ke5 Rf7 53. Ra1 Kg7 54. Rg1 Rf5+ 55. Ke6 Ra5 56. Rg2 Ra1

57. Ke5 Re1+ 58. Kd4 g4 59. Kd3 Kf6 60. Kd2 Re4 61. Kd3 Kf5 62. Rg1

Rf4 63. Ke2 Rf3 64. Rb1 Kf4 65. Rb6 Kg3 66. Rxg6 Rf8 67. Rg7 Kh3 68.

Rh7+ Kg2 69. Rg7 g3 70. Rg6 Kh2 71. Rh6+ Kg1 72. Rg6 g2 73. Rg7 Rf5

74. Rg8 Re5+ 75. Kf3 Rf5+ 76. Ke2 Rh5 77. Kf3 Rh3+ 78. Ke2 Kh1 79. Kf2

Rh2 0-1

[Site "1997 New York Open (Weekend)"] [Site "Manhattan, New York

City"]

[Date "1997.03.29"]

[Round "3"]

[White "Shabalov, Alexander "]

[Black "Ashley, Maurice"]

[Result "*"]

[ECO "B66"]

[WhiteElo "2555"]

[BlackElo "2465"]

[PlyCount "82"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2

a6 8. O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Bd7

In Smirin - Yermolinsky from round 4 of this event, 9 ... Be7 was

played.

10. f3

This setup envisions an "English Attack" with g2-g4-g5 using a lever

against the h6 pawn should Black castle on the kingside.

b5 11. Kb1 Ne5

A provocative move which Ashley has experimented with several times,

figuring that White has already committed his f-pawn to f3.

However, White's powerful knight on d4 is no longer marked, and White

can try to push through in the center.

12. Bd3

It is true that 12 f4 b4! is not that impressive for White, but

preparing with 12 a3! instead gives White good possibilities after 12

... Rc8 13 f4.

b4 13. Nce2 d5!?

An "efficient" defense of the pawn on b4, although the opening of the

center can be harrowing. Also possible was 13 ... a5.

14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Nf4

Shabalov is looking to exploit his superior development by ridding the

board of Black's centralized knights. 15 Be4 would not have been

threatening due to loss of control of the c4 square.

Nxe3 16. Qxe3 Bd6 17. Ndxe6!

White has to strike before Black's positional trumps (strong

dark-squared bishop, good central control, possible queenside

counterattack) become the dominant factors.

Bxe6

Not 17 ... fxe6 18 Ng6 recovering the material as 18 ... Nxg6 19 Bxg6+

Ke7 20 Qd4 is crushing.

18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. f4 Nxd3

Best. By huddling his pieces together, Black will just barely be able

to preserve his extra piece.

20. Rxd3 Qe7 21. Qb6 Rd8 22. Rhd1 Qc7 23. Qxa6 Ke7

White has picked up a couple of pawns for the bishop, and Black

has lost the right to castle. Black has the better practical chances,

as he may be able to untangle.

24. Re3 Rhe8 25. f5

It is a very good idea to both open the position, and reduce the

number of pawns on the board.

Kf7 26. fxe6+ Rxe6 27. Rxe6 Kxe6 28. Qd3 Be7 29. Qg6+ Bf6 30. Re1+ Kd6

31. a3 Qc5 32. Qf7 Kc6 33. Re6+ Rd6 34.

Rxd6+ Qxd6 35. Qc4+ Qc5 36. Qxb4 Qg1+ 37. Ka2 Qxg2 38. Qc4+ Kd6 39.

Qb4+ Kc6 40. Qc4+ Kd6 41. Qb4+ Kc6 1/2 - 1/2

Yee (2325) - Dorobanov (2365) [A04]

NY Open, Manhattan (4), 1997

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.g3

Black is not yet threatening the e-pawn, as 4 ... Nxe4?? runs into 5

Qa4+. However, 4 g3 is not particularly congruous with 3 c3, as the

idea of building a big pawn center is immediately scuttled. More

common are 4 Be2, and 4 h3 followed by 5 Bd3 (the Kopec System).

Nc6 5.d3 g6 6.Bg2 Bg7 7.0-0 0-0 8.h3

I would prefer 8 Re1 to prevent Black's next.

c4! 9.Na3 cxd3 10.Qxd3 Nd7

An active move which is better than the routine 10...Bd7 11.Rd1 Qc8

12.Kh2.

11.Rd1 Nc5 12.Qe2

12 Qc2 can also be played - on 12 ... f5 13 Ng5 is a good answer, as

13 ... h6 can be met by 14 Be3!

12...b6!

An enterprising move which should turn out ok. Again, 12 ... f5 seems

to merely weaken Black's position.

13.Bg5

Nick Dorobanov gives the following variations after the challenging

move 13 e5 - "13.e5?! Ba6 A) 14.Nb5 Bxe5 (14...d5÷) 15.Nxe5 Nxe5

16.Bh6 Re8 (16...Bxb5 17.Qxb5 Re8 18.Bf4 Qd7 19.Qxd7

Nexd7 20.Bxa8 Rxa8) 17.Bxa8 Qxa8 18.f4 Nf3+! (18...Qf3 19.Qxf3 Nxf3+

20.Kf2 Bxb5 21.Kxf3 Bc6+ 22.Ke3=) 19.Kf1 (19.Kf2 Ne4+! 20.Ke3 Nxg3

21.Qxf3 Nf5+ 22.Kf2 Qxf3+ 23.Kxf3 Bxb5 24.Bg5 h6-+) 19...Ne4 20.Qd3

Nxg3+ 21.Kf2 Nf5; B) 14.Qc2 Bxe5! 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.Bxa8 Qxa8;" Nick

also mentions 13 c4 as possibly White's best.

13...Ba6?!

13 ... h6 was indicated here, while Black had the chance. Also the

simple 13 ... Bb7 should be considered.

14.Qe3 f6!?

A move motivated by the sudden twin menaces of 15 b4 and 15 e5.

15.b4

Better was 15.Bh6 Bxh6 16.Qxh6 Ne5 17.Nd4 with a slight edge. Yee

decides to use his threat of b2-b4, rather than holding it in

abeyance, becuase of the resulting tactical possibilities.

fxg5 16.bxc5 bxc5 17.Nxg5 Qa5 18.Nb1

Probably White should play the main idea with 18.e5 Nxe5

19.Bxa8 Rxa8 although Black clearly has good compensation for the

Exchange.

18...Qa4

Beginning the process of shoring up Black's light-square weaknesses.

19.Nd2 Nd4?!

Dorobanov later criticized this move, which gives up two pieces for a

rook and pawn, and gets Black to an endgame, preferring instead 19 ...

Bc8, slowly but surely consolidating his middlegame edge.

20.cxd4 Bxd4 21.Qb3+ Qxb3 22.Nxb3

Not 22.axb3 Rxf2

Bxa1 23.Rxa1 c4 24.Nd4 Rab8 25.Nc6

Black still seems to have good chances in the endgame, because of the

monster c-pawn. Possibly defensive measures with 25 Nge6! Rfc8 26 Bf1

Rb6 27 Rc1 would have been better.

Rb2 26.f4 c3 27.e5 Bd3!

Driving home the point about the c-pawn. Ineffective would be

27...Rxg2+?! 28.Kxg2 Bb7 29.Rc1 Bxc6+ 30.Kh2, and 27...c2 is met by

28.Be4.

28.Bd5+ Kh8 29.Nd4 c2 30.Nxc2 Bxc2

Finally Black is up a clean Exchange.

31.exd6 exd6 32.Re1 Rb1 33.Rxb1 Bxb1 34.Kf2 Rb8 35.Bb3 Bxa2 36.Bxa2

Rb2+ 37.Ke3 Rxa2 38.Nf7+ Kg7 39.Nxd6 Ra3+ 40.Kf2 a5 0-1

Gulko,Boris (2595) - Zviaginsev,Vadim (2610) [A40] NY Open (6), 1997

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 b6

This move signals Black's intention to play a Queen's Fianchetto

Defence rather than any old Indian Defence, as White is allowed to

establish pawns on c4, c4 and e4.

3.d4 Bb4 4.Bd2

Avoiding discussion of 4 e4 Bb7 5 Bd3 f5! with significant pressure on

the long diagonal.

Nf6 5.e4

A strange twist: now Gulko welcomes 5 ... Bxc3 6 Bxc3 Nxe4 7 Qg4,

meanwhile staking his claim to e4 when the lever ... f7-f5 has become

unavailable.

Bb7 6.f3

Good only for Black was 6 e5 Bxc3 7 Bxc3 Ne4.

Nh5!

For Black to make headway in chipping away at the center, he must get

... f7-f5 in. Instead, 6 ... d5 7 cxd5 exd5 8 e5 would be positional

hari-kari.

7.Nh3

7 Nge2 may be stronger. Then 7 ... f5 can be met by either 8 Qc2 or 8

exf5 exf5 9 Qc2.

f5 8.a3?!

Very provocative. After 8 exf5 exf5 9 Ne2! is one interesting

possibility, as White endeavors to castle queenside. And if Black

tries 8 ... Qh4+ (instead of 8 ... exf5) then 9 Nf2 Qxd4 10 fxe6 is

not bad.

Bxc3 9.Bxc3 fxe4 10.fxe4 Qh4+ 11.Nf2 0-0 12.g3 Qf6 13.Qe2 Nc6

Trouble is coming from a new direction. Now there is nothing to be

gained by 14 Qe3 e5.

14.0-0-0 Qxf2 15.Qxh5 Qe3+ 16.Kb1 Nb4!

Not 16 ... Qxe4+?? 17 Bd3, but the text brings ominous threats. Gulko

tries to shut off the long diagonal.

17.d5 Qxe4+ 18.Ka1 Rf5

Zviaginsev steers clear of 18 ... Qxh1 19 axb4! and White's bishops

begin to menace the Black kingside.

19.Qe2 Nc2+

Now if 19 ... Qxh1 20 Bh3.

20.Ka2 Qxe2 21.Bxe2 Ne3 22.Rd2 exd5 23.Re1 Rf2

Simplifying to a clear one-pawn-up position.

24.Bd3 Rxd2 25.Bxd2 d4 26.Bxe3 dxe3 27.Rxe3 Kf7 28.h4 g6 29.Be4 Bxe4

30.Rxe4 Re8 31.Rf4+ Kg7 32.g4 h6 33.c5 bxc5 34.Ra4 Ra8 35.Ra6 c4

36.Kb1 c6 37.Ra4 Kf6 38.Rxc4 Ke5 39.Kc2 Rc8 40.Ra4 Rc7 41.Kd3 d5

42.Ke3 g5 43.h5 Rf7 44.b4 d4+ 45.Kd3 Kf4 46.b5 c5 47.Ra6 Rb7 48.Kc4

Rb6 49.Rxa7 Rd6 50.Kxc5 Rd8 51.Rf7+ Kxg4 0-1

Christiansen,Larry (2560) - Tate,Emory (2395) [E80] NY Open (7), 1997

1.c4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.d4 d6 4.Nc3 Nf6

After a little jockeying, we have arrived at the King's Indian.

5.f3 Na6 6.Bg5

When Black does not pressure the d4 square, it can be good to place

the bishop on g5 rather than e3. In this case, Christiansen will earn

a free hit against the Black pawn that ends up on h6.

c5 7.d5 h6 8.Be3 e6 9.Nge2 exd5 10.cxd5 Bd7 11.Nc1

c1 is a very unusual spot for a knight, but in this line the knight

just wants to stay out of trouble. 11 Ng3 would definitely invite

Tate to march his h-pawn up the board!

Nc7 12.Be2 b5 13.Qd2 b4 14.Nd1 0-0 15.0-0

Not 15 Bxh6 Nxe4! 16 fxe4 Qh4+ with a great position for Black.

This is why 13 ... b4 was played: White is stopped from capturing on

e4 with his knight.

Kh7 16.Nf2 a5 17.a4!

Blunting the effectiveness of Black's queenside pieces and building a

cozy home for the light-squared bishop on c4.

Qe7 18.Bc4 Rae8 19.Re1

Preparations are being made for the big push with f3-f4. For now, at

least, Black's queenside majority is going nowhere.

Na8 20.Ncd3 Nb6 21.Qc2 Rc8

Correct was 21 ... Nxc4 followed by trying to circle Black's

light-squared bishop around to a6.

22.b3!

If this move works tactically, then White has solidified a tremendous

positional advantage, as the bishop on c4 cannot be disposed of

without giving White a tremendous center.

Nxc4 23.bxc4 Nxd5 24.exd5 Bxa1 25.Bxh6 Qf6

26.Ne4!

Christiansen's intent was not to recover the Exchange and let Black's

dark-squared bishop rule, but to harass the Black queen and destroy

his queenside.

Qd4+ 27.Be3 Qg7 28.Nxd6 Rb8 29.Nxc5 Rfd8 30.Qf2 Bc3 31.Nce4!!

From their advanced posts, the knights suddenly turn their attention

to the kingside. On this second Exchange sacrifice 31 ... Bxe1 32

Qxe1, there is no stopping moves like Qe1-h4+ and Ne4-f6+.

Ba1 32.Nxf7 g5 33.Nexg5+ Kg8 34.Qh4 Rdc8 35.Nh6+ Kf8 36.Qf4+ 1-0

Krasenkov,Michal (2615) - Miles,Tony (2550) [D15] NY Open (3), 1997

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 a6

A move which has turned out theoretically to be surprisingly

effective. Black aims to play ... b7-b5 to either force White to break

the tension with his c-pawn, or defend it passively with b2-b3.

5.a4

Evidence of the respect given to 4 ... a6.

g6 6.Bg5 Bg7 7.e3 0-0 8.Qb3! Ne4

Miles is not satisfied with the passive alternatives 8 ... e6 and 8

... dxc4, and instead uses his center to foster a quick knight tour.

9.Bh4

Missing the point is 9 cxd5 Nxg5 10 Nxg5 e6 and Black re-establishes

his center with a nice game.

dxc4 10.Bxc4 Nd6 11.a5

Previously, White would have answered ... a6-a5 with c4xd5,

clearing the b5 square for himself. That option no longer exists, and

therefore, Krasenkov tries to make something of his potential

queenside bind.

Nd7 12.0-0 Nf5 13.Bg3 Nxg3 14.fxg3

White is serious about rustling up some threats along the f-file.

e6 15.Qa3 b5 16.axb6 Nxb6 17.Ba2 Nd5 18.Ne4!

White has had the more comfortable position for a while, but now a

concrete plan is taking shape: to build a home for this knight on d6.

Rb8 19.Ne5 Qb6 20.Bxd5 cxd5 21.Nd6 Bxe5 22.dxe5 Qxb2 23.Qxb2 Rxb2

24.Rfc1 Bd7 25.Rxa6

Black's highly constricted bishop and weak point on f7 spell trouble

in the endgame.

Rfb8 26.Ra7 Rb1 27.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 28.Kf2 Bb5

Getting in a threat of mate in one.

29.g4 Rf1+ 30.Kg3 Bc6 31.Rc7 Ba4 32.g5

Adding a new dimension to the pressure - the march of the h-pawn

will control even more dark squares. Meanwhile, Black is too tied down

to the defense of f7 to target any of White's pawns.

Kg7 33.h4 Kf8 34.Kh2 Kg7 35.g4 Rf3 36.h5 gxh5 37.gxh5 Kf8 38.h6 Bd1

39.Kg2 Be2 40.Rc8+ Ke7 41.Rc7+ Kf8 42.g6

Krasenkov made it all look very easy.

fxg6 43.Rxh7 Rxe3 44.Rh8+ Ke7 45.Re8+ Kd7 46.h7 1-0

This contains the Richter-Rauzer game Smirin - Yermolinsky alluded to

in Ezine 1.8(a)

For good measure, there is a Caro 4 ... Bf5 game in this message also.

*****

Smirin,Ilya (2575) - Yermolinsky,Alex (2630) [B66] NY Open (4), 1997

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6

8.0-0-0 h6

A very popular line nowadays. For many years, Maxim Dlugy

championed this line.

9.Be3

The main alternative is 9 Bf4, putting immediate pressure on d6,

which forces 9 ... Bd7 (not 9 ... Nxd4? 10 Qxd4 e5? 11 Bxe5) 10 Nxc6

Bxc6 and then White usually selects 11 Qe1 or 11 f3.

Be7 10.f4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.Qe3

In Short - Salov, Madrid 1995, play continued 12 Bd3 (White would not

keep any advantage after 12 Bxf6 Bxf6 13 Qxd6 Qxd6 14 Rxd6 Bxc3 15

bxc3 Bb7) b4 (the less forthright 12 ... Bb7 13 Rhe1 O-O 14 Kb1 was

seen in Santo-Roman - Van der Wiel, Moscow, 1994) 13 Ne2 Qa5 14 Bxf6?!

(better is the normal 14 Kb1) Bxf6 15 Bc4 O-O! 16 Qxd6 Bb7 with great

compensation for the pawn.

Bb7 13.Bxf6

An interesting idea. Perhaps the most logical follow-up to 12 Qe3

is 13 Be2 followed by settling the bishop on f3.

Bxf6 14.e5 Be7 15.exd6 Bxd6 16.Qd4

An imposing-looking move, hitting both the bishop on d6 and the

pawn on g7.

b4!! 17.Na4

White does not get anything on 17 Qxd6 Qxd6 18 Rxd6 bxc3 as Black

has good activity in the endgame.

Bc7! 18.Bb5+?

The idea of this move is to connect the White rooks with tempo, as

right now 18 Qxg7?? loses to 18 ... Bxf4+. However, Yermo deals

efficiently with the unsound bishop sacrifice. Perhaps best was 18

Qxb4, although 18 ... Qe7!, protecting the b7 bishop indirectly and

offering the trade of queens, still seems to leave Black better off

due to the extreme weakness of the pawn on f4. For example, 19 Qxe7+

Kxe7 20 Rd4 g5! gives Black a nice initiative to work with.

axb5 19.Qxg7 Bxf4+ 20.Kb1 Qc7

That's all! Black is up a piece but calmly gives back his h8 rook,

as White's knight on a4 is also finished.

21.Qxh8+ Ke7 22.Qd4 Rxa4 23.b3 Be5 24.Qh4+ Bf6 25.Qg3 Qxg3 26.hxg3 Ra8

0-1

Perdomo,Carlos (2330) - Lobron,Eric (2570) [B18] NY Open (3), 1997

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.h5 Bh7 8.Nf3

e6 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Nf6 11.Bd2 Nbd7 12.0-0-0 Be7

Much more common at this point is 12 ... Qc7, and White usually

chooses from 13 c4 or 13 Ne4. The text envisions castling kingside for

Black, a much sharper idea.

13.Ne4

Really the only continuation which has any teeth is 13 Qe2, as

Lobron himself played against Douven at Amsterdam 1987. That game

continued 13 ... a5 14 Ne5 a4 15 a3 O-O 16 Rh3 Rc8 17 Kb1 c5 18 Bc1

and it seems that White has held on to the initiative. Perhaps,

however, Lobron is not that convinced, and this is why he is playing

the other side. (In the 12 ... Qc7 line, 13 Ne4 is played to enable

g2-g3 and Bd2-f4.)

Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qd3

More natural is 15 Qe2, getting the queen off the half-open d-file.

Qd5 16.Kb1 0-0 17.Rde1 Ng4 18.Re2 b5

Black has at least equalized.

19.Rh3 Rfd8 20.Ba5 Rdc8 21.Rg3!

A worthwhile pawn sacrifice; otherwise White is in danger of

falling behind.

Qxh5 22.Ne5 b4

Cutting off the bishop from e1, Lobron threatens mate starting with

Qh1+. A draw could have been had with 22 ... Nxe5 23 Rxe5 Qh1+ 24 Re1

Qh5 25 Re5, etc.

23.Qd2 Nxe5 24.Rxe5 Qh1+ 25.Re1 Qh4 26.Rh3

Not 26 Bxb4 Bxb4 27 Qxb4 c5.

Qf6 27.Rf3 Qg5

In this manner, Black has found a way to maintain his one-pawn

advantage.

28.Bxb4 Bxb4 29.Qxb4 Qxg2 30.Qc3 g6

A problem is that additional lines have opened up on the kingside

in return for the extra pawn; this turns out to be not insignificant.

31.b3 Rab8

Better was the distracting blow 31 ... c5! Then if 32 dxc5 Rxc5! is

satisfactory.

32.Rh3 h5 33.Qe3 Rb5??

Again, 33 ... c5! needed to be played; if 34 dxc5 Qd5.

34.Rg3 Qd5 35.Qh6

Ouch! An accident will happen on g6.

Qf5

If 35 ... Qxd4 36 Rxg6+ fxg6 37 Qxg6+ leads to a ferocious attack.

36.Reg1 Rc7 37.Rxg6+ fxg6 38.Rxg6+ Qxg6 39.Qxg6+ Rg7 40.Qxe6+ Kh7

41.Qe4+ Rg6 42.f4

White has obtained a technically winning position.

Kh6 43.f5 Rf6 44.Qe3+ Kg7 45.Qe7+ Rf7 46.Qg5+ Kf8 47.Qxh5 Ke7 48.Qe2+

Kf8 49.Qe6 Rbxf5 50.Qxc6 R5f6 51.Qc5+ Ke8 52.Qc8+ Ke7 53.Kb2 Rd6

54.Qc5 Ke6 55.b4 a6 56.Kb3 Kd7 57.c3 Rf3 58.Qa7+ Ke6 59.Qa8 Rf2

60.Qc8+ Ke7 61.a4 Kf6 62.b5 axb5 63.axb5 Ke7 64.Kb4 Rf1 65.Qb7+ Kd8

66.Qg2 Rf5 67.Qg8+ Ke7 68.Qh7+ Kf6 69.c4 Re6 70.Qh4+ Kf7 71.d5 Re7

72.b6 Ke8 73.Qh8+ Rf8 74.Qh6 Rf1 75.Qh5+ Kd8 76.Qh8+ Re8 77.Qh4+ 1-0

Bologan,Victor (2575) - Krazenkov,Michal (2615) [B30]

NY Open (4), 1997

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.Bxc6

The generally accepted treatment these days is 4 O-O and then if

Black doubles his knights with 4 ... Nge7 then 5 c3 trying to build a

big center. Bologan's immediate exchange 4 Bxc6 is thought to give

Black too early a heads up as to how to plan his development.

bxc6 5.d3 Ne7 6.Nh4

A radical means of stopping the Black knight from arriving at g6.

More intuitive is the plain vanilla development 6 Nc3 Ng6 7 O-O (in

this line 7 h4 h5 does not seem to benefit White).

Ng6 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.Be3 d5

With doubled c-pawns, Black has to be careful about making this

advance, as the pawn on c5 can become weak. Here, however, White's

relative lack of space prevents him from targeting that pawn

effectively.

9.Nd2 Bd6

Threatening to trap the White bishop with 10 ... d4, so White is

unable to "fix" the Black c5 pawn as a weakness with a move like 10

c4.

10.c3 Ba6 11.Qc2 f5 12.e5!

Finally initiating play on the dark squares. Now 12 ... Bxe5 13

Bxc5 Bd6 14 Nb3 will establish a secure grip on c5.

Be7 13.0-0-0 Kf7

Continuing his dynamic play, this move has the virtues of

connecting the rooks and defending e6 with his king. This would be

important if White starts to make inroads with this knight, perhaps

after 14 Nb3 c4 15 dxc4 Bxc4 16 Nc5.

14.Nf3 g5

Black needs to get this in before the kingside is fixed with h2-h4

and Be3-g5.

15.h3 c4 16.dxc4 Bxc4 17.Nd2

Putting the knight back to this defensive work is an admission that

he has been strategically outplayed.

Be2 18.Rde1 Bb5 19.f4 Qa5 20.Kb1 Qa6

The involvement of Black's heavy wood in the queenside press is

quite ominous.

21.c4 dxc4 22.Rc1 Rhd8 23.Nxc4

Not 23 fxg5 c3! 24 Qxc3 Rd3 and Black wins.

gxf4 24.Bf2

Because 24 Bxf4?? Rd4 would spear a piece.

Rab8 25.Qc3 Bxc4 26.Qxc4 Qa5 27.Bd4 Qd2

Now White loses more pawns.

28.Bc3 Qxg2 29.Qxf4 Bg5 30.Qa4 Bxc1 31.Qxa7+ Kg8 32.Rxc1 Qe4+ 33.Ka1

Ra8 34.Qc5 Qc2! 35.Bb4 Qa4 36.a3 Rd1 37.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 38.Ka2 Qd5+ 39.Qxd5

exd5 40.e6 f4 41.Bd6 f3 42.b4 Re8 0-1

Bologan,Victor (2575) - Yermolinsky,Alex (2630) [B81]

NY Open (6), 1997

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6

The Scheveningen Variation. Because of the strength of 6 g4 (the

Keres Attack), many GMs prefer to arrive at the Scheveningen by an

alternative move order. For example, Kasparov plays the Najdorf 5 ...

a6 (instead of 5 ... e6), and will reply to quiet moves such as 6 Be2

with a transposition into the Scheveningen with 6 ... e6. Another

popular method of "backing into" a Scheveningen is to play a Taimanov

setup (e.g., 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e6 5 Nc3) with a later

... d7-d6.

6.g4 h6 7.h3

Again Bologan deviates early from usual practice. The main line is

7 h4 Nc6 8 Rg1 (preparing g4-g5) h5 9 gxh5 (if 9 g5 Ng4) Nxh5 10 Bg5.

Instead, White has renounced all intentions to play g4-g5, and shores

up the g4 pawn, looking to quietly fianchetto.

Nc6 8.Be3 Be7 9.Bg2 a6 10.Qe2 Nxd4

In conjunction with his next move, this may be an overly optimistic

approach by Yermolinsky. I think the non-committal 10 ... Qc7 was

best, as then if 11 O-O-O Bd7 followed by ... b7-b5 with a good game

for Black.

11.Bxd4 e5 12.Be3 Be6 13.0-0-0

Now because White can jam up the d5 square and establish a space

advantage, there is no danger in his king living on the queenside.

Rc8 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.exd5 Nd7 16.Kb1 0-0 17.Be4

White has a nice edge here; although Black can trade off his "bad"

bishop and his knight has a square on c5, there are no levers against

the White king, whereas White can strive to open some lines against

Black's king with g4-g5.

Bg5 18.h4 Bxe3 19.fxe3 Nc5 20.Bf5 Rc7 21.c3 e4

If 21 ... g6 22 Bc2, then Black will have to make some concessions

after White plays h4-h5.

22.g5 g6 23.gxh6 Qf6

Yermo is looking to repel the White bishop, and after 24 Bh3 Kh7 25

Rdf1 Qe5, Black can try for a counterattack on the queenside.

24.Rdf1!!

Now the threats are 25 Bxe4 or 25 Bxg6; if 24 ... Qe5 25 h5! gxf5

26 Rxf5! is very strong (26 ... Qxf5? 27 Qg2+). Therefore, Black

accepts the piece sacrifice.

gxf5 25.Qh5 Kh8

A key point of the sacrifice is that Black cannot establish his

queen on g6.

26.Rxf5 Qd8 27.Rg5!

This is much stronger than 27 Rg1 f6!

Nd3

The alternative here was 27 ... Rg8 (27 ... f6 28 Rg7! does not

help) but after 28 Rg7!! Rxg7 29 hxg7+ Kxg7 30 Rg1+ Kf8 31 Qh8+ Ke7 32

Rg8 Qd7 33 Rb8!! White is winning, as the Black queen cannot venture

out due to 34 Qd8 mate, and meanwhile there is no defence to the

threat of 34 Qf8+ Kf6 35 Rd8.

28.Rhg1 Ne5 29.h7 Ng6 30.Qh6

All White needs to do is dislodge the knight from g6 to unleash a

hurricane on the g-file.

Rxc3 31.h5 Rc7 32.hxg6 fxg6 33.Qxg6 Rxh7

1-0

34 Qxh7+ would bring it to a close.

Here is an interesting game in which Black finally accepts White's

offer to transpose from a Modern to a Sicilian, but Black's pieces

turn out to be poorly posted in the resulting more open position.

Short,Nigel - Chernin,Alexander [B07] Pula, Croatia

1997

1.e4 d6

Alexander Chernin is the type of player who likes to know

"everything" about the defenses that he plays. In recent years, he has

switched over from the French to the Pirc/Modern.

2.Nc3 g6 3.Bc4

In Semi-Open games (1 e4 openings where Black has not replied with

1 ... e5), White often has to be careful about placing the bishop on

c4 lest it be shut out by ... e7-e6. This is not a problem where Black

has already committed himself with ... g7-g6.

Bg7 4.f4

Inviting Black to transpose into the Grand Prix Attack against the

Sicilian after 4 ... c5, a variation in which Short crushed Gelfand in

their 1993 Candidates Match.

e6

A less radical reaction for Black was 4 ... c6 followed by 5 ...

Nf6; then the knight would have a home on d5 if White ever tries

e4-e5.

5.Nf3 Ne7 6.Bb3

This retreat enables White to avoid an exchange of pawns if Black

advances with 6 ... d5 and instead gain space with 7 e5.

c5

Finally Chernin accedes to a transposition to the Sicilian, which

Short has been offering since move 2! Otherwise, Black has been

hoodwinked into adopting a hedgehog formation for no benefit.

7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.Kh1 Nbc6 11.Be3 Na5

The aggressive 11 ... b5 would have invited problems on the d-file

after 12 Nxc6 Nxc6 13 Qd2; then on 13 ... Qe7 14 Rad1 Rd8 15 f5 is

strong.

12.a4 Qc7

White is also better if Black tries to clear the air with 12 ... e5

13 Nf3 Nxb3 14 axb3 Bg4 15 h3.

13.Qd3 Nec6

A problematic maneuver. But simple development with 13 ... b6 14

Rad1 Bb7 would again lead to the spike 14 f5.

14.Rad1 Rd8 15.f5 Ne5

Black cannot pursue a pawn grab with 15 ... Nxd4? 16 Bxd4 Nxb3 17

axb3 exf5 18 Bxg7 Kxg7 19 Nd5 with a monstrous attack.

16.Qe2 Nac4 17.Bc1

White has definitely won the opening battle. While Black has posted

his knights impressively, the kingside wedge White has established

with his pawn on f5 is not going away.

Bd7 18.Qe1

Moving towards the elimination of Black's dark-squared bishop.

Rdc8 19.Qh4 Qd8 20.Bg5 Qe8 21.f6 Bh8?!

Chosen over 21 ... Bf8, because on h8 the bishop is not subject to

exchange. However, 21 ... Bf8 was certainly more resilient tactically.

For example, 22 Bh6 Bxh6 23 Qxh6 Qf8 does not accomplish anything for

White. Probably best for White after 21 ... Bf8 is the quiet 22 Bxc4

Rxc4 23 Nf3, still with a sizable edge.

22.Nf3! Nxb2 23.Rxd6 Nbc4 24.Rd4

Artfully and without wasting time, Short is subjecting Black's

principal defenders, his knights, to liquidation.

Nxf3 25.Rxf3 Ne5 26.Rh3 h5 27.Ne2

There is very little that can be done about the knight's trip to h5

to destroy the Black kingside.

Rc5

On 27 ... Ng4 28 Nf4! e5 29 Nxg6 will win - one route is 29 ...

exd4 30 Ne7+ Kf8 31 Qxh5 (clearer than 31 Qxg4!? Bxf6!) Nf2+ 32 Kg1

Nxh3+ 33 gxh3 and Black is finished. And Black cannot get out of the

box with 27 ... Qf8 (intending 28 Nf4 Qc5), as suddenly White can pick

off one of the undefended pieces with 28 Bf4!

28.Nf4 Ng4 29.Nxh5 Rxg5

If 29 ... Nf2+ first, then 30 Qxf2 Rxg5 31 Qd2 Rxh5 32 Rxh5 gxh5 33

Qg5+ Kf8 34 Qh6+ Kg8 35 Rd3 h4 36 Qxh4 and White wins.

30.Qxg5 Nf2+ 31.Kg1 Nxh3+ 32.gxh3 Bc6 33.Nf4 Kh7

33 ... Rd8 would lose to 34 Nxg6! fxg6 (or 34 ... Rxd4 35 Ne7+

followed by mate) 35 Rxd8 Qxd8 36 Bxe6+ Kf8 37 Qh6+.

34.e5

Now the threat is 35 Nxg6 fxg6 36 Rh4+ Kg8 37 Rxh8+ Kxh8 38 Qh6+.

Bf3 35.Kf2 Qc6 36.Rc4

1-0

This is an exciting game from the New York Open featuring the Modern

Benoni. Notice that in the Benoni, one of the main questions is

whether White will get in e4-e5 before Black gets in ... b5-b4, and

whose lever will be more effective.

Ehlvest,Jaan (2635) - de Firmian,Nick (2575) [A75]

NY Open (6), 1997

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5

deFirmian is one of many GMs who play the Benoni only in response

to White's Ng1-f3 so that the Four Pawns Attack will not have to be

faced. For example, had White played 3 Nc3, then on 3 ... c5 White

can play 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 e4 g6 7 f4. Thus, a good repertoire

is to combine the Nimzo-Indian (if 3 Nc3 Bb4) with the Benoni (if 3

Nf3 c5).

4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.e4 a6 8.a4 Bg4 9.Be2 Bxf3

Preferring to avoid the variation where White preserves his

knight with the maneuver Nf3-d2, after, for example, 9 ... Bg7 10 Bf4

O-O 11 O-O Qe7 12 Nd2 Bxe2 12 Qxe2 and the d2 knight is headed to c4.

10.Bxf3 Nbd7 11.0-0 Bg7 12.Bf4

An interesting approach to the position was taken in Grivas -

Minasian, Debrecen 1992, where White anticipated the arrival of a Black

knight on e5 by playing 12 Be2!? O-O 13 Re1 Re8 14 Bf1. Because White

has never posted his dark-squared bishop on f4, he is ready to meet ...

Nd7-e5 with an immediate f2-f4.

Qe7 13.Re1 0-0 14.Qd2

Ehlvest diverges from 14 a5, which he used to defeat Minasian at

the 1993 New York Open. Although 14 a5 allows Black to open the b-file

quicker (as White could prevent the file-opening by leaving the pawn

on a4 and controlling the b5 square), it also threatens to create

favorable queenside activity with Nc3-a4, forcing the issue. Minasian

tried 14 ... Ne8?! 15.Na4 Nc7 16.Bg4 Ne5 17.Nb6 Rad8 18.Bh3 Na8

19.Bxe5 Bxe5 20.Nc4 and White had an edge. Spurred on by that success,

Ehlvest again essayed 14 a5 against Kovacevic at the 1994 Linares

Open. There Black obtained sufficient b-file counterplay with 14 ...

Rab8 15.Qc2 b5 16.axb6 Rxb6 17.Na4 Rb4 18.Bd2 Rb7 19.Nc3 Rfb8. And in

Barlov - deFirmian, Novi Sad (Ol.) 1990, deFirmian succeeded using

kingside activity after 14 ... Ne5 15.Be2 Rfe8 16.Bg3 g5! 17.Ra4 Nfd7

18.Bf1 Ng6 19.Re3 Rac8 20.h3 Nde5 with a very sharp position. It is

likely that Ehlvest was familiar with the Barlov game, as his 14 Qd2

acts to prevent Black from establishing the formation with ... g6-g5.

Rfe8 15.h3 Ne5 16.Be2 Qc7 17.Bh2

Committing to a breakthrough with f2-f4 and e4-e5. A very different

idea was 17 b3!?, in order to meet 17 ... c4?! with 18 b4!,

effectively closing down Black's queenside play. Instead, Black should

play 17 ... Qa5 with an unclear situation.

c4 18.Kh1 Rab8 19.f4

Consistent. White's b-pawn would be too weak after 19 a5 b5 20 axb6

Rxb6! (better than 20 ... Qxb6 21 f4 Ned7 22 Bxc4).

Ned7 20.Bf3 b5 21.axb5 axb5 22.Ra6

The main object of this incursion is to create enough of a

distraction to Black's pieces to get e4-e5 in.

Nc5!

Also possible was 22 ... b4 giving White the opportunity of 23 Na4,

trying to restrict the Black knight on d7. Then 23 ... Qb7! 24 Rxd6

Qb5 leads to frightful complications after, for example, 25 b3 cxb3 26

Nb2 Rac8 27 e5.

23.Rc6 Qa5 24.e5

White has to get on with the program. There is no stopping Black

from creating havoc on the queenside.

