Chess Opening Essentials: Indian Defences, Vol. 3

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Author: Stefan Djuric | Dimitri Komarov | Claudio Pantaleoni

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Chess Opening Essentials is an accessible primer and a reference book at the same time. It gives a flavour of,hor,r' e-\,ery- opening rvorks and explains the similarities lvith other openings as well as the clifferences. In addition, it also points at the various middlegame plans that appl.v nfter the opening has ended.

Grandmasters Dimitri Komarov and Stefan Djuric, and International l{aster Claudio Pantaleoni do not propagate forcing tactical variations to be menrorized mechanicall'r.', but explain rvhat vou shoulcl actually be rrying to achieve w-hen pla.t'ing the opening of your choice. The.-v inclucle the mair-r alternative responses and give clear inclications for further studr,'.

This thorottgh, understandable. and ven' readable manual gives vou a foundation on which to build your repertoire. Beginning and improving chess players should get this porverful book befbre thev buv an.y other chess opening book!

line explairred and the reader: rnade hungry for more, but he gets enough strategic knorvledge and insider-tips to get. even if he pla,vs the opening for thc first time, into the rrricldlegamc safelv" "N*ot only is the rnain

Rochade Europa Magazine

"All systems are clearl.v listed and presentecl, rvithout losing itself in endless variations." FreeChess.com

"l don't think sornething liker Chess OJiening

Essentials. in this size, vet exists. For players rvith a rating up to 1900, this book coyers a Iarge part of the roAcl." Schakers.Info

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Chess Opening Essentials

Volume 3 - Indian Defences, Complete

Praise for Chess Opening Essentials Volume 1: The Complete 1.e4 "The amount of information available on chess openings is so gigantic that one gets almost all l.e4 systems are clearly listed and presented, without losing itself in endless variations." FreeChess.com

suffocated. In this book

"Gives an outline of each opening and major variation in tum, explaining the ideas and most popular choices for the benefit of elementary players. I was impressed by the practical advice given in the notes in this well-produced volume."

British Chess Magazine "Full of great ideas, clear explanations and instructive games (...) I have frequently enjoyed browsing through the beautifully-presented volume." GM Paul Motwani, The Scotsman

"I think this

is one of the few nearly indispensable works on the openings that belong in every amateur's library." The Chess Mind

"When you open this fat paperback for the first time, you will be surprised: colorl Compared with this, books from Everyman, Gambit or Olms look like black-and-white television. (...) Not only is the main line explained and the reader made hungry for more, but he gets enough strategic knowledge and insider-tips to get, even if he plays the opening for the first time, into the middlegame safely." Erik Rausch, Rochade Europa Magazine

"It

is about the basics of the opening, about ensuing middlegame positions, and about the plans one should pursue. Ideal for the club player who wishes to improve."

Nederlands Dagblad

'At

the beginning ofeach major variation there is an extensive exposition ofideas, structures and plans. The games do give a good impression of the sfyle of a particular opening system and will help the student to decide if he feels 'at home' in the positions."

Thomas Berens, Chess-International

'A

complete overview of all 1.e4 openings, well explained with a large amount of readable text. Buy it for the clear cut explanations!" John Elburg Chess Reviews

"A patzer like me, Iet alone someone with

an Elo rating under 1700, should not buy a complex monography on the Najdorf before getting this instructive opening book." Pekka Pakarinen, Suomen Shakki Magazine (Finland)

"Well organized, easy to follow, adequate space for notes to other opening references. Good explanations of why a particular opening is or isn't used by the world's best players." Mark Weeks, About.com

"I don't think something like with

a

'Chess Opening Essentials', in this size, yet exists. For players rating up to 1900 this book covers a large part ofthe road."

Schakers.Info

The complete Ches Opaiog Esenticls series:

Volume 1: The Complete 1.e4 Volume 2: l.d4 d5 / 1.d4 various / Queen's Gambits Volume 3: Indian Defences, Complete Volume 4: l.c4 / 1.6ft / Minor Systems (appears 2010)

Stefan Diuric

- Dimitri Komarov -

Claudio Pantaleoni

Chess Opening Essentials Yolume 3 - Indian Defences, Complete

New In Chess 2009

2009 New In Chess @ Messaggerie Scacchistiche 2005 Revised and updated English edition published by New In Chess, Alkmaar, The

Netherlands www.newinchess.com This edition is published by arrangement with Le due Torri - ft.ly - www.chess.it

-

Chess Departrnent Store

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by aoy means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission from the publisher. Editor: Pierluigi Passerotti Cover design: Steven Boland Editor English edition: Peter Boel Translator: Richard Jones Proofreading: Ren6 Olthof Production: Anton Schermer

ISBN- I 3 : 97 8-90-5 69 l -27 0-3

Preface This is an ideal book for the active club player who wants to understand what's going on in the opening of a chess game. I believe Chess Opening Essentials is:

a o o

Comprehensiae:

it covers all main variations likely to arise

Easy-to-use: important moves and key positions are highlighted

in colour

Long-lasting: it doesn't outdate quickly because it is about the basics, not the latest

fashions

. o o

Complete:

it explains the plans and counterplans for both White and Black

Down-to-earfh: simple, verbal introductions (no database-dump full ofdead trees) Conaenienf : every

opening is illustrated with

a

number of instructive games.

The authors quite lucidly explain the plans behind the various openings, as well as many subde similarities and differences between them. This way, without giying endless variations, they manage to get across the essence of every opening. Also, the often colourful history of variations is elaborated upon il an entertaining way. Although Chess Opening Essentials is about understanding the ideas behind the openings, and not about following dre latest fashions in top-level chess, we could not do without a limited amount of updating. This volume of the originally Italian series Capirele Aperf ure (published in 2 0 0 5) has been brought up to date with new developments and games until the beginning of 2009. The colours in this book we believe to be a great help for the reader to navigate more quickly, and to distinguish beftveen, for instance, main lines and others. Coloured text highlights important moves, and also key initial positions and positions arising after important sequences. Bold type, be it in black or in colour, indicates main lines, which are also classified and sub-classified. Lines given in italics are unsound lines that should be avoided. But this is not all. There are also numerous graphic features highlighting moves, plans, and suong or weak points. We believe that all this makes for a higtrly pleasant and accessible presentation, and hope that you, our readers, will agree. I am convinced that by studying this book, beginners, casual players as well as club players can improve their game and enjoy a deeper understanding of the game of chess in its entirety. For even stronger players it can be a tool to test and review their

opening repertoire. Peter Boel

Editor

Chess Opening Essentiols

-

Volume 3

Glossary of chess symbols !! !? ?! ?

brilliant move

+-

interesting move dubious move

+

mistake

?? blunder

N t +

+ = +

novelty

+

initiative

-+

attack

#

White has a decisive advantage White has a clear advantage White has a slight a&nntage equal Black has a slight advantage Black has a clear advantage Black has a decisive adrnntage checkmate

Gontents Preface.

symbols Introduction. Glossary of chess

Minor Defences: 1.d4 Af6 2.c4 - 2...6c6 and 2...b6.

- BudapestGambit2...e5. - Oldlndian(with...Ae7).. MinorDefences after 1.d4 Af6 2.c4c5 - BenkoGambit - BenkoGambitDeclined-4.Various. - BenkoGambitAccepted ModemBenoniDefence - FianchettoVariation. - Variations with 6f3 - Variationswithf2-f4 - Minorvariations after6.e2-e4g7-g6. - BronsteinVariation7...a6!? - Mainline.' CatalanOpening - OpenCatalan - Semi-OpenCatalan - Closed Catalan BlumenfeldGambit. Bogo-IndianDefence Queen'slndianDefence - Petrosian Variation 4.a3. . - 4.93 Variation' Nimzo-IndianDefence - KasparovVariation4.aB- Siimisch Variation - Variation4.R.. - CapablancaVariation4.Vc2 - RubinsteinVariation4.e3... - Rubinstein Variation with 4...0-0 - ClassicalMainline GriinfeldlndianDefence.... - FianchettoVariationwithg3 - Minorlinesafter3.6c3d5.... - ExchangeVariation - Exchange Variation with 7.hB

.... ....''

'

5 6

"'---9 --

- 14

'...15 ......-.20 ... '....25 ...'.-28 ...-..29 ....34 .. ' ' '...42 .......45 . . . . .... 47 ......-49 ...'..54 ........58 ........59 ........69 ....'..70 ........76 ..-" 86 ....90 ...."'.99 .

.

106

..... ll4 '.137

......-143 .

.

147

"..153 .,..........160 ......I72 ..

. I82

...'.'.192 '.. I97 ..'...200

...204

.......210 ...

'

213


-

Volume 3

- Exchange Variation with 7.4c4. - MainlineoftheT.Ac4Yariation... - RussianVariation King's Indian Defence - FianchettoVariation. - MinorVariations - AverbakhVariation - Siimisch Variation - Classical Variation - Mainline.. - Mar del Plata Variation Index ofPlayers.' . .

. . . 222

'.....23I

...238 .

. 248

"---'249

.-.261

.".."274 .

'

280

' . 298

.......304 . . . . 309

....

333

After the move 1.d4. White has the same dm as with 1.e4, namely to advance the compalion central pawn fwo squares so

EAEgEgAE t r l. lrl,l*l

as to physically occupy the centre. Aware of this, Black normally wiII exert control over the e4-square with one of

the following moves in order to frustrate White's plan:

1...d5

g.Ag'

':,.:, :'-

'

lll

AAAAAAAA

tr

agg€aa

tr '1,..,_

In the second and third volumes in our series on the opening phase of the game we will study the positions that occur after the move 1.d4. We have decided to divide this into two volumes because of the large amount of material involved. In the second volume we have looked at all the defences that are defined by the

'.:',,,..

A A Ai ZIAA,

AAF? B Q1 I A

1...4f6 (vol.3)

ElhE

tl*ll

move 1...d5, and the less popular

E€8. E ltl t

defences (the Dutch, the Modern, 1...e6

etc.). In this third volume we

AAA AAAA

will examine all 1...6fe (the introductory move for the Indian

tr agg€AA tr

the defences that arise after

defences).

or

EhABSA E l r I I l,l.l.l t,".

,

.:,..

a

.

-

more rarely

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A

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...f5

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- with

tr

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tr

aag€aa

tr

Chess Opening Essenticls

-

Volume 3

After l. e4, Black can let White occupy the two centre squ:ues - by playing the French, the Caro-Kann or the Pirc - also after l.d4 Black can ignore White's threat to push his pawn to e4 and play 1...e6, 1...d6 or 1...c6. Here White is allowed the opportunity to play 2.e4 naturally, transposing into one of the semi-open g.rmes. However, most of the time, a l.d4-player will choose to play 2.CA so as to remain within the realms of the Queen's Pawn Game. Throughout our book, we use the term Queen's Pawn Game in its most general sense, i.e. for any chess opening which stafts with 1.d4, regardless of whether White follows up with an early pawn advance to c4, ornot. Let's go back a step, and repeat the question we asked at the beginning of the ftrst volume: Whnt is tlu best moae in this position?

t ffisffi€ffihffi

ffi ir$rerffirffir

ffiwffiffi ffiffiffi ffiffiffiffi ffiS# ffi ffiffiw ffi ffi

A A ffiAffiAffiAre

affisffisffiE

of moving the strategic centre of gravity to the kingside (where we usually find the tn'o kings after casding), laying the groundwork for an attacking initiative against the black monarch, something which is less common vantage

in the Queen's Pawn Game.

if all this is true, why is rhe move 1.d4 equally popular and equally

Well,

sfrong?

The answer to this question lies

in the fact that after Black's principal responses, White can continue with 2.c4!, leaving the c4 and d4 pawns aligned, with strong control of the centre. This is not something that happens in a King's Pawn Opening; well, at least

not in the open games, or when Black plays the Sicilian, with the very intention of denying White the opportunity to align the two centre pawns. To put things simply, you could say that

with

1.e4, White has the honourable intention of delivering a quick checkmate to the black king; while rhe move l.d4 represents a more patient attempt to control the centre, acquire greater piece mobility, gain some material and win in the endgame. Therefore, we have the popular conception that 1 d4 is a positional move, while l.e4 is an ag-

The classical approach is still to occupy the centre with pawns. But which pawn

gressive, tactically orientated one.

should we move first, given that there

way of seeing things is to a certain extent true, one should keep an

are two centre pawns to choose from?

As we noted before, our great-grandparents had few doubts: the move 1.e4! It favours the development of the king's bishop and the queen.It also has the ad-

l0

Even

if this

open mind. For example, the young Karpov - the quintessentially solid player - preferred to open with l.e4; Kasparov in the I 920's and 80's - when

Introduction

he was probably even more aggressive than at the end of his career - usually

ing for even the most seasoned attacking player. The point is that it is {ine to

chose 1.d4.

know and respect the general principles that have shaped our chess thinking

With 1.e4, it is doubtlessly true that White often has a good initiative against the black king from a strategic point of view - one only has to think of certain lines in the Sicilian. However, there are more than a few variations af-

ter 1.e4 in which Black

casdes queen-

side, taking the king away from the heat of the battle, with the intention of forcing a slow strategic struggle - the Classical Variation of the Caro-Kenn immediately comes to mind.

There is also no doubt that 1.d4 is the more solid choice; however, there are certain lines in the Four Pawns Attack of the King's Indian, and even more so,

in the Bowinnik Yariation of

the

Semi-Slav (which we discuss in Volume 2), which are absolutely hair-rais-

since the times of Wilhelm Steinitz. However, they should be utilized with the awareness that every position has its unique characteristics, and therefore generalisations may be irrelevant in any given position. Here is a useful example to make this idea clearer: if you employ three tempi to exchange a bad bishop for a good one, you perform a strategically justified marloeuwe. However, if in those tluee tempi your opponent can launch a winning attack against your king, yoril manoeuwewas simply afatal error. Thus, we see the difficulty and beauty of chess: the necessity to be able to

weigh up the interconnected relationships berween dynamic and strategic/positional elements.

l1

2...c5 3.d5 b5 Benko Gambit 3...e6 ModernBenoni 2...e6 3 .6ft b6 Queen's

Indian

3...4b++fogo-Indian

s € tr tcrtr n**

2...e6 3.g3 d5 Catalan 2...96 3.hc3 d5 Griinfeldlndian

ffiEfi Eg

:GT

:a::l

:=

ar:

t* ?i:AA,

n

AAI-R-:

*:*

,:t

A$ *ti A 'x EA gs Afitr

s.IAgz King'slndian

I

It is important to remember that White l:^^--^*.1-1,ri\i5 .L^:--^-..:.L the frequently plays -t^-.^ 2.6f3 with intention of delaying the c2-c4 advance. This move has already been discussed in the section on the Queen's Pawn Game (l.da without an early c4 in the 2nd volume of our series). The knight move has the advantage of avoiding some defences (the Budapest

As we mentioned before, the Indian defenceshave 1...2tf6 asacommonde- Gambit, the Benko Gambit and the nominator. However, they are then later Benoni), but at the same time it obvidifferentiated by Black's second or third ously limits White's options as he can move reply to 2.c4. Which move Black no longer push the f-pawn or develop chooses will determine the strategic theknighttoe2. characteristics of the game. Below is a Before going on, we will have a glance tableofthemostimportantdefenceswe at two rare minor lines: 2...6c5 with willdealwith. the replies 3.4c3 and 3.4f3, and 2...e5 Budapestcambit 2...b6.

l3


-

Volume

3

4.

d4-d5

Or 4.6f3 and we are in an English Openingwith 1...e5.

4. H *re A)

6b8-c6

2.

ffia #ffiffi ffi15

+trEi

/\

ffiffi Affi

ffi

ffi

ffiffi #ffi

#ffi

nffi

a*s ffi AffiSA ffie

;lgjE ffiaffi ffiAffi

A

somewhat provocative move that should not be ulderestimated; certaidy, if its respectable results are anything to go by. Black is not worried about the knight being kicked about and prepares a possible pawn advance to e5. Often you see transpositions to the Bogo-Indian or the Nimzo-Indian, and sometimes also the King's Indian. It is now a relatively fashionable defence and has been dignified with an imaginative n.une: the Black Knights'Tango. In effect, if White pushes d4-d5 and perhaps f2-f4, Black will make a number of successive knight moves that makes one think of a dance. However, White rarely cooperates by playing 3.d5 as he usually wants to avoid creating the chaotic positions that Blackwould appear to enioy.

A1) 3. Abl-c3

rffirffi rffi

ffi*ffi ffi *ffiAffi ffi

sw

ffiffi

A A ffiS

ffi

f-iffi

n a$a ffis *{S

Affi

5. e2-e4 5.h4!?, to discourage both ...96 and ...6g6, is not often played, but it looks promising.

5.

Ae7-g6

The most thematic, with the idea of ex-

ploiting the weakened dark squiles. However, Black can also continue with 5...d5, followed by ...g6, ..3g7 and ...0-0, and if White responds with the natural Af:, Ae2 and 0-0, we have a transposition to the Mar del Plata r/ariation of the King's Indian!

6.

Ac1-e3

Preventing ...4c5.

6. 7. f2-tg 8. b2xc3 9. gd1-d2 10. h2-h4!

gf8-b4 gb4xc3+!? d7-d6

at6-d7 h7-h6

11. g2-93

And White's initiative more than compensates for the weaknesses in his pawn structure.

e7-e5

The alternative 3...d5 transposes to the Chigorin Defence.

t+

ffiEffi€ ffi ffiAffi

EffiE effi

ffirffi I $rerffi I

Q-:c6-e7

A2> 3. 6s1-f3 The most popular move.

Minor Defences: 1.d4 616 2.c4 3.

e7-eG

This position is often reached via the move sequence 2...e6 3.6f3 hc6l?. 4. az-as Before occupying the centre, White puts a stop to ...4U+, and in so doing he maintains the defining characteristics of this minor defence. Indeed, after 4.g3 Ab++ s.Adz Wez, you are in a Bogo-Indian, while after 4.4\c3 AU+ you transpose to a Nimzo-Indian. 4. d7-d6 5. Ab1-c3 g7-g6!? 5...4e/ is playable but passive. 6. e2-e4 Af8-g7 7. Af1-e2 0-0 8. 0-0 It is difficult to say if there are more advantages or disadvantages with this position compared to a normal King's Indian: the c6 knight may be useful, but the e6 parvn will certainly be played to e5. However. it is also true that White's pawn on a3 is of doubtful value.

B) 2. b7-b6 A doubtful way to proceed. As we will see in our discussion of the Queen's Indian, Black should only fianchetto his bishop if White relaxes his control of e4 as a result of playing Af3. 3. 6b1-c3 Ac8-b7 4. Wd1-c2!

Now there is nothing Black can do to stop e2-e4.

4. 5. c4xd5 6. 6g1-f3 7. e2-e4 8. b2xc3

d7-d5 Af6xd5 e7-e6 6d5xc3

And White is doing better

as he has an

improved version of the Petrosian Variation of the Queen's Indian, in which he has saved a tempo as there is no need to play a2-a3.

Budapest Gambit 2...e5

1. d2-d4 2. c2-c4 8.

trf8-e8!?

With the idea of a pawn advance to e5 and then to play ... ad4. 9. d4-d5l? And we have a position that is not easy to evaluate.

6g8-f6 e7-e5

This enterprising gambit was first proposed by the Hungarian player Breyer in 1917. and hence the name. It was already doing its stuff the following year at the Berlin tournament (Rubinstein playing White had to face it three times, 15


-

Volume 3

earning a meagre haif-point!). Some prefer to describe the Budapest as a defence rather than a gambit, as the pawn

A)

E ffi A

In the past, it was a favourite of Thrtakower and R6ti. Now it is given an occasional outing by strong players, but only as a means to get off the beaten

it is not usually part of

€ffi

A,E.B€& :l

their

a

,g

IrIr II ffiffiffiffi ffiffiffiffi Waff 3W # ffiffiffiffi

ffi$ffi

ffi:

ffi AA ffi Affi ffiffiffi A ffi ffi AnHffin, #Ii A.ffi

normal repertoire:

E

:€ffi ffi

tr il ffi I ffir$re I ffi iiF.l ffi trH

'sacrifice' is only temporary.

path and

Af6-e4

3.

ffiAffi FI

From the anything-is-playable school of chess, we have the Faiarowicz Yariation, which is probably better than irs reputation would suggest. There have been recent attempts to promote its re-evaluation, induding some thick books dedicated to this ask alone. Black wishes to create active play on the dark squares with ...4U++, or more rarely with ...9h4.

Affi ffiAffiAffi Ea&ggad\tr

Its strategic concept is ambitious: Black wishes to demonstrate that the move 2.c4is premature!

3. d4xe5

A1) 4.

Fritz's move.

broken, and Black exploirs the weakened dark' squares with lively piece play. However, in real life thing do not alThus, White's central pawn front is

gd1-d5

4. 5. Abl-d2 6. a2-a3 7. Aclxd2 8. Ad2-g5!

Af8-b4+ 6e4-c5 Ab4xd2+

8.

9d8xg5

b7-b6!

run so smoothly: Black must lose Not 8.Wxa8?, when the queen is lost time to recuperate the pawn, often hav- after...AbZ and...6c6.

ways

ing to

exchange

off one of the

two

bishops, only to iind himself \Mirh a 9. WdSxaS tsg5xe5 passive position that is usually without And it is not obvious how White should

prospects.

bestproceed. Because of this. riskier variations in which Black does not seek ro win back A2, 4. gd1-c2 d7-d1l? the e5 pawn are becoming increasingly 5. ebxd6! Ac8-f5t popular. These may be speculative lines, 6. Ab1-c3t Ae4xd6 but in tournament play they ofren score 7. e2-e4 6d6xe4! g. Afl-dg! well. Perhaps because White does nor treat them with enough respect! 8.axe4 is too risky: 8...4M+ 9.€e2 Ac6.

l6

Minor Defences: 1.d4

8.

6te4xf2l 6f2xh1

9. Ad3xf5

With unclear play.

A3) 4. 6,b1-d2 6e4-c5!? 5. 691-f3 6b8-c6 6. s2-s3 d7-d6! 7. e5xd6 Wd8xd6 8. Af1-92 AcB-fS 9. 0-0 0-0-0 And the chess engines agree that Black should be pleased with the compensation he has received.

Aq 4. 6g1-f3

AfB-b4+

+...b6!?.

5. Ac1-d2!? 6. Ablxd2 7. a2-a3 8. Wd1xd2 9. Wd2-c3

4,e4xd2 6b8-c6 Ab4xd2+ Wd8-e7 b7-b6!?

Keeping both castling options open.

10. e2-e3 11. Af1-e2 12. Ea1-dl

So as

Ac8-b7 0-0-0

to defend the pawn with EdS.

12....

Ed8-e8!?

The other rook is destined for g8.

13.

Ed1-d5

Z.c+

A5) 4. a2-ag Using a tempo ro stop the irritatlng check...Ab4+. 4. 6b8-c6 +...Wh+ looks artiff.cial: 5.g3 gh5 6.992 Bxe5 7.4f3, and White has a big lead in development and all the associated advantages that come with it. An attempt to make the variation valid could be 4...b61?.

5. Asl-f3 6. Wd1-c2!

d7-d6!?

E., AB @EE rrl lll ,al A

A

AA

,,:',:.

14)

AW

traa

AAAA

€4tr

Taking on d6 gives good compensation to Black.

6. 7. e2-e3

d6-d5

The instability of Black's cenrre should represent a clear advantage for White.

Eh8-s8

B) 3.

EEE

back on e5.

EAES€E llll llr

F?A ,lJ 21

A

A g ABAAAA AA

EAElI\ c$l HH

6f6-ga

The most played. Black wants to take

rgrrgrlr la A

6Ie

E

A

H

With the idea of ...g7-g5. The position is too complex for a simple evaluation.

.A A AA AAAA tr agggaa tr t7


Now there

-

Volume

3

are three alternatives:

81) 4.

e2-e4 on development, but the weak dark squares may cause White some discomfort later on in the game. 4. 6g4xe5 5. t2-t4 6e5-cG Also 5...hg5!? is playable; it invites the pawn advance f+-fS, but leaves the c6-square for the other knight. 6. Ac1-e3 Stopping...AcS. 6. Af8-b4+ Focuses

7. abl-d2t It is best to avoid the doubling of pawns

After 6.6c31?, Black has to casde and should not be in a hurry to take back on e5: 6...6gxe5?! 7.6xe5 6xe5 8.f4! Ace S.AdS, and White has the initiative.

6. 7. 0-0 8. Af3xe5 9. Abl-c3

0-0

6g4xe5 6c6xe5 Ef8-e8

10. b2-b3 10.f4!?.

10....

Ac1-b2

a7-as

11. Ea8-a6!? A typical way to get the rook over to the kingside.

12.6c3-e4

Ac5-a7

on the c-file.

Wd8-e7

7.

8.

a2-a3t?

An interesting sacrifice. 8.9d3 f5 is OK for Black.

8.

9. €e1-f2 10. gd1xd2

ffi

Be7xe4 Ab4xd2

I $rerffirffi I Et ffiffiffiffi SEF

ffiffi

rffirffirffir

ffiffi^ffi ffiffi ffi a ffiffisffiffi

ffi

ffiffiffi ffiffiffiAffi Affitr

It is diflicult to say if White has got enough compensation for the pawn.

82) 4. 6s1-f3

Af8-c5

4...6c6 5.4g5!.

5. e2-e3 6. Af1-e2

18

6b8-c6

a

ffiffiaffi

ffi#

AffigSffi Affi ffigffiAffi

EffiEffi€ffi ffi ffiffi

EffiEffi€

ffi

:ffi

ffiwsffiffitrffi

gdl-ds

13. Ea6-h6!? 14. Ab2xe5 c7-c6 g7xf6! 15. And anything could happen.

Ae5-f6l

83) 4. Acl-f4 This is considered to be the most accurate: noq after 4...4c5 5.e3, unlike in Variation 82, the pawn does not block the path of the dark-squared bishop.

4.

6b8-c6 4...g5 pops up now and then: 5.493 (s.gd2 is also good) 5...Ag7 6.6R o'c6 7.dc3 Agxe5 8.Axe5 Axe5 9.e3 d6 10.4e2, and the pawn on 95 is not a

Minor Defences: 1.d4 pretty sight. The gambit line 4...9b4+ 5.4d2 d6 is double-edged, but probably unsound: 6.exd6 Wfe z.Ahgt Axfz

8.€xf2 Axh3

9.g31.

s. 6s1-f3

EAgE

tllr

'L

EA AANAA'\ AA

Af8-b4+

rlr

6.

a

AA

AA a

AA'\AA'{ q) AA

AAAA

17461

way.

7. 8. Af3xe5 9. Af1-e2

6g4xf6 d7-d6

11. e2-e3 at too.

11.

... 12. At1-e2

0-0 b7-b6

13.0-0

Ac8-b7

r-e.r

lar

E€

g lr a

::, AWAa

Ff e

0-0

for White; indeed, after 13...d6 there is 14.Axe5 dxeS (forced) 15.Eacl, with clear advantage.

10.0-0

After 10...d5 and 1 1.4b3. the

b+ bishop has some problems. An interesting alternative is 10...496 1l.Ag3 (if

the bishop takes on c7,

A/h AE

AAAAA A

6g4xe5 Ac6xe5

9...b6 10.0-0 Axd2 I 1.gxd2 Ab7 17.c5 ? bxcS 13.Wa5, with nice play

a

E

AAA

Wd8-e7

Ab4xc3+!

worth looking

AA

AA

White wishes to save the tempo that would be needed to play 7.a3 6gxe5 8.hxe5 (taking on b4 allows S...ad3 checkmate!) 8...6xe5 9.e3 Axd2+ 10.Wxd2 d6 11.4e2 0-0 12.0-0 b6 13.b4, which gives White an edge any-

much so. It leaves the d-file open for the defence of the e5 pawn by the queen.

.g3 !? is

/\/1

trg€4tr

tr

Ab1-c3

6. 7. b2xc3 8. gd1-d5 9. e5xf6 10. gd5-d3

ab1-d2

EAs E I r I rgr I r

E

An ambitious move - perhaps too

11

6.

Ell

2.c4

White seeks a positional advantage and not the preservation of the extra pawl. 6. Wd8-e7 7. e2-e3

A

A

tra g€a B31)

B32)

6f6

A A

Fl .0-) eE

With good compensation for the paurn.

it will be

trapped) 11...4d6!? 12.Axd6 9xd6 13.4e4! We5! 14.4c3 and Black still needs to complete his development, but

his position seems playable.

11. 12.

Wdlxd2 gd2-d5!?

d7-d6

19


-

Volume

3

Inviting Black to play the pawn to c6, and in doing so, weaken d6. The moves 12.b4 and l2.Bc3 are also promising.

12.... 13. trf1-dl

Ef8-e8 6e5-g6

14. Af4-g3

not to stop e4-e5 and then fianchetto on the kingside, but rather in preparation for a quick ...e7-e5 - either immediately or after a preparatory ...4bd7. The plan was then to continue by solidly developing the bishop to e7, creating a position that resembles the Philidor Defence (1.e4 e5 2.4f3 d6), with rhe diflerence that White's pawn is on c4. The resulting

positions are solid but a little passive. Nonetheless, it is not rare for the posi-

tion to open up after a long

A;x AE

e $aa ..:.,,

.

phase

marked by lengthy manoeuwing. Lr the past, the Old Indian was played once in a while by Chigorin, Capablanca and R6ti, and later on by Kotov, Bronstein, Boleslavsky, Petrosian and Larsen. It is still relatively popular as it is one of

of the two bishops and the ever-present positional threat of a c4-c5 advance represent a clear advantage for

those openings one can play without

White. White may not win automatically; however, even with correct play

stand the typical manoeuwes.

Possession

Black's task is an arduous one.

Old Indian (with ... Ae7)

1. d2-d4 2. c2-c4 ',' lrr,:'1i'i;:i:r.:, '.:,, ' ,

E

',:t,,:,

698-f6 d7-d6 ln..':]:ti=.:n:i:i,::'

ff-e.,ge

.E rtf ...f. I n

$ l*'

,.,.

Agg€4fftr Before the King's Indian enjoyed its boom in popularity, Black played ...d6 20

having to remember long, precise move sequences; it is usually enough to under-

3. 6b1-c3 White often plays 3.6f3 so as to stop ...e7-e5 (generally transposing with 3...4bd7 followed by ...e7-e5). Remember that Black can always play ...96 and ...4g7 with a transposition to the King's Indian, and in this case, White

may be caught out if variations with Af3 are not part of his repertoire. The move 3...4f5 is more originai (better now than after 3.6c3, as explained in the notes for the Janowsky Variation below) 4.6c3 AbdT (or 4...h6) unconcerned about exchanging offone of the two bishops after 5.Ah+ as this move lessens White's control of the cenre. 3. e7-e5 In some books this is called the Ukrainian Variation. Black is not worried

Minor Defences: I.d4 about exchanging his queen; however, if he does not want to simplify, he can prepare for the ...e7-e5 advance with

6fe

Z.c+

the queen now blocks the path of the f8

bishop) 6.94! Axg4 7.Ag2

AeZ 8.Agxe4Axe4 9.Axe4t? c6 t0.gd3.

3...4bd7. An akernative is 3...4f5. which is some-

times called the Janowsky Variation, which was also played by Colle and Capablanca. The idea is stop e2-e4. At *ris point, White can contilue quietly with 4.g3 or 4.61c-, and we have an Old Indian in which the bishop on f5 does not seem so usefully placed. However, the critical move is obviously 4.f3, which endeavours to create a large centre with a gain of tempo: 4...e5! 5.e4 (s.ds ea!) 5...exd4 6.Wxd4 Ace z.WdZ Ae6 8.b3 , and White has an edge. Let's return to the Ukrainian Variation. 3

...e5

.

f::

lr I

.Eg&E ,1,

-fi

ldh

AA

,\ q\ FT

E

l'l I

"'AN I

r ..'t

AA cl z_1

r.,.,

r, l

l^\ q\

A A.A A E

gg€4,',',

After 4...6bd7 White can choose from three main lines. Please note that we do not discuss variations in which Black plays a kingside fianchetto. These will

be

discussed King's Indian.

in the section on the

4. 6s1-f3 4.e4 has the advantage of physically stopping Black from advancing to rhis square, and White also has the option of developing the knighr ro e2. However, there is the possibility of 4...exd4 5.Bxd4 Ac6, and Black has an acrive

play e2-e3 only after the bishop has been developed. The resulting game tends to be positional, but you will see plenty of sharp lines whenever White

game.

unexpectedly castles queenside

A) 5. Ac1-s5 A very fashionable move. The idea is to

!

4.dxe5, followed by the exchange of queens, has not scored well. Indeed, Black has a slightly betrer performance in this line. In paft, rhis is explained by the fact that weaker players frequently play this move in the hope of drawing

6. e2-e3 c7-c6 6...498!?, with the inrenrion of exchanging off the bad bishop, is a more refined move: 7.9xe7 AxeT 8.Ae2 0-0 9.0-0 oc6 10.9d2, and White is

against a higher-rated opponent.

slightly better.

4.

ab8-d7

The ambitious 4...e41? complicates *rings, but with correct play White should be left wirh a berter posirion: 5.4g5 AfS 1S...We7l? is an ahernarive consider: it prevents White from

to

playing 6.94!; the only problem is that

5.

7. Wd1-c2 8. af1-d3

Af8-e7

0-0

Naturally, the more solid 8.4e2, followed by 0-0, is playabte.

8. trf8-e8 After 8...h6 White can also maintain a degree of tension with 9.h4!?, while 2l


the

-

Volume 3

EffiEffiIffi€ ffirffiaffirffrer r@r# * € ffiffiffi ffiAffi ffi

predictable 8...9c7? allows

9.Axh7+ 6xtrZ t 0.9xe7. 9. 0-0-0!?

I * ffiE. * I resffi ffi il w ih ffi r$rer I ffiffi ffi

Affi ffiA AregffiArcE ffiEffi ffi

gre

ffi

5

#$E

e# A ffi ffi €4.6 ffi affi

zl

g

:ffi

ffi.tr

ffiffi ffiAffi ffie

This may not be the strongest move, but it is certainly the one that Black will like the least as an Old Indian player usually

prefers games characterised by solid set-ups and slow manoeuwing. 9.

9d8-a5

10. g2-s4l? Continues with the policy

of

aggres-

Black is less active on the dark squares compared to analogous lines in the King's Indian. Nonetheless, his position is solid and free of weaknesses, and though White may have a tangible adv:rntage, it is difficult for him to gain anything concrete.

C) 5.

The normal continuation. White occupies the centre in classical fashion, and hopes to exploit his space advantage.

5. 6. Af1-e2 7. 0-0

sion. Obviously, with a relatively unexplored position such as this one, other continuations are possible.

10....

ad7-f8 The most solid. 10...h5 I l.Ah4 6xg4

0-0

ffirffi

gm

ffireffi

ffiAffiAffi

ffi

ffiaw

Af8-e7 c7-c6

0-0 Ud8-c7 trf8-e8

10. b2-b3

9e7-f8

This is the key position (tabiya) of the Old Indian. Black's game is obviously more passive than in the analogous

11.9c1-b2

a7-a6

set-up

I 1...e4!?. 12. Ea1-cl 22

c7-c6

rffiaffir#ffi

however, results tend to favour White.

6. 9f1-s2 7. 0-o 8. 9d1-c2 9. gfl-dl

9f8-e7

ffiAffi ffiE

must surely be too risky, even the material-hungry chess engines are hesitant to accept this pawn. Now the position is difficult to judge;

B) 5. g2-93

e2'e4

in the King's Indian, in which

the bishop is developed to g7. Nonetheless, none of the many plans available to

Minor Defences: 1.d4 616 2.c4 White give him

a convincing advantage,

which shows us yet again that the number of playable openings is far greater than we could have ever imagined in the days before the advent of sophisticated computer programs.

8.

Acl-e3

with its younger sister defence, this is the move of the moment. The classical approach was to play 8.Ee1 folIowed by Aft or 8.Wc2 and then Ed1. The immediate 8.d5 is playable; however, the idea of 8.4e3 is to delay this pawn advance to d5 until the most opAs

portune moment so

as to create play on

the weakened queenside.

8.

a7-a6 9.d5! is also appropriate after 8...EeS, as the rook will have to return to f8 in order to create counterpiay.

9.

d4-d5

Now the b6-square is accessible. 9. c6xdS 10. c4xd5 b7-b5

af3-d2 '12. a2-a4l 13.6c3xa4 11.

ad7-b6 b5xa4 Q.b0xa4

'14. tra1xa4

And White's position

is

somewhat

better.

