New ideas in the sveshnikov sicilian by Jose Manuel Vargas

New Ideas ίn the Sveshnikov Sicilian Valery Neverov and Peter Marusenko Trαnslαted by Sαrαh

Β. Τ.

J. Young

Batsford Ltd, London

First published 1 996 © Valery Neverov and Peter Marusenko ISBN Ο 7134 7809 8 Βήtish

Library CataIoguing-in-Publication Data. cataIogue record for this book is available from the Βήtish Library.

ΑΙΙ ήghts reserved. Νο part of this book may be reproduced, by any means, without Ρήοr permission of the publisher.

Ί'ypeset

by John Νυηη and Ρήnted ίη Great Βήtain by Redwood Books, Τrοwbήdge, Wilts for the publishers, Β. Τ. Batsford Ltd, 4 Fitzhardinge Street, London WIH ΟΑΗ

BATSFORD CHESS ΒΟΟΚ Mark Dvoretsky, John Νυηη, Ιοη Speelman General Adviser: Raymond Keene ΟΒΕ

Editorίal Pαnel:

Commissioning Editor: Graham Burgess

Contents List of symbols Introduction Parι

1 2 3 4

4 5

One: Classical Sveshnikov with 9 tZ:Jd5

9... J.e7 10 J.xf6 9... J.e7 10 J.xf6: 12...:b8 9...J.e7 10 tZ:Jxe7 9...'iWa5+

12 29 40 44

Parι Ί\νο: Classical Sveshnikov with 9 J.xf6 gf 10 tZ:Jd5

5 6 7 8 9

10 ... J.g7 11 J.d3 1O...J.g7 without 11 J.d3 (with fianchetto) 1O...J.g7 without 11 J.d3 (without fianchetto) 1O... f5 11 J.d3 10... f5 11 ~xb5

Parι

10 11 12 13 14

54 63 79 85 106

Three: Other lines

C1assical Sveshnikov with 9 tZ:Jabl Bird Larsen Variation: 8... J.e6 7 tZ:Jd5 7 a4 Deviatίons for White οη move 6

Index of Variatίons

111 116

122 132 138 142

Symbols + ++ #

Check Double Check Mate Goodmoνe

!! 1 11 !1 11 ;t

+ +-+ = 1-0 0-1 1/2-1/2

Ch OL Ζ ΙΖ

Ct (n)

(D)

Excellent moνe Badmoνe Seήοus blunder Interesting moνe Dubious moνe Small adνantage to White Small adνantage to Black Big adνantage Ιο White Big adνantage Ιο Black Decisiνe adνantage to White Decisiνe adνantage to Black Eνen position Whitewins Black wins Draw Championship Olympiad Zonal InterzonaI Candidates eνent nth match game Diagram follows

Introduction The Sicilian Sveshnikov is one of the most popular defences ίη contemporary chess practice. Its theory is developing rapidly. Since the ,publication of Sveshnikov's book The Siciliαn Pelikαn, many hundreds of games have been played, greatly enriching the theory of this variation. Our book is about these games and the conclusions ιο be drawn from them. Before sending the reader forth through the labyrinth of the many variations of this system, we would like ιο talk about the common thread ίη them. Ί\vo factors appear ιο be fundamental ιο the system: Black's gaping hole οη d5 and White's slight lack of development. Ιι is ηο joke to say that the white g l-knight makes four ΟΓ five moves at the very outset - as if the knight has promised his queen he wi11 make as many moves as possible, and is ηοι allowed Ιο do otherwise. Thus the main battle takes shape. Which, then, is stronger: White's static SUΡeήοήtΥ ΟΓ Black's dynamic advantages? This controversy has been going οη for a 10ng time ίη chess history.

Tarrasch was clearly ίη favour of White. His opponent was the great chess player and philosopher Lasker. His use of what was ιο later become known as the Pelikan Sicilian stemmed from his deep understanding of chess strategy. This is what B.Weinstein, the author of The Thinker, the bri11iant work οη the second World Champion, said of the conflict: "Pressure οη weak points! Doesn't that remind you of stress testing under a heavy 10ad? Testing ιο destruction! Βυι if the construction is solid ίι wi11 resist, and the attack wi11 fail". Another route - the dynamic one - is also possible; gather a11 one's forces ίη the decisive area (even at the cost of weaknesses ίη other places) and then inflict a blow, acting quickly and energetica11y, so that the opposition cannot make use of these weaknesses. Thus, Lasker's strategy was based effectively οη ideas which were much more wide-ranging and fruitful than the basic ΡήηcίΡΙes of pressure οη weak points, ideas of superior mobility, space and ammunition, and an advantage ίη strength.

6 Introduction

Ιι has long been well known that the basic strategy ίη chess lίes ίη the struggle ΙΟ control the key squares, and, ίη the first place, the central squares. as the pieces which are arranged οη them are the most active. And although ίη the course οί the game the objectives οί attack might change more than once, the fight for the e4-, d4-, e5- and d5squares carrίes οη practically permanently. Το show the reader graphically the essence οί the conflict, we have chosen a basically old game, and ίη the years that have passed since the game was first played. the theoretical assessments ofindividual νarί ations have changed, butthe ideas have remained. The game which you will now examine has been commented οη more than once, but previously ηοΙ all the evaluations have seemed justified Ιο us. So, the reader will judge who is right.

Karpov - Dolιnatov Amsterdam 1980

1 e4 2 lbf3

3 d4

lbc6 cd

4 lbxd4 5 lbc3

e5 (D)

lbf6

Isn't ίι strange that this is one οί the most popuIar continuations οί the Sicilίan Defence? What attracts

W Black Ιο leaving d5 so weak? The fact is that from the very first moves the conflicts οί the position are heightened. and both sides face difficult strategic problems. Indeed the move ... e5 has clear positional advantages: the d4-knight is driven from its central position, and White has less freedom οί movement ίη the centre. and οη the kingside.

6 lbdb5 7 J.g5 8 lba3

d6 a6 b5

9 lbd5 So one white knight sits proudly οη d5. but the other occupies a sad position οη a3. This is another advantage οί ... e5. and at the same time is a reference Ροίηι for Black ίη similar situations; ίι is important that at least one οί the knights is hemmedin.

9 10 J.xf6

11 c3

J.e7 J.xf6

Introduction 7 This move prepares lίk2 followed by a4. The battle for d5 is already ίη full swing: ηο sooner is the f6-knight removed, than White tήes Ιο eliminate the b5-pawn and give the light-squared bishop an active position οη c4. The most pressing problems for Black are Ιο finish his development, and find better squares for his pieces, especially his bishops ( ... ~g5, ... ~e6), and thanks Ιο his e5-pawn he need ηοΙ fear an assault by the white pawns. 11 ... ο-ο 12 lbc2 :b8 Directed against a4. 13 ~e2 ~g5 14 ο-ο ~e6 (D)

the b5-pawn prevents the enemy bishop from landing οη c4, and when the opportunity aήses, ...a5 is possible, stopping lbc2-b4). After Black has dealt a blow Ιο the e4 pawn with ... f5, the white centre turns ουΙ Ιο be suποuηded from the flanks. 15 'iVd3 Prepaήng a place for a rook (which one depends οη the circumstances) οη dl Ιο support the central knight. This means that Black must distract ίι with other problems. Threats along the f-file, created by doubling rooks, serve this aim well. Such is the strategic outlίne of the battle, and moreover the d5-square itself can be practically ignored by Black, with his pieces more or less flowing round ίι Ιι remains for the game to be shaped definitely. If 15•••f5 then 16 ~f3 (threatening after ef and ~e4 ιο replace the pawn οη its battle station, as the bishop οη e4 will be more actively placed than οη c4) 16 ... g6 17 :fdl 'iVd7 18 lbcb4 lbxb4 19 lbxb4, and White is οη top. Ιη the event of 15...a5 16 :fdl

W Note that Black is already at full strength ΙΟ fight for d5. The white knight, placed οη this square, is cut off from the remaining light pieces (the g5 bishop controls e3,

..th8 (with the idea of 20... lbe7) 20 :d2lbe7 21 1Iadl the black bishop lags behind. Βυι he does have at his disposal the interesting idea 15•• J:ιb7!? Then ίι is dangerous for White to

'iWd717'iWg3h618h4~d819lbce3

8 Introduction

play 16 :fd1 f5 17 J.f3 :bt7 18 ef (it's already better for the rook Ιο go ίηΙο reverse gear with 18 :f1) 18 ... J.xf5 19 _e2 J.h4! with powerful threats (20 ......g5, 20 ... e4) showing that f2 is insufficiently defended. If White puts the other rookondl-16':adl-thenBlack maycontinue 16... a5,and 17lΩde3 is ηο good because of 17 ... J.xa2, whilst ίη the event of 17 lDa3 b4 18 lDc4 bc 19 bc lΔe7 or 17 J.f3 'it'c8!? fol1owed by ... g6 and ... f5, Black has good counterchances. Besides, 15 ...:b7 frees b8 for the knight, e.g. 16lΔcb4lΔb8!? with the idea of ...lDd7-c5 and then ...f5 (although the simple 16 ... lΔxM is also reasonable). 15 "iWd7 Α quite acceptable decision, although it seems less significant than 15••':b7. 16 'ifg3 Here the queen does not get ίη the way of her own pieces, and meanwhile is not susceptible to any attack. Besides, she is attacking the opposition's dark-squared bishop, which is placed οη an important diagonal (exerting control over e3!). 16•..J.h6 is impossible here because of 17 lΔf6+. 16 Ι6!? (D) Black is seeking the possibility of leaving his bishop οη the cl-h6 diagonal, insofar as his next move

17 ... J.h6 followed by ... f6-f5 is still possible. Βυι 16••...td8 doesn't 100k bad either (from this position the bishop aims at both flanks). 16••• h6 is worse, as weakening g6 makes play Iinked with carrying out ... f7-f5 more difficult.

W 17 :fd1 a5? Why ηοΙ 17•••J.h6? Maybe Dolmatov, when he played his 16th move, calculated the following varίation: 18lΔcb4lΔxb4 19lΔxM

a5 20 lΔa6 :c8 (20...:b6 21lDc5) 21 'it'd3 J.c4 22 'ifxd6 'ii"xd6, and then, having discovered the intervening check 23 J.xc4+, avoided this line. Ιη νώη! ΒΥ continuing 23 ...:xc4 24 :xd6 :xe4, we can see that only White will have difficulties. If instead of 20 lΔa6 he had chosen 20 lΔd5. then after 20 ... f5 Black has good counterplay (as we will see later on, such a correlaιίοη of the Iight pieces, that is two

lntroduction 9

bishops against koight aod bishop, is quite favourable for Black). Dolmatov's move exposes the seήοus weakness of the light squares, especially ίο combinatioo with ... f7f6. lDa7 18 lDa3! If 18 ...b4, then 19lDc4. 19 h3! (D)

• 8 •• 8 11 8'iV8 •• • ~.t.~ •• ~ •••"'tΔ~ ~ ~

-· -.--" •• .

%::i

8 ~8Δ8.:8

~ ~Δ ~ " ~ • Δ~~ ~.~~"Δ. Y,~ ~ U • ~:. ~ ~ ~ ~ Β

After two precise moves the fol10wing part of the game takes 00 a technical character for Karpov. White's plan coosists of the fol10wing elements: 1) exchanging the lesser pieces (light-squared bishop and knight); 2) opeoiog a file 00 the queeoside and invadiog with the knight ίηΙο the enemy camp; 3) prepariog aod carrying ουΙ ao attack agaiost the king. How can Black defeod himself? Passive defeoce will spell his doom quickest of all. Therefore he must

use aoy possibility ιο change the character of the struggle, for example, at this ροίοι a pawo sacήfice was possible: 19•••g6 20 ..tg4 f5 21 ..txf5 (ίη the eveot of 21 ef gf and 22 ..te2 then 22 ... 'ilg7 with the idea of 23 ... f4, aod if 22 ..txf5 then 22 ... 1Σχf5 23lDe3 'ilg7 with a double-edged game) 21 ... gf22 'ilxg5+ Φh8 with some compeosatioo. Dolmatov missed this possibility. 19 ••• Φh8 20 ..tg4 1Σfc8 20•••g6 is better. 'ilxe6 21 ..txe6 1ΣcS? 22 'ifd3 Now the rook cannot help defeod his king. From now 00 Karpov virtuously prevents all his attempts Ιο get ίοΙο the game. 22•••g6 would have been more persisteot. 23 lDc2 g6 24 b4! ab 25 lDcxb4 It is instructive Ιο observe the realization of ao advaotage. Here White also had at his disposal the continuatioo 25 cb with the idea after a2-a4 of gaioiog an 'extra' passed pawn. Βυι this opens the cfile, which Black controls at the momeot. However, ίι does οοΙ give the oppositioo aoy couoterplay; one must open precisely the file which can be seized. 1Σb7 25 26 a4! ba

lntroducti~n

27 ':xa4 Now Black has an unhappy choice; patiently await his fate, or sharpen the game, and although at the risk of hastening a sorry denouement, Dolmatov chooses the second path. 27 f5 ~c8 28 ':a6 29 ':a8 Φg7 30 'ίi'e2 fe Or 30 ... ~e7 31 ~xe7 ~xe7 32 ~d5.

31 32 33 34 35 36 37

'ίi'xe4

'ίi'f5

'iWe2 c4

':Ι7

.:π

~h4 ~e7

':a6

'iWd7

'ίi'e4 ~xd5

~xd5 ~e7 (D)

bad dark-squared bishop, and the insecure positίon of the king. 38 ':fa1 ~Ι8 If 38 ... iif5, then 39 'ii'e2 ~h4 40 g3 ~xg3 (if 40 ... 'ίi'xh3, then ηοΙ 41 gh 'it'xh4, and Black has succeeded ίη sharpening the posiιίοη, but 41 ':a7! ~d8 42 ':xf7+ ΦΧf7 43 ':a7+ 'itf8/e8 44 'iff3 'ίi'f5 44 'ίi'b3 winning) 41 fg 'ifxh3 42 ':1a3, and White is vίctοήοus. 39 'ίi'e2 ':c6 40 ':6a3! ':c5 41 ':f3 ΒΥ exchanging this piece, which is important for the opposition, White again underlines the helplessness of the rook οη c5. 41 ':ΧΙ3 42 'ίi'xΙ3 ilf7 43 'ίi'g4! The third part of the plan remains; a direct attack οη the king. The kingside pawns will move forward for this. The black rook was stopped beforehand, and ίη retum for its freedom ίι must become the next weakness. h5 43 ':c8 44 'ίi'e4 44 ... Φh7 does ηοΙ save Black because of 45 ':a3 ~g7 46 g4 hg 47 hg ':c8 48 ':h3+ Φg8 49 g5!. 'ίi'Ι5 45 ':a3 46 ':a7+ Φh6 47 'ίi'e3+ g5 48 'iWe2! ':b8 000

W picturesque position! Now ίι remains οηlΥ to prepare an attack οη Black's weaknesses, of which there are plenty; the d6 pawn, the Α

Introduction 11

49 50 51 52

g4! hg Φg2

JIxb7

53.f3 54 .f6+ 55 .f7+

hg 'ifbl+ JIb7 'ii'xb7

"'c8

Φh7

1-0

Of course, although the above game is typical, ίι far from exhausts all of the many clashes of strategic ideas brought ουΙ by players of the Sveshnikov. We should add that this system wages war οη all new adherents. It forms part of the permanent opening reperιoire of Grandmasters Alexei

Shirov, Vladimir Κramnik, John Chandler, Ketevan Arakhamia as well as many other prominent and rank and file chessplayers. Ιη the book we will examine 31 main and hundreds of subsidiary games. Insofar as the move order ίη the Sveshnikov can be either 1 e4 c5 2lbf3lbc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4lbf6 5lbc3 e5 6lbb5 d67 .i.g5, or 1 e4 c5 2lbf3 e6 3 d4 cd 4 lbxd4 lbf6 5 lbc3 lbc6 6 lbb5 d6 7 .i.f4 e5 8 .i.g5, then the move numbers ίη both the main game and the subsidiary games are taken from the first move order given above. Νυηη, ΜuπaΥ

1 9....i.e710 i..xf6 Ιη

this system White actively fights for control οί d5. He gives υρ his light-squared bishop ίη retum for his opponent's knight and fights Ιο ρυι his own knight οη d5. Ιη the event of an exchange White is prepared Ιο replace ίι with other pieces. Black's counterplay is most often linked with the thematic move ... f7-f5 and activity οη the kingside and ίη the centre. Β

Game 1 Zapata - Shίrov Mαnίlα 1992 1 e4 c5 2liJf3liJc6 3 d4 cd 4liJxd4 liJf6 5 liJc3 e5 6 liJdb5 d6 7 .i.g5 a6 8ltJa3 b5 9ltJd5 .i.e7 10 .i.xf6 .i.xf6 11 c3 (D) One οί the standard positions arising ίη the Sveshnikov. Ηυη dreds οί games have been played ίη ίι ίη recent years. The continuations 11 c4 and 11 g3 will be examined ίη the notes ιο Game 3. 11 .i.b7 Ιη this variation Black tries to position his pieces more usefully before he castles. 12 liJc2

The game Ljubojevic-Illescas, Linares 1992 featured the novelty 12 'ί!fg4, but after the continuation 12 ... 0-0 13liJc2liJb8! 14 t1dl (14 ο-ο-ο!?) 14 ... liJd7?! (14 ... .i.g5 =) 15 .i.e2?! (15 liJce3! ;1;) 15 ... .i.g5 Black had equalized . Beliavsky-Shirov, Linares 1994, developed otherwise: 12 .i.d3liJb8 13 liJc2 liJd7 14 a4 ba 15 t1xa4 .i.g5 16 ο-ο ο-ο 17 t1a2 a5 18 .i.c4 liJb6 19liJxb6 if'xb6 20 'i!t'd3 t1ac8 21 t1dl t1fd8 22 b3 g6 23 t1dal t1c5 with an edge ιο White. liJb8!? 12 ••• 13 a4! Three altematives deserve looking at: a) 13 c4 is certainly worth testing: 13 ... 0-0 14 cb ab 15 .i.e2liJd7

9... ~e710b.f6 13 16 ο-ο tDc5 17 ~f3 ~g5 with an equal position, Brodsky-Rogozenko, Nikolaev Ζ 1993. b) 13 g3: bl) 13••• ~g5!? 14 h4 ~h6 15 g4 ~f4 16 tDxf4 ef 17 [3 tDc6 18 'iί'd2 'iί'f6 19 0-0-0 ':d8 20 g5 'iί'e5 21 tDel? (21 tDd4!?;t) 21 ... d5 22 tDd3 de! with a very complex game ίη which Black has the chances, J.Polgar-Illescas, Dos Hermanas 1994. b2) 13•••tDd7 14 h4 ο-ο 15 tDce3 g6, and then Zso.Polgar-Ochoa, Las Palmas 1994 featured 16 h5. After 16 ... ~g5 17 hg fg 18 ~g2 tDf6 19 'iί'd3 ~xe3 20 tDxe3 'iJJe7 21 ο-ο ~c6 22 a4 Wg7 23 ab ab 24 tDc2 White would have achieved an advantage. c) 13 tDce3 tDd7 (D) is another possibility:

W cl) 14 ~d3 ο-ο 15 ο-ο ~g5 16 ~e2 ~xe3 17 tDxe3 tDc5 18 ':fdl

g6 with an equal position, Ν.Fήed ήch-Κrasenkον, Berlin 1990. c2) 14 tDf5 ο-ο 15 tDxd6 ~xd5 16 'iί'xd5 (or 16 ed tDb6 17 tDe4 tDxd5 =) 16 ... 'iί'c7 (16 ... 'iί'b6? 17 tDxf7!; 16 ... tDb6!? 17 'iί'd3 g6, and unexpected problems with the knight aήse for Whίte) 17 ':d 1 (17 tDxf7? tDb6) 17 ...tDb6 (17 ...tDc5!? 18 tDxf7 'iνxf7 19 'iί'xc5 ~h4! 20 'iνd5 ~xf2+ 21 We2 ~b6 with a complex game) 18 'iί'b7 'iJJc5, and Black receives an advantage ίη development and more active pieces for the sacrificed pawn, Μοπis Κrasenkov, Αndοπa 1991. c3) 14 g3 ο-ο 15 h4! and now: c31) 15•••tDcs 16 ~d3 g6 17 ~c2 a5 18 a3 ~g7 19 h5 ~c8 20 hg fg 21 'iί'e2 ;t Anand-Kramnik, Monaco 1994. c32) 15•••g6, and two routes have been tested: c321) 16 ~h3 ~g7 17 h5 tDf6 18 hg hg 19 'iί'd3 tDxd5 20 tDxd5 ~h6 21 ':dl Wg7 22 ~g2 ':c8 23 tDe3 ~xe3 24 'Wxe3 ':h8 25 ':xh8 Wxh8 26 ~h3 ':c4 27 f3 Φg7 = Anand-Nunn, Monaco 1994. c322) 16 'iWg4 ~g7 17 h5 tDf6 (17 ... f5 doesn't work because of 18 'iί'h3 tDf6 19 hg hg 20 ef! gf 21 'iί'xf5 tDxd5 22 'iie6+) 18 tDxf6+ 'iJJxf6 19 ':dl ~c8 (19 ....:ac8 20 ~g2 ':fd8 21 ο-ο ':c5 22 ':d3 ~h6 23 ':fd 1 ~xe3 24 ':xe3 ~c8 25 'iί'e2 ~e6 with equality in the game

14 9... J.e7 1(} J.xj6 Mortensen-Nunn, Vej1e 1994) 20 .e2 .te6 21 ~d5 (21 ':xd6 'ile7 and ....txa2) 21 .....g5 22 hg hg, and now: 23 Vd3 ':a7 24 a3 f5 25 W'e3 W'xe3+ 26 ~xe3 ':d7 27 .tg2 (27 .th3 is a better move) 27 .. .'j;n = Stήpunsky-Κrasenkov, Pardubice ορ 1993, or 23 ια7!? J.c4 24 W'f3 ':a7 25 R.xc4 bc (25 ....:.xc7 26 .td5 ;1;;) 261l1d5 ':b7 27 ':d2 ;1;;. 13 ••• ba 14 ~ce3 ~d7 It is not expedient to support the pawn by means ο! 14•••J.c6 because ο! 15 ~f5 ο-ο 16 .tc4!, and seήοus difficulties arise for Black. However, 14•••0-0 deserves attention, for example 15 ':xa4 ~d7 16 W'g4 ~c5 17 ':a2 .tg5 18 J.c4 .txe3 19 fe h5 20 W'xh5 ~xe4 21 ο-ο ':c8 22 .tb3 .txd5 23 .txd5 ~f6 24 ':xf6 ; Klovans-Kalinichev, Mtinster 1993. 15 1Wxa4 0-0 16 ':dl .tg5 17 W'c2 ~σ Another plan was also quite possib1e: 17•••.txe3 18 ~xe3 ~f6 (or 18 ... ~c5 19 .td3 a5 and the position is unc1ear) 19 .td3 .c7 20 ο-ο ':fd8 with an approximate1y 1eve1 game. 18 lbf5! Other continuations are worse: a) 18~? .ιc6 19 b3 ':b8 +. b) 18 J.d3 ic6 19 ':al J.xe3 20 ~xe3 W'h4 21 ο-ο .txe4 22

.txe4 1i'xe4 and White on1y has sufficient compensation for equa1ity. 18 g6(D)

W 19 b4! For the time being Zapata is active1y fighting for an advantage. The timid 19 ~g3 on1y 1eads to equalίty, whi1st interesting complications arise after 19 h4 gf (not 19 ....tf4? 20 Μ! ±) 20 hg J.xd5 (B1ack shou1d avoid 20 ... lbxe4 21 ~f6+! ~xf6 22 1i'xf5.te4 23 "xf6 ±) 21 ':xd5 lbxe4 22 .td3 1i'xg5 23 .txe4 fe 24 .xe4 f5, for examp1e, 25 .c4 <iPh8 26 ':xd6 1i'xg2 27 ':xh7+! <iPxh7 28 .c7+ 1Wg7 29 ':d7 W'xd7 30 W'xd7+, and the chances are equal. 19 J.xd5 B1ack must be circumspecιo The two lines 19•••~ 20 lbxd6 and 19•••gf20 bc ':c8 21 h4!.th6 22 cd have unp1easant consequences.

9... .i.e7 10.i.xj6 15 20 Iιxd5 White must be οη the alert. Ιη the event of 20 bc? .i.c6 21 h4 (21 Iιxd6 'fic7 is also gόοd for Black) 21 ....i.f6 22lDxd6 Black seizes the initiative. 20 lDb7 21 h4 .i.f6 22 lDh6+ <3;g7 23 lDg4 a5! Shirov must not give his ορρο nent an opportunity to increase his advantage quietly. With the text move he is activating the knight or rook. Although with exact play White will preserve a small advantage, all Black's resourceful counterplay presents Zapata with some difficult problems. 24 .i.e2 Α less tense situation aήses after 24 b5 h5 25 lDxf6 (25 lDe3? .i.xh4 26 lDc4 'fif6 27 g3 .i.g5 ~) 25 ...'ii'xf6 26 .i.e2 a4 27 g31Dc5 28 ο-ο Iιab8, and White's position moreover remains preferable. ab 24 ••• 2S cb 1ΣΒΙ+ (D) This is the crucial moment ίη the game. Now after the cοπect move 26 Iιdl Iιxdl+ 27 'ii'xdl h5 28 lDe3! (28lDxf6 'ilxf6 29 g3lDd8! 30 b5 lDe6 31 'ii'xd6 Iιa8 32 ο-ο lDd4 33 'ifxf6+ <3;xf6 34 .i.d3 :a3 35 :dl :b3 =) 28 ... 'ii'd7 29lDd5 Zapata' s chances would have been better.

W 26 .i.dl?! Αη eποr which allows Shirov Ιο seize the initiative. 'fic8! 26 ... 27 lDe3?! It never rains but ίι pours! After 27 'ii'xc8 :xc8 28 lDxf6 'it>xf6 29 ο-ο rJίie7 the endgame would have been level. Now it is even more difficult for White Ιο untangle the mess his pieces have got into. 1fxc2 27 28 lDxc2 :bl 29 rJίid2?! 29 :b5!? with the idea of castlίng, would have been more accurate. :c8 29 ••• 30 :h3 :c4! Black is gaining time to transfer the rook to c7. Naturally, 31 f3, totally excluding the h3-rook from the game, cannot satisfy White. 31 ~d3 :c7 32 Wd2 lDd8!

16 9... i.e7 10 i.xf6 The knight returns Ιο the game with decisive effect. After the capture 33 :Ιχd6. 33 ... ~e6 has many threats. 33 i.e2 :Ιχc3 34 :Ιc3 ~Ι4 35 'itiιxc3 ~xg2 36 :Ιd2 37 i.dl! 37 b5 i.xh4 38 ~a3 :Ιcl+ 39 'itiιb2 :Ιc8 loses quickly. 37 i.xh4 38 ~a3 :ΙcΙ+ 39 ~c2 i.g5 40 :Ιχd6 h5 41 b5 Playing 41 Φb2 would have signίficantly prolonged White's resistance. However, ίη this case as well, after 41 ... h4 42 i.g4 :ιn ! 43 b5 :Ιχf2 44 b6! ~e3 45 b7 :Ιχc2+ 46 Φbl :Ιc4! 47 b8'i1i' ~xg4 48 'iνb3 :Ιχe4 the pawn will inevitably queen. Now we have a rapid denouement. .. h4 41 h3 42 b6 h2 43 b7 hl 'ii' 44 b8'i' 'iWel+ 45 :Ιd7 'i'xe4 46 'itiιb2 0-1 The next game made a huge impression οη the entire chess world. Ιη an interview at the end of the Zurich toumament, Kasparov saίd

ίι was one of the best games he had ever played. This duel took place soon after he had suffered a sensational defeat at the hands of a computer ίη London. Ά computer could never have found the idea of the exchange sacrifice', the World Champion remarked.

Game2 Kasparov - Shirov Horgen 1994 1 e4 c5 2 ~f3 ~c6 3 d4 cd 4 ~xd4 ~Ι6 5 ~c3 e5 6 ~db5 d6 7 i.g5 a6 8 ~ b5 9 ~5 i.e7 10 i.xf6 i.xf6 11 c3 i.b7 12 ~c2 ~b8 13 a4 ba 14

:Ιχa4 (D)

Β Α more precise move than we saw ίη Game Ι. Αι first glance ίι seems Ιο have lίttle Ροίηι. What could be so interestίng about such a natural pawn capture? True, the

9... ~e7 10 i.xf6 17 slightly illogical nature of this move draws attention Ιο itself. The black knight can speed Ιο c5, and will now arήve there with a tempo. Οη b4 or c4 the rook is also ηοΙ supported for long. What, then, can Kasparov have ίη mind? 14 ••• tt)d7 15 :b4 tt)cS (D) Bearing ίη mind the World Champion's next move, 15..':a7 would have been better, with the idea of 16 ... ~a8 (ίι stands Ιο reason that ·the exchange sacrifice doesn't have the same effect now: 16 :xb7?! :xb7 17 ~xa6 :xb2), and ίη this situation the rook οη b4 could find itself under attack ίη future. However, ίι was very hard Ιο foresee Kasparov's next move.

16 :xb7!! thunderbolt from a clear sky! Played ίη the style of Nimzowitsch, Petrosian, and indeed of Α

Kasparov himself, this represents a typical positional exchange sacrifice. White does ηοΙ gain any kίnd of profit immediately, a1though the strategic superiority of his posiιίοη more than makes υρ for the materialloss. What advantages are ίη question? Ιη the first place, Black has lost his Iίght-squared bishop, which would have played a large role ίη organizing a counterattack. As a consequence of this, the role of the blockading d5knight has grown, and, as ίι has ηο opponents, ίι is more powerful than the rook. Moreover, Black's lίght-squared bishop was ίη full control of his teπίtοry. Secondly, the black knight is now (and, as ίι tums ουΙ, υηΙil the end of the game) excluded from play. Thus ίι is υη clear whether this is an exchange sacrifice or winning two pieces for arook. So, White's plans have become obvious, but ίι was ηοι easy ιο come ΙΟ this paradoxical solution. The abilίty ιο find such obscure ideas marks ουΙ the outstanding players from the merely good ones. This novelty of Kasparov's is one of the most important ίη the Sveshnikov ίη recent years. 16 ... tt)xb7 17 b4! Αη important Iίnk ίη White's plan. As we have already noted, ίι

18 9... ~e7 1() lLxf6 is οοΙ easy for the b7-knίght Ιο fiod its way ίοto the game, as ίι can οοlΥ do this via d8, but the queeo, whίch occupies this square, does οοΙ have another comfortable spot.

17 •••

~ι5?!

If 17•••a5, theo 18 ~b5+ is very uopleasaot. However, ίι was worth thiolάng about 17...0-0, for example, 18 ~a3 'ii'e8!? 19 ~c4 (19 ~c7 'ii'c6!) 19 ... ~d8 20 ~d3 a5 21 ο-ο ab 22 cb 'ii'a4, and Black's pieces are better placed than ίη the game. 18 ~a3 White has ηο need Ιο castle quickly, due Ιο hίs opponeot's lack of counterplay, so he activates the second knight. 18 ο-ο

19 ~c4 a5 20 ~d3 Naturally the b4-pawo, whίch is fulfilling the role of a watchman, is ηοΙ going anywhere. 20 ab 21 cb 'ii'b8 22 h4! Before castling ίι is useful Ιο drίve off the bishop. 22 ~h6?! This gives the impression that Shirov did realize the true daoger of his position. The standard idea 22•• ~d8 is stronger. Of course, ίι is ηοΙ easy Ιο decide upoo thj.s move, whίch ίι the first place takes

a square away for the koight, and ίο the secood place makes the earlier move 17 ...~g5 look poiotless. ΑΙΙ the same, he should have recogoized his mistake aod played ίι aoyway.

23 ~cb6 :&2 24 ο-ο :d2? The black rook encroaches οη his oppooent's position, but the misfortuoe is that there is 00 objective for attack there, whίlst the maio thing is that Black himself drίves the opposing queeo οη ιο the offensive. 24••••a7 immediately would have been better. 25 .a7 26 ~d7 (D)

"f3

White begins to lay his cards the table. Now if the attacked rook retreats Ιο a8 or d8, theo 27 ~e7+ ~h8 28 'ilxf7 (threateniog 29 ~f8) 28 ... g6 29 ~f6 ~g7 30 ~e8 leads inevitably Ιο mate. If οη

9... J.e7 10 bj6 19

26••JΣe8, then 27 J.b5 is very strong, while 26•••'ii'83 is refuted by 27 tΔe7+ and 28 tΔxf8. Therefore Black must return the exchange. 26 tΔd8 ΦχΙ8 27 tΔxf8 28 b5 The b-pawn, so fruitfully employed οη Μ, now rushes forward. 28 'ii'a3 Black's attempt Ιο exchange queens is unsuccessful. 29 'ii'f5 Kasparov leaves his bishop Ιο the mercy of fate, because ίη reply Ιο a capture οη d3, there follows an interestίng double strike: 30 'ii'd7 with the threat of 31 'ii'e7 + and 31 "ifxd8#. ςt>e8 29 30 J.c4 ':c2 (D)

31 32 33 34 35 36 37

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':xc4 Φd7 Φe7

"ifc5 'ii'd4 J.cl 1-0

This little masterpiece will υη doubtedly end υρ ίη all the chess manuals. However ίι can ίη ηο way have any pretensions towards being a refutatίon of the opening νarί atίon. The game is an illustratίon of how important it is Ιο notice the opening nuances and know how Ιο make use of them. Shirov got away with the knight's positίon οη b7 against Zapata, but Kasparov made full use of the unhappy positίon of that piece. Α more prevalent continuatίon for Black οη his 11 th move is Ιο castle. However, Shirov nevertbeless retums Ιο his favοuήte bishop move Ιο b7. ΑΙΙ his pieces interact magnificently with each other. Game3

Tiviakov - Shirov Oαkham 1992 1 e4 c5 2 tΔf3 tΔc6 3 d4 cd 4 tΔxd4 tΔΙ6 5 tΔc3 e5 6 tΔdb5 d6 7 J.g5 a6 8 tΔB3 b5 9 tΔd5 J.e7 10 J.xf6 J.xf6

llc3

20 9... J.e7 10 J.xf6

The most popular continuation. making use of this factor is ηοΙ so Otherwise: easy. a) Froloν's attempt to breathe a) 12 fΔXΙ6+ gf (D) and now: new life ίηΙο 11 c4 deserνes attenιίοη. After 11 •••b4 12lbc2: al) 12•••a5 13 lbxf6+ 'ii'xf6 14 J.e2 ο-ο 15 ο-ο 1:Σd8 16 'ii'd2 J.e6 17 b3 1:Σab8 (17 ... 'fIe7 is more precise) 18 1:Σfd 1 1:Σd7 19 'ii'e3 and White has a small positional adνan tage. Frolov- Yakoνich, Moscow 1991. a2) Things tumed out better for Black ίη the game Froloν-Ikon nikov, Schwabisch Gmϋnd 1994: W 12••• 1:Σb8 13 J.e2 ο-ο 14 ο-ο J.g5 al) 13 fΔc2: 15 J.g4 J.e6 16 b3 'ii'd7 17 h3 g6 18 a3 f5 19 ef gf 20 J.h5 ba 21 all) 13••• J.b7 14 J.d3 f5!? 15 ef J.χg2161:ΣgΙ J.b717 a4, butnow 1:Σχa3 'it>h8 22 'iVd3 a5 23 1:ΣdΙ 'fIg7 ίη Brodsky-Osipoν, USSR 1991, 24 'ife2 1:Σg8. b) Ljubojeνic's attempt Ιο deWhite managed Ιο achieνe an adνelop the bishop οη g2 was ηοΙ parνantage after 17•••'δ'b6?! 18 ab ab ticularly successful. After 11 g3 19 1:Σxa8+ J.xa8 20 fΔe3, but Black shonld haνe continued 17•••ba 18 ο-ο 12 J.g2 J.g5 13 ο-ο fΔe7 14 1:Σχa4 d5 with an unclear game. fΔxe7 'Wixe7 15 c3 1:Σb8 16 fΔc2 a5 a12) Black tested 13••• d5 ίη the 17 1:ΣeΙ J.e6 18 fΔe3 J.xe3 19 1:Σχe3 1:Σfc8 20 'iVd2 1:Σb6 21 J.f1 h6 game Berset-Shabaloν, Saint Marιίη 1993, but after 14 a4 ba 15 fΔe3 22 a4 J.c4 23 ab J.xf1 24 1:Σχf1 1:Σχb5 the game was leνel, Ljubode 16 'ii'xa4+ 'Wid7 17 J.b5 ab 18 'ii'xa8+ he had ηο compensation jeνic-Illescas, Linares (3) 1993. for the loss of the exchange. 11 ••• ο-ο a2) The game Κriνets-Mikhe The standard knight manoeuvre vic. Bled 1994, deνeloped thus: 13 11••• fΔe7 is also possible, although 'ilf3 f5 14 ef J.xf5 15 J.d3 J.e6 16 ίη this case one reaches a position ο-ο ο-ο 17 J.c2 f5 18 J.b3 'ili'd7 19 from the νariation 10 fΔxe7 fΔxe7 11 J.xf6 gf ίη which White has :Ladl J.xb3 20 ab and White had somewhat the better chances. gained a move (c2-c3). However,

9... i..e7 10.t.xf6 21

a3) The Latvian player Lanka uses the move 13 .t.e2 quite successfully, for example, 13 ... .t.b7 14 .t.f3 f5 15 ef d5 16 g3 lbxf5 17 lbc2 and now 17......d618 a4 ba 19 1:txa4 a5 20 ο-ο ο-ο 21 'ikd2 ;t Lanka-Chevalίer, France 1990, or 17••.0-018 ο-ο a5 19 .t.g2 'iWd6 20 1:tel .t.c6 21 'it'h5 ± Lanka-Muse, Germany 1994. b) Ιη some case White aνoids exchanging οη f6, Ρrefeπίηg ίη stead 12lbc2 (D):

':c8 =Acharia-Ripatbin, Calcutta 1994. b22) 13•••.t.e614 'it'c6+Φe715 lbe3 'ίWc8 16 'tiib6 ':b8 17 'tiia5 'ii'd7 18 1:tdl ± Lopez-Berset, Geneνa 1994. 12 lbc2 i..b7 (D)

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bl) 12••..t.b7 13lbce3 .t.g5 14 lbxe7 i..xe7 15 lbd5 ο-ο 16 i..e2 ':c8 17 ο-ο ':c5 18 b4 1:tc8 19 a4 i..xd5 20 'ii'xd5 ':xc3 21 ab ab 22 1:ta7 ;t Kholmov-Horak, Pardubice 1994. b2) 12••• lbxdS 13 "'xdS with two possibilities for Black: b21) 13•••1:tb8 14lbb4 i..b7 15 'ikd3 ο-ο 16 i..e2 .t.g5 17 lbd5 f5 18 .t.f3 g6 19 ο-ο Φh8 201:tadl

13 i..e2 L.Levitt-Volodin, corr 1991/2 continued 13 g3!? lbb8 14 i..g2 lbd7 15 ο-ο .t.g5 16 f4!? ef 17 gf .t.h6 18lbce3 g6 19 'ii'g4 i..g7 20 1:tad 1, and White' s pieces occupied magnificent positions. The continuation 13 a4 occuπed ίnΜaliakin-Gagaήn, USSR 1991, Ιο Black's adνantage: 13 ... ba 14 ':xa4 lbb8! 15 i..c4 lbd7 16 ο-ο lbc5 17 ':a2 lbxe4 18 'ikf3 lbd2 (theonlymoνe; 18 ... lbc5? 19b4e4 20 lbxf6+ loses) 19lbxf6+ 'Wxf6 20 'ikxb7 lbxc4 21 1:txa6? ':ab8. Maliakin could haνe maintained the balance by means of 21 b3!

