The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
Victor Bologan
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
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The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
Victor Bologan
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
New In
Chess 2 0 08
© 2 0 0 8 New In Chess Published by New In Ches s , Alkmaar, T he Netherlands www.newi..nchess.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission from the publisher. Cover design: Steven Boland Supervisor: Peter Boel Translation: Steve Giddins Proofreading: Rene Olthof Production: Anton Schermer ISBN-13:
978 -90-56 9 1 - 246 - 8
Author - Grandmaster Victor Bolog a n Editor - International Master Vladimir Barsky
Consult ant - Grandmaster Victor Komliakov For more information about the author, see the website www. bolo ga n . m d
The author would like to express his grati tu d e to Garry Kasparov, Mark Dvoretsky and Viktor Gavrikov for allowing him to use their
texts in the Introduction . His sincere gratitude al so g oes out to Nikolay Popov for his com ments
quoted in the Introduction, and to Alexey Shirov for writing
his very special Foreword to this book.
Contents
Foreword by Alexey Shirov. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Introduction . . . . . . .
9
. . . .
11
Part I - Various Replies on Move 5 .
29
.
Chapter 1 : The Exchange 5 . cxd5 . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 Chapter 2: The Cunning 5 .h3 . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1 Chapter 3 : The Uncommon 5 .1fi'c2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Chapter 4: Pressure on Black 's Pawns: 5 .'¥Yb3 . . . . .. . . . . . . 48 Chapter 5: Catalan-Style: 5 .g 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Chapter 6: Developing: 5 .ii.f4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2 Chapter 7 : The Rare 5 .�g5 . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 7 6 Part II - Inserting S.a4- e6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
81
Chapter 8 : Catalan-Style: 6 . g3 . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 8 2 Chapter 9 : The Timid 6 . e 3 . . . . . . .. . . .. . .. .. .. . . . . . . . , 93 Chapter 10: Pinning: 6 . .i1lg5 . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Part III - The Insidious 5.ttJe5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 17
Chapter 1 1: The Forcing 5 . . . b5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 8 Chapter 1 2: The Main Move: 5 . . . e6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 1 Chapter 1 3 : The Exchange 5 . . . dxc4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 5 Chapter 14: Chebanenko's Favourite: 5 . . . �bd7 . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 9 Part IV - The Solid 5.e3 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
135
Chapter 1 5: Minor Replies: 6.cxd5 , 6 .b3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 6 Chapter 1 6: Seizing Space: 6.c5 Various . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 6 Chapter 1 7: Seizing Space: 6.c5 ttJbd7 . . . . . . . . ... . . .. . . 1 5 9 7
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan Part V - The Strategic 5.c5. .
165
.
Chapter 1 8: The Provocation 5 Chapter 1 9: The Rare S
. . .
. . .
. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. 1
66
g6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 170
Chapter 20: The Sortie S .�f5 . .
.
.
.
.
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.
.
.
.
.
.
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.
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.
.
.
.
1 73
Chapter 21: Flexibility:
5 JZlbd7 6.h3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 0
Chapter 22: Flexibility:
5 tLlbd7 6.�f4
. .
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
190
Practical Examples.
213
Index of Variations.
225
Index of Players.
.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
New In Chess Code System . . . . .
8
�g4.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . . . . . .
238
Foreword by Alexey Shi rov
We all know chess theory nowadays.
will be able to. Therefore it's important
Some of us know less, others more. But
for me to see
do
wards his former trainer and spiritual
we
really know the history of chess
that Viorel has done so to
I should say that the 4 ... a6 Slav
theory, its development? And, of course,
guru. And
the next question would be - is it impor
is still only a small part of Chebanenko's
tant at all? Judging by my personal expe
contribution to chess, his other system
rience the answer is positive. Many teen
l.c4 e5 2.lbc3 �b4 3.ttJd5 �e7!? imme
agers of today want to know how chess
diately comes to mind as
was before they were born.
weeks
ago against
I
played it a few
Levon Aronian
in
Morelia 2008 and achieved a better posi Our generation (Viorel Bologan is just
tion! His old ideas
half a
ation (l.e4 c5
year older than me) have enjoyed
in the Rossolimo Vari
2.lbf3 lbc6 3.�b5 g6
in
4.�xc6 dxc6 S.d3 etc.) are very impor
chess. We were still very young and fresh
tant too," practically the whole modern
when the use of databases and analysis
theory of that system is Just the continua
engines became the
tion of old Moldavian investigations.
all the benefits of 'technical progress'
most convenient
form of working on chess and the experi ence we had before prevented us from
I £lrst heard the name of
underestimating the human touch, so the
cause of the 4... a6 Slav. A Latvian of my
Chebanenko be
work with new technologies could be
age, Kaspars Ramma (he was a fine posi
come especially effective. But
think the
tional player in his youth but then sud
nostalgic memories of times when every
denly stopped competing), successfully
thing was done with the desire to dis
employed it in the second half of the
cover new things , when the search for the
eighties and once he annotated his best
I
truth in chess was sometimes absorbing,
effort for the Riga magazine Shakhmaty
those memories simply can't be taken
or Sahs, mentioning the author of the
away. As well as memories of people who
opening, of course, and also referring to
never knew the modern times.
Viktor Gavrikov's article. When those comments
The
year
1997
was sad for both Viorel
I
saw
I distrusted everybody
involved, as I dogmatically thought that
and me. The chess community lost two
a tempo could not be wasted like this. I
all their
still needed to meet Chebanenko and be
life into chess investigation - the Latvian
come Viorel's friend to change my opin
personalities who had devoted
Alvis
Vitolinsh
and
Vyacheslav Chebanenko.
the
Moldavian
ion!
I was supposed
to write a tribute to my countryman but haven't done it yet - who knows when
I I
At the beginning Vyacheslav Chebanenko was like a ghost for me. He never left his
9
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan hotel room. During some junior
compe
tition I even mistook Boris Itltis for him, because Boris was visible
with Moldavian
S .£H4 tZJc6 6.e3), so the Moldavian school definitely had a certain impact on my chess.
youngsters but he was unknown to me, while Chebanenko's name would always
So,
should
say
that
Vyacheslav
be mentioned when one was preparing
Chebanenko was
against the Moldavian players. I got to
in
know Vyacheslav Andreevich personally
chess research,
in 1988 when he was helping Oratovsky
markable trainers of his time. He left
in his match versus Kramnik in Moscow
world too early but
and I attended the meeting of Botvinnik
alive. Even though he was not a tactician
daily life and
a
nice and a quiet
and one oT the most
re
this his systems are still
all, his chess strategy has passed the test
with Jeroen Piket at the same time and
at
venue. Of course, the place I first met
of time and technology.
Chebanenko was his hotel room and
man
a true workaholic in
we
immediately started analysing the Slav
Finally I should thank Viorel Bologan
with 4 . a6 which I tried to 'refute', but
a tremendous job of unifying the modern
..
in vain.
discoveries in the 4 . a6 system . .
with
for its
historical background. Now the reader
the
Vyacheslav Chebanenko would normally
has everything he needs to know
try not to let his knowledge be spread
old strategic ideas and the latest concrete
outside the !v101davian chess school, but
nuances. And the fact that sometimes
exception, perhaps
pieces don't get exchanged before move
with me he made an
-
because I was Viorel's friend. He also in
20 shows how fascinating and complex
troduced me to his girl students and one
the opening is.
of them was my girlfriend for while.
a
short
I wouldn't mention this if it were
not for the fact that later on in some of
Play 4 . a6 .
.
in the Slav! I used to think it
was a loss of tempo butitis not!
my games I employed a move that he had taught the girl (6 ... �g4 after l .d4
Alexey Shirov
dS 2.c4 c6 3/tJc3 ttJf6 4.cxdS cxdS
Tarragona, 16th ofMarch 2008
10
Introduction Containing extractsfrom the books'Revolution in the 1970s' by Garry Kasparov and 'School of Chess Excellence 4 Opening Developments' by Mark Dvoretsky, and the article 'A New Sys tem in the Slav Defence' by Viktor Gavrikov -
This book is dedicated to Vyacheslav Andreevich Chebanenko, the patriarch of Moldovan chess , and my trainer and teacher. In working on tills book, I was gready as sisted by my long-time friends and col leagues , 1M VladimIr Barsky (editor) and GM Victor Komliakov (consultant) , to whom I offer my warmest regards and heartfelt gratitude. Without them, I could not even have begun work. Doctor Chebanenko's
thing else, I'll just work something out over the board. That was all the prepara tion one did. That is assuming one was a professional, and analysed other people's games , and studied good books - if you were a complete lazybones , then better not to play chess at ail! But we liked to play! It is not only a ques tion of enjoying the process itself, but also , if things go well , there are material rewards - a stipend from the state, for eign travel, dining coupons , lectures, simuls . ..
Philosopher's Stone
It was all a long time ago. Back in the days when people wrote letters to each other on paper, and a telephone in one's apart ment was regarded as a luxury; when a Simple IBM electronic calculator took up most of my father's office, and bigger mainframe computers occupied whole floors in the Moldavian Soviet Republic's 'Gosplan' planning institute ; back in the days when Fritz was still just a glint in Frederic Friedel 's eye, and MIkhail Moiseevich Botvinnik was still struggling with the problem of constructing artifI cial intelligence. Back in those days, people , chess players included, used to use their own heads to think.
One used to sit down before a game and decide - OK, if he plays this, I will choose that plan ; if h e does this, I'll follow that well-known game , and if he does any-
- OK, you win, said the maestro of Moldavian chess, Vyacheslav Andreevich Chebanenko, stretching himself out on his sofa. - I'll show you something. It is time to introduce the Doctor, as Vyacheslav Andreevich was called by the older generation of his pupils. Not only did he come up with a miraculous solu tion to all the problems of the idle chess players of Moldavia , by creating for them a unique opening repertoire , contained within a couple of exercise books. He also managed to interest the whole chess world in his ideas, even such grandiose figures as Tigran Petrosian and Garry Kasparov. In order to avoid the inaccuracies that are inevitable when re-telling a story, I will let you hear it 'from the horse's mouth' as it were , in the wor ds of the 13th World Champion himself 11
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan Extract from Garry Kasparov's book Revo
lution in the 1970s, pages 324-32 6:
Or4.e3 a6.
4.
...
a7-a6
And from the mid 1970s, the various
The Chebanenko Line
Moldovan masters began to use the sys
When speaking of the founders of the
tem in practice.
modern opening, one cannot omit the name of the Kishinev master Vyacheslav Chebanenko (1942-1997), a noted theo retician and trainer, who brought on a whole generation of grandmasters and Gavrikov,
masters Bologan,
Komliakov,
Iordachescu, Rogozenko,
V
Nevednichy, Oratovsky and many others. His opening 'bomb' in the Sicilian De fence is well-known, after being used by Petrosian in the first game of his match against Fischer.
Today it is one of the main opening sys tems against 1.d4, but 30 years ago, only
Slav with 4...a6
a small number of players knew about it
But what is rather more important is that
and it seemed quite an exotic idea. Chess
Chebanenko invented and worked out in
ideas were still dominated by relatively
detail the 4... a6-system in the Slav De
classical principles. and the apparently pOintless loss of
fence:
a
tempo had trouble
1.
d2-d4
d7-d5
2.
c2-c4
c7-c6
. .. It is worth seeing how it changed the
3.
lLlg1-f3
lLlg8-f6
e valuation of the Exchange Variation of
4.
lLlb1-c3
being accepted.
the Slav Defence.
The author with the inventor.
12
Introduction 1.
d2-d4
d7-d5
5.
e2-e3
b7-b5
2.
c2-c4
c7-c6
6.
b2-b3
ii.cS-g4
3.
lLlg 1 -f3
lLlgS-f6
7.
h2-h3
4. c4xd5 5. �b1 -c3 6.
c6xd5 lLlbS-c6
In the main line-7.iLe2 e6 8.0-0 ttJbd7 9.h3 �h5 - Black has a solid position, whilst the bishop retreat to f5 is also not
ii.c1 -f4
bad.
7.
...
�g4xf3
7 ...�hS 8.g4.
S.
'iYd1 xf3
Chebanenko's
e7-e6
pupils
preferred
9.dxeS (9.c5 ttJbd7) 9...�b4 �x c3
11.�xc3
13.bxc4
ttJe4
(13.e6
1 0.�d2
12.�b4
l:ta7;
13 ...'iYb6 14.a3 as
8...eS!
13.'iVg4
bxc4 cS!)
IS.cxdS cxdS \\-ith
good play.
9. For a long time, the main methods of de
ii.c1 -d2
9.�d3!?
fence Were confined to be either 6 ...e6 or
9.
6 ... �fS. But then it turned out that, by
1 0.
...
ii.fS-b4
'lWf3-d 1 ?!
analogy with 4.ttJc3 a6 S.cxdS cxdS
The natural 1 0.�d3 is better, since White
6.i.f4lLlc6. in the diagram position the
has no objections to either 10... ttJbd7
move
11.0-0 intending a2-a3, and 10...'iYaS
6.
...
a7-a61?
11..!:!'cl
�xc3
12 Jhc3
(12.�xc3!?)
go od with the idea of 7.e3 �g4 !,
12 . 'i' xa2 13.'iVd1 with obvious com
whllst7.lLleS can bernet by 7...'i'b6, and
pensation for the pawn (Sadler-Levitt,
on 7.!tel Black equalises with 7...�f5
Dublin Zonal 1993).
was
,
..
8.ltJesllc8.
1 0. 11.
ii.f1 -e2
b5xc4
There is no sense in giving a complete
12.
b3xc4
c6-c5!
overview of all the possible variations of
0-0
An energetic move!
the Chebanenko System, especially as I only really became acquainted with it quite late on, in the 199Os, when it began to b ecom e a bigger and bigger part of the repertoire of top players. Viktor Gavrikov passed the baton to Victor Bologan. Alexey Shirov and other young grand masters.
I remember being struck by the ease with
which Black won in the game OIl-Anand (Biel Interzonal
19 9 3) :
1 3.
d4xc5? 13
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan of course,
13.0-0 cxd4 14.tt:lxdS! was
correct, with equality - Anand.
13. 14.
e3xd4
'to date, White has not found any advan tage here, and the main lines remain
d5-d4!
those that were written in our notebooks
'iWd8xd4
all those years ago'.
(End of extract)
15.
�d1-c2
tLlb8-c6
16.
0-0
�d4-e5!
17.
,*,c2-a4?! Ua8-d8
1 8.
�d 2-e1
***
tLlc6-d4!
The
title
of
'Doctor'
was
given to
19.
'i'a4xb4
tLld4 xe 2 +
Vyacheslav Andreevich for
20.
tLlc3xe 2
� e5xa1
opening experiments, many of which he
21.
tLle2-c3
'l1l:i'a1-c1!
used even with very young players.
and Black won (0-1).
his tireless
First the idea would be born, then the details would be worked
out
on his
Having looked at the details of the sys
handheld 'Riga' magnetic chess set (by
tem, I included it in my repertoire, and
using such a set, Chebanenko did not
achieved good results, never experiencing
have to get up from the sofa on which he
any problems. In the words of Bologan,
always lay full-length), and then dictated
A page from the author's notebook during his Chebanenko days.
14
Introduction
to his pupils. who wrote them down in their exercise-books. And then the pupil. faithfully believing that he had in his hands a super-novelty. would be sent off to his game. It 15 only fair to say that the Doctor's ope ning experiments were usually success ful. although that success was not always carried over to the latter part of the game. A typical picture for the Moldavian team in national competitions would go some thing like this - after the opening. we would have a large advantage. then the position would gradually level out. and in time-trouble. everything would be turned on its head. One of his 'victin1S' was his young girl pu pil Tanya Derid. She did not have a very good memory. so Vyacheslav Andreevich drean1ed up for her the following opening variation: l .e4 c6 2.d4 ds 3 .cuc3 a6!? Black gives his opponent the move. with out clarif)'ing the situation ill the centre. and in answer to the most natural move 4.0.£'3. he continues 4. . . itg4. It may very well be by analogy with this that the move 4 . a6!? in the Slav was found. .
***
Nikolay Popov recalls (Popov was the first Moldavian IM, and is now a sports commen tator on Russian TV): - Chebanenko was born in Kishinev. but later studied in Leningrad. at the institute of optics and mechanics. However. this did not prove to be his vocation. and he left Leningrad and continued his stumes in Odessa. at the institute of maths and physics. After finishing hIS studies. he spent two years working in the distribu tion business. in a village somewhere in
Moldavia. and then returned to Kishinev and devoted himself to chess. He worked as a trainer at the chess club and contin ued his own playing career. He always had his own approach to chess. his own way of looking at things. This at tracted me and I decided to study with him. We spent a lot of time analysing the most varied positions. although I have to say that I always felt a little uncomfort able. I have a very open, dynamic sty Ie, whereas he tended to look at the sort of positions that I could not really get on with, and this put me off somewhat. Maybe I could outplay him in analysis, simply because I was the stronger practi cal player. but we always had differences of principle in relation to positions. For example, Chebanenko really liked the line l .e4 cs v'bf3 tLic6 3 .�bS and on the next move, regardless of what Black did. taking on c6. Nowadays this is considered a maj or variation. but I just could not ac cept that it should be possible to play like this. I remember that we even played a match. where I answered 3 .�b s with 3 . . . a6 and forced him to take on c6. I do not recall the result of the match. but he got the advantage in the opening. Up to a certain level (let us say against candidate masters) he scored vIrtually 100% with this opening. because his opponents simply did not how to play against it. He also spent a great deal of time on an other opening. wruch did not become so popular. but in which he very fi=ly be lieved: l .e4 d6 2 . d4 cuf6 3 . tLic3 c6 !? Here he investigated a whole mass of po sitions. Thanks to Chebanenko I played a lot of games. and very successfully at that. with the Black line l.c4 es 2 . tLic3 �b4!?, and 15
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
Vyacheslav Andreevich Chebanenko (below, centre): a key figure of Moldavian chess.
if 3. ttJd5, then 3 ... �e 7. And if the knight
Doctor. He had a deep knowledge of
did not come to d5, then Chebanenko did
chess strategy. He was a great researcher,
exactly what he did in the Sicilian, and
although it was not only opening ideas
took immediately on c3, carrying out the
that interested him, but chess strategy in
same plan that he loved - the battle
general. He had studied Nimzowitsch's
against doubled pawns.
theories very deeply and built his own
Petrosian described in detail in 64, the
conception. In any opening, the Doctor
magazine that was around at the time,
always strove first and foremost to iden
one of Chebanenko's novelties. After he
tify its strategic basis.
beat Kortchnoi and qualified for the final
At the start of the 1970s, Chebanenko
Candidates' match against Fischer, he was
was the trainer of the Moldavian school
passed a letter, addressed to the winner of
children. He never cared about who was
the Kortchnoi-Petrosian match, in which
in front of him, a schoolboy or a master
there was analysis of the variation later
he always wanted someone on whom to
seen in the first game of the Fischer
test his ideas. W hen you analyse on your
Petrosian match . Later, Tigran Vartano
own, it is not always possible to retain
vich was very upset that he had wasted
one's objectivity. At first, he tested his
such
an
innovation, by failing at the cru
cial moment to follow the analysis.
stuff on other Moldavian masters, who also worked as trainers - Nikolay Popov and Boris Itkis (he, in particular, analysed
***
a
great
deal),
and
then
Chebanenko
started to include in the analysis his own Grandmaster Victor Komliakov recalls:
pupils - Gavrikov, me, Titov, and others.
- We, his pupils, used to call Vyacheslav
All of his ideas, Vyacheslav Andreevich
Andreevich Chebanenko the
first tested on us.
16
Guru,
or
I
Introduction I remember that at a session in 197S, we
find his ideas. Chebanenko would come
spent about 10-12 days polishing up the
to a training session and say 'Look, I have
variation, and then wrote it an out in
a
a new idea' , and would set up on the
notebook. Unfortunately, I no longer have
board the critical position, which would
the notebook. One of the first to try it was
usually be the product of a night-time
Popov, but he was not very successfuL
vigiL He would then start to check it, re
Then there was a lull for about S years, be
gardless of whether the pupil played this
fore Gavrikov started to use the variation.
variation or not. Over time, his pupils
In those days, in the main, we played the
grew up, and became strong opponents,
King's Indian, and only rarely the Slav:
who had from the beginning developed
Later, when we found some problems
the art of analysis. In those days, there
with the King's Indian, we returned to the
were no computers, and we all moved the
Slav. There are many openings, after all,
and one should not spend all one's time
pieces by hand. Chebanenko worked a great deal, and the pieces on his magnetic
on the same one! Chebanenko, for exam
chess
ple, spent a lot of time on the Modern
moving around the board!
set
covered
many
kilometres
Defence with c6-d6, and with white opened l.e4- more often than 1 .d4. He
***
played the Slav with 4- .. a6 from time to time, in competitions,
the games of
'The Chebanenko Line' (to use Kasparov's
which have not made it into contempo
apt expression!), as well
rary databases, such as the Moldavian
amined in this book, also included l.c4
championships, for example.
eS 2.tLJc3 �b4 3.tLJdS �e7
Then Gavrikov took up the baton. He
Opening, and all kinds of King's Indian
played the Chebanenko Variation t wice
as
the a6-Slav ex ill
the English
ill
set-ups, particularly with the knight on
the 1981 USSR Championship (against
d7. To avoid the Four Pawns, Sarnisch and
Beliavsky and Tukmakov), and made two
Averbakh
draws. In December 1983, in the maga
with
zine Shakhmaty
v
SSSR
he published
an
l.e4-
variations,
we often started
1 ...d6. Correspondingly, we
were
prepared to
by
against
play
the
article, entitled 'A new system in the Slav
Philidor, reaching it either
Defence', At the beginning of the 1990s, Viorel
Chebanenko handled the pawns in virtu
3.ttJc3
eS,
or
by
2.M lLlf6
3... c6,
where
Bologan asked Chebanenko's permission
oso style, playing either ...dS, ...cS, or
to show the variation to Shirov. Alexey
...eS, depending on circumstances.
started playing the line very successfully,
As White we all played l.e4, although
and being a generous and well-brought
V yacheslav
up young man, he later went out of his
looked at lines after l.d4; in particular
way
against the Dutch Defence he worked out
to
express
his
gratitude
to
Andreevich
occaSionally
Chebanenko.
a system involving a pawn sacrifice with
It was very lillportant to Chebanenko that
h2-h3 and g2-g4. It is interesting to note
he had a suitable opponent (albeit only
that this motif appears nowadays
a
candidate master), in order that he could
ill
most all closed openings. 17
al
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
Needless to say, we did not get mixed up in Open SicIlians, but faithfully employed the Doctor's prescription: against 2 ... d6 and 2 ...tLlc6 - 3 .£Lb 5 , whilst after 2 . . . e6 we had the choice between 3 . c4 or 3 . d3. Against the French it was only 2 .d3 , 1 . . .e5 we happily met with the Italian, whilst if we thought the Petroff/Russian Game was likely, we would play the bishop to c4 at move 2 . The main thing that links all the above mentioned lines is the restrained pawn structure, usually involving d3 -c3 as White and d6-c6 as Black. The pieces would then be placed very harmoniously within that pawn structure. The typical plan of preparing either . . . b5 or . . . d 5 , and also the overall conception, made the whole system easy to remember and play. The strange thing is that the main varia tion of Chebanenko's whole life, the Slav with 4 . . . a6, is somewhat outside the gen eral opening conception of the 'Chebanenko Line ', because the pawn structure in the centre is determined al ready at move one. This exception to the general rule allowed Chebanenko to demonstrate his strategic talent. The move . . . d5, compared vvith . . d6, gives Black more room to manoeuvre. It may seem that Black is going to play quite normally, but the originality of the Chebanenko Variation is that it is still in accord with Chebanenko's principal ope ning credo - preserving the maximum number of options. So who £lrst played the move 4 ... a6 in the Slav? In this regard, the article by Rene Olthof in Yearbook 8 1 is extremely inter esting, in whIch he refers to the game Reginald Pryce Michell versus Mir Sultan Khan, British Championship 1 9 2 9 . 18
The £lrst serious opponent, and, there fore, the £lrst person to put the Chebanenko Variation to a serious test, was Nikolay Popov, from whom we have already heard above (incidentally, he also at one time spent a month training me) . Nikolay Popov: , . . . And then he developed his variation of the Slav, with 4 . . . a6, a move he was very proud of Once again, he and I ar gued over the merits of this line, because the move breaks many of the general rules of opening play. Nowadays this line has become widely-accepted, and even Kasparov devoted a whole chapter to it, in his book Revolu tion in the 1970s. At a certain level, such as in Moldavian tournaments, this opening scored well. But in 19 7 5 , I played two games against Leonid Zaid, and he twIce defeated me with the move 5.iLg5. As far as I know, however, nowadays Black is OK in this variation. Also in 19 7 5, I tried the varia tion against Dorfman, and as early as move 1 5 , he (as White) offered me a draw. I refused and went on to lose. Even so, deep-down, I did not really believe in the Chebanenko System, which to a sig ni£lcant extent was the antithesis of my style. On the other hand , Victor Gavrikov be lieved much more in Chebanenko's sys tems. He lived in a town about 50 km from Kishinev, and every day, he would catch the bus into the capital, to work with Chebanenko. In the early 1980s, Gavrikov had a golden period, first quali £)ring for the USSR First League, then the Super League, and in one Super League dividing 1- 3 places , thereby g e tting into the Interzonal.'
Introduction In the chapter 'How a chess player devel
***
ops' I described the preparation of Alexey It was Victor Gavrikov, the first 'home
Dreev, who took the prestigious utle of
grown' Moldavian
World U-16 Cadet Champion in 1983.
grandmaster,
who
first gave the Chebanenko Variation its
The
name, and developed its reputation as a
(France), Alyosha repeated his success
following
year
in
Champigny
serious opening. This was all done in his
and became a double champion. And
article in the highly-respected magazine
nally, in the world U-20 championship in
fi
Shakhmaty v SSSR in December 1983. It
Kiljava (Finland), the IS-year old Dreev
was on the basis of this article that I de
scored 10/13, to take the silver medal
cided to give a short history of the varia
ahead of a host of players several years
tion, in this book. I hope readers will find this small historical journey of
in
terest; it can be found at the end of this
older than himself (the winner, with 10. S. was Curt Hansen). Remarkably, Dreev did not lose a single
Introduction.
game in any of these three tourna
After the publication of Gavrikov's article,
ments!
the variation finally ceased to be purely a Moldavian specialIty, and began, at first quietly. and later with greater publicity. to enter the realms of the top of world chess. One of the first practitioners was still a young talent,
the 16-year-old
Alexey
o •
Thorsteins,Karl Dreev,Alexey World ]Wlior Championship, KIljava 1984
Dreev.
1.
d2-d4
d7-d5
2.
c2-c4
c7-c6
School of Chess Excellence 4 Opening Developments by Mark Dvoretsky,
3.
tLlg1 -f3
tLlgS-f6
4.
tLlb 1 -c3
a 7-a6!?
Extract from
pages 134-138.
Black chooses a system suggested by the
What is Meant by High Class
Vyacheslav Chebanenko. Nowadays it is
I hear the speech not ofa boy, but ofa man.
mir Epishin. Julian Hodgson and other
well-known
trainer
from
Kishinev,
played regularly by Alexey Shirov, Vladi
-
Alexander Pushkin
well-known grandmasters, but then, it had not yet become fashionable.
Almost every talented young player can
When preparing for the world junior
carry out energetic attacks . filled with
championship, Dreev and I decided to
combinational blows. Such games indi
widen his opening repertoire. to include
cate the player's talent, but not his matu
several such lesser-known lines. The ad
rity or the high class of his play. The truth
vantages of this approach are obvious -
the class of a player is about all-round versatility, the ability to take independent de cisions in the diff e rent situations arising during the course of the battle.
we would not need to spend so much
is that
time studying the new schemes, whilst Dreev's opponents were unlikely to be well-prepared for them. 19
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan Generally speaking, such an approach to
In round 8, Dreev again played the varia
one's opening repertoire is questionable,
tion, thIS time against the future bronze
and should not
become one's main
medal winner, Karl Thorsteins.
method, but as a temporary measure
We managed to guess what the opponent
when preparing for a specific event, it has
would play. It was not hard to imagine
its merits.
that in looking for a weapon against
4.. a6, the Icelandic player would rely on .
T he first time the system with 4. .a6 was
the latest
tried in the event was the game Wells -
he would be familiar with Gavrikov's re
.
Informant (it was unlikely that
Dreev. At that moment, both players had
cent article in
3/3. Their game, although it ended in a
had served as our main source of infor
qUick draw, was quite tense:
mation). In
Shakhmaty
v
SSSR, which
Informant 36, Tukmakov had
5.cxd5
annotated a game where he had won as
7...tne4! 8.a3!?
White,
the variation 8.e3 �xc3 9Jhc3? eS! fol lowed by 10 ... i.M. In the game
T horsteins decided to follow.
Beliavsky-Tukmakov
(USSR
and
it
was
this
game
that
Studying the game Tukmakov - Bagirov
Champion
(USSR 1983), Dreev and I came to the
ship, Frunze 1981) White preferred 8.�eS, but after 8... �xc3 9.Uxc3 �d7
conclusion that Black could achieve satis
10.�b3 f6! 11.�xc6 i.xc6 12.e3 e6 13.i.d3 i.e7 14.0-0 Wf7! Black equalised.
factory play. As a result, an interesting opening duel arose in the game against T horsteins.
8 ...
S.
j,c1 -gS
tbf6-e4
1 2.tb d2 £!.f5 1 3 Jb c6!? If 13.i.e2 the game
6.
j,gS-f4
tbe4xc3
is about even. Instead, the young English
7.
b2xc3
dSxc4
man strives for complications.
S.
g2-g3
b7-bS
13.
9.
il.f1 -g2
i.cS-b7
1 0.
tbf3-eS
1 6.�b7 l:ta7 1 7.0-0 17 .i.c7? � e8 18.� b6 'iWd7!. 1 7...'iI'a5 1 8.tbb3
queen exchange leads to a superior end ing for White: 19.'liVxa4!? .l:!.xa4 20 ..l:!.c1 20 ...i.d3 llc4 (20 ....l:!.a7 21.'uc7; 21.�cS) 21.1hc4 dxc4 22.�aS. 19 ... £!.d8
20.£!.c7 £!.xc7 21 .'i'xc7+ wg 6
22.�g3+ '.t>f7 23 .'tWc7+ Draw.
Actually, Peter Wells was in slightly too much of a hurry to agree a draw - he could still fight for a win by: 23. ..�g6 24. �cS! 'iVaS 2S.�c6! nb8 26.M! (but not immediately 26.i.c8? nc7 27 .'liVe8+
Tlus move proves to b e the prelude to
in
terestmg tactical complications. White goes into them, since otherwise Black will play 10 .. .tud7 and White's compen sation for the pawn is questionable.
1 0.
...
f7-f61
Black takes up the gauntlet. On 10 ...l{irc8 Tukmakov gives the line 11 . .l:!.b 1 tbdl 12.� xc4! bxc4 13.'iVa4 eS 14.dxeS lLlcs 15."iYxc4, and now it is bad to play 15 ...'iVe6? 16.'iVxe6+ fxe6 17 Jhb7.
11.
tbeSxc4!
�h6) 26..:tWxa3 27.i.c8 "iYx M 28.i.xe6 i. xe6 29.'l!¥xe6, and White's position re
In the above-mentioned source
mains preferable.
12 ..l:!.b1 eS 13.l:f.xb7 exf4, and after
20
game, Vladimir Bagirov continued 11 .. bxc4?! .
Introduction
14.'i'a4?! Vi'c8 I S .l':i.b6 �d6 1 6.'ii'x c4 We7 he managed to beat off the first wave of the attack and obtain a promising posi tion. However, as Tukmakov pointed out, White could play more strongly : 14.'i'bl! �e7 ( 1 4 . . . �d6 I SJhg 7 ) lS.'iVe4! 'i'd6 1 6 . 0 - 0 ti:ld7 ( 1 6 .. .fxg3 17 .hxg 3 g 6 1 8 .Itfb 1 is hardly any better) 1 7.'fiNxc6 'li'xc6 1 8 .�xc6 0-0-0 1 9 .l:tfb 1 .id6 20 . .!::!. a7 with advantage. Black also has a diffl.cult position after l 1 . ..eS?! 1 2.dxeS 'ii' xd 1 + 1 3.l:txd l bxc4 1 4.e6 ! �c8 I S .l':i.b l . It turns out that here, just as in the critical position of the game Wells-Dreev, seen earlier, the key to the position is the zWischenzug . . . g7 -gS ! , which improves Black's chances in the subsequent struggle. 11.
...
1 2.
�f4xb8
g7-g5!!
Many years later, Vishy Anand chose against Dreev 1 2 .�e3! bxc4 1 3 . nb l 'JIii c 7 1 4 . h4 with good compensation for the sacrificed piece. 12.