YuneenAlexey Ylassov,Nikolay St Petersburg-Moscow

2003 (1)

1.d4 AfO 2.c4 66 3.6c3 e5 4.d5 a,e7 5.e4 696 6.4e3 gb4 7.f3 ge7 Lgd2 Acs 9.0-0-0 Axe3 10.Wxe3 d6 11.Q:ge2 cG 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.9d2 d5 14.exd5 cxdS 15.Axd5 6xd5 16.Wxd5 Eb8 17.Wc6+ Ad7 18.gd6 Bxd6 19.trxd6 €e7 20.tra6

trb7 21.6c5 trhbg 22.b4 ExM

23.6d5+

€eB

24.6xb4 Exb4

25.gd3 Q:t4 26.&c2 6xg2 27.trb1 tra4 28.Hxa4 Axa4+ 29.€d2 Ac6 30.4e4 gd7 31.trb8+ *e7 32.trb7 €dB 33.c5 olt4 34.c6 9eG 35.trxa7 h5 36.Ad3 Ads g7fuc4 gcg 38.Ed7 Ab4 39€xe6 fxe6 40.trxg7 Axc6 41.trh7 ad4 42.trxh5 sd7 43.€e3 1-O Rubinstein,Akila Vidmar,Milan sr Berlin 1918 (3)

1.d4 Af6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 6tg4 4.At4 6c6 5.4f3 Ab++ 6.6c3 Be7 7.8d5 Axc3+ 8.bxc3 Ba3 9.Ecl f610.exf6 axf6 11.9d2 dG 12.ad4 0-0 13.e3 6xd4 14.cxd4 6e4 15.8c2 BaS+ 16.se2 trxt4 17.ert4 gfs 18.Wb2 tre8 19.€f3 6d2+ 20.€g3 6e4+ 21.&h4 tre6 22.Ae2 trh6+ 23.4h5 trxhs+ 24.€xh5 Ag6+ o-1

Sokolov,Ivan Zaja,Ivan IsLanbul

2003 (7)

af6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 4i:,94 a.914 Ac6 5.4f3 Ab4+ 6.abd2 We7 7.a3 s:xd2+ 8.Wxd2 6gxe5 9.e3 6xf3+ 10.gxf3 d5 11.tr91 f6 12.Wc3 AfS 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.h4 €b8 15.e4 9g6 16.4e3 ghs 17.tr93 EhgS 18.4e2 h6 19.trd5 Af7 20.c5 dxc5 21.trxc5 o'e5 22.t4 6d7 23.Ha5 Ab6 24.e5 f5 25.b3 Bxh4 26.&b2 Se7 27.9:c5 We6 28.a4 trd7 29.8a3 a6 30.ixa6 bxa6 31.Exa6 1.d4

gb7

32.89'a5

trb8 338c3

trds

€c8 35.trxc7+ &dB 36.8a7 tra8 37.BxbG Wxb6 34.tra7+

38.3xb6 se8 39.eG i-xe6 40.tre3

z3


-

Volume

3

Minor Defences: 1.d.4 6f.6 2.c4

Miroshnichenko,Evgeny Peregudov,Nikolay Moscow 2008 (1)

1.d4 af6 2.at3 d6 3.c4 c6 4.6c3 abdT 5.e4 e5 6.4e2 Ae7 7.0-O 0-0 8.9b1 treB 9.d5 c5 10.6e1 a611.a3 hO 12,b4 Wc7 13.Wb3 bG 14.4d3 Eb8 15.4e3 ah7 16.Wa4 Ab7 17.Hb2 Ag5 18.Axg5 hxg5 19.bxc5 dxc5 20.Efb1 gG 21.4g4 f5 22.ext5 ahf6 23.f9 e4 24.6t2 exf3 25.fxg6 We5 26.6ce4 b5 27.cxb5 Axd5 28.gxf3 axb5 29.Exb5 trxb5

30.tsxb5 32.Axe8

This is an ambitious concept, and whatever its strengths and weaknesses may be, it has the benefit of producing livelier positions than those created by the classical approach.

3.

d4-d5

ENASEA ll llllr t IA

E

A

9xe4 31.Axd7 Axbl 9e1+ 33.€g2 6xe8

AA AAAA aag€aa tr

tr

34.6e4 Af6 35.9b3+ €h8 35.9b2 1_0

Ivanov,sergey

toginov,Yalery St Petersburg

2005

(i)

abd74.af3 c€ 5.e4 e5 6.9e2 9e7 7.0-O 0-0 1.d4 Af6 2.c4 d6 3.Oc3

&Ae3 a6 9.d5 hO 10.4d2 c5 11.a3 4lhl 12.53 &g5 13.f4 exf4 14.gxf4

gf6

15.4d3 Ee8 16.9f3 Bbg 17.€h1 b5 18.Egl b4 19.axb4 trxb4 20.wh5 96 21.e5 €h8 22.Axg6 fxg6 23.Exg6 6xe5 24.fxe5 trxeS 25.Wxh6 AfS 26.trg3 trr.}l2 27.9t4

tre7 28.9f1 We8 29.Axd6 trel 30.trgg1trxf13l.trxflAg5 o-l

Minor Defences after 2,c4 c5

t.d4 at6

Black's second move invites White to advance his d-pawn to d5. The plan is to establish counterplay against White's cenue, revealing it to be overextended.

The move that seeks to get the most from the position. 3.e3 is too passive to cause Black any headaches, while 3.Af3 transposes to the Symmetrical English. It is a telling curiosity that in 1 9 3 9 Reuben Fine considered Black's position after 3.d5 to be hopeless and fatally passive! But even as early as the 1950's the evaluation of this position was far less dogmatic.

will now take a glance at a few interesting minor lines.

We

A)

3. 6f6-e4 Known as the Yulture Defence, this was first used in the 1980's. After an initial boom, lt fell into obscurity, and it is still rarely played: the objective is ro interfere with White's development with a check from a5, but after 4. Wd1-c2 Wd8-a5+ 5. Ab1-c3! 6e4xc3 6. Ac1-d2! White is better. Z5


B) 3.

-

Volume

3

s7-96

Otherwise, first 3...d6 and then 4...96.

4. 6b1-c3

E

9f8-97

Black establishes a King's Indian set-up in which there is .lt a pawn on c5 "dy factor a that resfricts his options. -

5.

e2-e4 Not the only move, but certainly the mostdirect. 5. d7-d6 +w

E ffisffi ere ffi ffirffi

rffi

I

ffiffi ffir ffiKs ffiffi ffiAffi 4ffiffi ffi ffiffi zl ffiffi ffis tr

{w

ffis ffieffi

At this stage the most played move is:

6. bgl-f3 to say, there are lots of alternative moves) transposing to the King's Indian or the Benoni, which we will look atlater.

e7-e5

3.

This is sometimes called the Czech Benoni, and it is the most solid of the d7-d6

The closed centre allows for slow behind-the-lines manoeuvring. However,

White has a space advantage, which allows him to manoeurre with greater ease: in addition the bad bishop on f8 seem to be 'more bad' than its opposite number on 26

fl

.

ffi ffi

ffia reffi ^ @ AE€

ffi Affi aiffi

Affi

ffi

w @

ffiffi ffis

reAffi tr

This is a strategically complex position; the classical approach is for White to attack on the queenside with a3, b4, Ebl etc., while Black will prepare play on the kingside with the advance ...f/-f5 in King's Indian fashion. However, recendy it has become increasingly popular to discourage this freeing advance with h2-h3 and g2-g4, and perhaps after queenside castling to start attacking on the kingside. For his part, Black can

ftanchetto the bishop on g7, but

it

is

velop it to e7 and then after ...he8, White willing, exchange it for White's goodbishopon95. 5. Af8-e7 gf1-d3t? 6. 6.93 is interesring: 6...0-0 7.4h3!? A common continuation is 6.4f3 0-0

7.9e2 abdT 8.0-0 6e8 9.a3 96 l0.gh6 a,97 r1.Ed2 Af6 (pushing ...f7-fS allows 695, with an advantage

minor variations.

4. Ab1-c3 5. e2-e4

!*#*

ffirffre I

more in the spirit of the variation to de-

(needless

c)

E* €ffi

I hffi

for White) 12.b4 b6 l3.6el EhS, with the idea of Ag8, and we have a complex game.

6. 7. h2-h3l 8. 6g1-f3

0-0

Af6-e8

Stopping...Ag5.

ab8-d7

8.

9.

s2-s4l

a7-aG

Minor Defences: 1.d4

a2-a4 11. Ac1-h6 12. gdl-d2 1O.

13.

g7-go

6e8-97 ad7-f6

€el-e2!?

E AB E€

I

ErAr

I I ills . IAI AAAA AAA A A WgA :--.-..---l

=

The king would not be so adventurous if the centre were not closed.

13....

€g8-hB

14. Ea1-91 And White's initiative seems to be more promising.

6fe

Z.c+

!*1:*Sg"stantin

Bachin,Yitaly

Krasnoyarsk ch-RUS 2003 (7)

1.d4 Arc 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e5 4.ttl'c3 dB 5.e4 96 6.4e2 Ag7 7.€e3 O-O 8.h4 a6 9.g4 abd710.h5 trb8 11.a4 Wa5 12.t3 6-se9 13.Ad3 f6 14.hG gh8

15.6le2 trf7 16.gd2

6f8

17.6g3 18.a5 b6 19.axb6 Wxb6 2}.tra2 trfb7 21.Ac2 gd8 22-bs 6lc7 23.Q:ce2 We7 24.&t2 Ae8 25.4-tc1f5 26.exf5 ef6 27.fxg6 hxg6 28.6e4 4\h7 29.€g2 gfg 30.4e2 gd8 31.42g3 €h8 32.We2 Exb3 33.Axb3 trxb3 34.Bdl trb8 35.Wc2 traB 36.trb1 a5 37.trba1 Ea7 38Axa5 Ah4 39.4e1 trt7 40.Ea8 Ad7 41.We2 8:g5 42.Axg5 Axg5 43.Q-te4 AxhG 44.Ag3 Afa 45.gx!4

gd8

gxf4 46.8h1+ eg8 47.trh3 se7 48.We1 Exe4 49.€9xe4 Wg5 50.f4 gf6 51.fxe5 WgS 52.eG Wd2+ 53.€gl Bc1+ 54.&t2 WdZ+

Fah n enschmidt,Gerhard

55.€g1 Bc1+ 56.€f2 Bd2+

Biicker,stefan

57.We2 Wf4+

58.€g2

1-o

Bad Wiessee open 2005 (3)

1.d4 6116 2.c4 c5 3.d5 6e4 4.Wc2 Ba5 5.4c3 6xc3 6.4d2 e5 7.Axc3 Wc7 8.g3 d6 9.9h3 Axh3 10.6xh3 Wd7 11.4g5 h6 124e4 ts 13.ad2 Wt7 14.t4 e415.g4 e3 16.6f1 fxg4 17.axe3 h5 18.we4+ €d8 19.0-0-0

ad7 20.at5 €c7 21.8e6 Be8 22.9xg7 trh7 23.898 Wg6 24.e4 trxg7 25.Qsxg7 WxgT 26.We6 AbG 27.e5 6xc4 28.trhel trd8 29.tre4 ab6 30.f5 dxe5 31.f6 Bg5+ 32.&c2 ed6 33.f2 g3 34.h4 E9'g7 35.Egl

g'h7 36.9d3 eA+ 37.€e3 trfB 38.trx93 acs+ 39.€d2 wxe4 40.tr96 ab4+ 41.€dl Be1+ 42.&c2Wd2+

Bosboom,Manuel Van Kerkhof,David Dieren ch-NED-open 2005 (6)

1.d4 616 2.eA c5 3.d5 e5 4.6c3 d6 5.e4 Ae7 6.g3 0-0 7.tr92 4,e8 8.h4 a6 9.69e2 b5 10.cb5 abS 11.6b5 9a6 12.6bc3 6ld7 13.0-O g6 14.4h6 Agz 15.Wd2 gb6 16.9h3 tra7 17.&92 trbg 18.trab1 g'b4 19.Efc1 6f6 20.8e3 kte9 21.14 et4 22.g14 th4 23.a3 Wc4 24.b4 cb4

25.Wal bc3 26.8e3 trb1 27.Hb1 Wa2 28.Ebg 9e2 29.e5 Abs 30.sgl gbl 31.€h2 c2 32.t5 95 6h5 34.4g2 as3 35.111

3l*=*

z7


-

Volume

3

The Benko Gambit is one of the most important milestones in the evolution of chess theory, and it is one of the purest examples of a positional sacrifice: Black gives up a pawn in order to activate his pieces on the queenside, with enduring pressure. Let's look at the

following historical po-

sition:

ffi

ffi

#e

l= I

E==are # iGr .

ffis # a. *ffi A= # *s

ffi

#

-Arc #src

This was formerly known as the Volga Gambit as it was analysed in Russia at the end of the 1940's. Today, its name

justifiably pays tribute to

the Hungaro-American Pal Benko, who made it popular with the most persuasive of all arguments: good results. In addition, the Volga was generally associated with a violent pawn break on e6, while now in the Benko Black replies to 4. c4xb5 with the characteristic 4. a7-a6t establishing a more positional approach. The Benko has become a feared and respected weapon, and there is more than one player who will choose 2.6f3 so as to avoid it. It is true *rat after 2...c5 3.d5, Black can play 3...b5 anyway; however, without a white pawn on c4 it is less effective, and after 4.495!, White can play a favourable line of the Torre Attack. 28

=

It is from the Taimanov-Bronstein game played in the famous 1953 Zurich Candidates' tournament. Black maintained ongoing positional pressure and won the game. A classical evaluation would tell us that White has an almost decisive advantage thanks to his exffa pawn and the passed a-pawn. However, after this game,

it was understood that even after

simplifying with piece Black's initiative makes it

exchanges,

difficult, if not

impossible, for White to exploit his material advantage - even in the endgame. In the above game, the ...b7-b5 push

was not made on the third move but later on, and it was White who took on a6

with his bishop, whereas in the nor-

mal Benko Black's captue on fl forces White to lose tempi moving his king.In other words, though we are looking at a less favourable version for Black, the game teaches us to look at this type of

Benko Gcmbit

a dubious strategy to renounce Black. queenside counterplay. In the light of this, it is not surprising 5. 6b1-c3 d7-d6 g7-go that many white players would rather 6. e2-e4 position from a different perspective be and

as

possibly playable for

not have to face this sort of initiative, and will therefore decline the gambit. In a gambit, you should never underestimate the importance of psychology: the fact that White scores better if he declines the Benko Gambit does not necessarily prove that this 'prudent' ap-

proach is objectively better. It is more likely that for stylistic reasons Black is psychologically less suited for the quiet lines that he now has to play, and thus performs less well.

6...4a6!?.

Benko Gambit Declined 4. Various

1. d2-d4 2. c2-c4 3. d4-ds

-

Ag8-f6

I t,,1..

.t..,.'..

10. Ac4-b5!

AndWhitehasatinyadvantage.

b7-bs

a

l-: A _,.

",,',;;,

AA AAAA tr aaw€aa tr ".,'.

B) 4.

ab1-d2

Recently very fashionable.

4. b5xc4! 4...Wa5 5.e4 Axe4 6.4d3 seems good for White. 5.

,.,,,,,

,.-' $t:'..' t., t,t',

A) 4. a2-a4

Af8-97 0-0 Ab8-a6

c7-c5

EAASgA E f ':,.,1,1'l l l ,r,::

7. Aftxc+ 8. 6g1-f3 9. 0-0

e2-e4 5.6xc4?l Ab7 and the d5 pawn must be pushed, with a plus for Black. 5. c4-c3!? 6. b2xc3 97-96 7. Qtd2-c4l? d7-do Not 7...hxe4, whenthings become too risky after 8.We2!.

An attempt to show that the ...b7-b5 push is premature: ...a7 -a6 is not playable. and therefore Black has to decide on what to do with the b-pawn.

8. Af1-d3 9. Ag1-f3 10. 0-0

Af8-g7 0-0

Ac8-a6:

4. b5xc4 C) 4. 6g1-f3 The most natural. 4...b4 has scored White ignores the b5 pawn and prefers quite nicely, even if it would appear to to concentrate on natural development. 29


-

Volume

3

4. 9c8-b7!? This move is the most ambitious option; it applies pressure to the d5 pawn. 4...96 5.Bc2l 9g7 6.e4 is promising forWhite. E

rffi Affiffi $A ffi @ A

ffiffi

ffi A

ffiaJ ffi

ffi

ffi ffi affi ffi ffis ffis.ffi FI

affi

sffiffi

weakness on d5. Black has scored nicely

by replying ro 5.a4 with

5...Wa5+

5.4d2 b4, whereas 5.abd2 leads to an unclear game after 5...bxc4 6.e4 e6! 7.dxe5 dxe6 8.e5 AdS.

b5xc4 e7-e6

e6xd5 Ab7xd5 hf6xd5

10.0-0 And the hunter becomes the hunted: the loss of the pawn is well compensated for, but of course it is always difficult to say exacdy to what extent. Let's return to

1. d2-d4 2. c2-d 3. d4-d5

A*ireAffi ffi

ffiffiffiffi ffiffiffiffi

ffi ffiAffiAffi AffigffiAffitr

The move 4...e6 was normal when this defence was called the Volga; now ir is

rarely played: 5.Adt exdS 6.Axd5 Abl l.e+!, and White has the advantage.

It is at this point in the game that White

Wdl-c2!? At the time of wriring, this is the most popular choice: it prepares e2-e4 without concern about the subsequent

5. 6. e2-e4 7. Af1xc4 L e4xd5 9. 9c4xd5

tl

ffiffi

#ffi

5.

Ag8-f6 c7-cs

b7-b5 White usually continues with: 4. c4xb5 a7-a6 30

I ffiffiffiffi

rffi I

ffi ffi ffi

ffirffirffir

ffiffi

ffi ffie ffi ffi

ffi iEffiffi rffre

ffisffi@re ffi

E

takes

on a5 and accepts the gambit.

Therefore, the alternatives that follow are still part of the Benko Gambit Declined.

A) 5. Ab1-c3

a6xb5

6. e2-e4 White wishes to advance to e5 and ignore the offered pawn. Igor Zaitsev came up with this idea in the 1970's: this line is sharp and double-edged, but after a few successes, adequate countermeasures were found and it is now not so popular.

6.

7.

b5-b4

6c3-b5

EffiAffi * ffi

KffiT ry r$re

ffi# ffiffi

ffiffi Affi

I

ffi ffijs

ffmm

ffi

ffi Affi A

E ffis

Benko Gambit

The knight is aggressively posted on this square; however, it has burnt its bridges as it no longer has any retreat squares. The tactical justification for this line is that if Black captures on e4, after 8.We2 White has the winning threat of 9.6'd6 checkmate. 7. d7-d6 8. Ac1-f4 Again supporting the central pawn advance; 8.4c4 AbdTl gives White nothirg. 8. s7-95! E

E

*:a # & ,.6. 5 -

+=

-

* r== I

# #

a* A

.-7fr

+

=

A

=

ue € =

- =

# =# itrs A

= *= - =A €

#

;:=: :-_

dvY

'/x

The move drat put the whole line in doubt; the idea is to take on e4, attacking the bishop on 95.

Taking on e4 is playable but risky: 8...4xe4 9.We2 g5l 10.Ae5l dxe5 1 1.Wxe4. The alternative S...abd7 9.kft 6xe4!? 10.4d3 fs 1r.Ah4 also looks promising for White. 9. Af4xg5 9.4e3 Ag7 has scored well for Black. 9. Af6xe4 10. Ag5-f4 Wd8-a5! 11. Af1-c4 1 1.We2? b3+ 12.€dl Wxa2!. 11. ... Af8-g7 12. Bd1-e2 b4-b3+ 13. €el-f1 t7-f5 14. t2-t3 0-0!

The position is complex; who stands best is not clear. However, over the board Black should have better chances.

B) 5. t2-t3 E

n,aE,e

i:at tg f

f *.

t::

xar aa.

A

rt fi

E

I

;;it

:{t

;a :il: *a: :'t:tA.:: A ;iJ,A -:'u,a t\ -;':::]r.

l:?fi

Ea

r.a:]i

WiE HZJ

Dlugy's move has been popular since the 1980's, and it is one of White's most aggressive options. The plan is to play e2-e4 and take possession of the centre, with the drawback of a certain weakness on the dark squares.

5. e7-eo The most combative. The normal 5...96 allows White to gain an edge after 6.e4 d6 7.Q-.,a3 Ag7 8.4e2 0-0 9.6c3: whereas if Black decides to recaptures the parnm with 5...axb5, after 6.e4

Wa5+ 7.AdZ b4 8.Aa3l d6 9.6c4 Wastz 10.4d3, white has a more fluid game.

6. e2-e4

e6xd5

The bold 6...c41? E 'a:i::j

I

g: :_'l:a?

#A A

.Ta.l -El

AE,g

E.

,/- L

I {4 €r

I r

:ai

*;

*j AA

:ttll -){

---.i--

agw

!::,: :?*l

:*,*

5i AA ;::* ffi ,{./\A :4.. -7t H c93 -F:;

1i

.a

31


-

Voiume

3

enjoyed some initial success and was thought to be an interesting option (its

scope

is to exploit the weak

dark

squares). However, nowadays it is considered to be dubious as after 7 .Axc4 axb5 8.Axb5 | (fearless), Black has a little compensation, but two pawns represent a lot of material!

7. e4-e5 L Wdl-e2

Wd8-e7!

9. hb1-c3 10. 6g1-h3!

Ac8-b7 c5-c4!

Af6-98

13....

EA

I A AA aat

E

rgr I r

A

I t\

IA tl U

'4)

sltr

F?A E.E

,\

q) AA

Al1

gE

14. a2-a3

14....

1

1

With a discovered attack.

16.... WaS-dB 17. We2xc4 tra8-a7 18. tral-c1 In exchange for his piece White has two pawns, a lead in development and an initiative. Though he may not have an objective advantage, he certainly has an easier position to play.

c)

5. E

I

Ae3 axbS

1.

We7-c5

...

In the past Black was considered to have an optimal position here... 12. Q:t4xd5ll

EA BEaE l,lll I 'E AgAA I

g AA AA F? .l .+. .N

But isn't it hanging? 37

CAEggA

rlllr

E

a

AIA .A

A

AA AAA tr aaggaa tr A quieter approach. White controls the bS-square without committing himseH to an overly advalced pawn centre that would be subject to enemy counterattack. 5.

g7'gG

Black usually chooses this solid move.

,\A q)a

EEEEts

e2-e3

12.0-0-0

Wb+t and Black's position holds. 1

Wb4-a5

15. Ae3-d2 Ad5-e6 16. Ac3-d5

11. ah3-f4!

Sharper than

Wc5-b4

The second deflection.

Forced.

gEA

9b7xd5

12.... 13. Ac1-e3 The first deflection.

Fi

More ambitious is 5...axb5 6.Axb5 Wa5+ l.6cZ Abl 8.4e2! (White sacrifices the d5 pawn in exchange for better

development) 8...4xd5 (8...4xd5!?) 9.0-0 Axc3 10.Axc3 e6 11.e4 Ae7 12.4f+.and White is a little beuer.

Benko Gombit

6. 6b1-c3 7. a2-a4 8. Ag1-f3

Af8-g7 0-0

Ac8-b7!?

In the 1990's, Shirov managed to make this obscure secondary line both the most played and the most promising

Aiming for the break ...e7- e6. After the natural-looking 8...d6 9.tra3 (White delays kingside development in order to recapture on bS with the bishop using only one tempo)

weapon against the Benko. This is a paradoxical move. White would be a pawn up if he took on a6, but instead he loses a tempo giving up his pawn. The concept is the product of the dynamic style

9...6bd7 10.e4! 6e8! ll.gb3!? axbs 12.Axb5 Aa6 13.0-0 6c7 l4.Eel, White's position is preferable, even if

that characterises contemporary chess. White keeps the a-file closed and denies Black his usual counterplay. Recently, this idea is seen with 4.a4 or 4.4f3, whenever Black takes on c4. However,

not by much.

9. tra1-a3 a6xb5 It is also possible to play 9...e6 immediately, delaying the capture on b5.

10. Af1xb5 e7-e6 11. d5xe6 f7xe6 12. gdl-d6! Attacking c5, but above all else stopping Black from taking control of the centre

with...d5. 12....

manoeuwe combined with 6fs-dz-c+ can be highly e{fective.

D1) 5.

Bd8xb6

The most natural, but here the queen is

exposed to attack after the knight tour

Wd8-c8

13. O-0 hf6-e8 1a. Wd6-93 Ab7xf3 15. 6b8-c6 As is so often the case with the Benko, the critical position is not easy to judge. White is a pawn up and has the two bishops, but Black has actively placed

g2xf3

here there is also the advantage that the b6-square is weakened, and the a4-a5

6fs-dz-c+.

6. 6b1-c3

7. e2-e4 8. As1-f3 9. aB-d2

d7-d6 97-96 Af8-g7 0-0

10. ad2-c4

pieces and a good centre.

D) 5. b5-b6

10.

...

gb6-d8!?

Black prefers to leave the c7-square free for the manoeuvre ...6f6-e8 -c7-b5.

11.

9f1-e2

ab8-d7 33


12.9c1-t4

-

Volume

3

ad7-b6 Af6-e8 Ae8-c7

13. Ac4-e3

14.0-0 15. a2-a4 And White has

a

6. 6b1-c3

6f6xd5

6...9,b7!? 7.e4 exdS 8.exdS d6 9.a4 a5 10.Ac4l? Ae7 1l.af3, and Black's position is a tad passive.

7. 6c3xd5 8. Wd1xd5

small advantage.

DD 5.

d7-d6

In exchange for

e6xd5

6b8-c6

weakening his pavvn

With the idea of recapturing on b6 with structure, Black gets nice piece play. the knight. 9. 6g1-f3 6. 6b1-c3 ab8-d7

E*Eg & € .* *r t:: r.rr r A=:* i* X:g x;

-€.9€E E €E *a*r:*r

:ia:i

rff ;:9tt

ff::* * ta iit xt * *tfi::*i:'

Aff g Afftr :g ''A]$A$ 7.

a2-a4l Every variation has its virtues and defects: capturing with the knight now allows a4-a5, with an advantage for White. Therefore, Black prefers: 7.

A risky move but

a6-a5!? playable. It stops

:.:::t:

:= =:*

a *

H/fr HE

move 10.41e5 ! is very snong. 1O.

e2-e4

After 10.4e5 Wfet 1l.Axc6

dxc6. Black's dynamic position compensates for the weaknesses in his pawn structure.

10.... 11. Af1-c4 12. Ac1-d2

the b5-square.

97-96

Af8-s7

-

9. tra8-b8 After either 9...4b7 or 9...8xb6. the

a4-a5, but at the same time concedes

8. e2-e4 9. 6g1-f3 10. gf1-b5 11. 0-0

:,:::::: 3iti A ,. v1 \ 'J{- A -A. A .){ 2{ -}{. A.. F? EH

Af8-e7 0-0

trb8xb6

0-0

13. Ad2-c3 Even though the white pieces are some-

6d7xb6

what more active. either side could

12. h2-h3

win.

And White has an edge.

D3)

5. e7-e6 As is always the case in these lines, the ...e7-e6 advance is the most ambitious

option risky. 3+

-

and, obviously, also the most

Benko Gambit Accepted

1. d2-d4 2. c2-c4 3. d4-d5

Ag8-f6 c7-c5 b7-b5

Benko Gombit

4. c4xb5 5. b5xa6 White

a7-a6

pawns and push e4-e5; however, he de-

lays e2-e4 so he can take back on with the rook.

takes up the gauntlet.

9cBxa6

5.

There are some who believe it more precise to play 5...96 immediately so as

7.

g7-g6

8. Ag1-f3 9. e2-e4

Af8-97

9.

9a6xf1 0-0

fl

to discourage White from playing the 6.b3 Variation (after which it would be more effective to take back on a6 with the knight). Ignoring the fact that this almost always transposes to normal variations, it is difficult to imagine why you would want to discourage your op-

ponent from playing lines which are not particularly good.

6.

Ab1-c3

White can also fianchetto on both wings: 6.b3 g5 7.9b2. Ag7 S.g3 d6 9.492 o-o 1o.Ah3!? abdz 11.0-o Ea7, with the idea of ...WaS and ...Eb8, and Black should be satisfied with his position.

6.

ge-e E ',, I I l'l.::: I A tA

ternative.

11....

6f6-e8!

risky. 12.

,\

13.

&e1-t2 gd1-e2

ab8-d7

With an unclear position.

/\/\/\a

E, Ag€AA

l?

The move 10...9b6!? is a olausible al-

The continuation 1 1 ...dxeS 12.fxeS 6ga l3.We2 6al t+.ee is excessively

.

/\/\

Ehlxfl

11. e4-e5 more It is prudent to play I l.€f2 with the idea of then playing *g 1.

d7-d6

q\ AAAAAN

10.

tr

B) 7. Ag1-f3

Otherwise, you can invert the moves by playing 6...96 first and then d6.

This is the starting position of

the

Benko Gambit Accepted.

A) 7. t2-t4 The start of the most aggressive line. Whlte wishes to occupy the centre with

Most of the time transposing to C or D. Here we will look at a specific line that some opening manuals call the Taimanov Yariation.

7.

97-96

9. e2-e4

Af8-s7 9a6xf1

8. afs-d2l? 10. Ad2xf1

35


-

Volume

3

Effi g€Xx € 3? *rgr

AA^*

\AAA tr aw€b tr This is the plan: the knight has its eye on the nice e3-square; capturing this way saves the tempi employed to castle by hand in Variation D. However, the knight manoeuwe costs tempi too four to be precise. 10. 11.

... 6f1-e3 12.0-0 13. Acl-d2 14.

Wd1-c2

ab8-d7! 9. More venomous than the predictable 9...0-0, even if this often the leads to move inversion 10.0-0 abdT I l.trbl !. The idea behind the text move is that if White continues with the automatic I0.0-0, then after 10...4b6! you cannot go into the main line as after I I.trb1?!, there is I1...4c4, which wins either the pawn on a2 or the one on d5. Therefore, White immediately plays

10.

x g€ I r 2rra I ar :* tax: * ** Ir

E

0-0

A

Ab8-d7 Wd8-a5 Wa5-a6!

**r

:ia::.: a,-::;

:it

AAi +6 A A g AAA 2\: *=

Ad7-e5

A

Here there is some debate about the adequacy of the compensation (the weak

d3-square). However, the simple fact that Kasparov has chosen to enter this position with the black pieces would persuade most people that there is suffi-

tral-b1!

:.s:

tr*

*

Removing the rook from the sights of the g7 bishop.

10.

...

0-0

Now after 10...4b6, it is possible to play 11.b3!, which will control c4, and

cient compensation.

after 11...0-0 12.0-0 Ea7 13.tre1 Wa8 14.e4, White's central counterplay

C) 7. s2-s3 A kingside fianchetto, which was only a

seems to be more effective than usual.

playable option in the previous line, is White's most solid optionhere.

11...4b6 12.b3 transposes to the line

7.

g7-96

8. Af1-g2 9. Ag1-f3

Af8-g7

9.4h3!?, gets an occasional outing. It has the plus of allowing the knight to go to the good f4-square, and the minus of conceding the eS-square to the black knight. 36

11. 0-O

Wd8-a5

discussed in the previous note.

12. Wd1'c2 trf8-b8 13. Ac1-d2

l3.Edl

!?.

13.... 14. h2-h3 15.6f3xe5 16. b2-b3

Af6-g4 494-e5 Ad7xe5

Benko Gambit

Now White's dilemma is where to put the king so he can complete development: on g7? or h2? Most often players choose g2; probably because it is quicker.

Dl)

10. h2-h3

It keeps the f6 knight off g4, while at the same time vacating h2 for the king. This square is a safer home than 92, but getting there reThe most solid.

A typical Benko theme; does the pressure on the queenside sufficiently compensate for the pawn? As you would expect, the materially-minded chess engines like White's chances, whereas human beings have differing ideas, determined by taste and prejudice.

D) 7. e2-e4 White occupies the centre but loses his right to castle. 7. Aa6xf1 8. €e1xfl 97-96 9.

6g1-f3

There were immediate doubts about the

wisdom of attacking on the kingside

with the king on fl ,

nonetheless Seirawan's idea of 9.g4 was popular for a while at the end of the 1980's, but af-

ter the discovery of 9...Wc81, nobody ever played it again.

9.

if8-g7

quires an extra tempo.

...

10. o-o 11. €fl-91 Ab8-d7 11...6a6 is also possible: 12.€h2

gb6

l3.Eel ad7 r+.8e2 6b+t ls.Ags EfeS 16.9d2 Wa5, and the weak d3-square represents some compensation for Black. 12. €91-h2 Wd8-a5 13. trh1-el trf8-b8 14. tre1-e2 As in the next line, Eht -et -eZ is a characteristic manoeuvre that allows White to prepare e4-e5 and defend b2. After l4.Bc2 - with the plan of an im-

- rhere is l4...ab6l l6.gd2 Efa4. with com-

mediate AaZ

l5.Adl

t c4t?

Pensation.

14....

Af6-e8 Black can also play 14...Wa6 or 14...trb4!?, but the knight move, which attacks c3 and prepares ...6e8-c7-b5, is

the most popular.

15. tre2-c2! An odd-looking way to defend c3.

15.... 16.

Wd1-e2

ad7-b6 Wa5-a6!

Again a paradox: Black offers to exchange queens when he is a pawn down.


EE

..lt,

t,

glh

A

-

Volume

.,..''..@

3

t,'1;1'

'l I rEr 'l'' *, A

t.t.::l

,.'

A

A

'

15.Axe5 6xe5 16.Exe5 Eb7 1Z.gB Ae8 l8.Ee2 ad6, with a balanced game. 13. trhl-e1 Wd8-a8

t9,,",:

g&. a/||rEr E--{ Ytl .'i IA

A'1..,' U

8,." gA Ag

AA

&6

rF?

A

A 17.

We2xa6

q)

tra8xa6

ggs

Not only is White's queenside under pressure, but also his centre can be undermined with ...f7-f5. This is an advance that Black can play more serenely with the queens off the board.

To sum up: Black has su{ficient comDensation.

DD

10. 11.

g2-g3 €fl-92

g

u&

EI

.i:'".14 :

Ab8-dz E? d{a

EE

I rEr

''l h1"'' ,',

tA ,\:.

AA

0-o

'

,,

'..

6 $ttr .aE

-,.-: :'

The rook on a6 defends d6, making the pawn move ...e7-e6 possible. Now the

position is more open, which holds promise for Black, given that the white king and queen are on the long Iight-squared diagonal. 14. Ac1-g5l? h7-h6 15. e7-e6 16. fTxe6

Ag5-d2 d5xe6

It is not clear if the central black pawn is objectively a good or bad thing. This uncertainty is evident over the board, where usually both sides have chances.

/\/{ /t\ A

!4):

)\A A t4) ts ts

A

€.A rF

D22)

12.

A subde move. Black prepares ...Wa8, increasing not only the pressure on the

on White's cenne. in popularity to the text move is 12...Wa5 l3.Ee1 Efb8 14.e5!? dxe5

gE& ,,'.alrEr

E

D21) 12. h2-h3 Stopping ...6ga. Now Black can choose from two alternatives that are more or less equally good. 12.... tra8-a6!?

trhl-el

:'

...'.,.

I fil'1" IA A a a& ,.'i,:

,\ tl, F?

: '4€'.A ggtr ..',.,ir:

queenside, but also Second

38

White continues along the lines of Variation D 1 . Here, the most played move is:

Benko Gombit

12....

Ad7 14.4c4 Wc7 t5.af5

6f6-94

though its popularity does not mean

it

is necessarily the best; the alternatives 12...Wa5 13.e5!? Ag4! and 12...tra6t? 13.tre2 WaS are not inferior. 13. Wd1-e2! The plan is 14.4d2! 6ge5? 15.f4!, winning a piece. The standard I3.EeZ gives Black good counterplay after 13...Wa5 14.HcZ EfbA l5.We2 Wa6l. 13. ... O94-e5 14. hf3xeS! l+.adz ab6 15.fa 6edz 16.a4t EaTl 17.a5 Wa8 produces an unclear position.

