The Najdorf Bg5 Revisited Volume 1 - Lukasz Jarmula [PDF]

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Table of Contents Title page Key to Symbols Bibliography Preface



PART I – Minor Lines Chapter 1 – Other moves than 7.f4 Chapter 2 – The Polugaevsky Variation Chapter 3 – The Gothenburg Variation Chapter 4 – The 7...Nc6 Variation Chapter 5 – The 7...Qc7 Variation



PART II – The Three Piece System Chapter 6 – Other moves than 10.g4 Chapter 7 – Other moves than 13.f5 Chapter 8 – Mainline with 13.f5 Chapter 9 – Black inserts ...h6



PART III – The Gelfand Variation Chapter 10 – Other moves than 8.Qf3 Chapter 11 – Other moves than 10.Bd3 Chapter 12 – Mainline with 10.Bd3



PART IV – Test Your Knowledge Chapter 13 – Exercises Exercises 1-44 2



Exercises 45-88 Exercises 89-132 Exercises 133-176



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The Najdorf Bg5 Revisited Volume 1 by Lukasz Jarmula Thinkers Publishing 2021



www.thinkerspublishing.com First edition 2021 by Thinkers Publishing Copyright © 2021 Lukasz Jarmula All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission from the publisher. All sales or enquiries should be directed to Thinkers Publishing, 9850 Landegem, Belgium. Email: [email protected] Website: www.thinkerspublishing.com



Managing Editor: Romain Edouard Assistant Editor: Daniël Vanheirzeele Typesetting: Mark Haast/Petra Schuurman Proofreading: Daniel Fernandez Software: Hub van de Laar Cover Design: Iwan Kerkhof Graphic Artist: Philippe Tonnard Production: BESTinGraphics ISBN: 9789464201338 D/2021/13731/46 4



Key to Symbols !



a good move



?



a weak move



!! an excellent move ?? a blunder !? an interesting move ?! a dubious move ™ only move N novelty ‰ lead in development ʘ zugzwang = equality ∞ unclear position © with compensation for the sacrificed material ²



White stands slightly better



³



Black stands slightly better



± White has a serious advantage µ Black has a serious advantage +– White has a decisive advantage –+ Black has a decisive advantage ‚ with an attack ƒ



with initiative



„ with counterplay … with the idea of ¹ better is ≤ worse is + check #



mate



5



Bibliography Books The Sicilian Defence, Lubomir Ftacnik, Quality Chess 2010 Winning with the Najdorf Sicilian: An Uncompromising Repertoire for Black, Zaven Andriasyan, New in Chess 2013 Chess Developments: The Sicilian Najdorf 6 Bg5, Kevin Goh Wei Ming, Everyman Chess 2014 Grandmaster Repertoire - 1.e4 vs The Sicilian, Parimarjan Negi, Quality Chess 2015 Opening Repertoire: The Sicilian Najdorf, John Doknjas & Joshua Doknjas, Everyman Chess 2019 Playing the Najdorf: A Practical Repertoire, David Vigorito, Quality Chess 2020 Electronic/Periodical Power Play 18: The Sicilian Najdorf, Daniel King, ChessBase 2012 Hiarcs 14zb Opening Book Chessbase Mega Database ICCF correspondence bases



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Preface The Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defence, named after the great Polish-Argentine grandmaster, is one of the most popular chess openings at all levels. It has been championed by many elite players, the three most notable being the world champions Robert Fischer, Garry Kasparov and Viswanathan Anand. It enjoys a reputation as a very theoretically sound and uncompromising weapon. The positions that arise in the Najdorf are among the most complex and double-edged positions you can get out of any opening, making it a very interesting, but also demanding choice. The Najdorf has been a part of my repertoire for many years, bringing me many good results. This book is an ambitious project. I decided to thoroughly investigate the sharpest line of the Najdorf Variation, namely 6.Bg5, and produce a master repository of the current state of its theory. The book you hold is the result of many months of research and analysis. It is one step ahead of the presently established theory, because I based a lot of my analysis on new correspondence and computer games. During my work, I discovered many subtle nuances as well as spectacular shots. The material can be challenging in its complexity, but also rewarding in its beauty. The book is intended mainly for advanced and expert players. It is surely worth studying even for very strong grandmasters. In general, the higher your level, the more benefit you will gain from memorizing the lines from the book. However, weaker players can also benefit from studying the material and trying to understand the complex variations. It will certainly improve their tactical intuition. I included a large number of exercises (using critical positions from all the chapters), in which the reader is required to find the best continuation. I believe the process of solving these will greatly help the reader not only to memorize the lines, but also to enhance their tactical and positional skills. My three most important sources were: Hiarcs 14zb Opening Book, an invaluable tool which provided a tree of the variations based on high-level correspondence and computer games; Parimarjan Negi’s 1.e4 vs The Sicilian I – a modern classic which hardly needs any introduction; and David Vigorito’s Playing the Najdorf: A Practical Repertoire, which is (in my opinion) the best book on the Najdorf to date. For other sources see the bibliography. Armed with this book’s knowledge, you can enter the tactical jungle of the 6.Bg5 Najdorf with both colors with confidence. I wish you great success in this most exciting of chess variations!



Lukasz Jarmula, Warsaw, September 2021



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Part I Minor Lines Chapter 1 Other moves than 7.f4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6



Chapter Guide Chapter 1 – Other moves than 7.f4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 a) 7.Qd2 Be7 8.0-0-0 b5 9.Bd3 b) 7.Qd2 Be7 8.0-0-0 b5 9.f3 c) 7.Qf3 -d) 7.Qf3 Nbd7 a) 7.Qd2 Be7 8.0-0-0 b5 9.Bd3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6



8



Position after: 6...e6 7.Qd2 Placing the queen on d2 in the 6.Bg5 Najdorf is much less desirable than in the Rauzer. 7.Be2 This slow approach is inconsistent with 6.Bg5. Black easily achieves comfortable play in many ways and the play has a non-forcing character, so there is not much point in delving too deeply into variations. An illustrative line runs as follows: 7...Be7 8.0-0 Qc7 9.Qd3 h6 10.Bd2 0-0 11.Rfd1 Kh8 12.a4 b6 13.Qg3 Bb7 14.f3 Nbd7 15.Be3 Ne5=. The position is approximately equal, but perhaps easier to play for Black.



Position after: 7.Qd2 7...Be7 7...h6 A) 8.Be3 Ng4 [8...b5 9.f3 transposes to the 6.Be3 e6 variation, with Black having the ‘free’ move ...h6. This is rather beneficial for him.] 9.0-0-0 Nxe3 10.Qxe3 Nc6 11.Kb1 Be7 12.f4 Qb6 B) 8.Bh4? falls into an elementary trap: 8...Nxe4!µ C) 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.0-0-0 Nc6



9



Position after: 9...Nc6 C1) 10.Nb3?! This has been the most popular move, but it’s way too passive to pose Black any problems. It is White who will have to be precise in order not to be worse. 10...b5 11.f4 Qd8 12.Kb1 Be7 13.h4 b4 14.Ne2 Bb7 15.g4 a5



Position after: 15...a5 16.Nbd4! Admitting that the knight isn’t well placed on b3. [After 16.Bg2?! e5!µ White doesn’t get another chance to occupy the d4-square.] 16...Qb6 17.f5 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 e5 19.Nb5 Rd8 10



20.Qg2 Bc6 21.c4 a4= The position is roughly equal, with my slight preference being for Black. C2) 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.f4 Qd8 12.Bc4 Be7=



Position after: 12...Be7= White has the freer play, but Black has the bishop pair and the solid centre.



Position after: 7...Be7 8.0-0-0



11



8.f4!? b5



Position after: 8...b5 A) 9.e5?! This advance leads to an overextension. 9...dxe5 10.fxe5 Nfd7 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Qf4 0-0 13.0-0-0 Bb7 14.Ne4 Nc6 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.Bd3 Bxe4! Eliminating the knight that was threatening to go to d6. 17.Qxe4 Qg5+ 18.Kb1 g6 19.Rhe1 Rad8³ Black has a nice edge thanks to the e5 weakness. B) 9.Be2!



12



Position after: 9.Be2! B1) 9...Bb7 10.Bf3



Position after: 10.Bf3 B1.1) 10...b4 11.Nce2 Qb6 [11...Nxe4? 12.Qxb4! Qd7 13.Nxe6! fxe6 14.Bxe4±] 12.e5 dxe5 13.fxe5 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Nd5 15.0-0-0



Position after: 15.0-0-0



13



15...Bc5! An important move. [After 15...0-0?! 16.Bh6! Black can quickly run into trouble.] 16.Nf4 Nxf4 17.Qxf4 Nc6 18.Qe4 h6 19.Bh4 Bxd4 20.Rxd4 0-0 21.Rc4 Rac8 22.Bf6 This move leads to a draw, but White has nothing better. 22...gxf6 23.exf6 Kh8 24.Qf4 Kh7 25.Qe4+ Kh8 26.Qf4= B1.2) 10...Nbd7 11.e5 dxe5 12.Nxe6 fxe6 13.Bxb7 Rb8 14.Bc6 Rc8 15.Bxf6 [15.Bb7 Rb8= repeats the position.] 15...Rxc6 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.0-0-0 Nb6 18.fxe5 0-0=



Position after: 18...0-0= There is still a lot of play left, but the chances are balanced. B2) 9...b4 10.Na4 Nxe4 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Qe3 Qb7



14



Position after: 12...Qb7 B2.1) 13.Nb3 Ra7 14.a3 bxa3 [14...a5 15.0-0 0-0 16.Nb6 Nc5 17.Nc4 Nxb3 18.Nxd6 Qe7 19.cxb3= White has regained the pawn at the cost of losing the initiative, so the position is completely equal.] 15.Rxa3 d5 16.Na5 Qc7 17.0-0 0-0=



Position after: 17...0-0= White has good compensation for the pawn, but not more than that. B2.2) 13.Bf3 d5 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Nc5 Qc7 16.Qxe4 Ra7 17.Nd3 0-0 18.0-0-0= 15



Position after: 18.0-0-0= The position is dynamically balanced and a complicated battle lies ahead. 8...b5 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.Rhe1



Position after: 10.Rhe1 10...Nbd7



16



10...b4?! 11.Nce2



Position after: 11.Nce2 This position is problematic for Black. 11...Qb6 [After 11...Nc6 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.Nd4 Bd7 14.f4² White has a promising initiative; 11...Nbd7 12.Qxb4² doesn’t give Black full compensation for the pawn; 11...0-0 12.Qxb4² is analogous to 11...Nbd7 12.Qxb4.] 12.Nf4! A brutal move. White threatens both Nxe6 and Nd5. 12...0-0 13.Nd5! Black has to be very careful in order not to succumb quickly.



Position after: 13.Nd5! 17



A) 13...Bxd5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Nxe6! fxe6 16.Rxe6 A1) 16...Bxg5 17.Qxg5 Qc5 18.Be4 Nc7 19.Qg4! Nc6 [19...d5 20.Rxd5! Nxd5 21.Qh5+–] 20.Rexd6+– A2) 16...Qd8 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.Qxb4 Nbc6 19.Qe4 g6 20.Bc4 Kh8 21.Rdxd6 Qa5 22.a3+–



Position after: 22.a3+– Three pawns and a strong initiative are much more than enough compensation for the piece. White is winning. B) 13...Nxd5 14.exd5 Bxg5 15.Qxg5 Bxd5 16.Nf5! exf5 17.Qxf5 g6 18.Qxd5 Nd7 19.Be4± White takes the d6-pawn. C) 13...exd5 14.Nf5 C1) 14...Bd8 15.Bh6!



18



Position after: 15.Bh6! 15...g6 [15...Nh5? 16.exd5! Bc8 17.Ne7+ Bxe7 18.Rxe7 Nd7 19.g4 Nhf6 20.Rxd7! Bxd7 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Qg5+ Kh8 23.Qxf6+ Kg8 24.Rg1! Bb5 25.Bf5!+–; 15...Ne8? 16.exd5 Bc8 17.Rxe8 Rxe8 18.Nxg7 Re5 19.Qf4 Kf8 20.Bxh7 Ke7 21.Be4 Ra7 22.Rd3! f6 23.Rg3!+– White will play Nh5 next, and the rook enters the attack with decisive effect.] 16.Bxf8 Kxf8 17.Qh6+ Ke8



Position after: 17...Ke8 Everything is forced now: 18.Nxd6+ Qxd6 19.e5 Qc6 20.exf6+ Kd7 21.Be4 Qxf6 22.Qe3 Kc7 19



23.Bxd5 Bxd5 24.Rxd5 Nc6 25.Red1 Qe7 26.Rd7+ Qxd7 27.Qf4+ Kc8 28.Rxd7 Kxd7 29.Qxf7+ Be7 30.Qxh7 g5 31.g4± White creates at least one passed pawn and gets excellent winning chances. C2) 14...Nc6! 15.exd5 Nxd5



Position after: 15...Nxd5 16.Bxe7 [16.Be4?! Nc3! 17.Nxe7+ Nxe7 18.bxc3 bxc3 19.Qxc3 Bxe4 20.Rxe4 Ng6 21.Be3 Qd8= Black is a little bit passive, but the white king is weak.] 16...Ndxe7 17.Nxe7+ Nxe7 18.Rxe7



20



Position after: 18.Rxe7 I failed to find a way to equalize for Black in this position. In every case Black’s weak pawns offer White a slight edge. 18...Rae8 [18...a5 19.Rde1²; 18...Rfe8 19.Rd7 Red8 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8 21.Qf4²] 19.Qe3 Qxe3+ 20.Rxe3² 11.f4



Position after: 11.f4 11...0-0 It is important not to fall for 11...b4? 12.Nd5! exd5 13.e5! dxe5 14.fxe5



21



Position after: 14.fxe5 14...Ng8 [14...Ne4?! 15.Bxe7 Nxd2 16.Bxd8 Rxd8 17.Rxd2 and the imminent e5-e6 breakthrough is too much for Black to cope with. 17...Nc5 18.e6 Ne4 19.exf7+ Kxf7 20.Rf1+ Ke8 21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Nf5 Rxd2 23.Nxg7+ Kd8 24.Kxd2+–] 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.e6 Nf6 17.exf7+ Kxf7



Position after: 17...Kxf7 A) 18.Ne6 Qd7 19.Qxb4 Rae8 20.Nc5 Qd6 21.Re6 Qc7 22.Rxf6+ gxf6 23.Nxb7 Kg7 24.Nc5 Ng6 25.Bxa6 Qxh2 26.Qb7+ Re7 27.Qxd5± 22



Position after: 27.Qxd5± White’s connected passers have great potential to decide the game. B) 18.g4 also guarantees White an edge. 18...Re8 19.Rf1! Kg8 20.Rxf6! gxf6 21.Qh6 Ng6 22.Bxg6 Re7 23.Nf5 Rc7 24.g5 Qf8 [24...Bc8 25.Ne7+!



Position after: 25.Ne7+! A tremendous shot, and now 25...Qxe7 26.gxf6 Qe5 27.Rg1 Bg4 28.f7+ Rxf7 29.Bxf7+ Kxf7 30.Qxh7+ Kf6 31.Qh4+ Qg5+ 32.Qxg5+ Kxg5 33.h3± leads to a similar sort of ending.] 25.gxf6 23



Qxh6+ 26.Nxh6+ Kh8 27.Nf7+ Kg8 28.Bh5 Rxf7 29.Rg1+ Kf8 30.Bxf7 Kxf7 31.Rg7+ Kxf6 32.Rxb7 a5 33.Rxh7± White has great winning chances. 12.e5 After 12.a3 Qc7³ Black also has better prospects on the queenside than White does on the kingside. 12...dxe5 13.fxe5 Nd5 14.Bxe7 Qxe7³



Position after: 14...Qxe7³ Black has the better structure and good prospects on the queenside. b) 7.Qd2 Be7 8.0-0-0 b5 9.f3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.0-0-0 b5 9.f3



24



Position after: 9.f3 This is an English Attack with the bishop on g5, which is not a very convenient placement as it blocks the g4-g5 advance. 9...Bb7 The next few moves are not forced, but they are the most natural for both sides. 10.Kb1 0-0 11.h4 Nbd7 12.a3 Rc8 13.g4 d5 14.Bxf6! The only good way to counter Black’s advance in the centre. 14...Nxf6 15.g5 Nh5



25



Position after: 15...Nh5 16.Bh3! Starting a tactical skirmish. 16.exd5 This is possible, but risky. 16...b4 17.axb4 Bxb4 18.dxe6 Bxc3 19.exf7+ Kh8 20.bxc3 Qb6+ 21.Kc1 Qc5 22.Qe3 Rxf7 The practical danger of this position is shown by the fact that White has to find the only move: 23.Re1!= This is objectively equal, but obviously easier to play for Black. 16...dxe4



26



Position after: 16...dxe4 17.Nxe6 17.Bg4 g6 Taking on h5 is never really dangerous for Black, because he can later play ...Bf8-g7, safeguarding the king and putting the bishop on its optimal diagonal. [17...b4?! This piece sacrifice may seem tempting, but it’s unsatisfactory: 18.axb4 Bxb4 19.Bxh5 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Qb6+ 21.Nb3 exf3 22.Qd4 Qc7 23.Qe3 Qxc3 24.Qxc3 Rxc3 25.Kb2² and the f3-pawn is shaky.] 18.Nxe4 Bxe4 19.fxe4 Qb6 20.Rh3



27



Position after: 20.Rh3 A logical move. Since the rook is not much use on the 1st rank, White deploys it via d3. 20...Rfd8 21.Rd3 Ng7 22.Qh2 Bc5 23.Qe5 Bf8 24.c3 Rd7 25.Ka2 Rcd8 26.Be2= A draw was agreed here in Ivanov – Savoca, email 2018. The position is roughly equal and it’s hard for either side to make progress. 17...fxe6 18.Bxe6+ Kh8 19.Bxc8 Qxd2 20.Rxd2 Bxc8 21.Nxe4 Kg8 22.Nd6



Position after: 22.Nd6 The critical move, going after the bishop-pair. 22...Bxd6 23.Rxd6 Ng3! It is crucial to get the knight ‘onside’. 24.Rhd1 Nf5 25.Rd8 Bb7 26.Rxf8+ Kxf8 27.Rd7 Bxf3 28.Ra7 Nxh4 29.Rxa6 Be2=



28



Position after: 29...Be2= This endgame was dynamically balanced in Alonso Gonzalez – Jimenez Ariza, email 2017. In practice there would still be a lot of calculation left to do, and either side could prevail. c) 7.Qf3 -1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qf3



Position after: 7.Qf3 29



The only 7th move alternative to 7.f4 that poses Black serious problems. The point is to put the queen on g3 later, with sacrifices on b5 in mind. 7...h6 7...Be7 8.0-0-0 Qc7 9.Qg3 Nbd7 and play transposes to the later note about 9...Be7. 7...Bd7!?



Position after: 7...Bd7!? An interesting alternative to the traditional schema of development. Black develops more in the spirit of the Rauzer Variation. 8.0-0-0 Nc6 9.Nxc6 Bxc6



30



Position after: 9...Bxc6 A) 10.Qh3 Rc8 11.f4 Be7 12.Bd3 b5!? A highly interesting pawn sacrifice. 13.e5 dxe5 14.Bxb5 Qa5 15.Bxc6+ Rxc6©



Position after: 15...Rxc6© Black has good queenside play for the pawn, as shown by the following game: 16.Qf3 e4!? Another pawn sacrifice! 17.Nxe4 Nd5 18.Kb1 Qa4! The deep point. 19.c3 f6 Now, in order to avoid being worse, White should return some material: 20.Rd4 Qb5 21.b3 Qb6 22.Rhd1 fxg5 23.fxg5 Rf8 31



24.Qh5+ Rf7 25.Qxh7 Nxc3+ 26.Nxc3 Rxc3 27.Qg8+ Rf8 28.Qxg7 Rxb3+ 29.axb3 and a draw was agreed (in view of the imminent perpetual check) in Eman – Weber, email 2018. B) 10.Kb1 Be7 11.Bd3 b5 12.Qg3



Position after: 12.Qg3 B1) After 12...Nh5?! 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Qe3 0-0 15.f3 Nf6 16.Ne2 White’s kingside chances are more promising than Black’s queenside ones, as demonstrated by a number of computer games, e.g. 16...Rfd8 17.h4 e5 18.g4 Qa7 19.Qg5 Nd7 20.Ng3 Nf8 21.Nf5



32



Position after: 21.Nf5 21...Ng6 [21...Ne6 22.Ne7+ Kh8 23.Nxc6 Qc5 24.Qf5 Qxc6 25.Qxf7² and it will be hard for Black to demonstrate full compensation for the pawn.] 22.c4 Bd7 23.h5 f6 24.Qe3 Nf4 25.Qxa7 Rxa7 26.Bf1 Bxf5 27.gxf5² White has a better endgame. B2) 12...Qc7 13.Rhe1 h6



Position after: 13...h6 B2.1) 14.Bd2 leads to forcing play, which should end in a draw: 14...b4! 15.Ne2 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Nd4 Bg6 18.Rxe6! Bxc2+ 19.Nxc2 fxe6 20.Qxg7 Rf8 21.Bxh6 Rxf2 22.Nd4 Qc4 23.Rc1 Qd3+ 24.Ka1 Qe4!



33



Position after: 24...Qe4! Covering e6, c6 and g4. White has to force a draw. 25.Rc7 Rf7 26.Qg8+ Rf8 27.Qg7 Rf7= B2.2) 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 e5=



Position after: 16...e5= The computer initially assesses the position as better for White, but it gradually changes its opinion. I would even prefer Black, because his play is simpler. He can put the king on g7 and advance his queenside. White, on the contrary, lacks a clear plan. 34



Position after: 7...h6 8.Be3 A) 8.Bh4?! Nbd7 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.Be2 Be7³ White is a bit stuck, since Qg3 is not an option due to ...g5. Black, on the other hand, is ready to attack on the queenside with ...Rb8 and ...b5 (or, if the white queen moves, 11...b5 immediately). B) 8.Bxf6?! Qxf6 9.Qxf6 gxf6= This position is objectively equal, but practically very promising for Black. His central pawns take away all the important squares from White’s knights, and the bishop-pair has great potential. I decide not to go further, as the variation is highly uncritical and the play has a very strategic, non-forcing character. 8...e5 8...Nbd7



35



Position after: 8...Nbd7 A) 9.Be2 Qc7 10.a4 b6 11.Qg3 Bb7 12.f3 h5!



Position after: 12...h5! Leaving white with a decision, and no perfect way in which to make it. A1) 13.0-0-0 Be7 14.Kb1 0-0 15.Bh6 Otherwise ...Rfc8 followed by ...b5 would give Black a tremendous queenside initiative. 15...Ne8 16.Bg5 Nef6 [16...Bf6!?= is possible, with doubleedged play.] 17.Bh6= White is obliged to repeat the position. 17...Ne8 36



A2) 13.0-0?! h4 14.Qf2 [14.Qh3 e5 15.Nb3 d5³] 14...d5!³ This typical break already gives Black an easier game. A3) 13.h4 Be7 14.0-0 0-0= The inclusion of h4 and ...h5 favours Black, since, the white king’s position is additionally weakened by f3. B) 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.Qg3 b5



Position after: 10...b5 B1) 11.Bxb5? axb5 12.Ndxb5 Qb8 13.Nxd6+ Bxd6 14.Qxd6 Qxd6 15.Rxd6 Ng4! This is why the sacrifice doesn’t work well in this line. 16.Re1 Nxe3 17.Rxe3 Ne5 18.Rd4 g5µ Black starts a promising kingside play before White has even begun to advance his queenside pawns. B2) 11.a3 Rb8 12.Nb3 [After 12.Bd3?! b4 13.axb4 Rxb4 14.Nb3 Ne5 15.f3 Be7³ White has little counterplay against Black’s queenside advances.] 12...Bb7 13.f3 Rc8 14.Kb1 d5 15.Qxc7 Rxc7



37



Position after: 15...Rxc7 The resulting endgame is equal, e.g. 16.Na5 Ba8 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.c4 bxc4 20.Rc1 Ne5 21.Bb6 Rc8 22.Bd4 Bd6 23.Bxe5 Bxe5 24.Bxc4 Ke7 25.Bxd5 exd5= 9.Nb3 Be7 10.h3



Position after: 10.h3 Black has two promising ways to develop from here: ...Be6, ...Nbd7 and ...Rc8; or ...b5, ...Nbd7 and 38



...Bb7. 10...Be6 10...b5 11.Bd3 [11.0-0-0? b4! 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 0-0µ With ...f5 and ...a5 coming, Black is better on both flanks.] 11...0-0



Position after: 11...0-0 A) 12.g4 b4 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Nd7 15.a3 Rb8! By activating the rook, Black prepares the promising exchange sacrifice mentioned below. 16.axb4 Rxb4 17.Bd2 e4! 18.Bxe4 Ne5 19.Qe2



39



Position after: 19.Qe2 19...Rxe4! A strong exchange sacrifice. 20.Qxe4 f5! The point. Black gets promising play, e.g. 21.Qa4 Nf3+ 22.Kd1 Nxd2 23.Nxd2 fxg4 24.hxg4 Rxf2 25.Re1 Bd7 26.Qd4 Bh4 27.Re2 Rf8 28.c3 Bf6 29.Qb4 Be5© and Black has great compensation for the exchange due to his bishop-pair and safer king. B) 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.a4 b4



Position after: 13...b4 14.Ne2 [14.Nd5? Nxd5 15.exd5 f5!µ is obviously bad for White.] 14...Re8 15.Ng3 Bb7 16.Nf5 Bf8= A dynamically equal, double-edged position has arisen. 11.g4 Nbd7 12.0-0-0 Rc8 13.Nd5



40



Position after: 13.Nd5 13...Nf8! This move is crucial in order to achieve a promising position. Black reroutes the knight to occupy the dark-squares on the kingside. 13...Bxd5? 14.exd5 Nb6 15.Kb1 e4 16.Qg2 Nbxd5 17.Bd2±



Position after: 17.Bd2±



41



White has tremendous compensation for the pawn in the shape of the bishop pair and huge kingside attacking chances (h4-g5, Nd4-f5, etc.). 14.Kb1 Ng6 15.Rg1 Nh7 16.Bb6 Qd7=



Position after: 16...Qd7= A highly double-edged position has been reached. It has been tested in numerous computer games, but still requires over-the-board testing. A critical continuation is: 17.Nxe7 Kxe7 18.Qe3 Ng5 19.f3 Nh4 20.c4 Nhxf3 21.Rg3 Bxc4 22.Rxf3 Nxf3 23.Qxf3 Be6 24.Qd3 Qc6 25.Ba5 b6 26.Bc3 Rhd8=



42



Position after: 26...Rhd8= The position is dynamically balanced. d) 7.Qf3 Nbd7 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qf3 Nbd7



Position after: 7...Nbd7



43



8.0-0-0 8.Be2 Qc7



Position after: 8...Qc7 A) 9.a4 b6 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Qg3



Position after: 11.Qg3 The e4-pawn is poisoned. 44



A1) 11...Nxe4? 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.Qe3! Now the e4-bishop can’t move because a strike on e6 would decide the game. 13...d5 [13...Bd5 loses to 14.c4!.] 14.f3 Bf5 15.Bd3! [15.Nxf5 is also sufficient for an edge, but the text is even stronger.] 15...Bc5 16.Bxf5 0-0 17.Bxe6 Rfe8 18.Bxf7+ Kxf7 19.Qd2 Ne5 20.b4 Nc4 21.Qd3 Bxd4+ 22.Qxd4± White is simply a pawn up. A2) 11...Bxe4? 12.Rfe1! Slowly preparing an attack in the centre. 12...Bb7 13.Bf3 Ne5 14.Bxb7 Qxb7 15.Rad1 0-0-0 16.b4± With b5 and f4 coming, White has the initiative on both flanks, in return for a mere pawn. A3) 11...Be7 12.Rfd1 0-0 13.Bh6 Ne8= The position is objectively equal, but I prefer Black. White has no clear follow-up, while Black can develop queenside play. B) 9.0-0 h6 10.Bd2 b5 [10...b6= is also possible, with an equal position.] 11.b4!?



Position after: 11.b4!? A critical choice. White prepares a2-a4. Other moves do not cause Black any trouble. 11...Bb7 12.a4! bxa4 13.Rxa4 Nb6 14.Raa1 Nc4 15.Bc1 Be7



45



Position after: 15...Be7 16.Qg3 This requires a very non-standard reaction from Black. [16.Qh3?! Ne5 17.b5 axb5 18.Ncxb5 Qd7 19.Rxa8+ Bxa8 20.f3 0-0 21.Be3 Rc8 22.Ra1 Bb7³ and Black was slightly for choice thanks to the better structure and even went on to win in Dijon – Oseledets, email 2017.] 16...h5!= An absolutely key move to remember. Black is actually preparing ...0-0 by preventing Bxh6. 17.b5 0-0 18.Bg5 Rfc8 19.Bd3 Qb6 20.bxa6 Rxa6 21.Rab1 Qxd4 22.Rxb7 Qxc3



Position after: 22...Qxc3 46



A draw was agreed here in Enkalo – Kappes, email 2015, in view of 23.Rxe7 Ra1=. 8...Qc7 8...Be7?! This move is imprecise due to 9.g4!



Position after: 9.g4! A very strong continuation. White wants to retreat his bishop and attack with g4-g5. A) 9...Qc7 10.Bd2 Ne5 11.Qg3 b5 [11...Nexg4 12.Be2 h5 13.h3 Ne5 14.f4± White has tremendous compensation for the pawn in the form of a kingside attack.] 12.g5 Nfd7 13.f4 Nc4 14.f5 Nde5 15.Be1± White’s kingside attack is much more dangerous than Black’s counterplay. B) 9...h6 10.Bd2 Qb6 11.Be1²



47



Position after: 11.Be1² White has various promising kingside plans, e.g. h3 and Bg2; Qh3 and g5; or Qg2/g3 and h4-g5. Taking the g4-pawn does not solve Black’s problems: 11...Ne5 12.Qg2 Nexg4 13.Be2 h5 14.h3 Ne5 15.f4 Ng6 16.Bg3² and White has a great initiative for a pawn. 9.Qg3



Position after: 9.Qg3



48



9...b5 9...Be7 10.Be2 [After 10.f4, play transposes to the Three Piece System with 10.Qg3.] 10...b5 11.Bxb5 [11.a3 Bb7 12.Rhe1 0-0 13.f4 transposes to the Three Piece System with 10.Be2 b5 11.a3.] 11...axb5 12.Ndxb5



Position after: 12.Ndxb5 A) 12...Qb7 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.Nxd6+ Bxd6 15.Qxd6 Bd7 16.Rd4 Qc6 17.Qxc6 Bxc6 18.Rc4 Bd7= The queenside pawns are not easily pushed beyond their current c2-b3-a4 formation. B) 12...Qb8 13.Nxd6+ Kf8!? This move leads to very forcing play, which should end in a draw: [13...Bxd6 14.Rxd6 transposes to 9...b5 10.Bxb5 axb5 11.Ndxb5 Qb8 12.Nxd6+ Bxd6 13. Rxd6 line.] 14.e5 Bxd6 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Rxd6 Rg8 17.Qh4 fxe5 18.Rhd1 Rxg2 19.a3 Kg7 20.Ne4 Rg6 21.R6d3



49



Position after: 21.R6d3 From here multiple repetitions are possible, e.g. 21...Qa7 22.Rf3 Nf8 23.Nd6 f5 24.Ne8+ Kg8 25.Rg3 Qf7 26.Nd6 Qa7 27.Ne8 Qf7= C) 12...Qa5 13.Nxd6+ Bxd6 14.Rxd6 transposes to the 9...b5 10.Bxb5 axb5 11.Ndxb5 Qa5 12.Nxd6+ line.



Position after: 9...b5 10.Bxb5 50



This typical exchange of the bishop for three pawns is the main idea behind putting the queen on g3. A) 10.a3?! This meek move hands the initiative to Black. 10...Rb8 11.f3 Be7 12.h4 A good improvement over two correspondence games is 12...h5!³, stifling White’s potential attack on the kingside. Black plans to castle short and start play on the queenside. His chances are slightly better. B) 10.Bd3 b4! Black need not fear the knight sacrifice. 11.Nd5 exd5 12.exd5 Bb7 13.Rhe1+ Kd8 14.Nc6+ Bxc6 15.dxc6 h6 16.Bh4 Qxc6 17.Be4 Qc8



Position after: 17...Qc8 B1) 18.Bxf6+ Nxf6 19.Rxd6+ Bxd6 20.Qxd6+ Nd7 [20...Qd7 21.Qxb4 a5 22.Qb6+ Qc7 23.Qd4+ Qd7 24.Qb6+=] 21.Bxa8 Qxa8 22.Re7 Qb7 23.Rxf7 Qb5 24.b3³



51



Position after: 24.b3³ Black has slightly better practical chances, but White should have enough activity to ensure a draw. B2) 18.Bxa8 Qxa8 19.Qb3 g5



Position after: 19...g5 In Tesic – Janisch, email 2015 a draw was agreed. Play could have continued: 20.Bg3 d5 21.Qa4 a5 22.Qb5 Rg8 23.Kb1= when Black is materially ahead, but White has the better placed pieces 52



and the safer king. A complex battle is in prospect. 10...axb5 11.Ndxb5



Position after: 11.Ndxb5 Black has three possible retreats and all of them are acceptable. 11...Qa5 A) 11...Qb7 12.Rxd6 Rxa2 13.Nc7+ Kd8 14.Nxe6+ fxe6 15.Nxa2 Bxd6 16.Qxd6 Qxe4 17.Nb4 Ke8



53



Position after: 17...Ke8 In Jacobs – Janisch, email 2016 draw was agreed. A possible continuation is 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Nc6 Kf7 20.Rd1 Re8 21.Qc7 Kg8 22.Nd8 Qa8 23.Qg3+ Kf8 24.Qd6+ Kg8 25.Qg3+= B) 11...Qb8 12.Nxd6+ Bxd6



Position after: 12...Bxd6 B1) 13.Rxd6



54



B1.1) 13...Nh5 14.Qd3 h6 15.Be3 Nhf6 16.Rd1 0-0 17.f3



Position after: 17.f3 17...Rd8!= Black intends ...Bb7 or ...Ne8. The position remains highly complicated, but equal. [17...Ne5?! 18.Qd4 Ng6 The knight is not well placed here. 19.b3 Bb7 20.Qb4² White has promising kingside chances.] B1.2) 13...0-0 14.Rhd1 Nh5 15.Qh4 Nhf6 16.R6d3 e5 17.Rg3 Ra6= It’s impossible to cover all the lines from here. Objectively the game should end in a draw, e.g. 18.a3 Re8 19.Bh6 g6 20.Rgd3 Qc7 21.Nb5 Qb8 22.Nc3 Qc7= B2) 13.Qxd6 Qxd6 14.Rxd6 h6 15.Bd2 Ke7 16.Rd4 Ba6 17.b3=



55



Position after: 17.b3= The position is dynamically balanced. The three pawns are not so easy to advance, but Black has no clear plan other than blocking the pawns’ movement, so the game is likely to end in a dead end for both sides. This is what happened in the following correspondence game: 17...Rhc8 18.Kb2 Rab8 19.f3 Ne5 20.Bf4 Nfd7 21.Nd1 Rb7 22.Ne3 f6 23.Re1 Nc5 24.Bxe5 fxe5 25.Rd2 Na4+ 26.Ka1 Nc3 27.Nd1 Nb5 28.Kb2 h5 29.Ne3 Nc3 30.Nd1 Draw agreed in Razumikhin – Hamann, email 2014.



Position after: 11...Qa5 56



12.Rd4 12.Nxd6+ Bxd6 13.Rxd6



Position after: 13.Rxd6 Black is more comfortable in this position. He has a choice of continuations on every move. White has to be more careful in order to make a draw. A) 13...Nh5 A good alternative to the main line. 14.Qg4 [14.Qh4 h6 15.Be3 Nhf6 16.Qg3 0-0 17.Rhd1 Kh7 18.f3



57



Position after: 18.f3 White has to be more careful here, but he should achieve a draw, e.g. 18...Rb8 19.R6d4 Qb6 20.Na4 Qa5 21.b3 e5 22.Rd6 Qb4 23.Rxf6 gxf6 24.Bxh6 Kxh6 25.Qh4+ Kg7 26.Qg4+ Kh7 27.Qh4+=] 14...0-0 [In case of 14...Nhf6 White has nothing better than 15.Qg3= with a repetition.] 15.Qxh5 f6 16.Rxe6 Ne5 17.Re8 fxg5 18.Rxf8+ Kxf8 19.Qxh7 Be6 20.Rd1 Nc4 21.Rd3 g4 22.a4 Qb4 23.Qh8+ Bg8 24.Qh5 Qxb2+ 25.Kd1 Qb6 26.Ke1 Qf6 27.f4 Qb6 28.Ke2 B) 13...0-0 14.Rhd1



Position after: 14.Rhd1 B1) 14...Bb7?! An interesting piece sacrifice, but White has a strong response. B1.1) 15.Rxd7 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Bxe4 17.Bf6 Bg6



58



Position after: 17...Bg6 Black gets the initiative in return for a few pawns in this opposite-coloured bishop position. 18.Bc3 Qxa2 19.Qe5 f6 20.Qc7 Kh8 21.Rxg7 Qa1+ 22.Kd2 Qa4 23.Ke1 e5 24.Kf1 Qf4 25.Kg1 Rac8 26.Qb7 Rb8 27.Qc7 Rbc8= Neither side has anything better than the repetition. B1.2) 15.Bh6! Nh5 16.Qg5 Qxg5+ 17.Bxg5 Ne5 18.a4² White has slightly better prospects because Black’s pieces are not very well placed. B2) 14...Nh5 15.Qh4



59



Position after: 15.Qh4 B2.1) 15...Nhf6 Black invites a repetition. 16.R6d3 This is an attempt to play for more, but it still eventually ends in a forced draw: [White can also choose to repeat the position with 16.Qg3=.] 16...Ra6 17.Rh3 Re8



Position after: 17...Re8 Black prepares an escape path for the king in anticipation of Rxd7. 18.Rxd7 Bxd7 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Rd3 Bc6 21.Rg3+ Kf8 22.Qxf6 In the long run Black can’t escape the perpetual, e.g. 22...Ra7 23.e5 Qb6 24.a3 Rb8 25.b4 Rxa3 26.Qh8+ Ke7 27.Qf6+ Kf8 28.Qh8+=. B2.2) 15...f6 An attempt to play on. 16.Be3 Ne5 17.Rb6 Ba6 18.a4 [18.Rb3 Rab8 19.Ra3 Qb4 20.Rb3 Qa5=] 18...Nc4 19.b4 Qe5 20.Bd4 Qf4+ 21.Qxf4 Nxf4 22.Rc6 e5 23.Bc5 Rfc8 24.Rxc8+ Bxc8 25.f3= The position is very complicated, but balanced. 12.Rxd6 Bxd6 13.Qxd6 Rb8 14.a4 Rxb5 15.axb5 Qa1+ 16.Nb1 Qa4 17.Nc3 Qa1+ 18.Nb1 Qa4=



60



Position after: 18...Qa4= Neither side has a better choice than the repetition. 12...Bb7 12...Ba6?! 13.Nxd6+ Bxd6 14.Rxd6 0-0 15.Rhd1 Bb7 This move transposes into the 12.Nxd6+ line (with 14...Bb7), which is slightly favorable for White, but Black has no better option. 13.a4 Be7 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.Nxd6+



61



Position after: 15.Nxd6+ 15...Bxd6 15...Kf8?! This continuation carries an unnecessary risk. 16.Rhd1 [16.Nxb7 Qa7 17.Rhd1 Qxb7 18.e5 Nd5 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Rxd5 g6 21.Qf4 Qc6 22.b3 Kg7=



Position after: 22...Kg7= A tactical skirmish is likely to occur, which should end in a draw, e. g. 23.c4 Rhb8 24.R1d3 Rxb3 25.Rxb3 Rxa4 26.Rd4 Qxg2 27.Kc2 Qf1 28.Qd2 Qa1 29.Qc3 Qf1 30.Qd2 Qa1=] 16...Qb6 17.Qf4



62



Position after: 17.Qf4 A) 17...h6 Black prepares ...g5, but White has a strong retort: 18.e5! White has to push forward. 18...g5! 19.Rb4! An important intermezzo. 19...Qc5



Position after: 19...Qc5 20.Nxb7! [20.exf6?! gxf4 21.fxe7+ Kg7 22.Rxb7 Qxf2 23.e8=N+ Rhxe8 24.Rxf7+ Kh8 25.Nxe8 Rxe8 26.g3 e5 27.Rdd7 Qf1+ 28.Nd1 f3 29.Rh7+ Kg8 30.Rdg7+ Kf8 31.Rf7+ Kg8 32.Rfg7+= The perpetual check is the logical outcome of the complications.] 20...Qxb4 21.Qxb4 Bxb4 22.exf6 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Kg8 24.Rd7 Kh7 25.c4 Rxa4 26.Nd6± White has good winning chances. B) 17...h5



63



Position after: 17...h5 B1) 18.e5 g5 19.Rb4 Qc5



Position after: 19...Qc5 20.Nxb7 [20.exf6 The position of the pawn on h5 makes no important difference here: 20...gxf4 21.fxe7+ Kg7 22.Rxb7 Qxf2 23.e8=N+ Rhxe8 24.Rxf7+ Kh8 25.Nxe8 Rxe8 26.g3 f3 27.Rdd7 Qf1+ 28.Nd1 e5 29.Rh7+ Kg8 30.Rdg7+ Kf8 31.Rf7+ Kg8 32.Rfg7+=.] 20...Qxb4 21.Qxb4 Bxb4 22.exf6 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Kg8 24.Rd7 Rh6!= But this is an important difference compared to the 64



17...h6 line! Black is fine here. B2) 18.h4! White blocks ...g5. Black is in trouble in all variations.



Position after: 18.h4! 18...Bc6 [18...Qc7 19.Ncb5 Bxd6 20.Rxd6 Qe7 21.e5 Nd5 22.Qd4±; 18...Bd5 19.Nxf7 Kxf7 20.exd5 Rab8 21.Nb5 exd5 22.Rxd5±] 19.e5 Bxd6 20.Rxd6 Ne8 21.Rxe6 Qb7 22.Rg6! Kg8 23.Rg3 Nc7 24.Qc4± White plans f4. He is ahead in material and has the initiative. 16.Qxd6 Rd8 17.Qxd8+ Qxd8 18.Rxd8+ Kxd8 19.f3 h5=



65



Position after: 19...h5= Black should have enough counterplay on the kingside. Conclusion 7.Qf3 is the only challenging 7th move option (other than 7.f4) but Black has a number of ways to deal with it. The least theoretical option is 7...Bd7!?, which doesn’t require extensive preparation and offers good chances. Another good and simple option is 7...h6 8.Be3 Nbd7. In the main line the game simplifies to an endgame where chances are equal. On the other extreme, 7...h6 8.Be3 e5 leads to extremely complicated positions and is the recommended choice if Black wants to maximise his winning chances (even at the cost of running some risks.) This last can be considered the main line of 7...Nbd7. The first thing to notice is that 8...Be7 is a serious inaccuracy, allowing the dangerous 9.g4! move. If you play the Three Piece System, the simplest choice is to go for 9...Be7, and play should then transpose to one of the non-critical lines of the abovementioned variation. The main line 9...b5 10.Bxb5 is not particularly threatening for Black, who can choose one of the three queen retreats on move 11. The simplest one is 11...Qb7, after which the game is very likely to end in a forced draw. Instead, 11...Qa5 and 11...Qb8 both lead to doubleedged endgames.



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Chapter 2 The Polugaevsky Variation 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 b5?!



Chapter Guide Chapter 2 – The Polugaevsky Variation 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 b5?! 8.e5! dxe5 9.fxe5 Qc7! 10.exf6 Qe5+ 11.Be2 Qxg5 12.0-0 Ra7 13.Qd3 Rd7 14.Ne4 Qe5 15.Nf3 a) 10.Qe2!? alternative b) 15...Qxb2? c) 15...Qc7! a) 10.Qe2!? alternative 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 b5?!



67



Position after: 7...b5?! This move is the brainchild of legendary Soviet grandmaster Lev Polugaevsky, who used it from 1959 until the end of his career with good results. However, this pre-computer invention does not stand up to scrutiny by modern engines. 8.e5! There are other moves, such as 8.Qf3 and 8.a3, but they are entirely non-critical. Were I to consider every such sideline, this book would assume even greater size. Besides, the main line is basically a refutation, which makes it useless to even consider other tries. 8...dxe5 9.fxe5



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Position after: 9.fxe5 9...Qc7! 9...h6? is obviously wrong. 10.Bh4 g5 11.exf6 gxh4 12.Qf3 Ra7 [After 12...Qxd4 13.Qxa8 Bd6 14.Qf3+– Black has absolutely no compensation for the exchange.] 13.0-0-0



Position after: 13.0-0-0 White has a winning attack, e.g. 13...Rd7 14.Bxb5! axb5 15.Nxe6! Qb6 16.Rxd7 Kxd7 17.Nxf8+ 69



Rxf8 18.Rd1+ Ke8 19.Nd5+– Fritsche – Kapfenstein, email 2003. 10.Qe2!? Worse than 10.exf6, but quite interesting. 10.Nf3?! This is hardly challenging for Black. A) 10...h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.Bg3 Nh5 13.Ne4 Nxg3 14.hxg3 Nc6 (Also OK is 14...Nd7.) 15.Nd6+ Bxd6 16.exd6 Qa5+ 17.Qd2 [17.c3 Bb7³ and with 0-0-0 coming, Black is slightly better.] 17...Qxd2+ 18.Nxd2= The endgame is roughly equal. B) 10...Nfd7 is also fine: 11.Ne4 Bb7 12.Nd6+ Bxd6 B1) 13.exd6?! Qc5 14.Qd2 Bd5 15.a4 b4 16.c4 bxc3 17.bxc3 0-0 18.Be3 Qc6 19.Be2 Nb6 20.0-0 N8d7³



Position after: 20...N8d7³ This position was reached in one over-the-board and one correspondence game, and both were won by Black. White’s position is unpleasant due to Black’s excellent light-square control. B2) 13.Qxd6 Qxd6 14.exd6 Nb6= The endgame is objectively equal, but White should be careful, because the d6-pawn is more likely to become a weakness than a strength. 10...Nfd7 11.0-0-0



70



Position after: 11.0-0-0 11...Nc6! A) 11...Bb7? This natural move is in fact a big mistake, because it leaves the crucial e6-point vulnerable.



Position after: 11...Bb7? A1) 12.Nxe6?! This sacrifice is premature and Black should be able to defend. 12...fxe6 13.Qg4 71



Qxe5 14.Bd3 Be7 15.Bxe7 Kxe7 16.Rhe1 h5 17.Qb4+ Qc5



Position after: 17...Qc5 A1.1) 18.Qh4+ Nf6 19.Be4 g5 20.Qh3 Bxe4 21.Nxe4 Nxe4 22.Rxe4 Rh6 White has enough for the piece, but Black should hold. 23.b4 Qc7 Apart from being a good move, this sets a nasty trap.



Position after: 23...Qc7 24.Qe3 [The trap is 24.Qf5?? Qf4+!–+.] 24...Rf6 and now one possible finish is: 25.Qxg5 Nd7 26.Red4 Ne5 27.Rd6 Rc8 28.Qg7+ Rf7 29.Qg5+ Rf6=. 72



A1.2) 18.Qf4 g5 19.Qg3 Now Black should improve with 19...Bc6! A hard move to find. Black anticipates Be4.



Position after: 19...Bc6! 20.Be4 Qe5 21.Qh3 g4 22.Qh4+ Qf6 23.Qg3 Qe5= White can choose to repeat or continue, and has enough compensation for the piece (but not more.) A2) 12.Qg4!



Position after: 12.Qg4! 73



A2.1) 12...Qxe5? 13.Bd3! Slightly better than 13.Be2, which is also very dangerous. 13...h6 14.Bh4 g5



Position after: 14...g5 Black needs to counterattack, but White is quicker with his play. 15.Nxe6! h5 16.Qh3 Bh6 17.Kb1 g4 18.Nc7+ Qxc7 19.Rhe1+ Kf8 20.Be7+ Kg8 21.Qh4! (An improvement over the natural 21.Qxh5.) 21...Bg7 22.Bf5+– All White’s pieces are very active, Black is seriously underdeveloped and his king is not very safe, and all for a mere piece. White should win. A2.2) 12...Qb6 13.Be2! A strong pawn sacrifice for a lead in development. 13...Nxe5 14.Qh3 Nbd7 15.Rhe1 Note that Nxe6 is already a threat. 15...h6 16.Bf3! Much stronger than 16.Bh4 despite being less popular. 16...Bxf3 [After 16...hxg5 17.Qxh8 0-0-0 18.Qh5± Black only has a pawn for the exchange.] 17.Nxf3 Bd6 18.Kb1!



74



Position after: 18.Kb1! This prophylactic move is the best here. White is close to winning, e.g. 18...0-0 19.Be3! Qc6 [19...Qc7 20.Ne4!+–] 20.Bxh6! gxh6 21.Qxh6 Rfd8 22.Rd4 Ng6 23.Rxe6! Ndf8 24.Rf6! b4 25.Nd5 Qb7 26.Ng5 Be5 27.Rxf7 Qxd5 28.Rxd5 Rxd5 29.Qh5 Rad8 30.Rf1± and material is roughly balanced, but Black’s king is completely naked. B) 11...Bb4? falls right into a powerful rejoinder: 12.Nf5! 0-0 13.Ne7+ Bxe7 14.Bxe7± C) 11...b4? This terribly careless move loses after 12.Ne4:



75



Position after: 12.Ne4 12...Qxe5 [12...Nxe5 13.Qh5! Ng6 14.Bc4!+– and White’s pieces will soon steamroll through.] 13.g3!+– Preparing Bg2 and Bf4. Black is busted. D) 11...Nxe5? falls into a simple trap:



Position after: 11...Nxe5? 12.Ndxb5! axb5 13.Qxe5!+– E) 11...Qxe5? is no better than line D: 12.Qxe5 Nxe5 13.Ndxb5+– 12.Nxc6 Qxc6



76



Position after: 12...Qxc6 13.Qd3! 13.Ne4 is weaker: 13...Bb7 14.Nd6+ Bxd6 15.exd6 [After 15.Rxd6?! Qc7³ White is overextended and can’t finish his development.] 15...0-0³ The position is easier for Black, because the d6-pawn is safely blocked and he has nice queenside prospects. 13...h6 13...Bb7 14.Be2 h6 15.Bh4 transposes to 13...h6 14.Bh4 Bb7 15.Be2. 14.Bh4 14.Be2!? A curious idea, but Black can respond with a strong exchange sacrifice: 14...hxg5! 15.Bf3 Qc7 16.Bxa8 Nxe5 17.Qg3 f6 18.Kb1 b4 19.Ne2 Qa7 20.Bf3 Bc5© with great play for the exchange.



77



Position after: 14.Bh4 14...b4! This novelty is the only way to achieve a satisfactory position. After 14...Bb7 Black runs into trouble. 15.Be2 Qc7 16.Rhf1! Putting the least active piece on a good square. 16...Nxe5 17.Qg3 Now Black has to defend against Nxb5 ideas and then counterattack quickly: 17...Rc8 18.Bh5 g5 19.Qh3!



Position after: 19.Qh3! 78



White highlights the weakness of the e6-pawn. 19...Be7 20.Bg3! It turns out this is even more precise than taking on e6. 20...0-0 21.Rde1 Bd6 22.Rf6 b4 Again, Black’s only chance is to counterattack.



