Untitled - e

Transcription

Untitled - e

To Dominic and Jane
An Opening Repertoire
for White
RAYMOND KEENE
International Grandmaster
B .T.Batsford Ltd, London
Symbols and Abbreviations
+
++
!!
'!
?'!
!?
?!
1-0
0-1
�-�
=
;!; +
±
+
±±
H
0-0
0-0-0
IM
GM
IQP
check
double check
good move
outstanding move
weak mov�
blunder
interesting move
risky/dubious move
White win
Black win
drawn game
the position is equal or balanced
White/Black has a slight advantage
White/Black has a clear advantage
White/Black has a winning advantage
castles (kingside)
castles (queenside)
International M aster
Grandmaster
isolated queen's pawn
Prologue
This book is an arsenal providi ng essential ammunition in hand
for all White players who wish to open with I d4. The outst
feature is its intention of reducing the areas of conflict to tho
which t he·reader is familiar and, t herefore, competent and confi
handle.
It would be wrong to claim that the variations exam ined confer
advantage on White, but the systems presented here all confor
basic solid but aggressive style. It is my belief that a reader who
is in tune with the patterns displayed in this book will feel happy v
lines I have recommended and will, therefore, score more poin
An Opening Repertoire for White (OR W)
is the companion vol
Keene ar
which performs a similar function for openings commencing wi1
An Upt•ning Repertoirefor the Allackmg Playu(URAP) by
Raymond Keene
Note on Algebraic Notation
The notation used in this book is algebraic, the only type approved by
FIDE, the World Chess Federation and the governing body of
international chess. If you can understand a London A-Z guide or a
Manhattan street map you will have absolutely no problems in
comprehending algebraic notation, which is more economical and less
prone to ambiguity than the alternative and outmoded descriptive
variety.
A brief examination of the following diagram will im mediately clear
up any possible confusion concerning the application of algebraic
notation.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
I
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Introduction
The aim of this book is to provide a complete repertoire for the White
player, based on the move I d4. I n analysing the material I have chosen
to develop from I d4, I have maintained several crucial principles: one
main line is demonstrated for White against all of the major Black
defences which the White player is likely to meet in competition; the
mai n lines selected are sound but a ggressive and do not rely on
memorisation of long tactical variations a nd su b-variations. In several
cases, they embody newly elaborated, relatively unexplored ideas which
allow plenty of scope for individ ual creative contribution on the part of
the reader. Furthermore, I have based each suggested line on annotated
illustrative games, so that the strategies outlined and attacking methods
proposed can be fully a bsorbed, right up until the endgame phase.
Advantages of a Repertoire
There is no need to feel concern at limiting oneself to an opening
repertoire. All chess players have restricted time and resources at their
disposal, and this is particularly true of social, club, league or weekend
competitors. In view of such constraints it makes excellent sense to work
out a tangible, fixed group of opening variations in which to carry out a
specialised study. O nce the reader feels thoroughly at home with this, it
will provide a firm platform for branching out and acquiring new
knowledge and expertise in other, broader areas of chess science.
It should not be forgotten that even such great players as Fischer and
Karpov have had their own selective repertoire, centred largely on I e4,
while Vi ktor Korchnoi and Gary Kasparov strongly favour openings
arising from I d4. A cu rious fact, in this context, is that of the twenty
games played in the World Cha mpionship semi-final at London 1 983, in
the matches between S myslov and Ribli and between Korchnoi and
Kasparov, no less than nineteen commenced I d4!
I d4 is a sound, solid move, aiming for central control and a restrained
but ultimately convincing attacking build-up. It does not lend iiself to
premature adventures and in general, by opening with it, you can avoid
colliding with too many devastating surp rises from your opponents.
xii
inlroduction
Link with 'BCO'
OR W (An Opening Repertoire for White) is designed to give the reader
confidence and ideas for t he practical st ruggle. As I have already stated,
this is essentially a book of strategies, not an exhaustive reference work . I
have, therefore, taken the step of linking each variation analysed with
the related section in Botsford Chess Openings (BCO). This o ne-volu me
openings encyclopaedia, written by Gary Kasparov and myself, provides
a vast amount of detailed background information. It is a useful
companion to OR W, and one that will form a handy compact
compendium, both for expanding the repertoire beyond the confi nes of
the lines l have exami ned here and for last-minute rev ision before and
du ring tournaments or impo rtant games.
Good luck with improving your chess and your scores!
Raymond Keene
London, June 1 984
Part I
Queen's G ambit: 1 d4 d5 2 c4
8
Chapter 1: Chigorin 's Defence 2 ... lbc6
Chapter 2: Albin Counter-Gam bit 2 ... e5
Chapter 3: Queen's Gambit Accepted 2 ... de
Chapter 4: Tarrasch Defence 2 ... e6 3 lbc3 c5
Chapter 5: Orthodox 2 ... e6 3 lbc3 lbf6
Chapter 6: Slav 2 ... c6
\�� h
j Je-t.��J
-·
,
1
Chigorin 's D e fence
1 d4 d5 2 c4 tbc6!?
��wr��u
2
w
concessions in the line 3 lt:lf3 .ig4
4 cd .ixf3 5 gf, such as surrender
of the centre, exposure of the
black queen and Joss of the bishop
pair. In return for all t his, Black's
counterchances against White's
slightly fragile king position seem
somewhat nebulous: Furthermore,
in the line 3 lt:lc3 Black has o
survive an immediate onsl:�g
which has claimed a number of
victims, including the author!
M y standard method in this
book will be to give just one line
against each Black alternative, but
against the Chigorin I mention two
White possibilities (here and by
transposition in Chapter 1 8), since
both are good but will appeal to
different styles of player.
In contemporary tournament
practice S myslov and Miles have
occasionally upheld the honour of
the Chigorin, but no modern
grandmaster is prepared to make
a living out of it - it remains,
essentially, a surprise weapon.
It is analysed in BCO on pages
54 and 55.
�
�
This remarkable concept was
introduced in t he late 1 9th century
by the great Russian player
Mikhail Chigorin, who used it to
defeat such supermen as Lasker
and Pillsbury. This was at a time
when Dr Tarrasch was claiming
that his defence, 2 . e6 3 lt:lc3 c5,
was the only correct antidote to
the Queen's Gambit, and even the
Slav, 2
c6, was considered
highly unusual.
In spite of Chigorin's personal
success, his defence did not
capture the public's i magination,
poss ibly because Black is committed
to rather too many positional
. .
. . .
.,
Keene-Cox
Lloyds Bank Masters' 1 983
1 d4
dS
2 c4
ltJc6
The Chigorin. Very rare alter
natives at international level are:
a) 2 cS 3 cd ltJ f6 4 e4 ! ltJxe4 5 de
ltJxc5 6 ltJc3 e6 7 b4 'tlff6 8 'tlfc2
ltJca6 9 a3 ed 10 ltJxd5 'tlfe5+ I I
ltJe3 .ie6 1 2 ..ib2 'tlfc7 1 3 .i b5 +
ltJc6 1 4 ltJ f3 ±. Analysis b y
Bondarevsky, quoted i n BCO.
b) 2
g6?!.An incredible move,
tried in Stahlberg-Alekhine, Kemeri
1 937. After 3 cd 'tlfxd5 4 ltJc3
Black has a very suspect G rtinfeld,
while after 3 cd ltJf6 4 1ra4+ leaves
Black with problems in retrieving
his pawn.
c) 2
ltJf6. The Marshall or
American Defence: 3 cd ltJ xd5 4
ltJO, White's best method, is given
in the notes to Alekhine-Marshall
in Part V of this book.
d) 2
..ifS 3 cd ..ixb I (3 '@xd5
4 li:lc3 is natu rally excellent for
White) 4 'ifa4t c6 5 l h b l 1Wxd5
6 ltJf3 lLJf6 7 e3 t; in a semi-open
position Black has no tangible
compensation for W hite's bishop
pai r.
Chigorin's Defence
15
J
8
...
3
de
Black can also try:
a) 3
ltJf6 4 lt:lO ..ig4 (4
de
transposes to the main game; 4
e6 5 ..ig5 .ib4 6 e 3 o r 5 ..ig5 ..ie7 6
e3 are both passive for Black; 4
..if5 5 cd lL!xd5 6 'tll b 3 e6 7 e4
lL!xc3 !l ef favours White. This is
also mentio ned in the notes to
Alekhine-Marshall, Part V) 5 cd
lL!xd5 6 e4 ltJxc3 (6
ltJb6 7 d5
ltJe5 8 lL!xe5 ..ixd l 9 .ib5+ is a
sta ndard winning sacrifice) 7 be e5
8 d5 lObS (8 . . . .ixtJ 9 1rxf3 lLJb!l
10 ll b l ± Keene-Rahman, Com
monwealth Championship, Hong
Kong 1984) 9 •a4+ lLJd7 10 ltJxe5
•r6 I I f4 ..id6 12 .ib5 ..txe5 13 fe
.\ Wxc5 1 4 0-0 ± (M inev). White's
bishops loo k good.
b) 3 eS 4 cd lL!xd4 (4 ed 5 de de
3 lL!c3!
6 'W'xd 8+ $>xd 8 7 cb ±) 5 eJ lLJf5
For 3 ltJf3, see the section on
6 ltlf3 .id6 7 .ib5+ ..id7 8 'tlfb3 ±
I d4 lt!c6 in Cha pter 1 8 and the
(G heorghiu).
game Kasparov-Smyslov given on
lLJf6f
4 lL!f3!
page 1 7.
...
...
000
0 0 0
o o •
...
...
000
000
oo•
0 0 0
16
Chigortn's Defence
4 .A.e4 looks natural but 5 dS!
.A.xn 6 ef �e5 7 .A.f4 �g6 8
.A.xc4 !1 �xf4 9 .A.b5 + c6 10 de is
devastating; or 7 . . . �d7 8 .A.xc4
a6 9 0-0 �gf6 10 lie I ± Donner
Keene, London 1971, the game
which taught me all about 3li:lc3!.
4 ... e6 5 e4 .A.b4 6 .A.xc4 li:lf6 7
Wd3 is very passive for Black,
although Chigorin played it.
4 ... a6!? 5 d5 10b8 6 e4 e6 7
.A.xc4 ed 8 i.xd5 U ± (Watson).
S
e3
This is not the only move.
Excellent alternatives are:
S .A.gS h6 6 .A.xf6 ef 7 e3 .A.e7 8
.txc4 0-0 9 a3 li:la5 10 .ta2 b6 I I
•c2 li:lb7 12 lld l c6 13 0-0 10d6 ;!
Tisdall-Cox, Gausdal 1983.
S e4 .tg4 6 ..te3 .txn (6 . .. e6 7
.txc4 .tb4 S 1Wc2 1We7 9 lld I or 9
.ib5 , both� Watson) 7 gf 68ch
liJe7 9 h4 li:lh5 10 1Wa4+ Wd7 11
•xc4 li:lg6 12 .i.h3 ± ( Watson).
i. e4
s
5 ... 10a5 ?! 6 Wa4+ c6 7 .A.d2!?
with either b4 or �e5 to come is
an interesting gambit which looks
good for White.
.•.
·
6
.txc4
e6
h3
i.bS
8 .i.bS
Otherwise Black plays ... a6 to
obtain a normal Queen's Gambit
Accepted.
1
See Diagram 4
4
B
8
..td6
I f 8 . . . .tb4 9 g4 i.g6 10 �e5
1M5 11 ..txc6 + be 12 0-0 ±.
9
e4
.A.b4
1 0 1Wa4
10 g4 .i.g6 11 �e5 is no longer
desirable now that White has
occupied the '!:entre with 9 e4,
since the e4 pawn would hang .
10
i.xO?
1 had expected 10 ... 0-0 and had
calculated this variation: 11 .txc6
..txc3+ 12 be be 13 i.g5 h6 14 .th4
g5 15 li:lxg5 hg 16 .txg5 e5 17
Wxc6 with advantage to White.
If 16 . . c5 17 Wa5 ! (17 e5 ?1Wd7 �)
17 ... cd 18 .txf6 1Wxf6 19 Wxh5
and now 19 . . . de or 19 ... d3 200-0
should favour White because of
Black's shattered king position,
though the passed black d- or
c-pawn makes it difficult. Anyway,
the text is a tactical error.
11 J.xc6+
be
1l Wxc6+
�e7
13
Wxd4
gf
.
Chigorin's Defence 17
14
15
16
1fxc7+
.tg5+
ll d1 1 (5)
/t)d7
f6
24
25
26
llb5
'iVe2
llbg5!
1-0
ltle3+
llcd7
26 . . . lld2+ 27 �e l ltlc2+ 28
�fl and Black is helpless.
j
B
Kasparov-Smyslov
Candidates ( 1 1 ), Vilnius 1 984
1 d4 d5 2 ltJO ltlc6 3 c4 .i.g4 4 cd
.txO 5 gf 11fxd5 6 e3 e5 7 �c3 .i.b4
8 .i.d2 .txc3 9 be "Wd6 Unusual.
16
llbc8
Agreeing to the loss of two
pawns, but if 16 . . . .txc3+ 17 be
llhc8 18 1llg3 1fxc3+ 19 .td2 and
20 11fxg7+. If 18 . . . 11fc5 19 .i.e3! or
18 . .. Wa4 19 11fd6+ wins.
17
18
19
20
lilxd4
..ixf6+
lhc7
q;,xr6
q;.e2
q;,g5
ll "M
l<'\t>�
The only way to get counterplay,
but the king position becomes
very risky.
21
22
23
llg1 +
llg3
�4
lld8
�n
With the idea of ltle2+. If now
23 . . . lld3 even 24 lld4! is good.
�c4
23
Normally Black plays 9 . . . ed I0 cd
and then ... ltlge7 or ... ltJf6. The text
is probably designed to avoid
White's exchanging queens with
11fb3 as recommended. 10 llb1 b6
1 1 f4 A radical way of clarifying
the central tension. 1 1
ef 12 e4
ltlge7 1 3 'lt"O 0-G 14 .txf4 1ta3
With the threat of . . . 10xd4. 1 5
.i.e2 f5 16 0-G I would play 16 e5.
The text is very sharp. 16 ... fe 1 7
..•
Wxe4 Wxc3 1 8 .i.e3 Wa3 1 9 .i.d3
Wd6 20 1txh7+ �n 2 1 llb5 ltJxd4
22 We4 White could also try 22
1th5+ g6 23 1th7+. 22 . llad8!
..
If 22 ... ltlxb5 23 .i.c4+ �6 24
Wh4+. 23 .txd4 1fxd4 24 llf5+
Settling for half a point. 24 ...
ltJxf5 25 1fxf5+ �g8 If 25 ... 1ff6
26 .i.c4+ �e7 27 lle I+ wins. 26
Wb7+ Wf7 Draw aereed. I t is
perpetual check after 27 1ff5+.
2
Albin Counter-Gambit
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e5 !? 3 de d4
6
w
The Albin is a sh�£�
. wea�':>P
.
which has never bee � reYu�ml't
unlike the Benko Gambit, which
has fi rmly established itself as a
respectable black defence in inter
national tournament play, the
Albin has never really caught on
at the highest levels. Part of the
explanation for this m ust be that it
does not offer Black permanent
structural compensation for his
invested pawn. I nstead, Black
acquires a lead in development
(which may eventually be neut
ralised) and various tactical chances,
often directed against White's king.
If White survives Black's early
burst of activity. and there is no
compelling reason to believe that
he should not, he can look
·forward to a middlega me with
extra material and/ or distinct
counterchances of his own against
the black king.
The line I recom mend from the
d1agra m 1s: 4 zt:\fj llSc6 5 g3
(rather than 5 a 3 or 5 ll:lbd2), ulso
avoiding the obscurities of Spassky's
4 e4 ll:lc6 5 f4. Since Black usually
has to castle queenside in the
Albin, the development of the
white king's bishop to g2 can be a
useful asset for t he future. Even if
Black succeeds in recouping the
sacrificed pawn at eS. the opening
up of the h l -a8 diagonal for
White's king's bishop combined
w1th a while queen sortie (either to
-a4 or 63) and an advunce of
White's queenside pawns, can
prove a senous threat to the black
kmg on c8 or 68.
The most exalted victim of the
Albin in recent years was U S
grandmaster a nd many times US
Champion, Walter Browne. He
lost, as W hite, to Mestel in the
1982 Interzonal at Las Palmas,
but the final result says lit tle about
the outcome of the opening phase,
which was in White's favour.
·
Albin Counter- Gambit /9
The Albin is covered i n BCO,
pages 54 and 55.
Korchnol-Velnger
Beersheva 1978
1
d4
d5
2 c4
e5
3
de
d4
3 ... de 4 'ttx d8+ �xd8 5 lt::lc 3
(Pillsbury) leads to an uncom
fortable queenless middlegame
for B lack; White will continue
with .tg5+ and 0-0-0+, harrassing
Black's king.
4 ltJ f3
lt::lc6
5
g3
Volfson , USSR 1 969. The simple
9 h4 merits attention.
b) 5 ... .if5!? 6 a3 1t'd7 7
8 0-0 j0h3 9 b4 h5 1 0 b_ ltdcs?
w h en Black has compensatjon fgr
the pawn in a complicated position,
typical of the Albin. This line
occurred m Chigorin-Aibin, Nurem
berg 1 896.
.if0-0-0
Curiously, of these, 5 ... .tf5
offer the best chatH.:cs
may
partly because It ts
coos•derabl�
less explored than t he other m oves
and the most effect i ve white line
has not yet be en clanfied.
6
(7)
7
8
lg2
0-0
tt'IJ]! (8)
'ttd7
0-0-0
8
B
5
.tg4
From the diagram Black's
sensible alternatives to 5 ... .tg4:
(a) 5 ... .te6 6 lt::l b d2! 'ttd7 7 .tg2
0-0-0 (7 . . . liJge7 8 0-0 lt::l g6 9 �g5
liJgxe5 10 10 xe6 11fxe6 I I lbf3
and White has the two bishops
and attacki ng chances, Hort
Gasic, Sarajevo 1 972) 8 0-0 h5!?
9 b4 .txb4 10 :b l h4 1 1 11fa4 with
complicated play, Vladimirov-
An excellent move, striking
directly at Black's most sensitive
poi n t, the b7 square. From the
diagram:
a) 8 . .th3. This natural-looking
move stumbles i nto an ambush 9 e6! .t xe6 1 0 10e5 1t'd6 I I 10xc6
be 1 2 11fa4 1fc5 1 3 �a3 'ttb6 1 4
.txc6 .t xa3 1 5 b a ± Spassky
Forin tos, Sochi 1 964.
..
20 Albin Counter- Gambit
b) 8 ... h5 9 l:ldl b6 10 �f4 h4 I I
lt::lc 3! �xfJ 12 �xfJ g5 1 3 1rb5! ±.
c) 8 ... �c5 9 lt::l bd2 �h3? 1 0 e6!
�xe6 and II lt::le 5 again c� nfers
great advantage on White.
d) 8 ... lt::la5 9 1Wd3 �f5 10 e4 de
I I thc3 ±.
e) 8 ... •rs 9 l:ld 1 lt::l ge7 - this may
be Black's best chance but it looks
artificial.
8
lt::lge 7
l:ld1
�xf3
If, in nocently, 9 . . . li:lgo'? 1 0
lt::l x d4 �xe2 ( 1 0 . . . lt:lxd4?'! I I
1rxb7 mate) I I l:ld2 ±± . It is quite
obvious, though, that this exchange
of bishop for kn ight is an
unwelcome one for Black, whose
sensitivity along the h 1-aH diagonal
is now accen tu;1tcd .
9
10
12
lt:Jxf4
Renouncing any thought of
regaining the 'Albin pawn', Veinger
strives for counterplay by frac
turing the pawns around White's
king.
13
gf
g6
14 1rf3
f6
More violence, but if Black
proceeds quietly with 14 . . . �c5,
then 1 5 �c3! is crushing, exploiting
the d-file pin against Black's
queen, to prepare lt:le4 .
t!t'fS
15
ef
16
17
18
lt:ld2
ltJe4
b4! ( 10)
1Wxf6
1rf5
thO!
Commencing a manoeuvre which
holds his extra pawn.
10
1rh5
Threa tening �h3.
lt::lg 6
II
II
12
\1
H
i.f4 (9)
�b8
A move thoroughly conforming
to the whole pattern of White's
attack - namely, a bn:a kthrough
at b7. If now 1 8 . . . lt:lxb4
1 9 lt:ld6 ±± or I H . . . �xb4
19 l:lab I and Black is clearly
finished. The blac k bishop on b4
can be n u dged away with a3, when
there would follow moves like
l:lb5 and i.Llg3, intensifying the
Albin Counter-Gambit
)
pressure against b 7, on the b-file
and from the white queen a nd
bishop to in tolerable levels.
18
19
Uxd3
19
20
21
22
l:i:bl
'flrxd3
��
11
B
d3
This way, at least, Black removes
one pa ir of rooks from the board .
l":;
�xb4
lihd3
�e7
Wxf4
He m1ght as wel l. There is. in
any l:ase. no good defence to
Wh ite's 11-lile at tack . l f 22 . . . i.xc5
23 'ikl �J-1 �-I W xc6 ±±-.
23
�.l.\b7+! ( 11)
The logil:;tl culmination of
White's stra tegv - a sacrifil·ial
bomb-blast on his theme s4uare.
b7.
23
24
2S
Wb5+
.th3+
1 -0
ct>xb7
<t>c8
If
25 ... �dM 26 'thc6
±t.
An imposing and highly instruc
tive miniature which I had the
privilege of watching since I
participated with Korchnoi in the
197M Beersheva tourna men t .
For the record, Browne-Mestel,
mentioncJ in my introduction,
went, from diagram 7: 5 . . . i.g4
6 ltJ bd2 tt'd7 7 i.g 2 0-0-0 8 0-0 h5
9 h4 ltJge7 10 tt'a4 ltJg6 I I ltJb3
�b8 1 2 ltJa5 ltJ xa5 13 tt' xa5,
which should have favoured White.
3
Queen's Gambit Accepted
1 d4 d5 2 c4 de 3 ltJc3
ha rassed by their advance.
The variation I have decided to
recommend to combat the QGA is
an antiquated one that is only just
beginning to find favour amongst
modern grandmasters, but it
has already been enthusiastically
adopted by no less than Korchnoi,
Vaganian and the US Champion,
Walter Browne. The point is, that
after 3 �c3 Bla c k's most trusted
I!
B
In principl e , acceptance of the
reply, 3 . . . e5, leads to an Isolated
Queen's Gambit should cede
queen pawn (IQP) sit uation,
White precisely what he desires
where Black has no obvio��!l
after I d4, namely a majority of
brea ks, while White's very free
pawns in the centre , plus speedy
development confers a long-last i n�
mobilisation. The Iauer deri ves
initiative on him. After 3 lDc3
fro m White's ability to recapture
Black cannot implement the pin
the pawn on �:4 in one move
line which can arise after 3 lDc3
( i.xc4) placing the white king's
bishop on an aggressive diagonal, · lLlf6 4 e3 }g4, while attemi!:5 IO
without wasting an initial tempo e nter the standard""lilia n flne
(3 lDf3 lDf6 4 e3 e6 5 i.xc4 c5) are
on .id3. In practice, the clearance
otreaily-oJ)erati ve:- i·l1bla grain
n
of pawns in the m iddle of
12, 3 . . . e6 can be met by 4 e4 in one
the board often leads to early
go,
while 3 lDc3 lDf6 can lead to
simplific ation and total equality.
u
ncharted
and dyna mic positions
On occasions, Blac k's fluid queen
f
Ol
. Alternatively, White
4
g5
a
ter
side pawns (especially if he
can
accept
a
modest e ndgame plus
achieves the configuration: pawns
with
3
...
ltJf6
4 e4 e5 5 lbf3!
on a6, b5 and c5) may also be very
The
QGA
as
a whole is treated
annoying to Wh ite, whose queen's
in BCO, pages 56-59.
knight and king's bishop can be
·
Queen's Gambit Accepted 23
La Bourdonnals-McDonnell
Match, London 1834
1
d4
d5
de
2 c4
e5 (13)
3 �c3!
13
B
�c6 1 0 lt::J xc6 .i.xc6 1 1 J.f4 0-0
1 2 0-0-0 also± ( 1 2 ..txc7 ? :U.ac8! is
too dangerous for White, of
course). This is Keres-Khalilbeili,
U S S R 1 960.
c) 31 .. c6 4 e4! a nd now:
c l ) 4 .... e5 5 liJb ed 6 Wxd4! tlfxd4
7 lL!Xd4 �f6 8 f3 J.c5 (8 . . . b5 is
too weakening: 9 a4! b4 10 liJdl
..ta6 I I J.f4 J.c5 1 2 lll f5 0-0 1 3
:U.c l l:let! 1 4 J.e3 lll bd7 1 5 J.xc4
±) 9 J.e3 lL!bd7 10 J.xc4 0-0 I I
q;.r2 lll b6 1 2 J.b3 ;t m uch as in (b)
above, Portisch-Saidy, San Antonio
1 972. ( I n the above, Alek hine's
sacrifice 6 J.xc4?! is dubious).
c2) 4 . . bS 5 a4 b4 (5 ... tlfa5 6 J.d2
b4 r �a2 e6 8 ..txc4 regains
White's pawn and leaves him
with the superior pawn structure)
6 liJa2 liJ f6 (6 . . . e5 7 .ixc4 tlf xd4 8
'lrb3 tlfxe4+ 9 �e2 is a highly
promising ga mbit for White) 7 e5
llld 5 8 .ixc4 e6 9 1ll g4 ..ta6 1 0
.txa6 lll xa6 I I lt:\13 with fine
chances for a kingside a ttack,
Kotov-Enevoldsen, Jonkoping 1 958.
d) ... c 4 d5 e6 4 . . . lll f6 5 e4 b5?!
6 e b4 7 ef be 8 be lDd7 9 tlf a4 ef
1 0 .tf4 Wb6 I I ..txc4 ;!;) 5 e4 ed
(5 ... �f6 6 liJO ed 7 e5 liJfd7 8
..tg5 J.e7 9 ..txe7 Wxe7 1 0
liJxd5 ;t; o r 7 . . . d4? 8 ..txc4! liJc6
9 ef de 10 tlfe2+ *d7 1 1 J.f4 11ra5
1 2 lld l + lDd4 1 3 ..tb5+. l -0
U hl mann-Wade, Hastings 19589) 6 liJ xd5 lt::J f6 7 ..txc4 lt::J xd 5 (7 . . .
J.e6 8 Wb 3 ! - Petrosian) 8 ..txd5
.
.
The main alternatives are:
a) 3 . a6 4 e3 (4 e4 b5 5 �f3 is an
untested gambit, worth a try if you
are in frivolous mood) 4 . . . b5 5 a4!
and Black can not cling to his
pawn, viz 5 ... b4 6 111 0 ! c6 7 .bc4
be t! ..txf7+ 'it'd? 9 be with a strong
attack , plus two pawns, for the
piece. White will proceed with
moves such as J:lb l , e4 and ..tf4. I
should also point out the witty
forced dra w at White's disposal:
9 tiffS+ �c7 1 0 -.aS+ �d7
I I tiffS+ or even I I J.e6+ 'it>eB 1 2
..tf7+ *d7 1 3 J.e6+ etc.
b) 3 . li'Jf6 4 e4 (4 ..i.g5 is untried)
4 . . . c5 5 lined 6 \W xd4 tlf xd4 7
�xd4 J.b4 I! t1 a6 9 J.xc4 0-0 1 0
i.:f4 b5 I I ..i.e2 .i.c5 1 2 0-0-0 and_
White enjoys greater freedom of
movement: or 8 . . . .i.d7 9 l xc4
..
..
24 Queen's Gambit Accepted
.td6 (8 . . . ll:ld7) 9 ..h 5 ! g6 10 'it'h6
.tf8, Petrosian-Radulov, Plovdiv
(Euro-Teams) 1 983. Now best is
I I 1ff4! forcing the horrid I I . . .
f6 ( ±). After I I ..f4 1fc7 White
wins out right with 12 .txt7+ 1fxt7
1 3 1fe5+ 1fe7 14 1fxh&- 'tt x c4+
15 ll:le2. Black has better in 9 . . .
..f6 ! when 1 0 ll:lf3 1fg6 I I 1fxg6
hg 1 2 ll:lg5 0-0 1 3 f4 .te7 slows
White's initiative.
4
e3
ed
5
6
ed
.txc4 ( 14)
ll:lf6
14
8
defending b4 and n with tempo)
7 . . . 0-0 8 0-0 .tg4 9 a3 .txc3 10 be
c5 I I h3 .txf3 1 2 ..xf3 cd
(stronger is 1 2 . . . ll:lc6 1 3 de ll:le5
with compensat ion for the pawn)
13 1fxb7lt.Jbd7 1 4 cd lt:lb6 1 5 .ta2
't!fxd4 16 .te3 ± Korchnoi
Matulovic, Europa Club Cup,
Belgrade 1984. White won by
exchanging all of t he major pieces
and advancing his king towards
Black's a-pawn in the two bishop
v two knight ending.
6
·
...
.tc7
lt)IJ
0-0
6 . . . .td6 !? 7 ll:lf3 tle7 8 .ie3
lbg4 9 it:Jd5 ll:lxe3 10 fe gives
Wh ite f-file prospects.
7
{15)
/.1
II'
An ancient variation, wh ich has
recently become the height of
fashion! It was believed for
decades that White halrm" play
3 ll:l f3 in the Queen's Gam bit
Accepted to forestall . . . e5, but
this is no longer held to be true.
Given the disappearance of Black's
e-pawn, the white king's b1shop
on c4 can become a powerful,
unobstructed force. I f now 6 . . .
.tb4 7 lt:J O (7 .txf7+? �xf7 8
1rb3+ it:Jd5 H; or 7 1rb3 1fe7+
7 . . . ll:Jbd7 8 .txf7+ ! 'it>xf7
9 ll:l g5+ c.t>g6 10 'lt'u3+ ..t>h5
I I lt.Je6 ti is a pitfall to note.
8
.tc3
White's treatment is-interesting,
hut 8 0-0 is more acceptable to
m odern eyes, e.g. 8 . . . . �bd7 (8 ...
.tg4 9 h3 .txfJ - 9 . . . .th5 10 g4
.tg6 I I lt.Je5 followed by f4 - 1 0
Queen's Gambit Accep ted 25
'ifxf3 lL!c6 1 1 �e3 lL! xd4 1 2 'ifxb7
c5 13 �xd4 cd 14 li[ad l !) 9 �b3
lL!b6 10 li[e I c6 1 1 .i.g5 lL!bd5 1 2
lL!xd5 cd 1 3 ltle5 ! Browne
Petrosian, Las Palmas 1982. Also
I I . .tg4 12 'ifd3 .i.xO 1 3 1hf3
lL!fd5 1 4 .i.xe7 lL!xe7 1 5 lite5 lL!g6
1 6 li[e4 lL!d7 1 7 li[d I 'ifa5 1 8 li[e3
li[ad8 19 lL!e4 'ifc7 20 h4 ±
Vaganian-Hiibner, Tilburg 1983.
Tartakower used to recommend 8
h3 to stop . . . �g4, and this has
resyrfaced jn co,wemoora rygames:
. .
the reader might expect to have
one white move proposed at each
point, instead of three, as here
(8 .i.e3, 8 ()...0 , 8 h3). I have
adopted the policy of pointing out
reasonable alternatives within the
main recommended line here, as
elsewhere in this book, since the
three choices seem equally worth
investigation.
c6
8
9
I0
II
12
13
h3
.i.b3
0-0
a4
lL!e5
14
.i.c2
lL!bd7
ltJ b6
ltJfd5
aS
.i.e6
If 1 3 . . . lL!xe3 14 fe .i.f6 1 5 'ifh5
.We7 16 llf3, summoning up h is
rese rves for a kingside offensive.
Bl ack would have gained the
bishop pair, but White's centre is
reinforced by the exchange of the
m inor pieces.
10 ... c6 I I li[e I ltlfd5 1 2 lt:le4 lile8
1 3 .i.d2 .i.f5 14 lL!g3 �e6 1 5 �c2
lL!d7 1 6 a 3 ltJf8 1 7 .i.d3 g6 1 H .i.h6
ltJf6 19 'ttd 2 .i.d5 20 lt:le5 lL!e6 2 1
.i.c2 lL!d7 22 ltJg4 ± Timman
Panno, M ar del Plata 1 9H2.
Or in the above 10
ltJbd5 I I
li[e I c6 1 2 .i.g5 .i.c6 1 3 ltJe5 ltJc7
1 4 .i.c2 lle8 15 'ifd3 g6 16 'iff3
ltJfd 5 1 7 .i.xc7 Wxe7 1 8 'irg3 B:ad8
19 llad I ltJf6 20 f4 lL!h5 21 Wf2 f5
22 g4 ! ± Razuvayev-Bagirov,
USSR 19!!2. In a 'repertoire' book
...
"Evading multiple exchanges
and stressing the high value of the
b l -h7 diagonal." (Tartakower).
�4
f5?!
{1 7)
26 Quun's Gambit Accepted
Up to here this game could have
been identified as a modern one
between grandmasters. But the
rash weakening manoeuvre intro
duced with the text places it judged by contemporary Grand
Magisterial standards - firmly in
its 1 9th century contex t . Still,
there is no reason that your
opponents in club, league or
weekend events should play like
grandmasters, and the reader may
well encounter such moves from
his own prospective vict i ms. 14 .
f5 must have been initially conceived
as a means of blocking the b 1 -h 7
diagonal , but Black soon change�
his mind and tries to use hi�
f-pawn as a battering ram.
Unfortunately, his pieces are
inadequately co-ordinated to justify
such ambition.
.
15
16
17
1te2
�d2
li!.ae I
17
18
19
1te4
�xf4
Threatening llJxg6.
f4?
1te8
�f7
g6
.Wxf4
llJ xf4
J.c4
21
22
23
...h6
�xfl
�xg6!
hg
llJxg6 ( 18)
IH
B
.
The refutation of Black's strategy.
19
20
The planned defence to 1 9
.txf4, b u t White now concludes
with a beautiful and typical
kiQgside demolition.
A rook and piece ahead , Black
has no salvation from White's
mating attack. I f 23 . . . li!.f7
24 1thH mate.
23
24
25
26
'*h8+
1th7+
llJf4!
27
li!.l-6+
28
29
11t'h6+
g4 mate
llJc8
�f7
�f6
�d3
'o!.>g5
<M5
A splendid game by La
Bourdonnais, the uncrowned world
champion of his day.
4
Queen's Gambit Declined
Tarrasch Defence
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 c5
/9
w
Under the infl uence of the
outstanding German player and
teacher, Dr Siegbert Tarra sch,
this defence was, more or less,
regarded as the norm at the turn of
the century. As I observe elsewhere
in this volume, Chigorin was the
main dissenter. Even Capablanca
and Nimzowitsch (Tarrasch's ideo
logical rival) i ncluded this defence
in their repertoire. But with the
i ntroduction of the Schlechter
Rubi nstein variation : 4 cd ed
5 l0f3 l0c6 6 g3, the Tarrasch went
out of fashion for many years and,
for a round half a cen tury, it came
to be seen as something of a
positional risk whenever it was
adopted.
N.:vertheless, the Tarrasch was
twice revived in modern ti mes,
once by Spassky in his world t i tle
match against Petrosian in 1969,
and then agai n by Gary Kasparov
in his World Championship
Candidates' contests with Belyavsky
and Korchnoi during 1 983. The
effect of the contribution by
Spassky and Kasparov has been to
rob the Schlechter-Rubinstein g3
varia tion of some of its punch.
Intensive analysis has revealed
various ways for Black to generate
counterchances - for example,
Korchnoi-Kasparov, World Blitz
Tournament, Herceg Novi 1983:
4 cd ed 5 l0f3 l0c6 6 g3 l0f6 7 �g2
�e 7 8 0-0 0-0 9 �g5 cd 10 l0xd4
h6 I I �e3 ltc8 1 2 Wa4 .i.d7 13
ltad 1 l0b4 14 't!t'b3 a5 15 a4 (20)
28 Queen's Gambit Declined Tarrasch Defence
Chandler, London (Phillips &
This was a well known position,
Drew) 1 9S4. Karpov won this, but
which various authorities had
the average mortal might have
assessed as favourable to White.
more trouble coping with Black's
Kasparov clearly held a different
counterplay.
opinion: 15 ... JileS 16 lt:\c2 b5!