14.... 15. f2-f4

6d7xe5 Ae5-d7

16. Ac1-d2

Eg iA

H&

rrEr I I AA AA

5

AA AW gA EH IJ

TJ

1-o

Tseshkovsky,Yitaly

Alburt,Lev Vilnius zonal 1975 (9)

1.d4 AfC 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 aG 5.6c3 axbs 6.e4 b47.abid6 8.4f4

abdT 9.4f3 AbG 10.trc1 4xe4 Il.Adg 6f6 12.We2 eG 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.495 Abds 15.6xe6 hxf4 t6.Axf4+ Ae7 17.Ac4 Ag4 18.f3 efs 19.trd1 €f8 20.94 95 21.he6+ €xe6 22.Wxe6 €97 23.9f7+ €h6 24.h4 We8 25.hxg5+ €xg5 26.trd5+ &t427.&t2 1-0 Lalic,Bogdan Khalifrnan,Alexander

aI6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 aG 5.f3 e6 6.e4 exdS 7.e5 We7 8.We2 6g8 9.41c3 gb71O.4\h3 c4 11.4e3 axbs 12.0-0-0 gb4 13.4tu 6:e7 14.gb6 h5 15.Exd5 BxcS+ 16.bxc3 6xd5 17.6xd5 Axd5 18.Wd2 Ae6 19.4e2 Q:cB 2O.f4 b4 21.f5 bxc3 22.Bxc3 tra3 23.Wb2 c3 24.Wb:c '1.d4

Axf5 25.trf1 trxa2! 26.trxf5 Ab4 27.Wa5

And here Black's counterplay seems to be less effective than usual, even if a certain amount of compensation has been achieved.

KrasenkowlMichal Sievers,stefan Erfurt German Cup Z00a ( l)

af6 2.c4 c53.d5 b5 4.atg AbT 5.abd2 Wa5 6.e4 bxc4 7.Axc4 eG 8.0-0 exdS 9.exd5 d6 10.Ee1+ Ae7 11.b4 cxb4 12.4d4 9c8 13.4b5+

gG

0-1

Yaisser,Anatoli Chernin,Alexander New York PCA 1994 (1 1)

Af6

c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a5 5.e3 axbS 6.9xb5 BaS+ 7,8:c3 ilbt 8.D-te2 6xd5 9.0-0 6c710.9c4 Aa6 11.Axa6 Abxa6 12.e4 gE 13.4g5 Ag7 14.9d2 ab4 15.trad1 trd8 16."?id5 6cxd5 17.exd5 h6 18.d6 e6 19.Axd8 WxdS 20.a3 6cG 21.b4 cxb4 22.axb4 gb6 23.trb1 gb5 1.d4

1.d4

Axb5

Linares 199l (10)

IA ,\A ,4)

16.4cxd6+

2,eA

39


-

Volume

3

24.6c3We5 25.b5 Ad4 26.b5 Wxd6 gb6 20.h3 gxf3 21.gxf3 AfG 27.6:e4 WeS 28.Wd3 0-0 29.f4 gds 22.EdS AeS 23.Eed1 96 24.a4 Wc7 3O.trfcl Ebg 31.4c3 WcS 32.4e4 25.g3 €g7 26.We3 €g8 27.h4 gds 3{l.gh1 Sh7 34.trc5 Wa2 Ebbg 28.h5 trfeg 29.h6 We7 30.f4 35.hg d5 36.4c3 gf2 37.trf1 Wb2 Ad4 31.81xd4 cxd4 32.Wxd4 $fB 38.6a4 Wb4 39.WaG afs 40.€h2 33.Exd6 tre7 34.e5 HbeS 35,eG fG 95 41.Wa7 trtB 42.b7 6e3 43.Ef3 36.Sg2 Wxh6 37.gxf6 Wg7 gd2 44.Exe3 Wxe3 45.b89 ExbS 38.Wxg7+ €xg7 Sg.Eae Ec7 46.WxbB e5 47.Wb1+ e4 48.Exd5 40.Exa5 €fG 41.94 h6 42.trb5 EecB gxf4 49.4c5- f5 s0.trxfs Wg3+ 43.a5 trxc4 44.bxc4 Exc4 45.tre5 51,ghlflt52Exf3 1-o €e7 46.€f3 trc3+ 47.8e3 Ecs 48'Ea3 *xe6 49aG Ec8 50 a7 1-0

BeriavskpAlexander Mas,Hafizulhelmi Dresden olympiad 2008

(6)

HortrVlastimil Alburt,Lev

a6 Ab7 8.4d2 SbG 9.4c4 e610.6ge2 exd5 1.d4 AfG 2.c4 cS 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 5.e3 axb5 6.9xb5 WaS+ 7.4c3

Decin te77 (7)

1.d4 AfG 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 11.9b3 wxb3 12.axb3 aa6 13.0-0 5.bxa6 g6 6.6c3 axa6 7.4f3 d6 Ae7 14.6f4 c4 15.9d1 Ac5 16.4f3 8.g3 Ag7 9.4g2 AbdT 1O.O-0 ab6

Ace4 l7.gfdl EbB 18.4e1 Ab4 ll.Ee1 0:0 12.ad2 Bc7 13.8b1 19.Eac1 Ac5 20.Acxd5 Axel Wb7 14.b3 afxds 15.Axd5 Axd5 21.Axf6+ AxfO 22.Exel Exb2 16.4f1 6c3 17.Axb7 -Axb7 18.9d3 23.Axc6 dxc6 24.8e2 trb4 25.Eec2 Ae4 19.Beg Ad4 20.Wh6 Axbl Ea4 26.4e 2 O-O 27.6lc3 Ea5 28.e4 2'la3 Aa2 zz.adztrfb8 23.b4 cxM

Ad7 29.8b1 6e5 30.€f1 6d3 31.a4 24.axb4 Exb4 25.6f3 9g7 26.g'h3 f5 32.exf5 Eaxf5 33.f3 Ha8 34.8e2 Af6 27Wf1 gc4 28.€g2 Eal

6f4 35.Eel adl

cxd5 37.gbb7 EgS 38.h4 trgG 39.h5 trhG 36.Axd5

29.6g1 gbbl 30.ghg hS 31.f4 Ae6+ 32.€g2 Ads 33.€f3 Ac3

34Ed1ab2

0-1

8r845€5Ef; iS.glfi'l'*.U.ru?'ffi4^Xi

t*jffd1

ffiiliitl#t,,,

Hffiflt,;n ,."f;T1'flr'.H#'r.ou

,;,Air,**iii'Jou4cxbba6

b5 4.cxb5

5.b6 eG 6.4c3 6xd5 7,6xd5

?,Y**'f*"Hff'=Ti:

a6 3:il"jr,?t, iffil#"f,

exd5

ESlUg

119d2 Ab6 12.b3 Wa3 13.0:0 0-0

l$lffi t13:l"tK;:,T3, Hi$

I

S:ff

14,4c3 As4 l5.tradl Ab4 16.Axb4 Ad7 2O.Ab5 Ec8 21.ghg f5 224g5 Exb4 17.b3 gc8 18.9d3a5 19.Efe1 aes 23.bxc5 Wxa4 24.6xc7 Ws7

Benko Gcmbit

25.c6 Ac8 26.ext9 HxlS 27t4 Qte{ 28.8b4 Ba7+ 29.&52 Wc5 30.8b8 Ab2 31.Wf3 Wxc2+ 32.tre2 Wb1 33.Axf5 Wxfs 34.g4 gfz 35.Axe7

h5

36.AxdG hxg4 37.8e4 ghz

38.Axc7 Afs 39.8e3 Wxd5+ 4O.€93 Ac4 41.Wt2 Bd3+ 42.&s2 €e4+ 43.trxe4 Bxe4+ 44.st1 wd3+ 45.€e2 8td2+ 46.€e1 6f3+ 47.&11 6lxh2+ 48.ee1 9c3+ 49.ef2

g3+

trxg2+42.€h1trf2

o-1

0-1

Gross,Ronald Benko,Pal

Bozic,Aleksandar Udovcic,Mijo

Aspen US Open 1968

(t4) 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6

Belgrade ch-YUG i948

1.d4 -lti 5.bxa6 AxaG 6.4c3 d6 7.e4 g6 8.AxaG 6xa6 9.69e2 Ag7 10.O-O o-o 11.f3 Bd7 t2.Ae3 trfb8 13.9d2 €lc7 14.trac1 trb4 15.trc2 trab8 16.Acl 6fe8 17.4d3 tr4b7 18.trb1 6a6 19.4e2 6ec7 2O.Ebcl f5 21.b3 txe4 22lxe4 Ab4 23.Axb4 Exb4 24.trc4 trxc4 25.trxc4 Efe 26.trc1

Wg4 27.9d3 Ae5 28.h3 gh4

29.sh1 g5 30.4g1 94 31.4c3 Ef3 32.9d2 Af4 33.We2 Axet 34.gxf3 wxh3+ 35.9h2 €xf3+ 36.wg2 9xc3 37.Wxg4+ 9g7 38.8c8+ Bf8 39.8g4+ gs7 40.9h3 gh6 o-1

TaimanonMark Bronstein David Zwichct 1953 (i) 1.d4 AfG 2.c4 cS 3.d5 g6 4.6c3 d6 5.e4 b5 6.cxb5 Ag7 7.atg 0-0 8.Ae2 aG 9.bxa6 Axa6 10.0-0 Wc7

1l.tre1 AbdT .12.Axa6

Wa6 21.Wd2 Hxa2 22.Hxa2 Wxa2 23.e5 Wxd2 24.6:xd2dxe5 25.Exe5 €fB 26.6:lb5 c4 27.Q:c5 tra1+ 28.sh2 AfO 29.he4 ad7 30.trg5 tra2 31.tr94 tS 32.trt4 4b6 33.695 4xd5 34.trd4 ab6 35.5d8+ €97 36.f4 h6 37.6e6+ wt7 38.6d4 f.a4 39.trc8 Axc3 40.trxc4 hd5 41.olfs

trxa6

13.8e2 EfaS 14.h3 4b6 15.9g5 Ae8 16.4d2 6,a4 17.kxa4 trxa4 18.9c3 9xc3 19.bxc3 Ba5 20.9d3

af6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 €xa6 6.6c3 d6 7.e4 Axfl 8.sxf1 g6 9.g3 Ag7 10.€g2 0-O 11.6se2 gb6 12.trb1 6aG 13.b3 8:c7 14.t3 e6 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.Ae3 E9'c6 17.\9,d2 d5 18.exd5 exds 19.4f4 d4 20.Q.:a4 afds 21.trhfl Ae6 22.trt2 dg 23.6g1 Aexf4+ 24.gxt4 dxt4+ 25.€h1 gd4 26.Eff1 1.d4

2'e2

0-1

Comas Fabrego,Luis

Topalov,Yeselin Pampiona 1994/gS (3)

1.d4 at6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 96 6.6c3 9xa6 7.e4 Axfl 8.€xfl d6 9.93 Ag7 10.sg2 6,bd7 11.4f3 0-0 12.h3 traG 13.Ee1 Wa8 14.tre2 trb8 15.We1 e6 16.dxe6 fxe6 17.495 tre8 18.t4 c419.4e3 e5 20.8d1 hG 21.4f3 ert4 22.gxf4 Q.sxe4 23.6:d5 gb7 24.9d4 Wxd5 21.trxg7 gfs 26.€xh6 trxa2 27.trxd6 trxb2 28.trxb2 6xd6 29.Wc3 WfG 30.Wxf6 Axf6 31.4e5 4Ie4 32.h4 c3 33.8c2 Afs 34.€f3 Ad2+ 35.&f2 4lxh6 36.€",

^:_l +1


-

Volume

3

modern version, that the time for White to suffer began. We are thereficre dealing with a double-edged defence in which either side can easily trip up and lose. The nicest summary of the Mod-

ern Benoni was provided by

EffiE#€ isrffir**rffir=.

,.:ri

la gs; g€: a [$ #' ** *x#d $ .

A #A#A ;affis eftrtr

The diagram shows the starting position of the Modern Benoni. The defence is called modern so as to distinguish it from the antique defence of the same name 1...c5 2.d5 e5. Few know that its name comes from the Hebrew ben-oni, which means 'child of my sorrow'. A Jewish scholar named Aaron

from depression and sought relief at the chessboard, which resulted in a published analysis of this defence. When published the tide alluded to his sad period of study with the words ben-oni and thus the Reinganum suffered

name,

Not the most encouraging name for an opening, but certainly appropriate for its debut appearances: as you will see in the section on the Czech Benoni. the resulting positions did indeed sadden the heart of many a black player. It was only later on, when people started to realise the dynamic potential of the 42

the

Irish-born Master and World War II code-breaker C.H. O'Donel Alexander. who wrote: lf God played the Benoni against God,l belieoe White would win. But

at the human, eoen World Championship, Ieuel, practical chances are about equal.

In old opening manuals the Benoni was once called the New King's Indian as it was considered to be a version of the King's Indian in which Black 'more properly' advances the pawn to c5, instead of playrng the 'anri-positional' ...e7-e5 pawn push, which renders the

g7 bishop bad. However this is limited

a

the ...e5 advance, which is so common in the King's Indian, is made with the intention of a assessment:

kingside attack by Black. Such an attack is a rarity in the Benoni, which is why more players prefer to play the King's

Indian rather than the 'version' with ...c7-c5. The Modern Benoni started to become popular towards the end of the 1950's when the brilliant victories of the rising star Mikhail Tal forced dogmatic commentators to accept its strategic validity. In the decades that followed, it was occasionally employed by many champi-

ons with an aggressive playing style, suffice it to mention Fischer and the young Kasparov. At the beginning of the new millennium, Topalov is the only one of the elite that still uses it with any frequency

Modern Benoni Defence

5. 6. Af1-92 7. b2-b4l?

After 3...e6, the most popular move is also the most natural:

4. 6b1-c3

b7-b5l? d7-d6

Before looking at that, let's examine two

is interesting. Even the fianchetto varia-

alternatives that are important for

tions can be played in a dashing Ro-

transpositional reasons.

mantic style!

t.6fz

ge 8.0-0 Ag7 9.e41? 0-0 10.e5 dxe5 1 1.Axe5 AUz t 2.Qtc6 Wbe , and

D 4. s2-s3

the position is unclear.

Ea)gHw-€. E }I,,'..1r',,,:l11 :l:....

,',:,,..

i,

'r.,i.Ifi A

,1.t,-,

.'.. ."..,'

A ,.lll.l., ...'.i. ..,.-. .A. AAAAA AA A AA

:g.6Ag€gA

tr

This position is often reached by means of the following sequence:

1. d2-d4 2. c2-c4 3. g2-93

White wants to play

6g8-f6 e7-e6 a

Catalan, but after

c7-c5l? who would normally play the A player Nimzo- or Queen's Indian, will play the aggressive Benoni as White has reduced his options with 93. Now 4.6f3 ffansposes to the Symmetrical English, but after the normal. 4. d4-d5

8. a2-a3 9. hb1xa3

e6xd5 would be dubious to continue

4.

Here

it

along the lines 4...b5

?! as

of the Benko with

there is 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.4e2.

5.

c4xd5

Now 5...d6 would take Black into the Fianchetto Yariation. but the continuation

b4xa3

Ac8-d7

10. Ag1-f3

With unclear compensation.

B) 4.

6g1-f3

EAAg&A'

l' l

A

AA

itr

:E

..t..: 1 '.1;, 1''1-,. 1

'.,,ll'

3.

We have the diagram position.

c5xb4

7.

...9,b7 l? 8 .bxcS dxcS 9.e4, and it is no easy matter to decide if Whlte's centre is strong or weak. 7

la

A,'',1''l'

.,,.lii.l.

,,i\

tr1 \

AAAA

agg€A...l.i.l''E

This position too is often reached by means of another move sequence: 1.d4 hfe z.c+e6 3.4f3 c5!?. As with the previous line, Black is not averse from complicating the game. It would be opportune to stress that a Nimzo-Indian player (2...e6 3.4c3 Ab+) is not as conservative as you might think. As we will see, this is a defence that entails taking strategic risks, and which is often played with the full point in mind. Aware of this fact, if +3


-

Volume

3

Black is presented with 3.4f3, he will often abandon the somewhat arid solidity of the more popular 3...d5 (Queen's

Gambit), 3...b6 (Queen's Indian) or 3...4b4+ (Bogo-Indian), *d accepr the adventure of the stormier Benoni. This choice has another benefit: White can no longer play the annoying systems involvingf2-f4 or 6ge2.

For example, t-he Romanian GM Suba exclusively plays this Nimzo-Indian/ Benoni combo when he faces 1.d4. Indeed, many of those who believe the Taimanov Attack (7.f4 and S.AbS+, discussed later) to be very strong, dogmatically assert thar ro wair for :.4f3 or 3.g3 before pushing ...c7-c5 is the only way to make the Benoni playable; but quite frankly, this seems to be an exaggerated claim. With the move 4.d5 we arrive at the previous diagram position. Nov4

4. e6xd5 5. c4xd5 d7-d6 6. Abl-c3 transposes to normal lines of Benoni, whereas 4...b5!? is

ter 2...e6 he would play 3.4f3. But

if

Black plays 3...c5, after 4.d5 White will have to adopt a line against the Benoni that would not be his first choice.

On the other hand, players who play 3.4c3 after 2...e6 will not have any problems. In this case, it is irrelevant whether Black advances ...c7-c5 on the second or the third move. We have now come to the main line.

1. d2-d4 2. c2-c4

3. d4-d5 4. 6b1-c3 5. c4xd5

Ag8-f6 c7-c5 e7-eo

e6xd5

Now some offbeat players choose 5...4d6 with rhe idea of moving the bishop to c7 and perhaps a5. It may be hard to take this line seriously, but it would be a mistake to underestimate it as it has performed reasonably well. However, most people choose to play:

5.

d7-d6

the

the

Blumenfeld Gambit. which we look at next.

In conclusion, remember that you can play the Modern Benoni with the sequence 2...e6 and 3...c5.

This approach does not have any parricular negative aspects, and indeed White

will

often have problems harmonising his repertoire. We will provide an example to make this last point clearer: let's say that a player facing the Benoni Iikes the Kapengut System with 7.f3; all's well if Black plays 2...c5. Now let's imagine that the same player enjoys playing against the Queen's Indian, af4+

It is clear that we are looking at a defence that carries some risks and which is demanding to play. White has a cenrral pawn majority and the prepared pavm push to e5 would be devastating. However, Black has his trumps: the bishop on g7 has more scope on the dark-squared


will try to create

(the idea is that the

spontaneous

queenside counterplay with ...a7-a6 and ...b7-b5 (a plan that White will oppose

11...b5? would be met

by

diagonal, and Black

with a2-a4). These pawn moves will provide good counterplay on the queenside, and without having to sacrifice a pawn as in the Benkol Anyway, enough chat. Let's look at the moves.

Fianchetto Variation

1. d2-d4 2. c2-c4 3. d4-d5 4. Ab1-c3 5. c4xd5 6. g2-93

6g8-f6 c7-c5 e7-e6 e6xd5 d7-d6

The Fianchetto Variation is solid, but nonetheless it contains a drop of poison.

6. 7. afr-sz 8. Ag1-f3 9. 0-0 E

ll

g7-s6

af8-s7 0-0

A'\ AA

a

rEr

trag

AT A

advantage.

10. 11.

a2-a4

ab8-d7

af3-d2 The standard plan, with the aim of transferring the knight to c4. It is also possible to initiate a centre strategy with 11.Lf+l? We7 12.h31 h6!? 13.Ee1 Eb8 14.e4 95!? (ugly-looking but effective against e4-e5) l5.Ae3 b5, with balanced play. trf8-e8 11. ... The most natural choice. even if 1 1...6e8!? has racked up a lot of points for Black. 12. h2-h3 A useful preparatory move that denies

Black the option of ...4f6-g4-e5. 12.8)c4 6)e5 l3.Aa3 ahs 14.h3 f5 looks promising for Black.

AEg EE

I IA

12.Axd6

Wxd6 13.4f4 and 14.d6) 11...4fe8 12.a4 b6 l3.Wd2 (a curious move made to make b3 possible) and after 13...4a6 1+.b3, White has a slight

AA AAA tr&

This is the starting position of the variation. Black aimost always proceeds with 9. a7-a6 The alternative 9...Ee8 tends to transpose to the main line, while 9...ha6 is a

distinct line: 10.adz 4,c7 I1.6c4l

12....

tra8-b8 odd-looking l3.Ace4! has given White nice results: 13...4df6 14.6xf6+ 6xf6 15.6c4. 13.6d2-c4 Ad7-e5 13...4b6 is also playable: 14.6a3 A.d7 (vacating the cS-square for the knight) 15.e41 AcS 16.9d3 Wc7 1 7 .48 o,a7

After 12...4h5, the

.

and after the push ...b7-b5, Black has an acceptable position.

'14.6c4-a3 The exchange on e5 gives Biack an easy game. The knight move prepares f2-f4; however, distancing the knight from the heart of the batde allows Black to become dangerously active on the kingside.

14.

...

af6-h5 45

-


Volume

3

it clear that he has his eye to discouragef)-f4, and also to supporthis own advance ...f/-fS. It may seem incredible, but it might be feasible to play l+...4d7 !!? straight Black makes

on 93 so

as

away! After 15.f4

ahs!

16.fxe5 Axe5.

E gE

&

a*A

-i

u'''

,\. /t\ q q

.

B :. B AAE

gxtr

16.€h2t aaZt (16...fs 17.f4 bs in the famous 1982

appeared

Kortchnoi-Kasparov game, which was won in fine style by Black; however, with correct play White gains the upper

:*f:*A$I*tI lll

:ii tA. A-

if this still remains a valid alternative. The rook returns to f8 to support the advance ...f7 -f5. unconcerned about White's own advances on the kingside: even

hand) 17.We2 (controlling b5: 17 .f4 b5!) 17...f5 18.f4 fxe4 19.6xe4 with an unclear game.

The old main line is no longer played:

8a A A

15...f5 l6.exf5 Axf5 17 .g+ Axg4 l8.hxg4 gh4! 19.gxhs trf8 20.h6 AtrS Zr.Q)c4t 694 22.Wxq4, with a plus for White... well that is what the-

Black's compensation

will not be suffi-

cient. However, in the rough-and-tumble of a real game, it would be unwise to underestimate Black's chances.

ory

says

anyway!

16. a4-a5! Black would get a nice game by meeting 1 6.94wirh 1 6...b5!.

15. e2-e4 Both 15.g4?l gh4! and 15.f4?l Axg3

16.... 17. g3-g4

Dut Black ahead.

't8. t2-t4

15....

9c8-d7!

Taking away the last refuge available to

the e5 knight! The idea is to ignore f2-f4 and to advance ...b7-b5 (without the threat of a fork). This move has now become more popular than Timman's paradoxical I 5...trfS

!

?

:$a €!&:=t $rx *r$r lll IAffi AA 'ffil '{X :*

: t* ffia Ag tr€

+6

Bd8xa5 ahs-f6

After 1S.g5 Ahs 19.f4 6c4t 20.Axc4 Wxal 21.Axd6 Axc3l 22.bxc3 Wxc3, Black's three passed pawns are more significant than White's ones in the centre.

18.... 19. h3xg4

€

xE*.:&

*'{ r;gE€

I :*

Ae5xg4 6f6xg4

r r

t **r$ :x *a* **a a** :u€ qJ fi $**:a# g*tr

A

ri&

A

F,:

:


The position is unclear, but over the board easier for Black to play The risks are such in rhis line wlrh 6d2-c+-a3. that it is easy to understand why 11.4f4!? is chosen with increasing frequency.

of breaking open the centre. 8.a4 looks normal, but after 8...497 9.e4 Ag4l, White will find it hard to gain the upper hand. 8.

9. Variations with

Wd1-e2!?

With the clear intention of

ef3

1. d2-d4 2. c2-c4 3. d4-d5 4. 6b't-c3 5. c4xd5 6. 6g1-f3

b7-b5

4,98-f6 c7-c5 e7-e6 e6xd5 d7-d6

advancing

his pawn to e5. 9.4d3 is a valid ahernative.

9.

Af8-e7!

Here we look at lines in whlch the knight move is not connected to the e2-e4 advance.

6.

97-96

EAAS€E E ,, ll :l

l' I I Al ,lA.'' )\ q)

,\ q)

AAgggA,' AAAA tr E A) 7. Ac1-f4!? A menacing move: White wishes to add a check from a4 to the Dressure on d6. 7.

a7-a6!

Safer than the normal move 7...997

8.Wa4+l AdZ (lnterposing the knight the d6 pawn open to capture) 9.9b3 Wc7 10.e4 0-0 11.4d2!, and White has achieved optimum performance results with this position. 8. e2-e4l? With this move, White concedes the queenside to Black, but with the hope leaves

In the Modern Benoni, it is a rare occurrence to see the bishop so awkwardly piaced on e7; however, Black is not the only one with an oddly located piece: White's queen on e2 is botding up his bishop.

10. We2-c2 Now the bishop is free.

10.... 11. Af1-e2 12. at3-d2

0-0

trf8-e8 Ae7-f8

With a balanced game.

B) 7. Ac1-s5 8. Ag5-ha

h7-h6!

s6-95

The most radical; it weakens the light squares, but gains the bishop pair. S...Agi 9.e3 0-0 10.4d2 (now that h5 is controlled, Black can no longer exchange off White's dark-squared

bishop) 10...a6 11.a4 6bd7 12.4e2 +7


-

Volume

3

Ee8 13.0-0 EbS la.Ag3 6e5 15.h3, and White has an edge.

9. Ah4-g3

af6-h5

10. e2-e3

Given that the light squares in Black's position are weak, it seems wiser to

9...9d7!? (Black simply moves rhe queen out of the pin,preparing ...b7-bS) 10.a4 and now that the b4-square is accessible, we have 10...4a6 1 1.e3 6b4 wirh the threat of ...WfS, and Black has

h2xs3 gf1-d3 Bd1-c2

I l.' ', fg f ll i', '''' ..,,

Af8-g7 ab8-d7

:l A .'r

ae

Wd8-e7

EAs& E l I ,,:{\gf g ll u

IA.:tr, .l

,.', :'..

.ri\,AA,4\A ' 14_J g A ?l

A

Ag

ggg

.

::' a-1

AA

a:

6f6-e8

EAEBAE€'..

10...4g7 l 1.abs+!?. 11. 12. 13.

,i\ t4)

AA AAAA tr .$q$Q.'''r'.9 ,,r

The safest. Sacrificing the d6 pawn

trb4

1

5.b3 !, seems too chancy.

gd1-d2 e2-e3 12. a2-a4

White would appear to stand better given the holes on h5 and f5; however, this advantage is an optical illusion: the activity of the g7 bishop on the dark

Preventing ...96-95.

squares counterbalances these static weaknesses.

White begins the customary knight's 'tour'towards c4.

7.

Af8-g7

...abd7t? 8.Ac+ 6be

8.

13. h2-h4

13.... 14. Af1xc4 D) 7.

EA AB€A

The move 8.e4 transposes to the Classi:...::

cal Variation.

0-0

9.495!? is equally popular; it is followed by the original but good reply +8

Aa6xc4 a7-a0

h2-h3!?

ll

.

Q:d2-c4

8. 9. Acl-f4

b7-b6

9c8-a6 t7-t5

And things are balanced.

c) 7. at3-d2

with

9...b6 10.Axd6 Ee8 1 1.e3 de4 l2.6xe4 Exe4 13.493 b5 t+.adzl 10. 11.

7

good position.

a

9.

push the pawn only one square, leaving the b 1-h7 diagonal open for the bishop. 10. ... Ah5xg3

'l-

.l A ;:; : '.a.

-:.:.

AA

{h

A

I

E 'l'.:

:,':'

'l

:

.,:6

g "tr

A AW€A tr ,''.;.'

A,Ai

.


An attempt to enter the Modern Variation, sidestepping the lines in which Black seeks to avoid the line by playing an early .Ag+ (this is discussed later). However, even now Black can avoid the

A)

8. E

ll

AEgE

Modern with the interesting.

7.

L a2-a4

e4-e5

a7-a6

I IAA

E

ler

chl aJ

Sdg-eztt

And White can no longer advance the

AA

pawn to e4!

Variations wiffif2-t4

1. d2-d4 2. c2-c4 3. d4-d5 4. Ab1-c3 5. c4xd5 6. e2-e4 7.

E

ll

698-f6

a

t2-f4

chAE,sA

8. 9.

Ac3-b5

The check on d6 denies Black the right to castle, but White is too far behind in deveiopment to be able to exploit this.

9.

E

10. 11.

ab5-d6+ 6d6xc8+

EAg

AA

ll

q) AAAA

AA

.-1A tr ag€aatr

d6xe5 €e8-e7 Wd8xc8 eI

rh&rEr I

lal

A.

21 (J

White's intentions are clear: prepare the advance e4-e5 without worrying about

AA AA tr aw€aatr

the weak e4 pawn. After.

7.

Afe-gz White can choose from three options: the first is 8.e5, which is increasingly rare; the second is S.6f3, with a position which is more commonly reached via the King's Indian; the third is the one that is most feared by Benoni players:8.4b5+.

6t6-d7

The following is also playable: 8...dxe5 9.fxe5 afd7 10.e6 fxe6 1 1.dxe6 9eZ.

I I I Al IA AA

n

tr

little foolhardy.

d7-do

g7-g6

ag€aa

The Mikenas Attack, which is probably

c7-c5

e7-e6 e6xd5

AA AA

White has all his pieces on the first rankl

12.6:g1-t3 The alternative 12.d6+

*f8

does not

improve mamers. 12. ... e5-e4!? Keeping the central lines closed. +9

-


Volume

3

After 12...Ee8 13.fxe5 Axe5 14.4b5 abdT 15.Axe5 €fA t6.0-0 Exe5, the

10. e4-e5!

EnAg

position is unclear.

13.6f3-s5

*

ad7-b6!

14. d5-d6+

If

14.6xe4, then 14...8d8, with prom-

complicated position,

but

f

I Ar '.::

:ti:,fll'A&

ising counterplay for Black. 14.... €e7-f8

A

':,,,,

&,.

f

':.'

a

Black's

game inspires more confidence.

B)

8. hgl-f3 9. Afl-e2

0-0 10.

EnAg lS,@'.',' |; 1.:.::: I € I I Al l'1,.

10

..

.afd7

U\

11. f4xe5 12. 13. 14.

Ac1-g5 O-0 €sl-h1

.'.....t,,

hf6-g4 gd8-b6 c5-c4+

ab8-d7

After 1+...4f2+?l 15.trxf2

U\

AA A E g€

d6xe5

is perhaps the lesser of wvo

evils.

r',-..:

.t A ,". AA r\ ,\

!?

...

AA .,.:,,8

Wxf2

16.4xb5, White has a virtually decisive advantage. The alternative 14...6xe5

15.Axe5 Axe5 16.9;e7 Ee8 17.d6 gives White a clear plus.

The number one choice. It is worth not-

ing that 9.4d3 is nor

as bad as people

make it out to be.

The diagram position is important, in that is often reached via the Four

Pawns Attack in the King's Indian (1.d4 af6 2.c4 96 3.6c3 Ag7 4.e4 d6 5.f4 0-0 6.4f3 cs 7.d5 e6 8.4e2 exds 9.cxdS). However, here we will respect the ECO classification. which considers it to be part of the Benoni.

15. e5-e6

And the ensuing complications favour White.

BD 9.

Ac8-94 The most solid option. Black is prepared to concede this bishop in order to stop, or at least delay, the e4-e5 push.

10.0-0 11. h2-h3 11.8e1!?. 11. ...

ab8-d7

81) 9. b7-b5 This pseudo-pawn sacrifice is possible because of the tactic ...Axe4 followed by ...sfa5+; however, it is probably dubious as it gives White a free hand in

Wc7 16.8e2 Eac8 17.Wn 6c5. and

the centre.

things are complex.

5U

12.9e2xt3 trf1-e1

Ag4xf3 trf8-e8

13.

Wd8-a5!? Otherwise, 13...a6 14.a4 c4l? l5.Ae3

Modern Benoni Def.ence

14. Ac1-e3 15. a2-a3

aAgE s 1 €' l I al 't.t',1

b7-b5

E

ad7-b6

ll. l.,.,.,.',

'16. e4-e5

HH@

1'

, lAl gla I al

I

AA

A ',; AA A E, glg$

6\,,.,'_.":,:.:

AA ,,.,,,r:,.E

10. e4-e5

It is also possible to play the more timid 10.4d2 a6 11.a4 abdT 12.0-0 c4l?

This position is difficult to judge.

83)

[',''.,,:,'.':::"::t:,','::'

,,.,,:.,

I a,a A gA'. Aa A

AA trgtrg

1i1'..:.,.

13.9h1! 6c5 14.e5, with a complex position.

... 11. f4xe5

'10.

9.

In the past, this didn't even rate a mention in the ECO; now it is becoming increasingly popular. However, it probably needs further testing. 10. e4-e5 d6xe5 11. f4xe5 12. e5-e6

Af6-94

E Ag

E&

lr AAIrEr IA

,\ q)

)\ q) NNAAA

d6xe5

Af6-94

12. Ac1-95 12.0-0!? Axe5 13.4f+ is an insidious, but little played sacrifice.

12....

gd8-b6

The best square, with the option of a future discovered check ...c5-c4. 12...f6!?

is an attempt to simpiify the position, but White has scored well after 13.exf6 Axf6 1+.Wd2 Axg5 15.Wxg5. 13. 0-0 Og4xe5

t

EA

ll

trgggtr 4UU

A,, E,','&,',',i,,"' ir lArl

gl

After 12.495 Wbe, glack has an improved version of the line that follows.

12.... With unclear play.

84)

9.

AA A AA tr : .,:,,E €

Ad7-e5!

Wf

trf8-e8

Otherwise, there

is 13...c4+ 14.9h1

The critical move. Black invites White

AdZt (winning the

to push the pawn without fear of the re-

check

sulting complications.

counterplay

exchange

on f2 gives White

with

a

winning

with Ae4-d6) 15.e6 fxe6 5l

-

Chess Opening Essentiols 1

Volume

3

6.dxe6 adf6!, with a complex positi-

16.

17.

on that offers equal chances.

The following two moves are equal in terms of popularity and performance.

B41)

14.6f3xe5

l4...Exe5

!?.

move repeti[ion: 17...&g7 18.Ecl 18. gd1-d5 19. €91-h1 20. Ea1-b1 !

set on f7.

EA A:'

9"'.. &

ll tul ,l ':.'l I

rAE

6 .a

a

A

Wc3

Ae5-d4+ Ac8-f5

Brilliant. 20....

Wb2xb1

Forced: 20...Wxc3? 21.Exb7; 20...Axbl ?? 2t.Wxf7 -. 21. Ac3xb1 6b8-d7 And evaluating this position is a real

..'.''.

headache.

':.

tr

B4D

15. ... Wb6xb2t? This is the critical line at the time of writing. Playable alternatives are 15...9b4, which gains a rempo by attacking the bishop, and 15...4f5, which closes the f-fiIe. In this last line White does not have prospects for more than a draw: 16.ab5 (in order to advance his pawn to d6) 16...a6 17.d6 axb5 18.9xf/+ €xfZ t9.Exf5+ gxfS 2o.Whs+ €f8 2r.Wxhz Wxd6 22.9h6+ 9xh6 23.Wxh6+.

EA I

ll

,rr,E&' .1."'l ,,

Er

ue e

AA ,,',1t,,,''.,AA tr € 52

Ee8-f8! Ef8xf7

Axc3 19.Eb1t Ad++ 20.€h1 21.8b3 Wal 22.8b1 Wd 23.Eb3.

15. Ae2-c4

With its targets

9c4xt7+

Declining the piece offer creates a chaotic position that supplies the opportuniry for

a Ag7xe5

d5-d6

14. ds-d6 With the idea of Ad5. 14. ...

Wb6xb2

EAE E s rEr Ir AI

I a;

aaA

Ag

tr g

A'A

tr€

- not so much for the pawn, but more because of the direct threat to the c3 knight, and the indirect threat to the a 1 rook. 15. Ac3-d5 Strangely, this is the best

Played anfway.

15....

The move 15...9f5 also maintains a precarious dynamic balance after r. A s Ar gxe/ l6.q)e/+ I/.dxe/ ?lbct) 18.€h1t?EeS!.

Modern Benoni Delence

Ae2xf3

Ag7-d4+! With twin benefits: the first is that it forces the king away from the centre; the second is that the g7-square is now vacant for his ovm king. 16...Wxa1 17.6'e7+1, with good compensation tor Whrte. 17. €g1-h1 Wb2xal 18. Wdlxa1 Now the intermediate check on e7 leaves Black with the advantage after 18...€g7. Ad4xa1 18.... tLbS-d7 19. trf1xa1 lv...ge5la. 20. Ag5-e7 16.

H

F'1

E-€.E&

ll

aar l AI la I

-xA a\

AA

FT

cb

To ston the activation of the rook. The fork zb.6cz? does not work: 20...treS

21.4f4 trfs. Looking at the diagram position it is easy to understand why most chess engines give Black some advantage. This is not so much because Black is temporarily the exchange up, but more for the two-pa\ rn advantage, which represents a considerable plus.

However, the reality is that Black is so tied dornm that he will have difficulty exploiting his advantage, and therefore parity seems to be the wisest assessment.

c)

8.