Position after: 22...b4 23.Bxf7+! The position is ripe for tactics. 23...Nxf7 24.Bxd6 Qxd6 25.Rexe6 Qxe6 26.Qxe6 Rc6 27.Qf5 Rxf6 28.Qxf6 bxc3 29.Qg6+ Kh8 30.bxc3±



Position after: 30.bxc3± White is much better thanks to his passers and Black’s poor coordination. 79



15.Ne4 Bb7 16.Qd4 Rc8 17.Bc4



Position after: 17.Bc4 A small and simple tactic. 17...Qc7! Absolutely the only move. Black targets the e5-pawn and prepares ...Bxe4. 18.Rhe1 Bxe4 19.Rxe4 g5 20.Be1 Be7=



80



Position after: 20...Be7= A complicated battle lies ahead in this dynamically balanced position. b) 15...Qxb2? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 b5?! 8.e5! dxe5 9.fxe5 Qc7! 10.exf6 Qe5+



Position after: 10...Qe5+ 81



11.Be2 11.Qe2?! This move is significantly weaker than 11.Be2, although it sets a devious trap. 11...Qxg5 12.Ne4 Qe5 13.0-0-0



Position after: 13.0-0-0 A) The trap mentioned above is 13...Bb7? 14.Qd2!



Position after: 14.Qd2!



82



A1) 14...Qxe4 15.Nxb5 Bd5 16.fxg7+– wins on the spot. A2) 14...Bxe4 15.Nxb5 Bd5 16.Re1! Qxe1+ 17.Qxe1 axb5 18.Bxb5+ Nd7 19.c4! The most precise, although some queen moves should win as well. 19...Rc8 20.Qa5! Bxc4 [20...gxf6 21.Rd1+– Kb1 comes next and Black loses material.]



Position after: 20...Bxc4 21.Qa6!+– with decisive material gains for White. A3) 14...Bd5 The least of all evils, but still not enough to hold the position. 15.Nc3 [15.Re1, suggested by Goh Wei Ming, is almost equally strong.] 15...Bb4 16.fxg7 Qxg7 17.a3 Bxc3 18.Qxc3



83



Position after: 18.Qxc3 Now Black has nothing better than giving up a pawn: 18...Nd7 [18...0-0 fails to 19.Rd3! Be4 20.Rg3 Bg6 21.Qe3 e5 Otherwise there comes h4 and if ...h5, Bd3 and Black’s position falls apart. 22.Nf5 Qf6 23.Bd3 Nd7 24.Rf1 Kh8 25.Qh6+– and the attack is crushing.] 19.Nxb5 Qxc3 20.Nxc3+– with a technical win for White. B) 13...Ra7! 14.Nf3 Qf4+ 15.Nfd2 Rd7 16.g3 Qh6



Position after: 16...Qh6



84



Here White should try an interesting pawn sacrifice: 17.g4!? [Goh Wei Ming mentions only 17.fxg7?! Bxg7 18.Bg2?!, when after 18...f5! 19.Nc5 Rc7 20.Nd3 0-0³ Black is already better.] 17...gxf6 18.h4© The computer gives equality after both 18...Bb7 and 18...Be7, although of course the position remains unclear. The line requires practical testing. 11...Qxg5 12.0-0



Position after: 12.0-0 12...Ra7 12...Qe5? This move simply loses. 13.Kh1! This preparatory move turns out to be extremely strong. Since this line wins, other lines are rendered irrelevant and I will not consider them. 13...Ra7 14.Nf3 Qxf6 15.Ne4 Qd8 16.Qe1!



85



Position after: 16.Qe1! A key idea. The queen shift to the kingside is surprisingly effective. 16...f5 The only challenging try. [16...Bb7 loses to 17.Qf2; 16...Be7 loses to 17.Qg3; After 16...Nc6 Black gets killed by 17.Nfg5!] 17.Rd1 Rd7 18.Qg3!+– Black can’t take the knight (18...fxe4) because of 19.Ne5!, therefore he is completely lost. 13.Qd3 13.Ne4?! This leads to some very interesting variations, but objectively is much worse than 13.Qd3. 13...Qe3+ 14.Nf2 Rd7 [Another possibility is 14...Qg5!?, making a silent draw offer.] 15.c3



86



Position after: 15.c3 A) 15...Bb7 16.Qe1 [16.Bh5 gxf6 transposes to 15...gxf6.] 16...Nc6 17.Nxe6 Qxe6 18.Bg4 Qxe1 19.Raxe1+ Kd8 20.fxg7 Bxg7 21.Bxd7 Kxd7 22.Ne4 Rf8= The position is dynamically balanced, although much play remains. B) 15...gxf6 16.Bh5 Bb7 17.Re1 Qg5 18.g3 Be7



Position after: 18...Be7 19.Nxe6!? A fascinating queen sacrifice, which leads to a draw. 19...Rxd1 20.Raxd1 Qg8! Funnily 87



enough, this is the only safe square for the queen. 21.Ng4 h6! Again an amusing situation: this is the only way to prevent Nh6. 22.Nd4 Qg5! And this is the only defence against both Nxf6+ and Nf5. 23.Ne6 Qg8 24.Nd4= with a repetition. 13...Rd7 14.Ne4



Position after: 14.Ne4 14...Qe5 The only good square for the queen. A) 14...Qd5? 15.c3! Nc6 16.Rad1 This move is even more accurate than Negi’s 16.Nxc6. Black’s lag in development will tell: 16...g6 [Or 16...Bb7 17.Nxc6 Qxd3 18.Rxd3 Rxd3 19.Bxd3 Bxc6 20.fxg7 Bxg7 21.Nd6+ Ke7 22.Rxf7+ Kxd6 23.Rxg7+– with a won endgame.] 17.Nxc6 Qxc6 18.Qe3 Bb7 19.Rxd7 Kxd7 20.Rd1+ Kc8 21.Bf3 Qc7 22.a4! when Black’s queenside is crumbling.



88



Position after: 22.a4! 22...bxa4 23.Kh1!+– This prophylactic move is very strong in a number of lines. White plans Rd4, with crushing effect. B) 14...Qg6? is given as interesting by Negi, but he missed a very strong response: 15.Bf3! Bb7 16.Qc3!!



Position after: 16.Qc3!! 16...b4 [16...Bxe4 17.Rae1 b4 18.Qc4 transposes to 16...b4.] 17.Qc4 Bxe4 18.Rae1 Rxd4 19.Qxd4 89



Bxf3 20.Rxf3 Nd7 21.Kh1 Nxf6



Position after: 21...Nxf6 Materially Black is more than fine, but his desperate lag in development will turn out to be fatal. 22.Qc4! Kd7 23.Rd1+ Bd6 24.Rxd6+! Kxd6 25.Qxb4+ Kd7 26.Qb7+ Kd6 27.Qxa6+



Position after: 27.Qxa6+ 27...Ke5 [Or 27...Ke7 28.Qa3+ Kd7 29.Qa4+ Kd6 30.Qb4+ Kd7 31.Ra3+–] 28.Re3+ Kf4 29.Qe2 Ne4 30.Rf3+ Kg5 31.Qe3+ Kh5 32.Rf4+– White wins at least the knight, and with it the game. 90



15.Nf3



Position after: 15.Nf3 15...Qxb2? 15...Qc7! is covered in the next subchapter. 16.Qe3 Bb7 17.Rab1! The computer analysis proves White to be winning after both pawn captures. 17.a4? is wrong in view of 17...Qb4! 18.c4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 gxf6 20.Qf4



91



Position after: 20.Qf4 20...bxa4 [20...Qd6?! is very risky and possibly just bad. After 21.Qxf6 Rg8 22.Kh1 b4 23.c5! Qc6 24.Qf4 Qb7 25.Rad1 Bxc5 26.Ng5! White had a powerful initiative and Black didn’t manage to defend in Balzert – Balabanov, email 2017.] 21.Qxf6 Rg8 22.Ne5 Bg7 23.Nxd7 Bxf6 24.Nxf6+ Kf8 25.Rab1 Qc5+ 26.Kh1 Kg7 27.Nxg8 Qe5 28.Nf6 Qxe2 29.Ne8+ Kg8= Black holds here as White has nothing better than a repetition.



Position after: 17.Rab1!



92



17...Qxa2 17...Qxc2 18.Nfg5! Qc7 Black must bring his queen back into the defence. However, this doesn’t solve his problems. 19.a4!



Position after: 19.a4! This strike shatters Black’s position. A) 19...bxa4 is brilliantly refuted by 20.fxg7 Bxg7 21.Rxf7! Rxf7 22.Rxb7!+– B) 19...Qe5 20.axb5 a5 21.Rbc1 B1) 21...h6 22.Nf3 Qxe4 23.Rc8+ Rd8 [23...Bxc8 24.Qxe4+–] 24.Rxd8+ Kxd8 25.Qb6+ Ke8 26.Rd1+– B2) 21...g6 22.Nf3 Qxe4 23.Rc8+



93



Position after: 23.Rc8+ 23...Bxc8 [23...Rd8 24.Rxd8+ Kxd8 25.Qb6+ Ke8 26.Qc7+–] 24.Qxe4+– White has a decisive advantage in material and development. C) 19...b4 20.Rxb4!



Position after: 20.Rxb4! C1) 20...Bxe4 21.Nxe4 Bxb4 22.fxg7 Bc3 [22...Rg8 23.Nf6+ Kd8 24.Nxg8 Bc5 25.Nf6 Bxe3+ 26.Kh1 Kc8 27.Nxd7 and Black resigned, Leko, P– Ghaem Maghami, E Yerevan 2001.] 23.Rc1! 94



Position after: 23.Rc1! C1.1) 23...Bxg7 24.Rxc7 Rxc7 25.Qf4! This move exposes the lack of coordination between Black’s pieces. 25...Kd8 26.Qg5+ f6 27.Qd2+ Nd7 28.Bxa6+– In addition to Black’s total lack of coordination, White has a passed a-pawn, which is too much to handle. C1.2) 23...Rg8 24.Rxc3 Qe5 25.Rc5! Qa1+ 26.Rc1 Qe5 27.Rf1! f5 28.Bh5+ Kd8 29.Qb6+ Qc7 30.Qxe6 Rdxg7 31.Qf6+ Re7 32.Rd1+ Nd7 33.Qxf5+–



Position after: 33.Qxf5+–



95



Black has no way to defend without suffering decisive material losses. C2) 20...Nc6 21.Rc4 Qe5 22.Nf3 Qa5 23.Kh1!+–



Position after: 23.Kh1!+– Again, this move turns out to be the most precise (although 23.fxg7 wins as well.) Now Black has no useful move and White intends fxg7 and Nc5, with a decisive initiative. 18.Nfg5!



96



Position after: 18.Nfg5! Negi suggests 18.c4, and while it should lead to some advantage, the text move simply wins. 18...Bxe4 19.Nxe4 Qd5 Negi writes that he is not convinced, but he misses the key resource. 20.Kh1! The star move. White prepares c4 by preventing the queen exchange after ...Qd4. 20...Qe5 This steps out of c4 tempo-gaining ideas, but is met powerfully as follows. 21.Rb3!



Position after: 21.Rb3! The introduction of the rook into the attack via the 3rd rank ends the game. An exemplary line runs as follows: 21...Kd8 22.Rd3 gxf6 23.Qb6+ Ke7 24.Rfd1 Bh6 25.Rxd7+ Nxd7 26.Qxa6 Kf8 27.Ng3 Nc5 28.Qc8+ Kg7 29.Nh5+ Qxh5 30.Qxh8+ Kxh8 31.Bxh5 Kg7 32.g4!+– After this accurate move, preventing ...f5 and preparing a quick king activation via g2 and f3, White should have no problems winning this endgame. 97



c) 15...Qc7! 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 b5?! 8.e5! dxe5 9.fxe5 Qc7! 10.exf6 Qe5+ 11.Be2 Qxg5 12.0-0 Ra7 13.Qd3 Rd7 14.Ne4 Qe5 15.Nf3 Qc7! I believe this is the only move that gives Black some chances of holding. 16.Qe3



Position after: 16.Qe3 16...Bb7 A) 16...Qa7!? This is perhaps Black’s best chance for survival. It is wise to exchange queens due to his lack of development and king stuck in the centre. 17.Qxa7 Rxa7 18.a4 Bb7 19.Nfg5 Bxe4 20.Nxe4



98



Position after: 20.Nxe4 20...bxa4 This looks counterintuitive, but seems to be Black’s best bet. [20...b4 21.Rf4!± Preparing to answer ...gxf6 by retaking with the knight and doubling the rooks on the f-file. 21.fxg7 [I think the best idea is to deviate here with 21.Rxa4! gxf6 22.Nxf6+ Ke7 23.Raf4± and Black is not going to enjoy himself in this endgame.] 21...Bxg7 22.Nd6+ Kf8 23.Bh5 [White doesn’t have to go for any complications and can play simply 23.Rxa4², preserving an edge.] 23...Ke7! If not for this idea, Black would be busted. 24.Rxf7+ Kxd6 25.Rd1+ Kc5 26.Rxa7 Bxb2 27.Bg4 a3



Position after: 27...a3 99



In return for the exchange Black has a strong passer. 28.Bxe6 Nc6 29.Rad7 a5 30.Bb3 a4 31.Bxa4 Ra8 32.Bb3 a2 33.Bxa2 Rxa2 34.Rxh7 Bd4+ 35.Kh1 Rxc2² Black survived this endgame in Martin Gonzalez – Biedermann, email 2016. B) 16...g6? 17.c4! b4 18.Bd1! This nice manoeuvre ends the game: 18...Bb7 19.Ba4 Bc6 20.Bxc6 Nxc6 21.Rad1+– and White breaks through. 17.a4! Opening up the queenside is a recurring motif in these positions. 17...b4 18.Kh1!



Position after: 18.Kh1! This is already the 5th Kh1! in this chapter! As always it is good to step out of any checks. 18...Bxe4 A) 18...Qxc2? is completely losing: 19.Nfg5+– Rac1 comes next, with a rout. B) 18...g6 19.Rae1!+– Targeting the e6-pawn. Black is unlikely to survive. C) 18...Bd5 19.Rae1!+– Intending c3 and/or Bd3, with a lethal initiative. D) 18...h6 19.Nfd2!± Opening the f-file for the rook and preparing Nc4. White has a tremendous initiative and a deeper analysis would probably prove a mathematical win. 19.fxg7 Bxg7 20.Qxe4



100



Position after: 20.Qxe4 20...Bxb2 We are at an important crossroads. White has two continuations, both of which lead to a big advantage. 20...Qb7 21.Qh4! This move is even stronger than 21.Qg4, suggested by Negi. 21...h6 Taking the g5square away from White. [After 21...0-0 22.Bd3 h6 23.Rae1+– White’s attack is going to be decisive.] 22.Qg3



101



Position after: 22.Qg3 22...0-0 [22...Bxb2 23.Rab1 Bc3 24.Ne5! Bxe5 25.Qxe5 Rf8 26.Bh5!+– Posing the deadly threat of Qxe6.] 23.Ne5! White gets either a winning attack or decisive material gains, e.g. 23...Rd4 24.Bh5! f5 25.c3 Rd2 26.cxb4 Nd7 27.Ng6 Rd8 28.Rae1+–. 21.Rab1 21.Rad1 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Qc5



Position after: 22...Qc5 Since Black is going to suffer anyway, it is best not to allow White to restore material equality by taking on b4. A) 23.Qf4 This is Negi’s first choice, but I’m not convinced by it. 23...0-0 24.Bd3 Bg7 25.Qe4 Qh5 26.Qxb4 Nc6 27.Qe4 Ne7 28.Bxa6 Nd5 29.Rf1



102



Position after: 29.Rf1 Negi concludes here, giving White a small edge. However, with good defence Black can equalize: 29...Qg6! 30.Qxg6 hxg6 31.c4 Nb4! Heading to c5. 32.Bb5 Nd3 33.g4 Nc5 34.Rf2 e5 35.Ra2 e4 36.Ng1 Be5!= The last precise move, preparing ...Bb8-a7. Then Black goes ...f5 and he should hold comfortably. B) 23.h4 Bf6 24.Qf4 Ke7 25.Ng5 Bxg5 26.hxg5 Nd7 27.Bxa6 h6 28.Qh4 Qxg5 29.Qxb4+ Nc5 30.Be2²



Position after: 30.Be2² 103



Negi concludes his analysis here, writing that he is not sure if the endgame is likely to be winning for White. There was a correspondence game played that seem to show that with perfect defence Black can hold his own: 30...Rg8 31.Bf3 Rd8 32.a5 Rxd1+ 33.Bxd1 Qd5 34.Bg4 f5 35.Bf3 Qd6 36.g3 Kd8 37.Qf4 Kc7 38.Kg2 Ne4 39.Kh2 Kb8 40.Be2 Kb7 41.Bd3 Qd4 42.a6+ Ka8 43.Kg2 Qd5 44.Kg1 Qc5+ 45.Kf1 and a draw was agreed, De Filippis, F – Rodriguez, K ICCF email 2015. 21...Bc3 22.Ng5



Position after: 22.Ng5 22...Qe5 22...h5 Here Negi considers 23.Nxf7 and 23.Rf3, but there is a stronger move: 23.h3!±. You would never guess that this is the best move in the position, but a very deep analysis proves it. And in tactical positions like this, we have to trust the computers even if we don’t fully comprehend their suggestions. I think it would be impractical to drag the variation further. 23.Rxb4 h6 24.Nxf7! Negi mentions 24.Qxe5 Bxe5 25.Nxf7 Rxf7 26.Bh5 0-0 27.Bxf7+ Rxf7 28.Rxf7 Kxf7 29.Rb7+ Kf6 30.g3², but White’s winning chances here are significantly smaller than after 24.Nxf7!. 24...Qxe4 25.Rxe4 Rxf7 26.Bh5 0-0 27.Bxf7+ Rxf7 28.Rb1 Nd7 29.Rxe6 a5 30.Rxh6 Nc5 31.Rc6 Nxa4 32.h4±



104



Position after: 32.h4± To determine whether Black can hold or not, a very deep analysis would be required. It is enough to conclude that White has great winning chances. Conclusion The legendary Polugaevsky Variation seems to belong to the past. I have shown a clear path to a big edge for White in every line. A recurring motif is the strong prophylactic Kh1! move at an appropriate moment. Arguably, Black’s best chance for survival is the queen trade 16...Qa7!? Still, after 21.Rxa4! White preserves a significant advantage.



105



Chapter 3 The Gothenburg Variation 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 h6 9.Bh4 g5?



Chapter Guide Chapter 3 – The Gothenburg Variation 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 h6 9.Bh4 g5? 10.fxg5 Nfd7 a) 11.Nxe6?! b) 11.Qh5! a) 11.Nxe6?! 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 h6 9.Bh4 g5?



106



Position after: 9...g5? This is the Gothenburg Variation, named for the tournament where it was first introduced: at the Gothenburg Interzonal in 1955, the Argentinian trio of Najdorf, Pilnik and Panno all played this move against the Soviet players Keres, Spassky and Geller. Surprisingly, the flashy 11.Nxe6?! sacrifice, which only leads to equality, remains the main line. The problem for Black is that White has a much stronger option – 11.Qh5!, which basically refutes the variation. 10.fxg5 Nfd7 11.Nxe6?! This sacrifice was even recommended by Negi in his 2015 book, which I find surprising, because analysis clearly shows 11.Qh5! (next subchapter) to be a much better move. 11...fxe6 12.Qh5+ Kf8 13.Bb5!



107



Position after: 13.Bb5! The key idea behind the sacrifice. 13...Rh7! This move, giving Black equality, was found by Fischer. A) 13...Ne5 14.Bg3! Rh7 15.Bxe5! Eliminating the defending piece. 15...dxe5 16.Rd1



Position after: 16.Rd1 108



16...Bd7 [16...Nd7 17.Qg6 Rf7 18.Qxh6+ Kg8 19.g6 Rg7 20.Bc4 Qb6 21.Nd5! Qc5 22.Rd3! Nf8 23.Rf1+– White’s attack is irresistible.] 17.Bc4 This is given by Negi and I agree that it is the simplest path to victory. Having said that, 17.g6 also wins. 17...Kg7 18.g6 Rh8 19.Bxe6 Bh4+ 20.g3 Qg5 21.Qxg5 hxg5 22.Bxd7 Bxg3+ 23.Kf1 Nxd7 24.Rxd7+ Kxg6 25.Nd5+– White has a decisive material and positional advantage. B) 13...Kg7 14.0-0 Ne5 15.Bg3



Position after: 15.Bg3 15...Ng6 [15...Qg8? 16.Bxe5+ dxe5 17.Be8!+– is totally over.] 16.gxh6+ Rxh6 17.Rf7+ Kxf7 18.Qxh6 axb5 19.Rf1+ Ke8 20.Qxg6+ Kd7 21.Rf7



109



Position after: 21.Rf7 21...b4 An improvement over 21....Nc6, but it still loses. [21...Nc6 22.Nd5 Rxa2 23.h3! After this last prophylactic move, White wins in all variations, e.g. 23...exd5 24.Qxd6+ Ke8 25.Qg6 Kd7 26.exd5 Ra6 27.Qe4+–.] 22.Nd5 exd5 23.exd5



Position after: 23.exd5 23...Qb6+ [After 23...Ra5 24.Qg4+ Kc7 25.Qxb4 b6 26.Qe4 Kb7 27.Rxe7+ Ka8 28.Re8 Qc7 29.h4+–, the passed h-pawn should decide the issue in the long run.] 24.Bf2 Qd8 25.Rg7 Rxa2 110



26.h3!



Position after: 26.h3! Securing a safe shelter for the king on h2 before taking decisive action! 26...Ra5 27.Qg4+ Kc7 28.Qc4+ Nc6 29.dxc6 bxc6 30.Bh4 Re5 31.Qf7 Be6 32.Bxe7 Bxf7 33.Bxd8+ Kxd8 34.Rxf7+– This endgame is won thanks to White’s two connected passed pawns.



Position after: 13...Rh7! 14.e5!? 111



This is Negi’s novelty. It certainly poses Black more questions than 14.0-0+, but with precise play Black should have no problems. 14.0-0+ Kg8 15.g6 Rg7 16.Rf7 Bxh4 17.Qxh6 Rxf7 18.gxf7+ Kxf7 19.Rf1+ Bf6 20.Qh7+ [20.e5 dxe5 21.Ne4 Qb6+ 22.Kh1 axb5 23.Nxf6 Ke7 24.Qh7+ leads to line B below.]



Position after: 20.Qh7+ A) 20...Kf8? loses to 21.e5! dxe5 22.Be2! Qb6+ 23.Kh1 Ke8 24.Qg8+ Ke7 25.Rd1! Creating a threat of Bh5 and forcing Black’s next move. 25...Nf8 26.Ne4 Nbd7 27.Nxf6 Kxf6



112



Position after: 27...Kxf6 28.h4! Ng6 29.h5 Nf4 30.h6 Qf2 31.Qg7+ Kf5 32.Bg4+ Ke4 33.Bf3+ Ke3 34.Qg5 e4 35.h7 exf3 36.Rd3+ Ke2 37.Rxf3 Qxg2+ 38.Qxg2+ Nxg2 39.Rg3+– White promotes a new queen, with a completely won position. B) 20...Ke8 21.Qg6+ Kf8 22.e5 dxe5 23.Ne4 Qb6+ 24.Kh1 axb5 25.Nxf6 Ke7 26.Qh7+ Kd8 27.Qg8+ Kc7 28.Ne8+ Kd8 29.Nf6+= White has nothing better than accepting the repetition. 14...Nxe5 14...axb5 This move also seems to give Black equality. 15.exd6 Bxg5 16.Bxg5 Qxg5 17.0-0+ Nf6 18.Rxf6+ Qxf6 19.Rf1 Qxf1+ 20.Kxf1 and now:



Position after: 20.Kxf1 A) 20...Nd7 21.Ne4 Rf7+ 22.Kg1 Kg7 23.Qg4+ Kh7 24.Qxe6 Kg7 25.Qg4+ Kh7 26.h4 Rxa2 27.h5



113



Position after: 27.h5 Negi mentions only 27...Rg7, but Black has a much more precise move: 27...Ra1+! First forcing the king to h2. 28.Kh2 Now Black has a few ways to reach equality, e.g. 28...Raf1 29.Qg6+ Kh8 30.Qxh6+ Rh7 31.Qg5 Rg7 32.Qxb5 Rf8=. B) 20...Rf7+ 21.Ke2 Kg7 22.g4 Nc6! 23.g5 Nd4+ 24.Kd3 Nf5 25.gxh6+ Nxh6 26.Qg5+ Kh7 27.Ne4 Bd7 28.Nf6+ Rxf6 29.Qxf6



Position after: 29.Qxf6



114



Negi assesses this position as slightly better for White, but after 29...Rg8= it is doubtful whether White has any advantage at all. 15.0-0+ Kg8 16.g6



Position after: 16.g6 16...Bxh4 16...Rg7? This move simply loses. 17.Bxe7 Rxe7 [17...Qxe7 18.Ne4 Rxg6 19.Be8! Qg7 20.Bxg6 Qxg6 21.Qh4+– Black is helpless against Rae1-e3-g3.] 18.Bd3 Kg7 19.Rf4 Bd7 20.Raf1 Bc6 21.Rf8



115



Position after: 21.Rf8 21...Qb6+ [21...Qxf8 22.Rxf8 Kxf8 23.Qxh6+ Kg8 24.Qh4 Rd7 25.Qf6 Nxd3 26.Qxe6+ Kg7 27.cxd3+– Black has no defence against Ne2-g3-h5.] 22.Kh1 Qe3 23.Qh4 Qg5 24.Qf2+– Black either gets mated or suffers decisive material losses. 17.gxh7+ Kxh7 18.Bd3+ Kg7 19.Ne4!



Position after: 19.Ne4!



116



The main idea. White prepares Nxd6. 19...Nbc6 20.Nxd6! Qxd6 21.Qxh4 Qd4+! It is logical to exchange the queens in order to alleviate the pressure. 22.Qxd4 Nxd4 23.Be4 Bd7 24.Rae1 Ndc6 25.Re3 Nf7 26.Rd1 So far this is all Negi’s recommendation, and here he misses a simple equalizer: 26...Rd8!=



Position after: 26...Rd8!= Black has fully satisfactory play. b) 11.Qh5! 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 h6 9.Bh4 g5? 10.fxg5 Nfd7 11.Qh5!



117



Position after: 11.Qh5! 11...Ne5 12.Bg3 Bxg5 13.Rd1! The most convincing of a few promising options. 13...Qb6 Virtually forced. 13...Qe7 14.Nf3!



118



Position after: 14.Nf3! Black can no longer cover all the weak spots, e.g. 14...Nbd7 15.Nxg5 Qxg5 16.Qxg5 hxg5 17.Rxd6+– and he has nothing to show for the pawn. 14.Bxe5! dxe5 15.Nf3



Position after: 15.Nf3 15...Rf8 The worst thing for Black is that all of their moves are forced. 15...Qxb2? loses to: 16.Na4 Qb4+ 17.c3 Qxe4+ 18.Be2 Bd8 (otherwise White’s knight would jump in to b6) 19.Rf1!+– and here Nxe5 or Ng5 will follow, with a decisive initiative for White. 16.Nxg5 hxg5 17.Qxg5 Nc6 18.h4 Qxb2 19.Rh3 Qa3



119



Position after: 19...Qa3 20.h5 A simple and effective way of playing. White utilizes their main trump, the passed h-pawn. 20.Rhd3 was played in Schreuders – Spasov, email 2018 and should also win. 20...Qe7 21.Qg7 Bd7 22.h6 0-0-0 23.h7 Rh8 24.Rdd3! Another rook is swung to the kingside and Black is helpless against the threats. 24...Rdf8 25.Rdg3 Be8 26.Nb1!+–



120



Position after: 26.Nb1!+– If Black does nothing, a knight manoeuvre to c4 will decide the issue. The game finished: 26...f6 27.Qxe7 Nxe7 28.Bc4! Bg6 29.Bxe6+ Kc7 30.Rh6 Bxe4 31.Rg7 Kd6 32.Bh3 Nd5 33.c4 Bxb1 34.cxd5 Kxd5 35.Rxb7 Be4 36.Rd7+ Kc5 37.Ke2 Rb8 38.Ke3 Rb4 39.Rc7+ Kd6 40.Rc8 Rxh7 41.Rxf6+ Ke7 42.Rxa6



Position after: 42.Rxa6



121



1-0 Matei – Yordanova, email 2011. Conclusion The Gothenburg Variation is simply wrong owing to 11.Qh5!, after which Black’s position already seems beyond salvation! The bad thing for Black is that after 13.Rd1! he is practically forced to enter a position where the White’s passed h-pawn is the decisive trump. This refutation should gradually replace the old 11.Nxe6?! line, in which Black is perfectly fine.



122



Chapter 4 The 7...Nc6 Variation 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nc6?



1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nc6?



123



Position after: 7...Nc6? This move has been completely refuted in correspondence and computer games. 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.e5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 This is Black’s idea, but it weakens the kingside way too much. 11.fxg5 Nd5 12.Ne4 Qb6 13.c3!



Position after: 13.c3! Much stronger than the more popular 13.Bd3. The point is that after ...Qxb2 Rb1 Black now longer has ...Qxe5. 13...dxe5 A) 13...Qxb2 14.Rb1 Qxa2 15.g6 fxg6 16.Bf2 dxe5 17.Bd3 transposes to the main line. B) 13...Rb8 14.Qf3 Other moves also lead to a big advantage, but the text is most convincing. 14...Be7 15.b4!



124



Position after: 15.b4! Stopping any queenside counterplay and preparing to take the c5-square under control. 15...dxe5 16.Bf2 Qc7 17.g6! A typical pawn sacrifice. After it Black will be two pawns up, but this factor is irrelevant if we consider the passivity of his position. A sample continuation is: 17...fxg6 18.Bc4 a5 19.a3 Rf8 20.Qg3 Nf4 21.0-0 Rf5



Position after: 21...Rf5 22.Rad1 [22.Bc5 Bxc5+ 23.Nxc5± should also be enough to win. Black’s position is in ruins.] 125



22...Kf8 23.Bc5 axb4 24.axb4 Bxc5+ 25.bxc5 Kg7 26.Nd6+– White wins at least the exchange, and with it the game. C) 13...hxg5 14.Bxg5 Qxb2 15.Rb1 Qxa2 16.Be2+– After 0-0, White will have all the pieces in play, while Black is totally underdeveloped and their king is tragically weak. 14.g6!



Position after: 14.g6! White sacrifices a pawn to destroy Black’s structure and weaken his king. 14...fxg6 15.Bf2 Qxb2 16.Rb1 Qxa2 17.Bd3 Black is three pawns up, but they are totally irrelevant. What matters is White’s enormous lead in development and Black’s weak king. 17...Be7 18.Ra1 Qb2 19.0-0



126



Position after: 19.0-0 19...Rf8 19...h5 This prevents Qg4, but obviously White has many other resources. 20.Rb1 Qa3 [20...Qa2 21.c4+–] 21.Qc2 Qa5 22.c4 Nb4 23.Qd2+– Black is utterly busted. 20.Qg4 Rxf2 A sad necessity in view of White’s large initiative. 21.Qxg6+ Kd8 22.Nxf2 Qxc3 23.Rac1 Qd2 24.Qh7+– Materially Black is still fine, but one glance at the position suffices to conclude that he is dead lost. Conclusion This is the shortest chapter in the book, and justifiably so. The 7...Nc6? move simply doesn’t stand up to the computer’s scrutiny, as proven by correspondence and computer games.



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Chapter 5 The 7...Qc7 Variation 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qc7



Chapter Guide Chapter 5 – The 7...Qc7 Variation 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qc7 a) 8.Qf3 b5 9.0-0-0 b) 8.Qf3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.e5?! c) 8.Qf3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.a3 d) 8.Qe2 Nc6 9.0-0-0 Be7 e) 8.Qe2 Nc6 9.0-0-0 Nxd4 f) 8.Bxf6 a) 8.Qf3 b5 9.0-0-0 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qc7



128



Position after: 7...Qc7 This line was a favourite of Maxime Vachier – Lagrave before he turned to the more theoreticallyacclaimed Poisoned Pawn. 8.Qf3 b5 A) 8...Nbd7 transposes to the Gelfand Variation. B) 8...Nc6 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.0-0-0 transposes to 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Qf3 Nc6. 9.0-0-0



Position after: 9.0-0-0 9...b4!? This principled move leads to very interesting complications. A) 9...Nbd7 transposes to the 7...Nbd7 main line. B) 9...Bb7? This is a very serious mistake in view of 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Qh5!+– and the e6-point crumbles.



129



Position after: 9...b4!? 10.e5 A) 10.Nce2?! This is way too meek. 10...Nbd7 11.g4 Bb7 12.Ng3³ Black is better after both 12...Rc8 and 12...Be7. He has annoying pressure against the e4-pawn and a queenside initiative. B) 10.Nd5?! Flashy, but flawed. 10...exd5 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.exd5 Bg7!µ The most convincing move. Black prepares to activate the bishop by ...f5 and vacates a safe square for the king on f8. White struggles to show compensation for the piece. C) 10.Na4 Nbd7 11.Qb3 h6



130



Position after: 11...h6 12.Bxf6 Going after the b4-pawn. [12.Bh4 Be7 13.Bc4! White has to play energetically to justify his concept. 13...0-0 14.Bxe6! Nc5! A crucial resource, allowing Black to reach an equal major piece ending. 15.Nxc5 dxc5 16.Bxc8 cxd4 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.e5 Raxc8 19.exf6 Qxf4+ 20.Kb1 Qxf6 21.Qxb4=] 12...Nxf6 13.Qxb4 d5 14.Qc3 Qxc3 15.Nxc3 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Nc6 Bb7 18.Ne5 Bd5=



Position after: 18...Bd5=



131



White’s better structure is compensated by Black’s bishop pair. 10...Bb7



Position after: 10...Bb7 11.Ncb5! 11.Qh3?! After this move White doesn’t even reach equality. 11...dxe5



Position after: 11...dxe5 132



A) 12.Nxe6? This sacrifice doesn’t work. 12...fxe6 13.Be2!? A creative way to continue the attack, but Black has a strong retort. [13.Qxe6+ is answered simply by 13...Qe7 14.Qb3 Nbd7–+ and White has no compensation for the piece.] 13...Ke7!



Position after: 13...Ke7! Moving the king forward may seem risky, but it is vital to defend e6. White has no good continuation of the attack. 14.fxe5 Qxe5 15.Qh4 bxc3 16.Bxf6+ gxf6 17.Qb4+ Kf7 18.Qxb7+ Be7 White can’t take the rook because of ...Qf4+ and ...Qb4. After 19.Bf3 Qe3+ 20.Kb1 Ra7–+ Black is a healthy piece up. B) 12.fxe5? was the most popular move, but it simply loses a central pawn for no compensation. 12...Qxe5 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Bb5+



133



Position after: 14.Bb5+ This desperate sacrifice doesn’t work. 14...axb5 15.Rhe1 Qg5+ 16.Kb1 Ra6! Covering the e6-point. 17.Ndxb5 Be7 18.Nc7+ Kf8 19.Nxa6 Nxa6–+ The two pieces are much stronger than the rook. C) 12.Bb5+! axb5 13.Ncxb5 Qb6 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Nd6+



Position after: 15.Nd6+ C1) 15...Bxd6? 16.Qxe6+ Kf8 17.Bxf6 b3! The only way to put up some resistance, but Black still loses. 18.Rxd6 Qe3+ 19.Kb1 bxc2+ 20.Kxc2 Be4+ 21.Kd1 Bf3+ 22.gxf3 Qxf3+ 23.Kc2 Qe4+ 134



24.Kc3 Qf3+ 25.Rd3 Qc6+ 26.Qc4 Qxc4+ 27.Kxc4 Nc6 28.Bxe5+– The smoke clears and White has a won endgame. C2) 15...Qxd6 16.Rxd6 Bxd6 17.fxe5 Bd5 18.exf6 gxf6 19.Rd1!



Position after: 19.Rd1! Sustaining the fading initiative by making another sacrifice! 19...Nd7 20.Rxd5! exd5 21.Qe6+ Be7 22.Bh6 Rd8 23.Bg7 Rf8 24.Bxf8 Nxf8 25.Qf5³ Black is ahead in material, but their structure is not great and their pieces not so active. Therefore White should hold. 11...axb5 12.Bxb5+ Nbd7 13.Qh3



135



Position after: 13.Qh3 White prepares a strike on e6. 13...b3! A key resource. After 13...0-0-0? 14.exf6 Nxf6 15.Rhe1+– Black’s king is way too weak. 14.Qxb3 Bd5 15.c4 Ne4 16.Rhe1 Nxg5 17.fxg5



136



Position after: 17.fxg5 Now Black has three possibilities, all of which ultimately lead to equality (or forced draws.) 17...Bxc4 A) 17...0-0-0



Position after: 17...0-0-0 A1) 18.Ba6+ Bb7 19.Nb5 Nc5 20.Qe3 Qa5 21.Bxb7+ Nxb7 22.b4



137



Position after: 22.b4 22...Qxa2 [22...Qxb4 leads to the same outcome: 23.Qb6 Qc5 24.Na7+ Kb8 25.Nc6+ Kc8 26.Na7+=.] 23.Qb6 Qxc4+ 24.Kd2 dxe5+ 25.Ke3 Bxb4 26.Na7+ Kb8 27.Nc6+ Kc8 28.Na7+= with a perpetual check. A2) 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Rxd5 Qa7 20.Rdd1



Position after: 20.Rdd1 Now all roads lead to equality. 20...Nc5 [20...dxe5 21.Qf3 Bb4 22.Bxd7+ Rxd7 23.Rxd7 Qxd7 24.Qa8+ Kc7 25.Qa7+ Kc8 26.Qa8+=] 21.Qe3 d5 22.b4



138



Position after: 22.b4 22...Qxa2 [22...d4 23.Qf3 d3 24.Kb2 Na4+ 25.Kb3 Nc3 26.Rxd3 Qxa2+ 27.Kxc3 Qa3+ 28.Kc2 Qa2+ 29.Kc3=] 23.bxc5 Qa1+ 24.Kc2 Qa2+ 25.Kc1= B) 17...Rc8 18.exd6 Bxd6 19.Kb1 Bxc4 20.Bxc4 Qxc4 21.Rc1 Qa6 22.Rxc8+ Qxc8



Position after: 22...Qxc8 23.Rxe6+ [23.Nxe6 fxe6 24.Qxe6+ Kd8 25.Qxd6 Qc5= White’s three pawns are adequate compensation for the knight, but not more.] 23...fxe6 24.Qxe6+ Kd8 25.Qxd6 Qc4 26.Nc6+ Kc8 139



27.Ne7+ Kd8 28.Nc6+= 18.exd6



Position after: 18.exd6 18...Bxb3+ 18...Bxd6 19.Bxc4 Rc8 20.Kb1 transposes to 17...Rc8. 19.dxc7 Bxd1 20.Rxd1 Bd6 21.Nxe6



140



Position after: 21.Nxe6 21...Ke7 21...Bxh2 This move is objectively just as good as 21...Ke7, but practically risky. 22.Nc5 Bxc7 [22...0-0 23.Rxd7 Ra7 24.Na6 Bxc7 25.Rxc7 Rxc7+ 26.Nxc7 Rc8 27.b4 Rxc7+ 28.Kb2©



Position after: 28.Kb2© with a similar situation to the main line.] 23.Rxd7 Bf4+ 24.Kc2 0-0 25.a4 Bxg5 26.b4© 141



Position after: 26.b4© The two passers are excellent compensation for the exchange, and while the position is objectively equal, I would certainly prefer White in a practical game. 22.Nd4 Bf4+ 23.Kb1 Nb6 24.Nc6+ Ke6 25.Nd8+ Ke7 26.Nc6+=



Position after: 26.Nc6+= The game ends in a perpetual check. 142



b) 8.Qf3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.e5?! 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qc7 8.Qf3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6



Position after: 9...gxf6 10.e5?! This advance, if countered correctly, leads to nothing but trouble for White. 10.0-0-0 b4 11.Nce2 Nd7 12.Qh5 Nc5 13.Ng3 Bb7 14.f5 0-0-0 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Qh3



143



Position after: 16.Qh3 A) After 16...Qg7?! taking the pawn gives Black adequate compensation, but refusing the offer guarantees White the better chances. 17.Kb1! [17.Nxe6 Qh6+ 18.Nf4+ Qxh3 19.Nxh3 d5© The bishop pair is very strong in this open position.] 17...Qh6 18.Nh5! Kb8 19.Bc4±



Position after: 19.Bc4± Black’s e6-pawn is an issue. B) The strongest possibility is an untried pawn sacrifice 16...f5! 17.exf5 e5 18.Ne6 Nxe6 19.fxe6 Kb8© Intending ...d5, with a strong center and the bishop pair as a compensation for the pawn.



144



Position after: 10.e5?! 10...d5 10...Bb7? 11.Qh5! Typically, moving the bishop too early leads to problems with the e6-pawn. 11...dxe5 12.Nxe6 Qb6 13.Nxf8 Qe3+ 14.Qe2 Qxf4 15.Nxh7 Rxh7 16.g3



Position after: 16.g3 16...Qb4 [After 16...Qf3 17.Qxf3 Bxf3 18.Bd3 Bxh1 19.Bxh7± White has a big edge in the endgame



145



with his better pieces and structure.] 17.Bg2! [After 17.0-0-0 Bxh1 18.Qd3 Nc6 19.Qxh7 Rd8 20.Bd3 Bf3 21.Rf1 Qg4= Black holds his own.] 17...Qxb2 18.0-0! Qxc3 19.Bxb7 Ra7 20.Be4© White has nice compensation for the pawn, based on his safer king and strong bishop. 11.exf6 b4



Position after: 11...b4 12.Nce2 12.Nxd5 exd5 A) 13.0-0-0 Bb7 14.Qe2+ Kd8 15.Qh5 Nd7 16.Qxf7 Nc5 17.Ne6+ Nxe6 18.Qxe6 Qxf4+ 19.Kb1 Kc7 20.Bd3 Bd6 21.f7 Raf8 22.Rhf1µ



146



Position after: 22.Rhf1µ In the high-profile correspondence game Marczell – Ruemmele, email 2010, White held his own thanks to the strong f7-pawn, but without doubt Black has an advantage. B) 13.Qxd5 Bb7 14.Bb5+ axb5 15.Nxb5 Bxd5 16.Nxc7+ Kd7 17.Nxd5 Kc6µ



Position after: 17...Kc6µ Right here White has four pawns for the piece, but Black will quickly take one of them and then stand better. 147



12...Nd7 13.f5 Otherwise Black would be in time to recapture on f6, with a big positional advantage. 13...e5



Position after: 13...e5 14.Ne6 White has no choice but to push forward. 14.Qxd5?! Bb7 15.Ne6 fxe6 16.Qxe6+ Kd8



148



Position after: 16...Kd8 17.f7 [After 17.0-0-0 Rc8 18.c3 Bh6+ 19.Kb1 Re8 20.Qb3 Be4+ 21.Ka1 Bxf5–+ White has nothing to show for the piece.] 17...Qc6 18.Ng3 Kc7 19.0-0-0 h5!–+ A key resource, preparing ...Rh6. White lacks adequate compensation for the piece. 14...fxe6 15.fxe6 Nxf6 16.Qxf6 Bg7 17.Qf5 Rf8 18.Qh5+ Kd8 19.g3! The only way to survive, but it still fails to equalize.



149



Position after: 19.g3! 19...Bxe6 20.Bh3 Qd7 21.Qh4+ Kc7 22.Bxe6 Qxe6 23.Qxb4 Bh6µ Black has tremendous compensation for the pawn. c) 8.Qf3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.a3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qc7 8.Qf3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.a3



Position after: 10.a3 10...Nc6 10...Bb7?! 11.0-0-0 Nd7 This is not the best piece configuration, since it doesn’t challenge the strong d4-knight. 12.Qh5 Nc5 13.Be2 0-0-0 14.Bf3 Kb8 15.Kb1±



150



Position after: 15.Kb1± White can further improve their position by doubling rooks on the d-file, while Black lacks an active plan. 11.Nxc6 Qxc6



Position after: 11...Qxc6 12.f5 151



The most direct challenge to Black’s setup. 12.Be2 also ensures White an edge, and might be more promising because it keeps more pieces on. 12...Rb8



Position after: 12...Rb8 A) 13.f5 Be7 [13...Qc5 transposes to 12.f5 Qc5 13.Be2 Rb8] 14.0-0-0 transposes to the 12...Be7 note. B) 13.0-0-0 b4 14.axb4 Rxb4



152



Position after: 14...Rxb4 B1) 15.f5?! is not optimal in view of 15...Bh6+ 16.Kb1 Qb6 17.b3 Be3! when Black nicely activates his forces, leaving White nothing better than a repetition: 18.Na2 Ra4 19.Nc3=. B2) 15.Rhf1 Bb7



Position after: 15...Bb7 B2.1) 16.b3?! f5! A strong pawn sacrifice, opening the long diagonal. 17.exf5 Qc5 18.Qh3 Bg7 19.Na2 Be4 [19...Re4!? is another tempting possibility.] 20.Nxb4 Qxb4 21.Qe3 Bxf5 22.Rf3 0-0 23.Rg3 Bg6 24.Bd3



153



Position after: 24.Bd3 In Farkas – Canovas Pardomingo, email 2009 a draw was agreed, although Black has great compensation for the exchange and can try to play on with 24...a5©. B2.2) 16.Qh5 Qc5 17.Qxc5 dxc5 18.b3² White has a slight pull in the endgame. B3) 15.Rd3 f5!? 16.exf5 Qxf3 17.Bxf3 Rxf4 18.fxe6 fxe6 19.Re1² Black has the bishop pair, but a weaker structure. Also, White’s pieces are much more active, which gives the first player a slight edge.



154



Position after: 12.f5 12...Qc5 12...Be7 13.0-0-0 Rb8 14.Be2 Qc5 15.Rd3 b4 16.axb4 Qxb4



Position after: 16...Qxb4 17.Nd1!? [17.b3 gives Black a hook to attack: 17...Qa3+ 18.Kb1 a5! 19.Qe3 Ba6 20.Rd2 Bxe2 21.Rxe2 Rb7 22.e5 0-0 23.exd6 Bxd6 24.fxe6 a4 25.exf7+ Kg7 26.Qf3



155



Position after: 26.Qf3 And here Sadowski – Dothan, email 2019 was agreed drawn in view of 26...Rfb8 27.Rf1 Rxb3+ 28.cxb3 Rxb3+ 29.Kc2 Qb2+ 30.Kd1 Qa1+ 31.Kc2=.] 17...Qa5 18.Kb1!? A very deep pawn sacrifice. 18...exf5 19.exf5 Qxf5 20.Re1 Qxf3 21.Bxf3 Kf8 22.Nc3 f5 23.Nd5 Bg5 24.Ra3© In De Filippis – Parisi, email 2015, White slowly but surely improved his position and won. If Black couldn’t hold this position even in an email game, this is a clear indicator of the strength of White’s concept, although more tests are required.



156



Position after: 24.Ra3© 13.Be2



Position after: 13.Be2 13...Qe5 13...Rb8 14.fxe6 Bxe6 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Bg7 17.0-0-0 0-0 18.Qb3² Planning Bd3, Rhf1 etc. White’s bishop is obviously stronger than its counterpart. 14.Qh5



157



Position after: 14.Qh5 14...exf5! A direct solution to Black’s problems, although by playing it Black also admits that the limit of his dreams is a draw. 14...Rb8 In all three correspondence games played Black managed to defend, but this would surely not be so enjoyable in practical play. 15.0-0 Bg7 16.Rad1 b4 17.axb4 Rxb4 18.fxe6 Bxe6 19.Qxe5 dxe5 20.b3 a5±



158



Position after: 20...a5± White is much better after both 21.Ra1 and 21.Bb5+. I wouldn’t advise anyone to try and to hold this position over the board. 15.exf5 Qxf5 16.Nd5 Ra7 17.Qxf5 Bxf5 18.0-0-0 Bg7 19.Rhf1 Be6 20.Nxf6+ Ke7 21.Nd5+ Bxd5 22.Rxd5 Be5 23.h3²



Position after: 23.h3² In this opposite-coloured bishop endgame White’s chances are preferable, but they hardly have enough to reel in the full point against good play. d) 8.Qe2 Nc6 9.0-0-0 Be7 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qc7 8.Qe2



159



Position after: 8.Qe2 This is Negi’s recommendation, so it’s certainly worth investigating. 8...Nc6 Black’s safest option is to transpose to the Gelfand Variation with 8.Qe2 by 8...Nbd7, but the text is also not bad. 9.0-0-0



160



Position after: 9.0-0-0 9...Be7 9...Bd7 10.Nxc6! bxc6 [10...Bxc6?! 11.Nd5! An obvious blow. After 11...exd5 12.exd5+ Be7 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.c3± White has the much better structure and the better bishop.] 11.Qe1!



Position after: 11.Qe1! This subtle move turns out to be even stronger than Negi’s 11.Qe3. The queen doesn’t stumble into any potential attacks, and can later go to g3 or h4. White is better. A sample line is 11...h6 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.f5² when White plans Be2/c4, Rf1, Qg3/h4. 10.Nxc6! bxc6 10...Qxc6? This move simply loses to a long forced line: 11.e5 dxe5 12.fxe5 Nd5 13.Bxe7 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Kxe7 15.Qg4! Bd7 16.Bc4! Even more accurate than the immediate capture on g7. 16...Qc5 17.Qxg7 Rhg8 18.Rxd7+! Kxd7 19.Qxf7+ Kc6 20.Qxe6+ Kc7 21.Qd6+ Qxd6 22.exd6+ Kxd6 23.Rd1+ Kc6 24.Bxg8 Rxg8 25.g3+– As Negi observes, only a miracle can save Black. 11.e5! dxe5 11...Nd5? 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Ne4 dxe5 14.fxe5 0-0 15.c4 Nf4 16.Qe3 Ng6 17.Nd6+– The powerful knight resembles an ‘octopus’ (Kasparov’s term) and Black is hopelessly passive. 12.Qxe5!



161



12.fxe5?! Nd5 13.Bxe7 Nxc3! 14.Qf3 Nxa2+ 15.Kb1 Kxe7 16.Kxa2 Rd8= White has enough compensation for the pawn, but that’s all.



Position after: 12.Qxe5! 12...Qb8 A) 12...Qb6 13.Be2 h6 [13...0-0 14.Ne4 Nd7 15.Rxd7 Bxg5 16.Rd3 Be7 17.Rb3 Qa7 18.Rg3± White has a very dangerous attack.] 14.Na4



Position after: 14.Na4 162



A1) 14...Qb4?! 15.a3! Qxa4?! Otherwise, the play transposes to 14...Qb7 with a3 included. 16.Rd4 Qxd4 17.Qxd4 hxg5 18.fxg5 Nh7 19.Qxg7! Even stronger than Negi’s 19.h4. 19...Bxg5+ 20.Kb1 Bf6 21.Qg3+–



Position after: 21.Qg3+– It may not seem obvious at first, but Black is completely busted, because he has no good way to defend against the Rf1/Bd3 configuration. A2) 14...Qa7 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Qd6± White has plenty of juicy squares for his pieces. A3) 14...Qb7 15.Bh4 0-0 16.Nc5! Qb4 17.Ne4!±



163



Position after: 17.Ne4!± This is an important justification of the previous move. White has a pretty obvious big advantage. B) 12...Qxe5?! 13.fxe5 Nd7 14.Bf4± Ne4-d6 is inevitable. The endgame is very favourable for White. C) 12...Qa7?! 13.Rd3! A very strong computer move, but logical in human terms too. White prepares 14.Rg3 in case of 13...0-0 (14.Rg3). 13...h6 14.Bh4± White has ideas like Ne4 and Rg3 up his sleeve. Black is in serious trouble. 13.g3!