In view· of such variations,
Ignoring the vulnerability of his
I have decided to i nvestigate
IQP, Kasparov extracts the maxi
a somewhat forgotten treatment
mum tactical advantage from the
of the many times US Cham
active placing of his pieces:
pion, Frank Marshall. Marshall's
17 lt:\ xb4 ba IS lt:\xa4 .i.xb4 1 9
concept
was to reduce the po
lt:\b6 J:lxe3! 20 'ilt'xe3 .i.c5 2 l lt:\xd7
tential of t he black position
.txe3 22 lt:\xf6+ 'ilt'xf6 23 fe 'ilt'xb2
and it is Black who has emerged . by i naugurating an immediate
exchange of dark-squared bishops
on top from t he theoretical duel.
(via lg5) and then im mediately
Another popular line is 9 de
(instead of 9 .i.g5 above) 9 . . . -inflict an IQP on Black by playing
dxc5. This gives White an ideal
.i.xc5 I 0 .i.g5 d4 I I .i.xf6 'ilt'xf6 1 2
blockading square for a knight on
lt:ld5 'ilt'dS 1 3 li::l d 2 (21)
d4, fixes the black d-pawn an d5
as an endgame ta rget for Whit e's
11
8
-li- g ht-square btshop, and saddles
-Black with a queen's bishop_
restricted by its own d5 pawn. I t
- all soundS great, but the danger
is t hat premature simplification
increases the likelihood of a draw.
Proper study of the variations
given here should help to minimise
this problem, a nd it is noteworthy
t ha t Korchnoi - and Tal - have
.i.g4,
and now after 1 3
recently adopted it.
pressurising e2, it is hard to see
Fg.r tbe Tarrasch, see BCO,
that White can make tangible
pages 70-74.
progress. Another interesting possi
bility from t he above diagram is 1 3
Mltrshall-Schlechter
. . . JileS 1 4 J:lc l .i.b6 1 5 J:le l .i.e6
Ostend 1907
16 lt:\f4 .txa2! ? 1 7 b3 .ta5 1 8 J:lc2
I
d4
dS
.i.xb3 19 lt:lxb3 d3 20 J:lxc6 .txe I
2 c4
e6
2 1 llc l d2 22 J:lbl a5 K arpov-
Queen's Gombil Declined Torrosch Defenu 29
3
4
�c3
]J
w
cd (22)
22
B
with moves like �cb5, Wa41
llab I, llfc 1 etc. Also reliable is
12 .td2 g5 1 3 0-0 �b8 14 llc l g4
( 1 4 . . . .tf 5 !'!) 1 5 �d4 1We5 1 6
�cbS l0e4 ( 1 6 . .. a 6 1 7 .tc3 ! ) 1 7
Wc2 � xd2 1 8 1Wxd2 a6 J 9 Wc3! ±.
An important branch from the
main line of the Tarrasch (4 . . .
exd5) i s the von Hennig-Schara
Gambit. This is dangerous, but
White can hardly avoid facing
do
unless he opts for th�Ap'mt.'lt1'
4 e3.}Vhite must therefore be aware
of a good line against the
Hennig-Schara. I recommend 4 ...
cd 5 1ra4+ (5 1rxd4 �c6 6 1rd 1 ed
� , . �,d 5 i.d7 will probably
trJll�se, but White also has to
learn what to do about the tricky
7 . . . .te6!?) 5 . . . .td7 (5 . . . b5?
6 Wd4 ! b4 7 �b5 a6 8 de ±;
5 . .. 1Wd7? 6 li:Jb5 �a6 7 d6 ±)
6 1Wxd4 c:d 7 1Wxd5 �c6 (7 . . . lilf6
8 Wd I ! tranposes) 8 2f!f3 �f6 9
Wd 1 .tc5 1 0 d 'ie7 1 1 le2
i�
5
...
4
ed
5 lOQ
. �c6
cd is pf\'��e and makes
the white kingside fianchetto very
stro ng indeed: 6 l0xd4 �c6 7 g3
Wb6 8ltJb3 d4 9/0d5 1rd8 1 0 i.g2
.te6 1 1 e4 �ge7 1 2 .1g5 h6
13 .tf6!! ±±. Also inferior is 5 ...
�f6 6 .tg5 .te6 7 e4! de 8 .tb5+7
or 6 . . . le7 7 de l e6 8 llc l 0-0 9.
.txf6 i.xf6 1 0 e3 1ia 5 1 1 a3 �c6
1 2 .1d3 ± Marshall-Rubmsiein,
Lodz 1908.
6 i.gS
.te7
!_er
i.xf6!_i��--��_
7
�f6?
.L:.:..
.
c
o
l
�6
�xd5
�
�-..:
�:.L
_!c_.
�
!
.!._l
_f
·�
.
�
See Diagram 23
:fQ8 � -�--.£Q_JO 1.1?_5 _.aS+
1.!.-'cg !�f_ ter Z.:::.��lac:;�·�_pa..y n
1 2 0-0 g5 1 3 lild4 g4 1 4 b4 .ixb4
position is smashed. The only
( 1 4 . . . .1b6 15 b5 �e5 1 6 1tb3 ±)
15 .ib2 and White's attac k on the . other move 6 . . . f6le�ve;- 8i��k
qucens id e -p roceeds more swiftly very loose after Yi.e3. -------�gxe7
t.iiiiilB1ack.•s on the other wmg, ·- � -, .txe7
•.
8
8
eJ (24)
0-0
Or 8 ... c4 (Svc:shnikov-Nunn,
Hastings 1 977): 9 .i.e2 0-0 10 ()..{)
b5 1 1 ltle5 ll:lxe5 1 2 de litb8 1 3 a4
b4 14 ll:lb5 ll:l c6 1 5 f4 and the
outpost on d6 for the white knight
gave him the advantage. White
actually won on move 2H. More
aggressive is 1 1 . . . b4, though the
disadvantage is that after 12 lt:lxcb
/(Jxc6 1 3 l0a4, a white k night will
settle on c5, and White may be
able to start a queenside attack
with moves such as 1Wa4 and a3,
also supported by .i.f3.
Widely recommended in most
theory books is 8 ... cd 9 lt:lxd4
Wb6, but my feeling is that W hite
keeps a s mall edge with 10 1td2! ,
e.g. 10 . . . .i.g4 (Tartakower's
suggestion) 1 1 h3 .1h5 12 .i.b5 0-0
1 3 ()..{) lt:lxd4 (if 1 3 . . . a6 14 .1a4
and then .tb3, attacking Black's
IQP) 14 ed li)c6 15 .txc6! -.xc6
( 1 5 . . . be saddles Black with a
weak c-pawn on an open file)
'
16 tfg5 ! Stronger is 1 0 . . . ll:l xd4
I I ed 0-0 White now plays .i.e2
and later .tf3. The position
with the two fixed IQP's may look
level, but White has a distinct pull:
the black IQP is fixed as a target
on the same colour square as his
bishop, White's rooks have slightly
easier access to the; e-file and ll:la4c5 may prove a �
�":\ With all
these subtle nuances in his favou r,
White can make Black's life
unpleasant for some time to come.
After 10 . . . li)xd4 I I ed 0-0 White
can also consider the more
ambitious 12 .i.b5!? preventing . . .
liteH, a n d preparing .ta4-b 3.
WaS
9 de
1 0 .i.d3
Slightly less active, though still
'J;'. is I 0 .te2 tfxc5 I I 0-0 :dH
12 1Wd2 lt:lf5 1 3 litfd l .tc:6 1 4ll:lb5
followed by occupation of d4,
Speelman-Chandler, H ong Kong
1 984. Or 1 1 . . . i.e6 1 2 ..a4 tfb6 1 3
..a 3 lt:lf5 1 4 lt:la4 Wa5 1 5 Hfd l
lilacS 16 l0g5 ;t Korchnoi-Chandler,
London (Phillips & Drew) 1984.
I I .. . .te6 1 2 lilc l litad8 1 3 l0a4
Wd6 14 lt:lc5 .tc8 1 5 1Wd2 b6 1 6
l0 b 3 .i.g4 1 7 litfd I followed by
lt:lbd4 a nd b4-b5 , also at least ;t,
was Tal-lvanovic, Bugojno 1 984.
10
1txc5
11
8-0
"Black is on the way to
achieving a very fair development,
but his position suffers from an
Queen's Gambit Declilted Ta"asclr Defence Jl
ineradicable weakness: the I Q P.
Not only will White be able to
exert p ressure on this weakness,
he will have strong pressure on the
central dark squares, d4, c5 and
e5." ( Marshall).
j,e6
11
Another example is 1 1
lidS
1 2 a3 j,e6 1 3 llc l tt'd6 14 lLl b5
ttd7 1 5 llJ bd4 lilacS 1 6 j, bJ lL!xd4
1 7 ttxd4 llxc I 18 llxc l ±
Marshaii-Spielmann, Ostend 1906.
Also 1 1
j,g4 1 2 ll e l lladl!
13 .te2 f5?! 1 4 h3 ..ih5 15 l0d4
j,xe2 16 l0cxe2 ll f6 17 'trb3 !
Marshaii-Em.Lasker, Match 1 907.
25
B
...
...
12
13
14
li[cl
l0a4
hJ
1!rb6
ttb4
h6
IS
16
aJ
l0c5
ttd6
li[ ab8
M ore solid is 14 . . . 1Hd8.
If he parries . . . b6, as in Tal
lvanovic, he may have difficulty
contesting the c-file, especially
si nce W hite would have .t a6 at his
disposal.
17
'tlre2
j,fS
19
20
li[fdl
e4! (25)
lL!fc7
into a whi rlwind attack. Here,
abandoning the siege of Black's
IQP, he goes straight for the
throat. Black's only defence is
20 . . . ll fd8 2 1 e5 ttg6.
b6?
ttd8
20
21
eS
22
23
l0e4
1Wc8
lL!f6+! (26)
Or 2 1 ... l0xe5 22 ttxe5 ttxe5 23
l0xe5 be 24 l0d7 :±±.
}(J
B
Schlechter reasons that a general
diminution of material, in particular
the s wap of his sub-standard
bishop, will increase his prospects
of a draw.
lL!dS
1 8 j,x£5
Marshall's forte was the trans
mutation of a positional advantage
23 l0d6 is good , but this
crushing.
23
gf
IS
24
ef
li'lg6
If 24 . . . <tlf5 25 Wb5 or 24 . . .
We6 2 5 Wxe6 fe 26 fe li'lxe7 2 7 lit e I
<l;f7 28 lilc7 ±±.
25
26
27
'ttd 2
1hh6
lilxc6! ( 27)
11Vf5
Wxf6
Hammer-blow follows hammer
blow.
27
Wxb2
If 27 . . . 1!t'xc6 28 li'lg5 ±±.
28
29
30
lild4
�h2
llg4
)
Endgame M aterial
The line of the Tarrasch I have
examined in this chapter tends
towards an endgame where Black's
queen's bishop will be hampered
by the fixed nature of the black
IQP on d5. White, on the other
hand, will enjoy a measure of
dark-square control , including,
probably, the option of occupying
d4 with a piece. It is, therefore,
worth studying typical endgames
which conform to this pattern ,
and which may well arise in your
own games. Here is one fairly
standard but difficult exa mple. I t
d i d not , i n fact, proceed from the
Tarrasch but judging from the
general configuration of both
sides, it could well have done.
't!t'bl +
wrs
1 -0
M arshall gives: 30 . . . Ii[ac8
3 1 lilcxg6+ fg 32 lil h4 l:Hd8 3 3
Wh8+ �f7 3 4 lil h 7 + <lJe6 35
<tld4+ ±± .
A splendid game b y the US
player, nominated by Czar Nicholas
I I of Russia to be one of the five
original grandmasters . (The other
four were: Lasker, Capablanca,
Alekhine and Tarrasch.) Of course,
the Marsh all Chess Club in New
York still bears the great master's
name.
Petrosian-Benko
Cu• ac.:ao (Candida tes) 1 962
This ending is very important
since even such an endgame artist
as Petrosian was unable to derive
the maximum from it. The game
,
Queen' .r Gambi t Declined Tarra.rch Defence
concluded: 32 j, g2 j,t7 33 j, f)
j,e6 34 j,d3 g5 3 5 j,c2 �g4 36
j,a4 j,f3 37 j,b5 j,g2 38 fg fg 39
�d3 j,h3 40 j, g6 �e6 4 1 j,h7
ct>d6 42 a 3 \12-\12.
Back to the diagram, Petrosian
should have played 32 g4!! to
cause Black the most serious
problems. There is a natural
repugnance in bishop endings
against playing one's pawns on to
the same colour square as one's
bishop, but the important factor
here is the ongoing restriction of
Black's bishop. White t hreatens
(after 32 g4! !) to cont inue in some
cases with h4 and g5, locating a
furt her static weakness on g6, and
if Black reacts with the natural
32 . . . g5 the following variations
can occur: 3 3 f5 �f7 34 � h I �g8
35 i.g2 j,t7 36 j,f3 ! (29)
If now 36 . . . .ig!! 3 7 j,d I i.f7 38
J.1
j,b3 j,g8 39 e4 ±±; or 36 . . . �c6
37 j,d I <&d6 38 b5! j,e8 39 a4 j,t7
40 j,b3 j, g8 4 1 e4 i.f7 42 j,xd5!
j,xd5 (42 . . . j,e8 43 j,e6 ±±)
43 ed ct>d7 44 ct>d3 ct>e7 45 d6+!
ct>d7 46 't>c4 ct> xd6 47 't>d4 ct>e7
48 't>d5 c;t>d7 49 h3 winning the
king and pawn e nding.
JO
B
This is Szabo-Penrose, Bath
(European Team Championship)
1 973. The play from the diagra m
provides a second highly similar
example, this time with rooks
present. 30 ... ct>b7? Black fears
playing 30 . .. 'it>d6 since his king
will be cut off from his queenside
pawns, but this is worse. 31 g4! ( as
recommended in Petrosian-Benko)
31 ... l:Id6 32 a3 aS 33 h4 i.f7 34 f5
l:ld8 35 llc2 l:ld7 36 gS fg 37 hg hg
38 U.g2 l:ld6 (38 . . . 'it>c6 39 l:l xg 5
i.e!! 4 0 h 4 ±±) 39 l:lxgS g6 40 hg
l:lxg6 and 1-0.
5
Queen's Gambit Declined
Orthodox
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 lbf6
31
W
4 .i.g5 .i.e 7 5 liJf3 h6 6 .i.h4 0-0 7
e3 b6 8 Ik l .i.b7 9 .i.e2 liJbd7 1 0
cd ed I I 0-0 c5 (32)
J.?
w
This is the obvious reaction to
White's pseudo-offer of a pawn on
the second move, once it has been
appreciated that Black cannot
retain his booty after 2 . . . de .
With the sturdy 2 . . . e6 Black
maintains a dependable presence
in the centre, "the Balkans of the
chessboard", as Nimzowitsch des
cribed this critical area, and
resolutely refuses to allow White
to play e4. The standard freeing
move for Black is . . . c5, and i n the
most solid variation of all, the
Tanakower, Black calmly develops
his forces, fianchettoes his queen's
bishop, and ultimately sets out to
equalise with the desired thrust of
his c-pawn. Thus from the diagram:
This is Hon-Karpov, Amsterdam
1 9 8 1 and Korchnoi-Karpov, 1 st
game World Championship match,
Merano 1 98 1 . A lthough Karpov
lost the first of these, Black really
has little to fear, as was demon
strated by the world champion's
willingness to rep:.-at against
Korchnoi. I n fact, Karpov won
the later ga me.
As a n historical aside I should
point out why 5 . . . h6, "putting the
q uestion" , as the cliche runs, is so
necessary as a prelude to . . . b6 and
. . . .ib7. From diagram 3 1 : 4 .ig5
.ie7 5 eJ 0-0 6 �f3 b6 7 .id3 .ib7
Queen's Gambit Declined Orthodox 35
8 .i.xf6 .i.xf6
9 cd ed
1 0 h4 (33)
JJ
B
0-0 �xc3 1 2 lil xc3 eS!
I therefore recommend here t h e
Wxe7 1 1
Exchange Vanat10n, ideally with
W hite fixes the pawn
struct u re in t h e m iddle of the
board and releases t h e Jock on
Black's queen's bishop rep re se n t ed
by the pawn on e6. Wh1 te1s a 1 m IS
to expl01 t the slat.c s c e n a n o ,
either to ning forwardhis kmgs lde
pawns i n the style of M a r s h a or
advance m the centre w i th 13 a nd
e4, t he very thing the Orthodo x
QG D is designed to I m pe e . As
men t i o n ed , W h i t e should. i n
t heory. castle queens1dc , bu t spcc 1 al
circ um�ta nces ma y dll' tatc tha t
o re prudent. Th1s spe�.:.fic
0-0 1s
t re a t m e n t ha s be e n ado pt e hy
Nimwwusch, Alekhine, Spielmann,
Botvi n n i k , Hronstei n , Kasparov
and Timman.
The QGD Ort hodox as a wh o l e
i:. examined in BCD, pages 60-69.
0-0-0.
ll.
Without the precaution of . . . h6
this bold advance grants W h i te a
vehement attack, e.g. 1 0
g6 I I
h 5 lil e8 1 2 hg hg 1 3 -.c2 i,g7 1 4
iLxg6 fg 1 5 1hg6 ltl d 7 1 6 �g5
1Wf6 1 7 � h! H ! 1 -0 M arshall- Burn,
Paris 1 900; or 10 . . . g6 I I h5 c5 1 2
h g hg I J ltle5 ..ixe5 1 4 d e trg 5 1 5
1Wf3 1Wxc5 1 6 �0-0 with excd lent
attac k i ng cha nces, as i n M a rsha li
M.trco, a Iso Paris 1 900. A fter I 0 .
cS White should not sacrifice w i t h
I I ..ixh7+?! l!.> x h 7 1 2 ltlg5+ \t>h6!
but play I I 1Wc2! h6 I 2 0-0-0 ltlc6
13 g4 ! cd 1 4 ed 1Wd6 1 5 \t>b I lb b4
1 6 1Wd2 ltlxd3 1 7 1Wxd3 " ± "
according to Soviet GM Taimanov,
since White threatens g5. This
notwithsta nding, the Tartakower
variation with . . . h6 is a serious
obsta e to a wh e advantage.
Indeed, the Lasker Defence,
4 .ig5 .ie7 :'\ c3 0-0 6 ltlf3 h6
7 .ih4 .!t:le4, is a ls o tough to c1 ack ,
a s is Capablanca's 6 . . . �bd7 7 lil c l
c 6 8 .id3 d e 9 .1xc4 ltl d S 1 0 .ixe7
.•.
..
cl
it
d
m
d
Spielmann-Sir George Thomas
Carlsbad 1 929
d4
d5
2 c4
eb
ltlr6
3
�c3
For 3 . . . .i e7 see t h e next ga m e ,
K orchnoi-Karpov.
4
s
cd
.tgs
ed
See Diagram 34
Now t he main l i ne is 5 . . . �bd7 ,
but Black can also select:
a) S . . . .te7 This o nl y has
36 Queen's Gambit Declined Orthodox
independent significance if B lack
intends to switch into a Tartakower
with . . . h6, . . . b6 and . . . c5, for
which see Kasparov-Belyavsky in
Pan V.
b) S ... c:S? 6 -'.xf6! gf 7 e3 -'.e6 8
�ge2 l0c6 9 g3 cd 1 0 ed -'.b4 I I
-'.g2 1fb6 1 2 � 0-{)...0 1 3 l0a4
1ra6 14 a3 -'.d6 1 5 b4, Pillsbury
Steinitz, Hasti ngs 1 895. Evidently
a strategic disaster for B lack,
whose doubled pawns are miserably
weak. White also enjoys the
unbelievable luxury of having
Black's king as an extra target for
his q ueenside attack.
c) S
c6 6 e3 -'.f5 7 'it'D ! -'.g6 8
.txf6 'tWxf6 ( 8 . . . gf 9 'tWd I ! 'tWb6 1 0
'tWd2 ltJa 6 I I ltJf3 0-0-0 1 2 a 3 ltJc7
13 b4 ± Petrosian-Barcza, B uda
pest 1955, very similar to Pillsbury
Steinitz) 9 'tWxf6 gf 1 0 \t>d2! l0d7
I I .id3 .td6 12 h4 h5 1 3 �ge2 V ±.
White has neutralised Black's
bishop pai r with the manoeuvre
'it>d2 and .td3, but the weak
doubled pawns remain .
d) S . . . c6 6 e3 h 6 7 .t h 4 -'.f5. Now
White could just play 8 .td3,
exchanging bishops, and later
playing to occupy f5 with a knight.
The fact that Black has played . . .
h 6 makes . . . g 6 a s well somewhat
less attractive for him. There is
also an ambitious and complicated
line available which tries to refute:
Black's play, namely: 8 WtJ
'W'b6!? 9 Wxf5 Wxb2 1 0 Wc8+ 'it>e7
I I li:l xdH ( I I ltJd I 'tth4 + 1 2 \t>e2
g5! is good for Black which shows
why 6 . . . h6 must be interpolated
before Black can meet tff3 with . . .
Wb6) I I . . . cd 1 2 We i 'tWb4+ 1 3
'.&.>c:2 Wb5 +?! 1 4 \t>D Wd7 1 5
-'. xl6+ 'Ot.-xl6 (35), Smyslov
Pachman, Moscow 01 1 956.
.•.
Once White u nravels, H lack's
I Q P is very weak im.h:ed, B lack
should have sought further com
plications with 1 3 . . . g5 14 .ig3 ltJc4
1 5 f) tfb5+ 16 \t>e l Wb4+ 17 c;t>d l
ltJcJ+ 1 8 \t>c2. If this is not to your
taste, by all means plays 8 i.d3.
e) S ... c0 6 eJ .ie7 7 .td3 -'.g4 8 f3
.i.h5 9 lt:lge2 helps White to
mobilise his cent re pawns.
5
lt:lbd7
This move sets a jejune trap,
which has, however, claimed a
number of unwary VICtims:
6 lt:lxd5?? lt:lxd5 ! 7 .i.xd8 .i.b4+
and Black wins .l pi ece.
6
e3
c6
But 6 . . . .i.b4 is out of pl a ce
since White can p rotect h is k night
on c3 with lt:lge2: 7 .i.d3 c5 8 lt:lge2
c4 9 .i.c2 0-0 10 0-0 1t'a5 I I a3
.i. xc3 12 ll:Jxd Jle8 1 3 1t'd2 h(l 14
f3 .ib7 1 5 ll:ac l w i t h e4 to come,
Portisch-Tringov, Plovdiv 1983.
7 .id3
.ie7
Uy playing 7 . . . .td6 H lack pays
insufficient ath:ntion to the pin on
his ki ng's knight, viz 8 ll:J ge2 lt:lf8 9
1t'c2 h6 1 0 .th4 1t'e7 I I a3 .id7
1 2 c4 g5 1 3 .i.g3 de 14 10 xe4 ll:Jxe4
1 5 .ixe4 .i. xg3 1 6 hg t l ±
S pi e l m a nn - Capa bl anca , Carlsbad
1 929.
8 1t'c2
Alekhine-Capablanca, 32nd game
1927 World Championship, Buc::nos
Aires, went 8 10ge2 0-0 (on 8 . . . h6
Ale k h i ne wanted to play 9 .i. f4
rather than .i h4) 9 lt:lg3 lLle8 (9 . . .
h 6 1 0 h4; 9 . . . Jle8 1 0 ll:Jf5 ) 1 0 h4
ll:Jd f6 ( after 1 0 . . . f6 White has
I I 1t'h 5, one rc::a son for keeping
the queen on d I for a move or so)
I I 'W'c2 i.e6 1 2 �.Jf5 .txf5 1 3 .i xf5
10d6 14 .id3 h 6 1 5 .tf4 llc8?
( 1 5 . . . lle8 1 6 04-0 lLJfe4 ! ) 1 6 g4 ±.
This was the game where Alekhine
invented the lt:lge2 system and
the reader may wish to pursue
Alekhine's idea of tll g 3 before
11Pc2. There has, however, been no
subsequent experience with i t .
8
�0
A common manoeuvre to ease
Black's position by e xchanges is
. . . tll fH-e6, . . . g6, . . . li'Jg7 and then
. . . .if5 . H ere, W hite's elastic
cc:: n t re easily copes with t h i s : 8 ...
10f8 9 tll g e2 lLle6 to .th4 g 6
I I 0-0-0 lt:lg7 1 2 f3 lilf5 ( i f 1 2 . . .
.if5 1 3 c4 ± ) 1 3 .tf2 1t'a5 1 4 ¢'b l
.ic6 1 5 h 3 0-0-0 1 6 e4 ±
Bronstein-Medina, Gi:iteborg 1 955.
H
�)hS 9 .t xe7 1t'xc:: 7 1 0 �ge2
g6 I I h J Ci.Jg7 1 2 lbf4 and g 4 t was
Ti m m a n - L o bro n , Sarajevo 1 984.
•.•
9
lt:lge2
lieS
J6
w
10
0-0-0
The point of White's play, b u t if
you don't relish a sharp battle i t is
not too late to castle k i ngside.
White then has t h e choice -of the
m i no ri t y a tt ack ( Jlab I, b4, b5 to
u ndermine Black's quee nside) or a
central advance with f3, �ae I etc
and then e4. Botvinnik-Larsen,
cited above, is an example of this,
and I could also mention Botvinnik
Keres, USSR Championship, Mos
cow 1952: 1 0 0-0 lt:JfH I I �ab l
.id6 1 2 'it>h I (to meet 1 2 . . . ..ixh2
with 13 ..ixf6! ±t) 1 2 . . . lt:Jg6 1 3 f3
.ie7 1 4 � be I lt:Jd7 ( 1 4 . . . h6 1 5
..ixh6 gh 1 6 ..i xg6) 1 5 ..ixe7 �xe7
1 6 lt:Jg3 lt:Jf6 1 7 't!rf2 ..ie6 I ll lt:Jf5
..ixf5 19 ..txf5 't!tb6 20 e4 ±.
li:Jc4
I0
10 . . . h6 I I h4 'ita5 1 2 �g3 is
promising for White. A lso 10 .. . '
ltJfH I I h3 ( I I f3 h6 1 2 h4 and
I I lt:Jf4 a5 1 2 f3 a4 1 3 a3 b5 14 lt:Ja2
1Wb6 1 5 1td2 lt:Je6 1 6 h4 are good
alternatives - Hort) I I . . . .id7 1 2
g4 �c8 1 3 <;!.lb l b5 1 4 lt:Jf4 a 5 1 5
.if5 a4 1 6 lt:Jd3 .ixf5 1 7 gf ltJ8d7
18 llhg l ..tf8 1 9 llg2 ±
Christiansen-Spassk y, Linares 198 1 .
I I . . . b5!? 1 2 lt:Jg3 a5 1 3 lt:Jce2 .id7
14 l0 f5 is Hort-lnkiov, L ugano
1 984.
-
II
12
..ixe4
h4!
de
Jl
B
out Black's centre. The conclusion
was: I ll . . . cd 19 lt:Jxd5 'it'c6 20
1Vxc6 be 2 1 lt:Jdf6+ gf 22 lt:Jxf6+
<;!.lhll 23 lt:Jxe8 .i.g4 24 lt:Jc7 llc8 25
llg5 .i.e6 26 lt:Jxe6 lt:Jxe6 27 �a5 1-0.
An impressively powerful display
by N imzbwitsch.
13 1tb3+
The queen check sets a very
beautiful trap. Also worth con
sidering is 1 3 g4 !?
13
14
lt:Jf4 (38)
�h8
JH
H
rs
1 2 . . . .i xg5 1 3 hg 1fxg5 1 4 lt:Jxe4
1tg6 1 5 f3 lt:Jf8 1 6 lt:Jf4 1tf5 1 7 llh5
1fd7 1 8 d 5 !
See Diagram 3 7
This is Nimzowitsch-Spielmann,
Bad Kissingen 1 928, the game
which persuaded Spielmann to t ry
the variation against Thomas and
Capablanca. White has clearly
used his h-pawn as a decoy to wipe
The threat now is 1 5 lt:Jg6+ ! ! hg
1 6 h5 .i xg5 1 7 hg+ .ih6 1 8 ..17
'ite7 19 �xh6+ gh 20 g7+ 'it>h7
2 1 g81lr mate. A bsol utely the only
Queen 's Gambit Declined Orthodox 39
defence (which makes Spielmann's
continuation an excellent practical
bet) is 14 . . . 'i:lf8! 1 5 d5 Wb6
(Ta rtakower).
14
This does not hel p.
�r6?
IS
hS
�dS
16
17
18
.txe7
�g6+
hg (39)
li:Jxe7
�xg6
Or 1 5 . . . h6 1 6 Wf7! hg 1 7 h6
:±± .
above game actually commenced
1 d4 e6 2 c4 i()f6 3 �c3 d5 4 .tg5
�bd7 5 e3 c6 6 cd ed etc. I have
standardised the move-order for
ease of assi milation.]
In the next game we see what
can occur if Black, by adopting a
cunning move-order, tries to
avoid my recommended line against
the Orthodox.
Korchnoi-Karpov
1 3th game, Merano 1981
e6
c4
dS
2 lbc3
.i.e7!? (40)
3 d4
39
B
40
w
If now 1 8 . . . h6 1 9 Jbh6+ gh
20 Wf7 :±±.
18
19
20
21
22
.i.e6
�8
1Ixh7+
cd
dS
�xdS
llc8+
�bl
WgS
22 . . �f8 23 llhiH .tg8 24
.
llxg8+ �xg8 25 lt:lf6+ :±± .
23 lldhl
Wxg6
24
llh8+
1 -0
After 24 . . . 'it-17 2 5 Wxb7+
mates.
[ For reasons of strict historical
veracity, I should point out t he
This move-order. physica lly
stopping White's intended .i.g5 , is
intended to outlaw the Exchange
Variation with �ge2, as seen in
Spielmann-Thomas. White's most
usual response is 4 �0. bu t, as we
shall see , it is still possible to
employ an aggressive fo rm of the
Exchange.
4
s
cd
.tr4
eel
c6
40 Queen 's Gambit Declined Orthodox
6
e3
.tfS!
Otherwise White plants his
bishop on d3, seizing control of
the b 1-h 7 diagonal and obviously
stands wel l . I n Timman-Karpov,
Bugojno 1978, White then succeeded
in i mplementing an attack similar
in many respects to Spielmann
Thomas, viz: 6 . . . lt:lf6 7 .td3 0-0
8 1fc2 lil:e8 9 l0f3 l0 bd7 1 0 ��0
l0f8 I I h3 .te6 1 2 'iPb l lil:c8 1 3
l0g5 b 5 ( 1 3 . . . .i.d7! 14 .te5 h 6 1 5
l0f3 c 5 i ) 1 4 .i.e5 h6 1 5 lt:lxe6
l0xe6 16 g4 lt:ld7 1 7 h4! ±.
7
g4!
The best way of keeping up the
initiative. E xchange of light
squared bi.
s hv 7 .td3 .i.g6 is,
·�¥�
of course,• ee �-le
m comparison.
�
7
.te6
Black would like to play 7 . . .
.tg6, but it fails for tactical
reasons: 8 h4! threatening g5 to
imprison Black's ki ng's knight,
as well as h5, trapping Black's
queen's bishop, 8 . . . .i.xh4 9 1fb3
b6 10 lil:xh4 1fxh4 I I lt:lxd 5 ! :i±.
8
h3 (41)
A lso i n teresting is Tony M i les'
idea 8 .i.d3, e .g. 8 . . . lt:ld7 9 1ff3
h5 10 h3 hg I I hg .bg4 1 2 lil:xhll!
or I I . . . lil:xh I 12 1fxh I .txg4 13
1fh8 'iPfll 14 .i.h7 lt:lf6 1 5 �e5
l0xh7 16 'tlhg7+ etc. M iles
Georgadze, Po rz 1 98 1-2, went
instead: 10 . . . 'tlt'b6 I I 0-0-0 hg 12
hg lil:xh I 13 'tlhh I g5 14 .i.g3
.i.xg4 1 5 litd2 .i.e6 16 1fh2 0-�0
1 7 l0b5 cb 1 8 lil:c2+ with a
dangerous attack.
41
H
l0f6
8
A lternatives:
a) 8
.td6 9 l0ge2 l0e7 10 'tlt'b3
.i.c8 I I .tg2 l0g6 12 .txd6 1hd6
1 3 h4 l0a6 14 g5 lt:le7, Korchnoi
Spassky, match (2) 1 968. Here Tal
suggests 15 0-0-0 lt:lc7 1 6 e4! with
advantage to White.
b) 8
hS!? a vigorous attempt to
disrupt White's kingside structure:
9 gh ltJd 7 10 lil: h2 lt:ldf6 I I .i.e2,
Korchnoi-lvkov, Budva 1 967. Black
must now reson to I I . . . lLlh6 1 2
litg2 tl::l f5 1 3 i.g4 c;Pf8 t o hold his
g-pawn.
•••
...
9
lf:lf3
11
'.t'fl
0-0
The time-consuming 9 ... tl::l b d7
10 �d3 ll::l b6 I I 1fc2 ll::l c 4,
Botvi nnik-Petrosian , match ( I H)
1963, can be pa rried by 12 .txc4
de 13 e4 or even 1 2 ltJg5 �d7
13 e4!
I 0 .i.d3
cS
Anificial castling is more efficient
than I I 0-0, since White may need
his king's rook on h I for attacking
purposes. It also helps to keep the
h 3 pawn continuously protected.
II
12
�g2
�c6
llc8
Alternatively, 1 2 . . . cd 1 3 �xd4
�xd4 14 ed �d7 1 5 •c2 :!
Botvi nnik-Petrosian, match ( 14),
1 963.
13
llcl
Also 1 3 de J.xc 5 1 4 �e2 �e4 1 5
Il c l J.e7 1 6 �fd4 �xd4 1 7 �xd4
1rb6 18 Wb3 i ( Bronstein).
13
lle8
A possible im provement is 1 3 ...
a6 to prevent �b5.
14
IS
16
17
18
de
l()bS
�rd4!
llxc8
ed!
18
19
lUc7
19
20
li:lxe6
21
22
llel
gS
J.xcS
J.f'8
�xd�
1hc8
The quiet 22 1t'e2 is also strong
and gives enduring pressure.
/()e4
22
23
.g4
23
24
2s
lle2
f3
26
J.eS
26
27
a3
28
g6?
Of course not 23 .i.xe4 de 24
lhe4 •d5, when Black has freed
hi mself at the cost of a mere pawn.
.i.b4
llf'8
•n
Karpov launches a counterattack.
After all, he does control the f-file
and Whi te's kingside is porous,
the penalty paid for the aggressive,
but loosening, 7 g4.
Not 26 fe •xf4.
�d2
�d3 (42)
I ndeed , 1 8 l0xc.J4 maintai ns a
piece blockade over Black's J Q P,
but now White's knight on b5
threatens both to capture o n a 7
and to invade on c7.
.d7
Here I 9 �xa 7 lla8 is pointless.
llc8
re
Black would prefer to play 20 . . .
11t'xe6 but i t fails t o 2 1 iLf5. The
text, however, leaves Black with a
wea k pawn at e6 on an open file.
a6
In a tense situation Korchnoi
overlooks a trick . Tal later gave as
best 28 .ig3 ! ll:Jh4+ 29 �h2 �fH
30 �h I �h4 3 1 .ixh7+ �xh7
32 1fxh4+ and llf2.
28
hg
. Hoping for 29 ab? �e l + 30
lhe l •fl+.
29
.tg3!
.te7?
A disastrous move, immediately
losing material, though the position
is so complicated that the saving
line is almost impossible to detect.
The only correct pat h is the
resource 29 . . . ltlh4+ ! ! e.g. 30
•xh4 1hf3+; or 30 .txh4 •n + 3 1
�h2 .td6+ 32 ..tg3 lilfl+; or
30 �h2 ltlf3+ 3 1 �h i lt'lh4 ! ! (43)
and now:
a) 32 lilf2 � f5 3 3 i..x f5 g f; or
33 ab ltlxg3+ 34 •xg3 Wxfl.
b) 32 llc2 •n+ 33 •xn llxf1 34
.txh4 .id6 threatening . . . llxd3
and ... ll xh3+.
c) 32 ••h4 •n+ 33 lilg2 •xd3
34 ab llfl + 35 �h2 •d I with a
draw; or 35 llg l Wf3+ 36 �h2
We2+ 37 lilg2 1M I and White
must take perpetual check on d8
and h4.
