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First published 1 996

© Eduard Gufeld and Oleg Stetsko 1 996


Pages 1 30- 1 5 8 © 1 996 ofMurray Chandler/B. T. Batsford Ltd

ISBN O 7 1 34 7802 O

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data. A catalogue record


for this book is available from the British Library.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, by any


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Typeset by B. B. Enterprises, Brighton


and printed in Great Britain by
Redwood Books, Trowbridge, Wilts
for the publishers,
B. T. Batsford Ltd,
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A BATSFORD CHESS BOOK


Editorial Panel: Mark Dvoretsky, John Nunn, Jon Speelman
General Adviser: Raymond Keene OBE
Commissioning Editor: Graham Burgess
C ontents

Introduction 5

Part 1: Giuoco Pianissimo 15

Section 1 : White plays in the Centre 16


1 White plays 5 lt:Jc3 19
2 Black plays . . . .tb6 30
3 Black plays . . . .ta7 39
4 Modem Systems 59

Section 2 : White plays on the queenside 70


5 White delays the queenside attack 71
6 Black retreats the bishop to a7 77
7 Black counterattacks with 7 ... a5 88

Part 2: White plays an early d4 97

8 4 c3; Black strongpoints e5 98


9 Counterattack Against the e4-pawn 1 05
10 The 4 0-0 Variation 129

Part 3: The Evans Gambit - by Murray Chandler 132

11 The Evans Gambit Accepted 134


12 The Evans Gambit Declined 153

Index of Variations 159


l ntroduction

The Giuoco Piano ( 1 e4 e5 2 In the 1 7th and 1 8th centuries


lLlf3 lLJc6 3 i.c4 i.c5) the Giuoco Piano was used more
often than any other opening, as
the immediate threat to f7 corre­
sponded best to the understand­
ing of the game at the time. But
in the process of Íl'i long history
it has, like all living things,
evolved, from the operi and
sharply impulsive game of the
Middle Ages to the more cir­
cumspect play in the quieter Gi­
uoco Pianissimo with 4 d3,
which is linked with the name of
Lolli ( 1 763) and again from the
is a branch of the Italian Game Bayonet Attack of the Romantic
with a 500 year history, and its era to today's habit of profound
name reflects the contribution of manoeuvring.
Italian players when the opening At the end of the last century
was coming into being. Refer­ the top rank of professional
ence to it was first seen in the chess players, such as Steinitz,
Gottingen manuscript ( 1 5th Lasker, Chigorin and others al­
century). In particular, the con­ ready understood that playing in
tinuation 4 c3 lLJf6 is attributed the Romantic style with an ener­
to Damiano in 1 5 1 2. But to all getic attack on the centre by d2-
intents and purposes the theory d4, based on precise knowledge,
of this opening was ftrSt investi­ leads to concrete positions,
gated by the first professional which are accessible to less ex­
chess player (as the Botvinnik perienced players. At the same
considered him), the ltalian Gio­ time, leading the game into a
acchino Greco, who in 1 6 19, by Procrustes bed of playing for
continuing this line, examined tempi, to a certain extent nar­
the sharp variation 5 d4 ed 6 cd rows the scope for artistic poten­
i.b4+ 7 lLJc3. tia}, and denies the stronger
6 /ntroduction

player the chance to outwit the


opponent in a strategic struggle.
Therefore, the sharp, attacking
game, based on opening up the
centre early after d2-d4, gradu­
ally began to give ground to a
second plan, in which White
constructs a pawn phalanx after
d2-d3 and c2-c3, setting aside an
attack on the centre for a better
rnornent. Thus in the 20th cen­
tury it is as if the Giuoco Piano
has taken a step backwards (in
cornparison with d2-d4), and its 12 c4!
strategic rnanoeuvring is carried Every cornrnentator has cen­
out in the style of the nurnerous sured this rnove, as now Black is
closed variations of the Ruy allowed to gain the initiative on
Lopez. the queenside with the rnove
True, individual tests of simi­ ... b7-b5 of. 1, on the other hand,
lar interpretations also appeared would suggest that 1 2 c4! is the
in the last century. Therefore we only rnove that rnakes the d3-
consider it useful to show sorne square safe in the long terrn, and
analogies, and try to trace the takes away frorn Black the pos­
links of time to connect exam­ sibility of achieving a strong at­
ples frorn the past with the pres­ tack along the d-file after
ent. ... d4xc3. Only with a safe centre
can White hope to develop an
Game 1 attack on the kingside.
Chigorin-Lasker 12 f6
St. Petersburg 1895/6 13 ..td2 tbe6
(notes by Bogoljubow) 14 tbg3 bS!
1S cb ab
1 e4 eS 2 tbf3 tbc6 3 ..tc4 16 i.. b3 tbe7
.tes 17 tbh4 tbcS
4 c3 tbf6 18 ..tc2 ..te6
S d3 d6 19 tbhS 0-0
6 tbbd2 a6 20 g4! ..tb6!
7 h3 i..a7 21 b4 tbb3
8 ..tb3 tbd7 With this very cunning rna­
9 tbn lbeS noeuvre, Lasker seizes sorne ini­
10 i.. c2 dS tiative on the queenside.
1 1 'ife2 d4 (D) 22 ..txb3 ..txb3
Introduction 7

23 0-0 .i.f7 ous; 36... ..ta5 would have been


If 23 .i.xa2, then 24 .i.h6 ! .
.•. too adventurous because of 37
24 ltJfS! f6) 36...b2 37 �b l 'iixc6 38
White sacrifices the a-pawn to l1xb2 'ii'c 3 39 ltb8! (this is the
gain an attack. Another con­ saving move; if 39 :d2??, then
tinuation could be 24 a3 c5 25 be there comes 39 ... .i.xg5 40 'iixg5
.i.xc5 26 .i.b4. h6) 39 ... .i.xg5 40 ltxg8+ .i.xg8
24 ltJxfS 41 'iixg5 'iic2+ 42 �gl !, and
25 gf 'iie8! Black must make do with a
26 ltJg3 l:txa2 draw, as he cannot take the d3-
27 l:ixa2 .i.xa2 pawn because of .. .f5.
28 �h2 .i.f7
29 !!g1 �h8
30 'iig4 ttg8
31 f4! eS
Por the sacrificed pawn Black
has created for himself a very
dangerous passed pawn, which
fmds support from the f7 -bishop,
although a white c5-pawn could
also become dangerous.
32 fe fe!
Very circumspect! Instead af­
ter 32 1i'xe5? 33 .i.f4 1i'e8
•..

(33 ... 1i'e7 34 e5 ! ) 34 be .i.xc5 35 35 'iixe6


hiel White would have gained a 36 .i.xd8 ltxd8
very dangerous attack. 37 'ti'gS
33 .i.gS! With the aim of occupying the
After 33 be? Black should e-file.
continue 33 ... .i.xc5 34 :t.b l b4! 37 ... 'ti'f6
35 .i.xb4 'iib5 36 .i.xc5 'iixb 1 38 'fiel 'iie7
37 .i.d6 l:tc8, etc. Preventing 'iic7.
33 ..td8! 39 f6 gf
34 be b4 (D) 40 ltJfS 'ti'f8
35 e6? 41 'iie7 lle8!
Until this point, Chigorin has This move and the following
made good use of his chances, bishop manoeuvre have been
but here he overlooks something. calculated beautifully.
By playing 35 ltcl ! he could 42 'iib6 .i.g6
probably have saved the game, 43 ltJh4 .i.e8!
for example, 35 ...b3 36 c6! (the 44 ltJfS .i.d7!
pawn starts to become danger- 45 4Jh4?
8 lntroduction

Hastening defeat, but after 45 10 .tc2


lLld6 .l:.c2+ 46 'ithl .i.e6 as well, Karpov does not wish to ex­
Black wins with the help of the change bishops, but 10 lLlc4 is
b-pawn (if 47 'ii'xb4?, then also possible.
47 ...:.c6). 10 ... dS
4S 'ii'h 6! White tends to benefit from
46 ¡j'd6 'ii'xh4 the centre opening up in this type
47 'it'xd7 'ii'f4+ of position, but Korchnoi doubt­
0-1 less feared 10...lLle7 1 1 d4 lLlg6
An amazingly subtle game by 12 :el lLlf4 1 3 lLlfl with the
the World Champion! threats of 14 .i.xf4 and 14 de.
11 :el de
Lasker himself had occasion Black could consider frrst
to use the Giuoco Piano in the ll ...:es and only if 12 lLlfl ,
fmal World Championship then 12 ... de 1 3 de 'ii'xdl . lf the
match of the nineteenth century. white knight manoeuvres via f1,
This took place in Moscow at the then the black knight would
end of 1 896 in the form of a re­ rather stay on f6 than
. venture to
turn match against Steinitz, in h5.
which the fading matador re­ 12 de lLlhS
mained true to the departing era 13 lLlfl
and carne forward openly. The This is not only best, it is also
reappearance of this opening at necessary. Instead 13 lLlxeS?
the highest level occurred only allows 1 3 ....txf2+, 14 ...'ii'h4+
85 years later in the second Kar­ and 1 5 ... lLlxe5, while otherwise a
pov-Korchnoi world champion­ knight invasion on f4 would give
ship match. Black powerful threats.
13 ... 'ii'xdl
Game 2 13 1i'f6 14 lLle3 sharpens the
••.

Karpov-Korchnoi game to White's benefit, e.g.


Merano Wch (8) 1981 14...lLlf4 15 lLld5, 14...1i'g6 1 5
(notes based on those by lLlh4! or 1 4....:.ad8 1 5 lLld5 'ii'g6
Makarychev) 1 6 'itfl ! ! (but not 16 lLlxe5
.i.xf2!, nor 1 6 lLlh4 'ii'g3) 1 6 .. .f6
1 e4 eS 2 lLlt3 lLlc6 3 .i.c4 17 lLlh4 'ii'f7 1 8 'ii'f3 threatening
.tes g2-g4.
4 c3 lLlf6 14 :K.xdl lhd8
S d3 d6 So far the game has been
6 lLlbd2 a6 tense, and the play direct. The
7 0-0 0-0 ending that now arises does not
8 .i.b3 .ta7 look terribly unpleasant for
9 h3 .te6 Black, but the rather badly
lntroduction 9

placed black knight and the hint lt is hard to believe that Black
of a weakness on d5 give Karpov can be in much danger, but con­
enough to play for the win. sider the following variations:
15 .i.e3 f6 a) In response to 23...l:tfd8
16 .i.xa7 �xa7 Karpov had prepared 24 �xe7+
17 � �f4 !:txe7 25 �c5, when Black must
18 h4! avoid 25 . . .l:.xd 1 ? 26 :xd1 �xc5
Karpov hinders Black's king­ 27 l:.d8+, when he is actually
side counterplay. Now Korchnoi mated, and play 25 . . .:b8 26
should have given up any active �xe6 .i.xe6 27 .i.xe6 :xe6 28
plans for the time being and de­ l:td7 :es (but not 28 . . .:b6 29
fended passively, starting with l::tad 1 ! l::txb2 30 tlxc7 and 3 1
moves such as . . . .i.t7, . . . c6, :dd7) .
. . �c8,
. . . . g6 and . . �e6.
. b) 23 ... c6 is also unattractive,
18 .tf7 because of 24�xe5 ! fe 25 �f6+
19 �1 �eS gf 26 l:txd7.
20 o �6? e) 23 ... �xd5 24 cd �d8 25
Black refuses to play the de­ �c5 l:.d6 26�e4 :d7 27 c4 and
fensive move . . . c6, but ends up c4-c5 gives White a large advan­
walking into a combination. That tage.
Black has consolidated his posi­ 24 .i.a4
tion turns out to be an illusion. Karpov forces a further weak­
21 �d3 l::rd7 ness on the queenside, which he
22 .i.b3 �7 (D) will use to open the a-file.
Black frees the c8-square for 24 ... b5
the bishop so that he has a reply White's main threat of 25
to the threatened 23 .i.xe6 .i.xe6 �3b4 can be executed after
24�c5 . 24...ltfd8, whilst 24 l::td6 leads
..•

to a difficult position: 25 .i.xc6


be 26 �e7+ 'it>h8 27 �f5 :dd8
28 �h4 :bs 29 lld2 c5 30 �c6
:b6 3 1 �a5 followed by �3
and lbac4 in either arder.
25 .i.c2 l:.fd8
26 a4 �
27 g3
This is not a position where
White can blast his way through,
but instead can gradually in­
crease the pressure; Black is
limited to unpleasantly passive,
23 �d5! �c6 though not hopeless, defence.
JO Introduction

We shall give the rest of the tt:'leS+ 70 'ite3 tt:'la4 71 'itd2 b4


game in brief, since we are well 72 eb tt:'lxb4 73 tt:'lxh6 tt:'lcS 74
away from a discussion of the tt:Jrs tt:'lds 75 h6 tt:Je4+ 76 'iii>d3
opening themes: tt:'lgS 77 'itd4 'iii>c6 78 tt:'lfg7 t:De7
27... l:td6 28 b4 t:De7 29 t:De3 79 tt:Jr6 tt:'lg6 so tt:Jrs 1/z-1/z
�e6 30 l:.a3 tt:'le8 31 ab ab 32
'itt2 tt:'lb6 33 tt:'lb2 �xdl 34 The appearance of new, or
..txdl l:td6 35 ..te2 .teS rather, well-forgotten old open­
Black must avoid the variation ings in world championship
35 ... l:r.d2 36 tt:'ld3 ! tt:'lc4 37 l:r.a8+! matches usually provides the
.teS (37 ...'ite7 38 'iii>e l .U.xd3 39 ímpetus for their reintroduction
tt:'lf5+!) 38 'iii>e l l:r.xd3 39 ..txd3 into general chess practice. This
tt:'lxe3 40 ..txb5 c6 41 ..txc6 tt:'lc7 is what has happened in this
42 l:r.c8. case. The Giuoco Pianissimo
36 �S�d8! with 4 d3 has firmly taken its
Black has no choice. If 36... c6, place amongst modero openings.
then 37 l:r.a6 tt:'lc8 38 l:.a8. Therefore the study of this sys­
37 'iii>e l e6 38 �6 l:1b8 39 tem, whose theory is developing
..tdl tt:'le8 40 tt:'ld3 tt:'le7 41 .:as actively, is the primary plan of
.l:.a8 42 f4! ef 43 gf tt:'lb6! 44 this book. We have devoted less
..tf3 :ds 45 ..te2 tt:'la4 46 lh7 space than earlier theoretical
l':.d7 47 'itd2 tt:'le6 48 l!xd7 reference works to the system
..txd7 49 it.g4 g6 linked with an early d2-d4. Its
Black moves into a very dan­ theory is mainly based on the
gerous position thanks to the investigations of the masters of
exchange of bishops and pair of the past; in this book we have
pawns. In the event of 49 ...'ite7 concentrated on modem experi­
50 tt:'lf5 'itd8 White maintains ence of this opening. As in the
powerful pressure, but has not preceding case, we consider it
managed to create a passed useful to spend sorne time also
pawn. looking at the prominent special­
SO fS gf ists of this opening.
50 ... tt:'lc7 loses: 5 1 fg ..txg4 52
gh! . Game 3
5 1 ..txfS 'iii> g7 52 eS! tt:'lf8 53 Schitfers-Harmonist
..txd7 tt:'lxd7 54 e6 tt:'ldb6 SS Frankfurt 1887
tt:'lf4 'itf8 56 'itd3 tt:'le8 57 tt:'lg4
'ite7 58 tt:'lh6! 'itd6 59 'itd4 t:De7 1 e4 eS 2 tt:'lf3 tt:'lc6 3 ..tc4
60 tt:'lf7+ 'ite7 61 tt:'lhS eS+ 62 be .tes
tt:'le6+ 63 'ite3 tt:'lxeS 64 tt:'lxf6 4 e3 tt:'lf6
tt:'lxe6 65 hS tt:'lf8 66 'ite4 'itb6 S d4 ed
67 tt:Jgs h6 68 tt:'lt7 t:De6 69 !:Des 6 ed ..tb4+
Introduction 1 1

7 �d2 �xd2+ pawn, viz. by 16 �e6.


•••

8 lbbxd2 d5
9 ed lbxd5
10 'i'b3 lbce7
11 0-0 0-0
12 l:lfe1 c6
13 a4
A contemporary of Chigorin,
and the second strongest Russian
chess player of the time, Schif­
fers was also a well-known theo­
retician. In this game he man­
ages not only to overcome the
standard Giuoco Piano defence,
but also created a masterpiece of 16 •.. l:lxe8
a combination, which received 17 i.xf7+ �h8
prizes for its beauty. Or 17 ...�f8 1 8 lbxh7+ rj¡;e7
1 3 a4 (alongside 1 3 lbe4) is 1 9 lle1 +, etc.
one of the main continuations. 18 .txe8 lbe2+
13 ... 'i'c7 19 �h1 lbxcl
14 l:lacl! 20 lbf7+ �g8
Threatening a double capture 21 lbh6++ �
on d5. 22 'i'g8+ �e7
14 ... lbf4? 23 .txg6 hg
If 14 �e6, then 1 5 lbg5. The
••. 24 'i'xg7+ c¡i¡ld8
best way to avoid problems on 25 'i'f8+ �d7
the e-file would have been 26 lbe4! (D)
14 ...'i'f4!, which was demon­
strated more than a quarter of a
century later in a 1 9 1 4 game
Schlechter-Breyer: 1 5 lbe4 .tf5
1 6 lbc5 b6 17 lbd3 .txd3 1 8
.txd3 with a level game. But one
should not be too severe, as
Harmonist was a player from the
Romantic era of chess.
15 lbg5! lbeg6
16 l:le8! (D)
The beginning of a well and
deeply calculated combination,
which Black could prevent only In this quiet move líes the
by paying White off with a point of the combination that
12 Introduction

began ten moves ago. 17 .l:.e2 lbes


26 ..• 'iid8 18 lbxfS .txrs
The mate on c5 can also be 19 .txdS cd (D)
avoided by playing 26 ./Üd3 (or

26 ... b6), but then 27 'iig7+ Wd8


28 lbt7+ Wd7 29 lbfd6+ is de­
ctstve.
27 'iid6+ 'i.te8
28 lbf6+ 1-0

Game 4
Van der Wiel-Karpov
Amsterdam 1980

1 e4 eS 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 .tc4


.tes
4 c3 lbf6 20 g4
S d4 ed The diagram position can be
6 cd .tb4+ evaluated as equal, and the de­
7 .td2 .txd2+ velopment of events depends on
8 lbbxd2 dS how effectively the two sides
9 ed lbxdS make use of the open e- and e­
10 'iib3 lbce7 files. But first White makes an
1 1 0-0 0-0 attempt to gain sorne space on
12 I:tfe1 c6 the kingside, seizing upon the
13 lbe4 h6 fact that 20 ... .te6?! is suspect in
14 lbes 'iib6 view of 2 1 f4.
1S lbd6 20 ... .th7
A pawn sacrifice almost in the 21 l:tae1
spirit of the Romantic era - after The fork 21 lbd7 only leads to
1S ... 'iixd4 White would continue an exchange of open files after
1 6 'iia 3 followed by lbe5xt7. 2 I ...:fe8 22 I:tael !he2 23
However, White allows queens !he2 .l:tc8.
to be exchanged, whilst advanc- 1
21 l:lbd8
ing the knight only aids Black's 22 h4 f6
development, allowing him to 23 lbf3 gS!
equalize without difficulty. A far-sighted idea! lt is useful
The pragmatic 1S l:tad1 is to have more than one target in
more in the spirit of modern the white position; the g4-pawn
chess. will be vulnerable in addition to
1S 'iixb3 that on d4.
16 .txb3 :b8 24 l:te7 !lt7
lntroduction 13

25 hg hg benefits of his 23rd move. White


26 :eS+ i:txe8 will be unable to defend his two
27 �xe8+ cJ;; g7 weak pawns, on d4 and g4. After
28 lbel the only move 45 �f3 ! l:.g l 46
Threatening to attack the d5- fg .ltd l+ 47 'it>e3 fg (after
pawn, which does not work im­ 47 .. Jhg4 there is the fork 48
mediately: 28 l:td8 �c7! 29 lLlf2), the weaknesses of g4 and
1:txd5?? �e4. g5 at least cancel each other out.
28 ... l:lc7 45...'it>d6 46 l::'t h6 l:tg3+ 47
29 f3 cJ¡;f7 'iii> d2 cJi;e7! 48 lLlb4?
lt is becoming clear that Black This move may appear active,
would profit from a straight fight but it only leads to an exchange
for the open files. of rooks, after which the distant
30 l:tb8 cJi;e6 31 cJ;; f2 b6 32 passed g-pawn should decide the
l;!a8 �bl 33 a3 �a2 34 cJi;e3 fate of the game. 48 ID17+ would
l:th7 35 �e8+ cJi;d7 36 ltf8 l':te7+ have been more stubbom:
37 cJi;d2 cJi;e6 38 l:th8 I:tc7 39 48 ...cJi;f8 49 l:.xa7 �b5 50 lLlb4
l':1e8+ cJ;; f7 40 :as �b3 41 lLld3 1:1xg4 5 1 l:tb7 l:txd4+ 52 cJi;c3
�a4 42 llh8 <ite6 (D) l:tf4 53 lLlxd5 l:.xf5 54 lLlxb6.
48..Jbg4 49 lLlxd5+ cJi;d6 50
lLlxf6
White cannot be saved by 50
lLle3 l::r.xd4+ 5 1 'it>c3 'it>e5 52
l:.xf6 'it>xf6 53 cJi;xd4 �c6 either,
since the g-pawn moves into ac­
tion.
50...l1xd4+ 51 <it>c3 l::r.h4! 52
lLle4++
A final stunt, the idea being
that 52 ... cJi;e5? allows 53 lLlxg5
l:.xh6 54 lLlf7+. But neither the
double check nor 52 l:tg6 'ite5
43 f4 helps.
Black's previous manoeuvre 52 ... cJi;d5 53 l:txh4 gh 54 lLlg5
has not brought any tangible re­ �d7 55 f6 'it>d6 56 cJi;d4 h3 57
sults, and White could have con­ f7 'it>e7 58 lLlxh3 �xh3 59 cJi;e5
tinued his waiting strategy with �d7 60 f8'1W+ cJ;; xf8 61 'itd6
43 l:.a8. �a4 62 'it>c7 'it>e7 63 cJi;b7 cJi;d6
43.. .l::tc2+ 44 cJi;e3 l:lg2 45 64 cJ¡;xa7 'it>c5 0-1
f5+?
This is a strategic blunder, lt is not by accident that we
which allows Black to reap the have gone over the historical
14 lntroduction

parallels which have thrown up re-evaluation of the correlation


bridges between the last century of dynamic and static factors in
and the 1 980s, as we consider chess battles.
these years to be the beginning Therefore, the life of any
of the renaissance of the Giuoco opening depends not only on
Piano. In fact, for the last 1 5 objective parameters but also on
years there has been a significant the laws of fashion, which are
evolution chiefly in the direction usually strong in any given
of striving for an open strategic world - in our case, chess. And
battle, which has been enriched the very fact that the Giuoco Pi­
with modem ideas. ano has fallen into the field of
The history of mankind's de­ view of such dynamic players as
velopment unavoidably leaves Kasparov, Karpov, Ivanchuk,
its imprint on an infmite sphere Kramnik and Gelfand, and other
of activities, including chess. leading members of the chess
The modem world is astonish­ elite, is a sign of the times. We
ingly dynamic, a fact which in­ do not want our readers to be left
evitably tells on human thinking, behind!
and also has significance in the
Part 1: Giuoco Pianissimo

In the old Italian manuals this vring, where each side's plan
system of development, 1 e4 eS was almost independent of the
2 lbf3 lbc6 3 .tc4 .teS 4 d3 (D) other' s. In modem chess the
received the name 'Giuoco Pia­ system has been imbued with
nissirno' , which meant 'very new substance and ideas, and so
quiet garne ' . It is characterized it is now regarded as entirely
by the modest placing of White's suitable for those playing for a
pawn on d3, by which White win. After the natural 4 . . . lbf6
demonstrates a temporary refusal (we should note that recently it
to initiate sharp play by advanc­ has become quite common to
ing the pawn to d4. transpose to this from the Two
Knights Defence: 3 . . .lbf6 4 d3 ! ?
.teS - for details on the altema­
tive 4 . . . .te7, please refer to Gary
Lane's book Winning With the
Bishop's Opening, Chapter 4) a
position arises from which point
the two directions of White's
game separate, as he has a choice
between playing in the centre,
preparing d3-d4, and playing on
the queenside, with the b4 thrust.
S c3 serves as a crossroads be­
tween these plans (c3 is also fre­
At that time the opening re­ quently played on the 4th move).
ceived its narne, the play was In Section 1 we will also discuss
reduced to leisurely manoeu- the old move S lbc3.
Section 1: Wh ite Plays i n the Centre

The fundamental position of the . it appropriate to issue a firm


Giuoco Pianissimo arises after warning against 6 i.gS?!, which
the moves 1 e4 e5 2 liJf3 lbc6 3 was known to be a serious error
i.c4 i.c5 4 d3 liJf6 (D). as long ago as the 1 9th century.
Now after 6 h6 White, if he
...

does not wish to lose a tempo by


retreating to e3, is practically
forced to exchange the bishop. If
he persists with 7 i.h4?, then he
will fall victim to a powerful
attack: 7 g5! 8 i.g3 and now
...

8 h5! (D). Here are sorne das­


...

sic examples:

In this position White has a


choice between bringing another
piece to bear on the centre, viz. 5
lbc3, and the plan of preparing
d3-d4 with 5 c3.
The old move 5 lbc3, with 6
i.g5 to follow, aims to establish
a frrm grip on the d5-square, but
hands over to Black the advan­
tage of the bishop pair, with a) 9 h4 i.g4 10 c3 'i'd7 1 1 d4
which, if he negotiates the posi­ ed 12 e5 de 1 3 i.xe5 lbxe5 14
tional concessions he is obliged lbxe5 'i'f5 1 5 lbxg4 hg 1 6 i.d3
to make, Black should secure 'i'd5 17 b4 0-0-0 with an un­
plenty of counterchances. stoppable attack, Dubois-Stein­
itz, London 1 862.
Sometimes White starts with S b) 9 ltJxgS h4! 10 lLlxt7 hg 1 1
0-0, and after S d6 we consider
... ltJxd8 (the altemative capture is
White Plays in the Centre 1 7

no better: 1 1 li:Jxh8 ¡¡e7 1 2 li:Jfl


.i.xf2+ 1 3 lbf2 gf+ 14 'it>xf2
lt:Jg4+ 1 5 'it>g3 't'f'f6) 1 1 . . .�g4!
12 ¡¡d2 li:Jd4! 13 lt:Jc3 li:Jf3+! 14
gf .i.xf3 0- 1 Knorre-Chigorin,
St.Petersburg 1 874.
Nowadays piece sacrifices are
less compulsory, but there is
enough potential for attacking
possibilities even with more
'insipid' play: 8. .i.g4 9 tt:lbd2
..

tt:lh5 1 0 c3 'if'f6 1 1 b4 �b6 12 a4


a5 1 3 b5 tt:le7 1 4 �b 1 tt:lf4 1 5
�xf4 'if'xf4 gave Black danger­ The first is the retreat 6 ....i.b6
ous threats in Vallin-Zak, Aix­ (as was played most often of all
les-Bains 199 1 . in the past), from where the
It stands to reason that if after bishop can actively hinder the
5 0-0 d6 White switches over to d3-d4 advance, and if necessary
implementing the standard plan can be brought to the defence of
with 6 c3, the matter will be re­ the centre from c7 (after rede­
duced to a simple transposition ploying the knight and playing
of moves. . .. c6).
The second method, which is
Here as well, everyone should more popular nowadays, in­
note that 5 tt:lc3, although it has volves 6...a6, providing the a7-
not 1ost its topicality, has been square for the bishop.
edged out by the second plan of Sometimes Black tries the pin
continuing S c3, when White 6 ... .i.g4, after which the double
will prepare d3-d4, in the spirit attack 7 'it'b3? is not dangerous
of the closed systems of the Ruy for Black, as Estrin-An. Byk­
Lopez. The main strategic deci­ hovsky, Moscow 1 967, demon­
sion for White will be how to strated: 7 ... .i.xf3 ! 8 'if'xb7 'it'd7! !
deploy the b 1 -knight: to the 9 gf (after 9 ¡¡xa8+ Black would
queenside via c4, or to the king­ continue 9... 'it>e7 1 0 'if'xh8 'it'g4)
side through f l . Correspond­ 9 ...�b8 10 'ti'a6 �b6 1 1 'ti'a4
ingly, Black must decide on the 'if'b3 1 2 li:Jd2 h5 1 3 :d1 :h6 14
best role for his dark-squared li:Jfl :g6+ 15 li:Jg3 :xg3+ 16 hg
bishop. Out of this come two 'if'xg3+ 0- 1 .
fundarnentally different schemes However, i f White plays 7
of development after the more .i.b3 the early thrust by the
generally accepted sequence bishop only helps White organ­
s d6 6 o-o (D).
... ize a pawn storm on the kingside
18 White Plays in the Centre

with h3 and g4 after 7 ... 0-0. The transfer of his forces with 6
plan of castling long, 7.. .'ili'd7 8 tbbd2 in this key position, tem­
tbbd2 0-0-0, is also risky for porarily refraining from castling
Black as the advanced position in arder to make use of the fl­
of the other bishop also allows square. Black sometimes tries to
White to organize a pawn storm attack White's centre without
with gain of time, for example 9 further ado by means of an early
.ltc2 d5 1 0 b4 .ltb6 1 1 a4 (in ... d7-d5 advance. In this case, the
Men-Sherzer, USA Ch 1 992, prelude is the fashionable con­
White procrastinated with 1 1 tinuation 5 ... a6, leaving Black
'ti'e2?! :heS 12 lle1 and Black with the possibility of also re­
then seized the initiative with turning to the plan with ... d6.
12 ... tbh5 1 3 ed tbf4 14 'ti'e4 We will examine this method
tbd4! 1 5 cd f5, creating danger­ in a separate chapter.
ous threats) 1 1 ...a5 ! 12 .lta3 ab Sometimes Black first plays
1 3 cb with better prospects for 5 ...0-0, in arder to economize on
White. 1 1 .ltb2 is not bad either: moving the d-pawn, but he
1 1 ...de 1 2 de tbh5 1 3 a4 a5 14 should bear in mind that in this
b5 tbe7 1 5 tbc4 'ti'xd1 1 6 .ltxd1 case White can switch advanta­
moving into a good endgame. geously to a flank system with 6
Recent practice has seen both b4 .ltb6 7 a4, where Black's re­
Black and White seeking new sources are limited, as the
resources in the opening itself. counter-plan 7 ... a5? does not
Thus White quite often resorts to work because of the undefended
the plan of the quickest possible e5-pawn after 8 b5.
1 White Plays 5 tt:Jc3

1 e4 e5 2 lZ'lf3 lZ'lc6 3 .1c4 sian Ch 1903: 7 .1b5 0-0 8 .1e3?


.1c5 4 d3 lZ'lf6 5 lZ'lc3 d6 (D) (8 .1xc6 is necessary) 8 ...ltJd4 9
gives rise to the standard posi­ .1xd4 it.xd4 10 h3 .1h5 1 1 g4?
tion of the traditional Giuoco (a fatal weakening of the castled
Pianissirno. position; 1 1 'Wie2 followed by
lt:Jd 1 is correct) 1 1 ...it.xc3! (after
1 1 ...lZ'lxg4 White should con­
tinue 12 lt:Jxd4 ed 1 3 lZ'ld5!) 12
be lZ'lxg4! 1 3 hg (13 lZ'lxe5 lt:Jf6!
is good for Black: 14 lt:Jg4 lZ'lxg4
15 hg 'i'lg5, or 14 lt:Jf3 lZ'lxe4! 1 5
de .1xf3 16 'i'lxf3 'iig5+ -
Chigorin) 1 3 ... .1xg4 14 d4 f5 1 5
.1e2 (or 1 5 de fe 1 6 'it'd5+ �h8
1 7 lZ'lh2 'i'lg5! 1 8 �h1 .tf3+ 1 9
lZ'lxf3 cf and White is winning -
Chigorin) 1 5 .. .fe 16 lt:Jd2 .1xe2
17 'ir'xe2 'iig5+ 1 8 �h 1 .f::tf4 0- 1 .
White cannot expect to estab­ Nowadays it has been estab­
Iish an enorrnous advantage from Iished that the danger of 6 ... .1g4
the opening, although, as in any has been somewhat exaggerated,
symmetrical position, White has and it is useful to clarify the
sorne initiative by virtue of hav­ position of the bishop with 7 h3,
ing moved frrst. The fmesses of not fearing 7 ...h5 in view of the
the game were studied in the last possibility of 8 hg hg 9 ltJg5 g3
century, and the evaluations of 1 O .1e3, or even the slightly
many variations have remained stronger 8 .1g5!: but one thing is
unchanged since that time. not in doubt - only White has
Thus it was established that 6 problerns.
0-0 allows Black to seize an ad­ Of rare continuations, one
vantage with the energetic should note 6 lZ'la4, with the airo
6 ... .1g4!. The problems which of exchanging the active bishop.
arise for Black were well illus­ For example, the game Ran­
trated by Salwe-Chigorin, Rus- tanen-Razuvaev, Helsinki 1984
20 White Plays 5 lt:lcJ

continued 6 lt:la4 .ib6 7 c3 .ie6 5 lt:lc3 d6


8 .ib5 0-0 9 .ixc6 be 1 0 .ig5 Black can also play S . h6,. .

'ile7 1 1 0-0 h6 12 .th4 .ic8 1 3 preventing the pin discussed in


h3 'ile6 and here White could the next game. The position after
have gained somewhat better 6 0-0 is not without nuances:
chances by mea�� of 14 .ixf6 a) Thus in Malaniuk-Short,
'iixf6 1 5 lt:lxb6 ab 1 6 d4. Erevan 1 984, Black allowed the
The altemative continuation 6 trademark 'Piano' bishop to be
.ie3, which at one time in the exchanged: 6 0-0 7 h3 d6 8
...

past was alrnost universal, has lt:la4 .tb6 9 c3 .:es 10 .ib3 .te6
now practically vanished from 1 1 .tc2 d5 12 d4! lt:lxe4 1 3
use. lts basic disadvantages are lt:lxb6 ab 14 de f6 15 ef 'ii'xf6 1 6
too obvious, as it allows Black to .ie3 .t f7 17 lt:ld2 l:tad8?! (Biack
organize counterplay based on should exchange the knight him­
the manoeuvre ... lt:ld4 and pre­ self with 17 ... lt:lxd2 18 'ii'xd2
paring the freeing move ... d5. lt:le5, although here as well
They fundamental drawbacks White's chances are preferable)
were revealed at the tum of the 18 lt:lxe4 de 19 'ii'g4, and he
century, and we consider it logi­ ended up in a worse position.
cal to illustrate them in an ex­ b) It seems better to protect
ample of the art of the masters of the active bishop from exchange
the time - see Game 5. for the knight by 6...a6!?, as in
6 .tg5 is undoubtedly a logi­ the event of White exchanging
cal method of fighting for an his bishop for it, Black stabilizes
advantage. Then after Black's the centre with 7 .ie3 d6 8 .txc5
breaks the pin with 6...h6 7 .txf6 de, for example 9 .id5 lt:lb4! 1 0
'i'xf6 8 lt:ld5 'ti'd8 9 c3 the basic lt:lxe5 lt:lfxd5 1 1 ed 0-0 (not
position of this variation arises, 1 1 ...lt:lxd5? because of 12 lt:lxf7!
as it is handled nowadays. lt:lxc3 13 'iih5) 12 I:te1 lt:lxd5 1 3
Black's main continuations d4? (White should keep the
here are 9 ... lt:le7 and 9 ... a6. After knight, with 1 3 lt:le4 b6 14 d4,
10 d4 White expands in the cen­ keeping the chances equal)
tre, although Black's bishop pair 1 3 ... lt:lxc3 14 be 'ii'd5 1 5 l:te3
gives him sufficient counter­ .te6 and Black's chances are
chances. preferable, 1vanovié-Pandavos,
Nea Makri Z 1 990.
Game 5 6 .te3 (D)
Chigorin-Janowski The more active 6 .tg5 is dis­
Cambridge Springs 1904 cussed in the next game.
6 ... .tb6
1 e4 eS 2 lt:lf3 lt:lc6 3 .tc4 The exchanging manoeuvre
.tes 4 d3 lt:lf6 6 ... .txe3 7 fe lt:la5 8 .tb3 lt:lxb3
White Plays 5 tbc3 21

9 ab !bg4, brought into practice Bogoljubow-Réti, Gothenburg


by the frrst World Champion 1 920.
Wilhelrn Steinitz, has been con­ 7 ... .tg4
sidered poor for Black since the 7. .�e6 8 �b3 (or 8 .1b5 i..a5
.

garne Salwe-Schlechter, Karls­ 9 a3 a6 1 0 �xc6+ be 1 1 b4 �b6


bad 1 907, which continued 10 12 d4 ed 1 3 !bxd4 �d7 with
'ir'd2 f5 1 1 ef �xf5 12 0-0 0-0 13 approxirnate equality, Sieiro­
h3 !bh6 14 e4 �d7 1 5 d4! with Frey, Havana 1 983) 8 ... .1xe3 9
an advantage for White. 'ii'xe3 0-0 10 0-0 .1xb3 1 1 ab d5
12 ed !bxd5 1 3 'ii'c5 !bxc3 14 be
¡¡d6 is also possible, with an
even garne, Neverovsky-A.Kuz­
rnin, Podolsk 1990.
8 !bgS
Alongside this positional idea,
preserving a flexible pawn struc­
ture, 8 0-0-0 also deserves atten­
tion, as after 8 ... !bd4 White can
sacrifice the exchange with ad­
vantage, viz. 9 �xd4 i..xd4 1 O
!bxd4! �xd 1 1 1 !bf5 .1g4 12
!bxg7+ \t>d7 1 3 d4.
7 'Yi'd2 8 ... i.. hS
11ús is considered the best 9 f3 h6
rnove. 9.. !bd4 10 i.. xd4 i.. xd4 12
.

7 d4 is clearly prernature be­ !be2 �b6 13 !bg3 .1g6 14 h4


cause of 7 ... ed 8 !bxd4 0-0 9 0-0 Chigorin-Janowski, St. Peters­
!bg4! . burg 1 900, favours White.
7 h3 �e6 8 �b5 0-0 9 .1xc6 10 !bh3 !bd4
(9 �g5 also deserves attention) 10...'ii'd7 is weaker: 1 1 g4!
9... bc 1 0 .1g5 'ike7 1 1 0-0? ! (after 1 1 !bf2 !bd4 12 .1xd4
(after this natural rnove the ini­ .1xd4 1 3 !bcd 1 d5 Black seizes
tiative passes permanently to the initiative, Salwe-Rubinstein,
Black; 1 1 'fid2 is more cunning, Karlsbad 1 907) 1 I ...!bd4 12
as then 1 1 .. .h6 is risky because i.. xd4 i..xd4 1 3 tbg 1 ! i..g6 14
of 12 �h4 with the threat of g2- !bge2 .1b6 15 0-0-0, and then d4
g4) 1 1 ...h6 12 �h4 \t>h8! 1 3 d4 is better for White .
.1c4! ('a dangerous bishop 11 .1xd4 .1xd4
threatening on two diagonals' - 12 tbe2
Tartakower) 14 l:.e1 .l:.g8 1 5 de In the garne Von Holzhausen­
de 1 6 �g3 �ad8 and Black was Rubinstein, Berlin 1 926, White
substantially better in the game- decided to play Tartakower's
22 White Plays 5 lbc3

recommendation 12 lbg1 ! , and Planning ... i..c7 and ... b5.


then after 12 ...'ii'd7 1 3 lbge2 22 ttJn i.. hs 23 llct lbb4 24
.llb6 1 4 g4 .ll g6 1 5 0-0-0 c6 1 6 lbg3 .llfT 2S i..xfT llxfT 26
d4 ed 1 7 lbxd4 0-0-0 1 8 lbb3 l:.ed1 'ii'dS!
achieved a favourable position. Very well played! Black
12 ... .ll b6 would like to provoke 27 c4,
13 0-0-0 dS! after which 27...'ii'd7 threatens
Black opens up the position, ... c5, ...l:.ad8 and ... lt:'ld3.
underlining the weakness of e3. 27 b3 l:td8 28 tbe2 llfd7 29
1hls, together with the advantage 'ii'e3 'iWfT!
of the two bishops, gives Black First class positional play!
the upper hand. Black is preparing the undermin-
14 ed lbxdS ing move ... c5, as well as the
1S d4 0-0 manoeuvre ...lbd5 followed by
16 .l:the1 .ll g6 ... .llc7 and ...b5 .
17 f4 e4 30 lbf2
18 lbg3 fS Defending the rook and at the
19 .ll b3 (D) same time parrying ... c5.
30...lbdS 31 'ii'h3 .llc7 32
'ii'h4 bS 33 ab cb 34 g4
One must embark on some­
thing, as passive play will lead to
an inevitable disaster.
34...lbxf4 3S lbg3 a4 36 lbxfS
ab 37 l:.d2 b2! 38 <ii? xb2
If the rook withdraws, then
38 ... l:ta8 is decisive.
38...'ií'c4! 39 l:ta1 'ii'b4+ 40
<ii?c l lbg6 41 'ií'h3 i..f4 42 lbxe4
If 42 lbe3, then there follows
42...'ii'c3.
The passed e4-pawn hangs 42 l:.xd4! 43 c3 lhe4! 0-1
.•.

like the Sword of Damocles over After 44 cb :.xd2 there is no


White's position, but meanwhile defence.
he has managed to create the
threat of c4. Game 6
19 ... aS! Ivanovit-Kir.Georgiev
Defending and attacking si- Vr!ac 1987
multaneously.
20 a4 1 e4 eS 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 .llc4
lf 20 c4, then 20... a4. .llcS 4 d3 lbf6 S lbc3 d6
20 <it>h8 21 <it>b1 c6
.•. 6 .ll gS (D)
White Plays 5 lbc3 23

1 1 ...i.. xe3 12 fe 'i'xb2 1 3 0-0


'ii'a3 14 lbh4 i..e 6! 1 5 Ihf6
0-0-0 with a good game for
Black) 10... �g8 1 1 0-0 i..h3
(perhaps 1 1 .. .i..e6 is better im­
mediately: 12 'i'd3 'i'e7 1 3 �ad1
0-0-0 with good prospects for
Black, Eliskases-Bronstein, Mar
del Plata 1 960) 12 i..g3 i..e6 1 3
'ii'e2 a6 14 �fd 1 b5 1 5 cb a b 1 6
a 3 'ii'e7 with a double-edged
game, lvanovié-Portisch, Reggio
Emilia 1 984/5.
6 h6 b) 7 i.. xf6 'i'xf6 8 lbd5 'i'd8 9
This move is considered al­ b4 lbxc4 10 be c6 1 1 de cd 12
most compulsory. Indeed, why 'ii'xd5 'ii'a5+ 1 3 'it'fl 'i'xc5 14
not gain the advantage of the two 'ii'xc5 de 1 5 lbxe5 i..e6 with a
bishops? But the move found in level ending, Rabiega-Lukacs,
the shadows, 6 tba5 (D), leads
... Budapest 1993.
to exactly this aim. Here are Sometimes Black attempts to
sorne examples: neutralize the active bishop by
means of 6 i..e6 and, it must be
...

said, he has been fairly success­


ful:
a) 7 i.. bS h6 8 i..h4 i..b4 9 d4
i..d7 10 0-0 i..xc3 1 1 be g5 12
i..g3 lbxe4 1 3 ii.xc6 ii.xc6 14 de
de with a roughly even game,
Nimzowitsch-Capablanca, Riga
1 9 1 3.
b) 7 lbd5 i..xd5 8 ed h6! (after
the weaker 8 ...lbd4 9 lbxd4
i..xd4 10 c3 i..b6 1 1 i..b5+ 'it'f8
12 'ii'f3 h6 1 3 ii.d2 White's
a) 7 lbd5 lbxc4 8 de c6 9 chances are preferable, Wom­
lbxf6+ gf 10 i..h4 (or altema­ acka-Schone, Germany 1992) 9
tively 1 0 i..e3 'ifb6 1 1 'ild2 i..e6 i..xf6 'i'xf6 10 c3 0-0 with equal
12 0-0-0 0-0-0 1 3 b3 �g8 14 ehances.
�g 1 a5 with possibilities for Black can also develop sym­
both sides, Korchnoi-Bronstein, metrically: 6 i..g4 7 lbd5 lbd4
...

USSR Ch 1 952, but Estrin's rec­ 8 i..xf6 i..xf3 9 i..xd8 (it might
ommendation deserves attention: be worth playing 9 gf gf 1 0 lbe3)
24 White Plays 5l'iJc3

9 ... �xd 1 1 0 �xc7 �xc2 1 1 b4 Macieja, Warsaw 1 992.


bS 1 2 �aS and here it is time to b) 10 d4 �b6 1 1 de de 12
destroy the symmetry (i.e. not 'ii'e2 �eS ! 1 3 0-0-0 �d6 14 l:.d2
1 2 ... �a4? 1 3 �xbS+!) in favour �e6 1 S l'iJe3 'ii'f6 with even
of 12 .. .<it>d7 ! , with an approxi­ chances, Minasian-Sharif, Ovie­
mately level game. do rpd 1 993.
7 �xf6 'ii'xf6 10 d4
8 l'iJdS 'ii'd8 Now this is played almost
9 c3 (D) automatically, but we should
certainly consider the retreat 10
l'iJe3, which Capablanca used
with success.
a) Here is an example of his
skill: 10. .�e6 1 1 �xe6 fe 12
.

'ii'b3 'ii'c8 1 3 d4 ed 14 l'iJxd4


�xd4 1 S cd 0-0 16 0-0 'ii'd7 17
:ac l :ab8 1 8 l:.c3. Black's
position is clearly the more pas­
sive, although it is stable enough,
when supported by 18 ...:f4, but
it is not worth him displaying
any activity by 18 ... d5?!, as after
9 l'iJe7 19 'ii'c2 c6 20 eS White has sig­
This is one of the main lines nificantly increased his advan­
of the variation - Black tries to tage, Capablanca-Eliskases, Mo­
exchange off the active white scow 1 936.
lmight. The other main con­ The good reputation of the
tinuation, 9 ... a6, will be exam­ move 10 l'iJe3 is unshakeable
ined in the next game. even today:
In the past 9 ...0-0 also carne b) 10 ...0-0 1 1 0-0 �e6 (it
into practice, ignoring White's would have been safer to retreat
threats, who in the mean time with 1 1 ...�b6 12 d4l'iJg6) 1 2 d4
has not yet found the key to ed 13 cd �b6 14 dS .lid? 1 5 eS
Black's position. Here are sorne de 16 l'iJxeS and White is more
examples: active, Andreenko-Sharif, Lyon­
a) 10 b4 �b6 1 1 a4 aS ! ? 1 2 Oyonnax 1 993.
l'iJxb6 cb and here White gains After 10 b4 the simplest is
nothing concrete after either 13 10 ...l'iJxdS 1 1 be l'iJe7 12 cd cd
ba l'iJxaS 14 �dS 'tic? 1S c4 1 3 'ii'a4+l'iJc6 14 .lidS 'tic? with
�g4 lvanovié-Anand, Manila IZ a reliable position.
1 990, or 13 b5l'iJe7 14 0-0 'ith8 10 ••. l'iJxdS
1 S d4 �g4, as in Maciejewski- If Black hands over the centre
White Plays 5 lDc3 25

with 10 ... ed 1 1 cd .ltb6 1 2 tt:'Jxb6 :ac8 1 9 :ds tt:'JgS 20 tt:'Jd2 :es


ab 1 3 0-0 then Whlte has a freer 21 :xcS de 22 h4 tt:'Je6 23 tbc4
game. After 13 ... 0-0 he can play f6 24 tt:'Je3 and Whlte's chances
14 'ifc2. In Timman-Nunn, Am­ are undoubtedly better, lvanovié­
sterdam 1 986, Black played Smejkal, Novi Sad OL 1 990.
more ambitiously: 13 ... d5! ? 14
ed tt:'JxdS, and after 15 lle1+
.lte6 16 .ltxdS 'flxdS 17 :es
'ii'd6 1 8 dS he confidently nego­
tiated the complications that
arose: 1 8 ... 0-0-0 1 9 'ii'a4 .ltxdS
20 :d 1 c6 2 1 l:texdS ! cd 22 tt:'Jd4
�b8 23 tt:'JbS 'ii'c6 24 'ii'f4+ �a8
2S 'ii'a4 �b8. But Black's delay
in castling could have been bet­
ter exploited with 15 Vi'c2!
(threatening to take on d5) and
now both 15 ... ..te6 1 6 i.xdS
�xdS 17 :fe 1 + �f8 1 8 tt:'JeS, After the retreat 13...�e7 14
and 15 ...c6 16 .l::tfe 1 + i.e6 17 'ií'e2 .ltg4 1S 'ii'e3 'ii'c8 1 6 .lte2
,l;!xe6! ? give White a dangerous 'ii'e6 17 tt:'Jh4 the black king is in
initiative. definite danger, lvanovié-Salov,
11 de tt:'Jf4 Belgrade 1987.
12 g3 14 i.e2 'Wf6
After 12 0-0 'ii'f6 1 3 cd cd 14 15 cd cd
..tbS+ �e7 1 S l:Ie 1 hS 1 6 lle3 h4 16 'ii'd3 g6
1 7 'ii'd2 llli6 1 8 c4 il.g4 1 9 eS de 17 :d1 �e7
20 'ifc3 ..txf3 2 1 llxf3 'ifd6 a 18 'ii'e3 .lte6
double-edged game arises, Tis­ 19 c4?!
dall-Hjartarson, Akureyri 1 988. 19 tt:'Jd2 with the idea of il.c4
12 tt:'Jh3! ( 1 9... i.xa2? 20 b3) deserves at­
13 i.b5+ (D) tention. Now Black can open up
13 ... �f8 the h-file with advantage.
This seems the best. After the 19 b6
continuation 13 ...c6 1 4 i.e2! the 20 :d2 h5
central pawns are sagging. 21 tt:'Jg1 tt:'Jxg1
After 13....ltd7 Whlte can 22 :xg1 h4
move into a favourable end­ 23 �d1 hg
game: 1 4 ..txd7+ 'ii'xd7 1 S cd 24 hg :h2
'ii'xd6 1 6 'ii'xd6 ( 1 6 'ii'e2 fol­ 25 f3
lowed by 0-0-0 is not bad either) 25 f4? ! exposesWhlte's posi­
1 6 ... cd 17 :d 1 �e7 1 8 �e2 tion too much, which Black em-
26 White Plays 5 liJc3

phasises with the pendulum rook 33 rM2 ltg8?!


manoeuvre 25 ... l:.c8 26 ltc2 ef Black should have restricted
27 gf :h3 28 'ii'f2 l:tch8 as ana­ White's resources by means of
lysed by Kiril Georgiev. the blockading move 33 ...a5!.
25 ltc8 34 aS!
26 b3 g5 Finally White can breathe
27 a4! (D) freely, and with the open file he
A move with both a defensive can also reactivate his rooks.
function (hindering ... b5, in the 34 .. Jih2+ 35 ltg2 ltxg2+ 36
event of �c2), and an attacking .llxg2 �d7 37 ab ab 38 .llfl
one, as it threatens 28 a5. Black l:lxg5 39 b4 l:.h5 40 �gl
must hurry. No activity is possible yet: 40
c5? be 4 1 be :h2+ 42 .ll g2 .llh3
leads to a lost pawn ending.
40 ...�c7 41 lta2 b5 42 :c2
be 43 .ll xc4 .llxc4 44 ltxc4+
�b6 45 �g2 �b5 46 l:.c7 f5 47
�f3 �xb4 48 ltc6 112-Ifl

Game 7
Kholmov-Mi.Tseitlin
Voskresensk 1990

1 e4 eS 2 liJO liJc6 3 .llc4


.llc5 4 d3 liJf6 5 liJc3 d6 6 .ll g5
27 ... g4! h6 7 .llxf6 'ii'xf6 8 liJdS 'ii'd8 9
28 fg 'ii'f2 c3
29 'i'xf2 9 ••• a6 (D)
After the risky 29 'ii'g5+ �d7
the g3-pawn is undefended.
29 ltxf2
30 �el l:.h2
31 .li.f3 l:.ch8
An obvious-looking move, but
31...l:.h6 seems stronger. Now in
the event of 32 �f2 l:tg8 Black's
advantage grows, but after 32 g5
ltg6 (32 ... lnl3 33 �f2 l:.g8 can
be met by 34 :hl or 34 a5 ! ) 33
ru l:.xg5 34 �f2 White's posi­
tion is defensible.
32 g5 mh3 Black opens a window for his
White Plays 5 CiJc3 27

bishop, but only a small one: a) After 12 h3, A.Kogan­


9 aS?! not only weakness of b5,
... Svidler, London Lloyds Bank
but also after 1 0 d4 ed 1 1 cd 1 99 1 featured 12...0-0 1 3 0-0
i.. a7 1 2 h3 0-0 1 3 0-0 i.. e6 14 !1Le6 14 :.c 1 'it'd7 (the careless
�e 1 in comparison with the 14... CiJe7? loses a pawn to 1 5
variation cited below (in the CiJxc7! ) 1 5 'ifd2 :.acS? 1 6 CiJf6+!
notes to 1 0... i.. a 7), he will not gf 17 d5 with a clear advantage
have the a5-square for his to White. This game by two
knight, while after 1 0... i.. a7 1 1 young masters once again shows
de de 1 2 'ile2 i.. c5 1 3 0-0-0 i..d6 the benefit of studying the legacy
14 :.d2 i..g4 1 5 llhd 1 0-0, Tar­ of chess, which has in its annals
takower-Treybal, Karlsbad 1 929, the game lvanovié-Timman, Za­
White could have gained an ad­ greb/Rijeka 1 9S5, when after
vantage by means of 16 CiJxc7 12 CiJe7! 1 3 l!c l CiJd5 14 .id5
...