'"
b5xc41
Suddenly the white bishop is trapped. How can it sell itself as dearly as pOSSible? Sergey Dolmatov suggested the paradoxi cal move 1 3 . .I1I.. e S ! with the idea of avoid ing further exchanges and weakening the enemy king 's hiding place on the kingside. For example 1 3 . . . fxeS 1 4.nb 1 �c7 IS.�a4 \t>f7 (or I S . . . l:tc8 1 6 .dxeS) 16.'i'xc4+ e6 1 7 .dS! exdS 1 8 .�xdS + 'it'f6 1 9. f41. It is hard to say where White's attacking chances are better, here or in the Anand-Dreev line; only further practical expenence can answer thIS question. 1 3.
J::r.a 1 -b1
1 4.
l:lb 1 xb7
�a8xb8 l:!.b8xb 7
1 5.
�g2xc6+ l:!.b7-d7
1 6.
'i'd 1 -a4
1 7.
0-0
e7-e6
In his commentary, Tukmakov looked at this variation and continued it as follows: 1 7 . . . \t>e7 1 8 .�xd7 'i'xd7 1 9 .'ii'x a6 �g7 2 0 .'li'xc4 .!:!.c8 2 1 .Vi'd3 . In preparing for this game, we decided that the final posi tion is satisfactory for Black, and we also noticed that he could develop the bishop on a another diagonal: 1 9 .. . 'it'fl ! ? (in stead of I 9 . . . �g7) 2 0J'l:b l �e7. However, at the board, Dreev did not blindly follow what we had analysed at home. Instead, he thought further and found the most preCIse way to develop his pieces. 1 7.
...
�f8-d6!
Such decisions show not only good posi tional understanding, but also the ability to think independently. and belief in one's own ability. 1 8.
'iYa4xa6
White could instead choose 1 8 .nb 1 r:J;; e 7 1 9 .�xd7 'iWxd7 2 0 .'i'xa6 I!.c8 2 1 ..!lb7 ! ? l:tc7 nJhc7 'fixc 7 . Now the direct B . a4? is bad because of B . . . �b4!! 2 4 .cxb4 c3 2 S .dS ( 2 S .'li'd3 c2 2 6.�xh 7 + d 6) 2 S . . . exdS 2 6 .iVd3 c2 27.'JIii e 3+ 'It>d7 2 8 .'li'cl 'i'c4, and the pawn soon promotes. Instead, White 21
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
must play 2 3 .'ii'b 5 !. Then it makes sense for Black to harass the enemy king by means of 23 . . .h 5 ! 24.a4 h4 (preparing ... h4-h3 and . . . '!Wb8) . If 2 5 .r;;i;> g 2 , then either the immediate 2 5 .. .'iVb8 2 6 .'llfxc4 'i'b I , or first 2 5 . .. f5 - in both cases, it is not easy for White to defend. 1 8.
...
�e8-f7!
From here, the king can defend the h7 pawn in case of necessity. In the variation 1 8 . . . r;;i;>e7 1 9 .�xd7 "'iWxd7 2 0 .'ihc4 tl.b8 (or 20 . . . tl.c8) 2 1 .'iVd3 �f8 2 2 .c4 the black queen is tied to the pawn instead. 1 9.
iLc6xd7
20.
'i'a6xc4
'iV d8xd7
We have already looked at the position arising after 20.tl.b 1 tl.c8 2 1 .tl.b7 tl.c7 2 2 .tl.xc7 'iYxc7 , only with the king on e7 , where he is slightly better placed. The difference is apparent in the variation 2 3 .a4t? �b4?! 2 4.cxb4 c3 (not 24 . .. 'it'g7? because of 2 5 .b 5 c3 2 6.b6 'iVc6 27 . 'Ii'a7+ 'it'g6 2 8 .'Ii'c7 ) 2 S .'iVd3 �g7 2 6 .'iVc2 'iVc4 27.b5 (27 .r;;i;>f 1 ? 'iVxb4 28 .'it'e l 'iVb2 29 .'it'dl 'iVa 1 + 3 0 .'iVc l 'iVxa4+ and 3 1 . . .'iVxd4) 27 .. :iVxd4 2 8 .'jib 3 with a probable draw. 20.
...
21 .
a2-a4
Uh8-b8
The other possibility was 2 1 .'iWd3 �g7 2 2 . c4, as was played nine years later ill the game Rashkovsky-Rublevsky (Kurgan 1 99 3 ) . Black will probably Will the a2 pawn, but it is hard to say if this will give him realistic winning chances. The white pawn chain h2-g3 -f2.-e3 -d4-c5 restricts the activity of the black bishop. �d 7-c8
21 . 22.
'i'c4-d3
23.
f2-f4?
�f7-g7
Here, at last, is a positional error. White is afraid of 23 . . . .llb 3 and prepares to defend 22
the pawn b y lif3 . However, the text move weakens the king's position and gives Black the chance for an attack. He should have played to use the a-pawn: .2 3 .l:!.al tl.b3 2 4.aS , or 2 3 .c4 'iWa6 (this is the point of 2 1 ...'iYc8) 24.tl.d l 'iYxa4 2 5 .c5 . 23.
...
24.
g 3xf4
g5xf4
Subsequently, Dreev confidently realised his extra material. (End of extract) ***
So it was that the wind got in the sails. Af ter Popov, Gavrikov and Dreev, many other players started playing the a6-Slav: Milorad Knezevic, Vladimir Bagirov, and, of course, Chebanenko's pupils - Victor Komliakov, German Titov, Georgy Orlov, Vasily Sanduliak, Dom Rogozenko . . . Your humble servant played his first game with the variation in 1 9 8 9 . Even so, with Megabase showing just 1 0 0 games in the variation, the 1 9 80s are more like just the prelude to the full sym phony of the 1 9 9 0 s , where we find some 2 0 0 0 games. Probably the most interest ing time for the variation was the turn of the third millennium. The move 4 ... a6 attracted both question marks and 'dubi ous' signs. Variations were 'closed' (for instance, the move 5 .�g5 ) and new ones opened. Amongst the top 10 players, the first to include the variation in his reper toire was Alexey Shirov. He played fear lessly, with an abundance of risk-taking and passion, and I decided to introduce my friend to Vyacheslav Andreevich, who in turn, via me, showed Shirov many of the subtleties of the variation. Thanks to Shirov, the Chebanenko Varia tion began to appear in all of the capitals
Introduction
of the chess world - Linares, Biel, Tilburg, Monaco. To the honour of both Shirov and Chebanenko himself, the variation achieved a 5 0% score, 1 4- 1 4. And this was against the very best players in the world. Shirov, along with Chebanenko's pupils, like me, Komliakov and Rogozenko, both promoted the name of Chebanenko, and at the same time influenced other, inde pendent schools of players, taking up the 4 . a6Ime. One who greatly enriched the theory of the variation was Ivan Sokolov, who not only won many fine games in the line, with some beautiful combinative blows, but also brought to it a dose of aggres sion. I was not surprised when, af ter a pause, Ivan returned to the variation and again scored extremely well with it. It is no coincidence that in the test positions, you will find a number of examples from Sokolov's games. Of the generation of Dreev, Sokolov and Shirov, two others who played the varia tion are Bareev and Khalifman. But the only ones who made it a permanent fea ture of their repertoires were all born in the 1 9 7 0s, and funnily enough, were all called Sergey - Movsesian, Rublevsky and Volkov. Apart from the a6-variation, they have little in common. Movsesian is sharp, temperamental and talented (in 20 0 8 , he qualified for the A group at Corus) , Rublevsky - strong and confi dent, Volkov - original and creative, but they all found something they could re late to in the a6-system. InCidentally, Rublevsky (with some help from me! ) has also been successful with another of Chebanenko 's ideas, namely on the white side of the Sicilian. .
.
In the new millennium, the line started appearing at every level. After its suc cessful use by Kasparov (in games against Kramnik, Ivanchuk and Khalifman) , it was taken up by Morozevich , Bacrot and the young Carlsen. At a certain moment , the Moldavian Variation (as it is sometimes also known) also received a helping hand from the Bulgarian school. First it was the highly experienced Kiril Georgiev, and then world champions Antoaneta Stefanova and Veselin Topalov. As well as Gavrikov's article, a Significant role in the popularisation of the variation was played by the New In Chess Yearbook Series. Time after time, it carried articles devoted to the variatlOn. And for every ar ticle, the line had another name! It was the ' chameleon' , the 'modern a6', the Chebanenko, and simply 'the a6 Slav' . Largely thanks to these articles, people began to start belieVing in the variatlOn. In preparing this book, I of course con sulted not only these articles, but also the only book devoted to the line, Grandmas ter Flear's 1 9 8 3 publication The a6 Slav. Despite the high quality of all the above material, I nonetheless decided to put pen to paper. It may appear that everything has already been played and written about the varia tion. Nothing of the sort! Recently, Kamsky has produced some new ideas, and again White must search for an ad vantage. Every time one prepares against the a6-system, one experiences a definite feeling of discomfort. I have had prob lems preparing as White against Malakhov (another major practitioner of the variation) , Movsesian and Stefanova. . . .
23
The Chebanenko Slav Accordmg to Bologan Nikolay Popov:
tests, and it became clear that he was very
- In the mid-1980s, I moved away from Kishinev and Chebabenko acquired some new pupils - Bologan, Rogozenko, Nevednichy, Iordachescu . .. By nature, Chebanenko enjoyed excellent health. But chess obsessed him, and he could spend hours on end absorbed in analysis, without even getting up from his sofa. His favourite pose was lying on the sofa, smoking, and constantly analys ing some position or other. He smoked a Moldavian brand of cigarette called 'Li ana' , whICh were extremely strong and rough. The fIrst thing he did after waking up each day was to light up. I remember that I once tried to talk him into taking some exercise: - You never go anywherel You should go for walksl He asked: -W hat for? - Because when you walk, it gets your heart pumping and the blood flowing. - My heart pumps faster when I have a cigarette. It's just the same! He died aged j ust 55, his health wrecked. After he was divorced from his wife, he lived alone, and never looked after him self properly. I remember that he used to buy some sort of strange and disgusting preserve, made from whale meat, which he would eat with eggs! He did not eat like a normal person, with a flISt course, and a second course, etc. Occasionally, he would visit his mother and eat a decent meal, but generally, his diet left a great deal to be desired. Eggs and preserve and that was about it. I was told that he became ill in 1995 and was taken into hospital. They tested his blood pressure and did various other
ill. He was put on a drip. of course, at that
24
moment, he wasn't able to smoke. Two days later, the doctors repeated their tests, and could not believe their eyes. in 48 hours, his system had completely cleaned itself out! Unfortunately, after this experi ence, Chebanenko came to believe that any time he wished, he could put his health right in a couple of days. But of course, this was just an illusion, and he died of a heart attack two years later. Our mutual friend Slava Kokhlov told me that he was at home with Chebanenko at the time. The latter stood up, went into the bathroom, then suddenly cried out and that was that. An ambulance was called, but it was already too late ... ***
... on that very day, 1 August 1997, I was supposed to fly from Moscow to Kazan, on business. But for the first time in my life, the flight was cancelled because of a technical problem with the plane, and I had to return home. There I received the sad news from Komliakov. We went to the funeral together. But it was a silent fare well, I had missed the chance to say goodbye to him. Maybe that is why, for a long time afterwards, I used to dream about Vyacheslav Andreevich, and he used to appear to me, alive, talking to me, offering advice, asking how I was ... The following year, thanks to my brother and several Moldavian chess enthuslasts, we managed to organise the first Chebanenko Memorial, which was won brilliantly by Alexander Mo rozevich, who scored 8.5 out of 9. He went on to win six tournaments in a row, and entered the
Introduction world elite. The memorials became an annual event, but quickly deteriorated into a modest tournament, offering only an 1M norm. But we believe that the day will come when famous GMs will once again come to Kishinev, to celebrate the memory of the great trainer. He may be gone, but his chess ideas are very much alive, as the book now before you testifies ! Instead ofa Guide-Book The first
real guide to the system was grand master Victor Gavrikov's article 'A New System in the Slav Defence', published in Shakhmaty v SSSR No. 12, 1983. I think the reader will find it interesting to see how the theory of the variation looked a quarter of a century ago. In italics you will find com ments by the present author, updating for the present-day state of theory in the Chebanenko System.
The inventor of this continuation is the Moldavian master V Chebanenko. Several of his other ideas have gained general ac ceptance. 1 could mention for example his ideas in the Sicilian Defence: l . e4 cS 2 .tDf3 e 6 3 d4 cxd4 4.tDxd4 tDc6 S . tLlbS d6 6 .iif4 eS 7.�e3 tDf6 8.�gS �e6 9 .tD l c3 a6 1 0. �xf6 gxf6 1 1 .tDa3 ds ! . And in the King's Indian: l .d4 tDf6 2 .c4 g6 3 .g3 �g 7 4.�g2 d6 S . tDc3 0- 0 6 .tt:lf3 tDbd7 7 .0- 0 eS 8.e4 c6 9 .h3 'tWb6 1 0 . .l::te l exd4 1 1 .tt:lxd4 - 1 1 ...tDe8! , whIch was first seen in the game Artamonov-Chebanenko ( 19 68) . The system under discussion here first began to be worked out in 1 9 7 2 . Later it was subjected to practical tests, Initially in Moldavian, and later in All-Union tourna ments. A certain amount of material has thus been gathered, which I aim to sum marise here. I
In our day, it is difficult to invent a wholly new opening system. Nonetheless, the search goes on, and 1 would like to ac quaint the reader with one such unusual system. 1.
d2-d4
d7-d5
2.
c2-c4
c7-cS
3.
tLlg1 -f3
tLlgS-fS
4.
tLl b 1 -c3
a7-aSl?
5.
c4xd5
One of the main lines, since in the Ex change Variation of the Slav, the move a6 looks like a loss of a tempo. � S.
-
cSxd5
�c1 -f4
This positlon is often reached by a different move-order: l .d4 ciS 2 .c4 c6 3 .cxdS cxdS 4.tDc3 tDf6 S .�f4 tDc6 6 .e3 . A typical ex ample was the game Zllltkus-Chebanenko (VI USSR People's Spartakiad 19 7 5) : 6 . . .a6 7 .�d3 �g4 8.£3 � 9 .tt:lge2 e6 1 0.0- 0 �e7 1 1 .�g3 0- 0 ( 1 l ...� g6 is also good) 12 .tDf4 �g6 1 3 .tt:lxg6 hxg6 , and Black had no problems. S.
...
7.
e2-e3
tLlbS-cS
Magerramov, against Popov (Beltsi 19 79) played 7 .tDe5. There followed 7 . ..e6 8.e3 25
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan �xeS 9 .dxe S �e4 ! ? 1 0 .ikd 3 ? ! �xc3 1 1 .bxc 3 ikd7 1 2 . 'i¥c2 ikc6 with a splen did position for Black. In the game Beliavsky-Gavnkov (49th USSR Championship, Frunze 1 981 ) W hite preferred 7 . .l:!.c 1 , but after 7 . .. �e4 ! ? 8. �eS (or 8.e3 �xc3 9 . .l:!.xc 3? eS t ; 9 . bxc3 �g4 ) 8. . . tUxc3 9 . .l:!.xc3 �d7 1 0.'iWb3 f6! 1 1 . tbxc 6 (worse is 1 1 .tbxd7 lJ:!Vxd 7 , threatening .. . e7 -e S) 1 1 .. .ikxc 6 1 2 .e3 e6 1 3 .�d3 ike7 1 4 .0-0 Wf 7 ! Black 's chances were n o worse. 7.
...
S.
�f1 -e2
�cS-g4
1 1 .tbxc6 ikxd l 12.�xd8 l:1xd8 1 3 Jl.fxd 1 �k8 1 4.Sac 1 0-0 "'ith a qUick draw. 1 0. 11.
a2-a3
0-0 l:laS-cS
1 2.
tUc3-a4
tUf6-e4
Black has sufficient counterplay. The theory of this popular variation grew continually, with both sides looking for im provements on almost every move. I will mention in particular the plan connected with developing White's king's knight to e2: 3.tbc3 tUf6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.ikf4 tUc6 6.e3 a6 7.iLd3 or 7. Sc1 followed by tbge2J2-f3 and later, depending on circumstances, either g2-g4 or e3-e4. Personally, it seems to me that the most unpleasant plan for Black is the set-up 7.f'I.c1, as tried by Beliavsky in the above�mentioned game with Gavrikov. Even so, the critical positions remain the same, and the assessment 'Black has sufficient counterplay' has survived the test of time II
On 8.h3 both 8. . . �hS , and 8. . . ikxf3 are possible. Also seen is 8.ikd3 e6 9 .h3 ikhS 10 .g4 ikg6 11.ikxg6 hxg6 12 .tbeS .l:!.c8 13 . Wf l ike 7 , and Black did not experi� ence any difficulties (Vladimirov Gavrikov, Moscow 1 981 ) . Instead of 9.h 3 , worse is 9 .'iVb3 because of 9 .. . �xf3 ! 1 0.gxf3 tbaS 11 .lJ:!Vc2 .l:!.c8 1 2.0-0 �e7 with the better prospects (Azmaiparashvili-Itkis, Dinamo Champi onship 1980 ) . S.
...
e7-e6
9.
0-0
�fS-e7
1 0.
�c1 -g5
6.
�g 5-f4
tUf6-e4
Nothing better is apparent. 6. 7.
tUe4xc3 b2xc3
d5xc4
.l:!.a1 -c1
Nothing is promised by 1 0.tbeS , after which in the game Platonov-Gavrikov (Beltsi 19 7 7 ) there followed: 1 0 . . . Le2 26
5.
This position was met in the game Zaid -Popov (Daugavpils 19 7 4 ) , where
Introduction there followed 8.e4 b5 9.tbe5!? g6 I O .'iYf3 f6 1 1 .'iYg3 ! with the initiative for White. The move 9 ... ,i,e6, followed by . . . £7-f 6 , deserves attention, where it is hard for White to justify the sacrifice in concrete
8.
�f1 -d3
tUb8-d7
9.
f2-f4
�c8-b7
1 0.
0-0
terms.
In the later game Tukmakov-Bagirov (VIII USSR Spartakiad 1983 ) W hite preferred . . . 8.
g2-g3
. . . but after 8... b5 9 . �g2 �b7 1 0 . tLle5 f 6 ! I I ,ciJxc4?! bxc4 1 2 .Mb 1 e5! 13 Jhb 7 exf4 did not obtain sufficient compensa tion for the sac..:rificed material. The move 5..�g5 was at first regarded as a virtual refutation of the Chebanenko System, but nowadays is rarely seen. The main reason is the move shown by Gavrikov in his notes 9. . �e6, after which it is very diffic ult for White to show that he has sufficient compen sation for the pawn. Also not bad is 9 .'iYas, and even the previously rejected move 9. . g6 was rehabilitated, with the help of the com puter. White in turn has tried to strengthen his play with 6.�h4, 6.e3 and even 6.h4!?, butwithout particular success. -
.
..
.
This position was reached in the games Kharitonov -Gavrikov (MoscoW 198 1 ) and Tukmakov-Gavrikov (49th USSR Championship, Frunze) . The weakening of the e4-square gives Black adequate counterplay. These games continued as follows : Kharitonov-Gavrikov: 10 ...Ilc8 1 1 .a3 Jl..e 7 1 2 .f5! �c7! 1 3 .i2Jxd 7 �xd 7 14.�f3 g 6 ! 1 5.fxg6 fxg 6 1 6 ..lt d 2 0-0
are not worse. Tukmakov-Gavrikov : 1 2.i2Jxe4
dxe4
Black's chances
10 ... i2Je4 1 1 .a4!? b4
1 3.�c4
fie7
1 4.a5
0-0
1 5 .i2Jxd 7 'i'xd7 1 6 .�e2 f5 1 7.fid2 llfc8
III S.
1 8JHc1
The natural continuation; W hite aims to develop his kingside pieces qUickly. 5.
...
6.
c4xdS
b7-bS
On 6.c5 a good reply is 6 . . . �g4, followed by . . .tLl bd7 and . . . e 7 -e5. 6.
...
c6xdS
7. tLJf3-eS
In the event of 7 .�d3 , both 7 . . . �g4 and - 7 ... e6 are possible, leading to positions examined later. 7.
fi d5! wi t h equality.
e2-e3
...
e7-e6
This line has seen theory develop especially fast, and the developing move S.e3 is consid ered one of the principal replies to the Chebanenko System. Both the line mentioned by Gavrikov (6. cS) and one not mentioned by him (6.b3) deserve separate chapters, so con siderable is the information available on them. In concluding his short article, Victor Gavrikov summarised things asfollows:
I believe that the material presented above gives a good impression of the character 27
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan of the new system. Without doubt, subse quent practice will bring improvements for both sides, but one can already con clude that Chebanenko's idea deserves at tention.
It certainly does! A quarter of a century later, whole new systems have grown up, which have been developed by the best players and analysts. White has tried all of the following moves: 5:�c2, 5.iYb3, 5.h3 ! ? , 5.g3, 5.§i.f4, 5.a4, 5. lue5, 5.c5, but in every case, Black has sooner or later found reliable responses. The early knight jump into the centre has caused Black to shed a fair bit of blood, and he has had to rack his brains over how to meet the Catalan-style 5.g3. The battle between 'sword and shield' continues in almost every serious tournament, and the Chebanenko System remains popular with black players who wan t a solid position with counter chances. The system still lives and grows, as bring the white queen into the centre by means of 4 . . . dxc4 S . 'lWxc4 §i.f s 6. tU d e6
this book will show.
(End of article)
with good play for Black . I should add a word or two about things
which are not covered in the book, but
T h e other way to avoid t h e Chebanenko System is by 3. tLl c3 tLlf 6 4 . e3 after which
which may be of interest to practical play
Vladimir
ers. The real Chebanenko System starts after
move 4 . . . a6! as adequate. If White then sticks to his guns and continues S .'�i c2
4 . . . a6 and does not include lines arising af
Andreevich
considered
the
( 5 . tUf3 transposes back into lines covered
ter White's other fourth moves. Thus, lines such as 4. iY c2 and 4.e3 after 3. tD f3 , and
in the book, beginning with 5 . e3) , then
also 4.e3 after 3. luc3. A detailed analysis of
Black does best to answer .. e6 followed .
these lines would require another book,
by . . .cS . The white queen turns out to
and for the moment, I would just offer the
have gone to c2 rather prematurely. For
follOwing brief advice: Af ter 3. tUf3 tUf 6 4.e3 Black is best ad vised to continue 4 . . . §i.f s S . tD c3 e6 6. tU h4 §i. g6 after which he has a very solid position, which does not require deep opening knowledge. The picture after 3.tLl f3 tLlf 6 4. iY c2 is completely 28
different .
Here
Black
can
absolute confidence, I would recommend you to consult a database, collect together the games of the strongest players in this line, and study them, before going into battle.
Victor Bologan April, 200B
Part I
-
Various Replies on Move 5
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Chapter 1 : The Exchan g e 5 . cxd 5 Chapter 2 : The Cunnin g 5 . h3
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Chapter 3 : The Uncommon 5 . 'iVc2
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Chapter 4 : Pressure on Black's Paw ns : 5 . 'iVb3 .
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· 44
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. 48
Chapter 5 : Catalan-S tyl e : 5 . g 3 · . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 0 Chapter 6 : Develop in g : 5 . itf4 · Chapter 7 : The Rare 5 . jl, g 5
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72
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76
Chapter 1 The Exchange S.cxdS 1 .d2-d4 d7-d5 2.c2-c4 c7-cS 3.tt'lg1 -f3 tLlg8-fS 4.tLlb1 -c3 a 7-aS 5.c4xd5
In this firs t chapter, we will consider the Exchange Variation of the Slav, but not all variations; only those in which Black plays . . . a7-a6. Instead of the usuaI 4.tDgl-j3, which we will come to later, it also makes sense to con sider another move-order, in which White puts his king's knight on e2. In this line too, advocates of the Chebanenko system usually play the useful prophylactic move . . . a7-a6. ••• 1.
d2-d4
d7-d5
2.
c2-c4
c7-cS
3.
tLlb1 -c3
tLlg8-fS
4.
c4xd5
cSxd5
5.
�c1 -f4
tLlb8-cS
S.
e2-e3
6 .llc 1 a 6 7. tDf3 leads to the position which we will examine under the normal move-order with 4.tDf3 . S.
...
a 7-aS
Generally speaking, the threat tLlc3:.. b 5 is not all that dangerous, but experience with the Chebanenko shows that the move .. .a7 -a6 turns out to be useful in a 30
number of different situations, and not merely for defending against the ' crude' threat of a fork on c7.
Chapter 7. i.f1 -d3
Alexander Morozevich handled thIS posi tion in very original fashion: 7 .l::i'. c 1 �g4 8.f3 £l,d7 9.g4 e6 10.14 Jl.e7 11.Jl.d3 0-0 12 . .ib 1 �b6 1 3 . l::i'.h 2 l::i'. fc8 14.h5 J[e8 . White has seized space on the kingside, but Black has no weaknesses and is well mobilised, therefore it is ex tremely hard to break his position down (Morozevich-Sakaev, Moscow 2 0 07 ) . 7. ...
�c8-g4
8. tbg1 -e2
9.
e7-e6
0-0
A) Now, after remain:
The Exchange S . cxdS
13 .'ihe2 0- 0 14 .l::i'. ac 1 'iYd7 1 5 .l::i'. c 2 l::i'.fc8 16 . lHc 1 CLJc4 17 .CLJb 1 CLJd6 (draw, Van der Stricht-Dautov, France tt 2 0 05) 18.'llVf 3 , and 10.iLg3 0- 0 I 1.f 3 Jl.h5 1 2 .tZlf4 Jl.g6 13 .t2:lxg6 hxg6= (Bunzmann-Postny, France tt 2 0 07 ) are harmless for Black. 1 0 ... 1 2.lLla4 CLld7 1 3 .b4
Black can hardly count on counterplay, but now he gets an isolated pawn on d5, which can cause him some headaches. 1 4.dxeS CLlcxeS 1 S .'@b3 CLlc4 1 S.
As the following game shows, W hite can not just play 'how he likes' in this posi tion, since in the event of careless play, he can unexpectedly find himself facing diffi culties: 8.f3 �h5 9. CLJge2 e6 10.0- 0 �e7 1 1.:c l 0- 0 12 .tZla4 tZld7 13 .�b3 (equal ity results from 13 .a3 �g6) 1 3 ...l::i'. a 7 14 ..ig3 (more accurate is 1 4.a3 �g6 1S ..Lg6 hxg6 16 .'iYd3 CLJb6 17 .CLJxb6 'tWxb6 18.b4, draw, Doric-Ruck, Vogosca 2007) 14 ... �g6 15 .Jl.xg6 hxg6 16 .e4?! �6 17 .l/i'c2 l::i'. a8 18.tZlc5 ::I.c8+ Stefanova-Svetushkin, Athens 2 0 06 . a ...
I:
1 7.CLlac3 CLlfS 1 8.h3 .l1i.eS 1 9.CLld4
B) 9 ....l1i.hS 1 0 .l:!.c1 In the following game, W hite fell for a tempting combination, wluch turned out to be unfavourable for him: 10.'i'b3 t\a7 11 .l::i'.fc l �e7 12 .t2:lg3 �g6 13 .�b5? axbS 14.CLJxb5 'il'a5 15.�c7 'i'a4 16 .CLJxa7 'il'xa7 17 .�b6 'il'a6+ Nlkolic-Bareev, Saraj evo 1998. 1 0.. .l1i.gS 14.CLlf4 .l1i.xd3 1 S .CLlXd3 CLlXCS 1 7.CLlxCS CLlaS 18.'ii'a4 �a5 20.b3
to full equality Lausanne 2 0 06) . C) 9 ..
(Gerber-Liblszewski,
9 ...
1 0.
the' advance of the b-pawn. Both 10.'iYb3 ttJaS 11.'i'a4+ b5 12 .'iI'c2 Jl.xe2
1 1 .lk
vantage after 11.�xd6 'iYxd6 12 .tZlf4 �g6 , for example : 13 .l::i'.c 1 0- 0 14.�xg6 hxg6 15.tZld3 tZld7 16 .f4 l::i'. ac8 17 .tZla4 31
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
ttJM I S .ttJ dc5 ( I S .ttJac5 ttJxd3) I S . . . b 6 1 9 .ttJxd7 1:rxc l 2 0 .'ilhc l 'l!!Vxd7 2 1 . ttJxb 6 'ili'b 7 2 2 . ttJa4 ttJxa2 2 3 .�d2 ttJb4=. 1 1 ...� g 6
1 2.lZla4
�xd3
1 3.'iVxd3
On 6. (7 .�f4 ttJc6)
0-0
1 4.�xd6 'IlUxd6 1 5.'\Wb3
and thanks to his control over (he break through points e4 and f5 Black's chances are, at a minimum, not worse (Zakharchenko-Novltsky, St Petersburg 2006).
1 7.f4 lZla5 1 S.'\Wd3 lZlc4 1 9.b3 lZld6,
1.
d2-d4
d7-d5
2.
c2-c4
c7-c6
And now, both 7 . :�i'as and 7 . . . ttJc6 are possible : A) 7..
3.
tUb1 -c3
tUg8-f6
1 0.'iV b3
4.
tUg1 -f3
a 7-a6
1 2.exd4 �d6 1 3.�g3 �xg3 1 4.hxg3
5.
c4xd5
c6xd5
Equality results also from 1 4 . . . �f5 1 5 .lIh5 ttJe7 1 6 .�e2 0-0 1 7 .'li'b2 'fic7 I S :>t>f1 .l::i. feS 1 9 . t>g 1 'if d7 2 0 . ttJfl £g6 2 1 ..l::i. e S f6 = , Ionov-Volkov, Elista 2 0 0 1 .
Now for the 'Chebanenko'move order.
.
1 5 .'lWc2 h6 1 6�e2 b6 1 9.�
This position is the start of the ' refuta tion' of the Chebanenko system. Cer tainly, we have before us the tabiya for the Exchange Slav, in which the move a7 -a6 was for a long time considered little more than a waste of a tempo. However, Chebanenko 's work changed this assessment. 6.
£c1 -f4
It is considered that in the Exchange Vari ation, the cl bishop stands best on this square, where it controls the squares e5 and c 7 . 32
hard for either player to improve the po sition of his pieces. B) 7...lLlc6 S.e3 �f5 Black may also force transposition into a slightly worse end game, in which he should gradually be able to equalise: S ... '/Wa5 9 .�b3 'ifM 1 0 .�e2 �f5 1 1 .'li'xM ttJxM 1 2 .0-0 e6 1 3 .ttJxe4 �xe4 1 4.a3 ttJc6 I S .ttJd2 �g6 1 6 .nfcl �d6 (the move 1 6 ... t>d7 1 7 .M �e7 l S.�g3 I'!.hcS 1 9.ttJb3 b6=, Iskusnikh Burmakin, Tomsk tt 2 0 0 1 has also been seen) 1 7 . .1':tc3 t>d7 I S .ttJb3 b6 1 9 .1d.acl :l:!.hcS 20 . ttJd2 CiJe7 2 1 .:l:!.xcS ttJxc8=, S. Savchenko-Delchev, Ohrid (play-off rapid) 2 00 1 . 9. .be4 1 2.0-0 lLla5 1 3.'/lIYd1 �d6 1 4.lLld2 �g6 1 5.�g3 0-0 1 6.ihd6 '/lIYxd 6 ; the position has simplified and is equal (Aseev-Kir Georgiev, Paris rapid 1 9 9 5 ) .
Chapter 1 : The Exchange 5. cxdS 6.
...
tZJb8-c6
A) The immediate 7J:Ic1 has its plusses.
A I ) 7...eS!? The main move, the only drawback of which is that the bishop on c8 remains locked in behind the pawns. 8.e3 fle7 9.�d3 0-0 1 0.0-0 ti.Jh5 The fol lOwing was only a blitz game, but still has some significance for the theory of the variation: 1 0 . . . �d7 1 1 .tLleS Uc8 1 2 .'iWf3 .ie8 1 3 .'i'h3 Wh8 1 4.�gS g6 I S .�h6 J:!.g8 1 6.f4;t Kramnik-Kamsky. Moscow 2 0 0 7 . 1 1 .jLe5 fS 1 1 . . .tLlf6 1 2 .�g3 tLlhS 1 3 .�eS �d7 1 4.a3 f6 1 S . �g3 tLlxg3 1 6.hxg3 fS 1 7 .tLla4 �e8 18 .tLlcS �xcS 1 9.Ihcs �hS 2 0 .'iWc2 �xf3 2 1 . gxf3 'i'd6 22.f4 - White retains a small initia tive, although it is far from easy to break down the black position, of course, Chernin-M. Gurevich, Venacu 2 0 0 6 . 1 2.ilg3 ti.Jxg3 1 3.hxg3 f5
14.g4
the centre. A piece attack on the queenside looks fairly harmless , for ex ample : 1 4.tLla4 �d6 I S .tLlcS gS 1 6 .'iVb3 g4 1 7 .tLlh4 (the h-file must be closed, else White may face conslderable difficul ties , for instance : 1 7 .tLle 1 W6 1 8 .�e2 Uh6 1 9 .tLled3 (Grabarczyk-Jelling, Gothenburg 1 9 9 3 ) , and here Black could have seized the advantage by 1 9 . . . �gS 2 0 . tLlxb7 �xg3 ! (20 . . . �hS 2 1 .f4 gxf3 2 2 . l'1xf3 ;t) 2 1 .fxg3 'l!'xe3 + 2 2 .tLlf2 'iWxb3 2 3 .axb3 tLlxd4=t=) 1 7 . . . tLlaS 1 8 .�d l b6 1 9 .tLlb 3 oo) 1 4. ..fxg4 1 5 .ti.Je5 ti.Jxe5 1 S.dxe5
extra pawn, but wishes to sell it back as dearly as possible. In the following game, White seized the chance to force perpet ual check: 1 7.'lWh5 gS 1 S..bgS hxgS 1 9.'iiVx gS+ whS
20.fxg3 �d7 2H �'hS+,
draw (Sulava- V Georgiev, Nice 2 0 0 3 ) . A2) 7...i1tl51? looks logical, but slightly weakens the queenside, and Wmte can de velop some initiative there: S.e3 comphcations after 8 ... Uc8 favour White: 9.�e2 e6 1 0. 0-0 �e 7 1 1 .'iWb3 (it is pre cisely the unfortunate position of tlle c8 rook that prevents Black from defending the b7 pawn conveniently) 1 1 ...tLlaS 1 2 .�a4+ tLlc6 1 3 .La6! Ua8 1 4. Lb 7 ! Iixa4 I S .�xc6+ �f8 1 6.tLlxa4± Krarnnik-Anand, Moscow 2 0 0 7 . 9.'lWb3 �b4!