The ga me wound up: 30 lilf2!
ltlel + 31 �h i •xfl 3l ..txfl ltlxd3
33 •xe6+ lilf7 34 .ig3 ltlxb2 35
•xd5 .tf6 36 ..td6 g5 37 Wb3
.ixd4 38 \!re6 g6 39 •e8+ 'it>g7 40
.teS+ .txeS 41 •xeS+ �h7
Adjourned and 1-0. 42 1hb2 a5 43
a4 ll f5 44 1hb7+ 'itr'g8 45 'i!lg2
'i!lh8 46 'i!lg3 'i!lg8 47 'it>g4 'i!lh8 48
•d7 'i!lg8 49 \!rxf5 gf+ 50 'i!lxg5
�17 5 1 'ltxf5 'i!lg7 52 �e5, with a
simply won king and pawn
ending. A splendidly contested
game which does enormous c redit
to both players.
6
_
_Queen's Gambit: Slav
1 d4. d5. 2 c4 c6 .
up-to-the-minute openings magazine
which can continually register and
u pdate the changing fashions and
emergent resources.
Here I suggest that Wh ite can
maintain a modest pl us with the
unassuming Exchange Variation.
It is not the sa me as the Exchange
against the Orthodox Queen's
Gambit Declined, since the pawn
structure in the Slav remains
A resilient defence to the
symmet rical after the exchange on
Queen's Gambit, which mainta ins
d5, so the margin of the draw is
Black's central bastions without
increased. Still, with White's
temporarily locking in the black
development edge, symmetry can
queen's bishop. One of Black's
often be an advantage and t he
Exchange Slav is a trusted weapon
ideas is to� a su��!�?r brand of
Queen's Gambit_ Ac'=.��d afte r · i n t he hands of Grandmasters
Portisch, Andersson and Seirawan.
3 lLlf3 ll:lf6 4 lLlcJ de. White is now
Chief exponents of the Slav from
obliged to play 5 a4 (weakenmg
Ji4}_!o rega!_!!_li_i!_ E_��n . s l��} �e:-= Black's point of view are exgambit 5 e4 fal ls short of being
World Champion S myslov and
Soviet G M Yusupov.
totall y convincing. An aiten1alrve
For the entire Slav complex see
h �i r-raising _!�ne can arTse-a �t��.
BCO, pages 77-!!8 .
4 li:)cJ e6 5 .ig5 de 6 e4 b5 7 e5 �6 8
.ih4 g5 9 lt:l xg5 and now either
Alekhine-Euwe
9 . . hg or 9 . . lLld5!? generating
AVRO 1 938
"unfathomable complications. n
I d4
dS
yo-u wa nt to keep abrea."s tOJSu i:h
volatile regions of chess theory, it
2 74
c6
3 00"
is probably wise t o subscribe to an
lOft
44
w
__
.
.
-
44 Queen's Gambit: Slav
4 �
s liJcJ
6 Af.4
7 .,el (45)
cd
'ik6
-JJi
.,
<15
B
J.. e7 I I ..te2 0-0 1 2 0-0 e5 1 3 l0b5
a6 14 l0d6 ..tg6 1 5 de l0 xc5 1 6
llxc5 J.. x d6 1 7 J.. xd6 .,xd6 1 8
.,d4 ll fd8 1 9 ll d l a 5 20 .,c3
lldb8 2 1 b3 ...b6 22 J.. b5 f6
23 llc l , G aprindashvili-Mokry,
Reggio Emilia 1 982-3. Black's
moves have been exceedingly
natural, but White still has a
dominating position.
8 �e5!
9 -..&41 (46)
"Like a good many sy mmetrical
va riations, this is less innocuous
than it appears at first sigh t . I n all
symmet rical openings the danger
for Black lies in the fact that he
cannot indefinitely continue to
imitate W hite, and is liable to find
himself confronted with a position
in which White makes a strong
aggressive move and B lack is
forced to make a very humble
reply . . " C. H .O'D. Alexander,
Alekhine's Best Games, 1938-45 .
.
7
a6
He wants to forestall il:lb5.
I ncidentally, contemporary sources
indicate t hat Euwe avoided 7 . . .
e6, upholding t he symmetry,
because he was afraid of 8 .,b3.
The current view, though, is that
after 7 .. . e6 White once more
keeps the initiat ive with 8 l0e5 ! ,
e.g. 8 . . l0d7 9 il:lxc6 b e 1 0 llc l
.
Jlc8
46
8
A highly typical th rust . I t
is noteworthy that Botvinnik,
Korchnoi and Kasparov have also
developed a liking for this son of
move, see, for example, the games
Korchnoi-Karpov and Kasparov
Y.urtaev in this volume. When
weighing up an unusual, aggressive
move of this nature, it is also
worth bearing in mind Alek hine's
own advice: ' if your opponent
makes some strange move or
moves which will give him a good
game if you continue to play i n
Queen's Gambit: Slav 45
standard fash ion, it is usually
necessary to react yourself with
some exceptional solution.'
Here, for example, 7 . . . a6 may
be considered a little strange, but
if White had contin ued urbanely
with 8 .td3 or even 8 �e5 lilc8
9 .td3, Black would soon have
escaped the worst.
9
.td7
As so often in such situations,
the natural retreat 9 . . . .tg6 is no
good, e.g. 10 h4! h6 I I lt:lxg6 fg
1 2 ..td3 ±±; or 1 0 . . . lt:lxe5 I I de
�e4 12 Wa4+ Wd7 13 Wxd7+
�xd 7 1 4 lt:lxd5 llc5 1 5 ll d l ±±. If
9
�xe5 1 0 fg �c4 I I Wb3.
e6
10 .tg2
•.•
11
0-0
h6
12
-'..:3
hS?
To stop White playing g5.
But this is sheer panic induced
by White's declared intention of
establishing a 'super- Pillsbury
Attack' with f4 . Better, though
miserable, is 1 2 . . . �e7, e.g.
13 l0xd 7 Wxd7 14 f4 ±; or 13 f4
lt:lxe5 1 4 de followed by f5 .
13
lt:lxd7
li:lxd7?!
A fter this, Alekhine's vigorous
play proves that Black is objectively
los t. Stiffer resistance is offered by
the very humble 1 3 . . . Wxd7 ! 14 g5
lt:lg8 ±.
14
gh
Not just winning a pawn.
Alekhine also opens the g-file for
later occupation.
14
ts
.to
liJf6
.tb4
16
llcl
'iti>f8
a3
.txcJ
li.Je7
Black's three aims now are:
reduce material; complete develop
ment; remove his king to safety. It
is a measure of Euwe's prowess
(he was World Champion from
1 93 5-37, having defeated Alekhine
in their 1935 world title contest)
that in spite of the opening
disaster he more or less succeeds
in these aims. Only very brilliant
play by the World Champion
(Aiekhine had regained the title
from Euwe in a 1 937 rematch)
retains his advantage.
Not 1 6 . . . 0-0 1 7 �h l ! and llg l ,
followed by h6. As Alexander
points out, White's extra h5 pawn
is not just a token doubled rook's
pawn, but a dangerous advance
guard which constantly t hreatens
to disrupt Black's king posit ion.
For this reason, Euwe keeps his
rook on h8.
17
18
19
20
lhc3
'itb3
be
Or 20 . . . b5 2 1 a4!
21
Wb6
liJc8
22
23
24
\WcS+
Ubi
b6! (47)
'it;>g8"
bS
Driving off White's q ueen
before he can increase the pressure
with llb l .
29 1re5+.
28
Or 28
cd
o••
lt:lxd5
ed 29 ll b6 ti.
29
�hi
29
30
31
lilgl +
�h7
Wa3! (48)
Not 29 .txd5? ed 30 ll b6 1fg4+
with perpetual check. Moving the
white king eliminates t his while
preparing to launch the rook into
action via g l .
I njecting fresh and decisive
energy into the white attack. Euwe
has acco mplished everything pos
sible within the confines of hi�
meagre resources, but Alekhine
now blows him out of t he water
with four beautifully timed pawn
thrusts: h6, a4, c4 and fi nally e4.
The point of 24 h6! is either to
weaken the e5-h8 diagonal after
24 . . . gh (as occurs in the game) or
to lure Black's rook from its
defensive station on t he back
rank, when the knight on c8 will
lack adequate protection. Thus if
24 . . . lhh6 25 a4! lt:la7 (25 . . . ba 26
ll b8 ti) 26 Wb6 ba 27 1ha6 a nd
there is no answer to llb7.
"24
25
26
27
.te5
a4!
c4
gh
�g7
ba
Here 27 llb8 does not work , but
the text is deadly, prising away
Black's final central bast ions.
27
li:Je7
Or 27 . . de 28 .txf6+ �xf6
o
liteS
am deeply impressed by the
way that Alekhine finally smashes
Black's resistance by withdrawing
his king to h I , a nd his queen to a3.
There is now absolutely no
antidote to t he threats of e4 and
1fd3+. If 3 1
llc3 32 1ff8 tlo
The game concluded: 3l ooo llg8 32
00.
e4 lilxg l + 33 <t>xg l 1lb5 34 ed
1tbl + 35 �g2 1t'g6+ 36 'it>fl Wbl +
37 �g2 1fg6+ 38 .tg3 lt:lxd5
39 .txdS ed 48 Wxa4 h5 41 h4 1-0.
"An original and forceful game"
(Alexander).
Queen' J Gambit: Slav 47
Portisch-Ljubojevit
Indonesia 1983
dS
d4
I
2 c4
_£§.
cd
3 cd
�
4 lt::l c 3
ltJr6
s .tr4
Or 5 . .76 6 e3 .td6 7 .i xd6
-
.
1Vxd6 8 f4 ! followed by lt::l f3 with
a menacing grip over the central
dark sq uares .
e6
6 lt:lf3
6 . . . tfoola:n .tf51! tria4 Wd8 9
e3 lt::l d 7 10 .ib5 e6 I I 0-0 .ie7 1 2
li[ c l lilc8 1 3 .ixc6 be 1 4 �e5
�xe5 15 .ixe5 0-0 16 ltJc5 U ±
Ande rsson-Torre, Wijk aan Zee
19 84.
1 �49)
49
8
9 .id3 .td7 10 0-0 1rb6 I I a3 lt::l a 5
12 b4 lt::l c4 13 lt::le 5 lilacl!! 1 4 .i.xc4
de 1 5 .ig5 with some pressure,
Portisch-Pet rosian, Candidates'
Quarter Final 1 974. Also good is
15 ltJc4! followed by lt::l c 5. Another
line is Capablanca's 7
.ie7 8
.td3!? ( not bothering to preserve
the queen's bishop from . . . lt.':lh5)
!l ... 0-0 9 0-0 lLlh5 (9 . . . .id7 10
lt::le 5 lilc!l I I '@f3 a6 1 2 tfh3 b5? 1 3
lt::l x d5 ! ! ed 14 lLl xd7 'ihd7 1 5
.ixh7+ �h& 1 6 .if5+ .±± i s a trap
well worth adding to your repertoire.
Of course, if you prefer Portisch's
8 h3 to Capablanca's 8 .id3 , you
cannot t ry for it, si nce h3 is not
available for White's queen)
1 0 .te5 f5 I I lilc I lt::l f6 1 2 .txf6 gf
with a sharp struggle ahead,
Capablanca-Lasker, New York
1 924.
...
0-0 :.
8 J.g3
9 J.d3
a6
9 ... lile8 is Portisch-Petrosian,
M oscow 1967 (see final chapter)
9 . b6 10 lil c l .ib7 I I 0-0 .ixg3
. .
1 2 hg 'ire7 is Black's most solid
defence.
10
7
J.d6
Black can strike out with 7 .
ltlhS hoping to acquire the bishop
pair, but after 8 .ig5 tfb6 9 i.b5
h6 10 .ih4 g5 I I lt::l c 5! is ±. The
major alternat ive is 7 . .tc7: 8 h 3
( to meet . . . lt::l h 5 w i t h � h 2) !l . . . 0-0
..
..
llcl
Note that White plays as many
useful moves as possible before
committing h imself to 0-0
10
,lxg3
A really dangerous exchange
while White can still utilise the
open h-file. Perhaps Black should
revert to the . . . Il e8 idea.
11
12
hg
e4 !
g6
Rupturing the centre activates
all of White's pieces for i mmediate
transfer to t he kingside.
12
13
J.xe4
Or 1 3 . . . lbxe4
planning lbeg5.
14
1Wd2
de
i.d7
14
1Wh6
g4 (50)
19
20
21
22
23
lbxe4
1We7
He could fight against 1Wh6
with 14 . . . h5 15 1Wh6 ltJg4, but it
looks like an extreme measure.
15
16
The winning move. Black cannot
capture on d5 ( 1 9 . . . ed 20 �xd5)
since t h is would again invite the
terminal check on f6, so W hite
wins a pawn and retains some
i nitiative.
llfd8
de
.i.xb7
i.xa6
0-0 (51)
fiJe7
.ixe6
llab8
llxb2
51
B
50
B
A singularly aggressive position
to have arisen from an Exchange
Slav. True, W hite often aims for
dark-square control in this variation,
but here Portisch would appear to
have over-achieved in this respect.
16
17
18
1Wh4
19
d5!
g5
"tlrfS
"tlrg7
�e8
Of course 1 8 . . . �xe4 19 �xe4
presages a deadly check on f6.
A flexi ble attitude to castling is
the hall mark of many great
masters. White's h-file attack has
yielded its harvest, so Portisch
now sensibly consolidates.
lla8
23
Or 23 . . . .txa2? 24 1fa4 .ie6
25 1Wa3 ::1:±.
24
.i.b5
lbd6
24 . . . .ixa2 25 i.xe8 llxe8 26
1Wa4 ::1:±. The game concluded:
25 a4 liJef5 26 'tff4 llc8 27 lbe4
�xe4 (27 . . . llxc l 28 lbf6+ 'it>fl!
29 'tfxc I ) 28 llxc8 .ixc8 29 1fxe4
lbd6 30 1We7 lbxb5 31 lld1 h5 32 gh
1txh6 33 lld8+ 'i&>b7 34 ltJg H 1 -0.
Part II
Indian
Defences
5!
8
Chapter
7: Old I ndian 2
. . .
Chapter 8 : K i ng's I nd ian 2
Ch apter 9 : Grtinfeld 2
C h a p ter 1 0 :
...
d6 3 lt:Jc3
. . .
g6
3 lt:Jc3 j.g7 4 e4 d6
g6 3 �c 3 d5
:Nimzo-lndian 2
. ,.
e6 3 liJcJ .tb4
4
�J. ..
7
Old Indian
1 d4 li:Jf6 2 c4 d6 3 li:Jc3
white cen tre.
From t he diagra m , Black has
Jhree moves: 3 ... eS allows W hite
to retain the initiative by exchanging
q ueens. d isplacing B lack's ki ng;
3 ... .i.f5 4 g3 followed by .i.g2
exploits the exposed position of
Black's queen's bishop t o conquer
the centre and gain time; while 3, .
l!Jbd7 4 e4 e5 5 d 5 (Spassky's
method ) leaves Black cra�ped.
W hite's plan will then be to castle
q ueenside and attack Blac k ' s k ing
on the opposite side of the board.
Note the similarities with Spassky's
way of handling the Czech Benoni.
Currently t he Old Indian is
favoured sporadically by Danish
G ra ndmaster Bent Larsen a nd US
G ra ndmaster Lubosh Kavalek; in
BCO it is covered on page 50.
H istorica lly, the Old I ndian was
the prec u rsor of the Ki ng's I ndian,
fa voured i n the late 1 9th cent ury
and early 20th century by innovators
such as Ch igorin ( when not
adopting the Defence w hich bears
his own name) and N i mzowitsch
( before he invented the defence
which bears his ) . This was at a
period before master players had
realised that it was possible to
Spassky-Ka�alek
pe rmit White the central latit ude
Montreal 1979
conferred by the development of
d4
Blac k 's king's bishop to g7 (the
l!Jf6
K i ng's I ndia n ) . The Old I ndian
2 c4
d6
is usua lly distinguishe·d-·byihe
3 10c3
l!Jbd7
iln
l gORJTack's. k.lni'sbistioo
Other ways of implementing the
on e7, a more passive square than
Old I ndian a re :
a) 3 . . . eS 4 de d e 5 'W'xd8+ <,$·xdl.S
g7, smce I rom there the bishop can
exert little pressure aga_m_st� 6 l!Jf) l!J fd7 (6 . . . l!Jbd7 7 Il: g l !
j?OsllW
Old Indian 5 1
followed by g4) 7 .td2 c6 8 g4 (54)
55
8
54
B
This is Averbakh's idea, intending
h4, g5 and .th3, gaining space on
the kingside a nd exchanging light
s4uared bishops to ac4uire domin
ance over squares such as e4 and
f5 - 8 . . . a5 9 g5 �a6 10 h4 �ac5 1 1
.te3 f5 1 2 gf gf 1 3 0-0-0 'it>e8
1 4 .th3 at least !. Spassky
Gheorghiu, Siegen 01 1 970. White
fol lows up by seizing the g-file
with his king's rook .
b) 3
..trs 4 g3 ! (ra ther than 4 f3
which is usually given ) 4
eS 5
.tg2 c6 6 d5! with the makings of a
tremendous space advantage for
White. O r 4
c6 5 .i.g2 � bd 7
6 e 4 .tg6 7 lt!ge2 e 5 8 h3 1lrb6 9 0-0
0-0-0 1 0 d5 ± A lekhine-Janowski,
New York 1 924 .
c) After the amorphous 3
c6 I
suggest 4 e4 e5 5 d5 or 4 . . . �bd7
5 � [3 e5 6 d5, broadly emulat ing
Spassky's recipe.
...
...
...
...
4
5
e4
. d5! (55)
e5
A n unambiguous declaration of
intent . White will ossify the
centre , castle quecnside and then
try to blast B lack's king on the
opposite wing. Black can scarcely
consider . . . 0-0-0 himself, since his
internal comm unications are in
adequate to bring over sufficient
ddensive pieces to shield his king,
either on c8 or b8.
5
Jle 7
Move-order now makes little
difference, since the contours of
the position have been fixed, but
here is one slightly divergent
example; 5 . . . �c5 6 1rc2 a5 7 .te3
.te7 8 h 3 0-0 9 g4 c6 10 0-0-0 cd I I
..txc5 de 1 2 ed ! Peev-Zeitlin,
Pernik 1 977. If 5 ... g6, heading
bac k towards a King's I ndian ,
White can play 6 ..te2 ..ig7 7 ..ig5
with a grip, since Black cannot
easily throw off the pin without
weakening his kingside (7 . . . h6
8 .i.h4 g5 9 .tg3 leaves f5 exposed,
and Black does not even have . . .
lll h 5 a t h i s disposal).
52 Old Indian
0-0
ILleS
aS
56
w
To secure his knight against
eviction with b4.
9
.teJ
b6
10
h3
h6
If 9 . . . lL!g4? 1 0 .ixc5 de I I h3
winning material.
Or 10 . . . g6 I I g4! The point of
Black's l i th move is to fight for
kingside dark square control (g5,
f�. h4) impeding White's aggressive
designs in that sector.
lLlh7
I I 0-0-0
lL!gS
12
g4
1 2 . . . g5 is much too passive,
a nd would give White a free hand
with a later h4, e.g. after lldg l .
1 3 lL!d2
A false trail .
13
14
�h7
�f3
lL!el !
lOgS
liJxe3
g6 (56)
IS
Finding a more profitable route
for the k night.
�h7
IS
Black is willing to draw after
16 liJf3 liJg5 , but there is no need
for White to conclude peace yet.
.lgS
16 ll:lg2
An exchange which is 5trategicaUy
desirable for Black, in that he
gives himself extra room in which
to manoeuvre and eliminates the
more agile of White's bishops.
.ixe3+
17 h4
18
·
Black adopts a classic defensive
posture, with his pa wns abreast of
each other on the third rank. He
can thus meet h5 with ... g5 or g5
with . . . h5, blocking position in
either case.
19 :dn
.ld7
20 wbl
1We7
11
f3
wg7
Bronstein calls Black's set-up
"the fire-resistant Kavalek wall".
Actually, that is t he maxi m u m it
can achieve. Black's position is
going absolutely nowhere. The
standard break-out attempts . . . b5
and . . . f5 are out of the question,
so he m ust just sit a nd wait for
White's winning try. The next few
moves resemble siege warfare Spassky lines up his mangonels
and assa ult troops more or les:. as
he pleases, while Kavalek maintains
vigilance along his defensive 'wall',
shifting his troops to any area
where an im mediate thrt:at arises.
lL!f6
22 l:l: fl
llae8
2J 9d2
Old Indian 53
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
lUh7
.tdl
.tel
l:lb8
l:lbc8
lUb5
l:lfb2
l:lh8
l:lgl
l:lhfl
g5
hS
lt:lf5+! (5 7)
J7
B
calamities, Kavalek resolves to
return the material for a measure
of freedom .
32
33
34
35
36
fe
g6
fg
gh
e4
We5
fg
l:lf4
.tg4 (58)
5il
w
At last White storms the
fort ifi�:ations. This is the only way
to make progress, si nce playing
for f4 would, given the absence of
dark-squared bishops, tend to
u ndermine White's own posi tion
and give Black a splendid pie�:e
outpost on e5. It is worth
comparing the ope ra tions here
with Gl igoric-Petrosian in Part V
where White's f4 breakthrough
was feasible.
30
31
32
ef
l:lhg2
gf
'ti;>h8
White is now ready to smash
through Black's position with his
g-pawn. Another plan that comes
to mind is f6 fo llowed by We2 and
f4. In view of these i mminent
An interesting psychological
situation has arisen, and a common
one in chess . The White assault
has ended, but he is now one good
pawn (plus one doomed pawn)
ahead in material. So, White has
to overcome Blac k's cou nterplay
and adjust himself to a mental
framework of consolidation, rather
then aggression. Not everyone can
handle such i mportant transitions!
I t is also i nteresting, from a
positional viewpoint, that the
position in the diagra m could
have arisen from a crude assault
by White, involving a bru te-f<_? rce
onsla ught with f4. The diffe rence
is that, although Bla�:k's forces
have occupied t he weakened dark
54 Old Indian
squares (e5/f4), White's more
subtle conduct of the assault has
netted him material gain.
I give the technical part of the
game in brief; t he important th ing,
of course, is for White to e xcha nge
queens:
37 a3 Il:cf8 38 'W'd4 lil 8 f7 .19
'W'xe5+ de 40 �c3 '.t>xh7 41 'i!;>a2
lLld7 42 Il:d2 lilf2 43 llgg2 llxg2 44
lhg2 ll:lf8 45 b4 ab 46 ab \t'g7 47
c5 be 48 be li:Jg6 49 lih2 �1'8 50
.ia4 Il:f6 51 'i!;>b3 Il:f3 52 �e4 'i!i'e7
53 Il:b2 lH7 54 d6+ ed 55 ed 'i!;>f8 56
Il:d2 .id7 57 i.xd7 lixd7 58 'i!;>d5
'i!;>e8
1 -0.
I give another example to show
the typical style of attack.
Diagram 5!!a is timer Khan
Solomo n, 2nd Commonwealth
Championship, Hong Kong 1 984.
5Hu
w
t6
17
18
19
li:Jf5!!
er
fg
'W'gJ
�r
hg
li:Jxg4
ll:lxr5
'8xg4+
'W'g3
h5
ttlg7
r5
1 9 . lLl f6 20 h5 <Jih7 2 1 h6 li:Jge8
22 liLdg l liLg!! 2J 'W'g7+ ! ! li xg7 24
hg+ �gK 25 liL h K mate.
. .
20
21
22
1 -0
22 . . . <Jihtl 23 h6 li:Je8 24 liLdg I
±± .
8
King's Indian Defence
-t·�4- lL'lf6.2 .c4.g6 3 tbc3 $.g/;.� e4.g6
The King's I ndian is a tangled
pri meval forest , in which it is
frighteningly easy to lose one's
pa th. There are so many different
ways of meeting it, leading
to vas tly varied structures a nd
scenarios. I f you choose one that
does not correspond to your own
preferences and strengths the
results can be fa tal - for exa mple,
the Fou r Pawns Attack (5 f4 0-0
6 lilf3 c5 7 d5 e6 8 i.e2) is not for
the faint-hearted, while the Orthodox
(5 .te2 0-0 6 lt:lf3 e5 7 0-0 lilc6 8 d5
lt:le7) requi res t itanium nerves a nd
a lot of precise analysis to weather
Black's inevitable kingside attack.
My feeling is that the main
points to bear in mind when
figh ting the K I D a re to blockade
the black position, clamp down on
the freeing breaks . . . b5 (after
Black has established a pawn on
c5) and . . . f5 (after Black has
played . . . e5) and, above :� ll , to
prevent the liberation of Black's
Draconian bishop on g7.
The chief blo(;kade system
against the K I D is the Samisch,
from the diagram: 5 f3 0-0 6 .td
o r lg5. The problem with the
Samisch is that it is very llea vily
documen ted indeed (see BCO,
··pages 1 28- 1 3 1 , if you wish to delve
further into t his) and, therefore,
hard to lc:arn. The system I have
chosen with 5 2hge2 strongly
resemble s the Slim•sch, and may,
on occasion, tranpose into branches
of it. It has the same blockading
8lins, but is relatively unusual.
The reader 'can, therefore, rely
on his own judgment and i nstinct
to a much greater degree, secure
in the knowledge that his opponent
will not be able to hit him with
reams of devastating memorised
analysis.
5 �ge2 is given, in brief, in
BCO, page 1 24.
56 King's Indian
Boh'innik-Smyslow
U SSR Ch a mpions hip 1941
Notes marked " " by Botvinnik
I d4
2 c4
3 IL!cJ
4 e4
5 :�pl
6
IL!f6
16
.A,g7
' d6
... d (60)
acs
"It would seem that this move
has not been met with before in
this particular position. It is not
easy for Black to free himself from
the pin. The solution S myslov
found is too pri mitive."
Theoretical obsenation
After � . . . e5 White also has the
option of transposing to an
i nteresting version of the Samisch
with 6 fJ. The advantages of such
a treatment are that Black has
already committed himself to
defence based on . . . e 5 (which
eliminates many of his more
exciting choices, such as . .. lL!c6 or
... a6) while White .Ul �taini the
possibility of developing the queen's
bishop to g5 rather than e3. Here
are
some
samples:
Benko-Fischer, Portoroi Inter
zonal 195H: 6 . . . 0-0 7 .i.g5 ed 8
�xd4 �c6 9 �c2 .te6 10 .i.e2 h6
1 1 .i.h4 g 5 1 2 .tf2 lt:Je5 ( 1 2 . . .
lt:Jh5) 1 3 � e 3 c 6 1 4 0-0 1Wa5 1 5
1td2 llfd8 1 6 llfd I a 6 1 7 a 4 1Wc7
1 8 a5 tl ±. Fischer now played the
misguided 1 8 . . . c5? when 19 h4!
left no doubt of White's superiority.
Sanguinetti- Fischer, S antiago
1
959:
6 ... 0-0 7 .i.g5 c6 8 1td2 11ra5
.
9 d5 cd 10 cd ( 10 �xd5 9xd2+ I I
Wxd2 �xd5 1 2 cd ;!) 1 0 . . . .td7 1 1
g4 �a6 1 2 lOgJ �c5 1 3 llb 1 1Wb4
14 lL!b5 ! and once again the
exchange of queens favours White.
Fischer actually went on to lose
both of the above games .
Petrosian-Najdorf, Bled 196 1 :
6 . . . c6 7 .i.g5 �bd7 8 d 5 l0b6 9
�c l cd 1 0 cd 0-0 I I a4 a6 1 2 lL!b3
.i.d7 1 3 a5 �c8 14 .td3 b5 1 5 lt:Ja2
l0e7 16 ttlb4 White has a great
superiority on the q ueenside , and
eventually conducted a successful
campaign in the c-file. However,
Petrosian d id have to overcome
serious black counterplay based
on . . . lt:Jh5 and . . . f5. In view pf
this, White might have considered
the prophylactic 1 6 g4!? as a
preliminary measure before turning
his full attention to the q ueen's
flan k .
Tal-Tolush, U S S R C h , M oscow
King's Indian 5 7
lL!bd7 7 .i g 5 c 6 8 Wd2
1957: 6
0-0 9 d5 c5 1 0 g4! a6 I I l0g3 �e!!
1 2 h 4 Wa5 1 3 .ih6 lL!f8 1 4 h5 Wc7
1 5 .id3 b5 1 6 0-0-0 be 1 7 .ib l ! a
standard device to halt Black's
counterplay. If anything, the extra
pawn on c4 obstructs Black's
counterattack: 17 ... .ih8 1 8 �dg l
�b8 1 9 l0f5 and White has a
m urderous attack.
...
6
7
Ah4
h6
.:S
8
.i&3
�bS
.. Black weakens his f5 square
without any compensation."
9 .
de
.. Precisely as the result of this
exchange and the subsequent
forced manoeuvre, White occupies
Black's f5 square."
9
1 0 . •xd8+
I I 0-0-0+
1 2 �dS
1 3 10e3
de
�dl
. 10d7
c6
�c7
.. Black develops according to a
well known system, preferred by
U kranian masters in the King's
I ndian Defence, but in the given
case Black's weakness on f5 gives
White the advantage. " [Hotvinnik
is referring to the variation : I d4
l0f6 2 c4 d6 3 lLJc3 e5 4 de.]
1 4 li:lfS
.tfl (6 1)
"In all probability Black did not
guess White's inten tion or he
would have played 1 4
.i.f6 or
1 4 ... lL! xg3."
...
61
w
IS
l hd7+!
"Of course, W hite wins only a
pawn as yet for the sacrifice of the
exchange, but his positional su
periority gives him good chances."
IS
'it'xd7
" 1 5 . . .txd7 is followed by
16 .i. xe5+, which would cost
Black a piece."
.
16
17
.txeS
.i.c3
f6
" Another good move was 1 7
..td4. Now Black must defend his f
pawn in view of t he threat 1 8 g4. "
17
Ill
�e6
g4?
"The advantage can be thrown
away with one stereotyped move.
After 18 h4! g4 19 lL!ed4+ �f7 20
.i.e2 (20 . . . �g8 2 1 c5) there would
be no doubt of White's superiority.
This variation was pointed out to
me after the game by V . Rago zin,
while G. Levenfish also noted it
in 64" (a well k nown So9iet
theoretical journal).
Ill
10f4
58 King's Indian
19
20
gf
li'lxf4
Ad3
"When W hite played 1 8 g4 he
planned to open up the game
subsequently with e5 and to take
advantage of t he adverse king's
open position. But, unfortunately,
the king position turns out to be
quite secure."
20
" Preparing . . . Ab4."
21
22
a3
eS
23
er.
aS
.icS
�f7
" If im mediately 22 . . . Axf2 t hen
23 l H l ."
"Whereas White's 1 8th move led
to t he loss of advantage, this move
brings with it loss of equality.
Any other move (23 lii:f l or 23 f3)
would have been bet ter. Black
now brings about an advantageous
endgame."
23
24
.ixfS
.ixfS
"24 gf llad8 25 �c2 Ad4 is no
better for White."
Axf2 (63)
24
6)
w
·
"Smyslov took good advantage
of White's errors. He retained
the material advantage and, by
simplifying the position, obtained
serious chances of wi nning. Wh ite
has no way of saving his f-pawn or
avoiding t he exchange of bishops.
For instance, 25 h4 llad8 26 A xa5
b6 27 Ac3 Ad4 is obviously in
Black's favour."
Ah4
25 ll fi
"There is no point in 25 . . . .ic3+
since in order to win the f6 pawn
Black would have to attack
with the bishop."
26 AdJ ?!
" White should have chosen 26
�c2 .ixf6 27 llxf4 .ixc3 2M �xc3
�g7 29 c5 and t he white king
occupies a bet ter position than in
the actual con tinuation . "
llf8
26
27
cS?!
27
28
2930
31
llxf4
Axf6+
AfS
q;,c2
"Here too, 27 q;,c2 was the better
move ."
Axf6
�g7
llxf6
llff8
llfe8
"Black again takes subtle advan
tage of White's further virtually
imperceptible mistakes (26 Ad3
and 27 c5). Now he provokes b4,
after which the white king, cut off
on the fi rst two ran ks, is in a
dangerous position. White is com
pelled to lose a tempo in order to
King's Indian 59
secure the safety of the h-pawn."
32
33
h4
b4
JileS
ab
"This is more consistent than
33 . . a4 since the black rooks are
.
becoming very active. However, if
Black does not succeed in exploiting
the bad position of the adverse
king, his winning chances will be
al most nil since White has no
weak pawns. "
34
ab
cb 46 .i.d7 lin 47 Axb5 lilbl + 48
'ittc4 licl + 49 ¢'b4 lle7 50 .i.d3
lie3 51 hS �h6 52 lidS llh3 53
c.t>bS lldl 54 Ae4 Yl - Yl in view of
the continuation 54 . . . Jihd5 55
Axd5 lhh5 56 .i.xb7. (Most of
the notes to the above game are
based on those of Botvinnik in his
book of selected games. )
Ma tulovic-Dednarski
Palma de Mallorca 1967
I e4
g6
2 d4
.i.g7
3 c4
d6
4 ll:Jc3
�f6
5 ll:Jge2 (65)
lild (64)
04
w
65
B
The ending which follows is of
no compelling relevance to the
opening variation. Black clea rly
has some winning chances but
these are nebulous. I n the con
cluding p hase of the game, which I
give in brief, Black missed 37 . . .
lilacS! 38 lild4 lilh3, maintaining
some hopes of a win.
The remaining moves were:
35 �b2 lild8 36 c.t>c2 lia8 37 <&b2
lic2+ 38 c.t>b3 liae8 39 lid4 ll8e7
40 lid6 lif2 41 J.d3 lif6 42 lid4
lien 43 J.fS h5 44 b5 hg 45 .i.xg4
In the preceding game, Botvinnik
Smyslov, I e xamined the con
sequences of 5 . . . e5. I n this game I
survey the alternatives:
a) 5
ll:Jc6 6 d5 ll:Je5 7 lll g3 0-0 8
J.e2 c6 9 f4 �ed7 1 0 J.e3 cd I I ed
a5 1 2 0-0 ll:Jc5 1 3 f5 J.d7
14 Wd2 ;t; ± (space advantage)
Keene-J assc m, Dubai 1 984.
b) 5 ... ll:Jbd7, evidently playable as
...
60 King's Indian
a transpositional route to main
l i nes, but in Barcza y-Ortega ,
Berlin 1 967, Black went rapidly
astray 6 li:lg3 c5 7 d5 a6 H a4 h5
9 .ie2 h4 10 �fl �h5 I I .ig5! ± .
c) 5
c6 6 li:lg3 a 6 ( 6 . . . h 5 ? ! 7 h4
e5 H d5 'it'b6 9 1Vc2 .ih6 10 .ixh6
lhh6 I I .ie2 llhH 1 2 li:lfl t
( Fori ntos); W hite will play 0-0
a nd t hen proceed with llab l and
b4 ) 7 a4 a 5 8 .ie2 li:la 6 9 0-0 0-0 I 0
.ie3 Wc7 I I f4 e5 1 2 c5! ± Szabo
Lambert, K re ms 1 967.
d) S
cS 6 d5 e 5 7 li:lg3 (7 de frees
Black's position) 7 . . . h5 (7 . . .
lLlbd7 H .ie2 a 6 9 0-0 h5 I 0 .ig5
li:lfll I I 'ttd 2 li:lllh7 1 2 14 lD xg5 1 3
fg li:l h 7 1 4 h 4 with an aggressive
post u re fo r White, who has f-file
pressure com bined with sacrificial
ideas agai nst h5 at his disposal Barczay-Bogdanovic, Sarajevo I IJ6H)
8 h4 �h7 ( t h reat . . . .if6 ) 9 li:lge2
li:la6 10 .ie3 �c7 I I aJ 0-0 1 2 li)c I
li:lf6 1 3 .ig5 Well 1 4 .ie2. As I can
personally testi fy ( the ga me is
Forintos-Keene, Caorle 1 97 2 ) it is
very difficult for Black to generate
coun terplay here.
-
...
,
...
s
0-0
The most popular !)Joice.
