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D00 Qd8-b6 - note this on "to do list").
Drazic,Sinisa 2508
Anand,Viswanathan 2762
Corsica Masters 4th (3.2) 05.11.2000
We will analyze this game from black's point of
view as we are playing the game now not as an
after game analysis. I didn't choose a much
known theoretical opening line, because our aim
is to develop a healthy and efficient thinking in
all the stages of the game.
1.d4
Should I do self-questioning myself already as
Black in this position? Yes is the answer,
because we receive information after each
move, and we must centralize all the information
in our "to do list".
With 1.d4 White starts a solid and closed game
where the play is based mostly on maneuvering
play with the pieces and the critical central
square is e4.
I will note on my "to do list" that I should fight for
e4 square and that I have to play active against
a calm and solid opponent.
d5 2.Bg5
White has a modern approach, the so-called
Trompowsky Attack which demonstrates the
uninhibited nature of development in
contemporary chess. White develops the
queen's bishop, a move which neglects one of
the classical principles of the openings that
states "develop knights before bishops
especially before queen's bishop".
Important questions:
1. Which is the point of this premature
emergence of Bc1?
White takes control over h4-d8 diagonal and
limit in many ways black's development on the
king side. White's waits for Nf6 followed by Bxf6
creating a pair of double pawns. The resulting
position has a closed character favoring White's
pair of knights.
Delaying Ng1-f3 allows white's to move the f
pawn later on if it's the case.
2. Does this move have a drawback?
Yes, the bishops already work from the initial
position and they defend the pawns from the
knight's files. So b2 pawn can be the subject of
a tempo gain (We can attack it by preparing
3. Could I create immediate threats? (A strong
player starts all the time the reckoning variations
with a tempo-move)
Yes, h7-h6 attacks Bg5 (early developed
bishops can be subjects of a pawn attack).
Does it worth it?
Yes, White will be forced to take a decision: to
give -up the control over h4-d8 diagonal or
c1-h6 diagonal.
h6 3.Bh4
A small victory for Black.
Does this move have a drawback?
Bh4 remains unprotected and it controls only 5
squares comparing to Bg5 which controls 8
squares (the relative value of a piece is often
given by the number of the squares controlled).
The unprotected position of the bishop can be
exploited?
Usually we do this by the mean of a double
attack. At this point the ability to foresee future
positions and to determine the geometrical
reasons plays an important role. If d4 pawn will
disappear, Qb4 can create that double-attack
(note this on "to do list" next to Qd8-b6 idea).
Can I go right away for c7-c6 and Qb6 in the
detriment of a quick development?
Yes, the key-square e4 square is controlled, c7-
c6 consolidates our central pawn d5 (Nb8-c6 is
unsuitable with the pawn structure) and
because the game started with d4 black's are
searching for the ideal position in detriment of a
quick development.
c6 4.e3
[ 4.Nf3 Another logical move that protects Bh4
and develops a piece. Qb6 On the next
moves black's will illustrate a typical and
efficient set-up for this opening and the
specific pawn-structure. 5.b3 The result of 2.
Bg5, white must create a weak dark square
complex; b2-c3-a3 which Bh4 can not protect.
Bf5 Developing the bishop in front of the
pawns chain and exerting pressure on c2.
6.e3 Nd7 Flexibile preparing Ngf6 and e7-e5(
opening the path for the dark-square bishop).
7.Bd3 Bxd3 8.Qxd3 e6 9.c4 Ne7 10.c5
Qa5+ 11.Nc3
Which is white's threat?
To chase black's most important piece Qa5

with 12. b3-b4 possible because b7 pawn is
weak.
How can this threat be repelled?
Ra8-b8 is a passive move which can be met
by Bh4-g3.
b7-b6 is an active approach that challenges
white's pawns chain.
b6 12.b4 Qxb4 13.0-0 Nf5 14.Rfc1 bxc5
15.Rab1 c4 16.Qc2 Qa5 17.Rb7 Qa6
18.Rcb1 Bd6 19.e4 Nxh4 20.Nxh4 Rb8
21.Rxb8+ Bxb8 22.exd5 cxd5
White's fireworks are finished, and it started a
desperate attack. 23.Ng6 fxg6 24.Qxg6+
Kd8 25.Qxg7 Re8 26.Qxh6 Qa5 27.Qg5+
Kc8 28.Qg6 Rf8 29.Rd1 Qb6 30.Ne2 e5
31.Qh5 Qf6 32.Rf1 Rh8 0-1 Anand-Karpov,
Laussane 1998 ]
Which is the aim of White last move?