'W/xc7 17 :.xd6 CiJd4 1 S ll6xd4. and then 14...c6 1 5 .ib3 0-0 16


10 d4 0-0 'iif6 Black equalized easily,
If 10 0-0, then 10 i.. g4 is
... while it is also useful to remem­
possible. In the game Dely­ ber the recommendation of Paul
Sinkovics, Hungary 1 992, Black Keres: 14 CiJa5! 1 5 .id3 c5,
...

played 10 i.. e6, and after 1 1 d4


..• with which Black can even fight
i..a7 1 2 de CiJxe5 ( 1 2 ... de is more for an advantage.
cautious) 1 3 CiJxe5 de 14 'iWh5 ! b) lvanovié-Ilintié, Yugoslav
lWd6 1 5 :.ad 1 0-0-0 1 6 b4 i..xd5 Ch 1 9S6, went 12 :.ct 0-0 1 3 h3
17 i.. xd5 't'if6 1 S l!d3 ran into !teS 14 0-0 :.e4 1 5 i..d3 :es 1 6
problems defending the f7-pawn. iLb 1 g6?! ( 16 ... .ie6 would have
10 ... !1La7 been better) 17 'fid2 �g7 1 S
Conceding the centre with �fe1 i..e6 (after 1 S . . ..ib6 White
lO ed 1 1 cd i..a7 (D) gives
... ought to continue 19 l:txeS 't'ixeS
White additional chances, e.g.: 20 Iie1 'WifS 2 1 CiJxb6 cb 22 d5
with an advantage to White) 1 9
CiJf4 i..d7 20 l!xe8 't'ixeS 2 1
CiJd5 :es 22 l:te1 'it'd8 23 g4
i..e6 24 CiJf4 .id7 25 .ixg6! ! fg
26 I;le6! i..e8 (if 26 ... CiJe7, then
27 CiJh5+! �h7 28 :.f6! is deci­
sive) and here, instead of 27 d5?
CiJe7, which allowed Black to
defend, 27 CiJh5+! �f7 28 d5
would have won swiftly.
11 de
White can scarcely count on
having an advantage without
28 White Plays 5 li::lc3

stabilizing the pawn structure, as 12 ..• .tes


shown for exarnple by 1 1 h3 0-0 White intends to attack along
1 2 0-0 .ll e6 1 3 .llb3 'iWd7 1 4 %!el the d-file, and therefore coun­
�ae8 1 5 de lt::lxe5 1 6 li::ld4 lt::lg6 terplay is demanded of Black.
17 ¡j'f3 c6 1 8 lt::le3 .ll xb3 1 9 ab The attack carried out in Inkiov­
.llxd4 20 cd lt::lh4 2 1 'ii'f4 lt::lg6 Schüssler, Haifa Echt 1 989, elo­
If2-If2 Ivanovié-Hjartarson, Novi quently testifies to the dangers
Sad OL 1 990. awaiting him: 12....ll g4?! 1 3
11 ... de :td 1 'ifb8 14 b4 0-0 1 5 h 3 .lle6
The capture 11 ... lt::lxe5! ? de­ 16 0-0 :teS 17 li::lh4 b5 1 8 i..b3
serves more serious attention. liJe? 1 9li::lf6+! gf 20 .llxe6 fe 2 1
The character of the possible 'ifg4+ 'ith8 22 .:td7 �g8 23
struggle is well illustrated by the 'ifxe6 'iff8 24 lte7 l:td8 25 li::lf5
game lvanovié-Spassky, Bugo­ :tg6 26 �xc7 .llb8 27 �f7 ¡j'es
jno 1 984 which continued: 1 2 28 'ifxe8 lhe8 29 ltd1 1 -0.
lt::lxe5 de 1 3 'ii'h5 0-0 14 ..Wxe5 Black managed his forces
�e8 1 5 'iWf4 ¡j'd6! 1 6 ¡fxd6 (in more successfully in Moroze­
the event of White refusing to vich-Ki.Georgiev, Tilburg 1 993 :
exchange queens by playing 1 6 12 ... b5 1 3 .llb3 'ifd6 14 l:.dl
'iff3?! .ll e6 17 0-0-0 'iVe5 the lt::la5 1 5 .ll c2 0-0 with a reason­
initiative would pass rapidly to able game.
Black) 16 ...�xe4+ 17 'itd2 cd 1 8 13 0-0-0 .lld6
..tb3 .ll d7 19 f3 �e5 2 0 f4 :te4 14 .:td2 0-0
2 1 �he 1 �ae8 22 :xe4 lixe4 23 White is threatening to move
�el l:txel 24 'itxe 1 'itf8 25 'itd2 the rook up the d-file, combined
.llg l 26 h3 h5 27 .llc2 .ll c6 28 with the tactical thrust li::lb6. In
.lle4 f5 29 .ll f3 h4 30 liJe? a5 3 1 Kotronias-Amason, Reykjavik
.ll xc6 and the was soon drawn. 1988, Black 'urged him on' in
12 'ife2 (D) this operation: 14 ... b5 1 5 i..b3
lt::la5 16 li::lb6! lt::lxb3 (or 16 ... cb
17 �hdl li::lb7 1 8 .lld5 winning
the piece back with interest) 1 7
ab �b8 1 8 lt::lxc8 'ifxc8 1 9 l:d5
'ife6 20 'ifd3 (as an altemative
Kotronias suggests a central
pawn storm: 20 li::lh4 !? g6 2 1
'ifd2! 'itf8 22 f4! ef 23 li::lf3 'itg7
24 eS .lle7 25 li::ld4!) 20... 0-0 2 1
'itc2 and his control of the d-file
guarantees White an advantage.
In the our main garne, play
unfolded along similar lines.
White Plays 5 li::lc3 29

15 .l:thd1 'ti'e8 24 .lhd7 25 l:txd7 'ifh4 26


•.

16 li::lh4 b5 h3 g6 27 'iff3 a5
17 .tb3 liJas Here as well after exchanging
18 li::lb 6! li::lxb3+ queens with 27 ...'ili'f4+ 28 'iixf4
19 ab cb ef 29 �d2 l:te8 30 'itd3 Black
20 .l:txd6 'ti'e7 can barely save hirnself.
21 'iih5 �e6 28 �b1 a4 29 b4 'iig5 30 g3
22 li::lf5 .txf5 f5
Full possession of the d-file This move opens all the
guarantees White a big advan­ floodgates into Black's position.
tage. In the event of queens be­ 30... h5 should be met by the
ing exchanged with 22 ... 'iig5+ simple 3 1 h4.
23 'iixg5 hg the strength of the 31 'ti'd3 fe 32 'ti'xb5 a3
rook increases, as after 24li::le7+ After 32 .. Jhf2? White gives a
the knight transfers to d5 with linear mate: 33 'iic4 'iii>h 8 34
decisive effect. 'ii'c 8.
23 'ii'xf5l.tad8 24 �d7! 33 'ifd5+ 'iii>h8 34 'ti'xe4 ab 35
It stands to reason that White f4 ef
will not agree to exchange his Here too if queens are ex­
domination of the d-file for the changed, 35 . . .'1Wf5 36 'ii'xf5 l:txf5
e5-pawn: 24 .l:txd8 .l:txd8 25 37 .l:Id6, the pawns become easy
�xd8 'ti'xd8 26 'it'xe5 'ifd3 ! and pickings for the rarnpant rook.
the black queen develops great 36 'ii'd4+ 'ti'f6 37 gf 'iii>g8 38
activity. 'iii> xb2 1-0
2 Black Plays ... j,b6

The basic position in this system 1 e4 eS 2 ti:Jf3 tt:Jc6 3 i.c4


arises after 1 e4 e5 2 ti:Jf3 lt:Jc6 3 ti:Jf6 4 d3 i.cS 5 0-0 d6 6 c3
i.c4 i.c5 4 d3 ti:Jf6 5 c3 d6 6 0-0 i.b6
i.b6 (D). 7 i.b3
Recently it has been recog­
nized that it is more accurate to
develop the knight frrst. Por ex­
ample, it is important that in the
event of 7 ti:Jbd2 i.g4 the bishop
cannot maintain its pin on the
knight: 8 lle1 lt:Je7 9 ti:Jfl lt:Jg6
10 h3 i.e6 1 1 i.xe6 fe 12 a4 c6
1 3 a5 ! i.c7 (if 1 3 ... i.xa5, then
14 "iWh3) 14 "iWb3 'ii'c8 15 d4 and
White controls the centre.
It is interesting to note that
although the moves ti:Jbd2 and
However, on b6 the prob1em i.b3 (in either arder) are given
of the bishop is not yet fully unconditional priority, the quest
solved. Black should consent to for new paths for White contin­
the possibility of it being ex­ ues. From this aspect Barua­
changed after the manoeuvre G.Georgadze, Calcutta 1 994, is
ti:Jbd2-c4, or prepare to drop it interesting, as after 7 a4 a5 8
back to c7. Therefore, his move i.e3 ! ? i.xe3 9 fe i.e6 1 0 ti:Jbd2
arder is significant. Black gen­ i.xc4 1 1 tt:Jxc4 0-0 12 'ii'e 1 d5
erally chooses between 7 ... 0-0 1 3 tt:Jcxe5 de 14 tt:Jxc6 be 1 5 de
and 7 ... lt:Je7. On the other hand, tt:Jxe4 16 'ii'e2 c5 17 llad 1 'ii'e7
7 ... i.g4 is rather premature, and 1 8 lld5, thanks to his control
only helps White to organize a over the d-file, White managed
pawn attack on the kingside. to achieve a preferable position.
7 ... i.g4
Game 8 Altematively one might pro­
Gelfand-Cherepkov pose the modest bishop devel­
Minsk 1982 opment 7 i.e6, for example 8
•••
Black Plays . . . i. b6 31

lbbd2 0-0 9lbc4 h6 10 �el �eS 17 i.b3!


1 1 h3 lbe7 1 2 a4 c6 1 3 d4 lbg6 The bishop occupies a work­
14 lbxb6 i.xb3 1 5 'ii'xb3 �xb6 ing diagonal, with the threat after
1 6 'iixb6 ab gave rise to a leve! 1 8 lbh4 of exchanging off his
ending in Nevednichy-A.Frolov, important opponent.
Portorof 1 993. 17 ... i.h5
8 lbbd2 0-0 18 g4 ..tg6
9 lbc4 The threat of tbf3-h4xg6 has
lt is useful to exchange off the been eliminated, but at the cost
active bishop. of an important tempo.
9 19 h4 h5
10 tbxb6 ab 20 lbg5 hg
11 i.c2 tbc6 21 'ir'xg4 lbxg5
12 h3 ..ih5 22 i.xg5 'ti'c8
13 \t>h2 23 �f3 \t>h8
Of course the move g4 enters 24 h5 i.h7
into White's plans, but for the Everything is ripening for at­
time being it is impossible due to tack, and of course the 'modem'
the piece sacrifice which is stan­ Gelfand would now have had no
dard in constructions like this: 13 difficulty fmding 25 h6! with the
g4? tbxg4 ! 1 4 hg i.xg4 and, in possible continuations 25 ...f6 26
view of the threat of . . .fS, it is hg+ Wxg7 27 ..ih6! Wxh6 28
not obvious how White can es­ l:.g 1 i.g6 (parrying the threats of
cape the pin without material 29 'iie3+ or 29 'iig 3) 29 :.xg6!
loss. Wxg6 30 :.g 1 +, or 25...f5 26
13 tbd7 hg+ Wxg7 27 'ti'hs! . But the 14-
14 i.e3 ..ig6 year-old Gelfand is playing from
15 g3 tbc5 aesthetic considerations, and
16 b4 tbe6 (D) allows his experienced opponent
a key resource, although it is not
that obvious.
25 i.f6?! i.f5!
The bishop offers itself for
sacrifice to help free the king.
26 'ti'e3 Wh7
27 i.xg7?!
White is held captive to the
inertia brought about by an at­
tack, and does not notice the gap
opening up to evacuate the king.
lt was time to sound a retreat
with 27 i.h4.
32 Black Plays . . . J.. b6

27...'tlxg7 28 ef 'ifxfS 29 40 g6 fg 41 J.xg8 ltxg8 42 h6


l::tg l+ cM6 30 ltg3 <J;e7 After 42 hg+ ltxg6+ 43 <J;f3
White would also have es­ lte6 the king is cut off from his
caped from the attack after the own pawn block, and the win is
tempting 30. . . �xh5+?? in view a matter of technique, which in­
of the resource 3 1 ID-13 . cidentally Cherepkov also dem­
31 ltgS 'iVf6 32 d4? on..<;trates expertly in this con­
Misplaced activity. It was tinuation.
necessary to bring the second 42...I!.h8 43 l:lhl ..t>e6 44 <J;gJ
rook into the game with 32 ltag 1 rt;rs 45 :n + �gs 46 ltt7 rt;xh6
followed by lt 1 g3. But White 47 :xc7 l:lh7 48 ltc8 dS 49 ltd8
has no way of checking the 49 c4 would have been more
metamorphosis which is occur­ stubborn.
ring on the board, resigns him­ 49...:c7 SO l'LxdS lhc3+ 51
self to thought that the black <J;g2 ltc2+ 52 <J;gJ Iha2 53
king has escaped, and lets slip ltd6 �6 54 bS .l:.aJ+ SS �g4
sorne errors. lta4+ 56 �g3 �gS! 57 ltxb6
32...<J;d8 33 de lbxeS 34 f4? ltg4+ 58 �h3 lth4+ 59 <J;gJ
'ir'xgS! 35 fg l2Jg4+ 36 <J;gJ .l:th7 60 .l::td6 .l::tt7 61 b6 l1f6 62
lbxe3 37 <J;f4 l2Jg2+ 38 <J;gJ .l:tdS+ rt;h6
<J;d7 39 <J;xg2 (D) And after a king march for the
b6-pawn, Black won.

Game 9
Gipslis-Dobrovolsky
Bardejovske Kupele 1991

1 e4 eS 2 l2Jf3 lbc6 3 ..i.c4


..tes 4 c3 l2Jf6 S d3 d6 6 0-0
J.b6
7 lbbd2
This is considered a more ac­
curate reaction to 6 . . . J.b6 than 7
J.b3, as when the popular plan
39...ltg8 with 7 . . lbe7
. is carried out, the
The decision of an experi­ b3-square is not occupied, and
enced master. The bishop, com­ Black should consider the pos­
bined with the passed pawn, sibility of an attack on the insuf­
would have given White chances ficiently defended f7-square,
to save himself, whilst moving such as 8 lbg5 0-0 9 'tib3 d5 1 0
into the rook endgame promises ed, and now i n the event o f the
Black chances to win. 'natural' lO ... lbexdS 1 1 lbgf3
Black Plays . . . J.. b6 33

:f.e8 1 2 :f.e 1 'ii'd6 1 3 tt:'lge4 he 13 d4 (D)


loses a pawn. However, after the
'clwnsy' 10 ...tt:'lfxd5 with the
idea of . . .f6 and ... i..e6 Black
seems to be able to hold the po­
sitian.
7 ... 0-0
8 lle1
White is moving the knight to
g3, but a route to the opposite
flank is not out of the question: 8
i..b3 tt:'le7 9 tt:'lc4. This will be
examined in the notes to the next
game.
8 ... liJe7 13 ... tt:'lh7!?
9 tt:Jn An interesting manoeuvre,
Quite often the moves 9 h3 h6 aimed at hindering the knight's
are included. Then after 1 O d4 penetration onto f5. In the event
tt:'lg6 White needs to fmd a place of 13...:f.e8 1 4 i..c2 'ii'c7 1 5 J..e3
for the light-squared bishop, as if :f.ad8 16 'ii'e2 tt:'lf4 17 'ii'd2 tt:'lg6
11 tt:Jn, then 1 1 . ..ed 12 cd d5 is 1 8 :f.ad 1 White's position was
not bad. The game Van Mil­ preferable in Beliavsky-Gulko,
Bronstein, Wijk aan Zee 1 992, USSR Ch 198 1 .
went 1 1 i.. fl c6 1 2 tt:'lc4 i.. c7 1 3 14 i..e3
a4 ed 1 4 tt:'lxd4 :f.e8 1 5 i.. d3 d5 The logical plan of fighting
16 ed �xe 1 + 1 7 'ii'xe 1 'ii'd5 and for f5 should have been crowned
Black seized the initiative. with the move 14 i..c2, although
9 ... tt:'lg6 White has developed indiffer­
10 h3 c6 ently and is gradually losing the
Instead after 10...h6 1 1 i..b3 initiative.
i..e6 1 2 tt:'lg3, 12...c6 1eads to a 14 'ii'f6
position from the game, but the 15 'ii'e2 :f.ad8
impulsive move 12 ...d5?! allows 16 lhd1 i..c8
White to resolve the central ten­ 17 i..c2
sion in his favour: 1 3 ed tt:'lxd5 Black is well prepared to play
14 d4 ! ed 1 5 tt:'lxd4 i.. xd4 1 6 in the centre, and is ready to
'ii'xd4 tt:'ldf4 1 7 'ii'e4 'ii'f6 1 8 meet the flank attack 17 tt:'lh5
i..xf4 tt:'lxf4 1 9 'ii'xb7, winning a 'ii'e7 1 8 tt:'ld2 with the counter­
pawn, Titov-Dobrolovsky, Bar­ blow 1 8 ... d5 ! ( 1 8 . . .'ii'h4 1 9 .:n
dejovske Kupele 1 99 1 . tt:'lg5 is not bad either) 1 9 de ( 1 9
11 i.. b3 i.. e6 ed ed favours Black) 1 9. . .de
12 tt:'lg3 h6 (there is a less reliable route:
34 Black Plays . . . il.. b6

1 9. . . 1Lxe3 20 'ii'xe3 'ii'xe5 2 1 with Black making full use of his


lDg3 lDf4 22 'ifxa7 lDd3 2 3 .l::.e3 concentration of forces.
lDxb2 24 ed 'ii'f4 25 �f3 ! and 26 lDh2 'ilfgS!
White maintains the extra pawn) 27 �h1
20 il.. xb6 ab 2 1 'ii'xe4 'iixe5 with After 27 f3 Dobrolovsky was
even chances. ready to illustrate the theme of
17 lDgS 'seventh rank absolute' (as Nim­
18 lDxgS hg zowitsch called it): 27 ... l:td2 !
19 de de (reinforcing the tactic 28 'ilfxd2?
20 il.. xb6 ab lDh3+) 28 fg 'iih6 29 l¿Jf3 l:tg2
21 'ii'e3 bS 30 �fl 'iWh 1 3 1 lbg 1 lbh3 .
Complete possession of f4 al­ 27 ... l:td6!
lows Black to develop a strong Turning left. This strong rook
attack on the kingside. can attack on two files!
22 lDn 28 f3 il..h3
The preparatory 22 �xd8!? 29 !;tg1 lDd3!
deserved attention. Completing the interlacing
22 g4! mating net. The rest is simple.
23 hg il.. xg4 30 ila7 'iVd2 31 il..xd3 :h6!
24 l:txd8 l:txd8 32 g4 il.. xg4! 33 l:tg2 il..xf3 34
25 g3? il..fl 'ii'f4 35 'ilfg1 il..xe4 36 il..e2
Attempting to close the breach l:tg6 37 .ltfl 'ilfd2 38 b4 'ilfxa2
leads to catastrophe. He should 0-1
have submitted with 25 f3.
25 ... lDf4! (D) Game 10
Tiviakov-G.Georgadze
Podolsk 1992

1 e4 eS 2 lDf3 lDc6 3 il..c4


il..cS 4 c3 lDf6 5 d3 d6 6 0-0
il..b6 7 il.. b3 lDe7
8 lDbd2
Until Black has castled, the
pin 8 il.. gS does not favour
White, as it stimulates a pawn
assault on his own king, for ex­
ample 8 . . . lDg6 9 lbh4 lDxh4 10
il..xh4 h6! 1 1 �h 1 g5 1 2 il..g 3 h5
An amazingly economical at­ 1 3 f3 h4 14 il.. f2 lbh5 1 5 d4
tack with few resources. Now if lDg3+! with dangerous threats,
26 gf ef 27 'ii'c 5, then 27 ... 'ilfg6 Marin-Musat, Odorheiu Secuiesc
is decisive. The game continues 1993.
Black Plays . . . �b6 35

8 ... c6 b) In Gavrilov-lbragirnov, St.


Black is at a crossroads. White Petersburg Z 1 993, Black played
was threatening to exchange the 10. c6 straight away, and after
..

bishop by 9 ltJc4, so it is logical l l liJxb6 ah 1 2 d4 'ii'e7 1 3 h3 h6


for Black to prepare a new spot 14 .ic2 l:te8 1 5 .ie3 'ii'c7 16
for it. From c7 the bishop swit­ ltJd2 .ie6 1 7 'ii'f3 ltJh7 18 a3 c5
ches over to defend the centre. 19 llac l 'ii'e7 20 .id3 ltJg5 2 1
Another line involves 8 . ltJg6
. . 'ii'g 3 llf8 a double-edged posi­
9 ltJc4 0-0 10 lle1 (D), which tion arase.
gives rise to a problematic posi­ 9 d4! (D)
tion: White achieves the main idea
of the Giuoco Piano. In the event
of White playing on the queen­
side with 9 ltJc4 .ic7 1 0 a4 0-0
1 1 .ig5 lbg6 1 2 ltJh4 ltJf4 1 3
lbe3 h6 14 .ixf6 'ii'xf6 1 5 lbhf5
d5! Black has time to extract
sorne benefit from transferring
the knight over to the kingside,
A.Marié-Xie Jun, Novi Sad OL
1 990.

a) 10 ... .ie6 is considered the


fundamental continuation:
a l ) 1 1 d4 is not an effective
way to attack in the centre be­
cause of 1 1 . . . .ixc4 1 2 .ixc4 ed
1 3 cd (Klinger-Dorfman, Buda­
pest 1 988, continued 1 3 ltJxd4?!
lle8 1 4 liJf5 'ii'd7 15 ltJg5 h5 16
ltJh5 ltJe4 1 7 .ie3 ltJxf2 ! and
Black gained a material advan­
tage) 1 3 . . . d5 with equality. 9 .ic7
a2) 1 1 lL..gS �g4! favours After 9 ltJg6 White can play
•••

Black. 10 ltJc4:
a3) After 11 h3 c6! a position a) Now the pawn capture
arises from Krarnnik-Krasenkov, 10 ltJxe4 allows White to main­
.•.

USSR Ch 1 99 1 , which will be tain the initiative after 1 1 de de


examined in the notes to the next 1 2 'ii'e2 f5 1 3 liJfxe5 .ic7 1 4 f3
game. lbxe5 1 5 lbxe5 .ixe5 1 6 fe 'ii'h4
36 Black Plays ... J.. b6

1 7 g3, as in Beckemeyer-Strater, 18 �d2 lt:Jc4


Germany 1 994. 19 .Yi.xc4 de
b) lf the bishop is withdrawn, 20 h3 �xd2
10 ... .Yi.c7, then White can move 21 .ixd2 .id7 (D)
the game into an obviously fa­
vourable ending with 1 1 de de
1 2 �xd8+ Wxd8 1 3 lt:Je3 l:tf8?!
(13 . . .lt:Jxe4 14 .ixf7 lt:Jf4 im­
mediately is more precise) 14
lt:Jf5 lt:Jxe4 1 5 .l:td 1 + .i.d7 1 6
lt:Jg5 lt:Jxg5 1 7 .ixg5 + Wc8 1 8
lt:Jxg7, Vukovié-Ziatdinov, Nik­
!'iié 1 99 1 .
10 �el lt:Jg6
1 1 lt:Jfl 0-0
12 lt:Jg3 l::.e8
12 ... .ig4 1 3 h3 .ixf3 14 �xf3
is not in the spirit of the position, 22 .i.e3!
and the benefits of the bishop In the style of one of the
pair guarantee White a durable 'early' Botvinnik's ideas in the
advantage. Tarrasch Variation of the French
13 lt:JgS Defence. After the exchanges
The idea of attacking f7 is 22....ixe3? ! 23 :xe3 :xe3 24
justified only after 13..J:te7?! 1 4 fe, the presence of the backward
lt:Jh5 ! , but after 13...:!f8, by e-pawn has no significance,
analogy with the Zaitsev Varia­ whilst White seizes the d-file.
tion of the Ruy Lopez, it is only However, Black is on the alert.
sufficient to repeat moves: 1 4 22 .ic6
lt:Jf3 li.e8 1 5 lt:Jg5 :f8. However, llz-llz
Black can play more energeti­
cally: Game 1 1
13 dS! Kramnik-Yakovich
14 ed cd Belgorod 1989
lS de lt:JxeS
16 .Yi.f4 .tg4 1 e4 eS 2 lt:Jt3 lt:Jc6 3 .Yi.c4
The presence of the isolated lt:Jf6 4 d3 .tes S c3 d6 6 .ib3
d5-pawn compensates for the .ib6
piece activity. 7 lt:Jbd2
16 h6 is also possible: 1 7
•.• This move represents a mod­
.ixe5 �heS 1 8 :xe5 .ixe5 1 9 em way of thinking. White sees
lt:Jf3 with roughly even chances. no reason to reveal his plan at
17 �d4 .ib6 this stage, and develops his
Black Plays . . . i. b6 37

pieces befare castling. However, :xb 1 lie5 2 7 llb8 lle8 28 .l1.c3


this most frequently amounts to White could have achieved a
no more than a simple transposi­ better ending.
tion of m oves. 12 d4 .l1.xc4
7 lt:Je7 It is difficult to maintain the
8 lt:Jc4 lt:Jg6 pawn tension without this ex­
9 h3 .l1.e6 change. After 12 ... lle8 White
10 O-O 0-0 could continue 1 3 d5 ! .id7 1 4 a4
11 l:te1 (D) with initiative on the queenside.
13 .ixc4 l:te8
Black could have given White
an isolated pawn by playing
13...ed 14 cd d5 15 ed lt:Jxd5, but
after 1 6 .id2 c6 1 7 'ii'b3 in view
of bis strong and active bishop
pair, White's chances are prefer­
able anyway.
14 'iib3 'iid7
15 a4 a5 (D)

1 1 ... h6
Black makes a superficially
useful precautionary move, but
connected with the intended
bishop exchange it is premature
at this point. lt would have been
more logical to play in the centre
with 1 1 ...c6! , as in the game
Kramnik-Krasenkov, USSR Ch
1 99 1 , which continued 1 2 lt:Jxb6
'ii'xb6? ! ( 12 . . . .l1.xb3 1 3 'ii'xb3 16 .ie3!
'ii'b6 is more exact, with roughly An effective pawn sacrifice,
even chances) 1 3 .l1.c2 h6 14 d4 which threatens 17 de. Now in
:ad8 1 5 a4 a5 1 6 b4! ab 1 7 cb the event of 16...ed 17 .ixd4
:fe8 1 8 .l1.e3 'ii'b4 1 9 �b 1 ¡j'a5 .ixd4 1 8 cd White gains an ad­
20 Iixb7 .l1.c8 2 1 lib 1 d5 22 lt:Je5 vantage in the centre, but Black
(after 22 ed? Black should con­ perhaps has no better choice. He
tinue 22 . . .e4 !) 22 ... lt:Jxe5 23 de has apparently overestimated the
de 24 .l1.b6! l:txd 1 25 .l1.xa5 position that arises after White's
�xb 1 , and here by playing 26 combination.
38 Black Plays . .i.b6
..

16 lbxe4?! easy. The a5-pawn is weak, and


17 .i.bS! c6 26 c4 is threatened.
18 .i.d3 25 ... lbe7?!
It is rare to see such an un­ As the wise Lasker taught us,
usually effective implementation to compromise you only need
of a geometrical motif. White's strength. 25...l:ta6 was necessary
'scissors' are threatening to cut immediately. However, Black
off both bishops with .ltxb6 and procrastinates, and the youthful
.i.xg6. Therefore Black has no Kramnik provokes fresh weak­
choice but to part with the ex­ nesses in Black's camp with a
change. fme manoeuvre.
18 ed 26 lbes 'li'c8
19 .i.xd4 .i.xd4 27 l:te2 h5
20 .i.xe4 l:txe4 He had to deflect the threat of
21 l:.xe4 .i.f6 lbg4, but now the g5-square is
22 :Se1 dS weakened, of which White skil­
23 .U4e3 l:td8 fully makes use.
24 'li'b6 :as 28 l:tde1 l:ta6 29 'li'c5 'li'c7 30
25 l:td1 lbt3 lbg6 31 l:te8+ �h7 32 'iie3
White's material advantage lbf4 33 lbe5 .tg5 34 wn .i.h6
consists formally only of half a 35 g3 1-0
pawn, but defending is not that
3 Black Plays . . . iJ.. a7

The position we consider in this ... liJf6-h5-f4. In most cases ltJh4


chapter arises after the moves 1 (... ltJh5) does not work because
e4 e5 2 liJf3 ltJc6 3 .i.c4 .i.c5 4 of ...liJf6xe4 (liJf3xe5), whilst
d3 liJf6 5 c3 d6 6 0-0 a6 7 liJbd2 the manoeuvre liJd2-fl -g3 de­
i..a7 (one should note that here mands the move .Ufl-e 1 , which
7...ltJa5 does not work because in turn forces consideration of
of 8 'ii'a4+ c6 9 .i.xf7+ 'Jtlxf7 10 ... liJf6-g4. Following this plan, if
b4) 8 .i.b3 (now the threat of White does not like Black's
8 ... ltJa5 forces a precautionary counterplay after the continua­
move in reply) 8 ... 0-0 (D). tion 9 .:.e l (9 . . . ltJg4! 10 .Ue2
�h8 1 1 h3 liJh6! 12 liJfl f5),
then he is practically forced to
reply 9 h3, which has its disad­
vantages not only in that it loses
time, but it also weakens f4 and
g3 (via the a7-bishop's X-ray
vision). To eliminate these dis­
advantages and prepare .Ufl -el ,
White can switch the knight to
the other trajectory - liJd2-c4-e3.
But this is already in essence a
new plan, beginning with the
move 9 liJc4.
The essence of this posttlon Recently White has often tried
has been cleverly explained by to reroute the knight to g3 via the
one of its specialists, Mak­ fl -square, temporarily postpon­
arychev, by using the concept of ing castling, but this also has the
trajectories, brought in by the drawback of giving Black addi­
former World Champion Bot­ tional possibilities to create
vinnik as one of the algorithms counterplay.
of chess computer programs. The following selected en­
The main trajectories of the counters illustrate this mode of
white pieces are liJd2-fl -g3-f5 play, with all of White's possible
and liJf3-h4-f5, and for Black, continuations.
40 Black Plays ... i.a 7

The 9 l:tel Variation

Game 12
Torre-Wedberg
New York 1988

1 e4 eS 2 ¿zjf3 ¿zjc6 3 .i.c4


.tes 4 d3 ¿zjf6 S c3 d6 6 0-0
6 .•. a6
7 ¿zjbd2 ..i.a7
The idea of Black avoiding
this and instead trying to main­
tain the bishop on c5 is discussed
in the note to Black's 8th move a) ll ... ¿zjbS 12 ¿zjc4 ¿zjf4 1 3
in the next game. .i.e3 b5 14 ¿zja3 Wif6 with a
8 ..i.b3 sharp game, King-Hort, Dort­
(Note that in the actual game, mund 1 988.
5 0-0 a6 6 ..i.b3 d6 7 c3 ..i.a7 8 b) ll ...hS 12 �3 h4 13 ¿zjdfl
¿zjbd2 was the move arder that l:tg8 14 g3 l:lli8 1 5 'it>g2 ..i.d7 1 6
occurred.) .i.c2 Wie7 1 7 d4 0-0-0 1 8 ¿zjf5
8 .. . 0-0 ..i.xf5 1 9 ef .:.h5 and Black con­
Recently Black has been centrales his forces on the king­
searching for more flexible ways side, Martinovié-M.Trifunovié,
of developing his forces, and so Belgrade GMA 1988.
he is often in no hurry to castle. 9 l:te1 (D)
For example, he can test the
popular plan of moving his
knight to the kingside with
8 �7 9 l:te1 ¿zjg6 1 0 ¿zjfl c6
•.•

1 1 h3 Wic7 and Black has fm­


ished mobilizing his pieces.
Wolff-I.Sokolov, Wijk aan 'h:e
1 993 continued 12 d4 0-0 1 3
¿zjg3 ..i.e6 1 4 ..i.c2?! (this is too
sluggish; Sokolov recommends
14 .i.g5) 14 ...h6 15 .i.e3 l:tad8
16 "fiel llfe8 1 7 b3 ..i.c8 ! 1 8 c4
ed 19 ..i.xd4 .i.xd4 20 ¿zjxd4 d5
2 1 cd lf2-lh. After this move the f2-pawn is
Now and again Black plays on left poorly defended, and Black
both flanks, viz. 8 ..h6 9 l:tel gS
. gains extra resources, which are
10 ¿zjfl g4 1 1 lb3d2 (D): used in the game. Therefore
Black Plays . i.a7 41
..

White more frequently plays the nothing) 10...'ir'f6 with the idea
preparatory 9 h3 or 9 lbc4, re­ of using the f4-square, although
pulsing 9 ...lbg4 by means of 10 White has enough resources to
4Je3. repulse Black's ternporary activ­
9
... lbg4! ity. The character of the possible
The reputation of this ma­ struggle is well illustrated by the
noeuvre, which has pretensions garne Gipslis-Heine Nielsen,
towards seizing the initiative, has Minsk 1 993, which continued 1 1
not been subject to serious doubt i.g5 'ir'g6 12 'ir'd2 h6 1 3 i.e3
for the last ten years. i.xe3 14 4Jxe3 lbf4 1 5 g3 i.e6
a) We will add only that it is 16 lbh4 'ir'g5 17 'ith1 ( 1 7 lbhf5
also good after the preliminary l:.ae8 1 8 h4 'ir'g6 1 9 'ith2 lbh5
9 i.e6 10 4Jc4 lbg4! , as White
... 20 'it'e2 is reasonable imrnedi­
is forced to consent to exchang­ ately, preserving the better chan­
ing pieces after 1 1 lbe3. How­ ces, as in the garne Ehlvest­
ever, delaying the . . . lbg4 sally Karpov frorn Rotterdam 1 989)
allows White, by leading his 17 . . . i.xb3 1 8 ab lbg6 1 9 lbhf5
knight through the 'Spanish' lbce7 20 f4! ef 2 1 gf 'ir'xf4 22
route with 10 lbtl!, to preserve l:tfl 'ir'e5 23 lbg4 'iie6 24 lbfh6+
sorne initiative: gh 25 lbf6+ 'itg7 26 lbh5+ �h7
a l ) Thus in Karpov-Korchnoi, 27 lbf6+ 1h-1h.
Merano Weh ( 10) 1 98 1 , Black d) It rernains only to recall the
exchanged both his bishop and possibility of 9 l:.e8 1 0 lbfl h6
...

queen on b3, but was still forced 1 1 lbg3 i.e6 and now in the
to play a passive waiting garne: event of the retreat 1 2 i.c2,
lO i.xb3 1 1 'jfxb3 'jfcS 12
... Black srnooths out the situation
4Jg3 l:.e8 1 3 h3 l:.b8 14 i.e3 with the breakthrough 12 ... d5 !
'ir'e6 1 5 'iVe6 fe 1 6 �ac l i.e3 17 1 3 'i'ie2 'ii'd7 14 i.e3 i.xe3 1 5
l.'!.e3 l:tbd8 1 8 d4 and White had 'it'xe3 d4, Pripys-Yudasin, USSR
an unceasing initiative. 1 98 1 .
a2) Furthermore, after the 10 l::te2 <it>h8
continuation 10 'jfd7 1 1 i.g5
... 11 h3
4Jh5 12 i.e3 i.xe3 1 3 lbxe3 If White continues to ignore
4Jf6 1 4 i.c2 lbg4 1 5 d4 lbxe3 the knight, Black will attack the
1 6 .l::txe3 i.g4, as played in the centre with greater effect: 1 1
garne Nunn-Srnejkal, Luceme lbtl f5 1 2 ef i.xf5 1 3 lbg3 d5
OL 1 982, 1 7 i.a4! would have 14 lbxf5 l1xf5 1 5 i.e3 lbxe3 1 6
rnaintained a solid initiative for fe i.c5, and he gains preferable
White. chances, as in Yudasin-Malan­
b) Occasionally Black tries iuk, Minsk 1 985.
9 lbh5 10 lbfl ( 10 lbxe5 lbxe5
... 11 lbh6!
1 1 'ir'xh5 4Jxd3 gives White 12 l¡Jfl f5 (D)
42 Black Plays ... i..a 7

19 tbf4 'tWe8 20 'ib5 ..tf5 tumed


out to be incorrect, as Black
could defend easily, preserving
the extra pawn, Nielsen - Brinck­
Claussen, Lyngby 1989.
White has also tried other
ideas, including 13 ..tg5 'iie8 14
d4, but here as well after 14.. .fe
15 !txe4 i.. f5 16 �h4?! ( 1 6 �e l
is better) 16 ... tbf7 17 ..te3 'tWe7
the complications of the garne
favour Black, Small-Hawelko,
Luceme OL 1 982.
13 ..txh6 13 ... gh
This is a very principled and 14 ef .i.xf5
consequent exchange, although, We can now sum up the result
as the practica! evidence and in of the opening. Black's pawn
particular this garne show, structure is in tatters, but in re­
White's achievements are not turn he has the open g-file and
great. threatens with the support of the
There have also been attempts two bishops to develop a dan­
to counterattack in the centre gerous attack. He is threatening
with 13 d4: 1 5 ... -txh3.
a) In Ehlvest-Salov, Rotter­ 15 ..td5
darn 1 989, Black did not manage White brings his bishop to the
to solve the problems that arose: long diagonal to neutralize the
13 .'iff6 1 4 de tbxe5 1 5 tbxe5
•. effect of his more active coun­
'tWxe5?! ( 1 5 ... de is necessary, terpart. In Lant-Smagin, Tmava
with the idea after 1 6 ..te3 of 1987, he did not give it the nec­
playing 1 6 .. .f4! 17 .ixa7 f3) 1 6 essary attention, and fell victim
ef! 'ir'xf5 1 7 ..te3 -txe3 1 8 tbxe3 to an attack: 15 'it;h2 tbe7 1 6
'ii'g5 1 9 'tWd5 and White's pres­ tbg3 ..td7 17 d4 tbg6 1 8 de?
sure turned out to be quite tan­ ..txh3 ! 1 9 l:!e4 ..td7 20 e6 .i.c6
gible. 2 1 ..td5 -txf2, etc.
b) 13 ... fe is a stronger prepara­ 15 ... ltJe7
tory move: 14 l:he4 'iWf6 (in the 15 ...'ii'f6 1 6 tbg3 ..td7 also
event of 14 ... -tf5 1 5 �el ed 1 6 deserves attention. Here in the
c d 'ii'f6 1 8 'iWd2 White's position garne Jakubiec-Skalik, Polish Ch
is preferable, Hawelko-Lukacs, 1993, White played the unfortu­
Amsterdarn 1 984) 1 5 tbg3 tbf5 nate 17 .i.e4? �g8 1 8 'it;h2
and the attack with 1 6 tbh5? ..txf2! and was left a pawn
'i'g6 17 ltJh4 tbxh4 1 8 l:txh4 ed down, but in other continuations
Black Plays ... ..ia 7 43

such as 17 'ii'd2 or 17 �hl, the 21 �h2 .:.Sf6 22 lbel lLlg6 23


advantage of the bishop pair is f3 d5 24 l:tg4
sufficient compensation for If 24 de, then 24...l:tb6 25 l:.g4
Black's destroyed pawn struc­ 'ii'e6 is possible, with the threat
ture. of 26. . lbe5.
.
16 ..ie4 24 ed 25 cd l:tf4! 26 ltJc2 c6
.•.

lt is useful to exchange off the 27 lbe2 l:.xg4 28 hg hS 29 lbe3


active bishop. Not, of course, 29 gh because
White may also try 16 ..ixb7 of 29 . . .lLlh4 30 'ii'f l 'ii'g 5 with
llb8 1 7 ..ie4 ..ixe4 1 8 l:txe4! (in dangerous threats.
the event of 1 8 de? ! lLlg6 1 9 29 ..ib8+ 30 �hl ltJh4! 31
•.•

lLlg3 l:.xf3! 2 0 g f 'iib4 White 'iid2 'ii'gS 32 lLlfl


falls under an attack) 1 9... l::txb2 Forced, as Black threatened
19 d4 'ii'a 8! 20 l::tg4 e4 with a 32 ... lLlxf3+ 33 gh 'iih4+, etc. But
complex game, as in Gipslis­ White can scarcely count on be­
Podgaets, USSR 1 985. ing saved in the endgame either.
16 ... lLlg6 32 ... 'ii'xd2 33 ltJxd2 hg 34
17 ..ixfS :n
Here 17 d4? is premature be­ One can hardly call 34 fg l:.f2
cause of the attack 1 7. . .lLlf4 1 8 35 l:te l lLlxg2 a reasonable alter­
lle 1 ..ixh3! 1 9 gh 'iid7 ! . native.
In Dreev-Yakovich, USSR 34 ... gf 35 lt:)xf3 lt:)xf3 36 ltJgl
1987, White played 17 lLlg3, and cJ;;g7 37 ltJxf3 ..ig3 38 l:tdl .:.es
after 1 7 ... ..ixe4 1 8 l::txe4 (in this All the black pieces are inter­
situation 1 8 de is again no good acting well, and the game will
in view of 1 8 . . .:xf3 ! 19 gf lLlf4 soon be over.
20 l:.e 1 'iih4) 1 8 . . . d5 1 9 l:tg4 39 l:td2 <M6 40 'iti>gt <Ms 41
lLlf4! h5 20 lLle5 ..ixf2+! 2 1 �n l:te3 42 l:tdl aS 43 lLlgl a4
�xf2 lbd3+ 22 �g 1 lLle5 23 44 lbe2 ..ih4 45 a3 l:r.b3 46 l:td2
'iid4 'iid6 24 l:te 1 l:tae8 25 b4 ..igS 47 l:tc2 l:.d3 48 l:lcS l:tdl+
'ii'b6 Black gained an advantage. 49 <M2 l:td2 so :as l:txb2 51
17 ••• l:txfS l::txa4 'iti>e4 52 'iti>n 'iti>d3 0-1
18 .:e4
After 18 lLlg3? Black should The 9 h3 Variation
continue with the standard attack
l 8 ...l:.xf3 ! 1 9 gf lLlf4 followed Game 1 3
by 20...'iib4. Karpov-Yusupov
18 lLlf4 Bugojno 1986
19 lLlg3 'ii'g8!
20 d4 l::taf8 1 e4 eS 2 ltJf3 ltJc6 3 ..ic4
Black has the initiative, and ..icS 4 c3 lLlf6 S d3 d6 6 0-0
threatens 2 1 ...lLlxh3. 6 ... 0-0
44 Black Plays ... il.a7

7 .:te1 a6 1 8 ... lbxe4) and now:


8 il.b3 il.a7 b 1) 18 ed il.xd5 19 il.xg6 (or
The bishop retreat in this sys­ 19 de il.xe3 20 .l:.xe3 il.xf3 2 1
tem is almost automatic, and it �xf3 lbxe5 and the game is
acts as a precaution against d3- leve!) 1 9 ... ed! (after 1 9 ... il.xf3
d4 being played with a tempo. 20 il.xf7+! 'ii'xf3 2 1 'ii'xf3 White
We shall look at various exam­ is better) 20 il.xf7+! �xf7 2 1
ples where Black takes precau­ il.xd4 il.xa2 with even chances.
tions against the f6-knight being b2) 18 lbxeS tt::lxe5 1 9 il.f4!
pinned, and pays no attention to tt::lfd7 20 ed il.xd5 21 �c2 ! g6
the threat of d3-d4 - 8 ... h6 9 22 de tt::lxe5 23 tt::lh5 ! .l:.e6! 24
lbbd2 lbe7 (D): c4! il.xc4! 25 .:xe5 .l:.xe5 26
tt::lf6+ 1;g7 27 tt::lg4 .l:.e 1 + 28
ltxe1 'ii'xf4 29 l:te4 'ii'xe4 ! ! 30
�xe4 .l:.d 1 + 31 1;h2 il.c7+ 32 f4
il.d5 33 'ii'e3 .l:.b 1 34 'i!Vd4+ 1;f8
35 tt::lxh6 g5 ! 36 'i'ih8+ 1;e7 37
tt::lg8+ �d7 38 tt::lf6+ 1;e7 39
tt::lxd5+ cd and everything is in
arder for Black. Of course, in
this long variation deviations are
possible, but the character of the
struggle is favourable for Black.
9 h3 h6
10 lbbd2 lbhS
a) 10 d4 il.a7 1 1 h3 lbg6 12 Black elects an active plan of
lbfl .:teS 13 lbg3 il.e6 14 il.c2 fighting for f4. The developing
c6 1 5 il.e3 �c7 16 Vi'd2 .:tad8 17 move 10 il.e6 (D) is also seen.
..•

.:tad 1 with sorne advantage to


White, Gipslis-Unzicker, Daug­
avpils 1 990.
b) 10 lbfl lbg6 11 lbg3 il.e6
12 il.c2 :es 13 d4 il.b6 14 h3
c6 15 il.e3 'il/c7 16 l:tcl l:!ad8 17
il.b1. Here in Wolff-Shirov, Biel
IZ 1 993, Black submitted to the
loss of a tempo with 17 ... il.a7?!,
and after 1 8 1Wa4 b5 1 9 �c2
White's position turned out to be
preferable. Instead Shirov pro­
posed the improvement 17...d5!
(planning after 18 de to play In the game Dolmatov-Aseev,
Black Plays ... ..ta 7 45

Kostromo 1 985, White took the will be examined in the next


path of simplification: 1 1 lLlc4 game.
..txc4 1 2 ..txc4 lLla5 1 3 ..tb3 11 l¿jfl 'ii'f6!
tt:'lxb3 14 'ii'xb3 'ii'd7 1 5 ..te3 12 ..te3 (D)
..txe3 1 6 %be3 c6 17 d4 ¡¡c7 1 8 In the event of 12 lLle3 lLlf4 1 3
:tad 1 �ad8 and Black achieved a l2Jd5 l2Jxd5 Black equalizes eas­
stable enough position. It seems ily: 14 ed (or 14 ..txd5 l2Je7 1 5
that White can only count on ..tb3 ..te6 1 6 ..te3 ..txe3 1 7 fe
maintaining the initiative with 'ilg6 1 8 'ith2 ..ixb3 1 9 'ii'xb3
the 'Spanish' ll lLlfl : �ab8 and Black maintains the
a) l l ...'ii'd7 1 2 tt:'lg3 ltfe8. balance, Landa-Gavrilov, St.Pet­
Here in Gipslis-Sygulski, Jur­ ersburg Z 1 993) 14 ... l2Je7 1 5 d4
mala 1 987, after 1 3 ..txe6 Black l2Jg6 1 6 ..tc2 ed 1 7 l2Jxd4 ..td7
serenely played 13.. .'t'ixe6?!, and 1 8 ..te3 �fe8 and the black
after 14 d4! ed (if Black plays pieces are excellently mobilized,
1 4 d5 straight away, then 1 5 c4!
... Shaked-Kaidanov, Philadelphia
is extremely unpleasant) 1 5 cd 1 993.
d5 1 6 e5 lLld7 1 7 lLle2! tt:'lf8 1 8
tt'lf4 fell foul to a powerful at­
tack. Instead 13 ... fe 14 d4 ed 15
cd ii'f7 would have been more
reliable.
b) ll . ..l::teS 12 tt:'l3h2 (the in­
.

tcresting idea of bringing the


queen into the attack is the in­
vention of Chebanenko: after the
rctreat 12 ..tc2 Black expands in
the centre with 1 2 ... d5 1 3 'iie2
b5 14 lLlg3 'ii'd7 1 5 ..td2 l:.ad8
1 6 b3 d4 1 7 c4 :b8 and
achieved a playable game in 12 ... l2Jf4
Orlov-Kaidanov, Pinsk 1 986) Consistent, but later Yusupov
12 ... ..txb3 (after 1 2 ... d5 White managed to strengthen his game
should continue 1 3 'iff3 and then with 12.....te6 :
li'lfl -g3) 1 3 ab a5 14 lLlg3 d5 1 5 a) In Hawelko-Yusupov, Du­
't't'f3 d e 1 6 de lte6 1 7 lLlf5 (with bai OL 1 986, White exchanged
the threat of ..txh6) 1 7 ... ¡j'f8 1 8 bishops with 13 ..txe6 fe 14
'Wg3 'ith8 19 lLlg4 and White's ..txa7 lha7, but the open f-file
chances were preferable in the strengthened the knight manoeu­
game Gavrikov-Van der Sterren, vre to f4: 15 l2Je3 :taa8 1 6 a4
Tallinn 1 987. l2Jf4 17 'ith2 :tad8 1 8 :tfl d5
The plan involving 10...lLle7 and Black gained a preferable
46 Black Plays ... �a 7

position. source f2-f4, which he could


b) In the game Kuczynski­ now use.
Marin, Thessalorúki OL 1 988, 2S hS g6
White avoided the exchange 26 ltJh3 'ii'f3
with 13 .llc2, but after 1 3 ...ltJe7 27 'ii'xf3 I:.xf3
14 .ll xa7 Iha7 1 5 d4 lLlf4 1 6 28 hg ltJxg6
'ith2 I:taa8 1 7 ltJe3 I:.ad8 1 8 d5 29 tbe3 d4?!
�d7 1 9 lLlg 1 c6 20 c4 b5 2 1 b3 Black should have continued
be 22 be l:tb8 Black gained good with the waiting move 29...l:td8,
counterplay. as now the breakthrough f2-f4
13 �xa7 l:txa7 wins in force.
14 <ith2 30 ltJc2 :Jt7
The preparatory 14 tbe3 is not 31 cd ltJxd4
bad either. In Kaidanov-Lane, After 31 ...ed White should
Hastings 1 990, Black played the again continue 32 f4.
unsuccessful queen manoeuvre 32 ltJxd4 ed
14 .. .'ii'g6? ! , and after 1 5 �h2 33 f4 eS
:as 1 6 ltJg 1 'it>h8 17 g3 ltJe6 1 8 34 aS bS
.ll c2 f6 1 9 h4 'ii'e8 20 h5 lLle7 2 1 If 34 ...tbes, then 35 ltJf2 ltJc6
d4 White again achieved a clear 36 ltc l leads to an advantage for
advantage. White.
14 tbe7 3S ab (D)
1S tbe3 .lh8
16 a4!
White is planning to fix
Black's queenside pawns after
a4-a5.
16 .lle6
17 .ll xe6 fe? !
1 7 ltJxe6 would have been
•..