Af1-b5+

EAES€

ll

I

E

rEr

dhr

ATA AA a

AA

AA

tr aw€ atr The feared Taimanov Attack. With this astute check. White seeks to make the e4-e5 push more effective.

aI6-d7 8. Virtually forced; 'virtually' in the sense that once in a while there is an attempt to rehabilitate the alternatives. but with little success, if the truth be told. 8...4d7?! is certainly dubious: 9.e5 dxe5 10.fxe5 ah5 1 1.4f3 o-0 1 2.Axd7 AxdT 13.g+, and Black's compensation for the piece is nebulous. It is more complicated to refute 8...Abd7 (presuming you can, of course!): 9.e51 dxeS 10.fxeS ah5 1 1.e61 Wh4+! 12.g3 Axg3 13.hxg3 Wxhl 14.4e3! Axc3+l 15.bxc3 a6! 16.exd7+ AxdT 17 .Axd7 + €xd7

18.Wg4+!? (white weakens the e5-square before exchanging off queens) 1 8...f5 1 9.9f3 !

-

E

ll

la I {1

n

I

l€

A tr

O

AultrAD

.AEl

€ag 53


-

Volume

3

12.... gb5-f1

19...9xf3 20.6xf3 - a rook and two pawns for rwo minor pieces does not seem bad

13. 14. h2-h3

in terms of material. but here

you get the impression that the d5 pawn represents an advantage for White.

9. a2-a4 Anticipating ...a6 and ...b5. The move 9.4d3 is less played but still insidious: e...0-0 10.4f3 6a6 11.0-0 Ebs 12.9h1 8tc7 13.a4 a6 1+.f5!? b5. with an unclear game.

9.

0-0 This is the most frequent and also the most natural move.

a7-a6 Ef8-e8

E:::*Eg E*.]&.*: IEl ll..'f * *,,1€. "*.. * A;..1 it .;!..1..:th1.:.i

;; Afi::rtA ,\ .:ri\'n

-

:' .':.

q)a

q\

:,'tf.1

.A

tr

,'i{'l

'.,.'. g

14....

A *. = A€ tra8-b8

Some prefer the refinement 9...Wh4+ 10.g3 9e7 (or indeed 10...9dS).Ir is true that White's pawn is better placed

l+...f51? is controversial. It breaks up White's centre, but at the same time

it seems fool-

15.9c1-e3 It will not be easy for Black to activate the usual counterplay with ...b5, and therefore White may hold a slight advantage. However, this is not nearly

on 92 than on 93, but

hardy to waste a tempo in such an aggressive line in order to create a weakness that is so academic. This does not mean that 9...9h4+ cannot be played (we have already seen how the advent of chess engines has led to a frequent and dramatic reassessment of what is actually playable). However, to suggest that this could be the best line is a completely different matter.

10.691-f3 6b8-a6 With the other knight on d7, this move seems to be the most logical.

11. 0-0

6a6-b4

The knight profits from the fact that the

pawn is already on a4, and finds a

se-

cure home.

11...6c7 is playable, but Black must be ready to meet the aggressive 17.Axd7 !?

AxdT 13.f5!. 12. trfl-el Preparing the e4-e5 advance and leaving the fl-square for the bishop. 54

weakens the e6-square.

enough to justify the claims of refuting the Benoni that are in circulation!

Minor variations after 6.e2-e4 g7-96

1. d2-d4 2. c2-c4 3. d4-d5 4. 6b1-c3 5. c4xd5 6. e2-e4

698-f6

c7-c5 e7-e6 e6xd5 d7-d6 97-96 Before examining the usual 7 .6f3, we will take a look at two minor variations: the Kapengut and the Penrose.

A) 7.

t2-t3

The Kapengut Variation is clearly analogous to the Simisch Yariation in the


King's Indian, indeed this position is most often reached by means of the

A stunning move that reminds one of ...4h5 in the Spassky-Fischer match of

will respect it as part

1972, brtt in that case Black obtained the advantage of the two bishops. 9...a6 10.a4 h5 is the normal continuation, with equal chances.

King's Indian. However, we

the ECO entry, which classlfies

of the Benoni. There is a historical explanation for this: in the past, few played 6.995 in the Siimisch, which is the most common means of transposing (1.da dfe Z.c+ 96 3.4c3 Ag7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.495 c5 7.d5 e6 followed by ... exdS); whereas after the normal 6.4e3 it was not yet popular to play the gambit line 6...c5!?, which after 7.d5 e6 indeed transposes to the Kapengut.

E

AAggE

II , ..:

a: T1

7

i',

I "l

E

I hl

la'

a' A

11 U

,A AA tr

.f3, a solid move that reinforces the

centre, stops ...hg4 and, Black permitting, is made with the following moves in mind: AgS, Wdz, Ae2-g3, Ae2, 0-0 and f4. However, it is not a move that favours development. Other negative as-

pects are that the dark squares are slightly weakened, and a possible f3-f4 will involve the expenditure of another tempo. As usual, the pro's and con's balance each other, which is good for the game. Otherwise, we would all play the same opening! 7.

A1) 8. o,s1-e2 9. Ae2-s3

E

Ag3xh5

g6xh5

AAg.

Il', 't .',.. ,'','.,

'l A'

:':': a '-' S'',.'.,'' AA tr gW€Q''':

I

The doubled h-pawns are ugly and not surprisingly, most chess engines give a big advantage to White. In reality, the dark-square weaknesses and the fact

l

aw€aa

10.

Af8-s7 0-0

Af6-h5!?

that Black can activate his play with ...f5 represent some compensati on.

11. gf1-d3 t7-15 12. 0-0 hb8-a6 It is also worth considering 12...6d7, \.ith the possibility of pushing the parnm to f4 and planting *re knight on e5.

a2-a3 14. Wd1-c2 '13.

Ac8-d7

gd8-f6

15. €g1-h"1 Most chess engines see White as having a clear advantage, but this seems to be

an overestimation; to the human eye Black's more dynamic position would appear to be adequate compensation.

AD 8. Ac1-e3 Little played in this context, but often reached in the Si'rnisch King's Indian. 0-0 8. 9.

gd1-d2

55


-

Volume

3

9.6ge2!?.

10. Ag5-e3 After 10.Axh6 Axe4 11.Axe4 Wti++ 12.93 Wxh6 l3.Bxh6 Axh6 14.Axd6 Adz, better development and darksquare play gives Black enough com-

9.

a7-a6 10. a2'a4 trf8-e8 11. hg1-e2 ab8-d7 12.6e2-93 h7-h5!

E

I

lat:l*

pensatron.

E*; e5:

A

..=-

10.... a7-a6 This is identical to the previous line, with the difference that the black pawn

I x* a$r

tfi r€

tb.$

* A" n A :i*i "a-lhA € ti HA

$r

t::a:;

wx EA

B,

is on h6.

r:rti

11.

n n, :*; g:: e u

A typical move in these positions; plan is to disturb the 93 knight.

the

15.9e3-f2 To relocate the

extra tempo for both players.

13.

there is always rhe racrical motif of ...Axe4 followed by ...Wh++.

14.... 15. 16.

8. L gdl-d2

EfiA ig €'x la **r

A'ffr€*r

t:.,:;t * A .., ) < -:-::: ...

-

' '-

,)i\ .q \:

l

arqi

?J:

)( tJ'-'

'a

-:"-l '

-

gA Aq-

gA

.:'.:Ff' *-:i-':

l

A

'a?1 +

:-:

,

t 55

' '.L

f ::-.=

0-0 h7-h6

12.4e2 b5 is an interesting plan.

AA. AZI

h6-h5 t7-t5

gE*e*: *r* :* €a a:*.: X *f:t;

e...gd7!? lo.Age2 8)a6 t1.Ag3 trb8

:e: E

0-0 €g1-hl

H ,A

E

The most played.

€;:t

af6-h7

t4...ahs!?.

A3) 8. Ac1-s5

,....

Ad7-e5

Remember that after the caprure on h6

With equal chances.

.

...

14.9j1-e2

knight on e3.

15.... Ad7-e5 16.6f1-e3 Wd8-g5 17. 0-0 t7-f5

'i:

trf8-e8

ab8-d7

13. 6e2-c1!? 13.493 h5 transposes to A2 with an

9f1-e2 h5-h4 Ag3-f1 af6-h7

13. 14.

a2-a4

12.691-e2

t\ q)

-i{i

1d I a---: ::::

tA-,-ffrt A

./4.

E ,-- a'--' n ---:- -.,

.

:- ^ --..

**nx Afi:tr

With the usual active play, and either side

couldwin.

B) 7. Af1-d3

Af8-g7

8. 6g1-e2 8.h3 0-0 9.495!? is an alternative.

interesting


E llA€,9s!? rar ry /L Ar fV a rAI^ 2)E AA^^-i

retreated to c2. Another line from the

E

any thing- is-play able

school

!

a2-a4

ab8-d7

12.6:e2-93

Wd8-c7 c5-c4

10. 11.

h2-h3

trf8-e8

t2-t4

13.

14. Ad3-c2 Ea8-b8 15. Ac1-e3 To discourage...b5.

I

AAAg tr Ag€+ tr

15....

The text move introduces the menacing Penrose Yariation, named in honour of

the English player who defeated the mighty Tal in 1960. White's plan is 0-0, 693,fa, with a possible Wf3 and Ag5, after which the threat of the oositional

After

15

6d7-c5

...b5 I 6.axb5 axb5

17 .Ea7

,

White is better. 16.

A

gdl-f3

position reached

in hundreds of

games.

16....

b7-b5

Naturally, Black does not jusr sit there

Otherwise, 16...4fd7 I Z.e5 dxe5 18.f5! e4! 19.Agxe4 Ae5, with an un-

twiddling his thumbs while all this

clear game.

sacrifice e5-dxe5-f5 is looming. is

a4xb5

happening, and he has a number of re-

17.

disposal. However, if Black plays mechanically he may find himself losing with remarkable speed. Compared to other lines, White does

18. e4-e5 19. 20. Ae3-d4!

20.9f4 afd7, wirh optimum compen-

not adequately control the c4-square,

sation for the exchange.

sources

at his

f4xe5

and Black's counterplay centres on the

20....

pawn advance c5-c4 supported by the queen on c7 . This will in turn make the ...b7-b5 advance easier. In addition, the

21.693-e2

8.

0-0 9. 0-0 a7-a6 The classical approach. Some

60a

rar E

-a

lc

positional and tactical tension immediately rises, and we are now in one of the most complicated lines of the

a

rA

a

g

tre8xe5

tre5-95

HA tg

cS-square will be an excellent square ro activate the d7 knight. As you will now appreciate, the level of

Benoni.

a6xb5 d6xe5

AA E

UUA A\A

AA z)a Fl .9.)

players with a complex game that is not easy ro have scored well by experimenting assess. with the surprising 9...69+l?, heading Larer we wili look at the main line of fore5 andthenc4afrerthebishophas the Benoni:6.e4 96 7.aft, with the 57


-

Volume

3

natural 7 ...A'g7 . However, first we will have a glance at an interesting alternative that allows Black to avoid the insidious ModernVariation:

White is unconcerned about the advance ...b7-b5. Remember that 8.4f4 is also possible, and transposes to the 7.4f4 variation, which we have already discussed.

b7-b5

8.

Bronstei n Variation 7...a6!?

1. d2-d4 2. c2-c4 3. d4-d5 4. 6b1-c3 5. c4xd5 6. e2-e4 7. Ag1-f3

9. gfl-d3

Protecting the e4-square.

9. if8-g7 10.0-0 0-0 11. Ac1-f4 trf8-e8 12. trf1-e1 Ha8-a7l?

6s8-f6 c7-c5 e7-e6

e6xd5 d7-d6 97-96 a7-a0

t* fiAgE€g -* ,gl :;:: r I l*tfir

a:r*.a*;* .* t:iag

t:A

*;t:

:::a:ta

aa;;a:.t A .A =' €. ::*W Inviting White to play a2-a4 and then intending to exchange the bishop on 94 for the knight on f3. However, White does not have to play a2-a4.

A

t::i:i

A position that has inspired much debate: opinions differ as to whether Black's queenside pawns are weak or strong. In practice, both sides have equal chances.

C)

8. a2-a4

Ac8-g4!?

Before White plays h3 or Ad2.

D 8. Wd1-e2!? With the idea to follow up with e4-e5. This promising idea was the brainchild of Epishin. Probably Black's best reply is the equally strange-looking :

8.

Wd8-e7

which prevents the pawnpush.

B) 8. 58

aforementioned

Efig ....:

ll*

I

.at

'.:' ttA :.

A

1-Z-) -

,gl Ag h2-h3!?

,:..

*

:,1 *:A :^

6ia :iaaa

aA

E

l.= r

fir

aa:aL:..,1

:]ij,.i',.

n al l;::.:i:1

A

a:a:i:

A.A i:\ A

:::t::l

,\,

::t:i

it,::i L4\ 1i

E'l

FT


to control e5. and he is willing to give up the advantage of the Black's aim is

Main line

1. d2-d4 2. c2-c4 3. d4-d5 4. 6b1-c3 5. c4xd5 6. e2-e4 7. 6g1-f3

bishop pair to achieve that end. Do not forget that in the previous line the bishop move would be premature at this point due to 8.Wa4+1.

9. gd1-b3!? White seeks to exploit the weak

b7

pa\ m.

If White continues in normal fashion with 9.4e2. after 9...Axf3l 10.Axf3

lt

l

AA

Ag4xf3

Otherwise. 6d2 would follow. 10. Wb3xb7 ab8-d7!

11. 12. 13.

g2xf3 9f8-g7 Wb7-c6! 0-0!

Wc6xd6

af6-h5

E:, g Eg :.f.. fEf lgl ',",' t[ ,r '5 AA 2{

2(

AA q)a

A

H /ff HEgEg

In

exchange

r..;.

6 Ne.b

EBES-

AA

for the fwo

H

sacrificed

pawns, Black has obtained some positionally favourable features: however, whether these represent sufficient compensation for the lost material is di{ficult to say.

/\AAA 2\ /1

6

F?

E

For historical reasons this variation, in which White plays both Af3 and e4, is classified as the main line. The line is subdivided into the Modern and Classical Yariations, which discussed soon.

D

8.

will

be

Ac1-s5

This is not very popular anymore, but

it

is always a dangerous move.

8.

,-6-A

I

I Al

qq)

win.

Iess clear.

Af8-g7

i.,., I'A,..,':..'1.,,:

reached through the Classical Variation, that offers both sides equal chances to

The compensation after 10...4xg2 is

c7-c5 e7-e6 e6xd5 d7-d6 97-96

Eagge E i''.,,1 g,l

Ag7 11.0-0 0-0 12.4f+ We7 13.Eel 6bdz r+.as EfeS 1s.gd2 hs!? r6.h3 Ah7, we have a position that is often

9.

Ag8-f6

h7-h6

This attempt to get rid of the pin is the most played move, but it may also be a good idea to play an early 8...a6!? so as not to have to worry anymore about the check on b5. In response to this, the critical line is 9.OdZ ! (controlling h5 in case of ...h7-h6 and ...g7-g5) 9...b5 10.a4 b4 1i.Acbl 0-0 12.4d3. with complex play.

9. Ag5-h4

96-95 qq


-

Volume

3

The other option 9...a6 is played with the same idea mentioned in the previous note.

10.

Ah4-g3

Af6'h5

Black is prepared to weaken his light squares in order to have the advantage of the two bishops. 11. gf1-b5+! Forced: the defence of

maintained'

and if

€e8-f8 d6 should be 1

1...AdZ?!

12.Axd7+ Wxd7, there follows 1

3.4e5 !, which

amacks h5.

wirh

a clear

plus for White.

12. e4-e5!

AA'B ,9, E t, I 'i.,r ::' f A ,,1,':l 1. :a''. ,tl ..'',.,"A{A E

,l

A

'' A ',.'..taA A 'A .''... *,A A 'F? .:..,Wi

tr

Spicing up the posirion.

12....

Ah5xg3

The move 12...a6!? is a possibility.

13. f2xg3!

With the idea of using the f-file to better exploit the light squares.

13. ... d6xe5 14. 0-0 White's compensation is evident. Black may survive with correct play, but in practice, this position is not fun to play.

The idea is simple and surprisingly effective: once h3 is played, the bishop

can be developed to d3 without any further concern for the pin from 94. Now White will play Af4, 0-0 and Eel with the intention of e5. Aware of this, Black responds energetically with 9. b7-b5!? Although playable, this move has a discouraging defect for many players; there are quite a few lines that are forcing through to the ending. Those who would prefer to play a game of chess instead of memorising long lines could try 9...a6 10.a4 AbdZ 11.0-0 Ee8 12.4f4 WeZ 13.Ee1 Wf8l. on this square the queen is less exposed and supports - White permitting - ...ahs and ...Ahg, wirh active play on the dark squares.

The alternative 9...4d7 has recently been demonstrated to be playable, as has 9...4h51? 10.0-0 6_sat 1t.Ag5 Af6tZ. The facr that these lines are now considered to be viable is further evidence of the creative vitality of modern chess.

B) 8. h2-h3 9. gfl-d3

0-0

Bl)

10. 11.

Ad3xb5

6c3xe4

6f6xe4

The popular and feared Modern Varia-

Wd8-a5+ Winning back a piece, but losing the d5

tion.

pawn.

OU

Modern Benoni Delence

12. ats-d2l 13.6e4xd6

Wa5xb5 Wb5-a6!

14.6d2-c4 Not 14.Axc8?? Ee8+, andBlackwins. 14.... abe-d7 On its way to b6, where it will challenge the two mutually supporting knights.

15.0-0

ad7-b6

16.6c4xb6 17. Ad6xc8

Wa6xb6! Ea8xc8 In exchange for the palvn, Black has counterplay against b2 and d5: but will this prove to be enough compensation?

18. 19.

tral-b1 Ac1-f4

Ef8-dg

gb6-b7

19...c4!?.

d5-d6 gd1-d3! 22.914xd6 23. trf1-dl 20. 21.

Eg7-f8 af8xd6! trc8-c6

gb7-d7!

E€

*

a::g.t f t;:f Ae I I -,\t

'elJ

AA :n..:

sryA :n.':

FiFl'.6 ':-E:-H...\41-

::

AA

BD 10.6c3xb5

forced 11.Axe4 Ee8 12.2.95

black queen.

24. Wd3-a3 trc6xd6 25. Wd7xd6 26. Wa3xa7 Black's position holds, even if it is a bit of a struggle.

trd1xd6

h6

13.4e5! (an elegant way to block the

file)

13...Wa5+! 14.6c3 Axc3* Wxc3* 16.4d2 Wc4 1 7.gf3l Axe6 18.8c1 gd4 19.0-0 (threatening 15.bxc3

20.4c3 and 21.9f6) 19...4xh3! 20.Ac3 Axg2l 21.Wf+! Bxe4l 2}.trfel!

(the back-rank mate theme at

work) 22...ad7 23.Exe4

Axe4 24.Wxh6 f6 25.9f41, with an advantage for White. However, the way things are going it is not improbable that the move 10...4xe4 will be favourablv reassessed in the future. 11. 0-0 1 1.4d2 Axd5, with equality. 11. ... Af6xe4 12. trf1-e1 12.Wa4!?.

12.... 13. Ab5-a3 14. 15.

Eelxe8+

Acl-95

a7-a6l Ae4-f6 Af6xe8 Wd8-c7

Efi A ?,u A iaa'€ a:La:a..:

{e

.1a,:'j

r L

::ar

Better than the obvious 23...Ecxd6 24.Wxd6 Exd5 25.trxd6. and the two white rooks are more powerful than the

Ef8-e8!

The old move 10...4xe4 is considered to be bad bv most as there is the almost

ti].::

"-

*.,

t:rrr:::

t\ *. qJ

A .J, &l A

;i,:...:: .::il9:€

*

A

*

,:r:lt::l

rE I :::: r

;l:ii i:.rl

*t

..fr.'

tl

*: A

].:r:l:]:f

a i:::: c/-) A ?A

---l

A

)

.,.*:

:::: $tr

A..

A rt::ti

iJA

;:.:ial(

White has the advantage by virtue of his better development. However, this is only temporary, and Black should have no problems equalising.

61


-

Volume

3

C) 8. Af1-e2

12. a2-a4

The Classical Variation (many openings that fearure Af3 and Ae2 are classified as classical). Sometimes White immediately plays S.Ad2!?, which usually transposes. It is often played in order ro avoid 9...Ag+ (Variation C2).

8. 9.

a2-a4 12. Ae2xf3 13. trf1-e1

aa a r*a a

c3)

e. a7-aG A move that in itself does not define anv particular variation, and instead after...

W*1ttr€ Ab8-a6

1O.

af3-d2

a2-a4

it

tends to transpose into other lines. The following is an indicative example: ...

r0.gf4t?. 10.

... af3-d2

6f6-e8!?

...

10. trf8-e8 11. Ab8-d7 12. Ea1-a3! This useful move defends the kingside, and it is also to be see in Variation C42. Here it has the additional advantage that Black has lost a rempo playing his pavm

*iA€lA€&it

f::r a.'lr r *all tAt .r: A r: :.ll; a *A& fiA&A& E AW trg

to a6.

12....

Vacating the d 1-square for the knight.

... 14.6c3-d1 15.6d1-e3 13.

push to f5. This line was successfirlly em-

in the 2004

1

1...f5!?. 62

6a6-c7

it

96-95 Ae5-96

6g6-f4

16.9e2-d1

World

Championship match againsr Leko, and has thus become more popular.

11.6d2-c4

Ad7-e5

13. Wd1-c2!?

hotecting d6 and preparing the pav,n ployed by Kramnik

a7-aG

Ag4xf3!? Wd8-e7 6bg-d7 This takes us into the Bronstein Yariation, which we discussed before.

A

e.

...

11.

x fir:*

10.

Ac8-g4

10. Ac1-f4 10.4d2 Axe2 I 1.Wxe2 AUaz t 2.8)c4

10.

**A**

E

CD 9.

Black has active play.

EAAg E& I :* I rEr

cl)

trf8xf5!? 14.9.e2-94 trfs-fg With a diffi cult-to-iudge position.

ab6 13.4e3 WeZ 14.f3 Ah5. and

0-0 0-0

tr

17-t5

13. e4xf5

Black

is weak on the kingside

Iight-square complex, but his dynamic potential gives him chances that should not be underestimated.


C4) 9. Black is yet to decide pa\ rn to a6 or not.

10.

trf8-e8 if he will play the

16. Ae2xc4 a7-a6 17. gd2-d3 Stopping ...b5. The following is an in-

teresting alternative: 1 7.Efe l l8.afll?.

af3-d2

EChEgE € rar I rhr

17.

lr

IA

E ll

A A

AAgg' AAAAA tr€

,\nd now we

see the last

af6-h5!

Es ag l€l I

I

IA gA AAA Ag A A AA

uz)

E

...

b5

,',

Fl

of the alterna-

Fl .0-)

tive sub-variations.

C41) 10....

6b8-a6

The old line. The knight is heading for c7, where it will support the ...b7-b5 push and discourage White's advance e4-e5, as d5 would be left undefended. 11. f2-f3 Protecting the e4 pawn so as to free the d2 knight. 1

1.

...

12.a2-a4

Aa6-c7 b7-b6

tz...ad7 r3.gh1 b6! 14.dc4

a'e5 17.exf5 gxfs 18.4d3 Wfo rs.Wcz ah6 2o.Ad2, and White has an edge. The normally thematic 17...a6?! would be an error here il riew of 13.6c4 Eb8 14.4f4 Afs ts.as,

15.6e3

f5

16.f+

aI7

and White has a clear advantage.

13.o,d2-c4

Ac8-aG

And now we see the idea behind I 2...b6: to take on c4

after l+.Af+.

14. Ac1-95 gd8-d7!? 15. gdl-d2 Aa6xc4 In order to advance his pawns to a6 and bs.

Now that Black's efforts have come to a halt on the queenside, he seeks counterplay on the other side of the board. 18.

19. 20.

g2-g4

€sl-hl tral-b1

Ag7-d4+ 6h5-g7

h7-h5 The position is not easy to evaluate with any precision; in the rough and tumble of a real game either side could win.

c4D 10....

ab8-d7

The most natural and dynamic wav to proceed.

11. a2-a4 The most played move. Now there is the option of Ea3. 11 .f+l? transposes to the f4 lines already

discussed. There is also the threat of 11.h31? g5!? (the normally thematic

11...6e5 is not good in this position because of 12.f4) 12.6c4 Axe4 13.6xe4 Exe4 l4.Axd6 trd4 15.Wc2 trxd5, with an unclear game. 63


-

Volume

3

Another idea is Polugaevsky's I l.Wc2 Ae5 1 2.b31?.It is a little played line but worthv of consideration. 11.... Ad7-e5

The k.y position of the Classical Benoni. Black stops 6c4 and saves the tempo necessary to play ...a7-a6 so he can immediately become active on the kingside. Usually Black continues with the somewhat risky ...g5. This move weakens the light squares, but sets up good play on the dark squares with either ...4e5-g6-f4 oa after the further

push ...g5-g4, with ...4f6-h5-f4 and ...gds-f6. White, for his part, will manoeuwe so as to place the knight on 93 or e3, with the option of a timely f2-f4 advance, whereas the rook on a3 will have an important defensive role on the kingside. As you will have noted, this is a position of great complexity that is characterised by an eternal theme: dynamic advantages on one side pitted against structural superiority on the other. 12. Ea1-a3 12.Wc2 usually transposes (unless Black plays the Fischer-like move 12...4h51?). An effective alrernarive plan is 12.Ee1 in order to transfer the knight to 93 via fl. g6-95 12.... 13. Wd1-c2 In addition to freeing the dl-square, this move defends e4 and allows Ac4 in

14.6c3-d1 14.6c4l?. 14.

6e5-96

...

l4...ahs ls.f4!.

15.6d1-e3

Ae2-b5

Wd8-e7

Ee8-f8 16...9d7? would fatally weaken the 16.

Iight squares.

17.

a4-a5

Ea8-b8

El l l -9.gr-gr laa g::,,,

E

o

&',..',,,

*a

AI sq) AgA A A A tH

,\

A

tr€

With a classic Benoni position in which White's advantage is really only academic.

Aronian,Levon Carlsen,Magnus Elista 2007

(l)

1.d4 af6 z.atg e6 3.c4 c5 4.d5 exdS 5.cxd5 d6 6.hc3 96 7.93 Ag7

8.392 0-0 9.0-0 a6 1O.a4 Ee8

on

11.4f4 o,e4'12.6xe4 Exe4 13.4d2 trb4 14.b3 trxf4 15.gxf4 Axal 16.Wxa1 2,d7 17.6e4 We7 18.8c1 bO 19.trc3 af6 20.tre3 6xe4 21,9xe4 WdS 22.tr93 gh4 23.e3 Se7 24.Ad3 Ab7 25,e4 Ee8 26.f5 gh4 27.h3 ac8 28.8c3 gf4 29.9f6 Be5 30.Bxe5 Exe5 31.f4 Ee8 32.f6 gd7 33.tre3 b5 34.axb5 axbS 35.e5 €f8 36.9f2 €g8 37.4e2 €fs 38.h4

tunities.

41.gd3 h5 42.e6 fxe6 43.Axg6

some lines.

13.... After 13...a6 14.hd1

95-94

696 15.6e3 Af4

16.9d1 b617.f3 46h5, White's positiseems more harmonious, but in practical play Black has excellenr oppor-

64

€g8 39.€el gf8 40.€d2

h6


exd5 44.gxe8 gxe8 45.8e6 c4 46.trxd6 cxbS 47.*cg €f7 48.€xb3 eg6 49.€b4 €f5 50.Sc5 9f7 51.€xb5 AeG 52.*c5 €xf6 53.€d4

€f5 54.€e3 sj7 55.€fg AeG 56.tra6 Af7 57.tra8

€f5

€f6

26.trxf8+ trxf8 27.We1 6xe4+

28.€g2 Wc2 29.Axe5 Ht2+ 30.Wxf2 Axf2 31.tra2 gfs 32.6xd7 adg 33.AhG WxdT 34,9a8+ gfz 35.trh8 €f6

36.gf3Wxh3+

Ag6 60.tr91 €f5

Avmkh,Boris

61.€e3 Af7 62.Eg5 €e6 63.€d4

Kamsky,Gata

59.8a1

€f6 64.€c5 €e7 66.Exf7+

65.trg7 €f6 1-o

Scheeren,Peter

Timnan,Jan teeuwarden ch-NED 1980 (2) 1.d4 eG 2.c4 Q;tG 3.g3 c5 4.d5

exd5

5.cxd5 d6 6.hc3 g6 7.4g2 Ag7 8.4f3 0-0 9.O-O treB 1O.6d2 aG 11.a4 hbd712.h3 trbB 13.6c4 6e5 14.6a3 6h5 15.e4 trfB 16.g4 Bh4 17.gxh5 AxhS 18.h6 Ah8 19.4e2f5 20.exf5 Exf5 21.6g3 gbf8 22.6,rt5 trxf5 23.Wb3 Axg2 24.&xg2 Se4+ 25.€ Axf3 26.gxf3 trxfg 27.trxfg We2+ 28,trf2 Wg4+ 29.9f1 Wdt+ 30.sg2 gd4 31.8b1 Wg4+ 32.€f1 B'dl+ 33.€92 Wg4+ 34.€f1 b5 35.axb5 axb5 36.tra1 Axf2 37.&xt2 Wa4 38.trb1 Wh4+ 39.€e2 We4+

40.€d1gf3+41.€d2

0-1

Kortchnoi,Yiktor

Khanty-Mansiysk 200 7

5.cxd5 d6 6.6c3 g6 7.4g2 Ag7 8.af3 0-0 9.0-0 aG 1A.a4 tre8 11.ad2 AbdT 12.h3 trb8 13.Q:c4 AeS 14.4a3 Ahs 15.e4 Ad7 16.a5 9xa5 17.94 6lt6 18.s5 6h5 19.f4 6,c4 20.oxeA Wxal 21.4xd6 AxcS

22.bxc3 Bxc3 23.Axe8 trxe8 24.trf3 Wd4+ 25.Bxd4 cxd4

26.8d3 Ecg 27.9d2 a5 28.Af3 a4 29.Ag4 f5 30.gxf6 4xf6 31.Axd7 6xd7 32.e5 Ab6 33.e6 Axd5 34.trxd4 6e7 35.trxa4 kc6 36.tre4

gf8 37.9b4+ €e8 38.*g2

hxg6 53.€g4

gd1

0-1

Kortchnoi,Viktor Suba,Mihai Beer-Sheva 1984 (1

gG 3.g3

b5

39.4c5 6e7 40.Af2 trbg 41.4c5 trcB 42.At2 6cG 43.4c5 Ed8 44.tre2 trds 45.9f2 b4 46.tra2 b3 47.tra1 b2 48.trb1 trd2 49.€f3 6a5 50.9h4 Ac4 51.f5 gds 52.fxs6

Luzem oll,rnpiad 1982 (10)

af6 2.4

(2i

1.d4 AfG 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.d5 exdS

Kasparov,Garry 1.d4

o-1

58.tra6+

Ag7 4.9e2

c5 5.d5 d6 6.4c3 O-0 7.4f3 e6 8,0-0

exdS 9.cxd5 a6 10.a4 tre8 11.4d2

abd7 12.h9 trbg 13.4c4 he5 14Aa3 6h5 15.e4 trf8 16.€h2 f5 17.f4 b5 18.axb5 axbS 19.6axb5 fxe4 20.Axe4 Ad7 21.9e2 Sb6 22.4ra3 EbeS 2g.Ad2 Wxb2 24.fxe5 AxeS 25.6:c4 Axg3

l)

1.d4 Af6 2.c4 eG 3.4€ c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.6c3 g5 ZAf4 aG 8.e4 ag79.wa4+ ad71o.gb3 wc7 11.AxdG Wxd6 12.Wxb7 0-0 13.e5 Ac8 14.Wxa8 Bb6 153xa6 Axa6 16.0-0-0 Q:ga fl.d6 trxeS 18.6xe5

Axe5 19.9f3 ad7 z0,trdz trbB 21.8e1 Ab7 22.Weg gd4 23.W93 af6 24.tre7 Ac8 25.6a4 gbs 65


-

Volume

3

26.Wb3 Wxb3 27.axb3Ae6 28.8c7

6e4 29.tre2 6xd6 30.6xc5 6f5 31.Ed2

Axc5

o-1

Petrosian,Tigr"o Nunn,John Hastings 1977 /78 (13)

1.d4 Af6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.6c3 exdS 5.cxd5 dG 6.af3 96 7.8:d2 As7 8.6c4 o-0 9.Ag5 h6 to.Af4 b6 11.9xd6 Ee8 12.493 4e4 13.6xe4 trxe4 14.e3 b5 15.4d2 trb4 16.b3 Axal 17.Wxa1 Wxd5 18.a3 trg4 19.4e2 Ac6 20.Af3 Bte6 21.Axg4 Bxs4 22.O-O Ab7 23.f3 E9'e6 24.6e4 trdB 25.Axc5 Wxe3+ 26.9t2'We7 27.tre1 Bc7 28.h4 h5

29.6e4 Ae7 30.4f6+ gf8 31.b4 Ac8 32.6xh5 gxh5 33.8h8+ Ag8 34.9c5+ Ed6 35.Se5

1-0

49.trc6+ €f5 50.Ef6+ €e5 51.EhG afs 52.Exh5 b4 53.Ehg ad4+ 54.€s4 Ae6+ 55.*h5 b3 s6.trb8 trb4 57.trxb4 cxb4 58.9c1 4f4+ 59.€95 6d3 6O.h5 €e6 0-1 Kasparov,Garry Nunn,John Lucerne olympiad 1982 (9)

1.d4 af6 2.c4 eG 3.6c3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 gG 7.t4 Ag7 8.4b5+ 6td7 9.a46a6 10.6f3 6b4 11.0-O a612.9xd7+ Axd713.f5 O-O

14.995 fG 15.4f4 gxf5 16.Axd6 Axa4 17.Exa4 '9xd6 18.6h4 fxe4 19.4f5 gd7 20.axe4 €h8 21.Q)xcS 1_O

Ivanchuk,Yasily Kramrrik,Vladimir Las Pal mas I

Ivanchuk,Yasily Topalov,Veselin l'lov-S3rod

legs (9)

1.d4 aI6 2.6;t9 eG 3.c4 c5 4.d5 d6 5.6c3 exdS 6.cxd5 gG 7.6rd2 Ag7 8.Q:c4 0-0 9.g3 bG 1O.a4 Aa6 11.4b5 6e8 12.€92 Axb5 13.axb5 €:ld714.kt4 8e715.0-0 s5 16.4d2 Ac7 17.Elb3 f5 18.Eae1 f4 19.gxf4

sxt4 20.€h1 6e5 21.4f3 gd7 22.trg1 Wxb5 23.Bxb5 6xb5 24.f;lxe5 dxeS 25.Ag4 €h8 26.9:d7 6:c7 27.AcG trad8 28.e4 fxe3 29.trxe3 Axd5 30.tre93 \eT

6xc6 32.4e3 trd6 33.trc7 trg8 34.trxg8+ €xg8 35.€92 e4 36.*g3 trfG 37.As5 EfS+ 38.€s2 ad4 39.Exa7 afs 40.8a4 gb3 41.Exe4 trxb2 42.trt4 697 f'.trtl trM 44.gfg h5 45.h4 b5 46.trc6 Ec4 47.trc8+ gf7 48.trc7+ €g6 31.trx97

66

996

(5

)

1.d4 af6 2.c4 gB 3.4c3 9.gl 4.e4 d6 5.Z,ge2 0-O 6.f3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.693 exd5 9.cxd5 AbdT 10.Ae2 aG 11.a4 h5 12.Ag5 We8 13.Wd2 ah7 14.9h6 WeS 15.Axg7 WxgT 16.4f1 f5 17.exf5 gxf5 18.6e3 €hg 19.4c4 gf6 2O.O-O trbB 21.trfe1 b5 22.axb5 axbS 23.6a5 b4 24.q.bs Aa6 25.6c7 Axe2 26.trxe2 trg8 27.4il,ci trbc8 28.6e6 tra8 29.Eae1 traZ3o.6t4Bg5 31.h4 Wg3 32.tre6 Adf6 33.Ae7Ega8 34.6fg6+ 1-0 Penrose,Jonathan

Tal,Mikhail Leipzig olympiad i 960 (l i) 1.d4 Af6 2.c4 eG 3.6c3 c5 4.d5 exdS 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 96 7.9d3 Ag7 8.6ge2 O-0 9.0-0 a6 10.a4 Wc711.h3 abd712.f4 treB 13.693 c4 14.Ac2 6c5 15.Wf3 6td7