Position after: 13.g3! This is Negi’s novelty, which I like too. 13...Qxe5 Black has nothing better. A) After 13...h6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Qc5 Be7 16.Qxc6+ Kf8 17.Bg2 Ra7 18.Qa4± Black has nothing for the pawn. B) 13...0-0 14.Ne4 Qxe5 15.fxe5 Nd5 16.Bxe7 Nxe7 17.Nc5+– The knight reigns supreme. White should win the endgame. 14.fxe5 Nd7 15.Bf4!² 164



Position after: 15.Bf4!² White has a very pleasant endgame. 15...g5?! One of White’s points is that this thrust is well countered by: 16.Bd2! Nxe5 17.Ne4! f6 18.Bc3± And Bxe5 will come, causing a dismal structure and passive pieces for Black. e) 8.Qe2 Nc6 9.0-0-0 Nxd4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qc7 8.Qe2 Nc6 9.0-0-0 Nxd4 10.Rxd4 Be7 10...b5 Here rather than Negi’s 11.g3, I like the more straightforward and simpler 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Qd2². With the strong rook on d4 stopping ...b4 and pressuring d6, White has a very good version of a Rauzer structure. 11.Kb1 h6 11...0-0?! 12.g3 h6 13.h4! As pointed out by Negi, this is stronger than transposing to 11...h6 by playing 12.Bh4. After 13...b5 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Nd5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Bg2± White simply wins a pawn.



165



12.Bh4



Position after: 12.Bh4 12...0-0 12...g5? This advance is extremely reckless and it loses to a pretty obvious sacrifice. 13.fxg5 Nd7 14.g6! Bxh4 15.gxf7+ Kf8 16.e5! Qd8 17.Qh5 Qg5 18.Qd1 Qd8



Position after: 18...Qd8 166



The most tenacious defence, not mentioned by Negi. Nevertheless, it doesn’t save Black. 19.exd6 Bf6 20.Rg4 h5 21.Rg8+ Rxg8 22.fxg8=Q+ Kxg8 23.Qxh5 Bg7 24.Nd5!! The crux of White’s idea. Black is lost.



Position after: 24.Nd5!! 24...Nf6 25.Nxf6+ Qxf6 26.Qe8+ Qf8 27.d7 Bxd7 28.Qxd7 Qb4 29.Qxe6+ Kf8 30.c3 Bxc3 31.b3+–. 13.g3 White prepares e5 and Bg2. Still, Black has sufficient counterchances. 13...b5 14.e5 Otherwise Black follows up with ...Bb7 and is totally fine. 14...dxe5 15.fxe5 g5!



167



Position after: 15...g5! A concrete tactical solution. 16.Bxg5 16.Bg2 Bb7 17.exf6 Bxf6 18.Rg4 Bxg2 19.Qxg2 Be7= White has no way to preserve their bishop. The position is still very complicated, but Black is completely fine. 16...hxg5 17.h4! White has to attack. 17...Bb7 18.hxg5 Ng4! An absolutely crucial interference. 19.Rh4 Qxe5 20.Rd7 Qxe2 21.Bxe2



168



Position after: 21.Bxe2 Here in two correspondence games Black found a better path than the 21...Bf3 investigated by Negi: 21...Bc6! 22.Rxe7 Ne5 23.Rc7 Rfc8 24.Rxc8+ Rxc8 25.a4! The only way to pose Black some problems. 25...bxa4 26.Bxa6 Ra8 27.Bb5 Bxb5 28.Nxb5 Kg7= White is a pawn up, but it is doubled and vulnerable. Black has enough resources to save half a point. 29.Nc3 a3 30.b4 Rc8 31.Ne4 Ng6 32.Rg4 Ne7 33.Nd6 a2+ 34.Kxa2 A draw was agreed in Fenwick – Fernandez Vicente, email 2015. f) 8.Bxf6 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qc7 8.Bxf6 The most logical choice. White takes the opportunity to break up Black’s pawn structure. 8...gxf6



169



Position after: 8...gxf6 9.Qd2 Most popular, but not critical. 9.Qf3! I find this move to be a tougher test of the variation than 9.Qd2. 9...Nc6 [9...b5 transposes to 8.Qf3 b5 9.Bxf6 and is perhaps the best choice for Black.] 10.0-0-0



Position after: 10.0-0-0 A) 10...Nxd4 11.Rxd4 Qc5 12.Qd3 b5 13.Be2 Bd7 14.Re1 Be7 15.Kb1 Rc8 16.Qd2 Rc7 17.Nd1± 170



Preparing Ne3. White was much better and went on to win in Siefring – Alonso Gonzalez, email 2011 [The more direct 17.f5± is dangerous for Black too.] B) 10...Bd7 11.Nxc6



Position after: 11.Nxc6 11...Qxc6 [11...Bxc6 12.f5 0-0-0 13.Bc4± With their queen ready to put additional pressure on the e6-pawn from h3, White has a much-improved version of the 9.Qd2, 12.f5 line.] 12.Qh5 Qc5 13.f5± Black is in trouble, because he is not in time to castle in view of the attack on the f7-pawn. White has easy play: Bd3, Kb1, Rhe1, Ne2-f4(d4) etc. 9...Nc6 10.0-0-0 Bd7 11.Kb1 0-0-0 12.f5 A) 12.Bc4 Kb8 13.Nxc6+ [13.f5 transposes to 12.f5] 13...Qxc6 14.Bb3 h5 15.Rhf1² with a play similar to 12.f5. B) 12.Be2 h5 13.Rhf1 Kb8 14.Rf3 Nxd4 15.Qxd4 Be7 16.Rfd3²



171



Position after: 16.Rfd3² We have a typical scenario in this line. White is slightly for choice, but Black’s position is very solid. 12...Kb8 13.Bc4



Position after: 13.Bc4 White’s main idea is to ramp up pressure against the e6-pawn. After this push, the next step in doing 172



so will be to transfer the second knight to d4 or f4. 13...Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Be7 15.Bb3 Qc5 16.Qd3 h5 17.Ne2 Rdg8 18.Nf4 White has succeeded in transferring his minor pieces to optimal positions, but Black’s position is still very tenable. 18...Qe5 19.Qf3 h4² 19...Rg5² is similar.



Position after: 19...h4² White retains slight pressure, but it’s very hard to improve their position and Black is very solid. Conclusion The 7...Qc7 line is certainly playable. It fails to offer Black full equality, but in the main lines White’s advantage is reduced to a minimum and Black is very solid. I believe the toughest test is 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Qf3!, when after the best response 9...b5! Black’s position remains unpleasant, but tenable.



173



Part II The Three Piece System Chapter 6 Other moves than 10.g4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Nbd7 9.0-0-0 Qc7



Chapter Guide Chapter 6 – Other moves than 10.g4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Nbd7 9.0-0-0 Qc7 a) 10.Qg3 -b) 10.Qg3 h6 11.Bh4 b5 12.f5 e5!? c) 10.Qg3 h6 11.Bh4 b5 12.f5 Ne5 d) 10.Bd3 & 10.Be2 e) 10.f5!? a) 10.Qg3 -1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7



174



Position after: 7...Be7 In this chapter we begin our coverage of the Three Piece System, i.e. ...Be7, ...Nbd7 and ...Qc7. It is the most natural scheme of development and the old main line. The most important modern development in the main line is the move 13...0-0!, which has rejuvenated the whole variation and given it a good theoretical status. 8.Qf3 Nbd7 9.0-0-0 Qc7 In this chapter we will deal with White’s possibilities other than the critical 10.g4. Although they are less challenging, some of them still pose Black some problems and lead to interesting play. 10.Qg3



175



Position after: 10.Qg3 10...b5 A) 10...0-0?! 11.Be2! Putting the bishop on f3 is very unpleasant for Black. 11...b5 12.e5! dxe5 13.fxe5 Nxe5 14.Bf3 Bb7 15.Bxb7 Qxb7 16.Qxe5 Ng4 17.Qf4 Bxg5 18.Qxg5 Nf2 19.a3 Nxh1 20.Rxh1²



Position after: 20.Rxh1²



176



The two knights are stronger than the rook and the pawn. B) 10...Nc5 11.Bd3 h6 12.Bh4 B1) 12...Nh5 13.Qg4 Nf6 14.Qe2 [14.Qg3 repeats the position.] 14...0-0 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nd5 17.Nxd5 exd5 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Rhe1 Re8= White has a nice outpost for his knight, but Black gets good counterplay against the e5-pawn. B2) 12...0-0 13.Rhf1 Bd7 14.Kb1 Rac8 15.Qe1 Rfe8 16.g4 Nxd3 17.Rxd3 e5!



Position after: 17...e5! This flank attack is well met by an attack in the centre. 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.Bxf6 In Pfiffner – Siefreing, email 2012, a draw was agreed in view of 19...Bxf6 20.Nd5 Qc5 21.b4 Qc4 22.Nb6 Qc7 23.Nd5 Qc4=.



177



Position after: 10...b5 11.Bxf6 11.Bxb5 axb5 12.Ndxb5 Qb8 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5



Position after: 14.fxe5 Black has options both here and also on the next move (after 14...Nxe5.) They are equal in objective merit, so the choice is purely a matter of taste.



178



A) 14...Nxe5 15.Bf4 A1) 15...Nfg4 16.Rhe1 f6 17.Bxe5 Nxe5 18.Qxg7 Rf8 19.Qxh7 Bd7 20.Rxe5! White needs to sacrifice more material to keep his attack going. 20...fxe5!? This is the choice if Black wants to go for an unclear position with winning chances. [20...Qxe5 21.Qg6+ Rf7 22.Qg8+ Rf8 23.Qg6+=] 21.Qg6+ Kd8 22.Qxe6 Qb7 23.Qxe5=



Position after: 23.Qxe5= A picturesque position. White has five pawns for the rook! The position is in dynamic equilibrium. A2) 15...Nh5 16.Bxe5 Nxg3 17.Bxb8 Rxb8 18.hxg3 0-0= Black’s compensation for the pawn is clear: two bishops versus two knights in an open position. On the other hand, White has as many as 3 connected passed pawns! Overall, a fascinating battle lies ahead. B) 14...Rxa2 15.exf6 Ra1+ 16.Kd2 Rxd1+ 17.Rxd1 Qxg3 18.hxg3=



179



Position after: 18.hxg3= Both captures on f6 are possible. The resulting endgame is greatly imbalanced. Black has the bishop pair and far better structure. White, on the other hand, has two connected passed pawns. This is another equal position with a lot of play left and winning chances for both sides.



Position after: 11.Bxf6 11...Nxf6



180



11...Bxf6!? Black invites the typical sacrifice on b5. 12.Bxb5



Position after: 12.Bxb5 A) 12...axb5?! Accepting the sacrifice is very dangerous. 13.Ndxb5 Qc5 14.Nxd6+ Kf8 15.e5 Be7 16.a3



Position after: 16.a3 A1) 16...h5 17.Nce4 Qc7 18.Ng5 Bxd6 19.Rxd6± [After 19.exd6?! Qc4 20.f5 e5 21.Ne6+ fxe6 22.fxe6 Qf4+ 23.Qxf4+ exf4 24.exd7 Bxd7= White’s four connected passed pawns are not that 181



easy to move forward.] A2) 16...g6 17.Nce4 Qc7 18.Rd3 Rb8! Other moves lead to a much worse position. [18...Bb7 19.Rc3 Bc6 20.Rd1±; 18...Nb6 19.Ng5±; 18...Ba6 19.Rc3 Qb6 20.Rd1±; 18...Qa7 19.Rhd1 Ba6 20.Rc3±] 19.Rc3 Qd8 20.Rb3 [After the most natural 20.Rd1 Black manages to hold his own: 20...Bb7 21.Ng5 Bxd6 22.Rxd6 Bd5 23.Qe3 Rb7=.] 20...Rxb3 21.Qxb3 Kg7 22.Rd1 Qc7 23.Qc4²



Position after: 23.Qc4² White preserves a definite edge. They have three connected passed pawns, and the d6-knight cripples Black’s pieces. B) 12...0-0! Black gets prospects of play along the b-file in return for the pawn. 13.Bxd7 Bxd7 14.Rhe1 g6 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Bg7© Black has good compensation for the pawn in the shape of the bishop-pair and the open b- and c-files.



182



Position after: 11...Nxf6 12.e5 12.Qxg7?? Rg8 13.Qh6 b4–+ 12...dxe5 13.fxe5 Nd7 14.Bxb5 axb5 15.Ndxb5 Qc5 16.Qxg7 Rf8 17.Rhe1 17.Nd6+ Bxd6 18.exd6 Bb7 19.Rhe1 0-0-0 comes to the same thing. 17...Bb7 18.Nd6+ Bxd6 19.exd6 0-0-0³



183



Position after: 19...0-0-0³ The d6-pawn is firmly blocked, and (since we are far from the endgame), the extra piece is worth more than the three pawns. A promising plan for Black is ...Kb8 followed by ...Rc8. b) 10.Qg3 h6 11.Bh4 b5 12.f5 e5!? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Nbd7 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.Qg3 h6



184



Position after: 10...h6 This is a good way to create major complications. 11.Bh4 b5 11...g5?! 12.fxg5 Nh5 13.Qe3 Qc5



Position after: 13...Qc5 A) 14.Kb1 hxg5 15.Bf2 b5 [15...Ne5? 16.Qd2 Qc7 17.Nf3! Nxf3 18.gxf3 Bd7 19.Rg1! 0-0-0 20.Rxg5 Bxg5 21.Qxg5±



185



Position after: 21.Qxg5± White has tremendous compensation for the exchange. In particular, the dark squares around the black king are weak.] 16.Qd2 Qc7 17.a3 Rb8= Black has fully adequate counterplay. B) 14.Qd2! (This renders 14...hxg5 unattractive on account of 15.Nb3!.) 14...Bxg5 15.Bxg5 Qxg5 16.Be2 Nhf6 17.Nf3 Qxd2+ 18.Rxd2 Ke7 19.Rhd1 Ne8 20.Rd4 b6 21.a4²



Position after: 21.a4² Black has a nice structure, but White’s pieces are much more active, which gives them a slight edge. 186



One unpleasant idea is Nd2-c4.



Position after: 11...b5 12.f5 The critical choice. A) 12.a3 This quiet move fails to pose Black any problems, but doesn’t lead to a worse position for White either. 12...0-0 13.Be2 Bb7 14.Bf3 Nb6 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nfd5 17.Nxd5



Position after: 17.Nxd5 187



17...Nxd5 [17...Bxd5 18.Bf6 Bxf6 19.exf6 Qxg3 20.hxg3 Rad8=] 18.Bf6 Bxf6 19.exf6 Qxg3 20.hxg3 Rad8= B) 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Bxb5



Position after: 13.Bxb5 B1) 13...0-0 is also good: 14.Bxd7 Bxd7 15.e5 dxe5 16.Ne4 Be7 [After 16...exd4?! 17.Nxf6+ Kh8 18.Nxd7 Qxd7 19.Rd2² White has a slight edge thanks to the better structure.] 17.fxe5 Rab8 18.Nf6+ Kh8 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.Kb1 Qc7©



188



Position after: 20...Qc7© Black has good play on the queenside in return for the pawn. B2) 13...axb5 This time, accepting the sacrifice is the correct decision as the inclusion of ...h6 is highly beneficial for Black. 14.Ndxb5 Qc5 15.Nxd6+ Kf8 16.e5 Be7 17.a3 g6= The key point is that White has no Ne4-g5 in many lines. Black is fine. 12...e5!?



Position after: 12...e5!? This move leads to insane complications, but if Black is well prepared, he should not lose this position. 13.Qxg7 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.Qxg7 Rh7 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.Qg8+ Bf8 17.Bxb5+! axb5 18.Nxb5 Qe7 19.Rxd5 Rg7 20.Qh8 Ra6 21.Rhd1 Qg5+ 22.R1d2 Rg8 23.Qh7



189



Position after: 23.Qh7 23...Rc6 [Black can also simply repeat the position: 23...Rg7 24.Qh8 Rg8.] 24.a4 Qg7 [Similarly 24...Rg7= is an option here.] 25.Qxg7 Rxg7 26.Nxd6+ Rxd6 27.Rxd6 Bxd6 28.Rxd6 Rxg2 29.Rxh6 Bb7 30.Rh4 Bc6= Black’s piece activity offsets White’s three connected passed pawns. 13...Rh7 13...Rg8? 14.Nd5 Qb7 15.Nxf6+ Nxf6 16.Qxh6 Nxe4 17.Bd3 Nf2 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.f6 Qb7 20.Bh7 Rh8 21.Qg7 Rf8 22.Rhe1 Nxd1 23.Be4 d5



190



Position after: 23...d5 24.Qg5! Be6 25.Nxe6 fxe6 26.Bf5! 0-0-0 27.Bxe6+ Kb8 28.Rxd1+– White not only has three connected passed pawns, but also wins one of Black’s central pawns. 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.Qxh7 Ne3 16.Qh8+ Bf8 17.c3 exd4 18.Rxd4 Bb7



Position after: 18...Bb7 White has two options and after both of them the play assumes a very forcing character. What follows are high-depth computer lines ending in a draw: 19.Be2 19.Qg8 Qa5 A) 20.Rxd6 Ne5



191



Position after: 20...Ne5 21.Re6+ [21.Qh8 b4! Attacking and defending at the same time. 22.Qf6 Bxd6 23.Qxd6 Nc6 24.Qxh6 Ng4 25.Qg5 Qxa2 26.Qxg4 Qa1+ 27.Kc2 Ne5 28.Qg5 b3+ 29.Kxb3 Qd1+ 30.Ka3 Qa1+ 31.Kb3 Qd1+=] 21...Kd7 22.Qg3 Qa4 23.Qxe3 fxe6 24.fxe6+ Kxe6 25.Bd3 Qxa2 26.Rf1 Bg7 27.Bg3 Rf8!



Position after: 27...Rf8! This rook trade is the key to limiting White’s attacking chances. 28.Qb6+ Bc6 29.Bxe5 Rxf1+ 192



30.Bxf1 Qa1+ 31.Kc2 Qxf1 32.Qxc6+ Kxe5 33.Qe8+ Kf6 34.e5+ Kg5 35.h4+ Kxh4 36.Qe7+ Kh5 37.Qxg7 Qe2+ 38.Kb1 Qd1+ 39.Ka2 Qa4+= B) 20.Kb1 b4! Black has to develop his own attack at all cost. 21.Bd3 bxc3 22.Rxd6 Ne5!



Position after: 22...Ne5! Now White has to force the issue. 23.Re6+! Kd7 24.Rxe5 Qxe5 25.Qxf7+ Be7 26.Bf2 Qd4 27.Qe6+ Ke8 28.Qg8+ Kd7 29.Qe6+= 19...Nxg2 It’s not about taking the pawn, but rather deflecting the bishop from the h4-d8 diagonal so that Black can castle. 20.Bg3 0-0-0 21.Rg1 Ne3 22.Bf4 Nc4 23.Bxc4 bxc4 24.Rg8



193



Position after: 24.Rg8 Now Black has to find a very counter-intuitive move. 24...Bc6! Inducing the rook to c4 is actually good: the d6-pawn is no longer under threat. 24...f6? allows a powerful blow: 25.Rxf8! Rxf8 26.Qg7!± and White takes on d6 with a big edge. 25.Rxc4 25.Bxd6 Bxd6 26.Rxd8+ Kb7 27.Rxc4 Bc5= The position has good chances of leading to a perpetual check, e.g. 28.e5 Bb5 29.Qe8 Be3+ 30.Kc2 Qxc4 31.Rxd7+ Bxd7 32.Qxd7+ Kb8 33.Qd8+ Kb7 34.Qd7+=. 25...f6 26.Rd4



194



Position after: 26.Rd4 White has nothing better than to return to attacking the d6-pawn. 26...Qa5! This way Black generates enough counterplay. 27.Bxd6 Qxa2 28.Ba3 Ba4 28...Bxe4 also leads to a draw. 29.Rxa4 Nc5 30.Bxc5 Qxa4 31.Bd4 Qa1+ 32.Kd2 Qxb2+ 33.Ke3 Qc1+ 34.Kf2 Qc2+ 35.Ke3 Qc1+=



195



Position after: 35...Qc1+= c) 10.Qg3 h6 11.Bh4 b5 12.f5 Ne5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Nbd7 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.Qg3 h6 11.Bh4 b5 12.f5 Ne5 12...e5!? has been covered in the previous subchapter. 13.Qxg7 Rg8 14.Qxh6 Neg4 15.Qd2 b4 16.Na4



196



Position after: 16.Na4 16...e5 16...Nxe4? 17.Qe1 Bxh4 18.Qxh4 exf5 19.Bd3 d5 20.Rhe1 Bd7 21.Kb1± White has a powerful initiative and Black can never take on a4 in view of Nxf5. 17.Nf3 17.Qxb4 exd4 18.Qxd4 Bb7 19.Nc3 Rc8 20.Be2 Ne5= White is ahead in material, but Black’s pieces are all very active, guaranteeing him good play. 17...Nxe4 18.Qxb4



Position after: 18.Qxb4 18...Ngf2 This leads to extremely complicated play, in which the better-prepared side is likely to prevail. 18...Bxh4!? 19.Qxe4 Bb7 20.Qe2 Be7©



197



Position after: 20...Be7© We have reached a very complex position, which I decided not to analyse further because we are out of established theory anyway. Black has the bishop pair, the strong centre and active pieces, which give them great compensation for the two pawns. 19.Bxe7



Position after: 19.Bxe7



198



19...Qxe7 19...Kxe7 20.Nb6 Bb7 21.Bd3 a5 22.Nxa8 Bxa8 23.f6+



Position after: 23.f6+ A) Both captures lead to equality. 23...Kxf6 24.Qa4 Bc6 25.Qc4 d5 26.Qb3 a4 27.Qb4 [27.Qa3 Nxh1 28.Bxe4 dxe4 29.Nh4 Bd7 30.Rxh1 Qc4! Black has enough activity to achieve a draw, e.g. 31.Qd6+ Be6 32.Re1 a3 33.Qxa3 Rc8 34.c3 Qd4 35.Qa5 Rc5 36.Qa8



Position after: 36.Qa8 199



36...Rxc3+ 37.bxc3 Qxc3+ 38.Kd1 Bg4+ 39.Nf3 exf3 40.Qd8+ Ke6 41.Qe8+ Kf6 42.Qd8+=] 27...a3 28.b3 Nxh1 29.Rxh1 Qd6 30.Qe1 Ke6= The strong centre and far-advanced a-pawn offset the extra pawn. B) 23...Nxf6 24.Qd2 Qc5 25.Nh4!



Position after: 25.Nh4! Defending g2 and threatening Nf5+. 25...Bxg2 26.Nxg2 Rxg2 27.Rhf1 N6g4 28.Bc4 Nxh2 29.Bd5 Nxf1 30.Rxf1 e4 31.Bxe4 Nxe4 32.Qxg2 Qe3+ 33.Kd1 Qd4+ 34.Ke2 d5!= Black has enough activity to compensate for the exchange deficit. 20.Re1 Bxf5 21.Rg1 Qc7 22.Nb6 Rb8 23.Nd5 Qd8



200



Position after: 23...Qd8 24.Qa3 After 24.Qa4+ Black is not required to show as much precision: 24...Kf8 25.Ne3 Be6, when a sample line could be 26.Bc4 Qc8 27.Nd2 Nxd2 28.Kxd2 Rxb2 29.Bxe6 Qxe6 30.Rb1 Qxa2 31.Qxa2 Ne4+ 32.Kd3 Nc5+ 33.Kc3 Rxa2 34.Rb8+ Kg7 35.Nf5+ Kh8 36.Rxg8+ Kxg8 37.Nxd6 Ra4=. 24...Be6 25.Ne3 25.Nc3 Nxc3 26.Qxc3 Qb6 27.b3 Rc8 28.Qe3 A) 28...Qa5 is a more forcing solution: 29.Qxf2 Bxb3!



201



Position after: 29...Bxb3! 30.Bd3 [30.axb3?! Qa1+ 31.Kd2 Rxc2+ 32.Kxc2 Qa2+ 33.Kd1 Qxf2 34.Bxa6 Rxg2 35.Rxg2 Qxg2µ and Black’s three connected passed pawns give them winning chances.] 30...Bxc2 31.Bxc2 Qxa2 32.Rgf1 Rg4 33.Nxe5 Qa1+ 34.Kd2 Qc3+ 35.Kc1 Qa1+= B) 28...Qxe3+ 29.Rxe3 Ke7=



Position after: 29...Ke7= Black’s strong centre provides nice compensation for the pawn. 202



25...Rc8! 25...Qc7 26.g3² Here Black lacks full compensation. 26.Bd3 Qb6! 27.Bxe4 Nxe4 28.Re2 a5= By playing a series of accurate moves, Black appears to have gained sufficient compensation for the pawn. d) 10.Bd3 & 10.Be2 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Nbd7 9.0-0-0 Qc7



Position after: 9...Qc7 10.Be2 10.Bd3 h6?! This would be good if it simply transposed to the Three Piece System with ...h6, but White has a strong additional possibility. [10...b5 11.Rhe1 Bb7 12.Qg3 The play transposes to the Gelfand Variation with 11...Be7.] 11.Qh3! White protects the bishop and attacks the light squares. [11.Bh4 transposes to the Three Piece System with ...h6.] 11...Nb6 12.f5 e5



203



Position after: 12...e5 13.Nb3! As we will see, this is linked to a clever tactical resource. [13.Nde2 allows Black to solve his problems: 13...Bd7 14.Kb1 Bc6 15.Be3 d5!= The classical central break equalizes the position.] 13...Bd7 14.Nd2 0-0-0 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Bc4!²



Position after: 16.Bc4!² This tactical resource is the cause of Black’s misfortune. White takes control of the d5 square, and with it the game. 204



10...b5



Position after: 10...b5 11.Bxf6 A) 11.a3 Bb7 12.Rhe1 0-0 13.Qg3 Rac8 14.Bg4!?



Position after: 14.Bg4!? By threatening to sacrifice on e6, White induces Black’s knight to c5, which is not its best square 205



(b6-c4 would be a preferable route.) However, White cannot hope for more than a balanced game anyway. 14...Nc5 15.Bf3 Kh8= and a double-edged battle lies ahead. B) 11.e5?! Bb7 12.exd6 Bxd6 13.Qg3 0-0 14.Bh6 g6! 15.Bxb5 Nb6 16.Bd3 Nbd5µ Black’s central superiority promises them a significant advantage. 11...Nxf6 12.e5 Bb7



Position after: 12...Bb7 13.Qg3 13.exf6? This queen sacrifice is certainly creative, but unfortunately a detailed analysis proves it wrong. 13...Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Bxf6 15.Bxa8



206



Position after: 15.Bxa8 A) 15...d5 16.Bxd5! Bxd4 17.Rxd4 exd5 18.Re1+ Kf8 19.Nxd5 [19.Re5? This move basically wastes a tempo. 19...g6 20.Nxd5 Qb8µ Black is ready to hide his king on g7, and the material advantage gives him the better chances.] 19...Qc5 20.c3



Position after: 20.c3 A1) 20...h5!? Preparing to activate the rook via the h-file. 21.h4 [21.f5?! Rh6 22.f6 gxf6µ In Keres – Fischer, Bled 1959 White lacked full compensation for the queen and went on to lose.] 21...Rh6 207



22.Re5 Re6 23.Rxh5 g6 24.Rg5 Qc6 25.f5 gxf5 26.Rxf5=



Position after: 26.Rxf5= White has managed to stay level. A2) 20...g6 21.f5! The only move to preserve the balance. If White allowed Black to develop undisrupted, they would be simply much worse. 21...gxf5 22.Nf6 Kg7 23.Ne8+



Position after: 23.Ne8+



208



23...Kg6 [23...Kf8 24.Nf6=] 24.g4 h5 25.gxf5+ Kh7 26.Rh4 Qxf5 27.Rxh5+ Qxh5 28.Nf6+ Kg6 29.Nxh5 Rxh5 30.Rh1 Rh3= White’s extra pawn is offset by Black’s more active pieces. B) 15...Qc4! It turns out that taking the a2-pawn poses White many more problems than trapping the a8-bishop. 16.Ne4 Qxa2 17.Nxf6+ gxf6 18.c3 b4 19.Rhe1 0-0 20.Be4 Rb8 21.Bb1 Qa4 22.cxb4 Rxb4µ



Position after: 22...Rxb4µ Black is close to winning due to White’s weak king. 13...dxe5 14.fxe5 Nd7 15.Bxb5 axb5 16.Ndxb5 Qc5 17.Qxg7 Rf8 18.Rhe1



209



Position after: 18.Rhe1 18...Rxa2 18...0-0-0 also works: 19.Nd6+ Bxd6 20.exd6 Kb8³ and Black is a tempo up compared to the 10.Qg3 b5 line. 19.Nxa2 Qxb5³ White is ahead in material, but his king’s position is weakened and his rooks lack active possibilities. e) 10.f5!? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Nbd7 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.f5!?



210



Position after: 10.f5!? This is Negi’s secondary recommendation. It is quite tricky to deal with, since the engines tend at first to greatly overestimate Black’s chances. Still, achieving equal chances shouldn’t be a big problem for Black. 10...e5 Black accepts the challenge. 10...Ne5 This is a slightly minimalistic, but perfectly viable option. 11.Qh3



211



Position after: 11.Qh3 A) 11...0-0 12.Be2 h6 13.Bh4 [13.Bxh6?! gxh6 14.Qxh6 Nh7 15.h4 Bf6µ and White lacks sufficient compensation for the piece.] 13...exf5 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nd5 Qd8 16.Nxf5



Position after: 16.Nxf5 16...Ng6 [16...Be6 17.Rhf1 Bg5+ 18.Kb1 g6 19.Nxh6+ Kg7 20.Ng4 Rc8 21.Ndf6 Rh8 22.Qg3² Black’s compensation for the pawn is not sufficient to claim equality.] 17.Nxf6+ Qxf6 18.Rhf1 Bxf5 19.exf5 Ne5= The strong e5-knight gives Black satisfactory counterplay. B) 11...Nfg4 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Qg3



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Position after: 13.Qg3 13...0-0 [After 13...Qg5+?! 14.Kb1 Qe3 15.Nf3 Qf2 16.Qh3 Qc5 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.Qg3± Black has trouble defending both g7 and d6.] 14.Be2 Nf6 15.Qf4 b5 16.a3



Position after: 16.a3 This is Negi’s logical novelty. Since the publication of his book two correspondence games have been played. 16...Bb7 17.g4 Nexg4! [17...Rac8?! 18.g5 Nfd7 19.Qg3 Rxc3 20.Qxc3 Bxe4 21.f6! gxf6 22.gxf6 Nxf6 23.Rhg1+ Kh8 24.Qe3 Rc8 25.Rdf1 Bg6 26.h4± 213



Position after: 26.h4± White had a a dangerous attack and went on to win in Hansen – Palladino, email 2016.] 18.fxe6 Ne5 19.Nf5 Qxe6 20.Qg3 Ng6 21.Nxd6 Bc6 22.Rd4 Ra7 23.Rhd1 Rd7 24.Bf1 Nh5 25.Qe3 Nhf4=



Position after: 25...Nhf4= In Baufays – Acherman, email 2018, a highly complicated, but equal position was achieved. 11.Nde2 b5 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 214



Position after: 14.exd5 14...b4! 14...Bb7?! This development scheme is ineffective: 15.Ng3 Rc8 16.c3!² This way, White is ready to put the knight on e4 and start the kingside onslaught. Instead 16.Bd3 would allow 16...Qc5, when White has to place his bishop awkwardly (on e4.) 15.Ng3 0-0 16.Kb1 16.Bd3 a5 17.Kb1 f6 is similar to the main line. 16...Bd7 17.Bd3 a5 18.Ne4 f6 19.g4 a4



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Position after: 19...a4 20.Rd2 20.Rhg1 Kh8 21.g5 fxg5 22.Nxg5 Bxg5 23.Rxg5 g6 24.f6 b3= As Vigorito correctly points out, Black had enough counterplay in Dorn – Waller, email 2016. 20...Qb6 21.b3 Kh8 22.h4 Rac8 23.Bc4 Rc7 24.Re2 Qd4 25.Rd2 Qb6 26.Qd3 Ra7 27.Rf2 Rc7 28.g5 Rcc8 29.Rhf1 Ra8 30.Qd2



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Position after: 30.Qd2 In Relyea – Taras, email 2016, draw was agreed. Both sides have reached a standstill in the attacks on opposite flanks. Conclusion This chapter provides a good explanation of why 10.g4 is the main move. Other 10th move tries, while interesting, fail to offer White realistic hopes of an advantage. However, there is one big nuance that should not go unnoticed. By playing 10.Bd3 White can effectively transpose to the Gelfand Variation with 11...Be7 and Black has to be prepared for this development. The reason for this is that 10...h6 is unsatisfactory on account of 11.Qh3!, giving White better chances. So, playing the Three Piece System also implies willingness to enter the Gelfand Variation!



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Chapter 7 Other moves than 13.f5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Nbd7 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7



Chapter Guide Chapter 7 – Other moves than 13.f5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Nbd7 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 a) 10...h6?! alternative b) 13.-- & 13.a3 Bb7?! c) 13.a3 Rb8! 14.Bh3!? d) 13.a3 Rb8! 14.h4 a) 10...h6?! alternative 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 h6?!



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Position after: 10...h6?! 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.h4 12.Kb1?! This move was suggested by Negi, but it’s significantly weaker than 12.h4. White fails to achieve an edge. 12...g5!?



Position after: 12...g5!? This move is made possible by White not having played h4. 13.e5 dxe5 14.Nxe6! The main idea behind 13.e5. But Black has sufficient counterchances. 14...fxe6 15.fxg5 Bxg5 16.Ne4 Rf8 17.Qh3 b6!



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Position after: 17...b6! A perfect defence, not mentioned by Negi. 18.Bg2 Rb8 19.Nxg5 hxg5 20.Qh6 Qc5= It’s still a complex game, but Black is now ready to play ...Bb7 and should be fine.



Position after: 12.h4 12...Qb6 This is Black’s main idea, forcing the knight away from d4. However, the downside is that the queen



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now obstructs the b-pawn. Both White’s knight moves will suffice for an edge. A) 12...g5?? 13.hxg5 hxg5 14.e5! dxe5 15.Nxe6! fxe6 16.fxg5 Bxg5+ 17.Kb1 Rf8 18.Qe4+– White inevitably breaks through Black’s defences. B) 12...b5?? 13.Bxb5!+– Black loses a pawn for no compensation. 13.Nb3 13.Nde2 Nc5 [13...Be7 14.g5 Nc5 transposes to 13...Nc5.] 14.g5 Be7 White has many tempting possibilities here, but it’s enough to show just one: 15.g6 0-0 16.Bh3² and Black’s light-squared weaknesses provide White with a definite advantage.



Position after: 13.Nb3 13...Be7 A) 13...Qc7 14.Rh3! The simplest measures are often the best. White defends c3 and gets ready for g4-g5. [14.e5?! This leads to forced play, which, however, doesn’t favour White. 14...dxe5 15.f5 Nb6 16.Ne4 exf5 17.gxf5 Bd7 18.Na5 0-0-0 19.Nd6+ Kb8 20.Qxb7+ Qxb7 21.Ndxb7 Rc8 22.Nd6 Rc7= Black was completely fine in Shirov – Dominguez Perez, Sofia 2009.] 14...Be7 15.g5± White’s kingside initiative is already dangerous, whereas Black hasn’t even started queenside counterplay. B) 13...Nc5? This is too reckless: 14.Nxc5 Qxc5 15.e5! dxe5 16.Ne4+– and it is easy to see that Black is lost. 14.Kb1 Nc5 15.Nxc5!



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The most effective move. 15...Qxc5 16.e5! (The point.) 16...d5 After 16...dxe5 17.Ne4± White’s initiative is close to decisive. 17.g5!²



Position after: 17.g5!² Preparing g6. White has a very good version of a French Defence structure, since he has already begun his kingside play but Black is still underdeveloped. b) 13.-- & 13.a3 Bb7?! 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7



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Position after: 12...Nd7 13.a3 Obviously, this isn’t the most critical, but Black needs to know a few nuances to achieve a satisfactory position. A) 13.h4?! This move has neither the attacking advantages of 13.f5! nor the prophylactic plusses of 13.a3. 13...b4! 14.Nce2 Bb7 15.Ng3 g6!³ Preventing f5 and preparing long castling. Black is for choice. B) 13.Bh3?! This is even weaker than 13.h4?! 13...b4! 14.Nce2 Nc5³ Preparing ...Bb7. The bishop is simply misplaced on h3: it does little, and blocks the h-pawn. C) 13.Bd3?! The bishop is not very effectively placed here. 13...b4 14.Nce2 Bb7³ Black can castle either short or long, with slightly better chances. D) 13.Kb1?! This is an excessively slow approach to the position and hands an initiative to the second player. 13...b4 14.Nce2 Bb7 15.Bg2



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Position after: 15.Bg2 This was played four times by the Swedish GM Hector. He won every game, but hardly thanks to the merits of White’s position. 15...g6 16.h4 e5 17.fxe5 [17.Nb3 is better, but after 17...a5³ Black is still better.] 17...dxe5 18.Nb3 This was Hector – Van der Stricht, Bled (ol) 2002, but after the simple 18...a5µ White was in major trouble. E) 13.Rg1?! Another slow move. 13...b4 14.Nce2 g6! Prophylaxis against f5-f6. 15.f5 e5 16.Nb3 a5³ Black’s offensive is quicker. 13...Bb7?!



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Position after: 13...Bb7?! This move fails to address the needs of the position. Black weakens the defence of the important e6pawn, and doesn’t really get enough pressure against e4 to compensate. In addition, he blocks the bfile, which is where Black’s play should lie. 14.h4! White guards g5 and prepares Bh3 and f5, with powerful pressure against e6. 14.Bh3?! This is much less effective, since it blocks the h-pawn. 14...Nc5 15.Rhg1 g6! Had the pawn been on h4, this wouldn’t work so well because of h5. 16.Kb1 Na4!= The position remains complicated, but Black has enough counterplay. 14...Rc8 14...0-0-0? After this faulty move Black gets spectacularly overrun on both flanks: 15.f5! e5 16.f6! gxf6 17.Nf5 Nc5 18.gxf6 Bxf6 19.Bxb5!+–.



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Position after: 14...Rc8 15.Bh3 15.f5 This immediate push is also dangerous. 15...e5 16.Nb3 h6 17.Rg1 hxg5 18.hxg5 Qb6 [After 18...d5 19.exd5 Bxa3 20.Rg3 b4 21.bxa3 bxc3 22.Qg4 Qd6 23.Qb4 Qxb4 24.axb4± White maintains a huge edge in the endgame.] 19.Rg4± There is nothing immediate, but White has a big positional advantage. He controls the key d5-square and Black’s knight is passively tied to the defence of the f6square. 15...Qa5 15...Nc5 16.Rhf1!



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Position after: 16.Rhf1! Preparing the deadly f5-f6, against which black has no good defence. 16...0-0 [After 16...g6 17.Qe3+–, 18.f5 will come next, shattering Black’s defences.] 17.f5 e5 18.Ndxb5! axb5 19.f6 Ne6 [19...Bd8 20.fxg7 Kxg7 21.Bf5!+– and the idea of Qh5 decides.] 20.Qe2!



Position after: 20.Qe2! An extremely precise computer move (although 20.fxe7 should also win.) After 20...Bd8 21.Nxb5 Qc5 22.Bxe6! fxe6 23.b4! Qc6 24.Nxd6 gxf6 25.gxf6 Bxf6 26.Nxc8 Qxc8 27.Kb2+– Black’s 227



bishops are passive, their king is weak and White has three connected passed pawns, so White again has a decisive advantage. 16.Rhe1 Rc4 17.f5 17.Bf1 Rxc3 18.Qxc3 Qxc3 19.bxc3 h6 20.c4 bxc4 21.Bxc4± Black somehow managed to survive this in Merrheim – Maesa, email 2014, but he obviously has insufficient compensation for the exchange. 17...Ne5 18.Qg3 b4



Position after: 18...b4 19.Nb3! A simple improvement over a correspondence game. In Salcede Mederos – De Oliveira, email 2010 Black survived after 19.axb4 Qxb4 20.Qe3 exf5 21.Nxf5 g6 22.Nxe7 Rxc3! 23.Qxc3 Qxc3 24.bxc3 Kxe7± and here the unassailable e5-knight offers plenty of compensation, even though White is still for choice. 19...Qb6 20.axb4 exf5 21.exf5 Qxb4



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Position after: 21...Qxb4 22.Rxe5! My analysis shows that this sacrifice should win with precise play: 22...dxe5 23.Qxe5 f6 24.Qe6 Bc8 25.Qe3 Rxc3 26.bxc3 Qa3+ 27.Kb1 0-0 28.h5! Pushing this pawn to h6 is surprisingly strong. 28...a5 29.h6 a4 30.Nd4 Bd7 It seems as though the ...Rb8+ threat is deadly, but... 31.Bf1!+–



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Position after: 31.Bf1!+– A typical computer resource. After 31...Rb8+ there is 32.Nb5! Bxb5 33.Qa7! and White’s attack lands first. c) 13.a3 Rb8! 14.Bh3!? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.a3 Rb8!



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Position after: 13...Rb8! Preparing to create concrete counterplay with ...b4. 14.Bh3!? An interesting option. The threat of Bxe6 forces the black knight away from the e5 square. 14.f5?!



Position after: 14.f5?! This is inconsistent. If White wanted to play this move, he could have done it immediately on the 13th move. A) 14...Bxg5+?! 15.Kb1 0-0 16.fxe6 Nb6 17.Bd3! g6 [17...fxe6?! 18.Qh5 Be3 19.e5! g6 20.Rhg1! A spectacular idea. 20...Bxg1 21.Rxg1± White has an extremely strong attack for the exchange.] 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 b4 20.a4 fxe6 21.Qg2 Bf6 22.Nxe6 Bxe6 23.dxe6 Qc5!



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Position after: 23...Qc5! The only move, preventing Qd5. 24.e7! Rf7 25.Rhe1 Re8 26.Bxa6 Rexe7 27.Rxe7 Rxe7 28.Qd5+ Qxd5 29.Rxd5± White keeps the initiative in the endgame. B) 14...Ne5! Not accepting the pawn is Black’s best bet. 15.Qg3 b4 16.axb4 Rxb4



Position after: 16...Rxb4 17.Na2 This is the lesser evil. [Meanwhile 17.fxe6 has been played more often, but releasing the pressure is obviously wrong: 17...fxe6 18.Bh3 Qa5! 19.Nb3 Sadly forced. After 19...Qb6–+, 232



though, the threat of a5-a4 is lethal.] 17...Rb8³ Black has the initiative. Both ...Qb6 and ...a5-a4 are on the cards. 14...Nc5



Position after: 14...Nc5 15.Rhg1 15.b4!? This move was tested in correspondence play in pre-computer era and is also one of the suggestions of modern engines.



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Position after: 15.b4!? A) 15...0-0!? It turns out that Black can sacrifice the knight. 16.bxc5 b4 17.axb4 dxc5 18.bxc5



Position after: 18.bxc5 A1) 18...Bxc5 is another viable possibility, leading to more unclear play. 19.Rd3 a5! 20.Na4 Bb4 21.Rhd1 Bd7 [21...Ba6 22.Rb3 Bc4 23.Kb1 Rfc8 24.Bf1 Bxb3 25.cxb3 Bf8 with a complicated, dynamically balanced position. One possible repetition is 26.Ba6 Rd8 27.Be2 Rdc8=] 22.Nc3 Rfc8 23.Na2 Bc5 24.R1d2 Qb7© 234



Position after: 24...Qb7© In this highly complicated position Black has full compensation for the piece. White has to be wary of the trap 25.Nb3? a4! 26.Rxd7 axb3 27.Rxb7 bxa2! 28.Kb2 Rxb7+ 29.Ka1 Ra8 30.Qf1 Rb1+ 31.Qxb1 axb1=Q+ 32.Kxb1 Be3µ. A2) 18...Qxc5 19.Nb3 Qa3+ 20.Kd2 a5! 21.Ra1 Rxb3! A powerful queen sacrifice. 22.Rxa3 Rd8+ 23.Ke2 Ba6+ 24.Kf2 Rxa3



Position after: 24...Rxa3



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Black temporarily has only a rook for the queen, but the c3-knight is doomed. Objectively the game should end in a draw, e.g. 25.Rd1 Rc8 26.Bxe6 Rcxc3 27.Qh5 Rxc2+ 28.Kg1 Bc5+ 29.Kh1 fxe6 30.Qe8+ Bf8 31.Qxe6+ Kh8 32.Qxa6 Raa2 33.Qa8 Rxh2+ 34.Kg1 Rhg2+= B) 15...Na4 16.Rd3 Bd7



Position after: 16...Bd7 17.f5! This is the right move here. [17.Rg1? is way too slow. 17...Rc8 18.Nxa4 bxa4µ Black plans ...a5 next, with the initiative.] 17...Bxg5+ 18.Kb1 0-0 19.Nxa4 bxa4



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Position after: 19...bxa4 B1) 20.Rg1 h6 21.Qh5 Qc4 22.Rxg5 hxg5 23.Bg4 Rxb4+! The only way to successfully counter the kingside attack. 24.axb4 Qxb4+ 25.Kc1 a3 26.Nb3 [26.Rh3 leads to an immediate draw: 26...Qb2+ 27.Kd2 Qxd4+ 28.Kc1 Qa1+ 29.Kd2 Qd4+=] 26...Qxe4 27.Rh3 Qe1+ 28.Bd1 f6 29.Qh7+ Kf7 30.Qg6+ Kg8= White has nothing better than a draw. B2) 20.fxe6 fxe6 21.Qg2 Qc5!



Position after: 21...Qc5! Black prepares ...Rxb4+! next. 22.Bxe6+ Bxe6 23.Nxe6 Rxb4+! 24.axb4 Qxb4+ 25.Ka1 Bf6+ 26.c3 Bxc3+ 27.Rxc3 Qxc3+ 28.Qb2 Qxb2+ 29.Kxb2 Re8= with a drawn endgame. 15...b4 16.axb4 Rxb4 17.f5



237



Position after: 17.f5 17...g6 A) 17...Qb7 The most risky continuation. Black needs to really know their stuff to survive here. 18.f6 gxf6 19.gxf6 Bf8 20.b3



Position after: 20.b3 A1) 20...a5



238



A1.1) 21.Nd5!? This is also quite dangerous for Black. 21...exd5 22.Bxc8 Qxc8 23.exd5 Kd7! The only satisfactory defence, evacuating the king from the danger zone. 24.Nc6 Rb6 25.Qh5 Kc7 26.Rg7! Rxc6 27.Rxf7+ Kb6 28.dxc6 Qxc6 29.Kb2 Nd7² Black is rerouting the knight to e5. White keeps some pressure, but Black should hold. A1.2) 21.Qh5! This line illustrates why 20...h5! is so useful. 21...a4 22.Rg7! axb3 23.Bf1!



Position after: 23.Bf1! A remarkable concept. White threatens Bb5+. 23...bxc2 24.Kxc2 Nxe4 25.Bb5+ Rxb5 26.Ndxb5 Nxf6 27.Qh4 Rg8 28.Rxg8 Nxg8 29.Qxh7 Nh6 [And not 29...Nf6? 30.Qh8! Ke7 31.Nxd6 Qa6 32.Qh4+–] 30.Nxd6+ Bxd6 31.Rxd6± Black has saving chances due to limited material, but of course White is much better. A2) 20...h5! The strongest option, preventing Qh5. There is also a second point. 21.Kb1 a5 22.Nd5



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Position after: 22.Nd5 A pretty obvious piece sacrifice. 22...exd5 23.Bxc8 Qxc8 24.exd5 Kd7! Black’s king has to escape the centre to survive. 25.Nc6 Rg4! This is the latent second point! Now a long forcing line follows: 26.Rge1 Kc7 27.Qc3 Qa6 28.Re8 a4! 29.b4 Rc4 30.Qh3 Re4 31.Re1 Rxe8 32.Rxe8 Rg8 33.Qc3 a3! 34.bxc5 a2+ 35.Ka1 Rg1+ 36.Re1 Rxe1+ 37.Qxe1 dxc5²



Position after: 37...dxc5² The resulting endgame should be drawn, although still entails some minor problems for Black. 240



B) 17...Qb6



Position after: 17...Qb6 18.f6 [18.fxe6 fxe6 19.Nxe6 Bxe6 20.Bxe6 Nxe6 21.Nd5 Qa5 22.Nxb4 Qxb4 23.e5 Qf4+! Based on a small tactic. 24.Qxf4 Nxf4 25.exd6 Bxd6! This is made possible by Black’s ...Ne2+ threat. The complications will peter out to an equal endgame: 26.Rge1+ Kd7=.] 18...Rxd4! If not for this exchange sacrifice, Black would be in trouble. [18...gxf6 allows an unexpected shot: 19.Nxe6! Bxe6 20.Bxe6 Nxe6 21.Nd5 Qa5 22.Nxb4 Qxb4 23.gxf6 Bd8 24.Kb1±



241



Position after: 24.Kb1± and White is ready to open up the d-file by e5 or play Rg2-d2, with a serious advantage.] 19.Rxd4 gxf6 20.Rgd1 [Of course 20.gxf6?? loses to 20...Nb3+! 21.cxb3 Qxd4–+.] 20...fxg5 21.Qg3 Preparing both Rxd6 and e5. 21...Nd7



Position after: 21...Nd7 22.e5 [22.Rxd6 leads to a forced draw: 22...Bxd6 23.Rxd6 Qa5 24.Nd5 Qa1+ 25.Kd2 Qxb2 26.Bxe6 Qd4+ 27.Kc1 Qa1+ 28.Kd2=] 22...Nxe5 23.Ne4 0-0 24.Nxd6 Bf6= The position is highly double-edged, but objectively balanced. 18.Qe3



242



Position after: 18.Qe3 18...Bd7 18...0-0!? Highly risky, but correct. 19.f6 Bd8 20.Bg4 A direct mating attempt. Black has adequate counterplay, which, however, would be hard to find over the board. 20...Qb6!



Position after: 20...Qb6! 21.Qh3 [21.b3? h5! 22.Bxh5 e5! White loses material. 23.Nd5 exd4 24.Qd2 Nxb3+! 25.cxb3 Qc5+ 243



26.Kb2 Ba5 27.Qd3 Rb7 28.Qxd4 gxh5 29.Ne7+ Kh7 30.g6+ fxg6 31.Qxc5 dxc5 32.Rxg6 Rxf6! 33.Rxf6 Rxe7–+] 21...h5 22.Bxh5 Rxd4! 23.Rxd4 Na4!



Position after: 23...Na4! Black’s whole position depends on this easy-to-miss move. 24.Bxg6 [24.Nb5 This impressivelooking move leads to a draw too. 24...Qxb5 25.b3 Qc5 26.Bxg6 fxg6 27.Qh6 Rf7 28.Qxg6+ Kf8 and all roads lead to a draw now:



Position after: 28...Kf8



244



29.Qh6+ Ke8 30.g6 Rxf6 31.g7 Rxh6 32.g8=Q+ Kd7 33.Rg7+ Be7 34.Rxe7+ Kxe7 35.Qg7+ Ke8 36.Rxa4 Rh5 37.Qg8+ Ke7 38.Qg7+=.] 24...fxg6 25.Ne2 Qxb2+ 26.Kd1 e5 27.Qh6 Qb1+ 28.Nc1 Nb2+ 29.Kd2 Ba5+ 30.c3 Rf7 31.Qxg6+ Kf8 32.Qh6+ Kg8 33.Qg6+= The game ends in a perpetual check. 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.e5



Position after: 20.e5 20...d5 20...dxe5 is also possible. 21.Nxe6 Bxe6 22.Bxe6 Nxe6 23.Nd5 Qb8 A) 24.Qc3 Nd4 25.Rge1



245



Position after: 25.Rge1 A1) 25...Rb7 This more passive defence is also good. 26.Rxd4 exd4 27.Qc5 [27.Qxd4 Rf8 leaves White with nothing but a perpetual check. 28.Qa4+ Kd8 29.Qa5+ Ke8 30.Qa4+=] 27...0-0 28.Nxe7+ Rxe7 29.Qxe7 Qxh2= White should be able to regain the pawn, but not to claim an advantage. A2) 25...0-0 An active way of playing. Black returns the bishop to take over the initiative. 26.Nxe7+ Kh8 27.Rxe5 Qxe5 28.Qxb4 Ne2+ 29.Kb1 Rb8!



