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Introduction 5
placed black knight and the hint lt is hard to believe that Black
of a weakness on d5 give Karpov can be in much danger, but con
enough to play for the win. sider the following variations:
15 .i.e3 f6 a) In response to 23...l:tfd8
16 .i.xa7 �xa7 Karpov had prepared 24 �xe7+
17 � �f4 !:txe7 25 �c5, when Black must
18 h4! avoid 25 . . .l:.xd 1 ? 26 :xd1 �xc5
Karpov hinders Black's king 27 l:.d8+, when he is actually
side counterplay. Now Korchnoi mated, and play 25 . . .:b8 26
should have given up any active �xe6 .i.xe6 27 .i.xe6 :xe6 28
plans for the time being and de l:td7 :es (but not 28 . . .:b6 29
fended passively, starting with l::tad 1 ! l::txb2 30 tlxc7 and 3 1
moves such as . . . .i.t7, . . . c6, :dd7) .
. . �c8,
. . . . g6 and . . �e6.
. b) 23 ... c6 is also unattractive,
18 .tf7 because of 24�xe5 ! fe 25 �f6+
19 �1 �eS gf 26 l:txd7.
20 o �6? e) 23 ... �xd5 24 cd �d8 25
Black refuses to play the de �c5 l:.d6 26�e4 :d7 27 c4 and
fensive move . . . c6, but ends up c4-c5 gives White a large advan
walking into a combination. That tage.
Black has consolidated his posi 24 .i.a4
tion turns out to be an illusion. Karpov forces a further weak
21 �d3 l::rd7 ness on the queenside, which he
22 .i.b3 �7 (D) will use to open the a-file.
Black frees the c8-square for 24 ... b5
the bishop so that he has a reply White's main threat of 25
to the threatened 23 .i.xe6 .i.xe6 �3b4 can be executed after
24�c5 . 24...ltfd8, whilst 24 l::td6 leads
..•
8 lbbxd2 d5
9 ed lbxd5
10 'i'b3 lbce7
11 0-0 0-0
12 l:lfe1 c6
13 a4
A contemporary of Chigorin,
and the second strongest Russian
chess player of the time, Schif
fers was also a well-known theo
retician. In this game he man
ages not only to overcome the
standard Giuoco Piano defence,
but also created a masterpiece of 16 •.. l:lxe8
a combination, which received 17 i.xf7+ �h8
prizes for its beauty. Or 17 ...�f8 1 8 lbxh7+ rj¡;e7
1 3 a4 (alongside 1 3 lbe4) is 1 9 lle1 +, etc.
one of the main continuations. 18 .txe8 lbe2+
13 ... 'i'c7 19 �h1 lbxcl
14 l:lacl! 20 lbf7+ �g8
Threatening a double capture 21 lbh6++ �
on d5. 22 'i'g8+ �e7
14 ... lbf4? 23 .txg6 hg
If 14 �e6, then 1 5 lbg5. The
••. 24 'i'xg7+ c¡i¡ld8
best way to avoid problems on 25 'i'f8+ �d7
the e-file would have been 26 lbe4! (D)
14 ...'i'f4!, which was demon
strated more than a quarter of a
century later in a 1 9 1 4 game
Schlechter-Breyer: 1 5 lbe4 .tf5
1 6 lbc5 b6 17 lbd3 .txd3 1 8
.txd3 with a level game. But one
should not be too severe, as
Harmonist was a player from the
Romantic era of chess.
15 lbg5! lbeg6
16 l:le8! (D)
The beginning of a well and
deeply calculated combination,
which Black could prevent only In this quiet move líes the
by paying White off with a point of the combination that
12 Introduction
Game 4
Van der Wiel-Karpov
Amsterdam 1980
In the old Italian manuals this vring, where each side's plan
system of development, 1 e4 eS was almost independent of the
2 lbf3 lbc6 3 .tc4 .teS 4 d3 (D) other' s. In modem chess the
received the name 'Giuoco Pia system has been imbued with
nissirno' , which meant 'very new substance and ideas, and so
quiet garne ' . It is characterized it is now regarded as entirely
by the modest placing of White's suitable for those playing for a
pawn on d3, by which White win. After the natural 4 . . . lbf6
demonstrates a temporary refusal (we should note that recently it
to initiate sharp play by advanc has become quite common to
ing the pawn to d4. transpose to this from the Two
Knights Defence: 3 . . .lbf6 4 d3 ! ?
.teS - for details on the altema
tive 4 . . . .te7, please refer to Gary
Lane's book Winning With the
Bishop's Opening, Chapter 4) a
position arises from which point
the two directions of White's
game separate, as he has a choice
between playing in the centre,
preparing d3-d4, and playing on
the queenside, with the b4 thrust.
S c3 serves as a crossroads be
tween these plans (c3 is also fre
At that time the opening re quently played on the 4th move).
ceived its narne, the play was In Section 1 we will also discuss
reduced to leisurely manoeu- the old move S lbc3.
Section 1: Wh ite Plays i n the Centre
sic examples:
with h3 and g4 after 7 ... 0-0. The transfer of his forces with 6
plan of castling long, 7.. .'ili'd7 8 tbbd2 in this key position, tem
tbbd2 0-0-0, is also risky for porarily refraining from castling
Black as the advanced position in arder to make use of the fl
of the other bishop also allows square. Black sometimes tries to
White to organize a pawn storm attack White's centre without
with gain of time, for example 9 further ado by means of an early
.ltc2 d5 1 0 b4 .ltb6 1 1 a4 (in ... d7-d5 advance. In this case, the
Men-Sherzer, USA Ch 1 992, prelude is the fashionable con
White procrastinated with 1 1 tinuation 5 ... a6, leaving Black
'ti'e2?! :heS 12 lle1 and Black with the possibility of also re
then seized the initiative with turning to the plan with ... d6.
