TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE 4. MAROCZY BIND: BREYER

VARIATION
KEY TO SYMBOLS
Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
INTRODUCTION
5. MAROCZY BIND: MAIN LINE
1. CLASSICAL VARIATION (Be2) Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Parts 1, 2, 3, 4
6. 4.Qxd4 VARIATION
2. 7.Bc4: ANTI-YUGOSLAV Parts 1, 2
VARIATION
7. ANTI-SICILIANS: ALAPIN AND
Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
MORRA
3. 7.Bc4: MY SYSTEM Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Parts 1, 2, 3
 THE HYPER ACCELERATED DRAGON
by Raja Panjwani

First edition 2017 by inkers

Publishing
e Hyper Accelerated Dragon
Copyright © 2017 Raja Panjwani

www.thinkerspublishing.com All rights reserved. No part of this

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Graphic Artist D/2017/13730/4
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 KEY TO SYMBOLS

! a good move ± White has a serious advantage

? a weak move μ Black has a serious advantage

!! an excellent move +– White has a decisive advantage

?? a blunder –+ Black has a decisive advantage

!? an interesing move ‚ with an attack

?! a dubious move ƒ with initiative

™ only move „ with counterplay

= equality … with the idea of

∞ unclear position ¹ better is

with compensation for the ‹ worse is

© sacri ced material
N novelty
² White stands slightly better check
+
³ Black stands slightly better mate
#
 INTRODUCTION
It simply isn’t an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons.
My Favorite Sicilian
I was introduced to the Accelerated
Dragon when I was ten years old, more
than seventeen years ago. It was arguably
my rst ‘serious’ defense against 1.e4:
prior to then I would develop my pieces in
a manner my father and I called ‘P-Play’
(the ‘P’ deriving from our family name)
but which I later discovered is widely
known as the Hippopotamus Defence. He
and I were of similar strength at the time,
and we studied the opening together from
the then recently published, and now
classic, Accelerated Dragons by IMs
Donaldson and Silman.
What drew me to the opening initially
was the abundance of cheapos I could set
up for my opponents in the early stages of
the game, which even experts and masters
seemed unprepared for. e following was
always one of my favorites:
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7
5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 Qa5 8.Qd2?
8.0-0
8...Nxe4! 9.Nxc6
9.Nxe4 Qxd2+ 10.Bxd2 Nxd4μ
XIIIIIIIIY
J.R.R. Tolkien
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+-tr0
9zpp+pzppvlp0
9-+N+-+p+0
9wq-+-+-+-0
9-+L+n+-+0
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9PzPPwQ-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
9...Qxc3!! 10.Qxc3
10.bxc3 Nxd2 11.Bxd2 bxc6μ
10...Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 bxc6μ
Beyond simple tricks like this one, I
found that the positional themes of the
opening were fairly easy to digest; for
example, dark square control, central
breakthrough (especially ...d7-d5),
queenside expansion, as well as the typical
favorable and unfavorable endgames which
tend to arise. As I have matured as a
player, my perspective on this opening has
correspondingly transformed, but my
respect and appreciation for its strength
has only been enhanced. is book is an
attempt to convey my current
understanding and approach with black.
I have always felt that the Accelerated
Dragon does not get its due respect among
the Sicilians. Even its prodigal brother, the
un-accelerated Dragon, had its time in the
spotlight when it was used by Kasparov to
twice defeat (and twice draw) Anand in
their 1995 PCA World Championship
match. Why then, has the Accelerated
Dragon — the theoretically no worse off,
and much safer of the two (I like to think
of it as the only Sicilian where Black
needn’t worry about getting mated in 25
moves) — historically been only an
occasional guest in top events, and, unlike
every other respectable Sicilian, never
occupied the central battle eld of a World
Championship match?1 Part of the
discrepancy is a vestige of the old (pre-
1970s) dogma that in the Sicilian, to avoid
suffocation, Black must prevent White
from obtaining a ‘clamp’ pawn center
(pawns on e4 and c4). Indeed, the
Maroczy Bind (5.c4) has always been the
bane of the Accelerated Dragon’s existence.
However, while this attitude towards the
Sicilian may have been justi able half a
century ago, Black has since demonstrated
counterattacking prospects against the
e4/c4 clamp in a variety of structures, as in
the Hedgehog, Kalashnikov, Kan,
Taimanov, and certainly no less in the
Accelerated Dragon.
I suspect that computers have deterred
many potential devotees away from the
Accelerated Dragon. Computer
evaluations in the main lines tend to
uctuate between +0.25 and +0.5, which
plausibly leads to the rationale that
playing the Accelerated Dragon instead of
the Berlin or Marshall — where
evaluations are closer to +0.15 — is like
playing with a small handicap straight out
of the opening. ings, however, are not
so simple. Computers evaluate each
position by objective features, without
regard for subjective factors which are very
often more important in tournament
chess. Machines systematically ignore the
value of, for example, being able to follow
one of a small number of thematic plans,
irrespective of what the opponent does,
saving on clock time as well as risk of
mishandling the position. is sort of
human element is unaccounted for by the
engine, resulting in an in ated estimation
of White’s chances. In this regard, there
are similarities between the Accelerated
Dragon and the King’s Indian Defense —
another opening notoriously bastardized
by the engine. King’s Indian devotees are
used to seeing +0.5 computer evaluations,
but they are not discouraged because they
recognize that there is a narrow margin of
error for White, and to err is human. e
same can be said for the Accelerated
Dragon.
Fortunately, the tide of fashion is
turning, and contemporary Accelerated
Dragon experts like (super) Grandmasters
Tiviakov, Mamedov, Iturrizaga, and
Malakhov have demonstrated that this
opening can be a reliable counter to 1.e4
even against top opposition. Recently, in
fact, World Champion Magnus Carlsen
upheld the Black side of a Maroczy to put
a halt to Caruana’s 7-0 run in the 2014
Sinque eld Cup. I predict a bright future
for this opening, for many reasons, but
most of all because 1) e resulting
positions are difficult for computers to
properly assess- many ‘+=’ evaluations are
more accurately ‘=’ but more importantly
‘easier to play for Black’, a factor which
should not be underestimated especially
considering the increasingly short time
controls, and 2) ere is plenty of
unexplored terrain, which cannot be easily
navigated by the positional dictums we are
brought up with, because the Accelerated
Dragon is a genuinely nonstandard
opening. is means that there is a
competitive advantage to those who work
out its unusual nuances, unlike in, say, the
Najdorf or Sveshnikov where it often feels
like the strategic ideas are all well known,
and only concrete novelties are yet to be
discovered (if it is unclear what I mean by
this, I hope it isn’t by the end of the
book!).
e Accelerated Dragon State of
Mind
A friend of mine (a strong IM) recently
commented to me that if he could be
certain that his opponents wouldn’t play
the Maroczy bind, he would always play
the Accelerated Dragon instead of his
usual (un-accelerated, but I sometimes
teasingly prefer ‘un-playable’) Dragon,
because White can’t play the critical
Yugoslav Attack against the Accelerated
Dragon (despite this being lesson #1 of the
Accelerated Dragon, a surprising number
of masters have not gotten the memo).
“However”, he continued, “in the
Maroczy, Black is just playing for a draw,
you can never win!” A loyal defender of
my beloved pet opening, I insisted he had
it all wrong, and that I welcome the
Maroczy in must-win games with Black.
“at’s really weird dude, you’re probably
the only one” was his retort, but I think
when it comes to the Accelerated Dragon,
there’s a requisite state of mind needed in
order to properly handle it — some
players have had a conversion experience
after catching a glimpse of its incredible
power, while others haven’t. Plausibly as a
result of this, from my experience there is
a peculiar camaraderie among Accelerated
Dragon practitioners. Whereas Najdorf
‘bros’ espouse a Darwinian angst that their
novelty on move 25 in the Poisoned Pawn
variation will be discovered, used, and
rendered useless by their colleagues, I have
found that Accelerated Dragon players
enjoy discussing their ideas with each
other. A personal anecdote of mine is fairly
typical: in the nal round of the 2013 US
Masters tournament I was in a must-win
‘money game’ with Black against Cuban
GM Abreu, and I noticed GM Rauf
Mamedov (a leading expert on the Black
side of the Accelerated Dragon) was taking
an interest in the Maroczy Bind on my
board. I won the game in a tense struggle,
and afterwards when I was collecting my
prize, Rauf kindly congratulated me on
the win and took an interest in the 15...e6
line I played (see chapter 5), which he said
he hadn’t studied before. I told him I was
not too happy with the more popular
15...Qb6, but he asserted that from his
analysis Black has no problems there —
“it’s equal” he said. His con dent
proclamation was just the nudge I needed
to look closer into some of the lines I
thought were undesirable for Black, and
on closer inspection I realized
(unsurprisingly) he was right!
While this elusive ‘state of mind’ is
somewhat ineffable, and better grasped
from experience than anything else (if I
am successful then the contents of this
book will convey precisely this), I think it
is helpful to think of the Maroczy as a
close cousin of the Hedgehog. I
understand the ‘philosophy’ of the
Hedgehog in terms of how Mihai Suba
describes it in his excellent Dynamic Chess
Strategy. It is worth quoting him at length.
“White’s position looks ideal. at’s the
naked truth about it, but the ‘ideal’ has by
de nition one drawback — it cannot be
improved. ...In the early 1970s, the
successes of Karpov and Andersson
showed that [Hedgehog] positions are not
only playable but offer as many winning
chances as any other opening. is was in
glaring con ict with classical strategy.
White enjoys more space, better
development [and] his position has no
weaknesses. How is it possible that Black
not only resists in these positions but
sometimes wins? e only plausible
answer lies in the hidden dynamics of the
positions. After the opening, White’s
position has all the qualities of a successful
picture, but lacks concrete possibilities for
improvement. Within our terminology, it
is rigid (not elastic). Black’s position, in
contrast, ‘looks’ bad but has greater scope
for improvement.” (p. 26)
is description applies equally well to
the Maroczy. In fact, you might say that
the Accelerated Dragon (speci cally the
Black side of the Maroczy) ‘state of mind’
is, to borrow Suba’s phrase, an
appreciation for the “hidden dynamic
factors” in each position which
compensate for the static de ciencies
(again, the best way to ‘sense’ these is by
studying the opening — the variations in
this book are meant to illustrate these
factors). Moreover, as a long time
Hedgehog player myself, I must say that in
my opinion, Black has much more
freedom in the Maroczy than in the
Hedgehog; for instance, in the Hedgehog,
it is usually unfavorable for Black to
exchange queens, whereas in the Maroczy
(and the Accelerated Dragon more
broadly), White often takes pains to avoid
exchanging queens so as to not lose the
initiative, and that is a liability which
contributes to the “rigidity” (another apt
term of Suba’s) of White’s position. Terms
like ‘elastic’ and ‘counterattacking
potential’ will be interspersed throughout
this book — they are much more
informative than reductive evaluations like
‘=’.
An Inclusive Opening
One of the remarkable things about the
Accelerated Dragon is its appeal to players
with vastly different styles. Compare Bent
Larsen, the epitome of dynamic, offbeat,
risky chess, with Sergei Tiviakov, who
claimed in an interview recently that his
style has been shaped most by Petrosian
(who was a great Accelerated Dragon
devotee himself ), Smyslov, and Karpov —
both these players have championed the
Accelerated Dragon as their main weapon
against 1.e4 and yet their styles are in
many ways polar opposites of each other!
How can this be? I think the answer to
this question is subtle and instructive. I
think that when playing the Accelerated
Dragon it ‘feels’ like you are playing
White, not Black (albeit in a hypermodern
manner). What I mean is, in chess, White
tends to be the one to control the tempo
of the game — usually it is White who
chooses whether to enter into an opposite
side castling situation, or to exchange
pieces early on and maneuver around in a
simpli ed middlegame, or invoke the
center as the locus of battle, ensuring king
safety above all.2 Furthermore, Black
usually needs to play accurately to not end
up slightly worse, or at least give the
initiative to White. e situation is, to the
well prepared Accelerated Dragon player,
precisely the reverse: in the Maroczy, for
example, there are half a dozen different
ways for Black to develop, and players of
diverse styles can choose the one which
suits them best (or vary their choice
depending on practical considerations).
Black controls the tempo and determines
the character of the struggle, which is why
it is so effective in must-win games.
Furthermore, unlike in many 1...e5
openings, or in most other Sicilians like
the Kan, Sveshnikov, or even the Najdorf,
White’s choices are rather limited if he
does not want to end up slightly worse out
of the opening. In practice, White meets
the Accelerated Dragon with either the
Maroczy Bind or the 7.Bc4 variation; this
is simply not so in the Najdorf where
every single reasonable move is a viable
candidate from the starting position of the
Najdorf (6.h3, 6.Rg1, 6.g3, 6.f3, 6.Be3,
6.f4, 6.Be2, 6.Bc4, 6.Bg5, 6.a4, and that
is not even to mention variations therein),
and the margin for White error is far
greater (for example 6.Be2 e5 7.Nf3!? is a
serious challenge to the Najdorf but 6.Be2
Bg7 7.Nf3?! is just dubious against the
Accelerated Dragon).
e above may sound a little hyperbolic,
and I would like to make it clear from the
outset that I am not claiming that ‘Black is
better’ in the Accelerated Dragon; to do so
would be dishonest. My claim is a serious
one: the character of the Accelerated
Dragon is that of a White opening. In
fact, the Accelerated Dragon reversed is a
White opening, called the English, and is
fashioned by most of the top players in the
world, including Carlsen, Kramnik,
Aronian, Anand, Giri, and others: the
exact piece arrangement occurs with colors
reversed (and a tempo up) after 1.c4 e5
2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nc3,
as well as 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5
4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Nc7 7.0-0
e5 (reversed Maroczy). I have enjoyed
playing this ‘reversed Accelerated Dragon’
with White as well.
In addition to being inclusive in the
above sense, that it can suit players of
diverse styles, and also that it can be a
coherent complement to a 1.c4 repertoire
with White, there are many interesting
ways that the opening ‘ ts’ with defenses
against 1.d4/1.c4/1.Nf3, and can often
directly transpose from them.
King’s Indian:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6
i) 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.0-0 cxd4
8.Nxd4 Nc6
ii) 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 c5 7.Nge2 cxd4
8.Nxd4 Nc6
Benoni/Benko Gambit:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4
Nc6 5.Nc3 g6 6.e4
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 c5 4.Nc3 (4.d5
either 4...b5 or 4...e6) 4...cxd4 5.Nxd4
Nc6 6.e4
Symmetrical English:
 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4
Bg7 5.e4 Nc6
1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4
Bg7 5.e4 Nc6
Of course, there is no obligation on
Accelerated Dragon players to deploy these
defences in order to allow for
transpositional possibilities — Tiviakov
has been a lifelong Nimzo-Indian/Queen’s
Indian devotee as a counterexample — but
I have found it useful to play these systems
in tandem myself.
One more point on the topic of move
orders: since the Accelerated Dragon
(especially the Maroczy) can come about
from so many different move orders, I
have taken some liberties with the games
in this book to convert the initial moves to
the 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 ‘Hyper-Accelerated
Dragon’ move order we will be focusing
on. I have done this, following a not
uncommon practice, purely for didactic
purposes — I don’t want readers happy
with their 1.d4 defenses to be confused by
transpositions from openings they don’t
play.
About is Book
is book presents a repertoire for Black
after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 — the Hyper-
Accelerated Dragon. I am relatively lax
about distinguishing between ‘Accelerated
Dragon’ (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 g6) and ‘Hyper-Accelerated
Dragon’, and I use the two
interchangeably unless to emphasize move
order nuances, for example, “the Hyper-
Accelerated Dragon avoids the
Rossolimo”. However, this is not merely ‘a’
Hyper-Accelerated Dragon repertoire, it is
my repertoire, and I present the material as
such, from a rst person perspective,
making brazen use of my own games and
offering personal anecdotes and opinions.
is stylistic choice risks my coming
across as presumptuous and at times even
boastful, but my hope is rather that the
conversational mode of presentation
makes readers feel as though I am their
tour guide through what might otherwise
feel like an insurmountable labyrinth of
variations. Further on the point of stylistic
choices, I am regrettably not sufficiently
skilled in writing without gender-speci c
pronouns, so please regard all generic
references to ‘he’ as ‘s/he’ (or alternative)
and so on.
I provide as much information as I
think is necessary for readers to play this
opening with Black; however, this is
absolutely not meant to be an anthology
on the opening. I make no claim to cover
every conceivable variation White can
play. Any attempt at such, couched under
the heading of a ‘complete repertoire’
would not only be misleading, but in this
day and age obsolete. is is not to say
that opening books are altogether obsolete;
on the contrary, as inundated with
information as we all are nowadays, it can
be enormously helpful to have an author
divulge opening secrets from their years of
experience which would not easily be
gathered from a database search.
What is obsolete is the attempt to
thoroughly and comprehensively ‘prove
equality’ with Black, and more
importantly for our purposes it is
antagonistic to the spirit of the Accelerated
Dragon, which is that of an opening
refusing to be evaluated on static grounds
alone. As Jonathan Rowson instructs in his
Seven Deadly Chess Sins, “You need to
assess not only the position as it stands but
the position as it has changed and how it
is likely to continue to change”. (p.75) So,
I am not a big fan of evaluations like ‘=’ or
‘=+’ or ‘+=’ (though I capitulate to these at
times) because ‘=’ makes me think of a
draw and ‘+=’ makes me feel like I ought
to be satis ed with a draw as Black, when
in reality Black can very much be
optimistic about his position despite such
evaluations, and that is why I prefer
evaluations like “counterplay” or “mutual
chances”.
If you encounter a variation not covered
in this book, for example 1.e4 c5 2.Na3,
my general prescription is this: nd a
database (no excuses, they are free online),
and search the position with an
Accelerated Dragon player (I gave you a
list above) as Black to see how they have
chosen to play the position. Ideally you’ll
nd a model game that you can recall
whenever you face the system; after all,
when it comes to rare systems like 2.Na3
it is foolish to memorize concrete
variations since you’ll never remember
them anyway, but the key ideas of a model
game you can. Even in the main lines of
the Accelerated Dragon, don’t try to
memorize the moves given in this book as
if they are the ultimate truth. ey aren’t.
Your learning will be enhanced if you
actively seek out novelties of your own,
and try to understand how the various
positional ideas for both sides t together.
To make this book as valuable to the
Petrosian-style (risk-averse) Accelerated
Dragon player as to the Larsen-type (risk-
craving), I have recommended two systems
against each of the 7.Bc4 and Maroczy
Bind variations. I hope at least one of
these suits you. For those among you who
will embark on the risky course (‘My
System’ against 7.Bc4 and the Breyer
Variation of the Maroczy), may I caution
you to do so with a realistic attitude
towards the cost of risk-taking in chess. It
is in the (mathematical) nature of risk-
taking that it increases the variability of
outcomes — both good and bad. e
mature risk taker is mindful of this,
cognizant that their risk-taking is
compatible with their aims and
justi cations. is was the attitude of Bent
Larsen. If you would like to play the
Accelerated Dragon ambitiously, with a
tolerance for risk, keep in mind the
following description of Larsen, given by
Reshevsky: “He is a rm believer in the
value of surprise. Consequently, he often
resorts to dubious variations in various
openings. He also likes to complicate
positions even though it may involve
considerable risk. He has a great deal of
con dence in his game and fears no one.
His unique style has proven extremely
effective against relatively weak opponents
but has not been too successful against
top-notchers.” Alas, this is the risk-taker’s
predicament, but far from discouraging it,
I am thankful for the risk-takers among
you who resist the ‘genetic’ drift of our
chess community towards timidity and
results-oriented pragmatism.
I sincerely hope you nd this to be an
enjoyable and enriching experience.
 CHAPTER 1

CLASSICAL VARIATION (Be2)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 Alekhine. In all these systems, the
5.Nc3 Nc6 Classical Variation offers White serious
XIIIIIIIIY chances to obtain an opening advantage,
9r+lwqk+ntr0 and the immortal games of past
9zpp+pzppvlp0 champions like Geller and Karpov provide
9-+n+-+p+0 textbook illustrations of successful
9+-+-+-+-0 ‘Classical’ 1.e4 play. In contrast, the Be2
(Classical) variation against the ordinary,
9-+-sNP+-+0 un-Accelerated Dragon is rather harmless
9+-sN-+-+-0 for Black, the Yugoslav Attack being its
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 critical test. As Accelerated Dragon
9tR-vLQmKL+R0 players, we are in an even more favorable
xiiiiiiiiy situation than ordinary Dragon players
when it comes to the Classical variation,
because we can choose to transpose to
Contents harmless variations of the Classical
Dragon by opting for ...d7-d6 at
1. 6.Nb3, 6.Nde2 opportune moments, and in some lines we
2. 6.Be3 Nf6 7.sidelines & 7.Be2 d5!? can strike with ...d7-d5 directly, saving a
full tempo compared with analogous lines
3. 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Be2 0-0 8.sidelines
in the Dragon. Despite the fact that this
4. 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Be2 0-0 8.0-0 system offers White no advantage, it is still
seen in about 15% of Accelerated Dragons
1 (the other 85% are nearly evenly
distributed between the Maroczy and Bc4
We begin with the variation which variations), the bulk of which occur at the
epitomizes the Accelerated Dragon club level.
philosophy. In most defenses to 1.e4,
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7
White has the option of playing a
5.Nc3 Nc6
‘Classical’ variation by developing the light
squared bishop to e2. is is particularly
the case in Sicilians like the Najdorf,
Scheviningen and Taimanov, but also in
other defenses like the Pirc/Modern and
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 6...Nf6 7.g3
9r+lwqk+ntr0
9zpp+pzppvlp0 (7.a4 d5!N 8.exd5 (8.Nxd5? Nxe4μ)
8...Nb4 9.Nf4 (9.Ng3 0-0 10.Bc4 Qc7
9-+n+-+p+0 11.Bb3 Rd8„) 9...Bf5
9+-+-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-sNP+-+0 9r+-wqk+-tr0
9+-sN-+-+-0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9-+-+-snp+0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0 9+-+P+l+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9Psn-+-sN-+0
6.Nb3 9+-sN-+-+-0
is move tends to be played later on 9-zPP+-zPPzP0
anyway in the Be2 system, in order to 9tR-vLQmKL+R0
hinder Black from playing ...d7-d5 (note xiiiiiiiiy
that the Maroczy and Bc4 variation both
target the d5-square), so some players 10.Bb5+ Kf8 11.Bd3 Nxd3+ 12.cxd3
prefer to play 6.Nb3 directly without g5 13.Nfe2 Nxd5 14.Bxg5 Nxc3
committing the Bishop to e3. 15.bxc3 Bxd3 16.0-0 Bc4=)
6.Nde2 7...b5! 8.Bg2 Rb8 9.0-0 0-0
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+ntr0 9-trlwq-trk+0
9zpp+pzppvlp0 9zp-+pzppvlp0
9-+n+-+p+0 9-+n+-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+p+-+-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0 9-+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0 9+-sN-+-zP-0
9PzPP+NzPPzP0 9PzPP+NzPLzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0 9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
is is not part of the Be2 system so I 10.h3
just mention it in passing. Some people
who like to anchetto their light bishop in a) 10.Nd5 d6 11.Bg5 (11.h3 Nd7
other Sicilians play this ‘Chameleon’ line; 12.c3 e6 13.Nb4 Nxb4 14.cxb4 Nb6³
such variations are apt against tamer Polgar,Z (2550)-Georgiev,V (2615)
Sicilians like the Najdorf, not the Matinhos 1994) 11...Nd7 12.c3 Re8
unforgiving Accelerated Dragon. 13.Nd4 Nxd4 14.cxd4 Nb6 15.Nb4
 Bb7 16.Rc1 Qd7 17.b3 a5 18.Nc2 b4=
XIIIIIIIIY
1–0 (57) Kuzmin,G (2540)-Macieja,B 9r+lwq-trk+0
(2460) St Petersburg 1996; 9zpp+-zppvlp0
b) 10.Bf4 d6 11.Qd2 b4 12.Nd5 Ng4 9-+nzp-snp+0
13.Rab1 Nge5 14.b3 e6 15.Ne3 Qa5μ; 9+-+-+-+-0
10...b4 11.Nd5 Ba6 12.Re1 Nxd5
9-+-+P+-+0
13.exd5 Na5 9+NsN-+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9PzPP+LzPPzP0
9-tr-wq-trk+0 9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
9zp-+pzppvlp0 xiiiiiiiiy
9l+-+-+p+0 9.Bg5
9sn-+P+-+-0 is is likely to be White’s idea if they
9-zp-+-+-+0 play 6.Nb3 directly.
9+-+-+-zPP0 9.f4?!
9PzPP+NzPL+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0 9r+lwq-trk+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zpp+-zppvlp0
14.Bf4
9-+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
(14.Nd4 Nc4 15.Rb1 e5! 16.dxe6 9-+-+PzP-+0
fxe6³)
9+NsN-+-+-0
14...Rc8 15.d6 e6 16.a3 b3! 17.cxb3 9PzPP+L+PzP0
Qb6 18.b4 Nc4³ Perovic-Nikolic, Pula
1991.
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
6...Nf6 7.Be2 0-0 8.0-0
ere are ways of playing this in the 9...b5!„;
spirit of the Accelerated Dragon but I 9.Kh1 Be6 10.f4 Qc8! Preventing f4-f5.
think Black’s best and simplest path is to
proceed in Dragon style with ...d7-d6 and (10...d5?! 11.f5 Bc8 12.exd5 Nb4
...Bc8-e6, aiming to play ...d6-d5. 13.fxg6 hxg6 14.Bf3 Bf5 15.Nd4±)
8...d6 11.Be3
(11.f5? gxf5 12.exf5 Bxf5μ One might
think White has some compensation
because Black’s king position has been
compromised but the far more salient
factor is Black’s superiority in the
center.)
XIIIIIIIIY
 11...Rd8= White cannot prevent ...d6- possession of the e5 square with his
d5, which as a rule (at least) equalizes for knight.
Black.; 12.Qe1
9.Re1 Be6 10.Bf1 d5 11.Nc5 12.f5 Bd7! 13.Qc1 Ne5 14.Qf4 b5„;
(11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Ne4 b6=) 12.Bf3 Nd7!? Just one idea of many.
11...dxe4 12.Nxe6 Qxd1 13.Rxd1 fxe6 13.Rb1 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Qc7³;
14.Bc4 Kf7³ Black’s tripled pawns are not 12.a4 Na5 13.Nxa5 Qxa5 14.Bd3 Rfe8
to be scoffed at; they restrict White’s 15.Qe2 Qb4 16.a5 Bg4 17.Qd2 Bd7
pieces by controlling important central Black threatens ...d6-d5 thanks to the pin
squares. on the c3-knight. 18.Qe2?! Qxb2 19.Bxf6
9...Be6 10.Kh1 Bxf6 20.Nd5 Bb5 21.Bxb5 Qxb5
White signals his intention to continue 22.Qxb5 axb5 23.Rab1 Rc5μ 0–1 (42)
with f2-f4. Since White’s bishop is on g5, Anand,V (2715)-Topalov, V (2640)
it is no longer realistic for Black to aim for Linares 1994.
...d6-d5, so he refocuses attention toward 12...b5
the queenside. XIIIIIIIIY
10.f4?! b5!„
9-+rwq-trk+0
9+-+-zppvlp0
10...Rc8 11.f4 a6 9p+nzplsnp+0
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0 9+p+-+-vL-0
9+p+-zppvlp0 9-+-+PzP-+0
9p+nzplsnp+0 9+NsN-+-+-0
9+-+-+-vL-0 9PzPP+L+PzP0
9-+-+PzP-+0 9tR-+-wQR+K0
9+NsN-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzPP+L+PzP0 13.f5 Bd7 14.Qh4 Ne5 15.Nd4 Rc5!„
9tR-+Q+R+K0 Black intends ...Qd8-a8 with prospects
xiiiiiiiiy for the thematic ...Rxc3 Sicilian exchange
sacri ce.
Black can take his time on the
queenside because if White continues with 15...Nc4?! 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5ƒ
f4-f5 then Black will happily take
 2

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 the ordinary Dragon but I suggest we only
5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 do so after White has displaced his knight
XIIIIIIIIY from the active d4-square.
9r+lwqk+-tr0
(8.e5 White can’t afford such extensions
9zpp+pzppvlp0 before castling and completing
9-+n+-snp+0 development. 8...Ne8 9.Qf3 (9.Nxc6?!
9+-+-+-+-0 bxc6 10.h4?! d6 11.h5 Qa5 12.hxg6
9-+-sNP+-+0 hxg6μ; 9.Qd2 d6„) 9...d6 10.0-0-0
9+-sN-vL-+-0 (10.Nxc6?! bxc6 11.Qxc6 Bd7³)
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 10...Bd7„)
9tR-+QmKL+R0 8...e5!
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
7.Be2 9zpp+p+pvlp0
7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5 Ng8! (8...Nd5 I never 9-+n+-snp+0
liked this pawn sacri ce but several
grandmasters have played it. 9.Nxd5 cxd5
9+-+-zp-+-0
10.Qxd5 Rb8∞) 9.f4 Nh6 10.Qd2 0-0 9-+-sNPzP-+0
11.0-0-0 d6!=; 9+-sN-vL-+-0
7.f4 9PzPP+L+PzP0
XIIIIIIIIY 9tR-+QmK-+R0
9r+lwqk+-tr0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zpp+pzppvlp0 9.Ndb5 Black has safe paths to equality
9-+n+-snp+0 here like 9...Ne8, but the following
9+-+-+-+-0 opportunity, while messy and slightly
9-+-sNPzP-+0 risky, is far too appealing to pass up.
9+-sN-vL-+-0 (9.fxe5 Nxe5 10.0-0 d6 11.Bg5 h6
9PzPP+-+PzP0 12.Bh4 g5 13.Bg3 Qb6 14.Kh1 Neg4
9tR-+QmKL+R0 15.Qd3 Nh5„; 9.Nxc6 dxc6 10.fxe5
xiiiiiiiiy Ng4!„)
9...Nxe4!!N 10.Nxe4 d5 11.Nf2
7...0-0 8.Be2 Black can of course
continue with 8...d6 here and transpose to
 (11.Ned6 a6 12.Nxc8 Rxc8 13.Na7
XIIIIIIIIY
Nxa7 14.Bxa7 b6μ) 9r+lwqr+k+0
9+p+-+pvlp0
11...a6 12.Na3 exf4 13.Bc1
XIIIIIIIIY 9p+-+-+p+0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9+-+p+-+-0
9+p+-+pvlp0 9-+-+-+-+0
9p+n+-+p+0 9sN-zP-+n+-0
9+-+p+-+-0 9PzP-+-sNPzP0
9-+-+-zp-+0 9tR-vLQ+K+R0
9sN-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzPP+LsNPzP0 17.gxf3
9tR-vLQmK-+R0 (17.Qxf3 d4! 18.Bd2 Be6 19.Re1
xiiiiiiiiy Qb6μ)
Black’s compensation is of a long-term 17...d4! 18.Bf4
nature. For the sacri ced piece he
(18.cxd4?! Bf5 19.d5 Rc8 20.h4 b5
currently has two pawns, control over the
21.Nb1 b4!μ)
center, and most of White’s pieces are
awkwardly placed. Black can ‘just play’ the 18...dxc3 19.Qxd8 Rxd8 20.bxc3 Bxc3
position, even the computer gives its 21.Rd1 Be6 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Nb1 Bd4
approval (“0.00”) to several moves 24.a3 Rc8 25.Kg2 Rc2 26.Nd2 Ra2=
(13...Re8, 13...Qh4, 13...Nd4). e
7...d5!?
following is just one possible XIIIIIIIIY
continuation. 13...f3!? 14.Bxf3 9r+lwqk+-tr0
(14.gxf3?! Qh4 15.0-0 Bd4 16.c3 Ba7 9zpp+-zppvlp0
17.Nc2 Bh3 18.Be3 Bxe3 19.Nxe3 9-+n+-snp+0
Qg5+ 20.Kh1 Bxf1 21.Nxf1 Rfe8=) 9+-+p+-+-0
14...Re8+ 15.Kf1 Nd4 16.c3 Nxf3 9-+-sNP+-+0
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9PzPP+LzPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black is not supposed to be able to play
this; the general rule is that, except in
extraordinary circumstances, Black must
castle before playing this. Obedience to
that rule is likely why this move has never
XIIIIIIIIY
been played by a 2400+ player (at least 12.0-0
according to the database). Computers are 12.Nb5 Qb7 13.Nd6 Qc7 14.Nb5
helpful for showing us the exceptions to Qb7=;
our rule of thumb heuristics. Nevertheless,
12.Qd2 exd5 13.Nd4 Ne4 14.Nxe4
Black is not better off here than he is in
dxe4=
the main line (7...0-0), it is just another
path to easy equality. 12...exd5 13.Nd4
8.Bb5 13.Nb4 Ng4 14.g3 Nxe3 15.fxe3 d4³
8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Nxd5 13...Ng4 14.g3 Nxe3 15.fxe3 Qb7=
Qxd5 11.0-0 0-0= We have transposed to
XIIIIIIIIY
the 7...0-0 8.0-0 d5 line. 9r+l+-trk+0
8...0-0 9.Bxc6
9zpq+-+pvlp0
9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Bxc6 Rb8©
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9...bxc6 10.Nxc6 Qc7 11.exd5 e6!
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-sN-+-+0
9r+l+-trk+0 9+-sN-zP-zP-0
9zp-wq-+pvlp0 9PzPP+-+-zP0
9-+N+psnp+0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9+-+P+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
 3

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 8...d6!

5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Be2 0-0 As per our recipe, we transpose to the
XIIIIIIIIY Classical Dragon when White commits to
9r+lwq-trk+0 Nb3.
9zpp+pzppvlp0 8...a5 I used to follow Donaldson and
9-+n+-snp+0 Silman in playing this Accelerated
9+-+-+-+-0 Dragon-style move, but unfortunately I
9-+-sNP+-+0 don’t think it equalizes. 9.a4 d5?!
9+-sN-vL-+-0 (9...Nb4?! 10.f4 (10.0-0 d5 11.e5 Ne4
9PzPP+LzPPzP0 12.f3 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Nc6 14.f4 f6
9tR-+QmK-+R0 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Qd2 e6∞) 10...d5
xiiiiiiiiy 11.e5 Ne4 12.Nb5!²)
10.exd5 Nb4
8.Nb3 XIIIIIIIIY
We previously considered this move
coupled with Bc1–g5; here Black proceeds
9r+lwq-trk+0
in essentially the same way. 9+p+-zppvlp0
9-+-+-snp+0
8.Qd2?! d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5
9zp-+P+-+-0
(10.0-0-0 Nxe3 11.Nxc6 Qxd2+ 9Psn-+-+-+0
12.Rxd2 Nf5 13.Nb4 Bh6–+ 0–1 (13)
Salimbagat,R (2269)-Panjwani,R (2393)
9+NsN-vL-+-0
World Open 2016) 9-zPP+LzPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
10...Nxd4! 11.Nxe7+
xiiiiiiiiy
(11.Bxd4 Qxd5 12.Bxg7 Qxg2!
13.Bxf8 Qxh1+ 14.Bf1 Qe4+ 15.Be2 11.Bf3
Kxf8μ) (11.d6 Bf5 12.Nd4 (12.dxe7 Qxe7
11...Qxe7 12.Bxd4 Bxd4 13.Qxd4 Re8 13.Nd4 Rfd8μ) 12...Qxd6=)
14.Qe3 Qb4+ 15.Qd2?! 11...b6N
(15.c3 Qa4μ) a) 11...Bg4 12.Bxg4 Nxg4 13.Qxg4
15...Rxe2+ 16.Kxe2 Bg4+ 17.f3 Re8+ (13.Bd4 Bxd4 14.Nxd4 Nf6=)
18.Kd1 Qxb2 19.Rc1 Qb6–+ 13...Nxc2+ 14.Ke2± (14.Kd2±);
 b) 11...Bf5 12.Nd4 Nfxd5 13.Nxf5 (10...d5?! 11.f5 Bc8 12.exd5 Nb4
Nxc3 14.Qxd8 Rfxd8 15.Nxe7+ Kf8 13.Qd2 (13.Bf3 gxf5 14.a3 fxg4 15.Bg2
16.0-0 Nxc2 17.Bc5 Bd4 18.Nc6+ Na6 16.Qd3 e6 17.0-0-0 Nxd5 18.h3
Bxc5 19.Nxd8 Rxd8 20.Rac1 Ne3 g3 19.Rhg1 Qd6 20.Bxd5 exd5
21.Rfe1!±; 21.Nxd5 Kh8 22.Bf4+– 1–0 (38)
Fischer,R-Reshevsky,S Los Angeles
12.d6 Bg4 13.Bxg4 Nxg4 14.Qxg4
1961; 13.d6 Qxd6 14.Bc5 Qf4 15.Rf1
Nxc2+ 15.Ke2 Nxa1 16.Rxa1 Qxd6
Qxh2 16.Bxb4 Nxg4 17.Bxg4 Qg3+
17.Rd1 Qxh2 18.Bf4 f5 19.Qf3 Qh4
18.Rf2 Qg1+ 19.Rf1 Qg3+ 20.Rf2
20.Nd4 e5 21.Bg3±
Qg1+ 1/2–1/2 (20) Alekhine, A-
9.0-0 Botvinnik,M Nottingham 1936)
9.f4 Be6 10.g4 13...Nfxd5 14.Nxd5 Qxd5 15.0-0-0!
XIIIIIIIIY Qxd2+ 16.Bxd2²)
9r+-wq-trk+0 11.f5
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+nzplsnp+0 (11.g5 Nd7 12.h4 Nc5! 13.Nxc5
(13.Bxc5 dxc5 14.Qxd8 Rfxd8 15.Nxc5
9+-+-+-+-0 Nd4 16.Nxe6 Nxe6³) 13...dxc5
9-+-+PzPP+0 14.Qxd8 Rfxd8 15.Bxc5 Nd4 16.Bxd4
9+NsN-vL-+-0 Bxd4 17.Bd3 Bxc3+ 18.bxc3 Rxc3³)
9PzPP+L+-zP0 11...Bxb3! ank you to Daniel
9tR-+QmK-+R0 Vanheirzeele for informing me of this idea.
xiiiiiiiiy 12.cxb3

is is the old ‘Rabinovich Attack’, (12.axb3 is is a worse version for
popularized in the 1930s by Kan, White than 12.cxb3 since the c2-pawn
Leven sh, Bondarevsky, and Alekhine. falls in the main line. 12...d5! 13.exd5
10...Rc8 (13.Nxd5 Nxe4μ) 13...Nb4 14.Bf3
XIIIIIIIIY (14.Bc4 a6³) 14...Nfxd5!! 15.Nxd5
9-+rwq-trk+0 (15.Bxd5 Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 Rxc3 17.Bh6
9zpp+-zppvlp0 Qb6!! 18.fxg6 hxg6 19.Be4 Rd8 20.Qe2
Qf6 21.Ra5 Qh4+ 22.Qf2 Qxg4–+)
9-+nzplsnp+0 15...Nxc2+ 16.Kf2 Nxa1 17.Qxa1 e6
9+-+-+-+-0 18.f6 exd5 19.fxg7 Re8μ)
9-+-+PzPP+0 12...d5! 13.exd5 Nb4
9+NsN-vL-+-0
9PzPP+L+-zP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-+-snp+0 9-+nzplsnp+0
9+-+P+P+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-sn-+-+P+0 9-+-+P+-+0
9+PsN-vL-+-0 9+NsN-vL-+-0
9PzP-+L+-zP0 9PzPP+LzPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
14.Bf3 10.f4
10.Qd2 d5=;
(14.Bc4 Here I prefer the simple
14...Qa5 but 14...b5 leads to interesting 10.Nd4 d5 11.Nxe6
complications. Unlike in the 12.axb3 (11.exd5 Bxd5=)
line, 14...a6 is not playable here because
White has a2-a3 available to him in this 11...fxe6 12.exd5 exd5=
line. 14...Qa5! 10...Rc8
XIIIIIIIIY
a) 14...a6 15.g5 Ne8 16.a3²;
9-+rwq-trk+0
b) 14...b5 15.Nxb5 Nfxd5 (15...Nbxd5 9zpp+-zppvlp0
16.Bxa7 Qa5+ 17.Qd2 Qxd2+ 9-+nzplsnp+0
18.Kxd2 Nxg4 19.Ke2²) 16.Bxa7
Bxb2 17.0-0∞;
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
15.0-0 Rcd8=) 9+NsN-vL-+-0
14...Nfxd5!! 15.Nxd5 9PzPP+L+PzP0
(15.Bxd5 Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 Rxc3 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
17.Bxf7+ Kxf7μ) xiiiiiiiiy
15...Nc2+ 16.Kf2 is position has been defended on the
(16.Kf1 Qxd5! 17.Bxd5 Nxe3+³) Black side by such champions as
Khalifman and Kramnik. White’s attack is
16...Nxa1 17.Qxa1 e6 18.f6 exd5 not to be underestimated, but Black’s
19.fxg7 Re8³ Practically speaking, White resilience and counterattacking chances are
is just lost here — computer level accuracy fully adequate.
is required to only remain slightly worse.
10...Qc8!? 11.h3 Rd8 12.Bf3 Nd7
9...Be6 13.Qd2 Nb6=
11.Qe1
XIIIIIIIIY
 11.f5?! White cannot just ‘go for it’; too
XIIIIIIIIY
many weaknesses are created in the 9-+rwq-trk+0
process. 11...Bd7 12.g4 Ne5! 13.g5? 9zpp+nzppvlp0
(13.Nd2 Rxc3! 14.bxc3 Bc6©) 9-+-zp-+p+0
9sn-+-+PzP-0
13...Rxc3!–+ Just thirteen moves and
White is toast.;
9-+l+P+-+0
9+NsN-vL-+-0
11.g4 Na5 Another thematic idea to
keep in mind. 12.f5
9PzPP+L+-zP0
XIIIIIIIIY 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9-+rwq-trk+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zpp+-zppvlp0 14.Bd3
9-+-zplsnp+0 (14.Bxa7 Bxc3 (14...Be5!?©) 15.bxc3
9sn-+-+P+-0 Bxe2 16.Qxe2 Rxc3 17.Bd4 Rc8„)
9-+-+P+P+0
14...Bxc3! Black creates a target for his
9+NsN-vL-+-0 queenside counterplay. e g7-bishop is
9PzPP+L+-zP0 often a liability anyway when White
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 threatens f5-f6, etc. 15.bxc3 Ne5 16.Bd4
xiiiiiiiiy (16.Rc1 d5μ)
12...Bc4! 16...Nac6„;
(12...Bd7?! We were happy to move 11.Kh1 a6 12.g4
back to d7 when the knight’s arrival on
(12.Qe1 is transposes to 11.Qe1.;
e5 was imminent but here White’s
12.Bf3 Nd7!„ Intending ...Nd7-b6-
attack is too fast. 13.Nd2 (13.g5? Rxc3!
c4.)
μ) 13...Nc6 14.Rf2 Ne5 15.g5 Ne8
16.h4‚) 12...d5! 13.f5 d4! 14.Nxd4 Nxd4
15.Bxd4
13.g5
(15.Qxd4 Qxd4 16.Bxd4 Bc4³)
(13.Bd3 Nxb3 (13...Nd7 14.Bxa7∞)
14.axb3 Bxd3 15.cxd3 d5! 16.g5? d4μ) 15...Bc4©
13...Nd7

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0 9-+rwq-trk+0
9+p+-zppvlp0 9+-+-zppvlp0
9p+-+-snp+0 9p+nzplsnp+0
9+-+-+P+-0 9+p+-+-+-0
9-+lvLP+P+0 9-+-+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0 9+NsN-vL-+-0
9PzPP+L+-zP0 9PzPP+L+PzP0
9tR-+Q+R+K0 9+-+RwQR+K0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Black has full compensation, White has 13...b4!N
to play accurately to not become worse; 13...Nd7 14.f5 Bc4
11.Bf3 (14...Bxb3 15.cxb3² 0–1 (50) Negi,P-
XIIIIIIIIY Kryvoruchko,Y FIDE World Cup 2013)
9-+rwq-trk+0 15.Bxc4 bxc4 16.Nd2
9zpp+-zppvlp0
(16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Bxd4 18.Rxd4
9-+nzplsnp+0 Qb6 19.Rd1 Nf6 20.Rf3 Kg7=)
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0 16...Bxc3
9+NsN-vLL+-0 (16...Qa5!? 17.Nd5 (17.Nxc4 Bxc3
9PzPP+-+PzP0 18.Qxc3 Qxc3 19.bxc3 Ncb8!³) 17...e6!
18.fxe6 (18.Nf4 Qxa2 19.fxe6 fxe6„)
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 18...fxe6 19.Nf4 Qxa2∞ (19...Nd8!?))
xiiiiiiiiy
17.bxc3 Qa5 18.Nf3 Rb8„
11...Nd7!„ e reader might have
14.Na4 Nxe4 15.Bb6 Qe8 16.Bxa6 Nf6
noticed this is a common way to meet
17.Bxc8 Qxc8
Be2-f3. Black can temporarily remove the
Black’s compensation is undeniable.
d7-retreat square from his bishop since
White has relinquished control over c4, 18.Nd4 Bd7 19.Nf3 Qb7 20.Bg1
and if Black achieves ...Nd7-b6-c4 he will
take over the initiative.
11...a6 12.Kh1
12.Rd1 Ng4„
12...b5 13.Rd1

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 20...Nd8! 21.b3 Ne6 22.Nd4 Nd5 23.f5
9-+-+-trk+0 Nef4 24.Qg3 Nh5 25.Qf3 Qa8©
9+q+lzppvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9Nzp-+-zP-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPP+-+PzP0
9+-+RwQRvLK0
xiiiiiiiiy
 4

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7

XIIIIIIIIY
5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Be2 0-0 8.0-0 9r+lwq-trk+0
d5 9zpp+-zppvlp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+n+-+p+0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9+-+N+-+-0
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9-+-sN-+-+0
9-+n+-snp+0 9+-+-vL-+-0
9+-+p+-+-0 9PzPP+LzPPzP0
9-+-sNP+-+0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9+-sN-vL-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzPP+LzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 e following choice is just a matter of
xiiiiiiiiy taste: both lead to very dry, equal
endgames. I tend to prefer 10...Nxd4
If Black played 8...d6 instead, we would because it keeps Black’s pawn structure in
have a position from the Classical Dragon tact.
where Black would intend to play 9...d5
(10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Nxd5 cxd5 12.Bf3
next. is is the sense in which we are
Bb7 13.c4 d4 14.Bxb7 Rb8 15.Bd2
effectively up a tempo in the Accelerated
Rxb7 16.b4 e5=)
Dragon.
10...Nxd4
9.Nxc6
Not the most popular but in my (10...Qxd5 11.Bf3 Qc4 (11...Qa5
opinion White’s best. 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Qc1 Rb8 14.c3 c5
9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 15.Rd1 White is not better, but our
current world champion has taught us
with his games that enduring even mild
unpleasantness such as this can be made
to be a Herculean task.) 12.Nxc6
(12.Be2 Qb4³) 12...bxc6 13.c3 Bf5
14.Qb3 (14.Be2 Qe6 15.Qa4 Rfb8
16.Bc4 Qc8 17.Bb3 Be6=) 14...Qa6
15.Bc5 Rab8 16.Qa3 Qxa3 17.Bxa3
Rfc8=)
11.Bxd4
XIIIIIIIIY
 (11.Bc4 e5 12.c3 Be6=) (15...Bf5 16.Bf3 I prefer White.)
11...Qxd5 12.Bxg7 Qxd1 13.Raxd1 16.Na4 e5 17.fxe5 Ne4 18.Qe1 Bxe5
Kxg7 14.Rd2 19.Rxf8+ Kxf8 20.Qh4 Kg8∞;
(14.Bf3 Be6=) 10...Nd7 11.f4 e6
14...Be6 15.Rfd1 Rfc8 16.a3 Rab8= (11...f6?! 12.Nxd5! fxe5 13.fxe5 Nxe5
9...bxc6 10.e5 14.Nf4²)
XIIIIIIIIY
12.Na4 a5
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zp-+-zppvlp0 (12...f6 13.exf6 Qxf6 14.c3 ese
positions are just much easier to play for
9-+p+-snp+0 White, so I recommend avoiding them,
9+-+pzP-+-0 even though Black must objectively be
9-+-+-+-+0 ne.; 12...Qa5 13.c4 Ba6 14.Bd2 Qc7
9+-sN-vL-+-0 15.Rc1 Qb7 16.Qe1 Rfc8 17.Rf3 dxc4
9PzPP+LzPPzP0 18.Qh4 Qb5 19.b3 Qd5 20.Be3 Qa5
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 21.Bxc4 Bxc4 22.Rxc4 Nb6 23.Nxb6
axb6³ 0–1 (40) Paiva,J-Panno,O (2570)
xiiiiiiiiy Sao Paulo 1972)
is system is underrated, and Black 13.Qd2?!
needs to be a little careful here.
Computers initially think every move is (¹13.c4! f6 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.exf6²)
absolutely equal, but they are slow at 13...Ba6 14.c4 Qb8 15.cxd5 Bxe2
grasping the positional pressure White can 16.Qxe2 cxd5 17.Rac1 g5!?∞ 0–1 (38)
apply if Black does not act fast. Mahia,G (2380)-Sorokin,M (2490)
10...Ne4! Pehuajo 1993.
Liquidating the position is in my 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Qxd8
judgment the easiest path to equality for 12.Qd4 Qd5=
Black.
12...Rxd8 13.Rfd1 Be6 14.Bd4
10...Ne8 is (like 10...Nd7) is
thematic but Black needs to play very
energetically to cope with his static
weaknesses and the requisite level of
accuracy makes this a risky variation to
enter into. 11.f4 f6 12.exf6 Bxf6 13.Qd2
Rb8
(13...Nd6? 14.Nxd5±)
14.b3 Nd6 15.Rad1 Qc7

XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 15.Bxc5 Rdc8=
9r+-tr-+k+0
15...f5 16.b3
9zp-+-zppvlp0 16.exf6 Bxf6 17.Bxf6 exf6=
9-+p+l+p+0
9+-+-zP-+-0 16...Kf7=
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-vLp+-+0 9r+-tr-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9zp-+-zpkvlp0
9PzPP+LzPPzP0 9-+-+l+p+0
9tR-+R+-mK-0 9+-zp-zPp+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+p+-+0
14...c5! 9+PvL-+-+-0
14...Rd7 15.a4 Nigel Short 9P+P+LzPPzP0
demonstrates what can go wrong for Black 9tR-+R+-mK-0
if he isn’t careful. 15...f5?! 16.exf6 exf6 xiiiiiiiiy
17.a5 Kf7 18.f3 exf3 19.Bxf3 Rc7 20.b4!²
1–0 (59) Short,N (2685)-Yrjola,J (2485) Neither side can make progress; Black
Manila 1992. should resort to waiting moves (...Bh6-g7,
etc.) until White initiates exchanges.
15.Bc3
 CHAPTER 2

7.Bc4: ANTI-YUGOSLAV VARIATION

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7
XIIIIIIIIY
5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 Qa5 9r+l+k+-tr0
XIIIIIIIIY 9zpp+pzppvlp0
9r+l+k+-tr0 9-+n+-snp+0
9zpp+pzppvlp0 9wq-+-+-+-0
9-+n+-snp+0 9-+LsNP+-+0
9wq-+-+-+-0 9+-sN-vL-+-0
9-+LsNP+-+0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9+-sN-vL-+-0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy I follow Donaldson and Silman in
referring to this system as the ‘Anti-
Yugoslav variation’. In their words, “We
Contents call this system the Anti-Yugoslav because
7...Qa5 more or less forces White to castle
1. 8.sidelines & 8.0-0 0-0 9.sidelines kingside and thus avoids the dangers of
2. 8.0-0 0-0 9.Bb3 d6 10.sidelines the Yugoslav Attack in the Dragon.”
3. 8.0-0 0-0 9.Bb3 d6 10.h3 Bd7 is concession from White is not
11.sidelines without compromise from Black. In his
repertoire book on the White side of 1.e4,
4. 8.0-0 0-0 9.Bb3 d6 10.h3 Bd7 Negi points out the defects in Black’s
11.Re1 position: “...the queen on a5 is badly
5. 8.0-0 0-0 9.Bb3 d6 10.h3 Bd7 11.f4 placed — it just gets in the way of Black’s
typical plans like ...Na5, or ...b5/...a5.
1 Now ...b5 can always be met by a2-a3
without any worries. Black also has the
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 typical plan of ...Nxd4 and ...Bc6
5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 Qa5 available but if White avoids playing f2-f4,
the positions after Nd5 (intending to meet
...Bxd5 with exd5) seem quite pleasant for
him. Moreover, it is not easy for Black to
XIIIIIIIIY
 nd a new square for the queen. Going to
c7 will only encourage Bg5, with ideas of
Bxf6 and Nd5, so the most common plan
is ...Qh5. Although this may offer a few
tactical tricks, it’s hard to believe that the
queen can be well placed there.” I do not
disagree with Negi — Black’s queen
usually does need to be relocated from a5,
because the c6-Knight wants that square,
and very often Black’s maneuvers in this
system are (in his words) “hard to believe”.
at being said, the fact that White
players will be incredulous towards Black’s
maneuvers is a positive feature of Black’s
strategy (in this speci c variation and
more broadly in the Accelerated Dragon),
not a reason to avoid this line.
In my experience playing this system
over the board for more than sixteen years,
White players have real difficulty
managing their position, because Black’s
Queen on a5 means that play neither
resembles the Yugoslav Attack nor does it
follow the usual paths in the Bc4/0-0
Dragon. White therefore must be
extremely accurate in order to pose any
problems whatsoever for Black, and more
often than not White players are
unprepared to do so. Black, in his favor, is
usually con ned to deciding between a few
typical themes, and that makes his life
much easier.
In the introduction to the book I
mentioned that I was initially drawn to
this system for its incredible “cheapo
potential”, but to reassure the reader that
this is a serious, safe, and reliable counter
to 7.Bc4, I point out that Ivanchuk relied
on this system at the highest stage when
he employed it against Grischuk in the
London Candidates, 2013 (see 10.Nd5!?
in the next subchapter).
8.0-0
Conventional wisdom dictates that this
is basically forced, but in my opinion 8.f3
is not to be underestimated either.
8.Qd2? For White players who have
never seen 7...Qa5, this blunder is not a
rare occurrence. 8...Nxe4! 9.Nxc6
(9.Nxe4 Qxd2+ 10.Nxd2 Nxd4μ)
9...Qxc3!!μ
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+-tr0
9zpp+pzppvlp0
9-+N+-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+L+n+-+0
9+-wq-vL-+-0
9PzPPwQ-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
I’ve had the pleasure of playing this over
the board many times. Black is up at least
a pawn in all variations.;
8.Nb3? Another frequent sighting when
facing unprepared opposition. 8...Qb4!
9.Bd3
(9.Nd2 Apparently, according to
Donaldson and Silman, this was an idea
of the late GM Pilnik, who felt that
White had enough compensation for a
pawn. Plausible as it may have been at
the time, modern computers
demonstrate concretely that White just
ends up suffering here — and being
down material. 9...Qxb2 10.Nb5 Qe5
 11.f4 Qb8 12.e5 Nxe5! 13.fxe5 Qxe5 surprisingly been overlooked by other
14.Nf1 Ng4! 15.Qxg4 Qxa1+ 16.Kf2 commentators.
0-0μ) (9.Bb3? Nxe4 10.Nxc6 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3
XIIIIIIIIY Qxc3+ 12.Ke2 dxc6 13.Qd4 Qxd4
9r+l+k+-tr0 14.Bxd4 Nf6 15.Rhe1 Rg8! Keeping the
9zpp+pzppvlp0 king centralized in anticipation of the
9-+n+-snp+0 endgame. 16.Kf2 Nd5μ)
9+-+-+-+-0 9...Qxc4!
9-wq-+P+-+0 (9...0-0 10.Bb3 d6 11.Qd2 Bd7 12.0-0-
9+NsNLvL-+-0 0 is is ‘just a game’, of course, but
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 White has succeeded in establishing the
9tR-+QmK-+R0 Yugoslav setup, so on principle we do
xiiiiiiiiy not allow it.)
10.Nc7+ Kd8 11.Nxa8 b6 12.a4 Bb7
9...Nxe4! 10.Bxe4 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3
13.Nxb6
Qxe4μ;
(13.a5 bxa5 14.e5 Ne8 15.Ra4 Qe6
8.f3!? is move is highly underrated;
16.f4 Bxa8–+ 0–1 (31) Tatekhin,V
for example, Donaldson and Silman, as
(2154)-Danin,A (2543) Belgorod 2011)
well as Negi give the move a question
mark. 8...Qb4! 13...axb6 14.Bxb6+ Kc8 15.a5
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+-tr0 9-+k+-+-tr0
9zpp+pzppvlp0 9+l+pzppvlp0
9-+n+-snp+0 9-vLn+-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9zP-+-+-+-0
9-wqLsNP+-+0 9-+q+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0 9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzPP+-+PzP0 9-zPP+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Black must not allow White to play A highly unusual position has arisen. If
Qd2 and 0-0-0, establishing a Yugoslav memory serves, it was Bent Larsen who
setup. e ‘Anti-Yugoslav variation’ claimed that in unusual positions the best
wouldn’t be aptly named if it allowed this! moves are often unusual themselves. e
9.Ndb5! White takes advantage of Black’s following maneuever may appear unusual,
queen being on b4, and therefore the c7 but it will be a recurring theme in this
square being vulnerable. is move has book. 15...Ne8! Black’s knight unblocks
the g7 bishop and heads to d6, targeting
XIIIIIIIIY
the c4 square. 16.Na4 Nd6! 17.Be3 Qb5 9r+l+-trk+0
18.Qd5 Ba6= 9zpp+pzppvlp0
8...0-0 9-+n+-snp+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-wq-+-+-0
9r+l+-trk+0 9-+-sNP+-+0
9zpp+pzppvlp0 9+LsN-vLP+-0
9-+n+-snp+0 9PzPP+-+PzP0
9wq-+-+-+-0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9-+LsNP+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 If you ask a seasoned Accelerated
Dragon player how many times the d4-
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 knight is currently under attack, they will
xiiiiiiiiy surely say “three”, never forgetting to
include the g7-bishop, which can be
By far the most popular move for White
uncovered with tempo. 10...Ng4! 11.fxg4
here is 9.Bb3, which will be the subject of
Bxd4 12.Bxd4 Nxd4 13.Kh1 Qe5
the next few chapters. Here we consider
alternatives for White. 14.Nd5 Nc6=;

9.Nb3 9.Nd5 White cannot hope for an

is is a clever line: if Black continues advantage by releasing the central tension
9...Qa5-d8, White intends to accept the so quickly. 9...Nxd5 10.exd5 Nxd4
loss of a tempo with Bc4-e2, because 11.Bxd4 e5! 12.dxe6 dxe6 13.Bxg7
Black has lost two tempi with ...Qd8-a5- Kxg7=
d8. us, a position from the Classical 9...Qd8!
Dragon is reached a full tempo up for
XIIIIIIIIY
White. is was reason enough for 9r+lwq-trk+0
Donaldson and Silman to attribute a “?” 9zpp+pzppvlp0
to 9...Qd8, but in my judgment the 9-+n+-snp+0
Classical Dragon is ‘so equal’ that even a 9+-+-+-+-0
tempo down, Black has no problems.
9-+L+P+-+0
9.f3?! Qc5 10.Bb3 9+NsN-vL-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
I recommend calling White out on their
cleverness. If White plays the 7.Bc4
XIIIIIIIIY
variation against the Accelerated Dragon
(as opposed to 7.Be2) in the hope that
they will be able to favorably transpose
into a 7.Be2 line, then they probably don’t
have much experience with Be2 systems,
so we should welcome this transposition.
Besides, it is no more correct to say that
Black is down a tempo in this line than it
is to say that Black is up a tempo in the
Classical line as compared to this one!
Retreating the queen to d8 is the simplest
way for Black to handle the position; he
intends to continue in the same fashion as
I recommended in the Be2 chapter. It is
worth mentioning that super GM
Malakhov has adopted this move in more
than one tournament game.
9...Qh5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9zpp+pzppvlp0
9-+n+-snp+0
9+-+-+-+q0
9-+L+P+-+0
9+NsN-vL-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
I used to enjoy playing this when I was
younger. It amazed me that Black’s queen
could get away with such tightrope
acrobatics. Unfortunately I can’t
recommend this for anything other than,
perhaps, blitz chess. 10.Be2 Qh4 11.f3
Nh5 12.Qd2
(12.Bf2?! One little inaccuracy from
White and Black is back in business.
12...Qg5 13.Nd5 e6 14.Be3 Qh4
15.Qd2 Be5 16.f4 Bxb2 17.Rab1
Bg7∞)
12...Be5 13.f4 Bxc3 14.Qxc3 Nf6
15.Nd2 d5 16.Nf3 Qh5 17.e5 Ne4
18.Qd3±;
9...Qc7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9zppwqpzppvlp0
9-+n+-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+L+P+-+0
9+NsN-vL-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
10.Bg5² Perhaps it is a little harsh to
evaluate this as +=, because the truth is, it
is just an interesting game after, for
example, 10...e6!?. In this opening,
though, what matters is the level of
counterplay, not objective assessment.
With White threatening Bg5xf6 and Nc3-
d5, Black’s counterplay is put on hold in
order to defend further, and so compared
to 10...Qd8! which genuinely offers equal
chances, I assess this as slightly preferable
for White.
(10.f4 d6 11.Be2 a6 12.Qe1 Bg4
13.Bxg4 Nxg4 14.Nd5 Qd8 (14...Qb8
15.c3 e6 16.Nb6 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Qa7
18.Rad1 Rad8=) 15.Bb6 Qd7 16.Rd1
Nf6 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.e5² 1–0 (62)
Wei Yi (2641)-Bu Xiangzhi (2710)
Zhongshan CHN 2014)
10.Be2
10.Bg5 d6 11.Re1
 (11.Bxf6?! Bxf6³ Since Black’s queen is
on d8 (and not c7), Black can recapture
with the bishop without fearing Nc3-
d5xf6.)
11...Nd7 12.Qd2 Nb6 13.Be2 Be6
14.Bh6 Rc8 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Rad1 Nc4
(16...Ne5 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Qc7
19.c3 Rcd8 20.Nd4± 1/2–1/2 (56)
Perez Candelario,M (2474)-Malakhov,V
(2664) Sanxenxo ESP 2004)
17.Bxc4 Bxc4 18.Nd5 b5= Black will
continue with a typical minority attack on
the queenside.
10...d6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+NsN-vL-+-0
9PzPP+LzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Since this variation is discussed, tempo
up, in the chapter on the Be2 (Classical)
Accelerated Dragon, here we will only
consider attempts by White to take
advantage of the extra tempo with
aggressive play. If White sticks to slow
maneuvering, the extra tempo will be
diluted over time.
11.f4
11.Qd2 a5 12.a4 Be6 13.Rfd1 Rc8
14.f3 Nd7 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Bxd4+
17.Qxd4 Qb6 18.Bb5 Qxd4+ 19.Rxd4
Nb6 20.Kf2 Rc5 21.Rd2 Rfc8³ 0–1 (58)
Recuero Guerra,D (2407)-Malakhov,V
(2690) Benidorm ESP 2007.
11...Be6 12.g4
e test of whether Black can get away
with playing this system down a tempo is
whether such immediate attacks work for
White. Fortunately, they don’t, so as Black
we should provoke and welcome White to
overreach. 12.Qe1 Rc8 13.Qh4 Nb4
14.Rac1? Rxc3! 15.bxc3 Nxa2μ
12...Rc8 13.g5
13.f5 Bd7 14.Qe1?! A typical method
of attack but simply inadequate here.
14...Ne5 15.Qh4?! Rxc3! 16.bxc3 Nxe4μ
13...Ne8 14.f5 Bd7 15.Qe1
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwqntrk+0
9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+nzp-+p+0
9+-+-+PzP-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+NsN-vL-+-0
9PzPP+L+-zP0
9tR-+-wQRmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White is overextended; the onus is now
on Black to hit back and demonstrate the
soundness of Black’s counterplay, even
down a tempo.
15...Bxc3! 16.Qxc3
16.bxc3 Ne5³
16...Ne5 17.Qd2 gxf5! 18.exf5 f6!„
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY Black has counterattacking ideas such as
9-+rwqntrk+0 ...Kh8/Rg8, ...Ne8-g7, and ...Bd7-c6.
9zpp+lzp-+p0 White’s king is weaker than Black’s,
9-+-zp-zp-+0 because whereas Black’s king can hide on
9+-+-snPzP-0 h8, White’s corresponding h1 square is
9-+-+-+-+0 vulnerable to ...Bd7-c6 (a consequence of
White’s overextension).
9+N+-vL-+-0
9PzPPwQL+-zP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
 2
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6
5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 Qa5 8.0-0
0-0 9.Bb3 d6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9wq-+-+-+-0
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+LsN-vL-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White’s options are limited, as Black
threatens ...Nf6-g4.
10.Nd5
Played in Grischuk-Ivanchuk, London
Candidates 2013. After that game, I
considered this move to be the critical test
of this entire variation. However, I now
consider it to be harmless, and not just
because of 10...Qd8!.
10.f3 is move is played often, but it is
clearly inferior to 10.h3, because Black can
continue in the same way as he does in the
main line, except White will eventually
lose a tempo when he inevitably plays f3-
f4. 10...Bd7
(10...Nxd4 is is playable but
unnecessary. 11.Bxd4 Be6 12.f4
(12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Nd7 14.c3
Bxd4+ 15.Qxd4 Rfe8 16.Rfe1 a6
17.Re2 Qc5 18.Qxc5 Nxc5 19.Rae1
Kf8 20.Bc2 b5=) 12...Qa6!? 13.Re1
Qc6 14.Nd5²)
11.Qd2 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Bc6 13.Rad1
Nd7=
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9zpp+nzppvlp0
9-+lzp-+p+0
9wq-+-+-+-0
9-+-vLP+-+0
9+LsN-+P+-0
9PzPPwQ-+PzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black has solved his opening problems.
It is crucial to understand that if Black
succeeds in exchanging on d4, and
exchanging queens with ...Qa5-c5, then
Black is to be preferred (though not
enough to seriously plan for more than a
draw), for typical Sicilian reasons: more
central pawns, potential queenside
minority attack, etc.;
10.Qd2? Nxd4! (10...Nxe4 11.Nxc6±)
11.Bxd4 (11.Qxd4 Ng4³) 11...Nxe4μ
10...Qd8!N
Black vacates the a5-square for his
knight, leaving White with the only piece
in ‘no man’s land’ (the 5th rank).
10...Nxd5!? 11.exd5 Ne5 12.h3 Qa6„;
 10...Re8 11.Nxf6+ Bxf6 12.c3 Bd7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
(12...Ne5?! is was Ivanchuk’s choice, 9zpp+-zpp+p0
and it turned out okay for him —
though he lost the game, it was due to 9-+nzp-vlp+0
the clock rather than the position. 9+-+-+-+-0
White, however, could have posed 9-+-sNP+-+0
serious problems with 13.f4! 13.f4! 9+L+-vL-+-0
(13.h3 Qa6 14.Nc2 Nd3 15.Qf3 Be6 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
16.Bd4 Bxd4 17.Nxd4 Bc4= 1–0 (39)
Grischuk,A (2764)-Ivanchuk,V (2757)
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
London ENG 2013) 13...Ng4 14.Bc1!± xiiiiiiiiy
Black’s knight is stranded on g4, and 12.c3
White’s b3-bishop will coordinate with 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.c3 c5 14.Bc4 Rb8
his f1–rook to target f7 after f4-f5.)
15.Rb1 Qa5„ Black prepares to exchange
13.f4 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 15.Qxd4 light squared bishops with either ...c8-e6
Qc5= or ...Bc8-a6, releasing pressure from the
f7-pawn, so that White’s f4-f5 loses force.
11.Nxf6+
e onus will then be on White to defend
11.f3 Black has his pick of ways to
against Black’s ensuing b- le pressure.;
equalise. 11...Bd7
12.f4 Na5 13.c3 Nxb3 14.axb3
(11...Na5 12.c3 Nxd5 13.exd5 Bd7=; XIIIIIIIIY
11...Nxd5 12.Bxd5 e6!? 13.Bxc6 bxc6
14.Nxc6 Qc7 15.Nd4 Rb8 16.Rb1 Ba6
9r+lwq-trk+0
17.Re1 Rfd8© With two bishops and 9zpp+-zpp+p0
...d6-d5 imminent, Black’s 9-+-zp-vlp+0
compensation is undeniable.) 9+-+-+-+-0
12.c3 Na5= Black’s queenside 9-+-sNPzP-+0
counterplay, combining a minority attack 9+PzP-vL-+-0
with in ltration via ...Na5-c4, is simple 9-zP-+-+PzP0
and strong. 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
11...Bxf6 xiiiiiiiiy
14...a5! 15.Qf3 Bd7 16.f5 b5„ is is
typical of Black’s counterplay in this
variation.
12...Na5! 13.Qd2
13.Bd5 e6 14.Bb3 a6 15.Nc2 b5
16.Bf4 Be5!=