more natural.
18 ltJg1 l:tad8
19 g3 ltJfg6
20 :n ds
21 'ii'e2 ltJc6
22 lLlg2 :n 3S ... l:tb7?
23 h4 l:.df8 35 ...I:.b8 was necessary, as
24 l:tad1 ltJge7 now White can force an end­
In spite of Black's superfi­ game where Black has numerous
cially attractive pawn centre, the pawn weaknesses.
doubled pawns reduce bis mo­ 36 :.c1 I:txb6 37 l:txcS I:.xb2+
bility, whilst White has the re- 38 :n :xn 39 lLlxn :as 40
Black Plays ... .i.a 7 47

.lhS lüe7 41 lbg4 lbc6 42 llcS! own lrnight being pinning by


tbe7 43 l:tc7 �f8 44 liJeS! aS 45 playing the precautionary 7... h6.
g4 a4 46 fS ef 47 gf lbxfS After 8 tDbd2, in the event of
He has to part with the lrnight, 8...a6 White should continue
as after 47 ... a3 48 f6 a2 49 .l:Ie7! with his basic plan 9 l:te 1 , but it
the black king falls into a mating is worth looking at the possibil­
net. ity of economizing on the move
48 ef .lhS 49 l:.cS! l:.xcS SO ... a6, with the aim of carrying
ttJd7+ �e7 51 lbxc5 a3 52 �g3 out a central strategy: 8 ...l:te8 9
'it>d6 53 lbb3 �eS 54 'it>g4 hS+ .l:te1 ..1e6 10 ttJfl d5 1 1 'ifc2
55 �gS h4 56 f6 �e6 57 �g6 'iid7 12 ..1e3 ..1b6 1 3 h3 11ad8
h3 58 f7 h2 59 f8'if h1 'il 60 14 ..1a4 'iid6 15 11ad1 and
lbcS+ �eS 61 'ifb8+ 1-0 White's position is only slightly
better, Akopian-Montecatine,
Game 14 Dos Hermanas 1 992.
Sutovsky-Lengyel 8 h3
Budapest 1993 Here 8 ..1g5 also allows an
attack by the pawns with 8 ... h6 9
1 e4 eS 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 .tc4 ..1h4 gS 10 ..1g3 (D).
ttJf6 4 d3 .tes 5 c3 0-0 6 0-0 d6
7 .tb3
Given that both sides have
castled, the pin 7 .tgS is not
dangerous for Black, as it allows
the pawn assault ... h6 and ... g5
with the aim of seizing space on
the kingside, to go unpunished:
7 ... h6 8 .th4 g5 9 .tg3 .tg4 10
h3 .th5 1 1 b4 .tb6 12 ttJbd2
lbe7 1 3 l:.e1 lbg6 14 'fic2 g4? !
(this is too risky; after 14 ...'fie7
Black has a reliable position) 1 5
hg lbxg4 1 6 d4! and White 10 ... ..1g4 ll lbbd2 and now:
seized the initiative, Yudasin­ a) ll ...lbhS 1 2 �h1 'iff6 1 3
Tukrnakov, Simferopol 1 988. h3 ! ..1d7 14 d4! ed and in Nunn­
7 ... a6 Pinter, Helsinki 1 983, White
Black could also have 'risked' could have gained an advantage
pinning the f3-lrnight: 7 ... .tg4 8 by playing 1 5 e5! , as it is dan­
lbbd2 d5 9 h3 .th5 1 0 l:.e1 de 1 1 gerous to take the pawn with
de 'ifd7 with quite a solid posi­ 15 ... de? ! because of the attack 1 6
tion. lbe4 'iie7 17 lbfg5 tbg3 1 8 fg hg
Here Black often prevents his 19 'ilh5.
48 Black Plays .. .i..a 7
.

b) 1 1 ...�a7 (a useful prophy­ main line of defenee, down a


laetic in the event of d3-d4, as long road of tria] and error:
we have just seen) 12 �h1 �h5 ! a) 1 1 ...�e6 12 lLlg3 h6 1 3 d4
1 3 'ii'e 1 �g7 14 �d 1 �g6 1 5 l:te8 14 �e2 e6 1 5 �e3 'ii'e7 16
lLle4 l:te8 1 6 �e2 'iid 7 1 7 'i'd2 'i!f'd2?! l:tad8 17 .:ad 1 d5 ! and
l:tad8 1 8 a4 lLlh5 1 9 b4?! ( 1 9 Blaek's position is better, Ku­
lLle3 was safer) 1 9. . . d5 ! 20 ed drin-Kosten, London 1 988. It
'ii'xd5 2 1 b5 e4! 22 lLle3 �e3 23 was neeessary to remove the
fe lLlg3 24 hg ef! 25 be l:txe3 ! 26 queen from possible opposition
'ii'xe3 fg+ 27 �h2 gflLl+ 28 by the rook with 16 'ii'c l!?,
l:txfl 'ii'xe6 29 'i'e5 �g8 30 l:tf2 planning an attaek against the
l:te8 0- 1 was the instruetive advaneed h6-pawn after lLlg3-f5.
game Chandler-Karpov, Bath b) 11 ...liJhS 12 d4 (if 12 �g5,
rpd 1 983, whieh is a good ex­ then 12 ...'i'e8 is possible, fol-
ample of how to play sueh posi­ lowed by lLlgf4) 12...lLlhf4 13
tions. lLlg3 and now:
8 �a7 b l ) 13...'ti'e7?! 14 �e3 .:d8
9 l::te 1 h6 15 �e2 h6 1 6 lLlf5 'i'f6 17 g3!
10 lLlbd2 lLle7 and White has the better game,
11 lLlfl (D) as in Kramnik-Campora, Mos­
cow GMA 1989.
b2) In the event of 13 ...'ii'f6?!
the queen falls under attack from
the knight via another square: 14
lLlh5 ! 'i'e7 1 5 �xf4 lLlxf4 1 6
lLlxf4 ef 1 7 'i'd2 g5 1 8 e5, and
White's advantage is obvious,
Belikov-Novik, Sochi 1 990.
b3) Of course, both queen
moves, to e7 and f6, are unsuc­
cessful, as they give away a
tempo which allows the knight
to attack. Krarnni k reeommends
11 ... lLlg6 13 ...h6 immediately.
One of Blaek's most impor­ e) 1 1 ...�h8 12 lLlg3 e6 1 3
tant manoeuvres in this system, 'ii'e 2?! (Skembris recommends
switehing the knight over to the 13 d4 as an improvement)
kingside. But until now the best 1 3 ... �e6 14 �d2 'i'e7 1 5 l:tad1
move in the diagram position has l:tae8 1 6 �el h6 1 7 lLlh2 d5 1 8
not been clear. lLlh5 'i'e7! 1 9 lLlf6 'ili'f6 20 lLlg4
lt would appear that Blaek ex­ 'i'h4 and Black's ehances were
peets a diffieult seareh for the preferable in Kofidis-Skembris,
Black Plays ... i..a 7 49

Greek Ch 1993. 30 l:td3 g6 3 1 tLle2 l:tbe8 32 ltJd4


12 ltJg3 c6 liJaS 33 i.a4 b5 34 i.c2 'ii'e7 35
After 12....l:le8 13 d4: b4 ltJc4 36 l:tdd l c5 37 be de 38
ltJc6 'ii'c7 39 e5 l:te6 40 i.e4
.l:lc8 4 1 f5 ! ! (an effective sacri­
fice: now neither 4 1 ...tLlxe5 42
lLlxe5 l:txe5 43 gf, nor 4 1 ...ltJg5
42 'ii'f4 gf 43 i.xf5 ! 'ii'xc6 44
h4! ltJh7 45 i.xh7+ ..t?xh7 46
'ii'xf7+ ..ti>h8 47 l:td7 works)
4 1 ...l:txc6 42 i.xc6 ltJg5 43 'ii'f4
'i'xc6 44 h4 'ii'e4! 45 hg 'ii'xf4
46 l:txf4 hg 47 l:tf2! ltJe3 48
l:te l ! ltJxf5 49 e6 g4 50 l:td2!
and White achieved an appar­
ently won ending, in which after
a) Do1matov-Razuvaev, Tash­ 50 ...fe he should have increased
kent 1 980 continued 13 ...i.d7?!, his threats with the invasion 5 1
which is too s1uggish; nothing l;td7! .:c6 52 l:.e4.
will come of attacking the e4- b) Black should have neutral­
pawn. This game was one of the ized the unpleasant bishop
first tria1s of this position. GM straight away: 13 ...i.e6 14 i.c2
Dolmatov is one of the most c6 1 5 i.e3 'ii'c7 1 6 'ii'd2, and
prominent specialists of the sys­ linked with the threat of lLlf5
tems with d3 in the Two Knights White of course maintains his
Defence and the Giuoco Piano, initiative, but it is easier to de­
so it will be especially interest­ fend.
ing for our study of the Giuoco 13 d4!
Piano to trace the moves of his White has achieved the main
battle with a distinguished theo­ ideas of the opening and main­
retician: 14 i.e3 i.c6 1 5 i.c2 ed tains the initiative.
1 6 i.xd4 tiJf4 17 i.xa 7 l;lxa7 1 8 13 'ii'c7
liJd4 ltJg6 19 'ii'd2 (White is 14 i.e3 l:te8
carried away by organizing an After 14... b5? 1 5 'ii'd2 ..t?h7
attack on the king: otherwise he 16 l:tad l i.b7 17 lLlf5 ! White
wou1d have stuck to the 'prosaic' develops the strongest of attacks,
19 tLlxc6 be 20 i.a4, with a clear Gipslis-Ruderfer, USSR 1 979.
advantage) 1 9 ... i.d7 20 f4 :as 15 'ii'd2 ..t?h7
2 1 l:tad l ltJh7 22 l:tfl l:tb8 23 16 l:tad1 i.e6
ltJgf5 i.xf5 24 lLlxf5 ltJh4 25 17 i.c2 l:tad8
ltJg3 ltJg6 26 'ii'f2 'ii'h4 27 'ii'f3 18 'ii'e2 bS
ltJe7 28 i.b3 l:tf8 29 l:td4 ltJc6 Black has fully mobilized his
50 Black Plays ... i..a 7

forces, but is not yet ready for l2J6h7 29 <iti>h 1 (29 f6 l2Jxf6 30
counterplay in the centre 'ii'xf6 .l:.xa 1 3 1 .l:.xa 1 'iie7)
( 1 8 ... d5? 1 9 l2Jxe5). 29... �h8 30 .l:.g 1 f6 and Black
19 a4 eS holds on.
20 ab ab 26 .li.gS hg
21 dS .li.d7 27 .li.xf6 l:txa1
22 :a1 :as 28 l2Jxg7!
23 lLlfS (D) An unpleasant surprise! Black
was apparently counting on
holding out somehow after 28
.U.xa1 i.xf5 29 ef l2Jf4.
28 .l:.xe1+
29 l2Jxe1 l2Jf4
30 l2Jg2!
Now the floodgates are open,
and Black's belated activity will
not save him.
30...l2Jxh3+ 31 <iti>h2 ¡¡a7 32
lZJxe8 'tlfa1 33 i.d1 e4 34 'ii'h6
g3+ 3S fg .li.g1+ 36 <iti>h1 1-0

23 ... .li.b6? Game 1 5


23 ... e4 was necessary, preserv­ Landa-Aimasi
ing good counterplay on the Budapest 1991
queenside. Now White leaves his
opponent behind in attacking the 1 e4 eS 2 lZJf3 l2Je6 3 i..e4
king, where the important weak .teS 4 e3 l2Jf6 S d3 a6 6 i.b3
link is the the advanced h6- .li.a7 7 0-0 d6
pawn. 8 l2Jbd2
24 g4 <iti>g8 After 8 .l:.e1, besides the stan­
Black is counting on halting dard 8 .. .0-0, another plan in­
White's attack with ... l2Jf4, volves castling long: 8 .. .'i'e7 ! ? 9
which does not work straight h3?! (here this move facilitates
away because of the dangerous an attack on the flank; 9 l2Jbd2 is
open b 1 -h7 diagonal - 24 ... l2Jf4? correct) 9 ... h6! 10 l2Jbd2 g5 ! 1 1
25 .li.xf4 ef 26 e5, etc. lbfl ( 1 1 l2Jh2 i.e6 seems strong­
2S ¡¡d2 hS? er, with roughly even chances)
An important truism: do not 1 l ...g4 1 2 hg l2Jxg4 1 3 d4 i.d7
move your pawns where you are 14 l2Je3 0-0-0 15 i.d5 .l:.dg8! 1 6
weakest. Black should defend in i.xc6 (otherwise 1 6...l2Jd8 and
more robust fashion: 2S .li.xfS ••. ... c6) 1 6 ... i.xc6 17 l2Jf5 (if 1 7
26 gf l2Jf8 27 .li.xh6 gh 28 ¡¡xh6 l2Jxg4 l:.xg4 1 8 lbe5, then the
Black Plays ... � a l 51

reply 1 8 ... :e4! is strong: 1 9 White has tested the automatic


llxe4 �xe4) 17 ... 'iid 8 1 8 lt:J3h4 moves in the centre, sustaining
li:Jf6! 1 9 de lt:Jg4! 20 :e2 lt:Jxe5 the principie of using the mini­
and White has the better chan­ mal amount of necessary force to
ces, as in Gipslis-Smagin, Berlin repulse Black's activity on the
1 988. kingside, where the lrnight is
8 •.• 0-0 fulfilling his role as a consolidat­
9 h3 h6 ing piece.
Befare l::.e 1 has been played,
9...lt:Jh5?! is no good because of
the possibility of 1 0 lt:Jxe5 !
lt:Jxe5 (or IO ... de 1 1 'iixh5 'iixd3
12 lt:Jf3 'iixe4 1 3 �xf7+! , etc)
1 1 'it'xh5 lt:Jxd3 1 2 lt:Jf3 'iif6 1 3
�g5 'iig6 14 'iixg6 hg 1 5 :ad 1 ,
when White has powerful pres­
sure.
The continuation 9 ... �e6 was
examined in Karpov-Korchnoi,
Merano Weh (8) 1 98 1 .
10 l::.e 1 li:JhS
11 lt:Jc4 �f6 Black is preparing .. .f5, but
12 lbe3 li:Jf4 this plan does not lead to serious
13 li:JdS li:JxdS concessions in the centre.
14 �xdS lbe7 17 ....:e8 looks a little more
A standard manoeuvre in this salid: 1 8 lt:Jh2! g5 ( 1 8 ... ed? ! is
type of position - the second weaker: 1 9 cd lt:Je6 20 li:Jf3 !) 1 9
lrnight is trying to get to f4, but it lt:Jg4 �xg4 2 0 hg �ad8.
would also have been worth 18 li:Jh2! �gS
thinking about 14 ... �e6, as 1 5 19 'i'f3 ..td7
�xc6 be 1 6 �e3 �xe3 1 7 lhe3 20 �h1 fS
c5 is not dangerous for Black. 21 ..txf4 ef
15 �b3 lt:Jg6 Exchanging queens does not
The more reliable 15. .�e6, . ease the situation: 21 ...'ilfxf4 22
played more recently in Landa­ 'ii'xf4 ef 23 e5 l:Iae8 24 li:Jf3 and
Gavri1ov, St.Petersburg Z 1 993, White has the advantage, as be­
was examined in the notes to the fare.
game Karpov-Yusupov, Bugojno 22 eS de
1986. 23 l::.xeS!
16 d4 li:Jf4 After seizing the e-file, the
17 �e3 (D) decisive invasion of the majar
17 �h8 pieces into the black camp is
52 Black Plays . . . �a7

unavoidable. 43 lixhS+ 'it>g7 44 l:lgS+ 'it>h7


23 c6 4S ..i.g8+ 1-0
24 'ii'e2 l:tae8
2S Ite1 eS (D) The 9 l2Jc4 Variation
Black's desire to free himself
is understandable, as 2S...'ii'g6 Game 16
26 l2Jf3 leads to total suppres­ Torre-Kamsky
sion, but now White's direct at­ Manila IZ 1990
tack is decisive.
1 e4 eS 2 l2Jf3 l2Jc6 3 �c4
..i.cS 4 c3 l2Jf6 S d3 0-0 6 0-0 d6
7 �b3 a6
8 l2Jbd2 .ta7
This move has entered Black's
'schedule'. If Black ignores the
threat of d4, by playing 8 ... �e6
9 l2Jc4 h6 10 :te1 l2Je7, then after
1 1 d4 ed 12 cd �a7 (if 12 ... �b4,
then 1 3 l2Jcd2 ! ? is possible) 1 3
d5 �g4 14 �e3 �xe3 1 5 l2Jxe3
�h5 16 lLlfl ! by moving the
knight to g3, White gains an ad­
26 ktxe8! lhe8 27 'ii'xe8+! vantage, Speelman-Yusupov,
�xe8 28 Itxe8+ 'it>h7 29 �g8+ Hastings 1 989/90.
There now follows a nwnber 9 l2Jc4 (D)
of checks to gain time, whilst
Black is forced to await the de­
nouement submissively.
29...'it>h8 30 .tt7+ 'it>h7 31
�g8+ �h8 32 .tf7+ 'iti>h7 33
l2Jf3 'ii'f6 34 .tg8+ 'iti>h8 3S
�dS+ 'it>h7 36 .ig8+ 'it>h8 37
lLJes gS 38 .l::r.e6!
The final regrouping of the
attacking pieces!
38 ...'ii'g7 39 �17! hS
40 lle8+ 'it>h7 4 1 �g6+ was
threatened.
40 l:!g6 'ii'f8 41 lhgS 'ii'd8 42 Alongside 9 lLlfl , one of the
h4 �b8 main routes for the knight. Be­
After 42 ... cd 43 �e6 'iib6 44 sides supporting the pawn attack
l2Jt7+ White mates. on the queenside, this knight can
Black Plays .. i.a7 53
.

be thrown over to the kingside 13 ... d5 is vindicated only in the


via e3. event of White handing over the
9 ••• h6 centre: 14 ed?! lbxd5 1 5 i.xd5
10 .l:te1 i.e6 i.xd5 16 l2Jhf5 .1Le6 ! , but after
In Kosten-Motwani, London 14 ¡j'f3! Black has to give up the
1990, B1ack successfully man­ centre in much inferior circum­
aged to carry out the 'Spanish' stances.
plan: 10....�e8 1 1 i.e3 b5 12 14 ¡j'xb3 b6
l2Jcd2 l2Ja5 1 3 i.c2 eS 14 h3 d5 15 lbhfS �h7
15 lbfl de 16 de lbc4 17 ¡j'xd8 Losing time. The irnrnediate
�xd8 1 8 i.c 1 i.b7 and the game 1 5 ...I:tfe8 would be a better pre­
is level. caution against White's plan of
11 i.e3 f2-f4 or d3-d4.
White salves two problems, 16 :ad1 .l:tfe8 17 lbdS lbxdS
exchanging off the active bishop 18 ¡j'xdS ltad8 19 d4 �g8 20
and moving the knight over to lbe3 bS 21 h3 lbe7 22 'ii'b3 'ii'c6
the kingside. The plan of attack­ 23 dS (D)
ing on the queenside with the
pawn thrust 11 a4 will be exam­
ined later.
11 ... i.xe3
Is it worth developing the op­
position's knight voluntarily?
11 ...I:te8 deserves attention: 12
i.xa7 �xa7 1 3 l2Je3 l:ta8 14
i.xe6 �xe6 1 5 l2Jd5 l2Je7 16
lbxf6+ �xf6 1 7 d4 l2Jg6 with
even chances, Kindermann­
Bischoff, Hamburg 1 99 1 .
12 l2Jxe3 1Wd7
13 l2Jh4 By fixing the backward c7-
Another line could involve pawn, White prepares the objec­
preserving the bishop with 13 tive of bis attack on the queen­
.1Lc2!?. side.
13 ... i.xb3 23...1Wc5 24 a4 l:tf8
From the point of view of the As White begins to lay his
classical approach to the oppos­ cards on the table, Black at­
ing e4- and e5-pawns in open tempts to create play on the
positions, one should always kingside connected with .. .f5, but
bear in mind the need to assist as the majority of the minar
the freeing move d6-d5. How­ pieces have been exchanged, this
ever, in this particular situation, plan has no chance of succeed-
54 Black Plays ... .i.a7

ing. out at a price. The altemative


25 �e2 l:tb8 26 b4 �b6 27 35 ...lt:Jf5 36 lla3 lt:Jxe3 37 :Xd3
lh1 l:ta8 lt:Jc4 38 l:tc3 lt:Jb6 39 �a7 lba8
A precaution. Counterplay 40 b6! lbxb6 4 1 l;lxc7 :Xc7 42
such as 27 ... c6 28 ab ab 29 de 'ifxc7 lbc8 43 'ifd7 is not par­
'ilixc6 30 I;la7 l:tb7 3 1 l:tea l only ticularly attractive.
opens up the way for the white 36 'ifxf2 .:as 37 'ife1 lbxdS
rook to invade. 38 l:la3!
28 e4 be 29 'ii'xe4 fS 30 l:tecl Depriving Black of his fmal
:aes 31 bS ab illusion. The rest is a matter of
After the blocking move technique.
3 1 .. .a5 White switches over to 38...'ifxa3 39 lbxdS :lt7 40
attacking the c7-pawn, but only Wh2 'ii'b3 41 �xe4 'ifxbS 42
after playing the preparatory 32 lbxe7 'ifd7 43 lbdS 'ife6 44 lla4
l:ta3, with the aim of preventing g6 45 lh8+ Wg7 46 l:td8 hS 47
the f-pawn moving. 'ife4 �fS 48 lbd6 'iVgS 49 lbc7
32 ab fe 33 l:la6 'ilid4 'ii'f4+ SO 'ifxf4 ef S1 lbe6+ <it>h6
Tills mobilization of the queen 52 h4 l::tf6 53 lt:JgS %lxd6 54
brings Black additional prob­ lbt7+ Wg7 SS lbxd6 <it>f6 56
lems, but confused defence such lbe4+ WfS 57 lbgS �g4 58 lbf3
as 33 .. .'iib 8 34 �ca l lt:Jf5 35 wrs s9 ..tg1 ..tg4 60 � <Ms
lt:Jxf5 l:txf5 36 'ilic6 is not at all 61 ..t>e2 <it>g4 62 <it>d3 ..trs 63
promising. Wd4 Wg4 64 We4
34 �a2! '*'kd3 35 l:te4 (D) Torre makes use of his extra
piece with ruthless efficiency.
Fans of the poetic should enjoy
this variation, suggested by
Short: 64 <it>e5 �g3 65 <it>e4 Wg4
66 lbe5 Wh4 67 Wf4 g5 68 �f3
g4 69 <it>f4 g3 70 lbf3#.
64 Wg3 65 ..tes Wg4 66 Wf6
•••

<it>g3 67 WgS 1-0

Game 17
Dolmatov-Kruppa
Irkutsk 1986

The queen unexpectedly turns 1 e4 eS 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 .i.e4


out to be trapped, and her cap­ .tes 4 e3 lbf6 S d3 d6 6 0-0 0-0
ture is threatened after l:ta3. 7 ..1b3 a6 8 lt:Jbd2 ..1a7 9 lbc4
3S...l:txf2 lbe7
Black hopes to get the queen A universal knight manoeuvre
Black Plays ... �a 7 55

in the Giuoco Piano. Nunn-Karpov, Hamburg 1 982.


10 �g5 lbg6 12 ..• lLlf4
11 lbh4 (D) In Kosten-Howell, British Ch
(Blackpool) 1988, Black faced
problems after 12 'ii'd7 1 3 lbe3
...

lbxh4 14 �xh4 lbh5 1 5 l::tfe 1 !


lLlf4 1 6 f3 �e6 17 l::tad 1 d5 1 8
ed lbxd5 19 �f2.
13 lL\e3 lLle6?!
Here Dolmatov recommends
immediately disentangling the
mass of pieces on the kingside
with 13. h6 14 �xf4 ef 1 5
..

lbxg4 lbxg4 1 6 lbf3 lbe5, al­


though after 17 'ii'd2 followed by
d3-d4 White preserves some­
11... �g4 what better chances.
Considered the most energetic 14 �xe6! �xe6
continuation. 15 lLlhf5 h6
In the event of 11 �e6 12
... 16 �h4 ri;h7
lLle3 White maintains the initia­ lt is clearly not so easy to es­
tive: 12 ... lbf4 (White is clearly cape from the pin, as in the event
better after 1 2 ... lbxh4 1 3 �xh4 of simplifying with 16 ... �xe3 17
h6 1 4 �xe6 fe 1 5 lbg4 Almasi­ fe! �xf5 18 l::txf5 g5 19 �g3 the
Neverov, Ajka 1 992) 1 3 lbef5 weaknesses in the position on the
�xb3 14 ab lbe6 1 5 �e3 g6 16 kingside are too risky.
lLlh6+ rl;g7 1 7 lbg4 Kosten­ 17 d4 g5
Slutzkin, Aix-les-Bains 1 99 1 . 18 �g3
The suggested 11 ...lbf4 allows After 18 de?! de 1 9 �g3 lbd7
White to begin active operations it is much easier for Black to
in the centre: 12 �xf4 ef 1 3 lbf3 defend himself.
�g4 14 e5 de 1 5 lbcxe5 'fid6 1 6 18 ... lbh5
d4 l::tad8 17 l::te 1 and he achieves 19 'ii'e2
a better game, Kosten-Gulko, Here as well 19 de?! lbxg3 20
Hastings 1988/89. hg �xe3 2 1 lbxe3 de promises
After 11 l:.e8 the simple 12
... White nothing, Torre-Korchnoi,
lbxg6 hg 1 3 'ii'f3 is possible. Zagreb IZ 1 987.
12 'ii'c2 19 lLlf4
12 'ii'd2? is an error due to 20 'ii'f3 l::tg8 (D)
12 ... lbxh4 1 3 �xh4 lL\e4, whilst 21 de!
in the event of 12 �xf6 'ii'xf6 1 3 Now, when White has
'ii'xg4 'ii'xh4 the game i s level, strengthened f5, this exchange is
56 Black Plays ... j_a7

appropriate, as it allows a link the flank with 10 h6 11 .lth4 gS


•.•

which aids the cavalry and the 12 �g3, preserving good re­
roo k. sources. For example, he could
sirnplify the position with
12 ... .ltxc4 13 .ltxc4 lba5 14 j_b3
lbxb3 1 5 �xb3 'ii'd7 16 l:He 1
.:feS 1 7 .:.ad 1 c6 with approxi­
mately equal chances, Almasi­
Siklosi, Kecskemet 1 993.
In the attempt to get a fighting
game, the traditional 12 ...lbe7
(D) is possible, planning the at­
tack .lte6-g4, which is no good
straight away: 12 ... .ltg4 1 3 lbe3
.lth5 14 lbf5 and White seizes
the weak f5-square. One may
21 de judge the effectiveness of
22 .l:tfd1 �f8 Black's counterchances from the
23 tbg4 f6 following examples:
24 tbfxh6 lth8
White has won a pawn and
maintained his attack. Tactics
will not save Black either:
24...'ii'xh6 25 tbxh6 g4
(amusing, but no more) 26 �d7+
..txd7 27 �d 1 l:tad8 28 tbfl, etc.
2s ttJrs �g6
26 h4 .ltc4
27 .ltxf4 gf
28 tbxe5+! 1-0

Game 1 8
Psakhis-Ehlvest a) Almasi-Lukacs, Budapest
USSR Ch (Minsk) 1 987 1993, featured 13 l:.e1 tbg6 14
d4 .ltxc4 1 5 �xc4 'ii'e7 1 6 h4
1 e4 eS 2 .ltc4 tbf6 3 d3 tbc6 lbd7 1 7 hg hg 1 8 lbh2 �g7 1 9
4 tbf3 .ltcS 5 c3 d6 6 0-0 0-0 7 lbg4 .l:th8 20 lbe3 c;t>f8 2 1 lbf5
tbbd2 a6 8 .ltb3 .lta7 9 tbc4 �f6 and Black had the initiative
.lte6 on the kingside.
10 a4 b) Spraggett-Marin, Manila IZ
In the event of 10 .ltgS Black 1990 went 13 lbe3 'ifd7 14 .l:.e1
could carry out an operation on �g7 1 5 d4 tbxe4 16 de d5 1 7
Black Plays ... i..a 7 57

liJd4 .l::tad8 1 8 1ib5 tbc6 1 9 1 6 cd c6 1 7 h3 'ilfc7 18 lLlfl .ltd7


li:Jxe6 (now the initiative passes 1 9 b4 ba 20 .ltb2 'illb6 2 1 i.c3
to Black: it is also worth looking and White has a big spatial ad­
at 19 .l::ta d1 tLlxg3 20 hg tbxe5 2 1 vantage, Nunn-Hort, Wijk aan
.ltxd5 .ltxd4 22 cd .ltxd5 2 3 de Zee 1 982. Therefore it is better
with chances for both sides) not to digress from the main line,
1 9 ... 'ilfxe6 20 .l::tad 1 .lte3 2 1 .l::te3 and play 11 ..Jte8 12 a5 tLle7 1 3
'ilff5 22 .ltxd5 tbxg3 23 hg tbxe5 .lte3 tbg6.
24 .lte4 tbg4! 25 .l::tf l 'ilfe6 26 11 .. . l:te8
.U.e2 lLlf6 27 'ilff3 tbxe4 28 .l::txe4 Another plan, 11 'itd7 12
...

(after exchanging queens with 28 l:te 1 tbg4 1 3 tbe3 tbxe3 14


'ilfxe4 'ilfxe4 29 l:1xe4 .l::td2 the .ltxe3 .ltxe3 15 l:1xe3 i.xb3 1 6
endgame with four rooks clearly 'illxb3 .l::tab8 17 h3 .l::tfe8 1 8 d 4 b6
favours Black) 28 ...'ilfxa2 29 1 9 ab l;!xb6 20 'illc2 .l::teb8 2 1 d5
.I:.b4? (the position of the rook is tbe7 22 b4, leaves White with
too passive: after 29 .l::te7 'illxb2 sorne initiative, Dolmatov-Timo­
30 .l::txc7 the active rook aids shchenko, lrkutsk 1986.
White's counterplay) 29 ... b5 30 12 .l::te 1
'illc6 'illa5 3 1 f4 'ii'b6+? (exchan­ One of the merits of the ma­
ging queens lets go of the advan­ noeuvre tLld2-c4 is the possibil­
tage which Black would have ity of managing without the
kept after the preparatory move move h3.
3 L.J::td6) 32 'illxb6 cb 33 .l::ta 1 12 tbg4
l:1fe8 34 fg hg 35 .l::txa6 .l::te2 36 13 tLle3 .ltxe3
l:1d4 .l::txd4 37 cd .l::txb2 38 .l::txb6 14 i.xe3 (D)
f6 112-112.
10 ... h6
10 tbe7 immediately is also
...

reasonable: 1 1 a5 tbg6 12 h3 h6
13 .lte3 .ltxe3 14 tbxe3 d5
equalizing chances, A.Fedorov­
Aleksandrov, Nikolaev Z 1 993.
11 a5
1 1 l:te1 is also possible, after
which 1 1 ... b5? only helps White
to carry out his central strategy:
12 tLle3 'i/1d7 1 3 .ltc2! .l::tfe8
( 1 3 ... d5 deserves attention) 1 4 d4
ed 1 5 lLlxd4 ( 1 5 cd? is a typical 14 ... d5
mistake in situations like this, in This is quite fashionable. Af­
view of 15 ... d5 16 e5 tbe4 with a ter 14 . lLlxe3 1 5 l:1xe3 i.xb3 1 6
. .

good game for Black) 1 5 ...tbxd4 'ii'xb3 .U.b8 17 d4 White' s chan-


58 Black Plays ... �a7

ces are preferable, Romanishin­ �e7 31 l:.bl lba4


Smejkal, Szirak 1 986. Of course, not 3 l ...lbd3?? in
15 ..i.c5 de view of the reply 32 l:.b8+ 'it>h7
16 de 'iix dl 33 ..i.e4+.
17 ..i.xdl lbxa5 32 l:.bS+ 'ili>h7 33 ..i.e4+?
In Dolmatov-Tseshkovsky, This move can only be ex­
USSR Ch 1 987, Black played plained by time trouble and the
the more restrained 17...lbf6 1 8 hypnotic effect of the abstract
..i.a4 ..i.d7 1 9 ..i.c2 l:.ad8 and knowledge of the advantage of
achieved a playable game. rook and bishop against rook and
lS l:.xa5 knight in the endgame. But here
Altematively lS h3 lbf6 1 9 we have an exception. Because
l:.xa5 b 6 2 0 ..i.xb6 cb, and i t is of the weakness of all the white
necessary to retreat the rook, as pawns, the knight forces the
after 2 1 l:.xe5? g6 it falls into a bishop on to the defensive. After
trap, as 22 lbd4 lbd7 23 lbxe6 fe 33 l:.f8 g6 34 lhf7+ l:.xf7 35
clearly favours Black. ..i.xf7 White is not in danger of
lS b6 losing.
19 :.a4 be 33...g6 34 c4 'it>g7 35 'it>f2
20 h3 lbf6 lbb6 36 ..i.d3 g5!
21 lbxe5 ..i.xh3 After this breakthrough the
22 gh .l::.xe5 e5-pawn is hopelessly weak.
23 f4 :.e6 37 'it>f3 gf 38 l:.b7
24 eS After 38 'it>xf4 one should
To swn up, an ending has continue 38 ... lbd7. But here as
arisen where although he has a well after :xc7 Black has no
broken queenside pawn struc­ time to extend bis material ad­
ture, Black still has an extra vantage. After the black king has
pawn. Therefore, while White is marched to the centre, the rest is
busy counting up the material he easy.
has to win back, Black manages 3S...:xe5 39 'it>xf4 :e7 40
to activate bis forces to the ..i.fl :d7 41 'it>f3 'it>f6 42 l:.a7
maxirnwn. Both sides' chance..'> 'it>e5 43 'it>e3 l:.e7 44 l:.al :es 45
can be considered roughly equal. 'it>f3 :e6 46 ..i.e2 l:U6+ 47 'it>g3
24... l:tbS 25 'it>fl lbd5 26 ..i.f3 'it>e4 48 l:.a3 lbcS 49 l:.d3 lbd6
lbb6 27 lha6 lbc4 2S :as 50 l:.d5 'it>e3 51 ..i.d3 c6 0-1
l;IxaS 29 ..i.xaS lbxb2 30 ..i.d5
4 Modern Systems

This chapter is dedicated to ex­ li:Jf6 4 d3 �eS S c3


amples of contemporary treat­ S .. a6
ment of the Giuoco Piano. Both In this game White sticks to
1 Jlack and White are seeking the strategic line of the quickest
new resources in the very open­ possible deployment of his
ing stages, trying to outplay each forces, even at the cost of cas­
other with tactical nuances. tling. But there is nothing new
Thus White quite often tries to under the sun, and before we
hurry the knight over to the move on, it will be useful to
kingside as quickly as possible, make an excursion into history
attempting to use the fl -square and look at a game from the last
hcfore castling. In his tum, Black century, Chigorin-Lasker, St.Pet­
is in no hurry to divert the bishop ersburg 1 895/6: s ... d6 6 li:Jbd2
lo a7, as he is trying to win a 0-0 7 li:Jfl d5 ! ? 8 ed lt:Jxd5 9
lempo for the breakthrough d7- �e3?! lt:Jxe3 10 fe e4! 1 1 de
d5 at the very moment when the 'iie7 12 'iic2 lt:Je5 1 3 lt:Jxe5
white knight is on fl , and has 'ii'xe5 and Black has come out of
lcmporarily lost control over the the opening with flying colours.
centre. But sometimes in the One should note that Black's
carly stages of the game Black indicated plan of an early ad­
strives to leave White behind in vance to d5 generally lurks in the
attacking the centre with the help air, as in this case White has not
of either ... d6-d5 or even ... d7- managed to attack the e5-pawn,
d5. The prelude to all of these which he can usually do when
attempts seems to be the fash­ the white king has castled.
ionable move 5 ... a6, which 6 �b3 d6
leaves Black the possibility of In the event of 6...�a7 7
returning to the plan with ... d6. li:Jbd2 d6 White sometimes car­
ries out a plan delaying castling,
Game 19 using f1 to transfer the knight
Bologan-Westerinen over to the kingside with 8
Gausdal 1 991 li:Jfl !?. Nevednichy-Aleksand­
rov, Nikolaev Z 1 993, continued
1 e4 eS 2 li:Jf3 lt:Jc6 3 �c4 8 ...lt:Jg4 9 d4 ed 10 cd li:Jf6 1 1
60 Modern Systems

lt.Jg3 .ltg4 1 2 .lte3 d5 1 3 e5 lt.Je4 At the same time, 8 lt.Jg4? .••

with chances for both sides. seems to be a blank shot because


Black carried out an interest­ of 9 d4. However, White can
ing idea from the Marshall At­ also stay in the shadows a little
tack of the Ruy Lopez in the longer with 8 h3, and after
game Bologan-I.Sokolov, Khal­ 8 .. 0-0 he achieves a position
.

kidhiki 1 992: 6 0-0 7 h3 b5 ! ? 8


... from the text game.
0-0 i.b6 9 lie1 d5 ! ? 10 ed li.Jxd5 Here 7 b5 8 li.Jfl d5? ! is du­
••.

1 1 lt.Jxe5 liJeS 12 l:txe5 c6 1 3 bious because of the great weak­


i.xd5 cd with sufficient com­ ness of the d5 and a5-squares: 9
pensation for the pawn. .ltg5 de 1 0 de .lte6 (forced) 1 1
7 li.Jbd2 lt.Jg3 h6 1 2 i.xf6 "ii'xf6 1 3 .i.d5
As was examined above, the i.d7 14 li.Jh5 "it'g6 15 li.Jh4 "ii'g5
thrust 7 .ltgS is not dangerous 16 .if7+! and White has won a
for Black, as it allows him to pawn, Komliakov-Ginzburg, Ni­
seize space on the kingside: kolaev Z 1 993.
7 . . . 0-0 8 li.Jbd2 .lta7 9 li.Jfl h6 10 8 h3
i.h4 g5 1 1 .ltg3 li.Jh5 1 2 lt.Je3 A useful precaution. White
rj;;g7 1 3 "ii'd2 li.Je7 14 d4 f5 1 5 ef hinders the incursions ... lt.Jg4 and
e4 1 6 lt.Jg 1 f5 with an excellent ... .ltg4 and clarifies Black's
game for Black, Kramnik-An­ plans. After 8 lt.Jn, the energetic
and, Moscow GMA 1 989. 8 ... d5 has a more solid basis, as
By using the obligatory plan when the knight is moved to f1,
(i.b3 and li.Jbd2), White retains control over the centre is mo­
the choice between castling or mentarily weakened.
delaying it in order to carry out 8 ... .lta7
the manoeuvre li.Jd2-fl -g3 more 9 tt.Jn liJe7
quickly. Black leads his knight over to
7 .. . 0-0 the kingside by the well-wom
We should note that Black can path c6-e7-g6-f4 (taking into
also bide his time and include account the weakness left by 8
the 'compulsory' move 7. .lta7, .. h3 it looks quite logical), and
so that after 8 lt.Jn he maintains pays no attention to the fact that
the possibility of choosing be­ White has saved a tempo by not
tween the classical plan or decid­ castling, in arder to begin play in
ing on 8 d5, as played in Bolo­
... the centre. Meanwhile, with the
gan-Magomedov, Azov 1 99 1 , knight deflected to f1, as was
which continued 9 ed li.Jxd5 1 O remarked in the previous note,
lt.Jg3 0-0 1 1 0-0 f6 12 �e 1 rj;;h 8 9. d5 is also quite realistic.
..

13 .ltc2 .lte6 14 d4 .ltg8 15 li.Jh4 Now, by handing over the centre


li.Jde7 1 6 .lte3 ed 17 cd li.Jb4 1 8 with 10 ed lt.Jxd5 1 1 lt.Jg3 .lte6
.lte4 with a double-edged game. 12 0-0 f6 White especially has
Modern Systems 61

nothing to count on, Kofidis­


Stefansson, Athens 1 993. To
avoid simplification, 10 'fie2
looks logical, but here as well
Black has enough resource..o; to
fight the forthcoming dynamic
hattle.
a) 10 l:le8 1 1 ltJg3 h6 1 2 0-0
...

..lle6 1 3 :d i 'ii'd7 14 ltJh4 (or 14


Wh2 l:lad8 1 5 lLlh4 lLle7 1 6 ..1e3
<14 and Black can already aspire
lo seizing the initiative, as in
Bereziuk-Galdunts, Azov 1 99 1 )
1 4 ... ltJe7 1 5 'ii'f3 de 1 6 de 'ii'c6 Compare tbis pos1t1on with
1 7 ..1c2 '1th7 1 8 lLlhf5 lLlxf5 1 9 that in the diagram after 1 3 d4 in
li\xf5 ..txf5 2 0 'fixf5 g6 2 1 'Yi'f3 Dolmatov-Razuvaev, Tashkent
•bg7 22 ..te3 If2-lh Gelfand­ 1980. White has carried out bis
Adarns, Wijk aan Zee Ct (2) plan in full without needing to
1 994. play .:.fe l .
b) 10 h6 1 1 g4 de 12 de ltJd7
... 12 •.. ed?
(lhe origin of this plan was Why hand over the centre
Komliakov-Gavrilov, Moscow voluntarily? As Lasker pointed
1 988, which continued 12 ... lLlh7 out philosophically, 'In a dis­
1 3 ltJg3 ..te6 14 0-0 'Yi'f6 1 5 ..td5 pute, it is worth respecting your
li\d8 1 6 lLlf5 c6 1 7 ..1b3 ..1xb3 opponent's opinion, but it is not
1 R ab lLle6 19 h4 with a complex worth giving him any conces­
game) 1 3 g5? ! ltJc5 1 4 gh ltJd3+ sions until he has formed bis
1 5 '1td l lLlf4+ 1 6 'ii'd2 'fif6 17 convictions. In chess as well, it
llg 1 g6 1 8 '1tc2 ltJxh3 1 9 l:!g3 is not worth voluntarily remov­
lilxf2 and Black has acbieved a ing an advanced post until it is
lllaterial advantage, Bologan­ driven away ... Defence should
Adams, New York Intel rpd concede to strength, but only to
1 994. strength. '
10 ltJg3 ltJg6 It is also useful to know the
11 0-0 h6 legacy of chess - after 12 l:te8
...

The counterplay Black found 1 3 lie 1 a position arises from the


in the game Bologan-Kir.Geor­ previously mentioned game
gicv, Tilburg 1 993, deserves at­ Dolmatov-Razuvaev.
lention: l l bS!? 1 2 d4 ..1b7 1 3
... 12 ..te6 1 3 ..te3 ..1xb3 is also
...

.tlc 1 l:le8 14 ..1c2 d5 1 5 ltJe5 possible, exchanging the active


lilc4 with complete equality. bishop, wbilst refusing the ex­
12 d4! (D) change with 1 3 ...'fic8 14 .:.e 1
62 Modern Systems

:.es after 1 5 .tc2! tt:Jh7 1 6 a4


'ti'd8 1 7 a5 tt:Jh4 1 8 tt:Jh2 tt:Jf6 1 9
'ti'd2 tt:Jh7 2 0 :.ad1 'ti'f6 2 1 f4 ef
22 tt:Jh5 could lead to a strong
initiative for White, as in the
garne Bologan-Benjarnin, New
York 1 993.
13 cd dS
14 eS tt:Je4
1S .tc2!
Now it has become clear that
the position of the knight is un­
stable.
1S ... ltJh4 19 ... c6
The exchange 15 ... ltJxg3 1 6 fg 19 ...�xb2 would be suicida!
creates new resources for White since after 20 'ti'g3! White's at­
to carry out his attack in view of tack is unstoppable. But after the
the breakthrough g4-g5, or to move in the garne, it is impossi­
prepare the threat of sacrificing ble for Black to hold his ground
on h6 after .te3 and �d2. anyway.
16 tt:Jxe4 de 20 lhd1 �b4 21 .txh6! gh
17 .txe4 tt:Jxf3+ 22 'ti'g3+ �h8 23 'ti'f4 r:J;;g7 24
18 'it'xf3 lid3 :es 25 l!g3+ r:J;;f8 26
White returns the pawn, but 'ti'xh6+ r:Ji;e7 27 'ti'h4+ r:J;;f8 28
by leaving the central one on e5 a3!
he is giving the pieces excellent A fmal 'quiet' move, enticing
assistance in organizing an at­ the queen to the d-file, as he
tack. After the natural reply cannot defend d6 (28 ...'ti'a4? 29
18 ... .txd4 1 9 :.d 1 c5 20 .te3 'ti'h6+ r:Ji;e7 30 'ti'd6#).
'ti'b6 2 1 .txd4 cd 22 :d2 Black 28 ...'ti'd4 29 'ti'h6+ r:Ji;e7 30
not only has a problem defend­ 'ti'f6+ �d7
ing the d4-pawn, but he also has If 30...r:J;;f8 , then 3 1 .th7 is
to repulse the attack, which is decisive.
possible after arranging a battery 31 :.d3 'ti'xd3 32 .txd3 1-0
(.tb 1 and �e4) along the b 1 -h7
diagonal. But all the same it was Game 20
worth making this decision, as Kasparov-Lautier
leaving White with the menacing Linares 1994
bishop pair would have been too (notes based on
dangerous. analysis by Lautier)
18 'ti'xd4?!
19 .tf4! (D) 1 e4 eS 2 ltJf3 ltJc6 3 .tc4
Modern Systems 63

-ic5 4 c3 ltlf6 5 d3 d6 6 �b3 ing that both have ready-made


6 ... h6 targets on h3 and h6 respec­
This move prevents the pin tively. Kasparov now thought for
with �g5, and prepares . . . .i.e6 a long time, and found a good
hy preventing ltlg5. plan.
7 h3 a6 11 b4! d5
8 ltlbd2 .i.e6 12 a4 bS!
9 .i.c2?! Blow-for-blow! 12 d4?!
..• is
Considering that this is a typi­ misguided in view of 1 3 b5 de
cal Lopez move, one wonders ( 1 3 ... ab 14 ab de 15 be cd+ 1 6
why Kasparov didn 't play 3 .i.xd2 be 17 .i.e3 with an advan­
-ib5. Here the manoeuvre loses tage to White) 14 be cd+ 15
lime, since the bishop was better 'ifxd2! be 16 .i.b2, which leaves
placed on c4 than on c2. Black's pawn structure in tatters.
Instead 9 ltlc4 0-0 1 O 0-0 .i.a7 13 0-0
1 1 a4 l:.e8 gives complete equal­ The apparent vulnerability of
ily. the b5-pawn is deceptive, for
Altematively, White could example 13 ab? ab (threatening
play in the style of the previous 14 ... .i.xf2+) 14 d4? ed 1 5 'ifxb5
game: 9 ltltl .i.a7 1 0 ltlg3 0-0 .i.d7 wins.
1 1 ltlh2 ! ? ltle7 1 2 ltlg4 ltlg6. 13 0-0
Here in Belikov-Aleksandrov, 14 ab ab
J urmala 1 99 1 , White sacrificed a 15 d4?
piece with 1 3 ltlxh6! ? gh 14 Kasparov played this error
�xh6, and after 14 ... ltlh7 15 after little thought. Instead 15
4'lf5 .i.xf5 16 ef ¡j'J-¡4 1 7 'ifg4 .i.b2 wou1d have forced B1ack to
'Wh6 1 8 fg tlJf6 1 9 .i.xt7 <l;g7 a be more circumspect, e.g.
complicated position would have 15 ... d4?! 16 .i.b3 ! de 17 .i.xc3
arisen. tlJd4 1 8 .i.xd4 .i.xd4 1 9 tlJxd4
9 ..• .i.a7 ed 20 .i.xe6 fe 2 1 tlJf3 ! 'ifxb4
9...d5 immediately fails to 10 (or 2 1 ...l:.xa 1 22 l:r.xa 1 'ifxb4 23
4'lxe5 ! tlJxe5 (10 ... .i.xf2+ 1 1 'ii'c2! with excellent compensa­
'.ti>xf2 tlJxe5 1 2 d4 with an ad­ tion) 22 l:.ab 1 followed by 23
vantage to White) 1 1 d4 .i.d6 'ifh2 with sorne advantage.
( l l . . ..i.xd4 12 cd tlJc6 e5 and 15 ed
White is better) 1 2 de .i.xe5 1 3 16 eS (D)
4'lf3 when White i s much better. 16 •.. de!?
After the text Black threatens Instead 16 ltld7
••. allows
... d5 in eamest. White to achieve his aim, for
10 'ife2 'ife7 example 1 7 cd tlJxb4 1 8 .i.a3 c5
Neither side wishes to castle 19 .i.xb4 (19 .i.bl ! ?) 19 ... cb 20
into a kingside attack, consider- 'ifxb5 l:.fb8 2 1 'ifd3.
64 Modern Systems

lt:Jxc2 b4 22 lt:Jfd4 't'ig5 Black is


much better.
19 •.. d4! (D)
Activating the e6-bishop is
significantly more important
than conceding the e4-square.
19. c5? is too sluggish: 20
..

�a3 d4 2 1 �xb4 �xb3 (2 l . ..cb?


22 lbbxd4! �xd4 23 't'ie4) 22
:xa7 l:lxa7 23 �xc5 and White
has solved all his problerns.

