thee era, hikari te di Feener coaltares al eyed ae, payee ll of oe eed bp ourcmmren ker bor chee!” Ee hope ye rel sy Shamma ac pdle Eanea del oo, cepa Nom herwrl amd. cit raion proyecto idea Tame rete det (reverie es cle cficeaes craara, bead abcde d Peres eran, wpoier!” Copcrus pectin de eto rceis det in 0 Po mT pp es regards! atachaetFirst published 2000 by Everyman Publishers ple, formerly Cadogan Books plc, Gloucester Mansions, 140A Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8HD Copyright © 2000 Glenn Flear ‘The right of Glenn Flear to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Alll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 1 85744 261 X Distributed in North America by The Globe Pequot Press, 6 Business Park Road, P.O. Box 833, Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-0833. Telephone 1-800-243 0495 (toll free) All other sales enquiries should be directed to Everyman Chess, Gloucester Mansions, 140A Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8HD tel: 0171 539 7600 fax: 0171 379 4060 dan@everyman.uk.com www.everyman.uk.com To my family ‘The Everyman Chess Opening Guides were designed and developed by First Rank Publishing. EVERYMAN CHESS SERIES (formerly Cadogan Chess) Chief Advisor: Garry Kasparov Advisory Panel: Andrew Kinsman and Byron Jacobs ‘Typeset and edited by First Rank Publishing, Brighton. Production by Book Production Services. Printed and bound in Great Britain by The Cromwell Press Ltd., Trowbridge, Wiltshire.CONTENTS 1 e4 e5 2 Af3 Ac6 3 Vb5 a6 4 a4 NG 5 0-0 Axed Bibliography Preface Introduction 6 d4b5 7 2b3 d5 8 dxe5 Le6 Part One: 9 63 £05 10 Dbd?2 0-0 11 Rc2 Axf2 12 Exf2 £6 (Dilworth Variation) 10 @\bd2 0-0 11 &c2 £5 10 @bd2 0-0 11 Xc2 LES ‘Tenth Move Alternatives Rune Part Two: 9 c3 £e7 5 Main Line with 10 Abd? @c5 11 Bc? 6 10 @bd2: Black avoids the Main Line 7 White avoids the Main Line 8 10.863 Part Three: Other Systems 9 9 We2 10 9 @bd2 11 White’s Other Ninth Moves 12 Odds and Ends Index of Complete Games 4 5 7 10 2 32 56 85 109 120 138 147 137BIBLIOGRAPHY Books Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings Volume C (Sahovski Informator 1997) C80-81, C82, C83, Victor Korchnoi (Sahovski Informator 1994-5) ‘The Open Spanish, Milchail Krascnkov (Cadogan/Everyman 1995) My 60 Memorable Games, Robert Fischer (Faber 1972) Euwe, Drazen Marovic (Sahovska Naklada 1978) Capablanca’s Best Games, Harry Golombek (Batsford 1996) Periodicals Informator ‘New in Chess Yearbook British Chess Magazine CHESS Monthly Various Chess Computer Databases: Fathase, Fidechess, The Week in Chess etc.PREFACE ‘The Open variation of the Ruy Lopez (or Spanish) starts with the moves 1 4 &5 2 D3 Dc6 3 Ab5 a6 4 2o4 DIG 50-0 Oxe4 ‘What is the big attraction of the variation for Black? In the Open variation (or simply ‘Open’) of the Ruy Lopez Black aims for active piece play and an asymmetric pawn structure including a queenside majority. "The Open is a logically named variation involving fluid piece play and offers a more dynamic struggle than the long-winded manoeuvres of the Closed Ruy Lopez. ‘The variation has remained in popular use since the 19th century and has a remarkable pedigree. Virtually every World Champion has played it - and most with both colours! ‘A number of great historical matches have included important games from this variation. including of course the World Championship clashes Alekhine Euwe, Karpov-Korchnoi and Kasparov-Anand. Over the last quarter of a century one associates this opening primarily with Korchnoi, Timman and Yusupov, but in recent yous Amand fas aso included this opening in his repetoigp. "The Open siractd players of all syle Korchnoi is a prolific analvst and practitioner of the Open and by nature a provocative, counter-attacking player. Timman is more of a aggressive tactical player who is attracted to the more critical ines (and lke the other great Dutchman before him, Max Euwe, he is happy and willing to play the Open with cither colour), whereas Yusupov is a more cautious positional player. Some lines of the Open involve long, forcing tactical variations; others careful manoeuwning. In the Dilworth variation Black even takes the gamble of giving up two. active minor pieces for a modest rook and pawn in order to wrest the initiative from ‘White's grasp. Overall in the following pages wwe shall sce a rich famuly of variations with something for everyone. In some opening books, the author tries to hype their choice of opening by pointing out ‘surprise value, ‘attacking ‘easy for the opponent to go wrong’ or whatever. None of these claims hold much water if the opening is not fundamentally sound and robust against best play. ‘A statisucal analysis of a large database shows that the Open scores an average percentage (44%) with an average length of 38 moves per game. Fair enough, but this is hardly a persuasive argument! It is more sionificant that whereas manv active lines inOpen Ruy Lopez the Ruy Lopez. come and go with fashion or the latest novelty, the Open remains, year in, some strange ideas are extolled and clear improvements for the opponent are Players, providing interesting games, active play and winning chances, while at the same time being positionally rock solid. Although this book is written primarily from Black's point of view, I have purposely tried to be objective with my analysis, judgements and recommendations. ‘The illustrative games have been chosen for their intrinsic worth, not because Black wins every, one of them! There is nothing more annoying than opening books with ridiculous bias, in which point out the rough with the smooth, the good with the bad and, yes, sometimes even the ugly. I trust that this book can be used with confidence by White players in their efforss to obtain something against the opening. However, at the same time it offers a mainstream, sound but dynamic opening that can stand at the heart of your repertoire against 1 4, Glenn Flear Raillargues, France, January 2000INTRODUCTION “The core of the Open variation is the tabive that arises after the cight standard moves 1 e4 eS 2 O13 Dc6 3 Lb5 a6 4 Lad DE 5 0-0 Dxe4 6 d4 b5 7 2b3 d5 8 dxed Ses which forms the starting position of all but one chapter in this book. compensation has a d-pawn and a queenside majority. Blage-has a well-placed knight on e4 but this is prone to attack by £2-f3 or cahauge by Dbi-) ote ao 35 oe Whs 36 gt (Minev). Such oy bee ‘were tested almost to exhaustion in the 1940s 10 1970s, but in the computer age there may stil be some nuances waiting to be found, so good luck! where for decades 26 Bael was the only move considered by theory. ‘Then 26..d3 27 Reb+! (27 Re5 Wrxa2 28 Sd6 Wh2 29 Beb+" Ph8 30 Bed Wd2 31 £4 c4 32 £5 led to a lively struggle in Boleslavsky-Botvinnik, Sverdlovsk 1943) 27..<¢b8 28 Se5 is probably White's. best (Pltow spun Primorsko 1970), when Sapundziev pro} the repetition 28...We2 29 Ect ‘We2 30 eet We2. 26...He8 Ivan Sokolov considers _26...'Wa3? (intending ...d4-d3) to be too slow because of 27 06+ $h8 28 [4 and White pushes the f- pawn to open up the black king. 27 4 We2 Now 27..WaS!? makes more sense as the fepawn doesn’t advance so easily. 28 Bact Whs Both 28...Waxa2 or 28...Wd2!? are worth consideration. 29 Het! d3 ‘Rxgi! Instead, era suggests 31..h6!? 