12 ... tbh5 1 3 ed tbf4 14 'ti'e4 We will examine this method
tbd4! 1 5 cd f5, creating danger in a separate chapter.
ous threats) 1 1 ...a5 ! 12 .lta3 ab Sometimes Black first plays
1 3 cb with better prospects for 5 ...0-0, in arder to economize on
White. 1 1 .ltb2 is not bad either: moving the d-pawn, but he
1 1 ...de 1 2 de tbh5 1 3 a4 a5 14 should bear in mind that in this
b5 tbe7 1 5 tbc4 'ti'xd1 1 6 .ltxd1 case White can switch advanta
moving into a good endgame. geously to a flank system with 6
Recent practice has seen both b4 .ltb6 7 a4, where Black's re
Black and White seeking new sources are limited, as the
resources in the opening itself. counter-plan 7 ... a5? does not
Thus White quite often resorts to work because of the undefended
the plan of the quickest possible e5-pawn after 8 b5.
1 White Plays 5 tt:Jc3
past was alrnost universal, has lt:la4 .tb6 9 c3 .:es 10 .ib3 .te6
now practically vanished from 1 1 .tc2 d5 12 d4! lt:lxe4 1 3
use. lts basic disadvantages are lt:lxb6 ab 14 de f6 15 ef 'ii'xf6 1 6
too obvious, as it allows Black to .ie3 .t f7 17 lt:ld2 l:tad8?! (Biack
organize counterplay based on should exchange the knight him
the manoeuvre ... lt:ld4 and pre self with 17 ... lt:lxd2 18 'ii'xd2
paring the freeing move ... d5. lt:le5, although here as well
They fundamental drawbacks White's chances are preferable)
were revealed at the tum of the 18 lt:lxe4 de 19 'ii'g4, and he
century, and we consider it logi ended up in a worse position.
cal to illustrate them in an ex b) It seems better to protect
ample of the art of the masters of the active bishop from exchange
the time - see Game 5. for the knight by 6...a6!?, as in
6 .tg5 is undoubtedly a logi the event of White exchanging
cal method of fighting for an his bishop for it, Black stabilizes
advantage. Then after Black's the centre with 7 .ie3 d6 8 .txc5
breaks the pin with 6...h6 7 .txf6 de, for example 9 .id5 lt:lb4! 1 0
'i'xf6 8 lt:ld5 'ti'd8 9 c3 the basic lt:lxe5 lt:lfxd5 1 1 ed 0-0 (not
position of this variation arises, 1 1 ...lt:lxd5? because of 12 lt:lxf7!
as it is handled nowadays. lt:lxc3 13 'iih5) 12 I:te1 lt:lxd5 1 3
Black's main continuations d4? (White should keep the
here are 9 ... lt:le7 and 9 ... a6. After knight, with 1 3 lt:le4 b6 14 d4,
10 d4 White expands in the cen keeping the chances equal)
tre, although Black's bishop pair 1 3 ... lt:lxc3 14 be 'ii'd5 1 5 l:te3
gives him sufficient counter .te6 and Black's chances are
chances. preferable, 1vanovié-Pandavos,
Nea Makri Z 1 990.
Game 5 6 .te3 (D)
Chigorin-Janowski The more active 6 .tg5 is dis
Cambridge Springs 1904 cussed in the next game.
6 ... .tb6
1 e4 eS 2 lt:lf3 lt:lc6 3 .tc4 The exchanging manoeuvre
.tes 4 d3 lt:lf6 6 ... .txe3 7 fe lt:la5 8 .tb3 lt:lxb3
White Plays 5 tbc3 21
USSR Ch 1 952, but Estrin's rec 8 i..xf6 i..xf3 9 i..xd8 (it might
ommendation deserves attention: be worth playing 9 gf gf 1 0 lbe3)
24 White Plays 5l'iJc3
Game 7
Kholmov-Mi.Tseitlin
Voskresensk 1990
16 li::lh4 b5 h3 g6 27 'iff3 a5
17 .tb3 liJas Here as well after exchanging
18 li::lb 6! li::lxb3+ queens with 27 ...'ili'f4+ 28 'iixf4
19 ab cb ef 29 �d2 l:te8 30 'itd3 Black
20 .l:txd6 'ti'e7 can barely save hirnself.
21 'iih5 �e6 28 �b1 a4 29 b4 'iig5 30 g3
22 li::lf5 .txf5 f5
Full possession of the d-file This move opens all the
guarantees White a big advan floodgates into Black's position.
tage. In the event of queens be 30... h5 should be met by the
ing exchanged with 22 ... 'iig5+ simple 3 1 h4.
23 'iixg5 hg the strength of the 31 'ti'd3 fe 32 'ti'xb5 a3
rook increases, as after 24li::le7+ After 32 .. Jhf2? White gives a
the knight transfers to d5 with linear mate: 33 'iic4 'iii>h 8 34
decisive effect. 'ii'c 8.
23 'ii'xf5l.tad8 24 �d7! 33 'ifd5+ 'iii>h8 34 'ti'xe4 ab 35
It stands to reason that White f4 ef
will not agree to exchange his Here too if queens are ex
domination of the d-file for the changed, 35 . . .'1Wf5 36 'ii'xf5 l:txf5
e5-pawn: 24 .l:txd8 .l:txd8 25 37 .l:Id6, the pawns become easy
�xd8 'ti'xd8 26 'it'xe5 'ifd3 ! and pickings for the rarnpant rook.
the black queen develops great 36 'ii'd4+ 'ti'f6 37 gf 'iii>g8 38
activity. 'iii> xb2 1-0
2 Black Plays ... j,b6
Game 9
Gipslis-Dobrovolsky
Bardejovske Kupele 1991
Black. 10 ltJc4:
a3) After 11 h3 c6! a position a) Now the pawn capture
arises from Krarnnik-Krasenkov, 10 ltJxe4 allows White to main
.•.