XIIIIIIIIY
13...Bd7
Black prepares to take on b3, then
charge forward on the queenside with
...a7-a5/b7-b5/a5-a4. It is unclear what
White is doing; 14.f4 only creates
weaknesses.
14.f4 Nxb3 15.axb3 e5! 16.Ne2 Bc6
17.Ng3 d5!=
 3

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 11.Nf3

5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 Qa5 8.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
0-0 9.Bb3 d6 10.h3 Bd7 9r+-+-trk+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9zpp+lzppvlp0
9r+-+-trk+0 9-+nzp-snp+0
9zpp+lzppvlp0 9wq-+-+-+-0
9-+nzp-snp+0 9-+-+P+-+0
9wq-+-+-+-0 9+LsN-vLN+P0
9-+-sNP+-+0 9PzPP+-zPP+0
9+LsN-vL-+P0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9PzPP+-zPP+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy 11.Qd2? A surprisingly common
blunder — the database shows that even
e rst major branching point for this grandmasters have fallen for this.
variation. Black intends ...Nc6xd4, 11...Nxd4
followed by ...Bd7-c6 and ...Nf6-d7. XIIIIIIIIY
Ideally, Black will exchange dark squared 9r+-+-trk+0
bishops on d4, as well as queens (after 9zpp+lzppvlp0
...Qa5-c5). Black seeks out an endgame 9-+-zp-snp+0
for obvious reasons: Black’s trumps
include a central pawn majority and the 9wq-+-+-+-0
prospect of a long term queenside 9-+-snP+-+0
minority attack coupled with play along 9+LsN-vL-+P0
the half-open c- le. White is banking on 9PzPPwQ-zPP+0
obtaining a middlegame initiative as 9tR-+-+RmK-0
compensation for these long term
disadvantages, so White will try to avoid xiiiiiiiiy
exchanges. e two most sensible moves 12.Bxd4?!
here are 11.Re1, recommended by Negi,
and the main line, 11.f4. ese two moves (12.Qxd4 Most strong players catch
will be covered in the next two their blunder and choose to accept a
subchapters. worse endgame rather than lose a pawn.
12...Ng4 13.Qd5 Qxd5 14.Nxd5 Nxe3
10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Be6 12.Nd5² 15.Nxe7+ Kh8 16.fxe3 Rae8 17.Nd5
 Bxb2 18.Rab1 Be5 (18...Bg7 19.Nf6
Bxf6 20.Rxf6= 1–0 (75) Medvegy,Z
(2474)-Stolz,M (2391) Balatonlelle
2005; 18...Ba3 19.Nf6 Re7 20.Nxd7
Rxd7 21.Bd5= 1/2–1/2 (29) Simacek,P
(2476)-Malinovsky,K (2367) Olomouc
2009) 19.Nf6 Rd8 20.Bd5 b6 21.Nxd7
Rxd7³)
12...Nxe4! 13.Qe3
(13.Nxe4 Qxd2 14.Nxd2 Bxd4μ)
13...Bxd4 14.Qxe4 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qg5μ
0–1 (70) Hou Yifan (2584)-Bacrot,E
(2721) Villarrobledo ESP 2009;
11.Qd3 Black proceeds with the usual
plan of ...Nc6xd4, ...Bd7-c6, and ...Nf6-
d7. 11...Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Bc6 13.Rae1 Nd7
14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.f4 Qc5+ 16.Kh2 a5
17.a4 Rad8
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-tr-+0
9+p+nzppmkp0
9-+lzp-+p+0
9zp-wq-+-+-0
9P+-+PzP-+0
9+LsNQ+-+P0
9-zPP+-+PmK0
9+-+-tRR+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
18.Qg3 Nf6
(18...Qb4?! Misplacing the queen; Black
wants to be able to meet f4-f5 with
...Qc5-e5. 19.f5 Ne5 (It is not too late
for Black to admit his mistake.
19...Qc5!=) 20.f6+² 1/2–1/2 (58) Wei
Yi (2557)-Yu Yangyi (2657) Shenzhen
CHN 2013)
19.f5
(19.e5 dxe5 20.fxe5 Nh5 21.Qf2 Qxf2
22.Rxf2 g5! 23.g3 Rd4!„)
19...Qe5=;
11.Qe1?!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9wq-+-+-+-0
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+LsN-vL-+P0
9PzPP+-zPP+0
9tR-+-wQRmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
A move once played by Carlsen. White
sets up a positional trap (see 11...Nxd4),
but Black has an easy path to equality.
11...Nxe4!
a) 11...Nxd4?! e usual plan doesn’t
work here. 12.Bxd4 Bc6?! 13.Nd5!
Qxe1? (13...Qd8 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6
15.Bxf6 exf6 16.Rd1²) 14.Nxe7+ Kh8
15.Rfxe1+–;
b) 11...Rfe8 Perfectly playable but
unnecessary given the strength of
11...Nxe4. 12.Rd1 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Bc6
14.f4 (14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nd5 Qc5
16.Nxf6+ (16.Nc7 Bxb2³) 16...exf6
17.Qd2 Rad8³) 14...Nd7 15.Bxg7
Kxg7 16.f5 (16.Kh2 Rac8 17.Qh4 h6
18.Nd5 e6 19.Nc3 Nf6 20.Qe1 1/2–
1/2 (20) Nisipeanu,L (2695)-Carlsen,M
(2646) Sarajevo BIH 2006) 16...Nf6
17.Qh4 Qe5 18.Bd5 Rf8! (18...e6
19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.fxg6 fxg6 21.Rxd6
 Qxd6 22.Qxf6+ Kg8 23.Qf7+ Kh8=) Nxb3 20.axb3 Bc6=)
19.Rf3 e6 20.Bxc6 bxc6=; 14...Nc5 15.Nxe7+ Nxe7 16.Bxd6
12.Nxc6 (16.Rxe7 Be6=)
(12.Nxe4? Qxe1 13.Rfxe1 Nxd4μ) 16...Nf5 17.Bxc5 Qxc5 18.Qxd7 Rad8
12...Bxc6 13.Nxe4 Qxe1 14.Raxe1 19.Bxf7+ Kh8 20.Qb7 Bxb2 21.Rad1
Bxe4 15.Bc1 Bc6 16.Rxe7 Bf6 17.Re3 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Nd4=
d5=
12...Qa6!N
11...b5!
XIIIIIIIIY
11...Rfc8 (is is the routine way we 9r+-+-trk+0
meet White’s Nd4-f3, with the idea of 9zp-+lzppvlp0
...Bd7-e8, ...Nf6-d7-c5. is is Negi’s 9q+nzp-snp+0
recommendation for Black, but in this 9+p+-+-+-0
particular move order I think we can do 9-+-+P+-+0
better with 11...b5!.) 12.Ng5! Be8 13.f4²
White’s f1 Rook, b3 Bishop, and g5
9zPLsN-vLN+P0
Knight all target f7, and Black doesn’t 9-zPP+-zPP+0
ideally want to play ...h7-h6 to kick out 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
the g5 knight because then the g6 pawn is xiiiiiiiiy
weakened.
With the intention of relocating the
12.a3
queen to b7, where it simultaneously
12.Re1!? Black is no worse in the keeps one eye on the center and one eye
ensuing complications. In my opinion, on the queenside minority attack.
such lines aren’t worth memorizing;
Black’s position is fundamentally sound 13.Re1
(none of his pieces are bad) so White’s 13.Qd2 Qb7 14.Bh6 Ne5 15.Nxe5
pawn sacri ce is bound to be inadequate dxe5 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Nd5 Bc6 18.Qc3
— there are laws of justice governing our Nd7 19.Nxe7 Bxe4 20.f3 Rae8=
beloved game. 12...b4 13.Nd5 Nxe4 13...Qb7 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bh4 g5 16.Bg3
14.Bf4 Na5=
(14.Bc1 Nc5 15.Bg5 Bxb2 16.Rb1 Bc3
17.Nxc3 bxc3 18.Bxe7 Nxe7 19.Rxe7
Nxb3 20.axb3 Bc6=)
 4
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6
5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 Qa5 8.0-0
0-0 9.Bb3 d6 10.h3 Bd7 11.Re1
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9wq-+-+-+-0
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+LsN-vL-+P0
9PzPP+-zPP+0
9tR-+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
As I have mentioned, Black’s main plan
in this system begins with exchanging on
d4 and playing ...Bd7-c6. e
prophylactic 11.Nf3!? prevents this idea,
but it is better for White to wait a move to
ask Black to commit a piece before playing
Nd4-f3, especially since on this move
11...Nxd4 is dubious.
11...Rfc8
It was hard to decide which move to
recommend in this line, but I am happy
with this choice for two reasons:
1) Black’s next few moves (except after
12.f4) can be pretty much played on
autopilot (...Bd7-e8, ...Nf6-d7-c5) —
one shouldn’t underestimate the value of
such conveniences.
2) In the other lines, play often
liquidates into positions where Black is
close to equal but without many
winning chances;
11...Rac8 (Even though I am not
recommending this, it will be instructive
for the reader to play through these
variations to get a feel for why 11...Rfc8 is
a better choice, especially to play for a
win.) 12.Nf3
a) 12.Qe2!? Prophylaxis against ...Nc6-
e5, because now White will be able to
hit the e5 knight with f2-f4, and the c4-
square will be unavailable to it. 12...a6
13.Rad1 Qc7 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5
Ne5 16.Qd2 Rfe8 17.Bh6 Bf6 18.Bg5
Bg7 19.Bh6 Bf6 1/2–1/2 (19) Brkic, A
(2573)-Mamedov,R (2653) Sarajevo
BIH 2010;
b) 12.Nd5 Rfe8 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Nc3
Rcd8 15.Qd2 Bc8 16.Rad1 Nd7
17.Bd4 Nc5 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Qe3
e5!= 0–1 (62) Mehar,C (2246)-
Kuzubov,Y (2626) Gurgon IND 2009;
12...Qh5
a) 12...Qc7?! 13.Bg5! Na5 14.Bxf6 exf6
15.Nd5² 1/2–1/2 (54) Petrosian,T
(2627)-Mamedov,R (2640) Bursa TUR
2010;
b) 12...Rfe8 13.Qd2 b5 14.a3 Qa6
15.Bg5 Qb7 16.Rad1 Na5 17.e5±
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY ensuing variation he gives is not
9-+r+r+k+0 inspiring for Black. (16.c3 Nxd5
9zpq+lzppvlp0 17.Bxd5 Ne5 18.Nxe5 Qxe2 19.Rxe2
9-+-zp-snp+0 Bxe5 20.h4 Bb5 21.Ree1 Bf6 22.hxg5
9snp+-zP-vL-0 hxg5= 1/2–1/2 (50) Wang Hao (2519)-
9-+-+-+-+0 Malakhov,V (2670) Khanty Mansyisk
RUS 2005) 16...Rfe8 17.c3 Nxe4
9zPLsN-+N+P0 18.Bxb6 Nf6 19.Nxf6+ Bxf6 20.Bd4
9-zPPwQ-zPP+0 Nxd4 21.Rxd4!²;
9+-+RtR-mK-0
14.hxg4 Bxg4 15.Qb5
xiiiiiiiiy
(15.Nd5 g5 16.Bxg5 Bxf3 (16...Ne5
We see that one of the problems for 17.Qe3 Nxf3+ 18.gxf3 Bxf3 19.Qxf3!!
Black in this line is the d7-bishop; this is Qxf3 20.Re3 Qh5 21.Rg3 Rc5 22.Bxe7
why I recommend playing 11...Rfc8 and Rxd5 23.Bxd5±) 17.Qxf3 Qxg5=)
12...Be8; 15...Bxf3 16.Qxh5 Bxh5 17.f3 g5
13.Qe2 18.Bxg5 Bg6 19.Nd5 Bxb2 20.Bxe7
XIIIIIIIIY Bxa1 21.Rxa1 Nxe7 22.Nxe7+ Kg7
9-+r+-trk+0 23.Nxc8 Rxc8 24.Rd1 Rc6 25.Rd5 f6
9zpp+lzppvlp0 Black should be able to hold, but I
recommend avoiding all this and playing
9-+nzp-snp+0 11...Rfc8 instead.;
9+-+-+-+q0
9-+-+P+-+0 11...Rad8!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9+LsN-vLN+P0 9-+-tr-trk+0
9PzPP+QzPP+0 9zpp+lzppvlp0
9tR-+-tR-mK-0 9-+nzp-snp+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9wq-+-+-+-0
Negi’s recommendation. He omits our 9-+-sNP+-+0
next move though. 13...Ng4!N Black 9+LsN-vL-+P0
forces simpli cations and the resulting 9PzPP+-zPP+0
position is close to equal.
9tR-+QtR-mK-0
a) 13...a6 14.Rad1 Ne5 15.Nxe5 Qxe5 xiiiiiiiiy
16.f4 Qa5 17.Qf2 Rxc3 18.Bd2!± 1–0
(34) Fedorov,A (2602)-Malakhov, V A move not mentioned by Negi, but
(2670) Warsaw POL 2005; deserving of our attention if for no other
reason than the fact that Korchnoi played
b) 13...h6 14.Rad1 g5 15.Nd5 b6
it in 2003. In my judgment this is a
16.Ba4! A novelty found by Negi. e
serious alternative to our main line, and
perhaps the place to go if our main line
runs into theoretical problems. 12.Nf3!
is must be White’s best.
(12.Qd2 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Bc6 14.Rad1
Rfe8 15.Qe3 Nd7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7
17.Kh1 Qc5= 1/2–1/2 (53)
Sadvakasov,D (2523)-Korchnoi, V
(2642) Astana KAZ 2003)
12...Qh5!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-trk+0
9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+q0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+LsN-vLN+P0
9PzPP+-zPP+0
9tR-+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
is move is a recurring theme in this
Nd4-f3 variation. Black intends to
continue with ...h7-h6 and ...g6-g5, with
counterplay against White’s king. 13.Rb1!?
Prophylactically defending the b2-pawn
which will be vulnerable after Nc3-d5.
(13.Qe2 Ng4!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-trk+0
9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+nzp-+p+0
9+-+-+-+q0
9-+-+P+n+0
9+LsN-vLN+P0
9PzPP+QzPP+0
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
A stunning resource that we see more
than once in this chapter. 14.hxg4 Bxg4
15.Qb5 (15.Nd5 g5! (15...Ne5?
16.Nf4+–) 16.Bxg5 Ne5 (16...Nd4?
17.Nxd4 Bxe2 18.Bxe7 Bxd4 19.Bf6!!
±) 17.Qe3 Nxf3+ 18.gxf3 Bxf3 19.Bh4
Qg4+ 20.Bg3 Qh5 21.Bh4=) 15...Bxf3
(15...d5 Unfortunately White gets away
after this. 16.exd5 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Bxf3
18.gxf3 Ne5 19.Kf1!!±) 16.Qxh5 Bxh5
17.f3 g5 18.Bxg5 Rd7= Black is about
equal.)
13...h6 14.Nd5 g5
(14...Nxe4? 15.Nf4 Qf5 16.g4 Qa5
17.Nxg6±)
15.Bd4 Qg6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.c3

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-trk+0
9zpp+lzpp+-0
9-+nzp-vlqzp0
9+-+N+-zp-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+LzP-+N+P0
9PzP-+-zPP+0
9+R+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
17...Kh8!„ Black is ready for ...Rf8-g8
and ...g5-g4. White players won’t know
what hit them!;
11...Nxd4?! 12.Bxd4 Bc6
(12...Qg5 13.Be3²)
13.Nd5! Black is not given time to play
...Nf6-d7; he has to make a concession
either by allowing White to capture on f6,
damaging Black’s pawn structure, or by
opening up White’s e- le. 13...Bxd5
14.exd5 Rfe8 15.c4 a6 16.Bc3 Qc7
17.Rc1 Nh5 e following is a
recommendation of Negi’s. 18.Ba4!? Rec8
19.Qd2²
12.f4
I am a little surprised that Negi didn’t
recommend this in his book. is rare
move is extremely underrated, and has
only been played by one 2500+ player —
none other than Negi himself (Negi-
Khalifman 2007). e main upshot of this
move from White’s perspective is that it
deters Black from his usual, comfortable
course of ...Bd7-e8 and ...Nf6-d7, because
White’s f- le pressure can become
overwhelming.
12.Qe2 Qh5!
(12...Be8 is playable as well but
12...Qh5 is better)
13.Nf3
a) 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.f3 d5! 15.g4
(15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Bxd5 17.c3
Bc6=) 15...Qxh3 16.exd5 Bd7 17.Qg2
Qxg2+ 18.Kxg2 b5!„;
b) 13.Qxh5 As usual Black welcomes
the trade of queens. 13...Nxh5 14.Rad1
Na5 15.Nd5 Kf8=;
13...h6!
(13...Ng4? is doesn’t quite work here,
because the f7-pawn’s weakness poses a
problem. 14.hxg4 Bxg4 15.Qc4!±)
14.Rad1 g5!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r+-+k+0
9zpp+lzppvl-0
9-+nzp-sn-zp0
9+-+-+-zpq0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+LsN-vLN+P0
9PzPP+QzPP+0
9+-+RtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.Bxd5 Bxb2 17.Rb1
Bc3 18.Rxb7 Bxh3 19.Nxg5 Qxe2
20.Rxe2 Bg4 21.Nf3 e6 22.Bxc6 Rxc6
23.Bxh6 We have been following Carlsen-
Radjabov, 2010 (1–0). Black’s opening
preparation was excellent, but his play
could have been improved here. 23...Rb6!
24.Rc7 Ba5 25.Rc4 e5!= Black’s two
bishops fully compensate for the pawn; if I
had to choose I’d take Black.;
 12.Qd2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r+-+k+0
9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9wq-+-+-+-0
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+LsN-vL-+P0
9PzPPwQ-zPP+0
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...Ne5
(12...Be8 As always Black can follow
through with this plan, but with White’s
queen on d2 Black has the added
possibility of ...Nc6-e5-c4.)
13.Bh6 Nc4 14.Bxc4 Bxh6 15.Qxh6
Rxc4 16.Nb3
a) 16.Rad1 Qb6 17.e5 dxe5 18.Nf3 e4
19.Ne5 Rd4 20.Rxd4 Qxd4 21.Nxd7
Qxd7 22.Nxe4 Nxe4 23.Rxe4 Qd1+
24.Kh2 Qd6+ 25.Kg1 Qd1+ 26.Kh2
Qd6+ 1/2–1/2 (26) Akopian,V (2712)-
Bacrot,E (2721) Jermuk ARM 2009;
b) 16.Nf3 Qh5 17.Qe3 Qc5=;
16...Qb6 17.Rad1 a5 18.e5 dxe5
19.Rxe5 a4 20.Nd2 Rd4 21.Qe3 Qd6= 1–
0 (57) Akopian,V (2696)-Bacrot, E (2728)
Nalchik RUS 2009;
12.Nf3 It is a good sign for our
11...Rfc8 that 12.Nf3, which is supposed
to be White’s main idea after 11.Re1, is
not very effective here. 12...Be8!
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r+l+k+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9wq-+-+-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+LsN-vLN+P0
9PzPP+-zPP+0
9tR-+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
13.Qd2
a) 13.Nd5 Nd7 (13...e6 Black should
be ne here as well. 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6
15.c3 Ne5 16.Nxe5 dxe5=; 13...Nxe4
14.Bf4 Nc5 15.Rxe7 Bxb2 16.Rb1
Bg7∞) 14.c3 e6 15.Nf4 Nc5 16.Qxd6
Nxe4 17.Qd1 Nc5 18.Bc2 Nd7=;
b) 13.Bg5 Nd7 14.Nd5 e6 15.Ne7+
Nxe7 16.Bxe7 Bxb2 17.Rb1 Bg7
18.Bxd6 Ne5 19.Bxe5 Bxe5 20.Bd5
Bc3 21.Bxb7 Bxe1 22.Qxe1 Qxa2
23.Bxc8 Rxc8 24.Ra1 Qxc2 25.Rxa7
Qc1 1/2–1/2 (25) Kurnosov,I (2602)-
Bacrot, E (2722) Moscow RUS 2009;
13...Nd7 14.Rad1
(14.Bh6 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Nce5 16.Nxe5
dxe5 17.Qg5 Nf6„ In addition to
winning the c3-pawn, White’s b3
Bishop will be vulnerable to Black’s
...a5-a4.)
14...Bxc3! 15.bxc3 Nce5 16.Nxe5 dxe5
17.Bg5 Nf6
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 13.Rad1 Nd7 14.Nd5 Qd8!= 0–1 (43)
9r+r+l+k+0 Timofeev,A (2657)-Malakhov, V (2690)
9zpp+-zpp+p0 Tomsk RUS 2006;
9-+-+-snp+0 12.Nd5 is is Negi’s recommendation.
9wq-+-zp-vL-0 He only considers 12...Nxd5 and
9-+-+P+-+0 12...Qd8, but it seems to me that Black’s
9+LzP-+-+P0 best is 12...Re8!
9P+PwQ-zPP+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+RtR-mK-0 9r+-+r+k+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
18.Bh4 reatening Qd2-h6. 9wq-+N+-+-0
(18.Re3 Rc7!„; 18.c4 Qxd2 19.Rxd2 9-+-sNP+-+0
Kf8 20.f3 Nd7=) 9+L+-vL-+P0
18...Kg7 19.c4 Qxd2 20.Rxd2 9PzPP+-zPP+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9tR-+QtR-mK-0
9r+r+l+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zpp+-zppmkp0
I don’t see anything for White here; as a
9-+-+-snp+0 general rule I tend to think that if White
9+-+-zp-+-0 rushes with Nc3-d5 then as long as Black
9-+P+P+-vL0 isn’t obligated to take it, he should be ne
9+L+-+-+P0 (this doesn’t mean that if he is forced to
9P+PtR-zPP+0 take it then he is necessary not ne!).
9+-+-tR-mK-0 (12...Nxd5 13.exd5 Ne5 14.Bg5 Re8
xiiiiiiiiy 15.c3² (Negi); 12...Qd8 13.Bg5! Nxd4
14.Bxf6! Nc6 15.Bh4 Bxb2 16.Rb1
20...Kf8! 21.f3 Bg7 17.Ba4± (Negi))
(21.Bg3 Nd7 22.Red1 Nb6 23.Bxe5 13.Nxf6+
Nxc4 24.Bxc4 Rxc4³)
a) 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Bd2 Qd8 15.Nc3
21...Nd7 22.Red1 Nc5³; c5
12.Qd3 Played by GM Timofeev, but as
best I can tell the Queen just becomes a
target to either ...Nf6-d7-c5 or simply
...Nc6-e5 12...Be8
(12...Ne5 13.Qe2 Qa6!=)

XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqr+k+0 9r+r+-+k+0
9zp-+lzppvlp0 9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0 9-+nzp-+p+0
9+-zp-+-+-0 9wq-+-+-+n0
9-+-+P+-+0 9-+-sNPzP-+0
9+LsN-+-+P0 9+LsN-vL-+P0
9PzPPvL-zPP+0 9PzPP+-+P+0
9tR-+QtR-mK-0 9tR-+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Black has no problems. If White starts In this particular variation Black is well
to get ambitious then Black come out advised to abandon the ...Be8/ ...Nd7
on top. 16.e5?! dxe5 17.Rxe5 c4 plan, because as we see in the alternatives
White is able to build up pressure on f7
18.Bxc4? Qc7μ;
after f4-f5/Re1–f1/ Qd1–f3. Instead, we
b) 13.Bd2 Qc5 14.Nxc6 (14.Nf3 Nxd5 take immediate advantage of the weakness
15.exd5 Na5 16.Be3 Qb5=) 14...Nxd5! White has created: Black threatens to win
(14...bxc6?? 15.Nc7+–) 15.exd5 bxc6 the f4 pawn, so White’s options are
16.Be3 Qb5=; limited.
13...Bxf6 14.c3 Qc7! Vacating the a5 12...Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Bc6 14.Nd5
square for the knight. XIIIIIIIIY
(14...Nxd4!? is is acceptable but 9r+r+-+k+0
unnecessary. 15.Bxd4 (15.cxd4 e6!=) 9zpp+-zppvlp0
15...Bxd4 16.Qxd4 (16.cxd4 e6!=) 9-+lzp-snp+0
16...Qc5 17.Qd2 Bc6 18.Rad1 Rad8=) 9wq-+N+-+-0
15.Nb5 (15.f4 Na5=) 15...Qb8 16.a4 9-+-vLPzP-+0
a6 17.Nd4 Na5 18.Ba2 Qc7= 9+L+-+-+P0
12...Nh5!N 9PzPP+-+P+0
9tR-+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
14...Bxd5
(14...Re8 15.c3 Nd7 (15...Nxd5
16.exd5 Bxd4+ 17.Qxd4 Bd7
18.Kh2²) 16.f5! (16.Bxg7 Kxg7
17.Qd4+ e5 18.Qf2 Bxd5 19.Bxd5 Qc5
20.Qxc5 dxc5 21.Rad1 (21.Bxb7 Rab8
XIIIIIIIIY
 22.Bc6 Re7=) 21...Re7 22.f5 Nf6=) 17.f5!± White will simply pile up on
16...Bxd4+ 17.cxd4 Bxd5 18.Bxd5 Nf6 the f- le with Re1–f1, and I don’t see a
19.fxg6 hxg6 20.Bb3²) constructive plan for Black.
15.exd5 Re8 16.c3 13.Nde2
XIIIIIIIIY
(16.c4 a6 17.Bc3 Qc5+ 18.Bd4 Qa5 9r+r+-+k+0
19.Bc3 Qc5+ 1/2–1/2 (19) Negi,P 9zpp+lzppvlp0
(2529)-Khalifman,A (2632) Amsterdam
NED 2007)
9-+nzp-+p+0
9wq-+-+-+n0
16...b5 17.a3 Nd7 18.Bf2²;
9-+-+PzP-+0
12...Be8 Unfortunately Black can’t stick 9+LsN-vL-+P0
to the routine and play this move here; 9PzPP+N+P+0
White builds up too much pressure.
13.Qf3 Nd7 14.Rad1 Nc5 15.Qf2 Nxb3
9tR-+QtR-mK-0
16.axb3 Nb4 xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY 13.f5 Nf6 Having provoked White into
9r+r+l+k+0 weakening the e5-square, Black retreats to
9zpp+-zppvlp0 f6, guarding d5 against Nc3-d5, and
9-+-zp-+p+0 prepares ...Nc6-e5.
9wq-+-+-+-0 (13...Nxd4 Black is perfectly resilient
9-sn-sNPzP-+0 against White’s attack here as well.
9+PsN-vL-+P0 14.Bxd4 Bc6 15.Rf1 Rf8 16.g4 Nf6
9-zPP+-wQP+0 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Nd7=;
9+-+RtR-mK-0 13...Ne5?! 14.Nd5²)
xiiiiiiiiy 14.Rf1

is was played by Bacrot in Burg- (14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.g4 Be8!=)

Bacrot, 2011 where White’s play could 14...Ne5
have now been improved upon.
(16...Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Bxd4 18.Rxd4
(18.Qxd4 Qc5=) 18...Bc6 19.b4! Qb6
20.b5! e beginning of a long forcing
variation which is unequivocally in
White’s favor. 20...Bxb5 21.Nd5 Qd8
22.Qh4 Rc4 23.Nxe7+ Kf8 24.Rxc4
Bxc4 25.Qf6! Ke8 26.Nd5 Qxf6
27.Nxf6+ Ke7 28.Nxh7 f6 29.e5 dxe5
30.fxe5 f5 31.Ng5²)
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r+-+k+0 9r+-+-+k+0
9zpp+lzppvlp0 9zpp+lzpp+p0
9-+-zp-snp+0 9-+-zp-+p+0
9wq-+-snP+-0 9+-+-+P+-0
9-+-sNP+-+0 9-+-snL+-+0
9+LsN-vL-+P0 9+-+-+-+P0
9PzPP+-+P+0 9PzP-+-+P+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
A typical Dragon position; Black is 23.f6
salivating at the prospect of an exchange
(23.fxg6 hxg6 24.Bxb7 Rb8 25.Bd5 e6
sacri ce on c3. 15.Qe2
26.Bb3 a5 27.Rad1 Nxb3 28.axb3 d5
(15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.Bxd5 Bc6 17.Nxc6 29.Ra1 Rxb3 30.Rxa5 Rxb2 31.Ra7 Be8
bxc6 18.Bb3 Rab8=) 32.Ra8 Kf8 33.Rc1 Rb7 34.Rcc8 Re7=)
15...Rxc3! 16.Bd2 23...e5
(16.bxc3 Nxe4³) (23...Bc6 24.Bxc6 bxc6 25.fxe7±)
16...Rxc2! 24.Bxb7 Rb8 25.Bf3 a5 26.b3 h5
(16...Bb5 17.Nxb5 Qb6+ 18.Kh2 Rc5 27.Rac1 Be6 28.Rc7 Kh7
19.a4 (19.Nd4 Rac8„) 19...Rf8
XIIIIIIIIY
20.Rae1 a6 21.Nc3 Rcc8 22.g4²) 9-tr-+-+-+0
9+-tR-+p+k0
17.Bxc2
9-+-zplzPp+0
(17.Nxc2 Qb5©) 9zp-+-zp-+p0
17...Qb6 18.Bc3 9-+-sn-+-+0
(18.Be3 Qxb2 19.Rab1 Qxa2 20.Rxb7 9+P+-+L+P0
Bc8 21.Rxe7 Kf8 22.Rc7 Qa5 9P+-+-+P+0
23.Rxc8+ Rxc8³) 9+-+-+RmK-0
18...Nc6 19.Qf2 xiiiiiiiiy
(19.Rad1 Ng4 20.Kh1 Nxd4 21.Bxd4 29.Bc6
Bxd4 22.hxg4 Rc8 23.b3 g5=)
(29.h4 d5=)
19...Nxe4! 20.Bxe4 Bxd4 21.Bxd4
29...g5! 30.Bd7
Qxd4 22.Qxd4 Nxd4
(30.Be4+ Kh6=)

XIIIIIIIIY
 30...Kg6 31.Bxe6 Nxe6 32.Rd7 Rb6=; After 13...Qc7 14.Qd2 Na5 15.Rad1
13.Nf5 anks to my editor, GM we would like to play ...Bd7-e8 but White
Romain Edouard, for assuaging my then has Nc3-d5xe7. is is why we play
concerns about this variation. In his 13...Qd8! 15...Be8? 16.Nd5 Qd8
words, “White better give mate, or he is 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Qxa5±
worse!” A more modest assessment is that 14.Qd2 Na5 15.Rad1
Black has at least equal chances in the 15.Nd4?! Nc4 16.Bxc4 Rxc4³
ensuing complications. 13...Bxf5 14.exf5
Nf6 15.fxg6 hxg6 15...Be8
XIIIIIIIIY 15...b5 16.e5²
9r+r+-+k+0 16.f5 Nxb3 17.cxb3 Bc6 18.Bd4 Nf6
9zpp+-zppvl-0 19.Nf4
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+nzp-snp+0 9r+rwq-+k+0
9wq-+-+-+-0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-+-zP-+0 9-+lzp-snp+0
9+LsN-vL-+P0 9+-+-+P+-0
9PzPP+-+P+0 9-+-vLPsN-+0
9tR-+QtR-mK-0 9+PsN-+-+P0
xiiiiiiiiy 9PzP-wQ-+P+0
16.Qd3 9+-+RtR-mK-0
(16.g4 Rd8 17.f5 d5 18.g5 Nh5 19.fxg6
xiiiiiiiiy
fxg6 20.Bf2 Kh7„) 19...Qf8!
16...Rd8! is move saves the day. Black A nice little queen sortie; Black intends
indirectly defends the g6 pawn. 17.g4 to continue with ...Nf6-d7, and then
(17.Qxg6? d5!μ) 17...e6 18.Rad1 (18.f5 recapture on g7 with his queen,
gxf5 19.gxf5 Qxf5 20.Qxf5 exf5=) 18...d5 potentially heading to e5 eventually.
19.Bf2 Ne7= Preventing f4-f5. ings are 20.Qe3 Nd7 21.Bxg7
at a standstill; it is hard to see how either 21.Ncd5 Bxd4 22.Rxd4
side makes progress, but Black is certainly
no worse.; (22.Qxd4 g5 23.Nd3 f6=

13.Nd5 Re8 Black maintains his threat

to win the f4 pawn, as its defender on d5
can be hit with ...e7-e6. 14.g4 Nxd4
15.Bxd4 Nxf4 16.Nxf4 e5 17.Nxg6 exd4
18.Nf4 Qg5 19.Qf3 Be5 20.Rf1 Be6=
13...Qd8!
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 22...Kh8 23.Qg3 Bxd5 24.Nxd5 Rc2
9r+r+-wqk+0 25.Nb4 Rcc8 26.Qh4
9zpp+nzp-+p0
(26.Nd5=)
9-+lzp-zp-+0
9+-+N+Pzp-0 26...Qg7 27.Red1 g5 28.Qf2 g4!
29.hxg4 Nf6 30.Qh4 Nxg4„;
9-+-wQP+-+0
9+P+N+-+P0 21.Nfd5 Bxd4 22.Qxd4 f6 23.Nf4 Ne5
9PzP-+-+P+0 24.Ne6 Qh6 25.Nd5 Bxd5 26.Qxd5
Rab8= White has no productive
9+-+RtR-mK-0 discovered check, and Black’s e5-knight is
xiiiiiiiiy more valuable than his counterpart on e6,
which is hitting thin air. Computers call
e weak e6-square is inaccessible to this position 0.00 but I suspect most
White. As we will see, in other lines White players would collapse rather
Black allows White to plant a knight on quickly here in over the board play — the
e6; it turns out to not do much from squares Black controls are more valuable
there.) than the squares White controls.
21...Qxg7 22.Nfd5 Bxd5 23.Nxd5 Qe5=
22...Kh8 23.Qg3 Bxd5 24.Nxd5 Rc2
 5

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 E menko,Z (2680) Emsdetten GER
5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 Qa5 8.0-0 2008;
0-0 9.Bb3 d6 10.h3 Bd7 11.f4 13.Qf3?
e most popular move, though I XIIIIIIIIY
suspect it may become overshadowed by
11.Re1, especially given the popularity of
9r+-+-trk+0
Negi’s book which recommends it. 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+lzp-snp+0
11...Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Bc6
XIIIIIIIIY 9wq-+-+-+-0
9r+-+-trk+0 9-+-vLPzP-+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9+LsN-+Q+P0
9-+lzp-snp+0 9PzPP+-+P+0
9wq-+-+-+-0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
9-+-vLPzP-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+LsN-+-+P0 13...Nxe4! 14.Bxg7 Qc5+ 15.Kh1 Nf6!
9PzPP+-+P+0 μ;
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
13.Qe2? e database shows that a
xiiiiiiiiy 2478-rated player fell for this. 13...Qb4!
Black proceeds with his usual plan. Next 14.Rad1
he’d like to play ...Nf6-d7, and ideally XIIIIIIIIY
exchange dark squared bishops and 9r+-+-trk+0
queens. 9zpp+-zppvlp0
13.Qd3 9-+lzp-snp+0
13.Qe1?! is 7...Qa5 line is one which 9+-+-+-+-0
induces even grandmasters to blunder 9-wq-vLPzP-+0
within the rst 15 moves. 13...Qb4! 9+LsN-+-+P0
14.Bxf6
9PzPP+Q+P+0
(14.Rd1 Nxe4!!μ) 9+-+R+RmK-0
14...Bxf6 15.Nd5 Qc5+ 16.Kh1 Bxd5 xiiiiiiiiy
17.Bxd5 Qxc2 18.Rc1 Qxb2 19.Rb1
Qd4μ 1/2–1/2 (47) Hector,J (2551)- 14...Nxe4!μ;
13.Nd5 Rae8!
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+rtrk+0 9r+-+-tr-+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9zpp+nzppmkp0
9-+lzp-snp+0 9-+lzp-+p+0
9wq-+N+-+-0 9wq-+-+-+-0
9-+-vLPzP-+0 9-+-+PzP-+0
9+L+-+-+P0 9+LsNQ+-+P0
9PzPP+-+P+0 9PzPP+-+P+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Abiding by the general rule that if we 15.Kh1
can avoid taking on d5 then we should — is used to be considered good for
here White’s weak e4 pawn more than White, because Black would follow up
compensates for the doubling of our f- with 15...Nc5 and further queenside play,
pawns in the event that White takes on f6. rather than reverting back to the kingside
14.f5 and solidifying control over the center
a) 14.Nxf6+ exf6³; with ...e7-e6!

b) 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nxf6+ exf6 15.Nd5 Qc5+ 16.Kh1 e6 17.Nc3 Nf6

16.Qxd6 Rxe4 17.Rad1 (17.Qxf6?? Re2 18.Rad1 Rad8
18.Rf2 Rxf2 19.Kxf2 Qd2+–+)
XIIIIIIIIY
17...Kg7μ; 9-+-tr-tr-+0
c) 14.Qd3 Nd7 15.Rad1 Bxd4+
9zpp+-+pmkp0
16.Qxd4 Qc5=;
9-+lzppsnp+0
9+-wq-+-+-0
14...Bxd5 15.exd5 Nd7
9-+-+PzP-+0
(15...b5?! An odd recommendation of 9+LsNQ+-+P0
Donaldson and Silman. is move
seems altogether wrong-headed. 16.c3²)
9PzPP+-+P+0
9+-+R+R+K0
16.Kh1 Bxd4 17.Qxd4 Ne5 18.f6 xiiiiiiiiy
Nd7!³ In the long run, White’s dark
squared weaknesses will tell. Black is slightly better. 19.f5 Qe5
13...Nd7 20.Rde1 b5 21.Nd5 Nh5 22.Re3 a5
13...Rad8 is is the recommendation 23.f6+ Kh8 24.a3 Bb7–+ White’s
of Donaldson and Silman, but their initiative has run out of steam and Black is
problems with 13...Nd7 can be solved. ready to collect the f6 and thereafter the
e4 pawn.
14.Bxg7 Kxg7
XIIIIIIIIY
 (24...Qxb2 25.Ne7 Ba8 26.Qxb5
XIIIIIIIIY
Nxf6–+ 27.Qg5 Nxe4 28.Qh4 Qe5?? 9r+-+-tr-+0
(¹28...g5 29.Qh6 Qg7–+) 29.Rxf7!± 9zpp+n+pmkp0
Morozevich,A (2760)-Carlsen,M (2864) 9-+lzpp+p+0
Moscow 2013); 9+-wq-+-+-0
15.Qd4+ Kg8 16.Kh1 9-+-+PzP-+0
(16.Rf2 Qc5 17.Qd3 b5 18.Bd5 Bxd5 9+LsNQ+-+P0
19.Nxd5 e6 20.Nc3 Nf6„; 16.Rad1 9PzPP+-+PmK0
Qc5=) 9+-+-tRR+-0
16...Qc5 17.Qd3 Nf6 xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY Typical for this line. Black tempts
9r+-+-trk+0 White’s f4-f5, when either his knight or
9zpp+-zpp+p0 queen would discover immortality on e5.
9-+lzp-snp+0 (16...b5?! 17.Bd5²)
9+-wq-+-+-0 17.Rd1 Nf6 18.Rfe1 Rad8³ e
9-+-+PzP-+0 position doesn’t look too bad for White,
9+LsNQ+-+P0 but all the dynamic potential in the
9PzPP+-+P+0 position lies in Black’s hands: he can take
9tR-+-+R+K0 his time expanding on the queenside, and
break with ...d6-d5 at the right moment,
xiiiiiiiiy while White can only wait in angst.
Black has ideas of ...Rad8, ...e7-e6, and 15...Nf6!N
then either (or both) ...b7-b5/...a7-a5 or XIIIIIIIIY
...d7-d5. e dark square weaknesses in 9r+-+-tr-+0
White’s position, especially g3, are a 9zpp+-zppmkp0
signi cant liability. 18.Rae1 e6 19.f5 Qe5 9-+lzp-snp+0
20.Nd5 Nh5 21.Ne7+ Kg7 22.Nxc6
9wq-+-+-+-0
bxc6³;
9-+-+PzP-+0
15.Rae1 Qc5+ 16.Kh2 e6! 9+LsNQ+-+P0
9PzPP+-+P+0
9tR-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
is idea of countering in the center
and kingside, instead of playing on the
queenside (at least for now — that is

XIIIIIIIIY
certainly on the to-do list for later on) White seeks to prevent Black from
breathes new life into this variation. playing ...e7-e6, but it can still be played
15...Nc5 is is currently the most after a bit of preparation. 16...Qc5
popular move but I believe it too much 17.Rae1 Rae8 18.a4
neglects Black’s kingside, as the following
XIIIIIIIIY
game illustrates. 16.Qd4+ Kg8 17.Rae1 9-+-+rtr-+0
Nxb3 18.axb3 Qc5 19.Qd2 Rad8 20.Nd5 9zpp+-zppmkp0
Bxd5 21.exd5 Rc8 22.c3 Qb5 23.f5! 9-+lzp-snp+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-wqN+-+-0
9-+r+-trk+0 9P+-+PzP-+0
9zpp+-zpp+p0 9+L+Q+-+P0
9-+-zp-+p+0 9-zPP+-+P+0
9+q+P+P+-0 9+-+-tRR+K0
9-+-+-+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+PzP-+-+P0
9-zP-wQ-+P+0 18...e6! 19.Nxf6 Kxf6 Black has
nothing to fear. White can’t target d6
9+-+-tRR+K0 without dropping e4 either. 20.f5 Kg7
xiiiiiiiiy 21.f6+
23...Rc5 24.Qh6 Qd3 25.Rf4 Qg3 (21.fxe6 fxe6 22.Rxf8 Kxf8 23.Qf3+
26.Ref1 gxf5 27.Rxf5 f6 28.R1f4 Qe1+ Kg7 24.Rf1 Qe5 25.Qf7+ Kh8 26.c3
29.Kh2 Rf7 30.Rg4+ Kh8 31.Qh5 1–0 Qxe4 27.Qf6+ Kg8 28.Qf7+ Kh8=)
(31) Guseinov,G (2573)-Ahmadinia,E
21...Kh8= Do not fear ghosts: White
(2195) Iran 2005.
has no mating attack, and to divert his
16.Rae1 pieces to the kingside in the hope of
16.Nd5!? obtaining one would allow Black to
XIIIIIIIIY dominate the center more than he already
9r+-+-tr-+0 has.
9zpp+-zppmkp0 16...e6!
9-+lzp-snp+0
9wq-+N+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+L+Q+-+P0
9PzPP+-+P+0
9tR-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 19...Qc5 20.Qf4 Rad8
9r+-+-tr-+0 White needs to play perfectly to not be
9zpp+-+pmkp0 worse here; in practice most players will
9-+lzppsnp+0 collapse, either allowing Black queenside
9wq-+-+-+-0 counterplay or central control.
9-+-+PzP-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+LsNQ+-+P0 9-+-tr-tr-+0
9PzPP+-+P+0 9zpp+n+pmkp0
9+-+-tRR+K0 9-+l+p+p+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-wq-zP-+-0
9-+-+-wQ-+0
17.e5 9+LsN-+-+P0
17.Qxd6? Rfd8 18.Qe7 Rd7 19.Qa3 9PzPP+-+P+0
Qxa3 20.bxa3 Rad8³ Black will win his
9+-+-tRR+K0
pawn back after ...Rd4 (and if e4-e5 then
...Nf6-h5), and after he does his superior
xiiiiiiiiy
pawn structure will yield him the Generally speaking, exchanges favor
advantage.; Black (White’s e5 pawn will be weak in
17.Qe3 Rad8 18.f5 Qc5 any endgame), and Black should keep a
lookout for counterplay with ...f7-f6(f5).
(18...Qe5 Black also comes out on top A sample variation may continue as
in the ensuing complications here. follows
19.Qxa7 Nxe4 20.Nxe4 Bxe4 21.f6+
Kh8 22.Qe3 d5 As long as Black can 21.Nd1! h6
meet Qh6 with ...Rg8 (and Rf4 with 21...f6!? 22.exf6+ Nxf6„
...g5) — which Black always can as long 22.Nf2 f5! 23.exf6+
as his king is on h8, there is nothing to 23.Bxe6?! g5 24.Qh2 f4 25.Bxd7 Rxd7
worry about. White’s b3-Bishop is 26.Nd3 Rxd3! 27.cxd3
missing in action. 23.Qh6? Rg8 24.Rf4? XIIIIIIIIY
g5–+) 9-+-+-tr-+0
19.fxe6 fxe6 20.Bxe6 Nxe4! 21.Rxf8 9zpp+-+-mk-0
Rxf8 22.Qxc5 9-+l+-+-zp0
(22.Nxe4?! Rf1+! 23.Kh2 Qe5+ 24.g3 9+-wq-zP-zp-0
Rxe1 25.Qxe1 Qxe6 26.Qc3+ Kg8 9-+-+-zp-+0
27.Nf2 Qxa2μ) 9+-+P+-+P0
22...Nxc5 23.Bd5 Rf2³ 9PzP-+-+PwQ0
17...dxe5 18.fxe5 Nd7 19.Qe3 9+-+-tRR+K0
19.Qg3 Rad8„ xiiiiiiiiy
27...f3μ 23...Rxf6 24.Qg3 Rdf8 25.Rxe6 Bb5
26.Rxf6 Rxf6 27.c4 Bc6„
 CHAPTER 3

7.Bc4: MY SYSTEM
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7
XIIIIIIIIY
5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Bb3 9r+lwqk+-tr0
a6!? 9zpp+pzppvlp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+n+-snp+0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+p+pzppvlp0 9-+LsNP+-+0
9p+n+-snp+0 9+-sN-vL-+-0
9+-+-+-+-0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9-+-sNP+-+0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
9+LsN-vL-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 e Anti-Yugoslav Variation (7...Qa5)
xiiiiiiiiy seemed to me to be in trouble after
Grischuk-Ivanchuk, Candidates 2013
(recall Grischuk’s 10.Nd5!?). In the
Contents summer of 2013 I had not yet discovered
the equalizing 10...Qd8! novelty, and I
1. 9.sidelines
found myself struggling to meet the 7.Bc4
2. 9.f3 Qc7 10.sidelines & 10.Qd2 b5 variation. I searched the database for some
Appendix. 9.f3 Qc7 10.Qd2 Na5 guidance, but to no avail. At the time I
was simultaneously a Taimanov Sicilian
1 player as well, and at some point it
occurred to me that nobody plays Bc4
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 against the Taimanov, presumably because
its scope on c4 is stunted by the e6 pawn.
5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4
is led to the idea of meeting the Bc4
variation with an eventual ...e7-e6, and
transporting ideas from the Taimanov
such as ...a6-...Qc7-...b5-...Bb7-...Nc6-
a5(e5), and even ...Nf6-e8-d6. e process
of developing this system has been some of
the most enjoyable chess research I have
XIIIIIIIIY
engaged in, and I am pleased to say it has
resulted in a powerful and truly novel
system. As the ‘prime mover’ of this
project, my work is undoubtedly
incomplete. ere are reams of unexplored
possibilities, and I encourage readers to
attempt their own contributions. e
following chapters are by no means the
nal — only the rst — word on this
system.
7...0-0 8.Bb3
Black’s next few moves can almost be
played automatically, irrespective of what
White does: ...a6, ...Qc7, ...b5, ...Bb7.
Although our main idea is to play ...e7-e6,
the rst priority is to complete our
development and connect the rooks.
8.f3?! White must not be permitted to
reach a Yugoslav Attack setup with Qd2
and 0-0-0. 8...Qb6!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9zpp+pzppvlp0
9-wqn+-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+LsNP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzPP+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
9.Bb3
(9.a3 Qc5 (9...Nxe4?? 10.Nd5 Qa5+
11.b4+–) 10.Ba2 Ng4 11.fxg4 Bxd4
12.Bxd4 Nxd4=)
9...Nxe4! 10.Nd5 Qa5+ 11.c3 Nc5
12.Nxc6 dxc6 13.Nxe7+ Kh8 14.Nxc8
Raxc8 15.0-0 Rfe8=
8...a6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+pzppvlp0
9p+n+-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+LsN-vL-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
From my experience playing this system
over the last few years, most players, never
having seen this system before, follow a
safe course of castling kingside as White
usually does in the 7.Bc4 system.
However, in this particular system, White
castling kingside leads to easy equality for
Black, which I take to be a signi cant
practical upshot of this system. We will
postpone our discussion of White’s
queenside castling until the next chapter.
8...Qc7 is move has been
championed by Grandmasters Aronin,
Pogorelov, and Balogh, also with the
intention of expanding on the queenside,
but they did without our core idea of ...e7-
e6. It is a matter of taste which move
(8...a6 or 8...Qc7) is played rst; usually
they will transpose. 8...Qc7 avoids 9.Nxc6
followed by 10.e5 since the e5 square is
covered, but depending on your taste you
might prefer to welcome the uncritical
9.Nxc6. When I came up with the idea of
this system I was unaware of 8...Qc7, and
for some (possibly arbitrary) reason went
with 8...a6.
 9.Ndb5 Qa5 10.f3 a6 11.Nd4 Qc7
XIIIIIIIIY
transposes to our main line in the next 9r+l+-trk+0
chapter. 9+-wqpzppvlp0
9.0-0 9p+n+-snp+0
Although Black can choose whether to 9+p+-+-+-0
play 8...a6 or 8...Qc7, whichever he 9-+-sNP+-+0
chooses on move 8 it is important to 9+LsN-vL-+P0
follow it up with the other on move 9 9PzPP+-zPP+0
before embarking on 10...b7-b5.
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9.h3 Qc7 As per protocol. 10.0-0 xiiiiiiiiy
(10.Nxc6?! dxc6 11.0-0 b5 12.a3 c5
11.a3
13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5?! Rb8μ
XIIIIIIIIY (11.f4 b4 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.Bxd5 e6!
9-trl+-trk+0 (Black is also to be preferred after
9+-wq-zppvlp0 13...Bb7 14.Rc1 e6 15.Bxc6 dxc6 16.c3
e5!) 14.Bb3 (14.Nxc6 dxc6 15.Bc4
9p+-+-+p+0 Bxb2μ) 14...Bb7„ …15.f5? gxf5
9+pzpL+-+-0 16.exf5? Qe5–+)
9-+-+P+-+0
11...Na5 12.f4 d6 e usual way to
9zP-+-vL-+P0 meet White’s f2-f4.
9-zPP+-zPP+0
(12...Bb7!? 13.e5 Ne4 14.Nd5
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 (14.Nxe4 Nxb3 15.Nxb3 Bxe4³)
xiiiiiiiiy 14...Qd8 15.Nf3 (15.Ba2 e6μ) 15...Nxb3
16.Bb6 (16.cxb3 d6μ) 16...Qb8 17.Bc7
Variations like this illustrate what I
Qe8 18.cxb3 Ng3 19.Re1 Nh5∞)
meant in the intrduction when I
claimed that it often feels like you’re 13.Qd3
playing White when you play the (13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Bb7μ)
Accelerated Dragon. A couple of careless
moves by White and Black is not only 13...Bb7 14.Rad1 Rac8³ ‘
equal, Black is already better. It is
uncommon for White to be forced to
play under such a slim margin of error
as he must in this line.)
10...b5

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-trk+0 9r+l+ntrk+0
9+lwq-zppvlp0 9+-wq-zppvlp0
9p+-zp-snp+0 9p+pzp-+p+0
9snp+-+-+-0 9+-+-zP-+-0
9-+-sNPzP-+0 9-+-+-zP-+0
9zPLsNQvL-+P0 9+LsN-vL-+-0
9-zPP+-+P+0 9PzPP+-+PzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
White has nothing to do. Black will 13.Qe2 White’s best attempt.
continue to build pressure, keeping an eye
a) 13.exd6 White cannot hope for an
out for central counterplay with ...e7-e5’;
advantage without the possession of any
9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.e5 central pawns 13...exd6 14.Bd4 Nf6
(10.0-0 d6 11.h3 a5 12.a4?! Ba6 13.Re1 15.Qf3 a5„;
Nd7³ 14.Qd2 Nc5 15.Bxc5?! dxc5 b) 13.Qf3 is forcing variation is
16.Qe3 Bd4 17.Qf3 worth committing to memory, or at
XIIIIIIIIY least remembering that it exists and that
9r+-wq-trk+0 the complications favor Black 13...dxe5
9+-+-zpp+p0 14.fxe5 Bxe5 15.Bxf7+ Kg7–+
9l+p+-+p+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zp-zp-+-+-0 9r+l+ntr-+0
9P+-vlP+-+0 9+-wq-zpLmkp0
9+LsN-+Q+P0 9p+p+-+p+0
9-zPP+-zPP+0 9+-+-vl-+-0
9tR-+-tR-mK-0 9-+-+-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-sN-vLQ+-0
9PzPP+-+PzP0
17...Qb8! 18.Ne2 Be5 19.Rab1 Qb4! 9tR-+-+RmK-0
20.Nc3 c4 21.Ba2 Rfd8μ 0–1 (36)Ruiz- xiiiiiiiiy
Panjwani, SPICE Cup 2013).
Black threatens to win a piece with
10...Ne8 11.f4 d6
...Bxc3 and ...e7-e5, as well as with
(11...d5 12.0-0 Nc7 13.Qf3 a5 ...Ne8-d6. 16.Ne2 (16.Kh1 Bxc3
14.Bb6²) 17.bxc3 e5–+; 16.Rae1 Nd6 17.Bh6+
12.0-0 Qc7 Kxh6 18.Qe3+ g5 19.Qxe5 Qa7+
XIIIIIIIIY
 20.Kh1 Rxf7–+) 16...Nd6 17.Bh6+
Kxh6 18.Qe3+ g5 19.Qxe5 Qa7+
20.Kh1 Nxf7–+;
13...dxe5 14.Bc5! exf4!
(14...Be6 is may be enough for
equality but is unnecessary given
14...exf4! 15.Rae1 (15.Bxe6 fxe6
16.fxe5 Rxf1+ 17.Rxf1 Qxe5=)
15...Bxb3 16.axb3 Nd6 17.fxe5 Nb7
18.Bf2 Nd8 19.Na4 Ne6∞)
15.Bxe7
(15.Qxe7 Bd4+ 16.Kh1 Bxc5 17.Qxc5
Be6=)
15...Bg4 16.Qe1 Nf6 17.Bxf8 Rxf8©
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9+-wq-+pvlp0
9p+p+-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-zpl+0
9+LsN-+-+-0
9PzPP+-+PzP0
9tR-+-wQRmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
As is often the case in Dragon setups,
White’s dark squared bishop is worth the
exchange, especially here where Black is up
a pawn as well.
9...Qc7
Black will simply continue ...b7-b5,
...Bc8-b7, ...Nc6-a5, and if White plays
f2-f4 Black will prevent e4-e5 with ...d7-
d6.
9...b5?! e rst le I made on this
system recommended this move. I sent the
le to a friend over Facebook (a GM who
will remain unnamed) and he found the
following slight edge for White. In a way,
the problems with 9...b5 make Black’s life
easier, because he can follow the simple
rule: rst 8...a6/9...Qc7 (or the other way
around) and only then consider ...b7-b5.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-+pzppvlp0
9p+n+-snp+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+LsN-vL-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
10.Nxc6!
(10.f3 Qc7 11.Qd2 (11.a4 b4 12.Na2
(12.Nd5?! Nxd5 13.Bxd5 (13.exd5
Qe5–+) 13...Bb7 14.Rc1 e6! 15.Bb3
Be5! 16.f4 (16.h3 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Bf4
18.Rb1 a5³; 16.g3 f5!μ) 16...Nxd4
17.fxe5 Nxb3 18.cxb3 Qxe5 19.Qxd7
Qxe4 20.Rf3 Qd5 21.Qe7 Rae8
22.Qxb4 Rc8=) 12...Rb8 (12...Nxd4
13.Bxd4 a5?! 14.c3² Black should avoid
positions like this where he lacks
counterplay) 13.Qd2 Nxd4 14.Bxd4
Ne8! 15.Bxg7 Nxg7
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 11...Na5 12.Qd3 b5 13.Nd5
9-trl+-trk+0 13.a3 Bb7 14.Rad1 Rac8³ White has
9+-wqpzppsnp0 nothing to do. Black will continue to
9p+-+-+p+0 build pressure, keeping an eye out for
9+-+-+-+-0 central counterplay with ...e7-e5.
9Pzp-+P+-+0 13...Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Bb7
9+L+-+P+-0 Also good for Black is 14...Rb8 15.b4?!
9NzPPwQ-+PzP0 (15.f5 Nc4„)
9tR-+-+RmK-0 15...e6! 16.bxa5 exd5 17.exd5 Bb7
xiiiiiiiiy 18.f5 Be5 19.Qb3 Rbc8³

Black is to be preferred: the knight will 15.b3 e6! 16.Bxb7 Nxb7 17.b4
XIIIIIIIIY
nd its way to c5 via e6, and White’s 9r+-+-trk+0
pieces are sloppy on b3 and a2.)
11...Na5 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.Bxd5 Rb8=)
9+nwq-+pvlp0
9p+-zpp+p+0
10...dxc6 11.Qxd8
9+p+-+-+-0
(11.f3 Qc7 12.a4 (12.Qe1 c5 13.a4 b4 9-zP-sNPzP-+0
14.Ne2 c4 15.Ba2 a5³) 12...Rd8 9+-+QvL-+P0
13.Qe1 b4 14.Ne2 a5 15.Qf2 (15.Bc4
Nd7³) 15...Nd7=)
9P+P+-+P+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
11...Rxd8 12.Rfd1 Nd7 13.f4 White xiiiiiiiiy
has a moderately annoying clamp on
Black’s position. Black should still be ne 17...e5!
with precise play but it is better to avoid 17...Rad8?! 18.f5 exf5 19.exf5 Rfe8
this. 20.f6 Bf8 21.Bf4 Qb6 22.a4 Nc5 23.a5
10.f4 d6 11.h3 Nxd3 24.axb6 Nxf4 25.Rxf4± Kurnosov,I-
XIIIIIIIIY Topalov,V Astana KAZ 2012.
9r+l+-trk+0 18.Ne2
9+pwq-zppvlp0 18.fxe5 dxe5³
9p+nzp-snp+0
18...d5! 19.fxe5 Qxe5 20.Bd4
9+-+-+-+-0 20.exd5 Rae8–+
9-+-sNPzP-+0
20...Qxe4μ
9+LsN-vL-+P0
9PzPP+-+P+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Na5 12.Qd3 b5 13.Nd5
 2