Position after: 29...Rb8! 246



At first sight Black stumbles into a fork, but... 30.Nc6 Nc3+! The point. 31.Ka1 Rxb4 32.Rd8+ Kg7 33.Rd7+ Kg8 34.Rd8+= with perpetual check. B) 24.Nxb4 Qxb4 25.Qxe5 Qf4+ Black is fortunately in time to trade queens. 26.Qxf4 Nxf4 27.Rge1= with an equal endgame. 21.Nxe6! Otherwise Black would stabilize and be better. Now the game progresses towards a forced draw: 21...Nxe6 22.Nxd5 Qa5 23.Nf6+ Bxf6 24.Bxe6 Bxe6 25.exf6 Rb6 26.f7+ Ke7 27.Qf4 Qa1+ 28.Kd2 Qxb2 29.Qc7+ Kf8 30.Qd8+ Kxf7 31.Rdf1+



Position after: 31.Rdf1+ Ljubcic – De Oliveira, email 2010 ended in a draw in view of: 31...Bf5 32.Qd7+ Kf8 33.Qd8+= d) 13.a3 Rb8! 14.h4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.a3 Rb8! 14.h4 b4 15.axb4 Rxb4 16.Bh3



247



Position after: 16.Bh3 16...Qc5 16...Qb6 17.Nf5! [17.Nb3? Retreating the knight without a tempo is way too passive. 17...0-0µ Black’s attack is much quicker.]



Position after: 17.Nf5! A) 17...exf5 should also lead to equality, although after some complications: 18.Nd5 Qc5 19.exf5 248



Bb7 20.Rhe1 Bxd5 21.Rxd5 Qc7



Position after: 21...Qc7 22.Rd3 [22.f6 gxf6 23.Rd3 fxg5 24.Bxd7+ Kxd7 25.fxg5 Re8 26.Qxf7 Qc4 27.Qf5+ Kd8 28.Qa5+ Kd7=] 22...Nc5 23.Rde3 0-0 24.Rxe7 Qa5



Position after: 24...Qa5 25.Qa3 [25.Qc3 Qa1+ 26.Kd2 Qa4 27.Qa3 Qxa3 28.bxa3 Rxf4= is similar to the main line.] 25...Ra4 [25...Qxa3 26.bxa3 Rxf4= is similar.] 26.Qc3 Qxc3 27.bxc3 Rxf4= The smoke has cleared 249



and we have an equal endgame on the board. B) 17...Bf8 Declining the sacrifice is the simplest solution for Black. 18.Qd3



Position after: 18.Qd3 18...Rxb2 [18...d5 is also possible. 19.exd5 exf5 20.Rhe1+ Kd8 21.d6 Qa5 22.Qe3 Qa1+! 23.Kd2 Bxd6! A crucial tactical resource. 24.Rxa1 Bxf4 25.Bxf5 Bxe3+ 26.Rxe3 Rxh4 27.Rd3 Rh2+ 28.Kc1 Rh1+ 29.Nd1 h5= with dynamic equality, Karpanov – Biel, email 2011] 19.Nxd6+ Bxd6 20.Qxd6



250



Position after: 20.Qxd6 20...Rb4 21.Qxb6 Nxb6= 17.Qd3! 17.Nb3?! This has been the most popular move, but in my view it is too passive and Black can achieve at least the slightly better chances. 17...Qb6



Position after: 17...Qb6 A) 18.Rhe1



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Position after: 18.Rhe1 A1) 18...Nc5 19.Nxc5 dxc5?! [19...Qxc5 This untried move is a better option: 20.f5 0-0= with a dynamically balanced position.] 20.f5



Position after: 20.f5 A1.1) 20...Rxb2? White has a very strong response to this move: 21.Rf1! Calmly continuing the attack. 21...Rb4 There is nothing better. [21...0-0 fails due to 22.f6 Bd8 23.fxg7 Kxg7 24.Rxd8!+–] 22.fxe6 Bxe6 23.Bxe6 Qxe6 24.Nd5 0-0 25.Nxb4 cxb4 26.Kb1± Being an 252



exchange up in an open position, White is close to winning. A1.2) 20...Qa5 is well met by 21.Nb1!± Black has no way to continue the attack and the initiative is with White. A1.3) 20...0-0 21.f6 Bd8



Position after: 21...Bd8 It may seem that Black is okay, but I found a very dangerous idea: 22.Bf1! A very deep move. White prepares e5 and Bd3. 22...Qa5 [22...Rxb2 23.e5‚ White’s attack is more dangerous.] 23.fxg7 Kxg7 24.Nb1‚ Black’s attack has reached a dead end, whereas White’s attack is just starting. A2) 18...0-0



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Position after: 18...0-0 A2.1) 19.f5?! This move gives away the great e5 square to the black knight. 19...Ne5 20.Qg3 Kh8!µ Black prevents f6 and is ready to continue his queenside attack. A2.2) 19.Kb1 a5 20.Na2 Rc4 21.Bf1 Rc7 22.Nc3 Nc5³ Again Black is quicker on the queenside than White on the kingside. A2.3) 19.Na2 Rc4 20.Bf1 Rc7 21.Nc3 Nc5³ The position could be further analysed, but the general picture is clear: Black’s queenside chances are more promising than White’s kingside play. B) 18.f5? Giving the e5 square to the black knight is not a good idea. 18...Ne5 19.Qg3 a5!µ Black has a huge attack. C) 18.h5 Nc5 19.Nxc5 dxc5 20.g6



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Position after: 20.g6 C1) 20...fxg6 21.hxg6 h6 22.Nd5 exd5 23.Bxc8 0-0 [23...Rxb2 24.Rxd5 0-0 25.Be6+ Kh8 26.Rdh5 Rb1+ 27.Kd2 Rxh1 28.Qxh1 Qd6+ 29.Ke2 Qxf4 30.Rf5= The position is drawn.] 24.Qg4 Rxe4 25.Rhe1 Kh8 26.Rxe4 dxe4 27.Qe6 Qxe6 28.Bxe6 Rxf4 29.Kd2=



Position after: 29.Kd2= Black is two pawns up, but his king is permanently caged on h8, making the endgame drawn. C2) Stronger than the more popular 20...fxg6 is 20...0-0! 21.gxh7+ Kxh7 22.Rhg1 c4 23.Rxg7+! 255



The only way to stay in the game. 23...Kxg7 24.Qg3+ Kh7 25.Rg1 Bf6 26.e5 Qd4



Position after: 26...Qd4 27.exf6 [27.Rd1? loses to 27...Bh4! 28.Qxh4 Qe3+ 29.Rd2 Rg8–+] 27...Qxf6µ it is safe to conclude the variation here. White doesn’t have enough compensation for the exchange. 17...Qb6



Position after: 17...Qb6 256



18.Nf5! White has to play aggressively to counter Black’s queenside initiative. A) 18.b3? Nc5 19.Qe3 Bb7 20.Na2 Bxe4 An obvious and strong exchange sacrifice. 21.Nxb4 Qxb4 22.Rhe1 0-0



Position after: 22...0-0 23.Nxe6! The only way to stay in the game. 23...Qa3+ 24.Kd2 fxe6 25.Qc3 d5 26.b4 Qxc3+ 27.Kxc3 Na4+ 28.Kb3 Rb8!µ B) 18.Nb3? A hopelessly passive move. 18...0-0–+ With ...Nc5 or ...a5-a4 coming, Black’s attack is way too swift to handle.



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Position after: 18.Nf5! 18...exf5 The safest choice. A) 18...Rxb2 19.Nxg7+ [19.Nxd6+ Bxd6 20.Qxd6 Rb4 21.Qxb6 Nxb6= was also seen in note B to Black’s 16th.] 19...Kf8 20.Nxe6+ fxe6 21.Bxe6=



Position after: 21.Bxe6=



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From here there are many variations possible and it’s impossible to cover everything. So Black should be careful going into this over the board. But objectively the outcome is always equilibrium, e.g. 21...Ke8 22.Qc4 Kd8 23.Nd5 Rb1+ 24.Kd2 Qf2+ 25.Kc3 Rb7 26.Rhf1 Qc5 27.f5 Qa5+ 28.Kd4



Position after: 28.Kd4 With the king on d4, the position looks crazy, but it should still peter out to a draw. B) After 18...Nc5?! 19.Nxd6+ Bxd6 20.Qxd6 Rxb2 21.f5 Rb4 22.Qxb6 Rxb6 23.Rd4² White has the initiative in the endgame. 19.Nd5 Qc5 20.Rhe1 Bb7 21.Nxe7 Kxe7 22.exf5+ Kd8 23.f6 Ra4!



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Position after: 23...Ra4! A key resource, giving Black enough counterplay. 24.Bxd7 24.Kb1 Qa5 25.c4 Ra1+ 26.Kc2 Qa4+ 27.Kc3 Qa5+ 28.Kc2= 24...Ra1+ 25.Kd2 Qf2+ 26.Kc3



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Position after: 26.Kc3 26...Rxd1 This forces a draw after a long forcing variation. Black can also force a draw immediately with 26...Qc5+. 27.Rxd1 Qc5+ 28.Kd2 Kxd7 29.fxg7 Rg8 30.Qxh7 Bf3 31.Rf1 Re8 32.Kc1 Be4 33.Qxe4 Rxe4 34.g8=Q Qc4 35.Rd1 Re2 36.Qh7 Qa2



Position after: 36...Qa2 37.Rxd6+ Kc7 38.Rd7+ Kc6 39.Rd6+= Conclusion 10...h6?! is a pretty bad choice, which allows White an easy and free-flowing initiative. Other moves than 13.a3 or 13.f5 fail to impress altogether. 13.a3, while not critical, is an interesting choice. Black needs to know 13...Rb8! and the accurate follow-up after both 14.h4 and 14.Bh3. The lines are very forcing and likely to end in a forced draw, which makes the variation a good choice for White if he is in a “must-draw” situation.



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Chapter 8 Mainline with 13.f5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Nbd7 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5



Chapter Guide Chapter 8 – Mainline with 13.f5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Nbd7 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5 a) 13...Bxg5+?! b) 13...Nc5? c) 13...0-0! 14.-d) 13...0-0! 14.f6 e) 13...0-0! 14.Qh5!? with 16.Rh3!? f) 13...0-0! 14.Qh5!? with 16.Rxc3 g) 13...0-0! 14.Rg1! with 19.Qb3!? h) 13...0-0! 14.Rg1! with 19.Qf4 Be6 20.Kb1 i) 13...0-0! 14.Rg1! with 19.Qf4 Be6 20.Nxe6 a) 13...Bxg5+?! 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5



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Position after: 13.f5 In this chapter we begin the coverage of this critical move. White immediately starts his kingside offensive, not caring about the defence of the g5-pawn. This chapter investigates the acceptance of the sacrifice. As we will see, White’s concept is correct and he gets the pawn back in most variations, preserving the initiative. Therefore, Black should rather look for other ways of replying to 13.f5. 13...Bxg5+?! Not only is taking the pawn dubious, but in the main lines Black simply loses! However, he has two rare 15th moves that limit White’s advantage. 14.Kb1



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Position after: 14.Kb1 14...Ne5 14...0-0!? This is stronger than the main lines within 14...Ne5, but still Black is in some danger after White’s best continuation. 15.fxe6 Nb6 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 fxe6 18.Qg4 e5 [18...Bf6!? 19.Nxe6 Be5 20.Bg2 Qe7 21.Qe2 Rf6² Black’s position is unpleasant, but tenable.] 19.Qxg5 exd4 20.Bd3 g6



Position after: 20...g6



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A) 21.h4 Bf5 22.h5 Bxd3 23.Rxd3 [23.cxd3 Rf2 24.Rc1 Qg7 25.hxg6 Qxg6 26.Qh4 Rg2 27.Qxd4 Rf8 28.Rhg1 Qg7 29.Rxg2 Qxg2= The major piece endgame is equal. Black’s king is weaker, but he has the passed h-pawn and White’s pawns are doubled.] 23...Rf5 24.Qg4 Rc8 25.Rd2 Qd7



Position after: 25...Qd7 A1) 26.Qxd4 Rc4! 27.Qg1 Rxh5 28.Rxh5 Rg4 29.Qb6 Qc7! An accurate intermezzo, keeping the white queen at bay. 30.Qf2 gxh5 31.Rd1 Kg7 32.a3 h4 33.Qe2 h5 34.Rf1 Qd8 35.Qe6



Position after: 35.Qe6



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In Davis – Ward, email 2012, the position was agreed drawn in view of 35...Rg6, when there are many possible variations, but they all sooner or later lead to a draw, e.g. 36.Qf7+ Kh6 37.Ka2 h3 38.Qf4+ Qg5 39.Qf8+ Kh7 40.Rf5 Qg4 41.Qf7+ Kh6 42.Qf8+=. A2) 26.Rxd4



Position after: 26.Rxd4 A2.1) 26...g5 27.a4! This move poses Black definite problems. 27...Re8 28.Rf4! A nice tactic, which forces a favourable rook endgame. 28...Ree5 29.Rhf1 Rf7 30.Qxd7 Rxd7 31.Rf6±



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Position after: 31.Rf6± The endgame is highly problematic for Black. In the following correspondence game Black failed to defend: 31...Rxd5 32.h6 Rd8 33.Ka2 Re5 34.Rf7 Re6 35.axb5 axb5 36.Rg7+ Kh8 37.Rxg5 Rxh6 38.Rxb5 Rh2 39.c4 Kg7 40.Rg5+ Kh6 41.Rfg1 Rb8 42.R5g2 Ra8+ 43.Kb3 Rxg2 44.Rxg2 Rc8 45.Kb4 Kh5 46.Rd2 Rb8+ 47.Kc3 Rb6 48.Rg2 h6 49.b4 Rb8 50.Rd2 Rb6 51.b5 Kg5 52.Kb4 h5 53.Ka5 Rb8 54.b6 h4 55.Rd5+ Kg4 56.Rxd6 Ra8+ 57.Kb5 Rh8 58.c5 h3 59.Rd1 h2 60.Rh1 10 Eckhardt – Rodriguez Landa, email 2011 A2.2) 26...Rcf8! Black needs to deactivate the d4-rook first. 27.Rdd1 g5= The position may still be practically easier for White, but objectively Black is fine. B) 21.Rhf1 Qg7 22.Rxf8+ Qxf8 23.Rf1 Qe8 24.Qh4 Ra7 25.a4!



Position after: 25.a4! Weakening Black’s queenside before taking on d4. 25...bxa4 26.Qxd4 Rf7! 27.Rxf7 Qxf7 28.Qxa4 Bb7² Black managed to hold this position relatively easily in 3 correspondence games. Still, with their safer king and better bishop White is to be preferred in practical play. 15.Qh5



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Position after: 15.Qh5 15...Bf6! This is the preference of correspondence players. A) 15...Qd8?! Way too passive. 16.h4 Bf6 17.fxe6 0-0 18.Bh3 fxe6 [18...Kh8 19.Nd5 fxe6 20.Bxe6 transposes to 18...fxe6] 19.Bxe6+ Kh8 20.Nd5



Position after: 20.Nd5



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A1) 20...Bb7 21.Rhf1 g6 22.Qe2 Bxh4 23.Rh1+– White’s attack is decisive, as proven by a number of correspondence games, e.g. 23...Rb8 24.Qh2 g5 25.Nf5 Re8 26.Nxh4 gxh4 27.Bf5 Bxd5 28.Rxd5 Rg8 29.Rhd1 Nc4 30.Bxh7! Rg7 31.Bf5 Qf6 32.R5d4 Rf8 33.a3 Qg5 34.b3 Ne3 35.Rh1 Nxf5 36.exf5 Rh7 37.Qxd6 1-0 Ljubicic – Karacsony, email 2012 A2) 20...g6 21.Qe2 Nf3 22.Nc6 [22.Qxf3 Bxd4 23.Qe2 Bxe6 24.Rxd4± also gives White a huge edge.] 22...Qe8 23.Bxc8 Rxc8 24.h5!



Position after: 24.h5! Not completely necessary (as 24.Qxf3 gives White a large plus too), but the text is certainly more direct. 24...Ng5 25.Rdg1! Rxc6 26.Nxf6 Rxf6 27.Rxg5 Rc4 28.hxg6 Rxe4 29.Qd2 Rxg6 30.Rgh5 Re7 31.a3± Black is a pawn up, but White should prevail due to their powerful initiative and much safer king. A3) 20...Nc4 21.Nc6 Qe8 22.Qxe8 Rxe8 23.Nxf6 gxf6 24.Bxc4 bxc4 25.Rxd6 Bb7 26.Rf1+– White is completely winning. B) 15...Qe7?! 16.Nxe6 Bxe6 17.fxe6



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Position after: 17.fxe6 17...g6 [17...0-0 The lesser evil. 18.Nd5 Qd8 19.h4 Bf6 20.Bh3± White intends to meet 20....fxe6 with 21.Nf4!, dominating the light squares and by extension the whole position.] 18.exf7+ Kxf7 19.Qh3 Kg7 20.Nd5 Qd8 21.Qc3



Position after: 21.Qc3 B1) 21...Rc8 22.Qa3 Rc6 23.Be2 Rf8 24.Nb4! A very accurate move. [The immediate 24.h4?! Bxh4 25.Qh3 leaves Black with some fighting chances after 25...Rf2!] 24...Rb6 25.h4! 270



Position after: 25.h4! Black’s position falls apart like a house of cards: 25...Bxh4 26.Qh3 g5 [Now after 26...Rf2 White wins by 27.Nd3 Nxd3 28.Bxd3 Rf4 29.Rdf1+–] 27.Nd5+– Rerouting the knight to f5. Later White can double the rooks on the d-file, and d6 should fall. Black is busted. B2) 21...Ra7 22.Qa3 Qb8 23.h4! Bh6 24.h5! This advance is self-explanatory. 24...a5 25.Qg3 Rf7 26.Bh3 Rf3 27.Qg1+–



Position after: 27.Qg1+–



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White’s attack is deadly and Black has no real counterplay, e.g. 27...b4 28.Bg4 Rf7 29.Be6 Rf3 30.b3!? White can even afford to make this unnecessary move. 30...a4 31.hxg6 hxg6 32.Rh2 a3 33.Rg2 Rh7 34.Bf5 Kh8 35.Bxg6 Nxg6 36.Rxg6+– White went on to win in Lumley – Rozanski, email 2018. C) 15...h6!



Position after: 15...h6! Another rare move that is better than the queen moves. 16.Nxe6 [16.fxe6 g6 17.Nd5 Qa7 18.Qh3 00 19.exf7+ Qxf7 20.Qb3 Bg4 21.Bh3 Bxh3 22.Qxh3 Rae8²



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Position after: 22...Rae8² White is better, but it’s nothing compared to the extent of their advantage after 15...Qe7 or 15...Qd8.] 16...Bxe6 17.fxe6 g6 18.exf7+ Qxf7 19.Qh3 Rd8 20.Be2 0-0 21.Rhf1 Qc7 22.Nd5 Qc8 23.Qg3 Rxf1 24.Rxf1 Rf8²



Position after: 24...Rf8² With the safer king and the powerful d5-knight White is obviously better, but Black has reasonable chances to defend. 16.Nxe6 16.fxe6 g6 17.Nd5 Qd8 18.exf7+ Kxf7 19.Qe2 Bg4



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Position after: 19...Bg4 20.Nc6 [20.Qd2 Bxd1 21.Qxd1 Re8= White has adequate compensation for the exchange, but no more.] 20...Bxe2 21.Nxd8+ Bxd8 22.Bxe2 Rf8² White has slightly better chances, but Black should survive this endgame. 16...Bxe6 17.fxe6 0-0 18.Nd5 Qd8 19.Bh3



Position after: 19.Bh3



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19...fxe6 19...Kh8 20.exf7 Rxf7 21.Be6 Rf8 transposes to 19...fxe6. 20.Bxe6+ Kh8² Black has managed to hold all the correspondence games from here. This only means that the position is holdable, not that White’s advantage has been neutralised yet. I wouldn’t recommend trying to defend this over the board. Conclusion Accepting the pawn sacrifice with 13...Bxg5+?! is not recommended. True, Black has better options than the main lines, namely 14...0-0 and 14...Ne5 15.Qh5 Bf6 (or 15...h6), but he still has to suffer. The worst thing is that Black’s extra pawn must be returned, leaving a position that is simply worse with equal material. b) 13...Nc5? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5 Nc5?



Position after: 13...Nc5? This is the old main line, which has been pretty much refuted in correspondence practice. 14.f6 14.Rg1!? This was recommended by Negi and is a good practical alternative. It guarantees White a 275



big edge without going into complications such as those arising after 14.f6. 14...b4 15.Nce2



Position after: 15.Nce2 A) 15...Bb7 16.fxe6 0-0 [16...fxe6? 17.Nf4!+– The e6-pawn, which was holding Black’s position together, itself collapses.] 17.Nf4 Bxe4



Position after: 17...Bxe4 18.Qg4! Stronger than Negi’s recommendation. [18.exf7+ Rxf7 19.Qg3 Qb7 20.g6 hxg6 21.Nxg6 Bf6 22.Qh3 Bxg6 23.Rxg6 Qe4 24.Rg4 Qe5 25.Qg3² This is Negi’s line. He is right that White 276



retains a small edge, but a larger one would be obtained after 18.Qg4.] 18...d5 19.Bg2!± It’s pivotal to eliminate the strong bishop. White has a serious edge thanks to the more compact structure and Black’s light-square weaknesses. B) 15...e5 16.Nb3²



Position after: 16.Nb3² B1) 16...Nd7 17.Kb1 a5 18.Ng3± As Negi correctly points out, White’s kingside play is much more impressive than Black’s queenside counterplay. B2) 16...d5 This desperate move can be answered in many ways, but the best is 17.Rxd5! Bb7 18.f6! Nxb3+ 19.axb3 gxf6 20.gxf6 Bc5 21.Rg7! Bxd5 22.exd5 0-0-0 23.Ng3± when White had tremendous compensation for the exchange, and went on to win in Zarnescu – Gajarsky, email 2010.



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Position after: 23.Ng3± B3) White is simply strategically better thanks to their far-advanced kingside pawns and the potential weakness of the d5-square. A good example is the following correspondence game: 16...g6 17.Kb1 a5 18.h4 a4 19.Nxc5 Qxc5 20.f6 Bd8 21.h5 Bb7 22.Rh1 Rf8 23.Nc1 Bb6 24.Qg4 Qc6 25.Rh2 Bd4 26.Rhd2 gxh5 27.Qxh5 0-0-0 28.Ne2 Bb6 29.Ng3±



Position after: 29.Ng3± White was much better due to their light-square control, and went on to win in Cremasco – De 278



Filippis, email 2012. 14...gxf6 15.gxf6 Bf8 16.Rg1



Position after: 16.Rg1 16...h5 A) 16...b4 17.Nd5! As demonstrated by correspondence games, this sacrifice should lead to victory with correct play. 17...exd5 18.exd5 Nd7 Black has to reroute the knight to e5 in order to defend the crucial f7-pawn. [18...Bd7? This loses easily. 19.Rg7! 0-0-0 20.Rxf7 Bh6+ 21.Kb1 Rdf8 22.Rg7! Qd8 23.Rxd7! Kxd7 24.Qf5+ Kc7 25.Ne6+ Nxe6 26.dxe6+–] 19.Nc6 Bb7 20.Bh3 Ne5 21.Rge1 Rg8! The best defence, aiming to bring the rook to g6 or g5. [21...h5 22.Kb1+– After this simple prophylaxis against ...Bh6, Black is left helpless against White’s threats.]



279



Position after: 21...Rg8! A1) 22.Qh5?! Bxc6 23.dxc6 Rg6 24.Rxe5+ dxe5 25.Bd7+ Kd8 26.Bg4+ Ke8 27.Rd7



Position after: 27.Rd7 A1.1) 27...Qb8? 28.Qf5 Bh6+ 29.Kb1 Kf8 30.c7 Qe8 31.a3! bxa3 [31...Kg8 32.Bf3 e4 33.Bxe4 Rc8 34.Re7 Qf8 35.Bb7+–] 32.Qf3 e4 33.Qxa3+ Kg8 34.Qe7!+– White inevitably promotes a new queen. A1.2) White’s initiative is dangerous, but Black survives after: 27...Qa5! 28.Qf5 Bh6+ 29.Kb1 280



Kf8 30.c7 Kg8 31.Rxf7 Qb6 32.Rd7 Qxf6 33.Qxf6 Rxf6 34.Rd8+ Rf8 35.Rxa8 Rxa8= After promotion the endgame will be easily drawn. A2) 22.Kb1!? This is not the best option, but seems to give White an advantage. 22...Rg5 23.Bf5 Rxf5 24.Qxf5 Bxc6 25.dxc6 Qxc6 26.Rd4±



Position after: 26.Rd4± Black cannot defend the b4-pawn, because both 26...a5 and 26...Rb8 fall into 27.Rxe5+!. A3) 22.Qf4! Bxc6 23.dxc6 Rg6 24.Kb1 Bh6 25.Qxb4 Rxf6 26.Rxe5+! dxe5 27.Bd7+ Kd8



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Position after: 27...Kd8 It may seem at first that White has nothing more than a repetition, but... 28.a4! Black is paralysed and White starts to slowly but surely advance his queenside pawns. [28.Qc5 Rb8 29.a4 transposes] 28...Rb8 29.Qc5 Rb6 30.b4! Bg7 31.c3 e4 32.Ka2



Position after: 32.Ka2 32...Qxh2+ [32...Rb8 33.Rd4 Qxh2+ 34.Kb3 Rxc6 35.Bh3+ Ke8 36.Rxe4+ Re6 37.Bxe6 fxe6 38.Rxe6+ Kf7 39.Qd5! Kf8 40.Re3! Bf6 41.Rf3 Kg7 42.Qd7+ Kh8 43.Rxf6+–] 33.Ka3 Qc7 34.Bh3+ Ke8 35.Rd7 Bf8 36.Rxc7 Bxc5 37.Bd7+ Kf8 38.bxc5 1-0 Petersons – Schuller, email 2014 B) 16...Bd7 17.Rg7! Bxg7 18.fxg7 Rg8 19.e5 0-0-0 20.exd6 Qb6



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Position after: 20...Qb6 21.a4! Rxg7 22.axb5 Bxb5 23.Ncxb5 axb5 24.b4+– C) 16...Bb7 17.Bh3! b4 18.Nd5! exd5 19.exd5 Nd7



Position after: 19...Nd7 Now White has a pleasant choice: 20.Nc6 transposes to 16...b4 [Or 20.Qh5!+– wins even more easily.]



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Position after: 16...h5 17.a3! 17.Rg7?! This flashy move unfortunately squanders White’s advantage. 17...b4 18.Nd5 exd5 19.exd5 Nd7! Transferring the knight to e5 is a key resource. 20.Nc6 Bb7 21.Bh3 Bxc6 22.dxc6 Ne5 23.Bd7+ Kd8



Position after: 23...Kd8



284



24.Qe4 [24.Qb3 Qb6 25.Rxf7 Nxf7 26.Qxf7 Bh6+ 27.Kb1 Kc7 28.Be8+ Kb8 29.Qg6 Bf4 30.f7 Be5 31.Rxd6 Ra7 32.c7+ Qxc7 33.Rd5 Rf8 34.Qh6 Qe7 35.Qb6+ Kc8 36.a4 b3 37.cxb3 Bc7 38.Qxa7 Qe4+ 39.Ka2 Qxd5 40.Qxa6+ Kd8 41.Qf6+ Kc8 42.Qa6+ ½-½ Garcia Rodriguez – Vlasak, email 2017] 24...Qb6 25.Be6 Kc7 26.Bxf7 Nxc6 27.Kb1 Rd8 28.Bd5+ Bxg7 29.fxg7 Rhg8 30.Qh7



Position after: 30.Qh7 This move ends the forced play. Now many continuations are possible, but they all ultimately lead to equality, e.g. 30...Qb8 [30...Ne7 31.Bxg8 Rxg8 32.Re1 Kd8 33.b3 Qf2 34.Rxe7 The Kersic – Kubach, email 2006 ended in a draw in view of 34...Kxe7 35.Qxg8 Qe1+ 36.Kb2 Qc3+ 37.Kc1 Qe1+=.] 31.Rg1 Ne7 32.Bxg8 Rxg8 33.Qxh5 Qb7 34.Qa5+ Kd7 35.a4 Nd5 36.h4 Ke6 37.h5 Rxg7 38.Rxg7 Qxg7 39.Qxa6 Qg2 Sanchez – Kappes, email 2010, was agreed drawn here. 17...Qb6 17...Rb8 18.Re1! A killing move. Black has no defence against Nd5! 18...Na4 19.Nd5! Qa7 20.Qd1!



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Position after: 20.Qd1! White temporarily retreats the queen, but preserves many threats. 20...e5 [20...Bd7 21.Rg7! Qc5 22.Kb1 Nb6 23.b4 Qc8 24.Qd2 e5 25.Nf5 Bxf5 26.Nxb6 Rxb6 27.exf5 Qxf5 28.Qd5 Qxf6 29.Rxf7 Qxf7 30.Qa8+ Ke7 31.Qa7+ Kf6 32.Qxb6 Kg7 33.Qxa6+– White was winning in Le Page – Dearnley, email 2013.] 21.Nc6 Qxg1 22.Nxb8 Qa7 23.Nc6 Qc5 24.Ncb4 Nb6 25.Kb1 Nxd5 26.Nxd5+–



Position after: 26.Nxd5+–



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The monster knight on d5 and the weak black king smell doom for Black. 18.Kb1 18.Rg7 Now the play is likely to transpose to 18.Kb1 after 18...b4 19.axb4 Qxb4 20.Kb1, but Black has the extra possibility of 18...Rb8, when White’s edge is not as clear as after 18.Kb1:



Position after: 18...Rb8 19.Bh3 b4 20.Nd5 exd5 21.exd5 Nd7 22.Bxd7+ Bxd7 23.Nc6 Bxc6 24.dxc6 bxa3 25.b3 Rc8 26.Qe4+ Kd8 27.Rxf7 Rc7 28.Rxf8+ Rxf8 29.Qe6 Rxc6 30.Qe7+ Kc8 31.Qxf8+ Kb7 32.Qe7+ Rc7 33.Qe4+ Qc6 34.Qd3² After this lengthy forced variation White is to be preferred, but Black should be able to hold with accurate play.



287



Position after: 18.Kb1 18...Rb8 18...b4 19.axb4 Qxb4 Black plans ...Rb8, but in Belka – Rozenberg, email 2013, White found an excellent counter: 20.Rg7!



Position after: 20.Rg7! A) 20...Nd7 This attempt to bring the knight to e5 fails: 21.Rg5! with the idea 21...Ne5? [21...Rb8 288



22.Ncb5! Rxb5 23.Nxb5 axb5 24.Rxb5 Qa4 25.Qc3! Qa8 26.Ra5! Qb8 27.Bb5+–] 22.Rxe5! dxe5 23.Nc6+–. B) 20...Rb8 21.Bb5+!!



Position after: 21.Bb5+!! An extremely deep and powerful shot. 21...Rxb5 [21...axb5 22.Nc6 Qc4 23.Nxb8 b4 24.Nd5! exd5 25.exd5 b3 26.cxb3 Qe4+ 27.Qxe4+ Nxe4 28.Re1 Bf5 29.Rg5 Bh7 30.Rxh5 Kd8 31.Nc6+ Kc7 32.Rxh7 Nd2+ 33.Kc2 Rxh7 34.Kxd2+– White is two pawns up.] 22.Ndxb5 axb5 23.e5! Opening lines and diagonals for the major pieces. 23...Bb7 24.Qe3



289



Position after: 24.Qe3 24...Qc4 [24...d5 25.Rd4 Qa5 26.b4 Qb6 27.bxc5 Bxc5 28.Qg3!+– and Black can’t play 28...Bxd4, because of 29.Rxf7!.] 25.exd6 b4 26.Rg5! Bringing the rook to the centre of the action. 26...Nd7 27.Rb5! Bc8 28.Qe4 Qxe4 29.Nxe4 Rg8 30.Rxb4 Kd8 [30...Rg4 31.h3 Rf4 32.Rg1+– Black will be lethally pinned after Rg8.] 31.h3!



Position after: 31.h3! White prevents ...Rg4 and gets ready to push their c-pawn all the way to c6! Black is busted: 31...Ba6 32.c4 Kc8 33.c5 Bb7 34.c6! Bxc6 35.Rc1 Ne5 36.Rc5 Rg1+ 37.Kc2 Rg2+ 38.Kc3 Kd7 39.Rxe5 Bxd6 40.Rd4 Bxe4 41.Rexe4 Rf2 42.Rd3 Rxf6 43.Rh4 Rf5 44.Rhd4 Rc5+ 45.Kb4+– and Black resigned in Schaub – Hoeppenstein, email 2016. 19.Bh3! White prepares the knight sacrifice. 19...b4 20.Nd5 exd5 21.exd5



290



Position after: 21.exd5 White won all the correspondence games from here. Black’s position is beyond salvation. 21...bxa3 21...Bg4 22.Bxg4 hxg4 23.Rxg4 bxa3 transposes to 21...bxa3. 22.b3 Bg4 23.Bxg4 hxg4 24.Rxg4



291



Position after: 24.Rxg4 24...Rh5 24...Rxh2 25.Rg8! Kd7 26.Rg7! Bxg7 27.fxg7 Rd8 28.g8=Q Rxg8 29.Qxf7+ Kc8 30.Qxg8+ Kb7 31.Rf1 a2+ 32.Ka1 Nd7 33.Qg7 Kc8 34.Ne6 Rxc2 35.Qe7 1-0 Koehl – Milde, email 2017 25.Nc6 Re5 26.Ka2! White can afford slow play because Black has no active counterchances. 26...Rc8 27.Rc4 Rxc6 28.dxc6 Qc7 29.Rd5 Ne6 30.h4 Bh6 31.Qd1 Bf8 32.h5 a5 33.Qd2 Qd8 34.c7 Nxc7 35.Rxe5+ dxe5 36.Qxa5 Bd6 37.Qb6 Ne6 38.Qc6+ Kf8 39.h6



Position after: 39.h6 1-0 Siefring – Pierzak, email 2010 Conclusion 13...Nc5? is the old main line, but it has been simply refuted by modern engines. The whole line is unplayable unless as a provocation in a rapid or blitz game against an unprepared opponent. c) 13...0-0! 14.-1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5 0-0!



292



Position after: 13...0-0! The modern treatment of the 7...Be7 main line. This move had been first tested in correspondence play and only occurred over-the-board in 2010. Castling here, where White’s pawn storm is already in full swing, may seem risky. But in reality, Black gets enough counterplay in the centre and on the queenside. White has as many as six viable possibilities, but only one of them sets Black difficult problems. 14.h4 A) 14.fxe6 This move leads to a queen exchange and usually an endgame in which Black sacrifices a pawn for good compensation. 14...fxe6



293



Position after: 14...fxe6 15.Nxe6 [15.Qg3?! Nc5 16.a3 Rb8³ and Black has excellent play; after 15.Qe3?! Vigorito correctly points out the variation: 15...Nb6 16.h4 b4 17.Nce2 e5 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.exf5 Rxf5 20.Bh3 Rff8³ when White doesn’t have enough for the pawn.] 15...Rxf3 16.Nxc7



Position after: 16.Nxc7 A1) 16...Ra7 is another good possibility. 17.Ne8 Ne5 18.Nxd6 A1.1) 18...Bg4 was played in Bernal Caamano – Santamaria Perez, email 2010. Now a slight 294



improvement for White is 19.Rd5, but Black still equalizes:



Position after: 19.Rd5 19...Bxg5+ 20.Kb1 Bf4! Black is in time to meet 21.a4 with 21...Rf2! 22.axb5 axb5= when both sides are going to get two connected passers, and the game is dynamically balanced. A1.2) 18...Bh3 19.Bxh3 Rxh3= Black will regain one pawn and his active pieces should provide enough compensation for the second one. A2) 16...Bxg5+ 17.Kb1 Rb8 18.Ne8 Nb6 19.Nxd6 Bd7



295



Position after: 19...Bd7 20.Nd5 [20.h4 Bf4 21.Nf5 Re8= The position is equal and Pierron – Eschert, email 2014 ended in a repetition: 22.Nd6 Rb8 23.Nf5 Re8 24.Nd6 Rf8 25.Nf5 Re8 26.Nd6 ½-½] 20...Nxd5 21.exd5 Bf4 22.Ne4 Re3 23.Bd3 Re8 24.Rde1 Here a draw was agreed in Sanchez Rodenas – Schueppel, email 2015. A possible continuation is 24...Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Re5! 26.Rg1 Bf5 27.d6 Bxe4 28.d7 Rd5 29.Bxe4 Rxd7=. B) 14.g6 hxg6 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Nxe6 Rxf3 17.Nxc7 Ra7 18.N7d5 Bg5+ 19.Kb1 Ne5=



Position after: 19...Ne5= The position somehow resembles the 14.fxe6 line, with the difference that Black has doubled gpawns but has also maintained material parity. 14...b4 15.Nce2 Bb7



296



Position after: 15...Bb7 16.Bg2 A) 16.fxe6?! Releasing the tension too early helps Black. 16...Nc5 17.Ng3 fxe6 18.Qe3 [18.Qg4? d5!µ A powerful move. White can’t take the pawn because of 19.Nxe6 Nxe6 20.Qxe6+ Kh8 21.exd5 Bd6! 22.Nh5 Rae8 23.Qg4 Bc8 24.Qd4 Qf7–+ and White loses the knight.] 18...d5!



Position after: 18...d5!



297



Taking the opportunity to establish a strong centre. 19.e5 a5 20.Bh3 Kh8 21.Bxe6 Ne4! One of the advantages of 18...d5! The e5-pawn falls. 22.Bxd5 Bxd5 23.Nxe4 Qxe5 24.Rhe1 Rae8³ With two bishops against two knights in an open position, Black has colossal compensation for the pawn. B) 16.Kb1 e5 17.f6 exd4 18.fxe7 Rfe8 19.Nxd4 Nc5



Position after: 19...Nc5 B1) 20.Nf5 Bxe4 21.Qf4 Bxh1 [In case Black prefers to play on, that’s also possible: 21...Bxf5 22.Qxf5 Rxe7=.] 22.Qd4! Ne6



298



Position after: 22...Ne6 23.Qxg7+! Nxg7 24.Nh6+ Kh8 25.Nxf7+ Kg8 26.Nh6+= An amusing perpetual check pointed out by Vigorito. B2) 20.Bc4 Rxe7 21.Nf5 Rxe4 22.Bd5 Re5 23.Bxb7 Qxb7 24.Qxb7 Nxb7 25.Nxd6 Nxd6 26.Rxd6= The position has liquidated to a drawn endgame.



Position after: 16.Bg2 16...exf5! The clearest way to equality. 16...Rac8 This move leads to an endgame that is unpleasant, but drawable for Black. 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.Qh3 e5 19.Qe6+ Kh8 20.Qxe7 exd4 21.Nxd4 Rce8 22.Ne6 Qxc2+ 23.Kxc2 Rf2+ 24.Rd2 Rxd2+ 25.Kxd2 Rxe7 26.Bh3



299



Position after: 26.Bh3 This was all recommended by Negi. A) Negi mentions 26...Bxe4 27.Rc1 Nb6 [27...Nc5 28.Nxc5 dxc5 29.Rxc5²] 28.Rf1 h6 [28...Nd7 29.Nd8²] 29.Ke3 Bg6 30.Kd4². B) In one correspondence game Black improved with 26...Kg8, preparing ...Nf8. The endgame is still unpleasant, though. Black holds with accurate defence, but the whole line is much less convincing than 16...exf5! 27.Rc1 Nf8 28.Rc7 Rxc7 29.Nxc7 Ng6 30.Be6+ Kf8 31.h5 Ne5 32.Bd5 Bc8 33.Kc2 Nf3 34.Kb3 Nxg5 35.Kxb4 Nh3 36.Be6 Bxe6 37.Nxe6+ Kf7 38.Nd4 Nf4 39.Ka5 Nd3 40.b4 g5 41.hxg6+ Kxg6 42.Nf3 h5 43.a4 Nb2 44.b5 axb5 45.Kxb5 Nxa4 ½-½ Black drew by one tempo in Baufays – Lovakovic, email 2015. 17.Nxf5 Rfe8 18.Qg3



300



Position after: 18.Qg3 This is recommended by Negi, but he fails to mention Black’s best move: 18...Rac8! 19.Ned4 19.Nh6+ leads to a draw: 19...Kh8 20.Nxf7+ Kg8 21.Qb3 d5 22.exd5 Bf8 23.Nh6+ Kh8 24.Nf7+= 19...Bf8 20.h5 Bxe4 21.Bxe4 Rxe4 22.g6 Ne5 23.gxf7+ Kh8 24.Rhf1 Nxf7=



301



Position after: 24...Nxf7= In De Homont – Janisch, email 2016, White had enough compensation for the pawn, but no more. d) 13...0-0! 14.f6 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5 0-0! 14.f6



Position after: 14.f6 This move initiates a tactical sequence which ends in equality. 14...gxf6 15.gxf6 Nxf6 16.e5! dxe5 17.Nc6! The point of White’s concept. 17...Bb7 18.Qg3+ Kh8 19.Nxe5 Now Black has two equally good possibilities. 19.Nxe7? is wrong: after 19...Qxe7 20.Qxe5 Rg8 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.Rxd5 Rg7µ [or, equally, 22...Rg5µ] White has nothing for the pawn.



302



Position after: 19.Nxe5 19...Bd8 19...Bd6 20.Rxd6 Bxh1 21.Rd1 [21.Qg5?! This natural move can be met by a powerful retort: 21...Ng4! 22.Nxg4 f6 23.Qd2 Bd5 24.Rxd5 exd5 25.Nxd5 Qg7³ and in this open position, the two rooks are worth more than the three pieces.]



Position after: 21.Rd1



303



A) 21...Ra7 is also possible: 22.Qf4 Ng8 23.Rd7 Qc5 24.b4 Qxc3 25.Rxa7 Be4! 26.Qxe4 Qa1+ 27.Kd2 Qxf1



Position after: 27...Qxf1 Vigorito writes that this position slightly favors White, but further analysis proves equality: 28.Qd4 [28.Qe3 Kg7= The position remains complicated, but objectively equal.] 28...Nf6 29.Nxf7+ Kg8 30.Nh6+ Kh8 White has nothing better than 31.Rf7 Qg2+ 32.Kc1 Qg5+ 33.Qd2 Qxd2+ 34.Kxd2 Rxf7 35.Nxf7+ Kg7= with equality. B) 21...Rac8 22.Bd3 Bd5 23.Qg5



304



Position after: 23.Qg5 It may seem that Black is in trouble, but there is the following tactical save: 23...Ne4! 24.Nxe4 f5! Now it is White who has to force a draw. 25.Nd6! Qxd6 26.Ng6+ hxg6 27.Qh6+ Kg8 28.Qxg6+ Kh8= 20.Rxd8 Raxd8 And not 20...Rfxd8? 21.Ng6+ fxg6 22.Qxc7 Bxh1 23.a4!+– when Black has a chronically weak king even as their queenside also falls apart.



Position after: 20...Raxd8 21.Rg1 Now after 21.Ng6+ Black can recapture with the h-pawn, which changes everything: 21...hxg6 22.Qxc7 Bxh1 23.a4! White should start queenside play in order not to become worse. 23...bxa4 24.Nxa4 Bf3 25.Bd3 Bg4= with a dynamically balanced position. 21...Ne8 22.Qg5



305



Position after: 22.Qg5 Again Black has two possibilities of equal strength. 22...b4 22...f5 This is recommended by Vigorito. 23.Qh6 Ng7 24.Ng6+ Kg8 25.Nxf8 Rxf8 26.Qxe6+ Kh8 The position is dynamically balanced, e.g. 27.Qh6 b4 28.Na4 Bd5=. [However, it’s crucial to avoid 28...Be4? 29.Nc5!±.] 23.Bb5! f6 24.Qh6 Ng7 25.Bd3 f5 26.Ng6+ Kg8 27.Nxf8 Rxf8 28.Na4 Kh8 29.Nc5 Bc8 30.Nxa6



306



Position after: 30.Nxa6 A draw was agreed in Burridge – Williamson, email 2016 The position is equal indeed, but some play remains. 30...Bxa6 31.Bxa6 e5 Black’s e-pawn is an important asset. A sample line is: 32.Rd1 e4 33.Rd5 Qe7 34.Bb5 Rd8=



307



Position after: 34...Rd8= More simplifications will occur, with a likely draw. e) 13...0-0! 14.Qh5!? with 16.Rh3!? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5 0-0! 14.Qh5!?



Position after: 14.Qh5!? This direct attacking attempt requires precise play from Black. 14...b4 15.Rd3 bxc3 16.Rh3!? Bxg5+ 16...h6? This move allows White to develop a decisive attack. 17.gxh6 Nf6 18.Qg5 Ne8 19.Qg2!



308



Position after: 19.Qg2! The following variation is long, but straightforward: 19...d5 [19...Bf6 20.hxg7 Nxg7 21.Rg1 d5 22.Rg3 Qf4+ 23.Kb1 Qh6 24.Nc6 Re8 transposes to 19...d5] 20.hxg7 Nxg7 21.Rg1 Qf4+ 22.Kb1 Bf6 23.Nc6 Re8 24.Rg3 Qh6 25.e5 exf5 26.Qxd5 Be6 27.Qf3 f4 28.R3g2 Bh3 29.Ne7+ Bxe7 30.Rxg7+ Qxg7 31.Rxg7+ Kxg7 32.Bxh3+– Black’s king is much too weak and the oppositecoloured bishops only serve to augment White’s attacking chances. 17.Qxg5



309



Position after: 17.Qxg5 A tricky moment. It is advisable to abstain from taking on b2. 17...Qd8 17...cxb2+ 18.Kb1 Qd8 19.Qh5! Nf6 20.Qh4!



Position after: 20.Qh4! White’s attack is surprisingly strong and Black must avoid a few pitfalls to reach safety. A) 20...Qb6? loses in style: 21.c3! Kh8 22.Rg1 Rg8 23.Rg5!+– The threat of Qxh7+ followed by Rgh5 and mate is absolutely deadly. B) 20...exf5 This variation requires Black to keep up the precision for numerous moves. 21.Nc6 Qb6 22.Ne7+ Kh8 23.Nd5 Qd4 24.Nxf6



310



Position after: 24.Nxf6 24...Qd1+! [24...h6?! 25.exf5 Qxh4 26.Rxh4 gxf6 27.Rxh6+ Kg7 28.Rh5 Rg8 29.Rg1+ Kf8 30.Rxg8+ Kxg8 31.Bd3 Rb8 32.Rh4± Here White has a simple idea of Rc4-c3-b3 and Kxb2. Black is far from equality.] 25.Kxb2 Qd4+ 26.Kc1 h6 27.Qg5 Qxf6 28.Qxf6 gxf6 29.Rxh6+ Kg7 30.Rh5 Rg8 31.Rg1+ Kf8 32.Rxg8+ Kxg8 33.exf5 Rb8 34.Rh4 Bxf5 35.Bxa6 Ra8 36.Bc4 Be6 37.Bb3



Position after: 37.Bb3 White has two passed pawns, so the endgame could become dangerous. In order to hold 311



comfortably, Black should play the following pawn sacrifice: 37...Kg7! 38.Rd4 f5! 39.Rxd6 Kf6= Black’s active king and passed f-pawn are enough to draw. C) 20...Bd7 21.Rg1



Position after: 21.Rg1 C1) 21...Kh8? 22.fxe6 Bxe6 [22...fxe6? 23.e5! dxe5 24.Bd3+– is killing.] 23.Rxg7! Bxh3 24.Nc6! Kxg7 25.Nxd8 Rfxd8 26.Qxh3±



Position after: 26.Qxh3± 312



White has a big edge thanks to the safer king and stronger minor piece. C2) 21...exf5 22.Qh6 g6 23.Bc4 Kh8 24.exf5 Rb8 25.fxg6 fxg6



Position after: 25...fxg6 26.Ne6 [Importantly, 26.Rxg6? doesn’t work because of an amazing resource: 26...Qe7 27.Re3 Nd5!! 28.Ne6 Bxe6 29.Rgxe6 Qc7–+] 26...Bxe6 27.Bxe6 Qe8 28.Bb3 a5! Commencing counterplay on the queenside. 29.Qxg6 Qxg6 30.Rxg6 Ne4 31.Rgh6 Rb7 32.R6h4 Nc5 33.a4 Nxb3 34.Rxb3 Rc7 35.Kxb2 Rfc8 36.c3 Rc4= with an equal rook endgame.



313



Position after: 17...Qd8 18.Qxd8 18.Qh5 Nf6 19.Qh4 doesn’t work here either (similarly to the 17...cxb2 line) because of 19...e5! 20.Nc6 Qb6:



Position after: 20...Qb6 Now the threat of ...Qxb2+ makes Ne7-d5 impossible, and after 21.bxc3 Kh8 22.Ne7 Bb7 23.Qg3 Bxe4 24.Rg1 Rg8 25.Bd3 d5 26.Nxg8 Rxg8 27.Bxe4 dxe4³ Black has more than enough compensation for an exchange. 18...cxb2+ 19.Kxb2 Rxd8 20.fxe6 fxe6 21.Nxe6 Ne5 22.Nxd8 Bxh3 23.Bxh3 Rxd8 24.Kc3 Kf7= Black is on the more pleasant side of equality f) 13...0-0! 14.Qh5!? with 16.Rxc3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5 0-0! 14.Qh5!? b4 15.Rd3 bxc3 16.Rxc3



314



Position after: 16.Rxc3 16...Qb6 17.Nc6 Bf6! After 17...Re8?? Black gets completely smashed: 18.fxe6 Ne5 19.exf7+ Nxf7 20.Bc4 Be6 21.Bxe6 Bxg5+ 22.Qxg5 Rxe6 23.Ne7+ Kf8 24.Qd5+– Kosintseva – Ju, Ankara 2012 18.e5 This obstruction sacrifice is White’s main idea. 18.gxf6 is also possible, though. 18...Nxf6 19.Qh4 Bb7 20.Ne7+ [Or 20.Rg3 Kh8 21.Ne7, transposing.] 20...Kh8 21.Rg3 Bxe4 22.Qg5 Rg8 23.Nxg8 Rxg8 24.Rhg1 Bxf5= Black’s king is safe and he has just enough compensation for the exchange.



315



Position after: 18.e5 18...g6! 18...dxe5? loses due to 19.Rh3 h6 20.gxh6 Qf2 and now:



Position after: 20...Qf2 A) Not 21.Kd1?, mentioned by Goh Wei Ming and Vigorito, because of 21...g5! 22.fxg6 Bb7! 23.g7 Bxc6 24.Qg4 Kh7 25.Bd3+ e4 26.Bxe4+ Bxe4 27.Qxe4+ Qf5 28.gxf8=N+ Rxf8 29.Qxf5+ 316



exf5 30.Rf1 Bxb2 31.c3 f6 32.Rxf5 Ne5 33.Rf4 f5!



Position after: 33...f5! Gaining the critical space. 34.Kc2 Ba3 35.Rh5 Kg6! Going for another material imbalance. 36.h7! Kxh5 37.Rxf5+ Rxf5 38.h8=Q+ Kg6² White can probe, but the endgame should be drawn. B) 21.Bd3! B1) 21...Qg2 loses spectacularly to 22.Rg3!