Nd3 25.Re2 b4!

A critical, and typical move. Often, in Benoni, King's Indian and

Pirc positions, e4-e5 by White must be answered by ... b5-b4 by

Black; otherwise, White's c3 knight becomes too strong in the center.

In this case, if 25 ... dxe5 26 fxe5 Nd7 27 e6 N7e5 28 exf7+ Kxf7 29

Re6 would be strong for White, as the c3 knight will come into play

via e4.

26.Nd1

White's center would be dissipated, and his position disorganized,

after 26 exf6 bxc3 27 bxc3 Bxf6.

dxe5 27.fxe5 Nd7 28.e6

A defensive-minded player might try 28 Rxc4 N3xe5 29 Re4,

minimizing the damage to the edge which Black's strong knight on e5

confers, but it is extremely difficult to switch to such a mode.

N7e5 29.Rxc4

A reasonable-looking exchange sacrifice, to try to do away with

the twin threats of ... Ne5xc6 and ... Ne5xf3 followed by ... Qa5xd5.

Ehlvest avoids the immediate 29 exf7+ as this may only strengthen the

position of the Black knight on e5 after 29 ... Kxf7.

fxe6!

An important interpolation. White would be happy enough after 29

... Nxc4 30 Qxd3. But now if White runs with his rook, then the

center is completely demolished after exd5.

30.dxe6 Nxc4 31.Qxd3 Rbd8

The suddenly open d-file allows Black to assume the initiative.

32.Qxc4 Rxd1+ 33.Bg1 Qa7

The Exchange up, deFirmian pursues a policy of ruthless

simplification.

34.e7+ Kh8 35.Rf2 Rxg1+ 36.Kxg1 Bd4 37.Qf7 Qxe7 38.Qxe7 Rxe7 39.Kf1

Bxf2 40.Kxf2 g5

0-1

Traditionally, after the New York Open, the Marshall Chess Club

holds a very strong blitz tournament. This year, I faced the tough GM

Vadim Milov in the Marshall Blitz. Milov turned a hedgehog / Queen's

Indian type of position into a King's Indian and then embarked on a

typical King's Indian attack.

Rohde - Milov

Marshall Blitz April 1997, 1997

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 b6 4.e3

A pet line against the Hedgehog. One possibility is 4 ... Bb7 5 d4

cxd4 6 exd4 e6 7 a3 (preventing ... Bb4 and thus preparing to shut off

the Black bishop by d4-d5). Then after 7 ... d5, great complications

can arise after 8 cxd5 Nxd5 9 Ne5 a6 10 Qf3.

4...g6!

A good reaction. Black suddenly treats the position like a King's

Indian, where the move e2-e3 is not very effective.

5.d4 Bg7 6.Be2 0-0 7.0-0 d6

Still avoiding the placement of his bishop on b7, which would only

be greeted by d4-d5.

8.a3 Na6 9.Re1 Bb7

Finally drawing forward the White d-pawn. The alternative was 9 ...

Bf5.

10.d5 Nc7 11.e4 e5

Achieving a position with potential counterplay. If 12 dxe6 Nxe6 is

satisfactory, and otherwise Black now plays it like a King's Indian,

ignoring the fact that he has wasted time with his queen's bishop.

12.b4 Bc8 13.Rb1?!

Correct was 13 Nd2, stopping the Black knight from traveling to h5.

13...Nh5 14.g3 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Qc2

Covering the c3 knight so that now White has the possibility of

Nf3xe5.

16...Nf6

Allowing White to dictate the tempo. Better was 16 ... Qe8.

17.Nh4 Qe8! 18.bxc5 bxc5 19.Nxf5

I thought that the resulting position, in which I have the two

bishops, would favor me. Possibly the preparatory 19 Bf1 was better.

19...Bxf5 20.Qxf5 Nfxd5 21.Qc2 Nxc3 22.Qxc3 e4

Now Black gets to use the d4 outpost.

23.Qe3 Bd4 24.Qg5+ Kh8 25.Be3 Ne6 26.Qd5

The position is unclear.

26...Qg6 27.Bh5 Qf6 28.Qxe4 Ng5 29.Qg2 Bxe3 30.Rxe3

Looks logical, but this is a blunder. After 30 fxe3! Qf5 31 Kh1 Nh3

32 g4, Black's activity just balances White's pawn up.

30...Nh3+ 31.Kh1 Nxf2+ 32.Kg1 Qd4 33.Rbe1 Nd3

If 34 Re2 Qa1+ mops up.

0 - 1

This issue concerns a very exciting game in the Dragon Variation.

Rowson,Jonathan - Hodgson,Julian [B76]

Match, Rotherham ENG (03), 1997

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6

The Dragon Variation. Kasparov used this risky defence to great effect

in his 1995 World Championship Match against Anand. Hodgson is known for his

dynamic opening repertoire, so this choice is not surprising.

6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3

The signal move of the Yugoslav Attack, in which White castles

queenside, and throws his kingside pawns forward.

0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.0-0-0 Bd7

More popular is the gambit 9 ... d5 (allowing 10 exd5 Nxd5 11 Nxc6 bxc6

12 Nxd5 cxd5 13 Qxd5), and also possible is 9 ... Nxd4 (or the immediate 9 ...

Be6) 10 Bxd4 Be6. The reason 9 ... Bd7, which is the normal move against 9 Bc4,

is not favored against 9 O-O-O, is that if Black follows up with the maneuver

... Nc6-e5, ... Ra8-c8 and ... Ne5-c4, then White gets to save 2 tempi by

playing Bf1xc4, as the White bishop has not bothered with the moves Bf1-c4 and

Bc4-b3.

10.Kb1

In Huebner - Hort, Hamburg 1979, White was able to get an advantage with

10 g4 Rc8 11 h4 Qa5 12 Kb1 Rfd8? (better was 12 ... Nxd4 13 Bxd4 Rfd8) 13 Nb3

Qc7 14 h5.

Rc8 11.h4 Ne5

A dangerous concept, as White's d4 knight is left unchecked, and as

alluded to above, the trip to c4 is unproductive.

12.Nd5?

Also bad is the direct 12 h5 Nxh5 13 g4 Ng3 14 Rh3 Nxf1 15 Rxf1 Nc4.

However, 12 g4, eliminating the ... Nf6-h5-g3 idea, seems strong.

Nh5! 13.Qe1 e6 14.Nc3 f5!

This safeguards the position of the knight on h5.

15.Ka1?

With no kingside attack, Rowson has run out of ideas. I would have tried

to introduce an element of confusion into the situation with 15 exf5! gxf5 16

Be2, and if Black then tries to gain space with 16 ... f4 17 Bf2 d5, then 18 g4!

is not bad for White.

f4 16.Bf2 a6

Now Black has a dominating position.

17.Nb1 b5 18.Qb4

A useful sortie, hassling the one weak spot in Black's position - d6.

Rc5 19.Qb3

If 19 c3 with the idea of Nd4-b3, then 19 ... Qb8! 20 Nb3 Nc6 21 Qa3 b4

is very strong for Black.

Qf6 20.Nd2 Ng3 21.Bxg3 fxg3 22.c3

Rowson is playing carefully to neutralize Hodgson's pressure on the long

diagonal.

Rfc8 23.Be2 Nc6

It turns out that White's knight on d4 is as well-placed as Black's was

on e5.

24.Nxc6 R8xc6 25.Nb1 Rh5

The h4 pawn is the first concrete target that Hodgson has been able to

find. However, a more consistent approach was 25 ... a5 looking to break down

the long diagonal with ... b5-b4.

26.Na3 Qf4

Unfortunately, the immediate 26 ... Rxh4 is met by 27 e5! wrecking

Black's structure.

27.Nc2 Rhc5?!

A change of heart. But here I think Black may as well have grabbed the

h-pawn - after 27 ... Rxh4 28 Rxh4 Qxh4 29 Nb4 Rb6 White has no clear followup.

28.Nd4 Bxd4 29.Rxd4 Rh5

It may have been better to completely dispense with this and cover the

center with 29 ... Kf8.

30.Qd1 Kf8?

It seems that Black could have held equality with 30 ... Rxh4 31 Rxh4

Qxh4 after 32 Rxd6 Rxd6 33 Qxd6 Qh1+, or 32 e5 Qh2.

31.e5!

This shot works because after 31 ... Qxe5 32 f4 wins as the bishop on

e2 is defended now.

Qe3 32.f4 Rf5 33.Rxd6

Black's position is wrecked.

Rc7 34.Bg4 Rf7 35.Rd4!

Closing the door on Black's queen.

h5 36.Re1 Qf2 37.Re2

Wins the queen, but stronger was 37 Bf3! and the game is over after 37

... Bc6 38 Bxc6 Rxc6 39 Re2.

hxg4 38.Rxf2 gxf2 39.g3 g5!!

A brilliant shot. Now if 40 hxg5 Bc6!! and then 41 Qf1 Rh7, or 41 Rd2

Rfd7! winning for Black!

40.Qf1 gxh4 41.Qxf2 h3

Hodgson has forged a different, and protected, passed pawn.

42.f5

To get some central play. 42 Qe2 Rg7 does not get anywhere.

Rxf5 43.Rf4 Rc4 44.Rxf5+ exf5 45.Qb6

Rowson hopes that his roaming queen can do some damage, but one eye

must always be kept on the pawn on h3. Meanwhile, Hodgson sets up a defensive

wall along the third rank.

Rc6 46.Qd8+ Be8 47.Qg5 Bg6

Not 47 ... h2? 48 Qh4. Black needs to try to create a bridge for his

rook to get to h6.

48.b3 Re6 49.Qh6+ Kg8 50.Kb2 Bf7 51.Qg5+ Bg6 52.Qh6 Bf7 53.Qg5+ Bg6 54.Qh6

½-½

Shirov - Kasparov

Linares, 1997

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4

Lately, Kasparov has made this his standard weapon against 6 Be3 in

the Najdorf. Alternatives are 6 ... e5 after which the modern 7 Nf3

(rather than 7 Nb3) has been giving White good results, and 6 ... e6,

after which White can choose between the Classical Scheveningen with 7

Be2, the "English Attack" with 7 f3, intending a later g2-g4, the wild

7 g4 trying to transpose to a Keres Attack but allowing 7 ... e5 8 Nf5

g6 9 g5 gxf5, when White's best is the piece sacrifice 10 exf5!, and

the system 7 f4 Nc6 8 Qf3.

7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3

9 Be2 does not cause an interruption of Black's plans because of

the reply 9 ... Bg7 and then if 10 Bxg4 Bxg4. Instead, White would

transpose back to the game variation with 10 Bg3 h5. Note, however,

that 9 Be2 does tempt Black into 9 ... Ne3?! but then 10 fxe3 gxh4 11

Bh5 leads to severe pressure against f7. Another strange 9th move for

White is 9 Nf5?!, a dubious piece sacrifice tried in Nunn - Sadler,

Hastings 1992. Black played 9 ... e6! 10 Qxg4 exf5 11 exf5 gxh4, and

Nunn was able to scramble back to equality with 12 Qd4 Rg8 13 Ne4 Be7

14 f6 Qa5+ 15 b4 Qe5 16 Qxe5 dxe5 17 fxe7.

Bg7 10.Be2

A major alternative here is 10 Qd2 Nc6 11 Nb3 preparing to castle

long. Then Xie Jun - Ioseliani, Monaco 1993 continued with the sharp

11 ... f5 12 exf5 Bxf5 and Black was doing well after 13 Bd3 Qd7 14

O-O O-O 15 Nd5 Bd3 16 Qd3 Qf5; 13 Bc4 would not have worked after 13

... Nge5 14 Bd5 e6, but White should have considered 13 h3 Nge5 14 f4

gxf4 15 Bxf4 raising questions as to where Black's king will be

living. The more common line 11 ... Be6 (instead of 11 ... f5) was

seen in one of the stem games in this line, Shirov - Oll, Wijk aan Zee

1993. Play continued 12 h4 gxh4 [12 ... Rg8 13 hxg5 hxg5 14 f3 Nge5 15

Bf2 is good for White] 13 Bxh4 Rc8 and now Shirov chose to castle into

in with 14 O-O-O Nb4 15 Kb1, although the cautious 14 f3 Nge5 15 Bf2

Bc4 16 Be2! also seemed good for White in Am. Rodriguez - Leitao,

Merida 1993.

h5 11.Bxg4

The new positional way of playing this variation. 11 h4 has not had

good results here. For exmple, after 11 ... Nc6 12 Nf3 (12 Nxc6 bxc6

13 hxg5 Rb8 is too much trouble on the long diagonal) gxh4 13 Bxh4, in

Lanka - Oll, Vilnius 1993, Black played the enterprising 13 ... Qa5 14

O-O Bxc3 15 bxc3 Qxc3 16 Rb1 Rg8! 17 Rb3 Qg7 18 g3 Rh8!! (18 ... Nge5

19 Nxe5 Nxe5 20 Bh5 Ng6 21 Bg5! and if 21 ... f6, then 22 f4) 19 Qd2

Nge5 20 Rd1 f6, obtaining the advantage. And in J. Polgar -

Polugaevsky, Hastings 1992, after 11 h4 Nc6 12 Nb3, Black again

obtained active play after 12 ... gxh4 13 Bxh4 Be6 14 Qd2 Qb6 15 Nd5

Bxd5 16 exd5 Nce5. Finally, a disastrous idea was 11 h3? in Shirov -

Sadler, Oviedo 1992, as White's position was miserable after 11 ... h4

12 hxg4 hxg3 13 Rxh8+ Bxh8 14 fxg3 Nc6.

Bxg4 12.f3 Bd7 13.0-0

Anand had White in this position twice against Kasparov in the 1996

PCA quickplay tournament in Geneva. The games continued 13 Bf2 Nc6 14

Qd2 (in Smirin - Kasparov, Yerevan Ol. 1996, the extravagant 14.Nd5

was tried, but White was easily pushed back with Rb8 15.0-0 e6 16.Nxc6

bxc6 17.Ne3 d5 18.Rb1 0-0 19.c4 d4 20.Nc2 e5 21.Ne1 f5 and Kasparov

converted his crushing space advantage with no problems) Ne5 15.0-0

(not 15 Qxg5?? Bh6 16 Qh4 Ng6 winning the queen after 17 Qg3 Bf4 or 17

Qxh5 Bd2+).

In the first game Kasparov tried 15 ... e6 and mounted a huge

light-squared pawn chain after 16.b3 Ng6 17.Rad1 g4 18.f4 h4 19.Nde2

h3 20.g3 Rc8 21.e5 d5 22.Nd4 0-0 23.Qd3 f5! 24.Nce2 Rf7. Anand

comments that he thought he was better during the game, but his plan

to open the position is faulty. After 25.Rc1 Bf8 26.c3 Ne7 27.Rfd1 Nc6

28.c4? dxc4 29.Rxc4 Qe8 30.Qd2 b5 31.Rcc1 Nb4 32.Nc3 Rc7 33.a3 Qa8

Black assumed the initiative. The second time in the four-game

quickplay match that this position was reached, Kasparov chose 15 ...

g4! 16.f4 Nc4 17.Qe2 Rc8! 18.b3 Na3 19.Nd5 e6 20.Nb4 Qa5 21.Qe1 h4!

Here, Anand says, "A very nice demonstration of power play - Black

could probably already try to win something on the kingside, but tries

to squeeze the maximum out of the position." 22.Be3 h3 23.g3 Nb5

24.Rd1 Nc3 25.Nd3 Qc7 26.Rc1 Nxe4. Black now has a winning position.

Anand plugged on with 27.f5 e5 28.f6 Nxf6 29.Nf5 Bxf5 30.Rxf5 Qc6

31.Qe2 Qe4 32.Rf2 Nd5 33.Re1, and Garry fell into the trap with

33...Qxe3?? 34.Qxg4! and suddenly everything has fallen apart! 33 ...

Nxe3 would have ended the game in Black's favor. But now Black is on

the ropes, and lost after 34...0-0 35.Rxe3 Nxe3 36.Qxh3 Nxc2 37.Qd7

Nd4 38.Qxb7 a5 39.Kg2 Rc3 40.Nb2 Nc2 41.Nc4 d5 42.Nd6 Ne3+ 43.Kh3 f5

44.Qd7 f4 45.Qe6+ Kh7 46.Nf7 Rxf7 47.Qxf7 Rc6 48.gxf4 Rf6 49.Qc7 e4

50.f5 d4 51.Qe7 Rh6+ 52.Kg3 Nd1 53.Rf4 e3 54.Rg4 1-0.

Nc6 14.Bf2

Shirov has reached the same position as Anand, except that he has

castled instead of placing the queen on d2. This appears to be the

germ of a good idea, as now 14 ... Ne5 might be met by 15 Nf5 as Black

will not have the later ... Ne5-c4 with tempo.

e6 15.Nce2

I am not convinced of the effectiveness of this central huddling of

the minor pieces, although the idea is laudable - to blunt any

potential Black counterplay. I would suggest, for the next person who

dares to get this position against Kasparov, the move 15 a4!, looking

to build some queenside activity with the idea a4-a5 and Nc3-a4.

Ne5 16.b3 g4! 17.f4 h4!

Establishing exactly the menacing pawn duo which Shirov has been

laboring to prevent! Now Shirov refrains from 17 fxe5 as Black keeps

material parity after 17 ... dxe5 while gaining more scope for his two

bishops.

18.Be3

This move is designed to avoid the forced line-opening which would

otherwise ensue after the sweeping move 18 ... g3! Now that can be

answered by 19 h3, which would both keep the h-file closed and deny

the Black knight the use of the square g4.

h3

Just as in the games against Anand, Kasparov applies the

light-square hammerlock, confident that any opening of the position in

the center or the queenside will ultimately favor him because White's

king will not have a hiding space.

19.g3 Nc6 20.Qd3

Shirov resumes his central buildup, hoping to make an issue out of

the weakness of the pawn on d6.

0-0 21.Rad1 f5!

Fixing White's e-pawn as a target, as 22 exf5 exf5 leaves White's

minor pieces in a tangle on the newly opened e-file. And 22 Nxc6 Bxc6

23 Qxd6 Qxd6 24 Rxd6 Bxe4 lets Black's bishops buzz all over the

place.

22.c4

Shirov plays for a grip on d5, as well as eliminating the pawn on

c2 as a potential target.

Qa5 23.Nc3 Rae8 24.Rfe1 e5!

A picture of demolition. White's knight on c3 is the target in such

lines as 25 Nxc6 Bxc6 26 exf5?! exf4.

25.Nxc6 Bxc6 26.b4 Qa3!

Not giving White time to refresh after 26 ... Qxb4 27 Nd5, after

which White would be able to concentrate on the central meltdown.

27.b5

Unfortunately, both 27 Rb1 and 27 Rc1 are impossible because of 27

... Bxe4, and both 27 fxe5 fxe4 and 27 exf5 exf4 are dismal.

exf4 28.Bxf4 axb5 29.cxb5 Qc5+ 30.Be3 Qxc3 31.bxc6 Qxc6

Black is a pawn up with terrible pressure on the king-file.

Meanwhile, White has to scramble to exchange queens due to the

possibility of mating threats.

32.Qxd6 Qxe4 33.Qd5+ Qxd5 34.Rxd5 Bc3 35.Re2 Re4 36.Kf2 Rfe8 37.Rd3

Bf6 38.Red2 Rxe3

0 - 1

This issue includes segments on these variations:

Fianchetto (by White)

Classical with 7 ... Na6!?

Classical Main Line 9 Nd2

5 Bd3 Variation

LeSeige - Sokolin, Marshall-Manhattan International Title Challenge

1996

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 d6 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.e4

a6

[This move is a close cousin of 8 ... exd4 9 Nxd4 Re8, with which

it often transposes.]

9.h3

[A reasonable idea of Ribli's is to shut down the immediate

counterplay with 9 d5. Then Black's best is the thematic 9 ... Kh8

followed by Nf6-g8. This leads to a more flexible placing of the

knights then 9 ... Ne8; in any case Black would rather have his king

on h8 when ... f7-f5 is met by Nf3-g5. On the other hand, nothing is

achieved with the stubborn 9 ... Rb8 10 Ne1! (not 10 a4 a5 gaining the

c5 square) b5 11 cxb5 axb5 12 a3 with the upper hand on the queenside.

A less well-motivated concept is 9 Rb1!? Then Chiburdanicze - Zsu.

Polgar, St. Petersburg 1995 m/6 continued 9 ... b5 10 cxb5 axb5 11 b4

Bb7 with no problems. Polgar wrested the initiative even more quickly

in the fourth game of the match, where Chiburdanidze tried 9 Re1 exd4

10 Nxd4 Ng4! 11 Rf1 (wild is 11 h3 Qf6 12 Nf5 Nxf2 13 Kxf2 Nb6!,

Obuhov - Pugacev, USSR 1990) Nge5 12 b3 Nc5 13 h3 b5!]

exd4 10.Nxd4 Re8 11.Be3

[In Nikolic - Van Wely, Wijk zzn Zee, 1993, White played for

consolidation rather than development with 11 Rb1 Rb8

12 Re1 h6 (planning the strange maneuver ... Nd7-c5-e6-g5!?) 13 Be3 c5

14 Nf3! holding Black's knight at bay. In this line, a more active try

for Black was Ne5 13.b3 c5 14.Nc2 b5?! 15.cxb5! [15.f4 Ned7 16.cxb5

Nh5 17.Re3 axb5 18.Qxd6 g5 is unclear) 15...axb5 16.f4 Ned7 17.Qxd6

Nh5, but White stood better after 18.Qd3! in Timoshenko - Golubev,

Alusta 1994. Not so effective for White was 11 Nb3 Ne5 12.Qe2 Be6

13.Nd2 Nfd7 14.f4 Nc6 in Zsu. Polgar - Chiburdanidze, Shanghai 1992,

the stem game in these two players' discussion of this line.]

Ne5 12.b3 c5 13.Nde2!

[It is difficult to choose between this and 13 Nc2 which avoids the

jumble on the e-file and lends tactical support to the bishop on e3

rather than the knight on c3, but leaves the c2 knight without any

active prospects. Both alternatives put the onus on Black to justify

the early arrival of his knight on e5. One possibility is 13 Nc2 Rb8

14 f4 Nc6 15 Qd2 Nh5 16 Kh2 b5 17 cxb5 axb5 18 Rad1 with an unclear

position.]

Rb8 14.f4 Nc6 15.Qd2 Qe7!

[Just in time. Black cannot play 15 ... b5? because of 16 e5, and

it would be awkward to try to arrange this. Sokolin finds a different

source of counterplay.]

16.g4

[On the direct 16.Rad1, 16 ... Bf5! 17.exf5 Qxe3+ 18.Qxe3 Rxe3

19.fxg6 hxg6 20.Kf2 (or 20.Rxd6 Nh5) 20...Rbe8 is good for Black. A

good way to head off these problems was the modernistic 16 Bf2! Then

things could open up after 16 ... Na5! (the most convenient way to

enable ... b7-b5) 17 Rad1 b5 18 cxb5 axb5 19 Qxd6 Qxd6 20 Rxd6 b4.

Instead, Leseige selects a multi-purpose move which stops 16 ... Bf5

and prepares to strengthen e4 with 17 Ng3.]

16...h5?! 17.gxh5?

[Trusting Black to recapture 17 ... Nxh5 18 Rad1 with a good game.

Better was 17.g5! Then 17 ... Nxe4? is no good because of 18.Nxe4!

(not 18 Bxe4 Bf5 19.Bxf5 Qxe3+ 20.Qxe3 Rxe3 21.Kf2 Rxc3) Bf5 19.N2g3

h4 20.Nxf5 gxf5 21.Rae1! fxe4 22.f5 with a very strong attack. Black

would be reduced to 17 ... Nh7 18 Rad1 and White is much better. This

shows that Sokolin's 17th move was overambitious. It was necessary at

all costs to get ... b5 in; therefore, 17 ... Na5 was indicated. In

reply 18 g5 Nh5 19 Nd5 Qd8 would be inconclusive.]

17...Bxh3!!

[Aside from its tactical justification, the opening of the king

file and the long diagonal must be worth the price.]

18.Bxh3 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Qxe4 20.Kf2 Nb4!

[Black is not interested in rook-and-pawn vs. 2-minor-pieces

variation with 20 ... Bxa1. The text carries with it two very mean

points: if 21 Rad1 Nc2 wins, and if 21 Ng3 Nd3+ 22 Ke2 Nxf4+ 23 Rxf4

Qxf4 is crushing.]

21.Nc3 Nd3+ 22.Ke2 Bxc3 23.Qxd3 Bd4

[Winning neatly.]

24.Rf3

[Amazingly, there is no way to give back only a bishop. If 24 Qxe4

Rxe4 25 Bg4, then 25 ... Bxa1! 26 Rxa1 Rbe8 ends matters.]

Bxa1 25.Qxe4 Rxe4 26.Kd3 Rbe8 27.Rg3 Bd4 28.Bd2 Bf2 29.Rf3

[White lost on time here. Black is winning very easily after 29 ...

Rd4+ 30 Kc3 (30 Kc2 Re2 31 Rd3 Be3) Re2 31 Rd3 gxh5]

0 - 1

Dlugy - Rohde, ICC GM Knockout, October, 1996

1.d4 d6 2.Nf3

Max and I have had many games in the line 2 c4 e5 3 Nf3 e4 4 Ng5

f5. Then after 5 Nc3 Black should play 5 ... c6 6 g3 Na6! heading for

c7. By playing 2 Nf3 all this is avoided, and yet Max is now unable to

play his favorite Saemisch or Four Pawns Attack lines against the

King's Indian.

Nf6 3.c4 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 0-0 6.Be2 Na6

An idea which has gained a lot of credence as of late. The usual

move is 6 ... e5.

7.0-0 e5 8.dxe5

This is not accurate here. A better reaction was 8 Be3 or 8 Re1.

The exchange does not accomplish anything, and Black is left with the

better central formation, as White's pawn on c4 is left without a real

purpose for being there.

dxe5 9.Qxd8 Rxd8 10.Bg5

A consistent followup to 8 dxe5 would have been 10 Nxe5, but after

10 ... Nc5, Black is at least equal after 11 f3 Nfxe4.

h6

This is possible because the a6 knight defends c7 in variations

such as 11 Bxf6 Bxf6 12 Nd5.

11.Bh4 Re8 12.Nd2 c6 13.Rfd1 Nh7

Black has a slight advantage due to White's dark-square weaknesses

in the center.

14.Na4 Bf8 15.Rac1 Ng5 16.c5 Ne6 17.Nb3 Nf4 18.Bxa6 bxa6

Now Black's 2 bishops are very strong.

19.Rd2 f5 20.f3 fxe4 21.fxe4 Bg4 22.Rcc2 g5 23.Bf2 Rad8 24.Na5 Bd1

Decisively winning material, although my technique for the rest of

the game leaves an awful lot to be desired.

25.Nxc6 Rxd2 26.Rxd2 Bxa4 27.Nxa7 Re6 28.Be3 Kf7 29.b3 Bc6 30.Nxc6

Rxc6 31.b4 Ne6 32.Rd5 Kf6 33.Kf2 Be7 34.g3 Nc7 35.Rd3 a5 36.a3 Ke6

37.Rb3 axb4 38.axb4 Nb5 39.Ke2 Ra6 40.Kd3 Kd7 41.Kc4 Kc6 42.Bc1 Ra1

43.Bb2 Re1 44.Kd3 Bf6 45.Kd2 Rxe4 46.Rf3 Be7 47.Rf7 Kd7 48.c6+ Ke6

49.Rh7 Rxb4 50.Bxe5 Rc4 51.Bb2 Bf8 52.Rh8 Kf7 53.Rh7+ Kg6 54.Rb7 Nd6

55.Rb6 Kf5 56.Kd3 Ke6 57.Rb8 Kf7 58.Rb6 Rc5 59.Bd4 Rb5 60.Ra6 Ne8

61.Ra7+ Ke6 62.Ra8 Kf7 63.Ra7+ Be7 64.c7 Nd6 65.Ra6 Rb3+ 66.Kc2 Rb7

67.Rc6 Nc8 68.Rxh6 Rxc7+ 69.Kd3 Rb7 70.Rh7+ Kg6 71.Rg7+ Kf5 72.h4 g4

73.Rf7+ Ke6 74.Rf4 Rb3+ 75.Bc3 Nd6 76.Kc2 Rb8 77.Rxg4 Kd5 78.Bb4 Nc4

79.Rxc4 Bxb4 80.Rg4 Bc5 81.Kd3 Rb3+ 82.Ke2 Bd6 83.Kf2 Be5 84.Kg2 Ke6

85.Rg5 Kd5 86.Rg4 Rb1 87.Rg5 Ke4 88.Rg4+ Ke3 89.h5 Rb8 90.Ra4 Bd6

91.Kh3 Rg8 92.g4 Kf3 93.Ra1 Bc5 94.Rf1+ Bf2

0 - 1

Here are some theoretical games to study:

At the San Francisco Pan-Pacific International 1995, Walter Browne

used the Classical system against both John Nunn and Xie Jun. Note

that on Black's 10th move, Nunn played 10 ... Bd7, while Xie Jun got

in the break ... f7-f5 quicker by playing 10 ... Nd7, but her minor

pieces were passively placed, and Browne was able to establish the

initiative.

Browne - Nunn

San Francisco (Pan Pacific), 1995

King's Indian: Classical

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5

Ne7 9.Nd2 a5 10.a3 Bd7 11.b3 Ne8 12.Rb1 f5 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 Nf6

15.c5 fxe4 16.Ndxe4 Nf5 17.Bg5 h6 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Bd3 Bg5 20.Nxg5 Qxg5

21.Ne4 Qh4 22.cxd6 cxd6 23.Rc1 Ra3 24.Rc7 Bb5 25.g3 Qd8 26.Rc3 Rxc3

27.Nxc3 Bd7 28.Be4 Nd4 29.Qd3 Qb6 30.Kg2 Kg7 31.h4 Bc8 32.Ne2 Nxe2

33.Qxe2 Qxb4 34.h5 gxh5 35.Rc1 Bf5 36.Rc7+ Kg6 37.Bxf5+ Rxf5 38.Rd7

Qc5 39.Qd2 e4 40.Re7 Qxd5 41.Qxd5 Rxd5 42.Rxb7 Rd2 43.Kf1 d5 44.Rb6+

Kg5 45.Ke1 Rd3 46.Rd6 h4 47.gxh4+ Kxh4 48.Rxh6+ Kg5 49.Re6 Kf4 50.Ke2

Ra3 51.Re8 Ra2+ 52.Ke1 d4 53.Re7 Ra1+ 54.Kd2 d3 55.Rf7+ Kg4 56.Rf8

Ra2+ 57.Ke1 Ra5 58.Rg8+ Kf4 59.Rf8+ 0-1

Browne - Xie

San Francisco (Pan Pacific), 1995

King's Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5

Ne7 9.Nd2 a5 10.a3 Nd7 11.Rb1 f5 12.b4 Kh8 13.f3 Ng8 14.Qc2 Nh6 15.c5

dxc5 16.bxc5 Nxc5 17.Nb5 Na6 18.Nc4 Nf7 19.Be3 Nd6 20.Nbxd6 cxd6

21.Rb6 fxe4 22.fxe4 Rxf1+ 23.Bxf1 Bf8 24.Qf2 Kg8 25.Nxa5 Nc5 26.Bxc5

Rxa5 27.Bb4 Ra8 28.Bb5 Be7 29.a4 Qc7 30.a5 Bg4 31.Qd2 Rf8 32.Qc3 Qd8

33.h3 Bc8 34.Kh2 Rf2 35.Bxd6 Bxd6 36.Rxd6 Qxd6 37.Qxc8+ Rf8 38.Qe6+

Qxe6 39.dxe6 Ra8 40.e7 Kf7 41.e8Q+ Rxe8 42.Bxe8+ Kxe8 43.Kg3 Kd7

44.Kg4 h6 45.h4 Ke6 46.h5 g5 47.g3 Kf6 48.Kf3 Ke7 49.Kg4 Ke6 50.Kf3

Kd6 51.Kg4 Ke6 Draw

Larry Christiansen played the 5 Bd3 system against both Nunn and Xie

Jun. Note that Nunn played 7 ... e5, whereas Xie Jun prepared this

with 7 ... Nd7. Against Nunn, Christiansen forced the immediate

exchange of the Black knight which arrived on d4, whereas against Xie

Jun, Christiansen allowed the knight to remain on d4 and tried to play

around it.

Christiansen - Nunn

San Francisco (Pan Pacific), 1995

King's Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nge2 0-0 7.0-0 e5 8.d5

Nd4 9.Bc2 Nxc2 10.Qxc2 Nh5 11.Be3 f5 12.exf5 gxf5 13.f4 Bd7 14.Rae1

exf4 15.Nxf4 Nxf4 16.Bxf4 Qf6 17.Kh1 Rae8 18.Rd1 Rf7 19.Rd3 Kh8 20.Qd2

a6 21.a4 b6 22.b3 Qh4 23.Ne2 Qg4 24.Rdf3 Rfe7 25.Ng3 Qg6 26.Bg5 Re5

27.Be3 c5 28.Bf4 R5e7 29.b4 Bxa4 30.bxc5 dxc5 31.Bg5 Re5 32.Nxf5 Re2

33.Qf4 Rf8 34.Nh4 Qh5 35.Qxf8+ Bxf8 36.Rxf8+ Kg7 37.Bh6+ Kxh6 38.R1f6+

Qg6 39.Nxg6 hxg6 40.h4 Re4 41.Rh8+ Kg7 42.Rff8 Rxc4 43.Rfg8+ Kf6

44.Rb8 b5 45.Rb6+ Kg7 46.Rc8 Rxh4+ 47.Kg1 b4 48.Rc7+ Kh6 49.Rxa6 b3

50.Rb6 c4 51.Rb4 Rd4 52.Rcxc4 Rxd5 53.Rc1 Bd7 54.Rxb3 Rd4 55.Rcb1 Bf5

56.R1b2 Kg5 57.Rb4 Rd3 58.Kf2 Rd1 59.Rb5 Rc1 60.R2b3 Rc4 eventually

drawn.

Christiansen - Xie Jun

San Francisco (Pan Pacific), 1995

King's Indian Defense

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.d4 Bg7 5.Bd3 0-0 6.Nge2 Nc6 7.0-0 Nd7

8.Be3 e5 9.d5 Nd4 10.Kh1 c5 11.Qd2 a6 12.Rab1 b5 13.cxb5 axb5 14.Nxb5

Nxb5 15.Bxb5 Rxa2 16.Nc3 Ra8 17.b4 cxb4 18.Rxb4 f5 19.f3 Nf6 20.Bc6

Ra6 21.exf5 gxf5 22.Bg5 Qe7 23.Rb8 Qa7 24.Rbb1 f4 25.Nb5 Qe7 26.Rfe1

Bf5 27.Rbc1 h6 28.Bxf4 Kh7 29.Nd4 Bg6 30.Ne6 Rb8 31.Be3 Ra3 32.Nxg7

Qxg7 33.Ra1 Rd3 34.Qf2 Rf8 35.Ra7 Rf7 36.Rxf7 Bxf7 37.Bb5 Rxd5 38.Bc4

Ra5 39.Qd2 Ra8 40.Bxf7 Qxf7 41.Qxd6 Re8 42.Bd2 Re6 43.Qd3+ Qg6 44.Qc4

Re7 45.Qh4 Rg7 46.Qf2 Rf7 47.Qe2 e4 48.Rf1 Rd7 49.Bc3 exf3 50.Qxf3 Ne4

51.Ba1 Rd2 52.Re1 Rd7 53.Qf8 Qe6 54.Rf1 Ra7 55.Bd4 Rd7 56.Qh8+ Kg6

57.Kg1 Kh5 58.Re1 Re7 59.h3 Kg6 60.Qf8 Qf7 61.Qc8 Qd5 62.Qa6+ Kh7

63.Qd3 Qf5 64.Rf1 Qg6 65.Rf8 Re8 66.Rf4 Ng5 67.Qb3 Re1+ 68.Kf2 Rb1

69.Qc4 Nxh3+ 70.gxh3 Qg1+ 71.Kf3 Rf1+ 72.Ke2 Re1+ 73.Kd2 Rd1+ 74.Ke2

Re1+ 75.Kd3 Rd1+ 76.Ke2 Draw

two professional games in the English Opening -

Yusupov-Lautier and Gulko-Korchnoi from Credit Suisse 1995.