1 1 ... h6
Black makes a superficially
useful precautionary move, but
connected with the intended
bishop exchange it is premature
at this point. lt would have been
more logical to play in the centre
with 1 1 ...c6! , as in the game
Kramnik-Krasenkov, USSR Ch
1 99 1 , which continued 1 2 lt:Jxb6
'ii'xb6? ! ( 12 . . . .l1.xb3 1 3 'ii'xb3 16 .ie3!
'ii'b6 is more exact, with roughly An effective pawn sacrifice,
even chances) 1 3 .l1.c2 h6 14 d4 which threatens 17 de. Now in
:ad8 1 5 a4 a5 1 6 b4! ab 1 7 cb the event of 16...ed 17 .ixd4
:fe8 1 8 .l1.e3 'ii'b4 1 9 �b 1 ¡j'a5 .ixd4 1 8 cd White gains an ad
20 Iixb7 .l1.c8 2 1 lib 1 d5 22 lt:Je5 vantage in the centre, but Black
(after 22 ed? Black should con perhaps has no better choice. He
tinue 22 . . .e4 !) 22 ... lt:Jxe5 23 de has apparently overestimated the
de 24 .l1.b6! l:txd 1 25 .l1.xa5 position that arises after White's
�xb 1 , and here by playing 26 combination.
38 Black Plays . .i.b6
..
Game 12
Torre-Wedberg
New York 1988
White more frequently plays the nothing) 10...'ir'f6 with the idea
preparatory 9 h3 or 9 lbc4, re of using the f4-square, although
pulsing 9 ...lbg4 by means of 10 White has enough resources to
4Je3. repulse Black's ternporary activ
9
... lbg4! ity. The character of the possible
The reputation of this ma struggle is well illustrated by the
noeuvre, which has pretensions garne Gipslis-Heine Nielsen,
towards seizing the initiative, has Minsk 1 993, which continued 1 1
not been subject to serious doubt i.g5 'ir'g6 12 'ir'd2 h6 1 3 i.e3
for the last ten years. i.xe3 14 4Jxe3 lbf4 1 5 g3 i.e6
a) We will add only that it is 16 lbh4 'ir'g5 17 'ith1 ( 1 7 lbhf5
also good after the preliminary l:.ae8 1 8 h4 'ir'g6 1 9 'ith2 lbh5
9 i.e6 10 4Jc4 lbg4! , as White
... 20 'it'e2 is reasonable imrnedi
is forced to consent to exchang ately, preserving the better chan
ing pieces after 1 1 lbe3. How ces, as in the garne Ehlvest
ever, delaying the . . . lbg4 sally Karpov frorn Rotterdam 1 989)
allows White, by leading his 17 . . . i.xb3 1 8 ab lbg6 1 9 lbhf5
knight through the 'Spanish' lbce7 20 f4! ef 2 1 gf 'ir'xf4 22
route with 10 lbtl!, to preserve l:tfl 'ir'e5 23 lbg4 'iie6 24 lbfh6+
sorne initiative: gh 25 lbf6+ 'itg7 26 lbh5+ �h7
a l ) Thus in Karpov-Korchnoi, 27 lbf6+ 1h-1h.
Merano Weh ( 10) 1 98 1 , Black d) It rernains only to recall the
exchanged both his bishop and possibility of 9 l:.e8 1 0 lbfl h6
...
queen on b3, but was still forced 1 1 lbg3 i.e6 and now in the
to play a passive waiting garne: event of the retreat 1 2 i.c2,
lO i.xb3 1 1 'jfxb3 'jfcS 12
... Black srnooths out the situation
4Jg3 l:.e8 1 3 h3 l:.b8 14 i.e3 with the breakthrough 12 ... d5 !
'ir'e6 1 5 'iVe6 fe 1 6 �ac l i.e3 17 1 3 'i'ie2 'ii'd7 14 i.e3 i.xe3 1 5
l.'!.e3 l:tbd8 1 8 d4 and White had 'it'xe3 d4, Pripys-Yudasin, USSR
an unceasing initiative. 1 98 1 .
a2) Furthermore, after the 10 l::te2 <it>h8
continuation 10 'jfd7 1 1 i.g5
... 11 h3
4Jh5 12 i.e3 i.xe3 1 3 lbxe3 If White continues to ignore
4Jf6 1 4 i.c2 lbg4 1 5 d4 lbxe3 the knight, Black will attack the
1 6 .l::txe3 i.g4, as played in the centre with greater effect: 1 1
garne Nunn-Srnejkal, Luceme lbtl f5 1 2 ef i.xf5 1 3 lbg3 d5
OL 1 982, 1 7 i.a4! would have 14 lbxf5 l1xf5 1 5 i.e3 lbxe3 1 6
rnaintained a solid initiative for fe i.c5, and he gains preferable
White. chances, as in Yudasin-Malan
b) Occasionally Black tries iuk, Minsk 1 985.
9 lbh5 10 lbfl ( 10 lbxe5 lbxe5
... 11 lbh6!
1 1 'ir'xh5 4Jxd3 gives White 12 l¡Jfl f5 (D)
42 Black Plays ... i..a 7
more natural.
18 ltJg1 l:tad8
19 g3 ltJfg6
20 :n ds
21 'ii'e2 ltJc6
22 lLlg2 :n 3S ... l:tb7?