32 3ic7 g5 with an unclear game, 2632 Bc7! White threatens mate starting with 33 Reb. 32...8f81 33 &xg7+ be8 34 L947 ‘A. timetrouble error. Tiviskov ater showed the way to keep an advantage: 34 2f6 d2 35 Bxd8 diW 36 Lhd! G6 Bxdi Wade 37 bh? dbxds 38 Hd7+ Wrd7 39 &xd7 xd7 should only be drawn) 36..,Wdd2 37 Biccl, intending to come to the le. A unique material balance, but the key factor is that Black's king is too open. 34...Wxg4 35 He1+ We2 36 Bxe2+? A losing mistake. Either 36 Hci sbf7 37 Bxe2 due2 38 Hel sbxg7 or 36 2c3 Wxel+ 37 Sxel d2 38 Sxd2 Bxd2 should be drawn. 36...dxe2 37 2c3 Bd1+ 38 Gh2 Act! ‘The pin must have been overlooked by Tiviakov. 9 3 &c5 10 Dbd2 0-011 &c2 15 39 Ec8+ Sd7 40 EhB Bxc3 41 Exh7+ S06 42 EnG+ Sis 43 Bhs+ baa o-1 Nauraly 44 Se5 is mei by 44.2805. Sokolov’s reintroduction of an almost forgotten line has unfortunately not inspired much of a following. The complications are fascinating, albeit hard to follow at times, but do promise Black quite reasonable chances. Game 11 Short-Timman El Escorial (12th matchgame) 1993 14 e5 2 D3 Dc6 3 Ab5 a6 4 as O16 5 0-0 Dxo4 6 d4 bS 7 2b3 ds 8 dxoS e6 9 c3 2c5 10 Dbd2 0-0 11 c2 15 12 Qb3 Abs 13 Dida Dxda 14 Dxda Bindd 18 Wada In my opinion, the most challenging move. 16...05 16 Wd1 he ‘This innovation by Timman may be Black's best course of action. White has the bishop pair and slightly more options but the black position remains robust. 17 13 Dg5 18 263 Ho8 19 Wa2 as Speelman, who analysed the game in Informator, suggests 19...d4!2 20 cxd4 cxd4 21 £2 (not of course 21 Bxd4? because of 21._Hxc2) as an altemative try. 20 Had1 We7 21 &b1 @h8 22 Bfet Short has developed his forces to active: looking squares, but has yet to threaten the 27Open Ruy Lopez black defences. 22...c7 23 212 b4 24 h4 Dh7 25 Wd3 w. 2 ‘Alter 27 Wde WI7 the queen is in danger of being trapped with ...ic6. 27...2e6 28 Wd3 Short judges that taking on a5 is too risky (28 Wrxa5) in view of the reply 28..gxh¢ and the queen is ‘sidelined’, whilst Black has attacking chances on the g-file. 28...gxh4 29 14 B98 Timman later proposed to improve the position of his knight with 29..2\f8?? 30 WS @ego as on g6 it defends the h4-pawn and eyes f4. 30 Wf3 bxc3 31 bxe3 Bb6 32 2c2 Bgt 33 oh2 33 @b3!? in Speelman’s opinion is best met by 33...281, intending to meet 34 @xd5 Sxd5 35 Hxd5 with the blockading 35...De6, ‘when Black has the better minor piece. 33...0b8 (34 Exd5! ‘An enterprising exchange ‘sac’ to break up the centre and enhance the power of the bishops. 34... 5x05 38 Baas Hxia so stxcd Wg7 37 ada White threatens to advance the e-pawn, exposing the blah hing and creating problems on the back rank. 37...MeB wlc7 is mex by 38 Wes. 38 Wae7! Short, in time pressure, misses the more precise 38 Mat Be7 39 Wd8+ WI8 40 6+ Sg8 41 Wd6, tying Black up. 38...Wa3+?! Speelman regards 38...Hf1! 39 e6 @f6, threatening 40...Dg4+ 40 g3 f4l 41 gt debt (not 41..Axgt+? 42 dg?! De3+ 43 Bhd Bhis 44 Wh? Bxh2+, 45 oxh2 Dete 46 shi) as unclear. 39 bgt h3 Spelman suggests that Black could ty for a draw with 39..Qixd4 40 cxd4 (40 Wad4 @g5) 40...8c8, angling for ..iixc2 and -We1-g3+. I think the way to refute Speel- man’s idea is 41 Wa6! to meet an eventual ww iel+ with WAI. 40 Ef2? ‘White can win with 40 e6+! dbg8 41 Hf2t Bgt 42 e7t! Wade 43 &b3+ (Spelman). 2840...h2+? seca bene exchange wre bt able, ending tgs (41...Wxe5 42 gxh3!) 42 06+ Sp 43 Wit Wact4 44 Exf4 cbg7 45 Qxf5 hxg? 46 Bat Dac6 47 dxg? SIG (Spelman). 41 ht Bede ‘After 41...2x2? White picks up the queen afier 42 6+. 42 Wxda ate 42..Wixe5 falls short due to 43 He2! 43 Bez! Dhs Or 43...Dig4 44 x5, 44 e6+ Wo7 45 exh2 14? Losing but 15..Wid4 46 axds Of4 47 Be5 Exe6 48 Rxf5 Hxe5 49 dre is pretty hopeless anyway, as Spelman points out. AG Lig! 1-0 Timman resigned in view of 46...g3 47 Sixe8 Dxe2 48 Wrg7+ dxg7 49 07 defo 50 Qb5 winning the knight and the game. A fascinating combat. The consensus view is that White probably has an edge in this variation, but further tests are needed to confirm this. Game 12 Rantanen-Ornstein Reykjavik 1981 1e4 05 2 O13 Dc6 3 2b5 a6 4 faa DIG 5 0-0 Axe4 6 d4 bS 7 2b3 d5 B dxe5 206 9 c3 Bc5 10 Dbd2 0-0 11 Bc2 15 9 c3 &c5 10 Dbd2 0-0 11 Rc2 FE 12 Qb3 Abs 13 Dida Axda 14 Dxda Sixd4 15 Wxd4 c5 16 Wat 14 ‘This is the main line, but theory suggests that Black doesn’t quite equalise. 17 #3 D5, ‘Here downright bad is 17...0g3? 18 hxg3 fxg3 19 Wd3 25 20 WxfS Bxf5 21 Qxf5 Wh4 22 2h3 and Black has a lost position. ‘Compare with Games 9 and 10 where Black wins two central pawns. 18 a4 ‘The main alemative is 18 b4 Wb6 19 bxc5 Wixc5+ 20 Wd4 Wxd4+ 21 cxde, but this can be met by Suetin's instructive manoeuvre 21...2c8! 22 2b3 &b7 and 23...@e6 with a blockade. Black’s minor pieces both want to be on 6, and with the text move White aims to soften up the queenside before his opponent can get organised. 18...b4! ‘An improvement over Haag-Estrin, correspondence 1979, which was much better for White after 18..bxa4 19 Bxad c4 20b3 Wb6+ 21 hi Bad8 22 Wd4 Wxd4 23 exd4 Sd7 24 Eb4. 19 oxb4 19 h4, aiming for a comfortable advantage after 19...f7 20 Sxf4 Wh4 21 Wd2, is met by 19..Dh34! 20 grh3 Weh4 21 Hf2 &xh3 22 Hh? Bae8 23 Wrd5+ wh8 24 2d? Exes! (Averbakh-Szabo, Zurich Candidates 1953) with a draw because of 25 WxeS We3+ 26 29Open Ruy Lopez ‘hi Waxf3+ 27 bg] Wg3+. 2xc4 xed 24 Hbt 19...04 ‘The two white bishops and Black’s loose queenside enable White to keep an edge after 19..cxb4 20 Wdd 215 21 &b3 Deo 22 Wad5 Wb6+ 23 bhi Bads (or 23...eh8!? 24 a5 Wb8 25 Wide! ~ Sapundiev) 24 a5! We7 25 Wet WrxeS 26 Sexf4 Wxb2 27 Bael, as in Nokso Koivisto-Kaunonen, correspondence 1984, 20 b3! 20 Wd4 can be met with 20..S2f5! 21 Sxf5 Bxf5 22 Hd Deb 23 Weds Wher 24 hi Bd3 when White has to bail out for equality by 25 Wxe6+ Wxes 26 Exds+ Sf7 27 &d2, as in Varjomaa-Zerpe, Corres- pondence 1979. 20...d4 21 bxo4 Sxca 22 2b3 Was 23 ‘This position shouldn't be too bad for Black. 24,208? Giric’s suggestion of 24..De6! 25 Wb3 ‘Hfc8 is critical. White has an extra pawn and therefore the better game, but I spent some time looking at this position some years ago and concluded that Bladk’s well-placed pieces give him excellent drawing chances, for instance 26 Hd1 Wexb3 27 Exb3 Hct 28 2d? Back 29 f2 sbi7 and it's hard to find anything convincing for White. 25 Wb3 We2? 25..Rhac8 is best but 26 b5 is difficult for Black. 26 h4 OI7 27 Lxfa 1-0 A collapse by Black at the end. 309 c3 &c5 10 Dbd2 0-0 11 Rc2 t5 ‘Summary Against 11..f5 White does best to play 12 b3 as capturing en passant (Game 7) liberates Black's After 12...&b6 13 Dfd4 Dxd4 14 Dxd4 &xd4 there is a major dichotomy at move fifteen. ‘The heavily analysed 15 cxd4 (Games 8-10) leads to wild variations but no obvious advantage to White, Instead I recommend 15 Wxd¢ c5 16 Wa when the bishop pair offers White the slightly better options and less memory work. In Game 11 Timman’s 16...h6 may not solve all of Black’s problems but offers him hope for a rich middlegame where he is not without chances. 1 04 e& 2 D3 Dc6 3 Lb5 a6 4 Lad DIG 5 0-0 Axed 6 d4 bE 7 Lb3 ds B dxod Le 9.63 LoS 10 Dbd2 0-011 Bc2 15 12 @b3 12 exf6 - Game 7 12...Rb6 13 Dida Axd4 14 Dxd4 &xd4 (D) 15 oxdd 15 Wxd4 c5 16 Wd1 16.6 ~ Game 11 16..f4 - Game 12 15...f4 16 £3 Dg3 (D) 17 hxg3 17 2 - Game 8 17...