It is essential somehow to break
down Black's powerful pawn set-up in
33
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
In this 'impudent' fashion, Black not only completes his development, but also de fends his pawn. 9 .. Jb7 1 0 .it.e2 it.e7 1 1 .0-0 0-0 1 2 .tLla4 tLld7 1 3 . a3 4JaS 1 4.'i'a2 bS ( 1 4 . . . tLlc4!?) I S .4JcS 4JxcS 1 6 .dxcS tLlc6 1 7 JHd 1 favours White. 1 0.�gS 1 0 .tLleS 'iVe 7 ; 1 0 .a3 �xc3 + I l .bxc3 'iVd7 ; 1 0 . �e2 0-0 1 1 .0 - 0 'iVe7 1 2 .a3 �xc3 1 3 Jhc3 tLle4 14 . .l'!cc1 gS I S .�g 3 .l:'I.fc800. 10...0-0 1 1 �e2 1 2.0-0 �e7 1 3.1ija4 �g4
14.'iVbS
( 1 6 .it.xd8 .l:'I.fxd8 1 7 .tLlcS tLlxcs 1 8 . .l:'I.xcS g6 1 9 .h3 �xf3 2 0 . it.xf3 tLlb4 2 1 .a 3 4Jd3 n .l:'I.c2 .l:'I.bc8 23 . .l:'I.d2 4J c l =) 1 S ...ScS 1 7.�dS .&\eS 1 S .'t!lVxdS .bdS 1 S.�f4
1 S.lLlcS
ZbxcS
1 9.1:!.
�e7=
(Nogueiras-Harikrishna, Merida 2 0 0 7 ) . A3) Chebanenko considered 7...'t!lVbS dubi ous because of the pawn sacrifice 8.e3 (8 .tLla4! ? 'i'aS + 9.�d2 'i'd8 1 0.'i'b3t; not dangerous is 1 0 .e3 tLle4 1 1 .'i'b3 4Jxd2 1 2.tLlxd2 e6 1 3 .4Jb6 .l:'I.a7 1 4.tLlxc8 'iVxc8 I S .�d3 �d6 1 6 .0-0 0-0 1 7 .£4, draw, Andersson-Bologan, Manila 1 992) 8 .. 'i'xb2 9.�e2 e 6 1 0.0-0 �a3 1 1 . .l:'I.c2 'i'b6 1 2 .tLla4 'i'aS 1 3 ..l:'I.xc6 bxc6 1 4.'i'b3 t. A4) 7.. As they say, in for a penny, in for a pound! Black continues to break the classical principles of development, this time moving again an already-developed piece. A4 1 ) S.lLleS
34
A s the classics taught us : complications should favour the b etter-developed side. But in this variation, complications of ten lead only to mass exchanges. and the equalisation of the position : S.. .ttJxc3 9.l:1xc3 ii.d7 1 0.e3 On 1 0 . 'i'b3 Black has the reliable answer 1 0 . . . f6 ! , for exam ple : I l .tLlxc6 it.xc6 1 2 . e3 e6 1 3 .it.d3 �e7 1 4 . 0 - 0 �f7 I s . .l:'I.fc l 'iVd7 1 6 .a3 .l:'I.hc8 1 7 .'li d l g6 1 8 .'lifl �d8 1 9 .h4 it.a4 2 0 .'lie l it.b S 2 1 .it.xbS ab S n .'iVe2 l"rc4 with mutual chances, Beliavsky-Gavrikov, Frunze 1 9 8 1 . 1 0.. 1 1 .a3 :&!.cS 1 2.ltJ d 3
1 2 . 4Jxc6 .l:'I. x c 6 1 3 . .l:'I.xc6 �xc6 1 4 .�d3 'iVaS + I S .'iVd2 'l&xd2+ 1 6 .�xd2 �d7 , N. Garcia Vicente-Kadimova , Pula 1 9 9 7 ; Black also faces no problems after 1 2 .� c 2 4JxeS 1 3 . �xeS .l:'I.xc3 1 4 . 'iYxc3 WVc8 I S .�d2 'i'xc 3 + 1 6 . �xc3 f6 1 7 .�g3 �e7 1 8 . �d3 , Marin Iordachescu, Bucharest 2 0 0 l . 1 2 ... 1 3.l:!.xcS
lLlxcS
1 4.J1l.e2 'li'aS+
1 S.'Ii'd2
Or 1 7 . . . it.xg3 1 8 . hxg3 tLld6 1 9 . tLlcS it.c6 2 0 . .l:'I. c l as 2 1 .b 3 = , Computer 'Nimzo 8 ' -Computer ' Gambit T' , Ca daques 2 0 0 1 . 1 S.l:!.c1 J1l.xg3 1 9.hxg3 ItJdS 2 0.I1c7 �dS 21 .Sc 1 = . It is not obvious how White can break thro ugh, and there are few pieces left on the board. A42) S.lLlxe4 dxe4
'li'xd2+
1 S.�xd2 J1l.dS 1 7.�g3 �e7
Chapter 1 : The Exchange S.cxdS
9.t2Je5 On 9 dS Black has the excellent counter-blow 9 . . . eS ! , for example : 1 0 .dxc6 �xd l + 1 1 .�dl exf4 1 2 .�gS JtlS l 3 .c7 I:tc8 1 4.g4 fxg 3 I S .hxg3 .i.e7 1 6.�h3 �xh3 1 7 .�xh3 �d7 + , Gonza lez Garda-Antunes , Matanzas 1 9 94. A4 2 1 ) In the event of 9. .:�a5+ 1 0 . .i.d 2 ( 1 0 .�d2 �xd 2+ 1 1 ..i.xd2 �xd4) 1O ... 'i'xa2 1 1 .�xc6 hxc6 1 2 .e3;!; White has a considerable advantage in develop ment and excellent compensation for the sacrificed pawn, A422) Black has a slightly worse end game after 9 ...'lWxd4 1 0 .�xc6 (m the vari ation 1 0 .'i'xd4 ? ! �xd4 1 1 . �c4 there is the interesting counterblow 1 1 . . . eS ! ? 1 2 .�xeS .i.b4+ l 3 .�d2 �fS 1 4 .I:tc4 hdH I S .Wxd2 .i.e6 1 6 . I:txe4 0-0 with the initiative for the sacrificed pawn (Kaidanov-Sherzer, New York 1 9 9 0 ) 1 0 . . .'iVxd l + 1 1 .Ii?xd l bxc6 1 2 .I:txc6 f6 1 3 .g3 eS 1 4 . .i.e3;!;; A42 3) 9. ..ti.lxe5 1 0 . .i.xeS (bad is 1 0 .dxeS �aS + 1 1 .'iYd2 'iYxa2+) 1 0 . . . 'i'a5 + 1 1 .�d2 �xd2+ (winnin g the a2 pawn is qUlte risky, even though an im mediate refutation is not obvious : 1 1 . ..'iVxa2 1 2 .e3 e6 1 3 ..i.e2 �b3 1 4.I:tc3 'i'b6 I S .�c7 'iYb4 1 6 .0-0) 1 2 .�d2 f6 1 3 .�g3 �d7 . Black wants to put the bishop on c6 , equalising the chances. Of course, White can now enter the enemy position with his rook - 1 4.I:tc7 , but then he is forced to sacrifice the exchange within a few moves: 1 4 ... .i.c6 I S .e3 �d8 1 6.'ltt c2 eS 1 7 .I:txc6 bxc6 1 8 .dxeS . His compensation is probably adequate only to maintain dynamic equality. A43 ) 8. change on c3, followed - if White takes with the rook - by . . . e 7-eS and . . . .i.b4.
Also fully possible is 8 . . . �xc3 9 .I:txc3 �b 6 1 0 .iI'd2 .i.g4 1 1 .�eS �xeS 1 2 . .i.xeS nc8 1 3 .e3 f6 14.�g3 nxc3 I S .'iYxc3 .i.d7 1 6 . .i.d3 e6 1 7 . 0 -0 .i.e7 1 8 . .i.c7 VWc6 1 9 .I:tcl VWxc3 2 0 . MXc3 .i.c6 2 1 .h4 �d7 , and Black gradually equalised, Dautov-Dreev, Essen 2 0 0 0 .
8...�f5
9.e3 e 6 1 0.�e2 !Ji e7 1 1 .4:lxe4 0-0 1 3.41e5 J:rfc8 1 6.MC3 �c6 1 7.:llfc1 l:tac8 1 8.h3 h6 1 9.b4
!Jig6
2 0.!Ji d1
'lWb5
21 .!Jie2
'ifb6
22.!Jid1
portunely agreed a draw (Krivonosov-Oll, Tallinn 1 99 8 ) ; A44) 8.e3 4:lxc3 9 .bxc3 (the positional exchange sacrifke scarcely poses serious danger to Black: 9 . MXc3 eS 1 0 .�xeS .i.b4 1 1 . �xc6 .i.xc3 + 1 2 .bxc3 bxc6 1 3 . �d3 = , Barsky)
9 ..
tention is concentrated. But in VIew of the 35
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan fact that it is hard to equalise completely in this line, it is worth considering 9 �f5 1? 1 0 .�d3 �xd3 1 1 ."iVxd3 e6 1 2 . 0-0 �d6 ( 1 2 . . .ttJ a 5 1 3 .e4 �e7 1 4. exd5 exd5 1 5 .14 0-0 1 6 .�f5 g6 1 7 .�h3 'li'cs I S .�g3 .l::!: e S 1 9 . .l::!: ce l ttJc4 20 .�h6 �d6 2 1 .�g5 �f5 ! - Black is even a little better, Rodshtein-Vallejo Pons, Pamplona 2 0 0 7 ) 1 3 .�xd6 �xd6 1 4.c4 dxc4 1 5 . .l::!: xc4 0-0 1 6 .ttJg5 f5 ( 1 6 . . . g 6 1 7 .tUe4 'fie7 l S .'fic3 :t) 1 7 .'fib l ( 1 7 . tUB .l::!: a dS I S .'fic3 deserves attention) 1 7 . . J:tadS l S . l:tc5 �e7 1 9 .LDf3 h6 wlth mutual chances, Agamaliev-Vysochin, Swidnica 2 0 0 0 . Slightly passive, but also possible i s 9 . . . e 6 1 0 .�d3 �a3 1 1 ..l::!: b l b5 1 2 .0-0 f5 :t, Czech Kubecka-Fuksik, Republic 1 995/96. ...
Back to 9. 1 0.�d3 The cautious move 1 0 .�e2 does not pretend to much: 1 0 . . . e6 1 1 .c4 ( 1 1 . 0 - 0 �a3 1 2 .�bl b5 1 3 .'fib3 'fie7) 1 1 . .�b4+ 1 2 .'lt>fl dxc4 1 3 . Lc4°O . 1 0 ...e6 1 1 .0'
Now Black should play very carefully, to neutralize his opponent's initiative: A44 1 ) Interesting, but insufficient for equality, is 1 1. ..�a3 1IJfIe7 1 4.e4 ( 1 4.tLJe5 tLJxe5 1 5 .�xe5 0-0 36
1 6 .�c2 f5 °o , Computer ' Francesca ' Computer 'Zugzwang ' , Paderborn 1 9 99) 1 4 .. �xf3 1 5 . gxf3 �d6 1 6 .�g3 tLJa5 1 7 .'iVc2 :t ; A442) Excessive enterprise can also backfire on Black: 1 1 . �a3 1 3 . �c3 �b4 1 4 . .l::!: b 3 dxc4 1 5 .�xc4 b5 1 6 .�d3 0-0 1 7 ."iY b l �xf3 I S .gxf3 �d6 ! ? - Barsky ( I S . . . g5 1 9 .�g3 fS 2 0 . .l::!: c l f4 2 1 .�xh7 + 'It>hS n .�e4 fxg3 2 3 .hxg3 ±) 1 9 .�xh 7 + 'It>hS 2 0 . �xd6 'fixd6 2 1. �d3 e5=) 1 2 . . . �h5 1 3 .�b1 'fid7 1 4.llb 6 ! (Black usually starts to suf fer after such moves) 1 4 . . . .�xf3 1 5 .'fixf3 tLJ a 5 1 6 . 'fie2 �xc3 1 7 .�xa6 bxa6 I S .'iVd2 'fidS 1 9 . .6i:bS .l::!:cs 2 0 . �xc8 'fixcs 2 1 .'fixaS ± ; A44 3 ) 1 1 ...�d6 1 2 .�xd6 'fixd6 1 3 .c4 ladS 1 4.c5 'fie7 1 5 . lab l .l:I.d7 (for com plete happiness, Black needs to realise the plan . . . 0 -0 , . . .f6 and . . . e 5 ) 1 6 .'iVa4 (White cannot gang up on the b7 pawn, because Black qUickly achieves . . e6-eS and creates pressure against the d4 pawn: 1 6 . .l:I.b6 �c7 1 7 .h3 �xf3 I s .'fixf3 0-0 1 9 . .l:I.fb l .l:I.dS 2 0 .'fid l e5 2 1 .'fia4 exd4 n .exd4 1IJfId7=) 1 6 . . . �xf3 1 7 .gxf3 0-0 I S . f4
I S . . . f6 (other lines also deserve close at tention: I S . . . 'fih4 1 9 .'fi d 1 f6 2 0 . 'fif3 or I S . . . f5 1 9 .'lt>h l 'It>hS 2 0 . .l:I.g l 'fiM
Chapter 2 1 .l:i:g3 e5 2 2 . dxe5 ii'lxe5 2 3 .�e2) 1 9 .f5 e5 20 .iha6 exd4 ( 2 0 . . . .!::!. c 8 2 1 . .!::!. b 6 exd4 22 .�xb7 Rxb 7 2 3 Jhc6 .llx c6 24.'il'xc6 dxe3 2 5 .'il'xd5 + 'it>f8 2 6 . .!::!. e l or 20 ... tt'lxd4 2 1 .exd4 bxa6 22 ..!::!. fe l , fa vouring White) 2 1 . exd4 l:ia8 2 2 .l'hb 7 Zhb7 23.'il'xc6 ± .
1:
The Exchange 5 .cxd5
1 5 . '!::!' fc l Rfc8 1 6 .'iVe2 'i'b 6 = , and Black's chances are in no way worse, Nedela-Dobrovolsky, Czech Republic 1 99 3 . B ...
B 1 ) The endgame after
9.
1 0.4.:!xe4
White has more than sufficient compen sation for the exchange, and Black should g o over to defence.
B) In case of 7.4.:!e5 Black quietly con tinueshis development.
7..
dangerous for Black, because White does not manage to fix the -...veakness on c6 : 8.lLlxc6 bxc6 9 .e3 (little is promised by 9. tt'la4 ii'le4 1 0 .a3 c5 1 1 .f3 'i'a5 +) 9 . �d6 l o .ihd6 'ii'x d6 1 1 .�d3 0 - 0 1 2 .0-0 c 5 1 3 .dxc5 'il'xc5 1 4.'i'c2 �d7 ..
1 O . �d3 ttJxc3 l 1 .bxc3 �d7 1 2. 0-0 �c6 1 3 .�c2 h6 followed by . . . 'il'a5 , . . . �c5 , . . . 0 - 0 - 0 ) 1 0... 1 2. 0-0-0+ IS fully defensible for Black, for example 1 2 . . .�d7 (also possible is 1 2 . . . 'it>e8 1 3 . .!::!. d4 b5 1 4 . .llxe4 �c5 1 5 .�g3 h5 followed by . . . �b7) 1 3 .nd4 (also seen here is 1 3 .Wb l Wc7 1 4.�e2 �e7 1 5 . .!::!. d4 �c6 1 6. l:k l Wb 6 1 7 .�h5 g6 1 8 .�d l l:lhd 8 . This position is equal. A couple of careless moves followed and already the advantage went to Black: 1 9 . �c2 g5 2 0 .�g3 h5 2 1 h3 l:ixci4+ , Coppini -N aumkin, Toscolano 1 9 9 5 ) 1 3 . . . l:I.c8+ 1 4.Wb l �c5 1 5 J:txe4 b5 1 6 .�g3 �c6 1 7 . .ll g 4 h5 1 8 . �h4+ (thanks to this check, White can retain the rook but he cannot count on any ad vantage - the difference in development and piece activity is too great. Note, for example, that 1 8 . l:tx g 7 ? loses to 1 8 . . . �e4+ 1 9 .Wa l �f8+) 1 8 . . . W e8 1 9 . .!::!. f4 l:lg8 2 0 .�g5 �e7 2 1 .�xe7 Wxe 7 2 2 . l:ld4 llgd8 B . l:lxd8 llxd8 24.c l 37
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan ndS=. Black's chances are at least no worse. B2) 9.�xe5 �e7 Black also has another plan - he can transfer his bishop to c6 and drive the enemy bishop from eS : 9 . . . �d7 1 0 .�d3 �c6 1 1 .�f3 tOd7 1 2 .�g3=, Hodgson-SadJer, Ischia 1 99 6 . 1 0.�d3 The assessment is not changed by 1 0 .'iYb3 bS 1 1 .�d3 0-0 1 2 .0-0 �d7 1 3 .a4 b4 14 . .itxf6 gxf6 I S .tOe2 fs 1 6 .aS �d6 = , Khalifman-M. Gurevich, Reggio Emilia 1 9 9 1 1 9 2 . 10 .. 12. 1 4 .�g3 �h4 l S .�e2 �xg 3 = (Zagorskis-M. Gurevich, Bad Godesberg 1 9 9 6 ) . 12 .. 15.a3 tLJe4 1 S.r! 1 8J:tfc1 tlxc3= (Ziiger-Gavrikov, Bern 1 992).
A I ) The shortest path to equality is 1 1 .�xdS A2) 1 1 .0-0 0 - 0 (fully possible is 1 1 . . .�xf4 1 2 .'iYxf4 0-0 1 3 . ,gac l :Sc8 1 4 .,gfd 1 'iYe7 l S .e4 dxe4 1 6 .�xe4 tOxe4 and Black has equalised, Agamaliev Shabanov, Moscow 1 9 9 1 ) 1 2 .,gacl (also not dangerous is 1 2 .�gS tOb4 1 3 .�b 1 �e7 1 4 .a3 tiJc6 l S .�e2 tOe8 1 6 .�d 3 fs 1 7 .�f4 tOd6 1 8 .�a2 :C:c8 1 9 .,gac 1 tiJe4 20 .tOa4 'iYaS 2 1 .tOc3 lbxc3 2 2 .�xc3 'iYxc3 2 3 . lhc3 with equality, Kamsky-Gelfand, Tilburg rapid 1 9 92) 1 2 . . . ,gc8.
Now for the main line after 6 . . / b c 6 . 7.
e2-e3
.\tc8-g4
A) Now, scarcely dangerous for Black is B.h3, since in many lines he voluntarily exchanges on f3 , and sets up a solid barri cade on the light squares: 8 ... eS Active play on the queenside is o ut of place here: 9 .. . Wfb6 ! ? 1 0 . ,gb l e6 1 1 . �d3 lbb4 1 2.. � e 2 tOc2+ ( 1 2 . . .�d6;t) 1 3 .�d2 tiJb4 1 4.,ghc l ± . 1 0.il.d3 and now: 38
I n this symmetrical position, the chances of the two sides are approximately equaL The following game underlined this as sessment: 1 3 .�gS h6 1 4.�h4 �e7 I S .�b l tOe8 1 6 .�g3 tOd6 1 7 .11fd 1 fs 1 8 .4Ja4 tOe4 1 9 .�xe4 dxe4 20 .'ile2 tOb4 2 1 .tOcS �xcS 2 2 .dxcS with equal ity, Lopatin-Shabanov, St Petersburg 1 99 8 . A3) 1 1 .�g5 h 6 1 2 .�h4 (or 1 2 .�xf6 'ilxf6 1 3 .ihf6 gxf6 1 4 . .ll c l �e7 I S .�e2 = , Abramovic-Akopian , Biel 1 9 9 3 ) 1 2 . . . �e7 1 3 . 0-0 0-0 1 4.'fie2 ,gc8 l S .,gacl lbe4 1 6 .�xe 7 4Jxc3 1 7 .bxc3 'iYxe7 1 8 .c4 dxc4 1 9 .�xc4 bS 20 . �d3 lbb4= Naumkin-Conquest, Palma de Mallorca 1 9 8 9 .
Chapter 1 : The Exchange S . cxdS
B) The line B.�d3 1 0 .j,xd6 �xd6 1 1 .h3 il.xf3 1 2 .�xf3 = is extremely peaceful. C) The complications after B.l:!:c1 are in teresting, but not very favourable for White. B e6 Black has another, sufficiently reli able path to equality - 8 . . . �xf3 9 .�xf3 e6 1 0 .i.d3 i.d6 1 1 . 0-0 i.xf4 1 2 .�xf4 0-0 1 3 .tLla4 Mc8 , Geller-Smyslov, Elista 1 9 9 5. 9.�b3 �xf3 1 0.gxf3 does not work because of 1 0 . . . tLla5 . ...
1 0 .. .
1 0 . . . tLla5 1 1 .�a4+ b5 1 2 .tLlxb 5 +- . 1 1..�.d3 In reply to 1 1 . M g 1 Black can simply continue developing, leaving the g7 -pawn under attack: 1 1 . . . i.e 7 ! 1 2 . .!::!. x g7 ! ? tLlh5 1 3 . .ll g 4 f5 +. 1 1 ...�d6 Also not bad is 1 1 . . . i.e7 , intending . . . ttJh5 and . . . f5 . 1 2 �xd6 .
B.
�f1 -e2
9.
0-0
e7-eS
If 9 .�b3 i.xf3 1 0 .gxf3 ( 1 0 .i.xf3 tLla5) , Black maintains equality with 1 0 . . . Sa7 . 9.
...
�fB-e7
9 . . . �d6 1 0 .�xd6 �xd6 l 1 .tLle l �xe2 1 2 . �xe 2 = Miles-Smyslov, Amsterdam 1981. 1 0.
.!::!. a 1 -c1
Or 1 0 .h3 �h5 1 1 .Sc l 0-0 1 2 ,tb e 5 �xe2 1 3 .�xe2 tLlxe5=. 1 0.
...
11.
a2-a3
0-0
Only equality results also from 1 1 .tLle5 i.xe2 1 2 .�xe2 tLlxe5 1 3 .i.xe5 tLld7 14 .�g3 �a5 1 5 .a3 gfc8 and . . . b5 . 11.
...
1 2.
f2 ga8=+' Lasanta Rica-Magem Badals, Zaragoza Open 1 994.
A position from my oid notebook. Black
Back to the main line after 7 . . . il.g4.
has occupied the weak square c4, whilst the modest pawn on b6 stops White's 39
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
knight from occupying the analogous square on c5 . Conclusion
The Exchange Variation of the Slav is em ployed by White in two circumstances: when he wants to draw, and when h e is confident in his technique (Ponomariev, Morozevich) . In the first case, the varia tion with . . . a6 is not so bad, since the symmetry is broken, and Black has chances to play for a win. When it comes
40
to playing against super-grandmasters, firsdy, one does not meet them so often, and secondly, the basic defensive ideas are well-known, so things are not easy for White either. It seems to me personally that White's most promising continuation is 7 Jlc l , after which Black should either play his knight to e4, followed by 9 . . �f5, or play the bishop to f5 immediately. The varia tion with 7 .:.tg4 is experiencing diffi culties at the present time. .
. . .
Chapter 2 The Cunning S . h3 1 .d2-d4 d7-dS 2.c2 -c4 c7-c6 3.e2 'i'c4+ 1 9 .'it>f3 �d3 + 2 0 .'it>g4 h5 + 2 1 .�h4 'ilUe2 2 2 .f3 'i'xg2+. 1 3 ...'ifc7
12.'ifb3 0-0 1 3.l:!.d1
14./Ue5 ibd7 1 5.0-0 tLlf6 1 6.l:!.d3 e6 1 7.g3
20.
�d3-h7+ �g8-h8
with mutual chances, Gareev-Khalifman, Moscow 2 0 0 7 .
21 .
QJc3-d5!
eSxd5
22.
QJe5xf7+
�f8xf7
23.
l:Xe1 -e8+
gf7-f8
24.
l:!.e8xf8
!UdS .
9 . �f1 xc4
�f8-e7
1 0. 0-0
0-0
11.
'iV d1 -c2
QJb8-d7
1 2.
QJc3-e4
QJd7-bS
1 3.
i1l.c4-d3
h 7-h6
Here Black had another chance to com plicate: 1 3 . . . ttJd5 ! ? 1 4.g3 ( 1 4/tJeg5 f5 1 5 .g3 h6 1 6 .QJh3 g 5 1 7 .fxg5 hxg 5 1 8 . QJe5 g4 1 9 .ttJf4 ttJxf4 2 0 . gxf4 'i'xd4+=) 1 4 . ttJb4 1 5 .'iVc3 a5= (Komliakov) . . .
14.
QJe4-c3
QJb6-d7
Mate. Conclusion
Black should be careful. since any natural development, combined with central su periority, contains seeds of danger for him. If Black is not satisfied with Komliakov's recommendations after 8 . . . e6, I can advise him to play the Khalifman idea 8 . . . �e6 . 75
Chapter 7 The Rare 5.�g5 1 .d2-d4 d7-d5 2.c2-c4 c7-c6 3.tLlg 1 -f3 tLlg8-f6 4.tLl b 1 -c3 a7-a6 5. .¥Lc1 -g5
S. .i.gS is qu ite a rare move. It is generally considered (and not without justification) that the early jump of the black knight into the centre gives him good play. ••• 6 . ...
tLlf6-e4
B 1)
8.g3 has been seen,
for example:
First we will look at the minor alterna tives for White. A) 6ih4 is hardly dangerous , in view of 6 ...tZlxc3 7.bxc3 dxc4 8.e4 b5 9.�e2 (or 9 .4Je5 g6 (9 . . . .i.e6 ! ?) 1 0 . .¥Le2 .i.g7 l Lt g 3 0-0 1 2 .M c5 1 3 .d5 e 6 + Akesson-Sammalvuo, Reykjavik 1 99 5 ) 9 ...g 6 1 0.0-0 �g7 1 1.'� c1
0-0 1 2 .a4 f6
( 1 2 . . . h8 1 S .J:rad1 b6
It is not easy to defend Black's position; his king is permanently weak. 1 8 . l:ig8
1 6 :�e3 �b7 1 7.tLlc3 �b4 1 8:�V h6;t.
..
1 9J'le4 l"!.g6 20.'iI'h3 nc8 21 . .l:!.h4 'ii' g8 22.tLle2 I.td8
23.tLlf4 .l:!.g7 24.tLlhS 1:1g6
2 6 . li:l g S +- Shulman Zatonskih , Stillwater 2 0 0 S ; A2) 9.l"!.c1 tLlb4 1 0.�e2 1 O .ltb l �d7 ! (this is strongest, although practice has seen other moves - 1 0 . . . b 6 ; 1 0 . h6; 1 0 . . . dxc4) 1 1 .�f4? (better is 1 1 .il.xe7 'i'xe7 1 2 . cxdS exdS 1 3 . 0 - 0 0-0 1 4.e4 ttJb6 I S . J:ie l lte6 1 6 .exdS ttJ 6xdS with a roughly equal game, Komliakov) l 1 . .. dxc4 1 2 .e4 b6 1 3 . 0 -0 ltb 7 1 4.ttjd2 tLld3 l S .ltxd3 cxd3 1 6 .tLlc4 0-0 1 7 . 'i'xd3 lta6 1 8 .ttJe2 bS 1 9 .axbS cxbS
2 S . tLlxf 6 !
.l:!.xf6
..
98
Chapter 1 0: Pinning: 6.JlgS 20.t2J d2 e5 I -exploiting the bad position of the knight on d2 , Black seizes the ini
tiative, 1. Sokolov-Malakhov, Khanty Mansiysk 2 0 0 5 . 1 0... 0-0 1 1 .0-0 b6 1 2 .'!iVb3 ib7 12 . . . h 6 ! ? 1 3 .iLh4 i.a6 1 4JHe l c5 (Komliakov) deserves attention. 1 3.l::!f d1
2 0 0 5 ) 1 0... tLlb4 Full equality is not ob tained after 1 0 . . . b6 I l .tbe5 i.b7 l 2 .c5 tbb4 1 3 .cxb6 h6 1 4.i.h4 c5 1 5 .dxc5 i.xc5 1 6 .tbg4 iLe7 1 7 .tbxf6 + ;!; Vaganian-Bacrat, Poikovsky 2 0 0 5 .
I:!cB 14.h3 c5 1 5.tLle5 cxd4 1 6 .nxd4 tLld7
17 be7 'fixe7 1 8.tLlxd7 'fixd7 (Schenk ..
Dautov, France tt 2 0 0 5 ) . 1 9.e4± .
B) Also not bad is 8.i.e 2 , after which one of the main practitioners of the move a5 , Antoaneta Stefanova , recently chose the interesting 8...b6 against Beliavsky.