16.4e3 b5 17.axb5 trbg 18.9f2 axb5 19.e5 dxeS zO.tS Eb7

21.tradl 9a8 22.oce4 2la4 23.€xa4 bxa4 24.lxgi fxg6 25.Wf7+ €h8 26.6c5 9a7 27.Wxd7 WxdT 28.6xd7 trxb2 29.4b5 trb3 30.Axc4 trd8 31.d6 Bc3 32.trc1 trxcl 33.trxc1 Ads 34.4b6 Ab3 35.4e4 hG 36.d7 Afa 37.trc8 Ae7 38.4c5 gh4 39.93 1-0

AhfO 21.6c4 6e8 22.t4 Ad4+ 23.€h1 trd8 24.4f3 gb8 25.Qse2 trg7 26.4c3 b5 27.axb5 axbS 28.6xb5 Axd5 29.exd5 trxe1+ 3o.trxe1 Wxb5 31.f5 gb4 32.trf1 95 33.Axd6 Axd6 34.Axd6 AeS 35.Axe5 6xe5 36.We2 6xf3 37.trxf3 c4 38.f6 trxdS 39.8e3 trdg 40.tre8+ trxe8 41.8/xe8+ gf8 42.Bxf8+ €xf8 43.€g1 €e8 44.€f 2 &d7 45.€e3

€e6 46.€d4 €xf6 47.*xc4 48.b4 fS 49.b5 g4 S0.hxg4 51.€d4€d6 52.€e4

Geller,Efim Tal,Mikhail

1-0

Leko,Peter

Tbilisi ch-URS 1959 (4)

1.d4 Af6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.6c3 exd5 5.cxd5 dG 6.e4 g6 7.4f3 Ag7 8.495 aG 9.a4 h6 1o.Af4 Ag4 11.4e2 0-0 12.0-0 tre8 13.Wc2 Wc7 14.Efe1 6lbd7 15.h3 Axf3 16.Axf3 c417.9e2trac8 18.a5 6c5 19.Axc4 6txe4 20.6xe4 trxe4 21.trxe4 6xe4 22.Wxe4 Wxc4 23.9f3 gb4 24.Wg3 Wxb2 25.tre1 gbs 26.9f3 AI8 27.h4 Wxa5 28.8b1 b5 29.h5

g5 3o.Bs3 Wa2 31.9d1 We2

32.gdg Ag7 33.Wh3 trc2 34.AxdG Ec1+ 35.€h2 Bxf2 36.trf3 Wg1+ 37.€g3 Wel+ 38.9h2 Ae5+

39.Axe5 Wxe5+ 40.Wg3 Wxd5

4l.trdgWc542.Sg4We5+

€e5 txg4

o-1

Yakovenko,Dmitry GashimorlYugar Sochi 2008 (l 1) 1.d4 af6 2.cA e6 3.4f3 c5 4.d5 dG 5.6c3 exdS 6.cxd5 gG 7.h3 Ag78.e4 0-0 9.4d3 a6 10.a4 tre8 11.0-0 abdT 12.He1 b6 13.4f4 wc7 la.wd2 g:b7 15.4c4 Ahs16.gh2 h617.trad1 €h7 18.Wc2 Ee7 19.4e2 €g8 2O.Ad2

Kramnik,Yladimir Brissago Wch-match 2004

1.d4

(13)

af6 2.c4 e6 3.4f3 c5 4.d5 dG

5.4c3 exd5 6.cxd5 96 7.4d2 Ag7

Le4 0-0 9.4e2 Aa6 10.O-0 6eB

11.acA 6ac7 12.a4 f5 13.exf5 Exf5 14.994 trfB l5.Axc8 ExcS 16.9b3

b6 17.4b5 6xb5

18.axb5 Ec7

19.9d2 trcf7 20.Ac3 Wd7 21.f3 g5 22.6e3 trf4 23.trfe1 h5 24.Wc2 Wf7 25.h3 gd4 26.axd4 Exd4 27.6t5 gxfs 28.gxf5 Exf5 29.trxe8+ €f7

30.9b8 Edxd5 31.trxa7+ €e6 32.8e8+ €f6 33.94 hxg4 34.hxg4 trdl+ 35.€f2 Ee5 36.8h8 trd2+ 37.€g3 tree2 38.trf8+ €g6 39.trg8+ gf6 40.trf8+ €e6 41.tre8+ €d5 42.trxe2 trxe2 43.trg7 treS 44.8b7 c4 45.trxb6 tre2 46.t4 tre3* 47.@t2 gxf4 48.trb9 Ebs 49.b0 Se4 5O.Ee8+ sd3 51.tre2 d5 52.sf3 d4 53.g5 c3 54.bxc3 dxc3 55.tr92 trb2 56.b7

trxb7 57.€xf4 trb2 58.tr91 c2 59.Ec1 Ebl 60.Exc2 €xc2 61.96 €d3 62.9f5 Hbs+ 63.9f6 trb6+ 64.€f7Exg5 65.€xg6

1/z-1/z

67


-

Volume

3

Averbakh,Yury Tal,Mikhail

Kramnik,Vladimir

Riga ch-URS 1958 (4)

Dortmund 2001 (6)

Topalov,Yeselin

1.d4 Af6 2.c4 eG 3.6c3 c5 4.d5 exdS 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.4e2 Ag7

8.4f3 0-0 9.O-O tre8 10.Wc2 oa0 11.4f4 ab4 12.9b1 4xe4 13.6xe4 gfs 14.afd2 Axd5 15.9xd6 6f6

16.Afg Axe4 t7.6lxe4

Axe4 18.Axe4 WxdG 19.9c2 tre7 2O.Af3 EaeS 21.trad1 gd4 22,a4 bO 23.bg treS 24.HdZ h5 25.8e2 Exe2 26.axe2 h4 27.€h1 gfa 28.s3 Wf6 29.9d1 Ed8 3o.As4 9:rt2 31.8e2 trd2 32.We8+ €97 33.gxh4 Wd4 34.9h3 Wd3 35.9s2 trdl 0-1

r.d4 af6 2.eA eB 3.Af3 cS 4.d5 d6 5Ac3 exdS 6.cxd5 96 7.4d2 Ag7 8.e4 0-0 9.4e2 tre8 1O.O-0 AaG 11.f3

6c7 12.a4

14.tra3

4i'd7 13.9h1 bo 8e715.6b5 flxb5 16.Axb5

Ed8 17.a5 aG 18.AcG trbB 19.axb6 6xb6 20.b3 AeS 21t4 Ag7 22.t5 6d7 23.Axd7 AxdT 24.9f3 Ad4 25.f6 gf8 26.6c4 Abs 27.9e3 AxeS 28.Wxe3 h5 29.h4 €h7 30.trfa1 Axc4 31.bxc4 trb4 32.8c3 tre8 33.trxa6 trbl+ 34.€h2 trfl 35.trca3 trxf6 36.e5 EfS 37.e6 fxe6 38.tra7+ €gB 39.9g3 gf6 40.8a8 trxa8 41.Exa8+ €gZ 42.8a7+ €98

Gligoric,svetozar Tal,Mikhail

1/z'1/z

Bled/Belgrade ct 1959 (23)

1.d4 af6 2.c4 ci 3.d5 eG 4.6c3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.6f3 Ag7 8,4e2 0-O 9.0-0 tre8 10.4d2 6lafl ll.trbl Ad7 12.tre1 trbB 13.b9 b5 14.4b2 Ac7 15.Wc2 We7 16.4d1 AhO 17.fs Ah5 18.af1 AxdS 19.exd5 Af5 20.8c3 Ag7 21.8c1 Axbl 22.Axg7 €xg7 23.Wxbl hf4 24.8ste3 We5 25.Axb5 Exb5 26.4f5+ gxf5 27.trxe5 trxeS 28.g3 Qse2+ 29.&t2 €98 30.6e3 Ad4 31.f4 Ee4 32.g4 trxf4+ 33.€92 fxg4 34.acA 6f3 35.8c1 EfG 36.We3 sfg 37.We4 Eb8 38.Wxh7 tre8 39.tsh8+ €e7 40.897 Ah4+ 41.€91 af3+ 42.9g2 tr96 43.Wc3 Ad4 44.b4 *f8 45.6e3 93 46.h3

Ef6

68

,

0-1

Spassky,Boris

Fischer,Robert Reykiavik Wch-match l97Z (3)

,.d4 at6 2.c4 eE 3.4f3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.6c3 96 7.4d2 abdT 8.e4 Ag7 9.4e2 0-0 10.0-0 tre8 11.Wc2 ah5 12.Axh5 gxh5 13.4c4 6e5 14.6e3 gh4 1s.gd2 hg4 16.6x94 hxg4 17.4f4 gf6 18.93 Ad7 19.a4 b6 20.trfe1 a6 21.tre2 b5 22.Eae1 896 23.b3 tre7 24.9d3 Eb8 25.axb5 axbs 26.b4cA 27.Wd2 EbeS 28.tre3 h5 29.tr3e2 €h7 30.8e3 €g8 31.tr3e2 Axc3 32.Wxc3 trxe4 33.trxe4 Exe4 34.trxe4 Wxe4 35.AhG Wg6 36.Ac1

gb1 37.€fl Afs 38.€e2

We4+ 39.we3 Bc2+ 40.9d2 gb3 41.9d4

Ad3+

o-1

-

the game takes on the violent characteristics of a gambit. This may Catalan

not always be to the taste of

a

l.d4-player, who will usually prefer a more positional approach to the opening.

will respect the ECO classifications that consider the Catalan as part of the Indian Defence family (Vo1.3). This is in fact debatable: the opening is conceptually part of the Queen's Gambit, given that Black's d-pawn is on d5. However, it must be noted that the CataRegarding move order, we

lan is a flexible opening, and can be reached by a number of different move sequences: 1.4f3, 1 .c4 and l.g3 can all lead into the Catalan. Nonetheless, White usually waits for Black to play This is the starting position of the Catalan. It acquired its narne as it was first played by Tartakower in the Barcelona tournament of 1929. Tartakower played

d4, af3, 93, Ag2 against Marin y Llovet and named the opening, which was not original, after the region. The move c2-c4 later became an essential part of the system. As you will note from the diagram, we

are dealing with a type

of

Queen's

Gambit Declined in which White fianchettos his king's bishop instead of developing it to e2 or d3. This brings with it the advantage of increased pressure on the important long lightsquared diagonal (it is no coincidence that the 'Catalan bishop'has become a byword for this effectively placed bishop). The downside is that the c4 pavm is left to its fate, and when Black captures it with no intention of giving it back - as in certain lines of the Open

...d5 before opening the fianchetto. For example for the ECO, if Black plays 3...c5!, the game is likely to transpose into an English or Benoni line. Needless to say, Black has the additional

option of 3...4b++, along the lines of the Bogo-Indian. For this reason, White often plays :.Afg and will only continue with 4.g3. If Black plays 3...d5, however, this approach means that White must be ready to deal with the Bogo-Indian or the Queen's Indian.

A further problem with classification is created by the possible presence of a knight on c3. Often this will involve the sacrifice of the c4 parvn; Black's pawn on c4 will often be supported by ...b5, cre-

ating positions normally associated with the Semi-Slav. For example, in the previously discussed Romanishin Yariation of the Semi-Slav (1.d4 dS 2.c4 c6 3.4f3 af6 4.Q)d e6 5.g31?), whenever 69


-

Volume

3

or

the normal move was 5.Wa4+ in order to win back the pawn on c4. Now it has become clear that after 5...6bd7 6.4f3

in the dia-

a6 7.Wxc4 b5 8.Wc6 Eb8 9.0-o Ab7

(the alternative move 4.4f3 does not change things much), fundamentally Black has three approaches:

At this point, Black can choose from as many as nine (!) playable continuations; a testimony to the strategic richness of this opening. The ninth alternative we

- to

will

Black takes on c4 he enters the Open Accepted Variation of the Catalan. Let's go back to the position gram: after

4.

1

Af1-92

take imrnediately on c4: Open

Catalan

0.Wc2

good counterplay.

c5 , Black has

of the Semi-Open

classify as part

Catalan.

- capture the c4 pawn after 4...4e7 so as to be ready to casde: Semi-Open

A)5.

b7-b5

if it has never been

Catalan

Litde played, even

- ignore the c4 pawn and develop solidly: ClosedCatalan

Catalan into a true gambit.

clearly refuted. This move turns the

6. a2-a4 7. O-O

Open Catalan

1. d2-d4 2. c2-c4 3. s2-s3 4. Af1-92

Ag8-f6 e7-e6

d7-d5 d5xc4 This move is played not so much with the idea of maintaining the extra pawn, but more to obtain active piece play, and with it greater chances of victory.

ihAggA rll ll,l

E

7.axb5 cxbS 8.4e5 AdS S.6c: AU+ 10.0-0 Axc3 11.e4! was the'official'

refutation of this line in the 1980's; however, the simple fact that no one plays it anymore would suggest this may not be so strong in reality.

Ac8-b7 Af6-d5 9.b3!? cxb3 l0.gbZ. wirh un-

7.

8. Af3-e5 8...a61? clear play.

9. E

I iA

A

;

A

traawg atr

F?

,\ 6 Sltr

e-llaE

6g1-f3 is easily the most popular

choice. In the early days of the opening, 70

ggA

rA : rir l'l I AA

IA 1] 'r, A AA A A A. 5.

b2-b3!

EA

la

Today this

c7-co

E ,

:,,,,

A.

a_l

AAAN AAEl: F? .f1

This appears to be the most promising move.

Cotolon Opening

9.

a4xb5 Wdlxb3 12. e2-e4

10. 11.

ENE 1gf

c4xb3 c6xb5 a7-a6

*r tr:1

ad5-f6

13. d4-d5!

g

a

..:.. "':

t:

H'

5.

c7-c6

6.

6.0-01? b5

6.

tI

titat

*:l i1: :aFi: r*:ia:

i:t:tti3::

i:::

>< )< UU

5q)

AAAAA .I A.IA.J

E6gW€A

tr

It seems

excessively prudent to use a valuable tempo to stop ...4b+; yet paradoxically this line is famous as the most

aggressive way to fight the Queen's Indian. The explanation for this is that without the annoying ...4b+, White is ready to play Ac3 and further prepare for the e2-e4 advance with Wc2 or d4-d5. White's aim is to control the centre by mearls of direct physical occupation, in-

Queen's Indion Defence stead

r *

of the more distant control that other Queen's Indian

characterises

lines. Naturally, the game immediately becomes sharper.

it*l *g

t*:1

This line was named after the great Tigran Petrosian, who used it to achieve some important victories from the early 60's on (often with the sequence 4.6c3 AUz s.a:). However, he was not rhe first to play it; suf{ice it to say that Sultan Khan used it to beat Capablanca (!) in Hastings 1930 / 31. In fact, the person whose name would most merit to be tagged to the variation is Garry Kasparog who employed it in the 1980's to notch up many brilliant victories, and in doing so, helped it to

become one

of the most

played and

heavily analysed defences in a1l opening theory. At the time of writing, it is still very popular, and it is only slightly less common than 4.g3, which has always been supported by a committed group of enthusiasts.

fi. A lil$ g

t*

t

I

r*r

I $3F **

A ni:

t# a1 *

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A-.

ct) 'n

A n A 7t /\

e5

6

€

su €

A:l

?1-:

a .---. H -H_ .:- H

Ac8-a6

5.

This is the move that is almost always played. However, it is difficult to believe that 5...exd5 could be so bad: 6.cxd5 7.Q-lc3 96, and now it is hard to imagine that in comparison with a normal Benoni White's push a2-a3 is more useful than Black's pawn move ...b7 -b6.

d6

6.

Wdl-c2

Defending c4 without leaving the d5 pawn unprotected.

A few have played the incredible 6

ing both compensation and theoretical approval! The fact that the chess engines

Enough of words, let's look at the moves: we will now examine Black's three main continuations in order of as-

worrying for supporters of this defen-

cending popularity, namely 4...c5,

ture on d5 White wins with 8.We4+.

are not disdainful of White's position is sive Linel Note that after the double cap-

6. 7. c4xd5 8. Ac1-f4!?

4...4a6 and4...Ab7.

A)4.

c7-c5

Emboldened

by White's quiet fourth

move Black establishes a Benoni pawn structure.

Despite scoring well, this move is not often played; probably because someone who loves the Benoni will play the defence from the outset, and a black player who is not wild about the Benoni will avoid this transposition.

5.

d4-d5

e6xd5

97-96

The most menacing move. The alternative 8.4c3 Ag7 9.g3 enters a type of Benoni Fianchetto that is perfectly playable for Black: a3 and Wc2 are cer-

tainly no more useful than ...b5 and ...4a6.

L

d7-d6

Black cannot prevent the check on a4: after 8...4g7?! there is 9.4d6.

9. Ab1-c3

Af8-97 107


-

Volume

5.

10. Wc2-a4+!

Wdl-c2

The most played, but White has other

Eiffi **:

ai$

gr

r

l::ll *.

,'.,ij

t :t{ The only way to give Black any problems; the target is the d5 pawn.

10.

...

b6-b5t?

A recent attempt to liven up the line.

The endgame position created after l0...gd7 I l.Axd6 Wxa4 l2.dxa4 6xd5 13.0-0-0 may be feasible, but no one with the black pieces will be too thrilled

at the prospect

ofplaying it.

11. Ac3xb5 0-0 12. Ab5-c3 The pawn on d5 needs defending.

12....

gd8-b6

13. tra1-bl! There is doubt in some quarters as to whether Black's compensation is objectively sufficient. However, in practice

Black certainly has his fair share of chances.

B) 4.

Ac8-a6

The curious development of the bishop to a6 is so much taken for granted in the Queen's Indian and the Nimzo-Indian that no on ever dreams of questioning it. Yet it must have put a few noses out of joint when it first appeared in the 1960's. If you played this line with reversed colours. the move Aa3 would probably strike you as pretty weird! 108

reasonable ways to defend c4. The most interesting of these seems to be 5.gb3l?, which recently has been met by 5...96!? 6.6c3 Ag7, and we have a strange mix of the Queen's and the King's Indian Defences. 5. Aa6-b7l

Efi gs# t-C.tltiirtl * : ar{ :1'l =rff =:r € r.-;,A&

.* *:

$ =:; :::'r:ia:.l' Ag AAAA

.E6

€4.,'rltr

It would be quite reasonable for

a

reader to object to this move on the grounds that we are always having it drummed into us that you should not move the same piece twice in the opening, which is a very valid piece of advice most of the time. However. in this case Black correctly believes that for his ends (the pawn advance to c5) White's queen is worse off on c2 than it is on dl. Whether the idea of pushing the pawn to c5 is good or not is another question.

6. 6b1-c3

The point being that

c7-c5

with the queen on

dl, the d4-d5 advance White a healthy advantage.

7.

would

give

e2-e4l

Here the push 7.d5 gives White nothing after 7...exd5 8.cxd5 Axd5l 9.495!

(9.Wea+ is useless as it is met by 9...We7) 9...4e7 t0.Abs 0-0 I r.Ad6.

en's Indicn Defence

Que

Eff

HE **

-F:

r *r ffirt.# I

€.€.*x

.

A

:*:a

.:

**AffiA * /4\

a-:' v)

:

:t:*

.,2-r,

E

:i::

le- n ial: &ExA 2la n::, tr$ -

9:ta?

And Black maintains the

balance

(which could even be tipping in his favour) with the spectacular 11...4e311 12.fxe3 Axf3. The alternative 7.dxc5 is playable but very ho-hum. 7. c5xd4 8. Af3xd4

This could be an interesting attempt to exit from the usual positional schemes of the Hedgehog.

BD

exchanges.

9. Ad4xc6 10.

Eg *A :i:: r*: -f *-. I EN

A

x

:,,:lti i:.tri:

r;a}

]=:

In

;ri-:' =ii T\A :::,1:. A 'vJ ts :a:::i A

,\,

t3

via

.:1::::

::i:

I 0.We2 ! ? is a

fianchetto. However, opinions differ as to the mera

its of 10.e5 Ag8!.

10....

Af8-c5

11. Af1-e2! >
\: n nl .....n a_\E &.. /A ','' a a'r:

a$sffitr$

This is often considered to be the start-

ing position of the Fianchetto Yariation. Black now has four main options: 6...c5, 6...6c6, 6...c5 and 6...4bd7 . z+9


A) 6.

- Volume 3 c7'c6

The natural 10...e5 is also playable.

Shortening the bishop's diagonal and opening

a

diagonal for the queen.

7. 6b1-c3

11. 11.8b1!?.

Wd8-a5

1

1.

Acl-e3 9a5-b4

...

I 1...c5 12.e5!. 12. gdl-b3 And White is slightly better.

B) 6. A:

Ll gA AA

7.

€ The Kavalek Yariation. The idea is ...9h5, followed by ...4h:, with a kingside initiative. Larsen's 7...4f5 is worth considering; the plan is to simplify with ...he4. After 8.b3 6e+ g.AbZ Axc3 10.Axc3 Ae4 1 1.9d2 6d7 12.We3 ds 13.9h3

Axf3 la.Wxf3

e6,

it will not be easy

6b1-c3 7.d5 Aa5 8.afd2 c6! is good for Black. At this point, Black can choose from several plans that are very different in nature: he can attack in the centre, on the kingside, and also on the queenside!

81) 7. ...D,e4.

7...a6 looks slow: 8.e4 b5 9.e5! 2te8 10.c5! dxcS 11.dxc5, with a clear ad-

I

e2-e4

The most natural move. Once. 8.h3 was considered to be the best, but now most experts believe that after 8...4e51? 9.d5

cxd5 l0.ad4 dxc4! l1.6xe6

fxe6

l2.Axb7 AbdT 13.Axa8 Exa8, Black has received adequate compensation for the exchange.

8.

Ac8-g4

With 8...e5! 9.h3 abdT there is a transposition to Variation D. 9. h2-h3 Ag4xf3 10. Ag2xf3 or 10.Wxf3 afd7t? ll.Edl c5 12.d5. and Black will have problems equalising. 10. ... at6-d7l? 250

8.

6f3-e1l? for an e2-e4 advance. 8.d5 Aa5 9.a,d2 c5!? 10.dxc6! bxc6

In

vantage.

Ac8-f5

Black stops e2-e4 and intends to play

for White to exploit his bishop pair.

8.

6b8-c6

A useful waiting move. Black will make his decision on a pawn break later.

l

preparation

e4 also seems good.

8. 9. e2-e4

9d8-c8 gf5-h3

10. f2-t4l?

The move 10.6c2 is quieter and perhaps better.

Ah3xg2

10.... 11. €g1xg2

E ''g ''

l l'l .'.

E@

r rer

al 'rall'

,'

'. a AA

:,'.:,

tr

AAAA AAAA

9W4 E

A

€A ,t,,

King's Indion Defence Is White's centre a real threat or in fact just overextended? It is difficult to say over the board any result is possible.

82) 7.

Ac8-g4

The Simagin Variation, which intensifies the pressure on d4, is logical but not very common anymore.

L d4-d5 This seems to be the most effective; however, 8.h3 Axf3 9.Axf3 6dz to.eg is also good.

8.

Lc6-a5

Or 8...4xf3 9.exf3 ! AaS 1 0.We2!. with an advantage.

9.

at3-d2

Eur

ir I .r.,'

NA

E€ ,1.

{ ,,.

,:.:

+a

wise to opt for

rEr a

la fl A AgZl AA .A

..:.:

€ag

t5

AAA

H.{r EE

Now the bishop on 94 seems to

have

10. Af3-e1 The d3-square is ideal for the knight.

ternative.

10.

Wd1-c2

h2-h3 b2-b3 13. Acl-b2

11. 12.

7.

L

d4-d5

... Ae1-d3

c7-c5 a7-a0

10. 11. 12. Ac1-g5

Ag4-d7

I7-t5 Ad7-f6

b7-b5

Continuing the struggle

Ea8-b8

e4-square.

14. tra1-b1!? The position is similar to that in Variation C, but White has the advantage of having played the useful extra move h2-h3.

83)

more flexible set-up.

pawn to c5.

lost its way. The move 9.b3 is a good al-

9.

a

9. e2-e4 Often 9.c5 is played immediately, but after 9...he8 10.cxd6 hxd6!. Black will find it easier to maintain the balance. 9. 6t6-d7 Otherwise, there is 9...4e8, which has the virtue of not blocking the path of the c8 bishop, but at the same time it makes it easier for White to advance his

AI ,-

The Uhlmann Variation. This line is reminiscent of the Mar Del Plata Yariation (see page 309), with the difference that the white bishop is on 92, and not e2. His protected king and control of the e4-square are other differences that favour White, and thus Black is

12.... Ag5xf6 '14. t2-t41,

13.

for

the

h7-h6t? trf8xf6l? e5xf4

e7-e5

15. Ad3xf4 White's better piece coordination is more significant than Black's two bish-

6c6-e7

ops.

25l


84) 7.

-

Volume

3

a7-a6

much anymore. After 10...9d7 I l.Ecl e5, Black has nice active play.

9.

b7-b5

9...0,d7l? is more prudent. 10. e4-e5!

This is called the Panno Yariation in honour of the strong Argentinean player who made it popular in the 1950's. The aim is to play ...Ebg and then push the b-pawn to b5. It is usually a good idea to exchange a flank pawn for a central one. The problem is that sometimes the c7 pawn becomes a weak backward pawn on a semi-open file, and the hole on c6 wiII become a factor. Be it good or bad, this is a fighting defence, and for this reason it is very popuiar.

8. h2-h3 The most frequently played move; it prepares e2-e4 without allowing .Ag+.The sequence 8.d5 D,aS 9.4,dz c5 10.Wc2 ransposes to Variation C22.

8.b3 is a wolf in sheep's clothing: 8...Ebs 9.4d5!? ahs! (this strange move has proved to be the best) 1o.Ab2 e6 11.6e3 f5!? l2.gd2 ae7 and Black has an active game in compensation for his somewhat oddly-co-

There is logical reasoning behind this advance. Black has 'wasted' three tempi

with moves on the wing and White 'punishes him' in the centre. Those who prefer a quieter life will plail0.cxb5 axbS ll.Eel e6!, with a balanced game. Now Black has two alternatives. The fust is safer; the second is more in the spirit of the King's Indian.

841)

11. d4xe5 12. Eflxdl 13. e5-e6 14. c4xb5

8.

tra8-b8

e5!?.

9.

e2'e4

Kortchnoi's old move 9.4e3, with the

idea of 9...b5 10.4d2, is not played 252

d6xe5 Wd8xd1

at6-d7 ITxe6 a6xb5 White 15.4e3, or Now. after l5.Af4 has good compensation: certainly one cannot speak of an objective advantage, but White's results have been excellent.

ordinated development.

S...Ad7 is interesting; the plan is 9.e4

10....

842)

10.... 11. e5-e6! 12. d4-d5

af6-d7l?

f7xe6 Ac6-e5! l2...exd5 with Accepting the pawn really ties Black down after 13.cxd5 6ce5 l4.Ad4.

King's Indion

af3-d4 c4xb5

ad7-b6 e6xd5!? After 14...6xd5 15.41xd5 exd5 16.f4 c5 17.bxc6 6fi 18.f5. White has a promising advantage. 15. t2-t4 c7-c5 With unclear play. 13. 14.

c)

c7-c5

6.

EA3.g E€

lr

lr3.r

I

I Al

tr

aag

With

a7-a6

trfl-e1

small advantage for White.

CD 7. 6b1-c3

6b8-c6

7...cxd4 8.6xd4 takes us into a Sym-

metrical English.

8.

C21)

d4xc5

Najdorf's move is less innocuous than you would imagine. 8. d6xc5

9. Acl-e3

E Ag Ew ll rr-g,r

AA

AAAA

a al

F? .$1 EH

:, t

The Yugoslav Yariation, which was the subject of much theoretical discussion

in the

a

h2-h3

fence

e.gf+!?.

AA

AA

11. 12.

De

- above all because of Gligoric's patronage - but its popularity has slowly decreased over the years. Variation C22 is played a lot at the moment; however, this is usually reached

A

a AA

1960's

via the Panno Yariation.

c1) 7. d4-d5 Stopping the planned ...4c6. 7.

tr

The attempt to transpose to the Benoni

with 7...e6 is too risky: after 8.dxe6! Axe6 9.495 Axc4 l0.AxbZ AbdZ 11.4a3, the compensation for the ex-

9.

Wd8-a5

Or 9...4e6!? 10.Wa4 Ad4l 11.trad1 AdZ 1 2.Wa3 6'c2 I 3.Wxc5 b6 1a.Wgs h6 1s.gf4 95 16.We5 trc8, with compensation that has not yet 10. gd1-b3 10.Wa4 is useless: 10...Wxa4

10.... 11. Ae3-f4 12. gt4-d2 13.6f3xd4!

is worth

the Benko.

Q:a6-c7

Ea8-bB b7-b6

l1.6xa4

b6! with equality - 12.6e5? is met by l2...Axe5 13.Axa8 Ad7, winning either the knight or the bishop.

considering: 8.cxb5 a6, transposing to

8. 6b1-c3 9. a2-a4 10. e2-e4

gaa' A Ag..A w trg

been fully evaluated.

6b8-a6

change looks doubtful. On the other hand, 7...b51?

i,,,,..''

Lt6-g4 e7-e5 Q\c6-d4

c5xd4

14. wb3-b5! And White is applying unpleasant pressure.

2s3


C2D

8. d4-d5

-

Volume

3

6c6-a5

s-4.

g

$.g'=

rgr

fi l.:t

Donner's move threatens to take on d2 and then on c4. Some experts believe

9...e5 and, more importantly, 9...e5 are

that it is more accurare to play ...Ane one move earlier, without exchanging on c4, but no one really understands why! It is true that in some lines Black has the extra option of ...b5-b4 if he does not exchange on c4. However, these are not critical lines, so it really

both played. The latter prepares a

does not seem

kingside attack with the advance ...fr-f|, but with this pawn structure and a knight on a5, it would be more

difference. 14. t2-t4l 14.Acb1 is more elegant but less ener-

Another historical King's In&an position - Black is active, but the a5 knight is away from the action.

9.

at3-d2 9.b3? 6xd5. a7-a6

9.

logical to get ready for a ...b7-b5 push and apply pressure on c4.

10.

gdl-c2

Defending the knight so as to play b2-b3. lO.Ebl!? is worth a look. The idea is to play b3 and AbZ, and it is not necessary to play Wc2.

10.... 11. b2-b3

tra8-b8 b7-b5

12.9c1-b2 12.8b1!?.

12....

b5xc4 72...e6 and 12...e5 are both interest-

ing

alternatives. However, after 13.dxe6!? fxe6! 14.cxb5 axb5 tS.Ace+ Ab7 16.8ad1, White has scored well, even if the position is objectively balanced. 13.

254

b3xc4

Ag7-h6

to make any

great

geric: 14...e5!? 15.4c3 gaZ t5.6a3 (now there is a difference: if the b-pavvns were present we would now have a fork) 16...9,b41 (a thematic ex-

change sacrifice) 17.9xb4

cxb4

18.Aab1 Wc7!, and White has serious problems completing development. 14. ... e7-e5! Attacking the head of the chain. 15. d5xe6l

15.Eae1 is a natural move that reinforces the kingside, but Black has enough counterplay with l5...exf4 15.gxf4 Ahs t7.e3 AgTl l8.ad1 Afs 19.4e4! (19.e4?t trxb2! 20.6xb2 Aa++ 21.€hl Wtr+, wittr what is probably a winning attack) l9...Axe4 20.6xe4 Axb2 2l.bxb2 Ee8. with equality

King's Indian

15....

Defence

9c8xe6

Black must play actively and therefore attacks c4.

After 1 S...fxe 6 l 6.6ce4 Axe4 l 7.Axe4!, White keeps his slight advantage.

16.6c3-d5

Both human and computer evaluations of this position differ;therefore, the annotation unclear position is appropriate and does not represent laziness on the part of the commentator.

A 16....

Eb8xb2! An important resource to keep his pieces active.

Perhaps

16...4xd5 17.cxdS Ag4!? is l8.ab3! - wirh rhe

playable, but after

idea of Wc3

- White's position certainly inspires more confidence. 17. Wc2xb2 Ah6-97 Black has conceded the exchange, but he now threatens a winning discovered attack, and White cannot take on f6 as the subsequent exchanges are followed by Wfe, and the c4 pawn is a goner. Notwithstanding the vast amount of ac-

cumulated experience with this line, it is still not clear to what extent Black is compensated.

18. Wb2-c1

After l8.Wa3 Axc4l 19.Q)xc4 Axd5. Ae5xd5 l8...Axd5 l9.cxd5 AaZtU is worrh ...

c4xd5 tra1-b1

often follows and we have those typical positions (which we will also see in the Classical King's Indian wirh ...abd7)

in which White has activity on the semi-open d-fiIe, and Black has the same on the e-fiIe.

These are the kind of positions in which Black will have to play with verve if he does not wish to be suffocated slowly.

7. 6b1-c3

e7-e5 e2-e4 8.h3!? usually transposes to the main

8.

line. An interesting alternative is 8.Wc2. White develops the queen with the in-

a

1

l.e4 (blocking the

threatened 4)c5

...e4-e3) I l...exd4 12.6xd+

look. 19. 20.

ab8-d7 which remains highly popular: Black prepares for the ...e7-e5 advance. An exchange on d4 6. The classical approach,

tention of transferring the rook to the d-file; 8...tre8 9.trd1 c6 10.b3 We7

the compensation is evident.

18.

D)

Q:t6-94

hg4-e3

13.f3, with a characteristic position that offers both sides chances. 255


-

Volume

3

E Ag Eg lf A,,,,lAl I al ', ..r..

coming up with

AAA aa ..... AA AA &

...c5, and sometimes play the knight to e5, from where it attacks c4; in addition Black has his eye on the kingside, with a possible ...h7-h5 and then ...h4 pawn

l

::,..,.

a

tr ag

tr€

Now Black has basically two

ap-

proaches: concede the centre, or main-

tain the tension by postponing ...exd4 until a more opportune moment. Another alternative is 8...tre8. even though this usually transposes to one of the two following lines.

D1) 8. Here we

e5xd4

will examine the variations in

which Black does not play ...c6.

9. 6f3xd4

Ef8-e8

10. h2-h3 So that after Ae3 the bishoo will not be hassled by ...6ga. 10. ... a7-a6l

AgE = rla rEr r VV r\ ar || {

Er

AAA '.., AA AA

, A AA :E Ag

,:r,

E

€

The Gallagher Yariation, which has re-

l1.Eel a5 (or 11...4d7!? with the intenrion of ...8c8) l2.adb5!, with an edge for

placed the old 10...4c5

White. Denied the possibility of playing ...c7-c6. Black will have a hard time 255

a

constructive plan.

in the diagram position is ambitious and atypical: to seek active queenside play with ...trb8, ...b5 and Black's plan

march. The price for playing across the entire board is the weakness of the dS-square and the d6 pawn: it is here. more than elsewhere, that a potential advantage for White lies. If he can manage to neutralise Black's dynamism, he will be left with a clear positional advantage.

Initial scepticism towards this line way when it started to score well. 11. Ef1-el

gave

The most commonly played move, but it's

not out of the question that I 1.4e3 may be more effective: 11...Eb8 12.b3! c5 (12...Wei1?) l3.6de2

b5 14.Wxd6l br

15.4a4 Axe4 16.Axe4 Axal 17.Exal Exe4 18.4xc5, and White has optimurn compensation for the exchange.

... Eal-b1 b2-b3

tra8-b8 dd7-e5l? c7-c5 14.6d4-c2 Ac8-e6!? 14...b5 15.cxb5 axb5 1 6.f4 is good for White. 15. a2-a4 11. 12. 13.

E gE *.' ..''lEl ':: I l l3.ar I{h AAA AA AA A AA

trggtr €

King's Indion Defence

will be taken with check) la.tradl, and excellent

To the classically trained eye White should be better. as the backward d6 pawn on a semi-open fiie is weak. However, the modern school of chess attaches more importance to piece activity than was done in the past, and therefore Black's position is now con-

after which the e8 rook

sidered to be acceptable.

ation) 11.dxe5!? dxes 12.a.d2 abd7 13.Wc2, and White's position is

D2) 8. 9.

c7-c6 h2-h3 This is still the number one choice, but 9.b317 is becoming increasingly popular; the idea is to make ...9b6 less effective. Also the old 9.4e3. which was put in mothballs after the famous Botvlnnik-Smyslov game of t9S+, is not as bad as it might seem: 9...694 10.Ags gb6 1 1.h3 exd4l 12.da4 Wa6 l3.hxga b5 14.c51 (the move that rehabilitated the line) 14...bxa4 1 5.cxd6, with unclear play.

9.

slightly more favourable due to his lead in development. 10. c4-c5 This 'novelty' from the 1970's has become more popular than the more sober 10.Ee1 exd4 11.Axd4 Ae8!? (this

is an interesting alternative to

E*:3.*r €,e

ilr *:: X tit

li.:.:

:!:i!1

I *rtliA*:rE gr*

* a $'a l;:A *A A& ::: &A 3:a

:7:j',: :::t,i.:

A

r;ra,r:

l:.1t:

W*:tr€

16.Ec1 Wff t 7 .f4, wit}. compensarion that is difficult to evaluate.

