TWIC THEORY

Tuesday 8th March, 2005

SICILIAN NAJDORF, 6.Bg5,

7…Nc6

Hi,

I'm Tony KOSTEN, I'm an International Grandmaster with current ELO 2527. Although I was born
in London (England), I have spent the last 15 years living in Chamalières in France, and have
been a professional player for more years than I care to remember!
I have won too many tournaments to mention here (!), but if you are really interested please have
a look at http://cgueneau.club.fr/Kosten.htm where I have placed those that I managed to
remember!
In teams events I have been 3 times Champion of the 4NCL (UK) with Slough, and am current
Champion of the 4NCL (UK) with Guildford (2004), and 2 times Champion of France with Monaco
(2000/1 & 2001/2).
I was captain/trainer of the French team for the Armenia Olympiad in 1996, and I played for
England at the European Championships Haifa 1989 & Visa Summit match (Reykjavik) 1990.
I have written 11 books, including Easy Guide to the Najdorf, The Dynamic English, and 101 Tips
to Improve Your Chess a video/DVD The Knockout Nimzo, and a CD for ChessBase, The
Classical Sicilian.
At the moment I spend a lot of my 'non-playing' time writing for the theory site
www.chesspublishing.com, and editing the new site www.improveyourchess.com.

Anyway, onto the theory!

When I took over the Open Sicilians section on www.chesspublishing.com from John Fedorowicz
at the beginning of the year the first thing I did was have a look at the lines I recommended when
I wrote my Najdorf book in 1999, to see how they had fared in the mean time.
The line that the obtained the most subscriber reaction was the line I prefer against 6 Bg5:

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

Where Black tempts White to take advantage of the pin on the knight. I actually chose this line
after asking John Nunn's advice, I felt at the time that if the Doctor likes it, the variation must be
good!
One of the www.chesspublishing.com subscribers, Franck Steebekkers, wrote to me to ask:
"What do you think of the attack on the Nc6 system in the 6 Bg5 Najdorf Mr. Luther wrote in his
chapter in Expert versus the Sicilian??"

So, here is a chance to see the current state of the theory in this line. There are two critical
moves:
A 8 e5 (Luther's preference) and B 8 Nxc6 Sharp play occurs after both, but I think you will see
that Black has good chances.

Enjoy! Tony Kosten

Variation A

In the Najdorf chapter of Expert versus the Sicilian Thomas Luther proposes the line 1 e4 c5 2
Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bg5 e6 7 f4 Nc6 8 e5

After 8...h6 9 Bh4 Black has two choices, but we will concentrate on 9...g5 (I recommended
9...Nxd4 in Easy Guide to the Najdorf when 10 Qxd4 dxe5 11 Qxd8+ Kxd8 12 fxe5 is Luther's
choice, see Luther,T - Senff,M 1-0, while 12 0-0-0 had a brief spot in the limelight, see Nataf,I -
Hauchard,A 0-1 - but Black still has no easy equaliser here) 10 fxg5 (The new move 10 Bf2 is
analysed in Guseinov,G - Soylu,S 1-0) 10... Nd5 pinning the g5-pawn:
11 Nxd5 (11 Nxc6 transposes to Variation B) 11...exd5 12 exd6 (12 e6!? is a sharp line, but
seems to lead to a perpetual check with best play, see Myo Naing - Wynn Zaw Htun ½-½)
12...Bxd6 13 Nxc6 bxc6 14 Qd4 Qe7+ 15 Be2 Be5 16 Qa4 this is Luther's try for an advantage,
and now 16... Qd6 was played in Dworakowska,J - Areshchenko,A 0-1, but I think that 16...Rb8
is best - see my suggested improvement in the notes.

Variation B

After 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bg5 e6 7 f4 Nc6 8 Nxc6 bxc6 9 e5
Black saves his piece by 9...h6 10 Bh4 g5 11 fxg5 Nd5 when the critical move is 12 Ne4:

White avoids exchanging on d5 which is innocuous, and puts pressure on the weakened Black
dark squares, in particular d6.
To this Black replies 12...Qb6!:
Counter attacking on the dark squares! Now White's best move is 13 Bd3 (13 c3 is possible,
see Oll,L - Gelfand,B ½-½, but White must be careful, Black was threatening to win a piece, see
Tasoko,T - Mekhitarian,K 0-1 from a few days ago!) Black replies 13...hxg5 and now White's
best is probably 14 Bg3 (14 Bxg5 is common, but not very good after the best move 14...Qxb2,
see the excellent computer game QUARK - DIEP 0-1, although 14...dxe5 was played in Almasi,Z
- Leko,P ½-½) 14...dxe5 15 Bxe5 see Tischbierek,R - Shirov,A 1-0 for my suggested
improvement.

Luther,Thomas (2544) - Senff,Martin (2443) [B96]

Cappelle op 17th Cappelle la Grande (8), 02.03.2001

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nc6 8.e5 h6 9.Bh4 Nxd4!?

My recommendation in Easy Guide to the Najdorf.