This opening tabiya has already been tested in many games, including on the highest level B 1 ) 1 1 .tLle5 is an active jump, but fairly harmless for Black: 1 1 ...tLld7 1 2.i.xe7 '!iVxe7 1 3.tLld3 dxc4 1 4.'!iVxc4 e5 1 5 .tLlxb4
Or 1 5 . . . axb4 1 6 . tLi e4 (Chuchelov-Khenkin, Germany Bundes liga 2 0 0 4/ 0 5 ) 1 6 . . . na5 1 7 .iLd3 tbb6 1 8 .'iVc2 i.f5 , and Black has completed his development satisfactorily, achieving equal play. 1 6 JUd1 exd4 1 7.lhd4 '!iVxb2 'liVxb4
The game went 9 . 0-0 i. b7 1 0 .cxd5 exd5 1 L�d3 tba6 l 2 . ll e l tLib4 1 3 .i.b l 0 - 0 1 4.t2Je5 c 5 1 5 . i.xf6 ? ! (there was no need to surrender the bishop) 1 5 . . .i.xf6 1 6 .f4 g6 1 7 .'%Wf3 '%We7 1 8 . .l:kd l nae 8 1 9 . nfI �g7 2 0 .h3 nd 8 ( 2 0 . . .f6 2 1 . tLixg6 hxg6 2 2..�xg6 nc 8 2 3 .'iVh5 nfd8 24.nf3 wf8 25 .'!:!'g3 i.c6 26 .h4 nc7+) 2 1 .tbg4 (Beliavsky-Stefanova , Gibraltar 2 0 0 8 ) 2 1 . ..f6 + . Also possible i s 8...tLla6 9.0-0 0-0 1 0.'liVb3 The following line leads to excessive sim plifications and equality: 1 0 .tbe5 tbb4 l 1 .h3 ( 1 1 .'iVb3 - 1 0 .�b3 ) l l . . .tbd7 1 2 .i.xe7 'iVxe7 1 3 .tbxd7 i.xd7 1 4.'iVd2 ID'd8 1 5 .c5 e5 1 6 . tLia2 tLixa2 1 7 .Ii.xa2 ge8 , (l'Ami-Zhukova, Wijk aan Zee C
1 8Jlb1
'liVa3 1 9.tLle4 'liVe7 20.tLld6
tLlf6
White has suffi cient compensation for the sacrificed material, but no more than that, Kramnik-BacTOt, Paris 2 0 0 2 ; B2) 1 UUd1 The first eternal question is on which central files to place the rooks, and the second is with which rook to be gin? 1 1 ...b6 1 2 .tLla2 Black reached a slightly worse position in the following game: 1 2 . cxd5 exd5 1 3 .tba2 tbxa2 1 4.'iVxa2 tLi d 7 1 5 .iLf4 i.b7 1 6 .Ii.ae l i.b4 1 7 .'iVb l 'iV e 7 1 8 .'iVf5 Mfe8 1 9 .tLie5 tLixe5 2 0 .i.xe5 i.d6 (the bishop on b4 21.'IWc5 tLld7 22.'liVc3 tLlf6
99
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
looks very beautiful, but does not actually do anything, unlike its opposite number on eS) 2 L�xd6 �xd6 2 2 .'li'c2 llabS 2 3 .Ud3 g6 24.Uc3 �aS 2 S .�b3 'it'fS 2 6 .g3 11e7 2 7 .�fl lla7 2 S .14 hS 2 9 .Ub1 'iYb4, Wang Yue-Malakhov, Ergun 2 0 0 6 . 1 2 ...tZlxa2 1 3 Jha2 tZl d 7 The more active plan 1 3 . . . �a6 ! ? 1 4J:ha 1 .l:rcS l S .ttJeS h6 1 6 .�h4 'fic7 1 7 Jhc1 cS also looks rea sonably promising. 14.�xe7 1 4.�f4 �.b 7 l S .cxdS exdS 1 6 . .l:raa 1 �b4 (therefore it is also important for White to exchange the bishop on e7) 1 7 .'iYc2 11eS l S .llac1 'iYe 7 , Shabalov-Kobalia, Port Erin 2 0 0 S . 14 . .:iVxe7
1 5 .cxd5
exd5
1 S .l:rc1
�b7
(Cheparinov-Karjakin, Cuernavaca 2 0 06) 1 7.�d3!;
B3 ) 1 1 'tZla2 A logical move; Black has expended a lot of tempi to secure the b4-square and direct his knight there, so why not exchange this knight off straightaway? At the very least, this will be unpleasant psychologically for the opponent!
afraid to spoil his pawn structure, since in thIs position, it is much more important to secure control over the eS square. Black's biggest problem, which is not going to go away, is to secure some life for his impris oned bishop on cS . 14 ...liJxf4 15.exf4 'i'd6 1 S.g3
b5
1 7.axb5
cxb5
1 S.'iVxb5
�a6
1 9.'tWb3 l:tabS 20.'tWd3 �xc4 21 .'i¥xc4 �fc8
Onischuk-S.B. Hansen, Turin 2006; B4) 1 1.I! ac1 B4 1 ) 11 ...bSI? 1 2 .IUd1 There is no danger for Black in 1 2 .ttJa2 ttJxa2 (both 1 2 . . . cS and 1 2 . . . .ib7 are interesting alternatives) 1 3 .'ih a2 ttJe4 1 4.�xe7 'lixe7 1 S .l21eS �b 7 1 6 .cxdS cxds 1 7 .'iYa3 'iYxa3 l S .bxa3 .l:rfcS 1 9 .ttJd7 ttJc3 2 0 .�bS I:'!:c7 2 1 .ttJxb6 lla7 2 2 .h3 �a6 2 3 . 'it'h2 hbS 24.axbS ttJxb S 1. Sokolov-Stefanova, Hoogeveen 2 0 0 S . 1 2...�b7 1 3.cxd5 exd5 1 4.h3 l:icS 1 4 . . . cS 1 5 .�f4 c5 1 S .J::t d2 c4 1 7.'lWd1 .IT!.aS Black had sufflcient counterplay after 1 7 . . . �d6 I S .ttJeS 'lW e7 1 9 .b3 cxb3 2 0 J:!.b2 ttJa2 2 1 .tLJxa2 bxa2 2 2 Jha2 tLJe4 or l S .�xd6 'iYxd6 1 9.tLleS ttJd7 2 0 .ttJxd7 'iYxd7 2 1 .b3 �a6, Komliakov) 1 S.liJe5 liJeS (Van Wely-Kritz, Germany Bundesliga 200S / 0 6) 1 9.�g4 22.'i¥e2;;!;;
l:ic7 20.b3;;!;; ;
11 ... tZlxa2 1 2 .l:l:xa2 dxc4 Black does not achieve full equality after 1 2 . ..ttJ d 7 1 3 .�xe7 'iYxe7 1 4.11aa l b 6 I S .cxds exdS 1 6.Ufc l �b7 Beliavsky-Wang Hao, Am sterdam 2 0 0 6 , 1 7 .�d3;!;; . 1 3 .�xc4 liJd5 14.�f4 We have already met this strategic idea, and will meet it again. White is not
1 00
B42) It is also possible first to put the question to the bishop : 1 1 ...hS 1 2 .iLh4 1 2 .�f4 ttJhS . 1 2 ... bS 1 3 .cxd5 cxd5 1 3 . . . exd5 1 4 . ttJa 2 ! i ; 1 3 . . . tLJfxdS 1 4.�g3 ! ? 1 4.liJe5 liJd7 15 ..be7 'fIixe7 1 S .liJd3 �aS 1 7.liJxb4 'lWxb4 1 7 . . . axb4 l S . ttJ b S ± 1 S.'lWxb4 axb4 1 9.1iJb5� Gelfand-Bacrot, Albert 2 0 0 2 ; B43 ) 1 1 ...liJh5 Forcing the exchange of the dark-squared bishop, and slightly re ducing the overcrowding in his rather small quarters. But what are we going to do with the bishop on cS? 12.be7 'fIixe7 1 3.liJa2
Chapter 1 0: Pinning: 6 . itgS
C2Jxa2 l 4-.'iha2 ttJf6 l S .'li'a3 Black has an easier task after l S .Jtd3 Jtd7 1 6.QJeS �fc8 1 7 .cS Jte8 1 8 .lIc3 QJd7 1 9 .ttJxd 7 �xd7 20. l::tb 3 l:!'.c7 2 1 .'i¥b1 h6 2 2 .l:!'.b6 eS, 1. Sokolov-Malakhov, Merida tt 2 0 0 S) 15 .'/�ba3
1 6 . bxa3
..
tDd7
1 7.l:tb1
B:e8
Nielsen-Malakhov, Sant LIuis 2 0 0 S 1 S.l:!fc1 ;to
Jta6 1 8 . QJ e S Komliakov. 1 2.
S.
l'ia1 -c1
..
.
�d1 ·e2
1 2.
...
�ca-a6
b2-b3
0-0
It was also perfectly possible to direct the knight via a6 to b4 immediately: 8 tDa6 9.�e2 Superficial play brought White into difficulties in the following blitz game : 9.cxdS exdS 1 0 .Jtd3 ttJb4 1 1 .Jtb 1 Jte6 1 2.0-0 QJd7 1 3 .Jtf4 0-0 1 4.l:!'.e 1 lle8 l S .e4 QJf8 1 6.Jtg3 dxe4 1 7 .ttJxe4 JtdS lS .tt:lcS b6 1 9.QJd3 ttJe6 2 0 .ttJfeS f6 2 1 .tLJf3 �xf3 2 2.'i¥xf3 ttJxd4 2 3.'i¥d 1 'i'd7+ Mamedyarov-Kasimdzhanov, Baku 2005. 9 . 0-0 1 0.0-0 tDb4 1 1 .'iiY b 3 trans poses into Variation B4 considered above after 8 .Jte2 . •.
. .
9.
cSoo
Black also has another, quite promising plan to develop counterplay : 1 2 . . . dxc4 1 3 .ttJeS ttJfdS 1 4. Jtxe7 'li'xe7 l S . g3 i.a6 1 6 .e4 ttJf6 1 7 .ttJxc4 llad800, Komliakov. 13.
a
1 9 .'li'f3
White can count on a small advantage af ter 1 2.cxdS cxdS 1 3 .ttJb5 Jta6 1 4.QJe5 QJe8 1 5 . Jtf4:t
P.H.
Now for the main move.
J:f.c8
�f1 -d3
tUba-a6
10.
0-0
tUa6-b4
11.
i.d3-b1
b7-b6
The move 1 1 . . . h6 ! ? also deserves atten tion: 1 2 .Jtf4 dxc4 1 3 .ttJeS QJfdS 1 4.Jtg3 �d6 1 S .QJxc4 Jtxg 3 1 6.hxg 3 b 6 1 7 .J:re 1
13
...
tUf6-e4!
Black exploits tactics , to force favourable exchanges . Other options are : 1 3 ... tDd7 1 4.Jtf4 fs l s .lIfd 1 Jtf6 1 6 .ttJa2 'i¥e7 1 7 .ttJxb4 'iYxb4 1 8 .i.d3 l:!.fc8 1 9 .cxdS Jtxd 3 2 0 . 'iYxd 3 cxdS 2 1 .�c2 ! :t Gelfand-Malakhov, Sochi t t 2 0 0 5 ; 1 3. c 5 1 4 .ttJb5 ttJe4 l S .Jtf4 l:!'.c8 1 6 .IHd 1 f5 1 7 . ttJe 1 ttJd6 1 8 .dxc5 bxc5 1 9 .ttJd3 ttJxb S 2 0 . axbS Jtb 7 2 1 .Jte5± Kursova-Stefanova, Krasnoturinsk 2 0 0 3 . ..
14.
i.g5-f4
Neither 1 4.i.xe4 i.xgS 1 5 .ttJxg5 'iYxg5 1 6 . f4 'i¥f6 1 7 . Jtb 1 cSoo , nor 1 4.Jtxe7 QJxc3 I S .l::tx c3 'i¥xe 7 are dangerous for Black. 14
...
tbe4xc3
It seems that Black can also permit him self a more ambitious approach : 14 g511 ...
101
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
1 5 . LDxe4 (the piece sacrifice 1 5 ..�e5 f6 1 6 . tLlxe4 dxe4 1 7 .LDxg5 seems to give White no more than a draw by repetition: 1 7 . . . fxg5 1 8 .�xe4 �£6 1 9 .�h5 .l:!.a7 2 0 . f4 �xe5 2 l .fxe5 l':!.xfl + 2 2 . l:hfl .l:!.g7 23 . .l':lf6 �c8 2 4 . �xh 7 + .l':lxh 7 2 5 .'iYxg s + rJ;Jh8 2 6 .'i'f4 rJ;Jg7 2 7 .'iYg s + rJ;Jh8 2 8 . �f4= Komliakov) 15 . . . gxf4 1 6 .exf4 dxe4 1 7 .1jVxe4 f5 1 8 .�xe6+ rJ;Jh8 1 9 .�e5 + �f6 2 0 . �xf5 ki.a7 2 1 .�e4 jLc8 2 2 .LDe5 t . White has four pawns for the piece, and his knight is very well placed, but even so, Black's re sources, thanks to his bishop pair, should not be underestimated (Komliakov) . 1 5.
II 6.
...
�f8-e7
The third most popular move, after 6 . . . tLlbd7 (see Line V below) and 6 ... as .
llc1 xc3
7.
e2-e3
0-0
8.
�f1 -d3
d5xc4
9.
�d 3xc4
c6-c5
1 0.
0-0
c5xd4
11.
e3xd4
ttJ b8-c6
1 2.
.l:!.f1 -e1
This position can also arise from the Nimzo-Indian Defence, or, even more commonly, from the Queen's Gambit Ac cepted. In general, it is considered better for White, for example: 1 2.
Block the centre or open it? - that is the question. It seems that Black gets satisfac tory play in either case. 15
...
f7-f5
1 5 . . . c5 1 6 .LDe5 f5 1 7 . .!:ldl �e8 1 8 . .l':lcc l .l':ld8 1 9 .h3 �d6 2 0 . dxc5 �xc5 2 1 .'iYf3 dxc4 2 2 .LDxc4 llxd1 + 2 3 .�xd l 'i'e7 and White is slightly better, David-Dunis , Port Barcares tt 2 0 0 5 . 1 6.
.l:!.f1 -d1
Ae7-f6
1 7.
�c3-c1
'lj'd8-e7
1 7 . . . c5 ! ? 1 8 .h3 11c8oo Komliakov. 1 8.
ttJf3-e5
.l:!.a8-d8
1 9.
Af4-g3
c6-c5°o
Sanchez-Dun is, France tt 2 0 0 6 / 0 7 . 1 02
...
b7-b6
The plan with the fianchetto seems the most solid. Other tries are less reliable: A) 1 2 ... �d7 1 3.'i¥e2 Exerting pressure on e 6 . 1 3 ... l:!c8 14J:[ad1 tZlb4 1 5ltJe5 �eS The bishop has to go to a passive positio n, since on 1 5 . . . �c6 there would follow 1 6 .LDxf7 ! . 1 S .�b3 tZlfd5 1 7.�d 2 .ic6 1 S.'i¥g4 IilfS? Black allows the above-mentioned blow anyway. 1 9 .tiJxf7! l:!xf7 20.'i¥xeS tZlbd5 21 J:te5 il.d7 22.l:i:xd5 �xeS
23.lhdS+
J:ixdS
24 be 6± ..
Lautier-Bologan, France tt 2 0 0 1 (by transposition) ; B) 1 2... hS 1 3 .�h4 'li'bS 1 4.'i¥d2 l:!dS Black has brought into play those pieces
Chapter 1 0 : Pinning: 6.JlgS
which it is relatively easy so to do, but this is only a half-measure, and the prob lem of the c8 bishop still has to be re solved, since Black cannot count on equality otherwise. 15 .11ad1 'tWa5 1 6 .d5 �c5 17.'ii' e2 exd5 1 B.il.xf6 �xf6 1 9J1:xd5 �fS
20J'!.xdB
�xdB
21 .'iVeB±
1.
III 6.
...
h7-h6
It is useful to establish at once what White intends to do with the bishop : will he exchange it for the f6 knight or retreat, allowing the bishop to be hit by . . . g7 -g5 at some moment?
Sokolov-Anand, Prague 2 0 0 2 . 13.
d4-d5
14.
tLlc3xd5
tLJf6xd5
Mass exchanges and equality result from the other capture : 1 4 .11l.xd5 exd5 1 5 .'I!'xd5 'iYxd5 1 6 . tbxd5 �c5 1 7 .�e3 tib8 1 8 J lac 1 �g4 1 9 . �xc5 bxc5 2oJhc5 �xf3 2 1 .gxf3 tLJd4 2 2 .�g2 J:xb2 (Treppner-Werner, Germany Bundesliga 1 9 8 3 / 84) . 14.
�e7xg5
15. tL:f3xg5
'iVd8xg5
16.
t2Jd5xb6
lla8-b8 .!':!.f8xc8
1 7.
t2Jb6xc8
1 8.
�c4xa6
llcB-d8
19.
'lllY d 1 -c1
�g5xc1
20.
.!':!.a1 xc1
t2Jc6-d4
21 .
1:!.e1 -dH
After 7.�h4 we reach a position which is examined below, with the inclusion of the moves . . . h6 and �h4. A)
7 ...�b4 deserves attention.
A I ) B.'lWb3 a5 9.e3 tiJa6 1 0.Ild1 �e7 The bishop has nothing more to do on b4, so it frees the square for the knight. 1 1 .�e2 tiJb4 1 2.0-0 0-0 1 3 .tiJe5 tiJ d 7 14�g3 tiJxe5 15 ..ixe5 b6 1 6 .e4 ita6 17.l::iJ e 1 J:tcB 1 S..if1
Black has adequate play (Gavrikov-Hubner, Germany Bundesliga 1 9 9 3 / 9 4) . A2) Possibly, quiet development by B.e3 '!Va5 9.'l!!Y c2 is stronger. Interesting, al though hardly sufficient for an advantage, is the pawn sacrifice 9 .�xf6 �xc3 + 1 0 .bxc3 'ifxc H 1 1 .tbd2 gxf6 1 2 . .!:!.c 1 'ifa3 1 3 .�e2 'ife7 1 4. 0 - 0 as 1 5 . .!:!.e 1 (the assessment of the position is not changed by 1 5 .�h5 4Ja6 1 6 .'ifg4 f8 1 7 . cxd5 exd5 1 8 .'iff4 tbMoo) 1 5 . . . 0-0 1 6 .�fl f5 1 7 .'ifh5 'if g5 1 8 .'ifh3 4Ja6 1 9 .tbf3 'if g7 itg5
Black will regain the pawn, of course, but thanks to the advantage of bishop over knight, and the outside passed pawn, White retains the better chances. Even so, the most likely outcome is a draw.
1 03
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
2 0 . cxdS exdSoo White has good com pensation for the pawn. but no more (Komliakov) . 9 ... tLlbd7 1 0.tLld2 c5 1 1 .�e2 0-0 1 2.0-0 cxd4 1 3 .exd4 Wic7 14.tfb3 �d6 1 5.�g3! Black still has to solve the prob lem of the bishop on c 8 . therefore White's chances are preferable (Komliakov) .
B) 7...dxc4 The most principled move. Here. the capture is stronger than without the insertion 6 . . . h6 7 .�h4. as in that case White has 7 .e4 bs 8 . ab S cbS 9.eS h6 and now the bishop goes to d2: 1 0 .�d2 tLJdS 1 1 .tLJbS �b7 1 2 .tLJa3 with advan tage. B 1 ) B.e3 This accurate move can also pose Black definite problems. B ... b5 9.axb5 White must strive for complica tions ; in the event of the quiet 9 .�e2 �b7 1 0 .tLJeS tLJbd7 I I .axbS axbS 1 2 .0-0 .fie 7 1 3 .£.£3 tLJxeS 1 4 . dxeS 'iVxd l I s 1Hx d i tLJdS 1 6 .J:'ixa 8+ �xa8 1 7 . .l:!.a l �xh4 1 8 . J:'ixa 8 + �d8 1 9 .'it>f1 'it>d7 2 0 .tLJe4 (Onischuk-Naer. POikovsky 2 0 0 6 ) 20 .. J:te8+ Black solves all his de velopment problems. retaining his extra pawn. 9 ... cxb5
1 0.�xf6
gxf6
1 1 .tLlxb5
B l l ) 1 3.tLld2 �b 7 1 4 . .l:!.a7 ? ! C 1 4.nal eS or 14 . . . .l:tg8 . with great compensation for the sacrificed material) 1 4 . . . 'l!Wb6 I S . .l:!.a l eS 1 6 .�e2 exd4 1 7 . 0-0 .l:tg8+ Black creates dangerous threats against the enemy king (Van den Doel-Van der Wiel. Rotterdam 1 9 9 9 ) ; B 1 2 ) 1 3.>t>e2 �b7 1 4Jh l fs ( a serious alternative is 1 4 . . . .l:!. g 8 . for instance: I S . g 3 ? �e4 1 6 .�c l �dS 1 7 .Jig2 tLJd7 +; 1 5 .tLJe 1 fs ( 1 S . . . tLJc600) , or I S .b3 �dS oo . Komliakov) I S .tLJeS .l:tg8 with double-edged play (Van WeIy Topalov, Wijk aan ae 2 0 0 6 ) . B 2 ) Great complications . reminiscent of the Anti-Moscow Variation. arise after B.e4.
B2 1 ) In White's favour is
B...g5 9.�g3
b5 1 0.axb5 cxb5 1 1 .tLlxb5 axb5 12 .lha8 �b4+ 1 3 .lt>e2 tLlc6
axb5
1 2.l:txaB iLb4+
Thanks to this tactical trick, White strengthens his centre and stabilises the situation. 14_ tLla5 1 4 . . . tLJxd4+ ? loses be cause of I S .'itxd4! 'itxd4 1 6 . .l:!.xc8 + We? 1 7 .tLJc6 + . 1 5 JlbB tLlxe4 1 6.l:1xb5 �d2
1 4.tLle51
1 7.iVc2 tLlxg3+ 1 B.hxg3 �a6 1 9.Wixd2 �xb5 20.Wib4 Wib6 21 :.t>e3±
And now: 1 04
Berkes-Wang Hao,
Taiyuan 2 0 0 6 ; B 2 2 ) B... b51? 9 . axbS cxbS 1 0 .eS g5 I l .tLlxg5 hxg5 1 2 .�xgS tLlbd7 1 3 .'l!Wf3
Chapter 1 0: Pinning: 6.�gS
l'rbS 1 4.exf6 �b7 l S .Vf4 ttJb6 (White has an extra pawn, but it isn't easy to complete the development of his king side, whilst Black's light-squared bishop is very strong and his knight has the beautiful square dS) 1 6.h4 �b4 1 7 .hS IbdS l S .'iY g3 'it>d700. In this sharp posi tion, Black's chances are in no way worse. B3) B.aS The most unpleasant move for Black to face. Now the pawn on c4 is cut off from its support, and its loss is only a matter of time. In order to obtain counterplay, Black must go over to pre paring the break . . . c6-cS .
7.
�g5xf6
'i'dSxf6
S.
e2-e3
ttJbS-d7
9.
'iVd1 -c2
In the line 9 . �d3 g6 1 0 . 0-0 �g7 1 1 .e4 dxe4 1 2 . ttJxe4 '*I!f4 1 3 .g3 'fic7 1 4.'fie2 0-0 l S .l:!.ad1 eS 1 6 .dxeS ttJxeS 1 7 . ttJxeS 'iYxeS=F Black takes over the initiative. 9.
.
..
g7-g6
White retains pressure after 9 . 'i!b'dB 1 0.!kd3 !ke7 1 1 .0-0 0-0 1 2.J:tad1 , for exam ple: 1 2 ... dxc4 1 3 .!kxc4 bS 14.!ka2 'liVb6 1 S .!kb1 g6 (Ushenina-Zhukova , Odessa 2 0 0 6 ) 1 6 .h4 hS Allowing the enemy knight into eS is very dangerous : 1 6 . . . ttJf6 1 7 .ttJeS hS I S .ttJxg 6 ! fxg6 1 9 .'fixg6 + 'it>hS 2 0 . f4 i::l a 7 2 1 .IH3 �b4 2 2 :�'h6+ 'it>gS 2 3 . .l:tg3+ 'it>f7 24.aS ! ! 'iYbS 2 S . ttJe4 ttJxe4 2 6 . �xe4 , and White's attack can be beaten off only at the cost of great material loss. 1 7.tiJe2 !kd6 1 B.e4;1; with the better prospects. . .
8 c5 White is better after S . . . gS 9 . �g3 .ib4 1 0 .'iYa4 ttJdS 1 1 .e3 bS 1 2 .axb6 as 1 3 .'I'c2 �a6 1 4.ttJeS tDxb6 l S .h4± (Rogozellko-R. Vukic, Timisoara 2 0 0 6) 9 bf6 Black easily equalises in the end game after 9.dxcS 'i'xd l + 1 0 .l:!.xd 1 �xcS 1 1 .ttJeS tDc6 1 2 .tDxc4 �b4 9 .. 'llixf6 9 . . . gxf6 100ks risky: 1 0 .dS exdS 1 1 .ttJxdS, for example: 1 1 . . .ttJc6 1 2 .e3 l:!.gS 13 .�xc4 l:!.xg2 1 4. ttJf4 .I1g7 l S .'iYxdS+ WxdS 1 6 .0-0-0+ 'it>c7 1 7 .ttJdS + 'it>bS l S .tLlb6 l::ra 7 1 9 .1:!.hg 1 ;J; 1 0.dS 'i!b'dB 1 1 .tiJeS ...
..
1 0.
�f1 -d3
�fS-g7
.
tiJd7 1 2.t21xc4 !ke7 1 3.dxe6 fxe6 14.g3;1;
White retains the advantage, Shulman Shabalov, Chicago 2 0 0 6 . Now we reach the main line after 6 . . . h6. lOS
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bolog an
In this position, typical of the Moscow Variation, White keeps the opening initia tive, thanks to his better development and space advantage.
Black's role is little more than that of a spectator.
IV 6
...
'iYd8-a5
7.
�f8-b4?!
This plan with . . . 'iYaS is not very good, since it allows the doubling of the f-pawns.
8.
�g5xf6
9.
g 7 xf6
g2-g3
�b8-d7
1 0.
�f1 -g2
f6-f5
11.
0-0
�b4-e7
1 2.
e2-e3
'iYa5-b4
1 3.
'iYb3-a2
Of course, it is not favourable for White to exchange queens, since in the rniddlegame, the black king will not feel fully safe. �e7-f6
13. 1 4.
a4-a5
iYb4-e7
15.
c4xd5
c6xd5
16.
:::t f1 -b1
0-0
1 7.
b2-b4
b7-b5
Essential , else White will exert too much pressure on the queenside. 7.
�d 1 - b3
It is also possible not to determi ne the position of the queen yet, and simply to develop the pieces : 7.e3 'lWa5 7 . . . h6 8 . �h4 �bd7 9 . �d3 b6 1 0 . 0 - 0 �b7 1 Uue5 �xe5 1 2 . dxe5 dxc4 1 3 . exf6 'iYxd3 1 4 .fx g 7 .l:rg8 I S .'iYf3 .lhg 7 (Black also has the interesting, but inad equate I S . ·\�N5 1 6 .'Ii'g3 'iY g 6 1 7 . 'i'c 7 .!:hg7 1 8 .g 3 f6 1 9 .'iVxb 6±) 1 6 .b 1 jLd7 2 0 .'ilxc7 jLxc 7 + . 1 9.\{!hc7 !J;...xc7 20.J:the1 tbb4 20 .. .tDxc3 P 2 1 .bxc3 �d7 + Komliakov. 21 .tbbS �xbS 22.axbS J:IdS 23.d5 J:l.xbS 24.�g4
WfS
24 .. .fS ! ? 2 S .jLf3 jLd7 + .
25.dxeS �xeS 2S.�xeS fxeS 27J:td7 ncs 2S.l:1e3 tbd5 29J'J:.g3 tbe7f.
Beliavsky-Piket,
Madrid 1 9 9 7 . 1 0.
...
'iVa5-c7
l S .jLf4 eS 1 9 .jLg3 .:rd8 2 0 . 0 - 0 ttJxe4 2 1 .jLxe4 tbf6 2 2 .'iYc2 ttJxe4 2 3 .�xe4 �f6 =. 1 S ... �b7
1 S ... 1JJi b S 1 7.tbe4 �e7 1 S.tbd4
1 9.tbxfS+ �xfS 20.�xfS tbxfS= .
11.
...
1 2.
d4xc5
lZ'ld 7xf6 d5xc4
13.
�f1 xc4
kb4xc5
1 3 . . . 0-0 1 4 .jLe2 jLxcs l S .tDxcS 'iYxcs 1 6 . 0 - 0 �d7 1 7 .�f3 �c6 l S .�xc6 draw, Ftacnik-Postny, Germany Bundesliga 2006/07). 1 4.
lZ'l b3xc5
'iVc7xc5
1 5.
kc4-e2
1/2-1/2
Gyimesi-V Georgiev, Hamburg 2 0 0 0 . Y. 2
7.
11.
�g5xf6
The exchanging operation in the centre also fails to pose any great danger for Black: 1 1 .dxc5 0-0 1 2.�d3 1 2 .11c1 �xc3 + 1 3 .bxc3 dxc4 1 4.�xc4 'ilc6 1 5 . 0 - 0 'iYxa4 1 6 .jLd3 h6 ; 1 2 .jLxf6 tDxf6 1 3 .cxdS CUxdS 1 4.jLd3 h6 1 5 . 0 -0 tDxc3 1 6 .bxc3 jLxc S. 12 ...dxc4 1 3 .�xc4 �xc5 14.�d3 �dS! 1 5J:tc1 bS 1 S.'li'd2 1 6 .'iYe2 ? ! 'ilbS 1 7 . CU d2 i,b 7 I S . tDf3 (better is l S .tDc4 jLc7 1 9 .f4 h6 2 0 .jLM eSao) l S . . . CUg4 1 9 .�b 1 ( 1 9 . �e4 �xe4 2 0 . tDxe4 jLM+ 2 1 .tDed2 tDcS) 1 9 .. Jks 20 . .:rd 1 tDfS 2 1 .h3 ttJeS + and it is obvi ous that not only has Black equalised, but he has also taken the initiative Mamedyarov-Dautov, Plovdiv 2 0 0 3 . l OS
'lWd1 -c2
A relatively fresh continuation, the main line being 7 .e 3 'iYaS S .ttJd2 . . After 7 . 'iVc 2 , if Black tries to play in similar fashion, then after 7 . .'&' as the reply S . cxdS is unpleasant. On the mher hand, if Black continues developing with 7 . . . �e7 , followed by S . . O - O , he has a cramped position, and it is not clear that he has anything to be too happy about. 7...�e7 S.e3 0-0 Here, probably a strong move is 9.�d 3 ! 9 .aS h6 1 0 .jLh4 cS 1 1 . cxdS lZ'lxdS 1 2 .jLxe 7 lZ'lxe7 1 3 .dxcS tDxcS 1 4.M ttJd7 l S .�e2 ttJc6 1 6 .1::!.b 1 'iY e 7 1 7 .iYe4 ttJf6 l S .'iVh4 e S 1 9 .1Ll e4 .
.
.
Chapter 1 0: Pinning: 6.�gS
tLlxe4 2 0 .1/!fxe4 g 6 2 I .Ilb2 Ild8 with ap proximate equality (Van Wely-Naer, Min neapolis 2 0 0 S ) : A) Now, not very convincing is 9 ... aS 1 0 .0-0 b6 l 1 .lDeS ± ; B ) 9 ... dxc4 1 0..lll.xc4 c5 The small sim plifying operation 1 0 . . . lDdS does not solve all of Black's problems: 1 1 .fixe7 'J/lixe7 1 2 . 0 - 0 ttJb4 1 3 .1/!fb3 cS 1 4 . dxcS 'iYxcs I S .lDe4 1/!fe7 1 6 .Ilfd 1 lDb6 1 7 . tLl e S ! (after 1 7 . aS a draw was agreed in Lerner-Naer, Jerusalem 2 0 0 S . Play can continu e : 1 7 . . . lDxc4 I 8 .'Mfxc4 ttJc6 1 9 .h3 ;t - a classical Chebanenko waiting move, keeping options open ! ) 1 7 . . . £d7 1 8 . Ild6± - Black's pieces are beginning to hang rather dangerously. 1 1 .0-0 cxd4 12.exd4 ttJbS 13 ..lll. d 3 hS One way or an other, Black has to weaken his kingside. The move 1 3 . . . g6 also has its downside : 1 4 .'lWb3 lDbdS l S .tb e s 1/!fd6 1 6 .aS 'iVb4 1 7 .£c4 'lWxb 3 1 8 .£xb 3;!; - the knight on f6 lacks the support of a pawn and Black's minor pieces are 'hanging in the air' . 14.�xfS ..bfS 1S .�e4 ttJdS 1 S J�i'b3;t Black cannot defend the dS outpost, which means he has to suffer for equal ity. C) 9... hS 1 0.�h4 cS 1 1 .0-0 bS 1 2.cxdS exdS 13 .ttJeS .lll. b 7 14.f4 ttJeS 1 S.jLxe7 1\Vxe7 (Gustafsson-Ruck, Budapest 2 0 04) 1 S.aS! Underlining the fact that Black's pawn structure is not very elastic and is vulner able to some heavy blows. 1 S ...ttJefS 1 6 . . . bS 1 7 .lDxd 7 ± is not good for Black. 17.�fS bS 1 S.ttJxd 7 ttJxd7 1 9 . .lll.x d7 1\Vxd7 20.dxcS !tfeS 21 Jlad 1 ± White's advantage is indisputable; 7.
...
�d8-a5
8.
c4xd5
c6xd 5
A) With the classical structure after 8 . exdS Black's pieces would be mis..
placed - they are too far from the kingside, where Black usually seeks his counterplay : 9.e3 ttJe4 1 0.�f4 Play also favours White after I O . .ik.d3 lDxgS l 1 . lDxgS ke7 1 2 . tLl f3 lDf6 1 3 . 0 - 0 0-0 1 4.lDeS cS I s .f4 . 10 ...�b4 1 1 Jlc1 ttJbS For some reason, Rybka likes this rather fancy move. 1 2.�c7 �fS 1 3.�d3 .ucS 1 4.�xbS 'li'xbS 1 5 .0-0 jLxc3 1 S.bxc3 cS 1 7.ttJh4± White wins a pawn and retains all the advantages of his position; B) S...ttJxdS 9.�d2! An unpleasant re source for Black to face; however, even af ter the more direct 9.e4 lDb4 1 0 .1/!fd2 cS;!; White retains the opening initiative. 9_.ttJb4 Bad is 9 . . . lDxc3 1 0 .e4±. 1 0.'ii:¥b 3 1\VbS 1 0 . . . cS 1 1 .lDa2 ± 1 1 .ttJe4 as 1 2.e3 .lll. e 7 1 3 ..lll.c4 0-0 14.0-0. White has a small , but stable advantage.
9.
te7 White is better after 9 . . . �d6 1 0 . ...IiLd3 0-0 l 1 .ttJb3 'fi c7 1 2 .aS lle8 1 3 .�h4 h6 1 4 .�g 3 � . 1 0.�d3 0-0 1 1 .0-0 !:teB 1 2.'iVc2 'iVdB?! A serious inaccuracy, allowing White to fIx the queenside. 112
1 3.aS! tLJfB 1 4.tLJb3 h6 1 s..bf6 �xf6 1 6.tLJcS �e7 1 7.b4 .¥Ld6 1 B.l::tfe1 'iVc7 1 9.g3 tLJe6 20.14 'f1.e7 21 .tLJ3a4 tLJfB 22.tLJb6 .!:.b8 23.r;!;>g2;!; and although this game ended in a draw, thanks to desperate defence by Black, he has not repeated the line since, Yakovenko-Laznicka, Pamplona 2 0 0 6 ; B ) B...a S In this way, Black deprives his opponent of the chance to fIx the queenside by a4-aS , although this is not always so dangerous for him anyway.