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 (11.Nd5?! Nxd5 12.exd5 b5 (12...Nxb3
5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Bb3 13.axb3 Qe5 14.Re1 Qxd5 15.c4©)
a6 9.f3 13.Qd2 Bb7³)
White signals his intention to play in
11...b5 12.Rad1 e6!
Yugoslav Attack fashion with Qd2 and 0- XIIIIIIIIY
0-0. is is the most critical continuation,
but since White players are not prepared 9r+l+-trk+0
for this new system, over the board they 9+-wqp+pvlp0
tend to shy away from the challenge. 9p+-+psnp+0
9...Qc7 9snp+-+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-sNP+-+0
9r+l+-trk+0 9+LsN-vLP+-0
9+pwqpzppvlp0 9PzPPwQ-+PzP0
9p+n+-snp+0 9+-+R+RmK-0
9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+LsN-vLP+-0 Now White’s b3 Bishop literally has no
squares to go to, a triumph of our concept
9PzPP+-+PzP0 13.a3 Bb7„ Super cial developing moves
9tR-+QmK-+R0 on White’s part have allowed Black to take
xiiiiiiiiy over the initiative: ...d7-d5 is now
imminent.;
9...b5?! Don’t forget — rst 9...Qc7,
and only then 10...b5. 10.Nxc6 dxc6 10.g4!? Black must be accurate here.
11.e5²
10.Qd2
10.0-0 It makes no sense to combine f3
with kingside castling, as White’s only
constructive plan after 10.0-0 is to go for
f4 anyway.
10...Na5
(As usual 10...b5!? is perfectly playable
as well.)
11.Qd2
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 9-+r+-trk+0
9+pwqpzppvlp0 9+lwqp+pvlp0
9p+n+-snp+0 9p+-+psnp+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9snp+-+-+P0
9-+-sNP+P+0 9-+-sNP+P+0
9+LsN-vLP+-0 9+LsN-vLP+-0
9PzPP+-+-zP0 9PzPPwQ-+-+0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 9+K+R+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
10...b5!
15...Nxg4 16.fxg4 Nxb3 17.Nxb3+–;
(10...e6 Black can play this way and
b) 13...d5!? It is worth researching this
transpose to the main line but 10...b5!
move further;
takes advantage of White’s premature
10.g4. 11.Qd2 b5 12.0-0-0 14.Bh6±
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 9r+l+-trk+0
9+-wqp+pvlp0 9+-wqp+pvl-0
9p+n+psnp+0 9p+-+psnpvL0
9+p+-+-+-0 9snp+-+-+p0
9-+-sNP+P+0 9-+-sNP+PzP0
9+LsN-vLP+-0 9+LsN-+P+-0
9PzPPwQ-+-zP0 9PzPPwQ-+-+0
9+-mKR+-+R0 9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
12...Na5?! (¹12...Bb7 13.h4 h5 is It took me a while to realize that Black
transposes to our main line.) 13.h4‚ should keep his knight on c6 to prevent
13...h5 We will see similar positions White from playing this move, on
later on, except with Black’s knight on account of ...Nxd4 winning a piece.
c6. Allowing White Be3-h6 in this way is
enough of a concession to turn a
a) 13...Bb7?! 14.h5 In this system it is dynamically equal position into a
almost always unwise for Black to allow
difficult one for Black. (14.g5 Ne8„))
White h4-h5. 14...Rac8 (14...b4
15.Na4 Nxe4 16.fxe4 Bxe4 17.hxg6 11.g5
Nxb3+ 18.axb3 fxg6 19.Qh2±)
15.Kb1±
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 9-trl+-trk+0
9+-wqpzppvlp0 9+-wqpzppvlp0
9p+n+-snp+0 9p+-+-snp+0
9+p+-+-zP-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-sNP+-+0 9Pzp-vLP+-+0
9+LsN-vLP+-0 9+L+-+P+-0
9PzPP+-+-zP0 9NzPPwQ-+PzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
11...Nh5 14...Ne8! 15.Bxg7 (15.Nxb4 Bxd4+
(11...Ne8 Playable but not the best. 16.Qxd4 e5 17.Qc3 Qb6+–+)
12.Nd5 Qd6 (12...Qe5 13.c3± Na5?? 15...Nxg7= e knight will nd its way
14.Bf4+– is is why the knight is to c5 via e6; White’s pieces are sloppy
better on h5) 13.Qd2²) on b3 and a2.)
12.Nd5 Qe5 13.c3 Na5! 14.Ne2 13...dxc6 14.Nxb4 c5 15.Nd5
(14.Bc2 Nc4μ) 14...Nxb3 15.axb3 (15.Nd3
(15.Qxb3 e6 16.Ne7+ Kh8³) XIIIIIIIIY
15...Bb7„ 9-trl+-trk+0
10...b5 9+-wq-zppvlp0
I give some analysis on 10...Na5 in the 9p+-+-snp+0
next chapter, but that material is an
appendix to this one; I prefer to play in
9+-zp-+-+-0
the way I recommend here. 9P+-+P+-+0
11.0-0-0
9+L+NvLP+-0
11.Nxc6 dxc6= Although objectively 9-zPPwQ-+PzP0
equal, Black is to be preferred in practice. 9tR-+-mK-+R0
White is planless; the b3 bishop is xiiiiiiiiy
vulnerable to Black’s ...c5-c4, and the c3
knight no longer has its favorite d5 15...Nxe4!! (15...c4 16.Bf4±) 16.fxe4 c4
square.; 17.Bf4 e5³ e ability to play ...e5 in
11.a4 b4 12.Na2 Rb8! 13.Nxc6 response to Bf4 is why Black must
sacri ce with 15...Nxe4!!)
(13.0-0 Nxd4 14.Bxd4
15...Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Bxb2 17.Rd1
(17.Rb1?! Ba3 18.0-0! Be6μ)

XIIIIIIIIY
 17...Be6 18.Qxc5 Qxc5 19.Bxc5 Bf6
20.Bxe6 fxe6= …...Rfc8;
11.g4 Bb7 12.g5 Nh5 13.Nd5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+lwqpzppvlp0
9p+n+-+p+0
9+p+N+-zPn0
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+L+-vLP+-0
9PzPPwQ-+-zP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
13...Qd6 It is admittedly a little difficult
to remember to play 13...Qd6 in this
11.g4 variation, whereas in the 10.g4
variation the right move was 12...Qe5.
e reason is that in the 10.g4 variation
White was forced to play 13.c3 in
response to 12...Qe5, whereas here, thanks
to White’s d2-queen already being
developed, White can defend the d4-
knight with 14.0-0-0.
(13...Qe5 14.0-0-0²)
14.0-0-0 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Bxd4 16.Qxd4
Bxd5 17.e5 Qc7 18.Qxd5 Ng7=;
11.h4 h5 12.0-0-0 Bb7 transposes to
the main line.
11...Bb7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+lwqpzppvlp0
9p+n+-snp+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+LsN-vLP+-0
9PzPPwQ-+PzP0
9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Although this position has only been
reached 30 times in the datababse, it is the
rst critical position of our main line.
Both sides have developed their pieces and
connected their rooks, and it remains to
be determined which of the opposing wing
attacks will succeed. Black’s sights aren’t
limited to the queenside though, because
the central pawn majority offers prospects
for counterplay with ...d7-d5 or even ...e7-
e5.
12.h4
By far the most common move.
12.Nd5?! Nxd5 13.exd5 Ne5 14.Kb1
Rac8 15.Bh6 Nc4 16.Bxc4 Bxh6
17.Qxh6 Qxc4 18.h4 f6μ;
12.Bh6?? Nxd4 13.Bxg7 Nxb3+
14.axb3 Kxg7–+;
12.Kb1

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY No longer check as it was when the
9r+-+-trk+0 White king was on c1. 16.Qh6+–)
9+lwqpzppvlp0 13.Bh6
9p+n+-snp+0
9+p+-+-+-0 (13.h4 b4!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-sNP+-+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9+LsN-vLP+-0 9+lwqpzppvlp0
9PzPPwQ-+PzP0 9p+-+-snp+0
9+K+R+-+R0 9sn-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zp-sNP+-zP0
is is the concession we induce by 9+LsN-vLP+-0
prolonging the Knight’s stay on c6. White 9PzPPwQ-+P+0
now threatens 13.h4 h5 14.Bh6, as after 9+K+R+-+R0
14...Nxd4 15.Bxg7 Nxb3 is no longer
check, allowing 16.Qh6+–.
xiiiiiiiiy
12...Na5! Having induced White’s Kb1, Since White spent a tempo on Kb1,
Black can now go for lines similar to those Black’s queenside counterplay is in time.
after 10...Na5 where White is effectively 14.Na4 (14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.exd5 Rfc8„
down a tempo in the critical variations 16.h5?! Nxb3 17.Nxb3 Nxd5!μ)
because Kb1 turns out to be unnecessary. 14...e5! 15.Ne2 d5!„)
(12...e6 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Bf4 Qb7 13...Nxb3 14.cxb3
15.Nd5 a5 16.Ne7+ Kh8 17.a3²;
12...Rac8?! 13.h4 h5 14.Bh6 Nxd4 (14.Nxb3 Bxh6 15.Qxh6 b4 Black can
15.Bxg7 Nxb3?? allow White’s Nc3-d5 when he can
XIIIIIIIIY capture with the bishop on b7, leaving
the f6 knight to defend against White’s
9-+r+-trk+0 h4-h5 attack (in particular the h7 square
9+lwqpzppvL-0 will be defended). 16.Nd5 Bxd5
9p+-+-snp+0 17.exd5 Rfc8 18.Rd2 Qd6 19.h4 a5
9+p+-+-+p0 20.h5 a4 21.Nd4 a3 22.hxg6 (22.b3
9-+-+P+-zP0 Ra5 23.hxg6 fxg6–+) 22...fxg6–+)
9+nsN-+P+-0 14...b4 15.Bxg7
9PzPPwQ-+P+0 (15.Nce2 Bxh6 16.Qxh6 d5!
9+K+R+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9+lwq-zpp+p0 9+lwqpzppvlp0
9p+-+-snpwQ0 9p+n+-snp+0
9+-+p+-+-0 9+p+-+-+-0
9-zp-sNP+-+0 9-+-sNP+P+0
9+P+-+P+-0 9+LsN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0 9PzPPwQ-+-zP0
9+K+R+-+R0 9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
A slight inaccuracy. White should start
17.h4 e5 18.Nf5 Fear not! 18...Ne8!
with 12.h4, so as to ensure that Black
19.Ne3 (19.Qg5 f6 20.Nh6+ Kg7
plays ...h7-h5; in this line Black can get
21.Nf5+ Kh8³) 19...d4 20.Nc4 f6=)
away without it.
15...bxc3 16.Qh6 Rfc8!
12...Na5!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r+-+k+0 (12...Rac8 13.g5 Nh5 14.Nd5²;
9+lwqpzppvLp0 12...e6!? Black can transpose to the main
line with this move. 13.h4 h5 etc.)
9p+-+-snpwQ0
9+-+-+-+-0 13.Kb1
9-+-sNP+-+0 a) 13.Bh6 Bxh6 14.Qxh6 Rac8„
9+Pzp-+P+-0 Black’s queenside attack is too fast for
9PzP-+-+PzP0 White (14...b4 15.Nd5 Nxb3+ 16.axb3
Nxd5 17.exd5 Rac8 18.d6!∞);
9+K+R+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy b) 13.g5 Nh5³ Black has a knight on
each rim, but it is White’s position
is is one of the few lines worth which is dim.;
committing to memory as well. 17.bxc3
c) 13.h4 Rfc8!
Nh5 18.Nf5 gxf5 19.Bd4 e5 20.Qxh5
(20.Bb6 Qxc3 21.Qxh5 Qc2+=)
20...exd4 21.Qg5+
(21.Rxd4 Qxc3 22.Qg5+ Kh8 23.Qf6+
Kg8 24.Qg5+ Kh8=)
21...Kh8 22.Qf6+ Kg8=;
12.g4

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY (14...Bxh6 15.Qxh6 Nxb3 (15...b4
9r+r+-+k+0 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 (17.Bxd5 e6
9+lwqpzppvlp0 18.Bb3 d5 19.exd5 Nxb3 20.d6 Qc5³)
9p+-+-snp+0 17...Nxb3 18.d6!! Black may be ne
9snp+-+-+-0 here but to allow this is unnecessary
9-+-sNP+PzP0 18...exd6 19.cxb3± White threatens
9+LsN-vLP+-0 Nd4-f5, winning.) 16.axb3 transposes
to 14...Nxb3. (16.cxb3? b4 17.Nce2
9PzPPwQ-+-+0 Nxg4! 18.fxg4 Bxe4+ 19.Ka1 Bxh1
9+-mKR+-+R0 20.Rxh1 Qe5μ))
xiiiiiiiiy 15.axb3
We see that White’s g2-g4 is redundant; (15.cxb3 b4 16.Nce2 Nxe4 17.fxe4
Black could have played h2-h4-h5 Bxh6 18.Qxh6 Bxe4+ 19.Ka1 Bxh1
without it, as it would have been suicide 20.Rxh1 Qe5μ 21.Rd1 (21.h4 Rc5
for Black to capture ...Nf6xh5. 22.h5 Qg5–+) 21...Rc5–+)
(13...h5?! 14.Bh6²) 14.h5 Nxb3+ 15...Bxh6 16.Qxh6 b4 17.Rhg1!?
15.axb3 b4 16.Na4 e5 17.hxg6 fxg6 XIIIIIIIIY
18.Ne2 Nxe4! 19.fxe4 Bxe4„;
9-+r+-trk+0
13...Rac8 9+lwqpzpp+p0
(13...Rfc8 14.Bh6 Bxh6 15.Qxh6 b4 9p+-+-snpwQ0
16.Nf5 gxf5 17.g5±) 9+-+-+-+-0
14.Bh6 9-zp-sNP+P+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+PsN-+P+-0
9-+r+-trk+0 9-zPP+-+-zP0
9+lwqpzppvlp0 9+K+R+-tR-0
9p+-+-snpvL0 xiiiiiiiiy
9snp+-+-+-0
9-+-sNP+P+0 (17.Na4 d5!„)
9+LsN-+P+-0 17...Kh8! 18.Na4
9PzPPwQ-+-zP0 (18.Na2 d5 19.exd5 Nxd5μ)
9+K+R+-+R0 18...d5 19.e5 Qxe5 20.g5 Nd7μ
xiiiiiiiiy
12...h5!N
As a rule, Black’s counterplay (whether A new move, but more importantly a
on the queenside or in the center) tends to new concept for this line: containment.
‘work’ when White has spent a tempo on
Kb1. 14...Nxb3
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY the ordinary Yugoslav Attack in the
9r+-+-trk+0 Dragon; our aim is to play in ‘Taimanov
9+lwqpzppvl-0 style’ with ...h7-h5 and ...e7-e6. 13.h5 b4
9p+n+-snp+0 14.Na4
9+p+-+-+p0 (14.Nce2 Rfc8 15.hxg6 Nxb3+
9-+-sNP+-zP0 16.Nxb3 hxg6 17.Nc5 Bc6 18.Bh6
9+LsN-vLP+-0 Bh8∞)
9PzPPwQ-+P+0 14...Nxb3+ 15.Nxb3 Nxh5 16.Nb6
9+-mKR+-+R0 (16.g4 Nf6 (16...Ng3? 17.Qh2) 17.Nb6
xiiiiiiiiy Rad8 18.Na5∞)
Previously, Black would rush with 16...Rad8 17.Na5²
queenside counterplay, hoping to mate
13.g4
White before getting mated himself. It XIIIIIIIIY
turns out that Black can contain White’s 9r+-+-trk+0
kingside attack and solidify the center 9+lwqpzppvl-0
with ...e7-e6, and only then proceed with
queenside and/or central counterplay. For
9p+n+-snp+0
his part, White must keep the attack going 9+p+-+-+p0
with urgency, because Black’s queenside 9-+-sNP+PzP0
counterplay is just a few moves away, and 9+LsN-vLP+-0
it will come with devastating effect 9PzPPwQ-+-+0
(...Rac8, ...Rfd8, ...Na5, etc.).
9+-mKR+-+R0
12...Na5!? xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0 e character of the position demands
9+lwqpzppvlp0 that this be played. Timidity will not
suffice; time is of the essence in the race to
9p+-+-snp+0 determine which of the ank attacks will
9snp+-+-+-0 succeed. My initial attitude towards this
9-+-sNP+-zP0 system was that I should delay ...e7-e6 for
9+LsN-vLP+-0 as long as possible, because I felt I would
9PzPPwQ-+P+0 always have the option later on, and I
thought there could be more useful
9+-mKR+-+R0 attacking moves on the queenside such as
xiiiiiiiiy 13...Na5 (which also guards the important
is may turn out to be playable as well, d5-square). However, as I delved deeper
but it is not in the spirit of the concept I into this variation, I realized that Black
am advocating. To allow White h4-h5 should keep the knight on c6 for a little
without immediate counterplay is akin to longer to deter White’s Be3-h6. e result
is a rather peculiar middlegame ‘standoff’,
where White cannot make progress with
Be3-h6 until Black moves his knight from
c6, but at the same time Black cannot
make progress on the queenside until he
does either.
13.Nxc6 is may look unnatural —
and it is — but the ‘computer move’
which it is based on (14.Bd4!) is not to be
underestimated. Black’s f6-knight is the
MVP (most valuable piece) of his position,
as without it, White’s g2-g4xh5 would be
decisive. Fortunately, the f6-knight is
difficult to get at, as 13.Bg5?? loses to
13...Nxe4. White’s 13.Nxc6 takes aim at
Black’s f6-knight by paving the way for
14.Bd4. 13...Bxc6
(13...dxc6 Black does not quite equalize
here. 14.Bc5 a5 15.a3 (15.a4 Ba6∞)
15...Rfd8 (15...b4 16.Na4 Ba6∞)
16.Qe3 Rxd1+ 17.Rxd1 a4 18.Ba2 Rd8
19.Rxd8+ Qxd8 20.e5 Nd5 21.Nxd5
cxd5 22.f4²)
14.Bd4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+-wqpzppvl-0
9p+l+-snp+0
9+p+-+-+p0
9-+-vLP+-zP0
9+LsN-+P+-0
9PzPPwQ-+P+0
9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
(14.Bh6 a5 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qd4 b4
17.Na4 d6³ 18.g4?! hxg4 19.h5 Qa7!
20.Qd2 Rh8μ)
14...a5!
(14...e6?! 15.e5 (15.g4 a5 16.gxh5
Nxh5=) 15...Nh7 16.Qe3 a5 17.a4
Rfb8 18.axb5 Bxb5 19.g4 White’s
attack is too fast. 19...a4 20.Ba2 hxg4
21.h5 a3 22.b3 Bc6 23.hxg6 fxg6
24.Ne4 Rf8 25.f4‚)
15.e5
(15.Nd5?! Bxd5 16.Bxd5 Rac8μ)
15...Ne8 16.Nd5
(16.Qg5 a4 17.Nd5 Black has an
embarrassment of riches, needing to
choose between two beautiful variations
17...axb3!! (17...Bxd5 18.Bxd5 Rc8
19.Rd2 e6 20.Be4 Qc4 21.Kb1 Nd6!!
„) 18.Nxc7 bxa2 19.Kd2 Nxc7³)
16...Bxd5 17.Bxd5 Rc8
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+ntrk+0
9+-wqpzppvl-0
9-+-+-+p+0
9zpp+LzP-+p0
9-+-vL-+-zP0
9+-+-+P+-0
9PzPPwQ-+P+0
9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Fair warning is in order: what follows is
a total mess. at being said, look closely
and you will see that it is White who
needs to be accurate and nd several
(nontrivial) ‘only’-moves in order to
survive the complications. As Black,
playing a risky line like this, we should
welcome our opponents into what Tal
called the “deep dark forest where 2+2=5
and the path leading out is only wide
XIIIIIIIIY
enough for one”. 18.f4 9-wqr+-+k+0
(18.g4 e6 19.Be4 Bxe5 20.Bxe5 Qxe5
9+-+-zppvl-0
21.Rhe1 Qc5 22.Qh6 Nf6 23.Bxg6 9-+-+n+p+0
fxg6 24.Qxg6+ Kh8 25.g5 Nd5 9zpp+-zP-+P0
26.Qh6+ Kg8 27.Qg6+ Kh8=) 9-+r+-+-zP0
18...d6 19.Qe2 9+-vL-+L+-0
(19.e6? f5³)
9PzPP+Q+-+0
9+-mKR+-+R0
19...dxe5 xiiiiiiiiy
(19...e6 20.Bf3 Bh6 21.g3 d5 22.g4
Bxf4+ 23.Kb1‚) (24...Qc7 25.hxg6 (25.Kb1 Rxc3
20.fxe5 Qb8!! 26.bxc3 Nc5 27.hxg6 Na4 28.gxf7+
XIIIIIIIIY Rxf7 29.Qe3 Nxc3+ 30.Kc1 Nxa2+
9-wqr+ntrk+0 31.Kd2 Bxe5∞) 25...Rxc3 26.gxf7+
Kh8 27.bxc3 Qxc3∞)
9+-+-zppvl-0
9-+-+-+p+0 White’s only move to not be clearly
worse here is... 25.Rd7™ 25...Qb6
9zpp+LzP-+p0 26.hxg6 Nf4 27.gxf7+ Kf8 28.Qd1™
9-+-vL-+-zP0 28...b4 29.Kb1™ 29...bxc3 30.b3 Qc5
9+-+-+-+-0 31.Rd8+
9PzPP+Q+P+0 (31.Ka1 Qa3 32.Rd8+ Rxd8 33.Qxd8+
9+-mKR+-+R0 Kxf7 34.Bd5+ e6 35.Qd7+ Kg8
xiiiiiiiiy 36.Bxe6+ Nxe6 37.Qxe6+ Kh7
38.Qf5+ Kg8 39.Qe6+ Kh7=)
Making room to relocate the knight
from e8-c7-e6. 21.g4 31...Rxd8 32.Qxd8+ Kxf7 33.Rf1™
(21.a3 Nc7 22.Ba2 b4„) 33...Rd4 34.Bh5+ Ke6 35.Qg8+ Kd7
36.Bg4+ Kc7 37.Qc8+ Kb6 38.Qb8+
21...Nc7 22.Bf3 Ne6 23.gxh5 Rc4 Kc6 39.Bf3+
24.Bc3
(39.Qc8+ Kb6=)
(24.c3 Rfc8 25.Kb1 b4 26.Bd5 bxc3
27.Bxc4 Rxc4 28.Bxc3 Rxc3 29.hxg6 39...Kd7 40.Re1 Qa3 41.e6+ Nxe6
fxg6³) 42.Qb5+ Kd8 43.Qb8+ Kd7=;

24...Rfc8! 13.Rdg1?! White cannot hope for an

advantage with such timidity 13...e6 14.g4

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY fact that he can’t play ...Nc6-a5 without
9r+-+-trk+0 allowing Be3-h6. at being said, whereas
9+lwqp+pvl-0 White is at a loss for ways to improve his
9p+n+psnp+0 position, Black can place his rooks on the
9+p+-+-+p0 d-and-c (or b-) les and threaten both
central counterplay and a queenside pawn
9-+-sNP+PzP0
storm. 13...Na5?!
9+LsN-vLP+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9PzPPwQ-+-+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9+-mK-+-tRR0 9+lwqpzppvl-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9p+-+-snp+0
14...Qd6! 15.Nxc6 Qxd2+ 16.Bxd2 9snp+-+-+p0
dxc6 17.gxh5 Nxh5³ White’s Bb3 is a 9-+-sNP+PzP0
mere spectator, soon to be cornered by 9+LsN-vLP+-0
Black’s c-pawn (...c5-c4). 9PzPPwQ-+-+0
13...e6! 9+-mKR+-+R0
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+lwqp+pvl-0 14.Bh6! is is ultimately the problem
9p+n+psnp+0 with 13...Na5 — White gets to exchange
9+p+-+-+p0 Black’s ‘Dragon bishop’. White threatens
9-+-sNP+PzP0 Nd4-f5, so the following (14...e6) is
forced.
9+LsN-vLP+-0
9PzPPwQ-+-+0 a) 14.gxh5 Nxh5 15.Rhg1
9+-mKR+-+R0 XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9r+-+-trk+0
9+lwqpzppvl-0
Like 13...Na5, this move also prevents 9p+-+-+p+0
White’s g4-g5 followed by Nc3-d5, but by 9snp+-+-+n0
keeping the knight on c6, White’s Be3-h6 9-+-sNP+-zP0
is hindered. What follows is somewhat a
game of ‘cat and mouse’ — White’s main 9+LsN-vLP+-0
resource of Be3-h6 is unavailable at 9PzPPwQ-+-+0
present, and it is difficult to see how to 9+-mKR+-tR-0
continue the attack without that. Black xiiiiiiiiy
would welcome White’s g4-g5, which
locks up the kingside and directs Black’s Computers take some time to appreciate
knight to d6 via e8. On the other hand, the power of this idea, but anyone who
Black’s queenside attack is stalled by the has studied the Yugoslav Attack will
know that White’s recipe is to, as Fischer
XIIIIIIIIY
said, “pry open” les to Black’s king, 9r+-+-+r+0
then “sac, sac, mate”. 15...e6! 9+lwqp+p+k0
(15...Nxb3+ 16.axb3 b4 17.Na4 d5 9p+-+p+-+0
18.Rg5! is is the point. White really 9+p+-vl-tRp0
does intend to “sac, sac, mate” 18...dxe4 9-+-sN-+-zP0
19.Rxh5! e5 (19...gxh5 20.Rg1+–)
20.Qh2 gxh5 21.Nf5+– White’s attack
9+PsN-vLP+-0
is overwhelming) 16.Rg5! 9-zPPwQ-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-mK-+-+-0
9r+-+-trk+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+lwqp+pvl-0
9p+-+p+p+0 is position is a draw according to my
computer. Technically, then, Black is not
9snp+-+-tRn0 worse in this variation, but you can see
9-+-sNP+-zP0 why I prefer to avoid this mess by
9+LsN-vLP+-0 playing 13...e6!. 22.Rxh5+ (22.Nxe6
9PzPPwQ-+-+0 dxe6 23.Rxh5+ Kg6 24.Rg5+ Kh7=
9+-mKR+-+-0 (24...Kf6 25.Rxe5 Qxe5 26.Bd4
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+r+0
e aggressively inclined Black player 9+l+-+p+-0
may be in dismay — White is initiating 9p+-+pmk-+0
dangerous threats like Rg5xh5, and 9+p+-wq-+-0
Black’s counterattack seems far off. 9-+-vL-+-zP0
However, as Suba teaches in his book
Dynamic Chess Strategy, “initiative is a
9+PsN-+P+-0
psychological advantage”, so it is up to 9-zPPwQ-+-+0
us as defenders to grant or deny this 9+-mK-+-+-0
advantage to our opponents. e xiiiiiiiiy
aggressor is not better simply by virtue
of being on the offensive: White was the 26...Rg1+ 27.Nd1 Bxf3 28.Bxe5+ Ke7!!
rst to initiate action but if we defend Study-like 29.Qb4+ Ke8 30.Kd2 Rd8+
well, he may quickly run out of steam 31.Ke3 Bxd1=) ) 22...Kg6 23.Qd3+
and be left with no attack and static
Kf6 24.f4 Bd6∞ e Higher Power
pawn weaknesses. 16...Kh7! (16...Bf6?! calls this “0.00”, but I would not write a
17.Rxh5 gxh5 18.f4±) 17.Rdg1 Bf6 book recommending this madness as the
18.Rxh5+ gxh5 19.e5 Nxb3+ 20.axb3 rst option.;
Bxe5 21.Rg5 Rg8
b) 14.g5 Black is usually happy to see
this; White blocks off his own attack
XIIIIIIIIY
and lures Black’s knight to e8 where it 19...d5! 20.exd5 Nxb3 21.cxb3 Bxd5
wants to go anyway 14...Ne8! 15.Nde2 22.Qxd5 Qc2+ 23.Ka1 Qxe2„;
Nd6! 14...e6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0 (14...Nxb3+
9+lwqpzppvl-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9p+-sn-+p+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9snp+-+-zPp0 9+lwqpzppvl-0
9-+-+P+-zP0 9p+-+-snpvL0
9+LsN-vLP+-0 9+p+-+-+p0
9PzPPwQN+-+0 9-+-sNP+PzP0
9+-mKR+-+R0 9+nsN-+P+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9PzPPwQ-+-+0
9+-mKR+-+R0
When the concept of transporting this xiiiiiiiiy
maneuver from the Taimanov occurred
to me, I was pessimistic that it would In the one tournament game in which I
turn out to be possible in the had this position over the board, I
Accelerated Dragon. It was a pleasant played this move. I took over the
surprise when I saw that the computers advantage in that game, but only
approve of it, and as it turns out it is a because my opponent let me...15.axb3
recurring theme in this line. 16.Bf4 b4 b4 16.Nce2 hxg4 17.Bxg7 Kxg7
17.Na4 (17.Nd5?! Nxb3+ 18.axb3 18.Qg5 Nh7 19.Qxe7?! (19.Qxg4 e6
Bxd5 19.Qxd5 Rfc8 20.Rd2 a5! 20.Nf4±) 19...Qa5 20.Qxd7? gxf3!
21.Bxd6 exd6 22.Qxd6 a4 23.Qxc7 21.Nf4?! Qa1+ 22.Kd2 Qxb2
Rxc7 24.Kb1 a3!μ) 17...Rfc8 18.Bxd6 23.Nde6+ Kg8 24.Nxf8 Qc3+ 25.Kc1
exd6 19.Kb1 Bxe4μ Cao,J-Panjwani,R Kitchener
XIIIIIIIIY 2015).
9r+r+-+k+0 15.Rhe1!
9+lwqp+pvl-0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9sn-+-+-zPp0
9Nzp-+P+-zP0
9+L+-+P+-0
9PzPPwQN+-+0
9+K+R+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0 9r+-+ntr-+0
9+lwqp+pvl-0 9+lwqp+pmk-0
9p+-+psnpvL0 9p+-+p+p+0
9snp+-+-+p0 9snp+-+-zPp0
9-+-sNP+PzP0 9-+-sNP+-zP0
9+LsN-+P+-0 9+LsN-+P+-0
9PzPPwQ-+-+0 9PzPPwQ-+-+0
9+-mKRtR-+-0 9+K+R+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Not an easy move for humans to nd
17...Rd8! Preparing the thematic ...Ne8-
because we tend to expect that the battle
d6, since now after 18.Nxe6+ dxe6 the
will be decided on the kingside. e logic
d6-Knight is defended 18.Nde2 Kg8!
of this move is clear: White threatens e4-
reatening ...b5-b4 (18...b4
e5, and Black cannot prevent this with
15...d6 for tactical reasons. Furthermore, 19.Qd4++–) 19.Nf4 b4 20.Na4 Nxb3
White’s pressure on the kingside is still 21.cxb3 d5! 22.exd5 a5!„)
felt, and eventually some sort of Nd4-f5 15...Nxb3+
or gxh5 will be decisive.
(15...b4 16.Na4 hxg4 17.Bxg7 Kxg7
(15.Bxg7 is eases Black’s task a little; 18.e5 Nd5 19.fxg4±; 15...d6?? 16.Bxe6!
there is no need to take on g7, as Black Bxh6 17.Qxh6 fxe6 18.Qxg6+ Qg7
certainly couldn’t allow White’s queen to 19.Qxg7+ Kxg7 20.Nxe6++–)
in ltrate by taking on h6 15...Kxg7
16.g5 (16.Rhe1 Nxb3+ 17.axb3 d6²) 16.axb3 d6 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.gxh5
16...Ne8! (16...Ng8!? 17.Rhe1 b4 Nxh5 19.Rg1
(17...Ne7 18.f4 Rad8 19.f5 Kg8 Black’s
XIIIIIIIIY
position is surprisingly resilient) 18.Na4 9r+-+-tr-+0
e5 19.Ne2 Nxb3+ 20.axb3 Rac8 9+lwq-+pmk-0
21.Kb1 a5 22.c4 Bc6=) 17.Kb1 9p+-zpp+p+0
9+p+-+-+n0
9-+-sNP+-zP0
9+PsN-+P+-0
9-zPPwQ-+-+0
9+-mKR+-tR-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black is suffering. White’s attack is not
decisive, but lacking counterplay Black is
XIIIIIIIIY
condemned to passive defense. 19...Kh7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r+-+k+0
(19...Rae8 20.b4 Black needs to be 9+lwqp+pvl-0
accurate to not collapse here. 20...Nf6?!
21.h5! Nxh5 22.f4 d5 23.Rdf1 dxe4
9p+n+psnp+0
24.f5!±; 19...Rh8?? 20.Rxg6++–) 9+p+-+-+p0
20.Qg5 reatening Nd4xe6, as well as
9-+-sNP+PzP0
f4-f5. 9zPLsN-vLP+-0
9-zPPwQ-+-+0
(20.Rg5 Rg8 21.b4 Rad8 22.Nde2 f6
23.Rg4 e5!=)
9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
20...Rfe8 21.b4! Rac8
In such positions it is notoriously
(21...Qe7 22.Nb3±)
difficult to decide which rook to put on a
22.Kb1 Qe7 23.Nb3± Black is given le. Pal Benko is rumored to have
positionally dominated. joked that his method is as follows: think
really hard, decide which rook would be
14.Kb1
the right choice, then play the other rook!
Small ‘re nement’ moves like this are
By placing the f-Rook on c8 instead of d8,
useful prophylaxis for when the position
(inevitably) explodes. Black sidesteps a potential Be3-g5 pin,
XIIIIIIIIY and also defends his Qc7 in case, after
9r+-+-trk+0 ...Nc6-e5 for example, White pins the
Knight with Be3-f4 or Qd2-h2.
9+lwqp+pvl-0
9p+n+psnp+0 (14...Na5?! is always runs into Be3-
h6 15.Bh6± (15.g5 I can’t resist
9+p+-+-+p0 including some pretty variations which I
9-+-sNP+PzP0 encountered in my research. 15...Ne8
9+LsN-vLP+-0 16.Ba2
9PzPPwQ-+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+K+R+-+R0 9r+-+ntrk+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+lwqp+pvl-0
14.a3 is is admittedly a ‘computer
9p+-+p+p+0
move’ — I can’t imagine many humans 9snp+-+-zPp0
will weaken their king position 9-+-sNP+-zP0
unprovoked. Nevertheless, it is instructive 9zP-sN-vLP+-0
to see how Black builds up attacking 9LzPPwQ-+-+0
potential. 14...Rfc8! 9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
16...Nd6! Computers rarely suggest this
XIIIIIIIIY
as their rst choice (including here) but 9rtr-+-+k+0
from my perspective, if I can get away 9+-+-+pvl-0
with this maneuver then I’m playing it 9-+-zp-+p+0
17.Qh2 (17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Qxd6 Qxd6 9zp-+Rzp-zPp0
19.Rxd6 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Rxf3 21.Bb6 9qzpn+P+-zP0
Nc4 22.Bxc4 bxc4 23.Rxd7 Bxe4=)
17...e5! 18.Nb3 Nac4 19.Bf2 a5
9+NzP-+P+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9L+-+-+-wQ0
9r+-+-trk+0 9mKR+-vL-+-0
9+lwqp+pvl-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-sn-+p+0
Alas, at least as often as computers
9zpp+-zp-zPp0 uncover hidden beauties for us, they
9-+n+P+-zP0 ruin our fun with awless defense,
9zPNsN-+P+-0 insisting that chess played correctly
9LzPP+-vL-wQ0 settles down to a draw. 28.Qe2 Na3
9+-mKR+-+R0 29.Rc1 Nb5 30.Rd3 Bf8= Apparently
0.00 but we needn’t continue along
xiiiiiiiiy
these lines, as 15.Bh6 must not be
permitted earlier on.))
Black’s pieces are the picture of
harmony; in contrast, look at White’s! 15.Bf4
20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.Rxd5 To those who a) 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.Bf4 Qb7 17.Be5
complain that computers have ruined b4! 18.axb4
chess, I sympathize for the most part, XIIIIIIIIY
but every now and then they win back
our hearts with ingenious sequences like
9r+r+-+k+0
the following 21...Nxb2!! 22.Kxb2 9+q+p+pvl-0
Nc4+ 23.Ka1 d6!! White’s pieces are so 9p+l+psnp+0
uncoordinated that Black can take time 9+-+-vL-+p0
out of his day for this calm, solidifying 9-zP-+P+PzP0
move, covering the c5 square and 9+LsN-+P+-0
threatening ...Nc4xa3. (23...Nxa3
24.Bc5±) 24.c3 b4! 25.a4 Qc6 26.Rb1
9-zPPwQ-+-+0
Qxa4 27.Be1 Rfb8 9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
18...a5!! 19.Qf4 (19.bxa5?? Rxa5
20.Qf4 Rxe5! 21.Qxe5 Nxe4–+)
19...axb4 20.Bxf6 (20.Nb1 Nxe4!!
XIIIIIIIIY
21.Bxg7 (21.fxe4 Bxe5 22.Qxe5 Bxe4
XIIIIIIIIY
23.Rh2 hxg4©) 21...Nc5!! 22.Bc4 Kxg7
9r+r+-+k+0
23.gxh5 Bxf3 24.Rdf1 Bxh5 25.Qxf7+ 9+lwq-+pvl-0
Kh8 26.Qf6+ Kh7=) 20...bxc3 21.bxc3 9p+-zppsnp+0
Ra5!³ Black enjoys superior king safety 9+p+-sn-+p0
and White’s light-squared bishop is 9-+-sNPvLPzP0
caught offside, unable to assist on the
Kingside;
9zPLsN-+P+-0
9-zPP+-+-wQ0
b) 15.Kb1 Ne5 16.Bg5 hxg4 17.Bxf6 9+-mKR+-+R0
Bxf6 18.h5 g5 19.fxg4 Qc5! 20.Rdf1
Qe7„
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY Black has a lot going for him: more
9r+r+-+k+0 central pawns, White’s attack has been
9+l+pwqp+-0 halted, and Black’s queenside attack is just
9p+-+pvl-+0 getting started. In addition to this, the
tactics on e6 do not work for White.
9+p+-sn-zpP0
9-+-sNP+P+0 17.Nxe6
9zPLsN-+-+-0 (17.Bxe5 dxe5 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Bxe6+
9-zPPwQ-+-+0 Kh7 20.Bxc8 Rxc8„)
9+K+-+R+R0 17...fxe6 18.Bxe5 dxe5 19.g5 Qe7
xiiiiiiiiy 20.gxf6 Bxf6 21.Qh3 Rc6 22.Qg3 Kh7=;
14.g5 Ne8
Black plans to play ...Rc8-c5 and double XIIIIIIIIY
up rooks on the c- le, threatening to 9r+-+ntrk+0
sacri ce the exchange on c3 with
devastating effect.; 9+lwqp+pvl-0
9p+n+p+p+0
15...Ne5 16.Qh2 d6
9+p+-+-zPp0
9-+-sNP+-zP0
9+LsN-vLP+-0
9PzPPwQ-+-+0
9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
15.Nde2
a) 15.a3 Na5 16.Kb1 (16.Ba2 Nc4
17.Bxc4 bxc4=) 16...d5! 17.exd5 Nxb3
18.cxb3
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+ntrk+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9+lwq-+pvl-0 9+q+p+pvl-0
9p+-+p+p+0 9p+l+psnp+0
9+p+P+-zPp0 9+p+-+-+p0
9-+-sN-+-zP0 9-+-+PvLPzP0
9zPPsN-vLP+-0 9+LsN-+P+-0
9-zP-wQ-+-+0 9PzPPwQ-+-+0
9+K+R+-+R0 9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
18...Rd8! We have seen this before; it is 16.Bh6 a5 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.g5
worth keeping this idea in mind. 19.Rc1 (18.gxh5 Nxh5 19.Rhg1 a4 20.Bd5 b4
(19.dxe6 Bxf3μ) 19...Qb8=; 21.Qd4+ Kh7 22.Bxc6 dxc6 23.Ne2
b) 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.Bc5 d6 17.Bxd6? c5!„)
(17.Bd4 Bxd4 18.Qxd4 Rb8„) 18...Ne8 Computers take quite some
17...Nxd6 18.Qxd6 Qb6!μ with ...a5-a4 time to realize that black has no problems
to follow; here. 19.Bd5 b4 20.Bxc6 Qxc6 21.Ne2
15...d6 16.Rhf1 Na5 17.Kb1 Rd8=;
14.Rdg1 Qd6! 15.Nxc6 Qxd2+
(17.f4? b4 18.Na4 Nxb3+ 19.axb3
16.Bxd2 Bxc6 17.g5 Ne8„
Bxe4μ)
17...Rd8! Since White’s pawn storm has 14...Rfd8
been blockaded, he is condemned to 14...Rad8 e following is a good
meandering piece play, whereas Black is illustration of what not to do. 15.a3 d5?!
effectively up a pawn in the center. 16.gxh5 Nxh5 17.Nxc6 Bxc6 18.exd5
18.Bd4 d5 19.exd5 Nxb3 20.axb3 Bxd5=; exd5 19.Bg5 Rd7 20.Ne2 Bb7 21.Nd4±;

14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Bf4 Qb7 14...Rfc8?! is doesn’t work here, as

White hasn’t weakened himself with a2-a3,
so Black’s queenside pawn storm is less
effective than in was after 14.a3. 15.Nxc6
(15.Bf4 Ne5 16.Qh2 d6 17.Nxe6 fxe6
18.Bxe5 dxe5 19.Bxe6+ Kh7 20.g5
Ne8 21.Bxc8 Rxc8=)
15...Bxc6 16.Bf4 Qb7 17.Be5 a5
(17...b4 18.Qf4 bxc3 19.Bxf6 Qc7
20.Qg5±)
XIIIIIIIIY
 18.Qf4 a4 19.Bxe6 dxe6 20.Bxf6 b4
21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Ne2±
15.g5
We are in unexplored territory here, so I
can only guess what White’s likely choice
would be in an over-the-board situation. I
suspect that the urge to ‘do something’
would be overwhelming, and White would
be the rst to cave in. ese days we tend
to think the onus is on White to initiate
complications. In the early days of chess,
they used to think that the more talented
player has a moral responsibility to initiate
aggression!
15.Bh6 White invites simpli cations
which yield no advantage 15...Bxh6
16.Qxh6 Nxd4 17.Rxd4 Qe5!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-tr-+k+0
9+l+p+p+-0
9p+-+psnpwQ0
9+p+-wq-+p0
9-+-tRP+PzP0
9+LsN-+P+-0
9PzPP+-+-+0
9+K+-+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
18.gxh5
(18.Qd2 hxg4 19.fxg4 b4 20.Rxb4
Nxe4 21.Nxe4 Bxe4 22.Rf1 d5 23.Rb7
Rf8=
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+R+-+p+-0
9p+-+p+p+0
9+-+pwq-+-0
9-+-+l+PzP0
9+L+-+-+-0
9PzPPwQ-+-+0
9+K+-+R+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
e computer gives ‘zeroes’ (“0.00”) but
I would prefer Black in a practical
setting because Black has a better
Bishop, more central pawns, and
potential for taking over the initiative
with ...a5-a4, whereas attempts by
White to ‘do something’ seem to only
make his position worse. 24.g5?! a5
25.a4 Rab8 26.Rb5 Rxb5 27.axb5 Qc7³
With ...Rf8-b8 to follow.)
18...Nxh5 19.Rhd1 Qf4!
(19...Bc6 Black should be able to hold
here with accurate play but the position
is a little annoying to defend because
Black lacks a constructive plan. is is
why I recommend forcing matters by
liquidating with 19...Qf4. 20.Ne2 a5
21.a3 b4 (21...Re8 22.Rg1 Rab8 23.f4
Qg7 24.Qg5 d5 25.e5²) 22.a4 Re8∞)
20.Qxf4
(20.Qg5 Bc6 21.Ne2 Qxg5 22.hxg5 a5
23.a3 Kf8=)
20...Nxf4 21.Rxd7 Rxd7 22.Rxd7 Bc6=

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+k+0
9+-+R+p+-0
9p+l+p+p+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+-+Psn-zP0
9+LsN-+P+-0
9PzPP+-+-+0
9+K+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
It is not necessary to memorize the
precise way Black draws in the ensuing
variations; I include them just for the sake
of completeness, but without comments.
It is enough to recognize that White’s h4
pawn is bound to eventually capitulate to
Black’s ...Kg8-g7 and ...Ra8-h8 or ...Nf4-
g2, and White’s Bishop remains frozen,
missing in action on b3.
23.Rc7
(23.Rd6 Rc8=; 23.Rd2 Kf8! 24.Ne2
Nxe2 25.Rxe2 Ke7 26.Rg2 Rh8 27.Rg4
e5=)
23...Be8 24.e5
a) 24.Rc5 b4 25.Nd1 (25.Na4 Bxa4
26.Bxa4 Kg7=) 25...Bb5 26.c4 bxc3
27.Nxc3 Bd3+ 28.Kc1 (28.Bc2 Kg7
29.Bxd3 Nxd3 30.Ra5 Rh8 31.Rxa6
Rxh4=) 28...Rd8=;
(25...Ng2?! It is inspiring that despite
such an error Black can still hold; such
margin for error is important to account
for when choosing a repertoire. 26.a5!
Nxh4 27.f4 Ng2 28.Ra7 Nxf4 29.Ne4
Bc6 30.Nd6 Bd7 31.Rxa6 g5 32.Ne4
Ng6 33.Nxg5 Nxe5=)
26.Bxa4
(26.Bc4 Ng2 27.Bxa6 Nxh4 28.Bb7
Rd7 29.Rxd7 Bxd7 30.Ka2 g5 31.Ne4
Kg7 32.Nxg5 Ng6 33.Ka3 Nxe5
34.Kb4 f5 35.Kc5 Kf6 36.f4 Ng6
37.Nh3 e5=; 26.Nxa4 Ng2 27.Nc5
Nxh4 28.f4 Ng2 29.Nxa6 Nxf4=)
26...Bxa4 27.Nxa4 Rd1+
(27...Ng2 28.Rc4 a5 (28...Rd5 29.Rc8+
Kg7 30.c4 Rxe5 31.c5±) 29.c3 Rd3
(29...Kg7 30.b4 axb4 31.cxb4 Ne3
32.Rc3 Nd5 33.Rb3²) 30.b4 axb4
31.cxb4 Rxf3 32.Kb2 Ne3 33.Re4 Nd5
34.b5 f5 35.exf6 Rf5 36.Ka3 (36.Rxe6
Nc7=) 36...Nxf6 37.Rxe6 Kf7 38.Rb6
Nd7 39.Rb7 Ke6 40.Nc3 Rh5 41.Rc7
Rxh4 42.b6 Nxb6 43.Rc6+ Kf5
44.Rxb6=)
28.Ka2 Rh1 29.Nc5
(29.b4 Rxh4 30.Ra7 Nd5 31.c3 Nxb4+
32.cxb4 Rxb4 33.Nc5 Rf4 34.Rxa6
Rxf3=)

b) 24.Kc1 Rd8=; 29...Rxh4 30.Nxa6 Nd5 31.Rc8+ Kg7

32.Nc7 Ne7 33.Ne8+ Kf8 34.Ra8 Rf4
c) 24.a4 Ng2 25.axb5 axb5=; 35.Nf6+ Kg7 36.Ra3 Nc6 37.Ng4 g5=;
24...Rd8 25.a4 15.Bf4 e5
(25.a3 a5 26.a4 bxa4 27.Nxa4 Ng2=)
25...bxa4

XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY (18.Rxg6 fxg6 19.Nxe6 Qe5 20.Nxd8
9r+-tr-+k+0 Rxd8 21.Bxd5+ Kh8=; 18.Nc5 Nxd4
9+lwqp+pvl-0 19.Bxd4 Bxd4 20.Qxd4 dxe4 21.Qxb4
9p+n+-snp+0 Bd5 22.Nxe4 Bxe4 23.fxe4 Ng3
9+p+-zp-+p0 24.Rh3 Ne2 25.Rf1 Ng3 26.Rg1=)
9-+-sNPvLPzP0 18...fxe6 19.Rxg6 Qf7 20.Qg2
9+LsN-+P+-0 (20.Rg5 Ne5„; 20.Rxe6 Na5„)
9PzPPwQ-+-+0
20...Ne5 21.Rh6 Nf4
9+K+R+-+R0 XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9r+-tr-+k+0
16.g5 9+l+-+qvl-0
(16.Nf5 gxf5 17.Bg5 Na5 18.Bxf6 9p+-+p+-tR0
Bxf6 19.Bd5 f4 20.g5 Bg7 21.g6 Kf8 9+-+psn-+-0
22.Bxf7 Rac8μ) 9Nzp-+Psn-zP0
16...Nxe4! 9+L+-vLP+-0
(16...Nxd4 17.Qxd4 d6 18.Qd3 Nxe4
9PzPP+-+Q+0
19.Nxe4 exf4 20.Nf6+ Kh8 21.Rhe1∞) 9+K+-+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
17.Nxe4 exf4„;
15.Rdg1 b4 16.Na4 d5! 22.Bxf4 Qxf4 23.Rxe6 Qxf3 24.Qg1
XIIIIIIIIY (24.Rg1 Qxg2 25.Rxg2 Kf8 26.Rf2+
9r+-tr-+k+0 Kg8 27.Rg2 Kf8=)
9+lwq-+pvl-0 24...Re8 25.Nc5
9p+n+psnp+0 (25.Rb6 Ra7 26.h5 Kh8 27.h6 Bf8μ)
9+-+p+-+p0
9Nzp-sNP+PzP0 25...Bc6=
9+L+-vLP+-0 15...Ne8 16.Qf2 Ne5
9PzPPwQ-+-+0
9+K+-+-tRR0
xiiiiiiiiy
17.gxh5
(17.g5 Nxe4! 18.fxe4 dxe4 19.c3 bxc3
20.bxc3 Na5©)
17...Nxh5 18.Nxe6

XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 25.Qd4+ Qe5 26.Qxe5+ Nxe5 27.Nd4
9r+-trn+k+0 Rc8 28.c3 Nc6=;
9+lwqp+pvl-0
17.Qg3 Nd6„
9p+-+p+p+0
9+p+-sn-zPp0 17...Nc4 18.Bxc4
18.Bd4 d5 19.Bxc4 Bxd4 20.Rxd4 dxc4
9-+-sNP+-zP0 21.Rxd8 Rxd8„
9+LsN-vLP+-0
9PzPP+-wQ-+0 18...Qxc4 19.Bd4
19.Rd2 d5 20.Rhd1 a5! 21.exd5 b4
9+K+R+-+R0 22.b3 Qa6 23.Na4 Rxd5 24.Rxd5 Bxd5
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
Around now White will start to regret 9r+-+n+k+0
caving under the pressure to ‘do 9+-+-+pvl-0
something’ with 15.g5. 9q+-+p+p+0
17.Nde2 9zp-+l+-zPp0
17.Bf4 Nd6!„ White’s kingside attack 9Nzp-+-+-zP0
is distant memory, and the fun is just 9+P+-vLP+-0
getting started for Black.;
9P+P+NwQ-+0
17.a3 Nd6 18.Nde2 Ndc4 19.Bd4 d5! 9+K+R+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY xiiiiiiiiy
9r+-tr-+k+0
9+lwq-+pvl-0 25.Nb6 Rb8 26.Nxd5 exd5 27.Bd4
9p+-+p+p+0 (27.Rxd5? Nc7 28.Rd3 Nb5μ)
9+p+psn-zPp0 27...Bxd4 28.Nxd4 Nd6=
9-+nvLP+-zP0
19...Bxd4 20.Rxd4
9zPLsN-+P+-0 20.Nxd4 Qc5! 21.Rd2 Nd6 22.Nb3
9-zPP+NwQ-+0 Qxf2 23.Rxf2 Nc4 24.Nc5 Bc6=;
9+K+R+-+R0 20.Qxd4 Qc7!=
xiiiiiiiiy
20...Qc5 21.f4 Nd6!„
20.Bxc4 Nxc4 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.exd5
Bxd5 23.Nxd5 Rxd5 24.Rxd5 exd5
25.Qd4+ Qe5 26.Qxe5+ Nxe5 27.Nd4
 Appendix

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6

XIIIIIIIIY
5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Bb3 9r+l+-trk+0
a6 9.f3 Qc7 10.Qd2 Na5 9+pwqp+pvlp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9p+-+psnp+0
9r+l+-trk+0 9sn-+-+-vL-0
9+pwqpzppvlp0 9-+-sNP+-+0
9p+-+-snp+0 9+LsN-+P+-0
9sn-+-+-+-0 9PzPPwQ-+PzP0
9-+-sNP+-+0 9tR-+-mK-+R0
9+LsN-vLP+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzPPwQ-+PzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0 e core theme of my system. 12.0-0-0
xiiiiiiiiy (12.0-0 b5 13.Rfe1 d6 14.a3 Rb8
15.Red1 Nc4 16.Bxc4 bxc4 17.Rab1
is may (with further research) turn
Bb7 18.Nde2 d5³)
out to be playable (and if my mainline
runs into problems this is a serious 12...b5 13.a3 Bb7 14.Kb1
fallback to research further) but I prefer to (14.Ba2 Nc4 15.Bxc4 Qxc4 16.Nb3 a5
continue developing before committing 17.Qd3 Qxd3 18.Rxd3 b4³)
the knight. In the early stages of
developing this system I tried out all kinds 14...d5!
of move orders, and ultimately realized XIIIIIIIIY
that Black should keep the knight on c6 so 9r+-+-trk+0
as to deter White’s Be3-h6 as long as 9+lwq-+pvlp0
possible (when ...Nc6xd4 would win a 9p+-+psnp+0
piece). 9snp+p+-vL-0
11.0-0-0 9-+-sNP+-+0
11.Bg5 e6! 9zPLsN-+P+-0
9-zPPwQ-+PzP0
9+K+R+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
15.exd5

XIIIIIIIIY
(15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.exd5 Nxb3 17.Nxb3 12.g5 Nxb3 13.axb3 b4„
Bxc3 18.bxc3 Bxd5–+) XIIIIIIIIY
15...Nxb3 16.Nxb3 Nxd5μ; 9r+l+-trk+0
11.g4
9+-wqpzppvlp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9p+-+-snp+0
9r+l+-trk+0 9+-+-+-zP-0
9+pwqpzppvlp0 9-zp-sNP+-+0
9p+-+-snp+0 9+PsN-vLP+-0
9sn-+-+-+-0 9-zPPwQ-+-zP0
9-+-sNP+P+0 9tR-+-mK-+R0
9+LsN-vLP+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzPPwQ-+-zP0 Black is just in time: he will play Nh5
9tR-+-mK-+R0 only after White’s knight moves from c3
xiiiiiiiiy (and therefore cannot reach d5).;
11.0-0 I include this move, because
11...b5!
computers endorse it, but I can’t imagine
(11...e6?! If Black is intent on this humans combining f3 with 0-0. 11...b5
10...Na5 variation then he should prefer 12.a4 b4 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5
11...b5 instead. 12.h4 (12.0-0-0 b5 XIIIIIIIIY
13.Bh6 Bxh6 14.Qxh6 b4 15.Nce2 9r+l+-trk+0
Bb7 16.h4 Nxb3+ 17.axb3 Rfc8∞ 9+-wqpzppvlp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9p+-+-+p+0
9r+r+-+k+0
9+lwqp+p+p0 9sn-+L+-+-0
9Pzp-sNP+-+0
9p+-+psnpwQ0 9+-+-vLP+-0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zp-sNP+PzP0 9-zPPwQ-+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
9+P+-+P+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-zPP+N+-+0
9+-mKR+-+R0 14...Bb7
xiiiiiiiiy (14...Rb8 Black may prefer this.
15.Rac1 e6 16.Ba2 Nc4 17.Bxc4 Qxc4
18.Rd2 (18.c4 bxc3 19.Nxc3 d5³) 18.b3 Qc7 19.c3 bxc3 20.Rxc3 Qa5=)
18...Bxe4 19.fxe4 Nxe4 20.h5 (20.Rf1
15.Qxb4
d5μ) 20...g5∞) 12...h5 13.0-0-0 b5
14.Bh6± Again, Black wishes his knight (15.Bxb7 Qxb7μ; ¹15.b3 e6 16.Bxb7
were on c6 to deter this move.) Qxb7³)
 15...Bxd5 16.exd5 Rab8 17.Qc3 Rfc8μ
XIIIIIIIIY
Black is calling all the shots. In most 9-tr-+-trk+0
openings, White can get away with a few 9+-wqpzppvlp0
inaccuracies, especially with innocent 9p+-+-+p+0
developing moves, but the price of an 9snp+L+-zPn0
inaccuracy is quite high for White in this
system.
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+-+-vLP+-0
11...b5
XIIIIIIIIY 9PzPPwQ-+-zP0
9r+l+-trk+0 9+-mKR+-+R0
9+-wqpzppvlp0 xiiiiiiiiy
9p+-+-snp+0
9snp+-+-+-0 A sample continuation may be...
16.Kb1 Nc4 17.Bxc4 bxc4 18.c3 Rb7
9-+-sNP+-+0 19.Ka1 Rfb8 20.Rb1 a5 21.Ne2 a4
9+LsN-vLP+-0 22.a3 Rb3 23.Ka2 (23.Nc1 Bxc3)
9PzPPwQ-+PzP0 23...e6! 24.Ng3 Nxg3 25.hxg3 R8b5
9+-mKR+-+R0 26.Qh2 Qd6 27.Qxh7+ Kf8–+ White
xiiiiiiiiy is defenseless against the combined
threats of ...Bg7xc3 and in ltration with
12.h4! ...Qd6-d3 (threatening ...Rxb2+).)
12.g4 Black generally has three ways of
meeting this move, all intended to prevent 13...Rac8!
White from playing g4-g5 and Nc3-d5: XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-trk+0
1) ...Bc8-b7
9+lwqpzppvlp0
2) ...e7-e6 9p+-+-snp+0
3) wait for g4-g5 and meet it with ...b5- 9snp+-+-+-0
b4. 9-+-sNP+PzP0
Concrete factors determine which of 9+LsN-vLP+-0
these is the best in each particular 9PzPPwQ-+-+0
situation. 12...Bb7 13.h4
9+-mKR+-+R0
(13.g5?! Nh5 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Bxd5 xiiiiiiiiy
Rab8³
An isolated instance where Black can
allow White to play h4-h5.
(13...h5?! Black would ideally like to
prevent White’s h4-h5 but since Black’s
knight is on a5, White now has 14.Bh6!
XIIIIIIIIY
 ‚ White threatens Nd4-f5, so the
XIIIIIIIIY
following is forced 14...e6 15.Rhe1!
9r+l+-trk+0
Nxb3+ (15...d6?? 16.Bxe6+–) 16.axb3 9+-wqpzppvlp0
d6 17.gxh5 Nxh5 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 9p+-+-snp+0
19.Rg1 Kh7 20.Qg5² Black is on the 9snp+-+-+-0
defensive. ings aren’t so dire, but we 9-+-sNP+-+0
can do better (13...Rac8!).) 9+LsN-vLP+-0
14.Kb1 9PzPPwQ-+PzP0
(14.h5?! b4 15.Na4 9+K+R+-+R0
XIIIIIIIIY xiiiiiiiiy
9-+r+-trk+0
12...Bb7
9+lwqpzppvlp0
9p+-+-snp+0 (12...Nc4?! is should ‘feel’ wrong;
9sn-+-+-+P0 Black needs to harness more potential
energy before striking. 13.Bxc4 bxc4
9Nzp-sNP+P+0 14.g4‚)
9+L+-vLP+-0
13.a3
9PzPPwQ-+-+0
9+-mKR+-+R0 (13.g4 e position is very rich, and
Black has many possibilities. I’ll just
xiiiiiiiiy show a couple of them. 13...Rac8
(13...e6 14.h4 (14.Nde2?! d5 15.g5
15...Nxe4!! 16.fxe4 Bxe4 17.hxg6
Nh5 16.exd5 b4 17.Ne4 exd5 18.Bxd5
Nxb3+ 18.axb3 fxg6³ 19.Rh2? e5–+)
(18.Nc5? d4! 19.Bxd4 Bxf3 20.Bxg7
14...e5! 15.Nde2 d5! 16.g5 Nxb3 Nxg7 21.Nd7 Rad8 22.Rhf1 Nxb3
17.axb3 d4 18.gxf6 dxe3 19.Qd6 Bh8 23.axb3 Rxd7 24.Qxd7 Qxd7 25.Rxd7
20.Qxc7 Rxc7 21.Rd6 Rfc8 22.h5 Rc6 Bxe2μ) 18...Rad8 19.Bf4 Qb6 20.Be3
23.Rd7 R6c7 24.Rd6=; Qb5 21.Bxf7+ Kxf7 22.Nd6+ Rxd6
12.Kb1 23.Qxd6 Nc4 24.Qc7+ Kg8 25.Bc5
Na3+ 26.Kc1 Qxe2 27.Bxf8 Qe3+
28.Rd2 Bxb2+ 29.Kxb2 Qxd2 30.Bh6
Qd4+ 31.Kb3 Qd5+ 32.Kb2 Qd4+
33.Kb3=) 14...d5! 15.e5 (15.g5 Nh5
16.exd5 Nxb3 17.cxb3 b4 18.Ne4
Bxd5„) 15...Nd7 16.f4 Nc4 17.Qe1
(17.Bxc4 dxc4 18.Rhf1 Nc5„)
17...Nc5 18.h5 Nxe3 19.Qxe3 g5!!„

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0 9-+r+-trk+0
9+lwq-+pvlp0 9+-wqpzppvlp0
9p+-+p+-+0 9p+-+-+p+0
9+psnpzP-zpP0 9+-+P+-zPn0
9-+-sN-zPP+0 9-+psN-+-+0
9+LsN-wQ-+-0 9+-zP-vLP+-0
9PzPP+-+-+0 9PzP-wQ-+-zP0
9+K+R+-+R0 9+K+R+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
) White has two main options now. 18...e5! is is a thematic push in this
line, made possible by Black holding
a) 14.g5 Nh5 (14...b4
XIIIIIIIIY back the d7 pawn. 19.dxe6 fxe6³;
9-+r+-trk+0 b) 14.h4 e5! 15.Nde2 Nxb3 16.cxb3
9+lwqpzppvlp0 (16.axb3 d5 17.exd5 Nxd5) 16...b4
9p+-+-snp+0 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 e4 19.Rc1
Qb7μ;
9sn-+-+-zP-0
9-zp-sNP+-+0 13...e6!
9+LsN-vLP+-0 (13...Rad8 14.Qf2 Qb8!?„
9PzPPwQ-+-zP0 a) 14...d5 15.Nf5 dxe4 16.Bb6∞;
9+K+R+-+R0 b) 14...Nc4 15.Bxc4 bxc4 (15...Qxc4
xiiiiiiiiy 16.Nb3²) 16.Nde2²);

ings get pretty insane in this line. 14.g4 d5!