However, as both players


pointed out afterwards, Black
had a stronger move, viz.
16...�d7! with good chances for
an attack:
a) 17 l:le1 de! 18 ef 'ifxe2 1 9
llxe2 cd winning.
b) 17 cd �xd4! (certainly not
17 ... lt:Jxd4? 1 8 lt:Jxd4 �xd4 1 9
.l:!xa8 l:lxa8 20 lt:Jf3 �c3 2 1 't'id3
�xe5 22 .l::te 1 l:la 1 23 't'id2 !
lhc l 24 �xcl lt:Je4 25 l'id 1 20 l:lxa7?!
with an advantage to White) 1 8 Kasparov spent the lion's
l:txa8 .l::f.xa8 1 9 lt:Jxd4 lt:Jxd4 20 share of his remaining time over
't'id3 l'ixe5 2 1 f4 lt:Je2+ winning. this exchange sacrifice. lbis is
17 ef l'ixf6 indeed a critica! position, and he
18 lt:Jb3 lt:Jxb4 needed to analyse severa! sharp
19 �b1 lines:
Lautier suggested 19 �e3 in a) 20 lt:Jbxd4 �xd4 21 't'ie4:
the post mortem, but Kasparov a l ) 21 ...c2? 22 lha8! �d5 23
responded 'that is Karpov's sort l:ixf8+ 'it>xf8 24 'i'h7! (a striking
of move, but 1 want to keep my idea) 24 ... cbl'i 25 'i'xb 1 with an
bishop for attack! '. However advantage to White.
Lautier's analysis shows that a2) 21 ... �f5! 22 'i'xa8 (or 22
'Karpov' s m ove' was no better; 'ii'xf5 c2! 23 �xc2 l'ixf5 24
after 1 9 ... �xe3 (not 1 9 ... d4? ! 20 �xf5 �xa 1 winning) 22 ... c2! 23
�xd4 �xd4 21 l:lxa8 l:lxa8 22 �xc2 �xa 1 winning .
lbbxd4, and if 22 ... �c4? ! , then b) 20 'i'e4? c2 2 1 �xc2 lbxc2
23 'i'e4 with an attack) 20 fe 22 'it'xc2 d3 23 'i'xd3 �c4! (not
Modern Systems 65

23 ... .i.xb3 24 :xa7!) 24 'ilf'c2 .ie4!? l:tf7 26 lt:'!d4 .l::td7 and


.i.xb3 winning. Black is clearly better) 2S .. Jhbl
e) 20 .i.a3! d3 is critical: 26 lt:'!d4 eS 27 lt:'!xbS lt:'!d3 28
e l ) 21 'ilf'e4 .i.xb3 22 .i.xb4 lt:'!xc3 l:lxc 1 29 .l::txc 1 lt:'!xc 1 with
.i.xf2+! 23 <it>xt2 :xa l 24 ..ixd3 a winning ending.
(24 ..txf8? loses to 24 ... c2 2S 21 .l::txa8!
'ilf'xd3 cb'iW 26 �xbl .i.c4) Now the third queen will ap­
24 ... 'Yi'h6+ 2S 'it>g3 fS 26 'iie7 pear. 24 .ixc2? loses hopelessly
'ilf'g6+ 27 <it>h2 �c8 with a clear to 2 1 ...!ha7 22 lt:Jbxd4 .ic4 23
advantage to Black. 'iie4 lt:'!xc2 24 'iixc2 eS, etc.
c2) 21 .i.xd3 is best: 21 cb'ii
21 ...lt:'!xd3 22 .i.xf8 (22 'ilf'xd3? 22 lhf8+ 'it>xf8 (D)
l:Hd8 ! 23 'ilf'c2 .i.fS 24 'iic l
.i.xh3 2S .i.b4 .i.xg2 26 'it>xg2
.l::td3 ! with a deadly attack, for
cxample 27 lt:'!bd4 'ilig6+ 28 'it>hl
eS ! 29 .i.xcS 'iihS+ winning)
22 ... lt:'!f4! (after 22 ... .i.xf2+ 23
l:txt2 l:txa 1 + 24 lt:'!xa 1 lt:'!xt2 25
.ib4!? lt:'!xh3+ 26 gh .i.xh3 it is
difficult to say whether the six
pawns are stronger than the two
knights) 23 'iixbS lt:'!xh3+! 24
.._tJh l ! lt:'!xt2+ 2S .l::txf2 �b8 26
'We2 ..txf2 27 'it'xt2 c2! 28 .l::tc l
.ixb3 2 9 .icS and Black i s only 23 'iWxbS??
slightly better. After this dreadful blunder,
20 ... c2! ? the fight is abruptly concluded.
A very tempting move, but the After the game Kasparov turned
prosaic 20 .. ..U.xa7! is stronger: up in a restaurant and said to
21 lt:'!bxd4 (2 1 lt:'!fxd4? loses Lautier, 'If I'd played 23 liJeS,
quickly after 2 l .. . .ic4 22 'iie4 you would have had to fight for a
'1Wg6! 23 lL'lfS eS ! 24 lt:'!xcS .idS draw! '. Lautier provides the
2S 'iig4 'iixg4 26 hg c2) main details of an analysis ses­
2 1 . .. .l::ta1 ! (after 2 1 .. . .ic4?! 22 sion in which Gelfand and
'iWe4 g6, 23 liJeS ! .ixfl 24 lt:'!g4 Kramnik also participated:
gives White a powerful attack) a) 23 ... 'ilf'c2? 24 'iixbS lt:'!dS 2S
22 'iie4 'iig6! 23 'iixg6 fg and 'iih8 + 'it>e7 26 .ia3 and Black
now: has a bad position.
a) 24 .ixg6 .ic4 2S :el eS 2S b) 23 'ilf'bf5? 24 'iixbS lt:'!dS
..•

lilfS �d8, winning after lt:'!d3. 2S 'iih8 + 'it>e7 26 .ia3 with the
b) 24 lt:'!xe6 :xf3 ! 2S gf (2S same theme as the previous
66 Modern Systems

variation. lysed deeply in the analysis ses­


e) 23 .. <¡t>g8? 24 i.. g5 (24
, sion, but Lautier felt that it gives
'ii'x b5? 'iib g6! loses) 24 ...'ii'x fl + Black the better chances: 26 i.. a3
25 'ii'x fl hg 26 'iixb5 li:Jd5 27 (or 26 'ii'xb5 li:Jd5 27 g4 'it'c2
'ii'e8+ <¡t>h7 28 lt:Je4! 'iie7 29 with an advantage to Black)
lt:Jexg5+! <¡t>g6 30 'ii'h 8 li:Jf6 3 1 26 ... i..c 4! (this had been missed)
li:Jh4+! <it>xg5 32 'ii'xg7+ 'fí'h5 33 27 'iif2 i.. x fl 28 i..xb4 'iVd5 ! 29
li:Jf3 and Whlte is winning. 'ii'xfl 'ii'c2.
d) 23 ..'iia2 ?! 24 'ii'xb5 li:Jd5
. Lautier claimed that White's
25 'ilih8+ <¡te? 26 li:Jb7! ? <¡t>d7 27 best chance was in fact to win
liJeS+ <¡te? and White could back the queen immediately: 23
continue the attack by means of i..g5! 'iix fl + (23 .. .'i'fg6? 24
28 l:te1 !?. 'ii'xb5 'ii'x fl + 25 �xfl 'ii'd3+ 26
e) 23...d3 24 'i!Ve4 'ii'fa 1 ! 25 'ir'xd3 li:Jxd3 27 li:Jbxd4 hg 28
l:.e l ! ! 'ii'xc l 26 'i!Vxb4 d2 27 lt:Jxe6+ fe 29 lt:Jxg5 with a drawn
lt:Jxe6+ �g8 28 'i'xd2! 'ii'xd2 29 ending) 24 'i'xfl hg 25 'ii'xb5
l:.xa 1 'ii'd5 30 lt:Jxc7 'it'c6 3 1 li:Jd5 26 'ii'b8+ <it>e7 27 li:Jbxd4
li:Ja6 'ii'd6 leads to a draw. il.d7 and when Black's exposed
f) 23 ... 'ii'bg6! 24 liJeS! 'ii'gf5 king makes it difficult to exploit
25 f4! (D) and now: the extra pawn.
23 'iYxb3
24 'ilt'b8+ <i;e7
25 'ii'xc7+ �eS
26 i..d2 'iiVd8
26 ... li:Jd3! 27 l:.a 1 1id5 was
much stronger, followed by
28 ...'ii'fd8.
27 'i\Ye5 �f8?!
In view of the next note,
27 ... li:Jc6 would have been
clearer: 28 'ilt'xg7 il.xh3, win­
ning.
28 li:Jxd4?
f l ) 25..,<¡t>g8 (25 ... li:Jd5?? loses lt seems that the W orld
the queen immediately to 26 g4) Champion had already resigned
26 'ii'xb5 li:Jd5 27 g4! 'it'c2 (or himself to his fate. 28 '1i'c5+ re­
27 ...i.. h4 28 gf 'it'g3+ with a gains the pawn, but here with
perpetua! check) 28 'ilih8+ �h7 care Black should still win:
29 li:Jcd7 i.. xd7 30 li:Jxd7 'ii'd6 28 ...�g8 (28 ... 'i!Ve7? allows 29
3 1 li:Jf8+ �g8 32 li:Jg6+ �h7 'i!Vxe7+ �xe7 30 li:Jxd4 1Wc4 3 1
draw. i..xb4+ �f6 32 lt:Jxe6 'i!Vxb4 33
f2) 25...'ii'd8! was not ana- lt:Jc7 '1i'c4 34 liJeS+ �e7 35
Modern Systems 67

!!el +, drawing) 29 �xb4 �c4 'itf8 10 ..ic4 jje7+ 1 1 'itfl ..id7


(or 29 ... d3) 30 .:d i �xc5 3 1 12 l2Jbd2 followed by .:a l -e l ,
�xc5. Godena-Crepan, ltaly 1 986.
28 l2Jd3!
29 jt'eJ 'ii'c4
0-1

Game 2 1
Dolmatov-Salov
lrkutsk 1 986

1 e4 eS 2 l2Jf3 l2Jc6 3 �c4


�eS 4 c3 l2Jf6 S d3
S ... a6
A modem and flexible con­
tinuation. Black is executing the
obligatory programme, modify­ b) Sometimes Black first plays
ing his plans depending on S 0-0, in order to meet 6 0-0
...

White's play. In particular, he is with 6 ... d5, although after 7 ed


envisaging bringing the pawn l2Jxd5 8 .:e 1 (8 b4 is weaker:
move to d5 in one go. And al­ 8 ... ..ie7 9 h3 ..if6 10 l2Jfd2 l2Jb6
though amongst specialists of the 1 1 ..ib5 ..id7 12 l2Je4 a6 1 3
Giuoco Piano it is generally �xc6 ..ixc6 14 'ii'e2 l2Jd5 1 5
thought that playing an early llel ..ie7 1 6 l2Jg3 !:.e8 17 �c2
... d7-d5 (or ... d6-d5) is often a5 and Black has an edge, Djur­
risky, practice shows that with huus-Arkhipov, Gausdal 1 99 1 )
precise play Black can maintain 8 ... ..ig4 9 h3 ..ixf3 1 0 jt'xf3
the balance. l2Jde7 1 1 l2Jd2 l2Jg6 12 l2Je4 ..ie7
a) The immediate S...dS is too 1 3 b4 White has a solid initia­
risky in view of 6 ed lLJxdS 7 tive, Sermek-Florjantié, Bled
'iYb3! (D), when Black sustains 1 993.
material losses: 6 0-0
a 1 ) Cunning tactics such as If 6 l2Jbd2 0-0 7 0-0, then
7 0-0 do not help because of 8
... 7 dS! ? is interesting: 8 ed
...

'iih5 ! (8 ..ixd5? allows Black to lLJxdS and now:


slip away: 8 ... l2Ja5 9 'ii'b5 'ii'xd5 a) 9 .:el b5 10 ..ib3 l2Jf6! 1 1
10 c4 ..id7) 8 ...'ii'd6 9 b4 l2Jcxb4 l2Je4 (after 1 1 l2Jxe5 l2Jxe5 12
1 0 cb ..ixb4+ 1 1 ..id2 c6 12 l::txe5 Black should continue
..ixb4 l2Jxb4 1 3 'ii'a4 b5, etc. 12 ... ..ixf2+, and if 1 1 lLJfl , then
a2) Nor is there any compen­ the simple 1 l .. . ..if5) 1 1 ...l2Jxe4
sation for the pawn in the event 12 de jjxd l 1 3 .:xd l ..ig4 1 4
of 7 l2Jf4 8 ..ixf4 ef 9 ..ixf7+
•.. ..id5 .:ad8 with a level ending,
68 Modern Systems

lbragimov-Kaidanov, Las Vegas continued 9 'ilic2 il..g4 1 0 ltel


1 992. de! (Black does best to stabilize
b) Kaidanov recomrnended the situation in the centre) 1 1 de
frrst moving the knight to g3 vía ile7 12 h3 il..h5 1 3 lt:Jh2
e3: 9 lt:Je4!? il..e7 1 0 lt:Jg3 and ( otherwise it is not clear how to
then playing :e l . involve the d2-knight in the
6 ... il..a7 game, and therefore one cannot
A timely retreat, as after avoid exchanging the light­
6 0-0 one must consider the
... squared bishop; if 1 3 a4 then
possibility of the bishop being 1 3 ...¡fc5 is unpleasant: 14 lte3
attacked with tempo - 7 d4. For .l:.ad8 ! 1 5 lt:Jfl 1W d6! , whilst after
example, Petrienko-Miranovié, 1 3 il.. c4 ilc5 14 �e3 W/e7 1 5
Novi Sad 1 988, saw 7 . . . il.. a7 8 de l:te 1 ilc5 Black repeats the posi­
lt:Jxe4 9 i.d5 lt::lc5 10 il.. g5 'iWe8 tion) 1 3 ... lt::la5 14 lt::ldfl lt::lxb3 1 5
1 1 :e l lt::le7 12 c4 lt::le6 1 3 lt::lc3 ab (15 ilxb3 seems better)
and White gained a clear advan­ 15 ... .i.g6 1 6 lt::lg3 (or 16 b4 lt:Jh5 !
tage, whilst after the careless with an attack on the king)
1 3 ... lt::lxg5 14 lt::lxg5 h6 1 5 lt:Jge4 16 ... a5 ! and after breaking the
lt:Jg6 1 6 lt:Jf6+! gf 1 7 ef ¡fd8 1 8 queenside pawns Black has
lt:Je4 :es 1 9 �5 White's enor­ gained a small advantage.
mous attack concluded the mat- 9 ... ¡[eS?!
ter. lt would have been better to
7 il.. b3 0-0 liquidate the pawn pressure
8 lt:Jbd2 dS! ? (D) straight away with 9 de!? 10 de
...

ile7.
10 ed lt::lxdS
11 d4!
The most energetic. In the
event of 1 1 lt:Jc4 il..g4 1 2 h3
il..xf3 1 3 ilxf3 'iif6 Black gains
equality, Kudrin-Korchnoi, Wijk
aan Zee 1985.
11 il..g4
12 h3 il..hS
13 tt:Jn
13 g4? il..g6 14 de is no good
because of 14... lt::lf4 with an at­
Black has saved a tempo to tack.
free himself in the centre. 13 ... e4
9 l:te1 14 lt:Jg3 il..g6
The main continuation. Gip­ 14 ef! is weak: 15 lhe8+
...

slis-Kaidanov, Groningen 1 990, 1Wxe8 16 i.xd5 with a very clear


Modern Systems 69

advantage to White. 2 1 ...tt:Jc6, using the weakness of


lS
tt:Jh2 d4.
Not lS tt:JgS?! or lS tt:Jd2?! 21 'ifxg4
hecause of 1 5 ... e3. 22 hg bS
lS ... 'i't'd6 23 ltadl �b8
16 tt:Jg4 tt:Jf4?! 24 tt:Jers
16 :ad8 is more reliable,
•.• Attempting to attack the e4-
although here as well after 17 pawn by roundabout means leads
i.. xd5 ! ? 'ifxd5 18 �f4 'ii'd7 19 to the same position as in the
tt:'le3 White's position is prefer­ game: 24 tt:JgfS �f4 25 tt:Jfl
able. tt:'lc4 26 b3 tt:'ld6 27 tt:'l1g3 �xg3
17 �xf4 'ifxf4 28 tt:Jxg3 tt:Jd6.
18 tt:Je3 tiJas (D) 24 �xg3
2S tt:Jxg3 tt:Je4
26 b3 tt:Jd6
27 :d2 f6
After the knight has moved to
the blockading d6-square, it be­
comes obvious that the weakness
of the e4-pawn is counterbal­
anced by the weakness of the d5-
pawn.
28 <itfl :es
29 f4
Practically mandatory in view
of the threat of ...l:tde8 and
19 �e2 ... �f7, but now the position is
As Dolmatov pointed out, forcibly simplified and Black
White could have achieved a easily gains a very pleasant end­
better game by moving into an ing.
ending with 19 'ii'g4! 'ti'xg4 20 29...ef 30 gf l:r.xel+ 31 'iti>xel
hg tt:'lxb3 2 1 ab c5 22 d5. :eS+ 32 <itf2 �xe2 33 l:r.xe2
19 eS l:r.eS 34 e4 be 3S be ct;f7 36 tt:JhS
20 dS liad8 gS
21 'ii'g4 It stands to reason that one
A move with numerous plans, should not allow the knight to
White is offering to exchange reach e6, but this move devalues
queens with the aim of removing Black's pawn advantage on the
the e4-pawn's defence and re­ kingside.
pulsing the attack with ... f7-f5, 37 tt:Jg3 aS 38 :el � 39
incidentally threatening b2-b4. l:r.e3 <itt7 40 l;lcl <itf8 41 l:r.e3
21 e4 is no good because of <ite7 1/z-1/z
Section 2 : White Plays on the Queenside

After 1 e4 e5 2 lüf3 lüc6 3 ,j_c4 When it was first becoming


,j_c5 4 c3 lLlf6 one of the modem established White often contin­
plans involves carrying out a ued 7 0-0, with which he post­
pawn attack on the flank with 5 poned a pawn attack on the
b4, which has the aim until play bishop in favour of the manoeu­
begins in the centre of gaining a vre tLlb 1 -d2-c4, but then it be­
spatial advantage on the queen­ carne clear that this aided
side. After 5 ... ,j_b6 6 d3 d6 (D) Black's counterplay linked with
the crucial position of the system d6-d5. Recently, White's basic
arises, from which White's fu­ continuation has been 7 a4, with
ture paths diverge. which White prepares to expand
his space on the queenside,
thrusting a very concrete game
on Black. The fundamental lines
of the development of Black's
forces involve 7 ... a6 and 7 ... a5.
In conclusion, we should note
that the retreat 5 ... ,j_e7 is not in
the spirit of the Giuoco Piano:
after 6 d3 0-0 7 'ifb3 d6 8 a4 a5
9 b5 tLlb8 10 0-0 White achieves
a durable advantage, Bologan­
Kraidman, Gausdal 199 1 .
5 Wh ite Delays the Queenside Atta e k

In this system, by continuing although after 9 ...tt:Jg6 lO 0-0


dcvelopment with 7 0-0 or .ie6 1 1 l:Ie 1 h6 12 tt:Jxb6 i.. xb3
playing the prophylactic 7 .ib3, 13 'iixb3 ab and Black has no
White temporarily declines a reason to be discontented at his
long-terrn attack by the pawns position, Nunn-Azmaiparashvili,
on the bishop in favour of the Amsterdam 1990) 8 .ib3 c6 9
manoeuvre tt:Jb 1-d2-c4. How­ tt:Jc4 ii..c7 lO .i.g5 ltJg6 1 1 ltJh4
ever, this gives Black the pos­ tt:Jxh4 12 .txh4 h6 1 3 a4 g5 14
sibility, alongside the traditional .i.g3 Wie7 1 5 tt:Je3 .ib6 1 6 ltJf5
plan of using the bishop on the .txf5 17 ef aS 1 8 b5 cb 1 9 ab
a7-g 1 diagonal, of preparing a .l:tc8 with an excellent game for
safe square on c7, from where Black, lllescas-Calvo, Palma de
the bishop defends the e5-pawn, · Mallorca 199 1 .
which will help him to organize
a counterattack in the centre with
... d6-d5.

Game 22
Yudasin-Karpov
USSR Ch (Moscow) 1988

1 e4 e5 2 tt:Jf3 tt:Jc6 3 .ic4


.ic5 4 c3 tt:Jf6 5 b4 .ib6 6 d3 d6
7 0-0 (D)
lbis unsophisticated develop­
ing move allows Black with the
help of the manoeuvres ... tt:Je7- 7 ... ltJe7
g6 and ... c6 to build up his forces An automatic manoeuvre in
in comfort. pawn structures of this type. The
White could not have hindered preparatory inclusion of the
this plan even at the cost of de­ move 7 .ig4 in its own way
.•.

laying castling: 7 tt:Jbd2 tt:Je7 (in loses time, as after 8 tt:Jbd2 h6 9


the event of 7 ... 0-0 8 .ib3 tt:Je7 9 l;le1 tt:Je7 lO h3 the bishop must
tt:Jc4 the b6-bishop is exchanged, withdraw and so White has a
72 White Delays the Queenside Attack

head start in battle for the centre: 17 l:td 1 l:.ad8 1 8 ltJa5 White
l O... i.. d7 1 1 d4 liJg6 12 a4 a6 1 3 could have maintained sorne ini­
i..a 3 "fie7 14 i..b3 i..a7 1 5 b5 ab tiative) 1 5 ltJcd2 (or 1 5 ltJa5 c5 !)
16 ab i.. xb5? ! (too optirnistic: 15 ... a5 with a complex game
16 .. 0-0 was necessary) 1 7 de
. (Short).
ltJxe5 1 8 ltJxe5 "fixe5 1 9 liJf3 b) 9 .ta7 lO a4 h6 1 1 a5 l:.e8
.•.

'ii'xc3 20 e5 ! with dangerous 12 l;Ie 1 d5 1 3 ed ltJxd5 1 4 ltJe4


threats, Kudrin-Large, Hastings .tf5 1 5 d2 "fid7 16 i..c4 !;lad8
1 986/7. with even chances, Vidarsson­
However, Black could also Amason, Reykjavik 1 988.
have followed the traditional 8 liJbd2
plan by continuing 7 a6 8 .•. The pin 8 i.. gS, especially be­
liJbd2 0-0, after which he plans fore Black has castled, as has
to maintain the bishop on the been recorded more than once in
active diagonal. Let us examine similar positions of this nature,
the possible continuations after often has the opposite effect, as
the crucial reply for White, 9 it allows a pawn attack to begin
i.. b3 (D): on that flank: 8 ...ltJg6 9 ltJh4
ltJxh4 1 O i..xh4 g5 ! 1 1 i..xg5
l:.g8 12 i..xf6?! (he should have
preserved the bishop with 12
i..h4) 12 ..."fixf6 1 3 'Wth1 i..g4 14
f3 .th3 1 5 g3 "fib6 1 6 .Ug 1
i..xg l 17 "fixg l 0-0-0 and Black
has secured his king, gaining a
material advantage, Moroz­
Podgaets, USSR 1 986.
8 ... c6
9 l:te1
Hot on the heels of this game
9 i..b3 was recommended, but
a) 9 ltJe7 1 0 .:.el ltJg6 1 1 h3
••• Black sirnply castles, 9 0-0 (D),
...

(or 1 1 ltJc4 i.. a7) l l ...i.. e6 and practice has not demon­
(according to Short's analysis strated any particular superiority
the attack l l ...i.. xh3 12 gh liJf4 for White after this move:
is parried after 1 3 ltJc4 liJxh3+ a) 10 a4 ltJg6 1 1 a5 i..c7 12
1 4 'itfl i.. xf2 1 5 .:.e2 i.. a7 1 6 l:.el leads to a position from the
"fie l , leaving White with sorne game.
advantage) 1 2 ltJc4 i..a7 1 3 i..e3 b) 10 ltJc4 promises nothing
i..e3 14 l;le3 b5 ! (in Short­ concrete: 10 ... .tc7 1 1 i..g5 ltJg6
Portisch, Brussels 1986, after 12 d4 (in the event of 12 ltJh4
14 ...h6 1 5 d4 "fie7 16 "fiel ltJh7 liJf4 White should play 1 3 liJe3,
White Delays the Queenside Attack 73

as after 1 3 'ii'f3 h6 14 .i.xf6 Black has already developed


'l'í'xf6 1 5 g3 'ii'g5 ! Black seizes his main forces, and therefore
the initiative: 1 6 Wh1 .tg4 17 concessions in the centre will
'l'í'e3 lüe2 1 8 liJf5 d5 ! 1 9 lüxe5 bring no success. 13 liJfl (D)
�xf5 20 f4 lüxg3+ 2 1 hg 'iih 5+ was more logical, although
22 Wg 1 .txe4! and gains a ma­ practice has shown that in this
terial advantage, Teske-Lukacs, case as well Black has a playable
Budapest 1 99 1 ) 12 ... h6 1 3 .txf6 game.
'1Wxf6 14 lüe3 a5 1 5 d5 liJf4 and
Black's position is preferable,
Gomez Jurado-Marin, Andorra
1 99 1 .

Here are sorne examples:


a) 13 ... .te6 14 g3 h6 1 5 'ii'c2
.l:Ic8 16 '.t>g2 'iWd7 17 lüg 1 .td6
and Black's forces are more suc­
e) After the sluggish 1 0 h3 cessfully deployed, Ljubojevié­
lüg6 1 1 lte 1 d5 ! 12 'ii'c2 !teS 1 3 Hjartarson, Tilburg 1 989.
liJfl a 5 Black again seizes the b) 13... h6 14 liJg3 .te6 1 5
initiative, Ermenkov-Sagalchik, .te3 'ii'd7 16 c4 d4 17 .td2 b6!
Primorsko 1 99 1 . and after exchanging the re­
d) The decisive 10 d4 liJg6 strained pawn, Black is better
does not achieve its aims either. prepared for operations in the
Zhelnin-Dobrovolsky, Odessa centre, Short-Salov, Linares
1 989, continued 1 1 lte1 h6 1 2 a3 1 990.
lte8 1 3 'ii'c2 liJh5 14 lüc4 .tc7 13 liJxdS
1 5 lüe3 'ii'f6 and Black's posi­ 14 lüe4 h6!
tion looks preferable. lt is useful once and for all to
9 0-0 remove the problem of the
10 a4 liJg6 knight lunging into g5, which is
11 aS .i.c7 present in the event of 14...<it>h8
12 .t b3 dS 1 5 .td2 f5 16 lüg3 when White
13 ed?! is threatening to counterattack
74 White Delays the Queen.side Attack

with ti:Jf3-g5 and 1Wd l -h5.


15 ..tc4
White intends to dislodge the
support from under the knight
(16 b5).
15 ... .i.fS
Here 1 5 .. .'it'h8 was possible,
followed by .. .f5.
16 .i.d2 b6 17 ab ab 18 �xa8
'i\Vxa8 19 bS cb 20 ..txbS ltJdf4
2l .i.c4 Vi'd8
Playing against the weak
pawn, but it would have been
stronger to try attacking the king 36...g6 37 c4 .i.d4 38 ..tf3
after 2 1 ...'�Wc8 with the idea of Wg7 39 ..tdS hS 40 ..tf3 'ii'gS 41
22 ... ..txe4 23 :xe4 1Wg4. 'iidS 'Wicl+ 42 �g2 'i1Vd2 43
22 d4 .i.g4! 23 .i.xf4 ltJxf4 24 .i.e2
h3 .i.hS! 25 ltJg3 .i.xf3 26 'ii'xf3 The bishop is outstanding in
ed 27 �dl 'ií'f6 28 ltJe4 its role as a pawn.
28 ... ti:Jxh3+ was threatened, 43... h4 44 gh 'ii'f4 45 Vi'f3
but now Black can switch to the 'ii'xh4 46 'ii'g3 'iie7 47 'ii'f4 .tes
attacking diagonal: 29 . . ."Vi'e5 ! 48 'We3 'ii'f6 49 'iff3 'iigS+ 50
with the threat of 30 ti:Je2, al­ 'iWg4 'ii'd2 51 'ii'e4 .i.d4 52 �fl
though Karpov prefers to attack �el+ 53 �g2 'ií'g5+ 54 Vi'g4
the h3-pawn, and . . . he achieves 'ilies 55 .i.d3 .tes 56 ..te2 fS
his aim. Black has only managed to
28...'ií'g6 29 l::txd4?! exchange off a pair of pawns,
29 h4 was necessary. while this push achieves nothing
29 ... ..te5 30 :dt ltJxh3+ 31 as the white queen has the upper
Wfl ltJgS hand in opening up space.
After 3 1 ...ti:Jf4 things would 57 'iff3 �d4 58 Vi'b7+ �h6
have been more difficult for 59 'iif3 �gS 60 .i.d3 �f6 61
White. <it>n 'ii'h4 62 'it>e2 'i'h2 63 �fl
32 ltJxgS 'ii'xgS 33 g3 'Wie7 34 Vi'd6 64 �g2 'iid4 65 �fl Vi'd7
'ii'c6 :ds 35 �xd8+ 'it'xd8 (D) 66 ¡fhJ gS 67 ¡fh6+ �eS 68
36 .i.e2! 'Yi'h8+ 112-112
After moving the bishop to the
long diagonal, the strength of the Game 23
opposite-coloured bishops (a Conquest-Kaidanov
factor that usually favours the London 1990
side with the initiative) is
roughly equal. 1 e4 eS 2 ltJf3 ltJc6 3 .i.c4
White Delays the Queenside Attack 75

�eS 4 c3 lLlf6 S b4 �b6 6 d3 d6 After this important interven­


7 i.b3 0-0 8 ttJbd2 ing exchange Kaidanov's varia­
8 ... �e6 (D) tions very eloquently testify to
Black's possibilities:
a) 12 ab ef 13 be 'ii'xd3 and
Black is the more active.
b) 12 ltJgS i.xf2+! 1 3 lhf2 e3
14 l:.xf6 ed 15 'ii'h5 'ii'xd3 ! with
an advantage to Black.
e) 12 de �xb3 1 3 tLlxb3
�xf2+! ? (the simple l 3 ... 'ii'xd 1
14 l:.xd 1 �a7 is also reasonable,
with a level ending) 1 4 <it;xf2
tLle4+ 15 <it;g 1 'ii'xd 1 16 l:.xd 1
tt::lxc3 17 l:.d7 tt::lb5 ! , gaining
three pawns for a piece in the
A rare, but quite logical move, endgame.
which prepares the freeing ... d5, 12 �a4!
which, for example, can follow 9 Now all is well for White,
ttJc4. who uses the fact that the e5-
9 0-0 a6 pawn is insufficiently defended
Now after 9 dS 10 ed a better
..• with great fmesse.
use can be found for the queen 's 12 de
knight: 10...ttJxdS 1 1 tLle4, or 13 de 'ii'd3
10 ...�xdS 1 1 �xd5 tLld5 12 14 :aJ!
tLle4. With this fme rook manoeuvre
10 a4 dS!? White not only defends the c3-
11 aS �a7? pawn, maintaining the threat of
Black misses ll de! (D).
... 1 5 i.xc6, but also hinders
14...tt::lxe4 in view of 15 i.c2.
After 14 i.b2 Black would have
increased the pressure with
14 ... .l:tad8.
14 'ii'd6
1S 'ii'e2 �g4
16 h3 i.d7
17 tLlc4 'ti'e6
18 i.b3
Now White controls the im­
portant d5-square, and play will
progress with the leitmotif of
invasions onto this point. Thus
76 White Delays the Queenside Attack

after 18 ...'ii'e7 the pin 1 9 �g5 is main ranks and files, and the
unpleasant. outcome of the game is prede­
18 'ti'e8 termined.
19 �e3 i.xe3
20 lt:Jxe3 lt:Ja7
20 lt:Jxe4? is no good be­
.••

cause of 2 1 lt:Jd5.
21 lha1 lt:Jb5
22 'li'b2! �c6 (D)
Again 22... lt:Jxe4 does not
work because of 23 c4 lt:Jd4 24
lt:Jxd4 ed 25 lt:Jd5 ! .
23 l:r.fe1!
White's main threat 1s 24
lt:Jd5.
23...�xe4 24 c4 �xf3 25 cb
�h5 26 lt:Jd5 lt:Jxd5 27 �xd5 c6 31 ... lid8 32 l:de1 :d7 33 h4
After 27 ... 'ti'xb5 a reasonable h5 34 lig5 �h7 35 i.c2 :d5 36
continuation would be 28 l:r.xe5. :ee5 .l:he5 37 'ii'xe5 'ti'd7 38
28 l:r.xe5 'ti'd7 29 �b3! �g6 l:xg6! fg 39 'fixh5+ �g8 40
30 :d1 'ti'c8 31 b6! �b3+ �f8 41 'fih8+ �e7 42
Now White dominates the 'ti'xa8 1-0
6 Retreating the Bishop to a7

By using the plan of opening an move ... d5.


escape square for the bishop with You occasionally see the plan
7 ... a6, after 8 O-O 0-0 the role of with the pin 9 Jl..g 5, to which
the bishop determines the future Black usually reacts with the
of White's game. counterplan 9 ... h6 10 Jl..h4 g5 1 1
Jl..g3 Jl..g4.
As a new attempt for Black,
one could pay attention to the
plan of carrying out ... d7-d5.

Game 24
Ljubojevit-Hjartarson
Linares 1989

1 e4 eS 2 lt'lf3 ltJc6 3 Jl..c4


.tes 4 c3 lDf6 S b4 Jl.. b6 6 d3 d6
7 a4
As practice shows, only with
One of the fundamental lines this continuation can White
for White involves clamping count on maintaining the initia­
down with 9 aS Jl.. a7 and prepar­ tive, as it makes the game more
ing d3-d4 after l:.fl -el . Black in or less concrete, one might say
this case strengthens the e5- by giving him a tempo.
pawn after transferring the 7 a6
knight to g6. 8 lDbd2 0-0
Another quite widespread line 9 0-0 (D)
is the refusal the suppress Black 9 lbe7
with a4-a5, in favour of attack­ A universal manoeuvre in this
ing the bishop with the manoeu­ variation. Now and then 9 JI..e6...

vre lt'ld2-c4 after the developing is played. The doubled pawns


move 9 lt'lbd2 or the preparatory are not dangerous for Black; af­
9 Jl..b3. In this case Black often ter 10 Jl.. xe6 fe 1 1 lt'lc4 Jl.. a7 12
moves the bishop to c7 (after Jl..e3 ..txe3 1 3 fe b5 ! ? 14 ab ab
... c6) and prepares the freeing 1 5 lt'la3 .l:.b8 the game is leve!.
78 Retreating the Bishop to a 7

It is also possible to change


the role of the bishop and switch
it after 10 ... c6 (D) to defence of
the e5-pawn and preparation of
... d5. We shall examine the pos­
sible development of play.

This was Stein-Shirov, Gausdal


1 99 1 , whilst the shortcomings of
10 .i.b3 were discovered 1 00
years ago: 1 0... .i.xb3 1 1 'iixb3
d5 ! 1 2 .i.a3 .:teS 1 3 .:tad l 'iid7
14 .:tfe 1 .:tadS with an excellent
game for Black, Blackbume­ a) 11 tlJc4 .i.c7 12 :el tlJg6
Chigorin, Nuremberg 1 S96. 1 3 .i.b2 :teS 14 tlJe3 d5 ! 1 5 �c2
9 .i.g4 loses time, as after 10
... li:Jf4 16 liad l 'fle7 with a com­
.:tel tlJe7 1 1 h3 .i.d7 the bishop plex game, Wemer-Svidler,
has to fall back, and White has Oakham 1 990.
time to tie up the game in the b) 11 aS .i.c7 1 2 :e l tlJg6.
centre: 1 2 .i.b3 tlJg6 1 3 tlJc4 With a transposition of moves,
.i.a7 1 4 d4! ed 1 5 cd tDxe4 16 this position occurred in A.Nik­
.:txe4 d5 1 7 .i.g5 'ii'cS l S tiJxd6 itin-Morozevich, Jurmala 1 992,
cd 1 9 .i.d5 and he achieves an which continued 1 3 li:Jfl .i.e6 14
advantage, Grosar-Rogulj, Rome d4 .i.xb3 1 5 'ii'xb3 d5 1 6 lt:Jxe5
1 990. lt:Jxe4 1 7 f3 li:Jd6 l S :a2 'iih4
10 .i.b3 with chances for both sides.
If 10 .:te1, then after 10 ... tlJg4 11 tlJc4 .i.a7
1 1 .:te2, 11 �h8 is possible,
... 12 .i.e3
with the standard idea of ... f5, Ljubojevié makes the decision
but 11 d5? is an error, as after
... to exchange bishops imrnedi­
1 2 ed tlJxd5 1 3 tlJe4 .i.f5 14 ately, based on his own long­
'ii'c2 c6 1 5 h3 tlJgf6 1 6 tlJg3 standing experience. The en­
.i.e6 1 7 a5 i.. a7 l S :xe5 Black counter Ljubojevié-Furman, Por­
loses a pawn, La:!ié-Lejlié, Kla­ toro:!/Ljubljana 1 975, featured
dovo 1 990. 12 � h6 1 3 :el :es 14 h3
10 ..• tlJg6 .i.e6 15 lt:Ja5 :bs 16 :ae2 ltJh5
Retreating the Bishop to a 7 79

17 lt:Je3 ..txe3 1 8 l:Ixe3 lt:Jf4 and opportunities, as with his next


Black achieved a decent posi­ moves Ljubojevié deprives his
tion. opponent of every last illusion.
If 12 l!el, then 12 . . . ..te6 is 21 g3 ! ..th7 22 h4! l'!f7 23
also possible. ¡vhs Itaf8 24 d4
12 ..te6 Having limited Black's coun­
13 ..txa7 l:txa7 terplay, White moves on to the
14 �el l!a8 attaek.
lS lia2 h6 24.. ,¡f'e7
16 l:td2 lt:Jh7?! Black must go on the defen­
In this situation, this move sive, as the endgarne possible
does not work, as exchanging after: 24 .. .'ii'f3 is much worse for
minor pieces leads to an end­ Black: 25 'ii'xf3 !!xf3 26 h5 and,
game which favours White. after the knight retreat, 27 de.
16 ... l:te8 17 lt:Je3 d5 conforms 2S 'ii'g4 'i'f6 26 ¡f'dt
better to the spirit of developing With the aim of regrouping by
the bishop to e6. means of 27 lt:Jg4 and 28 h5 with
17 lt:Je3 lt:JgS the threat of d4xe5. Therefore
18 lt:JxgS ¡f'xgS Black is forced to give up the
19 ..txe6 fe centre.
20 ¡f'g4 (D) 26 ... ed 27 cd eS 28 lt:JdS 'it'e6
Otherwise after 28 .. .'iWd8 29
h5 lt:Jh8 30 de de 3 1 lt:Je3 White
would be in charge of the d-file.
29 hS lt:Je7
In the event of 29 . . . lt:Jh8
White would have increased his
initiative by means of 30 de
'ii'xe5 3 1 f4, but this was Black's
best chance.
30 lt:Jxc7 'i'h3 31 de de 32
l!e3 lt:Jc6 33 lt:JdS g6 34 hg+
..txg6 3S f4 ..th7 36 .l:Ih2 'i'e6
37 fS 'it'd6 38 g4 �g8 39 l:teh3
20 ... 'ii'f6 lt:Jd4 40 ..tf2 ligS 41 'i'hl l-0
Black avoids the endgame
which arises after 20... 'it'xg4 2 1 Game 25
lt:Jxg4, as i t promises him only Yudasin-Mi.Tseitlin
passive defence and the hope of Moscow 1989
making use of the pressure on
the half-open f-file. But it seems 1 e4 eS 2 lt:Jf3 lt:Jc6 3 ..tc4
that soon he will regret his lost .tes 4 c3 lt:Jf6 S b4 ..tb6 6 d3 d6
80 Retreating the Bishop to a7

7 a4 a6 8 0-0 0-0 (D) tack on Black characterized the


game.
11 ..ig3 ..ig4
12 aS
Taking into account the expe­
rience from the game Yudasin­
Yusupov, USSR Ch (Moscow)
1988, where after 12 h3 ..ihS 1 3
l?Jbd2 c;ith8 ( 1 3. . ...ig6!? is also
interesting, with the idea of
... l?Jh5) 1 4 'iib3 aS (here as well
it was worth paying serious at­
tention to organizing an attack
on the kingside after 14 ... .li.g6 ! ?,
9 ..igS freeing h5 for the manoeuvre
In spite of a great deal of ...l?Jh5-f4 followed by ... 'iif6 and
negative experience, the number moving the pawn to h5) 1 5 b5
of fans of this pin has not dimin­ l?Je7 16 .l:tfe 1 'iie8 17 d4 l?Jg6 1 8
ished. This game also illumi­ .li.h2 l:Df4 Black i s the more ac-
nates the problem which faces tive.
Whlte. In the light of ensuing 12 .li.a7
events, it will be useful to famil­ 13 h3 .li.hS
iarize ourselves with Ehlvest­ 14 l?Jbd2 .li.g6!
Portisch, Skelleftea 1989, when 1S 'iib3 l?JhS
Black declined his traditional 16 ..th2 l?Jf4
plan of a pawn attack on the 17 bS ab
kingside: 9 aS ..ia7 10 ..ig5 l:De7 18 'iixbS (D)
1 1 ..ixf6 gf 12 l:Dh4 l?Jg6 1 3
'ii'hs 'itth 8, and gained a better
position, where White's best
means in the fight for equality
lay in further simplification with
14 l:Dxg6 fg.
9 ... h6
10 ..i h4 gS!
The counter-pin 10 ....ig4?!
.

after 1 1 aS ..ia7 12 h3 ..ihS 1 3


g4 only helps i n giving Black
problerns. For example, in Be­
lov-Landa, Chita 1987, after
1 3 ... g5? ! 1 4 l:Dxg5 ! hg 1 5 ..ixg5 After 18 .li.xbS Black could
..ig6 16 'iif3 <t;g7 17 h4 the at- continue 1 8 ...'iie7 1 9 a6 l:.ab8.
Retreating the Bishop to a7 81

In spite of all his cunning moves, It would have been better to


White all the same turns out to run the pair of pawns with 32 d5,
have a defensive role. as now Black succeeds in getting
18 ... lLlxa5! the king into the game.
Black is apparently shown to 32 ... 'iit>f8 33 4Jd7+ 'iit>e7 34
have attained too little after lLlb6 .tla3
18 ...4Je2+ 1 9 �h 1 lLlxc3 20 Activity above all. After
�xb7 lLld4 2 1 lLld4 .i.xd4 22 34 ... Íta6 35 c7 .i.b7 36 .i.dS
tLlf3 eS 23 lLlxd4 cd and he pre­ �d6 37 .i.xb7 White is still
fers a bird (a pawn!) in the hand holding on.
to two in the bush. 35 c7 .i.f5?
19 .i.xf4 gf Does it make any difference
20 'ii'xa5 from which square Black con­
Attempting to bring irration­ trols the pawn promotion? Sur­
ality into what was not so long prisingly, it turns out that it does!
ago a somewhat mundane posi­ If Black had predicted White's
tion changes the fate of events. reply, he would of course have
20....i.xf2+ 21 <it>xf2 J::txa5 22 found the correct path, 35 .i.b7!
.•.

J::txa5 c6 23 J::tfa1 d5 24 ed 36 .i.dS <itd6 37 .txb7 <itxc7.


As Tseitlin considered, 24 After the text move, the situation
.i.b3 de 25 de would have been alters unexpectedly, and Black
more stubbom, although here as must already think about saving
well after 25 ... �6+ 26 �fl the game .
.i.xe4 Black would have pre­ 36 .i.d1!
served a genuine advantage. Like a bucket of cold water!
24 ... b5 25 .i.b3 �b6+ The threat is 37 .i.g4.
After 25 ... .i.xd3 White would 36...:a2+ 37 'iit>O 'iit>d6?
have displayed sorne activity Black missed White's 4 1st
with 26 J::ta6 e4 27 lLle5. move. After 37 ... J::ta6 38 c8�
26 d4 e4 27 l:1a6 �d8 28 de! .i.xc8 39 tLlxc8+ �d8 the knight
ef 29 4Jxt3 .i.e4 is trapped, and the game is
Now it seems that the passed probably drawn.
c6-pawn should decide the 38 c8'ii' .i.xc8 39 tLlxc8+ �d7
game, but it's not so easy. After 39... 'iit>c7 40 lLle7 �d7
30 J::ta8! 'ii'xa8 41 tiJdS �d6 42 lLlf4 the knight
Forced. After 30... 'ii'd6 White returns to its own camp.
could continue 3 1 lLleS b4 32 40 tiJb6+ <it>c6 41 tiJd5!
lLlxt7, whilst if 30 ...'ii'f6? the c­ This is the point - the rook
pawn rushes through to queen turns out to be on a fatal spot and
(3 1 l:txf8+ <itxf8 32 J::ta8+ <itg7 the knight is saved.
33 c7). 41 ..l:ta3 42 <it>e4 'iit>d6 43
.

31 l:.xa8 l:txa8 32 4Je5 .i.O! 1-0


82 Retreating the Bishop to a 7

Game 26 here: 10 lt:Jbd2 lt:Je7 1 1 ..ib3 c6


Yudasin-Granda 12 a5 ..ic7 1 3 d4. The Black
Madrid 1992 should avoid 13 ...ed 14 cd d5
since White can then organize an
1 e4 eS 2 lt:Jf3 lt:Jc6 3 ..ic4 attack on the kingside: 1 5 e5
.tes 4 c3 lt:Jf6 S d3 0-0 6 b4 ltJh7 16 ltJfl lDf5 17 ..ic2 l:te8
..ib6 7 a4 a6 1 8 ltJg3 ! ltJxg3 19 hg ltJf8 20
8 0-0 (D) ltJh4 f6 2 1 f4 Sermek-Peicheva,
Groningen 1 993.
10 ... ..ia7
1 1 h3 ltJe7
ll ...ie6 or ll l:r.e8, prepar-
.. ...

ing ... d5, corresponds more to


the spirit of the move ... h6.
12 ..ib3
A necessary precaution. In the
event of 12 ltJbd2 or 12 d4
Black can prepare ... d5 with gain
of tempo.
12 ltJg6
13 d4! (D)
8 ... h6! ?
A very useful move. Black
prevents the pin ..ig5, which is
possible after 8...d6. If White
plays 9 lle l , then Black can fol­
low the same plan as in the
game, or get ready to deflect the
bishop to c7 to prepare a subse­
quent ... d5, 9 ... lt:Je7 10 lt:Jbd2 c6,
as was examined in the notes to
the 1Oth move of the previous
game. For example, A.Nikitin­
Morozevich, Jurmala 1 992, con­
tinued 1 1 ..ib3 lt:Jg6 12 a5 ..ic7 13 ..• 'We7
1 3 lt:Jfl ..ie6 14 d4 ..ixb3 1 5 White has totally fulfilled his
'ii'xb3 d5 1 6 lt:Jxe5 lt:Jxe4 1 7 f3 programme for the opening, and
lt:Jd6 1 8 l:ta2 'ifh4 with a double­ has gained a spatial advantage,
edged game. forcing Black to resign himself
9 l:te1 d6 to hopes of playing the freeing
10 aS move ... d5 when the time is
White has another possibility right.
Retreating the Bishop to a 7 83

Alongside the text move,


13...l1e8 is also played. As an
example of the possibilities we
shall examine Sermek-Zso.Pol­
gar, Ljubljana 1 994, which con­
tinued 14 i.c2 i.d7 1 5 i.e3 'i'c8
1 6 lt:Jbd2 ..t>h8 1 7 ..t>h2 ed 1 8 cd
lt:Je7 1 9 l:tb 1 i.c6 20 l:tc l ! i.b5
(after 20...'ili'd7 White should
continue 2 1 d5 i.b5 22 i.xa7
l:txa7 23 lt:Jd4, with an advan­
tage) 2 1 .ib3 d5 (2 1 . . . ..t>g8 al­
lows a breakthrough in the cen­
tre: 22 e5 de 23 lt:Jxe5 lt:Jed5 24 Here too, there is sorne risk in
'ili'f3 with dangerous threats) 22 Black playing . . . d5. The follow­
lt:Je5 l:.f8 (if 22 .....t>g8, then 23 ed ing variation eloquently bears
lt:Jexd5 24 lt:Jxf7 ! ..t>xf7 25 i.xd5 witness to this: 16 ...i.xd4 17 cd
lt:Jxd5 26 'ili'h5+ is decisive) 23 d5 1 8 e5 lt:Je4 1 9 lt:Jbd2 lt:Jxc3 20
'ili'f3 'ili'e6 24 ed 'iid6? ! (she 'ili'c 1 'ili'xb4 2 1 e6 .ib5 22 ef+
should have chosen 24...lt:Jfxd5 ! ..t>xf7 23 i.xg6+ ..t>xg6 24 'ii'c2+
25 lhc7 .ib8 26 lhe7 'ili'xe7 27 ..t>f7 25 lt:Je5+ or 25 'ili'h7 with a
'ili'xd5) 25 i.f4 'ili'b4? (Black dangerous attack (Yudasin).
does not make use of her final 17 lt:Jbd2 lt:Jh7
chance: 25 ...lt:Jfxd5 26 lt:Jxf7+ 18 i.a4!
l:txf7 27 i.xd6 :.xf3 28 i.xe7 An excellent move, exchang­
:.xf2) 26 l:tc7 lt:Jg6 27 .ih6! and ing off not only the piece which
White soon won. is attacking the h3-pawn (linked
14 i.c2! .id7 with the threat of ... lt:Jf4 or
15 .ie3 ed! ...lt:Jg5), but also the main de­
A timely exchange, otherwise fender of the light squares (in
White would have played 1 6 particular f5).
lt:Jbd2 and then taken on d4 with 18 ... .ixa4
the pawn. 19 'ili'xa4 tt:Jf4
16 i.xd4 (D) 19...lt:Jg5 is more flexible: 20
Now after 16 cd?! Black .ixa7 l:.xa7 2 1 :.e3 ! (or 2 1
could played 16 ... lt:Jxe4. But 16 lt:Jxg5 hg!) 2 1 ...l:.aa8.
lt:Jxd4 also deserved attention, as 20 .ixa7 l:txa7
16...lt:Jxe4? 17 i.xh6 gh 1 8 21 eS! dS?
.ixe4 is n o good, whilst Black is a prisoner of the illu­
16 ...l:.fe8 1 7 lt:Jd2 gives White sion that he will be able to dis­
the better chances. play sorne activity by playing
16 ••• :.res ...lt:Jg5, which White will dispel
84 Retreating the Bishop to a 7

on the very next move. He After 35 . . . 'iVa7, 36 lLJxf7 ! is


should have sunk deep into de­ decisive.
fence with 2 1 . . .de 22 �xe5 lLJe6.
22 h4! tt:Jf8 23 g3 lLJ4e6 24 Game 27
.f!ad1 r:.aa8 2S tt:Jfl e6 26 lbe3 Gelfand-Shirov
hS Munich 1993
An unpleasant choice. Black
decides that the knight on f5 is 1 e4 eS 2 tbt3 tbe6 3 ..1c4
not as dangerous as on g4, where tiJf6 4 d3 .tes S e3 0-0
it is heading in the event of The normal continuation here
26 . . . g6. is S... d6, but in this line Black
27 lLJfS 'iie7 28 'iYe2! (D) plans a more active role for this
pawn.
6 b4 ..1b6
7 a4
Befare castling, it is danger­
ous to occupy oneself with pawn
activity such as 7 bS tiJaS 8
tbxe5 in view of the energetic
8 . . . d5.
But after 7 0-0 a6 (parrying
the threat of 8 b5) we have a
position which arose with a
transposition of moves in Short­
Korchnoi, Belgrade 1 987, which
The queen is aiming at the illuminates our theme well. It
kingside. continued 8 tbbd2 dS 9 ed
28 f!ed8
•.. tbxdS 10 'iVb3 (D):
28 . . . c5 29 lLJd6 l:.ed8 walks
into 30 'iVfS .
29 lLJd6 g6 30 e4! de 31 'iixe4
eS
A desperate attempt to do
something. Otherwise after l:.d3,
I:ted l and lLJe4-f6 Black would
have succurnbed to the attack.
32 l:tcl 'iie6 33 l:!e3! lLJd7 34
be 'i'xeS
34 . . . lLJdxc5 does not prevent
the attack either: 35 lLJg5 ! lLJxg5
36 hg lLJe6 37 'iVb3, etc.
3S 'iVb3! 1-0 a) Now maintaining the knight
Retreating the Bishop to a7 85

on d5 does not succeed, as 9 ed lbxdS


Short's analysis demonstrates: 10 'iib3 (D)
10 ... i.e6? 1 1 lbe4 f6 1 2 lbfg5 !
fg 1 3 lbxg5 i.xf2+ 14 ltxf2
ltxf2 1 5 lbe6! 'ii'h4 1 6 .ig5 !
l:.xg2+ 17 'iitxg2 'ir'g4+ 1 8 'iiif2
with a wmrung posttton:
1 3 ... l:.xf2 14 l:.xf2 i.xf2+ 1 5
'iith 1 ! b5 1 6 lbxe6 be 1 7 de also
favours White.
b) 10 ... lbf4 1 1 d4! ? (opening
up the centre so ear1y has its pit­
falls, one of which is the un­
steady position of the e5-pawn,
which allows White to unfold
the position with an advantage: As was noted above, opening
1 1 lbe4 is less effective, after up the centre early has its disad­
which Black can conclude his vantages, as it allows White to
development painlessly with develop active piece play. An
1 l ...lbe2+ 12 �h1 lbxc l 1 3 energetic attack along the a2-g8
11axc l i.g4!) 1 1 ...i.e6? (this diagonal forces the knight to
allows White to carry out an abandon its central position, as
striking combination; Black had in contrast to the previous ex­
to play 1 l ...ed 1 2 lbe4 lbe6, al­ ample Black cannot organize
though after 1 3 i.b2 de 14 'ii'xc3 himself after 10...lbf4? 1 1 i.xf4
White's initiative is more than ef 12 a5 i.a7 13 d4 with a clear
enough compensation for the pawn superiority on the queen­
sacrificed pawn) 12 de lbxe5 1 3 side, whilst defending the knight
lbxe5 'tlfg5 14 g 3 lbe2+ 1 5 with 10 ... .ie6 1 1 lbg5 h6 12
i.xe2! i.xb3 1 6 lbdf3 'i'i'f6 lbxe6 fe leads to the creation of
(White has gained three pieces doubled pawns, which will be
for the queen, which is enough to blocked after the manoeuvre
win the game: here too 1 6. . .'ii'e7 lbf3-d2-e4.
would have been insufficient: 17 10 lbf6
ab f6 1 8 i.c4+ �h8 1 9 lbd3) 1 7 11 lbgS 'iie8
ab l:tae8 1 8 i.f4 h6 1 9 i.c4 g5 12 4Jd2 h6
20 lbg4 'ifxc3 2 1 lbxh6+ 'iitg7 13 lbge4 lbhS (D)
22 lbxg5 'ii'xb4 23 lbhxf7 i.d4 Stabilizing the pawn structure
24 l:.ad1 'ifc3 25 ltd3 'i'ih2 26 with 13 ...lbxe4 14 de does not
i.c1 ! i.xf2+ 27 �g2 'iia 1 1 -0. guarantee Black equality, as it
7 a6 grants White the possibility of
8 0-0 dS piece play on the light squares,
86 Retreating the Bishop to a7

for example 1 4. . .<it>h8 15 il.d3 passed pawn on c7 will be too


il.e6 16 'i'c2 l:td8 17 tbc4, etc. dangerous: 18 .l:tb1 (or 1 8 ...l:a6
•.