Position after: 22.Rg3! 317



22...Qxc6 [22...Qxh1+ 23.Kd2+– Black is helpless against White’s threats. The computer points out mate in ten!] 23.hxg7 Qxh1+ 24.Kd2 Bxg7 25.f6 Nxf6 26.Rxg7+ Kxg7 27.Qg5+ Kh8 28.Qxf6+ Kg8 29.Qg5+ Kh8 30.Qh6+ Kg8 31.Qh7# B2) 21...Qf4+ 22.Kb1 Qxh6 23.Qxh6! gxh6 24.Rg1+ Bg5 [24...Bg7 25.Rhg3+–] 25.Rxh6 Kg7 26.Rh5



Position after: 26.Rh5 White regains the material with interest. 26...Kf6 27.Rgxg5 Bb7 28.fxe6 Bxc6 29.exd7 e4 30.Rc5+– 19.Qh4 Bxe5 20.Ne7+ Kh8 21.fxg6 fxg6 22.Nxg6+ Kg8 23.Ne7+=



318



Position after: 23.Ne7+= The game ends in perpetual check. g) 13...0-0! 14.Rg1! with 19.Qb3!? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5 0-0! 14.Rg1!



Position after: 14.Rg1! 319



This is the move that poses Black most problems. It is more dynamic than 14.h4 because White gets the f5-f6 idea. 14...b4 15.Nce2 15.Na4?! It is a strange idea to put the knight on the rim. It can be met strongly by the powerful pawn sac 15...Ne5! 16.Qb3 Bd7! 17.fxe6 Bxe6, for instance:



Position after: 17...Bxe6 A) 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Qxe6+ Kh8 It may not seem obvious at first, but White won’t be able to hang on to their extra pawn for too long due to poor coordination. 20.Qd5 [20.Rg2 Rae8 21.Qd5 Qd7µ



320



Position after: 21...Qd7µ Importantly, 22.Nb6 fails to 22...Qh3! 23.Qb3 Rf3 24.Rg3 Bxg5+! 25.Rxg5 Qh6! 26.Qxb4 Qxg5+ 27.Kb1 Nc6µ.] 20...Qa7 21.Be2 Qe3+ 22.Qd2 Qxe4µ Black has regained the pawn with a better position. B) 18.Qxb4 Bg4 19.Be2 Bxg5+ 20.Kb1 Bxe2 21.Nxe2 Rab8



Position after: 21...Rab8 22.Qc3 [22.Qxd6 Qxd6 23.Rxd6 Nf3µ Black will take on either e4 or h2, creating one or two quick 321



passed pawns, with better chances.] 22...Qd8³ Black has the safer king and the more effective pieces. 15...e5 16.f6 exd4 17.fxe7 Re8 18.Nxd4 Ne5 19.Qb3!?



Position after: 19.Qb3!? This is a really venomous move. Black has to be very precise to reach equality. 19...Bg4! 19...a5?! doesn’t solve Black’s problems. The following game is a good illustration of the danger they face: 20.Nf5 Be6 21.Qe3 a4 22.Rg2 Bxf5 23.exf5 Qxe7 24.f6 Qb7 25.Qd4 Rac8 26.Kb1 b3 27.Qxa4 Qf3 28.Rc1 bxa2+ 29.Ka1 Rb8 30.c3 h6 31.gxh6 g6 32.Qd4 Nc6 33.Qg4 Qxf6 34.Bc4 Ne5 35.Qd4 Qh8 36.Rf1 Qxh6 37.Bd5 Re7 38.h4 Kg7 39.Qf2 Nd7 40.Rg3 Rf8 41.Bc6 Rd8 42.Rg5 and resigns, Siigur – Olsen, email 2008. 20.Rd2



322



Position after: 20.Rd2 20...Qxe7! 20...Rxe7 21.Qxb4 d5



Position after: 21...d5 22.Rg3 Vigorito ends the variation here, writing that White has not achieved anything special. However, the following two correspondence games shed a different light on the subject: [22.exd5? 323



falls into a trap: 22...Nc6! 23.Qxe7 Nxe7 24.Rxg4 Nxd5µ; 22.h3 is easier to cope with than 22.Rg3, i.e. 22...Bh5 23.Nf5 Ree8 24.Bg2 Rab8 25.Qd4 Bg6 26.Rf1 Bxf5 27.exf5 Nc4 28.Bxd5 Nxd2 29.Qxd2 Qe5 30.c4 Qe2= when White has enough compensation for the exchange, but no more.] 22...dxe4 23.Rc3 Qd7 24.h3 Bh5 25.Bg2 Ree8 26.Bxe4 Rab8 27.Qa3 Ng6 28.Ne2 Qa7 29.Re3²



Position after: 29.Re3² White’s chances are better (thanks to the queenside majority), as illustrated by the following email games. A) 29...Ne5 30.Bd5 Ng6 31.Rxe8+ Rxe8 32.Bf3 Bxf3 33.Qxf3 Qb6 34.a3 Qb5 35.Qg2 Qe5 36.Qg3 Kf8 37.a4 Qxg3 38.Nxg3 Re5 39.b4 Rxg5 40.Ne4 Rh5 41.Nc5 Rxh3 42.Nxa6 Ne5 43.Kb1 h5 44.Nc5 g5 45.Rd5 f6 46.a5 g4 47.a6 Ra3 48.b5 g3 49.b6 Kf7 50.b7 Nc6 51.Kb2 Ra5 52.a7 Rxa7 53.Rd7+ Kg6 54.b8=Q Nxb8 55.Rxa7 Nc6 56.Ra4 Ne5 57.Ne6 Kf5 58.Nf4 Kg4 59.Kc1 Kf3 60.Kd1 g2 61.Nxg2 Kxg2 62.Rh4 1-0 Rodriguez Lopez – Achermann, email 2018 B) 29...Re5 30.Ng3 Rxg5 31.Qd3 Rf8 32.Qd4 Qb8 33.Rb3 Qf4 34.Nxh5 Rxh5 35.c4 Qc7 36.Rf3 a5 37.a3 Rh4 38.Kb1 Re8 39.Re3 Kf8 40.Rde2 Re5 41.Qd2 Nf4 42.Bf3 Rxe3 43.Rxe3 Rxh3 44.c5 Ne6 45.c6 Rxf3 46.Rxf3 Qxc6 47.Rb3 a4 48.Qb4+ Ke8 49.Rc3 Qd7 50.b3 axb3 51.a4 Qd1+ 52.Rc1 Qd3+ 53.Kb2 g5 54.Qb5+ Qxb5 55.axb5 1-0 Siigur – Schueppel, email 2018 21.Nf5 21.h3 This is less accurate due to a tactical reason. 21...Bh5 22.Nf5 Qa7 23.Rg3 d5! This key move is made possible thanks to Black’s bishop already being on h5.



324



Position after: 23...d5! A) 24.Qxd5 Now the bishop is not hanging on g4 and Black can play 24...Nf3! 25.Rd1 followed by repeating with 25...Ne5, or playing on with 25...Rac8 26.Rg2 Nh4 27.Nxh4 Qe3+ 28.Qd2 Red8 29.Nf5 Rxd2 30.Nxe3 Rcxc2+ 31.Kb1 Rxb2+ 32.Kc1 Rbc2+ 33.Nxc2 Rxd1+ 34.Kb2 Rxf1 35.Nxb4 a5 36.Nc6 a4=. B) 24.Qxb4 dxe4 25.Qd4 Qxd4 26.Rxd4 Nf3 27.Rd5 Rad8 28.Rxd8 Rxd8 29.Ne3 h6! 30.gxh6 g6!



Position after: 30...g6!



325



Black creates a strong passed f-pawn. White must be careful and is fortunate to still have a perpetual check: 31.Ng4 Kh7 32.Nf6+ Kxh6 33.Be2 Nd4 34.Bxh5 gxh5 35.Ng8+ Kh7 36.Nf6+ Kh6=.



Position after: 21.Nf5 21...Qxg5! This is my improvement over the correspondence games. Black’s road to equality is still not without problems, though, and if you want to play the line with Black you should be sure to have remembered the following variations. A) 21...Qc7 22.Be2 Bxe2 23.Rxe2 a5 24.Rd1 Re6 25.h4± White had amassed significant pressure against d6 and went on to win in Dominguez Fernandez – Malashenkov, email 2011. B) 21...Qa7 In Milde – Murlasits, email 2019 Black held his own, but their position was highly unpleasant and he had to make several very precise moves. Besides, White could try some improvements along the way. That’s why I wouldn’t recommend this route in practice. 22.Rg3 a5 23.Qd5 Bxf5 24.exf5 g6 25.Bb5 Re7 26.fxg6 Nxg6 27.Qxd6 Re6 28.Qd3 Re1+ 29.Rd1 Nf4 30.Qf3 Rxd1+ 31.Qxd1 Qc5 32.Ba4 Qe7 33.Rf3 Rd8 34.Qh1 Qe2 35.Rf1 Nh3 36.Re1 and draw agreed due to 36...Qd2+ 37.Kb1 Nxg5=. 22.Be2 g6



326



Position after: 22...g6 23.Nxd6 23.h4 Qf4



Position after: 23...Qf4 A) 24.Rf1 Nf3 25.Bxf3 gxf5 26.Bg2 Qh6 27.Qxb4 Rab8 28.Qd4 Qe6! 29.exf5 Qxa2 30.Qxg4+ Kf8 327



Position after: 30...Kf8 Black’s attack is enough to ensure a draw. 31.Rd3 [31.Re2 Rxe2 32.Qxe2 Qxb2+ 33.Kd2 Qb4+! 34.c3 Qb2+ 35.Kd3 Qb5+ 36.c4 Qb3+ 37.Kd4 Qb6+ 38.Kd3 Qb3+=] 31...Rxb2! 32.Rc3 Rxc2+! 33.Rxc2 Qa3+ 34.Kd2 Qe3+ 35.Kd1 Qd3+ 36.Kc1 Qa3+= B) 24.Bxg4 gxf5 25.Be2+ Kh8 26.exf5 d5!



Position after: 26...d5! A clever way to stop Qd5 (where the queen would dominate the board) that also prepares ...Nc4. 328



27.Rf1 [27.Qg3 Qxg3 28.Rxg3 Nc4! 29.Bxc4 dxc4=] 27...Qxh4 28.Rfd1 [28.f6 Rad8=; 28.Rxd5?! Gives Black a tactical sequence leading to a slightly better position: 28...Qg5+ 29.Kb1 Qg2! 30.Bc4 Qg4! 31.Bd3 Nf3! 32.Bc4 Rad8 33.Qd3 Nd2+ 34.Qxd2 Qxc4 35.Rd3 Rxd3 36.cxd3 Qd4³ Black is more active.] 28...Qf4 29.a4 bxa3 30.Qxa3 Nd7



Position after: 30...Nd7 Threatening ...Rxe2 and attempting to transfer the knight to f6. 31.Bh5!? An irritating move. 31...Ne5 Black has not really lost a tempo, as ...Qxf5 will hit the bishop. 32.Kb1 Qxf5 33.Be2 Qe4 34.Bf1 a5 35.Rxd5 Rac8= White’s safer king and better structure provide enough compensation for the pawn, but no more. 23...Red8



329



Position after: 23...Red8 24.Rxg4 24.Qd5 h5! 25.h3 Qe3 26.Rxg4 hxg4 27.Qxe5 gxh3 28.Bg4 Qg1+ 29.Bd1 Qe3= Neither side has anything better than the repetition. 24...Nxg4 25.Qxf7+ Kh8 26.h4 Qe5 27.Qb7 Nh6 28.Qxb4 Rab8 29.Qa3 Kg7



Position after: 29...Kg7 330



30.Rd5 30.Bxa6 Ra8 31.Rd5 Qf4+ 32.Kb1 Qf6! 33.Qd3 Nf7 34.Nxf7 Rxd5 35.exd5 Qxa6 36.Qxa6 Rxa6= The pawn race should end in a draw, although White has to be more careful. 30...Qf6 31.e5 Qf2 32.Qxa6 Nf7 33.c3 Rf8=



Position after: 33...Rf8= The position remains highly complicated. Black will take the h-pawn and in many ensuing endgames a pawn race will commence, with objectively equal chances. h) 13...0-0! 14.Rg1! with 19.Qf4 Be6 20.Kb1 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5 0-0! 14.Rg1! b4 15.Nce2 e5 16.f6 exd4 17.fxe7 Re8 18.Nxd4 Ne5 19.Qf4 Be6



331



Position after: 19...Be6 20.Kb1 20.Nf5 is not the most challenging move: 20...d5! Black threatens ...Nd3+ winning the queen. 21.Kb1 dxe4 22.Qxe4 Bxf5 23.Qxf5 a5



Position after: 23...a5 Vigorito correctly observes that after taking on e7 the position will be equal, e.g. 24.h4 Rxe7 25.h5 g6 332



26.Qe4 Rd8 27.Be2 Rde8 [Or 27...gxh5= ½-½ Mishin – Evgrafov, email 2012] 28.Qd5 Rc8= and draw agreed in Tarasov – Evgrafov, email 2012. 20...Rxe7 21.h4 Qc5 22.Rg2 a5



Position after: 22...a5 23.Rgd2 23.h5 does not break the equilibrium, e.g. 23...a4 24.b3 a3 25.Rg3 Bg4 26.Be2 Bxe2 27.Nxe2 Rae8 28.c3 Nd3 29.Rgxd3 Rxe4 30.cxb4.



333



Position after: 30.cxb4 30...Qb5 [In Pommrich – Conde Poderoso, email 2018, Black surprisingly glitched with 30...Qxb4?? 31.Re3!+–.] 31.Qxd6 Rxe2= 23...g6



Position after: 23...g6 24.Be2!? 334



After 24.Nxe6 fxe6 25.Rxd6 Rf8 Black’s strong knight and active major pieces give them enough play for the pawn. 26.Rd8 Ref7 27.Rxf8+ Rxf8 28.Qc1 Rf3



Position after: 28...Rf3 29.b3 [Or 29.Bg2 Rf2 30.Bh3 Kf7 31.Rd2 Nc4 32.Rxf2+ Qxf2 33.a3 bxa3 34.bxa3 Ke7 35.Ka2 Qxh4 36.Qg1 Qxe4= ½-½ Boehnke – Risquet, email 2018.] 29...Kg7 30.Ba6 Rf2 31.Bf1 Rh2 32.Bc4 Nxc4 33.Rd7+ Kg8 34.Rd8+= Hoemske – Jimenez Molina, email 2014.



Position after: 24.Be2!?



335



24...a4! A) 24...Nc4?! Vigorito concludes his analysis here, writing that Black has plenty of play. However, things aren’t so simple. 25.Bxc4 Bxc4 26.b3 Ba6 27.Qf6 Rxe4 28.Rf2 Qc7 29.h5 Qe7 30.h6 Qxf6 31.Rxf6 Bb7



Position after: 31...Bb7 This was Caruso – Alifanov, email 2018. A possible improvement is 32.Nb5! Re5 33.Nxd6 Bd5 34.Rf4 Rf8 35.Kb2± and White retains a serious edge in the endgame, since 35...Rxg5 is met by 36.Nf5!. B) 24...Bc4 25.b3 Bxe2 26.Nxe2² White has definite pressure here. 25.Nxe6 fxe6 26.Rxd6 Rf8



336



Position after: 26...Rf8 Black has nice compensation for the pawn, analogously to the 24.Nxe6 line. 27.Qg3 Rc7 28.R6d2 a3 29.Qh3 Rc6 30.h5 gxh5 31.Qxh5 Ng6 32.Qh2 Nf4 33.g6 33.Bf3 is met by 33...Qe5 34.Rd4 Rb6=. 33...Nxg6 34.Rh1 Rc7 35.Bg4=



337



Position after: 35.Bg4= ½-½ Tomizawa – Helmer, email 2017 i) 13...0-0! 14.Rg1! with 19.Qf4 Be6 20.Nxe6 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5 0-0! 14.Rg1! b4 15.Nce2 e5 16.f6 exd4 17.fxe7 Re8 18.Nxd4 Ne5 19.Qf4 Be6



Position after: 19...Be6 20.Nxe6 This exchange, giving Black a nice pawn structure, seems counterintuitive. However, it sets Black concrete problems. 20...fxe6 21.Rg3! Covering f3 in preparation for Qd2. 21...Rab8! A crucial manoeuvre. 21...Rxe7? 22.Qd2!± simply loses a pawn. 22.Qd2 Rb6 338



Position after: 22...Rb6 23.Kb1 23.a4!? Another challenging move, but Black has a forcing way to solve the problems. 23...bxa3 [23...a5?! Allowing the pawn to stay on a4 cannot lead to anything good. 24.h4 Rxe7 25.h5 Qc6 26.Bb5! Qxe4 27.g6!



Position after: 27.g6!



339



27...Rc7 28.Re3 Qf4 29.Rf1 Qg5 30.Kb1 hxg6 31.hxg6 b3 32.cxb3 Qxg6+ 33.Ka2 Nc6 34.Bxc6 Rbxc6 35.Ref3 Rc8 36.Qxa5 Rc5 37.Qa6 Rd8 38.Qb7 Qe8 39.Rf7 1-0 Henderson – Casas, email 2017] 24.Rxa3 Qb7! 25.Qd4 Rxe7 26.h4 Rb4!



Position after: 26...Rb4! Two correspondence games were drawn here and on the next move. We can extend the variation a little further: 27.Qxd6 Rxb2 28.Rb3 [28.Qxe5 Rb1+ 29.Kd2 Rxd1+ 30.Kxd1 Qb1+ 31.Kd2 Qxf1=] 28...Rxb3 29.cxb3 Nf7! 30.Qxa6 Rc7+ 31.Kb2 Qxe4 32.Bc4 Qe5+ 33.Kb1 Qf5+ 34.Bd3 Qf3! 35.Rf1 Qd5 36.Qb5 Qxb5 37.Bxb5 Nd6= White has a minuscule edge, but Black should draw easily.



340



Position after: 23.Kb1 23...Rxe7! This capture has two ideas behind it-bringing the queen to c5 and evacuating the king to d7. 23...Qxe7 It may seem that with his nice pawn structure and the strong e5-knight Black is completely safe, but in fact he faces concrete problems here. 24.h4 a5 25.Bh3 Rc6 26.Rg2



Position after: 26.Rg2 White plans h5-h6 followed by doubling the rooks on the f-file, threatening to invade via f6 and putting pressure on the e6-pawn. This may seem like a slow plan, but in two correspondence games White proved it is highly dangerous. A) In Homont – Tunega, email 2016 Black held by the skin on their teeth: 26...Rc4 27.Re2 Rd8 28.Qe3 Rcc8 29.Qb6 Nc4 30.Qg1 Re8 31.Qd4 Kh8 32.Rf2 Ne5 33.Rdf1 Rg8 34.Rf4 Rb8 35.b3 Ra8 36.h5 Rae8 37.h6 gxh6 38.gxh6 Rg6 39.Bg4 Rxh6 40.Rf7 Qd8 41.Be2 Qc8 42.R7f2 Qc7 43.Qe3 Rh4 44.Qg5 Qd8 45.Rf6 Rh3 46.Qg2 Rh4 47.Qf2 Rh3 48.Qa7 Rg3 49.Bh5 Re7 50.Rf8+ Rg8 51.Rxd8



341



Position after: 51.Rxd8 A draw was agreed, although in a practical game White can still press: 51...Rxa7 52.Rxd6 Rg5 53.Be2². B) 26...Rb8 27.Qd4 a4 28.h5 a3 29.h6 axb2 30.Rf2 Rc3 31.Rh1 Rbc8 32.hxg7 Kxg7 33.Rfh2 Rh8 34.Qxb4 Rg3 35.Qd2 Nf7 36.Qd4+ Ne5 37.Bf1 Rxg5



Position after: 37...Rxg5 It may seem like Black is still fine, but White’s concept of play is very deep. The passed a-pawn and 342



the black king’s weakness are decisive assets. 38.Rh3 h6 39.Ba6 Kg6 40.a4 Qd7 41.Be2 Qd8 42.Qb4 Qe7 43.a5 h5 44.Qe1 Qd8 45.a6 Ng4 46.e5 Rxe5 47.Bd3+ Kf6 48.Qb4 Qa5 49.Qxb2 Kg5 50.Be2 Kf6 51.Rg1 Qc5 52.Rf1+ Kg5 53.Qb7 Kh6 54.Bxg4 Qb5+ 55.Qxb5 Rxb5+ 56.Kc1 Ra8 57.Be2 Ra5 58.Rf6+ 1-0 Miettinen – Otspere, email 2016. 24.h4 Qc5! Putting the queen on its ideal square. 25.h5 Kf8!



Position after: 25...Kf8! 26.g6 White could try 26.c3!?, but Black should be fine after 26...b3 27.Ka1 bxa2 28.g6 h6 29.Qf4+ Kg8 30.Rg2 Re8 31.Rf2 Rbb8 32.Bh3 a5 33.Rdf1 Qc8!, preparing to relocate the queen to d8 or d7.



343



Position after: 33...Qc8! 34.Qe3 Kh8= 26...hxg6 27.hxg6 Ke8 28.Rh3 Kd7 29.Rh8 Rc6 30.Ra8 Re8 31.Rxe8 Kxe8 32.Rc1 Kd7 33.Qh2



Position after: 33.Qh2 A draw was agreed in Tomczak – Trzcinski, email 2018. The following line provides justification of this result: 344



33...Qd4 34.Qf4 Kc7 35.Qf8 Nc4 36.Qf7+ Kb6 37.Bxc4 Rxc4 38.Qxe6 a5!=



Position after: 38...a5!= the plan of a4-a3 is really strong and gives Black enough compensation for the pawn. Conclusion 13...0-0! is the best choice for Black, and has rejuvenated the whole Three Piece System. White has several 14th move options and Black has to be prepared against all of them. The biggest test of the variation is the 14.Rg1! move. One rare but venomous option is 19.Qb3!?, after which Black needs to play several accurate moves to equalize. In the main line (19.Qf4 Be6) the most challenging move is the seemingly paradoxical 20.Nxe6 exchange. White has a deep plan of advancing the h-pawn all the way to h6 and pressuring the e6-point by combining ideas of Rf6 and Bh3. He also has hopes of utilizing the queenside majority later in the game. These dangers are excellently demonstrated by the Miettinen – Otspere game cited in the comments to 23...Qxe7. In view of all this, Black’s only fully satisfactory option seems to be 23...Rxe7! followed by activating the queen and evacuating the king, as in the Tomczak – Trzcinski game. This is the latest word on the Three Piece, and the ball is in White’s court to find alternative ways of posing Black problems.



345



Chapter 9 Black inserts ...h6 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6 8.Bh4 Be7 9.Qf3 Qc7 10.0-0-0 Nbd7



Chapter Guide Chapter 9 – Black inserts ...h6 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6 8.Bh4 Be7 9.Qf3 Qc7 10.0-0-0 Nbd7 a) 11.Bd3 b) 11.Be2! -c) 11.Be2! b5 a) 11.Bd3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6 8.Bh4 Be7 9.Qf3 Qc7 10.0-0-0 Nbd7



Position after: 10...Nbd7 346



This variation is one of the recommendations of King and the recommendation of Ftacnik. However, it hasn’t really taken off, because in the main line Black faces a thankless defensive task in a pawndown ending. 11.Bd3 g5! This temporary pawn sacrifice is Black’s main idea and offers satisfactory play. 11...b5? This move is tragically wrong. 12.e5! Bb7 13.Nxe6! fxe6 14.Bg6+



Position after: 14.Bg6+ 14...Kd8 [14...Kf8 15.exf6! Bxf3 16.fxe7+ Kg8 17.gxf3+– White promotes, with a decisive material advantage.] 15.Qh3+– The attack is decisive. 12.fxg5 Ne5 13.Qe2 Nfg4



347



Position after: 13...Nfg4 14.Nf3 14.h3 This is not a very challenging move. 14...hxg5 15.Bg3 Nf6



Position after: 15...Nf6 A) 16.Nf3?! Most popular, but quite weak. White needlessly retreats the knight from the centre. 16...Nh5 17.Bh2 Nf4 18.Qf2 [18.Bxf4 gxf4 19.Qd2 Nxf3 20.gxf3 Qc5³ Planning ...Qe5 or ...Qe3. 348



Black has the bishop pair and strong dark-square play.] 18...b5³ Black has excellent dark-square play. B) 16.Kb1 b5!= is analogous to 16.Rhf1 b5. C) 16.Rhf1 b5!= With ...b4 and ...Nh5-f4 in the air, Black is pretty comfortable. 14...hxg5 14...Nxf3



Position after: 14...Nxf3 A) 15.gxf3 hxg5 16.fxg4 [16.Bg3 transposes to 14....hxg5 15.Bg3 Nxf3 16.gxf3] 16...Rxh4 [16...gxh4?! 17.Rhf1 Bd7 18.Rf3² Black will have trouble defending the f- and h-pawns. White’s knight can be routed via e2 to f4.] 17.Rhf1



349



Position after: 17.Rhf1 A1) Importantly, not 17...Rh6? 18.e5! A1.1) 18...dxe5 19.Qf3 Rf6 [19...f6 20.h4!+–] 20.Qh3 Rxf1 21.Rxf1 Bd7 22.Qh8+ Bf8 23.Qf6 Bc6 24.Bg6!+– A1.2) 18...Bd7 19.Qf3 f6 [19...0-0-0 20.Qxf7±] 20.Ne4 dxe5 21.Nxg5 f5 22.h4 0-0-0 23.gxf5 Rf8 24.Nxe6



Position after: 24.Nxe6 350



24...Rxe6 [24...Bxe6 25.Qe3! Rxh4 26.fxe6±] 25.fxe6 Rxf3 26.exd7+ Qxd7 27.Rxf3± A2) 17...Rh8!= Black is ready to finish development with ...Bd7, ...Rf8 and ...0-0-0. B) 15.Qxf3 Ne5?! enables a very strong temporary piece sacrifice: [15...hxg5 16.Bg3 transposes to the main line] 16.Qh5! Ng6 17.gxh6!



Position after: 17.gxh6! 17...Bxh4 [17...Nxh4 18.Rhf1 Bf8 19.Nb5!+– is lethal.] 18.e5! Qe7 19.Ne4 d5 20.Nd6+ Kd7 21.Kb1 Nxe5 22.Qxe5 Rxh6 23.Ne4 f5 24.Nc5+ Kd8 25.Qd4± Black has avoided immediate danger, but their king is weak and their queenside undeveloped.



351



Position after: 14...hxg5 15.Bg3 15.Bxg5?! Bxg5+ 16.Nxg5 Qc5! Black threatens both ...Nxd3+ and ...Nf2. A) 17.Nf3 Nf2 18.Nxe5 Nxd1



Position after: 18...Nxd1 A1) 19.Nxf7 Nxc3 20.Qf3 Rf8 21.Rf1 e5! As Goh Wei Ming correctly points out, this move wins. 22.Bc4 d5 23.bxc3 dxc4 24.Nd6+ Qxd6 25.Qh5+



352



Position after: 25.Qh5+ 25...Kd7! (Even stronger than the 25....Ke7 26.Qh7+ Kd8 given by Wei Ming!) 26.Rd1 Rf1 27.Rxf1 Kc7–+ Black is simply a piece up. A2) 19.Nxd1 The lesser evil. 19...Qxe5µ Apart from one pawn, White has nothing for the exchange. B) 17.Nh3 A sad necessity. 17...Ke7! The king feels very safe in the centre. 18.Rde1 Bd7³ All Black’s pieces are more active than White’s, so there is more than enough compensation for a pawn. 15...Nxf3 15...Bd7!? A fully playable alternative. 16.h3



353



Position after: 16.h3 A) 16...Nxf3?! This has been much more popular, but leads to nothing but trouble. 17.hxg4 A1) 17...Nh4 Wei Ming is right to note that White is significantly better after: 18.e5 d5 19.Rh3 Qa5 [19...Bc6 20.Bf2 0-0-0 21.Bd4±] 20.Bf2 0-0-0 21.g3 Ng6 22.Rh5±. A2) 17...Rxh1 18.Rxh1 Nh4 19.Rf1



Position after: 19.Rf1



354



19...Bc6 This is perhaps the least of all evils. [19...Ng6 20.Qf2! Even better than putting the queen on f3. After 20...Nh8 21.Qd4 0-0-0 22.Na4± White is better placed all over the board.; on 19...f6 Wei Ming also points out the crushing possibility of 20.Bxh4! gxh4 21.g5! fxg5 22.Qh5+ Kd8 23.Qg6+– and White’s initiative is decisive.] 20.Kb1 Qa5 21.e5 d5 22.Qf2 Kd7 23.Ne2 Bb5 24.Rd1 Rc8 25.Nd4 Bxd3 26.Rxd3±



Position after: 26.Rxd3± Black has somehow managed to survive, but White was clearly better in Skvira – Maesa, email 2010. B) 16...Nf6! 17.Nxe5 dxe5 18.Bf2 Nh5 19.g3 0-0-0² On a very high depth, the computers show equality, but I believe “slightly better for White” is a more realistic evaluation in practical terms. Black’s knight is offside on h5 plus White has some attacking chances on the queenside with Qe3a7 or even a3-b4 in some cases.



355



Position after: 15...Nxf3 16.Qxf3 16.gxf3 Ne5 17.f4 gxf4 18.Bxf4 Bd7 19.Rdf1 A) 19...Rh7?! This is given by King, but in fact Black gets into problems here: 20.h4! 0-0-0 21.h5! Rdh8 22.Kb1 Bf8, when a big improvement over the previous games that reached this position is 23.Be3!.



Position after: 23.Be3! 356



Now Black should play 23...Be8!, though they remain worse. [23...Bg7?! 24.Rh3! is problematic: 24...Bc6 25.h6! Bxh6 Else the h-pawn would paralyse Black. 26.Rfh1 Bxe3 27.Rxh7 Rxh7 28.Rxh7 Bd4 29.Nd1± Black has some compensation for the exchange, but not enough.] 24.Qd1 Bg7 25.Be2 Nd7!



Position after: 25...Nd7! 26.Bd4 [26.Qd2 Bxc3 27.bxc3 Nc5=] 26...Bxd4 27.Qxd4 f6 28.Bg4 Bf7 29.Rh3 Kb8 30.Rfh1 Rh6 31.Qd2² The position is surely holdable, but unpleasant for Black. B) 19...Bc6 20.Kb1



357



Position after: 20.Kb1 20...Bh4! The bishop stops the h-pawn advancing. [20...Bf6 21.h4 0-0-0 22.Qe1 Rdf8= The position is objectively equal, but I would give slight practical preference to White due to the strong h-pawn.] 21.Rhg1 0-0-0= Black has no problems at all. 16...Ne5 17.Bxe5 dxe5



Position after: 17...dxe5 White can move either rook to f1, but neither option gives even a trace of an advantage. 18.Rhf1 18.Rdf1 Rh7 19.h4 gxh4 20.Qg4 Rh8 21.g3 [21.Qg7 leads to a similar position: 21...Rf8 22.g3 hxg3 23.Rh7 g2 24.Qxg2 Bd7 25.Kb1 0-0-0 26.Rfxf7 Rxf7 27.Rxf7 Bc5=.] 21...Bd7 22.gxh4 0-0-0!



358



Position after: 22...0-0-0! Black temporarily sacrifices a pawn to finish development. 23.Rxf7 Rdg8 24.Rg7 Rxg7 25.Qxg7 Rxh4 26.Rd1 Bc5 27.Kb1 Kb8!= Black need not fear 28.Bxa6 bxa6 29.Qxd7 Qxd7 30.Rxd7 due to 30...Bd4=. 18...Rh7 19.h4



Position after: 19.h4



359



19...gxh4 19...Bd7?! 20.h5 0-0-0 21.g4² The strong protected passed pawn gives White a stable edge. 20.Qg4 Kf8! 20...Rh8? loses to 21.Qg7 Rf8 22.Nb5! Qc5 23.b4! Qe3+ 24.Kb1 Qb6 25.Qxe5 Kd8 26.Bc4+ Bd7 27.a3 Rc8 28.Be2+– and Nd6 comes next with devastating effect.



Position after: 20...Kf8! 21.Kb1 A) 21.g3 also leads to equality: 21...Rg7 22.Qh5 Bg5+ 23.Kb1 hxg3 24.Rf3 Bf4 25.Ne2 g2 26.Rg1 Bd7 27.Nxf4 exf4 28.Qh6 Qa5!



360



Position after: 28...Qa5! White has to force a draw: 29.Qh8+ Rg8 30.Qh6+ Rg7=. B) 21.Rf3 Bd7 [21...Rg7 is also possible, e.g. 22.Qh5 Kg8 23.Rdf1 Rh7 24.Qg4+ Rg7 25.Qh3 b5 26.g3 b4 27.Ne2 Bd7 28.gxh4 Bb5= Black has sufficient queenside counterplay.] 22.g3 Rg7 23.Qh5 Kg8 24.gxh4 Be8= Black is rock-solid on the kingside. 21...Bd7! It is crucial to control the 8th rank with the rook. 21...b5? 22.g3 A) 22...hxg3 23.Qxg3 Rh6 [Compared to the 21...Bd7 line, Black is not in time to play 23...Rg7 24.Qh3 Bg5 25.Rg1 Ke7, due to 26.Rxg5! Rxg5 27.Qh4+–.] 24.Rg1 Bf6 25.Qe3 Rh7 26.Rdf1 Bg7



361



Position after: 26...Bg7 This is all given by Wei Ming, and now White has a very deep decisive move available: 27.a4!+– An unexpected strike on the other flank. Black’s position falls apart. B) 22...Rg7 23.Qh5 Kg8 24.gxh4 Rh7 25.Qg4+ Kh8 26.Rg1 Bd7 27.h5± White’s attack was close to decisive in Gao – Wen, Ho Chi Minh City 2012. 22.g3 hxg3



362



Position after: 22...hxg3 23.Rf3 23.Qxg3 Rg7 24.Qh3 Bg5 25.Be2 Ke7 26.Na4! Again striking on the other flank. 26...Rc8 27.Qa3+ Ke8 28.Qh3 Ke7= Neither side has anything better than the repetition. 23...Rg7 24.Qh5 Ke8! The king shelters on the queenside. 25.Rg1!? An improvement after which Black has to be very accurate. After 25.Rdf1 black has an easy road to an equal position: 25...Qc5 26.Rxf7 Rxf7 27.Qxf7+ Kd8 28.Qg8+ Kc7 29.Qxg3=



Position after: 25.Rg1!? 25...g2 A) 25...Bf8? 26.Rgxg3 Bc6 27.Rxg7 Bxg7 28.Qh7 Kf8 29.Rg3 f6 30.Bc4! Re8 31.Nd1!+– Coup de grace: the manoeuvre Ne3-g4 decides. B) 25...Qc5 26.Rgxg3 Rxg3 27.Qxf7+ Kd8 28.Rxg3 Kc7 29.Rg7 Re8 30.a3 Kb8 31.Ka2² White is still for choice. Their main idea is Nb1-d2 and thence to c4 or f3. 26.Qh2 Bf8 26...Qc5 27.Rxg2 Bf8 [27...Rxg2 28.Qxg2 Kd8 29.Qg8+ Bf8 30.Rxf7 Kc7 31.Ne2² is similar to 363



25...Qc5] 28.Rgf2 Rc8



Position after: 28...Rc8 Black should equalize, e.g. 29.Rf6 [Or 29.Qh5 Kd8 30.Rxf7 Kc7=] 29...Qe3!= 27.Rxg2 Rxg2 27...Qc5 transposes to 26...Qc5. 28.Qxg2 Bc6 29.Qg8 Qe7 30.Be2 Bd7 31.Rf1 f6=



364



Position after: 31...f6= White has good compensation for the pawn, but no more. b) 11.Be2! -1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6 8.Bh4 Be7 9.Qf3 Qc7 10.0-0-0 Nbd7 11.Be2!



Position after: 11.Be2! 365



This move is the biggest challenge to Black’s setup. 11...0-0? This risky move has been refuted in correspondence play. A) 11...g5? 12.fxg5 Ne5 13.Qe3



Position after: 13.Qe3 13...Nfg4 [13...Nh7 14.Bg3 hxg5 15.Nf3 Bd7 16.Kb1± The h7-knight is hopelessly passive.] 14.Qd2 hxg5 15.Bxg5± Black has nothing for the pawn whatsoever. B) 11...Rb8?! Black doesn’t want to defend the endgame that results from 11...b5 12.e5! and instead prepares to play the ...b5 push in a way that doesn’t provoke e5. However, this approach is too slow. 12.Qg3



366



Position after: 12.Qg3 B1) 12...Rg8? 13.Nxe6! fxe6 14.Qg6+ Kd8 [14...Kf8 15.Rhf1!+– e5 is inevitable, with a decisive attack.] 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Qxe5 17.Bg3 Qe3+ 18.Kb1



Position after: 18.Kb1 Black is completely lost, e.g. 18...b5 19.Rd3 Qa7 20.Ne4 Rf8 21.Nxf6 Bxf6 22.Rf1 Rb6 23.Rxf6! Rxf6 24.Qxg7 e5 25.Bxe5+– B2) 12...0-0 13.Bf3 367



Position after: 13.Bf3 Preparing Rhe1 and stopping 13...b5 because of 14.e5! B2.1) 13...Kh7 This strange move (with the idea of 14.Rhe1 Ng8!) is the computer’s initial recommenddation. However, the same computer, on a high depth, finds a very strong retort: 14.Nd5!



Position after: 14.Nd5! 14...Nxd5 [14...exd5 15.Nf5 g6 16.Nxe7 dxe4 17.f5! g5 18.Bxg5 hxg5 19.Bg4+– h4 is next, with 368



a winning attack.] 15.exd5 Bxh4 16.Qxh4 Nc5 17.Rhe1 Bd7 18.g4± In addition to the central pressure, White has a kingside attack. B2.2) 13...Nb6 14.Rhe1 Bd7 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nfd5



Position after: 16...Nfd5 17.Bxe7 [17.Bxd5?! Bxh4 18.Qxh4 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Rd3² This is Negi’s recommenddation, but it’s too minimalistic; White retains a slight edge, but we can play for more.] 17...Nxe7 18.Ne4 Rbc8 19.Nd6 Nf5 20.N6xf5 exf5 21.e6 f4 22.exf7+ Rxf7 23.Qg6 Rf6 24.Qh5 Rf5



369



Position after: 24...Rf5 25.Re8+! A nice small tactic to remember. 25...Rxe8 26.Nxf5 Re6 In Pheby – Borstnik, email 2017, Black survived, but there is an improvement possible: 27.c3± White’s pieces are superbly placed, giving them a lasting edge. 12.g4! Negi’s recommendation of 12.Qg3?! is good enough for a slight edge again, but why go for it when White can start a winning attack instead? Play could continue 12...Nc5 13.e5 Nfe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Qf3 dxe5 16.Qxe4 exd4 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Rxd4 Ra7 19.h4 b5 20.Bd3 f5 21.Qe2². 12...b5



Position after: 12...b5 13.Rhg1! 13.g5 This is the bluntest attempt, but Black can defend. 13...Nh7! [13...hxg5? 14.Bxg5 b4 15.Nb1! Bb7 16.Nd2 Rfc8 17.Rhg1 e5 18.Bh6 g6 19.Bc4 d5 20.Ne6!+–] 14.gxh6 [14.Qg4 hxg5 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Qxe6+ Kh8 17.Qxe7 gxh4 18.Rhg1 Rg8 19.Nd5 Qc5 20.Qxh4 Bb7 21.Rg3 Ndf6 22.Rh3 Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Qa7 24.Rxd6 Rgd8 25.Rxd8+ Rxd8 26.Qe1 Qd7 27.Rd3 Qe7 28.Rxd8+ Qxd8 29.e5 Ng8=] 14...Bxh4 15.Qh5 Bf2 16.hxg7 Re8 17.e5! dxe5 18.Bd3 e4 19.Nxe4 Qxf4+ 20.Kb1 Qh4 21.Qxh4 Bxh4 22.Nd6 Nhf6 23.Rhg1 Bf2 24.Nxe8 Bb7 25.Nxf6+ Nxf6 26.c3 Bxg1 27.Rxg1 Rd8²



370



Position after: 27...Rd8² After many complications we reach this endgame, which is holdable for Black. 13...b4 14.g5!



Position after: 14.g5! 14...bxc3



371



14...hxg5 15.Rxg5! The g-file attack is decisive: 15...Ne8 16.Rxg7+! Nxg7 17.Rg1! Nf6 [17...Bxh4 18.Rxg7+ Kxg7 19.Qg4+ Kh8 20.Qxh4+ Kg7 21.Qg5+ Kh7 22.Nd5! Qd8 23.Ne7+–] 18.Qg2 Nfe8 19.Nf5! exf5 20.Nd5+– 15.gxf6 Bxf6 16.Qg3! g6 17.Bh5!



Position after: 17.Bh5! 17...Bxh4 17...Bg7 18.Nxe6! Qb6 19.bxc3! Nc5 20.Nxg7 Nxe4 21.Qd3 d5 22.Bxg6 fxg6 23.Qxd5+ Kxg7 24.Qe5+ Kh7 25.Qe7+ Kg8 26.Qxe4 Bf5 27.Qd5+



372



Position after: 27.Qd5+ 27...Kh8 [27...Kh7 28.Rge1+– offers Black no relief.] 28.Qd4+ Qxd4 29.cxd4+– and White went on to win in Caruso – Sanchez Portugal, email 2017. 18.Qxh4 Qd8 19.Qh3 Qf6



Position after: 19...Qf6 It may seem that Black has covered all their weak spots, but in fact his troubles have only just begun. 373



20.Kb1! A good prophylactic move, first stepping out of any checks. 20...Kh7 21.Nxe6! The weak points turn out to be underprotected. 21...Rg8 22.Ng5+ Kg7 23.Bxg6!



Position after: 23.Bxg6! 23...hxg5 23...fxg6 24.Ne6+ A) 24...Kh7 25.Rd3 h5 26.f5 Ne5 27.Rxd6 Kh8 28.a4!!



374



Position after: 28.a4!! The computer’s suggestion. As Russian players like to say, “this cannot be understood, this has to be memorized”. 28...Ra7 29.fxg6 Nxg6 30.Qxh5+ Rh7 31.Qd5 Rxh2 32.Nd4! Qf4 33.Rd8! Rxd8 34.Qxd8+ Qf8 35.Qc7! Rh6 36.Qxc3+– With three pawns for the piece and an attack, White wins. B) 24...Kf7 25.f5! Ke7 26.Nf4 Bb7 27.Nxg6+ Kd8 28.e5!



Position after: 28.e5! Sacrificing the pawn to open the d-file and take on c3. 28...dxe5 29.Qxc3 Rg7 30.Rge1 Rc8 375



31.Qa5+ Ke8 32.Nxe5 Nxe5 33.Rxe5+ Kf8 34.Re6 Qg5 35.Qb4+ Kg8 36.Qb3 Kh8 37.a3+– White again has three pawns for the piece and the ongoing attack. 24.Bf5 Kf8 25.fxg5 Qh8 26.Qe3



Position after: 26.Qe3 White has an ongoing initiative that is impossible to be extinguished. 26...Qe5 27.Rd5 Qe7 28.g6! Breaking through. 28...Rb8 29.g7+! Rxg7 30.Qh6 Rxb2+ 31.Ka1 Qf6 32.Qh8+ Ke7 33.Qxg7 Qxg7 34.Rxg7 Rxc2 35.Rd1 Rxh2 36.Rf1+– White went on to win in Lumley – Sherwood, email 2017. c) 11.Be2! b5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6 8.Bh4 Be7 9.Qf3 Qc7 10.0-0-0 Nbd7 11.Be2! b5



376



Position after: 11...b5 12.Bxf6! 12.e5?! Bb7 13.exf6 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Bxf6 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.Bxa8 0-0 17.Bf3 It may seem that White should be happy about his material advantage, but Black can use the momentum to turn the tables. 17...b4!



Position after: 17...b4!



377



White has no good retreat. 18.Ne4 [18.Na4 e5 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.Nb3 Rc8 21.c3 e4 22.Be2 Qc6 23.Nac5 bxc3 24.bxc3 e3µ; after 18.Nb1 Rc8 19.c3 d5 20.g3 g5!µ Black succeeds in creating two connected passers in the centre.; 18.Nce2? e5! 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.Nb3 e4–+] 18...Nxe4 19.Bxe4 d5 20.Bd3 Qxf4+ 21.Kb1 Ra8µ



Position after: 21...Ra8µ Black is ready to weaken the white king by ...a5-a4-a3, while White has no good plan and their pieces are restricted by Black’s pawn chain. 12...Nxf6 13.e5! Bb7 14.Qg3 dxe5 15.fxe5



378



Position after: 15.fxe5 15...Nd5 A) 15...Ne4 This is a bit similar in character to the main line. 16.Nxe6! Qxc3! 17.Nxg7+ Kf8 18.Ne6+ Ke8 19.Qxc3 Nxc3 20.Nc7+ Kf8 21.bxc3 Rc8 22.Nd5 Ba3+ 23.Kb1 Bxd5 24.Rxd5 Rg8 25.Bf3 Rxc3 26.Rhd1 Rc4²



Position after: 26...Rc4²



379



Black should be able to hold thanks to the opposite-coloured bishops, but obviously they remain far from equality. B) 15...Nd7? 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Qg6+ Kd8 18.Qxe6 Re8 19.Qg6 Bg5+ 20.Kb1 Re7 21.h4 Qc6 22.Rd6+– Black resigned in Bernal Varela – Deghose, email 2011. 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Qg6+ Kd7 18.Bg4 Qxe5 19.Nxd5



Position after: 19.Nxd5 19...Qg5+ 19...Bxd5? 20.Rxd5+ Qxd5 21.Rd1 Bg5+ 22.Kb1 Qxd1+ 23.Bxd1 Bf6 24.Qf7+ Kd6 25.Bf3 Rab8 26.Bg4 Rhe8 27.Qa7+– Black loses the a-pawn and still has king safety problems. White should win. 20.Qxg5 Bxg5+ 21.Kb1 Bxd5 22.Rxd5+



380



Position after: 22.Rxd5+ 22...Kc7 22...Kc6?! 23.Re5 Rhe8 24.Rhe1 Rad8 25.a4!± In the highest-rated correspondence encounter from this position Black failed to defend: 25...Bf4 26.axb5+ axb5 27.Bf3+ Kb6 28.Rxe6+ Rxe6 29.Rxe6+ Rd6 30.Re7



Position after: 30.Re7



381



30...Bxh2?! This undesirable exchange shows a lack of understanding. Black should leave these pawns on the board, because the white h-pawn has the wrong color of promotion square. [30...g6 would be a better choice.] 31.Rxg7 Bf4 32.Ka2 Rd2 33.Kb3 Be5 34.Rb7+ Ka6 35.Re7 Bg3 36.Be2 Bf4 37.g4 Rd4 38.Rf7 Bd2 39.Rf5+– Black lost the b-pawn and then the game in Poli – Rosas, email 2008. 23.Rc5+



Position after: 23.Rc5+ 23...Kb6 23...Kd6?!



382



Position after: 23...Kd6?! A) 24.Rc3 is also interesting. White keeps pressure despite the equal material, e.g. 24...Rac8 25.Ra3 Rc6 26.Bf3 Rb6 27.Rd1+ Ke7 28.Rad3 Bf4 29.Rd7+ Kf6 30.Rf1 Bxh2 31.Bh5+ Ke5 32.Re1+ Kf6 33.Rf7+ Kg5 34.Rxg7+ Kf6 35.Rg6+ Ke7 36.a3 Bf4 37.Rg7+ Kf6 38.Rg6+ Ke7 39.Rg7+ Kf6 40.Rf7+ Kg5 41.g3 Bb8 42.Rg7+ Kf6 43.Rg6+ Ke7 44.Re3 Rd6 45.c3 Bc7 46.Ka2 Rh7 47.b4



Position after: 47.b4 In Cat – Pheby, email 2011 draw was agreed. Indeed, Black should hold with correct defense, but of 383



course in practical play White still has realistic winning chances. B) 24.b4 Rac8 25.Rd1+ Ke7 26.Re5



Position after: 26.Re5 26...Rc6 27.Rde1 Rc4 28.R1e4 Rxe4 29.Rxe4± With the Black pawns fixed on light squares, White has a better version of the endgame from the main line. 24.Re5 Rhe8 25.Rhe1



384



Position after: 25.Rhe1 I believe Black has two good setups, with which this endgame can be held. Still, the prospect of defending an endgame a pawn down is not a good aim for one’s opening prep, unless you are 100% sure of your defensive skills. 25...Rac8 25...b4!? A) 26.Bh5 Re7 27.Rxe6+ Rxe6 28.Rxe6+ Ka7 [Negi only cites a game that continued 28...Kc5?!.] 29.Be2 transposing to line B. B) 26.Rxe6+ Rxe6 27.Rxe6+ Ka7 28.Be2 a5



Position after: 28...a5 This setup seems good enough to hold. Borges – Mesquita Jr, email 2017 26.Bf3 Rc7 27.Rxe6+ Rxe6 28.Rxe6+ Ka7 29.a3 a5 30.c3



385



Position after: 30.c3 30...Bf6 In a game quoted by Negi, Black’s mistake was omitting to fix the structure with ...a4: 30...Re7 31.Rc6 Bf6 32.Ka2 Be5 33.a4!



Position after: 33.a4! Now Black won’t get a second chance. And given that the following loss occurred in correspondence,



386



we can see that the danger is very real. 33...bxa4 34.h3 Rc7 35.Re6 Bf6 36.Re4 Kb6 37.Rxa4 Re7 38.Kb3 Rd7 39.Rf4 Re7 40.Ka4 Re1 41.Rg4 Kc5 42.Kb3 Kb5 43.Ra4 Rc1 44.Rc4 Ra1 45.Bc6+ Kb6 46.Kc2 Ka6 47.Re4 Kb6 48.Re6 Ka7 49.Kb3 Kb8 50.Re4 Ka7 51.Kc4 Ra2 52.Re2 Kb6 53.Bd5 Ra4+ 54.Kb3 Ra1 55.Re6+ Kc5 56.Bc6 Rd1 57.Bf3 Rd6 58.Re4 Kb5 59.Rc4 Be5 60.Rc7 a4+ 61.Ka3 Rd2 62.c4+ Ka6 63.Rc6+ Ka7 64.Rc8 Rc2 65.Kxa4 Rxb2 66.c5 Rb8 67.Rc6 Rb2 68.Re6 Bf6 69.Rd6 Kb8 70.Rd7 and white went on to win in Fleetwood – Stalmach, email 2012 31.Ka2 a4!



Position after: 31...a4! It seems that after this fixing of the structure, White is unable to breach Black’s defenses: 32.Be2 Rc5 33.h3 Rg5 34.g4 Rc5 35.Kb1 Kb7 36.Kc2 Kc7 37.Bf1 ½-½ Glazman – Stalmach, email 2012 Conclusion The Three Piece System with ...h6 is a sound theoretical choice, but one in which Black’s ambitions are reduced to fighting for a draw. The main line, 11.Be2! leads by force to an opposite-coloured bishop endgame where White is a pawn up. Black has two possible defensive setups that should hold fairly comfortably. Choose this variation for Black if you’re a good endgame technician and you are satisfied with a draw, possibly against a higher-rated opponent. If this is not the case, move on to other lines.



387



Part III The Gelfand Variation Chapter 10 Other moves than 8.Qf3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7



Chapter Guide Chapter 10 – Other moves than 8.Qf3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.a3 a) 8.Bc4!? alternative b) 10...Be7 11.g4 h6 12.Bh4 Rb8 13.-c) 10...Be7 11.g4 h6 12.Bh4 Rb8 13.Be1! d) 10...Bb7 11.g4 Be7 12.Bh4 h6 13.Bg2!? e) 10...Bb7 11.g4 Be7 12.Bh4 h6 13.Kb1 Rc8 14.Rg1 g6!? f) 10...Bb7 11.g4 Be7 12.Bh4 h6 13.Kb1 Rc8 14.Rg1 g5 with 20...Bf6 g) 10...Bb7 11.g4 Be7 12.Bh4 h6 13.Kb1 Rc8 14.Rg1 g5 with 20...Bh4 a) 8.Bc4!? alternative 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 In this chapter we start the coverage of the so-called Gelfand Variation, popularized by the famous Israeli grandmaster. Black’s main idea is to postpone the development of the dark-squared bishop and quickly start their queenside play. Theoretically, Black is in great shape, but does need to know many intricacies and details. 8.Bc4!?