6
li:lg3
but not the line I advocate in this
book) 9 . . . a6 1 0 a4 lleH I I .if4
1!tc7 1 2 'ttd 2 li:lbd7 1 3 0-0 b6 1 4
.ih6 .i h8 1 5 h 3 . At this moment,
Szabo- Pe t rosia n , Sarajevo 1 972
ended as a draw, but I believe this
had more to do with the relative
stat us of the players than with the
position (good G M happy to draw
with ex-world champion). Black is
still c ra m ped and has no obvious
coun terplay
while White has
dangerous plans such as .id l -c2
plus f4-f5 at his disposal . There is
obviously no need to agree to a
draw if you reach this position
yourself as Wh1te.
·
7
dS (66)
61i
H
The ga me move here is 7 . . . c6,
st riving for c li le counterplay , but
the re are plenty o f others:
a) 7
�e8 8 h4 ! f5 9 ef gf 1 0 i.g5
1fd7 ( 1 0 . . . li:lf6 I I ..id3 e4 1 2 ..ic2
Wi t h fJ to come ; or 10 ... ..i f6 I I
11t'h 5 ph1s ..id3 and 0-0-0) I I .id3
li:la6 12 �h5 li:lc5 1 3 ..ic2 a5 1 4
'tte 2 ;t a t least - Wh ite will castle
-
eS
6 . . c5 7 d5 e6 (7 . . . li:la6 ll .ie2
.
li:lc7 9 0-0 llb8 I 0 .ie3 a6 I I a4 b6
1 2 ll b l .id7 1 3 b4 ± Fo rinto s
Polgar, H ungaria n Ch 1 961S-9)
8 .ie2 ed 9 ed (9 cd is playable,
transposing to the Modem Benoni

,
...
King's Indian 6 1
queenside and attack with a
combination of f3 and g4.
b) 7 ... ltlbd7 8 .ie2 a 5 (8 . . . ltlc5?
.� b4! ±) 9 h4 h5 1 0 .ig5 ltlc5? and
npw Black is wiped out by a stock
sacrifice which may net you many
points i n your own ga mes:
I I .i x h 5 ! gh 1 2 ltlxh5 (6 7)
White is i ntending Wf3 and
ll:h3-g3 , w hile if 1 2 . . . ..tg4 1 3
�hf6+ and Wxg4 ::1:± . Th e main
defence is 1 2 . . . �hi! 13 f3 ! ltlcd7
14 11td2 't>g8 ( 1 4 . . . 11te8 1 5 .ixf6
ltlxf6 1 6 llJ x f6 .i.xf6 1 7 Wh6+ ±±.)
15 llJe2 1fel! 16 ltl xg7 'it;>xg7 1 7
.txf6+ � x f6 I I! Wg5+ ±± . A
valuable shot to have: in your
arsenal.
c) 7 ... �lg4 8 ..ie2 Wh4 9 lt:J b 5 !
ltl a 6 1 0 .i d 2 f 5 I I .ixg4! (only
now, when Black m ust allow a
pawn to settle on g4, reducing his
mobility and blocking his own
bishops) I I . . . fg 1 2 \te l 1fd8 1 3
b4 and then c5 ± , Forin tos-Dely,
Kecskemet 1 968.
d) 7 . aS 8 .ie2 ltla6 9 h4 ltlc5 10
h5 c6 I I .ig5 h6 12 ..teJ cd 1 3 cd
.
.
g 5 1 4 0-0 .id7 1 5 .ixc 5 dc 1 6 a4,
Szabo-Klundt, Ba mberg 1 961!; ±
i n view of Black's diseased light
squares. G ufeld give s · as a n
illustration: 1 6 . . . ltl e 8 1 7 .ib5
ltld6 18 .ixd7 11txd7 19 Wb3 and
ltlb5.
7
8 .ie2
ltla6
Or 8 . . . cd 9 cd a6 1 0 a4 ltlbd7 I I
h 4 h5 ( Black avoids . . . h5 a t his
peril, e.g. I I . . . a5 1 2 h5 ltlc5 1 3
.ie3 .id 7 1 4 ll:a3 ll:c8 1 5 1td2 and
.ih6 ± ; o r I I . . . ltlel! 12 h 5 f5 1 3
hg hg 1 4 e f g f 1 5 .ig6 ±; fi nally,
I I . . . ltle8 1 2 h5 a5 IJ ll:a3 ltlc5 1 4
.ie3 f5 1 5 .ixc5 ! de 1 6 h g h g 1 7 ef
gf II! lL!b5 lt:Jd6 19 lt:Jh5 f4 20 ..Q.g4
and then ll:ah3 ±) 1 2 .ig5 11tb6
1 3 a 5 ! (68)
White has a clear advantage ,
e . g . 1 3 . . . Wxb2 1 4 ..Q.d2 ltlc5 1 5
ll:a2 WbJ 1 6 Wa I threatening 0-0
and ll: b l . A lso 1 3 . . . 1td4 14 1tc2
\!fc5 1 5 0-0 and ll: fc l . If Black
t akes posi tional risks on 1he
q ucenside to counter W hite's
a ttack on the other wing, it is quite
62 King's Indian
clear that White can still switch
fronts to exploit such weak nesses.
This observation is further justified
by 1 3 . . . Vllc 7 14 Vlld 2 ll::lc 5 1 5 lla3
b6 16 b4 lt:lcd7 17 0-0 and llfc l ±
Forintos-Bogdanovic, Sarajevo
1 965. 8 . . . cd 9 cd lt:lbd7 1 0 h4 a5 I I
h5 lt:lc5 1 2 �g5 t ransposes to
Mat ulovic- Bednarsk i , but 1 0 . . .
h 5 I I � g5 VIlaS 1 2 iVd2 lt:lc5
1 3 0-0 a6 1 4 I!ab l Vllc 7 15 b4
-=t:lcd7 16 ll fc l again fa vours
White on the q ucenside.
9
h4
lt:lcS
hS
cd
�gS
cd
aS
9 . . . h5 once more permits the
white queen's bishop to sett le on
g5.
10
JJ
12
A good alternative is 12 �d
(stopping ... a4 ) 12 ... �d7 1 3 a4 !
llc8 1 4 ll a 3 ;t, e.g. 1 4 . . . W'b6 1 5 h6
�h!! 16 lt:lb5 planning llc3, 0-0,
Vllcl and llfc l ; or 1 4 . . . ltJe8 1 5
1fd2 f5 1 6 h g h g 1 7 e f gf 1 8 .i.g5 ± .
12
13
Vlld2
Now that Black is all ready for a
queenside blitz, I would suggest
that White reveal 0-0-0 as a feint,
and c u n ni ngly play 14 0-0! H e
then h a s powertul threats based
on f4, possibly with 'ith I as
prepara tion. Matulovic's choice is
bold, even foolhardy, castling into
Black's counterattack.
14
IS
16
0-0-0!?
'itbl
�d3
\WaS
bS
I!fc8?
Surely 1 6 . . . � x dJ 1 7 tVxdJ b4
is a dequa te for Blac k . A fter the
dilatory text, Black always appears
to be struggling, and has to rely on
a rtificial measures for his chances.
1 7 hg hg 18 �h6 lt:lb3 19 'ilrgS!
lt:lh7 20 iVe3 �f6 21 tt:'lf5! �xrs
22 ef llxc3 23 t'g fg 24 ·Wg3
(70)
.i.d7
a4 (69)
69
w
Probably in desperate t i me
trou ble, Bednars k i wuld find no
defence to White's threats: 24 ...
lt:lf8 2S .ixf8 �xf8 26 1i'xg6 llcl +
21 llxc l lt:ld2 + 28 'itc2 JileS+ 29
�1 ll xcl + 30 'itxcl 1 -0 .
9
Griinfeld Defence
1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 g6 3 liJc3 d5
71
W
The G r unfeld, introduced i n the
1 920's, is one of Black 's most
reliable defences. It does not make
any structural concessions, main
tains fl uid piece play and provides
Blac k with plenty of tactical
opport u nities, especially along the
a l-h8 diagonal. The only drawback
to the G r u nfeld is that in many
lines White establishes a powerful
pawn cent re, but such pawn
centres can also form a clear ta rget
for bombard ment from Black's
paeces.
The most popular anti-Grtinfcld
line in contemporary international
competition is the Exchange
Variation, i n its various mani
festations. There are, however,
two good reasons for not selecting
this for the repertoire: the theory
o f t he Exchange V a riation is in
such a s ta te of flux and innovation,
that a n ything I write now may
well be out of date b y t he time this
book appears. I n addition, the
Exchange is of such a fo rcing
nat u re that i f Black survives the
initial thrust, Whi te's initiative
may well burn itself out prematurely.
H ere are t wo examples in
popula r lines:
a) I d4 lt:lf6 2 c4 g6 3 lt:lc3 d5 4 tOO
i.g7 5 cd l0 xd 5 6- e4 lt:lxc3 7 be
c5 8 Jil b I 0-0 9 i.e2 i.g4! 1 0 l h b 7
..txf3 I I ..txf3 cd 1 2 cd .txd4
I ) 0-0 lt:lc6 14 9a4 llc8 1 5 .th6
lle8 (72)
72
w
A lthough W hite has the bishop
pair, 1 do not see t hat there is any
64 Grunfeld Defence
way that the powerfully centralised
black position can be breached.
More i nteresting is 10 0-0 cd I I cd
..txf3 1 2 .ixf3 ..txd4 1 3 e5 �c6
14 e6!? fe 1 5 11fb3 1lrd6 but how
convincing is it? White may regain
both pawns, but the black bishop
on d4 is still imposing.
,P.)J d4 �f6 2 c4 g6 3 �c3 d5 4 cd
lt:Jxd5 5 e4 lt:Jxc3 6 be .i.g7 7 ..ic4
c5 8 lt:Je2 0-0 9 0-0 lt:Jc6 I 0 ..te3 cd
I I cd ..tg4 1 2 f 3 ll\a5 1 3 .i.d 3 ..te6
14 d5 .txa 1 1 5 'tha i f6 16 lil: b l
_$.dU_7 ..th�_ lil:l7 I H e5 fe 1 9 'itxe5
11'b8 20 't!*xbll+ lhb8 21 .td2
..tf5! 22 .i xf5 ll xf5 23 ixa5
1xd5
C
(73)
but he was in itially responsible for
the line's modern reintroduction,
while recent t heory has been
considerably enhanced by US
I nternational Master Jon Tisdall.
Black's · counter measures are
·
much Jess definable here than m
the normal Exchange and there is
scope for penonal input. The
Romanishin Exchange is mentioned
briefly in BCO on page 27. The
main line Exchange Va riations are
covered on pages 98- 1 02.
Tisdali-J ansa
Aarhus 1 983
I d4
li:Jf6
----.2 C4
__gL,
3 Tc'3
dS
4 Ccr
_ lLJxdS
s l0f3
__!&?___
6 Wb3 (74)
w
74
8
and White is nominally better,
with two mi nor pieces for rook
and pa wn, but I doubt if he has
real wi nning chances .
Accordingly, I have opted for
a httle known brainchild of
the Soviet grand master Oleg
'
R.omanishin, from Diagram 7 1 :
4 'tf3 .i.g7 5 cd � xd5 6 9b3 .
Romanishin dtd not mvent thts,
Now B lack has to choose
oetweenthetra'dl 'llonaTC:i'r unfeid
Excha-nge-on c3 or wi thdrawal of
ffiel(-nlgfit to b6, with a consequent
direcCassault against White's d4 .
Grunfeld Defence 65
paw n . S o m e examples of t h e
former t reat ment :
a) 6 . . .
7 be 0-0 8 e3 c5 9 i. e2
cd 1 0 cd li:Jc6 I I 0-0 e5 1 2 i.a3 � e8
1 3 de �xe5 14 �ad l 2tlxf3+ 1 5
.txf3 1tb6 1 6 Wa4 ± Tisdall
Ki ng, M olde 1 98 1 .
b ) 6 . . . li:Jxc3 7 be 0-0 8 e3 li:Jd7 9
i.a3 c5 1 0 .te2 Wc7 I I 0-0 b6 1 2
·
e4! :ib7 1 3 d5 ! ± or Tfe4lt:lf6 1 3
e 5 ! 2tlh 5 ( 1 3 . . . i.c6? 1 4 ef! )
.
J4 :fc4 With a veryact i ve -position ·
·
fpr Whtte.
/()xc3
6
�b6
i.gS (75)
7
The main line. A lso interesting
..
i_s 7 e 4!?-�_8�_(r::..:�·x d4 H i.h6 ! ;
_o_r 7_ � . . Q-0 8 i.c2 i.g4 9 d5 c6 1 0
i.e3 c d I I e d i. x c 3 + 1 2 b e Wxd5
· ·
13.tx b6 tl ) 8 d5 ..txf3 9 �
Romanishin-K orchnoi, -l..lss·R Team
Ch, Tinis 1 976. Now 1 0 a4! a5 I I
i.e3 li:J 8d7 1 2 lid I 0-0 1 3 i. h 3
passively, otherwise White will
secure a grip over the centre which
can hardly be shaken. Other
examples are: 7 . . . �0 8 �d l h6 9
.th4 .tg4 1 0 e3 a5 I I i.e2 a4 1 2
'ttc 2 c6 1 3 0-0 � 8d7 1 4 h3 ..te6 1 5
e4 llc8 1 6 � fe I ( White has
defi n i tely a n nexed the centre,
while Black has been offered no
obvious ta rget for counterplay)
16 . . . i.c4 1 7 i.xc4 li:J xc4 1 8 e5!
( b isect i ng Blac k ' s position) 1 8 . . .
li:Jf8 1 9 d 5 Wbfo 20 �e2 a 3 2 1 b]
li:Jb2 22 � c l 'ira6 2 3 lld2 g5 24
i.g3 cd 25 �xd5 li:Jc6 26 li:Jd4
li'l xd4 2 7 �xd4 'ira5 28 b4 't!ta7 29
t!rd2 lii: a b8 30 lii: c 7 (preparing t he
fi nal spectacular invasion) 30 . . . c6
3 1 li'le7+ ct>h8 32 �dd7 't!ta6 33
Wd �ed8 (76)
"WCIT4lifcT-.t.
75
B
7
h6
Implementing a vigo7o'UScounter
at tack . Black should not play wo
34 li.Jg6+ fg 35 ll xg7 1 -0 ( J5
li:JJ3 36 :lih 7 + '>t>g8 3 7 lii: c g 7+ lt.tl8
38 'itc7 ±±). An a m azing ga me.
Tisda l l-Orset h , Molde 1 9 8 1_.
A nother Tisd all ga me, as W h i t e
v Thipsay, Bene d i c t i n e 1 98 3 : 7 . . .
i.cb 8 'i!t'c2 li'lc6 9 lid I li'l b4 I 0
66 Grunfeld Defence
1t'b I ll:l4d5 I I e4 lLl xc3 1 2 be 0-0
1 3 .te2 h6 1 4 .te l c5 1 5 de .t xc 3 +
1 6 'it>fl ll:ld7 1 7 .i h 6 i.g7 H ! i. xg7
'it>xg7 1 9 Wb2+ ..tig8 20 h4 Wc7
2 1 h 5 ±.
8 .-..&!!:!.
i. eli
711
w
�1tc2
10 %fill
!Eb4
Not 10 �ll:lxd4?"IJ ll:l xd4
9
i.xd4 1 2 e3 i. xc3+ 1 3 1!hc3 tl;
or 10 ... 0-0 I I d5 ll:lb4 1 2 1tc l t.
II
"iltbl_ ( 77)
77
8
IS
16
17
18
19
20
Now I I . . . c6 is insufficie n tly
challenging: 12 e4 0-0 13 a 3 ll:la6
14 .te2 ll:lc7 15 i.g3 i.bJ 16 Ild2
ll:le6 17 0-0 lLl xd 4 I H ll:lxd4 i. xd4
19 We t c5 20 ll:lb5 'it>h7 2 1 .tc5
'tireS 22 ll:l xd4 cd 23 i. x d4 t
Keene-Small, Commonwealth Ch.
M elbourne 1 983.
II
12
e3
13 -;.r1 4 dS
,tg3
a3
ab
hg
gf
Ilh2
rs
f4
fg
I h f1
.t d 3
i.xdl
I n furman-Savon, U S S R 1 970,
Black preferred to stay the exchange
d ow n : 20 . . . ll:ld7!? 2 1 i.e2 lueS 22
1tc2 1td6 23 �f I . K otov assessed
this as "equal", but iho it m ust be
a dynamic balance where both
sides ha ve chances to win.
21
"iltxd l (79)
0-0
"'1:15
"ii4
gS (78)
Violent counter mea.s-ure;i, design
ed to detonate White's imposing
cent re.
This is a curious case, where
both players seem, in a sense,
Griinfeld Defence 6 7
to be playing past each other
- White dominates the light
squares while Black controls the
dark square part of the board .
White's chances reside in a direct
assault against Black's king, based
on the key moves i.h3-e6 and
1t'h5, threatening to infiltrate on
g6 or 17 . In what follows Black has
to play very accurately to maintain
the bala nce . H ere is one attractive
trap concealed in the position:
2 1 . . . 'itd6? 22 .i.h3 'ff xb4 23 i.e6+
�h8 24 l hh6+ (80)
i.e6+
'it'h8
'ith5
1ff8
Not 25 . . . lLlxb2? 26 'itg6 1!t'f8 27
i.f5 *&8 (27 ... 1rg8 28 llxh6+ ±±)
28 llxh6 with the crushing threat
of llh8+.
24
25
26
1hg5
26
27
'it'e2! (til)
After the game Tisdall felt
26 ltJ d I migh t have offered him
better chances.
li'Jxb2
il l
IJ
HO
8
All B lack's moves have been
very natural, but now he is mated:
24 . . . i.xh6 2 5 ..h5 'it'g7 26 'itf7+
�h8 27 .tf5 i.g7 28 'ith 5+ �g8
29 i.e6+ ±±:.
21
22
23
ba
..thJ
aS!
lixa5
lLlc4
Set ti ng a final t rap: 27 . . . litc5
28 'itg6 litxc3 29 i.f5 ±± .
27
1rf6
Eventually Black has equalised ,
but it has been an uphill struggle.
The game concluded: 28 1rxf6
i.xf6 29 lLlb1 lLlc4 30 lhh6+ �g7
31 lithl lita2+ 32 'it'd3 lLle5+
33 �e3 ll:lc4+ 34 'it'd3 lUeS+
35 �e3 1!2 - \12 .
10
�Nimzo-lndian
l d4,. �r�amJ.��-c3 £b4
champions Botvinnik, Tal, Petrosian
and Spassky, as well as prominent
w
gra ndmasters such as Browne,
H ubner, Timman and Miles.
Strangely, K asparov plays it rarely
as Black a nd fares badly when he
does, but is oftt:n to be seen on the
white side.
I suggest that White should
esc ew advent ures such as 4 �.
4 f3, 4 1tb3 or 4 g) (though 4 1tc2
is quite playable) and adhere to
lnvente<.l . introduced and chamthe main lines emanating fro!!'
pioned by the great chess thinker
4 e3. In the coming middlega me he
and w r it e r A r o n Ni mzowitsch
should strive to activate h i s
( 1 !!86- 1 93 5 ) . the Nimzo-l ndian
ce nt ral pawns en masseandnot�
has beco me, perhaps, the most
widel y rt:spected defence to I d4. ·arratd of contracti ng doubled
pawns on c4 and c3, if. i n retu rn ,
It is the one I would recommend
T<nnc reade r . whe n he himselfhas -ne can perceJve adequate at tacki ng,
to fa ce I d4 . I t c re a t es positions chances on the kingside aga ins t
�.Ire nch 1 11 w ct 1 c a l and Black's kmg. White: will o fte n los;
oii
sifaicgi�- plaits-IOrooth Sldt:s, '1liCC4-pawn to an attack based
.
whe-reBta.�C<>rten gi ve� .':P� . concerted black li re powt:r fro��
bishop on a6, knight on a5 a nd
bishop pan 111 r e t u r n fo r co rre
siwnJing adv a n t a ge s •n paw n rnok on c8. But Black may have t.�
.
1nvest so m uch time: in t his siege
structure. A dy n am 1 c unbala nced
e4uahty 1s the normal ou tcome,- that the white kingside offensive
whe re both s i<.l es can play for a � �1. m the meantime, gathe
decisive momentum. I n this slate
win. I t has, not surprisingly, been
of dehcate balance and counterenth usiastically a<.lopted by World
Champion Karpov and former
balance, a well developed chess-
4f'"
,
-
-
,
�
Nimzo-Indian 69
board seismic sense ca n be most
Massive central pawn advance a
useful. I have given several Ia Botvinnik-Capablanca, A VRO
illustrative games to help in
1 938.
acquiring this asset. The Nimzo is.
I I Mating attack w&th thrust of
the f-pawn.
in fact, such an important black
I I I Attack aga i nst Black's king
defence that I have devoted more
space to it here than to any other on the q ueen s ide after ... (}.0-0.
In the fun hcr part of t his
black line ment ioned in this boo k .
The N i m zo i s examined in fu ll chapter. I will s ho w recent games
with the deferred Samisch and
in BCD, pages 1 40- 1 59. I f you
point to t he direction of current
wish to em ploy the N i mzo as
Black and White sidesteps with
investigat ions.
3 g3 (Cata lan) or 3 lll iJ b 6
(Queen's Indian) the n:aucr � h o u l d
MaHive Centre Pawn Roller
consult BCO, pages 42-46 a n d
Bot"innik-Capablanca
1 60- 1 7 1 .
A V N O 1 9.18
What I had been hoping fo r 1 1 1
t h e Kasparov-Korchnoi World
1
d4
� r6
2 _�
Ch. semi-final match, wh i�:h 1
�
J �c3
organised in london du ring t he
.ib4
'd5-4
e3
winter of 1 9HJ, was a critical test
For 4 .�6 see Res h cvsky
of the hyper-sharp 'deferreu
Fi sch c r Part V. A l s o 4 . . . ll:lc6
Sami sch (4 e3 and then aJ as
5 .id3 d5 (5 . . . c5 6 li:lc2 d 5 !?) 6 a3
appropriate and if necessary). The
de 7 lxc4 lu6 H f4 ! ;!: Keene
omens were goOd: 11 surts Kasparov's
Fedorowicz, New York 1 9M I .
razor-edge style (mating attack in
.ixc3+
5 -a3
exchange for weak pawns) and
6
..J!£..
Kasparov has recently used it
-iL"
ed
cd
7
no less than four times: v
8 -:iifJ
o:oBelyavsky tn t he S parta k ia d ,
9
ll:le2
b6
Ivanovic at N i k � i c and v Timman
An in_tcn:�
ah ernatJVCOu;tbo d
and Korchnoi himse l f at the
of
W h i te's c en t re ·�
Herceg Novi Wo rld Blitl Tourna
men l . A l l wins. aparl from a very � �k 6 _!_!!9.£�_L?f!_ I_ ! Q:!l__�l a 5 1 2
rJ li c K I ] Y a 2 lLl b7! i nt t: t:t_d i n g
fa vourable draw v Bclyav� k y .
ti ld6.
There arc three main White-win - �5��1
1 0 ..J!:.Q_
scenarios which attract players to
I I �.ixa6
the deferred Samisch:
·
'
,
____.
��
�rlg
-
70 Nimzo-Jndian
12
.ib2
A fascinating all US e ncounter,
Reshevsky-Fine, NY State Ch,
Hamilton I 94 I , reached the identical
position after Black's I I th. It was
very nearly Reshevsky's 'Immortal',
on a par with Botvinnik-Capablanca.
Since it is of outstanding interest, I
cite it up to the critical moment:
I2 Wd3 'tlt'c!! 1 3 .tb2 cd 14 cd !iJc7
I 5 lHc i �d7 16 f3 lHe!! 1 7 !iJg3
!iJe6 18 li:e l lilac!! 19 li:ad l ira4
20 li:d2 irc4 2 1 Wb I irb3 22 lt:lf5
lilc7 23 e4 li:ec!! 24 Ii:d3 'tlt'a4 25 e5
!iJe!! 26 !iJe3 tfb5 27 Ii:d2 irb3 28
li:d3 'trh5 29 lild2 'tra5 (29 . . .
11rb 3 ! ? 3 0 g 3 and f4 :t Reshevsky)
30 'trd l 'trb5 3 1 g3 g6 32 f4 f5 33
'trfJ li:d8 34 g4 lt:l 8g7 3 5 gf lt:lxf5
36 ltJg4 lil l7 37 !iJf6+ 'it7h8 38 lite I
lilxf6 39 ef li:f!! 40 lie I li xf6 4 1
a4! Wd7 4 2 li f2 li:Jc7 43 lic2 lin
44 li l c l li:Je!! 45 .ta3 li:Jf6? 46 lic8+
�g7 47 .tf8+ 'ittg 8 (83)
/JJ
w
48 'trxd 5 ! ! 'trxd5 Jor . . . !iJ xd5)
49 .i.h6+; or 48 . . . 'trxc8 49 lixc8
!iJxd5 50 .ih6+; finally 48 . . . li:Jg7
49 'trxd7 ±t. White actually
played 48 .td6+? and after
various fu rther i nexactitudes,
Reshevsky conceded the draw on
move 6 I .
12
13
Wd7
a4
life8 (84)
84
w
·
Black should play 1 3 . . . cd 1 4 cd
llfc8 with play on the c-lile. He
cannot prevent e4 i n the long run
and after White achieves this
advance he will be threatening e5
which is awkward for Black since
the knight has no retreat squares.
By leaving e8 open Black would
also prepare the long-term man
oeuvre ... lt'le8-d6-c4.
14
Wd3
IS
•c2
c4
Here Capablanca com mences a
very risky sequence to win White's
a-pawn.
And at this ju nct ure Reshevsky
could have won bri lliantly with
16
�� .
According to Botvinnik 1 6 lLlg3 !
is more accurate.
Nimzo-Jndian 71
16
lt:lc6?
17 -�€)&3
lt:la5
Botvinnik recommends 1 6
�h5 ! the point being to stop �g3.
After 1 7 . . . et'le4 White has
1 8 et'lh I followed by 1 9 f3 .
18
19
20
(3
e4
li:lbJ
1fxa4
�7
If 2 0 . . . et'l l: 5 2 1 :U. e 2 a n d White
•.
eS
wins a piece. Now Blal:k is
threatening to play 2 1 . . . et'lbc5
with adva n tage.
21
22
23
24
25
1Ul
,r4
er
f5
g6
rs
lilxf6
Ilxe t
Ile8
lit XC I
25 . . . :U. f'!! 26 1t'f4 1t'd7 27 lle6
also lea ves Black in great difliculty.
26
If 26 . . .
fg + 'o!i>xg6
'it>h6 3 1
33 �a 3 is
27
28
29
11.1
w
lle6
rc
Wf4
1fc5
31
32
et'lh5+
1lt'g5+
1t'd6+
gh
<i;>f8
�g8
The effect of White's sacrifice is
to stri p Black's k i ng of all its
defen �.:es. The ga me l:oncluded:
34 c7 We i t 35 'itifl 11t'c2+ 36 'i!.>g3
'ff'd3+ 37 �h4 1t'e4+ 38 �xhS
1i'e2+ 39 'it>h4 1fe4+ 40 g4 Wet +
4 1 'ot>h5 1 -0.
Kasparov-hanovic
Nik� ic 1 983
1
d4
et'lf6
2 c4
3 lDc3
4
e3
s --aJ
llxcb
'.!/g 7
1t'e8
11t'e7 (85)
�a3!!
.B
<,!;>17 27 ll x f6+ 'o!i>xf6 2!i
29 'it'f5+ �g 7 30 et'l h5+
h4 �gH 32 g4 11t'c6
decisive .
30
A double piel:e sacrifice which
has deservedly gone down in chess
history.
11t'x a3
30
30 . . . 11t'e8 3 1 11t'c7+ 'it>g8 32 i.e7
et'lg4 33 11t'd7 wins.
--
Very intereSti ng that Kasparov
should s uddenly opt for the
deferred Samisch which was
generally abandoned by Russian
grandmasters in the 1 950's.
.ixc3+
5
6
...
6 _-.Jl£_
-
0-0
lDc6 7 ..td3 e5 8 et'le2 d 6 9 c4
ed 10 cd cd I I �0 1t'a5 ( I I ... � 1 2
i.g5! h6 1 3 i.h4 g 5 1 4 ..ig3 et'lh5
1 5 ltl xd4 lt:J xg3 1 6 li:l xc6 b� 17 hg
W'f6) 12 .tf4 .-cs 13 lDc l ll:la5
14 i.xd6! Wxd6 1 5 e5 with the
72 Nimzo-Jndian
i nitiative, Kaspa rov-Belyavsky,
USSR Teams Ch 1 983. In this line,
8 ... e4 9 .i b l b6 10 �g3 .ia6 I I f3
.ixc4 1 2 lL!f5 0-0 1 3 lL!d6 ..id3 1 4
.ixd3 ed 1 5 1txd3 marginally
favours White, Spassky-Tal, USSR
Ch 1 958.
7
-'.d3
dS
This is n ot a real test of White's
play and has been considered weak
since the Botvinnik-Capablanca
game. Better is 7 . . . lL!c6.
8 ...£!__
�
ll'le2
b6
10 � �
II
0-0
"h6
12 lLIG3
..ixd.1
1 3 't!hd3
JC[:
14 lb2
c4
15 't!fd2
"Td7
16 llael
115 1 7 e4 (86)
9
Petrosian-Ljubojevic
NiUil: 1 983
lLlf6
I d4
e6
2 c4
3
lt:lc3
.l b4
4
e3
0-0
5
..id3
5
6
7
8
9
tt:lge2
0-0
cd
a3
ed
..ixc3?!
be
lle8
Against the move-order 4 . . . c5
5 ..id3 lt:lc6 6 lt:lge2 d5 ( before . . .
0-0) White can also try 7 c d e d 8
a3, e.g. 8 . . . c4 9 ab cd 1 0 't!fxd3
lL!xb4 I I 't1Vb5+ llJc6 1 2 tt:l f4 with
pressure against d5. Or 8 . . . cd 9
ab de 1 0 b5 cb I I ..i x b 2 , with
excel lent compensat ion.
White could already play 5 a3
here.
··
d5
c5
lL! c6
Stumbling directly into a position
where White can implement the
central pawn steamroller. Correct
is 9 . . . cd 1 0 ab de, or even 9 . . . c4!?
10 .l c 2 ..i d 6 I I f3 't1Ve7 when 1 2 e4
de 1 3 fe l"ii: d !l is n o t t o t a l l y clear.
JO
II
Now
White's
B lack
overrun
is
by
ce n t re p a w n s : 1 7 ... g6 1 8
lDh7 19 't!t'h6 lle6 20 f4 li:.e 7
21 fS gf 22 'tlt'xh5 de 23 li:.xf5 li:.xfS
24 llxf5 ll ae8 25 lie3 llg6
36. a,l l-0. lf 26 .. Jla7 27 :,Pl.
.let
�
f3 (� 7)
Black is a l re a d y i n a despe rate
s t ra t egic q u a n d a r y , since W h ite's
i m p e n d i n g e4 c a n hardly be
prevented. The most so ph i s t ica te d
defence is I I . . . b6 1 2 lL!g3 cd 1 3 cd
tt:la5 1 4 lla2 �b7, inte nd i ng . . .
li::l d 6 and . . . h5.
Nimzo-Jndian 73
need to repeat moves.
11
12
lt:lg3
13
'tld2
.td7?!
'tWaS
Or 12 . . . 1t'e7 1 3 lila2 h6 14 lle2
followed by ..ib2 and e4. This
rook manoeuvre is worth noting.
If now 1 3 . . . cd 1 4 cd 1!hd2 1 5
..ixd2 and the simplifications
favour White; e4 is still in the
offing, while W hite's bishops
control vital squares and may
even support a minority attack
based on lillb I plus e4 .
1t'a4
13
Or
17
de
. . . cd 1 8 lilb4 de 1 9 'tlf4!
'tic6 20 e5 ±±. H aving achieved
his major strategic objective,
White's play now revolves around
a series of subt le tactics .
17
18
19
fe
cd
lilb4
1t'c6
Once again, 1 9
de 20 1t'f4
1t'c6 2 1 e5 lt:ld5 22 11hf7+ �h8
23 lilh4 .
20 cd (89)
A brutal attempt to raid the
slight
weakness
of
the
light
squares in White's camp, namely
c4 u nd b3. The drawback is the
eccentric and offside station oft he
black q ueen. Petrosian is quic k to
exploit this.
14
IS
16
17
lib1
.ic2
.id3
e4! (88)
ltJaS
't!tc4
'i¥34
Of course, there is absolutely no
White has a massive mobi le
74 Nimzo-Jndian
pawn cent re , backed up by the
bishop pair and the open f-file.
The fol lowing variation shows
j ust how these accumulated ad
vantages can be transmuted i nto a
concrete win. In what follows,
note how Black is plagued by the
absence of his king's bishop: 20 . . .
]i[ad8 2 1 9f2 li[ f8 22 ]i[b5 b 6 23
]i[g5 (threa t - 9xf6) 23 . . . ¢>h8 (or
23 . . . h6 24 d5 1Wc5 25 ..ie3 1te7
26 ]i[ xg7+ �xg7 27 ..id4 with
demolition) 24 d5 9c5 25 9xc5 be
26 li[xf6! gf 27 ..ib2 h5 28 ..ixf6+
�h7 29 e5+ �h6 30 ]i[xh5 mate.
This long variation is highly
typical and instructive, and well
worth s tudy.
�xe4
20
Giving up material to smash the
white pawn duo is Black's best
chance.
21
22
lt:lxe4
]i[xe4
24
25
26
..ixe4
]i[d4
]i[xe4!
fe
9e6
9g6
27
28
l%e7
.tb5
91'2!
1'5
If 22 . . . li[f8 23 d 5 ! or 22 . . . ]i[e7
23 1th4 forking e7 a nd h7.
23 d5!
9xd5
·
II
f-Pawn Scenario
Bronstein-Najdorf
Candidates' 1 950
I d4
lt:lf6
2 c4
e6
3 lt:lcJ
..ib4
4 a3
..ixc3+
5 be
c5
6 e3
lt:lc6
7 .td 3
0-0
8 lt:le2
d6
9 e4
�e8
1 0 0-0
b6 (90)
1 1 f4
..ia6
1 2 r5
e5
1 3 f6 (91)
If 26 . . . . 9xe4? 27 9n+ wh8 28
9f8+ ]i[xf8 29 ]i[ xf8 mate.
1tn+
1 -0
I f 2 8 . . . 1Wxt7 2 9 li[fxf7 ±± . A
logical and convincing model
from the former World Champion.
B.S.Vainstein, Bronstein's bio-
Nimzo-Jndian 75
grapher, writes of this move:
"Blockade of the f7 pawn, cutting
ofT communications between Black's
kingside and queenside forces,
and the isolation of the h7 pa wn,
these are the three ideas embodied
in this sharp advance."
Black cannot take the f-pa wn:
13 . . . lt:lxf6 14 i.g5 with a crushing
pin, or 1 3 . . . gf 14 i.h6 lt:lg7 1 5
lt:lg3. Also good is ( 1 3 . . . gf) 1 4 d5
lt:le7 1 5 i.h6 lt:lg7 16 lt:lg3 .icH 1 7
lt:lh5 lt:l xh5 1 8 1!hh5 lii: e 8 1 9 llxf6
lt:lg6 20 lii: xJ7 ct>xf7 2 1 i.g5 tfd7
22 Wxh7+.
13
ct>h8
Now Black is swiftly despatched.
14
IS
16
11
18
19
1nas
20
21
dS
lt:lg3
lt:lfS
lt:laS
gf
i.c8
ef
lii: l3
lii:g8
lii:g 7
.ih6
lih3
lii:g 8
..txrs
19 ... fiJg7 fails to 20 1Wxh7+
ct>xh 7 2 1 lii: h 3+ lt:lh5 22 lii: xh5+
c;t>g7 23 i.h6+ 'it>h7 24 .if8 mate.
7
be
fiJc6
8
lt:le2!
8
9
e4
10
11
0-0
f4
i.a6
lt:laS
12
rs
f6! (92J
Here 7 . . . d5? was played in
Kasparov-lvanovic .
To this square rather than f3,
since White does not wish to block
the advance of his f-pawn. This is
the reason that White's chances in
the deferred Samisch are superior
to those he obtains in the
variation: 4 e3 c5 5 i.d3 lt:lc6 6
lt:lf3 ? ! i.xc3+ 7 be d6 8 e4 e5,
which scores consistently well for
Black.
b6
lt:l e8
Sidestepping the pin i.g5 .