23 h4 l:.df8 35 ...I:.b8 was necessary, as
24 l:tad1 ltJge7 now White can force an end
In spite of Black's superfi game where Black has numerous
cially attractive pawn centre, the pawn weaknesses.
doubled pawns reduce bis mo 36 :.c1 I:txb6 37 l:txcS I:.xb2+
bility, whilst White has the re- 38 :n :xn 39 lLlxn :as 40
Black Plays ... .i.a 7 47
forces, but is not yet ready for l2J6h7 29 <iti>h 1 (29 f6 l2Jxf6 30
counterplay in the centre 'ii'xf6 .l:.xa 1 3 1 .l:.xa 1 'iie7)
( 1 8 ... d5? 1 9 l2Jxe5). 29... �h8 30 .l:.g 1 f6 and Black
19 a4 eS holds on.
20 ab ab 26 .li.gS hg
21 dS .li.d7 27 .li.xf6 l:txa1
22 :a1 :as 28 l2Jxg7!
23 lLlfS (D) An unpleasant surprise! Black
was apparently counting on
holding out somehow after 28
.U.xa1 i.xf5 29 ef l2Jf4.
28 .l:.xe1+
29 l2Jxe1 l2Jf4
30 l2Jg2!
Now the floodgates are open,
and Black's belated activity will
not save him.
30...l2Jxh3+ 31 <iti>h2 ¡¡a7 32
lZJxe8 'tlfa1 33 i.d1 e4 34 'ii'h6
g3+ 3S fg .li.g1+ 36 <iti>h1 1-0
Game 17
Dolmatov-Kruppa
Irkutsk 1986
which aids the cavalry and the 12 �g3, preserving good re
roo k. sources. For example, he could
sirnplify the position with
12 ... .ltxc4 13 .ltxc4 lba5 14 j_b3
lbxb3 1 5 �xb3 'ii'd7 16 l:He 1
.:feS 1 7 .:.ad 1 c6 with approxi
mately equal chances, Almasi
Siklosi, Kecskemet 1 993.
In the attempt to get a fighting
game, the traditional 12 ...lbe7
(D) is possible, planning the at
tack .lte6-g4, which is no good
straight away: 12 ... .ltg4 1 3 lbe3
.lth5 14 lbf5 and White seizes
the weak f5-square. One may
21 de judge the effectiveness of
22 .l:tfd1 �f8 Black's counterchances from the
23 tbg4 f6 following examples:
24 tbfxh6 lth8
White has won a pawn and
maintained his attack. Tactics
will not save Black either:
24...'ii'xh6 25 tbxh6 g4
(amusing, but no more) 26 �d7+
..txd7 27 �d 1 l:tad8 28 tbfl, etc.
2s ttJrs �g6
26 h4 .ltc4
27 .ltxf4 gf
28 tbxe5+! 1-0
Game 1 8
Psakhis-Ehlvest a) Almasi-Lukacs, Budapest
USSR Ch (Minsk) 1 987 1993, featured 13 l:.e1 tbg6 14
d4 .ltxc4 1 5 �xc4 'ii'e7 1 6 h4
1 e4 eS 2 .ltc4 tbf6 3 d3 tbc6 lbd7 1 7 hg hg 1 8 lbh2 �g7 1 9
4 tbf3 .ltcS 5 c3 d6 6 0-0 0-0 7 lbg4 .l:th8 20 lbe3 c;t>f8 2 1 lbf5
tbbd2 a6 8 .ltb3 .lta7 9 tbc4 �f6 and Black had the initiative
.lte6 on the kingside.
10 a4 b) Spraggett-Marin, Manila IZ
In the event of 10 .ltgS Black 1990 went 13 lbe3 'ifd7 14 .l:.e1
could carry out an operation on �g7 1 5 d4 tbxe4 16 de d5 1 7
Black Plays ... i..a 7 57
reasonable: 1 1 a5 tbg6 12 h3 h6
13 .lte3 .ltxe3 14 tbxe3 d5
equalizing chances, A.Fedorov
Aleksandrov, Nikolaev Z 1 993.
11 a5
1 1 l:te1 is also possible, after
which 1 1 ... b5? only helps White
to carry out his central strategy:
12 tLle3 'i/1d7 1 3 .ltc2! .l::tfe8
( 1 3 ... d5 deserves attention) 1 4 d4
ed 1 5 lLlxd4 ( 1 5 cd? is a typical 14 ... d5
mistake in situations like this, in This is quite fashionable. Af
view of 15 ... d5 16 e5 tbe4 with a ter 14 . lLlxe3 1 5 l:1xe3 i.xb3 1 6
. .
lilfS �d8, winning after lt:'!d3. 2S 'iih8 + 'it>e7 26 .ia3 with the
b) 24 lt:'!xe6 :xf3 ! 2S gf (2S same theme as the previous
66 Modern Systems
Game 2 1
Dolmatov-Salov
lrkutsk 1 986
ile7.
10 ed lt::lxdS
11 d4!
The most energetic. In the
event of 1 1 lt:Jc4 il..g4 1 2 h3
il..xf3 1 3 ilxf3 'iif6 Black gains
equality, Kudrin-Korchnoi, Wijk
aan Zee 1985.
11 il..g4
12 h3 il..hS
13 tt:Jn
13 g4? il..g6 14 de is no good
because of 14... lt::lf4 with an at
Black has saved a tempo to tack.
free himself in the centre. 13 ... e4
9 l:te1 14 lt:Jg3 il..g6
The main continuation. Gip 14 ef! is weak: 15 lhe8+
...