1 9 be 'i'e7 20 'i'c5 ! ) 1 9 be 'i'e7


20 'iib6 tbf4 2 1 il.xf4 .:.Xfl + 22
<it>xfl ef 23 lbbc5, etc.
19 l:txcl tbf4
Of course, it is tempting to
mobilize the knight with a tempo
by attacking the rook, but in fact
all this does is activates the rook
as well. 19 .. .'i'd8 would have
been more practical.
20 l:b1 'ith7?
This is a blunder, based on
Shirov's indomitable thirst for
14 aS the initiative. He should not have
The position is taking on a allowed a 'rogue' to be created,
dynamic character, and therefore but should have submitted to
the primary plan should involve 20. . .'i'd8 2 1 lbbc5 �h8 22 be
piece activity. By beginning an 'iixc7 23 'iib6, although the ini­
attack on the queenside, Gelfand tiative remains with White.
does not wish to give Shirov, a 21 be fS 22 tbg3 hS 23 d4! ed
lover of sharp positions, the 24 tbxd4 h4 2S tbge2 tbxe2+ 26
chance to seize the initiative at il.xe2 l:tf7 27 il.t3 .:.xe7?
the price of the exchange: 14 Now he loses the f5-pawn
it.a3 tbf4 15 b5 tba5 16 'iic2 without any compensation what­
tbxc4 1 7 de (after 1 7 tbc4 Black soever. It would have been better
should also continue 17 .. .f5 1 8 to activate the rook with
.Yt.xf8 fe) 1 7. . .f5 ! 1 8 il.xf8 fe 1 9 27 . . .l:te7 ! 28 'it>fl 'i'd7, although
it.b4 il.h3 ! with excellent coun­ after 29 il.xc6 be 30 'i'c5! 'ilxc7
terplay. 3 1 tbf3 White would have pre­
14 il.a7 served his advantage.
1S bS ab 28 tbxfS il.xfS 29 'i'xfS+ 'iig6
16 'iixbS il.b6 30 'i'e4 'iixe4 31 il.xe4+ g6 32
Practically forcing White to o 'it>h6 33 � ttJes 34 .:.bs
sacrifice the exchange, but, it lt would have been more natu­
must be said, he gets quite ral to centralize the king with 34
enough compensation. 'it>e3.
17 ab! l:txa1 34...tbe4 3S .U.xb7 .:teS 36
18 lbb3 l:txcl l:tb4 h3 37 gh?
He must return the exchange, A placid move. Gelfand ap­
as otherwise the creation of a parently thought the ending was
Retreating the Bishop to a7 87

winning comfortably, based on a rook ending, 38 'it>e3 lLlxe4 39 fe


difference of opinion of the rela­ .l::i.xc3+ is drawing.
tive superiority of rook and 38 ...l:.xc3 39 1.td4 :c6 40 'it>e3
bishop compared to rook and tLlb3 41 l:tdS lLlcS 42 .i.bS l:te6+
knight, but he does not take into 43 'it>f2 lLlb7 44 h4 l2Jd6 45 .i.d7
account the fact that his pawn .l::i.f6 46 .i.g4 l2Je8 47 hS gS 48
structure is fragmented into is­ l::td8 l2Jd6 49 'it>e3
lands, heightening the potential Gelfand thinks the last chance
possibilities of the knight. to extract something from the
After 37 g4 lLld2 he should position was with the sequence
have given back the pawn, but 49 .l:th8+ <li;g7 so .:as <li;h6 5 1
the rook ending turns out to give .l::i.a5 l2Je8 52 'it>g3, followed by
Black no chances at all: 38 l:td4 h4.
lLlxe4+ 39 l:txe4 :xc3 40 'it>g3. 49...l2Jf5+ SO 'it>e4 lLlh4 51
37...l2Jd2! 38 .i.d3 'it>eS .:tf4 52 .l::i.d3 'it>g7 53 l:.a3
As distinct from the previous 'it>h6 54 l:a6+ 1/z- 1/z
7 Counterattacki ng with 7 . . . aS

The vanat10n with counter­ is also employed, with the aim of


activity by the a-pawn is quite a indirectly making use of the in­
reliable weapon in Black's arse­ fluence over the a3-f8 diagonal
nal: 7 . . . a5 8 b5 tbe7 9 0-0 0-0 to attain favourable pawn pres­
(D). sure in the centre, which arises
after d3-d4.
Periodically you also see the
plan of pinning the knight with
10 �g5.

Game 28
Mestel-Greenfeld
Beersheba 1988

1 e4 eS 2 tbf3 tbc6 3 �c4


�eS 4 c3 tbf6 S b4 �b6 6 d3 d6
7 a4
(7 0-0 0-0 8 a4 a5 9 b5 tbe7
Black stops the a-pawn at the was the actual move order in the
cost of allowing the move b4-b5 , game.)
after which the a5-pawn be­ 7 ... aS
comes a definite weakness, 8 bS tbe7
which makes itself felt when the This retreat is made almost
knight is transferred to c4 with automatically, but it is worth
the development 1 O tbbd2 tbg6, thinking about 8 ...tbb8 with the
and now 1 1 �b3 or 1 1 �a2. idea of ... tbbd7.
Black is practically forced to 9 0-0 0-0
react with 1 1 . . .c6, which has 10 �b3
many aims - undermining the One of the traditional plans -
b5-pawn, and preparing both a the bishop concedes its place to
place for the bishop and the the knight. For 10 tbbd2 see the
freeing move . . . d6-d5. A plan of next game.
developing the dark-squared The Giuoco Piano plan of pre­
bishop to the flank with 1 1 �a3 paring d3-d4 after 10 h3 tbg6 1 1
Counterattacking with 7... a5 89

l:tel it is not as effective in this l:r.e8 13 ed ltJxd5 14 lDe4 ltJdf4


system, as Black outstrips White 1 5 ltJfg5 .te6 16 tLlxe6 ltJxe6 1 7
in developing an initiative on the g 3 and his chances are prefer­
kingside. Here are sorne exam­ able, Ljubojevié-Korchnoi, Brus­
ples: sels 1987.
a) ll ....te6 1Z .taZ ltJh5 1 3 12 be
d 4 ttJhf4 1 4 'ith2 'llff6 1 5 .te3 The manoeuvre 12 .ta3?!
�ad8 1 6 ltJbdZ .txaZ 1 7 l:r.xaZ l:r.e8 13 ltJc4 .tc7 only helps the
d5 and Black has an active posi­ d-pawn to move, for example 14
tion, Lau-Weluneier, Lippstadt ltJe3 d5 15 ¡vcZ h6 16 l:r.fe 1 .te6
1 993. 17 l:r.ad 1 'tlfd7 with an excellent
b) ll ...e6 1 Z .tb3 l:r.e8 13 be game for Black, Dolmatov­
be 1 4 ltJa3 d5 1 5 ed (after 1 5 Goldin, lrkutsk 1 986, whilst af­
.i.g5 the pawn sacrifice looks ter 14 be be a position arises out
reasonable: 1 5 ... h6! ? 1 6 .txf6 of Hjartarson-G.Georgadze, Til­
,.xf6 1 7 ed ltJf4) 1 5 . . . ttJxd5 16 burg 1 993, which continued 15
lbc4 i.c7 17 ltJg5 l:r.b8 ! 18 ltJe3 ¡fez .tg4 1 6 ltJg5 d5 1 7 ltJe3
h6 with a great game for Black, .th5 ! 1 8 ltJf5 h6 19 ttJf3 ltJf4
Tolnai-I.Sokolov, Croatia 1 993. and Black developed a danger­
e) ll ...h6 1Z .tb3 l:r.e8 1 3 ous initiative.
¡vez ltJh5 14 .te3 ltJhf4 15 12 d4 is more principled here,
.i.xb6 cb 16 l:r.e3 d5 1 7 .txd5 for example 1Z ... .tg4 1 3 .tbZ d5
lbxd5 1 8 ed 'tlfxd5 and Black has 14 h3 de 1 5 ltJxe4 i.f5 ! 16 ltJg3
an easy game, Sofieva­ and White maintains sorne ini­
lbragimov, St.Petersburg 1 994. tiative, Nunn-Winants, Brussels
10 ltJg6 1 988.
1 1 ltJbd2 e6 (D) 12 be
13 d4 .tg4
14 'ii'e2 (D)

The thrust ll ...dS helps the


white pieces to mobilize: 1 Z .ta3
90 Counterattacking with 7. . . a5

14 ... tbf4 a temptation which must be re­


Sacrificing a pawn for the ini­ sisted in view of 25 . . .tbh3+) 25
tiative. 14 ... l::tb8 is not bad ei­ 'i\Yxd2 tbh3+ 26 'it>g2 'ilYxd2 27
ther. 'it>xh3 l:lb8 and as a result of the
1S de de combination an unusual distri­
16 tbxeS! jte2 bution of pieces arises, which is
17 tbdf3 roughly even, although the queen
Of course, not 17 l:te1? be­ has moral superiority.
cause of 1 7 . . . jtxf2+! 1 8 'it>xf2 But White by this stage had no
'tib6+. choice, and after his blunder the
17 ... ltJ6hS! game continued . . .
One good turn deserves an­
other. Black augments the threat
by not being tempted by the ex­
change, as after 17...jtxfl 1 8
jtxf4 jtf6 1 9 tbg5 the initiative
transfers to White.
18 l:te1 jtxf3
19 tbxf3 'i\Yd7
The queen is trying to attack
the g2-square. 19 ...'ilYf6?! is not
dangerous because of 20 e5 !
tbh3+ 2 1 'it>fl .
20 tbeS 'ilYd8!
With the same precautionary 24 jtxf2+
theme, there is also the less 2S 'it>h1 jtxg3!
flexible 20...'ili'e7 2 1 tbd3 ! . 26 l:tg1
21 lbc4 There is a sad alternative: 26
lt was possibly worth repeat- hg 'i\Yxg3 27 'ii'c2 'ilYh3+ 28 'it>g 1
ing moves with 21 tbf3 'i\Yd7. l:td3, and White has no defence.
21 'i\YgS 26 'i\Ye7!
22 jtxf4 tbxf4 27 'i\Yc2 l:td3
23 g3 (D) 28 eS jtxh2!
23 l:tad8! 29 1lg2 jtg3
After 23 tbh3+?! 24 'it>g2
•.• 30 'it>g1 'ilYh4
tbf4+ 25 'it>h 1 'iYg4 the king es­ 0-1
capes: 26 gf 'ilYf3+ 27 'it>g 1
'Vi'g4+ 28 'it>fl 'ii'h 3+ 29 'it>e2. Game 29
24 'ii'c l?? lvanchuk-Khalifman
The bishop sacrifice played by Reggio Emilia 1992
Greenfeld is of course not gratui­
tous: 24 lbxb6 l:td2! (25 'i'cl is 1 e4 eS 2 tbt3 tbc6 3 jtc4
Counterattacking with 7. .. a5 91

.i.cS 4 c3 lbf6 5 b4 .i.b6 6 d3 d6 mund 1 979) 12 ... bc 13 d4 l:1e8 (it


7 a4 aS 8 b5 lbe7 9 0-0 0-0 would be interesting to test
10 lbbd2 lbg6 (D) 13 . . . d5 ! ?) 14 de (or 14 l:1e1 d5
with even chances) 14 . . . lt:Jxe5 1 5
lbxe5 de with approximate
equality, Psakhis-Schüssler, Lu­
gano 1 988.
The continuation 11 .i.b3, ex­
amined in the previous game,
Mestel-Greenfeld, has roughly
the same idea.
After 11 'ii'b3, diverting the
queen to the queenside makes it
easier for Black to create play on
the opposite flank, for example
11 .i.g4 1 2 h3 .i.h5 1 3 lt:Jh2
...

11 .i.a3 lbf4 1 4 lt:Jdf3 lt:Je2+ 1 5 'it>h1


This move, aimed at prevent­ lbxc 1 1 6 l:1axc l with even
ing Black's counterplay with chances, Torre-Tukmakov, Len­
. . . c6 and . . . d5, reflects one posi­ ingrad 1 987, although here
tion of contemporary chess phi­ 1 1 lbh5 is more principled: 1 2
...

losophy, that of preventing d4 �f6 1 3 .i.a3 l:1e8 14 l:1fe 1


threats at their origin. lt:Jhf4 and White must think
Another direction for the about Black's threats, Yudasin­
game is attached to the bishop Malaniuk, Simferopol 1988.
retreat, which aims to free c4 for 11 ... lt:JhS
the knight: 1 1 .i.a2. Here are The theory of this position is
sorne examples: subject to an unceasing quest.
a) 1 1 .ltg4 1 2 h3 ..1h5 1 3
... Black has settled on an obvious
�c2 lbf4 1 4 'it>h2 g5 ! 1 5 lbg 1 g4 continuation, organizing a direct
and Black has good counterplay, attack on the kingside from a
Mestel-Pinter, Las Palmas IZ base on f4.
1 982. Another direction of Black's
b) 11 c6 12 be (it is also
... search, involving neutralizing
worth looking at an immediate the a3-bishop, can be examined
12 d4, whilst delaying play in the in the practice of one of the out­
centre makes it easier for Black standing specialists of games
to organize himself on the king­ with similar pawn structures,
side: 1 2 .i.a3 l:1e8 1 3 'ii'c2 .i.c7 GM Yudasin.
1 4 l:.fe 1 lbh5 15 d4 lbhf4 1 6 a) 1 1 h6?! (in this situation
...

l:1ab 1 'ii'f6 with sufficient coun­ this precaution gives White time
terplay, Miles-Nikolac, Dort- for the manoeuvre lt:Jd2-c4) 1 2
92 Counterattacking with 7.. a5 .

.ta2 l:te8 1 3 lLle4 .teS 1 4 .txeS the Russian master V.lvanov,


de 1 S 'ii'd 2! ii.g4 16 'iie 3, and who after 17 f4 'ii'xe3 assesses
after exehanging off the impor­ the position as unclear, but the
tant bishop he has better pros­ Icelandic Grandmaster's next
peets, Yudasin- Velitka, Tallinn move ehanges the assesm s ent in
1 992. White's favour) 17 .tdS! (D)
b) ll ...liJd7 12 .ta2! 'ilff6 1 3 (with this temporary pawn saeri­
lLle4 .teS ? ! (Yudasin reeom­ fiee White mobilizes bis pieees
mends 1 3 . . . lLleS) 14 .tc l ! (the signifieantly, and Blaek is prae­
bishop returns with the idea of tieally foreed to seek simplifiea­
pinning from gS) 14 . . .h6 1 S d4 tion) .
.tb6 1 6 .te3 l:te8 (neither
1 6 . . . 'ii'e7 1 7 l:te 1 ed 1 8 .txd4 nor
1 6 . . .lLlf4 1 7 g3 is any good) 1 7
'ii'e2 ! liJf4 1 8 'ii'd2 ! with an ad­
vantage to White, Yudasin­
Antunes, Seville 1 992.
e) ll ...'ile7 12 l:le 1 .teS 1 3
.txeS de 1 4 'ii'b3 l:d8 1 S l:.ad 1
liJd7 16 'i1ia3 lLlb6 1 7 l:.e3 lLle4
1 8 lLle4 b6 with a eomplex
game, Yudasin-Mikhalevsky,
Beersheba 1 993.
d) We should add that after
l l ...c6? ! 1 2 .ta2 ! J:le8 a position 17 . . .'iVxe3 1 8 tLle4 liJgS 1 9
arises from the game Miles­ .tb2 .th3+ 20 'it>h 1 'ii'f3+ 2 1
Nikolae, whieh was examined in 'ii'xf3 lLlxf3 22 lLlxb6 cb 23 l;lfcl
the previous note. J:lae8 and here instead of 24
12 d4 .ta3? ! tLleS ! with the threat of
Naturally not 12 lUxeS? lUxeS . . . tLld3, which would have al­
1 3 'ii'xhS .tg4, losing the queen. lowed Black to eonsolidate his
12 ... lLlhf4 position, Hjartarson thinks that
13 �el White eould have maintained bis
This move allows an unpleas­ advantage by playing 24 .tb7!
ant pin. A stronger plan, of l::.eS ! ? (the exchange sacrifiee is
pushing aside the demanding a relatively better ehanee: after
lmight, was demonstrated later in 24 . . .lhc1 + 2S .l::txc 1 liJeS 26 l:te7
Hjartarson-Short, Manila OL lLld3 27 .td4 liJeS 28 .txeS ! de
1992 - 13 de! lUxeS 14 tLlxeS 29 i.dS White is totally domi­
'ii'gS 1S g3 lLlh3+ 16 'it>g2 l'ixeS nant) 2S .ta3 liJd4 26 .txeS de
(until now White had been fol­ 27 .tdS l:td8 28 f4 'it>f8 29 l:a2
lowing the reeommendation of with realistic ehanees for White.
Counterattackíng with 7. . . a5 93

13 .tg4 must be returned - 22 'i!Vg 1


14 h3?! .td8+ 23 lt:Jg5 'ii'h6+ 24 �g3
Only an optimist would set il.xg5, or the attack will con-
himself on fire in a situation like tinue.
this. 20 ... 'iVg6 (D)
14 ... .txh3!
Just so! After 14 lt:Jxh3+ 1 5
.•.

gh .txh3 16 .l::te3 followed by


lt:Jf3-h2, White can get into de­
fensive mode, whilst in the event
of the bishop being withdrawn
with 14 ... i.h5, after 1 5 .tfl in­
lending g3, White can fortify the
kingside.
15 gh lt:Jxh3+ (D)

A picturesque position ! De­


fence is by no means easy. For
example, if White now plays 21
lt:Jh4 Black continues to sneak
up on the king like a cat:
2 1 . . .lt:Jh5+ 22 'it;f3 'Wg5.
21 'Wh4 lt:Jh5+
22 �g2 lt:Je3+
23 �f2 lt:Jg2
A mundane fork, and Black
16 <it>h2! will have the pawn for dessert in
Using one of Steinitz's theo­ the event of 24 'i!Vg5 'ii'xg5 25
ries - the king can look after lt:Jxg5 lt:Jxe1 26 lbe1 ed. But
hirnself! In the event of 16 �fl lvanchuk is made of stemer
'ii'f6 1 7 'it'b3 lt:Jgf4 1 8 .l::tec l 'ii'g6 stuff.
an attack develops of its own 24 'Wh2! lt:Jxe1
accord. 25 .l::t xe1 lt:Jf6
16 lt:Jxf2 26 'Wg2 .l::tfe8
17 'ii'e2 lt:Jg4+ Black has managed to parry
18 'it>g3 lt:Jf4 the attack (26 ... lt:Jg4+ 27 �e2)
19 'ii'fl 'ii'f6! and is quite prepared for an end­
20 'ii'h 1 game with an unusual correlation
If the knight is captured - 20 of forces.
�xg4? 'ii'g6+ 2 1 �h4 c5 ! , it 27 'Wxg6 hg
94 Counterattacking with 7. . . a5

28 ..tb3 (D) .tes 4 e3 ltJf6 S b4 ..tb6 6 d3 d6


7 a4 aS 8 bS l:De7 9 0-0 0-0
10 ..tgs (D)

28 ... dS?
For the whole game Black has
been playing actively, but his As both sides have castled,
passion has subsided, and now this move, connected with the
he needs a clear head: 28 . . . ed 29 following knight manoeuvre, is
cd l:Iad8 was safe. quite logical, as after sorne
29 ed ed 30 l::t.xe8+ 1lxe8 31 pieces have been exchanged,
ed l:Id8 32 d6! with a stable central situation,
The value of the extra material the bishop on c4 has better pros­
lies in the fact that it can be re­ pects than its opponent on the
turned with advantage. adjacent diagonal.
32...ed 33 ltJe4 ..te7 34 b6 10 ... ltJg6
.ll b8 3S ltJxaS l:td7 36 dS! The preparatory move 10...e6
A trapped bishop is a sorry is also possible. In Sermek­
sight. Wehmeier, Groningen 1 993,
36 ...ltJe4+ 37 �g2 ltJeS 38 White gained nothing of any
..td1 fte7 39 ltJe6! be substance after 1 1 be be 12 .lla2
39. . . l;Ie8 would have been ltJg6 1 3 ltJh4 ltJf4 14 .llxf4 ef 1 5
more stubbom. ltJf3 ..tg4 1 6 ltJbd2 d5 1 7 e5
40 de ltJa6 41 ltJd4 l:Ie4 42 ltJd7, but maybe he should not
..te2 l;Ixd4 43 ..txa6 l;Id2+ 44 have hurried to exchange on f4.
� l:.e2 4S ..tbS �f8 46 aS 1-0 11 ltJh4 (D)
11 ... ..tg4
Game 30 This superficially tempting
Spasov-Kir.Georgiev move allows White to cany out
Sofia 1992 the main idea of his develop­
ment, as indicated above, and
1 e4 eS 2 ltJf3 ltJe6 3 .lle4 hold on to the initiative.
Counterattacking with 7. . a5 95 .

clearly signed the peace treaty


prematurely. lt seerns that it
would have been worth White
settling for 12 tt:Jxg6 fg ! 1 3 .i.e3
with chances for both sides.
12 .i.xf6 'ii'xf6
13 1Wxg4 tt:Jxh4
After 13...'ikxh4 1 4 'i'xh4
tt:Jxh4 1 5 .i.d5 ! White moves the
knight over to c4 and achieves a
small but stable advantage in the
endgarne: 15 ... l:.a7 1 6 tt:Jd2 (this
manoeuvre should also follow
The attaek ll .. tt:Jf4 is justified
. 1 5 ... l:r.b8) tt:Jg6 1 7 tt:Jc4 .tes 1 8
in the event of 12 'i'f3? .i.g4 1 3 b6 cb 1 9 �ab 1 with pressure on
.i.xf6 'ifd7 ! and White loses his the b-file.
queen, Annas-Blees, Wijk aan 14 lt::ld2 tt:Jg6
Zee 1 992. However, after the 15 g3
simple 12 tt:Jd2 B1ack again Not only to restrict the knight,
faces a dilemma: 12 . . .h6 1 3 but above all to open the f-file.
.i.xf4 ef 1 4 tt:Jhf3 allows White 15 tt:Je7
to arrange play excluding the 16 'it>h1 lhd8
dark-squared bishop after d3-d4, 17 f4! ef
whilst 14 . . . 'it>h8 1 5 'iib3 'iie7 1 6 18 d4 d5 (D)
l:r.ae1 tt:Jh7 1 7 e5 would have
allowed White to open up the
position with advantage, Ban­
cod-Barus, Jakarta Z 1 993.
The best try is considered to
be ll 'it>h8! . Spasov-Razuvaev,
...

Burgas 1 992 continued 12


'ilib3?! h6 ! 1 3 tt:Jxg6+ (after 1 3
.i.xf7 Black develops a danger­
ous attack: 1 3 . . . tt:Jxh4 14 .i.xh4
g5 1 5 .i.g3 'iie7 1 6 .i.c4 h5)
1 3 .. .fg 14 .i.e3 .i.xe3 1 5 fe tt:Jg4
1 6 tt:Jd2 tt:Jxe3 1 7 l:r.xf8+ 'i'xf8
1 8 .i.f7 'i'e7 1 9 tt:Jfl ( 1 9 . . . tt:Jxg2 19 .i.d3?!
was threatened) 1 9... 'i'g5 20 This obviou.'i-looking move
tt:Jxe3 'ii' xe3+ 2 1 'it>h 1 .i.g4 22 allows Black to take the garne
h3 .i.e2 23 .i.xg6! 'i!fd3 24 'i'f7 down unforeseen tracks, whilst
'iixc3 25 l:r.g 1 'iic4 and Black the habitual retreat 19 .i.b3 !
96 Counterattacking with 7. . . a5

would have allowed White to Passive defence by 30. . .l:tc8?


continue the theme of cutting off could lead, after 3 1 l::tc5 and
the dark-squared bishop: 19 ... de tt:'ld4, to a total suppression.
20 tt::lxe4 ¡f'f5 2 1 'iixf5 tt::lxf5 22 31 �xe6 %:tb4 32 �bS :xf4
l:lxf4. 33 lid6 lie8 34 <ití>g3 l:te4 35
19 �xd4! .i.e6! hS 36 �xdS %:tg4+ 37 <it>h3
20 .l:Ixf4 ¡j'b6 �f8 38 %:td7 l::rf4 39 <ití>g3 gS 40
21 ed ¡vxd4 h4! ltg4+ 41 <it>h3 <it>e8 42 :S7
22 :33 tt:'lg6?! Not 42 ltxt7 because the
This move allows the unusual bishop is overloaded: 43 llc5.
aligrunent of forces to be trans­ 42...ktc3 43 hg l:txgS 44
formed in White's favour. �xf7+ <it>d8?
Meanwhile, by playing 22 . . . �2 Only time trouble can explain
23 tt:'lb 1 de Black could have why Black rushed past the rook
won a third pawn, which would ending: 44 . . .<it>f8 ! 45 <it>h4 ltxf3 !
have guaranteed him full com­ 46 <ití>xg5 ltxt7 47 ltxa5 ltfl
pensation for the piece. with a probable draw. Given the
23 eS! tt:'lxf4 24 '1Wxf4 '1Wb2 25 presence of a passed pawn, the
%:tb3 ¡fct+ 26 <ití>g2 life8 27 tt:'lf3 minor pieces will easily outplay
'ilfxf4 28 gf the rook.
Officially strength is evenly 45 <it>h4! ltfS 46 e6 l:te4+ 47
distributed, but the lack of open <ití>g3 l:.e4 48 tt:'ld4 %:te3+ 49 <ití>g2
files for the rooks makes the mi­ %:teS 50 e7+ ltxe7 51 tt:'le6+
nor pieces more mobile. It is l:txe6 52 �xe6 lte2+ 53 �g3
natural for Black to try to expand :es 54 �d7 ltgS+ ss <it>h4 :g7
the space for his rooks. 56 :SS+! <it>e7 57 �b5 <it>b6 58
29 ... e5 29 be be 30 %:te3 l:tb8! lta6+ <it>eS 59 :xas 1-0
Part 2 : An Early Attack on the Centre

In the Romantic era of chess, tends to force the exchange


which reached its peak in the ...exd4 and gain central pawn
second half of the nineteenth majority. Black can choose be­
century, the most popular tween two basic methods of play
method of playing the Giuoco - passive defence of the e5-
Piano after 1 e4 e5 2 lt:Jf3 lt:Jc6 3 pawn, or an active counterattack
.Jic4 .Jtc5 was an attack on the against the e4-pawn.
pawn centre with d2-d4 after the Now and then White tries the
preparatory move 4 c3. By at­ direct attack d2-d4 after the pre­
tacking the e5-pawn White in paratory 4 0-0.
8 4 c3 ; Black Strongpoi nts eS

After 1 e4 e5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 .1c4 of this method of play arises af­


.1c5 4 c3 (D), instead of striving ter 5 d4 .1b6 (D).
for active counterplay with
4...lLlf6, Black has sorne rela­
tively passive defensive methods
at his disposal.

White's basic plan in this


position involves either moving
the d-pawn and even sacrificing
it with the aim of paralysing
The most respectable defen­ Black's queenside, giving the
sive continuation is 4 .. .'�e7, position a static character (this
which Alekhine often used. plan begins with 6 .1g5), or
However, he noted that although maintaining the central pawn
'it is better than its reputation, it tension while attacking the black
demands very precise play from queen, in this case giving the
Black in the opening'. The position a dynamic feel (be­
drawback of this quite solid sys­ ginning this time with 6 0-0).
tem is its passivity - Black has These lines will be examined in
few chances to seize the initia­ the commentary to the games.
tive. The idea of the queen move The other queen move,
is to avoid the exchange ...exd4 4.. .'�'f6 (D) is recognized by the­
and support the pawn centre ory as being insufficient for
even at the cost of withdrawing equality. In fact, the advanced
the bishop. The crucial position position of the queen allows
4 c3; Black Strongpoints e5 99

White to begin operations in the l2Jc3 l2Jge7 8 l2Jg5 d5 the pawn


centre with tempo. has reached d5 in two moves,
which allows White to seize the
initiative: 9 ed .txc3+ 10 be
l2Jxd5 1 1 0-0 f6 12 .:el l2Jce7 1 3
�5, Stein-H.Hansen, Gausdal
1 990) 7 l2Jc3 l2Jf6 8 .te3! (in the
event of 8 0-0 .tg4! 9 .te3 ¡¡e7
Black can return to his plan of
castling long) 8 0-0 (D):
...

5 d4 ed (after 5 . . . .tb6 6 0-0,


White has the advantage after
either 6 ... d6 7 it.g5 ¡¡g6 8 de de
9 l2Jxe5 ! ¡j'xg5 1 0 lLlxfl or 6 ... h6
7 a4 a6 8 de l2Jxe5 9 l2Jxe5 'i'i'xe5
10 'tWf3 ¡j'f6 1 1 'ii'xf6 lLlxf6 12
e5) 6 e5 ¡¡g6 7 0-0 7 cd d5 8
.txd5 de (8 ... l2Jb4? is no good: 9
l2Jc3 l2Jxc2 10 ¡t'xc2! ¡¡xc2 1 1 a) 9 0-0 l2Jxe4 1 0 l2Jxe4 d5 1 1
.te4 ¡j'xe4 12 l2Jxe4 with a clear .txd5 ¡¡xd5 12 l2Jc3 �5 with
advantage to White) 9 l2Jc3 good counterplay, Rahman­
l2Jge7 1 0 .te4 'iib5 1 1 l2Ja4 it.b6 Lodhi, Dhaka 1 993.
12 .tg5 .li.f5 1 3 :el .txe4 14 b) 9 .t b3 .tg4 10 ¡¡d3 ¡¡e7
:xe4 and White is somewhat 1 1 l2Jd2 .te6 12 l2Jc4 l2Jb4 1 3
better, Motwani-Granda, Thessa­ ¡¡d2 .txc4 14 .txc4 l2Jxe4 1 5
loniki OL 1 988. l2Jxe4 d 5 16 l2Jc5 l2Jc6 1 7 0-0 de
As regards 4...d6, it is seen 1 8 l2Jxb7 liab8 1 9 l2Jc5 lifd8 20
more rarely than 4 ...¡¡e7, as it ¡¡c3 .txc5 2 1 de ¡¡e4 with even
does not meet White's funda­ chances, Wekh-Barwinski, War­
mental threat in the centre, saw 1 993.
which Black must now give up.
However, recent practice has Game 3 1
shown that this continuation is Mestel-Henao
more reliable than its reputation. Mexico 1980
Black has another idea - to attack
White's pawn centre after S d4 1 e4 eS 2 l2Jf3 l2Jc6 3 .tc4
ed 6 cd .t b6 (after 6 ... .li.b4+ 7 .tes 4 c3
100 4 c3; Black Strongpoints e5

4 ... 'ille7 The idea is to paralyse Black's


5 d4 �b6 queenside, e.g.:
s...ed is not in the spirit of the a) 6. lLJb8 7 d6 'illxd6 8 'jj'xd6
..

variation, as Black's previous cd 9 lLlg5 lLlh6 1 0 0-0 lLJc6 1 1


move loses its point. After 6 0-0: lba3 a6 12 b4 �a7 13 b5 lLle7
a) Taking the pawn is risky: 14 �b 1 �c5 15 b6 f6 1 6 �d5 ! ?
6 dc 7 lLlxc3 h6 8 lLld5 'illd8 9
... fg 17 lLlc4 and Black's disabled
b4 �xb4 1 O lLlxb4 lLlxb4 1 1 queenside guarantees White a
'illb 3 'ille7 1 2 �b2 lLlf6 1 3 e5 material advantage, Sukhorukov­
lLlh5 14 �xf7+! with a danger­ Terteriants, Moscow 199 1 .
ous initiative to White, We­ b) 6...lLld8! 7 a4 a6 8 d6 'illxd6
initschke-Schwarz, corr. 1 992. 9 'jj'xd6 cd 10 �d5 ! (it is irnpor­
b) The assessment of the con­ tant to prevent ... d5, returning
tinuation 6 . .lLle5 7 lLlxe5 'jj'xe5
. the pawn in return for freedom)
has not changed for the last 10 ... lLJc6 1 1 lLJa3 �c7 12 lLlc4
century and a half, since the lLJce7 1 3 b3 ! lLJf6 14 �a3 lLlfxd5
match Staunton-Saint Amant, 1 5 ed lLlxd5 16 0-0-0! b5 17
which took place in 1 843 : 8 f4 lLld6+ �xd6 1 8 �xd6 �b7 19
de+ 9 <ith1 'i'i'd4 1 0 'illb 3 lLlh6 1 1 lLle5 f6 with a complex game
lLlc3 0-0 1 2 h3 c6 ( 1 2 ... d5 1 3 (analysis by &trin).
�xd5 c6 14 �c4 b5 is more en­ The continuation 6 0-0 will be
ergetic) 1 3 f5 'jj'f6 14 e5 'jj'h4 1 5 examined in the next game.
�xh6 'jj'xh6 16 lLJe4 �d4 17 6 ... lLlf6
lLld6 and White soon won. But 8 7 dS lLJd8 (D)
b4 iLe7 9 Ite1 de 10 'illb 3 is per­ 7 .lLJb8 is weaker: 8 d6 cd 9
..

haps even more energetic. 0-0 d5 1 0 �xd5 h6 1 1 �xf6


6 iJ.. gS 'illxf6 12 lLla3 0-0 1 3 lLlb5, with
The thrust 6 dS (D) deserves an advantage to White, Adorjan­
separate examination. Webb, Hastings 1976.
4 c3; Black Strongpoints e5 101

8 d6 as well as the weakness of the


Sacrificing a pawn with the h7-pawn, which White irnrnedi­
airn of creating two sets of dou­ ately emphasises. Therefore it is
bled pawns. not worth rushing to switch the
It is also worth looking at 8 a4 rook over to defend the d6-pawn,
a6 9 d6 'iixd6 1 0 ¡fxd6 cd 1 1 but Black should do this by
..txf6 gf 1 2 ..td5 .te? 1 3 tiJbd2 means of 15...ttJa5 and then
:b8 14 a5 :g8 1 5 ltJh4 ttJc6 16 . . . ..te6.
ltJc4 ltJe7 17 tiJb6 :g5 1 8 0-0 f5 16 :d3! ..te6
1 9 f3 and Black's game is at a 17 'it>e2 tiJas
dead end, Estrin-Nisman, USSR 18 ttJxa5 ..txa5
1 967. 19 b4 ..txd5?!
If White declines the blockad­ It is more logical to withdraw
ing strategy, then it is easier for the bishop to c7 straight away.
Black to get bis defence going. 20 l:!xd5 ..tc7
An example of this is Sax­ 21 tiJf5+ 'it>e6
Smyslov, Teesside 1 975 : 8 22 :hd1 (D)
tiJbd2 d6 9 ..td3 c6 1 O ltJc4 .te?
1 1 ttJe3 h6 12 ..th4 :g8 1 3 ..txf6
'ii'xf6 14 0-0 g6 1 5 ltJe1 'it>f8 1 6
g3 'it>g7 1 7 tiJ 1 g2 ..th3 1 8 'it>h 1
..tb6 1 9 ltJc4 cd 20 ed 'it'e7 2 1 f4
f5 22 l:.el lf2- lh.
8 'it'xd6
9 'it'xd6 cd
10 ..txf6 gf
11 ltJh4
The 'harsher' 11 ..td5 pre­
vents the queenside being liber­
ated.
11 d5 White has gained a strategi­
12 ..txd5 d6 cally won position, the most irn­
13 ttJa3 ttJc6 portant point of which is the un­
14 .Tld1 <J;e7 fortunate rook, which is chained
15 ttJc4 :d8 to the d6-pawn in view of the
The most serious disadvantage threat of mate. Therefore, the
of this kingside pawn structure is remainder is a technical execu­
the lirnited mobility of the dou­ tion, which White demonstrates
bled pawns, which can be at­ in textbook style.
tacked after the f-file has been 22 :d7 23 c4 :g8 24 g3
•••

opened by means of f4, or, as in l:.dd8 25 a4 a6 26 aS l:.d7 27 b5


the game, with the rook from f3, l:!gd8
102 4 c3; Black Strongpoints e5

Black should have resigned of the struggle is a draw: 1 6 �h6


himself to being suppressed, as ba� 17 f6! �xh6 1 8 'ii'xh6+
in the event of 27 ... ab 28 cb the 'it>fl 1 9 �xh7+ 'it>f8) 1 6 f6!
passed a-pawn joins in. But now <it>xg8 17 fg �e6 (D).
White, after stationing the king,
switches to an attack on the f6-
pawn, which the bishop cannot
defend.
2S b6 �bS 29 'it>d3 :es 30
'iii>c3 :e6 31 'it>b3 :es 32 h3
lledS 33 :sd3! :es 34 :f3 :g8
Js lbe3 hS 36 :rs :h8 37 ttJds
:th6 38 :d3 :d8 39 :df3 1-0

Game 32
Spasov-Kontié
NikSié 1991
1 8 �f6! 1-0.
1 e4 eS 2 4Jf3 ltJe6 3 �e4 7 ... 4Jf6
�eS 4 e3 �e7 S 0-0 d6 6 d4 8 :.et h6
.tb6 The classical continuation is
7 h3 8...0-0 (D).
Here one should take note of
the old continuation 7 � gS :
a) After the logical 7 4Jf6
..•

White can give the game a


closed character: 8 d5 ! ? ltJb8 9
lle1 h6 1 0 i.e3 g5 1 1 i.fl ltJg4
12 �xb6 ab 1 3 ltJa3 0-0 14 ltJc2
f5 1 5 ef �xf5 1 6 ltJcd4 and bis
position is better, P.Larsen-Stein,
Copenhagen 1 990.
b) In the annals of chess we
fmd a game between two cele­
brated 1 8th century French phi­
losophers, J.J.Rousseau-de Con­ In this position Black has rea­
ti, which continued 7 ... f6 8 .th4 sonable possibilities, which
g5?! (8 ... �g4 is more logical) 9 could come to light if White
ltJxg5 ! fg 1 O �5+ �f8 1 1 does not play actively.
.txg5 �g7 1 2 f4 ed 1 3 f5 de+ a) Tartakower-Euwe, Venice
14 <;t>hl cb 1 5 i.xg8 ba�? (after 1 948, is instructive: 9 lba3 ltJd8
1 5 ...ltxg8 the probable outcome 10 �fl liJeS 1 1 ltJc4 f6 12 a4 c6
4 c3; Black Strongpoints e5 103

1 3 lDxb6 ab 14 'ii'h 3+ lDe6 1 5 tion became preferable for


'ii'xb6 g5 ! 1 6 �c4 h 6 1 7 h4 ..th7 Hlack.
1 8 hg? (White should not open e) We can also take a recent
the h-file) 1 8 ... hg 1 9 de de 20 example of this theme: 9 i.. gS?!
i..e3 :h8 2 1 g3 (it is safer to h6 10 i.. h4 g5 1 1 i..g 3 ..th7 1 2
hide the king on e2) 2 1 .. ...tg6 22 i..b5 g4 1 3 i..xc6 be 14 de de 1 5
..tg2 iDf4+! 23 gf i..h3+ 24 ..tg3 tDxe5 ( 1 5 hg! ? is more precise)
ef+ 25 i..xf4 'ii'd7 26 iDh2 gf+ 15 ... lDh5 and Hlack's chances, as
27 ..txf4 l:th4+ 28 ..te3 i.. g2 29 he sets about playing on the
iDf3 l:txe4+! 30 ..txe4 lDd6+ 3 1 kingside, are preferable, A.Kuz­
..td3 'ii'f5+ 32 ..td4 'fif4+ 33 min-Vasiukov, Moscow 1 982 .
..td3 'ii'xc4+ 34 ..tc2 i.. xf3 35 b3 9 a4 a6
i..e4+ 36 ..tb2 'ii'd 3 37 l:tg 1+ 10 ttJa3
..tt7 38 l:tac 1 ? (38 'ii'c5 is more The h3-pawn is a reasonable
stubbom) 38 ... �d2+ 39 ..ta3 place for Hlack to start organiz­
lDc4+! 40 be l:txa4+! 4 1 ..txa4 ing an attack on the king, and
'ii'a2+ 42 ..tb4 'ifh2+ O- l . therefore White must move up
b) White must strive for more his reserves.
energetic play on the queenside, a) In the game Dobrovolsky­
by 9 a4 a6: Gross, Czech Republic 1 993,
b 1 ) 10 ttJa3 ..th8 1 1 tDc2 ltJg8 White did not manage to do this:
12 b4 f6 13 tDe3 i.. a7 14 i..a3 10 i..e3 g5 1 1 de de 12 i.. xb6 cb
'ii'e8 15 'ii'd3 maintained the ini­ 1 3 lDa3 and Hlack had time to
tiative in Heidenfeld-Euwe, Jo­ unfold an energetic assault on
hannesburg 1 955. the kingside: 1 3 ... g4 14 iDh4 gh
b2) We should note that in this 15 g3 .:.gs 1 6 'ii'f3 i..g4 1 7 'ii'e3
type of position trying to gain an lDh5 1 8 ..th2 iDf4.
advantage by pinning the lrnight b) 10 b4 deserves attention.
with 10 i.. gS has no particular After 10 g5 White's queenside
...

prospects. For example, in attack comes frrst, viz. 1 1 a5


Alekhine's collection of brilliant i..a7 12 b5 ! ab 1 3 i.. xb5, whilst
ideas, a visible place is occupied after 10 ... 0-0 1 1 i..a3 lte8 12 b5
by the manoeuvre 10 ... h6 1 1 lDa5 1 3 i..d3 lDd7 14 lDbd2 'ii'f6
i..e3 'ii'd8! ! , which was carried 15 i..b2 Hlack is forced into
out against Tarrasch, Haden­ passive defence, Markland­
Haden 1 925. His opponent did Stoica, Graz 1 972.
not sense the danger: 12 i..d 3?! 10 ... gS
(he should already have been 11 .tn
fighting for equality by means of In the event of 11 de?! de 12
12 de de 1 3 i..xb6 cb 14 i.. d5) iDh2 g4 1 3 hg ltg8 14 g5 hg 15
12 ...lte8 1 3 lDbd2 i.. a7 14 'ii'c2 i..e3 i..xe3 16 l:txe3 :h8 Hlack
ed 1 5 lDxd4 lDe5 and the posi- wields the initiative, Honfi-
104 4 c3; Black Strongpoints e5

Darnjanovié, Sarajevo 1 966. 22 ¡fcJ l:tdg8


11 g4 23 g3 e4
12 hg .txg4 24 tt:Jc4
13 tt:Jc4 (D) After 24 tt:Jfl? one must con­
sider 24 ...:b4 with the threat of
...�3.
24 ¡vhs
25 ¡fes (D)

13 .•• .txd4! ?
A very interesting piece sacri­
fice for the initiative. After
13 ... .ta7 14 tt:Je3 0-0-0 1 5 tt:Jxg4
tt:Jxg4 1 6 b4 White can arrange 25 ... e3!
counterplay on the opposite 26 l:txe3
flank. 26 ¡fxb5 is weaker: 26 ...ef+
14 cd tt:Jxd4 27 Wxf2 tt:Jxh5 28 lLle3 l;lxg3
15 .te2 tt:Jxe2+ with the threat of ... lLlf4.
16 'iYxe2 l:tg8 26.. Jlxc4 27 ¡fxf6 'i'd1+ 28
17 tt:Je3 ¡fe6 Wg2 l:txcl 29 l:txcl 'iixcl 30
18 tt:Jxg4 l:txg4 l;lc3
19 tt:Jd2 0-0-0 White has parried the attack,
20 ¡fc4 dS and Black must seek chances of
Black avoids the roughly even saving himself. But he seeks in
endgame 20..,¡fxc4 2 1 tt:Jxc4 vam...
l:txe4, in the hope of squeezing 30...'i'g5 31 ¡fxf7 'ii'd8 32
more out of the position. l:txc7+ 'ii'xc7 33 ¡fxg8+ Wd7 34
21 ed 'i'fS ¡fg7+ Wd6 35 ¡fxc7+ 1-0
9 Cou nterattack Against the e4-pawn

Most modero players fully ap­


preciate the desirability of active
coWlterplay, so the most popular
response to 4 c3 is immediately
to attack the e4-pawn with
4 ...lt:)f6, envisaging a temporary
surrender of the centre with 5 d4
ed 6 cd .i.b4+ (D).

It was brought into practice by


Greco as long ago as 1 6 1 9 - after
7 ... lt:Jxe4 8 0-0 White sacrifices a
second pawn to create an attack.
One of his games continued
8 ... lt:Jxc3 9 be .i.xc3 10 'iib3
.i.xa 1 1 1 .i.xf7+ �f8 12 .i.g5
lt:Je7 1 3 lt:Je5 ! .i.xd4 14 .i.g6! d5
In this position, play may de­ 1 5 'ii'f3+ .i.f5 16 .i.xf5 .i.xe5 17
velop along two main lines, de­ .i.e6+ and White won. But inter­
pending on the decision White est in the Greco Attack gradually
makes. faded, as for a long time no-one
In the first White gives the could find an effective continua­
struggle a positional feel after 7 tion for the attack after the im­
.i.d2 �xd2+ 8 lt:)bxd2 d5 ! 9 ed provement 8 ....i.xc3 9 be d5 ! ,
lt:)xd5 1 0 'iib 3 lt:)ce7 (D), when Wltil in 1 898, when the Danish
Black's game is based on main­ theoretician Moller pioneered a
taining a blockade on d5 in front new route, beginning 9 d5 ! (D).
of the isolated d4-pawn. In honour of his contribution the
The other, very sharp plan is line is known as the Moller At­
to sacrifice a pawn with 7 lt:)c3. tack.
106 Counterattack Against the e4-pawn

14 'Dxd6 with strong pressure


for White. 7 dS! is significantly
...

stronger: 8 ed 'Dxd5 9 'Dc3 �e6


10 �e2 0-0 and Black is better,
as White has no compensation
for the fact that he cannot castle
( 1 1 'Dg5 'Dxd4).
Alongside 6 cd White sorne­
times also uses the continuations
6 0-0 and 6 e5.

Game 33
Trapl-Mi.Tseitlin
However, recent investiga­ corr. 1987-90
tions into the variation 9 ... �f6!
10 l:.e1 'De7 1 1 'Dxe4 d6 12 1 e4 eS 2 Ci:Jf3 'Dc6 3 �c4
�g5 �xg5 1 3 'Dxg5 have dis­ �cS 4 c3
played sufficient defensive re­ 4 'Df6
sources for Black in the con­ S d4 ed
tinuations 1 3 . . .0-0 and 1 3 ... h6, 6 0-0
which will be examined below An old move, which was in­
(in Games 38 and 39). Therefore troduced into contemporary
the Moller Attack has recently practice by the renowned theo­
been used comparatively rarely, retician Estrin.
and not in the games of the 6 'Dxe4
leading masters. Nevertheless, 7 cd (D)
its theory continues to be refined
in correspondence games.
In the diagram position a third
line exists - 7 �fl , which is
known as the Krakow Variation.
It was frrst used in 1 883 by the
English amateur Lord. However,
then the move was analysed in
detail by a group of chess play­
ers from Krakow, who tested the
variation in a series of corre­
spondence games. Black should
not take the pawn: 7. 'Dxe4? 8
..

d5 ! 'De7 9 �d4 Ci:Jf6 1 0 �g5 7 ... dS!