[Event "CS Masters"]

[Site "Horgen SUI"]

[Date "1995.10.21"]

[Round "1"]

[White "Yusupov, A"]

[Black "Lautier, J"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[WhiteElo "2660"]

[BlackElo "2655"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Nc3 Nc7 7. b3

[The normal recipe here is 7 d3 e5 8 O-O Be7 9 Nd2 Bd7 10 Nc4

giving Black a choice between the pawn sacrifice 10 ... O-O 11 Bxc6

Bxc6 12 Nxe5 Be8, or 10 ... f6 11 f4 with central play for White. Many

have found these lines unappetizing for White; the choice method of

avoiding them is by delaying Ng1-f3 - if the knights at f3 and c6 were

now on their home squares, White would have the moves 6 Qb3 and 6 Qa4+

to steer play off the beaten track. However, Yusupov always has fresh

opening ideas.]

e5 8. Ba3 Be7 9. O-O Bg4?! 10. Ne1!

[Now White's play is quite forcing; Black would have been better

off with the less ambitious 9 ... O-O with nothing to fear after 10

Na4 b6 or 10 Ne1 Bd7.]

Qd7 11. Nd3 Qxd3

[Forced. Not 11 ... c4?? 12 Bxc6 followed by 13 Nxe5, winning.]

12. exd3 Bxd1 13. Rfxd1 O-O-O 14. Rac1

[On the immediate 14 Na4 Black has 14 ... Nb4!

Rxd3 15. Na4

[Because of the unopposed light-squared bishop and the c-file

pressure, Lautier is on very thin ice. He must hope that Yusupov's

initiative will dissipate in the process of recovering the pawn.]

Rhd8

[A tough choice between this and 15 ... Ne6 16 Nxc5 (Black holds on

16 Bxc5 Nxc5 17 Nxc5 Rd6!) Bxc5! 17 Bxc5 Kb8 with a passive defensive

setup.]

16. Bxc5 Bxc5 17. Nxc5 Rxd2

[Now 17 ... Rd6 is quite uncomfortable after 18 Ne4 Rh6 19 Ng5.]

18. Bh3+

[White does not achieve enough with 18 Rxd2 Rxd2 19 Nxb7 Nd4!]

Ne6 19. Re1 Kb8 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Na6+

[Not 21 Nxe6 R8d6! 22 Nxg7? Rf6 and Black is extremely active.]

Ka8 22. Nc7+ Kb8 23. Na6+ Kc8 24. Nb4

[It is a draw any way you slice it.]

R8d6 25. a4 Rb2 26. Rc3 Rdd2 27. Nxc6 bxc6 28. Rxe5 Rxf2 29. Rxc6+ Kd7

30. Rcxe6 Rg2+ 31. Kf1 Rxh2 32. Re7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "CS Masters"]

[Site "Horgen SUI"]

[Date "1995.10.21"]

[Round "1"]

[White "Gulko, B"]

[Black "Korchnoi, V"]

[Result "1-0"]

[WhiteElo "2595"]

[BlackElo "2635"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Re8

[The immediate 6 ... e4 is the main line. Then White can try 7 Ng5

Bxc3 8 bxc3 Re8 9 f3 or 9 d3, or the much quieter 7 Ne1 with visions

of Ne1-c2-e3.]

7. d3 Bxc3 8. bxc3 e4

[Else White will play 9 e4 and Nf3-h4, and the e8 rook will be

misplaced.]

9. Nd4

[Christiansen - Kaidanov, US Champ. 1994 featured 9 Ng5 exd3 10

exd3 b6!? 11 Bd5!? with a quick crisis.]

d6 10. Bg5

[This forces liquidation of the strongpoint at e4 - Black cannot

try 10 ... Nxd4 11 cxd4 Bf5 12 dxe4 Bxe4 13 f3.]

exd3 11. exd3 Nxd4 12. cxd4 h6 13. Be3 Bg4 14.

Qb3 Rb8 15. h3 Bf5 16. Rae1 b5??

[Korchnoi intended the idea 16 ... Qd7 17 Kh2 b5 with a perfectly

fine position, but he decided to "refine" it with 16 ... b5 first,

figuring the queen did not need to be on d7 in certain variations ...]

17. cxb5 Bd7

[A sad admission. Now it becomes clear that on 17 ... Qd7 18 g4!

Rxb5? 19 Qc2 and the threat of 20 Bc6 wins. Therefore, Black goes

about recovering the pawn, but White will gain a tremendous positional

advantage. Also possible was 17 ... a6, although White is still much

better after 18 a4 axb5 19 a5!]

18. a4 a6 19. d5 axb5 20. a5

[Now the bishops rake the board, and the a-pawn is very hard to

deal with.]

Qc8 21. Kh2 Qa6 22. Ra1 b4 23. Rfc1 Rec8 24. Rc4!

[A combination allowing Black to win the exchange, but White gets

more passers.]

c5

[Not good at all was 24 ... Qb5 25 a6.]

25. dxc6 Be6 26. Bb6 Bxc4 27. dxc4 Rxb6 28. axb6 Qxb6 29. Qe3!

[Pushing the Black queen out of the way makes it easy for White to

snag the b-pawn.]

Qxe3 30. fxe3 Rb8??

[A blunder but the ending was lost.]

31. c7 1-0

The King's Indian Defence arises after 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7

Now White has a tremendous number of choices. The most important are the

following:

4 e4 d6 5 Nf3 (the Classical)

4 e4 d6 5 f4 (the Four Pawns Attack)

4 e4 d6 5 f3 (the Saemisch)

4 e4 d6 5 Be2 O-O 6 Bg5 (the Averbach)

4 g3 (the Fianchetto)

A great feature of the King's Indian is that Black can play the above

moves in response to almost any move order, such as 1 Nf3, 1 c4, 1 d4

followed by 2 Nf3, etc., that White chooses, other than 1 e4. Thus,

the King's Indian Defence forms a complete repertoire against all

queenside-type openings by White.

*****************************************

In this issue, we cover these variations:

Averbach

Four Pawns Attack

Saemisch

5 Bd3 system

Classical

(1) Averbach System

Ivanov, Se. - Groszpeter, Budapest 1996

ECO code E73

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Bg5

The Averbach Variation.

Na6

A popular and comfortable reply for Black, although White can declare

attacking intentions on the next move (see the next note). Not 6 ... e5?

7 dxe5 dxe5 8 Qxd8 Rxd8 9 Nd5. The main line is 6 ... c5 as in Forintos

- Schneider below, and another alternative is 6 ... h6.

7.Qd2

7 Nf3 does not go with the Averbach so well here because Black will

play 7 ... h6, and then 8 Be3 Ng4, or 8 Bf4 Nh5 are fine for Black,

while 8 Bh4 could leave the bishop out of play after 8 ... Qe8!

intending 9 ... e5. A very interesting 7th move alternative for White,

however, is the stark 7 h4 as in Bareev - J. Polgar, Hastings 1992.

White can also try the wildly aggressive 7 f4 as in Jakovic - Smirin,

Nunich 1992.

e5

Now this is ok as 8 dxe5 dxe5 9 Qxd8 Rxd8 10 Nd5 can be met by 10 ...

Rd6, and White has only suceeded in giving himself a weak central

position.

8.d5 c6

I believe this is Black's best, striving for counterplay on the

queenside. One point about the Averbach is that White's pieces are

poised to support an advance of the kingside pawns against Black's

castled king, while White's king remains uncommitted in the center. 8

... Qe8 9 O-O-O [why not? Black can not play ... c7-c6 now, as his

d-pawn would be undefended] Nh5?! 10 Bxh5, did not work out very well in

Se. Ivanov - Kovalev, Minsk 1995.

9.f3

This move prevents the activation of the knight on a6, as now ...

Na6-c5 will meet the immediate b2-b4.

cxd5 10.cxd5

It is almost always better for White to recapture this way. Taking

with the e-pawn unnecessarily gives Black a spearhead in the center with

his unobstructed e5 pawn; capturing with the c3 knight will lead to

trades that will relieve Black's relatively cramped position.

Bd7 11.h4 Qb6 12.g4 h5 13.Be3 Nc5 14.g5 Nh7

The results of the kingside skirmish are that White has relinquished

hopes for an attack, yet he has gained some space and pushed the f6

knight back; Black, however, can fight back with ... f7-f6 at the right

moment, gaining f-file counterplay. Meanwhile, Black has sufficient

queenside activity to ensure a dynamic equality. The game continued:

15.Nh3 a5 16.Rc1 Rac8 17.b3 Qb4 18.Nf2 f6 19.Nb1 fxg5 20.hxg5 Na6

21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Nd3 Qxd2+ 23.Kxd2 Nb4 24.Nc3 Bf8 25.Nb2 Be7 26.Nc4 Nxg5

27.Rg1 Nf7 28.Nb6 Rd8 29.Nxd7 Rxd7 30.Rxg6+ Kh7 31.Rg1 Rd8 32.f4 exf4

33.Bxf4 Rg8 34.Rxg8 Kxg8 35.Bxh5 and White later won a long struggle.

Perk - Uhlmann, Bad Liebenzell (World Senior Ch) 1996 ECO code E73

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Bg5 Na6 7.Qd2 Qe8!

An accurate move by the great King's Indian exponent Uhlmann, in

contrast to 8 ... e5 in the above game. Now if White plays 9 O-O-O,

then Black has reserved the option of 9 ... c5 10 d5 Nc7, with quick

play brewing on the queenside.

8.Bh6

This may be a case where the trade of bishops is not that great for

White, as it allows Black to accept the dark-square chain without fear

of later obtaining the bad bishop, and meanwhile the cramping effect of

the active White dark-squared bishop disappears. I would have prefered

8 f4, 8 f3 or 8 h4.

e5 9.Bxg7 Kxg7 10.Nf3 Bg4

Consistent emphasis on winning control of the dark squares.

11.d5 Nc5 12.Qe3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 a5 14.h4 h5 15.0-0-0 Rh8

Trying to head off a kingside advance by White. The game is about

even, as Black has more strategical ideas available (control of the

dark squares, meaningful potential counterplay against White's king)

and yet White is operating with a significant edge in space. The game

continued:

16.Rdg1 Qd7 17.Be2 Rh7 18.f3 c6 19.g4 Qe7 20.Rg2 Rah8 21.g5 Nfd7

22.Bd1 Nb6 23.Be2 a4 24.Rf1 Rc8 25.Kb1 Rhh8 26.f4 exf4 27.Qxf4 Nbd7

28.Rgf2 Rhf8 29.dxc6 bxc6 30.Rd1 f6 31.Qxd6 Qxd6 32.Rxd6 fxg5 33.Rxf8

Nxf8 34.hxg5 Nfe6 35.Nxa4 Nxa4 36.Rxe6 Rb8 37.Kc1 Rxb2 38.Bd1 Rxa2

39.Bc2 Nc3 40.Kd2 Nb1+ 41.Kd1 Na3 42.Bd3 Rg2 43.Rxc6 Rxg5 44.Ra6 h4

45.Rxa3 h3 46.e5 h2 47.Be4 Rxe5 48.Bb7 Rc5 49.Rc3 Kf6 50.Rh3

1/2 - 1/2

Forintos - Schneider, Bad Liebenzell, 1996

ECO code E74

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Bg5 c5 7.d5 Na6

The usual follow-up to the 6 ... c5 variation is 7 ... h6 8 Bf4

(also possible is 8 Be3 followed by f2-f3 with a Saemisch type of

setup) e5, offering the pawn sacrifice 9 dxe6 Bxe6 10 Bxd6 Re8 with

decent activity / compensation. Usually White declines the sacrifice,

for example by playing 10 Nf3.

8.Qd2 Nc7

Probably better is the immediate 8 ... e6, heading for a Benoni

type of position.

9.Nf3 a6

Forintos demonstrates that this early move towards queenside

expansion merely results in a prospectless position. I would prefer 9

... e6.

10.a4 Bd7

To be considered was the cautionary 10 ... b6, although it does

seem kind of slow.

11.a5!

This robs Black of the move ... b7-b5, and instead gives him the

opportunity to open the b-file, but without any disturbance of White's

center. The Averbach is a very flexible variation, and White intends

to castle kingside, and Black will not have convincing counterplay.

Rb8 12.0-0 b5 13.axb6 Rxb6 14.Ra2 Qb8 15.e5

A strong breakthrough, showing the problems in Black's disorganized

position.

dxe5 16.Nxe5 Be8 17.Nd3 e6 18.Be3 exd5 19.Bxc5 Rb3 20.Bxf8 Kxf8 21.Nc5

Rb6 22.cxd5 Rd6 23.Nxa6 Nxa6 24.Rxa6

1 - 0

(2) Four Pawns Attack

Ivanov, I - Shaked, US Champ. 1996

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. d5 e6 8.

Be2 exd5 9. exd5

On White's 9th, he can choose 9 cxd5, heading for the Benoni

permutation of the Four Pawns Attack, after which Black has a safe line

in 9 ... Bg4! The sharpest try for White is 9 e5 dxe5 10 fxe5 Ng4 11

cxd5, sacrificing a pawn to open the f-file and get a strong d-pawn.

Bf5

In this pawn formation, it is sound practice to blockade the f4

pawn, to label it as a weakness, and to stop it from advancing

in a line-opening sacrifice.

10. O-O Na6 11. Bd3 Qd7 12. h3 Nb4!

A strong move forcing favorable simplification.

13. Bxf5 Qxf5 14. a3 Nc2 15. Nh4 Qh5 16. Qxc2 Qxh4

Black has attacking chances, but 1-0 in 41.

(3) Saemisch

Gulko - Shaked, US Champ. 1996

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c5

Other moves here are 6 ... e5 (the main line - see the next game), 6

... Nbd7, 6 ... Nc6, and 6 ... c6

7. Nge2

This declines the pawn sacrifice offered by Black, which is

considered to reasonable for Black after 7 dxc5 dxc5 8 Bxc5 Nc6.

Black's compensation is based on White's lack of development, and

relative weakness on the central dark squares.

Nc6 8. d5 Ne5

It will take some work for White to remove this knight from its

temporary outpost, as c4 needs to be defended, and f3-f4 can meet with

the retort ... Ne5-g4.

9. Ng3 e6 10. Be2 exd5 11. cxd5 a6 12. a4 h5

I disagree with chasing the knight off its lousy post. Black would

have nothing to complain about if he continued 12 ... Rb8, with

normal queenside operations in store.

13. O-O Nh7 14. Qd2 h4 15. Nh1f5 16. Nf2 b6 17. exf5 gxf5 18. Nh3

White has the more harmonious position; 1-0 in 52.

Marques - Toth, Sao Paulo (ch-Brazil) 1996 ECO code E87

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 e5 7.d5 Nh5 8.Qd2

Qh4+

A controversial line; the alternative is 8 ... f5, where Black

established a kingside beachhead, although White has many options, and

it is unclear where his king will be living.

9.g3

On 9 Bf2, the theoretical view is that Black can profitably offer

to repeat moves with 9 ... Qf4 10 Be3 Qh4+.

Nxg3

A tactical move leading by force to a queen sacrifice by Black, for

two minor pieces and a pawn. There is another line - 9 ... Qe7, where

Black figures that White's position has not improved by the placing of

the pawn on g3.

10.Qf2 Nxf1 11.Qxh4 Nxe3 12.Ke2

Agreed to be the most efficacious way for White to rid himself of

the multiple threats posed by the knight.

Nxc4 13.Rc1 Bd7

Better is 13 ... Na6, as then 14 Nb5 is ineffective due to 14 ...

Bd7.

14.b3 Na3

The knight is actually offsides here. Better was 14 ... Nb6,

allowing Black to chip away at the White center with a later ...

c7-c6.

15.Nh3 a5 16.Rhg1 Na6 17.Ng5 h5 18.Ne6 fxe6 19.Rxg6 Be8 20.Rg5 Kh7

21.Rcg1 Bh6 22.Qg3 Bf7 23.Rg7+ Kh8 24.Rxf7 Rxf7 25.Qg6 Rh7 26.dxe6 c6

27.e7 Nc7 28.Qxd6 Re8 29.Qxc7 Nc2 30.Qxe5+ Bg7 31.Rxg7

1 - 0

(4) Bd3 System

Loeffler - Armas, Wijk ann Zee Open, 1996 ECO code E90

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 g6 4.e4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.h3

The idea of this is to feign or actually play the restricting

g2-g4; meanwhile White waits to see whether Black will strike back

with ... e7-e5 or ... c7-c5.

Re8

This is a major misplacement of the rook, which may be needed on

the f-file to support a later ... f7-f5.

7.Bd3

Most commonly the "Bd3 system" involves an early Bd3 followed by

Nge2. That would be classified as E70. Here White has already

prevented the pin ... Bc8-g4, and therefore places his bishop on the

more active d3 square.

Nc6 8.Be3 Nd7 9.Be2

Unnecessary. White could have played 9 O-O e5 10 d5 and if 10 ...

Nd4 11 Bxd4 exd4 12 Ne2 is good.

e5 10.d5 Ne7 11.g4 f5

Black is not ready for this here. Better was 11 ... Rf8.

12.Ng5 Nf8 13.gxf5 gxf5 14.Bh5

White has the advantage. The game continued:

Neg6 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Bg4 Nf4 17.Bxf5 Qxg5 18.Qg4 Ng2+ 19.Ke2 Qxg4+

20.hxg4 Nxe3 21.fxe3 and White later won.

Christiansen - Yermolinsky, U.S. Championship 1996

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nge2 e5 7. d5

Nd4

A direct equalizing method. Yermo gets the knight in to d4 before

bothering to castle.

8. Bg5

Seirawan has experimented with 8 Bc2!? here, getting rid of the

knight on d4 posthaste.

h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nxd4 exd4 11. Ne2 h5 12. O-O O-O 13. Qb3 c6

Black has equalized comfortably; 1/2-1/2 in 45 moves.

Christiansen - Shaked, U.S. Championship 1996

1. c4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. d4 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bd3 0-0 6. Nge2 Nbd7 7.

0-0 c5

This is probably best here. 7 ... e5 8 d5 Nc5 9 Bc2 would leave

White with good opportunities to build up a kingside pawn storm

later.

8. d5 Ne5 9. f4 Nxd3 10. Qxd3

In this type of position, Black's two bishops are nullified by his

difficulty in getting some elbow room with ... e6 without allowing

White a quick f4-f5, or pressure on Black's center.

a6 11. a4 b6 12. Be3 Ng4 13. Bd2 e6 14. h3 Nf6 15. dxe6 fxe6 16. Rad1

White has a slight advantage. 1/2-1/2 in 97.

(5) Classical

Shaked - D. Gurevich, U.S. Championship 1996

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6

8. d5 Ne7 9 b4 a5

A much more popular way of meeting the Bayonet Attack is 9 ... Nh5.

10. Ba3 axb4 11. Bxb4 b6 12. a4 Ne8 13. Nb5

Starting to lose his grip on the center. This was motivated by the

realization that 13 a5 would be met by 13 ... c5! However, I would

prefer White for sure on 13 Ne1 f5 14 Nd3 Nf6 15 f3 f4 16 a5.

f5 14. Ng5

It looks like 14 Nd2 was better.

Bh6

With an edge for Black. 0-1 in 32.

Yermolinsky - Dzindzihashvili, U.S. Championship 1996

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 Na6

This move has become very popular, especially as a good branch for Black

away from the long lines of the Classical starting with 6 ... e5 7 O-O Nc6,

if he feels he is up against a real theoretician.

7. Nd2

Executing this maneuver a little early for my tastes.

c5 8. d5 e6 9. O-O Nc7 10. Re1 Re8 11. a4 a6 12. a5 exd5 13. exd5

A good idea: this way of recapturing deadens the position, which is fine

for White, as his development needs to be completed.

Rb8 14. Nf1 1/2-1/2 in 25.

Gulko - Christiansen, U.S. Championship 1996

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 Na6

In the related system 6 ... e5 7 O-O Qe8, a new and impressive treatment

for White is 8 dxe5 dxe5 9 b4!

7. Be3 e5 8. O-O Qe8 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Nd2 b6 11. a4 Rb8 12. a5 c6 13.

axb6 axb6 14. Na4 c5

Careful play has netted Christiansen an even game; 1/2-1/2 in 25.

two important theoretical games between GMs Jan

Timman and Nigel Short.

In the 1920s, the Four Knights was put out of commission by the

Rubinstein Defence, in which Black sacrifices a pawn after 1 e4 e5 2

Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bb5 Nd4 5 Ba4 Bc5 6 Nxe5. The driving engine

behind the return of the Four Knights was the discovery of a bizarre

defensive maneuver by White. The game between Short and Timman

illustrates this critical line.

Short - Timman, Linares 1992 C48 Four Knights Game

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bb5 Nd4

[3 games from the 1991 English Champ. featured the exciting

variation 4 ... Bc5 5 O-O O-O 6 Nxe5 Nxe5 7 d4 Bd6 8 f4! Nc6 9 e5 in

which White re-establishes the fork or double attack in many different

permutations. Nunn - Hodgson continued dramatically 9 ... Be7 10 d5

Nb4 11 exf6 Bxf6 12 a3 Bxc3 13 bxc3 Nxd5! 14 Qxd5 c6 15 Qd3 cxb5 16 f5

f6 (A possible improvement on 16 ... "Re8! 17 f6 d5!" as given in ECO.

Now Nunn should play quietly with 17 Be3 or 17 Qd6, but he tried for a

kingside attack and got blown away.) 17 a4 bxa4 18 Rxa4 d5 19 Rh4 Re8

20 Qd1 Re5 21 Qh5 Qb6+ 22 Kh1 Bxf5 23 Bf4 Qf2! 24 Qd1 Qh4 25 Bxe5 fxe5

26 Rxf5 Qe4. Two Short - Adams playoff games for the championship

instead saw 9 ... a6 10 Be2. In both cases Adams had a difficult

position, first with 10 ... Bb4 11 d5 Bc5+ 11 Kh1 Nd5 12 Nd5 d6 13

Bd3 de 14 fe Ne5 15 Bh7+ Kh7 16 Qh5+, and then with 10 ... Be7 11 d5

Nd5 12 Nd5 d6 13 Ne7+ Qe7 14 ed cd 15 f5 f6 16 Bc4+]

5 Ba4 Bc5

[Short - Beliavsky from Linares proceeded calmly 5 ... Nf3+ 6 Qf3

(ECO recommends the surprising 6 gxf3! planning f4. After the text

White's pieces are actually not well placed to grab the initiative.)

Bc5 7 d3 c6 8 Bb3 d6 9 O-O h6 10 Be3 Bb6 11 h3 O-O 12 Rfd1 Be3 13 Qe3

b5 and Black stood well, 0 - 1 in 58.]

6 Nxe5 O-O 7 Nd3 Bb6 8 e5 Ne8

[A well-known position. White is a pawn up but his knight on d3,

which went there to gain time by attacking the Black bishop, is

miserably placed.]

9 Nd5!? d6 10 Ne3!!

[The critical move. 9 Nd5 had historically been considered a

mistake because of 10 c3 Qh4! which is good for Black after 11 Ne3 Qe4

12 Nb4 dxe5 13 cxd4 exd4. But with 10 Ne3!! White completes a strategy

which posts the knights on very unusual squares. White hopes to hold

the extra pawn, have his knight on d3 reposition itself through e5,

and use his knight on e3 as a defensive bulwark. In the important game

Nunn - Christiansen, Bundesliga 1991 Christiansen selected 10 ... Qh4

11 O-O Be6 but Nunn forced favorable exchanges with 12 c3 Ne2+ 13 Kh1

Bxe3 14 dxe3 Nxc1 15 Rxc1 Rd8 16 Bb3! dxe5 17 Bxe6 fxe6 18 Qc2, giving

back the pawn for a positional superiority which he managed to convert

later into a win. Two Short-Speelman games from their Candidates Match

featured 10 ... c6, which attempts to put enough pressure, through ...

Bc7, to force White to make the exchange exd6. The downside to this

plan is that Black voluntarily withdraws his Bb6 from its important

diagonal and that White will play f2-f4 to shore up e5, hoping to

retake there with his Nd3, getting the steed off that horrible square.

First Short tried 11 O-O Bc7 12 c3 Ne6! 13 f4 dxe5 14 Nxe5 Nxf4 with

equality, but then he improved with 11 c3! Nf5 - if 11 ... Ne6 12 Bc2!

Bc7 13 exd6 Qxd6 14 Nf5! and White unravels - 12 O-O Bc7 13 f4 dxe5 14

Nxe5 Nxe3 15 dxe3 and White stands better.]

10 ... Qg5 11 f4?!

[This move attempts to improve on Nunn - Hubner, Munich 1991 which

saw 11 exd6 Nxd6 12 O-O and now Hubner recommends 12 ... N4f5 13 Ne1

Nxe3 14 fxe3 Bg4 15 Nf3 Qh5 16 Qe1 c6 followed by 17 ... Rae8 with

compensation. Clearly, this line will be investigated. The text move

looks logical, but Short must have

underestimated Timman's 12th move.]

11 ... Qg6 12 O-O f6!

[This clumsy-looking move is actually quite annoying, as it tempts

White to liquidate the e5-point and denies that square to the knight

on d3.]

13 exd6?

[Trying to ensure that he remains a pawn up, Short

uncharacteristically misjudges his opponent's chances. It was

imperative that White maintain the tension on e5 so as to avoid

helping Black develop his knight on e8, and in the hope of someday

recapturing on e5 with his own knight. Best was 13 Kh1! leaving the

dangerous diagonal. Then the position is quite unclear after, for

example, 13 ... Kh8 14 b4 (to develop with Bc1-b2) a5.]

Nxd6 14 Nf2

[Probably necessary under the new circumstances. 14 Kh1 N4f5 was

hardly appealing.]

14 ... N4f5 15 Nd5?

[This was too optimistic. White had to retain the defensive bulwark

at e3. Peter Irwin and the guys at the Morristown, NJ Chess Club

suggest 15 c3, attempting to reactivate the bishop via c2. Then 15 ...

Nxe3 16 de Bf5 would lead to an exciting struggle.]

Kh8! 16 Nb6

[Black's last move prepared the threat 16 ... Nh4 17 g3 Qe4! 18

gxh4 Bh3 and wins. On 16 Qf3 Nd4 is strong. And 16 d3 loses to 16 ...

Nh4 17 g3 Bg4. The desperate 16 d4 can be met by 16 ... Bxd4 17 Qd3

b5! 18 Bb3 c5, or even 16 ... Nh4 17 g3 Bxd4 18 Be3 Ndf5! 19 Bxd4

Nxg3!]

16 ... axb6 17 c3

[Or 17 Bb3 Nh4 18 g3 Ndf5, and White has big probems. But now Black

eliminates the possibility of Ba4-c2.]

17 ... Ra4! 18 Qa4 Nh4 19 g3 Nf3+ 20 Kg2

[Not 20 Kh1 Qh5 21 h4 Nf5 22 Kg2 N5xh4+, etc. With 20 Kg2 White

hopes for a respite after 20 ... Qh5 21 h3, but of course no such luck

is forthcoming.]

20 ... Nh4+ 21 Kg1

[After 21 Kh1 Be6 is deadly.]

21 ... Nf3+ 22 Kg2 22 ... Be6!

[The bishop's arrival on d5 will be decisive. If 23 Kxf3 Bd5+ 24

Ke2 Re8+, 25 Kd1 Bf3 is mate, and 25 Qxe8+ also loses.]

23 Nh1 Bd5 24 Rf3 Nf5! 25 Nf2

[White's position is a tragi-comedy after 25 Kf2 Qh5.]

25 ... Nh4+ 26 Kf1 Nf3 27 d3 Nh2+ 28 Ke2 Bc6

[29 Qd4 Qh5+ 30 g4 Nxg4 31 Nxg4 Qg4+ was too grisly. 0 - 1

Timman - Short, El Escorial 1992 C68

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Bxc6 dxc6 5 O-O Qd6

[Before this game, this move was regarded as a sound and active

defence. Faced with this position in Game 9 of this match, Short

selected 5 ... Ne7, which invited immediate complications: 6 Nxe5

(else Black is very comfortable after 6 ... Ng6) Qd4 7 Qh5 (White gets

nowhere with 7 Nf3 Qxe4 8 Re1 Qg6 9 Ne5 Qf5, Ligterink - Velimirovic,

Amsterdam 1976) g6. From this position, a game Timman - Nikolic

continued 8 Nf3 Qxe4 9 Qa5 Qf4 10 d3 with good prospects for White,

but Timman was evidently afraid of Geller's untested ECO suggestion 9

... Bg4!, although WHite may stand better after 10 Re1 Qf5 11 Qxc7. So

Timman played the "main line" 8 Qg5 Bg7 9 Nd3 (This strange knight

placement controls the b4 square in anticipation of 9 ... Qxe4? 10

Re1, but allows Black counterplay against White's stunted

development.) f5 10 e5 c5 (Not 10 ... Bxe5? 11 Nxe5 Qxe5 12 d4 with a

very strong attack.) 11 b3 h6 (Snapping upr the rook is rarely a good

option in this line - after 11 Qxa1 12 Nc3 b6 13 Bb2 Qxf1+ 14 Kxf1 h6

15 Qg3 Bb7 16 e6 White was doing very well in Dieks - Van Scheltinga,

Wijk an Zee II 1974.) 12 Qg3 (The sharpest line. Black has sufficient

compensation after 12 Qe3 f4 13 Qxd4 cxd4.) f4 13 Qf3 Bf5 14 Qxb7

(Black was also fine after 14 Bb2 Qd5 15 Nxf4 Qxf3 in Vladimirov -

Ivanov, USSR 1975) Be4 and Short went on to win a nice attacking game

- 15 Qxc7 Bxd3 16 cxd3 Bxe5 17 Qb7 Rb8 18 Qxa6 f3 19 Nc3 fxg2 20 Re1

O-O 21 Qe6+ Rf7 22 Nd1 Qxa1 23 Qxe5 Qxe5 24 Rxe5 Nc6 25 Rxc5 Nb4 26

Ba3 Nxd3 27 Rc6 Ra8 28 Rd6 Rxa3 29 Rxd3 Rxa2 30 Ne3 Kg7 31 Kxg2 Ra5 32

Rd4 Rb5 33 b4 Rbb7 34 Rc4 Rfc7 35 Rg4 Rd7 36 h4 h5 37 Rg5 Rxb4 38 d4

Rf7 39 Rd5 Rb2 0 - 1]

6 Na3

[The decisive game of the 1991 U.S. Championship, the 3rd match

game between Joel Benjamin and Gata Kamsky, continued 6 d3 Ne7 7 Be3

Ng6 8 Nbd2 c5 (More cautious is 8 ... Be7.) 9 Nc4 Qe6 10 Ng5, and

Kamsky missed the necessary 10 ... Qg4! Instead, after 10 ... Qf6 11

Qh5, Benjamin obtained a strong attack which he later misplayed.]

Be6

[A long time ago a game between John Fedorowicz and myself

continued 6 ... b5 7 c4 (Fine for Black is 7 d4 exd4 8 Qxd4 Qxd4 9

Nxd4 c5; perhaps the best try for an advantage is 7 d3 Ne7 8 Be3 Ng6 9

c4, etc.) Bg4 8 d4!? (The position is equal after 8 h3 Bxf3 9 Qxf3

Nf6, Pinter - Portisch, Budapest 1975.) O-O-O 9 d5 f5! 10 h3 h5! 11

exf5 e4 12 cxb5 cxd5 with a complete mess - a good example of the

so-called New Jersey School of Chess.]

7 Qe2!

[This principled move completely revamps the 6 Na3 system. White

prepares both Na3-c4 and to embarass the Black queen with Rf1-d1 and

d2-d4. Instead, 7 Ng5 Bd7 8 Nc4 Qg6 9 d3 f6 accomplishes nothing, as

does 7 d4 exd4 8 Qxd4 O-O-O.]

f6?!

[It was better to give back the prized bishop pair with 7 ... O-O-O

8 Nc4 Bxc4 9 Qxc4 f6, obtaining a position where Black's control of

space compensates for the passivity of his minor pieces.]

8 Rd1

[The threat of 9 d4 is highly unpleasant, and 8 ... c5 9 c3 does

not improve matters. Short resorts to a strategem from his

Sicilian-bashing systems.]

g5 9 d4 g4 10 Ne1 O-O-O

[Nothing was to be gained by 10 ... exd4 11 c3 c5 12 Nec2.]

11 Be3 h5

[Seemingly cavalier, but Black was already in deep water. On 11 ...

Ne7, White keeps on rolling with 12 c4. And 11 ... Bh6 tends to lead

the White queen on a direct path to a7 via e3.]

12 d5!

[A pawn juggernaut is more convincing than piece play with 12

dxe5.]

cxd5 13 exd5 Bf7 14 c4 Qd7 15 d6!

[Giving Black no time to mobilize. However, Black's best practical

chance is to grab the pawn and see which method White chooses. After

15 ... cxd6 16 Bb6 Re8 17 c5 d5 18 c6 bxc6 or 18 Rac1 Kb8 the game is

not over. But 18 b4 is pretty strong. Short attempts to sidestep the

roller and gets hammered. Note that 15 ... Qa4 is simply met by 16

dxc7, so the queen stays close.]

Qc6 16 c5 Nh6

[White would not be distracted from the task at hand by 16 ... Bh6

17 b4 Bxe3 18 fxe3.]

17 b4 Qa4 18 Nc4 Rd7

[This move is designed to stop 19 dxc7, which now loses to 19 ...

Bxc4. 18 ... Qb5 or 18 ... Qxb4 both fail to 19 dxc7 Rxd1 Qxd1.]

19 Na5!

[By threatening 20 c6, White forces Black to incarcerate his own

queen. 19 ... Qb5 20 Qb2 is no defense.]

c6 20 Nd3 Nf5 21 a3 Kb8 22 Nb2 Qb5 23 Qe1

[All of the preparations are complete.]

Nxe3 24 fxe3 Bh6 25 Kh1

[Why permit the minor irritation of 25 a4 Bxe3+?]

h4 26 a4 Qxa5 27 bxa5 g3 28 h3 Bg5 29 Nd3 Ka8 30 Rab1 Re8 31

Rb6 Bd5 32 e4 1 - 0

Najdorf Variation

Shabalov, Alexander - Browne, Walter, US Ch. 1994 {B96]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5

[The reason this variation has lost some popularity for White is

not that it isn't strong, but that Black has an incredible number of

choices, and White must be heavily prepared for all of them. Now,

aside from 6 ... e6, Black can steer the game into the Richter-Rauzer

with 6 ... Nc6 7 Qd2 (White can vary with 7 Bxf6) e6, or play 6 ...

Nbd7, but then 7 Bc4 has a good repuration.]

e6 7. f4

[Now the big choices for Black are 7... Be7 (the Main Line), 7 ...

b5 (the Polugaevsky), 7 ... Qb6 (the Poisoned Pawn), 7 ... Qc7 (a

Kasparov favorite which prepares ... b7-b5) and 7 ... Nbd7 (generally

transposes to the Main Line). Lesser known are 7 ... Nc6 (as in this

game), 7 ... h6 (which can transpose to the game or to the Goteborg

Variation after 8 Bh4 Be7 9 Qf3 g5!?) and the highly unusual 7 ...

Bd7.

Nc6 8. e5

[Along with 8 Nxc6, the critical move. Generally White can insert

Nd4xc6 at any point in this series of moves; Black is not about to

help White develop by playing ... Nc6 xd4 himself. Other 8th move

alternatives for White are 8 Qd2, transposing to the Richter-Rauzer,

and the excessively quiet 8 Be2 h6 9 Bh4 Qb6 10 Nb3 Qe3 11 Bxf6 gxf6

12 g3 (better is 12 Rf1) Be7 13 Qd3 with equality in Ljubojevic -

Andersson, Stockholm 1980.]

h6 9. Bh4 g5

[In Ljubojevic - Ivanchuk, Tilburg 1989, Ivanchuk played the

different idea 9 ... dxe5 10 Nxc6 Qxd1 11 Rxd1 bxc6 12 fxe5 Nd5 (Weak

is 12 ... Nd7 13 Ne4) 13 Ne4 and White stood better after 13 ... Be7

14 Bf2!? (steadier are 14 Bxe7 or 14 Nd6+) Rb8 15 Bd4. In Brodskij -

Rechel, Groningen Open 1993, Rechel tried Ivanchuk's recommendation 13

... Rb8; after 14 b3! (not 14 c4? Rxb2! with advantage) {DIAGRAM} he

followed it up with the wild 14 ... g5 - this enables Black to play

Bf8-b4+ without allowing c2-c3 - 15 Bg3 Bb4+ 16 Ke2 f5?! 17 ef e5 18

Kf3! g4+ (18 ... Bg4+ 19 Kxg4 Ne3+ 20 Kf3 Nxd1 21 Bxe5 and White wins)

19 Kf2 Bf5 20 Bxe5 and White later consolidated and won.]

10. fxg5 Nd5

[A question here is why not 11 Nxd5, as Black has to recapture with

the e-pawn. If this is good for White, then it is a good argument for

holding off on an eralier Nd4xc6, and it may theoretically force Black

into the Ljubo-Ivanchuk line above. It turns out, however, that the

opening of the e-file is not that impressive for White, and Black is

quite active after 11 ... exd5 12 exd6 Bxd6 (or 12 ... Bg7?!), or 12

Bg3 Qxg5.]