9.�d3 �e7 1 0.0-0 0-0 1 1 .lWc2 �e8 1 2J�ae1 tLJfB 1 3 .tLJeS tLJg4 14.�xe7 J:ixe7 1 S.14 f6 1 6.tLJxg4 �xg4 1 7.1S �hS 1 B.'/iUf2 1 8 .�h 1 'fib6 1 9 Jig 1 ...IiLf7 2 0 .g4 Cild7 (White obtained a small advantage after 2 0 . . . cS 2 1 .'fifl cxd4 2 2 . exd4 llae8 2 3 . 11 d l lle3 2 4 .�bS Ii 8 e 7 , Van Wely-Sedlak, Germany Bundesliga 2 0 0 4 / 0 S ; 2 S .'figl;!;) 2H �'f2 r;!;>hB 22.95 fxg S 23J:txgS tLJf6 24.'f1.eg1 �hS. 1B ..:iI'b6
Chapter 1 0 : Pinning : 6.�g5
19 .h3 .if7 2 0 .g4 h6 2 1 .h4 tLlh7 2 2 .'it>hl :!:!.ae8 B . n g l '{irc7 Slipak-Garcia Palermo, Villa Gesell 1 9 9 8 .
White has only an insignificant advan tage, but thanks to his extra class, he con fldently turned it to victory (Atalik-Vegh, Budapest 1 9 9 8 ) .
Now for the main line after 8 .e3 . 8. 9.
... ilLf1 -d3
10.
�d1 -c2
ilLf8-e7
VA
0-0
7.
7.
...
h7-h6
8.
ilLg5xf6
tLJd7xf6
1 0 .aS ! ? 1 0.
.
..
laf8-e8
11.
0-0
tLJd7-f8
1 1 . . . a5 transposes to line B above.
'/i'd1 -b3
9.
a4-a5
c6-c5
1 0.
e2-e3
c5xd4
12.
tLJf3-e5
tLJf6-g4
11.
e3xd4
d5xc4
1 3.
ilLg5xe7
�d8xe7
1 2.
ilLf1 xc4
ilLf8-d6
14. 'tt'le5xg4
�.c8xg4
13.
0-0
0-0
1 5.
.!:!.a1 -e1
ilLg4-h5
14.
I::!.f1 -e1
na8-b8
1 6.
f2-f4!
l:\a8-d8
1 7.
f4-f5
f7-f6
1 8.
.!:!.f1 -f4
c6-c5
1 9.
�c2-d2
fi.h5-f7
20.
ilLd3-c2
Hillarp 2007.
Persson -Khalifman,
Dresden
v. s
7.
a4-a5
1 13
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
There are a few sensi ble options : A) 7...dxc4 A I ) 8.e3 h6 The plan with S . . . b 5 ! ? de serves attention. so as to open lines on the queenside and exert pressure on the b2 pawn: 9 . axb6 �xb6 1 0 .k!.a2 h6 1 L �.xf6 CUxf6 1 2. CU e S �b4 1 3 . CUxc4 �c7 14.�d3 c5 1 S .0-0 0-0. 9..bf6 tiJxf6 1 0.�xc4 .lll. b 4 1 1 .'lWa4 'lWe7 1 2.0-0 0-0 1 3.tiJe5 .lll. d6 1 3 . . . c5 ? 1 4 .CUa2± ; 1 3 . . . �d 7 1 4.'iYb3;!; Janssen-lobron, Wijk aan Zee 2 0 0 3 . 14.tiJd3 c5 White retains pressure in the event of 1 4 . . . �d7 1 5 . 'li'b3 Ua bS 1 6. IHd I ;!; ; and also after 1 4 . . . lLlg4 1 5 .h3 'i'fh4 1 6 . J:!:fd l �h2 + 1 7 .Wfl tLlf6 1 S .lLle5 �xe5 1 9 .dxe5 lLld5 2 0 .�d3 'i'fg5 2 1 .'Ii'e4 f5 2 2 . exf6 lLlxf6 2 3 . 'Ii'b4;!;. 1 5 .dxc5 �xc5 16.tiJxc5 'lWxc5 17 . .lll.e2 1 7 .�d3 ! ? �d7 1 S . lLle4;!;. 1 7...�d7 1 8.tiJe4 Dautov-Morozevich. Bled 2 0 0 2 1 8... tiJxe4 1 9.'lWxd7 'i¥b4 20.'lWa4 'i¥xb2 2U�a2 'lWe5 22.f4 'lWd5 23..lll.f3 f5; A2) The gambit idea 8.e4 is fully possi ble : 8... h6
9.�h4 The exchange on f6 does not give Black great problems; he can quietly com plete his development and then organise the advance . . . c6-c5 : 9 .�xf6 lLlxf6 I 0 .'Ii'a4 �d7 1 1 .'Ii'xc4 (after 1 1 .lLle5 Garry Kasparov not only solved all Black's problems, but also took over the initia1 14
tive: 1 1 . . . c 5 1 2 .lLlxd7 �xd7 1 3 .d5 'i'xa4 1 4Jha4 exd5 1 5 .lLlxd5 lLlxd5 1 6 .exd5 0-0-0 1 7 .�xc4 �d6 1 S . 0 - 0 llheS 1 9 .93 .l;I.e4 2 0 .b3 fi.deS:j: Gelfand-Kasparov. Moscow 2 0 02 ) 1 1 . . . .l;I.cs 1 2..�d3 c5 1 3 . d5 exd5 1 4 .exd5 �d6 1 5 . 0-0 0-000. 9.. ii.b4 1 0.'lWa4 �xc3+ 1 1 .bxc3 g5 1 2.]£g3 tiJxe4
1 3.'iVxc4 If 1 3 .�xc4 lLlxg3 1 4. hxg 3 . a more or less forcing variation gives Black good counterplay: 1 4 . . . b5 1 5 .axb6 tLlxb6 1 6 .'Ii'a2 ( 1 6 .'i'fxc6+ fails to 1 6 . . . .id7 1 7 .'Ii'c5 UcS l S .'Ii'e5 f6-+) 1 6 . . . tLlxc4 1 7 .'Ii'xc4 'li'd5 1 S .'ii d3 as 1 9 .c4 .ia6 2 0 .U c 1 'li'f5 2 1 .'Ii'xf5 exf5 2 2 .g l 'li'c6 24.bxc3 ± Riazantsev Movsesian, Moscow 2 0 0 7 ; A 22 ) 7 ... tLld5 and now: An I ) S.�g3 b5 S . . . g6 9 . e4 ttJxc3 1 0 . bxc3 �g7 I I .�e2 0-0 1 2 . 0 - 0 bS 1 3 .ttJ e 3 cSoo Chebanenko. 9.tLlxd5 cxd5 1 0.tLld2 tLlb6 1 1 .l:l.c1 tLlc4 1 2.b3 tLld6 1 3.'iVc2 e6 1 4.e3 �b7 1 5 .'iVc7 J:l.cS 16 .'iVxdS+ �xdS 17.lhcS+ wxcS= Ward- Hodgson, England tt 2 0 0 0 / 0 I ; A 2 2 2 ) S.�d2! tLl5b6 S . . . 4:lxc3 9 . �xc3 e6 1 0 .a3 ttJb6 ! ? l 1 .e 3 ( 1 1 . �aS �dS 1 2 .�xb 6 �xc4 1 3 .�d2 �d6) 1 1 . . . ttJxc4 1 2 .�xc4;t ; S . . . e6 9 . ttJe4 ttJ 7 f6 1 0 . ttJxf6 + 'iYxf6 I I . e4 ttJc7 1 2 .�aS ttJbS 1 3 .ttJb6 :ab S 1 4.�xbS axb S 1 5 . 0 - 0 �f4 (Dzhandzhgava130
B) 6.tLlxd71? It would appear illogical to exchange the piece, which has already travelled halfway round the board, but:
6 ... hd7 7.'iVb3 Now Black has to solve a concrete and far from simple problem: what to do about the pawns on b7 and dS ? B I ) On 7... dxc4 it seems best not to take the b-pawn, but to prefer S .�xc4 b5 9 . 'i'd3 e6 1 0. g 3 cS transposing into the game Atalik-Volkov, Neum 2 0 0 0 , consid ered under 7 .tOxd 7 . If White does play S.'lWxb7 there can fol low: B 1 1 ) S ... e6 9.e4 9 .�f4 tOd5 1 0 .S'lg3 �M 1 1 .Sc l c5 1 2 .e4 �cS 1 3 .il'xc8+ :axc8 1 4.exdS cxd4� 9.. J�bS 1 0.'i¥xa6 iLb4 1 1.'l1il'xc4 1 1 .f3 c S . 1 1 ...tLlxe4 12 .1d3 tLld6 13.'iVb3 c5 14.dxc5 �xc5 15 .'iVc2t; B 1 2) S...e5!? (Volkov) 9.dxe5 No t dan gerous for Black is 9.e3 exd4 1 0 .exd4 �d6 1 1 . �xc4 �e7 + 1 2 . �e2 0 - 0 1 3 . 'il'b3 � M 1 4. 'il'c4 l:!:fe8 1 5 .�e3 tiJd5 .
Chapter 1 4: Chebanenkos Favourite: S t2Jbd7 ...
1 6.0-0 �xc3 1 7 .bxc3 tUxe3 I S .fxe3 '!Ixe3 + 1 9 . .:a.f2 �e6=. 9 ..�cS 1 0.exfG If 1 0 .ttJa4 tUe4! White comes lmder a strong attack, for example: l 1 . tUxcS 'iVaS + 1 2 .'�d1 tUxf2 + 1 3 .'�c2 ilis + 14 .e4 0-0 I S .exfS 'ii'xcs 1 6 .'ii' c 7 tUxh l 1 7 .�d2 !1abS l S . .!:'1el tUf2+. 1 0 ...l:l:a7 11 .fxg7 l:!:g8. Atalik considers that Black has a clear advantage here, but Flear ar gues that after 1 2 . �gS f6 1 3 .'iVxa7 �xa7 1 4 .�h4 Mxg 7 I S .e3 White has a per fectly playable position. I believe the truth lies somewhere between the two : l S . . . �fS 1 6 . .!:'1dl �b6 1 7 .�e2 �xb2 I S .�xf6 lld7 1 9 . 0-0 �d3 with the better chances for Black. B2) 7...�c8
8.g3 By fianchettoing the bishop, White strengthens the pressure on the dS pawn and prepares a later e2-e4. In the varia tion S . �gS e6 9 .cS �e7 1 0 . e3 the lack of a white knight on f3 allows Black to achieve the central break 1 0 . . . eS and achieve comfortable play : 1 1 . 0 - 0 - 0 tUd7 1 2 .�xe 7 iYxe 7 1 3 .tUa4 0-0 1 4.�e2 .!:'1bS I S . '�b 1 exd4 1 6 . .!:'1xd4 tUxcs 1 7 .�a3 b6 I S .l:!.el �f6 =F Mochalov Korneevets, Minsk 1 9 9 6 . 8...eG 9.�g2 Sle7 1 0.0-0 0-0 1 1 .flf4 bS 1 2.cS as 1 3.e4 .!taG 14.l:!:fe1 dxe4 1 S .�eS a4 1 G .1!!'d 1 b4 17.lLlxe4! Despite all his inventiveness ,
Black is still far from equality (Epishin Kasimdzhanov, Bad Wiessee 1 9 9 7 ) . B 3 ) After 7...eG , the bishop on d 7 feels very sorry for itself Of course, White will not take the b7 pawn immediately, be cause then Black can force a draw by a perpetual attack on the queen, but in stead, White has a number of tempting continuations.
B3 1 ) If 8.cxd S tUxdS ! 9 . e4 tUxc3 1 0 .bxc3 bS Black soon achieves . . . c6-cS and obtains satisfactory play (c. Rich ter-B. Schmidt , Germany Bundesliga 2 0 0 2 / 0 3 ) , and after 9. tLlxdS cxdS taking the pawn with 1 0 .�xb 7 only leads to a draw: 1 0 . . . l:!.bS 1 1 .iYxa6 �bS ! 1 2 .iYa7 l:!.aS 1 3 .iYb7 l:!.bS; B3 2) Interesting complications arise af ter 8.cS!? e S 9 . dxeS tUg4. It seems that Black's chances here are not worse, for in stance: 1 0 .tUa4 tUxeS 1 1 .�c3 'file 7 1 2 . tUb6 l:!.dS 1 3 .�e3 �S 1 4. 0-0-000 Komliakov; B3 3 ) 8.�f4 This simple developing move contains two threats : 'ii'x b7 and c4-cS (since with the bishop on f4 , Black no longer has the reply . . . e6-eS ) . 8... dxc4! White is better after S . . . bS 9 .cS �e7 1 0 .e3 0-0 1 1 .�d3 . 9.'l1hb7 tbdS 1 0.�g3 �b4 With the help of this pin , Black man ages to create counterplay - the absence 131
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
of White's queen and bishop from the queenside makes itself felt. 1 1 .e4 Black is not set any problems by 1 1 J:'c 1 - see 7 . . . dxc4 . 11 ...�xc3+ 1 2.bxc3 tDxc3 13 ..bc4 1 3 .f3 tUbS 1 4.itxc4 'iVaS + l S .�fl 0-0 (Ruck-Volzhin, Gyula 2 0 00) 1 6 .itxbS '/Wxb S + 1 7 .'/WxbS axb S = . 1 3 ... Cilxe4 14.0-0 tDxg3 1 5.hxg3 0-0 16.l;Iab1 as Black is unlikely to be able to hold the extra pawn, therefore a draw is the most likely result. B4) 7...b5 This positional pawn sacrifice is probably the best reply to White's plan. S.cxd5 cxd5 9.e3 An unambitious move, after which the position is qUickly equa lised. However, in the line 9. tLlxdS tUxdS 1 0 .'iVxdS e6 1 1 .'/Wb3 itc6 1 2 .e3 itd6 Black has a lead in development and seri ous pressure on the kingside, in return for the pawn. 9 ...e6 1 0.a3 itd6 1 1 .�e2 l;IbS 1 2.itd2 0-0 draw, Ionov-Belikov, Kazan 1 995.
9 . �xdS cxdS 1 0 . itd2 itfS 1 1 . Mc l Mc8 1 2 .IIxc 8 + itxc8 1 3 .e3 itfS 1 4 . ite2 e6 l S .itc3 Wd7 1 6 .'�d2 ite 7 Pelletier Sammalvuo, Halle 1 9 9 5 . S ... tDxc3 9.'liVxdS+ �xdS 1 0.bxc3 e6 1 1 .a4 Or I l .ite3 �c7 1 2 . a4 cS 1 3 .itd3 Sid7 1 4. �e2 ite7 l S . c4 itc6, Hulak-Loncar, Slavonski Brod 1 9 9 5 ) 1 1 ...�c7 1 2.h4 itd7 1 3.a5 h6 1 4J:th3 ite7 1 5 .l:tf3 l::tafS 1 6 .h5 c5 1 7.l;Ig3 l;IfgS 1 S.l;Ib1 itc6 with a reliable position for Black (Dizdar-Schandorff, Moscow 1 9 94) . 6.
92-93
Far from the most popular, but a highly unpleasant move for Black. 6.
...
e7-e6
Or 6 ... dxc4!? 7 . tUxc4 bS 8 . tLld2 �b7 9 .it g 2 �b 6 1 0 .tLlb3 ( 1 0 . a 4 ! ? cS 1 l . dS e6 1 2 . e4 it e 7 oo ) 1 0 . . .cS ! = Chebanenko.
Back to the position after 5 . . . tLlbd7 . C) 6.cxd5 After this exchange, play usu ally goes into an endgame with good counterchances for Black.
this move-order, the exchange 7.CiJxd7 itxd7 and now S.'llVb 3 deserves attention. Neither 8 .cS b6 9 . cxb6 'iYxb6 1 0 . itg2 cS 1 1 .dxcS Lcs 1 2 . 0 - 0 itd4 1 3 .itf4 0-0 1 4 .'iVd2 tUg4 I S .e3 itf6 1 6 .h3 tLleS+ Gschnitzer- Kallai, Germany Oberliga 1 9 9 8 / 9 9 , nor 8.'iVd3 are dangerous for Black. A) S ... dxc4 9 . �xc4 bS 1 0 .'iVd3 cS 1 1 .itg2 IIc8 1 2 .dxcS itxc S :::: (Atalik-
In
6 ...tDxe5 7.dxe5 tDxd5 S.e4 There is little danger for Black in 8 . tUxdS �xdS 132
Chapter 14: Chebanenkos Fcwourite: 5 . ..'i)bd7
Volkov, Neum 2 0 0 0 ) 1 3 .0-0 b4 ( 1 3 . . . 0-0 14 ..�,gS .£.c6 I S .Mad l .£.e7) 1 4.tbe4 tLlxe4 ( 1 4 . . . .£.bS I S .'iYxd S + '.t>xdS 1 6 .tUxcS .l:!.xcs 1 7 . .£.d2 Mc2 ( 1 7 . . . lLldS IS . .£.f3 l'!c2 1 9 .1'!fd l ) I S ..£.xb4 .£.xe2 19 . .£.aS +oo) I S .'ilhe4 ( l S . .£.xe4 .£.b S ) l S . . . .£.c6 1 6 .'ii' e S .£.xg2 1 7 . '.t>xg2 0-0 I S .�e3 .£.xe3 1 9 .'iYxe3 'iYdS + 2 0 .f3 ; B) But here, because White has ex pended a tempo on the move g2-g 3 , it is easier for' Black to equalise: S ...b5 9 . cxdS (9.c S ? ! eS 1 0 .dxeS tUg4+ Komliakov) 9 . . . cxdS 1 0 . .£.g2 'ii'a S 1 1 . 0-0 b4 1 2 . lLlb l i.e7 1 3 .a4 bxa3 1 4.tUxa3 0-0 with equality. 7.
.£.f1 -g2
tiJd7xe5
8.
d4xe5
tiJf6-d7
9.
c4xd5
I l . e4 d4 1 2 ' tU e 2 0 - 0 1 3 . 'iYd3 as , . . . b 6 , . . . �a6+ Chebanenko. 1 1 ... 0-0 1 2.0-0 b5 1 3 . wh1 �b7 1 4 .tt'l e 2 f6 1 4 . . . 'ii' e 7 I s .lLld4 � b 6 1 6 . b 3 MfcS 1 7 .�b2) I S .tUd4 'iYb 6 ( I S .. . 'iYe 7 1 6 .exf6 Mxf6 l'!f7 ;!; , �b6 1 7 .b3 l S .�b2 Rabinovich-Chekurov, Szombathely 1 9 9 3 . 1 6.exf6 tLlxf6 oo . 1 0...d4 Very risky is 1 0 . . . dxe4? ! , since in the variation 1 1 . 'iYa4 'WIc7 1 2 . 0 -0 .£.e7 1 3 .tbxe4 'iYxeS 1 4 . �f4 'ii' b S j S .'iYxb S axb S 1 6 'tU d 6 + �xd6 1 7 .�xd6 lLlb6 (Lugovoi-Volkov, Elista 2 0 0 1 ) White 's initiative looks quite frightening, for example : l s ..lHc 1 '.t>d7 1 9 . �eS f6 2 0 . M C 7 + �dS 2 1 . l:!.d l + lLldS 2 2 . �f4 g S 2 3 . �xdS gxf4 2 4 . Mxh7 Mxh7 2 S .�xb 7 + +- . 1 1 .'i'xd4 �cS 1 2 .� d 1 tUxeS 1 3 .'i'xd S + �xdS 1 4.�e2 �d7 I S . M d l �e7 1 6 . f4 tUc6 (the assessment is not changed by 1 6 . . . tUc4 1 7 . e S ;!; ) 1 7 .�e3 �xe 3 I S . �xe3 MhdS 1 9 . eS reaching an endgame that is clearly in White's favour, Farago-Tolnai, Austria Staatsliga 1 9 9 3 / 9 4.
Now it may be necessary to enter sharper play: a
_
e6xd5
Or 9 ... cxd5 1 0.e4 An important alterna tive is 1 0 . f4, after which it is not so easy for Black to achieve satisfactory play. We would suggest this plan : 1 0 ...�c5 Less convincing is 1 0 . . . .£.b4 because of 1 1.. �e3 b6 1 2 .�d4 �b 7 1 3 . 0 - 0 0 - 0 1 4.e3 tU b S l S . lLl a4 lLl d 7 1 6 .'i'b3 �aS 1 7 .Mac l MbS I S .'iYa3 neS (Tunik Litvinov, Minsk 1 9 9 6 ) 1 9 .'i'd6 ;!; . 1 1 .e3
1 0.
f2-f4
The advance 1 0.e4 leads to an endgame with good counterchances for Black: 1 0 ... d4 1 1 . iVxd4 �c5 1 2. iV d1 tLlxe5 1 3 .iVxdS+ wxdS 1 4.0-0 Or 1 4 .�e2 �g4+ I S . f3 �e6 1 6 .b3 f6 1 7 .lLla4 �d6 133
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
1 8 .�e3 f8 1 3 .'i' c2 g7 1 6 .'iVxd5 �e6 1 7 .'iVd3 lldS I S .�e2 ii.xa2 1 9 .f4 J::t a 7 2 0 . J::t c 3 a4 2 1 .�fc l llcs+ Van der Stricht Burmakin , Bethune 2 0 0 6 . S ... �g7 9.b4! The most ambitious move. White gets nothing after 9 . ii.e2 ttJe4 1 0 . 0 - 0 tLlxd2 1 l .'i'xd2 0-0 1 2 . M ii.g4 1 3 . tLle5 ii.xe2 1 4.tLlxe2 a4 1 5 .f4 f6 1 6 .tLld3 e 6 = Malakhov-Volkov, Sochi 2 0 0 6 . 9 ... 0-0 1 0.�d 3 neS 1 0 . . . ii.g4 ! ? I I .h3 hf3 1 2 . gxf3 ttJa6 1 3 .bxa5 e5 1 4. 0 - 0 ttJh5 =i= (Komliakov) also deserves attention. 1 1,ttJ e5 On 1 1 . 0 - 0 the pin 1 1 . . . �g4 is unpleasant, and allows Black to get in his planned advance . . . e7 -e5 : 1 2 . bxa5 e 5 1 3 .�e2 hf3 1 4. �xf3 exd4 1 5 .exd4 tLle4 1 6 .ii.xe4 dxe4 1 7 . ii.e3 tLl d 7 I S .'iYc2 tLlf6 =i= . 1 1 ...tLlfd7 1 2.tLlxd7 tLlxd7 1 3.14 e51 Preparing . . . e7 -e5 further does not work: 1 3 .. .f6 1 4.bxa5 e5 1 5 . 0 - 0 ± . 14.fxe5 tLlxe5 1 5.dxe5 �xe5 1 6 .0-0 axb4 1 7.axb4 1::lx a1 1S.1lfxa1 'iVh4 1 9.h3 �xh3 20.�e1 �h6t For the sacrificed piece Black obtains two pawns and the initia tive (Komliakov) ; B 2 2 ) Black also has another way of fighting for equality: 7 ... tLle4 S . ii.d3 ttJxd2 9.iVxd2 �g7 1 0 .e4 �g4 l 1 .e5 �xf3 1 2 .gxf3 e6 1 3 .tLle2 as 1 4 .114 h5 1 5 . f4 a4= (Gerzhoy-Atalik, Ottawa 2007) ; 1 4S
B 2 3 ) 7...�g7 S.b4 and now:
B 2 3 1 ) White is better after S ... O-O 9.a4 �b7 1 0.axb5 Methodically seizing the a-file by 1 0 . 11a3 ? ! tLlbd7 1 1 .'i'a l does not work for White, because of 1 1 . . .a5 1 2 .axb 5 (better is 1 2 .'i'b2 e5 1 3 .axb5 axb4 1 4 . 'i'xb4 'i' e 7 oo ) 1 2 . . . axM 1 3 .11xaS iVxaS 1 4 .ttJa4 (Zhao Xue Volkov, Internet 2 0 0 5 ) 1 4 . . . cxb5 1 5 .ii.xb 5 iVa5 -+ . 1 0 ... axb5 1 1 .I:txa8 �xaS 1 2 . �d3 tLlbd7 1 3 .tLle5 ttJxe5 1 4.dxe5 ttJd7 1 5 .14 e6 1 6.h4 h5 17.g4;!; Komliakov; B23 2) S... �g4 9.h3 .lkxf3 1 0.gxf3 ttJbd7 1 1 .f4 0-0 White had a small but stable ad vantage after 1 1 . . . tLle4 1 2 .tLlxe4 dxe4 1 3 .�g2 f5 1 4.f3 tLlf6 1 5 .'i'b3 'lid7 1 6 .a4 in the game Volkov-Swathi , Gibral tar 2 0 0 6 . 1 2.a4 e6 1 3 . .liLg2 tLleS 14.0-0 I1'Jc7 1 5 .l'�a2 'iVe7 1 6 .'iVc2 ldfbS 1 7.I:tfa1 'iVdSU=. Black is prepared for the opening of the a-file and can look to the future with op timism. White retains a minimal open ing advantage, but it is very difficult to increase it (Lputian-Malakhov, Sochi 2006). B 3 ) 7.�b3 By this move, the queen wishes personally to lead the assault on the queenside.
Chapter 1 6: Seizing Space: 6.c5 Various
B3 1 ) 7... a5 B.tLle5 The line 8 .'ii' c 2 �g7 9.a4 b4 1 0 ,tbb l looks rather too aca demic. True, the position is closed, but not so much so that White can permit himself to lose so many tempi: 1 0 . . . 0-0 I l .tLlbd2 ii.fs 1 l .ii.d3 ii.xd3 1 3 .'ii' x d3 tiJbd7 1 4. tll b 3 'ii' c 7 1 5 . 0 - 0 eS (having fmished his development satisfactorily and placed all his pieces well, Black seizes the initiative) 1 6 .tll x eS tll xeS 1 7 .dxeS 'li'xe S f Shipov-Malakhov, Moscow (blitz) 2 0 0 6 . B 3 1 1 ) Now, somewhat premature is S ...a4 on account of 9.�d1 a3 is a bad square for the queen: 9 .'ii' a 3 ii. g 7 1 0 .ii.d2 0 - 0 I I .b 3 lLl e 4 1 2 .lLlxe4 dxe4+ Al Sayed-Sriram , Port Erin 2 0 0 6 . 9 ...�g7
1 0.t4 Also not bad is 1 0 .�e2 0-0 1 1 . 0-0 tLlfd7 l l .tLlf3 eS 1 3 .�d2 �b7 1 4.b3 axb 3 I S .'ii' x b3 lLla6 1 6 . .l:Iab l 'ii' c 7 ( 1 6 . . . 'i¥e 7 ! ? 1 7 .l:!.fc l lUc8) 1 7 J Hc l
l:tfb8 1 8 . a4 bxa4 1 9 .1tJ xa4 e4 2 0 .lLle l �c8 2 1 .lLlb6;t Rustemov-Talish Zade, Baku 2 0 0 7 . 1 0 ...tLle4 1 1 .�d3 t6 1 2.tLlt3 t5 1 3.tLle5 Wic7 14.g4 tLlxc3 15.bxc3 txg4 1 6.e4 dxe4 17.�xe4 0-0 1 B.0-0 �t5 19.�g2 (Aronian-Shirov, Mainz 2 0 0 5 ) 19 .. �xe5 20.txe5 tLla6 21 . �h6 J:!t7 22.c4 'IllYb7 23.e6 l:tt6 24.d5t White's initiative is very dan gerous; B3 1 2 ) B ... �g7 9.tLlxb5 A tempting sacri fice, but here there is a good defence for Black: 9...cxb5 Worse is 9 . . . a4 1 0 .'i¥b4 cxb S 1 L�xb 5 + 'It>f8 l l . O - O tLJa6 1 3 .'iVa3 tLJc7 1 4.itc6 J:ta6 I S .�xa4. Not onl y does White have a third pawn for the piece, but now it is easier to advance the passed pawn on b 2 : I S . . . tLJe4 1 6 .c6 !la8 1 7 .f3 'iVd6 1 8 .tLJd7+ ii.xd 7 1 9 .cxd7 lLlf6 2 0 .b 3 �h6 2 1 .�xd6 exd6 1 l . e4;t Aronian-Bu Xiangzhi, Moscow 2 0 0 5 . 1 0.bb5+ f8 1 1 .0-0 tLleB 1 2.tLld3 tLlc7 1 3.a4 �d7 14.�d2 �c6 1 5.J:!tb1 �d7 1 6.�xc6 tLlxc6+
White does not have full compensation for the sacrificed piece (Mledema Burmakin, Bethune 2 0 0 6 ) ; The other line seen in practice also looks reasonable : 11 ...�a6 Instead of 1 1 . . . ttJ e 8 . 1 2.a4 tLle4 In the following game, Black got diverted by a bishop manoeuvre and ended up with a 149
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
cramped position: 1 2 . . . J1i.cs 1 3 . f3 �e6 14 .�d2 h5 1 5 .flfc l WgS 1 6 .c6 tLla6± (Rustemov-Sakaev, Sochi 20 0 5 ) . 13.tbd3 .lil.b7 14.f3 h8 2 1 . J::r g 3 ;t Ponomariov-Grischuk, Moscow 2 0 0 6 . 1 S .iDe2 �hS 1 S.�d2 �g8 Bad is 1 6 . . . exd4 1 7 .tDxd4 'I!lVxcs 1 8 .l:.c1 �b6 1 9 .�b3 cS 20 .�xdS ± . 1 7.iDg3 exd4 1 7 . . . e4 1 8 .'I!lVe2 'I!lVe6 1 9 .0-0-0!. 1 8.iDfS 'i'xeS 1 9.iDxhS IllYxe2 20.iDxg8 iDxg8 21 .:gg1 ltJeS 22.'iWg3 iDgS 23J:te1 'i-lYxb2 24JbeS tlJ8e7 with compensatio n, Komliakov; B42) 7...�fS is an interesting, but thus far little-examined move. 8ixf5 gxf5 9.iDe5 a5 1 0.f3 ti:lfd7 1 1 .ti:ld3 �g7 1 2.lllYe2 eS 13.'iI¥f2 ti:lfS 14.�d2 ti:lbd7 1 5.b4 a4
White has more space, but Black has a powerful central pawn construction, and has managed to close the queenside. In the follOWing game, White did not man age to pose his adversary serious prob lems: 1 S .lLle2 'fie7 1 7.'fih4 0-0-0 1 8.0-0-0 .!:!.dg8 19.�e1 'lWd8 20.�g3 hS 2L�f4 �hS 22 . .!:'l.hg1 iDe8 23.'lWf2 il.xf4 24.iDdxf4 \tb7 2S.g3 'Vlie7 2S.ti:le3 lLle7 27.e4 fxe4 28.fxe4 h4 29.g4 'VligS 30.\t>b1 iDfS 31 .exdS exdS 32.h3 .!:I.e8= Lautier-Bacro t, Khanty Mansiysk 2 0 0 5 ; B43) 7...iLg7
In this position, White has tried many moves: B43 1) 8.0-0 0-0 9.b4 �g4 1 0.a4 lLlbd7 1 1 .�e2 Or l 1 .h3 �xf3 1 2 .'I!lVxf3 eS 1 3 .�c2 ttJe8 1 4.axbS axbS l S Jha8 'iYxa8 1 6 .J:ld1 Cj'jc7= Komliakov. 1 1 ...'lWe7 1 2 . .l1/.b2 l:!fe8 13 .l:!a3 .l1/.xf3 Provoking ac tion on the queenside does not work in 151
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
Black's favour: 1 3 . . . aS 1 4 . axbS axb4 l S .b6 �b7 1 6 ..I:!xaS .!:haS 1 7 .tUb l eS l S .h3� Komliakov. 14 ..hf3 eS 1 S.'iVa1 l S .g3 ! ? 1 S ...exd4 1 S .exd4 '/WbS 1 7.1i'a2 tLlfS 1 S.�e1 tLleS 1 9.�e3 hS= Ernst Michielsen, Groningen 2 0 0 5 ; B43 2 ) S.�d2 0-0 9.b4 �g4 1 0.h3 �xf3 1 1 .gxf3 as 1 2.bxaS eS 13.tLle2 tLlfd7 14.a4 exd4 1 S.exd4 '/WfS White has clearly sinned against the principles of develop ment, and as a result, he has problems : 1 S.0-0 '/Wxf3 1 7.tLlf4 'ii'x d1 1 S.llaxd 1 bxa4 1 9.tLle2 tLlaS"F Zakhartsov-Das, Moscow 2006; B43 3) S.e4 dxe4 9.tLlxe4 0-0 1 0.tLlxfS+ .bfS 1 1 .�e3 �g4 1 2.�e4 'ii"eS 1 3.h3 �fS 14.'ii"e2 �xe4 1 S:lbe4 IldS 1 S.a4 'liUb7 17.0-0 lIdS 1 S.tLleS tll d 7= Black has fully (Aronian-Svidler, adequate play Heraklion 2 0 0 7 ) ; B434) S.b4
S... aS If S . . . �g4 9 .�b2 tUbd7 White, by means of 1 0 .tUe2 ! , deprives Black of counterplay, and gradually develops his initiative on the queenside : 1 0 . . . 'iVc7 1 1 .a4 0-0 1 2 .l'la2 (in the following game, White played 1 2 .l'la3 but did not obtain any advantage: 1 2 . . . l:!.fbS 1 3 .'iVa 1 Lf3 1 4. gxf3 'iii cS l S .�c3 tUeS 1 6 £4 tUdf6 1 7 .tUg3 e6 l S .\t>e2 tUc7 1 9 .�d2 'iii dS 2 0 .'iiig l �f8 2 1 .'iVg2 bxa4 n .l'lxa4 l'la7 2 3 .l'lha1 l::!. b a8= Vallejo Pons-Shirov, Mo152
naco (blind) 2 0 0 5 . There is no especially obvious difference between the position of the rook at a2 or a 3 , and it looks as though Vallej o Pons did not play energeti cally enough subsequently) 1 2 . . . .l:!:a7 1 3 .h3 �3 1 4 . gxf3 .l:Ifa8 l S .f4 e6 1 6.0-0 tUeS 1 7 .�c2 �b7 l S .l'lfa 1 �6 1 9 .'iWb3 �dS 2 0 .'iVa3 tUc7 2 1 .�c3 bxa4 (Black loses patience and releases the tension) 2 2 .'iVxa4 tUbS 2 3 .�d2 �c7 24:;"h 1 ttJf6 2 S .'li'c2 tUhS 2 6 .tUg l 'li'cs 2 7 .'li'd l �bS 2 8 .'iVg4 fS 2 9 .1iYg2 .l:Ig7 3 0 .tUf3! Aronian-Volkov, Sochi 2 0 0 5 . 9.bxaS tLifd7 9 . . . �fS has also been seen, and White did not manage to expose the drawbacks of the move: 1 O .�xfS gxfS 1 1 .�d2 tL"le4 1 2 .0-0 tUxd2 1 3 .tUxd2 'li'xaS 1 4.'li'c2 b4 l S .tU e 2 e6 1 6.tUf4 0-0 1 7 .\t>h1 tZ:ld7 1 8 .tUb3 'li'bS 1 9 .f3 lda3 20 .g4 fxg4 2 1 . tUhS tUf6+ Ibrahimov-Volkov, Abu Dhabi 2 0 0 5 . 1 0.�d2 e5 1 1 . .l1l.e2 Neither l 1 .tUxe S ? ! tUxeS 1 2 .dxeS tUd7 1 3 .tZ:le2 tUxcs 1 4 .�c3 'iVe 7 + . nor 1 1 .�e2 e4 1 2 .tUg1 l'lxaS= bring White any special dividends.