10.Qxd4 dxe5 11.Qxd8+ Kxd8 12.fxe5 g5 13.Bg3

13.Bxg5 hxg5 14.exf6 Bd6?! (14...Bd7! 15.Ne4 g4 is better) 15.Ne4! Kc7?! Milman,L-
Rensch,D/Lindsborg USA 2004 and now the obvious 16.Nxd6 Kxd6 17.Bd3 Bd7 18.Rd1 looks
good for White.

13...Nd7 14.0–0–0 Bg7 15.Be2!

Luther's recommendation, the bishop heads for h5 to pressure f7, the weak point in the black
position.

15.Bd3 Ke7 16.Rde1 b5 17.Rhf1 Bb7 was nice for Black in Hynes,A-Gormally,D/West Bromwich
ENG 2004, as the e5-pawn needs constant defence.

15...Ke7 16.Bh5 Rf8

Maybe best as the rook will probably have to come here to defend the f-pawn at some point
anyway.

16...Nxe5?! 17.Rhe1 f6 (17...Nc4 is a better chance, but 18.Nd5+ Kf8 19.Nc7! Bxb2+ 20.Kb1 Rb8
21.Nxa6 still looks strong) 18.Bxe5 fxe5 19.Rf1 Rf8? 20.Rxf8 Bxf8 21.Rf1 Bd7 22.Rf7+ wins,
Hedman,E-Namini,A/Stockholm SWE 2004;

16...b5?! I thought this was OK, but ... 17.Rhf1 (17.Ne4 Nxe5 18.Rhe1 Rd8 19.Rxd8 Kxd8 20.Nd6
is nothing special, Gormally,D-Collins,S/Blackpool 2003) 17...Rf8 18.Ne4! this is the problem, Nf6
is the annoying threat (18.Rf2 is worse, Choisy,M-Gomes,M/Heraklio GRE 2004 18...Bb7 19.Rdf1
f5 20.exf6+ Rxf6 is level.) 18...Nxe5 forced, but now, following 19.Bf2 Nd7 20.Nc5 Black is faced
with the menace Nxd7 and Bc5+, so 20...Ne5 21.Nd3 Nd7 22.Bf3 Rb8 23.Nb4 and wins.

17.Ne4 Nxe5 18.Rhe1 f5?

Of course, Black would like to remove the threat from f7, but this just loses.

18...b6! may be Black's only chance in this variation, it is important to control c5: 19.Nc3 f6
20.Na4 Rb8 21.Bf2 Nd7 22.Nxb6! Rxb6 (22...Nxb6?? 23.Bc5#) 23.Rxd7+ Kxd7 24.Bxb6
regaining the pawn but Black is still fighting!
19.Nc3 f4 20.Bf2

The bishop aims for c5.

20...b6

20...Nd7? stops Bc5+ but allows the decisive 21.Nd5+ Kd8 22.Nb6

21.Bxb6 Bb7 22.Bc5+ Kf6 23.Rxe5! 1–0

The clearest win.

23.Rxe5! Kxe5 24.Bd4+ Kd6 (24...Kf5 25.g4+ fxg3 26.Rf1+) 25.Bxg7+ Kc7 26.Bxf8 Rxf8 27.Bf3
leaves White a solid piece up.

Nataf,IA (2526) - Hauchard,A (2539) [B96]

ch-FRA Pool A Vichy (3), 19.08.2000

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nc6 8.e5 h6 9.Bh4 Nxd4

The suggestion of Behl's.

10.Qxd4

10.exf6? is a mistake, but it is worth knowing the refutation: 10...Nf5! 11.fxg7 Qxh4+ 12.g3 Nxg3
13.gxh8Q Ne4+ 14.Ke2 Qf2+ 15.Kd3 Nc5+ 16.Kc4 b5+ 17.Nxb5 axb5+ 18.Kc3 b4+ 19.Kc4 d5+
20.Kxb4 Ra4+ 21.Kb5 Bd7+ with mate in a few moves.

10...dxe5 11.Qxd8+ Kxd8 12.0–0–0+

The idea is that the f6-knight is pinned and so cannot go to d7 immediately, thus the black king
must go to c7 rather than the better e7.

12...Kc7
12...Ke8?! 13.fxe5 Nd7 14.Ne4 Be7 (14...Nxe5?? 15.Rd8#; 14...g5 15.Be1 Nxe5 16.Be2 is
unpleasant for Black) 15.Nd6+ Bxd6 16.Rxd6 g5 17.Bg3 Nc5 18.Be2 with advantage,
Vuckovic,B-Anka,E/Valjevo 2000.

13.fxe5 Ng4?!