Game 22
Yudasin-Karpov
USSR Ch (Moscow) 1988
head start in battle for the centre: 17 l:td 1 l:.ad8 1 8 ltJa5 White
l O... i.. d7 1 1 d4 liJg6 12 a4 a6 1 3 could have maintained sorne ini
i..a 3 "fie7 14 i..b3 i..a7 1 5 b5 ab tiative) 1 5 ltJcd2 (or 1 5 ltJa5 c5 !)
16 ab i.. xb5? ! (too optirnistic: 15 ... a5 with a complex game
16 .. 0-0 was necessary) 1 7 de
. (Short).
ltJxe5 1 8 ltJxe5 "fixe5 1 9 liJf3 b) 9 .ta7 lO a4 h6 1 1 a5 l:.e8
.•.
(or 1 1 ltJc4 i.. a7) l l ...i.. e6 and practice has not demon
(according to Short's analysis strated any particular superiority
the attack l l ...i.. xh3 12 gh liJf4 for White after this move:
is parried after 1 3 ltJc4 liJxh3+ a) 10 a4 ltJg6 1 1 a5 i..c7 12
1 4 'itfl i.. xf2 1 5 .:.e2 i.. a7 1 6 l:.el leads to a position from the
"fie l , leaving White with sorne game.
advantage) 1 2 ltJc4 i..a7 1 3 i..e3 b) 10 ltJc4 promises nothing
i..e3 14 l;le3 b5 ! (in Short concrete: 10 ... .tc7 1 1 i..g5 ltJg6
Portisch, Brussels 1986, after 12 d4 (in the event of 12 ltJh4
14 ...h6 1 5 d4 "fie7 16 "fiel ltJh7 liJf4 White should play 1 3 liJe3,
White Delays the Queenside Attack 73
after 18 ...'ii'e7 the pin 1 9 �g5 is main ranks and files, and the
unpleasant. outcome of the game is prede
18 'ti'e8 termined.
19 �e3 i.xe3
20 lt:Jxe3 lt:Ja7
20 lt:Jxe4? is no good be
.••
cause of 2 1 lt:Jd5.
21 lha1 lt:Jb5
22 'li'b2! �c6 (D)
Again 22... lt:Jxe4 does not
work because of 23 c4 lt:Jd4 24
lt:Jxd4 ed 25 lt:Jd5 ! .
23 l:r.fe1!
White's main threat 1s 24
lt:Jd5.
23...�xe4 24 c4 �xf3 25 cb
�h5 26 lt:Jd5 lt:Jxd5 27 �xd5 c6 31 ... lid8 32 l:de1 :d7 33 h4
After 27 ... 'ti'xb5 a reasonable h5 34 lig5 �h7 35 i.c2 :d5 36
continuation would be 28 l:r.xe5. :ee5 .l:he5 37 'ii'xe5 'ti'd7 38
28 l:r.xe5 'ti'd7 29 �b3! �g6 l:xg6! fg 39 'fixh5+ �g8 40
30 :d1 'ti'c8 31 b6! �b3+ �f8 41 'fih8+ �e7 42
Now White dominates the 'ti'xa8 1-0
6 Retreating the Bishop to a7
Game 24
Ljubojevit-Hjartarson
Linares 1989
Game 28
Mestel-Greenfeld
Beersheba 1988
l:1ab 1 'ii'f6 with sufficient coun this precaution gives White time
terplay, Miles-Nikolac, Dort- for the manoeuvre lt:Jd2-c4) 1 2
92 Counterattacking with 7.. a5 .
28 ... dS?
For the whole game Black has
been playing actively, but his As both sides have castled,
passion has subsided, and now this move, connected with the
he needs a clear head: 28 . . . ed 29 following knight manoeuvre, is
cd l:Iad8 was safe. quite logical, as after sorne
29 ed ed 30 l::t.xe8+ 1lxe8 31 pieces have been exchanged,
ed l:Id8 32 d6! with a stable central situation,
The value of the extra material the bishop on c4 has better pros
lies in the fact that it can be re pects than its opponent on the
turned with advantage. adjacent diagonal.
32...ed 33 ltJe4 ..te7 34 b6 10 ... ltJg6
.ll b8 3S ltJxaS l:td7 36 dS! The preparatory move 10...e6
A trapped bishop is a sorry is also possible. In Sermek
sight. Wehmeier, Groningen 1 993,
36 ...ltJe4+ 37 �g2 ltJeS 38 White gained nothing of any
..td1 fte7 39 ltJe6! be substance after 1 1 be be 12 .lla2
39. . . l;Ie8 would have been ltJg6 1 3 ltJh4 ltJf4 14 .llxf4 ef 1 5
more stubbom. ltJf3 ..tg4 1 6 ltJbd2 d5 1 7 e5
40 de ltJa6 41 ltJd4 l:Ie4 42 ltJd7, but maybe he should not
..te2 l;Ixd4 43 ..txa6 l;Id2+ 44 have hurried to exchange on f4.
� l:.e2 4S ..tbS �f8 46 aS 1-0 11 ltJh4 (D)
11 ... ..tg4
Game 30 This superficially tempting
Spasov-Kir.Georgiev move allows White to cany out
Sofia 1992 the main idea of his develop
ment, as indicated above, and
1 e4 eS 2 ltJf3 ltJe6 3 .lle4 hold on to the initiative.
Counterattacking with 7. . a5 95 .
Game 32
Spasov-Kontié
NikSié 1991
1 8 �f6! 1-0.
1 e4 eS 2 4Jf3 ltJe6 3 �e4 7 ... 4Jf6
�eS 4 e3 �e7 S 0-0 d6 6 d4 8 :.et h6
.tb6 The classical continuation is
7 h3 8...0-0 (D).