White's last move give black's following
information:
-White wants to play Bd3, followed by Nge2,0-0,
and perhaps f2-f4followed by a rook lift Rf1-f3 if
black's are preparing 0-0
-The attack against short castle is relieved by
the push h7-h6
Does this move have a drawback?
Bh4 is still unprotected, so we must remember
from our "to do list" that after Qb6 the d4 pawn
is pinned on fourth rank.
4...Qb6
Tempo.
5.b3
The alternative was 5.Qc1.
The move from the text leads to a pawn
structure commitment on white squares which
will limit white's queen and light-square bishop
activity.
How black should react?
Remembering that d4 is pinned on the 4-th rank,
that White intends to develop Bd3 and Nge2 the
answer will come easy. This is a circumstantial
reason and Black should us' it right away.
e5!?
Beside tactical reason e7-e5 fights for the
center, after this move Black will occupy 2
squares from the center, white one and one
square will be neutral.
6.Nf3
Forced. Bd3 has no sense because of e5-e4
2
and Nf3 clarifies the pawnstructure in the center.
e4™ 7.Nfd2
The character of the position is changed now.
Which are the specific features of this pawn
structure?
Accordingly to the pawns orientation Black
should attack on the king-side and white on the
queen-side. Another reason is the setup of the
pieces with long rays of action which are also
directed to the king-side.
Which are the weak points in white camp?
f2 (the bottom of the pawn chain), g2 and h2.
Which is the piece that defends the weak
points? How can Black trade Bh4?
Black can try Ng8-e7-f5 (g6) to trade the bishop,
but the knight is more effective in a closed
position like this one. The other idea is to trade
the dark square bishops. In this case Black will
keep the light-squared bishop which is not a
"bad bishop" even if is placed on the same
colour as the majority of the black pawns,
because Black will attack on the king side and
Bc8 will have both defensive and offensive
tasks.
Be7!? 8.Bg3
Now, thanks to an active play, Black is able to
develop Ng8-f6 that was limited by 2.Bg5.
Black has on "to do list" the following tasks:
1. Develop as quickly as possible.
2. Trade the dark-square bishops, in order to
create weak pawns on White's king-side (h2 and
f2).
3. Bring the queen into the game on d8-h4
diagonal.
Be6 9.Be2 Nf6 10.0-0
White could have delayed the castle with:
[ 10.c4 0-0 11.Nc3 Qa5
But the long castle is not a valid option, when
White has weaknesses on dark squares and
Black can blow-up the center with c6-c5. ]
10...0-0 11.c4 Qd8 12.Nc3 Bd6
Black has replaced his queen and now it offers
the dark-square bishops exchange. 13.Bxd6
White chooses to keep the pawns in front of the
king on the initial position. If:
[ 13.Rb1 Bxg3 14.hxg3
Which are the changes?
After 14.h:g3 the g2 pawn is covered, but

White has a rigid pawn structure on the king-
side (the opponent can easily create a plan of
play because White will not be able to move
the pawns on the king-side).The white queen
must protect g4 which is a passive position.
The only freeing move is f2-f3 which lead to a
long-term weakness on e3, so Black should
have on his "to do list" to calculate a reply for
f2-f3.
What should Black do about this new pawn
structure? How Black can continue his attack
on the king-side?
Remember that a wing attack succeed only
when the center is stabilized.
Creating a local superiority of the forces on
the king side where Black space advantage is
assured by the e4 pawn.
Opening a file on the enemy king with h6-h5-
h4 and bringing Rf8 into play.
Black should attack f2 and h2 pawns using g4
as a forepost for Nf6 and the flexible black
queen.
Nbd7 15.b4 Qe7 16.cxd5 Bxd5 17.Qc2
Rfe8 18.Rfc1 Rac8 19.Qa4 a6 20.Qa5 Qe6
21.Nb3 Qf5 22.Rb2 h5 23.Nd2 Re6 24.a4
Qg5 25.Bc4 Qh6 26.Rbc2 Bxc4 27.Nxc4
h4 28.gxh4 Qxh4
With better prospects for black. ]
13...Qxd6 14.Rb1 Nbd7 15.a4
Which are white's threats?