13...g5 14.Bg3 a) 14.Bxg5?! hxg5 15.exf6 Bd7 16.Bd3 is also possible, but 16...Bd6 17.h3
Daurelle,H-Simon,O/Issy les Moulineaux FRA 2004, and now 17...Be5 is fine for Black(17...Bc6
18.Be4 Rh4 offers Black some comp for the pawn, Daurelle,H-Simon,O/Issy les Moulineaux FRA
2004) ; b) 14.exf6 gxh4 transposes; 14...Nh5 15.Bf2 Bg7 16.Be2 (16.Bd4 Bd7) 16...Nf4 17.Bf3
Vuckovic,B-Leskiewicz,M/Yerevan 1999 17...Ng6! 18.Rhe1 Nxe5 19.Bg3 f6 20.Ne4 keeps a slight
plus.

14.Be2! g5?!

14...Nxe5 15.Bg3 f6 16.Bxe5+ fxe5 17.Rhf1 this looks good for White, 17...Bb4 (17...Bd7 18.Rf7
Rd8 19.Bg4 leaves Black tied-up.) 18.Rf7+ Kb8 19.Rxg7 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Ra7 might be playable.

15.Bg3!?

15.Bxg4 gxh4 16.Rhf1 Rh7 17.Ne4 Rg7 18.Rf4 Bd7 19.Nd6 gives White a strong initiative.

15...Ne3 16.Rd3 Nf5 17.Bf2 Bd7 18.Bf3 Be8 19.Ne4 Be7 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.Bxc5 Bc6 22.Rhd1
Bxf3 23.Rxf3 Rad8 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.g4 Rd5! 26.Bf8 Nd4 27.Rd3

27.Rxf7+ Kb6 28.c4 Rxe5 29.Bxh6 keeps a plus.

27...Ne2+ 28.Kd2 Rxd3+ 29.Kxd3?!

29.cxd3 Nf4 30.Bxh6 Nh3 31.Ke3 should win.

29...Nf4+ 30.Ke4 h5 31.h3?

31.Kf3+-

31...h4

After being on top the whole game White is suddenly in big trouble!

32.c4 Kc6 33.b4 Nxh3 34.Be7 Nf2+ 35.Kf3 Nd3 36.Bf6 Nxb4 37.Bxg5 h3 38.a3 Nd3 39.Bf6 h2!
40.Kg2 Nf2 41.Kxh2 Nxg4+ 42.Kg3 Nxf6 43.exf6 Kc5 44.Kf4 Kxc4 45.Ke5 Kc5 0–1

Guseinov,G (2548) - Soylu,S (2397) [B96]

5th IECC Antalya TUR (11), 27.05.2004

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

My recommended line.

8.e5 h6 9.Bh4

9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Bh4 transposes to 8 Nxc6

9...g5!? 10.Bf2!?
A novelty.

10...dxe5 11.Nxc6 Qxd1+ 12.Rxd1 bxc6 13.fxe5 Ng4 14.Ne4!

The knight takes aim at d6 and f6.

14...Nxf2 15.Kxf2 Bg7

Black attacks the lonely e5-pawn.

16.Nd6+ Ke7 17.Nc4 a5! 18.a4 Ba6

Perfectly logical, Black threatens to capture the one piece that defends e5.

19.Nb6!?

19.Nxa5 Rhc8 20.Bxa6 Rxa6 21.Nc4 Rxa4 22.b3 Ra2 is fine for Black.

19...Rab8

19...Bxf1?! looks tempting but then comes 20.Rd7+! (20.Nxa8 Ba6 21.Nb6 Rb8 forces 22.Nd7
when 22...Rxb2 23.Rd2 Bc4 looks perfectly reasonable for Black.) 20...Ke8 21.Rxf1 Rb8 22.Rfd1
Bxe5 23.Nc4 Bf6 24.Ra7 doubling rooks on the 7th.

20.Rd7+
20...Ke8?!

Obvious, but bad!

20...Kf8 is correct, 21.Bxa6 Rxb6 22.Rhd1?! Bxe5 as there is no mate threat, and after 23.Rd8+
Kg7 is possible.

21.Bxa6 Rxb6 22.Rhd1 Rb8

Quite forced as

22...Rxa6?? 23.Rd8+ Ke7 24.R1d7#;

22...Bxe5? now fails to 23.Rd8+ Ke7 24.R1d7+ Kf6 25.Rxh8 winning an exchange.

23.b4!

While the black pieces are passive, White creates a passed pawn.

23...Bxe5?!

23...axb4 24.Bb7 Bxe5 25.a5 Kf8 26.a6 Kg7 27.a7 Rbe8 28.Bxc6 and White will win the
exchange at some point, but Black will have fair drawing chances.

24.Bb7

Giving Black a second bite at the cherry.

24.bxa5!

24...Bc3?

24...axb4 is best, as before.

25.Bxc6 Kf8 26.b5

Now White is materially equal and positionally better.

26...Kg7 27.Ke2 Rhc8 28.R1d3 Bf6 29.Ra7 Rb6?! 30.Rdd7 Rcxc6

30...Rf8 is also hopeless.

31.bxc6 Rxc6 32.Rxf7+ Kg6 33.Rfc7

Now White mops-up easily.