388



Position after: 8.Bc4!? A very aggressive choice. The complications that follow are, however, likely to end in simplifications. 8...Qb6 A) 8...Qa5? 9.Qe2± Black can’t play 9....b5 because of 10.Bd5!, so they are in trouble. B) 8...Qc7? 9.Qe2± This time Black doesn’t have 9....b5 on account of 10.Bxe6!. C) 8...b5 9.Bxe6! [After 9.Bb3?! Qb6³ White’s centre is shaky.] 9...fxe6 10.Nxe6 Qa5



389



Position after: 10...Qa5 C1) 11.Nxf8 This is the less ambitious option. White exchanges an excellent knight merely to win the d6-pawn. 11...Rxf8 12.Qxd6 Kf7 [12...Qb6 13.0-0-0 b4 14.Na4 Qxd6 15.Rxd6 a5 16.Re1 Ra6 17.Rd4= White has impressive central control, but the knight remains offside on a4.] 13.e5 b4 14.e6+ Kg8 15.exd7 Bxd7 16.Bxf6 Rxf6



Position after: 16...Rxf6 17.Qd5+ [17.Qxd7 bxc3 18.0-0-0 Qxa2 19.Qd5+ Qxd5 20.Rxd5 cxb2+ 21.Kxb2 Rxf4=] 390



17...Re6+ 18.Kf1 Qxd5 19.Nxd5 Bb5+ 20.Kf2 Re2+ 21.Kg3 Rae8= The position should soon simplify to a draw. C2) 11.Qd4 b4! This move may seem illogical, as it invites the knight to d5, but it is in fact crucial to keep this square away from the queen. [Importantly, not 11...Kf7?? 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.Ng5+ Kg8 14.e5+–. The point is that if the knight moves, Qd5+ mates.] 12.Nd5 Kf7



Position after: 12...Kf7 C2.1) 13.0-0-0 Bb7 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Ng5+ [15.Nxf6 Nxf6 16.Ng5+ Kg6 17.f5+ Kg7 18.Ne6+ Kf7 19.Ng5+ Kg7=] 15...Kg7 16.Ne6+ Kf7 17.Ng5+= C2.2) 13.Ndc7 Bb7 14.Bxf6 [14.0-0-0?! Rc8 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.e5 Rxc7 17.Nxc7 Qxc7 18.exf6 gxf6³ The bishop pair poses a danger for White.] 14...gxf6 15.Qc4 d5 16.Qe2 h5 17.exd5 Bd6 18.Nxa8 Bxa8 19.Ng5+ Kf8



391



Position after: 19...Kf8 20.Ne6+= The threefold repetition ends the game. [If White wants to play for a win, he can choose 20.0-0 Bxd5 21.Rae1 Kg7=, but Black has fully adequate counterplay.] 9.Bb3 9.Bxf6 Nxf6 10.Bb3 transposes to 6...Nbd7 7.Bc4 Qb6 8.Bb3 e6 9.Bxf6. 9...Be7



392



Position after: 9...Be7 10.f5 10.Qd2 Nc5 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.0-0-0 Bd7= Black can castle on either side and the bishop-pair even offers them chances of taking over the initiative. 10...Nc5 11.fxe6 fxe6 12.Na4 In the next several moves great simplifications are bound to occur. 12.Be3 Qc7 13.0-0 b5 14.a3 Nxb3 15.cxb3 0-0 16.b4 Qd7!= Preparing ...Bb7 and ...Bd8-b6. Black is totally OK.



Position after: 12.Na4 12...Qc7 12...Qa5+ 13.Bd2 Qc7 14.Nxc5 dxc5 [14...Qxc5 15.Be3 Qe5 16.0-0 d5! 17.Nf3 Qxe4 18.Qd2 0-0 19.Bd4= White’s activity surely gives sufficient compensation for the pawn, but Black is solid.] 15.Nxe6 Bxe6 16.Bxe6 Qe5 17.Bf5 Black has two possibilities, both of which should lead to a draw. 17...g6 [17...Rd8 18.Qe2 Qxb2 19.0-0 g6 20.Be6 Qd4+ 21.Be3 Qxe4 22.Bc4 b5 23.Bd3 Qg4 24.Rf3



393



Position after: 24.Rf3 White has good compensation for the pawn, but Black can simplify with: 24...c4 25.Bc5 Rd7 26.Re1 cxd3 27.cxd3 0-0 28.Bxe7 Rxe7 29.Qxe7 Re8 30.Qxe8+ Nxe8 31.Rxe8+ Kg7 32.Re7+ Kg8 33.Re8+=] 18.Bc3 Qf4 19.e5 gxf5 20.exf6 Bxf6 21.Bxf6 Kf7 22.Bxh8 Re8+ 23.Qe2 Rxe2+ 24.Kxe2 Qe4+



Position after: 24...Qe4+ The perpetual is inevitable. 25.Kd2 Qxg2+ 26.Kc3 Qf3+ 27.Kd2 Qg2+= 394



13.Nxc5 dxc5 14.Nxe6 Bxe6 15.Bxe6 Qe5 16.Bxf6 Qxe6 17.Bxe7 Qxe4+ 18.Qe2 Qxe2+ 19.Kxe2 Kxe7= The game reduces to total equality. b) 10...Be7 11.g4 h6 12.Bh4 Rb8 13.-1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qe2



Position after: 8.Qe2 Putting the queen on e2 is the second major way to fight the Gelfand Variation. It is much less popular and less explored. The positions that arise in this variation are usually extremely complex and double-edged. 8...Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.a3 Be7 11.g4 h6 12.Bh4 Rb8 (12...Bb7 transposes to the 10...Bb7 main line.)



395



Position after: 12...Rb8 13.Bg2 13.Rg1 b4 [13...Nxe4? 14.Nxe4 Bxh4 15.Nxe6! fxe6 16.Nxd6+ Kf8 17.g5 hxg5 18.fxg5 Rb6 19.Qf3+ Nf6 20.Nxc8 Qxc8 21.gxf6 Bxf6 22.Rg6 Kf7 23.Bd3 Qc7 24.Rdg1 Ke8 25.Kb1 Rf8 26.c3 Rd6 27.Bc2± The opposite-coloured bishops facilitate White’s attacking chances.] 14.axb4



Position after: 14.axb4



396



A) 14...g5?! 15.fxg5 hxg5 16.Be1 [16.Bxg5?! Rxb4 17.h4 Bb7© Black’s central and queenside pressure offer them full compensation, although the position is extremely complicated and anything can happen in a practical game.] 16...Qb7 [16...Ne5 17.Rg3 Qb7 18.Nb3 transposes to 16....Qb7] 17.Rg3 It is hard for Black to demonstrate sufficient compensation for the pawn, e.g. 17...Ne5 18.Nb3 Kf8 19.h3 Qa8 20.Qf2². B) 14...Rxb4 15.Bf2 Nc5 16.e5 dxe5 17.Qxe5 Qxe5 18.fxe5 Nfe4 19.Be1 Bg5+ 20.Kb1 Bd2!



Position after: 20...Bd2! A nice tactical motif. 21.Bxd2 [21.Rxd2 Nxc3+ 22.Kc1 Na2+ 23.Kb1 Nc3+=] 21...Rxd4 22.Nxe4 Nxe4 23.Kc1 Ra4 24.c4 Bd7 25.Kc2 Nxd2 26.Rxd2 Ke7= The endgame is equal. 13...b4 14.axb4 Rxb4 15.Be1



397



Position after: 15.Be1 15...Qb6 15...Qc5 16.Nb3 Qb6 17.e5 dxe5 18.fxe5 Nxg4 19.Nd5 exd5 20.Bxb4 Qxb4 21.Rd4 Qb8 22.Qxg4 0-0 23.Qg3 Nxe5 24.Rxd5 Bb7 25.Rd4 f5 26.Bxb7 Qxb7 27.Rhd1 f4 28.Qe1 Bf6 29.Kb1 f3 30.Rf4 Rc8= 16.Bf2 Qc7 17.h4 h5 18.g5 Ng4



398



Position after: 18...Ng4 19.Be1 19.g6 0-0 20.Be1



Position after: 20.Be1 A) 20...Nc5 This move is objectively also fine, but requires more effort from Black. 21.Nd5 exd5 22.Bxb4



399



Position after: 22.Bxb4 A1) 22...Nxe4 23.Rhe1! The critical test. Nevertheless, Black can achieve equality with accurate play. [Negi offers the very strange move 23.Be1?, which is clearly bad. 23...fxg6 24.Bxe4 dxe4 25.Qxe4 Bf6µ] 23...Bxh4 24.Rh1 Bg3 25.f5 Ngf6 26.Bxe4 dxe4 27.gxf7+ Qxf7 28.Qe3



Position after: 28.Qe3 28...a5! [28...Be5 29.Nc6 Ng4 30.Qg5 Bf6 31.Qxh5 Qxh5 32.Rxh5 e3 33.Rdh1²] 29.Qxg3 axb4= A2) 22...dxe4 23.gxf7+ Rxf7 24.Rh3



400



Position after: 24.Rh3 A2.1) 24...d5 25.Rc3 Negi gives White a slight edge here, but I wouldn’t be so sure about it. 25...Bd7 26.Kb1 Qa7= The position is extremely complex, but equal. A2.2) 24...Rxf4 25.Rc3



Position after: 25.Rc3 25...Bxh4! Much stronger than 25....Nf6, the only move considered by Negi. [25...Nf6 26.Bxc5 dxc5 27.Qc4+ Kh7 28.Ne6 Bxe6 29.Qxe6²] 26.Bxc5 [26.Bxe4 Qe7 27.Bd5+ Kh7 28.Qxe7 Bxe7=] 26...dxc5 27.Bxe4 Qe7 28.Qc4+ Kh8 29.Qxc5 Qxc5 30.Rxc5 Rxe4 31.Rxc8+ Kh7= The two connected passed pawns should give Black enough play for the exchange. A2.3) 24...a5 25.Nb5 Ba6 26.Nxc7 Bxe2 27.Rd2 axb4 28.Rxe2 Nf6= White’s rooks lack open files; Black has full compensation for the exchange. [28...Rf5= is also fine.] B) 20...Nb6! Negi goes into great detail analysing 20....Nc5, but fails to mention this move, which is much safer for Black. 21.Nd5 [21.gxf7+ Rxf7 22.f5 Bf6=] 21...Nxd5 22.exd5 Ra4 23.gxf7+ Rxf7 24.Rh3 Ra1+ 25.Kd2 Ra4 26.Kc1= 19...Qc5 20.Qd2



401



Position after: 20.Qd2 It’s hard to assess this position, as it is very complex and only a few (correspondence) games have been played. Therefore, I decided to simply cite two of them, which both ended in draws (though White was the side pressing.) 20...Rb8 20...Nb6 21.Nb3 Qc7 22.Rh3 0-0 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.exd5 Ra4 25.Rc3 Qb6 26.Kb1 e5 27.fxe5 Nxe5 28.Bf2 Qd8 29.Bd4 f6 30.Bh3 Bxh3 31.Rxh3 Qd7 32.Rhh1 Qg4 33.Rhf1 Nc4 34.Qc3 Qxh4 35.g6 Qg4 36.Qe1 Bd8 37.Rh1 Ne5 38.Rg1 Qf5 39.Rd2 Ng4 40.Rf1 Qxg6 41.Qe6+ Qf7 42.Qxd6 Re8 43.Qc6 Rb4 44.Rfd1 Ne5 45.Qxa6 Nd7 46.Qd6 Rc4 47.Qa6 Rb4 48.Re2 Bb6 49.d6 Bxd4 50.Rxe8+ Qxe8 51.Nxd4 Ne5 52.Qa2+ Qf7 53.Qa8+ Qf8 54.Qd5+ Qf7 55.Qc5 Rc4 56.Qa5 Kh7 57.Qa8 h4 58.Qe4+ Kg8 59.b3 Rb4 60.Qa8+ Kh7 61.Qh1 Qh5 62.Qe4+ f5 63.Qh1 Nd7 64.Rd2 Qg5 65.Nf3 Qf6 66.Qe1 Re4 67.Qg1 Kh6 68.Qa7 Qe6 69.Qa5 g6 70.Qd8 Qe8 71.Qg5+ Kg7 72.Nxh4 Re1+ 73.Kb2 Qe5+ 74.c3 Qf6 75.Qg3 Re4 76.Ng2 f4 77.Qg4 ½-½ Potrata – Peczkowski, email 2018 21.Na4 Qc7 22.Bf3 Bb7 23.g6 fxg6 24.Qe2 Nf8 25.Nc3 Bc8 26.b3 Qc5 27.e5 d5 28.Rg1 a5 29.Bxg4 hxg4 30.Rxg4 Kf7 31.Qd3 Kg8 32.Kd2 Ba6 33.Qxa6 Qxd4+ 34.Qd3 Qb4 35.Ke2 Qb6 36.Ra1 Qd8 37.Qg3 Rh6 38.Kd1 Nd7 39.Rxg6 Bxh4 40.Rxg7+ Kh8 41.Qg4 Bxe1 42.Kxe1 Qc7 43.Qg3 Rc8 44.Ke2 Qxc3 45.Rg8+ Rxg8 ½-½ Calugaru – Ermolaev, email 2011 c) 10...Be7 11.g4 h6 12.Bh4 Rb8 13.Be1!



402



1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.a3 Be7 11.g4 h6 12.Bh4 Rb8 13.Be1!



Position after: 13.Be1! This innocuous-looking move in fact poses Black very serious problems. 13...g5 13...g6 14.h3! Prophylaxis against ...e5. [14.Kb1 e5 15.fxe5 Nxe5 16.h3 b4 17.axb4 Rxb4 18.Bg2 Qb6 19.Nb3 0-0=] 14...e5 15.fxe5 dxe5 16.Nb3 b4 17.axb4 Bxb4 14.f5 Ne5 15.Rg1



403



Position after: 15.Rg1 15...Qa7 It seems as though Black is doing great, but White has a surprisingly strong manoeuvre at his disposal. 15...Bd7 16.Kb1 Qc5 17.Na2! The idea is similar to 16.Na2! in the main line. 17...Rc8 18.h3 Qb6 19.Rg3 0-0 20.h4 Nh7 21.Rh3± and Black is in a world of pain.



Position after: 15...Qa7 404



16.Na2! The idea is twofold: to stop ...b4 for the moment and prepare a rook swing to the queenside along the 3rd rank. I didn’t manage to find a way to keep equal chances for Black. A) 16.h3?! b4 17.axb4 Rxb4 18.Bf2 Qc7 19.Qe3 Bd7µ Black is ready to continue with ...0-0 and attack on the queenside. White is in serious trouble. B) 16.Bf2 Qc7 17.Be1 repeats the position. 16...Bd7 17.Rg3!



Position after: 17.Rg3! 17...Qa8 17...0-0 18.h4 a5 This advance doesn’t work well, but it’s hard to suggest anything better for Black. 19.hxg5 hxg5 20.Qe3 Nh7 21.Nc3 b4 22.Ncb5 Qc5 23.a4+–



405



Position after: 23.a4+– White dominates the whole board. 18.h3 0-0 19.Kb1 a5 20.Rb3! The abovementioned idea. 20...a4 21.Rc3 Nxe4 22.Re3±



406



Position after: 22.Re3± White has firmly stopped Black’s queenside play and can begin their own play in the centre and on the kingside. Black is in serious trouble. d) 10...Bb7 11.g4 Be7 12.Bh4 h6 13.Bg2!? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.a3 Bb7 11.g4 Be7



Position after: 11...Be7 12.Bh4 After 12.Kb1 h6 or 12.Bg2 h6 White will need to retreat to h4, transposing. 12...h6 13.Bg2!? According to my analysis, this is a very promising continuation for White. 13.Rg1 g5! 14.fxg5 Nh7 Black gets access to the e5 square and achieves very comfortable play. 15.Kb1 hxg5 16.Bf2 Nhf8= The position is equal, but I would prefer to play Black, who can put knights on e5 and c5 and then try to advance on the queenside. White, on the other, hand seems at a loss for any concrete productive plan.



407



Position after: 13.Bg2!? 13...Rb8! This is the best option for Black, a fact which is neither trivial nor obvious. A) 13...Rc8 14.Rhe1



Position after: 14.Rhe1 A1) 14...Nb6 15.Bxf6 [15.Kb1 0-0 16.g5 transposes to 14....0-0] 15...Bxf6 16.Ncxb5 408



Position after: 16.Ncxb5 This may seem crushing at first, but Black has a counter strike and the complications peter out to a draw. 16...axb5 17.Nxb5 Bxb2+! 18.Kxb2 Qc5 19.Nxd6+ Ke7 20.Qd3 Ba6 21.Qd4 [21.Nf5+ Ke8 22.Nd6+ Ke7=] 21...Qxc2+ 22.Ka1 Qc3+ 23.Qxc3 Rxc3 24.Nf5+ Ke8 25.Re3 Rxe3 26.Nxe3 Ke7 27.e5 Rc8 28.Rd6 Rc3 29.Nf5+ exf5 30.Rxb6 Bd3= A2) 14...0-0 15.Kb1 Nb6 16.g5! Nh7 17.Qh5!



Position after: 17.Qh5!



409



White’s attack is quicker than Black’s nascent queenside counterplay: 17...hxg5 18.Bxg5 Bxg5 19.fxg5



Position after: 19.fxg5 A2.1) 19...g6 20.Qh6 Kh8 21.Re3 Rg8 22.Qh4 Rg7 23.Rh3 Kg8 24.Nb3 Ba8 25.Qf4² In Morozov – Grebenshchikov, email 2017, Black had defended their king at the cost of shutting the g7-rook out of play. White had achieved a stable edge and later won the game. A2.2) 19...Qe7 20.Nf5 exf5 21.exf5 Qxe1 22.Rxe1 Bxg2 23.Re3 Rfe8 24.Rg3 Re1+ 25.Ka2 Bf1 26.g6 Nf6 27.gxf7+ Kf8 28.Qh8+ Ke7 29.f8=Q+ Rxf8 30.Qxg7+ Rf7 31.Qg5 Re5 32.b3±



410



Position after: 32.b3± The forcing play ends here and a manoeuvring phase begins. It is not my role to determine whether White is already winning or not. In the following correspondence game White did manage to prevail. 32...Nbd7 33.Re3 Kf8 34.Kb2 Rg7 35.Qh6 Kf7 36.Rxe5 dxe5 37.Qe3 Rg4 38.Qa7 Rf4 39.Nd5 Nxd5 40.Qxd7+ Ne7 41.Qe6+ Kf8 42.f6 Ng8 43.Qxa6 Nxf6 44.Qe6 Kg7 45.Qxe5 Re4 46.Qc7+ Kg6 47.Qc6 Rg4 48.h4 Rf4 49.Qc3 Rg4 50.Qf3 Bg2 51.Qd3+ Be4 52.Qxb5 Rxh4 53.Qb8 Ng4 54.Qf4 Bf5 55.Qd6+ Kh5 56.Qd5 Kg6 57.Qg8+ Kh5 58.Qh8+ Kg5 59.Qd8+ Kh5 60.c4 Rh2+ 61.Kc3 Rh3+ 62.Kb4 Rd3 63.Qe8+ Kg5 64.a4 Ne3 65.Qb8 Kf6 66.Kc5 Nc2 67.b4 Re3 68.Qf8+ Kg5 69.b5 1-0 Perry – Peczkowski, email 2017. B) 13...Qc4 14.Qxc4 [Not 14.Qe1?! b4! 15.axb4 Qxb4³ and Black has great chances on the queenside.] 14...bxc4 15.h3



Position after: 15.h3 Negi writes that White is only fighting for a minimal advantage here, but as we will see, Black really struggles to achieve equality. 15...Nc5 16.Rhe1 Rc8 17.f5 e5 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Nf3



411



Position after: 19.Nf3 B1) 19...Ke7 20.Bf1 Bg5+ 21.Nxg5 hxg5 22.Re3 [22.Nd5+ Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Rc6 24.Re3 Nb7 25.Rc3 Rhc8= and White’s apparent pressure is illusive.] 22...Nd7 23.Nd5+ Kf8 24.Rc3 Rh6



Position after: 24...Rh6 B1.1) 25.Bxc4 Bxd5 26.exd5 Nb6 27.b3 Nxc4 28.bxc4 Ke7 29.Kd2 Rb8= White is a pawn up, but Black’s rooks have reached maximum activity. B1.2) 25.Bg2 a5 26.b3 Draw agreed in Szczepankiewicz – Fenes, email 2014. Indeed, after 412



26...cxb3 27.Rxc8+ Bxc8 28.cxb3= the endgame is equal. B1.3) I propose an improvement over a correspondence game: 25.b3 cxb3 26.Rxc8+ Bxc8 27.cxb3 a5 28.Kb2²



Position after: 28.Kb2² Compared to the aforementioned game, White’s bishop is better placed and he is a tempo up. Their plan is to pose problems by creating a queenside passed pawn. B2) 19...Be7 20.Bf1 Nd7 21.f6! A very nice interference motif. 21...Nxf6 22.Nd2



413



Position after: 22.Nd2 The knight on f6 blocks the bishop’s way to g5. B2.1) 22...d5 23.exd5 Nxd5 24.Nxd5 Bxd5 25.Rxe5 Be6 26.c3 Bg5 27.Kc2 Bf4 28.Ra5 [Another tempting try is 28.Re4 Bxd2 29.Rxd2 h5 30.g5 Rc5 31.h4 0-0 32.Kc1²] 28...h5 29.gxh5 0-0 30.Ne4 Rfd8 31.Rd4 Be3 32.Rxd8+ Rxd8 33.Be2²



Position after: 33.Be2² In Hameister – Kazoks, email 2013, Black held his own with computer accuracy, but White’s advantage is not in doubt. B2.2) 22...0-0 23.Nxc4 Rfd8 Now an easy improvement over Philippeit – Laube, email 2014 is 24.b3:



414



Position after: 24.b3 Black doesn’t have full compensation for the pawn, e.g. 24...d5 25.exd5 Nxd5 26.Nxd5 Bxd5 27.Rxe5 Bxc4 28.Rxd8+ Rxd8 29.Bxc4 Bxa3+ 30.Kb1² and while the opposite-coloured bishops improve Black’s drawing chances, they still face an unpleasant fight for a draw. B2.3) 22...h5 Immediately going for kingside counterplay. 23.g5 [23.Nxc4?! hxg4 24.hxg4 Rd8 25.Na5 Bc8 26.Nc6 Bxg4 27.Nxd8 Bxd1 28.Nxf7 Kxf7 29.Rxd1 a5 30.Bc4+ Ke8 31.b4 axb4 32.axb4 g5 33.Rg1= Draw was agreed in Cuelewijn – Cubides, email 2018.] 23...Nh7 24.Nxc4 Nxg5 25.Nxd6+ Bxd6 26.Rxd6 Rc6 27.Rd3²



415



Position after: 27.Rd3² Although in correspondence practice Black has held, I believe the position is practically much easier to play for White, who has a 3vs1 queenside majority and more harmoniously placed pieces. Here is an example of a correspondence game, in which Black defends only by balancing on the edge of the precipice: 27...Ne6 28.Nd5 Rh6 29.Rb3 Nc5 30.Rc3 Rhd6 31.b4 Nxe4 32.Rxe4 Rxd5 33.Rxc6 Bxc6 34.Re3 f6 35.Bxa6 h4 36.c4 Rd8 37.c5 Ke7 38.Be2 Rb8 39.Kd2 g5 40.Ke1 Ba4 41.b5 f5 42.c6 Kd6 43.Rd3+ Kc5 44.Rd7 Bc2 45.Kd2 ½-½ Sommerbauer – Nřrrelykke, email 2015. 14.Rhe1 14.Rhg1 g5! 15.fxg5 Nh7 16.Bg3 hxg5= is similar to the 13.Rg1 g5! line.



Position after: 14.Rhe1 14...Nb6! Previously this move wasn’t good because of the Be1 resource. Now that the rook is on e1, the situation has changed. Again, Black has held their own in correspondence play despite the position seeming dangerous. 14...Qc4 15.Qxc4 bxc4 16.h3 Nc5 17.f5² Black is a tempo down compared to 13....Qc4, as having the rook on b8 brings them no benefit. 15.Kb1



416



Position after: 15.Kb1 15...0-0 Otherwise White breaks through with e5. This move walks into a kingside attack, but Black turns out to have adequate counterplay on the queenside. Weaker is: 15...Na4 16.Rd3 Nh5 A strange computer resource that doesn’t do much to help Black’s chances. 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Bxe7 Nxf4 19.Bxd6 Nxc3+ 20.bxc3 Qxd6 21.Rxd6 Nxe2 22.Rxe2 Ke7 23.e5± and Black faces a tough struggle for a draw. 16.g5 Nh7



417



Position after: 16...Nh7 17.Qh5 hxg5 18.fxg5 18.Bxg5 Bxg5 19.fxg5 Qc5 20.h4 Nc4= Black has adequate counterplay on the queenside. 18...g6 19.Qh6 Kh8 20.Rf1 Nc4!



Position after: 20...Nc4! Black is just in time to transfer the knight to g4, and White’s compensation is sufficient only for equality. 21.Rd3 Ne5 22.Rh3 Ng4 23.Nxe6! fxe6 24.Rxf8+ Bxf8 25.Qxg6 Ne5 26.Qh5 Qg7 27.Bg3 Ng6=



418



Position after: 27...Ng6= e) 10...Bb7 11.g4 Be7 12.Bh4 h6 13.Kb1 Rc8 14.Rg1 g6!? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.a3 Bb7 11.g4 Be7 12.Bh4 h6 13.Kb1 Rc8 14.Rg1 g6!?



Position after: 14...g6!? A very interesting alternative to the main line. Black takes control of the f5-square in preparation for 419



...e5. 15.f5 The critical test. A) 15.Bg3 Nb6 16.f5 e5 17.fxg6 fxg6 18.Ne6 Qc4 19.Qe3 Qxe6 20.Qxb6 Rxc3 21.Qxb7 Qc8 22.Qxc8+ Rxc8= B) 15.Bg2 e5 16.fxe5 dxe5



Position after: 16...dxe5 17.Nb3 [17.Bg3?! Qc4! Negi writes that this is equal, but in fact Black is better. 18.Qxc4 bxc4 19.Nf3 Nxg4 20.Bh3 h5 21.Bxg4 hxg4 22.Nxe5 Nxe5 23.Bxe5 f6 24.Bg3 Rh5³ The bishop pair gives Black the slightly better chances.] 17...Bxa3 18.bxa3 Qxc3 White needs to find a few strong moves to stay in the game now: 19.Rd3! Qc4 20.Rf1! Nxe4



420



Position after: 20...Nxe4 21.Re1 [21.Qd1 0-0 22.Na5 Nc3+ 23.Rxc3 Qxc3 24.Nxb7 Nb6 25.Qd3 Na4 26.Qxc3 Nxc3+ 27.Kb2 Na4+ 28.Kc1 Rc4=



Position after: 28...Rc4= A complex battle lies ahead, in which the chances are roughly equal.] 21...g5 22.Bg3 Nxg3 23.hxg3 Bxg2 24.Qxg2= White has sufficient compensation for two pawns thanks to their superior rooks and the Nd4-f5 possibility. 421



C) 15.g5 hxg5 16.Bxg5 Qb6 17.e5 dxe5 18.fxe5 Nd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.Bxe7 Kxe7= 15...e5 16.Nb3



Position after: 16.Nb3 16...g5! According to my analysis, this is the only equalizing option. A) 16...Nxe4? 17.Nxe4 Bxe4 18.Qxe4 gxf5 19.Qxf5 Bxh4 20.Bg2± White’s light-squared dominance guarantees immense compensation for the pawn. B) 16...gxf5 17.exf5



422



Position after: 17.exf5 17...Ne4 [17...d5? Black’s centre becomes too fragile after this move. 18.Bg2 e4 19.Bg3 Ne5 20.Rd4!± This move stops Black only active possibility, namely ...b4. Deprived of counterplay, Black is close to lost.] 18.Nxe4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 Bxh4 20.Rg2 Nb6 21.Re2 Nc4 22.Nc1 0-0



Position after: 22...0-0 B1) 23.g5?! Bxg5 24.Rg2 Qc6 25.Qe2 [25.Qxc6 Rxc6 26.Bxc4 Rxc4 27.Rxd6 Kh7



423



Position after: 27...Kh7 The e-pawn is dangerous. White has to be precise to keep the game equal. 28.Nd3! Re8 29.Rd5! e4 30.Ne5 e3 31.Nxc4 e2 32.Rxe2 Rxe2 33.Nd6=] 25...Ne3 26.h4 Qxc2+ 27.Qxc2 Rxc2 28.Rxc2 Nxd1 29.hxg5 Ne3 30.Rf2 hxg5 31.Bd3 d5 32.Re2 d4=



Position after: 32...d4= Three passed pawns, albeit blockaded ones, are enough compensation for the piece. B2) 23.Rg2! Qc6 24.Qxc6 Rxc6 25.Bxc4 bxc4 26.Na2² White has a lasting edge thanks to their 424



light-squared domination. 17.Be1 h5 18.h3



Position after: 18.h3 18...Nc5 18...hxg4 19.hxg4 Nb6 20.Na5 Ba8 21.Bg2 Nc4 22.Nxc4 Qxc4 23.Rd3 a5 24.b3 Qc7 25.Rh1 Rxh1 26.Bxh1



425



Position after: 26.Bxh1 26...b4! [26...Bc6? 27.Rh3 Qb7 28.Nd5 Nxd5 29.exd5 Bxd5 30.Bxd5 Qxd5 31.Rd3 Qh1 32.f6 Bxf6 33.Rxd6 Ke7 34.Qd1± White preserves a big edge thanks to the much safer king.] 27.Nb5 [27.axb4 axb4 28.Na2 Nxg4= Black takes the important pawn and can move the knight back to f6.] 27...Qb8 28.a4 Bc6 29.Rh3 Kd7 30.Bd2 Bxb5 31.axb5 Qc7 32.Bxg5 a4



Position after: 32...a4 Black has sufficient counterplay. The key idea is 33.bxa4 Nd5! 34.exd5 Bxg5=. 19.Nxc5 Qxc5



426



Position after: 19...Qxc5 20.Bf2 20.Rg3 Kf8 21.Qg2 hxg4 22.hxg4 Kg7 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.exd5 Here Negi’s variation can be extended in order to clarify matters: 24...Rh1! An important nuance. After 25.c4 Rch8 26.Bf2 Qc8 27.cxb5 R8h2 28.Qf3 axb5 29.Rg2 Rh3 30.Rg3 R3h2= neither side has anything better than accepting a draw by repetition. 20...Qc7 21.Bg2 hxg4 22.hxg4 b4!



427



Position after: 22...b4! Negi fails to mention this strong move. 23.axb4 Qc4 Black equalizes with accurate play: 24.Rd3 Qxb4 25.Be1 Qb6 26.Rh1 Rxh1 27.Bxh1 a5 28.Rh3 Ba6 29.Qd2 Kd7=



Position after: 29...Kd7= The position remains very complicated, but objectively equal. f) 10...Bb7 11.g4 Be7 12.Bh4 h6 13.Kb1 Rc8 14.Rg1 g5 with 20...Bf6 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.a3 Bb7 11.g4 Be7 12.Bh4 h6 13.Kb1 Rc8 14.Rg1 g5 15.fxg5



428



Position after: 15.fxg5 15...hxg5 15...Nh7? This move allows a very strong piece sacrifice. 16.g6! Bxh4 17.gxf7+



Position after: 17.gxf7+ A) 17...Kxf7 18.g5 Bxg5 [18...hxg5 19.Qh5+ Ke7 20.Qg6 Rcg8 21.Qxe6+ Kd8 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.Qxd5 Nhf8 24.Bh3 g4 25.Bxg4 Nb6 26.Qf5+– and e5 will come, crushing Black’s position.]



429



19.Bh3 Ndf8 20.Bg4!



Position after: 20.Bg4! White slowly builds up more pressure. Black is lost, e.g. 20...Ke8 21.e5! dxe5 22.Bxe6! Ng6 23.Qh5 Nhf8 24.Nf5 Rd8 25.Rxd8+ Qxd8 26.Ng7+ Ke7 27.Rxg5+– when White has regained the piece and still has the crushing attack. B) 17...Ke7 18.g5!



Position after: 18.g5! 430



Opening up the key Bh3 possibility. 18...Nxg5 [18...Bxg5 19.Bh3 Qc4 20.Qf3 Bf6 21.Bxe6 Qc5 22.Nf5+ Kxe6 23.Qg4 Ne5 24.Ng7+ Kxf7 25.Qe6+ Kf8 26.Rdf1 Qxg1 27.Rxg1 Rd8 28.Nh5 Bc8 29.Qd5+– Black is fine materially, but their weak king should tell.] 19.Rg4 Rcf8 20.Rxh4 Rxf7 21.Rg4 Rhf8 22.Bg2 Ne5 23.Rg3 Rf4 24.Qe3 Nc4 25.Qc1+– White threatens both Nf5+ and h4. Black has no satisfactory defence. 16.Bxg5 Qb6



Position after: 16...Qb6 17.Qe1 17.Rg3 This move is less challenging for Black than the main line. 17...Rc4! 18.Rgd3 Ne5 19.Nf5! Nxd3 20.Nxe7 Nxb2! 21.Kxb2 b4 22.Ka1 [22.Na4 bxa3+ 23.Ka2 Rxa4 24.Bxf6 Rh6 25.Bg7 Rh7 26.Bf6 Rh6= An amusing threefold repetition.]



431



Position after: 22.Ka1 A) 22...Rxc3 23.Bxf6 Rxa3+ 24.Kb2 Rh6 25.Ng8 Rxf6 26.Nxf6+ Ke7



Position after: 26...Ke7 27.e5 [27.Qd2 Kxf6 28.e5+ dxe5 29.Qh6+ Ke7 30.Qh4+ Ke8 31.Qh8+ Ke7=] 27...Bf3 28.Rxd6 Qa5 29.Rd7+ Kf8 30.Qc4 Ra2+!



432



Position after: 30...Ra2+! Black draws by force. 31.Qxa2 Qxe5+ 32.Kc1 Qe1+ 33.Kb2 Qc3+ 34.Kc1 Qe1+= B) 22...Rd4 Negi attaches two exclamation marks to this move, but it’s not the only possibility. 23.Bxf6 bxc3 24.Rb1 Qc5 25.Ka2 Rd2 26.Rxb7 Rxe2 27.Rb8+ Kd7 28.Rb7+ Ke8 29.Rb8+ Kd7= ½-½ Walsh – Weber, email 2009 17...Rxc3 17...b4! A serious alternative to the main line. Black’s road to equality is less complicated here. 18.axb4 Qxb4 19.h3



433



Position after: 19.h3 A) 19...Rxc3?! This is a less accurate version of the exchange sacrifice, because it allows White to exchange the otherwise weak dark-squared bishop and achieve a slight edge. 20.Bxf6! Bxf6 [20...Nxf6 21.Qxc3 Qxc3 22.bxc3 Nxe4 23.Kb2²] 21.Qxc3 Qxc3 22.bxc3 Nc5 23.g5 Be5 24.Kb2 Bxe4 25.Rg4² B) 19...Rc5! 20.Bc1 Rxc3! 21.Qxc3 Qxc3 22.bxc3 Nxe4©



Position after: 22...Nxe4©



434



In this complex position Black has their fair share of the chances. The following game is an example of high-level play by both sides: 23.Bb2 Nf2 24.Rd2 Ne4 25.Re2 Nb6 26.Bg2 Nc4 27.g5 Kd7 28.Nb3 Ng3 29.Bc6+ Bxc6 30.Rxg3 f5 31.gxf6 Bxf6 32.Rf2 Be5 33.Rf7+ Ke8 34.Rc7 Bxg3 35.Rc8+ Kf7 36.Rxh8 e5 37.Bc1 Be1 38.h4 a5 39.Rc8 Bd5 40.h5 a4 41.Rc7+ Kg8 42.Rc8+ Kh7 43.Rc7+ Kg8 44.h6 axb3 45.cxb3 Nd2+ 46.Kb2 Bf3 47.c4 Ne4 48.Rc8+ Kh7 49.Rc6 Bd1 50.Rc7+ Kh8 51.Ka3 Bf2 52.Rc8+ Kh7 53.b4 Bd4 54.Rd8 Nc3 55.Rd7+ Kh8 56.Bb2 ½-½ Johnson – Copar, email 2018.



Position after: 17...Rxc3 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.Qxc3 Nxe4 20.Qe1 Bf6 21.c3 Rxh2 22.g5! Nxg5 22...Bxd4?! Negi’s analysis of this continuation requires only one small addition. 23.cxd4 b4



435



Position after: 23...b4 24.axb4! [24.Qxb4?! Nd2+ 25.Ka1 Qxb4 26.axb4 Bf3 27.Re1 Bd5© Black has full compensation for the exchange thanks to his very active pieces.] 24...Bd5 A) 25.Bd3?! Qc6 26.b5 axb5 27.Qa5 Ke7 28.Qa7+ Qb7 29.Qxb7+ Bxb7 30.Kc1



Position after: 30.Kc1 Negi ends the line here, concluding that White is pressing, but after 30...Nf2 31.Rd2 Nxd3+ 32.Rxd3 Be4 33.Rb3 Rc2+ 34.Kd1 Rc4 35.Rxb5 Rxd4+= Black’s two connected passed pawns give 436



enough compensation for the exchange. B) 25.Rg2! Rh1 26.g6 fxg6 27.Rc2 Ke7 28.Qe3 Qxb4 29.Rdc1² White has a definite edge. 23.Qg3



Position after: 23.Qg3 23...Rh6 23...Rh8 24.Bg2



437



Position after: 24.Bg2 A) 24...Ne4 25.Qe1 Rg8 [25...d5? 26.Bxe4 dxe4 27.Qg3+– White’s rooks are menacing in this open position.] 26.Ka1 Be5



Position after: 26...Be5 27.Bf3 [27.Bxe4 Rxg1 28.Qxg1 Bxe4 29.Qg8+ Ke7= The bishop pair plus two pawns provide ample compensation for the exchange.] 27...Rxg1 28.Qxg1 Ng3 29.Rd3 Be4 30.Bxe4 Nxe4 31.Qg8+ Ke7 32.Qa8 Bxd4 33.Qxe4 Be5²



438



Position after: 33...Be5² White is surely for choice here, but it is very hard to break through Black’s defences. In the following game White failed to do so: 34.Qh4+ Bf6 35.Qg3 Be5 36.Qg5+ Kf8 37.Kb1 Qc7 38.Re3 a5 39.Re1 Qb8 40.Rf1 Qc7 41.Qg6 Qd7 42.Qe4 Qa7 43.Qg6 Qd7 44.Qh6+ Bg7 45.Qe3 f5 46.Rd1 Ke7 47.Qg5+ Kf7 48.Qg3 Bf8 49.Rh1 Bg7 50.Rg1 Kf8 51.Re1 Kf7 52.Qh2 ½-½ Johansen – Grebenshchikov, email 2017 B) 24...Be4+ 25.Ka1 d5 26.Rdf1



Position after: 26.Rdf1 26...Be7 [26...e5? 27.Rxf6! Qxf6 28.Rf1 Qg7 29.Bxe4 dxe4 30.Nf5 Qf6 31.Ne3 Nf3 32.Qg4 Qc6 33.Rd1 b4 34.cxb4 Nd4 35.Kb1+– White breaks through Black’s overstretched defences.] 27.Bxe4 Nxe4 28.Qg7 Rf8 29.Rh1²



439



Position after: 29.Rh1² Negi is right that Black is suffering. However, in a few correspondence games Black found a way to survive: 29...Nd2 30.Rf2 Nb3+ 31.Kb1 b4! 32.axb4 Nxd4 33.cxd4 Qxb4



Position after: 33...Qxb4 Black’s plan is simple now: to push ...a5-a4-a3 and liquidate to a drawn endgame. I cite two examples: 34.Rc1 [34.Qe5 Bd6 35.Qe3 a5 36.Rh7 Be7 37.Qe2 a4 38.Rf3 Kd7 39.Rhxf7 Rxf7 40.Rxf7 a3 41.Rh7 Qxb2+ ½-½ Kubicki – Petersons, email 2011] 34...Kd7 35.Qe5 Qb6 36.Rh1 a5 440



37.Rh7 a4 38.Rhxf7 Rxf7 39.Rxf7 a3 40.Qe2 Qxb2+ 41.Qxb2 axb2 42.Kxb2 e5 43.dxe5 Ke6 44.Rh7 Bc5 45.Rh5 Bd4+ 46.Kc2 ½-½ Tarasov, G – Peczkowski, email 2013.



Position after: 23...Rh6 24.Bg2 A) 24.Ka1!? Kd7 25.Bg2 d5 26.Rgf1 [26.Rdf1 is similar and also good: 26...Qd6 27.Qe3 Qe5 28.Qd2²] 26...Qd6 27.Qe3 Qe5 28.Qd2²



Position after: 28.Qd2² 441



Black has managed to defend in correspondence games, but it’s clear that his position (with the passive light-squared bishop and clumsily placed other pieces) is not much fun. B) 24.Qe3 Qc5 25.Bg2 Bxg2 26.Rxg2 Qd5



Position after: 26...Qd5 B1) 27.Rg4 Rh1 28.Rxh1 Qxh1+ 29.Ka2 e5 [29...Qd5+ 30.Nb3 a5 31.a4 e5= is also fine, but more complicated.] 30.Rg1 Qe4 31.Qf2 Be7 32.Nf5 Qd5+ 33.Ka1 Qf3=



Position after: 33...Qf3= 442



Black managed to exchange queens and was completely fine in Gburek – Acevedo Villalba, email 2013. B2) 27.Qg1 Bxd4! 28.cxd4 Nf3 29.Qe3 Rh4 30.Rf1 Nxd4 31.Rg8+ Ke7 32.Rg7 Rh1 33.Rgxf7+ Ke8= B3) 27.Qf2 This suggestion from Negi seems to be White’s best try. B3.1) 27...Ne4 28.Qg1!²



Position after: 28.Qg1!² In the following correspondence game, White gradually broke Black’s resistance: 28...Rh8 29.Ka1 Ke7 30.Re2 Qa8 31.Nb3 Be5 32.Nc1 Rg8 33.Qb6 Rc8 34.Nd3 Bf6 35.Nb4 Be5 36.Qg1 a5 37.Nd3 Bf6 38.Rf1 d5 39.Qe3 Rc4 40.Kb1 Qc8 41.Ref2 Nxf2 42.Qxf2 Qh8 43.Qa7+ Kd6 44.Qb6+ Ke7 45.Nc5 Qc8 46.Qa7+ Kd6 47.Nb7+ Ke7 48.Nxa5+ Qc7 49.Qf2 Qxa5 50.Qxf6+ Kd6 51.Qxf7 White went on to win in Grego – Guđlaugsson, email 2016. B3.2) 27...Ke7 28.Ka1²



443



Position after: 28.Ka1² In the following correspondence game Black held his own, but improvements may be found along the way: 28...Rh3 29.Qc2 Qb7 30.Qd2 Ne4 31.Qf4 Be5 32.Qg4 Rh6 33.Rf1 Qa8 34.Qe2 Rf6 35.Rfg1 Qd5 36.Rd1 Qb7 37.Rg8 ½-½ Telepnev, – Firnhaber, email 2018 24...Ne4 24...Bxg2?! 25.Qxg2 d5 26.Qd2 Rg6 27.Qe2² White is pressing across the whole board.



444



Position after: 24...Ne4 25.Qe1 25.Qe3 Rh4 26.Ka1 e5 27.Nf5 Qxe3 28.Nxe3 Black needs to show some precision to hold this endgame: 28...Be7 29.Nf5 Rg4 30.Bf3



Position after: 30.Bf3 30...Rg6! [30...Rxg1 This continuation is also fine, but contains more pitfalls. 31.Rxg1 Bc6 32.Rg7 Bf8 33.Rh7 d5 34.Bh5 Ng5 35.Rh8 Bd7 36.Ne3 d4 37.cxd4 exd4 38.Nd5 Bf5 39.Bg4 Bxg4 40.Nf6+ Ke7 41.Nxg4 Ne4 42.Kb1 f5 43.Ne5 Bg7 44.Rh7 Kf6 45.Nd3 a5= Denisov – Malashenkov, email 2013] 31.Rxg6 fxg6 32.Bxe4 Bxe4 33.Nxd6+ Bxd6 34.Rxd6 Ke7 35.Rxa6 g5



445



Position after: 35...g5 The g-pawn is a huge asset, which allows Black to draw comfortably. 36.Rh6 g4 37.Rh4 Bf3 38.Kb1 Kf6= 25...Rg6 26.Qe2 26.Ka1?! Nxc3! 27.bxc3 Bxd4 28.cxd4 Rxg2 29.Rxg2 Bxg2³



Position after: 26.Qe2 446



26...Ng3! 26...d5?! 27.Bxe4 Rxg1 28.Rxg1 dxe4 Here Negi’s recommendation is very strong: 29.Rg8+! [After 29.Qf2 e5 30.Rg8+ Kd7 31.Qf5+ Ke7 32.Nc2 Bd5= Black holds, Kupsys – Oates, email 2009.] 29...Ke7 30.Qf2!



Position after: 30.Qf2! 30...Qc7 [30...Qd6 31.Rg1 Bxd4 32.cxd4±] 31.Nc2 a5 32.Rg1 Be5 33.Ne3



Position after: 33.Ne3 447



33...b4 [33...f5 34.Qh4+ Kd7 35.Qh7+ Kc6 36.Qg6 Qc8 37.Nxf5+–] 34.axb4 axb4 35.cxb4± Negi gives this the modest «slightly better for White» mark, but I will claim more than that. 27.Qc2



Position after: 27.Qc2 27...Be5! 27...d5?! The light-squared bishop becomes painfully passive now and Black’s position is very unpleasant. 28.Bf3 Qd6 29.Rde1 Rg7 30.Qf2 Be5 31.Nb3± Negi concludes that White has the better chances. I would even say that they are much better. 28.Rde1²



448



Position after: 28.Rde1² Black has held their own in correspondence practice, but not without problems, e.g. 28...Kd7 28...Ke7 29.Qf2! [29.Qd3?! Negi misses Black’s strongest continuation here: 29...Nf5! 30.Bxb7 Rxg1 31.Rxg1 Bxd4 32.cxd4 Qxb7= With their pressure against the d4-pawn and a relatively safe king, Black is completely fine.] 29...Ke8 30.Ka1 Nf5 31.Bxb7 Nxd4 32.Kb1 Rxg1 33.Qxg1 Qxb7 34.cxd4 Bf6 35.Qg4²



449



Position after: 35.Qg4² In the following game, White pressed for a long time before acquiescing to a draw. 35...Ke7 36.Rc1 a5 37.Qf4 Qa7 38.d5 exd5 39.Rc6 Be5 40.Qg5+ Kd7 41.Rc2 a4 42.Qg8 Ke7 43.Rc8 Qd7 44.Rb8 Qf5+ 45.Ka2 Qd7 46.Qf8+ Kf6 47.Qh8+ Ke7 48.Qf8+ Kf6 49.Qh8+ Ke7 50.Qh4+ Ke6 51.Qh6+ Ke7 52.Qh4+ Ke6 53.Qg4+ Ke7 54.Qxd7+ Kxd7 55.Rxb5 f5 56.b3 axb3+ 57.Rxb3 f4 58.a4 Kc6 59.a5 Bd4 60.a6 Bc5 61.Kb1 f3 62.Kc2 f2 63.Rb1 d4 64.Kd2 d3 65.Kxd3 d5 66.Ke2 Bb6 67.Rb2 Kc7 68.Rb3 Bd4 69.Rb7+ Kc8 70.Rb4 Be3 71.Rb5 Bd4 72.Rxd5 Bb6 ½-½ Cumming – Sherwood, email 2016 29.Bxb7 Qxb7 30.Nb3 Qb6 31.Rg2 Rg7 32.Rxe5 dxe5 33.Qd3+ Ke8 34.Rxg3 e4 35.Qe3 Qxe3 36.Rxe3 f5



Position after: 36...f5 Surprisingly, Black has enough counterplay to compensate for the knight. 37.Nc5 Ke7 38.Nxa6 Kd6 39.Re2 Kd5 40.Nb4+ Ke5 41.Nd3+ Kd5 42.Nf4+ Ke5 43.Nd3+ Kd5 ½-½ Debevec – Grobler, email 2019 g) 10...Bb7 11.g4 Be7 12.Bh4 h6 13.Kb1 Rc8 14.Rg1 g5 with 20...Bh4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.a3 Bb7 11.g4 Be7 12.Bh4 h6 13.Kb1 Rc8 14.Rg1 g5 15.fxg5 hxg5 16.Bxg5 Qb6 17.Qe1 Rxc3 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.Qxc3 Nxe4 20.Qe1 Bh4 21.Qb4



450



Position after: 21.Qb4 21...Qc5! Negi doesn’t mention this move, which is Black’s best option. 21...Bf2?! This move doesn’t solve Black’s problems. 22.Rg2 Ke7 23.Nb3!



Position after: 23.Nb3! An important move, preventing ...a5. 23...e5 24.g5 White prepares g6 in order to open up Black’s 451



king position. [White has other tries that might lead to some edge, e.g. 24.c4!? and 24.Rd3!?] 24...Rh4! The only move. 25.g6



Position after: 25.g6 A) 25...Nf6 26.Rxd6 Rxb4 27.Rxb6 Bxg2 28.Bxg2 Bxb6 29.axb4 fxg6 30.Bb7 g5



Position after: 30...g5 31.h3! [31.Bxa6? gives Black enough counterplay: 31...g4 32.Nc5 e4 33.Bxb5 Bc7 34.Bc6 e3 35.Kc1 Bxh2 36.Kd1 Nh5 37.Nd3 Nf4 38.Nxf4 Bxf4=.] 31...Nh5 32.Bxa6 Nf4 33.Bc8! Again, it 452



is best to limit Black’s counterplay. [After 33.Bxb5?! Nxh3= Black should draw comfortably.] 33...e4 34.Kc1 e3 35.Kd1 Kd6 36.Bg4²



Position after: 36.Bg4² I believe Black can defend with correct play, but it’s still an unpleasant practical task. B) 25...fxg6 26.Rxg6 Kf7 27.Rg2 Nf6 28.Rxd6 Rxb4 29.Rxb6 Bxg2 30.Bxg2 Rg4 31.Rb7+ Kg6 32.Bh3!



Position after: 32.Bh3! 453



Black is suffering in this endgame, as demonstrated by Negi’s analysis: 32...Rh4 33.Bc8 e4 34.Re7 e3 35.c3 Nd5 36.Re6+ Kf7 37.Nd4 Rxh2 38.Re5 Nc7 39.Bg4²



Position after: 21...Qc5! 22.Bg2 A) 22.Rd3 e5! Pushing the knight back from the strong central position. 23.Nf3 Qb6 24.Rd1 Bf2! 25.Rg2 Rh3!



Position after: 25...Rh3! 454



Black keeps attacking the white pieces, not allowing him to fully coordinate. 26.Be2 Bc5 27.Qb3 Be3 28.g5 A freeing pawn sacrifice. But Black has enough resources. 28...Bxg5 29.a4 Rxf3! 30.Bxf3 Nc5 31.Qc3 b4 32.Qe1 Bxf3 33.Rxg5 b3



Position after: 33...b3 A draw is inevitable, e.g. 34.Rd2 Be4 35.Rg8+ Kd7 36.Qf2 bxc2+ 37.Rxc2 f5 38.Qg3 Qb4 39.Qg7+ Ke6 40.Re8+ Kd5 41.Qg8+ Kd4 42.Qg1+ Kd5 43.Qg8+=. B) 22.Nb3 Qxb4 23.axb4 Ke7 24.Rd3 Bf2 25.Rg2 Rh6=



455



Position after: 25...Rh6= Black’s active pieces provide them full compensation for the exchange. 22...Bf2 23.Rgf1 Rxh2 24.Bxe4 Bxe4 25.Rd2 Bg3 26.Rxh2 Bxh2² Black drew all the correspondence games from here, proving that the bishop-pair and pawn give them sufficient compensation for the exchange. However, the position has to assessed as slightly better for White, as White is the only side who can hope to win and this puts pressure on the opponent. Conclusion 8.Bc4!? is aggressive, but has the tendency to simplify, and so is not all that dangerous for Black. 8.Qe2 certainly seems to be the biggest theoretical challenge to the Gelfand Variation. White’s two most promising options are 13.Bg2!? and the absolute main line with 13.Kb1. Black has adequate defences in both lines, but needs to really know deep subtleties of the position. In particular against the 13.Kb1 line he the second player is required to know the little-explored 14...g6!? in order to fully equalize. This makes the variation very promising for White at the moment. In general, the 8.Qe2 variation still has a great potential to further develop, as the lines are extremely complicated and double-edged. My analysis goes a few steps ahead of current established theory, but is still far from a final verdict.