Fortunately it isn’t necessary for Black to
XIIIIIIIIY
go into this. 15.Nf5! 9r+-+-trk+0
(15.Na4 Nxe4! 16.fxe4 Bxe4 17.Rc1
9+lwq-+pvlp0
Nxb3 18.axb3 Bxh1 19.Rxh1 f6=)
9p+-+psnp+0
15...bxc3 16.Nxe7+ Kh8 17.Qf2 Nh5 9snp+p+-+-0
18.Bb6 (18.Nxc8 Qxc8) 18...Qe5 9-+-sNP+P+0
19.Nxc8 Nxb3 20.axb3 Bxc8=) 15.Nd5 9zPLsN-vLP+-0
Bxd5 16.exd5 Nc4 17.Bxc4 bxc4 18.c3 9-zPPwQ-+-zP0
9+K+R+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
15.e5
XIIIIIIIIY
 (15.g5 Nh5 16.exd5 Nxb3 17.cxb3
XIIIIIIIIY
Rad8! 18.Qc2 (18.dxe6? Bxf3–+)
9r+-+-trk+0
18...exd5„) 9+lwqpzpp+p0
15...Nd7 16.f4 Nc4 17.Bxc4 dxc4
9p+-+-snpwQ0
18.Rhf1 Nc5„; 9+p+-+-+-0
12.Bg5 Bb7³;
9-+-+P+-+0
9+NsN-+P+-0
12.Bh6 9PzPP+-+PzP0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-mKR+-+R0
9r+l+-trk+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-wqpzppvlp0
9p+-+-snpvL0 Black will continue ...Rfc8, ...a5, ...b4,
9snp+-+-+-0 etc.
9-+-sNP+-+0 12...h5
XIIIIIIIIY
9+LsN-+P+-0 9r+l+-trk+0
9PzPPwQ-+PzP0 9+-wqpzppvl-0
9+-mKR+-+R0 9p+-+-snp+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9snp+-+-+p0
12...Nxb3+ 9-+-sNP+-zP0
(12...e5?? 13.Nf5+– Beware of this!; 9+LsN-vLP+-0
12...Nc4? Too soon, Black needs to 9PzPPwQ-+P+0
harness more potential before striking 9+-mKR+-+R0
13.Bxc4 Bxh6 14.Qxh6 bxc4 15.h4+– xiiiiiiiiy
White is too fast, Black has no
counterplay.) 13.Bh6!
is poses Black the most problems
13.Nxb3
when the knight is on a5.
(13.axb3 Bxh6 14.Qxh6 b4 15.Nd5
13.g4!? Bb7 14.Bh6‚
Nxd5 16.exd5 e5! 17.Nf5 gxf5 18.Qg5+
Kh8 19.Qf6+ Kg8=) (14.g5 Ne8 15.Kb1 Nd6! 16.Nd5
Bxd5 17.Bxd5 Rac8³ 18.Qd3 e6
13...Bxh6 14.Qxh6 Bb7„
19.Bb3 Ndc4 20.Bc1 d5! 21.exd5 Rfd8
22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.Qxg6 Na3+ 24.Ka1
Nxb3+ 25.cxb3 Qc2–+)
13...Nxb3+ 14.axb3
14.Nxb3 Bxh6 15.Qxh6 Bb7 16.a3
Rac8 17.Kb1 a5„
XIIIIIIIIY
14...Bb7 15.g4 e6 16.b4!± Such positions are to be avoided: White
XIIIIIIIIY dominates on all sides of the board, which
9r+-+-trk+0 will be evident after Nd4-b3-a5(c5).
9+lwqp+pvl-0
9p+-+psnpvL0
9+p+-+-+p0
9-zP-sNP+PzP0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9-zPPwQ-+-+0
9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
 CHAPTER 4

MAROCZY BIND: BREYER VARIATION

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7
XIIIIIIIIY
5.c4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 Ng4 8.Qxg4 9rsnlwqk+ntr0
Nxd4 9.Qd1 e5 9zpp+pzppvlp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-+p+0
9r+lwqk+-tr0 9+-+-+-+-0
9zpp+p+pvlp0 9-+PsNP+-+0
9-+-+-+p+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+-+-zp-+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9-+PsnP+-+0 9tRNvLQmKL+R0
9+-sN-vL-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0 We have here the starting position of
the Maroczy Bind, named after Hungarian
xiiiiiiiiy master Geza Maroczy (1870–1951).
Maroczy was one of the best players in the
Contents world in the early 1900s, and was even set
to play a World Championship match
1. 6.Nc2 Nf6 with Emanuel Lasker in 1906, but for
2. 6.Nc2 e6 various political reasons the match did not
end up taking place. He was an engineer
3. 10.Be2 by training, and a nancial auditor by
4. 10.Nb5 0-0?! profession. Capablanca, near the end of
his life in the early 1940s, said of Maroczy
5. 10.Nb5 d6!N 11.sidelines that “with the exception of Botvinnik and
6. 10.Nb5 d6!N 11.Qd2 Keres, Maróczy in his time was superior to
all the other young masters of today.”
7. 10.Bd3 d6
Maroczy popularized White’s setup in his
Appendix. 10.Bd3 0-0 capacity as a chess journalist, but there are
no published games of his where he played
1 the system with White. In fact, the rst
recorded game in the Maroczy Bind is
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 Swiderski-Maroczy, 1904, where Maroczy
5.c4 defended the Black side of the Accelerated
XIIIIIIIIY
Dragon against the (to be named)
Maroczy Bind. In order to combat the
Maroczy Bind, Black must follow a dark-
squares strategy. Notice that in asserting
the central c4/e4 ‘clamp’, White has
forever denied the (dark) d4-square
protection from a pawn. We will see in the
subchapter 3 that the Breyer Variation is
based on seizing this square from White’s
grip. In keeping with the dark-squares
strategy, exchanging dark-squared bishops
is in general congenial to Black. In fact,
GM Tiviakov once highlighted the
importance of this exchange by playing
the highly creative, though slightly
dubious, 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 Bh6!?.
5...Nc6 6.Nc2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+ntr0
9zpp+pzppvlp0
9-+n+-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzPN+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
is is not the most challenging line for
Black, but since it has been played by
Keres, Tal, Korchnoi, and Carlsen, it has
earned our serious attention. White
usually waits for Black to play ...Bc8-d7
before retreating this Knight, because
Black’s two most common ways of
countering Nc2 are either a) ...Nf6-d7-c5,
often capturing on c3 with the g7 bishop
(an option made available by White’s
departure from d4), or b) ...Bc8-e6 (which
is not recommended when White’s knight
is on d4) and quickly targeting the c4
pawn with ...Ra8-c8, ...Nc6-e5, etc. e
latter of these plans will be covered when
we discuss the ‘Main Line’ Maroczy. Here
I will go over two additional systems for
the reader who wishes to take advantage of
White’s premature retreat.
6...Nf6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Be2 b6
e double- anchetto is particularly
adept at meeting White’s Nd4-c2. With
the knight on d4, a reliable way to meet
Black’s double anchetto is with Nd4xc6,
which is not possible here.
9.0-0 Bb7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpl+pzppvlp0
9-zpn+-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzPN+LzPPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black intends to continue with the at
rst glance unbelievable, but in this book
thematic, ...Nf6-e8-d6, followed by ...f7-
f5.
10.f3
10.Bf4 is deters Black’s ...Ne8-d6
idea but after ...Nf6-e8 Black may instead
gain a tempo on the f4-bishop after
...Ne8-c7-e6. Also, White’s f4-bishop is
under X-ray attack from Black’s f8 rook
after an eventual ...f7-f5. 10...Rc8 11.Ne3
Ne8 12.f3
 (12.Ng4?? h5 13.Ne3? e5–+ Herman- general rule it is worth avoiding
Panjwani, New York 2014) positions where your opponent is
playing for two results.) 12.bxc3 Ng7„
12...Nc7 13.Ned5 Ne6 14.Be3 f5
15.exf5 Rxf5„
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-wq-trk+0
9-+rwq-+k+0 9zpl+pzppsnp0
9zpl+pzp-vlp0 9-zpn+-+p+0
9-zpn+n+p+0 9+-+-+-vL-0
9+-+N+r+-0 9-+P+P+-+0
9-+P+-+-+0 9+-zP-+P+-0
9+-sN-vLP+-0 9P+N+L+PzP0
9PzP-+L+PzP0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
Black will play in accordance with the
Black will continue with ...Ne6-d4, system of Nimzowitsch: rst blockade
...e7-e6, and eventually ...d7-d5.; White’s doubled c-pawns with ...d7-d6,
...Ng7-e6-c5, then pile up on the weak
10.Bg5 Not the most popular, but quite
c4-pawn with ...Ra8-c8, ...Nc6-a5,
possibly White’s best. 10...Ne8!
...Bb7-a6.)
(10...Rc8?! Black should not delay
11...Nd6 12.f3
...Nf6-e8, because that allows White to XIIIIIIIIY
coordinate in the center and render the
plan too slow. 11.f3 h6 12.Be3 Kh7
9r+-wq-trk+0
13.Qe1 Ne8?! 14.Rd1 Nd6?! 15.Qd2! 9zpl+pzppvlp0
(15.Kh1 f5 16.c5 bxc5 17.Bxc5 fxe4 9-zpnsn-+p+0
18.Bxd6 exf3 19.Bxf3 exd6„ 0–1 (35) 9+-+-+-vL-0
Sadorra,J (2431)-Jobava,B (2664) Al 9-+P+P+-+0
Ain UAE 2008) 15...f5 16.exf5 Nxf5 9+-sN-+P+-0
17.Qxd7 Nxe3 18.Nxe3±)
9PzPNwQL+PzP0
11.Qd2 9tR-+-+RmK-0
(11.f3 Bxc3 (11...Nd6 12.Qxd6! exd6 xiiiiiiiiy
13.Bxd8 Raxd8 14.Rad1² Black
certainly has compensation for the 12...f5!
weakened structure, because White is (12...f6 It is instructive to see how Black
without his prized dark-squared bishop, ends up worse after this move. 13.Bf4
but I think Black’s compensation will be (13.Bh6 Bxh6 14.Qxh6 Ne5 15.b3
at best enough for a draw, and as a g5„) 13...Ne5 14.Ne3 f5 15.exf5 Nxf5
 16.Nxf5 Rxf5 17.Be3 Rc8 18.b3 Black
cannot allow White to coordinate like
this, because Black has made anti-
positional moves and he can only get
away with them if he plays energetically
enough to prevent White from
‘achieving harmony’. erefore, Black
lives and dies by the power of his
counterplay: here, unfortunately, Black
has capitulated control over the center,
and is consequently unable to achieve
the desired ...d7-d5. 18...Nf7 19.Rad1
Nd6 20.Bd4²)
13.exf5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpl+pzp-vlp0
9-zpnsn-+p+0
9+-+-+PvL-0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzPNwQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Both recaptures on f5 are interesting,
but my analysis indicates that 13...Nxf5 is
the better of the two. 13...Nxf5
(13...Rxf5?! 14.Bh6! is move, which
is all too easy for White to nd, makes
life difficult for Black. From a broader
perspective this should not surprise us:
by exchanging pieces White dulls Black’s
counterplay, which is Black’s only
compensation for his hanging central
pawns and multiple weaknesses.
(14.Be3 Qf8! 15.Rad1 Rf7 16.c5 Nf5
17.cxb6 e6 18.bxa7 Nxe3 19.Qxe3
Nxa7©) 14...Qf8 15.Bxg7 Qxg7 16.b3
Raf8 17.Rad1 g5 In a practical game
Black can probably get away with
playing like this, but I cannot
recommend this as something to aim for
from the outset. 18.Bd3 Rf4 19.Ne4
Ne5 20.Nxd6 exd6 21.Be2! R8f6
22.Ne3²)
14.Rad1 Rc8! 15.b3
(15.Qxd7? Bd4+ 16.Rxd4 Nfxd4
17.Qxb7 Nxc2³)
15...h6! Black guarantees himself the
two bishops, if he desires. 16.Bf4 g5
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0
9zpl+pzp-vl-0
9-zpn+-+-zp0
9+-+-+nzp-0
9-+P+-vL-+0
9+PsN-+P+-0
9P+NwQL+PzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Irrespective of where White moves his
bishop, Black will continue with ...e7-e6
and ...d7-d5. It is amazing that Black can
get away with this central break seeing as
White currently has four pieces directly
targeting at the d5 square and Black has
none! 17.Bg3
(17.Be3 e6 (17...d5!? 18.Nxd5
(18.cxd5?? Bxc3 19.Qxc3 Ncd4–+)
18...e6 19.Ndb4 (19.Nc3 Qf6 20.Nb5
Rcd8 21.Qc1 a6 22.Nba3 Nxe3
23.Qxe3 Nd4 24.Nxd4 Qxd4!=)
19...Nxb4 20.Qxb4 Qc7 21.Bf2 Be5
22.h3 Ng3 23.Bxg3 Bxg3∞) 18.Bd3
(18.Nb5 d5! 19.cxd5 exd5 20.Qxd5+?
Qxd5 21.Rxd5 Na5 22.Rd2 Rxc2
XIIIIIIIIY
23.Rxc2 Nxe3–+) 18...d5! 19.Bxf5 Rxf5
9-+rwq-trk+0
20.cxd5 exd5 White’s position is slightly 9zpl+p+-vl-0
more pleasant but Black shouldn’t have 9-zpn+p+-zp0
much difficulty holding. 21.Nd4 9+-+-+nzp-0
(21.Nxd5 Qd6©) 21...Nxd4 22.Bxd4 9-+P+-+-+0
Bxd4+ 23.Qxd4 Qf6
XIIIIIIIIY 9+PsN-+PvL-0
9-+r+-+k+0 9P+NwQL+PzP0
9zpl+-+-+-0 9+-+R+RmK-0
9-zp-+-wq-zp0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+p+rzp-0 18.Nb5
9-+-wQ-+-+0 (18.Bf2 d5!! 19.cxd5? Bxc3 20.Qxc3
9+PsN-+P+-0 Ncd4μ)
9P+-+-+PzP0 18...d5! Black will be ne after a long
9+-+R+RmK-0 forcing series of exchanges. 19.cxd5 exd5
xiiiiiiiiy 20.Qxd5+ Qxd5 21.Rxd5 Ncd4 22.Rxd4
Rxc2 23.Bc4+ Kh8 24.Rd3 g4! 25.Nd6
Black will have enough activity to Nxd6 26.Bxd6 Re8
compensate for his pawn de ciency. It is XIIIIIIIIY
not worth memorizing an exact path to 9-+-+r+-mk0
equality in the ensuing variations; there 9zpl+-+-vl-0
are multiple paths. 24.Qxf6 (24.Nb5
Ba6 25.Qa4 Bxb5 26.Qxb5 d4 27.Qd3
9-zp-vL-+-zp0
Rd5=) 24...Rxf6 25.Nxd5 Re6 26.Nb4 9+-+-+-+-0
a5 27.Nd3 Ba6 28.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 29.Nxe1 9-+L+-+p+0
Re8 30.Nc2 Re2 31.Rd8+ Kf7 32.Nd4 9+P+R+P+-0
Rxa2 33.Rd6 Ra1+ 34.Kf2 Ra2+ 9P+r+-+PzP0
35.Ke3 h5 36.Rxb6 Bf1=) 9+-+-+RmK-0
17...e6 xiiiiiiiiy
27.a4
(27.Bb4 Preventing ...Re8-e2 on
account of Rd3-d8+. 27...gxf3 28.gxf3
Rxa2=)
27...Ree2 e following variation is
remarkable: 28.Kh1! Rxg2 29.Bd5 Ba6
30.Re3! Bxf1 31.Re8+
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY advantage White should allow that.
9-+-+R+-mk0 11...Nd6 (…...f5) 12.Rc1 f5 13.exf5 Nxf5
9zp-+-+-vl-0 14.Kh1 e6 15.Qe1
9-zp-vL-+-zp0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+L+-+-0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9P+-+-+p+0 9zpl+p+-vlp0
9+P+-+P+-0 9-zpn+p+p+0
9-+r+-+rzP0 9+-+-+n+-0
9+-+-+l+K0 9-+P+-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzPNvLL+PzP0
31...Bf8
9+-tR-wQR+K0
(31...Kh7 32.Be4#) xiiiiiiiiy
32.Rxf8+ Kg7 33.Rg8+ Kf6 34.Rf8+
15...Kh8
Kg7 35.Rg8+ Kh7 36.Be5!! gxf3 37.Rh8+
Kg6 38.Be4+ Kh5 39.Bxf3+ Kg5 (15...d5!? 16.cxd5 exd5³)
40.Bxg2 Bxg2+ 41.Kg1=; 16.Ne3 Nfd4
10.Rb1 Ne8 11.Qd2 Nd6 12.f3 f5 (16...Ncd4 17.Bd3 Nxe3 18.Bxe3 d5?!
13.Nb5 fxe4 14.Nxd6 exd6 15.Qxd6 Ne5 19.cxd5 exd5 20.Rd1 Nf5 21.Bxf5 Rxf5
16.f4 Nd3 17.Bxd3 exd3 18.Qxd3 Re8© 22.Bd4² 1–0 (46) Hebert,J-Panjwani,R
0–1 (38) Tseshkovsky,V (2555) -Gufeld,E Montreal 2013)
(2535) Vilnius 1975.
17.b3 d5!³
10...Ne8
XIIIIIIIIY 11...Nd6
9r+-wqntrk+0 A signi cant branching point for this
9zpl+pzppvlp0 variation. White’s attempts in the database
9-zpn+-+p+0 are not convincing, but I have found a
new move (12.Nd4) which does present
9+-+-+-+-0 Black with some problems. Fortunately,
9-+P+P+-+0 they are not insurmountable.
9+-sN-+P+-0 11...Bxc3!? 12.bxc3 d6 13.Bh6 Ng7
9PzPN+L+PzP0 14.f4 Re8 15.Bg4∞
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
12.Nd4N
xiiiiiiiiy As I mentioned before, White’s knight
11.Be3 belongs on d4 in these double- anchetto
11.Bd2 Played in order that Black will systems, especially in the cases where
not capture on c3, but to seek an Black’s play revolves around ...f7-f5. White
intends on eliminating Black’s pesky d6
XIIIIIIIIY
knight with Nd4-b5. 9-+rwq-trk+0
12.Qd2 f5
9zpl+pzppvlp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-zpnsn-+p+0
9r+-wq-trk+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9zpl+pzp-vlp0 9-+PsNP+-+0
9-zpnsn-+p+0 9+-sN-vLP+-0
9+-+-+p+-0 9PzP-+L+PzP0
9-+P+P+-+0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9+-sN-vLP+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzPNwQL+PzP0 12...f5?! 13.Ndb5 Nxb5 14.cxb5 Na5
9tR-+-+RmK-0 15.Bd4²
xiiiiiiiiy 13.b3
13.c5 13.Ndb5 Nxb5 14.cxb5 Na5 15.Bd4
Bh6 16.f4 e6 17.Be5 f6 18.Bd6 Rf7=
(13.exf5 Nxf5 14.Bf2 Bh6 15.Qe1 Black can play around the d6 bishop, and
(15.Qd1 e6 16.g4 Nfe7 17.Bg3 d5 always get rid of it with ...Bb7-a8 and
18.cxd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 exd5„) 15...e6 ...Na5-b7 if necessary.
16.Rd1 Qe7 17.g4 Ng7 18.Bg3 Bf4=)
13...f5! 14.exf5 Nxd4
13...bxc5 14.Bxc5 fxe4 15.fxe4 Rxf1+ 14...gxf5 15.f4 e6 16.Nxc6 Bxc6
16.Rxf1 Ne5 17.Bxd6 Qb6+ 18.Kh1 17.Qxd6 Bxc3 18.Rad1²
Qxd6=;
15.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 16.Qxd4 Nxf5 17.Qd2
12.c5 bxc5 13.Bxc5 f5 14.Bxd6 exd6 e5!
15.Kh1 Qh4 16.g3 Qh3 17.exf5 Be5 XIIIIIIIIY
18.Rg1 Ne7!„; 9-+rwq-trk+0
12.Nb5 Bxb2 13.Rb1 Be5 14.f4 Bg7
9zpl+p+-+p0
15.Nxd6 exd6 16.Qxd6 Re8 17.Qd3 Na5 9-zp-+-+p+0
18.Bf3 Rc8³ 0–1 (37) Minasian,A (2478)- 9+-+-zpn+-0
Aronian,L (2528) Ohrid 2001. 9-+P+-+-+0
12...Rc8! 9+PsN-+P+-0
9P+-wQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
18.Rad1 Nd4
e position is equal, even if White has
the ‘better half ’ of it. ings will
XIIIIIIIIY
eventually zzle out; the following is a Black should stick to waiting tactics —
sample. let White try to make progress. At the
right moment Black may ditch the d5-
19.Nb5 Nxb5 20.cxb5 d5 21.f4 Qe7
pawn to arrive at a drawn rook endgame.
22.fxe5 Rxf1+ 23.Rxf1 Qxe5 24.Bf3 Re8
25.Rd1 Kg7=
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+r+-+0
9zpl+-+-mkp0
9-zp-+-+p+0
9+P+pwq-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+P+-+L+-0
9P+-wQ-+PzP0
9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
 2
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7
5.c4 Nc6 6.Nc2 e6!
is move is almost a novelty, but (to
my dismay) not quite: it has been played a
mere four times (and with different
intentions to ours) in the recorded history
of our game.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+ntr0
9zpp+p+pvlp0
9-+n+p+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzPN+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
e idea of this move occurred to me
while I was analyzing the ...Ne8-d6
maneuver in the 6...Nf6 line, where Black
often plays ...f7-f5 and recaptures on f5
with the knight. I wondered whether
Black could reach similar positions and
save some time by taking the route Ng8-
e7-f5 rather than Ng8-f6-e8-d6-f5. I was
also aware of similar ideas with colors
reversed in the English opening, such as
after 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5
Nxd5 5.Nc3 Nb6 6.e3!?
or 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5
Nxd5 5.Bg2 Nc7 6.e3!?. Black’s basic idea
is to go for a quick ...f7-f5, and then
recapture on f5 with the knight, from
where it controls the important d4 square
and also often pressurizes White’s e3
bishop. White can take one of (at least)
two strategies: either try to develop
normally and hope that Black’s offbeat
play will lead to static positional
weaknesses in the middlegame, or White
can aim for a refutation of the system with
an early h2-h4 or Bc1–f4-d6. According
to my analysis, Black equalizes in all
variations.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7
5.c4 Nc6 6.Nc2 e6! 7.Be2
7.Nc3 Nge7 8.Bf4 is is the most
obvious way to counter Black’s setup —
planting a bishop on d6. It turns out,
however, that Black need not be bothered
by such an intruder.
a) 8.h4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9zpp+psnpvlp0
9-+n+p+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+P+P+-zP0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzPN+-zPP+0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
8...f5 (8...0-0 9.h5 d5!? Further research
is warranted here.) 9.exf5 (9.h5 fxe4
10.Nxe4 d5 11.Nc3 0-0„) 9...Nxf5
10.h5 0-0 11.hxg6 hxg6 12.Bf4 18.Qxe6+ Qxe6 19.Bc4 Qxc4 20.Nxc4
(12.Qg4 Ne5 13.Qh3? Kf7! 14.Ne4 Rae8+ 21.Ne3 Re4 22.Bg5 Bf6 23.Bxf6
Rh8 15.Ng5+ Kg8–+; 12.Ne3 Qb6„) Rxf6 24.Rh3 g5=;
12...Qb6 13.Rb1 Nce7! b) 8.Bg5 0-0 9.Qd2 Qa5 10.Bh6
XIIIIIIIIY (10.Be2 d5!„) 10...Bxh6 11.Qxh6 f5!
9r+l+-trk+0 „;
9zpp+psn-vl-0
8...0-0 9.Bd6
9-wq-+p+p+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+n+-0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9-+P+-vL-+0 9zpp+psnpvlp0
9+-sN-+-+-0 9-+nvLp+p+0
9PzPN+-zPP+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+R+QmKL+R0 9-+P+P+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-sN-+-+-0
Black can ‘premove’ ...d7-d5 here; with
9PzPN+-zPPzP0
White’s king in the center Black 9tR-+QmKL+R0
shouldn’t hesitate to sacri ce a pawn to xiiiiiiiiy
open les. 14.Ne3
9...f5 White has taken time to occupy
a1) 14.Be2 d5! 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Nxd5? d6; as such, he is behind in development
Nxd5 17.Qxd5+ Be6μ; so Black should not delay this counter-
punch.
a2) 14.Qd2 d5! 15.g4 Nd6 16.Be3 Qc7
17.Bh6 (17.cxd5 Nc4 18.Bxc4 Qxc4„) (9...b6?! 10.h4 Bb7 11.h5 f5?! 12.hxg6
17...Nf7 18.Bxg7 Kxg7=; hxg6 13.Qf3 fxe4 14.Qh3 Kf7 15.Nxe4
Rh8 16.Ng5+ Kg8 17.Qxh8+ Bxh8
14...d5! 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Ncxd5 Nxd5
18.Rxh8+ Kxh8 19.Nf7+ Kg7 20.Nxd8
17.Qxd5+ Be6
XIIIIIIIIY Rxd8 21.0-0-0±) 10.exf5 (10.Bd3 Rf7
11.0-0 b6 12.Qd2 Bb7 13.Rae1 Rc8
9r+-+-trk+0 14.b3 Ne5 15.Bxe5 Bxe5 16.exf5 Bxc3
9zpp+-+-vl-0 17.Qxc3 gxf5=)
9-wq-+l+p+0
10...Rxf5 Although Black would
9+-+Q+n+-0 normally prefer to take on f5 with the
9-+-+-vL-+0 knight, the knight will nd its way to f5
9+-+-sN-+-0 anyway after ...Rf5-f7. 11.Bd3
9PzP-+-zPP+0 (11.Ne3 Rf7 12.h4 Nd4 13.h5 Nef5
9+R+-mKL+R0 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.Nxf5 Nxf5 16.Bf4
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY (17.Re3 Qf6 18.Rg3 A little knight
9r+lwq-+k+0 sortie solidi es Black’s kingside and calls
9zpp+p+rvl-0 into question the placement of White’s
9-+-+p+p+0 g3-rook. 18...Ne5! 19.b3 Ng6!=)
9+-+-+n+-0 17...Nd4 18.Bh5 Qg5!
9-+P+-vL-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-sN-+-+-0 9-+r+-+k+0
9PzP-+-zPP+0 9zpl+p+rvlp0
9tR-+QmKL+R0 9-zp-vLp+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-+pwqL0
9-+Psn-+-+0
16...b5!! A shot out of the blue. Black 9+-sN-+-+-0
can afford to sacri ce a pawn in order to
accelerate his development because
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
White’s king is still awkwardly 9+-tRQtR-mK-0
uncastled. 17.Nxb5 (17.cxb5 d5©) xiiiiiiiiy
17...Bb7 18.Qd2 (18.Qg4 Bxb2
19.g3
19.Rd1 Qf6„) 18...Qb6 19.Rh3 Raf8
20.0-0-0 d5!„) (19.Bxf7+ Kxf7 20.Bg3 f4 21.Qd2
Bxg2! 22.Qxf4+ Qxf4 23.Bxf4 Bb7
11...Rf7 12.0-0 b6 13.Ne3 Bb7 14.Re1
24.Kf1 Rxc4= Two bishops and two
Rc8 15.Rc1 Nf5 16.Nxf5 gxf5 Routine central pawns are more than enough
development for both sides has led to a compensation for Black.)
dynamically equal position.
XIIIIIIIIY 19...Rxc4 20.b3?
9-+rwq-+k+0 (20.h4 Qd8 21.b3 Rc6 22.Bxf7+ Kxf7
9zpl+p+rvlp0 23.Qh5+ Kg8 24.Be5 Bxe5 25.Rxe5
9-zpnvLp+-+0 b5!©)
9+-+-+p+-0 20...Bf3!! 21.Bxf3 Qxc1!! 22.Qxc1
9-+P+-+-+0 Nxf3+ 23.Kg2 Rxc3 24.Qd1 Nxe1+
9+-sNL+-+-0 25.Qxe1μ;
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 7.h4 Nge7 8.h5 d5! 9.h6 Bf6³
9+-tRQtR-mK-0 7...Nge7 8.Nc3
xiiiiiiiiy
Black looks forward to occupying the g-
le with his rook, which combines nicely
with pressure from the b7-bishop. 17.Be2

XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY this line over the board. is was his rst
9r+lwqk+-tr0 attempt (of many unsuccessful attempts!).
9zpp+psnpvlp0 9.exf5 Nxf5 10.0-0 0-0 11.Bf4 b6 Both
9-+n+p+p+0 of Black’s bishops occupy the longest
9+-+-+-+-0 diagonals on the board. 12.Qd2 Bb7
9-+P+P+-+0 13.Rad1 Ncd4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4=;
9+-sN-+-+-0 9.0-0 fxe4 10.Nxe4 d5 11.Nc3 0-0=
9PzPN+LzPPzP0 9...fxe4 10.h5
9tR-vLQmK-+R0 10.Nxe4 d5„;
xiiiiiiiiy
10.c5 b6 11.Nxe4 0-0 12.h5 bxc5
8...f5! 13.hxg6 Nxg6μ
As is so often the case in this opening,
10...d5 11.hxg6 hxg6 12.Rxh8+ Bxh8
Black’s play is contrary to basic chess XIIIIIIIIY
principles; usually one is supposed to 9r+lwqk+-vl0
castle before such breaks. en again, 9zpp+-sn-+-0
White’s king isn’t castled either.
9-+n+p+p+0
e only top-level game continued as 9+-+p+-+-0
follows: 8...0-0 9.0-0 f5 10.exf5 gxf5?!
is misses the point; Black should
9-+P+p+-+0
recapture with the knight! (10...Nxf5=) 9+-sN-+-+-0
11.f4 d5! 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Rf3 Be6 9PzPN+LzPP+0
14.Bd3 Rc8 15.Rg3 Rf6! 16.Bd2 Rg6 9tR-vLQmK-+-0
17.Qe1 Bf7 18.Kh1 Qd7 19.Qf2 Re8 xiiiiiiiiy
20.a3 Nc8! 21.Re1 Rxe1+ 22.Bxe1 Nd6μ
1/2–1/2 (56) Yanofsky,D-Stoltz,G Karlovy White has compensation for the
Vary 1948. sacri ced pawn but only enough for
equality, and that is with perfect play from
9.h4 here on out.
When I thought of this system, I
showed it to a 2600+ rated friend, and he 13.Bg5! Qa5 14.Qd2 Bd7 15.0-0-0 Bxc3
claimed he was con dent he could refute 16.Qxc3 Qxc3 17.bxc3 0-0-0 18.Ne3
Rf8=
 3

e Breyer variation of the Maroczy is

XIIIIIIIIY
characterized by Black’s 7...Ng4. Unlike 9r+lwqk+-tr0
the Maroczy Bind (5.c4), which was never 9zpp+pzppvlp0
played by its namesake Geza Maroczy, the 9-+n+-+p+0
Breyer variation was indeed rst played by 9+-+-+-+-0
Gyula Breyer in Kostic-Breyer,
Gothenburg 1920. It has since been
9-+PsNP+n+0
entrusted for important games by World 9+-sN-vL-+-0
Champions Botvinnik (Smyslov- 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
Botvinnik, Alekhine Memorial 1956) and 9tR-+QmKL+R0
Kasparov (Ribli-Kasparov, World Cup xiiiiiiiiy
1988).
8.Qxg4
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7
8.Nxc6?! is is what they played in
5.c4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3
Breyer’s time. 8...Nxe3 9.Nxd8 Nxd1
7.f3 Qb6!
XIIIIIIIIY 10.Kxd1 Kxd8³
9r+l+k+-tr0 8...Nxd4
9zpp+pzppvlp0 8...Bxd4? It is reasonable to ask why
9-wqn+-snp+0 this move is not played more often, given
that Black usually seeks to exchange dark-
9+-+-+-+-0 squared bishops in the Marozy. True, in
9-+PsNP+-+0 the middlegame — after both sides have
9+-+-vLP+-0 developed — the trade of dark squared
9PzP-+-+PzP0 bishops is generally desirable for Black,
9tRN+QmKL+R0 but here Black purchases this exchange at
the cost of precious time. 9.Bxd4 Nxd4
xiiiiiiiiy 10.0-0-0! Nc6 11.Qg3! 0-0 12.h4±
8.Nf5 Qxb2 9.Nxg7+ Kf8 10.Nd2 White’s attack is overwhelming.

(10.Bh6?? Qxa1–+) 9.Qd1

9.0-0-0 Nobody plays this. 9...Nc6
10...Kxg7 11.c5 Rd8 12.Rb1 Qe5 10.Nd5 e6!
13.Nc4 Qe6³ Black will free his position
with either ...d7-d5 or ...b7-b5. (10...0-0 11.Qh4‚)

7...Ng4 11.Nc3 Qa5„

9...e5
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9zpp+p+pvlp0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+PsnP+-+0
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Bent Larsen used to prefer 9...Ne6, but
I think 9...e5 offers more chances for
counterplay based on Black’s occupation
of the center. Computers generally tend to
prefer White in the Breyer, but from my
experience even 2600+ GMs nd it very
uncomfortable to ‘play around’ Black’s d4
knight, which (invariably) leads them to
mishandle White’s position. is line has a
very Sveshnikov Sicilian feel to it. Fischer
taught us that “you have to give squares to
get squares”; Black has opted to relinquish
control over the light squares (especially
d5) in order to stake a claim over the all-
important d4 square. is is the rst
signi cant branching point for White: he
will either develop routinely with Bd3, 0-
0, Qd2, etc., or he will attempt to
immediately take advantage of Black’s
weaknesses with 10.Nb5. We consider
these options in the coming chapters, but
we begin with an underrated sideline.
10.Be2
If this move is followed by routine
development, then it lacks independent
value, since White’s bishop is better placed
on d3. However, there are some
idiosyncrasies to this line if White
combines Bf1–e2 with Nc3-b5.
10...0-0
10...d6 e reader can make life easier
for themselves by playing 10...d6 in
response to any of White’s major options,
but since he can get away with it, it is at
least symbolically more exible for Black
to castle rst.
11.Nb5!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+p+pvlp0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+N+-zp-+-0
9-+PsnP+-+0
9+-+-vL-+-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
A tricky move, not least of all because
the response recommended by the
computer at even high depths (11...Qh4)
is a blunder due to a brilliant double-rook
sacri ce demonstrated by former Women’s
World Champion Nona Gaprindashvili
more than 40 years ago!
11.0-0 d6 12.Qd2
(12.Nb5 Nxb5 13.cxb5 Be6 14.Qd2
(14.Bf3?! Bc4=) 14...f5 15.Bg5 Bf6
16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Qxd6 Rfd8 18.Qc7
Rd7 19.Qc5 fxe4 20.Bc4 Rd4 21.Bxe6+
Qxe6=)
12...Be6= White can obtain this
position with his bishop more
appropriately placed on d3. In fact, my
computer recommends that White play
13.Bd3 here.
(12...f5?!
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY c) 12.Bf3? d5!!
9r+lwq-trk+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zpp+-+-vlp0 9r+l+-trk+0
9-+-zp-+p+0 9zpp+-+pvlp0
9+-+-zpp+-0 9-+-+-+p+0
9-+PsnP+-+0 9+N+pzp-+-0
9+-sN-vL-+-0 9-+PsnP+-wq0
9PzP-wQLzPPzP0 9+-+-vLL+-0
9tR-+-+RmK-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
xiiiiiiiiy 9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black shouldn’t rush ...f7-f5; the
following is just a blitz game I played
13.exd5 Nxf3+ 14.Qxf3 Qxc4³;
over the internet which gives an
illutration of the sort of counterplay d) 12.Nc7
Black can generate. 13.f3 (13.exf5 XIIIIIIIIY
Nxe2+ 14.Qxe2 gxf5 15.Rfd1 Qe7 9r+l+-trk+0
16.c5!±) 13...f4 14.Bf2 g5 15.Nb5?! 9zppsNp+pvlp0
Nxe2+ 16.Qxe2 a6 17.Nc3 g4 18.fxg4 9-+-+-+p+0
Qg5 19.h3 h5„)
9+-+-zp-+-0
11...Nxb5! 9-+PsnP+-wq0
Black is well advised to transpose into
the variations after 11.0-0 d6.
9+-+-vL-+-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0
11...Qh4? It is a pity this doesn’t work 9tR-+QmK-+R0
for Black (on account of 12.Nxd4!),
because many of the ensuing variations
xiiiiiiiiy
illustrate the elastic potential for Blacks
position to suddenly ‘come to life’. 12...Qxe4!! (12...Rb8!? 13.Bd3
12.Nxd4! (13.Qd3? f5 14.exf5 d5!!μ) 13...b6
(13...d6 14.0-0 f5 15.f3²) 14.0-0 Bb7
a) 12.Qd3 d5!! 13.cxd5 (13.exd5? Bf5μ) 15.Nd5 (15.f3 f5 16.exf5?! Nxf5
13...Nxe2 14.Kxe2 (14.Qxe2 Qxe4=) 17.Bxf5 gxf5 18.Qxd7 Qxc4 19.Ne6
14...f5 15.f3 fxe4 16.Qxe4 Qf6!„; Rf7 20.Qd6 Re8 21.Nd8 Bf8 22.Qd2
b) 12.Nd6 Qe7 13.Nxc8 Rfxc8 14.0-0 Bb4 23.Qd1 Rg7 24.Nxb7 Rxb7=)
Qb4 15.b3 a5 16.Rb1 a4 17.Bxd4 15...f5 16.Bxd4 Bxd5 17.cxd5 fxe4
(17.Bd3 axb3 18.Bxd4 exd4 19.Rxb3 18.g3 Qf6 19.Bxe4 exd4 20.Qd3
Qd6= See 17.Bxd4 for transposition.) White’s position is more pleasant, but
17...exd4 18.Bd3 axb3 19.Rxb3 Qd6 Black can shift around and ask White to
20.Qb1 Rcb8 21.f4 Qc7 22.e5 Ra5=; prove an advantage — most likely things
will zzle out into a draw.) 13.Bxd4
XIIIIIIIIY
(13.Nxa8 Qxg2 14.Rf1 d5! 15.cxd5 Bf5
9r+l+-trk+0
16.Bxd4 exd4 17.Nc7 Qh3© Black is a 9zpp+p+pvLp0
full rook down but his attack is 9-+-+-+p+0
overwhelming.; 13.Bf3 Nc2+ 14.Kd2 9+-+-+-+-0
Nxe3 15.Bxe4 Nxd1 16.Raxd1 Rb8=) 9-+P+-+-+0
13...exd4 14.f3 (14.Nxa8 Qxg2 15.Rf1 9+-+-+-+-0
Qxh2μ After Black eats up the a8
knight with ...Qh2-b8, he will be
9PzP-+LzPqzP0
materially and positionally winning.) 9tR-+QmK-+R0
14...Qe5 15.Nxa8 xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9N+l+-trk+0 (14...Kxg7 15.0-0±)
9zpp+p+pvlp0 15.Qd4!! Engines have difficulty seeing
9-+-+-+p+0 this brilliant motive several moves in
9+-+-wq-+-0 advance, but humans, especially after
Anderssen-Kieseritzky 1851 (better known
9-+Pzp-+-+0 as “e Immortal Game”), know to look
9+-+-+P+-0 for such ideas. 15...Qxh1+ 16.Kd2 Qxa1
9PzP-+L+PzP0 17.Qf6! 1–0 (17) Gaprindashvili,N-
9tR-+QmK-+R0 Servaty,R Dortmund 1974.
xiiiiiiiiy 12.cxb5 d6 13.0-0 Be6=
We have transposed to 11.0-0 d6
15...Bh6!! (15...d5 16.0-0 (16.cxd5 Bf5 12.Nb5, which we have already seen is
17.0-0 d3 18.Bxd3 Qd4+ 19.Rf2 ne for Black.
Bxd3©) 16...Bf5 17.Kh1! Rxa8 18.f4²)
16.0-0 (16.Kf1 Be3©) 16...Bf4 17.g3
Bxg3 18.hxg3 Qxg3+ 19.Kh1 Qh3+
20.Kg1=;
12...exd4 13.Bxd4 Qxe4 14.Bxg7 Qxg2
XIIIIIIIIY
 4

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7

XIIIIIIIIY
5.c4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 Ng4 8.Qxg4 9r+l+-trk+0
Nxd4 9.Qd1 e5 10.Nb5 9zpp+p+pvlp0
In the 1960s and 1970s, thanks to some 9-+-+-+p+0
masterpieces by World Champions 9+N+-zp-+-0
Smyslov and Tal, this move was thought to 9-+PsnP+-wq0
be a near refutation of Black’s setup. Over
the years, preference of top players has
9+-+-vL-+-0
vacillated between 10.Nb5 and 10.Bd3, 9PzP-wQ-zPPzP0
their popularities remaining about equal 9tR-+-mKL+R0
to this day. xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0 11...Re8 12.Nd6 Re6 13.c5²;
9zpp+p+pvlp0 11...d6 12.Nxd4 exd4 13.Bxd4 Qh4
9-+-+-+p+0 14.Bxg7 Qxe4+ 15.Be2 Kxg7 16.0-0±;
9+N+-zp-+-0 11...d5 12.cxd5 Qh4 13.Nc3 Bg4
9-+PsnP+-+0 14.Bg5±;
9+-+-vL-+-0 11...Nxb5 12.cxb5 d6
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 (12...Qh4 13.Bd3 Qg4 14.0-0 b6
9tR-+QmKL+R0 15.Bc4 Bb7 16.f3+–)
xiiiiiiiiy 13.Bc4²
10...0-0?! 12.Nc3!N
is is what everyone plays, but the It may appear odd to retreat this knight
positions Black tends to get are not to where it was just a couple of moves ago.
inspiring, and White is scoring quite well White’s idea is to castle queenside and
(over 60%) after this move in the pawn storm Black’s king — punishment
database. is is why I recommend instead for castling too early, at least compared to
the powerful novelty 10...d6! in the next the line I recommend in the next chapter.
subchapter. Black’s queen is misplaced on h4, and if it
11.Qd2 Qh4! retreats to d8 then White and Black’s lost
De nitely Black’s best try, but due to tempi ‘cancel out’.
the novelty I recommend for White next 12.Bd3 d5!!
move, Black is left struggling to equalize.
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 12...d6
9r+l+-trk+0 12...Qd8 13.h4 h5 14.Ne2 Nc6 15.g4
9zpp+-+pvlp0 hxg4 16.h5‚
9-+-+-+p+0 13.0-0-0 Be6
9+N+pzp-+-0 13...Qd8 14.h4 h5 15.Ne2 Nc6
9-+PsnP+-wq0 16.Qxd6 Qa5 17.Nc3 Nd4 18.Qa3 Qxa3
9+-+LvL-+-0 19.bxa3²
9PzP-wQ-zPPzP0 14.Bg5 Qh5 15.Kb1 f5 16.f3 Rfe8
9tR-+-mK-+R0 17.Be3²
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+r+k+0
13.exd5 9zpp+-+-vlp0
(13.cxd5 Nxb5 14.Bxb5 Qxe4 15.0-0 9-+-zpl+p+0
Rd8 16.Rfd1 Bd7=) 9+-+-zpp+q0
13...Bh3!! 14.Bxd4 exd4 15.gxh3 9-+PsnP+-+0
(15.0-0 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Qg4+ 17.Kh1
9+-sN-vLP+-0
Qf3+ 18.Kg1=) 9PzP-wQ-+PzP0
9+K+R+L+R0
15...a6 16.Nd6
xiiiiiiiiy
(16.Na3 Bh6 17.Qc2 Qxh3©)
Black’s queen is miserable on h5.
16...Qe7+ 17.Ne4 f5 18.0-0-0 fxe4
19.Rhe1 b5 20.Rxe4 Qc7©
 5
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7
5.c4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 Ng4 8.Qxg4
Nxd4 9.Qd1 e5 10.Nb5
It is remarkable that in the sixty year
history of this position, which has been
defended by such champions as Kasparov
and Korchnoi, not a single game is in the
database after 10...d6!. e following is
arguably the most powerful novelty in this
book; I believe that the ensuing variations
demonstrate the superiority of 10.Bd3
over 10.Nb5.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9zpp+p+pvlp0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+N+-zp-+-0
9-+PsnP+-+0
9+-+-vL-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...d6!N
I refer to this as a novelty, even though
(as we will see) I have played this move
twice (and won both times!) in
tournament play — in unpublished games
against WGM Nemcova (2350) and IM
Gorovets (2550). Black saves a crucial
tempo by delaying ...0-0 which allows him
to generate central counterplay one move
sooner. is does not violate the laws of
opening play; after all, White is not
castled either. It is actually quite in line
with the advice given by American legend
GM William Lombardy in his recent
book: “Not only should one not rush to
castle, but should delay that passive
maneuver for as long as good judgment
relates that there are more urgent, if only
slightly better, tasks to accomplish”.
11.Nxd4
is is of course the rst line to check:
presumably 10...d6 was never played
because it was thought to lose a pawn in
this way.
11.Be2!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-+p+0
9+N+-zp-+-0
9-+PsnP+-+0
9+-+-vL-+-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Qa5+!
(11...Nxb5?! is transposes to an
inferior version of our main line.
12.cxb5 Be6 13.0-0 0-0 (13...d5
14.exd5 Qxd5 15.Qxd5 Bxd5 16.Rfd1
Be6 17.Bf3+–) 14.Qd2 d5 15.exd5
Qxd5 16.Qxd5 Bxd5 is is a position
from our main line except there Black
plays ...e5-e4 instead of ...0-0. 17.Rfd1
XIIIIIIIIY
Be6 18.Bf3²)
9r+l+k+-tr0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
12.Bd2
9-wq-zp-+p+0
(12.Qd2 9+N+-zp-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+PsnP+-+0
9r+l+k+-tr0 9+-+-+-+-0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-+p+0 9PzP-vLLzPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
9wqN+-zp-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+PsnP+-+0
9+-+-vL-+-0 13.Nxd4
9PzP-wQLzPPzP0 (13.0-0 0-0 14.Nxd4 exd4 15.Qb3 Be6
9tR-+-mK-+R0 16.Bd3 Qc7 transposes to 13.Nxd4.;
xiiiiiiiiy 13.Be3 a6 14.Nxd4 exd4 15.Bc1 f5„)
13...exd4 14.Qb3 0-0 15.Bd3 Be6
12...Qxd2+ (12...Nc2+ 13.Kd1 Nxe3+ 16.0-0 Qc7 17.Qa3
14.fxe3 Qxd2+ 15.Kxd2 0-0 16.Rhd1 XIIIIIIIIY
Bh6! 17.Nxd6 Rd8 18.c5 b6 19.b4 Be6 9r+-+-trk+0
20.a3 a5„) 13.Kxd2 (13.Bxd2 Nxb5 9zppwq-+pvlp0
14.cxb5 Be6 15.0-0 f5 16.Bb4 0-0-0
17.Rfd1 d5=) 13...Nxb5 14.cxb5 Be6
9-+-zpl+p+0
15.Bf3 (15.Rhc1 d5 16.exd5 Bxd5 9+-+-+-+-0
17.b6 axb6 18.Bb5+ Ke7 19.Rc7+ Ke6 9-+PzpP+-+0
20.Ke2 e4μ is was a game I played 9wQ-+L+-+-0
online.) 15...0-0 16.Rhc1 a6 17.bxa6 9PzP-vL-zPPzP0
(17.b6? f5! 18.exf5 gxf5 19.Bxb7 Rab8 9tR-+-+RmK-0
20.Bxa6 f4μ) 17...Rxa6 18.Rc7 Rb8= xiiiiiiiiy
White’s occupation of the 7th rank is
short-lived; Black will continue ...Bg7- 17...f5 18.exf5 Bxf5 19.Bxf5 Rxf5=
f6-d8 with equality.) Black will eventually undouble his pawns
12...Qb6 with ...d6-d5.
11...exd4 12.Bxd4
12.Bd2 White cannot expect an
advantage playing like this; Black has
many ways to equalize. 12...Qh4
(12...0-0!? 13.Bd3 f5 14.0-0 Be6
15.Qe2 Qc7 16.b3 Rae8 17.Rae1 Bd7=)
XIIIIIIIIY
13.Bd3 Be5
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-+-trk+0
9r+l+k+-tr0 9zpp+l+p+p0
9zpp+-+p+p0 9-+-zpq+p+0
9-+-zp-+p+0 9+-+-vl-+-0
9+-+-vl-+-0 9-+PzpP+-+0
9-+PzpP+-wq0 9+Q+-+-zP-0
9+-+L+-+-0 9PzP-vL-zPLzP0
9PzP-vL-zPPzP0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy 18...b5!„;
14.g3 12.Bf4?! f5! 13.exf5 0-0³
(14.h3 0-0 15.Qc1 f6 (…...g5) 16.0-0 12...Qa5+ 13.Ke2 Be5!
(16.g3 Bxg3 17.fxg3 Qxg3+ 18.Ke2
XIIIIIIIIY
Qg2+–+; 16.c5 Be6„) 16...Bxh3 17.f4 9r+l+k+-tr0
(17.gxh3 Qxh3–+) 17...Qg3 18.Rf2 9zpp+-+p+p0
Bxg2! 19.Rxg2 Qxd3 20.fxe5 dxe5 9-+-zp-+p+0
21.Bh6 Rf7 22.Qc2 Qxc2 23.Rxc2 f5„ 9wq-+-vl-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+PvLP+-+0
9r+-+-+k+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9zpp+-+r+p0 9PzP-+KzPPzP0
9-+-+-+pvL0 9tR-+Q+L+R0
9+-+-zpp+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+PzpP+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 Our compensation becomes of a long-
term nature with this move. White cannot
9PzPR+-+-+0 exchange bishops without returning his
9tR-+-+-mK-0 extra pawn, so he has to look for ways to
xiiiiiiiiy disentangle his pieces — starting with his
king on e2. I suspect most players will not
is will most likely be drawn but I’d play the most critical lines for White here
rather be Black than White.) (it can’t be easy to if you have never seen
this position before), so Black may
14...Qh3 15.Bf1 Qe6 16.Qb3
pragmatically opt to just remember
(16.f4 Bg7 17.Bd3 Qh3=) 13...Be5! and gure things out over the
16...0-0 17.Bg2 Bd7 18.0-0 board from here.
14.f3
XIIIIIIIIY
 According to my research this is clearly
XIIIIIIIIY
White’s best try for an advantage. 9r+l+k+-tr0
14.Bxe5 Qxe5
9zpp+-+-+p0
9-+-zp-+p+0
(14...dxe5!?©) 9wq-+-vl-+-0
15.Qd2 Qxe4+ 16.Qe3 Qe7=; 9-+PvLQ+-+0
14.g3 Be6 15.Kf3 9+-+-+P+-0
(15.b3 0-0 16.Bg2 b5!„) 9PzP-+K+PzP0
9tR-+-+L+R0
15...f5 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.Kg2 Be4+
18.f3 Bc6 19.Be2 0-0©
xiiiiiiiiy
14...f5! 16...Be6!
XIIIIIIIIY 16...Bf5?! It’s too bad this doesn’t quite
9r+l+k+-tr0 work because of 17.Qe3; the variations
9zpp+-+-+p0 after 17.Qxb7 are quite pretty. 17.Qe3!
9-+-zp-+p+0 (17.Qxb7 Bxd4! 18.Qxa8+ Ke7
9wq-+-vlp+-0 19.Qd5 Qb6 20.Rd1 (20.Qb5 Qc7
9-+PvLP+-+0 21.Qd5 Qb6©) 20...Bc5©)
9+-+-+P+-0 17...0-0-0
9PzP-+K+PzP0 (17...0-0 18.Kf2 Rae8 19.Bxe5 Rxe5
9tR-+Q+L+R0 20.Qd4²)
xiiiiiiiiy
18.Qc3!
14...Be6 15.Kf2 0-0 16.Be2 f5 17.b4 XIIIIIIIIY
Qc7 18.Bxe5 dxe5 19.exf5 Rxf5 20.c5 9-+ktr-+-tr0
Rd8 21.Qc2 Rf4 22.Qc3 e4 23.Qe3²; 9zpp+-+-+p0
14...0-0 15.Kf2 Be6 16.Be2 f5 17.exf5 9-+-zp-+p+0
Rxf5 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.Qd2 Qc5+ 9wq-+-vll+-0
20.Qe3 Bxc4 21.Bxc4+ Qxc4= 9-+PvL-+-+0
15.Qd3! 9+-wQ-+P+-0
15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Kf2 0-0-0 9PzP-+K+PzP0
(16...0-0!?) 9tR-+-+L+R0
17.Rc1
xiiiiiiiiy
(17.Be2? Bc2!³) is Qc3 move would not be available
to White were his pawn on b3, as it is in
17...Rhe8 18.Be2 Kb8 19.Rc3 d5„
the (main) variation 16...Be6 b3 17.Bf5.
15...fxe4 16.Qxe4
XIIIIIIIIY
 (18.Kf2 Rhe8 19.Qc3! Qxc3 20.bxc3
XIIIIIIIIY
(20.Bxc3 Bxc3 21.bxc3 Re5=) 20...Re7 9-+-+rtrk+0
21.Rd1 Kc7 22.Rd2 Rde8 23.g3 h5 9zpp+-+-+p0
24.Be2²) 9-+-+l+p+0
18...Qxc3 19.bxc3 Kb8 20.Kf2 Rc8 9+-+-zp-+-0
21.h4² 9-+P+-+-+0
17.Qe3
9wqP+-wQP+-0
17.Rd1 Bxc4+ 18.Kf2 Bf7 19.Bxe5 9P+-+-mKPzP0
dxe5 20.Qxb7 0-0 21.Qb5 Qxa2 22.Qxe5 9tR-+-+L+R0
Rfe8 23.Qf6 Rab8 24.Rd2 Qa5=; xiiiiiiiiy
17.b3 Bf5! Unlike in the 16...Bf5 lines, 22.Be2
White will not have Qe3-c3 now. 18.Qe3
(22.Qxe5? Bf7 23.Qc3 Qc5+ 24.Kg3
(18.Qxb7?? Bxd4 19.Qxa8+ Ke7 Re3 25.Qb2 Rd8 26.Be2 Qg5+ 27.Kf2
20.Qb7+ Kf6–+) Rxe2+–+)
18...0-0-0 22...e4!
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+ktr-+-tr0 9-+-+rtrk+0
9zpp+-+-+p0 9zpp+-+-+p0
9-+-zp-+p+0 9-+-+l+p+0
9wq-+-vll+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PvL-+-+0 9-+P+p+-+0
9+P+-wQP+-0 9wqP+-wQP+-0
9P+-+K+PzP0 9P+-+LmKPzP0
9tR-+-+L+R0 9tR-+-+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
19.Kf2 Rhe8 20.Bxe5 Rxe5 21.Qd4 23.Rhe1
Rde8©;
(23.Qxe4 Qc5+ 24.Kf1 Bh3 25.Qd3
17.Bc3 Qc5 18.Bxe5 dxe5 19.b3 0-0 Qe5 26.Qd5+ (26.Re1 Rd8 27.Qc2
20.Qe3 Qa3! 21.Kf2 Rae8 Qe3 28.gxh3 Rd2–+) 26...Qxd5
27.cxd5 Bxg2+ 28.Kxg2 Rxe2+ 29.Kg3
Re3 30.Rhf1 Rd3 31.Rad1 Rfxf3+
32.Rxf3 Rxd1=)
23...exf3 24.Bxf3 Bxc4 25.Qxe8 Rxe8
26.Rxe8+ Kg7 27.Ree1 Bf7

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9zpp+-+lmkp0 9zpp+-+-+p0
9-+-+-+p+0 9-+-+-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9wq-+-zp-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9wqP+-+L+-0 9+-+-wQP+-0
9P+-+-mKPzP0 9PzP-+-mKPzP0
9tR-+-tR-+-0 9tR-+R+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
is position may not look equal; e simpli ed nature of the position
White does after all have a slight material should not induce a comatose attitude.
advantage, but his rooks will be From Shereshevsky’s marveous book
permanently tied down to the defense of “Endgame Strategy” we are shown the
the queenside pawns and therefore never plight of the passive defender; Black must
able to get activated. e position is just a be vigilant to avoid ending up on the
draw. 28.Kg1 wrong end of a masterpiece.
(28.Bxb7 Qc5+ 29.Re3 Qc7 30.Bf3 21...Rac8!
Qxh2=) In such endgames it is usually easiest to
get a draw by defending actively — Black
28...b5 29.Kh1 Qb2 30.Bc6 b4 31.Rf1
threatens to invade the 2nd rank, allowing
a5 32.Rae1 Bg8 33.Re7+ Kh6 34.Re8 White to invade the 7th.
Kg7=;
21...Rad8 22.a3 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Qa4
17.Bxe5 dxe5 18.Kf2 0-0-0 19.Qe3 24.Rc1 Qh4+ 25.Kg1 Qf4 26.Qc3 Rd8
Rd2+ 20.Be2 Rhd8 21.Rad1 Qb6 27.g3²;
22.Qxb6 axb6=
21...Rae8 22.Qb3+
17...Bxc4+ 18.Kf2 Bxf1 19.Rhxf1
19.Bc3 Qb6 20.Qxb6 axb6 21.Bxe5 (22.Kg1 Rf7 23.a3 Re6 24.Kh1 Qb6
dxe5 22.Rhxf1 Kf7 23.Rfe1 Ke6 24.a3 25.Qe2 Rfe7=)
Rhc8 25.Re2 Ra5 26.Rae1 Rc4= 22...Kh8 23.Qxb7
19...0-0 20.Bxe5 dxe5 (23.Rd5 Qc7 24.Qe3 e4 25.Qd4+ Qg7
20...Qxe5 21.Qxe5 dxe5 22.Rfe1 Rae8 (25...Kg8 26.Rd7 Qe5 27.Qxe5 Rxe5
23.Re2² 28.Rxb7²) 26.Qxg7+ Kxg7 27.Rd7+
21.Rfd1 Rf7 28.Rxf7+ Kxf7 29.f4 Ke6 30.Rd1
Rc8 31.Ke3 h5 (31...Rc2 32.Rd2 Rxd2
33.Kxd2±) 32.Rd2 Kf5 33.h3 Rc1

XIIIIIIIIY
 34.Rd5+ Ke6 35.Re5+ Kf6 36.Rb5 b6
XIIIIIIIIY
37.Kxe4²)
9-+-+-+k+0
9zpp+-+r+p0
23...Qc5+ 24.Kf1 e4 25.Rd7 Qh5
26.Qxa7 exf3 27.Qd4+ Re5 28.Re1 fxg2+
9-+-+-+p+0
29.Kg1 Rf1+ 30.Rxf1 gxf1=Q+ 31.Kxf1 9+q+-zp-+-0
Qxh2 32.Re7 Qh1+ 33.Kf2 Qh2+ 9-+-+-+-+0
34.Kf1= 9+-+-wQPmK-0
22.Rd7 Rf7 23.Rad1 9PzP-tR-+PzP0
23.Qb3 Qb6+ 24.Qxb6 axb6 25.Rxf7 9+-+-+-+-0
Kxf7 26.Re1 Ke6 27.Re2 Rc4= xiiiiiiiiy
23...Rc2+ 24.Kg3 26...e4!! 27.Rd8+
24.R7d2 Rxd2+ 25.Rxd2 e4!= 27.f4 Qa5 28.a3 Re7=
24...Qb5 25.R1d2 Rxd2 26.Rxd2 27...Rf8 28.Rxf8+ Kxf8 29.Qxe4 Qxb2=
XIIIIIIIIY
 6

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 12...0-0?! 13.Bc4²

5.c4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 Ng4 8.Qxg4
13.Be2 d5
Nxd4 9.Qd1 e5 10.Nb5 d6!N 11.Qd2 XIIIIIIIIY
I dub this the main line because it was 9r+-wqk+-tr0
played in the only two tournament games 9zpp+-+pvlp0
of mine in this variation.
9-+-+l+p+0
11...Nxb5 12.cxb5 Be6! 9+P+pzp-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0 9-+-+P+-+0
9zpp+-+pvlp0 9+-+-vL-+-0
9-+-zpl+p+0 9PzP-wQLzPPzP0
9+P+-zp-+-0 9tR-+-mK-+R0
9-+-+P+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-vL-+-0 14.exd5 Qxd5 15.Qxd5 Bxd5 16.0-0 e4!
9PzP-wQ-zPPzP0 17.Rfd1 Be6
9tR-+-mKL+R0 White must already, as Carlsen often
xiiiiiiiiy says, “pull the emergency brake” so as to
not end up worse.
We continue to delay castling — XIIIIIIIIY
Lombardy would be proud. e 9r+-+k+-tr0
importance of the saved tempo is already 9zpp+-+pvlp0
felt: if 12...0-0 then we transpose into the
10...0-0 line and White is allowed
9-+-+l+p+0
13.Bc4+=. It amazes me how good Black’s 9+P+-+-+-0
position is here: it is already ‘zeroes’ 9-+-+p+-+0
according to the computer, and if White 9+-+-vL-+-0
makes the slightest inaccuracy (as both my 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
strong opponents did) then Black is
already better. Once again, this opening
9tR-+R+-mK-0
forces us to look past our intuitive, visceral xiiiiiiiiy
response to each position, which might 18.Bd4
mislead us into thinking White is better is was Nemcova’s choice.
here due to Black’s backward d-pawn and
apparent lack of counterplay. 18.Rd2 Gorovets went with this one.
18...0-0 19.a4 a6
 (19...f5 20.g3 (20.Bf4 Rfd8³) 20...Be5 is was as far as I had prepared
21.Rc1 Rfd8 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.a5 b6 (though it was still time consuming for me
24.b4²) to remember my preparation over the
board!).
20.bxa6 bxa6 21.a5 Rfb8!
XIIIIIIIIY 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.f3?!
9rtr-+-+k+0 20.Rd4 f5 21.Bc4 Bxc4 22.Rxc4=
9+-+-+pvlp0 20...Rfc8! 21.b3 Rc2 22.Re1?!
9p+-+l+p+0 22.Kf1 Bf5³
9zP-+-+-+-0 22...Rd8!
9-+-+p+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-vL-+-0 9-+-tr-+-+0
9-zP-tRLzPPzP0 9zpp+-+pmkp0
9tR-+-+-mK-0 9-+-+l+p+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+P+-+-+-0
9-+-+p+-+0
is nuance was preparation; I doubt I 9+P+-+P+-0
would have come up with the subtlety of 9P+r+L+PzP0
luring White’s bishop to b6 over the
board. 22.Bb6 Rc8! Black threatens
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
...Bg7-h6. 23.Rad1 Bf6 Preventing White xiiiiiiiiy
from trading rooks with Rd8+, and 23.Bd1
preparing ...Be6-c4. 23.fxe4 Rdd2 24.Kf1 Bg4 25.Bxg4
(23...Bh6? 24.Rd8+ Rxd8 25.Rxd8+ Rf2+ 26.Kg1 Rxg2+ 27.Kh1 Rxh2+
Rxd8 26.Bxd8±) 28.Kg1 Rcg2+ 29.Kf1 Rxg4–+
24.b4?! Bb3! 25.Rb1 23...Rb2 24.Kf1?!
24.fxe4 Rdd2 25.Bf3 Rxa2μ
(25.Bg4 Rc3 26.Rb1 Bg5„)
24...Rdd2 25.Re2 e3!
25...Bc3 White’s last chance to achieve
equality. 26.Rxb3?
(26.Rd7 Bc2 27.Rf1 Bxb4 28.f3 exf3
29.Bxf3 Bf5 30.Rd4 Bc3 31.Bxa8
Bxd4+ 32.Bxd4 Rxa8 33.Bf6=)
26...Bxd2 27.g4 Bg5! 28.b5 axb5
29.Bxb5 Bd8 30.Bd7 Rcb8 31.Bc6 Ra6–+
0–1 (39) Gorovets,A-Panjwani ,R
Greensboro 2016.
18...0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 26.Rxd2 Rxd2 27.Be2 Kf6! 28.a4 Bxb3
9-+-+-+-+0 29.Ra3 Rb2 30.g3 Rb1+ 31.Kg2 Ke5!
9zpp+-+pmkp0 32.a5 Kd4
9-+-+l+p+0 0–1 Nemcova-Panjwani, Chicago 2014.
9+P+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+P+-zpP+-0
9Ptr-trR+PzP0
9tR-+L+K+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
 7

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7

XIIIIIIIIY
5.c4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 Ng4 8.Qxg4 9r+lwq-trk+0
Nxd4 9.Qd1 e5 10.Bd3 9zpp+-+pvlp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-zp-+p+0
9r+lwqk+-tr0 9+-+-zp-+-0
9zpp+p+pvlp0 9-+PsnP+-+0
9-+-+-+p+0 9+-sNLvL-+-0
9+-+-zp-+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9-+PsnP+-+0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9+-sNLvL-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 12.Qd2
xiiiiiiiiy 12.Nb5?! Played by Almasi, Korneev,
and Izoria. With this move, however,
In my opinion this is White’s best move, White no longer has an opening
but authors like Khalifman recommend advantage. 12...Nxb5 13.cxb5 d5 14.exd5
10.Nb5 because they claim that “White Qxd5 15.f3 Be6 16.Qe2 Qd7 17.Rfd1
should straighten out the situation with Qe7=;
the black knight on d4 at once. Should it
12.Kh1?! Not a bad move in and of
be left unmolested now, it will be much
itself, but it only makes sense in
harder to contend with it later.”
combination with f2-f4 (when the king is
10...d6 11.0-0 0-0 better placed off the g1–a7 diagonal)
White has many possibilities here, but which yields White nothing here. 12...Be6
Black’s play is fairly straightforward 13.Qd2 Qd7
regardless. He will either play on the
queenside with ...a7-a6 and ...b7-b5 or on (13...f5?! Too soon. 14.exf5 Nxf5
the kingside with ...f7-f5 (and often he 15.Bxf5 gxf5 16.Bg5 Bf6 17.Bxf6 Qxf6
combines play on both sides). However, he 18.b3 Rad8 19.Rad1 a6 20.f4²)
should not rush with either of these plans, 14.f4 exf4 15.Bxf4
because that would give White something
to respond to, while at present the onus is
on White to reveal how he plans to
improve his position.

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY (15.f3 f4 16.Bf2 g5 17.Nc3 h5 18.Rfd1
9r+-+-trk+0 Rf7„)
9zpp+q+pvlp0
15...Qe8 16.exf5 gxf5 17.Bc2
9-+-zpl+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0 (17.f3 Qh5 18.Be3 f4 19.Bf2 Rf6
20.Kh1 Kh8 21.Bg1 Rg8„; 17.Nc3 f4
9-+PsnPvL-+0
18.Be4 Qh5 19.Qxd6 Rfe8 20.Bd5
9+-sNL+-+-0 Bxd5 21.Qxd5+ Kh8 22.Ne4 Rf8
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0 23.Qd7 Rf7 24.Qh3 Qxh3 25.gxh3
9tR-+-+R+K0 Nd4³)
xiiiiiiiiy 17...f4!
15...Nc6! is is the typical way to meet
XIIIIIIIIY
White’s f2-f4. 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 9r+-+qtrk+0
Ne5=; 9zpp+-+-vlp0
12.f4?! exf4 13.Bxf4 Ne6 9-+nzpl+-+0
9+-+-zp-vL-0
(13...Nc6!?=)
9-+P+-zp-+0
14.Be3 Be5 15.Qd2 Nc5 16.Bc2 Be6 9+P+-+-+-0
17.b3 Qa5 18.Bd4 Rac8„;
9P+LwQNzPPzP0
12.Ne2 GM Shankland played this 9tR-+-+RmK-0
against me in 2014. Our game xiiiiiiiiy
continued... 12...Nc6 13.Qd2 Be6 14.b3
f5! 18.Qxd6
XIIIIIIIIY
(18.Rae1 Qh5 19.h4 (19.Qxd6 Bf7μ)
9r+-wq-trk+0 19...Qf7 20.Qxd6 Bf5 21.Bxf5 Qxf5³)
9zpp+-+-vlp0
18...Bf5 19.Bxf5 Rxf5 20.Qd5+ Kh8
9-+nzpl+p+0 21.Bxf4
9+-+-zpp+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+P+LvL-+-0
9P+-wQNzPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
With White’s knight misplaced on e2 I
felt I could play ...f7-f5 earlier than usual.
15.Bg5?!

XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+q+-mk0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+-vlp0 9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+n+-+-+0 9-+-zp-+p+0
9+-+Qzpr+-0 9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+P+-vL-+0 9-+PsnP+-+0
9+P+-+-+-0 9+-sNLvL-+-0
9P+-+NzPPzP0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0 9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
I was not accurate here. I should have Witness the battle between two former
continued with 21...Rd8! World Chess Champions (though Smyslov
got his title the year after this game was
(21...Ne7 is was my choice, but
played). Botvinnik masterfully outplayed
White is close to equal here thanks to a
Smyslov but let him get away with a draw
surprise resource that I missed. 22.Qxb7
in the end.
exf4 23.Rae1 Rb8 24.Qxa7 Ra8 25.Qb7
Rb8 26.Qa7 Instead of repeating here 12...Be6 13.b3 a6 14.Bb1 Rb8 15.Kh1
and accepting a draw I made a terrible b5
hallucination. 26...Re5?? 27.Nxf4 My XIIIIIIIIY
board vision failed me as I had missed 9-tr-wq-trk+0
White’s last move in this variation. 9+-+-+pvlp0
27...Rxe1 28.Rxe1 Nc6 29.Rxe8+ Rxe8 9p+-zpl+p+0
30.Qe3™+–) 9+p+-zp-+-0
22.Qe4 exf4 23.Qxf5 Bxa1 24.Rxa1 9-+PsnP+-+0
Qxe2 25.Qf6+ Kg8 26.Qg5+ Kf7 9+PsN-vL-+-0
27.Qxf4+ Ke8μ; 9P+-+-zPPzP0
12.a4 Be6 13.a5 f5 White has 9+LtRQ+R+K0
effectively wasted two tempi with a4-a5 so xiiiiiiiiy
Black can play ...f7-f5 earlier than usual.
14.exf5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.Qd3 b4 18.Nd5 Bxd5
(14.Bxd4 exd4 15.Nd5 f4 16.Be2 Bxd5 19.exd5 Qa5 20.Qc4 Rb5 21.Bd2 Rfb8
17.cxd5 h5„) 22.Qc8+ Bf8 23.Qd7 R5b7 24.Qg4 f5
25.Qh3 Qxd5μ 1/2–1/2 (46) Smyslov,V-
14...Nxf5 15.Bxf5 gxf5„; Botvinnik,M Moscow 1956.
12.Rc1 12...Be6

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+-zpl+p+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+PsnP+-+0
9+-sNLvL-+-0
9PzP-wQ-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
It is worth dissecting this position a
little, because it is one where general
understanding of themes is more
important than concrete knowledge of
moves. Black’s counterplay will take root
in either (or both) ...f7-f5 or ...b7-b5, but
suppose for a moment that Black ‘does
nothing’ — what will White do? ere are
basically two plans at White’s disposal that
Black must constantly be prepared to
meet: White will either aim for Nc3-e2 or
go for f2-f4. Black generally has three ways
of meeting Nc3-e2: capture on e2, ignore
it and play ...b7-b5, or retreat ...Nd4-c6.
Which of these Black plays will depend on
the concrete timing of White’s Nc3-e2;
sometimes all three options are viable for
Black. In response to f2-f4, Black will
either (and not both this time) play ...f7-
f5, or he will capture on f4 and re-route
his knight from d4 to e5 via c6. Of course,
Black should not ‘do nothing’; he should
remain exible so as to be able to play
either ...f7-f5 or ...b7-b5 depending on
what White does. Black’s a8 rook will
either be placed on c8 or b8. Black’s
Queen usually goes to d7, but as we will
see it can also nd a home on e7,c7, or a5.
An important disclaimer is in order before
we continue: computers favor White by
approximately +0.4 in most lines.
However, when one presses the computer
to formulate a plan, it is totally at a loss:
while maintaining its += evaluation, it
recommends shifting White’s pieces back
and forth aimlessly. So, my point is, do
not be discouraged by the engine’s
prejudice — it has similar biases against
the King’s Indian and other respectable
openings as well.
13.Rad1
13.Rac1 a6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+p+-+pvlp0
9p+-zpl+p+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+PsnP+-+0
9+-sNLvL-+-0
9PzP-wQ-zPPzP0
9+-tR-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
14.b3
a) 14.Rfd1 e following is just one way
for Black to handle this position; he can
alternatively play 14...Rc8 or 14...Qd7.
14...Rb8 15.f3 (15.b3 Qd7 16.f3 b5
17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.cxd5 Rfc8 19.Qa5
Qb7=) 15...b5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.Nd5
Bxd5 18.exd5 b4 19.Rc4 Qa5 20.Bxd4
exd4 21.a3 Qxd5=;
b) 14.f4 exf4 (14...f5?!
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 18.c5 (18.Bf4 a5! (18...Bxc4?? 19.Bxc4
9r+-wq-trk+0 Nf3+ 20.Rxf3 Rxd2 21.Bxd2+–) 19.b5
9+p+-+-vlp0 Bxc4 20.Bxc4 Nf3+ 21.Rxf3 Rxd2
9p+-zpl+p+0 22.Bxd2 Qc5+–+) 18...Rxd6! 19.cxd6
9+-+-zpp+-0 Be5 20.h3 Bxd6©;
9-+PsnPzP-+0 14...Rc8!
9+-sNLvL-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0 9-+rwq-trk+0
9+-tR-+RmK-0 9+p+-+pvlp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9p+-zpl+p+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
Even though this is suboptimal here, it 9-+PsnP+-+0
is worth seeing the variations which arise 9+PsNLvL-+-0
from it to get a feel for the ‘other’ way of
meeting White’s f2-f4. 15.fxe5?! 9P+-wQ-zPPzP0
(15.Nd5! b5 16.Bxd4 exd4 17.exf5 9+-tR-+RmK-0
Bxf5 18.cxb5 axb5 19.a3²) 15...dxe5 xiiiiiiiiy
16.Nd5 White’s knight is vulnerable on
d5, which it would not have been had Black intends to meet White’s Nc3-e2
by taking on e2 and defending the d6
White played 15.Nd5 without
exchanging on e5. 16...b5 (16...fxe4!? weakness with ...Rc8-c6.
17.Bxe4 Qh4„) 17.exf5 (17.cxb5 fxe4– a) 14...f5?! Black should not commit to
+) 17...bxc4 18.fxe6 cxd3 19.Rxf8+ this so early; it just enables White to
Bxf8 20.Qf2 Nxe6³) 15.Bxf4 Qa5! clarify his intentions. 15.exf5 gxf5
(15...Nc6!?= is is perfectly playable as (15...Nxf5 16.Bxf5 Bxf5 (16...gxf5
well.) 16.Bxd6 Rfd8 17.b4 Qh5 17.Bg5 Qd7 18.Rfd1±) 17.Qd5+ Rf7
XIIIIIIIIY 18.f3±) 16.Bxd4 exd4 17.Ne2 d5
9r+-tr-+k+0 18.c5±;
9+p+-+pvlp0 b) 14...Rb8!? 15.Ne2 (15.Bxd4 exd4
9p+-vLl+p+0 16.Ne2 b5! 17.cxb5 axb5 18.Qb4 Qb6
9+-+-+-+q0 19.Rc2 Rfd8 20.Nf4
9-zPPsnP+-+0
9+-sNL+-+-0
9P+-wQ-+PzP0
9+-tR-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 20.Nd5²) 17.Bb1 (17.Bb6 Bf6 18.Qb2
9-tr-tr-+k+0 Bg5 19.Rb1 f5 20.Nc3 Qg7„)
9+-+-+pvlp0 17...Rbd8 18.f3 f5 19.exf5 gxf5 20.Nc3
9-wq-zpl+p+0 Qf7 21.Nd5² Anything can happen,
9+p+-+-+-0 but objectively I’d say White has better
9-wQ-zpPsN-+0 chances.;
9+P+L+-+-0 15.f3
9P+R+-zPPzP0 (15.Ne2 Nxe2+ (15...Nc6!? 16.Rfd1
9+-+-+RmK-0 Qe7 17.Bb1 Rfd8 18.Bb6 Rd7 19.Nc3
xiiiiiiiiy Qf8 20.Be3 Nd4„) 16.Bxe2 Rc6!
XIIIIIIIIY
20...d5! 21.exd5 Bxd5 22.Nxd5 Rxd5= 9-+-wq-trk+0
1/2–1/2 (39) Foisor,S (2258)- 9+p+-+pvlp0
Melekhina,A (2205) St. Louis USA 9p+rzpl+p+0
2016) 15...Nc6! (15...b5?! 16.cxb5 9+-+-zp-+-0
(16.Nxd4 exd4 17.Bh6 Bxh6 18.Qxh6
Qa5 1/2–1/2 (18) Korneev,O (2615)-
9-+P+P+-+0
Georgiev,V (2519) Elgoibar 1999 9+P+-vL-+-0
19.cxb5 axb5 20.Bb1±) 16...axb5 9P+-wQLzPPzP0
17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Bh6 Bxh6 19.Qxh6 9+-tR-+RmK-0
Qa5 20.Bb1 d5 21.e5±) 16.Rfd1 xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wq-trk+0 An excellent square for the rook: Black
9+p+-+pvlp0 hinders White’s b3-b4 due to the c4
9p+nzpl+p+0 weakness, and defends d6 while
9+-+-zp-+-0 preventing a future Be3-b6. 17.Rfd1 f5
18.exf5 gxf5 19.Bg5 Qe8„)
9-+P+P+-+0
9+P+LvL-+-0 15...Qd7 16.Rfd1
9P+-wQNzPPzP0 (16.Ne2 b5 17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Bh6
9+-tRR+-mK-0 Bxh6 19.Qxh6 bxc4 20.bxc4 Rc5=)
xiiiiiiiiy 16...Rfd8 17.Ne2

(16.a4 f5„; 16.f4 exf4 17.Nxf4 Qd7

18.h3 Ne5=) 16...Qe7!? (16...f5!?
17.exf5 (17.f3 f4 18.Bf2 g5 19.Bb1?!
g4! 20.Qxd6? Qe8μ) 17...gxf5 18.f4
(18.f3 Qe8 19.Bb1 Rd8 20.Nc3 Qf7
21.Nd5 Kh8„) 18...Qe8 19.Nc3 Rd8
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY (14.exd5 Qd7=)
9-+rtr-+k+0
9+p+q+pvlp0 14...f5 15.Bxd4
9p+-zpl+p+0 (15.f3 f4 16.Bf2 Qd7 17.Rac1 g5„)
9+-+-zp-+-0 15...fxe4! 16.Bxe4 exd4 17.g3
9-+PsnP+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+P+LvLP+-0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9P+-wQN+PzP0 9zpp+-+-vlp0
9+-tRR+-mK-0 9-+-zp-+p+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+P+-+-0
9-+-zpL+-+0
17...Nxe2+! Without knights on the
board Black’s d5-square is less of a
9+-+-+-zP-0
weakness. 18.Bxe2 Qe7 19.Bb6 Rd7 9PzP-wQ-zP-zP0
20.a4 f5 21.exf5 gxf5„; 9tR-+-+RmK-0
13.Nd5
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY 17...Qb6
9r+-wq-trk+0
(17...Qd7 18.Rae1 Rae8 19.Qd3 Re7
9zpp+-+pvlp0 20.f4 Bf6 21.Re2 Rfe8 22.Rfe1 Kg7
9-+-zpl+p+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+Nzp-+-0 9-+-+r+-+0
9-+PsnP+-+0 9zpp+qtr-mkp0
9+-+LvL-+-0 9-+-zp-vlp+0
9PzP-wQ-zPPzP0 9+-+P+-+-0
9tR-+-+RmK-0 9-+-zpLzP-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+Q+-zP-0
is was GM Sevian’s choice against me 9PzP-+R+-zP0
in August 2016. Please note that our game 9+-+-tR-mK-0
was somehow incorrectly recorded in the xiiiiiiiiy
database as an entirely different game
altogether — clearly someone confused I was concerned about not having
our scoresheets with another game’s! Our counterplay were I to go into this
game continued... 13...Bxd5 variation but it turns out that passive
(13...f5 14.Bxd4 Bxd5 15.exd5 exd4 defence suffices for Black. 23.Kg2 Qg4
16.Rfe1 Re8 17.Re6²) 24.h3 Qd7 25.h4 Qg4=)

14.cxd5 18.Bd3! Rac8

 (18...Rae8! 19.Rac1 Qd8! 20.Rfe1
XIIIIIIIIY
Qd7=) 9r+-tr-+k+0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
19.Rac1 Rc5 20.h4 Kh8? I thought I
calculated this accurately but I missed
9-+-vLl+p+0
White’s ‘only-move’ on move 26. 9wq-+-+-+-0
a) 20...Qc7! e queen’s assistance is
9-+PsnP+-+0
needed on the kingside. 21.h5 (21.Rfe1 9+-sNL+-+-0
Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Qf7=) 21...gxh5 22.Qg5 9PzP-wQ-+PzP0
Qf7=; 9tR-+-+RmK-0
b) 20...Rfc8?! 21.h5 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 xiiiiiiiiy
Rxc1+ 23.Qxc1±; 16.b4 Two moves are equally good here:
21.h5 gxh5 16...Qb6 is simpler to remember but
16...Qh5 gives White more chances to go
(21...Rxd5 22.hxg6 hxg6 23.Kg2!+–)
astray.
22.Qg5 Rxc1
(16.c5 16...Be5!! 17.Bxe5 Qxc5
(22...Qc7 23.Qxh5 Be5 24.Rxc5 dxc5 18.Bxd4 Qxd4+ 19.Rf2 Qxd3=; 16.e5
25.Bxh7±) Nc6μ)
23.Rxc1 Qxb2 24.Rc2 16...Qb6
(24.Rf1 Qc3 25.Rd1 Qc7 26.Qxh5 Be5 (16...Qh5 17.Bf4 (17.c5?! Rxd6!
27.f4 Bf6 28.Re1±) 18.cxd6 Be5 19.h3 Bxd6μ White is
24...Qb1+ 25.Kg2 Qd1 26.Bf5™ naked on the dark squares.) 17...Ne2+!
26...d3 27.Rc7 Rg8 28.Qh6 1–0 Sevian,S- 18.Nxe2 Bxc4 19.Ng3 Rxd3 20.Nxh5
Panjwani,R Greensboro 2016; Bd4+ 21.Qf2 gxh5 22.Rfd1 Bxf2+
23.Kxf2 Rad8=)
13.f4 exf4 14.Bxf4 Qa5! 15.Bxd6
17.Bc5 Qc7 18.Kh1
(15.Rad1 Nc6! 16.Bxd6 Rfd8 17.c5
Bd4+ 18.Kh1 Bxc5 19.Bxc5 Qxc5³) (18.Rad1 b6 19.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 20.Kh1
Bxc4 21.Bxc4 Qxc4 22.Nd5 Be5=)
15...Rfd8
18...b6 19.Bxd4 Rxd4 20.Nd5

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 14...Qd7 White’s attempts against this
9r+-+-+k+0 move which are found in the database do
9zp-wq-+pvlp0 not pose problems for Black, but if White
9-zp-+l+p+0 plays the novelty 15.Ne2!? then Black’s
9+-+N+-+-0 best option is to defend a slightly worse
9-zPPtrP+-+0 but drawn rook endgame. I would have
felt bad recommending this as the main
9+-+L+-+-0 line, but if one is happy with a draw and
9P+-wQ-+PzP0 comfortable defending the resulting
9tR-+-+R+K0 endgame, then this may be the best
xiiiiiiiiy option. 15.Ne2!N Unlike when Black’s
queen is on c7, he cannot here capture on
20...Qxc4! 21.Rad1 Bxd5 22.Bxc4 e2 because the d6-pawn will fall (a
Rxd2 23.Bxd5 Rxd1 24.Rxd1 Rc8= defender on d8 can be hit by Be3-b6).
13...a6 14.b3 a) 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.cxd5 Rac8=;
In addition to being a good solidifying
b) 15.f4 exf4 (15...Rae8!? 16.fxe5 dxe5
move, White is now ready for Nc3-e2
17.Nd5 b5 18.Nf6+ Bxf6 19.Rxf6 bxc4
(14.Ne2 b5!). Black has several ways of
playing this position. I have recommended 20.bxc4∞) 16.Bxf4 Nc6N (16...Be5
what I consider to be the simplest as the 17.Bxe5 dxe5 18.Qg5 Qc7 19.Kh1 b5
main line (14...Rc8), but both alternatives 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.cxd5² 1–0 (48)
are playable as well. Bellia,F (2424)-Royset,P (2215)
XIIIIIIIIY Rethymnon 2011) 17.Be2 Ne5 18.Nd5
9r+-wq-trk+0 Rae8„;
9+p+-+pvlp0 15...b5!
9p+-zpl+p+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-zp-+-0 9r+-+-trk+0
9-+PsnP+-+0 9+-+q+pvlp0
9+PsNLvL-+-0 9p+-zpl+p+0
9P+-wQ-zPPzP0 9+p+-zp-+-0
9+-+R+RmK-0 9-+PsnP+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+P+LvL-+-0
9P+-wQNzPPzP0
14...Rc8! 9+-+R+RmK-0
Just as in the variation where White
plays 13.Rac1, Black intends to meet Nc3-
xiiiiiiiiy
e2 by taking on e2 and defending d6 with
a) 15...Rfd8?! 16.Nxd4 (16.Bg5 Nxe2+
...Rc8-c6!
17.Bxe2 f6 18.Be3 Qc6 19.f3 f5„)
16...exd4 17.Bh6 Bh8 18.Qg5²;
 b) 15...Nc6?! 16.Bb1±;
16.Nxd4
(16.Bxd4 exd4 17.cxb5 axb5 18.Bb1
d5! 19.Nxd4 dxe4 20.Bxe4 Rad8
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-trk+0
9+-+q+pvlp0
9-+-+l+p+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+-sNL+-+0
9+P+-+-+-0
9P+-wQ-zPPzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
21.Nxe6 (21.Nf3 Qxd2 22.Rxd2 Rxd2
23.Nxd2 Rd8 24.Nf3 b4=) 21...Qxd2
22.Rxd2 Rxd2 23.Nxf8 b4 is
endgame is easy for Black to draw.
24.Nxh7 Kxh7 25.g3 Rxa2 26.Bd5 f5
27.Bc4 Bd4 28.Kg2 Kg7 29.Kf3 Kf6
30.h3 Kg7 31.g4 fxg4+ 32.hxg4 Ra1
33.Rxa1 Bxa1 34.g5 Bc3 35.Ke4 1/2–
1/2 Brattain-Panjwani, Philadelphia
2014)
16...exd4 17.Bh6 Bxh6 18.Qxh6 bxc4
19.Bxc4 Bxc4 20.bxc4 Qa7 21.Qd2
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9wq-+-+p+p0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzpP+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9P+-wQ-zPPzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
e aforementioned slightly better, but
with some accuracy drawn rook endgame
starts here. Black’s rst task is to decide
where to place his rooks. I give some
sample variations, but I make no claim to
‘solve’ this endgame. 21...Rfc8!
(21...Rab8 22.Qxd4 Qxd4 23.Rxd4 Rb2
24.Rxd6 Rxa2 25.g3 Rc8 26.Rc1 Rc5
27.Rc3 Ra4 28.Rd8+ Kg7 29.Rd7
Raxc4 30.Rf3+–)
22.Qxd4 Qxd4
(22...Qc5 23.Qxc5 Rxc5 24.Rxd6 Rxc4
25.Re1 Rc2 26.a3 Rc3 27.Ra1 (27.a4
Rc4 28.a5 Ra4 29.Rd5 Rb8=) 27...Rac8
28.f3 R8c6 29.Rxc6 Rxc6=)
23.Rxd4 Rab8 24.g3!
(24.f3 Rb2 25.a3 Ra2 26.Rb1 Rxa3
27.Rb6 Ra4 28.Rbxd6 Raxc4 29.Rxc4
Rxc4 30.Rxa6 h5=)
24...Rc6 25.Rfd1 a5 26.Rxd6 Rxc4
27.e5 Rb2 28.a3 Rc5 29.Rf6 Rb7 30.e6
fxe6 31.Rxe6 Rc3 32.a4 Ra3 33.Ra6 Rxa4
34.Rd5 Kg7 35.Raxa5 Rxa5 36.Rxa5 h5=;
14...Qc7!? is was Dzindzichashvili’s
choice against my compatriot GM Lesiege
in 1993. With the queen on c7, Black can
respond to Nc3-e2 with either ...Nd4xe2
or ...Nd4-c6, since the d6-pawn can be
defended in one move by either rook.
15.Bxd4
a) 15.Ne2 Both 15...Nc6 and
15...Nxe2+ are playable; it is a just a
matter of taste. 15...Nc6 (15...Nxe2+
16.Bxe2 Rfd8 17.Qb4 Qe7 18.Bb6 Rd7
19.Rd2 Rc8 20.Rfd1 Rc6 21.Ba5 f5
22.Bf3 f4 23.Rd3 Bf8 24.a4 Qf7
25.Qd2 h5 26.h3 b6 27.Bb4 a5 28.Ba3
Qf6= It is difficult to see how either side
will make progress.) 16.f4 (16.Bb1
Rad8 17.Nc3 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.f4
Qf7=) 16...exf4 17.Nxf4 Ne5 18.Be2
Rad8 19.h3 Qc6!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-trk+0
9+p+-+pvlp0
9p+qzpl+p+0
9+-+-sn-+-0
9-+P+PsN-+0
9+P+-vL-+P0
9P+-wQL+P+0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.Qxd5 Qc7 22.Bf4
Rfe8 23.Bg5 Rd7 24.Rf2 h5 25.Bf4
Qc5=;
b) 15.f3 Rac8 16.Ne2 (16.Rc1 Qd7
17.Ne2 b5=) 16...Nc6 (16...Nxe2+!?
17.Bxe2 Rfd8 18.a4 Qe7 19.Qb4 f5
20.Rd2 Rc6 21.Rfd1 f4 22.Bb6 Rd7
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+p+rwq-vlp0
9pvLrzpl+p+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9PwQP+Pzp-+0
9+P+-+P+-0
9-+-tRL+PzP0
9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White only has four pieces capable of
attacking the d6-pawn, and Black has
four potential defenders. If White triples
on the d- le and aims for c4-c5 then
Black will be able to obtain counterplay
against White’s weak pawn on b3 (with
...Qe7-f7 for example). A sample
variation may continue as follows. 23.a5
g5 24.h3 h5 25.c5 dxc5 26.Bxc5 Qxc5+
27.Qxc5 Rxc5 28.Rxd7 Bxd7 29.Rxd7
Rxa5 30.Rxb7 Bf8=) 17.Bb1 Rfd8
18.a4 Rd7 19.f4 (19.Nc3 Nd4„)
19...exf4 20.Nxf4 Qa5=;
15...exd4 16.Ne2 Bg4 17.f3 Bd7
18.Bb1
(18.a4 b5 19.cxb5 axb5 20.axb5 Rfb8=)
18...b5
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY (19.Nc3 Qd7 20.Na4 (20.Nd5 Qb7=)
9r+-+-trk+0 20...Rc6 21.Rc1 Qb7 22.Rxc6 Qxc6
9+-wql+pvlp0 23.Qd3 d5 24.exd5 Bxd5 25.Rc1 Qa8
9p+-zp-+p+0 26.Nb6 Be4! 27.Qc4 Qb7=)
9+p+-+-+-0 19...Qxd6 20.Rxd6 Rc2 21.Nc1 Ra8
9-+PzpP+-+0 22.Rfd1 Bf8 23.R6d2 Rac8 24.Nd3 f6
9+P+-+P+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9P+-wQN+PzP0 9-+r+-vlk+0
9+L+R+RmK-0 9+-+-+-+p0
xiiiiiiiiy 9p+-+lzpp+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
19.cxb5 Bxb5 20.Bd3 Qb6 21.Rf2 Rfc8
22.g3 Ra7 23.Kg2 d5 24.exd5 Rd7
9-+-+P+-+0
25.Rc1 Rxc1 26.Nxc1 Rxd5 27.Bxb5 9+P+NvL-+-0
axb5= 0–1 (62) Lesiege,A (2485)- 9P+rtR-zPPzP0
Dzindzichashvili,R (2535) New York 9+-+R+-mK-0
1993. xiiiiiiiiy
15.f3
Black is at little risk here; his two
15.Ne2 b5!
bishops and active rooks provide fully
(15...Nxe2+!? 16.Bxe2 Rc6∞) adequate compensation for the pawn.
16.Bxd4 25.f3 a5 26.Kf2 h5 27.Rxc2 Rxc2+
28.Rd2 Rc6 29.f4 exf4 30.Nxf4 Kf7=
(16.cxb5 Nxb5„)
15...Qd7 16.Rfe1
16...bxc4!? 17.Bxc4 Bxc4 18.Be3 Be6 16.Ne2 Nxe2+
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0 (16...b5 17.cxb5 Nxb5 18.Qa5 Qb7∞)
9+-+-+pvlp0 17.Bxe2 Rc6 18.a4 f5„
9p+-zpl+p+0 16...Rfd8
9+-+-zp-+-0 16...b5!? 17.cxb5 axb5 18.Bxd4 exd4
9-+-+P+-+0 19.Nxb5 Rc5 20.Na3 Rc3∞
9+P+-vL-+-0 17.Ne2 Nxe2+
9P+-wQNzPPzP0 17...b5 18.cxb5 Nxb5 19.Qa5 Ra8∞
9+-+R+RmK-0 18.Bxe2 Rc6 19.Bg5 Rf8 20.a4 f5„
xiiiiiiiiy
19.Qxd6

XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9+p+q+-vlp0
9p+rzpl+p+0
9+-+-zppvL-0
9P+P+P+-+0
9+P+-+P+-0
9-+-wQL+PzP0
9+-+RtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
 Appendix

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 12.Nd5?! Bb7 13.f4 exf4 14.Bxf4 d6
5.c4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 Ng4 8.Qxg4 15.Qd2 Ne6 16.Bh6 Bxh6 17.Qxh6
Nxd4 9.Qd1 e5 10.Bd3 0-0 11.0-0 b6!? Bxd5 18.exd5 Nc5 19.Rf3 f5!³ 0–1 (69)
XIIIIIIIIY Byvshev,V-Simagin,V Moscow 1952;
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zp-+p+pvlp0 12.a4 Bb7 13.Nb5
9-zp-+-+p+0 (13.a5 bxa5 14.Qa4 Bc6 15.Qxa5 Qxa5
9+-+-zp-+-0 16.Rxa5 Rfb8=)
9-+PsnP+-+0 13...f5!
9+-sNLvL-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 9zpl+p+-vlp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zp-+-+p+0
9+N+-zpp+-0
I was pleasantly surprised to come 9P+PsnP+-+0
across this very rare idea in a book on
pawn structures by Andy Soltis. Soviet
9+-+LvL-+-0
(grand) masters of the 1950s and 1960s 9-zP-+-zPPzP0
like Simagin, Bagirov, Aronson, and 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
Veresov developed some truly original xiiiiiiiiy
ideas in this system. Even if their crafty
maneuvers are ultimately ‘too good to be 14.Bb1 f4!
true’, it is instructive to play over their (14...Nxb5 15.axb5 fxe4 16.Qg4± 1/2–
games to get a feel for this system. Black 1/2 (36) Hon ,K-Zaitsev,A Budapest
plans to continue with ...Bc8-b7, ...Rf8- 1963)
e8, ...Ra8-c8, followed by ...Bf8-
c5/...Nd4-e6, or ...Re8-e6-d6! I envy them 15.Bxd4 exd4 16.Ra3 Qf6 17.f3 a6
for playing chess in the pre-computer era; 18.Nc7 Rac8 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.cxd5 Rc5
the analysis of this variation must have 21.Bd3 a5=
brought them such joy. Computers do 12...Bb7
spoil the fun a little, but there is no clear 12...Re8!? 13.Rfe1 Bb7 14.Rad1 a6
refutation of the idea either. 15.b3 Bc6
12.Qd2

XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY other moves! 22...bxc5 23.Bc4+ Re6
9r+-wqr+k+0 (23...Kh8 24.e5±) 24.Bxe6+ dxe6
9+-+p+pvlp0 25.e5²)
9pzpl+-+p+0 20.Bxe2 Qc7 21.Bg4 Rf6 22.Bxd7 Bb7
9+-+-zp-+-0 23.Bg5 Rff8 24.Qd6 Qc5+ 25.Qxc5 bxc5
9-+PsnP+-+0 26.Be7 Rf4 27.Be6+ Kh8 28.Bd5 1–0
9+PsNLvL-+-0 (28) Kholmov,R-Aronson,L Riga 1954.
9P+-wQ-zPPzP0 13.Rad1
9+-+RtR-mK-0 It is not clear how Black should handle
xiiiiiiiiy this position. Based on my research, Black
should delay ...Ra8-c8 for some time.
is is another typical idea of this line:
Black plans to leave the pawn on d7, so 13.Ne2 Ne6 14.Rfd1 f5 15.f3
the bishop is well placed on c6 from where XIIIIIIIIY
it defends (and is defended by) the d7 9r+-wq-trk+0
pawn and prepares ...b6-b5. 16.f3 Re6!? 9zpl+p+-vlp0
(16...Ne6 17.Qf2 Rb8 18.Nd5 b5 9-zp-+n+p+0
19.Bb6 Qc8 20.Ba7 Rb7 21.Be3 Qb8 9+-+-zpp+-0
22.Qh4 Bxd5 23.exd5 Nf4 24.Bxf4 9-+P+P+-+0
exf4 25.Rxe8+ Qxe8 26.Qxf4²) 9+-+LvLP+-0
17.Bf1 f5 18.Ne2 fxe4 19.fxe4 Nxe2+?! 9PzP-wQN+PzP0
(19...Rd6!? 9tR-+R+-mK-0
XIIIIIIIIY xiiiiiiiiy
9r+-wq-+k+0 15...Rf7! Black’s idea is to exchange dark
9+-+p+-vlp0 squared bishops with ...Bg7-f8-c5.
9pzpltr-+p+0 Computers tend to make us pessimistic
9+-+-zp-+-0 about such maneuvers, but in this
9-+PsnP+-+0 particular position science and aesthetics
coincide.
9+P+-vL-+-0
9P+-wQN+PzP0 (15...f4 16.Bf2 Qe7 17.c5 Nxc5
9+-+RtRLmK-0 18.Bc4+ Kh8 19.b4 Na6 20.a3 Rfd8
21.Nc3 Nc7 22.Qd6 Qxd6 23.Rxd6
xiiiiiiiiy Rac8 24.Rd3 Ne6 25.Bxe6 dxe6
26.Rxd8+ Rxd8 27.Nb5 1/2–1/2 (27)
What a triumph of the artistic approach
Roizman,A-Veresov,G Minsk 1955)
to chess that this was Black’s best try.
20.Nxd4 exd4 21.Bg5 Qf8 22.c5!! 16.Nc3 Bf8! 17.exf5 gxf5 18.a3 Bc5
Incredibly, Black can equalize against all
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-+k+0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpl+p+r+p0 9zp-+p+pvlp0
9-zp-+n+-+0 9-zpl+-+p+0
9+-vl-zpp+-0 9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+P+-+-+0 9-+PsnP+-+0
9zP-sNLvLP+-0 9+-sNLvL-+-0
9-zP-wQ-+PzP0 9PzP-wQ-zPPzP0
9tR-+R+-mK-0 9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
19.Bxc5 bxc5„; 14.f4
13.f3 Qe7 14.Rfd1 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 (14.b3 Ne6 15.Bc2 Re8 16.b4 Rc8
16.Nd5 Qd6!=; 17.Bb3 Nd4 18.f3 Bf8 19.Bxd4 exd4
20.Ne2 b5 21.Nxd4 bxc4 22.Bxc4 Ba4
13.b3 f5 14.exf5 Qh4!
XIIIIIIIIY 23.Bb3 Bxb3 24.Nxb3 Qb6+=)
9r+-+-trk+0 14...exf4 15.Bxf4 Ne6 16.Bd6
9zpl+p+-vlp0 (16.Bh6 Bxh6 17.Qxh6 Qe7 18.Nd5
9-zp-+-+p+0 Bxd5 19.exd5 Ng7=)
9+-+-zpP+-0 16...Re8 17.Kh1 Nc5 18.Qf2 Kh8
9-+Psn-+-wq0 19.Qxf7 Qg5 20.Bc2 Nb7 21.Nb5 Nc5=;
9+PsNLvL-+-0 13...Rc8?! 14.b3 Bc6
9P+-wQ-zPPzP0 XIIIIIIIIY
9tR-+-+RmK-0 9-+rwq-trk+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zp-+p+pvlp0
15.f3 9-zpl+-+p+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
(15.fxg6?? Nf3+ 16.gxf3 Bxf3–+)
9-+PsnP+-+0
15...gxf5 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.cxd5 e4„ 9+PsNLvL-+-0
13...Ne6 9P+-wQ-zPPzP0
13...Bc6!? 9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
15.f4
(15.Bb1 Ne6 16.a4 Bf6! 17.Nb5 Ra8
18.Nd6 (18.g3 Be7 19.Nd6 Qb8
XIIIIIIIIY
 20.Bc2 Nd4 21.Bxd4 Qxd6 22.Bc3
XIIIIIIIIY
Qe6 23.a5 bxa5 24.Bxa5 Bc5 25.Bb4
9r+-wq-trk+0
Qe7 26.Bc3 Rfb8 27.Ra1 Rb7=) 9zpl+p+-vlp0
18...Bg5 19.g3 Bxe3 20.Qxe3 Qe7 9-zp-+-+p+0
21.f4 f6=) 9+-+-zpp+-0
15...exf4 16.Bxf4 Ne6 17.Bd6 Re8 9-+PsnP+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-sNLvL-+-0
9-+rwqr+k+0 9PzP-wQ-zPPzP0
9zp-+p+pvlp0 9+-+R+RmK-0
9-zplvLn+p+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+-+-0
14.exf5 Qh4 15.Nd5
9-+P+P+-+0
9+PsNL+-+-0 (15.fxg6?? Nf3+ 16.gxf3 Bxf3–+)
9P+-wQ-+PzP0 15...Nxf5
9+-+R+RmK-0 (15...gxf5 16.f4±)
xiiiiiiiiy 16.Bxf5 gxf5 17.f4 e4 18.Bd4²
18.Nb5 is is one reason Black’s rook 14.Bb1
would have been better placed on a8. 14.b3 Bc6 15.f3 Re8
(18.e5 Nc5 19.Qf4 Nb7 20.Nb5 Bxb5 (15...Qe7 16.Bc2 Rfd8 17.Rfe1 Qa3!=
21.Qxf7+ Kh8 22.cxb5 Nxd6 23.exd6 Black can ‘premove’ ...Bg7-f8.)
Qh4 24.g3 Qd4+ 25.Qf2 Qxf2+
26.Kxf2 Re6 27.Bc4 Rf8+ 28.Kg2 Rxf1 16.Nd5 Bf8 17.b4 Bg7 18.Rc1 Rc8
29.Bxf1 Bf8=) 19.a4 Nd4 20.Rc3 a5 21.b5 Bxd5 22.cxd5
Bf8=
18...a6 19.Na7 Ra8 20.Nxc6 dxc6
21.e5²; 14...Bc6 15.b4 Rc8 16.a3
XIIIIIIIIY
13...f5 9-+rwq-trk+0
9zp-+p+pvlp0
9-zpl+n+p+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-zPP+P+-+0
9zP-sN-vL-+-0
9-+-wQ-zPPzP0
9+L+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
16...Kh8!
XIIIIIIIIY
 16...Rc7 17.Ba2 Kh8 18.c5 Nd4 19.f4 20.b5 Ba8 21.Qxd7 e4„
bxc5 20.bxc5 Rb7 21.fxe5 20...f4 21.Bf2
(21.Nd5²)
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+qtr-mk0
21...Ne6 22.Bxe6 fxe6 23.Bg5 Qa5 9zp-+p+-vlp0
24.Qd6 Rbb8 25.Be7 Rxf1+ 26.Rxf1 Re8
27.Rf3 Qxa3μ 1/2–1/2 (36) Smyslov,V-
9-zpl+n+-+0
Bagirov,V Leningrad 1960. 9+-+Nzp-+-0
17.Ba2
9-zPP+-zp-+0
17.c5 bxc5 18.bxc5 Qa5„; 9zP-+-+P+-0
9L+-wQ-vLPzP0
17.b5 Ba8 18.Qxd7 Qxd7 19.Rxd7
Rxc4 20.Nd5 Ra4=
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
17...f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.f3 Qe8 20.Nd5
21...e4! 22.fxe4 Qh5 23.Rde1 Be5„
 CHAPTER 5

MAROCZY BIND: MAIN LINE

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7
XIIIIIIIIY
5.c4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Be2 d6 9r+lwq-trk+0
9.0-0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+nzp-snp+0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9-+PsNP+-+0
9-+nzp-snp+0 9+-sN-vL-+-0
9+-+-+-+-0 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9-+PsNP+-+0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
9+-sN-vL-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 is variation does not have an accepted
xiiiiiiiiy name, but because it is the top choice of
virtually all the top Accelerated Dragon
players nowadays, I will refer to it as the
Contents ‘main line’. Compared with the Breyer
Variation, this line is far more nuanced
1. 9...Nxd4 and, frankly, difficult to play well (for both
2. 9...Bd7 10.sidelines sides). As with all practical matters, the
choice involves a tradeoff: the Breyer is
3. 9...Bd7 10.Nc2 easy to play for Black, but if White plays
4. 9...Bd7 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 accurately (which very few are able to do
12.sidelines in practice) then he can achieve a slightly
more pleasant position (if you nd this
5. 9...Bd7 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6
state of affairs to be unacceptable, I
12.f3 Nd7 13.sidelines recommend abandoning the Sicilian
6. 9...Bd7 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 altogether in favor of the Berlin or
12.f3 Nd7 13.Be3 Marshall). In this line Black’s counterplay
is more reactive in nature — Black can’t
1 just ‘wear a blindfold’ and proceed with a
plan on autopilot, but in return Black can
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 count on dynamic equality and a tense
5.c4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Be2 d6
XIIIIIIIIY
struggle where all three results are on the
table.
9.0-0
ere are many ways to play this
position for Black, but the main tabiya
involves Black playing (in various move
orders) ...Bc8-d7, ...Nc6xd4, ...Bd7-c6,
...a7-a5, ...Nf6-d7-c5. e question of
move order is an important one for Black
here: should Black start with 9...Bd7 or
rst play 9...Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Bd7? In
practice they usually transpose, because
most White players are unwilling to play a
different line against each of these,
preferring instead to enter the Qd2 main
line regardless of Black’s move order. at
being said, according to my research,
9...Bd7 is the signi cantly better move
order (and it is introducted in the next
chapter), in light of 9...Nxd4 10.Bxd4
Bd7 11.Qd3!.
9...Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Bd7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PvLP+-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
11.Qd3!
is is not a new move, it was rst
played in Smyslov-Pirc 1956 (1–0); for
some reason it has not caught on. I owe
Kevin Spraggett for revealing its strength
to me. White’s basic idea is to
prophylactically defend the e4-pawn so
that ...Bd7-c6 can be met with b2-b4!
White usually wants to wait for Black’s
bishop to be on c6 before playing b2-b4,
because the weak c4-pawn is under less
pressure when Black’s bishop is on c6 as
opposed to e6. In general Black wants to
prevent White from playing b2-b4 (at
least) until his knight has landed on c5, so
the central theme of this variation is
White trying to achieve b2-b4 and Black
trying to either prevent it or render it
premature. Unfortunately, nothing seems
to work for Black. I will present the
following lines without comment, because
I am recommending we avoid this
altogether, but I encourage the reader to
try to nd improvements on my analysis,
and to at least skim through the ensuing
variations to get a feel for which positions
are playable for Black and which are to be
avoided.
11.b4 Be6 12.f3 Nd7 13.Nd5 Bxd4+
14.Qxd4 Bxd5 15.cxd5 a5 16.a3 axb4
17.axb4 Rxa1 18.Rxa1 Qc7=
11...a6!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+p+lzppvlp0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PvLP+-+0
9+-sNQ+-+-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Bc6?! 12.b4!²;
11...a5 12.b3!
(12.a3 a4 13.c5 dxc5 14.Bxc5 Bc6 (20...Qa7 21.c5 dxc5 22.f4 c4+ 23.b6±)
15.Qe3 Qc8 16.f3 (16.Bxe7 Re8 21.f4
17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.f3 Qe6©) 16...Qe6
17.Rfd1 Rfd8=) (21.Qd4 g5 22.h4 h6=)

12...Bc6 13.a3 Nd7 21...Ng4

XIIIIIIIIY
(13...b6 14.b4 Nd7 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 9-+-+-tr-+0
16.Qd4+ Kg8 17.f4²)
9+pwqlzppmkp0
14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.b4 axb4 9-+-zp-+p+0
(15...b6²) 9+P+-+-+-0
16.axb4 Qb6 17.b5 9N+P+PzPn+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+-+-0
9r+-+-tr-+0 9-+-wQL+PzP0
9+p+nzppmkp0 9tR-+-+-mK-0
9-wqlzp-+p+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+P+-+-+-0 22.Rd1!
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sNQ+-+-0 (22.Qd4+ e5 23.Qb6 Qxb6+ 24.Nxb6
Nf6 25.Rd1 Be6 26.Bf3 Rb8! (26...exf4
9-+-+LzPPzP0 27.Rxd6 Rb8 28.e5 Ne8 29.Rd4 g5
9tR-+-+RmK-0 30.Nd7 Rd8 31.Bxb7 Rxd7 32.Rxd7
xiiiiiiiiy Bxd7 33.b6 Kf8 34.Bd5±) 27.Rxd6
Ne8 28.Rd1 exf4 29.e5 (29.c5 g5 30.h3
17...Rxa1
Nc7 31.Rb1 Ne8∞) 29...f6 30.exf6+
(17...Ne5 18.Qd2 Bd7 19.Na4 Qa7 Nxf6 31.h4 h6 32.Rd6 Kf7 33.Nd5
20.c5 dxc5 21.Qd5 Qb8 22.Nxc5±) Bxd5 34.Bxd5+ Nxd5 35.cxd5 Rc8
18.Rxa1 Ne5 19.Qd2 36.Rd7+ Kf6 37.Rxb7 Rd8 38.Rb6+
Kf5 39.d6 g5 40.hxg5 hxg5 41.Rc6
(19.Qc2 Bd7 20.Nd5 Qd4 21.Rd1 Qc5
Ke5 42.b6 Rxd6 43.Rxd6 Kxd6 44.Kf2
22.Nxe7 Re8 23.Nd5 Bxb5=)
g4 45.b7 Kc7 46.Ke2 Kxb7 47.Kd3
19...Bd7 20.Na4! Kc6 48.Ke4 f3 49.gxf3 gxf3 50.Kxf3
is was not a game, I just wanted to
(20.Nd5 Qc5 21.Qe3 (21.Nxe7 Nxc4
analyze at least one variation ‘down to
22.Qc3+ Ne5 23.Qxc5 dxc5 24.f4
kings’ in this book.)
Bg4=) 21...Rc8 22.Qc3 (22.Nxe7
Nxc4=) 22...e6 23.Ne3 f6 24.Qd2 Be8 22...Nf6 23.Qd4 Bc8 24.e5
25.Rd1 Nf7 26.Bg4 Bd7=) (24.Nc3 e5=)
20...Qc7
 24...dxe5 25.fxe5 Nd7 26.e6+ Nf6
XIIIIIIIIY
27.exf7 e5 28.Qc3 9rwq-+-trk+0
9+p+-zppvlp0
(28.Qc5²)
9p+lzp-snp+0
28...Be6 29.c5 Nd5 30.Qb2 Bxf7 9+-+-+-+-0
31.Bf3±
9-+PvLP+-+0
12.b4! 9+-sN-wQ-+-0
12.a4 a5 13.Nd5 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
(13.Rfd1 Bc6 14.b3 Nd7 15.Rab1 Nc5 9tR-+R+-mK-0
16.Qe3 Bxd4 17.Rxd4 e5 18.Rd2 xiiiiiiiiy
Qe7=)
14.Rac1
13...Nxd5 14.exd5 Bf5 15.Qe3 Bxd4
16.Qxd4 Ra6=; (14.a4 a5 15.Nd5 Re8 (15...Bxd5
16.cxd5 Nd7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Bb5
12.Qe3 Qb8!?
Nc5 19.Rac1 Qd8 20.f4 f6 21.Rc3 Rc8
(12...b5 13.cxb5 axb5 14.Bxb5 22.Rdc1 Rg8! 23.R1c2 b6 24.b3 Qf8!
(14.Nxb5 Ra4!©) 14...Bxb5 15.Nxb5 e5 25.Rc4 Kh8 26.g3 g5=; 15...e5 16.Bb6
16.Ba7 d5 17.Bc5 d4 18.Qd3 Re8 Bxd5 17.cxd5 Nd7 18.Rac1 Nxb6
19.b4±) 19.Qxb6 Bf6 20.g3 Bd8 21.Qb5 Qa7
13.Rfd1 22.Qd7 Qb8 23.Rd3 Bb6 24.Rb3 Rd8
25.Qb5 Bd4 26.Qxb7 Qxb7 27.Rxb7
(13.a4 a5 14.Rfd1 Bc6 15.Nd5 Re8! Rdb8 28.Rxb8+ Rxb8=) 16.Nb6 e5
(15...Bxd5 16.cxd5 Nd7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Bc3 Nxe4 18.Nxa8 Nxc3 19.Qxc3
18.Bb5 Nc5 19.Rac1 f6 20.f4²) Qxa8 20.Rxd6 e4©)
16.Nb6 (16.b3 Nd7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7=)
16...e5 17.Bc3 Nxe4 18.Nxa8 Nxc3! 14...b5
(18...Qxa8?! 19.Be1 Nc5 20.b4 (14...e5 15.Bb6 Nd7 16.Nd5 Bxd5
(20.Rxd6 Ne6©) 20...axb4 21.Bxb4 Bf8 17.Rxd5±)
22.a5±) 19.bxc3 Qxa8 20.Rxd6 Bf8
15.Nd5 Bxd5
21.Rdd1 e4©)
(15...Re8 16.cxb5 Bxd5 17.exd5 axb5
13...Bc6
18.Qb3 b4 19.Rc4± 1–0 (31)
Gurevich,I (2475)-Taylor Chicago
1992)
16.cxd5 Nd7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Qd4+
Kg8 19.Bg4 Nf6 20.Bh3 Qa7 21.Qd3 a5
22.g3 Rfb8∞;
12.f3

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 17...Be6 (17...Rxd4 18.Qxd4 Ng4
9r+-wq-trk+0 19.Qd3 (19.Qd2 Qa7+ 20.Kh1 Nf2+
9+p+lzppvlp0 21.Rxf2 Qxf2 22.Nd5 Bb5=) 19...Qa7+
9p+-zp-snp+0 20.Kh1 Nf2+ 21.Rxf2 Qxf2 22.Nd5 e6
9+-+-+-+-0 23.Ne3 Bb5 24.Qxb5 Qxe3 25.Qd3
9-+PvLP+-+0 Qf2 26.Rf1 Qa7 27.a4 d5 28.exd5 Rd8
9+-sNQ+P+-0 29.Qa6 Qxa6 30.Bxa6 Rxd5 31.Bc4
Rd2 32.a5±) 18.Be3 d5 19.Bc5 dxe4
9PzP-+L+PzP0 20.fxe4 Rd8 21.Qe3 Rb7 22.Rbd1
9tR-+-+RmK-0 Rbd7 23.Kh1²)
xiiiiiiiiy
13.a4 b6 14.Rfd1 Bc6 15.b4 a5 16.b5
12...Rb8 Bb7=;
(12...b5?! 13.cxb5 axb5 14.Nxb5 Ra4 12.Rfd1 b5 13.cxb5 axb5 14.Nxb5
15.Nc3 (15.Na3 Qb8!©; 15.Be3 Bxb5 Bxb5 15.Qxb5 Nxe4 16.Bxg7 Kxg7
16.Qxb5 Qa8=) 15...Rb4 16.Rab1 17.Bf3 Rb8 18.Qd3 Nc5=
(16.b3 Nxe4 17.Bxg7 Nc5 18.Qe3 12...Be6
Kxg7 19.Nd5 Rb8= Instinctively, White 12...b5 13.cxb5 axb5 14.Nxb5 Bxb5
appears to be better because of the 15.Qxb5 Nxe4 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Qd5
connected passed pawns; however, those
Nf6 18.Qb3±;
pawns are easily blocked and the dark
squared weaknesses in White’s position 12...e5 13.Be3 Be6 14.Rac1 Rc8
shouldn’t be discounted.) 16...Qb8 15.Na4 b5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.Nc3 Bc4
(16...Nxe4 17.Bxg7 Nc5 18.Qe3 Kxg7 18.Qd2±
19.Nd5 Rb8 20.b4 Na4 21.b5 Nc5 13.Rfc1 Rc8 14.Nd5 Nxd5
22.Rfd1 Be6 23.Bc4 f6 24.Qd4 Bxd5 XIIIIIIIIY
25.Bxd5 Qb6∞) 17.b3 9-+rwq-trk+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+p+-zppvlp0
9-wq-+-trk+0 9p+-zpl+p+0
9+-+lzppvlp0 9+-+n+-+-0
9-+-zp-snp+0 9-zPPvLP+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+Q+-+-0
9-tr-vLP+-+0 9P+-+LzPPzP0
9+PsNQ+P+-0 9tR-tR-+-mK-0
9P+-+L+PzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+R+-+RmK-0
15.exd5
xiiiiiiiiy 15.cxd5 Bxd4 16.Qxd4 Bd7=
15...Bf5 16.Qd2 Bxd4 17.Qxd4 Re8
17...e5 18.dxe6 Bxe6 19.a3² 18.Bf3 a5 19.a3 b6 20.h4 h5 21.Re1²
 2

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7

XIIIIIIIIY
5.c4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Be2 d6 9r+-wq-trk+0
9.0-0 Bd7 9zpp+lzppvlp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-zp-snp+0
9r+-wq-trk+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9zpp+lzppvlp0 9-+PvLP+-+0
9-+nzp-snp+0 9+-sN-+-+-0
9+-+-+-+-0 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9-+PsNP+-+0 9+-tRQ+RmK-0
9+-sN-vL-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 Nowadays I prefer to play 11...Bc6
xiiiiiiiiy here, because things are likely to transpose
to the 10.Qd2 line where White’s rook on
e downside of this line is 10.Nc2, c1 does nothing to promote the central
whereas the downside of the 9...Nxd4 positional aim of b2-b4. e reader may
move order is 11.Qd3! In my judgment we prefer 11...Bh6!? which I have played a
should prefer to allow White 10.Nc2 here. few times as well. e choice is just a
Let’s rst have a look at some side moves. matter of taste. 11...Bh6!?

10.Nb3 (11...Bc6 If Black plays this then the

e logic of this move is similar to
10.Nc2: since White has more space, he
wants to avoid exchanges to keep Black’s
position cramped. Furthermore, the ‘soft’
c4-pawn can be defended by Nb3-d2, as it
often is by Nc2-a3 in the 10.Nc2 line.
10.Rc1 Nxd4 11.Bxd4
10.Rc1 line has little independent value.
12.f3 a5 13.b3 Nd7 14.Be3 Nc5
15.Qd2= is is a transposition to the
10.Qd2 line, where White’s a-rook does
not tend to go to c1.)
12.f4
(12.Rc2 e5 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.fxe3 Bc6

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+-+p+p0 9zpp+-+p+p0
9-+lzp-snp+0 9-+lzp-zppvl0
9+-+-zp-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0 9-+P+PzP-+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0 9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzPR+L+PzP0 9PzP-+L+PzP0
9+-+Q+RmK-0 9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
15.Qd3 (15.Bd3 a5 16.Rcf2 Nd7 14.Qd4 is was American prodigy
Ruifeng Li’s choice against me.
17.Qg4 Nc5 18.Bc2 Bd7 19.Qd1 Be6
20.Nd5 Kg7 21.b3 Bxd5 22.Qxd5 f6 a) 14.Qd2 Re8 15.Bf3 Qb6+ 16.Kh1
23.a3 Qb6 24.Rb1 Qc6=) 15...a5 Rad8 17.g3 Bg7 18.Rc2 Qc5 19.Nd5
16.Rd2 Ne8 17.Bd1 Qb6 18.Rdf2 Rd8 a5=;
19.Bg4 Nc7 20.h4 Na6 21.h5 Nc5 b) 14.Kh1 We follow one of my games
22.Qc2 Qb4 23.Nd5 Bxd5 24.exd5 e4 here. 14...Re8 15.Bd3 Qb6 16.Rc2 a5
25.Be2 (25.Rf6 Nd3 26.b3 a4„) 17.Rd2 a4 18.Bb1 Bf8 19.b3 axb3
25...a4∞) 20.axb3 Ra1 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.Rxd5
12...Bc6 13.Bxf6 Qe3? (22...Rxe4 23.Bxe4 Rxd1
24.Rdxd1 f5 25.Bd5 Bg7 26.b4 Bf6
a) 13.e5 dxe5 14.Bxe5 Nd7 15.Bd4 e5!?
27.b5 Kg7=) 23.Rf3 (¹23.c5!)
(15...Re8!? 16.Rc2 e5 17.fxe5 Nxe5„)
23...Qa7 24.Qc2 f5 25.Rf1 Rxe4
16.fxe5 Qg5 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.cxd5
(25...fxe4 26.f5 e3 27.fxg6 hxg6
Qxc1 19.Qxc1 Bxc1 20.Rxc1 Nxe5
28.Rxf7 Rxb1+–+)
21.Rc7 (21.d6 f6μ) 21...f6 22.Rxb7 XIIIIIIIIY
(22.d6 Rac8 23.Rxb7 Rf7 24.Rxa7 Rxa7
25.Bxa7 Rc2μ) 22...Rf7 23.Rb5³;
9-+-+-vlk+0
9wqp+-+p+p0
b) 13.Qd3 e5 14.Be3 exf4 15.Bxf4 9-+-zp-+p+0
Bxf4 16.Rxf4 Nd7=;
9+-+R+p+-0
13...exf6 9-+P+rzP-+0
9+P+-+-+-0
9-+Q+-+PzP0
9trL+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy

XIIIIIIIIY
 26.g4!! Qe3 27.Rd3 Qe2 (27...Rxf4 consider attempts by White to obtain
28.Rxe3 Rxf1+ 29.Kg2 Rfxb1∞) immediate play.
28.Qxe2 Rxe2 29.gxf5 Rb2μ Shlionsky- (11...Bc6?! 12.b4²)
Panjwani, New York 2016 (1/2–1/2);
12.c5
14...Re8 15.Rcd1 Qa5 16.Bd3 Bg7
17.Qf2 a6 18.a3 (12.b3 Bc6 13.a3 Nd7 14.Bxg7 Kxg7
XIIIIIIIIY 15.Qd4+ Kg8 16.b4 Qb6 17.Qxb6
9r+-+r+k+0 Nxb6=)
9+p+-+pvlp0 12...dxc5 13.Bxc5 Bc6
9p+lzp-zpp+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9wq-+-+-+-0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9-+P+PzP-+0 9+p+-zppvlp0
9zP-sNL+-+-0 9-+l+-snp+0
9-zP-+-wQPzP0 9zp-vL-+-+-0
9+-+R+RmK-0 9-+-+P+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-+L+PzP0
18...f5! 19.exf5 Bxc3 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
(19...gxf5 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.cxd5 Qxd5 xiiiiiiiiy
22.Bxa6=)
14.Qb3
20.bxc3 gxf5 21.Rde1
(14.Qxd8 Rfxd8 15.Bxe7 Rd2=; 14.Rc1
a) 21.Qg3+ Kh8 22.Qg5 Rg8 23.Qf6+ Nd7 15.Be3 a4 16.Qc2 Qa5=)
Rg7 24.g3 (24.Bxf5?? Bxg2–+)
24...Qxa3=; 14...Nd7 15.Be3 Qb8! 16.Rad1 a4
17.Qc4 Rc8 18.Nd5 Bf8!
b) 21.Qh4 Re6³; XIIIIIIIIY
21...Qxa3 22.Bxf5 Qxc3μ Ruifeng Li 9rwqr+-vlk+0
— Raja Panjwani, Philadelphia 2014 (0– 9+p+nzpp+p0
1); 9-+l+-+p+0
10.f3 (As with the 11.Qd3 line which 9+-+N+-+-0
we avoided by playing 9...Bd7 instead of 9p+Q+P+-+0
9...Nxd4, White prophylactically defends 9+-+-vLP+-0
the e4-pawn in anticipation of ...Bd7-c6).
10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 a5 If White plays
9PzP-+L+PzP0
ordinary developing moves like 12.Qd2 9+-+R+RmK-0
here then we will transpose into material xiiiiiiiiy
we will discuss later, so we will just
 Black may optically appear to be passive 13.f3 Bd4!N 14.Bxd4 Nxd4 15.Ndb1
but his compactness is deceptive; all of e5 16.Na3 Nc5 17.Nab5 Nce6=
Black’s soft spots have been covered and
13...a4 14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.Bxd4
White has no targets. 19.Nb4 e6 20.Nxc6 XIIIIIIIIY
Rxc6 21.Qb5 Bc5 22.Bxc5 Nxc5= 9r+lwq-trk+0
10...a5!
XIIIIIIIIY 9+p+nzppvlp0
9r+-wq-trk+0 9-+-zp-+p+0
9+p+lzppvlp0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+nzp-snp+0 9p+PvLP+-+0
9zp-+-+-+-0 9+-sN-+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9+NsN-vL-+-0 9+-tRQ+RmK-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 15...Bh6!
xiiiiiiiiy is is a fairly common idea when
White’s rook is on c1. Black wants to play
Black immediately targets White’s b3 ...e7-e5 next, when White has to accept
knight and threatens to gain further space doubled, isolated e-pawns.
on the queenside with ...a5-a4 and ...Qd8-
16.Rc2
a5.
16.f4 e5 17.Be3 exf4 18.Bxf4 Qb6+
11.Nd2 19.Kh1 Bxf4 20.Rxf4 Qxb2 21.Rc2 Qb6
11.f3?! a4 12.Nd2?! a3 13.bxa3 Ng4 22.Rd2 Ne5 23.Nd5 Qc5 Black’s dark
14.fxg4 Bxc3μ; squares are in theory weak, but without
11.a3 a4 12.Nd2 Qa5= Ideas for Black White’s dark squared bishop on the board
include ...Be6/...Nd7-c5 or alternatively Black has nothing to worry about. On the
other hand, Black’s light squared bishop is
...e7-e5/...Nc6-d4.
clearly superior to its counterpart.
11...Bc8! 24.Nf6+ Kg7 25.Rxd6 Be6=
Black’s bishop is misplaced on d7 in
16...e5 17.Be3 Bxe3 18.fxe3 Nc5 19.Rd2
both the 10.Nc2 and 10.Nb3 lines.
Ra6 20.Bg4 Be6 21.Qe2 Qe7
Ordinarily Black would prefer to play
...Be6/...Nd7-c5 but there is no time for
that here since White’s f4-f5 comes too
fast.
11...Be6 12.f4 Nd7?? 13.f5+–
12.Rc1 Nd7 13.Nb3

XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY want to play ...f7-f5 because that would
9-+-+-trk+0 undouble White’s e-pawns, but White has
9+p+-wqp+p0 nothing constructive to do either. Black
9r+-zpl+p+0 can literally play ...Ra6-a8-a6-a8 and wait
9+-sn-zp-+-0 for White to do something.
9p+P+P+L+0 22.Bxe6
9+-sN-zP-+-0 22.Nd5? Bxd5 23.exd5 f5μ
9PzP-tRQ+PzP0 22...fxe6 23.Rxf8+ Kxf8 24.Nb5 Kg7
9+-+-+RmK-0 25.Qf3 Rc6 26.Rf2 Rc8 27.Nxd6
xiiiiiiiiy 27.g4 Rf8 28.Qxf8+ Qxf8 29.Rxf8
Kxf8 30.Nxd6 Ke7 31.Nb5 Nxe4³
It is hard to see how either side will
make progress; Black doesn’t particularly 27...Qxd6 28.Qf6+ Kg8 29.Qf7+ Kh8
30.Qf6+ Kg8=
 3
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7
5.c4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Be2 d6
9.0-0 Bd7 10.Nc2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9PzPN+LzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
is move was a real headache for me to
deal with when preparing this book. I did
not have the luxury of recommending the
usual 9...Nxd4 because I was in on the
secret of Smyslov’s powerful 11.Qd3! e
database games were not much help either;
the consensus seems to be that Black must
sit back passively and demonstrate
resiliency in the face of White’s b2-b4 or
f4-f4/g2-g4 expansions (see the
alternatives to 10...Rc8 for an illustration).
I analyzed all kinds of weird ideas for
Black, like ...a7-a5/...Nc6-b4/...Bd7-
c6/...Nf6-d7-c5, but I realized that
White’s position is too solid for Black to
get away with unprincipled play. I
concluded that if Black is going to be able
to equalize in this line, it will be via
‘healthy’, thematic moves in the spirit of
the opening.
10...Rc8!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0
9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9PzPN+LzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Until around 2012 this was by far the
most popular move, and it still is overall,
but it has been absent from the top games
in the last ve years, particularly in favor
of 10...Qa5. I nd the positions after
10...Qa5 to be overly provocative: Black
does not need to cede as much ground as
he tends to in those lines. After 10...Rc8
we will consider White’s three most
popular attempts.
10...Qa5 11.Qd2 Rfc8 12.Rac1 Ne5
13.b3 Nc6 14.b4 Qd8 15.f4 Bg4 16.Bd3
Be6 17.h3 a5 18.a3 axb4 19.axb4 Nb8
20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.cxd5 Ra2 22.Qe1 Nbd7
23.Nd4 Ra3 24.Qd2 Rca8 25.Kh2 Ra2
26.Rc2 Rxc2 27.Qxc2 Qb6 28.Qc4 Qd8
29.Rc1± 0–1 (42) Swicarz,M-
Cyborowski,L Poland 2015;
10...a6 11.f3 Na7?! 12.Na3 Bc6
13.Qd2 Nd7 14.Rab1 Qb8?! 15.Rfc1 Rc8
16.b4 b6 17.c5 dxc5 18.bxc5 Nb5
19.Naxb5 axb5 20.cxb6 Nxb6 21.Nxb5
Be8 22.Rxc8 Nxc8 23.Qc1!+– 1–0 (47) 13...Neg4 14.Bd4
Vuckovic,B (2558)-Abramovic,B (2455)
(14.Bxa7 bxc4 15.b4 Bc6³ 1/2–1/2
Kraljevo SRB 2015.
(38) Nijboer,F (2525)-Bosch,J (2425)
11.f3 Amsterdam 1996)
is is by far White’s most popular
14...bxc4 15.Bxc4
choice. Against White’s other moves Black XIIIIIIIIY
plays ...Nc6-e5, but here since White has
committed himself to f2-f3, Black can play
9-+rwq-trk+0
11...Be6! when White’s best plan is to go 9zp-+lzppvlp0
for f4-f5, now at the cost of a tempo. 9-+-zp-snp+0
11.Qd2 Ne5 9+-+-+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+LvLPzPn+0
9-+rwq-trk+0 9+PsN-+-+-0
9zpp+lzppvlp0 9P+NwQ-+PzP0
9-+-zp-snp+0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
9+-+-sn-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+P+P+-+0 15...e5! 16.fxe5
9+-sN-vL-+-0
(16.Bxa7? Qa5 17.Be3 Nxe3 18.Nxe3
9PzPNwQLzPPzP0 exf4 19.Rxf4 Nxe4–+)
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy 16...dxe5 17.Bxa7 Qc7 18.Bf2 Be6!
19.Nb5 Qb7 20.Nd6 Nxe4!³;
12.b3 White’s most popular move.
11.Rc1 Ne5
a) 12.Na3 Be6 13.b3 Qa5 14.Nab5 a6 XIIIIIIIIY
15.Nd4 b5=; 9-+rwq-trk+0
b) 12.c5 Bc6! (12...dxc5 13.f4 Nc6 9zpp+lzppvlp0
(13...Neg4 14.e5 Nh5 15.h3 Nxe3 9-+-zp-snp+0
16.Qxe3 Bh6 17.Rad1 Qe8 18.Bxh5 9+-+-sn-+-0
gxh5 19.Qf3²) 14.Rad1 Nb8 15.Qe1 9-+P+P+-+0
(15.e5 Ng4„) 15...Qe8 16.Qh4 b5 9+-sN-vL-+-0
(16...Bc6 17.f5 Nbd7 18.Ne1²) 17.f5
b4 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.Rxd5 Bxb2
9PzPN+LzPPzP0
20.e5∞) 13.cxd6 Bxe4 14.Bxa7 Qxd6 9+-tRQ+RmK-0
15.Qxd6 exd6 16.Ne3 Bd3=; xiiiiiiiiy
12...b5! 13.f4
(11...a6!? 12.f4 b5 13.cxb5 axb5
(13.cxb5? Qc7 14.Bd4 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 14.Bxb5 Ng4 15.a4 Nxe3 16.Nxe3
Qxc2 16.Qe3 f5!μ)
 Nd4 17.Bxd7 Qxd7 18.f5 Qa7 19.Kh1
XIIIIIIIIY
e6 20.Rb1 Rfd8©) 9-+r+-trk+0
12.b3 is line may be one reason that
9zpp+lzppvlp0
Black stopped playing 10...Rc8, but I have
9-+-zp-+-+0
found a new move which seems to revive 9wq-+Psn-zp-0
Black’s position. 9-+P+-+-+0
(12.Na3 Qa5 13.f3 Be6 14.Nd5 Nxd5 9sN-+-vLP+P0
15.exd5 Bd7 9PzP-+L+P+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-tRQ+RmK-0
9-+r+-trk+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+-zp-+p+0 Not the only move for Black, but
9wq-+Psn-+-0 certainly his most aesthetically appealing
option. 17.Qe1 (17.Rc2 h6 18.f4 gxf4
9-+P+-+-+0 19.Rxf4 f5„; 17.Bxg5?! Qb6+ 18.Rf2
9sN-+-vLP+-0 h6 19.Bd2 Qxb2 20.Nb1 Qxa2³)
9PzP-+L+PzP0 17...Qxe1 18.Rfxe1 f5 19.Bxg5
9+-tRQ+RmK-0 (19.Bxa7 g4©) 19...Nf7 20.Bxe7 Rfe8
xiiiiiiiiy 21.Bd1 Bxb2 22.Rb1 Bxa3 23.Rxb7
Ne5 24.Rxe5 Bc5+ 25.Kf1 dxe5
In general Black has three plans in such 26.Bxc5 Rxc5 27.Rxd7 Rxc4 28.Rxa7
positions: either play ...f7-f5-f4 securing Rd4=)
the e5 square for Black’s knight, or play 12...Qa5!N
...e7-e6 opening up the center with XIIIIIIIIY
White’s knight misplaced on a3, and
nally ...a7-a6/...b7-b5 as usual. Here
9-+r+-trk+0
we will see Black implement a different 9zpp+lzppvlp0
idea from these, which works because of 9-+-zp-snp+0
the concrete features of the position. 9wq-+-sn-+-0
16.h3 (16.f4 Ng4 17.Bxg4 Bxg4 9-+P+P+-+0
18.Qxg4 Bxb2 19.Nb5 Bxc1 20.Rxc1 9+PsN-vL-+-0
Rxc4!–+) 16...g5!?
9P+N+LzPPzP0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
An important novelty. White is forced
to make a decision of how to deal with the
hanging c3-knight, and Black will respond
accordingly.
XIIIIIIIIY
a) 12...a6 13.Nd4! Were it not for this
XIIIIIIIIY
move, 12...a6 would be ne for Black. 9-+r+r+k+0
13...Qa5 (13...Neg4 14.Bd2 Qb6 9+p+lzppvlp0
15.Nc2²) 14.Nd5! Nxd5 (14...Qd8 9p+-zp-+p+0
15.f3 Nxd5 16.exd5 e6 17.dxe6 fxe6∞) 9+-+-+-+n0
15.exd5 f5 16.a4 Ng4 17.Bxg4 fxg4 9P+P+P+-+0
18.Re1²; 9+PsNL+-+P0
b) 12...b5?! is is thematic but 9-+-vL-zPP+0
unfortunately Black’s compensation is 9+-tR-+RmK-0
inadequate. 13.Nxb5 Nxe4 (13...Bxb5
14.cxb5 Nxe4 15.f4 Nd7 16.Nd4±)
xiiiiiiiiy
14.Nxa7 Ra8 15.a4 Nc5 16.Bxc5 dxc5
In general Black should be happy to
17.Nb5 Qb6 18.Qd2 Rfd8 19.Qe3 Bf5
exchange queens in this line of the
20.Nb4 e6 21.Rfd1 Rab8 22.Nd3²;
Maroczy. Here, Black will consider
13.Qd2 relocating his h5 knight to c5, or
perhaps instead he will relocate his g7
a) 13.Nd4 Neg4! (13...a6 14.Nd5!
bishop to a7 and keep the knight on f6.
(14.h3 b5 15.f4 Nc6 16.cxb5 Nxd4
Eventually things will zzle out: White
17.Bxd4 axb5=; 14.f3 b5 15.cxb5 axb5
will play Nd5, Black will take it with
16.Ndxb5 Bxb5 17.Nxb5 Rxc1
either knight or bishop, and rooks will
18.Qxc1 Qxa2=) 14...Rfe8 15.b4 (15.a4 get exchanged on the c- le. As always,
Nxd5 16.exd5 e6 17.dxe6 (17.f4 Nxc4! Black’s counterplay is to be found in
18.bxc4 exd5μ) 17...fxe6 18.f4 Nf7 ...f7-f5 or ...b7-b5.;
19.Bf3 d5=) 15...Qd8 16.f4! (16.Nxf6+
exf6! 17.Qd2 Nc6 18.f3 f5„) 16...Neg4 b) 13.Bd2 Qb6 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5
(16...Nc6 17.Nc2±) 17.Nxf6+ Nxf6 f5„;
18.e5 Ne4 19.e6 fxe6 20.Bg4 Bxd4 13...b5!
21.Bxd4 Nf6 22.Be2 Rf8 23.Qb3²) XIIIIIIIIY
14.Bd2 Qc5 (14...Nxh2 15.Ncb5 Qb6 9-+r+-trk+0
16.Kxh2 a6 17.Be3 axb5 18.Ne6 Qa5 9zp-+lzppvlp0
19.Nxf8²) 15.Nf3 (15.Nc2 Compare 9-+-zp-snp+0
this to the analogous position in the
12...a6 line, where Black’s queen is on
9wqp+-sn-+-0
b6 instead of c5. ere, Black’s next 9-+P+P+-+0
move is unavailable to him. 15...Qe5! 9+PsN-vL-+-0
16.g3 Qh5 17.h4 Qc5=) 15...Rfe8 9P+NwQLzPPzP0
16.h3 Ne5 17.a4 a6 18.Nxe5 Qxe5 9+-tR-+RmK-0
19.Bd3 Qh5! 20.Qxh5 Nxh5= xiiiiiiiiy