22 9... j.e7 1 Ο j.xJ6

lbd2 (21 ...1:ιfb8 22 1:ιχa6! +-) 22 1:ιdl 1:ιab8 23 'ii'd5lbxb3 241:ιχa6. (Typesetter'sNote: 24 ...1:ιfd8 keeps the extra pawn, e.g. 25 1Ixd6 1:ιχd6 26 'Wxd6 1fxd6 27 1:ιχd6lbd4! 28 lbellbe2+, etc.). 13 1t'g4 deserves attention, for example, 13 ..•~g5 141:ιdl j.c8 15 'ii'e2 f5 16 h4 ~h6 17 ef j.xf5 18 g4 j.xc2 19 "ii'xc2 g6 20 g5 ;!; Mortensen-Κharlov, Copenhagen 1993. Αη original pawn sacrifice occurred ίη Berelovich-Chemiaev, Sochi 1993. After 13 h4 lbe7 14 lbxf6+ gf 15 j.d3 Wh8 16 lbe3 Black should have played 16 ... f5!, and if 17 ef, then the cold-blooded 17 ... f6 with the idea of continuing ... d6-d5. Black is better despite his small material deficit. 13 j.g5 14 ο-ο lbb8 (D)

c5, where ίι will have an active influence over the centre. 15 "'d3 Attempts Ιο move play to the queenside immediately will not be successful for White: 15 a4 ba 16 1:ιχa4lbd7 17 b4lbb6 :f. 15 j.g41:ιa7 is also possible: a) 16 a4 ba 17 :xa4 lbd7 18 j.xd7 'Wxd7 19lbcb4 a5! (l9 ... f5 20 ef 'Wxf5 21 'We2 a5 22 'Wxb5 j.xd5 23 lbxd5 +-) 20 'Wal 'Wb5 with chances for both sides (L.Levitt). b) 16"'d3lbd717 ~xd7'Wxd7 181:ιadl (18 c4?! bc 19 'Wxc4 :c8 with the idea of j.xd5) 18 ... a5 (18 ... g6!?) 19 'ii'g3 "'d8! 20 lbce3 g6 21lbf5 with an unclear game, Ν ovik-Chekhov, Leningrad 1991. However, 21 c4! would have given White an advantage. 15 lbd7 16 1:ιfdΙ lbc5 g6 17 "'f3 18 lbce3 Wh8 Α necessary preparatory move. The huπίed 18•.,f5? doesn't work because of 19 ef gf 20 lbxf5 e4? 21 lbde7+! j.xe7 22 1IIg4+ Wf7 (22 ... j.g5 23 1:ιχd6 +-) 23 'Wg7+ Φe8 24 j.h5+ Wd7 25 1:ιχd6+ and White is winning. 19 j.f1 1:ιθ7!? Agaίn the premature 19.••f5?! 20 ef gf 21 lbxf5 ~c8 22 g4 gives ηο compensation for the lost pawn.

9... R.e7 10 i.x.f6 23

Now this move already threatens, for example, 20 g3 f5! 21 ef gf 22 tbxf5 e4 23 'iί'g4 ftxf5 24 'ilfxf5 R.c8, and the queen has unexpectedly fallen into a trap. 20 b4 (D)

20 ... tbe6?! 20... ltJa4 21 c4 tbb2 was better, after whίch it would not be easy for White to maίntaίn the ba1ance. He gets a diffιcult ρositίon after: a) 22 ZΙd2 tbxc4 23 tbxc4 bc 24 :Ιdd1 R.xd5 25 :Ιχd5 :Ιc7. b) 22 ftdc1f5! 23 cb fe 24 'iWxe4 ab 25 R.xb5 R.xd5 26 'ilfxd5 ftaf7. c) 22 :ΙdbΙ tbxc4 and now: c 1) 23 tbxc4 R.xd5 24 tbxd6 'ilfxd6 25 ZΙd1. c2) 23 R.xc4 bc 24 tbxc4 R.xd5 25 ed e4! 26 'ii'xe4 R.f6 27 ll1b2 ':e8. d) Therefore the οηlΥ acceptable possibilίty was to continue 22 ':el!, after which 22 ... ll1xc4 23

R.xc4 bc 24 ll1xc4 R.xd5 25 ed f5 26 ll1a5 would have led to a complex ρosition with roughly even chances. ba 21 a4 22 ':xa4 f5 23 ':a5 Αη interestίng variation arises after 23 ':dal R.f4 24 ef gf 25 R.xa6? .:xa6 26 ':xa6 R.xe3 27 fe ll1g5 28 'ilfdlll1h3+!! and now: a) 29 gh ':g8+ 30 Φh1 (30 Φfl will be examined below) 30 .. : .g5 31 'ii'f3 'ii'xe3!! -+. b) 29 Φη 'fί'h4 30 gh (30 ft6a2 R.a6+ and 30 'ilfd2 R.xd5 win for Black) 30 ....:g8 31 ':6a2 (31 'ii'f3 R.xa6+ 32 ':xa6 'iί'c4+ 33 'ii'e2 'ti'xd5 -+) 31 .. :.e4! -+. Instead of the text move, 23 R.c4 was also ρossible, strengthening the important d5-square. R.h4! 23 Shirov unambiguously demonstrates his aggressive intentions οη the kίngside. 24 ef gf tbf4 (D) 25 ll1xf5 Α cήtica1 posίtion.

26 tbxh4? underestimated the danger posed by Black's threats. He should have continued 26 'ii'e3! ':xf5 27 'ilfxa7 tbh3+! (not 27 ... R.xd5? 28 g3 +-) 28 gh 'ilfg8+ (28 ... R.xf2+? 29 'ifxf2 ':xf2 30 ΦΧf2 +-) 29 R.g2 (29 Φh1 ? R.xf2) Tίviakov has

24 9... i.e7 10 J.xj6

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29 ...%Σg5 30 'ii'xb7 %Σχg2+ 31 ΦhΙ i.xf2 32 'ίi'b8! "ίWxb8 33 <iiιxg2 i.h4, although Black's chances are still somewhat preferable. 26 ••• lbxd5! 27 'iWh5 If27 'ίi'g3, then 27 ... lbf4, and ηο defence is νisible Ιο 28 ... %Σg8. 27 lbf4 28 'ifh6 %ΣΙ6 29 'ii'g5 i.xg2! The conclusiνe blow, based οη the fact that the a7-rook unexpectedly comes ίηΙΟ the game from the ambush. 30 i.xg2 %Σg7 31 "iWxg7 The white queen has neνerthe less fallen ίηΙο a trap. IfWhite now tries 31 'iVxeS then Black replies 31 ...lbh3+ 32 ~fl (32 <ithllbxf2+ 33 ..ttgl lbxdl and Black wins) 33.. .1ΣχΩ+ 34 ~el 'iVxh4, and there is ηο defence ιο the deadly discoν ered check.

Φχg7 31 ••• 32 %Σχe5 ifc8! Shiroν νery accurately realizes his material adνantage. From c8 the queen poses threats ίη eνery direction. 33 %Σe7+ Nor can White be saνed by 33 %Σg5+ Φh6 34 tΔf3 'ilxc3, and now he cannot aνoid fresh material losses. %ΣΙ7 33 34 .J:.xf7+ ΦχΙ7 35 i.d5+ 'it.i>f8 36 tΔg2 'ii'g4 37 ':d2 'ίi'g5 0-1 The continuation 12 ... i.g5 also allows White Ιο begin play immediately οη the queenside by means of 13 a4. Black, as a rule, prepares a counterattack οη the kingside.

Game4 Petrushin - Belίkov Podolsk 1992 1 e4 c5 2 tΔΙ3 tΔc6 3 d4 cd 4 tΔxd4 tΔΙ6 5 tΔc3 e5 6 lbdb5 d6 7 i.g5 a6 8lba3 b5 9lbd5 i.e7 10 i.xf6 i.xf6 11 c3 ο-ο 12 tΔc2 12 ••• i.g5 (D) 13 a4 Α principled ~tinuation, with which White quickly begins play against Black's weak pawns οη the queenside.

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W It's also worth looking at the line 13 h4 .th614 g4 .tf4! 15 'ii'f3 '::'e8 (15 ....te6 is possible) 16.te2lbe7 17 lbxf4 ef 18 0-0-0 .tb7 19 'ii'xf4 lbg6 20 'ii'g3 .txe4 21 .tf3 .txf3 22 'ii'xf3 with a small advantage ιο White, Marusenko-Keehner, Norwich 1994. 13 .te2 is rather toothless, for instance, 13•• ..te6 14 ο-ο lbe7 15 a4 ba 16 '::'xa4 .txd5 17 ed a5 18 lba3 [5 19lbc4 e4 = Serper-Chekhov, Frunze 1988, or 13•.•.tb7 14 ο-ο lbb8 15 c4 (15 .tg4 was better) 15 ... bc 16 .txc4lbd7 17 lbce3 lbc5 18 f3 g6 19 'ii'ellbe6 20 'ίWf2lbd4 :j: Lukianov-Chemiaev, Arkhangelsk 1993. 13 •.. ba After 13•• .1Ib8 the weakness of the b5-pawn makes itself felt. This theoretical conclusion was once more underlined ίη the duel Κri vets-Koglin, Bled 1994: 14 ab ab 15 .td3 .te6 16 'ίWe2 .txd5 17 ed

9... .te7 10 bj6 25

lbe7 18 lbb4 [5 19 .txb5, and Black's counterplay scarcely made υρ for the 10ss of the pawn. 14 1Σχa4 a5 After the move 14•••1Σb8, Tiviakov-Degraeve, Oakham 1992 saw 15 'ii'al a5 16 .tc4 ..tί>h8 17 ο-ο [5 18 ef .txf5 19 lbce3 .tg6 20 1Σd 1 e4 21 .tf1 lbe5 22 1Σd2 with a small but solid advantage Ιο White, while Shmuter, against Cherniaev at Sochi 1993, Ρrefeπed 15 b4, but Black equalized easily: 15 ... a5 16 .tc4 .td7 17 '::'a3 .te6 18 1Σb3 ..tί>h8 19 ο-ο 'ίWd7 20 'ίWd3 1/2-1/2. After 14•••.tb7 15 .tc4lba5 16 .ta2 .tc6, Zagrebelny-Beshukov, Alushta 1994, tested the continuation 17 '::'a3 .tb5 18 lbde3 (the preliminary 18 h4! is better, and then 18 ... .th6 19 lbce3 .txe3 20 lbxe3 '::'c8 21 [3 ;t Ljubojevic-Salον, Barcelona 1989) 18 ... 1Σc8 19 b4 .txe3 20 lbxe3 lbc4 21 .txc4 .txc4 22lbxc4 1Σχc4 23 'ii'd5 'iνc8 1/2-1/2. Κiselev-Novik, St. Petersburg 1994, featured the interesting 17 '::'b4!? lbb7 18 h4! .th6 19 g4 .tf4 20 lbxf4 ef 21 f3lbc5 22 1Σd4 "i/e7 23 'iνd2 .ta4! 24 lbal 1Σab8 with an unclear game. 1Σb8 15 .tc4 16 b3 With this move White strengthens the position of his bishop as well as defending his b-pawn. 16 ••• .te6 (D)

26 9 ... ~e7 Ι Ο J.xj6

Α tense struggle arose after 16••• <;tιh8 17 ο-ο g6 18 b4 .td7 19 %ta3 .th6 20 1Wal ab 21 cb .tg7 22 %ta6 iVh4 23 b5 lDd4 24 lDxd4 ed 25 'iWbl ίη the game ZagrebelnyRogozenko, Alushta 1994. Thanks Ιο hίs outside passed pawn White's chances are preferable.

worse, with an advantage Ιο Whίte. However,19••.:tb7 deserves attenιίοη.

20 lDdc7 unclear game follows 20 'iWe2 f5 21 ef gf 22 %tdl. Here from the two possible knίght moves, one most lίkely should make the other choice, 20 lDbc7. 20 .txc4 21 ':xc4 %tfd8 22 'iWd5 ':b6 (D) Black should ηοΙ be seduced by the tempting 22•••lDe7? ίη view of 23 'iί'xΠ ':xb5 24 lDe6 lDg8 25 lDxg5. Αη

17 ο-ο ιJih8 18 lDa3!? After 18 'ilί'e2 g6!? 19 %tfal .td7! 20 .tb5!? %txb5! 21 'iWxb5lDd4 22 'iWxa5 lDxc2 23 %t 1a2 'iί'b8 24 h4 .txh4 25 ':xc2 .txa4 26 'iί'xa4, Semeniuk-Belίkov, Orel1992, the situatίon οη the board is quite tense ίη spite of the lίmίted number of pieces remaίning. White has a passed pawn, and Black has counterplay οη the kίngside. 18 ••• g6 19 lDb5 'ilί'd7 19•••lDe7 20 lDbc7! .td7 21 %ta2 lDxd5 22lDxd5 f5 23 ef gf 24 f4! is

W 23 Ι4! If White tries Ιο execute f2-f4 under more favourable condίtίons, Black has time Ιο prepare, νίΖ. 23 g3 ~g8! 24 f4 .tf6 25 fe .txe5, and the f7-pawn is defended. 23 .txf4 24 g3 .te3+

9....i.e7 10.i.xjδ 27 25 ~g2 ~g8 26 :f6 White should have developed the initiative by means of 26 'ild3 .i.g5 27 h4 .i.e7 28 ι[)d5! :xb5 29 :xc6 :b7 30 'ii'c4, for example, 30...:f8 31 b4 ab 32 cb 'l;g7 33 b5 .i.d8 34 b6 f5 35 :c8 f4361i'c6!, aπd ίι is ηοΙ easy for Black Ιο defend himself. 26 .i.g5 (D)

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30 :xc6 :xc6 31 1i'xc6 1i'dl!!. Now taking the bishop leads Ιο a perpetual check: 32 lL!xc7 1i'd2+ 33 'l;f3 1i'd3+ 34 'l;g4 'ii'dl+ 35 'l;g5 'ii'd8+, and ηοΙ 36 1i'f6 because of36 ... h6+. Petrushin should have resigned himself Ιο a drawish outcome and gone ίηΙο this variation or a repetition of moves with 29 'ii'd31i'c8 30 'ifd5 'ii'g4. 29 ... bc7 After 29...1i'c8 30 1i'd5 "'g4 the position is repeated. But now Belikov rejects a peaceful outcome. 30 lL!xc7 (D)

.Θ:

Ζ· η/!ί/'

.rδ-,~ .WU

W 27 :xd6 'ii'g4 28 :xd8+ The iollowing line would have led Ιο a draw: 28 'it'd3 :xd6 29 lL!xd6 :xb3 30 1i'c2! lL!d4! 31 :xd4 (31 cd 1i'0+ 32 'l;h3 1i'h5+; 31 'ilf2 :b2! 32 'ilxb2 'ii'f3+) 3I ... ed 32 'ii'xb3 'ile2+ 33 'l;h3 1i'h5+. 28 ... .i.xd8 29 'it'd2 Black has aπ interesting defensive resource after 29 Φf2 .i.xc7

lL!d4! 30 spectacular piece sacήfice, which, although ίι doesn't change the assessment of the position, presents White with several tricky problems. 1i'xe4+ 31 cd :xb3 32 ~gl 33 :c1! Α

28 9... J.e7 1 Ο J.xj6 33 lbe8 loses Ιο 33 ... ':bl + 34 <it>f2 'iWf5+ 35 <it>e3 ed+ 36 ':xd4 ':b3+ 37 ':d3 'ii'e6+. ed 33 ':bl 34 ':et 'iνxbl+ 35 ':xbl a4 36 'iPf2 37 'iνxd4 White should perhaps ηοΙ have parted company with his knight. The continuation 37lba6! 'ii'hl 38 'ii'xd4 'ii'xh2+ 39 <it>f3, with a perpetual check, doesn't look so bad. 37 'iνc2+ 38 <it>gl 'iIIxc7 39 'iIIxa4 'iIIcl + 40 <it>g2 'iIId2+ 41 <it>f3 'iVb2 Capturing οη h2 gives nothing, as now White can give a perpetual check, for example 41 ... 'iVxh2 42 'iWe8+ <it>g7 43 'ii'e5+ [6 44 'iWc7+ <it>h6 45 'iWf4+. 42 'iνe4 <it>g7 'iIIal 43 h4

44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52

<it>g2 <it>gl 'iIId4+ 'iVd5 'iνd4+

'iVd5 h5! Φg2 ΦgΙ

'iIIa2+ 'iνe6

'iIIf6 'iIIf5 'iIIf6 'illb2 'iIIbl+ 'iIIc2+ 'iIIc3

1/"_1/,, Conclusion the games ίη this first chapter, White's hopes are linked with play οη the queenside (ίη many cases this is accounted for by the fact that Black does ηοΙ hinder a2-a4) and ίη the centre. Black prepares an assault οη the kingside. But ίη general this means that play is spread over the whole board. As we can see, the engagement turns ίηΙο a full-blooded battle, and he who is the more inventive and resourceful will be the victor. Ιη

2 9...~e710 .txf6; 12....:ϊb8 Quite often Black does ηοΙ allow his opponent Ιο play the automatic a2-a4 so easily, by adopting the precautionary ... .:ta8~b8. Ιη this case White must devote more attention Ιο the centre and kingside. Ιη a tense battle Black's chances aren't Ιοο bad (as Black's chances go). The light-squared bishop does ηοΙ play its previous role (as ίη Game 3, for instance), which often tums ουΙ better for his opponent. Kamsky demonstrates this plan by exchanging this bishop even at the price of apparently strengthening Black's pawn cenιre. The Αmeήcan Grandmaster's play is more profound, ηοΙ using the particular weakness of d5, but of the pawn centre as a whole. Game5 Lputian Biel ΙΖ 1993

Kaιnsky -

1 e4 cS 2 ~f3 ~c6 3 d4 cd 4 ~xd4 eS 5 ~bS d6 6 ~1c3 a6 7 ~a3 bS 8 ~dS ~f6 9 ..tgS ..te.7 10 ..txf6 ..txf6 11 c3 ο-ο 12 ~c2 12 ••• 1%b8 (D) Α prophylactic move, directed against 13 a4.

13 -*.e2 This plan, linked with immediate pressure οη the d6-pawn, was conceived ίη A.Sokolov-Vaiser, Reunion 1991: 13 'ifd3 ..tg5 14 l1dl f5 (if 14...-*.e6 then 15 ~cb4 ~xb4 16 ~xb4 .:tb6 17 ..te2~) 15 ~de3 f4 (ίι is a mistake to swap prematurely οη e3: 15 ...-*.xe3 16 ~xe3 f4 17 ~f5 ±) 16 ~f5 and now 16.....txfS 17 ef 'ii'b6 18 ..te2 l1bd8 19 -*.f3l:Δe7 20 h4 ..th6 21 ~b4l:Δf5 22 ~d5! 'ifa7 23 ..te4 g6 24 h5, and here 24 .. .ι~)g7 25 'iVh3 .:th8 26 -*.xf5 gf 27 1i'xf5 .:thf8 would have left Black with good defensive possibilitίes. With a different move order, the position after 16 l:Δf5 arose ίη the game Ioseliani-Cholushkina,

30 9... ~e7 !o~; 12... :b8

Manila wom OL 1992. Here the Ukrainian player moved more energetica11y with 16•••d5. After 17 h4 de 18 'iνxe4 ~xf5 19 'iνxc6, she could by means of 19 ... 'it'e8 have seized the initiative. White may try 13 ~d3, for example 13••• ~g5 14 ο-ο ~e6 15 a4 ba 16 tlJdb4ll)e7 17 ~xa6 f5 18 ef 1Ixf5 19 ~d3 :f6 20 :xa4 d5 with compensation for the pawn, Nikolenko-Dolmatov, Moscow 1992, or 13•••~e6 14 tlJce3 ~g5 15 ο-ο tlJe7 16 ~c2 ~xe3 17 tlJxe3 b4 with equality, Aseev-Yakovich, St. Petersburg 1993. 13 ~g5 (D)

W 14 ο-ο this situation ίι is again ηο! necessary Ιο hurry ίηΙο castling, for example, 14 'Wd3 a5 15 1Idl ~e6 16 tlJce3 ~xe3 17 tlJxe3 ~xa2 18 'ii'xd6 'ii'xd6 19 1Ixd6 tlJe7 20 ο-ο Lanka- Κoivisto, Cappelle la Grande Ιη

1992. After 20 ... ~b3 21 1Id7! tlJg6 22 g3 White's chances are preferable. Also 16 a3 tlJe7 17 tlJce3 tlJxd5 18 tlJxd5 g6 19 b4 f5 20 ~f3 'ltth8 ίη Brodsky-Beshukov, Helsinki 1992, led only Ιο equality. 14 ••• a5 Taking the b4-square away from the knight and preparing ...b5-b4. 15 tlJce3 15 'ii'd3 is sti11 an altemative. Mikhalets- Τίιον, Alushta 1994, developed thus: 15 ... ~e6 16 tlJce3 g6 17 1Ifdl 'ii'd7 18 b4 f5 19 a4 ba 20 b5 fe 21 'iνxe4 'YJif7 22 ~c4 'YJixf2+ 23 'ltth 1 tlJd8 24 :a2 'Wif7 and Black gained a maΙeήal advantage, although the position is quite tense. 15 ••• ~e6 (D) 15...tlJe7 16 'Wid3 ~xe3 17 tlJxe3 'iί'b6 18 :fd 1 :d8 19 a4 ba 20 tlJc4 is ηο! bad, and ίη this position from 011-Yakovich, Moscow 1992, the players agreed a draw.

9... .te7 10.tx,{6; 12... :b8 31 16 ~d3 .txe3 After 16...lL\e7 a position arises from the game Κi.Georgieν- V.Spasoν, Sofia 1992. This continued 17 1:fdllL\xd5 18lL\xd5 'ifd7 19 'fIg3 .td8 20 b3! Φh8 (20 ...1:c8!?) 21 c4 bc 22 .txc4 g6 (22 ... a4!?) 23 f4!? ef 24 'ίi'xf4 f5! with chances for both sides. 17 lL\xe3 "d7 Α more precise moνe ίη comparison with the quickplay game Kamsky-Iνanchuk, Tilburg 1992, where Black continued 17••:iWc7, which was followed by 18 1:fdl 1:fd8 19 .tg4lL\e7 20 'ife2 d5 21 .txe6 fe 22 'ίWg4 1:b6 23 'iί'g3 1:c6 with a sharp game. 18 h3 Preparing to exchange the lightsquared bishop. 18 1:fd8 19 .tg4 liJe7 20 1:fdl (D)

position of dynamic equilibrium has arisen. Lputian should now haνe continued 20•• :iνc7, for example 21 ~xe6 fe 22 a4 b4 (better than 22 ...ba 23 'ffc4 'ifxc4 24 liJxc4 d5 25 ed ed 26 lL\xe5 1:xb2 27 1:xa4, when the endgame is somewhat better for White) 23 c4 'fIc5 24 ':'d2lL\c6, and eνerything is ίη order for Black. 20 :bc8?! This moνe allows White Ιο realize his strategic plan with great energy. fe 21 .txe6 22 a4! Now if 22...b4, then 23 cb ab 24 lL\c4 and Black is ίη a truly sorry state. 22 ••. ba

23 'ilc2(D) Of course ηοΙ 23 lL\c4 'ifb5 24 liJxd6 'fIxb2, with a good game for Black.

32 9... i.e7 10 i.xj6; 12.. :J:J.b8

':b8? mistake, after which Black's game goes quickly downhill. He should haνe continued 23ooo'Wb5, and after 24 ':d2 d5 25 'iVxa4 'Wxa4 26 ':xa4 ':c5 he could still haνe held οη. 24 lbc4 ~5 25 'iVxa4 There are ιοο many weaknesses ίη Black's camp: οη a5, d6 and e5. 25 lΩc6 26 ':d2! Α precise precautionary moνe. Ιι would be easy Ιο let go of one's adνantage after 26 lΩxd6 'ii'xa4 27 ':xa4 ':xb2, or 26 'iWa2 d5 27 ed ed 281Ωxa5 lΩxa5 29 'iWxa5 'iWxb2 30 ':xd5 'Wxal+ 31 'ίi'xal ':xd5. 26 ':d7 (D) 000

Α terήble

now ηοΙ 28 ...'ii'xc3 because of 29 ':c2. 27 'Wxb5 ':xb5 28 lΩxd6 (D)

000

W Ιι is ηοΙ possible ΙΟ

escape losses with other continuations either, for example, 26oood5 27 lΩxa5, or 26oo:iνc5 27lUxa5 ':a8 28 b4!, and

Besides the fact that White has an extra pawn, the weaknesses ίη Black's position are maintained. Howeνer, ίη order ΙΟ win Kamsky must oνercome definite technical complications. ':b8 28 29 ':adl 'ίti>Ι8 30 lΩc4 lη time trouble, Kamsky aims for simplification. 30 'ίti>f1 was more exact, moνing his king towards the centre. ':xd2 30 31 ':xd2 We7 32 h4 Again 32 Φf1 would haνe been better, because he could then meet the manoeuνre ....:b8-b5-c5 with We2-d3, defending the knight.

9... J.e7 10 J.x.f6: 12...1:tb8 33

32 1Ib5 33 ~η 1IcS 34 lt!b6?! The knight is a little more comfortable οη e3. lt!b8 34 35 f3 1Ic6 36 lt!a4 lt!d7 37 Φe2 lt!f6 38 b3 lt!e8 39 c4 lt!c7 40 Φd3?! (D) As so often happens, a time-control move is a mistake. He should have continued with 40 1182, and if 40 ... lt!a6, then 41 lt!b2 1Ib6 42 1:txa5 1:txb3 43lt!d3 lt!b4 44lt!xe5 winning.

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40 ... lt!a6 41 Φc3 1Ic7 Of course not 41•••lt!c7, because of 42 c5, followed by Φc3-c4. 42 lt!b2 lt!b4 43 lt!d3 lt!c6

44 1182 44 g3 fol1owed by f3-f4 deserves attention. 44 h6! 45 1Ia4 g5 46 hg hg 47 cS g4 Black's οηlΥ chance lies ίη resisting his opponent's attack οη the queenside. However, thίs too seems insufficient. 48 fg! ΦΙ6 49 b4 ab+ It was worth trying for a happier outcome with 49•••lt!xb4 50 1Ixa5 (50 lt!xb4 1Ixc5+ leads quickly to a draw) 50... lt!c6 51 1Ia6, although here as wel1 White preserves winning chances. 50 lt!xb4 lt!a7 51 lt!d3 lt!c8 52 1Ia6 11g7 53 1Ia8 1Ic7 Φg5 54 Φb4 55 lt!xe5 Φf4 56 lt!c4! Φχg4 Unfortunately for Black, the reponse 56•••Φχe4 is impossible because Whίte would play 57 1Ixc8 1Ixc8 58lt!d6+. 57 lt!d6 lt!e7 58 Φb5 ΦΙ4 59 1Ia6 eS? The final eποr. ΟηΙΥ 59•••ΦeS would have prolonged the contest. 60 11&3! lt!g6 61 Φb6 1-0

34 9... j.e7 10~; 12.. .'IJ.b8

Ιη

the following battle the Latνian Grandmaster Shiroν directs the white pieces with great success. Moreoνer, ίl1 contrast Ιο the 'black' Shiroν, a scandalously composed troublemaker, here he plays ίη stήctΙΥ posίtional mode. Complex prophylactic measures (13 a3 and 14 h4) lead quick1y Ιο success. Game6 Shirov - Illescas Linares 1994 1 e4 c5 2lbf3lbc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4 e5 5 lbb5 d6 6 lblc3 a6 7 lba3 b5 8 lbd5 lbf6 9 j.g5 j.e7 10 j.xf6 j.xf6 11 c3 ο-ο 12 lbc2 ':'b8 13 a3 (D)

Β Α logical new plan, restήctίηg Black's activity οη both flanks. 13 a5 Ιη the game Lanka-Laduguie, Cannes 1993, Black decided Ιο

moνe

his bishop quickly Ιο the c 1h6 diagonal. This is how ίι tumed ουΙ: 13••• j.g5 14 h4 j.h6 15 g3 j.e6 16 lbcb4 j.xd5 17 lbxd5 a5 18 b4 a4 19 j.h3 g6 20 ο-ο with a big positional adνantage Ιο White. 14 h4 Νοι allowing the black bishop the possibility of occupying an actiνe position οη g5. Naturally, the pawn is unassailable: 14 ... j.xh4?? 15 'ίWh5. Bologan treated this position ίη a different way against Redona, France 1994: 14 j.d3 j.e6 15 'ίWe2 j.xd5 16 ed lbe7 170-0-0 and then after 17•••'ifb6 18 'iPbl g6 19 h4! j.g7 20 h5 f5 21 hg hg 22 g4! White's threats οη the kingside were νery seήοus indeed. ΑΙΙ this draws attention Ιο some riskiness ίη White's play. Why can Black ηοΙ make use of this? Ιη our ορίηίοη, the bold 17•••b4!? leads Ιο a sharp game, where Black's prosρects are by ηο means so bad. g6(D) 14 ••• 14•• ~e6 brings Black ηο joy. The game Stripunsky-Kandybko, Alushta 1994 continued: 15lbce3 b4 16 ab ab 17 g3 bc 18 bc lba5 (an unsuccessful m&Iloeuνre, but Black's position inspires seήοus fears) 19 j.g2 lbb3 20 ':'a6, and White has a winning position. Vladimir Κramnik defended the black position more successfully

9... if.e7 10 bf6; 12....:b8 35 ίη

the PCA quickplay event agaίnst GaΠΥ Kasparov, Moscow 1994: 14••• lί:\e7 15 lί:\ce3lί:\xd5 16lί:\xd5 if.e6 17 g3 'iWd7 18 if.g2 if.d8! (a standard transfer of the bishop to an actίve position) 19 ο-ο if.b6 20 'ifd2 ':fc8 21':fdl if.xd5 22 'ilxd5 b4 23 ab ab 24 'ifxd6 'ilg4 25 'iId3 bc 26 bc g6 27 ':abl ':d8 28 'iIf3 ':xdl+ 29 ':xdl 'i!fxf3 30 if.xf3 ':c8 1/2-1/2.

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W if.g7 15 g3 16 h5 Ιη this situation this move is quite opportune. The h4-pawn's role as a watchman has been fulfilled and he is now being used as a batteήηg ram. 16 lί:\e7 1l1escas is trying Ιο defuse his opponent's pressure through exchanges, but his lack of any kind of counterplay predeterinίnes Shirov'!; stable advantage.

W 20 if.h3! Now Black must decide whether ιο exchange his bishop or leave ίι οη e6. If he swaps οη h3, the 'permanent' knight οη d5 will dominate, as ίι has ηο opposition; if he leaves the bishop, Black's pawn weaknesses (after if.xe6 fxe6) will be too tangible. Most likely he should choose 20•••.:b7 21 if.xe6 fe 22 lί:\e3 :bf7, while 20...'iVd7 and 20•••'iWg5 are also possible. After taking οη d5, of the four minor pieces, Black's remain the most passive. 20 if.xd5 21 'iVxd5 'iVc7 22 ο-ο :fd8 23 :fdl (D) Precisely this rook. The other one is excellently placed οη al.

36 9... i.e7 10 i.xj6; 12 ... :b8

Game7

Kasparov -

Κramnik

Novgorod 1994

23 .• i.h6 24 .Jtn Beginning Ιο take a close look at Black's weaknesses. 'i'b7?! 24 •.• 24•••'i'b6 would haνe been more exact; now Illescas's ρosition is coIlapsing like a house of cards. 25 'iWxb7 :xb7 26 :d5 b4 27 cb ab 28 a4! White's a-pawn cannot be restrained. Φt'8 28 29 aS i.g5 30 a6 :b6 31 :b5 ι-ο 0

Yet another magnificent chess masterpiece. Ιη the 13 h4 νariation the sharpest of struggles arose immediately, with sacrifices and counter-sacrifices, but also mistakes οη both sides ...

1 e4 c5 2lDc3 lDc6 3 lDge2lDf6 4 d4 cd 5 lDxd4 e5 6 lDdb5 d6 7 i.g5 a6 8lDa3 b5 9lDd5 i.e7 10 i.xf6 i.xf6 11 c3 ο-ο 12lDc2 :b8 13 h4 ludit Polgar's attempt ΙΟ resurrect the old continuation 13 b4 was ηοΙ starred with success. Her game against Κramnik, New York Intel rpd 1994 continued thus: 13 ... lDe7 14lDce3 i.g5 15 lDxe7+ 'iWxe7 16 lDd5 'i'b7 17 a4 i.e6 18 g3 :fc8 19 :a3 i.xd5 20 ed e4 21 i.e2 i.f6 22 ο-ο i.xc3, and White had got nowhere. lDe7 (D) 13 ... After 13... g6 Bereloνich-Kandybko, Alushta 1994, deνeloped thus: 14 h5 (an illogical moνe allowing the black bishop Ιο occupy g5) 14...i.g5 15 'fIf3 i.e6 16 :dl :b7 17 i.e2 f5 with good counterchances for Black. Shmuter played more accurately against Beshukoν, Sochi 1993: 14 'i'd2 i.g7 15 h5 i.e6 16lDce3lDe7 17 g3lDxd5 18 lDxd5 :c8 19 :dl ;1;. After 13...i.e6 as well, ίη Yurtaeν-Holsten, Helsinki 1992, White managed to seize the initiatiνe: 14 lDce3 a5 15 'fί'f3 b4?! (15 ...i.g5!?) 16 i.c4 bc 17 bc :b2 18 g3 a4 19 ο-ο i.e7 20 :abl.