We offer a short analysis of this important position: B4 3 4 1 ) 1 1 ...!!:xaS 1 2.0-0 0-0=; B4342) 11 ...e4 1 2.tLig1 l::!.x aS 1 3.tLige2 1 3 . a4 bxa4 1 4.�xa4 l'la7 ( 1 4 . . . 0-0 l S .tUge2 �a6 1 6 .0 -0 �c4 1 7 .tUxe4 dxe4
Chapter 1 6 : Seizing Space: 6.c5 Various
1 8 ..1ha5 'iixa5 1 9 . .1hc6 'ii c 7 2 0 . ii.xe4 tLJxc5 2 1 .�f3;l;) 1 5 .tLlge2 0-0 1 6 .0-0 ka6 =. 1 3...1::t a 7 14.0-0 0-0 1 5.J:Ib1 �a6 16 .l:tb4 1 6 .B exf3 1 7 .llxf3 f5oo ; 1 6 . llb2 f5 1 7 .iVb l tLlf6 °o . 1 6 .. .f5 1 7.�a1 !? 1 7 .tLJf4 "I!iIe7 1 8 .f3 exB 1 9 ."l!ilxB tLlf6 20 .'iWg3 tLlbd7 =. 1 7._�cB 1 7 . . . tLlf6 1 8 .a4 bxa4 1 9 .1lfb 1 ;l; 1 B.a4 (Kruppa-Ardelean, Galati 2 0 0 6 ) 1 B.JiJf6 1 9.�b1 ttJa6 20.J::1b3 b4 21 'ttJa2 W1c7 22.h3 ttJh5 23.ttJxb4 f4� ; B43 4 3 ) 1 1 ...0-0 1 2.ttJe2 1 2 . 0 - 0 f5 ( 1 2 . . . e4 1 3 . tLl e l with the idea f3 ) 1 3 .tt:l e 2 ;l; . 1 2 ....l:teB! 1 2 . . . e4 ? ! 1 3 .tLlfg l ;l;. 13 ..!iLb4 1 3 . O - O ? exd4 1 4. exd4 tLlxc5 l S .dxcS �xa l 1 6 .'i¥xa l llxe2 1 7 .�h6 f6+ . 13 ...�e7 14.a3 ttJa6°o Prusikin Dautov, Warszawa 2 0 0 5 . B43 5 ) B.h3 Prophylaxis against the de velopment of the enemy bishop to g 4.
B43 5 1 ) In this version, with White not yet having 'played b2-b4, B...�f5 is un pleasantly met by 9.�xf5 Harmless is 9.0-0 �xd3 1 0 .'iWxd3 tLlbd7 I l .e4 dxe4 1 2 .tLJxe4 0-0 1 3 .ll e l ltJd5 1 4.�g5 'iWc7 15 .'i'd2 � 7 f6 1 6 .ltJg3 as 1 7 .lle2 a4 1 8 J iae l 'foVa5 = Harikrishna-Dableo , Doha (rapid) 2 0 0 6 . 9 ... gxf5 1 0.�c2 �cB 11.1tJe5 ttJe4 12.ttJd3 ttJd7 1 3 .ttJe2 �f6 14.�d2 .l:[gB 1 5.g3 e6 1 6.0-0-0 This is the whole point: with the pawn on b 2 . White
can castle long and quietly prepare an at tack in the centre and on the kingside. 1 6 ... h5 17J1dg1 W1c7 1 B.ttJef4:t Sasikiran Kamsky, Sofia 2 0 0 7 ; B43 5 2 ) B ... O-O 9. 0-0 ttJbd7 Now the white king is on g l , 9 . . . �f5 is perfectly possible, for example: 1 0 .�xf5 gxf5 1 1 .�e5 �fd7 1 2 .�d3 e5 1 3 . a4 exd4 1 4.exd4 �xd4 1 5 .axb S ltJxc5 1 6 . ltJe2 ltJe6 1 7 .ltJxd4 tLlxd4 1 8 .�h6 ll e 8 1 9 .1tJf4 ltJxb 5 2 0 .'ii h 5 'iif6 2 1 .llac 1 with compensation, Radj abov-Bacrot , Cap d' Agde 2 0 0 6 . 1 0Jle1 After 1 0 . a3 lle8 I I . e4 e5 it turns out that Black is better prepared for complications in the centre : 1 2 .dxe5 �xe5 1 3 . ltJxe5 llxe5 1 4.�f4 �e8 1 5 .'iWf3 d4 1 6 .tLle2 ltJd7 1 7 .b4 ltJe5 1 8 .'ii g 3 ltJxd3 1 9 .'ii x d3 �e6 2 0 . � ad l �c4+ Radj abov Ivanchuk, Odessa 2 0 0 7 . 10 ...a5 A per fectly good alternative is 1 0 .. J::k e 8 , for example : I l . e4 b4 1 2 . �a4 dxe4 1 3 . i.xe4 ltJxe4 1 4. llxe4 as (another move worthy of attention is 1 4 . . . � f6 ! ? 1 5 .11e l ltJd5 1 6 . ltJe5 'ii c 7 1 7 . a3 as 1 8 .'iWf3 i(e6 1 9 .i.d2 'iWb7 2 0 . h4 'iWb 5 2 1 .b 3 llad8 2 2 . axb4 axb4 2 3 .h5 ltJc7 2 4.hxg6 hxg6+ Komliakov) 1 5 .�f4 tLlf6 1 6 .lle l tLld5 1 7 .i.e5 �a6 1 8 .i.xg 7 xg 7 = Ivanchuk-Bacrot, Odessa 2 0 0 7 . 1 1 .a3 Wic7 1 2.e4 dxe4 1 3.ttJxe4 ttJxe4 14J:txe4 Or 1 4 .i.xe4 1::[d8 1 5 .'iWe2 ltJf6 1 6 .�c2 i.e6 1 7 .i.g5 ne8 1 8 .'iWd2 i.d5 1 9 .1tJe5 l:'l.ad8 20 .i.f4 'ii a7 2 1 .�h6 'iW c7= Lautier-Bu Xiangzhi, Internet 2 0 0 4. 14 ... e5 1 5.ttJxe5 ttJxe5 1 6 .�f4 f6 1 7.dxe5 fxe5 1 B.�g5 a4 1 9 . .I:[e2 �f5 20.�e4 h6 21 .�h4 �xe4 22.l:l.xe4 g5 23 .�g3 .l:[adB 24.Wlc2 ttd5= Kozul Jankovic, Dresden 2 0 0 7 ; B 5 ) 7.ttJe5 �g7 153
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
B5 1 ) White obtains nothing after 8.�d3 0-0 9. 0-0 QJfd7 1 0 .f4 QJxe5 1 l .fxe5 f6 1 2 .exf6 exf6 1 3 .'iYb3 f5 1 4.a4 .tb 7 1 5 . axb5 axb5 1 6 J'ha8 .txa8 1 7 . .td2 QJd7 1 8 .�a2 QJf6 1 9 Jh l .tb 7 2 0 .'ti:Va5 'iVc8= Dreev-Dautov; Mainz 2 0 0 5 ; B 5 2 ) &f4 this move is useful to White in any event, therefore it makes sense to play it immediately. 8 ... tLlfd7 Black also failed to equalise after 8 . . . 0-0 9 .il.e2 QJfd7 1 0.QJd3 as 1 l .0-0 QJa6 1 2 .a3 QJc7 1 3 .il.d2 f6 1 4. g4 e5 1 5 .f5 gxf5 1 6 . gxf5 .th6 1 7 . Wh 1 � Chuchelov-Langheinrich, Neth erlands tt 2 0 0 5 / 0 6 . 9.tLld3 0-0 1 0.a4 �b7 1 1 .�e2 f6 1 2.0-0 eS 13.fS "iie7 14.whH Kunte-Sareen, Hyderabad 20 0 5 ; B5 3 ) 8.�e2 White intends to transfer this bishop to the long diagonal and pre pare the break e3 -e4. 8 ... 0-0 9.0-0 tLlfd7 The move 9 . . . .te6 also looks quite prom ising, for instance: 1 0 . f4 WIIc7 1 1 . g4 ( 1 l ..td2 ttJe4 1 2 .QJd3 as 1 3 .il.e l QJd7 1 4 . il.h4 , draw, Elianov-Malakhov, Mos cow 2 0 0 6) 1 1 . . .QJe4 1 2 . .tf3 f5 1 3 .il.d2 QJd7 14.il.e 1 ttJxe5 1 5 .fxe5 QJxc3 (even stronger is 1 5 . . . .th6 !+) 1 6 . .txc3 .th6 1 7 . .td2 fxg4 1 8 . il.xg4 1:txfl + 1 9 . '>t>xfl 'iVd7=i= Gelfand-Bareev, Khanty-Mansiysk 2 0 0 5 . 1 0.f4 White has nothing after 1 0.QJxd7 QJxd7 1 1 .f4 f5 = . B 5 3 1 ) Quite often Black exchanges knights at once : 1 54
1 0... tLlxeS 11 .fxe5 f6 1 2.exf6 exf6 The other recapture has also been seen: 1 2 . . . Mxf6 1 3 . .l:!.xf6 .txf6 1 4 .e4 dxe4 1 5 . .te3 il.e6 1 6 .QJxe4 QJd7 1 7 .ttJxf6+ QJxf6 1 8 .�f4 WII d 7 1 9 .Wid2;t Carlsen-Burmakin, Gausdal 2 0 0 5 ; 1 2 . . .il.xf6 1 3 .e4 dxe4 1 4 .il.e3 il.e6 1 5 .QJxe4 ttJd7 1 6 .ttJxf6+ ttJxf6 1 7 .h3 �d7 1 8 .il.d3 QJd5 1 9 .il.h6 ::!.xfl + 2 0 . �xfl .l:i:d8 2 1 .'iVe2 tLJf6 2 2 . 'it>h 1 il.d5 = Pustov -Ne boIs ina, Mos cow 2 0 0 6 . 1 3.�f3 A position with mutual chances arises after 1 3 . e4 b4 1 4 .tLia4 dxe4 1 5 . QJb6 .lla7 1 6.'iVb3 + Wh8 1 7 .tLJxc8 �xc8 1 8 .il.f4 f5 1 9 . .l:!.ad l QJd7 20.�d6 .l:!.e8 2 1 .�xb4 hl h6 1 6 .h3;!; Moiseenko-Ni Hua, Beer-Sheva 2 0 0 5 . 14.b4 a4 1S.ttJeS �d7 1 S.a3 ttJe4 1 7.11a2 ILlxe3 1 S.�xe3 il.eS 1 9.94 Thanks to his space advantage and the dominant position of the knight on e5 , White's chances are better. However, in view of the fact that all the play is taking place on one flank, Black has good chances to defend. 1 9...eS 20.�d3 1:.a7 21J:[g2 whS 22.il.e1 'iYeS 23.h4 ttJd7 24.hS gxhS 2S.gxfS (Carlsen-Malakhov, exfS 2S.�e2! Khanty-Mansiysk 200 5 ) . Now we arrive at the main move. 6. ... �c8-g4
B5 3 2 2 ) 1 1 .lLld3 as
1 2 .�d2 Black obtained sufficient counterplay after 1 2 .b3 lLlf6 1 3 .�d2 �e6 1 4.b4 a4 1 5 .ttJe5 ttJe4 1 6 .g4 4Jxc3 1 7 .�xc3 'li'Vc8 1 8 .g5 �f7 1 9 .a3 �xe5
A) Harmless is 7SJ.e2 ttJbd7 S.b4 8 . 0-0 e6 9.h3 �5. S...aS!? 8 ... g6 9 . a4 �g7 1 0 .0-0 0-0 1 1 .�b2 �xf3 1 2 .�xf3 e5 1 3 .axb 5;j; (AI Sayed-Hussein, Beirut 2 004) 1 3 . . . axb5 1 4.t!.xa8 'ii'xa 8 . 9.�a3 eS 1 0.�b3 a4 1 1 .�b1 �e7 1 2.h3 �fS 1 3.�d3 �xd3 14.�xd3 0-0= Kornliakov; B) 7.h3 �xf3 and now: B 1 ) S. �xf3 ttJbd7 Also perfectly normal is 8 . . . g6 9 . g4 b4 1 0 .ttJ a4 �g7 1 1 .�g2 e5 1 2 .�d3 lLlfd7 1 3 .e4 dxe4 1 4.�xe4 exd4 1 5 . i.d2 as 1 6 .t!.cl 0-0 1 7 .0-0 'ii' c 7 155
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
1 8 .g 5 (Kozul-Bukal, Kutina 2 0 0 6) 1 8 . . . f5 1 9 .9xf6 4:Jxf6 2 0 .�f3 tLJh5 2 1 .�xh5 gxh5 n .Irce l Wifl . 9.g4 '/i'aS White ob tained a small advantage after 9 . . . e5 1 0 . g S 4:Jg8 1 1 .h4 Wie7 1 2 .tt::l e 2 h6 1 3 .�h3 g6 1 4.�d2 f5 1 5 .gxf6 4:Jgxf6 1 6 .�g2 Irg8 1 7 .0 - 0 - 0 0-0-0 1 8 .£3 �b7 1 9 .�b l 'Wh7 20 .Wal Ire8 2 1 .tLJc l �e7 2 2 . 4:Jb3 �d8 23 . .ia5 Wlfe 7 24.a3 ;t; Sakaev -Bryzgalin, Kazan 2 0 0 5 . 1 0.jLd2 b4 1 1 .gS bxe3 1 2.�xe3 Wie7 13.gxfS tLlxfS 1 4.�d3 gS 1 S.0-0-0 iLg7 1 S.h4 hS 17.Wig2 tLlg4 1 S.l:tde1 eS 1 9.f3 tLlhS 20.e4 0-0 21 .eS ttfeS= Black has good counterplay (Sakaev-Prie, France tt 2 0 0 6) ; B2) S.gxf3 We have already seen this plan; White wants to set up a barricade in the centre (d4-f4) and only after stopping his opponent's counterplay will he turn to his own plans. S...gS 9.f4 tLlhS 1 0.£l.e2 tLlg7 1 HWb3 tLld7 1 2.a4 tLleS 1 3 .tLla2 '!!VeS 14.tLlb4 as It appears that Black should re frain from this move for the time being, since now White gets the standard piece sacrifice in a particularly favourable form: 1 S.tLlxeS 'il'xeS 1S.axbS tLlexeS Black im mediately gives back the piece, but does not equalise. 1 7.dxcS Wixcs 1 S.£l.d2± Bacrot-Volkov, France tt 2 0 0 5 . 7.
�d1-b3
S.
a2-a4
156
tLJbS-d7
A) White is better after S...gS 9.'iI'a3 llbS 1 0.axbS Also not bad is 1 0. b4 �g7 1 1 .�b2 0-0 1 2 .�e2 Wic7 1 3 .axb5 axb5 1 4.WiaS;l;; the move 1 0.4:Ja2 ! ? deserves attention. 1 0 ... axb5 I I .Wia5 �g 7 1 2 .Wixd8+ �xd8 1 3 .tLJg5 llf8 1 4.h3 �e6 1 5 . Ira7 rJtc8 1 6.4:Jxe6 fxe6 1 7 .f4 4:Je8 1 8 .4:Ja2 l:lb7 1 9 .11a5 �6 20 .h4 h5 2 1 .�d3 ± Zhu Chen-Nebolsina, Jinan 2 0 0 5 ; B ) White i s also better after S...eS 9.'iI'a3 b4 9 . Irb8 ! ? 1 0 .axb 5 axb5 1 1 .b4 �xf3 1 2 .gxf3 g6 1 3 .�e2 �g7 1 4 .0-0 0-000 Komliakov. 1 0.'iI'xb4 MbS 1 1 .Wa3 as 1 2.tLlbS exbS 1 3.axbS £l.xf3 14.gxf3 tLlxcS 1 S.dxcS tLld7 (Zhu Chen-Liang Zhihua, Jinan 2 0 0 5 ) 1 SJWxaS±; C) S...eS 9'tLla2 After 9 .'lWa3 ! ? Black should go over to the passive defence 9 . . .1:'I,c8 (9 . . . .!:!.b8 1 0 .axb5 axb5 1 1 .'(!iaS Wixa5 ( 1 1 . . . �e7 1 2 .Wixd 8 + Wxd8 1 3 . .!:!. a 7 l:!.c8 ( 1 3 . . . b4 1 4.4:Ja4 �5 1 5 .�d2;t;) 1 4.�d2 iLxf3 1 5 .gxf3 fJ.c7 1 6 .4:Jxb5 ! ± Elsness-Hole, Moss 2006) 1 2 .l:lxa5 iLe7 1 3 . .!:!. a 6 .!:!.c8 1 4.tLJag) 1 0 .axb5 axb5 I l .Wia5 ( 1 1 .4:Jxb5 cxb5 1 2 .�xb5 iLe7) 1 1 . . . �e7 1 2 .'ifxd8+ �xd8 1 3 .l:!.a6 4:Jb8 1 4 .l:la7 �c7 1 5 .tLla2 0-0 1 6 .iLd2 l:lfe8 1 7 .iLd3 4:Jfd7 1 8 .iLaS �xaS + 1 9 .1:!.xa5 eS = Brynell-Hole, Oslo Open 2 0 0 5 . 9...Wics 1 0.tLlb4 as Begins concrete play, where both sides must play accurately. 1 1 .tLlxcS 'il'xcS 1 2.axbS tLlxcS The only move ; bad is 1 2 . . . Wic8 1 3 .b6 'i'b7 1 4.�b5 �xf3 1 5 .gxf3 ± . 1 3.dxcS 'iVxc5 1 4.tLleS 14 ...�dS Again forced, but good. After other continuations, White obtains the advantage: 1 4 . . . i,h5 1 5 .i,d2 4:Je4 1 6 .b6! ttJxd2 (Yevseev-Aleshin , Smolensk tt 2005) 1 7 .'/Wa4+ 'it>e7 1 8 .b 7 + - ; ..
Chapter 1 6: Seizing Space: 6.c5 Various
1 4 . . . a4 ?! 1 5 .t2Jd3 ( 1 5 .�d2 ! ? tLld7 !t) 15 . . . 'lWa7 1 6 .b 6 ! ( 1 6 .'lWc2 �d6 ! + ) 1 6 . . . 'lWa5 + 1 7 . �d2 axb3 I S . .ldxa5 llxa5 1 9 .�xa5 �d6 2 0 .f3 �f5 2 1 .tLlM± Komliakov. 15.ltJxg4 lLlxg4 1 6Jll. d 2
16 ...d4! If Black would just quietly de velop, White's two bishops would grad ually have their say. 1 7.iLf1 -e2 dxe3 1 S.iLxe3 lLlxe3 1 9.fxe3 0-0 20.0-0 a4+ Komliakov. Back to the position after S . a4. B.
...
�g4xf3
The most popular move, which leads to great complications. 9.
g2 xf3
Wilc7 1 2 . axb5 axb 5 1 3 .'lWa7 Wilxa7 1 4.nxa 7 ± Matveeva-Jovanic , Salona 2005 . 1 0.
Wlib3-a3
11.
a4xb5
a6xb5
1 2.
iVa3-a5
ncB-c7
Black does best to avoid the exchange of queens: 1 2 . . . �e7 1 3 . 'iVxd S + �xdS 1 4.Ma6 0-0 1 5 .�h3 nc7 1 6 .�d2 MeS 1 7 . 0 - 0 tLlfS I S . tLl a 2± Svetushkin V Braun, Werther 2 0 0 5 . 1 3.
�f1 xb5
White can delay this standard sacrifice for a move : 1 3 .iLd2 iLe7 1 4.iLxb5 cxb5 15.lLlxb5 l:.(c6 The following line looks very dangerous for Black: 1 5 . . . llcs 1 6 .'lWxdS + �xdS (White is better after 1 6 . . . MXdS 1 7 .c6 0-0 l S .cxd7 tLlxd7 1 9 .�c3 ±) 1 7 .�a5 + �eS I S .M, but probably he can defend the position: I S . . . exd4 1 9 .exd4 tLlfS 2 0 .tLJa7 naS 2 1 .tLlc6 tLJh5 2 2 . 0 -0 �f6 2 3 .�c7 Mxa 1 24.Mxa l tLle6 2 5 .�d6 . 1 6.'iVxdS+ iLxdS 1 7.b4 with compensation. c6xb5
1 3.
9.
.
..
e7-e5
With quieter play, White's advantage is obvious : 9 . . . e6 1 0 .'ii' a 3 llcs 1 1 .�d2
llaB-cB
Also interesting is 1 O... .l:tbS. The pawn sac rifice 1 0 . . . b4 does not give Black full equality: 1 1 .WilxM llbS 1 2 .Wila3 as 1 3 .tLle2 g6 1 4 .�d2 exd4 1 5 .exd4 �e7 1 6 .�h3 0-0 1 7 . 0-0 tLJh5 I S .Mab l f5 (Iljin-Amonatov, Sochi tt 2005) 1 9 .Wilc3t.
1 4.
tbc3xb5
nc7-b7
1 5.
'iVa5-a6
'iVdB-bB
1 6.
'iVa6-c6
With the threat of 1 7 ..l:ta S ! 'li'xaS I S .tLl c 7 + . 1 6 . tLl a 7 ? is bad because of 1 6 ... �xc 5 ! 1 7 . dxc5 tLlxc5 I S .'lWc6+ tLlfd 7 + Tihonov-Zakhartsov, Kharkov 20 0 5 ; 1 6 . lla5 exd4 1 7 . exd4 hc5 l S . dxc5 0-0 1 9 .�e3 tLle5 20 .c6 l:te 7 . 157
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan 24.
e4xd5
tDe7xd5
25.
'iYa4-e4
tDd7-b6
26.
l:!.g1 - d 1 °o
�f8xc5!
1 6.
Nonetheless! 1 7.
�a1 -a8
Bad is 1 7 .dxc S ? 0-0 1 8 .lLlc3 llc8 1 9 .'iYd6 lLlxcs 20 .'iYxb 8 ncxb8 2 1 . 0 -0 lLlb3 + . 1 7.
�c5-b4+
1 8.
o;!;>e1 -e2
1 9.
.l:1a8xb8+ l::t b 5xb8
20.
d4xe5
.l:: b 7xb5 tDf6-g8
As analysis shows, in this position, with an unusual material balance, chances are about equal, for instance: 21 .
'lic6-a4
2 1 . 'il'xdS lLle700. 21 .
...
tDg8-e7
22.
l:!.h1 -g1
g 7-g6
23.
e3-e4
�b4-c5
2 3 . . . d4 2 4 . e 6 2 6 .�c7+- .
IS8
fxe 6
2 5 .�f4
l:!.b6
Conclusion
Black's general idea, particularly after 6 . . . �g4, of getting rid of his bad bishop is very reasonable. The only drawback is tha.t White can create unpleasant pressure on the queenside after a2-a4. Then there are unpleasant threats of sacrifices on c6 or bS , plus penetration along the a-file, but thanks to possible counter-sacrifices on cS, Black ca.n maintain dynamic equality. The endgame after 9 . 'iYa3 is a different story. Here White can justifiably count on more, and Black must accurately combine defence of the queenside with the preparation of . . .e6-e S .
Chapter 17 Seizing Space: 6.c5 tLJbd7 1 .d2-d4 d 7-d5 2.c2-c4 c7-c6 3.lLlg1 -f3 lLlg8-f6 4.lLlb1 -c3 a7-a6 5.e2-e3 b7-b5 6.c4-c5 lLlb8-d7
Nowadays, this is considered the most reliable answer to White 's pawn expansion plan. White's main reactions are 7.'lWb3, 7.�d2, 7 . .§i.d3, 7.b4 and 7.a3, but we will also look at minor alternatives. •••
A) In the following game, White played several passive moves in a row, and as a result, could have ended up in an un. pleasant position: 7.h3 g 6 ! ? 8 . .§i.d2 as 9.a3 ( 9 . tDxb5 cxb S 1 0 . .§i.xbS 'lWc7) 9 . . . .§i. g 7 1 0 .b4 tDe4 1 1 .tDxe4 dxe4 1 2 . tD g S tDf6 1 3 . f3 0 - 0 1 4 . .§i.e2 (Cmilyte-Sebag, Calvia 2 004) 14 . . . eS I S .dxe5 exf3 1 6 . .§i.xf3 tDd5 1 7 . .kxdS 'li'xdS + ; B ) 7.�d2 White rather slowly prepares an attack on the queenside. In reply, Black qUickly advances . . . e7 -eS and obtains ad equate counterplay. 7...a5 White is better after 7 . . . tDe4 8 . tDxe4 dxe4 9 . tD g S tDf6 1 0 .'ij'b3 e6 1 1 .a4 Mb8
1 2 . ax b 5 axb S 1 3 .Ma7 .§i. e 7 (Khmelniker-Kritz . Biel 2 0 0 6) . and here White could force transposition into a favourable endgame : 1 4 . .taS 'ij'dS I S .'iVxdS exdS 1 6 . .ke2;t. B.a3 Wii c 7 9.b4 e5 1 0.bxa5 e4 1 1 .tLlg1 l':!.xa5 1 2.tLlge2 h5 1 3 .tLlc1 �e7 14.tLlb3 J:!.aB 1 5 .h3 0-0 1 6 .�e2 h4 1 7.a4 bxa4 1 BJba4 �b7 1 9.i:i.a2 tLlh7 20J�'c2 f5°o Black has good counterplay in the centre and on the queenside (Bareev-Yakovenko , Mos cow 2 0 0 5 ) ; C) 7.�d3 This is the move most often met in practice. As a result. several reli able replies have been worked out for Black. IS9
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
C 1 ) 7... e51 Attractive and - the main thing - also in the spirit of the position. B/ilxe5 If 8 .�c2 e4 9 . ttJd2 g6 Black has good chances , for example: 1 0 .0-0 �g7 1 1 .f3 exf3 1 2 .'�Wxf3 0-0 1 3 .�h 1 as 1 4.a3 �b 7 1 5 .e4 b4 1 6 .tLle2 �a6 1 7 .l::l [2 ViII e 7 1 8 .eS ttJe8 1 9 .tLl f4 ttJc7 2 0 .Vill h3 ttJxeS 2 1 .Ville 3 ttJg4 2 2 .1:Ixe7 CUxfH 23.g l l::la e8 24.1:Ixc7 �xd4 2 S . ttJf3 ttJh3 + 2 6 .�h 1 ttJf2+ 2 7 .�g l CUh3 + 2 8 . � h 1 ttJf2 + draw, Evdokimov Matlakov, St Petersburg 2 0 0 7 . B...tLixe5 9.dxe5 lLlg4 1 0.f4 The only way to fight for an advantage; after 1 0 .�e2 Black has no problems: 1 0 . . . �xeS 1 1 .Vill d4 ttJd7 1 2 .b4 �e7 1 3 .a4 �f6 1 4 .'i'd3 ttJxcS ! l S .bxcS b4 1 6 .�b2 bxc3 1 7 . �xc3 �fS 1'fxf6 1 9 .1'fd4 e 7 + 1 8 . �xf6 Kornliakov. 1 0.....bc5 1 H j'f3 'ii' b SI?
C 1 1 ) 1 2.We2!? One supporter ofthis irrational-looking move, strangely enough, 1 60
is that most ardent advocate of classicism in chess, Boris Gelfand. White's play is to some extent remindful of the famous Steinitz Gambit. 12 ... lLlhS White has a small advantage after 1 2 . . . tLlxe3 1 3 .�xe3 �xe3 1 4 .ttJxdS ( 1 4.'iVxe3 �g4+ l S .d2 d4 1 6 .'i'g3 dxc 3 + 1 7 .bxc 3OO) 1 4 . . . cxdS l S .1:Ixe3!. 1 3.h3 1 3 .fS ? 1'fc7 1 4.1:If4 f6 ! l S .e6 1'fxf4 1 6 .exf4 g6+. C 1 1 1 ) 13 ...a 5 1 3 ... �e7 ! ? 14.�d2 .ia6 1 5 .f2 l S .l::l hc 1 also deserves consider ation : l S . . . b4 ( l S . . . �e7 ! ?) 1 6 .ttJa4 �xd3 + 1 7 .c;t>e l ! 1'fbS O J 8 . .l"!.xcS ( 1 8 .tLlxcS �c400) 1 8 . . . �e4 ( 1 8 . . . 'iWa6 1 9 .11cc 1 'iVbS = ) 1 9 .'i'g3 'iWd3 2 0 . l:kc 1 °o . 15 ... �e7 (Gelfand-I. Sokolov, Merida tt 2 0 0 5 ) 1 S .f5!?±; C 1 1 2) 13 ...lLlf5 The last word in this variation belongs to Black, and specifically, Aronian. Black draws the fire of the white pawns on himself, which is fully justified by the resulting increased exposure of the white king. 1 4.g4 lLle7 1 5.�d2 0-0 1S.l:tac1 The apparently fierce 1 6 .g is not so terri ble; mate is not yet threatened, which al lows Black to create his own threats: 1 6 . . . 'i'c7 1 7 .'i'f4 l::l d 8�; 1 6 .a4 ! ? 1S ...f6 1 7.exfS J::r.xfS 1 B.e4 �d4 1 9.exd5 cxd5 20.'�d1 J::r.f7 21 Jl:e1 �b7 22.'iVe2 tLlg6 23�xgS hxgS 24.'ii'eS l:tdB with an obvi ous advantage to Black, Gelfand-Aronian, Wijk aan Zee 2 0 0 8 . C 1 2 ) We should not discount the less committal move 1 2.lLld1 , for example: 1 2 ...lLlhS 1 3 .f5 "Wic7 14.�d2 'iYxe5 Worse is 1 4 . . . 0 - 0 l S J:t:c 1 �b6 (Bacrot-Karjakin, Khanty-Mansiysk 2 0 0 7 ) 1 6 .0-0 l::l e 8 1 7 .�c3 b4 1 8 .�d4 cS 1 9 .b3 l::l x eS 2 0 .ttJb2 ! ± . 1 5 .�c3 'iYdS 1S .�xg7 J:[g8 1 7.fS �b4+ 1 B.lLlc3 'ii' e5 1 9.0-0 lLlg4
Chapter 1 7 : Seizing Space: 6.c5 �bd7
20.'tiVf4 �xf4 2 1 .exf4 �c5 + 2 2 . 'it>h l �d8 2 3 . �xh7 11e8°o. Back to the position after 7 .�d3 .