Here one should take note of
the old continuation 7 � gS :
a) After the logical 7 4Jf6
..•
13 .•• .txd4! ?
A very interesting piece sacri
fice for the initiative. After
13 ... .ta7 14 tt:Je3 0-0-0 1 5 tt:Jxg4
tt:Jxg4 1 6 b4 White can arrange 25 ... e3!
counterplay on the opposite 26 l:txe3
flank. 26 ¡fxb5 is weaker: 26 ...ef+
14 cd tt:Jxd4 27 Wxf2 tt:Jxh5 28 lLle3 l;lxg3
15 .te2 tt:Jxe2+ with the threat of ... lLlf4.
16 'iYxe2 l:tg8 26.. Jlxc4 27 ¡fxf6 'i'd1+ 28
17 tt:Je3 ¡fe6 Wg2 l:txcl 29 l:txcl 'iixcl 30
18 tt:Jxg4 l:txg4 l;lc3
19 tt:Jd2 0-0-0 White has parried the attack,
20 ¡fc4 dS and Black must seek chances of
Black avoids the roughly even saving himself. But he seeks in
endgame 20..,¡fxc4 2 1 tt:Jxc4 vam...
l:txe4, in the hope of squeezing 30...'i'g5 31 ¡fxf7 'ii'd8 32
more out of the position. l:txc7+ 'ii'xc7 33 ¡fxg8+ Wd7 34
21 ed 'i'fS ¡fg7+ Wd6 35 ¡fxc7+ 1-0
9 Cou nterattack Against the e4-pawn
Game 33
Trapl-Mi.Tseitlin
However, recent investiga corr. 1987-90
tions into the variation 9 ... �f6!
10 l:.e1 'De7 1 1 'Dxe4 d6 12 1 e4 eS 2 Ci:Jf3 'Dc6 3 �c4
�g5 �xg5 1 3 'Dxg5 have dis �cS 4 c3
played sufficient defensive re 4 'Df6
sources for Black in the con S d4 ed
tinuations 1 3 . . .0-0 and 1 3 ... h6, 6 0-0
which will be examined below An old move, which was in
(in Games 38 and 39). Therefore troduced into contemporary
the Moller Attack has recently practice by the renowned theo
been used comparatively rarely, retician Estrin.
and not in the games of the 6 'Dxe4
leading masters. Nevertheless, 7 cd (D)
its theory continues to be refined
in correspondence games.
In the diagram position a third
line exists - 7 �fl , which is
known as the Krakow Variation.
It was frrst used in 1 883 by the
English amateur Lord. However,
then the move was analysed in
detail by a group of chess play
ers from Krakow, who tested the
variation in a series of corre
spondence games. Black should
not take the pawn: 7. 'Dxe4? 8
..
16 tba3bS! pawn.
17
eb ab
18
l:te1
After 18 �xb6 Black can cut
off the bishop with 18...eS or
undermine the knight's base with
18 e3.
•..
lbbd2 c6 14 �ad 1 and White has (if 10 0-0, then 10 ... ..tg4 is good:
the better game. 1 1 ..te2 �h8 1 2 h3 ..th5 1 3 lbel
e) It is not worth looking at ..tg6 14 .i.e3 f6 1 5 ef ..txf6 with
6 ... 'ii'e7 7 cd .i.b4+ 8 lbc3 d5 9 a double-edged game, Gadzhily
.i.d3 lbd7 1 O 0-0 .i.xe3 1 1 be h6 Ginzburg, Nikolaev Z 1 993)
1 2 �e l , when White has a big 10 .. .f5 1 1 ef lbf6 12 .i.e3 lbb4
spatial advantage, Sonnenburg 1 3 .i.b 1 lbg4 14 a3 lbxe3 1 5 fe
Livitsky, Berlín 1 99 1 . .i.h4 16 g3 ..tg4 1 7 0-0 and
7 .i.bS White's position is somewhat
White can scarcely count on better, Steinitz-Lasker, New
an advantage by conceding the York Wch (4) 1 894.
centre with 7 ef de. Here both 8 b) 8. ...tb4+ 9 �d2 (9 lbbd2
.
22 'ii'fS g6 Game 36
23 'ii'f4 Zude-Spassky
23 lLlxg6 is useless: 23 ... fg 24 Bundesliga 1990
'ii'xg6+ 'ii'g7.
23 .•. Ir.beS 1 e4 eS 2 ltJf3 ltJc6 3 ii.c4
24 ltJg4 fS ii.c5 4 c3 lLlf6 5 d4 ed 6 cd
25 'ii'xh6 ii.b4+
25 lLlxh6+? 1l;g7 26 lLlxf5+ 7 lLlc3 lLlxe4
l:r.xf5 leads to a lost position. Black runs into defmite prob
25 ... 'ii'g7! lerns after 7.. d5 8 ed lLlxdS 9
.
14 �e2
Other continuations are also The proof that White's chan
possible. We can irnmediately ces had been overestirnated carne
exclude the straightforward 14 in the game Barczay-Portisch,
!Dxf7? <J;;xfl 1 5 �f3+ !Df5 ! Hungary 1969, where Black ex
when White has got nowhere: 16 changed bishops: 15 ... 1t.xb5! 1 6
g4 :f8 17 gf <J;;g 8. �xb5+ 'ii'd7 17 'W!Ve2 (later
14 �hS remains a blank shot White tried both 17 �d3 hg 1 8
if Black coldbloodedly castles: l:.ael 0-0 19 �xe7 l:.fe8, Wolff
14 ... 0-0 1 5 l:.ae l !Df5, repulsing Lau, corr. 1 97 1 , and 1 7 'W!Vxb7
the threat. But after the impul 0-0 1 8 :ael !Dg6! 1 9 !Df3 l::.tb8,
sive 14 ... g6?, which occurred in Levin-Idema, corr. 1 979, without
Treybal-Engler, Prague 1 908, any particular success) 1 7 ...<J;;f8 !