Boldly ignoring White's kingsidc
demonstration. In contrast I I . . .
d6 fails t o hinder White's plan,
e.g. I I . . . d6 1 2 f5 e5 1 3 f6 ! (jj xf6
1 4 i.g5, followed by li:lg3, with
carnage - as in Bronstein-Najdorr
above.
1 -0
Timman-Polugayevsky
Tilburg 1983
I d4
li:lf6
2 c4
e6
i. b4
3 lt:lc3
4 e3
cS
0-0
5 .id3
6 a3
.ixc3+
Correctly halting the fu rther
76 Nimzo-lndian
push of White's f-pawn. I f 1 2 . . . ef
13 ef .txc4 14 f6! or 1 3 . . . 10 xc4?
14 11ra4! ±:±:.
13
10f4
13
14
'tthS?!
GM Larry C hristiansen claims
that 1 3 fe is good here.
cd
Both 1 4 c d and 1 4 fe d e 1 5 e5!
come into consideration here as
possible i mprovements.
14
IS
er?
ef
Ch ristiansen says 15 cd! .txc4
1 6 .txc4+ 10 xc4 1 7 'ttxf5 "wirh
good play for the pawn", while
Polugayevsky recommends 1 5 11rxf5!
10d6 1 6 1lrd5+ lt:ln 1 7 cd.
�d6
15
Or 1 5 . . . de 16 li'lg6! lln 1 7 llf3
threatening 1 8 'ttx h7+ �xh7 1 9
llh3+ �g8 2 0 llh8 mate. The text
prepares . . . 'tieS and seems to beat
off White's attack.
'tte 8
1 6 llf3
.txc4
17 10g6
18
19
93
B
.tf4
llh3 (93)
.txd3
The attack reaches its crescendo,
but it is bluff.
19
.txrs
20 'ttxh 7+
c;&n
21 ll g3
�e4
22 10e5+
Or 22 lle 1 lbxg3 23 llxe8
llaxe8 24 .ih6 lbe2+ 25 'i&f2 llg8
26 lt:lh8+ �e6 winning.
22
0- 1
'i&e6
Keene-Helmers
Exhibition game
Arhus 1 983
1 d4
lbf6
2 c4
e6
3 lbc3
.tb4
4 e3
cS
5 ,a3
.txc3+
6 be
lbc6
7 .td3
b6
8 �e2
0-0
On the k.ingside, Black's monarch
represents a clear target. Black
can also try to arrange . . . 0-0-0
with 8 . . . d6 but then 9 e4 1lrd7 (9 . .
.ta6? 1 0 'tta 4! i s a trap into which
Capablanca once fell against the
variation's inventor, Fritz Samisch)
1 0 0-0 .i.a6 I I .i.g5 0-0-0 1 2 lO c i !
lt.la5 1 3 l0b3 'tta4 14 lt.lxa5 'tt xa 5
1 5 'ttc 2, with advantage to White,
since the black queen is temporarily
out of action: For more on this see
Section I l l .
.
9
e4
To forestall .i.g5.
l0e8
Nimzo-lndian 77
10
0-0
.ta6
Inaugurating the standard attack
against White's indefensible c4
pawn.
II
f4
cd
I t is exceedingly risky to open
up the position like this. M ore
sensible is I I . . . f5 t hough after
1 2 ljj g 3 g6 1 3 .te3 ljj a 5 1 4 de llc8
( 1 4 . . . ljj xc4 1 5 .txc4 .txc4 1 6 llf2
ljj f6 17 1td4 b5 1 8 lld2 1tc8 1 8 . . . h5! - 1 9 h 3 1tb7 20 1te5
ltac8 2 1 i.d4 fe 22 ljj h 5 ! ! ±±
Christiansen-R . Rodriguez, Mos
cow IZ 1 982) fS ef ef 1 6 cb ab 1 7
c5! .txd3 1 8 1txdJ 6c 1 9 c4 �f6 20
llad I followed by .td2-c3 White
still has a plus in my opinion. Also
worth considering is the con
tinuation of Tisdall-Kudrin, Gaus
dal l 98 3 : 1 3 ef ef ( l 3 . . . gf 1 4 .te3
ltla5 1 5 de ltlxc4 16 .txc4 .txc4 1 7
llf2 is p romising for White, whose
queen's bishop will ra ke Black's
kingside from d4) 1 4 de be 15 .i.e3
d6 16 .txf5 gf 17 1td5+ lii: l7 1 8
1txc6 .txc4 1 9 lii: fe I 1Wc8 20 1111
lilbll 2 1 lld I 1ta6 and now best is
22 1th 5 !
12
13
cd
f5!
14
l!J(4 (94)
94
B
14
15
16
e5
lilc8
At the cost of a pawn White
enjoys a free hand to throw all his
pieces into the assault against
Black's king.
16
17
18
19
.txc4
llf3
.txc4
ltlxc4
ed
lii: h3
ljj eS
I f 1 9 . . . h6 20 .txh6 wins.
20
21
22
ltJaS
f6
White threatened f6 fol lowed
by .tg5.
Tranposing into t he position
whid1 could have been reached in
Timman-Polugayevsky after the
recommended 14 cd!
�d5
1th5
22
1txh7+
.tr4
lii: fl (95)
q;,n
lii: c6
78 Nimzo-Indian
This allows a quick finish but it
is hard to see a constructive move
for Black, e.g. 22 . . . d6 23 .!xeS de
24 Wg6+ �g8 25 Ilh7 with the
devastating threat of •hs and
Ilh8.
23
24
1L'hS+
�g8
li:Je7 maite
Kasparol-Yurtaev
Spartakiad May 1 98 1
1
li:Jf6
d4
e6
2 c4
3 li:Jc3
.!b 4
4 e3
0-0
5
.!d3
dS
6 cd
ed
7 li:Jge2 (96)
96
B
Kasparov's move-order in the
opening is quite strange and seems
to bemuse his less experienced
opponent. It evinces a superficial
si milarity with the old Reshevsky
variation: 1 d4 li:Jf6 2 c4 e6 3 li:Jc3
.!b4 4 e3 0-0 5 li:Jge2 d5 6 a3 .!e7
7 cd ed, but the crucial difference
is that White has already developed
his king's bishop to dJ.
�bd7
7
A perfectly acceptable move
in t he Reshevsky line, but here is
seems out of place. I nstead, Black
should put more pressure on the
centre wit h 7 . . . cS.
8
9
0-0
f3
c6
cS
A mending his previous move
displays definite signs of confusion.
However, after the normal 9 .
Ile8 Y urtaev doubtless feared
10 e4, with a central initiative for
White.
.
10
a3
cd
11
12
ed
li:Jf4
J.e7
li:Jb8
13
g4! (97)
.
N ow 10 . . . .!xc3 I f be cedes
White a great advantage, since
Black would have squandered a
tempo ( . . . c6-c5) only to surrender
the two bishops, strengthen White's
central pawn roller and misplace
his own queen's knight.
At last Black recognises the
futility of having developed the
knight on d7, and decides to re
route it to c6, from which square
he can also threaten White's d4
pawn. Sadly, t hough, B lack has
lost so much precious time in the
opening that Kasparov can now
floor him with a few well-aimed
blows .
Threatening to knock away the
props of Black's d-pawn with g5.
Nimzo-lndian 79
18
19
20
f4
•n
rs
g6
b6
20
21
22
23
24
f6
lbel
l:leS
•e3
.ic6
24
2S
26
27
28
J.e2
ab
J.xhS
g6! (99)
Naturally, White does not
capture on d5, which would only
invite trouble along the a 8-h l
diagonal. The standard f-pawn
thrust ensures White's advantage.
Interestingly, this aggressive thrust
(g4) often features in Kasparov's
games.
J. d6
13
14
IS
16
17
'ii?h l
gS
J.xf4
l:le8
J.xf4
lt:lhS ('18)
l:lb7
•d6
l:ld8
White's winning plan is straight
forward: play his bishop to e2 and
then destroy Black's kingside with
J.xh5. That was the point of 2 1 f6
(the culmination of White's f-pawn
offensive) - to strand Black's
k night.
bS
b4
l:lxb4
gh
J.xb8!
A very fine move indeed . I t
breaks a n umber o f excellent rules
about not giving up the bishop
pair, not swapping an active piece
for a passive one etc . . . but
Kasparov has clearl y perceived
that the increased momentum of
his attack fully justifies the
exchange.
l h b8
17
.
A neat combination finishes off
the game. I f 28 . . . fe 29 l he6 wins
at once, so . . .
80 Nimzo-lndian
28
29
lhe6
hg
fe
30
1Wb6
l::t b 7
O r 29 . . . 1rxe6 30 'tlrh6 with
mate to follow on g7.
1-0
White wins with 3 1 l::t g l rt>n 32
'tlrg6+ rt>f8 33 'tlrg8 mate and there
is no other sensible defence at
move 3 1 .
Preparing . . . .la6, . . . �a5 and
. . . 0-0-0. The immediate 9 . . . .ta6
is met by the embarrassing 1 0
1ta4.
10
11
12
e4
.ta6
.l gS
0-0-0
�cl ! (101)
III Black tries to play ... 0-0-0
( Attack against Black's king
on the queenside)
Geller-Lisitsin
Ch 1 9�S
� f6
d4
e6
c4
..tb4
�c3
.ixcJ+
a3
cS
be
e3
� c6
d6
.idJ
� ge2
b6
USSR
1
2
3
4
s
6
7
8
An important position which
can a rise from a variety of move
orders (4 e3 c5 or 4 e3 b6).
9 0-0
'tlrd7! (100)
I mproving on an earlier game in
the same event, Geller-Spassky,
which went 1 2 �g3 ? h6 1 J .lxf6 gf
14 �h5 cd 1 5 cd �xd4 1 6 �xf6
1re7 1 7 1ra4 ( better was 1 7 �g4
followed by ll:le3) 1 7 . . . .lb7! 1 8
ll:lh5 l::t g 8 1 9 Wd l f5 ! 20 l::t e l (101)
/ 00
w
20 . . . 1rh4 2 1 f4 e5! (stronger than
winning the exchange with 21 . . .
1txe l + 2 2 1he l li.JfJ+. Now
22 l::t f l is met by n . . . fe 23 i.e2
Nimzo-lndian 81
�f.H H) 22 lite I ef 23 .i.fl 1txe I !
24 Wxe l ltJf3+ 2 5 � � xe l 26
llxe I f3 ! and Black soon won.
12
li:la5
12 ... .i.b7 1 3 a4 a5 was possible,
but the b6 pawn would be a
permanent target.
12 ... cd 1 3 cd ltJxd4 1 4 a4 ltJc6
15 liJb3! gives White value for the
pawn, with a5 to come.
13
14
ltJb3
ltJxa5
't!fa4
'li/xa5? (103)
24
't!fc2
.i.d2
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
cd
.ic2
e5
i.e I
a4
h4
f4
c4
cd
l!J e 4
ltlg5
.ib7
lL!e6
.ic6
.i.g3
1td2
h5
1tc2
e6 ( 104)
29
30
31
32
33
.id6
.ie7
ll:fbl
34
35
36
h6
dS
U n thema tic, but While was
threatening ll: fb l followed by
lil:b5 and trapping the queen.
25
26
27
28
29
.i.d7
¢>b7
lil:c8
f6?
/04
B
Better was 1 4 . . . 'li/xd I 1 5 lil: fxd I
ba, but after 1 6 e5 de 1 7 de h6 1 8
i.xf6 gf 1 9 e f White has good
winning chances in the ending.
15
16
rs
Black has no counterplay and the
central pawn advance is decisive.
24
ltJc7
37
105
B
i.f3
.cl
t!ia3
.id6
aS! ( 105)
.ic6
ltJe8
¢>a8
lil: b8
1!ta6
..., 7
ltJc7
ll:hd8
82 Nimzo-Jndian
Preparing the final breakthrough.
Black ca nnot afford to a llow the
opening of the a-file.
37
38
39
a6
i.f4
bS
11t'c8
ll b6
39 . . . ll d � loses to 4 0 11t'd6 lt:lxa6
41 .ixd5 � b6 42 �xb5! �d8 43
�xb6 �xd6 44 �bxa6 ±±:: .
40 •e7!
lt:lxa6 ( 106)
/06
w
.i b7
41 11t'xg7
42 11t'xf6 b4 43 1re5 1rc6 44 cb
lt:lxb4 45 e7 �g8 46 f6 1re8 47
�xb4 ! �xb4 48 1!re6 11t'c8 49
1!rxc8+ �xeS 50 f7 1 -0.
Reshev!>ky-Santasierc
US Ch New York 1 951
li:lf6
d4
I
e6
2 c4
3
li.)cJ
i.b4
b6
4 e3
After this move, White may not
need to play a 1 s i nce Black often
exchanges voluntarily on c3.
.i a6
5 lt:lge2 !
The main line. Alternatives are:
a) 5
.tb7 6 a3 i.e7 7 d5 t space
advantage. White can continue
with g3 and .tg2 or si mply lt:lg3
and .te2.
b) 5 ... lt:le4 6 1rc2 .ib7 7 a3
.ixc3 + 8 lt:lxc3 lt:Jxc3 9 1rxc3 0-0
1 0 b3 d6 I I .ib2 li:ld7 1 2 .id3
(sacrificing the g-pawn) or 1 2 0-0-0,
both ;!; since B lack has little t o
show for White's aggressive
bishops, and hardly dare capture
on g2, when given the chance.
c) 5 ... cS 6 a3 i.a5 7 llb l .
Korchnoi-G urevich, US Open,
Pasadena 1 983, continued: 7 . . .
1!t'e7 8 .id2 0-0 9 lt:lg3 liJa6 10 d5
lt:Jc7 I I 1rf3 .ixc3 1 2 .ixc3 ed 1 3
cd �e8 1 4 lt:Jf5 ±.
6 lt:J g3 (107)
•..
107
B
6
.txc3+
Or:
a) 6 ... hS 7 h4 .ib7 8 ..id2 a6 9 1rc2
d 5 1 0 cd lt:Jxd5 I I lt:Jxd5 .ixd2+ 1 2
1!rxd2 1rxd5 1 3 �ac I lt:Jc6 1 4 .ie2
0-0-0 1 5 .if3 and Black's position
is uncomfortable, Geller-Keres,
USSR Ch Tiflis 1 959.
Nimzo-lndian 83
b) 6 ... 0-0 7 e4 ltle6 (7 . . . d5 8 cd
.lxfl 9 'ii>x fl .lxe3 10 be ed 1 1 e5
ltle4 12 f3 !) 8 .ld3 e5 (8 ... d5?! 9
cd .lxd3 1 0 Wxd3 ed 1 1 e5 l0e4 1 2
a3 J.xc3+ 1 3 be f5 14 ltle2! ±
planning f3) 9 d5! .lxc3+ 10 be
lt!a5 1 1 .,e2 c6 1 2 lt:lf5, with the
makings of a kingside attack.
7
8
be
J.a3!
d5
I used to like 8 •o . but have
now come to the conclusion that it
offers White very little.
8
1Wc8
Fischer once played 8 . . . de? !
(Black v Portisch, S iegen 01 1 970).
It is playable, but exceedingly
risky after 9 .e4 .,d7 10 .te2 ltlc6
I I .,c2 0-0-0 1 2 0-0 followed by
lilfd 1 and d5 if possible. N ormal is
8 . . . .t xc4, though Kasparov has
recently shown a n improved way
for White to handle this, in
Kasparov-P. Wells, London/Acorn
Clock S im ul, 1 984: 9. ·J.xc4 de 1 0
e4 1Wd7 1 1 0-0 1Wb5 1 2 Wc2! (the
new move superseding the old
1 2 d5?! which does not work)
1 2 . . . ltl bd7 13 f3 h5 14 lilfb 1 1Wa5
15 J.c l h4 16 ltlfl 1Wh5 1 7 a4 a6 1 8
.,e2 h3 1 9 g4 1ltg6 20 ltlg3 0-0-0 2 1
•xc 4 a 5 2 2 .tf4 c 5 2 3 �f5 �h8
24 .tg3 ±±.
IJ
ltlh5!? ( 108)
An interesting decision. One
might expect 9 cd .txf l 10 lil xf1
( 10 c;i;>xfl ? .,a6+) but Reshevsky's
move is deeper . . He eliminates
Black's most active piece and
prepares to deploy his own queen
on the kingsidc dark squares, in
concert with the bishop on a3 .
9
10
•xh5
ltlxh5
1Wd7
11
cd
•xd5
12
.g4
g6
13
14
J.xa6
0-0
Or 10 . . . de I I .,g5! forking e7
and g7.
1 1 . . . J.xfl ? 12 de ! or 1 1 . . . ed?
1 2 .,e5 + .
I f 1 2 . . . lilg8 1 3 .,h4! White's
clever manoeuvres have per
manently prevented Black from
castling kingside and induced a
general debility of Black's dark
squares.
ltlxa6
0-0-0
The only refuge for Black's
king, but Reshevsky proves it is
not a safe residence.
15 1te2
c;i;>b7
1 6 .te7! ( 109)
Economy of execution - the
bishop strives for a square "where
84 Nimzcrlndian
fiJc7 26 ll b7 cd 27 1Wb2 ±±.
24
109
B
it will exert maxi mum pressure"
( Reshevsky). At the same time,
White unblocks the path of his
a-pawn which can now press
forward against Black's king.
ll d7
16
17
.i.f6
l:lc8
18
a4
1!fa5
"The q ueen IS not a good
blockader" (Nimzowitsch), but
there was no other blockader i n
sight.
c6
19 llaJ
Digging in; 19
c5 is too
loosening and atten uates Black's
defences along the h l -aS diagonals,
e.g. 1 9 . . . c5 20 llb l lt:Jc7 2 1 1Wt1+
q;>b8 22 .i.e5 ! ± .
20
21
.i.e5
c4
liJc7
Keeping the kn ight from d S.
21
22
23
c5
i.g3
ll:\e8
f6
e5
Desperately hoping to exclude
White's bishop from the attack. I f
2 3 . . . be 2 4 lib I + 'it>a8 25 llab3
25
26
cb
de
llbl
27
1llg4?
ab
fe
lla8 ( 1 10)
This looks like a time-trouble
error, failing to notice Black's
coming resource. After 27 l:l ab3!
l:la6 28 1lrb2 White increases the
pressure to intolerable proportions.
27
l0f6!
28 "W'f3
Suddenly White sees that the
seemingly crushing and probably
intended 28 1re6? fails to 28
1lrd5! 29 1rxf6 1rd l + .
1td5
28
29
30
31
1re2
l:lab3
h3
1Wa5
l:la6
White could st i ll play 3 1 1rh2,
but he has already let Black's
k night onto a more active post.
The text avoids t he back rank
tricks which foiled White's previous
attempt. "Always a good idea
when there is no particular
Nimz�lndian 85
hurry." (Reshevsky)
31
�e4
It seems reasonable to transfer
the knight to c5, but W hite has a
tactical refutation. Still, with
Black's weak pawn on e5, his
unstable king position and White's
powerful bishop against the rootless
knight, Black should lose anyway.
lt:lc5
32 1Wg4
33
-'.xeS!
hS
A s haft of hope, since White's
queen must be deflected from d7,
and the rook on b3 is en prise.
34 1Wx g6! (I l l)
A ll is clear. I f 34 . . . lt:Jxb3 3:t
1We8 ! threatening 1Wxd7 and 1Wb8
Ill
B
mate. The game concluded: 34 ...
1Wxa4 3S 1We8 :c7 36 J.xc7 <Sxc7
37 1We7+ 1 -0.
Apart from one minor inaccur.tcy,
a logical, compelling and instructive
game studded with neat tactical
points.
Part III
Gambits and . . . cS Defences
ll2
B
Chapter 1 1: B udapest Gambit 2
C hapter 12: Benko Gambit 2
Chapter 1 3 : Czech Benoni 2
. . .
Chapter 1 4: Modern Benoni 2
6 e4 g6
. . .
. . .
e5 3 de
c5 3 d5 b5
c5 3 d5 e5 4 lbc3 d6 5 e4
. . .
c5 3 d5 e6 4 lbc3 ed 5 cd d6
11
Budapest Gambit
1 d4 lLlf6 2 c4 e5 3 de
Hardly a true gambit, since
attempts by White to cling to his
extra pawn can expose him to
certain dangers. True, White
players have gained some impressive
victories by defending the e5 pawn
at all costs, such as this steamroller
by Yugoslav GM Svetozar Gligoric,
one of the world's leading exponents
of I d4 - Gligoric-Westerinen,
Venice 1 9 7 1 : 3 . . . lt:Jg4 4 .tf4 lt:Jc6
5 lll f3 .tb4+ 6 lt:Jc3 1re7 7 1rd5
.txc3+ 8 be
See Diagram 1 14
8 ... 1ra3 9 :tile I 1rxa2 I 0 h3 lt:Jho
I I e4 lt:Jg8 1 2 c5 1ra3 13 .ic4 li..l d 8
14 .id lt:Je7 15 1rd l b6 16 0-0 be
1 7 1fd3 1ra5 18 lilb l c6 19 lil a l
1!t'c7 20 .txc5 lt:Je6 2 1 .td6 1!t'd8 22
li..l d4 li:Jg6 23 lt:Jxe6 de 24 f4 f6 25
We3 aS 26 Wc5 .td7 27 f5 and
Black , who has been spectacularly
helpless for some time, now
resigned. O f course, his troubles
stemmed from the foolhardly
manoeuvre . . . 1ra3 and . . . 1fxa2,
destabilising his queen, just to
regain the irrelevant white a-pawn.
If we return to the critical
position after 8 be, it is pretty
obvious that Black should now
decide to stay a pawn in arrears,
but lift his cramp with 8 . . f6 ! 9 ef
lt:lxf6 10 ._d3 d6 I I e3 lt:Je4 12 i.. e2
0-0. Here the eminent Polish
grandmaster, Akiba Rubinstei n ,
advocated 1 3 Wc2 (BCO, page
50), assessing White's prospects as
.
88 Budapest Gambit
superior, but with White's unwieldy
pawn constellation and Black's
active pieces, there are s t ill plenty
of pitfalls.
The approach I recommend in
this section is less a mbitious, but
succeeds in main taining a slight
but clear plus, without imposing
too much of a strain on the white
position. The st rategy is to give
back t he e5 pawn in return for
control of the d5 square, an
excellent post for the white
queen 's bishop on b2 and the
chance of annexing the bishop
pair, by tracking down Black's
king's bishop wi t h t he white
queen's knight. One advantage of
my recommendation is that all of
White's moves are si mple and
natural, so there is no need to rack
one's brains for half-remembered,
risky 'refutations' when faced
wit h the Budapest.
Keene-Haugli
Gausdal 1983
d4
lt:lf6
I
e5
2 c4
�g 4
3 de
A lso possible is 3 . . . lt:le4, the
Fajarowicz Variation. A fter 4 � f3
.i.b4+ 5 i.d2 .i. c 5 6 e3 �c6 7 lt:ld
lt:lxd2 8 'itxd2 0-0 9 lt:ld5 aS 1 0
.i.e2 l:t e 8 I I \!tc3! Black will have
to struggle to rega in his pawn . A n
important principle operates here:
the Fajarowicz is very u nusual,
tactical a nd t ricky. But White
stays ahead with natural and
sensible moves. The principle is,
when faced with a rare, tactical
l i ne, especially for the fi rst time don't panic!
4
�f3 (J J 5)
4
.i.c5
After 4 . . . d6?! 5 ed .i.xd 6 6 lLlc3
leaves Black without compensation
(but don't fall into the trap 6 g3?
lt:lxf2! 7 'ii>xf2 .i.g3+ H). Alter
natively, 4 . . . lt:lc6 5 e3 .i.b4+ (5 . . .
.i.c5 transposes t o the column)
6 .i.d2 .i.xd2+ 7 'itxd2 lt:lgxe5 8
lt:lxe5 �xe5 9 .i.e2 0-0 1 0 llJc3 d6
I I O-O b6 ( 1 1 . . . ..te6 1 2 b3 ;!: ) 1 2 f4
lt:lg4 1 3 .i.f3 l:tb8 1 4 lLlbS a6
1 5 lt:ld4 ± due to the holes
in Black's q ueenside (K nezevic
M estrovic, Y ugoslavia 1 980) .
e3
5
lLJc6
6 ..te2
lDgxcS
7
0-0
White can also delay committing
his king to this side of the board,
although there is no need to be
Budilpest Gambit 89
nervous about it, as we shall see.
The alternative is 7 /Oc3 d6 8 a3 a5
9 b3 'O xf3+ 10 gf <tle5 I I .i.b2
.i.d7 1 2 /Oe4 'fle7 1 3 Wc2 f6
14 0-0-0 .i.c6 1 5 llhg l 0-0-0
1 6 /Oc3 :t.l ± Franco-Aguila,
Argentina 1 982.
7
<tlxf3+
7 . . 0-0 8 a3 a5 9 �c3 lieS 10
�xeS lb xe5 I I b3 d6 12 .i.b2 t
gives White his standard positional
advantage - pressure on d5.
8 .i.xf3
'trh4
A bold attacking try, quite in
the style of those who are
attracted by the Budapest. However,
such adventures should make
little i mpression if White continues
solidly. 8 . . . ltJe5 9 .ie2 d6 or 9 . . .
0-0 would transpose into the note
above.
9 .i.e2
This retreat will be necessary
anyway, as soon as Black plays the
inevi table . . . lbe5 .
.
hS
9
Continuing in the risky style
exemplified by his previous move,
but if he does not, . . . Wh4 will be
pointless.
10
II
lbc3
lbdS
lbeS
11
12
h3
.id6 (1 1 6)
As so often in the Buda pest , the
occupation of t his square by a
white piece spells positional disaster
for Black.
lbg4
To my total amazement , my
opponent informed me after the
game that this was a known
theoretical position. It had actually
been recommended as winning for
Black in a 1 982 monograph on the
Budapest, w ritten by a three-man
team comprising Staker, Glasscoe
and Stayart. White, however, has
committed no detectable error so
far, but has developed his pieces
calmly and efficiently. Over the
boa rd , it did not take me long to
spot the refutation of Black's
scheme.
13
r4!
c6
Now White threa tens to capt u re
t he knight, but if 1 3 . . q-,h6
14 c5 ! ±±. Or 1 3 . . . lb f6 14 c5!
�xd5 1 5 cd c6 16 e4 with
overwhel ming advantage. Black
cannot develop his queenside
pieces, his kingside is riddled with
wea k nesses and White dominates
the centre .
.
14
lDc3 ( I l l)
90
Ill
8
Budapest Gambit
This j ust nets a clear piece.
Black ca nnot parry the double
attack against g4 and d6. Black's
position is now resignable. The
game concluded: 14 ... .ie7 IS hg
hg 16 .ixg4 11rh2+ 17 ct>fl .ih4+
18 o;i>e2 11rxg2+ 19 o;i>d3 bS 20 cb
..Q.f6 21 .il3 1lrg6 22 .ie4 1lrg3 1-0.
12
Benko Gambit
1 d4 tt:Jf6 2 c4 c5
1 /8
w
I do not advise White to accept
the Benko Gambit. After 4 cb a6
5 ba .txa6 6 lt::l c 3 d6 Black enjoys
unhindered, harmonious develop
ment, plus two open files to blast
away at White's q ueenside pawns.
The standard procedure to adopt
when material ahead is to simplify
towards the endgame, when the
extra pa wn, or whatever, should
grad ually tell. I n t he Benko this
procedure is not foolproof, fo r
exchanges often intensify Black'!>
pressure against Whi te's a- and
b-pawns, in the line of fire of a
black rook operating from bl:l a nd
the bishop from g7. I n addition,
accepting the gambit encourages
Black to play a whole stream of
very natural moves, e.g. contmuing
3 d5 b5
from the sequence above: 7 lt::l f3 g6
8 g3 .tg7 9 .tg2 0-0 10 0-0
lt::l bd7 (1 1 9)
Black will now follow up with
more easy moves, such as . . . 1ta5
and . . llfb8. I f you are playing in
a tournament with chess clocks, it
is helpful to be able to play so
many black moves without thinking
and know that you are proceeding
actively and correctly. Bent Larsen
once wrote with acu ity about this:
"Some players find it boring to
play the same first I 2 mo ves over
and over again: others don't m 1 nd
Some are even happy if they
play t hese moves quickly, there is
less danger of serious ti me
pressure. (The nasty part bf me
thinks this is why Benko likes the
.
92 Benko Gambit
gambit - ten moves for a pawn !)."
U S Grandmaster Pal Benko, chief
propagandist for the gambit which
bears h is name, is, of course, a
notorious time-trouble addict.
My solu tion, therefore, is to
play 4 lt:lO!?, politely declining the
Trojan pony on b5, and thus
throwing Black more or less on his
own resources. I have used this
successfully in my own games,
and, incidentally, felt very uncom
fortable whenever I have grabbed
the pawn. It is also the recent
choice of Viktor Korchnoi, twice"
challenger for the World Cham
pionship.
For more details on the Benko
in general, see BCO, pages 104 a nd
105.
Korchnoi-Sax
Phillips and Drew 1 980
lt:lf6
I d4
c5
2 c4
b5
3 d5
4 lt:lf3 (/ 20)
London
110
B
"Although we generally expect
Korchnoi to take pawns that are
offered to him, in the present
game he prefers to avoid any
sharp H ungarian theory. Better to
leave the opponent to his own
resources in a position where he is
less comfortable." ( H artston in
the Tournament Book).
4
be
A lternatives are:
a) 4 ... J.. b 7 5 a4 a6 (5 . . . b4 6 lt:l bd2
followed by e4 shuts Black's
queen's bishop out of play) 6 ab ab
7 lha8 J.. xa8 8 lt:lc3 1i'a5 (8 ... be 9
e4! while 8 . . . b4 9 lt:lb5 d6? leaves
Black struggling after 10 11ra4!
lt:lbd7 I I 11ha8 11rxa8 1 2 lt:lc7+
'i;>d8 1 3 lt:lxa8 h6 - to prevent lt:lg5
- 14 e3 'it>c8 1 5 b3 lt'b8 16 J.. b2
�xa8 1 7 J.. d 3) 9 Af41 d6 10 lt:ld2
b4 I I lt::l b 5 g6 1 2 e4 lt:lbd7 1 3 lt:lb3
1i'b6 14 11ra l J.. b 7 15 J.. e 3 J.. g7 1 6
11ra5 lt:l h 5 1 7 g4! lLlhf6 1 8 g 5 lt::l h 5
1 9 J.. h 3! ± Dorfman-Mochalov,
M oscow 191! 1 .
b) 4 . e6 5 de fe 6 cb d5 7 e3 i.d6 8
lLlc3 J.. b7 9 e4! de (9 . . . d4 10 e5 ±)
10 lt::l g 5 J.. d5 I I 11rc2 ± This is a
recent attempt to refute the
Blumenfeld Gambit, into which
4 . . . e6 transposes.
c) 4 . g6 5 lt::l bd2 be ( 5 . . 1lra5?!
6 e4! Keene- Bellon, Bali 1 98 2 . I f
6 . . . l"i:Jxe4? 7 b4! ti'Kb4 8 llb l 'tlt'a5
9 llxb5 11rc3 10 .ib2 ±t) 6 e4 d6 7
J.. xc4 J.. g7 8 0-0 0-0 I) l:tb I l"i:Jbd7
10 ll e l lt:lb6 I I b3 llb8 1 2
..
..
.
Benko Gambit 93
.tb2 U ± Keene-Pytel, Benedictine
1 98 1 .
d) 4 ... a61? 5 a 4 b4 ! is less effective
for White than variation (a), since
the black queen's bishop is not yet
com mitted to b7 (Keene-I vanov,
Commonwealth Ch, H ong K ong
1984). My feeling after that game
is that 5 11rc2! plus a quick e4
keeps White's opening advantage.
5 �c3
g6
6
7
8
e4
.txc4
eS (121)
d6
.tg7
lt:lb6 1 3 .te2 1Wc7 1 4 .tO .ta6 1 5
lle l llad8 was u nclear, s o White
should i nvestigate the sacrifice
10 . . . lt:lfd7!7 I I � xf7!? followed
by 1 2 d6.
II
12
13
14
1lrb3
llel
..igS
.txb3
lt:Ja6
1Wxb3
llac8
� b4 may be the last
chance to resist.
I S ltJc4 ( 122)
14
/}}
B
121
B
The bold advance breaks up
Black's tidy pawn chain (c5-d6-e7)
and brings White's king's knight
onto a powerful post, w he n: it
menaces both c6 and e7. In
addit ion, Black is left with a weak
backward pawn on e7.
8
9
lD xeS
de
0-0
0-0
.ib7
The ga m e Balashov-Stein, l\.los
10
cow 1 97 1 , saw 10 . . . li:J fd 7 ! ?
Balashov's 1 1 lt:lc6 lt:l xc6 12 d e
White's pos1110n is crushing.
Black suffers from two very weak
pawns on e7 and c5 while White is
constantly threatening some tactical
breakthrough based on d6, opening
up the diagonal of his k ing's
bishop from b3 to f7. I f now 1 5 . . .
llfeM 1 6 i.a4 ±t or 1 5 . . . ;g: t:7 1 6
.i.f4 liL u 7 1 7 .i.a4 t± . Finally,
15 . . . .t xd 5 '! 1 6 .i xf6 tl . Sax's
choice l ose s the exchange.
IS
16
17
18
(iJ xdS
lt.:lxdS.
.i xdS
.i xc7
Ilfe8
lt:ld6 ±± ( 1 23)
94 Benko Gambil
each player, and then 1 6 per
player per hour thereafter. Korchnoi
could have killed more cleanly
during this mad scramble, while
Sax missed 42 . . . ¢'e3! complicating
White's winning process.
The theoretical debate is over. I
cite the remaining moves without
further comment, other than that
both sides were in time-trouble·
and their rush continued until
move 44. For those not used to
competition chess, the time control
is 40 ( ! ) moves in 21,1 hours for
18 .. c4 19 �xe8 lhe8 l0 .ta4 llb8
ll .td6 lld8 ll .teS �c5 l3 .txg7
�xg7 14 .tel .te6 15 lladl llb8
16 llbl <M6 17 lle3 aS 18 c;t>n a4
19 c;i;lel lld8 30 f4 .!Oa6 31 ..txa4
�b4 31 lldl lh8 33 a3 llxa4 34 ab
llxb4 35 lldl c;i;lfS 36 liO llb5 37
llel 'M6 38 llfe3 ..trs 39 lla3 ..id3
40 llfl c;i;>f5 41 c;t>dl c;t>e4 41 �cl
llh5 � h3 llf5 44 lla7 g5 45 g4
llxf4 46 lle7+ �d4 47 llxf4 gf 48
�dl f6 49 lle6 ..tn so llxf6 c;t>e4
51 llh6 1 -0.
13
Czech Benoni
1 d4 lLJf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e5 4 lLJc3 d6
5 e4
114
B
A closer relative to the Old
Indian than to the Modern
Benoni, the Czech Benoni erects a
solid, resilient, but ulti mately
passive position. Black's main
hope of active counterplay resides
in exchanging the dark-squared
bishops (B lack's king's bishop is
severely restricted by t he fixed c5,
d6, e5 pawn triangle) and then
achieving a bn:: a kt hrough with
. . . f5. If White is vigilant , however,
both of these objcdives can be
suppressed.
The most c1 iti<.:al test of B lack's
resources is the aggressive deploy
ment of White's forces introduced
by former World Champion ,
Boris Spassky. White castles queen
side, and then tries to smash Black
on the other wing with a general
advance of the white kingside
pawns, backed up by massed
major pieces in the rear. It is
fortunate for White after 0-0-0
that if Black sacrifices with . . . b5
(a standard Benoni procedure) the
congested centre i mpedes the
efficient transfer of black u nits to
a q ueenside counter-offensive.
Lines of the Czech Benoni
appear i n BCO on page 1 07.
Spassky-Ghitescu
Beverwijk 1967
I d4
liJf6
l c4
c5
3 d5
e5
4 liJc3
d6
5 e4
i.e7
5 . . . lbbd1 makes little difference,
if Wh ite is intending to adopt t he
'Spassky Attack'. The exception is
the eccentric line: 5 . . . lbbd7 6 lbf3
i.e 7 ( 6 . . . a6 see G ligoric
Petrosian in Part V) 7 ..id3 lbf!!
when White should play 8 a3 lbg6
9 g3 ! h5 1 0 h4 followed , if
necessary, by liJg5 and 0 , " when
Black's knights looks silly. A real
alternative, though, is 5 . . . g6,
96
Czech Benoni
e.g. 6 ..1e2 �bd7 7 �f3 lt:lh5 (7 . . .