10,... 11. d4xe5

bishop to the defence of b2 and seeks to

provoke d4-d5 in order to install the knight on c5. If 9...tre8 10.Ae3l exd4 11.Axd4 Ac5 12.Wc2 We7 13.Efe1 a5 (the capture on e4 is a no-no because White will exchange two times and then play AdZ,

d6xc5 Af6-e8

An atypical position characterised by a rlvo-pawn majority for White on the kingside and the same for Black on the queenside.

12. e5-e6!

A positional

sacrifice that blocks the path of the c8 bishop and thus slows down Black's development. Other moves may be playable, but they are less

incisive.

12.... The main line. Black commits the cl

the

poorly regarded 1 1...8e8 12.tre21?) 12.ab3l a5 13.4e3! Wb+ t+.a: Wxc+ 15.4d4 (threatening 16.9f1) 15...f6

gd8-b6 ilrit

'.=

scores demonstrate that White's position is easier to play. The other important alternative is 9...Wa5 10.4e3 dAett (the c4 pawn is the Achilles'heel of the Fianchetto Vari-

f7xe6

13.6f3-95 White prepares to suffocate Black with f4. e5 and he4. 13.... Ad7-e5 14. t2-14 6,e5-t7l 14...c4* l5.gh2 hdg t riskv as ir will bemetby 16.e5!. 15. Ag5xf7 Ag7-d4+! 257


-

Volume

3

Before the bishop is boxed in by e4-e5

16.

€91-h2

trf8xf7

17. e4-e5

HA

{\,"r"S

lrgr ea

I

EI I 'l A

.-1

E

cL)

AA

AA F?A HE

g

n l:

AA AA

Acb

,+E

43€fg

Eb2 44.Ae4 a3 45.95 Ad++ 46.9f3 a2 47.trc14e5 48.6f4 trh2 49.€g3 Ed2 o-1

Kortchnoi,Viktor Lee,Peter Lugano olympiad l963 (6)

af6 2.c4 sG 3.6cS As7 4.93 G0 5.492 dO 6.4f3 6cG 7.0-0 a6 8.h3 trb8 9.4e3 b5 10.4d2 Ad7 1.d4

11.8c1 e5 12.dxe5 6xe5 13.b3 Ae6 14.t4 6ed7 15.4a7 tra8 1 6.4f2 Eb8

17.e4 bxc418.6xc4 Axc4 19.bxc4 Exe2 22-Wxe2atd7 23.ad5 Ee8 24.Wc2

gb2 20.Eel ab6 2'l.He2 With good positional compensation for the paum: the e8 knight and c8 bishop are passive and White's centre cannot be attacked as Black does not have pa\ ms on the d-and f-files. Perhaps it would be an exaggeration to speak of an objective advantage, but we are certain that most players would rather be White.

af6

25.Axf6+ Axf6 26.c5 dxcS 27.€xc5 Wd2 28.9c2 WaS 29.e5 Ae7 30.Wxc7 trcg 31.9xe7 Excl+ 32.€h2 Ac8 33.We8+ €g7 34.e6

Bc735.exf7

1-o

Minasian,Ara FedorovrAlexey Moscow Aeroflot 2004 (6)

Pert,Nicholas Svidler,Peter Bunratty 2008 (4)

1.d4 af6 2.4f3 s6 3.c4 Ag7 4.g3 0-0 5.4g2 d6 6.0-0 6c6 7.6c3 a6 8.h3 Ad7 9.e4 e5 1O.Ae3 exd4 11.Axd4 Ee8 12.tre1 Wc8 13.6xc6 bxc6 14.94 EbB 15.trb1 Ae6 16.c5 h5 17.f3 Ed8 18.cxd6 cxd6 19.gg5 Wc7 20.Wd2 hxg4 21.fxg4 tre8 22.9t4 Wb6+ 23.Wf2 Wxf2+ 24.&rt2 tred8 25.€91 trb4 26.493 d5 27.exd5 cxdS 28.a3 gb3 29.9h4 trdb8 30.gbd1 trxb2 31.Axf6 Axf6 32.6xd5 Ah4 33.trf1 g8b3 34.9f3 trxf3 35.Axf3 trbS 36.992 Exa3 37.614 Ab3 38.trb1 €g7 39.Af1 a5 4o.4e2 Af6 41.4g2 a4 42.&t2tra2 258

af6 2.at3 g6 3.g3 Ag7 a.9g2 0-0 5.0-0 d6 6.c4 6c6 7.6c3 a6 8.d5 6a5 9.4d2 c5 10.Eb1 AfS 11.e4 gd7 12.b3 e5 13.Ab2 h5 14.a3 bG 15.b4 ab7 16.We2 h4 17.4d1 cxb4 18.axb4 a5 19.4a3 axb4 20.Axb4 Ac5 21.4c3 Ah6 22.abi We7 23.6b3 Ag4 24.Wc2 h3 25.4h1 Ahs 26.6xc5 bxcS 1.d4

27.Ad2 Axd2 28.W xd2 tra4 29.Efc1 31.8tc7 Ec8

trfa8 30.8e3

gf6

32.4b5 gh7 33.f3 Ad7 3a.trb2 s5 35.8e2 EcaS 36.6c3 tra3 37.6d1 s4 38.trc3 Wg5 39.9d2 Wxd2 40.trxd2 Exc3 41.hxcg tra3 42.ad1 9a4 43.Sf2 9xd1 44.trxd1 tra2+ 45.€91 AfG 46.tre1 €g6 47.txg4 trc2 48.9f3 €g5 49.tra1 Axg4

King's Indion

50.€xg4 €xg4 51.trfl trg2+ 52.ghl tre2 53.€91 trxe4 54.trxf7 Exc4 55.trf6 trc2 56.trxd6 tr92+ 57.ghl Ed2 58.€gl c4 59.Ec6 €f3 60.Ef6+

€e3

o-1

26.A:dS 9xd5

27.exd5 Wxds 28.f4 gd4+ 29.€h1 tra2 30.Af3 trb2 31.f5 Ae5 32.8e1

Spassky,Boris Moscow Wch-match 1966 ( I 0)

1.4f3 af6 2.g3 g6 3.c4 €97 4.€.52 0-0 5.0-0 6c6 6.fic3 d6 7.d4 a6 8.d5 6a5 9.6d2 c5 10.Wc2 e5 11.b3 Zg4 12.e4 t5 13.exf5 gxfS 14.6d1 b5 15.f3 e4 16.€b2 exf3 17.Axf3 9xb2 18.Bxb2 AeS 19.9e2 t4 2O.gxf4 gh3 21.A:e3 gxfl 22.Hxt1 6S6 23.4g4 axt4 24.trxt4 trxf4 25.4e6+ trf7 26.8se4 Wh4 27.Axd6 WgS+ 28.€h1 tra7 29.Axf7+ trxf730.Wh8+ r-o PonomarioaRuslan Kasimdz}anoY,Rustam Vitoria Gasteiz 2007 (10)

1.d4 Af6 2.c4 gG 3.4f3 Ag7 4.93 0-0 5.Ag2 d6 6.0-0 6c6 7.4c3 a6 8.d5 4'la5 9.4,d2 c5 10.trb1 trb8 11.b3 b5 12.4b2 Ah6 13.e3 bxc4 14.Q:xc4Axc4 1 5.bxc4 WaS 1 6.4a1 9d717.trb3 49718.a3 694 19.4f3

gh3 21.tre1 ad7 22.trxb8 trxb8 23.6e4 Afs

6e5

8.e4 exd4 9.6xd4 Acs 10.f3 AfdT 11.4e3 c6 12.Wd2 a5 13.Ead1 AeS 14.b3 a4 15.6de2 axb3 16.Axc5 6xc4 17.8c1 bxa2 18.hxa2 Wa5 19.Bxc4 9e6 20.Wcl dxcS 21.6:ac3 b5 22.4b1 b4 23.afl gb3 24.Ed6

c4 25.trxc6 c3

Petrosian,Tigr*

Defence

2O.Ae2

24.Axg7 Axe4 25.4h6 Ae5 26.trf1 Wxa3 27.f3 gd3 28.Axd3 Wxd3

trds 33.Ae4 €g7 34.f6+ €gB 35.tra6 h5 36.8a5 h4 37.Axg6 Exh2+ 38.€xh2 Axg3+ 39.Hxg3 hxg3+ 40.€h3

fxg6

o-1

Svidler,Peter Radiabov,Teimour Monaco rapid 2007 (8)

1.d4 AfO 2.c4 s6 3.g3 Ag7 4.4s2 0-0 5.af3 d6 6.0-0 6;bd7 7.6c3 e5 8.h3 treB 9.e4 exd4 10.6xd4 6c5 11.Ee1 9.d712.gI4 hG 13.Wc2 Bc8 14.&h2 6lh7 15.{-lt9 9e6 16.b3 a5 17.Ead1 95 18.9c1 94 19.Ada h5 20.h4 AeS 21.4ld5 €hB 22.f4 gxf3 23.axt3 $,97 24.9:b2 Ag4 25.e5 AfS 26.Scl dxeS 27.Exe5 Exe5 28.4xe5 9e6 29.8f4 WgB 30.6xc7 Ef8 31.4d5 tre8 32.9d4 6aG 33.gf3Ag434.Axf7+ I-o

Drasko,Milan Gallagher,Joseph Aosta 1990 (4)

Kotov,Alexander Geller,Efim

1.d4 af6 2.c4 gG 3,af3 Ag7 4.93 0-0 5.9g2 dO 6.0-0 {i,bd7 7.6rc3 e5 8.h3 tre8 9.e4 exd4 10.Axd4 aG 11.9e3 EbB 12.8c2 c5 13.6de2 b5 14.trad1 We7 15.Af4 6e5 16.cxb5 axbS 17.Ag5 gfg 18.14 8-:c419.Wc1

Moscow ch-URS 1949 (16)

AaG 20.e5 dxe5 21.fxe5 4xe5

29.Bxd3 6xd3 30.tral Eb6 31.e4 #re5 32.&f2

trb2+

o-1

1.d4 af6 2.c4 gG 3.4c3 9.g7 4.g3 O-0 5.Ag2 dG 6.4f3 AbdT 7.0-0 e5

22.9x16 b4 23.9xe5 trxeS 24.€d5 ExdS 25.Exd5 bxc3 26.6xc3 Ad4+ 2s9


-

Volume

3

27E{t2 gb7 28.trd7 Be8 29.trcl Be5 30.trxf7 Bxg3+ 31.€fl Aa6+

32.*e1tre8+ ,

o''t

Botvinnik,Mikhail Smyslov,Vasily Moscow Wch-match 1954 (14)

1.d4 at6 2.cA g6 3.g3 9g7 4.&s2 5.6c3 d6 6.afg AbdT 7.0-0 e5 8.e4 c6 9.4e3 Aga 10.4g5 Eb6 11.h3 exd4 12.6a4 Wa6 13.hxg4 b5 14.6xd4 bxa4 15.Axc6 WxcG 16.e5 Wxc4 17.Axa8 6xe5 18.trc1 gb4 19.a3 Wxb2 2O.Wxa4 Ab7 21.trbl 6f3+ 22.€lh1 AxaS 23.trxb2 hxs5+ 24.*h2 af3+ 25.€h3 axb2 26.Wxa7 Ae4 27.a4 €g7 28.8d1 AeS 29.9e7trc8 3O.a5 Ec2 31.€g2 ad4+ 32.€f1 Af3 33.trb1 6c6 o-1 O-O

Hiibner,Robert Kasparov,Garry Dortrnund 1992 (6)

1d4 AfG 2.c4 gG 3.g3 Ag7 4.9;g2 0-O 5.4c3 dG 6.4f3 abdT 7.0-0 e5 8.e4 c6 9.h3 BbG 10.c5 dxcS 11.dxe5 AeB 12.6a4 Wa6 13.9g5 b5 14.4c3 6c7 15.4e7 tre8 16.4d6 Q),e617.a4 b4 18.ale2 8a5 19.6d2 9:a6 20.14 c4 21.&h2 EadS 22.9c2 abo 23.Efd1 Af8 24.ats c3 25.fled4 6xd4 26.6xd4 cxb2

260

27.Wxb2 Ac4 28.9b3 tsbG 29.a5 gb7 30.gxf8 €xf8 31.eG c5 32.e5 Bc7 33.exf7 WxtT 34.4c6 Exdl

35.trxd1 6xe5 36.4d5 Ac4 37.Wc2 6g4+ 38.hxg4 Ee2+ 39.Wxe2

Axe2 40.Axf7 Axdl 41.94 b3 42.6xa7 b2 43.9a2 €:e2 M.*52 Adg 45.8f3 €e? 46.€e3 blg 47.Axb1 9xbl 48.hb5 €d7 49.aG €c6

50.f5

1-o

ShirorlAlexey Kasparor',Garry Linares 1993 (12)

1.d4 AfG 2.cA g6 3.g3 Ag7 4.4g2 O-0 5.6c3 d6 6.4f3 abdT 7.0-0 e5

8,h3 c6 9.e4 gb6 10.c5 dxcS 11.dxe5 Ae8 12.e6 fxe6 13.495 6e5 14.f4 at7 '15.€lxf7 Ad++ 16.9h2 ExfT 17.e5 6rc7 18.6e4 4d5 19.a4 a5 2o.tra3 Wc7 21.6d6 trtg 22.h4 bG 23.h5 Bg7 24.hxg6 hxg6 25.9e4 Aa6 26.Ee1 6e7 27.&92 trad8 28.trb3 Axe5 29.fxe5

BxeS 30.9g+ ExdS 31.Af4 Exfa 32.gxf4 Ed2+ 33.€93 Bf6 34.trxb6 Ad3 35.Eb8+ €f7 36.Wh3 Axe4 37.8h7+ BgZ 38.Bxg7+ €xg7 39.trxe4 afs+ 4O.€f3 €f6 41.trc4 trd5 42.8f8+ €e7 43.tra8 Ad6 44.trc3 c4 45.8a6 Ec5 46.b3 €f6

47.bxeA

1/zt/z


This is the key position. White makes the advance ...e7-e5 more difficult and at the same time simply continues to develop now that the bishop is outside the e3ld4 pawn chain. White does not take any risks, but at the same time he is

At this point, White almost always makes the advance e2-e4. Before discussing that move, we will briefly examine the alternative

4. 6g1-f3

not going to be able to make much of a dent in Black's position. The main danger for Black is that he becomes impa-

tient and tries to force things, to his own detriment.

ab8-d7

6.

The reply most in keeping with the themes of the King's Indian. 6...h6 is also possible: 7.Ah+ cs, and now White can continue solidly with 8.4e2 or in Benoni fashion with 8.d5 95

9.993 ahs 10.4d2 6xg3 ll.hxg3.

However, the strong g7 bishop compensates for the kingside weaknesses.

7. Af1-e2 8. Wd1-c2

will

come across this position fairly frequently. In part because you can often reach it via the English Opening or

You

8.0-0 h6 e.Ah4 gs lo.Ag3 6hs (Uefore White prevents this with ad2) 1 1.4d2 Axg3 12.hxg3 af6, with equality.

1.4f3, usually transposing to the Classical King's Indian after the subsequent

8.

advance e2-e4.

10. 11.

4.

9. tral-dl

d7-d6

Needless to say, 4...d5 is a transposition to the Griinfeld. At this point of the game, few people like 5.e3 as it is too passive. 5.4f4 makes less sense here than in the Gninfeld as Black's d-parvn is on d6. Nonetheless. it is an interest-

ing possibility.

5.

Ac1-g5 The Smyslov Yariation. This is not ftrme as itlooks. 0-0 5. 6. e2-e3

c7-c6

Ag5-h4 d4xe5l?

e7-e5 h7-h6 Wd8-e7 d6xe5

12. at3-d2 White's advantage - presuming there is one

-

is miniscule.

Now we will discuss the most natural move, namely

4.

e2-e4

Black almost always stops a further adas

vance to e5

4.

with

d7-d6 Otherwise, Black can simply play 4...0-0. in view of the fact that 5.e5 261


-

Volume

3

E CAES€ E .ll'.l ,llEI

would now prove to be premature as it would be met by 5...4e8 followed by 6...d6.

EfiEg@ .

I l,l I'

a:

E

,l lE I

I al

ANA A'_1 A

E Ag€AAtr

All of White's main variations arise from the diagram position. In this section we will deal with all the minor Iines. The 'normal' moves 5.4e2, 5.f3 and s.Af3 will be examined in the final

at

A

n A A ,h u/)

AA ACJ F?A H5-

i_

a.:, AA AAA

..''

l ar

an{s L

w ga.' tr

White's plan is somewhat basic, but

at

times effectivel After the centre becomes closed, White intends to plal Ag3 followed by h4-h5, and if nou Black responds with ...h7-h5, White will continue with Ag5 and Ae2xh5, with an attack that in practice is verl' difficult to deal with, if not necessarill' winning.

5.

three sections.

0-0

Fearful of this attack, Black sometimes

A) 5. Ac1-s5 6.

gd1-d2

0-0

postpones castling and instead plays 5...a6 followed bv ...c6 and ...b5. However. such nervousness seems to be un-

A comparatively unexplored line. 6.h3, 6.4e2 and 6.f3 transpose to other vari-

warranted.

ations.

The most played, but as always, 6...c5 is a valid alternative: 7.d5 e6 8.4e2 exd5 9.exdS (9.cxd5!? transposes to the

6. 7. gf1-d3 8. d4-d5 9. 691-e2 10. Ad3-c2 11. c4xd5 12. 0-0

6b8-a6!? e7-e5 c7-c6

Aa6-c5 c6xd5 a7-a5 Ac8-d7


6. 4e2-93

Benoni), with

a tiny

e7-e5

advantage for

White.

7. d4-d5 It is logical to prepare

c7-c6 counterplay on

the queenside. 7...a5 is also very popular: 8.4e2 ha6

9.h4 h5 (in fact, you can allow White

B) 5.

to play h4-h5, but this Q-sg1-e2

The Kramer Variation This line has never been really popular.

However, it can be dangerous - especially if Black plays mechanically. 262

seems safer)

10.4g5 We8! (the knight is no longer pinned, and thus Axh5 is not on)

11.9d2 €h7, with a

complicated

game that offers both sides possibilities.

King's Indicn

8. Afl-e2 9. c4xd5 10. h2-h4 11. Acl-g5

c6xd5

This is the variation's key position.

ab8-dz

White has three main options:

h7-h5

gd8-b6!

Here I l...Be8? is a mistake because of

Wd1-d2

a7-a0

With balancedplay.

Even though this line was employed by R6ti, Thrrasch and Tartakower, it has always been a minor variation. Since the 1990's, it has been played with comparative frequency, chiefly because of the influence of Bagirov and Krasenkow. 5.h3 is a flexible move: it stops ...6g+

after Ae3 (or after Ag5-h6-Ae3); it keeps open the option of developing the knight to e2 or f3; and after the centre becomes closed, the h-paum supports a g2-g+ advance. The idea ofthis is not necessarily to stop Black's thematic push to f5, but to give White new

with the opening of

the

g-fiIe. It is worth mentioning a rare but playable alternative: Black can profit from the absence of a knight on f3 and immediately play 5...e5 ! ?.

5.

0-0

6b8-a6

s$ :r r

AAA

c) 5. h2-h3 The Makogonov Variation.

prospects

Cl) 6. Ac1-s5 EF A

*rX a* t ffr*: &$

12.abs. 12.

Defence

fi iit

AA

tr

xtA AA

w€aatr

This elastic move is increasingly seen in many King's Indian variations. It prepares the ...e7-e5 push, which cannot be

played immediately because of the exchanges on e5 and d8, followed by 6d5. Usually Black avoids 6...h6, as after 7.4e3, White is in an improved version of Variation 82. It could be worth considering to play in Benko fashion wirh 6...c5 7.d5 b5!?, or

in Benoni style with 7 ...e6.

7.

af1-d3

Some prefer an immediate 7.Age2 and

after 7...e5 8.d5 c6, to continue with 693, Ae2, 0-0 and f2-f4, or otherwise with g2-g4 and Ag3. 7. e7-e5 L d4-d5 c7-co After 8...We8, which prepares ...f7-f5, the best plan seems to be 9.g4!? followedby Ag1-e2-g3. 9. 691-e2 Here White abandons the idea of af3-d2 in favour of g2-g4 and hg3. 9. c6xd5 10. c4xd5 Aa6-c5 11,

Ad3-c2

12.0-0

a7-ai Ac8-d7 263


-

Volume

3

13.... 14. a3xb4

El €,..:

I A,l

th

15. tra1-b1

f:l,,

&A

.

a5xb4 6c5-a6

With a position that offers something to both players.

:'.'

C3) 6.

Ag1-f3

This position is often reached by means

With the intention of playing

...b5.

of 5.6f3 0-0 6.h3, and therefore the ECO considers it to be a sub-variation of the Classical Variation.

White is planning a2-a3 and b2-b4, but Black is sufficiently active to maintain

EAES E& lrr, I rrEr al

the balance.

C2, 6. Ac1-e3 7. d4-d5

e7-e5

This is very similar to the previous line, with the difference that the bishop is on e3 instead of g5.

8. gf1-d3

a.'.r .'

Ab8-a6

c7-c6

8...6h5 are very common in Variation C3. As White still has

:.

AAA ZJAA ,a\ )\ q\ q\ A'\AA A'I

a

1l

AA

tr ***g'.,i'E

Plans involving

the possibility of developing the knight to e2, here, these plans are less convincing.

9. 6g1-e2

c4xd5 Ad3-c2 '12. a2-a3

10. 11.

c6xd5 Aa6-c5 a7-as gc8-d7

And now there is the interesting

13. b2-b4l?

-

I

themes. There are three continuations to be considered: 6...c5, 6...e5 and 6...6a6.

C31) 6.

7. d4-d5 8. gfl-d3

c7-c5 e7-e6 e6xd5

g E€'.

The waiting move 8...6a6 could also be good: 9.0-0 dc7 , with the option of an ...e7-e5 advance. Black's position is

:1. {\

passive but solid.

rEr l...,., I a a,l' ,.A..

'"',

AA AA ,\/AA q)EA it I\

Ar..:r''6

AA

"l'tll'g€ 264

it seems more logical to include it here given the common However,

'',;,,

...',,,

E

9. e4xd5 9.cxd5!? transposes to an important Benoni variation (page 60, Modern Yariation). 9. Ef8-e8+ 10.

Acl-e3

King's Indicn

7.

Defence

af6-h5

This thematic continuation is now

less

popular than 7...6a6, which, after S.Ag5 We8 9.g4, transposes to C33. Another possibility is 7...4bd7 8.Agsl? (or 8.Ae3) 8...h6 9.Ae3 AcS 10.4d2 a5 I 1.a3! (l 1.g+t?) 1 t...Ae8 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 Exal l4.Bxal Aa6 15.Wa3, with a nice initiati.ve on the queenside.

10. Ab8-a6!? 10...9.h6 is risky: 1 1.0-0 Axe3 12.fxe3 Exe3?! (12...We7! 13.e4 the lesser of

8.

...

two evils) 13.9d2 tres 14.9h6 AbdT I 5.4g5 , with a winning attack.

The curious move l0...AfS is unaesthetic rather than bad - it is played without concern for the creation of doubled pawns: after 1 1.Axf5 gxfS 12.0-0 he4 13.Axe4! fxe4 14.6,d2. White maintains an edge. 11. 0-0 6a6-c7 12. a2-a4 Ac7-a6!? Now b4 is accessible. 13. tral-a3!? 14. ad3-b1

92-93

Stopping ...4f+.In quite a few books you will find a.Ah2 (Lilienthal 1947) followed by two exclamation marks. However, a recent discovery on the 1Zth move puts this enthusiastic annotation

into doubt. After 8...8e8 9.9e2 6f+ 10.4f3 f5 11.g3! (11.h4 is too slow: I l...Aa6 12.g3 6c5!l l3.gxf4 exf4,

with excellent 1

compensation) 1...6xh3 12.Agz Wfztt.

6a6-b4

White has greater piece activity, but Black is not

without resources. ::a':.;

c32)

6. e7-e5 This is the classical continuation.

7.

d4-d5

The exchange 7.dxe5 is playable but insipid. If White is looking to draw with a

stronger player, it is not too clever to give up the advantage of the first move, even though it allows the queens to be exchanged: 7...dxe5 8.Wxd8 Exd8 9.495 c6l? 10.6xe5 Aa6 11.4d3 h6l

-

l:j:l-r'

16',,Str&r .Xi€E

Black has good compensation and the

position is suf{iciently complex to give

himwinning

chances.

And here is the novelty: the idea is to at-

tack fZ (after 12...f+ I 3.af3 g5 14.gxh3 g4 15.492 gxf3 16.9xf3,

White is better) 13.gxh3 fxe4 14.694 (14.6xe4 Axtr3, and Black has the advantage) la...Axga 15.Wxg4 WxfZ+

16.€dl Wd++ 17.€e1 White cannot avoid perpetual check (tZ.-*dZ? e3; 17.&c2? EfZ+ t8.€b3 Aa5, with a winning attack) 17 *WfZ+,with a draw. 265


8.

-

Volume

3

E '!''BE€ lll ,lEl all AI A AA A A .A AA AAAA

t7-t5 g6xf5

9. e4xf5

',

10.6f3-g5

EaAg' Es& ll Er

i'

I AITAA ,:,,-,

trg€tr

r.

AA

a-l a

And after

1\

ggA.E

a

1.4f3 f5. Black can count on Wd8-e8

7.

10. ... ah5-f6 11. 9f1-g2 h7-h6 12. Ag5-e6 Ac8xe6 13. d5xe6 hb8-c6 And any outcome is possible with such a complex position.

C33) 6. 6b8-a6 This lateral development of the

1

strong initiative.

Again a useful waiting move. Another subtle move is 7...c6!7, to which the best reply is probably 8.4d2 !.

8.

E A ,BE & rll ll ET a I jh l.

b8

knight is becoming ever more popular. Its first advantage is that the knight does not block the path of the c8 bishop (which occurs with ...Abd7), the second is the possibility of playing ...e5 when the circumstances are more

g2-g4l

E.* A: A

AAA

AA g€gA tr

tj

The classical 7.4e3 lost its gloss after

In light of Black's Iast rwo moves, White feels justified in making this advance, which 20 odd years ago would have been frowned upon. However, the facts speak for themselves; an ample database of games show that this move clearly

favourable.

Below we look at lines that do not transpose to C3 2.

7.

Ac1-g5!?

Kasparov's famous victory over Kavalek

outperforms 8.4d3 and 8.4e2, and

in 1982:

therefore the exclamation mark is bv no

7...e5 8.d5 ahsl 9.ah2 (here less effective than in 832; 9.4d2 is probably better) 9...We81 (a common resource in these lines. It defends h5 in order to play ...ff-fS and become active on the

means too generous.

kingside) t0.Ae2 Af+. 766

8.

e7-e5

8...c5 9.d5 also scores well for White.

9. d4-d5

Aa6-c5

Even 9...€h8!7 has been tried with the idea of ...4g8 and ...Ahe : 10.Eg1 Ag8

King's Indian Defence I

l.gd2!f5 l2.gxf5 gxf5 13.exf5 Axf5

I+.ah+,

and White has an edge.

White is also doing better after 9...4d7 10.Eg1€h8 11.4e2!. 10. Af3-d2 a7-as 11. gdl-f3!? af6-d7 12. 0-0-0 c7-c6 13. h3-h4

of the 1970's.

However, the fortunes of an opening line can change very quickly; within a few years, this line had appeared in

E ,,'A gE.€

thousands of games, and it was eventually to become one of the most popular variations. It also appears with a certain

"l.',.{\,,'lEl rl l g

I .. aar A Aj

regularity in the games of top-notch players such as Bareeg Dreev and Ivan

., a ..w..,AA AAgtra A A.

Sokolov.

EP

In this position anything could happen, but White's kingside initiative is at a

more advanced stage than

Black's

queenside counterplay.

D) 5. gf1-d3 6.

Dl)

0-0

EAAg Eg

l lal I 4r

c7-c5 e7-eo

6.

7. d4-d5 8. 0-0

E{hEg E€.,,'' ''::1*^ Il

llal

i,i' IA

AAA

AA AA A.A A A

ag AA AAAA

trAge

White's strategy is simple and effective: the f-pawn remains mobile, and if Black continues classically with ...e5, ...4h5 and ...f5, White will gain an advantage by replying with exf5 and f4 (or Ag3!? so as to take back with the f-pawn). Black's most reliable plan is to apply pressure to the weak d4-square.

691-e2

llr

for many decades, it was dogmatically dismissed because it creates a weakening of the d4-square. The line fell into such disrepute that it was barely mentioned in opening manuals Yet

tr

The Seirawan Variation helped American GM make a comeback in

tr the the

8.

was

8...Q-:g+l?, playable.

early 1990's.

This means of development adopted by Simisch as far back as

1

925

.

9.

"

AW,.'.... E

€

e6xd5

with the idea of ...4e5, e4xd5 267


-

Volume

3

E Ag

If you prefer, you can transpose to the

E& 3lr,AI AT rgr

Benoni with 9.cxdS.

9. 10. 11.

Al/16-S4l?

Ad3-c2!? Ab8-a6 h2-h3 694-e5

":.'

a

tt,. AA'.t'

miniscule ad-

AA

vantage.

E" Ag

DD 6.

7. d4-d5

8. 0-0 Ab8-a6 9. t2-t3 6a6-c5 10. Ad3-c2 c7-c6

9c1-e3 c4xd5 13. a2-a3

11. 12.

''1t1,

e7-e5

This is the normal conrinuarion. but rhere are two interesting alternatives

The alternative 7...6,hs 8.0-0 o,d7 9.4e3 f5 10.exf5 gxf5 I 1.Ag3l Axg3 wirh which 12.fxg3 6c5 l3.Ac2 gives White a d4pawn: better position.

:.,::

AAAA ':"'=

7. 0-0

e7-e5

a7-a5

:'ri::

AAA

12.b2-b3 And White has achieved

'aa:a

Black can directly attack the

7...ad7t? 8.4c2 e5 9.d5 Ad+ l0.Ae3!? Q)xcZ 11.Wxc2. with a oosi-

tion that is difficult to evaluate;

7...ahst? 8.Ac2le5 9.d5

c6xd5 Ac8-d7 b7-b5

E -€,9 E& I I l' .1-g I al I .Al .A AA

14. b2-b4

And White seems to have better prospects on the queenside.

q)

D3) 6.

A'AA'aAA'A tr€

tr Ag

ab8-d7!?

The objective is to push ...c7 -cS and, after d4-d5, exchange the knight for the

bishop with ...4e5.

7.

Ad3-c2! Anticipating this, White retreats the bishop in order to play b2-b3 in reply to...Ae5.

7. 8. d4-d5

9. 0-0

e7-e5 a7-a5 Q:d7-c5

Transposing to D2.

D4) 6. The thematic response.

268

6b8-c6

9...6e7 (now 9...Ad4loses a pawn after 10.6xd4 exd4 l1.ab5. Unlike the previous line, Black does not have the oprion of ...Abe) 10.a4 f5 11.exf5 gxf5 12.693! Q:f+tZ, and also this position is too complex for a clear assessment.

8. d4-d5 6c6-d4 The alternative 8...4e7 is probably better than its reputation: after 9.693

h5 10.f3 h4 I l.ah1 Ahs, Btack's position seems playable.

King's Indion

It would be reasonable to

Def.ence

say that the

position is equal.

E) 5. t2-t4

E;hABg

E

tlr* $r€:r ai: t ffr:tl 9.

6e2xd4 Seirawan himself has recently played 9.Ag5. However, after 9...h6 10.4h4 c5, White does not appear to have

. A A.A AAAA . ,,i\ q) AAA'\

AA

A

AA

.E W Alfig

gained very much.

9.

e5xd4

10. hc3-b5 The most ambitious 10.41e2 is possible: 10...tre8 1 1 .f3 c5 12.4g5 ! WcZ 1 3 .gd2 ad7, wirh a balanced position.

10....

trf8-e8!

10...4e8 1.4c2! Wf6 12.f+ looks nice 1

forWhite.

6t6-d7l? 11. Efl-e1 1 1...a6 12.6)xd4 Axd5 1 3.cxdsl Axd4 14.Wc2 Aaz t5.Ae3. and White is a litde better.

1l...Aga 12.h3 a6 13.hxg4 axbS 14.cxb5 Wtr+ t5.gf4! also seems ro give White an advantage.

'12.9d3-c2 13. Ab5xd4

Ad7-e5 Ae5xc4

The famous Four Pawns Attack. Conceptually, this can be considered the

critical King's Indian line. Black

has

conceded the centre and White grabs all the space he can. This is not a mistake in itself, However, pa\ m moves help development but are not developing moves themselves, and White runs the risk of being infiltrated with a classic counter-

attack: as we all know, pawns that have been advanced too far cannot go back. We have already seen this theme in the

Four Pawns Attack in the Alekhine as with that attack, the deabout its merits often takes on a rebate

Defence, and

ligious fervour. However, the truth is too complex to justify a simple black-and-white assessment. even if these two colours do have a natural appeal for a chess player; the intelligent use of statistical analysis allows today's commentators to make assessments that are based on something more concrete

than subjective opinion. The performance of 5.f4 is in line with other White variations. The real surprise is that the draw rate is equivalent too, 269


-

Volume

3

which is certainly not what you would expect for such an aggressive line. We can therefore see that many theoretical debates are in reality heavily influenced by questions of style: the reason 5.f4 is not played that frequently is simply because a more aggressive player is likely to begin the game with 1.e4.

Before beginning a concrete examina-

tion of the moves, it is worth pointing out that what is considered to be Blackt main defence, 6...c5 7.d5 e6 8.Ae2 exd5 9.cxd5, tansposes to the Benoni

7.

e7-e5!

E ia €e2* lll rEr A::: t nf

*=t:* AAAA a6 AA A AA 'E g 8.

=tr

f4xe5

(the discussion of the analogous posi-

After 8.dxeS dxe5 9.Wxd8 trxd8

tions can be found on page 5 0)

10.6xe5 Ac5, the position is highly reminiscent of the Exchange Variation of the Classical King's Indian, and, predictably, Black has enough compensation here as well. 8. d6xe5

5. 6.

E

.

0-0

As1-f3

AEg

$r*

9.

d4-d5

9.Axe5 c5! is good for Black.

Oa6-c5

9.

10. Acl-95! 10.Wc2? Afxe4lt 11.Axe4 an advantage for Black.

10.... Given the comparative unreliability of

6...Aga, 6...6bd7 and 6...e5, Black will usually be looking at one of the following two options: prepare the ...e7-e5 advance by playing ...4a6, or directly push the parnm to c5.

El) 6.

6b8-a6

The Modern Variation.

7.

Af1-e2

7.4d3!? Aga (with the cenrre well defended, the ...e7-e5 push is less good)

8.0-0 adzl? 9.Ae3 e5 10.fxe5 c5t? with an unclear game. 270

11. 12. 13.

Ag5xf6 b2-b4 a2-a3

AfS. wtth

h7-h6

gd8xf6 6c5-a6 c7-c5!


E2) 6. 7. d4-d5

c7-c5

White can also take a positional approach and arrive at a similar pawn structure with 7.dxc5 Ba5! 8.4d3 Wxc5 9.We2 6-:c6 l0.Ae3 Wa5. with equality; or with 7.9;e2 cxd4 8.Axd4 Ac6 (8...6a6!?) 9.4e3 e5!?, and both players have their trumps.

7.

e7-e6

King's Indic n

Defence

if on the other hand Black in blocking the pawrr's ad-

7...b5?, along the lines of the Benko.

prospects;

Objectively, this may not be perfectly sound, but it will certainly knock White off balance as the attacker is now sub-

succeeds

vance, it could represent a weakness.

9.

trf8-e8

ject to attack: 8.cxb5 a6 9.a4! (with 9.bxa6 we are in the real and proper Benko) 9...e6! 10.dxe6 Axe6 11.4e2 axbS 12.Axb5 d5l?, Black's compensation looks a little doubtful. but over the

blocked the path of the f-pawn and the weak e6-square is controlled by the c7

board anything could happen.

knight.

8.

The most natural. Another attractive op-

tion is 9...4e8!?, with the idea of 10.0-0 6,c7 1 1.4d3 f5: Black has

Afl-e2

The exchange 8.dxe6 has always had its

supporters: 8...fxe6 (8...4xe6 9.9d3 6c6 10.f5 Ad7 I 1.0-0 gives White the edge) 9.4d3 Ac6 10.0-0 a6 11.€h1 6d+, with equality 8. e6xd5

12. 13.