11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Ne4

[An interesting alternative here is 12 Nxd5 and if 12 ... cxd5 (12

... exd5 is also possible, as in the last note) 13 Qg4 and 13 ... dxe5

14 g6 f5 15 Bd8! fxg4 Bf6 was good for White in Panajotov - Sandler,

Albena 1989, but Black could have played 13 ... Be7.]

Qb6 13. Bd3

[A strange idea here is 13 c3, which has the virtue of blunting

some of Black's counterplay and keeping the d-file open, but it does

not seem White has time for such luxuries.]

hxg5

[A wrongly-timed simplification was 13 ... Qe3+ in Vitolins -

Sandler, USSR 1989, which continued 14 Qe2 Qxe2+ 15 Bxe2 dxe5 16 g6!

with a serious advantage. Also weak is 13 ... Qxb2 which lets White

castle without first blocking the f-file with Bh4-f2: 14 O-O Qxe5 15

Qf3 is good.]

14. Bf2

[The theoretical move, from Vitolins - Sandler, USSR 1990, as

expounded in Informant 50, Game 285. On 14 Bxg5 Qxb2 is OK now, as 15

O-O is met by 15 ... Qxe5 followed by f7-f5.

Qxb2 15. 0-0 Qxe5 16. Bg3 Qd4+ 17. Kh1

[Now the game Vitolins - Shabalov(!), USSR 1990, which appears as a

note to the Vitolins - Sandler game in Inf. 50, continued 17 ... Ne3

18 Qf3 Nxf1 19 Rxf1 f5 20 c3! g4 21 Qe2 Qg7 22 Rxf5! with advantage.

Did Browne prepare this line especially for Shabalov, with the

following deviation in mind? If so, this was truly masterful

preparation. Or did Browne simply run into a minefield by accident,

and find an ingenious escape?]

f5!! 18. c3 Nxc3 19. Nxc3 Qxc3 20. Rc1 Qa5

[The position is unclear. Black is up 3 pawns, and has a wall of

center pawns covering his king, although his remaining pieces are

completely undeveloped! Shabalov does not want to take the c6 pawn as

this would open the long light-square diagonal. For example, 21 Rxc6

Bb7 22 Rc2 f4, and Black is gaining momentum. However, on Black's

20th, much better was 20 ... Qg7!, which likewise guards c7, and

assists in defensive and offensive operations on the kingside.]

21. Qe2 Be7

[Not a good idea is 21 ... f4 22 Be1 because after 22 ... Qe5 23

Be4!, 23 ... d5 is impossible due to 24 Bg6+, and meanwhile 24 Bc3 is

threatened.]

22. Bxf5!

[Black was threatening to castle out of trouble.]

exf5 23. Bxd6 Qd8

[Black cannot afford the disorganization inherent in 23 ... Ra7 24

Rxc6 or 23 ... Rh7 24 Bxe7 Rxe7 25 Qh5+.]

24. Rcd1

[Vexing problems are posed by 24 Rxc6 {DIAGRAM}: on 24 ... Ra7 the

creative 25 Qb2 does not achieve much after 25 ... O-O! as on 26 Bc7?

Rxc7 27 Rg6+ Kf7 the king slips back out. But very annoying would be

25 Re1! which threatens to take on e7 because of the loose bishop on

c8. If 25 ... Rh7, then 26 Qc4! hurts. Also 24 ... Bb7 fails to 25

Bxe7 Qxe7 26 Re6. But the amazing 24 ... Rh4!! may hold. One

possibility then is 25 Re1 Re4 26 Qh5+ Kd7! and everything starts

getting exchanged off.]

Rh6!

[Another nice defensive shot. If instead 24 ... Rh7 (to defend

against the threatened 25 Be5) then 25 Qc4 would be most unpleasant.

With the text Black envisions 25 Bf4 gxf4!! (otherwise the bishop

returns to g5 with a vengeance) 26 Rxd8+ Kxd8 27 Rd1+ Rd6! and Black's

huddled rook + 2 bishops against the queen give him the advantage.]

25. Be5 Qa5 26. Bg7

[Looking to create an entree for the queen on h5.]

Rh7 27. Rfe1!

[A very nice idea - 27 ... Rxg7 28 Qh5+ Rf7 (28 ... Kf8 29 Qh8+ Rg8

30 Qh6+ Kf7 31 Qh7+ Rg7 32 Rxe7+ and White is winning; in this line 30

... Ke8 also fails to 31 Qh7) 29 Qh8+ Rf8 30 Rxe7+! Kxe7 31 Qg7+ with

a terrible attack.

Ra7! 28. Bf6 g4??

[Denying access to h5 and preserving the g-pawn, but there was no

time (on the board) for this. Unfortunately, at this point, both

players also had very little time on the clock. Much better was 28

... Kf8 29 Bxg5 Bxg5 30 Qe8+ although White still has some attacking

chances.]

29. Qc4 Kf8 30. Bxe7+??

[Probably winning for White was 30 Qxc6 as the immobility of the

bishop on c8 finally tells; White would also get his queen into

contact with f6 so as to threaten 31 Bxe7+ followed by 32 Qf6+ in most

lines. After the text, White never gets the opportunity to munch on

c6.]

Raxe7 31. Rf1 Qc7

[Suddenly threatening mate!]

32. Rf4 Rhf7 33. Rfd4 Rd7

[White no longer has real compensation for the piece.]

34. Qc1 Qe5 35. Qh6+ Kg8 36. Rxd7 Bxd7 37. Qg5+ Rg7 38. Qd8+ Kh7

[The back rank mate holds the guy on d7. Now if 39 Qh4+ Kg6 and

White's pieces have run out of space to roam.]

39. h3 Qe7 40. Qc7 gxh3 41. Qh2 Qh4

0:1

Kalishnikov Variation

Fritz3 - Anand, Intel Challenge Blitz, Munich 1994 [B32]

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e5 5 Nb5 d6

[Arriving at a mutated form of the Pelikan Variation which has

become increasingly popular. A totally different concept is 5 ... a6,

the Lowenthal Variation.]

6 Be3

[White has a lot of options at this point. It is doubtful that 6 c4

leads to an advantage after 6 ... Be7 7 N1c3 a6 8 Na3 Be6 because of

the potential weakness on d4 and the possibility of ... Be7-g5. On the

direct 6 N1c3 a6 7 Na3 b5 8 Nd5, looking to transpose to the Pelikan

after 8 ... Nf6 9 Bg5, Black has the strange idea 8 ... Nge7. A wild

line is 6 Bc4 Be7 (not 6 ... Nf6? 7 Bg5) 7 O-O Nf6 8 Bg5!? planning 8

... Nxe4 9 Bxe7 Nxe7 10 f3. The text move encourages Black to play 6

... Nf6 (because after 6 ... Be7 7 N1c3 a6 8 Na3 there is too much

pressure on the queenside due to the double threat of Nc3-d5 and

Na3-c4) at a time when White can force the doubling of the f-pawns.

This justifies White in moving the queen's bishop twice in a row. Note

that this position could arrive via the Taimanov Variation 1 e4 c5 2

Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e6 5 Nb5 d6 6 Bf4 e5 7 Be3.]

Nf6 7 Bg5 Be6 8 N1c3

[The continuation 8 Bxf6 gxf6 9 Nd2, which avoids the tangling of

the knights on the queenside, proved quite effective for White in

Kengis - Rohde, Tilburg 1992.]

a6 9 Bxf6 gxf6 10 Na3 Bg7

[The modern way, maintaining the latent energy of Black's center.

Anand avoids the explosive 10 ... d5 11 exd5 Bxa3 12 bxa3 Qa5,

introduced in the Fischer - Petrosian Candidates Match of 1971,

because it is better to engage the computer in positional rather than

tactical warfare at first, because it is impossible to know the extent

of Fritz3's usable theoretical knowledge, and becuase the line is not

that great anyway - see a recent U.S. Championship game between A. and

I. Ivanov(s).]

11 Bc4

[It is better to take it easy with 11 Bd3, with the maneuver

Na3-c4-e3 in store.]

O-O 12 Bxe6 fxe6 13 Nc4 Nd4

[The knight on c4 is left functionless.]

14 Ne2 f5 15 Nxd4 exd4 16 exf5 Rxf5 17 Qe2 Qe7 18 O-O-O?

[Admirable fighting spirit, but unjustified. White's position is

not as bad as it looks after 18 O-O d5 19 Nd2 e5, as it can use the

c-pawn to chip away at Black's center. Now a more serious problem is

the pressure on the c-file.]

Rc8 19 Rhf1!

[A good defensive move preparing to block the h6-c1 diagonal and

distract Black by gaining space on the kingside. This kind of

tenacious defence in blitz is a particularly strong aspect of

computers.]

Rfc5 20 Na3 b5 21 Rd2 Qf6 22 Qd3

[Making sure no accident happens on the long diagonal.]

d5 23 f4 Kh8 24 g3 b4 25 Nb1 a5

[This general advance is well motivated. If the position opens up,

something good has to happen for Black.]

26 Re1 a4 27 h3 Qf7 28 Kd1 Qh5+

[Finally Anand finds a target in the pawn on f4.]

29 g4 Qf7 30 Rf1 Rf8 31 Rff2 Rcc8 32 Qb5

[A foraging mission which Anand probably discounted in his

calculations, as he in banking on the opening of the kingside and

center now.]

Qc7 33 Qxb4 Rxf4 34 Qxa4 Rxf2 35 Rxf2 Qg3 36 Qa6!

[Irritatingly accurate tactical defence. Through judicious

counterthreats, the computer retains its extra material.]

Rb8 37 Qf1!

[Fritz3 retains its extra pawn and beings to dig out, but Black is

still better because of the looming central mass.]

h6 38 b3 e5 39 Rf3

[A better idea was 39 Qg2 Qh4 40 Rf5 trying to hold up the pawns.

After the text, White is in big trouble.]

Qh4 40 Rf7

[Making room for the activation of White's other pieces.]

e4 41 Nd2 Qg3

[A creeping move, but the straightforward 41 ... Re8! would have

been very strong. Of course, it is useless to talk about time pressure

in a 5-minute game, but up to here the play has been very strong.]

42 Qf4 Qg1+ 43 Nf1 Rg8?

[Again, big problems would be posed by 43 ... Re8!]

44 Qd6

[Now White has the situation under control as 44 ... Re8 45 Qg6

accomplishes nothing, and 44 ... e3 45 Qxd5 Re8 46 Ke2 is fine. Given

the new state of affairs, Anand decides to abandon the central mass

and open up some more lines.]

d3! 45 Qxd5 dxc2+ 46 Kxc2 Qg2+

[The only checking square on the rank, but now the e-pawn is

immobile.]

27 Nd2 Rc8+ 48 Kd1 Qh1+

[Black would be unable to grab any material on 48 ... Qg1+ 49 Rf1.]

49 Ke2 Re8 50 Qd7

[Finally the queen establishes control over the Black rook's

possible attacking squares.]

Qh2+ 51 Kd1 Rg8 52 Re7!

[Accurately surrounding the e-pawn without jettisoning other pawns

unnecessarily.]

Qg1+ 53 Ke2 Qg2+ 54 Ke3 Qxh3+ 55 Kxe4 Qg2+ 56 Kd3 Qa8

[Anand has been angling to pick off the a-pawn for a while. Now he

is also threatening 57 ... Rd8, but Fritz3 will not let Anand revive

the attack.]

57 a4!! Rd8 52 Rxg7 Rxd7+ 59 Rxd7 Qc8?

[Much better was 59 ... Qa6+ 60 Nc4 Qg6+ 61 Kc3 Qxg4 with a

fascinating race in store. Now Fritz3 marches to victory.]

60 Rd4 Kg7 61 b4 Kf6 62 Ne4+ Ke5 63 Nc5 Qc6 64 Kc4 Qg2 65 Nd3+ Kf6 66

a5 Qc2+ 67 Kb5 Qc8 68 a6 Qb8+ 69 Kc4 Kg5 70 b5 Qc7+ 71 Nc5 Qf7+ 72 Kb4

Qa7 73 Rd7 Qb6 74 a7 1 - 0

Richter-Rauzer

Short - Karpov, Candidates, 1992 [B63]

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4

[Resisting the temptation to play the "safe" 3 Bb5 which , for

example, I used to secure a draw as White against Benjamin to make a

GM norm in the 1987 New York Open.]

cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Bg5

[The signal move of the Richter-Rauzer, essentially committing

White to an opposite sides castling situation. 6 Be2 would have led,

after 6 ... g6 to the Classical Dragon, after 6 ... e6 to the

Scheveningen, or 6 ... e5 to the Boleslavsky.]

e6 7 Qd2 Be7

[The leading American exponent of this system is D. Gurevich. The

other main lines are 7 ... a6 8 O-O-O h6 (popularized by Dlugy), and 7

... a6 8 O-O-O Bd7 (as played the Zaltzman variation).]

8 O-O-O O-O 9 Nb3

[The main line is 9 f4 h6 10 Bh4 (Not 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 11 Nxc6 bxc6 12

Qxd6 Qb6 with good play) e5 with tremendous complications. The text 9

Nb3 is recommended by Nunn in his classic Beating the Sicilian, and

was once played by Karpov against Kasparov! That game, from the ____

World Championship, continued with Kasparov innovating 9 ... a5 10 a4

d5, and after 11 exd5 Nxd5 Black soon equalized. Later, however,

Vitolinsh and Tal discovered 11 Bb5! which has scored well for White.

Note that after 9 ... a5, in contrast to the game, 10 Bxf6 would not

be good because of 10 ... Bxf6! 11 Qxd6 Qxd6 12 Rxd6 a4.]

a6 10 Bxf6 gxf6

[Karpov has obtained a very double-edged position, where White can

not play to keep the draw in hand for fear of simply losing the

initiative. With his next move, Short commences a general and fearless

kingside advance. A good alternative plan was demonstrated in Adams -

Frias, London 1990: 11 Qh6 Kh8 12 Qh5! (to inhibit ... Rg8) Qe8 13 f4

Rg8 14 Bd3 Rg7 15 g4 b5 16 h4 b4 17 Ne2 e5 18 f5 and White has

slightly better chances. And in Vitolinsh - Smirin, USSR championship

1989, wild complications ensued after 11 f4 b5 12 Bd3 Kh8 13 Rhe1 Rg8

14 Nd5!? exd5 15 exd5 Ne5!? 16 fxe5 fxe5 17 Kb1 Bg4 18 Be2, and though

Black's position has some nice features, again White is more

comfortable.]

11 h4 Kh8

[Black can also try dispensing with this standard precautionary

move. In Jansa - Sax, Biel Interzonal 1985 play continued 11 ... b5 12

g4 b4 13 Ne2 a5 14 Nbd4 Ne5 15 g5 (a pawn sacrifice which Black

ignores) a4 16 Ng3 b3. Black seems to have gotten there first but

White took twice on b3 (17 axb3 axb3 18 Nxb3) and later prevailed. Sax

was so impressed that he then tried the White side of this line,

against Van der Wiel, in Brussels 1985. Van der Wiel diverged with 14

... Nxd4 15 Nxd4 Bb7 16 g5 f5. After 17 Rg1 White was planning a

vicious attack: for example 17 ... Bxe4 18 h5, etc. But Black found 17

... f4! shutting off White's queen's access, and after 18 h5 e5 the

players agreed to a draw, in view of 19 Nf5 Bxe4 20 Nxe7+ Qxe7 21

Qxd6, etc.]

12 g4 b5

[In several games Black has tried first 12 ... Rg8 here. Campora -

Zueger, Dubai Olympiad 1986 continuted 13 g5 (White is always willing

to sac a pawn to open the h-file) fxg5 14 hxg5 e5 15 f4 Rg7 (Not 15

... exf4? 16 Rxh7+!) 16 Kb1 exf4 17 Qxf4 Ne5 18 Bh3 Bxg5 with an

unclear position. In Judasin - Aseev, USSR 1987, after 12 ... Rg8 13

g5, Black played 13 ... b5 14 f4 Bb7 15 Kb1 b4 16 Ne2 a5 17 Bg2 a4 18

Nbd4 Na5, and White started munching with 19 Qxb4 d5 20 Qxa4 and

somehow survived.]

13 g5 b4 14 Na4!

[Although the knight is a potential target here, it is also quite

annoying. Moreover, it stops the advance of the a-pawn. Karpov may

have been surprised by this placement.]

Rg8 15 f4

[Only Black would be helped by 15 gxf6 Bf8! and if 16 Qf4 Rg6.]

Rb8 16 Kb1

[Now 16 gxf6 would lead to an unclear situation after 16 ... Bxf6

17 Qxd6 Qe8, as White's pieces seem disorganized.]

Bf8 17 Be2 e5

[It is easy to be suspicious about this move in light of what later

transpired, but Black's position was already difficult. On 17 ... Bd7

18 Nac5 Be8! 19 Nxa6 Rb6 gives compensation, but instead White plays

18 gxf6! Qxf6 19 e5, or 18 ... Na5 19 Nac5. And 17 ... f5 18 exf5 exf5

19 h5 is dangerous.]

18 f5!

[Short is willing to sacrifice a pawn to deny Karpov the use of the

e5 square, open the h-file, and cut the board in half, so as to

concentrate threats on one side or the other.]

fxg5 19 hxg5 Rxg5 20 Qe3!

[Preparing the re-entry of the knight via b6. Since Be2-c4-d5 is in

the air, Karpov allows Na4-b6 and hurries to prepare counterplay.]

Qf6 21 Nb6 Ne7

[Of course, Nb6-d5 had to be stopped also.]

22 Nxc8 Rxc8 23 Bxa6 Rd8 24 Qb6 Ng8

[Karpov must have had this position in mind when he played 20 ...

Qf6. 25 ... d6-d5 is in the air.]

25 Na5!?

[Stalking the rook on d8 ... Simpler was 25 Qxb4.]

d5 26 Nc6 Rd6 27 exd5 Ne7

Now 28 Qc5 Nxf5 29 Bd3 would have been very strong for White. Short

instead played 28 Qxb4 and eventually won.

All of the games in KIDzine 1.4 feature the Classical King's Indian

with:

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

ECO codes E92 and E94 generally deal with 7 Be3 for White and 7 O-O

for White (other 7th move alternatives for White are 7 d5 - the

Petrosian System, and 7 dxe5 dxe5 8 Qxd8, the Exchange Variation [in

the King's Indian, White usually cannot win the e-pawn with Nf3xe5

because Black has counterplay either along the e-file or the ong

diagonal]), where Black responds to 7 O-O with a move other than the

main line 7 ... Nc6.

7.Be3 is a very popular move because it avoids the long main lines

with 7 O-O Nc6 8 d5 Ne7, with attacks on opposite wings. 7 ... Nc6 is

not a particularly good reply to 7 Be3 because of 8 d5 Ne7 9 Nd2!, and

if then Black moves his king's knight to enable the move ... f7-f5, for

example with 9 ... Ne8, then White will be very snug after 10 Qc2 f5 11

f3 followed by castling queenside, with White initiating the play on

both wings.

We should also note that on 7 O-O, if Black does play the main line

7 ... Nc6, 8 d5 is usually played; 8 Be3 is not as popular here as

Black can choose between (A) 8 ... Re8, and then 9 d5 Nd4! is equal, so

White has to opt for the dry 9 dxe5 dxe5; or (B) 8 ... Ng4 9 Bg5 f6 10

Bc1 (10 Bh4 invites an early pawn storm against White's king) and now a

good line for Black is 10 ... f5! and if 11 Bg5 Bf6 12 Bxf6 Nxf6 13

dxe5 dxe5 14 Qxd8 Rxd8 15 Nd5 Nxe4! (first played by Kasparov against

Portisch) 16 Nxc7 Rb8 and it turns out that Black's center is strong.

7 Be3

A) 7 ... exd4

This move was given new meaning by Kasparov in his 1990 World

Championship match against Karpov. After 8 Nxd4 (not 8 Bxd4 Nc6) Re8 9

f3 c6 10 Qd2 d5 11 exd5 cxd5 12 c5 Nc6 13 O-O, Kasparov's Exchange

sacrifice 13 ... Rxe3!! 14 Qxe3 Qf8! is dangerous for White. The point

of 14 ... Qf8 is to threaten ... Nf6-g4, which is not playable

immediately because White can play 15 Nxc6 attacking Black's queen.

Thus, in Giorgadze - Nalbandian, Capelle la Grande 1995, White played

10 Bf2 instead of 10 Qd2; this eliminates the potential Exchange

sacrifice. After 10 ... d5 11 exd5 cxd5 12 O-O Nc6 13 c5 Nh5 14 Qd2,

White has queenside play and a strong square on d4, but Black has some

oblique pressure on the kingside.

B) 7 ... c6

This was chosen in Topalov - Kramnik, Las Palmas 1996. Play continued

8.d5! (A good idea, dispensing with the complications resulting from

the opening of the center in the lines below.) Ng4 9.Bg5 f6 10.Bh4 c5

(An interesting move closing the center; Black could also have played

the immediate ... Ng4-h6-f7.) 0-0 Nh6 12.Ne1 Nd7 13.Rb1 b6 14.a3, and

now Seirawan suggests Black should play 14 ... a6 followed by ...

Ra8-a7, with a potential rooklift to the kingside. Instead, Kramnik

tried 14 ... g5?! 15.Bg3 f5 16.exf5 Nxf5 17.Ne4, and White's grip on

the light squares gave him the better game.

After 7 ... c6, 8 O-O exd4 (Also frequently played here is 8 ... Na6;

8 ... Ng4 does not make such a favorable impression when Black has no

chance to pressurize the d4 square - Budt - Martin, 1991 continued 9

Bg5 f6 10 Bd2! f5 11 dxe5 Nxe5 12 exf5 with a pleasant position for

White.) 9.Bxd4! (This is a good idea now that Black cannot harass the

bishop with ... Nb8-c6. White achieved little in Matamoros - Ubilava,

Linares Open 1994 with 9 Nxd4 Re8 10 f3?! [better is 10 Qc2 Qe7 11 Bf3

as in Polugaevsky - Ivanchuk, Roquebriore, 1992] d5 11 cxd5 Nxd5!,

which is possible because in this order of moves, the bishop on e3 is

undefended) Re8 10.Qc2 Qe7 11.Rfe1 Nbd7 12.h3 a6 (The queenside

expansion does not have any clear objectives here. Correct was 12 ...

Ne5, posting up the knight as White's f-pawn is immobile. Also

possible was 12 ... a5, clearing a spot for the knight on c5.

Interesting is the pawn grab 12 ... c5 13 Be3 [White does not get the

advantage on 13 ... Bxf6 Nxf6] Nxe4, when both 14 Nd5 Qd8 15 Bd3 Ndf6,

and 14 Nxe4 Qxe4 15 Bd3 Qc6 are unclear.) 13.Rad1 b5 14.b4 c5 (A

miscalculation losing a pawn.) 15.bxc5 dxc5 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.cxb5 Nxe4?

18.Nxe4 1 - 0 (Because 18 ... Qxe4 runs into 19 Bd3) Shulman -

Relange, Anibal Linares Open, 1997.

After 7 ... c6, 8.Qd2 is a strange move. Although White will suffer

temporary embarrassment dealing with the threats to the e4 pawn and

the lack of available squares for his dark-squared bishop, the idea is

to put quick pressure against the weakened d6 pawn. Giorgadze -

Avrukh, Anibal Linares Open, 1997, saw 8 ... Qe7 9.Bg5 exd4 10.Nxd4

Re8 11.f3 Na6 12.Rd1 Nc5 13.b4 Ne6 14.Nxe6 Bxe6 with equality, as 15

Qxd6 (White settled for 15 O-O Rad8 16 a3) Qxd6 16 Rxd6 Ng4 gives

Black enough play for the pawn.

C) 7...h6 (An idea popularized by John Nunn. Black intends to play ...

Nf6-g4 without allowing the annoying retort Be3-g5. The main point is

that White cannot similarly play 8 h3, because then 8 ... exd4 9 Nxd4

Re8 is very strong for Black, as f2-f3 weakens the g3 square.) 8.0-0

Ng4 9.Bc1 Nd7 (This was tried in San Segundo - Mollov, Anibal Linares

Open, 1997. The usual line is 9 ... Nc6 10 d5 Ne7 and then, by

comparison to the main lines of the Classical (with 7 O-O Nc6 8 d5 Ne7,

Black has two extra moves - his h-pawn is on h6 and his knight is on

g4! On 11 Ne1, Black should play 11 ... f5, rather than give the tempos

back with 11 ... Nf6). After 10.d5 Ngf6 11.Be3 Nh7 12.Qc1 h5 13.b4 f5

the position was balanced.

D) 7...Ng4 (This natural reaction must be considered the main line.)

8.Bg5 f6 9.Bh4 (Because White has not castled, it is convenient to

post the bishop here, as White can follow up with Nf3-d2 and envision

a kingside advance of his own. 9 Bd2 is, however, a viable

alternative.) Nc6 10.d5 Ne7 11.Nd2 Nh6 (I think 11 ... h5 is

preferable; after the text it is a little difficult for Black to

organize a kingside advance.) 12.f3 c6 (This was played in Giorgadze -

Shaked, Anibal Linares Open 1997; Shaked decides to push through in

the center.) 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.b4 Be6 15.Nb3 d5 16.Nc5 Bf7 17.0-0 d4 (A

double-edged position has arisen. White has good outposts for his

knights, but Black has captured central space.)

E) 7 ... Na6 (This is also often played against 7 O-O. Another new

idea against 7 O-O is 7 ... Qe8, trying to exert latent pressure

against e4, but a good response to that is 8 dxe5 dxe5 9 b4!) 8 O-O

Ng4 (This seems better to me than 8 ... c6 9 d5! which leaves the a6

knight without a good future. Schlecht - Peng Xiaomin, Groningen 1996

continued 9 ... Ng4 10.Bg5 f6 11.Bd2 f5 12.Ne1 Nf6 13.exf5 gxf5 14.Bg5

Kh8 15.Kh1 cxd5 16.Nxd5 with a nice game for White.) 9.Bg5 Qe8 10.dxe5

dxe5 11.Nd2 was Mikhalevski - Comas Fabrego, Anibal Linares Open,

1997. Black obtained relative equality after 11 ... f6 12.Bh4 h5 13.a3

Be6 14.h3 Nh6 15.b4 Rd8 16.c5 Nb8 17.f3 Nc6 18.Nd5 Qf7 19.Bc4 Nd4.

This edition of the King's Indian ezine covers the "Shirazi Indian"

with ... Bc8-f5 on the 3rd or 4th move. The greatest exponent of

this system is the creative International Master Kamran Shirazi.

This system complements the repertoire of a King's Indian player,

and often throws the White player off prepared theory.

The 2 related systems are:

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 d6 3 Nc3 Bf5

(note that this radically stops the move e2-e4 for now), and

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 g6 3 c4 d6 4 Nc3 Bf5

(here Black plays the ... Bc8-f5 move in a true King's Indian with

2 ... g6, where White cannot respond with f2-f3 as his knight is

already on that square).

I. White plays 4 f3

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 4.f3

[This is a critical continuation.]

e5! 5.e4

[5 dxe5 is not very strong as White's center is broken up. An important

line is 5 d5 e4 (forced - Black cannot allow White to gain time with 6

e4) and now White can win a pawn with 6 g4!? Bg6 7 g5, but Black has

compensation in White's messed-up pawn structure.]

exd4 6.Qxd4 Be6 7. b3

[7.Bg5 Be7 8.b3 0-0 9.Nge2 was tried in Morovic Fernandez - Shirazi, NY

Open 1988, but the bishop does not exert any pressure on g5, and Black

would have been fine with 9 ... h6 10 Bh4 Nc6 11 Qd2 Ne5, as the knight

can always drop back comfortably to g6.]

7 ... g6

[In Browne - Shirazi, US Champ 1986, the extravagant a5 8.Bb2 Be7

9.Nge2 Nc6 10.Qd2 a4 11.Nd5 0-0 12.Nef4 Bxd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.cxd5 Ne5

15.Be2 was played, and White's space advantage gave and two bishops

gave him the advantage.]

8. Bb2

[Now in Kouatly - Fedorowicz, Brussels 1987, Black chased the queen

away with 8 ... Nc6 9.Qd2 Bg7 10.Nge2 0-0 11.Ng3 h5 with a reasonable

game; the White knight on g3 does not make a favorable impression. In

Dlugy - Shirazi, US Champ. 1986, Black again chose 8 ... Bg7 9.Qd2

a5!? 10.Nge2 a4 11.Rd1 axb3 12.axb3 0-0 13.e5 Ne8 14.exd6 Qxd6 15.Ne4

Qe7 16.Bxg7 Nxg7 17.Qg5 Qxg5 getting to a rough equality.]

The 4 f3 line really does not have that much punch.

Another reason to hesitate in placing the bishop on f5 is the move 4

g3 - the White bishop on g2 will radiate power.

II. White plays 4 g3

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 4.g3 e5

[Again it is necessary to distract White with this move.]

5.Bg2

[In Browne - Ivkov, New York Open 1988, the amazing sequence 5.d5 h5

6.Bg2 h4 7.e4 h3 transpired. After 8.Bf3 Bg6 9.Bg5 Nbd7 10.Qa4 Bh5

11.Qb5, play was very complicated.]

exd4 6.Qxd4 Nc6 7.Qd2

[White bases his play on the d5 outpost for his minor pieces.]

g6 8.Nh3 Bg7 9.Nf4 0-0 10.0-0 Re8 11.f3 Ne5 12.b3 g5!?

This was D. Gurevich - Shirazi, New York Open 1987. Shirazi was able

to hold the balance after 13.Nfd5 Nxd5 14.cxd5 g4 15.fxg4 Bxg4 16.Bb2

Bh5 17.h3 c5 18.dxc6 bxc6 19.Rf2 d5.

III. The unsound 4 e4

In Bonin - Fedorowicz, Lloyds Bank, 1987, the overly agressive

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 4.e4?!

was tried. White does get the pawn back, but Black obtains a very

strong pawn center -

4 ... Bxe4 5.Nxe4 Nxe4 6.Qf3 d5 7.Qb3 e6 8.Qxb7 Nd7 9.c5 Be7 10.Nf3

0-0 11.Be2 Rb8

Now White fell into a trap -

12.Qc6 Ndxc5 13.dxc5 Nxc5 14.Be3 Rb6

White loses his queen.

IV. Bg5 systems

Bg5 systems do not seem that impressive to me:

Alburt - Shirazi, US Champ. 1986

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 4.Bg5

[I do not like this move when Black has not made any commitments yet

with his king bishop. For example, after Black connects his knights,

Black can play ... h7-h6 and after Bg5-h4, play ... g7-g5 in one

stroke, followed by a fianchetto. Similarly, if you know your opponent

is partial to the "Torre", a good system is 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 d6!, as 3

Bg5 Nbd7 is not that effective for White.]

Nbd7 5.Nf3 h6 6.Bh4 c6 7.e3 Qb6 8.Qd2 e5

[Black has reacted well. By playing 7 ... Qb6 before moving his e-pawn,

there never was a pin, and thus White was not given the opportunity to push

his e-pawn to e4. Now Alburt decided to mix it up.]

9.c5 Qc7 10.cxd6 Bxd6 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Bxf6 Nxf3+ 13.gxf3 gxf6 14.Bd3

Be6 15.0-0-0 0-0-0

Black has a good game.

Whitehead,J - Shirazi, New York Open 1987

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bg5

[Here Black has committed with 4 ... g6, so the bishop placement on g5

acts like a type of Torre against the King's Indian.

Bg7 6.e3 c5 7.Be2 Ne4 8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.0-0 Qb6

Black does not have any problems. The play was very similar in the

following game -

Garcia Gonzales,G - Rohde, New York Open 1988

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d6 3.c4 g6 4.Nc3 Bf5 5.Bg5 Bg7 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 0-0 8.h3

c5 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Nc6

With easy equality.

V. The Normal System with Nf3, g3

Eingorn,V (2570) - Rohde,M (2555) [E61] Saint John op-1 ;CBM 06, 1988

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d6 3.c4 g6 4.Nc3 Bf5 5.g3 c6

[Shirazi prefers the immediate 5 ... Ne4, but 5 ... c6 is better - see

Christiansen - Shirazi below.]

6.Bg2 Ne4 7.0-0

[As the f5-bishop stops White from utilizing the b-file, there is not

enough justification for allowing White's pawns to be doubled. White

could consider 7 Nxe4 Bxe4 8 O-O Bg7 9 Bh3!? trying to isolate the

Black bishop on e4. For these reasons, the correct way for Black to

play is to delay ... Ne4, for example 6 ... Bg7 7 O-O O-O 8 b3 (there

is no more useful move) Ne4 9 Bb2.]

Nxc3 8.bxc3 Bg7 9.Nd2 0-0 10.e4 Bc8 11.a4 c5 12.Nb3 Nc6 13.a5 Rb8

14.Be3 b6 15.axb6 axb6 16.e5 Bb7 17.exd6 exd6 18.Bf4 cxd4 19.cxd4 Ne7

½-½

Kogan,B (2465) - Shirazi,K (2450) [A53] USA-ch ;CBM 03, 1986

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 4.Nf3 g6 5.g3 Ne4 6.Nxe4 Bxe4 7.Bg2 Bg7

8.0-0 0-0 9.Be3 c5 10.Nh4

[This exchange of bishops gives White nothing. See Christiansen's

treatment in the next game.]

Bxg2 11.Nxg2 Qb6 12.dxc5 dxc5 13.Rb1 Rd8 14.Qc1 Nc6 15.Nf4 Qa5 16.a3

e6 17.b4 cxb4 18.axb4 Qa4 19.Nd3 b6 20.c5 b5 21.Bf4 e5 22.Bg5 Rd4

23.Bh6 Qa2 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Rb2 Qd5 26.Qb1 h5 27.h4 g5 28.Ne1 e4 29.Ng2

Rd8 30.Qc1 f6 31.Qc3 Kg6 32.hxg5 fxg5 33.Ne3 Qe6 34.Kg2 h4 35.Rh1 hxg3

36.fxg3 Ne5 37.Rc2 Nc4 38.Nxc4 Rxc4 39.Qb2 e3 40.Rhc1 Qe4+ 41.Kg1 Rcd4

42.Qa1 Rh8 43.Qa6+ Kf5 44.Rf1+ Kg4 45.Rf3 Rd1+ 46.Kg2 Rdh1 0-1

Christiansen,L (2560) - Shirazi,K (2450) [A53] USA-ch ;CBM 03, 1986

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 4.Nf3 g6 5.g3 Ne4 6.Nxe4 Bxe4 7.Bh3!

[Exploiting the too-early ... Ne4 maneuver. The e4 bishop runs out of

space and will either have to trade itself for the knight on f3 or

retreat to f5. White should not be allowed to get this setup without

wasting time first on Bf1-g2-h3.]

Bg7 8.0-0 0-0 9.d5

[Cutting off the bishop's retreat. White has a positional advantage.]