XIIIIIIIIY
 Now that White’s c3-knight is ‘pinned’,
XIIIIIIIIY
Nc3xb5 is no longer possible as it was 9-+rwq-trk+0
after 12...b5. 14.Nd5 9+p+lzppvlp0
(14.b4 Qc7 15.c5 Rfd8„; 14.Nxb5?!
9p+nzp-snp+0
Qxd2 15.Bxd2 Nxe4 16.Be3 a6 9+-+-+-+-0
17.Nbd4 f5„) 9-+P+P+-+0
14...Qxd2 15.Bxd2 9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzPN+L+PzP0
(15.Nxe7+ Kh8 16.Bxd2 Rce8 17.Nd5
Nxe4=)
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
15...Nxd5 16.cxd5 f5 17.exf5 gxf5 e
position is dynamically equal. Black has 12.Rc1!
obvious static weaknesses, but he also has (12.Qd2 Ne5 13.Na3 (13.b3 b5
more central pawns and active pieces. I
14.cxb5 Qa5 15.b4 Qc7 16.Bd4 Nc4!
will just give a sample variation for how
(16...Bxb5 17.Ne3 Nc4 18.Nxc4 Bxc4
play could continue.
XIIIIIIIIY 19.Rac1 Qb7=) 17.Qc1 axb5„)
13...Be6 14.Nd5 Bxd5 (14...Nfd7?!
9-+r+-trk+0 15.Rac1 (15.Bd4 Nc6 16.Bxg7 (16.Be3
9zp-+lzp-vlp0 f5 17.Nf4 Bf7∞) 16...Kxg7 17.Kh1 a5
9-+-zp-+-+0 18.Nc2 Nc5 19.Nce3 f6²) 15...f5
9+p+Psnp+-0 16.exf5 gxf5?! (16...Bxf5 17.Rfd1²)
9-+-+-+-+0 17.f4 Nc6 (17...Ng4 18.Bxg4 fxg4
9+P+-+-+-0 19.f5 Bf7 20.b3 Nf6 21.Nxf6+ exf6
9P+NvLLzPPzP0 22.Rf4 h5 23.Rd4±) 18.Bf3 Nc5
19.Rfe1 Bf7 20.b4 Ne4 21.Bxe4 fxe4
9+-tR-+RmK-0 22.b5 Nb8 23.Bb6± 1–0 (53)
xiiiiiiiiy Young,G-Panjwani,R Las Vegas 2013)
18.Nd4 a6 19.a4 bxa4 20.bxa4 Bxa4 15.exd5 (15.cxd5 e6=) 15...e6 16.dxe6
21.Bxa6 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Bd7 23.Nc6 Ra8 fxe6 17.Rad1 (17.b4 d5=) 17...d5 18.c5
24.Bb5 Kf8 25.Bg5 Ng6= Nfd7 19.Rc1 (19.b4 a5=) 19...d4
20.Bg5 (20.Bxd4 Nxc5³) 20...Nf6=)
11...Be6!
11...a6 12...Ne5?!
(12...Be6 A recommendation of
Khalifman. 13.Nd5! (13.Na3 Nd7
14.Qd2 Qa5 15.Rfd1 f5! 16.exf5 Bxf5
17.Qd5+?! Qxd5 18.cxd5 Nb4 19.g4?!
Bd3 20.Bxd3 Rxf3μ) 13...Nd7 14.b4 f5
15.exf5 Bxf5 16.b5±)
XIIIIIIIIY
 13.c5!! A brilliant computer-move! (16...e5 17.Nb4 exd4 18.Ncd5 Nxd5
(13.Na3 Be6 14.Nd5 Nfd7 15.f4 Nc6= 19.Nxd5 Qa7 20.Bd3 Nc6 21.f4 Ne7
Black will continue with ...f7-f5; White’s 22.Nxe7+ Qxe7 23.Bxa6 Rc3 24.Bd3±)
knight is awkward on a3.) 17.Rac1 Qb7 18.Nd5 Nxd5
13...dxc5 14.f4 Neg4 (18...e5 19.Be3 Nxd5 20.exd5 Ra8
(14...Nc6 15.e5 Ne8 16.Bf3 b6 17.Rf2! 21.Nb4±)
Be6 18.Qxd8 Nxd8 19.Na4 Rb8 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.exd5±;
20.b4±)
11...Ne5 12.b3 a6 13.Nd5 Nxd5
15.e5 Nxe3 16.Nxe3 Ne8 17.Rc2! b5 14.exd5 f5 15.Qd2 b5 16.cxb5 axb5
18.Rd2 Rc7 19.a4±; 17.Nd4²
11...Na5 12.b3 a6 12.f4
(12...Ng4 13.Bd2! Qb6+ (13...Ne5 is is the computer’s recommendation
14.Rc1 (14.f4 Nexc4!„) 14...f5 15.f4 — machines don’t have egos about
blatantly losing tempos.
Nf7 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.Ne3±) 14.Kh1
Nf2+ 15.Rxf2 Qxf2 16.Nd5+–) 12.Qd2 Nd7 13.Rac1
13.Qd2 b5 14.cxb5 (13.Rab1 f5 14.exf5 Bxf5=; 13.Nd5
XIIIIIIIIY Bxb2 14.Rab1 Bg7 15.Rxb7 Nc5=)
9-+rwq-trk+0 13...Re8!
9+-+lzppvlp0 XIIIIIIIIY
9p+-zp-snp+0 9-+rwqr+k+0
9snP+-+-+-0 9zpp+nzppvlp0
9-+-+P+-+0 9-+nzpl+p+0
9+PsN-vLP+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9P+NwQL+PzP0 9-+P+P+-+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0 9+-sN-vLP+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9PzPNwQL+PzP0
14...Qc7
9+-tR-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
(14...Rxc3 15.Qxc3 Nd5 16.Qd2 Nxe3
17.Nxe3±; 14...Ng4 15.Bd4 e5 16.Ba7! Prophylaxis! Black would like to play
±) 13...Qa5 instead, but that allows 14.b4!
which works because of Black’s e7-pawn
15.Bd4 Bxb5
being weak.
(15...axb5 16.Nb4 Qb8 17.Kh1 Nc6 (13...Qa5?! 14.b4! Nxb4 15.Nd5 Nc6
18.Nxc6 Bxc6 19.a4±) 16.Qxa5 Nxa5 17.Nxe7++–)
16.Bxb5 axb5
 14.b3 fortunately we don’t need to in light of
12...Qa5! 24...Bd4
(14.Rfd1 Qa5=; 14.f4 Nc5 15.Nd4
Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Qb6 17.Be3 Qb4=) (24...d5!?∞)
14...Qa5 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 25.Bd7 Nb6 26.Nxb6 Bxb6 27.Bxe6
Bxd4+ 17.Qxd4 Qc5 18.Qxc5 Nxc5= Bd4 28.b4±
12...Qa5! 13.Rc1!
XIIIIIIIIY e most logical choice: White takes his
9-+r+-trk+0 rook off the h8-a1 diagonal on which it
9zpp+-zppvlp0 was vulnerable after b2-b4, and by X-ray
9-+nzplsnp+0 defends both the c3-knight and c4-pawn.
9wq-+-+-+-0 13.a3 Nb8!
9-+P+PzP-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-sN-vL-+-0 9-snr+-trk+0
9PzPN+L+PzP0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 9-+-zplsnp+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9wq-+-+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
Black threatens a discovery attack on the
c4-pawn with either ...Nc6-b4(b8), when
9zP-sN-vL-+-0
White’s usual b2-b3 is impossible because 9-zPN+L+PzP0
of the hanging c3 knight. 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
12...a6 is followed by 13...b5 almost xiiiiiiiiy
works but not quite. e opposite colored 14.Nd5
bishop endgame which results is highly
unpleasant for Black, even if objectively (14.b4 Qd8³ White’s c4-pawn falls.)
drawn. 13.Rc1 14...Qd8 15.Bd3
(13.Qd2 Na5 14.b3 b5 15.cxb5 axb5 (15.f5 Bd7 16.Bxa7 Nxd5 17.Qxd5
16.Bxb5 Qc7 17.Bd4 Bxb3!μ) Bc6 18.Qd3 Bxb2 19.Rab1 Be5=)
13...b5 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Bxb5 Ng4 15...Nbd7 16.Nd4 Bg4=;
16.f5!
13.g4 Nb4!
(16.Bxc6 Nxe3 17.Nxe3 Qb6 18.Qd2
Rxc6©) (13...Nb8!?)

16...Nxe3 17.Nxe3 Qb6 18.fxe6 Qxe3+ 14.Nxb4 Qxb4 15.a3 Qa5 16.Nd5
19.Kh1 fxe6 20.Rxf8+ Kxf8 21.Na4 Na7 Nxd5 17.exd5 Bd7=
22.Rxc8+ Nxc8 23.Qf3+ Qxf3 24.gxf3 It 13...Qa6!
won’t surprise me if Black can nd a plan 13...Nb4?! 14.Nxb4 Qxb4 15.b3²;
to force a draw in this endgame, but
 13...Nb8?! 14.Nd5 Qd8 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 Rxa3 24.Rbc1 Rxc3 25.Rxc3 a5=
16.Nd4² Note that were White’s rook not 16...Bd7 17.f5 Qa5 18.Nd4 Rfe8!
on c1 the c4-pawn would be hanging.
19.Rcd1 a6 20.a4 Ne5
14.b3 20...Be5 21.Nd5 Qxd2 22.Rxd2 Bxd4
14.Na3 Nxe4! 15.Nxe4 Bxb2 16.Nb5 23.Bxd4 Nxd4 24.Rxd4 Bc6 25.Nb6
Bxc1 17.Qxc1 Qxa2 18.Nbc3 Qa5„ Rcd8 26.Rfd1
14...Ng4 15.Bxg4 Bxg4 (26.b4 e5 27.fxe6 Rxe6=)
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-trk+0 26...a5 27.c5²
9zpp+-zppvlp0 21.h3 Bc6²
9q+nzp-+p+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+r+r+k+0
9-+P+PzPl+0 9+p+-zppvlp0
9+PsN-vL-+-0 9p+lzp-+p+0
9P+N+-+PzP0 9wq-+-snP+-0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0 9P+PsNP+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+PsN-vL-+P0
9-+-wQ-+P+0
16.Qd2! 9+-+R+RmK-0
16.Qxg4 Bxc3 17.a4 White is searching xiiiiiiiiy
for harmony, and Black must act fast to
prevent White from nding it. 17...Na5! is is one of the few times in the book
where I’ll give White a slight advantage in
(17...Qa5 18.Rcd1 Bg7 19.Qe2²)
a main recommendation. e reader
18.Rb1 should be suspicious of authors who claim
XIIIIIIIIY pure equality in all lines in anything other
9-+r+-trk+0 than the most topical lines of the Ruy
9zpp+-zpp+p0 Lopez or perhaps the Najdorf Sicilian.
is is the sort of += we have to live with
9q+-zp-+p+0 as Accelerated Dragon players. White
9sn-+-+-+-0 played very well to get here; he had to
9P+P+PzPQ+0 navigate his way around many landmines.
9+Pvl-vL-+-0 After all that, we can seek consolation in
9-+N+-+PzP0 the fact that objectively speaking, there are
only three results in chess, and ‘+=’ is just
9+R+-+RmK-0 short-hand for ‘= after accurate play’. e
xiiiiiiiiy onus is on White to improve his position;
Black can shift his pieces around until
18...Nxb3! 19.Rxb3 Qxc4 20.Rfb1
White makes a concession. For example, if
Qxe4 21.Qe2 Rc4 22.Na3 Rxa4 23.Rxc3
White goes for g4-g5, then Black may his bishop on e5, perhaps combined with
relocate his knight to c5 via d7, and place ...Qa5-b4.
 4

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 12...a6!? is was Larsen’s choice against
5.c4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Be2 d6 Rogoff. It appears to be perfectly sound
9.0-0 Bd7 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 and deserves further research. 13.Rfe1
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0 (13.b4 b5 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Qe2 Qd7
16.a4 bxa4 17.b5 Bb7 18.Nxa4 Qg4
9zpp+-zppvlp0 19.f3 Qg5=)
9-+lzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0 13...Rb8 14.a4 a5 15.Nd5 Nd7
16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Re3 e5 18.Rh3 h5
9-+PvLP+-+0 19.Nc3 Nc5 20.Bc2 Qe7 21.Rd1 Rbd8=
9+-sN-+-+-0 1/2–1/2 (40) Rogoff,K (2480)-Larsen,B
9PzP-wQLzPPzP0 (2625) Biel 1976.
9tR-+-+RmK-0 13.Rae1
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
Here White’s main alternative to 12.f3 9+p+-zppvlp0
is 12.Bd3.
9-+lzp-snp+0
12.Bd3 9zp-+-+-+-0
A move rst played by GM (and now
professor of economics at Harvard) Ken
9-+PvLP+-+0
Rogoff against Bent Larsen in 1976. By 9+-sNL+-+-0
abstaining from f2-f3, White intends to 9PzP-wQ-zPPzP0
meet ...Nf6-d7 with the exchange of dark 9+-+-tRRmK-0
squared bishops, followed by the rook lift xiiiiiiiiy
Ra1(f1)-e1–e3-h3, threatening Qd2-h6.
White is anticipating Black’s ...Nf6-d7,
12.Rfd1 e5 13.Be3 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 Bxe4
and preemptively initiating his thematic
15.Qxd6 Qh4=; rook lift. Black, however, need not
12.Qe3 e5 13.Bxa7 Nxe4!N 14.Nxe4 comply.
Bxe4 15.Rfd1 Bc6! 16.Bc5 dxc5 17.Rxd8 13.b3 Nd7 14.Bxg7 Kxg7
Rfxd8= I’d rather be Black: ...e5-e4 and
...Bg7-d4 are to follow.
12...a5
By far Black’s most popular choice.

XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-tr-+0
9+p+nzppmkp0
9-+lzp-+p+0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+PsNL+-+-0
9P+-wQ-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
15.Rfe1 Once played by a 14-year old
Magnus Carlsen!
(15.Rae1 Nc5 16.Re3 e5! 17.Rh3 h5
18.f4 exf4 19.Qxf4 (19.Rxf4 a4!„)
19...Qe7=)
15...Qb6! Black threatens ...Qb6-
d4/...Nd7-c5. If Black manages to
exchange queens he will have the ‘better
half ’ of an equal endgame.
a) 15...Re8 16.Re3 Qb6 17.Rh3 Kg8
18.Qh6 Nf6 19.Be2 Kh8 20.g4‚;
b) 15...Nc5 16.Bc2 (16.Bf1 e6 17.Re3
Qf6 18.Rae1 e5 19.Nb5 Rfd8 20.Nc7
Ra7 21.a3 b6 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.exd5 a4
24.b4 Nb3 25.Qd1 Qg5³ 1/2–1/2 (25)
Shabalov, A (2520)-Panjwani,R (2422)
Dearborn 2013) 16...b6 17.a3²;
16.Bf1 is was 14-year old (but still
nearly 2600–rated) Carlsen’s choice.
a) 16.Bc2 Qc5 17.Nd5 (17.Re3 a4
18.Rh3 Nf6 19.Qh6+ Kg8 20.Rd1
axb3 21.axb3 Ra5=) 17...e6 18.Qc3+ e5
19.Rad1 Rfd8 20.Rd3 Nf8! 21.Qd2
Ne6=;
b) 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Qd4 18.Rad1
Ne5 19.Bc2 Qxd2 20.Rxd2 g5! 21.Rd4
Rab8 22.a4 Rh8! 23.f4 gxf4 24.Rxf4
Rbg8 25.Bf5 b6 26.Kf2 Kf8=;
16...a4!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-tr-+0
9+p+nzppmkp0
9-wqlzp-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9p+P+P+-+0
9+PsN-+-+-0
9P+-wQ-zPPzP0
9tR-+-tRLmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
a) 16...Qc5 17.Rad1 Rfd8 18.Re3 e6
19.Qxd6 (19.Rd3 Nf6=) 19...Qxd6
20.Rxd6 Nc5 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.f3²;
b) 16...Ne5 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 e6
19.Rad1 exd5 20.Qxd5² 1/2–1/2 (65)
Carlsen,M (2581)-Lie, K (2474)
Drammen 2004;
17.Qb2 Ne5 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5
axb3 20.axb3 f6 21.Qc3 g5= In such
positions Queens and Knights tend to
cooperate better than Queens and
Bishops.;
13.Rfe1 a4 14.Nd5 Nd7 15.Bxg7 Kxg7
16.Re3 e5 17.Rh3 h5 18.Ne3 Rh8 19.Rg3
Nc5 20.Rd1 h4 21.Rh3 Bxe4μ 0–1 (47)
Kramnik-Grischuk, WCh Candidates
KAZ 2011.
13...a4!
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 20...Qb6 21.Qc3+ Kg8 22.f5 Ne5
9r+-wq-trk+0 23.f6 Qc5 24.Qd2 Kh8 25.Qh6 Rg8
9+p+-zppvlp0 26.Rf4?? g5–+)
9-+lzp-snp+0 15...Bd7 16.Rd1 Qe7 17.Rfe1 Rfc8
9+-+-+-+-0 18.Bf1 e5 19.Bb6 Be6
9p+PvLP+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-sNL+-+-0 9r+r+-+k+0
9PzP-wQ-zPPzP0 9+p+-wqpvlp0
9+-+-tRRmK-0 9-vL-zplsnp+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-zp-+-0
Here all the games in the database
9psNP+P+-+0
continue with 14.Nd5 in order to prevent 9+-+-+-+-0
Black’s ...Qd8-a5. 9PzP-wQ-zPPzP0
13...Nd7?! 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Re3 Qb6 9+-+RtRLmK-0
16.Rh3 xiiiiiiiiy
(16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Rfe8 18.Qc3+ 20.b3
Kg8 19.Rfe1²)
(¹20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.cxd5 Bd7 22.Rc1
16...h5 17.Rxh5 gxh5 18.Qg5+ Kh8 f5 23.f3 fxe4 24.fxe4 Qh4 25.Qb4 Bh6
19.Qxh5+ Kg7 20.Qg5+ Kh8 21.e5‚ 26.Rxc8+ Rxc8 27.Bf2 Qe7 28.Qxb7±)
14.Nd5 20...axb3 21.axb3 Nd7 22.Be3 Nc5
14.f4 Qa5 15.e5 Ng4 16.h3 dxe5 23.Qxd6 Qxd6 24.Rxd6 Nxb3= 1/2–1/2
17.fxe5 Nxe5–+ (36) Wojtaszek,R (2727)-Mamedov,R
(2650) Huai’an 2016.
14...Nd7
Now that White has ‘wasted’ a move 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Re3
with Nc3-d5, Black is in time to counter 16.Qc3+ e5 17.Ne3 Nc5 18.f3 Qa5
White’s attack after the exchange of dark- 19.Qxa5 Rxa5 20.Rd1 Ra6 21.Bb1 Rb6
squared bishops. 22.Rf2 Rd8 23.Rdd2 Kf8 24.Rfe2 Ke7
14...e6 15.Nb4! 25.Kf1 Ra8 26.Ke1 f6 27.Kd1 Ne6
28.Kc1 Nd4³ 0–1 (64) Moreno Ibanez,M
(15.Bb6 Qd7 16.Nb4 (16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 (2210)-Moreno Ruiz,J (2470) La Roda
17.Rd1 d5 18.Bb1 d4 19.Qf4 Bg7 2015.
20.e5 Bxg2! 21.Rxd4 Qc6 22.Rd6 Qf3
16...e5!
23.Qxf3 Bxf3 24.Re1 Rfc8„ 1/2–1/2
(85) Tomazini,Z (2411)-Krumpacnik,D
(2290) Ptuj SLO 2015) 16...Qe7
17.Bd4 Qc7 18.f4 Nd7 19.Bxg7 Kxg7
20.Kh1 (20.f5 Qb6+ 21.Kh1 Qd4=)
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 18...Nc5
9r+-wq-tr-+0 18...Rh8!? 19.Nd1 Nc5 20.Nc3 Ne6
9+p+n+pmkp0 21.Rd1 Qb6 22.Bf1 Rad8 23.Rd3 Nd4=
9-+lzp-+p+0 1/2–1/2 (32) Espinosa Aranda, A (2399)-
9+-+Nzp-+-0 Vazquez Igarza,R (2597) Madrid 2015.
9p+P+P+-+0 19.Rxh5?!
9+-+LtR-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9PzP-wQ-zPPzP0 9r+-wq-tr-+0
9+p+-+pmk-0
9+-+-+RmK-0 9-+lzp-+p+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-sn-zp-+R0
Not only does this move take rm grip 9p+P+P+-+0
over the d4-square, Black also uncovers his 9+-+LsN-+-0
Queen’s defense of the important g5-
square which in many variations prevents
9PzP-wQ-zPPzP0
Qd2-g5. 9+-+-+RmK-0
17.Rh3 h5 18.Ne3
xiiiiiiiiy
18.f4 Bxd5 19.exd5 Qa5 20.Qxa5 Rxa5 19...Nxd3! 20.Nf5+ Kf6! 21.Qxd3 gxf5
21.f5 Nf6 22.fxg6 e4 23.Be2 fxg6=; 22.Rxf5+ Ke7μ
18.g4?! Bxd5 19.exd5 Nf6 20.gxh5 0–1 (28) Jerez Perez, A (2405)-Herraiz
Nxh5 21.Rxh5 gxh5 22.Kh1 Qf6 23.f4 Hidalgo, H (2442) Barcelona 2015.
e4! 24.Qg2+ Kh6 25.Qxe4 Rh8μ
 5
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7
5.c4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Be2 d6
9.0-0 Bd7 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6
12.f3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+lzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PvLP+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...Nd7
12...a5 It is hard to say which move
order — 12...a5 or 12...Nd7 is more
accurate. In practice neither is because
they will quickly transpose. 13.b3 Nd7
14.Be3 Nc5 transposes to 12...Nd7.
13.Bf2!?
is is only played about 6% of the
time, 13.Be3 being by far the most
popular (80%), and 13.Bxg7 second most
(13%). However, this move has at least
two clear advantages over 13.Be3:
1) As we will see, it is helpful for the
bishop to be less vulnerable on f2 than it
is on e3 in the ...Qb6 lines.
2) In the ...e6/...Be5 lines, a common
idea for Black is to play ...Qd8-h4,
which is now impossible.
13.b4 Bxd4+ 14.Qxd4 Qb6 15.Qxb6
Nxb6=;
13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Kh1 is was GM
Oliver Barbosa’s choice against me in
2016. I managed to win the game, but
both our play could have been
signi cantly improved upon. 14...a5 15.f4
a4 16.Nd5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-tr-+0
9+p+nzppmkp0
9-+lzp-+p+0
9+-+N+-+-0
9p+P+PzP-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
16...Bxd5
(16...Qa5!? is was my choice against
Barbosa. 17.Qe3 (17.b4!? axb3 18.Qb2+
Nf6 19.axb3 Qd8 20.Rxa8 Qxa8=;
17.Qxa5 Rxa5 18.Nxe7 Bxe4μ)
17...Qc5 18.Qc3+ e5?! (18...Nf6!
19.Nxf6 exf6 20.Bf3 b5=) 19.Rad1
Rae8 20.f5 (20.Bg4 Nb6 21.Nxb6
Qxb6 22.Rxd6 Qc5 23.Rfd1 Bxe4=;
20.fxe5! Nxe5 21.b4 axb3 22.axb3±)
20...Bxd5 21.Rxd5 Qc7 22.Qd2 Nf6
23.Rxd6
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 15...Qb6 16.a3 Qd8 is has been
9-+-+rtr-+0 played a few times by Tiviakov and
9+pwq-+pmkp0 Larsen. Black is sitting back and waiting
9-+-tR-snp+0 for White to ‘do something’ like b3-b4 in
9+-+-zpP+-0 which case Black at present has adequate
counterplay. at being said, if White
9p+P+P+-+0 calmly continues developing then
9+-+-+-+-0 eventually he will achieve a favorable b3-
9PzP-wQL+PzP0 b4, and by ‘wasting’ time with ...Qd8-b6-
9+-+-+R+K0 d8 Black’s counterplay has been stalled.
xiiiiiiiiy (16...Nxb3?? 17.Qd1!+– Note that if
White’s bishop were on e3, this would not
23...Rd8! (23...Nxe4 24.f6+ Kh8 be possible.) 17.Bd1!?
25.Qh6 Rg8 26.Rd3 g5 27.Qxh7+ (17.b4?! axb4 18.axb4 Ra3„)
Kxh7 28.Rh3+ Kg6 29.Bh5+ Kh7
17...b6 18.Bc2 Qb8 19.Rfc1 Rc8
30.Bxf7#) 24.c5 Rxd6 (24...Nxe4
20.b4²
25.f6+ Kh8 26.Qh6 Rg8 27.Rf3 g5
28.Qxh7+ Kxh7 29.Rh3+ Kg6 16.Rfd1
30.Bh5+ Kf5 31.Rf3#) 25.cxd6 Qc6 16.Nb5 is is premature; White
26.fxg6 hxg6 27.Bf3 Rd8 28.Rd1 Nxe4 should rst lure Black’s bishop to e5 (with
29.Qa5 Qc5!³ Barbosa-Panjwani, NY 16.Rfd1) so that he can later gain a tempo
Int 2016 0–1) with f3-f4. Now Black can do without
...Bg7-e5 because he is in time to connect
17.exd5 Qa5 18.Qd4+ Kg8 19.Rf3 Qc5
his rooks. 16...Bxb5 17.cxb5 Qe7 18.b6
20.Qd3
XIIIIIIIIY (18.Rfd1 Rfd8 19.b6 d5=)
9r+-+-trk+0 18...Rfc8!
9+p+nzpp+p0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-zp-+p+0 9r+r+-+k+0
9+-wqP+-+-0 9+p+-wqpvlp0
9p+P+-zP-+0 9-zP-zpp+p+0
9+-+Q+R+-0 9zp-sn-+-+-0
9PzP-+L+PzP0 9-+-+P+-+0
9tR-+-+-+K0 9+P+-+P+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9P+-wQLvLPzP0
20...f5! 21.Re3 Nf6 22.Bf3 Rfe8
9+R+-+RmK-0
23.Rae1 b5! 24.cxb5 Rab8= xiiiiiiiiy
13...a5 14.b3 Nc5 15.Rab1 e6
 (18...Rfd8 19.Rfc1! Preventing Black’s
XIIIIIIIIY
freeing ...d6-d5.) 9r+-+-trk+0
19.Rfd1 d5! A long forcing variation
9+-+-wqp+p0
results in equality. 20.exd5 exd5 21.Qxd5
9-zp-zpp+p+0
Qxe2 22.Bxc5 Bf8! 23.Bxf8 Rc2 24.f4 9zpPsn-vl-+-0
Rd8!! 25.Qf3 Qxf3 26.gxf3 Rxd1+ 9-+-+P+-+0
27.Rxd1 Kxf8 28.Rd7 Rxa2 29.Rxb7 Rb2 9+P+-+P+-0
30.Ra7 Rxb3 31.Rxa5 Rxb6= 9P+-wQLvLPzP0
16...Be5 17.Nb5
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-tRR+-mK-0
9r+-wq-trk+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+p+-+p+p0 20.Rc4?!
9-+lzpp+p+0 (20.Qe3 Rad8 21.f4 Bg7 22.g4 Bh6!
9zpNsn-vl-+-0 23.g5 Bg7 24.Bg4 f6!³)
9-+P+P+-+0 20...d5! 21.exd5 exd5 22.Bh4 Qc7
9+P+-+P+-0 23.Qxd5 Bxh2+ 24.Kh1 Rae8 25.Bf1 Re6
9P+-wQLvLPzP0 26.Qg5 Re5 27.Qf6?? Rh5 28.Rg4
9+R+R+-mK-0 (28.g4 Be5 29.gxh5 Bxf6 30.Bxf6 Qg3
xiiiiiiiiy 31.Bg2 Ne6 32.Rg4 Qf2–+)
Compare this with the analogous line 28...Be5 29.Qc6 Qxc6 30.bxc6 f5
after 13.Be3. ere, 17.Nb5 is just a 31.Rc4 g5–+ 0–1 (37) Findlay,I-
blunder because of 17...Qh4! Panjwani,R Calgary 2016.
17...Bxb5 18.cxb5 Qe7!? 19.Qe3 b6 20.f4 Bg7
18...b6!? is was my choice when I 20...Bf6!? is also possible.
faced this position over the board. Precise 21.Rd2
move orders are not so important here; XIIIIIIIIY
Black will eventually play both ...b6 and 9r+-+-trk+0
...Qe7, then look for opportunities to 9+-+-wqpvlp0
break with ...d6-d5. 19.Rbc1 Qe7 9-zp-zpp+p+0
9zpPsn-+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+P+-wQ-+-0
9P+-tRLvLPzP0
9+R+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
 We have been following Macieja-
Zaninotto, 2016. Here I recommend an
improvement which turns out to be a
fairly thematic way of handling such
positions.
21...Bh6!
Since White does not possess a knight
to plant on d5, Black is able to go for the
...e6-e5 push, which also unleashes
pressure on the weak e4-pawn.
21...Rfd8 22.Rbd1
25...e5! 26.b4 axb4 27.axb4 Na4
28.Qb3 Nc3 29.Bxb6 Nxd1 30.Rxd1 exf4
31.Bxc7 Qxc7 32.Qd5 Rb8 33.Be2 f3!
34.gxf3 Bf4=
22.Rbd1 Rad8 23.e5
23.Bf3 e5 24.g3 Rfe8„
23...dxe5
23...d5 24.Rc2 Rc8
(24...f6 25.Bh4 g5 26.exf6 Rxf6
27.Bxg5 Bxg5 28.fxg5 Rf5 29.h4²)

(22.g4!? is would have been a better 25.Rdc1 f6 26.Bh4 Bg7 27.a3²
try for Macieja. 22...e5 23.f5 Bf6 24.Qxe5 Bg7 25.Qe3 Rxd2 26.Rxd2
24.Qf3²) Rd8=
XIIIIIIIIY
22...Rac8 23.a3 Bh6! 24.Bg4 Rc7
Zaninotto should have maintained some
9-+-tr-+k+0
pressure on the c- le. 9+-+-wqpvlp0
(24...Rb8? 25.b4 axb4 26.axb4 Nxe4
9-zp-+p+p+0
27.Qxe4 f5 28.Qf3 (28.Qe1 fxg4
9zpPsn-+-+-0
29.Bh4 g5 30.fxg5 Bxg5 31.Bxg5 Qxg5 9-+-+-zP-+0
32.Qxe6+±) 28...fxg4 29.Qxg4± 9+P+-wQ-+-0
Macieja-Zaninotto, Najdorf Memorial 9P+-tRLvLPzP0
2016) 9+-+-+-mK-0
25.Qf3 xiiiiiiiiy
(25.b4 axb4 26.axb4 Na4³)
25...e5! 26.b4 axb4 27.axb4 Na4
 6

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7

XIIIIIIIIY
5.c4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Be2 d6 9r+-wq-trk+0
9.0-0 Bd7 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 9+p+-zppvlp0
12.f3 Nd7 13.Be3 a5 9-+lzp-+p+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9zp-sn-+-+-0
9r+-wq-trk+0 9-+P+P+-+0
9+p+nzppvlp0
9-+lzp-+p+0 9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0
9zp-+-+-+-0 9+R+-+RmK-0
9-+P+P+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0 (14...a4 15.b4 axb3 16.axb3²)
9tR-+-+RmK-0
15.Kh1 GM Fedorowicz played this
xiiiiiiiiy against me and then offered a draw the
Most people automatically play 14.b3 next move.
here, but it isn’t technically necessary to do (15.Rfd1 Be5 16.Bg5 (16.Bd4 Ne6=)
so immediately. If White wants to expand 16...Ne6 17.Bh6 Re8 18.b3 Nc5
on the queenside, though, b2-b3 is 19.Qe3 e6 20.Nb5 Bxb5 21.cxb5 b6
inevitable, as a direct a2-a3 will invariably 22.f4 Bg7 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.Rb2
be met by ...a5-a4! XIIIIIIIIY
14.b3 9r+-wqr+-+0
14.Rab1 Nc5 9+-+-+pmkp0
9-zp-zpp+p+0
9zpPsn-+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+P+-wQ-+-0
9PtR-+L+PzP0
9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
24...d5! White’s weak dark squares
justify the following pawn sacri ce to
XIIIIIIIIY
 open les and diagonals. 25.exd5 exd5 is such a mess that in a practical game
26.Qd4+ Kg8 27.Qxd5 Qe7 28.Qf3 both sides have equal chances.)
Rad8©) 17.b4 axb3 18.axb3 Ra3 19.Bd1 e6
15...a4 16.Rfc1 1/2–1/2 Fedorowicz- XIIIIIIIIY
Panjwani 2015 9-+-wq-trk+0
(16.Bg5 Ne6 17.Be3 Nc5=; 16.Nd5 e6 9+p+-+p+p0
17.Nb4 Qe7„) 9-+lzpp+p+0
16...Be5 is is likely how I would have 9+-sn-vl-+-0
played on if I had declined Fed’s draw 9-+P+P+-+0
offer. 9trPsN-vLP+-0
(16...f5!? It’s nice to always have this 9-+-wQ-+PzP0
option in a must-win type situation, but 9+RtRL+-+K0
in general I think Black should hold off xiiiiiiiiy
on ...f7-f5 until he at least connects his
rooks, or until White does something to 20.Bg5
disrupt the harmony in his position (like (20.b4? Qh4 21.Bg1 Qf6 22.bxc5 Bxc3
Nc3-b5).
23.Qe2 d5!³)
17.exf5 Rxf5 18.Nd5 20...f6
(18.b4 axb3 19.axb3 Ra3 20.Bd1 Qf8! (20...Qd7!? 21.b4 Na4 22.Bxa4
XIIIIIIIIY (22.Ne2 b5!„) 22...Bxa4 23.b5 Qc7!
9-+-+-wqk+0 24.f4 Bg7 25.f5 Be5 26.Ne2 e
9+p+-zp-vlp0 computer calls this equal but I nd it a
9-+lzp-+p+0 little awkward to function with my
9+-sn-+r+-0 bishop stranded on a4 so I prefer 20...f6
9-+P+-+-+0 instead.)
9trPsN-vLP+-0 21.Bh4 g5 22.Bg3 Bxg3 23.hxg3 e5
9-+-wQ-+PzP0
9+RtRL+-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
e ‘degenerate’ plan of ...Rf5-h5 and
...Qf8-f6-h4 is actually Black’s best here.
21.Nb5 Ra8 22.b4 Ne4!∞)
18...Qf8∞ is is probably ‘objectively’
+= (whatever that means) but the position

XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY guard. e line I recommend in lieu of
9-+-wq-trk+0 this is, in contrast, quite rare (it is played
9+p+-+-+p0 only about 8% of the time, but it has been
9-+lzp-zp-+0 growing in popularity) and in my
9+-sn-zp-zp-0 judgment equally sound, but with far
greater surprise value. e idea is to ght
9-+P+P+-+0 for the center with ...e7-e6 and ...Bg7-e5,
9trPsN-+PzP-0 ideally followed by ...f7-f5. Black’s bishop
9-+-wQ-+P+0 is rather safe on e5, because White can
9+RtRL+-+K0 scarcely achieve f3-f4 without losing the
xiiiiiiiiy e4-pawn. White tends to focus his
attention in one (or more) of three
I like the look of Black’s dark-squared directions: either he will directly target the
Stonewall formation (shift Black’s g,f,e,d- weakness on d6 that Black creates after
pawns to the right one square). 24.b4 ...e7-e6, or he will try to achieve f3-f4
Ne6= which indirectly targets d6 by hitting its
defender (the bishop to be on e5), or as
14...Nc5
XIIIIIIIIY always White can ‘ignore’ Black’s central
9r+-wq-trk+0 gestures and continue with the usual a3/b4
9+p+-zppvlp0 queenside expansion.
9-+lzp-+p+0 15.Rab1
9zp-sn-+-+-0 is is by far the most popular move,
played nearly 90% of the time. 15.Rfc1
9-+P+P+-+0 Be5
9+PsN-vLP+-0
9P+-wQL+PzP0 (15...e6!? Move order is not important
here; ...e6/...Be5 are interchangeable.)
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy 16.Rab1 e6 17.Qe1 Qf6 18.Qd2
(18.g3 Bd4 (18...g5!?) 19.Qd2 Bxe3+
e rst stage of Black’s plan is
20.Qxe3 e5 21.Nd5 Qd8 22.f4 exf4
complete. Far and away the most common
(nearly 80% of the time) way to continue 23.Qxf4 Bxd5 24.exd5 f5³)
for Black is with the spectacular, if 18...Qh4! 19.g3
unbelievable ...Qb6, ...Rfc8, ...h5, ...Qd8,
...Kh7, and ...Qh8 with pressure on the
long diagonal. is is the line I mentioned
early in the book, which Mamedov
suggested was equal. Playing this plan on
autopilot has its appeal, but because of its
extravagance most White players are aware
of it nowadays, and will not be caught off
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 22.Bxc5!
9r+-+-trk+0
9+p+-+p+p0 (22.Qe1 Qh3+ 23.Kg1 fxe4 24.Bxc5
exf3–+)
9-+lzpp+p+0
9zp-sn-vl-+-0 22...dxc5 23.Rf1™ Black can give a
perpetual whenever he wants, it’s just a
9-+P+P+-wq0 matter of how many accurate moves he
9+PsN-vLPzP-0 wants to make White nd before he gives
9P+-wQL+-zP0 the draw.
9+RtR-+-mK-0 (23.Qe1? Qe5μ)
xiiiiiiiiy 23...g5 24.Qe1™ 24...Qh3+ 25.Kg1
19...Bxg3 Rf6
(19...Qe7 GM Maze probably wanted (25...g4 26.Rf2 g3 27.Rg2 f4∞)
to avoid a draw (with 19...Bxg3) so 26.Rf2 Rh6 27.Rg2 Qh1+ 28.Kf2
chose to play on this way. 20.Nd1 b6 Qh4+ 29.Kf1 Qh1+ 30.Kf2=;
21.Nf2 Rad8 22.Nd3 Bg7 (22...f5
23.exf5 Rxf5 24.Rf1 Bg7=) 23.Rc2 f5 15.Rac1
24.exf5 Rxf5 25.Rf1 Rdf8 26.Ne1 h5
XIIIIIIIIY
27.Bh6 e5 28.Bxg7 Kxg7 29.Qc3 9r+-wq-trk+0
Ne6μ 0–1 (68) Makka,I-Maze,S Aix- 9+p+-zppvlp0
les-Bains FRA 2011) 9-+lzp-+p+0
20.hxg3 Qxg3+ 21.Kh1 9zp-sn-+-+-0
(21.Kf1 f5 22.Bxc5 dxc5 23.Qe3 fxe4
9-+P+P+-+0
24.Nxe4 Bxe4 25.Qxe4 Rf5! 26.Qxe6+ 9+PsN-vLP+-0
Kh8 27.Qe3 Raf8–+) 9P+-wQL+PzP0
21...f5
9+-tR-+RmK-0
XIIIIIIIIY xiiiiiiiiy
9r+-+-trk+0 e second most popular move. GM
9+p+-+-+p0 Lenderman played this against me in
9-+lzpp+p+0 2013. My game against him will be our
9zp-sn-+p+-0 main line in what follows.
9-+P+P+-+0 15...e6
9+PsN-vLPwq-0 (15...b6 An interesting recommendation
9P+-wQL+-+0 of Khalifman’s which is a perfectly viable
9+RtR-+-+K0 alternative to 15...e6. Black intends the
xiiiiiiiiy crafty maneuver ...Ra8-a7-d7. I played
this against GM Kovalyov in 2013; I
 was unsuccessful in that game but it was
XIIIIIIIIY
not due to the opening. 16.Rfd1 9rwq-+-trk+0
9+l+-zppvlp0
(16.Bd1 Not the last time we will see this 9-zp-zp-+p+0
idea. 16...Qb8!?
9+P+-+-+-0
a) 16...e5?! 17.Bc2 Ra7 (17...Ne6 18.Rfd1 9-+P+P+-+0
Nd4 19.Bxd4 exd4 20.Ne2 Qh4 21.g3 9zPpsN-vLP+-0
Qh5 22.Nxd4±) 18.Rfd1 Rd7 19.a3 Ne6 9-wQ-+-+PzP0
20.b4 f5 21.Nd5 Nd4 22.Bg5±;
9+-tR-+RmK-0
b) 16...e6 This deserves further research. xiiiiiiiiy
17.a3 a4 18.b4 Nb3 19.Bxb3 axb3
20.Qb2 d5∞ (20...Ba4 21.Rfd1 Qc7
22.Bd4 Bh6 23.Nxa4 Bxc1 24.Qxc1 21...d5!! 22.exd5 Qd6 23.Qxb3 Rxa3
Rxa4?? 25.Bf6™+–); 24.Qb2 Rxc3 25.Rxc3 Rc8=)

17.a3 16...Ra7
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9rwq-+-trk+0 9-+-wq-trk+0
9+-+-zppvlp0 9tr-+-zppvlp0
9-zplzp-+p+0 9-zplzp-+p+0
9zp-sn-+-+-0
9zp-sn-+-+-0 9-+P+P+-+0
9-+P+P+-+0 9+PsN-vLP+-0
9zPPsN-vLP+-0 9P+-wQL+PzP0
9-+-wQ-+PzP0 9+-tRR+-mK-0
9+-tRL+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
17.Bf1 (17.Nb5 Rd7 18.Nd4 Bb7
17...a4! (17...b5 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 Ne6 19.Rb1 e5 20.Nb5 f5„; 17.Nd5 Rd7
20.Nxb5 Bxb5 21.cxb5 Ra3 22.Re1 Qxb5 18.Bg5 f6 19.Be3 e6 20.Nc3 f5 21.exf5
23.Be2 Qb7 24.Kh1 Be5 25.Rc2 Rxe3 Rxf5 22.f4 Qh4 23.g3 Qh3 24.Bf1 Qh5
26.Qxe3 Qxb4²) 18.b4 (18.bxa4 Bxa4 25.Be2=) 17...Rd7 e following is my
19.Bxa4 Bxc3 20.Qxc3 Nxa4 21.Qd4
game against Kovalyov. 18.Qc2 e5
Nc5 22.Bh6 Ne6 23.Qc3 Re8 24.f4 f6
25.f5 Nc5 26.fxg6 hxg6 27.Rxf6 exf6 (18...e6 19.a3 a4 20.b4 Nb3 21.b5 Bb7
28.Qxf6 Ra7 29.Qxg6+ Kh8=) 18...Nb3 22.Nxa4±) 19.a3 Ne6!
19.Bxb3 axb3 20.b5 Bb7 21.Qb2

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY across the resulting structure in the
9-+-wq-trk+0 13.Bf2 line. 19.cxb5 Rac8 20.f4
9+-+r+pvlp0 (20.Rfd1 Rfe8 21.Qf2 Qc7 22.Be3 b6
9-zplzpn+p+0 23.f4 Bg7 24.Bf3 Qe7= Black is ready
9zp-+-zp-+-0 to continue with ...d6-d5.) 20...Bg7
9-+P+P+-+0 21.e5 Rfe8 22.exd6 Qxd6 23.Rfd1 Qf8!
9zPPsN-vLP+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+Q+-+PzP0 9-+r+rwqk+0
9+-tRR+LmK-0 9+p+-+pvlp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+p+p+0
9zpPsn-+-vL-0
is would have led to a very interesting 9-+-+-zP-+0
game. (19...f5?! 20.Nd5 fxe4 21.fxe4 9+P+-wQ-+-0
Qh4 22.g3! Qxe4 23.Qxe4 Nxe4 9P+-+L+PzP0
24.Bg2 Bxd5 25.Rxd5 Nc5 26.Rcd1 9+-tRR+-mK-0
Nxb3 27.Rxd6 Rxd6 28.Rxd6± 1–0 xiiiiiiiiy
(43) Kovalyov-Panjwani Michigan
2013) 20.b4 (20.Nb5 f5 21.exf5 gxf5 Black’s idea is to open up the center
22.Bd3 e4 23.fxe4 f4 24.Bf2 f3©) with ...e6-e5 and take advantage of
20...Nd4 21.Bxd4 (21.Qf2 f5∞) White’s weak dark squares and loose
21...exd4 22.Ne2 axb4 23.axb4 Qg5 pieces. 24.Bc4 (24.b6 e5„; 24.Bg4 h5
24.Kh1 f5©) 25.Bh3 f5! 26.g3 e5!„) 24...b6 25.Bh4
16.Rfd1 (25.Rc2 Kh8! 26.a3 f5 (26...e5=)
27.Bh4 e5 28.Bf2 Ne4=) 25...Kh8!
a) 16.Nb5!? Be5 17.Bg5 Qb6
Sidestepping the light diagonal in order
XIIIIIIIIY to play ...f7-f5 before ...e6-e5. (25...e5?
9r+-+-trk+0 26.Rf1!±) 26.Rc2 f5! 27.Rcd2 e5
9+p+-+p+p0 28.fxe5 (28.Bf2 exf4 29.Qxf4 Be5
9-wqlzpp+p+0 30.Qh4 Bf6 31.Qh3 Rb8=) 28...Rxe5
9zpNsn-vl-vL-0 29.Qf4 Re4 30.Qg3 a4 31.Rd8 Re8
9-+P+P+-+0 32.Rxe8 Qxe8=;
9+P+-+P+-0 b) 16.Bd4 Be5 17.Rfd1 Qe7 18.f4 Bxf4
9P+-wQL+PzP0 19.Qxf4 e5 20.Qg3 exd4 21.Rxd4 Nxe4
9+-tR-+RmK-0 22.Nxe4 Bxe4 23.Rxd6?
xiiiiiiiiy
18.Qe3 (18.Kh1 Rfe8 19.Nxd6??
Red8–+) 18...Bxb5! We have come
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9+p+-wqp+p0 9+p+-+p+p0
9-+-tR-+p+0 9-+lzpp+p+0
9zp-+-+-+-0 9zpNsn-+-+-0
9-+P+l+-+0 9-+P+P+-+0
9+P+-+-wQ-0 9+P+-vLPwq-0
9P+-+L+PzP0 9P+-wQL+-+0
9+-tR-+-mK-0 9+-tRR+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
(23.Qxd6?? Qg5–+) 23...Bf3!!–+ Remember the ensuing ideas, they come
Gorgeous.; up in various permutations of this type
of position. 20.Kf1 (20.Kh1 Nxe4!
16...Be5
XIIIIIIIIY 21.Qe1 Qh3+ 22.Kg1 Ng3 23.Bb6
Nxe2+ 24.Qxe2 Bxf3–+) 20...Nxe4!
9r+-wq-trk+0 21.Qd3 (21.fxe4 f5!–+) 21...f5!–+
9+p+-+p+p0 White can’t untangle, so Black can take
9-+lzpp+p+0 his time with ideas like ...g6-g5-g4.;
9zp-sn-vl-+-0 b) 17.Bd4 Qe7 18.f4 Bxf4 19.Qxf4 e5
9-+P+P+-+0 20.Qe3 exd4 21.Qxd4 Nxe4 22.Nxe4
9+PsN-vLP+-0 Bxe4 23.Qxd6 Qg5 24.Qg3 Qxg3
9P+-wQL+PzP0 25.hxg3 Rfd8=;
9+-tRR+-mK-0 c) 17.g3 Qe7 18.Bg5 (18.Nb5 Rfd8
xiiiiiiiiy 19.Bg5 Bf6 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Nxd6 e5
22.Qe3 Nxb3 23.axb3 Rxd6=) 18...f6
White must already take precautions
19.Be3 Rad8 (19...b6? 20.f4 Bxc3
against Black’s immediate threat of ...Qd8-
21.Qxd6!±) 20.Nb5 f5
h4.
17.Bg5 is was Lenderman’s choice
against me. I played correctly for the next
6 moves, then stumbled — fortunately he
didn’t punish my error.
a) 17.Nb5? Qh4 18.g3 (18.h3 Qg3
19.Nxd6 b6 20.Nb5 f5–+) 18...Bxg3
19.hxg3 Qxg3+

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 27.Qg1 Rh1 0–1 Lupulescu-Iturrizaga,
9-+-tr-trk+0 Baku Olympiad 2016;
9+p+-wq-+p0 17...Qb6 18.Qe3
9-+lzpp+p+0
9zpNsn-vlp+-0 (18.Kh1 a4 19.Be7 axb3 20.Bxf8 Kxf8
21.axb3 Nxb3 22.Qb2 Qb4 23.Rc2
9-+P+P+-+0 Bg7 24.Rb1 Ra3–+)
9+P+-vLPzP-0
9P+-wQL+-zP0 18...a4! 19.Nb5
9+-tRR+-mK-0 (19.b4 Qxb4 20.Be7 a3 21.Bxf8 Rxf8©;
xiiiiiiiiy 19.f4 Bxc3! 20.Rxc3 axb3 21.axb3 Qa7
22.e5 Ne4 23.Qxa7 Rxa7 24.Re3 Nxg5
21.exf5 exf5!„ I admit it is always hard 25.fxg5 d5=)
to decide what to recapture with on f5. 19...axb3 20.axb3 Ra2 21.Bf1 Rb2!
It needs to be decided on a case-by-case 22.Rb1 Rxb1 23.Rxb1
basis. Here, Black’s a5-pawn is hanging XIIIIIIIIY
unless Black opens up the e- le to tie 9-+-+-trk+0
down White’s queen to the defense of
the e3-bishop. (21...gxf5 22.Bg5 Bf6
9+p+-+p+p0
23.Bh6 Rf7 24.Qxa5±);
9-wqlzpp+p+0
9+Nsn-vl-vL-0
d) 17.Rc2 Witness how even a top
grandmaster can fall victim to Black’s
9-+P+P+-+0
sudden counterplay. 17...Qe7 18.Nb5? 9+P+-wQP+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-+PzP0
9r+-+-trk+0 9+R+-+LmK-0
9+p+-wqp+p0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+lzpp+p+0 23...Ra8?!
9zpNsn-vl-+-0
(¹23...Bxb5 24.cxb5 Ra8 25.f4 Ra1
9-+P+P+-+0 26.Rxa1 Bxa1 27.b4 Na4³)
9+P+-vLP+-0
9P+RwQL+PzP0 24.f4 Ra1 25.Rxa1 Bxa1 26.Nxd6?
9+-+R+-mK-0 (26.b4! Bxb5 (26...Na4 27.Qxb6 Nxb6
xiiiiiiiiy 28.Nxd6+–) 27.bxc5 dxc5 28.Qb3!±)
26...Qxb3 27.Qxb3 Bd4+ 28.Kh1
18...Qh4! 19.g3 Bxg3 20.hxg3 Qxg3+ Nxb3³ 1/2–1/2 Lenderman-Panjwani,
21.Kf1 Nxe4 22.Qd3 f5 23.Nd4 f4 Arlington 2013;
24.Nxc6 fxe3 25.Qxe3 Rf4 26.Nd4 Rh4
15.Rfd1

XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY (22.Rxd2 Bxd5 23.cxd5 Ra3 24.Bc4
9r+-wq-trk+0 Rb8=)
9+p+-zppvlp0
22...Bxd5 23.cxd5 Ra3 24.Bc4 b5
9-+lzp-+p+0 25.Bxb5 Rxb3 26.Rxb3 Nxb3 27.Be3
9zp-sn-+-+-0 Rb8 28.Be2 Nc5=
9-+P+P+-+0 15...e6
9+PsN-vLP+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9P+-wQL+PzP0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9tR-+R+-mK-0 9+p+-+pvlp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+lzpp+p+0
9zp-sn-+-+-0
White can only temporarily delay ...e7-
e6 with this move, as after 15...Be5 White
9-+P+P+-+0
has no appealing way of preventing it. 9+PsN-vLP+-0
15...Be5 16.Bg5?! 9P+-wQL+PzP0
(16.Bd4 Ne6=; 16.Rab1 transposes to 9+R+-+RmK-0
the main line 15.Rab1.) xiiiiiiiiy
16...Qb6 17.Kh1 f6 18.Be3 16.Rfd1
(18.Bh6 Rfb8! 19.Be3 a4 20.Rab1 axb3 16.Rfc1 Be5 17.Bf1
21.axb3 Qb4 22.Nd5 Qxd2 23.Rxd2 (17.g3 h5 18.Nb5 h4 19.g4 f5„)
Bxd5 24.cxd5 Ra3³)
17...f5
18...a4 19.Rab1 axb3 20.axb3 Qb4! (17...Qe7!? 18.Rc2 f5 19.exf5 gxf5
XIIIIIIIIY 20.Re1 b6 21.Ne2 Qh4 22.Bf4 Rad8
9r+-+-trk+0 23.Rcc1 Rd7 24.Bg3 Qf6 25.Rcd1 f4
9+p+-zp-+p0 26.Bf2 Qg6 27.Kh1 Rg7 28.Nc3
9-+lzp-zpp+0 Qh5„ 0–1 Perera, P-Cuenca Jimenez,J
9+-sn-vl-+-0 Seville ESP 2004)
9-wqP+P+-+0 18.exf5
9+PsN-vLP+-0
9-+-wQL+PzP0
9+R+R+-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
Typical for this line. Black sets up a
dark-square blockade, to be followed by
...Ra8-a3 if unhindered. 21.Nd5 Qxd2
22.Bxd2
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+p+-+-+p0
9-+lzpp+p+0
9zp-sn-vlP+-0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+PsN-vLP+-0
9P+-wQ-+PzP0
9+RtR-+LmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
It is a perpetual dilemma for this line —
what to recapture on f5 with? I have yet to
come up with a general algorithm; the
concrete features of the position usually
suggest one over the others, but here there
are two viable continuations.
18...Rxf5 Black has two bishops and a
rook pointed at White’s king, and his
queen is ready to join the action with
...Qd8-h4.
a) 18...gxf5!? 19.Ne2 (19.f4 Bxc3
20.Qxc3 Ne4 21.Qd4 Rf6 22.a3 Rg6„)
19...Qh4 (19...Rf7 20.Nd4 Rg7
21.Nxc6 bxc6 22.g3± 1/2–1/2 (49)
Bauer,C-Schmitt,A Clichy FRA 2004)
20.Nf4 Qh6„;
b) 18...exf5? 19.Nd5±;
19.f4
a) 19.a3?? Qh4 20.g3 Bxg3 21.hxg3
Qxg3+ 22.Bg2 (22.Qg2 Qe5–+)
22...Rxf3 23.Bxc5 dxc5–+ ...Ra8-f8 to
follow.;
b) 19.Nb5 Qh4 20.g3 Bxg3 21.hxg3
Qxg3+ 22.Bg2 Bxf3 (22...Rxf3 23.Bxc5
dxc5 24.Rf1 Rf5 25.Rxf5 exf5 26.Qf2
Qg4©) 23.Nxd6 Bxg2 24.Nxf5 exf5
25.Bf4 Qg4 26.Qxg2 Qxf4 27.Qd5+
Kg7 28.Qxc5 Qg3+ 29.Kf1 Qh3+
30.Kf2 Qh2+ 31.Kf1 Qh3+ 32.Kg1=;
19...Bg7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-+k+0
9+p+-+-vlp0
9-+lzpp+p+0
9zp-sn-+r+-0
9-+P+-zP-+0
9+PsN-vL-+-0
9P+-wQ-+PzP0
9+RtR-+LmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
A point made by GM Rowson in his
book Chess for Zebras: a pawn on f4
weakens the king in a way which should
not be underestimated. It is such a
common move in so many openings that
we take it for granted, but it weakens
squares around White’s king and here
Black is ready to shine light on those
weaknesses with ...e6-e5. 20.g3
(20.Be2 e5! 21.Rf1 exf4 22.Rxf4 Rxf4
23.Bxf4 Qf6 24.Nd5 Qd4+ 25.Be3
Qxd2 26.Bxd2 Bxd5 27.cxd5 Ne4
28.Be1 Bd4+ 29.Kh1 Rc8³)
20...e5! 21.Bh3
(21.fxe5 Qe8!„)
21...exf4 22.Bxf4
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 17.a3 since the knight cannot hop into b3
9r+-wq-+k+0 after 17...a4 18.b4. In the last few years,
9+p+-+-vlp0 16.Bd1 has been played more times than
9-+lzp-+p+0 it has in all previous years combined. I
9zp-sn-+r+-0 think the most common move, 16...Be5,
9-+P+-vL-+0 does not equalize for Black, but 16...Qc7
does. It makes sense too — Black targets
9+PsN-+-zPL0 the c4-square which has been abandoned
9P+-wQ-+-zP0 by the relocation of the e2-bishop. I thank
9+RtR-+-mK-0 IM Dave Ross for suggesting this move to
xiiiiiiiiy me. 16...Qc7! is move is a good
illustration of the aforementioned
22...Rxf4! 23.gxf4 ‘reactive’ nature of Black’s play in this line.
(23.Qxf4? Qb6–+) White relocates his bishop to c2, so Black
targets the c4-pawn with his queen, and in
23...Qb6©; some lines with his knight by relocating to
16.Bd1 e5 via d7.
XIIIIIIIIY a) 16...f5?! 17.exf5 gxf5 (17...Rxf5
9r+-wq-trk+0 18.Ne2± 1–0 (43) Tringov, G-Haik,A
9+p+-+pvlp0 Vrnjacka Banja 1986) 18.Bc2 f4 19.Bf2
9-+lzpp+p+0 Qg5 20.Kh1 Be5 21.Rfe1 Qg7 22.Ne2
9zp-sn-+-+-0 b6 23.Nd4 Bb7 24.a3 Rf6 25.b4 Nd7
26.Nb5 Kh8 27.Bg1 axb4 28.axb4 Rg8
9-+P+P+-+0 29.Re2 d5 30.Rbe1 (¹30.cxd5 Bxd5
9+PsN-vLP+-0 31.Bb3 Bxb3 32.Rxb3±) 30...dxc4
9P+-wQ-+PzP0 31.Nd4 Rh6 32.Rxe5?? Nxe5 33.Rxe5
9+R+L+RmK-0 Qxe5 34.Nf5 Rf6?? (34...Bxf3!–+)
xiiiiiiiiy 35.Nd6 (¹35.Bd4 Rd8 36.Bxe5 Rxd2
37.Bxf6+ Kg8 38.Nd4=) 35...Qd5
I rst came across this move when 36.Qc3 e5 37.Nxb7 Qxb7 38.Qxe5
Cuban GM Abreu seemed to come up
Qg7 39.g4 fxg3 40.Bd4 g2+ 41.Kg1
with it over the board against me after a
Rxf3 0–1 Abreu Delgado-Panjwani, US
long think in the game I mentioned in the
Masters 2013;
introduction of this book. However, he
was not the rst to play it; that honor goes b) 16...Be5 17.a3! Qc7 (17...f5 18.exf5
to the late Bulgarian GM Georgi Tringov Qf6 19.Ne2 exf5 20.g3!²) 18.b4 axb4
who played it in 1986.16.Bd1 is a 19.axb4 Na4 20.Nxa4 Bxa4 21.Be2
perfectly logical move: the bishop will Rfd8 22.f4 Bg7 23.b5 d5 24.cxd5 Qc2
relocate to c2, from where it 25.Rfc1 Qxd2 26.Bxd2 Bd4+ 27.Kf1
simultaneously bolsters the critical e4, b3, exd5 28.e5²;
and a4 squares. White already threatens
 17.Bc2 Ne5 20.Nb5 Qe7 21.Bb6 Rd7 22.f4
(17.a3 Rfd8 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 Na4 (22.Qe2 Bh6 23.Rd1 d5 24.Bd4 dxc4
20.Nxa4 (20.Bxa4 Bxa4 21.b5 Qxc4 25.bxc4 Bg7³) 22...Bxb5 23.cxb5 Ng4
22.Rfc1 Rdc8 23.Nd5 exd5 24.Rxc4 24.Bd1 Nf6 25.Bf3
dxc4„) 20...Bxa4 21.Be2
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-+-+k+0
9r+-tr-+k+0 9+p+rwqpvlp0
9+pwq-+pvlp0 9-vL-zppsnp+0
9-+-zpp+p+0 9zpP+-+-+-0
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+PzP-+0
9lzPP+P+-+0 9zPP+-+L+-0
9+-+-vLP+-0 9-+-wQ-+PzP0
9-+-wQL+PzP0 9+RtR-+-mK-0
9+R+-+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
25...Bh6! 26.g3 e5„;
21...d5! 22.exd5 exd5 23.cxd5 Qe5=) b) 18.a3 a4! 19.Nxa4 (19.b4 Nb3
20.Bxb3 axb3 21.Rxb3 Be8!=)
17...Rfd8
XIIIIIIIIY 19...Bxa4 20.bxa4 Rdc8=;
9r+-tr-+k+0 c) 18.Bg5 Rdc8 19.Rfd1 Na6! 20.a3
9+pwq-+pvlp0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+lzpp+p+0 9r+r+-+k+0
9zp-sn-+-+-0 9+pwq-+pvlp0
9-+P+P+-+0 9n+lzpp+p+0
9+PsN-vLP+-0 9zp-+-+-vL-0
9P+LwQ-+PzP0 9-+P+P+-+0
9+R+-+RmK-0 9zPPsN-+P+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+LwQ-+PzP0
9+R+R+-mK-0
An important branching point. White’s xiiiiiiiiy
a2-a3 is imminent; other plans do not
make sense of White’s bishop maneuver. It
20...b5!! 21.cxb5 Be8 22.bxa6 Rxa6
is just a question of how White chooses to
23.Bd3 Bxc3 24.Qf2 Raa8=;
position himself before playing it. 18.Rfd1
18...Be5 19.a3
a) 18.Rfc1 Nd7! White’s last move (by
X-ray) defended the c4-pawn, so Black (19.g3 f5 20.exf5 gxf5 21.Nb5 Qg7„)
calls the knight for reinforcement. 19.a3
 19...a4!
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-wq-trk+0
9r+-tr-+k+0 9+p+-+pvlp0
9+pwq-+p+p0 9-+lzpp+p+0
9-+lzpp+p+0 9zpNsn-+-+-0
9+-sn-vl-+-0 9-+P+P+-+0
9p+P+P+-+0 9+P+-vLP+-0
9zPPsN-vLP+-0 9P+-wQL+PzP0
9-+LwQ-+PzP0 9+R+-+RmK-0
9+R+R+-mK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy We saw the following idea in my game
A major idea of 17...Qc7 is to be able to against Lenderman after 15.Rac1. 16...Be5
meet a2-a3 with this move, softening the 17.Bg5 Qb6 18.Qe3 White threatens f3-
c4-pawn further. 20.b4 f4 and d6 will fall, so Black must act
quick.
a) 20.bxa4 Rdc8 21.Rb4 Na6 22.Nb5
Bxb5 23.Rxb5 Qxc4 24.Bb3 Qc6=; (18.Kh1 Rfe8 19.Rbd1 (19.Nxd6??
Rad8 20.Bxd8 Rxd8–+) 19...d5! 20.Qe3
b) 20.Nxa4 Bxa4 21.bxa4 Rdc8 22.f4 (20.Be3 Red8=) 20...Bxb5 21.cxb5 Bg7
Bf6 23.Qb4 (23.Qxd6 Nxa4 24.Qxc7 22.e5 Nd7 23.Qxb6 Nxb6=)
Rxc7=) 23...Qc6 24.Bxc5 Qxc5+
25.Qxc5 Rxc5 26.Bb3 Rc6 27.Rd3 18...Bxb5! 19.cxb5 Rac8
Bd8=;
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-trk+0
20...Nb3! It will be evident from this 9+p+-+p+p0
variation why the queen is so valuable on
c7 in this line. 21.Bxb3
9-wq-zpp+p+0
9zpPsn-vl-vL-0
(21.Qd3 d5„)
9-+-+P+-+0
21...axb3 22.Rxb3 Be8! 23.Qe2 Rdc8 9+P+-wQP+-0
24.f4 Bf6 25.Nb5 Qxc4 26.Qxc4 Rxc4 9P+-+L+PzP0
27.Nxd6 Ba4! 28.Nxc4 Bxb3 29.Rc1
Bxc4 30.Rxc4 Rxa3 31.Rc8+ Kg7 32.Bc5
9+R+-+RmK-0
Bc3=; xiiiiiiiiy
16.Nb5 20.Kh1
a) 20.f4 Bg7 21.Rfd1 Rfe8 22.Rbc1 d5
23.e5 Bf8 24.Rc3 (24.Bh4 Nd7=)
24...Nd7 25.Qxb6 Nxb6 26.Rdc1 Be7