33...Rd6 34.Rd7 Rc6 35.Rac7 Rb6 36.Rc4 Rb1 37.Rd1 Rb2 38.g4 Ra2 39.Rd6 1–0

Myo Naing (2425) - Wynn Zaw Htun (2430) [B96]

1st Asean IM Bangkok THA (9), 10.06.2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nc6 8.e5 h6 9.Bh4 g5 10.fxg5
Nd5 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.e6!?

This is a dangerous attempt, but Black learned how to force a draw long ago.

12...Bxe6

12...Qe7!? 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Qd4 Rg8 15.0–0–0 Bxe6 16.gxh6 Bxh6+ 17.Kb1 Qb7 18.Bf6 Rg4 is
not that clear, Vidal Lanau,B-Torrado Quintela,J/Orense 2002.

13.Nxc6

13.Nxe6?! strengthens the black centre, 13...fxe6 14.Qh5+ (14.Qg4 Kd7 15.0–0–0 Ne5 (15...Be7
16.Rxd5!? Reeh,O-Leskiewicz,M/Hamburg 1999) 16.Qb4 Sulskis,S-Kovchan,A/Kharkiv 2003,
when 16...Qc7 seems simplest) 14...Kd7 15.Qf7+ Be7 16.g6 Ne5 17.Qxe7+ Qxe7 18.Bxe7 Kxe7
19.Bd3 Rhg8 with advantage to Black, with his strong centre, Lambson,V-Browne,W/US National
op 1994.

13...bxc6 14.Qd4
14...Qa5+!

An important point,

14...hxg5?! 15.Qxh8 gxh4 hopes to obtain dark-squared play for the exchange: 16.Bd3 (16.0–0–
0?! Qg5+! (16...Qa5? 17.Qc3? Bh6+ 18.Kb1 Qxc3 19.bxc3 Rb8+ 20.Ka1 Bg7 is clearly better for
Black Seps,M-Calotescu,A/Dresden GER 2004) 17.Kb1 Qe5 18.Qxh4 Rb8 19.Qd4 Qxd4 20.Rxd4
Bg7) 16...Qa5+?! (16...Qg5!?) 17.c3 h3 18.g4 0–0–0 19.0–0 and I suffered a nasty defeat in
Bromberger,S-Kosten,A/Jenbach AUT 2003.

15.b4 Qa3

15...Qa4!? is similar: 16.c3 Rg8 17.Qd2 Be7 and both sides have chances, Haznedaroglu,K-
Ulucan,T/Ankara TUR 2002.

16.Bd3

16.Qxh8?? gets mated after 16...Qe3+ 17.Be2 Bg4;

16.g6 is met by 16...c5 17.bxc5 dxc5 18.Qf6 Kd7!

16...c5

Forcing the draw.

16...hxg5!? 17.Qxh8 Qxb4+ 18.c3 Qxh4+ is also playable;

16...Rg8 likewise, 17.g6 Bg7 18.Bf6 Bxf6 19.Qxf6 Qxb4+ 20.c3 Qc5

17.bxc5 dxc5 18.Qxh8

18.Qf6? Qb4+ 19.Kd1 Qxh4 20.Qxh8 Qg4+ 21.Be2 Qxg2 favours Black.

18...Qb4+ 19.Kf1 Qxh4 20.Qe5 Bg7 21.Qxg7 Qf4+ 22.Kg1 ½–½

1/2–1/2 Nunn,J-Gormally,D/Bunratty 1998. 22.Kg1 Qe3+ 23.Kf1 Qf4+ 24.Ke1 Qe3+ 25.Kf1
(25.Be2?? Bg4 wins!)
Dworakowska,J (2395) - Areshchenko,A (2570) [B96]
Gibraltar Masters Caleta ENG (6), 30.01.2005

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nc6 8.e5

8...h6 9.Bh4

Recommended by Luther in 'Expert vs the Sicilian'.

9...g5! 10.fxg5 Nd5

11.Nxd5

'It is important to take first on d5 and later on c6, so that Black does not have the option to take
with a later c-pawn on d5.' - Luther, and I fully concur with this statement.

11...exd5 12.exd6

This provokes a series of semi-forced moves.

12...Bxd6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Qd4 Qe7+ 15.Be2 Be5

(1/2–1/2 Kotronias,V-Halkias,S/Gausdal 2002!)

15...Qe5!? is unplayed.

16.Qa4

16...Qd6?!

This is very risky.

16...Rb8 is supposed to be best, 17.g6 (17.Qxc6+ Bd7 18.Qxd5 hxg5 19.Bf2 Qf6! traps the white
king in the centre) 17...Qb4+! (17...Qd6 18.gxf7+ Kf8 (18...Kxf7!? 19.0–0+ Kg8) 19.Bf2 Rxb2
McDonald,N-Danner,G/Budapest 1996, when 20.Bd4 looks good) 18.Qxb4 Rxb4 19.gxf7+ Kxf7
20.0–0+ Kg7 21.Bf2 and now I suggest Black try 21...Rf8! why not? the b-pawn is not running
away! (21...Rxb2 22.Bd3 Rf8 23.Rae1 Bc3 24.Re7+ Kg8 25.Bc5 Rxf1+ 26.Kxf1 and White is
better - Luther's analysis) 22.Bd3 Bxb2! 23.Rae1 Rbf4 and the black pieces are working well this
time.