..lg7 8 ..lg5 h6 9 ..1h4 g 5 1 0 ..lgJ
�h5 I I h4 leads to a difficult line
of the K ing's I ndian, where the
move . . . c5 is premature) 8 0-0 lt:lf4
(8 . . . ..1g7 9 gJ !) 9 ..1xf4 ef 10 1td2
g5 I I e5! ± K eene-Mestel, Esbjerg
1 98 1 .
0-0
..1d3
The most aggressive square for
the white king's bishop, leaving e2
for his queen .
6
7
7
8
lt:\11
1i'e2 (1 25)
lt:lbd7
/ }5
B
attack .
9
g6
M ore cunning is the attempt to
transfer a knight to f4, as
suggested in Hartston's Benoni.
H owever, I believe it can be
refuted. A sample variation is:
9 . . . lt:lc7 1 0 g5 ! lle8 I I h4 lt:lf8 1 2
llg l lt:'lg6 1 3 h 5 lt:lf4 1 4 ..1xf4 ef
1 5 0-0-0 ±. Black has simply
squandered too much time with
his knight gyrations.
lt:'lg7
1 0 .th6
lt:\(6
1 1 0-0-0
12
h3
a6
1 3 lldg l (126)
/}6
B
8
lt:le8
A fter 8 . . . lt:lh5 White s hould
play 9 g3 to prevent ... lt:l f4. The
idea from Keene-Mestel is less
effective here, since White has
already moved his q ueen and
would have to waste a tempo on
1td2. W hen and where to allow
. . . lt:l f4 is a tricky business and the
proc ed u re crops up in notes to
moves 5, 8 and 9.
Black has so few moves that it
does not matter much in which
order he makes them. H ere are
some samples of other move
orders: 1 3 . . . 'it>h8 1 4 'it>b l ( l 4 .i.d2
.id7 15 tt:lh2 b5 1 6 h4 h5 17 g5
lt:lfe8 is a l s o no t bad, Keene
Torre, Baguio City 1 980 ) 14 . . .
.i.d7 ( 1 4 . . . b 5 1 5 lt.ld2 b 4 1 6
li::l d I ll:lg8 1 7 .i.xg7+ 't>xg7
Heralding a full-scale kingside
01 1 970) 1 5 .i.e3! lt:lg8 1 6 h4 h5
9
g4
1 8 h4! , G h1 t escu-Popov, Siegen
Czech Benoni 97
1 7 gh ll'lxhS 1 8 ll'lgS 1te8 1 9 1td2
�gf6 20 .te2 �g7 2 1 f4 ! ± Popov
Hartston, S k.ara 1 980. We can see
fro m this note that t he 'Spassky
Attack' spread like a contagion.
First, Spassky beat Ghitescu, then
Ghitescu hit Popov with it, and
then Popov used it to defeat
Hartston !
13
14
l0d2
.td7
<li"h8
IS
16
h4
i.e3
ll'lg8
hS
17
18
i.e8
gS
f4! (127)
To expel the bishop with
�g8.
16 . . . i.xh4 1 7 g5 ±± or 16 . . . f5
1 7 gf gf 1 8 ef ±. Black can not
safely fight back on t he kingside
where White enjoys immense
superiority, but he should be
thinking hard in terms of a
diversionary . . . b5, even if it costs
a pawn. Of course, W hi te could
always ignore . . . b5 and drop his
king's bishop back to c2 or b l
after . . . be.
Ill
B
A very important break, given
that Black has held up t he march
of White's g- and h-pawns.
18
19
20
21
gf
fe
ltJfJ
22
23
24
2S
26
lhg4!
ltJ xeS
ll'lxg4!!
•g2
eS (128)
rs
lilxf6
de
ltJg4
It may appear that Black has
also stemmed the second wave of
White's attack based on f4 , but
Spassky proceeds to disprove
this notion with an astounding
sacrificial idea.
hg
ll'lh5
ll'lg3
lilxhl
Spassky displays a curious
disregard for Blac k's moves, not
even pausing to recap ture the
knight which has devoured his
rook. Black's best defence now is
26 . . . i.d7 27 e6 i. xe6 28 �e5 .if5
29 lt:lxg6 + '1Ph7 30 ll'l xfH+ 1txf8
when White throws in his reserves
with 3 1 lile4 (analysis by Gligoric).
98 Czech Benoni
Gh itescu's choice goes down in
26 ... llf7 27 1fxhl llh7 28
e6 .ig5 29 1le4 .ixe3+ 30 1fxe3
names:
1fe7 31 �e4 lhh4 32 �ef6 1fc7
33 .ie4 1fa5 34 1lg3 g5 35 lOxeB
lhe8 36 9e5+ 1 -0.
14
.M odern Benoni
J d4 llJf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4 .ltl cl�
?:� ··cd. d6 6 e4 g6
_
..
/]9
w
The M odern Benoni was tried
sporadically in the 1920's, notably
by H romadka and Marshall, but it
failed to attract public approbation
until the 1950's and 1 960's when it
was resurrected by those ambitious
warriors, Tal and Fischer.
In one sense, it is the most
strikingly anti-posi tional black
defence analysed in this book,
since Black immediately concedes
White a mobile central pawn
majority, combined with very free
development. Furthermore, Black
voluntarily submits to a weak
pawn on d6, which can be
particularly sensitive if White
plants a knight on c4 . Meanwhile,
Black's own piece development is
not except ionally rapid.
The point of the black counter
play actually resides in the half
open e-file, which can be used to
bombard the white e-pawn, plus
the volatile chances conferred by
the possibility of a sudden strike
( . . . b5, . . . c4) by Black's queenside
pawn majority. Once the black
i n fantry advances, it can prove a
potent force, backed up by the
black king's bishop in fianchetto
on g7. Still, amongst grandmasters,
there is a feeling that if one major
black defence is unsound, it is the
Modern Benoni. Danish Grand
master Bent Larsen has written:
" When I throw the M odern
Benoni into the basket marked
'incorrect', Gligoric" (a noted 1 d4
expert) "will probably agree . . . "
Some years ago it was believed
that a refutation had been found,
namely (from the Diagram) 7 lL!t1
.tg7 8 .ig5 h6 9 .th4 g5 1 0 .tg3
�5 1 1 .tb:i+ Wf8 12 e5 !·(JJO)
100 Modern Benoni
/JO
B
5 /Of) .i.g7 6 .i.b5+ .i.d7 7 a4 0-0
8 �0 lLJa6 9 lle I li:lc7 1 0 .i.fl e6
I I i.f4 i (Kasparov).
e6
cS
ed
d6
2
3
4
S
c4
�c31..J
dS
cd
6
e4
g6
.i.g7
r4
.i.bS+ (131)
I ncautious is 5 . . . g6? 6 d6! 'tlrb6
7 .i.f4 .. xb2 8 i.e5 .i.g7 9 llb I
Wa3 1 0 �b5 :±± .
but later games demonst rated that
the improvement 9 ... a6 (threatening
. . . b5 and forestalling the annoyina
j,b5+) keeps Black alive.
The line I recommend in this
chapter is the one currently held to
cause Black the greatest problems.
Favoured by world title aspirant,
Gary Kasparov, and · ex-world
champion , Mi khail Tal, it sets up
a large and menacing white centre
wi thout hesitation and throws
in the harrowing .i.b5+ (from the
above line) for good measure.
This is to jam up Black's develop
ment, since the unwieldy retreat
�fd7 appears to be obligatory.
··
This l ine is covered in BCO,
pages 1 1 0- 1 1 1 .
..•
Kasparov-Nunn
Lucerne Olympiad 1 9112
1 d4
�r6
I . . . c5 2 d5 �f6 3 c4 g6 4 li:lc3
.i.g7 5 e4 d6 6 li:lge2 t ransposes to
the King's Indian (Chapter 8).
Also good here is 3 �c3 g6 4 e4 d6
1
8
JJJ
B
Black has two natural-looking,
but suspect, alterna tives to the
main line of 8
li:lfd7, namely:
a) 8
.i.d7? 9 e5 li:lh5 10 li:lf3 de
I I fe i.xb5 1 2 li:l xb5 �0 1 3 0-0 ±
O'Kelly-Diez del Corral, M adrid
1 957; or I I . . . 0-0 1 2 0-0 .i.g4 1 3
.i.e2 .i.xf3 1 4 .txf3 .i. xe S 1 5 .i.xh5
'Wh4 16 g 3 1hh 5 1 7 ..xh5 gh 1 8
lH5 .td4+ 1 9 �g2 liJd7 20 i.h6
llfe8 2 1 Itafl and Black has many
problems.
b) 8
li:lbd7? 9 c5 de 10 te lLlh5
( 10 . . . We7 I I ..e2) I I e6 (132)
...
...
...
Alodern Benoni 101
JJJ
B
JJ1
B
fe 1 2 de 0-0 1 3 ltlf3 :xtJ (in
Mestel-Hodgson, British C h 1 983,
Black played the amazing 13 ...
.td4!?. Mestel then won - eventuaUy
- with 1 4 'W'b3 , while IM Martin
has d rawn attention to 1 4 ..ieJ
.txe3 1 5 ed. M y feeling, however,
is that 14 .tc4 is the move most
li kely to refute . . . .td4!?) 14 1ihf3
.txc3+ 1 5 be ltlc5 1 6 1t'e4 1t'f6 1 7
e7! 'tfxe7 1 8 0-0 ± . I f, in the
above line, Black plays I I . . .
1t'h4+ then Kasparov suggested
12 g3 lLlxg3 ( 1 2 . . . ..ixc3+ l J be
"tre4+ 14 'ite2 ±±) 1 3 hg 'tfx h l
( 1 3 . . . 1t'xg3+ 1 4 \&d2 is harm less)
14 ..te J! ( 1 4 t:d+ i.xd7 is les.s
clear). The best line I can find for
Black here is.(l4) . . 0-0 1 5 ed ..ixd7
16 .txJ7 lHeM 17 .ixe8 ll xelol l lj
'.t'd2 .ixc3+ 1 9 be 'W'xdH 20 ;!tc I !
1hd I + 2 1 �xd I l hd 22 �1e2 and
Black is probably lost m the
ending.
.
8
9
�fd7
a4! (133)
Clamping down on ... a6 and
. . . b5. True, Blac k's queen's
knight can now reach b4, but such
occupation rarely has much influena:
on events.
9
�116
Tht:re are various other moves:
a) 9
a6 10 .td3 (here 10 .te2
'tfh4+ ! could be annoying. I fee l
that White should only put his
ki ng's bishop on e2 when . . . 1t'h4+
is no longer possible) 10 . . . 0-0 I I
lL\fJ ltlf6 1 2 0-0 ..ig4 1 3 h3 ..txn
1 4 'Wxf3 ltlbd7 1 5 .id2 Ite8 and
now White establishes an advantage
by cementing his king's bishop on
c4: 1 6 i.c4 ! li.lb6 1 7 b3 l.Uxc4 1 8 be
li:ld7 1 9 ll ae I 'W'a 5 20 1t'd3 'ttc 7.
Wil liams-Mecking, Nice 01 1 974.
Nunn now recommends 21 e5!
The manoe uvre .tc4 plus b.1 I S
worth atte ntion.
b) 9
0-0 10 l0f3 a6 I I .te2
(playable now Black no lorigcr has
. . . 'tfh4 + J I I . . . ltlf6 1 2 0-0 1tc7 1 3
c5 ltle8 1 4 e6 fe 1 5 ..ic4 'ii'c7 1 6 de
...
...
/02 Modem Benoni
li:Jc7 1 7 f5 , Kasparov-Kuijpers,
Junior World Championship, 1980.
White is already winning, since
1 7 . . . ltxf5 fai ls to 1 8 ..ig5 .if6 19
g4 l hg5 20 liJ xg5 .ixg5 21
lU7 ±±. I n this line 12 . . . lte8 13
e5 ! de 1 4 fe li:Jg4 15 .ig5 f6 1 6 ef
..ixf6 17 ..ixf6 'tlrxf6 18 d6! also
favours White, Mestel-P.Littlewood,
H astings 1 982-3.
c) 9 .. . 0-0 I 0 ltJ f3 li:Ja6 I I 0-0 li:Jb4
1 2 li[e I a6 1 3 ..ifl li[e!i 14 h3
followed by .ie 3-f2 and the
inevitable e5, Ree- H ulak, Wij k
a a n Zee 1 983.
d) 9 . 'tlrh4+ 10 g3 lte7 I I li:Jf3 0-0
( I I . . . .i xc3+ 1 2 be 'tlrxe4+ 1 3 'iPf2
gives White a massive lead in
development, while Black will
also miss his vital king's bishop)
12 o-o li:Ja6 1 3 lte I .!Lib4 1 4 'tlrb3 a6
15 .ifl b6 16 h3 .ib7 17 ..id2!
li[ae8 18 li[ad l and Black is
deprived of active play. 1 4 e5!? a6
1 5 .ifl de 1 6 d6 'tlre8 1 7 fe bO 18 e6
fe 19 .ic4 ..ib7 20 li[ xc6 'tlrf7 ! 2 1
li[e4 'tlrxc4 2 2 li[ xc4 ..i xf3 23 'tlrb3
�h8 is, in contrast, very unclear.
..
10
li:Jf3
II
0-0
12
..ixd7+
li:Jb4
a6
Or I I . . . 0-0 12 li[e I a6 13 ..ifl .
An excellent move , gaining time
and momentum for his attack.
..ixd7
12
13 f5 (134)
If 13 ... gf 1 4 .tgs ..ito I S ..if4
0-0 1 6 e5! ( 1 6 ..i xd6 ..ixa4 ! ) 1 6 . . .
IJ4
B
de 1 7 liJxe5 ± or 1 3 ... c4 14 ..ig5
'tlrh6+ 1 5 �h 1 li:Jd3 16 f6 .tn1 1 7 aS
lt::l f2+ 18 li[xf2 'tlrxf2 1 9 li:Ja4! ±
and Black is paralysed; both
critical variations stem from
Kasparov.
13
14
.ig5
0-0
f6
IS
..if4
gf
16
..ixd6
1 4 . . . ..if6 I S 'tlrd2 does nothing
to hinder White's attack.
I f 1 5 ... gS 16 ..ixd6 ..ixa4 1 7
li[xa4 'tlrxd6 1 8 c5 ! fc 1 9 li:lxg5 b5,
Gheorghiu-Kertesz, Romania 1982,
and now 20 li[xb4 ! cb 2 1 li:Jce4 ±±.
Or 15 ... 'tlre7 16 fg hg 17 �h4 �h7
18 ..ig3 b5 19 'tlrb I c4 20 li:Jxg6
�xg6 2 1 .i xd6! ±± (Kasparov).
S uch variations pinpoint that the
very worst has befallen Black here
that can possibly go wrong in a
M odern Benoni - his king's
bishop is locked out of play, his
kingside pawn structure is hope
lessly loose and he has no
queenside cou nterplay.
..ixa4
Alodern Benoni /OJ
Black cenainly neem this resource,
but it doesn't help much.
17
18
19
llxa4
l0h4!
lOfS
1hd6
20
l0xe4
�h8
fe
1rd 7 (135)
/Jj
w
I f 20 . . llae8 2 1 1lrg4 �h8
22 �xc5 ±±.
.
21
lUxeS
1 -{)
2 1 . . . 1rxd5 2 2 1rxd5 �xd5
23 �e6 ±±.
John Nunn's authoritative verdict
on 7 f4 and 8 .ib5+ should be
q uoted: " I n my view, this is one of
White's best lines against the
M odern Benoni. White secu res
good attack i ng chances at little
risk to himself. " This assessment
appeared in J o hn 's excellent book
on the Benoni which was publish
ed before the Kasparov game.
If
Part IV
Asymmetrical and Unusual Defences
/36
B
C hapter 1 5 : Modern Defence I .
Chapter 1 6 : Dutch Defence I .
. .
. .
g6 2 c4 i.g7 3 lbc3 d6 4 e4
f5
Chapter 1 7 : English Defence 1 . . . e6 2 c4 b6 3 e4 i. b 7
Chapter 1 8 : M iscellaneous I
.
. d6 1 . . . b5 I
.
. .
. ll:l c 6 I
. .
. h6
15
Modern Defence
1 d4 g6 2 c4 i.g7 3 e4 d6 4 ltJc3
IJ7
B
The Modern constitutes one of
most fertile fields for investigation
of any opening complex. Remark
ably, it is a defence that has only
emerged into prominence in the
past twenty years or so. There are
virtually no games with it in the
Romantic, Classical or Hyper
modern periods in the development
of chess thought. Even progressives
such as N imzowitsch, Ret i and the
free-think ing Alek.hine, were reluc
tant to go as far as I ... g6 as an
answer to I d4.
From the Diagram Black. has
three main possibilities: 4 ... lt:lc6
is the most consistent, since it
furthers the theme of attack
against d4. However, 5 d5! fo rces
Black's queen's knight into prethe
mature occupation of its target
square. The resulting positions are
fascinating, but, objectively, White
should stand better. If 4 . . . lLlc6 is
too active, then 4 ... e5 is too
passive. After 5 de de 6 1Wxd8+
lt>xd8 7 f4! Black is inconvenienced
by the situation of his king, which
cannot castle into safety. This is
even worse for Black than the
comparable line of the Old I ndian.
That leaves 4 ... o!LJd7, which will
probably tranpose into the King's
I ndian. Adherents of the Modern
are Canadian Grandmaster Duncan
Suttles, ex-world champion Tigran
Petrosian and the author.
The M odern, and its close
relation the Pirc, are to be found
in BCO, pages 1 73- 1 84.
Agdestein-Keene
Gausdal 1983
1 d4
g6
2 c4
.ig7
] o!LJcJ
d6
4 e4 ( 137)
From Diagram 1 3 7:
a) 4 . .. c6 5 o!LJf3 .ig4 6 .ieJ li:ld7 7
.ic2 .ixf3 8 .ixf3 o!LJgf6 9 0-0 t .
White could, of course, play
106 Modern Defence
5 �ge2 as well, with l ikely
transposition to the King's Indian.
b) 4 ... rs?! 5 ef .ixf5 6 l!JO �f6 7
..ie2 0-0 8 0-0 �a6 9 d5 c5 1 0 �g5
and White has the advantage
because of Black's s haky central
situation.
c) 4 ... e5 5 de! de 6 -.xd8+ ot>xd8 7
f4! .ie6 (7 . . . �c6 8 fe .ie6 9 ..ig5 +
\!i>c8 10 �f) is uncomfort able for
Black, whose displaced king jams
his rook communication; 7 . . .
�d7 8 �f) c 6 9 ..ie2 f6 I 0 0-0 'tt'e8
I I gJ is a lso :!: and a tedious
position for Black to defend)
8 lLl fJ lLld7 9 ..ie2 h6 10 0-0 lLle7
I I lLld5. Such positions may be
defensible for Black but they are
no fu n. I have tried them for both
sides, and believe me, it is more
enjoyable to be White.
d) 4 ... lild7, t he most rel iable of
Black's fourth move alternatives,
which will normally go into a
King's I ndian. If White wishes to
follow t he recom mendations in
this book he should play 5 lLlge2,
but 5 �f3 e5 6 ..ie2 or 5 f) are
obviously playable too.
4
s
dS
l!Jc6
�d4
S . . . �b8 is obviously very
passive.
6 J.eJ
d
Or 6 . . . eS 7 �ge2 �xe2 8 J.xe2
fS 9 ef gf 10 ..ih5+ 'it>f8 I I f4 ! ±; if
8 . . � h6? ! 9 g4! Wh4 10 ltg l ! ±
.
Conquest-Keene, London (Lloyds
Bank) 1 983.
7 � gel
8
l0xd4!?
1rb6
For many years this capture
was not taken particularly seriously.
I ndeed, the old line was 8 . . . cd 9
lt:la4 'tta 5+ 10 b4 'ttx b4+ I I J.d2
1ra3 1 2 .icl 'ttb 4+ 13 J.d2
Then in 1 982, Yasser Seirawan
played 8 lt:l xd4 cd 9 lt:la4 'tta 5+ 1 0
.i d 2 'ttc 7 I I cS d e 1 2 ..ib5+ J.d7
13 J.xd7+ 'tt x d7 14 lU xeS ±
against me a nd won.
=.
8
9
lLla4
My opponen t, t he
Norwegian answer to
looked shocked, but
mentioned in BCO
analysed it in some
GM
Jon
Speelman
Yasser deb4cle.
1 0 � xb6
II
�xfl
cd
de! !? (138)
1 5 year old
N igel S hort,
this 'sac' is
and I had
detail with
after
the
ef+
ab (139)
We have reached an extra
ordinarily rich pos1t1on. My
conclusion from t he analysis with
Modern Defence 107
position must now be rated ±.
IJ'J
w
12
...cl?!
.i.d4+
14
15
16
.iel
lldl
a4!?
0-0
.ie5
h5
17
18
b3
...d3
..td 7
18
19
20
21
de
..tf3
e6!
.ixe6
lL!d7
b5! (140)
To bother White's king. Another
plan is 1 2 . . . l!Jh6 followed by a
quick . f5 .
lL!f6
13 �el
. .
Speelman was that the situation
was not at all clear, though i t must
be said that Speelman is a man
who would prefe r to start the
game with a couple of minor
pieces instead of his q ueen, and
might, therefore, be biased. After
a l engthy investigation, it has been
established that White should
play 1 2 1td2 ! here, to preve nt the
black king's bis hop from checking
on d4. The game D.Cramling
Davies, played at Copenhagen
1 983, several months after my
game with Agdestein, sadly demon
strated what is the likely death
knell of the black q ueen sacrifice:
1 2 . . . l!Jf6 ( 1 2 . . . ..te5 13 ..id3 l!Jf6
14 h3 0-0 1 5 b3 ! i.d7 1 6 a4 e6 1 7
llhel b 5 1 8 cb ed 1 9 ed lL! xd5 20
.ic4 l!Jf6 21 -.Pg I ±± Davies)
13 .id3 l!Jg4+ 14 �e2 0-0 1 5 h3
lL!e5 1 6 b3 .id7 (after 16 . . . f5
White m ust play 1 7 el1 but this is
sufficient to keep his advantage)
17 a4 lla6 18 llac l llfa8 19 'it'f2.
Wh i te is consolidating and the
Played partly to restrict White's
king's bishop from use of g4.
I n tending to auack the b-pawns,
diagonally from e3.
�f2
The last difficult move of the
game. If now 22 cb l!Jc5 wipes out
White's q ueenside pawns, so
White must submit to a variation
which permits the exchange of his
a�.:tive rook, and still leaves the
k i ng's rook bottled up.
·
22
ab
ll:a2+
108 Modern D efence
23
24
25
26
27
lld2
1re3
1rxd2
1rc2
'it>g3 ( 141)
IOcS
llxd2+
ll::l x b3
.td4+
141
B
If White's king goes to the back
rank he will not be able to develop
his king's rook .
27
28
29
..ieS+
..id4+
Drawn by repetition of position.
I was tempted by various sacrificial
attempts to deliver mate, but
could not quite make this work .
Black may still be better positionally,
but if he actually captures material
t he white queen may escape and
become a nuisance.
The queen sacrifice in this game
was nominated as · one of t he most
important theoretical games of
the year by the prestigious Yugoslav
journal, Sahovski /nformator.
It should be mentioned that in a
later game Ginzburg-Arapovic,
Lugano 1 984, White also got
nowhere by allowing the check on
d4 : 1 2 'trb3?! .td4+ 1 3 'it>d ll::l f6
1 4 lld 1 ..ic5 1 5 .td3 0-0 1 6 ..i b 1
b 5 ! 1 7 c b ( 1 7 'tlhb5 ..id7!) 1 7 . . .
.td7 1 8 h3 ll a 5 19 ..id3 llfa8 20 a3
e5 2 1 de .txe6 with more than
adequate compensation.
16
Dutch Defence
1 d4 f5
/4}
w
Capablanca once denounced
the Sicilian Defence ( I e4 c5) as an
opening which "leaves Black's
position full of holes". There are
many who believe that the Dutch,
the mirror image of the Sicilian, is
a considerably more dubious
proposition. Indeed, t he move I .
f5 stakes out some sort of claim
over t he e4 square, and also
prepares subsequent general activity
by Black on the kingside. On the
negative side, though, it is a
gratuitous weakening move, which
diminishes important support for
squares such as e6 and g6, and it
contributes little to Black's develop
ment. A common way for Black to
suffer an accident in the Dutch is
to be deluded i nto the belief that
.
.
1 ... f5 is an immediately attacking
move. Frequent disasters have
overcome Black players who have
launched inadequately supplied
kingside attacks, relying only on
their queen, king's rook , king's
knight and kingside pawns, for
getting about their lines of com
munication with underdeveloped
q ueenside units. Usually, White
can detonate the entire undertaking
with a timely central thrust, based
on f3 and e4, exposing all of the
weak nesses in the black structure,
especially in the e-file.
Black has three systems in the
Dutch - the Stonewall ( with
pawns on d5, e6 and f5); the Fluid
(pawns on d6, e6 and f5) and the
Leningrad, where Black fian
chettoes his king's bishop. All
three are playable, if Black is
cautious and avoids premature
adventures, and it should be
mentio ned that the Dutch has
been favoured by Botvinnik ,
Bronstein and former B ritish
Champion, Robert Bellin, who
has written an excellent book
about it.
There are various odp tries
/ / 0 Dutch Defence
against the Dutch: the Staunton
Gambit ( I d4 f5 2 e4!?); the
Korchnoi Gambit ( 1 d4 f5 2 h3
ll:lf6 3 g4 !?); al ternatively, I d4 f5
2 .i.g5 or 1 d4 f5 2 ll:lc3 ll:lf6
3 .i.g5 . . . Here, though, I
reco mmend t he solid, classical
variation based on g3 and the
fianchetto of White's king's bishop.
One good reason for this (apart
from the method's inherent sound
ness) is that Black may in troduce
his Du tch via 1 d4 e6, inviting the
French Defence with 2 e4, but
avoiding the exciting ideas· men
tioned above.
The Dutch is treated in BCO,
pages 36-4 1 .
Stonewall and Fluid Systems
Keene-Fuller
I Commonwealth Championship
Melbourne 1 983
e6
I d4
f5
2 c4
Or 2 . . . .i.b4+ 3 .i.d2! 1t'e7 4 e4
d5 5 ..txb4 1txb4+ 6 1td2 1rxd2+
(6 . . . �c6 7 li:lc3 ! ) 7 ll:lxd2 1
because of White's spatial plus.
3 lLlf3
li:lf6
4
g3
See Diagram /43
4
..te7
Also worth considering is 4 . . .
..tb4+ 5 ..td2 to prevent White's
queenside fianchetto. This was
in vented by Alek hine and cham
pioned by B ronstein. Possible
conti nuations are:
a) 5
.i.xd2+ 6 1txd2 0-0 7 ll:lc3
d6 8 .i.g2 lLlc6 9 lld l 1We7 1 0 d5
ll:ldll ( 10 . . . ltle5 I I ll:lxe5 de 1 2
d6!) I I d e ll:lxe6 1 2 ll:ld5 1.
b) 5 1We7 6 .i.g2 0-0 7 0-0 ..txd2 8
1!fxd2 ll:le4 9 1t'c2 d6 I 0 lLlfd2
ll:lxd2 I I 1t'xd2 e5 1 2 ll:lc3 c6
1 3 llad l 1 .
c) 5 ..te7 6 .i.g2 d5 (6 . . . d6 7 0-0
0-0 ll ll:lc3 1t'e8 9 1t'c2 1t'h 5 1 0 e4 c 5
1 1 de de 12 ll:ld5 ! Szaho
Bronstein, Candidates' Tourna
ment, Budapest 1 950) 7 0-0 0-0 8
l0c3 c6 9 1t'c2 Well 1 0 a3!
Introducing a highly sophisticated
manoeuvre making expert use of
White's bishop on d2, to trade
dark-squared bishops: 10 . . . 1t'h5
I I lLla2! lLlbd7 1 2 .i b4 l1e8 1 3
.i.xe7 lhe7 1 4 ll:lb4 lLlg4 1 5
ll:ld3 ± Flohr-Szabo, M oscow
Budapest match, 1 949. As we have
seen, the following year Szabo
...
...
...
Dutch Defence 1 1 1
switched t o t he white side. Black
can also try to pla nt h is king's
bishop on the more aggressive
square d6, e.g. 4 . . . d5 5 ..tg2 c6
6 0-0 ..id6. This gives Black extra
influence in engineering the advance
. . . f4, but White retains a positional
edge by proceeding broadly as in
the main game - fianchetto both
bishops, play ltle5 and watch out
for Black's k ingside ambitions:
7 b3 1te7 (to prevent ..ta3,
exchanging Black's useful king's
bishop) 8 ..ib2 0-0 9 1tc2 ..id7 (9 . . .
b6 1 0 lt::l c3 lt::l e4 I I ll.he4 de 1 2
ltJe5 c5 1 3 llad I ..tb7 14 de :t
Gligorii:) 10 lt:le5 lt::l a 6 I I li:Jd2
..ie8 1 2 lt::l df3 ..th5 1 3 a 3 llac8 1 4
b4 lt::l b 8 1 5 .tel lt::l e4 1 6 lt::l d 3 g5 1 7
lt::l fe5 to be followed by f3 , and
White retains a l l the advantages of
his position, Kotov-Goldberg,
USSR Ch 1 949.
S ..ig2
0-0
6
0-0
dS
The main alternative is 6 . . . d6,
when I recommend 7 li'ld
11ret! (144)
.
8 b3 ! rat her t han 8 lle I 1tg6 9 e4!?
which is possible as a result of the
tactical t rick 9 . . . fe I 0 lt::l x c4 lt::l xe4
I I llxe4 1txe4? ( I I . . . lt:lc6! is best)
1 2 lt::l h 4 netting Black's queen.
However, the idea of open ing up
the f-lile so q u ickly seems, to me,
to be ra ther too co-operative. If
White develops his pieces sensibly
first, agai nst the nuid system,
Black's 'aggressive' queen on g6
or h 5 will become a target (e.g.
e3, lt::l e 2-f4) wh ile the thrust e4 will
evolve later, after due preparation
(first e3 then rook centralisation).
Here is one example: 8 . . . a5 9 ..ta3
lt::l a6 1 0 llc l ..td7 I I eJ lt::l b4 1 2
..tb2 1th5 1 3 a3 lt::l a 6 1 4 lt::l d 2 1th6
1 5 lle l (also playable, though
more risky, is 1 5 ..ixb7 lt::l g4 1 6
lLlfJ lila 7 1 7 ..t xa6) 1 5 . . . c6 1 6 lLlfl
..ie!! 17 1td2 e5?! ( Black should
instead seek to close thi ngs up
with . . . d5!) 1 8 de de 1 9 lt\a4 lid!!
20 1txa5 lt::l d 7 2 1 b4 ± PortischCorden , H asti ngs 1 969-70.
7 lt::l c 3
Substant ially similar is the
move-order variance: 7 b3, e.g.
7 ... lOeb!? H ..tb2 ..id7 9 lt::lc 3 .ie8
(such galvanization of the inferior
queen's bishop to h5 or f7 often
occurs in the Dutch) 10 lt::lg 5 ..tf7
I I e3 1td7 12 �x f7 ll x17 13 �a4
b6 14 llc I lt::l d 8 1 5 lt:lc3 IU1l I h fJ
lt::l 17 1 7 c4 ! Polugayevsky
Spassk y, Tilburg 1 983; or 7 . cfl
8 'tWc2 ..td7 9 ..tb2 ..te8 10 lt::l c 5
. .
1 12 Dutch Defence
l0bd7 I I /Od3 .th5, Kasparov
Petrosian, Bugojno 1983, and now
1 2 /Of4! .tn 13 l0d2 followed b y
10 0 1 according t o Kasparov.
c6
7
8
b3
I used to believe in Alekhine's
pawn sacrifice: 8 llJe5 l0 bd7 9
llJd3 de 1 0 l0f4 /Ob6 1 1 e4 until I
read Robert Bellin's book on the
Dutch which pointed out the
refutation I I . . e5! 1 2 de Wxd l 1 3
l hd 1 llJg4 H.
.
8
llJe4
Or 8 . . . b6 9 .tb2 .tb7 10 e3 llJa6
1 1 llJe2 .td6 1 2 llJf4 We7
1 3 lic l ;t Keene-Bellin, Benedictine
1 98 1 .
We8 (145)
9 .tb2
145
w
dark centre squares and tardy
development of his queenside
forces. More solid is 9 . . . 10d7 10
Wc2 .tf6, though W hite should
prefer 1 0 e3, as in the game,
intending /Oe2, 10e5 and then f3 .
1 0 e3
WbS
1 1 /Oe2
g5
To stop llJf4.
llJd7
1 2 liJe5
13
f3
ltld6
1 3 . . . 10 xe5 14 de 10c5 also looks
good for White.
llJ(7
14 Wcl
1 5 cd
or course, the simple 1 5 llJxd7
.txd7 16 e4 is at least !, but I
wanted to try for more.
15
ed
Or 1 5 . . . cd 1 6 liac l , good for
White.
16
g4 (146)
146
B
The standard Dutch attempt to
gain a kingside attac k . This can
prove very dangerous if White
isn't careful about how m uch
leeway he allows his opponent on
the kingside. Of course, to start his
kingside play Black h as to make
certain concessions, such as weak
The point of my idea, which
leads to very interesting comp
lications.
16
Wh4!
After 1 6 . . . fg 1 7 liJg3 Black's
Dutch Defence 1 13
queen is embarrassed for decent
squares.
11
er
J.d6!
Or 1 7 . . . �h6 18 e4 � xeS 1 9 de
de when 20 •c4+ is annoying.
� f6
1 8 f4
1 9 �£3!
The only move.
19
�xeS
Tempting, but the best defence
is 19 . . . g4 to close things up. Even
then 20 llad I or 20 llae I leads to
better chances for White.
20
de
Possible also is the exchange
sacrifice 20 fe ltlg4 2 1 J.f3 � xe3
22 ..e2 � xfl 23 ll xf l .
though 25 10 xf5 ll xf5 26 J.xd4
m ust win.
24
25
26
�xe4
d71
26
27
llh3! (14 7)
J.e4
de
If now 27 . . . ef 28 1fd5 + :n 29
de'tt + or 2 7 . . . lle6 28 llg3 gf29 ef
e3 30 •s2 llxf4 3 1 lld I •d8 32
•d5 wins; or 3 1 lld I e2 32 dl!•+
•xdl! 33 ll xd8+ <3117 34 •xb7+.
Note, however, that 27 . . . lle6 28
d81W ef 29 1hg5+ •xg5 30 fg
f2 + ! is good for Black.
lld8
�g4
20
2 1 J.xdS+!
21 J.f3 � xe3 22 •c) � xfl 23
ed wins for W hite, e.g. 2 3 . .
Wxh2+ 2 4 q,> x f l but 2 1 J.f3 J.c5 !
is slightly annoying.
.
21
22
ed
23
'ttd 2
cd
J.xfS!
Not 22 . . . � xe3 23 •c3.
Of cou rse not 23 �xf5 l hf5 24
Wxf5?? •xh2 mate.
23
llae8
Setting a neat trap 24 llac I ?
.td3 ! 25 ll f3 gf and White is in
trouble.
24 llf3!
Setting a coun ter-trap into
which Black falls, alt hough he
didn't really have a good alternative.
The best defence is 24 .. . d4,
Black lost on time 1 -0. I f 27 . . .
-.xh3 2 8 •d5+ : n 29 -.xg5+
'it;>f8 30 •xd8 mate; or 27 . . llxd7
28 1Wxd7 •f2+ 29 <tlh l •xb2
30 •xh7 mate.
.
Dutch Leningrad
l.hano�-Henley
New \' ork 1983
1 d4
rs
2 �f3
�f6
J 14
Dutch Defence
Or 2 . . . g6 3 c4 Jl.g7 4 ll:lc3 d6 5
e4 ll:lh6 6 ..ie2 0-0 7 0-0 fe H �xe4
ll:l f5 9 d5 c5 I 0 lle I ;!: Gufeld
Bilek, Kecskemet 196M; alternatively,
5 g3 ll:lh6 6 h4! li:',f7 7 h5 with a
vigorous attack, Steinitz-L.Paulsen,
Vienna 1 873.