C2) 7..:'ilc7
bring the bishop t o f4, in order to strengthen control over the square e5, but Black has other ways to create counter-chances. There is no danger for Black in 1 2 .�g5 tLlf6 1 3 .�xf6 �xf6 1 4 .tDe5 �xe5 1 5 .dxe5 0-0 1 6 .�f3 �e6 1 7 ..l:He l Uad8 =. 1 2 ...lbf6 1 3.il.f4 'iYb7 1 4.�eS 0-0 1 S.�xf6 exf6 16.lbe1 Or 1 6 .d5 f5 1 7 .dxc6 �e7 1 8 .�d5 �xb2 1 9 . Mb l �c3 . 1 6 ... �e6 1 7.lbc2 fS 1 8.�g2 IHd8+ D. Gurevich-Burmakin, Graz 1 9 9 5 . D ) On 7.b4 there follows the standard reaction 7...aS White is better after 7 . . . �c7 8 . a4. 8.bxaS
A typical piece of preparation, but the move is associated with the loss of a tempo. As a result, White can invite fa vourable complications : 8.0-0 eS 9.e4 9 . dxe5 tLlxe5 1 0 .tLlxe5 �xe5 I l . e4 tDg4 1 2 .g3 �xc5 1 3 .exd5 cxd5 1 4.�e2 �h5 I S .�xg4 �xg4 1 6 .11e 1 + 'it>f8 1 7 .�xd5 'i'xd5 1 8 .tLlxd5 ::ld8= 1. Vukic-Zaja, Zagreb 1 9 9 5 . 9 ... exd4 1 0.exdS dxc3 1 1 .d6 �a7 12J�le 1 + \td8 13.b4 with compensa tion; C3) 7... g6
�g7 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.lbxe4 Ibxe4 11 ..be4 W/c7 1 2.g3 White prepares to
8.0-0
D 1 ) 8 ...'iVxaS 9.�d2 b4 1 0.lbb1 Black is fine after 1 0 . tLle 2 tLle4 1 1 . tDc 1 e5 ! . This energetic advance is possibly even stron ger than the line seen in practice: 1 1 . . .tLlxd2 1 2 .�xd2 e5 1 3 . tDb3 �a4 1 4.tLlxe5 tLlxe5 1 5 .dxe5 �xb3 ( 1 5 . . . �e7 1 6 .�e2 f6 1 7 . exf6 �xf6 1 8 . tDd4) 1 6 . axb3 IDa 1 + 1 7 .'it>e2 �xc5 ( 1 7 ... �6+ 1 8 .'it>f3 Uxfl 1 9 .i¥a2+-) 1 8 .�c2 11a5 1 9 .f4 ( 1 9 .'�;>d2 0-0 20 .�d3 g6 2 1 .�b2 �d7 2 2 . 11 a l Ma3) 1 9 . . . f6 Wang Yue-Yakovenko, Taiyuan 2 0 0 6 . After 1 1 . . .e5 there follows 1 2. tD b 3 �a 3 1 3 .tLlxe5 tDxe5 1 4 .�c l (also in Black's favour is 1 4 . dxe5 �b2 1 5 .�e2 Mxa2 1 6 . Mxa2 �xa2 1 7 .�xb4 �a6 161
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
I S .ttJ d4 �xe2 1 9 .1Llxe2 'lib2 2 0 .�a5 2 1 . � b6 'lib4++ Komliakov) 1 4 . . . 'lia4 1 5 .dxe5 �xc5 1 6 .'lic2 �b6 1 7 .�d3 �a6 I S .�xa6 .l:rxa 6 + . 10...tLle4 1 1 .a3!? Alexey Dreev has suggested 1 1 .�e2 e5 1 2 . 0 - 0 , but after 1 2 . . .�e7 1 3 .a3 lLlxd2 1 4.lLlfxd2 (or 1 4.lLlbxd2 bxa 3 ) 1 4 . . . exd4 1 5 .lLlb3 'ifc7 1 6 .exd4 bxa3 Black has adequate play. 1 1 ..,l-Llxd2 In the following game, Black equalised after 1 1 . . .E!.bS 1 2 . .l:.a2 xh2 'iVh4+ 2 0 . 'it>g 1 'ilfxh6 (Veingold-Morozevich , Tallinn 2 0 0 3 ) 2 1 .g3 tLlf6 2 2 .tLlf4 �gS 2 3 .'�g2 ttJe4 24.'ilfd 3 ;t Komliakov. 1 6 .exd4 b6 1 7.cxb6 'i'xb6 1 8.1:1ac1 .!':(cB 1 9.ttJf4 ttJf6= Komliakov; B) 9.ttJd3 We have just seen a similar plan. 9 ... h6 1 0.h3 g5 1 1 . �h2 �g7 1 2 .0-0-0 0-0 13.g4 �g6 14.e3 ttJe4 15.ttJa4 ttJef6 16.f3 ttJe8 1 7.h4 f6 1 8.hxg5 fxg5 1 9.�e2 e6 20.ttJe5 ttJxe5 21 .�xe5 ttJf6 2 2.il.d3± (Gyimesi-Zaj a, Austria Staatsliga B 2 0 0 2 / 0 3 ) . Black's position has many weaknesses, and he has no counterplay. S.
...
e4xd5
ilJ1 -d3
tLlbS-d7
11.
itc1 -f4
tLld7xe5
12.
itf4xe5
It is clear that the position of the rook on a7 cannot be regarded as a great achieve� ment for Black. White only needs to de velop his pieces and seize the only open file. itfS-e7
12.
...
13.
0-0
0-0
14.
.l:lf1 - e 1
ith5-g6
1 5.
itd3xg 6
h7xg6
1 6.
l:!.e1-e2
tLlf6-g4
1 7.
iVb3-b61±
e7-e6
No better is 8 . . .dxe4 9 . .ite2 e6 1 0 . .itxhS tLlxhS 1 1 . 0-0 ct:Jf6 1 2 . .itgS .ite7 1 3 . .!:tad 1 0-0 1 4J:He 1 ct:Jbd7 l S . tbc4 Me8 1 6 .h3 tLldS 1 7 . .itxe7 .l:'!.xe7 1 8 . tbxe4± (Iotov Tzekov, Sunny Beach 2 0 0 S ) . 9.
1 0.
e6xd5
Topalov-I. Sokolov, Wijk aan Zee 20 04. Conclusion
It is rather amazing that players - and not only weak ones ! - still play this line as Black.
1 69
Chapter 19 The Rare 5
. . .
gs
1 .d2-d4 d7-d5 2.c2-c4 c7-c6 3.lLlg1 -f3 lLlg8-f6 4.lLlb1 -c3 a7-a6 5.c4 -c5 g 7-g6
The move 5. . .g6 is seen more rarely than 6 . . . CiJbd7 or 6 . . .jJ.,fS , because the whole com plex of lines involving . . . CiJh5 leads to White 's advan tage. At best Black may hope to transpose in to the variation with 5. . . CiJbd7 . •••
After 6.h3 .J1g 7 7 . iH4 0-0 8 . e3 Black does best to play 8 . . . ltJbd7 , going into the S . . . b3 f4 3 6 .iYg4± Elianov-Kamsky, Kerner tt 2 0 0 7 . 14.hS ILlfS 1 4 . . . iLh7 J 5 .l:!.g l ;t. 1 S.l:'Ig1 �h7 1 S.lLlf3! Wid8 1 6 . . i.f6 1 7 .'fib3 iLdS I S .e4 tLlxd4 1 9 .ttJxd4 tLJx c5 2 0 . 'fj a3 iLe 7 2 1 . 'fjas ± Komliakov; 1 6 . . . iLdS 1 7 . e4 dxe4 I S .tLJxe4 i,a5+ 1 9 . �fl ± ; H.Wib3! 1 7 .e4?! dxe4 I S .ttJxe4 tLlf6 1 9 .tLJeg5 iLgS xd4, xh5 . 17_b6 1 8.cxbS 'lWxbS 1 9.WixbS 1 9 . tLle5 'i'xb3 2 0 . axb 3 tLJxe5 2 1 .iLxe5 as 2 2 . ttJaH. 1 9 ...lLlxbS 20J!cH Gelfand Kir. Georgiev, France tt 2 0 0 0 . .
-
Back to the main line. 7.
'"
tUf6-h5!
Black attempts at all costs to eliminate the f4 bishop. It is striking that, despite two tactical weaknesses on f5 and h5 , the computer does not see a forcing refuta tion of this move.
8.
iLf4-e5
If S .iLd3 Black has the elegant manoeu vre S . . . tLJxf4 (the direct S . . . i,xd3 9.'fixd3 tLJxf4 1 0 . exf4 b6 l 1 .cxb6 'fixb6 1 2 . 0 - 0 favours White) 9 . exf4 (9. iLxf5 tLlxg2+ 1 0 .�fl e 6 ! ) 9 . . . iLg4! 1 0 .i,e2 iLxf3 l 1 .iLxf3 e6 1 2 .0-0 g6 1 3 .'i'd2 draw, Marin-Komliakov, Calcutta 1 99 7 ; The exchange o f bishops is nothing for
Chapter 20: The Sortie 5 . . . ££5
Black to fear : 8 .tUh4 tUxf4 (8 . . . �g 6 ? ! 9.�gS ;t) 9 . tLlxfS tUg6=; After 8.�gS h6 9 .�h4 gS 1 0 .tUd2 � g 6 1 1 .�e2 tUdf6 1 2 .�g3 tUxg 3 1 3 .hxg3 �g7 Black has good counterplay. a
.. .
f7-f6
Black plays quite concretely, not fearing ghosts, and thereby obtains decent play. A) After S ...t.iJxe5 9.t.iJxe5 l.iJfS 1 0.g4 1 0 .�d3 ! ? �xd3 1 1 . 'il'xd3 tUd7 1 2 . tUxd7 l\I'xd7 1 3 .tUa4 'il'g4 1 4.0-0;t KomJiakov. 10... geS 11 .14 gS 12.�d3 �g7 13.15 �c8 1 4.�f3t White seizes the initiative on the kingside Rogozenko-Kutirov, Skopj e 2 0 0 2 ; B) S...l.iJhfS 9.�g3 9 .'ijVb3 l:!. a 7 1 O .h3 tLlxeS 1 1 .�xeS �d7 1 2 .itd3 �xd3 1 3 .tbxd3 eS 1 4 . 0-0-0 ( 1 4.dxeS tUxcs I S.tLlxcS �xcS 1 6 .l:!.cl 'il'e7 1 7 . 0 - 0 l:!.a8 1 8 .e4 d4 1 9 .tLle2 0-0 2 0 . tUf4 as=) 14 ... exd4 l S .exd4 �e7 1 6 .l:rhe l 0-000 Komliakov. 9...l.iJe4 Better is 9 . . . b 6 ! ? 1 0 .cxb6 'il'xb6 1 1 .'li'b3 e 6 1 2 .'iVxb6 d7=l= Komliakov. 8...e4 9.tZld2 i!.e7 1 0.13 The more cautious 1 0 .�e 2 does not change the assessment: 1 0 . . . 0 - 0 1 1 . 0 - 0 b6 1 2 .tLlb3 bxc5 1 3 .bxc5 as 14.I:!.b l °o Komliakov. 1 0 ... exf3 1 1.t2:\xf3 0-0 1 2.i!.d3 b6 1 3.0-0 as 14.cxb6 �xb6 1 S.bxaS �xaS 1 6.e4 dxe4 1 7.tZlxe4 i!.a6 1 8.c!2Jxf6+ tZlxf6 1 9.i!.xa6 �xa6= The pawn weaknesses cancel each other out, and the game is equal; B 1 2) The best choice is to put the bishop on the long diagonal with 7.i!.b2 and after 7...eS to exchange on e5 , so that the bishop will not just be a 'big pawn' on b2.
B) The other pawn move 6.b4?! looks more logical, but is not really a priority at this stage.
B l ) 6 ...'il'c7 is a logical move; Black does not allow the enemy bishop to f4 and
prepares the advance . . . e7 -e5 . B l l ) Now the routine 7:1i'c2 allows Black to obtain counterplay without any great problems : 7. . e5 8.e3 Black is fa voured by 8 . dxe5 ? ! tLlxe5 9 .tLlxe5 'iVxe5 .
A t the very least, White retains the open ing initiative here, for example: 8.dxeS tZlxeS 9.tZlxeS �xeS 10.tZla4 �f4 1 1 .i!.d4!? In the endgame after 1 1 .'ii' d4 'ii' xd4 1 2 .�xd4 White can also count on a defi nite advantage, for example: 1 2 . . .�5 1 3 .tLlb6 ldd8 1 4.e3 tLid7 1 5 .tLlxd7 .l:Ixd7 l 6 .a4 f6 1 7 . �e2 �e7 1 8 . g4 �e4 1 9 .f3 �g6 2 0 .h4 0-0 2 1 .h5 �e8 n.f4t Niesch-M. Horvath, Germany Bundesliga B 2 0 0 4/ 0 5 . 1 1 ...�fS 1 2.c!2Jb6 !id8 1 3 .e3 'il'h4 The move 1 3 . . . 'iYg5 prevents White from completing the development of his kingside, although on g5 the queen co181
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
mes under attack from the enemy pawns: 1 4-.M 'iYg6 l S .hS 'iYgS 1 6 .�eS ttJd7 1 7 . ttJxd7 'itJxd7 1 8 .'iYd4-;!; Komliakov. 1 4 . .llI.d3 .l1t.xd3 1 S.'WIxd3 .l1t.e7 1 6.0-0 0-0 1 7.a4 l:!:feB 1 B.bS axbS 1 9 .axbS tLle4 20.iI'c2 .l1t.f6 21 .11a7;l; White's initiative on the queenside develops more quickly than Black's counter play on the opposite wing. B2) 6 ... aS?! A dubious decision - why give the opponent play on the queenside? Even without an invitation, White wants to play b4--b S , but this would require considerable preparation. 7.bS eS B.e3 e4?! Better is 8 . . . tZl e4-! ? 9. bxc6 bxc6 1 0 .�c2 tDxc3 1 1 .�xc3 e4- 1 2 .tZld2 �e7 Kornliakov. 9.tLld2 .llI. e 7 10 . .!lb1 !? 0-0 11 . .llI.e2 cxbS 1 2.tLlxbS tLlbB 1 3 .tLlc3;l; Komliakov; B3) 6 ... tLle4 After White has played b2-b4-, the knight on c3 is somehow 'hanging in the air ' , and Black seeks to exploit this immediately. White faces a choice: if he defends the knight, then Black takes on c3 and brings his other knight to e4-. If instead White himself ex changes on e4-, then Black gets another good central outpost, on dS .
7 .tDxe4- dxe4- 8 .tDd2 tDf6 9 . tDc4- tDdS 1 0 .�b3 �e6 1 1 .e3 g6 1 2 .�d2 �g7 1 82
1 3 .�c2 f5 1 4-.�e2 �c7 = Demarre-T. Martin, Issyles Moulineaux 20 04-) B4-) 6 ... g6 and now: B4- 1 ) 7.h3 is somewhat excessive pro phylaxis. Even in clo sed positions, there is no point in wasting tern pi. 7. ..'tic7 It is also possible to stick to the previ ously-chosen course : 7 . . . �g 7 ! ? 8 . .if4 0 - 0 9 . e3 as 1 0 . a3 ttJe4- 1 1 .'i¥c 1 axb4 1 2 . axb4- l:!.xa 1 1 3 . �xa 1 b6 1 4 .'YWa3 bxc S l S .bxcS ttJdxcS + , seizing the ini tiative (Komliakov) . B. .llI. g S hS 9.1h4 tLlhS 1 0.g4 gS 1 1 .gxhS gxh4 1 2�g1 J:lh7 1 3.tLlxh4 .ld:g7 1 4.�xg7 .llI.x g7 1 S.li:JfS 1f8 1 6 .tLlg3 tLlf6 1 7.iI'd2 I think th at after 1 7 . e 3 ! ? �g7 1 8 .'ilYf3 eS 1 9 .tDa4 White can fight for a small advantage. 17 ...e5 1 B.e4 .llI.e6 1 9.dxeS tLlxe4 20.li:Jgxe4 dxe4 21 .iI'd4 .llI. g 7 22.tLlxe4 .llI.xeS 23.lZIdS+ il'xd 6 24.'ihd6 .llI. xd6 2S.cxd6 �d7, and the ending is better for Black (Feldman-Magem Badal s, Las Ve gas 1 999); B4-2) 7.e3
Now the dark-squared bishop only has one road - to b 2 . 7... .llI.g7 B. .llI.d3 0-0 Also reasonable is 8 . . . eS ! ? 9 . �c2 (or 9 .tZlxe5 ttJxeS 1 0 .dxeS tDg4' 1 1 .f4 0-0 1 2 .'iYe2 aS�) 9 . . . 0-0 1 0 .0 -0 e4- 1 1 .tDd2 b6 1 2 .cxb6 tDxb6°o Komliakov. 9ib2 eS 1 0.dxeS tLlg4 1 1 .0-0 tLlgxeS 12 ..llI. e 2 tLlxf3+
Chapter 2 I : Flexibility: 5 . . . �bd7 6.h3
1 4 .�e2+ ElarbiMohammad, Turin 2 0 0 6 ; B43 ) 7.£Lb2 � g 7 8 . g 3 0-0 9 .�g2 e S (Black carries out his plan consistently) 1 O.dxeS ttJg4 1 1 .e6 fxe6 1 2 .0-0 as 1 3 .a3 tDgeS 1 4.ttJxeS ttJxeS I S . ttJa4 tDc4 1 6 .�xg 7 <Jo>xg7 1 7 .e4 "iYf6 with approxi mately equal play (Dyachkov-Sotnikov, Ekaterinburg 1 9 9 6) . C) 6.g3 Although this move has been seen even at grandmaster level, I person ally could not allow my hand to put the bishop on the same diagonal as the black pawn wall b 7 -c6-dS . However, its favour able statistics make one look more kindly on this fianchetto, whilst White avoids closing in his other bishop with e3 , and at the same time avoids committing it too early. Instead, he simply completes his de velopment.
C l ) The break 6 ...b6 weakens Black's central pawn chain. White can reorganise his forces and harass the weak pawn on c6: 7.cxb6 'lixb6 8.�g2 e6 9.0-0 �e7 10:�c2 0-0 1 V lla4!? Premature is I I .e4? ! dxe4 1 2 . ttJxe4 ttJxe4 1 3 .'l'Wxe4 ttJf6 1 4.'iVc2 �b7 I S .�e3 tDdS 1 6 .ttJeS lIfd8 1 7 .'iVe4 lIac8 1 8 .lIfc l cS=, and Black, haVing rid himself of the c6 pawn, achieves fully equal play (Rodriguez Gon-
zalez-Franco, Leon 2 0 0 6 ) . 1 1 ... 'liVb5 1 2.�f4 h6 Black's life is not especially eased by 1 2 . . . cS ?! 1 3 JH c l c4 1 4.tDc3 'i'b6 15 .�ab 1 �. 1 3J;Uc1;!; Kornliakov; Cl) 6 ... g6 7.�g2 �g7 8.0-0 0-0
And now: C2 1 ) On 9.b4 the familiar manoeuvre 9_tLle4!? looks convincing, for instance: 1 0.�b2 Play develops in Black's favour af ter 1 0 .ttJxe4 dxe4 I I .tDg5 ttJf6 1 2 .�e3 �fS 1 3 .h3 h6 1 4.g4 �xg4 I S .hxg4 hxg5 +. 1 0...tLlxc3 1 1 .�xc3 a5 1 2.a3 tLlf6 1 3 .tLle5 tLle4= Kornliakov; C n ) 9.h3 Another version of the famil iar prophylaxiS. 9 . . . �e8 1 0 .�c2 eS 1 1 .dxeS ttJxe5 1 2 .ttJxeS lIxeS 1 3 .�f4 �e8 1 4. �ad1 'il'aS ! ? I S .�d6 ttJe4 1 6 .ttJxe4 dxe4 1 7 .b3 e3°o Kornliakov; C23) On 9.�f4 there follows the stan dard 9 . . . 4Jh5 1 0 .�e3 ! ? Wic7 I 1 .Wid2 e5 1 2. ttJ a4 1I b8 with mutual chances; C24) 9.'liVc2 White frees the square d 1 for the rook and himself prepares to at tack the centre with e2-e4. 9 ... ne8 1 0.:6!:d 1 tLlh5 There is no clear equality af ter 1 0 . . . tDf8 I I .h3 h6 1 2 .ttJe S , for ex ample: 1 2 . . . �fS 1 3 .iVb3 �c8 1 4. ttJa4 tD6d7 I S .g4 �e6 1 6 .�f4 gS 1 7 .�g3 �xeS 1 8 .�xeS ttJxeS 1 9 .ttJb6 Wic7 2 0 . ttJxa8 �xa8 2 1 .dxe S ;1; Kurnosov- Volkov, Sochi 2 0 0 7 . 1 1 .e4 dxe4 1 2.'iYxe4 1 83
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
ttJdf6 1 3 .'ii' e 2 �g4 1 4.h3 �xf3 I S .'ii'xf3 �f8 1 6 .g4 tLlg7 1 7 .gS tL'ld7 1 8 .dS l:rc8 1 9 .�f4 Also good is 1 9 .tL'la4 'ii' a S 2 0 .dxc6 bxc6 2 1..!:t x d7 'ii'x a4 2 2 .'iVe4� Komliakov. 19 ...e5 20.dxe6 J::ixe6 21.h4 'iiY e 8 22.jLh3 tLJf5 23.jLxf5 gxf5 24.jLg3 tLJxc5 25.'li'xf5 :§.d8 26.�xd8 'iiYxd8 27.l:Id1 \We8 28.'it>g2! Sorokin-I. Popov, Sochi
2007; C2S) 9.tLJa4 The knight seeks new pas tures. 9 ... tLJe4 1 0.jLf4 f6 1 1 .'lWb3 e5 1 2.jLe3 exd4!? White is better after 1 2 . . /.i;'h8 1 3 Jhc 1 'ffi e 7 1 4 . .l:i:fd l � Kahn-Kern, Bu dapest 1 9 9 4 . 1 3.jLxd4 'lWe7 Another method of counterplay is also good: 1 3 .. .fS 1 4.'iWd 3 'iWe7 I S . .l:i:ac 1 f4 1 6 .e3 fxg3 1 7 .hxg3 .l:i:b8°o Komliakov. 14.l:I:ac1 J::!: b 8 1 5 .jLe3 g5 1 6.jLd4 g4 1 H'Ve3 gxf3 1 8.exf3 f5 1 9.jLxg7 'tlixg7 20.fxe4 fxe4 21 .f3 exf3 22.jLxf3 tLJf6 with chances for both
sides.
1 3 . .l:!.c1 �b 7 . 1 4.tLld2 (White wants to organise an outpost on cS for his knight, but in doing so, he gives his opponent more freedom of action in the centre) 1 4 . . . e S I S .ttJb3 tLle4 1 6 .�e7 l'1fe8 1 7 .�a3 exd4 1 8 .tUxd4 l:rac8 19.�f3 ttJeS (also perfectly possible is 19 c5 2 0 . ttJbS �a6 2 1 .ttJbc3 tLlxc3 2 2 .bxc3 d4= Komliakov) 2 0 .�e2 tL'ld7 2 ] .�f3 ttJeS 2 2 . �e2 tLld7 2 3 .�f3 , draw Vyzhmanavin-Dreev, Lvov 1 98 5 . D ] 1 ) I f 8.jLe2 0-0 9.0-0 lle8 1 0 .h3 eS 1 1 .b4 Black can, of course, close the cen tre, accepting a slightly inferior position, but he can also exchange OIl d4 1 1 . . . exd4, and after the more or less forced 1 2 .tLlxd4 ttJf8 1 3 .tL'la4 ttJe6 1 4. ttJxe6 �xe6 1 5 . ttJ b6 he has the tacti cal resource l S . . . l"tb8 1 6 . �f4 tL'ld7 != , al lowing him to maintain equality; D 1 2 ) 8.jLd3 ...
D) The rare continuation 6.jLg5 also de serves attention, after which Black does best to put the question to the bishop im mediately, before resolving the develop ment of his own pieces.
D l ) 6 ...g6 7.e3 jLg7 It is also possible to start attacking the white pawn chain immediately: 7 . . . b6 8 . cxb6 �xb6 9 . .l:i:b l as 1 0 . �e2 �g 7 1 1 .0-0 0-0 1 2 .ttJa4 'iWa 7 1 84
On the one hand, the bishop is more ac tively placed here than on e2, but on the other, it may come under attack after Black plays . . . e7 -eS . 8... 0-0 9.h3 Another line that has been seen is 9. 0-0 .l:i:e8 1 0 .�f4 ttJhS 1 1 .�gS fs 1 2 .tL'ld2 ttJhf6 1 3 .f4 ttJe4 1 4.ttJf3 b6 I S .cxb6 'iWxb6 1 6.tL'la4 'fIJa7 1 7 .�xe4 dxe4 1 8 . ttJeS tLlxeS 1 9 fxeS �e6 2 0 . b 3 , and White had a small advantage (Raspovic-Sirnik, Zadar 2 0 0 4) . 9 . 1:.e8 . .
Chapter 2 I : Flexibility: S . . 42Jbd7 6.h3 .
10.�f4 tLlhs 1 1 .0-0 There is no danger for Black in 1 1 .�h2 es 1 2 .dxeS tLlxeS 1 3 .ttJxes �xes 1 4.0-0 �xh2 + I S .Wxh2 'iie7 1 6 .tLla4=. 1 1 ...ttJxf4 1 2.exf4 ttJfS 13.J:te1 ttJeS It is true that Black has not managed to achieve the break . . . e7-es , but in return, the pawn on d4 is in need of defence. 14.ttJe2 bS 1 5 .15 gxf5 1 S .�c2 bxc5 17..bf5 ttJfS 1 S.dxc5 �xf5 1 9.�xf5
Komliakov; D 1 3 ) S.h3 bS 9.cxbS �xbS 1 0.'lWc2 0-0 1ull. d3 c5 1 2.0-0 cxd4 After 1 2 . . . c4 1 3.�e2 �b7 1 4.Mab l . . . b3� White takes the initiative on the queens ide. e5=
13.exd4 a5 14.ttJa4 'lWa7 1 5.'lWe2 eS 1S.l:!:ac1 ttJbS Exchanges do not solve all
the problems: 1 6 . . . �a6 1 7 .ha6 'iYxa6 18 :�xa 6 Mxa6 1 9 . MC7:t Komliakov. 17.tiJc5 ttJbd7 1 S.ttJa4 ttJbS 1 9.ttJc5 ttJbd7 20.�f4 ttJxc5 21 ..i:ixc5 �aS 22.�xaS 'lWxaS 23.�xaS J.haS 24 ..i:ifc1 ;l;; (LysYJ-Slugin,
Nizhnij Tagil 2 0 0 6) . White's chances in the ending, of course, are better, but he cannot claim a large advantage, since he weakness of the pawn on d4 will always haunt him.
Dl) S ... hS 7.�h4
D2 1 ) 7... gS S.e3 �g7 9.�b3 0-0 1 0.0-0-0 l:i:eS 1 1 .�d3 g5 1 2 .�g3 ttJh5 1 3.�e5 ttJxe5 14.ttJxe5 �xe5!? Bad is 1 4 . . . f6 ? (Tuzhik-Y. Grachev, Novosibirsk 2 0 0 7 ) on account of 1 5 . tLlc4 dxc4 1 6 Jhc4+ e6 1 7 .g4±. 1 5.dxe5 �c7 1 S .�e2 ttJg7 1 7.h4 g4 Undoubtedly, Black does not wish to open lines on the side where his king is castled, but even after 1 7 . . . 'iYxes nothing deadly for Black is apparent, for example: 1 8 .hxgs hxgs 1 9 .94 tLle6 2 0 .'iYc2 4Jf8 2 1 .4Ja4 �e 6 2 2 .4Jb6 Mad8 2 3 . .l::!. d 4oo. 1 S.�a4 h5 1 9.e4 d4 20.'lWxd4 ttJeS 21 .'iVe3 �xe5 22.ttJa4 ttJf4 23 .�f1 �eS 24.g3 tLjg6 25.ttJbS J::r a dSoo Black has sufficient
counter play (Komliakov) ; D2 2) 7_g5 S.�g3 ttJh5 9.e3 From a practical point of view at least, 9 .�es ! ? is more dangerous for Black, because after 9 . . .f6 1 0 .�g3 es l 1 .e3 tLlxg3 1 2 .hxg 3 e4 1 3 .tLld2 fs 1 4.'iYhs+ ( 1 4.�e2 4Jf6°O) 1 4 . . . <Jite7 his king has had to take to its heels, which is always unpleasant. 9 ...ttJxg3 1 0.hxg3 �g7 1 1 .�d3 e5 1 2.�f5 e4
The chances are equal. Back to the position after the main move: 6.
Now 7 . . . gs is the most consequent move, although of course a more restrained ap proach is also possible:
h2-h3
A) It is possible to attack the pawn on cs : S ... bS!? 7.b4 The pawn on cs must be 185
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
defended, otherwise White's whole set-up loses its point. 7 .cxb6 is totally harmless because of 7 . . . 'iYxb 6 8 .e3 as 9.Ad3 Aa6 1 0 .0-0 e6 I I .Axa6 'i'xa6 1 2 .'i'c2 Ad6 1 3 .e4 lUxe4 1 4.lUxe4 dxe4 I s .lUgS lUf6 1 6.lUxe4 lUxe4 1 7 .1i'xe4 0 - 0 = Stocek-Keitlinghaus, Budapest 1 9 9 6 . 7...a5
can obtain slightly better chances by means of 1 9.iLe3 .�xe3 20.fxe3 nabS 21 .0-0 >i.>e7 22.l::l a b1 I1hcB 23.l:!.b5 l:lb7 24JUb1 l::l c6 25.'.t>h2 f5 26.exf6+ gxf6:!: ; B) 6 ... g6!? 7.iLf4 iLg7 B.e3 0-0 9.�d3
9 .Ae2 lUe4 1 0 .lUxe4 dxe4 1 1 .t2:ld2 eS 1 2 .dxeS lUxcs 1 3 . lUc4 �e6= Chebanenko. 9 ..,t2JeB 1 0.0-0 ttJc7 . l:1e8, . . . eS Chebanenko. . .
6.
...
'iVd8-c7
The main move: it is logical to occupy the key diagonal. Now Black is ready to ad vance.
B.b5 This mini-break is also seen in the
classical Queen's Gambit. But in this version, it is not dangerous for Black and only leads to exchanges. B ...iLb7 9.'lIfa4 Black is better after 9 . cxb6 e6 1 0 .e 3 cS 1 1 .i1l.e2 cxd4 1 2 .4Jxd4 i1l.b4 1 3 .i1l.d2 0-0 1 4 . 0-0 4Jxb6 I S .a3 i1l.d6 1 6 .�b3 i1l.c7 1 7 JHc l �d6� Vasilevich-Foisor, Plovdiv 2 0 0 3 . 9 ...'iYcB 1 0.e4 White must play energetically ; if Black can stabilise his position, he sol ves all his problems. 1 0 ...t2:J xe4 1 Vl:lxe4 dxe4 1 2 .ttJe5 ttJxe5 1 3.dxe5 e6
As well as this developing move , there is also 1 3 . . . bxcS ! ? , for instance : 1 4.Ae3 e6 I S .ihe4 c4 1 6 . Axc4 Ab4+ 1 7 . Wfl 0 - 0 1 8 .b6 cS 1 9 .'i'c2 a4 2 0 .a3 (or 2 0 .£d3 i1l.a 6) 20 . . . �aS with a double edged position (Komliakov) . 1 4.bxc6 iLxc6 1 5 .iLb5 iLxb5 1 6 .�xb5+ 'lIfd7 1 7.�xd7+ >i.>xd7 1 B.cxb6 iLc5 (Nguyen
Chi Minh-Schandorff, Germany Bundesliga 2 0 0 3 /04) , and here White 1 86
7.