17.Bg3!

This actually seems to be a novelty, but it was suggested by Luther in 'E v S' as best.

17.0–0–0 Rb8 18.c3 Bf4+ 19.Kb1 hxg5 and Black is doing well, 20.Bg3 Bxg3 21.hxg3 Rxh1
22.Rxh1 Bauer,A-Bossert,C/Germany 1998, equal, after, say, 22...Ke7

17...Bd7

17...Bxg3+?! 18.hxg3 Qxg3+ 19.Kf1 leaves c6 and h6 hanging.

18.Qh4!

White defends g3 while pinning h6.

18.gxh6 'With advantage for White' - Luther. So why is a player rated 2570 happy to allow this?
Let us have a look: 18...Rb8! hits b2, and dissuades White from castling long (castling short is
also impossible), 19.Qa3!? (19.b3? Bxg3+ 20.hxg3 Rb4 21.Qxa6 Qxg3+) 19...Qxa3 20.bxa3
Bc3+ 21.Kf2 Rb2 22.Bd3 (22.Bf4 Bd4+ 23.Ke1 Rxc2 can only favour Black) 22...Rxh6 doesn't
look too bad - White's extra pawn is a doubled a-pawn.

18...Rb8 19.0–0

White will have to castle sometime, and defending the b-pawn by

19.Rb1 will only appeal to a computer!

19...Bxg3 20.hxg3 Qe5!?

Forking b2 and finally threatening to capture on g5.

20...Rb4 is also interesting, but after 21.Qh5 Black has to do something about the attack on f7.

21.g6!

21.gxh6?! Qe3+ 22.Kh2 Qxh6 (22...Rxh6? 23.Bh5) 23.b3 Qg7 24.Bh5 Be6 looks a bit dodgy for
White.

21...fxg6 22.Rae1?!

White misses her way in this sharp position.

22.Bh5! is best, 22...Qe3+ (22...Qxh5?? 23.Rae1+ forces mate, and; 22...gxh5?? 23.Rae1 is no
improvement!; 22...Qg5 23.Qd4) 23.Kh2 Qg5 24.Qd4 Rg8 25.Bg4!! Qxg4 (25...Bxg4 26.Rae1+
Kd8 27.Rf7 and Black is quickly mated) 26.Qe5+ Be6 27.Qxb8+ winning an exchange.

22...g5 23.Qa4 Kd8

Forced, but good.

24.Bg4 Qxb2

Black has survived the attack - just - and is now better.

25.Bxd7 Kxd7 26.Rf7+

26.c4!?

26...Kd6 27.Rfe7

27.Ree7 leads to nothing after 27...Rhe8 28.Rd7+ Kc5 and the black king is safer than the white
one!

27...Kc5!

The king advances for the endgame!

28.Kh2 Qb4 29.Qxa6

With the queens on the board White will always have tactical chances against the black king.

29...Ra8 30.Qe2 Rhf8 31.Qe6 Rad8

31...Rf2 32.Rc7 Ra6 33.Qe7+ Kc4 34.Re4+ dxe4 35.Qxe4+ leads to a draw by perpetual.

32.a3!?

32...Qd4??

Black centralises the queen, but allows a tactical possibility.

32...Qd2 kept good chances.

33.Rb1?

33.Rd7! wins on the spot, the point is that 33...Rxd7 34.Qxd7 threatens both Qe7+ picking up the
rook, and Qa7+ skewering the king and winning the queen - this was why d4 was a bad square!
34...Qf6 35.Re6

33...Qe4!

Black forces the queens off at the cost of a pawn - better that than being mated!
34.Qxe4 dxe4 35.Rxe4 Rd2 36.Re6 Rff2 37.Rg1 Rd6 38.Rxd6 Kxd6 39.Kh3 h5 40.Rd1+

40.g4 draws immediately, 40...h4 41.g3 hxg3 42.Rg2! and Black has to be careful, 42...Rf4
43.Kxg3 Ra4 44.Rd2+ Kc5 45.Rd3 Rc4 46.Rf3 Kd4 etc.

40...Ke5 41.a4?!

White is starting to go astray.

41...Rxc2 42.Ra1 Kd6

42...g4+! 43.Kh4 Rxg2 stops 44.a5? because of 44...Kf5 and White is in a mating net!

43.a5 Kc7 44.a6 Kb8 45.a7+?!

45.Rf1 Ka7 46.Rf5 g4+ 47.Kh4 Rxg2 48.Rxh5 draws immediately.

45...Ka8 46.Ra6 Rc1

Threatening mate!

47.Kh2 g4

Completely cutting the king out of the game, although the black king can't move either!