9... i.e7 10 i,.xf6; 12 ... :b8 37

position might become cήtίcal. However. 16•••Φh8 with the idea of ...:f8-g8. was an alternatίve. 17 ed 'iWxd5 18 ο-ο-ο! (D)

W 14 lbxf6+ Typically. Kasparov chooses the route which leads to a dramatic aggravation of the game. Another quieter possibilίty was 14lbce3. as played ίη StήΡuηskΥ- Volke. Pardubice 1994. when White managed Ιο gaίn victory without recourse Ιο surgical methods: 14 ... lbxd5 15 lbxd5 i.b7 16 g3 i.xd5? (of course. shooting oneself ίη the foot by exchanging this important bishop was not strictly necessary; 16...:c8 followed by ...:c8-c5. or 16 ... g6and ... i.f6-g7 deserved attention) 17 'ίWxd5 b4 18 i.xa6 bc 19 bc 'ii'b6 20 i.c4 'ikb2 21 ο-ο 'iWxc3 22:ac 1 'ίWf3 23 :cel :b224 :e3 'jj'h5 25 a4 i.d8 26 a5 g5 27 hg 'ilxg5 28:f3 :d2 29 'ilb7 1-0. 14 gf 15 'ίi'd2 i.b7 16 i.d3 d5 Black begins active counterplay ίη the centre. since otherwise his

Α very promίsing pawn sacrifice for the initiative. The knight οη c2 is beautifully placed. He ηοΙ οηlΥ relίably shields the king. but is a1so ready ιο take part ίη an attack at any moment. 18 ••• e4 18••:.xa2 19 'ίWh6 e4 changes nothing. 'ίWxa2 19 i.e2 20 'iWh6 'ile6 'i'b6 (D) 21 ~d4 22 :h3?! Α temptίng move. which nevertheless reduces the tempo of the attack and gives Black the possibilίΙΥ of seizing the initίatίve. 22 g4! with the threats of ~d4-f5 and g4-g5 was very strong. Ιη that case

38 9... J.e7 10 hf6; 12...'lZ.b8

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W Κraιnnik would have faced some very difficult problems. 22 Φh8 00.

23 .*.g4 24 lDe6

:g8

fatal text move, Κasparov conducts the concluding part of this battle with great strength. 26 :d6 ~d5 (D)

Many publications have given this move two exclaιnation marks. Κasparov is carrying ουΙ hίs attack very resourcefully, but the position after his eπor οη move 22 gives hίm ηο basis for relying even οη equality, let alone an advantage.

24 25 'i'f4 (D) 25 0.0

:g6

:e8??

Ιη

a sharp position the value of every move is unbelievably high. Α single mistake is capable of tuming the best position ίηΙο a 10st one. If Κramnik had played 25o•.J.d5, White would have had Ιο sound a retreat, as after 26 h5 Black has 26 ...:xg4 27 .xg4 J.xe6. The only possibilίty that does ηοΙ 10se material is 26 ~d4. Αι Κraιnnik's

27 h5!! This sudden blow undoubtedly deserves the hίghest praise. Ιη this position, where practically all the whίte pieces are under attack, and the pressure seems to have reached its lίmit, Κasparov finds a possibίl ίΙΥ Ιο add more fuel to the fire.

9... J.e7 10 J.x.ffi: 12... :b8 39 Now ίη just a few moves the hpawn's career reaches the dizzying heights about which a rook's pawn can usually only dream queening ίη the centre. 27 ~XΙ4 28 hg 'ifxd6 29 ~7+ ~ι8 30 g1+ ~h7

·•• •••-.••.-*-. ·.• ••• -.. ••• •-•i..~e6 (D)

31 fe1i'

~a~

. .. _

~ rQ%

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W a tomado has been raging above the board for the last fιve moves, but the little strength remaining ιο White is quite enough Ιι is as though

for him to organize a conclusive assault. 32 J.fS+! Αη important inιervening move.

32 33 'ifg6+

~ι7 ~

34 1Ixf6+ ~e8 3! J.xe6 1ΙΙ8? 35 ...J.c6 would have prolonged the battle, but would ηοΙ have saved the game. Νοι waiting for 36 J.d7+, Black resigned. 1-0

Conclusion the 12 ...Jlb8 variation Black eΧΡeήences definite diffιculties, but they are fully surmountable ίη the future. However ίη the games we have examined, White has wielded the initiative. Moreover, his arsenal is quite varied: play against the pawn centre, seizure of d5, and a direct attack οη the king. Black, meanwhile, has ηοΙ managed Ιο arrange any counterplay. Good luck Ιο him! Ιη

3 9 ...iι..e7 10 ct:Jxe7 Ιη

this vaήatiοn White weakens controlover d5, stressing the free development ofhis pieces. Insofar as the capture οη e7 enjoys relatively less popularity than other vaήations, choosing ίι leaves more scope for creative play. Game8 Anand - Ivanchuk Linares (4) 1992 1 e4 c5 2l2Jf3l2Jc6 3 d4 cd 4l2Jxd4 l2Jf6 5 l2Jc3 e5 6 l2Jdb5 d6 7 ~g5 a6 8 l2Ja3 b5 9 l2Jd5 ~e7 10 l2Jxe7 White's idea consists of freely developing his pieces. Besides, ίη some cases he preserves the advantage of the bishop pair. This is thought to give Black sufficient counterchances for equality. 10 ... l2Jxe7 (D)

11 ~d3 Other possibilities: a) 11 ~xΙ6 gf and then: al) 12 c4!? ~b7 13 cb ~xe4 14 ba! d5 (14 ...'I'a5+ 15 'iWd21i'xd2+ 16 <it>xd2; 14...0-0 15 ~e2 ;t) 15 ~b5+ <i>f8 16 ο-ο 'ilVb6 17 <it>h 1 l2Jf5 (17 ...d4!?) 18 f3!? l2Je3 19 'ilVd2 (19'ifb3!?) 19 ...~f5 (19 ... l2Jxf120

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~.:~ ~ ..~ ~ ~ Δ~·~Δ •• "Δ'{f..·~ ".!'-' ~% U ~,!,-,

••=~.:

W 1Ixf1 ~f5 21 'i'xd5) 20 1Ifel d421 1Iacl ;t Nadanian-Zontakh, Κiev 1992. a2) 12 'iWf3 f5 13 ef d5 14 f6 l2Jg6 15 1Idl ~e6 16 g3 ':c8 17 c3 e4 17 'ilVe3 'iWf6 18 ~g2 b4! 19 l2Jbll2Je5 20 ο-ο ο-ο 21 f3l2Jc4 22 'iί'e2 e3! 23 b3 bc!! 24 bc d4 25 l2Ja3 1Ifd8 + Unni-Prasad, Indian Ch 1991. b) 11 'ii'f3 and now: bl) 11•.. ~g4?! 12 'iWg3 ~e6 (l2 ... d5!?) 13 ~d3l2Jg6 and now 140-0 ο-ο 15 c4! h6 16 ~xf6 'iί'xf6 17 cb ab 18l2Jxb5 ~xa2 19 1Ifcl ± was Kupreichik-Dreev, Podolsk 1990, while the game YudasinYagupov, Moscow 1992 quickly moved into an ending: 14 'iί'Ι3!? d5 15 c3! h6 16 ~xf6 'iί'xf6 17

9... ~e7 10 lΔxe7 41 'i!ixf6 gf 18 g3 de 19 ~xe4 1Ib8 20 ~c2 f5 with an unclear game. b2) 11 •••lDd712 b4! f6 (12 ... h6 is worse: 13 ~d2 ~b7 14 c4 bc 15 ~xc4 ~f6! 16 ~d3 d5 17 ed ~xd5 18 'i!ig3! although rather than the faulty 18 ...e4?! 19h20-020~3 ~e6 21 ~c3 of Yudasin-Chekhov, Moscow 1991, there is 18 ...~xc4! 19 ~xc4 ~e4 20 'i!ie3 'i!ixd2+, and White' s advanιage is ηοΙ that great) 13 ~d2 ~b6 (l3 ... ~b7!? 14 c4 f5 15 cb ~xe4 16 "WWg3!? ο-ο 17 ba f4 18 "'b3+; 13 ...0-014 c4 ~c6 15 ~c2 1Ib8 16 'i!ic3 ~e7 17 ~e3 ι;tιh8 18 cb ab Fishbein-Vaiser, Tel Ανίν 1992) 14 c4 bc 15 ~xc4 ~e616~a5! ο-ο 17 ~d3 "'d718 "'e2 ~c6 19 ~xc6 'it'xc6 20 ο-ο 'it'b7 21 1Ifcl f5!? 22 ef ii.xf5 23 ~xf5 1Ixf5 24 b5 d5! 25 g4!? 1If6 26 ba "ίWd7 was unclear ίη YudasinChekhov, USSR Ch 1991. c) 11 Ι3 d5?! (l1 ... ~g6!? or 11 ... h6!?) 12 ed 'it'xd5 13 c4 "'c5 14 cb e4 15 "ίWcl "ίWe5 16 ii.f4 "'f5 17 ~c4 ο-ο 18 ~d6 "'e6 19 ii.c4 ~ed5 20 ο-ο e3 21 1Iel "ίWe722 ~g3 1Id8 23 ~xd5 ~xd5 24 "ίWc6 ~e6 25 b6 ± Galdunts-Jelen, Groningen 1993. Ν ow we return Ιο the main line after 11 ~d3 (D): 11 ii.b7 Black can also attempt Ιο make a rapid breakthrough ίη the centre with 11 •••d5 12 exd5 :

a) Ιη the game Aseev-Vyzhmanavin, USSR 1990 White managed Ιο gain a small advantage after 12•••"WWxd5 13 'i!id2 ~f5 (it's dangerous Ιο accept the pawn sacrifice after 13 ......xg2 14 0-0-0; White also gets the better chances υροη 13 ... ~e4 14 'i!ie3 ~xg5 15 'i!ixg5) 14 ~xf5 'i!ixd2+ 15 ~xd2 ~xf5 16 c4 ο-ο! 17 ο-ο 1Itb8 18 1Iael 1Ie8 19 ii.c3 ~d7 20 cb f6! 21 1Ial ~b6 22 ba ;t. b) However, taking the pawn with the knight ίη Yudasin-Yakovich, Moscow 1992, led after 12•••~fxd513c4bc 14~xc4f615 ~d2 ο-ο 16 ο-ο ~f5 17 ~xf5 ~xf518~a5'i!id719"'g411a720

1Ifdl ~d4 21 "ίWxd7 1Ixd7 Ιο a level ending. ο-ο 12 "WWe2 Α new move. 12•.• ~g6 deserves attention, for example 13 c4 (13 ~xf6 gf! is also interestίng, with an unclear game) and now (D):

42 9... j.,e7 10 lΔxe7

continued 13 ... lίJg6 14 o~o h6 15 j.,cl.:te8 16 c4 bc 17lίJxc4lίJf4 18 j.,xf4 ef 19 "iWf3 j.,xe4 20 j.,xe4 lίJxe4 21 'iWxf4 d5 22lίJe3 lίJf6 23 lίJf5 with a clear plus for White. 13 lίJg6 If 13oood5, then 14 :adl is υη pleasant. 14 c4 h6! (D) 000

a) 13oooh6! 14 j.,d2 (Black is handed the initiative after 14 j.,xf6 "iWxf6 15 cb llJf4 16 "iWf3 ii'g6 with pressure οη e4) 14 ... bc 15 lίJxc4 ο-ο 16 lίJa5?! (16 ο-ο would have allowed White Ιο maintain the balance) 16...j.,c8170-0lίJf4! 18j.,xf4 ef! 19 lίJc4 :b8, and the pressure οη e4 predetermines Black's superiority, A.Bach-Gagarin, TurnuSeveήη 1992. b) 13ooob4 was tested ίη WolffKuijf, Wijk aan Zee 1992: 14lίJc2 a5 (a pawn sacrifice for the initiative deserves attention: 14... h6 15 j.,xf6 'iWxf6 16lίJxb4lίJf4 16 \i'f3 "iWg6) 15 f3 h6 16 j.,e3lίJd7 17 ο-ο ο-ο 18 'iWd2 "fic7 19 :fdllίJc5 20 j.,f1 :ad8 21 \i'f2! lίJe7 22 g4 'iWc6 23 b3 .:tb8 24 .:td2, and Wolff managed Ιο wrap υρ the victory quickly.

ο-ο

13 .:tdl is also quite acceptable. Wolff-Shaked, New York 1994,

W Α typical pawn sacήfice. Black remains at the mercy of fate οη the queenside, but manages ιο organize counterplay οη the kingside. Besides this, after the file has been opened, the a2- and b2-pawns are constantly needed for defence. 15 j.,xf6 Ιι was perhaps worth figQting for an advantage by refusing t~ex change: 15 j.,d2 (15 j.,e3 lίJxe4) 15 ... b4 16lίJc2 (16 j.,xb4lίJf4 17 "iWf3 lίJxd3 18 \i'xd3 lίJxe4 gives nothing) 16 ... a5 17 .:tfd 1 \i'c7 18

f3.

9... ~e7 10 tbxe7 43

IS ••• 'i'xf6 16 cb Now White rnust think about precautionary rneasures to prevent the knight invading οη f4, for example, 16g3"'g517Whl f518f3, and although the position rernains quite confused, White rnay preserve sorne hopes for success. The text rnove quickly leads the garne ίηΙο calrner waters. 16 tbf4 17 'fif3 (D)

18 'iixd3 'iig6 19 1Ifel (if 19 f3, then 19 ... d5 is very strong) 19 ... f5 (19 ... d5 is not very good yet because of 20 'iig3 "'xg3 21 hg de 22 ba 1Ixa6 23 tbc4, and White has a srnall advantage) 20 "'g3 (20 ~3+ Φh8 21 ba ~xe4 22 f3 1Itb8 is worse, as is 20 f3 fe 21 fe 1If4 ίη both cases with initiative to Black) 20 ......xg3 21 hg ~xe4 (21 ... fe is also quite possible) 22 tbc4 1If6. 18 tbxbS 'fig6 19 1Ifdl Anand rnust observe caution. 19 1Ifel d5 20 ~f1 de is dangerous for White. 19 tbxd3 20 'ii'xd3 ~xe4 21 'ii'g3 1Itb8! After this the position is total1y level. 22 tbxd6 1Ixb2 23 tbc4 112·1/2 Α short garne, but one ήch ίη content!

17 ab Now Ivanchuk rnay ίη his tum try for an advantage: 17...tbxd3!?

Conclusion this vaήation Black has ηο difficulties. Ιη

4 9..."iVa5+ Ιη this vaήation

Black presents his opponent with a cunning psychological problem. Indeed, it's as if he is silently offering a draw. Ιη fact, ίη reply to 10 ~d2 Black has nothίng better to do than 10.....d8. True, after 11 ~g5 he can rethink and transpose into a 'normal' variation. Ιη the majority of instances White prefers to play for the win, and then ίη this variation as wel1, an interesting and tense struggle, characteristic of the system as a whole, arises. Game8 Kupreichik - N.Nikcevic Cαttolicα 1992

1 e4 c5 2 lbf3lbc6 3lbc3lbf6 4 d4 cd 5 lbxd4 e5 6 lbdb5 d6 7 ~g5 a6 8 lba3 b5 9 lbd5 9 ••• "WWa5+ Black does not hide his peaceloving intentions. He is prepared for a repetition of moves. However, an unpleasant surpήse awaits him ... 10 ~d2 1fd8 (D) 11 c4! This is not the only important move to avoid the repetition:

W a) 11 ~d3 is a move that has been played by Evgeny Sveshnikov, the main expert ίη this line: al) 11 ••• ~e6 12 c4 and now: all) The game SveshnikovLputian, Helsinki 1992 continued 12••• lbd4!? 13 ο-ο bc 14 lbxf6+ 'iWxf6 15lbxc4 ~e7 16 f4 ο-ο! 17 f5 ~xc4 18 ~xc4 "h4 19 ~d5 ':'ab8 20 ~e3 ~g5! 21 "ji'd3 and White was forced to make do with a draw. a12) Ιη the game ThompsonGulbis, cocr 1991, Black continued 12.•. bc, fol1owed by 13 "a4 ~d7 14 lbxc4lbd4 15 "a3lbxd5 16 ed ~b5 (16 ... e4 17 ~xe4 ~b5 18 "ίWe3 ±) 17 ο-ο ~xc4 18 ~xc4 ~e7 19 ~xa6 ο-ο 20 'iWd3 "b6 21 ~c4 "xb2 22 ':'fc 1 e4 with an unclear game.

9... 'ii'α5+ 45 a2) ll..ie7 is worse. White achieved a big advantage after 12 c4lbxd5 13 ed lbd4 14 cb ο-ο 15 ο-ο j.b7 16 ba j.xd5 17 j.e3! lbe6 18 j.xh7+ ~xh7 19 "ίWxd5 ίη Arakhamia-Jakob, Bem 1991. a3) ll...lbxd5 12 ed lbe7 13 c4 g6 14 cb j.g7 15 j.c4 ο-ο 16 ο-ο is aIso possible, e.g., 16... j.b7 17 j.g5 f6 18 j.e3lbf5 19 ba j.xa6 ± as ίη Κudήn-Fίshbeίn, New York 1989, and here Kudrin had the excellent possibility 20 "ίWe2!, or 16••.e417 :bllbf518j.f4:e819 lbc2 'ikh4 20 g3 'iff6 ± SandenMarkovic, Stockholm 1990; 21 a4! would then have strengthened White's advanιage. b) White has one more possibilίΙΥ, 11 lbxf6+. We will examine this ίη detaίl: bl) ll... gf had been discredited, but was rehabilitated ίη Herrera-Barros, Havana 1990: 12 c4 b4 13lbc2 :b8 14 b3 f5 15 j.d3 f4 16 g3 'ίWf6 17 'iif3 j.h6 180-0-0 :g8 19 h3 j.e6 20 j.e2 Φe7 21 Wbl a5 with a very tense game ίη which Black's chances are probably ηο worse. b2) ll..:iixf6 (D) and then: b21) 12 c4 and now: b211) 12..•b4!? 13 lbc2 'iί'g6 14 'ii'f3 :b8 15 j.d3 j.e7 16 ο-ο (16 lbe3 j.g5 17 'iί'g3 ο-ο 18 ο-ο j.e6 19 :fcl ':fd8 20 j.f1 a5 21 b3 ~~ 22 h4 .i.h6 23 'ikxg6 hg

W with a complex game, StefanssonThorhallsson, Reykjavik 1992; 16 'ii'g3!?) 16... 0-0 17 b3 a5 ;!; Yudasin-Dvoirys, USSRCh 1991; 18 'it'hl followed by 'ii'f3-e2 and f2-f4 then deserved attentίon. b212) 12•••'ikg6 13 f3 (13 cb?! 'ii'xe4+ 14 j.e3lbd4 15 'ii'd2 j.e7 16 ba ο-ο 17 'ii'd3 d5! 18 'ti'xe4 de 19 0-0-0 j.e6 20 lbc4 :fc8 21 b3 j.a3+ 22 Φd2 :xa6 =+= Meyers-Poliakov, USSR 1990) 13••. j.e7 and now: b2121) 14 Φα ο-ο (14 ... f5 15 ef j.xf5 16 cb lbd4 17 j.e3 ο-ο and Black has a dangerous inίtίatίve for the sacrificed pawn, Magem-Espinosa, Νονί Sad OL 1990) 15 cb lbd4 16lbc2 d5 17 lbxd4 j.c5 18 .i.e3 ed 19 j.xd4 'ii'b6 20 We3 de 21 .i.xc5 'ikxc5+ 22 'iί'd4 'ii'e7 with compensatίon for Black, YudasinSan Segundo, Madrid 1992. b2122) 14 cb .i.h4+ 15 g3 j.xg3+ 16 hg 'ii'xg3+ 17 Φe2 j.g4

46 9... 'ii'α5+ 18 We3 f5 19 bc fe 20 R.e2 ο-ο 21 ιjaιxe4! was played ίη BeikhardtConquest, Baden-Baden 1993, and ίη a complex position White has all the chances. b22) 12 R.d3 (D) and now:

13 ... R.e7 14 c3 (14 tiJbl ο-ο 15 tiJc3 f5 16 ef R.xf5 17 R.xf5 1Ixf5 18 R.e3 1Ic8 19 a4 b4 20 tiJe4 'ii'e6 21 'iVd3 d5 22 tiJg3 11f7 23 'ifxa6 tiJd4 24 'iVxe6 tiJxe6 25 %ΣacΙ ;t Shulman-Poliakov, USSR 1990; 14 f4 ef 15 e5 R.f5 16 "'f3 1Ic8 17 R.xf5 'ifxf5 18 ed R.xd6 19 1Iael+ R.e7 20 'iWxf4 I'Gurevich-Granda, New York 1992) 14 ... 0-0 15 tiJc2 d5 16 'iWe2 R.g4 17 f3 de 18 'iί'xe4 1Iad8! 19 fg %:.xd3 20 'ikxg6 hg 21 R.e3 f5 22 gf gf MiranovicMarkovic, Νονί Sad 1989. Ν ow we return to the maίn line after 11 c4 (D):

b221) 12•••dS 13 ed tiJb4 14 R.e4 (14 ο-ο tiJxd3 15 cd R.d6 16 'ii'b3 ο-ο 17 tiJc2 R.d7 18 R.b4 a5 19 R.xd6 'ifxd6 20 d4 e4 21 f3 %Σae8 with compensation for Black, de Firmian-San Segundo, New York 1990) 14 ... 'ifh415 'ii'f3 R.g4 (15 ... R.c5 16 ο-ο f51! 17 R.xf5 ο-ο 18 'ii'e4! 'ii'xe4 19 R.xe4 R.b7 20 c4 bc 21 tiJxc4 +- Κaiumov-Mechin sky, Gdynίa 1991) 16 'ii'b3 R.h5 17 R.f3 R.xf3 18 'ifxf3 'ii'd4 19 d6 e4 20 d7+! ιjaιxd7 21 'iWxf7+ ~c6 22 'ii'b3 'ii'd5 23 .ixb4 'ii'xb3 24 ab R.xb4+ 25 c3 R.c5 26 b4 ± WolffMannίnen, Maringo 1991. b222) 12...'ifg6 13 ο-ο (13 'iί'f3 R.e7 14 c3 ο-ο 15 tiJc2 %Σb8 16 Ο-Ο)

tiJxe4 Other continuations lead Ιο a dίfficult game for Black: a) 11..•bc 12 tiJxc4 tiJxe4 13 tiJcb6 %:.b8 (13 ... tiJxd2 14 tiJxa8 +-) 14 'iWa4 ±. b) 11••. b4 12 tiJc2 tiJxe4 13 tiJcxb4 tiJxb4 14 R.xb4 a5 15 R.a3

9... 'ifα5+ 47 lί)c5 16 'ife2lί)e6 17 :d 1 :b8 18 g3lί)c7 19 c5 +-.

c) 11 •••t2JxdS 12 ed lbd4!? (or 12 ... lί)e7 13 cb lί)xd5 14 'iff3! ±) 13 cb ~e7 14 ba ο-ο 15 b4! ~xa6 16 ~xa6 1ιχa6 17 lbc2 'iνa8 18 lί)xd4 ed 19 a4! 'iνxd5 20 ο-ο ~f6 21 b51ιaa8 22 'iνf3! ± PlachetkaKostic, Austήa 1990. 12 cb j.e6 White gains a clear advantage afterboth 12 ...lί)e713j.e31ιb814 ~c4, and f2 ... lί)d4 13 1ιcιlί)c5 14 b6 with a distinct White advantage ίη the game Fernandez Casοήa Fernandez, Spanish Ch (Μadήd) 1992. 13 j.c4 (D) 13 lί)c3lί)xd2 14 'iνxd2lί)d4 15 ba d5 16lί)cb5lί)c6 17lί)c2 ~e7 18 ~e2 ο-ο 19 ο-ο 1ιχa6 20 lί)bd4 1ιb6 21 lί)xc6 1ιχc6 ~ Radovanovic-N.Nikcevic, Yugoslav Ch (Κla dovo) 1992.

13 ..• lί)e7 (D) As is well known, 13...ab? is an error because of 14 lί)xb5. However, 13...lί)aS!? is interesting, for example: a) 14 b6 lί)xc4 15 lί)c7+ Φe7 16lί)xc4 ~xc4 17 1ιcΙ ~e6 18 b7 1ιb8 19 j.a5 d5 20 b4 'iWd6 is unclear, or 14 'ifa4 lί)xc4 15 \Wxc4 ~xd5 16 'iνxd5 lί)xd2 17 ΦΧd2 ~e7 18 ..te2 ο-ο 19 ba 1ιχa6 20 lί)b5 'δ'b6 21 1ιhcΙ e4 22 a4 ~f6 23 1ιa2 ;t Brodsky-Serper, Riga 1987. b) 14 ~e3! is more promising forWhite; after 14...lί)xc415lί)xc4 ab 16 j.b6 Black has three moves at his disposal, but they all lose: 16...'ii'b8 17 lί)c7+ Φe7 18 lί)e3 1ιa4 19 lί)ed5+ ±; 16...'ifd7 17 lί)c7+ ..te7 18lί)e3 1ιc8 19lί)ed5+ ~xd5 20 lί)xd5+ ±; 16...'iWgS 17 lί)ce3 1ιc8 18 ο-ο ~e7 19 'iWd3 lί)c5 20 1i'xb5+ ~d7 21 'iWe2 ο-ο 22~xc5±.

48 9... 'iWα5+

14 ο-ο!! brilliant D()velty, fully ίη Viktor Kupreichίk 's style as an inexhaustibly inventive chess player. After 14 .i.b3, 14 ....:.c8! would have maintained the balance. 14 ••• lL!xd5 If 14•• bdS. then 15.i.a5 'iί'xa5 16 .i.xd5 ':'d8 17 .i.xe4 ab 18 .i.d3 ':'b8 19 .i.xb5+ ':'xb5 20 lL!c4 'ίWa6 21 lL!xd6+ and Whίte wins. 15 .i.xdS .i.xd5 16 .i.a5 'iWxa5 17 'iί'xdS ':'c8 (D) Α

20 'ίWxc7! this situation as well exchanging queens decides everything quickest of al1. 20 ••• ':'xc7 21 ba Φd7 If 21 •••.:ta7, then White replίes 22lL!b5 !. 22 lL!b5 (D) Ιη

W .i.e7 18 'iί'xe4 The sequence of exchanges has ended, and ίι has become clear that Kupreichik's advantage is quite sufficient for the win. Ιη partίcular, Black does ηοΙ have time Ιο take the pawn: 18•••ab 19 'iWb7 'iί'c7 20 'it'xb5+ 'iWc6 21.:tfc 1, and the endgarne is hopeless. 'iί'c7 19 'it'b7

22 ':'c2 It is interesting that ίη Femandez Garcia-San Segundo, Spanish Ch (Madrid) 1992, a seήοus attempt to improve Black's play was tήed: 22••..:tc6!?, but after 23 a7 d5 24 ':'fc 1 .i.g5! 25 ':'xc6 'ίPxc6 26 a4 d4 27 ':'dl ':'d8 28 g3 'ίPb7 29 h4 .i.h6 Whίte, by means of 30 f4 ef 31 g4!, could have presented his opponent with insoluble problems. 23 ':'fcl! The finale. If 23 ....:.hc8, then 24 ':'xc2 ':'xc2 25 a7 ':'c8 26 ':'dl with an easy win.

9 ... 'i!fα5+ 49

23 24 :'c7+ 25 :'b7 26 lΔc7 27 lΔd5+ 28 :'xb2 Short but sweet!

:'xb2 Φε6 Φf6

:'c8 Φε6

10...~ε7?? is a teπίbΙe mistake because of 11 ~xf6 gf 12 lΔxf6+ and it's time for Black Ιο resign. 10...lΔxe4 (D) is a sharp altemative Ιο the text move:

1-0

Alongside 1Ο ~d2 there is another way of fighting for the inίtia tive, 10 c3. Game 10 Blodshtein - Savko Vίlnius 1993 1 ε4 cS 2lΔf3lΔc6 3 d4 cd 4lΔxd4 lΔf6 5 lΔc3 ε5 6 lΔdb5 d6 7 ~g5 a6 8lΔa3 b5 9lΔd5 'i'a5+ 10 c3!? (D)

W a) 11 'i'f3? f5! 12 ~d3 (ίη /nJormαtor 57 Blodshtein demonstrates the following line: 12 Μ! {Blodshtein's symbol} 12...'i!fxa3 13~cl1Wa414lΔc7+andWhiteis winnίng;

however, we may continue: 14 ... Φd8 15 lΔxa8lΔd4 16 cd 1Wb4+ 17 Φe2 'iί'xd4 with a very strong initiative for the sacήficed mateήaΙ) 12 ... lΔxg5 13lΔf6+ ~d8! 14 1Wxc6 :'b8 15 'ilfe8+ ~c7 16 lΔd5+ Φb7 17lΔe7 'iί'c7 18lΔxc8

This move is rarely seen, although ίι also presents Black with some ιricky problems. 10 ... lΔxd5

e4=F. b) Alternatively, 11 ~ε3 :'b8 12lΔc2 'iVd8 13 a4lΔf6 14lΔxf6+ gf 15 ab ab 16 iί'd5 ~d7 17 ~xb5! :'xb~ 18 'iί'xb5 lΔd4 19 lΔxd4 ~xb5 20 lΔxb5 ~e7 (20 ... ~d7 21 :'a7+ Φe6 22lΔc7+ ~f5 23 ο-ο is

50 9......a5+

unclear) 21 :a.8! 1i'xa8 22lt)c7+ Φd7 23 lt)xa8 1:xa8 24 ι;t>d2 d5 25 Φc2 ..t;>c6 =Akbn-Munos, Buenos Aires 1992. c) 11 b4 'ifxa3 12 ~cl 'iWa4 (or 12... lt)xc3 13 Wd2! lt)e4 14 'ifc2 lt)d415'ifxe4 Wa416~d3:a717 ο-ο ~f5 18 'ife3 ~xd3 19 'ifxd3 'iWc2 20 'ifxc2 etJxc2 21 ~e3! and the position ·of the knight οη d5, as well as the advantage ίη developrnent are more than enough cornpensation for a single pawn, although ίη Blodshtein-Al.Karpov, Tashkent 1994, Black managed Ιο save the ending) 13lt)c7+ Φd8 14 'ifxa4 ba 15 lt)xa8 lt)xc3 16 ~d2 lt)b5?! (16...lt)d5!? 17 b5 =) 17lt)b6 ~f5 (Blodshtein-Marsalek, Ceske Budejoνice 1993) 18:c llt)cd4 19 ~c4!±.

11 ed (D) 11 'ifxd5 ~b7 12lt)c2 'iWc7 13 "'d3 =giνes nothing.

11 ... lt)e7 If 11•••lt)d4, then 12 ~d2 ±, and if 11 ...lt)b8, then 12lt)c2lt)d7 13 a4 ba 14 b4;. 12 lt)c2 h6 12...~b7?! is worse: 13 a4 ba 14 lt)b4 with a better garne for White. 12...'ifc7!? and 12...f6 are rnore promising moνes. 13 ~d2! 'iWc7 14 a4! ba Ν aturally Black does ηοΙ want Ιο leaνe hirnself with the perrnanent weakness οη b5 which would arise after 14..':b8 15 ab ab 16 lt)b4. 15 lt)b4 ~d7 15...a5 is a rnistake due Ιο 16 'iVxa4+ ~d7 17 ~b5 ±. 16 ~xa6 Ιι would haνe been quite possible Ιο take the knight, for exarnple, 16lt)xa61i'c8 17 :xa4! lt)xd5 18 :a5 ~c6 19 ~c4 (19 'ifal is ηοΙ bad either) 19 ... lt)b6 20 'ifb3 with a νery complex position. Ι5?! 16 ... Α premature thrust. He should haνe continued his deνelopment with 16...g6. 17 ο-ο g6 18 :a3 (D) There was also a rnore actiνe plan linked with exchanging the bishop and playing agaίnst the a4pawn: 18 'iWe2 J.g7 19 ~b5 ο-ο 20 :a3;.

9......α5+ 51

"'cS

23 Jιd3 24 Jιe4 f3 25 g3 Ιι would have been very dangerous Ιο accept the sacήfice, for example, 25 Jιxf31txf3! 26 gf Jιb5 with numerous threats lίnked Ιο ....c5-c8, ... Jιb5-e2, ... liJe7-f5 and an attack οη the kίng. 25 'iic4? Απ unforgivable waste of time. The swift 25...'ifc8 would have given Black excellent possibilίtίes for counterplay. "'c8 26 1tel 27 .dl Jιb5 28 JιXΙ3 1ί'Ι5 29 1te3 h5 (D) Το actίvate Black's dark-squared bishop . 000

18 Jιg7 19 Jιd3 0·0 20 Jιc2 Ιι would have been worth returning Ιο the plan with 20 "'e2; now Black has an ingenious idea at his dίsposal ... 20 'iic4?! ... but he misses ίι. He should have continued 20•••Jιb5! 211tel 'ίi'd7=.

21 "'81 ~h7 Black would have found himself ίη dίfficultίes had he taken the pawn: 21 •.•liJxd5 22 Jιd3 "'c5 23 'ifa2! Jιe6 24 Jιc41ta5 25 Jιb3 ±. 22 :dl Ι4 22...liJxd5 was also possible: 23 liJxd5 (23 b3? liJxb4! 24 bc liJxc2 25 "'a2liJxa3 26 "'xa3 Jιe6 and Black has sufficient compensatίon for the queen) 23 ......xd5 24 Jιxh6 "'c6 25 Jιxg7 ~xg7 26 'iia2 with a minimal advantage Ιο White. But the text move is even stronger.

30 c4! returning the pawn, Whίte consolίdates his position. Thίs is better than 30 Jιel Jιh6 31 Jιe4 ΒΥ

52 9.....a5+ ii'g4 32 'i'xg4 hg 33 1Σd3 .1.xd3 34 .itxd3 .1.cl with rough equality. 30 .1.xc4 31 .1.el .1.h6 32 .1.e4 'iWh3 33 .1.gZ 'i'd7 34 1Σec3 .1.b3 35 'ΙΜ3 lbf5 36 lbc6 White has determined a clear advantage, linked with his betterplaced pieces, his opponent's lack of counterplay, and with Black's pawn weaknesses, whίch sooner or later will make theίr presence felt. 36 lbd4 Αη attempt Ιο create complίcations. 37 .1.e4 'i'f7 38 lbxd4 ed 39 1Σc6 iff6 The natural 39....txd5 meets with a simple but elegant refutaιίοη: 40 .txg6+ 1fxg6 41 'i'xg6+ ~xg6 42 1Σχd6+. 40 Ι4! Re-blockίng the h6-bishop's diagonal and simultaneously freeing hίs bishop from its unfortunate role as gIJard for the f2 pawn. 40 1Σac8 41 .1.12 1Σχc6 42 dc d5 (D) After 42•••.tg7 White can prevent this thrust by means of 43 'ίif3.

43 1Σxb3

W The rook, so long held ίη captivίΙΥ, enters the game with decisive effect. 43 ... ab 43..•de loses Ιο 44 1Σb7+. 44 .txd5 .tg7 45 'ίixb3 d3 46 'ίixd3 ifxb2 47 .1.e4 'i'f6 The rest is a matter of technique. 'ίth8 48 'iWd5 49 c7 'iWa6 50 'ifc6 'ifxc6 51 .1.xc6 1Σc8 52 .1.b6 'ίth7 53 .tb7 And Black is forced ιο part with hίs bishop. 53 .1.d4+ 1Σχc7 54 .1.xd4 55 .1.13 1Σc2 56 .tf2 '1th6 57 '1tg2 1Σθ2 58 .1.d5 1Σd2 59 .1.e4 1Σe2

9.....α5+ 53

60 Φf3 61 h3 62 .te3

:a2 g5 1·0

Recently ίι has become difficult for Black ιο maintain equality ίη this vari~tion; Kupreichik's ηον elty has dealt quite a seήοus blow

ιο ίι.

As regards 10 c3, Black must be οη full alert Ιο maintain the balance. However, from the ροίηι of view of the logic of chess, Black' s difficulties are ηοΙ so surpήsίηg indeed he's giving his opponent a whole tempo.

5 10... iιg7 11 i..d3 Ιη

this chapter we will begin to examine the whole stratum of νari ations beginning with 9 ~xf6. With this moνe White actively starts the fight for d5, and moreoνer doubles Black's pawns. However, ίη return Black gains the bishop pair and the open g-file. Even his doubled pawns actiνely influence the centre. As a rule, this preordains an extremely complex strategic and tactical battle oνer the whole of the board. Game 11 Dolmatov - Topalov Groningen 1993 1 e4 c5 2lbf3 ~ 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4 lbf6 5 lbc3 e5 6 lbdb5 d6 7 ~g5 a6 8 lba3 b5 9 ~xf6 gf 10 lbd5

is always quite teπίfΥίηg, especially when the white king is sheltering οη the queenside, and ίη reply to ... b5-b4, White must strike οη b4, opening the way for the dpawn. As a counterbalance, Timoshenko should haνe tried to play his trump card: 22 "i!t'h3! ':'ad8 23 g5! ':'fe8 24 f6 ~f8 25 "i!t'g3 ~xM with an unclear position. 11 ... lbe7 Black's idea is to exchange or driνe back the mighty d5-knight without delay, before White has supported his pieces. "i!t'xe7 12 lbxe7 13 c3 (D) Another idea, linked with c2-c4, will be exarnined ίη the next game.