XIIIIIIIIY
 27.Bh6 Bf8 28.Rxc8 Rxc8 29.Rxc8
XIIIIIIIIY
Nxc8 30.Bxf8 Kxf8=;
9-wq-+r+k+0
9+-+r+p+p0
b) 20.Rfd1 Rfe8 21.Qf2 Qa7 22.Bc4
(22.a3 b6 23.Be3 Qb7 24.Bd4 Bxd4
9-zp-zpp+p+0
25.Qxd4 d5!³) 22...b6 23.g3 (23.Rbc1 9zpPsn-vl-vL-0
Qb8= White has no constructive plan, 9-+L+P+-+0
whereas Black has long term ideas of 9+P+-+P+-0
...f7-f5 or even ...d6-d5 after ...Rc8-c7- 9P+-tRQ+PzP0
d7/...Qb8-b7.) 23...f5 24.exf5 d5 9+-tR-+-+K0
25.Be2 gxf5 26.Qe3 Qg7„;
xiiiiiiiiy
20...Rfe8
XIIIIIIIIY 26...f5! 27.a3
9-+r+r+k+0 (27.exf5 gxf5 28.Be3 d5 29.Bxc5 bxc5
9+p+-+p+p0 30.b6 Rde7 31.Bb5 Rd8 32.Rxc5 Bxh2
9-wq-zpp+p+0 33.Rdc2 Bg3=)
9zpPsn-vl-vL-0 27...a4 28.exf5
9-+-+P+-+0 (28.b4 Nb3 29.Bxb3 axb3μ)
9+P+-wQP+-0 28...gxf5 29.bxa4 d5 30.Ba2 Bxh2
9P+-+L+PzP0 31.a5 Bd6 32.axb6 Rg7„;
9+R+-+R+K0 16.Bg5?? Bxc3–+
xiiiiiiiiy
16...Be5
21.Qd2 White targets Black’s weak d6- XIIIIIIIIY
pawn, but does not demonstrate any 9r+-wq-trk+0
constructive plan. Black has time to 9+p+-+p+p0
regroup and prepare for ...d6-d5 or ...f7- 9-+lzpp+p+0
f5. e following is just one illustration of 9zp-sn-vl-+-0
how Black can successfully regroup.
9-+P+P+-+0
a) 21.f4 Bg7 22.Rbc1 (22.a3 d5 23.e5 9+PsN-vLP+-0
Na4!³) 22...d5 23.e5 Nd7 24.Qxb6
Nxb6 25.Bh4 Bh6³;
9P+-wQL+PzP0
9+R+R+-mK-0
b) 21.Rfd1 d5„; xiiiiiiiiy
21...Qa7! 22.Rfd1 b6 23.Rbc1 Qb8
e database reveals that it was Danish
24.Bc4 Rc7 25.Qe2 Rd7 26.Rd2
IM Jan Sorensen who introduced the idea
of ...e6/...Be5 into tournament practice.
In 1990 and 1991 he scored 1.5/2 against
then IMs (now GMs) J. Kristiansen and A.
XIIIIIIIIY
Fishbein. It has since been championed
XIIIIIIIIY
most notably by Azerbaijani GM Gadir 9-+-+-trk+0
Guseinov, and has also been implemented 9+p+-wq-+p0
by Grandmasters Iturrizaga, Bauer, Leon 9-+-zpp+p+0
Hoyos, Cebalo, Lie, Perelshteyn, and 9wQPsn-vlr+-0
many others.
9-+-+-+-+0
17.Qe1 9+P+-+P+-0
17.Bf2 e fact that this retreat is 9P+-+LvLPzP0
played so often indicates to me that the
bishop should go directly to f2 from d4 9+-tRR+-mK-0
earlier on. 17...Qe7 18.Rbc1 f5 xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY 22...Ne4! 23.Qe1
9r+-+-trk+0
9+p+-wq-+p0 (23.Be3?? Bxh2+ 24.Kxh2 Qh4+
25.Kg1 Rh5–+)
9-+lzpp+p+0
9zp-sn-vlp+-0 23...Qg5 Black has enormous pressure.
e following is just an illustration of how
9-+P+P+-+0 things could continue. 24.Kh1 d5 25.g3
9+PsN-+P+-0 Rxf3 26.Bxf3 Rxf3 27.Rc8+ Kg7 28.Bd4
9P+-wQLvLPzP0 Bxd4 29.Rxd4 Qf6 30.Rc7+ Kh6 31.Rd1
9+-tRR+-mK-0 Rf2 32.Qe3+ g5 33.Kg1 Qf5 34.Rxb7
xiiiiiiiiy Qh3 35.Qxf2 Nxf2 36.Kxf2 Qxh2+
37.Kf1 d4! 38.Rd7 e5–+;
19.exf5 Rxf5!
17.Bd4
(19...gxf5 20.Nb5 (20.Bd4 Bxd4+ XIIIIIIIIY
21.Qxd4 Rad8 22.Rd2 e5 23.Qf2 Ne6 9r+-wq-trk+0
24.Re1 Kh8 25.Bf1 Qg7„ 0–1 (39)
Jakovljevic,V-Leon Hoyos,M Cento
9+p+-+p+p0
2011) 20...Rfd8 21.Nd4²) 9-+lzpp+p+0
20.Nb5
9zp-sn-vl-+-0
9-+PvLP+-+0
(20.Bd4 Bxd4+ 21.Qxd4 Rd8= Black 9+PsN-+P+-0
has ideas of ...e6-e5 and ...Nc5-e6-d4.
Black’s weakened d5-square is less of an
9P+-wQL+PzP0
issue than White’s weakened d4-square 9+R+R+-mK-0
because Black has a light-squared bishop xiiiiiiiiy
to guard his weak square.)
Black has (at least) two adequate
20...Bxb5 21.cxb5 Raf8! 22.Qxa5 responses to this move. I prefer 17...Qe7

XIIIIIIIIY
but the alternative is more direct and repertoire series for White. 17...Qe7
simplifying. 17...Qe7 18.Nb5 Rfd8
(17...Bxd4+ 18.Qxd4 Qb6!? Black
XIIIIIIIIY
twists and turns in order to achieve 9r+-tr-+k+0
...e6-e5 and ...Nc5-e6. 19.a3 e5 20.Qe3 9+p+-wqp+p0
Qd8 21.b4 axb4 22.axb4 Ne6 23.b5 9-+lzpp+p+0
Be8 24.Nd5 Kg7 25.f4 (25.Qb6 9zpNsn-vl-+-0
Qxb6+ 26.Nxb6 Rd8 27.Ra1 f6 28.Ra7 9-+P+P+-+0
Nc5 29.Na4 Nxa4 30.Rxa4 Rf7 31.Ra2
(31.c5 Rfd7=) 31...Kf8 32.Rad2 Rfd7=)
9+P+-vLPzP-0
25...f6 26.fxe5 fxe5 27.Bg4 Nc5= 0–1
9P+-wQL+-zP0
(41) Porat,M-Bejtovic,J Prague 2011). 9+R+R+-mK-0
18.Bf1
xiiiiiiiiy
(18.f4 Bxf4 19.Qxf4 e5 20.Qg3 exd4 19.Nd4
21.Rxd4 Nxe4 22.Nxe4 Bxe4 23.Re1 f5 (19.Bg5 f6 20.Be3 g5 21.Nd4 Be8„
24.Bf3 Qe5=) Black has ideas of ...h7-h5, ...g5-g4,
18...Rad8 19.Qe3 Bxd4 20.Rxd4 e5 ...Be8-g6. White is solid but already on
21.Rd2 f5 the defensive.)

(21...Ne6=) 19...d5! 20.cxd5 exd5 21.Qc1 Ne6

22.Nxc6 bxc6 23.Qxc6 d4 24.Bf2 Rac8
22.exf5 gxf5 23.f4 XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+rtr-+k+0
9-+-tr-trk+0 9+-+-wqp+p0
9+p+-wq-+p0 9-+Q+n+p+0
9-+lzp-+-+0 9zp-+-vl-+-0
9zp-sn-zpp+-0 9-+-zpP+-+0
9-+P+-zP-+0 9+P+-+PzP-0
9+PsN-wQ-+-0 9P+-+LvL-zP0
9P+-tR-+PzP0 9+R+R+-mK-0
9+R+-+LmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
25.Qa6
23...Ne6! 24.fxe5 f4 25.Qe1 dxe5
26.Rxd8 Qc5+ 27.Qf2 Rxd8³ Bok, B- (25.Qa4 Ng5! 26.f4?? Nxe4 27.fxe5
Lie,K Wijk aan Zee NED 2010; Nc3–+)
17.g3 A recommendation of 25...Rc2 26.Bf1 Qg5!
Khalifman’s in his (eternally informative)
 (26...Rxa2 27.Ra1 Rxa1 28.Rxa1 d3
XIIIIIIIIY
29.Rd1 Qb4 30.Rxd3 Rxd3 31.Qxd3 9r+-wq-trk+0
Bd4= 1/2–1/2 (46) Nyback-Sorensen 9+p+-+p+p0
2008) 9-+lzpp+p+0
27.a4? 9zpNsn-vl-+-0
(27.Qxa5?? Rxf2–+; ¹27.Bd3 Rxa2
9-+P+P+-+0
28.Ra1 Rb2 29.Rxa5 Nf4„ Computers 9+P+-vLP+-0
give a way for White to escape with a 9P+-wQL+PzP0
draw but it would be terrifying to 9+R+R+-mK-0
defend this over the board.) xiiiiiiiiy
27...h5 28.h4 Qf6 29.Rd3 g5–+;
Victims of the following include IM
17.Bf1? e Accelerated Dragon is full Danny Rensch and GM Peter Heine
of landmines. Grandmasters Chuchelov, Nielsen! 17...Qh4! 18.g3 Bxg3 19.hxg3
Erenburg, Zubarev, and Beim have Qxg3+ 20.Kf1 Nxe4! 21.fxe4 f5μ;
misstepped onto the following. 17...Qh4!
17.a3
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9+p+-+p+p0 9+p+-+p+p0
9-+lzpp+p+0 9-+lzpp+p+0
9zp-sn-vl-+-0 9zp-sn-vl-+-0
9-+P+P+-wq0 9-+P+P+-+0
9+PsN-vLP+-0 9zPPsN-vLP+-0
9P+-wQ-+PzP0 9-+-wQL+PzP0
9+R+R+LmK-0 9+R+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
18.h3
Black’s last move accompanied a threat
(18.g3 Qf6μ e f3-pawn falls.) of ...Qd8-h4, which is enough for
18...Qg3 19.Bd3 f5 20.exf5 Nxd3 equality, but it is far more effective if
White’s knight has been driven away from
21.Qxd3 Bxf3–+ Shvayger,Y-Socko,M,
Baku 2016; c3. 17...Qf6!?

17.Nb5? (17...Qh4!? 18.g3 Bxg3 19.hxg3 Qxg3+

20.Kf1 Qh3+ 21.Ke1 Qh4+ 22.Bf2
Qh1+ 23.Bf1 Qxf3 24.Qe3 Qxe3+
25.Bxe3 Nxe4 26.Nxe4 Bxe4 27.Bd3
Bc6=)

XIIIIIIIIY
 18.Bd4 unless there is something concretely
favorable about placing it on f6.
(18.Nb5? Qh4! 19.g3 Bxg3 20.hxg3
Qxg3+ 21.Kf1 Nxe4! 22.fxe4 f5–+) 17...Qf6 18.Nb5
18...Bxd4+ (18.Rbc1 Rad8 19.Bf1 g5„)
(18...a4 19.Bxe5 dxe5 20.b4 Nb3 18...Rfd8 19.Nd4 Bf4 20.Bf2²
21.Qe3 Nd4 22.b5 Bd7∞) 18.a3
19.Qxd4 Qxd4+ 20.Rxd4 Rfd8 21.b4 18.Nb5 f5 19.exf5 exf5! 20.Qd2?
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-tr-+k+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9+p+-+p+p0 9+p+-wq-+p0
9-+lzpp+p+0 9-+lzp-+p+0
9zp-sn-+-+-0 9zpNsn-vlp+-0
9-zPPtRP+-+0 9-+P+-+-+0
9zP-sN-+P+-0 9+P+-vLP+-0
9-+-+L+PzP0 9P+-wQL+PzP0
9+R+-+-mK-0 9+R+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
(21.Bd1 e5 22.Rd2 Ne6=) (20.Bd4 Ne6=)
21...e5! 22.Rd2 axb4 23.axb4 Ne6 20...Ne4!! 21.Qe1
24.b5 Be8 25.Nd5 Nd4= (21.fxe4 Qh4–+)
17...Qe7 21...Bxb5 22.fxe4 Bc6 23.exf5 Bxh2+
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0 24.Kxh2 Qxe3μ
9+p+-wqp+p0 18...f5 19.exf5
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+lzpp+p+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9zp-sn-vl-+-0 9+p+-wq-+p0
9-+P+P+-+0 9-+lzpp+p+0
9+PsN-vLP+-0 9zp-sn-vlP+-0
9P+-+L+PzP0 9-+P+-+-+0
9+R+RwQ-mK-0 9zPPsN-vLP+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+L+PzP0
In the database Black plays his Queen to 9+R+RwQ-mK-0
f6 about equally as often, but I tend to xiiiiiiiiy
prefer my Queen on e7 as a general rule
 It is usually a challenge to decide how to 20.Bd4
recapture on f5 but here Black has an 20.Nb5 Bxb5 21.cxb5 d5„
embarrassment of riches — not only are
20...Bxd4+ 21.Rxd4 e5 22.Rdd1
all three recaptures playable, Black can
Black can continue ‘normally’ with
even opt for none of the above with
22...Ne6, especially if he wants to keep
19...Qf6!?.
tension and play for a win, but the
19...Rxf5 simplest path to equality is to liquidate
19...exf5 20.Qd2 Rfe8 21.Nd5 Qf7 things with 22...e4! 22.Nd5 Qg7 23.Rdd1
22.Bf2 Bxd5 23.Qxd5 Bxh2+ 24.Kxh2 e4 24.fxe4 Nxe4 25.Bf3 Bxd5 26.Bxe4
Rxe2 25.Bg3 Qxd5 26.Rxd5 Rd8 27.Bxd6 Bxe4 27.Qxe4 Re5 28.Qd3 Qe7=
Ne6©;
22...e4!
19...gxf5 I would recommend this the
XIIIIIIIIY
least of the four options. 20.b4 9r+-+-+k+0
(20.Bd4 Qg7 21.Qf2 Bxd4 22.Qxd4
9+p+-wq-+p0
Rfd8 23.Qxg7+ Kxg7 24.b4 Na4 9-+lzp-+p+0
25.Nxa4 Bxa4=) 9zp-sn-+r+-0
20...axb4 21.axb4 Qg7 22.Nb5 Bxb5
9-+P+p+-+0
9zPPsN-+P+-0
(22...f4 23.Bf2 Na4 24.Nd4 Bd7
25.Bf1 Kh8 26.Kh1 Rg8 27.Rbc1²)
9-+-+L+PzP0
9+R+RwQ-mK-0
23.bxc5 Ba4 24.Rxd6! Bxd6 25.cxd6∞; xiiiiiiiiy
19...Qf6!? 20.Nb5 Qxf5 21.Nxd6
23.fxe4
(¹21.h3 Bxb5 22.cxb5 Rac8∞) 23.Bd3 Rxf3! 24.gxf3 Qg5+ 25.Qg3
21...Bxh2+ 22.Kxh2 Qe5+ 23.Kg1 Qe3+ 26.Qf2 Qg5+=
Qxe3+ 24.Qf2 Qg5= 23...Nxe4 24.Bd3 Re5 25.Bxe4 Bxe4
26.Nxe4 Rxe4=
 CHAPTER 6

4.Qxd4 VARIATION
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 e Hyper Accelerated Dragon move
XIIIIIIIIY order (2...g6) avoids the Bb5 Sicilian at
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 the cost of allowing 4.Qxd4 here. In my
9zpp+pzpp+p0 opinion, the tradeoff is very much worth
9-+-+-snp+0 it: the Bb5 Sicilian is a real buzzkill for the
9+-+-+-+-0 dynamic and ambitious Black player,
9-+-wQP+-+0 whereas the 4.Qxd4 line is for the most
part rich in dynamical possibilities and
9+-+-+N+-0 offers Black real chances to play for a win.
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
4...Nf6 5.Nc3
9tRNvL-mKL+R0 We cover White’s main move, 5.e5, in
xiiiiiiiiy the next subchapter. is line has some
venom, and in my judgment Black does
not equalize in the most popular way of
Contents
dealing with it.
1. 5.sidelines
5.Bb5 I have faced this move several
2. 5.e5 times in online blitz but never over the
board. It’s basically just a cheapo attempt:
1 if Black plays 5...Bg7 then 6.e5! is strong
for White. However, this unrespectable
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 move actually has, according to
XIIIIIIIIY Donaldson and Silman, a highly
9rsnlwqkvlntr0 respectable originator — David Bronstein.
9zpp+pzpp+p0 5...a6 (5...Bg7? 6.e5±) 6.e5 is can be a
9-+-+-+p+0 little scary the rst time you see it, but it’s
9+-+-+-+-0 just a bluff by White. It works well against
9-+-wQP+-+0 an unprepared opponent in 1–minute
chess though!
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 a) 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bb3 Nc6 8.Qd3 Bg7
9.Nc3 0-0 10.0-0 d6
9tRNvL-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0 9r+l+kvl-tr0
9+-+-zppvlp0 9+p+pwqp+p0
9p+nzp-snp+0 9-+n+-+p+0
9+p+-+-+-0 9+p+-+-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+LsNQ+N+-0 9+-+-wQN+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-vL-+RmK-0 9tRNvL-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
We have here just a normal Dragon Donaldson and Silman give preference
structure for Black where White’s pieces to White here but it is Black who is better.
are misplaced. 11.Bg5 h6 12.Be3 9...Qxe3+ 10.Bxe3 Bg7 11.c3 b4!³
(12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.e5 Bf5μ; 12.Bh4 g5 5...Nc6 6.Qa4 d6 7.e5 dxe5 8.Nxe5 Bd7
13.Bg3 Nh5³; 12.Bd2 Nd7„)
XIIIIIIIIY
12...Ng4 13.Bf4 Bb7=; 9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9zpp+lzpp+p0
b) 6.Qa4?! Nxe4! (6...b6 7.e5 Bb7∞
Arribas Lopez-Leon Hoyos, New
9-+n+-snp+0
Orleans 2016) 7.Qxe4 (7.Bxd7+ Bxd7 9+-+-sN-+-0
8.Qxe4 Nc6³) 7...axb5 8.Qe5 f6 9Q+-+-+-+0
9.Qxb5 Qa5+ 10.Qxa5 Rxa5³; 9+-sN-+-+-0
6...axb5 7.exf6 Nc6 8.fxe7 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
(8.Qd3 b4! 9.0-0 e6³; 8.Qh4 exf6 9.0-0
9tR-vL-mKL+R0
d5 10.Re1+ Be6 11.Nc3 b4 12.Nb5 xiiiiiiiiy
Bg7 13.Bh6 0-0 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 9.Nxd7
15.Nbd4 Qd6μ) Here 9...Qxd7 is the most popular move
8...Qxe7+ 9.Qe3 by a 6:1 margin but it looks to me that
Black struggles to equalize there. Giving
up the two bishops is already a concession
Black has to live with in this line; he
should rush to nish his development with
9...Nxd7 rather than spend several tempos
on queen moves as he must after 9...Qxd7.
9.Nxc6 Donaldson and Silman give this
as += however... 9...Qb6!N A nice little
novelty which renders 9.Nxc6 harmless.
XIIIIIIIIY
We wait to see where White puts his f1–
bishop before we decide how to take back
on c6.
(9...Bxc6 10.Bb5² Black is slow getting
developed and castled.)
10.Qb3
(10.Bb5 bxc6! 11.Bc4 Bg7 12.0-0 0-0
13.Bb3 c5 14.Qc4 Rac8„)
10...Bxc6 11.Qxb6 axb6 12.f3 Bg7
13.Be2 0-0 14.Be3 Nd7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+p+nzppvlp0
9-zpl+-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzPP+L+PzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
e Nd7/Bc6/b7 are a common trio in
the Accelerated Dragon — all three pieces
are mutually defended and they exert
control over important central squares.
15.Kf2 Bxc3! 16.bxc3 Ra3„
9...Nxd7!
9...Qxd7 10.Be3 Bg7 11.Rd1 Qg4
(11...Qc8 12.Be2 0-0 13.0-0 a6 14.Qf4
Qf5 (¹14...e6 15.Bf3 Rd8 16.g3²)
15.Qxf5 gxf5 16.Na4 e6 17.c4 Rfd8
18.Bb6 Rxd1 19.Rxd1± 1–0 (67)
Rausis,I (2600)-Turner,M (2493)
Fagernes NOR 2015)
12.Qb3!
(12.Rd4 Qf5! (12...Qc8 13.Bb5 a6
14.Bxc6+ Qxc6 15.Qxc6+ bxc6 16.Ke2
0-0 17.Rhd1 e6 18.Rc4 Nd5 19.Bd4
Rfc8 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Rc5 Rab8
22.b3² 1–0 (43) Erdos,V (2651)-
Gledura,B (2395) Zalakaros HUN
2014) 13.Bd3 Qe5 14.Rb4 Qc7 15.Bb5
0-0 16.Rc4 Rfc8 17.0-0 e6 18.Bf4 Qb6
19.Be3 Qc7= 0–1 (36) Wei Yi (2706)-
Bu Xiangzhi (2681) China CHN 2015)
12...0-0 13.h3 Qb4 14.Be2 Qxb3
15.cxb3 Rfd8 16.Bf3 a6 17.Ke2 Rxd1
18.Rxd1 Rd8 19.Rxd8+ Nxd8 20.b4²
10.Bb5
10.Bd2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9zpp+nzpp+p0
9-+n+-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9Q+-+-+-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzPPvL-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
is new move (with the idea of castling
queenside) was tried by GM Popilski in
2016. It has some bite, so Black should be
accurate here. 10...Bg7
(10...Nb6!? 11.Qe4 Bg7 12.0-0-0 0-0
13.h4 Qd4=)
11.0-0-0 0-0
a) 11...Qc8 12.h4 h5 13.Rg1!?
(13.Qf4!?‚) 13...Nb6 14.Qe4 0-0
15.g4 hxg4 16.h5‚
b) 11...Nb6!? tr. 10...Nb6;
 12.h4! A temporary pawn sacri ce.
(12.Bb5 Nb6 13.Qe4 Qc7= Popilski- 11.0-0
Perelshteyn, Dallas 2016) 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.0-0
12...Nb6! (12.Qxc6 Rc8 13.Qf3 Bxc3+! 14.bxc3
(12...h5? 13.g4±) Qa5 15.0-0 0-0 16.Re1 Rfe8 17.Bd2
Ne5= White will not be able to hold on
13.Qe4 Qd4 14.Be3 to his extra pawn.)
XIIIIIIIIY
12...0-0 13.Qxc6 Rc8 14.Qa4
9r+-+-trk+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9-+rwq-trk+0
9-snn+-+p+0 9zp-+nzppvlp0
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-+p+0
9-+-wqQ+-zP0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+-sN-vL-+-0 9Q+-+-+-+0
9PzPP+-zPP+0 9+-sN-+-+-0
9+-mKR+L+R0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
xiiiiiiiiy 9tR-vL-+RmK-0
14...Qb4! xiiiiiiiiy
(14...Qxe4 15.Nxe4 Rfd8 16.Rxd8+ 14...Bxc3! 15.bxc3 Qc7 16.Be3 Nb6
Rxd8 17.Bxb6 axb6 18.c3²)
(16...Nc5 17.Qh4 Ne6=)
15.Qxb4 Nxb4 16.h5
17.Qa5 Qxc3 18.Bxb6 axb6 19.Qxb6
(16.a3 Bxc3 17.bxc3 N4d5=) Qxc2=
16...Rfd8= 11...0-0 12.Bxc6
10...Bg7! 12.Rd1 Qc8 13.Nd5
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0 9r+q+-trk+0
9zpp+nzppvlp0 9zpp+nzppvlp0
9-+n+-+p+0 9-+n+-+p+0
9+L+-+-+-0 9+L+N+-+-0
9Q+-+-+-+0 9Q+-+-+-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-vL-mK-+R0 9tR-vLR+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
 13...Nb6! 14.Nxb6 axb6 15.Qc4 Rd8
16.Rxd8+ Qxd8 17.c3 Na7 18.Be3 Rc8
19.Qb3 Nxb5 20.Qxb5 Rc6= Black’s
pawns are doubled but White cannot
make use of his queenside majority
without allowing Black to undouble them.
12...Nb6
12...bxc6!? is will transpose to
11.Bxc6.
13.Qh4 bxc6 14.Bh6 e6=
1/2–1/2 (44) Gorovets,A (2551)-
Panjwani,R (2393) New York 2016.
 2

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6

XIIIIIIIIY
5.e5 9r+lwqkvl-tr0
If White is going to seek an advantage 9zpp+-zpp+p0
in this line, this is his best hope. 9-+n+-+p+0
5...Nc6 9+-+pzP-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+Q+n+0
9r+lwqkvl-tr0 9+-+-+N+-0
9zpp+pzpp+p0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9-+n+-snp+0 9tRNvL-mKL+R0
9+-+-zP-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-wQ-+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0 (7...Ngxe5 8.Nxe5 Qa5+ 9.Nc3 Qxe5
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 10.Qxe5 Nxe5 11.Nb5 Kd8 12.Be3©)
9tRNvL-mKL+R0 8.exd6 Bf5 9.Qe2 Qxd6 10.h3 Nge5
xiiiiiiiiy 11.Nxe5 Nxe5μ
6.Qa4 6...Nd5 7.Qe4
6.Qc3 Ne4! 7.Qb3 Nc7!
(6...Nd5!?) (7...Nb6 8.a4 a5?? 9.Be3+–)
7.Qe3 d5 8.exd6 Nxd6³; 8.Nc3
6.Qh4? Nxe5! 7.Nxe5 Qa5+ 8.Nc3 (8.Bc4 Ne6=)
Qxe5+³; 8...d5 9.exd6 Qxd6 10.Bc4 Be6
6.Qe3? Ng4 7.Qe4 d5! 11.Bxe6 Qxe6+ 12.Be3 Qxb3 13.axb3
Bg7=
7...Nb6!

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0 9-+ktr-vl-wQ0
9zpp+pzpp+p0 9zpp+-zpp+p0
9-snn+-+p+0 9-+nzP-+p+0
9+-+-zP-+-0 9wqL+-+l+-0
9-+-+Q+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0 9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9PzP-+KzPPzP0
9tRNvL-mKL+R0 9sn-vL-+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Black’s knight is less vulnerable on b6 is used to be thought of as better for
than it is on b4 in the 7...Ndb4 line, and Black (for example Donaldson and
it is also better placed on b6 than c7 Silman say “Black has a distinct
because it deters White’s Bf1–c4. What I advantage”) but the optics are
like most about this line for Black is that misleading: White has a clear advantage.
White has to be extremely accurate to not 14.Qxh7 Nc2 15.Rd1±)
immediately be worse — there are a lot of
ways to go astray. 10.0-0 0-0 11.a3 d5 12.exd6 Bf5
XIIIIIIIIY
7...Ndb4?! is is the most popular
move, even though Sutovsky basically
9r+-+-trk+0
refuted the system ten years ago. 8.Bb5 9zpp+-zppvlp0
Qa5 9.Nc3 9-+nzP-+p+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9wqL+-+l+-0
9r+l+kvl-tr0 9-sn-+Q+-+0
9zpp+pzpp+p0 9zP-sN-+N+-0
9-+n+-+p+0 9-zPP+-zPPzP0
9wqL+-zP-+-0 9tR-vL-+RmK-0
9-sn-+Q+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sN-+N+-0
13.axb4! Qxa1 14.Qh4 exd6 15.Nd5 f6
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Ne7+ Kh8 18.Nxf5 gxf5
9tR-vL-mK-+R0 19.Nd4± 1–0 Sutovsky,E (2637)-
xiiiiiiiiy Guseinov,G (2586) Dresden GER 2007.

9...Bg7
(9...d5 10.exd6 Bf5 11.Qe5 Nxc2+
12.Ke2 0-0-0 13.Qxh8 Nxa1
8.Nc3
8.Bb5?! a6 9.Bxc6 dxc6 10.0-0 Bg7
11.Qh4 h6 12.Nc3 Bf5³;

XIIIIIIIIY
 8.Bf4?! d5 9.exd6 Bf5 10.Qe2 Nd5! White might be well advised to already
11.Bg3 seek to liquidate the position into an equal
endgame after 11.dxe7. Otherwise, with
(11.Be5 f6 12.Bg3 e5μ)
Black’s pieces so active and White’s king
11...Ndb4 12.Na3 Bg7μ still in the center, things could become
dire pretty fast on the slightest misstep by
8...Bg7
XIIIIIIIIY White.
9r+lwqk+-tr0 11.Qe3
9zpp+pzppvlp0 11.dxe7 (is used to be the most
9-snn+-+p+0 popular move but in the last few years it
9+-+-zP-+-0 has been eclipsed by 11.Qe3 and 11.Qe2.)
9-+-+Q+-+0 11...Bxc3+!
9+-sN-+N+-0 (11...Qd7 12.Qe2 (12.Qe3 Nb4 13.Rc1
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 Nxc2+ 14.Rxc2 Bxc2 15.Bb5 Bxc3+
16.Qxc3 Qxb5 17.Qxh8+ Kxe7=)
9tR-vL-mKL+R0
12...Nb4 13.Rc1 Qxe7 14.Bd6! Qxe2+
xiiiiiiiiy 15.Bxe2 Nxc2+ 16.Kf1 Nd4 17.Nxd4
9.Bf4 Bxd4 18.g4 Bd7 19.Kg2±)
9.Bg5?! d5! 10.exd6 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 12.bxc3 Bxe4 13.exd8=Q+ Rxd8
Qxd6 12.Bb5 f6 13.Bf4 e5³ XIIIIIIIIY
9...d5! 9-+-trk+-tr0
As we have seen, this is the central 9zpp+-+p+p0
motive for Black in this variation. 9...0-0 9-snn+-+p+0
10.0-0-0 d5 11.exd6 Bf5? (¹11...Bxc3 9+-+-+-+-0
12.bxc3 Bf5∞) 12.dxe7±
9-+-+lvL-+0
10.exd6 Bf5 9+-zP-+N+-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0 9P+P+-zPPzP0
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9tR-+-mKL+R0
9-snnzP-+p+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+l+-0 14.Bh6!
9-+-+QvL-+0 (14.Bg5 Rd5 15.Bh6 Rh5 16.Bg7 Rg8
9+-sN-+N+-0 17.Bd4 Bxf3 18.gxf3 Nxd4 19.cxd4
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 Ke7= White’s extra pawn is eeting.)
9tR-+-mKL+R0 14...Ke7! In order to play ...f7-f6
xiiiiiiiiy without blundering a pawn to Bh6-g7.
Black has time to do this because White is ere are a couple of novelties that
so under-developed. Black can try here, but I think the best
practical chances come from what has
(14...f6 15.Bg7±)
already been played — 12...exd6, because
15.Bb5 f6 16.0-0 Kf7 White has to nd several ‘only moves’ in
XIIIIIIIIY order to survive. 12...exd6 Here, innocent
9-+-tr-+-tr0 moves like 13.h4 (played by GM Pavlidis
9zpp+-+k+p0 in 2015) or 13.Bxd6 leave White simply
9-snn+-zppvL0 worse.
9+L+-+-+-0 a) 12...Bxc3!?N 13.bxc3 (13.dxe7 Qxe7
9-+-+l+-+0 14.Qxe7 Bxb2+ 15.Kxb2 Nxe7 16.Nd4
9+-zP-+N+-0 Bd7 17.Bd6 Rfe8³) 13...e6! 14.Qb5!
Nd5 15.Rxd5! exd5 16.Qxd5 Be6
9P+P+-zPPzP0 17.Qc5 (17.Qg5 f6 18.Qc5 Qb6
9tR-+-+RmK-0 19.Qxb6 axb6³) 17...Qb6 18.Qxb6
xiiiiiiiiy axb6 19.Kd2 Ra4 20.Bg3 Bxa2 21.Bb5
(21.Bd3 Rd8³) 21...Ra5 22.c4 Na7
17.Be3
23.Re1 Nxb5 24.cxb5 Rxb5 25.Re7 Be6
(17.Rfe1 Bxc2 (17...Bxf3!? 18.gxf3 g5 26.Nd4 Rd5 27.c3 Bc8³;
19.f4 Rhg8 20.fxg5 fxg5 21.f4 Rd6
b) 12...Re8N 13.dxe7 (13.Qb5 exd6
22.Bxg5 h6 23.h4 hxg5 24.fxg5=) 18.a4
14.Rxd6 Qc7! 15.Bg3 Qe7„) 13...Qc8
Bd3=)
14.Qb5 Bxc3 15.bxc3
17...Nd5 18.Bc4 Bxf3 19.gxf3 Ne5 XIIIIIIIIY
20.Bb3 Kg7 21.Bxd5 Rxd5 22.Rfd1 9r+q+r+k+0
Rhd8 23.Rxd5 Rxd5 24.f4 Nc6=; 9zpp+-zPp+p0
11.Qe2 0-0 12.0-0-0 9-snn+-+p+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+Q+-+l+-0
9r+-wq-trk+0 9-+-+-vL-+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9+-zP-+N+-0
9-snnzP-+p+0 9P+P+-zPPzP0
9+-+-+l+-0 9+-mKR+L+R0
9-+-+-vL-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzPP+QzPPzP0 15...Qe6! 16.Re1 Qxa2 17.Qb3 Qa1+
9+-mKR+L+R0 18.Kd2 Qa5 19.Ng5 Qd5+ 20.Qxd5
xiiiiiiiiy Nxd5 21.Bd6 Ncxe7 22.Bxe7 Rxe7
23.Rxe7 Nxe7=;
13.Rxd6
 a) 13.h4? Re8?! (¹13...Bxc3! 14.bxc3
XIIIIIIIIY
Qf6 15.Qe3 Rfe8 16.Rxd6 Rxe3 9r+q+r+k+0
17.Rxf6 Rxc3μ) 14.Qd2 d5 15.Bd3? 9zpp+-+pvlp0
d4? (¹15...Nb4! 16.Bxf5 Bxc3 17.bxc3 9-snntR-+p+0
Nxa2+ 18.Kb1 Nc4–+) 16.Nb5 Qd5 9+Q+-+l+-0
17.b3?? (17.Kb1∞) 17...Bxd3 18.Nc7 9-+-+-vL-zP0
Qc5 19.Nxe8 Rxe8 20.Qxd3 Nb4 0–1 9+-sN-+N+-0
(20) Pavlidis, A (2522)-Zvjaginsev, V
(2660) Berlin GER 2015;
9PzPP+-zPP+0
9+-mK-+L+R0
b) 13.Bxd6? Bxc3! 14.bxc3 (14.Bxf8
Qxf8 15.bxc3 Qa3+–+) 14...Re8
xiiiiiiiiy
15.Qb5 Be4 16.Bg3 Qf6μ;
(¹15.Bd3 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Bxd3 17.Rxd3
13...Qc8 Qe6 18.Kb1 Nc4„)
XIIIIIIIIY
15...Bxc3!
9r+q+-trk+0
9zpp+-+pvlp0 (15...h5?! 16.a4?? (¹16.Bd3²)
9-snntR-+p+0 16...Bxc3 17.bxc3 Re4–+ 1/2 (30) –1/2
(30) Saric,I (2666)-Hou Yifan (2673)
9+-+-+l+-0 Wijk aan Zee NED 2015)
9-+-+-vL-+0
16.bxc3 Re4 17.Be3 Qc7 18.Rd2 Qe7
9+-sN-+N+-0 19.Bc5 Qf6 20.Bd4 Nxd4 21.Rxd4 Rxd4
9PzPP+QzPPzP0 22.Nxd4 Bd7μ
9+-mK-+L+R0 11...0-0 12.0-0-0
xiiiiiiiiy 12.dxe7 Nxe7 13.Bg5 Ned5!μ
White only has one move here — he 12...exd6 13.Rxd6
needs to prevent ...Nc6-b4 (a5). 14.Qb5™ 13.Bh6 Re8 14.Qd2 Bh8 15.Qxd6
14...Re8 Qxd6 16.Rxd6 Nb4 17.Rd2 Rec8„;
(14...Bg4 15.Bd3 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Nd4 13.Bxd6 Re8 14.Bg3 Nd7 (14...Qf6!?)
17.Qb4 Ne6?! 18.Bg3 Re8 19.Rd1 Rd8 15.Qd2 Qa5 16.a3 Rac8 17.Bd3 Be6μ
20.Ne4± Esserman,M (2295)-
13...Qc8
Perelshteyn,E (2555) Philadelphia USA
2008).
15.h4

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 14...Re8 15.Qd2
9r+q+-trk+0 15.Qf4!? Bxc3! 16.bxc3 Re4
9zpp+-+pvlp0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-snntR-+p+0 9r+q+-+k+0
9+-+-+l+-0 9zpp+-+p+p0
9-+-+-vL-+0 9-snntR-+pvL0
9+-sN-wQN+-0 9+-+-+l+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9-+-+rwQ-+0
9+-mK-+L+R0 9+-zP-+N+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9P+P+-zPPzP0
14.Bh6
9+-mK-+L+R0
is option was not available to White xiiiiiiiiy
in the analogous position after 11.Qe2.
17.Qg5
14.Qc5 is move is analogous to
(17.Qd2 Qc7 18.Bg5 Be6 19.Bf6
14.Qb5 in the 11.Qe2 line: White needs
Nd7μ)
to prevent ...Nc6-b4(a5).
17...Re6 18.Qf4
14...Re8!³ e threat is ...Bg7-f8.
(18.Rd1?? Nb4!–+)
(14...Bxc2 15.Kxc2 Nd4+ 16.Qxd4
Bxd4 17.Rxd4²); 18...Nd8!„ (18...Re4=)

14.Bb5? Nb4 15.Nd4 15...Bh8

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+q+-trk+0 9r+q+r+kvl0
9zpp+-+pvlp0 9zpp+-+p+p0
9-sn-tR-+p+0 9-snntR-+pvL0
9+L+-+l+-0 9+-+-+l+-0
9-sn-sN-vL-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-sN-wQ-+-0 9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9PzPPwQ-zPPzP0
9+-mK-+-+R0 9+-mK-+L+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
I think most (even strong) players
15...Nxa2+! 16.Kb1 would falter and collapse here. Black
(16.Nxa2 Bxd4–+) threatens ...Nc6-b4(a5) and only one
(highly computerized) idea prevents it.
16...Nxc3+ 17.Qxc3 Qxc3 18.bxc3 Be4
19.f3 Bd5μ 16.Be3!
 16.Bb5 a6 17.Bxc6? bxc6 18.b3 Nd5!
19.Nxd5 cxd5 20.Rxd5 Be4 21.Rd6??
Qc5–+;
16.Qf4?! Ne7! 17.Bd3 Bxc3 18.bxc3
Qxc3³;
16.h4?! Nb4μ
16...Qb8!?
16...Na5 is leads to a forced draw but
it is unnecessary to allow the ensuing
chaos. 17.Bd4™
(17.Bxb6 axb6 18.Nd4 Nc6! 19.Nxf5
Qxf5 20.Kb1 Qc5μ)
17...Nac4 18.Bxc4 Nxc4 19.Qh6 Nxd6
20.Bxh8 Kxh8 21.Ng5 Kg8 22.Rd1!
(22.Qxh7+ Kf8 23.Rd1!)
I had originally intended to recommend
this as the main line; perhaps some readers
will prefer this to my selection. 17.Ng5
(17.Bxb6 Bxc3 18.bxc3 axb6 19.Bc4
Rxd6 20.Qxd6 Na5 21.Bxf7+ Kxf7
22.Ng5+ Kg8 23.Qd5+ Kh8 24.Qe5+
Kg8=; 17.Rxe6 Qxe6 18.Ng5 Bxc3
19.Qxc3 Qxa2³)
17...Rxd6 18.Qxd6 Be5 19.Qc5 Bg7
20.Bc4 Nxc4 21.Qxc4 Qe8=;
16...Nb4?! (is doesn’t work here
because of a brilliant resource which was
the point of 16.Be3!) 17.Bd4! Nxc2
18.Bxh8 Kxh8 19.Bb5 Nc4 20.Qh6!
Nxd6 21.Ng5 Re1+ 22.Rxe1 Qg8
23.Re7±

22...Qc6 17.Bf4
17.Bb5 a6 18.Bxc6? Nc4!³;
(22...Re2 23.Qxh7+ Kf8 24.Rxd6
Rxc2+ 25.Kd1 Qc4 26.Qh8+ Ke7 17.h4?! Ne5μ
27.Qe5+ Kf8=) 17...Qc8!
XIIIIIIIIY
23.Qxh7+ Kf8 24.Qh6+ Kg8 25.g4 9r+q+r+kvl0
Bxg4 26.Rxd6 Re1+ 27.Nd1 Qe8
28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qf6+
9zpp+-+p+p0
Kf8=; 9-snntR-+p+0
16...Re6!?
9+-+-+l+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-vL-+0
9r+q+-+kvl0 9+-sN-+N+-0
9zpp+-+p+p0 9PzPPwQ-zPPzP0
9-snntRr+p+0 9+-mK-+L+R0
9+-+-+l+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-+-+-+0 By diverting White’s bishop from e3,
9+-sN-vLN+-0 Black reinstates his threat of ...Nc6-b4.
9PzPPwQ-zPPzP0 White is worse if he doesn’t accept the
9+-mK-+L+R0 repetition.
xiiiiiiiiy 18.Be3 Qb8=
 CHAPTER 7

ANTI-SICILIANS: ALAPIN AND

MORRA
1.e4 c5 after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6: the Alapin, also
XIIIIIIIIY known as the c3-Sicilian, and the Morra
9rsnlwqkvlntr0 Gambit, also known as the Esserman
9zpp+pzppzpp0 Gambit. e Alapin can be played on
9-+-+-+-+0 move two (1.e4 c5 2.c3) or on move three
9+-zp-+-+-0 (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3), so for
convenience and consistency I recommend
9-+-+P+-+0 a line for Black which works against either
9+-+-+-+-0 of these. e Morra Gambit (1.e4 c5 2.d4
9PzPPzP-zPPzP0 cxd4 3.c3 or 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4
9tRNvLQmKLsNR0 4.c3), a sister to the Alapin, has recently
xiiiiiiiiy seen a revival, especially at the club level,
thanks to the publication of IM
Esserman’s masterpiece “Mayhem in the
Contents Morra”.
1. 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3
XIIIIIIIIY
2. 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.sidelines & 9rsnlwqkvlntr0
4.d4 g6 5.sidelines 9zpp+pzppzpp0
3. 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 g6 5.Nf3 9-+-+-+-+0
Bg7 & 5...Nc6 6.sidelines 9+-+-+-+-0
4. 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 g6 5.Nf3 9-+-zpP+-+0
Bg7 6.Be2 9+-zP-+-+-0
5. 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 d5 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
6. 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 Nc6 9tRNvLQmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
1
Here we have the Morra Gambit, a
In these nal chapters we turn to system emblematic of the Romantic Era in
White’s most popular anti-Sicilian options chess — not chronologically, but in spirit:
“e masters of that time found a sound
XIIIIIIIIY
and fruitful plan: disregarding pawns, 9rsnlwqk+-tr0
achieve a rapid development of the pieces 9zpp+-zppvlp0
for a swift attack on the enemy king. “ 9-+-zp-snp+0
(World Champion Emanuel Lasker). On 9+-+-+-+-0
Steinitzian grounds one might insist that
the principled continuation for Black is to
9-+P+P+-+0
accept the gambit — “the best way to 9+-+L+N+P0
refute a gambit is to accept it”. However, 9PzP-+-zPP+0
there is a hidden premise in this assertion: 9tRNvLQmK-+R0
the gambit must be refutable! It is not at xiiiiiiiiy
all clear to me that the Morra Gambit is
refutable; on the contrary, Esserman’s In what follows, Black is free to proceed
aforementioned book is a convincing with traditional Maroczy development;
defense of its soundness. Furthermore, as however, I am instead recommeding a new
Hyper Accelerated Dragon players we offer idea I came up with while preparing this
White the option of a ‘delayed’ Morra book based on a rapid ...Nf6-d7 and
Gambit 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 ...Bg7xc3.
after which our options are far more
8.0-0
limited. As best I can tell, Black cannot
8.Nc3 Nfd7! If Black wants to play my
safely accept the delayed Morra Gambit,
idea, then White must not be permitted to
so for the sake of consistency I
recapture on c3 with the queen, so Black
recommend declining after 1.e4 c5 2.d4
must play ...Bxc3 before White achieves
cxd4 3.c3 as well. e usual way to decline
Bc1–e3 and Qd1–d2.
the gambit is to transpose to the Alapin
with ...Ng8-f6, but this is not in keeping (8...0-0 9.Be3 Nfd7 10.Qd2 is is of
with my recommended Alapin repertoire. course playable for Black but not in
Fortunately, the ...d4-d3 line is a reliable keeping with our theme.)
way of transposing into Maroczy-
9.Be3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Ne5!
structures which we are familiar with and XIIIIIIIIY
happy to play as Black. I cannot overstate
how frustrating it is for Morra Gambit
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
players to be denied their Romantic 9zpp+-zpp+p0
fantasies and instead be lulled into a slow, 9-+-zp-+p+0
maneuvering Maroczy structure. 9+-+-sn-+-0
3...d3 4.Bxd3 g6 5.c4 Bg7 6.Nf3 d6 7.h3 9-+P+P+-+0
Nf6 9+-zPLvLN+P0
9P+-+-zPP+0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
 is idea will be studied in greater detail
in the main line. 11.Nxe5
(11.Bh6 Nxd3+ 12.Qxd3 Nd7 13.0-0
f6=)
11...dxe5 12.Bh6 Qc7 13.Qe2 Be6
14.0-0 Nd7=
8...0-0 9.Nc3 Nfd7!N
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+nzppvlp0
9-+-zp-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sNL+N+P0
9PzP-+-zPP+0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
In a similar position, Esserman cautions
that White should not allow “the queen’s
knight to be lopped off by the swooping
...Bxc3 wrecking the pristine Maroczy
structure...Black’s dark squared
de ciencies are overshadowed by White’s
mangled formation.” Here, however,
White does not have much of a choice:
Black is ready to capture on c3 and
White’s only ways to prevent it are rather
contrived.
9...Nc6 Black’s most popular move, but
in my judgment it is insufficiently
sensitive to the time factor in the position.
White does, after all, have more space, so
he will go on to have a more comfortable
position (‘achieve harmony’) if Black is
unable to pose any disruptive threats.
10.Be3 Nd7 11.Qd2 Nc5 12.Bh6!² Black
should be able to defend, but White is
playing for two results.
10.Be3
I think if White wants to attempt an
opening advantage then this is his best
hope. Allow the doubled pawns, and hope
there is enough dynamic compensation. In
researching this structure I have come to
regard White’s attacking potential as quite
formidable, even though computers tend
to think that Black is equal ‘no matter
what’. I recommend immediately aiming
for simpli cations with 11...Ne5! to
neutralize White’s initiative.
10.Bg5 Bxc3! 11.bxc3
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+nzpp+p0
9-+-zp-+p+0
9+-+-+-vL-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-zPL+N+P0
9P+-+-zPP+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Ne5 Computers take some time to
appreciate this idea, but from a human
perspective it is clear that exchanging
pieces bene ts Black. is is because
White’s compensation for his static pawn
weaknesses must be predicated on
dynamic piece play.
(11...Nc5 is is perfectly playable for
Black as well, but as a matter of
convenience I have recommended
11...Ne5 here instead since I
recommend the same idea in the main
line. 12.Bc2 Be6 13.e5 (13.Qe2 f6
14.Bh6 Re8=) 13...Bxc4 14.exd6 Qxd6
15.Qxd6 exd6 16.Rfd1 d5=)
 12.Nxe5 10...Nc6 reatening ...Nc6-b4. 11.a3
(12.c5 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 dxc5 14.Qxd8 Nde5 12.Nxe5
Rxd8 15.Bxe7 Re8 16.Bxc5 Rxe4=)
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
12...dxe5 13.c5
9zpp+-zppvlp0
(13.f4 exf4 14.Rb1 Na6!=) 9-+nzp-+p+0
13...Be6 14.Rb1 Nd7 15.Rxb7 Qc8!=; 9+-+-sN-+-0
10.Nd5 is is a pretty extreme way for 9-+P+P+-+0
White to avoid ...Bg7xc3; with this 9zP-sNL+-+P0
concession Black can equalize with 9-zPQ+-zPP+0
‘normal’ Maroczy moves. 10...Nc5 11.Rb1 9tR-vL-+RmK-0
e6 12.Ne3 xiiiiiiiiy
(12.Nc3 Bxc3 13.bxc3 e5=)
12...Nd4! 13.Qd1 dxe5=;
12...a5 13.Ng4 Nc6 14.Bc2 f5³;
10.Bd2
10.Qe2 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Ne5 XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwq-trk+0
9rsnlwq-trk+0 9zpp+nzppvlp0
9zpp+-zpp+p0 9-+-zp-+p+0
9-+-zp-+p+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+-+-sn-+-0 9-+P+P+-+0
9-+P+P+-+0 9+-sNL+N+P0
9+-zPL+N+P0 9PzP-vL-zPP+0
9P+-+QzPP+0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9tR-vL-+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
is is a concession — the bishop
Our go-to idea: the resulting structure is would prefer a more active square. Now
always ne for Black as long as White can’t we can equalize with ‘normal’ Maroczy
immediately stir up some trouble. development. 10...Nc5 11.Bc2 Nc6 12.a3
(11...Nc5 12.Bc2 e5!? is interesting ere are of course many ways to handle
blockading idea is playable as well. this position, I just give one relatively
13.Rd1 Nc6 14.Nd2 Be6 15.Nf1 Na5 straightforward and logical path for Black
16.Ne3 Rc8 17.Nd5 Qh4 18.Rb1 b6=) — targeting the d4-square.

12.Nxe5 dxe5=; (12.Rb1 Nb4 13.a3 Nxc2 14.Qxc2 b6

15.b4 Ne6=)
10.Qc2 White deters Black’s ...Bg7xc3
but in so doing misplaces his queen.
 12...b6 13.b4 Ne6 14.Bd3 Bb7 15.Rc1 11...Nc6 is is the computer’s rst
Ne5! 16.Nxe5 dxe5 17.Be3 Nd4=; choice but I think the engine
underestimates White’s attacking
10.Qd2 Ne5!
potential. 12.Nd4 Nce5 13.Be2 Nb6
(10...Nc6 11.b3 Nc5 12.Bb2 f5 13.exf5 14.Bh6 Re8 15.f4 Nexc4 16.f5‚
Nxd3 14.Qxd3 Bxf5 15.Qe3²) XIIIIIIIIY
11.Nxe5 dxe5 12.b3 Nc6 13.Bb2 b6 9r+lwqr+k+0
14.Rad1 Bb7= 9zpp+-zpp+p0
10...Bxc3 11.bxc3 9-sn-zp-+pvL0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+P+-0
9rsnlwq-trk+0 9-+nsNP+-+0
9zpp+nzpp+p0 9+-zP-+-+P0
9-+-zp-+p+0 9P+-+L+P+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9-+P+P+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-zPLvLN+P0
9P+-+-zPP+0 White’s attack is not devastating, but it’s
just not very comfortable to be Black here.
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 e position is reminiscent of lines in the
xiiiiiiiiy Scaemish or Rubinstein Nimzo Indian
where Black doubles White’s c-pawns and
11...Ne5!
expends several tempos to win the c4-
I recall an interview with Aronian where
pawn at the cost of allowing White an f4-
he said (paraphrasing) that the greatest joy
f5 attack.;
in chess preparation nowadays comes from
nding ideas the computer is unable to 11...Na6
immediately appreciate. at was certainly XIIIIIIIIY
the case with this move. e computer’s 9r+lwq-trk+0
suggestions all enabled White to develop a 9zpp+nzpp+p0
dangerous kingside attack, but I was 9n+-zp-+p+0
looking for something requiring less
accuracy from Black. e engine initially 9+-+-+-+-0
thinks that White is += after the exchange 9-+P+P+-+0
on e5, but the human realizes that either 9+-zPLvLN+P0
Black is getting into immediate trouble or 9P+-+-zPP+0
he’ll successfully develop his pieces and be 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
ne. If it is the latter, which it fortunately
is, then ‘+=’ is not a very meaningful xiiiiiiiiy
assessment. is move ts with Nimzowitsch’s
11...Nc5?! 12.Bxc5 dxc5 13.e5²; philosophy of blockade: “First restrain,
next blockade, lastly destroy”.
XIIIIIIIIY
Unfortunately, the ideal blockade is not 9rsnlwq-trk+0
always the most relevant aspect of a 9zpp+-zpp+p0
position, and I believe Black’s rst priority 9-+-zp-+p+0
should be to avoid a kingside onslaught by 9+-+-sn-+-0
liquidating with 11...Ne5! 12.Bc2 Nac5
9-+PsNP+-+0
(12...f6 13.Nd4 Nac5 14.Bh6 Re8 9+-zPLvL-+P0
15.f4 Kh8 16.h4 Rg8 17.Re1 Nb6 9P+-+-zPP+0
18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5 Nxc4 20.exf6 exf6
21.h5±)
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
13.Nd4 Re8
I believe this is White’s best attempt to
(13...b6 14.Nc6 Qe8 15.Bh6±)
develop an initiative.
14.f4 b6 15.f5 Ne5 12.Bh6 Re8 13.Nd4 f6! 14.Be2
(15...Bb7 16.Qf3 (16.fxg6 fxg6) (14.f4?? Nf7–+)
16...Ne5 17.Qf4 Kh8 18.fxg6 fxg6
19.Qh4 Kg8 20.Rad1²) 14...Nbc6 15.Be3 Na5„;

16.Nf3 Qc7 17.Qe1 Nxc4 18.e5∞ 12.Bc2 Be6 e simplest way for Black.
XIIIIIIIIY (12...Nxf3+ 13.Qxf3 Nc6 14.c5 dxc5
9r+l+r+k+0 15.Bxc5 Qa5 16.Bd4∞; 12...Nxc4?
9zp-wq-zpp+p0 13.Bh6 Re8 14.Bb3 Ne5 15.Ng5 e6
9-zp-zp-+p+0 16.f4 Nec6 17.f5+–)
9+-sn-zPP+-0 13.Bh6 Nxf3+ 14.Qxf3 Re8 15.e5 Nc6
9-+n+-+-+0 16.exd6 Qxd6 17.Rfb1 Na5=;
9+-zP-vLN+P0 12.Nxe5 dxe5
9P+L+-+P+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9tR-+-wQRmK-0 9rsnlwq-trk+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zpp+-zpp+p0
A complete mess. We should avoid this,
9-+-+-+p+0
as the overzealous Morra Gambit player 9+-+-zp-+-0
will be rewarded for their impatience in 9-+P+P+-+0
positions like this which require direct, 9+-zPLvL-+P0
un-nuanced play. 9P+-+-zPP+0
12.Nd4! 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

XIIIIIIIIY
 White had better act quick, otherwise
XIIIIIIIIY
Black will be better if he achieves ...Qd8- 9r+l+-tr-mk0
c7, ...Nb8-d7, ...b7-b6, and ...Bc8-a6. 9zp-wqnzpp+p0
13.Rb1 9-zp-+-+p+0
a) 13.Be2 Qc7 14.Qa4 Na6 15.Qa3 b6 9+-+-zpP+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+P+P+-+0
9r+l+-trk+0 9+-zPLvLQ+P0
9zp-wq-zpp+p0 9P+-+-+P+0
9nzp-+-+p+0 9+R+-+RmK-0
9+-+-zp-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+P+P+-+0 17.fxg6
9wQ-zP-vL-+P0
(17.Bh6 Rg8 White’s aggressive stance is
9P+-+LzPP+0 wholly illusory; Black is already clearly
9tR-+-+RmK-0 better. 18.fxg6 Rxg6 19.Qxf7 Ba6
xiiiiiiiiy 20.Be3 Rag8 21.g4 Nf6μ)
17...fxg6 18.Qxf8+! White can force a
16.Rab1 (16.Rfb1 Rd8 17.Rb5 Kg7
draw here. 18...Nxf8 19.Rxf8+ Kg7
18.Rab1 Qd6 19.Qc1 Be6 20.a4 Nc5
20.Rbf1 e6
21.Bxc5 (21.a5 Bd7³) 21...bxc5 22.Qe3
Rdc8=) 16...Qd6 17.Qxd6 (17.c5 Nxc5
XIIIIIIIIY
18.Rfd1 Qf6 19.Bh6 Bd7! 20.Bxf8
9r+l+-tR-+0
Kxf8 21.f3 Kg7= Black clearly has full 9zp-wq-+-mkp0
compensation, just look at the dark 9-zp-+p+p+0
squares.) 17...exd6 18.Rfd1 Nc5 19.f3 9+-+-zp-+-0
Rd8 20.Rd2 Be6 21.Rbd1 Nb7=; 9-+P+P+-+0
b) 13.f4 exf4 14.Bxf4 Qb6+ 15.Rf2 Be6 9+-zPLvL-+P0
16.Rb1 Qc6 17.Bg5 Qc7 18.Bf4 Qc8 9P+-+-+P+0
19.Qe2 Nd7³; 9+-+-+RmK-0
13...Qc7 14.f4 Nd7 15.f5 b6 16.Qf3 xiiiiiiiiy
reatening Be3-h6.
21.R1f7+! Qxf7 22.Bh6+! Kf6 23.Bg5+
(16.Bh6 Rd8 17.Qf3 Nf6³ White Kg7 24.Bh6+ Kf6=
cannot make progress on the kingside,
and Black is ready to pick up the c4- 12...f6!
pawn with ...Bc8-a6.)
16...Kh8!