White's are threatening to increase the space
advantage on the queen side and started the
attack with a4 (instead of b3-b4) in order to
avoid black's counterplay based on d:c4.
Does this move have a drawback?
It leaves b3 pawn behind and b4 square
uncontrolled.
How Black should continue?
Black has the space advantage having the
possibility to move especially the queen along
the sixth rank. A well-known method to create
piece superiority is to attract the majority of
opponent's pieces on the queen side and using
your flexibility to challenge the enemy king.
Black should play a7-a5 which in the first place
stops b3, a4 on light squares and leads to a
favorable pawn structure in case of b3-b4. Then
bring Rf8 into play luring both white's rooks on
the queen-side and launch a decisive attack
3
against f2 and h2 pawns.
a5 16.c5
A serious mistake. We already know that Black
needed a stabilized center in order to give a
wing attack, and White makes this task easier.
Is b3-b4 possible after 16....Qe7?
No, because of a:b4 and the rook will be pinned
on b4 after b7-b6.
How can black achieve the initiative?
With a quick b7-b6 opening the file against back
warded pawn b3.
Qe7 17.Rb2 Rfb8 18.Qb1 b6 19.cxb6 Rxb6
20.Rc1 Rab8 21.Bf1
A quiet move but which are the ideas behind it?
White set free e2 square for Nc3 in order to
double the rooks on the "c"-file.
White's are ready to play g2-g3 to protect the
pawn from h2 if it's the case.
Ne2 can defend white's king position (it has no
other aim) from f4 or g3.
Can Black stop this?
Yes, h6-h5-h4 controls g3 and open-up the "h"-
file if white's trying g2-g3.
h5!? 22.Ne2 h4 23.Rbc2 Qd6
Forced, but good. The queen remains
centralized and plays both active and defensive
role.
24.Nf4
Should black allow N:e6?
No, when you have the space advantage you
should keep as many pieces as possible on the
board. Nf4 will be subject of a tempo win and as
we stated before: "bad bishops" ( Bd7) defends
good pawns.
Bf5 25.Rc5 g5 26.Ne2
White's are threatening to increase pressure
upon c6 with Qb1-c2 , what to do?
Seting free d7 for the bishop and finding new
routes for Nd7 is the most simple solution.
Nf8 27.Qc2 Bd7
Again a move with two goals: defends c6 and
liberate "f' file for the queen to attack the
weakness f2.
28.Rxa5?!
White's failed to see black's threats against h2
and f2 ( it is also an optical illusion Qc2 can not
support f2 beacuse of the lack of space). If
[ 28.h3 Ra8 29.f3 exf3 30.gxf3 Ne6 31.Qf5
Nh5 32.R5c2 Qe7 33.Qd3 Ng3 ]
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28...Ng4 29.g3 Qf6 30.Nxe4

A desperate attempt, but Black should pay
attention to the changes in the position! dxe4
31.Nc3
Now the 5-th rank is open, White has two pawns
for a piece, threatening to grab another on e4.
On the other hand b3 is hanging and Black can
reach the second rank.
How Black should react?
Playing active, and realize that white's king
position is still worse. Seizing the initiative is
most important thing.
hxg3 32.hxg3 Qh6
And not the passive:
[ 32...Bf5 33.Bc4 Qg6 34.Kg2 and white is
back in the game! ]
33.Bg2 Rxb3 34.Nxe4 Rb2 35.Rxg5+ Ng6
36.Qc5
How the solution can be founded?
Black is attacking with 3 pieces (Qh6, Rb2, Ng4)
and we need only 2 pieces to give mate.
Qh2 can be played anytime so Bg2 is already
challenged once. The answer is clear now: f2 is
pinned and black's can connect queen and rook
on the second rank!
[ 36.Qd3 R8b3 With the same end. ]
36...Qh2+ 37.Kf1 Nxe3+
Crowning Black strategy.
Conclusions:
White's modern opening faced a logical
approach and an easy to remember set-up.
Using a pro-active thinking Black was able to
guess white's plans of play.
The key was self-questioning about the enemy
threats and drawbacks during all the game and
create a "to do list".
We talked about a lot of strategical factors as :
the center controll, "bad bishop" issue, how to
deal with different pawn structures, building an
attack against the opponents king.
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