3
4
S
6
7
g3
g6
..ig2
Jl.g7
c4
0-0
d6
ll:lc3
dS! ( 148)
b) 7
c5 8 0-0 ll:la6 9 ll b l lil:b8
(9 . . . ll:lc7 1 0 a4 a6 I I b4 ±
Petrosian) 10 b3 ll:lc7 I I ..ib2 a6
( I I ... b5 1 2 •c2 be 1 3 be Jl.a6 1 4
ll:ld2 !) 1 2 e3 b 5 1 3 ll:le2 a 5 ( 1 3 . . .
•e8 1 4 ..ic3 b4 1 5 Jl. b 2 h6 1 6 a3 ba
1 7 Jl.xa3 g5 1 8 b4! ± Keene
H indle, English Counties Teams
1 970; 1 3 .. . Jl.d7 14 Jl.c3 ll:la8 1 5
ll:lg5! Jl.h6 1 6 h4 ± since White
will soon play ll:l f4 and e4, Keene
Ree, Paignton 1 970) 14 ll:lf4 a4 1 5
h4 a b 1 6 ab be 1 7 be ll b4 1 8 ll:ld2
.i.a6 19 •c2 ;!: Keene-Jansa, Nice
01 1 974.
...
7
8
I t is best not to allow 7 0-0 ll:lc6
8 d5 ll:le5 with black counterplay.
From the diagram Black has
t wo other choices to the main line:
a) 7
'ffe8 !! 0-{) ll:la6 9 ll:ld4 ..id7
. 10 e4 fe ( 10 . . . c6 I I b3 ll:lc7 1 2
Jl.b2 c 5 1 3 ll:lf3! t M alanyu k)
I I ll:l xe4 lthe4 12 Jl. xe4 li:',c5 1 3
..ig2 a 5 1 4 ..ig5 'ff l7 1 5 •d2 Jl.xd4
1 6 'ff x d4 e5 1 7 1!rc3, Van der
Sterren-Helyavsky, W ijk aan Zee
1 984; a lthough White lost this
ga me his position at this stage
looks very pro mising.
...
0-0
c6
ll:la6
Or 8 . . . e5 9 de i.xe6 I 0 •d3 ll:la6
I I i. f4 ll:le8 1 2 ll:lg5 ! Keene
Wi rthenso hn, Ha nover 1 976.
9 Jl. e3!
An interesting way of exchanging
the dark-squared bishops - an
undertaking normally in White's
favour. In this case, it looks
superior to an involved transfer of
Wh ite's queen's bishop to the
a l -h!! diagonal.
9
10
II
12
13
14
1!rd2
ll acl
i.h6
Jl.xg7
e4
(149)
.i.d7
twaS
c5
liJc7
lt>xg 7
St andard procedure against the
Dutch - deplete Black's k u1gs1dc
defences and then smash open the
central files with e4.
Dutch Defence 1 1 5
this comment is ironic.
18
19
lila I !
lilxa7
11hc4
lt:lcxd5
20
lilxd7!
lt:lxd7
22
.h6
lilf7
23
li\4g5 (/ 5 0)
Or 1 9 . . . ll:ifxd5 20 ll:ixd6.
c;!,>h8
ll:ie6+
If 2 1 . . . c;!,>gH 22 lt:lxd6 ±± .
21
14
15
lt:lxc4
..Wxa2?
16
17
lilfel
lt:lfg5
lilae8
fe
Wildly over-opti mistic. 1 5
1txd2 i s still n o worse than t.
Aiming at e6, Black's perennial
wound in the Leningrad.
17
bS
Igor I vanov's note in lnformator
gives the symbol here for 'with
counterplay', but since Black is
now swiftly demolished, I assume
White's cavalry tramples Black
underfoot. A fter 23
:ers 24
lt:l:d'8 lt:Jxf'8 28 ll:ixn+ �8 Black
resigned.
...
17
English Defence
1 d4 e6 2 c4 b6 3 e4 i.b'··.·
position started to slide downhill.
Nevertheless, Polugayevsky did
bypass one extremely interesting
and aggressive sacrificial possibility
in the early stages of this game and
that will form the topic of my
recommendation in this section.
For the English Defence see
BCO, pages 32 and 33.
151
w
So named after exploits by
English Masters such as Skipworth
and the Rev. Owen in the latter
half of the nineteenth century, and
its resurrection by P.N . Wallis,
Basman, M iles and myself in the
1 970's and 1 9 80's. This defence
positively invites W hite to set up a
mega lomaniac pawn centre, which
Black will then snipe at with
guerilla shots, such as . �b4
1fh4 and . . . f5.
While I was acting as Viktor
Korchnoi's second in the World
Championship semi-final versus
Polugayevsky at Evian 1 977, I
succeeded in persuading him to t ry
out the English Defence in game 6
of their match. Polugayevsky at first
looked unbelieving and shocked,
later extremely worried, as his
. .
•
Polugayevsky-Korchnoi
Candidates' Match Evian 1 977
e6
1 d4
Or I . . . b6 (Owen's Defence)
2 e4 ! .ib7 3 .id3! (1 52)
152
B
. . .
And now:
a) 3
cS (Chandler-Spee lman,
UK 1 976) 4 d5! blotting Black's
queen's bishop out of play.
b) 3 e6 4 t0f3 c5 5 c3 l.Df6 6 tfe2
cd 7 cd i.b4+ 8 it) bd 2 d5 9 e5 !
...
...
English Defence I I 7
r o;en, Bugojno 1 978.
/53
• -1 ef! J.xg2 5
w
e:h+ �ffi 8
... /:> ' " ... , , ] 1 0 ll g l
� Ait I I I W�J tl . l n this line,
4 efl wins. The comparable
variation (which I do not recom
mend) I d4 e6 2 c4 b6 3 e4 J.b7 4
J.d3 f5 5 ef J.xg2 6 W"h5 + g6, is
less clear, the extra moves ... e6
ar ' c4 being helpful to Black . White then has an i ncontestable
Th-. related queenside fianchetto space advantage.
defence: I d4 liJ f6 2 c4 b6 is
s l0d2
i.b4
6 J. d 3
inferior: 3 l0c3 J.b7 4 1rc2 d5 5 cd
f5
6 . . . 1rg4 !? could be tried here.
�xd5 6 liJf3 e6 7 e4 l0xc3 8 be
White m ust reply 7 c;Pfl and will
J.e7 9 J.b5+ c6 10 J.d3 ;!;/ ±.
then gain much time by chasing
b6
2 c4
Black's
queen.
e4
3
7
�f3
..txd2+
The strongest move, played
s �n ?
with an air of disbelief by
A fter t he text White gains a
Polugayevsky who obviously re
pawn
but loses the right to castle
garded Black's set-up as a bad
and
also
lets his pawn structu re be
joke.
ruined.
To
be consistent White
3
b7
i.
must sacrifice two pawns with
4 1rc2!
Polugayevsky's idea is to defend 8 i.xd2! 1rg4 9 llJe5 ! 1txg2
e4 without allowing a pin of the I 0 0-0-0 fe I I .ie2 ( 1 54) when vast
knight o n c3 which would risk compl ica tions ensue.
doubled pawns.
/54
4
11rb4!? (I53)
R
Viktor had been analysing such
weird moves days before this
game, but to Polugayevsky it was
unpleasantly new. It is surprisingly
difficult to drive off the insolent
black queen. After the only other
plausible move 4 . . . i.b4+ White
plays 5 J.d2 i.xd2+ 6 lihd2.
1
1 18 English Defence
Investigation by Korchnoi, Murei,
Stean and myself immediately
after the Polugayevsky game
convinced us that White has truly
dangerous attacking chances in
this position. So dangerous, in
fact, that Korchnoi was reluctant
to repeat the entire defence. Let us
examine some variations:
a) 11
eJ? 1 2 .i.xe3 1hh l 1 3
lbh l .i.xh l 1 4 .i.h5+ g6 1 5
.i.xg6+ hg 1 6 'tlrxg6+ ±± . The
trade of Black's q ueen for White's
two rooks is, of course, clearly a
disaster.
b) I I
'tlrxf2 1 2 .i.g5 (threaten ing
.i.h5+) 12 . . . 'tlrf8 1 3 llhfl 10f6
1 4 d5 with a terrific attack.
c) I I . li:lf6 12 .i.e3 threatening
both 1 3 li[dg l 'tlrh3 1 4 li[g3 and
1 3 h4, followed by lldg l . After
I I . . . li:lf6 1 2 .i.e3 'tlrh3 1 3 lldg l !
threatens both ll xg7 and ll g3
plus .tg5 .
d ) I I . li:l c6 is probably the best
defence: 1 2 10xc6 .i.xc6 1 3 d5! and
if now 13 . . . ecd 1 4 cd .i.xd5 1 5
llhgl 'tlrxf2 1 6 .i.h6 threatening
.i.xg7, a nd .i.h5+. If 16 . . 0-0-0
then 1 7 .i.a6+. Or 1 6 . . . 'tlrxg l
1 7 li[xg I li:lxh6 1 8 'tlrxc7 0-0
1 9 'tlre5.
e) 1 1 ... d6 1 2 llhg l 'tlrxf2 1 3 .tg5 !
again with the threat of .i.h5+,
while lldfl may also prove
annoying.
10
11
12
13
ef
gf
.i.cJ
.i.xfJ
li:lc6
0-0
'tlrhJ+
S passky advocated 1 3 ... 'tlrxf3
but pursuit of the attack is also
excellent.
llel
14
15
'itlel
'itldl
llae8
e5! (155)
16
17
de
.tel
li:lxe5
18
19
'tlrdJ
li[xel
llxel
19
20
21
li[he I
�xel
...
/55
w
...
..
.
.
.
8
9
.txdl
'tlrh5
10f6
I f 1 7 .i. xe5 ll xe5 1 8 ll xe5
'tlrxO+ and ... 'tlrxh I =F .
17
ll:l xfJ!
P repari ng a neat combination
which brings a decisive advantage.
Or 19 �xe2 1rh5! and Black
wins.
1tg2
ll:l xe 1
See Diagram 156
English Defence J J 9
2 6 llxn Wxg3 2 7 ll xg7+?? fails to
the retrogressive 27 . . . Wxg7!
26
llf1 (157)
fg
/57
w
21
Jeopardising victory. B y inter
posing 2 1 . . . Wg I + 22 �d2 and
only then ... Wxh2 Korchnoi
could have prevented the invasion
of his position which now occurs.
22
lle7!
22
23
24
25
'it>e2
�el
"trg3!
From now until adjournment
(move 42) Polugayevsky plays
excellently and brings about a
dra wish ending.
=
1hg3
M aybe 25 . . :n is stronger for
.
44: 27 ..ixf6 gf 28 lle8+ �g7 29
�f2 �h6 30 b4 �g5 31 lla8 �xf5
32 Iha7 d6 33 a4 c;t;>e6 34 aS ba 35
l ha5 f5 36 c5 llh7 37 cd cd 38 b5
h4 39 gh llxh4 40 lla8 llb4 41 llb8
c;t;>d5 42 'it;>fJ ( 42 ll b6! �c5
43 llc6 ) 42 ... llb3 43 �f4 'it>c5
<&>xb5
44 llc8+? (44 �xf5 ) 44
45 'it>xf5 lle3 46 'it>f4 llel 47 Ild8
c;t;>cS 48 Ilc8+ 'it>d4 49 �fJ d5 50
�f2 Ile5 51 :t:la8 �c3 52 :t:la3+
'it;>b4 53 Ilal d4 54 Ilcl d3 55 llc8
d2 56 Ilb8+ 'it>c3 57 llc8+ 'it;>d3 58
lld8+ 'it>c2 59 llc8+ 'it>dl 0- 1 .
=
A difficult decision to make but
it is the right one. Exchange of
queens eases the task of defence.
25
Black stands better in the
ending, but White has chances to
draw, notably on moves 42 and
...
18
Miscellaneous Black Replies
1 d4 bS (158)
158
w
The Polish Defence looks weird,
but is not so easy to crack. It
should be mentioned that in the
form I e4 a6 2 d4 b5 Tony Miles
used it (as Black) to defeat World
Champion, Anatoly Karpov in
the European Team Championship
in Sweden 1 980. Nevertheless, it is
difficult to believe that Black can
fully equalise by this eccentric
feint away from the centre.
I
159
w
around Black's kingside makes it
exceptionally dubious.
I d4 �c6 (/60)
d4 h6 (159)
The most wildly outrageous
reply to I d4 , intending 2 . . . g5 to
reach the Basmaniac Defence.
Although this has been championed
by Basman himself, the superfluous
ventilation voluntarily created
An exceedingly rare defence
which is by no means easy to
refute. 2 d5 is obvious, but not
totally convincing, while 2 e4 d5
leads to the labyrinths of Nimzo-
Miscellaneous Black Replies 121
witsch's Defence to I e4. Here I
propose the simple 2 � t1 . when
Black has nothing better than 2 . . .
dS, retu rning t o the paths of
Chigorin's Defence.
1 d4 d6 (161)
161
w
This ( Englund's or Charlick's
Gambit) is just an inferior Budapest.
The irregular answers to I d4
are dealt with on pages 47, 1 85,
1 86 and 187 of BCO.
Petrosian-Spassky
World Championship Matcb (22)
Moscow 1 966
I d4
b5
Here I examine the really rare
alternatives on move I for Black:
a) I
h6 2 e4 gS 3 ,j,d3 d6 4 �e2
cS 5 c3 ll:\c6 6 0-0 � f6 7 ll:\d2 1tc7
8 b4 b6 :!! ±.
b) 1
�c6 is difficult to refute. I
recommend reversion to a line of
the Chigorin which I briefly
mentioned in Part 1: 2 �t1
( threatening dS in earnest) 2 . . . dS
3 c4 ,1g4 4 cd ,j,xt1 5 gf •xd5 6 e3
eS 7 liJc3 .1b4 8 ,j,d2 ,j,xc3 9 be ed
1 0 cd liJf6 (or 10 ... ll:\ge7) I I ,j,g2
followed by •b3 !
c) 1
d 6 can hardly avoid
transposing to one of the main
lines I have already analysed. If
Black insists on a sturdy indepen
dence of spirit he can land in
trouble: 2 c4 e5 3 �c3 ll:\c6 (3 . . . ed
4 1fxd4 �c6 S ..d2 transposes to a
line of the English, where White
controls d5 and has a small
advantage: 5 . . . ll:\f6 6 b3 ,j,e6
7 e4 ;!; H ubner- Balashov, Rio de
.
Janeiro 1 979) 4 d5 ll:\ce7 5 g3 fS
( more sensible is . . . g6) 6 �f3 ll:lf6
7 ,j,g2 c5 8 liJg5 ± Csom-Suttles,
...
...
. . . d6 has virtually no
independent significance and will
usually transpose to the Modern,
King's Indian or Old I ndian.
White can also choose 2 e4, to
transpose directly into the Pirc
Defence.
I
d4 e5 (162)
/6}
w
...
122 Miscellaneous Black Replies
Bali 1982. Hi.ibner-Seirawan, Tilburg
19H3, we nt: I . . . d6 2 e4 g6 3 c4 e5 4
ti:Jc3 ti::l c6 5 d 5 liJce7 6 .td3 h5?! 7
f4 il.g7 8 ti:Jf3 u ±.
d) I
e5 2 de ti::l c6 3 ti:JO 1re7 4
1rd5 f6 5 ef ti::l xf6 6 1rb3 d5 7 ti:Jc3
d4 8 ti:Jb5 il.g4 9 ti::l bxd4 tt:Jxd4 1 0
ti::l xd4 0-0-0 I I c 3 ± .
...
2
3
e4
f3
/63
w
.te3
ti:Jd2
c3
6
7
8
il.d3
a4 ( 164)
e6
ti:Jf6
Petrosian does nothing to attempt
an im mediate refu tation . He
develops efficiently and establishes
rock-like central fortifications.
.tb 7
Erecting a solid barrier in the
path of Black's queen's bishop.
Few world champions have been
faced with this exotic defence, so it
is worth quoting Ka rpov-M iles,
Skara 1 980: I e4 a6 2 d4 b5 3 ti:Jf3
il.b7 4 il.d3 ti:Jf6 5 1re2 e6 6 a4 c5
a nd now 7 ab ab 8 l ha8 il.xaH 9 e5
c4 1 0 ef cd I I fg il.xg7 1 2 1Wxd3
1ra5+ (Miles) ( 1 63) offers Black
compensation for his pawn. I n
the game, Ka rpov chose 7 d e and
after many fu rther vici�situdes
the world champion actually wen t
on to lose.
4
5
6
il.e 7
d6
164
8
The attack on b5 forces B lack
to jam the diagonal of his queen's
bishop.
8
9
10
II
12
�e2
0-0
ti::l g3
ab
13
14
lha8
Wc2
c6
ti)bd7
0-0
ne8
ab
1 2 . . . cb is more active, but
reduces Black's quantity of pawns
in the centre. There would also be
no obvious way for Black to
launch a 'minority attack' advance
of his a- and b-pawns.
3
a6
1Wxa8
.tf8
Miscellaneous Black Replies I 23
IS
b4! (165)
An excellent strategic conception.
He puts a greater clamp on
Black's long term . . . c5 break, and
also prepares seizure of the sole
open file via ltl b3 and :a I .
IS
16
17
18
li:lbJ
:at
trb8
g6
eS
'irf2
Further pressure against . . . c5,
without which Black can never
liberate his bishop on b7.
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
de
.ic2
.ia7
.ib6
.ia7
.i.b6
.ia7 ( 166)
dS
ltlxe5
.ig7
1Wc7
1!t'b8
't!rc7
'irb8
An i nglorious episode in the
game - Petrosian was not unwilling
to pocket half a point, since this
would virtually assure him of
match victory and retention of his
title. He was, however, rcluctalll
to claim the draw by repeti tion
since he obviously stands bet ter.
Spassky, of course, was desperate
to avoid a draw but now commits
hara-kiri in his misgu ided effort to
extract more from the posi tion
than is objectively present. Of
course, Petrosian should have
played 21 .i d4 ! ±, 23 .id 4 ! ± or
25 .id4! ±.
25
26
At last.
.id4!
1fc8?
h5
h3
I ntending f4 and e5.
h4
27
28 ttJn
de
ltJed7
29 fe
cS
30 ltJfd2
ltJxc5
31 ltJxcS
32 be
..Q.xe4
If 32 . . . ltJ xe4 .:n .ixe 4 ..Q. �4 34
..Q.xg7 '.!txg7 35 Wd4+ ±±: .
33 ..Q.b3 ( ifll)
26
27
124 Miscellaneous Black Replies
/67
B
only had the adverse effect of
wrenching open avenues for White's
attack: the f-file and a7 for
White's rook.
33
Black's central clearance has
j.f5
I f 33 . . . 1rc6 34 lla7 i.d5 35
i.xd5 'Wxd5 36 .txf6 ±±.
�d7
34 lla7
35 �13
Threatening �g5 and 11hh4.
'Wb8
35
and 1-0 ( 36 c6 ±±).
Part V
The Top Ten with 1 d4 !
10
Svetozar Gligoric (Y ugoslavia)
9
A kiba Rubinstein ( Po land)
8
Samuel Reshevsky ( U S A )
7
Lajos Portisch ( H u ngary)
6
Vi ktor Korchnoi (Swi tzerland)
5
Tigran Petrosian ( US S R)
4
H arry Nelson Pillsbury (USA)
3
M ik hail Botvin nik
2
Alexander Alekhine ( Russia/France)
G ary Kaspa rov (USSR)
126 The Top Ten with 1 d4!
Each of the top ten is represented by one game:
Kasparov- Belyavsky, Moscow 1 983
Queen 's Gambit. Exchange
Alekhine-Marshall, Baden Baden 1 92 5
Marshall's Defence
Bohinnik- Larsen , N oordwij k 1965
Queen 's Gambit, Orthodox Exchange
Pillsbury-Marco, Paris 1900
Queen 's Gambit, Pii/Jbury A ttack
Petrosian- Fischer, Buenos Aires 1 97 1
Griinfeld
Korchnoi-Karpov, Hastings 197 1 /72
Torre A ttack
Portisch-Petrosian, Moscow 1 967
Queen's Gambit, Exchange Slav
Reshevsky- Fischer, Los A ngeles 1 96 1
Nimzo-Indian, Ragozin
Rubinstein-Teichmann, Vienna 1 908
Queen 's Gambit, Orthodox
Gligoric-Petrosian, Belgrade 1 954
Czech Benoni
The 1 d4 Oscars
US G randmaster Andrew Soltis,
chess correspondent of the New
York Post, once asked me to
nominate the ten greatest players
of I d4. I never found time to
respond to his question directly,
but here, in my book devoted to
I d4, seems the appropriate time
and place to publish my list of the
I d4 Oscars. I have given them in
order, with one annotated game
each to demonstrate their prowess.
Of course, my list is controver
sial. O bjections could be raised,
for example, that Alekhi.'l e was
also a major exponen t of I e4, or
that the list should embrace
Capablanca, Spassky, Tal, Polu
gayevsky, Euwe, N ajdorf, Browne,
Bogoljubow . . . . However, in his
world title matches Alekhine was
a staunch adherent of I d4, while
Capablanca, Tal and Spassky, for
example, relied heavily on 1 e4 for
their i mportant competitions.
My choice of Kasparov for the
number one spot, in preference to
Alekhine or Botvinnik, also needs
some explanation. My own feeling
is that Kasparov's interpretation
of I d4 blends icy efficiency and
almost balletic artistry in a way
that excels the achievements of his
mighty antecedents. A t the mo
ment, Kasparov's rating is 27 1 0,
the world's highest, and I believe
that, still only twenty-one, he has
the capacity to equal, or surpass,
Fischer's all-time rating Everest of
2780.
Svetozar Gligoric
G Jigoril:-Petrosian
Belgrade 1 954
Czech Benoni
1
2
3
4
d4
ll:lf6
d5
e5
d6
� bd7
a6
c4
cS
� c3
5 e4
6 �n
7 .ie2
With this move White declares
his intention of castling kingside.
The scheme is not as overly
aggressive as the 0-0-0 based line I
analyse in the Czech Benoni
chapter, but it is an excellent
alternative option.
.i e7
7
8
9
0-0
ll:le1
0-0
Heading for d3, from where the
knight can support either b4 or f4,
assaulting Black's twin defensive
horns at c5 and e5.
lLle8
9
� c7
1 0 � d3
Heading the wrong way. Black
should prepare for . . . f5 to
increase his kingside influence,
e.g. 10 . . . g6 I I .ih6 ll:lg7 1 2 .d2
�h8 planning
hounding Whi te's
queen's bishop.
11
a4
11
12
.ieJ
�e8-f6-g8,
threatening
He must not allow the liberating
advance . . . b5 .
l:l:b8
.i.g5 ( 168)
/6/J
w
This is positionally desirable
since Black's king's bishop is
restricted by his dark-squared
pawn chain, while W hite will be
left, a fter the bishop swap, with a
light-squared bishop slightly ham
pered by his pawns at e4, d5 and
c4. Significantly, Black waits to
play . . . .ig5 until W hite has
expended a tempo with .ie3.
Black cannot, of course, expand
with 1 2 . . . b5? because of 13 ab ab
1 4 cb �xb5 15 � xb5 l:l:xb5 1 6
Svetozar G/igoric 129
10xe5! unearthing an attack against
Black's rook.
13
Wd2!
e3 will provide a fine square for
Whi te's queen.
13
14
15
'ttxe3
aS!
j.xe3
h6
If Black does not react, White
will now roll him up with li[fb l
and b4. Thus we see t hat, in spite
of the strategically valuable bishop
exchange, W hite is still at the
controls because of his terrain
advantage. This permits him the
luxury of being able to choose
either b4 or f4 as a means of
progress.
15
16
17
ab
b3
b5
10xb6
li[a8
18
f4!
ef
19
Wxf4
f6
20
21
10d1
10e3
We7
g5?
22
10f5!
j.xfS
23
24
Wxf5
'tlt'g4
'tth 7
24
25
26
27
li[ae8
10d7
li[ f5
li[afl
li[e7
b4! (169)
Unfortunately forced.
Obviously White does not
exchange queens. With Black's
kingside so full of holes it makes
sense to keep the most powerful
aggressive unit on t he board.
/69
B
Black's snail-like plan is . . . a5,
... j.d7 and finally ... a4.
Relying on use of the vacated e5
square to aid his defence.
Securely squashing White's dream
of breaking down Black's barricades
with e5.
Gligoric rightly condemns this
as an "impulsive move". Not only
does it undermine Black's influt:nce
over f5 , it also exposes the g5
pawn to later tactical operations.
Safer is 21 . . . c;i;>h8.
Black's fortress cannot be
breached by kingside action alone.
This thrust creates the requisite
diversion to knock away its
foundations.
27
28
c5
29
1Wg3!
cb
h5
Neither here, nor on the next
move, can Black capture on c5,
since the advance d6 wins a piece.
Not 29 'tt x h5? Wxh5 30 .._xh5
li[xe4.
29
li[xe4
130 Svetozar Gligoric
30 c6
lil xe2
Or 30 . . . lLlb6 3 1 1fxd6! lil xe2 32
lilxg5+ ! a nd wins.
31
1 70
1fxd6
Much stronger than regaining
his piece. The sacrificial com
bination which Gligoric has en
visaged, and which now follows,
is spectacularly beautiful.
lLlbS
31
lLlb8
32 1hb4
33 lilxg5+!
'it'll
34 lilxf6+! (1 70)
A corruscating crescendo of
sacrifices. White gives up almost
every piece to inflict mate.
34
35
36
1fxf8+
h4+
'it'xf6
'it'xgS
1-0
36 . . . �xh4 37 1ff4, or 36 . . . Wg6
37 lLlf4.
Akiba Rubinstein
Rubinstein-Teich mann
Vienna 1908
10
11
0-0-0
b4
cS
c4? (1 72)
Q GD Orthodox
1
2
3
4
S
6
7
d4
c4
lt:lc3
.igS
e3
lt:lf3
'Wc2 (1 71)
dS
e6
lt:l f6
lt:lbd7
.ie7
0-0
17/
B
Rubinstein's patent, against
which the correct reply is the
active 7 . . . c5 ! . The choice of the
Austrian grandmaster allows White
to initiate a superior form of the
Exchange Variation with 0-�0.
7
8
9
cd
.id3
b6
ed
.ib7
The same category of error that
Marco committed against Pillsbury
in their game later in this section.
Black voluntarily crystallises the
central situation into a static one,
where he has little or no hope of
striking back in time with . . . a6, . . .
b5 , . . . b4 etc. It is rewarding to
compare this position with the
Botvinnik-Larsen game, where . . .
c4 i s a reasonable decision. In this
game Black should prefer 1 I
llc8, though 12 'lib 1 lle8 13 de
llxc5 14 lt:ld4 also favoured White
in the earlier game Rubinstein
Teichmann, Carlsbad 1907.
Another example is 1 I
a6 1 2
g4 c4 1 3 .if5 g6 1 4 .i.xf6 .ixf6 1 5
.••
...
132 Akiba Rubinstein
g5 Jl.g7 1 6 Jl.xd7 1rxd7 1 7 lt'le5
1re7 HI f4 ± Spassky-Bobotsov,
Havana 01 1 966.
lle8
1 2 Jl.fS
13
Jl.xf61
An excellent move, dragging
Black's knight towards f6, where
it is a target for White's soon-to
be-advancing army of kingside
pawns. White m ust first capture
on f6, before Black can consolidate
with . . . lt'lf8.
13
14
15
16
g4
g5
hS
lt'lxf6
.id6
lt'le4
'ti'e7
Alternatively, 1 9 . . . c;!;>h6 20 gf
Wxn 2 1 llg6+ �h7 22 /t) xe4
followed by a murderous check on
g5; or 19 ... fg 20 /t) xe4 de 21 lt'lg5+
�h6 (2 1 . . . �g8 22 'ti'xc4+) 22 hg+
�xg6 23 /t) xe4+ �f7 24 1rxc4+
and wins.
20
lt'lxe4
de
If 20 . . . 1rxe4 2 1 gf+ �xf7 22
lt'lg5+.
21
h6! (1 74)
1 74
B
Or 1 6 . . . lt'l xg5 1 7 lt'l xg5 1rxg5
18 .ixh7+ 'it>f8 19 h6 gh 20 lldg 1 ,
a variation given b y Tarrasch.
1 7 lldgl
a6 (1 73)
/ 73
w
White's pos1t10n is obviously
very promising indeed, but what is
the most accu rate way of clinching
matters? Rubinstein's solution is
staggering.
18
19
.ixh7+ ! !
g6+
'it>xh7
�g8
The climax of White's majestic
campaign. The most tenacious
defence is now offered by 21 . . . fg
when 22 llxg6 ef 23 ll xg7+ 'ti'xg7
24 hg .ie4! 25 9xc4+ c;t;>xg7 26
ll g l + 'it>f6 is not convincing fo r
White. Stronger is 2 1 . . . fg 22 h7+
<t>n ( 22 ... <t>h8 23 o.?lh4 spells
instant doom) 23 lll h4 g5 24 lll f5
'tlt"e6 25 llxg5 g6 26 llh6,
while most devastating of all,
perhaps, is j ust 22 lt'Jh4! when
Black's king's shield inelu�:tably
disintegrates, e.g. 22 . . . gh 23
lt'l xg6 or ll xg6+, while 22 . . . g5
A kiba Rubinstein 133
loses to 23 lt:lg6 1t'f6 24 h7+ 'it>l7
25 h81t' litxh8 26 lt:lxh8+. I n his
Art of A l lack Vukovic claims that
Black ca n resist with 26 . . . rt/e7 27
1t'e2 c3 28 be ..ta3+ 29 c;i/b l 1t'f5,
but after 30 lit h 5 ! I do not set: it.
What Black plays encourages
his opponent to bo w out with a
rapid flourish.
21
hg
li[h8+
li[h7+
1t'f5!
25
26
litxe7
�g8
Threatening 1t'h5 , g7 and litxe7.
It ma kes no difference what Black
does now.
c3
f6�!
1 -0
26 . . . lit xe7 27 1t'xf6 li[d8 28 lith I
wins. A truly amazing game.
ef
rt/xg7
"A dashing victory in the grand
mannt:r", said the noted critic and
connoisseur Hans Kmoch.
If 2 1 . . . ef 22 gf+ 'it'xl7 23 hg!
wins.
22
23
24
25
Samuel Reshevsky
Reshevsky-Fischer
Match (7) Los Angeles 1961
QGJJ I Nimzo-Indian (Ragozin)
I
2
3
4
5
6
d4
�f3
c4
lt:lc3
e3
,j,d3
dS
lt:lf6
e6
.ib4
0-0
fi:Jc6!? (1 �5)
175
w
There is nothing wrong with
6 . . . c5, transposing directly into
the N imzo-I ndian, where W hite
no longer has recourse to 10ge2.
Fischer used to enjoy playing this
obscure line which blocks his own
c-pawn, but several reverses
ultimately persuaded him to
abandon it.
7
a3
A good alternative is 7 0-0 de
(7 . . . a6 8 h3!) 8 ,j,xc4 .td6 9 lt:lb5
.ie7 10 h3 a6 I I lt:lc3 b5 1 2 .td3
.ib7 and now 13 a4 and 1 3 11re2
(Gligoric-Fischer, Leipzig 01 1960)
both favour White.
7
.txc3+?!
A dubious exchange . Greater
tension arises from 7 . . . de 8 .t xc4
,j,d6 9 b4 e5 10 d5 fi:Je7 1 1 ,j,b2
.tg4! and now either 1 2 Wc2!? or
12 h3 .td7 1 3 �g5 with the
curious threat of 10e6 ! , e.g. 13 . . .
10g6? 1 4 �e6! fe 1 5 de �h8
16 ed ± . This was a line I analysed
with US GM Larry Christiansen,
while I was functioning as his
assistant at the 1 982 Moscow
I n terzonal.
8
9
10
11
be
lt:ld2
0-0
cd
fi:Ja.S
c5
b6
eel (1 76)
Black captures with the pawn to
maintain a foothold in the centre,
thus discouraging white advances
such as c4 or e4. H owever, the
structure before us can be recognised
from my chapter on the N imzo
I n dian and it is one which is
excellent for White. The point is
Samuel Reshevsky 135
16
that Black cannot ultimately
prevent White from marching
through the centre with e4;
meanwhile, Black is unable to
play quick . . . ..ta6, swapping
White's k ing's bishop, which now
stays on the board for some time
representing a powerful distant
menace to Black's king.
f"3
12
13
lle1
14
lla2!
lle8
..te6
Blac k's queen's bishop would
exert more influence on the centre
from b7. Another idea worth
considering is 1 2 . . . �b7!? followed
by . . . lt:ld6 and then . . . ..tb7 or . . .
..tf5.
The standard 'Arabic' develop
ment of White's queen's bishop,
the most efficient method of
bringing it into action on the
kingside, or in t he centre.
14
15
llc8
�n
cd
S triving for counterplay down
the c-filc.
cd
hS?! ( 1 77)
An in teresting moment. I t
should not be forgotten that
White has two aggressive plans at
his disposal, either e4 followed by
e5 and a general advance of his
kingside pawns, or g4 and then
�g3, followed, perhaps, by g5 and
f4, pushing Black back. Fischer
must have been very concerned by
the second of these possibilities
and decided to stop it for good,
but . . . h5 proves very weakening
when White actually opts for plan
A. New York GM Edmar Mednis
recommends instead the con
structive waiting move 16 ... •d7,
and he is surely right.
17
h3
Still threatening g4, so Fischer
continues with remorseless logic
to stop it.
17
h4
But now the h-pawn is hopelessly
cut off from Black's lines of
com munication.
18 llf2
•d7
136 Samuel Re.shev.sky
19
20
e4!
fe (1 78)
de
I f now 2 1 . . . Wxd4? 2 1 e5
threaten ing to win Black's qu een
with �h 7+ and after 22 . .. lii: e d8
22 ef 1hd3 2 3 lii: d 2 ±t.
20
21
'ifd2
22
23
24
25
26
27
i.c2
.txb3
e5
'ifg5
'ilg4
�g5 (1 79)
i.b3
i.c4
Or 2 1 . . . ... xd4 22 e5 lii: fd8 23 ef
... xd3 24 liteS+! ±t.
lL!b3
i.xb3
lL!d5
...e7
lii: c6
Here Black is obviously lost,
since 27 . . . tfe6 28 ...xh4 followed
by lLJg3 is horrible. What Fischer
plays is a blunder which shortens
the process.
27
28
1Wxa3
...d7
1 -0
Black cannot protect c6, e8 and
f7 at once. Few people have
dispatched Fischer so decisively.
Reshevsky has a phenomenal
record, having beaten Lasker,
Capablanca, Alekhine, Euwe,
Botvinnik, Smyslov and Fischer.
Of living players, only Botvinnik
can surpass this achievement, but
at the age of 73 Reshevsky is still
playing, while Botvinnik quit
competitive chess for good when
he reached 60.
Lajos Portisch
Portisch-Petrosian
Moscow 1 967
QGD, Slav Exchange
1
2
3
d4
c4
cd
dS
c6
With the i m mediate exchange
White: avoids any possible comp
lications arising from . . . de.
3
4
5
6
7
8
�c3
�f3
jJ4
e3
..i g3 (180)
cd
�f6
�c6
e6
.i.d6
180
B
Black prefaces . . . 0-0 with 8 . .
..txg3 9 h g 'ttd 6, trying t o equalise
with . . . e5, White has 10 .id3 e5 I I
de �xe5 1 2 � xe5 1!txe5 1 3 1!fa4+
..id7 14 'tif4! 'tt xf4 1 5 gf, with a
very pleasant position based on
his mobile centre and ki ngside
pawns, general dark-squared con
trol and play against Black's fixed
I QP.
.
8
9
10
0-0
liteS
..td3
�eS
A version of the: ' Pillsbury
A ttack' , which is seen in its purest
form in the game Pillsbury
Marco . The knight on e5 is very
threatening and Black hastens to
remove it.
10
..ixeS
Of course not 10 . . . �xe5? I I de
winning a piece.
11
12
lLld7
1llb 6?
de
f4
A superior alternative to the
pawn-snatching text is 1 2 . . lLlc5!
After Black has com mitted his
king to the kingside, it is dangerous
to swap bishops on g3, op e n i ng up
the h-file for attac k . I f, however,
13 lLlb5 lLl xd3+ I H !hd3 'W'a 5+ 1 5
�1'2 lLlb4 1 6 ire2 b6 1 7 lLld6 �a6
J g 11fd l llJd3+ 1 9 �g l a v a r i a t i o n
given by Varnusz, but doubt lt:ss
,
stemming from consultat ion with
138 Lajos Portisclr
Portisch. This position is hard to
evaluate, but probably favours
White who will unravel with 1i'c2,
h3, ¢>h2 etc. H is k night on d6 is
more firmly entrenched than
Black's on d3.