48.Ra4 Re1 49.Ra6 c5 50.Rc6 Rc1 51.Rc7 c4 52.Rh7 Re1

52...c3! although White should be able to draw with a stalemating defence, e.g. 53.Re7 Rd1
54.Re8+ Kxa7 55.Ra8+ Kb6 56.Rb8+ Kc5 57.Rc8+ Kb4 58.Rc4+! Kb3 59.Rxc3+

53.Rc7

53.Rxh5! Kxa7 54.Rh7+ Kb6 55.Rh6+ Ka5 56.Ra6+! and again Black cannot profitably avoid the
desperado checks.

53...Rc1 54.Rh7 c3
55.Rc7??

White puts herself in zugzwang! I imagine both players were short of time, as

55.Re7 draws as in the previous note.

55...Rc2! 56.Kg1

56.Rd7 Ra2 57.Rc7 c2 and White loses, the rook cannot control c1 and a7 and make a move!
58.Kg1 h4! (58...Ra1+? 59.Kh2 c1Q 60.Rxc1 Rxc1 is stalemate!!) 59.gxh4 Ra1+ 60.Kf2 c1Q

56...h4! 57.gxh4 g3 58.Kf1 Rf2+ 59.Kg1 c2

Black will win queen the c-pawn and win the rook.

60.h5 Rd2 61.Kf1 Rd1+ 62.Ke2 c1Q 63.Rxc1 Rxc1 64.Kf3 Kxa7

With mate in 27 according to Hiarcs!

65.Kxg3 Kb6 66.Kf4 Kc7 67.Kf5 Kd7 68.g4 Rc6 69.g5 Ke7 70.h6 Kf7 0–1

Oll,Lembit (2510) - Gelfand,Boris (2600) [B96]

Debrecen Debrecen, 1989

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nc6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.e5 h6
10.Bh4 g5 11.fxg5 Nd5 12.Ne4 Qb6 13.c3

This stops the check on b4.

13...dxe5 14.Bg3

14.Bc4!? Qe3+ (I like Black after 14...hxg5! 15.Bxg5 f5 16.Nf6+ Kf7!) 15.Qe2 Qxe2+ 16.Bxe2
hxg5 17.Bxg5 f5 18.Nd2 Ra7 with a nice pawn phalanx in the centre, Van Veen,O-
Visser,H/Amsterdam NED 2004.;
14.Qf3?! is dubious, but fairly representative of the aggressive moves that White finds when he
can't remember the theory! 14...hxg5 15.Bxg5 Qxb2 16.Rd1 f5 Black is already better,
Simacek,P-Lagowski,P/Olomouc CZE 2004.

14...hxg5 15.Bxe5 Rh4

Aggressive, but

15...Rh6!? 16.Qd2 f6 is interesting.

16.Bd3

16.Qf3?! is forcefully countered by 16...f5! 17.Nf6+ Nxf6 18.Bxf6 Qxb2 19.Rd1 Re4+ 20.Be2 g4
21.Qd3 Kf7 with a big plus.

16...f5 17.Nd2

17...Bc5?!

I don't like this,

17...Qxb2!? is probably best, e.g. 18.0–0 Qb6+ 19.Kh1 Ne3 20.Qe2 Nxf1 21.Rxf1 Be7 22.Nc4
Qd8 and I expect a computer would win this position fairly easily.

18.Qe2?!

18.Nc4 Bf2+ 19.Kd2 Rxc4 20.Qh5+ Kd7 21.Qf7+ Kd8 looks good for White.

18...Qxb2 19.Rb1 Qxa2 20.g3 Rh7

20...Rh6 21.c4 Nb4 would have been Black's surest route towards victory.

21.c4 Ne3 22.Qf3 Bd7 23.Ke2 Qa3 24.Ra1 Qb4 25.Rab1 Qa3 26.h4

Playing for more than the repetition of

26.Ra1
26...Ng4 27.Bb2 Qa5 28.hxg5 Rxh1 29.Qxh1 0–0–0 30.Nb3 Qb6 31.Nxc5 Qxc5 32.Qg1 ½–½

Tasoko,T (1935) - Mekhitarian,K (2207) [B96]

71st ch-BRA Sao Paulo BRA (2), 15.02.2005

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nc6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.e5 h6
10.Bh4 g5 11.fxg5 Nd5 12.Ne4 Qb6 13.g6? Qb4+

Ouch! If the knight blocks the check the bishop is lost, so ...

14.Kf2 Qxe4

White can resign.

15.gxf7+ Kd7 16.g3 Ne3 17.Qd3 Ng4+ 18.Kg1 Qxh1+ 19.Kxh1 Nf2+ 20.Kg1 Nxd3 21.Bxd3
Be7 22.Bf6 Bxf6 23.exf6 Rf8 24.Bg6 e5 25.h4 Kc7 26.Rf1 Be6 27.b3 Bxf7 28.h5 d5 29.g4 Kd6
30.Bf5 Be6 0–1

QUARK - DIEP [B96]

13th IPCC Paderborn GER (5), 13.02.2004

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nc6 8.Nxc6

8.Qd2?! h6 9.Bh4? is a known mistake: (9.Bxf6 is Murey,J-Saravanan,V/London ENG 1999.)