£493 18 Wd3 215 19 Wxts BxtS 20 2xf5 Wh4 21 23 Wxda+ 22 bhi Weed 23 Rd2 Wxb2 24 £14 d4 (D) 25 &xc7 25 Sxg3 ~Game 10 28...d3 - Game 9 14...2x04CHAPTER THREE 9 c3 2c5'10 Abd2 0-0 11 2c2 2f5 1 e4e5 2 Of3 Dc6 3 Rb5 a6 4 G04 DIG 500 Dxe4 6 d4 bS 7 2b3 d5 8 dxe5 £e6 9 c3 Ac5 10 Dbd2 0-0 11 Kc2 25 This is the most solid and prudent choice here and was very popular amongst the world’s elite in the early 1980s. Black supports his knight as in the last chapter, but this time with the bishop, which is no longer tied to the defence of the d5-pawn. By not committing his fpawn, Black takes less positional risks than in the previous chapter and retains the important option of a later ..A7-{6 to challenge White's key e-pawn, For his part, White can again aim for (2-13 10 undermine the knight. Although White has several ways of handling the position the critical lines are deak with in Games 19-21, where Black just about holds his own. ‘The best plan in the main line is to push the a-pawn to dislodge the knight from b3 and then create problems for White with ..a43 (weakening the 3- square), followed by hitting at the centre with atimely ..7-£6. Game 13 Leko-Piket | Dortmund 1994 | 1 e4 €5 2 D3 Dob 3 2b5 a6 4 Ba4 DIE 5 0-0 Dxe4 6 d4 b5 7 b3 d5 8 dxeS 206 9 c3 Bc 10 Dbd2 0.0 11 Lc2 AS 12 Bb3 Axf2+! ‘A. ‘delayed Dilworth’ popularised by Murey and then Piket. Although considered less effective than the normal Dilworth (Chapter 1), as White can keep the e-file closed with 16 e6, it certainly seems playable and has the advantage of surprise-value. “The alternatives are 12...242! (Game 14) and the normal 12.226 (Games 15-21). 13 Exf2 Dxf2 14 bxf2 Lxc2 15 Wxe2 16 16 06 In this way, White eams enough time to complete his development. Black obtains a second pawn but lacks the active play for his rooks associated with the normal Dilworth, 329 63 Bc5 10 Dbd2 0-0 11 Bc2 45 ‘The alternatives are as follows: a) 16 WE5 Dxe5 17 Re3 He8 18 Bd c6 19 Bcd Dot was saisfacury for Blak w Ljubojevic-Piket, Monaco 1994. b) 16 exfé is a poor psychological choice. Although it is not bad in itself it gives Black the fun he wants! For example, 16..Wsxf6 17 shgl Des 18 Wal Hae8! 19 Wxd5+ th8 20 Rd2 Do3+ 21 gf} Me? and Black had dangerous play in Seirawan-Zak, Lugano 1989. 16...Wd6 17 203 Wxos 18 Dbd4 Exchanging off Black's last minor piece and thereby limiting any counter-chances. White got into trouble after 18 cS in Apicella Murey, Paris 1989, but only because of later errors: 18..We7 19 Wb3 (19 &d4 ‘was hetter according to Korchnoi who gives the position as equal) 19...WI7 20 Edi Dest 21 Wxd5? (@ bad error, 21 Bxd5 Dg4+ 22 hed Hae8 23 243 was still okay) 21.. Dede 22 Se2 Mac8 23 Wrf7+ Hxf7 24 d3 Bfe7 and Black was winning, 18...2xd4 19 Dxd4 ‘The knight recapture is the most logical, though 19 @xd4 was successful in the game Jirovsky-Macharacek, Czech Republic 1998, when after 19..Bfe8 (19..Eae8!?) 20 Hel ‘We4 21 Wd2 Het? White won an important pawn with 22 @xf6! as the d5-pawn is hanging. Black would have had a position after 21...6 or 21..Exel 22 7. 19...We5 19...Wd62% just loses time: 20 DFS Wes (20...Waxh2? 21 @g3 threatens 22 Hh1) 21 ‘Sgl Hfes 22 Bhi Wes 23 Wi2 Bads 24 Sda and White had a strong attack in Morovic- Murey, Thessaloniki Olympiad 1984, 20 Of3 Maybe White should consider 20 Afs anyway, even if it doesn’t gain a tempo (see the previous note). 20.185 20..Wd6 21 b4 is given as slightly bever for White by Morovic, as indeed is the xe continuation of the main game, though Black never scems in any danger. If the black queen wants to go to the kingside then it’s time to play on the other wing, 21...c6 22 b4 RfeB 23 Wd3 Had8 24 h3 Bed 25 axbS axb5 26 £d4 Sde8 27 a2 Wf5 28 Wc2 h5 29 $1 g5! Giving sufficient counterplay to keep ‘White occupied. 30 Wf2 E4e6 %-% ‘This variation is not as dangerous as the real Dilworth, but the rook and two pawns seem to be sufficient compensation for two minor pieces (if Black isn’t too passive) and therefore the lin is playable. Game 14 Karpov-Korchnoi Baguio City (14th matchgame) 1978 1 04 5 2 Df3 Acé 3 Ab5 a6 4 faa DIG 5 0-0 Dxed 6 d4 b5 7 2b3 d5 8 dxed 206 963 RcB 10 Dbd2 0-0 11 Ro2 215 12. Db3 £947! ‘Nowadays 12..%g6 (Games 15-21) has become standard. 1313! ‘With this move Karpov introduces a convincing plan. However, in earlier games from the match Karpov had failed to obtain any real advantage out of the opening: 13 33Open Ruy Lopez @xc5 Dxc5 14 Bel dé (or even 14..2h5 15 h3 He8 16 S14 Deo 17 Ld2 Acs 18 Af Bree 19 8.49 Karpow-Karchnai, Raguin City [ath (ch matches 1978, which was agreed ) 15 b3 Bh5 16 cxd4 oan 17 Wref3 Gyd4 18 We3 Was 19 Be Dxc2 20 Wace? Dd3 21 Bed1 MEd 22 Wxc7 ‘Wre5 23 Wxe5 Dxe5 24 b3 f6, Karpov- Korchnoi, Baguio City (2nd matchgarhe) 1978, which was drawn a few moves later. 13...2h5 13...S2xf3 14 gxf Oxf2 represents a more interesting try. Black will then obtain two pawns and an unbalanced position. 14 g4! 296 15 dixed Introducing a forcing sequence that leaves “White with a safe edge in the ending, 15...dxe@ 16 DxcS exf3 17 Ata Wxd1 18 Haxd1 DdB 19 Hd7 Des Black exchanges knights and so the remaining pait of minor picces are opposite- coloured bishops, This is often a drawish factor, but here Black’s pawn structure is full of weak points and the defence is unpleasant. 20 Dxe6 fxe6 21 Le3 Hac8 22 Rfd1 A later game, Timoschenko Sideif Zade, 5 when White should play 24 gxh5 Sxh5 25 #h2 with continuing pressure. b3 a5 26 @h2 Bas 27 93 Bas?! Korchnoi fails to anticipate Karpov’s plan. Betrer was 27.26 or 27_.04. 284 Bee 29 BxdBt Black’s bishop was doing a good job to hold everything together, so by sacrificing the Now Black is 1g 29...0xd5 30 Exd5 Hoes 31 £4 c6 32 Bes B18 ‘Keene suggests 32..Hd8 33 sixf3 Hd5 as Black’s best chance of holding the game. The exchange of rooks would avoid White’s plan of the game. 33 al ‘Winning either the a- or f-pawns and then activating either the king or roo. 33...bxa4 34 bxa4 g6 35 Exab HeeB 36 a7 Hf7 37 Ha6 Bc? 38 &cS Heo8 39 Sd6 He8 40 Bxcé Exad 41 dxf3 h5 42 gxh5 gxhS 43 c4 Ba? 44 Bb6 @f7 45 c5 Bad 46 c6 de6 47 c7 sd7 48 Hb8 Zc8 49 $3 Exh4 50 e6+! 1-0 After 50...<8xe6 then 51 223! wins a rook. ‘A game of historic importance. Indeed as a result of Karpov’s team’s preparation 12...g4 has been totally replaced by 12...2g6. Game 15 Van der Wiel-Korchnoi 1 e4 o5 2 13 Ac6 3 2b5 a6 4 a4 Die 5 0.0 Dxed 6 d4 bE 7 2b3 d5 B dxeS 349 63 &c5 10 Dbd2 0-0 11 c2 FE B06 9 c3 &c5 10 Abd2 0-0 11 &c2 215 12 Db3 £96 13.04 Here, as in a number of lines, White's 22- a4 push represents a sideline with some bite. Sometimes b5 or a6 become target poi and the rook on al has an early entry into the . The usual 13 Afd4 is seen in Games 18-21, while White’s other main alternatives 13 4 and 13 Dbd4P are covered in Games 16 and 17 respectively. Early simplification lacks bite: 13 Dxc5 @xc5 14 Lxg6 hxg6 15 Re3 Deb 16 Wd2 Wd7, Radulov- Suradiradja, Indonesia 1982, and 13 We2 Hes 14 Dxc5 DxcS 15 Rxgs huge 16 2g5 Wd7 17 Badi Deé 18 Wad2 Axes 19 Wes We7, Ljubojevic-Timman, Hilversum 1987, both give comfortable equality for Black. Sharper is 13 e6!? £5 (White’s idea is that 13...fxe6?! 14 Rxe4 dred 15 Dxc5 exf3 16 Axe6 gives Black the choice of which pawn to lose, but 13...2b6 instead looks playable) 14 Dxc5 (14 Rxed fees 15 Bxc5 exf3 16 e7 ®@xc7 17 Deb Wa7 18 DxfB Uxf8 19 h3 Met gave Black a strong attack in Losakov- ‘Ablouhov, correspondence 1987) 14..@)xc5 15 Stg5 Wd6 16 7 Bfe8 17 Hel Det 18 &b3 BI7 19 a4, when Korchnoi judges the Position as unclear. This idea requires further work as this long-forgotten sideline may prove dangerous for the unwary. 