13 0-0! (181)
16
lU"3
li:lg6
Or 1 6 . . . 1i'xb2 1 7 ll b 1 tfxc3
1 8 .i.xh7+ winning Black's queen.
17 .i.fl (182)
/81
B
181
B
Calmly ignoring Black's demon
stration. If Petrosian does not
take one of the two pawns on
offer, then his . . . 1i'b6 would be
revealed as a total waste of time.
1i'xe3 +
13
Or 1 3 . . . 1i'xb2 1 4 <tlb5 ! ±.
1i'b6
1 4 ¢>hi
If Black tries to seal t hings up
with 1 4 . . . f5 t hen 1 5 .i. xf5! d4
( 1 5 . . . er 16 lL!xd5 and li:lc7) 1 6
.i.xe6+ l he6 1 7 li:ld5 1i'e4 1 8 li:lc7.
Such important tactical variations
must be noted carefully, since they
often form the sole justification
for an initial sacrifice. If t he
sacrificer misses such vital oppor
tunities, his offensive may run out
of steam.
I S 1i'hS
it:lf8
White's a ttack seems to be
playing itsel f, but some intricate
tactical footwork is still requi red,
e.g. in the case of 1 7 . . . 1i'xb2 1 8
llb l ! 'tltxc3 1 9 llh3 ¢>f8 ( 1 9 . . . h6
20 i.xg6 fg 2 1 1i'xg6 - 19 ... 1i'a5
20 1i'xh7+ 'it>f8 2 1 ll b5 and i.c5+)
20 1i'xh7 li:lxf4 21 .i. h4! and B lack
is mated, since his k in g cannot
escape via e7.
17
18
<tlbS
18
19
li:ld6
1i'd8
All white units swing sharp
right.
lL!ce7
.i.d7
Praying t hat White will be
bought off with the paltry li:lxe!!,
but White's k night on d6 is worth
a whole regi ment of ca valry.
20 i. h4
1i'b6
Or 20 . . . lt:lxh4 21 .ixh7+ ±±.
21 llh3
Threatening .i.xe 7.
Lajos Portisch 139
21
22
/83
w
h6
.if6!
11rxb2 (183)
23
lln!
23
24
.txrs
Even at this late stage White can
spoil thi ngs with 23 llb l ? llec8!
exploiting the back rank mate to
free hi mself. Black, naturally,
does not worry about giving up
the exchange on c8.
I f 24
26 11rxh6+.
lt::l fS
1 -0
ef 2 5 .ixg7 'it>xg7
Viktor Korchnoi
Korchnoi-Karpo\'
Hastings 1971/72
Torre A llack
I
2
3
d4
ll:lf3
.i gS
ll:lf6
e6
b6
Korchnoi's choice of opening
was su rprising, at the time; his
i dea may have been to avoid. his
opponent's excellent k nowledge
of main line opening theory .
Though Karpov's 3 . . . b 6 cannot
be called a mistake, it may be a
psychological error, si nce it allows
White to create a position where
Black has the bishop pai r but is
otherwise passive. 3 ... c5 is more
combative, leading to u nfathom
able complications after 4 e3 'lrb6
5 lll b d2 'tlrxb2 6 .id3 d� 7 c4 1fc3
8 �e2! � bd 7 9 'ira4. Karpov
needed only a draw from this
game, played in the penultimate
round, to clinch first place. This
explains his cautious approach.
4
5
e4
.ixf6
/84
w
h6
'tlrxf6 (184)
6 .idJ
Also interest ing is 6 a3!? e.g.
6 . . . .ib7 7 ll:lc3 d6 8 'tlrd2 ll:ld7
9 0-0-0 g5? ! 10 ll:lb5 �d8 I I h4 g4
12 e5 ± Korchnoi-Kcres, USSR
Championship 1 965.
6
7
.ib7
�bdl
a6
Black fears that 7 . . . ll:lc6 H c3
0-0-0 would be met by 9 1re2
followed by .ia6. The text safe
guards t he bishop from exch ange
but costs va luable time. Both now
and on the next move Black
should have considered regrouping
with . . . 'tlrd8. In the line played
Karpov's queen becomes exposed.
Viktor Korchnoi 141
8
9
10
1t'e2
0-0-0
¢>bl
d6
�d7
A useful move, wa1tmg for
Black to commit h imself in the
centre, which he now does.
10
16
g4!
16
17
g5
18
19
20
21
g6!
lilhgl
lOgS
lt:le6
23
lildn?
23
24
25
26
lt:lxa8
c4
�d3
bS!
�xa8
lilb8
We8?!
27
28
l:i:cl
l:i:g2
i.. f6
llbb?
Beginning an advance of pawns
to open lines for the attack on the
black king.
After 1 7 . . . hg 1 8 lildg l ! ±.
e5
Karpov should still play 1 0 . .
1t'd8 followed by
J.e7 and . . .
0-0.
.
II
12
13
If
13 .
14
c3
�c4
J.c2
. .
�e7
0-0
l:Ue8
ed 1 4 cd lilfe8 1 5 e5!
d5!
By sealing the centre Korchnoi
gives his pieces more freedom to
manoeuvre as well as shutting
Black's bishops out of the game.
14
c5?
The decisive strategic mistake,
permitting White full scope to
build up a powerful k i ngside
attack. It was necessary lo retain
possibilities of counterplay with
. . . c6, either immediately or after
14 . . . �f8.
IS
1115
w
ll:le3
1td8
h5
fg
trf6
J.e7
lt:lf'8
An auempt to repel boarders at
the cost of t h e exchange. A fter the
a l ternat ive 2 1 ... lilacS 22 lil g2 lt:lf8
23 lil dg I 'it'h 7 24 lt:l x f8 lhfll 25
lilxg6 trxg6 26 lilxg6 <;ilxg6 27 lt:lf5
White's attack breaks through.
22 lt:lc7
1t'r7
After this Black obtains counter
play; better 23 a4 to hold up . . . b5.
26 . . . b4! renders Whi te's win
p roblematic. K o n:hnoi felt he
would have to reorgan ise: w i t h a
k n 1gh t transfer to dJ a nd then pl ay
f4 .
W i t h 2!! . b4 1 Black can s t i l l
p u t up m u c h resistance:.
.
29
.
ll cg i ! ( /XoJ
T h r ea t e n i n g 30 ll xg6 ti 1 >.: g6 J I
�hh 5 Black prevents t h is by
defe n d i ng his queen, but he is too
.
142 Viktor Korchnoi
34
35
36
37
/86
B
..tg4
1td1
ab
otlg2
otlf4
b3
� b7
..tc8
37 . . . otl xg2 would be met by 38
�e6+ �f8 39 1th5.
38 ..txc8 lil xc8 39 1Wg4 lile8 40
otlxf4 ef 41 1W·xf4 ..te5 42 1txh4
lilfB 43 b4 ..td4 44 be 1 -0
late to avoid the collapse of his
king's position.
lib8
b4
29
30
1Wfl
31
�el!
31
lilxg6!
1Wxg6
33
lilxg6
�xg(i
If 30 . . . �b7 3 1 cb �c8 32 ba
�h3 33 1We2 �xg2 34 lilxg2 :±± .
There is no antidote now to
lilxg6!
h4
31
otlxg6 33 ..th5 is even
32
worse for Black.
Em boldened by this success,
Korchnoi was later to try I d4 otlf6
2 ..tg5 !? in game 1 9 of his 1 974
Candidates' Final v Karpov, the
match that was to determine the
destination of the world title when
Fischer defaulted in 1 975. After
2 . . . e6 3 e4 h6 4 ..txf6 'tlfxf6 5 otlf3
d6 6 otlc3 g6 7 1td2 'tlfe7 8 0-0-0 a6
9 h4 �g7 10 g3 White stood
slightly better. Korchnoi has won
I I competitive games against
Karpov, more than any player
ever - six of these as White with
I d4 openings.
Tigran Petrosian
Pet rosian-Fischer
Match (2) Buenos Aires 1971
187
w
Griinfeld Defence
I
2
3
4
d4
c4
lt:lc3
.if4
lt:lf6
g6
d5
.ig7
Petrosian has employed various
methods against the G rtinfeld, but
has tended to favour early develop
ment of his queen's bishop, e.g.
4 lt:lf3 .ig7 5 .ig5 �e4 6 cd lt:lxg5
7 ltJxg5 e6 8 ltJf3 ed 9 e3 0-0 1 0
.id3 b 6 I I 0-0 c 5 1 2 .ie2 ltJc6 1 3
llc l c d 1 4 ltJb5 .i b7 1 5 lt:lbxd4 t
Petrosian-Benko, Candidates' Tour
nament, Cura�ao 1 962. The ending
of this IQP game is given in my
chapter on the Queen's Gambit
Declined, Tarraseh Variation.
5
e3
When i n aggressive mood,
Petrosian has also had fascinating
experiences with the alternative
5 lt:lf3, e.g. 5 . . . 0-0 6 llc i e5 7 de de
(7 . . . .ie6! is better) 8 e4 'it'a 5 9 e5
lld8 10 .id2 lt:lg4 I I .ixc4 1txe5
1 2 �e4 1tb6 13 .ixf7+! 'it>xf7 14
llxc8 llxc8 I S lt:lfg5+ 'it>g8 1 6
1txg4 1tc6 1 7 ltJd6! 1td7 (187)
Here the game Petrosian-Benko,
.
Candidates' I 962 ( round l 2 ) con
cluded: 18 1txd7 ltJ xd7 19 ltJxc8
ll xc8 20 f4 llc2 2I �e2 .ih6 22
lt:lf3 llxb2 23 g3 g5 !--S - !--S . At the
time, it was believed that White
might have won with I8 1th4 ! ? but
then Botvinnik indicated the
defence 18 . . . h6 I9 ltJ xc8 hg 20
1tc4+ e6 ! 21 ltJd6 ltJc6 22 ltJe4
�xeS!
5
c5
Black may also enter fearful
complications with the pawn
sacrifice 5 . . . 0-0, though currently
this wild line appears to be good
for White: 6 cd ltJ xd5 7 lt:lxd5
1txd5 8 .ixc7 lt:lc6 9 lt:le2 .ig4 I O
f3 llac8 I I �c3 1te6 I 2 .if4 ltJxd4
I 3 fg llfd8 14 .id3 lt:le6 I 5 1tb i
!De 5 1 6 .ie2 lt:lc4 I 7 0-0 lt:ld2 I S
144 Tigran P�trosian
1fc2 � xfl 19 �xf l ! .txc3 20 be
1ff6 2 1 g5 1fxc3 22 1fxc3 l hc3
23 l:td I ! ± Timman-Schmidt,
I ndonesia 1983. I t seems that
Fischer also distrusted this
ambitious black strategy.
6
7
de
l:tcl
1taS
�e4!
The most pointed choice. After
7 . . . de 8 .txe4 0-0 Black can only
aspire to laborious equality.
8
ed
8
9
10
1fd2
be
10
11
12
WaS
�d7
.te4
liJel (188)
For a while White falls behind
i n development, but realises on
"
gain of material or s trong centre
to offset this.
�xe3
1fxa2
I would be tempted by exchange
sacrifices based on 10 llxc3,
offering the queen's rook for
Black's strong king's bishop, but
somehow I doubt that such
concepts can be proved sound.
/88
B
With ten years of hindsight,
Black's best course at this stage
was fou nd to be 1 2 . . . � xc5 1 3 0-0
�e4 14 1fc2 �d6 with a complicated
position if White retreats h is
king's bishop. I n the game Farago
Ceshkovsky, Banja Luka 198 1 ,
White sought to attack Black's
king with a manoeuvre of truly
Eolithic subtlety: 15 .txd6 ed 1 6
1fe4+ 'it> f8 1 7 liJd4, but Black
unravelled easily enough ( . . . .tf6,
. . . �g7) when his passed a-pawn
proved exceptionally powerful.
12
liJeS
.tfS?
1 3 .ta:Z
The transparent th reat of a
black knight check on d3 is easily
met, though Fischer may have
underestimated White's possibility
of giving up his dark-squared
bishop for B lack's knight - the
same course which brought disaster
to Farago ten years latt:r. Correct
(again with much hindsight) is
1 3 . . . 1hc5 1 4 0-0 0-0 1 5 c4 a5 1 6
e4 1f b4 with a tough fight i n view,
Farago (the same)- Filipowicz,
Banja Luka 1 98 1 .
14
.txeS!
.txeS
'i!heS
IS liJd4!
Fischer must allow h is kingside
pawns to be shattered, if he wishes
to regain his pawn. The alterna tive
of 1 5 . J.d7 1 6 l:t b l is also
unpleasant, while 16 c6 also does
not look ridic ulous.
gf
16 liJxfS
. .
Tigran Petrosian 145
17
shackles totally. The humble 19
tlc5 might b e in order, however
miserable it looks.
0-0 (189)
•oo
/89
B
20
Black's position has become
quite wretched as a result of his
error on move 1 3. His king has no
safe refuge, and the pawn on f5 is
doomed if White sets about
besieging it. The best way of
solving the problems is Mednis'
suggestion: 1 7 f4 ! ( if Black waits
White may fix the pawn on f5 with
f4, and t hen pick off f5 at his
leisure) 18 ef j,d6 followed by
0-0-0. A strict blockade by
Black's queen and bishop on c5
and d6 will shut White's k.ing's
bishop out of play for some time,
and with opposite bishops on the
board, White will experience
difficulty in converting his extra
pawn into a win.
o o •
0 0 .
17
1ra5?
A further error, relieving the
blockade, which encourages White
to revive the fortunes of his
temporarily muftled king's bishop.
18
19
1rc2
c4
f4
fe
After this White breaks his
c5! ( / 90)
A pawn is no price at all to pay
for the mobility White has achieved.
If, for example, 20 ef+ 2 1 Wxf2
0-{) 22 j,b I and either f7 or h 7 will
collapse.
oo•
20
21
22
Wd2
<iif8
llad1
22 llc2 is also good.
Wa4+
22
tfe2
Or 22
e2 23 ll xd 2 j,xh2+
24 �xh2 eftt 25 d6 ±±.
000
23
d6
Si nce this thrust can hardly be
stopped, the preliminary 23 g3
might have been safer.
23
1rh5
The last ditch defence is 23 . . .
.ixh2+ 24 �xh2 'tlrh5+ 25 �gl e2
26 de+ �g7 27 Jild5! ± .
24
25
26
21
f4
fe
Jilxdl
:n
e2
ed1r
1rxe5
r6
.
'
!
146 Tigran Petrosian
28
29
30
/91
8
'ftb3
1t'n+
de (191)
�g7
�h6
Black's pieces are scattered and
his king hopelessly exposed. I f
30 . . . llhg8 3 1 .i b I llg6 3 2 .ixg6
hg 33 1tf8+ ±±. The game ended:
30 rs 31 :axrs 1td4+ 32 �hi 1 -0.
A beautifully flowing game, but
Petrosian's sole win in the match.
For any reader who wishes to
cultivate an alternative anti
Grtinfeld method to Romanishin's
given in the G rtinfeld chapter, the
.if4 based lines mentioned in
this game are fruitful field for
investigation.
...
Harry Nelson Pillsbury
i mplement c-file pressure.
Pillsbury-Marco
Paris 1 900
9
Queens Gambit Declined, Orthodox
I
2
3
4
d4
c4
�c3
dS
e6
�r6
4
5
6
e3
�f3
.te7
0-0
b6
8
cd
.tes
In the main text I recommend
the immediate exchange with 4 cd.
As it is, this game rapidly
transposes into a version of t he
Exchange Variation.
We know now that this move
should be prefaced by . . . h6.
7 .td3
i.b 7
The alternative is 8 .txf6 i.xf6 9
cd ed 1 0 h4, as I mention in my
introductory comments to the
Orthodox QG D. The text is the
ina ugural move of the famous
' Pillsbury Attack' based on 'Lle5
and f4.
8
ed
Black could also consider 8 .
�xd5 9 .txe7 Wxe7, when W hite
wil l proceed with 10 llc l to
.
.
�e5 (192)
192
B
Pillsbury's trademark and t he
key move of his Attack. White will
cont inue to build up his pressure
with f4, establishing a 'Stonewall'
but with the importa nt difference
that Whi te's queen's bishop is
already outside the otherwise
restrictive pawn triangle on d4, e3
and f4. For the negative aspects of
the 'Stonewall', see by chapter on
the Dutch Defence.
9
10
!idb47
f4
0
Here 1 0 � 4 would block the
white bishop on d3, one of the
main actors in the looming
denoument.
11
o-o
�""'
c4?
'if.t·
148 Harry Nelson Pillsbury
Absolutely mistimed. I n an
endgame Black's pawn majonty
would prove a decisive factor,
when we1ghed agamst Wh1te1s
centre pawns, wh1 ch are mcapable
of producing a majority. However•
by relinquishing all of t he central
tension, M arco gives his oppo nent
,
a free hand, way before any
endgame sets m , to operate on the
kingside against Black's near
helpless king. Correct 1s I I . . . cd
1 2 ed 25e4 ! jamming White1s
avenues of attack. It is worth
comparing this strategic situation
with t he one arising i n Botvinnik
Larsen which follows. There
Botvinnik's pieces are less actively
placed (he has no knight on e5)
but his central pawn configuration
(d4, e3, f3) is still dangerously
mobile.
193
B
•
12
13
14
..ic2
'W'f3
'W'hJ
14
Js
16
rs
fg! ( 1 9])
16
17
'W'h4!
18
19
�xd7
J:hf6
'W'xd7
aS
llan
..ixg6
llxf8+
ll a6
hg
be
A contemporary note states
quite correctly: " Black is beyond
salvation, whatever he does."
O r 1 9 . . .txf6 20 .txf6 and mate
on h8.
.
20
21
22
fg
..ixf8 (194)
a6
b5
All of White's attacking moves
are si mple, nat ural and logical.
Fi rst , by lining up against h7,
White provokc:: s . . . g6, which , in
turn, presen ts a target for 15.
g6
b4
White displays no inclination to
salvage his knight. If now 1 6 . . . be
1 7 g7 �xg7 1 8 ..i xf6+ lt:Jxf6 1 9
llxf6 �xf6 20 ll f l + �g7 2 1
'W'xh 7
mate. 1 7 ..ixf6 is also very strong.
A nd here, after the custom of
his age, Pillsbury annou nced mate
in six: 23 lld8+ �x f8 24 .._8+
�n
2s 11fh7+
�ra
26 'thd7
followed by .th6+ and 'W'g7 mate.
Bronze Medal - Mikhail Botvinnik
Botvinnlk-Larsen
Noordwijk 1965
Q GD Exchange Variation
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
c4 '2.
ltlc3 �
d4 l
cd a..
-'.g5 �
e3 '
1fc2 r
-'.d3 l
lt.Jge2 �
e6 t
d5 1
�f6 )
ed 1.r
c6 '
-'.e7 "
0-0 i
ltlbd7 5
h6 ( / 95J " .
/ 95
w
to stop White attacking with h4,
while the white queen's bishop on
g5. I ndeed, had Botvinnik not
been so convinced of the virtues of
the manoeuvre i.h4-f2, he could
have struck out with 1 0 h4 !? and if
10 . . . hg"! 1 1 hg lbe4 1 2 .ixe4 de 1 3
W'xe4 f5 1 4 •e6+ IU7 1 5 g6, or
13 . . . g6 1 4 'ith4.
10 -'. h4
lile8
1 1 f3
Preparing to advance with e4.
11
12
c5
Dictated by prudence; 1 2 0..0-0
is certainly possible, but Botvinnik
prefers to avoid such a committed
step when Black has already
achieved . . . c5.
12
13
14
this move, since, in his opinion,
the white queen's bishop can now
drop round via h4 to fl, supporting
White's centre. Yet, when Alekhine
invented the lt.Jge2 line of the
QGD Exchange in 1927, he
regarded an early ... h6 ( best
before . . . 0-0, in fact) as desirable
0-0
/ 96
B
lilad 1
-'.f2 (1 96)
a6
b5
150 Mikhail Botvinnik
c4!?
14
A quite logical decision and
much better than in the comparable
games Pillsbury-Marco and Rubin
stein-Teichmann. The difference
here is that White's powers have
not yet adopted a threatening
posture against the black king.
Nevertheless, Botvinnik was ob
viously relieved by Larsen's decision
to resolve t he tension. H e wrote:
" Risky. Larsen was evidently
concerned that with the white
queen's bishop on fl, W hite was
threatening de, saddling Biack
with an I Q P. This was, however,
not so dangerous for Black. A fter
. . . c4, though, White will inevitably
advance with e4, and gain good
kingside a ttacking chances."
ltlb6
15 -'.f5
16
17
ltlg3
a3
-'.fl
He may as well hold up . . . b4 for
a while.
17
-'.b7
Larsen would rather have
a white bishop on f5 t han a
white knight, after 1 7 . . . .i.xf5 1 8
�xf5.
g6 (197)
1 8 e4
U is worth noting the sacrificial
idea 19 .txg6 fg 20 e5, even
though it m us t be rejected on
account of 20 ... �h7 21 ef trxf6
=t=, since White will then have
no good way of continuing his
attack.
19
20
.th3
e5
20
21
ltlce2
21
22
f4
aS
20 ltlxb5 de! or 20 ed b4 !
b4
White must stay flexible,
taining his pawn on e5,
rushing up reserves with
2 1 ef! be, on the other
would soon leave White
s tandstill.
main
while
f4-f5.
hand,
at a
ll:'!h7
If now 22 . . . bd23 ba .i.xa3 24 f5
grants White a tangible attack.
22
.i.c6 ( / 98)
1 9/J
w
Very interesting at this juncture
Mikhail Botvinnik 151
is 23 f5!? .ta4 24 'trb l lt:lg5 ( 24 . . .
.txd I 25 fg) 2 5 fg lt:lxh3+ 26 g h
1fd7. This i s given b y Botvinnik
who says: .. Black's chances are
better than in the actual game. " I
find this impossible to swallow.
After the simple 27 .te3! it seems
to me that Black faces immediate
and total annihilation. The con
clusion must be that 23 f5 is
exceedingly strong, and that Black
should have tried 22 . . . f5; though
if we go back to that position it
can be seen that White may then
try 23 ef 1fxf6 24 f5 g5 25 ltJh5 as
an alternative means of attack .
23
24
lhl ?!
'ifbl
25
ab
.ta4
f5!
He has to hold up W hite's f5.
He needs the open a-file.
ab (199)
25
no other visible counterplay against
Black's predatory queenside pawns.
26
27
28
.txrs
ltJg3
28
29
30
.txd7
1fg6+
32
Ilxal
32
33
Ila7 (100)
gf
1fe7
Having demolished the frustrating
barricade of black pawns, White's
hitherto oppressed pieces now
u nfurl a searing energy.
.td7
lt:lxd7
1fg7
Natural
enough, although
Botvinnik holds that 30 . . . �h8 is
superior. The pawn on d5 would
not then hang with check after an
eventual 1fc6.
l hal
31 1fc6
After 32 1fxd5+ 1ff7 White
m ust acquiesce in an exchange of
q ueens which does not yet suit his
plans.
/ S/9
w
11n
200
B
26
ltJ xf5!
If W hite does not sacrifice he is
positionally crushed, for his pieces
have curiously receded to the
margins of the boa rd and he has
33
lt:lxe5?
A time-trouble blunder, over-
152 Mikhail Botvinnik
looking that White's reply defends
the rook on a7. Forced is 3 3
�b8, when Botvinnik gives
34 •b6 �d7 35 •as lle7 36 f5
and White still wins.
del ±±
34
The rest is not so interesting:
...
34 ... •e6 35 •xe6+ llxe6 36 �f5
llc6 37 �fl c3 38 be be 39 ..te3
..tcs 40 ..txc5 :xeS 41 llal �1'8 42
�2 �e6 43 g3 h5 44 'it'd3 d4 45
lt:ld6 lld7 46 lt:le4 �h7 47 f5 �d8
48 �f6+ �h6 49 �d5 llb7 50 e6
�c6 51 lla6 �e5+ 52 �xd4 1 -0.
Silver Medal - Alexander Alekhine
Alekhine·Marshall
Baden Baden 1 925
American or Marshall's Defence
1
2
d4
c4
d5
�f6!? (201)
distinctly favours White.
4
S
ll:lf6
e5!
de
ll:lg4
" I n my opinion this gambit is
completely correct." (Alek hine).
Obviously not 5 ... 'lt'xd4?? 6
..tb5+.
6
7
201
w
i.d3
ll:lf3
Not 7 f4? ..tc5 !! ll:lh3 'tth 4+
wit h tremendous compensation
for the pawn.
7
8
li:lc6
..tgS
8 ..tf4 .!Lib4 is too dangerous for
White.
3
cd
4
e4
8
9
10
11
lLlxdS
3 . . . 'lt'xd5 4 ll:lc3 'lt'd8 or 4 . . .
'lt'a5 5 ll:lf3 i s a poor version o f the
Centre Counter.
Quite in Alekhi ne's vigorous
style, but it is too energetic. An
i mprovement is 4 lLl f3 e6 5 e4 li:l f6
6 ll:lc3 c5 7 d5! ed ( 7 . . . i.e7 8 do ! )
8 e5 d 4 9 ef d e 1 0 i. b 5 + �c6 I I
i.xd 1 + be 1 2 1Wxd8+ c;!;>xd8 1 3
..tg5 g6 1 4 0-0-0+ ±.
Also, 4 ll:lf3 i.f5 5 't!Vb3 e6
6 li:lc3 li:lc6 7 e4 ll:lxc3 8 ef
i.e7
..txe7
't!Vxe7
li:lc3
llJcxeS
lLlxeS (202)
202
B
Which way should BlacR recap-
/54 Alexander Alekhine
ture on e5? Alekhine believed that
equality would have arisen from
I I . . . lt::l x e5 1 2 0-0 0-0 1 3 .te2 .te6,
an interesting vindication of Black's
unusual opening variation. Alekhine
criticises Black's next move as an
over-ambitious attempt to aggress
while his development remains
imperfect.
WxeS?
II
12
l3
lt::l f6
h3
1rd2! (203)
!0.1
8
very kingside pawns are at Black's
throat.
13
14
1re3
IS
0-0-0
16
f4
17
18
llhe l
.td7
A 'creeping' move, imperceptibly
i ncreasing his dark square control
and preventing Black from castling
long.
14
.i c6
0-0
"This is perilous, but does
Black have a viable alternative? I f
1 5 . . . 'tta 5 1 6 .tc4 and now Black
really has to play . . . 0-0 since his
k ing ca nnot castle qucenside and
certainly cannot risk a sojourn in
the centre." ( A iekhinc)
1te6
If 1 6 . . . 1ra5 1 7 e5 lt::l d 5 1 8 lt::l xd5
.ixd5 19 .ixh7+ �xh7 20 Wd3 +
and 't!hd5. A minor, but significant,
tactical point.
Alekhine was a genius when it
came to turning small positional
advantages into murderous attacks.
Her�. he has a marginal lead in
developm ent , plus an as yet
dormant ki ngside pawn majority,
liquid assets which could easily
evaporate if White were not to
detect the correct move precisely
at every turn . For example, if
1 3 0-0 (a very natural choice ) 1 3 .. .
g5 ! followed by . . . .id7 and . . .
0-0-0 and White's ki ngside pawns
are stymied. Yet in the game,
within a further six moves, these
eS
lilfe8
ll adS ( 20./)
!04
w
I I! . . . lt::l d 7 1 9 g4! is unpleasant
for Black but after the text
Alekhine unleashes a brilliantly
Alexander Alekhine /55
calculated winning combination.
It is all the more i mpressive in that
his own king is somewhat open
and Black has various ingenious
counterchances with check.
19
20
21
22
f5
'ttg5
f6
..tc4!
'it'e7
lLld5
'it'f8
The key move of the combination.
22
23
24
lhd8
fg!
Not 24 e6? li[d5!
24
lLlxc3
lhd8
lLlxa2+!
Marshall fights well. White
can not play 25 ..t xa2 since Black
then has a saving queen check on
c5.
25
26
�bl !
1te8
e6! (205)
by a strange rese mblance between
the decisive phase of this contest
and Spassky-Ghitescu, from the
Czech Benoni section of this
book. In both cases, White
conducts a slaughterous attack,
apparently ignoring Black's moves,
which happen to include several
captures of White's own pieces.
26
27
..te4+
�at !
Continu ing in the same vein.
27 lhe4 ltd I+ is more murky.
fS
27
If 27 . . . fe 28 ..txe6+ 1Wxe6 29
'it'xd!H �g7 30 1td4+ and
litxe4 ±±.
28
29
e7+
1tf6
lld5
11n (206)
20t'l
w
205
B
It is worth rereading my note to
1 3 1td2! at this stage. I am struck
And White an nounced mate in
three, beginning with 30 e81t+. 1-0.
A crystal-dear demonst ration
of Alekh ine's superla tive qualitit:s
of vision, t:nergy and calculation.
Gold Medal - Gary Kasparov
Kasparov-Belyavsky
Game S, Candidates' match 1 983
Q GD Exchange Variation
I
2
3
4
S
6
d4
c4
ll:lc3
cd
.igS
e3
7
.ih4
.id3
dS
e6
ll:lf6
ed
.ie7
h6
Following Alekhine's advice,
Belyavsky hastens to drive away
the white queen's bishop, before
playing . . . 0-0.
8
0-0
b6!? (207)
107
w
An interesting attempt to convert
a pure E xchange Variation into a
Tartakower, but one where Black
no longer has the option of . . .
ll:lxd5, since the central pawn
configuration has already been
determined.
9 ll:lf3
9 ll:lge2 is also possible, of
course.
9
10
.ib7
0-0
There is very lit tle point here in
bold ideas such as 10 'tlt'c2,
followed 0-0-0, since the straight
forward . . . c5 followed by . . . ll:lc6
would cause White im mediate
problems. In effect, Black has
gained a defensive tempo by his
early 6 . . . h6. This tempo is only of
significance if White adopts methods
of brute force, based on .ixf6, and
then Wc2 plus h4. These now lack
all punch, since Black's h-pawn
would no longer be under a ttack
on h7. 1n my introductory comments
to t he Queen's Gambit Declined,
Orthodox Exchange, and in the
game Ru binstein-Teichmann, I
show just how dangerous these
brutal methods can be for B lack , if
he has not availed himself of the
requisite defensive tempo with
. . . h6.
10
cS
Gary Kasparov 157
Or 1 0 . . . ll:le4 I I ..txe7 trxe7 1 2
ll:le5 l0d7 1 3 f4 l0 xe5 1 4 fe c 5 1 5
tre 1 ! %lad8 1 6 %ld 1 f6 1 7 ..txe4 de
1 8 ef %lxf6 1 9 %l xf6 11rxf6 20 de be
2 1 %lxd8+ 11fxd8 22 10a4! ;!: since
Black's c-pawn is weak. Alter
natively, 1 6 . . . 1!rg5 1 7 h4 1!rh5
18 ll:le2 ;t crowding Black's queen.
1 1 ll:leS
ll:lbd7
In an earlier · game of t heir
match, Belyavsky played t he
incautious I I . . . ll:lc6 and had to
suffer after the cle ver t actical blow
12 ..ta6! ( 1 2 ... ..txa6 13 ll:lxc6 ±).
1 2 ..trs r
.,1, ,_ (L
11!1 ,
l�
.lOlJ
B
A n excellent square for t he
bishop, one a lso visited by t h e
k ing's bishops of R u binstein a nJ
B otvi n n i k . I n this case it i m p roves
on Kasparov-Belyavsky, 3rd match
ga me, where 1 2 'ttf3 cd 1 3 ed
lt:lxe5 1 4 de lt:ld7 lead nowhcn: for
W h ite. White could also a i m for a
pure Pillsbury Attack with 1 2 f4,
when 1 2 . . . .!i:l xe5 1 3 fe ll:le4 1 4
.i x e 7 trxe7 1 5 'iWe I transposes
into my comment to 1 0 . . c5.
.
lt:lxeS
12
If 1 2 . . . cd 1 3 ll:lxd7 10xd7 1 4
.ixe7 11rxe7 1 5 't!Pxd4 ± with a
positional grip on the dark squares;
1 2 . . . Ji[e8, however, is t he most
flexible course.
13
de
li:le8
If 1 3 . ll:le4 1 4 ll:lxe5! ±±, a
trick worth noti ng.
lt:lc7
14 ..tg3
IS 1t'g4
'fte8
..
.id7
:ladl
16
17
(209)
1Wd8
)
White has constructed a position
full of potential explosive energy.
Bt:lyavsky now t ries to knock his
opponent off-course with a king
side demonstration, but the weaken
i ng of the pawn cover around
Black's king which it involves
permits a spectacular attack to
u n told.
17
18
hS
.
't!fh3
..if4
h4
19
i. gs·
Or 1 9 . . g 5 20 .if5 gf 2 1 'tig4+,
a small taste of thi ngs to come.
158 Gary Kasparov
20
21
.us
�:6
o!Oe4! (210)
21 1
B
l/0
B
There is nothing wrong with lhe
si mple retreat 21 .i.g4, which
would have been the choice of
99o/o of the population. Kasparov's
move is, however, vastly more
pointed.
21
22
ef
.bf4
gf
Belyavsky decides to be sporting
and accepts the sacrifice.
de
23
WxfS
24
25
26
27
Wg4+
�h 7
lithd8
litxd8
�8
t!hh4+
't!fe7 (21 1)
Giving up his queen to stem the
onslaught is the most sensible
decision. If 23 ... li'le8 24 li'lg5 ±±
or 23 . . . f6 24 Wg4+ 'it>h7 25
Wxh4+ 'it>g7 26 Wg4+ 'it>h7
27 litd3 ±±.
In spite of the terrrible exposure
of his king, and White's golden
horde of pawns, B lack, with rook
and two pieces for the queen, can
certainly fight on. Here, for
example, White must not rush
in with 27 f5? because of 27 ...
litd7! , when Whi te's best is 28
Wg5+ and perpetual.
e3
27
If 27 . . . litac8 28 f5 .ta6 29 e6 fe
30 f6 ±± and White immediately
achieves his basic objective - to
nail Black down with h is pawns.
28
litel
And not 28 Wxc7? e2 29 Wxb7
litd 1 30 Wxa8+ q;>g7 H.
28
ef+
The best chance is 28 . . . e2,
though White still wins with 29 f3
litd 1 30 'l;>f2 .ta6 3 1 Wxc7 litad8
32 Wxa7 lit xe 1 3 3 ti'xa6 118d 1
34 f5 :±± . Black's choice deprives
him of his e-pawn, the only real
counterforce at his disposal. The
game finished: 29 ¢'d2 litd2+ 30
lite2 libel+ 3 1 'it>xe2 .ia6+ 32
'it>f2 o!Oe6 33 rs lll d4 34 e6 :rs 35
WgS+ 'i!t>h7 36 e7 liteS 37 f6
llle 6 38 'W'hS+ �g8 1 -0. ( 39 Wg4+
�h7 40 Wa4 o!Oc7 4 1 Wd7 ±t).
Bibliography
The following is a list of the major sou rces I have found helpful in writing
OR W. The readc:r may find many of them useful in his own further
studies.
Kasparov & Keene
Keene & Levy
Larsen's section
Ed. Matanovic
Ed. Matanovic
J . Wa tson
Lam ford
Cafferty & Hooper
Barden, H artston,
Keene
Botvinnik & Estrin
Grunfeld Defence
Keene & Taulbut
How to Play the Nimzo-lndian
Benoni for the Tournament PlayerN u nn
Modern Defence
Keene & Botterill
Classical Dutch
Bellin
Kasparov & Wade
Fighting Chess
Alekhine's Best Games 193/J-45 Alexander
BotYinnik's Bes/ Games 1 947-70 Botvinnik
Sergeant & Watts
Pillsbury's Chess Career
Petrosian 's Best Games
Clarke
Botsford Chess Openings (BCO)
ORAP
How to Open a Chess Game
5-Yolume ECO
New in Chess 1970-81
Chigorin 's Defence
Albin Countergambit
A Complete Defence to J d4
King's Indian Defence
Batsford
Batsford
RHM
Ba tsford
Elsevier
Ba tsford
Batsford
Pergamon
Batsford
RHM
Batsford
Batsford
Batsford
Batsford
Ba tsford
Bell/Tartan
B atsford
Printing Craft
Bell/Hyman

Untitled - e

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