456



Chapter 11 Other moves than 10.Bd3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5



Chapter Guide Chapter 11 – Other moves than 10.Bd3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 a) 10.-b) 10.a3 Bb7 11.g4 Be7 c) 10.a3 Bb7 11.g4 d5!? d) 10.e5 a) 10.-1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5



Position after: 9...b5 In this chapter we take a look at options other than the most natural one, 10.Bd3. 457



10.Bxb5!? This line is a good option if White wants to force a draw. Black has to know a few details here, but if they do, a draw is almost certain. A) 10.g4 b4



Position after: 10...b4 A1) 11.Nd5!? exd5 12.exd5 Be7 13.Re1 Kf8 14.Nc6 Bd8 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.g5



Position after: 16.g5 458



In case Black wants safety first, he can go for 16...Nxd5 [16...Ng8³ 17.Bd3 White definitely has the initiative, but it’s hard to exploit it and get anything concrete. Therefore, Black is slightly better.] 17.Qxd5 [17.Nxd8?! Nb6 18.Nxf7 Bb7 19.Qh3 Qxf7 20.Rg1 Re8 21.Bd3 Na4 22.Kb1 Nc5 23.g6 Qf6 24.Rxe8+ Kxe8 25.gxh7 Ke7³



Position after: 25...Ke7³ White’s compensation is probably enough to eventually reach a draw, but Black is for choice.] 17...Bb7 18.Bg2 Rc8 19.Re2 Bxc6 20.Qxc6 Qxc6 21.Bxc6 Bxg5 22.fxg5 Rxc6 23.Rf1= White has sufficient compensation for the pawn. A2) 11.Nce2 The computer very much dislikes this move initially, but in fact the position is quite balanced. 11...Bb7 12.Ng3 Rc8 13.Bd3 Be7 14.Nh5 0-0 15.Kb1=



459



Position after: 15.Kb1= The position is dynamically balanced, with both sides having promising prospects on opposite flanks. B) 10.Bxf6 A way to force matters. 10...Nxf6 11.e5 Bb7



Position after: 11...Bb7 12.Qe3 [12.Qh3? Ne4! 13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14.Bd3 Bd5 15.Kb1 dxe5 16.fxe5 Bc5µ There is no counterweight to Black’s bishop pair.] 12...dxe5 13.Ncxb5! [After 13.fxe5? Nd7–+ White simply 460



loses the central pawn.] 13...Qb6 14.fxe5 Nd5 15.Qb3



Position after: 15.Qb3 15...axb5 [15...0-0-0 is fine as well: 16.Na3 Qxb3 17.Nxb3 g6= and the bishop-pair gives Black adequate compensation for the pawn.] 16.Bxb5+ Kd8 17.c4 Kc8 18.cxd5 Bxd5 19.Bd7+ Kb7 20.Qxb6+ Kxb6



Position after: 20...Kxb6 We have reached an endgame in which White is temporarily a pawn up, but no advantage will come 461



of it. 21.Rhf1 Ra7 22.Rxf7 Rc7+ 23.Kd2 Bb4+ 24.Ke2 Rd8 25.a3 Bc5 26.Nxe6 Rdxd7 27.Rxd5 Rxf7 28.Nxc7 Rxc7= The position is close to drawn. 10...axb5 11.Ndxb5 Qb8 12.e5



Position after: 12.e5 12...Bb7 12...Ra5 This move is objectively fine, but Black to show the utmost precision. 13.exf6 gxf6 14.Bh6! Bxh6 15.Nxd6+ Ke7 16.Kb1 Rd8 17.Rhe1 Nb6 18.Ncb5 A) 18...Rxb5? 19.Nxb5



462



Position after: 19.Nxb5 A1) 19...Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 Bxf4 21.g3 Be5 22.Qa3+ Ke8 23.Nd6+ Bxd6 24.Qxd6 Qxd6 25.Rxd6± I doubt Black can survive the march of the three connected passed pawns. In Timman – Gelfand, Wijk aan Zee 2002, White won quickly: 25...Nd5 26.c4! Ke7? 27.Rc6 Bb7 28.cxd5 Bxc6 29.dxc6 Kd6 30.g4 1-0. A2) 19...Nc4 20.Qb3



Position after: 20.Qb3



463



20...Nd2+ [20...Qxf4 21.Qb4+ Ke8 22.Qc5 Nd2+ 23.Ka1 Bb7 24.g3 Qb8 25.Nc7+ Kd7 26.Qh5 Kxc7 27.Qxh6 Ne4 28.Qxh7± White has four passed pawns, three of them connected.] 21.Rxd2 Rxd2 22.Qb4+ Rd6 23.g3 Bd7 24.Qxd6+ Qxd6 25.Nxd6 Kxd6±



Position after: 25...Kxd6± With the two bishops Black has bigger chances to survive than with a bishop and knight (see the Timman game above) but White’s winning chances are still high. B) 18...Ba6 19.Qc3! This move presents a much bigger challenge than the more popular 19.Nf5+. [19.Nf5+ Kf8 20.Qc3 Rxb5 21.Qxf6 Rxb2+ 22.Qxb2 Nd5 23.Rxd5 Qxb2+ 24.Kxb2 Bg7+ 25.Nxg7 Rxd5 26.Nxe6+ fxe6 27.Rxe6= Draw agreed in Lutz – Gelfand, Dortmund 2002. Indeed, it is hard to imagine any other result.]



464



Position after: 19.Qc3! 19...Rxb5 [19...Rxd6? 20.Nxd6 Na4 21.Nf5+ Rxf5 22.Qa3+ Rc5 23.Qxa4 Qb5 24.Qd4 Qb6 25.g3± The dark-squared bishop is shut out of play and White’s three connected passed pawns are a big force to reckon with in a potential endgame.] 20.Nxb5 Bxb5 21.Qb4+ Rd6 22.Qxb5 Bxf4 23.a4



Position after: 23.a4 The position is highly dangerous for Black. He has to know (or find) the following computer resource: 465



B1) 23...Qc7 24.Rxd6 Bxd6 [24...Qxd6 25.a5 Nd5 26.Qb7+ Nc7 27.Re4 Bxh2 28.Rc4±] 25.a5 Nd7 26.Re4± B2) 23...Bd2! 24.Re2 Bf4!



Position after: 24...Bf4! This pendulum swing is of course the machine’s suggestion. Black still has to make many accurate moves, though: 25.Rxd6 Qxd6 26.a5 Nd5 27.Re4 f5! 28.Ra4 Nc7! 29.Qb4 Bxh2 30.Qxd6+ Kxd6 31.b4 Kd5 32.b5 Be5 33.c4+ Kc5 34.a6 Na8= and Black has at last managed to set up a blockade. 13.Qe2 dxe5 14.Qc4



466



Position after: 14.Qc4 14...Be7 (The safest path) 14...Bc5 A playable alternative, but I like White’s practical chances: 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Rxd7 Be3+ 17.Kb1 Kxd7 18.Rd1+



Position after: 18.Rd1+ A) 18...Bd4? has been played most often, but it loses. 19.fxe5 fxe5 20.Nxd4 exd4 21.Qxd4+ Ke7 467



22.Qc5+ Kf6 [22...Ke8 23.Nb5 Bd5 24.Nc7+ Kd7 25.Nxd5 exd5 26.Rxd5+ Ke8 27.Re5++–] 23.Rf1+ Kg6 24.Qe7 Qe5 25.Qxf7+ Kg5 26.g4+– B) 18...Ke7 19.Qb4+ Ke8 20.Nd6+ Kf8



Position after: 20...Kf8 21.Nxb7+ [21.Nf5+ leads only to a draw: 21...Kg8 22.Nxe3 Bc6 23.Qc5 exf4 24.Ng4 f5 25.Nf6+ Kg7 26.Qxc6 Kxf6 27.Nd5+ Kg6 28.Ne7+ Kf6 29.Nd5+=.] 21...Kg7 22.f5! A very nice deflection: White gets access to the d5-square. 22...exf5 23.Rd7 e4 24.Nd5 Bg5 25.Qe7 Qe8 26.Nd6 Qxe7 27.Nxf5+ Kf8 28.Rxe7 Re8 29.Rxe8+ Kxe8 30.Nd6+ Kd7 31.Nxe4=



468



Position after: 31.Nxe4= The position is objectively equal, but I would still be scared of the three connected passed pawns as Black. 15.Nc7+ Kf8 16.Rxd7 Nxd7 17.Rd1



Position after: 17.Rd1 We are in a position where all roads lead to draws. 17...Bxg5 17...Bd5 18.N3xd5 [18.Rxd5 This is a safer path to a draw. 18...exd5 19.Bxe7+ Kxe7 20.N3xd5+ Kd8 21.Nxa8 Qxa8 22.Qc7+ Ke8 23.Qd6 Kd8 24.Qc7+=] 18...exd5 19.Bxe7+ Kxe7 20.Nxd5+ Kd8 21.Nb4



469



Position after: 21.Nb4 21...Qc7 A try for more than equality. [21...Ke8 leads to a simple draw: 22.Qd5 Nf6 23.Qc6+ Kf8 24.Qc5+ Kg8 25.Nc6 Qe8 26.Ne7+ Kf8 27.Ng6+ Kg8 28.Ne7+=.] 22.Qxf7 Re8 23.Qxg7=



Position after: 23.Qxg7= Extensive analysis of this position proves that after correct play a draw is inevitable, e.g. 23...Ra7 24.Nd5 Qc4 25.a3 Qa2 26.Rd3 e4 27.Qg5+ Kc8 28.Qh5 Qa1+ 29.Kd2 Rd8 30.Rc3+ Kb8 31.Ke2 Qg1 32.Ne3 470



Position after: 32.Ne3 Black has no way to prevent a perpetual check. 32...Rb7 33.Qd5 Qxh2 34.Qd6+ Ka8 35.Qa6+ Kb8 36.Qd6+= 18.fxg5 Ke7 19.Qb4+ Kd8 20.Nxa8 Qxa8 21.Nb5 Bd5 22.c4 Bc6 23.Nd6



Position after: 23.Nd6 Black has two natural continuations and they both end in a forced draw. 471



23...Rf8 23...Kc7 24.Nxf7 Rb8 25.Rxd7+ Bxd7 26.Qd6+ Kc8 27.Qf8+ Kb7 28.Qb4+= 24.Nf5 Rg8 25.Qe7+ Kc7 26.Qd6+ Kd8 27.Qe7+= b) 10.a3 Bb7 11.g4 Be7 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.a3



Position after: 10.a3 10...Bb7 A) 10...Be7 A very interesting alternative. Black has a promising piece sacrifice at their disposal in the main line. 11.g4 Rb8 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.f5 [13.g5 Nd7 transposes to the Three Piece System main line with 13.a3.] 13...b4 14.axb4 Rxb4 15.g5 0-0!



472



Position after: 15...0-0! A strong piece sacrifice for the initiative. 16.gxf6 Bxf6 17.Nb3 a5 18.Rd3 a4 19.Nd2 Kh8© This is a complex game, but in general Black has great compensation for the piece and their position is certainly easier to play. B) 10...Rb8 11.f5 [11.g4?! doesn’t work well because of 11...b4 12.axb4 Rxb4 13.Bxf6 gxf6!³, not allowing White the typical tempo gainer g4-g5.



Position after: 13...gxf6!³



473



Black is better thanks to his queenside initiative.] 11...e5 12.Nb3 b4 13.axb4 Rxb4 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.g4 Bb7 16.Bd3 h6 17.h4 d5 18.exd5 Rxg4=



Position after: 18...Rxg4= White is better developed, but has some weak pawns. Black also has the bishop pair; the position is equal. 11.g4 Be7



474



Position after: 11...Be7 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 12...Nxf6?! 13.g5 Nd7 is wrong, because it transposes to 13.a3 Bb7?! in the Three Piece System. 13.g5 13.Bxb5 This sacrifice should lead to a draw. 13...axb5 14.Ndxb5 Qb6 15.Nxd6+ Kf8



Position after: 15...Kf8 A) 16.Nxb7 Bxc3 17.Qxc3 Qxb7 18.Qd4 A1) 18...Ke7 also leads to equality: 19.Qd6+ Kd8 20.f5 [20.Qd4 Ke7=] 20...Qc7 21.fxe6 Qxd6 22.Rxd6 fxe6 23.Rhd1 Ra7 24.Rxe6= A2) 18...Nf6 19.g5 Nxe4 20.Rhe1 f5 21.gxf6 Nxf6 22.Rxe6 Kf7! 23.Rb6! Qc8!



475



Position after: 23...Qc8! White has nothing better than sacrificing an exchange to force a perpetual check: 24.Qe5 [24.Rg1 Rd8 25.Rxg7+ Kxg7 26.Qxf6+ Kg8 27.Qg5+ Kh8 28.Qf6+=] 24...Rd8 25.Rxf6+ gxf6 26.Qh5+ Kf8 27.Qh6+ Kf7= B) 16.Nxf7 Kxf7 17.Rxd7+ Ke8 18.Rhd1 Bc6



Position after: 18...Bc6 19.g5 [19.R7d3 Kf7 20.g5 Be7 transposes to 19.g5] 19...Be7 20.R7d3 Kf7 476



Position after: 20...Kf7 21.Qh5+ [21.Ne2?! Rhc8 22.Nd4 Kg8³ Black’s king is safe and they have a queenside initiative.] 21...g6 22.Qh3 h6 23.gxh6 Rhb8 24.b3 Bxa3+ 25.Kb1 Qf2 26.R1d2 Qe1+ 27.Rd1 ½-½ Le Page – Hof, email 2015 13...Bxd4 14.Rxd4 0-0



Position after: 14...0-0



477



15.Be2 A) 15.Bg2 Bc6! Preparing ...a5-b4. 16.Rhd1 a5 17.Qf2 b4 18.axb4 axb4 19.Rxb4 Nc5©



Position after: 19...Nc5© Black’s queenside play gives him full compensation for the pawn. A high-level correspondence encounter continued: 20.Rc4 Qb6 21.Qd4 Ra1+ 22.Kd2 Rxd1+ 23.Nxd1 e5 24.fxe5 Bb5 25.Rb4 dxe5 26.Qxe5 Rd8+ 27.Ke1 Nd3+



Position after: 27...Nd3+ 478



In Gonzalez – Sferle, email 2010, a draw was agreed because of 28.cxd3 Qg1+ 29.Bf1 Bxd3 30.Rb8 Qxf1+ 31.Kd2 Qe2+ 32.Kc3 Qe1+ 33.Kb3 Qxd1+ 34.Ka3 Qa1+=. B) 15.Bh3 Bc6 16.f5 Ne5 [16...Nc5? 17.f6!± is dangerous for Black.] 17.Qg3



Position after: 17.Qg3 In the high-level correspondence game Vayser – Staratorzhky, email 2008, Black played 17...exf5 and was fine, but I like the following pawn sacrifice more: 17...a5!? 18.fxe6 fxe6 19.Bxe6+ Kh8 20.Rhd1 [after 20.Nd5 Qa7 21.Rdd1 Rf3 22.Qg1 Rf2 23.Qe1 Raf8© Black’s very active pieces provide full compensation for the pawn.] 20...Rf3! 21.Qg1! b4! 22.axb4 axb4 23.Rxb4 Ra1+



479



Position after: 23...Ra1+ B1) 24.Nb1 Ba4 [Black can also keep things alive with 24...Rf8!?.] 25.Qg2 Nd3+ 26.Rxd3 Rf1+ 27.Kd2 Raxb1 28.Rxa4 Rbd1+ 29.Ke3 Rde1+ 30.Kd2 Rd1+= B2) 24.Kd2 Ra5© Black has full compensation for the two pawns. One threat is ...Rd3+. It is thus safest for White to repeat the position with 25.Kc1 Ra1+=. 15...e5 15...f5!? also gives Black enough counterplay.



Position after: 15...f5!? 16.Rhd1 [16.gxf6 Nxf6 17.Rhd1 e5 18.Rxd6 exf4=] 16...Nc5 17.Rxd6 fxe4 18.Qg4 Kh8 19.Kb1 Nd3! The key tactical motif. 20.Qxe6 Nxf4 21.Qd7 Qxd7 22.Rxd7=



480



Position after: 22.Rxd7=



Position after: 15...e5 White has several possibilities, but Black gets nice play after all of them. 16.Nd5 A) 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Rd2 f5 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.Rxd5 f4=



481



Position after: 19...f4= Black is weak on the light squares, but the protected passed pawn provides adequate counterplay, e.g. 20.Qb3 Kh8 21.Qc3 Qxc3 22.bxc3 f3 23.Bd3 Ra7 24.Rf1 Kg8 25.Rd6 Nc5 26.Rc6 Nxd3+ 27.cxd3 Rd7 28.Kd2 f2 29.Rxa6 Rf3 30.Ke2 Rdxd3 31.Rxf2 Rde3+ 32.Kf1 Rxc3 ½-½ Khodakovsky – Rodriguez, email 2015. B) 16.Rd2 f5 17.gxf6 Nxf6 18.Rf1 [18.f5] 18...exf4 19.Qd3 Rad8 20.Rxf4 Rfe8= 16...Bxd5 17.Rxd5 Rac8=



482



Position after: 17...Rac8= White has the better minor piece, but Black gets queenside counterplay. c) 10.a3 Bb7 11.g4 d5!? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.a3 Bb7 11.g4 d5!?



Position after: 11...d5!? The most forcing solution to Black’s opening problems. 12.exd5 b4! Not 12...Nxd5?? 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Nxb5!+– 13.axb4 Bxb4



483



Position after: 13...Bxb4 14.Nc6 14.Bg2 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Bxd5 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Rxd5 0-0= Chances are dynamically balanced, but White has to be accurate. 18.Rd4! Rab8 19.Qc6! Qa5 20.Rxb4 Qxb4 21.Qxd7 h6



Position after: 21...h6 Played in order to later take on f4. 22.Be7 Qxb2+ 23.Kd2 Rxf4 24.Qxe6+ Kh8 25.Rf1 Qd4+ 26.Ke2 484



Rxf1 27.Kxf1 Rb1+ 28.Ke2 Qc3 29.Kf2 Qxc2+ 30.Kg3 Qb3+ 31.Qxb3 Rxb3+= Black has minute practical winning chances. 14...Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Qxc6 16.Qb3 Rc8 17.Nxb4 17.Bg2 is easier to meet: 17...Qb5 18.Qxb4 Qxb4 19.Nxb4 Bxg2 20.Rhg1 Be4= with an equal endgame. 17...Qxh1



Position after: 17...Qxh1 18.Qd3 18.Bxa6 Qe4 A spectacular tactical skirmish follows, ending in a draw: 19.Nc6! Nc5! 20.Qb6! f6!



485



Position after: 20...f6! 21.Qxc5 [21.Rd8+ Rxd8 22.Qxd8+ Kf7 23.Qc7+ Kg8 24.Qd8+ Kf7=] 21...Rxc6 22.Bb5 fxg5 23.Rd4 Qe1+ 24.Rd1 Qe4 25.Rd4 Kf7 26.Rd7+ Kg8 27.Rd8+ Kf7 28.Rd7+= 18...Bd5 19.Nxd5 Qxd5 20.Qxd5 exd5 21.Re1+ Kf8 22.Be7+ Kg8 23.b4



Position after: 23.b4 White has very serious compensation for the exchange, but Black has a good way to bail out: 486



23...f5! 24.Bxa6 Re8 25.Bb7 Nb6 26.Bc6 Kf7 27.Bxe8+ Rxe8 28.Bh4 fxg4=



Position after: 28...fxg4= The material and positional equality has been restored. d) 10.e5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.e5



487



Position after: 10.e5 This move also leads to a forced draw in most lines. 10...Bb7 11.Qh3 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.Qh3 dxe5 transposes to 11.Qh3. 11...dxe5 12.Nxe6! fxe6 13.Qxe6+ Be7



Position after: 13...Be7 14.Bxb5 A) 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Bxb5 axb5 16.Nxb5 Qb6 The safest path to a draw. [16...Qc6 17.Nd6+ Kd8 18.Nxb7+ Qxb7 19.Rxd7+ Qxd7 20.Rd1 Qxd1+ 21.Kxd1 exf4 22.a4= The position is objectively equal, but the three connected passed pawns could be unpleasant to cope with in a practical game.] 17.Nd6+



488



Position after: 17.Nd6+ A1) In case Black doesn’t want to force a draw, he can play 17...Qxd6, but the evaluation doesn’t change: 18.Rxd6 Nc5



Position after: 18...Nc5 A1.1) 19.Qf5 Be4 20.Qh5+ Bg6 21.Qd1 Rxa2 22.Kb1 Ra7 [22...Ra5!? is possible, keeping the game going.] 23.Qd5 Bxd6 24.Qxd6 Kf7 25.Qxc5 Rha8 26.b4 Ra1+ 27.Kb2 R1a2+ 28.Kb1 Ra1+= 489



A1.2) 19.Qg4 Bxd6 20.Rd1 Rd8 21.b4! Bc8 22.Qg7 Rf8 23.bxc5 Rd7 24.Qh6 Bxc5 25.Rxd7 Kxd7 26.Qxh7+ Kd6=



Position after: 26...Kd6= The position is equal, but still a lot can happen. A pawn race between White’s a- and h-pawns, and Black’s e-pawn is likely to commence. A good example of this is the game Badolati – Cornejo, email 2008: 27.Qd3+ Ke7 28.Qe4 Rd8 29.c3 Ba3+ 30.Kc2 Bg4 31.Kb3 Bd6 32.f5 Bd1+ 33.Kb2 Bh5 34.h4 Bf7 35.Kc2 Bc5 36.h5 Bd5 37.Qe2 Ra8 38.a4 Rb8 39.a5 e4 40.h6



Position after: 40.h6 490



A draw was agreed in view of 40...e3 41.c4 Be4+ 42.Kc3 Rd8 43.Qg4 when some repetition is bound to occur sooner or later: for instance, 43...Bd4+ 44.Kb3 Bd3 45.Qg7+ Kd6 46.a6 e2 47.Qg3+ Ke7 48.Qg7+=. A2) 17...Kd8 18.Nf7+ Ke8 19.Nd6+= B) 14.Nxb5 axb5 15.Bxb5 Be4 16.c3 0-0-0 17.Rhe1 Black can’t defend everything, but does have a nice way to return some material and reach a good position: 17...Ba3! 18.Qa6+ Bb7 19.Qxa3 e4 20.Rd4



Position after: 20.Rd4 B1) 20...Nb6 21.Rb4 Kb8 22.Ba6 Rd7 23.Bxf6 gxf6 24.Qa5 Qxf4+ 25.Kb1 Qd2 26.Rc1



491



Position after: 26.Rc1 26...Nc8 [26...Nd5 27.Rd4 Nxc3+ 28.bxc3 Rxd4 29.Bxb7 Kxb7 30.Qb5+ Ka8 31.Qa5+=] 27.c4 Qd3+ 28.Rc2 Na7 29.Qb6 Qd1+ 30.Rc1 Qd3+



Position after: 30...Qd3+ 31.Rc2 [31.Ka1?! can only go wrong: 31...Qd2! 32.Kb1 Nc6 33.Rb3 Na5 34.Bxb7 Rxb7 35.Qxf6 Re8µ] 31...Qd1+= B2) 20...Nc5 21.Rc4 Rd5 22.Rd1 Rhd8 23.Rxd5 Rxd5 24.b4 h6 25.bxc5 hxg5 26.g3 Bc6 27.Ra4 492



Position after: 27.Ra4 27...e3 [Or 27...Bb7 28.Rc4 Bc6=] 28.Ra7 Rd1+ 29.Kxd1 [Or 29.Kc2 Rd2+ 30.Kc1 Rd1+=] 29...Qd8+ 30.Kc2 Qd2+ 31.Kb3 Bxb5 32.Qa5 Qd1+ 33.Kb2 Qd2+= 14...axb5 15.Nxb5



Position after: 15.Nxb5 15...Qc6 493



15...Qb6 reaches a draw more quickly: 16.Nd6+ Kd8 17.Bxf6 Bxf6



Position after: 17...Bxf6 [Or 17...gxf6 transposing to 14.Bxf6.] 18.Nf7+ [18.fxe5 Bg5+ 19.Kb1 Kc7 20.Ne8+ Kb8 21.Qxd7 Ra7 22.Qd6+ Qxd6 23.Nxd6 Bf4 24.Nxb7 Rxb7³



Position after: 24...Rxb7³ White has three connected passed pawns, but they will be well controlled by the Black pieces.] 18...Kc8 19.Rd6 Qb5 20.c4 Qa4 21.Rhd1 Be4 22.R1d2 494



Position after: 22.R1d2 Again all roads lead to a draw. 22...Ra7 [22...Kb8 23.Rb6+ Nxb6 24.Qxb6+ Bb7 25.Qd6+ Ka7 26.Qc5+=] 23.Rb6 Be7 [23...Qxa2 24.Nd6+ Kc7 25.Nb5+ Kc8=] 24.Nxe5



Position after: 24.Nxe5 24...Re8 [24...Bb4 This prolongs the game, but I wouldn’t recommend it. 25.Rxb4 Qxb4 26.Nxd7 Qxd2+ 27.Kxd2 Rxd7+ 28.Kc3 Bxg2 29.b4=



495



Position after: 29.b4= when the position is still equal, but the three connected passed pawns are obviously dangerous.] 25.Nxd7 Rxd7 26.Rb5 Red8 27.Qxe4 Qxa2 28.Rxd7 Rxd7 29.Qc6+ Rc7 30.Qe8+ Bd8 31.Qe6+ Rd7 32.Rc5+ Bc7 33.Qe8+ Rd8 34.Qe6+ Rd7= Everything that follows now is forced: 16.Nd6+ Kd8 17.fxe5 Kc7 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Qxe7 Rxa2 20.Nxb7 Ra1+ 21.Kd2 Qxg2+



496



Position after: 21...Qxg2+ 22.Ke3 22.Kc3 Qc6+ 23.Kd2 Qg2+= 22...Qg5+ 23.Kf2 Qf4+ 24.Ke2 Qe4+ 25.Kd2 Qg2+= Conclusion White has many 10th move alternatives to 10.Bd3, but none of them poses Black theoretical problems. The most complex continuation is 10.Bxb5!?. However, it leads to forced draw in several lines, making it not very promising as a winning attempt. However, this also means that when playing the Gelfand Variation, Black must be ready to accept the possibility of of a forced draw, which is not ideal if you want to play for a win.



497



Chapter 12 Mainline with 10.Bd3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bd3



Chapter Guide Chapter 12 – Mainline with 10.Bd3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Rhe1 a) 11...Qb6 12.Bxf6!? b) 11...Qb6 12.Nd5 exd5 c) 11...Qb6 12.Nd5 Qxd4 with 21...-d) 11...Qb6 12.Nd5 Qxd4 with 21...Ra8 e) 11...Be7 12.-f) 11...Be7 12.Qg3 a) 11...Qb6 12.Bxf6!? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bd3 498



Position after: 10.Bd3 The main and most natural move. In the two previous chapters we have already checked all the alternatives. 10...Bb7 11.Rhe1 Qb6



Position after: 11...Qb6 By attacking the d4-knight, Black forces matters. 499



12.Bxf6!? This is a relatively rare, but highly interesting possibility. Black faces some concrete problems. 12.Nb3 Obviously not a challenging move. Black achieves satisfactory play: 12...b4 13.Nb1 [13.Na4?! Qc7 14.Nd4 Be7 15.Qh3 0-0-0³ White has failed to achieve anything in the centre and their a4-knight is badly placed and vulnerable to ...Nc5 ideas.] 13...Be7



Position after: 13...Be7 14.N1d2 [14.Qh3 a5 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nd5 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.N1d2 Bd5! Black needs not to allow the knight to d6. 19.Nc4 Bxc4 20.Bxc4 Rc8 21.Qd3 Rc7 22.Bb5 Nd5 23.Bc4 Ne7= Neither side has anything better than the repetition.] 14...a5 15.Nc4 Qc7 16.Qg3 a4 17.Nd4 Ba6 18.Bxf6



500



Position after: 18.Bxf6 This was Perez Candelario – Hou, Merida 2008 and now Black should have played 18...gxf6 19.Nd2 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 0-0= with a dynamically balanced position. Rf3-h3 can be countered by ...Kh8 and ...Rg8-g7. 12...Nxf6 13.f5!



Position after: 13.f5!



501



13...0-0-0 A) 13...e5 This move is playable, but dubious in practical terms. 14.Nd5



Position after: 14.Nd5 A1) 14...Nxd5 15.exd5 Be7 16.Nc6± White will put the bishop on e4 and start pushing the kingside pawns to claim a big initiative. A2) 14...Qd8 15.Nxf6+ Qxf6 16.Ne2 Be7 [In Kolesar – Trembecki, email 2016, Black played 16...Qd8, only to return to f6 after 17.Qg3. 17...Qf6 18.h4 Be7 19.Rh1 Rd8 20.Qf3 d5. White can improve here:



502



Position after: 20...d5 21.exd5 Rxd5 22.Nc3 Rd7 23.Be4²] 17.Kb1±



Position after: 17.Kb1± Black’s queen is awkwardly placed and White is ready to start pushing the kingside pawns and fighting for control over the d5-square. An important resource is 17...0-0?! 18.h4! Qxh4? 19.Rh1 Qf6 20.g4+– with a decisive attack. A3) 14...Bxd5! 15.exd5 Be7 16.Nc6 Nd7 17.Kb1² 503



Position after: 17.Kb1² The computer claims equality here, but I think «slightly better for White» is more realistic in practical play. The knight on c6 is going to be a nuisance and White has a simple plan of pushing the kingside pawns. B) In Jakovenko – Gelfand, Ashdod 2015 Black committed a terrible mistake. After 13...b4?? White could have won with 14.Na4! as follows:



Position after: 14.Na4!



504



B1) 14...Qa5 is refuted easily: 15.fxe6 Qxa4 16.exf7+ Kd7 [16...Kd8 17.Bc4+–] 17.Qf5+ Kc7 18.e5+– B2) 14...Qxd4 15.Bb5+ axb5 16.Rxd4



Position after: 16.Rxd4 16...Rxa4 [16...bxa4 17.Rxb4 Bc6 18.Rc4 Rc8 19.Qc3 Kd7 20.e5+–] 17.Qe2 Bc6 18.fxe6 fxe6 19.e5+– White’s major pieces are on the open central files so Black’s king is in peril. 14.Nb3



505



Position after: 14.Nb3 14...b4! Black has to act energetically. 14...Kb8?! This move is too slow and allows White to develop a kingside initiative. 15.a4!



Position after: 15.a4! 15...b4 [15...Bc6 16.axb5 axb5 17.Na2± Planning Nb4. In case Black blocks the b4 square with ...b4, the other knight will get to c4. In either case White is much better.] 16.a5 Qc7 17.Na4 Nd7 18.fxe6 fxe6 19.Qe3± White ready to put the knight on b6 and threaten the b4-pawn with Qd4. Black is in trouble. 15.Nb1 d5! 16.N1d2 Kb8=



506



Position after: 16...Kb8= A deep analysis of this position proves equality. In practice, however, I would still prefer White. 17.Qg3+ Ka8 18.e5 Nd7 19.Nf3 h6 The position is objectively equal, but White’s control over the d4-square and Black’s passive lightsquared bishop give White more pleasant play. b) 11...Qb6 12.Nd5 exd5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Rhe1 Qb6 12.Nd5 The critical test of the variation. 12...exd5



507



Position after: 12...exd5 13.Nc6! This is the main concept behind 12.Nd5. It was once considered a refutation, but in correspondence games an answer was subsequently found. 13.exd5+ is less challenging. 13...Kd8 14.Bf5 Kc7 15.Qc3+ Qc5 16.Qa5+ Kb8 [Black can also draw immediately: 16...Qb6 17.Qc3+ Qc5=.] 17.Bxd7 Nxd7 18.Bh4! White threatens Bf2. 18...Qb6 19.Re8+



508



Position after: 19.Re8+ 19...Kc7 [19...Ka7? 20.Qe1± The threat of Bf2 is very unpleasant to handle.] 20.Qc3+ Qc5 21.Qa5+ Qb6= The game ends in a draw. 13...dxe4 13...Bxc6? 14.exd5+ Be7 15.dxc6 Nc5 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Bf5 Ra7 18.Rxd6 Ne6 19.c7 Qxc7 20.Rc6 Qb8 21.Bxe6 fxe6 22.Rcxe6±



Position after: 22.Rcxe6± White has tremendous compensation for the piece. 14.Bxe4 Nc5



509



Position after: 14...Nc5 15.Bxf6 15.Bf5+ After this move White fights only for a draw. 15...Ne6 16.Bxe6



Position after: 16.Bxe6 16...Bxc6 [16...fxe6? 17.Rxe6+ Kd7 18.Ne5+! Kc7 19.Qc3+ Bc6 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Nxc6 Qxc6 22.Qxf6 Qd7 23.Rde1+– Black is unable to defend against both Qxh8 and Re7.] 510



A) 17.Bd5+ Kd7 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Qh5 Bxd5 20.Qxd5 Rd8 [20...Be7 21.Qxf7 Rhe8 22.Re6 Kd8 23.Qxh7 Rc8 24.h4 Qc5 25.h5= The passed h-pawn gives White enough play for the piece.] 21.Rd3 Kc7 22.Rc3+ Kb8 23.Rc6 Qb7 It seems that White’s attack has faded, but they have a trump card up their sleeve: 24.a4!



Position after: 24.a4! 24...Bh6 [24...bxa4? is impossible due to 25.Qa5 Qxc6 26.Qxd8+ Ka7 27.Qxf6+– and White wins.] 25.a5 Bxf4+ 26.Kb1 Ka7 Now a draw is absolutely forced: 27.Qd4+ Ka8 28.Qd5 Ka7= B) 17.Bh3+ Kd8 18.Qc3 Be7 19.Rxe7! Kxe7 20.Rxd6!



511



Position after: 20.Rxd6! 20...Kf8 [20...Rhd8 21.Bxf6+ gxf6 22.Qxf6+ Kf8 23.Qh8+ Ke7 24.Qf6+=] 21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.b4! Only this move keeps equality. [22.Qxf6? Qe3+ 23.Kd1 Bf3+ 24.gxf3 Rg8 25.Rd8+ Rxd8+ 26.Qxd8+ Qe8 27.Qd4 Qc6 28.Kc1 Qc7µ White will face a tough struggle for a draw.] 22...Qf2 23.Rxf6 Be8 24.Rxf7+! Kxf7 25.Qc7+= Perpetual check is inevitable. 15...gxf6



Position after: 15...gxf6 16.Qh3 A) 16.Bd5+ Kd7 17.Qh5 Kc7 18.Qxf7+ Nd7



512



Position after: 18...Nd7 White has two major alternatives, both of which should lead to a draw. A1) 19.Nb4 Rd8 20.Kb1! [After 20.Re8?! Bh6 21.Rxh8 Rxh8 22.Bxb7 Qxb7 23.g3 Rc8 24.Qxh7 Bf8³ White doesn’t have enough compensation for the piece.] 20...a5 [20...h5 21.c4! a5 22.c5 Qxc5 23.Bxb7 Kxb7 24.Nd5 Kb8! 25.Rc1 Rh7! 26.Qxh7 Qxd5 27.Re8 Rxe8 28.Qxd7 Qe4+ 29.Ka1 b4 30.Qb5+ Ka8 31.Qxa5+ Kb8 32.Qb5+=] 21.Bxb7 Qxb7 22.Nd5+ Kb8 23.Re8



Position after: 23.Re8



513



A1.1) 23...Rxe8 24.Qxe8+ Qc8 25.Qe2 Qb7 [25...Qc4 26.Qe8+ Qc8 27.Qe2=] 26.Qe8+ Ka7 27.Qd8 a4 28.Qa5+ Kb8 29.Qd8+ Qc8 30.Qa5 Qb7 31.Qd8+= A1.2) 23...Bh6 24.Re7 Bf8 25.Re8= A2) 19.Rd3 Bxc6 20.Rc3 Bh6 21.Bxc6 Bxf4+ 22.Kb1 Qxc6 23.Re7 Rhd8 24.Rxc6+ Kxc6 25.c4!=



Position after: 25.c4!= The only way to keep the initiative going. The position is dynamically balanced, with many possibilities for both sides on every move. I offer a few sample lines: 25...Rab8 [25...Kc7 26.cxb5 axb5 27.Qb3 Ra7 28.g3 Be5 29.Qxb5 h6 30.b4 Kc8 31.a4 Rb7 32.Qa5 Bc3 33.Qa8+ Kc7 34.Qa5+ Rb6 35.Qa7+ Rb7 36.Qa5+=; But not 25...Bxh2? 26.Rxd7! Rxd7 27.Qd5+ Kb6 28.Qxa8±] 26.Qd5+ Kc7 27.Rxh7



514



Position after: 27.Rxh7 27...Rb7 [27...Be5 28.c5 dxc5 29.Qxc5+ Kb7 30.h4 Bc7 31.Qd5+ Kc8 32.h5 Ne5 33.Qe4 Rb6 34.Qa8+ Bb8 35.h6 Rd1+ 36.Kc2 Rh1 37.Rh8+ Kc7 38.Qe4 Rc6+ 39.Kb3 Kb7 40.a3 Nc4 41.Rh7+ Bc7 42.Ka2 f5 43.Qf4 Kb6 44.Qf2+ Kb7 45.Qf4=] 28.cxb5 axb5 29.a4 Be5 30.a5 Ra7 31.Qd2 Kb8 32.h4 Rc8 33.h5 b4 34.h6 b3 35.Qd3 Rac7 36.Qb5+ Ka8 37.Qa6+ Kb8 38.Qb5+= B) 16.Qg4 Ne6 17.Bg6 Kd7 18.Bxf7 Kxc6 19.Qxe6 transposes to 16.Qh3. 16...Ne6 17.Bg6 Kd7 18.Bxf7 Kxc6 19.Qxe6 Qd8!



515



Position after: 19...Qd8! 20.Qb3! This move poses the biggest challenge to Black. A) 20.Qe3 Qd7! 21.Qc3+ Kb6 22.Qxf6 [Or White can choose to immediately repeat the position with 22.Qd4+ Kc7 23.Qc3+ Kb6=.] 22...h5!



Position after: 22...h5! A1) 23.Rd3!? Bc6!? With these moves, both sides make an effort to keep the game going. [23...Bxg2 is highly drawish: 24.Qd4+ Kb7 25.Be6 Qg7 26.Qxg7+ Bxg7 27.Rg1 Bh6 28.Rxg2 Bxf4+ 29.Kb1=] 24.Rc3 Rc8 25.Qd4+ Kb7 26.Be6 Bg7 27.Qd1 Qc7 28.Bxc8+ Rxc8 29.Rce3 Bf8 30.g3 Qf7 31.Kb1=



516



Position after: 31.Kb1= We have a complicated, dynamically balanced position, although I would slightly prefer Black. A2) 23.Be6 Bg7 24.Bxd7 Bxf6 25.Rxd6+ Kc7 26.Rxf6 Kxd7 27.Rf7+ Kc6 28.Re6+ Kd5 29.Re5+ Kc6= White has nothing better than repeating the position. B) 20.Qh3?! Qc7 21.Qc3+ Kb6 22.Qd4+ Qc5 23.Qxf6 Rc8 24.Rd2 Rc7 25.a3 a5 26.Qxh8 Rxf7 27.g3 b4³ Black was slightly better in Thompson – Salvatore, email 2013.



Position after: 20.Qb3! 517



20...Rc8! The only move. 20...Qc7? 21.Rd3 Kb6 22.Rc3 Qd8 23.Qb4! Ka7 24.Qd4+ Qb6 25.Qxf6+– 21.Be6! 21.Re8 is much less challenging. 21...Qd7 22.Rxc8+ Qxc8 23.Qc3+ Kb6 24.Qxf6 Qg4



Position after: 24...Qg4 25.Qd4+ [25.Bh5 Qg7 26.Rxd6+ Ka7 27.Qxg7 Bxg7 28.Rd7 Bh6 29.Bf3 Bxf4+ 30.Kd1 Rb8 31.Rxh7 Kb6 32.Bxb7 Rxb7 33.Rxb7+ Kxb7= A draw was soon agreed in Pommrich – Parisi, email 2011.] 25...Kc7 26.Re1 h5 27.a4 Rh6 28.Qc3+ Kd7 29.Qd4 Kc7 30.Qc3+ Kd7 31.Qd4 Kc7= Paleckis – Faber, email 2013. 21...Kb6! 21...Ra8? 22.Qb4! Kb6 23.Rd3!±



518



Position after: 23.Rd3!± White’s initiative is close to decisive, e.g. 23...Ka7 24.Qd4+ Kb8 25.Rde3 Bc6 26.Bd5 Bd7 27.Bxa8 Kxa8 28.Kb1 h5 29.c4 Qc8 30.Qd5+ Kb8 31.cxb5 axb5 32.Rc3 Qb7 33.Qd4 Rh6 34.Rce3 f5 35.a4 Bc6 36.Re8+ Bxe8 37.Rxe8+ Kc7 38.a5 Rh7 39.Rxf8 Qe4+ 40.Qxe4 fxe4 41.f5+– and White had achieved a completely winning endgame in Beveridge – Sherwood, email 2015. 22.Qe3+ Kc7 23.Bxc8



Position after: 23.Bxc8 519



Now Black needs to be precise: 23...Kxc8! 23...Qxc8?! 24.Qc3+ Kb8 25.Qxf6 Rg8 26.g3² Compared to the main line, Black’s pieces are more passive. 24.Qc3+ Kd7! 24...Kb8?! 25.Re6 d5 26.Rde1 Bd6 27.Qxf6 Qxf6 28.Rxf6² Black is going to struggle for a draw in the endgame. 25.Qe3 d5 26.Qe6+ Kc7 27.Qf7+ Qd7 28.Qxf6 Rg8 29.g3 Bd6=



Position after: 29...Bd6= The position is equal, although I would give a slight practical preference to White. c) 11...Qb6 12.Nd5 Qxd4 with 21...-1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Rhe1 Qb6 12.Nd5 Qxd4 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Bxb5 Qc5



520



Position after: 14...Qc5 15.b4 This move leads to a very interesting material imbalance (a queen versus three minor pieces) and represents the biggest test of the variation. 15.Nxf6+ This move poses Black few problems. It is in fact White who has to be accurate not to run into trouble here. 15...Kd8 A) 16.Bxd7?! After this move White will be reduced to fighting for a draw. 16...Be7 17.Qg3! The best chance. 17...Bxf6 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.e5 Rc8 20.Rd2 Kc7 21.exf6 Bd5³ Black’s bishop is strongly placed in the centre and for this reason their position is slightly for choice. B) 16.Nxd7 Qxb5 17.Nxf8 Rxf8 18.Qa3 Ke8 19.Qxd6 Qc6 20.Qd4 Qc7 21.f5 e5 22.Qa4+



521



Position after: 22.Qa4+ B1) 22...Bc6 After this move the game should end in one or another repetition or perpetual. 23.Qa3 B1.1) 23...Bb5 24.f6



Position after: 24.f6 24...Rg8 [24...Rd8 25.Rxd8+ Qxd8 26.Qc5 Qxf6 27.Rd1 Bd7 28.Qc7 Qd8 29.Qxe5+ Qe7 30.Qb8+=] 25.Re3 Rd8 26.Rd5 Rxg2 27.Rc3 Rg1+ 28.Kd2 Rg2+= 522



B1.2) 23...Rg8 24.Qc5 Rc8 25.Rd6 Rxg2 26.c3 Ba4 27.Qxe5+ Kf8 28.Qh8+ Rg8 29.Qf6 Rg2 30.Qh8+= B2) 22...Qc6 This move poses White a serious challenge: 23.Qa5 f6 and now White needs to play a series of accurate moves in order not to run into trouble.



Position after: 23...f6 24.Re3! Rf7 25.Red3! Re7 26.Rd8+ Kf7 27.Qa3! Preparing Qb3+. 27...Rc8 28.R1d2 Rxd8 29.Qb3+ Kf8 30.Rxd8+ Re8 31.Qb4+ Kf7 32.Qb3+= 15...Qxb5 16.Nc7+ Ke7 17.Nxb5 axb5 18.Qd3 Ra6 19.Qxb5 Rb6 20.Qd3 Bh6 21.g3



523



Position after: 21.g3 After the series of forcing moves, we have reached an important crossroads. 21...Rc8 This move is objectively fine, but in the main line Black runs into quite an unpleasant endgame. A) 21...e5? This is wrong, because it allows the white pawns to advance freely. 22.a4! exf4 23.Qd2! Rc8 24.gxf4 Ne5 25.b5! Rc4 26.Qf2!



524



Position after: 26.Qf2! 26...Nd7 [26...Rxa4 27.Qxb6 Ra1+ 28.Kd2 Nc4+ 29.Kd3 Nxb6 30.Rxa1 Nd7 31.Ke3!+– The rooks are ready to invade via a and g files.] 27.Rd4 Rxd4 28.Qxd4 Bxf4+ 29.Kd1 Nc5 30.Qb4+– The pawns are ready to roll. B) 21...Ba6?! A blank shot. 22.Qd2 Bb5 23.Re3 Ra8 24.a3± Black lacks the counterplay that is present in the 21...Rc8 or 21...Ra8 lines. 22.e5! 22.a4 Ke8! 23.Qa3 Rbc6 24.a5



Position after: 24.a5 White trusts in the connected passed pawns, but Black has enough counterplay. 24...Rxc2+ 25.Kb1 R2c3 26.Qb2 Bg7! Reactivating the offside bishop. 27.b5 f5 28.e5 R3c5 29.a6 Rb8! 30.a7 Ra8 31.Rxd6 Bf8 32.b6 Bxd6 33.exd6 Rc6 34.Qh8+ Nf8 35.Qd4 Nd7 36.Qh8+ Nf8=



525



Position after: 36...Nf8= Neither side has anything better than the repetition. 22...Nxe5! 23.Qxh7 Rxb4! 24.Qxh6 Nf3! Surprisingly, despite having only two pieces for the queen, Black has enough counterplay.



Position after: 24...Nf3! 25.f5 526



A) 25.Re2 Be4 26.a3 Rbc4 27.Rxe4 Rxe4 28.Qh7 d5 29.Kb2 Rb8+ 30.Ka2 Rc8 31.Rb1 Rxc2+



Position after: 31...Rxc2+ 32.Ka1 [32.Rb2 Rxb2+ 33.Kxb2 Re2+ 34.Kb3 d4 35.Qg8 Re3+ 36.Kb2 Re2+=] 32...Nd2 33.Rb7+ Kd6 34.Rb2 Rc1+ 35.Ka2 Nc4 36.Qxf7 Nxb2 37.Kxb2 Rf1= The game will end in a perpetual check delivered by either side. B) 25.Re3 Be4 26.Rxe4 Rxe4



Position after: 26...Rxe4 527



B1) 27.Qh7 d5 28.g4 [28.f5 e5 29.Rxd5 Re2 30.Rd7+ Kxd7 31.Qxf7+ Kd8 32.Qg8+ Kd7 33.Qf7+=] 28...Ne1



Position after: 28...Ne1 28...Ra8!? is also good, but the text is much clearer. 29.Qxe4 [29.Rd2 Rxf4 30.g5 fxg5 31.Qg7 Rfc4 32.Qxg5+ Kd7 33.Qf6 Nxc2 34.Qxf7+ Kd6=] 29...dxe4 30.Rxe1 Rg8 31.Rxe4 Rxg4 32.a4 Kd6= Black controls the a-pawn and will take the h-pawn with a draw. B2) 27.Qh5 Re2 White has nothing better than accepting the perpetual check. 28.Qxf3 Rcxc2+ 29.Kb1 Rb2+ 30.Ka1 Rxa2+ 31.Kb1 Rab2+= 25...Nxe1 26.Rxe1 Be4 27.Rxe4 Rxe4 28.fxe6 Kxe6²



528



Position after: 28...Kxe6² In a correspondence game Black held their own, but in practice the two passed pawns may be dangerous. 29.Qd2 f5 30.h4 Rg8 31.Qc3 Reg4 32.a4 Rxg3 33.Qc4+ Ke7 34.a5 R3g4 35.Qc7+ Ke6 36.h5 Rh4 37.a6 Rxh5 38.Qc4+ Kf6 39.Qc6 Rd8 40.Qc3+ Ke6 41.Qc4+ Kf6 42.Qc3+ Ke6 43.Qe3+ Kf6 44.a7 Rhh8 45.Qb6 Ke5 46.Qb7 Ke6 47.Kb2 ½-½ Reyes Maldonado – Gerhards, email 2014 d) 11...Qb6 12.Nd5 Qxd4 with 21...Ra8 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Rhe1 Qb6 12.Nd5 Qxd4 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Bxb5 Qc5 15.b4 Qxb5 16.Nc7+ Ke7 17.Nxb5 axb5 18.Qd3 Ra6 19.Qxb5 Rb6 20.Qd3 Bh6 21.g3 Ra8 22.a3 e5



529



Position after: 22...e5 White has 3 options here, all of which lead to dynamically balanced play. 23.Qe3 A) 23.Qf3 exf4! 24.gxf4 Ne5! 25.Qg3 Ng6 26.Rf1 Rba6



Position after: 26...Rba6 A1) 27.Rd3?! Giving up the e4-pawn is not to be advised. 27...Bxe4 28.Re3 [28.Rc3 Kf8³] 28...d5 530



29.b5 Re6³ A2) 27.Qc3!



Position after: 27.Qc3! A2.1) 27...Bc6 is a fully viable alternative. One correspondence game continued: 28.Kb2 Bd7 29.Qd2 Rc8 30.Qd3 Rac6 31.b5 Rxc2+ 32.Kb1 Ke8 33.Rc1 Rxc1+ 34.Rxc1 Rb8 35.a4 Bxf4 36.Rc7 Ne7 37.Qd4 Be5 38.Qa7 Rd8 39.b6 d5 40.Rxd7 Rxd7 41.a5 Rd8 42.exd5 Nxd5 43.Qa6 Kd7 44.Qc4 Kd6 45.b7 Ne7 46.a6 Nc6 47.Qxf7 Rb8 48.h4 Kc5 49.Qb3 Rd8 50.h5 Rd4 51.Qc3+ Kb6 52.a7 Kxb7 53.a8=Q+ Kxa8 54.Qxc6+ Kb8 55.Kc1 Bf4+ 56.Kc2 Be5 57.Kb3 Rd3+ 58.Kb4 ½-½ Sjol – Knoll, email 2009. A2.2) 27...Kf8 28.Qc4 [28.Kb2 Rxa3 29.Qxa3 Rxa3 30.Kxa3 Bxf4 31.b5 Bxh2 32.Rxf6 Be5 33.Rfxd6 ½-½ Gritsaenko – Dearnley, email 2008] 28...Kg7 29.Kb2 Bxf4 30.Rxf4 Nxf4 31.Rf1 Ng6 32.Qd4 Ne5 33.Rg1+ Ng6 34.Rg3 h5



531



Position after: 34...h5 35.b5 White decides to continue, but it doesn’t change the evaluation. [White can repeat the position with 35.Rf3 Ne5 36.Rg3+=] 35...Ra4 36.c4 h4 37.Rc3 Ne5 38.Qg1+ Kf8 39.Qb6 Rxa3 40.Qxd6+ Ke8 41.Qxa3 Rxa3 42.Kxa3 Bxe4 43.c5 f5 44.c6



Position after: 44.c6 In Serner – Guevara, email 2009, draw was agreed in view of 44...Kd8 45.Rh3 Bd3 [45...f4 46.Rxh4 Nd3=] 46.Rxh4 [46.b6 Kc8=] 46...Bxb5 47.Rd4+ Kc7 48.Rd5 Nc4+ 49.Kb4 Bxc6 532



50.Kxc4 Bxd5+ 51.Kxd5= B) 23.Kb2 exf4 24.e5! White has to open lines for their major pieces. 24...fxe5 25.gxf4



Position after: 25.gxf4 B1) 25...Bxf4?! After this greedy move Black runs into difficulties. 26.Qf5 Bh6 27.Rf1 Rf8 28.c4



Position after: 28.c4 B1.1) 28...Be3 29.Qxh7!± Black has lost most correspondence games from this position.