13...2b6 14 Dbd4 mee 14 axb5 axb5S 15 Brak Wha 16 Wids is not good a= ee -Savon, USSR Championship 1969, is a shade better for Black (better bishop, pawn structure) after 18..2xi2+ 19 Bxf2 Bbs 20 We2 &xb3. 14...2xda In the game __Ivanovie-Todorovic, Yugoslavia 1990, Black played 14..Wd71 immediately and after 15 2e3 @a5 16 axb5 axb5 17 Dh4 Bet 18 Dxgs hxge 19 Bras ‘HxaB 20 ¢6 fue6 21 Sxe4 a draw was agreed. 15 Qxda Wd7 Black fell into a standard trap in Timman Geller, Moscow 1981: 15..c5? 16 @c6 when 16..Wd7 fails to 17 Wad Wxd5 18 De7+. 16 203 De ‘The tempting 16..c5 is no good as after 17 ®e2 the kriight on ¢4 is threatened with 18 8. 17 a5 Since the exchange on b5 doesn’t really lead anywhere, White decides to gain a tempo and some space. Now, which is the most vulnerable pawn, White's on a5 or Black’s on a6? 17...2a7 18 14 Black has to avoid the pawn roller, hence his choice of plan. 18...2xc2 19 Dxc2 f6! 20 exf6 xfs 21 Shi 6 Korchnoi later preferred 21..@e4 22 35Open Ruy Lopez Sixa7 Bxa7 23 Db4 Bde 24 We2 HaB 25 @d3 5 with, in his opinion, equal chances. BL 1s tn get hie majority rolling and has a good knight on e4, but White has the e5- outpost. However, I have a slight preference for Black as e5 can be undermined and the a5- and f4-pawns are potential weaknesses. 22 £d4 RAT 23 Db4 Interesting is 23 De3 aiming for e5 via et. 23..Md6 24 Wg4 Qb3 25 Les Wd7 26 Wxd7 Bxd7 27 Haz A. bit awkward but a5 needs some support. Now White will pick up a pawn but at a certain cost... 27...05 28 Dxa6 HB 29 Rd1 d4 With the knight on a6 and the rook on a2 rather out of touch, the advance of the d- ‘pawn creates danger for White. So the aé-pawn proved to be the most fragile of the a-file pawns, but that is certanly not the end of the story! 30 Ba3! Van der Wiel rejected 30 cxd4 because of 30..cxl4 31 Had Het 32 Bixcl @xcl 33 Bat @b3 34 Bdi Qxa5 with a comfortable edge for Black. Now the pot boils overt 4 34 Bxa7 He8 35 Exg7+ S18 36 Bg3 Exes In time trouble, Korchnoi sensibly liminates the monster bishop. 37 fxe5 Wxb2 38 077? A blunder, After 38 Haxb3 cxb3 39 Dc5 ‘Wal 40 Axb3 Wxes 41 a6 We7! (Korchnoi) the position should be drawn. 38...xa3 39 a6 Wa5 40 Bt3+ If 40 a7 then Korchnoi analyses 40...2.d2! (40..Waa7 41 De6+ he7 42 Hig7+ stexeo 43 ‘Bxa7 is no longer clear, but probably drawn) 41 a8W+ Wra8 42 Qoa8 Ofi+ 43 eh3 @xg3 with a clear advantage for Black. This looks winning to me, eg. 44 Qc7 c3t 45 Deb+ BE 46 Dd Df5! 47 Dc2 deb. 40...€e7 41 Bg3 D5 42 87 ‘Winning back the queen but Black still wins the game. 42...Wxa7 43 Bg7+ Sus 44 De6+ Axes 45 Bxa7 c3 46 Ha6 c2 47 Bc6 Dds 48 Be3 we7 0-1 Intending to follow up with .. -b4-b3 etc. A. fascinating game in which Black’s ‘queenside pawns played a major part. S-b4 and Game 16 “Tilburg 1988 5 00 duet 6 da bS 7 b3 dS 8 dues Re6 9 c3 Bc 10 Dbd2 0-0 11 Lc2 215 12 Db3 2g6 13 ota 369 3 &c5 10 Dbd2 0-0 11 Bc2 BI5 White decides to support the advanced e- pawn before conducting an active plan, 13...d0D0 14 24 Here 14 @fd4 should be met by 14..@e7! (instead 14..@xd4 15 cxd4 f6 16 Hci We7 17 Sxet Rxct 18 Dc fxe5 19 KRxe5 BL 20 We4, as in Popovic-Skembris, Bar 1997, tured out to be passive for Black). 14...M4d7 Black can seriously consider 14..b4 when 15 a5 Ma7 16 Dfd4 Wet looks satisfactory as 17 Duxch Wxc6 18 exb1?? (on 18 Dd4 then 18..Wb7 holds everything together) 18...2\xf2! wins. 15 axbS oxb5 16 Bxa® Bxa8 Early simplification doesn’t mean peaceful intentions on Shon’s part! He aims to press against the weak points, such as b5, on Black’s queenside but Timman is ready. 17 Dida ba Possibly 17..@d8, intending a quick ...c7- 5, was not bad either. 18 &d3 ‘The threat is 19 £&b5 but Black ignores it This is a sign that he already stands well. 18...bxe3! 19 £5 Axf2! 20 Bxt2 20...2xd4! 21 &xd7 ‘True, after 21 @xd4 WxbS 22 Dxb5 cxb2 Black is a queen down, but his b-pawn wins the game as 23 c3 Bal is hopeless for White. 21...2\xb3 22 bxe3 22 Wxb32? allows mate by 22..Hal+. 22...Ba1 23 Wxal Oxal 24 206 Re4 will leave Black a pawn up. Shore manages to defend precisely by exploiting the absence of the knight from uhe centre, 25 4 Dc2 26 &d2! The obvious 26 Sxd5 SMxd5 27 cxdS Db4 28 d6 (or 28 11 x2 29 exl2 Dds) 28..cxd6 29 exds Dd3 30 293 LIB will leave Black with king and three pawns against king and two on the same side, which is standard win that can be found in all endgame books, so Short delays the knight's ‘return temporarily before taking on d5. 26...0a3 27 &xd5 2xd5 28 cxdS Dod 29 Ac3 Black still has slight chances but White has managed to get his pawn back and should now hold the game. (29...248 30 g4 de8 31 h4 g6 32 bg? Axf2 33 Sxf2 Dds 34 dé c6 Black can again win a pawn by 34..cxd6 35 exdé ded7 36 2b4 Bc4 but then White is in no real danger as this three vs. two is drawn if White avoids getting his pawns fixed om dark squares. 35 13 hd7 36 244 Dds 37 hs tes 38 shed b4 39 03 Dd5 40 &d4 Db4 41 e3 Dds %-% Game 17 Zso.Polgar-Van der Sterren Wijk aan Zee 1990 1 24 e5 2 D3 Dcé 3 2b5 a6 4 #04 DIG 5 0-0 Axo 6 d4 b5 7 2b3 d5 8 dxe5 R06 9 63 Hc5 10 Dbd2 0-0 11 &e2 SIS 12 Db3 &a6 13 Dba? At first sight this looks like a case of the ‘wrong knight!? White's normal plan after 13 @fd4 (see Games 18-21) is to have the option of £2-f3 hitting the black kmight which may be embarrassed for a retreat square. 13...0xd4 After 13..2xd4 14 cxd4l? (14 @xd4 37Open Ruy Lopez transposes to Game 18) could be awkward forthe knight on et, but only after significant Te wen abby he more EGEhl for Whit to ty tock sain on the e-file whilst Black will counter with ...7-{6 and/or a timely _.c7-c5. 14 Qxd4 ApicellaKoreev, Paris 1991, took a different course: 14 cxd4 Sb6 15 Le} Hck 46 b4 (Black was ready for counterplay with +-07-c5, when the isolated d-pawn would be Compensated by the loose e-pawn and the active disposition of Black's army) 16...We7 17 23 05 18 baS &xa5 19 &b3 Bids with chances for both sides. 14...2b6 15 2e3 15 cb can be met by 15..We8 16 Wxd5 ®xf2 or even by 15...@\xf2! immediately. 15...Be8?! This tums out simply to lose time, but Black wanted to avoid the well-known tactical trap 15...c5? 16 @c6 Wd7 17 Wxd5! More constructive were 15...We8 16 f4 (or 16 £3 Ddé) 16..£6 or 15...Wd7 which he has to play soon anyway. 16 a4 Wd7 17 axb5 axbS 18 Bxa8 Bxa8 19 R43 cB Now that the queenside is stabilised Zsofia tums her attention to the other wing, When Whi gos the fpawn yuing, die bishop on g6 is badly placed. 20 f4! Be8 21 Sht ‘Threatening 22 £5 @xd4 23 fxg6 Sixc3 (v's no longer check) 24 gxf7+. 21.16? ‘Thie faile tactically. He should have tried 21...Rxd4 22 Rxd4 Bf5 wying to block the ingside majority's advance. 22 06! Exes If Black moves the queen then 23 f5 traps the unfortunate bishop. 23 £5! ‘Van der Sterren was probably expecting 23 @xeb Sxe3 24 Lxe4 xe4 when Black has good compensation, in the form of his dynamic bishop pair, for the exchange. 23.65 Even worse is 23...Sxd4? 24 fxe6, 24 Dxt5 &xe3 25 Dxe3 Zxc3 26 Wo! Precisely played. Less good is 26 bxc3 ‘Byxe3 when with three pawns for the piece there are fair drawing chances. 26...De4 27 Sxed dred 28 Ext6! ‘A nice move on the theme of ‘pin and 28...Hd6 29 Wxd7 Bxd7 30 Bxcé Rds 31 Be3 Bd2 32 Hc2 Hd 33 Ye2 1.0 ‘Came 18 1 J.Polgar-Hellers Wijk aan Zee 1990 104 05 2 DIS Dc6 3 2b5 a6 4 B04 DIG 5 0.0 Dxea 6 d4 b5 7 2b3 ds 8 dxe5; eG 9.63 RS 10 Abd2 0-0 11 Sc2 215 3812. Db3 2g6 13 Dida Auda 14 Dxds “The most testing move here is 14 cxd4, when White then has the bishop pair, dareas of £2-{3 and play on the c-file and against Black’s queenside. In Games 19-21 we shall sec how Black can defend this position. 