�c1 -g5
A) Black can now avoid the main lines by playing 7...h6!? B.iLh4 ttJh5 Worse is 8 . . . gS ? ! 9 .�g3 'i'aS 1 0 .4Jd2 �g7 I l .e3 'li'd8 1 2 .�e2 b6 1 3 .M as 1 4.a3 .ib 7 1 5 . 0 - 0 0-0 1 6 .t2:l b3t Sundararajan Volkov, Internet 2 0 0 5 . 9.g4 The re strained 9 .e3 does not cause Black par ticular trouble, for example: 9 . . . gS 1 0 .ttJd2 gxh4 (also good is 1 0 . . . t2:ldf6 ! ? I l . g4 gxh4 1 2 .gxhS e S 1 3 .t2:lf3 e4 1 4.lUxM :ctg8 I S .'i'e2 .fie7 1 6 .t2:lg2 b 6 1 8 .lUf4 jtd6= 1 7 . cxb6 'li'xb6 Komliakov) 1 1 .iI'xhS eS 1 2 .'li'xM iLg 7 1 3 .iI' g 3 0-0 draw (Bellon Lopez Fernandez Romero, Campillos 2007) . 9 ... g5 1 0.gxh5 gxh4
Chapter 2 1 : Flexibility: 5 . . . �bd7 6.h3
11 ...bS The idea of exchanging rooks on g 7 , at the cost of several tempi, is not jus tified : 1 1 . . .lih7 1 2 .e3 lig7 1 3 .'uxg7 i1Lxg 7 1 4.liJxh4 b6 1 5 .'iVg4 i1LfS 1 6.cxb6 'il'xb6 1 7 . 0- 0 - 0 'ubS I S . 'ud2 tUf6 1 9 .�f3 ± Guseva-Stefanova, Sochi 2 0 0 5 . 1 2.cxbS 'lWxbS 1 3 .'lWd2 libS 14.0-0-0 eS 15.�c2 Wic7 1 S.e3 �e7 1 7.1:rg7
this non-standard position, White has a number of dangerous plans, but Black can always fmd some sort of counterplay. A I ) 1 1 .e4 This move only looks aggres sive - from e4, the white knight will not have great prospects. 11 ... dxe4 1 2.lbxe4 �g7 1 3 .ttJc3 White effectively acknowl edges his error, but even after 1 3 .i1Lc4 ! ? 'i'f4 1 4 .'iI'e2 \t>fS 1 5 .'if e 3 'il'xe 3 + 1 6 .fxe3 It'lf6 1 7 .tUxf6 i1Lxf6 I S . e 4 ligS 1 9 .Wf2 e5 ! � Black has sufficient counterplay (Komliakov) . 1 3 ... ttJfS 14.�c4 'lIif4 1 5.iVe2 �f5 1 S .)1g1 0-0 In fact, Black can already take the initia tive: 1 6 . . . tUxh5 ! ? 1 7 J:l d l lidS I S .'if e3 �f6� Komliakov. 1 7.�e3 tbxh5 1 S.ttJe5 �h7 1 9,1ue2 �xe3 20.fxe3 jLxe5 21 .dxe5 J:tadS 22.ttJd4 eS 23.:1:1f1 jLgS 24.0-0-0 Ii.lg3 25.J::tf4 ttJf5= I. Sokolov-Malakhov, Selfoss 2 0 0 3 ; A2) 1 1 .e3 e5 1 2.tt1xh4 exd4 The more ambitious 1 2 . . . ,UgS ! ? deserves consider ation, for instance: 1 3 .'iI'f3 e4 1 4 .�e2 b6 1 5 .cxb6 tUxb6 1 6.�d2 i1Ld6 1 7 .tUg2 �e7 t Komliakov. 1 3.exd4 �e7 1 3 . . . iVf4 ? ! is not good because o f 1 4.tUg2 ii'f6 1 5 .�e2+ \t>dS I 6 . 0 -0-0 i1Lg7 1 7 .tUe3 ! ± . 14.liJg2 .6[gS 1 5 .Vi:Vd2 ttJfS 1 S .ttJe3 ttJeSoo with a double-edged position (Komliakov) ; A3) 1 1 .11g1 Definitely the most poison ous move. In
This move is reminiscent of the ice-hockey ploy, of knocklng the puck deep into the opposing half of the rink: the rook is not really attacking anything of significance, but it gives Black some thing to worry about! 1 7...c5 1 S.dxc5 .�fS 1 9.1ig4 'lWxc5 20.tbd4 tbe5 21 .1:;[g 1 The 'puck' has to return home after all. Even so, White's chances are superior, since the black king will not find a safe home for some time to come. 21 ... ttJcS 22.tbb3 'lI!VbS 23.tba4 'lWc7 24.wb1 i&d7 25.a3 'lWe5 2S .ttJac5;t Zhukova-Stefanova , Elista 2 0 04; B) Instead of 7 . . . e5 or 7 . . . h6, the impa tient knight leap into e4 is dubious: 7 ttJe4 S.ttJxe4 White gets nothing from S .i1Lh4 'i' as 9 .e3 ligS 1 0 . 'i' c2 g 5 I l .i1Lg3 tUxg3 1 2 .fxg3 e5 1 3 .dxe5 tUxc5= Komliakov. S ... dxe4 9.ttJd2 f5 Black does not really have full compensa tion for the pawn after 9 . . . h6 1 0.i1Lh4 e3 .•
IS7
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
1 1 . fx e3 4:Jf6 1 2..�f2 . 1 O.e3 g6 1 1 ..iLc4 .iLg7 1 2.'i¥b3 The weakness of the a2-gS diagonal gives Black some problems, for example: 1 2 ... b5 1 3 ..iLgS tLlf6 1 4.'i¥f7+ cbd7 15.ii.xh7!+- Vasilevich-Stefanova, Antalya 2002. Back to the position after 7 . �gS . 7.
...
a.
e2-e3
e7-e5
Doubling the pawns with S .�xf6 gxf6 is not too frightening for Black, for in stance : 9.e3 fs 1 0 .4:Jh4 4:Jf6 1 1 .iLe2 4:Je4 1 2 .4:Ja4 �e6 1 3 .4:Jf3 exd4 1 4. exd4 �h6 I S . 0 - 0 0-0 1 6 .l::t e 1 hS+ Cramling Stefanova, Hyderabad 2 0 0 2 . a.
...
l s .tZlfS g 6 1 6 .b4 iLxM 1 7 .0-0 'laS S . .tt x M 'i"xM 1 9 . tLlxd5 tbxd5 2 0 .�xd5 gxf5 2 1 .�xaS 0-0 n..igS �b 7 2 3 .'i"a7 tLle5 24.'i'e3 ± C. Hansen-S.B. Hansen, Malmo 2 0 0 3 . I
9.
...
0-0
Or 9 . . . h6 1 0 .�h4 exd4 I l .exd4 b6 1 2 .cxb6 'i"xb6 1 3 . 0 - 0 0-0 1 4.lLla4 'ie7 Sundararaj an-Neelotpal, I S .l':c 1 i Visakhapatnam 2 0 04 . 1 0.
0-0
.!:!.fa-ea
The problems are not fully solved by 1 0... exd4 1 1 .exd4 .t:leS 1 2.�d3 tbfS 1 3 .'i'd2 tLlh5 1 4J:tfe1 .iLe6
�fa-e7
1 5.�xe7 Better than 1 5 �e 3 , although even here, after 1 5 . . . lt'lg6 1 6 .lt'l e2 �c8 1 7 . � c 2 Jtd8 ( 1 7 . . . Jtxh3 ! ? I S . gxh3 'l:!fxh3 1 9 .tLlg3 ( 1 9 .ihg 6 fxg6 20.tiJeS )lfs 2 l ..l:i'.ad 1 �h 4 2 2 . lIn :tIf5 +t) 1 9 . . . tZJxg3 2 0 . fx.g3 'i"xg 3 + 2 1 .'Ii'g2;t) I S .tLle5;;!; Black never fully equalised, Avrukh-Svetushkin, Calvia 2004) . 1 5 ... l1xe7 1 6 . .t:le5 tLlf6 1 7.J!j,ae1 J:[aeS 1S.b4 tLlg6 1 9.ii.xg6 hxg6 20.a4 �f5 21 .g4;1; Black's position is passive, but solid. .
9.
£f1 -e2
White also has the cunning move 9.�h4 , threatening an unpleasant pin from the square g 3 . Probably Black then has to clarify the situation of the eS pawn: 9 . . . exd4 (Black has a rather prospectless position after 9 . . . e4 1 0 .4:Jd2 ( 1 0 .�g3 ! ?) 1 0 . . . 0 - 0 1 l .�e2 l::t e S 1 2 . 0-0 4:JfS 1 3 .b4 h6 1 4 . a4 tLl6h7 I S .�g3 'lWdS 1 6 . b S ± Kazhgaleev-R. Kozlov, Pavlodar 2 0 0 6 ) 1 0 .exd4 b 6 I l . cxb 6 'lWxb 6 1 2 . l::tb 1 cS . The position is full of life, although in the follOWing example, Black was out played: 1 3 .�e2 cxd4 1 4.t2Jxd4 �c5 1 8S
11.
Wid1 -c2
1 1 .tLlxe 5 tLlxe5 1 2 .ru4 liJfd7 1 3 .dxe5 t2Jxe5 1 4.l:k 1 �f5 1 5 .�g4 �g6 1 6 .Wh 1 ( 1 6 . tLl a4 1 ? �f6 1 7 .�b3 �e7=) 1 6 . . . :tadS ( 1 6 . . . �xc5 ! ? 1 7 . �xe5 'i'xeS 1 8 .f4 'lWd6 1 9 .f5 �xf5 2 0 . hf5 g6
Chapter 2 1 : Flexibility: 5 . g7 (in one game, I incau tiously exchanged knights , but the bishop endgame turned out to be highly unpleasant: 2 6 . . . CiJdS 2 7 .4JxdS ilxd5 2 s . c;t>fI f6 29 . .§i.g4 fs 3 0 .ile2 c;t>f7 3 1 .g3 c;t>e6 3 2 .c;t>e3 �g2 3 3 .ilc4+ .§i.dS 34.�f1 h6 3 S .h4 hS 3 6 .c;t>d4 �h 1 3 7 .b S ± Shirov-Bologan, Germany Bundesliga 1 9 9 2 / 9 3 ) 2 7 . c;t>fI h6 2 S .c;t>e3 fs 2 9 .h4 c;t>f6 3 0 . g 3 ilb3= Izeta-Magem Badal s, Zaragoza 1 9 94. 20 ..Jl:xd5 White has a small advantage af ter 2 0 . . . l::r xe 2 2 1 .'iYxe2 'iYxc3 2 2 . 11 d 1 cxdS 2 3 .'iYe7 'iY b 3 2 4 . .tHl tLle6 2 S .'iYeS+ c;t>g7 2 6 .'iYxcS 'iYxb4 2 7 . c 6 ;t . 2U!li'c1 l:td4 22.b5 '.t>g7= Gelfand-Shirov, Linares 1 9 94; B642) 1 0.b4 tiJc7 1 1 .0-0 :!:le8 1 2. .Iil.g5 a5 1 3.a3 b6
1 93
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
1 4.cxb6 This exchange eases Black's de fence. More unpleasant for him is 1 4 .'iiV c 2 ! ? bs l S . � d 3 ;t Komliakov. 1 4 . ..ltJxb6 1 S.�b3 �a6 1 6.iLxa6 l'ixa6 1 7/bd2 a4 Or 1 7 . . . axb4! ? 1 8 . axb4 fVa8 1 9 . Mxa6 'iYxa6= Komliakov. 1 B.�c2 �d7 1 9.1:ac1 �cB 20.�d3 �aaB 21 .�f4 ttJbS 22.ttJcb1 f6 23.ttJf3 0,c4 24.tbfd 2 ttJb6 2S.ttJf3= Hulak-Ibragimov, Dj akovo 1 9 94; B643) 1 0.�h2 ttJc7 1 1 .0-0 J"l:eB 1 2.ttJa4 Breaking in the centre does not really give White anything , since his opponent is excellently prepared: 1 2 . e4 dxe4 1 3 . 4Jxe4 4Jf6 1 4 .4Jc3 4JfdS l S .�eS �xeS (less accurate is 1 S ... �h6 1 6. �c4 �e6 1 7 .'l'!'b3 4J b S 1 8 .Mfe 1 �d7 1 9 .4Je4 Mad8 2 0 .a4 4Ja7 2 1 . 4JegS �fS 2 2 . �g3 f6 2 3 .4Je4 �h8 24.Mad 1 ;t Sher bakov -Shirov, Moscow 1 993) 1 6 . ttJxeS ttJf4 1 7 .Me 1 �e6 1 8 .iYd2 4Jxe2 + 1 9 . 1:!.xe2 f6 2 0 . tnf3 'l'!'d7 2 1 . 4Ja4 4JdS=. 1 2 ...e S There i s no point in delaying this central blow: 1 2 . . . f6 1 3 .'l'!'b3 �h8 1 4.4Jb6 ( 1 4. l:!.ad 1 does not prevent Black's plan : 1 4 . . . eS 1 S . dxeS fxeS 1 6 .e4 d4 1 7 .M c l ttJe6 1 8 .Mfd 1 Wie7 1 9 .Wic2 Mf8 2 0 .Mfl ttJf4 � Ahlander- Schandorff, Hillerod 1 9 9 S ) 1 4 . . . ttJxb 6 l s .Wixb 6 4Je 6 1 6 .Wib 3 ;t Komliakov. 1 3 .ttJb6 ttJxb6 1 4.cxb6 ttJe6 1S ..beS �xb6 1 6 .iLxg7 1 6 . Wi c2 ! ? Wi d8 1 7 .Mfe 1 �xeS 1 8 . ttJxeS . 1 6 ... ttJxg7 1 7.�d2 ttJfS 1 B.b4 Worthy of consider ation is 1 8 .4JeS ! ? f6 1 9 . 4Jd3 4Jd6 2 0 . 4JcS . 1 B ... ttJd6 1 9.�c3 iLfS 20.a4!? 2 0 . 4Jd2 (Elianov-Dovzik, Simferopol 2 0 0 3 ) 2 0 . . . 4JbS 2 1 . �xb S axb S + ) 20...ttJe4 21 .'ifb3 f 6 22.iLd3= In this typical Carlsbad structure, the chances of the two sides are roughly equal.
1 94
White will try to develop a minority at tack, whilst Black retains control over the central square e4 and gradually prepares a kingside attack.
Now we come to the main move. S.
...
ttJfS-h5
First the minor alternatives for White: A) 7.iLd2 Sometimes the bishop re treats, simply to gain time on the clock after 7 . . . 4Jhf6 8 . �f4. A I ) 7... g6 Black wishes to utilize his opponent's rather slow approach. A l l ) An equal game results from S.h3 �g 7 9.g4 4Jhf6 1 0 .�f4 hS , for e.xample: 1 1 .Mg 1 hxg4 1 2 .hxg4 b 6 1 3 .cxb6 'i'xb6 1 4 .'l'!'b3 'l'!'aS l S .'iYa4 'iYxa4=, chaw (Stohl-Bologan, Chalkidiki 1 992) ; A 1 2) B.e3 �g7 9 .�e2 ttJhf6 1 0 .0-0 0-0 1 1 .�d3 Me8 1 2 .4Ja4 eS 1 3 .dxe5 ttJxeS 1 4 . 4JxeS Mxe S 1 S .i.c3 J::t e8
Chapter 2 2 : Flexibility: S
1 6 .etJb6 kib8 1 7 .�d4 tDd7 . . . Chebanenko; A 1 3 ) 8.e4!? dxe4 9.tLlxe4
QQ
eS=
And now: A 1 3 1 ) 9...tLldfS 1 0.tLlxfS+ Black has good counterplay after 1 0 .tDc3 �g4 1 1 .�e3 tDg7 1 2 .�c4 �e6 1 3 .�e2 tDfs 1 4.�f4 .d 2 �xe 5 24.dxe5 h 5 2 5 . .!:l fe 1 i Topalov Kamsky, Sofia 2 0 0 6 ) 1 9 . dxe5 tjj x e5 2 1 . ttJ a 4 �xh3 2 0 . ttJxe5 '=:xe5 2 2 . �xh3 '=:d5 2 3 .'=:c2 ttJe4 24. tjj b 6 ttJxd2 2 5 . ttJxd5 ttJxfl 2 6 . �xfl 'iWxd5 2 7 .'ijlxd5 cxd 5 = WOj taszek- Laznicka, Pamplona 2 0 0 6 . 11 ... 0-0 1 2 .�f4 'MVd8 1 3.0-0 tLlh5 1 4.�d2 f5 1 5 .tLla4 If one gets too wrapped up in one 's own plans, and forgets about the opponent's ideas, then one can easily fall into an unpleasant position: I S .b4 e5 1 6 .dxe5 tLlxe5 1 7 . ttJa4 ttJc4 l S . �c 3 �xc3 1 9 . tjj x c3 f4 2 0 . g 4 ttJ g 7 2 1 .'ijld3 1!.e8 22 . .l::!. c e 1 ttJe6 2 3 . ttJb 1 a 5 + Volke Movses ian, Germany Bundesliga 2 0 0 6 / 0 7 . 1 5 ...e5 1 6 .dxe5 tLlxe5
A43 3 1 ) There is no danger for Black in 1 7.�c3 ttJxf3 + I S .�xf3 �xc3 1 9 . .!:lxc3 ttJg7 2 0 .ttJb6 ( 2 0 . e 3 �e6 2 1 .14 'JiIf6
Chapter 22: Flexibility: S . . . f8 1 7.l:!.fe1 ±.
All) 1 0... e5 1 1 . .£h2 e4
A2 1 ) Of course, Black would like to ex change the enemy bishop with 1 0...tl"lxf4?! but in this case, the e-file is opened, and in many cases, the black king begins to feel uncomfortable. For example : 1 1 .exf4 and now: A2 1 1 ) Bad is 1 1 ...'iWc7 because of 1 2 . f5 ! tLlf8 1 3 .ne 1 ! gxf5 1 4 ' tLlh4± Dreev; A2 1 2 ) 1 1 .. b6 1 2 . b4 a5 1 3 . b5 ± ; A2 1 3 ) 1 1 ... 0-0 1 2 .f5 gxf5 1 3 .�xf5 tLle5 (or 1 3 ... e5 1 4 . 4'lh4) 14 .�xh7 + �xh7 1 5 .dxe5 fxe5 1 6 .4'lxe5 a:f5 1 7 .f4±; A2 l 4) 1 1 . e6 1 2 . .l:!. e l Wf7 ; A2 1 5) 1 1 ...e5 1 2.f5! Black is fine after 1 2 .fxe5 fxe5 1 3 . 4'lxe5 �xe5 1 4.dxe5 0-0. 12 ...exd4 It looks very risky to play 1 2 . . . 0-0 1 3 .fxg6 e4 1 4.gxh7 + �xh7 1 5 .Le4+ dxe4 1 6 .tLlxe4 b6 1 7 .�c2 �g8 l S .4'ld6 with compensation; or 12 ... g5 13 . .l:!.e l 0-0 1 4.b4 as 1 5 .b5 e4 1 6 .�xe4 dxe4 1 7 .�b3 + �h8 l S .tLlxe4 a4 1 9 .'iVc4 cxb5 2 0 .�xb5 .l:!.a6oo al,
.
..
208
1 2.g4!? I think this energetic move is even stronger than Stohl's piece sacrifice: 1 2 .iii.xe4 dxe4 1 3 . 4'lxe4 0-0 (bad is 1 3 . . . �f8 1 4 .�b3 ttJg7 1 5 . .l:!.ad l ±) 1 4 .4'ld6 (on 1 4 . g4 there is 1 4 . .f5) 1 4 .. .f5 1 5 .�b 3 + ( 1 5 . g4?! fxg4 1 6 .hxg4 4'lhf6 1 7 .4'lg5 'iVe7 1 8 .e4 4'ld5 1 9 .f4 h6 2 0 . tLlh3 �h4 2 UH3 4'l 7 f6+ Sakaev- Volkov. New Delhi 2 0 0 0 ) 1 5 . WhB 1 6 .tLlf7+ llxf7 1 7 .'iVxf7 'iVg8 1 8 .,xf3 1 8 .gxf3 .9:fe8 1 9 .�d6 .irs 20 .'iVxd4 ttJxcS 2 1 .fs;;!; Malakhov Stefansson , Selfoss 2 0 0 3 ; C) There is a very interesting sugges tion of Igor Stohl : B.. .f6 The idea is in several lines to pIa y . . . e7 -eS immediately, without developing the bishop to g 7 . The bishop may then g o to e 7 or cS . 9.0-0 It looks too slow to play 9 .h3 e S 1 0 .dxeS ttJxf4 I l .exf4 fxeS 1 2 . fxeS (or 1 2 .lIJ xeS ttJxeS 1 3 .fxeS Jl.xcS 1 4. 0 - 0 i'gS) 12 ... Jl. g 7 1 3 . 0 - 0 0 - 0 1 4 .Me l tlJxcS +. 9 ... e5 9 . . . �g7 1 0 .h 3 ± transposes to the main line. 1 0.dxe5 tLlxc5 11 .!:!e1 There is no danger for Black in 1 1 ..!te2 ttJxf4 1 2 .exf4 �e700. 11 ...�g7 If I I . . .lIJxd3 1 2 .'iI1xd3 Jl.g7 1 3 . exf6 ttJxf6 there is the unpleasant 1 4 .e4 ! , for in stance : 1 4 . . . 0-0 I S .i.gS dxe4 1 6 .�xd8 l!i.xd8 1 7 . ttJxe4 Mf8 1 8 .ttJxf6 + �xf6 1 9 . �xf6 lhf6 2 0 .ne8+ nf8 2 1..l:!. e 7 l'1fl n Jhe 1 h6 (or n ... �fS B . nxf7 \tJxfl H.g4 Jl.d7 2 S .tLlgS +±) 2 3 .l:'te8 + nfS H.l:'t l e 7 ± . 1 2.exf6 tLlxf6 1 3 .�e5 4Jxd3 14.'i'xd3 0-0 1 5 .e4 �g4 16 .exd5 i.xf3 17.gxf3 tLlxd5�. •
As said, this move is rather committal. but it is not so easy for Black to demonstrate its downside. 'To take or not to take' is in this case a matter of taste. The following analysis shows that White's dark-squared bishop can be allowed to live. B.. �g71? 9.�h2 A) Bad is 9...tLlhf6 in view of 1 O . ttJeS hS 1 1 .i.e2 ttJg4 1 2. jLxg4 hxg4 1 3 .tLlxd7 �xd7 1 4 .'iYb3 Mxh4 I S . 0 - 0 - 0 and White was clearly better in lzoria-Safin, Dubai 2 0 04; B) White is better after 9 ... b6 1 0 .cxb6 'iVxb 6 1 1 .'W'd2 ( 1 1 .'iVb3 ! ?) 1 1 . . . 0-0 1 2 .Jl.e2 tLlhf6 1 3 .ttJeS cS 1 4. ttJa4 'iVe6 1 6 .tLlxcS ttJxcS ttJxd7 I S .ttJxd7 1 7 .dxcS ± ; C) There is not full equality after 9 ... tLldf6 1 0 .ttJeS ttJd7 I I .tLlxd7 i.xd7 1 2 .�e2 ttJf6 1 3 .hS ttJe4 1 4.tLlxe4 dxe4 I S .�b3 'iVaS + 1 6 .�fl i.c8 1 7 .i.f4 and White had a slight advantage in Palo-Seel, Bad Worishofen 2 0 0 4; D) 9... 0-0 10.�e2 tiJhf6 On 1 0 . . . l:'te8 there is the unpleasant reply I I . g4 tLlhf6 1 2 .l::. g 1 b6 1 3 .cxb 6 'iYxb6 1 4.1/i'c2 i.b7 .
209
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
(Hubner-Papa, Stuttgart 2 0 04) l S .tLld2 ! ? e S 1 6 .gS tLle4 1 7 .tLlcxe4 dxe4 1 8 .tLl c4 'iVb4+ 1 9 .'iVc3 ±. 1 1 .ii:leS ii:le4 1 2 .ii:lxd7 �xd7 13.'/i1Vb3 Or 1 3 .tLlxe4 dxe4 1 4.a3 I:te8 I S .hS i1i.e6 1 6 . 'iVc2 i1i.dS 1 7 .0-0-0 eS 1 8 .hxg6 hxg6 1 9 .1heS �xeS 2 0 .dxeS 'iVgS 2 1 . 'i!lb l 'iVxeS 2 2 . I:tM ld.ad8 B . r!dh l Palo-Burmakin, xd2 f6 2 0 .f4 fxeS 2 I .fxeS ld.f4 2 2 . 'it>c3 . 1 s .. :ifc7 1 6 ..id3t Komliakov; A3) 1 3 ... gxhS 1 4.ld.c l ( 1 4.�eS lLixe5 I S .fxeS f6=i=) 1 4 . . . �cJf6 I S .tLleS !; A4) 13 ii:lf6 14.hxg6 fxg6 14 . hxg6 1 5 .l:lxh 8 + �xh8 1 6 .ld. cl ltJe4 1 7 . tt'lxe4 dxe4 1 8 .tLleS �b7 1 9 . 1:1cS= Farago Seres , Budapest 2 0 04. 1 S .ltJeS liJg4 1 6 .ii:la4 �c7 1 6 . . . 'iVb4 1 7 .ttJxc6 WixdH 1 8 .'.t"xd2 ttJxf2 ± . 1 7.l::I. c1 ii:lxe5 1 8.fxe5 0-0 1 9.�d3 �d7 20.l::I. h 4 with the initiative for White (Paragua-Movsesian, Khanty Mansiysk 2 0 0 5 ) ; AS) 1 3 ...cS 14.ii:lxdS 'lie6+ 1S.t2Je3 cxd4 The ending is extremely difficult for Black after l S . . . 'iVe4 1 6 .ld.dl 0-0 1 7 fS cxd4 1 8 .tLlxd4 ltJcs 1 9 .hxg6 hxg6 20.f3 �xd4 2 1 .'iVxd4 i1i.xd4 22 .ld.xd4 i,xf5 23.lLixB gxfS H.1:1dS . 1 6.ii:lxd4 'lllVe4 17.J:id1 nb6 .•
Black has several options in this position: A) 9...�g7 1 0.hS 1 0 .'iVd2 0-0 ( 1 0 . . . b6 I I .cxb6 'Mixb6 1 2 .I:tc l 0-0 1 3 .tt:J a4 'iVa 7 1 4.hS as 1 5 .hxg6 fxg6 1 6 . g 3 tLlf6 1 7 .�cS �fS 1 8 .�d3 e6 1 9 .tLleS �ac8 2 0 . 0 - 0 ± Rustemov-Movsesian, Moscow 2 0 04) 1 1 .hS b6 1 2 .cxb6 tLlxb6 1 3 .hxg6 hxg6 1 4.tLleS 'li'd6 I S .'li'e3 �d7 1 6 .fs �xfS 1 7 .g 4 cS 1 8 .dxc S, draw (Stefansson-Krivoborodov, Pardubice 2 0 0 6) . 1 0...b6 1 1 .cxb6 �xb6 1 2.'lllVd 2 .!:tb8 1 3.b3 210
..
Chapter 2 2 : Flexibility: 5 ... h1 �xg 1 + 3 0 .Wxg 1 I/i'xh3 3 1 .�xaS + �h7 . 2S .... tZJd2 He could de cide matters at once with 28 .. :iVf5 ! ! 2 9 .'Ii'xaS + �h7 3 0 . :!:!.bS :!:!'xg2 . 29:&!xcS+ llxeS+
18
Ilincic-Tosic Jahorina tt 2 0 0 1
23
1 S....�e5 In this way, Black liquidates his
opponent's pressure on the open file and obtains the advantage. 1 9.ki.xeS+ J::.xeS 20.�d4 'ge7.
19
J. Ivanov-Rustemov Dos Hermanas 2 0 0 2
De Villiers-Pick Durban Open 1 9 9 5
1 1 .e6! A blockading pawn sacrifice, the idea of which is to prevent Black finish ing his development normally. Black de clines the sacrifice but still has problems mobilising his forces on the kingside. 1 1 ....f6 1 1 . . . fxe6 1 2 .'Ii'xd3 g6 1 3 .0-0±.
1 2.15 White gets rid of his doubled pawn
1 2.0-0 g6 1 3.'ilVxd3 �g 7 1 4.h4±
and slightly weakens the pawn protection around the black king. 1 2 .... b6 1 3 .exb6
24
tZJxb6 14.fxg6 hxg6 15J;l.e1 �
20
Ivanchuk-Kasparov Prague (blitz-m / 3 ) 2 0 0 2
The difference between the squares e4 and e5 is that White cannot cover the e4-square by playing f3 , whilst 1 2 . .. .lt:le4
222
Lie-Ramirez Pula Open 2 0 0 7
1 1.tZJ xe6 I n our day, this idea has also be come standard: White sacrifices the
knight for two pawns, in order to obtain connected, far-advanced passed pawns. 1 1 ...�xe6 1 2 .axb5 tZJdxe5!? 1 2 . ..'I'c8 1 3 .b6±. 1 3:iVa3±
Solutions
25
Dreev-Volkov Samara
28
1998
Gelfand-Movsesian
Po1anica Zdroj
2000
1 7....a5! Using his advantage in develop
1 2.f5 An elegant positional sacrifice.
ment and the extremely poor position of the white king, Black develops a fierce initiative within a few moves. 1 8.it,g2 The problems are not fully solved by 1 8 .4Jb6 �c3 + 1 9 .�d2 4Jxd2 2 0 . 'i¥xd2 .!:!.b8 2 1 .bxaS iVxcS =F . A better defence was of fered by the move 8 .bS ! ? , not allowing Black to include the rook on a8 in the game. For example, 1 8 . . . 4Jc3 1 9 . 4Jxc3 �xc3 + 20 .�xc3 �xc3 + 2 1 .�d2 �b4+.
White plays to restrict his opponent's minor pieces. 1 2 .... e4 1 3.it,xe4 dxe4
18 ....axb4 1 9.lI:lb6 l:la3-+
Bologan
26
Milos-Morozevich
New Delhi
2000
From the positional point of view, this exchange is favourable to Black, but in stead he had available a hidden combina tional solution: 3 S ... �xh4! 3 6.gxh4 .!:!.g6+ 3 7 .�g2 (3 7 .�h1 �d7 3 8 . �h2 �d6+ 39.�h1 �f6) 37 . . .�e2 3 8 .�xa4 (38 .�c2 .!:!.xg2+ 39 .�xg2 �d7-+) 3 8 . . .�xa4 39 ..!:!.xa4 �f3 -+ . 36.it,xe2 J:i:xe2+ Bologan 35 ...�e2
27
Krasenkow-Movsesian
Po1anica Zdroj
2000
1 7....it,xh3 An accurately calculated blow,
thanks to which Black obtains a large ad vantage. 1 8.gxh3 'iWxh3 1 9.14 1 9 . iV d 1 tLlf3 + (!) 2 0 .�xf3 �eS -+ ; 1 9 .�c3 fs 20.f4 4Jg4 2 1 ..!:!.f2 tiJxf2 2 v;i>xf2 "llUh 2 + 2 3 . h1 d4! 21 .�e1
1 4.lLlxe4 0-0 1 5.'Ii'b3+ '.t>h8 1 6 .lLld6 it,h6 1 7.J:'l.fe1 ±
29
Dreev-Rausis
Luzern Wch-tt
1 99 3
1 1 .a4! Tactics in the service 0 f strategy! It turns out that the knight on c6 is unsta ble. and White manages to disrupt his op ponent's queenside. 1 1 .... .i1lb7 1 1 . . . b4 1 2 .as �b 7 1 3 . 4Ja 4 4Je4 1 4.Jtd3 tiJxd2 l S . �xd2 'fIc7 1 6 . 0 - 0 ;!;; ; 1 1 . . .'ihc6 1 2 .4J e4 �b6 l 3 .aS �b8 1 4.'!:!'xc8+ ! 1 4 . . . �xc8 l S .tiJxd 6 + . 1 2.axb5 axb5 13 .lLlxb5 it,xc6 �xb5 16 .�b4±
14.lLlxd6+ We7 15 ..i1lb5
30
Variation from 5 .e3 b5 6.c5 13 ....e5! It appears that White has taken all possible measures to prevent this advance. Even so, as the analysis below shows , it is precisely with this move that Black seizes the initiative, by exploiting the concrete tactical features of the position. 14.fxe5 lLlxe5 15.dxe5 axb4 l S . . . �xeS 1 6 .0-0 axb4 1 7 .axb4 '!:!'xa 1 1 8 .�xa 1 �h4 1 9 .h3 �xh3 20.�e 1 'il'h6 t. 1 6.lLlxb5 1 6 .axb4 k!:xa 1 1 7 .'lWxa l d4 1 8 .exd4 ( 1 8 .�e2 �xeS 1 9 .0-0 'il'M 2 0 . g3 �xg3 2 1 .hxg3 �xg3 +-+) 1 8 . . .�xd4 1 9 .�b 1 .!:!.d8 2 0 . 4Je4 �S 2 1 .�f4 �xd3 2 2 .�xd3 lhd3 =F. 1 6 .....ixe5 1 7.0-0 �a6 1 8.�xb4
'li'h3+ 22.'.t>g1 dxe3+
.ltxa1 1 9.1Lld6 .i1lxd3 20.'iWxd 3 .i1le5 21 .lLlxe8 'iWxe8+
Bologan
Komliakov
223
The Chebanenko Slav According to Bologan
31
Veron-Draoui Syre 2 0 0 6
1 3 . . . '/!'xb2 1 4 . 0-0t. 14.lIxc4t Gagunashvili
1 6 .... J:rxf3! With the aid of this sacrifice, Black clevelolls
a
clangeTC"Y\l.s attack in the
centre and on the kingside. 1 7.�xf3 exd4 1 8.t2:ie2?! 1 8 .exd5 with the idea of 1 8 . . . dxc3 (very unpleasant is 1 8 . . . 4Je5 ) 1 9 .d6. 18 .... t2:ieS� 1 9.t2:ixd4 t2:ixf3+ 20.t2:ixf3 'lWf4 21 .t2:id4 �g7! 22.l:lfd1 �eS 23.f3 'li'e3+ 24.'.1>g2? Better is 24.'it>h l . 24 .... �xd4 2SJ�ab1 �h3+ 0-1 D.Primel.
33
'Pelletier-Morozevich Biel 2 0 0 6
1 1 ....cS! The standard break, after which everything is in order for Black. 12.e5 t2:ig4 1 3 .h3 cxd4 14.t2:idS exdS 1 S.hxg4 'lWe6+
34
Maki Uuro-Dautov Gothenburg Ech-tt 2 0 0 5
32
Gagunashvili-Haslinger Hastings 2006
Here White manages to prevent . . . c6-c5 in a rather unusual way. 1 3 .:aa4 'li'xc4
224
14....lilhS I t i s important to exchange one of the opponent's two bishops. 1 S .i