Bxf3 10.exf3 c6 11.Re1 Nd7 12.f4 Nf6 13.f5 cxd5 14.cxd5 Qd7 15.Qd3 Rfe8

16.Bd2 Kf8 17.Re2 a6 18.a4 b5 19.a5 Rad8 20.Rae1 Qb7 21.Bg2 b4 22.fxg6

hxg6 23.Rc1 Rb8 24.Rc4 Qb5 25.Bxb4 Nd7 26.f4 Nc5 27.Qc2 Na4 28.Ba3 Nxb2

29.Bxb2 Bxb2 30.h4 Qxa5 31.f5 Qb6+ 32.Kh2 Qb3 33.fxg6 Be5 34.Rg4 Qxc2

35.Rxc2 Rec8 36.Rf2 Bf6 37.gxf7 Kxf7 38.Bh3 Rg8 39.Ra4 Rg7 40.Be6+ Kg6

41.Rxa6 Rb3 42.Ra8 Kh6 43.Rh8+ Rh7 44.Rxh7+ Kxh7 45.Kg2 Kg7 46.Rf3 Rb1

47.Kh3 Kh6 48.Rf4 Ra1 49.Rg4 Be5 50.Bf5 Ra3 51.Rg6+ Kh5 52.Rg8 Kh6

53.Be6 Kh7 54.h5 Re3 55.Rg6 Bf6 56.Kg2 Re5 57.Bg8+ Kh8 58.Bf7 Rg5

59.Kf3 Rxg6 60.Bxg6 Kg7 61.g4 Kh6 62.Kf4 Bg5+ ½-½

VI. Black plays an early ... c6

Olafsson,H (2555) - Rohde,M (2530) [A53] New York op ;CBM 02, 1987

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 Bf5 5.g3 Nbd7

[Highly speculative. As the bishop no longer has a good retreat on

the c8-h3 diagonal, Olafsson decides to hunt it down.]

6.Nh4 Bg4 7.h3 Bh5 8.g4 Bg6 9.Bg2 e6

[Of course not 9 ... e5 weakening the f5 square.]

10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.e3 d5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.g5 Nh5 14.h4 Nb6 15.b3 Bb4

16.Bd2 Qe7 17.Ne2 Nc8 18.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 19.Qd2 Qe7 20.0-0-0 Nd6 21.Qc2 a5

22.Nc3 0-0 23.Bf3 b5 24.Rdg1 a4 25.Kd2 axb3 26.axb3 f5 27.Ra1 Rac8

28.Kc1 Ng3 29.Rg1 Nge4 30.Nxe4 dxe4 31.Be2 c5 32.dxc5 Qe5 33.Kb1 Rxc5

34.Qb2 Rc3 35.Rc1 b4 36.Rxc3 bxc3 37.Qa3 Qd5 38.Ra2 Rb8 39.Kc1 Kh7

40.Bd1 Nb5 41.Qb4 Rd8 42.Be2 Ra8 43.Bc4 Qd8 44.Qe7 Qxe7 45.Rxa8 Nc7

46.Bg8+ Kh8 47.Rc8 Ne8 0-1

Knott,S (2350) - Anand,V (2505) [A53] London Lloyds (06) ;TD 87\02,

1987

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d6 3.d4 c6 4.Nf3 Bf5 5.Nh4 Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.g4 Bg6 8.Nxg6

hxg6 9.Bg2 Nbd7 10.d5 Rc8 11.Be3 Nb6 12.Qb3 e6 13.Rd1 exd5 14.cxd5 c5

15.0-0 Be7 16.f4 0-0 17.g5 Nfd7 18.Ne4 Rb8 19.h4 Nc8 20.Bc1 Re8 21.Qg3

Bf8 22.h5 gxh5 23.f5 g6 24.fxg6 fxg6 25.Nf6+ Kh8 26.Bh3 Ncb6 27.Nxe8

Qxe8 28.Be6 Ne5 29.b3 Bg7 30.Bb2 Nbd7 31.Ba1 Nf8 32.Bh3 Qe7 33.Rf2 Nh7

34.Rg2 Rf8 35.Be6 b5 36.Rf1 Rxf1+ 37.Kxf1 Nf8 38.Qh3 c4 39.bxc4 Nxc4

40.Bxg7+ Qxg7 41.Rf2 Nh7 42.Kg2 Nxg5 43.Qh4 Qe5 44.Qf4 Qxf4 45.Rxf4

Kg7 46.Kf2 a5 47.a4 Na3 48.axb5 Nxb5 49.Ra4 ½-½

This megaplan issue contains analysis of 4 games submitted by students.

Rohde comments are in brackets. If there are other comments, those are by

the student.

player - student

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2

[The fianchetto against the King's Indian is a system which does not allow

Black to mount a kingside attack, but Black can look for counterplay in the

center.]

5...d6 6.Nf3 c5

[6...Nc6; 6...Nbd7; 6...c6]

7.d5

[With this move, White transposes to the Benoni. On 7 O-O Nc6, White can

play the tricky symmetrical variation 8 dxc5, or head for the Yugoslav

system after 8 d5 Na5 9 Nd2.]

7...Bf5

[Not good in this situation as the bishop is not stable here - with this

pawn formation, the f3 knight is not needed to help control the center, and

can profitably hang out on h4. A transposition to the Benoni was

inevitable, and probably the direct 7 ... e6 (not fearing 8 dxe6 Bxe6) was

best.]

8.Nh4 Bc8 9.0-0 Qc7

[The queen is often best placed on d8 where she can observe both sides of

the board. c7 might be a useful spot for the knight after ... Nb8-a6-c7.]

10.Qc2 Kh8

[Unnecessary. I would have tried 10 ... Nd7 here.]

11.b3 e6

[Well-timed. Now that White has weakened the long diagonal, Nc3-b5 will not

be anything to worry about.]

12.Bb2 Na6

[Interesting here was 12 ... e5, which makes White work a lot harder to

show that he has a real advantage.]

13.a3 Rb8

[This leads to tactical problems. Another idea was the immediate 13 ...

Qe7, clearing the pathway for the knight to c7.]

14.Nb5 Qe7

[Probably a good practical decision to let the a-pawn go. Black is all tied

up after 14 ... Qb6 15 dxe6 Bxe6 16 Rad1.]

15.Nxa7 exd5

[A good move, using the offsides location of the White knights to try to

stir up trouble in the center.]

16.Nxc8 Rbxc8 17.cxd5 Nc7 18.e4 Nfe8

[18...b5! Why rush into any exchanges? The dark-squared bishops can always

be exchanged.]

19.Bxg7+ Nxg7 20.a4 Kg8 21.Rad1 Rb8 22.f4 f5

[Probably missing that White could play 23 e5. Better was 22 ... Na6, and

although White is a clean pawn up, the position does not just win itself.]

23.e5 Na6 24.e6

[Now Black has serious problems, because of the bind.]

24...Ne8 25.Qc3 Nb4 26.Nf3 Qf6 27.Qxf6 Nxf6 28.Ng5 h6 29.Nf7 Ng4 30.Rfe1

Rxf7

[Probably the best practical chance.]

31.exf7+ Kxf7 32.Re6 Rd8 33.Rde1 Rd7 34.Re8 Nf6 35.Rh8 Kg7 36.Rb8 Na6

37.Rc8 b6 38.Bf1?

[38.Rc6! Nb4 39.Rxb6 Nbxd5 40.Rb8 And the a-pawn is much too strong.]

38...Nc7 39.Bb5 Nxb5 40.axb5 Nxd5 41.Ree8 Nf6

[41...Nc3 42.Rg8+ Kf6 43.Rcf8+ Rf7 44.Rxf7+ Kxf7 45.Rb8 And it is still

very hard to save the position.]

42.Red8 Kf7 43.Rxd7+ Nxd7 44.Rh8 Nf6 45.Rb8 Nd7 46.Rb7 Ke6 47.Kf2 d5 48.Ke2

d4 49.Kd3 Kd6 50.Kc4

[Black has no mobility as his pieces must defend each other. The rook is

still very strong against the knight plus pawn.]

50...g5 51.h3 h5 52.h4 g4 53.Ra7 Nf6 54.Rf7 Ke6 55.Rb7 Nd7 56.Rc7 Nb8

57.Rh7 Nd7 58.Rxh5 Nf6 59.Rg5 Ne4 60.Rg6+ Nf6 61.b4 cxb4 62.Kxb4 d3 63.Kc3

Kf7 64.Rxf6+ Kxf6 65.Kxd3 1 - 0

student - player

1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6

[Not a stable support of the d5 pawn.]

3.Nf3

[3.cxd5! Qxd5 (3...Nxd5 4.e4) 4.Nc3 Black will not get a sufficient grip on

the center.]

3...Bf5 4.Nc3

[A good decision here, as 4 cxd5 lets Black play 4 ... Bxb1! 5 Rxb1 Qxd5

and the queen cannot be pushed away.]

4...e6 5.Qb3!

[Taking advantage of the absence of the bishop from the queenside.]

5...b6 6.Bg5

[OK, but Black will over-defend the d5 square in any case. 6.Bf4 also

presents problems for Black.]

6...c6 7.e3 Be7 8.Be2 Ne4 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Rc1

[Of course, White still has a pleasant initiative.]

10...0-0 11.0-0 Nd7 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Rfd1 Ndf6 14.Ne5!

[Strong, as the knight moves away from f3, where it might be attacked after

an exchange of knights on e4.]

14...Qe6

[14...Nxc3! 15.Rxc3 c5]

15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Rxc6 Nd6 17.Bf3

[Excellent. Black cannot defend the d-pawn, as 17 ... Be4 18 Bxe4 and Black

is finished.]

17...Rac8 18.Rdc1 Rxc6 19.Rxc6 Rc8 20.Bxd5 Rxc6 21.Nxc6 Qd7 22.Ne5 Qc7

23.h3 Bc2 24.Qb4 Kh8 25.Nc4 Be4 26.Bxe4 A convincing win. 1 - 0

student - player

1. d4 Nf6

2. Nf3 g6

3. Bg5 Bg7

4. e3

{I think a more accurate move is 4 Nbd2; then 4 ... d6 5 e4! or 4 ... d5 5

e3 transposing to your game.}

d5

{Here Black could play 4 ... d6 - setups with e2-e3 are not that great

against the King's Indian because White will usually want to advance the

e-pawn later.}

5. Bd3 c5

6. c3 c4

{This move is weak because it releases all pressure on the center

allowing White to expand later with e2-e4, and the Black pawn on c4

will just be a target, while White's c3/d4 setup will be a tower of

strength.}

This begins the Torre Attack; an opening that I have played frequently

since returning to tournament play in 1993. More often than not, I

played 1.e4 when I began my chess career more than 20 years ago. I

have been thinking recently that I should return for a time to 1.e4

because I feel comfortable as an attacking player. Actually, I need to

develop my chess skills in many directions--strategically

/positionally and tactically. But I think it is important now to give

expression to my interest in opengames which have tactical

possiblities.

7. Bc2 O-O

8. Nbd2 Nc6

9. O-O Qc7

10. Bf4

Gaining a tempo so that I can play e4 on the next move.

10. ... Qd8

{If I were Black, I would try the distracting 10 ... Qb6, rather than

retreating and wasting time.}

11. e4 dxe4

12. Nxe4 Nd5

I anticipated 12...Nxe4 instead of this move.

{The two moves are about equivalent in strength. White stands better

in any case.}

13. Bg3 Bg4

{To be considered was 13 ... b6; at least the long diagonal is a good place

for the bishop, and White's knight is kept out of c5.}

14. h3! Bxf3

15. Qxf3 e5?

This was a "critical moment"; I calculated that after the exchanges on

e5 that I could pin the knight on d5 and win it eventually. I saw no

way out of the pin for black. For example, if black moved the queen

to a5, I could win the knight after Rxd5 and the queen cannot take

the rook because of Nf6+, winning the queen.

{You are right. Best was the noncommittal 15 ... Rc8.}

16. dxe5 Nxe5

16...Bxe5 was probably better because if 17. Bxe5, then 17...Nxe5,

attacking the queen and gaining a tempo. {But on 16 ... Bxe5 17 Rad1

still wins - if 17 ... Bxg3 18 Rxd5! or 17 ... Kh8 18 Nc5.}

17. Bxe5 Bxe5

18. Rad1 Qa5

{Or 18 ... Kh8 19 Ng3.}

19. Rxd5 Qc7

20. Nf6+ Kg7

20. Nf6+ gives rise to two possibilities: 1) trading the knight for

black's important bishop; and 2) if black doesn't bite (ie, take the

knight) then there follows the tactic: Rxe5, Qxe5, Nd7, forking the

queen and the rook on f8 and through that route trading pieces which

was to my advantage because I am a "piece up."

{Right.}

21. Rxe5 Qd6?

{This cannot be good. There was no choice but to play 21 ... Qxe5 22 Nd7

and end up a piece down. There is no point to 21 ... Qd6, which simply

leaves Black temporarily down 2 pieces, struggling to get one of them

back!}

22. Ng4

22. Ng4 was a mistake. I was thinking that white could regain the lost

piece, but I didn't calculate the variations because, if I had, I

would have seen clearly that there is not real dander. 22. Rd5 or 22.

Rd1 was playable. 22. Ng4 only complicated matters for white. [A Note

a few days after I wrote this annotation: The notation above represent

the words of a chessplayer who has forgot the drama of the game.

Actually, if the truth were told, if white made either of the moves

suggested in that note, the knight would be captured without

compensation by the black queen. So, it seems that the decision which

was made in the heat of the contest was the correct decision: 22.

Ng4. At the time, I didn't calculate the variations involving the

move 22. Ng4; instead, I discovered the tactic (24. Qxf7+ ) only

after black's 22. h5. In reality, the calculation should have begun

before 21. Rxe5. I was no doubt a bit over-confident after winning a

piece.

{22 Ng4 is ok, but you had no reason to expect Black to play 21 ...

Qd6? Right now you are two pieces up, and it is true that you do have

to give the knight back to save your rook. Best was 22 Nh5+! gxh5

(otherwise Black remains 2 pieces down!) 23 Qxh5, and you are a bishop

up with a very strong attack.}

22. ... h5

23. Rd5 hxg4

The move 23. Rd5 is also a mistake; actually, 23. Rxh5+, gxh5 24. Nf6

{No - 24 Nf6 Qxf6 in this line. I do not like the rook sacrifice, when

there are ways to simply give back the knight and remain a bishop up

for nothing. Therefore, I do not think that Rd5 is a mistake, although

23 Rd1 (for example) would have been stronger.}

was worthy of consideration in light of the resulting open files

leading to the king. After 23...hxg4 I realized my mistake on move 22.

(I guess it is not uncommon, but I tend to relax a little when I win a

piece and don't continue to play with sufficient energy and alertness

when I am winning. Sad, but true.) I studied the position closely this

time and found a interesting tactic for white. [Note: I should be

clear and not give the impression of bragging here: the sacrifice was

an attempt to make the best of a situation where the initiative was

slipping out of my hands. In hindsight it might have been preferable

to surrender the knight and the queen to black for his queen because,

as I look at the position now, I would have still been ahead a piece.

So, once again, it appears that 22. Ng4 was not the best continuation.]

24. Qxf7+{!}

An in-between move.

24. ... Rxf7

25. Rxd6 gxh3

26. Rxg6+ Kf8

27. gxh3 Re8

Here I found it necessary to study the position carefully once again.

White is a "piece up" and has two passed pawns (and a two-pawn

advantage in addition to the piece) on the kingside. white's main

problem is that the white bishop is not well-placed and, if white

doesn't correct that problem, black threatens to win a pawn (or two)

with Re2, forcing the bishop to move and leaving a pawn unprotected.

I found 28. Rg2 which prepares f3 should my opponent play Re2.)

{28 Rg2 is a good move winning with the least problems.}

28. Rg2 Re6

29. f3

With the idea of finding a good square for the bishop.

29. ... Ra6

30. a3 b5

31. Be4

At last , the bishop finds a good square and enters the game.

31. ... Rd6

32. h4 Rh6

33. h5

Blacks resigns. 33...Rxh5 leads to another tactic: 34. Bg6, forking

the two rooks and winning the exchange and the game.

player - student

1. e4 Nf6

2. e5 Nd5

3. d4 d6

4. c4 Nb6

5. f4

The four-pawn attack in opposition to the Alekhine. I have played the

Alekhine for many years, but I don't understand the opening as well

as I should, as was illustrated through this game.

5. ... dxe5

6. fxe5 Nc6

7. Be3 Bf5

8. Nc3 e6

9. Nf3 Be7

{The major alternatives here are 9 ... Qd7 to castle queenside, and 9 ...

Nb4 (less popular) 10 Rc1 c5, to start liquidating White's center.}

10. d5

I did not anticipate this move and was not prepared for the

complications arising from it.

{This is the introduction to a very complicated theoretical variation.

White's alternative is the quiet 10 Be2 O-O 11 O-O f6.}

I studied the position for a very long time in search of an answer. I

found the move 10...Nb4, but I learned after the game that 10...exd5

and then Nb5 was better. (See Burgess, New Ideas in the Alekhine.)

{It is not clear which line is better.}

I lost much time on the clock because I didn't know the variation

beginning with 10. d5)

10. ... Nb4

11. Nd4

{Probably a stronger line for White here is 11 Rc1 and if 11 ... exd5 then

12 a3.}

Bg6

Saving the Bishop and for the moment maintaining the "potential

threat": Nc2+.

{Correct.}

12. a3 c5

The best move that I could find in the position. I saw that I could

regain the pawn with Bxb5, pinning the knight.

{Again correct.}

13. axb4

{White could try 13 Nxe6 (a desperado with the knight which is attacked

anyway) fxe6 14 axb4 with an unclear position.

cxd4

14. Bxd4

{14 Qxd4 Bxb4 is also ok for Black here.}

exd5

I changed plans: I didn't make the move 14. Bxb4 because I was

concerned about black pushing the pawn on d5 to d6.

{14 ... Bxb4 was correct. If 15 d6 O-O 16 Be2 Qh4+ 16 Bf2 Qg5 Black

has a very active position.}

15. Bxb6

{White has a way to capture the initiative here - 15 cxd5! and if 15 ...

O-O 16 d6, White is up a strong pawn, or 15 ... Nxd5 16 Bb5+ and White

develops quickly - 16 ... Kf8 17 O-O.}

Qxb6

16. Qa4+

I considered 16...Qc6 but I realized that after 17. Nxb5 black could

counter white's plans and pose a dangerous threat to the white king

with 17...Qe6.

{True. On 16 ... Qc6 17 cxd5! Black is down a pawn with nothing to

show for it.}

16. ... Kf8

17. Nxd5 Qe6

{Suddenly creating strong threats. But even more active was 17 ... Qd4!}

18. Ra3

Preparing a response to 18...Qxe5+

18. ... Bh4+

19. g3 Bg5

Countering my opponent's plan to resond to Qxe5 with Re3 and also

weakening the king position.

{Correct.}

20. Qd1 Qxe5+

21. Qe2

I considered several queen moves but decided on 21...Qd6 because of

the threat Nc7+.

{21 ... Qd4 is very strong. If then 22 Nc7 Rd8 is crushing. White will

never get his king out of the center.}

21. ... Qd6

22. Qf2 Be4

I had planned to answer Qf2 with Re8+, but at the last minute, I made

the bishop move unwisely, allowing my opponent the time to redeploy

his pieces. Actually, my spontaneous plan was to exchange the knight

on d5 for the bishop, but I realized after I made the move that

having a white bishop on d5 would be no better. Be4 allowed the

exchange of an important piece and perhaps threw away the game; the

move certainly gave the initiative to white, allowing a build up on

the critical f7 square.

{22 ... Be4 is wrong for all the reasons you mention. White should not

be allowed to exchange his way out. 22 ... Re8+ 23 Be2 Bh5 is too

strong, so White would have had to move his king.}

23. Bg2 Bxg2

24. Qxg2 Qe5+

{Much better was 24 ... Re8+ and Black still has the more dangerous

threats.}

25. Qe2

Perhaps trading queens in this position would have been a good idea.

After the exchange I would have had to push the a-pawn to a6 and then

push one of the king pawns to allow the king to go to a square on the

7 so that the rooks could "talk" to one another. Such an endgame

would have been better than what happened in the game.

25. ... Qf5

{On a queen trade, White would probably stand a little bit better because

of the strong knight. Correct was 25 ... Qd4! stopping White from castling

and threatening ... Ra8-e8. After 26 Kf1 Re8, Black would have the better

position.}

26. Rf1

Attacking the queen and targetting the f7 square.

26. ... Qb1+?

{This helps White, as you point out.} Now, I want to exchange queens;

I had a blindspot to the escape route for the king on f2.

27. Kf2 Qg6

Shoring up the f7 square which I now knew was in jeopardy.

28. Kg2 Re8

A case of "too little to late"! {Yes, White's king is finally safe, and

Black is now underdeveloped.}

29. Qf3 a6

30. Nc7 Rd8

31. Qxb7 Qc2+

Searching for an answer to the mounting threats on the f7 square. I

was also feeling the pressure of time-trouble. At this point, I had

two to three minutes remaining to make 9 moves.

32. Rf2 Qxc4

33. Rc3! Qg4

Protecting against Ne6+.

34. h3 Qd7

35. Rd3 Qc6+

{Your opponent finished nicely.}

I was essentially conceding the contest which probably reached a

climax with 22...Be4.

36. Qxc6

1 - 0

3 games featuring the

English Opening.

Rohde - Z. Polgar: 1 c4 e5 system. Judged by GM Andy Soltis to be the

19th most beautiful game of the century!

Dzindzi - Browne: A Hedgehog. Dzindzi applies the bear hug!

Granda - Seirawan: Hedgehog with deFirmian's ... Nb8-c6: another

fantastic game!

Rohde - Polgar, Z., NY INt. 1992

1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Nf3 f5 4 d4 e4 5 Ng5 h6

[I believe that 5 ... Bb4 is Black's best here. I had just faced

the continuation that Polgar chooses in Rohde - Browne, Philadelphia

International 1992, so I was able to play the opening quickly.]

6 Nh3 g5 7 Ng1!

[Black's kingside space advantage will be nullified by h2-h4.]

Bg7 8 e3 Nf6 9 h4 Kf7?!

[In Steinitzian fashion, using the king (the only available piece)

to shore up the defence of g5. Instead Rohde-Browne featured a battle

over the f4 square - 9 ... g4 10 Nge2 Nh5 11 Nd5 Ne7 12 Nef4 Nxf4 13

Nxf4 h5! followed by ... Rh6! and ... Ng6.]

10 Nh3 Kg6 11 f3 Qe7 12 fxe4 Nxe4

[If Black had played 12 ... fxe4, then 13 Nf2 would threaten 14

Nfxe4 too strongly. After the text, 13 Nd5 is tempting, because if 13

... Qf7?, then 14 Qh5+!! Kxh5 15 Nhf4+ gxf4 16 Nxf4+ Kg4 17 Be2+ Kg3

18 Rh3 mate! But 13 ... Qd6! would stop all this.]

13 Nxe4 Qxe4 14 Bd3! Qxg2 15 Bxf5+!!

[The start of an incredible king-hunt.]

Kxf5 16 Rf1+

[A critical move. Not 16 Qd3+ Kf6! 17 Rf1+ Ke7 18 Qg6 Qg3+ 19 Kd1

gxh4! 20 Rf7+ Kd8 and Black is better. The text 16 Rf1+ disallows 16

... Kg6 17 Qd3+ Kh5 18 Nf4+! gxf4 19 Qf5+ Kxh4 20 Rxf4+, etc.]

Ke6 17 Qh5 Ne5

[A tough choice. 17 ... Rf8 loses to 18 Qg6+ Bf6 (18 ... Rf6? 19

d5+) 19 hxg5 hxg5 20 Rxf6+! Rxf6 21 Nxg5+. Not as clear is the

groveling 17 ... Ke7?! (J. Polgar) 18 Qf7+ Kd8 19 Qxg7 Re8. The

desperate 17 ... Bxd4 fails to 18 exd4 Qg3+ 19 Rf2!, but the bizarre

17 ... Qg3+ 18 Kd1 Bxd4!? may be tried.]

18 dxe5 Bxe5 19 Qf7+ Kd6 20 Rf6+ Kc5

[20 ... Bxf6 loses quickly to 21 Qxf6+ Kc5 22 Qxh8, because Black

still cannot take the knight on h3, due to 23 Qd4+.]

21 b4+! Kxb4 22 Bd2+ Ka3

[If the king went back to c5, then 23 Rf5! wins - 23 ... d6 (or 23

... Qg3+ 24 Nf2 and Black's situation has not improved) 24 Qxc7+ Qc6

25 Bb4+ Kxc4 26 Rc1+.]

23 c5

[Ultimately, the White queen will cross over to the queenside to

deliver checkmate, even though Black gets to have fun for a few

moves.]

d5 24 cxd6 Bg3+ 25 Rf2 Qh1+ 26 Ke2 Bg4+ 27 Kd3 Bd1 28 Bc1+ Ka4 29 Qc4+

Ka5 30 Bd2+ 1 - 0

Dzindzihasvili - Browne, Los Angeles, 1992

1 Nf3 c5 2 g3

[Move order considerations in the Reti/English complex are very

important. It is well known that after 2 c4 Nf6 Browne would head

towards the Hedgehog: 3 Nc3 b6, or 3 g3 b6. But 2 g3 disallows the

Hedgehog unless Black is willing to risk transposition to the King's

Indian attack - 2 ... b6 3 e4. 2 g3 invites Black to occuply the

center with 2 ... d5 with a Reversed King's Indian in store. Browne's

usual reply to 2 g3 is 2 ... g6, which can lead to an English if White

plays c4, a King's Indian if White plays c4 and d4, or a Gruenfeld

after 3 c3 Bg7 4 d4 cxd4 5 cxd4 d5. Browne explained that he had not

fared well with 2 ... g6 against Dzindzi in the past.]

Nf6 3 Bg2 Nc6 4 O-O e6

[Deciding against the King's Indian 4 ... g6 5 c4 Bg7 6 d4 cxd4 7 Nxd4

O-O 8 Nc3 Nxd4 9 Qxd4 d6.]

5 c4 Be7 6 d4 cd

[Opting for a Hedgehog-type formation without the fianchetto of the

Queen's Bishop. 6 ... d5 would enter the Tarrasch or the

Semi-Tarrasch.]

7 Nd4 O-O 8 Nc3 a6 9 Bf4 Nd4 10 Qd4 d6 11 Qd3 Qc7

[The pressure against d6 is very uncomfortable, but if first 11 ...

Nh5 12 Be3, and 12 ... Rb8 13 Ba7! Ra8 14 Qe3, or 12 ... Qc7 13 Na4

take advantage of the weak b6 square.]

12 Rfd1 Rd8 13 Ne4!!

[If 13 Rac1 (threatening 14 c5) Nh5! 14 Be3 Bd7 and Black completes

his development.]

Ne4 14 Be4 h6

[Better than the panicky 14 ... f5 15 Bg2 Rb8 16 e4.]

15 Rac1 g5

[A critical moment. The threat was 16 c5, and the dark-squared bishop

had to be driven away. Browne prefers weakening his kingside in the

hope of later creating dynamic play to the immobilization of his

center that would result from 15 ... e5. The tournament situation

mandated this risky decision.]

16 Be3 Bd7 17 Qb3!

[More headaches! White threatens 18 Bb6 and 18 Qxb7.]

Rdb8

[The more active 17 ... Re8 fails to 18 Qxb7 Qxb7 19 Bxb7 Rab8 20 Bxa6

Rxb2 21 c5! d5 22 Rd2. With the text Black hopes to eventually expand

on the queenside, but White's 20th move will hinder those plans.]

18 Bb6 Qc8 19 Qd3 Bc6 20 b3!!

[Stopping the planned freeing maneuver 20 ... Bxe4 21 Qxe4 Qc6 which

now fails to 22 Qxc6 bxc6 23 Bc7 as the b-pawn is protected.

Meanwhile, the move envisions the reorganization Bb6-d4-b2 and Qc3.]

a5 21 Bh7+ Kg7

[On 21 ... Kf8 22 Qc3 e5 23 c5 things start to unravel.]

22 Bd4+ Kf8!

[Again refusing, for positional reasons, the invitation to play 22 ...

e5. Black's position would not be pretty after 23 Bb2 b6, although he

would still be kicking.]

23 Be4

[Trying to clear a path to h7 for the queen.]

f5 24 Bc6 Qc6 25 Bb2 a4??

[Hastening to create counterplay, Black only encourages White's b-pawn

to join the fray. Passive defense with 25 ... Kf7 26 Qc3 Rg8 was best.

The ironic aspect of 25 ... a4 is that Black had better chances of

opening the a-file by leaving the a-pawn where it was as White may

have needed to open a second front with a2-a3 and b3-b4. As so often

happens when one is conducting a long and arduous defence, time

pressure rears its ugly head.]

26 b4 Kf7 27 b5 Qe4

[Losing, but 27 ... Qc7 28 e4 was not much of an alternative.]

28 Qc3 f4

[On 28 ... Rg8 or 28 ... e5, 29 f3 is curtains because of 29 ... Qxe2

30 Re1.]

29 Qg7+ Ke8 30 c5!

[The inevitable break. Since 30 ... d5 31 c6 is grisly, Black wants to

be shown.]

Bf8 31 Qg8 dc 32 Bg7 Ke7

[32 ... Qf5 loses to 33 Rd6 Rd8 (33 ... Ke7 34 Rcd1) 34 Rxe6+ Kd7 35

Rd1+ Kc7 36 Be5+ Kc8 37 Rxd8+ Kxd8 38 Rf6.]

33 Bf8+ Rf8 34 Qg7+ Rf7 35 Rd7+ Kd7 36 Qf7+ Kd6

[An unfortunate stroll, but if the king goes back Black will lose the

rook.]

37 Rd1+ Ke5 38 Qg7+ Kf5 39 g4+ 1 - 0

Granda-Zuniga - Seirawan, Buenos Aires, 1993

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 Nc3 e6

[This method of entering the hedgehog system avoids aggressive

White systems such as 3 ... b6 4 e4 d6 5 d4 cxd4 6 Nxd4 Bb7 7 Bd3,

when a quick f2-f4-f5 is possible, or 3 ... b6 4 e3 Bb7 5 d4 cxd4 6

exd4 e6 7 a3 threatening d4-d5, and preparing 7 ... d5 8 cxd5 Nxd5 9

Ne5! On the other hand, with 3 ... e6 Black has lost the opportunity

for the double fianchetto which could develop after 3 ... b6 4 g3 Bb7

5 Bg2 g6, etc.]

4 g3 b6 5 Bg2 Bb7 6 O-O Nc6

[Much less common than 6 ... Be7 or 6 ... a6, the text has been

popularized by Nick DeFirmian. The main idea is that Black achieves

the typical Hedhehog goal of exchanging light-squared bishops after 7

d4 Nxd4! 8 Nxd4 Bxg2 9 Kxg2 (R.K. Delaune once essayed the solid 9

Nxe6 against DeFirmian) cxd4 10 Qxd4 Qc7 with equality.]

7 e4!

[An important innovation. White prepares to play d4 without

allowing the exchange of bishops, and Black loses time if he locks the

position up with 7 ... e5. In Salov - Seirawan, Rotterdam 1989, Yasser

awarded White an exclam for 7 b3 in Inf. 47, game 46, claiming that

the immediate 7 e3 is met by 7 ... Be7 8 d4 cxd4 9 exd4 Na5 10 b3 d5,

although White looks quite happy after 11 Ne5 (threatening 10 b4!) O-O

12 Bg5 Rc8 13 Rc1. In any case, Granda's method is more incisive - if

now 7 ... d6 8 d4 cxd4 9 Nxd4, Black's position lacks the dynamism

generally associated with the hedgehog. ]

e5 8 d3 g6

[This logical attempt to economize on the move 8 ... d6 meets a

shocking reply. The game Illescas - Ulybin, Chalkidiki 1992, which

deviated on the 6th move but reached a similar formation, illustrates

Black's difficulties: 6 ... d6 7 Re1 Be7 8 e4 e5 9 d3 O-O 10 Nh4 Nc6

11 Nf5 Nd4 12 f4 with the initiative.]

9 Nxe5!! Nxe5 10 f4 Nc6

[It is hard to give the piece back sensibly. Black just loses on 10

... d6?? 11 fxe5 dxe5 12 Bg5 Be7 13 Qf3. And 10 ... Bd6 11 fxe5 Bxe5

12 Bh6 is uncomfortable. Likewise, 10 ... Neg4 11 e5 Bxg2 12 Kxg2 Be7

13 exf6 Nxf6 14 f5 O-O 15 Qf3 fails to solve Black's problems. Given

this aggravation, Black holds onto the extra material.]

11 e5 Ng8 12 f5

[In this drastic situation, it is not easy to come up with workable

defenses. Possible is 12 ... Rb8, freeing the c6 knight for duty on d4

or e5. Seirawan comes up with a fearless and cold-blooded idea.]

Nh6!! 13 Ne4 Nxf5

[If 13 ... Nxe5 14 Bg5 is too strong.]

14 Nf6+ Ke7 15 Nd5+ Ke8 16 Nf6+ Ke7 17 g4

[Amazingly, there is no clear follow-up to 17 Bg5 Qb8.]

Nfd4 18 Qe1!

[The queen is headed to f2, to put inolerable pressure on f7 and

f6. Again, 18 Bg5 Qb8 is inconclusive.]

Qb8 19 Nd5+ Kd8 20 Bg5+ Kc8 21 Rxf7 Ne6!

[A solid move, shoring up the f8 bishop. The tempting 21 ... Qxe5?

runs right into 22 Bf6!, and 21 ... Nxe5? loses to 22 Rxf8+! Rxf8 23

Ne7+ Kc7 24 Qxe5+ d6 25 Qg7.]

22 Bf6 Ncd8?

[It turns out that this move allows White inroads into Black's

position through well-timed exchanges. Better was 22 ... Rg8, and

Black can wriggle forward with ... Ncd4, ... Bc6, etc. while White is

stymied. An excellent example of this kind of defensive maneuvering is

Granda's effort against Patrick Wolff from the '92 Reshevsky

Memorial.]

23 Re7 Rg8 24 Re8 Bc6 25 Bxd8!

[Much better than 25 Ne7+ which recovers the exchange but brings

Black's pieces to life. Granda foresees that the e-pawn will become a

monster. Another possibility was 25 Qh4, but Black can muddle with 25

... g5 26 Qxh7 Rg7.]

Nxd8 26 Nf6 Rh8 27 Bxc6 dxc6 28 Qe4 Qc7 29 e6 Bg7

[A humorous variation is 29 ... Rb8 30 e7 Bxe7 31 Rxe7 Qd6 32 Ne8.]

30 e7 Rxe8 31 Nxe8 Bd4+ 32 Kh1 Qd7 33 Nd6+ Qxd6 34 e8(Q)

[Granda has an extra queen in return for a bishop and knight.

Seirawan puts up a remarkable resistance, but there is no denying the

outcome.]

a5 35 Rf1 Ra7 36 Rf8 Rd7 37 Q4e6 Qxe6 38 Qxe6 Kc7 39 Qe2 Bg7 40 Rf2

Bd4 41 Rf3 Nf7 42 Rf4 Nd6 43 Kg2 Nc8 44 b3 Re7 45 Re4 Rf7 46 Qe1 Rd7

47 Qg3+ Kb7 48 h3 Rf7 49 h4 Rd7 50 Re6 Bc3 51 Qf3 Nd6 52 Qf8 Nc8 53

Re8 Rc7 54 Rd8 Bg7 55 Qe8 Bf6 56 Rxc8 1 - 0

segments on the c3 Sicilian, the Accelerated Dragon, the

Taimanov, and the Richter-Rauzer.

(A) The 2 c3 Sicilian

Khmelnitsky - Rohde, Philadelphia (Atlantic Open) 1991 B26

1 e4 c5 2 c3 e6

I have been playing the 2 c3 Sicilian myself lately and I am convinced

that this is the best reply.

3 d4 d5 4 ed ed 5 Be3

Although this is the standard move here, it only forces Black to play a

clearly good system. White's best is to play 5 Nf3 and try to steer the game

into Tarrasch French channels.

c4 6 b3 cb 7 ab

White has achieved the exchange of his a-pawn for Black's c-pawn, but

Black has no problems because a) his development is easy, and b) White's center

is immobile - if White plays c4 then the b4 square is weakened.

Bd6 8 Bd3 Ne7 9 Qc2 Nbc6 10 Ne2

So far it has all been very amusing, and now I should have ended the

games by playing 10 ... h6, followed by castling. But I could hardly resist

playing the same "joke" on my opponent.

Qc7?! 11 Na3

Threatening the embarassing 12 Nb5, which 11 ... a6 will not prevent!

Qd8!