14...Wd7 Here 14...@xe5? fails to 15 £4 Dc4 16 £5 uapping the bishop. 15.04 ‘A speculative pawn sactifice from the world’s top female player who is typically in an aggressive mood. Alternatives give Black a satisfactory game: a) After 15 Dxcé Wxc 16 Me3 Bfes Black has done well in practical play: 17 £3? (or 17 42 @xc3! Korchnoi(!)-Karl, Switzerland 1982) 17..@xc31 Speelman- ‘Timman, London (6th matchgame) 1989, and now after 18 bxc3 Wxc3 19 2d4 Wexc2 20 Wxc2 Sxc2 21 Hfet Sd3 22 Hxc7 White hhas some drawing chances, b) 15 f4 is no longer a feared weapon since Korchnoi found the best course: 15...@0ud4 16 cxd4 f6l 17 Le3 fxe5 18 fue5 Exfi+ 19 Wefl Ef8 20 We2 Web 21 Eft Hxfl+ %-% Leko-Korchnoi, Leon 1994. 15...2xe5 ‘Now that Black’s queen covers {5 this move is playable. 16 14 Dc6 17 Dxc6 Wxes 18 £5 Persistent. Black's queen has been displaced and this thematic move is on again. 9 63 &c5 10 Dbd2 0-0 11 &c2 Bt5 18... Wb6+?! A snail but significant mistake, In the gine Biach will be obliged co caprure on d¢ {or allow the pawn-crippling 20 Wrxbé) when White is able to put the cfile to good use. Therefore Polgar suggests 18..WicS+ 19 Ws &hS, when White has compensation for the pawn but no more. 19 Wd4 Wxd4s 20 oxd4 2hS 21 214 oo 223 16 Black secures a retreat for his bishop. ‘However, White’s pressure against the fragile black queenside pawns is worth more than the invested pawn. 23 Bfet Mfd8 24 axbsS 24...0xD5 Perhaps Hellers should have chosen 24,.axb52? 25 Bxa8 Hxa8 26 Dxet (not 26 2b3 as 26...Re8 holds everything together) 26..dxe4 27 Eixc6 £.£7, when the presence of opposite-coloured bishops offers Black good drawing chances. 25 &b3 27 26 Bc7 Dd6 27 Lxd6 Bxd6 28 Bb7 ‘The threat is 29 Exb5 and for Black 28...,Le8 is met by 29 Hel with the deadly threat of doubling on the seventh. 28...Had8 29 Ha7 hS 30 B1xa6 Bxa6 31 Exa6 Hes ‘Afer 31.88 White can avoid any counterplay with 32 Bal! and Black is left with his static wealnesses: poor pawns and an even poorer bishop, 39Open Ruy Lopez 32 S12 Hea 33 Bast wh7 34 Bf8 207 34... g8? fails elegantly to 35 Raga! Rite 36 chet (nor V6 chy? Bed with 97 Bd to come) 36..He4+ 37 dd3 dxg8 38 Sexd5+. 35 2c2 @e8 36 £d3 b4 37 g3 b3 38 h4 Black is in zugzwang as there are no ‘pass’ moves. 38...2c6 39 Bc8 &b7 40 Bc3 Hd7 41 Uxb3 Ec7 42 Bc3 1-0 Polgar points out the reason for her opponent's early resignation: on 42...21xc3 43 bxc3 L.c6 44 G2f3 shg8 White continues 45 a6, threatening 2c8-e6-g8-h7-g6 and the h5-pawn falls. Black can only defend the h- pawn by putting his king on h6, which naturally allows White to create a passed d- pawn and win easily. Game 19 Karpov-Yusupov USSR Ch., Moscow 1983 1 04 e5 2 D3 Dcé 3 Abs a6 4 Rad DIE 5 0-0 Zxe4 6 a4 bS 7 2b3 d5 8 dxeS £e6 9 3 2c5 10 Abd? 0.0 11 &o2 25 12 Db3 Lg 13 Dida xd4 14 cxdd ‘After this move Black must react quickly before White completes his development and 14...05 Played in order to meet 15 3 by 15..04 15 £03 Akernatively: 2) 15 fis best met by 15 £5! b) 15 23 soon simplified out to equality in Ljubojevic-Tal, Niksic 1983, after 15 ..2¢ 16 SxbS axb3 17 Lxc6 Hab 18 B Bxcb 19 fxe4 bxa2 20 Hxa? Sxed 21 b3. 6) 15 24 leads to nothing after 15...Db4 16 b1 bxa4 17 Hxat Axf2! Hence White's best is the most natural developing move available. 15...04 16 Qd2 ‘The ahemative retreat 16 @cl is covered in Games 20 and 21. 16...a3 ‘The continuation 16..@e7?! 17 £3 @xd2 18 Wxd2 c6 19 Bact of Emst-Conquest, Gausdal 1991, allows White a comfortable edge. Instead 16...{61? should be countered by 17 f4! fxe5 18 dxeS @xd2 19 Sxd2 Wd7 20 Sxg6 hxgs 21 We2 We6 22 Bact, as in Prandstetter-Haba, Prague 1990, when the pressure on the cfile leaves White with the 17 Qxe4 axbz 18 Bb1 sxe4 18..dxe4l? 19 Exb2 Wd, as in Comet- Ferret, World Computer Championship, ‘Jakarta 1996, might be worth awry. 19 Exb2 Wd7 cath ei . The pressure on the b- and - files is enough for White to keep a slight but persistent edge as our main game ilhsstrates. 40© 20 a3! Better than 20 &xe4 dxe4 21 Bxb5 Dxd4 22 Hed Bids wich was oniy equai in ‘Alvanov-Yusupov, USSR Championship, Frunze 1979. 20.803 Not 20..b4? 21 2b5 Efb8 22 Exb4, which was very difficult for Black in Emst- ‘Aer, Berlin 1988, as he cannot recapture his, pawn due to 22...xa2?? 23 xc Wxc6 24 Exbs+. 21 Wxds fs 22 Biot More direct is 22 {4 aiming for f4-£5 and 5-06. 22...b4 23 b3 T's true that 23 a3 bxa3 24 Hxb8+ Hxbs 25 Bxb8+ Dxb8 26 Waa3, as in Hiibner- Korchnoi, Chicago 1982, was still better for ‘White, but the extra simplification makes the ‘game rather drawish. 23...h6 24 Het Hb6 25 Wht Habs ‘A later game Popovic-Timman, Sarajevo 1984, continued 25...a7 26 Hc5 @a5 (00 optimistic) 27 Hxb4 Qc 28 Hb3 Hab7 29 ‘$h2 c6 30 HaS! and Black was in trouble and soon lost. 26 He5 Dd8 27 Bec? e6 Black can only wait and see as 27...De6 is strongly met by 28 f4 etc. 28 Wet E8b7 29 Hc5 De7 30 eh2 ‘White can continue to probe on the queenside and prepare g2-g4, f4-f4 and a steady advance on the other wing; meanwhile Black remains passive. Yusupov decides to play actively, but as so often happens, this precipitates the end, 30...0'5 31 Hbc2 Bg6 32 Bxc7 Exc? 33 Bxc7 Wb 34 g4 Dh4 35 Bc8+ oh7 36 Wat ‘Stopping the black queen from coming to 6B, €2 or fl. 37...f5 38 @g3! A neat way of winning a piece. c3 &c5 10 Dbd2 0-0 11 &c2 At5 38...fx94 39 sbxh4 gxh3 40 14! We6 41 Wns Wo7+ 42 bxh3 WI7 A tricky move to meet but Karpov has seen it . 43 Bh2t Indirectly defending the queen and so the threat of ..g3+ is met. (43... Wd7+ 44 15 1-0 Karpov makes everything look so smooth! Tk seems that Black doesn’t quite equalise against 16 @d2, although most players with the white pieces wouldn't be able to make anything out of such a small edge. Game 20 Chekhov-Gorelov Beskidy 1992 1 04 e5 2 213 Dc6 3 Abs a6 4 £a4 Dt6 5 0-0 Dxe4 6 d4 b5 7 2b3 d5 8 dxed 206 9 c3 Sc5 10 Dbd2 0-0 11 Bc2 215 12 Db3 &g6 13 Dids Linda 14 cxd4 a5 15 £63 a4 16 Det a3 In order to give Black access to the c3- square. 1763 ees es problems: 17..xa3 18 d3 (after 18 bs cd 19 Wed b4 20 Dd Suds 21 ‘Wxd3 Wa8!, as in Nunn-Marin, Thessaloniki, Olympiad 1988, the knight on c3 gave Black an excellent game) 18..2c3 19 Wd2 a5 20 Qb3 Drea? 21 Dc5 Dxb3 22 Dxb3, as in 4tOpen Ruy Lopez ‘Hickl-Van der Sterren, Munich 1990, and now 22...xb3 (Korchnoi) was equal. 17. ¢al The older 17..0b42 18 Sb1 c5 19 dxcd Bb 20 Be2, as in Tseshkovsky-Geller, USSR Championship 1980/81, is given by all the books as clearly beer for White, but here Black should have played 20..2e5 which is not so clear. 18 Qd3 18 exi6 is covered in Game 21, while 18 £3 is met by a promising piece sacrifice 18...fxe5! 19 fred Exfi+ 20 bub exd4 21 Sixd4 dros 22 $32? (better is 22 $c3 WI8+ 23 el Bids, although Black has excellent compensation for the piece) 22...Wi6+ 23 ‘gi ds 24 We4 Wc3 0-1 Solomon-Van. der Sterren, Sydney 1991. ‘White can improve with 20 Wxfl exd4 21 WexbS (or 21 RF4 dxed 22 WxbS Wi6 and the two central passed pawns and active pieces are fully worth the piece - Flear) 21..