'Dg6 (or 1 0 ... c5 1 1 �e3 !) 1 1 By refusing to play in the
'Dbd2 0-0 1 2 'De4 �e7 1 3 d6 cd centre with 7...�e7? Black risks
Counterattack Against the e4-pawn 107

falling foul of a powerful attack. prospects in this position. Along­


For example, Stein-Langeweg, side the move in the game, he
Plovdiv Echt 1 9S3 continued S could have continued more ener­
d5 ltJbS 9 I:te1 ltJd6 (if 9 ... ltJf6, getically: 12 ... e3! 1 3 be lLlxc3 14
then 1 0 d6! cd 1 1 ltJc3 is strong, .l::.d3 ltJe4! 1 5 .l::.e 1 i.e6 1 6 �g5+
and if 1 1 ...0-0, then 12 .l::.xe7! l2Jxg5 17 l2Jxg5 and here in Be­
'ilxe7 1 3 �g5 with a decisive lotserkovsky-V.Ivanov, Moscow
advantage to White) 1 0 �d3 0-0 1990, 17 ... :hdS ! would have led
1 1 ltJc3 liJeS 1 2 d6! cd (if to an advantage for White.
1 2 ...ltJxd6, then 1 3 �f4 liJeS 14
�xh7+! 'itxh7 1 5 .:.xe7! 'ilxe7
1 6 ltJd5 'ii'd S 1 7 ltJg5+ is possi­
ble, with a decisive attack) 1 3
�xh7! 'itxh7 14 .l::.xe7! 'iixe7 1 5
ltJd5 1 -0.
8 de de
9 'ilxd8+
Black has an easy game after
9 'ile2 'ii'd 3 ! 1 0 .:lel f5 1 1 ltJc3
0-0 1 2 lLlxe4 fe 1 3 'ii'xe4 �f5 14
'ilh4 .l::.aeS 1 5 �f4 'ii'd5 16
�xc7 'ilxc5, Biolek-Keitling­
haus, Ostrava 1 993. 13 ltJbS
9 .. . 'itxd8 Or 13 .l::.d cl :hdS 14 l2Jxc4
After the knight capture .:.d5 1 5 l2Jcd2 l2Jxd2 1 6 l2Jxd2
9 ltJxd8 1 0 .l::.e 1 f5 1 1 ltJg5 ! (1 1
••• .l:.adS 17 l2Je4 l2Jd4 with equal
ltJc3 is less precise: 1 1 ...0-0 12 chances, Demarre-Komeev, Par­
lLlxe4 fe 1 3 .l::.xe4 �e6 14 �e3 is 199 1 .
�d5 1 5 l:.e7 .U.t7 with approxi­ 13 ... l:lhe8
mately even chances, Okhotnik­ 14 ltJfd4
Anand, Belgrade GMA 1 9SS) It would have been better to
1 1 ...0-0 12 ltJxe4 fe 13 .l::.xe4 play 14 ltJgS ltJxg5 15 i.xg5 f6
�e6 14 ltJc3 White has a some­ 1 6 i.f4 l2Je5 1 7 i.xe5 fe 1 S .U.e 1
what better game. 'itf6 when the game is level. But
10 .U.d1+ �d7 now Black's extra pawn gains
11 �e3 'ite7 defmite weight.
12 ttJa3 (D) 14 •.. ltJxd4
12 ..• �e6 15 �xd4 e6!
The fate of a vanatwn in Not fearing the phantom 16
many cases depends on the as­ ltJd6?! l2Jxd6 17 cd+ 'itxd6 1 S
sessment of the endgame that i.xg7+ i.d5, when Black's
arises. Practice confmns Black's chances are preferable.
108 Counterattack Against the e4-pawn

16 tba3bS! pawn.
17
eb ab
18
l:te1
After 18 �xb6 Black can cut
off the bishop with 18...eS or
undermine the knight's base with
18 e3.
•..

The terminal threats can also


be carried out after 18 �xg7 f6.
18 4Jd6
19 l:.ad1 g6
20 h3 l:ta6
21 �e3 l:td8
22 l:te2 l:td7
23 �gS+ f6 36 rj;e3 b4 37 'itd4 gS!
24 �el A fmesse, widening the range
If 24 l:tde1, then 24 .. .fg 25 of action of the bishop and king.
l:txe6+ rj;fl 26 l:t6e2 c3 ! is pos­ 38 g4 e3! 39 be b3+ 40 e4
sible, with an advantage to After 40 �b4 the rook inva­
Black. sion 40...l':a2 is decisive, with
24 rj;f7 the threat of moving the passed
2S �f4 �dS pawn up.
26 4Je2 40 l:txe4+ 41 rj;d3 :e6 42
•..

26 �xd6 l:.xd6 27 4Jxc4? �g3


does not work in view of ... b2 was threatened. After 42
27 ... �xc4. �a3 Black undermines the
26 :xa2 weaknesses on the kingside with
21 4Jb4 :as 42 .. .f5.
28 4Jxe6 �xe6 42 :ct 43 :b2 �e4+ 44
...

29 l:txd6 l:txd6 rj;d2 :n 4S rj;e3 �dS 46 �f2


30 �xd6 (D) l:th1 47 h4
The presence of opposite­ 47 rj;d4 �xf3 48 l:txb3 l:txh3
coloured bishops by no means would have lost all the pawns.
guarantees a draw, as rooks are 47 gh 0-1
..•

still on the board, and in this


case the advantage lies with the Garne 34
side that wields the initiative. Sveshnikov-Balashov
30 ... l:ta1+ 31 rj;h2 l:ta7 32 f3 Volgograd 1985
�dS 33 'itg3 �e6 34 :d2 bS 3S
<M4 l:ta4! 1 e4 eS 2 4Jf3 4Je6 3 d4 ed 4
Switching the rook to help in �e4 �eS S e3 4Jf6
the process of creating a passed With a transposition of moves,
Counterattack Against the e4-pawn 109

one of the fundamental positions White a spatial advantage.


of the Giuoco Piano has arisen. The advance 7 . lbg4 has not
. .

6 eS been tested in praetice.


The main continuation 6 cd 8 cd (D)
will be examined in the next
game.
6 dS
Counterplay in the centre in
the spirit of the Two Knights'
Defence. There is a definite risk
linked with retreating the knight,
which the renowned Austrian
theoretician Bilguer showed in
his analysis:
a) 6 ... lt:Jg4 7 .i.xf7+ �xf7 8
lbg5+ �g8 9 'ii'xg4 lbxe5 10
'ilfe4 'ii'e7 1 1 0-0 h6 12 ed �xd4
1 3 'ilfxd4 hg 1 4 lbc3 with an ad­ 8 ..tb6
vantage to White. The basic continuation, al­
b) 6...lbe4 7 ..td5 lbxf2 8 though other bishop moves have
�xf2 de+ 9 �g3 ! eh 1 O ..txb2 been tried:
lbe7 1 1 'ilfc2 d6 12 ..te4 lbg6 1 3 a) 8 ...te7 9 lbc3 0-0 1 0 .i.d3
..

lbbd2 c6 14 �ad 1 and White has (if 10 0-0, then 10 ... ..tg4 is good:
the better game. 1 1 ..te2 �h8 1 2 h3 ..th5 1 3 lbel
e) It is not worth looking at ..tg6 14 .i.e3 f6 1 5 ef ..txf6 with
6 ... 'ii'e7 7 cd .i.b4+ 8 lbc3 d5 9 a double-edged game, Gadzhily­
.i.d3 lbd7 1 O 0-0 .i.xe3 1 1 be h6 Ginzburg, Nikolaev Z 1 993)
1 2 �e l , when White has a big 10 .. .f5 1 1 ef lbf6 12 .i.e3 lbb4
spatial advantage, Sonnenburg­ 1 3 .i.b 1 lbg4 14 a3 lbxe3 1 5 fe
Livitsky, Berlín 1 99 1 . .i.h4 16 g3 ..tg4 1 7 0-0 and
7 .i.bS White's position is somewhat
White can scarcely count on better, Steinitz-Lasker, New
an advantage by conceding the York Wch (4) 1 894.
centre with 7 ef de. Here both 8 b) 8. ...tb4+ 9 �d2 (9 lbbd2
.

fg :.g8 9 ..tg5 f6 1 0 'ii'e2+ 'ilfe7 deserves attention: 9 .0-0 10


..

1 1 �xf6 'ii'xe2+ 1 2 �xe2 d3+ .i.xc6 be 1 1 ¡vc2 c5 1 2 0-0 ..ta6


13 <ifr>fl and 8 'ilfe2+ �e6 9 fg 1 3 kte 1 cd 14 lbxd4 .i.xd2 1 5
:g8 10 ..tg5 lead to a game with ..txd2 e5 1 6 lbf3 and White's
chances for both sides. position is preferable, Rayo­
7 .. . lbe4 Yanez, Madrid 1 989) 9 ... ..txd2+
The retreat 7...lbd7?! 8 cd 1 0 lbbd2 0-0 1 1 0-0 ..tg4 1 2
�b4+ 9 lbc3 lbe7 1 0 .i.d3 gives ..txc6 be 1 3 ¡vc2 c5 1 4 de lbxd2
1 1 O Counterattack Against the e4-pawn

1 5 tbxd2 �e2 1 6 .l:lfel d4 1 7 Vixf6 is also reasonable, with


lbb3 d3 1 8 �d2 �h5 1 9 ,l;Le4 roughly even chances, Steinitz­
�g6 20 :d4 �e7. The presenee Schiffers, Vienna 1 898) 1 2 :c 1
of a passed pawn on d3 erarnps ..Wd6 1 3 0-0 �g4 14 �e2 :ae8
White's garne, Kontié-Lazié, 1 5 h3 .i.xf3 1 6 �xf3 tbe7 17
Podgoriea 1 993. tbe2 tbg6 1 8 g3 c6 1 9 �g2 tbe4
9 tbc3 20 Vi'b3 'ilkf6 2 1 a4 tbd6 22 �
After 9 �e3 0-0 10 't!Vc2 ( 10 tbc4 with a complicated garne,
tbe3 transposes to the main Steinitz-Lasker, New York Wch
garne, but in the event of 10 (6) 1 894.
�xe6 be 1 1 lbbd2 c5 ! 12 lbxe4? 11 �c2
de 1 3 de ..Wxd 1 + 14 ¡rxd 1 ef 1 5 An advantage for White fol­
cb ab 16 a 3 fg 1 7 ¡rg 1 �b7 lows 1 1 h3 �h5 12 �3? ! �xf3
White is left a pawn down, 1 3 gf tbg5 Stanciu-Urfica, Ro­
Doghri-G. Georgadze, Manila manía 1 974.
OL 1 992) 10 �d7 Black has
... 11 �xf3
the better prospects: 12 gf tbgS
a) After 11 �xc6 �xc6 12 0-0 13 �xc6 be (D)
�d7 1 3 a4 c6 he has at least The piece sacrifice which was
equality, Baatan-Liss, Groningen tried in the game Femandez­
1 988/9. Izeta, Bilbao 1987 deserves at­
b) 11 tbc3 is risky: 1 1 ...lbb4 tention: 13 ...tbxf3+!? 14 �e2
12 �3 tbxc3 1 3 �xd7 tbd3+ tbxd4+ 1 5 �xd4 be 1 6 �xb6 ab
14 �fl �xd7 15 be (perhaps 1 5 17 :he 1 �g5 1 8 �fl �5 19 f4
�xc3 is better) 1 5 ...c 5 1 6 h4 c4 f6 20 e6 �ae8 2 1 f5 �3+ 22
17 �c2 f6 1 8 ef l:hf6 and �g 1 �g4+ and the game ended
Blaek's ehances are preferable, in a perpetua} check.
Hmadi-Milos, Dubai OL 1986.
9 . .. 0-0
10 �e3
10 �xc6 be 1 1 ..te3 is possi­
bly slightly more precise.
Sveshnikov-Dautov, Pinsk 1 986,
continued to White's tune:
1 1 ...�g4 12 �a4 c5 1 3 de �xf3
14 gf tbxc5 1 5 �xc5 �xc5 1 6
0-0-0 �e8 1 7 �a5 �xf2 1 8
�xd5 with better chances.
10 ... �g4
In the past 10 f5 was also
.••

played, and not without success: 14 �a4?!


1 1 ef tbxf6! ( l l . .. tbxc3 12 be This is unnecessarily risky,
Counterattack Against the e4-pawn 1 1 1

whilst Sveshnikov's recommen­


dation 14 0-0-0 lLlxf3 1 5 'i'Vf5
lbh4 1 6 'i't'g4 li:Jg6 17 h4 f5 1 8 ef
'ilfxf6 19 h5 li:Jf4 20 l:.h4 guaran­
tees White an initiative which
fully compensates for the pawn.
14 ... li:Jxf3+
1S �e2 f6
A tactical decision, but the
simple 1S ... li:Jxd4 16 �xd4 c5
17 �e3 d4 is also possible.
16 e6 li:JgS
17 'ilfxc6 'ii'e8
18 li:JxdS li:Jxe6 24 b4 li:Jc7?!
19 'ilfxe8 r!fxe8 Here he should have neutral­
20 �d3 .uad8 ized the a-pawn: 24...bS+! 25 ab
There was also another way of r!xb5 26 l:Ia6 .l:r.eb8 27 .l:r.b 1 li:Jd8.
simplifying: 20... �xd4 2 1 �xd4 2S .l:r.hcl .:.e6
r!ad8 22 �xa7 r!xd5+ 23 �c4 Here it was still not too late to
r!d2 24 �c3 with a roughly level play 25 ... b5.
ending. 26 �b3 l1d7 27 aS li:JdS 28
21 li:Jxb6 ab ab li:Jxb6 29 !la6 l:tb7 30 .l:r.xb6!
22 �c4 c6 A little combination with the
Now simplifying along the aim of transferring into a plain
ranks with 22... li:Jxd4 23 �xd4 rook ending with a distant passed
r!e4 24 l:.hd 1 c5 25 �b5 would pawn. Black's extra pawn plays
have left White with somewhat no role.
better chances. Having con­ 30... .l::r.xb6 31 dS cd 32 �xb6
structed a barrier along the sixth .l:r.xb6 33 �a4 d4 34 bS .l:r.d6 3S
rank, Black should hold the po­ .l:r.b1 d3 36 b6 d2 37 b7 .l:r.d8 38
sitian. �bS �f7 39 I;!d1 �e7 40 �b6
23 a4 (D) .l:r.d3 41 b8'i't' 1-0
23 ... r!dS?!
White is trying to make use of Game 35
his chance as quickly as possible Nun-Keitlinghaus
- the future creation of a distant Czech Republic 1993
passed pawn is supported by al­
most all his forces, and Black 1 e4 eS 2 li:Jf3 li:Jc6 3 �c4
could have impeded it by ener­ �eS 4 c3 li:Jf6 S d4 ed
getic play against the weak d4- 6 cd �b4+
pawn: 23 ... fS! 24 f3 f4 25 �f2 7 �d2 (D)
li:Jg5.
112 Counterattack Against the e4-pawn

de 1 1 0-0 �d6 leads to equality)


9 ...'itt xt7 10 'ii'h3+ d5 ( 10 ...�f8
deserves attention: 1 1 �xb4+
�e7 12 �xe7 �xe7 1 3 0-0 l:te8
with even ehanees, as in Wed­
berg-Korrnan, Sweden 1 978) 1 1
lZ'le5+ 'iii'e6! (if 1 l ...�f6, then 12
f3 ! is strong) 12 �xb4 e5 1 3
'ii'a3 (after 1 3 �a4 'ii'b 6! Blaek
has an advantage) 1 3 ... ed 14 lZ'lf3
'iib6 1 5 0-0 'ittt7 16 ltJe5+ �e6
17 lZ'lf3 with a repetition of
moves.
One of the main eontinua­ 8 lZ'lbxd2 dS
tions, if White has no wish to We should note that here
play the gambit 7 lZ'le3. 8 ltJxe4 is only justified after 9
...

7 ... �xd2+ ltJxe4 d5. Por example 1 0 �e2


7 dS? ! is premature beeause
... 0-0 1 1 0-0-0 �g4 12 h3 �xf3 1 3
of 8 ed! ltJxd5 (after 8 ... �xd2+ 9 gf de 14 �xe4 �4 1 5 d5 liJes
'i'xd2 ltJxd5 1 0 0-0 0-0 1 1 lZ'le3 and Blaek is no worse, Mednis­
lZ'lee7 1 2 l:.fe 1 White is better) 9 Fiseher, USA Ch 1 963/64. But
�xb4 lZ'lxb4 1 0 'it'b3 �e7+ 1 1 White has at his disposal a sharp
�fl lZ'lb6 12 �xt7+ with an ad­ eontinuation, first suggested by
vantage to Blaek. Keres: 9 dS!? lZ'lxd2 10 �xd2
The following quite logical liJe? 1 1 d6 ed 12 'ii'xd6 0-0 1 3
eontinuation is almost never seen ltJd4 ltJe6 14 0-0-0! and White's
in praetiee: 7 ltJxe4 8 �xb4
... initiative is very dangerous.
lZ'lxb4 (D). 9 ed
9 eS is weak: 9 ... de 1 0 ef
�xf6 1 1 ltJxe4 0-0 12 0-0 .:.d8
13 .lle 1 �g4 and the game turns
out in Blaek's favour, Lawen­
Mannion, Manila OL 1992.
9 ... ltJxdS
10 �b3
10 0-0 0-0 1 1 liJeS is also
played:
a) ll ltJxd4 12 lZ'lb3 lZ'lxb3
...

1 3 �xd5 �f6 14 �xt7+ :.Xt7


15 �xb3 'i'xe5 16 l:.fe1 �e6
and Blaek maintains the balance
9 �xt7+ (9 'ii'b 3 d5 1 0 1Wxb4 - this oeeurred in the eneounter
Counterattack Against the e4-pawn 113

A.Khasin-Zagorovsky, USSR nesburg 1979.


19SS. 12 .. . c6
b) ll .. .lZJxeS 12 de l2Jb6 1 3 13 a4
..Wc2 lDxc4 14 lDxc4 ..We7 1 S White is ready to meet ...�6,
.l:.fe 1 b6 1 6 l:tac l �e6 and the and he is preparing the a3-square
game is level, Vatter-Kraidman, for his own queen, as well as the
Kusadasi 1 990. possibility of driving back the
10 ..
. l2Jce7 enemy queen with a4-aS.
In his time Tarrasch recom­ 13 l2Je4 (D) is also frequently
mended 10 lZJaS 1 1 ..Wa4+ l2Jc6,
•.. played. Let us examine the pos­
not fearing 12 liJeS 0-0 13 l2Jxc6 sible continuations.
in view of 1 3 ... 'i'e8. Norris­
Veroci, Sydney 1 992, continued
13 �xdS ..WxdS 14 l2Jxc6 be 1 S
0-0 eS 1 6 :ac 1 c d 17 .l:.xc7 aS
and White gained nothing of any
substance. 12 �bS is not dan­
gerous either: 1 2 ... .td7 1 3 'iib3
'ii'e7+ 14 �fl �e6 and Black is
better, Sveshnikov-Mortensen,
Leningrad 1 984. But the matter
more often finishes with sorne
simple 'limbering up' : 12 'i'b3,
and after 12 ...l2Jce7 concludes
with the addition of a two extra a) 13... h6 14 a4 (the continua­
m oves to the text game. We tion 14 liJeS was examined in
should point out straight away Van der Wiel-Karpov in the in­
that in sorne of the following troduction) 14 ... aS 1S liJeS 'Wifb6
examples the moves are num­ 16 ..Wxb6 lDxb6 (Sveshnikov­
bered in accordance with the Dorfman, USSR Ch 1 977) 1 7
main game. l2Jd6 lDxc4 1 8 lDexc4 ltJdS 1 9
11 0-0 0-0 .l:.eS and White is the more ac­
12 lUe1 tive.
12 liJes c6 13 l2Je4 (if 1 3 b) 13 .....Wb6 1 4 ..Wa3 (Bogolju­
l:.ae 1 , then 1 3 . . .�6 is good as bow's idea also deserves atten­
well, and after 1 3 a4 there is the tion: 14 lDc3 ! ? 'ifxb3 1 S �xe3
possibility of 1 3 .. .f6 14 l2Jd3 and now if 1 S ... �e6, then 16
�6) 1 3 ...�6 1 4 l:tad1 'i'xb3 ltJgS is good, whilst after
1 S �xb3 l:.d8 1 6 l:He 1 �f8 gave 1 S ... �g4 White should continue
rise to a complicated endgame 1 6 lDxdS ltJxdS 1 7 �xdS cd 1 8
with fairly even chances in the l:te7) 14. . ..Íit.g4 (or 14. . .�e6 1 S
game Miles-Korchnoi, Johan- a S 'ifc7 1 6 l2Je4 l:id8 1 7 liJeS
114 Counterattack Against the e4-pawn

�c8 with even chances, Tar­ 13 a5 suggests itself: 1 4 lbe4


..•

rasch-Capablanca, San Sebastian (or else 14 l:tac 1 'ifd6! 1 5 lt:Je4


1 9 1 1 ) 1 5 lt:Je5 'ii'xd4 1 6 lt:Jd6 'ilib4 and Black equalizes, Talav­
�e6 17 lt:Jxb7 lt:Jg6 1 8 Itad 1 era-Antunes, Barcelona 1 992)
'ilih4 1 9 g3 'ilih5 and here, in­ 14 .. .'iib6 1 5 lt:Jc3 'iixb3 1 6
stead of 20 lt:Jxc6 lt:Jdf4! with a �xb3 h6 17 lt:Jxd5 lt:Jxd5 1 8
strong attack to Black, as played �xd5 cd 19 Ite7 l1a6 lf2-lh
in Sveshnikov-Chekhov, Sochi Mestel-Hort, Hastings 1 977/8.
1 983, 20 lt:Jxg6 would have 14 lbe4 �fS
maintained the balance. 1S 'ii'a3 h6
e) 13...lt:Jb6 14 �d3 �f5 (or 16 Itacl
14 ... lt:Jf5 15 'ii'a 3 lt:Jd5 16 Itad 1 A routine move. 16 aS would
lt:Jh4 17 lt:Je5 f6 1 8 lt:Jc4 �g4 1 9 have been better. Now Black
Itc 1 with somewhat better chan­ gains the possibility of fixing the
ces for White, Sveshnikov­ weakness on b4.
Smagin, Moscow 1 983) 1 5 lt:Jc5 16 aS!
�xd3 1 6 'ii'xd3 'ii'c7 17 lt:Jg5 11 liJes �xe4
lbg6 1 8 h4 Itfd8 1 9 lt:Jxh7 Wxh7 18 Itxe4 lt:JfS (D)
20 h5 with an attack, Manca­
Marin, Budapest 1 990.
13 ... ltb8
After the routine 13 ... 'ii'b6
White seizes the initiative even
after queens have been ex­
changed. For example, Choui­
nard-Leveille, corr. 1 987, is in­
structive: 14 aS 'ii'xb3 1 5 lbxb3
ltd8 1 6 lbc5 l1b8 17 lt:Je5 Wf8
1 8 Ita3 b6 1 9 ab ab 20 It.f3 f6
(not 20... bc? because of 2 1
It.xt7 + We8 22 l:.g7) 2 1 lt:Je4
Wg8 22 lt:Jxf6+! gf 23 Itxf6 �d7 19 'ii'h 3?!
24 Ite3 �e8 25 l:.g3+ lt:Jg6 26 White has overestimated his
h4 'itg7 27 Itf5 lbe7 28 l:.fg5 chances on the kingside. 19 'iff3
Itxd4! 29 h5, although Black would have been more careful,
preserves defensive possibilities. and now in the event of 19 ...lt:Jd6
14 'ii'a3 is not bad either: 20 �xd5 lt:Jxe4 2 1 �xe4 'iixd4
14 ... lt:Jg6 1 5 aS 'ii'd8 1 6 lt:Je4 the bishop is defended and
lt:Jgf4 1 7 a6 b6 1 8 lt:Je5 �d7 2 1 White can play 22 lt:Jg4.
'ii'd6 and White has the prefer­ 19 lt:Jd6
able chances, Low-Mandl, Bava­ 20 �xdS lt:Jxe4
rian Ch 1 99 1 . 21 �xe4 'ii'xd4
Counterattack Against the e4-pawn 1 15

22 'ii'fS g6 Game 36
23 'ii'f4 Zude-Spassky
23 lLlxg6 is useless: 23 ... fg 24 Bundesliga 1990
'ii'xg6+ 'ii'g7.
23 .•. Ir.beS 1 e4 eS 2 ltJf3 ltJc6 3 ii.c4
24 ltJg4 fS ii.c5 4 c3 lLlf6 5 d4 ed 6 cd
25 'ii'xh6 ii.b4+
25 lLlxh6+? 1l;g7 26 lLlxf5+ 7 lLlc3 lLlxe4
l:r.xf5 leads to a lost position. Black runs into defmite prob­
25 ... 'ii'g7! lerns after 7.. d5 8 ed lLlxdS 9
.

Depriving White of every il­ 0-0 (D).


lusion, after which the game
moves into an ordinary ending,
where Black's advantage, given
the weakness of the queenside
pawns, is obvious.
26 ii.xfS gf
27 'ii'xg7+ cJiixg7
28 tbe3 :es
29 h3
29 lLlc4 l:r.c5 30 l::tc3 looks
more stubbom, but after 3 1 ...b5
32 ah eh 33 lLlxa5 l::.xc3 34 be
l:r.c8 the passed b-pawn wins.
But now the black rook domi­ a) The most notable game
nates the central files, and the with this theme was Steinitz-Von
game concluded as follows: Bardeleben, from the Hastings
29...f4 30 ltJg4 l:r.e4 31 b3 toumament of 1 895: 9 ... ii.e6 10
l:r.d8 32 �h2 l:r.b4 33 l:r.c3 l:r.dS ii.gS ii.e7 1 1 ii.xdS ii.xdS 12
34 g3 l:r.d2 35 gf l:r.xf4 36 l:r.e3 ltJxdS 'ii'xdS 13 ii.xe7 lLlxe7 14
l:r.b4 37 l:r.eS l:r.xb3 38 l:r.xaS l:r.dS :el f6 15 'ii'e2 'ii'd 7:
39 .:.as l:r.d4 40 tbe3 l:td2 41 a 1) After 16 l:r.acl :
'itg3 l:ta2 a l l ) Play continued 1 6...c6 1 7
After losing the a4-pawn d5 ! cd 1 8 ltJd4 1f;f7 1 9 ltJe6
White has no hope of obtaining l:r.hc8 20 'ii'g4 g6 2 1 lLlg5+ �eS
anything from the game. (D).
42 h4 l:r.b4 43 hS l:r.axa4 44 22 l;txe7+ �f8 (a more mun­
l:td8 :as 45 l:r.d7+ �h6 46 dane loss follows 22 ...<:Ji;xe7 23
ltJg4+ 'iti>xhS 47 f3 l:tgS 48 l:th7+ l:te 1 + �d6 24 'ii'M+ l:tc5 25
�g6 49 l:th6+ r3ilg7 50 l:le6 <iti17 l:r.e6+ or 24...1l;c7 25 ltJe6+ 'itb8
51 l:th6 eS 52 f4 l:lg6 53 l:hS 26 'ii'f4+) 23 l:r.f7+! �g8 24
l:tbl 0-1 l:r.g7+! �h8 25 l:r.xh7+! 1 -0.
1 1 6 Counterattack Against the e4-pawn

e) 9 .lLlxc3 10 be il..e7 (in the


..

event of 10 ... il..xc3? 1 1 'i!lb3 !


il..xa 1 1 2 il..xf7+ <j;f8 1 3 il..a3+
lLle7 14 il..h5 15 lbg5 White is
winning) 1 1 l:te 1 0-0 12 lbe5
lbxe5 1 3 lixe5 il..f6 14 l:te 1 ! ?
(after 14 ID15 g6 1 5 il..d 3 il.. g7!
White's attack reaches a dead
end) and White's chances are
preferable.
d) 9...il.. xc3 10 be 0-0 1 1 l:te1
b5 12 .td3 h6 1 3 lLle5 lbxe5 1 4
ltxe5 lbxc3 1 5 'ilid2 b4 1 6 il..c2
a l2) Later it was established with initiative for the pawn, Mo­
that Black should have played rales-Arencibia, Sagua la Grande
16 ...'ltf7! and, as Réti showed, in 1989.
the event of 17 'ili'xe7+? ! 'fixe7 8 0-0 il..xc3
1 8 llxe7+ <j;xe7 1 9 l:lxc7+ <it>d6! After 8...0-0?! White can at­
20 l:i.xg7 l!he8! followed by tack the centre energetically: 9
.. .'f1e7 he would have achieved a d5 ! il..xc3 10 be lLle7 1 1 l:te1
better garue. However, we ltJf6 12 d6 lt::\g6 1 3 il.. a 3 c6 14
should note that White can try to liJeS tbxe5 1 5 l:txe5 Spielmann­
make more use of his advantage Cohn, Karlsbad 1907.
in development by means of 17 8 ... tDxc3 9 be (D) is not
lLlgS or 17 lLle5. enough for equality either. No
a2) But Romanovsky's con­ bishop move works:
tinuation 16 dS! is now consid­
ered stronger, and if 1 6... <j;f7 17
�ad 1 , then both 17....f:.ad8 18
'i'e6+, and 17. . .lbxd5 1 8 lLlg5+!
fg 19 'ii'f3+ lead to an advantage
for White.
Black is not promised a quiet
life after other continuations ei­
ther.
b) 9 lLlb6?! 10 .l:te 1 il..e7 1 1
••.

.i.b3 0-0 1 2 d5 lLla5 1 3 il.. c2


lLlac4 14 'fid3 f5 15 il..b 3 lbd6
1 6 il.. f4 lbd7 1 7 'ti'e3 ltf7 1 8
l2Jd4 lLlf6 1 9 l:tad1 and White's a) 9...-taS? 1 0 l:te1 + tbe7 1 1
position is preferable, Steinitz­ tbg5 0-0 12 �5 and White is
Blackburne, Nuremberg 1 896. winning.
Counterattack Against the e4-pawn 1 1 7

b) 9...i.e7? 1 0 dS lbaS 1 1 d6! the Danish theoretician Moller's


ed (or l l ...i.xd6 12 l:.e l + i.e7 attaek, whilst befare this players
1 3 i.g4 f6 14 i.xf6! winning) 12 used 9 be d5 ! , and the last test of
i.xf7+ Wxf7 1 3 'it'dS+ �fS 14 that eontinuation oeeurred in
liJgS 'ii'eS lS 'ii'aS h6 1 6 'ii'fS+ Steinitz-Lasker, Moseow Weh
with an advantage to White, as in 1 S96f7. Steinitz offered a pieee
the game Sehleehter-Walther, saerifiee: 1 O i.a3 de 1 1 .l:.e 1 and
Vienna 1 9S6. in the frrst game managed to
e) 9.. i.xe3? 10 i.a3 ! dS (or
. gain eompensation after l l .fS ..

1 0... d6 1 1 :c 1 i.aS 12 'ii'a4 a6 12 liJd2 cJ;;;f7 1 3 lbxe4 fe 14


1 3 i.dS i.b6 1 4 l:.xe6 i.d7 l S l:.xe4 'ii'f6 1 S 'ii'e2, but in the
:e l + �fS 1 6 :xd6!) 1 1 i.bS third game, when l l i.e6 12
...

i.xa l 12 l:.e l + i.e6 1 3 'ii'a4 �xe4 'ir'dS 1 3 'iie2 0-0-0 14 liJeS


l:.bS 14 liJeS and White wins l:.heS was played, Blaek achie­
(analysis by Keres). ved a clear advantage.
d) But even after the strongest
move 9 d5! 10 eb de 1 1 :el+
...

lbe7 very attentive play is de­


manded of Blaek:
d l) 12 'ii'e2 i.e6 1 3 i.gS 'ii'd7
(after 1 3 .. .'ii dS Bogoljubow ree­
ommended attaeking by means
of 1 4 i.xe7 �xe7 l S 'ii'e2! f6 1 6
liJgS ! fg 1 7 :es 'ii'xd4 1 S :X.ae1 )
14 iWeS e 6 1 S 'ii'xg7 0-0-0 1 6
lbes 'ir'dS 1 7 'ir'f6 liJg6 1 S h4
:hgS 1 9 lbxg6 hg 20 :ae 1 bS
2 1 a4 and White has the ehanees,
as in the game Rosenzweig­ 9 ... lbes
Miehalek, eorr. 1 9S6. The best eontinuation for
d2) 12 i.gS f6 1 3 'iie2 i.g4 Blaek is thought to be 9 i.f6 ...

(the dangerous 1 3 .. .fg 14 'ii'xe4 (we will examine it in subse­


gives White a strong attaek, and quent games in this chapter), but
Blaek's life is no easier after knight moves have their good
1 3 ... bS 14 'ii'e4 i.d7 1 S i.f4 :es points.
1 6 dS !) 14 i.f4 �f7 1 S 'iixe4+ We shall also look at other
liJdS 1 6 lbd2! i.e6 1 7 i.g3 :es eontinuations which are seen in
1 S lbe4 and Blaek has quite a the Moller Attaek.
few diffieulties to overeome a) 9 lbe7 10 be 0-0 1 1 lle1
...

(analysis by Sakharov). lbd6 (the retreat 1 l ...liJf6, as


9 dS! (D) played in the game Leonhardt­
This move is eharaeteristie of Berger, Karlsbad 1 907, ended in
118 Counterattack Against the e4-pawn

White's favour after 1 2 d6! cd 'it'd3 .ltf6 and received no corn­


13 .lta3 b5 14 .ltb3 .ltb7 1 5 pensation for the pawn.
'ii'xd6 lt:Jg6 1 6 lt:Je5 lt:Jxe5 1 7 10 ••• lt:Jxc4
l:.Xe5) 1 2 .ltd3 h6 1 3 c4 lbe8 1 4 11 'it'd4 0-0
.ltb2 d6 1 5 'ii'c2 (here Moller ll lt:Jcd6? does not work: 1 2
...

recomrnended the more precise 'ii'xg7 'ii'f6 1 3 'ii'xf6 lt:Jxf6 14


plan of li:Jf3-d4, .ltd3-c2, and l:te1 + �f8 1 5 .lth6+ �g8 16
'ii'd 1 -d3) 1 5 ... .ltd7 1 6 l:te3 c5 1 7 l:te5 li:Jfe4 17 l:te1 f6 1 8 'IJ.e7
l:tae 1 and White's initiative is with a powerful attack, Durao­
well worth a pawn, Dernuth­ Ferrera, Seville 1 994.
Loonnides, Szornbathely 1 99 1 . It is interesting to note that for
b) 9 . .lta5 1 0 de be 1 1 lt:Je5
. . alrnost 100 years the evaluation
(in Maroczy-Janowski, Karlsbad of ll ...fS! has rernained un­
1 907, White played the weaker shaken. Schlechter-Meitner, Vi­
1 1 'it'a4 .ltb6 1 2 .ltxf7+ �xf7 1 3 enna 1 899, continued 12 'ii'xc4
'it'xe4 d5 14 'it'a4 l:te8 1 5 'it'xc6 d6 1 3 li:Jd4 0-0 14 f3 li:Jf6
and here according to Maroczy's (Lasker considered 14... lt:Jc5 1 5
analysis Black could have l:te1 �h8 sufficient for equality)
achieved an advantage by rneans 15 .ltg5 h6 1 6 .lth4 g5 1 7 j_f2
of 1 5 ... .ltg4! 1 6 a4 'illd7 17 �g7 1 8 l:tfe1 .ltd7 19 'it'b3 c5
'ii'xa8 .ltxf3) 1 l ...li:Jd6 12 'it'g4 and Black had a playable garne.
'ii'f6 1 3 b4 'ii'xe5 14 .ltf4 'ii'f6 1 5 12 'ii'xc4
.ltg5 'it'g6 1 6 l:tfe 1 + �f8 17 A choice of knights! Here
iie7+ �g8 1 8 .ltxd6 .ltb7 1 9 White preferred the left hand
'it'xd7 h 5 2 0 .ltc5 with a n advan­ one, but in Dzindzichashvili­
tage to White (Moller). Karpov, Mazatlan rpd 1 988, he
e) 9 .li:Jd6 10 de .ltf6 (or
.. chose the one on the right 12 -

10 ... lt:Jxc4 1 1 'ii'e2+ 'ii'e7 12 'ii'xe4 b5 1 3 a4 c6 14 ab cb 1 5


'ii'xc4 .lta5 13 ..tg5 f6 14 l:tae 1 ! ) 'ii'd4 li:Jb6 1 6 .lte3 d6 and sirni­
1 1 l:te 1 + .lte7 12 .ltg5 f6 1 3 li:Je5 larly gained nothing of any sub­
�f8 14 cd ..txd7 1 5 li:Jxd7 'ii'xd7 stance.
1 6 ..th4 and White is better 12 ... li:Jd6
(Moller). 13 'ii'f4
d) 9 lbas 10 .ltd3 lt:Jc5 1 1 be
••• 13 'it'd3 deserved attention.
li:Jxd3 12 'it'xd3 0-0 1 3 lt:Jg5 g6 Here the queen is not only in
14 'ilfh3 h5 1 5 lt:Je4 and White better harrnony with the bishop,
has a better position (Moller). but in the event of 1 3 ...'JJ.e8
10 be White can prepare to exchange
In Baranov-Grigoriev, Mos­ rooks after 14 .ltd2.
cow 1 920, White played the un­ 13 'JJ.e8
fortunate 10 'ii'e 2?! 0-0 1 1 lt:Jxe5 14 l:te1 %lxe1+
.ltxe5 1 2 'it'e4 d6 1 3 f4 f5 ! 14 15 lt:Jxe1 (D)
Counterattack Against the e4-pawn 1 19

The presence of opposite­


coloured bishops does not al­
ways guarantee a draw. Here
queens are still on the board, and
so the side with the initiative is
in effect playing with an extra
attacking unit. In this situation
the pawn weaknesses on d5 and
c7 are not equal, as the d5-pawn
turns out to be the object of an
attack. Spassky knows how to
make use of this circurnstance.
28 'ii'b4 .i.b7 29 e4 eS!
1S ... bS! Transforming an abstract ad­
A finesse in the style of the vantage into a material one.
young Spassky. Black underlines 30 de 'ii'xe6 31 f3 be 32 'ii'aS
the weakness of the d5-pawn and .tes 33 a3 .i.d7 34 .i.e3 h6 3S
guarantees an excellent home on 'ii'd8+
c4 for the knight. A superfluous check. White's
16 .i.e3 .i.b7 17 l:td1 ltJe4 18 defensive plan should involve
ltJe2 d6 19 .i.d4 f6 20 ltJe3 centralizing the queen with 'i'a5-
ltJxe3 21 .i.xe3 'ii'd 7 22 'i'b4 aS a7-d4, or 'ii'a5-b4-b2-d2. lt
23 'ilb3 .i.a6 24 h3 I;leS 2S 'f'ia3 would also be useful to bring up
l:te4! the king to f2. However, White
A clever way of mobilizing plays inaccurately, and allows
the rook. The a5-pawn cannot be Spassky to land a killing blow.
touched because this would lose 3S...<&ti17 36 'ii'aS <itg6 37
the queen. 'i'a7? (D)
26 l:td4 I:.xd4 27 .i.xd4 a4 (D) 37 <itf2 was necessary.
120 Counterattack Against the e4-pawn

37 ... �xh3! 38 gxh3 1i'xf3 39 a) ll ... tt:Jas? is weak: 12 �d3


'i'd7 d6 13 g4 c5 14 g5 �e7 15 �d2
With the naive hope of a per­ b6 16 'i'e2 �f5 17 �el ! and
petual check (39 .. .'ti'xc3? 40 White gains a material advan­
'i'g4+, etc.), when he should tage, Thomas-Markwell, corr.
have been centralizing his queen 1 966.
with 39 'i'd4. Now the pair of b) ll ...lt:Je7 is more logical:
central passed pawns begins b 1) 12 d6! cd (after 12 ... lbg6
counter-activity and become ir­ White can attack with 1 3 h4! ,
repressible. and not 1 3 ... lt:Jxh4 because of 14
39...dS! 40 'ii'e6 d4! 41 �b4 lt:Jxh4 �xh4 1 5 'i'h5 �f6 1 6 de
e3 42 'i'e8+ �h7 43 1i'el fS 44 'i'xc7 17 'ii'xf7+!) 13 �g5 (the
�h2 'ii'e4 4S �xe3 de 46 1i'xe3 miniature Euwe-Van Mindeno,
hS 47 'i'd2 'ii'eS+ 0-1 Netherlands 1 926/7, has a sirni­
lar theme: 1 3 'iixd6 lt:Jf5 14 'i'd5
Game 37 d6? 1 5 �g5 �xg5 1 6 lt:Jxg5
Rufenaeht-Smit 'iixg5 17 'iixf7+ 1 -0, but after
corr. 1991 instead 14... lt:Je7 Black could
have counted on even chances)
1 e4 eS 2 lt:Jf3 lt:Je6 3 �e4 13 ... lt:Jg6 14 'i'd5! and White's
�eS 4 e3 lt:Jf6 S d4 ed 6 ed chances are preferable.
�b4+ 7 lt:Je3 lt:Jxe4 8 0-0 �xe3 b2) 12 g4 is along the lines of
9 dS the Bayonet Attack discussed
9 •.• �f6 below. Black should then play
10 �el lt:Je7 12 ... d6, transposing to the main
10...0-0?! is premature, and line. Instead:
after 11 llxe4 (D) difficulties b2 1 ) 12 ... g6?, attempting to
will arise for Black in the further fianchetto, is unsuccessful: 1 3
development of his pieces. �h6 �g7 14 �g5 �e8 1 5 'i'e2
�f8 1 6 l:te1 f6 1 7 d6 and White
gains a decisive advantage, Pusz­
ta-Kmetovics, Budapest 1964.
b22) 12...lt:Jg6 is not suffi­
ciently fire-resistant: 1 3 d6! cd
14 g5 d5 (after 14... �e5 White
can continue the attack with 1 5
lt:Jh4, intending f4 or 'ii'h5) 1 5
'iixd5 �e7 1 6 �d2 d6 1 7 �c3
'iib6 1 8 �ae1 �e6 (if 18 ... �d8
19 �e8 �e6, then 20 �1xe6!) 1 9
�xe6! lt:Jf4 2 0 �e7 lt:Jxd5 2 1
�xd5 and White has more than
Counterattack Against the e4-pawn 121

enough compensation for the 'iVg2 b6 23 .Uad1 .Ue7 24 'ii'h2


queen, Gereben-Sillye, Budapest tL!eS with a double-edged game,
1 947. as in Ingolotti-Donoso, Tucuman
11 l:txe4 d6 1 97 1 .
12 g4 (D) 1 3 gS .tes
14 ltJxeS (D)

Schlechter's so-called Bayo­


net Attack is an off-shoot of the 14 .•. i..fS!
Moller Attack (the main line is An important zwischenzug,
1 2 i..g S, considered in the next bringing the bishop into an ac­
two games). However, the ag­ tive position. Befare this, 14 ... de
gressive pawn move also creates 1S .UxeS ltJg6 was generally
a weakness in White's kingside, played, with Black still achiev­
and with accurate defence by ing good counterplay:
Black, problems can arise for a) 16 .Uel ¡vd6 17 'ii'd4 i..fS
White. 1 8 b4?! f6! and Black's position
12 ... 0-0 is better, Balbi-Redondo, Buenos
Sometimes 12...h6 is played, Aires 1 992.
and although after 1 3 h4 White's b) 16 .Ue4 i.. fS 17 �d4 liJeS
attack looks terrifying, it is not 1 8 i..e2 f6! 19 f4 liJf7 20 h4 fg
so easy for him to punch a hale 2 1 fg liJd6 and both sides have
in Black's defences, for example chances, Puszta-Bottlik, Buda­
13 ... 0-0 ( 1 3 .. .'it>f8 14 hS c6! pest 1 964.
'stops White dead in his tracks' 1S lle3 de
according to Botterill) 14 gS hg 16 �heS 'ii'd7
I S hg .teS 1 6 ltJxeS de 1 7 �heS 17 b4?
ltJg6 1 8 .Ue 1 (regrouping with 1 8 The position demands fmn re­
l:.e4 i.. fS 1 9 lld4 also deserves salve, but this straightforward
attention) 1 8 ...'ii'd6 1 9 'ii'd4 cS attempt to use the bishop on the
20 'ii'e4 i.. d7 2 1 i..e3 .Uae8 22 long diagonal is unrealistic. It
122 Counterattack Against the e4-pawn

would have been worth looking next game.


at 17 'ti'f3 (with the threat of
.l:.xe7) 17 ....l:.ae8 1 8 .i.e3.
17 tbg6
18 .l:.e3 .l:.ae8
19 'ti'd4 .l:.xe3
20 fe?
Here 20 .i.xe3 was necessary,
but White persists with his plans.
20 ... ¡¡e7
21 .i.b2?
An oversight, but 21 h4 .l:.e8
22 .i.b5 c6 23 de .l:.d8! would not
have saved him either.
21 'ti'xgS+ 13 -i.fS? is a mistake because
.•.

22 <;Íi>h1 tbh4 of 14 'ti'f3 ! .


0-1 14 tbxh7 �xh7
Theoretical manuals devote
Game 38 attention to the principal short­
Duebali-Pachman comings of the Moller Attack -
Berlin 1992 the fact that Black has the pos­
sibility of avoiding the most im­
1 e4 eS 2 tbf3 tbc6 3 .i.c4 portant analysis by declining the
.teS 4 c3 tbf6 S d4 ed 6 cd knight sacrifice with 14 -tfS
.•.

.i.b4+ 7 tbc3 tbxe4 8 0-0 .i.xc3 (D), after which simplifications


9 dS jLf6 10 .l:.e1 tbe7 1 1 .l:.xe4 are almost forced, and the posi­
d6 tion takes on a safe character.
12 .i.gS
The main continuation in the
Moller Attack.
12 ... jLxgS
Both 12 ... 0-0? 1 3 .i.xf6 gf 14
¡jd2 tbg6 1 5 .l:.ae1 Spielmann­
Duras, Karlsbad 1 907, and
12 ... -i.fS? 1 3 .i.b5+ �f8 14 .l:.f4
Levig-Thornmy, Libverda 1 934,
are clearly in White's favour.
13 tbxgS 0-0 (D)
An old and thoroughly inves­
tigated continuation. More re­
cently 13 h6 has been played,
•.• Here are the main lines:
and this will be examined in the a) 1S .l:.xe7 ¡¡xe7 1 6 tbxf8
Counterattack Against the e4-pawn 123

:xf8 17 .l:.cl ( 17 'ti'd2 is weaker: 17 ...


17oo.'�e4! 1 8 .l:.c l .l:.e8 with full 18 .l:.h6!
control over the e-file, Cam­ Black is threatening to capture
pidel-Blauert, Krumbach 1 991) the queen after ooolbg60
17oooc5 ! 1 8 .l:.c3 .l:.e8 1 9 .l:.e3 'ti'd7 18 ... .l:.g8
and Black's position is prefer­ The only move which allows
able, Tiroler-Bottlik, Budapest Black to hold the positiono Both
1 9630 18 ... i.d7 and 18..�e8 lose due
b) 15 .l:.h4 .l:.e8! 16 'ti'h5 to 1 9 i.e2o
(Keres recommended 1 6 lbg5 19 .l:.e1 (D)
lZJg6 1 7 .l:.h5, but after 1 7ooo'ti'd7
1 8 h3 lbe5 Black's chances are
preferable) 16ooolbg6 1 7 .l:.d4
.l:.e5 1 8 f4 (the rebound 1 8 lbg5
is easily parried by 1 8ooo'ti'f6 1 9
h4 .l:.ae8 2 0 lbf3 .l:.e4, to Black's
advantage, Thorhallsson-Schüss­
ler, Reykjavik 1 986) 18ooolbf4 1 9
.:.xf4 i.g6 2 0 'ti'f3 �xh7 with a
reliable position for Black, Pir­
rot-Chiburdanidze, Baden-Baden
1 9870
15 'ti'h5+ � g8
16 .l:.h4 f5! 19 ... 'lt>f8
17 'ti'h7+ Recommended by Bogol­
After 17 .tih3 f4! it is best for jubow as a way of continuing the
White to force a draw with 1 8 game, in order to avoid the for­
'ilh7+ � fl 1 9 'ilh5+ (in Rogers­ ced draw after 19...'ti'f8 (prob­
GOGarcia, Philadelphia 1 986, ably the safest move) 20 i.b5 (in
after 19 .l:.f3 lbf5 20 .l:.f4 'ti'g5 2 1 the event of 20 i.e2 Black can
g3 i.d7? 22 i.b5 White was start playing for a win: 200 o o �e8
successful, but as Rogers show­ 2 1 i.b5+ �d8! 22 .l:.f6 gf 23
ed, after 2 l ..o'ti'g6! 22 'ti'xg6+ .l:.xe7 c6! 24 de be 25 i.xc6
�xg6 23 i.d3+ 'lt>h6 24 g4 �g5 ! 'ti'xe7) 20oool:th8! 2 1 'ti'xh8 gh 22
he would have had to play a 'ilh7+ �f6 23 .l:.xe7 'ti'xe7 24
worse ending) 19ooog6 ( 1 9ooo�g8 'ti'xh6+ with a perpetua! check.
is also sufficient for the draw) 20 lf 19...i.d7?, then 20 .l:.ee6!
'ilh7+ �e8 2 1 lte 1 (2 1 i.d3? i.xe6 2 1 de+ 'lt>e8 22 .l:.g6! winso
loses because of 2 1 .. oi.f5) 20 .l:.h3! i.d7
2 l ..oi.h3 22 i.b5+ i.d7 23 20...f4 does not work because
'ifg6+ :n 24 'ti'g8+ lf2-lh Pan­ of 2 1 .l:.h4! g5 22 lth6 lZJf5 23
taleoni-Bertino, corro 1 9870 .l:.e8+! and it is irnpossible for
124 Counterattack Against the e4-pawn

Black to avoid mate. mobilizing the rook as quickly as


21 l:the3 b5?! possible. After 28 ... a4 29 'ti'a5 or
Black is playing with fire. In­ 28 ... b4 29 'ti'e3 the queen would
stead he can force a draw: break through into the black
21 ...tiJe8 must be answered by ranks, and he would not be able
22 ..i.d3 ! g6 (if 22 .. .'ti'f6, then 23 to support the numerous pawn
..i.xf5 'ti'xf5 24 l:te8+ is strong) weaknesses at once.
23 h4! l:tg7 24 'ii'h8+ .:gs, etc. 29 fg l:txg5 30 'ti'xa5 f4 31
22 ..i.b3 aS? rj;;f2 f3 32 gf l:th6 33 ..i.e4
Given the presence of pawn l:txh2+ 34 rj;;e3 l:txb2?
weaknesses it was necessary for Allowing Whlte to co-ordinate
Black to preserve his queen by his queen and bishop, and so
playing 22... tiJe8 followed by gain a material advantage. He
... 'ti'd8-f6. should have set a barrier in
23 l:txe7 'ti'xe7 place, if only temporarily:
24 l:txe7 rj;;xe7 34 ... l:tgg2 35 'ti'c3 rj;;e7.
25 ..i.e2 :ars 35 'ti'e3 l:tgg2 36 ¡vh8+ rj;;e7
26 f4! rj;;d8 (D) 37 ¡vh4+ rj;;e8 38 ..i.g6+!
A deflection!
38...l:hg6 39 'iih8+ rj;;e7 40
'iixb2 l:tg5 41 f4 .:.rs
The f5-pawn is inviolate
(4 1 ...l:txd5?? 42 'ti'g7+ 'it>e6 43
'ii'g 8). The technical phase of the
endgame is beginning. The pas­
sed f-pawn plays an important
role, by binding up the black
pieces.
42 'ti'h8 .:.rs 43 'ti'e3 rj;;d8 44
'tig7 rj;;e8 45 a3 l:tt7 46 'ti'h8+
l:tf8 47 'ii'd4 l:tf5 48 'ii'a7 eS 49
The sad result of Black's de ..i.xe6 50 'ti'c7 1-0
'activity' on his 2 1st and 22nd
moves is that the white pawns on Game 39
d5 and f4 each stifle a pair of Nyffeler-Kovacs
black pawns, and the rooks are corr. 1989
chained to defending the remain­
ing pawns. Meanwhile the queen 1 e4 eS 2 liJO tiJc6 3 d4 ed 4
has a free hand. ..i.c4 ..i.c5 5 c3 tiJf6 6 ed ..i.xb4+
27 'ti'h4+ !;1f6 7 tüe3 tüxe4 8 0-0 ..i.xe3 9 d5
28 'ti'e1 g5 ..i.f6 10 l:te1 ttJe7 11 l:txe4 d6 12
Black's only chance líes in ..i.g5 ..i.xg5 13 tüxg5
Counterattack Against the e4-pawn 125

13 ... h6 (D) 1t.c4 c6 19 :e7+) 17 !Df3 White


preserves long-term pressure.