I know I just wasted two tempi, but I had to save the dark-squared

bishop.

12 Nb5 Bb8

How strong is his knight on b5 anyway? It can only go back to a3, unless

he weakens b4 by playing c3-c4. And after I play a7-a6, my rook on a8, the

"pinnee", will be no more useless than his rook on a1, the "pinner".

13 h4?!

Much better was 13 Ng3 threatening 14 Nh5 and if 13 ... Ng6 14 0-0 with

the idea f2-f4-f5.

a6 14 Nf4 Ng6!

Effectively bullying the knight off f4.

15 Nh5 0-0 16 f3!

The fight for king-side space begins in earnest. Later I won a see-saw

battle.

(B) The Accelerated Dragon

Polgar, J. - Dzindzi, NY INt. 1992 B34

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 g6 5 c4 Nf6 6 Nc3 d6 7 Be2 Nxd4 8 Qxd4 Bg7 9

Bg5 O-O 10 Qd2 Be6 11 O-O Rc8

[Also possible is 11 ... Qa5 12 f3 Rfc8, eliminating White tricks based on

Nc3-d5 because a Nd5xe7+ could be answered with ... Kf8.]

12 Rad1

[Preparing 12 ... Bxc4? 13 Bxc4 Rxc4 14 e5 Ne8 15 Nd5. The straightforward 12

b3 Qa5 13 Rac1 was the alternative.]

Qa5 13 b3 a6?!

[Black would be comfortable after the precautionary 13 ... Rfe8. Then play

might proceed 14 f3 a6 15 Nd5 Qxd2 16 Rxd2 Nxd5 17 exd5 Bd7 with equality.]

14 Nd5! Qxd2 15 Nxe7+ Kh8 16 Bxd2 Rce8 17 Bb4!! Rxe7

[Black seems to have play on the e-file after 17 ... Nxe4, but with 18 Bf3

Nc3 19 Rd3 Rxe7 20 Bxc3 White will exert strong pressure against the backward

d-pawn. The text submits to an unpleasant endgame where White's rook + two pawns

is much stronger than Black's two minors.]

18 Bxd6 Ree8 19 e5 Ng4 20 Bxf8 Rxf8 21 Bf3 Rb8 22 h3

[A nice finesse. 22 Bxb7 would have been met by 22 ... Bxe5.]

Nxe5 23 Bxb7 a5 24 Bd5 Bxd5 25 Rxd5 Nc6 26 Rfd1 Bf8 27 Rb5 Re8 28 Kf1 Kg8 29 g3

h5 30 Rdd5 Bb4 31 Rd1 Kg7 32 Rb7 Re6 33 Rb6 Nd4?

[A blunder in a bad position.]

34 Rxb4 1 - 0

(C) The Taimanov

Kasparov - Anand Tilburg 1991, Rd. 5 B48

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cd 4 Nd4 Qc7

There are some interesting transpositional effects to this early posting

of the queen. First of all, 5 Nb5 Qb8 accomplishes nothing for White. More

promising is 5 c4 which allows 5 ... Qe5?! 6 Nb5 Qe4+ 7 Be2 with a nice game for

White - this is reminiscent of the Scotch Steinitz 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 ed 4

Nd4 Qh4 5 Nb5. But after 5 c4 better is the simple 5 ... e6 and the "Maroczy

Bind" with pawns on e4 and c4 is not so fearful when Black's king bishop still

has many development choices. It is also important to distinguish the different

possibiilities of 4 ... Qc7 5 Nc3 e6 from 4 ... e6 Nc3 a6. On 4 ... e6 White can

play the "Karpovian" 5 Nb5 d6 6 c4. And on 4 ... e6 5 Nc3 a6 White can play

Sax's annoying 6 Nc6 bc 7 Bd3. But one advantage of the move order 4 ... e6 5

Nc3 a6 is that White can not so profitably get Kasparov's setup with bishops on

e3 and d3 - if then 6 Be3 Nf6 7 Bd3 Black has no need to play ... Qc7 and can

play 7 ... d5 or 7 ... e5.

5 Nc3 e6 6 Be3 a6 7 Bd3

White could still have played the more usual move order 7 Be2 Nf6 8 O-O

with a main line Taimanov after 8 ... Bb4 or a Scheveningen after 8 ... d6.

Nf6 8 O-O Ne5

A move which requires some thought. Black threatens 9 ... Neg4, forcing

White to spend time defending against it. But since Black will not want to open

the c-file with a later ... Nxd3, ultimately the knight will have to retreat.

The real point is to get the Black bishop to c5, which cannot be accomplished

immediately - 8 ... Bc5 9 Nxe6.

9 h3 Bc5 10 Kh1 d6 11 f4 Nc6?

This move allows Kasparov's following shot because the bishop on c5 may

become undefended. Most logical was 11 ... Ned7 12 Qf3 b5, as in Tal - Najdorf,

Belgrade 1970. Placing the knight on g6 would be uncomfortable because Black

could then never respond to White's f5 with ... e5.

12 e5!!

A comparable situation, in which White ignores a picec on d4 in order to

get in the push e4-e5 arises after 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cd 4 Nd4 e6 5 Nc3 a6 6

g3 Qc7 7 Bg2 Nf6 8 0-0 h6 9 Re1 Nd4 10 e5!, as in DeFirmian - Rohde, New York

Open 1988.

Ne5

A tough move to play, as it temporarily sacs a piece while leaving White

with options as to how to throw it back. But Anand clearly saw the alternatives

were demoralizing: 12 ... dxe5 13 Ndb5! axb5 14 Bxc5 Nd4 15 fxe5 Qxc5 16 exf6

0-0 17 Ne4 Qe5 18 Qg4 is grisly; 12 ... Nxd4 13 exf6 gxf6 14 Ne4 f5 15 Bxd4!

Bxd4 16 Bb5+ axb5 17 Qxd4 0-0 18 Nf6+ Kh8 19 Ne8+ wins; 12 ... Bxd4 13 Bxd4 and

now 13 ... Nxd4 14 exf6 gxf6 15 f5! or 13 ... dxe5 14 fxe5 Nd7 15 Ne4! with the

amusing triad 15 ... Ndxe5 16 Bc5 and 17 Nd6+ is unstoppable, 15 ... Nxd4 16

Nd6+ wins - if 16 ... Ke7 or 16 ... Kf8 then 17 Rf7+ and 18 Qg4, or 16 ... Kd8

17 Nxf7+, and 15 ... Ncxe5 16 Qh5 with a continuing attack: 16 ... 0-0? 17 Bxe5

followed by 18 Nf6+, or 16 ... H6 17 Ng5 0-0 18 Bh7+! Kh8 19 Nxf7+ Rxf7 20 Rxf7

Kxh7 21 Raf1! threatening 22 Rxg7+ and if 21 ... Nxf7 22 Rxf7 e5 23 Qf5+.

13 fe de 14 Bb5+!

Much better than 14 Ndb5? axb5 15 Nxb5 Qb6 which is not special.

ab

Black cannot delay the recovery of the piece. If 14 ... Bd7 15 Bxd7+

Nxd7 16 Nxe6! fxe6 17 Bg5 and Black's king is cut off, e.g. 17 ... Nb6 18 Ne4,

or 17 ... Be7 18 Bxe7 Kxe7 19 Qh5. On 14 ... Kf8 15 Rf6 hurts: 15 ... gxf6 16

Bh6+ Ke7 17 Nf5+! wins, or 15 ... exd4 16 Bf4 Qe7 (16 ... Bd6 17 Nd5 Qd8 18

Bxd6+ Qxd6 19 Qh5!) 17 Ne4 axb5 18 Be5 (Kasparov) with a crushing bind - if 18

... b6 19 Qg4 Bb7 20 Raf1. On 14 ... Ke7 15 Rxf6! wins - 15 ... gxf6 16 Nf5+, 15

... Kxf6 16 Qg4, or 15 ... exd4 16 Bf4 Qa5 (16 ... Bd6 17 Nd5+) 17 Qh5.

15 Ndb5 Qb6 16 Bc5 Qc5 17 Nd6+ Ke7 18 Rf6!

Only this thematic shot retains the attack.

gf 19 Nce4 Qd4

Not 19 ... Qe3? 20 Nf5+!

20 Qh5 Rf8 21 Rd1

Better than 21 Qh4 Ra6 22 Nc8+ Kd7!

Qe3 22 Qh4 Qf4 23 Qe1!

A pretty switch. Now 23 ... f5 24 Qb4 is devastating.

Ra4 24 Qc3 Rd4 25 Rd4 Qf1+

Necessary. Not 25 ... ed 26 Qc7+ Bd7 27 27 Nc8+.

26 Kh2 ed 27 Qc5 Kd7 28 Nb5 Qf4+ 29 g3 1 - 0

29 ... Qe5 30 Nf6+! Qf6 31 Qc7+ Ke8 and mate is delivered on the key d6

square.

(D) The Richter-Rauzer

Tate - Ashley, NY Open 1994

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6 6 Bg5 e6 7 Qd2 a6 8 O-O-O h6

[The popular "Dlugy Variation" of the Richter-Rauzer.]

9 Be3 Qc7

[Another line is the immediate 9 ... Nxd4 followed by 10 ... b5.]

10 f3 Rb8

[This unusual move reserves options, lends strength to ... b5-b4, and avoids

problems concerning the sensitive b6 square.]

11 g4 Ne5

[A very provocative move. The centralized White knight on d4 is no longer

"marked", and White is tempted by ideas of f3-f4 and e4-e5. On the other hand,

the knight pressurizes the White pawns, and aims for c4. If White stops to

defend the h-pawn with 12 h3, then 12 ... b5 13 f4 Nc4 14 Bxc4 bxc4 brings the

rook on b8 to life.]

12 f4!

[Sidetracking the Black knight and getting his own attack started.]

Nexg4 13 Bg1

[It seems that 13 e5 Nxe3 14 Qxe3 dxe5 15 fxe5 Nd7 is not good enough. Now 14

h3 is threatened.]

e5

[Of course not the passive 13 ... h5? 14 h3 Nh6 15 e5, etc. Very interesting

was I. Gurevich's suggestion 13 ... b5! Then 14 h3 b4 is good for Black, so

White probably has to stop for 14 a3.]

14 Bb5+!!?

[Another wild line is 14 Nf3! exf4 15 e5 dxe5 16 Bb5+ with 16 ... Bd7 17 Bb6,

or 16 ... axb5 17 Nxb5 Qd7 (not 17 ... Qe7 18 Bc5) Qa5 and continuing

complications.]

axb5 15 Ndxb5 Qd8

[Better was 15 ... Qc6, but Ashley wanted to avoid the irritant 16 Na7.]

16 Bc5

[Not good enough was 16 h3 exf4 17 hxg4 Bxg4.]

d5!

[This defuses the pressure on d6.]

17 Ba7 Ra8 18 Nxd5?

[Tate finally overcombines. Later he recommended 18 Rhe1 to stop ... Rxa7

followed by ... Bc5, but Black can reply 18 ... Bb4! 19 h3 O-O! Instead, now was

a good moment for 18 h3! Rxa7 19 Nxa7 Bc5 20 hxg4 Bxa7 21 g5 Ng4 22 Nxd5 and

Black is in trouble.]

Nxd5 19 Qxd5 Qxd5 20 Nc7+ Kd7 21 Nxa8 Qd6!

[Black is winning.]

Short - Karpov, Candidates Match, 1992 B63

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4

[Resisting the temptation to play the "safe" 3 Bb5 which , for example, I

used to secure a draw as White against Benjamin to make a GM norm in the 1987

New York Open.]

cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Bg5

[The signal move of the Richter-Rauzer, essentially committing White to an

opposite sides castling situation. 6 Be2 would have led, after 6 ... g6 to the

Classical Dragon, after 6 ... e6 to the Scheveningen, or 6 ... e5 to the

Boleslavsky.]

e6 7 Qd2 Be7

[The leading American exponent of this system is D. Gurevich. The other main

lines are 7 ... a6 8 O-O-O h6 (popularized by Dlugy), and 7 ... a6 8 O-O-O Bd7]

8 O-O-O O-O 9 Nb3

[The main line is 9 f4 h6 10 Bh4 (Not 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 11 Nxc6 bxc6 12 Qxd6 Qb6

with good play) e5 with tremendous complications. The text 9 Nb3 is recommended

by Nunn in his classic Beating the Sicilian, and was once played by Karpov

against Kasparov! That game, from the ____ World Championship, continued with

Kasparov innovating 9 ... a5 10 a4 d5, and after 11 exd5 Nxd5 Black soon

equalized. Later, however, Vitolinsh and Tal discovered 11 Bb5! which has scored

well for White. Note that after 9 ... a5, in contrast to the game, 10 Bxf6 would

not be good because of 10 ... Bxf6! 11 Qxd6 Qxd6 12 Rxd6 a4.]

a6 10 Bxf6 gxf6

[Karpov has obtained a very double-edged position, where White can not play

to keep the draw in hand for fear of simply losing the initiative. With his next

move, Short commences a general and fearless kingside advance. A good

alternative plan was demonstrated in Adams - Frias, London 1990: 11 Qh6 Kh8 12

Qh5! (to inhibit ... Rg8) Qe8 13 f4 Rg8 14 Bd3 Rg7 15 g4 b5 16 h4 b4 17 Ne2 e5

18 f5 and White has slightly better chances. And in Vitolinsh - Smirin, USSR

championship 1989, wild complications ensued after 11 f4 b5 12 Bd3 Kh8 13 Rhe1

Rg8 14 Nd5!? exd5 15 exd5 Ne5!? 16 fxe5 fxe5 17 Kb1 Bg4 18 Be2, and though

Black's position has some nice features, again White is more comfortable.]

11 h4 Kh8

[Black can also try dispensing with this standard precautionary move. In

Jansa - Sax, Biel Interzonal 1985 play continued 11 ... b5 12 g4 b4 13 Ne2 a5 14

Nbd4 Ne5 15 g5 (a pawn sacrifice which Black ignores) a4 16 Ng3 b3. Black seems

to have gotten there first but White took twice on b3 (17 axb3 axb3 18 Nxb3) and

later prevailed. Sax was so impressed that he then tried the White side of this

line, against Van der Wiel, in Brussels 1985. Van der Wiel diverged with 14 ...

Nxd4 15 Nxd4 Bb7 16 g5 f5. After 17 Rg1 White was planning a vicious attack: for

example 17 ... Bxe4 18 h5, etc. But Black found 17 ... f4! shutting off White's

queen's access, and after 18 h5 e5 the players agreed to a draw, in view of 19

Nf5 Bxe4 20 Nxe7+ Qxe7 21 Qxd6, etc.]

12 g4 b5

[In several games Black has tried first 12 ... Rg8 here. Campora - Zueger,

Dubai Olympiad 1986 continuted 13 g5 (White is always willing to sac a pawn to

open the h-file) fxg5 14 hxg5 e5 15 f4 Rg7 (Not 15 ... exf4? 16 Rxh7+!) 16 Kb1

exf4 17 Qxf4 Ne5 18 Bh3 Bxg5 with an unclear position. In Judasin - Aseev, USSR

1987, after 12 ... Rg8 13 g5, Black played 13 ... b5 14 f4 Bb7 15 Kb1 b4 16 Ne2

a5 17 Bg2 a4 18 Nbd4 Na5, and White started munching with 19 Qxb4 d5 20 Qxa4 and

somehow survived.]

13 g5 b4 14 Na4!

[Although the knight is a potential target here, it is also quite annoying.

Moreover, it stops the advance of the a-pawn. Karpov may have been surprised by

this placement.]

Rg8 15 f4

[Only Black would be helped by 15 gxf6 Bf8! and if 16 Qf4 Rg6.]

Rb8 16 Kb1

[Now 16 gxf6 would lead to an unclear situation after 16 ... Bxf6 17 Qxd6

Qe8, as White's pieces seem disorganized.]

Bf8 17 Be2 e5

[It is easy to be suspicious about this move in light of what later

transpired, but Black's position was already difficult. On 17 ... Bd7 18 Nac5

Be8! 19 Nxa6 Rb6 gives compensation, but instead White plays 18 gxf6! Qxf6 19

e5, or 18 ... Na5 19 Nac5. And 17 ... f5 18 exf5 exf5 19 h5 is dangerous.]

18 f5!

[Short is willing to sacrifice a pawn to deny Karpov the use of the e5

square, open the h-file, and cut the board in half, so as to concentrate threats

on one side or the other.]

fxg5 19 hxg5 Rxg5

[Black is too passive after 19 ... Qxg5 20 Qd5 Nd8 21 Na5! and 22 Nc4.]

20 Qe3!

[Preparing the re-entry of the knight via b6. Since Be2-c4-d5 is in the air,

Karpov allows Na4-b6 and hurries to prepare counterplay.]

Qf6 21 Nb6 Ne7

[Of course, Nb6-d5 had to be stopped also.]

22 Nxc8 Rxc8 23 Bxa6 Rd8 24 Qb6 Ng8

[Karpov must have had this position in mind when he played 20 ... Qf6. 25 ...

d6-d5 is in the air.]

25 Na5!?

[Stalking the rook on d8 ... Simpler was 25 Qxb4.]

d5 26 Nc6 Rd6 27 exd5 Ne7 28 Qxb4?

[Correct was 28 Qc5 untangling and keeping an eye on g1. Then 28 ... Nxf5 29

Bd3 and Black is in bad shape. But after the text Karpov embarks on a very

unusual combination in which he sacs a piece and then converts his pinned rook

into a battery.]

Nxd5 29 Rxd5

[Probably better, although very unclear, was 29 Qh4 h6 30 Bb5.]

Qg7?

[Threatening 30 ... Rg1+ and 30 ... Rxd5. A pretty move, but as Seirawan

points out, he should have played 29 ... Rxd5! Then after 30 Qxf8+ Rg8 31 Qe7

(to answer 31 ... Qxc6 with 32 Qxf7; if 31 Qb4 Qxc6 32 Qh4 h6 33 f6 Rg6 34 Bd3

Qxf6!) Black has the stunning 31 ... Qh6!! 32 Re1 Qxc6.]

30 Rxd6 Rg1+ 31 Rd1 Rxd1+ 32 Rxd1 Bxb4 33 Nxb4 Qg4

[The sting at the tail end of the combination, which, however, works only to

the extent of picking up the pawn on f5, as Short scrambles away from the double

attack on his rook and knight, and simultaneously makes luft, preserving his 3

pieces vs. the queen material edge.]

34 Rd8+ Kg7 35 a3 Qxf5 36 Rd1 h5 37 Re1 Qe6?

[Time trouble becomes a factor. Short's last move was designed to control the

e4 square next with 38 Bb7, and Karpov reacts to that. Although White was

probably winning in any event, there was no excuse not to play 37 ... h4, just

to see if the h-pawn can do any damage.]

38 Bb7 f5 39 Bd5 Qf6

[Better was 39 ... Qd6.]

40 c4 e4 41 c5

[Time pressure is over, and the c-pawn will score a touchdown after 41 ... h4

42 c6 Qd8 43 Be6 or 42 ... Qe7 43 Na6. 1 - 0

[Event "?"]

[Site "Woburn, Mass."]

[Date "1995.03.??"]

[Round "?"]

[White "Weeramantry"]

[Black "Rohde"]

[Result "0-1"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3

{I have never relished facing the Grand Prix Attack, which arises after

2 ... Nc6 3 f4 g6 4 Nf3 followed by 5 Bc4, which Sunil is a specialist in.

And if Blcak avoids this with 2 ... Nc6 3 f4 e6 4 Nf3 a6, after 5 d4 Sunil

is also quite happy on the White side of a Taimanov. I came to the board

prepared to play 2 ... Qc7!?, radically stopping 3 f4. But the queen might

just be stupid there in closed Sicilian positions after 3 g3. After a long

think I came up with the following idea:}

2...a6!? 3.f4 b5 4.Nf3 Bb7

{The point! Black threatens to win a pawn with 5 ... b4.}

5.d4

{5 d3 followed by g2-g3 is an objectively good reaction.}

5...e6!

{Keeping the pressure against White's center in suspense. Good for

White was 5 ... b4 6 Na4 cxd4 7 Nxd4! Bxe4 8 Be3 with a big lead in

development.}

6.Be3 cxd4 7.Qxd4

{Unclear is 7 Nxd4 with possibilities such as 7 ... Bb4 8 Bd3 Nf6 9

O-O!, 7 ... Nf6 8 e5, or 7 ... b4! 8 Na4 Nf6!}

7...Nf6 8.0-0-0

{Much better was 8 e5, even though Black is certainly OK after 8 ...

Ng4.}

8...Nc6 9.Qd3

{Simply unplayable is 9 Qd2 b4.}

9...Rc8

{Amazingly, White's situation is already critical.}

10.Ng5!

{By controlling the e4 square, White renews the threat of playing e4-e5.

The immediate 10 e5 fails to 10 ... Nb4 11 Qd2 Ne4. But now White is ready

to meet almost anything with e4-e5. For example, 10 ... h6? 11 e5! is

very good for White, as after 11 ... hxg5 12 exf6 White threatens 13 Bb6!

More testing is 10 ... Qa5. Then the immediate 11 e5 is impossible because

of 11 ... Nb4 12 Qd2 Nxa2+. Instead, White plays 11 a3 and Black is

stymied: 11 ... b4 12 e5!! works for White after 12 ... bxc3 13 exf6 cxb2+

14 Kb1 or 12 ... bxa3 13 exf6 axb2+ 14 Kd2; a different route entirely is

11 ... Bxa3 but is not convincing after 12 bxa3 Qxa3+ 13 Kd2. This

analysis makes clear the need to get the knight to b4 first.}

10...Nb4! 11.Qd2 Qa5

{Now the threat of 12 ... Rxc3 is taking priority, and forces White's

play.}

12.Bd4 Rxc3 13.Bxc3 Nxa2+ 14.Kb1 Nxc3+ 15.Qxc3

{With the c3 knight gone, White's middlegame counterplay lacks punch

because e4-e5 is always answered by ... Nf6-d5.}

15...Qxc3 16.bxc3 h6!

{Winning the second pawn for the Exchange in the most active way

possible. Not good enough was 16 ... Nxe4 17 Nxe4 Bxe4 18 Rd2 and White

should hold.}

17.e5

{He still cannot allow the Black knight to simply alight on e4.}

17...hxg5 18.exf6 gxf4

{Now White's kingside paralysis becomes a major factor. Weeramantry opts

for activity at the cost of possibly a few more pawns.}

19.c4 bxc4 20.Bxc4 Bxg2 21.Rhg1 Rxh2

{Unfortunately for White, now if 22 Rd2 f3 23 Bf1, then 23 ... gxf6 24

Bxg2 Bc5! wins. In this line, 23 fxg7 Bxg7 24 Bf1 loses to 24 ... Bc3. If

White tries the different move order 22 Bf1 (with the idea 22 ... f3 23

Bxg2, picking up the advanced pawn) then 22 ... Be4! wins because 23 fxg7

Bxc2+ 24 Kc1 Ba3 is mate.}

22.Bxa6 gxf6 23.Bb5 Bc5 24.Rxg2 Rxg2 25.Rxd7 Kf8 26.Rd3 f5 27.Bc6 Rg3

28.Rd1 f3 29.Rf1 f2 30.Kc1 Ke7 31.Kd1 Kd6 32.Bb5 e5 33.Ke2 Rg1 34.Kf3 e4+

35.Kf4 Ke6 36.Be2 Kf6 37.c3 Bb6 38.c4 Bc5

[Event "?"]

[Site "?"]

[Date "1996.??.??"]

[Round "?"]

[White "Tate"]

[Black "Fishbein"]

[Result "0-1"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qe2

Qc7 9.0-0-0 Be7 10.Bb3 Na5 11.g4 b5 12.g5 Nxb3+ 13.Nxb3?!

{In the sharp Velimirovic, this is a novelty not likely to be repeated

soon. It turns out that White's knights become targets for Black's racing

queenside pawns. After 13 axb3 Nd7, Velimirovic's line 14 Nf5 exf5 (check

out the wild 14 ... b4 15 Nxg7+ Kf8 16 Qh5 as in Wahls - Rechlis, Bern

1990) 15 Nd5 Qd8 16 exf5 is usually given as equal after 16 ... Bb7!!;

therefore, it has been supplanted by 14 h4 b4 15 Na4 (against Hellers at

Reykjavik 1990, Defirmian experimented with 15 Na2 a5 16 Nb5).}

13...Nd7 14.f4 b4

{In this position the knight has no good retreat square, as the queen is

using e2, and 15 Na4?? Qc6 cannot be done.}

15.Nb1 a5 16.N1d2 Ba6 17.Qg2 Rc8 18.Nf1 a4 19.Nd4 Nc5

{Every Black move gains time and hammers away at the sensitive light

squares.}

20.Ng3 b3 21.Kb1 bxc2+ 22.Nxc2 Nd3 23.Bc1 0-0 24.f5 Nxc1 25.Rxc1 Bxg5

26.Rcd1 Rb8 27.a3 Rxb2+ 28.Kxb2 Rb8+ 29.Nb4 Bf6+ 30.Kb1 Qc3

{A very efficient performance by Fishbein.}

31.Qa2 Bc4

[Event "Chicago Open"]

[Site "Chicago, Illinois"]

[Date "1996.05.??"]

[Round "?"]

[White "Lugo"]

[Black "Gurevich, D."]

[Result "0-1"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be3

{There are several points to this move. If 6 ... e5, the knight retreats

not to b3, as in the Boleslavsky 6 Be2 e5 7 Nb3, but to f3, as the White

king bishop has not yet moved, and is headed to c4. If 6 ... e6, White can

head for the Velimirovic with 7 Bc4, having avoided the variation 6 Bc4

Qb6!?. If Black heads for the dragon with 6 ... g6, White can still choose

between the Yugoslav 7 f3 or the Classical 7 Be2. In the 1996 World Open,

Zaitsev played the hybrid 6 ... a6 against me, and I chose 7 Qd2 heading

for the English attack with f2-f3 and g2-g4. Then I was surprised by 7 ...

Nxd4, and after 8 Bxd4 (better is 8 Qxd4 and if 8 ... e5?! 9 Qb6!) e5 9 Be3

Be6 I settled for the meek 10 Rd1, as I did not like 10 O-O-O Rc8 11 f3 Qa5

12 a3 Rxc3! 13 Qxc3 Qxc3 14 bxc3 d5.}

6...Ng4 7.Bg5

{A much-analyzed older line is 7 Bb5 Nxe3 8 fxe3 Bd7 9 Bxc6 bxc6 10 O-O

e6, with Black's two bishops and compact center fighting off White's lead

in development and pending kingside attack. With the text White tries to

prove that the knight on g4 is misplaced.}

7...Qb6

{I think that White is quite comfortable in the line 7 ... h6 8 Bh4 g5 9

Bg3 Bg7 10 Nb3 because of Black's weakened kingside.}

8.Bb5 Bd7 9.0-0

{A key move which defends the knight on d4 - 9 ... Qxd4 (not 9 ... Nxd4?

10 Bxd7+ Kxd7 11 Qxg4+) 10 Bxc6 Qxd1 11 Bxd7+ with a small endgame

advantage.}

9...h6 10.Be3!!

{I introduced this move against Dmitry in a tournament in New York City

in 1986. White reverts to the weak pawns for open f-file concept. The

difference between this position and the one in the note to White's 7th is

that Black has an extra two moves (the result of the maneuver Be3-g5-e3) -

... Qd8-b6 and ... h7-h6 - both moves which will make a successful kingside

defence harder.}

10...Nxe3 11.fxe3 g6!?

{Is this the big improvement on Rohde - Gurevich, NY 1986, which

continued 11 ... e6 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Qf3 f6 14.Qh5+ Ke7 with an unclear

position?}

12.Nd5 Qd8 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Qf3 f6

{Also very strange is 14 ... Rh7! 15 e5 (15 Nf4 e5 16 Nfe6 - not good

enough is 16 Nxg6 exd4 17 Nxf8 Kxf8 - Bxe6 17 Nxe6 Qe7, and Black is out

of trouble) cxd5 16 e6 Bxe6 17 Nxe6 fxe6 18 Qxf8+ Kd7.}

15.Nf4 Kf7

{This is what Gurevich has been playing for. Now, with the threat of ...

e7-e5, he is hoping to make both knights back off. Of course, Lugo will

have none of that.}

16.Qe2 Qc8

{Extra support for e6 is needed.}

17.Rf3

{It seems to me that 17 Qc4+ e6 18 Nd3! was strong, threatening the push

e4-e5, and if 18 ... d5 19 Qc3 eyes all kinds of weak dark squares.}

17...e5! 18.Qc4+ d5 19.Nxd5

{No good is 19 exd5 because Black will munch on a knight, after which 20

dxc6+ Be6 accomplishes nothing.}

19...cxd5 20.Qxd5+ Ke8!

{One of Lugo's points is that White crashes through on 20 ... Kg7 21

Rxf6! But Gurevich's move forces White to toss another knight if he wants

to break down the f-file.}

21.Rxf6 exd4 22.Raf1 Be7 23.Rxg6 Kd8!

{It turns out that the only material White can garnish with his

initiative is a couple of loose pawns.}

24.exd4 Rb8 25.Qe5 Re8 26.Rxh6 Rb5 27.Qg3 Rg5 28.Qf4 Rg4 29.Qd2 Bg5 30.Qa5+

Qc7 31.Qxc7+ Kxc7 32.Rh3 Rgxe4 33.Rc3+ Kb8

[Event "Intel Grand Prix Qualifier"]

[Site "NY, NY"]

[Date "1995.06.??"]

[Round "?"]

[White "Adams"]

[Black "Wojtkiewicz"]

[Result "1-0"]

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5

{Black has a multiplicity of alternatives here. Aside from the

"normal" 2 ... d5, 2... e6 and 2... Nf6, he can try 2 ... g6!? 3 d4

cxd4 4 cxd4 d5 and after 5 exd5 (better than 5 e5 Nc6 with the best

elements of the French and the Caro) Nf6 we have transposed to a

permutation of the Panov Attack against the Caro. Also popular is 2

... d6 3 d4 Nf6 4 Bd3 (4 dxc5, hoping for 4 ... Nxe4?? 5 Qa4+, is not

very effective against 4 ... Nc6!) and now in Har-Zvi - Rohde, PCA NY

Qualifier 1995 I tried 4 ... Nc6 (not good is 4 ... g6 5 dxc5! dc5 6

e5; better was 4 ... Nbd7) and after 5 Nf3 g6 6 d5! (more accurate

than 6 O-O Bg7 7 d5 Na5!) Nb8 7 c4 White was a tempo up on a similar

line from the King's Indian.}

3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4

{A critical decision is whether to play the active text or to look

for isolated queen pawn positions after 5 ... e6 6 Bd3 cxd4, etc.

White can try a different approach with 6 Na3 (toying with the idea of

Na3-b5 in conjunction with an exchange of center pawns) but Kudrin has

demonstrated that 6 ... Qd8! 7 Nc2 Qc7!, denying f4 to White's bishop,

followed by adopting a hedhehog formation, is a good system.}

6.Be2 e6 7.Na3 Nc6 8.h3 Bh5 9.Nb5

{Impressed by this game, I tried the text against Atalik at the

World Open Action, Philadelphia 1995, although after the simple reply

9 ... O-O-O, I could not figure out Adams' idea. The game continued 10

Be3 a6 11 Na3 cxd4 12 Nc4 (the same silly threat!) Bc5 13 cd Bb4+?!

(13 ... Ba7 was possible, but I expected 13 ... Bxf3 14 dxc5 with

equality) 14 Kf1 Ba5 15 Ne5; Black lost after 15 ... Bxe2+? (much

better was 15 ... Nxe5) 16 Qxe2 Nxe5 17 dxe5 Ne8 18 Bb6!}

9...Rc8

{A key difference between this and Atalik's move is the lack of

pressure on the d-file, which Adams takes neat advantage of.}

10.c4 Qd8 11.g4 Bg6 12.g5!

{He wants to play d4-d5 after driving away the Black knight.}

12...a6 13.d5!!

{It is a strange concept in chess that, if you attack an opponent's

piece and he counterattacks a piece of yours, it is often effective to

simply attack a third piece! Here the justification is that if 13 ...

axb5 14 dxc6, White maintains multiple threats. Meanwhile, if 13 ...

exd5 14 gxf6 axb5 then White has given himself the opportunity to play

15 cxd5 and b5 may hang. Had White simply played 13 gxf6 instead, then

after 13 ... axb5 14 d5 would be pointless after 14 ... Nb4.}

13...Nb4 14.Na3 Nd7 15.0-0 e5

{Black is too ill-developed for an oepn king-file, and he wants to

use the e-pawn to help rescue the wayward knight on b4 later.}

16.Re1 Bd6 17.Nh4 0-0

{It would be bad to look for activity with 17 ... f5 Nb1 or 17 ...

f6 18 Bh5 Nf8 19 Nb1.}

18.Nxg6 hxg6 19.Nb1 e4

{White would have a dominating position on the cowardly 19 ... a5?

20 Nc3.}

20.Nc3 Re8 21.Bg4!

{The right way to snare the e-pawn, without allowing Black the

counterplay of 21 a3 Nd3.}

21...Nd3 22.Rxe4 N3e5 23.f4 Nxg4 24.hxg4!!

{Still playing sharply, Adams realizes that he needs fresh targets,

as his extra pawn is securely blockaded. The text presages an attack

down the h-file.}

24...b5!

{Wojtkiewicz has been putting up maximum resistance since the blow

on move 13. Here he borrows a Benko Gambit-like concept to obtain

activity for his pieces.}

25.Rxe8+ Qxe8 26.cxb5 c4 27.bxa6 Nc5 28.Bd2 Qd7?

{This wait and see approach looks practical, but Black had the

opportunity for 28 ... Ne4! as White's minor pieces are holding his

position together. Then it's unclear after 29 Qe2 Nxd2 30 Qxd2 Qd7 or

29 Kg2 Nxc3 30 bxc3 Qe4+ 31 Qf3 Qc2.}

29.Kg2 Nxa6 30.Qf3 Nc5 31.Rh1 Nd3 32.Qh3

{Better was 32 Rh4, envisioning 33 Qh3 Kf8 34 Rh8+ Ke7 35 Qe3+. It

seems Black would be forced to respond with 32 ... f6.}

32...Kf8 33.f5

{To cut off the annoying counterplay against g4, but giving Blck the

very useful e5 square. However, 33 Kg3? would achieve nothing against

33 ... Qa7! The other possibility was to try to recycle with 33 Qf3.}

33...Be5 34.Qf3 Ke7!

{He couldn't go back: 34 ... Kg8 35 Ne4! prepares the devastating

Qf3-h3.}

35.f6+ gxf6 36.gxf6+ Kd6!

{Not 36 ... Bxf6 37 Rf1.}

37.b3!

{There is no mating attack, so Adams liquidates the strong c-pawn.}

cxb3 38.Ne4+ Kc7 39.d6+?!

{Now was the right time for 39 Qxd3 Qxg4+ 40 Kf2 because 40 ... Qf5+

41 Qf3 Qxf3+ 42 Kxf3 bxa2 loses to 43 Bc3; if instead 40 ... bxa2

White starts his own vicious attack with 41 Rc1+.}

39...Kb8 40.axb3 Qb5

{Wojtkiewicz has stabilized, although he is still 2 pawns down.}

41.Rd1 Rc2 42.Kh3 Qd5

{Suddenly Black has threats, but Adams is about to embark on a brutal

king march.}

43.Kh4!! g5+ 44.Kh5 Nf4+!?

{Black is stymied after 44 ... Rc8 45 Kh6!}

45.Bxf4 Bxf4 46.Qxf4!

{Lifting the mate motif.}

46...Qxd1 47.Kxg5 Kb7 48.Kh6! Rc8 49.Kg7!

{With remarkable persistence, the king goes after the f-pawn. Now 49

... Qxb3?? loses to 50 d7, and after 49 ... Qh1 50 Kxf7 the White king

can wander away.}

49...Qd5

{The rest of the moves were played at breakneck pace in this Game/30

event. Suffice it to say that Adams picked off the f-pawn while

pitching the b- and d-pawns, exchanged queens and won with the knight

and two connectors against the rook.}

Velimirovic Attack, the Najdorf

Variation, and the "Pin Variation"

The Velimirovic Attack is a prototype for modern Sicilian Defence

variations in which the position becomes so complicated, and the rival attacks

so dangerous, that accidents are bound to happen. When seasonsed GM A. Fedorov

met the rising young star R. Kasimdhanov in Moscow, 1996, the fireworks started

when Kasimdhanov chose an offbeat defence to the Velimirovic which denies White

all the early sacrificial possibilities but allows him a concentrated buildup in

the center. Fedorov found a neat series of moves which paralyzed Black's army.