@a7 22 Wxd5+ Wrxd5 23 exd5 dxe3 24 ixg6 hng6 25 Dd3 4b5 with equal chances according to Nunn. 18...b417 20 Gixe5 Drxe5 21 fred Qd7 22 e5 left White with an edge in Aseev Haba, Germany 1994, and Files for his rooks. ‘Therefore Black’s best chance may 18. fxeS. The point is that 19 Dxc5 @acS 20 Rxet desl (20...8xe4 21 dxe5 wasn’t so easy for Black, who has the worse pawn structure. in Aseev-Korneev. Krumbach 1991) seems to equalise as White cannot use his kingside majority. After 21 dxe5 Wad 22 Hfxdi Hfds 23 h3 $7 24 Bxd8+ Hod8 25 Het Hc8 26 Xc5 RdS 27 PF c6 Black had a blockade in Ivanchuk-Timman, Riga 1985. 19 Wei! ‘A useful move, hitting b4 and getting ready to undermine the knight if it ventures wd. 19...fx05 If 19...2b8 20 3 Dc3 21 Dxb4 Dxb4 22 Sixg6 Dbxa® 23 Rc? feed 24 Bir (Chekhov) Black’s nights are horribly tangled. He also gives 19...We7 20 £4 fxe5 21 dxe5 d4 22 Sd? as an edge for White, but the continuation 22..@\c3 23 g4 S67 24 £5 dS is complicated and Black is not without ‘counterphay. Instead 19...A3? is refuted by 20 @xb4l Dxb4 21 Lxg6 Dbxa2 22 Lbi! Dxd1 23 ‘Bxa? and White wins a piece. 20 Oxe5 DxeS 21 dxeS We7 21..d42 fails dismally to 22 Md 5 23 ‘Sxd4, as Chelshov points out. 22 13 De3 23 Axg6 nxgs 24 Las EFS 25 We3 c57! Chekhov instead suggests 25...e8!? with the plausible continuation 26 fel @b5 27 Rc5 Web (27...Wxe5?? 28 W2) 28 £4 95 29 Wd c6 30 faxg5 Hixg5 (30..2xe5? 31 Sxb4l) 31 Stxbt Bixe5 32 Hixed Wes 33Re1 Wate 34 Wad Bxet+ 35 Qxet xd4 36 Sd2! (36 ‘${2? Dxb3! 37 axbd3 d4) 36.047 37 fz and the bishop is beter than the knight but a draw is on the cards. 26 &xc5 Exe5 27 &xe7 Exe3 28 Lxb4 Black ‘doesn’t have enough compensation for the pawn. see following diagram 30 Bxe3?! 429 63 &c5 10 Bbd2 0-0 11 &c2 BFS After 30 Sxa3!? Qe2+ 31 Sf Bc2, Black, just as he does in the doublerook ending that follows, obtains too much counterplay, so 30 Hd21 was more to the point. 30...Hexe3 31 Hd2 He2 32 Hxd4 Hb2 33 Hoa $17 34 Bt4+ do8 35 Bod O17 36 ha Bee? 37 Het He2t Not of course 37...ixa? 38 Bf4+ dpB 39 We8+ Gh7 40 Més Bxg2+ 41 Gf g5 42 h5 and White wins. 38 Exe2 38 Hct is naturally met by 38...2ec2. 38...2x02 39 Rad Bxa? 40 ch? Bat 41 g3 a2 42 f4 Mb1 43 Ba7+ gs 44 Exa2 Exb3 45 g5 th7 46 Eas Eco %% Game 21 Short-Timman Yerevan Olympiad 1996 1 e405 2 Df3 Dc6 3 Lb5 a6 4 2a4 DIG 5 0-0 Axed 6 dé bS 7 2b3 dS 8 dxe5 Me6 9 c3 &c5 10 Abd2 0-0 11 Lc2 #5 12 Db3 LaG 13 Dfd4 Bxd4 14 cxd4 ab 15 203 a4 16 Dci a3 17 b3 16 18 oxié 18 @d3 was covered in the previous game. 18...Wxf6 19 De2 Dbat Less logical seems 19..We7 20 Ect Db+ 21 Sb1 Hae8, as in Speelman-Timman, London (4th matchgame) 1989, since White has developed his rook before retreating the bishop to b1, unbke the text continuation. 20 Ki Not surprisingly, given that he has fully activated his forces, Black has several routes to full equality. White is not really organised ‘enough (as yet) to exploit the weaknesses in Black's pawn steucture. 20...e7 Imeresting is 20..c5, an untned suggestion, which was analysed by Nunn to a draw following 21 Sxe4 Sxe4 22 ducd Ac? 23 Hcl Rxg? 24 dxe? WE3+ 25 Sgt Dxe3 26 fxe3 Wied. Best could be 20...ae8! 21 @g3 (after 21 Wet c5! Black has a very active game) 21.2e6, as in Liberzon-Stean, Reersheva 1982, when Black has equal chances according to theory. Note how active his Pieces are and how easy it is for White to 0 astray. The game continued 22 Sxe4?! (White should play 22 Wet @uxgs 23 hxgs Sxbi 24 Wxbi Bc6 25 Hcl with equality according to Liberzon) 22..dxe¢ 23 Wd2 @d3 and Black was already better. 21 Bet White threatens £2-f3. Another Karpov- Korchnoi encounter (6th —matchgame, ‘Merano 1981) continued 21 Wel Hfe8 22 Df4 267, when 23 Ad3 @xd3 24 Rxd3 is given by all the books as a shade better for White. Then 24..b4! 25 Bet @c3 is critical as the knight finds an excellent outpost, so the 43Open Ruy Lopez game is not clear at all (leat). 21...@xf21 therwice after 22 f% Black would he denied the central outpost and he will be pushed back In this variation Black has to keep going forward or end up with a ‘Swiss cheese’ queenside in the ending. 22 Qxf2 Sxb1 23 Exb1 Bxt2 24 bxf2 Bras 25 Ota Forced, as after 25 gi We3+ 26 thi, the move 26..0xd3 gives Black a ferocious attack. 25...Exfa+ 26 $1 Hed! ‘Timman rejected 26...W{6 because of 27 Mess 7 28 Hc8 when the cpawn and Black’s king are 27 a2 Oa3! 28 BEA? "Trying for more than the draw that fesults from 28 Bixe4 Wrxe4 29 Hidi Wxd4+ 30 @h1 @f2+. 28.,.xd4 29 2f3 Ota Unpinning cleverly as the rook cannot be taken in view of 30..Qe2+. 30 Wi2 95 31 He3 Hed 32 Hxed dred Black has two pawns, which is sufficient compensation here as his knight cannot be denied an advanced outpost. 33 We3 2d3 34 Ef Wed 35 bhi dF 36 h4 94 37 g3h6 %-%9 c3 &ch 10 Dbd2 0-0 11 Kc2 AFS ‘summary White has tried various move orders and nuances to obtain something concrete against the solid 11...8%5, The mos convincing ida is 12 Db3 Sys 13 Dict Badd 14 ends 35 15 Sed a4 16 Dd2 of Game 19 where Black seems to be struggling to fully equalise. Of the earlier deviations, 14 @\xd4 (Game 18) looks like a dangerous surprise weapon but this may be truc only under dhe guidance of Judit Polgar. White has several 13:h alternatives but they don't give him anything special. At move 12, 12...2¢4 is best avoided but 12...fxcf2+ is playable, though less aggressive than in Chapter 2. 1 04 €5 2 Df3 Dc 3 Ab5 a6 4 a4 DG 5 0-0 Dxed 6 d4 b5 7 Lb3 ds 8 dxeb LeG 9.3 Bc5 10 Dbd2 0-0 11 Lc2 2I5 12 Qb3 &g6 (D) 12,..Sta2+ — Game 13 12..2g1~ Game 14 13 Oda 13 a4 - Game 15 13 &f4~ Game 16 13 Dbd4 - Game 17 13...8xd4 14 oxdd 14 Odd — Gane 18 14,..05 15 @e3 a4 (D) 16 Or 16 Dd2 - Game 19 a3 17 b3 £6 18 oxt6 18 Dd3 - Game 20 18...Wxf6 (D) - Game 21 18... xt 465CHAPTER FOUR 9 c3 &2c5: Tenth Move Alternatives 104 5 2 Df3 Dc6 3 Lb5 a6 4 has DIG 5 0-0 Axo 6 d4 b5 7 2b3 d5 8 dxo5 Re6 9 63 feb Sometimes White prefers other moves to 10 @bd2 and these alternatives are covered in this chapter. The main advantage of keeping the knight temporarily on bt is that the dark-squared bishop can be developed rapidly or the white queen can come to d3. Lines with an early We2 can transpose from 9 We2 (see Chapter 9) and those with an early $3 to the lines featuring 9 Se3 (see Chapter 11). To provide a brief overview of the content of this chapter: 10 S04 (Game 22) is tricky but doesn’t offer a theoretical edge; 10 a4 (notes to Game 22) should be met by 10...b4; Game 23 gives a good model of how to handle 10 We2 followed by 11 23; and 10 Wd3 followed by 11 Abd2 (Games 24- 26) or 11 Se3 (Game 27) are complicated: Black is okay but some memorisation of long lines is necessary. ‘The fact that the theoretically strongest move is 10 @bd2 should not hull the Open player into over-confidence if he faces one of these variations. deviations are sometimes deadly because of their surprise value and readers intending to play 9...8c5 should not skip over this chapter. Gofshtein-Mikhalevski Beersheva 1994 1 04 05 2 Df3 Dc6 3,2b5 06 4 faa Dt6 5 0-0 Dxe4 6 4 bS 7 &b3 d5 8 dxe5 206 9 3 Ac5 10 214 ‘A rare move that provokes Black into tricky complications, where he stands well if he knows what to do. White reinforces the eS-pawn and prepares quick development and the undermining of the knight on 4 by @fd4 and £2-£3 or Dbd2 and Axes. Black should meet 10 a4 (a typical idea seen in many variations of the Open; White immediately creates threats against b5 and d5) with 10..b4! (10. 10b8% is inadvisable as 11 axbS axbS 12 Dbd2 0-0 13 Sc? gives White a beter version of lines arising in several other chapters: White has already freed his queen’s rook for action on the a-file and thus has gained time on some main lines) 11 Dd4 @xe5 12 cxb4 Mxd4 (12..Axb4l? 13 £3 leads to complications which Korchnoi judges as unclear after 13...Sc5! 