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 21.f5!!±) 20.Qf7 Rg8 21.Qf6+ Rg7
9rsnlwq-trk+0 22.fxg5+–)
9zpp+-zp-+p0 14.Bh6 Re8 15.f4
9-+-zp-zpp+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-sn-+-0 9r+lwqr+k+0
9-+PsNP+-+0 9zpp+nzpp+p0
9+-zPLvL-+P0 9-+-zp-+pvL0
9P+-+-zPP+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 9-+PsNPzP-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-zPQ+-+P0
is move is prophylaxis against 13.Bh6 9P+-+-+P+0
Re8 14.f4?? when 14...Nf7! wins a piece. 9tR-+-+RmK-0
It also bolsters the all-important e5 square. xiiiiiiiiy
12...Nxd3 is is the most obvious Whatever the objective evaluation of
move — Black would normally be happy this position, I would not want to defend
to capture White’s bishop. However, here it as Black. 15...b6
Black is severely underdeveloped, which
allows White the time to initiate a strong (15...f6 16.Ne6 Qb6+ 17.Rf2 Nc5
attack. 13.Qxd3 Nd7 18.Nxc5 Qxc5 19.f5 Kf7 20.Raf1²)

(13...Qa5?! 14.Bh6 Rd8 15.f4 Qh5?! 16.e5! Ba6

Black deserves to be punished for (16...dxe5 17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Qe4+–)
parading around with his queen in total
neglect of his development. 16.Bg5 f6 17.e6 fxe6 18.Nxe6 Qc8 19.f5 Ne5
XIIIIIIIIY 20.Qg3 Qxc4 21.Rae1 Rac8 22.fxg6 hxg6
9rsnltr-+k+0 23.Nf4±;
9zpp+-zp-+p0 12...Nbd7 13.Be2! Nc5 14.f4 Ned7
9-+-zp-zpp+0 15.Bf3 Nb6 16.Qe2²
9+-+-+-vLq0 13.Be2
9-+PsNPzP-+0 13.Bc2 Kh8 e onus is on White to
9+-zPQ+-+P0 make something happen here; Black’s ideas
of completing development and
9P+-+-+P+0 blockading on c5 are clear. In a practical
9tR-+-+RmK-0 game I would prefer Black, because I think
xiiiiiiiiy most White players would mishandle the
simultaneous demands of aggression and
17.c5!! fxg5 (17...d5 18.exd5 fxg5 restraint. 14.Bb3 Na6 (14...g5!?∞) 15.f4
19.Qc4 Bxh3 20.c6±) 18.Qc4+ Kh8 Nf7 16.Bc2 Nc5 17.h4 e5 18.Nb5 b6
19.cxd6 exd6 (19...Bxh3 20.dxe7 Re8
19.fxe5 Nxe5 20.Qxd6 Qxd6 21.Nxd6 e position is dynamically equal:
Be6=; White has two bishops and a space
advantage as compensation for his
13.f4 Nxd3 14.Qxd3 Na6 15.f5 Nc5
weakened pawn structure.
16.Qc2
XIIIIIIIIY 15...Nc5
9r+lwq-trk+0 15...e5?! 16.Nb5 Qe7 17.f5 b6 18.Qd5
9zpp+-zp-+p0 Rb8 19.Rad1 Rd8 20.Bg4!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-zp-zpp+0 9-trltr-+k+0
9+-sn-+P+-0 9zp-+-wqn+p0
9-+PsNP+-+0 9nzp-zp-zpp+0
9+-zP-vL-+P0 9+N+QzpP+-0
9P+Q+-+P+0 9-+P+P+L+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0 9+-zP-vL-+P0
xiiiiiiiiy 9P+-+-+P+0
16...Qe8! 17.Nb3 Nd7 White is well 9+-+R+RmK-0
advised to liquidate the situation before xiiiiiiiiy
Black achieves ...b7-b6 and cements
White’s c4-weakness. 20...Nc5 21.fxg6 hxg6 22.Bxc8 Rbxc8
23.Rf2 Kg7 24.Rdf1²
(17...b6 18.Bh6 Rf7 19.Nxc5 bxc5
20.Rf4²) 16.Nb3 Na4 17.c5 dxc5 18.Qxd8 Rxd8
19.Nxc5 Nxc5 20.Bxc5 Rd7
18.c5 dxc5 19.Nxc5 Nxc5 20.Bxc5 b6 XIIIIIIIIY
21.Bd4 Bb7=; 9r+l+-+k+0
13.Bh6 Re8 14.f4?? Nf7–+ 9zpp+rzpn+p0
13...Na6 14.f4 Nf7 15.Bf3 9-+-+-zpp+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-vL-+-+-0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9-+-+PzP-+0
9zpp+-zpn+p0 9+-zP-+L+P0
9n+-zp-zpp+0 9P+-+-+P+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
9-+PsNPzP-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-zP-vLL+P0
9P+-+-+P+0 White has gotten rid of his c4-weakness
but the isolated c3-pawn still remains a
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 liability. e position should zzle out
xiiiiiiiiy into a draw; the following is an
illustration.
21.e5 Rc7 22.Bd4 fxe5 23.fxe5 Ng5 27.cxd5 Ne4 28.Rae1 Rcc8 29.Bxa7 Nd2
24.Bd5+ Be6 25.c4 Rd8 26.Be3 Bxd5 30.Rf4 Rxd5=
 2

1.e4 c5 2.c3 (4...Nf6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bc4 Qd8 7.0-0

XIIIIIIIIY
a6 8.Nc2 Bg4 9.d4 e6 10.h3 Bxf3
9rsnlwqkvlntr0 11.Qxf3 Rc8 12.Rd1 cxd4 13.Bb3! Qc7
9zpp+pzppzpp0 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.cxd4 Bd6 16.Bg5
9-+-+-+-+0 Ke7 17.Re1± 1–0 (39) Nakamura,H-Yu
9+-zp-+-+-0 Yangyi Gibraltar 2015)
9-+-+P+-+0 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be2 e5!
9+-zP-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9PzP-zP-zPPzP0 9r+-+kvlntr0
9tRNvLQmKLsNR0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+n+-+-+0
In keeping with our theme of ...g7-g6,
9+-zpqzp-+-0
Black has three options: 9-+-+-+l+0
1) 2...g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.cxd4 d5!? as
9sN-zP-+N+-0
recommended by Alburt, 9PzP-zPLzPPzP0
Dzindzichashvili, and Perelshteyn in 9tR-vLQmK-+R0
their “Chess Openings for Black, xiiiiiiiiy
Explained”.
It is unusual for Black to be able to
2) 2...Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3 assert central dominance so early in the
g6!? as in Adams-Kramnik, Dortmund Alapin. I do not think he should fear
2013 (1/2–1/2). ghosts in doing so: Black is effectively
3) My recommendation 2...d5 3.exd5 calling White’s provocation in delaying
Qxd5 4.d4 g6!? which was also d2-d4 a bluff. 7.d3
recommended by Ftacnik in his a) 7.Qa4?! e4 8.Nb5 Rc8 9.Nfd4 Bxe2
“Grandmaster Repertoire” book on the 10.Nxe2 Nf6μ;
Sicilian.
b) 7.h3 Bh5 8.d3 (8.Qb3 0-0-0„; 8.0-0
2...d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 e4 9.Ne1 Bxe2 10.Qxe2 0-0-0„) 8...f6
4.Na3 e rst time I saw this move
was in Nakamura-Yangyi, Gibraltar 2015
(1–0). It worked out for White in that
game, but I don’t think Black has any
problems if he responds actively. 4...Nc6
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY preference for the Black side of the
9r+-+kvlntr0 Maroczy, we know not to underestimate
9zpp+-+-zpp0 the elastic potential of White’s structure
9-+n+-zp-+0 here, but it is clear nevertheless that
9+-zpqzp-+l0 Black should be content with the result
of the opening. 12.Ne3 (12.Qa4 Bxd3
9-+-+-+-+0 13.Bxd3 Qxd3 14.Be3 Nd5³) 12...Qg8
9sN-zPP+N+P0 (12...Qd7=; 12...Qe6?! 13.Nh4²)
9PzP-+LzPP+0 13.Qa4 Bxd3 14.Bxd3 Rxd3 15.b4
9tR-vLQmK-+R0 XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+k+-vlqtr0
9zpp+-sn-zpp0
By further delaying his kingside 9-+n+-zp-+0
development, Black signals his intention
to castle queenside. 9.0-0 (9.Be3 0-0-0
9+-zp-zp-+-0
10.0-0 Nge7 11.c4 Qg8! 12.Bxc5 Ng6!! 9QzP-+-+-+0
13.Bxf8 Qxf8 14.g4 Bxg4!! 15.hxg4 9zP-zPrsNN+P0
Nf4μ) 9...Nge7 10.Nc4 0-0-0 11.a3 9-+-+-zPP+0
(11.Ne3 Qd7 12.Nxe5 Bxe2 13.Nxd7 9tR-vL-+RmK-0
Bxd1 14.Nxf8 Be2 15.Ne6 Bxf1 xiiiiiiiiy
16.Nxd8 Rxd8 17.Kxf1 Rxd3=)
11...Bg6 Black should trust the soundness of his
XIIIIIIIIY structure and enter the complications
9-+ktr-vl-tr0 head on with 15...e4! 15...e4! (15...Kb8
9zpp+-sn-zpp0 16.b5 Nd8 17.Ne1 Rd6 18.Nc4 Rd5
9-+n+-zpl+0 19.f4 (19.Ne3 Rd6=; 19.Nc2 Qe6
9+-zpqzp-+-0 20.N2e3 Rd7=) 19...Qe6 20.fxe5 fxe5
21.Nc2 (21.Nf3 Nf7=) 21...Ng6
9-+N+-+-+0
22.Be3 Be7 23.Nb4!∞) 16.Ne1
9zP-zPP+N+P0 (16.Nd2 Nd5 17.Nxe4 Qe6„)
9-zP-+LzPP+0 16...Rxc3 17.b5 (17.Qd1 Qe6 18.Bd2
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0 Rb3 19.Rc1 Kb8 20.Nc4 Nd4μ)
xiiiiiiiiy 17...Nd4 18.Bd2 (18.Qxa7 Nd5
19.Qa8+ Kc7 20.Qa5+ Nb6 21.N1c2™
In this line the Accelerated Dragon 21...Ne2+ 22.Kh1 Rd3³) 18...Nd5!
player gets to play the reverse of their
usual role — White is playing in
hypermodern fashion by relinquishing
the center and seeking counterplay on
the anks. From our experience and
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY d) 7.Nc2 e4 8.Ne3 Qd7 9.Nxg4 Qxg4
9-+k+-vlqtr0 10.Qa4 Nf6 11.Ne5 Qxg2 12.Rf1 Rc8
9zpp+-+-zpp0 13.Bb5 Bd6 14.Nxc6
9-+-+-zp-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+Pzpn+-+-0 9-+r+k+-tr0
9Q+-snp+-+0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
9zP-tr-sN-+P0 9-+Nvl-sn-+0
9-+-vL-zPP+0 9+Lzp-+-+-0
9tR-+-sNRmK-0 9Q+-+p+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-zP-+-+-0
9PzP-zP-zPqzP0
If Black makes it this far he should be 9tR-vL-mKR+-0
able to gure the rest out over the board.
19.b6 (19.Nxd5 Qxd5 20.Bxc3 Ne2+
xiiiiiiiiy
21.Kh1 Nxc3 22.Qxa7 Bd6³; 19.N1c2
14...0-0! 15.Na5 (15.Nxa7 Ra8„ ...Bb8
Nxc2 20.Nxc2 Rd3³; 19.Bxc3 Nxc3
follows) 15...a6 16.Be2 b5μ 17...Nd5
20.Qxa7 Bd6μ) 19...Nxb6 20.Qe8+
will follow, eyeing the f4-square. Black
Kc7 21.Bxc3 Ne2+ 22.Kh1 Nxc3 can take his time with the attack:
23.Rc1™ 23...Ne2 24.Ra1™ (24.Rd1? White’s king isn’t going anywhere.;
Bd6 25.Qxg8 Rxg8–+) 24...Nc3=;
7...f6!N
c) 7.0-0 XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-+kvlntr0
9r+-+kvlntr0 9zpp+-+-zpp0
9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+n+-zp-+0
9-+n+-+-+0 9+-zpqzp-+-0
9+-zpqzp-+-0 9-+-+-+l+0
9-+-+-+l+0 9sN-zPP+N+-0
9sN-zP-+N+-0 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9PzP-zPLzPPzP0 9tR-vLQmK-+R0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
is is our theme in this line: bolster
is is oddly White’s most popular the center and aim to castle queenside.
move but it leads quite straightforwardly (7...0-0-0 8.Nc4 f5 9.Ne3 Qd7 10.h3
to a slight edge for Black. 7...e4 8.Ne1 Bh5 11.Nxf5 Qxf5 12.g4 Bxg4 13.hxg4
Bxe2 9.Qxe2 0-0-0 10.f3 exf3 11.Qxf3 Qd7 14.Ng5²)
Nf6³;
8.0-0 Nge7 9.h3
 (9.Nc4 Be6 10.Re1 (10.a3 Qd7 11.b4 queen). However, in chess (and in many
Nd5; 10.Nfd2 Qd7 11.Nb3 Nd5 12.d4 spheres of life) there is a phenomenon
exd4 13.cxd4 b5 14.Ne3 c4 15.Nc5 whereby the whole is greater than the sum
Bxc5 16.dxc5 0-0„) 10...Qd7 11.a4 of its parts. My father used to refer to this
(11.a3 Nd5 12.Qc2 0-0-0 13.b4 Kb8 as ‘cooperation points’: for every
14.Qb2 Qc7 15.b5 Na5 16.a4 g5„) combination of pieces, add a point, so two
11...Nd5 12.Bf1 0-0-0 (12...Be7 13.d4 pieces are worth 3+3+1, ie. more than a
rook+pawn (pawns don’t count as pieces) .
exd4 14.cxd4 0-0³) 13.Qb3 Kb8 14.a5
Similarly, three pieces are worth
g5! 15.a6 b6„)
3+3+3+1+1+1. is may be a bit of an
9...Be6 10.d4 cxd4 11.cxd4 e4 exaggeration, but it’s not a bad rst
XIIIIIIIIY approximation. I suspect my father
9r+-+kvl-tr0 thought of this himself (in the context of a
9zpp+-sn-zpp0 variation in the Pirc where three pieces
outshine a Queen and two pawns), but I
9-+n+lzp-+0 also came across the idea in Lasker’s Chess
9+-+q+-+-0 Manual.
9-+-zPp+-+0 4...g6
9sN-+-+N+P0 XIIIIIIIIY
9PzP-+LzPP+0 9rsnl+kvlntr0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0 9zpp+-zpp+p0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+-+p+0
9+-zpq+-+-0
12.Nb5 0-0-0 13.Nd2 a6 14.Bc4 Qd7
15.Nxe4 Bxc4! 16.Nbd6+ Qxd6
9-+-zP-+-+0
17.Nxd6+ Rxd6 18.Re1 Rxd4 9+-zP-+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9-+k+-vl-tr0 9tRNvLQmKLsNR0
9+p+-sn-zpp0 xiiiiiiiiy
9p+n+-zp-+0 e rst strong player to consistently
9+-+-+-+-0 play this move was Yugoslavian
9-+ltr-+-+0 Grandmaster Ognjen Cvitan, who played
9+-+-+-+P0 it several times throughout the 1990s.
9PzP-+-zPP+0 Since then, the move has found a brigade
of supporters, most notably Radjabov,
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0 Karjakin, Dreev, and Almasi. It was also
xiiiiiiiiy played several times by a young Magnus
Carlsen.
If we accept Euler’s estimation of the
value of the pieces, then the material is 5.dxc5
numerically equal (three pieces for a
 5.Be3 is was the ‘main line’ in the
XIIIIIIIIY
early days of the opening, but it is no 9r+lwqk+-tr0
longer considered a critical test for Black. 9zpp+-zppvlp0
5...cxd4 6.cxd4 9-+nsn-+p+0
(6.Qxd4 Nf6 7.Na3 (7.Qxd5 Nxd5 9+-+-sN-+-0
8.Bd4 f6=) 7...Nc6 8.Qa4 Bg7 9.Nb5 9L+-zP-+-+0
Qd8!³) 9+-sN-vL-+-0
6...Bg7 7.Nc3 Qd8 8.Nf3 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
XIIIIIIIIY 9tR-+QmK-+R0
9rsnlwqk+ntr0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zpp+-zppvlp0
12...0-0! 13.Bxc6
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0 (13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Bxc6 Rb8 15.b3
Ba6μ)
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sN-vLN+-0 13...bxc6 14.Nxc6 Qd7 15.Ne5 Qb7©;
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 5.Be2!? A tricky move rst played by
9tR-+QmKL+R0 Grandmaster Hort in 1992. 5...cxd4!
xiiiiiiiiy a) 5...Nc6?! 6.Bf3² (6.dxc5²) ;
8...Nh6!? b) 5...Qxg2?? 6.Bf3+–;
(8...Nf6 Black may prefer this mode of 6.cxd4
development; it is largely a matter of (6.Nf3 Nf6 7.cxd4 Bg7 8.Nc3 Qd6=)
taste. I think many IMs and GMs prefer
ideas with ...Ng8-h6 because they lead 6...Bg7 7.Nf3
to positions which their lower rated
XIIIIIIIIY
opponents (in Swiss-system 9rsnl+k+ntr0
tournaments) may be unfamiliar with.) 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9.Bc4 9-+-+-+p+0
(9.Bb5+ Nd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Bc4 Nf5=)
9+-+q+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9...Nf5 10.Ne5 Nd6 11.Bb3 Nc6 9+-+-+N+-0
12.Ba4
9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tRNvLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
7...Nh6

XIIIIIIIIY
 (7...Nf6 I tend to prefer my knight on Black needn’t rush to win back his
f6, but as I have said, it is usually a sacri ced pawn. Sometimes he will even
matter of taste. 8.Nc3 Qd6=) play ...b7-b6, abandoning hopes to regain
the pawn in favor of opening up lines for
8.Nc3 Qd8 9.Bf4 0-0 10.0-0 Nf5
his pieces. Even with queens off the board,
11.d5 a6 12.a4 Nd7 13.Qb3 b6 14.Rad1 White’s king is not safe in the center.
Bb7 15.Rfe1 Rc8= 1/2–1/2 (29) Hort,V
(2560)-Spraggett,K (2540) San 6...e6N I toyed around with this new
Bernardino 1992; idea for a while, but I came to the
conclusion that it is unnecessary since the
5.Na3 cxd4 6.Nb5 Na6 7.Qxd4 Qxd4 main move, 6...Nf6, equalizes
8.Nxd4 Nf6 9.Ngf3 Bg7 10.Bb5+ Bd7 comfortably. I have included my analysis
11.0-0 Nc7 12.Bc4 Nfd5 13.Re1 of 6...e6 in case the reader is interested.
XIIIIIIIIY 7.b4!
9r+-+k+-tr0 a) 7.Be3 Nf6
9zppsnlzppvlp0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+p+0 9rsnl+kvl-tr0
9+-+n+-+-0 9zpp+-+p+p0
9-+LsN-+-+0 9-+-+psnp+0
9+-zP-+N+-0 9+-zP-+-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9-+-+-+-+0
9tR-vL-tR-mK-0 9+-zP-vL-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
13...f6! Black exes his muscles; the 9tRN+K+LsNR0
center is his for the taking. 14.a4 a6= xiiiiiiiiy
5...Qxd1+ 6.Kxd1
XIIIIIIIIY 8.Nf3
9rsnl+kvlntr0
9zpp+-zpp+p0 a1) 8.Bd4 Be7 9.Nf3 0-0 10.Nbd2 Rd8
11.Kc2 Nd5 12.Bc4 Nc6 13.Rhe1 Nxd4+
9-+-+-+p+0 14.cxd4 b6 15.Bxd5 Rxd5 16.b4 Bb7©;
9+-zP-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 a2) 8.Na3 Nbd7 9.Nb5 (9.Bb5 Ng4 10.c6
9+-zP-+-+-0 bxc6 11.Bxc6 Rb8©) 9...Nd5 10.Nf3
Nxe3+ 11.fxe3 Ke7 12.b4 a5©;
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLK+LsNR0 8...Be7 9.Na3 0-0 10.Nb5 Nd5
xiiiiiiiiy 11.Kc2 Nxe3+ 12.fxe3 a5 13.Nd6 Nd7
14.b4 Nf6 15.Nxc8 Rfxc8 16.Kb3 b6
6...Nf6
17.Bc4 (17.cxb6 Ne4 18.b7 Rxc3+
19.Kb2 Rb8–+) 17...bxc5 18.b5 Ne4„;
b) 7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.Bxd7+ Nxd7 9.b4
Ne7 10.Kc2 Bg7 11.Nd2 0-0 12.Ne4
Nd5 13.Bb2 b6 14.c6 (14.cxb6
N7xb6³) 14...Ne5 15.b5 a6 16.a4 Nc4
17.Ne2 Nc7 18.bxa6 Rfc8μ;
7...Bg7 8.Kc2
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+k+ntr0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+-+p+p+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
9-zP-+-+-+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
9P+K+-zPPzP0
9tRNvL-+LsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
8...Ne7
(8...a5 9.Bb2 (9.b5 Nd7 10.Ba3 Ngf6
11.Bd3 Bf8 12.c6 bxc6 13.bxc6 Nc5
14.Bb5 e5=) 9...Nf6 10.Nd2 0-0
11.Ngf3 axb4 12.cxb4 Bd7 13.Bc4 Bc6
14.Rhg1 Rd8 15.Bb3 Bb5 16.Nc4 Nc6
17.a3 Ne4 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Rge1±)
9.Nf3 0-0 10.Bf4
(10.Nbd2 Nd5 11.Bb2 b6 12.Ne4
(12.cxb6 axb6©) 12...bxc5 13.Nxc5
Nd7 14.Ne4 Bb7 15.Nd6 Rab8 16.a3
Bc6 17.b5 Ba8 18.c4™ 18...Bxb2
19.Kxb2 Nf4 20.Kc3 Rb6 21.Rd1 Nc5
22.Kb4 Na6+ 23.Ka5 Nc5 24.Kb4=)
10...Nd5
(10...Nec6 11.b5 e5 12.Bg3 (12.Be3
Ne7=) 12...Bf5+ 13.Kb2 Na5 14.Nbd2
(14.Bxe5 Bxe5 15.Nxe5 Rd8©)
14...Nd7 15.Nb3 Nxb3 16.axb3 e4
(16...Nxc5 17.Bxe5 Bxe5 18.Nxe5
Rfd8 19.Bc4 Rd2+ 20.Ka3±) 17.Nd4
Nxc5 18.Bd6 Rfc8 19.Nxf5 gxf5
20.Bxc5 Rxc5 21.Bc4²)
11.Be5 a5 12.Bxg7 Kxg7 13.Kb3 Nc6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-tr-+0
9+p+-+pmkp0
9-+n+p+p+0
9zp-zPn+-+-0
9-zP-+-+-+0
9+KzP-+N+-0
9P+-+-zPPzP0
9tRN+-+L+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
14.Bc4
(14.b5 Nb8!=)
14...axb4 15.Bxd5 Na5+
(15...exd5 16.cxb4 Re8 17.b5 Na5+
18.Kc3 Bd7 19.Nd4²)
16.Kc2 exd5 17.cxb4 Bf5+ 18.Kc3
(18.Kb2!±)
18...Nc6 19.a4 d4+ 20.Nxd4 Nxd4
21.Kxd4 Rfd8+ 22.Kc4 b5+ 23.cxb6
Rac8+ 24.Kb3 Be6+ 25.Kb2 Rd4 26.Ra3
Rxb4+ 27.Ka1 Rxb6=
7.Nf3
7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.Na3
(8.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 9.c6 bxc6 10.Nf3 e5
11.Re1 Ng4 12.Kc2 f6 13.Be3 Nxe3+
14.Rxe3 Bh6 15.Re2 Rd8 16.Nbd2
Bxd2 17.Nxd2 Kf7= 1/2–1/2 (28)
 Pedersen,N (2508)-Nevednichy,V 0–1 (49) Ragger, M (2265)-Kozul,Z
(2569) Istanbul 2003) (2587) Maribor 2003.
8...e6! 8...Bd7
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-+kvl-tr0 9rsn-+k+-tr0
9zpp+l+p+p0 9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+-+psnp+0 9-+-+-snp+0
9+LzP-+-+-0 9+LzP-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9sN-zP-+-+-0 9+-zP-+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLK+-sNR0 9tRNvLK+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
9.Bd3
(8...Bg7 9.Nf3 0-0 10.Ke2 Rc8 11.Be3 9.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 10.Kc2 Nxc5 11.Be3
Nd5 12.Rhd1 Nxe3 13.Kxe3 Bxb5 Rc8 12.Re1 Nd5 13.Bd4 0-0 14.Bxg7
14.Nxb5² 1/2–1/2 (57) Madeira,W Kxg7 15.Nbd2 b5 16.g3 Rfd8 17.Rad1 e6
(2215)-Leitao,R (2566) Sao Paulo 18.Nb3 Na4 19.Rd4 Naxc3 20.Kd2
2004) Nxa2 0–1 (21) Sriram,J (2356)-Kunte,A
9.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 10.Nb5 (2487) Mumbai 2000.
(10.b4 Ne4³) 9...Bc6 10.Be3 Ng4 11.Nbd2 Nd7
12.Nb3 0-0-0 13.Kc2 Nde5 14.Nxe5
10...Ke7! 11.b4 a6 12.Nd6 b6³
Nxe5 15.Bf1 Be4+ 16.Kc1 Ng4³
7...Bg7 8.Bb5+ 1/2–1/2 (53) Smerdon,D (2470)-Saric,I
8.Be3 Ng4 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Bxd7+ (2559) Dresden 2008.
Nxd7 11.Re1 Nxe3+ 12.Rxe3 Nxc5
13.Kc2 e6 14.Nbd2 Ke7 15.Nb3 Rac8=
 3
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 g6
5.Nf3
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+kvlntr0
9zpp+-zpp+p0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-zpq+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-zP-+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
5...Nc6!?
In this book I have tried, where
possible, to present novel ideas, even
where the accepted wisdom is perfectly
adequate. ere is value in exploring new
terrain, both from a scienti c perspective
of enriching the literature on an opening,
but also from the practical, ‘surprise value’
perspective. 5...Nc6 is an extremely rare
move, about fty(!) times less common
than the main move, 5...Bg7. I am not
sure, nor do I frankly care very much,
which of 5...Bg7 or 5...Nc6 is ‘objectively’
the better move. It seems to me though,
that the new ideas which follow lead to
rich, unexplored positions where a well-
prepared Black player can pose serious
problems for their opponent. Praxis and
the test of time will determine whether
these ideas have wings, or whether Black is
better off adhering to the usual 5...Bg7.
Before continuing I would like to mention
that the following is joint analysis between
myself and Canadian (exiled by marriage
to America) IM Dave Ross.
5...Bg7 e reader may consult GM
Ftacnik’s book on the Sicilian for his
treatment of this move. Black may be ne
with accurate play, but the amount of
awkward queen moves Black is lured into
is not to my taste. 6.Nbd2!
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+k+ntr0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-zpq+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-zP-+N+-0
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
I think this rare move deserves more
attention.
(6.Na3 is transposes to subchapter 5,
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5
5.Na3 Bg7 6.d4.)
6...cxd4
(6...Qe6+?! We will see this is the right
move after 5...Nc6 6.Nbd2 but not
here. 7.Be2 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bxd4 is is
the reason: instead of trading on d4 with
a knight as in the 5...Nc6 line, Black has
to cede the two bishops to White.
9.cxd4 Nf6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Bf3²)
7.Bc4 Qd8 12.h3! A strong prophylactic move:
Black can no longer disentangle with
(7...Qh5N
XIIIIIIIIY ...Nh6-f5 in light of g2-g4. 12...Bxd4
(12...g5?! 13.g4 Nxg4 14.Be2 (14.hxg4
9rsnl+k+ntr0 Bxg4 15.Kg2 Bf5=) 14...Qh4 15.hxg4
9zpp+-zppvlp0 Bxg4 16.Nf3±) 13.Re1 Nf5 (13...Bg7
9-+-+-+p+0 14.Nf3 Nf5 15.Bf4²) 14.Ne4 Nd6
9+-+-+-+q0 15.Nxd6 exd6 16.Re7 g5 17.Bd2! g4
9-+Lzp-+-+0 18.hxg4 Bxf2+ 19.Kf1! (19.Kxf2 Qh4+
9+-zP-+N+-0 20.Kg1 Qxe7=) 19...Qg6 20.Kxf2
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 Qf6+ 21.Qf3 Qxe7 22.Rh1±)
9tR-vLQmK-+R0 8.Nxd4 Nh6
xiiiiiiiiy (8...Bxd4 9.cxd4 Qxd4 10.0-0 Nc6
11.Qb3²; 8...Nf6 9.0-0 0-0 10.N2f3²)
Black does not quite equalize here. 8.0-
9.N2f3 0-0 10.0-0
0! (8.Qb3 Nh6 9.Nxd4 0-0 10.N2f3
Nf5 11.0-0 Nd6 12.Bd3 Nd7=)
XIIIIIIIIY
8...Nc6 (8...dxc3? 9.Ne4! cxb2?
9rsnlwq-trk+0
10.Bxf7+! Kxf7 11.Qb3+ Kf8 12.Neg5 9zpp+-zppvlp0
Nh6 13.Bxb2 Bxb2 14.Qxb2 Rg8 9-+-+-+psn0
15.Nxh7+ Ke8 16.Nfg5+–) 9.Qb3 9+-+-+-+-0
(9.cxd4 Nf6 10.d5 Nxd5 11.Qb3 e6 9-+LsN-+-+0
12.Ne4 0-0 13.Ng3 Na5! 14.Qb5 9+-zP-+N+-0
Nc7!= Alas, Black hangs on by the skin
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
of his teeth.) 9...Nh6 10.Nxd4 Nxd4
11.cxd4 0-0 9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
XIIIIIIIIY xiiiiiiiiy
9r+l+-trk+0 Black’s position is not pretty; I prefer
9zpp+-zppvlp0 the fresh positions which arise after
9-+-+-+psn0 5...Nc6!?.
9+-+-+-+q0 10...Nf5 11.Re1
9-+LzP-+-+0 (11.Bg5 Qc7 12.Qe2²)
9+Q+-+-+-0
11...Nxd4 12.Nxd4 Qc7 13.Bb3 a6
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 14.Bg5² 1/2–1/2 (57) Onischuk,A
9tR-vL-+RmK-0 (2664)-Kudrin,S (2549) Tulsa 2008.
xiiiiiiiiy
6.Be3
 e main move 6.Be2 will be covered in One of the nice things about this
the next subchapter. 6.dxc5 is is 5...Nc6 system is that it is particularly
premature; if White wants to take on c5 well-suited to meet 6.Na3, which is the
then he should rst play 6.Be3 then take most popular move against 5...Bg7.
on c5 after Black commits his bishop to Indeed, when I was practicing this line in
g7. 6...Qxd1+ 7.Kxd1 Nf6 8.Be3 Nd5 online blitz I came across Alapin specialist
9.Nbd2 e5! GM A. Zhigalko and 6.Na3 was his
XIIIIIIIIY choice as well. As we see, though, Black’s
9r+l+kvl-tr0 5...Nc6 enables him to quickly castle
9zpp+-+p+p0 queenside and pose White with immediate
9-+n+-+p+0 problems. 6...Bg4 7.Nb5
9+-zPnzp-+-0 (7.Be2 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf6 9.Nb5 Rc8
9-+-+-+-+0 10.Nc3 Qa5 11.d5 Rd8 12.0-0 Bg7³;
7.Bc4 Bxf3 8.gxf3 Qf5„ It is a great
9+-zP-vLN+-0 practical upshot of this system that
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 natural moves by White allow Black to
9tR-+K+L+R0 equalize with ease. 9.Bd3 Qh5 10.Be4
xiiiiiiiiy Nf6 11.Nb5? Nxe4 12.Nc7+ Kd7
13.Nxa8 Nf6μ)
10.Ne4 Bf5 11.Bd3 0-0-0 12.Ke2
Nxe3 13.fxe3 Be7 14.Nd6+ 7...0-0-0!
XIIIIIIIIY
(14.Bc2 Bg4 15.Nf2 Bxf3+ 16.gxf3 9-+ktr-vlntr0
Bxc5=)
9zpp+-zpp+p0
14...Bxd6 15.Bxf5+ gxf5 16.cxd6 Rxd6 9-+n+-+p+0
17.Rad1 Kd7!=; 9+Nzpq+-+-0
6.Na3 9-+-zP-+l+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-zP-+N+-0
9r+l+kvlntr0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9zpp+-zpp+p0 9tR-vLQmKL+R0
9-+n+-+p+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-zpq+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0 White is suddenly caught off guard —
Black isn’t supposed to be able to castle
9sN-zP-+N+-0 queenside in this opening! Reap the
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 rewards of 5...Nc6. Black has taken over
9tR-vLQmKL+R0 the initiative and White needs to be
xiiiiiiiiy extremely accurate to not lose outright in
the next few moves. 8.Be2™
 (8.Be3 a6 9.a4 Bxf3 10.gxf3 Bh6!μ) If you ever get this position over the
board, relish your opportunity — your
8...a6 9.a4
opponent is likely a masochist, and you
(¹9.Na3 cxd4 10.cxd4 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 may get to enact one of the beautiful
Qxd4 12.Qc2 Qd3 13.Qxd3 Rxd3 variations which follow. 11.f3
14.Nc4©)
(11.Nc7+ Kd8 12.f3 Qh4+ 13.Bf2 Qf6
9...cxd4 10.cxd4 axb5 11.axb5 Bxf3 14.Nxa8 Nc2+ 15.Ke2 Qe6+ 16.Ne4
12.bxc6 Bxe2 13.Ra8+ Kc7 14.Bf4+ e5 Bxe4 17.dxc5+ Kc8–+)
15.Bxe5+ Qxe5–+;
11...Qh4+ 12.Bf2
6.c4?! Qe4+ 7.Be3 Nb4! (12.g3 Qf6 13.Bxh6 Nc2+ 14.Kf2
XIIIIIIIIY Nxh6 15.Rc1 a6 16.Nc7+ Kd8μ)
9r+l+kvlntr0
9zpp+-zpp+p0 12...Qg5
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+p+0 9r+-+k+ntr0
9+-zp-+-+-0 9zpp+-zpp+p0
9-snPzPq+-+0 9-+-+-+pvl0
9+-+-vLN+-0 9+Nzp-+lwq-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9-snPzP-+-+0
9tRN+QmKL+R0 9+-+-+P+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9PzP-sN-vLPzP0
Black gets to have some fun in this line. 9tR-+QmKL+R0
8.Na3 xiiiiiiiiy
(8.Nc3 Nc2+ 9.Kd2 Nxe3 10.fxe3 Qc6
13.Rc1
11.Ne5 Qa6=)
(13.Nc7+ Kf8 14.h4 (14.Nxa8 Nc2+
8...Bh6! 9.Nd2 Qg4 10.Nb5 Bf5!
XIIIIIIIIY 15.Ke2 cxd4–+) 14...Qf4 15.Nd5
Nxd5 16.cxd5 cxd4μ)
9r+-+k+ntr0
9zpp+-zpp+p0 13...Qf4 14.g3 Qb8 15.a3 Na2 16.Ra1
a6
9-+-+-+pvl0
9+Nzp-+l+-0
9-snPzP-+q+0
9+-+-vL-+-0
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9rwq-+k+ntr0 9r+l+k+ntr0
9+p+-zpp+p0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9p+-+-+pvl0 9-+n+-+p+0
9+Nzp-+l+-0 9+-zpq+-+-0
9-+PzP-+-+0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9zP-+-+PzP-0 9+-zP-vLN+-0
9nzP-sN-vL-zP0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0 9tRN+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
17.Rxa2 axb5 18.Qb3 6...Bh6 7.dxc5 Qxd1+ 8.Kxd1 Bxe3
(18.cxb5 Nf6 19.Bg2 0-0 20.0-0 9.fxe3²;
cxd4μ) 6...Nf6 7.c4 Qd6 8.d5 Ne5 9.Be2²
18...cxd4 19.Bxd4 bxc4 20.Nxc4 7.dxc5
7.Na3 Black is ne after the mass
(20.Bxc4 Qd6!=)
exchanges on d4. 7...cxd4 8.Nb5 Qd8
20...Nf6 21.Be5 Qd8 22.Qb5+ Bd7 9.Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Bxd4
23.Qxb7 0-0©;
(10...Nf6!? 11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Qe2 0-0
6.Nbd2N Since this was a big problem 13.Rd1 Bxb5 14.Qxb5 Qc8=)
in the 5...Bg7 line I searched for games
11.Qxd4 Qxd4 12.Nxd4 Nf6
after 5...Nc6 6.Nbd2. Turns out it is a
novelty, but not one Black needs to worry
XIIIIIIIIY
about. 6...Qe6+! 7.Be2 cxd4 8.Nxd4 9r+l+k+-tr0
9zpp+-zpp+p0
(8.cxd4 Nf6 9.0-0 Bg7 10.Nc4 0-0
11.b3 Nd5 12.Bb2 Rd8=)
9-+-+-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
8...Nxd4 9.cxd4 Nh6 10.0-0 Bg7
11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Re1 Qg4!=
9-+-sN-+-+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
6...Bg7 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
13.0-0-0 Bd7 14.Be2 0-0-0 15.Rhe1 e6
16.Bf3 g5!=
7...Qxd1+ 8.Kxd1 Nf6

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+-tr0 9r+ltr-+k+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+n+-snp+0 9-+-+-+p+0
9+-zP-+-+-0 9sn-zPn+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zP-vLN+-0 9+-zPLvLN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9PzP-sNKzPPzP0
9tRN+K+L+R0 9tR-+-+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Black is down a pawn, and will likely 13.Nb3
stay down a pawn for the foreseeable 13.Nc4 Bf5! 14.Nxa5 Nxc3+ 15.bxc3
future, but as compensation he has better Bxd3+ 16.Kd2 Be4+ 17.Bd4 e5=;
control over the center and the potential
to harrass White’s king which has lost its 13.Rac1 b6! 14.b4
castling rights. (14.cxb6 axb6 15.a3 Nb7!„)
9.Bc4 14...Nb7 15.c6 Nd6 16.Nd4 e5
9.Bd3 Nd5 10.Nbd2 17.Nb5 Bg4+ 18.f3 Bf5 19.c7 Bxd3+
(10.Be4 0-0! 11.Bxd5 Rd8 12.Ke2 20.Kxd3 Rd7 21.Nxd6 Rxd6³
Rxd5 13.Na3 b6! 14.Nb5 (14.cxb6 13...Nc6
Ba6+ 15.Ke1 axb6 16.Rd1 Ra5! Black is happy to ‘just play’ this position
17.Nd4 Ne5„) 14...Rb8 15.Nc7 Rd7 down a pawn, without feeling any urgency
16.cxb6 axb6 17.Nb5 Ba6 18.a4 Na7=) to regain it. Petrosian once said
(paraphrasing) that ‘too often players
10...0-0 11.Ke2 Rd8 12.Rhc1 h6©
sacri ce a pawn and then go on to play as
Prophylactically guarding the g5-square.
if they blundered it’.
Black will continue ...e7-e5/...Bc8-
Be6/...f7-f5 etc. White can only hope he is 14.Rhd1
resilient enough to endure this, because he 14.Rac1 e5 15.Rhd1 h6 16.Nfd2 f5
has no aggressive ambitions of his own. 17.f3 Be6 18.Nc4
9...0-0 10.Nbd2 Rd8 11.Ke2 Na5
12.Bd3
12.Rhd1 Nxc4 13.Nxc4 Nd5=
12...Nd5

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 16.Kf1
9r+-tr-+k+0 16.Ke1 Nb4 17.Be2 Nc2+ 18.Kf1
9zpp+-+-vl-0 Nxd1 19.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 20.Bxd1 Nxe3+
9-+n+l+pzp0 21.fxe3 Be6 22.Nfd4 Bd5 23.Bf3 Bxf3
9+-zPnzpp+-0 24.gxf3 b6= A rook is no worse than two
9-+N+-+-+0 knights in the endgame.
9+NzPLvLP+-0 16...Nxd1 17.Rxd1 Nb4 18.Nbd4 Nxd3
9PzP-+K+PzP0 19.Rxd3 Be6 20.Rd2 Bc4+ 21.Ke1 Bd5=
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-tRR+-+-0 9r+-tr-+k+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zpp+-zpp+p0
18...e4! 19.fxe4 fxe4 20.Bxe4 Nxc3+ 9-+-+-+p+0
21.bxc3 Bxc4+ 22.Kf2 Rf8+ 23.Kg1 9+-zPl+-+-0
Rae8=; 9-+-sN-+-+0
14.Bc2 a5 15.a4 Be6= 9+-+-vLN+-0
14...Bxc3!? 15.bxc3 Nxc3+
9P+-tR-zPPzP0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-mK-+-0
9r+ltr-+k+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zpp+-zpp+p0
It may not be clear from the looks of
9-+n+-+p+0 this position, but it will be clear that Black
9+-zP-+-+-0 is no worse, perhaps even to be preferred,
9-+-+-+-+0 once he achieves ...f7-f6 and ...e7-e5.
9+NsnLvLN+-0
9P+-+KzPPzP0
9tR-+R+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
 4

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 g6 7.Na3 cxd4 8.Nb5

5.Nf3 Nc6!? 6.Be2 Bg7
XIIIIIIIIY (8.cxd4 Nf6 9.Nb5 0-0³)
9r+l+k+ntr0 8...Qd8! 9.Nfxd4 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 Nf6
9zpp+-zppvlp0 11.Qa4+ Bd7 12.Qb4 Qb6 13.Qxb6 axb6
9-+n+-+p+0 14.a3 0-0 15.0-0 Nd5 16.Bc4 Bc6
9+-zpq+-+-0 17.Rd1 e6=;
9-+-zP-+-+0 7.Be3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf6 9.Nc3 Qa5
9+-zP-+N+-0 10.0-0 0-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 XIIIIIIIIY
9tRNvLQmK-+R0 9r+l+-trk+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+n+-snp+0
7.c4 9wq-+-+-+-0
7.dxc5 We do not take on d1 this time 9-+-zP-+-+0
because White can retain his castling
rights by recapturing with the bishop. 9+-sN-vLN+-0
7...Qxc5 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
XIIIIIIIIY 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9r+l+k+ntr0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zpp+-zppvlp0 is is a well-known position from the
9-+n+-+p+0 Tarrasch Queen’s Gambit Declined
9+-wq-+-+-0 (Rubinstein Variation), with colors
9-+-+-+-+0 reversed. us, White is effectively playing
9+-zP-+N+-0 the Tarrasch QGD a tempo up here, but
this tempo is only enough to allow him to
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 equalize, and in fact I still prefer Black.
9tRNvLQmK-+R0 11.Qb3
xiiiiiiiiy (11.a3 Be6 12.b4 Qd8=)
8.Na3 11...Qb4! 12.d5 Qxb3 13.axb3 Nb4
(8.Be3 Qa5 9.0-0 Nf6 10.Na3 0-0 14.Bc4
11.Nc4 Qc7 12.Qc1 Nd5 13.Bh6 e5=)
8...Nf6 9.Nb5 0-0 10.Be3 Qf5=;
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 10.Ne4 (10.Nc3 Nf5 11.Nge4 Qc7=)
9r+l+-trk+0 10...Qb6 11.Nbc3 Nf5 12.0-0 0-0
9zpp+-zppvlp0 13.b3 Nd4 (13...Qd8 14.Bb2 b6
9-+-+-snp+0 15.Qd2 Bb7 16.Rae1²) 14.Bb2 Bd7
9+-+P+-+-0 (14...f5 15.Na4±) 15.f4 f5 16.fxe5 fxe4
9-snL+-+-+0 17.e6±)
9+PsN-vLN+-0 9.Nxd4!
9-zP-+-zPPzP0 (9.Nc3 Nxf3+ 10.Bxf3 Nh6 11.0-0
9tR-+-+RmK-0 Nf5„)
xiiiiiiiiy 9...cxd4 10.0-0 Nf6 11.Na3!
14...b5! 15.Nxb5 XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+-tr0
(15.Bc5 bxc4 16.Bxb4 cxb3 17.Bxe7
Re8 18.d6 Be6)
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-wq-snp+0
15...Nfxd5 16.Rxa7 Nxe3 17.Rxa8
Nxf1 18.Kxf1 Ba6 19.Rxf8+ Kxf8
9+-+P+-+-0
20.Nc3 Bxc4+ 21.bxc4 Nd3=
9-+Pzp-+-+0
9sN-+-+-+-0
7...Qd8!
e queen turns out to be happier on
9PzP-+LzPPzP0
d8 than d6 because it won’t come under 9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
attack from White’s Nb1–a3-b5 or Nf3- xiiiiiiiiy
g5-e4.
11...0-0 12.Nb5 Qb6 13.a4 Ne4
7...Qd6 8.d5 Nd4 14.Bf3
(8...Ne5 9.Ng5! (9.Nxe5 Bxe5 10.Nc3 (14.a5 Qf6 15.Bf3 Nd6 16.Nxd6 exd6
Nf6 11.Bh6 Bd7 12.h3 0-0-0=) 17.b4 Bf5 18.c5 d3 19.Ra3 Qd4„)
9...Nh6
XIIIIIIIIY 14...Nd6 15.Nxd6 exd6 16.b3²
9r+l+k+-tr0 (16.Be4²)
9zpp+-zppvlp0 8.d5
9-+-wq-+psn0 8.dxc5 Qxd1+ 9.Bxd1 Be6 10.Be2 Nh6
9+-zpPsn-sN-0 11.Nc3 Nf5 12.0-0 0-0 13.Rd1 Rfd8
9-+P+-+-+0 14.Bf4 Nfd4 15.Nxd4 Nxd4 16.Bd3
Rac8=
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 8...Nd4
9tRNvLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+ntr0 9r+lwqk+ntr0
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+-+-+p+0 9-+-+-+p+0
9+-zpP+-+-0 9+-+Pzp-+-0
9-+Psn-+-+0 9-+Pzp-+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tRNvLQmK-+R0 9tRNvLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
9.Nc3 It is very unclear which side’s passed
9.Nxd4 cxd4 10.0-0 pawns are stronger here, but determining
this over the board will certainly lead to an
(10.Nd2 e5! (10...e6!? 11.Ne4 exd5
interesting ght.
12.cxd5 Ne7 13.Bb5+ Kf8∞) 11.0-0
(11.f4 exf4 12.0-0 Ne7=) 11...Ne7 (10...e6!? 11.Re1 (11.dxe6 Bxe6
12.Re1 0-0 e position is rich, and 12.Qa4+ Qd7 13.Qxd7+ Bxd7=)
offers mutual chances. 13.Bf1 b6 14.a4 11...Ne7 12.Qa4+ Bd7 13.Qa3 0-0
Nf5 15.a5 14.Bg5 f6 15.Bd2 exd5 16.Ba5 b6
XIIIIIIIIY 17.Bb4 Rf7 18.Bf3 Bf8∞)
9r+lwq-trk+0 11.Re1
9zp-+-+pvlp0 (11.dxe6 Bxe6 12.Qa4+ Qd7 13.Qxd7+
9-zp-+-+p+0 Bxd7 14.Re1 0-0-0=; 11.Nd2 Ne7
9zP-+Pzpn+-0 12.Qa4+ Bd7 13.Qb3 b6 14.f4 exf4
9-+Pzp-+-+0 15.Ne4 0-0 16.Bxf4 Nf5=)
9+-+-+-+-0 11...Ne7 12.Bd3 0-0 13.a4 b6
9-zP-sN-zPPzP0 (13...f5!? 14.f3 f4 15.Nd2 Nf5„)
9tR-vLQtRLmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy 14.b4 Bf5 15.Bf1 Re8=
9...Nxf3+ 10.Bxf3 Nh6
15...b5! 16.b3 Re8 17.Bd3 Rb8 18.Ba3
Nd6=)
10...e5!

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 13.Bf4
9r+lwqk+-tr0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9-+-+-+psn0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9+-zpP+-+-0 9-+-+-+p+0
9-+P+-+-+0 9+-zpP+n+-0
9+-sN-+L+-0 9-+P+-vL-+0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9+-sN-+L+-0
9tR-vLQmK-+R0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
xiiiiiiiiy 9tR-+QtR-mK-0
Once Black plants his knight on d4 he xiiiiiiiiy
should be well positioned for anything
White may do without provoking ...h7-
White throws at him.
h6, but Black continues in more or less the
11.0-0 same way. 13...Nd4 14.Be4
11.Bxh6 (e concept for this move is
(14.Rc1 a6 15.b3 Re8 (15...Bd7?!
borrowed from a well known line in the
16.Bg5 Re8? 17.d6±) 16.Be4 Bd7
English: 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2
17.Qd2 f5 18.Bd3 e5 19.dxe6 Nxe6=)
Bg7 5.Nc3 d6 6.0-0 Nh6 7.d4! cxd4
8.Bxh6! Bxh6 9.Nxd4). 11...Bxh6 12.0-0 14...Re8 15.Rc1 Bd7 16.Qd2 f5
0-0 13.Re1 Bd7 14.Qe2 17.Bd3 e5 18.dxe6 Nxe6 19.Be5 Bc6=
(14.Qb3 Rb8 15.Qa3 b6=) 13...h6 14.Bf4 Nd4
XIIIIIIIIY
14...Re8 15.Bg4 9r+lwq-trk+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9zpp+-zppvl-0
9r+-wqr+k+0 9-+-+-+pzp0
9zpp+lzpp+p0 9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+-+-+pvl0 9-+Psn-vL-+0
9+-zpP+-+-0 9+-sN-+L+-0
9-+P+-+L+0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9+-sN-+-+-0 9tR-+QtR-mK-0
9PzP-+QzPPzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy As in the Breyer Variation of the
Maroczy, Black’s knight on d4 is a
15...f5! 16.Bf3 a6 17.a4 Rb8 18.a5 nuisance for White to play around. e
Bg7= following variations illustrate some
possible ways the game might continue,
11...Nf5 12.Re1 0-0 13.Bg5
but in general Black can probably just
gure things out over the board from here.
XIIIIIIIIY
e position is roughly equal. 9r+-+r+k+0
15.Rc1
9zp-sN-+-+-0
15.Be4 g5 16.Be3 e5 17.dxe6 Bxe6„ 9Q+-+l+-zp0
9+-zp-+-zp-0
15...Bd7 16.Be4 Re8 17.Qd2 g5 18.Be3
f5 19.Bd3 e5!
9-+Pwq-zp-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+-+-0
9r+-wqr+k+0 9P+-+-+PzP0
9zpp+l+-vl-0 9+-tR-tR-+K0
9-+-+-+-zp0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-zpPzppzp-0
31...f3!! 32.gxf3 Qf4 33.Qb7 Rab8
9-+Psn-+-+0 34.Nxe6 Rxb7 35.Nxf4 Rxe1+ 36.Rxe1
9+-sNLvL-+-0 gxf4=
9PzP-wQ-zPPzP0
22...Bxd4
9+-tR-tR-mK-0 XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9r+-+r+k+0
20.dxe6 Bxe6 21.Nd5 Qd7 22.Bxd4
9zpp+q+-+-0
22.b4 b6 23.bxc5 bxc5 24.Qa5 f4
9-+-+l+-zp0
25.Bxd4 Bxd4 26.Nc7 Qd8 27.Qa6 9+-zpN+pzp-0
Bxf2+ 28.Kxf2 Qd4+ 29.Kf1 Qxd3+ 9-+Pvl-+-+0
30.Kg1 Qd4+ 31.Kh1 9+-+L+-+-0
9PzP-wQ-zPPzP0
9+-tR-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
23.b4 b6 24.bxc5 bxc5 25.Rxe6 Qxe6
26.Nc7 Qf6 27.Nxa8 Rxa8=
XIIIIIIIIY
 5

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3

XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9rsn-+kvlntr0
9rsnlwqkvlntr0 9zpp+-zpp+p0
9zpp+pzpp+p0 9-+-+q+p+0
9-+-+-+p+0 9+-zppsN-+-0
9+-zp-+-+-0 9-+-+P+-+0
9-+-+P+-+0 9+QzP-+-+-0
9+-zP-+N+-0 9PzP-zP-zPPzP0
9PzP-zP-zPPzP0 9tRNvL-mK-+R0
9tRNvLQmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
7...Qxe5 8.Qxb7 Qxe4+ 9.Kf1
is move order is recommended by
(9.Kd1?? Qa4+ 10.b3 Qc6–+)
GM Sveshnikov in his book ‘e
Complete c3 Sicilian’ as particularly 9...Qd3+ 10.Ke1
effective against the system I am (10.Kg1? e6 11.Qxa8 Bd6μ)
recommending against 2.c3. White’s idea
is to delay d2-d4, so that after 3...d5 10...Qe4+ 11.Kf1=
4.exd5 Qxd5 White has the option of 4...Qxd5 5.Na3
5.Na3, considered better for White by XIIIIIIIIY
Sveshnikov. Black has two ways to 9rsnl+kvlntr0
transpose to the main line of this chapter: 9zpp+-zpp+p0
either play 3...d5 and allow Sveshnikov’s 9-+-+-+p+0
5.Na3, or play 3...Nc6 and allow a
‘delayed’ Rossolimo (4.Bb5). According to
9+-zpq+-+-0
my analysis, either of these is ne for 9-+-+-+-+0
Black, but 3...Nc6 is more in keeping with 9sN-zP-+N+-0
my recommended repertoire for reasons I 9PzP-zP-zPPzP0
will make clear in this subchapter. 9tR-vLQmKL+R0
3...d5 4.exd5 xiiiiiiiiy
4.Bb5+ is effectively leads to a forced
Sveshnikov is quite optimistic about
draw, which may be (for some) another
White’s chances: “White develops quickly
reason to prefer 3...Nc6. 4...Bd7 5.Bxd7+
and takes a rm grip on the initiative”.
Qxd7 6.Ne5 Qe6 7.Qb3!?
5.d4 Nc6 is transposes to the main line
XIIIIIIIIY
of the Alapin (2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4
g6 5.Nf3 Nc6).
5...Bg7 6.d4
is transposes to 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5
3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Na3,
and I think it is ne for Black. However, I
recommend (in the main line of the
Alapin section) that Black plays 5...Nc6
instead of 5...Bg7, so this variation does
not ‘come up’ in the main move order.
at being said, I recommend 5...Nc6
because I don’t like Black’s position after
5...Bg7 6.Nbd2! which is not the case
here, so some readers may prefer to allow
this line rather than allowing a delayed
Rossolimo with 3...Nc6.
6.Bc4 is is Sveshnikov’s
recommendation (following up with:
6...Qe4+ 7.Be2). 6...Qe4+ 7.Be2
a) 7.Qe2 Qxe2+ 8.Bxe2 (8.Kxe2 a6!=)
8...Nf6 9.d4 (9.Nb5 Nd5=) 9...cxd4
10.Nxd4 0-0 11.0-0 Rd8 12.Rd1 Bd7
13.Bf3 Nc6=;
b) 7.Kf1 Be6 8.Be2 Nc6 9.Ng5 Qf5
10.Nxe6 Qxe6 11.Qb3 Qd7=;
7...Nf6 8.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+k+-tr0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-+-snp+0
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+-+q+-+0
9sN-zP-+N+-0
9PzP-zPLzPPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
We have been following Sveshnikov’s
recommendations from his book, but here
he only gives 8...0-0 which Miezis played
against him in 2005. e improvement for
Black was rst played by Van Kampen in
2011.
a) 8.Nb5 Qc6 9.d4 (9.Ne5 Qb6
10.Nc4 Qd8 11.d4 a6 12.Nba3 b5
13.Bf3 Ra7 14.Bf4 Nfd7=) 9...0-0
10.0-0 a6 11.Ne5 Qb6 12.dxc5
(12.Na3 Be6=) 12...Qxc5 13.Qd4
Nbd7=;
b) 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nb5 (9.Nxd4 Qxg2
10.Bf3 Qh3μ; 9.Qxd4 Qxd4 10.Nxd4
0-0 11.0-0 Rd8 12.Rd1 Bd7 13.Bf3
Nc6=) 9...0-0 10.Nbxd4 (10.Nc7 dxc3
11.Nxa8 Nd5–+; 10.Qxd4 Qxd4
11.Nbxd4 Bd7 12.0-0 Nc6 13.Nb3
Rad8 14.Nc5 Bc8=) 10...Nc6 11.0-0
Bg4=;
8...Nc6!
(8...0-0 9.d4 cxd4 10.Nxd4²
Sveshnikov-Miezis 2005)
9.d4
a) 9.Re1 0-0 10.Bc4 (10.Bb5 Qd5
11.Bxc6 Qxc6 12.Rxe7? Be6μ) 10...Qf5
11.Nc2 Qh5 12.h3 (12.Be2 Rd8=)
12...Rd8 13.Qe2 Nd5 14.d4 cxd4
15.Ncxd4 Nxd4 16.cxd4 Bf6!= (16...e6?
17.Bg5²);
b) 9.Nb5 0-0 10.Re1 Rd8 11.d4 Bg4!
12.h3 Bh5!
XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY 6...cxd4
9r+-tr-+k+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9rsnl+k+ntr0
9-+n+-snp+0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9+Nzp-+-+l0 9-+-+-+p+0
9-+-zPq+-+0 9+-+q+-+-0
9+-zP-+N+P0 9-+-zp-+-+0
9PzP-+LzPP+0 9sN-zP-+N+-0
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
xiiiiiiiiy 9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
13.Be3 (13.g4? Bxg4 14.hxg4 Qxg4+
7.Bc4
15.Kf1 Qh3+ 16.Kg1 cxd4 17.cxd4
7.Nb5 Na6 8.Nbxd4 Nf6 9.Bb5+ Bd7
Rd5μ) 13...Nd5 14.Qc1 Nxe3 15.Qxe3
10.Qe2 0-0 11.Bxa6 bxa6= 12.Qxa6?? e5
Qxe3 16.fxe3 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 cxd4
13.Ne2 Bb5 14.Qa5 Qd3 15.Ng3 Nh5–+
18.exd4 e5 19.dxe5 Nxe5=;
7...Qe4+ 8.Be3 Nh6
9...cxd4 10.Nb5
Not 8...dxe3?? 9.Bxf7+ winning.
(10.Nxd4 Nxd4 11.cxd4 0-0 12.Bf3
9.cxd4
Qf5 13.Re1 Nd5=)
9.Nb5 0-0 10.cxd4 Nc6 11.Nc3
10...0-0 11.Nfxd4 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 e5 XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+l+-trk+0
9r+l+-trk+0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9zpp+-+pvlp0 9-+n+-+psn0
9-+-+-snp+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+-+-zp-+-0 9-+LzPq+-+0
9-+-sNq+-+0 9+-sN-vLN+-0
9+-zP-+-+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
Black has two equally viable options
13.Nb5 Qc6 14.Qd6 Bd7 15.Rd1 a6 here. 11...Qf5 is riskier, but perhaps more
16.Bg5 Rad8 17.Qxc6 Bxc6 18.Nd6 h6 fun as it involves an unclear piece sacri ce.
19.Bh4 Rd7 20.Nc4 Nd5 21.Bg3 Re8 11...Qg4!?
22.a4 Nf4³ 1/2–1/2 (40) Michalczak,T
(11...Qf5!? 12.h3 (12.0-0 Ng4 13.h3
(2325)-Van Kampen,R (2519) Dortmund
Nxe3 14.fxe3 e6= Black will be ne
2011.
 after he relocates his queen to e7 via f6.) playing with little risk: the isolated pawn
12...Qa5 13.g4 (13.d5 Ne5 14.Nxe5 is inadequately blockaded, so it can always
Bxe5 15.Bxh6 Bxc3+ 16.Kf1 Bg7 be pushed if White is content to neutralize
17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Qd4+ f6 19.Re1 the position.
Qb4=) 13...Nxg4! 14.hxg4 Bxg4©) 12.Rae1
12.h3 Qh5 13.Qd2 12.Nb5 Nc6 13.Nc3
(13.0-0 Nf5=) (13.Bd3 Qd5 14.Qa3 Nxe3 15.fxe3
Qd8=)
13...Ng4 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bh4 Nf6=
13...Qg4 14.Be2 Nxe3 15.fxe3 Qh5=
9...0-0 10.0-0 Nf5 11.Qb3 e6
XIIIIIIIIY 12...Nxe3 13.Rxe3
9rsnl+-trk+0 13.fxe3 Nc6=
9zpp+-+pvlp0 13...Qf4 14.d5 exd5 15.Bxd5 Na6
9-+-+p+p+0 16.Rc1 Qf6=
9+-+-+n+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+LzPq+-+0 9r+l+-trk+0
9sNQ+-vLN+-0 9zpp+-+pvlp0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9n+-+-wqp+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0 9+-+L+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+-+-+0
9sNQ+-tRN+-0
I’ve seen some grandmasters in America 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
play this line against lower rated players in
Swiss tournaments presumably to obtain
9+-tR-+-mK-0
winning chances but in my view White is xiiiiiiiiy
 6

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 Nc6 Aside from transposing to the main line
XIIIIIIIIY of the Alapin subchapter with 5.exd5, this
9r+lwqkvlntr0 is White’s only serious attempt at playing
9zpp+pzpp+p0 for an advantage. However, I prefer Black
9-+n+-+p+0 in the tense struggle which ensues.
9+-zp-+-+-0 (5.dxc5 is offers White no advantage
9-+-+P+-+0 whatsoever. 5...dxe4 6.Qxd8+ Nxd8
9+-zP-+N+-0 7.Nd4 Bg7 8.Bb5+ Bd7 9.Bxd7+ Kxd7
9PzP-zP-zPPzP0 10.0-0 Nc6 11.Rd1 Nxd4 12.cxd4 f5
13.Nc3 Ke6! 14.d5+ Kf7=; 5.exd5
9tRNvLQmKL+R0 Qxd5 is transposes to 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5
xiiiiiiiiy 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 g6 5.Nf3 Nc6.)
I prefer this move order, because I quite 5...cxd4 6.cxd4 Bg4 Black has ideas of
like the delayed Rossolimo (4.Bb5) for ...Qd8-b6, ...Ng8-h6-f5, etc. e position
Black, especially if it is an Alapin player on plays itself. 7.Be2
the White side.
a) 7.Nbd2 Nh6 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Nxf3 Nf5
4.Bb5 10.Qa4 (10.g4 Ng7=) 10...a6 11.Bd3
is transposes to a harmless variation Qd7 12.Bxf5 Qxf5 13.Qb3 Qd7=;
of the Rossolimo: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 g6 4.c3. b) 7.Bb5 Qb6 8.Bxc6+ Qxc6 9.0-0 e6
10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Bg7 12.Nc3 Ne7
4.d4 d5 5.e5 13.Bg5 Nf5 14.Ne2 h6 15.Bd2 0-0=;
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvlntr0 7...Nh6 8.Nbd2
9zpp+-zpp+p0
9-+n+-+p+0
9+-zppzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-zP-+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

XIIIIIIIIY
 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0 9r+lwqk+ntr0
9zpp+-zpp+p0 9zpp+pzppvlp0
9-+n+-+psn0 9-+n+-+p+0
9+-+pzP-+-0 9+Lzp-+-+-0
9-+-zP-+l+0 9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0 9+-zP-+N+-0
9PzP-sNLzPPzP0 9PzP-zP-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQmK-+R0 9tRNvLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
GM Hoyos now faltered against 5.0-0
Topalov with 8...f6?! but he would have 5.d4 Qa5! 6.Bxc6 bxc6 7.0-0 Nf6
had a slightly preferable position after
(7...cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Bg5
8...Nf5.
h6 11.Bd2 Qb6 12.b3 d6 13.Rc1²)
8...Nf5
8.Re1 0-0
(8...f6?! 9.exf6 exf6 10.0-0² Topalov- XIIIIIIIIY
Leon Hoyos, Mexico 2010) 9r+l+-trk+0
9.0-0 Qb6 10.Qa4 e6= 9zp-+pzppvlp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+p+-snp+0
9r+-+kvl-tr0 9wq-zp-+-+-0
9zpp+-+p+p0 9-+-zPP+-+0
9-wqn+p+p+0 9+-zP-+N+-0
9+-+pzPn+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9Q+-zP-+l+0 9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
9+-+-+N+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzP-sNLzPPzP0
9.e5
9tR-vL-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy (9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 cxd4 11.cxd4 g5
12.Bg3 Nh5„)
Black is ready to set up the ‘V’-structure
9...Nd5 10.c4 Nc7 11.dxc5 Qxc5 12.b3
with ...h7-h5, and it is unclear whether
White has anything other than defensive d6 13.Bb2 Bg4=;
ambitions. 5.Bxc6?! is is premature, as Black
4...Bg7 planned to expend a tempo next move
with ...a7-a6 inducing White to take on
c6. 5...dxc6=

XIIIIIIIIY
5...a6!
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+lwq-trk+0
9r+lwqk+ntr0 9+p+-zppvlp0
9+p+pzppvlp0 9p+p+-snp+0
9p+n+-+p+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+Lzp-+-+-0 9-+-zPP+-+0
9-+-+P+-+0 9+-+-tRN+P0
9+-zP-+N+-0 9PzP-sN-zPP+0
9PzP-zP-zPPzP0 9tR-vLQ+-mK-0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
12...Ne8! A thematic idea for this
I very much like this move, which grew structure: Black has his eye on the to-be
up in the 1960s in the arsenals of d5 hole after an eventual ...f7-f5. From e8,
grandmasters Mednis, Taimanov, and Pirc. the knight can reach d5 either via e8-d6-
Black demands a decision from White, b5-c7-d5 or directly e8-c7-d5. 13.b3 Nc7
and the ‘wasted’ tempo on ...a7-a6 is not 14.Nc4 f5 15.Nb6 Rb8 16.exf5
really a waste when we consider that
(16.Nxc8 Rxc8=)
White rarely couples Bb5xc6 with c2-c3
in the Rossolimo. 16...Bxf5 17.Ba3 Ne6
6.Bxc6
XIIIIIIIIY
6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 d5 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 9-tr-wq-trk+0
Bg4= 9+p+-zp-vlp0
6...dxc6!
9psNp+n+p+0
White wishes the c-pawn were on c2; on 9+-+-+l+-0
c3 it obstructs the natural square for the 9-+-zP-+-+0
knight, and also weakens the d3-square. 9vLP+-tRN+P0
e only way for White to make sense of 9P+-+-zPP+0
his position is to play for d2-d4.
9tR-+Q+-mK-0
6...bxc6 7.d4 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf6 9.Nc3 0- xiiiiiiiiy
0 10.Re1 d6 11.h3 Rb8 12.Qc2 Qb6
13.b3² 18.Nc4 Nxd4 19.Bxe7 Qd5 20.Bxf8
Rxf8 21.Nxd4
7.d3
7.h3 Qd3! 8.Re1 Nf6 9.Re3 Qd8 10.d4 (21.Ne1 c5³)
0-0 11.Nbd2 cxd4 12.cxd4 21...Bxd4=;
7.d4?! cxd4 8.cxd4 Bg4 9.Nbd2 Qxd4!
10.Qb3 Qd7 11.Ng5 Nh6 12.f3 Qd4+
13.Kh1 Bc8 14.Rd1 Qa7³
XIIIIIIIIY
7...Bg4!? 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 Nf6
XIIIIIIIIY
9...e5 10.a4 a5 11.Na3 Ne7 12.Be3 b6 9r+-wq-trk+0
13.Nc4 0-0 14.Qg3 f6 15.Rfd1² 9+p+-+pvlp0
10.Rd1 0-0 11.d4 cxd4 12.cxd4
9p+psnp+p+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+-+-0
9r+-wq-trk+0 9-+-zPP+-+0
9+p+-zppvlp0 9+-+-vLQ+P0
9p+p+-snp+0 9PzP-sN-zPP+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9tR-+R+-mK-0
9-+-zPP+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+Q+P0
All of Black’s pawns are on light squares;
9PzP-+-zPP+0 as such, he plans to occupy the light
9tRNvLR+-mK-0 squared to-be hole on d5. For his part,
xiiiiiiiiy White will seek dark-squared holes like d6
and c5 for his knight, but Black’s dark
12...Ne8! squared bishop can protect these squares,
A recurring theme. whereas White’s dark-bishop cannot
13.Be3 Nd6 14.Nd2 e6 protect White’s corresponding weaknesses
on the light squares.
14...f5!? 15.e5 Nb5 16.Nb3 e6 17.Nc5
f4 18.Bc1 Nxd4 19.Qe4 Qe7∞
15.Rac1 f5 16.e5 Nb5 17.Qf4
17.Nc4? f4!μ
17...Nc7 18.Nc4 Nd5 19.Qf3 Rf7=
XIIIIIIIIY