However, he started the final wave of the attack without taking the necessary

precautions, and Kasimdhanov sprung back by exploding open the center, even

though his king was still living there.

Fedorov,A (2555) - Kasimdzhanov,R (2435) [B89]

Russia Cup II, Moscow RUS (08), 1996

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6

The so-called "Classical Sicilian", for lack of a better name.

6.Bc4

The introduction to the Sozin / Velimirovic complex. Other White tries

include:

6 Bg5, the Richter-Rauzer; 6 Be2, which can lead into the Boleslavsky after 6

... e5, the Classical Dragon after 6 ... g6 or the Scheveningen after 6 ... e6;

and the eclectic 6 Be3, which invites 6 ... Ng4, but otherwise prepares the move

f2-f4.

e6

A popular method of sidestepping the Velimirovic is 6 ... Qb6, favored

for many years by GM John Fedorowicz. Then White usually plays 7 Nde2, 7 Nb3 or

GM Nick deFirmian's preference, 7 Ndb5.

7.Be3 a6 8.Qe2

The signal move of the Velimirovic attack. White aims to castle

queenside and jumpstart his kingside attack with the spike g2-g4-g5. In the

Sozin, which the young Bobby Fischer was partial to, White plays 8 O-O with

f2-f4 in mind.

Qc7

The main line so far. An interesting attempt to dispense with the queen

move, by creating d-file congestion, is the immediate 8 ... Na5 (in our game,

Kasimdhanov will play this on move 9), as played in Yudasin - Garcia Ilundain,

Pamplona 1992. Then 9.Bd3 Be7 (9...b5 10.b4! Nb7 11 O-O was very good for White

in Mestrovic - Polugaevsky, Varna 1972; better in this line is the offering 10

... Nc4, but after 11.Bxc4 bxc4 12.a3! Bb7 13.Bg5, White will again castle

kingside with the more active game) 10.0-0-0 [ANALYSIS DIAGRAM 0-0?! (Yudasin

gives 10...b5 11.g4 b4 12.Na4 [ perhaps better is 12 Nb1, analogous to the game

Hernandez - Adla below] Bd7 13.g5 Ng8 14.b3 as nice for White, which is true,

except that I do not see why Black cannot play 13 ... Bxa4 14 gxf6 Bxf6) 11.g4

b5 12.g5 Nd7 13.f4. By comparison to Fedorov - Kasimdhanov, this was good for

White, as he has not needed to play the cautionary a2-a3. For example, here 13

... b4 (Ilundain actually continued 13 ... Nc5!?) would be met by 14.Na4 Nc5

15.Nxc5 dxc5 16.Nb3 and White's kingside pawn storm will come with great effect.

9.0-0-0

White played the un-Velimirovic-like 9 f4 in Conquest - Tukmakov,

Iraklion, 1992. After 9 ... Be7 (not so good is the fork trick 9...Nxe4 10.Nxe4

d5 11.Bd3 dxe4 12.Bxe4 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Qxf4 14.Be5!) 10.0-0 O-O 11.a4!? Nxd4

12.Bxd4 e5 13.Be3 Be6!, White's mix of systems has allowed Black to achieve easy

equality.

Na5

The main line is 9 ... Be7 10 Bb3 (on 10 Rhg1 O-O 11 g4, the fork trick

11 ... Nxe4 12 Nxe4 d5 usefully disrupts White's attack) and only then 10 ...

Na5, when the exchange of the knight is assured. One of the points of 9 ... Na5

instead, is that if White now plays 10 Bb3 looking to transpose to the usual

lines, then Black has 10 ... b5 11 g4 Nxb3+ 12 cxb3 Bb7, and the quick hit on e4

forces White to waste time with 13 f3.

10.Bd3 b5 11.a3

Reasonable, although White has a couple of interesting alternatives

here. 11 Bg5, a prelude to a piece sacrifice, was tried in Milu - Nevednichy,

Bucharest 1994. Play continued 11 ... b4 (although in Rublevsky - Salov, Oviedo

1992, Black did not want any part of this and varied with 11 ... Be7 12.a3 Bd7

13.f4 Nc4 14.Rhf1 Rc8 with a complicated battle in store) 12.Nd5 exd5 13.exd5+

Be7 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Rhe1 Ra7 16.Qh5 Qc5 and now White took a misstep with 17.Qh6

(Stoica gives 17.Bf5! Rc7 18.Re2 (not 18 Bxc8? b3!) as good for White) and went

down in flames after 17...Qxd5 18.Qxf6 Rg8 19.Bf5 Be6! 20.Nxe6 Qxd1+ 21.Kxd1

Bxf6 0-1. Less impressive in my view is to let Black get the move ... b5-b4 in

unhindered. An example is Hernandez - Adla, Capablanca Mem B 1992 which saw 11

g4 b4 12.Nb1 Bb7 13.Nd2 d5 14.f3 Be7 15.Kb1 0-0 16.g5 Nd7 17.h4 Nc5 and Black

seems to be ok.

Bb7 12.g4 Rc8

Very amusing was Nunn - Sosonko, Thessaloniki, 1984, wherein Sosonko

reacted thematically to White's flank attack (g2-g4) with the central blow ...

d6-d5, which also acts against g4-g5 because of the pressure applied to the e4

square. However, Black is not well enough developed for this action, and got

blown away after 12 ... d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 [ANALYSIS DIAGRAM] 14.Ndxb5! axb5

15.Bxb5+ Kd8 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Rd3 Nc4 18.Rc3 Bb4 19.Rxc4 dxc4 20.Rd1+ Kc8 21.Rd4

Bd5 22.Rxd5 Bd6 23.Rd4. Judging when ... d6-d5 is good is one of the central

questions in Sicilian middlegames.

13.g5 Nd7 14.Rhe1!

14 f4 was first played in Hawelko - Inkiov, Warsaw 1987. The critical

continuation was 14 ... Nc4! 15.Ndxb5 axb5 16.Nxb5 Qb8 17.Bxc4 Bxe4 18.Rhe1 d5

19.Bd3 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 Be7. After 21.f5 (here Wolff - Inkiov, Saint John, 1988 saw

21.Nd4 0-0 22.f5 Ne5 23.Qb5 Qc7 24.Bf4 with the better game for White, but an

obvious improvement in this line is 22 ... Nc5 23 Qb5 Qa8 and Black may develop

a strong counterattack) Ne5 22.Qb3 Nc4 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.Kb1 0-0 25.Bc1 Rc6 26.a4

Rf2 Black obtained a very serious initiative for the pawn, which he soon

converted into a winning attack. Fedorov's move, on the other hand, requires

Black to use his second knight if he wants to get a knight to c4, and this may

cost valuable time.

Be7

The next test of this line for Black should certainly involve either 14

... Ne5 or 14 ... Nb6.

15.Qh5! g6

White's fifteenth was an irritating exploratory mission. The threat was

16 Nxe6, and if 15 ... O-O?, then 16 Nxe6!! fxe6 17 e5 breaks open the path to

h7. The conclusion could be 17 ... g6 18 Bxg6 hxg6 19 Qxg6+ Kh8 20 Rd4.

16.Qh6 Ne5?!

Quite double-edged, but worth considering, was 16 ... Bf8 17 Qh3 Nc5 18

Kb1, although Black has to watch out for potential sacrifices on both e6 and b5.

The text move cedes kingside turf in order to generate queenside threats.

17.Qg7 Rf8 18.f4?!

I like the standard precautionary move 18 Kb1!, as it is hard for Black

to strengthen his position. For example, he dare not play 18 ... Kd7?? because

of 19 Ndxb5! axb5 20 Qxe5, because 20 ... dxe5 21 Bxb5 is mate!

Nec4 19.Bxc4 Nxc4 20.Rd3 e5!

Kasimdhanov chooses an active defensive plan. It was possible to play

positionally with 20 ... Nxe3 followed by 21 ... Qb6, to finally achieve the ...

b5-b4 advance, although White's much greater activity and possibilities of

mounting an attack on the central files outweigh Black's two bishops against two

knights.

21.Nf3! f5!!

Trying to break down White's grip on the central light squares, while

establishing a defensive link along the second rank. On 21 ... Nxe3 22 Rdxe3

exf4 23 R3e2, White stands ready to break open the king file with Nc3-d5.

22.Qxh7

Initiating wild complications. Fedorov was unable to admit that Black

stands better by bailing out with 22 gxf6 (the only move to stop the cave-in on

the light squares) Bxf6 23 Qxc7 Rxc7.

fxe4 23.Qxg6+ Kd8 24.Nxe4 Nxb2??

It was time to be materialistic with 24 ... Nxe3! Then after 25 Rc3 Nc4

26 b3 (better than 26 fxe5? Rxf3! 27 Rxf3 Nxe5, or 26 Nxe5 Bxe4! followed by

capturing on e5), the position is wildly unclear, although it seems that Black

must be in the driver's seat. Temporarily a piece up, he can follow up with 26

... Rxf4 or 26 ... d5.

25.Rxd6+!

Now 25 Rc3 was impossible, as 25 ... Bxe4, chopping off its defence,

would win. But with the text Fedorov enables his queen to finally cover the c2

square!

Bxd6 26.Nxd6

White is down the exchange, but Black must give it back, as now 26 ...

Rb8 27 Nxe5 would be hopeless.

Bxf3 27.Nxc8 Kxc8 28.Kxb2 exf4 29.Bb6 Qd7

Material is almost even, but the deciding factor is the wide-open

position of Black's king. There would be no point to 29 ... Qc6 30 Re6.

30.Bc5 Rf7 31.Qg8+ Kb7 32.Re8 Rg7 33.Qf8 Rf7 34.Qh8 Rg7

Or 34 ... Rh7 35 Rb8+ Kc6 36 Qe5.

35.g6 Bg4 36.Rb8+ Kc6 37.Qf8

There is nothing to be done about Rb8-b6+.

1-0

The Najdorf Variation

Anand - Kasparov Tilburg 1991, Rd. 12 B93

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cd 4 Nd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 f4 e6

[A critical line against the 6 f4 system is 6 ... e5 7 Nf3 Nbd7 with

variations such as 8 Bc4 b5, or 8 a4 d5!?]

7 Bd3 Nbd7 8 O-O Qb6

[This move may be overly sharp but Black is passively placed after 8

...

Be7 9 Kh1. If 8 ... Qb6 is no good, Black would probably have to ditch

7 ... Nbd7 also and play 7 ... Nc6 instead.]

9 Be3 Qb2 10 Ndb5! ab 11 Nb5 Ra5

[In DeFirmian - Gheorghiu, Lone Pine 1980 11 ... Qb4 worked out badly

after 12 Nc7+ Ke7 13 Nxa8 Qa5 14 e5. Even worse would be 12 ... Kd8 13

Nxa8 Qa5 14 Nb6! Nxb6 15 Qe1!]

12 Rb1 Rb5!

[The point. 12 ... Qxa2 13 Nc3 Qa3 14 Rb3 was impossible.]

13 Rb2 Rb2

[So far Black has a rook and two minors for the queen but White's next

will recover an Exchange.]

14 Qa1 Rb6

[Forget about 14 ... Rb4? 15 Qc3.]

15 Bb6 Nb6

[The key position. Black has 3 pieces for the queen, and if he can

stabilize by getting a knight to c5 or by taking advantage of White's

weak dark squares, then he will have a good game.]

16 Qc3!

[Anand targets the uncoordinated queenside minors.]

Be7 17 Rb1

[Accurate. 17 Qc7 leads nowhere after 17 ... Nfd7 18 Rb1 0-0 19 Rb6?

Bd8!]

Nfd7

[Forced. 17 ... Bd8 18 Qd4 would be deflating.]

18 Qg7 Bf6 19 Qh6

[White's payoff has been the capture of the g-pawn and it was time to

reevaluate the position. Black has activated the dark-squared bishop

but still has problems with his knights. Kasparov said he should have

played 19 ... Rg8 which stops White's plan g4-g5. But then 20 Bb5

still seems strong.]

Ke7 20 Bb5

[Best was 20 g4! (Kasparov) Then 20 ... Rg8 21 g5 Bg7 22 Qh4 (Not 22

Qxh7?? Bd4+ and 23 ... Rh8) with a big advantage.]

Rg8?

[Also bad was 20 ... Nc5? 21 e5 dxe5 22 fxe5 Bxe5 23 Qg5+. Now was the

moment to stabilize with 20 ... e5! (Kasparov) White cannot allow

Black to post the bishop at e5, so he must play 21 f5. Then 21 ... Nc5

hits the e-pawn and Black has time to organize a coherent defence.

Note that 20 ... Bd4+ 21 Kh1 e5 fails to 22 Qh4+ Nf6 23 c3!]

21 Rd1 e5

[It was too late for 21 ... Nc5 22 e5 dxe5 23 fxe5 Bxe5 24 Qh4+ Bf6 25

Qb4 (Ftacnik)]

22 f5 Nc5?

[23 Qd2 was the threat, and Ftacnik's recommendation 22 ... Na8 does

not

help. The best try was 22 ... Rd8 23 g4 Nc5! (Black is helpless after

23 ... Rg8 24 h3 as 24 ... d5? 25 exd5 Bg5 26 Qxh7 Nf6 loses to 27 d6+

and White again threatens 25 Qd2) 24 g5 Nxe4 25 gxf6+ Nxf6 with a

bizarre situation where Black has only two knights for the queen but

some counterplay (Kasparov).]

23 Rd6!

[Now Anand mops up incisively.]

Bg5

[Black falls apart on 23 ... Kxd6 24 Qxf6+]

24 Qh7 Ne4 25 Rb6 25 Rd8 26 Bd3

[Shutting down all counterplay.]

26 Be3+ 27 Kf1 Bb6 28 Be4 Rd4 29 c3 1 - 0

Two exciting players battle it out in the Eastern Open in Washington, D.C.,

December 1996:

Waitzkin - Tate

Eastern Open 1996

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4

Tate is known for his very sharp and uncompromising opening repertoire.

Having recently defeated Waitzkin in another Sicilian in the National

Congress in Philadelphia, here he employs the Pin Variation, which does not

have the best theoretical reputation, but can be very scary to deal with.

By the way, if White wants to avoid this line, he can play 3 Nc3 instead of

3 d4. After 3 Nc3, 3 ... Nf6 transposes to the Alapin Sicilian after 4 e5,

and after other moves (say, 3 ... Nc6) White can play 4 d4 and the Pin

Variation is longer a possibility.

6.Bd3

The main line is 6.e5 Nd5 (this is better than 6...Ne4 7.Qg4!! Nxc3 8 Qxg7

Rf8 9 a3!, and, although the play is very complex, in many lines White's

Bc1-h6 will be a killer, e.g., 9 ... Nb5+ 10 axb4 Nxd4 11 Bg5 Qb6 12 Bh6

Qxb4+ 13 c3 Nf5 14 cxb4 Nxg7 15 Bxg7 with a great endgame for White, Szabo

- Mikenas, Kemery 1939) and now 7.Bd2 is probably best; then one line is 7

... Nxc3 8 bxc3 Be7 9 Qg4.)

6...Nc6

Another challenge to get in the move e4-e5 is issued! After 6 ... e5, I

once won a nice game with 7 Ne2 d5?! 8 exd5 Nxd5 9 O-O Nc6 10 f4!?, not

satisfied with the routine 10 Nxd5 played in Yates - Alekhine, The Hague,

1921. But I do not see the need for Black to rush the move ... d7-d5 in

this line.

7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.0-0

ECO gives the cryptic variation 8.e5 Nd5 9 Qg4 Qa5 10 O-O with a large plus

for White.

8...Qc7 9.Bd2

I still like White on 9 Qe2, with ideas such as 9 ... e5 10 f4, 9 ... d6 10

Na4, and 9 ... d5 10 exd5 cxd5 11 Bg5.

9...Rb8 10.Kh1 Bd6 11.Na4

Now on 11.f4 e5, Black's threat against b2 is very distracting.

11...h5 12.h3 Be5 13.c3

A passive move falling in with Black's plans. I think White would have

decent compensation for the pawn after 13.f4! Bxb2 14.Nxb2 Rxb2 15.e5 Nd5

16.Qf3 in Black's weak dark squares and disorganized position. This

exchange series would negate Tate's attacking gestures on the kingside.

13...Bf4!

Appealing now that White does not have the reply Bd2-c3.

14.c4

This may be a tactical mistake. On 14.Qe2, 14 ... Ng4? would not work

because of 15.Bxf4 Qxf4 16.g3.

14...Ng4

The immediate threat is 15 ... Bxd2, leaving the diagonal so that the queen

can make her way to h2. And the knight on g4 will always be immune to

capture because the h-file opening will be decisive.

15.Bc3?

Very interesting, but better was the direct defense 15 g3 (but not 15 Bxf4?

Qxf4 with the double threat of mate on h2 and 16 ... Nxf2+). Then 15 ...

Bxg3 16 fxg3 Qxg3 and White can choose between 17 Qe2 allowing a draw by

perpetual with 17 ... Qxh3+ 18 Kg1 Qg3+, or the riskier 17 Bf4 Qxh3+ (bad

is 17 ... Nf2+ 18 Rxf2 Qxf2 19 Bxb8) 18 Kg1 e5 19 Rf3 Qh4 20 Bg3 Qg5.

Be3! 16.f4 Bxf4 17.Qf3 Bd2!!

A nice finish. Establishing the pathway to h2 takes priority over

everything. The next moves are virtually forced.

18.Qxf7+

On the defensive 18 g3 Bxc3 19 bxc3 Ne5, Black is a pawn up with an

overwhelming position.

Kd8 19.e5 Bxc3 20.Qxg7

A pretty maneuver which staves off immediate disaster. White

threatens mate via 21 Rf8+.

Qxe5 21.Rf8+

This is needed to liquidate the rook on h8 which has been holding

up the knight on g4.

Kc7!

Much better than 21 ... Rxf8 22 Qxf8+ Kc7 23 hxg4, and things are

not so clear.

22.Qxe5+ Bxe5 23.Rxh8 Nf2+ 24.Kg1 Nxh3+ 25.gxh3 Bxh8

Tate emerges in a winning endgame a solid pawn up, with the advantage of

the two bishops.

26. Rb1 d5 27. Rf1 Bxb2 28. Rf7+ Bd7 29. Nxb2 Rxb2 30. cxd5 cxd5 31. a4 Kd6

32. a5 e5 33. Rf6+ Kc5 34. Rf7 Bxh3 35. Rxa7 e4 36. Bc2 Kd4 37. Ba4 e3 38.

a6 Rg2+ 39. Kh1 Ra2 40. Bb5 Bg2+ 41. Kg1 Be4 42. Ra8 h4 43. Rh8 Ra1+

0-1

two games with GM Shabalov as White in the Nimzo (1

against GM A. Ivanov), and an interesting Semi-Slav featuring the 6 Qc2

Variation.

Alexander Shabalov - Geoff Gelman

Eastern Open 1996

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5

The major alternatives here are 4...b6 and 4...0-0.

5.Bd3 b6

More common is 5 ... Nc6, looking to enter the Huebner Variation

after 6 Nf3 Bxc3+, followed by ... d7-d6 and ... e6-e5, which is a

good plan here as White's kingside attack will not be very quick with

his f-pawn blocked. Therefore, White usually plays 6 Ne2, with Black

responding with 6 ... cxd4 or 6 ... d5.

6.Nge2

A common line is 6 Nf3 Bb7 7 O-O O-O 8 Na4. This forces Black to

concede space with 8 ... cxd4. In Becker - Peiter, Germany 1993, 6 a3

was played, reasonably transposing to the aggressive Saemisch system

in response to Black's ... b7-b6. Play continued 6 ... Bxc3+ 7.bxc3

Bb7 8.f3 d6 9.e4 e5 10.d5 with a pitched battle in store.

Nc6

In Dumitrache - Lisenko, Bucharest 1993, a much different route was

followed: 6 ... Bb7 7.0-0 cxd4 8.exd4 0-0 9.a3 Bd6 10.b4 Nc6.

7.0-0 0-0 8.a3

A critical test of Black's slightly unusual move order is 8 d5,

gaining space, but giving up the light-squared bishop after 8 ... Ne5.

8...Bxc3 9.Nxc3 cxd4 10.exd4 Nxd4!

This is necessary. Otherwise, White has obtained the two bishops

without giving up anything in terms of pawn structure, time or space.

11.Bxh7+ Nxh7 12.Qxd4 Qf6 13.Qg4

13.Rd1 is also answered by 13 ... Ba6

13...Ba6 14.Rd1 Rfc8 15.Ne4 Qe7 16.Nd6

Gelman has emerged from the opening with only a minimal

disadvantage.

Rc6 17.Qd4 Qf6 18.Qxf6 Nxf6 19.b3 Kf8 20.a4 Ne8 21.Nb5 Ke7 22.f3 Bb7

23.Ra2 a6 24.Ba3+ d6 25.Nd4 Rc7 26.Kf2 Kf6

Now Shabalov tries to make headway in the ending against his young

opponent, but he is consistently rebuffed.

27.a5 bxa5 28.Bb2 e5 29.Ne2 Bc6 30.Rxa5 Ke6 31.Rda1 Rb7 32. Rxa6 Rxa6

33. Rxa6 Rxb3 34. Bc3 Bb7 35. Ra5 Nf6 36. Ke1 Nd7 37. Kd2 Nc5 38. Kc2

Rb6 39. Bd2 Ba6 40. Be3 Bxc4 41. Bxc5 dxc5 42. Ng3 Kd5 43. Ra7 g6 44.

Rxf7 Kd4 45. Rd7+ Ke3 46. Kc1 Be6 47. Rd2 Rb3 48. Kc2 Bc4 49. Rd6 Kf2

50. Ne4+ Kxg2 51. Nd2 Rb4 52. Rxg6+ Kxh2 53. Rc6 Be2 1/2-1/2

Alexander Shabalov - Alexander Ivanov, Round 7

Eastern Open 1996

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 b6

The Classical alternative here is 6 ... c5.

7.0-0 Bb7 8.cxd5

Eliminating the central tension in preparation for a Stonewall type

of buildup. In Tsevremes - Arnason, Katerini 1993, White dispensed

with this precaution and launched in with 8.Ne5 Bd6 9.f4 c5 10.Qf3,

but his center was already falling apart after 10 ... Nc6. In Kamsky -

Speelman, New York (PCA) 1994, White opted for a queenside buildup

instead, with 8.a3 Bd6 9.b4 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Nbd7 11.Bb2 a6 12.Qe2 e5

13.Rad1 e4, giving rise to a double-edged position. An interesting

development plan was employed in Varga - Portisch, Hungary Champ.

1994, with 8 Bd2!? dxc4 9 Bxc4 Nbd7 10 Rc1.

exd5 9.Ne5

This is much better than Leseige - A. Ivanov, New York Open 1994,

which saw 9.a3 Bd6 10 b4 a6, giving Black's bishops an unfettered view

of the kingside. Things did not work out after 11.Qb3 Qe7 12.h3 Nbd7

13.Nh4 g6 14.Nf3 b5 15.Re1 Nb6 16.e4 Nxe4 17.Ng5 Rfe8 18.f3 Nc5

19.bxc5 Qxe1+ 20.Bf1 Bg3 21.Nd1 Qxf1+ 0-1

Nbd7 10.f4 Bxc3

Committal, but it avoids possibilities such as 10 ... c5 11 Ne2 or

11 Bd2, in which case White's minor pieces might develop greater

activity later.

11.bxc3 c5 12.a4

A good idea. White does not have the firepower to just decide this

game on the kingside. The advance of the a-pawn serves to gain space

and try to weaken Black's queenside majority.

Qc8 13.Rf3

Making sure that the bishop on d3 is not forced into an exchange by

... Bb7-a6.

Ne4 14.Rh3 Nxe5 15.fxe5 Qe6 16.Ba3 Rac8 17.Qh5 Qg6 18.Qh4 f5

Ivanov begins to assume the initiative, even though Shabalov still

has lingering possibilities of making threats on the kingside.

19.Rf1 h6 20.Bxe4 fxe4 21.Rxf8+ Rxf8 22.Rg3 Qc6

The f-file does not give Black any results after 22... Qf5 23.h3.

23.dxc5 Qxa4 24.h3 Qd1+ 25.Kh2 Rf1 26.Qd8+ Kh7 27.Rxg7+ Kxg7 28.Qd7+

White has a perpetual.

1/2 - 1/2

Kaliksteyn - Yedidia

Eastern Open 1996

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 c6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Be2

The players have arrived in the popular 6 Qc2 variation of the

Meran. Kaliksteyn declines to essay the Shabalov Gambit, 7 g4!? A pet

line which I have used with some success here is 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0 e5

9.cxd5 cxd5 10.e4.

7...0-0 8.0-0 dxc4

A radically different approach is 8...e5, leading to an isolated

queen pawn position for Black after 9 cxd5 cxd5 10 Nb5 Bb8.

9.Bxc4 e5 10.h3 Qc7 11.a3

Karpovian preparatory moves which have become the main line theory.

White is waiting for Black to play ... e5xd4, after which White can

take back with the pawn, with much the freer game.

b5 12.Ba2 a5?!

Correct was 12...Bb7. Black's ultimate objective is the push ...

c6-c5.

13.Bd2 Bb7 14.Rac1

Taking advantage of Black's twelfth to threaten 15 Nxb5.

Qb6

A more useful counter was 14...Rac8. The text is too

decentralizing.

15.dxe5

Often in this opening, the battle is over who will be forced to

liquidate the center. Kaliksteyn's idea is to enable pressure on the

c-file. Unclear is the exploratory 15.Nh4! (probing Black's kingside,

as 15 ... g6? is strongly met by 16 Nxg6 hxg6 17 Qxg6+); 15 ... exd4

16 exd4 Qxd4 17 Nf5 Qe5 18 f4 Bc5+ 19 Kh1 Qb8 20 Nxb5 is one

possibility.

15...Nxe5 16.Nxe5 Bxe5 17.Ne2 Rac8 18.b4 Bd6

This is the move that really gets Yedidia into trouble. A better

way to contest the c5 square was 18...axb4 19.axb4 Nd7, with only a

small, if any, disadvantage after 20.Bc3.

19.Bc3 c5?

White is meancing kingside destruction, leaving Black the unhappy

choices of 19...Be7 20.Bd4 Qc7 21.Bc5, or 19 ... Nd5 20 Bxd5, in

either case with serious positional defects.

20.Bxf6 cxb4 21.Qf5 gxf6 22.Bb1

Black's king's position is toast.

Rfe8 23.Nd4 Kf8 24.Qxh7 f5 25.Ba2!

Collecting more material.

Rc4 26.Bxc4 bxc4 27.Qh6+ Ke7 28.Nxf5+ Kd7 29.Rfd1 Re6 30.Qxe6+

30 Qf8 would have obliterated everything.

Kxe6 31.Rxd6+ Qxd6 32.Nxd6 Kxd6 33.axb4 axb4 34.Rxc4 b3 35.Rb4?

Kaliksteyn was in time pressure here. 35 e4! keeps Black from

defending the b-pawn, and White follows up with Rc4-b4. Now Black gets

some very annoying counterplay! Even though White later gives up his

rook for the b-pawn, however, he is still winning.

Bd5 36.Kf1 Kc5 37.Rb8 Kc4 38.Rc8+ Kb4 39.Rb8+ Kc3 40.f4 b2 41.Rxb2

Kxb2 42.g4 Kc3 43.Ke2 Kc4 44.h4 f6 45.h5 Bf7 46.h6 Bg8 47.e4

The break e4-e5 will give 3 connected passers.

Kc5 48.Ke3 Kd6 49.Kd4 Bh7 50.f5 Bg8 51.e5+ fxe5+

The rest of the moves were illegible. However, White wins after 52

Ke4 Bd5+ 53 Ke3 Bg8 54 g5 Ke7 55 Ke4, and White takes on e5, and then

plays g5-g6.

1 - 0

The King's Indian Defence arises after

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7

Now White has a tremendous number of

choices. The most important are the

following:

4 e4 d6 5 Nf3 (the Classical)

4 e4 d6 5 f4 (the Four Pawns Attack) 4

e4 d6 5 f3 (the Saemisch)

4 e4 d6 5 Be2 O-O 6 Bg5 (the Averbach)

4 g3 (the Fianchetto)

A great feature of the King's Indian is that Black can play the above

moves in response to almost any move order, such as 1 Nf3, 1 c4, 1 d4

followed by 2 Nf3, etc., that White chooses, other than 1 e4. Thus, the

King's Indian Defence forms a complete repertoire against all

queenside-type openings by White.

*****************************************

In this issue, we cover these variations:

(A) Classical with 6 ... Bg4 by Black

(B) Saemisch / Averbach / Benoni variation (White plays f2-f3 and Bc1-g5,

inviting Black to transpose to a Benoni)

(C) Fianchetto Variation

Classical - 6 ... Bg4

van Wely - piket

tilburg, 1996

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.d4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 Bg4

[An important and distinctive alternative to the long variations of

6 ... e5 7 O-O (or the Exchange Variation 7 dxe5, or the Petrosian

Variation 7 d5) Nc6 8 d5 Ne7, etc. Other sixth moves for Black are 6

... Na6 and 6 ... Qe8 - but not 6 ... Nbd7 7 e5 and e5-e6 will cause

some damage.]

7.Be3 Nfd7 8.Ng1

[The idea of this move is to alleviate the pressure on d4. The

major alternative is 8 Rc1 (preparing to meet 8 ... Nc6 with 9 d5; if

8 O-O Nc6! 9 d5 - or 9 Rc1 Bxf3 10 Bxf3 e5 and Black has won the

battle for control of the dark squares - 9 ... Na5 and the soft spot

on c4 gives White trouble) and then Maksimenko - Krasenkov, Katowice,

1993, continued 8 ... e5 9 d5 a5 10 a3 Na6 11 Rb1 f5 with an

interesting position, while Chekhov - Zueger, Prague 1989 saw 8 ... a6

9 O-O c5 10 d5. A very agressive treatment by White is 8 h4!?, played

in Ehlvest - Spraggett, Manila 1992. Spraggett reacted cautiously with

8 ... h5 9 Qd2 c5 10 d5 Na6 11 Bh6 Nc7, avoiding the testing 8 ...

Nc6, which probably would have been met by 9 d5 Na5 10 Qd2 with a

tense game.]

Bxe2 9.Ngxe2 c5

[This is considered preferable to 9 ... e5 here, as Black will have

trouble developing a strong kingside attack in the closed pawn

formation after d4-d5 due to the absence of light-squared bishops.]

10.d5

[This appears to be over-ambitious. In Lobron - Spraggett, Manila

1992, play continued with the sober 10 O-O cxd4 11 Nxd4 Nc6 12 Rc1.]

a6 11.a4 Qa5!

12.Bd2

[A necessity, as on 12 O-O Ne5 13 b3 (13 Qb3? Qb4), Black has 13

... Nxc4.]

Ne5 13.b3 Nd3+ 14.Kf1 Nd7

[While Black has done quite well, it is not clear that he has more

than equality.]

15.g3 Rae8 16.Kg2 Nb4 17.Be3

e5!!

[An amazing pawn sacrifice.]

18.dxe6

[This is forced. Otherwise, Black will get ... f7-f5 in with a

clear initiative.

fxe6

[The idea is simply to open the f- and d-files, where White has

some weak squares. 18 ... Rxe6 would permanently cede control of d5

to White.]

19.Qxd6 Rf7 20.Rad1 Nc6

[The recirculation of this knight is an important justification of

the sacrifice.]

21.Qd2 Qb6 22.Qa2 Bd4 23.a5

[Drifting into serious trouble. White should just admit that things

have not worked out and play 23 Rhf1, allowing his extra pawn to be

doubled, but neutralizing some of the pressure.]

Qb4 24.Bxd4 cxd4 25.Na4 e5 26.Nc1 Qxa5 27.Qd2 Qxd2 28.Rxd2 Nb4 29.Nb2

Nc5

[White lost on time here, but his position is not good after 30 Re1

Ref8.]

0-1

Saemisch / Averbach / Benoni

Adianto - Gunawan

Jakarta, 1996

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3

[The lead-in to the Saemisch Variation.]

0-0 6.Bg5

[The Saemisch is 6 Be3. Now the position is likely to transpose to

the Averbach Variation of the King's Indian, which is technically 5

Be2 O-O 6 Bg5.]

c5

[This "Benoni" reaction is standard. Of course not 6 ... e5? 7 dxe5

dxe5 8 Qxd8 Rxd8 9 Nd5.]

7.d5 e6 8.Qd2 exd5

[In Campos - Topalov, Palma, 1992, the Bulgarian superstar played

the immediate 8 ... h6! and Campos responded with 9 Be3. The idea, after

9 Bxh6, is 9 ... Nxe4 10 Nxe4 Qh4+ 11 g3 Qxh6. This concept is well

known after the exchange of central pawns; I am not sure how inserting

... h7-h6 before the central exchange helps Black, but it is well worth

investigation.]

9.cxd5 a6 10.a4

Nbd7

[The variation 10 ... h6 was tested in Kelecevic - Arbakov, Bad

Ragaz, 1994: 11.Bxh6 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 Qh4+ 13.g3 Qxh6 14.Qxh6 Bxh6 15.Nxd6

Nd7 16.Bh3 f5 17.f4 Nb6, with continuing complications - 18.Nf3 Nxd5

19.Ne5 g5 20.Rd1 Ne3 21.Rd3 Nc2+, etc.; 1/2-1/2 in 55. In Varga -

Loginov, Budapest, 1993, White instead retreated 11 Be3, and play

developed 11 ... Re8 12 Nge2 Nbd7 13 Nc1 (also played is Ne2-g3) Ne5

14 Be2 with chances for both sides. Gunawan's 10 ... Nbd7 was weak,

not only because he failed to get ... h7-h6 in, but also because he

allows White the following knight development on h3, as the knight

will settle quite usefully on f2 from where it supports a White

central / kingside pawn advance. Therefore, aside from 10 ... h6, a

better move is the waiting 10 ... Re8.]

11.Nh3 Re8 12.Be2 Ne5 13.Nf2 Qc7 14.0-0 Rb8

[Because of his 10th move inaccuracy, Black has a very difficult

position here.]

15.Bxf6!

[A nice prelude to the coming attack. White wants to force the

Black bishop to the square f6.]

Bxf6 16.f4 Nd7

17.e5!

[This is a classic example of a "sealer-sweeper". By sacrificing on

e5, White opens the way for the d5 pawn to advance, closes off the

square e5 (which might have been a strong square for Black's pieces,

opens the square e4 for his own knights, and sweeps by with his f-pawn

to try to pry open the f-file.]

dxe5 18.d6 Qd8 19.Nfe4 Bg7 20.f5 gxf5 21.Rxf5

[Now White has a hammerlock on the position, which he reinforces

with the following Exchange sacrifice.]

Nf8 22.Raf1! Bxf5 23.Rxf5 Ne6

[Trying to get some activity. There is no stopping the moves Nc3-d5

and Be2-c4 or Be2-h5.]

24.Nd5 Nd4 25.Ndf6+ Kh8

26.Rh5!

[A little mating combination.]

Nxe2+ 27.Kf1 Bxf6 28.Qh6 1-0

Fianchetto

Fillippov - Zakharevich

Elista (Russia Ch.), 1996

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.g3

[The "fianchetto" variation of the King's Indian, in which White

also fianchettoes his king bishop, is considered a positional

treatment by White which completely avoids the possibility of Black

obtaining a kingside attack right out of the opening. However, Black

has many methods to obtain dynamic play against the White center.]

0-0 5.Bg2 d6 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.0-0 e5 8.e4 c6

[This is the most established move here. Other ideas are the

immediate 8 ... exd4 followed by 9 ... Re8, or 8 ... a6 which prepares

... e5xd4 followed by ... Nd7-e5 and ... c7-c5, but White can foil all

of that with 9 d5!. See the next game for the highly unusual 8 ... h6,

used with great effect by a master against one of the world's leading

exponents of the fianchetto system!]