14 �e2
Other continuations are also The proof that White's chan­
possible. We can irnmediately ces had been overestirnated carne
exclude the straightforward 14 in the game Barczay-Portisch,
!Dxf7? <J;;xfl 1 5 �f3+ !Df5 ! Hungary 1969, where Black ex­
when White has got nowhere: 16 changed bishops: 15 ... 1t.xb5! 1 6
g4 :f8 17 gf <J;;g 8. �xb5+ 'ii'd7 17 'W!Ve2 (later
14 �hS remains a blank shot White tried both 17 �d3 hg 1 8
if Black coldbloodedly castles: l:.ael 0-0 19 �xe7 l:.fe8, Wolff­
14 ... 0-0 1 5 l:.ae l !Df5, repulsing Lau, corr. 1 97 1 , and 1 7 'W!Vxb7
the threat. But after the impul­ 0-0 1 8 :ael !Dg6! 1 9 !Df3 l::.tb8,
sive 14 ... g6?, which occurred in Levin-Idema, corr. 1 979, without
Treybal-Engler, Prague 1 908, any particular success) 1 7 ...<J;;f8 !
White's attack is irresistible: 1 5 ( 1 7 ... hg 1 8 l::.e l 0-0-0 1 9 l:.xe7
�f3 hg 1 6 :ae l :h4 1 7 �f6 �f5 is also entirely feasible) 1 8
l:.xe4 1 8 l::.xe4 1Lf5 1 9 .i.b5+ c6 !Dxfl (this sacrifice loses, but
20 de 1t.xe4 2 1 c7+, etc. after 1 8 �5 !Dxd5 1 9 !Dh7+
At one time the following rJ;;g8 ! Black's advantage is again
continuation was considered obvious) 1 8 .. .'it>xf7 19 :el !Dg8 !
good for White: 14 .tbS+ .td7 20 l:.e6 <J;;f8! 21 f4 !Df6 22 l::.e7
(not 14 ... c6? because of 1 5 l:te8 23 l:txe8+ �xe8 24 'Wif2
!Dxfl! <J;;xfl 1 6 �f3+ <J;;g6 17 �5 0- 1 .
1t.d3) 15 �e2 (D) (or 1 5 �a4 14 ... hg
1t.xb5). Black may include the moves
Now Black, on the recom­ 14....tf5 1 5 l:.e3 befare continu­
mendation of Euwe, could play ing 1 5 ... hg 1 6 .l:.el , but after
15...'itf8, but after 16 l::.e l !Dg6 16 ...it.e6 White has an extra
(or 1 6 ... !Dxd5 17 !Dxfl <J;;xfl 1 8 tempo in comparison with the
126 Counterattack Against the e4-pawn

game, whilst if 16...'it>f8 17 �xe7 24 'iid3 1Th8 with approximate


it.e6 White gains a clear advan­ equality, Pyhala-Dobrovolsky,
tage following 1 8 llxe6 fe 19 de, Odessa 1 989) 23 ...�7 24 'ií'c3
Sestovac-Hress, Zagreb 1 982. 'ii'b4 with chances for both sirles,
15 1Ie1 Videki-Petran, Ajka 1 99 1 .
After 15 �b5+, both 15...'it>f8 e) There is also the very
16 �el f6, and 15...�d7 16 l:te 1 popular 17 ... c6 18 l1h3 .U.xh3 19
it.xb5 1 7 l:í.xe7+ 'it>f8 are good gh g6! (D) (White develops a
enough for Black. dangerous attack after the con­
15 . .
. it.e6! tinuation 1 9 .. .'ii a 5?! 20 'ii'h5+
This move and subsequent 'it>d8 2 1 lld1 'ti'c5 22 'ii'h8+ 'it>c7
analysis, which gave the green 23 'ií'xg7 d5 24 "Yixf6 de 25
light to the entire variation with Itd7+).
1 3 ... h6, was first published in the
magazine Shakhmaty v SSSR in
1 936 by the theoretician I.Zek.
16 de f6!
In Ribas-Barajona, Chile
1 990, Black successfully tried
16 ...f5 17 .f:e3 g4 18 l:!g3?! d5
1 9 it.d3 'ii'd6, but if White had
played 18 h3!, then the excessive
weakness of the kingside would
have spoken volurnes.
17 I:te3 d5
This continuation was from
the beginning considered the Practica} tests of this position
main line of this variation. show that Black can count on
Other continuations are also consolidating and preserving his
used: material advantage:
a) We will immediately note e l ) 20 �d3 'ii'a5 2 1 b4 'ii'e5
that 17 . .tt:'lg6? ! is a waste of
. 22 'ii'd l 'ii'c3 with an excellent
time: 1 8 'ii'c2 ! t:De7 1 9 :h3 ! game for Black, Suzuki-Geenen,
.f:xh3 20 gh f5 2 1 it.d3 c6 22 Novi Sad OL 1 990.
�xf5 t:Dxf5 23 'ii'xf5 and White c2) 20 .f:d1 'it>f8 (if 20... t:Df5,
is better, Sorri-Diaconescu, corr. then 2 1 it.d3 t:Dh4 22 �xg6+
1 985. 'it>e7 23 it.e4 is possible, with the
b) Another possibility for threat of 'iie2-h5) 2 1 h4 gh 22
Black involves the immediate 1:d4 'it>g7 23 it.d3 'ilie7 24 lhh4
17. .c;t>rs 1 8 :h3 �xh3 1 9 gh g6
. 'ir'a5 and Black had managed to
20 'ii'f3 'it>g7 21 'ii'xb7 "ií'c8 22 repulse the direct threats (e.g. 25
'ii'f3 .f:b8 23 it.b3 (or 23 b3 'ii'b7 'ilie3 'ii'g5+) in Rahrnan-Marin,
Counterattack Against the e4-pawn 127

Novi Sad OL 1 990. and in the event of 2 l ...c6?


c3) 20 b4 �f8 (after 20 ...'t'ib6 White detonates the position: 22
2 1 'iib2? ! 0-0-0 22 bS .l:lf8 23 a4 .ixc6+! be 23 'iixc6+ �f8 24
¡vas in Szecsi-Szarka corr. 1 987, e7+! tt:Jxe7 2S 'iixf6+ �e8 26
the complications favoured .:xe7+! winning, Janssen-Polzin,
Black, but after 2 1 'iid2 0-0-0 22 Hannover 1 987.
a4 dS 23 .ifl a double-edged
position arises; after 20... dS there
is the possibility of 2 1 'iif3 ¡vd6
22 ¡vxf6 0-0-0 23 .id3 'iixb4 24
l:.b 1 ¡vd6 2S .ixg6 with enough
compensation for the pawn,
Schafer-Hagemann, Germany
1 992) 2 1 �h 1 dS 22 .id3 ¡vd6
with chances for both sides, Xu
Yang-Herrera, Antwerp 1 992.
c4) 20 ¡vd2 �f8 2 1 h4 gh 22
'Yi'h6+ �g8 23 'ií'xh4 �g7 and
Black consolidates his position,
preserving a material advantage 21 'iixf6 ¡vf4!
(Soltis). It is worth noting a machine's
eS) 20 ¡vr3 ¡vas with a good decision: 21 0-0-0 22 .id3 d4
.•.

game for Black (Soltis). with possibilities for both sides,


18 .l:lh3 l:lxh3 Schulte-Mephisto "Vancouver",
In Szecsi-Heinrich, corr. 1986, Dortmund 1 992.
Black declined the exchange 22 'iih8+
with 18 ....l:lf8?! and after 19 .id3 White is looking for a more
¡vd6 20 �S+ �d8 2 1 'iif7 ! propitious endgame, as after 22
found himself in a critica! posi­ 'iixf4 gf 23 .id3 �f8 24 .l:leS
tion. �g7 2S .l:lxgS eS he organize his
19 gh g6 position.
20 'iif3 (D) 22 ... 'iif8
20 ... ¡vd6! 23 'iixf8+
As regards 20...f5?, which oc­ Or 23 'ifd4 'iif4 1h-1h Ninov-
curred in Szecsi-Tasnadi, corr. Stoinev, Sofia 1 992.
1 986, one might say that it clases 23 �xf8
the door on the queen, but lets 24 .id3 �g7
her in through the window: 2 1 25 �g2
'i!fc3 d4 22 'iib3 b6 2 3 'iibS �f8 We can sum up the result of
24 ¡ves �g8 2S ¡vf6. the opening (!) exchange of frre.
20. ti:Jf5 is not in the spirit of
.. Both players' pawns are in ruins
the position, as it allows 2 1 .idS, on the kingside, but Black has a
128 Counterattack Against the e4-pawn

more compact pawn forrnation 29 lixe6+ 'it>xe6 30 'it>xgS eS


on the queenside and his chances After 300 o o 'it>f7 3 1 h4 Black is
are thought to be preferableo This forced to observe passively the
is expressed in the following creation of a distant passed h­
variation: 25oooc5 ! 26 b3 :es 27 pawno
:el . White cannot allow the c­ 31 f4!
pawn to move, but having tied Not giving way to the tempta­
himself down to defending the tion of 3 1 ..txg6? lt:Jxg6 32
e6-pawn with 27oool:tc6, Black 'it>xg6 'it>e7 and it appears that
can prepare a pawn assault. the pawn ending is drawno
However, Black now gives 31 ... c4 32 ..txg6 lt:Jxg6 33
White sorne breathing space and <&t>xg6 <&t>e7 34 'it>fS?
allows his opponent to mobilize Allowing the pawn endingo
himselfo After 34 f5 d4 (not 34ooo�f8? 35
25 ...ltd8?! 26 'it>g3 :d6 27 h4, and one of the white pawns
'it>g4 'it>f6 28 l:te3 1he6? will break through to promote)
Allowing a transfer into a dif­ 35 'it>g7 c3 36 f6 'it>d7 37 be de
ficult minor-piece ending, whilst 38 f7 c2 39 fSjf e ¡¡f White
the rook ending after 28ooolt:Jf5 29 would have achieved a better
ltf3 d4 30 ..txf5 gf 3 1 :xf5+ queen endingo
'it>e6 32 :g5 :ds practically 34...d4 35 'it>e4 d3 36 'it>e3
guarantees a drawo •Jz-•/z
1 O The 4 0-0 Variation

Attacking the centre with the looking 6 ...0-0? (6 ...lt:Je6 7 ..ixe6


help of d2-d4 sometimes occurs fe 8 lZ'ld3 is more reliable, al­
after the development 1 e4 e5 2 though here as well White has an
lZ'lf3 lt:Jc6 3 ..ic4 ..ic5 4 0-0 lZ'lf6 advantage) 7 ..ie3 ! Black turns
(D). out to have a lost position, for
example 7 . 4Je6 8 ..ixe6 ..ixe3 9
..

..ixf7+ <it>h8 1 0 ..ib3 and he is an


exchange down, or 7 ... d5 8 ed b5
9 ..ixd4 ..ixd4 10 1ixd4 be 1 1
lZ'lc3 and he is two pawns in ar­
rears, Estrin-Ravinsky, Lenin­
grad 1 955.
Taking with the bishop is
considered best: 5 ... ..ixd4 6
lt:Jxd4 lt:Jxd4, after which as
compensation for the pawn
White gains the advantage of the
two bishops, and he can carry
In this position, besides sym­ out an attack on the centre by
metrical development following means of 7 ..ig5 followed by f2-
5 d3, the sharp move 5 d4 is also f4, or 7 f4 immediately.
employed. One should note that After the preparatory move 5
this continuation has a defmite c3 Black strikes frrst in the cen­
subtext, for which the player of tre by playing 5 lt:Jxe4 (D) with
..•

this opening should be prepared. good prospects, e.g.


How should Black take the a) 6 b4?! d5 ! 7 ..ib3 ..ixf2+! 8
pawn? 5 ... ed 6 e5 d5 7 ef de 8 l:txf2 lt:Jxf2 9 <it>xf2 e4 1 0 1ie2
lte 1 + leads to the very sharp ..ig4 with an attack.
Max Lange Attack, which is b) 6 d4 can be met by 6.. d5, .

considered a branch of the Two while 6 ...ed is not bad either: 7


Knights Defence. cd d5 8 de de 9 1ie2 ¡¡d3 1 0
Taking with the knight is quite :e 1 f5 1 1 tLlc3 0-0 12 lt:Jxe4 fe
risky: 5...4Jxd4 6 lZ'lxe5 and now 1 3 1ixe4 ..1f5 and the garne is
in the event of the obvious- even.
130 The 4 0-0 Variation

e6 1 5 ltJe3 .l:lg8 16 Wh1 liJeS 17


'ii'e2 0-0-0 with a eomplex game,
Minekwitz-Anderssen, Frankfurt
1 878.
b) 10.. .'�d7!? 1 1 ..txf6 gf 12
e3 (in the game Van Seheltinga­
Alexander, Maastrieht 1946, af­
ter 12 l:txf6? 0-0-0 1 3 ..txe6
ltJxe6 14 l:tf2 l:thg8 1 5 'ife1 liJf4
16 Wh 1 ltxg2! White went on to
lose quickly) 12 ... ..txe4 1 3 ltJxe4
ltJe6 14 ¡j'xd7+ Wxd7 1 5 l:txf6
gives rise to a level ending.
e) 6 ..tdS tiJf6 7 ..txe6 de 8 7 ... d6
ltJxe5 ..te6 9 d4 .te? 10 tiJd2 After 7...h6 8 ..th4 it is safest
0-0 1 1 tiJdf3 e5 12 'iVe2 tiJd7 1 3 of all to return to the main line
..tf4 ttJxe5 14 ..txe5 l:te8 with with 8 ..d6, as the quite fre­
.

even ehanees, Grob-Naegeli, quently seen eontinuation S...gS


Zurieh 1 934. is too risky: 9 f4! d5 (9 ... ltJe6 is
weaker: 10 ..txe6 de 1 1 'ii'xd8+
Game 40 'itxd8 12 fg ltJe4 1 3 g6+ and
Zel6t-G.Georgadze White has a winning position,
San Sebastian 1991 Mukhanov-Volovich, Moseow
1 974) 10 ed ..tg4 (or 10 ... ttJxd5
1 e4 eS 2 liJO ltJc6 3 ..tc4 1 1 fe ..te6 12 ¡j'xd4 gh 1 3 ltJe3
.tes tiJb6 14 'ii'xd8+ llxd8 15 ..txe6
4 0-0 tiJf6 fe 16 ltJe4 with a clear advantage
S d4 ..txd4 in the endgame) and now 11
6 ttJxd4 ltJxd4 'iie 1 gives White strong threats.
7 ..tgS Hund-Peieheva, Germany 1992,
Another eontinuation here is 7 featured the weaker 11 ¡j'd3 and,

f4 d6 8 fe de 9 ..tgS ..te6 10 after 1 1 .. . ..te2 12 'ii'e3 ltJg4


tiJd2 with these possible digres­ Blaek had firmly seized the ini­
sions: tiative.
a) 10...'ii'e7 1 1 e3 ..txe4 (in 7 ... ttJe6 deserves attention: 8
Lanzani-Kosashvili, Haifa 1989, ..txe6 (stronger than 8 f4 'ii'e7 9
Blaek now played the weak ..txe6 'fixe6 10 ltJe3 0-0 1 1
1 l ...'�e5?! 1 2 b4 �6 1 3 ..txf6 ..txf6 ¡r'xf6 12 tiJd5 'ii'd6 13
gf 14 Wh 1 tiJb5 1 5 a4 ..txe4 1 6 Wh1 e6 and Blaek keeps the ex­
ltJxe4 'ii'e6 1 7 ltJe3 tiJd6 1 8 tiJd5 tra pawn, Hund-Knoehe, Ger­
with an advantage to White) 1 2 many 1 992) 8 .. .fe 9 f4 'ile7 with
ltJxe4 ltJe6 1 3 ..txf6 gf 14 'ii'a4+ a safe position for Blaek.
The 4 0-0 Variation 131

8 f4 'Wie7 Black makes use irnmediatelyo


8 ... �e6 is also played, for ex­ 14 gf
ample 9 l2Ja3 ¡je7 10 c3 �xc4 15 l2Ja3 'ii'd2
1 1 l2Jxc4 l2Je6 12 fe de 1 3 �xf6 16 ltae1
¡¡c5+ 1 4 ltf2 'ii'xc4 1 5 'ii'd5 ! If White refuses to exchange
with sorne advantage to White, queens with 16 'ii'bS a6 17 'ii'b4
Mestel-Szmetan, Buenos Aires :hg8 1 8 ltg 1 f5, he falls victirn
1 9780 to an attack. But all he same, 16
9 fe de ltf2 would have been more stub­
10 c3 bom, not retuming the a2-pawno
If 10 l2Jc3, then 10oooc6 1 1 l:tf2 16 'ii'xe2
�e6 1 2 �d3 h6 1 3 �xf6 gf is 17 lbe2 �xa2
good, as played in Freirnan­ 18 h3 ltd6
Bernstein, Vilnius 1 9 12, and 19 lta1 (D)
here after 14 ¡jfl 0-0-0 Black is After 19 ltef2 Black should
no worseo continue 1 9 o o ol:thd8 20 l:txf6
Estrin's recommendation de­ l:.xf6 2 1 l:lxf6 l:r.d2o
serves attention: 10 l2Jd2 �e6 1 1
c3 �xc4 1 2 �xf6 gf 1 3 l2Jxc4
l2Je6 1 4 b4! ? and in view of the
weakness along the f-file White
has enough compensation for the
sacrificed pawno
10 lbe6
11 �xe6 �xe6
12 'ith1
A practically forced precau­
tiono After 12 l2Jd2 ¡jc5+ 1 3
'1th1 Black simply withdraws
with 1 3oool2Jd7, keeping the extra
pawn without any sort of com­ The game now fmished:
pensation for Whiteo 19ooo�b3 20 l2Jb5 l:.d1 + 2 1 l:.xd1
12 ¡¡d7 �xd 1 22 ltf2 �a4 23 l2Ja3 .i.c6
13 'ii'e2 0-0-0 (D) 24 l:.xf6 �xe4 25 l:.xt7 .i.d3 26
14 �xf6? 'itg 1 l:r.e8 27 'itf2 a6 28 g4 b5 29
It was not worth hurrying with 'ite3 �g6 30 l:.f6 l:.d8 3 1 h4
this exchangeo He should have l:.d3+ 32 'ite2 l:r.g3 33 :.Xa6
fmished his development with 14 .i.d3+ 34 'itf2 l:txg4 35 l:r.h6 b4
lba3, preserving compensation 36 cb %lxb4 37 'ite3 .i.g6 38 h5
for the pawno Now he has taken :b3+ 39 'itf2 l:txb2+ 40 �g1
control away from d2, of which .i.d3 0- 1 .
Part 3 : The Evans Gambit
by Murray Chandler

The recent reappearance of the - hard to believe when you play


swashbuckling Evans Gambit ( 1 through the amazing games Shi­
e4 eS 2 lt:Jf3 lt:Jc6 3 i..c4 i.. c5 4 rov-Timman and Kasparov­
b4! ?) has been a delight to see. Anand! After these two high­
This ancient pawn offer, in­ profile wins for White, the ball is
vented by the Welsh seafaring finnly back in Black's court in
Captain W.D. Evans, was im­ this variation.
mensely popular last century. It Games 43-47 cover Black's
became an enduring favourite biggest challenge to the Evans
with the public after the gambit Gambit, the line 4... i.. xb4 5 c3
was offered and accepted 22 i..a5. Long ago it was estab­
times in the matches between lished that the routine move 6
Labourdonnais and McDonnell 0-0 (Games 46 and 47) is infe­
in 1 834, and most of the key rior, as it allows Black to set up
games feature such historical the defensive formation 6 ... d6 7
giants as Steinitz, Chigorin and d4 i..b6!, known as Lasker's De­
Morphy. Por his pawn, as with fence. Instead White can prevent
most opening gambits, White this with the immediate 6 d4! ,
gets fast development and open offering to sacrifice still further
lines. Inevitably, as defensive material after 6 ... exd4 7 0-0.
technique improved over the Nowadays it is hard to believe
years the soundness of the Evans that masters were once fright­
was increasingly questioned. It ened that Black might actually
took a great modem champion, grab the third gambit pawn with
Garry Kasparov, to catapult the 7 ... dxc3, as White gets a raging
Evans back on the world stage attack (Game 43). The altema­
with his victory over Anand in tive 7 ... d6 8 'ttb3 is the subject
Riga 1 995. The Evans remains of Game 44, but the key test -
speculative but unrefuted. and perhaps the single biggest
In Games 4 1 and 42 we exam­ challenge to the soundness of the
ine the Modem Main Line Evans - is 7 ...lt:Jge7. This is ex­
(4 ... i.. xb4 5 c3 i.. e7). Until re­ amined in sorne depth in Game
cently this retreat was considered 45, and includes a refutation to
a safe and solid option for Black sorne new analysis claiming an
The Evans Gambit 133

advantage for White which was where Black wimpishly declines


recently published in the German the gambit (with 4...i..b6) are
magazine Schach. In this varia­ examined in Games 49 and 50.
tion the ball remains in White's Severa} sections here are
court, and we can only speculate based around recent (late 1995)
what players such as Kasparov articles from the British Chess
or Shirov might have intended Magazine, updated and reas­
against the 5 ... i.. a5f7.JiJge7 de­ sessed as appropriate. Other ref­
fence. erence sources include Play the
In Game 48 the so-called Evans Gambit by Cafferty and
'normal' continuation 5 ... i.c5 is Harding (Hale 1 976), and Open
most certainly playable for Gambits by Botterill (Batsford
Black, but as a practica} weapon 1 986); unfortunately both of
it seems unattractive. For a start, these excellent books are out of
in the main line White has the print. ECO (the Encyclopaedia
option of a forced draw by per­ of Chess Openings) was also
petua] check if he wishes, or he consulted, though the relevant
can try for positional compensa­ section (by Unzicker) is riddled
tion in a variety of ways. with uncharacteristically poor
Finally the non-critica} lines assessments.
1 1 T h e Evans Gambit Accepted

Game 4 1 7 ... dxe5 then 8 'ti'b3, but deserv­


Shirov-Timman ing exploration is 7 ... ..tg4!?, e.g.
Bie/ 1 995 8 'iib 3 ..txf3 9 ..txf7+ �f8 10
gxf3 lbxe5 1 1 ..te6 ..tg5 ! un­
1 e4 eS clear, Basanta-R.Livshits, Ca­
2 lbf3 lbc6 nadian Z 1 992) 8 lbxe5 dxe5 9
3 ..tc4 .tes 'ii'h5 g6 10 'ii'xe5 lbf6 1 1 ..ta3 !
4 b4!? ..txb4 and White won a famous game
S c3 ..te7 (D) in Fischer-Celle, California sim
1964.
e) 6...lbf6 7 dxe5 lbg4 8 'ti'd5
0-0 9 h3 with advantage, Tal­
Brakmanis, Latvian OL 1 959.
d) 6 ..tf6 7 0-0 lbge7 8 dxe5
..•

..txe5 was played in the game


Nunn-Gumrukcuoglu, Malta OL
1980; now 9 tt'Jg5 is the clearest
edge.
7 ..te2!?
This was the unusual move
revitalised by Kasparov in Riga.
7 ..td3 is considered nothing
6 d4 special, while the sacrificial 7
Por the sharp sideline 6 ..txf7+ �xf7 8 tt'Jxe5+ �f8 has
'ti'b3!? see the next game. been tried in a few games, but
6 ... lbas with only one pawn for the piece
Altematives are rather unap­ White will struggle for compen­
pealing, e.g.: sation. However, the main line 7
a) 6...exd4 7 'ti'b3 ! lba5 8 lbxeS lbxc4 8 lbxc4 dS 9 exdS
..txf7+ �f8 9 �a4 �xf7 1 0 'ti'xdS 10 ttJe3 has not done
'ti'xa5 d 6 1 1 cxd4 with advan­ badly in modem practice, and
tage, Lehrnann-Donner, Munich the best square for Black's at­
1954. tacked queen is not obvious:
b) 6 .. d6 7 dxe5 ! ? lbxe5 (if
. a) 10. 'ii'd8 1 1 .i.a3 ti'Jf6 12
..
The Evans Gambit Accepted 135

'ti'a4+ c6 1 3 0-0 Sveshnikov­ The altemative 8 lbf6 is du­


...

Short, Solingen 1 992 ( 1 -0, 49). bious according to Kasparov,


b) 10...'ti'aS 1 1 0-0 lbf6 1 2 c4 annotating in lnformator 63. 9 e5
0-0 1 3 d5 Timman-Tatai, Am­ lbc6 10 'ti'h4! (better than 1 0
sterdam 1 977 ( 1 -0, 28). 'i'f4 lbh5 1 1 'i'g4 g6 as in
e) 10 'ti'd7 1 1 0-0 lbf6 12 c4
.•. M.Melts-Gaevsky, USSR 198 1)
Nunn-Larsen, London 1 980 (1h- 10 ...lbd5 1 1 'ti'g3 g6 12 0-0 lbb6
1h, 47). (it is clear that White has com­
7 .•. exd4 pensation for hls pawn; the
An option to consider is im­ question is how much? Here the
mediately to give back the immediate 1 3 .lth6!? comes into
gambit pawn with 7 d6!?, e.g. 8
•.. consideration, e.g. 1 3 ... d6 14
'ti'a4+ c6 9 dxe5 dxe5 10 lbxe5 ..tb5 and Black's king will not
lbf6 (not 1 0... 'ti'c7?! 1 1 .ltf4 easily fmd shelter in the long
.ltd6 12 lbxt7! 'it>xt7 1 3 .ltxd6 term) 1 3 c4 d6 14 l:td 1 lbd7 1 5
'i'xd6 14 'ti'xa5) 1 1 0-0 'i'c7. ..th6!? (thls bold sacrifice is not
8 'ti'xd4! (D) forced, but 1 5 ..if4 dxe5 -
1 5 ... 0-0 16 exd6 ..tf6 17 ..ig5 ! -
16 lbxe5 ..th4! is an irritating
zwischenzug, e.g. 17 'i'e3 lbcxe5
1 8 ..ixe5 0-0) 1 5 ... lbcxe5 (or
1 5 ... dxe5 16 lbc3 ..tf8 17 ..tg5 -
Kasparov) 1 6 lbxe5 lbxe5 (to
answer 17 ..tg7 with 17 .....tf6!
1 8 ..txh8 ..txh8) 1 7 lbc3 f6 1 8
c5 lbt7 ( 1 8... ..tf7! ?) 1 9 cxd6
cxd6 20 'ti'e3 lbxh6 2 1 'i'xh6
.ltf8 22 'i'e3+ Wf7 23 lbd5 !
(threatening 24 l:lcl ) 23 ... ..te6?!
24 lbf4 'ti'e7 25 l:te l ! 1-0 Kas­
8 d6 parov-Anand, Riga 1 995.
By choosing to retum his extra 9 'ti'xg7 ..tf6
pawn Timman speeds up his 10 'i'g3 iWe7
own development, but that is not 11 0-0 ..td7
the whole story. Black will 12 lbd4 0-0-0
hardly be able to castle kingside 13 lbd2 lbc6!
after g7 disappears, resulting in a More accurate than 13...hS 14
most unusual position for thls l:tb 1 lbc6 1 5 'i'd3 ! with ideas of
type of opening. After the play­ iWa6 in the air. Now 13 'i'd3 can
ers castle on opposite wings, be met by 1 3 ...lbe5 14 'i'e3 c5.
neither king is at all secure due 14 'i'e3 hS
to the semi-open g- and b-files. 15 l:lb1
136 The Evans Gambit Accepted

Irnpressive self-control. Now, 19 ... �xd4 20 cxd4 �a8 was


or next move, it must have been essential. Now we see the Shirov
extremely tempting to win the a­ at his dazzling best as he opens
pawn with 15 lüxc6 �xc6 1 6 lines to get at the enemy king.
'ifxa7, especially as 1 6...�xc3?! 20 eS! 'ifxe5
1 7 l:b 1 sets up the dangerous If 20...dxe5 then 2 1 �f3+
threat of 1 8 �b5. However 'iii'b8 22 'fixa5 exd4 23 'ifxa7+!
Black can proceed calmly with 'iii'xa7 24 lta 1 + and mates.
16 ... lüh6! 1 7 ltb 1 'ife5 when his 21 �f3+ d5
own pressure on White's king 22 ltJc4! �eS (D)
position is starting to build. For those who worry comput­
15 ... lüh6 ers can already outcalculate the
16 'ifd3! b6 top Grandmasters, take heed that
Forestalling possible sacrifices the even after considerable
with 17 ltxb7 'iii' xb7 1 8 l'ia6+. analysis the Fritz 3 program
17 a4 'iii'b8? mistakenly claims Black is much
A mistake according to Shi­ better after 22 ... lüxc4. Shirov's
rov, who believes Timman could intended combination is simply
have run with 17...l:tdg8 1 8 a5 too deep for it: 23 lta 1 ! lüa5 24
lüxa5 1 9 'ifa6+ 'iii'd8 20 'ifxa7 lha5 bxa5 25 lüc6 ..i.xc6 26
�e8 ! , as then 2 1 'ifxc7? l::.xg2+! �e3 ! when the mate threat on a7
wins for Black after 22 'iii'xg2 forces 26 ...'ifxe3 27 'ifxc6+ �b8
�h3+ 23 �xh3 'ifxc7 or 22 'iii'h 1 28 fxe3 and White wins.
ltxh2+ 2 3 'iii'xh2 �e5+ 24 f4
'ifh4+. After 20... �e8 White
may keep an edge, but in a
highly unclear position.
18 a5 lüxa5
19 'ifa6 'lilaS? (D)

23 'ifxa5! 'ifxd4!
Clearly 23 ... bxa5 is met by 24
lüxe5 �xe5 25 lüc6 (threatening
both 26 ltb8# and 26 lüxe5), but
Timman's imaginative queen
counter-offer shows the game is
The Evans Gambit Accepted 137

not yet over. Now after 24 cxd4 1 e4 eS


bxa5 25 ltJxa5 ..ta6 Black would 2 lt::)f3 ltJc6
be better. 3 ..tc4 .tes
24 �al ! �xc3! 4 b4!? jlxb4
Taking a third pawn - and set­ 5 c3 ..te7
ting an evil trap. After 24... �cS 6 'ii'b 3!?
or 24...'ii'd3 White has 25 ..te3 Although Cc��ferty and Hard­
with a ferocious attack, wbile ing wrote extensively about this
24...�h4 25 g3 'ii'h 3 26 ltJxb6+ sharp move 1 9 years ago, 6 �3
cxb6 27 :xb6 is decisive. has been ignored in many subse­
2S ..te3! quent reference works. Although
Timman's defensive resource practica} results have been rea­
after 2S ..tb2? was yet another sonable for Wbite, Black usually
queen sacrifice: 25 . . . �xf3 ! ! 26 obtains active play of bis own.
gxf3 :hg8+ 27 'iti>g 1 dxc4! and 6 ... ltJh6
suddenly Black has conjured up Forced, as 6 ...lbas 7 ..txf7+
bis own attack. Then 28 ..txf6 'iti>f8 8 'ii'a4 c6 (8 ... 'iti>xf7 9
..tb7! 29 h4 ..txf3+ 30 'iti>h2 ltJxe5+ and 1 0 �xa5) 9 jlxg8
ltJg4+ 3 1 'iti>h3 ltJxf6 gives a de­ 'iti>xg8 10 lUxe5, as in Wills­
cisive two pieces, four pawns Wilkinson, London 1 964, leave..'i
and attack for the queen. Wbite a pawn up.
2S ... ..tb7 7 d4 lbas (D)
After this a straightforward The threat was 8 ..txh6.
sacrifice decides, but there were
no more defensive rabbits to be
pulled from the hat. 2S...'iti>b8
gets mated by force after 26
l:Hc 1 �d3 27 ltJxb6 axb6 28
.l:.xb6+ cxb6 29 ..tf4+, and
2S...a6 26 :fc 1 �d3 27 ..txb6 is
similarly brutal.
26 ..txb6! cxb6
27 ltJxb6+ �b8
28 ltJxdS 1-0
A modem-day Evergreen, ex­
cept that in tbis one both White
and Black were offering their 8 �bS
queens! A fmesse discovered by Bul­
garian correspondence master
Garne 42 G.Popov. The point is that the
Erlandsson-Ecenarro routine 8 �a4 is met by
Corres. 1982 8 ...ltJxc4 9 �xc4 (9 jlxh6?
138 The Evans Gambit Accepted

it:)b6!) 9 ... it:)g4! 10 h3 it:)f6 1 1 possible) 1 3 ... 0-0 14 it:)bd2 dxeS


dxeS dS ! (Ravinsky) with a fine 1 S it:)xeS 'ifd6 1 6 it:)df3 'with
game for Black. ECO's 10 it:)xeS equal chances' , Ernst-Wieden­
it:)xeS 1 1 dxeS d6 12 .i.f4 'big keller, Karlskrona Ch 1 983. 14
advantage' (Skotorenko-Tomas­ 'ita6!? would appear better,
zewski, corr. 1 976) is another when Harding prefers White in a
absurd assessment, e.g. 1 2 ... 0-0 1984 Chess Digest monograph.
1 3 0-0 dxeS 14 .i.xeS .i.e6 1 S 11 cxd4 d6
'iibS b6 and it is White, unable l l jlf6 12 it:)c3 c6 1 3 0-0
...

to develop his queen's knight, 0-0 14 eS jlg7 1 S it:)e4 with at­


who has the dreadful position. tack, Rozhlapa-Belova, USSR
8 ... it:)xc4 1972.
8 ... c6 9 'ii'xeS ! favours White, ll J:lg8 12 it:)c3 (12 0-0 d6 -
..

e.g. 9 .. .f6 (9 ... it:)xc4 10 'ii'xg7) 10 see later) 12 ... c6 ( 12 ...llxg2! ?)


�S+ g6 1 1 'ifxh6 it:)xc4? 1 3 0-0 d6 14 llfe 1 jlh3 1S g3
(better is 1 l .. ..i.f8 1 2 .i.f7+! ? �f8 16 dS ltg7 17 llab 1 'it'c8 1 8
�xf7 1 3 'ii'f4) 12 "ilg7 lH8 1 3 eS with a big plus (Ernst), Wells­
'iixh7 winning material, Hard­ Lukacs Budapest 1993.
ing-Parker, corres. 1 974. ll dS 12 exdS llg8 ( 1 2 ... 0-0
...

9 jlxh6gxh6 'unclear - Kontantinopolsky' is


A new idea is 9 it:)d6! 1 0
... another dubious assessment re­
'ii'xeS it:)xe4! ( 10 .. .f6? 1 1 'ii'hS+) peated in ECO; now that mate­
as mentioned by Gutman in rial is equal White is better given
Schach. After 1 1 jlxg7 ( 1 1 the state of Black's kingside) 1 3
'ii'xg7 jlf6) 1 1 ...llg8 12 'ii'xe4 g3 jlh3 14 it:)eS ! jld6 1 S it:)c3
( 1 2 0-0 dS) 12 ... l:t.xg7 1 3 0-0 dS �f8 16 f4 f6 17 it:)d3 'i'e8+ 1 8
14 'iieS �f8 Black is fine with �f2 with advantage, Skotoren­
his bishop pair and well-placed ko-Kresmer, corr. 1 976.
rook on the semi-open g-file. 12 0-0 (D)
White has sorne possibilities to
deviate, such as 12 dS it:)cS 1 3
0-0 d6 14 'iid4, but 9. . .it:)d6
could prove a strong response to
this 'ii'b3 variation.
10 1Wxc4 exd4
Perhaps it is best to return the
extra pawn: 10 d6!? 1 1 dxeS
...

jle6 1 2 'iibS+ 'iid7! ( 1 2 ...�f8?!


1 3 'ii'xb7 �g7 14 0-0 'ii'd7 1 S
exd6 jlxd6 1 6 eS :hb8 1 7 'ii'e4
Harding-J. H. Hodgson, corr.
1 974-S) 1 3 'ii'xb7 ( 1 3 'iixd7+ is
The Evans Gambit Accepted 139

12 ... l:.g8 2 ttJf3 lbc6


12...0-0!? gives a critica} po­ 3 �c4 �eS
sitian. Schlechter (in bis Hand­ 4 b4 �xb4
buch) believed Black was better, S c3 �aS
but is this really so? Black's ex­ 6 d4!?
tra doubled h-pawn is of little For 6 0-0, allowing Black to
relevance, and White can pro­ employ Lasker's defensive set­
ceed calrnly: 1 3 l2Jc3 c6 1 4 l:.ab l up, - see Games 46 and 47. 6
( 1 4 :.ael 'iiii>h 8! ? with ideas of 'i'b3 has been shown to be
.. .f5 - Larry Evans) 14 ...'1ii>h 8 1 5 nothing after 6 ...'ii'f6! 7 0-0 (7 d4
'iti>hl l:.b8 16 d5 ! c5 17 e5 with a l2Jxd4!) 7 ... i.b6 8 d4 d6 Nunn­
strong initiative in Harding­ Hübner, Johannesburg 1 98 1 .
Micklethwaite, corr. 1 974-5. 6 ... exd4!? (D)
13 l:.cl !? The crucial test of White's
Cafferty's move, so that anti-Lasker move arder. The
13 ... �h3 can be met by 14 g3. point to note is that after 6 ... d6 7
13 'iiii>h 1?! 'ii'd7 14 l2Jc3? c6 1 5 'ii'b3! the normal 'Lasker' move
d 5 :.xg2 was Labourdonnais v. 7 ...'i'f6? is impossible here due
Boncourt and Mauret, Paris to 8 d5 and 9 'ii'a4+ winning the
1 835. Sensible 13 If.e1 �g4 14 bishop on a5.
l2Jfd2 'ii'd7 1 5 'iiii>h l c6 1 6 l2Jc3 Nevertheless it is possible for
b5 1 7 'i'd3 b4 1 8 l2Ja4 <it>f8 19 f3 Black instead to defend bis fl­
with initiative, Zamora-Hjartar­ pawn with 7...'i!Vd7!?, and sim­
son, New York Open 1 994. ply concede that he can no
13 c6 longer play Lasker's Defence. In
14 dS �d7 the position arising after 8 dxeS!
1S t2Jbd2 �gS Black has two altematives:
16 'ii'd3 � xd2 a) 8 ...dxeS 9 0-0 �b6 10 :.di
17 l2Jxd2 'i'gS (gaining more time - one of the
18 g3 'i'g6 reasons this defence is not so
19 lbb1 cxdS popular; here 1 0... ttJa5? is met
20 l:.xb7 1-0 by 1 1 �xfl+! 'ifi>f8 1 2 'ii'c 2! as
A premature resignation, but 12 ...'i'xf7 1 3 lld8+ <it>e7 14
Black could see no defence to 2 1 �g5+ 'ifi>e6 1 5 'ii'd2 wins - Caf­
:.cc7. ferty/Harding) 10...'ii'e7 1 1 a4 a6
( l l ...lba5 12 �xf7+! again
Game 43 works: 12 ... 'ii'xf7 1 3 l:.d8+ 'iti>e7
Blackburne-NN 14 �g5+ lbf6 1 5 'ii'xfl+ 'iiii>xfl
Blindfold Simul, 1 6 l:.xh8) 12 a5 i.c5 1 3 �a3!
Manchester 1875 �xa3 14 lbxa3 lbf6 15 �d5
lbd8 16 lbc4 0-0 1 7 lbcxe5 re­
1 e4 eS gaining the gambit pawn with
140 The Evans Gambit Accepted

advantage, Sokolov-Sepp, cor­ tiful 'Evergreen Game', is very


res. 1 959-60. dangerous for Black: 8 'ifb3 'iff6
b) 8 �b6!? (retuming the
•.. 9 e5 'ii'g6 10 l:.e1 lt:Jge7 1 1 i..a 3
pawn is the safe option; now 9 b5 12 'ifxb5 �b8 13 'ifa4 .i.b6
exd6 lüa5 1 0 'i'b4 lüxc4 1 1 14 lübd2 �b7 15 lt:Je4 'ii'f5 1 6
'ii'xc4 'ifxd6 1 2 .i.a3 .i.e6! gave .i.xd3 'ifh5 17 lt:Jf6+ gxf6 1 8
Black at least equality for Black exf6 l:.g8 1 9 :ad1 'ifxf3?
in Pfleger-Unzicker, Bamberg (allowing the famous fmale) 20
1963) 9 .i.b5 a6 1 0 .i.a4 'ií'e6 1 1 l:.xe7+! lüxe7 2 1 'ifxd7+! !
�xc6+ bxc6 12 0-0 �b8 was �xd7 22 .i.f5++ �e8 23 i..d7+
played in Chandon-Moet - Bot­ �d8 24 .i.xe7# ( 1 -0) Anderssen­
tlik, corr. 1 974, and now Bottlik Dufresne, Berlin 1 852. Perhaps 8
assessed 1 3 'ifxe6+ fxe6 1 4 exd6 :tel is even stronger for White,
cxd6 1 5 �a3 as an endgame e.g. 8 ... .i.b6 9 e5 h6 (to stop
edge for White. lt:Jg5) 10 lübd2 lt:Jge7 1 1 ltJe4
0-0 12 'ifxd3 lüxe5 1 3 lüxe5 d5
14 �xh6! .i.f5 ! 15 lt:Jf6+! �h8
16 'ifg3 gxh6 17 'iff4 r:J;g7 1 8
lüeg4 .i.xg4 1 9 l:.xe7 dxc4
(Prins-Fuderer, RogaSka Slatina
1 948) and now Pachman ana­
lysed the win with 17 'ifxg4+!
�xf6 ( 17 ...r:i;h8 1 8 'ií'f5 �g7 19
lt:Jh5+) 1 8 l:.ae 1 ! 'ifc8 1 9 l:.d7
(threatening l:.e4) 19 ...:te8 20
'iff4+ and mates.
8 'ifb3 'iff6
8... 'ife7 9 lüxc3 'ifb4 (to swap
7 0-0 dxc3? queens; 9 ...lt:Jf6? 1 0 lt:Jd5 lt:Jxd5
lt is hard to believe that risky 1 1 exd5 lüe5 12 lüxe5 'ifxe5 1 3
'Compromised Defence' was .i.b2 'ifg5 14 h4! 'ifxh4 1 5 .i.xg7
originally so popular - no mod­ :tg8 1 6 l:.fe 1 + �d8 1 7 'ifg3 ! 1 -0
ern Grandmaster would consider was a Fischer-Fine, 'Skittles
grabbing this third pawn. White Game' from New York 1 963,
is considered to have too many made famous by Fischer includ­
open lines and too big a lead in ing the miniature in My 60
development. For the soundest Memorable Games) 10 .i.xf7+
defence, 7 ...lt:Jge7, see Game 45. �d8 1 1 .i.b2! 'ii'xb3 1 2 .i.xb3
For 7 d6 see Game 44, while
... .i.xc3 ( 1 2 ...lt:Jf6 1 3 lt:Jg5 l:.f8 1 3
7. .i.b6 8 cxd4 d6 transposes to
.. lt:Jd5) 1 3 i.. xc3 lt:Jf6 14 lt:Jg5
Game 48. r:i;e7 1 5 e5 liJeS 1 6 f4 h6 17 lt:Jf3
7. d3?, as played in the beau-
.. �d8 1 8 lt:Jh4 1 -0 Hartoch-Eslon,
The Evans Gambit Accepted 141

Netherlands-Sweden 1 976. 'i'h5 h6 19 4Jg5 ! 'i'xa2 20


9 eS 'l'g6 �h7+ 'it>f8 2 1 �b1 'i'c4 22
10 4Jxc3 4Jge7(D) 4Jh7+ �g8 23 4Jf6+! , etc.
lt would appear that White's
huge initiative is worth more
than the two pawns.
12 4Jxb5 l:.b8
13 'ii'a4? !
Planning a bold lmight sacri­
fice, but given Black's later
missed defence, White should
prefer 1 3 �xe7! �xe7 14 'i'a3+
(or the immediate 14 'ii'e3)
14 ...�b4 1 5 'Wie3 with more than
enough compensation for the
sacrificed pawn.
11 �a3! b5 13 a6
Giving back sorne of the ma­ 14 4Jd6+ cxd6
terial is probably the toughest 15 exd6 4Jf5
defence. The slower 1 1 ... a6 was 16 ltae1+ �xe1
energetically refuted in Roikov­ 17 ltxe1+ (D)
Orlov, Leningrad 1 968: 12 4Jd5
4Jxd5 1 3 �xd5 b5 14 e6! fxe6
1 5 �xc6 dxc6 1 6 4Je5 'l'e4 1 7
'l'g3.
Instead 11 ..0-0 12 lbd1 with
.

the following sample possibili­


ties:
a) 12 J:tb8 1 3 �d3 'f'e6? 1 4
..

�xh7+! ..t>h8 ( 1 4 ..<iti>xh7 1 5


4Jg5+) 1 5 4Jd5 1 6 exd6 4Jxd5
1 7 l:lxd5 l:.d8 1 9 ltxa5 ! 4Jxa5 20
4Jxf7+ 'it>xh7 2 1 'f'c2+ g6 22
dxc7 �f5 23 cxb8'1' l:.xb8 24
'Wic7 4Jc6 25 4Jg5+ <&ti>h6 26 'f'f4 17 . .. �?
'i'e2 27 4Je6+ 1 -0 F.Schroeder­ Falling for an elementary but
P.Feher Polgar, corres 1 99 1 . attractive queen sacrifice. In­
b) 1 2. .l:te8 1 3 Jtd3 'i'h5 1 4
. stead 17 ..t>d8? also loses im­
...