~g7

11 ~d3 Castling long is too dangerous, for example, 11 ifh5lbe7 12lbe3 f5 13 ef e4! 140-0-0 ο-ο 15 g4!? d5 16c3b4! 17cbd418'iitbl'ίid619 lbec4 'ίif4! 20~g2 ~b7 21':'hel lbd5 22 lba5? lbf6 23 "i!t'h3 ~d5 24 ':'xd4 "i!t'xf2 25 ':'edl e3! + Τί moshenko-Ikonnikoν, USSR 1990. The central tandem of black pawns

10... J.g7 11 J.d3 55 Ι5

13 ...

14 lΔc2 If 14 ο-ο ο-ο (D) is included, it' s ηο surprise that a different type of game arises. This is because after castlίng, White has defended the g2-pawn, and Black has to find another possibilίty instead of ... Vie7b7. Ιη thίs positίon Whίte may try:

J.8 •• 8 •.•• • • '8.• -8 -8 μω.~

8'8 . ' 8 8 .Δ8 8

..•

23 h4 f6 25 h5 J.f7? 26 'iWg3+ ~h8 27 h6 :g8 28 'iWc7 +- Magem-San Segundo, Madrίd 1994. b2) 15•..J.b7 16 ef'iVg517 ω h5 (17 ...d5? 18 f4! 'iVh6 {οι 18 ...ef 19 'ifg4! ±} 19 f6 'iVxf6 20 fe 'ifb6 21 :el! :fe8 22 ~hl 1:.xe5 23lΔf5 24 1Ixe5 :xe5 25lΔxg7 ~g7 26 'ifg4+ ±, Mitrakanth-Prasad, Indίa 1992) and now (D):

:ae8

Χ8 8 • ••• _.JL_ _

8·8 •• ~

•• •• ••• := .Δ_'

8'8

~~ • Q~ rQ~ Δ" "Δ" ~ • • 8:~ .~ ~

8 8 •• •• &ζ,,!k ~~" ~ 8 ~ Δ" • ΗΔ" U ~

W a) 15 ef e4 16 J.e2 J.xf5 17 liJc2 Vie5 18 a4 J.e6 19 'ii'd2 f5 20 ab ab 21lΔd4 b4 1/2-1/2 A.SokolovDolmatov, Moscow 1994. q) 15liJc2: bl) 15•••:b8 (a passive move, but one which features ίη many plans) 16efe417 :el J.xf518 ~4 and now, rather than 18••.J.g6? 19 J.xe4 J.xe4 20 f3 d5 21 fe de 22 'iWg4 Vic5 23 cιPh 1 :b6 24 lΔf5 :g6 26 Vixe4 ± Κramnik-Nunn, Monaco 1994, 18•••J.xd4 is better: 19 cd d5 20 'iWd2 :b6 21 'iWf4?! (21 J.fl ;1;;) 21 ... J.g6 22 J.e2 'iWb4

W b21) 18 a4 d5 19 'iWb3 d4 20 cd ed 21 f4 'ifh4 22 lΔd5 :ad8 23 J.e4 :fe8 24 J.f3 .i.xd5 25 J.xd5 'iWf6 26 ab 'ifxf5 is level. b21) 18 J.e2 d5 19 J.f3 :ad8 20 'ifb3 with a smal1 advantage Ιο White, although Black has definite counterplay after 20 ... e4 with the idea of ... J.g7 -e5 and ...:d8-d6, threatening ... J.e5xh2, Topalovvaίser, Metz 1992. b23) Nisipianu-Genescu, Romanian Ch 1994, developed more sharply with 18 'ii'e2!?, whίch was

~ ~

~A~ "~~.'

~ ~.!;

•

56 10... ~g7 Ι! .fιd3 met by 18.•. d5! ? 19 f6! ~xf6 20 f4 ef 21l2)f5 (intending h2-h4 +-) 21 ... h4 (21 ...%Σfe8 22 '-f3 ~e5 23 h41Wf6 24 1Wxh5 ~c8 25l2)h6+! rJ;g7 26 %ΣaeΙ! 'JIfxh6 27 %Σχe5 ±) 22 %ΣΧf4! 1i'xf4 23 "ii'h5 (intending 24 l2)e7+!) 23 ... %Σfe8 24 %Ση! with a decisive attack. The sacή fice f5-f6 has many merits; ίι frees f5 for the knight, and opens the diagona1 for White's bishop; therefore the move 18•••~f6! deserves attentίon.

b3) Chekhov's recommenda15•••f4!? deserves attention:

ιίοη

16a4~b717abableadstoacom

plex but fairly standard type of ρο sitίon.

1i'b7!? (D)

The queen restrains the pawn, as mentioned ίη the previous note. Okhotnik's idea of giving υρ g215 ef 1Wxg2 16:η ~b7 17 l2)e3 has ηοΙ yet found any takers.

The natural 14...~b7 is also possible, for example, 15 l2)e3 fe 16l2)f5 "it'f6 17 ~xe4 d5! 18 ~d5 %Σd8 19 "it'g4 %Σχd5 20 "ilxg7 'ji'xg7 21 l2)xg7+ r3;e7 22 l2)f5+ 'itί>e6 23 l2)e3 %Σd7 24 Φe2 f5, and ίπ spite of White's extra pawn ίπ the endgame, Black has the advantage, Anand-Κramnik, Moscow 1994. ο-ο 15 "ilf3 15..•f4 16 g3 h5 17 gf ~g4 18 'ilg2 ~h6 19 f3 ~d7 20 fe de 21 1i'f2 ~e6 22 l2)b4 %Σg8 οccuπed ίη Konguval-Antonio, Calcutta ορ 1994. 16 l2)e3 Puttίng a knight οη d5 again is ηο good: 16l2)b4 a5 17 l2)d5 ~e6 18l2)e3 (forced) 18 ... f4 19l2)n f5 20 l2)d2 d5, and the centre sweeps away a11 obstacles. Ι4 16 17 l2)d5 ~e6 18 g4 (D) 18 ~e2?! is worse: 18 ... ~xd5 19 ed f5 20 g4 fg 21 hg e4 221i'h5 h6 23 ο-ο-ο? b4 24 c4 b3 25 ab a5 26 g4 a4 =F Qi-Vyzhmanavin, Beijing 1991. Of course, he should have continued 23 g4!? or 23 0-0 why castle ίηΙο the attack? 18 b4! Ιπ the game Dolmatov-Ma.Tseitιiη, Beersheba 1991, Black did ηοΙ have time Ιο exρose the possibilities of his pieces. He tried one of the possible ideas but executed ίι

•....._•• .,• . .: .Ι.

•• ~ ••• ~ .Ι~Ι • 83 ι •• ~ ....... ~ _Ι_lΩ8 • ~

~.~Δ.Δ.

lO... .i.g711.td3 57

After 20 ed e4!? 21 .i.xe4.i.xb2 22 :ΙbΙ .i.e5 23 c5! 'ifb5 24 c6 .i.c3+ 25 ~d 1 :Ιfe8 the game ίη tensifies, whίch Dolmatov was apparently trying ιο avoid by makίng the precautίonary move 18 g4.

~ n~.\Wι. ~ ",,"~

~ u ......." w ~.~ U " ?-'1'~ _ ΔU

•

weakly: 18•••:t'e8?! (18 ... :Ιae8!? 19 ~fl f5 20 gf :Ιχf5 is possible, but 18 ... f5? immediately is wrong due to 19 gf:Ιχf5 20 ~7+! +-) 19 ~fl :Ιac8 20 a3! :Ιc5 21 :Ιd 1 ~f8 22.i.bl a5 23 g5 'ίi'd7? (23 ....i.xd5 24 ed b4 25 ab ab 28 .i.xh7 with a complex game) 24 :ΙgΙ .i.xd5 25 ed e4 26 .i.xe4 b4 27 ab ab 28 .i.xh7 bc 29 bc :Ιχc3 30 :Ιd3 :Ιc4 31 h4 and now White has a clear advantage. 19 c4 19 :ΙbΙ and 19 ~fl are interesting, preserving the knight οη d5, as ίη both cases its exchange opens the route bl-h7 straίght Ιο the black kίng. True, Black could have gained counterplay οη the bfile after 19... bc. 19 cb is wrong because of 19....i.xd5, as is 19lί)xb4 because of 19... a5. 19 .i.xd5! Just ίη tίme! 20 cd (D)

20 Otherwise, after g4-g5 the bishop will be excluded from the game. 21 g5 .i.d8 22 .i.fi!? ~h8?! It would have been better first 10 move the rook to c8. 23 h4?! Dolmatov misses his chance ιο play a pawn sacήfice: 23 .i.h3 :Ιg8 (of course, ίι is very dangerous 10 take ίι immediately: 23 ....i.xg5 24 .i.f5 followed by 'ίi'f3-h5, :thl-gl, :ΙaΙ-cΙ and a decisive attack) 24 :ΙgΙ :Ιχg5 25 :Ιχg5 .i.xg5 26.i.f5 and the initίatίve is οη White's side. 23 •• :Ιc8 0

58 10... j,g711 j,d3

Topalov does not let such possibilίties go by a second time. Now the initiative pas ses to him. 24 j,h3 1Σc2 25 j,f5 j,b6 26 1Σh2(D)

It's already Ιοο late Ιο play 27 ...1Σχb2 28 1Σc 1 1Σχa2 29 1Σc6! j,c5 30 'ifh5 b3 31 'ilh6 'ifg7 32 1Σc7 'ilxh6 33 gh and White has at least a perpetual check. (Typesette r's note: ίη this lίne 31 ...1Σf7 appears Ιο win for Black.) 28 ~gl 1Σg8 29 ~hl 'fic7 30 :gl :cl 31 :hg2 1ΣχgΙ+ 32 <it>xgl fg 33 'fih5 g4! Of course, Black will ηοΙ allow the h-file Ιο be opened up, and the position is level. 1/1-111

14 c4 quickly leads Ιο a lively game and a skirmish ίη the centre. Immense complications frequently arise οη the board. Ιη this encounter, White tumed ουΙ Ιο be very well prepared from the opening, but then 10st the thread of events and suffered a defeat.

26 ... Ι6?! Why not 26...:xb2? Black probably did ηοΙ want Ιο give υρ the cfile, which, ίη combination with 'iff3-h5 and the opening of the gfile after the unavoidable ... f7-f6, could have had decisive significance. But as regards the initiative, Black οη the queenside tums ουΙ Ιο be the more important, and his ρο sition is quite defensively sound. After 27 1ΣcΙ 1Σχa2 the b-pawn becomes dangerous, threatening ίη particular 28 ...b3, when 29 'ifxb3 fails ίη view of 29 ... j,xf2+. The real threat οη the kingside after 28 'ifh5 f6 is ηοΙ visible. 27 ~η j,d8

Ι.

Game 12 Gurevich - Dlescas

BielIZ 1993 1 e4 c5 2 ffi 1Ωc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4 lbf6 5 1Ωc3 e5 6 lbdb5 d6 7 j,p a6 8 lba3 b5 9 j,xf6 gf 10 lbd5 j,g7 11 j,d3lbe7 12lbxe7 'ilxe7 13 ο-ο ο-ο 14 c4 (D)

1O... ~g 7 11.i..d3 59

Β Ιη Sveshnikov ρositions with doubled f-pawns, White sooneror later runs ίηto the problem οί the c-pawn. Indeed the knight οη a3 most frequently enters the struggle via c2. Therefore a choice arίses as ιο whether Ιο move the c-pawn one square or two. c2-c3 looks slίghtly more solίd. Ιη the event οί c2-c4 White is gaίning time, but it also has an essential disadvantage: exchanging the more central c-pawn for its black colleague οη the b-file ίη many cases opens the way for the black infantryman οη d6. Ιη deed Black himselftrίes (when the white pawn is οη c3) Ιο divert this pawn from the centre with ... b5-b4. Ιη this case, White, foregoing static considerations, tήes Ιο bring the knight ίηΙο the fray more quickly and attack the lίght squares. 14 ••• Ι5 15 Other continuations are:

"'f3

a) 15 "'e2 ~b7 16 1ΣadΙ 1Σad8! 17 f3 fe 18 fe ί5 (this is Black's fυndamental idea; clearίng the way for the central pawns by exchanging the ΡeήΡheral b- and f-pawns) 19 tΩc2 bc (a sound idea, but ίη exactly executed; 19... fe 20 ~xe4 1Σxfl 211Σxfl bc is better) 20 ~xc4 d5 21 ed 'iWc5+ 22 ΦhΙ Φh8 23 tΩe3 ί4 24 tΩg4 ~xd5 25 tΩxe5 ~xg2+ 26 Φχg2 1/2-!J2 TnnoshenkoGagarίn, Bucharest 1993. b) 15 ef?! e4 16 ί6 (iί 16 1Σfel, then the simple 16... ~xί5 with the idea οί 17 ...1Σfe8; ίη this situation yet another disadvantage οί c2-c4 is evident - after ...e5-e4 the g7bishop gaίns additional strength) 16...~xί617 1ΣeΙ d5! 18cd~xb2 19 ~xe4 "'xa3 20 1Σe3 'ifd621 ~xh7+ ΦΧh7 22 "'c2+ "'g6! 23 "'xb2 1Σg8 24 1Σg3 "'e4, and having repulsed the attacks, Black retaίns his extra mateήal, Van der Wiel-Nunn, Wijk aan Zee 1992; 17 ... d5! has a witty idea - ίι closes the hl-a8 diagonal and opens υρ another, a3-f8, for the queen. c) 15 1ΣeΙ fe 16 ~xe4 1Σb8 17 cb ab 18 'iWd3 ί5 19 ~d5+ Φh8 20 tΩxb5 e4 21 "'b3 ~e5!? (21 ......e5 23 a4 ~d7 24 1Σe2 ± Nunn-Kosten, Leeds 1990) 22 a4 ~d7 23 1ΣacΙ "'e8 24 ~c4 1iΊι5 :j: Kosten-Chandler, Hastings 1990/1. We will follow this interesting game Ιο the end: 25 h3? (25 g3) 25 ......g6 26

60 10... Ji.g711 .id3

Ji.d5 :g8! 27 g3 (27 Ji.xg8 :xg8 28 g3 f4 +) 27 ... t:.g7 28 :c7 ifh5 29 :ecl 'ίWxh3 30 :lc3 (nothing is gained by 30 ttJxd6 :xg3+ 31 fg Ji.d4+ -+) 30 ... f4 31 :xd7 fg 32

:f7 (D)

32...'ii'hl +! 33 Φxhι g2+ 34 ΦgΙ JLh2+ 0-1. Chandler's bήΙΙίant onslaught shows the many ways of attacking the king. d) 15 'ii'h5 is quite a popular continuation, e.g. 15...:b8 16 ef e4 17 :ael JLb7 and now: dl) 18 b3 bc 19 bc Φh8 20 ttJbl?! (20 1Dc2!?) 20 ...:g8? (Black should play 20 ... JLe5! 21 JLc2 :bc8 22 ttJd2 d5 23 :bl JLa8 with an unclear game) 21 g3 :be8 22 ttJd2 JLc3 23 :xe4 JLxe4 24 ttJxe4 JLf6 25 'ii'h6 with good compensaιίοη for the exchange, DvoirysIkonnikov, USSR 1991. d2) 18 ttJc2 bc 19 JLxc4 d5 20 JLxd5 JLxd5 21 f6 ifxf6 22 'ί!kxd5

:xb2 23 lbe3 'ί!ke6 24 a4 ifxd5 25 ttJxd5 f5 26 g4 :b7 = Short-Illescas, Linares 1992. d3) 18 ifg4 :fe8 19 Ι3 h5 20 'iνxh5 JLd4+ 21 ΦhΙ ef 22 gf 'iνxel and then: d31) 23 Ι6!? 'iνxf1+ 24 JLxf1 JLxf6 25 ttJc2 JLg7! 26 JLd3 :e5 27 'iνg4 :be8 28 cb ab 29 ttJd4 :e3 30 JLxb5? (30 <itιgl!? JLxf3 31 ttJxf3 :xd3 32 ttJg5 :d2 33 Φf1 =) 30 ... :8e4 -+ Howell-Y.Ivanov, Le Touquet 1990. d32) 23 'iνg4+ Φf8 24 ttJc2 JLxf3+ 25 'ί!kxf3 'ί!kh4 26 ttJxd4 'ίWxd4 27 f6 'ί!kh4 28 cb ab 29 ifg2 'ίWh6 30 :gl "ii'h8! 31 "ilί'f2 :e6 32 :g7 :c8 33 'tWf4 :xf6 34 'tWxf6 'ίWxg7, seizing the initiative after a difficult defence, Dvoirys-Yakovich, Leeuwarden 1993. bc (D) 15 ... 15 "i!t'f3 forces Black Ιο fix his position.

10... ~g7 11 ~3 61

16 lL1xc4 d5 17 ed e4 18 'ilfe3!? 18 'ife2 is worse: 18 ... ~b7 19 ~c2 ~xd5 20 ~b6 .:tad8 21lL1xd5 .:txd5 22 .:tadl .:tb5! with a small advantage to Black, Vlad-Gagarin, Romania 1992. Giving back the d5-pawn is ηοΙ the best solution, but after 19 d6 'ike6 with the idea of ...f5-f4 Black again remains the more active. Οη the third rank the white queen has greater freedom Ιο manoeuvre, and for the time being hinders ... f5-f4. 18 ,,0 ~b7 19 d6! 'iWf6 19"0'ii'e6 does ηοΙ assist the advance ... f5-f4, and after 20 ~e2 ~d5 21lL1b6 .:tad8 22lL1xd5 'ii'xd5 23 ':fdl, ίι leads ιο a big advantage forWhite. 20 ~c2 Obviously ηοΙ 20 ~e2?, which would have given the black f-pawn the chance Ιο carry ουΙ a destructive incursion ίηΙο the white camp with ... f5-f4-f3. 20 ..ο Ι4 2O...%Σac8 deserves attention. ':ac8 21 'ifh3 Attempting Ιο win the pawn with 21 .. 0~d51eads Black Ιο disaster after 22lL1b6 ~e6 23 'ifh5. 22 b3! Α precise move, after whίch White gains a small advantage. If

22 ~b3, then 22 ....:c5! 23 ':adl ':g5 24 ':d2 'ifg6 with initiative Ιο Black. 22 .. ο 'ii'g5 Now 22"J:tc5 would be a mistake. After 23 :adl 1i'g6 24 d7 ':h5 25 'ifxh5 'ikxh5 26 d8'if ':xd8 27 ':xd8+ ~f8 28 lL1d6 Black falls ίηΙο a diffιcult position. 23 ':adl Ι5 24 b4?! White should have played the slightly more active 24 d7! ':cd8 25.:td6;!;. 24 c,iJh8 25 ~b3 ~c6 26 d7 26 ':fel would have been more careful. ':cd8(D) 26

. ~..d%

~ ..'~,

8 8Δ8 •• '."'8 8 8

8 •

•_ ••_

"~~ιι.~

U"l.J~

8.t.8 • Δ. d

•

•~

•

• ...

~Δ~ u u

8:8.:=

W 27 .:td6?! Αη unclear game arises after the continuation 27 lL1d6! 'ifg6! 28 lL1e8 ~xd7 (28 ... ~e5 29 ':d6!!

62 1O... ~g7 11 ~d3

hd6 30 1IIc3+ %f6 31lbxf6 ~xM 32 'ίi'xc6 ~e7 33 1IIxa6 f3 34 g3 ~xf6 35 'ii'e6) 29lbxg7 'ii'xg7. 27 ~xd7 28 ':fdl 'ii'e7! 29 lbb6? Gurevich probably overlooked Black's next reply. Some chances for a successful defence remain after 29 ':'xa6 ~b5 30 ':'ad6 ':'c8! 31 lbb6 ':'c3 32 'ifh5 e3 33 ':'e6 'ίixM 34 fe ~c6 35 lbd5 ~xd5 36 ~xd5 fe~.

29 ~ε6! Unexpectedly showing υρ the weakness of White's back rank. 30 ':'xd8 ':'xd8 31 lbd5 ~xd5 32 ~xd5 32 ':'xd5 ':'xd5 33 ~xd5 'ilxb4 34 g3 f3 35 111f1 was more stubborn, even though after 35 ... ~d4 White's situation remains cήtica1. 32 ε3 33 Ιε

33 'ii'f3 Ioses Ιο 33 ...e2 34 ':el 'iVxb4.

33 Ιε 34 'ii'f3 ε2 35 ':'εΙ Wxb4 It's still ηοΙ Ιοο late Ιο make mistakes. After 35.....td4+ 36 ~h 1 'ii'xb4 37 'ii'xe2 ':'xd5?? 38 'iί'e8+ rj;g7 39 ':'e7+ White would even havewon. 36 ':'xe2 ~d4+ 0-1 Or 37 rj;f1 'ii'bl+ 38 ':'el 'ii'b5+ 39 ':'e2 ':'xd5 and Black has an extra bishop. Conclusion The continuatίon 11 ~d3lbe7 gives Black the foundations Ιο rely οη gaining a position with good counterchances. If ίη the variation with 13 c3, play is relatively quiet and marked by manoeuvring, then 14 c4 frequently leads ΙΟ rapid conflict.

6 10...i.g7 without 11 σtd3 White fίanchettoes Ιη general the Sνeshnikoν falls quite easily into the classification of νariations, but there is one bottleneck, when White plays 9 .i.xf6, and Black then plays ... f7-f5 and ... .i.f8-g7. He can do this ίη any order. And most often of all White reacts Ιο this with a set of standard moνes: c2-c3, lί)a3-c2, g2-g3, .i.f1-g2, which can also be made at any time. We haνe tήed Ιο clear υρ the nuances of one or another moνe order ίη the notes to actual games. Therefore the next two chapters (which are closely bound together) are diνided under different headings depending οη whether the bishop is fianchettoes οη g2 or ηοΙ Both are supposedly transpositional, between the chapter οη 1O....i.g7 and the one οη 1O...f5.

Game 13 Adams - Salov Dortmund 1992 1 e4 c5 2 lί)f3 lί)c6 3 d4 cd 4lί)xd4 lί)Ι6 5lί)c3 e5 6lί)db5 d6 7 .i.g5 β6 8 lί)β3 b5 9 .i.xf6 gf 10 lί)d5 .i.g7

11 c3 Ιη Belίavsky-Dolmatoν,

Yugo1992, White seized the ίη itiatiνe after 11 c4 f5 (11 ... b4 12 lί)c2 a5 13 .i.d3 is significantly worse, after which ίι is difficult Ιο carry out ... f6-f5) 12 cb lί)d4 13 .i.d3 ο-ο 14 lί)c2 lί)xc2 15 'iWxc2 .i.b7 16 ο-ο .i.xd5 17 ed. Howeνer, ίη the game Ηeπera A.Diaz. Haνana 1993, Black found a better reply: 14•••fe 15 .i.x~ %:ιb8 16 ο-ο (16 lί)d4 ed 17 'ifh5?f5 18 .i.f3 %:ιΧb5 +) 16... %:ιΧb5 (16 ... ab?! 17 lί)xd4 ed 18 %:ΙC 1 ;1;) 17 lί)xd4 ed 18 %:ιcΙ .i.b7 19 'iWf3 'ifg5 20 a4! %:ιΧb2 (20 ... %:ιΧd5 21 %:ιc7 .i.a8 22 %:ιa7 .i.c6 23 %:ιχa6 .i.b7 24 %:ιa7 leads to a draw) 21 %:ιc7 .i.xd5 22 .i.xd5 ~f6 23 'ii'd3 %:ιb6 =. 11 ••• fS(D) 12 ef Α dίstinctiνe idea ίη the sρίήt of the Benko Gambit was used ίη Trapl-Volke, Ustye 1994: 12 g4 fg 13 lί)c2 .i.e6 14lί)ce3 lί)e7 15 h3 g3 16 fg lί)xd5 17 ed 'ii'g5 18 ι;itf2 .i.d7 19 h4 'ii'f6+ 20 ι;itg2 .i.h6 21 lί)g4 'iWg7 22lί)xh6 'it'xh6 23 'iWcl! 'ifg6 24 'ife3 %:ιg8 25 .i.d3 f5 26 slaνia

64 JO ... ~g7 without 11 ~d3 - Whitefiαnchettoes

W ':'hf1 0-0-0 27 c4, and White held οη Ιο the initίatίve. 12 ~xf5 13 ~c2 ο-ο 14 ~ce3 ~e6 14••• ~g6 also deserves serious attention. After 15 h4 (D) the fol10wing variations are possible:

a) 15•••f5!1 16 h5 ~e8 17 g4! (l7 ... fg? 18h6+-; 17 ... f418 ~f5 ±) 18 gfΦh8! 19 h6! ~f6 20 ~g2 ':'b8 (20 ...:'c8!? 21 a3 ~g5 ~d7!

with counterplay for Black) 21 a3 ~g5 22 ~e4 ~e7 with an unclear game, Komeev-N.Nikcevic, Cattolica 1992. b) 15••• h6 and now: bl) 16 h5 ~h7 17 ~d3 f5 18 g4 e4 19 ~e2 (19 ~c2 fg 20 ~xg4 'iί"g5 =+= is worse) 19 ... f4 20 ~xf4 ':'xf4 21 "ίIi'd5+ 'it>h8 22 'iWxc6 'iί"f8, and Black has some initiative for the sacήficed pawn. b2) 16g4~7! 17 ~d3 (17 ~g2 ':'a7 18 "ίIi'd2 f5 and the black pieces are harmoniously placed) 17 ... ~xd5 18 ~xd5 e4 19 ~c2 ':'b8 20 iVd2 b4!, and problems could arise for the white king. 15 g3 ~e7 Αη attempt Ιο attack the c3pawn immediately was unsuccessful ίη Geller-Arakhamia, Aruba 1992: 15••• b4 16 ~g2 bc 17 bc ':'c8 18 ο-ο f5 19 'iWh5 'it>h8 20 ':'adl ~e7 21 ':'d2 e4 (21 ... ~xd5 22 ~xd5 ~xd5 23 ':'xd5 l1xc3 24 ':'fdl l1c6 25 ':'xe5 ±) 22 l1fdl ~e5 23 ~f4!? ~f7 24 'iWh6 ':'c6 25 ~e6 ~xe6 26 'iWxe6 'iί"e8 27 ~c4 ':'f6! 28 ~xd6 ':'xe6 29 ~xe8 'it>g8! 30 l1d8 Φf7 31 111d7 ':'g6? 32 ~fl, and Geller achieved a permanent advantage. True, 31 ... ':'xc3 32 ~d6+ 'it>g6 33 ~h3 ':'c6 would have allowed Arakhamia Ιο maintain the balance, but even after this she would have had to defend with a seήes of forced moves.

1O... .i.g 7 without 11 .i.d3 - White jίanchettoes 65

The preliminary 15...:b8 was seen ίη the game ShamkovichMaguiera, Las Vegas 1994, which continued 16 .i.g2 f5 17 'iVh5! b4 18 ο-ο bc 19 bc 'iVd7 20 f4! 'iVa7 (20...1tb5!?) 21 ΦhΙ 'iVc5 221tadl 1tb2 23 fe! de 24 1txf5! .i.xf5 25 lDxf5 'iVf2 26 lbde7+ lDxe7 27 lDxe7+ ~h8 28 lDg6+ ~g8 29 .i.d5+, and White won. :b8 16 .i.g2 17 ο-ο lDxd5 Salov would probably have been better off allowing White the possibilίty of exchanging knights himself: 17...f5 18 lDxe7+ 'ilxe7 19 lDd5 'ii'd7 (this continuation is more exact than 19 ... 'iVf7 20 lDb4 ':b6 21 a4 with a small advantage to White) 20 'ii'd2 with chances for both sides. 18 .i.xd5! (D)

Β Α

very ΡήηcίΡΙed move, the aim of which is ιο maίntain a knight οη

d5 against Black's dark-squared bishop. 18 ... ~h8 19 a4 .i.h6! Black, of course, is betteroff exchanging his passive bishop. 20 ab ab? Black's οηlΥ chance of ηοι falling ίηΙο a difficult situation was a swift exchange οη e3, for example, 20....i.xe3 21 fe .i.xd5 (or 21 ... ab 22 ':a6 ':b6 23 ':a7 ;1;) 22 'iVxd5 ':xb5 23 'iYd2 a5 With a defensible position. 21 lDc2! (D) We think the reader can understand why Adams rapidly removes his knίght from attack.

66 IO... ~g7 without 11 J.d3 - White fianchettoes

23 ... J.g5 J.d8 24 tLJb4 Salov wishes ιο play ....:.b8-b6, ίη order Ιο exchange the a6-rook or force ίι ίηΙο a less actίve positίon. Alas, his idea was ηοΙ fated Ιο be carrίed ουΙ

25 J.e4! (D)

win because of 27 ... J.g4) 27 ... fe 28 ':'xb8 ':'xb8 29 ':'xe4 with an extrapawn. Ι5 26 ... The only move. If the bishop retreats Ιο d8, then 27 'ifh5 is decisive, and if 26 ...J.a7 or 26 ...J.c5, then 27 tLJf6!. 27 tLJxb6 'ilfd8 (D)

Whίte's

threats arise unexpectedly from every quarter, and apart from anything else, the black kίng could also be ίη danger. 25 J.b6! The planned 25•• ..:r.b6 does ηοΙ work because of 26 'ii'h5 f6 27 'ii'h6 ':'f7 (27 ....:.g8 28 ':'xb6 J.xb6 29 'ii'xf6+) 28 ':'xb6 J.xb6 29 J.xh7!, and White wins. 26 tLJd5 Probably the most exact. Also possible: 26 'ffh5 f5 27 ':'xb6 (but ηοΙ 28 'ίWxh3?? J.xf2+ 28 ~xf2 fe+ 29 ~g2 JΣf2+, and Black is already winnίng; 27 J.c6 does ηοΙ

28 tLJd7 Again Adams had a choice. The contίnuatίon 28 'iVh5 J.g4 29 'iVh6 ':'f6 30 'i'h4 fe 31 'ii'xg4 (31 ':'a7 is worse: 31 ... J.f5 32 tDd5 ':'e6 with an unclear game) 30....:.xb6 31 ':'a7 would also have led Ιο a clear advantage for Whίte. 28 'ilfxd7 29 ':'xd6 'ilfe7 30 ':'d7 'ilfg5 31 J.c2 There's absolutely ηο ροίηΙ ίη giving Black counterchances after 31 J.g2 J.xg2 32 Φχg2 f4.

10... ~g7 without 11 ~d3 - Whitefiαnchettoes 67

31 •••

e4?

ο-ο

a5 (D)

Leading Ιο a forced loss, and although 31 ...:be8 is better, after 32 f4 few chances for salvatίon remaίn for Black. 32 'tWd4+ -'Ι6 33 'tWa7 -'h6

34 35 36 37

:al 'tWd4+ :aa7 cd

b4 _Ι6

'tWxd4 1-0

Ιη the next game Black quickly manages Ιο exchange the knight, and moreover, ίη distinctίon from the previous game, Whίte is forced Ιο stήke agaίnst the d5-knίght. This is a model of how Black should play agaίnst indecisive actίon by hίs opponent.

Game 14

Arakhamia - Nunn London 1993 1 e4 c5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4 lbf6 5 lbc3 e5 6 lbdb5 d6 7 ~g5 a6 8 lba3 b5 9 ~xΙ6 gf 10 lbd5 ~g7 11 c3 Ι5 12 ef ~xΙ5 13 lbc2 ~oo 14 lbce3 lbe7 15 g3 15 ..• lbxd5 Now White has the additίonal possibilίty of hitting d5 with the bishop, whίch is ίη ΡήηcίΡΙe desirable. 16 lbxd5 ο-ο 17 ~g2 :b8

W Α distinctive picture of this variation. White's problems are Ιο bήηg pressure οη the d6-pawn and create active play οη the kingside; the black pieces are ready Ιο attack the weak queenside pawns, but ίη this case can also show aggression against the white kίng. This preordaίns a tense struggle over the whole board. 19 'ii'd2 Τοο indecisive. Ιη a way ίι assists the attack οη the d6 pawn and impedes the move ...b5-b4, but ίη fact ίι tums ουΙ that there is ηο tίme for an effectίve attack οη the pawn, and indeed d2 is not a very happy posίtίon for the queen. a) 19 Wh5 is a much more energetic continuation, e.g. 19... ~h8 20 :adl f5 21 :d2 (D) with the possibίlitίes:

a1) 21 ••if7 (best) and now:

δll

/0... 1.117 wiIhouIl1 j,43 - Whitefiαnchettoes

all) 22 'tWh3 'i'd7 (it's interesting Ιο note that the game Arakhamia-Nunn, Hastings 1993/4, went οη 22 ... ~g6, and here the players agreed a draw) 23 ':fdl ':bd8 24 'ifh4 'ii'e6 25 tLJe3! (25 tLJc7 'iixa2 26lbxb5 d5 27 'iie7 ~h5 28 ~xd5 ~xdl 29 ~xa2 ':xd2 30 ί4 =Dochev-Rogozenko, Plovdiv 1992) 25 ...1Wg6 (25 ... e4 26 ':d5 ±) 26 J.h3 f4. Here, ίη Szekely-Rogozenko, Εfοήe 1993, Szekely naively used his opponent's recommendation, published ίη Informαtor 54, and played 27 J.f5, but after 27 .. :Wh5 he certainly could not avoid a mateήaΙΙοss. Now Rogozenko recommends 26 'ilie7, but who knows whether or not the trusting reader is awaiting a standard dirty tήck? Ιη anycase, after 26 ... J.f6!? (26...f4 27 Ixd6 ':xd6 28 ':xd6 'iWbl + 29 ':dl 'iWxb2 30 tLJf5 ±) 27 'iWb7 (27 'iWc7 ί4 28 tLJd5 J.xd5 29 ':xd5 e4 gives Black a dangerous

initiative) 27 ...J.g5 28 'ifxb5 ί4 the game is far from clear. a12) Kotronias chose 22 'ifdl against Illescas, Κhalkidhiki 1992. After 22 .. :ίi'd7 23 a3?! e4! 24tLJf4? (24 ':el =) 24 ... J.e5 Black seized the initiative. White should have continued 23 ί4 (a standard move fixing Black's central pawns), for example, 23 ... e4 24 'ithl b4 25 c4 a4 26 tLJe3 %:ιbd8 27 'iie2 'iVc8 28 h3 'i'c5 29 g4 with an advantage to White, Schafer-Loew, Germany 1994. The manoeuvre 'i'dl-h5, ':al-dl-d2 and then 'iWh5-dl is very interesting. a13) The continuation 22 'ilie2 was tested ίη Kozakov-Rogozenko, 1993, which went: 22 ... 'iie8 23 tLJe3?! (23 a3 e4! was better, with the idea οί ... J.g7 -h6, ...J.f7h5) 23 ...J.xa2 24 ':al ~b3 25 ':xa5? (25 ':xd6!? a4 +) 25 ... f4 26 tLJf1 +. a2) Instead 21 ...'ilid7 is worse after 22 :rdl. Here are two examples οη this theme: a21) 22...'ilif7 23 'ilih4! e4 24 lbf4 J.e5 25 ':xd6 J.xd6 26 ':xd6 ':fe8 27 g4, and White, at the Ρήce οί a small mateήalΙοss, has ήΡped apart his opponent's mighty pawn centre, Geller-Fedorowicz, New York 1990. a22) 22...':g8 23 tLJe3 J.f8 24 ~d5 f4 25 ~xe6 'iWxe6 26 tLJf5, and by now White has seized the

1O... i.g 7 without 11 i.d3 - White fiαnchettoes 69

commanding heights, Κroppa-Shu raev, Alushta 1994. b) We should add that 19 a3 is too sluggish, forinstance 19 ... f5 20 'iί'd2 ~h8 21 1Ifdl e4 22 f3 i.xd5 23 'iί'xd5 ef 24 i.xf3 i.e5, and Black's chances are somewhat better, Kova~evic-Κramnik, USSRYugoslavia 1991. 19 Ι5 20 1Iadl 'i1i'h8 (D)

22 "'g5 "'f7 23 1Id2 e4 24 1Iedl Α tardy retum Ιο the cοπect plan, but time has already slipped by, and Black has deployed his forces harmoniously. Now Arakhamia faces a diffιcult fight for equality. 24 i.e5 25 'iWe3 "'g7 b4(D) 26 ~hl

W 21 1Ifel Again a move which from general consideratίons seems to 10se a tempo; the real place for the rook is οη the d-file. There's nothing more dangerous ίη the Sveshnikov than playing with general considerations ίη mind. Concrete thinking and purposefulness are demanded from the players, and Dr. Νυηη demonstrates precisely these qualitίes ίη this very game. 21 "'d7 000

W Preparations for the attack are over. The tίme has aπίved for decisive actίon. 27 Ι4? Of course, ίι is ηοΙ easy Ιο cope with Black's pressure, but now the white king might be ίη danger. The English Grandmaster's bishop pair becomes quite savage. 27 ef 28 i.xf3 bc 29 lΩxc3

70 10... Ag7 without 11 ~3 - White fiαnchettoes

%9 bc: ίι ηο good because of 29 ... AxdS 30 :xd5 Ι4 31 gf .i.xf4 321Wd4 j,eS, winning. 29 Ι4! (D) Α very telling blow, destroying White's bastions. 000

two knights, which led Ιο a more tense situation. The similarity with Game 14 lies ίη the fact that White here again plays somewhat indecisively, and Black makes excellent use ofthis. Game 15 Short - Kramnίk Novgorod 1994 1 e4 c5 2lLJf3lLJc6 3 d4 cd 4lLJxd4 lLJf6 5 lLJc3 e5 6 lLJdb5 d6 7 .i.g5 a6 8 lLJa3 b5 9 .i.xf6 gf 10 lLJd5 .i.g7 11 c3 Ι5 12 ef .i.xf5 13 lLJc2 13 .i.e6 (D)

.*. _ ••••• • •••• .t.. • •

W 30 gf .i.xf4 31 1Wxe6 .i.xd2 32 .i.e4 .i.xc3 33 bc Black has aπ extra exchaπge as well as aπ attack. :be8 33 34 'ii'd5 :e5 35 1Wd3 'fIe7 36 .i.d5 :el+ 37 :xel 'fIxel+ 38 Φg2 :12+ 39 ~h3 'fIeS :e2 40 .i.g2 0-1 Ιη contrast Ιο the previous game, Black this time decides to keep the

illi1

Ι.