14.

With

9.

10.0-0 11. Ae2-d3

a

Wd1-c2 Wc2xd3

a2-a3

Ac8-f5 gd8-d7 Af5xd3 Ab8-a6 Q:a6-c7

balanced position.

e4xd5

9.cxd5 transposes to the Benoni (page S0); 9.e5 Q-te4l l0.cxd5 (10.4xd5 hc6l) 10...4xc3! 11.bxc3 Ad7, and Black is on top.

Unlike the 'Benoni' variation with cxdS, the capture with the e-pawn robs the position of its dynamism, but it has the 'advantage' of being less risky. We have already seen similar positions in the minor variations of the King's Indian: here the presence of the f-pawn adds a little spice - if White manages to advance it to f5 he may gain attacking

Serper,Grigory

ilf:-T"Hilr-' 1.c4 gG 2.e4 Ag7 3.d4 dG 4.4c3 6f6 5.Age2 abdT 6.493 c6 7.4e2 aG 8.&e3 h5 9.f3 b5 10.c5 dxc5 11.dxcS Wc712.0-0 h4 13.ah1 ahs 14.9d2 e5 15.4f2 hf8 16.a4 b4 17.4d5 cxdS 18.exd5 f5 19.dG Wc6 271


-

Voiume

3

20.9b5 axbs 21.axbS 9xb5 22.trxa8 WcG 23.Efa1 t4 24.H1a7

Ad7 25.trxc8+ gxcg 26.Wd5 fxe3 27.we6+ €f8 28.trxd7 exl2+ 29.€f1 BeB 30.trf7+ WxfT 31.8c8+ We8 32.d7 €f7 33.dxe8g+ trxe8 34.Wb7+ Ee7 35.c6 e4 36.c7 e3 37.9d5+ €f6 38.9d6+ &t7 39.Wd5+ €f6 40.9d6+ &t7 41.Wxe7+ €xe7 42.c89 gh6 43.8c5+ €e8 44.9b5+ €d8

45.9b6+ €d7 46.Bxg6

47.&xt2Ae3+48.€e1

e2+ 1-0

Tarrasch,Siegbert Euwe,Machgielis Amsterdam 1923 (3\

af6 2.at3

sG 3.c4 As7 4.6c3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.9d3 e5 7.d5 a5 8.h3 1.d4

Aa6 9.4e3 h6 10.9d2 €h7 11.g4 6g8 12.0-0-0 b6 13.g5 hS 14.6:e2 6c5 15.493 hxd3+ 16.9xd3 6e7 17.We2 We8 18.€b1 Aa6 19.trc1 Wd7 20.6e1 b5 21.c5 ghs 22.af3 dxc5 23.Exc5 c6 24.trd1 cxdS

25.exd5 EacB 26.trxc8 trxc8 27.gb6 6xd5 28.6e4 9b7 29.ad6 b4 30.9d2 6c3+ 31.bxc3 Wxf3 32.cxb4 trcG 33.Axa5 Ae2 34.b5 trxd6

0-1

Kavalek,Lubomir Kasparov,Garry Bugoino 1987 (9)

kt6 4.e4 d6 5.trf3 0-0 6.h3 e5 7.d5 6a6 1.c4 gG 2.d4 Ag7 3.6c3

8.4e3 ahs 9.4h2 We8 10.Ae2at4 11.4f3 f5 12.h4 We7 13.g3 6b4 14.9b3 afd3+ 15.€e2 f4 16.9d2 fxg3 17.fxg3 trxf3 18.Axf3 Ag4 19.traf1 trfg 2o.ad1 gf7 21.4e3 272

Axf3+ 22.&d2 gd7 23.Ehgl wh3 24.a3 9xe4 25.trxf8+ AxfS 26.axb4 Wh2+ 27.&c3o,cl 0-1

Sokolov,Ivan

Awulh,Boris Heraklion Ech-n 2007 (5)

af6 2.c4

3.4c3 s.g7 4.e4 d6 5.4d3 O-O 6.69e2 c5 7.d5 e6 8.h3 exdS 9.exd5 atdT 1O.t4 15 11.0-0 6a6 12.4e3 6,c7 13.€h1 1.d4

gG

af6 A.At2 gd7

15.9h4 We8 16.9b3 Eb8 17.a4 6a6 18.Eae1 ab4 19.9b1 Wf7 20.6g1 trfe8 21.atg ahs 22.ab5 Axb5 23.axb5 trxe1 24.9xe1 We7 25.4h4 Af6 26.tre1 Bf8 27.AxfG 9xf6 28.Wc3 EfB 29.9d2 Ag7 30.tre3 h6 31.Wc3 a6 32.b0 gf7 33.4h4 tre8 34.893 g5 35.fxg5 h5 36.9h2 Ee5 37.Ef3 a5 38.8d2 a4 39.96 gf6 40.gho

6a6

1-0

Atalik,Suat Radjabov,Teimour Heratlion Ech-tt 2007 ( I)

af6 2.c4

3.4c3 €.g7 4.e4 d6 5.9d3 0-0 6.Age2 6c6 7.0-0 6d7 8.4e3 e5 9.d5 6d4 10.4c2 1.d4

gG

Axc2 11.Wxc2t512.ext5 gxfS 13.f4 af6 14.h3 ahs 1s.gd2 g.d716.Ef3 We717.Eaf1 trae8 18.b4 b6 19.4b5

Axb5 20.cxb5 gd7 21.a4 af6

22.6c3 e4 23.trg3 h6 24.9d4 gh7 25.Qte2 trf7 26.trc1 tree7 27.Ec6 9e8 28.Axf6 Axf6 29.Wc2 h5 30.h4 gf8 31.Wc4 trg7 32.8g5 Axg5 33.hxg5 e3 34.Wc2 gf7 35.9d3 h4 36.8c4 €sB 37.€f1 h3 38.sxh3 ghs 39.4s1 gh4 40.we2 Wg3 41.h4 trh7 42.atg tre4 43.Ec3

trxh4

0-1

King's Indicn Defence

Seirawan,Yasser

Kozul,Zdenko Wijkaan Zee 1991 (6)

1.d4 af6 2.c4 96 3.6c3 Ag7 4.e4 d6 5.Ad3 0-0 6.6ge2 6c6 7.0-0 e5 8.d5 Ad4 9.f3 c5 10.Axd4 cxd4 11.6a4 9:d712.b4 a5 13.b5 bG 14.f4 Ag4 15.f5 gxfS 16.exf5 gh4 17.h3 4e3 18.Axe3 dxe3 19.Wg4 Wxg4 20.hxg4 e4 21.9:e2 Axal 22.trxa1

trab8 23,9h2 h5 24.9xh5 Axf5 25.€g3 &g7 26.&t4 Hh7 27.s4 tG

gh6 29.ad1trbe8 3o.4xe3 treS 31.trf1 trg8 32.4d1 f5 33.Ae2 trg5 34.c5 bxcS 35.bG tre8 35.gxf5 EbB 37.8b1 trgg8 38.b7 €97 39.trb6 €f7 40.4a6 €e7 41.trc6 28,6,c3

€d742.trc8

1-o

Schwarz,Adolf Pau-lsen,Louis teipzig 1879 (2)

Af6 2.d4 g6 3.4c3 Eg7 4.e4 do 5.f4 O-O 6.4f3 abdT 7.Ad3 e5 8.fxe5 dxeS 9.d5 c6 10.0-O hg4 t1.We2 hc5 12.4c2 f5 13.h3 fxe4 l4.dxe4 gb6 15.€hl 6xe4 16.Axe4 af6 l7.dxc6 6xe4 1.c4

18.Wxe4 bxc6 19.We2 Ae6 20.4g5 gd4 22.bs 9:ts 23.6ts gd3 24.Wd2 e4 25.Wxd3 exd3 26.trad1 trae927.6-sd2 h6 28.4f4 95 WcS 21.6d2

29.9d6 trf7 30.4c5 a6 31.g4 Ag6 32.trxt7 €xf7 33.trf1+ eg8 34.€g2 Ee2+ 35.trf2 Ac3 36.6b1

Ae1

o-1

Englisch,Berthold Tarrasch,Siegbert Hamburg 1885 (2)

1.d4 AfG 2.c4 gG 3.6c3 €:g7 4.e4 dO 5.f4 0-0 6.4f3 2,bd7 7.9e2 e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.fxe5 o.g4 10.4g5 Be8 11.6d5 6gxe5 12.9e7 hxf3+ 13.Axf3 cG 14.Axf8 BxfS 15.6c3 Wc5 16.tr'b3 heS 17.0-0-0 6xc4 18.trd8+ gfg 19.trhd1 AeG 2O.trxa8 wgs+ 21.sbl a]d2+ 22.Exd2 Axb3

23.trdd8

gc4

24.Exf8+ €g7 25.trfd8 b5 26.b3 Af1 27.trd7 gcs 2e.6,d1 b4 29.trd2 We5 30.trxa7 Wxh2 31.Eddz €hG 32.Exf7 Ad3+ 33.€cl WeS 34.€d2 9xe435.Axe4 Wxe4 36.4e3 Wb1 37.&e2 Bb2+ 38.9f3 c5 39.Ead7 Wc3 40.g4 Wal

41.trxh7+ 43.95+ se6

€95 42.trd5+ 44.trdd7

€fo 1-o

273


-

Volume

3

would attack h6. If Black does not want to play 6...c5 with the resulting Benoni-like pawn structure, the modern trend is to leave the bishop on 95 and to prepare for an ...e7-e5 advance wirh 6...4bd7 orwith 6...a,a6.

A) 6.

7. gdl-d2

7...c6

ab8-d7 e7-e5

8.df3 d5!? has been tried with

good results.

8. E

lAEg EE

rll

fl€ i' fir g,

5.

d4-d5

After 8.4f3, White needs to be carefirl; if after 8...c6!? 9.0-0 exd4 10.Axd4

Ac5 he continues with the spontaneous 11.f3? (ll.gf4l), Black will gain a clear advantage with 1 1 ...6fxe4!!.

8. 9.

9.4f3

D-td7-c5

f2-f3

has been played, but

it

falls to

convince.

9. 10. The line with 5.4f1-e2 0-0 6.Ac1-g5 suddenly enjoyed a boom in 1954 after

a famous victory by

Averbakh over Panno. However, this was not the first time the Russian GM had used it with success. In addition, it had also been used by Ivkov

h2-h4

a7-a5 c7-c6

11. g2-g4

White can also castle queenside, but his king is probably safer in the centre. 11.

12.

... h4-h5

a5-a4 Wd8-a5

13.6g1-h3

with good results.

it has been adopted by noted players such as Alburt, Uhlmann, Farago, Kaidanov, Petursson, Yakovich and Bareev. With the wvo bishop moves, More recently,

White prevents the characteristic

advance 6...e5? (after the exchanges on e5 and d8, 9.4d5 wins material): it is true that Black can precede ...e5 with 6...h6, but in the positions after 7.4e3 e5 8.d5

off on h7, both for the weakness on 96 and also because of a possible Bdz, which

E ::,:-

.-.,1$, E €..,1..','. , l ET

....',I {E

I

.:.i::i

A

A

I {\ l=

r gA ..'.:A :r,A..,: n,

'A\ A

lha

a

$-

..,.t

,A WA '.,. '1 €

,h q)

=

Black's pawn would better

27+

It is not easy to weigh up this position, but you get the impression that White

King's Indion has a few extra chances, not only with possible queen exchange on d2.

B)

Ad1-c2 a7-as 691-e2 Ac8-d7

10. 11.

his attack, but even after a

11...Ahs?! 12.abs.

f2-t3

h7-h5!? position is strategically very complex - White can castle 12.

6.

7.

gd1-d2

6b8-a6

7.h4!? and 7.f41? are worthy of consideration.

7. 8. d4-d5

e7-e5

To prevent g2-g+. The

either kingside or queenside,

play positionally, or launch a kingside assault with his pawns. Anything could hap-

in

pen, but also here White is

The comments from the previous line are relevant for the alternative 8.4f3 . 8.

Delence

gd8-e8!?

8...4c5 fansposes to A; 8...c6 is interesting: 9.f3 cxd5 10.cxd5 Ad7 1 I .Abs ! ?, with a small plus for White. 9. Ae2-d1!

the

driver's seat.

c)

h7-h6 c7-c5 As we have already noted, 7...e5, although often played, is inadvisable after ...h6: 8.d5 c6 9.9d2 h5 10.f3 a611.h4 6.

7. 995-e3!

cxd5 1 2.cxd5 abdT 1 3.4h3

b5

1+.4f2 Ab6 1 5.b3 and White is somewhat better.

8.

e4-e5!?

n A.glit e:t x I * tr E

-E:

i:t:

r* *

** A.n lat::.ui:

:r*i The idea of Black's last moye is to free

the knighr from the pin so that after 9.4f3 or 9.f3, he can play 9...4h5, blocking White's typical attack with h}-h+ and g2-g4. The bishop still continues to control h5, the e2-square is now free for the knight, and the bishop can be transferred to c2 in the event that e4 comes under attack.

9.

6a6-c5

Inspired by the Benoni. Some players have given 9...4h5 a try but it is hard to see what compensation Black receives for the ugly doubled h-pawns.

A

q_J ?J&r:

:45:

**$ttr ":1 i:.i:ia: E

: .nrt *i /A' E

,

A$Aff & An =:

An interesting 'novelty' from the 1970's. 8.dxc5 is insipid and will be met by 8...Wa5, whereas 8.d5 transposes to D3 1 below.

8. d6xe5 If 8...4fd7 9.exd6 exd6 t0.Af3. White has an edge.

9. d4xe5

Wd8xd1+ 9...4fd7 10.f4, with a clear plus for White. 10.

tralxd1

6f6-94 275


-

Volume

3

This is possible after the queen exchaage.

Ae3xc5 12.6c3-d5 11.

6g4xe5 6b8-c6

12.,6n6? 13.Axe7 EeS 14.b3 AfS, witfi compensation that is difficult to gauge.

The presence of White's queen/bishop battery makes it difficult for Black to find a constructive plan. 11. ab8-d7

0-0 h2-h3 13. Ae2xf3 12.

13.t2-f4 13.4f3 is more solid. 13.

...

With unclear

D)

a7-a0

14. a2-a4 With a small plus for White.

play.

c7-c5

6.

7.

6e5-94

9g4xf3

DD 7.

b7-b5l?

As we have already seen,

d4-d5

this Benko-like advance is often possible in the King's Indian.

Here, as elsewhere, the move may be objectively doubtful, but in practice it scores satisfactorily. In addition, it was played by Kasparov, which in itself is reason enough to treat it with respect!

8. c4xb5 9. a2-a4l

a7-a6

9.

Wd8-a5

After the dull 7.dxc5. both 7...Wa5 and 7...dxc5!? achieve equality At this stage, Black has three choices. We have excluded

7...Wa5 S.Ad2!. which has shown itseH to be advantageous forWhite.

Dl)

7.

8. gdl-d2 9. e4xd5! 10.691-f3

e7-e6 e6xd5

trf8-e8 Ac8-g4

Ag5-d2

10. Wa5-b4!? 11. Wd1-c2 a6xb5 12. Ae2xb5 Ac8-a6 13. f2-f3 And it is debatable if Black has obtained sufficient comDensation.

D3) 276

7.

h7-h6

King's Indicn

EffiA

€ .::*

r* xr I xxn tax* l

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A

,:+R

A*A$ t:::i ffi* *; A A A *w n

-=.5=

13.691-f3

8. Ag5-e3

L gdl-d2

6a6-b4

14. ad3-b1 With an edge for White.

D32)

8.

Ag5-f4

By attacking d6 White seeks to prevent ...e7-e6, but Black is not going to be put off so easily.

8.

e7-e6!

A {T' EN tra: -€E

Before advancing ...e7-e6, Black gets rid of the annoying pin.

D31)

Delence

tr

:aa.. ::.irai;

ll

::1:l

e7'e6 e6xd5

10. e4xd5

With 10.cxd5, White can transpose to

A .4, Arl

the Benoni. This is not often played, but

it should not

be underestimated. 10. ... €g8-h7 11. h2'h3!

ET

E

* a:.i:t:j

fiag

r*:

€l

6da

E

*:tta'3 r * :i:t A

.]a*il * /\a.::a /fr. uuE

n A

t*

i*

=I :,i:;

li::::i

$wa ll *1

:r:a:

It may be a good idea to delay the pawn sacrifice and play 8 .. .a6 9 .a4 e6, but it is not clear which side gains the most from the pawn moves on the a-fiIe.

9. d5xe6

ic8xe6

::a:

10. gd1-d2 The fact that this move is currently the

A

most popular is confirmation of the

A

1l ::i

Stopping both 11...Aga and 11...AfS, which would be met by 12.g4!, when 17...Q)e4?? would lose a piece after 13.Axe4Axe4 14.f3. '11. ... trf8-e8 12. Ae2-d3 Again played to prevent 12...4f5. Ab8-a6 12.... The sacrifice 12...b5!? has scored well: l3.cxb5 (13.Axbs Aea!) 13...4bd7, with the idea of ...6b6.

sacrifice's validity. In fact, 10.Axd6 Ee8

ll.af3 Ac6 12.0-0 (12.4xc5? Wa5) t}...ad+l 13.e5 Ad7 14.Axd4 cxd4 15.Wxd4 Axe5! l5.Axe5 Wxd4 leads to an equal endgame.

However, it is an error to play l0.Bxd6?! Wa5. and Black has excellent counterplay.

10....

gd8-b6!

ln the King's Indian, the most

active

move is almost inevitably the sftongest. After 10,..€]n7,ll.Axd6l is better than

if played a move before as 1 1 ..

.Ee8

will

be followed bv

now 12.f4l. 'laa


-

Voiume

3

11. Af4xh6 I 1.4f3 looks tame after 1 1...4c6 12.0-0 ad4. 11. ... 9g7xh6 12. Wd2xh6 Wb6xb2 13. tra1-cl Ab8-c6 14. h2-h4l? The position is difficult to judge. White has an obvious kingside initiative, but his pieces are not harmoniously coordinated and after 14. ... 6c6-e5

E

Eg

ll

l

rAATg 'lA AA A ,\ Ag AAA t'1)

E€

Black

Atr

will not have problems defending

himself.

€e5 35.6b2 6g5 36.Ec3 c5 37.b4 tre4 38.9d2 trd4+ 39.€el Ee4 40.€d2 axb4 41.axb4 cxb4 42.trb3 f3 43.Axf3 Axc4 44.Q,:xc4* Exc4 45.9:g2 trh4 46.h3 ole6 47.tre3+ €d6 48.4e4 6c5 49.A:c2 hG s0.gb3 Ef4 51.€c2 €c6 52.€b2

sb5 53.gdl Et2+ 54.€cl trh2

55.tr93 €c4 56.trg4+

€c3

o-1

Bonsch,Uwe Gallagher,foseph Germany Bundesliga 2002/03 (8)

af6 2.c4 gG 3.4c3 Ag7 4.e4 d6 5.4e2 O-0 6.495 6a6 7.Wc2 h6 8.4f4 c5 9.d5 e5 1o.dxe6 Axe6 11,9d1 Ab4 12.9b1 Ee8 13.AxdG WaS 14.a3 AcG 15.af3 6xe4 16.Wxe4 Ah3 17.9d3 Axg2 18.tr91 AxfS 19.gxf3 6d4 20.trxd4 cxd4 21.9b4 Wc7 22.6e4 Wc6 23.9f1 trxe4 24.9d3 We6 25.trg3 Ee8 26.9f3 f5 27.9d2 €h7 28.c5 h5 2e.b4 h4 30.8h3 gf6 31.9d1 gds 32.9f3 Ba2 33.€g2 trg4+ 34.Axg4 1.d4

fxg4

0-1

Tatai,Stefano

Belotti,Bruno Chianciano ch-IIA 1989 (1 1)

1.d4 af6 2.c4 96 3.4c3 Ag7 4.e4 d6 5.4e2 o-0 6.4s5 abdT 7.Wd2 e5 8.6f9 cG 9.0-0 exd4 10.6xd4 Acs 11.f3 4fxe4 12.fxe4 Axd4+ 13.Wxd4 Wxg5 14.trad1 a5'15.trf3 Ae6 16.8g3 Wh4 17.We3 We7 18.e5 dxeS 19.Sxe5 trfe8 20.tre3 gfg 21.9d6 Wxd6 22.trxd6 tred8 23.trxd8+ ExdS 24.€f1 €s7 25.b3 Ed6 26.8e5 b6 27.tre3 f5 28.93 g5 29.€e1 €f6 30.adl trd4 31.a3 f4 32.gxi4 gxf4 33.trc3 Ae4 34.trf3 278

Yitiugov,Nikita Inarkiev,Ernesto Moscow 2007 (9)

1.d4

af6 2.c4 gG 3.AcB Ag7

4.e4 d6

5.4e2 0-0 6.4g5 h6 7.4e3 e5 8.d5 c5 9.94 b5 10.cxb5 a6 't1.bxa6 WaS '12.f3 Axa6 13.9d2 gb8 14.h4 h5 15.95 6d7 16.ahs Eb4 17.a12 t6 18.gxf6 AxfG 19.trc1 gdg 20.trg1 €h7 21.495 Axg5 22.hxg5 6,c7 23.a3 trd4 24.We3 Ab6 25.b4 cxb4 26.axb4 trxb4 27.6,a2 trb2 28.6c3

Aa6 29.Afd1 trb3 30.9f2

Wa8

King's Indion

31.tra1 gb7 32.s93 Ad7 33.tr92 6c5 34.€xa6 67xa6 35.trga2 Ef7 36.tra3 trxa3 37.Exa3 Ab4 38.4a4 6rc2 39.Axc5 We7 40.Wc1 ffxa3 41.he6 abl 42.a12 olc7 43.2lxc7 WxcT 44.Bxc7 HxcT 45.4d1 *97 45.4e3 h4+ 47.&94 trt7 4S.AIA Ef4+ 49.€h3 Exf3+ 50.€h2 &f8 51.6xd6 tre3 52.€g2 &e7 53.4b7 0-1

Defence

TukmakorrVladimir Kasparov,Garry Frunze 1981 (1/) 1.d4 af6 2.c4 gG 3.4c3 9:97 4.e4 dG 5.Ee2 0-0 6.895 c5 7.d5 b5

a5 9.a4 h6 10.9d2 e6 11.dxe6 Axe6 12.at3 axbS 13.Axb5 6a6 14.0-0 6c7 15.tre1 6xb5 16.6xb5 d5 17.exd5 6xd5 18.6e5 tre8 19.trc1 Afs 20.6cG

8.cxb5

Wd7 21.Exc5 Exel+ 22.Wxe1 Ee8 23.Wc1 o,bi 24.b3 Ee2 25.Aa5 9e4 26.6e5 Be7 27.fld4 tra2 28.Axb6 Axe5 29.8e3 Wxc5 o-1

Averbakh,Yury Panno,Oscar Buenos Aires 1954 (3)

1.d4 af6 2.c4 gG 3.4c3 Ag7 4.e4 d5 5.4e2 0-0 6.A95 c5 ZdS a6 8.a4 Ba5 9.Ad2 e5 10.g4 6e8 11.h4 f5 12.hs t4 13.g5 trf7 1a.As4 Wds 15.9xc8 WxcS 16.4f3 Af8 17.€e2 trgl 18.Eh4 old7 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.gh1 Ae7 21.trh8+ gf7 22.9h6

Af8

23.trh1 trb8 24.Axt4 Bc7 25.9h2 Ad7 25.9ffi AfB 27.trxf8+ €xf8 28.9eG trg8 29.6h4 Ad8 30.4xg6+

€9731.6xe5

1-o

Alexandrov,Alexey Zolotukhin,Valery Moscow 2008 (6)

1.d4 AfO 2.e.4 gB 3.4c3 Ag7 4.e4 d6 5Ae2 0-0 6.Ag5 c5 7.d5 h6 8.€f4 e6

9.dxe6 Axe6 10.Hd2 6::lc0 11.gxh6 4\d4 12.Axg7 €xg7 13.4f3 6xe2 14.Wxe2 BaS 15.6g5 d5 16.cxd5 9xd5 17.0-0 Ac6 18.f4 c4 19.e5

Bc5+

2O.Ht2

Ads 21.f5 aI422.Wd2

Ad3 23.f6+ €gB

24.Age4

1-o

279


-

Volume

3

continue along the lines of the Yugoslav Attack in the Dragon with Ae3,

Waz, g+, h4, h5, Ahe and possibly 6d5 to exchange off the last defender of the castled king. However, in the real world, this noble

plan rarely comes to fruition, and White is obliged to be flexible and adapt to the various defensive options

EaABs E lll rrEr I al

AAA

AA AA AA tr ag€gatr 5.f2-f3 was first used by Simisch when he played against Yates in 1925, and from that time it has been second in popularity only to the Classical Variation.

As in its Nimzo-Indian namesake. White occupies the centre with pawns in order to launch a kingside attack. Naturally, the strategic themes are completely different here. White does not have to concern himself with doubled c-pawns, but Black conserves the bishop pair. The factors that are common to both lines are central expansion and

a space

advantage.

What is the point of this move, given that the e-pawn is already defended? Gufeld also suggested that you ask the g I knight for its opinion of 5.f3 I It is highly likely that Black wiII soon

castle kingside and White intends to 280

available to Black.

In this sense. the Simisch can also be an effective positional weapon, and the imposing White centre can simply be a means to limit Black's mobility. The list of champion players who have frequently used the Simisch is a long one: among the most devoted there is Gheorghiu, Spassky, Portisch, Karpov, Knaak, Timman, Dreev and

Sakaer,-.

Let's take a step back: as we have seen before, Black can castle instead of playing 4...d6, usually resulti.ng in a simple move inversion. However, in this case after

4. 5.

0-0

t2-f3

Black can try

5.

c7-c5l?

EAAS

ll

E&

rtrEr al

I AAA AA AA.gg€aatr AA tr 6.&c5, Black can reply with the promising

The idea is that after the capture

King's Indicn Defence 6...b6!? (after 7.cxb6, the move Wxb6 applies pressure to b2 and prevents cas-

tling). Aware of this, White could opt for

6. d4-d5 With a transposition to the Benoni. For this reason, many texts say that if White wishes to play the Siimisch, he should play 5.4e3!, and only after 5...d6 continue with 6.f3. All this, presuming it is true, has become irrelevant since it was discovered that the gambit 6...c5 against the Simisch is perfectly playable, and White's best reply is probably the advance to d5. We will discuss this at further length later on. Let's return to the usual sequence: after

4.

5.

d7-d6

t2-f3

This is White's reasoning: given that I cannot prevent 6...c5, I will postpone development of my queen's bishop as

in some lines it could prove to be more useful on 95. A minor drawback is that it is impossi-

ble to play 7.9d3 or 7.dh3, which in the 'normal' Simisch has proved itself to be most eflective against 6...c6 and

6...4bd7 respectively. e7-e5

6.

Black can decide not to castle and in-

The classical reply in the King's Indian,

stead play 5...e5 6.d5 (6.Age2!?)

but certainly not the only option: be-

6...Ahs 7.4e3 f5 8.gdz f+ e.An Afatz to.Age2 Atr+ t1.g3 Ag5, but

sides the two moves that have just been mentioned, Black has at his disposal all the other lines that are playable in the 'normal' Simisch and it is not easy to

White maintains an edge. However.

5.

O-0

is easily the most popular reply, and in the past White responded almost exclu-

with 6.4e3 so as to prevent 6...c5. However, when it became clear

sively

that the paurn push was in fact possible, two previously marginal lines became very popular 6.dge2 and 6.4g5.

A) 6.

of Ag5 repre-

sents a true advantage.

6...8:c6 or 6...a6 are invitations to transpose to the Panno Variation, whereas 6...c5 7.d5 (7.4e3!?) 7...e5 8.493 exd5 9.cxd5 is dealt with in the section on the Benoni on page 5 5 . At this stage,

7. 6s1-e2

Much loved by Alexey Dreev. It comes as no surprise that he also likes to play the Kapengut Variation in the Benoni, in which this move is a common feature.

say when the possibility

Ac1-95!

has such a good performance that you could almost wonder about the viability of the ...e7-e5 advance.

However, the reality is that Black can survive, even if the process is somewhat gruelling. 281


EAAg

lll AA AA

E

-

Volume

3

E&

rar

I al IA AAA AA A AAH Strch 6 EE.AE

7. 8. E'd1-d2 9. d4-d5

c7-c6

ab8-d7

wings.

gA AA F? .0-'A

e

A F?

EE

.4.

Now the typical sequence 13.

h2-h3!

B) 6. Ac1-95

af6-h7!

c7-c6l?

EAAS E* ll rrEr ll al(, A

c6xd5

10. c4xd5 10.6xd51? is an interestinp alternative capture.

10....

AA AA /hAA u1 \ E /\

gives Black an acceptable position.

Usually white players prefer this positional approach, but probably 9.0-0-0!? is the most effective way to continue here: afrer 9...Wa5 10.€b1 a6 11.d5. White will have a good space advantage as well as better prospects on both

9.

E Ag E@ I TE l A I ar al I

a7-aG

AAA

AN AA FT

AA g€aaAAtr AA

11. g2-g4

Now White seems to have an unstoppable attack, but perhaps 11.4g3, which prevents Black's next move, ts more ac-

You must first control the d5-square if you want to make the ...e7-e5 push; the immediate 6...e5? loses at least a pawn

curate.

after 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Wxd8 Exd8

1. ... h7-h6! Without this move, the line would not 1

be playable.

12. Ag5-e3! After l2.Axh6, there is the noted tactic 12...Q)xe4!, which takes advantage of the possibility of a check on h4 by the queen.

12....

h6-h5! Transposing to a variation of the Orthodox Simisch with an extra move for both players. z8z

9.ads. The most dependable reply is 6...c5! 7.d5 e6 S.gd2 exdS 9.cxd5, and you are in Variation 43 of the Benoni (page 56). If White wants to avoid this transposition he can try 9.Axd5!?, but Black maintains the balance after 9...4e6 10.4e2 Axdsl? 11.cxdS AUaZ t 2.Q)c3 a6 13.a48'c7. Another popular alternative is 6...4c6 7.Age} a6 8.9d2 Ebg wtth a sorr of Simisch Panno, for which all the argu-

King's Indion ments for and against the bishop on 95 are relevant.

7. gd1-d2 8. d4-d5 9. Ac3xd5!?

e7-e5 c6xd5

9.cxd5 a6 l0.6ge2 6bd7 transposes to Variation A.

9. 10.691-e2 11. c4xd5

9c8-e6 Ae6xd5 ab8-d7

12.6,e2-c3

Def.ence

ble 6...a6, which allows Black to postpone his decision until the next move. For example, if White plays 7.4d3, Black can enter an improved version of the 6...c5 line with 7...c5! (as played by Kasparov). However, as White almost

always continues with 7.9d2 or 7.dge2, this refinement seems to be academic.

It is worth noting that the curiosity 6...a5 has been tried (only a few times if the truth be told!). After 7.Wdz a+tz, what can you say? Is this genius or madness? The fact that some chess engines only give White a minimal advan-

tage at this point is certainly food for

thought

A)

!

b7-b6

6.

The Double Fianchetto Yariation. The two bishops and the absence of any valid Black counterplay represent a concrete advantage for White, even if it is not yet decisive.

Now we will return to the principal move, namely

6. Acl-e3

At this point, Black has a healthy choice of six playable replies, besides the flexi-

However. the aim is not to fianchetto the bishop on b7, but rather to support

the advance ...c7-c5, without the risks of the sacrifice. It was quite often played in the 1950's and 70's. but now it is rarelv seen.

7.

af1-d3!

E: Ag { .l'

*t

The planned 7...c5? would now be a big blunder as there is 8.e5 followed by 9.4e4, and at the very least White wins the exchange.

283


7.

-

Volume

3

8.

a7-a6

Preparing...c5 and making

the a7-square available for the rook. 7...4b7 8.Age2 c5 9.dS creates a

h2-h4t?

AAg Eg I I rEr I ll AT

E

Benoni pawn structure in which the b6 pawn and, in particular, the b7 bishop look out ofplace.

AAA

...afd7 l7 is worth considering: 8.6ge2 c5 9.4c2!, with the normal edge that White has in the opening 7

AA

phase.

8. Ag1-e2 9. e4-e5! Played by Polugaevsky

in

I

af6-d7 After 9...4e8 10.4e4 EaZ 11.&c5 bxcS 12.4xc5, there is probably not enough compensation for the lost material. 10. Ad3-e4 tra8-a7 11. e5xd6 11.dxc5l?.

... 12.0-0 13. Ae4-c2

e7xd6

ad7-f6 Ab8-c6

14. gd1-d2 White's pieces are more harmoniously placed, giving him a small plus, but in

practice the position is sufficiently complicated to give Black opportunities.

c7-co a7-a0 It is clear that Black intends to advance 6.

7. gd1-d2

the b-pav".n to b5.

White's best strategy is to ignore this 'threat' because after 8.a4 a5! and ...6a6-b4, Black has an acceptable position. 78+

A

€aa

This 'Anti-Dragon'

9.

B)

@ e

tr

c7-c5

961. This is a very strong move that takes advantage of the slornmess of Black's game.

11.

A

,\/AA q) EA

advance, which

seeks to punish Black's delayed develop-

ment, is more energetic than the nor-

mal a.Ad: b5 9.Age2 AUaz to.O-0, with a minimal advantage for White. 8. e7'e5 After 8...h5 9.0-0-0 b5 10.g4, it iooks like White will get there first. 9. d4xe5! Now that b6 is weak, this exchange is good. 9.h5 6xh5 is not so clear. 9. d6xe5 10. Wd2xd8 trf8xd8 11. 6c3-a4 ab8-d7 12. 0-0-0 And White is slightly better.

c)

6, ab8-d7 A natural and flexible move that reserves the options of ...c5 or ...e5. This idea was barely considered before the 1980's, but then it started to be seen more frequendy. The fact that the eminent King's

Indian expert John Nunn frequently chose it means it must be shown due respect - not to mention that it was played a few times by Kasparov himself! Its de-

fect is that in the positions that arise from the main line the knight is not ideally placed on d7.

King's Indian

7.

Ag1-h3t

10. 11.

12.

c4xd5 ah3-f2

at2-d3

Defence

a7-a0

af6-h5 t7-t5

And Ae2 comes next. Now White will have slightly better prospects, whether he castles kingside or queenside.

D)

E*:E9 ,8.@:.i. llr v lar rlEr ar

On the other hand, this knight is nicely located on h3, and were it not for the d7 knight, which stops ...4xh3, this

move would be impossible. From h3 the knight can go to f2, so as to control 94, or possibly to d3. The traditional role of a knight on e2 - namely to support d4 - is less important here, given that it is impossible for Black to attack

d4with...6c6. Obviously, 7.9d2 is also playable: after 7...c5 8.6ge2!? (or 8.d5 6e5! 9.4g5) 8...a6 9.Ah6 Axh5 10.Wxh6 b5! 11.h4 b4l l2.ad5 e6!, Black has successfully defended himself

c7-c6l?

7.

If Black wishes to push ...e7-e5, it is a good idea to first play 7 ...c6; otherwise, the break is not possible as an exchange

of the d5 pawn is no longer possible the d6 pawn would be hanging after dxc5.

After 7...e5 s.d5

ahs 9.9d2

fs

10.exf5 gxf5 11.0-0-0, White prepares

g7-g+, with a pleasant advantage. After 7...c5 8.d5 2c5 9.6f2 e6 l0.Ae2 exdS l1.cxdS a6 12.a4 h5 13.0-0. White is only somewhat better.

8. gdl-d2

9. d4-d5

e7-e5 c6xd5

6b8-c6

6.

'':

Y

':.,r::]:i

AAA

6 AA AAAB

..'., A'I

tr

,

AA

w@ar\tr 6ClgoiAA*

-eeGJ-

As

in the Fianchetto Variation, also here

the line with the knight move to c6 is called the Panno Yariation. This line first came to light in the 1950's but it quickly became one of the most popular variations. It was a firm favourite of both Fischer and Kasparov. As is so often the case, 6...4c6 had actually been played several times before; indeed, it featured in the previously mentioned 1925 debut game of the Simisch Variation. However, this move was originally a preparation for the ...e7-e5 push, and

after White played d4-d5 the knight would reffeat to e7. This is what Black does in the Mar del Plata Yariation, which is discussed further on. However. here White has some advantages: he has already played f2-f3 and he is ready to sftut a queenside initiative, whereas in the earlier variarion, White has to lose tempi in finding a better home for the f3 knight. Panno's insight was to connect 285


-

Volume

3

the knight move to a6 and Eb8, with

12.

the idea of advancing ...bi-b5. if White exchanges on b5, Black gets a

central pawn majority, while

af6-h5!?