14 Se3 Df6 15 Wei Wd6) 13 Wxd4 Wie 14 &e3 Dcé 15 Wale Dxk6 16 Het Dxb4 17 Bxc7 0-0 with equal chances in Wedberg-Castro, Manila Olympiad 1992. 469 ¢3 &c5: Tenth Move Alternatives Compare this to 10 @bd2 0-0 11 a4 when for the same reason 11..b4 is Black’s most logical course. The game Kupreichih- ‘Makhalchishin, Lvov 1988, continued 12 2 bxc3!? Gnstead of this 12.651 is better) 13 Dxet dxot 14 Sxct Wadi 15 Bxdi Bids 16 Bel cxb2 17 Sxb2 HabS 18 La3 Bxa3 19 Hxa3 Bd5 20 g3 De7 21 He3 c6 22 &xd5 Bxd5 23 Het, which turned out to be a litle etter for White thanks to his superior pawn structure. Despite this instructive counter example, I believe that Black should meet a2-a4 on moves 9, 10 or 11 with .b4. 10...95! Black does best to allow himself to be provoked! The text forces the win of the e- pawn at the risk of loosening the kingside ‘However, White thus obtains some tactical play against a less than fully secure black kein 11 hes ‘Not 11 g3? h5t and White is already in trouble. 11,..x03 12 fxe3 94 13 Qd4 Dred 14 Dd2 B51? Inferior is 14..@xd2 15 Wxd2, as in ‘Murey-Flear, Brussels 1992, when after 15..Wg5 16 a4 Bc4 White can cause problems by playing 17 W2! with threats on. the a and f-files. 15 el? ‘White wants to blast open the centre while the black king is exposed. ‘Most games have continued 15 Wel, but 16 ie ws, as in ‘Meiger-Tarrasch, Frankfurt 1887, allows Perenyi’s 17 Saxd5t, when 17..fxd5 18 BES leaves the black position compromised without even any material compensation) 16 4 (Mikhalchishin considers 16 Wh4 Dgé 17 ‘Wi6 We7 18 e4 Wxf6 19 Bxf6 0-0-0 to be unclear) 16.000 17 exdS Sxd5 18 Of5 Wes 19 Ada! (not 19 We3? Axb3 20 axb3 2b7 PerenyiMikhalchishin, Linz 1988, when Black has consolidated the extra pawn) 19..WWd6 with a repetition. For those looking for winning prospects Korchnoi suggests 19.,.We8 instead of 19...1Wd6. 15,..2h3 16 axb3 0-0 17 Wat White could have considered 17 We2 with the point that 17..@)g6 is then met by 18 @xeb fxe6 19 Wxg4, so Black would do better in that case to play 17...Wd6, 15...Wd6l (1! 17...2g6! 18 Wes Mikhalevski points out that Black has the slightly better ending after the that follow 18 exd5 Sxd5 19 We3! Hes 20 Whe Wha 21 Dfs Wxhb 22 Axh6+ 97 23 Dxet Me? 24 Hip Rixf? 25 cxf? 27. 18...Be8! 19 Haet cB! ‘Mikhalevski shows the consequences of 20 @f5 with some deep 2 20,385 2 Hf 0 99 Wiel Hest 99 Belt Wie 4 Wh Hac8 25 Wg Whe! and here he claims an edge for Black. However, I think that ‘White is okay after the further 26 Bxxe5 Hxe5 27 Wd7 Ze7 28 W8+ deg7 29 Hf2. 20...Hxe6 21 Wxc5 ‘see following diagram oat Sacrificing material to wrest the initiative. ‘The opening due! has been won by Black due w energetic play on his part. a7Open Ruy Lopez 2205 “Taking on d4 is fraught with 7 Waxd4? fails to 22..2d6 23 WE2 Bxd2 24 ‘Wsxf7+ $h8 and Black wins, while after 22 cxd42t He8 23 Wh4 a5! 24 Wxbs Wadt+ 25 Ef2 Bc2 White will be tied up to the defence of the second rank. 22...Ha7! 23 Wxg4!? Obtaining £3 for the knight at the cost of the queenside. 23...dxe3 24 @f3 cxb2 25 h4 Following 25 Bf2 (25 Whs is not dangerous after 25...f6) 25..Wf6 26 @gs We3 27 Hefl Hee7 28 Wh5, the cool 28..Wg7!_ holds everything vogether, for instance 29 Hxb2? loses to 29...h6. 25...h8 26 Bat?! ‘More consistent was 26 hS De5 27 Dxe5 Wa4+ 28 thi Wre5 29 di Be8, but Black has held the extra pawn and is in control. 26...Rd7! 27 Qg5 Bxd1 28 Bxd1 Woer 29 Gh1 He7 30 Eh Wc6! 31 Wat £6 32 ‘Wada Sy8 33 HS Wet 34 Wd3 Ed7! 35. Wrd7 Wxft+ 36 h2 Wr4+ 37 g3 Wxo5 38 hxg6 hxg6 39 Was 42...2hB! 43 WdS+ On 43 Wrxb2 then 43..Wxe4+ 44 dh2 sbe4 wins comfortably, for instance 45 Wacfé We2+ 46 th Wel+ 47 dg? Wxg3+. 43.15 44 Wis Wxed+ 45 bh2 Better is 45 G2f2 but after 45..g5! White can resign anyway. 45...b18 0-1 ‘Game 23 Kamsky-Anand Las Palmas (6th matchgame) 1995 10405 2 D3 Dc6 3 Lb5 a6 4 Las Dts 5 0-0 Bxe4 6 d4 bS 7 b3 d5 8 dxeS e6 963 In fact, 9 Re3 &c5 (I recommend 9..Le7 ~ see Chapter 11) 10 We2 We7 11 <3 0-0 was the actual move order of this game. 2c5 10 We2 0-0 11 £e3 ‘White embarks upon a plan to exchange Black's dark-squared bishop and to bring his rook to the -file or to press against 5. With, accurate play Black has little to worry him but the position can become simplified too quickly and a litle dull. 11xe3 12 Wxed allows White to obtain control of 5 too easily and is what he is playing fort This theme is developed in Game 27 (sce 10 Wa3 7). .f6 can be met by the active ifice 12 dt Be} 13 Wxe3 fxcS 14 @bd2, when Korchnoi slightly prefers ‘White. Then the further 14..@xd2 15 Wxd2 Bxf3! 16 gxf3. Dc? might be worth Wa2+ 42 Wi is hopeless after first 42..Wrett and only then queening the pawn. Matanovic-Geller, yal USSR 1958. 12...Bad8 13 &xc5 ‘An earlier game Kuijpers-Ekstrim, Bem 489 c3 &c5: Tenth Move Alternatives 1988, continued 13 Dbd2 Lxe3 14 Wred @Dxd2 15 Bxd2 a5 16 Hadi Dxb3 17 axb3 5 and was pretty solid for Biack. 13...Wixc5 14 Dd4 Whe! ‘An excellent move, freeing cS for the Imnight. Always be realy for (2-{3 in the ! 15 13 Be5 16 fh1 ‘Alier 16 @xc6 Anand gives ‘16..Wac6 17 @Dd2 equal’ but 16...xb3+ is rpuch stronger, eg. 17 Sh1 Dxat 18 Axd8 Bxd8 19 423 b4 20 cxb4 Wab4 21 Eixal MbS and Black is much better (Flear). 16...Efe8 17 Da3 OcB 18 Dxc6 Wxc6 19 De2 Dxb3 20 axb3 16 Black has a clear advantage but Kamsky keeps his cool and sacrifices the pawn immediately. He has excellent drawing chances as Black’s queenside majority is well blocked by the knight. 21 eG! Exe6 22 Wi2 Wd6 23 b4 des 24 Bd2 We7 25 dg1 Hes 26 Dus Was 27 @b3 Be3 28 Hadi c6 29 Wo3 We7 30 Wi2 Ze5 31 Dd4 We7 32 Ob3 He3 33 Qd4 H3e5 34 Db3 h6 35 Efi Be336 Qd4 H3e5 37 Db3 He3 38 Dd4 %-% Game 24 | Khalifman-Kaidanov Kuibysheo 1986 | 104 05 2 Df3 Dc6 3 Ab5 a6 4 Lad DG 5 0-0 Dxe4 6 d4 b5 7 2b3 d5 8 dxed M06 9.63 Lc5 10 Was 0.0 11 Dbd2 Andrei 5 petline. White wudensnines de hatight auc i se his queen actively. The alternative is 11 £3 (see Game 27). 115, Too passive is 11..xd2™ 12 Sxd2 De7 (or 12..Re7 13 Rcd g6 14 Bho) 13 Dds Wa7 14 Be? g6 15 bt Bud 16 Wad Deb 17 Wh4 Dxed 18 Lh6 £6 19 RxfB BxfB 20 a4 and Black had very little for the exchange in Bonch Osmolovsky Chekhover, USSR 1956. This is a good illustration of Black's problems on the kingside dark squares when the bishop on c5 has no influence. However, 11..2xf2 12 Bxf2 Rxf2+ 13 sbxf2 (6 14 exh Wxf6 is worth a try, as 15 Qxd571 eS 16 Bx06+ Wires looks risky for White. 12 exf6 Dxt6 13 Dos Nowadays 13 24 is considered more precise, leading after 13..0b8 14 axb5 axb5 to similar play as the main game except that “White has an extra trump in the form of his control of the a-file - see Games 25 and 26. 13.2051 More active than 13...8£79! 14 @xf7 Ead7 15 @3 when White has threats against d5 and controls the e5-square. 4 Wigs Wd6 15 Bc2 ‘Now that Black has covered the d5-pawn. the bishop switches to a more productive diagonal. Black is beter after 15 Odf3 49Open Ruy Lopez @Dxf3+ 16 Dxf3 Wxg3 17 hxg} Des, and much beer after 15 Hel? Digs 16 Ddet dead 17 @veks DhR1R Oot Divi! 19 Wha h6 20 @xet @xe4 21 Wxet Hac8l, as in Schelfhout-Euwe, Amsterdam 1942. White is ‘also ill-advised to take the bishop pair immediately with 15 @xe6 because he will then struggle to complete his development. This option will later become annoying, so now Black does best to retreat his bishop. 