White's attack is irresistible: 1 5 ( 1 7 ... hg 1 8 l::.e l 0-0-0 1 9 l:.xe7
�f3 hg 1 6 :ae l :h4 1 7 �f6 �f5 is also entirely feasible) 1 8
l:.xe4 1 8 l::.xe4 1Lf5 1 9 .i.b5+ c6 !Dxfl (this sacrifice loses, but
20 de 1t.xe4 2 1 c7+, etc. after 1 8 �5 !Dxd5 1 9 !Dh7+
At one time the following rJ;;g8 ! Black's advantage is again
continuation was considered obvious) 1 8 .. .'it>xf7 19 :el !Dg8 !
good for White: 14 .tbS+ .td7 20 l:.e6 <J;;f8! 21 f4 !Df6 22 l::.e7
(not 14 ... c6? because of 1 5 l:te8 23 l:txe8+ �xe8 24 'Wif2
!Dxfl! <J;;xfl 1 6 �f3+ <J;;g6 17 �5 0- 1 .
1t.d3) 15 �e2 (D) (or 1 5 �a4 14 ... hg
1t.xb5). Black may include the moves
Now Black, on the recom 14....tf5 1 5 l:.e3 befare continu
mendation of Euwe, could play ing 1 5 ... hg 1 6 .l:.el , but after
15...'itf8, but after 16 l::.e l !Dg6 16 ...it.e6 White has an extra
(or 1 6 ... !Dxd5 17 !Dxfl <J;;xfl 1 8 tempo in comparison with the
126 Counterattack Against the e4-pawn
23 'ifxa5! 'ifxd4!
Clearly 23 ... bxa5 is met by 24
lüxe5 �xe5 25 lüc6 (threatening
both 26 ltb8# and 26 lüxe5), but
Timman's imaginative queen
counter-offer shows the game is
The Evans Gambit Accepted 137
11 il.. g5 ¡j'fS
12 l?Jxe5 l.Dxe5
13 f4 dxc3+
14 �h1 il.. d4
15 l?Jxc3 'if¡¡f8
16 Ilad1 l?Jxc4
17 ¡¡xc4 il..e6
Black must give sorne mate
rial back; attempting to cling on 'This is one of the soundest
to the whole piece and two defences that Black can adopt
pawns with 1 7 ... il..f6 fails to 1 8 against the Evans' - Cafferty &
.l:.dS. Harding. 'A sound and reliable
18 ¡jxd4 f6 response ... this move constitutes
19 l?Je4 b6 20 l?Jg3 ¡¡es 21 my main reason for thinking that
144 The Evans Gambit Accepted
12 t3 i.b6+ 4 b4 i.xb4
13 c;t;th1 i.hS 5 c3 i.aS
14 l:.d1 'ifc8 6 0-0 d6
Now Captain Evans unleashes 7 d4 i.b6 (D)
a wonderful combination.
15 l:.xd8+! 'ifxd8
16 lbxt7!! (D)
the idea of 20... l:h6!) a com 'iib8 2 1 lt:Jc7 lta6 22 'iih2 ! when
pletely unclear position arises. it is hard to suggest a sensible
move for him. 19 'ifxcl+ 20
•.•
Black is fme, but Kasparov has a 7 bS axbS (7 ... lt:Ja5?! 8 .ie2 lt:Jf6
stronger idea. 9 lt:Jc3 .ig4 1 0 lt:Jd5 ! with advan
19 .i.a2! 'iia3 tage in Tartakower-Fahmi,
'Piket prefers to die with bis Baden 1 9 1 4, as on l O...ltJxe4,
boots on' says Rogers. In any White has 1 1 lt:Jxb6 cxb6 12
case Black's plight is almost lt:Jxe5 ! - Tartakower) 8 axbS
comical after 19 'ifa7 20 b6
.•• ltxa1 9 .i.xa1 lt:Jd4 and here:
156 The Evans Gambit Declined
8 ... tDxd5 9 exd5 tDe7? (9 ... e4! consider the inventive pawn
1 O dxc6 exf3 transposes to our sacrifice 9 d6!?, as after 9 cxd6
...
main line, and even avoids de Black's queenside pieces will
rúes White sorne dangerous pos take ages to develop. Casella
sibilities) 1 0 d4! with advantage, Almasi, New York 1993 contin
Muratov-Budarin, USSR 1 963. ued instead 9 .'iif6 10 0-0! tDe6
•.
wherever the king retreats, e.g. rate - see the note to White's
12 ... �f8 ( 1 2 ... �g8 1 3 'ii'f3 !) 1 3 10th move) and now:
a5 .i.a7 1 4 .i.a3 c5 1 5 dxc5 tDc6 a) 10 'ii'xf3 (this was previ
1 6 tDc4 with a crippling bind in ously thought good for White
retum for his piece (Harding and but now unclear; the threat is 1 1
Cafferty). cxb7) 1 0...'ii'e7+ 1 1 �dl ! dxc6
8 exdS e4 12 ..tb2! ( 1 2 l:te1 i.e6). Here
8 tDd4 is the altemative:
... 12 0-0? loses instantaneously to
•..
fails to 12 �fl 'ii'xb4 1 3 ..tb3 15 ... -trs 1 6 'ii'xc7 with the point
with dual threats of 14 dxc6 and that 1 6... i.b8? fails to 17
14 .i.a3, and ll bxc6 to 12
... 'ii'xf7+ ! ! l:.xf7 1 8 l:.e8#.