•

.'.l2J.~~. ηη!?)

•••• -

Β • .~ u • u u Δ~l2J. "Δ"

•

~ ~

. .

.'iV~~.: ~

W Arriving ίη the world chess elite, Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik is an ardent admirer ofthe Sveshnikov, aπd because of this, one can judge the development of the system as a whole from the variations he chooses to use. Kramnik has introduced many new ideas, often

10... J.g7without 11 J.d3- Whitejianchettoes 71 eχpeήmentίng. Βυι along with thίs,

despite serious home analysis, he has Ιο be ready for the unexpected, and eνen for disappointment. And ίη such (alas, unaνoidable) circumstances, one must use the aίd of old, tested contίnuatίons. So, ίη this νery toumament, Iνanchuk managed Ιο demonstrate the insufficiencies of 13 ... lDe7, haνing placed the moνe ίη questίon under some doubt (we hope this is temporary - see Game 18). And Κramnίk retums to the path of 'official' theory. Precisely thίs unίνer sal approach ιο opening problems distinguishes the strongest chessplayers ίη the world. 14 g3 0-0 If 14••.J.xd5 15 "xd5 lΔe7, then after 16 "b7! ο-ο (16 .....c8 17 'ifxc8 :xc8 18 a4! ±) 17 J.g2 d5 18 :dl (180-01 'iid6) 18 ...:b8 19 "xa6 :a8 20 'tWb7! (20 1fxb5 1! :b8 21 "c5 :xb2 22lDe3 d4 with an unclear game) 20...:b8 21 W'a7 :a8 22 "c5 Whίte is a pawn up. 15 J.~ a5 Beshukoν-Vasilίeνich, Alushta 1994, ended ίη a dίsastrous attempt by Black ιο begin to play oνer the whole board (by ...b5-b4, ... f7-f5, ... e5-e4), without first preparing himself: 15•••:b8 16 lΔce3 f5 17 ο-ο 'ifd7 18 f4 b41 19 "a4 e411 20 'ifxc6! 1-0. 16 ο-ο :b8 (D)

17 :el?! Α stereotyped moνe, which loses tίme. Ιη the future Short will return to the normal plan of doublίng rooks οη the d-file, but Black manages Ιο bring about the positίoη he has ίη mind. 17 Ίi1ι5 was better: 17 .....d7 (17 ... b41 18lΔce3 with the idea of :al-dl, lΔe3-c4 ±) 18 :adl f5 19 lΔce3 (19 :d2 e4 20 :fdllΔe5 21 lΔce3lΔg6 22 a4! 1 ba 23lΔc4 J.e5 and despite the extra tempo ίη comparison with the game, the position is dίfficult to assess ίη anyone's faνour) 19... e4 (l9 ... f4? 20 J.e4) 20 lΔf4! with the idea of J.g2-h3, attacking the f5-pawn, after which definite difficultίes might arise for Black. 17 "d7

18 "'h5 19 :adl

Ι5

e4 Black carήes οη hίs fundamental role with the central pawns,

72 10... .i..g7 without 11 .i..d3 - Whitefiαnchettoes

whilst play with ....:ta8-b8 and ... a6-a5 serves precautionary aίms: hίηdeήηg the breakthrough a2-a4 and the appearance of the white knίght οη b4 _For a long tίme Black did ηοΙ manage Ιο do this, but now he usually manages Ιο prepare play ίη the centre. 20 lLιce3 tLleS 21 .:te2 tLlg6! .i..eS! (D) 22 .:ted2

White has ηοι yet done anything which might lead him Ιο defeat, and that therefore there is still enough ίη his position Ιο maίntaίn the balance. White should possibly have played 23 .i..h3!? or even 23 ΦhΙ!? and ... waίt! As regards the assessment of the position, the dynamic strength of the black pieces counterbalances White's structural supeήοήty. 23 a4?! Maybe the former World Championship contender Short realizes that ίη the Sveshnίkov ίι is difficult Ιο seek common sense, and therefore strives for the initiative ηο matterwhat. Furthermore, waiting passively is ηοι ίη Short's character. Ιη any case, White's 23rd move is ηοΙ so much interesting, but ήsky.

W Every move by Black is underlίned by one aim; the creation of a mighty central grouping of pieces and preparation of an attack. The pressure of the struggle is intensifying all the time. Αι this Ροίηι White cannot find a use for his beautifully distributed pieces; normal ideas are ηο longer sufficient, and finding a way Ιο defuse the situation is ηοι at all easy. Nevertheless, from common sense one might come to the conclusion that

23 24 tLlc4

"fIf7! (D)

1o. .. JLg7 without 11 iLd3 - White Jiαnchettoes 73

The d5-knight is rooted ΙΟ the spot. 25 'i'gS If ίι is consistent Ιο try Ιο ρυι ίηιο practice the idea of the move 23 a4, then one should contίnue 25 lbxe5 de 26 'iί'g5 ~h8 27 c4 with some compensation for the pawn. Another route, involving exerting pressure οη the d6 pawn leads one οη a wίld goose chase after 25 JLn Ψιfg7! 26lbde3 f4. 25 ~h8 26 ~hl :g8 27 'iί'e3 "'g7 28 JLn :bf8 (D) Black has completely seized the inίtίatίve. The attack is ηο! far over the hίlls.

have won. Therefore, Whίte's next move should be directed agaίnst 30... JLg4. 29 1:ιe8! Ιη spite of his time trouble, Kramnik still understands the situatίon whίch has arίsen. Now he once more creates the threat of ... f5-f4. 30 ~6 If 30 lbdb6, then 30 ... JLxc4 31 JLxc4 (31 lbxc4) 31 ... f4 32 'iWxe4 JLxc3. 30 ••• lbf4! (D) With the move 30 'i'b6 White has averted Black's breakthrough 30...f4, which would be met by 31 lbxe5 de 32 lbc7. Βυι the knίght invades οη f4 with ηο less effect.

W 31 lbxf4? 31lbc7 is a more stubbom defence: 31..J:te7 (31 ...lbxe2 32lbxe8 'ii'g4 33 lbxe5 de 34 'ife3 doesn't work) 32lbxe6 :xe6 33 lbxe5 de

29 JLe2 Ιη the event of 29lbdb6 f4 30

'ifxe4 JLg4! 31 JLe2 JLf5 32 'ifc6 fg 33 fg JLxg3! 34 hg 'ifh6+ 35 Φg1 lbf4 36 'iff3 JLe4 Black would

74 1O... ~g? without 11 JLd3 - White ftαnchettoes 34 "'e3 (34 1Wxa5 lbxe2 35 1Σχe2 "'g4 36 1ΣdeΙ f4 is dangerous for White). ~xI4 31 000 321Σd4 d5 White gives back the exchange ίη the hope of diminishing his ορ ponent's pressure. 33 1ΣΧ:d5 If 33 lLΊe3, then 33 ....te5 (or 33 ... ~c7) wίth the idea of 34 ... f4 and 35 ... e3, and White faces insurmountable problems. 33 ~xd5 34 1ΣΧ:d5 ~c7 35 'ii'c6 Ι4 Κramnik persistently caπies ουΙ his plan, which is typical of the variation. Regrouping his forces at the rear has brought him success. 36 lLΊd6 1Σe6 37 .tc4 'fie7 38 1ΣeS Α fιnal stunt ίη time trouble. 38 1ΣΧ:d6 39 1Σχe7 1Σχc6 40 .txg8 'ίtxg8 41 1Σχe4 a3 0-1 Now we will examine the variation ίη which White prepares to fιanchetto his bishop οη move 11 (11 g3). The game often ίη this case 1eads into vaήatiοns we have a1ready examined, but sometimes has independent signifιcance.

Game 16 Savon - Agamanaliev

Moscow 1991 1 e4 c5 200lLΊc6 3 d4 cd 4lLΊxd4 lLΊΙ6 5 lLΊc3 eS 6 lLΊdb5 d6 7 ~g5 a6 8 lLΊa3 bS 9 .txf6 gf 10 lLΊd5 .tg7

11 g3 (D)

The idea is to develop the bishop the 10ng diagona1, as the knight οη a3 might be ουΙ of the game for a 10ng time. 11 000 fS 12 ef (D) 12 ~g2 is also possib1e, for examp1e, 12000fe 13 .txe4 .te6! and now: a) 14 lLΊΙ6+ ~xf6 15 ~xc6+ 'ίte7 16 .txa8 'fixa8 17 1Σgl! (17 f31 h5! 18 "e2 h4 190-0-0 "c6! 20 'ild2 hg 21 hg 1ΣxhΙ 22 :xhl 'ikxf3 =F Solomon-Spasov, Νονί Sad OL 1990) 17 ... h5 18 c3 ~g4 19 οηΙο

1O... J.g 7 without 11 J.d3 - White fiαnchettoes 75

'ffd3 J.f3 20 llX2 and Black has compensation for the sacrificed exchange. b) Romero, playing against Sa10ν at Wijk aan Zee 1992, did ηοΙ accept the sacήfice: 14 1fh5 IΣc8 15 c3lbe7 16 IΣdl IΣc5!? 17lbb4 1fb6 18 1fg5! Φf8 19 1fe3 h5 20 lbd3 (20 lbxa6 is a tempting idea, intending 20.. :fixa6 21 1Wxc5 dc 28 IΣd8#; however the mate does ηοΙ work because of 20 ... J.h6, but 21 ο-ο deserves attention) 20 ...IΣc6 21 J.xc6 1fxc6 22 f3 J.h6 23 1ff2 a5 24 ο-ο Μ, and again Black's activity is worth the exchange. c) Matters turned ουΙ better for White ίη Tolnai-Ikonnikov, Budapest 1991: 14 c3 ο-ο 15 0-OIΣb8 16 lbc2 'ifd7 17 .tg2 f5 18 IΣel Φh8 19 'ifd2 e4 20 lbf4 d5 21lbd4 J.g8 22 IΣadl a5 23 J.f1 b4, and Tolnai proved ΙΟ be the better prepared for the ensuing comp1ications.

12 J.xf5 Here the pawn sacήfice is very interesting: 12•••e4!? 13 c3lbe5 14 'ifh5 and now 14••.00+ 15 Φe2 J.b7 16 IΣdl ο-ο! 17 .th3 IΣb8 gave Black a good game ίη AlzateOchoa, Bayamo 1984. Arakhamia' s attempt ιο improve with 14••..tb7 did ηοι lead ιο any benefits: 15 IΣdl b4 16 lbc4lbf3+ 17 Φe2 bc 18 f6 J.xf6 19 lbxf6+ 1fxf6 20 lbxd6+ Φf8 21 bc IΣb8 221fc5 Φg8 23 lbxb7 +- Madl-Arakhamia, Belgrade 1994. 13 .tg2 IΣc8? Now Savon rea1izes his plan without obstacle, by occupying d5. 13•••e4 14 c3 lbe5 15 ο-ο .tg4 16 1Wd2lbf3+ 17 J.xf3 .txf3 18lbc2 leads ιο a complex game. Black demonstrated model play ίη Savon-Kharlov, Alushta 1992: 13.•..te6 (allowing the exchange sacrifice examined above) 14 c3 ο-ο 15lbc2 a5! 16 ο-ο Φh8 17 a4 IΣb8 18 lba3 ba 19 lbc4 IΣb5 20 IΣxa4 f5 21 'iWd2 .txd5 22 J.xd5 lbe7 23 .tg2 (if 23 lbe3, then the reply 23 ....th6 is very unpleasant) 23 ... d5 24lba3 IΣb8 25 c4 d4 26 lbb5 e4 27 IΣa5 d3. Ιη the graphic expression of Grandmaster Savon, 'the cart has begun rol1ing downhill'. Black has an undoubted advantage. 14 c3

lΔe7

15 lbc2

lbxd5

76 1O... ~g7 without 11 ~d3 - White jianchettoes 16 ~:xd5 Black's biggest misfortune is his totallack of counterplay. 16 I:1c5 (D)

22 lΩxd5 23 I:1fdl

•. ~ ~

rμ

ifb7 Ι5 (D)

•••

-. B,..tlJ."B . u: Β..

•

~ U

•.~

.,. •

Β • "iν8 ~ U • ~ U

D ~'~ /~~

~??f~_~

'f~

.:.

w Α

17 lΩe3 ~e6 18 ο-ο ο-ο 19 a4 Α typical blow, which can be seen more than once ίη the pages of this book. 19 'it'b6 Aiming Ιο exchange the g7bishop for the knight fails after 19ooo~h6? 20 ~xe6 fe 21 'ti'g4+. 20 ab ab 21 ifd3 ~xd5 If Black had played 21ooo~h6, then 22 b4 I:1c7 23 lΩf5 ~xf5 24 'it'xf5 would have made 24...I:1xc3 impossible because of 25 ~e4. Even the presence of opposite-coloured bishops would οηlΥ serve ΙΟ strengthen White's attacking 000

possibilίties.

typical position, ίη which the d5-knight is clearly SUΡeήοr to the g7-bishop. 24 lΩb4 24 lΩe3 is weaker: 24 ... f4 25 lΩf5 (25 ifxd6? fe 26 'iVxc5 ef+) 25 ... e4 (or 25 ... d5) 26lΩxd6 ed 27 lΩxb7 I:1d5 with compensation. Ι:1Ι6 24 25 I:1a6 ~Ι8 26 I:1c6 26 I:1dal! is more exact. ifr7 26 Or 26oo.I:1xc6 27 ifd5+ rj;g7 28 lΩxc6, again favοuήηg White. dc 27 I:1xc5 Black is saved from the weakness οη d6, but is ηοΙ far from difficulties. The knight οη d5 will dominate. 28 lΩd5 I:1d6 29 b3! (D) 000

10... j.g7 without 11 j.d3 - Whitefiαnchettoes 77

Of course, the knight must be supported by the pawn from c4. 29 ••• e4 30 Wd2 Wh5 Black would be glad Ιο play 30...c4 himself, but ίι does not work: 31 bc bc 32 'ii'd4 ':'c6 33 ':'a1, and White is winning. 31 c4 Wf3 32 ':'81! h6 If 32••:"xb3, then White must seek retribution against the black kίng: 33 1IIg5+ ':'g6 34 lΔe7+ j.xe7 35111xe7. 33 ':'88 'ifd3 Once again taking the pawn, 33•••'ii'xb3, does ηοΙ work because

37 1ΙΙ7 generous reply. 37•••'ii'xb3 was a more stubborn defence: 38 'ii'xf5 1If7 (the endgame arising after 38 ..."f3+ 39 .xf3 ef+ 40 ~xf3 is 10st for Black) 39 'ilxe4 b4, although after 40 ':'e5 things are nevertheless pretty bad for

of34lΔe7+.

34 'ii'f4 'ii'd1+ 35 ~g2 %Σxd5 1i'xd5 (D) 36 cd 37 ':'e8 Α mistake ίη tίme trouble. 37 'iWb8 e3+ 38 f3 11f7 39 1Ixb5 was simpler.

Agamanalίev.

38 "'e5 "'h5 ~g7 39 'iWd5+ And here exchanging queens after 39•••'ii'f7 40 ':'b5 is hopeless forBlack. 40 ':'e5 .f3+ ~g6 41 Φg1 Φg5 42 'δ'e6+ ~g4 43 h4+ Φh3 44 'ii'g6+ 'iWxf5 45 1Wxf5+ j.d6 46 .:.xr5 j.f8 47 ':'d5 b4 48 ':'eS j.g7 49 ':'xe4 1-0 50 ~

78 JO... J.~7without 11 J.d3 - White.fianchettoes

Conclυsion Ιη

the variations ίη which White employs a lάng's fianchetto and transfers the a3 knight to the centre, Black experiences ηο particular difficulties. Decisive and very purposeful play is demanded from both sides, and moves made οη the

basis of so-called 'general considerations' are often mistakes. Most frequently of all White' s attenttion moves Ιο the centre, and Black's hopes lie οη the flanks (either as an attack οη the king or as a blow Ιο White's pawn chain by means of ... b5-b4).

7 10.....tg7 without ll.i.d3White does not fίanchetto The games ίη this chapter are closely bound υρ with the duels οί the previous chapter. However, at some point White prefers not to fianchetto hίs bishop. Game17 Beliavsky Debrecen Echt 1992 Adaιns -

1 e4 cS 2 ffi tα6 3 d4 cd 4lhxd4 lhf6 5 l2Jc3 e5 6 lΩdb5 d6 7 .i.g5 a6 8lha3 b5 9 .i.xf6 gf 10 ~5 .i.g7

llc3

Ι5

12 ef .i.xf5 13 l2Jc2 ο-ο 14 lhce3 .i.e6 15 .i.d3 Ι5 16 'ifh5 e4 17 .i.c2 ~7 18 .i.b3 (D) 18 ••• lhxd5 Α novelty. Previously one saw 18...Cίth819lΩf4 .i.xb3 20 ab 1i'd7 21 :ld 1 :lf6 22 'ife2 :lb8 23 ο-ο :lh6 24 f3! lhg6 25 lhxg6+ :lxg6 26 ί4 .i.h6 27 b4 with a big advantage to White, Ghίnda-Boersma, Lucerne 1985. Note that White

threatens to play 19lhxe7+ 'ifxe7 20 lhxf5, and neither 18 ...'ifd7 nor 18 ...:lc8 offers a defence to this threat. 19 lhxd5 19 .i.xd5!? .i.xd5 20 lhxd5 a5 21 ο-ο b4 22 f3 bc 23 bc e3 24 ί4 deserves attentίon, with good prospects for Whίte. 19 ... a5 20 lhf4 .i.xb3 21 ab 'fie7 b4 22 ο-ο Α standard plan. Black begins a mίnority attack, which notίceably heightens hίs bishop's inf1uence. 'fie5 23 cb 24 'fig5

80 10... J.ι:7 without 11 J.d3 - White does notfiαnchetto After 24 ~h3 the attempt Ιο encroach οη the enemy camp by means of 24oooab? 25 ':'xa8 ':',xa8 26 ~g5 h6 27 .f7+ ~h8 28 .b7 .e8 29 ~Ώ+ Φg8 30 ~xd6 +- is ηοΙ successful, but sacήficίηg two pawns with 24000f4! 25 .xe5 J.xe5 26 ba ':'fb8 27 ~g5 e3 would gίve Black better chances. 24 00. ab 25 :adl ':'a2 26 tDh5 Ι4 (D)

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W 27 'iί'g4? The desire Ιο achίeve victory ηο matter what the cost ίη thίs case dίd Adams ηο favours. He should have resigned hίmself to the fact that the positίon was level. After 27 'iί'xg7+ .xg7 28 ~xg7 Φχg7 29 ':'xd6 %txb2 30 %td4 f3 31 g3 %txb3 32 %txe4 %tb8 a drawn four rooks ending would have aήsen. 27 ':'a7! 28 %t(1 'it'f5

29 'it'xf5 :ΧΙ5 30 ~xg7 ~g7 Now White must apply his not insignificant forces ίη order to maintain the equίlίbήum. 31 %tc4 d5 32 %txb4 ':'c7 (D)

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W 33 ':'dl?! Such passive tactίcs could have led White into serious unpleasantness. He should have quickly provoked a cήsίs: 33 g4! fg (or 33 ....:.g5 34 f3 ':'c2 35 h4 ':'g6 36 g5 h6 37 %tb7+ =) 34 hg %tc2 35 %td4 Φf6 36 f3! Φe5 (36...ef 37 g4! =) 37 %tfdl %txf3 38 %txd5+ Φe6 39 ':'5d2 ':'xg3+ 40 Φfl, with good chances to save the game. 33 000 %tc2 34 %tbd4 ~Ι6 35 h3 Φe6 36 ':'bl ~e5 37 ':'bdl ~e6 38 %tbl (D)

1o. .. J.g7 without 11 J.d3 - White does notfiαnchetto 81

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38 ... Φd6?! And Black lets slip a generous reply. He should have played more decisively: 38...f3! 39 gf (if 39 g4, then 39....fl.g5 40 b4 h5, winning) 39 ....fl.xf3 40 .fl.bdl .fl.f5 41 .fl.4d2 .fl.xd2 42 .fl.xd2 .fl.f3 43 Φg2 .fl.xb3 -+. 39 b4 e3 Beliavsky's last chance for success lay ίη the move 39 ... f3. Now with exact play Adams achieves a peacefuloutcome. 40 fe fe .:.rn 41 .fl.d3 42 .fl.xe3 .fl.xg2+ 43 ΦhΙ .fl.xb2 44 .fl.dl .fl.g5 45 .fl.d4 .fl.e5 46 .fl.g3! .fl.el+ 47 .fl.gl .fl.e4 48 .fl.xe4 de 49 .fl.g4 Φe5 50 ΦgΙ .fl.xb4 .fl.b7 51 .fl.h4

52 Φα 53 Φe2 54 Φrι

Φd4

.fl.b2+ 1/2_1/2

Ιη the next game (iη which we sha11 discuss some move-order nuances) Κramnik hoped to achieve a comfortable game by making use of 13 ... lbe7, but a nasty surpήse awaited him...

Game 18 Ivanchuk - Kramnik Novgorod 1994 1 e4 c5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4 lbf6 5 lbc3 e5 6 lbdb5 d6 7 J.g5 a6 8lba3 b5 9 J.xf6 gf 10 lbd5 Ι5 11 ef J.xf5 12 c3 12 ... J.g7 13 lbc2 lbe7 (D) As regards the nuances of the position, the most precise move ίη our ορίηίοη is 13...0-0, and if 14 g3, then 14 ... J.e4. There remains 14lbce3 and then g2-g3, and other plans which are less popular at the present time. 14 J.d3! White may try 14 lbxe7, for example, 14...Φxe7 (14 ....xe7 15 .f3) 15 lbb4 Φf8 16 .f3 .c8 17 .d5 'iWb8 18 J.d3 J.d7 19.f3 a5 20 J.e4 .fl.a7 21 J.d5 f5 22lbc6 1-0 Adams-SandstrDm, London 1993. Black played better ίη Adams-Shirov, Khalkidhiki 1993: 14•..hc2

82 10... J.g 7 without 11 J.d3 - White does notfiαnchetto

(Typesetter's note: It ίδ worth mentioning that 14...e4 is bad after 15 ~e7 'ifxe7 16 J.xb5+ axb5 17 'ifd5 and White wins a pawn.) 15 J.xf5 ~e7 15...~f6 is ηοι proιnising, as it allows White to consolidate conclusively his hold οη f5, which has ηο less (if ηοΙ more) significance than d5, as it ίδ closer Ιο the enemy kίng.

W 15 'ifxc2 'ilxe7 16 J.e2 (16 a4 ο-ο!) 16...0-0 17 ο-ο d5 18 :fdl :fd8 19 1fb3 'iIc5 20 a4 ba 21 :xa4 a5 22 g3, and White had οηlΥ a ιninίmal advantage. Before this game White usually reacted to Black's transpositίon (13 ... ~e7 instead of 13 ...J.e6) by means of the standard 14 lLJce3, which led to a normal poδίtίoη from this varίatίon: 14...J.e6 15 g3 ~xd5 16 ~xd5 ο-ο 17 J.g2. Of course, this narrows down his possibilίtίes. After 13 ...J.e6 White can for the tίme being manage without 14 ~3 and straίght away develop his kίngside with g2-g3 and J.f1g2. Ivanchuk finds a tactίcal route and seeιninglyplaces Black's 14th move ίη doubt. 14 ~xd5?! Ofcourse,ifI4••.J.e6?!, then 15 J.e4, and white controls the central lίght squares.

16 'ifg4 ο-ο 17 :dl d5 18 ω Αη unexpected questίon arίses: how should Black caπy οη? There is the simple threat of 19 J.e4, and 18..Jla7 solves not a single problem ίη view of 19 ο-ο followed by :d l-d2 and :f1-dl. Therefore the following queen sacrifice ίδ practί cally forced. d4 18 ... 19 J.e4 Threatenίng the terrible 20 ~f5. 19 de 20 :xd8 ef+ :axd8 21 Wxf2 22 1fe2 Ι5 (D) Black seems to havecompensaιίοη, but Ivanchuk precisely and boldly plays to extίnguish the ίη itiatίve, and is left with a big material advantage. Now for Κram nik there remaίns οηlΥ the hope of a ιnistake by his opponent ίη the complίcatίons, and if he hadn't

lO... ~g7without 11 ~d3 - White does notfiαnchetto 83

decided upoo the sacήfice theo he would have eoded υρ ίο a strategically worse positioo with 00 prospects. ΒΥ cootiouiog iostead 22••Jιd6 23 ':dl ':fd8 24 ':xd6 ':xd6, he could have saved the queeoside, but oot the game.

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W 23 ~b7! ':d7 After 23•••lbg6 Black is deΡήved of couoterplay 00 the d-file, for example 24 ':d 1 lbf4 25 1Iic2 aod his positioo becomes absolutely hopeless. 24 ~xB6 ':fd8 25 'iVxb5 ':d2+ 26 ~g3 e4 (D) Black is oot helped by 26...lbg6 27 ':f1, e.g. 27 •••lbf4 28 ':xf4 ef+ 29 ~h3 with the idea of ~a6-b7f3, or 27•••e4 28 1Iib3+! ~h8 29 :Xf5 ~e5+ 30 ':xe5lbxe5 31 'iie6

+-. 27 ':el!

lbg6

W Why oot cootinue 27••..:8d3+? White cao reply 28 \Wxd3! ed (or 28 ... ~e5+ 29 <ith3 +-) 29 ':xe7 ':xb2 30 ~xd3, aod the eodgame, despite the preseoce of oppositecoloured bishops, is quite hopeless for Black. StήctΙΥ speakiog, 28 1Iixd3 also maiotaios all White's defences, but this had Ιο be foreseen eight moves previously ίη order Ιο evaluate the consequeoces of the apparently threatening queeo sacrifice! 28 ':e2 Now all becomes clear. ~e5+ 28 29 Φf2 ':dl 30 ':el! Α final precise move to a virtuoso defence. 30 ':8d2+ 31 Φf1 ':xel+ hg2 32 <itxel 33 ~c8 It's time for White ιο attack...

84 10... !ιi..[:7 without 11 !ιi..d3 - White does notfiαnchetto

33 34 35 36 37 38 39

Ι4

Jl..f5 Jl..xe4 a4 a5 a6 ~d2

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ι-ο Ιη

game, which started with the ... e6 move order).

fact Kramnik lost ση time (this was the 40th move ίη the

Conclusion Here as well, by choosing a precise move order, Black can look σρΙί mίstically Ισ the future. Ivanchuk's novelty is very interesting and ίη flicts a powerful blow ση one branch of this varίation.

8 10... f5 11 i..d3 Game 19 Beliavsky - Shirov Groningen 1993 1 e4 c5 2 ~f31Oc6 3 d4 cd 4 ~xd4 ~Ι6 5 ~c3 e5 6 ~db5 d6 7 .i.g5 a6 8 ~θ3 b5 9 .i.xf6 gf 10 ~5 Ι5 11 .i.d3 .i.e6 12 'ii'h5 :tg8 (D) The latest noνelty ίη this posiιίοη, although the theory is deνel oping so quickly that this one is beginning Ιο look quite old. Before this, the continuation 12 ... .i.g7 underwent all-round tests. Ιη the 1980s 12 ... f4 was also reνiνed, haνing preνiously been considered unsuccessful because of 13 g3.

W 13 g3

Other moνes will be exarnined subsequent games. ~d4 13 Ιη this position, which is ήch with chances for both sides, the following νariatίons are possible: a) 13...:tg5!? 14 'iί'xh7 .i.xd5 15 ed ~e7 (Timoshenko recommends 15 ... 'ii'a5+ 16 c3 b4 17 dc! 'ii'd5 18 .i.c4 'i!ke4+ 19 Wd2 :tg7 20 'iί'h4;t) 160-0-0 'iib6!? (but ηοΙ 16 ... e4 ? ! 17 .i.e2 'iί'b6 18 'iί'h4! :tg6 19 g4 f4 20 g5! f3 21 .i.n e3 22 :td3! e2 23 .i.h3 ± 'ii'a5 24 b4 'ii'a4 25 :txf3 a5 26 :tel ! ab 27 'ii'f4 f6 28 ~bl 'ii'xa2 29 .i.e6 with a decisiνe adνantage Ιο White, Τί moshenko-Rogozenko, Bucharest 1993) 17 :thf1!? (17 f4 :tg6 18 'ίWh3 e4 19 .i.e2 'ii'e3+ 20 :td2 .i.g7 + Pyda-Zeziulkίn, Poland 1993) 17 ...:tg6 18 'ί!kh3 e4 19 .i.e2 .i.g7 20 .i.h5 :th6 21 g4 'ii'c5 22 Wbl fg 23 'ii'xg4 .i.xb2 24 Wxb2 'ii'b4+ 25 Wal 'ίi'xa3 with a draw, ·according Ιο Zeziulkin's analysis. (Typesetter's note: 22 .... b4 wins a piece). b) Ιη the game Otsyko-Skrobek, Polanica 1992, Black played 13...:tc8 14 c3 :tg6!?, and following 15 'ji'f3! .i.xd5 16 ed e4 17 'ii'xf5 :tg5! 18 'ίi'f4! ed 19 dc :te5+ ίη

86 10.. .j511 ~ 20 ~f1 'ii'~6 21 'ii'f3 achieved a worse position. White found another route ΙΟ the advantage ίη Kasparov-Salov, Linares 1992, which contίnued l!lbc2 ':h6 16 1fe2! .i.xd5 17 ed lΔe7 18 f3.i.g7 19lDe3 [4 20 gf lDg6 21 O-O-O?;t (21 fe lLIf4 22 'iWd2 'iWh4+ 23 'it>dl ±).

But why should Black spend a tempo οη the apparently superfluous move 13 ...':c8? c) After 13••.:g6!? (D) White is at a cross-roads:

W cl) 14 ef?? .i.xd5 15 fg hg aπd 16....i.xhl. c2) 14 1fxh7:h6 15 'iWg8 :g6 with a perpetual attack οη Black's queen. c3) 140-0f4!?(thequeenonh5 tums ουΙ Ιο be unoccupied, all the more so as Black can therefore develop aπ attack with a tempo: 14...:h6!? 15 'iWdl f4).

c4) 140-0-0 lLId4 (this positίon could have arisen by transposiιίοη ίη Liong Zhinrang-Κinder mann, USA 1983, the moves of which were 12...lDd4 130-0-0 ':c8 {if 13 ...':g6, then we find ourselves ίη our positίon} 14 ΦbΙ fe 15 .i.xe4 b4! 161Dxb4':g517'ii'xh7 d5 18 .i.xd5 .i.xd5 191Dxd5 'ii'xd5 20 'iWd3 .i.xa3 21 'iWxa3 with aπ υη clear game) 15 ':d2 (Black threatened 15 ...':h6), and Black has some quite daπgerous contίnu atίons: 1!...bd! 16 ed and now 16...-th60r 16...'iWa5 with the idea of ...b5-b4 and ....a5xd5; 15 .. ':c8 is also quite possible, ίη analogy with the game above. Thus for the time being moving the kίng to either flank is quite dangerous; his opponent' s knight is concentratίng οη d4 with great effect. c5) 14 c3 .i.g7!? (14...:a7 is worse) and now (D):

lO...j5 11 J.d3 87 c51) 15 lί)c2 :h6! 16 'iVe2 (16 'iVf3 J.xd5 17 ed e4 18 'iVxf5 ed 19 dc dc -+) 16... J.xd5 17 ed ια7 with a good game for Black. c52) 15"f3 (forcing events, but Black is prepared) 15 ... J.xd5 16 ed lΔe7 (16 ... e4 17 'iVxf5 ed 18 dc 'iί'e7+ 19 ~f1 'iί'e2+ 20 ~g2 :f6 21 'iί'd7+ +-) 17 J.xf5 :f6 (ίι is precisely because of this variation that 14... J.g7 is necessary; the rook οη f6 must be defended from the threat of J.f5-d7+ and 'ίWf3xf6 - otherwise, οη general considerations one would prefer 14 ...:a7, since ίι is unclear where the bishop would be best placed) 18 g4lΔxf5 (18 ... ~f8!? 19 :gl J.h6 and οηlΥ then ... lΔe7xf5 and ...'iί'd8-d7 a1so deserves attention) 19 gf J.h6 20 :gl rl;e7 21 lΔc2 'ii'd7 22 lΔb4 'iί'xf5 23 lΔc6+ (23 'iί'xf5 :xf5 24 lΔc6+ ~f6) 23 ... Φf8! 24 'ii'xf5 :xf5 25 a4 :e8 with the idea of ... e5-e4-e3. Ιη this way, here Black has wonderful chances, while the white knight remains οη a3. The assessment of many lines ίη the Sveshnikov depends οη these factors: the knight οη a3, the d5-square, and the possibilίty of using the extra centra1 pawn. c53) 15 'ii'xh7 (there's ηο ροίηι ίη 10sing two whole tempi for one single pawn) 15 ... ~f8 16 'iWh5 :h6 17 'iί'e2 (17 'iVf3?? is ηο good:

17 ...J.xd5 18 ed e4 19 'iί'xί5 ed 20 dc 'iί'e7+ 21 ~f1 'ii'e2+ 22 ~g2 :f6, and Black wins) 17 ... J.xd5 18 ed ια7 with the idea of ...e5-e4. c54) 15 ο-ο f4!? (the standard 15 ...:h6 16 'ii'e2/dl J.xd5 17 ed lΔe7 is also possible; this is distinguished from the simίlar position with pawns οη f7, f5 and e5, which arises after other continuations, for example: 11 ...:g8 12 c3 J.xd5 13 ed lΔe7 14 g3 e4 15 J.e2 h6 16 f4! with an active position for the rook, and as a consequence, the possibilίty of ηοΙ hurrying with ... e5-e4, although ίη this case as well after 16 ... b4 17 cb 'ii'b6, Black has dίs tinct counterplay; besides this line, 16... ef is worth looking at) 16 'ii'e2 lΔe7!? (with the ideaof 17 ...J.xd5 18 edf5) 17lΔχe7Φχe7!, andafter ... 'ii'd8-b6 and ... h7-h5 Blackhas a head start ίη developing an initiative. c55) 15 0-0-0 :h6 16 'iί'e2 (16 'ii'f3 J.xd5 17 ed 'iί'g5+!? 18 ~bl can be met by 18 ... e4 19 'ίWe2 ιαs, or alternatively 18 ... ια7; the black knight is, of course, more active οη e5, but from e7 ίι exerts pressure οη theimportantd5-pawn) 16 ...J.xd5 (16 ... ~f8!?; 16...:c8!?) 17edια7, and, as we a1ready know, Black has an excellent game; ίη the same manner, 13 ...:g6!? is an interesting move, but unfortunately ίι has yet Ιο undergo practica1 tests.

88 10.. .j5 11 .id3

d) 13ooJtg4 14 f4 (14 h3 fe 15 hg ed 16 ~3 d5 17 cd 'iWa5+ 18 Wt1 'iWd2 +; 14lOe3 fe 15lL\g4 ed 16 cd lL\d4! +; 14 ί3 ':g6 15 'ifh4 'iWxh4 16 gh .ixd5 17 ed lL\e7 -+ Brustman- Κramnik, Groningen 1991) 14... ef (14 ... ..ig7 15 c3 b4 16lL\c2 bc 17 lL\xc3 ef 18 ef ':g5 was unclear ίη Magem Badals-I.Sokοlον, Barcelona 1992) 15 ο-ο-ο!? (15 gf .ig7 160-0-0 .ixd5 17 ed iί'f6 with initiatiνe Ιο Black; 15 lL\xf4 ':xf4!? 16 gf 'iWf6 17 c3 b4 18 lL\c2 bc 19 b3 with a slight plus for White ίη Timoshenko-Κrasen koν, Voskresensk 1992) 15 ... fg?! (15 ....ixd516edlL\e517.:hel.ig7 with an unclear game; 15 ... fe!? 16 .ixe4 fg 17 lbf6+ 'iWxf6 18 .ixc6+ Φd8 19 .ixa8 20 c3 .ih6+ 21 ΦbΙ 'iWxc3 with compensation for the missing material) 16 ef':h4 17

:b4

ιbc7+Φd718fe+Wχc719'ifχf7+ Φb6! 20 hg 'iVg5+ 21 ~bl ':xhl?!