533



[29.Rfe1 Bh6 30.Ka2!± is also challenging.] B1.2) 28...d5! This pawn sacrifice for piece activity limits the damage. 29.cxd5 Rd6 30.Qe4±



Position after: 30.Qe4± White is definitely for choice, with three passed pawns and Black’s pieces reduced to defensive functions. Here is an example of possible play: 30...Bg5 31.Rf2 Rc8 32.a4 h6 33.h4 Bf6 34.Rc2 Rxc2+ 35.Kxc2 Ke8 36.a5 Bd8 37.h5±



Position after: 37.h5± 534



A draw was agreed in Riccio – Bergmann, email 2010. While objectively it may well be a draw, White can still try to break through and pose Black many problems. B2) 25...Bg7! Deploying the bishop actively to the long diagonal is more important than taking a pawn. 26.Qxh7 [26.c3 d5 27.fxe5 Bxe5 28.Qxh7 Re6= The position is similar in nature to the one after 26.Qxh7.] 26...Bf6 27.fxe5 Nxe5 28.Re3 Rh8 29.Qf5 Bc8!



Position after: 29...Bc8! Redeploying the bishop to e6. 30.Qf4 Be6 31.Kb1= With a queen and three pawns for the three pieces, White is materially ahead. However, Black’s pieces are very well coordinated. A complicated battle lies ahead, in which it will be hard for either side to improve their position. 23...Rc6!



535



Position after: 23...Rc6! Black prepares ...Nb6-c4, taking advantage of the queen’s position on e3. 24.Re2 This move leads to massive forced simplifications. A) 24.Rd2 Nb6 25.b5 Rc5 26.Rxd6! Kxd6 27.fxe5+ Kc7 28.Qxh6 Nc4



Position after: 28...Nc4 536



A1) 29.Qxh7 doesn’t change the evaluation. 29...Kb6 [Black can also try 29...Nxe5, when White needs to play 30.Re3! with dynamic equality, e.g. 30...Kd7 31.g4 Rac8 32.Re2 Rxb5 33.Qh6 Rb6 34.g5 Nd3+ 35.Kd2 Ne5 36.Kc1=.] 30.Qxf7 fxe5 31.Qf6+ Kxb5 32.Kd1 Ra4 33.Qe7 Bc6 34.Re2 Rxa3 35.Ke1 Nb2 36.g4 Ra1+ 37.Kf2 Nd1+ 38.Kf1 Ne3+ 39.Kf2 Nd1+ 40.Kf1 and draw agreed, Romizin, N – Litke, V ICCF email 2009. A2) 29.Qxf6 Rxa3= White’s queen and four pawns just about balance out Black’s ‘smalls’ and the game should end in a draw. A possible continuation is 30.b6+ Kb8 31.e6 fxe6 32.Kd1. B) 24.Qf3 White goes after the h6-bishop, but in the meantime Black will get enough counterplay on the queenside. 24...exf4 25.Qh5 Rxa3



Position after: 25...Rxa3 B1) 26.Qxh6 Ne5 [26...Ra2 also gives Black enough counterplay: 27.Re2 Ne5 28.b5 Nc4 29.c3 Rxe2 30.bxc6 Bxc6 31.Qxf4 Bxe4 32.Rd4 Re1+ 33.Rd1 Re2=] B1.1) 27.Qxf4? loses: 27...Ra2 28.Rf1 Rcxc2+ 29.Kb1 Rab2+ 30.Ka1 Ke8!



537



Position after: 30...Ke8! Black can afford to make a prophylactic move. 31.Rd4 Ra2+ 32.Kb1 Rcb2+ 33.Kc1 Rxh2 34.Kb1 Ba6! The bishop joins the attack with decisive consequences. 35.Rfd1 Rhb2+ 36.Kc1 Rf2 37.Kb1 Nc4 38.Rxc4 Rxf4 39.b5 Rff2 40.bxa6 Rfb2+ 41.Kc1 Rh2 42.Kb1 Rxa6–+ B1.2) 27.b5 Nc4! [27...Rc5?? 28.Rxd6!+–] 28.Kb1 Rc5 29.Rd5 Nd2+ 30.Kc1 Nc4 31.Kb1= The repetition of position is the logical conclusion of the game. B2) 26.b5 Rc5 27.Qxh6 Ra2



538



Position after: 27...Ra2 Now White has no way to avoid a draw. 28.Qxf4 [28.Re2? f3! 29.Rf2 Bxe4–+] 28...Rcxc2+ 29.Kb1 Rab2+ 30.Ka1 Ra2+=



Position after: 24.Re2 24...Nb6 25.b5! exf4 26.gxf4 Nc4 27.bxc6 Nxe3 28.cxb7 Rb8 29.Rxe3 Bxf4 30.Kd2 Rxb7 31.a4 Ra7 32.Ra1 Ra5 33.Kd3 Bxe3 34.Kxe3 Kd7=



539



Position after: 34...Kd7= The position has simplified to a drawn rook endgame. Conclusion 11...Qb6 is an excellent choice for Black if they want to enter a dynamic, double-edged position with high risks, but also high winning chances. In the main line an unusual material balance of a queen versus three pieces arises. Black should strive above all to retain the best possible coordination between their pieces, even at the cost of giving up a few pawns. This is what occurs in the main line. White achieves a material advantage, which is offset by Black’s great coordination. The position is very demanding for both sides. An important subvariation is 12.Bxf6!? and it may be the best choice for White. Deep computer analysis proves equality, but the position remains, in my view, practically unpleasant for Black. Therefore, I expect this line to gain in popularity. The ball seems to be in Black’s court here. e) 11...Be7 12.-1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Rhe1 Be7



Position after: 11...Be7 12.Nd5!? The immediate knight sacrifice seems unsound, but surprisingly Black can get nothing more than equality against White’s best play. A) 12.a3?! This is way too meek and gives Black the possibility of a typical sacrifice on c3: 540



12...Qb6! 13.Nb3 Rc8! 14.Qg3 Rxc3 15.bxc3 Qc7µ Black has tremendous compensation for the exchange. B) 12.Qh3 0-0-0 13.Bxf6 [13.Bxb5!? An important possibility. 13...axb5 14.Ndxb5 Qa5 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Bc6! A key resource. After 17.exf6 gxf6 18.Bd2 Bxb5 19.Nd5 Qxa2 20.Nxe7+ Kb7 21.Qa3 Qxa3 22.bxa3= the mess ends in an equal endgame.] 13...Nxf6



Position after: 13...Nxf6 B1) 14.Nd5 is hardly promising for White, but possible. 14...Nxd5 15.exd5 Bxd5 16.f5 Bxa2 17.c3 Bf6 18.fxe6 Kb8 19.e7 Rde8 20.Bf5!



541



Position after: 20.Bf5! A strange, but strong move. White threatens Bd7. However, it only allows White to equalize. 20...Bxd4 21.Rxd4 Rxe7 22.Rxe7 Qxe7 23.Qg3 Qe5 24.Rxd6 Qxg3 25.hxg3= It’s impossible for Black to hang on to his extra pawn. B2) 14.a4 bxa4 15.Nxa4 Kb8= Black’s queenside is slightly weakened, but there is no clear way for White to exploit this fact.



Position after: 12.Nd5!? 12...exd5 12...Nxd5!? 13.exd5 Bxg5



542



Position after: 13...Bxg5 14.fxg5! The two sacrifices on e6 don’t work well. [14.Rxe6+ fxe6 15.Nxe6 Qb6 16.Qh5+ g6 17.Qxg5 Qe3+ 18.Kb1 Kf7 19.Qh6 Rag8 20.Qh4 Bxd5 21.Ng5+ Kg7 22.Re1 Qb6 23.Re7+ Kf8 24.Ne6+ Bxe6 25.Rxe6 Rg7µ; 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Qh5+ Kf8 16.fxg5 Bxd5 17.Rf1+ Ke7 18.Rf7+ Kd8 19.Rxg7 Re8µ] 14...Ne5 15.Qh3 Bxd5 16.g6 h6 17.gxf7+ Qxf7 18.Rf1 Qe7 19.a4



Position after: 19.a4 Probing on the queenside. Black is best advised to give the pawn back: 19...Rf8 [19...bxa4 20.Kb1© 543



White ideas include c4 and Be2-Qa3 in case of ...Kd7. It could be practically dangerous for Black.] 20.axb5 axb5 21.Bxb5+ Kd8 22.Rxf8+ Qxf8 23.Qg3= Black has a wide choice of options leading to equality. 13.Nf5! 13.exd5? Kd8! [13...Kf8 transposes to 13.Nf5] 14.Nc6+ Bxc6 15.dxc6 Nb6µ White doesn’t have much compensation for the piece. 13...Kf8 14.exd5 14.Qg3? dxe4 15.Bxe4 Bxe4 16.Rxe4 Qc5 17.Bh6 Nxe4 18.Qxg7+ Ke8 19.Qxh8+ Nf8 20.Bxf8 Bxf8 21.Qxh7 Rc8–+ Black is a healthy piece up. 14...Bd8 15.Qg3 Rg8 16.Nxg7! Rxg7 17.Bh6 Nh5 18.Qe3



Position after: 18.Qe3 Black has good practical chances, but the following computer lines prove that White can still achieve equality: 18...Bh4 18...Kg8 19.g4



544



Position after: 19.g4 19...Nhf6 [19...Nxf4 20.Qxf4 Bf6 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Rf1 Bxd5 23.Qf5 Be6 24.Qxh7+ Kf8 25.Rxf6 Nxf6 26.Qh8+ Ng8 27.Bh7 Ke7 28.Bxg8 Qd8 29.Qd4 Qxg8 30.Qxd6+ Kf6 31.Rf1+ Kg7 32.Qe5+ Kh7 33.Qh5+ Kg7=] 20.g5 Nxd5 21.Qh3 Nxf4 22.Re8+ Nf8 23.Rxf8+ Kxf8 24.Bxg7+ Ke8 25.Re1+ Ne6 26.Qh5 Kd7 27.Qxf7+ Kc6 28.Qxc7+ Nxc7 29.h4=



Position after: 29.h4= White will take on h7 and the two connected passed pawns will provide adequate compensation for 545



the piece. 19.g3 Bf6 20.g4 Nb6 21.gxh5 Na4 22.Bxg7+ Bxg7 23.Bxh7 Bxb2+ 24.Kb1 Kg7 25.Bf5 Bf6 26.h6+ Kf8 27.Kc1 Nc3 28.h7 Nxa2+ 29.Kb1 Nc3+ 30.Kc1=



Position after: 30.Kc1= f) 11...Be7 12.Qg3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Rhe1 Be7



546



Position after: 11...Be7 12.Qg3 b4 13.Nd5!



Position after: 13.Nd5! For better or worse, White needs to sacrifice the knight to keep the initiative going. 13...exd5 14.exd5



547



14.e5 leads to a forced draw. 14...dxe5 15.fxe5 Nh5 16.Qe3 Bxg5 17.Qxg5 g6 18.e6 Nc5 19.exf7+ Kxf7 20.Rf1+ Kg8 21.Nf5 Ne6 22.Nh6+ Kg7 23.Nf5+= 14...Kd8



Position after: 14...Kd8 15.Nc6+! A key move. Other tries are clearly worse. A) 15.Rxe7? Kxe7 16.Nf5+ Kd8 17.Bh4 Rg8 18.Nh6 Ke7 19.Nxg8+ Rxg8 20.Bxh7 Kf8 21.Bxg8 Kxg8µ The d5-pawn will fall and Black’s two pieces will be better than the rook and the pawn. B) 15.Qe3? Nb6 16.Nf5 Nbxd5 17.Qd4 Bf8



548



Position after: 17...Bf8 18.Ne3 [18.Be4 Kc8 19.Nxg7 Nxe4 20.Ne8 Qc6! 21.Rxe4 Rg8 22.Nf6 Nxf6 23.Qxf6 Kb8 24.Rxb4 Ka7–+ Black’s king has reached safety, so White lacks adequate compensation for the piece.] 18...Qb6! 19.Be4 Qxd4 20.Rxd4 Nxe3 21.Bxb7 Rb8 22.Bxa6 Nf5 23.Rd5 Nh6µ



Position after: 23...Nh6µ White has some compensation for the piece (thanks to piece activity), but it’s not enough without queens on. 549



C) 15.Nf5? Bf8–+ White simply has no good continuation of the attack. 15...Bxc6 16.dxc6



Position after: 16.dxc6 16...Nc5 16...Qxc6!? A rare, but fully viable alternative. 17.Bxf6



Position after: 17.Bxf6 550



A) 17...Bxf6 This is playable, but leads to a slightly worse endgame in two variations. 18.Be4 Qa4 19.Bxa8 Qxa2



Position after: 19...Qxa2 A1) 20.Rxd6 Qxb2+ 21.Kd1 Qb1+ 22.Ke2 Qxc2+



Position after: 22...Qxc2+ 23.Kf3 [23.Kf1 Qc4+ 24.Rd3 Re8 25.Red1 Kc7 26.f5+ Ne5 27.Bd5 Qb5 28.Rc1+ Kb8 29.Bc4 Qc6 30.Rd4 Qc7 31.Qe1 Qb6 32.Rcd1 Rc8 33.Bd5 This was Sinnet – Kolpak, email 2018. Black’s 551



play can be improved by 33...Qb5+! 34.Kg1 Nc4! 35.Re4 b3 36.Bxc4 Rxc4 37.Re8+ Kb7 38.Qe3 Bg5 39.Qf3+ Kc7=.] 23...Re8 24.Rxe8+ Kxe8 25.Qe1+ Be7 26.Bc6 Qb3+ 27.Kf2 Qc2+ 28.Kg3 Qb3+ 29.Bf3



Position after: 29.Bf3 This is given by Goh Wei Ming. The variation can be extended: 29...Nc5 30.Qe5 Qc3 31.Qxc3 bxc3 32.Bc6+ Kf8 33.Rd4 Ne6 34.Rc4 Bd6 35.Rxc3 Nxf4² when Black should be able to hold this endgame, but White has a risk-free advantage. A2) 20.Qb3 This seems to give White most winning chances. 20...Qa1+ 21.Kd2 Qxb2 22.Ke3 Re8+ 23.Kf3 Rxe1 24.Rxe1² Black has a number of defensive tries, but equality is not in view yet. B) 17...Nxf6 18.Qxg7 Re8



552



Position after: 18...Re8 19.Qxf7 [19.Rxe7 Kxe7 20.Re1+ Kd7 21.Qxf7+ Kc8 22.Re6 Rxe6 23.Qxe6+ Kc7 24.Qxf6 Rd8= Both sides’ trumps are balanced.] 19...Ra7 20.Rxe7 Raxe7 21.Qxf6



Position after: 21.Qxf6 Wei Ming writes that this is a risk-free edge for White, but I don’t agree. Black has enough counterplay: 21...Qc5 22.Qg5 [22.Bxa6 Kc7 23.Qd4 Qxd4 24.Rxd4 Re4 25.Rxe4 Rxe4 26.g3 Re1+ 27.Kd2 Rh1 28.g4 Rxh2+ 29.Be2 h6 30.c3 bxc3+ 31.bxc3 Rh1= ½-½ Soberano – Wunderlich, 553



email 2007] 22...Kc7 23.Qxc5+ dxc5 24.Bxa6 Re4 25.g3 c4 26.Bb5 R8e6=. 17.Bh4!



Position after: 17.Bh4! The point is that the attack on g7 is unpleasant to face. 17...Rg8 An only move. A) 17...g6? 18.Rxe7! Qxe7 19.Re1 Ne6 20.f5 gxf5 21.Qh3 Rg8 22.Qxf5 Rg6 23.Qf2 Kc7 24.Bxg6 hxg6 25.Bxf6+– B) 17...Bf8? 18.Bc4 Qxc6 19.Bxf6+ gxf6 20.Bd5 Qc8 21.Qh4 Be7 22.Bxa8 Qxa8 23.Qh5!± A double attack. Black loses the important f7 pawn.



554



Position after: 17...Rg8 18.Bf5 Black has to be careful here. There are only two satisfactory options. A) 18.Bxh7 The bluntest approach, but it is relatively easy for Black to cope with it. 18...Rh8 19.Qxg7 Rxh7 20.Qxf6 Rxh4 21.Qxf7 Rh8 22.Re5! Na4! 23.Re3 [23.Re6 Nc5 repeats the position, but this probably White’s best continuation anyway.] 23...Ra7 24.Rde1 Qxc6 25.Rxe7 Rxe7



Position after: 25...Rxe7 555



A1) 26.Rxe7 Nc5 [Or 26...Nb6 27.b3 Qc3= and in two correspondence games draws were agreed here. Indeed, sooner or later the game should result in a perpetual check.] 27.f5 Rg8 28.Rb7 Qxb7 29.Qxg8+ Kc7 30.Qf7+ Nd7 31.Qc4+ Nc5= and draw agreed in Jonsson – Jankowiak, email 2012. A2) 26.Qxe7+ Kc8 27.h4



Position after: 27.h4 A2.1) 27...Qd5 This is a forcing route to a draw. 28.Rd1 [28.Qe2?! Nc5 29.Qg4+ Kd8 30.f5 Rf8 31.Qxb4 Qxf5³ In Pontikis – Noble, email 2008, a draw was agreed here, but Black is to be slightly preferred.] 28...Qxa2 29.Rxd6 Qxb2+ 30.Kd1



556



Position after: 30.Kd1 30...Qa1+ [30...Nc3+ 31.Kd2 Nb1+ 32.Ke1 Qc1+ 33.Rd1 Qxf4 34.Qe6+ Kb8 35.Qb6+=] 31.Ke2 Nc3+ 32.Kf2 Qa5 33.Qe6+ Kb8 34.Kf3 Qc5 35.Rxa6 Kb7 36.Rd6= A2.2) 27...Nc5 28.Rd1 Rd8³



Position after: 28...Rd8³ It is not easy for White to continue advancing their pawns and Black’s forces are wellcoordinated. Black is slightly better. 557



B) 18.Bc4? This move misses the mark. 18...Nfe4 19.Qg4 Ra7 20.Bd5



Position after: 20.Bd5 20...Bxh4! [20...Nf6 is also better for Black: 21.Qf3 Nxd5 22.Bf2 Nxf4 23.Bxc5 Ne6 24.Be3 Ke8 25.Bxa7 Qxa7µ White didn’t have adequate compensation and Black went on to win in Zoll – Cunha, email 2008.] 21.Qxh4+ Nf6 22.Bf3 [22.g4 Re8–+] 22...Kc8 23.g4 Re8!–+ White has very little to show for the piece.



Position after: 18.Bf5



558



18...a5 A) 18...Ra7? 19.Re5!



Position after: 19.Re5! 19...Ke8 [19...Na4 20.Qb3+–; 19...Qxc6 20.Rxe7 Kxe7 21.Bxf6+ Kf8 22.Bxh7±] 20.Bxf6 dxe5 21.Bd7+ Nxd7 [21...Kf8 22.Bxe7+ Kxe7 23.Qe3 Ne6 24.f5 Nf8 25.Qc5+ Kd8 26.Qxb4 a5 27.Qh4+ f6 28.Be6++–] 22.cxd7+



Position after: 22.cxd7+ 559



A1) 22...Qxd7 23.Rxd7 Rxd7 24.Bxe7 Kxe7 [24...Rxe7 25.fxe5+– b4, also falls, with a winning advantage for White.] 25.Qh4+ g5 26.Qe1!+– Black’s pawns will fall one after another. A2) 22...Kd8 23.Bxe7+ Kxe7 24.Qh4+ f6 25.fxe5 Rd8 26.Qxb4+ Kf7 27.e6+ Kxe6 28.Re1+ Kxd7 29.Re7+ Kc6 30.Qe4+ Kb6



Position after: 30...Kb6 31.Qe3+! This is even more precise than 31.Rxc7. 31...Kc6 32.Qe6+ Rd6 [32...Kb7 33.b4+– The queenside pawns decide the issue.] 33.Qc4+ Kb6 34.Qb3+ Kc6 35.Qc3+ Kb6 36.Qe3+ Qc5 37.Qxc5+ Kxc5 38.Rxa7+– The rook endgame is completely winning for White. B) 18...g6? 19.Qe3 gxf5 20.Qxc5 Rg6 21.g4!+–



560



Position after: 21.g4!+– It is not hard to notice that this breakthrough ends the game. C) 18...Qxc6! This move has been very rarely played, but it is an easier road to equality than 18...a5. 19.Bxh7 Re8 20.Rxe7 Rxe7 21.Qxg7 Nxh7 22.Qxf7 Raa7 23.Qxh7 Qe4 24.Qxe4 [24.Qg8+?! Kd7 25.Bxe7 Qxe7 26.Qc4 Qe3+ 27.Kb1 Rc7 28.Qxb4 Ne4³ Black is slightly for choice.] 24...Nxe4=



Position after: 24...Nxe4= Some play remains, but the endgame should end in a draw. One example is: 25.Rd4 Kc8 26.Bxe7 561



Rxe7 27.Rxb4 d5 28.Rb3 Rg7 29.g3 Rh7 30.h4 Rg7 31.h5 Nf6 32.h6 Rh7 33.Rb6 Rxh6 34.f5 a5 35.b3 Rh1+ 36.Kb2 Ne4 37.Rb5 a4 38.g4 axb3 39.axb3 Rd1 40.Rb6 Kc7 41.Rg6 Rf1 42.b4 Rf3 43.b5 Nf2 44.f6 Kb6 45.g5 Kxb5 46.f7 Rxf7 47.Rf6 Nd1+ 48.Kc1 Rg7 49.Kxd1 ½-½ Oechslein – Evgrafov, email 2013.



Position after: 18...a5 19.Qe3 White attacks some squares and leaves the way for the g-pawn to advance. A) 19.Kb1 Ra7 20.Re2 [20.Re5?! Ke8! 21.Bd7+ Ncxd7 22.cxd7+ Kxd7! 23.Rxe7+ Kxe7 24.Bxf6+ Kf8 25.Bd4 Ra8µ White lacks adequate compensation for the exchange.] 20...g6 21.Bd7 Ncxd7 22.cxd7 Qxd7 23.Rde1 Qf5 24.Qf3 Ne4!



562



Position after: 24...Ne4! Relieving the tension and forcing simplifications. 25.Bxe7+ Rxe7 26.Rxe4 Rxe4 27.Rxe4 [27.Qxe4 Qxe4 28.Rxe4=] 27...Re8 28.Rxe8+ Kxe8= B) 19.Re2?! Qxc6 20.Bxh7 Re8 21.Rxe7 Rxe7 22.Qxg7 Nxh7 23.Qxf7 Raa7 24.Qxh7 Qe4 25.Qxe4 Nxe4³



Position after: 25...Nxe4³ This is a better version of the 18....Qxc6 variation, since Black’s pawn is already on a5. It is Black 563



who can play for the win here. 19...Ne6



Position after: 19...Ne6 20.Bh3 A) 20.g4 Re8 21.Qf3



Position after: 21.Qf3 564



A1) 21...Ra6 22.g5 Qxc6 23.Qxc6 Rxc6 transposes to 21...Rc8 A2) 21...Ng8?! This passive move is very risky. 22.g5! g6 23.Rxe6!



Position after: 23.Rxe6! 23...gxf5 [23...fxe6 24.Bxe6 Nh6 25.Bd7 Nf5 26.Bf2+– Black is a full rook up, but is completely paralysed. White should slowly but surely improve the position and win.] 24.Re5! Ra6 25.Rc5! Preserving the strong c6-pawn. 25...f6 26.Rc4²



Position after: 26.Rc4² 565



Objectively Black should survive, but it might be hard to defend in practice. A3) 21...Rc8 22.g5 Qxc6 23.Qxc6 Rxc6 24.gxf6 Bxf6 25.Bxf6+ gxf6 26.Bxh7 Nxf4 27.Rf1 Nh5 28.Rd4=



Position after: 28.Rd4= White has enough compensation for the pawn (based on Black’s doubled pawns and offside knight), but not more. B) 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Kb1 Ra6 22.Bxh7 Rxg2 23.Qf3 Rxh2 24.Rxe6 Qxc6 25.Be4 Qc5 26.Qg3 fxe6 27.Qxh2=



566



Position after: 27.Qxh2= Black’s extra pawn doesn’t count for much in this opposite-colored bishop position. 20...Re8 21.f5 Nf8 22.g4 Qxc6 23.g5 Kc7 24.Qd4 N6d7



Position after: 24...N6d7 25.f6 25.Qxg7 is also possible and should ultimately lead to a draw: 25...a4 26.Kb1 Ra5 27.f6 b3 28.cxb3 axb3 29.Rc1 bxa2+ 30.Ka1 Rc5 31.Rxc5 Nxc5 32.Rxe7+ Rxe7 33.fxe7



567



Position after: 33.fxe7 In Hefka – Mielke, email 2009, a draw was agreed because of 33...Nb3+ 34.Kxa2 Qa4+ 35.Kb1 Qe4+ 36.Ka2 Qa4+=. 25...gxf6 26.gxf6 Bxf6 27.Bxf6 Rxe1 28.Rxe1



Position after: 28.Rxe1 28...a4!? 568



28...Ne6 is a simple way to a draw: 29.Bxe6 fxe6 30.Rxe6 Qh1+ 31.Qd1 Qxd1+ 32.Kxd1 Rg8 33.Be7 Rg1+ 34.Ke2 Rg2+ 35.Kd1 Rg1+ ½-½ Betker – Figlio, email 2014. 29.Re7 leads to a forced draw. 29.Bf5 is not so forcing, but still equal, e.g. 29...Ne6 30.Qh4 Qc5 31.Bxh7 a3 32.Kb1 Rb8 33.Rd1 Nxf6 34.Qxf6 Qe5 35.Rf1 Rf8 36.Kc1 Qe3+ 37.Kb1 Nc5 38.Qf4 Qxf4 39.Rxf4 d5 40.Rxb4 f5 41.Rd4 Rf7 42.Bg6 Rg7 43.Bh5 Ne4 44.bxa3 Kd6 45.Rd3 Ke5 46.Bf3 d4 47.Kb2 Nc3 48.h4 Rg8 49.h5 Rb8+ ½-½ Le Page – Kraft, email 2011 29...b3 30.axb3 Qh1+ 31.Kd2 Qxh2+ 32.Kc1 Qh1+ 33.Kd2=



Position after: 33.Kd2= Conclusion The 11...Be7 line is in great theoretical shape. White has nothing better than the 12.Qg3 13.Nd5 piece sacrifice, but it doesn’t offer any hopes of an edge against good preparation. In particular the 18...Qxc6! line is an easy road to risk-free equality.



569



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Part IV Test Your Knowledge Chapter 13 Exercises 1 Chapter 1



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Nxe4!µ A simple but important trap to remeber.



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2 Chapter 1



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Bc5! An important move, increasing pressure on the d4-knight and avoiding 1...0-0?!, which leads to the next exercise.



3 Chapter 1



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1.Bh6!‚ A cold shower for Black. White has a dangerous attack.



4 Chapter 1



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1.Nf4! A brutal attack. 1...0-0 leads us to the next exercise.



5 Chapter 1



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1.Nd5! exd5 2.Nf5 White is better in all lines.



6 Chapter 1



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1.Nd5! exd5 2.e5! The point. White gets a huge edge.



7 Chapter 1



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1.Ne7+! A spectacular strike. 1...Qxe7 2.gxf6 Qe5 3.Rg1 Bg4 4.f7+ Rxf7 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Qxh7+ Kf6 7.Qh4+ Qg5+ 8.Qxg5+ Kxg5 9.h3±



8 Chapter 1



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1.Bxf6! Nxf6 2.g5 Nh5 3.Bh3! The only effective way to cope with Black’s central advance.



9 Chapter 1



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■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Ng4! This move refutes the whole piece sacrifice. 2.Re1 Nxe3 3.Rxe3 Ne5 4.Rd4 g5µ Black has promising kingside play.



10 Chapter 1



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■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Rb8! Activating the rook.



11 Chapter 1



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1...e4! 2.Bxe4 Ne5 3.Qe2 Rxe4! 4.Qxe4 f5! The deep point of ...Rb8. Black gets great compensation for the exchange.



12 Chapter 1



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1...Nf8! Rerouting the knight to the dark squares on the kingside.



13 Chapter 1



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1.Qe3! This attack is very problematic, as White hits the bishop directly and the e6-point indirectly.



14 Chapter 1



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1.Rfe1! A slow, but strong attack in the centre.



15 Chapter 1



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1.b4!? The most challenging choice.



16 Chapter 1



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■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...h5! A very non-obvious choice. Black prevents Bxh6 and prepares ...0-0.



17 Chapter 1



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1.g4! This aggressive move sets Black serious problems.



18 Chapter 1



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■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...h5!³ Black stifles White’s kingside attack.



19 Chapter 1



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1...Rd8! Preparing ...Bb7 and ...Ne8. Not 1...Ne5?! 2.Qd4 Ng6 The knight is passive here. 3.b3 Bb7 4.Qb4²



20 Chapter 1



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□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Bh6! Not 1.Rxd7 Nxe4 2.Nxe4 Bxe4 3.Bf6 Bg6, when Black gets promising play on the queenside. 1.Bh6! Nh5 2.Qg5 Qxg5+ 3.Bxg5 Ne5 4.a4² White gets nice prospects thanks to Black’s misplaced pieces.



21 Chapter 1



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1.Rg6!± White takes the opportunity to reroute the rook to a better position.



22 Chapter 1



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□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.h4! White blocks the freeing ...g5 resource.



23 Chapter 1



591



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1...Rh6!= A crucial activation.



24 Chapter 2



592



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Qg4! Targeting the weakened e6-square.



25 Chapter 2



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1...hxg5! Black needs to sacrifice the exchange in order not to lag behind in development. 2.Bf3 Qc7 3.Bxa8 Nxe5 4.Qg3 f6© with nice dark-square compensation.



26 Chapter 2



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1.Rhf1! Introducing all pieces into the attack.



27 Chapter 2



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A very subtle play is required from White: 1.Qh3! Be7 2.Bg3! 0-0 3.Rde1 Bd6 4.Rf6 b4 5.Bxf7+! The point of the whole operation. 5...Nxf7 6.Bxd6 Qxd6 7.Rexe6 Qxe6 8.Qxe6 Rc6 9.Qf5 Rxf6 10.Qxf6 bxc3 11.Qg6+ Kh8 12.bxc3±



28 Chapter 2



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1.Qd2! An extremely strong silent move.



29 Chapter 2



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□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.g4!? The most promising choice. 1...gxf6 2.h4© with nice compensation for the pawn.



30 Chapter 2



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1.Kh1! It is immediately obvious how useful it is to escape all the pins and checks.



31 Chapter 2



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1.Qe1! White avoids the queen exchange and directs the queen towards the kngside.



32 Chapter 2



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□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Qg3! In case of 1....fxe4 Black gets killed by 2.Ne5!



33 Chapter 2



601



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1.Nxe6!? This queen sacrifice leads to a draw, but poses Black a few questions. 1...Rxd1 2.Raxd1 Qg8! 3.Ng4 h6! 4.Nd4 Qg5! 5.Ne6 Qg8=



34 Chapter 2



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1.Qc3!! An enormously strong piece sacrifice. 1...b4 2.Qc4 Bxe4 3.Rae1 Rxd4 4.Qxd4 Bxf3 5.Rxf3 Nd7 6.Kh1 Nxf6 7.Qc4! Black’s king is critically weak.



35 Chapter 2



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1.Rab1! White wins with the same idea after both pawn captures. 1...Qxa2 1...Qxc2 2.Nfg5! 2.Nfg5!



36 Chapter 2



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1...Qb4! Black holds their own thanks to this resource. 2.c4 Bxe4 3.Qxe4 gxf6=



37 Chapter 2



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1.a4! A decisive breakthrough. 1...b4 2.Rxb4! Nc6 3.Rc4 Qe5 4.Nf3 Qa5 5.Kh1+–



38 Chapter 2



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1.Kh1! This strong prophylactic move should win the game! 1...Qe5 brings us to the next exercise.



39 Chapter 2



607



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1.Rb3! White should win by attacking via the 3rd rank.



40 Chapter 2



608



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Rf4!± Preparing to double the rooks on the f-file.



41 Chapter 2



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1...Ke7! An absolutely only move! 2.Rxf7+ Kxd6 3.Rd1+ Kc5 4.Rxa7 Bxb2 5.Bg4 a3² Black gets his counterchances.



42 Chapter 2



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1.c4! b4 2.Bd1! The bishop attacks from a4, which is too much for Black to handle.



43 Chapter 2



611



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1.Kh1! Again, this prophylactic move proves to be extremely strong.



44 Chapter 2



612



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1.Qh4! h6 2.Qg3 0-0 3.Ne5!+– A vicious attack, which wins the game.



613



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45 Chapter 2



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1.h3!± As you can see, prophylaxis is the key to this chapter.



46 Chapter 2



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1.Nxf7! White gets great winning chances after this shot, which is better than 1.Qxe5: 1.Nxf7! Qxe4 2.Rxe4 Rxf7 3.Bh5 0-0 4.Bxf7+ Rxf7 5.Rb1 Nd7 6.Rxe6 a5 7.Rxh6 Nc5 8.Rc6 Nxa4 9.h4!±



47 Chapter 3



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1.Bb5! The key idea behind White’s piece sacrifice.



48 Chapter 3



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1...Rh7! The only defence.



49 Chapter 3



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1...Qd4+! Exchanging the queens helps Black, because their exposed king position is no longer an issue.



50 Chapter 3



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1.Nf3! Targeting the weak points in Black’s camp.



51 Chapter 3



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1.Rf1!+– The threat of Ng5 or Nxe5 decides the issue.



52 Chapter 3



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1.Rdd3! Getting another rook to the key part of the board, the kingside.



53 Chapter 3



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1.Nb1!+– The threat of Nd2-c4 decides the game.



54 Chapter 4



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1.c3! Now after the potential ...Qxb2 Rb1 (1...Qxb2 Rb1) there is no ...Qxe5.



55 Chapter 4



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1.g6! A disruptive sacrifice.



56 Chapter 4



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1.b4! Stopping any b-file action and taking the c5-square under control. 1...dxe5 2.Bf2 Qc7 leads to the next exercise.



57 Chapter 4



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1.g6! This typical sacrifice again works perfectly.



58 Chapter 5



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1.Bb5+! The only way to stay in the game.



59 Chapter 5



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1.Rd1! The only way to keep the initiative going. 1...Nd7 2.Rxd5! exd5 3.Qe6+ Be7 4.Bh6 Rd8 5.Bg7 Rf8 6.Bxf8 Nxf8 7.Qf5³ Thanks to this strong sequence, White is only slightly worse.



60 Chapter 5



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1.Ncb5! A critical move. 1...axb5 2.Bxb5+ Nbd7 3.Qh3 leads to the next exercise.



61 Chapter 5



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1...b3! An easy-to-miss resource, guaranteeing Black equal chances.



62 Chapter 5



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1...d5! Not 1...Bb7? 2.Qh5! with problems with the e6-square. 1...d5! 2.exf6 b4 Black gets the better chances.



63 Chapter 5



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1...h5!–+ Black introduces the ...Rh6 idea, leaving White with no compensation.



64 Chapter 5



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1...f5! This sacrifice is pivotal in achieving good chances. 2.exf5 e5 3.Ne6 Nxe6 4.fxe6 Kb8© Planning ...d5, with a nice compensation.



65 Chapter 5



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■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Bh6+ 2.Kb1 Qb6! 3.b3 Be3! A great way to activate the bishop.



66 Chapter 5



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■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...f5! 2.exf5 Qc5 3.Qh3 Bg7 Black achieves powerful play along tha a1-h8 diagonal.



67 Chapter 5



635



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Nd1!? More challenging than 1.b3, which gives Black a hook to attack. 1.Nd1!? Qa5 2.Kb1!? A deep pawn sacrifice. 2...exf5 3.exf5 Qxf5 4.Re1 Qxf3 5.Bxf3©



68 Chapter 5



636



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...exf5! This solves most of Black’s problems in a concrete way.



69 Chapter 5



637



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Nxc6! bxc6 2.e5! dxe5 3.Qxe5! This forcing continuation is the toughest test of Black’s setup.



70 Chapter 5



638



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Qe1! A subtle, yet strong move.



71 Chapter 5



639



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.g6! A decisive piece sacrifice.



72 Chapter 5



640



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Nd5!! The killing blow.



73 Chapter 5



641



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...g5! A tactical solution to Black’s opening problems.



74 Chapter 5



642



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Ng4! A key interference.



75 Chapter 6



643



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...0-0! Black shouldn’t dare accept the bishop sacrifice and should instead go for queenside compensation for the pawn.



76 Chapter 6



644



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Qc4! Black attacks before White manages to consolidate.



77 Chapter 6



645



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Qh3! The reason why ...h6 is inaccurate. 1...Nb6 2.f5 e5 3.Nb3 Bd7 4.Nd2 0-0-0 5.Bxf6 Bxf6 We get to the next exercise.



78 Chapter 6



646



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Bc4!² A tactical finesse, which guarantees White the control over the d5-square.



79 Chapter 6



647



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.c3!² Not 1.Bd3 allowing 1...Qc5!, which forces White to put the bishop on e4. Now White puts the knight on e4 and starts attacking on the kingside.



80 Chapter 6



648



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Qd2! Disabling 1...hxg5 in view of 2.Nb3! 1...Bxg5 2.Bxg5 Qxg5 3.Be2 Nhf6 4.Nf3 Qxd2+ 5.Rxd2 Ke7 6.Rhd1 Ne8 7.Rd4 b6 8.a4²



81 Chapter 6



649



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Rg1! 0-0-0 2.Rxg5! Bxg5 3.Qxg5!± White gets great dark-square play for the exchange.



82 Chapter 6



650



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...b4! Attacking c3 and defending e5.



83 Chapter 6



651



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Rf8! Exchanging the dangerous rook.



84 Chapter 6



652



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Bc6! A non-obvious, but crucial move. 2.Rxc4 f6 3.Rd4 We get to the next exercise.



85 Chapter 6



653



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Qa5! Black gets counterplay against White’s king.



86 Chapter 7



654



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...b6! The only satisfactory defence! 2.Bg2 Rb8 3.Nxg5 hxg5 4.Qh6 Qc5= Black is ready for ...Bb7 with equality.



87 Chapter 7



655



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.e5! dxe5 2.Ne4+– Black’s position falls to pieces.



88 Chapter 7



656



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Rh3! White defends c3 and prepares g5.



657



Show in Text Mode



89 Chapter 7



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...g6!³ Black prevents f5 and prepares ...0-0-0.



90 Chapter 7



658



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Rb8! It is crucial to remember that this, and not 1...Bb7, is the right way to proceed.



91 Chapter 7



659



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Bf1!+– White wins. The point is 1...Rb8+ 2.Nb5! Bxb5 3.Qa7!



92 Chapter 7



660



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Qh5! a4 2.Rg7! axb3 3.Bf1! White attacks from all angles.



93 Chapter 7



661



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...h5! Black should prevent Qh5.



94 Chapter 7



662



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Kd7! Black has to evacuate the king in order to survive. 2.Nc6 Rg4! Black is fine.



95 Chapter 7



663



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Nxe6! An easy-to-miss strike. 1...Bxe6 2.Bxe6 Nxe6 3.Nd5 Qa5 4.Nxb4 Qxb4 5.gxf6 Bd8 6.Kb1±



96 Chapter 7



664



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Rxd4! 2.Rxd4 gxf6 White can’t play 3.gxf6 because of 3...Nb3+!, therefore Black gets good counterchances.



97 Chapter 7



665



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Qf4+! 2.Qxf4 Nxf4 3.exd6 Bxd6! The point. Black equalizes.



98 Chapter 7



666



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Qb6! 2.Qh3 h5 3.Bxh5 Rxd4! 4.Rxd4 Na4! Black holds thanks to this unusual motif.



99 Chapter 7



667



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Rb8! 2.Nc6 Nc3+! Black forces a draw: 3.Ka1 Rxb4 4.Rd8+ Kg7 5.Rd7+ Kg8 6.Rd8+=



100 Chapter 7



668



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Nf5! White has to go for active play, even at the cost of sacrificing some material. 1.Nb3? 0-0µ is painfully passive.



101 Chapter 7



669



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...0-0! The best way to cope with White’s attack.



102 Chapter 7



670



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Nf5! Again, White needs this sacrifice to stay active.



103 Chapter 7



671



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Ra4! A key counterplay-producing move.



104 Chapter 8



672



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Rc4! 2.Qg1 Rxh5 3.Rxh5 Rg4 4.Qb6 Qc7! The point. The white queen is kept at bay.



105 Chapter 8



673



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Rcf8! Deactivating the d4-rook. 2.Rdd1 g5=



106 Chapter 8



674



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.a4! This is why Black should play ...Rcf8 first. 1...Re8 gets us to the next exercise.



107 Chapter 8



675



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Rf4! A beautiful tactic, which forces a favourable endgame. 1...Ree5 2.Rhf1 Rf7 3.Qxd7 Rxd7 4.Rf6±



108 Chapter 8



676



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Nb4! Even in a highly favourable position like this, accuracy is required. 1...Rb6 2.h4! Bxh4 3.Qh3 Rf2 4.Nd3! The point. 4...Nxd3 5.Bxd3 Rf4 6.Rdf1+–



109 Chapter 8



677



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Nd5! Of course! This attack wins!



110 Chapter 8



678



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Qf4! Increasing the pressure on e5.



111 Chapter 8



679



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.a4! Black is paralysed and White won by advancing the queenside pawns.



112 Chapter 8



680



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Nd7! Black defends by rerouting the knight to the excellent e5-outpost.



113 Chapter 8



681



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Re1! Black has no defence against Nd5! 1...Na4 2.Nd5 Qa7 leads to the next exercise.



114 Chapter 8



682



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Qd1! A strategic retreat.



115 Chapter 8



683



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Rg5! White wins a la tempo: 1...Rb8 1...Ne5 2.Rxe5! dxe5 3.Nc6+– 2.Ncb5! Rxb5 3.Nxb5 axb5 4.Rxb5 Qa4 5.Qc3! Qa8 6.Ra5! Qb8 7.Bb5+–



116 Chapter 8



684



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Bb5+!! The star move of the whole variation. 1...Rxb5 2.Ndxb5 axb5 3.e5! Opening the lines. 3...Bb7 4.Qe3 d5 leads to the next exercise. 4...Qc4 5.exd6 b4 leads to another exercise.



117 Chapter 8



685



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Rd4 Qa5 2.b4 Qb6 3.bxc5 Bxc5 4.Qg3!+– The point. 4...Bxd4 loses to 5.Rxf7!



118 Chapter 8



686



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Rg5! Bringing the rook to the centre of the action. 1...Nd7 2.Rb5! Bc8 3.Qe4 Qxe4 4.Nxe4 White gets a won endgame.



119 Chapter 8



687



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Bh3! b4 2.Nd5 exd5 3.exd5 White has the winning initiative.



120 Chapter 8



688



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...d5! Black needs not fear taking on e6: 2.Nxe6 Nxe6 3.Qxe6+ Kh8 4.exd5 Bd6! 5.Nh5 Rae8 6.Qg4 Bc8 7.Qd4 Qf7–+



121 Chapter 8



689



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...d5! Establishing a strong centre.



122 Chapter 8



690



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Ne4! The e5-pawn falls. 2.Bxd5 Bxd5 3.Nxe4 Qxe5 4.Rhe1 Rae8³ Black has more than adequate compensation for the pawn.



123 Chapter 8



691



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



White saves a draw by means of: 1.Qd4! Ne6 2.Qxg7+! Nxg7 3.Nh6+ Kh8 4.Nxf7+ Kg8 5.Nh6+=



124 Chapter 8



692



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Kg8! Black prepares ...Nf8. Although it’s still unpleasant, the endgame should be holdable.



125 Chapter 8



693



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Nc5!± A little trick that gives White a big edge.



126 Chapter 8



694



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Bg4! The only equalizing move. 2.Rd2 Qxe7! 3.Nf5 Qxg5! Black still has to show precise play, but he should reach equality.



127 Chapter 8



695



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...d5! A break at the seemingly strongest point.



128 Chapter 8



696



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...d5! In this way Black in fact prevents the white queen’s appearance on d5.



129 Chapter 8



697



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Rxe7! This is the right capture. The queen should go to c5.



130 Chapter 8



698



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Kf8! The king should evacuate to the centre/queenside.



131 Chapter 8



699



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...a5! The ...a4-a3 advance gives Black enough counterplay.



132 Chapter 9



700



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.e5! Bb7 2.Nxe6! fxe6 3.Bg6+ Kd8 4.Qh3+– White has a winning attack.



701



Show in Text Mode



133 Chapter 9



□ 1.? +– Show/Hide Solution



White wins by force: 1.Nb5! Qc5 2.b4! Qe3+ 3.Kb1 Qb6 4.Qxe5 Kd8 5.Bc4+ Bd7 6.a3 Rc8 7.Be2+–



134 Chapter 9



702



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Bd7! Black has to control the 8th rank with the rook.



135 Chapter 9



703



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.a4!+– White opens the second front, which is two much for Black to handle.



136 Chapter 9



704



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Na4! Attacking from the other side. 1...Rc8 2.Qa3+ Ke8 3.Qh3 Ke7=



137 Chapter 9



705



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Rhg1! Much stronger than 1.g5 Nh7!



138 Chapter 9



706



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Nxe6! Qb6 2.bxc3! White wins.



139 Chapter 9



707



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Kb1! Prophylaxis before continuing the attack. 1...Kh7 2.Nxe6! Rg8 leads to the next exercise.



140 Chapter 9



708



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Ng5+ Kg7 2.Bxg6! White’s attack breaks through.



141 Chapter 9



709



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.a4!! One of the least comprehensible computer moves of this book, which, frankly, has to be memorized.



142 Chapter 9



710



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Re8+! Rxe8 2.Nxf5 A small trick preserving the advantage.



143 Chapter 9



711



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...b4! White has no good retreat.



144 Chapter 9



712



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.a4! Not giving Black the chance to fix the queenside with ...a5-a4.



145 Chapter 9



713



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...a4! After fixing the structure Black should draw.



146 Chapter 10



714



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Na2! Stopping ...b4 and preparing Rg3-b3.



147 Chapter 10



715



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Rh1! An important tactical resource.



148 Chapter 10



716



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...b4! 2.axb4 Qc4 This is the road to equality.



149 Chapter 10



717



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.g6! Bxh4 2.gxf7+ Ke7 leads to the next exercise.



150 Chapter 10



718



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.g5! Opening up the key Bh3 possibility.



151 Chapter 10



719



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Ra2+! A drawing resource. 2.Qxa2 Qxe5+ 3.Kc1 Qe1+ 4.Kb2 Qc3+ 5.Kc1 Qe1+=



152 Chapter 10



720



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Rc5! More accurate than 1...Rxc3?! 2.Bxf6! 1...Rc5! 2.Bc1 Rxc3 3.Qxc3 Qxc3 4.bxc3 Nxe4©



153 Chapter 10



721



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Qc5! Black’s best bet.



154 Chapter 10



722



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Nb3! It’s important to prevent ...a5. 1...e5 2.g5 We get to the next exercise.



155 Chapter 10



723



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Rh4! Although it doesn’t solve all Black’s problems it’s the absolutely only move.



156 Chapter 10



724



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Bf2! 2.Rg2 Rh3! Attacking and not allowing White to coordinate.



157 Chapter 11



725



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Ncxb5! The only way to justify White’s previous play. 1...Qb6 2.fxe5 Nd5 3.Qb3 with a dynamic balance.



158 Chapter 11



726



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...0-0! A powerful piece sacrifice. 2.gxf6 Bxf6 3.Nb3 a5 4.Rd3 a4 5.Nd2 Kh8© Black has a great compensation.



159 Chapter 11



727



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Bc6! Preapring the crucial ...b5-b4 advance.



160 Chapter 11



728



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...b4! Not 1...Nxd5?? 2.Nxd5 Bxd5 3.Nxb5! axb5 4.Rxd5+–



161 Chapter 11



729



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Nc6! Nc5! 2.Qb6 f6! The complications should soon end in a draw.



162 Chapter 11



730



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...f5! 2.Bxa6 Re8 3.Bb7 Nb6 4.Bc6 Kf7 5.Bxe8+ Rxe8 6.Bh4 fxg4=



163 Chapter 11



731



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Bd2! 2.Re2 Bf4! The saving resource.



164 Chapter 11



732



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.f5! Getting access to the d5-square.



165 Chapter 12



733



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Bd5! Not allowing the knight to d6. 2.Nc4 Bxc4 3.Bxc4 Rc8=



166 Chapter 12



734



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...b4! 2.Nb1 d5! Black needs to generate activity.



167 Chapter 12



735



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Nc6! This is the point of White’s sacrifice.



168 Chapter 12



736



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.a4! The pawns become a powerful asset.



169 Chapter 12



737



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Bg7! Redeplying the bishop actively instead of taking the pawn.



170 Chapter 12



738



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Bc8! 2.Qf4 Be6 The bishop is both strong and covers the king here.



171 Chapter 12



739



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Nf5! This is the right way to achieve compensation. 1.exd5? Kd8 2.Nc6+ Bxc6 3.dxc6 Nb6µ leaves White with not much for the piece.



172 Chapter 12



740



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Nxg7! Rxg7 2.Bh6 Nh5 3.Qe3 Deep analysis proves that White has enough play to achieve a draw here.



173 Chapter 12



741



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Qb6! 2.Nb3 Rc8! 3.Qg3 Rxc3 4.bxc3 Qc7µ Black has great compensation for the exchange.



174 Chapter 12



742



□ 1.? Show/Hide Solution



1.Nc6+! Bxc6 2.dxc6 Nc5 3.Bh4! This is White’s main concept.



175 Chapter 12



743



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



Black has to remember one or both of the two good options: 1...Qxc6 Or 1...a5.



176 Chapter 12



744



■ 1...? Show/Hide Solution



1...Ne4! A simplifying device. 2.Bxe7+ Rxe7 3.Rxe4 Rxe4 4.Rxe4 Re8 5.Rxe8+ Kxe8=



745



Table of Contents Title page Key to Symbols Bibliography Preface Chapter 1 – Other moves than 7.f4 Chapter 2 – The Polugaevsky Variation Chapter 3 – The Gothenburg Variation Chapter 4 – The 7...Nc6 Variation Chapter 5 – The 7...Qc7 Variation Chapter 6 – Other moves than 10.g4 Chapter 7 – Other moves than 13.f5 Chapter 8 – Mainline with 13.f5 Chapter 9 – Black inserts ...h6 Chapter 10 – Other moves than 8.Qf3 Chapter 11 – Other moves than 10.Bd3 Chapter 12 – Mainline with 10.Bd3 Chapter 13 – Exercises Exercises 45-88 Exercises 89-132 Exercises 133-176



4 5 6 7 8 67 106 123 128 174 218 262 346 388 457 498 570 614 658 702



746