4Je4 4Jxe5 1 5 4Jxe5 'i'xe5 1 6 mediately, to 1 8 4Je5 4Jxe5 1 9


.i.b2 'i'e6 1 7 'i'b5. This analysis 'ii'a 5+ ..t>e8 2 0 'ii'xe5+, but i n a
by Lasker gives White a fero­ later simul a Glasgow player
cious attack, e.g. 1 7 ... �b6 1 8 found the correct 17 ...4Jfe7! with
142 The Evans Gambit Accepted

a highly unclear position. Waller, who wrote about the


18 jfxc6! dxc6 move in The Chessplayer 's
19 d7+ 1-0 Chronicle in 1 848. The typical
lt is mate next move whatever Evans queen sortie is promising
Black plays. here because Black has commit­
ted himself with ...d6. Regard­
Game 44 less of the square from which the
Morphy-Kipping black queen chooses to defend
Birmingham 1858 fl, the pawn thrust 9 e5 ! will
force open lines in the centre for
1 e4 eS White.
2 lbf3 lbc6
3 i.c4 .tes
4 b4 i.xb4
S c3 �aS
6 d4 exd4
7 0-0
Against 7 jfb3 in this position
Black can continue with either
7,.,jfe7 8 0-0 i.b6 ! ? as in Pfle­
ger-Mendes, Lourenco Marques
1 973, or 7..,jff6 8 cxd4 0-0
which is a superior version of the
type of position examined in this
game. 8 . .. jff6
7 ... d6 Or:
Black is offering to transpose a) 8....d7 9 e5 lbd8 (9 ... dxe5
to the so-called 'Normal Varia­ 10 lbxe5 lbxe5 1 1 :te1 f6 1 2
tion' (Game 48), which would i.xg8 - Handbuch) 10 exd6 cxd6
arise if play now continued 8 1 1 i.g5 a6 12 .l:.e1 + �f8 1 3
cxd4 i.b6. Note that Black can lbxd4 h6 14 i.xd8 i.xd8 1 5
probably force this transposition lbd2 lLlf6 16 lbe4 lbxe4 1 7
with the move order 7...i.b6!? 8 .l:.xe4 b 5 1 8 ..td5 i.b7 19 .l:.ae1
cxd4 d6, but this variation often ..tf6 20 ..te6 jfc7 21 ..txf7 jfxfl
arises via the 5 . . . �c5 move or­ 22 lbe6+ �g8 23 lbg5 ! ! and
der: 1 e4 e5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 �c4 wins, Muir-Ormhaug, corres.
i.c5 4 b4 i.xb4 5 c3 �c5 6 d4 1958-60.
exd4 7 0-0 d6 8 cxd4 i.b6. b) 8....e7 9 e5 ! dxe5 10 ..ta3 !
8 jfbJ!? (D) jff6 1 1 cxd4 ( 1 1 lbbd2 ..tb6 1 2
1bis double-edged continua­ l1ae 1 lbge7 1 3 lbe4 Wg6 14
tion is known as Waller's At­ ..txe7 ct;xe7 15 lbeg5 f6 16
tack, after an Irishman, George jia3+ was also a big advantage
The Evans Gambit Accepted 143

for White in Corzo-Capablanca, 'ifxc5+ bxc5 22 l:txe6 fxg5 23


Havana (2) 1 90 1 , but not 1 1 l:te1 fxg5 g6 24 h4 �f7 25 lte5 h6 26
l?Jge7 1 2 il..xe7 ¡¡xe7 1 3 il..xf7+ llJe4 hxg5 27 l?Jxg5+ �6 28
'i'xf7 14 l?JxeS ¡¡xb3 ! 1S axb3 l:te6+ �5 29 f:td5+ 'itg4 30
l?JxeS 1 6 l:txeS+ �f7 17 .l::texaS l:te4+ 1-0
lld8 1 8 c4 a6 and Black was In view of 30.. .c.tg3 3 1 Itd3+
better in Sveshnikov-Frolov, �f2 32 ltf3#.
Moscow rpd 1 994) 1 1 ...e4 1 2 Waller's Attack is absolutely
liJeS (also 1 2 l?JgS) 1 2. . .li:Jh6 1 3 in the spirit of the Evans gambit,
l?Jxc6 bxc6 1 4 ¡¡a4 il..b6 1 S l?Jc3 but perhaps it is not as clear cut
il..d7 1 6 l?Jxe4 ¡j'f4 17 liJeS with as the above white wins suggest.
an overwhelrning game, Fischer­
Janushkowsky, Davis College Game 4S
simul, USA 1 964. Davis-Peters
9 e5! dxe5 USA 1983
10 l:te1 il..b6
Here: 1 e4 e5
a) 10...li:Jh6 1 1 il..gS 'ii'fS 1 2 2 li:Jf3 l?Jc6
'ii'a 3 f6 1 3 il..xh6 gxh6 1 4 il.. dS 3 il..c4 il..c5
il..xc3 1 S l?Jxc3 dxc3 1 6 il..xc6+ 4 b4 il..xb4
bxc6 17 'ti'eS il..d7 1 8 l?JxeS - 5 c3 il..a5
Sovremenny Debiut. 6 d4 exd4
b) 10...il.. d7 1 1 il..gS ¡j'fS 1 2 7 0-0 l?Jge7! (D)
¡¡xb7! llb8 1 3 llxeS+! 'ii'xeS 14
il..xf7+ �f8 1 S 'i'xb8+ l?Jxb8 16
l?JxeS dxc3 17 il..b3 li:Je7 1 8 li:Jc4
il..b4 1 9 a3 il.. cS 20 l?Jxc3 fa­
vours White Handbuch.
-

11 il.. g5 ¡j'fS
12 l?Jxe5 l.Dxe5
13 f4 dxc3+
14 �h1 il.. d4
15 l?Jxc3 'if¡¡f8
16 Ilad1 l?Jxc4
17 ¡¡xc4 il..e6
Black must give sorne mate­
rial back; attempting to cling on 'This is one of the soundest
to the whole piece and two defences that Black can adopt
pawns with 1 7 ... il..f6 fails to 1 8 against the Evans' - Cafferty &
.l:.dS. Harding. 'A sound and reliable
18 ¡jxd4 f6 response ... this move constitutes
19 l?Je4 b6 20 l?Jg3 ¡¡es 21 my main reason for thinking that
144 The Evans Gambit Accepted

6 d4 is not superior to 6 0-0' - Black superb compensation for


Botterill. ECO, volume C, 2nd the exchange.
edition, also states unequivocally 8 d5
that 7 .. .li:Jge7 is a simple way to 9 exd5 lt:Jxd5 (D)
equalise.
8 cxd4
8 lt:Jg5!? d5 (if 8 ... 0-0? then 9
'Wih5, while on 8 ... lt:Je5 there
comes 9 lt:Jxf7 lt:Jxf7 1 O i.xf7 +
rJ;xf7 1 1 'iih 5+ followed 1 2
'fixa5 with sorne initiative) 9
exd5 t'De5 is an interesting alter­
native:
a) 10 'fixd4 f6 ( 10... lt:Jxc4 1 1
'fixg7! l:f8 1 2 lt:Jxh7) 1 1 i.b5+
( 1 1 i.. b3 i.b6 with an edge for
Black - Bilguer) 1 1 ...c6 1 2 dxc6
bxc6 1 3 i..e2 is possible, but not 10 'ti'b3?!
very inspiring, even though The soundest line is 10 i.a3!
White regains bis pawn. i.e6 when:
b) 10 l:e1 lt:Jxc4 1 1 'ti'a4+ c6 a) 1 1 lt:Jbd2 i..xd2?! 12 'fixd2
12 'fixc4 ( 1 2 dxc6 b5 ! 1 3 'ti'xb5 lt:Jce7 ( 12 ...'ilr'f6 1 3 i.b5 fa­
lt:Jd6) 12 ... 'ti'xd5 1 3 'fixd5 cxd5 voured White in Neumann-Loyd,
14 i.a3 i.d8 15 cxd4 h6 and Paris 1 869) 1 3 l:.fe1 c6 (14...0-0?
Black is simply a pawn up, as 15 i.xd5) 14 lt:Jg5 (Reuben Fine)
quoted in severa) sources. with an initiative for White, but
e) 10 i.b3!? 0-0 ( 1 0 .. .f6 1 1 1 1 ...i.b4! is an irnprovement.
cxd4 lt:J5g6 12 d6! fxg5 1 3 dxe7 b) 11 i.. b5 i.b4 ( l l ...f6 ! ?
with a big advantage for White, Botterill) 1 2 i.xc6+ ( 1 2 'ti'a4
Petnelka-Szsawy, Prague 1 982; 'fid6 1 3 tbe5 0-0! 14 lt:Jxc6 bxc6
10 ... dxc3 ! ? is highly unclear) 1 1 1 5 i..xc6 :lb8 with a large ad­
lt:Jxh7! ? �xh7 1 2 'fih5+ �g8 1 3 vantage for Black in Muravlev­
'ti'xe5 dxc3 14 i.a3 lt:Jg6 1 5 'fih5 Tanin, corres 1 967-8) 12 ...bxc6
is a recommendation by Gutman 13 i.xb4 lt:Jxb4 14 'fia4 'fid6 15
in the August 1 995 issue of lt:Jbd2 0-0 16 lDe4 with equality
Schach magazine. According to according to analysis by Leven­
Gutman (who ends bis analysis fish in Sovremenny Debiut. This
here) White has a strong initia­ verdict has been rubber stamped
tive, but 1 5 ...lt:Jf4! (an idea of by subsequent commentators,
Keene) 1 6 'ilVf3 'ilr'f6! 1 7 i.xf8 but White, even though techni­
%3+ 1 8 �h1 'fixf3 1 9 gxf3 cally a pawn down, could try to
�xf8 20 lt:Ja3 i.b6 clearly gives play; for example:
The Evans Gambit Accepted 145

b l ) 16...'�f4 17 lbc5 ! ? ( 17 option if Black wants to regain


lbeg5= Levenfish) 17 ... lbd5 1 8 his pawn.
lbxe6 fxe6 and now 19 ¡fxc6 b) 12... .i.d5! 1 3 lbe5 (after 1 3
¡fd6 20 l:tac l or even 19 lL!cl!? .l:le 1 + 1i;f8 the knight on c6 is no
immediately. longer pinned) 1 3 ...l:.b8 1 4
b2) 16. .¡fe7 1 7 lbc5 lbd5 1 8
. i.xc6+ lbxc6 1 5 ¡fa6 l:tb6 1 6
l:tfe 1 ¡fd6 1 9 lbxe6 fxe6 20 'i'd3 0-0. This variation is a dis­
l:tac l . covery of Botterill; although the
b3) 16...¡fds 1 7 ibf6+! ? (or white queen escapes Black has a
again 1 7 lbc5) 17 ... gxf6 1 8 clear edge with the bishop pair.
¡fxb4 and now Black has two 13 l:.e1+ �
sets of doubled pawns. 14 i.a3
10 i.e6!
.•. 14 lbeS!? lbxe5 1 5 .:.Xe5
10 lbce7 'with equality' says
.•. gives a complex position ana­
ECO, but in the correspondence lysed by Nunn and Cafferty in
game Erlandsson-Demidenko, the British Chess Magazine in
1 980-3 the black king was neatly 1 984 and later by Botterill.
marooned in the centre: 1 1 i.a3 Given that Black appears to have
c6 12 i.xe7! 1i;xe7 13 i.xd5 two good 12th move altematives
¡fxd5 14 ¡fa3+ �d8 1 5 l:tcl b6 there is little need to repeat the
16 l:tc5 bxc5 1 7 ¡fxa5+ 1i;e8 1 8 rather inconclusive analysis, but
lbc3 ¡fd8 1 9 ¡fxc5 i.e6 20 d5 it is worth pointing out that Bot­
i.xd5 2 1 l:te 1 + i.e6 22 ibd4 terill's critica} line of 1 5 ... c6 16
¡fd7 23 lbf5 l:tg8 24 l:tdl with a i.c4 :b8 17 ¡fxa7 i.b6 1 8 'i'a3
winning attack. 'when Black can win by
11 ¡fxb7? ! 1 8 ... ..txd4 19 i.b2 ..te6! ! ' is
This speculative capture flawed. In the fmal position
leaves White's queen almost White has the amazing resource
trapped, but on 1 1 ..ta3 comes 20 l:te4! ! i.xb2 2 1 ¡fxb2 i.xc4
1 1 .. .•d7! , intending ...0-0-0. 22 lbbd2 regaining the piece
11 ibdb4 with a strong attack.
12 ..tbS i.d7? 14 ... :bs
Both altematives appear far 15 ¡fa6 :b6? (D)
superior: 1S �g8! is unclear. Now
•••

a) 12 0-0! ? 1 3 i.xc6 l:tb8 1 4


.•. White has a lovely combination
'ifxa7 lbxc6 1 5 'ifc5 ..td5 1 6 to net two pieces for a rook, after
..ta3 :es 1 7 lbbd2 and now which the resulting endgame
17...l:.e2 1 8 :fdl 'i'd7 1 9 ibfl should always be winning.
was Anderssen-S.Mieses, Bres­ 16 'i'xaS! lbxaS
lau 1 867. Although White later 17 ..txb4+ 'it'g8
won, the opening looks fme for 18 i.xd7! l:.xb4
Black; 17 ..tb6! was also an
.•. 19 lle8+ ¡fxeS
146 The Evans Gambit Accepted

a) 6...'ii'f6? ! (this persistent


favourite of Steinitz leads only to
cramped and gruesome positions
for Black) 7 d4 tbb6 (7 ...tbge7
was played no less than eight
times in the Chigorin-Steinitz
world championship match of
1 889; 8 d5 tbd8 9 'iia4 .tb6 1 0
.tg5 'iid6 1 1 tba3 c6 12 l:tad 1
'iib8 1 3 .txe7 Wxe7 14 d6+ <itf8
1 5 'iib4 f6 1 6 i.b3 g6 1 7 tbc4
with a huge plus for White was
game 17 of the match) 8 i.g5
20 .txe8 gS 21 h3 Wg7 22 a3 'iid6 (8 ... 'iig6 9 d5 l2Jb8 10
lbb3 23 axb4 tbxa1 24 .ta4 .txh6 'ii'xh6 1 1 l2Jxe5 regains
l:tb8 2S bS c6 26 tbc3 cxbS 27 the pawn with advantage) 9 d5
tbxbS lbb3 28 tbxa7 tbcl 29 lLld8 10 'iia4 .tb6 1 1 l2Ja3 c6 12
tbc6 l:tb2 30 dS tbe2+ 31 Wh2 i.e2 i.c7 1 3 l2Jc4 'i'f8 14 d6!
<M6 32 d6 We6 33 tbfeS tbd4 .txd6 15 l2Jb6 l:tb8 16 'iixa7
34 tbxd4+ WxeS 3S d7 1-0 with a hideous position for Black
in Chigorin-Steinitz, New York
Game 46 1 890/ 1 and Gunsberg-Steinitz,
Evans-McDonnell New York ( 1�) 1 890/ 1 .
London 182 7 (or late 1826) b) 6 tbge7 7 l2Jg5 d5 8 exd5
.•.

l2Jxd5 9 d4 h6 and now Botter­


1 e4 eS ill 's sacrificial 10 l2Jxf7! ? 'iti>xf7
2 tt:Jf3 tbc6 1 1 'iif3+ 'iti>e6 looks promising
3 .tc4 .teS for White after 12 i.a3.
4 b4 .txb4 e) 6...l2Jf6!? 7 d4 tbxe4
5 c3 .taS (7 ... exd4 8 .ta3 ! is dangerous, as
6 0-0 is 7... 0-0 8 i.a3 l:te8 9 d5 lbb8
With this move (instead of the 10 d6 Kolisch-Winawer, friendly
sharper 6 d4) White allows the game, London 1 883) 8 l2Jxe5 0-0
Lasker Defence, which would 9 .ta3 d6 1 0 l2Jxc6 bxc6 1 1 'iia4
arise after 6 ... d6 7 d4 �b6 (see .txc3 12 l2Jxc3 l2Jxc3 1 3 'ii'xc6.
Game 47). However Black also This pos1t1on looks rather
has a number of altematives, drawish, e.g. 13 ... .td7 14 .txf7+
sorne of which have been overly l:txf7 15 'ii'xc3 or 13 �e6 14
•••

neglected in modem praxis. l:tfcl ! ? .txc4 1 5 'ii'xc4 l2Je4 16


6 ... d6 f3 followed by 1 7 'ii'xc7.
There are three major sixth 7 d4 .tg4!? (D)
move deviations for Black: 7....td7!? 8 'iib3 (White
The Evans Gambit Accepted 147

could try to speed things up by 8 petual check is inevitable (from


dxe5 dxe5 9 lLlbd2 ! ? intending White after 1 3 lLld2 i..xd2 14
�d5 and lLlc4) 8 .. .'ilf6 9 dxe5 'ii'xc6+ rJi;c7 14 'ilxc7+ or Black
dxe5 1 0 :d 1 h6 1 1 �a3 .:ds 1 2 after 1 3 'ilxa5 'ii'g4+).
lLlbd2 �b6 1 3 �d5 and here b) 8 .i.bS exd4 9 cxd4 .i.d7 1 0
Chigorin-Steinitz, Weh (7) 1 892 i..b2 lLlf6 1 1 lba3? lLlxe4! 12 d5
continued 13...lLlas? 1 4 'ilb4 c5 lbe7 1 3 'ilfa4 i..c 3! 14 l:.ab 1
1 5 'ilb2 lbe7 1 6 lLlb3 lLlxb3 1 7 i..xb2 1 5 ltxb2 lLlc5 1 6 'ii'd4 0-0
'ii'xb3 0-0 1 8 i..xb7 lLlg6 1 9 c4 17 i..c4 lbf5 1 8 'ilfd2 'ilff6 and
lbf4 20 'ii'e3 �g4 2 1 i..d5 l:.fe8 White had nothing for the two
22 i..b2 l:td6 23 l:.d2 lLlxg2 24 pawns in Chigorin-Steinitz, Weh
c;i;>xg2 �xf3+ 25 'ii'xf3 'ii'g 5+ 26 ( 1 3) 1 892.
�h1 'ii'xd2 27 'ilxf7+ c¡th7 28 8 ... 'ii'd 7?!
:g1 1 -0. Black can improve The critical line is 8...i..xt3! 9
with 13 ...lLlge7 when after 1 4 gxt3 (not 9 i..xf7+ 'iti>f8 10 gxf3
lbc4 0-0 1 5 i..xc6 i..xc6 1 6 i..b6 1 1 �xg8 lhg8 12 d5 lba5
lLlcxe5 White regains bis pawn 1 3 'ilfc2 g5 with a big advantage
but has no advantage. to Black - Levenfish) 9 ... exd4 10
'ilfxb7 lbe5 and here:
a) 11 c;i¡¡bl l:tb8 ( 1 I ...tLlxf3??
12 'ii'd5) 12 'ii'a6 lbxc4 1 3 'ilfxc4
dxc3 14 lbxc3 i.. xc3 1 5 'ii'xc3
'ilff6 1 6 e5 ! ? ( 1 6 'ilfxc7 'ilfxf3+
draws) 1 6... dxe5 17 .:e1 lLle7 1 8
l:.xe5 l:tb5 ! 1 9 l:txe7+ 'iti>xe7 20
'ilfxc7+ �eS 2 1 'ii'c8+ 'ii'd8 22
'ii'c6+ 'ii'd7 23 'ila8+ 1/z-1/z San­
tasiere-Marshall, New York
1 926.
b) 11 cxd4 is another sugges­
tion from Botterill, who doesn't
8 'ilb3!? give any analysis. However the
Although sidelined in ECO, tactical 1 I ...llb8 1 2 'ii'a6 lLlxf3+
this looks the only real try for 1 3 ..ti>g2 i..b6! ! looks problematic
advantage. for White ( 14 ..ti>xf3 i..xd4 and
a) 8 'ii'a4 i.. xf3 9 gxf3 exd4 a 1 is attacked).
1 0 cxd4 and instead of 10 a6 ••• In conclusion we can say that
with complications, as in 7 ...i..g4 8 'ilb3 is likely to lead
Chigorin-Steinitz, Weh ( 1 7) to a draw with best play.
1 892, Black can already force a 9 lt:JgS! tLld8
draw with 10 ...'ilf6 1 1 .i.b5 10 dxeS dxeS
'ii'xf3 1 2 �xc6+ bxc6 and per- 11 �a3 lt:Jh6
148 The Evans Gambit Accepted

12 t3 i.b6+ 4 b4 i.xb4
13 c;t;th1 i.hS 5 c3 i.aS
14 l:.d1 'ifc8 6 0-0 d6
Now Captain Evans unleashes 7 d4 i.b6 (D)
a wonderful combination.
15 l:.xd8+! 'ifxd8
16 lbxt7!! (D)

Tiús is the Lasker set-up we


have heard so much about. On
b6 the bishop is less prone to
Everything is mate: 16 ... i.xt7 attack, and the b7-pawn is also
17 i.xf7+ lbxfl 1 8 'ife6+ or shielded from . potential harass­
16...lbxt7 1 7 i.b5+! c6 1 8 ment, should the white queen
'ii'e6+. Note the important role advance to b3. Of course the
played by the raking white move 7 ... i.b6 does allow White
bishop on a3. the option of regaining his
16 'ifh4 gambited pawn, but only by en­
17 'it'bS+ c6 tering a rather unattractive end­
18 'i1Vxe5+ �d7 game.
19 'i1Ve6+ �c7 8 dxeS
20 i.d6# (1-0) 8 a4 exd4! 9 cxd4 i.g4 10
A fittingly beautiful game for i.b2 'i1Vf6 1 1 i.b5 i..xf3 12 gxf3
the frrst ever recorded Evans a6 1 3 i..xc6+ bxc6 14 lba3 lbe7
Gambit. 15 �h1 0-0 1 6 lbc4 d5 17 lbxb6
cxb6 1 8 'ife2 lbg6 1 9 l:.g 1 llfe8
Game 47 20 l:.g3 'i1Ve6 21 l:.e1
Botterill-Williams (Charousek-Blackbume, Nurem­
Pontypridd 1978 burg 1 896) and here 2 1 .. .f5
would have cemented Black's
1 e4 eS advantage.
2 lbt3 lbc6 8 dxeS
3 i.c4 i.cS 9 'it'b3
The Evans Gambit Accepted 149

The tempting sacrifice 9 14 lbxe5 'ii'e6 (D)


i..xt7+ �xf7 1 0 lbxeS+ has
been shown to be unsound after
1 0...�e8! 1 1 'ii'hs + g6 1 2 lbxg6
lbf6 1 3 'ii'h 6 l:lg8 and if 14 lbh4
then 14 ...lbeS ! .
9 'i'xd8+ lbxd8 1 0 lbxeS
gives the ending where Lasker
considered that bis untested try
10 ... lbf6! was even better for
Black. Instead 10 ...i..e6 (with
equality - Lasker) 1 1 lbd2 lbe7
1 2 i.. a 3 f6 1 3 lbd3 lbg6 14 :ab1
�f7 1 S i..dS l:.e8 was Chigorin­
Pillsbury, London 1 899. Here 15 lbc4
White miscalculated with 1 6 c4? 'With real chances of equalis­
c6! 1 7 i.. xe6+ lbxe6 1 8 lbb3 ing the position' - Keres. On in­
(Chigorin had missed 1 8 eS stead 15 'ii'a3+ (a move to which
l:.ed8!) 1 8 ...:ad8 and Black was Chigorin devoted much analysis,
better. Whilst White's endgame trying to refute 1 S ...'it>f6 and
play can be improved, there is 1 S ... cS) Black simply plays Lev­
little sign of any advantage in enfish's 1 S ...'i'd6! and swaps
this line. queens.
9 ... 'i'f6! 15 ... .l:d8!
10 i.g5 'i'g6 15...i..c5? 1 6 lbbd2 i::td8 17
11 i.. d5! lbge7 �h1 'it>f8 1 8 f4 'i'e8 19 lbf3 b6
l l ... lba5 has long been dis­ 20 fS h6 2 1 l:.fe 1 aS 22 'i'c2
missed because after 12 lbxe5 i.. a6 23 lbceS 'it>g8 24 lbg4 i..f8
there occurred 12 ... 'i'xg5?? 1 3 2S 'i'f2 'i'd7 26 'i'g3 �h7 27 f6
i.. c 6+! �e7 1 4 'ii'xf7+ �d6 1 S i.. c8 28 h3 eS 29 'ii'h4 'ii'c7 30
l:.d1 + 1 -0 in Hasek-Jereba, Pra­ lbgS+ 'it>g6 3 1 lbxf7 'it>xf7 32
gue 1 929, but in fact 12...lbxb3 fxg7 i..xg4 33 gxf8'ii'+ .l:lxf8 34
1 3 lbxg6 hxg6 gives Black a 'ii'xg4 'i'eS 3S :ab 1 l:.ab8 36
perfectly satisfactory ending. lf l:.fl+ �e7 37 l:Ud 1 'i'e6 38 'ii'g3
White's best is 12 'ii'a4+ i.. d7 1 3 1 -0 Skotorenko-Ahman, corres.
'i'xd7+ �xd7 1 4 lbxeS+ 'it>e8 1 S 1 976.
lbxg6 hxg6, another equalish 16 'ii'b4+ 'ít>e8
ending, then this is a new side­ 17 lbba3 'i'e7
line that Black should certainly 18 'i'b2 i..e6
consider. 19 lbxb6 axb6
12 i.xe7 �xe7 20 lbb5 i..c4
13 i..xc6 'i'xc6 21 l:.fe1 i..xb5
150 The Evans Gambit Accepted

22 'ii'xbS+ � g6 12 'ii'xc5 both favour White.


23 l:te2 'iiVeS 8 exd4 �b6 (D)
24 iWxeS+ bxeS
While not yet losing, the end­
garne is unpleasant for White.
2S f3 :33
26 :ct e4 27 l:tb2 b6 28 l:.ee2
l:ld3 29 l:tb4 l:tdxc3 30 l:txe4
l:txe4 31 l:lxe4 eS 32 l:le2 rJ;e7
33 c;t>f2? ! (White should play 33
:d2! , cutting off the black king)
33..."'d6 34 l:lb2 �e6 3S "'g3
e4 36 'itf4 lt>eS 37 h4 e3 38 :e2
lt>d4 39 eS 'iiti>d3 40 l:le3+ �d2
0-1
9 lbc3
Garne 48 There are two irnportant alter­
Chigorin-Urusov natives:
Corres. 1884 a) 9 dS was Anderssen's fa­
vourite. Although it looks odd
1 e4 eS for White to block bis own light­
2 ltJf3 ltJe6 squared bishop, quite a few
3 .i.e4 .i.eS tempi are gained:
4 b4 �xb4 a l ) 9.. ltJeS is inferior: 10
.

S e3 .tes ltJxe5 dxe5 1 1 i..a 3 ! �d4 12


Tiús once-common retreat is ltJd2 i.. xa l 13 iWxal f6 14 f4
known as the 'Normal Varia­ Goncarenko-Osipenko, USSR
tion'. Black can also reach the 1 956.
standard position (after Black's a2) 9...lbce7 is not up to the
eighth) via the defence 5 ... �a5 if mark either: 10 e5 ! ttJh6 1 1 ltJc3
he so chooses. 0-0 12 i..xh6 gxh6 1 3 1Wd2 �g7
6d4 exd4 14 l:.ael Anderssen-Winawer,
70-0 Baden-Baden 1 870.
After 7 exd4, 7 ... .i.b6 would a3) 9...1Wf6? is virtually los­
transpose, but there is no need to ing: 1 0 dxc6 iWxal 1 1 1Wb3 1Wf6
allow Black the possibility of 1 2 e5 ! Kolisch-Sumov, 1 863.
7....i.b4+. a4) 9...lbas 10 i.. b2 ltJe7 11
7 ... d6 ..td3 ( 1 1 i..xg7? l:.g8 12 i..f6
7...dxe3?! 8 .i.xf7+ c;t>xt7 9 ltJxc4 1 3 'ii'a4+ 1Wd7 14 1Wxc4
1td5+ rJ;f8 1 0 1Wxc3+ and .:.Xg2+! Anderssen, as 1 5 �xg2
7...d3?! 8 ltJg5 ! ttJh6 9 �xf7+ 'ii'g4+ wins for Black) 11 ...0-0
ltJxt7 1 O ltJxt7 c;t>xt7 1 1 'Wifh5+ 12 ltJe3 ltJg6 (opening the garne
The Evans Gambit Accepted 151

with 1 2 ... c6?! is bad after 1 3 Purdy-Fell, Australia 1 947, and


'ifd2, as in two Lasker-Steinitz now 12 .tg5 ! ? has been sug­
games, or 1 3 lDe2 f5 14 l;lc 1 gested):
fxe4 1 5 .txe4 .tf5 1 6 .txf5 b l ) 10 lDc3!? 0-0?! (10... h6
l:.xf5 1 7 dxc6 bxc6 1 S lDed4 with similar play as per the next
Anderssen-Steinitz, London example) 1 1 .tg5 lDe7 ( 1 1 ...h6
1 S66) 13 tt:Je2 eS 14 'ifd2. Here 12 .th4 g5 1 3 lDxg5 ! is possible)
Harding and Botterill wrote: 12 e5 dxe5 1 3 dxe5 lDd7 14 e6
'The overall impression is that fxe6 1 5 .txe6+ 'iti>hS Bird-de
Whlte's kingside attack is noth­ Riviere, London 1 S5S, and now
ing but a gallant swindle. . .. but 1 6 .txd7! .txd7 17 lDd5 .tc5 1 S
who hasn't been swindled?' To l:te1 l:.eS 1 9 l:tc 1 .td6 20 .txe7
modem eyes Whlte's compensa­ wins material for Whlte.
tion for the pawn does look in­ b2) 10 l:.e1 h6 1 1 .ta3 0-0 12
sufficient; but in the old days lDc3 l:teS 1 3 l:tc1 lDh7 14 l:te3
Anderssen seemed happy lDa5 1 5 ..td3 ..te6 1 6 'ife2 lDfS?!
enough to win from this position (16 ... lDg5 is more active) 17
with either White and Black in lDa4 lDg6 1S lDxb6 axb6 19 d5
the same toumament: .td7 20 .tb2 lDf4 2 1 'ifc2 c6 22
a4 1 ) 14...f6 15 �h 1 .te? 16 'ifc3 f6 23 dxc6 bxc6 24 .tfl c5
l:.ac 1 l:bS 1 7 lDg3 b5 1 S lDf5 25 lDh4 d5?! 26 exd5 lDxd5 27
b4?! ( 1 S ... c4 - see next example) l:txeS+ 'ifxeS 2S 'ii'g3 'ii'e4 29
1 9 l:.g 1 .tb6 20 g4 lDe5 2 1 l:td 1 l:teS 30 .td3 'ii'a4 3 1 .th7+
.txe5 dxe5 2 2 l:g3 l:. f7 2 3 g5 'iti>xh7 32 l:txd5 l:.e7 33 .txf6
.txf5 24 exf5 'ifxd5 25 gxf6 'ii'e4 34 lDg6 ! ! 'ii'xg6 (34...'ii'xd5
l:.dS 26 l;lcg 1 'iti>hS 27 fxg7+ 35 lDxe7 'ii'f7 36 'ii'd3+ WhS 37
WgS 2S 'tih6 'ifd6 29 'ifxh7+ 'ii'xd7 gxf6 3S 'ii'dS+ �h7 39
'iti>xh7 30 f6+ �gS 3 1 .th7+ 'ii'xb6 'ii'xe7 40 'ii'xa5) 35 .txe7
'iti>xh7 32 l:h3+ 'iti>gS 33 l:hS# .te6 36 l:td6 'ii'f7 37 l:txb6 lDc4
( 1 -0) Anderssen-Zukertort, Bar­ 3S l:b7 .tf5 39 l:c7 .tg6 40
men (round 4) 1 S69. .txc5 'ii'f6 4 1 .tb4 1 -0 Mariotti­
a42) 14....tc7 1 5 :acl l:tbS Gligorié, Venice 1 97 1 .
1 6 lDg3 f6 1 7 lDf5 b5 1 S Wh1 c4 9 ... lOOS
19 .tb 1 b4 20 .td4 .ta6 2 1 'ifd1 9 lDge7 immediately fails to
.•.

c3 22 :e1 lDc4 23 lDg 1 .tb6 and 10 lDg5. After 9. .tg4, best is 1 0


..

0- 1 , 55, in Paulsen-Anderssen, .tb5 ! 'iti>f8 ! 1 1 .te3 lDge7 12 a4


Barmen (round 5) 1 S69. a5 1 3 ..tc4 ..th5 14 l:tcl with
b) 9 h3!? lDf6 (Black could initiative to White in Cafferty­
also respond to Whlte's waiting Cadden, corres. 1967-S.
move with one of his own, 10 .tgs
9 ...h6; instead 9 ...lDa5 1 0 .td3 10 .i.d3 ! ? lDe7 1 1 lDd5 0-0 as
lDe7 1 1 lDc3 0-0 was a game in Bird-Chigorin, London 1 S99
152 The Evans Gambit Accepted

is worth investigating. Play then­ 12 .txf6 gxf6


continued 1 2 ltJxb6 axb6 1 3 d5 13 ltJxf6+ 'it81'8
ltJg6 14 'i'c2 c5 1 5 .l:.b 1 i.g4 1 6 14 ltJg5 (D)
.i.e2 l:.e8 and now instead of 17
.i.b5? .txf3! 18 .i.xe8 tt:Jh4
Sovremenny Debiut suggests 17
h3, with a good game.
10 ... liJe7
10...f6 ( 1 0... 'i'd7 ! ? is also
possible) 1 1 .i.f4! ltJxc4?! (later
Chigorin was to recommend
1 1 ...ltJe7! , e.g. 1 2 h3 c6 1 3 i.b3
ltJg6= Asharin-Chigorin, Riga
1 892) 1 2 'i'a4+ 'i'd7 1 3 'i'xc4
'ilf7 14 ltJd5 .i.e6 1 5 'i'a4+ .i.d7
16 'ilc2 l:.c8 1 7 a4 i.a5 1 8 l:.fb 1
with a big plus in Chigorin­ 14 ... ltJg8?
Dorrer, telegraph game 1 884. There is a much-quoted draw
11 ltJd5 by perpetual check in the line
This leads to a draw by per­ 14 ...ltJxc4! 1 5 'ii'h5 ( 1 5 'ii'f3?
petual check with best play, as tt'lf5 ! Blackbume) 1 5 ...�g7 16
does the main line with 11 'ii'f7+ 'it>h6 17 'iih5+ rJ;f7, etc.
.i.xt7+ 'it¡¡xf7 1 2 ltJd5. Here 15 ltJgxh7+! rJ;g7
12 ...lbac6? 1 3 .i.xe7 ltJxe7 14 16 .txg8! llxh7
ltJg5+ �g6 1 5 ltJf4+ �f6 1 6 e5+ 17 ltJxh7 'ii'h4
was Chigorin-Gunsberg, Havana 17 ...'ii'xg8 1 8 ltJg5 'it¡¡g6 19
(9) 1 890, although somehow ltJf3 and the attack continues -
White managed to lose from this Chigorin.
crushing position. The correct 18 'ilf3 �xg8
defence, analysed by Chigorin, 19 ltJf6+ <J;g7
was 12...l1e8 1 3 i.xe7 l:.xe7 14 20 ltJh5+ �g6
ltJg5+ 'it¡¡g8 1 5 'iih 5 ! h6! 1 6 'ilg6 21 ltJf4+ �h7
hxg5 1 7 ltJf6+ 'it>f8 1 8 ltJh7 + 22 ltJd5 .i.e6
'it¡¡g8 with a forced draw by 23 ltJxb6 axb6
repetition ( 1 9 ltJxg5? i..e 6! 20 24 d5 .tg8
ltJxe6 'i'e8). 25 l:.acl 'ii'e7
11 ... f6 26 'ii'h3+ 1-0
Avoiding the neat trap After 26...�g7. White contin­
1 1 ... ltJxc4? 12 .i.xe7 'ii'd7 1 3 ues 28 llc3 .i.f7 29 llg3+ .i.g6
.i.f6! 0-0 1 4 'i'e 1 ! threatening 30 f4, etc.
both 'i'xc4 and 'ii'g 5.
12 The Evans Gambit Decli nad

Game 49 Evans was simply to grab the e­


Kasparov-Piket pawn with S bS ltJaS 6 ltJxeS,
Amsterdam Euwe mem 1995 but a century or so of experience
has shown that White must be
1 e4 eS more subtle. After 6 ...lbh6
2 lbf3 lbc6 (6 ... 'Wif6!? and 6 ...'Wig5 ! ? are
3 .i.c4 �eS highly unclear) 7 d4 d6 8 .i.xh6
4 b4 .i.b6 (D) dxe5 (also 8 ... gxh6 9 �xf7+
After Kasparov had stwmed <j;e7 10 ltJc3 dxe5 1 1 'ii'f3 �g4!
Anand with the Evans Gambit in 12 'ii'xg4 �xf7 and White's at­
Riga, everybody wondered tack is not quite worth a piece) 9
whether he would dare try it �xg7 :g8 1 0 �xf7+ �xf7 1 1
again in a top tournament. The �xe5 'ir'g5 12 ltJc3 ltJc4 White
emphatic answer carne just a few stands worse in spite of tempo­
weeks later, in this game. Piket's rarily having four pawns for bis
4 ... �b6 is considered the most piece. This was demonstrated in
respectable way to decline the Steinitz-Dubois, match (2) 1 862
gambit pawn, though 4 �e7 ..• and Réti-Perlis, Vienna 1 9 1 3.
and 4 dS are known.
••• However, S �b2 d6 6 a4 a6 is
an altemative possible method of
transposing into the main line
beginning 5 a4 a6.
S ••• aS?!
For the superior S a6 see
...

Game 50, while S...ltJxb4 6 aS


Jlc5 7 c3 ltJc6 8 0-0 d6 9 d4
exd4 10 cxd4 .i.b4 1 1 d5 ltJxaS
1 2 'Wia4+ wins for White -
Handbuch. Piket's choice of
5 ... a5?! is curious, and indicates
he had not really taken the Evans
seriously in bis preparation. Per­
S a4! haps he had just skim-read ECO,
The original idea of Captain where the move is assesd se as
154 The Evans Gambit Declined

giving equality. White's e-pawn and threats of


6 bS lbd4 ... lbg4. Perhaps the best set-up
Setting the arcane trap 7 for White is 1 1 'illd3 ! lLlf6 12
lLlxeS? 'ii'g5 ! 8 lLlxfl 'ii'xg2 9 lLld2, retaining the option of
:n 'ii'xe4+ 1 0 .ll e2 lbf3#. playing both f4 and i.a3.
7 lbxd4 .ll xd4 10 0-0 liJe7
8 c3 .ll b6 11 .llgS h6
9 d4 (D) 12 .llxe7 'ii'xe7
Also possible is 9 0-0 lLlf6 1 O 13 cxd4 'ii'd6
i.a3 d6 1 1 d4 .ll g4 1 2 'ii'd3 'ille7 Chasing pawns befare castling
1 3 lbd2 0-0-0 14 f4 exf4 1 5 is risky but after 13...d6 14 lbc3
:xf4 with a n edge for Wbite in .lle6 1 5 lbd5 .llxd5 1 6 .l\.xd5
Medina-Vilardebo, Spanish Ch White's superb bishop on d5 is
1 945. far superior to its black counter­
part on b6. In bis lnformator
notes Kasparov also mentions
13 'ii'b4 14 lba3 0-0 1 5 'illd3
•••

d5 ! but concedes an advantage


for White after both 16 exdS
.l\.d7 1 7 lLlc2 'ii'd6 1 8 lbe3 and
16 .ll d S!? 'ii'xd4 17 'ii'xd4 i.xd4
1 8 l:ad 1 .llc5 1 9 lbc4.
14 lbc3! .llxd4 (D)
Here, after 14...'ii'xd4 1 5
lbd5 ! 'ii'xc4 16 l:c1 'ii'a2, 17
.:xc7! was Kasparov's winning
intention, as after 17 ...i.xc7 1 8
9 exd4? lbxc7+ or 17.....1a7 1 8 b6 (as
According to Grandmaster Ian 1 8 ... i.b8 allows 1 9 :xc8#)
Rogers, on the spot in Arnster­ White regains bis piece with to­
dam, Piket had prepared the new tal control of the dark squares.
move 9 ... 'iib4 but changed bis Just after the game Kasparov
mind at the board. showed off the remarkable fan­
ECO gives 9...'il/e7 1 0 0-0 d6 tasy altemative of 17 lbxb6 cxb6
11 f4 and now 11 ....lle6 1 2 lba3 1 8 'ii'd6 'ille6 1 9 e5 'ii'xd6 20
exd4 1 3 cxd4 0-0-0 1 4 .lle2 lLlf6 exd6 c¡tds 2 1 l:.fe 1 l:e8 22
1 5 .ll f3 d5 1 6 e5 lbe4 1 7 lLlc2 lbe8+ c¡txe8 23 f4. A piece
h5 ! with equality, Nunn-Hecht, down, White nevertheless wins
Buenos Aires OL 1 978 - it is not as Black's queenside is perma­
so easy to refute Black's accu­ nently incarcerated! However if
rate play in tbis game. 1 1 lLlf6 ••. Black avoids the queen exchange
1 2 lbd2 0-0 ! ? gives pressure on on d6 (for example 1 9...h5 ! with
The Evans Gambit Declined 155

the idea of 20... l:h6!) a com­ 'iib8 2 1 lt:Jc7 lta6 22 'iih2 ! when
pletely unclear position arises. it is hard to suggest a sensible
move for him. 19 'ifxcl+ 20
•.•

'iixc1 cxd5 2 1 .i.xd5 would also


be hopeless - material is about
equal but again Black can hardly
move bis queenside.
20 lt:Jb6
Threatening 21 .i.xt7+ win­
ning Black's queen. Piket is
losing back a whole rook.
20 dS
21 lt:Jxa8 �h8
22 lt:Jb6 .i.e6
23 h3 l:Z.d8
1S lt:JdS! ! .i.xa1 24 bxc6 bxc6
16 'ifxa1 0-0 2S ltc3 'ifb4
16...f6 1 7 b6 cxb6 1 8 e5 fxe5 26 ltxc6 ltb8
1 9 lte 1 �d8 20 ltxe5 was a 27 lt:JxdS 'ifxa4
tougher defence - Kasparov. Af­ 28 ltcl 'ifa3
ter the text Black's queen fmds 29 .i.c4 1-0
herself virtually trapped on an
open board. Game 50
17 eS! 'ifcS Sokolsky-Lilienthal
18 l:Z.cl! c6 USSR Ch (Moscow) 1944
18...d6 19 .i.a2 'ifa7 20 ltxc7
dxe5 2 1 'ifxe5 gives Wbite an 1 e4 eS
overwhelming position for the 2 tt:Jf3 lt:Jc6
sacrificed exchange. The defen­ 3 .i.c4 ..tes
sive try 2 1.. . .i.e6 then fails to 22 4 b4 .ib6
lt:Je7+ �h8 23 lt:Jg6+! �g8 24 S a4 a6 (D)
.ixe6. With l 8 ...c6 Piket is 6 lt:Jc3
hoping for 19 lt:Jc7? 'ifa7 20 b6 6 .i.b2!? is a safe positional
'ifxb6! 2 1 lt:Jxa8 'ifa7 22 lt:Jc7 continuation that was a favourite
b6, or 19 lt:Jf6+? �h8! when with Savielly Tartakower. 6 d6 •••

Black is fme, but Kasparov has a 7 bS axbS (7 ... lt:Ja5?! 8 .ie2 lt:Jf6
stronger idea. 9 lt:Jc3 .ig4 1 0 lt:Jd5 ! with advan­
19 .i.a2! 'iia3 tage in Tartakower-Fahmi,
'Piket prefers to die with bis Baden 1 9 1 4, as on l O...ltJxe4,
boots on' says Rogers. In any White has 1 1 lt:Jxb6 cxb6 12
case Black's plight is almost lt:Jxe5 ! - Tartakower) 8 axbS
comical after 19 'ifa7 20 b6
.•• ltxa1 9 .i.xa1 lt:Jd4 and here:
156 The Evans Gambit Declined

ower) 1 6 h3 ! ? (this modest con­


tinuation keeps a lingering edge;
the earlier game Tartakower­
Rubinstein, The Hague 1 92 1 had
gane 1 6 cxd4 �xd4 1 7 tt:lc3
tt:lg4!? 1 8 tt:ld5 �xa1 1 9 lb.a 1
lbe5 20 'ir'g3 .l::te8 - probably
White has little, though Tartak­
ower went on to deliver an al­
most sadistic mate with a lone
knight on move 7 1 ) 1 6 ....:.e8.
Here Tartakower assesses 17
cxd4 �xd4 18 tt:lc3 as slightly
a) 10 ..i.xd4 exd4 1 1 d3 tt:lf6 better for White, and he also kept
1 2 0-0 0-0 1 3 tt:lbd2 is a position a slight plus after 17 lbd2 dxc3
that was reached in three old 1 8 �xc3 �d4 1 9 tt:le4 �xc3 20
games: Johner-Hromadka and tt:lc3 in Tartakower-Rhodes,
Tartakower-Schlechter, both Southport 1 950.
Baden 1 9 14; and Ragozin­ 6 tt:lf6
Panov, Leningrad v Moscow 7 tiJdS! (D)
1 939. Whilst all three games
continued 13 ... c5 14 bxc6 bxc6
1 5 'ii'a 1 c5 1 6 .l::tb 1 with pressure
for White, Keres's suggestion of
13 d5! would appear to give
...

Black a comfortable game.


b) 10 lbxd4!? exd4 1 1 c3 tt:lf6
(not 1 1 ...dxc3 12 tt:lxc3 c6? 1 3
'ii'h 3 ! tt:lh6 1 4 bxc6 bxc6 1 5 tt:la4
1 -0 Walkerling-Gross, corres
1 928) 1 2 0-0 0-0 1 3 d3 d5. Un­
zicker (in ECO) stops here, say­
ing Black has equalised. But he
quotes only the game Tartak­ The concept of 6 tt:lc3 and 7
ower had with Rubinstein, whilst tt:ld5 was found over the board
in fact the old master was still by Kan in 1 929. Should Black
refming his continuation 29 capture the knight, ignore it, or
years later in 1 950, just six years snatch a pawn?
befare his death. 14 exd5 tt:lxd5 7 . .. lbxdS
1 5 'ii'f3 lbf6 ( 1 5 ... lbxc3 1 6 Or:
tt:lxc3 dxc3 1 7 �xc3 'ii'd6 1 8 a) 7 0-0!? 8 0-0 (8 lbxb6
.•.

'ii'e4 with advantage - Tartak- cxb6 9 d3 d5 ! - Korchnoi)


The Evans Gambit Declined 157

8 ... tDxd5 9 exd5 tDe7? (9 ... e4! consider the inventive pawn
1 O dxc6 exf3 transposes to our sacrifice 9 d6!?, as after 9 cxd6
...

main line, and even avoids de­ Black's queenside pieces will
rúes White sorne dangerous pos­ take ages to develop. Casella­
sibilities) 1 0 d4! with advantage, Almasi, New York 1993 contin­
Muratov-Budarin, USSR 1 963. ued instead 9 .'iif6 10 0-0! tDe6
•.

b) 7 tDxe4 8 0-0 and here:


.•• (after 10 ... tDxf3+ 1 1 'iixf3 'ii'xf3
b 1 ) 8 0-0?! 9 d3 tDf6 1 0 .i.g5
••. 12 gxf3 cxd6 1 3 c3 White's irú­
d6 1 1 tDd2! with a big advantage tiative surprisingly persists de­
in Kan-Botvinnik, USSR Ch spite the exchange of queens) 1 1
1 929. i.b2 cxd6 12 d4 e4 1 3 tDd2 'it'g6
b2) 8 d6 9 d3 tDf6 10 .i.g5
... 14 i.xe6 dxe6 1 5 tDc4 i.c7 with
.i.e6 1 1 c3 .i.xd5? 1 2 .i.xd5 h6 unclear play. Gutman suggests
1 3 .i.xf6 gxf6 14 a5 occurred in the improvement 1 1 d4!? e4
Crown-Sergeant, Nottingham ( 1 1 ...tDxd4 12 tDxd4 ..txd4 1 3
1 946. On 1 4... .i.a7, there will c 3 intending 1 3. . .i.xc3 14 l:ta3)
follow 1 5 b5 axb5 16 a6. 12 tDd2 'iixd4 1 3 l:.a3 'ifxd6 1 4
b3) 8 tDf6 9 d4! tDxd5 1 0
... 'iVg4 with a big advantage for
.i.xd5 tDxb4 1 1 .i.xf7+! �xf7 1 2 White.
tDxe5+ (Panov and Estrin) and 9 dxc6 0-0 (D)
White gains a powerful attack 9 exf3 (perhaps more accu­
...

wherever the king retreats, e.g. rate - see the note to White's
12 ... �f8 ( 1 2 ... �g8 1 3 'ii'f3 !) 1 3 10th move) and now:
a5 .i.a7 1 4 .i.a3 c5 1 5 dxc5 tDc6 a) 10 'ii'xf3 (this was previ­
1 6 tDc4 with a crippling bind in ously thought good for White
retum for his piece (Harding and but now unclear; the threat is 1 1
Cafferty). cxb7) 1 0...'ii'e7+ 1 1 �dl ! dxc6
8 exdS e4 12 ..tb2! ( 1 2 l:te1 i.e6). Here
8 tDd4 is the altemative:
... 12 0-0? loses instantaneously to
•..

a) White must avoid 9 tDxd4? 13 'fig3 g6 14 'ii'c3, but a vital


.i.xd4 1 0 c3 in view of the trick defensive exchange sacrifice has
1 0... .i.xf2+ 1 1 �xf2 'ii'h4+ and been discovered for Black:
12 ... 'ti'xc4. 12 ..te6 1 3 ..txg7 l:tg8 14 i.xe6
..•

b) 9 0-0 and now 9 d6 10 .•• fxe6 1 5 i.c3 0-0-0! 1 6 ..tf6


tDxd4 .i.xd4 1 1 c3 .i.a7 12 d4 'ii'xb4 1 7 i.xd8 l:.xd8. In this
'ti'h4 1 3 ..td3 0-0 14 dxe5 dxe5 highly unclear position White
1 5 'iie2 l:.e8 1 6 ..te3 gave White has trouble connecting his rooks
the advantage in Alekhine­ and no secure haven for his king.
Fuentes, Melilla 1 945, but Alex­ b) 10 0-0!?. This little-known
ander's 9 tDxt3+ ! ? 10 'iixf3 d6
••• move order idea of Tim Harding
is less clear. (Evans Gambit, Chess Digest
e) Therefore White should 1984) may be White's safest try
158 The Evans Gambit Declined

for an advantage. Now 10...fxg2 12...'ii'd4 1 3 'ilb3 'ii'xa 1 14


1 1 'IJ.ef +- gives White an attack, ..tb2.
so Black should prefer 1 0...0-0, 13 c3
transposing back into the present After this the game quickly
game. peters out to a draw. Harding's
interesting idea of 13 .i.b2!? is
better, with the following pos­
sibilities:
a) 13 ..td4 14 c3 ..tf6 1 5 'IJ.e1
•••

followed by 16 d4 and White has


built up a solid centre with gain
of time.
b) 13 .'tli'xd2 14 'ii'g 3 ! 'ii'h6
.•

(again 14 ... g6? 1 5 'ii'e5 ! deals


out immediate retribution on the
long diagonal, while 14 ... i.d4
fails to 1 5 l:.ad 1 ) and now
Harding gives 15 'ii'xc7, missing
10 0-0 the killer skewer 15 ... i.b8! ,
Here 10 �b2! ( 1 0 lbe5 and 1 0 winning on the spot. Instead 15
lbg 1 fail to 10...'ii'f6) 1 0... exf3 l:.ael! gives White dangerous
1 1 'ii'xf3 has long been consid­ compensation for the sacrificed
ered to favour White. ll .'ii'e7+
.. pawn, e.g. 1 5 ..td7 1 6 'IJ.e7 or
..•

fails to 12 �fl 'ii'xb4 1 3 ..tb3 15 ... -trs 1 6 'ii'xc7 with the point
with dual threats of 14 dxc6 and that 1 6... i.b8? fails to 17
14 .i.a3, and ll bxc6 to 12
... 'ii'xf7+ ! ! l:.xf7 1 8 l:.e8#.
'ii'g 3 g6 1 3 'ii'c 3. After l l ..dxc6
. e) 13 i.e6! ? is perhaps the
•••

(to meet 1 2 'ii'g 3 with 12 ... ..td4), key test, when 14 'ii'c3! ? is
12 'ii'c 3 l:.e8+ 13 �fl 'ii'g5 14 Harding's suggestion.
h4 'ifb6 1 5 a5 ..ta7 1 6 h5 ..te6 13 ..te6
1 7 :h4 gave White the attack in 14 'ii'e2 ..txc4
Sokolsky-Goldenov, USSR Ch 15 iWxc4 'ii'd5
1 945. 16 'ii'xd5 cxd5
To avoid this possibility Black 17 d4 c6
should play 9 ... exf3, when after 18 �f4 ..tb8
1 0 0-0 0-0 we are back in the 19 i.xb8 l:.axb8
game continuation. 20 'IJ.fe1 :res
10 exf3 21 � <M8
1 1 'ii'xf3 dxc6 22 l:.ad1 l:.bd8
12 aS ..ta7 llz-1/z
l ndex of Variations

1 e4 eS 6 �b3 �b6 36
2 ttJf3 ltJc6 6 b4 �b6 - see 4 e3 ltJf6 5 b4
3 �c4 �eS �b6 6 d3 d6
6 .ib6
A: 4 d3 - Giuoco Pianissimo 6 . . . a6 7 lLlbd2 .ia7 8 .ib3
B: 4 c3 lLlf6 S b4 - Queen­ 0-0 (8 ...h6 40):
side Play a) 9 .a.e 1 40
C: 4 c3 - White attacks in b) 9 h3 43
the centre e) 9 ltJe4 52
D: 4 b4 - Evans Gambit 6 ... 0-0 7 �b3 a6 47
7 ttJbd2 32
A) 7 �b3 30; 7 . . . ttJe7 34
4 d3 ltJf6
B)
S c3
5 ltJe3 d6 6 �g5 (6 0-0 1 9; 6 4 c3 ttJf6
ltJa4 1 9; 6 �e3 20) 6 ... h6 S b4 �b6
(6 . . . ltJa5 23; 6 ... �e6 23; 6 d3 d6
6 ... �g4 23) 7 �xf6 'ii'xf6 8 7 a4
ltJd5 'it'd8 9 e3: 7 0-0 7 1
a) 9 ... ltJe7 24 7 �b3 0-0 8 ttJbd2 75
b) 9 ... 0-0 24 7 aS
e) 9 . . a6 26
.
7 . . . a6 8 0-0 0-0 (8 ... h6 82):
S d6 a) 9 ltJbd2 78
5 . . . a6: b) 9 �g5 80
a) 6 �b3 d6 (6 ... �a7 7 ttJbd2 8 bS ttJe7
d6 59) 7 ttJbd2 0-0 8 h3 60 9 0-0 0-0
b) 6 ltJbd2 67 10 ltJbd2
e) 6 0-0 �a7 7 �b3 0-0 8 10 h3 9 1 ; 1 0 .ig5 94
ttJbd2 d5 68 10 ... ltJg6
5 ... 0-0 6 b4 �b6 7 a4 (7 0-0 11 .ib3 89
a6 8 ltJbd2 d5 84) 7 ... a6 8 0-0 1 1 �a3 9 1
d5 85 1 1 �a2 9 1
6 0-0 1 1 'it'b3 9 1
1 60 Jndex of Variations

C) 13 tt:Jxg5 h6 1 25
4 c3 1 3 ... 0-0 1 22
4 0-0 ti:Jf6 5 d4 (5 c3 ti:Jxe4
1 29) 5 . . . ..txd4 1 30 (5 ... ti:Jxd4 D)
1 29) 4 b4 ..txb4
4 ti:Jf6 4 . . . ..tb6 5 a4:
4 ... Wf6 98 a) 5 ... a5 153
4 . . . d6 99 b) 5 . . . a6 6 ti:Jc3 (6 .i.b2 1 55)
4 ...We7 5 d4 .i.b6 (5 . . . exd4 6 . . . ti:Jf6 7 ti:Jd5 156
1 00) 6 0-0 (6 d5 1 00; 6 ..tg5) 5 c3 ..ta5
6 ... d6 7 h3 (7 ..tg5 1 02) 7 ... ti:Jf6 5 . . . ..te7 6 d4 (6 Wb3 1 37)
8 .Ue 1 1 02 6 ... tt:Ja5 7 ..te2 (7 tt:Jxe5 1 34)
5 d4 exd4 7 . . . exd4 8 Wxd4 135
6 cxd4 5 . . . ..tc5 1 50
6 0-0 1 06; 6 e5 1 09 6 d4
6 ..tb4+ 6 0-0 d6 (6 ...ti:Jf6 146) 7 d4:
7 tt:Jc3 a) 7 ... .i.g4 146
7 ..td2 1 1 1 b) 7 . . . ..td7 1 47
7 tt:Jxe4 e) 7 ... ..tb6 148
7 ... d5 1 1 5 6 exd4
8 0-0 ..txc3 6 ... d6 7 Wb3 1 39
8 . . . 0-0 1 1 6; 8 . . . tt:Jxc3 1 16 7 0-0
9 d5 ..tf6 7 Wb3 142
9 . . . tt:Je5 and others 1 17 7 tt:Jge7
10 :et tt:Je7 7 ... dxc3 1 40
1 0. . . 0-0 1 20 7 ... d3 140
11 :xe4 d6 7 . . . d6 8 Wb3 142
12 .i.g5 8 cxd4
1 2 g4 1 2 1 8 tt:Jg5 144
12 .i.xg5 8 d5 144

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