'ii'g 3 g6 1 3 'ii'c 3. After l l ..dxc6
. e) 13 i.e6! ? is perhaps the
•••
(to meet 1 2 'ii'g 3 with 12 ... ..td4), key test, when 14 'ii'c3! ? is
12 'ii'c 3 l:.e8+ 13 �fl 'ii'g5 14 Harding's suggestion.
h4 'ifb6 1 5 a5 ..ta7 1 6 h5 ..te6 13 ..te6
1 7 :h4 gave White the attack in 14 'ii'e2 ..txc4
Sokolsky-Goldenov, USSR Ch 15 iWxc4 'ii'd5
1 945. 16 'ii'xd5 cxd5
To avoid this possibility Black 17 d4 c6
should play 9 ... exf3, when after 18 �f4 ..tb8
1 0 0-0 0-0 we are back in the 19 i.xb8 l:.axb8
game continuation. 20 'IJ.fe1 :res
10 exf3 21 � <M8
1 1 'ii'xf3 dxc6 22 l:.ad1 l:.bd8
12 aS ..ta7 llz-1/z
l ndex of Variations
1 e4 eS 6 �b3 �b6 36
2 ttJf3 ltJc6 6 b4 �b6 - see 4 e3 ltJf6 5 b4
3 �c4 �eS �b6 6 d3 d6
6 .ib6
A: 4 d3 - Giuoco Pianissimo 6 . . . a6 7 lLlbd2 .ia7 8 .ib3
B: 4 c3 lLlf6 S b4 - Queen 0-0 (8 ...h6 40):
side Play a) 9 .a.e 1 40
C: 4 c3 - White attacks in b) 9 h3 43
the centre e) 9 ltJe4 52
D: 4 b4 - Evans Gambit 6 ... 0-0 7 �b3 a6 47
7 ttJbd2 32
A) 7 �b3 30; 7 . . . ttJe7 34
4 d3 ltJf6
B)
S c3
5 ltJe3 d6 6 �g5 (6 0-0 1 9; 6 4 c3 ttJf6
ltJa4 1 9; 6 �e3 20) 6 ... h6 S b4 �b6
(6 . . . ltJa5 23; 6 ... �e6 23; 6 d3 d6
6 ... �g4 23) 7 �xf6 'ii'xf6 8 7 a4
ltJd5 'it'd8 9 e3: 7 0-0 7 1
a) 9 ... ltJe7 24 7 �b3 0-0 8 ttJbd2 75
b) 9 ... 0-0 24 7 aS
e) 9 . . a6 26
.
7 . . . a6 8 0-0 0-0 (8 ... h6 82):
S d6 a) 9 ltJbd2 78
5 . . . a6: b) 9 �g5 80
a) 6 �b3 d6 (6 ... �a7 7 ttJbd2 8 bS ttJe7
d6 59) 7 ttJbd2 0-0 8 h3 60 9 0-0 0-0
b) 6 ltJbd2 67 10 ltJbd2
e) 6 0-0 �a7 7 �b3 0-0 8 10 h3 9 1 ; 1 0 .ig5 94
ttJbd2 d5 68 10 ... ltJg6
5 ... 0-0 6 b4 �b6 7 a4 (7 0-0 11 .ib3 89
a6 8 ltJbd2 d5 84) 7 ... a6 8 0-0 1 1 �a3 9 1
d5 85 1 1 �a2 9 1
6 0-0 1 1 'it'b3 9 1
1 60 Jndex of Variations
C) 13 tt:Jxg5 h6 1 25
4 c3 1 3 ... 0-0 1 22
4 0-0 ti:Jf6 5 d4 (5 c3 ti:Jxe4
1 29) 5 . . . ..txd4 1 30 (5 ... ti:Jxd4 D)
1 29) 4 b4 ..txb4
4 ti:Jf6 4 . . . ..tb6 5 a4:
4 ... Wf6 98 a) 5 ... a5 153
4 . . . d6 99 b) 5 . . . a6 6 ti:Jc3 (6 .i.b2 1 55)
4 ...We7 5 d4 .i.b6 (5 . . . exd4 6 . . . ti:Jf6 7 ti:Jd5 156
1 00) 6 0-0 (6 d5 1 00; 6 ..tg5) 5 c3 ..ta5
6 ... d6 7 h3 (7 ..tg5 1 02) 7 ... ti:Jf6 5 . . . ..te7 6 d4 (6 Wb3 1 37)
8 .Ue 1 1 02 6 ... tt:Ja5 7 ..te2 (7 tt:Jxe5 1 34)
5 d4 exd4 7 . . . exd4 8 Wxd4 135
6 cxd4 5 . . . ..tc5 1 50
6 0-0 1 06; 6 e5 1 09 6 d4
6 ..tb4+ 6 0-0 d6 (6 ...ti:Jf6 146) 7 d4:
7 tt:Jc3 a) 7 ... .i.g4 146
7 ..td2 1 1 1 b) 7 . . . ..td7 1 47
7 tt:Jxe4 e) 7 ... ..tb6 148
7 ... d5 1 1 5 6 exd4
8 0-0 ..txc3 6 ... d6 7 Wb3 1 39
8 . . . 0-0 1 1 6; 8 . . . tt:Jxc3 1 16 7 0-0
9 d5 ..tf6 7 Wb3 142
9 . . . tt:Je5 and others 1 17 7 tt:Jge7
10 :et tt:Je7 7 ... dxc3 1 40
1 0. . . 0-0 1 20 7 ... d3 140
11 :xe4 d6 7 . . . d6 8 Wb3 142
12 .i.g5 8 cxd4
1 2 g4 1 2 1 8 tt:Jg5 144
12 .i.xg5 8 d5 144