(21 ...'iWxg3;1;;) 22':xhl?! (22 'iWf2+ 'iWc5 23 'iWxc5+ dc 24 ':xh 1 ;1;;) 22 ... d5!? 23 ':xh7 .ie7 24 .f2+ .ic5 25 'iVf1 .ixa3 26 ba Ζοη takh-Manik, Bratislaνa 1994. The continuation ίη the actual game giνes evidence Ιο the fact that Shiroν is trying Ιο make use of the weakness ofWhite 's light squares. Ιι is interesting that preνiously they were thought weak for Black. As subsequent events show, this was the couect assumption. Beliaνsky,

as Black, simply could ηοι hold οη Ιο the means of using the weakness of the light squares. Now we retum Ιο the position after 13 ...lL\d4 (D):

W 14 c3 fe 15 .ixe4 .ig4 16 iVxh7 16 ii'h4? is certainly wrong after 16 ... lL\f3+ 17 .ixf3 iVxh4 18 gh .ixf3 19 lL\f6+ 'it>d8 20 lL\xg8 .ixh 1 and Β lack has the better endgame. ':g7 16 17 iVh6 17 'iWh8 lL\f3+ 18 'it>e2 lL\g5+ 19 f3 lL\xe4 20 fg is ηοΙ clear. Beliaν sky obviously paid attention Ιο the paradoxical king move ίη this νaή ation giνen by Kloνans. 17 .. ο lL\f3+ (D) 18 'it>e2! lη the event of the natural continuation 18 Φη ':g5 (18 ....:g6!? 0.0

10. ..f5 11 J.d3 89

22.f3 'it'xf3+ 23 rj;xf3 fS 24 lbc2 24 c4!? is a1so interesting. Φf7 24 2S lbce3 (D)

W 19 'ife3 ~h6 20 'ifd3 lbd2+ 21 <ϊt.>g2 lbxe4 22 "xe4, and Black has compensation for the sacή ficed pawn ίη view of his bishop pair and strong central pawns) 19 lbf6+ rj;e7 (19 ... 'ίWxf6? 20 ~c6+! Φe7 21 'ifxf6+ Wxf6 22 ~xa8 +Klovans-Taborov, Kaluga 1985) 20 'ifh8 lbd2+ 21 Φg2 lbxe4 22 lbxe4 :g6 23 'ifh4+ <iStd7 24 'iVxd8+ :xd8 25 f3 ~e6 26 :hdl Wc7 Black's position is also quite satisfactory, Magem-Zsu.Polgar, Madήd 1992. 18 ••• lbg5+ 18••':g6 19 1i'e3 ~h6 20 'ifb6 is ηοΙ the road to happiness. 19 f3 lbxe4 'iνc8! 20 fg 21 'it'e3! 21 :&f1 1!fxg4+ 22 ΦeΙ is suspicious, as is 21 rj;d3 .xg4 22 :ael lbf2+ 23 rj;d2 .f3 with a mighty attack. 21 •••

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~ u ~ U~ ~.' ~ ~Φ~ U • .~ ~ Δ" α Β

• .:

2S ••• Φe6? It is ηοΙ clear whether Black has sacrificed a pawn or simply missed thίs. Ιn any case 2s...lbf6! was more reliable, followed by 26 a4 lbxd5 27lbxd5 Φe6 28 :hdl :b8 29 b4 a5! 30 ba ba 31 :xa4 :b2 with the idea after 32 a6? of continuing 32...:xh2 33 a7 e4+ 34 Φe3 Φe5! with unavoidable mating threats, as analysed by Beliavsky. 26 lbxfS lbg5+ 27 rj;g4 :f7 28 :hfi Another, perhaps better, possibίlity was 28 lί)de3 lί)e4 29 :hfl. 28 ... lbe4

90 lO.. ,J5 1 1 .td3 29 IΣadl?! (D) would haνe been better Ιο unleash the knight a lίttle more quickly fίrst: 29 ll)fe3 ':'aa7 30 ciιh3 .*.h6 3 Ι ciιg2 ±. Ιι

38 Wg2

':'c7

Ιι would haνe been worth retum-

ing Ιο the b-fίle with 38....:.b7. 39 ':'bl! (D)

.· -..•••• ••

•• ••• 8 _~8 • • •8Δ~ Ρ R_ •~ ~• •• u Δ8 • 8Φ8 .:8 8 8 Β Β

29 ••• ':'aa7? 29••.:td8! would haνe been a more stubborn defence, with the idea after ll)dS-e3 of replying ...d6dS and ....*.f8-c5 - Shίroν. 30 ll)de3 :tad7 31 ciιf3 d5 32 g4! With the help of tactics White maintains the f5-knight ίη a νery strong position. .*.c5 32 ••• 33 h4 ll)f6 Otherwise he cannot carry ουΙ ...dS-d4. 34 .:.ιeΙ b4 35 ':'eZ bc 36 bc .*.xe3 37 :txe3 ll)e4

The rest is easy. 39 ••• ':'b7 40 ':'b3 ll)d2 41 ':'xb7 :txb7 42 ':'e2 ll)bl 43 ':'c2 ll)a3 44 m ll)bl 45 ρ?! 45 h5 is stronger; 45 ... ll)xc3 46 h6 d4 47ll)g7+ We7 48 h7 ':'b8 49 ll)f5+ We6 50 g5 ~ 51 g6 +-. 45 ••• ll)xc3 46 g6 ':'d7? The fίna1 chance for sa1νation lay ίη 46....:.b8 47 g7ll)e4 48:tf3 ll)f6 49 ciιh3 ':'bl or 46... ll)e4 47 g7ll)f6! straight away. ciιf7 47 g7 48 h5 ciιg8 49 h6 Wh7

10.. ./5 11 JA3 91

Αη

50 ω! 1-0 important game for theory.

The following game became fundamental to the reappraisal of the νalue of the νariation with 13 0-0-0. Black braνely takes the g2pawn, and although White uses a νery cleνer noνelty, its refutation is indeed thunderous.

of fashion. The following altematiνes haνe been tested: a) 13 c3 1:txg2 14 "'f3 1Ig4 15 ef .txd5 16 "'xd5 lΩe7 17 'tWb7 -*.h6 (l7 ......c8!?) and then (D):

Game20 Brodsky - Kramnik

Kherson 1991 1 e4 c5 2 lΩf3 lΩc6 3 d4 cd 4 lΩxd4lΩf6 5 ω eS 6lΩdb5 d6 7 .*.g5 a6 8 lΩa3 b5 9 '*'xf6 gf 10 ιαt5 fS 11 .td3 .te6 12 'ifh5 1Ig8

(D) 13 0-0-0

W al) 18 Μ Wf8! 19 %:tdl (19 lΩe3! -*.xe3 20 fe lΩg8 21 f6! lΩxf6 22 :'f1 1Ib8 23 e4 24 "'xf6 "'xf6 25 1Ixf6 ed 26 0-0-0) 19 ...:'b8! 20 1If4 21 "'h3 -*.g5 22 lΩe3 e4 :j: Luther-Shiroν, Germany 1992. a2) 18 f6lΩg6 19 1IdllΩh4 20 .te2 1Ig6 21 "'c6+ Φf8 22 :'xd6 "'e8 23 _xe8+ ~xe8 24 .td3 ± Van der Wiel-Reinderman, Brussels Ζ 1993. b) 13 ο-ο f4! 14 c4? b4 151Ωc2 -*.g4 16 _xh7 1Ig6 17 h3 -*.f3 18 _xg6 fg 19 gf 1Ia7 -+ SmaginYurtaeν, Hartberg 1991. 13 ••• 1:txg2! Braνely taking υρ the challenge! The less energetic 13•• JΣc8 led

"'f3

W This moνe and 13 g3, examined aboνe, are the main continuations. 13 Ι4 and 13 c4 haνe both gone ουΙ

92 10.. ./5' 1 .td3 after 14 ~~1 h6 15 'ilt'e2 lDd4 16 "'el fe 17 JLxe4 f5 18 ':xd4 fe 19 "'xe4':g4 20 f4':c5 21 g3 rJi;f7 22 :d2 \lfa8 23 ':hdl ef 24 :e2 :g6 25 'ilt'xf4+ to a winning position for White ίη Dνoirys-Kalinicheν, Berlin 1992. Black could haνe gained reasonable chances for success ίη Morgado-Miloνanoνic, cοπ 1991, where he employed 13...h6 with the idea of capιuring the white queen (14 ... fe and 15 ....tg4). The encounter continued thus: 14 h3 ':c8 15 f4 ':xg2 16 'ikf3 ':g8? 17 ef lDd4 18 .txb5+! ab 19 ':xd4 ed 20 fe ':g6 (20 ... fe 21 'ifh5+ rJi;d7 22 'iWf7+ .te7 23lDf6+ rJi;c6 24lDxg8 +-) 21lDxb5 'it'a5 22 f5 ':g5 23 h4 d3 24lDdc3!, and White won. But if Milovanovic had played instead 16 ... ':g7!, then White's combinaιίοη, had play proceeded ίη the same way, would ηοΙ have worked because of 20... fe, for example 21 'ilt'e2 rJi;f7 22 ':el ':g6 with a distinct advantage for Black.

Ι4

The capture οη g2 is considered dangerous for Black precisely because of this continuation. After 14 '8'f3 ':g4! 15 ef .txd5 161i'xd5 (16 'ilt'xg4 .txh 1 17 ':xh 1 d5 is a1so good for Black) 16... lDb4 18 'iWb7 ':b8 White's affairs are ίη a sorry state. lDd4 (D) 14 ...

15 lDe3 If15 :Jιgl, then 15 ...fe 16 ':xg2 ed, and White has a bad position, while the game Κindermann-Skro bek, Warsaw 1983, continued 15 c31i'a5(15 ....txd516edb4! 17cb 'iWb6 allows White a strong initiative) 16 rJi;bl .txd5 17 ed b4 18 lbc4 ':xb2+ 19 rJi;xb2 bc+ 20 rJi;al 'iWa4 and then 21 ':bl? 'iWxc4! led Ιο a winning position for Black (22 .txc4 walks ίηΙο 22 ... lDc2#). However, by playing 21 fe!? lDb3+ 22 rJi;bl ':b8 23 e6! lDd4+ and then 24 rJi;al White, according Ιο Κiη dermann's analysis, could have held on, but ίη the eνent of 24 rJi;cl .th6+! 25 'iWxh6? \lfc2+! 26.txc2 lDe2# he is mated ίη really beautiful style. The variation is ηοΙ totally convincing, but the main thing is the move ....tf8-h6. and the idea connected with ίι of giνing smothered mate had already been found!

10.. .j5 11.td3 93

There is one other interesting analysis; he also shows this variation: 15 lL\e3 :f2 16 ef .txa2 with the idea of ...:a8-c8 and ... lL\d4-b3#. Now ίι only remains Ιο unite these two ideas, which Κramnik does bήΙ liantly. Βυι why did Brodsky go ίηΙο a vaήatίοn which ended (according Ιο Κindermann' s analysis) with the symbol -+? The factis that he had prepared an interesting tactical blow ... thus: :f2 15 16 ef .txa2 17 fe After 17 lL\g4 Black can carry ουΙ hίs plan immedίately: 17 ...':'c8 and ... lL\b3#. 17 ••• de 17••..:.c8 is premature due Ιο 18 .txb5+ lL\xb5 19 lL\xb5 ab 20 ed with an unclear game. 18 lL\xb5!? (D) ΡοίηΙ ίη Κindennann's

This is what Brodsky had prepared. One gets the impression that White, who is better mobilized, has seized the initiative. After the natural 18•••ab 19 .txb5 lL\xb5 20 :xd8+ :'xd8 21 f6 his position is more promising. 18 ••• .th6!! After White's noνelty comes a mίghty counterblow, whίch decides the outcome of the duel. 19 :'hel We already know the theme of theline 19 'ίWxh6? :Xc2+ 20 lL\xc2 lL\b3#, or 20.txc2lL\e2#. ab (D) 19

W 20 .txb5+ Again, not 20 'ifxh6 because of 20 ... .tc4, and misfortune reaches Whίte from the other side. 20 ••• rJi;e7 21 'ίWh4+ 21 'ίWxh6 still does ηοΙ work due Ιο 21 ....:.xc2+. 21 f6+:txf6 22

94 1O.. .j5 11 ~d3

"'xeS+ :e6 23 "'c5+ 'ild6 -+ is ΠΟ good either. 21 ••• Ι6 22 'Vxn .if7 ΑΙΙ the black pieces are taking part ίπ the attack, and moreover the queen and rook are doing so withουΙ moving from their places.

~bl

'ila5 (D)

23 ii.d3 (D) If 23 b3, then 23 ...'iί'a5 24.ia4 'iί'c3 25 :d3 lαιb3+ 26 ~dl W+!. The mobility of this bishop, which creates threats ίο every comer of the board, is amaziog.

26 lbdS+ The abuodance of pretty mating finales which are possible ίη the different variations ofthis game is simply startling. Ιη particular, if 26 lbc2, then 26 ...:al + 27 lbxal 'ila2#. .ixdS 27

28 'ilxd4

23 ••• "iib6 24 .ie4 24 c3 :al+ 25 .ibl .ia2 also

10ses. 24 This is a more exact move thao 24••':al+ 25 ~d2 'iWb4+ 26 ~d3, when a straightforward win is οοΙ ίη evidence. 24 c4 .ixc4

:al+

29 ι;ι;.c2 Jbdl The prosaic 29•••ed 30 .ixd5+ 'ilxel was also possible, but Κram nik prefers to continue the game to mate. 30 'ii'xdl 'ila4+

31 ~c3 Ο-Ι Ιη general the Sveshnikov produces a high percentage ofbeautiful games. We think that this is because conflicting play very often arises within it, and sometimes it is

10.. .j5 11 .td3 95

only possible ιο gain a conclusion ίη such sharp conflicts at the expense of tactical decisions. And if one side does ηοι manage or allow such possibilities, then retήbutiοn will ηοΙ be slow ίη coming. Now we will examine the moves that were popular ίη the early days of this vaήation - ... 0-0 and ... f5f4. These days they still cannot complain of a lack of attention by chess players. Game21 Timoshenko - ZeziuIkin Wαrsαw 1992 1 e4 c5 2 ~f3 ~c6 3 d4 cd 4 ~xd4 ~Ι6 5 lLJc3 e5 6 lLJdb5 d6 7 ~g5 a6 8lLJa3 b5 9 ~XΙ6 gf 10 lLJd5 Ι5 11 ~d3~e6 12 "'h5 1994 game, G.Kuzmin-ZeziυΙΙάη, tested the altemative 12 c3, νίΖ. 12....tg7 13 lLJxb5 .txd5 14 ed lLJe7 15lLJa3 e4 16 .tc2lLJg6 17 "'h5 "'f6 18 h41:tb8 19 lα4 1:txb2 20 .ta4+ ~f8 21 ο-ο lLJf4 22 "'g5 "'xg5 23 hg and the game ended peacefully. 12 ••• ~g7 13 ο-ο Ι4 After 13•• .1:tb8 14 c4 fe 15 ~xe4 lLJe7161:tadllLJg617f4efl8lLJxf4 'iVb6+ 19~hllLJxf4 201:txf4 White has the advantage, Kruppa-Muraviev, Alushta 1994. Α

14 c4 (D)

The most ΡήncίΡΙed and dangerous move ίη this vaήation. ΒΥ ηοΙ giving away any breathing space, White immediately strengthens his mastery of the light squares. bc 14 ••. 14••• b4 does ηοΙ change the assessment of the position, which is unpromising for Black, who lacks counterplay. Thipsay-Chowdury, Calcutta 1994, continued: 15lLJc2 1:tb8 16 b3 (16 1:tfdl straight away is alSO good) 16... 0-0 17 1:tfdl "'d7 18 ~e2 f5 19 ~f3 fe 20 .txe4 .tf5 21 'ife2 f31 22 gf .txe4 23 fe 1:tf7 24 1:td3 1:tbf8 25 1:tn1:tf3 26 'ii'xf3 1:txf3 27 1:txf3 "'g4+ 28 1:tg3 +-. 15 ~xc4 It is important to keep the pieces ίη control of d5, so moving the knight Ιο c4 is best left for a more aΡΡrΟΡήate moment. Furthermore, after the invasion of the knight onto

96 10.. .j5 11 i.d3

d4, White"s knight route alters (llJa3-c2).

ο-ο

Maintaining all the possibilities for the knight here: ... llJd4, ... llJe7 or even ... llJa5. Is •••lDd4 has independent significance; 16 ':acl ':c8!? (D) is an interesting idea by Filipenko:

W a) The game Osipov-Kozyrev, Cheliabinsk 1991, continued 17 ~xθ6 .:xc 1 18 ':xc 1 ο-ο 19l1Jb5!? llJxb5 20 ~xb5 ~xd5 21 ed f5 22 ~a6 'iί'f6 23 ':c8 e4 24 ':xf8+ ~xf8 25 h3 e3 =. Α strong passed pawn and opposite-coloured bishops ensure that Black will escape trouble. b) 17llJb6!? is a stronger idea: 17 ....:xc4!? (17 ... ~xc4 is ηο good: 18 llJaxc4 ':b8 19 llJd5 ο-ο 20 ~h 1 f5 21 f3 ± Arsenev-Filipenko, Κharkov 1980) 18llJaxc4 ο-ο with the idea of ... f7-f5, developing an

initiative οη the kingside; but Ιο be honest, we, unlike Filipenko, are ηοΙ yet convinced that Black has enough compensation for the exchange after 19 'iί'd 1. 16 ':acl (D) Creating the threat of 17 llJxf4, for example, 16....:&7 17 llJxf4 ef 18 ~xe6 tΔe7 19 ~c4llJg6 20 ':c2 ':e7 21 ~d5 ':e5 and White has an extra pawn, although Black does have some counterplay, DobsaWefling, cοπ 1990-1.

16 Black eΧΡeήences greater problems after 16 ... llJd4 17llJc2llJxc2 18 ':xc2 ~h8 19 ':fc 1 ':c8, e.g. 20 b4 a5 21 a3 ab 22 ab ':b8 23 ~d3 'iί'd7 24 b5 'iia7 25 b6 'iί'a5 26 g3 fg 27 hg h6 28 g4! ':g8 29 llJe7 'iί'xb6 30 llJxg8 ':xg8 31 ~c4 +Ulybin-Ju.Nun, Sochi 1988, or20 ':c3 a5 21 ':d 1 h6 22 'iί'e2 ':c5 23 a3 f5 24 b4 ab 25 ab ':c6 26 b5 ':c5

10.. .j5 11 i.d3 97 27 i.a2 'ika5 28 :'xc5 dc 29 lΔe7 i.xa2 30 lΔg6+ Wg8 31 lΔxf8 +Pedzich-Wehmeier, Miedzybrodzie Zyw., 1991. It is obvious that exchanging the strong d4-knight for the knight οη a3 is ηο good for Black, and goes against the spirit of the variation. 'iid7 17 b3 Black has tried ιο avoid moving his queen and exchange straight away οη d5, but without success: 17•••i.xdS 18 i.xd5lΔb4 19 :'fdl ± lΔxa2 (otherwise White will play the simple 20 :'d2) 20 :'c6 'ike7 21 lΔc4 lΔb4 22 :'xd6 lΔxd5 23 :'6xd5 :'xb3 24 lΔd6 h6 25 h4 :'fb8 26lΔf5 'ikf8 27 'iig4 :'bl 28 lΔxh6+ Φh7 29lΔf5 i.f6 30 :'xbl :'xbl + 31 Φh2 :'b7 32 :'d6 i.g7 33 :'d8 1-0 Wolff-Bronstein, Wijk aan Zee 1992. Recently 17.....aS (D) has become popular:

a) 18 lΔbl 'i1i>h8 19 :'fdl! (19 a3?! 'iid8! 20lΔxf4?ef21 i.xe6fe 22 :'xc6 f3 23 g3 :'xb3 -+ ErnstTimoshchenko, Tbilisi 1988; 19 lΔbc3 f5 20 %:tfdl :'be8? 21 %:td3 fe 22lΔxe4 i.f5 23 lΔdf6! i.xf6 {or 23 ... i.g6 24 'ίWxg6 i.xf6 25 %:th3 +-} 24 'iί'xf5 lΔd4 25 'ίi'h5 'iί'd8 26 :'h3 %:te7 27 i.d3 ± MarecekSturk, cοπ 1990) 19 ... lΔd4 (both the planned 19 ... f5 20 lΔxf4! ef 21 i.xe6 lΔd4 22 i.xf5 lΔxf5 23 lΔd2!, and 19... 'ikxa2 20 lΔbc3 'ίi'b2 23 lΔa4 'ifa2 22lΔdc3 'iί'a3 23 lΔbl with the idea of 24 i.xe6 and 25 %:txc6 are bad; a question suggests itself - why play 17 ... 'ika5, since one cannot take the a2pawn, and ίt moves the knight away more quickly from a31) 20 lΔbc3 f5?! (20 ... f3!? is a standard blow with the knight οη d4) 21 tΔe7! i.xc4 22lΔg6+ Φg8 23 tΔe7+ Φh8 24 bc %:tf6 25 lΔxf5 lΔxf5 26 ef%:tg8? 27lΔe4:h6 28lΔxd6! 1-0 Vavarin-Cherniaev, Moscow 1992. b) 18 lΔc2?! 'ikxa2!? 19 'ikdl 'it'a5 20 %:tal 'ίi'c5 21 %:txa6 Φh8 22 lΔellΔd4 23lΔd3 (White plays ιοο many knight moves) 23 ... 'ifc8 24 %:txd6 f3! with a powerful attack for Black, Todorovic-Timoshchenko, Pula 1988. c) 18 i.d3!? lΔb4 (ίη the amusing Κoch-Κasparov, Evry sim 1988, the World Champion continued 18 ... lΔd4 19 lΔc2 lΔb5 20 tΔe7+

98 10...j5 11 J..d3 ~h8 21l2Jc6 'ί'ixa2 22l2J2b4 'ii'xb3 23 l2Jxb8 :x.b8 24l2Jxa6 'iί'xd3 25

l2Jxb8 and after 26 ... l2Jd4 he later confused his opponent and won, but had Ιο give υρ Ιοο much material for the initiative) 19l2Jc4 1t'd8 (19 ... W'xa2 20 l2Jxb4 :xb4 21 :al 'iWxb3 22 :a3 ±) 20 l2Jxb4 :xb4 21 :fdl :b7 (the interesting brief skirmish after 21 ... a5!? 22 J..e2 a4 23lDxd6 ab 24 ab J..xb3 25 :d3 J..e6 26 l2Jxf7 J..xf7 27 :xd8 J..xh5 28 :xf8+ J..xf8 29 J..xh5 :xe41ed Ιο a complete exhaustion of forces ίη Liss-Cesarsky, Tel Ανίν 1991) 22 J..e2 :d7 23 J..g4 (23 g3!?) 23 ... f5 24 J..f3 with a small advantage Ιο White, C.Horvath-Nosko Koivisto, Haifa 1989. Therefore, following 17 ... 'ii'a5, White has the better prospects after both 18l2Jbl and 18 J..d3!? It is characteήstic for White, ηοΙ paying any attention Ιο the small 10ss οη the queenside, ιο try Ιο create threats against the king via the centre. The appearance οη the kingside of perhaps one piece Ιο aid the queen is often enough for an unstoppable attack - indeed the lίght squares ίη the black camp are ηοΙ adequately defended. We return Ιο the main line after 17.....d7 (D): 18 'ifh4 Ιη this position as well, several continuations have been tested:

.·••.,.•-•••• •••• •• •• ., •• •

~ .ί.. .~. ."'l.J~.,,~ _\Ulι ..ι.Δ.

~Δ.

Δ& & • •

•

.:=

~(~ΔP!'~ /.!'< %!'<

W a) 18 'it'g5 J..xd5!? (18 ... f6 has gone ουΙ of fashion) 19 J..xd5 l2Jb4 20 :fdl l2Jxa2 21 :c6 ιιPh8 22 l2Jc4 l2Jc3 23 :xd6 'ii'b5 24 :f1 'it'xb3 and now White must avoid 25 l2Je3? 'i!i'bl! 26 h3 (there is ηο time for 26 l2Jf5?? because of the reply 26 ... 'ii'xf1 +! mating) 26 ... fe 27 :xbl :xbl+ 28 <tιh2 ef29 :d8 f1'it' 30 :xf8+ J..xf8 31 'iWxe5+ 0-1 Koch-Podlesnik, Manila 1992. White did ηοΙ fall ίηΙο that trap ίη the game Prasad-Saveen, Calcutta 1994. However, after 25 l2Jxe5 l2Jxd5 (if 25 ... 'iWbl now, then 26 g3) 26 :xd5 f6 27 l2Jg6+ hg 28 'iWxg6 :b5 29 'iWh5+ ιιPg8 he also achieved a 10st position. b) 18 :fdl (a more popular continuation) 18••• Φh8 19 'it'h4 (Black overlooked a typical tactical blow ίη this vaήatίοn after 19 h3l2Jd4 20 l2Jc2l2Jxc2 21 :xc2 f5 22 f3 :bc8?! 23 :dcl 'iWd8? 24 l2Jxf4! ef 25 J..xe6 :xc2 26 :xc2

10.. j5 11 .i.d3 99 'ii'a5 27 :e2 ~d4+ 28 Φh2 winning ίη Pereida-Charushin, cοπ Wch f 1989) 19....txd5 (19 ... f5!? 20 tbxf4!? ef 21 .i.xe6 'ii'xe6 22 :xc6 fe 23 :cxd6 'tWe8! 24 :d7 {24 tbc4 is possible} 24 ... e3 25 "ilie7 ef+ 26 ~xf2 'tWg6 with an active position for the pawn, BlankMrkvicka, cοπ 1990) 20 ~xd5 (D):

bl) 20...tbd4 21 :c4! f5 22 tbc2 :bc8 (22 ... fe) 23 tbxd4 ed 24 'tWxf4 fe 25 :xc8 'ii'xc8 26 "ii'xe4, and Black could not solve his problems, Emst-BergstrDm, 1989. b2) 20...tbb4 21 :d2 f5 22 tbc4 (22 'ίih3 tbxd5 23 :xd5 "ilib7 24 "ilif3 fe 25 'ίWxe4 f3! + MarkovicNurkic, Pula 1990) 22 ... tbxd5 23 :xd5 fe 24 :xd6 "ilif5 25 h3 h5 26 We7 e3 28 fe fe 28 :d7 ~f6 29 tbxe3 'tWe4 30 'tWc5 .i.g5 31 tbd5! 'ii'f5 32 tbe7! Wxd7 33 1!Ixe5+ ~h7 34 'iVxg5 with an attack, RenetKorchnoi, Lugano ορ 1988.

c) 18 ~d3: cl) 18...tbb4!? 19 tbxb4 :xb4 20 1!Ie2 f5 (20 ... d5!?) 21 tbc4 fe 22 'ίWxe4 ~f5? (22 ... .i.h6!? {with the idea of 23 ...f3} 23 \i'f3 with an υη clear game) 23 "'d5+ Φh8 24 :fd 1 f3!? 25 'tWxd6 'ίWxd6 26 tbxd6 ± Kovalev-Granik, USSR 1988. c2) Insofar as 18 ~d3 contradicts the idea of control1ing d5 with pieces, ίι is probably worth inflicting a bΙόw οη ίι: 18... ιath8 19 :rdl Ι5!? (Black is already threatening ιο play 19 ....i.xd5) 19 ef iιxd5 20 f6 ~xf6 21 ~f5 'ilg7 22 :d5 tbe7 23 :c7 (23 :xd6? tbxf5 24 "ii'xf5 ~e7) 23 ...:g8! 24 g3 tbxd5 25 :xg7 :.xg7 ~. d) 18 :c3!? ~xd5 19 ~xd5 tbb4?! 20:dl tbxa2?! 21 :h3 h6 22 tbc4 Φh7 23 g4! ± RogalewiczRzepecki, cοπ 1993-4. Now we return ιο the main line after 181Wh4 (D):

100 10.. β 11 ~d3 18 ~xd5 19 Jι.xd5 lL1b4 20 1tcdl!? Ιί 20 :fdl, then White should make one more rook move after 20 ... lL1xa2. His best bet is Ιο bring the knight ίηΙο the battle οη c4 straίght away. 20 lL1xa2 21 li)c4 lL1c3 22 :d3 (D) 00_

that 20 :Cdl allows the vaήatίon to be determined ίη White's favour. 24 g3! f3 Forced, as otherwise the open gfile is deadly for Black. :bc8 25 lL1d2 26 lL1xf3 'ifb5 (D) After exchanging the enemy knight White clearly has the strategica11y won positίon for whίch he must strive ίη simίlar situatίons. Therefore Black decides to sacrifice the exchange.

.... _•• ....- .•••••• • • .ι_ι ι •• -~ ~ •• ~ ••~ ~ ~-

••.

-Δ ••

~ ~

~"~ ~ u u

~ ~ .Δ.:.~D

Threatening 23lL1xd6 when the knight is hanging, and furthermore 23 ... lL1xd5 is ηο good due Ιο 24 :xd5 :xb3 25lL1xd6 with the idea of lL1d6-f5 (the game is remίniscent ofWolff-Bronstein), but Black has ηο alternatίve ... 22 lL1e2+ 23 ~hl lL1d4 Thus the bishop οη d5 remaίns the lord and master of the lίght squares. The lίvelίer knight does not threaten ίι One can establίsh 000

.:.φ

27 28 29 30

~c4

:xc4 bc 1i'xc4 :fdl lL1xf3 :xf3 Whίte has a won positίon, but now tίme trouble starts to interfere with the battle. But a11 the same, it is Black who will make the final blunder. 30 d5 31 ed?!

10. ..j5 11 Jid3 101

The cold-blooded 31 :el would have left Black ηο hope whatsoever. 31 'ίi'e2 32 :fd3 e4 33 :3d2 'it'f3+ 34 <itgl Jic3 35 'it'g5+ <ith8 36 d6 Jixd2 37 'it'xd2 Black has won back the exchange, but his position remains difficult, indeed the d-pawn has held ουΙ 37 :d8 38 'iWd4+ Iitg8 (D)

The time scramble is over, and Timoshenko lets ηο more chances escape. 'ίi'dl+ 41 'it'f3+ 42 Iitg2 43 Iith3 h5 44 :c3! 'iWg4+ 45 Φg2 'it'g6 46 d7 1-0 If we look at the statίstίcs of thίs variation, then White has a big advantage. Ιη this very game all the visible difficulties are for Black, who must seek new routes. Good luck Ιο him! Another plan involves White beginning by castling short. One should note that ίη this game two Sveshnikov experts met. Game22 Dolmatov - Chekhov Bundesligα 1992 1 e4 c5 2 lΩf3 lΩc6 3 d4 cd 4lΩxd4 lΩΙ6 5 lΩc3 e5 6 lΩdb5 d6 7 Jig5 a6 8 lΩa3 b5 9 Jixf6 gf 10 lΩd5 Ι5

39 ':cl? Of course, White could win by 39 d7. 'ifd3 39 ..• 40 'it'e5 'ίi'd2? Ιι is Black's turn Ιο astonish. Why didn't he take the d6 pawn? 41 :c6!

11 Jid3Jie6 12 ο-ο (D) Jixd5 12 lΩe7 13 ed 14 c3 The actίve 14 c4 gives Black good counterchances, for example, 14.•.e4 15 Jie2 Jig7 161Wd2 bc 17 lΩxc4 ο-ο 18 :adl ':b8 19 'iff4

102 10...15 11 i.d3

':b5! with equality, Novik-Κram nik, Leningrad 1991, or possibly 14•••i.g7 15 cb e4 16 i.c4 i.xb2 17 ba i.xal?! (it's obviously ηοΙ worth accepting the sacrifice; the quiet 17 ... 0-0 is better) 18 ~xal, and Black fell foul to a dangerous attack ίη Brustman-Arakhamia, Debrecen wom Echt 1992. The even more aggressive 14 ~xb5 is also totally harmless for Black. After 14... i.g7 15 ~c3 e4 16 i.c4 Zsuzsa Polgar twice ίη the same toumament received a promising position as Black against prominentgrandmasters: 16.••'iWa5 17 ~e2 ':c8! 18 i.b3 i.xb2 19 ':bl i.e5! Anand-Zsu.Polgar,Munich 1991; 16•••~g6! 17 'iWh5 i.xc3 18 bc 'ίi'f6 19 f4 ο-ο 20 i.b3 ':fc8 + Nunn-Zsu.Polgar, Munich 1991. 14 ••. i.g7 15 'i'h5 'iWd7 (D) Chekhoν's attempt ΙΟ improνe the variation. The otherwise used

15•••e4 16 i.c2 ο-ο (16 ......a5? 17 ':ael! ':a7 18 ΦhΙ i.xc3 19 bc 'ίWxa3 20 i.b3 'i'b2, Zso.PolgarΚramnik, Guarapuava 1991, could have led Ιο a large advantage for White after 21 'iWh6!) 17 ':ael ':c8?! 18 i.b3! ':c5 19 ~c2 'tWd7 20 ο! a5 21 a3 ef22 'iWxf3 i.e5 23 g3! is clearly ίη Whίte's favour because of the chronic weakness of Black's kingside, Koνalev-Palac, New Isenburg 1992.

--1.. •_.-_--_ "... -••~ •

8\1Uι-.ι.-.ι.

~.-

.ι..Δ

• .ι. ...

fQ;: ~ ~iι.

~ u

~~:{f; ΔD ~~ /'~ ,,~

'f!~!{i>ii ~ -~~

~;t;

~B;: ':{f; Δ ~B':{f; %;: ~~ , ~ 7, , ~

.:~ • ~

W 16 ':adl ':c8 Ιη reply to 16...0-0 Dolmatov had planned ιο continue 17 i.bl, intending ~a3-c2-e3 and play οη the light squares. 17 ~c2 (D) Αι the moment the plan shown ίη the previous note does ΩΟΙ work: 17 i.bl?! ':c5 18ltJc2 ~xd5!? 19 ~e3 (or 19 b4lLJf4 20 1t'g5 f6 +) 19 ... lLJxe3 20 fe e4 Therefore 16...':c8 was very timely.

10.. j5 11 ~d3 103

17 ':'c5 17•••e4 would have been rash: 18 ~e2 ο-ο 19 f3 ±, and White breaks υρ his opponent's pawn centre. 18 tDe3 e4 Of course 110Ι 18•••f4? 19 tDf5, when White dominates the light squares. 19 ~bl (D)

following development of events would have been possible: 20 tDg4 1i'f5 (20 ...0-021 tDh6+ ~xh6 22 1i'xh6 ±) 21 1i'xf5 tDxf5 22 f3! (if 22 ~xe4, then 22 ... tDe7!, and ίι unexpectedly becomes clear that there is ηο defence from 23 ... f5 or 23 ...h5, and one ofthe white pieces peήshes) 22...tDe3 (22...h5 23 ω!? tDe3 24 tDxe4 ':'c7 25 tDxd6+~f8 26 tDf5 tDxdl 27 ':'xdl ±) 23 tDxe3 fe 24 :fel ~h6 25 ~xe4, and after g2-g3 and f3-f4 White's large advantage is ηοΙ ίη doubt. 20 g3! White's fundamental idea is Ιο play f2-f3 ίη order Ιο destroy Black's pawn centre. However, this does ηοΙ work immediately: 20 f3 f4 21 ~xe4 f5 +. 20 b4?! Α quite natural attempt by Black ιο organize a counterattack οη the queenside, but his forces are Ιοο far withdrawn from his king. However, Chekhov was facing a difficult problem. After 2O•• JΣb8 White could have replied 21 :d2!?, so that after 21 ... b4 22 c4, the b2pawn would be defended.