15...2d7 16 Db3 Lb6 17 Dd4 Bas 18 ata ‘White develops and builds up his threats. Black cannot leave this pin unchallenged. 18...0h5! A pawn sacrifice which leads to the white bishop becoming locked out of play on h7. 19 &xe5 Bxe5 20 Sxh7+ hB 21 Wh4 98 ‘The alternative 21...Whé6 is inferior as is known from an analogous position (see ‘Game 25; note to Black’s 23rd move). 22 14 Sxd4at Black could also consider 22..xg5 23 Wags (23 fxgs!? Sexh7 24 Exfs Wels 25 Zf1 ‘We7 26 Ghi se8 27 b4 is given by as unclear) 23.. 21 Hixas Hxal 22 g4, but Black held on to equalise in Hiibner- Korchnoi, Germany 1989, with 22..fxg4 23 65 gxfs 24 xfs Hab 25 Whi Whe 26 Wes 829 3 Be7 10 Dbd2: Black avoids the Main Line Balt 27 bg? ‘Wes. er improvement on the game is 18 SH Gis 19 Wer 4 20 Biz Bas 21 abs axb5 22 Se3 Ba8 23 Wd2, when White had made more progress than usual in Milos- Sorin, Vila Gesell 1996, However, even after losing time Black still drew without any great difficulty. 18...04 about b2. 26...14 27 &2g1 Wd8 28 bxc4 Deaperatcly tying ww activate his po: ‘The alternative was to go passive after 28 Sxd4 Wrd4 29 Bedi, but this is met by the annoying 29..We3. 28...Hd2 29 We4 2b4 to artack g2 with his queen. 30 Eft Wg5S 31 Br2 Bxf2 32 Sxf2 2c3 White was on top after 18.6% 19 Bxg5 Bxg5 20 f4 Me7 21 g4 b4 22 Hadi in ARodriguezPasserott, Mala Olympiad 1980. 19 et ‘Compare the continuation after 19 2xg5 SMxgs 20 £4 Be7 21 axb5 axbS 22 Bx’ Bxa8 23 g4, as in RodriguezSorin, Pan ‘American Team Championship 1995, with Hiibner-Korchnoi above. Here Black continued with 23...<#h8_ and held comfortably after 24 gxf5 gxfs 25 thi Hes 26 Whs We6. 19.,.8b6+ 20 2h1 Des can start to look for an initiative, 21 Edt Had8 22 axb5 axb5 23 £e3 d4 “The opposite-coloured bishops are not a problem for Black He has a promising queenside majority and White's bishop has no useful role 24 oxd4 Dxd4 25 Rxd4 Holds 26 bs 26 Sxd4 Wxd4 leaves White wonying 33 Wd5+21 33 6 would be met by 33..b4 with complications, when the extra exchange may not yet be a decisive factor. 33...q7 34 86?! The exchange of queens leaves White in great difficulties; Black can then use his king actively whereas the white monarch is out of play. 34...Wxd5 35 cxd5 $f6 36 g3 a8 37 Bea Instead, 37 gxf4 loses to 37..Hal+! 38 be? Ba. 37... Bat+ 38 tg? a2 39 ot1 fxg3 40 hug ba ‘Not 40...b42! 41 Sc5 b3? 42 e7 and now ‘who is winning? 41 2d4+ be7 42 94 £d6 43 del b4 44, $d1 b3 45 g5 &b4 46 2f6+ SB 47 Se5 Bg2 48 dé and 0-1 ‘The ending after the continuation 48..Bd2+ (48..52 49 7+ wins for White) 49 Het b2+ 50 Lxb2 Bxds 51 de2 Bxeo should be won for Black. 83Open Ruy Lopez ‘Summary ‘There is some merit in tying to vary from standard play as early as move ten, White can a Ac, Gs Cass kt edge in Came: theory. However, Games 40 and 42 are too easy for White and should be avoided by the second player. In conclusion, 10..0-0 is not bad but it is less precise and much less common than 10.25. 1 04 05 2 D3 Ac6 3 2b5 a6 4 Lad DIE 5 0-0 Axed 6 d4 b5 7 2b3 dB 8 dxeS 2e6 9 62 207 10 Dbd? 10...0-0 10...d7 (D) - Game 40 11 B02 11 We2 1 1 11...15 12 3 12 exf6 - Game 43 12 Bd4 - Game 44 17 (D) - Game 45 cS (D) ~ Game 41 Dud2 - Game 42 64CHAPTER SEVEN 9 c3 Re7: White avoids the Main Line 1 04 e& 2 Df3 AcE 3 Qb5 a6 4 2e4 DIE 5 0.0 Dxe4 6 d4 b5 7 2b3 d5 8 dxeb R06 9 63 Re7 In this position White generally plays 10 @bd2. Chapters § and 6) or occasionally 10 e3 (Chapter 8). Here we examine other lines in which these two moves are omitted or significantly delayed. In Game 46 Karpov employs 10 &c? 2c5 11 h3 investing a tempo to stop ..22g4, whereas in Game 47 White allows the pin with 11 Het. Games 48 and 49 involve the plan of c2- 3, We2 and Edi which sometimes arises via 9 We2, In Chapter 9 the similar plan of We2, ‘Eid1 and c2-c4 will be examined. In Game 50 Hiibner tries 10 Hel and 11 Qd4 and Game 51 takes a close look at 10 known than those in some of the other chapters, and some of these lines are really quite obscure. I suggest that the reader concentrate on development plans an general principles rather than various series of archaic moves parrot- fashion. It will pay to be aware of transpositional ideas and pay particular attention to comparisons with ply in the more modern variations. Karpov-Korchnoi Baguio City (24th matchgame) 1978 104 05 2 O13 Dc6 3 2b5 a6 4 204 D6 5 0-0 Oxe4 6 d4 bS 7 2b3 d5 8 dxoS 06 9 c3 &e7 10 Bc2 Not yet a divergence from Chapter 5 as White could meet 10..Ac5 with 11 Dbd2 White delays or avoids the standard knight 10...2c5 A reasonable akemative is 10...2g¢ 11 h3 Raf (11.25 is well met by 12 £b31) 12 gxf3 Dc5 13 £4 Wd7 (13...0-02 14 b4 Dad 15 86Open Ruy Lopez Bel gave White good anacking chances in Euwe-Cortlever, Amsterdam 1945) 14 WE Wag 18 Bdt (Palgar prefers White after a different move order: 15 Se} 0-0 16 Bi) 15..f5 16 Se3 Web 17 Dd2 00 18 Db3 ‘[Polgar-Hibner, Munich 1991, when Black ‘should continue 18..2e4 19 W_2 EE7 20 £3 6 with unclear play ([Polgar). Also playable is 10..0-0 11 We2 @c5 12 ds Wa7 13 Dd? f6 14 exis prefers 14 b4, when White had an edge after 14..Dad 15 D2Es Dxd4 16 Dxd4 5 17 exfé Exf6é 18 Dxe6 Wxeb 19 Wad Begs 20 2f4 in Shor-Unzicker, West Germany 1987) 14.,,Rxf6 15 Axe Dxe6 16 Wd3 96 17 Det S97 18 Des De5 19 Wes Axg5! (but not 19...Bhae8? 20 @xh7! dexh7 21 £4 with a vicious attack in _Kouranen-Sorensen, correspondence 1978) 20 &xg5 when White has a small edge due to the bishop pair. 11h 11 Bel is considered (by transposition) in the next main game. ‘The continuation 11 &f4 M4 12 h3 BhS 13 @bd2 can be compared to Chapter 5, except that White's bishop is on g3 or hd. ‘Then Perenyi-Karsa, Zalakaros 1988, led to imeresting play: 13..0e6 14 Sg} @c5 15 Wh1 26 16 Db3 b6 17 Hadi 00 18 Bhs Wa7 19 £5 Bfes. 11 Dd4 is suggested by various authors, without much analysis. In fact, the idea of quickly pushing {2-f4 (whether or not the pawn is taken) is fairly dangerous in a number of other variations of the Open, so why not here? 11..xe5 12 f4 (Krasenkov suggests 12 Wh5 and only then {2-f4) 12...2.g4 13 Wel Zcé is unclear; Black has a loose-looking position bur an extra pawn. Instead 12 We2 d4 13 cxd4 @xd4 14 Badd | Wadd 15 Bd Wet 16 Wxct Rxct Now White is again ready for the f-pawn push, but without sacrificing the e-pawn. 13,..@xd4 14 xd4 Db7 15 Dd2 Keene prefers 15 @c3 c5 16 dxc5 @xc5 17 203, intending 18 &d4. 15...05 Black does best to open the centre even at the risk of being stuck with an isolated pawn. I's the only way of getting his pieces active. 16 dxc5 Dxc5 17 D3 215 18 £03 ‘White clearly shouldn’t grab the pawn (due to 18 Sxf5 Wixf5 19 Wxd5 Bfd8 20 Wes Hack 21 Wb6 23 with excellent play) but Filip instead suggests 19 @d4 Wd7 20 WS with an edge for White. 18...HacB 19 Hel &xc2 20 xc2 De6 21 Bd2 21 Bee2 is suggested by Tal who then prefers White; unlike in the game Black cannot take control of the c-file. 21...2fd8 22 Wb3 Ec4 23 edt Wb7 Black has good active piece play and the d-pawn is hard to pressurise. 24.23 g6 24..h6 with the idea of ...stg5 was also possible, 25 Wa2 a5 26 b3 Bc3 27 a4 bxad 2ub% may nave been a bener continuation, e.g, 28 Sd4? Hxf3! 29 gxf3 &g5 30 Be} dé and the white queen is too far away w save his hing, 28 bxa4 Hod 29 Rds tg7 30 Wd2 Exad Tt was better to keep the tension with 30..d0b4. The text over-simplifies and a draw 86