9...Nxe4! 10.Nxe4 Qxh4+ 11.g3 Qd8 Hyldkrog,L-Laato,A/Copenhagen DEN 2004.

8...bxc6 9.e5

9.Qf3 Qb6 10.0–0–0 Rb8 11.b3 Nd7! (my suggestion in EGN!) 12.Kb1 Nc5 (12...h6 13.Bh4 g5!?
Kanovsky,D-Alfred,N/Roznov 2002) 13.Be2 MOVEI-DIEP/Rabat Gan ISR 2004, when 13...f6
14.Bh4 Be7 15.Bf2 Qa5 looks OK.

9...h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.fxg5 Nd5 12.Ne4

The strongest move.

12.Nxd5 cxd5!? (12...exd5 is a solid alternative) 13.Qh5 Qb6! 14.0–0–0?! Rb8 15.b3 Bg7!?
(15...Qe3+ 16.Kb1 Qxe5 was my recommendation) 16.g6 0–0 17.Be7 Qe3+ 18.Kb1 fxg6
19.Qxg6?? (19.Qe2) 19...Qxe5 20.Kc1 Bekker,G-Reedy,B/Auckland NZL 2004, and Black has a
number of wins at his disposal, such as 20...Rf7 21.Bd8 Qa1+ 22.Kd2 Qc3+ 23.Kc1 Rf2 instead
he allowed a perpetual check!

12...Qb6

I was surprised to see that

12...dxe5?! has also been played recently: 13.Nf6+ (13.Bg3!? hxg5 14.Bxe5 Rh6 is probably OK
for Black) 13...Nxf6 14.Qxd8+ Kxd8 15.gxf6 Kc7 (15...Bb4+!? 16.c3 Bd6 17.Be2 h5 18.0–0–0 Kc7
19.Bf3 favours White as Black has too many weaknesses, Mazi,L-Tratar,M/Maribor 1998) 16.Bg3
Bd6 17.0–0–0 Bb7 and Black went on to win, Neelotpal,D-Nguyen Anh Dung/Calcutta IND 2004,
but White is much better at this stage as Black has 4 pawn islands (or 5 if you count the doubled
pawns as an extra one!)

13.Bd3 hxg5!

13...Qe3+?! a mistake, but I just couldn't remember the theory!! 14.Qe2 Qxe2+ 15.Kxe2 dxe5
16.Nf6+ Nxf6 (16...Ke7!? 17.Ng4 hxg5 18.Bxg5+ Kd6) 17.gxf6 Bb7 18.Be4 0–0–0 Bijaoui,M-
Kosten,A/Montpellier FRA 2004, and now 19.c3! was right, when Nigel Short thought I was simply
lost!;

13...Qxb2? is even worse, as after 14.g6! fxg6 15.0–0 White has a winning initiative, 15...Qxe5
16.Nf6+ Nxf6 17.Bxg6+ Kd7 18.Bxf6 Qe3+ 19.Kh1 Rg8 20.Bh7 winning a rook, and the game
Vogt,L-Stangl,M/Velden AUT 2004.

14.Bxg5!?

Very common, but not best.

14...Qxb2!

This is the right time to capture this pawn.

14...Rxh2?? loses to 15.Rxh2 Qg1+ 16.Bf1 Qxh2 17.Qxd5! exd5 18.Nf6+ Ke7 19.Ng4+
Castaneda-Browne, Philadelphia 1997
15.Nf6+

Otherwise Black will also take on e5!

15...Nxf6 16.Bxf6 Qc3+

I expect the computers played this quite quickly as it has all been seen before.

17.Ke2

The 'natural' choice, although

17.Kf1!? has also been tried, defending the g-pawn: 17...Rh6 18.Rb1 Luther,T-Leyva,H/Havana
1992, when 18...dxe5 is possible although White an force a draw by 19.Bg5 Rh8 20.Bf6 if he so
desires.

17...Rg8

17...Rh5!? is possible, planning to capture on e5, but as the text has been so successful ...

18.g3

Certainly safest.

18.Rb1? Solomon-Leskiewicz, Brisbane 1995, allowing 18...Rxg2+ 19.Kf1 Rd2 20.Qe1 Rxd3
21.cxd3 Qxd3+ etc.;

18.Qf1? is well met by 18...Be7 19.Rb1 (19.Bxe7? Qxe5+) 19...Bxf6 20.exf6 Qe5+ 21.Kd1 Qd5
and Black soon triumphed, Vogt,L-Pahud,C/Lenk SUI 2003.

18...Be7!

Again Black can play this simple developing move as the f6-bishop is tied to the defence of e5.

19.Qd2

19.Bxe7? Qxe5+ of course.

19...Qxd2+ 20.Kxd2 Bxf6 21.exf6 e5

Material is equal but the pawns are not: Black has a powerful centre, and White a passes h-pawn.
I prefer the centre any time!