21 cb

':'b5

22 a3 ~xb2 23 ~hl! Dolmatov quite justifiably suggests that ίι is better Ιο caΠΥ ουΙ the advance f2-f3 when everything else has been covered. If 23 f3?!,

104 10.. .j5 11 J.d3 then 23 ...1Wa7 gives ήse to complί cations. 23 J:tc8 (D)

26 ιtlXΙ5 ιtlXΙ5 27 e5! Α beautiful refusal to take the black knίght. Ιη the event of 27 :xrs Black would have contίnued 27 ... f6, and after ....tb2-e5 could have strengthened his own position. 27 ιtlxg3+ 28 hg .txe5 29 1Wxh7+ ~f8 30 J:tcl! (D) 000

W 24 f3! White has finίshed hίs preparations and has finally carήed out the 'programmed' continuation. 24 ••• J:tc3 25 fe :Xa3 (D) The knight is indirectly defended: 25oooJ:txe3 261Wg5+. Β

Now all White's pieces are already takίng part ίη the attack. 31 J:tc8+ and 31 J:txf7+ are major threats. Thίs continuatίon is significantly stronger than winning the queen for bishop and rook after 30.tg6 J:tb7 31 J:txf7+ 1Wxf7 32 .txf7 J:txf7, when Black is still holding οη. 30 J:tb7 31 .tf5 1Wb5 32 .te6 1-0 000

10.. .j5 11 ~d3 105

Conclusion Ιη this chapter we have examined games from one of the most aggressive variations of the Sveshnikov. If White plays 12 "h5, a very sharp game arises, giving ήse ΙΟ reasonable counterchances for Black.

However, the plan 1inked with 12 ...:g8 seems more promising. After 12... f4 and 13 ...~g7 he often falls ίηΙο a difficult position. The game goes οη ίη a more positional mood after 12 ο-ο with a small advantage (as, strictly speaking, is predetermined) Ιο Whiιe.

9 Classical Sveshnikov: 11 iιxb5 Nowadays it is quite rare to see White sacrificing a piece οη b5 οη move 11. Moreover, if the knight sacήfice has gone completely out of use, then taking with the bishop is wrong, as this scene shows ... Game 23 VitolinS - Cherniaev Kherson 1990 1 e4 c5 2 ttJf3 ttJc6 3 d4 cd 4 ttJxd4 ttJf6 5 ttJc3 e5 6 ttJdb5 d6 7 iιg5 a6 8 ttJba3 bS 9 iιxΙ6 gf 10 ttJdS fS 11 iιxbS ab 12 ttJxbS (D)

rarely seen ίη contemporary tournament practice. Black opposes White's attack, led by his queen and two knights, with harmonious counterplay by al1 his pieces. Ιη spite of the ίπatίοnal character of the struggle, fewer patches of white remain ίη this variation. %1a4! 12 The very strongest continuation - Govelov's idea. The black rook ηοΙ οηlΥ comes ου! from behind the lines, but also takes an active part ίη the battle. There is a less successful attempt Ιο pay White off with the exchange, 12..•%1a7. After 13 ttJxa7 ttJxa7 (D) White has two promising possibilities at his disposal:

The diagram position has never been partίcularly popular, and is

Clαssicαl

a) 14 ef! tDb5!? 15 a4 (a novelty) 15•••tDd4 (if 15 ... tDc7 then one may continue 16 a5 ~b7 17 c4 lΩxd5 18 a6!? ~a8 19 cd, and the white passed pawn is very dangerous) 16 c3 'i'a5 17 tDf6+ rJ;;e7 18 ο-ο (D) and now:

-.... .-.B.t..

~&8&

••

Β ~ ~ Β ~%_~3~@ ~ • .Δ8 8,:ff!/j /",,,1'1 •

ΔΒ

~'~

%f~

~ r~

"Ι';:

~ '~ O ~ ~ /~

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;::::;% ~ 1~

~fl'\Wι.

D~ ",Ζ Δ ~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ r.~

Sveshnikov: 11 bb5 107

initiative to White) 17 ....d7 18 'iib3 tDa6 19 tDd5 tDc5 20 lΩf6+ 'ίte7 21 tDd5+, and ίη this position, having reρeated moves twice, Shirov, against Mitkov, France 1994, decided to take the white knight, which, however, did not change the assessment of the position as level. 13 b4 Vitolins had already used this continuation without any particular success ίη a game against Κish nev, Jurma1a 1981. 1Σχb4 13 'ίtd7 14 tDbc7+ 15 ο-ο (D)

~ .o.':~ Β

a1) 18••• tDxf5? 19 b4 'i!ld8 20 lΩd5+ rJ;;e6 21 a5 ~b7 22 c4 winning for White, M.Pavlovic-Todorovic, Yugoslavia 1992. a2) 18•••ΦΧΙ6 19 cd ~xf5 is better, although here too White's chances are somewhat preferable because of the hopeless position of the black king, and also thanks to his advantage ίη development and passed pawns. b) 14 c3lΩb5 15 ef (15 a4 tDc7 16 a5! ± seems more promising) 15 ... tDc716lΩe3~b7! 17'i!1a4+?! (it would have been better to continue 17 1Wb3! "'a8 18 0-0-0 ~xg2 19 tDxg2 'ifxg2 20 'ίtbl with some

Black here has various ρossibili ties. 15••.%tg8 featured ίη the aforementioned game Vitolins-Κishnev, Jurmala 1981, when after 16lΩxb4 tDxb41700 tDxd5 18 'ifxd5 'ίte7, Black realized his advantage. Obviously, the authors of the idea have found an improvement for

108 Classi€:al Sveshnikov: 11 hb5

White. Ιι hasn't been ruled ουΙ that ίι is linked with the continuation 16 'it'h5, which practically forces Black Ιο give the queen back, for example, 16 ... lDe7 17 'ii'xf7 'ilfxc7 18lDxc7 g;xc7, and a hugely complicated position arises, which fully cοπeSΡοnds with Vitolins's creative outlook. Βυι Cherniaev returns Ιο a well-trodden path. 15•• Jιxe4 deserves attention. Another alternative is 15.••.:tb7 16 'ii'h5 .:txc7 17 'ifxf7+ (White could announce a perpetual check by 17 'iff5+ g;e8 18lDf6+ ι:j;e7 19 lDd5+) 17 ... tΔe7 (D):

the game Meister-Κharlov, USSR 1990, White shou1d play 18lDb6+ Wc6 19 %:tabl d5 20 'iVf6+ (20 c4!? also deserves attention) 20 ...•d6 21 'ifxh8 lDg6 22 'ifg8 .:tg7 23 'ifxd5+, after which a complex endgame arises. 15 'ifg5! This move fu1fils several aims at once. Ιι allows an attack Ιο begin, thins ουΙ the area around the king, and hinders an active thrust by the white queen οηΙο h5. Besides, this continuation allows Black Ιο avoid the forced draw that can ensue after 15•...:tb7. 16 lDxb4 lDxb4 17 'ifbl .:tg8 Q;xc7 18 g3 19 "iixb4 (D)

W ... and now rather than 18 lDr6+ G;c619.:tabl (definitelythreatening mate - 20 'ii'c4#) 19...d5! 20 c4 d4! 21 c5 .:tb7 22 lDe8! .:tg8! 23 "'c4 'ifa5 24 .:tb6+ .:txb6 25 cb+ G;xb6 26 .:tbl + q;a7 when Black repulsed the attack, preserving a decisive material advantage ίη

Β"'Β

•

.1.

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Αη extraordinarily sharp and tense situation has arisen. Black has two bishops for a rook and pawn, plus a possible future attack οη the

Clαssicαl Sveshnikov: 11

king. White's hopes are also lίnked with a direct attack οη the enerny king and a strong passed a-pawn. Such a clash of plans prornises a νery interesting struggle. ~d7 First Cherniaeν wishes to ρυι his

19 •••

own king ίηΙο safety. It's quite relί able, but probably ηοΙ the strongest plan. The sharp 19•••fe would haνe opened υρ wide possibilities, ηοΙ οηlΥ for the black lίght-squared bishop, but also for its colleagues. Ι4

20 c4 21 c5

bb5 109

Losing a ternpo, which ίη this situation tums ουΙ Ιο be fatal. He should haνe quickly set the a-pawn off οη its way.

23 24 25 26 27

~e6

a4 a5 :d3 a6 (D)

h5 h4 'ii'h5

Both contestants are playing οη 'their' flank, but all the sarne their forces will corne ίηΙο contact, and ίι will becorne clear that Black has rnanoeuνred rnore successfully.

νίΙοΙίη§ is trying Ιο destroy the king's pawn shield. Natura1ly, Black cannot take οη c5 because of 22 :fdl+.

Φe6 ΦΙ6 (D)

21 ••• 22 cd

Α νery cornfortable refuge for Black's king.

27 28 fg 29 'ifc3

hg "'e2 ~xd6

The bishop enters the garne with great effect. 30 :ίxd6 is irnpossible because of 30... f3 with an ineνita ble rnate (31 :d2 f2+). W

23 :fdl?

30 :el

~c5+

31 'it>hl

'it'a

32 :ο

~d4

110 Clαssicαl Sveshnikov: 11 J.xb5

Now Chemiaev. who was ίη time trouble. mίsses a chance to end the game straίght away by

32.....xh2+ 33 Φxh2 IIh8+ 34 Φg2 .th3+ 35 Φh2 .tf1# (D).

Black has reliably blocked the apawn from moving. and now tums to decisive actίon. Φχe4 39 lIa5+

40 lIa4 41 IIxd4+

.te2

An attempt to tum the game into a theoretically drawn ending leads to a swift denouement.

41 42 43 44 45

33 IIxC2

.txc3

Now Black must agaίn prove hίs SUΡeήοήtΥ·

34 1Ib1 35 IΙΙ3 36 lIa3 37 gf 3811n

.td4 .tg4 lIa8 ef Φe5

Φχd4

':xf4+ ':xf7 <ifi>gl <ifi>f1 0-1

Φe3

.tf3+ ':g8+ .te2+

Conclusion 12 ... .:a4 seems to be the best antidote to the bishop sacήfice οη b5. The continuation 12 ....:a7 creates fewer pre-requisites for Black to seize the inίtίative. although both lead to an extremely sharp battle which demands exact knowledge as well as iron nerves and a clear sense of the fantastίc.

10 Classical Sveshnikov: 9liJab1 StήctlΥ

speaking, play ίη this νaή ation begins οηlΥ οη move 11, because White most frequently plays ίι with a transposition of moves: 9 lbd5 iLe7 10 .i.xf6 .i.xf6 Illbbl. However, it's also possible for a straίghtforward move order, whίch begins with 9lbabl. We think the virtues and drawbacks of the νaή atίon will soon become clear Ιο the reader. White makes Ιοο many moves with one knight, and lags behind somewhat ίο development, but if Black cannot use thίs circumstance energetίcally, White will develop hίspieces ίη comfort. Game24 CabήΙο - Beliavsky Lvov 1993

1 e4 c5 2lbf3lbc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4 lbf6 5 lbc3 e5 6 lbdb5 d6 7 .i.g5 a68lba3b5 9 lbd5 .i.e7 .i.xf6 10 .i.xf6 11 lbb1 (D) With a transposition of moves, a positίon has aήsen whίch is characteήstίc of the variatίon with 9 lbabl. 11 ••• ο-ο

The move 11•••.:.b8 (with the idea of preventing 12 a4) has been tested: a) Hoffman-Yakovich, Munich 1992 contίnued 12 g3 ο-ο 13 .i.g2 .i.e6 14 ο-ο .i.xd5 15 ed lba5 16 lbd2lbc4 17 lbxc4 bc 18 b3 'fic7 19 ':'el 'ila7 20 ':'e4 ':'fc8 21 .i.f1 c3 22 'Ιfd3 h5 =F. b) Stefansson-Schandorff, Copenhagen 1994, developed differently: 12 lbd2 .i.g5 13 .i.d3 lbe7 14lbxe7 'fixe7 15 ο-ο ο-ο 16 'ii'e2 g6 17 a4 ba 18':'fb1 .i.d7 19 .i.xa6 f5 20 .i.c4+ Φh8 21 .i.d5 ':'fc8 22 'ild3 ':'b4 =F. 12 a4! White does ηοΙ delay ίη beginning Ιο worry his opponent οη the queenside.

112 CΙαssicαl Sveshnikov: 9liJαb1

12 .... Another plan has been tήed: 12••• b4, for example, 13 tbd2 (D) andnow:

14 ttJbc3 ttJd4 It's ηοΙ worth ΡressuήΖίηg the white knight, as ίι could occupy aπ active position οη b5. After 14•••b4 15 ttJb5 ttJd4 16 ttJxd4 ed 17 J..c4 White has managed Ιο fioish his development aπd his pieces are very well placed. 15 J..d3 g6 (D) Here 15••• b4 deserved attention, for example, 16 ttJe2 J..g4 17 c3 bc 18 bc ttJxe2 19 J..xe2 J..e6 with equality.

•••• ·•-tb.•••• • • • ~.i.~

a) 13•••J..e6 14 J..c4 J..g5 15 ttJf3! J..h616 'ifd3! a5 17 ο-ο 'ιth8 18 %ladl %lb8 19 J..b5 ttJa7 20 c4 bc 21 bc f5 22 c4 fe 231i'xe4 J..f5 24 'ii'e2 ;!; Minasiaπ-Chaπdler, Manila OL 1992. b) 13•••.ig5 was aπ interesting attempt Ιο improve οη this ίο Koshi-Barua, Isfahaπ 1993. Now fascioating complications would have aήsen after 14 ttJc4!?, for example 14.. ..:b8 15 a5 %lb5! 16 ttJdb6 (16 ttJcb6?! %lc5! +) 16...J..e6 17 ttJxd6 (17 'l'xd6?! ttJd4 18 ..td3 b3 19 cb %lxb3 20 1i'xd8 %lxd8 21 J..bl %lb4! ~; White must fight just for equality) 17...%lxa5 18 %lxa5 ttJxa5 19 ttJd5 ttJc6 with good counterplay for Black. 13 ab ab

~.~.

~ ~.~.

•

8Δ.

~.t_

u~Δ~.~ ~ u"Δ~'~ ", ~.~\Wιm ~B~

~.~: ~

W 16 0-0 .ig7 17 ttJa2! CabήΙο prepares Ιο evict the black knight from d4, aπd at the same time move his own Ιο the excellent square b4. 17 .•• 'ifg5 18 <iPhl It was worth thinking about 18 f3!?, preparing against Black's attack before ίι happens.

Clαssicαl Sνeshnikoν: 91Ωαbl

113

18 tlJe6 19 tlJab4 (D)

• .t.. •• ••• • ·• .i..---•-••

.ι_ι .~.ι

i.liJ~

~ ~~.Δ.

~~'%i Δ

t?,~

8: •

μm

~§1 Δ ~~~ U ~,~

.~.:.φ Β

19 ... tlJf4! After 19•••f5 20 f3 tlJc5 21 'ife2 White is clearly better. 20 tlJxf4 ef 21 c3 ~e6 22 :a5 :fc8 23 'i!t'e2 :c5! One of the moves which is often seen ίη the Sveshnikov, transferήng the rook Ιο the fifth rank Ιο attack the king. 24 tlJa6 White had a more relίable plan: 24 f3 and if 24 ... 'iWh6?!, then the reply 25 'iff2 :h5 26 'iWgl! winning for White. :a8 24 ••• 25 :fal 25lbxc5 :xa5 26lΩxe6 fe 27 f3 was also possible, with a small advantage to White. 25 ο.. :e5 (D)

W 26 tlJc7? CabήΙο misses a tactical blow. The continuation 26 f3 would have still allowed him Ιο preserve a minimal advantage. Now the picture of the battle changes sharply ίη Black's favour. :xa5 26 ••. 27 :xa5 f3! White can take the pawn neither with the queen, due Ιο the back rank mate, nor with the pawn ίη view of ...~e6-h3. Απ intervening check changes nothing. ~f8 28 :a8+ 29 'iί'f1 fg+ Belίavsky energetically carήes ουΙ the conclusive attack. 30 'iί'xg2 'iί'd2 31 'ifg3 'iί'dl+ 32 'ίt>g2 ~g4 33 tlJe8 ~f3+ The finale. If 34 'ilt'xf3 then 34...:g5+. 0-1

114 Classical Sveshnikov: 9l:Δab1

Black used an ioteresting ηον elty ίη the following duel, oamely 11. .. i.b7. Game25 Shaked - Cherniaev New York 1993 1 e4 c5 2l:Δf3l:Δc6 3 d4 cd 4l:Δxd4 l:ΔΙ6 5 l:Δc3 e5 6 l:Δdb5 d6 7 i.g5 a6 8l:Δa3 b5 9l:Δd5 i.e710 i.xf6 i.xf611l:Δbl

11 12 a4 13 lΩd2 14 l:ΔΙ3 (D)

i.b7!? b4 i.g5

14 i.h6 15 i.c4 0-0 16 0·0 Αο attempt Ιο pressUΉze the d6pawo with 16 'iWd3 'ίtth8 17 .:Σ.dΙ is parήed by meaos of 17 ... 'iνa5!? 18 ο-ο .:Σ.ad8 with a complex game. 16 'ίtth8 17 'ifd3 g6 18 c3 (D) If 18 l:Δe3 then Cherniaev was going ιο play 18 ... l:Δe7 19 .:Σ.fdΙ i.xe3!? 20 'ifxe3 'ifc7 21 i.b3 f6! 22 .:Σ.d3 a5 23 ':ad 1 ':ad8 24 h4 l:Δc8 with the idea of organizίng couoterplay after ...l:Δc8-b6. However, 18 .:Σ.fdl deserves attentίon.

White's knight has spent seven moves Ιο get ιο its 'ήghtfuΙ' place. This alone testίfies ιο the fact that Black has already achίeved at least a level game. However, he must act energetίca1ly, otherwise the pennanent weaknesses ίη his position mίght make their presence felt.

18 bc This move was οοι forced. He could have followed hίs plan more consistently with 18••.f5. After thίs ίι would be a mίstake ιο take οη b4: 19 cb fe 20 'ifxe4l:Δxb4 21 .:Σ.fdΙ ':f4 22 'ii'e2 ':xc4 23 'iνxc4l:Δxd5

Clαssicαl Sveshnikov: 9lΔab1

24 ':xd5 "'g8 25 ':adl :Ιc8, and White will peήsh because of the weakness of his back rank. 19 bc Ι5 20 ':abl Shaked is trying to organize some counterplay οη the b-file, but his opponent elegantly redistήb utes his pieces. 20 ω

21 J.a2 22 lbd2

J.c6 lbb7 (D)

... . -.

.~. 8 8ι i~ •• .t.~ ~.~ι.~'~ • .!Δ8Ι. Δ. .Δ. ~

•

B'ii'. •

• ,V

.:. .:= ~~.%%

... ~

~ ~

~Δ~% u

Black's pieces are very harmoniously placed and are ready to

115

play overthe whole board. White's position is difficult, so he makes a deSΡaiήηg attempt to get stuck into complίcations.

23 Ι4 24 lbxf4 25 'iWh3

ef ω

i.xf4

26 ':ΧΙ4 lbxe4?? Α fatal eποr ίη time trouble, leading to a rapid 10ss. The coldblooded 26••:it'g5 27 ':h4 ':a7 would have led to a Black win. i.xe4 27 lbxe4 Black cannot be saved by 27•••fe 28 ':xf8+ 'ilVxf8 29':f1 with a decisive attack. fe 28 ':xe4! 29 ':b7 30 'iWe3 31 'iWxe4

h5 g5 1-0

Conclusion This variation does not present any real danger for Black. Furthermore, the continuations 11 ... ':b8 and 11 ...i.b7 allow him to count οη seizing the initiative.

11 Bird-Larsen Variation: 8... i..e6 Thίs variatίon doesn't as a rule lead ΙΟ

such complex situations as the Classical. Therefore, ίη order Ιο play ίι, one needs Ιο know far fewer forced variations. Βυι learning them, as is well known, is ηοΙ Ιο everybody's taste. Game26 Κί.Georgiev- Shirov

Biel1992 1 e4 cS 2lDf3lDc6 3 d4 cd 4lDxd4 lDf6S lDc3 eS 6lΩdbS d6 7 .i.gS a68lΩa3

.i.e6 (D)

W The idea οί this move is rapid development and control over d5. The serious disadvantage οί the

move is that White can swiftly the a3 knight ίηΙο the battle. 9 lΩc4 Georgiev quickly uses the ορ portunities he is afforded - indeed Black should also think about doing this! 1Ic8! 9 .•• 'Not only a mobilizing but a1so a waiting move; when White removes the knight from c4, ....i.f8e7 and ... 0-0 wil1 become possible' - Sveshnikov. 10 .i.xf6 10 lΩe3 does ηο! win White any laurels. After 1O ....i.e7 11 .i.xf6 .i.xf6 12lΩcd5 .i.g5 13 c3 (or 13 .i.d3 ο-ο 14 ο-ο g6 15 c3 'itiιh8 16 a4 ί5 = Mellado-Yakovich, Cordoba 1991) 13 ... 0-0 14 .i.e2 g6 15 ο-ο ~h8 16 ΦhΙ ί5 17 ef gf 18 ί4 .i.h6 19 .i.d3 e4 20 .i.c2 'ii'h4 Black equalized ίη Xie Jun-Κhar lον, Moscow 1992. 10 ••• gf(D) Or 10.....xf6 11 lΩb6 1Ib8 12 lΩcd5 'ίWd8 and now 13 c3 .i.e7 14 .i.c4 ο-ο 15 a4 (Grϋnfeld-Cifuen tes, Νονί Sad 1990, continued 15 ο-ο .i.g5 16 a4 Φh8 17 ~hl g6 18 1We2 .i.h6 19 1:tad 1 ί5 with fair counterplay for Black) 15 ....i.g5 bήng

Bird-Lαrsen Variation: 8 ... J.e6 117

16 'ίWe2 g6 17 ο-ο is οηlΥ marginally better for White, Bologan-Cifuentes, Las Palmas 1993, or 13 ~e2 g6 14 ο-ο ~h6 15 c3 ο-ο 16 a4 ~h8 17 'ίWd3 f5 with fair counterchances for Black, ReindermanCifuentes, Wijk aan Zee 1994.

for White's strong knight. And although he wil1 get doubled pawns, the pressure οη the vital f-file is stil1 a factor of greater imporιance. 12 ... ~xe3 13 fe 'ίWb6 (D) After 13...:r.g8 14 ο-ο 'ίWb6 15 'ίi'f3 lbe7 16 lbd5 ~xd5 17 ed f5 18 J.xf5 lbxf5 19 'ίWxf5 'ίWxe3+ 20 ~h 1 :r.c7 Black managed ιο hold the position ίη Konguνel-Bhatta chaήa, Calcutta 1994.

11 lbe3 The continuation 11 ~d3 (with the idea of aνoiding the immediate attack οη the knight which occurs after 11 lbe3 J.h6) was seen ίη the game Anand-Moroνic, Las Palmas 1993: 11 ...lbe7 12lbe3 J.h6 130-0 ~xe3 14 fe 'ίWb6 15 'ίWcllbg8 16 ΦhΙ _c5 (16 ... h5 is interesting, and if 17 lbd5, then 17 ...~xd5 18 ed lbe7 19 e4 f5!, destroying the white pawn centre) 17 'ίWd2 h5 18 :r.adl h4 19 h3 ~f8 20 'ίWe2;1;;. 11 ••• J.h6 12 ~d3 Νοι hiηdeήηg Black's standard idea of giving υρ one of his bishops

14 'ίi'cl Α strong and natural move, although a pawn sacrifice was also possible: 14 ο-ο 'iixe3+ 15 ~hl with a sharp game.

14 •••

lbaS

After 14•••lbb4 White could haνe continued 15 a3lbxd3+ 16 cd d5 17 ed ~xd5 18 ο-ο, for example, 18 ... J.b3 19'ίWd2 :r.g8 20 d4 :r.d8 21 d5 with a noticeable advantage.

IS ο-ο

~e7 (D)

118 Bird-Lαrsen Variation: 8... .t.e6

W 16 W'el! which pursues two aίms at once: moving the queen over ιο the kingside, where Black has few defenders, and a1so threatening Ιο continue 17 b3, after which the a5knight's prosρects are altogether miserable. 16 ••• h5 Shirov has ηοΙ decided οη an active continuation, but if 16••:ii'xb2, then White after 17 lL!d5+ .t.xd5 18 ed e4 19 he4 would have been given a tangible advantage. Thus 16...lL!c4 deserves attenιίοη, for example, 17 .t.xc4 ':xc4 18 Wi'f2 ':g8 19 lL!d5+ .t.xd5 20 'it'xf6+ Φd7 21 ed "'xe3+ 22 ΦhΙ ':f4 23 ':xf4 'ifxf4 24 'ifxf4 ef 25 ':f1 ':e8 26 ΦgΙ ':e4, and Black holds οη. However, 17 lbdl h5 (17 ... lL!xb2 18 lL!xb2! "'xb2 19 ':bl 'it'xa220':xb7+.t.d7 21 "'h4 'it'e6 22 ':xf6!) 18 b3lL!a3! 19 c4 'it'c5 20 1lX3 b5 21lL!d5+! would

have preserved the better chances for Georgiev. Ιι is possible that instead of 18 b3, the move 18 a4 is even stronger, and agaίn the black knight starts ιο become uncomfortable. 17 b3! "'cS? Α decisive eποr. Ιι would have been worth complicating White's problems with an exchange sacή fice: 17...:xc3 18'it'xc3 'ifxe3+ 19 ΦhΙ lL!c6 (D), although here as well White faces a happy choice:

Α move

W a) 20 :f3 "'c5 (20 ......g5 21 .t.xa6!; 20......b6? 21 :afl :h622 "'d2 J:tg6 23 ':xf6!; 20...'ii'd4 21 "'el h4 22 c3) 21 "'xc5 dc 22 J:tafl ':h6 23 ':g3, and his chances are clearly better. b) 20':aelWi'c521 Wi'd2lL!b8! 22 ':f3 lL!d7 23 ':ef1 with a sma11 advantage. Now Black loses by force. 18 lL!d5+!

Bird-Lαrsen Variation: 8 ...

Georglev is still not satisfied by a quiet continuation: 18lba4 'ilc7 19 c4, although it would also have offered wonderful prospects. .txd5 18 19 ed 'ilxd5 (D)

.te6

119

22 .tg6! ι-ο beautiful final blow! After 22 ... 'ikxdlWhite can insert the lethal check 23 'ilxf6+. Α

Game27 - Κharlov Moscow 1991

Smagίn

W 20 b4 was threatened, and if 19•••'ilc3, White could have continued 20 'ίi'h4 Ah6 21 Aadl Ag8 22 h3, after which he doubles rooks οη the f-file, gaining a decisive advantage. 20 Adl! Acg8 Νοι 20•••e4? 21 .tc4, and after any departure by the queen from the fifth rank, 21 Ad5 wins the knight. If 2O•••lbc6, then 21 'ikh4 Ah6 22 .tf5 is decisive. Ah6 21 Other moves cannot save him: a) 21 •••'ίi'e6 22 .tf5, and Black's queen is trapped. b) 21 ••• ~ 22 .tc4 'ίi'e4 23 Axd6.

1 e4 c5 2 lbf3 lbc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4 lbf6 5 lbc3 e5 6 lbdb5 d6 7 .tg5 a6 8lba3 .te6 9lbc4 Ac8 10 .txf6 If White wishes to continue οη the next move with 11lbd5, then it is more exact to do so iιnmedi ately: 10 lbd5 iLxd5 11 iLxf6 gf 12 'iixd5. gf 10 •.. 11 lbd5 .txd5 12 'iWxd5 (D) 12 ed?! lbe7 gives White ηο advantage.

"'12

12 ..•

120 Blrd-Lar.fen Variation: 8... .J.e6 ΑfΙer 12•••~4 l3 .J.d3 'ife7 14 h4 "c6! Ι S ~3 "xd5 16 lbxd5

ll)xc2+ 17 .J.~c2 ':xc2 18 ο-ο .J.h6, 19 84 ~d7 20 ':a3 ~e6 21 ':Β .J.g5 would have Ied ιο a smal1 advantage f()r BIack ίη BeIikovKharIov, Moscow 1992, but after 19 ':fdl ~d7 20 ':d3 ~e6 21 ':Β .J.g7 22 ':g3 ":hc8 23 ':f1 .J.h6 ίη Leko-Morovic, Lyon 1993, a IeveI positίon arose. .J.h6 13 lbe3 Here ιοο 13...lbe7 deserves attentίon.

14 lbfS! lbb4 15 lbxd6+ Φd7 16 'iWxf7+ 16 bb5+ ab 17 'ifxb5+ was also possibIe, with an uncIear game. Βυι Smagin had something eIse ίη mίnd ... 16 ... Φc6 17 'iWb7+ ~c5 (D) IfI7...~xd6, then 18 ':dι+Φe6 19 ':xd8 lbxc2+ 20 ~e2 ':hxd8 21 f4 and 22 Φο with a big advantage to White. According ΙΟ the evidence of eyewitnesses, ΚharIov assessed thίs position as fully acceptabIe for BIack. He was ηοΙ afraid of the perpetuaI check, as after 18 'iWa7+ ~c6 19 .J.xb5+ ab 20 'ii'b7 + ~xd6 21 ':dl + ~e6 22 ':xd8lbxc2+ 23 ~e2 ':hxd8 24 ':dl ~d4+ BIack repuIses his opponent's attack. Βυι a nasty surpήse awaited hίm.

18 ':dl! noveIty, which underlines the shady side of earIy activity by the king. lbxc2+ 18 BIack has nothίng eIse. 18....:c7 is ηο good due to 19 c3! ~c2+ (19 ....:xc7Ioses Ιο 20 lbxb7+ foIIowed by 21 lbxd8) 20 'it>e2, and after 20 .. .'iixd6? White executes a beautifuI mate with the king: 21 ':d5+ ~c4 22 ~B - mate! lbd4+ 19 'it>e2 20 ':xd4 ed 21 'iWd5+ Φb6 22 lbxc8+ 'iWxc8 23 'iWxd4+ Smagin has two extra pawns, and he steers the game preciseIy ιο victory. ~a5 23 24 ~f3 Ι5 25 g3 ':d8 26 b4+ ~a4 27 'ii'b6 fe+ Α

Bird-Lαrsen Vαrίαtion: 8".~e6

28 Wg2

Wxb4

Otherwise Black is mated, but this loses the bishop. He could haνe taken his final bow by now.

29 30 31 32 33

'iWxh6 ~e2

:bl+ :b3 :a3+

'iWc3 :d2 WaS 'ii'c2 Wb4

34 'ii'xa6 35 :b3+ 36 :xbS+

121

:xe2 Wc5 1-0

Conclusion Although the Bird-Larsen Variation is ηοΙ considered defectiνe, all the same Black quite often runs ίηΙο difficulties ίη practice.

12 711Jd5 In this varίatίon White avoids the sharpest of contίnuatίons ίη favour of a clearer strategic route. However thίs does ηοΙ by any means signify avoiding a battle. Υου will see the kίnd of storms that can rage ίη this 'quiet' varίation by lookίng at the following entertaining encounter. Game28 Yudasin - Kramnίk Wijk aan Zee Ct (1) 1994

1 e4 c5 2lbf3lbc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4 lbf6 5 ω e5 6lbdb5 d6 7 lbd5 lbxd5 8 ed lbe7 (D)

W 9 a4

9 c3 is more exact, since after 9 ••.a6? White can reply 10 "'a4. If 9,..lbg6, then 10 _a4 .i.d7 11 .c4 .i.xb5 (11 ... ':c8 is answered by 12 "'b4!) 12 _xb5+ "'d7 13 a4! a6 14 "'xd7+ ~xd7, and by bypassing the complex variations whίch are characteήstίc of the Sveshnί kov, White gains a better endίng (he has the bishop pair and a queenside pawn majοήty). 9,..lbt5 keeps d6 defended, and after 10 a4 a positίon aήses from the game we are investίgatίng. ΒΥ using thίs move order, White practically forces the knight Ιο occupy f5, where ίι is ηοΙ very comfortably placed, as ίι hinders the advance ... f7-f5. Therefore the knight contίnues Ιο follow the route f5-h4-g6, but this loses time. White may a1so try 9 c4, for example, 9 ...lbf5 10 ~d3 .i.e7 11 ο-ο ο-ο 12 ~hl a6 13 lbc3lbh4 14 (4 (5 15 'iνc2! e4 16 .i.e2 g5 17 fg?! (17 g3!) 17 ....i.xg5 18 b4 .i.f6 19 .i.h6 ':f7 20 ':adllbg6 = MainkaSakaev, Dortmund 1991. 9 lbf5 For the reasons shown above, 9,..lbg6 is more promising, but Κramnik has decided Ιο follow a

7lΔd5 123

lίttle-used

plan with ... g7-g6 and

....i.f8-g7. 10 c3 g6 10••..i.e7 is more prevalent, for example,l1 .td30-0 12 ο-ο lillι4 13 Ι4 8614 ~ (D) and then:

a) 14•••ef (straightforward but ηοΙ necessaήly best) 15 .txf'4 ~ 16 .txg6! (White has gained nothίηι after 16 .tg3 .th4! 17 .txh4 lDxh4 18 lDc4 aS 19 1fd2 b6 20 :f4lDg6 21.txg6 hg 221fe3 g5! 23 1Z.d4 .ta6 24 1Ig3 .txc4 25 :xc4, and Black is already somewhat better, Rodήgυez-Κramnik, Guarapuava 1991) 16•••hg 17lDc4 (D)andnow: al) 17•••.tf5 18 1%el 1%c8 19 1Irb3 .td3 20 lDb6 is unpIeasant for Black: 2O••.:c7 21 1Z.adl .tf5 (ΜatυΙοvίό-Ν .Νίk(!evίό, YugosIaVΊa 1992) and here too 221fb4 WΊth the idea of 23 :xe7 would have given White a decisive advantage;

the clever 20•••.tc2 is met by an interesting tactical refυtation: 21 lDxc8 .txb3 22 lDxe7+ Wh7 23 1Z.e3 1Ib6 24 aS 1Ic5 25 Whl 1Ixe3 26.txe3 1Z.e8 27.tg5 f6 28 1Z.el fg 291Z.e3 g4 30 Wgl ±. a2) 17••••c7!? 18 b3 (l81rb3?! 1Irc5+ 19Whl11rxd5 2O:adl.c6 21 lDxd6 .th3! 22 1%d2 .txd6 23 .txd6 .te6, and the position of the whίte king isn't hopefυl, ApicellaGagaήn, Bucharest 1993) 18....tf5 19 aS.te4 201Z.el f5 21 1Id21%ae8 22 Ldl 1fd8, and the threat of the pawn storm by ... g6-g5-g4, ...1Z.f8f7, and ...h7-h5looks very dangerous, as ίη Ye Jiangchuan-Novik, Moscow 1992. ΑΙΙ the same 23 h3 leads ιο an interestίng, doubleedgedgame. b) 14...f5 15lDc4lDg6 16 g3!1 (16 aS is ηο good: 16...lDxf4! 17 .txf4 ef 18 Lf4 g6 19 1%n .td7 20 lDb61Z.b8 21 lDxd7 1fxd7 22 .a4 .c7 23 1%ael .tf6 24 1Z.e6

124 7lΔd5 :bc8 25 ~hl ~e5, and Black has all the chances Ιο develop a strong attack οη the enemy kίng, moreover the presence of opposite-coloured bishops favours the attacker ίη such situations) 16... ef (16 ... ~d7 17 ~e3 b5 18 ab ab 19 :xa8 'ii'xa8 20 lΔb6 'ii'b7 21 lΔxd7 1Wxd7 22 'it'b3 :b8 23 fe ± Ι. Kuznetsov-Tolstikh, Russia 1992) 17 gf ~d7 18 a5 ~b5 19 lΔb6 ~xd3 20 'it'xd3 :b8 21 ~d2 'ilc7 22 b4 :be8 23 :ael :f7 24 c4, and the pawn majority οη the queenside, as well as his control over e6, predetermines White's solid advantage. Now we return Ιο the main line after 1O ... g6 (D):

then after 14."b6? 15 a5! (intending a5-a6) 15 ... a6 16 ab :b8?! 17 lΔa3! :xb6 18 'ii'a4! lΔe7 19l1)c4 :b5 20 lΔa5 :b6 21 'ifa2 ~f5 22 ~f1 ~c8 23 ~d2 lΔf5 24 Μ, having made all the moves which are standard ίη similar positions, he could count οη victory. Of course, 14... b6 is a terrible mistake. Κram nίk suggests 14_..i.d7 15 'ifb4. ~f8, or even 14••. ~Ι8 immediately, but Black's difficulties, ίη the first place ίη organizing counterplay, are striking. As a result of the unhappy position of the knight οη f5 and the excellent placing of his whitecounterparton b5 (if ... a7-a6, then lΔb5-a3-c4-b6) Black will have a passive, if stable, positίon for a long time. Not without reason has Kramnik's trainer, Tseshkovsky, called this variation a blind alley. 11 ~g7

W 11 ~e2 the next chance he got, Υυ dasin-Κramnik, Wijk aan Zee Ct (3) 1994, White significantly improved his play: 11 ~d3! ~g7 12 ο-ο ο-ο 13 'it'b3!? :e8 14 :el and Ιη

ο-ο

13 1i'b3!? :e8 14 ifb4 e4 Ιι would have been possible Ιο hold οη by waiting tactics: 14".h5 (14...~d7 15 g4leads Ιο a complί cated game) 15 a5 ~d7 16 lΔa3 WΙc7 17 lΔc4 followed by :bl, ~d3, b3, ~a3, and the time for action by Black might ηοΙ even come. Therefore he uses his very first ορ portunity Ιο cross the line of demarcation.