9.h3

[This is standard. White prepares to place his bishop on e3.]

exd4

[Other lines are 9 ... Qb6 (the Main Line), 9 ... Qa5 (endeavoring

to pressurize c4 with ... Qa5-b4 or ... Nd7-b6) and 9 ... a5 (looking

to expand with ... a5-a4).]

10.Nxd4 Re8

[In Adorjan - Lautier, Moscow 1989, 10 ... Qb6 11 Nde2 Qc7 12 Be3

Re8 13 Rc1 Nc5 worked out well for Black.]

11.Be3 Nc5 12.Qc2 Qe7 13.Rfe1 a5 14.Rad1 a4 15.f4

Qc7

[Black went for it in Dautov - Akopian, Tbilisi, 1989 with 15 ...

Nfxe4?! 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Qxe4 18.Bf2 Qxe1+ 19.Bxe1 Bxd4+ 20.Rxd4

Rxe1+, getting rook, bishop and pawn for the queen, but White

consolidated with 21.Kf2 Bf5 22.Qd2 Rh1 23.Kg2 c5 24.Kxh1 cxd4 25.Qxd4

Bxh3 26.Qxd6 Be6 27.Qd4 and White eventually won.]

16.Bf2 Qa5 17.Nf3 Nh5 18.a3 f5

[A critical moment. Black just gets sufficient counterplay.]

19.Rxd6 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Nxe4 21.Rd4 Be6 22.Ng5 Nxf2 23.Qxf2 Ng7 24.Qb2

Re7 25.Qb4 Qc7 26.Qc5 Rae8 27.Rd2 Bc8 28.Rxe7 Qxe7 29.Qxe7 Rxe7 30.Kf2

Ne6 ½-½

Fianchetto

Wojtkiewicz - Resika

New York City (Marshall CC) Nov., 1996

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.d4 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.e4

h6

[Wojtkiewicz, the Polish Champion, is a great expert on this

variation. Perhaps this is why National Master Resika decides to leave

the well-trodden pathways.]

9.Re1 Nh7

[A bold idea - Black makes clear his intent to commit agression on

the kingside.]

10.d5

[I believe this is an inappropriate reaction to Black's

decentralizing last move. I would prefer 10 Rb1, keeping the central

tension, with a fairly nice position for White.]

Ng5 11.Nh4

[Using his pieces to restrain the ... f7-f5 advance.]

Nf6 12.Qe2 Bg4 13.f3 Bd7 14.Be3 Nh3+ 15.Kh1 Nh5

[Black has clearly obtained a slight initiative.]

16.Nf5

[If White does not play this, then Black will follow up with the

similar motif 16 ... N5f4.]

N3f4 17.gxf4 gxf5 18.fxe5 Bxe5

[A good decision, clearing the g-file for operations.]

19.Qf2 f4 20.Bd4

Kh7

[An important moment. 20...Ng3+ does not work - 21 hxg3 fxg3 22 Qd2

Qh2+ 23 Kf1 Bh3 24 Bg1.]

21.Bxe5 dxe5 22.Rg1 Rg8 23.Ne2 Qe7 24.Rad1 Rg6

[The position is about even - while Black has the kingside

pressure, he does not have enough firepower to break through, and

meanwhile, White has potential play on the queenside due to his

superior pawn structure.]

25.Bf1 Rag8 26.Rxg6 Rxg6 27.Rd2 b6 28.Nc3 Qg5 29.Ne2 Qe7 30.a3 a5

31.Rc2 Qg5 32.c5 Ba4 33.Rc1 Bb5 34.Re1 bxc5 35.Bh3 Bxe2 36.Rxe2 Ng7

37.Qxc5 Qh4 38.Bf5 Nxf5 39.exf5 Rg5 40.Rxe5 Qh3 41.Qf2 Rxf5

1/2 - 1/2 in 60

The King's Indian Defence arises after 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7

Now White has a tremendous number of choices. The most important are the

following:

4 e4 d6 5 Nf3 (the Classical)

4 e4 d6 5 f4 (the Four Pawns Attack) 4 e4 d6 5 f3 (the Saemisch)

4 e4 d6 5 Be2 O-O 6 Bg5 (the Averbach) 4 g3 (the Fianchetto)

A great feature of the King's Indian is that Black can play the above

moves in response to almost any move order, such as 1 Nf3, 1 c4, 1 d4

followed by 2 Nf3, etc., that White chooses, other than 1 e4. Thus,

the King's Indian Defence forms a complete repertoire against all

queenside-type openings by White.

*****************************************

In this issue, we cover three slightly unusual variations: (A) 3 ... c5 by

Black; (B) In the Classical, 6 h3 by White; and (C) In the Classical, 9 Bg5 by

White.

(A) The unusual 3 ... c5

Tate - A. Ivanov

chicago, 1996

1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.d4 c5 4.d5 d6

Ivanov declines the invitation to play the controversial 4 ...

Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 f5, subject of extensive analysis by Dzindzihashvili in one of his

"Roman Forum" videotapes.

5.e4 e6 6.dxe6

A sharp treatment, looking to get in an early Bc1-f4 if 6 ... Bxe6.

6...Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 fxe6 8.h4!?

Tate has no problem playing this type of move.

8...Nf6 9.h5 Nxh5 10.Nf3 Nc6?!

[No good is 10...Qf6 11.e5 dxe5 12.Bg5, but one decent defence is

10...e5! 11.Bg5 Qc7! 12.Be2 Bg4! - in this manner Black makes sure that White

does not get to hit the h5 knight with his bishop on e2 - in this line 11 ...

Nf6 is weak because of 12.Nxe5 Qe7 13.Nxg6 Qxe4+ 14.Qe2]

11.Bg5 Qc7 12.Be2 e5??

[Things were already getting wobbly, but 12...Qg7 to shore up the

kingside and induce White to castle (because of the threat to c3) would have

been interesting. Then a strange possibility is 13 O-O Kd7!? 14 Qd2 Kc7 15 Rfd1

Qf8 and White is for choice.]

13.Nh4

Now if the h5 knight retreats, g6 falls.

Rf8 14.Bxh5 gxh5 15.Qxh5+ Rf7 16.Nf3 Be6 17.Bh4

Crisply dealing with the situation.

Bxc4 18.Ng5 Qa5 19.Rh3 Nd4 20.Nxf7 Bxf7 21.Qg5 Kd7 22.Qe7+ Kc6 23.Rb1 Nc2+

24.Kd2

1 - 0

(B) The 6 h3 Variation

Watson - Gulko

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 Nf3 O-O 5 e4 d6 6 h3

[A general principle of the h3 systems is that whenever White normally plays

Be2, he also could play h3. The move h2-h3 keeps Black pieces off g4, prepares

to expand if desired with g2-g4, and allows for later deployment of the White

bishop on d3, since Black can no longer pressurize the center with ... Bg4. A

well-known version of this occurs without the knight on f3, i.e. 4 e4 d6 5 h3 e5

6 d5 Nh5 7 Be2 Nf4 8 Bf3, etc. In the 1992 U.S. Championship, after 4 e4 d6 5

h3, Fedorowicz and Sherzer each played 5 ... 0-0 against Gulko, and Boris

responded with 6 Bg5, analogous to the Averbach Variation, but with h3, not

Be2.]

Na6

[In Gulko - Shirov, Groningen 1990, black tried the immediate 6 ... e5 7 d5

(possible is 7 dxe5 dxe5 8 Qxd8 Rxd8 9 Bg5, with an Exchange Variation where h3

has been substituted for Be2) a5, reminiscent of the Petrosian Variation,

although having h3 in instead of Be2, White is more aggressively placed on the

kingside; after 8 Bg5 Na6 9 Bd3 h6 10 Be3 Nh5 11 Qd2 Nc5 12 Bc2 Nf4 Gulko

rejected the pawn sac with 13 Rh2! and stood well. In this line Black could have

dispensed with 7 ... a5 and played 7 ... Na6.]

7 Bg5

[Previously 7 Be3 was the main move here. Black was able to find active play

in Grunberg - Dydysko, Bratislava 1992 after 7 ... e5 8 d5 Kh8 9 9 g4 Ng8 10 Bd3

Nb4. In the previous round of the World Open, Gulko had tried the text against

Remlinger. One of the points is that 7 ... e5? is unplayable because of 8 dxe5

dxe5 9 Qxd8 Rxd8 10 Nd5. Also, Black should be hesitant to weaken his kingside

with 7 ... h6 8 Be3, as White can play g2-g4 at any time.]

Qe8! 8 g4?!

[By radically gaining kingside space, Watson prevents Gulko from activating

with 8 ... e5 9 d5 Nh5. In Gulko - Remlinger, rd 4, White also forestalled this

plan, by menas of 8 e5 dxe5 9 dxe5 Nd7 10 Bf4, but Black equalized easily: 10

... Ndc5 11 Nd4 Ne6 12 Bh2 f6 13 Nf3 b6 14 Exf6 exf6 15 Be2 Bb7 16 O-O Rd8 17

Qa4 Qxa4 18 Nxa4 f5 20 Rad1 1/2 - 1/2]

c5!

[Usually one does not associate this move with the queen's position on e8,

but given White's kingside stance, it is best to keep the center fluid.]

9 d5 e6 10 Qe2 Nc7?

[Inviting the following complications. Much better was 10 ... exd5. Then

after 11 cxd5, (not 11 exd5 h6, and only Black can obtain the advantage) Black

stands well in the unbalanced pawn majority position.]

11 e5! dxe5 12 d6 e4

[Black would stand badly after 12 ... Na6 13 Nxe5. The text is justified by

Black's fifteenth.]

13 Bxf6!

[White would lose his grip on the center after 13 dxc7 exf3 14 Qxf3 Nd7, and

13 Nxe4 Nxe4 14 Qxe4 Bxb2 is just bad.]

exf3 14 Qxf3 Bxf6 15 Qxf6 Qc6 16 dxc7 Qxh1 17 Rd1

[White has sacrificed the exchange to stunt Black's development and weaken

the dark squares around his king. The major question was whether to castle or

just play 17 Rd1. Castling would have allowed potential queen-exchanging checks

on the c1-h6 diagonal, so Watson correctly leaves his king in the center. Also,

the king needs to defend the bishop in case the rook leaves the back rank.]

Qc6

[Too slow is 17 ... b6 18 Rd8 Ba6 19 Qe7.]

18 h4!

[Watson picks the most ambitious choice, trying to win in the middlegame.

Also very scary is 18 Qe7 (threatening 19 Rd8). On 18 ... Qe8 19 Qd8 Black just

palys 19 ... Qc6! with the idea of 20 ... b6. Also not convincing are 19 Qh4

Qc6, or 19 Qxc5 b6. Best is 19 Qd6! Qc6 (what else?) 20 Qxc6 bxc6 21 Ne4 and

Black, still the Exchange up, is in bad shape.]

Qxc7 19 h5 Qh2

[Forced, to stop 20 h6. 19 ... h6 would have gotten blown out by 20 g5!]

20 Rd3 b5

[Since he cannot eject the White queen from f6, Black faces horrible threats

of h5-h6 after White cuts off the Black queen by putting a piece on h3. However,

Black can survive the immediate blocking of the h-file, e.g. 21 Rh3 Qd6 22 h6

Qd4, or 21 Bh3 h6, allowing 22 hxg6, but at least 22 g5 is refuted by 22 ...

Qg1+. Meanwhile, it is impossible to improve the Black position. If 20 ... e5 21

Nd5 wins. Therefore, Black attempts to create a diversion.]

21 Bh3?

[It seemed that 20 ... b5 was just a throwaway to distract White from the

main arena. However, 21 Nxb5! was the right move (whether the b-pawn was there

or not). The knight on b5 controls d6 and d4; therefore White threatens 22 Rh3.

If after 21 Nxb5! e5, preparing ... Qf4 (this would have been a sufficient

defense to 21 Ne4), then 22 Nc7! with the following variations: a) 22 ... Rb8 23

Nd5 Re8 24 Rh3; b) 22 ... e4 23 Rh3 Qxc7 24 h6, or c) 22 ... Bxg4 23 Nd5! Rfe8

24 Rh3! Bxh3 25 h6. Is it possible that Gulko used reverse psychology when he

played 20 ... b5, in order to get Watson not to hop to that square?]

h6 22 hxg6 fxg6 23 Qxg6+

[Of course White is doing fine here, but the queen has been pushed off f6,

and the Black queen is just barely able to come back to the defense.]

Kh8 24 Qxh6+ Kg8 25 Qg6+ Kh8 26 Ne4!

[If White did not need to protect f2, 26 Bf1 would decide matters. The text

is better than settling for the perpetual.]

Qe5

[Of course not 26 ... Bb7? 27 Rd7.]

27 Bg2 Qg7 28 Rh3+ Kg8 29 Nf6+ Rxf6 30 Qxg7+ Kxg7 31 Bxa8 bxc4 32 Be4

1/2 - 1/2 ?!

[A generous draw offer, as White's pieces are well placed and the g-pawn is

dangerous, but Watson was in serious time pressure and felt unable to switch

into endgame mode.

(C) Classical - 9 Bg5!?

Bonin - Sherzer, Chicago 1992

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 Nf3 O-O 6 Be2 e5 7 O-O Nc6 8 d5

Ne7 9 Bg5

[A mysterious move championed by Eingorn, and played occasionally by Ftacnik.

The variations are similar to those arising from 9 b4, a system in which Bonin

is a well-known expert, in that both moves allow Black to play 9 ... Nh5,

whereas the main lines, 9 Ne1 and 9 Nd2, prevent that maneuver. But while 9 b4

helps prepare the thematic break c4-c5, the text does not, which is one reason

W. Watson felt confident enough recently to award 9 Bg5 with a "?!".]

Nh5 10 Ne1

[The usual reaction here has been 10 g3, as in Eingorn - A. Kuzmin, USSR

championship 1991, which continued 10 ... f6 11 Bd2 f5 12 exf5 Nxf5 13 Bd3 (Not

13 g4? Nd4) Nf6 14 Ng5 Nd4 with equality. In Bern - Watson, Gausdal 1991 Black

played more actively: 10 g3 h6 11 Bd2 Bh3 12 Re1 f5 13 Nh4 Nf6 14 exf5 g5! (an

improvement over the 14 ... gxf5 given in the new E Encyclopedia) 15 Ng6 Nxg6 16

fxg6 Bf5. The text effectively redeploys White's knight, at the cost of ceding

the two bishops.]

Nf4 11 Nd3 Nxe2+ 12 Qxe2 h6 13 Be3

[Deciding to engage in a battle of pawn chains and competing flank attacks.

Probably better was 13 Bd2 with a view towards opening instead of closing the

center. Then 13 ... f5 can be met by 14 f4! which either saddles Black with a

weak pawn on e5 or forces him to exchange pawns and mobilize White's pieces

after 14 ... exf4 15 Nxf4 fxe4 16 Nxe4. If Black snatches a pawn with 16 ...

Bxb2, 17 Bc3! gives White strong compensation. But a more subtle method for

Black is 13 ... g5!! which stops f2-f4 first, and looks forward to the usual

kingside attack after f7-f5-f4. White could stop this radically by 14 g4?! but

Black surely stands better after 14 ... Ng6. Or if 14 h4?! g4! (Not 14 ...

gxh4? 15 f4) 15 f4 gxf3 followed by 16 ... f5 is strong. White could play

modestly with 14 f3 f5 15 exf5 Nxf5 16 Nf2 with even chances, or aggresively

with the paradoxical 14 g3!?, envisionsing the wild 14 ... f5 15 f4, or 14 ...

Bh3 15 Re1 with the bizarre variations 15 ... f5 16 f3 g4 (the threat was 17

Nf2) 17 f4, or 15 ... g4!.]

f5

[Now this move is stronger than 13 ... g5 14 f3 f5 15 exf5 Nxf5 16 Nf2.]

14 f3

[I still prefer 14 f4, although now Black has 14 ... fxe4 15 Nxe4 Bf5 16 Ng3 e4!

17 Nf2 Qd7, so that on 18 Nfxe4 Rae8 Black has plenty of activity for the pawn.]

f4 15 Bf2 g5

[The classic King's Indian pawn roller. Although the competing pawn breaks, on

g4 and c5, are quite familiar, White misses his light-squared bishop, which from

e2 would slow down Black's "lever" g5-g4.]

16 c5 Ng6 17 Rac1 g4!

[Sherzer takes advantage of tactical opportunities to get the pawns moving: if

now 18 fxg4 Qg5 19 h3 h5 20 gxh5? Bxh3.]

18 Kh1 Rf7 19 Nb5

[The g-pawn was again defended indirectly: 19 fxg4 Qg5 20 h3 h5! 21 gxh5 f3! 22

gxf3 Qxh5 and wins. But White could have tried 19 fxg4! anyway. After 19 ... Qg5

the solid 20 Ne1! recycles the knight back as a defensive bulwark, and after 20

... Bxg4 21 Nf3 White will get serious queenside counterplay.]

Bd7!

[By drawing the c-pawn up to c6 Black gives up space but retains the solidity of

his pawn chain.]

20 c6 bxc6 21 dxc6 Be6 22 Nb4?

[Heading in the wrong direction. 22 fxg4! Qg5 23 Ne1 was still a tough nut to

crack.]

g3! 23 Bg1

[On 23 hxg3 Qg5 is too strong, e.g. 24 g4 h5 25 gxh5 Qxh5+ 26 Kg1 Bf6.]

Nh4

[Starting a new phase - the bombardment of g2.]

24 Rc2 a6 25 Nc3 Bh3 26 Qc4 Qg5 27 Nbd5

[If White attempts to fish in troubled waters with 27 Nxa6, then 27 ... gxh2 28

gxh3 hxg1(q)+ 29 Rxg1 Qh5 wins, for example 30 Nxc7 Nxf3 31 Qe6 Nd4, or 30 Nd5

Kh8 followed by 31 ... Nxf3. The text move stops this variation - 27 Nbd5 gxh2?

28 gxh3 hxg1(q)+ 29 Rxg1 Qh5?? 30 Nf6+ - but it has the disadvantage of

unpinning the Black rook on f7.]

Nxg2

[The patient 27 ... Kh8! may be even better, as 28 Ne3 Raf8 does not help White,

and 28 hxg3 fxg3 29 Be3 Qh5 30 gxh3 Nxf3 wins.]

28 Rxg2 Bxg2+ 29 Kxg2 gxh2+ 30 Kxh2 Kh8 31 Qe2?

[31 Kh1! saves an important tempo, and the position is unclear after 31 ... Qh5+

32 Bh2 Rg8 33 Qe2 Bf6 34 Nxf6! Rxf6 35 Rg1.]

Qh5+ 32 Kg2 Rg8 33 Bh2 Bf6+ 34 Kh1 Bh4 35 Nb1

[It's too late for 35 Rg1 Rxg1+ 36 Kg1 Rg7+ 37 Kh1 Bg3, or 37 Kf1 Bd8.]

Rfg7 36 Nd2 Bd8

[Now ... Qh3 and ... Rg2 cannot be prevented.]

37 Nc4 Qh3 38 Nce3 fxe3 39 Nxe3 h5 40 b4 Bh4 41 a4 Bg3 42 b5 axb5 43 axb5

Bf4

0 - 1

Lembit Oll - Alexey Shirov, Tilburg 1992, knockout round 2 [E96]

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 Nf3 O-O 6 Be2 e5 7 O-O Nc6 8 d5 Ne7 9 Bg5

Nh5 10 Ne1 Nf4 11 Nd3 Nxe2+ 12 Qxe2 h6 13 Bd2

[Deviating from Bonin - Sherzer, Chicago 1992, which continued 13 Be3 f5 14

f3 f4, with a good game for Black. The idea of 13 Bd2 is to meet 13 ... f5 with

14 f4!]

g5 14 h4!

[I had considered and rejected this continuation in my notes to Bonin -

Sherzer. But Oll investigated the situation more diligently and discovered that

it is White who has the attacking chances in the game continuation.]

g4 15 f4 gxf3 16 Qxf3 f5 17 Qh5

[Black has the two bishops and the generally smoother pawn structure, but

White's temporary lead in development and immediate attack on h6 is annoying. If

now 17 ... Kh7, then 18 Bg5! (threatening the pawn on f5) f4 19 g3! is serious:

19 ... fxg3 fails to 20 Rxf8 followed by 21 Rf1, and 19 ... Bh3 20 Rg3 Qd7 21

Nf2 is no help.]

Rf6 18 g4!

[Giving Black no time to organize with ... Bd7 and ... Qe8, etc.]

f4 19 g5 hxg5!!

[Safer seems 19 ... Rg6, avoiding the opening of the h-file. But Shirov was

afraid of 20 Bxf4! exf4 21 Nxf4 Qe8 22 Nb5! Then the defense of 22 ... Rb8 (what

else?) 23 Nxc7 Qd8 24 Nxg6 Nxg6 25 Qxg6 Qxc7 would not be available because of

26 gxh6. Thus Shirov eliminates the h-pawns first.]

20 hxg5 Rg6 21 Kf2

[White prepares combined play on the h- and f-files by getting his king out

of the way first. If he plays as in the above note -21 Bxf4 exf4 22 Nxf4 Qe8 23

Nb5 Rb8 24 Nxc7 Qd8 25 Nxg6 Nxg6 26 Qxg6 Qxc7, then after 27 Qe8+ Kh7, 28 Rf4 is

met by 28 ... Bg4!, and various other attempts to land a rook on the h-file may

be frustrated by diagonal checks. And on 21 Bxf4 exf4 22 Nxf4 Qe8 23 Kg2, then

23 ... Be5 24 Rh1 Qf7 25 Raf1 Qg7 is a sufficient defense.]

c6 22 Rh1 cxd5 23 cxd5

[Not 23 Nxd5 Kf7, and Black's cramped position is relieved.]

Qb6+

[If I were Black here, I might have played for maximum confusion with 23 ...

b5 aiming for ... b4 and ... Ba6. 24 b4 or 24 a3 could be met by the consistent

24 ... a5. One goal of this diversion might be to exchange a pair of rooks, to

lessen the chance of getting mated on the kingside. But Shirov stays cool.]

24 Ke2 Bd7 25 Raf1 Kf7!

[The threat of Bd2xf4 has become intolerable, so he heads for the hills.]

26 Bxf4 exf4 27 Rxf4+ Ke8 28 Rhf1 Kd8

[The threat was 29 Qh8+! On 28 ... Bb5 29 Nxb5 Qxb5 30 Rf7 too strongly

menaces both 31 Rxe7+ and 31 Rxg7.]

29 Rf8+ Be8!

[The rook is not going anywhere, so Black does not allow White the extra

possibility of 29 ... Bxf8 30 Rxf8+ Be8 31 Qh8 Kd7 32 e5 and White, a rook down,

has plenty of chances.]

30 e5 Rc8!

[The tempting 30 ... Bxf8 31 Rxf8 does not lead to clarity after 31 ... Qg1

32 Qh8 or 31 ... Kc7? 32 Qh7.]

31 Rxe8+

[Trying to draw the king back to the more dangerous side.]

Kxe8 32 Ne4 dxe5

[The king's bishop has done such a good job that Shirov, in time

pressure, was reluctant to part with it. But 32 ... Bxe5 was winning,

e.g., 33 Nf6+ Kd8 34 Nxe5 (or 34 Qh8+ Rg8) Qxb2+, etc.]

33 d6

[Now, if Oll can win the knight on e7, he will be only the Exchange

down, with active pieces.]

Rc4??

[Correct was 33 ... Qd4, which sets up ... Rc2+, undermining the knight

on d3, forcing 34 Qf3. Then White can fight on after 34 ... Rxd6 35 Nxd6+

Qxd6 36 Qf7+ Kd8 37 Rd1! But 34 ... Rc2+ 35 Kd1 Nf5! wins - 36 Kxc2 Ne3+ 37

Kc1 Nxf1, or 36 Re1 Rxb2.]

34 Nf6+ Bxf6 35 gxf6

[The new f-pawn has turned into a monster, while the knight on d3 holds

Black's major pieces at bay, leading to a problem-like conclusion.]

Re4+ 36 Kd1 Qe3!

[The best way to counterattack, as White is forced into offering the

exchange of queens.]

37 f7+ Kd7 38 Qf3 Qxf3+ 39 Rxf3 Rg1+ 40 Kd2 Rg2+ 41 Kd1 Ng6 42 Nc5+

[Amazingly, White finally is able to equalize material. In view of 42

... Kxd6 43 Nxe4+ Ke7 44 Rc3 Kxf7 45 Rc7+, the players agreed to a draw.]

1/2 - 1/2

Two exciting players battle it out in the Eastern Open in Washington,

D.C., December 1996:

Waitzkin - Tate

Eastern Open 1996

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4

Tate is known for his very sharp and uncompromising opening

repertoire. Having recently defeated Waitzkin in another Sicilian in

the National Congress in Philadelphia, here he employs the Pin

Variation, which does not have the best theoretical reputation, but

can be very scary to deal with. By the way, if White wants to avoid

this line, he can play 3 Nc3 instead of 3 d4. After 3 Nc3, 3 ... Nf6

transposes to the Alapin Sicilian after 4 e5, and after other moves

(say, 3 ... Nc6) White can play 4 d4 and the Pin Variation is longer a

possibility.

6.Bd3

The main line is 6.e5 Nd5 (this is better than 6...Ne4 7.Qg4!! Nxc3 8

Qxg7 Rf8 9 a3!, and, although the play is very complex, in many lines

White's Bc1-h6 will be a killer, e.g., 9 ... Nb5+ 10 axb4 Nxd4 11 Bg5

Qb6 12 Bh6 Qxb4+ 13 c3 Nf5 14 cxb4 Nxg7 15 Bxg7 with a great endgame

for White, Szabo - Mikenas, Kemery 1939) and now 7.Bd2 is probably

best; then one line is 7 ... Nxc3 8 bxc3 Be7 9 Qg4.)

6...Nc6

Another challenge to get in the move e4-e5 is issued! After 6 ... e5,

I once won a nice game with 7 Ne2 d5?! 8 exd5 Nxd5 9 O-O Nc6 10 f4!?,

not satisfied with the routine 10 Nxd5 played in Yates - Alekhine, The

Hague, 1921. But I do not see the need for Black to rush the move ...

d7-d5 in this line.

7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.0-0

ECO gives the cryptic variation 8.e5 Nd5 9 Qg4 Qa5 10 O-O with a

large plus for White.

8...Qc7 9.Bd2

I still like White on 9 Qe2, with ideas such as 9 ... e5 10 f4, 9 ...

d6 10 Na4, and 9 ... d5 10 exd5 cxd5 11 Bg5.

9...Rb8 10.Kh1 Bd6 11.Na4

Now on 11.f4 e5, Black's threat against b2 is very distracting.

11...h5 12.h3 Be5 13.c3

A passive move falling in with Black's plans. I think White would have

decent compensation for the pawn after 13.f4! Bxb2 14.Nxb2 Rxb2 15.e5

Nd5 16.Qf3 in Black's weak dark squares and disorganized position. This

exchange series would negate Tate's attacking gestures on the kingside.

13...Bf4!

Appealing now that White does not have the reply Bd2-c3.

14.c4

This may be a tactical mistake. On 14.Qe2, 14 ... Ng4? would not work

because of 15.Bxf4 Qxf4 16.g3.

14...Ng4

The immediate threat is 15 ... Bxd2, leaving the diagonal so that the

queen can make her way to h2. And the knight on g4 will always be

immune to capture because the h-file opening will be decisive.

15.Bc3?

Very interesting, but better was the direct defense 15 g3 (but not 15

Bxf4? Qxf4 with the double threat of mate on h2 and 16 ... Nxf2+).

Then 15 ... Bxg3 16 fxg3 Qxg3 and White can choose between 17 Qe2

allowing a draw by perpetual with 17 ... Qxh3+ 18 Kg1 Qg3+, or the

riskier 17 Bf4 Qxh3+ (bad is 17 ... Nf2+ 18 Rxf2 Qxf2 19 Bxb8) 18 Kg1

e5 19 Rf3 Qh4 20 Bg3 Qg5.

Be3! 16.f4 Bxf4 17.Qf3 Bd2!!

A nice finish. Establishing the pathway to h2 takes priority over

everything. The next moves are virtually forced.

18.Qxf7+

On the defensive 18 g3 Bxc3 19 bxc3 Ne5, Black is a pawn up with an

overwhelming position.

Kd8 19.e5 Bxc3 20.Qxg7

A pretty maneuver which staves off immediate disaster. White

threatens mate via 21 Rf8+.

Qxe5 21.Rf8+

This is needed to liquidate the rook on h8 which has been holding

up the knight on g4.

Kc7!

Much better than 21 ... Rxf8 22 Qxf8+ Kc7 23 hxg4, and things are

not so clear.

22.Qxe5+ Bxe5 23.Rxh8 Nf2+ 24.Kg1 Nxh3+ 25.gxh3 Bxh8

Tate emerges in a winning endgame a solid pawn up, with the advantage

of the two bishops.

26. Rb1 d5 27. Rf1 Bxb2 28. Rf7+ Bd7 29. Nxb2 Rxb2 30. cxd5 cxd5 31.

a4 Kd6 32. a5 e5 33. Rf6+ Kc5 34. Rf7 Bxh3 35. Rxa7 e4 36. Bc2 Kd4 37.

Ba4 e3 38. a6 Rg2+ 39. Kh1 Ra2 40. Bb5 Bg2+ 41. Kg1 Be4 42. Ra8 h4 43.

Rh8 Ra1+

0-1

This is a great game from Las Palmas in December - Anand crushes

Karpov with a kingside attack!. Karpov essayed a dubious opening

thinking that Anand would be on unfamiliar terrain. But Anand

established a space advantage, converted this to positional pressure

against Karpov's pawn weaknesses, and then deftly switched to a direct

attack against the king.

Anand,V (2735) - Karpov,An (2775) [D21]

It, Las Palmas ESP (07), 1996

1.Nf3

When a player deviates from his usual repertoire, it is always

interesting to see the opponent's reaction. Anand has been a 1 e4

player all his life. Here, Karpov must have been thinking of playing a

defense to the queenside openings which Anand does not himself play as

Black.

d5 2.d4 e6 3.c4 dxc4

Karpov appears to have found such a defense! This is an unusual

transposition to some permutation of the Queen's Gambit Accepted, which

the creative player Victor Kupreichik has experimented with.

4.e4

Black's move order encourages this occupation of the center. In the

regular Queen's Gambit Accepted 1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4, 3 e4 is usually met

by the counter-attacking 3 ... e5, 3 ... Nf6 or 3 ... Nc6. Instead of

the text, a tepid alternative is 4.Qa4+ Nd7 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bxe7 Nxe7

7.Qxc4, as in Michalcisin - Kupreichik, Lvov 1986. Taimanov, in ECO,

then gives 7...c5 8.dxc5 Qc7 as equal.

4...b5

This is the move which commits Black to somewhat extraordinary

measures. With 4...c5, Black transposes back to more familiar lines.

White's choices then would be 5.Bxc4, 5.Nc3 or 5.d5.

5.a4 c6 6.axb5

This straightforward move seems stronger to me than 6.Bg5 Bb4+

7.Nc3 Ne7 8.Be2 Bb7 9.0-0 f6 10.Bd2 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 (Lputian-Kupreichik,

Yerevan 1984), where White's positional compensation for the pawn is

not enough to constitute an advantage.

6...cxb5 7.b3 Bb7

Things got wild in Yermolinsky - Kupreichik, Sverdlovsk, 1987 after

7...Nf6 (not good here is 7 ... Bb4+ 8 Bd2 Bxd2+ 9 Nbxd2, and White's

center is well defended, as 9 ... c3? fails to 10 Bxb5+) 8.bxc4 Nxe4

9.c5! (now 9 cxb5 Bb4+ would be nice for Black) Bxc5! (on the meek 9

... Bd7? 10 Ne5 menacing Qd1-f3 causes major problems). Play continued

10.Bxb5+ Bd7 11.Bxd7+ Qxd7 12.dxc5 Qxd1+ 13.Kxd1 Nxf2+ 14.Ke2 Nxh1

15.Be3 Nc6 16.Nbd2 Ke7 17.Rxh1 f6 with an unclear endgame.

8.bxc4 Bxe4 9.cxb5 Nf6 10.Be2 Be7

Karpov does not see anything to be gained by 10 ... Bb4+ 11 Bd2

Bxd2+ 12 Nbxd2 with a quicker queenside mobilization for White.

11.0-0 0-0

If 11 ... Nbd7, to keep the White knight off of e5, Black will

never get in the liquidating ... a7-a6, and will suffer a permanent

queenside disadvantage.

12.Nc3 Bb7 13.Ne5

White's greater control of space confers a discernible advantage.

a6 14.Bf3 Nd5 15.Nxd5 exd5

Karpov allows the shutting-in of his light-squared bishop. 15 ...

Bxd5 would have been very dangerous because of the withdrawal of

support from the pawn on a6, and the new pin on the a-file. Thus,

White could simply develop with 16 Bf4, with ideas of Ne5-c6.

16.Rb1!

Anand commences an excellent series of moves, switching targets.

The immediate point is the terrible weakness of the pawn on d5 in the

event of 16 ... axb5 17 Rxb5.

Qb6

This move gives the bishop on b7 a protected status, shoring up its

role as defender of d5. Black does not have many other useful

possibilities. Relieving the pressure with 16 ... f6 would lead to

further trouble after 17 Nd3 and the knight can cause trouble from c5

or f4.

17.Be2 axb5 18.Rxb5 Qc7

On 18 ... Qa7, the great distance of the queen from the kingside

is very dangerous. White can focus in with 19 Bd3! and if 19 ... Nc6

20 Qh5 g6 21 Nxg6 fxg6 22 Bxg6 hxg6 (two Black bishops block the

queen from covering h7 along the second rank) 23 Qxg6+ Kh8 24 Rb3.

19.Bf4

Anand wants to engage as many Black pieces as possible. This is

stronger than 19 Bd3 Ra1! and Black attains some counter-pressure.

Bd6 20.Bd3!! Ba6

This is forced. If 20 ... Nc6 21 Bxh7+ Kxh7 22 Qb1+ is very

strong.

21.Bxh7+!!

It is a very rare chance to play such a move against Karpov, and

Anand is not going to let this one slip away! If he had settled for

the win of a pawn with 21 Rxd5 Bxd3 22 Qxd3, then Black can create

issues with the move 22 ... Nc6! (much better than 22 ... f6 23 Rxd6

Qxd6 24 Ng6); then 23 Rc1? can be met by 23 ... Nb4!.

Kxh7 22.Qh5+ Kg8 23.Rb3 Bxe5

The critical alternative here is 23 ... f6. Then, for example, 24

Ng6? Bxf4 does not work, and 24 Rc1 can be met by 24 ... Bc4. Anand's

idea was 24 Rh3!! fxe5 25 dxe5! Then we have the following

possibilities: 25 ... Bxf1? 26 e6! forces mate; 25 ... Rxf4 26 e6 Kf8

27 Qh8+ Ke7 28 Qxg7+ wins - 28 ... Kxe6 29 Re1+ Re4 30 Rh6+ Kf5 31

Qf6+, or 28 ... Ke8 29 Rh8+ picks up the queen; 25 ... Bc8 26 exd6 Qc4

27 Qh7+ gives White a winning attack; and 25 ... Qe7 26 exd6 Qe6 27

Qh7+ is also very strong. After 27 ... Kf7, White can play 28 Rg3 Qf6

29 Qh5+. Therefore, Karpov decided to eliminate the e5 knight

immediately, as no benefit accrues from trying to capture it with the

pawn instead of the bishop.

24.Rh3 f6

Not 24 ... f5 25 Bxe5 and Black will not be able to hold the g7

square. For example, 25 ... Qe7 26 Qh7+ Kf7 27 Bxg7 is crushing.

25.dxe5 Qe7

To stop White from weaving a mating net with 26 e6.

26.Qh7+ Kf7 27.Rg3 Ke8

He has to run; 27 ... Rg8? 28 Qg6+ Kf8 (or 28 ... Ke6 29 exf6 Qxf6

30 Re1+) 29 exf6 Qxf6 30 Bd6+.

28.Rxg7 Qe6 29.exf6 Nc6 30.Ra1

Finally, Anand moves the attacked rook from f1!

Kd8 31.h4 Bb7 32.Rc1 Ba6 33.Ra1 Bb7 34.Rd1 Ba6 35.Qb1

No more fooling around. The queen will visit from b6.

Rxf6 36.Bg5

The threats include 37 Qg6, 37 Qb6+, 37 Re1, etc.

1-0