EAB Es ll r-gr

if White

does not exchange, Black can open the b-file and activate his rook. In addition, if the White knight leaves e2 (it usually goes to c 1 , clearing the diagonal for the fl bishop and preventing ...b5), Black will take advantage of the weakened d4-square by advancing his e-pavm to e5 and then installing the knight on d4. For his part, White can play positionally with the manoeuvre Ae2-c1-b3. but more usually he will attack the black king by castling queenside and advanc-

At1xe2

lll

z:l

a

AAA AAA r'\ AA WL) EA A A ltlfr^

AA

A A

HE

^0.

Fl

Fl

Profiting from the absence of the king's knight. 13.

With

92-94

a balanced game.

ah5-f4 If Whi.te accepts

the pawn, Black obtains excellent com-

ing the g- and h-pawns. As you can imagine, this results

in competing attacks on both wings, producing scintillating skirmishes that appeal to players who are looking for an adrenalin buzz. The extraordinary duel between Bagirov and Gufeld from 197 3 immediately comes to mind; it is deservedly one of the most famous King's

pensation on the dark squares.

Indian games of ali time. It is no easy matter to catalogue this line as White can continue in three different

prevented, what else can Black do?

ways: o play WdZ without[)ge2 r play lge2 withoutBdz o play both 6ge2 and Wd2

suffi cient counterpiay.

DD 7. 6tg1'e2 8. 6e2-c1

On the way to b3, from where it will suppoil the centre. 8. e7-e5 Now that the ...b7-b5 advance has been

9,

d4-d5 9.4b3 exd4 10.Axd4 AeS gives Black

9.

8.. .bs

!

?.

H

8. 0-0-0

a7-ad tra8-b8

9. h2-h4

e7-e5

10. 11,

Ac6-d4

d4-d5 691-e2

I

AA AA

11

...c5

!?

10....

Eg

III/

rEr

I ar AI

1\

12.dxc6 bxc6 13.6xd4 exd4 14.Axd4 is less convincing here. 286

ll

A 3E

,\ ,\ q)q_J

6-sd4xe2+

The safest. The typical sacrifice

6c6-d4

10.6c1-b3 e

D1) 7. gd1-d2

a7'a0

AAA

5 A

gEA

tr

6d4xb3

King's Indic n

The sacrifice 10...c5 is probably also playable (compared to Variation D1, White has moved the knight three times) 1 1.dxc6 bxc6 12.Axd4 exd4 13.Axd4 Ebs 14.9d2 Ee8, with suffi-

As

cient counterplay.

gives Black good counterplay.

times, which forces Black to adopt Plan B.

counterplay.

11. ... at6-d7t? 11...c5 12.dxc6! bxc5 13.0-0-0. and White is a little better. 12. 0-0-0 t7-f5 With equal chances.

D3) 7. 691-e2 L Wdl-d2 H a \llt/

E&E

ll

I Al

10. d4-d5

in D2. 10.4b3 exd4 11.Axd4 Ae5

10....

1. ... 6d4xe2 11...c5!? is a possibility: 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.Axd4 exd4 14.4xd4. and we are in the note for the tenth move of Variation

E@

w\ '\AA H 2\

D2.

12. Al1xe2 13.0-O-0

EAg Es ll Er

AA AA

lll

ever, even though this rook move is use-

ful, it is not always necessary. It is therefore best to begin immediate queenside counterplay. In the diagram position,

White has tried a wide variety of moves. We will restrict ourselves to the four most important alternatives.

9.

6,e2-c1

The consistent positional approach. The

b5-square

Af6-h5! t7-t5

14. c4-c5

This is the key position of the Panno. Once in a while, you see 8...Ee8. How-

D31)

It may seem strange to return to e2, but White has achieved his aim of preventing ...b7-b5. Naturally, 1l.ab3 is also playable, but here White can only recapture with the pawn. After 1 1...4xb3 (11...c5!?) 12.axb3 c5 13.94 h5 14.h3 6h7, the position is complex and thus 1

AAA

trgg

6c6-d4

11.6c1-e2

both sides have chances.

a7-a6 Ea8-bB

l rhr rE r

AA WA

e7-e5

9.

11. Wd1xb3 More popular than I l.axb3 c5l 12.4d3

ah5, and Black has kingside

Def ence

is now controlled

three

AAII

JA

A

A

A AA AA gA AA ^-^tF lJ \4/

lJ

It is curious to see both sides attacking by advancing pawns in front of their kings. However, the aim is not to directly deliver checkmate, but rather to gain space in the area of the board that their respective pawn structures favour. 14. ... ahs-f4 15. Ae2-f1 287

-


Volume

3

The double capture on f4 is a strategic

mistake (and tactical error

in this particular

as

case,

a

Wd8-e7

16. €c1-b1 White's queenside prospects are good, but this will not cause undue concern to a King's Indian player.

9.

g2-g4l? Perhaps not very refined, but dangerous. This move is designed to discourage Black's prophylactic ... h5

.

b7-b5 h7-h5! Played regardiess! It is to risky to allow the opening of the h-file with 10...bxc4 9.

10. h2-h4

1

1.hs.

11. 6e2-g3 Consistent.

EAg Eg I r rE I AI AT ll AAA gaaAA

a AA E

F? -E 1

.0. E4 .i

F? .s

1. ... e7-e5! it is not on to go pawn grabbing:

Once again

11...hxg4?! 12.h5 gxf3? 13.h6!, followed by

h7+,andWhitewins.

12. d4xe5 12.d5? !

should be able to defend himself successfully.

D33) 9. Ae3-h6 Another all-or-nothing attacking line. its defect is that it relaxes control over d4.

Ag7xh6!

9.

9d2xh6

10. e7-e5 The old strategic precept that the best defence to a flank attack is to counterattack in the centre still holds good! 11. 0-0-0 b7-b5 12. h2-h4 b5xc4 13. h4-h5 Wd8-e7!

Eg 'grE& l l I al a\e lx rAA

s)

AA/i\A

cla

A A

q) a F? A F? EE .E H

.S.

White was threatening Ad5. Now after the capture on 96, Black wiil retake with the f-paurn and the h7 pawn is laterally defended. White's attack seems to be running out of steam, and White's king on the queenside has good reason to be concerned about his future.

ad4,zaith aplusfor Black.

12. ... 13. 14. t3-f4

Afl-e2

6c6xe5 h5xg4

After the black knight captures the c4 pawn (or gives check on f3), White 288

advance the pavm to h5, with a dangerous attack. However, his pieces

look poorly coordinated and Black

well).

15....

D32)

will

D34) 9. h2-h4 The most played. White wanrs

to

ad-

vance to h5 without making preparatory moves.

9.

h7-h5!

King's Indian

Defence

9...b5 is possible, but it is obviously riskier: 10.h5! e5 11.d5 Aa5 12.6:93l bxc4 and after 13.0-0-0, White seems

has a

to have the more dangerous attack.

is for the exchange is hard to assess.

10.0-0-0 An immediate t O.AdS

Wd2xh6 b5xc4 14. g2-s4 The position is unclear and there are many differing opinions among commentators as to who is better: some see 13.

IZ

is also feasible,

with the idea of removing a kingside defender. Another playable option is 10.4h6, but it seems more natural to finish development. A third possibility is 10.6c1, along thelines of 9.4c1, but it is more consistent to continue with the kingside attack, along the lines of the 9.h4variation. 10. ... b7-b5 11.

winning attack) 14...6a71 (with the idea of hbS) 15.Axf8 €xf8, and exactly how much compensation there

9e3-h6l

White as having a clear

while others give the same to Black. After 14. ... Ac8xg4! You get the impression that the second group are more on the mark. We now have

15.6d5xf6+ 9d8xf6

After 1 t.6-tf+bxc+ 12.Axc4 e5 13.dxe5 6xe5 14.4b3 We8!, Black has no problems. 11. ... 1 1...bxc4 12.g4!. 12. QtcS-d5l?

e5xd4

The threat of ... d3 forces White to play

17. wh6-f4

e7-e5

And after

17.

gH

Wf6-g7

...

EE

E I E

$llr

&tr

f3xg4

16.

::lH 6 E€ rE l'. .Al ara ..,'L 6 ll AA AA A g AA AA .l E5E

advantage,

I

lg I nr I / >r AgA A *V ,1i,,

,\ q)

AA AA

€-

.$. Fl

F?

AF? EE

Now White threatens 13.Axf6+ Wxf6 1 a.Ag5, winning material. The alternative 12.Axg7 €xg7 13.dxeS AxeS l4.df4 bxc4 15.4e2 produces a

In view of this. White has little choice

balanced game.

but to play AxgT on the I 2th move.

9g7xh6 12...bxc4 ? may be possible: 13.hxf6+ Axf6 14.d51 (14.Axf8? would be met bv 14...exd4!! 15.4h6 Ab4 and Black

6. c7-c5t? For quite some time, this pawn sacrifice was considered to be of doubtful

12....

Black has a powerful attack in addition to the three pawns he has obtained for the piece.

E)

289


-

Volume

3

merit, and it was rarely played before

8.

the early 1980's. However, its adoption

9.

by

Ae3xc5

trf8xd8 Ab8-c6

Chekhov, Khalifman, Shirov and

Gelfand has created a growing interest in the line. So much so, that at the time of vwiting 6...c5 has become the most popular anti-Simisch weapon.

E

ll

rla ,\ q) AA aat F'

A /iAA

-H_

AA

w€aa

tr

may prove that this is not the case at some time in the future; however, the

modern belief that this sort of positional sacrifice is valid is increasingly gaining widespread credence.

7. to

d4xc5 say, this is the critical line.

7.d5 leads to a Benoni in which the bishop is not particularly well placed on e3, whereas 7 .6)ge2l? is worthy of considerarion: 7...6-\c6 8.9d2 (8.d5 Aes again transposes to the Benoni) 8...e6 9.0-0-0 b6, with complicated play. 7. d6xc5 8. Wdtxae An immediate capture on c5 is risky; with the queens still on the board, Black's counterplay is even more dangerous. 8.e5 has not produced the hoped for results: 8...Afd7 9.f4 f6l.

AH

&E

A ,4\

rrar AT .a$b

I

A A

rrEr I AT

The c5 pawn is hanging and White can exchange queens! Nonetheless, experience has demonstrated that Black has adequate compensation. Somebody

290

ll

A3.g Eg & A\

Needless

E

A A

t'1)

A'\

AN

c_\

a

gaa tr

An extra pawn, a nice solid centre, and the queens off the board; things cer-

tainly appear to be rosy for White. It therefore comes as no surprise that it took over half a century to understand the true nature of this positionl We now realise that in fact Black has his trumps: the f2-f3 advance has not only weakened the dark squares, but also made kingside development complicated; the c6 knight is ready to jump threateningly to b4 or to the hole on d4; the g7 bishop is more active than its white counrerparr; and the f6 knight can also get into the act by going to e5 via d7. When you add Black's slight lead in development to all this, it comes as less of a surprise that an ample database of games shows Black's performance to be superior to 50%! We do not want to suggest that Black is objectively better; that would be an exaggeration. However, making the safe

assumption that the average white player

will

usually have a less sophisti-

cated positional understanding than Karpov (who had excellent resuits with the white pieces), these positions are easier for Black to play.


Now White usually chooses between the following two lines, but an increasingly popular alternarive is 10.6ge2 ad7 11.4e3 Ade5 tl.af+ Ab+ and the two black threats of ...4c2+ and ...4d3+ (after ...g5) represenr com-

the dark squares and hungrily eyes the weak c4 and a2 pawns. An indicative Iine would be the following:

Ag1-h3 Ad7-c5 ah3-f2 Ac8-e6 17. 9t1-e2 Ea8-c8 18. 0-0 Ed8-d6 19. Efl-d1 Ed6-a6 15. 16.

pensation.

El) 10. Ac3-d5 Attacking e7 and closing the d-fiIe. However, moving the knight again neglects development.

10. ... af6-d7! 10...4xd5 does nor do the rrick: 1l.cxd5 Axb2 12.Ebl Ac3+ 13.€f2 Aa++ 14.Axd4 Axd4 15.€e3 e5 1

6.f4, with an advanrage for White.

11. Ac5xe7

is less convincing: 11.6xe7+ Axb2l t3.trbt Ac3+ 14.9d1 Ee8 lS.€c2 AgZ l6.Ad6

capture

Q)xe7 l2.9xe7

with good compensarion. 1 1. ... 6c6xe7 12. Qtd5xeT+ €98-f8 13.6e7-d5 13.Axc8?! is dubious: l3...Axb2!. 13. ... Ag7xb2 14. tral-bl Ab2-97 !,

E r,..4 AE II fEf I ,,., S AA :,,. A,,,., ''.AA AF? .SaA/\H s!?

:.

e

ED

10. Ac5-a3 This prophylactic move, which defends b2, has recently become the most played option.

10....

a7-a5t

With the plan of installing

a

knight on

b4. This is more energetic than the po-

sitional 10...b6.

White concedes his bishop so as to keep the strong knight on d5. The alternative

Ae5

And the game is still dynamically even.

HE!z_]

11. 12.

Ac8-e6 Ac6-b4! Shirov's optimum move has replaced the less convincing 12...4xd5. 13. Ad5xe7+ €98-h8! Black does not want to walk into a nin: if the king goes ro f8 the b+ knight is pinned.

14. QteT-d5 Playing 14.Exd8+ first does nor make White's task easier.

14.... 15. €e1-f2 16. b2xa3

6b4-c2+l o'c2xa3 b7-b5!

-

e

iIf A

g'

Who is better off? White is a pawn up with a dominating knight; Black rules

Ea1-dl

Ac3-d5

.t:

,,

291


-

Volume

3

Black undermines the knight's supporr, with sufficient compensation for the two pawns (more precisely a pawn and a

half as the doubled a-pawns' value is

obviously discounted)

D6.

.

e7-e5

This was played as far back as the 1920's, and it is thus sometimes called the Orthodox Yariation by some commentators.

EaAg

lll

Es

rar

I Al I

AAA : A AA AA NB .IA .1A g€aatr tr

As we have already explained, a manoeuvre such as 7...4)c6 8.d5 6e7 leads to an inferior Mar del Plata Yariation from Black's point of view. An interesting but probably inadequate line is 7...exd4 8.Axd4 c6 9.Wd2 d5 10.cxd5 l cxd5 11.e5!, with an advantage for White.

8. gd1-d2 8.d5 transposes to F2.

8. 9.

9.Edt is playable, but 9...a6 10.dxe5 Axe5l led into one of the most humiliating defeats for White with the Simisch: the famous Karpov-Kasparov game of 1 993. 9. a7-a0 10. €c1-bl b7-b5

E Ag E& JA TAT l ll Ar

For a Benoni lover, it could seem strange to block the path of the poor g7 bishop and then perhaps find it necessary to

ll

lose time exchanging it off via h6 or f6-ha (the same issue comes up in the Mar del Plata Yariation. which we will

F1) 7. Q:91-e2 White maintains the tension, preferring to keep the centre fluid. 7. c7-c6! 297

AAA A AA

gA AA AA gtrAtr

examine soon). As always in the opening, there are pro's

and con's. It is true that the gZ bishop suffbrs, but other pieces benefit. After the advance ...f7-f5, a pawn on e5 will be the fulcrum for a kingside initiative; this would be unthinkable in other anti-Simisch variations.

ab8-d7 0-0-0

Now after 1 1 .Ac tion is balanced.

1

or 1 i .c5l?,

the posi-

FD 7. d4-d5 Gaining space on the queenside and blocks the path of the g7 bishop. Now Black has two options, given that the attempt to block the queenside with 7...c5 has scored unsatisfactorily after 8.ga!.

F21)

7.

af6-hs

King's Indian Defence

& e

*'' € The aggressive and appealing Uhlmann Yariation is truly in the spirit of the

King's Indian and

it is thus

a popular

choice, regardless of whatever objective defects it may have. It would appear to be a strategic contradiction to attack on

the kingside when your opponent can still castle to the other side of the board. However, the resulting positions become so complicated that both sides

will

always have chances.

8. gd1-d2

And now Black has two possibilities:

And now the threat of a fork on g2 allows Black to also pick up the c4 pawn. Usually, a queen is worth more than rwo bishops and two pawns, but here Black has all his pawns on the board

and

it is difficult for White to open

lines ofattack for his pieces.

12.

gh4-f2l

lr the past, 12.&e2 was considered to be l3.Ecl! 6a6! 14.Adl Abe rs.6e: Ad7 16.4h3 f6, White has only a minimal advantage. With this queen move, White tries to best, but after 12...4xc4

openup the posirionwirh h2-h4.

Wd8-h4+!?

F211) 8.

12....

Wf2-e2 Ac3-b5 tra1-cl

This noteworthy idea of Bronstein's has

13. 14. 15. 16. h2-h4

always had its devotees.

9.

s2-s3

The critical move. However, you can always avoid the complex established the-

ory involved with this last move

by

playing 9.Af2 We7 10.0-0-0 or with the odd-looking 9.€dt t?. 6h5xg3 9.

gd2-f2! Pinning the knight with the move 10.9n? does not work because of

Ae3xc4 Ac4-b6 6b8-a6 gc8-d7

White has one or two more possibilities than Black, but in reality it is not easy for him to exploit his material advantage.

f7-t5

F212>8.

9.

10.

9.exf5

!

O-0-0

?.

9.

ab8-d7

10...6xf1 , which attacks the queen. After the queen move, the knight looks

Easily the most popular move. However,

doomed, but there is 10. 11. Wf2xh4

viously worth considering. On the other hand, it looks dubious to

...

Ag3xfl! Aflxe3

Kasparov played 9...a61?, so

it too is ob-

close up the position with 9...f+ 293

-


Volume

3

10.4f2 Afe i 1.We1 ! (stopping ...Atr+; 11...Aez 17.g+ 697 13.h4, and White is doing better.

gfl-d3

ad7-f6 10...4c5 1l.Ac2 a6t? 12.6ge2bit? 10.

-

this attack looks a tad premature, but in

It is true that in the King's Indian White often plays c4-c5xd6 to gain space on the queenside. However, here White will probably castle queenside, and the opening of the c-file could prove to be of more value to Black.

practice it can work.

11. e4xf5! This is sharper than the normal 11.6ge2, which lets Black simplify wirh I l ..fxe4, even if possession of the e4-square after 12.Q:xe4 gives White an edge.

11.

...

g6xf5

Eg E€ ll l Er IA AIT A

F221)8.691-e2 9. c4xd5 10. s2-g4

c6xd5 a7-a6 h7-h5! An important move that is worth noting. It attacks 94, and if White pushes or takes on h5, his initiative evaporates. There is no other option but to play

-

11. 12.

E

gd1-d2 9. c4xd5

F222)8.

A

12.

AAA

W &H

A

AA

Q-sg1-e2 €g8-h8

Ae3-95 Ed1-e1

F22) 7.

c7-c6!

EAAS Eg 'lal ll ll ar AI AA A AA AA AA

tr 29+

w€aatr

b7-b5

c6xd5 a7-a6

9...o,a61?

0-0-0!? €cl-b1 12.6s1-e2

10. 11.

A\tr

13. Wd8-eB 14. We8-f7 15. g2-g3! With the idea of h2-h3 and 93-g4, and a promising White initiative.

ab8-d7

With equality.

A

AA AA

h2-h3 gd1-d2

ab8-d7 b7-b5 Ad7-bo

13. Ae2-c1 And the game is balanced.

F223)8. gf1-d3 Polr-rgaevsky's move is different to the others as the plan is to castle kingside.

8. c6xd5 The most energetic move is 8...b5!?. Even though this has been played many times, it remains controversial. Now the best move is probably the quiet 9.a3 bxc4 i 0.Axc4 c5 I 1.b4 and White has I

a

small advantage.

9. c4xd5

af6-h5

Or 9...4e8, which will be followed by similar continuations. 10. 691-e2 11. e4xf5

t7-f5

King's Indicn Defence

Or I l.gd2 a6 I2.exf5 11. 12. 13.

... 0-0

Beliavsky,Alexander g6xf5 ab8-d7

Nunn,fohn Wi

tral-cl

In order to retreat the bishop to b

13.... 14. gd3-b1

jk aan Zee 1985 (2)

1.d4 Af6 2.c4 gG 3.6c3 tr57 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.4e3 6bd7 7.9d2 c5 8.ds Ae5 9.h3 ahs 10.9f2 f5 11.exf5 trxfS 12.94 trxf3 13.gxh5 gf8 14.8:e4 AhG 15.8c2 Wf4 16.4e2 Exf2 17.6xf2 Af3+ 18.€d1 gh4 19.4d3 gfs 2o.6ecl 6,d2 21.hxg6 hxg6 22.Ag 2 6:xc4 23.9f2 6e3+ 24.&e2 Wc4 25.4f3 Ef8 26.trg1 6:c227.&d1Axd3 0-1

1

Ad7-cS a7-a5

15. f3-f4!

Spassky,Boris

Kortchnoi,Viktor Kiev match 1968 (7)

White's pieces are more harmoniously placed, and objectively he has an edge,

but the position is sufficiently complicated to offer Black chances.

Polugaevsky,Lev

Stein,teonid Moscowch-URS 1961 (1)

1.d4 af6 2.c4 S6 3.6c3 Ag7 4.e4 d5 5.f3 O-O 6.4e3 b5 7.9d3 a6 8.Age2 c5 9.e5 6fd7 10.exd6 exd6 11.0-0 6c6 12.€:c2 Ab7 13.Wd2 AfG 14.trad1 cxd4 15.6xd4 OeS 16.b3 d5 17.gh6 trc8 18.Axg7 &xg7 19.Wg5 Ac6 20.4f5+ gh8 21.6xd5 Axd5 22.gh6 gf6 23.trxd5 trfd8 24.trxd8+ trxd8 25.4e4 ad4 26.6g3

9xe4 27.lxe4 We7 28.Wf4 €g8 29.e5 6e6 30.19'fG Bxf6 31.exf6 trd2 32.trt2 Edl+ 33.4f1 95 34.trd2 trxd2 35.6xd2 h6 36.6e4 €h7 37.ba €96 38.g4 4'lf4 39.c5 bxcS

40.bxc5

1-o

1.d4 AfO 2.c4 SG 3.4c3 Ag7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Ae3 hc6 7.6ge2 a6 8.hcl e5 9.d5 Ad4 10.4b3 6xb3 11.Bxb3 c5 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.0-0-0 Ae6 14.Wa3 6e8 15.h4 fG 16.c5 E;I7 17.Wa4 Wc7 18.9c4 Axc4 19.Wxc4 Af8 20.h5 dxcS 21.hxg6 hxg6 22.BeG trdB 23.trxd8 BxdB 24.8d1 Be7 25.WxcG Q)cl26.gb6 &g7 27.kd5 Be6 28.€xc5 Axc5

29.Bxc5 abs 30.We3 Wc6+ 31.9b1 4d4 32.trc1 gbs 33.4c7 We2 34.6e6+ €h735.Wh6+ 1-0 EhlvestJaan

Smirin,Ilya Foxwoods open 2003 (6)

1.d4

af6 2.c4 gG 3.'6c3 Ag7 4.e4

dG

5.f3 0-0 6.4e3 4'cG 7.6tge2 a6 Lgd2 trb8 9.6c1 e5 10.d5 6d4 11.ab3 c5 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.6xd4 exd4 14.9xd4 tre8 15€e2 d5 16.cxd5 trb4 179c5 6xe4 18.fxe4 Axc3 19.Bxc3 Ebxe4 20.0-0 trxe2 21.dxc6 Bg5 22.Af2 tr8e3 23.9c4 295


-

Voiume

3

Ee4

trxb3+ 29.€c2 6b4+ 30.€xb3

26.9b3 fueG 27.c7 Axb3 28.c8W+ treB 29.Wc1 Bxcl 30.Efxc1 Ae6 31.b3 trd8 32.tre1 trc2 33.Eec1 Edd2 34.Exc2 trxc2 35.h4 €g7

ads+ 31.€c2 wb2+ 32.€d3 BbS+

Ee4 24.9d3 E4e3 25.WcA

36.b4 9xa2 37.trd1 Ac4 38.9d7 *f6 39.trc7 €f5 40.trc5+ gf4 41.9h2 h5 42.trc6 €e4 43.trf0 Eb2 44.9c5 Ae6 45.trf9 tra2 46.trt2 Ea1 47.trd2 trc1 48.Ae7 Ac a9.Ag5 Ebl 50.Ae7

Ad3 51.8f2 f5 52.€s3 Ab5 53.4c5

trb3+54.8f3f4+55.9f2trbr

0-l

Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son Nolte,Rolando Vung Tau 200S (7)

1.d4

af6

2.c4 gG 3.6c3 Ag7 4.e4 d6

5.f3 0-0 6.4e3 Ac6 7.6lge2

aG

8.9d2 trb8 9.g4 b5 10.g5 ad711.h4 ab6 12.b3 bxc4 13.h5 e514.t4 4lb4 15.Ag2 6d3+ 16.9f1 c5 17.dxe5 dxe5 18.f5 gxfs 19.exf5 Axfs 2O.693 Ae6 21.4e4f5 22.gxf5 Axf6 23.Sg1 *hg 24.trf1 trg8 25.496 flf4 26.6ce4 AbdS 27.Axc5 cxb3 28.gd6 EbG 29.6xf6 WxfG 30.4a3 WgS 31.9f2 bxa2 32.trh2 trbg 33.4b2 Exg3+ 34.ghl af6 o-1

BagironVladimir Gufeld,Eduard IylJ g6 1.d4 2.c4 Ag7 3.6c3 dG 4.e4 Af6 s.fg 0-0 6.4e3 4lci 7.€lge2 trbg 8.9d2 a6 9.Ah6 b5 10.h4 e5 11.Axg7 €xs7 12.h5 €hB 13.ad5 bxc4 14.hxg6 fxg6 15.9h6 Ahs 16.g4 Exb2 17.gxh5 g5 18.tr91 g4 19.0-0-0 trxa2 2O.kef4 exl4 21.6xt4 Exf4 22.Wxf4 c3 23.Ac4 Ea3 24.fxg4 ab4 25.€b1 Ae6 26.axe6 ad3 27.gf7Bb8+ 28.9b3

0-1

Wang Yue Radiabov,Teimour Sochi 2008 (9)

1.d4 AfG 2.c4 96 3.4c3 Ag7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.4e3 c5 7.dxc5 dxcS 8.Wxd8 ExdS 9.Axc5 Ac6 10.6ge2 b6 11.4a3 Ab7 12.8d1 a5 13.6c1 ab4 14.4d3 gh6 15.4d5 Afxd5 16.cxd5 e6 17.Axb4 axb4 18.dxe6 Axcl 19.e7 trdc8 20.eBB+ ExeS 21.trxc1 t5 22.trc7 AdS 23.0-0 fxe4 24.fxe4 Axa2 25.8a1 Ads 26.trxa8

AxaS 27.4b5 treS 28.Ac4+ €fB 29.trc8+ tre8 30.Exe8+ €xe8 31.e5 €e7 32.*t2 9c6 33.93 95 34.€e3 ho 35.€d4 gd7 35.9d5

Abs 37.9f3 Ae8 38.A92 Aa4 39.9d5 Abs a0.As8 gf8 41.9c4 Aa4 42.9d5 Abs 43.4f3 €e7

44.9s4 gfl 4s.&d5 Ab5 46.9f5 Ae8 47.&c4 b3 48.€xb3 Abs 49.€c3 Ae2 5O.€d4 gbs 51.9d5 Aa4 52.b4 gbs 53.4g4 Aa4 54.AcB €dB 55.4a6 gd7 56.e6+ €e7 57.Ac8 gbs 58.4d7 9e2 59.€c6 b5 60.9b6 Ac4 61.Axb5 AxeG

62.€c7

1-o

[rrovaDad

296

Karpov,Anatoly Kasparov,Garry Linares 1993 (10)

1.d4 af6 2.c4 SG 3.hc3 €;97 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-O 6.4e3 e5 7.69e2 c6 e.gd2 abd7 g.Edl aG l0.dxe5 6xe5 11.b3 b5 12.cxb5 axb5

13.9xd6 atd714.t4 b415.4b1 Ag4 16.9d4 Axd4 17.Bxd4 trxa2 18.h3 c5 19.Wgl 6gf5 20.e5 2,e4 21.h4

King's Indion Delence

c4 22.8sc7 c3 23.6xa2 c2 24.Wd4 cxdlw+ 25.€xd1 6dc5 26.wxd8 ExdS+

27.&c2olt2

0-'l

Wang Yue Cheparinov,Ivan Khanty-Mansiysk 2007 (a)

1.d4 Af6 2.c4 gG 3.4c3 9:gl 4.e4 dG 5.f3 0-0 6.4e3 e5 7.d5 ahs 8.9d2 fS 9.0-0-0 a6 10.€b1 6d7

11.4d3 AcS 12.4c2 b5 13.cxb5 axb5 14.Axb5 AaG 15.4c3 Wb8 16.Age2 Wb4 17.Axc5 dxc5 18.a3 WaS 19.4c1 Ac4 2O.Ab3 AxbS 21.Axb3 Bb6 22.Wc2 trfbS 23.€a2 2lt4 24.6c1 4 25.trd2 AfB 26.s3 Axa3 27.bxa3 trxa3* 28.€xa3 Bb4+ 29.&a2 tra8+ 30.6a4 c3 31.€a1 cxd2 32,6a2 trxa4 33.gxf4 wd++ 34.9b1 Bc4 35.wb3 fxe4 36.d5 cxd6 37.fxe4 9xe4+ 38.€b2 Bxhl 39.9xc4+ €g7 40.BeG dlA+ 41.&c2 6e3+ 42.€d3 Afs

43.fxe5

wf3+ 44.&d2 gfZ+

45.*d3 Wd4+ 46.&c2dxe5 47.4c3 wf2+ 48.gbl sg1+ 49.€b2 9xh2+ 50.€a3 Wg3 51.€b4 gf4+ 52.€a5 gd4 53.4d5 Bc5+ 54.€a4

gd6

o-1

Kortchnoi,Viktor Stein Leonid lillinn l96s (9) 1.d4 AfG 2.eA gG 3.6c3 Ag7 4.e4 dG s.fg 0-0 6.8e3 e5 7.d5 4:h5 8.9d2 f5 9.0-0-0 Ad71O.gdS fxe4 11.6.xe4 6,t4 12.4c2 Af6 13.hc3 b5

14.6xb5 Aa6 15.6a3 Eb8 16.93 a4h5 17.b9 gb718.Abl c6 19.dxc6 Axc6 20.Wxd5 We8 21.Eel gf7 22.9d? gf8 23.9d3 e4 24.Wc3 Ag7 25.6h3 6g4 26.fxg4 Axc3

27.6xc3

gf8

6f6 28.g5 4ld7 29.6xe4

30.4c3 trfs 31.4b2 Ee8 32.9b1 Axe4 33.Axe4 Exe4 34.trxe4 gfl+ 35.9e1 Wf5+ 36.€a1 Exhl 37.trxh1 BxhS 38.Ada Sg2 39.trg1 Wd2 40.9xa7 2le5 41.4c5 6d3 42.Aag ab4 43.Axb4 gd4+ 44.&b1Wxg1+ o-l

Erdos,Yiktor Kozul.Zdenko Sibenik 2008 (8)

1.d4 AfG 2.c4 gG 3.6c3 9:g7 4.e4 dG 5.f3 0-0 6.4e3 e5 7.Age2 cG 8.9d2 abdT 9.d5 cxdS 10.cxd5 6b6 11.4g3 Ad712a4 Wb8 13,a5

AcB 14.4b5 Axb5 15.6xb5 aG 16.6a3 b5 17.axb6 6xb6 1&O-0 Ec8 19.Efc1 trxcl* 20.trxc1 a5 21.trc6 atdT 22.Wc2 9f8 23.9b3

acg

24.Wxb8 ExbS 25.8tc4 a4 26.6e2 t5 27.6c3 t4 28.At2 traB 29.€fl 95 30.€e2 6f6 31.€d3 6eB 32.6,a3 he7 33.trc4 EbB 34.Aab5 6gG 35.Exa4 h5 36.b4 g4 37.6aT g3 38.hxg3 fxg3 39.€.xg3 h4 40.4h2 trb7 41.4c5 h3 42.93 trt7 43.Se2 f,e7 44.b5 AfG 45.Adg Eh7 46.4e6 Ah6 47.tra8+ gf748.bO 1-0 Muhammad,stephen Smirin llya Minneapolis open 2005 (7)

1.d4 Af6 2.c4 sG 3.4c3 As7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Ae3 a5 7.d5 c6 8.4d3 cxdS 9.cxd5 Ahs 10.69e2 f5 11.exfS gxf5 12.0-0 a6 13.8c1 6d7 14.b4 gh4 15.a3 e4 16.4f2 WgS 17.h4 gh6 18.fxe4 t4 19.da4 t3 20.493 fxg2 21.9x92 at4+ 22.&e1

4e5,23.9e2 Wxh4 24.ab6 ah3+ 25.€g2 Axf2 26.Exf2

Ah3+

,o-1

297


-

Volume

3

e7-e5

6.

In fact. both 6...6bd7 and 6...4a6 are possible (they are usually used as a means of avoiding the irritating Exchange Yariation), but after the subsequent ...e7-e5 advance, you transpose to the lines discussed below Also 6...c5 does not lead to a distiact line:

if

EAAS E& 'l I I l'lE'l I al AAA )\ ,\\ q) q)

AA

'. AAAA

EAW€E

Now we have come to the favourite weapon against the King's Indian, namely the Classical Variation. It was adopted more than once by Colle in the 1920's (he did not exclusively play the system to which his name is so famously associated!). The epithet classlcal is not just a reference to the line's Iongevity and predominance. It is also common to refer to set-ups characterised by the moves Af3 and Ae2 as classical. Once White has occupied the centre. he will continue with natural moves

and postpone aggressive action until development has been completed. Compared to the wide range of opiions that are frequently employed by Black against the Simisch, here Black almost exclusively plays

298

the white d-pawn advances to d5 you transpose to the Benoni, whereas if White plays 7.0-0, after 7...cxd4 8.Axd4 you are no longer il a Queen's Pawn Opening but irt a Mar6czy Bind against dre Accelerated Dragon in the Sicilian. 6...Aga is an alternative worth looking

g E€ lrAr I al

EA

lll

A ,\

t4) AA

al._\

..1

AA q)

gAAA

F?A --H. ue CO H

EI

It applies pressure to the d4-square, which is now somewhat'weakened'by the previous pawn advances to e4 and c4. After 7.Ae3l afdTl (White permitting, the idea is to play ...6c6, take on f3, push ...e7-e5 and install the knight on d4) 8.491!? (needless to sa)a the natural 8.Ecl is a playable alternative) 8...4xe2 9.Agxe2 c5 10.0-0 cxd4 1 1.6xd4 6c6 we have a position t)?ical of the Accelerated Dragon, but without the light-squared bishops, which is a favourable factor. This line's lack of popular appeal can be explained by the fact that the resulting

King's Indion

Mar6czy Bind pawn structure is too positional to appeal to a typical King's Indian enthusiast. We now return to 6...e5.

Defence

White has exchanged queens and threatens AdS with a fork on f6 and c7. However, the game is far from over, and do not forget that even though the draw rate may be high, it is also possible for Black to win, especially as the weakness on d4 could become a future problem

forWhite.

9.

Ed8-e8 This classical response is still the most played, but it is also possible to play

il order dark squares: to gain active play on the 9...c61? and sacrifice the e5 pawn

There are four main paths available for

White:

o Exchange Variation 7.dxe5 o Gligoric Variation 7.4e3 o Petrosian Variation 7.d5

r

Main Line 7.0-0

10.6xe5 Ee8 11.0-0-0 o,a6l 17.f+h6 13.9h4 g5!, with an unclear game. 10. Ac3-d5 Af6xd5 11. c4xd5 c7-c6! Naturally Black rids himself of the weak cZ oawn.

12. Simpler 14.Ec1!

7.

d4xe5 The notorious Exchange Yariation is the bugbear of many a King's Indian player; but why worry about a line with a less than 50% performance! It is true that after

7.

8. Wdlxd8 9. Ac1-95 11 E

NAE

f:

:t:::.:,: :a::

:3: A

A rI.

'r\

trf8xd8

X:

:aiLr:

*

/\

I

"a-

r:,ti:

a: a1t.:

jj:r u1,)

VT

B) 7. Acl-e3

:*r t

t: I A

Ab8-d7!

h6 15.Ae3 Afe t is good for Black. 14. ... Ad7-c5 With equality - but this does not mean the game will necessarily end in a draw.

Efi A $E

ta::l

A

Ac4xd5

14. ats-d2l To defend e4. The immediate 14.Ec1

The Gligoric Variation.

,.3.;.

..:::i:

.. A -'..>

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