7lΔd5 125

15 -'.f4 Here 15 a5!? aIso deserves attention. 15 -'.e5 16 -'.xe5 1Σχe5 17 1ΣadΙ (D)

17 ••• lbh4?! Α very boId, but suspect decision. 17...a5! 18 'ifa3 (18 'iVc4 -'.d7 and ... -'.xb5) 18 ...h5 followed by .. :ile7 and ... -'.d7 was more reIiabIe. 18 ΦhΙ 18 'ii'xd6 is ηο good; 18 ...'iVg5 19 g3 -'.h3 20 1ΣfeΙ lbg2 21 1Ση lbf4 22 1ΣfeΙlbχe2+ 23 1Σxe2 -'.g4 with materiaI gaίns. UncIear consequences follow 18lbxd6 a5! 19 'ilc5 'ii'g5 (19 ... ~h3!?; 19... b6 20 'ilc6 ~d7 21 'ilb7 1Σb8 22 'ila7 1Σa8 =) 20 g3 ~g4 - White must avoid 21 gh?? ~f3+ 22 hg 1Σχg5#. 18 'ii'g5 19 1ΣgΙ -'.g4 (D)

W 20 -'.xg4 20 1ΣdeΙ -'.xe2 21 1Σχe2 a5 22 'ilxd6 1Σd8 followed by ...1Σdχd5 was scarceIy any better. 20 ••• '6'xg4 21 1ΣdeΙ As before, it is ηο good to take οη d6: 21lbxd6lbf3!, or 21 '6'xd6 'ilh5!, threatening lbxg2 and hίη deήηg 22lbd4 - the pawn οη d5 is hangίng.

21 '6'f4 (D) Here good pIay by both sides wouId have Ied fιttingIy to a peacefuI resuIt: 21 •••lbf3! 22 gf 'ilxf3+ 231Σg2e3! 24 fe (24 '6'g4ef251Σf1 1Σel 26 'iVc4 1Σae8 27lbd4 1Σχη+ 28 'ilxfl 1ΣeΙ 29lbxf3 1Σχη+, and BIack wins) 24...1Σg5 25 1ΣgΙ :xg2 26 1Σχg2 'ildl+ with a perpetua1 check. The text move is lίnked with a fantastic idea, whίch, it is true, has a refutation. AIas, Yudasin passed it by.

126 7lJJd5

.8 • 8.8 8'8 8'8. 8 • • •• 8~8Δ_ • ~ ~. ~ Δ_

~ u

[8 ~' _ _

W'))

•• ~ u ~Δ~ ~ u

•• •

•

~'>~ ~ , '&'

W 22 .xd6?? Perhaps one should also supply an exclamation mark for the coauthorship of such a beautiful piece of work. After 22lLJxd6, Κramnik had intended Ιο play 22••Jlh5, threatening 23 ...1Wxh2+, and if 23 %lxe4, then 23 ... lLJf3. However,just here a shattering blow awaits him: 24 %le8+! %lxe8 25 'iVxf4 winning. He would have been forced Ιο seek salvation after 22•••a5 23 'i'd4 (after 23 .xb7 %lf8 Black keeps the initiative, but 23 %lxe4 %lxe4 24 'ifxe4 'ifxd6 25 'ifxh4 'ifxd5 26 b4! is quite possible, with a small advantage for White) 23 ... %lh5 (with the threat of 24... 'it'xh2+ fo11owed by 25 ...lLJf5#) 24 %lxe4 .xd6 25 %lgel!? %lf8 26 %lxh4 %lxh4 27 'ifxh4 'ifxd5 28 'it'd4 'it'xd4 29 cd %lc8. 22 lLJf5! 23 'ilc1 e3! 24 %lxe3

H24fe, then 24 ...lLJg3+ 25 hxg3 %lh5#. Βυι now this idea is embodied ίη another situation. 'ilxe3! 24 •.• 25 lLJd6 Yudasin did ηοΙ wish Ιο allow Black Ιο fulfil his plan after 25 fe lLJg3+ 26 hg %lh5#. However, his position is hopeless all the same. %le7! 25 26 lLJxf5 gf 27 1Wd6 'ileS 28 1Wb4 %lae8 29 'iVh4 Ι6 30 h3 'ilxdS 0-1 One does ηοΙ often see at such a high level the incarnation of such grandiose ideas. Game29 Yυdasin - Κharlov

USSR Ch 1991

1 e4 c5 2 lLJc6 3 d4 cd 4lLJxd4 lLJf6 5 lLJc3 e5 6 lLJdbS d6 7 lLJds lLJxdS 8 ed lLJb8 9 c4 Estonian Grandmaster 011 had an interesting idea: 9 .te3!? This is how ίι worked ουΙ ίη his game against Chemiaev, London 1994: 9 ....te7 10 'ild2 a6 I1lLJa3lLJd7 12 lLJc4 ο-ο 13 a4 b6 14 .te2 (14 f3 f5 15 .tf2 a5 =F Oll-Κramnik, Moscow 1992) 14 ... f5 15 g3 .tb7!? (15 ...%lb8!? 16 ο-ο lLJf61eads Ιο an

7lΔd5 127

W 10 .te2 White may try two altemative ideas: a) 10 .te3 86 l1lίk3 ο-ο 12 'tWcU fS 13 f3lΩd7 (D):

al) 14 .td3?! b6 15 ο-ο g5 16 b4 e4 (here is the problem with 14 .td3 - if the bishop is οη e2, such a breakthrough can be met by the standard f3-f4) 17 fe f4 18 .td4 .tf6 19 .txf6 'tWxf6 with good compensation for the pawn, thanks to Black's possession ofthe strong e5 square, ι.ΚUΖnetsοv-Gοlodaev, USSR 1991. a2) 14.te2 .th4+ 15 g3 .tf6 16 ο-ο b6 17 b4 f4!1 18.tf2 fg 19 hg .tg5 20 .c2 is better, with the idea of strengthening the centre after ~g2, .td3, and lΩe4. b) White's plan consists of preparing the advance c4-c5, and a question therefore arises as to why can't he carry it out immediately: 10 c5 ο-ο 11.te2 (11 cd is worse: 11. ...txd6 12lΩxd6 .xd6 13 .te2 .tfS 14 ο-ο .te4, and here the passed pawn οη d5 becomes a weakness) and now (D):

unclear game) 160-0 f4 17 gf .e8 18 fe de 19 ~hl :d8 20 f3 .h5 21 :adl ~h8 22 .txb6!! lCJxb6 23 lΩxb6 :d6 24 'tWe3 :f4 25 :f2 :h6 26lΩc4! 1-0. 9 .te7 (D)

128 7lΔd5

bl) 11 .••a6?! 12 cd .txd6 13 lbxd6 'ii'xd6 14 ο-ο (I.Kuznetsoν Apostoikh, Russia 1992) and now, thanks ιο the extra tempo, White can seize the ίnitίatίνe: 14....tf5 15 'iί'b3 or 14...1Σd8 15 .tg5 f6 16 .te3 ±. b2) 11 ....Lf5 12 ο-ο dc!? 13 d6 .tf6 14lbc7 lbc6 15 lbxa8 'ίWxa8 with good counterplay for the sacήficed exchange. b3) 11 ...lΔa6!? leaves White behίnd ίη deνelopment.

Thus, 10 c5 looks premature. 10 a6 11 lbc3 ο-ο 12 ο-ο f5 Black is afraid of the auangement .tcl-e3 and f2-f3, and therefore plays 12 ... f5 straight away, so that if 13 .te3 he can reply 13 ...f4. Ιη our ορίηίοη, the idea of exchanging the dark-squared bishop doesn 't look bad: 12...lbd7 13 .te3 .tg5!? - exactly now, when White has not had tίme to hίde the bishop οη f2 after playjng f2-f3. Whίte has two plans ίη the positίoη after 12... f5 (D): 1) pay ηο attention to Black's counterplay, and try ρersistently to develop a queenside initίatiνe, ίη volνing 13 a3. 13 1ΣbΙ Ι?, or 13 a4; 2) immediately take precautions: 13 f40r 13 f3 followed by .tcl-e3. SoonerorlaterWhίtemust defend his king, and, as fans of

W precautionary actίνity reason, isn't better to do this straight away? 13 a3 Let us examine the other possibilities, the first two of which represent, like the text, the plan of ίgηοήng Black's play: a) 13 1ΣbΙ!? lbd7 14 b4 e4 15 .te3.tf6 16 .td4 .te5 17 c5 'iί'f6 18 .txe5lbxe5 (18 ...'ifxe5 19lba4) 19 c6! lbf3+ 20 gf 'ii'xc3 21 1Wc 1 (21 1Σb3 'ii'e5 22 fe fe 23 a4 with an unclear game) 21 ...'ii'f6 22 f4 iί'h4 (22 ... bc 23 dc d5 24 1ΣfdΙ .te625 ~e3 ± or 25 'iί'c5 ±) 23 ..thl?! (23 1Σb3!? 1Σf6 24 a4! 1Σh6 25 h3 1Σg6+ 26 ~h2 ±) 23 ...1Σf6 24 'ii'e3 1Σh6 25 'iί'g3 'ii'xg3 26 fg bc 27 .tc4 c5 28 bc dc 29 1ΣfcΙ, and Whίte has good compensatίon for the sacrificed pawn, as ίη Ye Jiangchuan-Chekhoν, Beijing 1991. b) 13a4lbd7(13 ... a5?! 14c5!? dc 15lbb5 .td6 16 f4 e4 17 b3 with the rough plan of .tb2, .tc4, ΦhΙ ίι

7liJd5 129

and g4) 14 a5 i.f6 15 b4 (15 f3 Ι?) 15 ... e4 16 :a3 i.e5 17 f4 ef 18 gf? (18 :xf3:j:) 18 ... i.xh2+! 19 'it>xh2 'iWh4+ 20 'it>gl (20 'it>g2? .:tf6 -+) 20...'it'g3+ (20...:f621 :f2+-) 21 'it>hl :f6! 22 'i'el 'ifh3+ 23 ΦgΙ f4! 24 "ιd3lί)e5 with a decisive attack. This variation shows the dangers that lie ίη wait for White ίη the event of thoughtless play. c) 13 Ι4 "ιf6 (13 ... liJd7 14 'it>hl "ιf6 15 'ifc2 ef 16 "ιΧf4 "ιe5 !? 17 .i.d3 g6 18 :ael "ιχf4 19 :xf4 liJe5 20 liJe2 'ilί'g5! 21 :ffι"ιd7 22 liJf4 :ae8, and thanks Ιο his strong e5-knight Black is better, InkiovTzermiadianos, Κhania 1993) 14 g3!? liJd7 15 'iWc2 (or 15 'it>hl Ι?) 15 ... ef 16 gf i.d4+!? 17 'it>hlliJc5 18 "ιf3 "ιd7! 19 :bl! b5!? (also 19 ... a5!? deserves serious study) 20 b4liJe4 21liJxe4 fe 22 "ιχe4 bc 23 'iWxc4 'i'f6 24 :dl :ae8 25 'it'xd4 :xe4 26 'ifxe4 "ιf5 27 'iVd4 "ιΧbΙ 28 'ii'xf6, and very sharp playin Yudasin-Κramnik, Wijkaan Zee Ct (7) 1994 led Ιο a peaceful conclusion. 13

liJd7

14 b4 e4 15 "ιe3 "ιΙ6 16 "ιd4 "ιe5 17 "ιχe5 liJxe5 (D) The position recalls that ίη the game given above, Ye JiangchuanChekhov, with the οηlΥ difference that instead of the active 13 :bl,

W the passive 13 a3 has been played, which stops White from playing c5-c6 ίη comfort. If one were Ιο describe the scheme of the battle ίη the game ίι would look something lίke this: White's play has led him Ιο a dead end, and so as ηοΙ Ιο find himself under the threat of a direct attack οη his king, he decides with the assistance of a pawn sacήfice (c5-c6) ιο open υρ the queenside. But nothing can stop the central black pawns now, and behind them Black's pieces will reach the king a11 the same. 18 'iWd4 "ιd7 19 c5 'iVf6 20 :fdl :fc8! The a6 pawn must be defended ίη case of c5-c6. 21 :acl?! White must already think about saving the game. Το this end the best chance was 21 c6, for example, 21 ... bc 22 dc :xc6 23 liJd5

130 7lΔd5

'ilf7 24 llJb6 (24 b5 I:tc2) 24 ...l:te8 25lί)xd7 'ilxd7 26 b5 :tc2 27 'ild5+ ~h8 28 l:ta2 :'xa2 29 'ilxa2 ab 30 • d5 with fair drawing chances. I:tc7 21 22 h3 'ile7!? (D)

••.....-_••••-• •• 000

~. ~ ι ~ .Αι ~ ι.

~.~ ~

~'~v%

~.~

~ι

~Δ-Ι~.~ u ,.. ~

u~ ~Ι~. _ ~ ~ ~

~.W;! ~

~ ~.

~.~ ~Δ

~~~Δ.

~:~.~ ~ ~

~ ~

W 23 ~? White is now utterly lost; losing time in this way was inadmissible, a11 the more so as the king is ίη a worse position οη f1 than gl. He should have played 23 c6. True, the text move does contain a trap, threatening 24 cd 'ilxd6 25 llJxe4 fe 26 I:txc7 'ilxc7 27 d6, when Black cannot play 27 ....c2the bishop οη e2 is defended. But Black is οη the alert. 23 l:te8! 24 c6 24llJbl does not work here - a capture οη c5 was threatened. 24 bc 25 dc I:txc6 (D) 000

000

• -••••

.Ζ

•~ .t.~

~ ~~ ι ~.~.1.

•

8 ••

ΩU • ~.W;!

~~ ~I~~ v-

~.~

~Ι

•

~.W;!

~.W;! ~~.W;! ~ Δ ~

.tΒΔ.

a:.φ.

w 26 27 28 29

llJd5 I:txc6

νΙ7

llJxc6

'ii'b6 Ι4! ~xa6 29 ~c4 gives nothing because of 29 .. .'~h8 followed by 30...llJe5. 29 'ii'h5! Now Black's play resembles the work of a bulldozer, as he sweeps away everything ίη his path. 30 I:tcl f3 (D) 000

7CΔd5 131

The decisive eποr. 31 :xc6 also 10ses: 31. .. fg+ 32 '1txg2 j.xh3+ 33 ~h2 j.g4+ 34 ci>gl j.f3 with an inevitable mate, but 31 'A'e3 would have allowed more stubborn resistance. 31 fg+ 32 ~ιl "g5 33 :xc6 "'xf4 34 :c3 "'d2 35 :g3 e3 The second pawn makes its presence felt. 36 :xe3 "'cl+

37 '1txg2 38 Ι3 0-1

j.c6+ :xe3

Conclusion the vaήatίοη with 7 tZΊd5, ίη spite of the externally tranqui1 canvas, complications frequently aήse which are ηο less sharp than ίη other variations of the system. At present, it seems to us that 8 ...tZΊb8 is the more dependable continuation, although 8 ...tZΊe7 also allows hopes for a playable game. Ιη

137a4 This variation also leads Ιο a game which is rich ίη content, and is founded οη a solίd positional basis. Game30 Rublevsky - Κharlov Podolsk 1992

1 e4 cS 2lbf3 lbc6 3 d4 cd 4lbxd4 lbf6 5 lbc3 e5 6 lbdbS d6 7 a4 a6 8 lba3 (D)

• .. - Α..... A~tω.~

••

Β'Β _ _Β'.' _ ι.~~

•

Β Β Β ΔΒ ΒΔΒ Β ~ ~

~ ~ %''''''Δ~~

•

uRΔ uR

•

~+~1i'~ j.8 .:

Ιη

this situation there are two ΡήηcίΡaΙΙΥ different possibilities. With 8 ... J.e6, Black tries Ιο bring his pieces ίηΙο the battle quickly: ... %:tc8, ... lbd4, creating pressure 00 the c-file. Alternative cootinuations:

a) Black has tried by the mechanical means of 8••• h6 Ιο hinder a ρίη οη the knight, but after 9 iιc4 iιe6 10 ο-ο %:tc8 11 %:tellbb4 12 b3 iιe7 13 .ib2 ο-ο 14 'iWe2 'ii'c7 15 h3 %:tfe8 16 %:tad 1 'ii'c5 17 %:td2 Φh7 18 %:ted 1 (Radulov-Neckaf, Vratsa 1975) White firmly seized the ίο itiative. b) 8....ie7 solves the problem of developing the kίngside. b1) Ιι would seem that Black then also makes 9 .igS difficult, although after 9 ...lbxe4 1Ο lbxe4 (10 .ixe7lbxc3 11 .ixd8lbxdl =) 10... .ixg5 Illbxd6+ ~e7 12&4 .ie6 13 'iWf3! lbd4 14 'iWxb7+ 'i/ί'd7 15 'iWxd7+ (15 'i/ί'e4 f5 16 'i/ί'd3 .if6 with the initiative ίη return for the sacrificed pawn) 15 ... Φχd7 16 iιd3 iιe7 (Langier-Κramnik, Guarapuava 1991) White can sacrifice his knight for the initiative: 17 lbxf7 .ixf7 18 lbxe5+ Φe8 (or 18 .. .';tιe6 19 f4 ±) 19 0-0-0. Βυι 8...iιe7 has a more profound idea, which the following variation after 9 .ig5 illustrates: 9._0-0!? 10 .ixf6 (the capture is now necessary, ίη view of 10 ... lbxe4 being threatened ίη earnest) 1O...iιxf6 11 iιc4 .ig5 12 ο-ο Φh8 13lbd5 f5! (with

7 α4 133 the bishop οη e6 and the king οη g8 this move is ηο good because of lΩb6!) 14 ef (14 f3 is answered by 14....*.e6, when 15 lΩb6?? is impossible because of 15 ... "i'xb6+) 14....*.xf5 followed by ...e4 and ... lΩe5. The bishop has landed οη f5 ίη one move. The fight for an extra tempo and better distribution of pieces is ίη general characteήstic ofthe minor variations of the Sveshnikov, and ίη this case the prophylactic move 7 a4 gives Black too much freedom of movement and a large choice. b2) Line 'a' demonstrated a very promising arrangement of the white pieces, which is probably also possible after 8....*.e7, for example, 9 .*.c4 ο-ο 10 ο-ο .*.e6 11 1Iel (11 b3lΩxe4) 11••..:c8 (D) and now:

move had ηοΙ been seen) 13lΩxc4 lΩa5! 14lΩxa5 'ifxa5 15 .*.d2 'ifc7! (a queen sacήfice is also possible: 15 ...1Ixc3 16 1Ie3 1Ixe3 17 .*.xa5 1Ixe4 with some compensation), and Black is ΟΚ. This means that the plan with b3 is ηοι beneficial. b22) White could try 12 lΩd5 .*.xd5!? 13 ed lΩb8 14.*.f1 (planning ΙΟ arrange the white forces thus: .*.e3, lΩc4 and a5, 1Ia4-b4 or lΩb6, c4, b4) 14...1Ic5! 15 c4 b6! (15 ... a5!? 16.*.e3lΩfd7!? 17 .*.xc5 lΩxc5 with the idea of ... lΩba6. ... f5, ....*.f6) 16 b4 1Ic8 with a further battle for the dark squares by means of ... lΩfd7 and ... a5. From this ίι is clear that Black's opportunities are much richer without the passive ... h6. .*.e6 (D) 8

W b21) 12 b3 .*.xc4! (it's surprising that until this ροίηι this simple

9 .*.c4 The continuation 9lΩc4? is ηοΙ justified; ίη Korchnoi-Morovic,

134 7 α4 Santίago (5) 1991 Black contίnued 9 ...:c81O~e3lDd4?! (1O ... lDb4! is stronger: 1 Ι lDb6 :c6 12lDbd5 .a5 13lDxf6+ gf 14 ~d3 d5 =1=) 11 ~xd4 ~xc4 12 ~xc4 :Xc4 13 ~e3 with equality.

9 ...

:c8

Due Ιο the precarious position of the king Black cannot immediately solve his problems and seize the initiative by means of a standard tήck from simίlar positions: 9...~e710 ο-ο (D) and now:

a) 10••• ~xc4 11 lDxc4 lDxe4? 12lDxe4 d5 131!fg4! g614:dl f5 15 'Wg3 fe 16~e3 d4 (16... 0-017 lDb6 d4 18 lΩxa8 'δ'χa8 19 ~h6 :f5 20 'ikg4 :h5 21 ~d2 :h4 22 'ii'e6+ 'iPh8 23 :el and g3 ±) 17 lDxe5 ~d6 18 fuc6 ~xg3 19lDxd8 de 20 fg :xd8 21 :xd8+ ~xd8 22 :el Φd7 23 :xe3 with a winning rook ending for White, RublevskySveshnikov, USSR Ch 1991.

b) 10•••lDxe4 is also dangerous straight away because of 11 ~xe6 lDxc3 12 ~xf7+ ~f7 13 bc d5 14 "'f3+ ~f6 15 :bl with a strong attack, or gaining a better ending after 11 lDxe4 d5 12 ~b3 de 13 ~xe6 _xdl (l3 ... fe 14 _h5+ g6 151!fg4) 14~xf7+~xf715:xdl. c) 10...:cs 11 ~ι5 0-0 12 ~xf6 ~xf6 13 lDd5 ~g5 14 c3 ;t Rublevsky-Chekhov, USSR Ch 1991. 10 ~ι5 ~e7 11 ~XΙ6 ~xΙ6 12 lDd5 ο-ο 13 ο-ο ~ι5 14 c3 ~h8 (D) Ιη our ορίηίοη Black has ηοΙ conducted the opening very accurately. Some doubt exists as Ιο the expediency of the plan with ... ~e6 and ...:c8. Nevertheless, one of the key ρο sitions of the entire variatίon has arisen, and understanding ίι is very important for playing simίlar positions, which as a whole are typical of the Sveshnikov. After 14•••lDe7 15 _b3 ~xd5 (15 ...lDxd516edand 17_xb7) 16 ~xdS lDxdS 171!fxdS 1!fc7 18 :fdl :fd8 19 lDc2 an ideal cοπelatίοn of pieces, with possession of dS, arises for White, which gives him a big advantage; furthermore, Black is forced ιο watch passively as Whiιe reinforces, and counterplay with ... f5 is at this Ροίηι Ιοο laιe.

7α4

Clearly Black should avoid such positions by every means possible.

15 ~B2 If 15 'ife2, then 15•••~b8!? is not bad, with the plan of transferήng the knight to c5, whilst also keeping an eye οη the a4-pawn and preparing ... f5. Recently thίs manoeuvre ίη the Sicilίan Defence (the Boleslavsky System, for ίη stance) has become very popular, and is longer called into doubt (for losing time?), as moving the knίght Ιο c5 and ΡressuήΖίng e4 is Ιοο good an idea. Οη the other hand, 15•••~e7 scarcely allows Black Ιο hope for equality after 16 ~xe7 'ifxe7 17 1ΣadΙ 1Σfd8 (the moves ... Φh8 and ... 1Σfd8 don't fit together well) 18 ~xe6 fe 19 c4, with a slίght advantage for White, although Black has quite a solίd position.

15 •••

~e7

135

Here, 15•••~b8 is ηο good because of 16 ~c4, but the continuation ίη the game is quite sufficient for equalίty, as the bishop οη a2 is not best placed. In general Black has to follow the nuances constantly, and, depending οη White's continuation, vary his game. For example, why exactly did Black play 14...Φh8? Evidently to prepare ... f5. But the time for this plan has not yet arrived, ίη that 15••.f5 is met by 16 ~b6! gaίnίng mateήal. It is possible that this blow will not be carried out, but it does not mean that we should hurry to condemn the king move as an eποr. The threat was created all the same, and White was forced to deal with it somehow. True, alongside 14 ... Φh8, 14•••~b8, with the idea of bήngίng the knight to c5, deserved attention.

16 ~xe7

"'xe7

17 ~α Ι5?! Everything is already prepared for the blow, but it was possible to play the stronger 17••• ~xa2 18 1Σχa2 f5 19 ef 1Σχf5 20 ~b4 e4 :ι:. From thίs we can conclude that 15 ~a2 is weaker than the previously seen 15 'ifb2. 18 ~xe6 "'xe6

19 ef

Jbf5

20 .e~ "'f71! (D) 20••.1Σff8 is more precise, with the idea of ...d5.

136 7 α4

W 21 lbe3! ~xe3 Νοι 21 •••:'f6?? losing a piece ιο 22 'i!ί'g4, whίle after 21 ••':f4 22 :'adl :'xa4 23 :'xd6 White maintains a small advantage. 22 fe! h6?! 22•• + is better: 23 :'xf1 "d7 24 'i!ί'f3 h6 with defensive chances. 23 1i'g4! :'f8?? Black's previous move was ίη exact, but did ηοΙ yet have grave consequences, but just created additional defensive complications. Therefore, after 23.. + 24 :Xf1 'iWe8 White would be left with οηlΥ a slightly more pleasant position. The text, allowing a transfer Ιο a pawn ending via a rook ending, gives Whίte a decisive advantage. 24 :'xf5 1i'xf5 25 'ii'xf5 :'ΧΙ5 26 :'f1! (D) 26 ... :'f6 Clearly, Black cannot leave the f-file for an invasion by the white

.:.xn

rook. There remain two possibilί ties of moving ίηΙο a pawn ending. Let us examine them: a) 26.. J:ιxf1+ 27 ι;t>xf1 ι;t>g8 (moving Ιο the left does ηοΙ help the king either: 27 .. .rJ;;h7 28 ι;t>e2 ι;t>g6 {or 28 ... b4 29 c4 ι;t>g6 30 'iti>d2 ι;t>f5 31 ι;t>c3 ι;t>e5 32 a5 and Black is ίη zugzwang} 29 ι;t>d3 ιj;;f5 30 a5 +-) 28 ι;t>e2 ι;t>f7 29 ι;t>d3 d5 (after 29 ... ι;t>e6 30 Φc4 both 30 ... d5+ 31 <lί>c5 and 30... b6 31 e410se) 30 e4 ι;t>e6 31 a5! <lί>d6 32 b4 ιj;;e6 33 ed+ ι;t>xd5 34 c4+ ι;t>d6 35 ι;t>e4 ι;t>e6 36 b5 <ittd6 37 b6! winning. b) 26...g6 27 e4 (27 :'xf5? gf=; 27 g4 :'xf1+ 28 Φχf1 Φg7, and White has ηο win because of the weakness ofthe kίngside) 27 ...:'f4 28 :'xf4 ef 29 ι;t>f2 ι;t>g7 30 ι;t>f3 g5 31 a5! <lί>f6 (31 ... Φg6 32 ι;t>g4 and then h2-h4) 32 h4 ι;t>e5 33 hg hg 34 ι;t>g4 ι;t>xe4 35 ~xg5 <itte5 36 c4 ι;t>e4 37 'i1i>f6 <ittd3 38 ι;t>f5 and Whίte wins.

7α4

27 :xf6 28 e4! 29 ab

b5 ab

30 ~f2

~ι'

31 ~e2

31 ...~g6 32 g4 +-.

32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

ςpf3!

~g6

g4!

h4 h3

~e3 lίPf3 ~g3 Φxh3 ~g3 ~

lίPf7 ~e6

d5 de 1·0

Α very tense game, ίη which Black did not use all his opportunities, while White shone ίη technical accomplίshments and played the endgame virtuously.

137

Conclusion The move 7 a4 does ηοι cause Black any special trouble; thanks ιο the extra tempo he has good development and a large choice of plans, and he simply does ηοι need to force events ( ...ιt1f6xe4 is very often premature and fails to equalise). But adherents of quiet positional play (whilst indeed many variatίons ίη the Sveshnikov are quite sharp) can boldly be advised to play ίι as White; the precautίon ary move a2-a4 deprives Black of his actίvity οη the queenside ( ...b7b5), and if he succeeds ίη holding onto d5 with little 10ss of blood, then he can expect a definite advantage.

14 White plays 6 ~f5 Ιη this final chapter we will examine a deviation for White from the maίn vaήatίοn ίη the very early stages of the battle. 6 lLIf5 is the one that deserves most attention.

Game 31 Akopian - YakoVΊch Rostov on Don 1992

1 e4 c5 2lL1f3lLJc6 3 d4 cd 4lL1xd4 lDf6 5 lL!c3 e5

6 lLIfS (D)

variation choose this move? Ιη the first place, he could have seen the unnecessarily extravagant waste of four tempi only to transfer the knight Ιο a3. But ίη the second place, Akopian may have prepared something new... dS! 6 ΟηΙΥ this advance allows Black Ιο gaίn a level game. 7 ed ~xΙS 8 dc bc Exchanging queens is somewhat weaker: 8ooo'ifxdl+ 9 lLIxdl bc 10 lLIe3 ~e6 11 lLIc4lL1d7 12 ~e3 f6 13 0-0-0 ~c5 14lL1a5 with a minimal advantage to White. 9 'iff3 9 'ifxd8+ ]hd8 is ηοΙ dangerous for Black, for example, 10 ~e3 :'b8 11 0-0-0 ~b4 12 ~c4 a5 13 f3 ο-ο 14lL1a4 e4! with a level game. 'ίWd7 9 9ooo'ifc8 is ηο good, as ίι allows White to seize the initίative firm1y: 10 ~a6! 'ίWxa6 11 'ίWxf5 ~d6 12 ~h6! lLId5 13lDe4 Jl.e7 14 Jl.xg7. e4 (D) 10 ~gS After 10ooo~b4 11 ~xf6 gf 12 Jl.d3 ~xc3+ 13 bc Jl.xd3 14 cd 'ίWe6 15 ο-ο ο-ο 16 :'ael 'itth8 17 :'e4 f5 (Sax-Fedorowicz, Dubai OL 000

6 lLIf5 is Bronstein's move, which ίη all theoretical reference works is saίd ηοΙ Ιο lead Ιο an advantage. The questίon then is why did a grandmaster who is experienced ίη the finer points of the

White plαys 6lLJj5 139

1986), 18 :c4 would give White the better chances. Besides that, ίη this situation 10••ie7 suggests itself.

'W'xe6+ J.xe6 16 J.d2 to a position from the next note.

W 11 'ii'e2 J.e7 12 :dl Winning a pawn by means of 12 J.x:f6 J.xf6 13 lΩxe4 ο-ο! 14 lΩxf6+ gf 15 'ii'd2 :fe8+ 16 Wdl 'fie7 led to a long-term initiative for Black ίη Τsatuήan-Μarkauss, cοπ 1988-9. 12 ... 'ii'e6!? 13 .c4 :b8! 13...0-014 'W'xe6 i.xe6 15lLJxe4 lLJxe4 16 J.xe7 :fe8 17 f3! :xe7 18 fe i.d5 19 i.d3 i.xe4 20 Φf2 leads ΙΟ an ending that is somewhat worse for Black. 14 'ii'xe6? (D) Akopian, evidently, had ηοι foreseen Yakovich's reply. Otherwise he would have chosen 14 b3, which may lead after 14 ...J.b4 15

14 fe And here is a surpήse, but ίι is not White who has sprung ίι, but Black! Possibly Akopian was basing his play οη the game Parutenko-Markauss, COΠ. 1988-9, which continued 14••ixe6 15 b3 i.b416 i.d2 ο-ο 17 i.e2 :fd8 ;. One might suggest that the Armenian Grandmaster wished Ιο fight for an advantage by means of 17lLJa4. 15 b3 15lΩa4? loses ιο 15 ... e3. 15 lLJd5 16 i.xe7 Φχe7 17 lLJa4 Of course, White's idea was ηοΙ Ιο improve Black's pawn structure. After 17 lLJxd5, 17 ... ed or even 17 ... cd would give Black an unquestionable advantage. e3(D) 17 •••

140 White plays 6liJj5 Black is promised ηο real advantage after 17...lUb4 18 c3! liJc2+ 19 ~d2 e3+ 20 ~c 1 :hd8 (20 ...ef 21 :d2) 21 J.e2!.

18 c4! White must defend very carefully. Trying ιο bring the bishop into the struggle would have had unpleasantconsequences: 18 J.d3 ef+ 19 'iPxf2 :hf8 20 'iPg3liJe3 21 :d2J.xd3. 18 ... ef+ 19 'iPxf2 liJb4 20 J.e2! Again Akopian defends cleverly. Neither 20 liJc5 :hd8 21 J.e2 liJxa2 22 %Σal :d2 23 :hdl :xe2+ 24 'iPxe2liJc3+ 25 'iPelliJxdl, nor 20 liJc3 :hf8 21 ~e3 liJxa2! was any good. 20 ... liJxa2 21 :al liJb4 (D) 21 ...:hf8 was also possible, but ίι would not have led ιο a decisive

advantage either: 22 J.f3 liJb4 23 liJc5 a6 24 :hdl (24liJxa6? liJd3+) 24...e5 25 'iPg3.

W 22 liJc5 a6 23 :hdl! White falls into a dangerous ρο sition after 23liJxa6 liJxa6 24 %Σxa6 :xb3 25 :xc6 :b2 26 <ite3 :a8. 23 ... :hd8 24 :xd8 :xd8 (D) If 24...'iPxd8, then 25 g4.

White plαys 6 tDf5 141

25 1Ia4 1/2·1/2 Attempting to play actίvely by means of 25••• tiJc2 26 g4! J.g6 27 1Ixa6 1Id2 28 ':'a7+ Φf6 29 h4 tDd4 30 tDd7+ Φe7 31 Φe3 would have placed Black ίη a dίfficult ρο sitίon, whilst 25...1Σb8 would have led Ιο many exchanges and a draw.

Conclusion Although the author of the system, Evgeny Sveshnikov himself, suggested that Black might awaίt dίffi cultίes after 6 tDf5, this has not yet been confirmed ίη practίce. Black gaίns equality without any partίcu lar difficultίes.

Index of Vaήatίοns 1 2 3 4 5

e4 lL)f3 d4 lL)xd4 lL)c3

cS lL)c6 cxd4 lL)f6 eS

Α: 6lL)db5 d6 7 ..tg5 a6 8 lL)a3

b59lL)ds Β: 6lL)db5 d6 7 ..tg5 a6 8lL)a3 b5 9 ~xf6 gxf6 10 lL)d5 ..tg7 C: 6 lL)db5 d6 7 ..tg5 a6 8 ·lL)a3 b5 9 ~xf6 gxf6 10 lL)d5 f5 Ο: Other lines Α

6 lL)db5 d6 7 ~g5 a6 8 lL)a3 b5 9 lL)d5 9lL)abl ..te7 10 ~xf6 ..txf6 11 l2)d5 111 9 ... ~e7 9 •• :ii'a5+ 10 ~d2 (10 c3 49) 10••:ifd8: 11 ~g5 - see move 9! 11c444 11 ~d3 44 11 lL)xf6+ 45 10 ..txf6 10 lL)xe7 40 10 ••• ~XΙ6 11 c3

11 c4 20 11 g3 20 11lL)bl: 11 ...0-0111 11 ....:.b8 111 11 ...~b7 114 11 ••• 11 ...lDe720 11•••0-0 12ltJc2: 12.....tg524 12.....tb721 12 lL)c2 12••..:.b8: 13 a3 34 13 'iί'd3 29 13 ..td3 30 13 ~e229 13 b4 36 13 h4 36 13 a4 14fu314 14 ':'xa4 16

~b7

lL)b8

bxa4

6 7 8 9 10 11 11 c463 11 g3 74

lL)db5 ~g5

lL)a3 ..txf6 lL)d5 c3

d6 a6 b5 gxf6 ..tg7

144 lndex ο/ Variations 11 ~d3 0e7 12 tiJxe7 'ifxe7: 13 c3 54 13 ο-ο ο-ο 14 c4 59 Ι5 11 exf5 12 12 g4 63 ~xΙ5 12 13 tiJc2 ο-ο 13 ... ~e6 70 13 ... tiJe781 14 tiJce3 ~e6 14...~g6 64 15 g3 15 ~d3 79 After 15 g3: 15 ... &Δe764 15 ...b464 15 ....:tb865 15 ... ~xd5 67

12 c3 95 12 ο-ο 101 12 ••• 12... ~g7 95 After 12...:g8: 13 g3 90 13 c3 91 13 ο-ο 91 130-0-091 D

6 tiJdb5 6 tiJf5 138 6 ... d6 7 ~g5 7 a4 132 7 &Δd5 tiJxd5 8 exd5: 8... &Δe7122 8... tiJb8126 7 ... a6

8tiJa3~e6

d6 6 tiJdb5 a6 7 ~g5 b5 8 tiJa3 9 ~XΙ6 μΙ6 fS 10 tiJd5 11 ~d3 11 ~xb5 axb5 12 tiJxb5 106

9 liJc4 ':'c8

11 ... 12 'iί'hS

~e6

:g8

10~xΙ6

10 tiJd5 116 10 ••• 1O...'iWxf6 117 After 1O... gxf6: 11 tiJe3 117 11 ~d3 117 11 tiJd5 119

μΙ6