22.Rab1 d5

The most direct, getting the pawns rolling.

22...Kd8 23.h3 Kc7 is another way of playing this endgame, to cover the b-file entry points, 24.g4
d5 with good play, Rechel,B-Leskiewicz,M/Groningen 1999.

23.Be2 Kd7!

Coming for the f-pawn!

24.c4 d4 25.Rhe1 Ke6

The king is well protected behind the pawns.

26.Bf3

White can't allow itself to be tied to the f-pawn, and so counter attacks the black queenside.

26...Bd7 27.Rb6 Rac8 28.Rb7

28.Rxa6 Kxf6

28...Rcd8

28...Rgd8?? 29.Bg4+

29.Rb6 Kxf6 30.Bxc6 Be6 31.Kd3 Rb8 32.Rxa6 Rb2

Black activates his rook.

33.Rh1 Kg5

Presumably the computer wishes to tempt White to play h4 and weaken the g3-pawn.
34.h4+ Kf6 35.Rf1+ Ke7 36.Rg1 Rf2!

The white king is being surrounded!

37.Ra5 Bg4!

The menace is ...Be2+.

38.Rxe5+

This loses a piece for two pawns, but represents White's best practical chance.

38...Kd6

Forking the rook and bishop.

39.Kxd4 Kxc6

Material is about level, White has three pawns for the piece, but the pawns are weak and
separated so Black has all the chances.

40.Rc5+ Kd7 41.Ra5 Be6 42.Ra7+ Kc6 43.Ra6+ Kc7 44.Ra7+ Kb6 45.Ra4 Rg4+ 46.Ke3 Rc2
47.c5+

The first pawn drops.

47...Kxc5 48.Rxg4 Bxg4 49.Ra1 Kd5 50.a4 Re2+ 51.Kd3 Rg2 52.a5 Rxg3+

And the second.

53.Kd2 Bf3 54.a6 Kd4 55.Ra4+ Ke5 56.h5 Ba8

The game is over, a computer is hardly likely to mess this one up.

57.a7 Rh3 58.Rc4 Ra3 59.h6 Be4 60.Rc7 Kf6 61.Rd7 Bf5 62.Rb7 Bh7 63.Kc1 Ra2 64.Rb6+
Kg5 65.Rb7 Kg6 66.Kb1 Ra5 67.Kb2 f6 68.Kc3 Kxh6 69.Re7 Ra2 70.Kb3 Bb1 71.Rf7

71.Re1 wins the piece, but 71...Rxa7 72.Rxb1 Rb7+ 73.Ka2 Rxb1 74.Kxb1 f5 and Black will mate
in 16 moves!

71...Kg6 72.Re7 f5 73.Rc7 f4 74.Rc4 Kf5 75.Rc7 f3 0–1

Almasi,Zoltan (2615) - Leko,Peter (2635) [B96]

HUN-ch Budapest (3), 23.10.1997

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nc6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.e5 h6 10.Bh4
g5 11.fxg5 Nd5 12.Ne4 Qb6 13.Bd3 hxg5 14.Bxg5 dxe5 15.Nf6+ Nxf6 16.Bxf6 Rh6 17.Bxe5
Qa5+ 18.Bc3 Bb4 19.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 20.Qd2 Rb8 21.Qxb4 Rxb4 22.0–0–0 c5 23.h3 Bb7 24.Rd2
Rg4 25.Bf1 Ke7 ½–½
Tischbierek,R (2526) - Shirov,A (2751) [B96]
Bundesliga 1999-2000 Dresden (13), 26.03.2000

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nc6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.e5 h6
10.Bh4 g5 11.fxg5 Nd5 12.Ne4

12...Qb6

13.Bd3 hxg5 14.Bg3

After 14.Bf2 Qxb2 15.0–0 Qxe5 16.Bg3 I like 16...Nf4!

14...dxe5

14...Nf4!? 15.Bxf4 gxf4 16.Nxd6+ Bxd6 17.exd6 Qxb2 18.0–0 Qd4+ 19.Kh1 Qxd6 was alright for
Black in Gongora,M-Abreu,A/Las Tunas 2001.

15.Bxe5
15...Rh4

Everyone prefers this active move, but I offer

15...Rh6!? 16.Qf3 otherwise Black simply plays ...f6 and drives the white pieces back. 16...g4!
17.Qg3 f6 18.Nd6+ Bxd6 19.Bxd6 Qxb2 20.0–0 Qd4+ 21.Kh1 e5 the position looks odd, but I
think Black is at least OK.

16.Qd2 f5 17.Nf6+ Nxf6 18.Bxf6 Bb4!? 19.c3 Bd6 20.Bxg5 Rg4?

Not one of Alexei's better moves,

20...Bg3+ 21.Kd1 Rxh2 22.Rxh2 Bxh2 is better, although 23.Kc2 is good for White.

21.Be2 Rxg5 22.Qxg5 Qxb2 23.Bh5+ Kd7 24.Qg7+ 1–0

A complete White repertoire against the Sicilian.

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